4 weeks ago
I’ve been obsessed pinch hoops for arsenic agelong arsenic I tin retrieve (and person played it since I was five). Now, I screen nan athletics full-time. I co-wrote a book connected nan history of women’s hoops, Court Queens, and big nan Audacy podcast The Women’s Hoops Show. I grew up a Sacramento Monarchs fan, and proudly ain nan signature sneakers of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and A’ja Wilson. (Angel Reese, you’re next.) The WNBA is celebrating its historical 30th play this year, and I’ll beryllium present each Tuesday covering nan past, coming and early of nan crippled successful this newsletter. Think of it arsenic my exclusive WNBA diary, filling you successful connected nan 4-1-1 of my favourite league. I can’t wait.
As personification who celebrated my 30th day up of nan convention (not telling really agelong ahead), I tin confidently opportunity it’s a large deal. I, too, aimed to make much money and prioritize stableness complete hustle; WNBA players person signed million-dollar contracts for nan first time, acknowledgment to a caller corporate bargaining agreement. Some players, specified arsenic Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard, saw a 1,389% salary summation ($75,556 to $1.1m successful her caller three-year deal). In your 30s, you genuinely cognize your worthy and travel into your own. It’s nosy to spot nan convention reflector that, too.
After months of nan WNBA and nan Players Association playing a sadistic crippled of will-they-won’t-they, nan anticipation for nan 2026 play is done nan roof. And nan storylines are spicy. Here are 5 you should support your oculus on:
1) Don’t messiness pinch Texas
The Dallas Wings smartly selected UConn’s Azzi Fudd pinch nan No 1 wide prime successful nan WNBA draught past month. It reunites nan 2025 NCAA nationalist title duo of Fudd and reigning rookie of nan twelvemonth Paige Bueckers connected a squad pinch a caller caput coach, a caller roster and a caller identity. Bueckers quickly nipped nan thought that her and Fudd’s individual narration would beryllium a distraction and unopen down immoderate early questions astir it, saying, “It’s nobody’s business but our own”. On nan court, nan Wings vanished past play pinch an abysmal 10 wins, but they made large changes this offseason, and Dallas fans should person overmuch much to cheer astir this summer.
2) Clark, from nan logo
This week, nan Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark will play her first regular-season crippled since past July. Last year, she played conscionable 13 games because of nagging groin and ankle injuries. But she’s back, and we’ll each get to perceive nan glorious crippled telephone of “Clark steps back, for three!” The Fever made it to nan 2nd information of nan playoffs without Clark and different awesome players past year. At afloat strength, they could beryllium a title contender.
3) Barbie’s Atlanta Dreamhouse
Angel Reese’s waste and acquisition from nan Chicago Sky to nan Atlanta Dream was 1 of nan biggest moves of nan offseason. It conscionable wasn’t moving for nan Barbie successful Chi-town. Reese, alongside a trio of All-Stars successful Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray and Brionna Jones successful nan ATL, is simply a cleanable fresh (not dissimilar the dress she wore to nan Met Gala past night). The Dream vanished 3rd successful nan standings aft a historical play and were only a fewer possessions distant from nan 2nd information of nan playoffs. Adding a machine-like rebounder successful Reese to this three-point-loving strategy elevates their post-season odds.
4) Hollywood successful Sin City
Chennedy “Hollywood” Carter was past pinch nan Sky for nan 2024 season, wherever she averaged 17.5 points and 26 minutes a game. Despite being 1 of nan league’s astir explosive guards, she went unsigned successful 2025 (but averaged much than 30 points while playing overseas successful China and Mexico). Seeing her subordinate forces pinch nan reigning champs, nan Las Vegas Aces, was not connected my bingo card. But now that it’s a reality, I don’t deliberation I’ve loved nan thought of thing more. Carter has said she’s matured successful her clip distant from nan WNBA, and said, “So far, this is nan champion determination I’ve ever made successful my life.” The champion squad successful nan convention (they’ve won 3 of nan past 4 titles) pinch nan champion subordinate connected nan satellite (four-time MVP Wilson), now person 1 of nan speediest scorers successful women’s basketball. Whew.
5) The MVT, Most Valuable Team
In only their 2nd play successful nan WNBA, nan Golden State Valkyries return nan crown (again) arsenic nan astir weighted franchise. The Bay Area squad has a whopping $850m evaluation, according to Sportico. They sold retired each 22 games astatine Chase Center successful their inaugural season, group nan all-time WNBA attendance grounds (an 18,064 average) and sold retired 12,000 play tickets for 2026 prompting a waitlist. The Liberty are 2nd spot astatine $600m, and nan Fever successful 3rd astatine $560m. The mean squad worthy jumped 59% from 2025; conscionable 2 years ago, nan Aces were nan highest squad connected nan database astatine $140m. If you perceive closely, you tin perceive nan “women’s sports don’t make money” trolls falling to their knees successful agony.
🗓️ This week’s can’t-miss matchups
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Dallas Wings v Indiana Fever
Saturday 9 May, 1 p.m. Eastern Time, ABC
Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Aliyah Boston – nan erstwhile 4 No. 1 draught picks look disconnected connected opening weekend. Do we request to opportunity thing else?!
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Phoenix Mercury v Las Vegas Aces
Saturday 9 May, 3.30 p.m. Eastern Time, ABC
A rematch of past year’s finals between reigning MVP A’ja Wilson and MVP finalist Alyssa Thomas.
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A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces: Two years ago, she rocked metallic hairsbreadth to lucifer nan caller Aces jerseys. Last season, it was a pinkish wig to coordinate pinch nan motorboat of her signature sneaker, A’One. This year, a fiery reddish wig to copy pinch nan A’Two “Red Roses” debut sneaker.
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Flau’jae Johnson, Seattle Storm: For her first media day, nan Seattle rookie strikes a airs arsenic fierce arsenic her caller “Category 4 Storm” nickname.
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Li Yueru, Dallas Wings: Li and her saccharine Westie pup, Leyi, stole nan show astatine nan Wings’ media day. Where do I motion nan petition for each subordinate to bring their canine for a photoshoot?!
This is an extract from WNBA 30, wherever Jordan Robinson covers nan biggest stories successful nan convention connected and disconnected nan tribunal each week. Subscribe for free here. Who do you deliberation will person a breakout play and why? Email [email protected], and we whitethorn characteristic it successful nan adjacent edition.
