3 weeks ago
What I’m astir looking guardant to …
A summertime of hoops without nan specter of CBA uncertainty. There’s nary uncertainty past play had highs – nan Aces’ third title, nan Liberty’s prima power, breakout rookies and nan emergence of nan Golden State Valkyries – but nan anticipation of a shortened, delayed aliases moreover cancelled 2026 play loomed complete truthful overmuch of 2025. After 17 months of negotiations and hard-earned, deserved wins by nan players, present we are. My 2nd answer: getting Jordan Robinson’s WNBA 30 newsletter successful my inbox each Tuesday! EB
As a Canadian, I can’t not opportunity the Toronto Tempo. The description squad person aggressively built a competitory roster by securing awesome assets: Marina Mabrey and Nyara Sabally via nan description draft; Brittney Sykes, Temi Fágbénlé, and Canada’s Kia Nurse successful free agency; and nan NCAA champion Kiki Rice pinch nan sixth wide pick. Plus nan two-time WNBA champion coach Sandy Brondello, who has a cleanable playoff record, brings contiguous credibility and a winning civilization to nan optimistic caller franchise. YE
How nan description teams do this season. The Tempo and Fire correspond caller life and power successful nan W and are specified different teams – it’s beautiful typical that we get to bask them together. SK
The pre-game catwalks. The men person dominated this abstraction since nan institution of nan NBA dress code. But now that their WNBA counterparts person stepped up, pinch immoderate making millions connected nan tribunal for nan first clip successful their careers, it feels for illustration it’s only a matter of clip earlier women’s hoops players really commencement voguing it up disconnected nan court, and fashion’s apical stylists and designers unreserved successful to beryllium portion of nan show. AL
A awesome upset, particularly if it’s lands connected nan Aces. The Aces winning is simply a spot predictable astatine nan point, and they’ve intelligibly built a powerfulness team. I’m rooting for nan underdog. TR
Biggest offseason development
The convention and players agreeing to a historical CBA. The US master sports world has ne'er seen this benignant of melodramatic salary leap; nan net headdress is up 364%, and minimum salaries quadrupled. And, importantly, these salary boosts don’t conscionable impact nan apical 1%. The effect of nan caller CBA is being felt crossed nan board, from those large stars - hello, A’ja Wilson’s league-record contract – to nan middle-class, self-described “heartbeat” – hello, Courtney Williams’s plan to bargain her mom a location – to under-the-radar youngsters, who now person a chance to make squads arsenic “development players” without counting against nan cap. EB
Have Phoenix done capable to support pace? Unlikely. Losing All-Star Satou Sabally aft nan finals nonaccomplishment to Las Vegas suggests not. They drafted 2 19-year-olds and are relying connected veterans DeWanna Bonner and Sami Whitcomb, positive Valériane Ayayi, who hasn’t played successful nan convention for complete a decade. However, Phoenix’s decisions were doubted past year, too. Maybe they tin astonishment america again. YE
Everything nan Sky did during free agency is worthy paying attraction to. The Angel Reese waste and acquisition was huge, signing specified a beardown group of veterans is compelling, and nan team’s openness to truthful readily talk those decisions during training campy makes it look for illustration nan gloves are disconnected – they aren’t hiding anything. SK
Something astir a caller deal? Not FDR’s … AL
Natasha Cloud not signing a max contract, and concisely remaining unsigned during nan preseason. It was 1 of nan astir absorbing offseason storylines. Whether it stemmed from her outspoken stance connected world conflict, convention authorities and nan CBA aliases not, it sparked speech astir what nan WNBA genuinely supports. Either way, it feels for illustration added information for her. TR
The astonishment squad will beryllium …
The Washington Mystics. Sure, they person nan youngest roster successful nan league. Sure, they fired their GM days earlier this year’s draught and stayed quiet during free agency. Just 2 of nan 12 players connected their roster person much than 1 twelvemonth of WNBA experience, but their young players are immoderate of nan league’s astir breathtaking talents. Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were an All-Star duo; constituent defender Georgia Amoore will debut aft missing past twelvemonth to injury; draftees Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalić are caller disconnected UCLA’s title run. The attraction is astir apt much than winning games, but nan pieces are compelling capable to nutrient astatine slightest immoderate moments of keeping nan league’s heavy-hitters connected their toes. EB
After 5 consecutive playoff misses, nan Los Angeles Sparks yet person a versatile roster. Ta’Niya Latson, nan 20th pick, could beryllium a draught bargain and Nneka Ogwumike, backmost successful LA aft 2 seasons successful Seattle, is expected to build connected her MVP-calibre play past season. YE
The Dallas Wings. I cognize you can’t spell by preseason games alone, but nan Wings are almost an wholly caller team. I’m not saying they’re going to triumph it all, but they’ll decidedly astonishment rather a fewer people. Coach Jose Fernandez seems is simply a earthy fresh pinch nan roster, and nan full statement seems wholly aligned. SK
The Sparks? I’m seeing a batch of powerfulness rankings that person them pegged arsenic a apical 5 team, but I honestly deliberation they could beryllium amended pinch Ogwumike backmost connected broadside and Cameron Brink healthy. Even nan luxury of a lineup that made accordant usage of Brink – who has averaged 13 minutes crossed nan 34 games she’s played since going 2nd successful nan 2024 draught – would beryllium awesome boost for a squad who don’t deficiency for complementary pieces successful Kelsey Plum, Rickea Jackson and nan someway still underappreciated Dearica Hamby. AL
The Wings, of course. Last season, they vanished adjacent nan bottommost of nan league, moreover pinch Paige Bueckers’s tribunal IQ and prima power. But now, they person Azzi Fudd, a caller coach, and abruptly look dangerous. Many group will beryllium amazed if they go a morganatic playoff team. TR
One bold prediction
Veronica Burton will beryllium an All-Star. Maybe I’m biased, having covered Burton for her full assemblage profession astatine Northwestern, but she was 1 of nan astir breathtaking players to watch past season, mounting career-highs crossed categories, earning Most Improved Player honors and powering nan description Valkyries to a historical playoff appearance. Burton is their motor and could return different leap successful twelvemonth 2 successful Ballhalla. A brace of teammates could subordinate her: Kayla Thornton and caller summation Gabby Williams were some first-time All-Stars successful 2025. EB
Chennedy Carter will triumph Sixth Woman of nan Year. The explosive scorer was unsigned successful 2025 contempt averaging 17.5 points for Chicago nan twelvemonth before. Now pinch nan Aces, Carter could lead nan 2nd unit’s offence. She has averaged complete 14.2 points successful each but 1 of her 4 WNBA seasons, but has besides been retired of nan convention twice. YE
The Tempo will make nan playoffs this year. Sandy Brondello has ne'er missed nan playoffs. I’m not counting her retired this play either. SK
Another WNBA squad is put up connected nan market. Who wouldn’t beryllium tempted now that valuations are done nan tile – and nan Valkyries’ nett worthy said to beryllium astir $1bn contempt having just entered nan league. AL
The Lynx either won’t make nan playoffs aliases won’t beforehand acold successful nan postseason. A batch has shifted successful nan squad dynamic, and not needfully for nan better. Napheesa Collier is still injured, nan Stud Budz collapsed up, and a batch of their halfway players re-signed elsewhere. Between roster movement, chemistry concerns, lingering contention from past season, and nan unit of rebuilding astir a smaller core, I deliberation they could struggle. TR
The rookie of nan twelvemonth will beryllium …
Olivia Miles. Will this beryllium nan first twelvemonth since 2021 successful which nan No 1 prime doesn’t triumph rookie of nan year? Miles should slot into nan starting lineup arsenic nan Lynx’s constituent defender and will person plentifulness of opportunities to show disconnected nan passing crippled that saw her mean 6.5 assists successful college. Coach Cheryl Reeve has praised her expertise to get to nan rim and score, and if Miles consistently has nan shot successful her hands, she tin rack up nan stats. EB
Olivia Miles. A acheronian equine fixed nan past 4 winners were No 1 picks, but dissimilar Fudd, whose domiciled whitethorn beryllium constricted astatine Dallas, Miles is expected to get important minutes moving offence for nan Minnesota Lynx, perchance moreover starting. As nan class’s champion passer and superior ball-handler, Miles’ beardown all-around accumulation and playmaking will instantly effect her team. YE
Flau’jae Johnson. So galore rookies – Miles, Fudd, and Lauren Betts among them – are apt to person really beardown seasons, but Johnson has that other magnetism that we’ve seen successful caller winners of this award. Her preseason crippled was beardown and Seattle seems for illustration specified a bully fit. SK
After being touted arsenic nan apical prime and sliding to third, I could spot Awa Fam having thing to beryllium – and first-year caput coach Sonia Raman, who has been making footstools of adversity each her life, pushing her to make a connection astatine nan Seattle Storm. AL
Azzi Fudd is awesome astatine galore things: shooting, creating unfastened abstraction for her teammates, and sneakily gets to nan handbasket past her opponent. She has a batch of learning to do connected defense, her shooting expertise will outweigh her misses connected nan court. TR
The MVP will beryllium …
A’ja Wilson makes it five. There’s nary subordinate for illustration her successful nan convention because there’s nary subordinate who tin exert nan benignant of power crossed nan level that she does. Offensively, defensively, on-ball, off-ball, she does it all. The database of players successful nan awesome American squad sports to triumph 5 MVP awards is short: Peyton Manning (NFL); Barry Bonds (MLB); Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Bill Russell and Michael Jordan (NBA); Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe (NHL). Wilson joins that crew. EB
Is it boring to opportunity A’ja Wilson? Probably. But really do you look past nan champion two-way subordinate successful nan WNBA and perchance nan top to ever play successful nan league? She averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per crippled past play and successful summation to winning her 4th MVP, she claimed nan 3rd Defensive Player of nan Year grant of her career. She is inevitable. YE
I’m going pinch A’ja Wilson again because I can’t deliberation of a azygous subordinate who tin really drawback her, fto unsocial apical her. Wilson is genuinely 1 of a benignant and she doesn’t look for illustration she’s anyplace adjacent her ceiling. SK
A’ja Wilson has had to put up pinch her fellow talking astir scoring 83 points successful an NBA crippled since March. Her consequence could beryllium 1 for nan books. AL
Chelsea Gray. In nan preseason group paid attraction to her hustle and nan activity that’s been paying disconnected successful nan offseason. She’s ever been a ace ascendant force, but she unluckily lived successful nan shadows of players specified arsenic Wilson and Jonquel Jones. But now much than ever, it’s her time. TR
Playoff semi-finalists
Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks. EB
Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever. YE
Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks. SK
Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever. AL
Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever. TR
The champion will beryllium …
As breathtaking arsenic it would beryllium to spot nan Fever aliases Sparks triumph their first titles successful a decade-plus, aliases watch nan Liberty dress up for past year’s disappointing first-round exit, it’s difficult to stake against nan Aces. They’re nan astir complete squad successful nan league, and they only sewage stronger by holding connected to playoff spark plug Dana Evans and bringing Carter to Sin City. Becky Hammon makes it four. EB
It is going to beryllium difficult but nan Aces. The feat would solidify their position arsenic 1 of nan WNBA’s top dynasties. Their star-studded roster includes Wilson, on pinch 3 different six-time All-Stars: Chelsea Gray (four-time champion, 2022 Finals MVP), Jewell Loyd (2023 scoring champion), and Jackie Young (two-time All-WNBA). How do you extremity them? YE
The Aces. I’m ever rooting for an underdog and emotion to spot caller names successful nan mix, but tin admit a dynasty successful statement erstwhile I spot it. What Hammon is doing successful Las Vegas will beryllium studied 1 day, and this play will beryllium yet different notch connected nan team’s belt. SK
Hard to stake against nan Aces. They person nan champion player, nan champion coach and overmuch stronger 2nd portion pinch Evans and Carter connected board. All that’s opinionated successful their measurement is history. Only nan aged Houston Comets person won 4 championships successful 5 years. Right now, nan Aces look a beardown stake to repetition nan feat. AL
The Liberty. Right now, because of nan CBA-induced philharmonic chairs that took spot complete nan offseason, it’s difficult to consciousness for illustration immoderate squad has a resistant and beardown statement successful place, moreover nan Liberty. But nan nonaccomplishment of past year’s playoff bid must person hurt. They besides person nan acquisition of Sabally, a protect menace, on pinch Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jones. It’s judge to beryllium a capacity worthy watching. TR
