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I am taking this opportunity to break down the races for the major WNBA awards and decide who would get my vote with roughly 10 games left in the season. These opinions could change, but I think it is useful to see where these awards stand on August 21, so that we can evaluate these players down the stretch. August 22, 2025 Who Have Been the Best Players in the WNBA This Season? Steve Pimental Last week when I was trying to determine if anybody could prevent the Lynx from winning a record fifth WNBA championship , I paused to look at the odds for various WNBA awards. My sense from months of following the WNBA was that the Lynx had the frontrunners for several awards, including MVP, Coach of the Year and Most Improved Player. What I found is that my assumptions were not as obvious as I thought. So with that in mind, I am taking this opportunity to break down the races for the major WNBA awards and decide who would get my vote with roughly 10 games left in the season. These opinions could change, but I think it is useful to see where these awards stand on August 21, so that we can evaluate these players down the stretch. MVP - 1. A’ja Wilson, F, LVA 2. Napheesa Collier, F, MIN 3. Alyssa Thomas, F, PHX 4. Nneka Ogwumike, F, SEA 5. Sabrina Ionescu, G, NYL I really want my fictitious vote to go to Napheesa Collier, but with her injury and the Aces’ eight-game winning streak, I’m afraid that is a losing argument. Their numbers are awfully close, but Wilson is averaging 2.5 more rebounds per game. She leads the league in blocks per game and is second in rebounds and points. The Aces’ net rating is 27.5 points better when Wilson is on the court, and while I don’t want to give her extra credit for playing on a team with a terrible bench, it isn’t much of a stretch to say Wilson has singlehandedly carried her team into the playoffs. Collier is the best player on the best team, but she has played 135 fewer minutes. She leads the league in ppg, is fourth in steals and fifth in blocks. Her 56.8 effective field goal percentage is the highest among the players wer’re considering. Alyssa Thomas isn’t the scorer that Collier and Wilson are, but she is currently leading the league in assists and is legitimately Phoenix’s point guard on offense. Despite playing with three former All-Stars, Phoenix’s offense craters when Thomas is off the floor. They have a 106.6 offensive rating when she’s on the court and a 95.5 offensive rating with her off the court. She is fourth in the league in rebounds and eighth in steals, though she is fourth in the league in turnovers. It is hard to believe we are nine years removed from Ogwumike winning WNBA MVP. She is currently fourth in the WNBA in Player Impact Estimate, behind Wilson, Collier and Thomas. Ogwumike is eighth in ppg and 13th in rpg. I kind of feel like this last pick has to come from Atlanta or New York, but most of the candidates haven’t played enough, outside of Ionescu and Allisha Gray. Ionescu’s 28.3 percent usage is behind just Wilson and Satou Sabally, and that ultimately gives her the edge. Sabrina is fifth in points per game and seventh in assists while adding 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals. She narrowly gets my last spot ahead of Gray and Paige Bueckers. Rookie of the Year - Paige Bueckers Sonia Cintron and Kiki Iriafen have played well enough to win, but Bueckers has averaged 3.5 more points and 2.9 more assists per game than Cintron this season. I think Bueckers was actually underrated coming into the WNBA due to injuries and Caitlin Clark’s hype, but Bueckers was the National Player of the Year as a freshman and as a rookie she reminded everyone why. I don’t know that a guard is ever going to win MVP again but if one does, my guess is its Paige Bueckers. 6th Player of the Year - Jessica Shepard Naz Hillmon, Natisha Hiedeman and DeWanna Bonner also deserve strong consideration, but Shepard’s all-around game and contributions to winning stand out. She is shooting a career-high 60.8 percent from the field while averaging 7.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 20.2 minutes per game. Shepard is seventh in the entire league in Player Impact Estimate and is fifth in effective field goal percentage. Shepard also leads the league in offensive rebound percentage. She has stepped into the starting lineup seamlessly when Napheesa Collier went down, and she is a big reason the Lynx are 4-1 since Collier’s injury. Most Improved Player - Brittney Sykes On the surface, Sykes’s numbers are down slightly from 2023, when she averaged 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals. This season she is averaging 15.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals. I just think the ask has been so much greater this season. Sykes has always been a good defender and solid complimentary player, but before she was traded, she was the number one offensive option on a playoff team. There aren’t very many players in the league who are capable of that, and for making that leap, I think Sykes deserves the nod here. She didn’t have Elena Delle Donne or Natasha Cloud or Ariel Atkins to shoulder the offensive load. In addition to the higher degree of difficulty, Sykes also made tangible gains in her ability to get to the free throw line. She is averaging 5.7 free throw attempts per game, well above her career high of 3.8. Only A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart are averaging more free throw attempts per game than Brittney Sykes this season. I understand why Veronica Burton, Allisha Gray and Gabby Williams all deserve strong consideration, but I think the way Sykes has thrived in the face of so much more defensive attention should be recognized. Coach of the Year - Natalie Nakase This award is tricky because it so often comes down to which team exceeds expectations. The problem with voting that way is we never consider that maybe our expectations were wrong. I’m not saying Natalie Nakase doesn’t deserve credit for her team currently occupying a playoff spot despite consisting mostly of cast-offs from other teams, but maybe its the players who were better than we thought, and not that coach. At the same time, how much credit does Cheryl Reeve get for the Lynx being 6.5 games ahead of the Liberty and Dream? Minnesota probably should have the best record in the league, though nobody expected them to be this much better than everyone else. You could argue she did a better job this season than last, but she won this award last year and probably won’t this year. I spent a good part of my last article raving about the job Natalie Nakase has done this season, and I don’t think I need to rehash it too much here. I do think the Valkyries play very smart basketball, from mixing up their defenses to slowing down the pace to shooting the most threes in the league. Maybe it will turn out Kayla Thornton is a multi-time All-Star and Veronica Burton is a long-time starter, but it seems far more likely that Nakase has gotten the most out of them and their teammates, and that’s all you can want from a Coach of the Year. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author Steve Pimental would rather write 20,000 words about Stef Dolson than write two sentences about himself. He lives near Chicago with his beagle/shepard mix, Hootie.

The primary reason that we could see more player movement leading up to the trade deadline is that nearly everyone who isn’t on a rookie-scale contract will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. That means the teams that aren’t going to make the playoffs have no incentive to hold onto their veterans. July 20, 2025 Could This Be the Busiest Trade Deadline in WNBA History? Steve Pimental The WNBA historically hasn’t had many significant mid-season trades, due in part to the league’s hard salary cap. In the past 10 years, there are probably only two trades that significantly impacted the title race: Sylvia Fowles in 2016 and Marina Mabrey last season. You could argue how impactful the Mabrey trade was, but the Sun finished with the three seed and took the Minnesota Lynx to five games in the semi-finals, so that seems significant to me. Despite the historically fallow nature of the WNBA trade deadline, there are a few reasons to believe this season will buck that trend. The primary reason that we could see more player movement leading up to the trade deadline is that nearly everyone who isn’t on a rookie-scale contract will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. That means the teams that aren’t going to make the playoffs have no incentive to hold onto their veterans. They may as well try to get whatever they can now, rather than losing those players in free agency. The upcoming free agency free-for-all could also give added incentive to contending teams to try to add the final piece(s) of the puzzle. This could be the last playoff run for long-time contenders like the Aces, Liberty, and even Lynx. I think those teams will probably be free-agent destinations due to having good coaches and facilities, but nothing is certain beyond this season. If they have a chance to add a difference-maker this season and don’t, they might not get another shot anytime soon. Another reason we could see increased trade activity this season is that the standings are relatively wide open. For the last few seasons, we have had 2-3 serious title contenders who probably weren’t going to be caught no matter what the rest of the league did. This season, the playoff picture is wide open outside of the top seed. Minnesota is 3.5 games ahead of the second-place Liberty, and barring poor injury luck, they will almost certainly be the number one seed and make the WNBA Finals for a second consecutive season. Second place and eighth place in the standings are separated by just 4.5 games. The Liberty and Mercury look like the most serious threats to the Lynx, but the Fever and Aces are lurking if they can ever get right. Seattle and Atlanta have been surprisingly good as well, though it remains to be seen if that is sustainable. Those six teams can all reasonably feel like they are one trade away from being the second-best team in the league, and that could be the perfect storm for trade season to bubble over. If one contender makes a trade, it could spur an arms race up to the deadline. Both of the two previously impactful inseason trades came about as a result of good players asking out of a bad team, and we have already seen that once this season with Li Yueru requesting a trade out of Seattle and making her way to Dallas. That trade won’t have much of an impact on the playoff race unless Seattle suffers some frontcourt injuries, but it does demonstrate that player empowerment is alive and well. If a relatively obscure center can force her way off a playoff team, more established vets can probably find their way to contenders if they wish. The more significant trade this season involved a player who didn’t want to be traded, as the same Wings moved forward NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces for the Aces’ 2027 first-round draft pick. The Aces’ entire starting lineup, including Smith, will be free agents after this season, so that draft pick could be quite valuable. Even so, Smith might A’ja Wilson’s best frontcourt mate since Liz Cambage. The Aces have made the semi-finals in six consecutive seasons, and they still have a decent shot of making it seven straight, so long as they can climb out of the eighth seed. The Connecticut Sun have also made six consecutive semi-finals, though their streak will certainly end this season. Connecticut has the worst record in the league, and while the Chicago Sky owns swap rights on that pick, any hope of not conveying a high pick this season has likely gone out the window. Marina Mabrey already requested a trade in the off-season after forcing her way to Connecticut last year, but the Sun have thus far been unwilling to move her. Mabrey has been out for four weeks with a knee injury, but if she can return shortly after the All-Star break and stay healthy, Connecticut should be able to move her to a contender. Mabrey’s a career 35.8 percent three-point shooter who can also provide secondary ball-handling and playmaking. That makes her a fit with every playoff team, which is why the Sun and Sky traded for her previously. She probably makes the most sense in Atlanta, since she could help replace Rhyne Howard and then play next to Howard when Howard returns from her own knee injury, but somebody should rescue her from Connecticut. To the surprise of no one outside of the Chicago Sky front office, trading the number three overall pick and a 2027 first-round pick swap to Washington for one year of Ariel Atkins has backfired. The Sky are four games out of the last playoff spot, while rookie Sonia Citron, who was drafted with that pick, made the All-Star team over Atkins and several other strong candidates. Like Connecticut, Chicago won’t be able to recoup everything they gave up for Atkins, but they should get something for the two-time All-Star who has made five All-Defensive Teams. Like Mabrey, Atkins is miscast as her team’s primary perimeter scorer, but Atkins has shot 36.1 percent on threes in her career. Atkins might fit in Atlanta even more than Mabrey, but I think Atkins’s defense would be perfect in New York, where the Liberty have struggled to stop anybody on the perimeter with Betnijah Laney-Hamilton out. The Los Angeles Sparks are arguably the most interesting of the possible sellers. They have too much talent to be 8-14, and they are positioned reasonablly well for the future with Cameron Brink and Rikea Jackson not set to hit restricted free agency until 2028. My best guess is that the Sparks will try to re-sign Kelsey Plum to build around her and their young forwards, but Dearica Hamby and Azura Stevens are both former WNBA champions who could help just about any team in the league. Stevens is a better floor spacer but Hamby is probably better defensively. The Dallas Wings are interesting because they have already been involved in two trades this season. Their new front office under General Manager Curt Miller is pretty clearly focused on the future, but it is unclear how much he has to trade. Arike Ogunbowale has proven this season that she does not contribute to winning basketball. DiJonai Carrington has value as a two-way guard, though her lack of floor spacing could hurt teams in the playoffs. Carrington is currently third in rebounds per game among guards, and she could be a perfect fit for the Storm, who don’t shoot a ton of threes but have the second-lowest rebounding rate in the league. Seattle probably isn’t going to shake up its frontcourt rotation but Carrington could slot perfectly into the starting lineup next to Gabby Williams and Skylar Diggins. She would also allow Erica Wheeler to move into a bench role. Maybe they could make a three-team trade that would send Erica Wheeler to Phoenix, since the Mercury are somehow third in the league despite not having a veteran point guard on the roster. In addition to the borderline All-Stars who could be moved before the deadline, there are some significant bigs who shouldn’t be overlooked. Tina Charles could provide a scoring punch off the bench, though she could probably start for at least a couple of playoff teams. Elizabeth Williams is the perfect third big for any playoff team thanks to her defense and rebounding. Emma Cannon could be a quality backup as well, and would fit into a lot of team’s salary structures. Myisha Hines-Allen can probably be the third big on a playoff team though her per-36-minute production is as low as its ever been in her eight-year WNBA career. Still, most of the teams in the playoff race could use at least one backup big, and there should be no shortage of options available for trade. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

RotoWire expert Joe Mayo breaks down his top WNBA risers and fallers for Week 12, including Elizabeth Williams, who has stepped up for the Chicago Sky in Angel Reese's absence. With injuries shaking up the league and a busy week ahead, there are plenty of opportunities to add viable fantasy contributors -- though some players may be trending in the wrong direction. August 11, 2025 Fantasy WNBA Week 12: Top Risers and Fallers Joe Mayo Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for Week 12 Emma Meesseman , New York Liberty: Meesseman made her New York debut Sunday, Aug. 3, and she has now logged 31 minutes in back-to-back games after initially joining the team on a minutes restriction. The 32-year-old center has provided much-needed relief for the injury-riddled Liberty, who are expected to be without Breanna Stewart and Nyara Sabally in Week 12 due to knee injuries. It also remains uncertain when Kennedy Burke will return from a calf injury. Meesseman has scored in double figures in all four of her appearances so far, finishing with at least 18 ESPN fantasy points in each outing. During that span, she has averaged 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks across 25.8 minutes per game. Elizabeth Williams , Chicago Sky: Williams has seen somewhat of an inconsistent role throughout the season but has stepped up while Angel Reese has been sidelined due to a back injury. While Reese is considered day-to-day, there's currently no timetable for her return. That opens the door for Williams to maintain her increased role. Over her last five appearances (four starts), the veteran center has averaged 12.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 blocks, shooting 49.1 percent from the field in 29.0 minutes per game. Williams remains a valuable fantasy asset and should continue to play a meaningful role, especially if Reese remains on the shelf in Week 12. Julie Allemand , Los Angeles Sparks: Allemand has been a mainstay in Los Angeles' starting lineup since early July, and she has been consistently contributing across categories of late. Over her last five appearances, the 29-year-old guard has averaged 7.6 points, 6.8 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting 44.4 percent from the field across 34.4 minutes per game. She has also scored at least 19 ESPN fantasy points in all five of those appearances and continues to provide fantasy value -- especially in deeper leagues. Key Fantasy WNBA Fallers to Avoid This Week Tiffany Mitchell , Seattle Storm: Mitchell had seen consistent playing time in the seven outings following the All-Star break, during which she averaged 19.1 minutes per game. However, the arrival of Brittney Sykes has shifted the Storm's backcourt, with Mitchell logging fewer than seven minutes in back-to-back games. With Sykes moving into the starting five, Erica Wheeler slid to the bench in Sunday's loss to the Sparks. However, Wheeler will likely continue to command a significant role for the club, meaning Mitchell's playing time could continue to remain limited unless injuries arise. Nia Coffey , Atlanta Dream: Coffey logged double-digit minutes in three consecutive appearances in early August, though that trend may be coming to an end. Following a 10-game absence due to a knee injury, Rhyne Howard returned to action in Sunday's win over the Mercury and should continue to see an increase in minutes as the club eases her back into action. Brittney Griner also returned Sunday after a three-game absence due to a neck injury. As a result, Coffey logged just five minutes and didn't attempt a single shot. With Howard and Griner gradually ramping up to their normal roles, Coffey's minutes may remain limited. JJ Quinerly , Dallas Wings: Quinerly started 13 consecutive games before being moved to the bench in Friday's loss to the Liberty. During the first of those six starts, she averaged 16.0 points, 4.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals across 30.3 minutes per game. However, the rookie has struggled since the All-Star break and now appears to be trending in the wrong direction. Over her last three appearances (one start), Quinerly has totaled 15 points in just 24 minutes. Meanwhile, Haley Jones has emerged as a viable starting option, and Quinerly faces increasing competition for backcourt minutes from Jones, Aziaha James and Grace Berger behind stars like Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale . Fantasy WNBA Player to Watch in Week 12 Lexie Hull , Indiana Fever: Hull struggled in her first eight games following the All-Star break, averaging 3.1 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting an abysmal 18.8 percent from the field across 20.6 minutes per game. However, she delivered her best fantasy performance of the season when Caitlin Clark (groin), Sydney Colson (knee) and Aari McDonald (foot) were sidelined in Friday's win over Chicago. During the win, Hull posted 17 points (5-9 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds, three assists and three steals across 32 minutes. The 25-year-old guard has the opportunity to step up for an injury-riddled Fever if Clark remains sidelined, as Colson and McDonald have both been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 campaign. Those looking for up-to-the-minute fantasy WNBA news can check out RotoWire's WNBA Injury Report and WNBA Lineups . RotoWire also features Top WNBA Picks and Player Props on a daily basis to help find the best betting lines for each night's slate. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author @WiscoMayo Joe Mayo writes about fantasy sports for RotoWire

Caitlin Clark’s availability for this one is still up in the air, but the last time Indy played LA [without her], they lost by double-digits. The Fever, however, are fresh off a Commissioner’s Cup Chip which could give them renewed confidence moving forward. July 4, 2025 REVENGE WEEK: Top 8 Matchups for Week 8 EJ Arocho Indiana Fever vs Los Angeles Sparks | Saturday at 7:00 pm ET Caitlin Clark’s availability for this one is still up in the air, but the last time Indy played LA [without her], they lost by double-digits. The Fever, however, are fresh off a Commissioner’s Cup Chip which could give them renewed confidence moving forward. The Sparks will look very different this time around; with Odyssey Sims, Shey Peddy and Liatu King being waived to bring back guards Rae Burrell (injury) and Julie Allemand (EuroBasket). One constant for them, Azura Stevens, went off for 23 points in that 85-75 win. If the Fever want to spark revenge, they’ll need big production from Commish Cup MVP Natasha Howard and firecracker Sophie Cunningham off the bench. Seattle Storm vs New York Liberty | Sunday at 1:00 pm ET Defending champ NY’s first meeting with Seattle didn’t go as planned: no Jonquel, no Sabrina and a 10-point loss. Two-way terror Natasha Cloud was held to just 5 points in that loss! For Seattle, it was a different story. It couldn’t have gone better! Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins combined for 46 and decimated the Liberty with an inside-out 1-2 punch. Gabby Williams recorded a double-double and the bench, although small in numbers, was efficient! NY will look to weather the Storm and get back on the winning track after what’s been a rough two weeks. Chicago Sky vs Washington Mystics | Tuesday at 11:30 am ET Brittney Sykes exploded for a near career-high 32 points and Washington took down Chicago 79-72 a few weeks ago. ROY candidates KiKi Iriafen and Sonia Citron were tame in that meeting, combining for a quiet 21 points, yet all the pieces came together for the Mystics. For the Sky, Angel Reese has looked better than ever lately and will need another huge performance with the absence of 6’7” big Kamilla Cardoso. They’ll also look to 3-point sniper Rachel Banham for production off the bench. She was held scoreless in that June 17th meeting. Las Vegas Aces vs New York Liberty | Tuesday at 8:00 pm ET These two teams saw their season begin with a mighty clash of the titans between MVP candidates Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson. Stewie led the Libs to a win by pouring in 25 points on 10-14 shooting, while the defending league MVP posted a ridiculous 31 points and 16 rebounds to keep the Aces competitive. The biggest story, however, was Natasha Cloud in her first games in seafoam threads: 22 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks! They don’t win that game without her tremendous all-court effort! Vegas will look a little different this time around, having waived Tiffany Mitchell, Liz Kitley and Crystal Bradford and adding NaLyssa Smith from Dallas. They won’t have to worry about dealing with 6’6” Jonquel Jones out with injury (put up 17 points in the first meeting) but must find an answer for Stewart and especially Cloud. Indiana Fever vs Golden State Valkyries | Wednesday at 12:00 pm ET The Valks stormed back to dissolve Indiana’s 59-55 halftime lead in their first meeting of the season and take the 11-point win. Five players scored in double-figures for Golden State, including a career-high 12 points off the bench from x-factor Chloe Bibby (who has since been waived). Cold shooting from Caitlin Clark saw the superstar go 3 for 14 from the field, including a rare performance with no 3-point baskets (0-7). If CC is available for this one (groin injury), they’ll surely need a sizzling stat line from her to get this revenge dub. Some logo 3’s, maybe a triple-double?? Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx | Wednesday at 3:30 pm ET Phoenix has looked completely different since the last time these two met up. They’ve been arguably the hottest team in the league the past two weeks with All-Star Satou Sabally leading the way. With starters Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper back and instantly clicking, the outcome may look totally different this time around. Minnesota will lean on leading MVP contender Napheesa Collier and Sixth Player of the Year candidate Natisha Hiedeman to make it three-in-a-row. Connecticut Sun vs Seattle Storm | Wednesday at 11:00 am ET Rookie Aneesah Morrow had a breakout game in their first meeting, but it still wasn’t enough as CT fell 97-81. They need wins and need them desperately to keep their season alive, and a get-back win over a hot Seattle would be huge on the resume. Containing their size and speed is no easy task, but with Nees clicking off the bench, it could be a great sign, especially if vet Tina Charles gets going early. Haley Peters, who’s had a few good games but was held scoreless last time, could emerge as an x-factor off the bench. Washington Mystics vs Las Vegas Aces | Thursday at 7:30 pm ET With the season series split at 1-1, this contest could be one of the best of Week 8 and the rookies might have a lot to do with it! Washington won the most recent meeting, with Lucy Olsen having a breakout game, dropping 14 points off the bench and fellow rooks Sonia Citron and KiKi Iriafen combining for 33. Vegas’s Aaliyah Nye was particularly quiet in this one, scoring just 2 points in 22 minutes. With a revamped roster and revenge on their mind, the Aces will look to return the favor and beat Washington on their home court. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author EJ Arocho is Mr. Women’s Basketball and lives in New Jersey. Lives by the shore but looking to make waves everywhere!

Vegas and Minnesota enter Friday's matchup both riding a 3-game win streak. A'ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier have put up incredible numbers and lead MVP talks mid-way through the season... July 25, 2025 The Hottest Storylines in the WNBA This Week EJ Arocho MVP Candidates Clash Vegas and Minnesota enter Friday's matchup both riding a 3-game win streak. A'ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier have put up incredible numbers and lead MVP talks mid-way through the season. The last time these two teams faced off, A'ja was out on concussion protocol and Vegas went on to lose by 14. Averaging 22.4 PPG, she accounts for nearly 30% of Vegas's scoring, making her one of the most impactful and important players in the league. Phee is coming off a record-breaking All-Star performance, dropping 36 points on her way to MVP honors... or should I say, MV'Phee honors. At 23.0 PPG, she has catapulted the Lynx to the top spot in the standings and currently leads league MVP talks. Grab your popcorn for this one! Scary Hours Ahead for New York The Liberty has a loaded schedule this week, playing four games in six days! No easy games, with Phoenix on Friday, LA on Saturday, Dallas on Monday and what could be a Finals preview on Wednesday vs Minnesota. Good thing for them Jonquel Jones is back and looking sharp! In her return from injury on Tuesday, she dropped a team-high 18 points in a big dub over Indiana. A lineup that already included Sabrina, Stewie and Natasha Cloud was already scary enough. Now they bring back JJ and add former Finals MVP Emma Meesseman to the mix! It's unclear when Emma will make her debut (visa application), but with her on the roster, NY flaunts the best starting 5 in the league. DeWanna Bonner's Return to Gainbridge It's been a month since DB was granted a release by the Indiana Fever and 2 weeks since she made her debut with Phoenix and reunited with fiancee Alyssa Thomas. She'll face a likely hostile crowd when the Mercury roll into Indianapolis on Wednesday to take on the Fever in a highly-anticipated showdown. In four games with her new team, DeWanna has looked sharp, even vintage, at times. Averaging 14.5 PPG, she's been a spark off the bench. Indiana Must Manage Without Caitlin Clark The Fever have played a majority of this season with their superstar sidelined due to injury and will have to navigate yet another week of the same. News came out Thursday that there is no timetable for her return (groin injury), so it's unlikely she'll see any action in these next two games. Kelsey Mitchell is one of the best guards in the W, and at nearly 20.0 PPG, she's playing like an All-WBA First Team candidate. She's surrounded by a strong group averaging double-digit scoring, with Aliyah Boston pouring in 15.5 PPG and Natasha Howard contributing 11.7 PPG. Aari McDonald has been a tremendous addition to the PG role, dishing and scoring at a high level. In Caitlin's absence, she has been fantastic! They'll face Chicago on Sunday followed by Phoenix on Wednesday. Paige Bueckers, Runaway ROY? Paige secured the first half of the season, but can she do the same the rest of the way? The second half kicks off today vs Golden State, a team she dropped 20 on last time they played and snatched the dub. Dallas then takes on Las Vegas, New York and Atlanta to round out the week. While she's yet to face Sabrina Ionescu & the Liberty, she is winless so far vs Vegas and 1-1 vs Atlanta. She currently leads the Wings in scoring, assists and steals and has solidified her position atop the ROY leaderboard. This will be a testy week but could etch her name further in the rookie history books if she plays her best basketball. Angel Reese Must Stay On The Floor The Chicago Sky picked up a few big wins in recent weeks over Los Angeles, Dallas and top dog Minnesota, averaging just under 20.0 PPG and shooting nearly 60% from the field! The double-double machine has looked terrific lately, but if Chicago wants to have a chance vs Indiana and Washington, they'll need her present. Reese picked up her seventh tech of the season in the first game back from All-Star Weekend vs Minnesota, putting her at risk for a one-game suspension if she picks up one more. Her competitive spirit is undeniable as she plays with a lot of passion and intensity, but with Chicago currently at 11th in the standings, she can't afford to miss a game. She's the nucleus of this team, leading them in rebounds, while ranking second in points and assists. Cameron Brink's Long-Awaited Return It's been 13 months since we've last seen Cameron Brink play basketball, sidelined with an ACL injury sustained just 15 games into her rookie season. This could all change this week, as Sparks' Head Coach Lynne Roberts recently stated they're hopeful for her return "before the end of July." Well, with the end of July around the corner, her status could upgrade any day now. LA has games against New York and Vegas this week, two quality opponents loaded with superstar talent. Brink's return to action could totally change LA's subpar season and possibly drive them to compete for a playoff spot. She was averaging 7.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG & 2.3 BPG before going down with the ACL tear. We have seen clips emerge of Cam participating in shootaround and practice reps, with her status last week upgraded from OUT to QUESTIONABLE. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

July 3, 2025 WNBA ALL-STAR GAME & MORE Jaden Fode SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

May 29, 2025 Jaden's Picks - WNBA SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

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May 21, 2025 Katelyn's Must Watch Matchups May 2025 SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

May 19, 2025 Meet Jaden Fode SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author

There have been so many factors in my women’s sports fandom that it is nearly impossible to isolate just a few. One thing I am confident in, however, is that it began with my younger sister, Leslie. May 7, 2025 The "Why?" Behind Steve Pimental Steve Pimental I was exiting the merchandise tent at a Chicago Stars FC game in April when I heard my brother-in-law tell my nephew, “I think Uncle Steve needs to get that shirt.” I hadn’t planned on spending any money on merch that day, but when I saw the black t-shirt with the Stars FC logo and “SUPPORT WOMEN’S SPORTS” across the front, I immediately walked back into the tent to find one in my size. It is a source of pride that my friends and family would associate me with such an important message, though if I’m being honest, I am still not entirely sure how I got here. Perhaps that is because there have been so many factors in my women’s sports fandom that it is nearly impossible to isolate just a few. One thing I am confident in, however, is that it began with my younger sister, Leslie. Growing up I would play sports in the neighborhood any chance I could. When it came time to pick teams, I always tried to pick Leslie, because I knew she would be underestimated by the other boys and give me the best chance to win. This was especially true when we played basketball. I would always try to find her with passes when we had the ball, because she knew how to get open and I trusted her to make shots. Leslie played soccer and basketball in high school but unfortunately, I didn’t get to see her play too often because I was away at college at Illinois State. I had never cared much for college sports growing up, but I couldn’t get enough while I was a student. I drove eight hours with some friends to watch the ISU women’s volleyball team play in Kentucky. Two of my best columns for the school newspaper were about how much fun the women's volleyball team was and how more people should watch the WNBA. Attending ISU volleyball, softball and women’s basketball games live was thrilling, and I think that is one of the reasons my passion for women’s sports has endured over the years. I have attended plenty of men’s professional sporting events in my lifetime, but nothing will compare to attending the 2009 Solheim Cup, or the last two games of the 2021 WNBA Finals. One of the things I have always appreciated about women’s sports is the accessibility. Watching the Blackhawks and Cubs win championships on TV was thrilling, but being in the Arena when the Sky took down the Mercury was something else. As you can probably imagine, I could talk about women’s sports for days. And I often do. I love the women’s sports community and how accessible and relatable women’s athletes are. It is great to watch this thing that I have loved start to take off, and yet when someone asks me why I love women’s sports, I still struggle to answer. I think the real reason I can’t answer the question is that I don’t really understand why everyone doesn’t love women’s sports. Everything I have loved about sports since I was a little kid is encapsulated every day in places like the WNBA, NWSL, LPGA, WSL, and beyond. Why wouldn’t I want to be a part of that? Especially now that all those leagues are starting to take off. There has never been a better time to be a fan of women’s sports, and launching this site is one part of that. I cannot wait to see where it goes, and I hope you will all join me for the ride. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author Steve Pimental would rather write 20,000 words about Stef Dolson than write two sentences about himself. He lives near Chicago with his beagle/shepard mix, Hootie.

I am so grateful that this dream came true. Through the tough times, l use the mantra "Basketball is Fun". It's a reminder of why I play the game and it takes some stress off of it all. July 2, 2025 In The Know W/ Lucy Olsen Lucy Olsen LFG is all about building community around women’s sports. How does the fan community of the WNBA compare to what you experienced in the NCAA? The fan community in the WNBA is growing everyday. The NCAA fan base especially at lowa was hard to match. But the WNBA's fans are amazing. Every game is loud and the fans are super engaged. I am excited to see how it continues to transform in the next couple of years. Lots of people might dream about becoming professional athletes, but you made it a reality. Did you have a mantra that kept you going when it got tough? Where does your badassery come from? I am so grateful that this dream came true. Through the tough times, I use the mantra "Basketball is Fun". It's a reminder of why I play the game and it takes some stress off of it all. I would say my parents gave me the "badassery". They are just so strong and have taught me to never give up. When it comes to watching women’s sports, who are some of your favorite athletes that you love rooting for and why? I enjoy watching any WNBA game that is on. I love watching Caitlin Clark and Sabrina lonescu. And then of course this next NCAA season I'll be sure to follow the Hawkeyes :) SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author Lucy Anne Olsen is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes and previously played for the Villanova Wildcats . Olsen was selected 23rd overall by the Mystics in the 2025 WNBA draft .