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I thought that Aliyah Boston wouldn’t seriously contend for an MVP award until Wilson, Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas see their performance slip, either due to age, injury, or both. Now, I’m not so sure. March 3, 2026 The Future is Now for Aliyah Boston Steve Pimental Back in December, I questioned if the era of forward dominance in the WNBA was coming to an end. As I pointed out in that article, while the best players in the WNBA have been forwards for most of its history, and certainly the last 15 years, the best forwards in the league will all be 30-years-old or older in 2026, and the best young players in the league are almost exclusively guards. The biggest exception, I noted, was Aliyah Boston. Boston was coming off a season in which she tied for sixth in MVP voting and went toe-to-toe with four-time MVP A’ja Wilson in the second round of the playoffs. When I wrote that article, I thought that Boston wouldn’t seriously contend for an MVP award until Wilson, Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas see their performance slip, either due to age, injury, or both. Now, I’m not so sure. On Saturday, Boston was named the Unrivaled Defense Player of the Year after leading the league with 29 blocks in 14 games. She also finished third in the league with 7.9 defensive rebounds per game. Additionally, Boston was the only forward to make an All-Unrivaled team; the other five spots all went to guards. For as much as the 3-on-3 format of Unrivaled allowed athletic post players like Boston to rack up stats, it is clear the voters thought guards were the ones driving winning. Boston was the exception. I believe she should be in the MVP discussion this upcoming season. While there is much to discuss with Boston’s potential MVP candidacy, I want to begin with her defense. I am beginning to wonder if I underrated Boston’s defense. She made the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team last season, but I thought that had more to do with name recognition than anything else. The Fever as a team were exactly in the middle of the pack last season with a 101.8 defensive rating. Their defensive rating was only 1.6 points better when she was on the court than when she was off the court. Boston had an 11.3 net rating last season, but it was almost all on the offensive end, as Indiana had a 108.1 offensive rating with Boston on the court and a 95.2 offensive rating when she was off the court. It is worth noting that A’ja Wilson’s two worst games in the playoffs both came against Aliyah Boston and the Fever in the second round. That series was probably the first time I noticed Boston’s defense, but that probably isn’t fair. Boston and Natasha Howard probably deserve a lot of credit for getting Indiana to an average defense. Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham are pests who put in a lot of effort, but both were miscast as perimeter stoppers. On top of that, Indiana dealt with myriad injuries throughout the season but they still managed to finish with the seventh-best defensive rating in the league. I don’t think I gave the Fever in general, or Boston in particular, enough credit for that. That being said, I still think Boston’s biggest impact was on the offensive end, where Indiana finished third in offensive rating despite missing Caitlin Clark for 31 games. Kelsey Mitchell, Aari McDonald, Caitlin Clark and Odyssey Sims deserve credit for the offense as well, but Boston arguably deserves the most. Only Caitlin Clark had a higher offensive rating for the Fever, though Kelsey Mitchell’s 13.5 differential was slightly higher than Boston’s 12.9. In terms of overall impact, Boston’s probably was greater even though Mitchell finished (slightly) higher in MVP voting. Indiana’s net rating was 11.3 points better when Aliyah Boston was on the court, compared to 8.4 for Kelsey Mitchell and 6.4 for Caitlin Clark. There is a reason why forwards keep winning MVP awards, and also why I think Boston’s MVP chances are underrated in 2026. Since winning Unrivaled DPOY, Boston’s MVP odds are up to +5000 on FanDuel, though she is still +10000 on DraftKings. That being said, even on FanDuel I think there could be value. No guard has won the MVP since Diana Taurasi in 2009, but six guards have better MVP odds than Aliyah Boston on FanDuel. You could probably convince me that Caitlin Clark would be the first guard to win MVP in 17 years (more on that later), but Sabrina Ionescu? Kelsey Plum? Allisha Gray? Give me Boston. Aliyah Boston is entering her age 24 season in 2026. The last two MVPs, A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, were both 24 when they won their first MVP awards. Maya Moore was 25. Elena Delle Donne and Nneka Ogwumike were 26. If Boston is going to ascend to superstardom, as I would argue she is destined to do, now is about the time it would happen. Boston’s improvement has been incremental through her first three WNBA seasons, but I think the confidence she has gained this offseason playing in Unrivaled as well as Team USA could propel her forward. Boston had career-highs in usage (21.5%), points per game (15.0) and assists per game (3.7). She also averaged her fewest turnovers per game. All of this despite playing with four different point guards and players constantly in and out of the lineup. Indiana had 10 different players start at least three games last season despite Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and Natasha Howard each starting all 44 games. With that in mind, I think part of Boston’s MVP case in 2026 will depend on her surrounding talent. If Kelsey Mitchell returns, it could be difficult for Boston to score enough to stand out among the other candidates. On the other hand, if Natasha Howard moves on and Indiana replaces her minutes with Chloe Bibby or another floor spacer, that could make it a lot easier for Boston to navigate the paint. I would also like to see Indiana bring back Sophie Cunningham, who was perfect on this team as a low-usage floor spacer and a general pest. It was much easier for Indiana’s stars when they had two such players in Cunningham and Lexie Hull. All that being said, the biggest impediment to Boston winning MVP next season is probably Caitlin Clark. Clark currently has the best MVP odds despite probably not being the best player on her own team. At the same time, that might not matter. Clark is the most popular player the sport has ever seen, and she has led the league in assists in both of her WNBA seasons. She was seventh in the league in scoring as a rookie and led the league in three-point makes. If she does that again next season, will the voters care if she leads the league in turnovers for a third consecutive season? For her career, Clark is shooting 40.5 percent from the field overall and 32.9 percent on threes, but that hasn’t diminished her popularity or, it would seem, her MVP odds. That being said, if Boston can nearly match Clark’s scoring while providing rebounding and defense at an elite level, she’s going to have a case. WNBA fans and fantasy players should take notice now. 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/shepherd mix, Hootie.

Let's Fantasy Game is a vibrant, safe, and supportive online community dedicated to fans of women's sports. With a focus on empowering women athletes and offering a wealth of engaging content. Be in the KNow All of Our Latest News & Insights VIDEOS Articles Read More March 3, 2026 The Future is Now for Aliyah Boston Steve Pimental I thought that Aliyah Boston wouldn’t seriously contend for an MVP award until Wilson, Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas see their performance slip, either due to age, injury, or both. Now, I’m not so sure. Read More February 27, 2026 LFG World's Unrivaled Awards EJ Arocho Read More February 26, 2026 Is the WNBA Heading For a Tanking Problem? Steve Pimental While tanking is an issue in every league that gives higher draft picks to the teams with the worst records (more on that later), it has not been as big of an issue in the WNBA. I want to look at why that is and also why it might be changing. Read More February 24, 2026 Are We Actually Getting Close to a New WNBA CBA? Steve Pimental On Monday, the WNBA informed its teams and the WNBPA that if a new agreement is not reached by March 10, the 2026 season would be impacted. Read More February 20, 2026 Unrivaled Late-Season Playoff Implications EJ Arocho Rose is fighting to stay in contention and welcome Angel Reese as a new addition to boost their efforts; Hive needs to win to mathematically stay alive.... Read More February 19, 2026 Why the Orlando Pride are Poised for Another Title Run Steve Pimental Orlando was clearly correct not to give up on the 2025 season but what I failed to take into account at the time is that Ovalle’s record transfer from Liga MX's Femenil Tigres sets Orlando up perfectly to take another run at the NWSL title. Read More February 17, 2026 8 More Players I Love to Root For Steve Pimental One of the great things about the explosion of women’s sports is finding even more players to root for. Read More February 15, 2026 WTA Dubai Championships Preview Sasha Yodashkin Learn who the top contenders, sleepers, and championship favorites are for the 2026 Dubai Championships. Get insider previews & title predictions! Read More February 13, 2026 Breaking Down Team USA's Roster for Puerto Rico EJ Arocho Read More February 12, 2026 Should Lynx Fans Be Worried About Their Team? Steve Pimental Read More February 10, 2026 What I Learned at My First LOVB Match Steve Pimental Though I have enjoyed watching LOVB on USA Network, and I finally renewed ESPN+, so I can watch even more games, I was eager to experience the game live. Here is what I learned. Read More February 8, 2026 WTA Qatar Open Preview Sasha Yodashkin Explore top contenders, sleepers & dark horses for the 2026 Qatar Open — insiders’ previews of Rybakina, Swiatek, Anisimova & more. Read More February 6, 2026 Unrivaled 1-on-1 Mock Bracket EJ Arocho Read More February 5, 2026 Notable EuroLeague Performances Steve Pimental If you’re not following EuroLeague Women on YouTube, you should be... I'm going to continue to watch as much as I can, with an eye towards the players who could make a difference in the WNBA, if they actually have a season. Here are four EuroLeague players who have caught my eye this season... Read More February 3, 2026 The Five Best Rivalries in Women’s Sports Steve Pimental Read More February 2, 2026 WTA Abu Dhabi Open Preview Sasha Yodashkin Women's main draw play at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Open will begin Sunday, Feb. 1. The Abu Dhabi Open is a WTA 500 level event. This outdoor hard-court tournament has a 28-player draw with byes for the top four seeds and features numerous women's tennis stars, including five top-20 players. Below are the top title contenders, dark horses and sleepers for the 2026 Abu Dhabi Open. Read More January 30, 2026 Unrivaled Midseason Awards EJ Arocho Read More January 29, 2026 Checking In On LOVB Steve Pimental Here are my takeaways from an entertaining match that Houston won in four sets... Read More January 27, 2026 Five WNBA Stats We Need Steve Pimental I have long wished for more/better stats for women’s sports in general, and the WNBA in particular. I am hopeful that more stats are on the way that can lend an even deeper understanding to this game that we love...here are five WNBA stats we need for next season... Read More January 23, 2026 WNBA Schedule Drop: 5 Must See Games on Opening Week EJ Arocho ...A rivalry between these two generational stars has continued to build over the past few years, so this second-ever matchup at the pro level will be MUST SEE TV!... Read More January 22, 2026 Six Burning Questions for the LPGA Season Steve Pimental There is a lot to be excited about for LPGA fans, and these are the six questions I want answers to in 2026... Read More January 20, 2026 WNBA Acting Gigs We Need Steve Pimental Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot appeared on an episode of Chicago Med, while Angel Reese and A’ja Wilson will make cameos in the animated movie “GOAT” next month. This got me thinking about which other WNBA players I would like to see on the big or small screen... Read More January 16, 2026 Tennis Betting: 2026 Australian Open Women's Betting Picks, Odds, Predictions and Tennis Best Bets Sahsa Yodashkin Explore 2026 Australian Open women’s singles: discover favorites, sleepers & rising title contenders like Sabalenka, Swiatek & Andreeva. Read More January 16, 2026 These 5 Matchups Will Raise Unrivaled Viewership This Week EJ Arocho Two of Unrivaled's most exciting guards are bound to put on a show... Read More January 15, 2026 What we Learned from the First Week of Unrivaled Season Two Steve Pimental Is this the Aaliyah Edwards breakout we were hoping for?...Are Breanna Stewart and Arike Ogunbowale bouncing back?... Read More January 13, 2026 Which Teams are Best Equipped for this Hectic Offseason? Steve Pimental One thing that is certain is that whenever the two sides agree on a new contract, the remaining offseason business will be conducted at breakneck speed. Read More January 9, 2026 Unrivaled Vibes This Week + Predictions EJ Arocho The intimate setting makes the competitiveness feel raw and real. Opening day saw techs fly with Marina Mabrey & Sug Sutton turning up the heat. It's spicy over here! Read More January 8, 2026 Eight Takeaways from LOVB Opening Night Steve Pimental One of my New Year’s resolutions was to watch League One Volleyball, and I was excited to watch the First Serve match between the defending champion LOVB Austin and the team they swept in the championship, LOVB Nebraska... Read More January 7, 2026 Fantasy Fallout from Napheesa Collier’s Injury Steve Pimental Last week, Unrivaled announced that Napheesa Collier would be out 4-6 months after doctors determined she needed surgery on both ankles. The news was a big blow to Unrivaled, which lost its co-founder and reigning MVP... Read More January 2, 2026 Unrivaled Opening Day Matchups + Predictions EJ Arocho Read More January 1, 2026 Unrivaled Players to Watch Steve Pimental When I watch Unrivaled, it is with an eye towards what those players will do when they return to a WNBA court. With that in mind, here is one player from each team that I am excited to watch this upcoming Unrivaled season. Read More December 30, 2025 My Women’s Sports New Year's Resolutions Steve Pimental These are my personal women’s sports resolutions for 2026... Read More December 25, 2025 Will the Favorites Bounce Back in 2026? Steve Pimental If there was a common throughline across women’s sports in 2025, it was that all of the teams and even the individuals we thought were juggernauts saw their seasons end in disappointment... Read More December 23, 2025 7 WNBA Guest Announcers We Want to See Steve Pimental ...there are always opportunities to add entertainment and eyeballs to the broadcast, as NBC is no doubt hoping Snoop Dogg will do. With that in mind, here are seven people I would like to see as guest announcers on a WNBA broadcast. Read More December 19, 2025 5 Players Who Could Become the Face of Unrivaled Season 2 EJ Arocho Read More December 18, 2025 Is the WNBA’s Era of Forward Dominance Coming to an End? Steve Pimental No matter how good guards like Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Courtney Vandersloot or Sabrina Ionescu have been, they haven’t been able to compete with forwards when it comes to winning MVP. That may be changing... Read More December 16, 2025 5 Unbreakable WNBA Records Steve Pimental With the league calendar expanding and the league adding new teams at a record pace, even more records will fall in the coming years. With that in mind, I have set out to identify several WNBA records that will never be broken. Read More December 12, 2025 1-on-1 Unrivaled Matchups We're All Craving! EJ Arocho Breanna Stewart vs Napheesa Collier...Paige Bueckers vs Sonia Citron...Jackie Young vs Kelsey Mitchell... Read More December 11, 2025 Naeher's Signing a Good First Step for Rebuilding Stars Steve Pimental On Wednesday the Chicago Stars, made their first big move of the offseason in re-signing former USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher through the 2026 season. Read More December 9, 2025 Bay FC In An Interesting Spot With their New Coach Steve Pimental Heading into their third year of competition, Bay FC is on its second head coach, having hired Emma Coates to replace the outgoing Albertin Montoya. Read More December 4, 2025 15 Likely 2nd Round WNBA Draft Picks EJ Arocho Raegan Beers | Oklahoma - Powerful and efficient big; double-double machine. Stout rim protector. Capable of popping the 3 on occasion.... Read More December 4, 2025 Why The NWSL Should Switch Its Schedule Steve Pimental Last month, I made the case for the WNBA to play in the winter...In that article, I mentioned that I thought the NWSL needed to adopt a similar schedule. While the two leagues have quite a bit in common, there are a lot of important differences that also point towards the need for NWSL to play in the winter. Read More December 2, 2025 5 Takeaways From Another CBA Extension Steve Pimental The WNBA and the Players Association still have not reached a new collective bargaining agreement, but they appear to have taken a step forward by agreeing (again) to extend the current agreement...there are some important things we can take away from this extension. Read More November 28, 2025 Ranking the Players Committed to Project B (So Far) EJ Arocho 9. Sophie Cunningham, 8. Li Meng, 7. Jewell Loyd, 6. Kamilla Cardoso... Read More November 27, 2025 What the Chris DeMarco Hire Means for Fantasy Steve Pimental Our long national nightmare is over. A month after all the other WNBA teams filled their coaching vacancies, the Liberty hired longtime Golden State Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco... Read More November 25, 2025 What the WNBA Draft Lottery Means for Each Team Steve Pimental While it is too early to speculate on which players will be chosen with these lottery picks, this is the perfect time to explore the options each team has with its picks. Read More November 21, 2025 Looking Ahead: Top 10 Breakout WNBA Players Next Season EJ Arocho If Unrivaled taught us anything earlier this year, it's that a fully healthy Aaliyah Edwards can flat out hoop! Read More November 20, 2025 Four Players Who Could Expand Their Game Next Season Steve Pimental The introduction of Unrivaled, as well as other revenue streams, has helped to give WNBA players more time to rest, recover, and work on their game than in years past... Read More November 19, 2025 In The Know W/ MK Bula MK Bula I definitely knew I wanted to get into coaching because I truly enjoy the strategy of the game. However, I didn’t expect it to come so quickly after playing so I had some imposter syndrome when I was hired. Read More November 18, 2025 5 WNBA Players Who Could Use a Change of Scenery Steve Pimental ...just because players and teams want to stay where they are, that doesn’t mean that they should. Every year, some players could benefit from playing in a new city, with a new coach, or surrounded by different teammates. Here are five players I would like to see change teams this offseason. Read More November 14, 2025 Unrivaled Top 10 Must See Matchups & Predictions EJ Arocho Read More November 13, 2025 Notable Three-Point Attempt Leaders to Watch This Offseason Steve Pimental If a player is only taking a couple of threes per game, they’re not going to get guarded out there no matter how high their percentage is. On the team level, the four teams that attempted the fewest threes all missed the playoffs, but the Valkyries made the playoffs by shooting the most threes despite having the third-lowest three-point percentage. With so many players potentially changing teams this offseason, I’m going to watch to see where these notable three-point shooters wind up. Read More November 11, 2025 Nine Players to Watch at The ANNIKA Steve Pimental Unlike most weeks when the focus is mostly on the top of the leaderboard, this tournament will feature intriguing storylines up and down as players look to earn the last few points that could secure their place in the last tournament of the year. All four days of the tournament will be televised on The Golf Channel and these are the nine players I’m most excited to watch this week. Read More November 7, 2025 Unrivaled Season 2 Projections EJ Arocho Mr. Women's Basketball's Preseason Rankings, POY, & DPOY watchlists heading into a highly anticipated second season of Unrivaled. Read More November 6, 2025 Why The WNBA Should Change Its Schedule Steve Pimental My number one sports take, which I have just been dying to write about since I was asked to join LFG, is that the WNBA and NWSL are playing in the wrong time of year. I am convinced both leagues should play in the winter, like nearly all the other professional leagues in those sports. We will almost certainly explore the NSWL side of that equation in a future article, but for today, I present my six reasons why I believe the WNBA should change to a winter schedule... Read More November 4, 2025 Four Strategy Adjustments That Could Be Coming to the WNBA Steve Pimental That will almost certainly inform the product we see on WNBA courts next season. While I pass the time waiting for the WNBA and the WNBPA to reach a new collective bargaining agreement by watching NBA basketball, I can’t help but wonder if the trends we’re seeing in the men’s game will carry over to the WNBA. Here are four trends I expect to see in the WNBA next season. Read More October 31, 2025 Way-Too-Early 2026 WNBA Predictions EJ Arocho Vegas Goes Back-to-Back! A'ja is in her prime and not slowing down. Head and shoulders the best player on the planet and maybe the only player who can single-handedly win games for her team....With all this success, I don't anticipate Vegas's core going anywhere any time soon... Read More October 30, 2025 What Will These New WNBA Coaches Bring To Their Teams And The League? Steve Pimental Two more pieces of the WNBA coaching puzzle fell into place this week as the Dallas Wings and Seattle Storm both filled their coaching vacancies. With four of the five open positions filled thus far, each team has gone in a different direction, while nonetheless furthering the hiring trends we have seen in recent years. As we did last week for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire hires, let’s take a look at what these new coaches will bring to their teams and the WNBA at large. Read More October 28, 2025 Don't Sleep On These Rookies in 2026 Steve Pimental At some point this off-season, the league and the Players' Association will agree on a new collective bargaining agreement, and then it will be full speed ahead to the draft lottery, expansion draft, and free agency. That makes now the perfect time to look at some forgotten players from the 2025 WNBA Draft...Before they get lost in the shuffle with the 2026 draft class, I want to take this opportunity to look at what we can expect from these players when they make their long-awaited WNBA debuts. Read More October 27, 2025 WTA Hong Kong Open, Jiangxi Open and Chennai Open Previews Sasha Yodashkin Women’s WTA 250 previews: Hong Kong, Jiangxi & Chennai Opens—find the top contenders, dark horses and favorites. Women's main draw play at the 2025 Hong Kong Open, 2025 Jiangxi Open and 2025 Chennai Open will begin Monday, Oct. 27. All three are WTA 250 events with 32-player draws played on outdoor hard courts. The biggest names on the WTA Tour are preparing for the WTA Finals, which begin Nov. 1, so these three events present opportunities for some other players to shine. The Hong Kong Open has the most high-profile field of this week's three tournaments, with four top-25 players in the draw. Below are the top title contenders and dark horses for the 2025 Hong Kong Open, Jiangxi Open and Chennai Open. Read More October 24, 2025 Way-Too-Early 2026 WNBA Mock Draft EJ Arocho Read More October 23, 2025 What Do the New Coaching Hires Mean for the WNBA? Steve Pimental With the entire WNBA offseason on hold while we await a new collective bargaining agreement, the WNBA coaching carousel is in full swing. Five teams entered the offseason needing new coaches... Read More October 21, 2025 Five Players To Watch During the WNBA Offseason Steve Pimental One of the benefits of expansion is that WNBA fans get to see a lot of quality basketball players who otherwise wouldn’t have found roster spots. Some of those spots will go to rookies who in previous years wouldn’t have made the team, but a lot of those spots will go to players who were out of the league but made a big impact when given a chance...Today, with leagues around the world well underway, we have identified 5 more players who could get a chance in the WNBA in 2026. Get to know these players now, because they may be familiar to even casual fans before long. Read More October 20, 2025 WTA Toray Open and Guangzhou Open Previews Sasha Yodashkin Discover top contenders at the 2025 Toray Pan Pacific Open & Guangzhou Open. Watch stars like Rybakina and Bouzas Maneiro shine on the hard courts! Read More October 17, 2025 5 WNBA Atmospheres You'll Want to Experience in 2026 EJ Arocho ...with a fully healthy roster for 2026, something tells me Gainbridge will be rocking like never before with record attendance. They continue to raise the stakes and create a genuine “college basketball atmosphere” in a pro arena. Every home game feels like an event, like March Madness! If you don’t secure your tickets early, you may end up missing out! Read More October 16, 2025 WNBA Offseason Preview Steve Pimental I don’t believe it is hyperbole to say this is the biggest offseason the WNBA has ever had. This offseason will feature: a new collective bargaining agreement that will pay the players more, a draft lottery featuring two playoff teams, an expansion draft featuring two teams, the second season of Unrivaled, a free agency in which all but two veterans are free agents, and potentially the deepest WNBA draft in years. Oh, and five teams need to hire a new head coach....Here is what you need to know heading into the WNBA offseason... Read More October 14, 2025 Seven LPGA Stats to Know Steve Pimental With five tournaments left in the Season, Thitikul has all but sown up the Race to CME Globe, Rolex Player of the Year and Aon Risk Reward Challenge. Even so, there is still plenty to play for down the stretch, and plenty of statistics Jeeno doesn’t lead in. So, let’s take one last look at some notable statistics around the LPGA Tour ahead of the last two months of the season. Read More October 12, 2025 WTA Ningbo Open and Japan Open Previews Sasha Yodashkin Top tennis stars clash at the 2025 Ningbo Open & Japan Open. Discover title contenders & dark horses as they battle for glory on outdoor hard courts! Women's main draw play at the 2025 Ningbo Open 2025 Japan Open will begin Monday, Oct. 13. Ningbo is a WTA 500 level event, while the Japan Open is a WTA 250 event. These outdoor hard-court tournaments both have 32-player draws (28 for Ningbo with byes for the top four seeds) and feature numerous women's tennis stars, with eight top-20 players in the Ningbo Open draw and two playing in the Japan Open. Below are the top title contenders and dark horses for the 2025 Ningbo Open and Japan Open Read More October 10, 2025 Keys to a Phoenix Comeback EJ Arocho Elevated scoring might just be what the doctor ordered for Alyssa Thomas. She averaging 13.0 PPG, a bit below her season average and certainly below the semifinal series vs Minnesota (20.3 PPG). Yes, she’s a triple-double threat every single night, but Phoenix must tilt the offense to the paint & start getting her touches inside. She is arguably the most physical and strongest player in the league. Let her operate around the rim. Read More October 9, 2025 The Aces Are 1 Game Away from the Championship. How Did They Get Here? Steve Pimental Despite yet another furious comeback in these playoffs, Phoenix fell just short and now it would take a truly historic turnaround to overcome their 3-0 deficit. If I were to be skeptical I would say the Aces shot the lights out and received a favorable whistle through three quarters and they didn’t in the fourth quarter, which explains their big lead and Phoenix’s comeback. That’s probably not fair to the Aces, who are one win away from their third WNBA title in four seasons. Let’s take a look at how they got there. Read More October 7, 2025 How Can Phoenix Get Back in the Series? Steve Pimental On some level, it is too soon for Phoenix to panic. They are going back home for the next two games of this seven-game series, and if they just can just defend their home court, they can even this series. On the other hand, they need to win four of the next five games to give Alyssa Thomas her first WNBA championship. To get there, they will have to play much better than they did in Las Vegas. So, let’s take a look at what they need to do to get there. Read More October 6, 2025 Fantasy WNBA: Top Risers and Fallers for the WNBA Finals (Part 2) Joe Mayo RotoWire expert Joe Mayo picks his top risers and fallers for the WNBA Finals, including Jackie Young, who has been instrumental for the Las Vegas Aces in their first two games against the Phoenix Mercury. The Aces secured a 2-0 series lead Sunday, and the Finals now shift to Phoenix as the Mercury attempt to spark a comeback on their home court. Read More October 5, 2025 Women's Wuhan Open 2025 Preview D.J. Trainor Discover the top contenders and sleepers at the 2025 Wuhan Open, where Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek headline a star-studded field on China’s hard courts. Women's main draw play at the 2025 Wuhan Open will begin Monday, Oct. 6. This outdoor hard-court WTA 1000 event serves as one of the final major stops before the WTA Finals and features eight of the top-10 players in the world. Below are the top title contenders and dark horses for the 2025 Wuhan Open. Read More October 3, 2025 WNBA Finals: Keys to Victory in Games 1-3 EJ Arocho I can say with confidence that Chelsea Gray is the clutchest player in the league. The difficulty in which she makes some of her biggest, toughest buckets is actually unreal! She's well-known as THE dime dropper with her flashy assists, but her shot-making ability is the most underrated part of her game in my eyes. She's not a high volume scorer by any means, but thrives in crunch time. She knows how to maneuver around the defense and escape traps, creating space to operate freely. Read More October 2, 2025 WNBA Finals Preview Steve Pimental I’m still not over the fact that the Minnesota Lynx aren’t in the Finals, but we have two excellent teams in the Finals, and it should be a great matchup. The Aces have history on their side, as they ended the regular season on a 16-game winning streak, tied for second-longest in WNBA history. Only three other teams have had winning streaks of at least 15 games, and all three of those teams won the WNBA title. Phoenix is trying to get Alyssa Thomas the first WNBA title of her 12-year WNBA career. There is a lot to love about this matchup, so let’s break it down. Read More September 30, 2025 What We Learned From Big Wins For Fever, Mercury In Game 4 Steve Pimental For the third week in a row, we had an excellent slate of WNBA games on Sunday. We were a few minutes away from getting two Game 5s, but instead, we got Alyssa Thomas making the WNBA Finals for the first time in her 12-year career. So how did we get here? Let’s take a look back at what we learned from those Game 4s. Then, on Thursday, we can look ahead to our WNBA Finals matchup. Read More September 29, 2025 Fantasy WNBA: Top Risers and Fallers for the WNBA Finals Joe Mayo RotoWire expert Joe Mayo breaks down his top risers and fallers for the WNBA Finals, including Jewell Loyd, who is a player to watch despite her bench role. With a trip to the WNBA Finals on the line in Tuesday's Game 5, the Aces and Fever are still vying for the chance to face the Mercury on the league's biggest stage. Read More September 25, 2025 Liberty and Storm Should Blame Team Building, not Coaching Steve Pimental This week, the Seattle Storm and New York Liberty parted ways with head coaches Noelle Quinn and Sandy Brondello following first-round playoff exits. While I understand why both teams would feel like they underachieved, I'm not sure coaching was to blame in either case. Instead, these playoffs in general, and New York and Seattle in particular, have demonstrated the importance of building a team that fits together over assembling the best possible talent. Read More September 25, 2025 WNBA Playoff Semifinal Spice EJ Arocho Gainbridge boasts one of the most raucous environments in basketball and if you're the away team, watch out! The sell-out crowds Friday and Sunday will look to rattle A'ja Wilson & Vegas as Indiana looks to go up 3-1 and advance to the Finals. The ultimate 6th [wo]man! Read More September 23, 2025 Lynx Still in Driver’s Seat after Game 1 Steve Pimental We have been talking for months now about how the Lynx were head-and-shoulders above the rest of the league...The playoffs have been more of the same, as the Lynx are the only team who have not yet lost a game. Much like we did in the first round, we learned a lot from the semifinal Game 1s on Sunday, so let’s break it on down. Read More September 22, 2025 Women's China Open 2025 Preview D.J. Trainor Discover top contenders and dark horses at the 2025 China Open, where Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff vie for victory on Beijing's hard courts. Read More September 22, 2025 Fantasy WNBA: Top Risers and Fallers for the Semifinals Joe Mayo RotoWire expert Joe Mayo offers his top risers and fallers for the WNBA semifinals, including Kahleah Copper, who has been stellar for the Phoenix Mercury to begin the playoffs. Just four teams remain as the WNBA playoffs heat up, and key role players will need to step up to help their squads advance to the Finals. Read More September 19, 2025 Bold WNBA Playoff Predictions For The Week EJ Arocho Regardless of who Minnesota faces, they'll have to fire on all cylinders if they want to advance. A very up-and-down end to the regular season, coupled with a shaky Game 2 win over Golden State, has made the Lynx look very beatable. Read More September 18, 2025 7 WNBA Gems That Deserve More Recognition Steve Pimental I understand why the WNBA follows this format with 72 sportswriters casting one vote each, but with expansion rapidly changing the landscape of the league, I want to see awards voting expanded so that each writer chooses their top 3 for each award, with more points for a first-place vote and fewer for a second or third-place vote, like they do for MVP. These awards are about recognizing excellence and generating discussion around the league, and both of those things would be better served with expanded ballots. Read More September 16, 2025 Fantasy WNBA: Top Risers and Fallers for the First Round of the Playoffs Joe Mayo RotoWire expert Joe Mayo picks his top WNBA risers and fallers for the first round of the playoffs, including DeWanna Bonner, who should play a key role for the Phoenix Mercury against the New York Liberty. The WNBA playoffs are here, and with them comes a heightened sense of urgency. Several key names will be worth monitoring as rotations shrink and players are asked to step up. Read More September 16, 2025 What We Learned From Day 1 of the WNBA Playoffs Steve Pimental After the longest regular season in WNBA history, Sunday was our first chance to see how all eight teams would respond to playoff basketball. As such, there was a lot to learn from the four games. These observations are loosely ordered by game, so if you don’t see notes from the game you’re looking for, keep scrolling. Read More September 12, 2025 WNBA Round 1 Preview Steve Pimental Though most of the playoff teams clinched their postseason berths days or even weeks ago, we had to go to the last day of the regular season to learn three of the four matchups. With all eight playoff teams sporting winning records, this is shaping up to be the most compelling first-round in WNBA playoff history. With that in mind, we will break down each first-round matchup and predict which teams will advance. Read More September 12, 2025 WNBA Playoff X-Factors For Every Team EJ Arocho When Money Martin gets clicking early, it can be a long night for opponents. She's known for that devastating 3PT shot, something she's surely displayed throughout the season. She's been a little cold heading into the postseason which I imagine can only mean one thing: a big game is looming! Read More September 9, 2025 Per 36 Minute All-Stars Steve Pimental One of my favorite tools for uncovering underrated role players is examining their statistics per 36 minutes. This eliminates the role of minutes played in accumulating stats and helps us find players who are thriving in a more limited role... Read More September 8, 2025 Fantasy WNBA Week 16: Top Risers and Fallers Joe Mayo RotoWire expert Joe Mayo picks his top WNBA risers and fallers for Week 16, including Elizabeth Williams, who has stepped up for the Chicago Sky in Angel Reese's recent absence. The final week of the regular season has arrived. Despite the shortened schedule, there are still viable fantasy options to explore, with two days featuring at least four matchups. Read More September 5, 2025 Reserves Peaking Heading into the Final Week EJ Arocho Sunday's game vs LA saw Lucy put up season-highs in rebounds (6) and steals (4). The game before that [on Saturday vs Golden State] she recorded the third-most points this season with 13. While Washington may be out of playoff contention, Lucy has shown flashes of brilliance playing fearless and fluid. She'll look to close out her rookie season in strong fashion. Read More September 4, 2025 Sky Fans Should Prepare for Yet another Star to Leave Steve Pimental Is there any WNBA fanbase that has suffered more than Chicago Sky fans? In the 20 years of their existence, the Sky have twice drafted future Hall-of-Fame bigs and watched them develop into All-Stars, but failed to surround them with enough talent to compete...If the Sky miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season, Sky fans should expect another trade request. Read More September 2, 2025 X-Factors for Each WNBA Playoff Team Steve Pimental Outside of the top spot, the league is wide open, and just about any team that makes the playoffs will be able to convince themselves that they are poised for a deep playoff run. With that in mind, this is the perfect time to look at the x-factors for each playoff team. When we look back at the playoffs following the season, these could be the things that determines who goes home early and who makes a run. Read More September 1, 2025 Fantasy WNBA Week 15: Top Risers and Fallers Joe Mayo RotoWire expert Joe Mayo picks his top WNBA risers and fallers for Week 15, including Rebecca Allen, who has struggled for the Sky in recent matchups. The final full week of the regular season kicks off Monday, and with injuries and evolving roles, there are still opportunities to add valuable fantasy contributors. Read More August 29, 2025 WNBA 6POY Contenders To Watch EJ Arocho Naz has seen the starting lineup quite a bit this month but still has come off the bench in twenty-seven of the thirty-eight games played this season. Fresh off a career-high 15 rebounds against Vegas, she's solidified her position as a force on the glass for a team expected to go far in the playoffs. She's averaging 8.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG & 2.3 APG with just two weeks left in the regular season! Read More August 28, 2025 The LPGA Story Everyone Should Be Talking About Steve Pimental Something incredible is happening on the LPGA Tour, and I don’t think we are discussing it nearly enough. In 22 LPGA events this season, we have not had a single repeat winner. In fact, there are 23 unique winners, since one of the events was a team event. Read More August 26, 2025 Five WNBA Lineups to Watch Down the Stretch Steve Pimental ...the Liberty are far from the only team to deploy interesting lineups this season, and those lineups continue to make an impact both for fantasy games and the playoff race. With that in mind, here are 5 lineups to keep an eye on down the stretch. Read More August 25, 2025 Fantasy WNBA Week 14: Top Risers and Fallers Joe Mayo RotoWire expert Joe Mayo offers his top WNBA risers and fallers for Week 14, including Dominique Malonga, whose role has been increasing for the Seattle Storm. As the regular season winds down, there are still opportunities to add viable fantasy options amid ongoing injuries and late-season development. Some players are hitting their stride at the right time, while others are losing traction and seeing their roles decline. Read More August 22, 2025 Top 10 WNBA Players on the Tip of Everyone's Tongue EJ Arocho The surefire Rookie of the Year, PB has also looked like one of the best players in the league PERIOD. She silenced all critics and doubters with a 44-point performance on Wednesday night vs LA, becoming just the third rookie in WNBA history to post a 40-point game. The other two? Legends Candace Parker and Cynthia Cooper. She also became the first player to score 40+ this season. Her efficiency has been incredible, averaging 30.3 PPG this past week while shooting 60.8% from the field. Read More August 22, 2025 Who Have Been the Best Players in the WNBA This Season? Steve Pimental 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. Join our mailing list for exclusive updates on upcoming in-person events, game schedules, and all things women’s sports! Stay connected with a fun, safe, and supportive community of like-minded fans who share your passion and enthusiasm. SUBSCRIBE

February 27, 2026 LFG World's Unrivaled Awards EJ Arocho FIRST TEAM Chelsea Gray Her dominance across the board is undeniable. Gray leads the league in scoring (25.4 PPG) and assists (6.3 APG), while tying for 4th in steals (1.3 SPG). This 3x3 format is where she absolutely thrives, proving unstoppable from the very first game where she dropped 35 points, one of five 30+ point games this season. Aliyah Boston AB was dangerously close to pulling off the double win (MVP+DPOY). She's been THAT GOOD this season! The two-way terror leads in blocks (2.2 BPG), ranks 8th in scoring (20.0 PPG), 3rd in rebounds (10.1 RPG), Top 10 in steals (1.0 SPG) and Top 20 in assists (2.5 APG). Her efforts helped Phantom secure the top spot in the standings. Paige Bueckers P isn't your typical rook! She looked like a season pro right off the bat, pouring in 24 points in the season opener vs Phantom. She would go on to tally eight nine 20+ point games this regular season, including a 37-point explosion vs Mist. Stuffing the stat sheet night after night, she ranks 3rd in points (23.7 PPG), 2nd in assists (5.8 APG) and Top 15 in rebounds (6.4 RPG). SECOND TEAM Marina Mabrey Mabrey's spicy style of play was backed up by some big numbers this season. She set the all-time league record for single-game scoring with an explosive 47 points vs Rose en-route to a season average of 24.7 PPG, 2nd just behind Chelsea Gray. She led all guards in rebounds at 6.8 RPG and ranked 4th in assists at 5.1 RPG. Breanna Stewart Stewie was one of the biggest reasons why Mist locked up that #2 spot in the standings, averaging a near double-double at 20.9 PPG (7th in the league) & 9.3 RPG (5th in the league), and ranking Top 15 in assists (3.0 APG). Her 7'1" wingspan made life miserable for the opponent not only on the glass, but also defensively. Aaliyah Edwards Edwards was one of the most dominant players from beginning to end. Her competitive nature, grit and hard-nosed two-way game saw a monster double-double of 21.7 PPG (5th) and a league-leading of 12.5 RPG. She pulled down 15+ rebounds on three separate occasions, all double-double performances. Efficient dominance saw her score the ball at a 57.6% clip, good for 3rd in the league. Most Valuable Player (MVP) : Chelsea Gray Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) : Aliyah Boston Most Improved Player (MIP) : Aliyah Boston Rookie of the Year (ROY) : Paige Bueckers Coach of the Year (COY) : Roneeka Hodges (Phantom BC) 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!

While tanking is an issue in every league that gives higher draft picks to the teams with the worst records (more on that later), it has not been as big of an issue in the WNBA. I want to look at why that is and also why it might be changing. February 26, 2026 Is the WNBA Heading For a Tanking Problem? Steve Pimental If you are even a casual fan of the NBA, the chances are you have heard at least a little bit in the last couple of months about the NBA’s perceived tanking problem. Nearly one-third of the league is spending the last eight weeks of the regular season trying to lose as many games as possible. Several teams have been trying to lose even longer than that. At best, it is a poor look for a sports league that is ostensibly based on competition. While tanking is an issue in every league that gives higher draft picks to the teams with the worst records (more on that later), it has not been as big of an issue in the WNBA. I want to look at why that is and also why it might be changing. Finally, we will look at what, if anything, the WNBA should do about it. The peak of tanking in the WNBA was probably the Washington Mystics last season. The Mystics were in the thick of the playoff race when they traded their offensive engine, Brittney Sykes, to the Seattle Storm for a 2026 first-round pick. Rather than let their young core experience a playoff race and potentially a first-round series, the Mystics chose to add another first-round pick while also making their own pick better. The Mystics finished the season with 10 consecutive losses and will pick fourth in the upcoming draft. While I personally would have liked to have seen Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen in the playoffs, especially if it would have come at the expense of the Seattle Storm, it is hard to argue with Washington’s actions. They almost certainly would have lost in the first round of the playoffs, and now they have the fourth and ninth picks (plus the 11th pick from New York) to add to Citron and Irianfen and Shakira Austin. If they are able to land some key free agents, that team could be a contender as soon as next season. That is likely the reason no one appeared to bat an eye when Washington made the trade. Even if you hated the trade for the Mystics, what they did is nothing compared to the tanking we have seen in the NBA the last two seasons. Citron, Iriafen and Shakira Austin all played their normal minutes down the stretch. Washington didn’t sit them out or put them on a minutes limit, or have them sit out for the entire fourth quarter of close games. I have a few ideas as to why. I think the biggest reason tanking hasn’t been a problem in the past is that most of the bad teams weren’t trying to be bad. Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and, to a lesser extent, Connecticut, were all trying to be good last season. Chicago and Los Angeles traded their 2026 first-round picks for veteran guards in an effort to compete last season. Connecticut also didn’t control its own pick, though it chose to rebuild anyway. Dallas fired its coach after one season because they were noncompetitive despite getting outstanding play from Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers. That really only left room for one of Washington, Seattle and Golden State to try to tank. With only five lottery spots in the WNBA compared to 14 in the NBA, there are just fewer opportunities to tank. That could be changing as the WNBA continues to add expansion franchises. I haven’t seen anything about the lottery expanding in the next CBA, but it stands to reason. Every team that played in 2025 either made the playoffs or was in the lottery. That is also the case in the NBA. If that continues, that will create more opportunities for tanking. Even with the odds drastically favoring the teams with the worst (cumulative) record, once teams are eliminated from playoff contention, they would all be incentivized to lose. With more teams in the league, talent will get spread out even more. Speaking of which, I am surprised that among all of the possible tanking solutions I have heard proposed for the NBA, the WNBA’s model of using win percentage from the last two seasons to determine lottery odds has not come up once. I feel like this rule makes it less likely that a good team that suffers a few injuries will just shut their good players down and lose as many games as possible. Connecticut proved last season that one year of being bad isn’t enough to get better than the fifth-best lottery odds. The Sun had the third-worst record last season, one game better than Dallas and Chicago, but because they were 28-12 in 2024, they still finished with nine more wins over the last 2 seasons than any of the other lottery teams. So long as the WNBA keeps this rule, I think they will curb tanking to some degree. Another potential change in the new CBA that could affect tanking would be the elimination of the Core designation. Essentially, the WNBA’s version of a franchise tag, the core designation ensures that teams that draft a superstar can maintain team control even after that player’s rookie deal expires. High draft picks will always be valuable, but the less control teams have over their draft picks, the less those picks are worth tanking for. I haven’t heard much about this since the offseason began, and my expectation is that the league will probably retain the core designation in some form, but if they can use it fewer times, or if the Players Association manages to get rid of it altogether, it might lead to less tanking. The WNBA hasn’t seen the scourge of protected draft picks getting traded like the NBA has, but I would like to see them proactively limit pick protections in trades. As we have seen in the NBA, many of the most blatant forms of tanking have been from teams trying to keep a draft pick that will convey to another team if they win too many games. If they said you couldn’t protect a pick outside of the top four, I feel like that would be a useful measure to get ahead of potential tanking in the future. The only real antidote to tanking is eliminating the draft, and so long as the NBA controls the league office, I cannot imagine that happening in the WNBA. The NBA, along with the other major sports leagues, has decided that bad teams need a chance to add talent through a high draft pick. So long as this is the case, there will always be a reason for smart teams to lose games on purpose if it looks like they can’t contend for a title or at least make the playoffs. I fear it is just a matter of time before it becomes a major problem in the WNBA the way it has in the NBA. 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/shepherd mix, Hootie.

On Monday, the WNBA informed its teams and the WNBPA that if a new agreement is not reached by March 10, the 2026 season would be impacted. February 24, 2026 Are We Actually Getting Close to a New WNBA CBA? Steve Pimental The last few days have been the busiest of the WNBA offseason by far. On Friday, the WNBA submitted a counterproposal that offered housing concessions but no change to their revenue-sharing proposal. On Monday, the WNBA informed its teams and the WNBPA that if a new agreement is not reached by March 10, the 2026 season would be impacted. That would mean training camp would not begin on April 19 as is currently set on the calendar. Finally, it was also reported that the WNBA reached its revenue-sharing target for the first time during the 2025 season. While all three of these developments are somewhat ambiguous, it is my belief that we are now, finally, getting closer to a new collective bargaining agreement. I don’t know if they will beat the WNBA’s March 10 deadline, but if not, I am hopeful it will be shortly thereafter. I was initially disappointed when I read that the WNBA is stubbornly sticking to its revenue-sharing proposal. Every major sports league in North America has a roughly 50/50 revenue-sharing structure, and as far as I can tell, the league has not offered a single good reason why the WNBA should be different. The players aren’t even asking for 50/50, though in my mind, they probably should be. I am hopeful that the news that the WNBA hit its revenue-sharing target under the old CBA will cause the owners to back off on their demands for a similar structure going forward. The only reason it took so long for the league to reach its target was because of the setbacks suffered due to Covid in 2020 and 2021. Unless the targets in the new CBA are unreasonable, the league should reach them pretty easily, barring something equally devastating and unpredictable as the pandemic. If that is indeed the case, perhaps the league won’t feel the need to fight so hard for those targets. Or perhaps the players will be more willing to accept the targets if they believe they are reachable. The other reason for optimism is the idea that deadlines breed action. While it certainly appears to this outside observer that the WNBPA has been negotiating with more urgency than the teams, this new deadline will hopefully bring both sides to the bargaining table. It is unclear how much either side will care about training camp getting pushed back or shortened (or both), but it stands to reason that negotiations cannot go much beyond the WNBA’s appointed deadline without impacting the regular season schedule. That should be something both sides wish to avoid, though I suppose we will learn how much in the coming days and weeks. There are, of course, counters to those arguments. The $16 million that goes to the players as a result of reaching its revenue-sharing target would theoretically soften the blow of any work stoppage and could make it easier for the players to hold the line. It's nice that the league made concessions concerning housing, but the league’s stance on housing was always silly at best, considering the short nature of the season. Since the end of last season, I have contended that both sides have too much to lose to risk the first work stoppage in league history. The league has never been more popular, as indicated by a record television deal and historic franchise valuations both for expansion teams and existing franchises. The slow pace of negotiations, especially on the part of the league, has tested that belief. The news over the last few days has renewed my hope that the sides will soon agree to a new CBA so that we can begin the offseason in earnest. 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/shepherd mix, Hootie.

Rose is fighting to stay in contention and welcome Angel Reese as a new addition to boost their efforts; Hive needs to win to mathematically stay alive.... February 20, 2026 Unrivaled Late-Season Playoff Implications EJ Arocho Friday, Feb. 20th Phantom vs Laces (massive seeding showdown) The winner strengthens its hold on a top-2 seed (first round bye) while the loser risks dropping to 3rd and a tougher road. Hive vs Rose (playoff hopes alive vs in jeopardy) Rose is fighting to stay in contention and welcome Angel Reese as a new addition to boost their efforts; Hive needs to win to mathematically stay alive. Saturday, Feb. 21st Vinyl vs Breeze (securing the 4 seed) A win here boosts Breeze's chance to stay in the playoff mix and keep a stronghold on the 4th seed. Lunar Owls vs Mist (last-ditch surge) Mist cementing a win here pushes them solidly into the top tier (despite having clinched a berth, they want to climb toward bye territory). The Owls need this win to keep even a longshot playoff path alive. Sunday, Feb. 22nd Phantom vs Hive (locking up a bye-seed) Phantom is trying to lock up a 2-seed and free ride to the semifinals in Brooklyn while Hive scrambles desperately to keep playoff hopes alive. Laces vs Rose (top team upset potential) If Rose can knock down a top team late, that helps them leap into a playoff spot/seed tiebreaker. Monday, Feb. 23rd Lunar Owls vs Vinyl (the fight for contention continues) Potential swing game for Vinyl's seeding hopes. Mist vs Breeze (both likely playoff bound) Big for Breeze's chances to finish .500 and for Mist to solidify 2nd or 3rd. Clinched: Laces, Phantom, Mist Bubble: Breeze, Rose, Vinyl Long Shots: Hive, Lunar Owls 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!

Orlando was clearly correct not to give up on the 2025 season but what I failed to take into account at the time is that Ovalle’s record transfer from Liga MX's Femenil Tigres sets Orlando up perfectly to take another run at the NWSL title. February 19, 2026 Why the Orlando Pride are Poised for Another Title Run Steve Pimental When the Orlando Pride signed Jacquie Ovalle in August, I remember thinking it was a curious move for a team whose season was essentially over. Star attacker Barbra Banda had suffered a season-ending injury five days earlier for a Pride squad that was 8-4-4 and third in the NWSL but had gone winless in its last four games after winning its first four games to start the season. Orlando’s winless streak would reach nine games before they turned things around down the stretch. Orlando took 11 points from its last five regular-season games and defeated Seattle Reign in the Quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions Gotham FC. Orlando was clearly correct not to give up on the 2025 season but what I failed to take into account at the time is that Ovalle’s record transfer from Liga MX's Femenil Tigres sets Orlando up perfectly to take another run at the NWSL title. Ovalle never really found her footing after joining the Pride late in the season, managing just one goal and two assists in eight matches. With time to recover as well as train with her team in the preseason, I expect her to hit the ground running in 2026 and live up to her record transfer fee. Ovalle’s job will certainly be made easier by Barbra Banda’s return. Banda led the Pride with eight goals despite playing in just 16 matches, and she scored twice as many goals as any other Orlando player. When Orlando won the NWSL Championship in 2024, four different players scored at least five goals. With Banda back, I would expect Ovalle and Marta to score at least five goals in 2026. Orlando was much better on the counter when they had Banda stretching the defense vertically, and I would expect them to get back to that in 2026. I don’t think enough is made of how well Marta played last season. In her age 38, she was fifth on the Pride in minutes, starting 18 games and coming off the bench in four more. You might expect that at this point in her career, she would mostly be involved in set pieces, and she is still one of the best. But I was really impressed during the playoffs by her ability to lead the attack in open play. She almost singlehandedly sealed the win against Seattle by getting behind the Reign defense and earning a penalty. It certainly helped that Seattle was pushed forward searching for an equalizer, but even so, I thought Marta was super impressive in that moment and the entire game. While most of focus on Orlando is rightfully on their attacking talent, most of their success last season came on the defensive end, where they allowed the third-fewest goals in the league. In 2024 they tied with Gotham for the fewest goals allowed. Their defense should be good yet again, and it all starts with goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse. Moorehouse has had at least a 74.5 save percentage in each of her three NWSL. That being said, the defense likely took a hit with the transfer of Emily Sams to Angel City FC. Orlando did well to replace Sams with Hailie Mace, who spent the last five seasons anchoring the Kansas City Current defense. There may be some growing pains as Mace settles in with her new team, but even if Orlando is a bit more offensive-minded than in years past, I think the defense will be more than good enough to contend. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the upcoming NWSL season is that it should be highly competitive at the top. Gotham and Kansas City should contend once again, And Washington has to like its chances after they brought back Trinity Rodman. Angel City could bounce back with its influx of talent, and there will likely be at least one surprise playoff team we don’t see coming. Even though they are coming off a relatively disappointing season, I think there is every reason to believe the Orlando Pride will be right back in the title mix in 2026.I certainly wouldn’t want to pick against them. 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/shepherd mix, Hootie.

There’s an exciting buzz around the women’s game right now, it’s getting the attention and recognition it deserves, and there’s some amazing talent around the NWSL and across the world that is making women’s soccer so fun to watch and be a part of! May 28, 2025 In The Know W/ Kate Wiesner Kate Wiesner Q: As a Big Ten Tournament champ and winner of the NWSL Challenge Cup, what can you say about this time in women’s soccer? A: This is an incredibly exciting time to be in the women’s game. It’s a testament to all of the women who’ve come before us and blazed the trail for us younger players. There’s an exciting buzz around the women’s game right now, it’s getting the attention and recognition it deserves, and there’s some amazing talent around the NWSL and across the world that is making women’s soccer so fun to watch and be a part of! Q: You’ve overcome injuries in your career and succeeded at the highest levels of women’s soccer. What advice would you give to young players coming up about overcoming adversity? A: Unfortunately, injuries and adversity are a very real part of the game. I’m blessed to have had an excellent support system in place around me that helped carry me through those difficult moments. I’ve also leaned on my faith in both the good times and the bad, and trust in God’s timing and plan for me. The advice I’d give to younger players is to hold onto the joy of playing and find a “why” that is meaningful to you to come back to when things get tough. Lean into your relationships with teammates, friends, or mentors to remind you of that “why”, even when you don’t feel like it! Q: Are there particular payers and leagues in women’s sports that you are excited about watching that others should be too? A: I may be a little bit biased, but I think the NWSL is the most exciting league in the world right now. It is competitive from top to bottom and any team can win on any given day. The style of play is evolving to produce some more free-flowing, creative soccer moments that are beautiful to watch. You have your superstars in the likes of Trinity Rodman, Barbara Banda, or Delphine Cascarino who bring the flare and excitement into every game they’re a part of. SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author Kate Wiesner is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Penn State Nittany Lions before being selected by the Spirit in the first round of the 2024 NWSL Draft . Wiesner has been called up on numerous occasions for training with the USWNT under head coach Emma Hayes . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Wiesner

One of the great things about the explosion of women’s sports is finding even more players to root for. February 17, 2026 8 More Players I Love to Root For Steve Pimental There has never been a better time to be a fan of women’s sports. The leagues we follow, like the WNBA, NWSL and WSL have never been more popular, while newer leagues like LOVB, PWHL, AUSL and the upcoming Women's Pro Baseball League offer even more opportunities to enjoy women’s sports. One of the great things about the explosion of women’s sports is finding even more players to root for. One of my first LFG Articles was Seven Players I love to Root For . In the months since then, I have found even more athletes who I want to see do well. A couple of these names will come as no surprise to anyone who has read my work for LFG, but there are some new players I haven’t discussed much, and am I excited to do so now. Julia Lopez Ramirez I just love Lopez Ramirez’s game. When she joined the LPGA last season as a rookie she immediately became one of the longest hitters on tour, finishing first in average driving distance and fourth in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee. She also finished 11th in Rookie of the Year Points. Her game can be a bit volatile, as she finished led the tour in Eagles and Double bogeys. She missed four of her first five cuts to start the season but ended her rookie season with eight straight made cuts. She played in the final group on Sunday at the U.S. Women’s Open but a final-round 79 dropped her to 19th place. I think she’s going to continue to thrive on long courses, but if she can develop a bit more consistency, Julia Lopez Ramirez could make a name for herself among all the good young players on the LPGA Tour. I can’t wait to see how she follows up on her strong rookie season. Te-Hina Paopao I promise these won’t all be victory laps on players I was right about. That being said, I predicted Paopao’s three-point shooting would make her a perfect fit for new Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko’s offense, and that was the case in a bench role. Paopao was +3.9 in 16.7 mpg while shooting 38.6 percent on threes. I actually thought Paopao should have gotten more playing time and could have been more aggressive in hunting her own shot, but that never materialized in her rookie season. I have seen some people predicting the Dream will draft a point guard in the first round of the WNBA draft, but I am hopeful that Paopao will see an expanded role in her second season. Akie and Chizzy Iwai I suppose it makes sense that the first four players on this list are rookies. If they weren’t, there is a good chance I would have written about them back in June. Akie and Chizzy represent two growing trends on the LPGA Tour: Rookies who won in 2025 and young Japanese players who are taking the tour by storm. I give them both a lot of credit for doing interviews in English following their wins, even though they were clearly still learning the language. They always seem like they are having a good time on the course, and I am always a sucker for athletes who take the game seriously but don’t appear to take themselves too seriously . These two certainly seem to fit the bill. Juste Joycte I have watched a lot more EuroLeague this season than ever before, and Juste Joycte was one of the first players to catch my eye, which is why I wrote about her back in October . Like Paopao, I think she fits perfectly with the team that drafted her. If she joins the Golden State Valkyries this season, I’m going to have an awfully hard time not picking her for Rookie of the Year. She is currently averaging 12.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in EuroLeague for Spar Girona. Natasha Cloud This probably shouldn’t be a surprise, considering how much I love Kelsey Plum, and how well Plum and Natasha Cloud appear to get along as Unrivaled teammates. Natasha Cloud is a dog on the court, but a ton of fun off of it. She appears to be universally loved by her teammates, and she seems completely genuine in interviews and on social media. Cloud has been a good, if not great, guard in the WNBA for a long time, but lately I find myself rooting for her more and more. Ilona Maher Like everyone else, I couldn’t help but root for Maher and her Rugby teammates in the Summer Olympics. That being said, every time she appears in my social media feed, either in interviews or from her own podcast or video clips, she is saying something inspiring or insightful or hilarious. Oftentimes, we forget about Olympic athletes as soon as the Games are over. I am very happy to see that it hasn’t been the case. Tessa Grubbs You just knew I had to get at least one LOVB player on this list. I think what sets Grubbs apart from other outstanding hitters in this league like Jordan Thompson, Madisen Skinner, Logan Eggleston or Alexa Gray, is just how much of Atlanta’s offense went through Tessa Grubbs. Not only is she a fantastic hitter, but I think she’s an underrated server. I don’t know how Atlanta is going to be competitive this season with Grubbs out following ankle surgery. I am hopeful she can return healthy next season, as there is no doubt the league is more exciting when she is in it. 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.

Learn who the top contenders, sleepers, and championship favorites are for the 2026 Dubai Championships. Get insider previews & title predictions! February 15, 2026 WTA Dubai Championships Preview Sasha Yodashkin Women's main draw play at the 2026 Dubai Championships will begin Sunday, Feb. 15 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Dubai Championships is the second of 10 WTA 1000 level events on the 2026 calendar. This outdoor hard-court tournament has a 56-player draw with byes for the top eight seeds and features most of the top players on the WTA Tour. Eight of the top 10 players in the WTA rankings are in the draw, but the top two will both be skipping this event, as neither Aryna Sabalenka nor Iga Swiatek will participate. Below are the top title contenders, dark horses and sleepers for the 2026 Dubai Championships. Favorite to Win the 2026 Dubai Championships Elena Rybakina: The third-ranked Rybakina is the No. 1 seed in Dubai after Sabalenka and Swiatek both announced that they won't play. Rybakina won the first Grand Slam of 2026 on the hard courts of the Australian Open, and she's off to an 11-2 start this season. Her losses came to Victoria Mboko and Karolina Muchova , who just faced off in the championship match of the Qatar Open, which was won by Muchova. Rybakina's big serve allows her to instantly get on the front foot in rallies and put her offensive skills on display, and she can consistently apply pressure in return games against opponents who get fewer free points on serve. Another matchup with Muchova is a possibility for Rybakina in the Round of 16 in Dubai, with No. 7 seed Elina Svitolina and No. 3 Coco Gauff representing her chalk opponents in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. In the Mix to Win the 2026 Dubai Championships Amanda Anisimova : Anisimova is the No. 2 seed in this tournament and will be one of eight players with a first-round bye. Assuming she's over the illness that knocked her out of the Qatar Open just under a week ago, the big-hitting American should be among the top title contenders at the Dubai Championships. She'll face a tricky veteran in the second round, whether that's Barbora Krejcikova or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova . No. 13 seed Liudmila Samsonova is Anisimova's chalk opponent in the Round of 16, followed by fifth-seeded defending Dubai champion Mirra Andreeva or No. 11 Mboko in the quarterfinals. No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula , who beat Anisimova at the Australian Open, is a potential semifinal opponent. Jessica Pegula : Pegula usually takes care of business in matches she should win, especially on hard courts, but comes up short against the best of the best on the WTA Tour. The fourth-seeded American has a golden opportunity here with none of Sabalenka, Swiatek or Rybakina in her half of the draw. Pegula sat out the Qatar Open following her semifinal result at the Australian Open, so she'll be well-rested for this tournament. Her draw is favorable in general, with No. 16 seed Iva Jovic as her first potential seeded opponent, then No. 8 Ekaterina Alexandrova or 12th-seeded 2025 Dubai runner-up Clara Tauson in the quarterfinals. Mirra Andreeva : Andreeva defeated Swiatek and Rybakina last year in Dubai en route to the first of her two 2025 WTA 1000 titles, so the fifth-seeded Russian is certainly capable of defending her title in the depleted 2026 field. She has a solid 10-3 record to begin 2026, even though it feels like the 18-year-old phenom hasn't quite found her A-game yet this year. Perhaps returning to the site of her breakthrough last year will help Andreeva recapture that top level, though it will be interesting to see how she handles the pressure of the title defense. After losing to Mboko in a third-set tiebreak at the Qatar Open, Andreeva may not have to wait long for a chance at redemption, as they could square off in the Round of 16 here, with the winner projected to face Anisimova in the quarterfinals. Sleepers to Win the 2026 Dubai Championships Jasmine Paolini : Paolini put herself on the map as a contender by coming out of nowhere to win the Dubai Championships in 2024, and she has pretty much been a top-10 staple ever since. The sixth-seeded Italian has a nice opportunity to create another fond memory here with a deep run in 2026 thanks to a favorable draw. Potential Round of 16 opponent Linda Noskova is just 4-3 to begin the season, and the No. 10 seed hasn't beaten a top-25 player this year, while No. 3 seed Coco Gauff is just 5-5 in her last 10 matches at the Dubai Championships and is coming off a loss in her first match at the Qatar Open. Should Paolini emerge as the semifinalist from her section of the draw, she could match up with Rybakina (3-3 career head-to-head). Karolina Muchova : Muchova was a sleeper pick heading into the Qatar Open and wound up winning the title while dropping only one set in the tournament. Her No. 15 seed at the Dubai Championships doesn't take that title into account, but even after those ranking points are added on, Muchova's ranking may still undersell her upside, as she has performed like a top-five contender at the biggest tournaments when her body allows her to over the past few years. Currently looking healthy, the oft-injured Muchova is capable of pushing for a second consecutive WTA 1000 title despite the quick turnaround after beating Mboko to win the Qatar Open on Saturday. The winner of a potential matchup between Rybakina and Muchova in the Dubai Round of 16 would likely be the favorite to at least reach the final here. Muchova beat Rybakina earlier this year to take a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head. Qinwen Zheng : Zheng returned from an elbow injury to make her season debut at the Qatar Open and showed few signs of rust, winning a pair of matches before falling 7-5 in the third to Rybakina in the Round of 16. The 23-year-old Zheng was a top-10 player prior to the injury, and it likely won't take long for the 2024 Olympic gold medalist to climb back into the seeded range at tournaments like Dubai. For now, her No. 26 ranking leaves Zheng unseeded here, and she could match up with the 12th-seeded Tauson in the second round. Zheng is in Pegula's quarter in the wide-open bottom half of the draw. After serving up 34 aces in three matches at the Qatar Open, Zheng just needs to regain the timing on her groundstrokes to get back into the title conversation at WTA 1000 and Grand Slam events. Those looking for more tennis coverage can check out RotoWire 's latest tennis news , Tennis Injury Report , Tennis Eventspage , and Tennis Player Comparison tool . SEE MORE ARTICLES & VIDEOS About the Author Sasha has been contributing NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB and Tennis content to RotoWire since 2015, with an emphasis on DFS. He is a huge New York sports fan who has been playing fantasy sports since middle school.

February 13, 2026 Breaking Down Team USA's Roster for Puerto Rico EJ Arocho Caitlin Clark Elite Scorer & Playmaker Super-high IQ point guard with historic shooting range & ball distribution skills Can break games open with 3-point shooting & tempo control Brings spacing and offensive creation for others Makes the offense run with pick-and-roll reads & kick outs Paige Bueckers Creative Lead Guard Excellent decision-maker with craft around the basket & passing flair Skilled in tempo control, reads defenses well & can create shots for teammates Adds balance to the backcourt with a mix of scoring & playmaking Very efficient mid-range & finishing ability Kelsey Plum Veteran Scorer & Ball Handler One of the best scoring guards in the world with elite pull-up shooting & pace Experienced international player with two World Cup titles Can lead second units & carry offensive load when tasked Chelsea Gray Floor General (Point Gawd) & Clutch Maker Elite passer & veteran leader who dictates pace Great in tight game situations, excels in late shot creation Brings championship experience & decision-making stability Jackie Young Two-Way Guard Strong driver with ability to finish through contact & defend multiple positions Adds slashing & transition scoring Valuable versatility on both ends & international experience. Rhyne Howard Two-Way Impact Starter Proven WNBA starter with scoring, rebounding & defensive versatility Can defend wings & small forwards, create her own shot & facilitate Adds athleticism & play-making from the wing Aliyah Boston Defensive Anchor & Paint Presence Elite rim protector and rebounder; one of the best defensive bigs in the world Brings toughness in the paint & high-percentage scoring around the rim Improved stretch scoring out to 3 Excellent close-out & help rotations on defense Kahleah Copper Slasher & Athletic Scorer Strong & relentless scorer off cuts and transition Great at spacing with improved shooting & finishing Provides intensity, unwavering confidence & veteran scoring punch Angel Reese Physical Forward & Rebounder High-motor rebounder & interior scorer with physical toughness Offers paint presence & strong put-backs Emerging two-way forward who’s improved defensively Never-back-down mentality Dearica Hamby Versatile Big with Hustle Brings scoring around the rim, rebounding & passing from the post Excellent on second-chance points & cleaning the glass Adds toughness & [3×3] international experience Sonia Citron Emerging Wing Creator Young scorer & secondary ball handler with strong basketball instincts Can shoot from outside, attack closeouts & make plays off penetration Represents the next wave of skilled versatile wings for Team USA Kiki Iriafen Big Body Frontcourt Option Adds size & interior physicality Can defend bigger post players & rebound effectively Provides USA with a defensive paint presence & roll target inside Starting 5 Prediction: PG- Chelsea Gray SG- Jackie Young SF- Rhyne Howard PF- Dearica Hamby C- Aliyah Boston 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!