Swish Appeal
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WNBA gameday discussion: On three-game winning streaks, are the Minnesota Lynx or Portland Fire the biggest early-season surprise?
Three weeks into the 2026 season, the WNBA is producing the kind of parity that probably should have been expected after a contracted, somewhat chaotic offseason. Despite not only beginning the season without Napheesa Collier but also watching key free agents depart, the Minnesota Lynx have taken most advantage of an uncertain and unsettled league […]
Three significant ways that WNBA expansion is helping players—just like it was intended to do
The WNBA is considered one of the toughest professional sports leagues—women’s or men’s—to play in because there are just so few roster spots available. However, over the past two seasons, with three expansion teams entering the league, an additional 36 player spots were gained. That’s not even including the developmental contract positions, which can give […]
Interview: Laura Gutierrez did not plan on going pro, but she’s loving every minute of her far-flung basketball career
No, you probably aren’t familiar with Laura Gutierrez. Not her name. Not her game. But, she epitomizes “for the love of the game.” A 5-foot-7 guard from Rio Rancho, NM, Gutierrez played for Adams State University (2019-21) and Colorado Mesa University (2022-24), and then turned pro. She has played in Costa Rica and Peru and […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Wings-Aces and Fever-Valkyries is a double-header delight featuring (real?) contenders
Thursday night’s two-game slate delivers a doozy of a double-header in the WNBA. First up, the Las Vegas Aces visit the Dallas Wings at 8 p.m. ET. Then, the Indiana Fever meet the Golden State Valkyries at 10 p.m. ET. Both games will be broadcast through Prime Video. As all four teams currently claim a […]
A historic third quarter, highlighted by a 23-0 run, leads the New York Liberty to a streak-snapping and anxiety-easing win
At the halftime break on Wednesday night in Brooklyn, the New York Liberty were in the middle of a tight contest against the Phoenix Mercury. They trailed by one at home and were desperately trying to avoid starting the year 3-5, which would be their worst start since 2022. However, one half of a game […]
Even as she falls short of her Gold Mamba standard, Jewell Loyd remains essential to the Las Vegas Aces
A Las Vegas Aces’ reserve is the talk of the WNBA right now. Yet, it’s not the player who has six All-Star Game appearances, a scoring title, three rings and a 10-0 record in Finals games. The player known as the Gold Mamba, whose illy moves made her one of the best Robins in WNBA […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Can the Atlanta Dream remain the only one-loss team vs. the Minnesota Lynx?
On Sunday night, Angel Reese announced to Atlantans assembled at Birthday Bash: “We the number one team right now in the W!” No lies told. At 4-1, Reese’s Atlanta Dream are the WNBA’s lone one-loss team, with sole claim to the top spot in the standings. On Wednesday night in Minneapolis, the Dream will put […]
Here are more reasons to be all in on Awa Fam and her upside after her WNBA debut for the Seattle Storm
As much as the WNBA fandom wants to publish their retrospective analysis of draft picks as soon as each rookie plays one minute on the court, rookie impact is often a slow burn. For Awa Fam, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft by the Seattle Storm, the burn has been even slower. […]
WNBA Fantasy grab bag: Is there value to be found on the expansion rosters of the Portland Fire or Toronto Tempo?
It’s already been a rollercoaster of an inaugural season for the Portland Fire. To be fair, inconsistency should be expected from an expansion team. At 4-3, Portland has exceeded expectations to this point, and head coach Alex Sarama has clearly gotten his team to buy into an unselfish, defense-first style of play, much like Natalie […]
Why voices from women’s college basketball cannot be left out of the debate over the NAACP’s proposed SEC boycott
Anyone with an ounce of consciousness and a fundamental understanding of history has the wherewithal to know that sports and politics are by no means separate. For good, bad and indifferent, they are forever intertwined, and there is just no getting around that. And anyone who tries to say otherwise is naïve at best and […]
Awa Fam’s delayed WNBA debut for the Seattle Storm showed why she was a top pick in the 2026 draft
For most top WNBA draft selections, fans have plenty of information on the player. They’ve seen years of college basketball and countless interviews, giving them a sense of familiarity with them. That isn’t the case for Awa Fam. She’s a 19-year-old from Spain who played for Valencia Basket and has some international experience with her […]
WNBA gameday discussion: On a back-to-back, the New York Liberty look to avoid three-straight losses against the Portland Fire
The New York Liberty may be getting closer to whole, but that might not be enough to avoid losing three games in a row. The Liberty host the second game of their home back-to-back on Monday night, welcoming the Portland Fire to Barclays Center for the first time (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN/Peacock). It will, however, […]
With a record-matching 3-point shooting performance, Azzi Fudd showed why there’s no need to worry about her WNBA future
Nothing about Azzi Fudd’s WNBA career has been typical. From the moment she was drafted No. 1 over in the 2026 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings, eyebrows were raised. Many thought eventual No. 3 pick Awa Fam or No. 2 pick Olivia Miles were better players with not only higher upside, but were also […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Sabrina Ionescu is set to debut as the New York Liberty look to bounce back against Dallas Wings
Sabrina Ionescu is set to return just in time for the New York Liberty. Coming off their worst loss of the season, a 87-70 defeat to the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday, the Liberty are inching toward whole, with Ionescu, sidelined since preseason with a foot injury, expected to make her 2026 season debut. Her […]
Angel Reese introduces Rhyne Howard’s new nickname, “The Permission”— and here’s why it’s perfect
Three-time WNBA All-Star Rhyne Howard returned to the court Friday night to help the Atlanta Dream secure an 86-69 win against the Dallas Wings. Howard was sidelined during the Dream’s game against the Las Vegas Aces last Sunday due to concussion protocol, but didn’t miss a beat against the Wings, leading both teams in scoring […]
WNBA gameday discussion: What to watch in Lynx-Sky, Fire-Tempo and Sparks-Aces
It’s a three-game Saturday in the WNBA. Things get started with the Chicago Sky hosting the Minnesota Lynx at 1 p.m. ET on CBS. At 6 p.m. ET, turn to WNBA League Pass to catch the first matchup between the W’s newest teams, as the Portland Fire visit the Toronto Tempo. Then, the action concludes […]
What we’ve learned about the automatic Aces, fiery Fire and new officiating emphases through two weeks of WNBA action
Two weeks in, and the 2026 WNBA season is already delivering. Expansion teams are making noise, superstars are reminding us why they’re superstars, and a rulebook tweak is quietly reshaping how the game is being played. Here’s what has stood out most. In the comments, let us know if you agree, while also sharing your […]
Five ways the Chicago Sky can stay competitive as injuries continue to pile up
Early in the 2026 WNBA season, the Chicago Sky are looking like a team that knows how to overcome adversity. Faced with a four-game road trip and the absence of several rotation players, Chicago cobbled together wins against Portland, Golden State and Minnesota, going 3-1 thanks to strong defense, timely playmaking and a remarkable level […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Can Angel Reese begin to find her groove when the Atlanta Dream face the Dallas Wings?
Friday night’s WNBA lineup again illustrates the absurdities of the early-season schedule. The Atlanta Dream will, finally, play their fourth game of the season. Off since their comeback against the Las Vegas Aces fell short on Sunday afternoon, the Dream host the Dallas Wings, suiting up for their sixth game of the season (7:30 p.m. […]
Head coach Jose Fernandez is willing to speak harsh truths. Will his honesty help or hurt the Dallas Wings?
After a season of failure under head coach Chris Koclanes, the Dallas Wings let him go and once again pressed the reset button on their rebuild. They still have Paige Bueckers, brought back Arike Ogunbowale and added No.1 pick Azzi Fudd to the roster. They also hired Jose Fernandez to lead the charge and turn […]
In their first game without Rickea Jackson, the Chicago Sky couldn’t hang on against the Dallas Wings
The Chicago Sky played their home opener on Wednesday against the Dallas Wings. They, of course, were without Rickea Jackson, recently lost to a season-ending ACL injury. Therefore, the Sky were put to the test to see who could fill the void left by their leading scorer, who averaged 18.0 points per game. Chicago also […]
Interview: How Kendall Currence’s Native American heritage has shaped a basketball journey filled with adversity
Born in Bourne, MA, Kendall Currence is a proud member of Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe. Despite early-life health difficulties, the 5-foot-9 guard spent four years at Northeastern (2018-22) and a season at Temple (2023-24), and is now playing professional basketball for the second year in a row. When at Northeastern she continued to improve year […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Toronto Tempo’s Brittney Sykes leads players who are proving their value—and then some—for their teams
Last week, I wrote about the increase in advanced stats for the WNBA, focusing on Dan Falkenheim’s WNBA RAPM. In the article, I also referenced data from ESPN Analytics, which evaluates players’ impact on winning through net points and wins above replacement (WAR) metrics. Net points strives to give a player credit for how much […]
The Las Vegas Aces are, once again, dominating the WNBA—and here’s why
It’s a new WNBA season, and while there have been plenty of roster changes via free agency, plus two new expansion teams, one thing has remained the same: The Las Vegas Aces are the team to beat. They had a slip up on opening day, losing in blowout fashion to the Phoenix Mercury, but it’s […]
Can Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin carry the Washington Mystics to consistent winning?
Two weeks into the WNBA season, the Washington Mystics have reclaimed familiar territory: a .500 record. Washington has accustomed themselves to floating around an even record pre-trade deadline, but that oscillation has never felt as promising as it does now. In past campaigns, the urge to tank or experiment with younger lineups stained the slivers […]
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