^{June 26, 2025 | Edition #103}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

As they say, “When it rains, it pours.” Indeed, Dallas basketball has felt every drop. Over the last few months, they’ve seen it all: losing their franchise face, drafting a shiny No.1 pick, going through a brutal losing streak, finding a little rhythm again, and now… welcoming yet another top pick. But with their latest win(s), it’s not just Dallas celebrating.

Across the league, it feels like the tide is shifting - underdogs are rising, giants are stumbling, some are finally returning to form, others are making big exits or returns - all in all, the chaos is only just beginning.

New Season, New Turns? When Angel Rose & Caitlin Froze

2024 gave us the first truly star-studded rookie class since the legendary ‘Big Three’ - Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, and Skylar Diggins. If we’re being honest, however, this one might’ve already shattered those ceilings and then some.

This time, though, the script took a turn (some might even call it a full 180). On the very same night, Caitlin Clark hit a new low, while Angel Reese made multiple slices of WNBA history. Sure, Indiana clinched a much-needed 94–86 win over the Seattle Storm, but for Clark, it was anything but a personal victory.

For the first time in her career, she finished with more turnovers (8) than points (6). Just 3-of-13 from the field and a brutal 0-of-6 from deep. That now makes her 1-of-23 from beyond the arc over the last three games. Sounds nothing like the CC we know, right? While some fans are bashing her slump, others are standing by her. But her die-hards? They’re noticing an entirely different and bigger change. Take a look at what worries them the most.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, Angel Reese is having her moment. She dropped 18 points and 17 boards in the Sky’s 97–86 win over LA, giving Sky Town some hope, finally. But that wasn’t the biggest headline. She came into the game with 602 career points and 596 rebounds, and in the first quarter itself, officially became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 600 points and 600 rebounds.

But she wasn’t done making history. She notched her 10th consecutive double-double, passing Candace Parker for the second-most in a player’s first two seasons. She also became the fastest ever to hit 150 rebounds and 50 assists in a single season.

What a stark contrast it was for the two young stars! But this push and pull is what makes this rookie class so iconic, right?

Big Game, Bigger Glow-Up

You know how a last-minute three changes the game? That’s what Estée Lauder’s 40% off sale feels like. Whether you’re gifting it, borrowing it, or just stocking up for someone who swears by their Advanced Night Repair, this is the time to move. Men, women, old, young, they have something for all in their most-wanted skincare and beauty picks. It’s basically the All-Stars of the bathroom shelf.

WNBA nights and self-care pair surprisingly well. Score 40% Off Today before this one’s out of bounds.

The Kind of Dubs We Live For

What are our favorite kinds of wins? The ones that make all those neat little predictions go flying out the window, right? That’s exactly what Washington and Dallas had in mind. The Mystics made it loud and clear: “We ain’t scared of anybody.” Their proud coach expressed, “he can’t ask for anything more.” Yet, his young squad keeps giving just that.

This time, the challenge was the mighty Lynx. Even without Phee, Minnesota’s no pushover. But back home in D.C., the Mystics rose to the moment. Shakira Austin anchored the paint on both ends, putting up 19 points with authority. Kiki Iriafen dropped an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double. With this, Kiki now has this unreal stat that’ll blow your mind.

Sug Sutton was the quiet engine. She controlled the game and dropped a clutch shot that helped shut the door on Minnesota. The Lynx led with a little over 3 minutes left… and then just didn’t score again. Final score: 68-64. That’s how you defend home court.

Meanwhile, in Dallas, almost everyone had this one penciled in for the Dream, and who could blame them? Atlanta came in with nearly as many wins as the Wings had losses. But Dallas wasn’t trying to hear any of that. They smothered Atlanta early, holding them to a franchise-low 10 points in the first quarter!

Arike Ogunbowale led with 21 and four assists, including this crazy Magic Johnson-esque pass to set up NaLyssa Smith. But it was new addition Li Yueru who had the breakout moment - her first WNBA double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Paige Bueckers added 12 in the 68-55 win, too.

We know that Dallas is still experimenting with lineups, but today’s new starting five might just be the blueprint.

Week 5’s Players of the Week: Surprise Names Pick Up Big Honors

Fever’s Turning Point? Bonner’s Fever Era Ends Before It Ever Began

The Indiana Fever stopped the bleeding with a win, but not before losing a piece of themselves. We knew DeWanna Bonner had been MIA for a while due to “personal reasons,” and rumors were already swirling about a possible retirement. But no, turns out she’s not hanging it up… just moving on.

“Despite our shared goals and excitement heading into the season, I felt the fit did not work out,” Bonner said in a public statement. Which means this one wasn’t mutual - Bonner wanted out, and when Indiana couldn’t find a trade partner, the two sides quietly parted ways.

Word is she decided to move on from Indy after getting pulled from the starting lineup. But right after that, she dropped this cryptic message on Instagram. Make of it what you will.

The real sting is that the Fever had built their entire offseason hype around these big-name veteran signings. Bonner was supposed to be the centerpiece. But now she’s gone. Still, Indy was quick to fill that gap and brought in someone who already won hearts during a short emergency stint - Aari McDonald.

She’s officially signed, and while fans are thrilled, analysts aren’t sold. At this point in the Fever’s rebuild, is she the right fit long-term? Maybe not. Find out why!

Meanwhile, out west, the Golden State Valkyries just got a big boost, as Temi Fagbenle is set to be back. After weeks of fans anxiously watching those overseas commitments, this return is huge for Coach Natalie Nakase & Co. With all these GSV stars finally coming back, some goodbyes were inevitable. Aerial Powers is out, and more exits might follow.

401-Game Difference?! Caitlin Clark Hits Unfortunate Milestone Faster Than Any Player in History

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

It’s a new era in Dallas! First, it was Paige Bueckers, and now the city welcomed Cooper Flagg with open arms on Wednesday. Paige was actually there for the Mavericks’ NBA Draft Party and super involved the whole time. Fans even showed up with cutouts of her! But the best part was when she was asked to pick her Starting 5 made up of only No. 1 Draft Picks. Curious who she went with? Check it out for yourself.

A Season Split in Two! New Blood Climbs

If we had to sum up this WNBA season in one word, it would be: unexpected. Who would've thought we'd be talking about a team full of “sixth” women giving the champs a run for their money while a franchise with a legacy would be quietly crumbling? Yet, that’s exactly what’s going down with the Golden State Valkyries and the Connecticut Sun.

Now, nobody expected miracles with a whole new starting five, but with Tina Charles and Marina Mabrey around, a 2–13 record is… rough. On top of that, a scoreless start until the 2:12 mark of the first quarter is straight-up embarrassing. With no Mabrey in the lineup, the Sun fell 87–62 against the Aces. But the night belonged to A’ja Wilson. She scored 22 and, with her fourth bucket, made HUGE league history.

Meanwhile, in San Francisco, the Valkyries are busy rewriting everyone’s preseason expectations. Yes, they lost… but also didn’t. For the second time this season, they nearly stunned the defending champs. Wednesday’s 81–78 loss came down to late free throws and turnovers - a familiar heartbreak.

Kate Martin dropped a career-high 21 and hit big-time threes down the stretch. It was like a one-woman show. Just look at some of these threes by Martin, they get crazier! But some missed late looks and Sabrina Ionescu’s seven clutch free throws sealed their fate.

All in all, no one saw this kind of heart coming from the Valks in year one. Despite the L’s, the fight is there. The belief is there. And that’s a win in itself.

Poor Choice of Words! Fans Frustrated After Commentators’ Apparent Disregard of Kate Martin

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. Is a Love-Fueled Return DeWanna Bonner’s Next Destination? All Signs Point to Yes - Full Story

2. New Report Reveals Caitlin Clark’s Bold Olympic Move After Snub - Full Story

3. Rickea Jackson and Angel Reese Get Into It During Fiery Game - Full Story

4. Fever Benefit From Missed Calls? Broadcasters Rip WNBA Refs as Indiana Catch a Lucky Break - Full Story

5. Exact Same Slump! Sabrina Ionescu and Caitlin Clark Mirror Each Other’s Struggles - Full Story

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

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