^{June 23, 2025 | Edition #102}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

We were just talking about how it’s the best time to be an Indy hoops fan, right? Well, it took only a few days for that to flip completely. On the men’s side, the Pacers’ season ended in the most heartbreaking way with one of the worst injury moments we’ve seen. And on the women’s side, the Fever lost again, as Caitlin Clark seems to have lost some of her signature power.

Meanwhile, as the intensity on the court intensifies, off it, the league is united in a powerful cause: a new and better Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The fight is very much on as the players continue to speak up until things change.

All Eyes on All-Star Weekend! WNBA Players Start the Countdown

Barely months from now, the WNBA will have a new (and hopefully better) CBA. The WNBPA opted out of the current deal last fall, and while it doesn’t officially expire until the end of the 2025 season, players have made it clear: the clock is ticking. On Sunday, the WNBPA dropped an Instagram post that felt more like a warning. Check the post out for yourself!

Others who couldn’t share it, spoke out during pre- and postgame media. Ahead of their game against the Aces, Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson both showed up to media sessions with prepared statements. So did Kayla Thornton from the Valkyries. Over in College Park, union secretary Elizabeth Williams echoed the urgency in clear, bold words.

“The current system is unsustainable for us,” she said. Williams pointed to the growing disconnect between the league’s rising success and the relatively low compensation the players are receiving. The biggest evidence of that is the next media rights deal worth $2.2 billion over 11 years - four times the size of the current deal.

But where are the players in these conversations? Earlier this month, the WNBA extended its deal with Scripps Sports to keep games on Ion. Yet somehow, the union wasn’t even involved in the talks. That’s despite previous assurances from the commissioner that they would be.

Meanwhile, core issues remain on the table: higher salaries, expanded benefits like maternity leave, and a more flexible salary cap. For context, the WNBA operates on a hard cap of $1.5 million per team, less than half of the NWSL’s new $3.3 million cap. So yes, the demands are not “unreasonable.”

With pride and every bit of reason on their side, the players have officially put the league on notice. “We’re 25 days away from All-Star. And the clock is ticking,” Williams declared. Need to tread carefully, Ms. Engelbert.

Comfort Gets the W

You’ve seen the tunnel fits this season—comfort is definitely having a moment. Whether it’s Kelsey Plum rocking slides pregame or fans showing up in team-colored clogs, Crocs are courtside cool without even trying. And now, with up to 50% off, it’s the perfect time to snag a pair (or two).

From bold colors to chill neutrals, they’re easy to slip on when you're headed out—or just lounging and refreshing the box score. Shop the Crocs sale now.

Weekend of Takeovers! Cinderella Climbs & Lynx Domination

The top three rookies finally shared the court together, and it did live up to the hype. Just like we all expected, it turned into a full-on rookie show with Paige Bueckers and Sonia Citron stepping up as the late-game heroes.

The second half was tight all the way through. With 11 seconds left in regulation, Bueckers hit this deep three to send the game to OT. The No.1 pick finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists! But when the dust settled, it was the Mystics who walked away with a wild 91–88 win.

Remember when we called Washington the “dark horse” in our previous edition? We’re not taking that back anytime soon. Agaisnt Dallas, they were led by Citron, who finished with a career-high 27 points and 11 rebound, and Kiki Iriafen’s 19.

And Sonia even had the perfect response to Paige - draining a clutch triple of her own with 12.9 seconds left in OT. And the calm with which she did it? You’ll seriously be in awe.

Since we’re talking Cinderella runs, say hello (again) to the Golden State Valkyries. They now have more wins than losses - a sentence we can’t say even for some big teams. This one was an 87–63 win over the struggling Connecticut Sun. The Valks even led by 30 at one point! It was a team effort led by Kayla Thornton’s 21.

Now, moving to the land of top dawgs, the Minnesota Lynx did what they have been doing. But with Phee out, it was Kayla McBride who put on a show: 29 points on 9-for-13 shooting in an 82–66 blowout win over the Sparks. The Lynx are now 12-1 this season!

Betrayed?! Azzi Fudd Rocks Rival Rookie’s Jersey, Paige Bueckers’ Reaction Says It All

Fever, Liberty & Sky Feel the Burn

This game was a big one for both the Fever and the Aces, but it meant even more to Sydney Colson. She was back in the city where she won two championships, so of course she got emotional. You could see the tears in her eyes. But once the reunions were over, it was all business.

After dropping three straight, the Aces came out swinging. Caitlin Clark, hoping for her first career win against Vegas, went ice cold from deep (1-of-10). However, that one three she made came over the MVP, A’ja Wilson. Check out Clark’s signature shot!

But A’ja took over after that, dropping 18 of her 24 in the second half. Indy led by three points going into the fourth, but Vegas slammed the door shut, 89-81. Wilson is now 21-1 vs Indiana in her career. Meanwhile, the Fever’s slide continues, sitting with a 6-7 record. They better snap out of this slump soon.

Speaking of slumps, the New York Liberty officially handed over their "top dog" title. Why? Because the Seattle Storm are now the only team to beat both the 2024 finalists. However, it’s worth noting that even without three starters, NY hung in there.

While Breanna Stewart had 18 points, Marine Johannes went a perfect 7-for-7 in the first, until Seattle locked her up in the fourth. And they pulled some hilarious antics to slow Johannes down. See for yourself!

The Liberty fell 89-79, their third loss in four. Speaking of threes…Chicago gave up too many of them. Again. After losing to Phoenix, they dropped another one to Atlanta, 93–80. Ariel Atkins still scored 29, and while the Sky finally cut their turnovers (league-worst), it didn’t matter in the end.

Who Leads in Player Efficiency Rating? Collier, Caitlin, Paige & More - Here Are the Top 25 in the WNBA

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

Sophie Cunningham is really leaning into her role with the Fever! “The Enforcer” showed up to the Aces game rocking a ‘Tres Leches’ shirt—with her, Lexie Hull, and Caitlin Clark on it. Who wouldn’t want a teammate like that? After standing up for Clark during that game against the Sun, Sophie even explained exactly why she did it. Check out her reasoning yourself! No surprise she’s already a fan-favorite in Indy!

Can Staley’s Philly Wish Spark the W’s Expansion Era?

Believe it or not, the Valkyries are leading the league in attendance. And it’s not just a fanbase - it’s one of the loudest, proudest, and most loyal groups out there. The Valkyries have already won more games than the last expansion team did in their entire debut season. It’s wild how much they’ve already accomplished. Here’s a list of their achievements with expected revenue!

The best part is the WNBA isn’t slowing down. We’ve got two more expansion teams coming in 2026: the Toronto Tempo (the league’s first international team!) and an unnamed Portland squad that’s expected to unveil its identity in July. Toronto already has a big-name backer: none other than Serena Williams!

But just as fans were losing their minds over that move, guess who just threw her hat in the ring? Dawn Staley! The Philly legend said she’d love to own a team if the W ever lands in Philly. About Coaching? She’s out. But owning? She’s in, all heart. Why so, you may ask? Hear from her!

This sounds more exciting as Philadelphia’s name is already heating up, along with Cleveland’s, as front-runners for the next expansion wave. We’ll see when that happen,s but this whole movement speaks volumes. We’re not just watching a league grow…we’re watching a shift in how women’s sports are valued.

It’s no longer about whether people will show up or whether investors will care. The answer is loud and clear: they already are. If the WNBA ever decides to go beyond the already-announced teams, they won’t need to look far. The dreamers are ready. So are the fans. So, can this expansion wave keep rolling in the next few years?

The Race Is On! Here Are the Cities Battling for WNBA's Next Expansion Team

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. Paige Bueckers Leaves Caitlin Clark Behind to Break 19-Year WNBA Record - Full Story

2. ESPN Mics Catch A’ja Wilson’s Brutal Jab at Aliyah Boston - Full Story

3. Caitlin Clark Blames Herself for Fever’s Collapse, But What Exactly Did She Do Wrong? - Full Story

4. “Paige Bueckers’ Girlfriend!” Did Azzi Fudd Just Make Her Relationship with PB Official? - Full Story

5. Becky Hammon Echoed Our Sentiments While Adressing Caitlin Clark Struggle - 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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