^{June 30, 2025 | Edition #105}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

How iconic is it to make history no one else has even dared to sniff, let alone chase? Or wait..how legendary is it to have your jersey retired by two franchises? Just ask Candace Parker. It was indeed a happy day in LA. Sure, the Sparks picked up another loss, but the moment belonged to CP. That said, LA can’t afford to stay in celebration mode much longer. And why wouldn’t they hit panic mode? After all, the first flicker of All-Star fever has already made its way through.

Captain Clark, Captain Phee & Maybe… a 2017 Flashback?

Could a 2017 FIBA U16 World Cup team reunion be sneaking up on us? We know you’re already counting down to see Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier face off in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship game on Tuesday. But what if we tell you it’s not the only major high-stakes showdown featuring Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier?

Because yes, the basketball gods (actually, fans) really said double the drama, double the fun. That’s right, it’s official! We have our captains for the All-Star Game - Captain Phee and Captain Clark. After earning the highest number of fan votes, they’ll be leading the charge. Clark racked up 1,293,526 votes (Most in league history), with Collier close behind at 1,176,020.

Now with fan votes pouring in by the millions, you’d think everyone’s out here cheering for CC, right? That’s what we all thought. But the tide is shifting. Suddenly, Clark’s captaincy isn’t being celebrated; it’s being questioned by fans. Check out why.

Still, the story writes itself. Clark’s second straight All-Star nod, Phee being an All-Star every healthy year of her career - these two were always meant to lead. Now they’ll go full playground-style, picking their teams from a pool of eight starters and twelve reserves on July 8.

So, who will they pick? Clark already gave a little hint. “My first goal would be to have my teammates on my team,” she said. But what really sent fans spiraling is the possibility of a Clark - Aliyah Boston - Paige Bueckers reunion on the All-Star floor. The dream team reunion from the FIBA U16 days. That lineup had Boston as MVP, Bueckers dropping double digits, and Clark heating up from beyond the arc as they brought the championship home. If that trio happens again? Phee might just have to draft a miracle.

Everyday Comfort. Now on Sale.

Just Wins Things! From Blowouts to Big Flexes

If this weekend taught us anything, it’s that paper stats don’t win games, grit does. The Seattle Storm might have the All-Star names, but it was the expansion team from the Bay who walked out with bragging rights. Again.

Natalie Nakase cooked up another defensive masterpiece and held Seattle to their lowest point total this season. All while hoops royalty - from a WNBA legend, iconic CBB coach, to the man who made San Francisco a basketball hub - all watched the ‘almost blowout’ courtside. Check out who showed up for the game.

We expected a change in rhythm when Kayla Thornton left mid-game, but Golden State still pulled away 84-57. Tiffany Hayes led with 21 points, while Veronica Burton and Laeticia Amihere dropped 15 each. That’s what domination looks like. Now, if you want a visual of what crashing down to earth from the sky looks like, just look at the Liberty. After a 9-0 start, they’ve now dropped five of their last seven.

Sure, injuries and a packed schedule are real, but you’ve gotta hand this one to Atlanta. It was a complete team effort as five players scored in double digits. But it was their rookie who had the play of the game. Te-Hina Paopao had the defender in another dimension after this brilliant fake and basket.

Meanwhile, while some toppled, Minnesota stayed very comfy up top. Facing a struggling Sun team, the Lynx had a favorable matchup and made the most of it. They came out firing, building a double-digit lead within minutes and never looked back. They had a 24-point lead by halftime, and the fourth quarter was basically just vibes. The final score was 102-63, with Napheesa Collier contributing 23 points. Stop them if you can.

Shut It Down Already? Dawn Staley’s Take on Coaching Men Might’ve Just Snuffed Out Knicks Rumors

The Higher You Climb, The Harder You Fall

Is it a thing now? Teams get a massive win and then…a sudden L just to keep things balanced? After shutting down the Aces, the Mystics fell 79-71 to the Wings. And you’d think, with how well they were playing and Dallas’ injured roster (minus Paige Bueckers), they’d be alright. But the Wings came in hot.

Dallas led by as much as 24 at one point. The Mystics did make a push, slicing it down to 2, but by the fourth quarter, the tank was empty. The Wings' bench outscored the Mystics, and it was rookie chaos on both ends. JJ Quinerly and Aziaha James dropped 15 each for Dallas, while Sonia Citron popped off for 22.

All that while, PB was having her own fun from the sidelines. Watch her hilariously mocking Brittney Sykes’ flopping! Meanwhile, after riding a 6-game win streak, the Mercury ran into trouble vs the Aces. But at least it felt like a full-on playoff battle.

Down by 9 to start the fourth, the Mercury stormed back with a 16-3 run. But A’ja Wilson wasn’t letting it slide. The reigning MVP hit a tough bucket to put Vegas up for good with 22 seconds left as they won 84-81. Check out A’ja’s game winner!

Then it was Sparks vs. Sky. After taking down the Fever, LA was feeling good. But Angel Reese had other plans for this one. In what was a back-and-forth battle, Reese took over late. Her fourth-quarter heroics (11 points!) sealed a 92-85 win for Chicago as she finished with a historic 24-16-7. Tough loss for LA, but they still had a reason to smile.

She PICKED Her Up?! Rickea Jackson Hilariously Stopped Kelsey Plum From Throwing Hands

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

All-Star captain, MVP frontrunner, scoring leader—Napheesa Collier’s doing it all this season. And off the court, she’s turning the tunnel into a runway with fits that scream athletic edge meets fashion elite. But what if you could make history just by lacing up your shoes? She kinda did. Her performances are already in the record books, and now her sneaker game is too. She became the first to ever wear these in a W game.

LA Bids Forever Love to Its ‘Ace’

You know how the past two years in women’s hoops have been all about shattering ceilings, breaking records, and rewriting history? Well, there’s one record that has stood tall through it all (and will probably remain untouched for a while): Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. That’s a Candace Parker original. But there’s another piece of history that’s hers and hers alone. Find out what it is!

She genuinely won it all - a 2x Olympic gold medalist, a 3x WNBA champion, a 2x WNBA MVP, and a 2x NCAA champion. But to LA, beyond accolades and records, she’ll always be the GOAT. For 13 unforgettable seasons, Parker brought glory to Los Angeles and became the face of the franchise.

To honor everything she gave to the city, the Sparks did what only felt right: raised #3 to the rafters. Very fittingly, it came against her hometown team, Chicago. The whole arena turned into a love letter. Every seat had an Adidas tee reading “That’s Our Ace.” Players and legends sent video tributes. Her daughter, teammates, LA legends, friends - everyone was there, virtually or physically. To top it all off, Candace closed the night with these beautiful anecdotes and words.

Ace is forever a Los Angeles legend. Now, anyone who steps inside Crypto.com Arena will see that legacy hanging from the rafters. But this isn’t all. We might be seeing it happen all over again - just in a different city.

Because when you're as legendary as Parker, one jersey retirement just doesn’t cut it. Later this summer, Chicago’s getting ready to do the same. The Sky will raise her number too, because once she brought a title home to her city, she etched herself into Chicago basketball forever.

Bittersweet Goodbye? The One Thing Candace Parker Still Feels 'Salty' About

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. WNBA Broadcaster Leaves Caitlin Clark & Paige Bueckers Off ‘Best Offensive’ List in Shocking Claim - Full Story

2. What’s Going On in Indiana? Stephanie White’s Confession Fuels Fan Distrust - Full Story

3. Viral Fake Comment Drags Angel Reese Into LeBron vs. MJ Debate - Full Story

4. Author of Caitlin Clark Book Hints at $30B League Built Just for Her - REALLY?! - Full Story

5. Rookie Sonia Citron Breaks Silence as WNBA Schedule Faces Blame for Injuries to Clark & Bueckers - Full Story

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

💌 Feedback