^{August 09, 2025 | Edition #122}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

Starting the season as a title favorite only to end it staring down lottery odds. Stings bad, right? See, if you thought mid-season moves would spark some wild power shifts, sorry to disappoint. The top teams are only flexing harder, while the bottom ones are sinking deeper into rebuild mode. And then there's Indiana. All it took was one game to flip their whole season on its head, highlighting one of the league’s biggest issues again.

Fever’s Injury Storm Exposes League’s Toughest Truth

The Phoenix Mercury got their revenge over Indiana. Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner combined for 41 points in a 95–60 blowout win on their home court. Even so, for the Fever, the loss on the scoreboard wasn’t the worst part of the night.

In a season where “injury report” has basically become their nightmare, most notably with star Caitlin Clark missing 18 of the team’s 31 games, the Fever just took another crushing blow. Actually, two. Sydney Colson (left ACL) and Aari McDonald (broken bone in right foot), both key point guards, went down in the same game with season-ending injuries.

Just like that, Indiana’s already thin 11-player roster is down to nine healthy players and not a single healthy point guard. Also, because of league rules, they can’t even sign a hardship replacement until after their next game against Chicago. However, when they do qualify, one of Clark’s biggest rivals might be the right answer. Check out who.

But the bigger story here isn’t just about one team’s bad luck; it’s about a league-wide problem that’s been simmering for years: load management. We’ve discussed it with you before, and it’s worth repeating - WNBA players are exhausted!

They log heavier minutes, in shorter games, with far less rest than their male counterparts. Numbers back it up. 20% of WNBA players played every single game last season. In the NBA, it was just 2%. The physical toll is brutal, and now it’s showing up on injury lists that are far too long for mid-August.

For Indiana, though, the playoff dream is still kinda alive. But if the losses pile up, they might find themselves staring at the lottery instead. Right now, they’ve got a mountain to climb, and the league has a bigger question to answer: how many more seasons will we keep running players into the ground before load management stops being a “buzzword” and starts being a solution?

Big Wins, Bigger Savings

If your week’s already filled with WNBA recaps and checking the next tip-off, here’s something worth squeezing in between games. ToolUp’s Clearance Deals are quietly dropping up to 80% off on pro-grade tools, and it’s the kind of sale that disappears faster than a shot clock. Plus, orders over $199 ship free, so you can get the good stuff without extra costs slowing you down.

When the Stars Are Out, So Is the Spark

We just talked about how injuries end up ruining some team’s entire season. For Chicago and Dallas, the absence of their stars has been the difference between hanging on and falling flat. Angel Reese has now missed four straight games due to a back injury, and while the scoreboard shows the losses, the bigger impact might be elsewhere. Check out how the Sky franchise is suffering.

Against Atlanta, they actually started well…holding the Dream to just 28 points in the first half and looking healthier than they had in weeks. But that first-half control vanished after halftime. By the final buzzer, they were staring at a double-digit loss, 86–65. Dallas, meanwhile, knows this pain all too well.

With Paige Bueckers sidelined, the Wings’ formula reverted to early-season form: start slow, dig a 20-point hole, and then mount a frantic late comeback that falls just short. Dallas’ latest heartbreak came against the defending champs, 88-77, their second close loss to New York in three days.

Meanwhile, over in Vegas, it was a much happier scene. A’ja Wilson celebrated her 29th birthday by dropping 29 points. On one play, Jackie Young literally played the role of human shield to clear A’ja’s space, making Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike crash to the floor. You have to watch this to believe!

Add in NaLyssa Smith’s 10-point, 12-rebound double-double on her birthday, too. On the opponent's side, despite the loss, rookie Dominique Malonga had a career night with 22 points, and Brittney Sykes made her Storm debut with 14. Oh, and the Aces made history, recording their 40th straight home sellout with 10,415 fans packing the house.

Now, for Chicago and Dallas, until their stars return, “almost” might be the closest thing to a win.

The Best Second-Placed Team Ever? Caitlin Clark Breaks Silence on Never Winning a College Natty

LA Lingers on Playoff Edge

Thursday night in LA had a little bit of everything: scoring fireworks, milestone moments, and one unexpectedly sweet gesture. The Sparks, after a sluggish start, found their groove in the second half to beat the league-worst Sun, 102–91.

Rickea Jackson dropped 20, Dearica Hamby added 21, but Julie Allemand stole the show, recording her first-ever career triple-double (10 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists). Still, the night’s most memorable moment didn’t come from the box score. In a move that melted hearts, Kelsey Plum intentionally committed a violation to help a Sun rookie. Find out why she did that!

The win made it eight victories in their last nine games, pulling LA into a tie with the Golden State for the final playoff spot. Fittingly, their next game is against the Valks. Get your popcorn out for that one, because it will be a playoff atmosphere at Chase Center.

Over in Minnesota on Friday, the league-best Lynx faced a feisty Washington Mystics squad that refused to go quietly. The Mystics came out hot with a 22–15 first-quarter lead, but the Lynx responded with a game-changing 23–13 second-quarter run.

Sonia Citron did everything she could, leading all scorers with 26 points, including a clutch three with 59.5 seconds left to tie it at 76. A shot that almost looked like a game-changer! Until…

The final minute turned into chaos: a foul on Sug Sutton overturned after review, a jump ball win for Washington, a Citron turnover in the lane, and finally Kayla McBride icing it at the line. Minnesota walked away with an 80–76 win, with Alanna Smith leading them with 25 points.

Sonia Citron > All Other Rookies! Mystics Rookie Hits Crazy Milestone with 25-Point Performance

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

Sophie Cunningham was back in the city where her pro career began, a place she spent six special years. She even twinned with Lexie Hull and got a warm welcome from the franchise. But this trip wasn’t just about nostalgia; she led the team with 18 points. However, the biggest talking point was her fiery run-in with former teammate DeWanna Bonner. So heated that Damiris Dantas had to step in. You’ve got to see it!

Deadline Trades Turning the Playoff Race?

The regular season is winding down - just about a month left - and the trade window has finally closed. While some moves might ripple years down the road, right now they aren’t exactly shaking things up much. Not at all, actually. However, they have sure dropped a big truth bomb on the 2024 draft class’s value. You’ll see what we mean once you check this out.

Back to the recent trades: the Lynx (26-5) still sit perched at the top, looking tougher than ever. After watching DiJonai Carrington make an immediate impact in just two games, we can surely say that adding her was a big win for the title favorites.

Sliding down to the No. 2 seed, the Liberty (20-10) might be missing Breanna Stewart, but snagging Emma Meesseman is probably the best decision they've ever made. She’s brought everything New York hoped for and more.

The Dream (19-11), however, have quietly crept into playoff territory. They’re not making headlines often, still with that record, it’s clear why they stayed out of the trade frenzy.

Just behind, sneaking into the No. 4 spot, the Mercury are matching the Dream’s record…not without some serious ups and downs along the way, though. DeWanna Bonner’s return raised eyebrows at first, yet she is bringing the heat now. Her death stare at Lexie Hull during the Fever game says everything about the stakes.

Meanwhile, Brittney Sykes lived up to the expectations in her Storm debut, but the jury’s still out on how the rest of the season will unfold for Seattle.

All in all, the playoff seedings are bubbling hot with the Fever (17-14), Aces (17-14), Storm (16-15), Valkyries, and Sparks all jockeying for position. While we’re already counting out the Sun, Sky, and Wings, it’s gonna be super interesting to see who sneaks into the playoffs from the expected group, especially the Valkyries.

WNBA Playoff Probabilities: The Numbers All but Guarantee These Two Teams a Finals Spot

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. Diana Taurasi’s Boldest Verdict Yet on Caitlin Clark - Full Story

2. Why Some WNBA Teams Sat Out the Trade Deadline - Full Story

3. Paige Bueckers Pulled the Texas Crowd Even as Wings Fell Short - Full Story

4. Caitlin Clark’s Rookie Year Praise List Has One Big Snub - Full Story

5. WNBA Insider Backs DeWanna Bonner in Heated Moment With Sophie Cunningham - 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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