^{August 14, 2025 | Edition #124}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

A whole month still stands between us and the chaos of the playoffs, but the picture is already somewhat clear. The top four are all but locked in. The real fight is in the middle - Vegas, Indiana, Golden State, Seattle, and LA battling for position. And even for the teams bound for the playoffs, cracks are showing in the name of overreliance on stars, injuries, and suddenly tricky schedules.

Stewart-Sized Hole? Liberty’s Title Defense on the Line

The defending champs came into 2025 as the team to beat, but the New York Liberty have been on a rollercoaster. Remember when they were the last ones standing with that perfect record? Yeah, then they dropped four straight. It’s been the classic ups and downs we know and love (or love to stress about).

Up until last month, though, things were still looking pretty sweet. The Liberty beat Vegas, Atlanta, Indiana (twice) and Phoenix, four out of the top-eight teams. Then came the big one. Two losses to the Lynx later, and suddenly, Sandy Brondello’s team didn’t feel quite as untouchable. With the Playoffs just over a month away, check out how the Championship odds are shaping up!

Fast forward to the recent matchup vs Las Vegas. The Liberty had momentum after the high of dropping 105 points in the win over the Sparks, the perfect setup. And then… poof. The fourth quarter slipped away, and honestly, there was no one to blame but themselves.

Here’s the common thread in all of this: missing Breanna Stewart.

The team’s motor went down with a bone bruise in her right knee on July 26. Before the injury, Stewie was averaging 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, nearly 4 assists, plus 1.4 steals and blocks a game.

Since then, the Libs are 4-5, losing to the likes of Dallas and Connecticut. They’ve dropped down to the 3rd seed, and with back-to-back games against Minnesota coming up, we might see them slip further. The only hope at the moment seems to be Stewart’s return, expected before she turns 31 on August 27.

But until that happens, the Liberty will have to punch above their weight. Can they still go back-to-back?

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A’ja Wilson’s Post-Break Beast Mode

Did someone say A’ja Wilson was having an underwhelming season? Well, tell that to her now, 11 games since the All-Star break. After a historic season last year, the expectations were sky-high. But a rocky start with missed games due to concussion protocols and other injuries had some folks questioning her.

Well, come post All-Star break, and another beast was born. In these 11 games, she has averaged 21.4 points on 48% shooting, 10.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game. The Aces have gone 8-,3 and in 7 of those wins, Wilson racked up double-doubles. You won’t believe how this stretch has boosted A’ja’s MVP case!

Most recently, she led the Aces to snap their regular-season losing streak (6 games) to the Liberty, dating back to 2023. Now, they are rolling on a five-game winning streak, just two games behind New York in the standings.

Meanwhile, things look… different for Seattle. Before the All-Star break, the Storm were sitting pretty in fourth place, and with an easy schedule ahead, fans expected them to make a serious run for the higher seeds. Instead, they have been winless since July 28th!

Brittney Sykes’ move in for Alysha Clark hasn’t shifted the tide either. And these whispers of locker room tension (maybe even verbal fights) make it clear the move wasn’t just business.

However, things hit rock bottom vs Atlanta. While their last five losses were nail-biters, Wednesday’s 85-75 defeat to the Dream wasn’t close. And suddenly, a team with three All-Stars; Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, and Gabby Williams, is barely holding onto a playoff spot, just 0.5 games ahead of the 9th-placed Sparks. Let’s see if they can bounce back.

Chicago Sky-Connecticut Sun Scuffle! Three Players Ejected After Fierce Physical Battle

Minnesota’s Playoffs Served on a Dallas Platter

Isn’t it funny how sometimes a team barely on the court can still make headlines? That’s exactly what happened with Minnesota. Dallas might be out of playoff contention, but thanks to their win, they officially handed the Lynx a ticket to the postseason a whole month in advance!

The No. 1 seed looks sealed too, with the Atlanta Dream sitting 6 games back. And while it became a celebration fitting the kind of season Minnesota has had, the game between Dallas and Indiana itself was a thriller.

Down by 12 heading into the fourth, the Fever went on an 11-0 run in just three minutes, cutting the deficit to one. It looked like anyone’s game until….one Dallas rookie clamped the league’s fastest guard in Kelsey Mitchell so intensely that the Fever guard just couldn’t take a good shot. Check out this brilliant defensive possession!

Meanwhile, the Valkyries are on a mission to make history. First, they crushed the Connecticut Sun 74-57, with Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini each dropping 17, moving GSV past both the Storm and Sparks into seventh. Then, they rolled out the mat for a special new member.

What a sweet welcome it was!

Then, with an 88-83 victory over the Mystics, the Valks earned their third-straight win. Veronica Burton made a strong case for MIP with 30 points, and GSV is looking good for a playoff spot. If the Storm can’t regain form, this streak could have huge playoff implications!

Matching the Stud Budz?! Cheryl Reeve’s Daring Pledge for a Championship Win

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

The Sparks came into this week winning eight of their last 10. Yeah, that rough loss to the Liberty stung, and they’re still outside the playoff spots, but they’re right on the edge, so there’s hope. A big reason for that is Kelsey Plum. It’s her first season in LA, but you’d never guess. Even in a loss, she made it a golden night, passing legend Lisa Leslie for a new franchise record. You’ll want to check it out!

Hero Moments of the Night ft. Jonquel Jones & Paige Bueckers

The self-assist. As has been the theme, Paige Bueckers once again delivered a double-digit performance with 16 points, along with eight assists. It wasn’t her scoring that had everyone talking, though. She brought her signature creativity to a whole new level against Indiana.

Remember her famous volleyball-style assist with UConn? Well, she did it again, but strangely, not to a teammate.

In the third quarter, after Damiris Dantas’ corner three didn’t fall, the ball bounced off the rim, landing right behind PB, with players swarming the paint, ready to grab the rebound. Before she could even react, a Fever guard came charging at her. So what did she do?

She literally tipped the ball… to herself! Is that even possible? See for yourself!

From there, she passed it to Maddy Siegrist, who drained the bucket, plus the foul. Pure genius move!

Fiery denial. New York’s night might have ended with a loss full of mistakes, but Jonquel Jones made her presence impossible to ignore. Her highlight has to be that block that demanded your attention.

In the fourth quarter, A’ja Wilson received a pass from Jackie Young, sprinted in, and almost looked ready to add another bucket to her already amazing night, until…Jones said, “Enough.” The Liberty star leaped from the side, flattening the three-time MVP into the floor. Check out the brutal block!

Jones finished the night with 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and this one block that Wilson will probably remember for days.

Playoff Deciders! Here Are The 10 Biggest Games That Could Make or Break Hopes

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. Caitlin Clark Couldn’t Contain Excitement Over Taylor Swift Podcast Debut - Full Story

2. ‘Steal of the Draft’ Rookie to Have Better WNBA Career Than Paige Bueckers, Per Expert - Full Story

3. Sophie Cunningham Admits Fever Stars Initially Resented Major Stephanie White Decision - Full Story

4. Angel Reese’s Epic Reaction to Sky vs Sun Scuffle - Full Story

5. Why the WNBA Just Shut Down the Sun’s $325M Boston Move - 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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