^{September 15 2025 | Edition #138}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

Top seeds held their ground…well, all except one!

The postseason tipped off with a little bit of everything: drama from the sidelines, fireworks on the court, and players meeting their past. While Game 1s might have felt way too intense for some, it was smooth sailing for others. What it really proved, though, is that even if our young stars didn’t make the playoffs, the veteran stars are more than ready to keep things entertaining.

A Win: Wrapped in Worry for Libs, Statement for Aces

The playoffs promised us two evenly matched battles, but turns out, only one lived up to the billing.

This one you probably saw coming, as most of you predicted in yesterday’s poll: 5th-seed Liberty marched into Phoenix and snatched a road win.

It was gritty, it was messy, and for a hot second, it looked like the Mercury had cracked the code. A blistering 30-point second quarter had Phoenix in control, but both teams stumbled late, dragging it to OT. And once they got there, New York slammed the door shut.

Natasha Cloud, going full revenge mode against her former squad, dropped 23 and sealed a bittersweet 76–69 win. Why bittersweet? Because with just over 3 minutes left in OT, Breanna Stewart went down clutching her left knee. The grimace, the way she grabbed at it, the way she walked off in tears… we collectively sighed. Check out the moment Stewie got injured.

So, the Liberty head back home to the Big Apple with the chance to clinch the series, but maybe holding their breath too.

Now, about that other so-called “even” matchup….yeah, not so much. The Aces walked into their opener against the Storm and basically said, “Nice to see you, now step aside.” Final score: 102–77 Vegas. Their 17th consecutive win!

As usual, it was the A’ja Wilson show. She cooked everybody Seattle threw at her - veteran Ezi Magbegor, rookie Dominique Malonga - didn’t matter. Layups, jumpers, even a three-ball for fun, she piled up 29 points. Combine that with Jackie Young’s 18, Dana Evans’ 13, Jewell Loyd’s 14 against her former team, and NaLyssa Smith’s 11.

For Seattle, Gabby Williams led the way with 16 points, five players hit double figures, but still… nada. Can the Storm stretch it to Game 3? We’ll find out on Tuesday.

Rep Your Team, Your Way

The Playoffs are here (finally), and like you’ve probably seen, the energy on the court is unmatched! This also means that it’s the perfect time to bring that same excitement home. WNBA is making that possible now with their official team gear. Jerseys. Tees. Caps. And so much more. Moreover, this limited merch is on sale for up to 30% off right now, so you can refresh your collection without breaking the bank.

So, whether you’re repping your team during watch parties or keeping the momentum alive all offseason, this is your moment to stock up. Because no one should miss their chance to cheer in style this postseason.

Refs 2 - 0 Fever & Valkyries?

The top seeds did what they were supposed to do. Was it fair, though? That’s the question everyone is asking after a night of whistles, techs, and frustrated coaches.

Obviously, we’ve got to start with yet another chapter in the Fever’s ongoing lore of ‘officiating injustice’ this season. It started in the second quarter when Lexie Hull got hit with an “unnecessary” flagrant foul that had to be challenged (and overturned, of course).

Then, in the fourth, White absolutely lost it, earning a tech, as Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell literally had to hold their coach back. Here’s the fiery moment!

But Indiana can’t blame just the refs for the loss. Sure, it was a pretty neck-and-neck game; except the Dream did all the little things better than their opponents. The Fever shooting 2-15 from deep didn’t help either.

So what did Stephanie White think was the reason Indiana lost? The refs or her own team? Check out her post-game answer.

Kelsey Mitchell still did her thing, dropping 27 points, but it wasn’t enough against Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray’s combined 40.

However, the Fever weren’t the only ones on the end of “bad” whistles on Sunday. Over in Minnesota, Natalie Nakase joined the tech party too. Coincidentally, it was the dreaded second-quarter curse again.

The Valks actually led 28-21 after the first quarter, but multiple calls - 11 Free Throws attempted for Minnesota and one for Golden State in the second - killed their momentum. Postgame, Nakase didn’t sugarcoat her frustration. You rarely see her this heated!

If you go by numbers, though, the Valkyries got called for 22 fouls while the Lynx had 23. The biggest issue was GSV’s off-shooting night. The Valkyries shot just 34% (20-59) from the field. On the other end, the Lynx were efficient at 52% (35-68). Minnesota also dominated in the paint (44-18) and crushed the Valkyries on the boards by double digits.

Add in five Lynx players hitting double figures, and it turned into a 101-72 blowout at Target Center.

Active Roster < Injured Roster! How Indiana’s Sidelined Players Couldn’t Fit on the Bench

A Night of Highlights!

Sweet Revenge? Jewell Loyd was THE storyline, going vs. her former team. Of course, she had to take the win and show off some moves. Even if it meant making her ex-teammate Skylar Diggins jump or, let’s be honest, slightly embarrass her with a slick fake to drain a three. Loyd totally had Sky for this one!

Duh, it’s AT! When your team manages to shoot only 3-of-16 from the field in a crucial fourth quarter, someone has to take it into their own hands. Well, more like throw it, in this case. That someone was Alyssa Thomas for the Mercury, who, amid all the chaos, found Kahleah Copper with this sweet bounce pass under the basket that put Phoenix up 2 with 1:40 left.

Slip ‘n’ score: “How did that ball go in?” That was the broadcaster’s first reaction, and it’ll probably be yours too when you see Kelsey Mitchell drain this crazy jumper, all while slipping over Jordin Canada in the process. Fluke or pure skill?

Nike X LEGO Brings You 'Mini A'ja'

Don’t know about you, but we’re convinced….A’ja Wilson is winning everywhere right now!

She’s officially the AP Player of the Year for the second straight year, bagged her 2025 WNBA Peak Performer award alongside Alyssa Thomas and Angel Reese.

And just when Wilson wrapped up collecting on-court hardware (though we’re betting MVP is next), Nike and LEGO teamed up with her for a playful new collab, debuting a LEGO mini-figure of A’ja herself. The level of detail is unreal, practically capturing Wilson’s signature flair in miniature form. See for yourself!

The post hints at Wilson being “the tiniest host of the biggest mini sports show,” teasing a potential new video series. But will the mini-figure hit shelves for sale? That’s unclear, but if it does, fans are already lining up.

Women for Women! NWSL Stands with WNBA in “Pay Them What You Owe Them” Tees

1. Natalie Nakase’s Officiating Complaints Shut Down By Cheryl Reeve - Full Story

2. Caitlin Clark Fact-Checked on National TV After Referee Outburst - Full Story

3. Sky GM Said All Is Well; Angel Reese’s Actions Say Otherwise - Full Story

4. Breanna Stewart Drops Chilling Lockout Warning For the League - Full Story

5. WNBA Confirms 2025 MVP & Year-End Awards Reveal Date - 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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