^{September 06 2025 | Edition #134}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

We love how unpredictable this league can be, right? And not just talking on the court (though, yes, that too). Off the court, the twists keep piling up. The player we once pegged as the face of her franchise suddenly finds her future hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, a “new” franchise that was supposed to just find its footing has done the unthinkable.

Not to forget, alongside stars shining bright, this week was also about honoring the past. A past that will be etched into history walls forever today.

The Mercury’s New Era is Here

For over two decades, Valley couldn’t picture a Phoenix Mercury team without Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. Yet here they were, saying goodbye to both in the same year. Naturally, questions swirled. Doubts, too.

What would Mercury basketball even look like?

Well, the front office had an answer: a new “Big three!” They brought in Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas. Add the only core returner, Kahleah Copper, and suddenly, fans had hope. Only they didn’t know it would take weeks before the three even shared the floor together.

Still, at no point did this Mercury team feel like a franchise in transition. When Copper sat due to injury, Sabally and Thomas kept things steady. Then, as Sabally sat, Copper returned with AT still holding the pulse of the team. By mid-July, another familiar face joined in, DeWanna Bonner. She arrived during a rough patch (five losses in six games), but her presence became instrumental.

It hasn’t just been about the stars, either. Rookies Lexi Held and Monique Akoa-Makani, and veteran guard Sami Whitcomb, have had their moments. But if we have to be honest, it’s been The AT Show. Thomas hasn’t just been consistent; she’s been massive. One jaw-dropping stat shows just how much this team leans on her. This might make you blink twice!

And while we’ve spent plenty of time talking about the stars, none of this happens without coach Nate Tibbetts. In just his second year, he’s taken a team in flux and turned it into a contender. If we’re talking MVPs on the court, we’ve also got a Coach of the Year case brewing on the sidelines.

Now, with their 27th win over the Mystics, the Mercury are 27-14. It’s all about that fight for the No. 2 seed. So, all in all, the Valley may have closed the Taurasi-Griner era, but the new chapter is looking golden!

Sturdy Style

You know what makes all the difference, whether you’re heading out for a night on the town or pacing the living room during a WNBA showdown? The right pair of pants. Dockers delivers just that with timeless comfort, versatile style, and right now, a limited-time sale of up to 75% off.

Benefits:

• Wrinkle-resistant fabrics that keep you sharp

• Waistbands built for all-day ease

• Durable blends with the perfect hint of stretch

Don’t sit on it right now or you may not get to sit in them later! Because a deal this good doesn’t stay on the bench for long.

MVPhee No More! Wilson Takes the Lead

Revenge never tasted better!

Keeping in mind that brutal 53-point home loss to Minnesota, this rematch was about pride, ego, and a little payback for Vegas. And wow, did they deliver. The Aces stretched their franchise-record winning streak to 13 with a 97-87 win over the Lynx.

Of course, the game had the MVP battle we’d all been waiting for. Well, the stat sheet told the story loud and clear. A’ja Wilson dropped 34 points, while Napheesa Collier managed just 12. And Wilson clearly had some fun cooking Phee. You have to see it!

By the end of the night, A’ja had officially passed Collier to lead the league in scoring, while the Aces pulled even with Atlanta and Phoenix at 27-14 (the Dream are sitting at 28-14) for second place. Minnesota may be #1, but this one will sting Phee’s MVP case.

Over in Indiana, right after CC’s big news, the Fever completed a five-game season sweep against the Chicago Sky with a 97-77 blowout. Natasha Howard (18 pts, 7 reb) and Kelsey Mitchell (20 pts, 8 ast) led the charge, but it was Lexie Hull who stole hearts. Again!

Over the last week, Lexie has defined what it means to be a tough athlete. Here’s why her performances will stick with fans!

For the Sky, Reese sat out due to suspension, and even strong games from Kamilla Cardoso and Michaela Onyenwere weren’t enough.

With a little help from the Los Angeles Sparks, the Fever’s magic number to make the 2025 playoffs is down to just 1 now. One more step, and this struggle-filled run will at least have a postseason stamp.

Athletes Show Love to Caitlin! King James Drops the Most Heartwarming Message for CC

A Day for the History Books

That one more roar from Ballhalla we asked for, hoped for, and believed in? The Valks made sure it happened. We finally have the league’s first expansion team to make the playoffs! All thanks to Golden State’s 84-80 win over the Dallas Wings.

Not to forget, though, the Wings fought tooth and nail to make sure it didn’t happen on their watch. They led through most of the first half, but the Valkyries weren’t going to be denied. The big moment came with GSV up 76-74. Veronica Burton’s motor overpowered Paige Bueckers as she hit the And-1. The Chase Center exploded loud enough to shake the rafters!

Bueckers dropped 27 in the loss, but once again, the Valks’ unity stole the spotlight with five players in double figures.

Meanwhile in Atlanta, it was raining threes. Rhyne Howard torched the Sparks with 37 points, tying a WNBA record with nine triples! Just to remind you, she has made nine threes in a game before as well.

The Dream as a whole drilled a franchise-record 19 threes in the 104-85 win to take the lead in the No.2 seed race. On the other hand, LA sputtered as Kelsey Plum seemed more busy arguing with fans. This is what we’re talking about. Not exactly the playoff push LA had in mind.

However, not every team seized the moment! Facing the inconsistent Liberty, Seattle let slip their chance to officially enter the postseason. Stewie dropped 24 points, including 13 in the fourth, dragging New York to an 84-76 comeback win.

Still, Storm fans, breathe easy: Seattle’s postseason ticket is basically punched. One more win, or just another Sparks loss, and they’re in.

Full-Court Pr̶e̶s̶s̶ Pest?! Mystics-Mercury Invaded by a Hilarious "Terrorizing" Element

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

No one has worked the W spotlight better than the StudBudz. The teammate-turned-best friend duo of Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams have been at the heart of Minnesota’s best-ever season, all while building a business empire off the court. What began as a fun highlight of the All-Star weekend has now grown into Vogue cover status. Here’s everything the StudBudz have pulled off!

HOF 2025! The Greatest Class Ever

Years of grind, Olympic medals stacked like jewelry, and more WNBA titles than some franchises; all of it ended at the Hall of Fame!

Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles, and Maya Moore- three names that basically defined women’s basketball for an entire generation might’ve just made the most dominant class to walk through those doors. Why, you ask?

Easy math: 11 Olympic gold medals and 10 WNBA championships between them! That’s more hardware than any other group of inductees in history. No wonder those HOF jackets never looked this good. Watch them flaunt (with a little UConn banter)!

Together, the three turned Team USA into a juggernaut, winning the 2012 and 2016 gold medals. Bird added to her personal stash with golds in 2004, 2008, and 2020, while Fowles joined her on the 2008 and 2020 rosters.

We get exactly what Bird meant when she said, “Put us on a 3×3 team, you'd have some problems, we’d be pretty good.” And it’s not just about the shared medals or the banners. It’s about the connection these three share.

Bird and Moore will forever be linked through their UConn legacy. However, there’s actually another deep bond between Bird and Fowles that’s known to a very few. The Storm legend spilled it herself!

Plus, the strength of this class goes beyond just the women’s side. Add Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony and you’ve got a HOF class for the ages. All five walked the red carpet yesterday, and today, they will be officially inducted, forever remembered together as the Class of 2025!

That’s What Legends Get! The HOF Jacket Details

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. Clark’s Nike x Stanley Debut! Caitlin’s Pre-Game Look Steals the Show - Full Story

2. Chicago’s Double Standards On Show After Giving Angel Reese Punishment - Full Story

3. Paige Bueckers’ Loyalty Saved Curt Miller & Chris Koclanes - Full Story

4. Indiana Fever’s Playoff Dream Alive: Breaking Down All Possible Scenarios - Full Story

5. Clark’s Offseason Plan: Rest, Recovery, or Unrivaled? - Full Story

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

💌 Feedback