^{June 05, 2025 | Edition #94}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

By now, we have a clear tier just below the Liberty and Lynx, as those two have been untouchable at the top. Then come the Aces, the Storm slowly piecing things together, Atlanta surprisingly hanging in there, and Indiana just grinding it out every night. As for the rest, it’s either crisis mode or just the 'things not clicking’ phase. So let’s find out what went down in the W this week.

Skid Stops Here! New Arrival and a Night of Shifts

After a day off, the Commissioner’s Cup came back swinging and it didn’t waste any time flipping narratives - not all, though. Entering the game vs Washington, Indiana was a team gasping for a win, down key pieces, and staring at a three-game losing skid. But (thankfully) enter Aari McDonald.

With “I’m here for a reason” energy, she turned the game into her canvas. Sure, the stat line says 7 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals in 27 minutes, but that barely scratches the surface. McDonald even made it into the W’s top 10 for offensive fouls drawn, after just ONE game. Her teammates loved the energy, and this hilarious reaction from Aliyah Boston & Caitlin Clark tells the whole story.

While McDonald powered it, it was Kelsey Mitchell's 24 points and Lexie Hull's 14 that led to the 85-76 win. Then came the Storm. Remember when they started hot and then just… fell off a cliff? That three-game slide had fans holding their breath. But back at home under the Climate Pledge lights, they decided they were done losing.

Behind Gabby Williams - who’s quietly putting up career highs across the board - Seattle turned up the heat. Her 18 points led the way as the Storm beat Dallas 83-77, handing the Wings their seventh loss in eight games. While Seattle moved to 4-4, controversy erupted after the WNBA launched an investigation against the Storm once again. What for? You can see for yourself!

And finally, the Lynx. Napheesa Collier and Co. took on a Phoenix squad missing just about everyone. With 18 points each from Collier and Natisha Hiedeman, Minnesota moved to 2-0 in Commissioner’s Cup play and 8-0 on the season with an 88-65 win, marking the fourth time they’ve opened a season with eight straight wins!

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Sabally’s Grit Clashes with Phee’s Flair

Satou Sabally’s solo surge. Mercury might be missing their full big three momentarily, but Sabally is holding down the fort like a warrior born for these moments. Even in a tough loss to the Lynx, Satou dropped 15 points and it wasn’t just the numbers, it was how she did it that had everyone watching with their jaws dropped.

Picture this: the Lynx swarming her with a wall of defense, three defenders glued to her. No room to breathe, no space to move closer to the basket. In a matchup that Cheryl Reeve called the “best defensive game,” Satou sliced through that defense like a hot knife through butter.

Even when two more defenders packed the paint, she split them, fell hard to the floor, and still flicked that shot in. It was gutsy, gritty, and pure fire - the kind of play you watch and say, “Yeah, she’s built for this.” You can’t miss watching it.

Phee’s spin magic. And how could Mercury possibly win when the Lynx rolled out their full defensive army, with Napheesa Collier unleashing her best artwork on the court? Phee had her own highlight moment. With three defenders in the paint, she bulldozed her way forward, shoulder-checked a defender, spun, and flipped in a silky spin move. As you can see, it was flawless footwork only she could pull off.

Now, the Lynx get a breather before facing the Wings, but the Mercury are jumping straight into battle with the Golden State Valkyries. If this game showed us anything, it’s that Phoenix may be short-handed but they aren’t backing down anytime soon.

Awards For May Are Out: Surprising Name Wins Player of the Month in the East

A Rookie Race Rewritten in the Capital

We’ve probably said it a hundred times already, but here it goes again - this is easily one of the deepest rookie classes we’ve seen. While next year’s draft might be unpredictable (especially since, for the first time in three years, there’s no clear No. 1 pick), this class is already shaping up to be chaos in the best way.

The WNBA had a tough call to make for its Rookie of the Month honor. That call couldn’t have been easy. But on Wednesday, the league dropped the news - Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen snagged the award. For the first time in the Mystics’ 27-year history, a player won this honor…and funny enough, she didn’t even know this award existed. She had the most hilarious reaction.

This recognition came behind her 13.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and an assist per game. But she’s not alone in that DC glow-up. Fellow Mystic rookie, Sonia Citron is balling out too, with 14.1 points and some of the most efficient shooting we’ve seen from a rookie this season.

So, while the season tipped off with all eyes on Paige Bueckers, DC might just be holding the keys to the ROTY crown. Also, PB missing time recently might just open the door for the DC duo to gain serious ground. Still, her latest injury update sounds somewhat positive, and she still leads in several major categories so don’t count her out just yet.

However, there’s this team factor to consider. None of the top 5 rookies are leading contending squads right now. But it’s worth noting that the Mystics went 3-4 in May and looked composed, while the Wings were at 1-5 and looked completely out of sync.

This month could tell us a lot more. But for now, all we can say is…the crown may not land where everyone expected.

Almost Tied with Diana Taurasi? Meet the Rookie Keeping the Mercury Afloat and Proving It’s Far from a Three-Player Race

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

Is there anything Napheesa Collier can’t do? She’s not just running the show on the court—she’s owning the tunnel too with her game day fits! Her all-black outfit against Phoenix matched her performance, and she was named the West's Player of the Month for May after that. Watch her May highlights and you’ll get why she’s leading the MVP race without a doubt.

Your WNBA Weekend Watchlist ft. The Expected - and the Unexpected Returns

The Washington Mystics face the unbeaten New York Liberty on Thursday. DC walks in with a shaky 3-5 record after a pretty disappointing loss, while the Liberty is sitting at a flawless 7-0. Can they top some of these legendary unbeaten starts in league history?

As for the game, this one looks a bit rough for DC in the shooting department. Washington’s been struggling from beyond the arc, while New York is not only crashing the boards but also dominating from deep. Safe to say, this one’s tilted in favor of the defending champs.

Then we’ve got the “Who breaks the streak?” showdown on Friday: Wings vs. Sparks. Dallas has the worst record in the league, LA’s not far behind, and both teams desperately need to snap their three-game skids. The silver lining for the Wings is they still rank fourth in offensive rating and might see Paige Bueckers return.

Also, speaking of comebacks…Rickea Jackson is not out of the picture like we thought last week. Well, here she is, making things crystal clear. As for the results, in what’s expected to be a high-scoring affair, look for the Sparks to come out on top.

Atlanta and Connecticut also battle on Friday. The Sun are coming off one of their most embarrassing losses yet (Liberty again!), but they’ll need to shake it off fast. The Dream are hunting for their sixth win and would love nothing more than to add another L to a struggling squad’s record. Given the Sun’s 1-6 start - and the fact that they rank last in both offensive and defensive rating - the Dream smell blood.

WNBA Power Rankings: Where Do Your Favorite Teams Rank As Commissioner’s Cup Begins?

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. Caitlin Clark’s Secret Past With Women’s College World Series Star Blows Up Online - Full Story

2. Not a Game-Changer? Analyst Brutally Downplayed Aari McDonald’s Fever Debut - Full Story

3. Dallas Wings' 7th Loss Sparks Arike Ogunbowale's Blunt Locker Room Confession - Full Story

4. Caitlin Clark’s Awkward Moment Goes Viral Before Indiana Fever’s First Win in 4 Games - Full Story

5. Napheesa Collier’s Defensive Reign Threatened as Analyst Crowns Storm Rookie Future DPOY - 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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