^{September 04 2025 | Edition #133}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

As much as on-court chaos awaits in the playoffs, the coming offseason promises double the drama with over 100 players hitting free agency. And it looks like Angel Reese wants her team to make a big splash. Only if she could have found a better way to go about it. We’ll dive into all that, plus your daily dose of playoff push, as the expansion team looks like the winner in the race.

Let’s catch you up on everything!

Angel Reese vs Chicago?

When the Sky drafted Angel Reese 7th overall last year, she was supposed to be one of the franchise pillars. Instead, after two straight years missing the postseason, Reese seems to be running out of patience.

To be fair, leaving isn’t her plan. “I’d like to be here for my career,” she said. But she’s not afraid to admit that if things don’t pan out, she’ll make the tough call. And things wouldn’t have blown out of proportion if she had stopped then and there. However, she didn’t.

Reese got pretty candid in the interview with the Chicago Tribune. She dissected the Sky roster and called out specific teammates, including vet Courtney Vandersloot. “We need someone probably a little younger with some experience, somebody who’s been playing the game and is willing to compete for a championship and has done it before.”

She basically meant, “We need great players.” In no time, it sent the rumor mill spinning. Insiders reported that a team meeting is in the works, where players are expected to address Reese directly. While we have no update on that, Reese followed up with a public apology, or was it more of a clarification? You can watch this and decide for yourself.

But the drama aside, the bottom line here is that Sky clearly have some franchise-wide issues. Because prominent players wanting to leave and complain again and again can’t be a personal problem. This time, though, Coach Tyler Marsh simply said, “Angel has shown a commitment to wanting to be here.” So, for now, she and Kamilla Cardos remain the core. As they should.

History tells us that anything can happen in the WNBA. But for a franchise that has looked a bit directionless since its 2021 championship, with multiple coaching changes and roster turnover, risking the face of the franchise? That’s a gamble no one wants to take.

Sip Like Caitlin

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Then there are the regular Stanley benefits too: the leak-proof straw lids, vacuum insulation, and eco-friendly and dishwasher-safe build! It's perfect for courtside cheers, poolside lounging, or anywhere your fandom takes you. So grab yours quick, before they sell out!

Just One More Roar from Ballhalla

1 Win. That’s all it’s going to take!!

Just one more in front of Ballhalla, and the Valkyries are officially in the postseason. Natalie Nakase has been talking about growth all year, and nothing sums it up better than their battles with the Liberty.

After three straight losses to the defending champs, Golden State took them down with a 66-58 win. The first quarter was tight; the Libs even built a four-point cushion. But then came the second frame. Actually….then came Kate Martin.

Money Martin went off from deep, capped off by a four-point play that had the whole building (especially the bench) losing it. You’ve got to see the moment the roof blew off.

From there, the Valks’ defense clamped down, holding New York to a season-low. Temi Fágbénlé paced the team with 16, Martin added 11, while Breanna Stewart (19) and Natasha Cloud (19) couldn’t dig New York out of the hole.

And after that, all the Valkyries needed was a little help from Atlanta. Cue the Sparks-Dream showdown. Coming off a big win over Seattle, LA had momentum. Yet, despite LA’s efforts, the Dream’s sizable frontcourt threw muscle all night.

You’ll know exactly what we mean once you see how Brittney Griner swatted Jackson’s three like it was child’s play. Watch it here!

Add Brionna Jones (16 pts, 13 reb) bruising in the paint. Plus, Rhyne Howard (19 pts) and Naz Hillmon (15 pts) getting hot from deep & the Sparks were toast. The Dream cruised to an 86-75 win with five players in double digits.

With that, LA’s playoff hopes took a hit, while the Valks’ magic number dropped to just one. And funny enough, even though New York took an L, it was a lucky night for them too.

Let’s Go Old-School! Atlanta-Los Angeles Battle Began with Rock, Paper, and Scissors

Lynx Dominate as Dallas’ Draft Dreams Take Off

Will you believe us if we said that when the No. 1 team met the league’s worst, they both won something? But it’s true. Minnesota took the game, and Dallas… well, they secured the best odds for the No. 1 pick. Win-win? Depends on who you ask.

At Target Center, the Lynx handled business with a franchise-record 32nd victory, a 96-71 blowout that feels routine at this point. Napheesa Collier did what she does: dropped 25. But the fun part is Paige Bueckers once again cooked Phee one-on-one. Here’s how the rook got the vet!

Bueckers wrapped up her night with 17 points. Still, the spotlight didn’t belong to either of those two. It was Natisha Hiedeman’s. With Kayla McBride resting, she played 30 minutes and bagged her first career double-double: 20 points and 11 assists. Big night for the StudBud!

And then came what we’re almost ready to call a rivalry game, Fever vs. Mercury. Ever since DeWanna Bonner switched jerseys, this matchup has carried an edge, and Sunday lived up to it. In the end, Phoenix came out on top, 85-79.

And Alyssa Thomas, after nearly racking up yet another triple-double, revealed the cheat sheet behind pulling off these wins. Let’s just say, her answer screamed Stephanie White is the culprit!

For the Mercury, that win pulled them into a three-way tie for second place. For the Fever, though, the loss wasn’t totally disastrous as LA’s stumble against Atlanta balanced things out.

Not to forget, though, Kelsey Mitchell did everything she could, scoring 29 points, while Lexie Hull chipped in with 18. But with the rest of the cast struggling and Phoenix’s bench showing up big, Indy just couldn’t finish the job.

“The Biggest Troll”: Caitlin Clark Earns Hilarious Praise From Fever Teammate

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

Aptly nicknamed "Wizard," Marine Johannes is the X-factor the Liberty has. She’s wowed fans with her signature one-legged three and those rainbow shots that somehow slip past outstretched defenders. Her latest outing might not have been her flashiest, but it did give announcers a reason to give her a new nickname….curiously, with a nod to Paige Bueckers. How did that come about? Find out here!

A Heart of Gold That Built a Dynasty

What’s the first word that pops into your head when you hear Sylvia Fowles? Greatness? Legend? Sure. But if you ask Napheesa Collier, she’ll start with something much simpler: kindness.

The vet who didn’t wait a second to reach out when a shy rookie first stepped into the Lynx locker room. And years later, a teammate who showed up again, this time with a hand-knitted gift for Phee’s daughter, Mila.

That’s Sylvia for you!

We talked about Maya Moore being inducted into the Hall of Fame, and that she wasn’t the only Lynx getting immortalized. Well, you must already know, Fowles is joining her, too. And rightfully so. After all, even years into retirement, Sylvia still stands as the ONLY player to achieve this historic feat.

The résumé speaks for itself with four Olympic golds, two WNBA titles, two Finals MVPs, four Defensive Player of the Year awards, one league MVP, and second all-time rebounding leader. More than that, a career that helped turn Minnesota into a dynasty with four championships in seven seasons before wrapping up in 2022.

Plus, the way she went out, you can bet nobody did it better. While most stars fade out quietly, Fowles left us with one last signature moment at the age of 36: a dunk in the 2022 All-Star Game. Check out the farewell dunk!

A year later, of course, Minnesota made sure to celebrate her right with a jersey retirement. She’s still around the Lynx, mentoring Collier. The result is in front of us. Phee has been carrying the fort beautifully, one that was built on the shoulders of pillars like Moore and Fowles!

Sky’s Mistakes or Bold Moves? How the Worst-Case Scenario Could Send Angel Reese Down Sylvia’s Path

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. Caitlin Clark Wasn’t the Only Victim; WNBA’s Calendar Could Derail A’ja Wilson, Too - Full Story

2. Is the Indiana Fever Betting on Kelsey Mitchell – or Just Buying Time? - Full Story

3. Paige Bueckers Delivers a Harsh Reality Check to $3.5B Basketball Industry - Full Story

4. Did Sophie Cunningham Just Risk Yet Another WNBA Fine? - Full Story

5. Angel Reese’s Suspension Sparks Wild Theories as Fever Showdown Looms - 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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