^{August 18, 2025 | Edition #126}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

It took 28 years, but the WNBA has finally ensured its legends receive the glory, wrapped in bronze. For a day, or let’s just say… a few hours at least, Seattle fans could forget their playoff hopes sliding downhill. Meanwhile, Indiana fans had the opposite problem: no playoff worries, just pride in what their team accomplished. And by the way, today, after months of talking pro hoops, we’re bringing you a little glimpse of “tomorrow’s stars.”

“StaSue”: Forever in Bronze, Forever in Seattle

Sue Bird always knew how to make an entrance. Seattle fans should recall Bird’s jersey retirement three years ago. She came with a seven-page speech and was even worried it was too long. Her sister reminded her, “You played here for 21 years; they can listen to you for an hour.” They absolutely did.

After all, she is their legend. And if you ask Crystal Langhorne, “She is the W.N.B.A!” Now the statue outside Climate Pledge Arena says the same thing without words.

Bird just became the first-ever WNBA player with a statue. And the cherry on top has to be that the symbolism is almost too perfect. It even features the shoe she wore during her first Championship season. Check out the historic statue.

And how could the Storm not go all out to honor someone who gave their entire career to the franchise? Entering the league in its sixth season, Bird stacked up an unreal résumé: four championships, more than a dozen All-Star nods, five Olympic gold medals, and the WNBA’s all-time assists record. No wonder Diana Taurasi, who stood as a proud best friend in the crowd, said, “No one deserves it more than Sue.”

Even Geno Auriemma, unable to be there in person, made sure his words reached the celebration. The whole ceremony felt like Seattle itself was saying, “Thank you”. Plus, this isn’t the last of Bird’s flowers.

She’ll be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year. Indeed, the ‘retirement tour’ isn’t over yet.

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Kelsey Mitchell & A’ja Wilson’s MVP Show

Three devastating injuries in ten days, a superstar missing half the season, and somehow… the Fever just pulled off one of the wildest comebacks in franchise history. As coach Stephanie White, breaking down in tears, put it, “It’s a tribute to you.” The players. But very much to Kelsey Mitchell.

We would like to believe the fire really sparked in the second quarter when Sophie Cunningham went down screaming, not returning after what looked like another freak injury. And the finger is being pointed at a player who’s had way too many “accidental” injuries tied to her lately. Coincidence? This clip might answer.

But from there, it was the Kelsey Mitchell show. She dropped 38 points (the highest scoring game in the entire WNBA this season); 34 of them after halftime, and 10 in overtime alone. She strapped the Fever on her back, wiping out a 21-point deficit to take a 99-93 win.

It wasn’t just her, though. We have talked about A’ja Wilson a lot lately, and we will again because she isn’t letting the MVP chatter cool down. She put up 34 points in a 106-87 win against the Wings, tying the record for the second-most 30-point games in WNBA history!

And Nalyssa Smith (against her former team) dropped 14 points and knocked down two triples that her team just couldn’t get over. Just look at the whole team, A’ja especially stuck imitating her shot on a loop. This is easily the funniest bit of the night!

Meanwhile, just hours after the statue unveiling, Bird’s old team couldn’t quite keep the magic alive. After breaking their six-game skid vs Atlanta, the Storm fell 85–82 to Phoenix, undone by Alyssa Thomas’s triple-double (19-11-10) in a playoff-like battle.

All in all, consider the MVP race officially spicy with three new contenders!

Real 'Kick' of the Night! Cunningham’s ‘Martial Arts’ Display vs Connecticut Before Her Injury

3-0 & Counting! The Lynx Rule the Rivalry

Nothing seems to stop Minnesota. Not losing Napheesa Collier. Not even the memory of last year’s Finals loss. The Lynx are now 3-0 vs the defending champs. However, Saturday’s game wasn’t the most efficient one for the No.1 team in the league.

The 86-80 win came down to gritty defense and clutch buckets from Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, and Kayla McBride. New York committing 10 more fouls surely helped.

While Williams’ 26-point performance makes her the obvious star, some would argue it was McBride’s fearless deep three with 30 seconds left that sealed the deal. The bench reaction from Collier and the ear-splitting roar from the crowd said it was the shot. See for yourself!

Let’s see what happens when they meet again and for the last time on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Atlanta and GSV played out pretty much as expected, with the Valkyries’ 4-game winning streak snapped in a 79-63 loss. For four quarters, the Dream simply outmuscled and outworked the expansion squad.

In D.C., the Mystics had a chance to level the record with LA and move just half a game behind the Storm in the playoff race. So they weren’t gonna lose it. Even though Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby did their part with 25 and 26 points respectively, LA lost 95-86. But there was a silver lining for Plum.

The LA guard tied a record owned by Caitlin Clark. Is this CC mark in danger? Maybe. What swung the game, though, was D.C. shooting a blistering 59.3% from the field and outrebounding LA 35-14! That was the difference as the playoff race keeps getting better and better.

Not an Injury! Why Caitlin Clark Wasn’t With the Fever in Connecticut

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

Olivia Nelson-Ododa didn’t get the birthday win, but the Connecticut crowd made sure she felt the love, serenading her the moment she checked in. From there, though, things turned chippy fast. It was one of those nights where the paint felt like a wrestling ring, and Natasha Howard was right in the middle of it. In one play, Nelson-Ododa came through and straight-up bulldozed her. How often do you see Tash get knocked back like that? Catch the moment here!

Curry Camp and the Stars of Tomorrow

We always hear big stars talk about giving back. But very few walk the walk the way Steph Curry does. His legacy won’t just be about the threes he drained or the titles he lifted; it’s also about the doors he’s opening for the next generation of women hoopers.

Curry Camp has quietly been one of the most important platforms for young talent since 2018, shaping future stars and teaching what it really means to be part of a team. This year, it went global, from Oakland to Tokyo, Hong Kong, Xi’an, and Chongqing, expanding its reach far beyond U.S. borders.

Among all the highlights, one of the “biggest success stories” of the camp was the coach this time around. It’s a name and face all too familiar!

And as the camp wrapped, we got another glimpse of just how big the talent pipeline is. Remember how two past Curry campers, Paige Bueckers and Cooper Flagg, both went No. 1? Well, the MVP of this year’s camp was Ivanna Wilson Manyacka, a 10th grader in the class of 2027. The game is in good hands.

But Curry’s camp isn’t the only place for upcoming talent we should be paying attention to. College basketball recruiters might have a tough job ahead, because if you thought the current talent pool was stacked, just wait.

Winning the race, USC has already locked down Saniyah Hall, the No. 1 recruit in 2026. She created history at the U-19 World Cup, leaving the likes of A’ja Wilson behind. Check out these crazy numbers!

And Iowa fans, you’ve got reason to stay hyped as five-star McKenna Woliczko just trimmed her list down to a final four, and the Hawkeyes made the cut. Same with South Carolina, who are in the mix for top-2 recruit Oliviyah Edwards.

While many programs are set to lose their stars to the pros in the coming years, don’t worry, the next wave is already here. And if history’s any indication, a few of them will have Curry Camp stamped on their story.

Next-Gen Hoops! Meet the Top 2026 Recruits

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. Did Sheryl Swoopes Just Hint Caitlin Clark Isn’t the Only Star in Indiana? - Full Story

2. Paige Bueckers Highlights Teammates’ Emotional Highs - Full Story

3. Caitlin Clark Was Snubbed For Team USA In Fear Of Fan Backlash, Reveals WNBA Insider - Full Story

4. Angel Reese’s Mystery Man Takes Her Somewhere No One Expected - Full Story

5. Sophie Cunningham’s Sister’s Brutal WNBA Call Out After Injury - 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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