^{July 31, 2025 | Edition #118}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

Scoring in the W has gone through the roof lately. Back in ‘05 or ’06, hitting 80 or 90 was a big deal. This week alone, teams were casually dropping triple digits like it’s nothing. And with that, viewership is climbing too - up 21% compared to the league’s full-season average. So, everything’s trending up and looking pretty great. Well, almost everything.

There’s another part of the game that’s been growing, and it has fans and players rolling their eyes in sync. What's the biggest buzzkill in the league right now?

Is This the W’s Spiciest Rivalry Yet?

There’s one thing that unites fans across every team, every league, every sport: yelling at the refs. Some stars are even known for it. “I think there’s always going to be a very healthy, normal tension between teams and officials,” said Sue Blauch, who reffed in the W for 20 seasons. But lately, the frustrations seem as loud as they’ve ever been.

It really hit the spotlight during last year’s Finals when some late-game calls pushed Minnesota vs New York Game 5 into OT, and coach Cheryl Reeve said it outright - the title was stolen. The now-iconic “Everyone watched Minnesota get robbed” shirts flew off shelves at every Target in the state.

After all that uproar, we thought maybe, just maybe, this season would be better. Well, we should have known better. Just ask Brittney Griner. She was ejected early in the second half against the Wings on Wednesday, and the reason why might leave you asking, “Wait…what?” See Griner’s ridiculous ejection for yourself!

It’s not just about that night, though. If you remember, Sabrina Ionescu literally dared the ref to “tech her” a few days ago. Then, obviously, the infamous Caitlin Clark - Jacy Sheldon showdown. It is a league-wide concern.

The numbers back it up as well. Per ESPN, teams are averaging 18.7 fouls per game, the highest since 2017. Flagrant fouls are on pace for 52 - third-most ever (adjusted for 44 games). Yes, Cathy Engelbert has addressed it. But as Stephanie White put it, “It’s the challenge of our league right now.” So it has to be fast.

And with the league finally blowing up and pulling in new fans, the last thing anyone wants is officiating issues making more headlines than the game or players.

Flavors Worth Cheering For

There’s something about a great sauce or jam that can turn an everyday meal into a moment, and right now, Stonewall Kitchen’s making those moments easier to savor. With up to 50% off, it’s the perfect time to stock up on pantry MVPs, from bold grilling go‑tos to cozy breakfast staples.

Whether you're rewatching game highlights, catching up on player letters, or winding down after the buzzer, these flavors bring comfort where it counts. Your team’s playing at home, and your table should too.

Bonner’s Indy Return Hits a Wall of Boos

Gainbridge Fieldhouse is never quiet. If you remember, earlier this season, it nearly blew the roof off when DeWanna Bonner became the third all-time leading scorer in WNBA history. The love was loud. Months later, the volume was just as high, but this time, it was all boos.

In DB’s first trip back to Indy since her dramatic exit, the moment she stepped on the court - around the 7-minute mark - the crowd let her hear it. “Quitter!” chants echoed through the building. To make it worse, her former teammates weren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet. Lexie Hull completely shut her down at one point. Caitlin Clark’s reaction just made it more brutal.

By the end, Fever pulled off a 107-101 win behind a 27-piece from Aari McDonald and a fourth-quarter takeover by Aliyah Boston. Meanwhile, over in Connecticut, Skylar Diggins recorded her first triple-double as the Storm closed out their road trip strong with a 101-85 win over the Sun.

And in LA, it was an occasion. After 407 long days, Cameron Brink was finally back. The Sparks’ rising star suited up again, and even though they lost 89-74 to the red-hot Aces, that home crowd had something to cheer for. Brink clocked 14 minutes, dropped five points and three boards, but it was this first shot back that had the crowd on its feet.

Vegas was just… a monster in this one. A’ja Wilson exploded for 17 points in the first quarter alone, and Jackie Young grabbed her first-ever triple-double to snap LA’s five-game win streak. Now, as Sparks’ social media put it: “New streak starts on Friday” with Brink back and the full squad healthy.

"You’re Literally a Dumb F--k!" Sophie Cunningham Slams Caitlin Clark Critics

Hold Your Breath, Atlanta

Atlanta fans might need to start carrying stress balls to games at this point. Because back-to-back thrillers are a lot! Even though both came down to the wire, the emotions couldn’t have been more different.

The Italian icer. On Tuesday, the Valkyries came to town and brought some serious fight with them. They hadn’t exactly been road warriors, but they gutted out a 77-75 win in the clutch, thanks to Cecilia Zandalasini. With the game tied at 75 and just under 20 seconds to go, Coach Natalie Nakase didn’t draw up anything fancy. She just looked at Zandalasini and said, “Go get a bucket.” And she did just that.

The Italian sniper nailed this cold-blooded baseline jumper over All-Star Allisha Gray with 3.2 seconds left. The Italian finished with 18 points and eight rebounds!

A turn of fortunes. Dream fans were hit with déjà vu just a day later. This time, it was Dallas as Paige Bueckers almost played the heartbreaker. Her step-back three gave the Wings a one-point lead with just over two minutes to go. A back-and-forth broke out. Just when it felt like another last-second collapse was coming, Naz Hillmon said no.

Clock ticking, Te-Hina found her in the corner. Hillmon drilled her fifth triple of the night and silenced Dallas with a dagger to seal the 88-85 win. You’ve got to watch this crazy stretch of basketball!

Hillmon finished with a team-high 21 points as five players scored in double figures for the 16-11 Atlanta Dream.

No One Seemed to Miss! Dallas’ Haley Jones Pulled Up From the Deepest Deep

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

Paige Bueckers still hasn’t had a single-digit game as her Rookie of the Year case just keeps getting stronger. But lately, it’s her girlfriend Azzi Fudd who’s been catching everyone’s eye. She’s been showing love for Paige’s gear for a while now, and ever since their relationship went public, she’s taken it up a notch. Her latest fit featured a standout t-shirt, and the message on it said everything without saying too much. Check it out!

Dallas Dents the Defending Crown

When Jonquel Jones throws out words like "embarrassing, frustrating, and disappointing," you know the vibes in the Liberty locker room are far from okay. And if that emergency 40-minute team meeting after the Dallas game doesn’t scream internal panic, nothing will.

New York tried to rally in the fourth, but it couldn’t make up for the pathetic way the team played for most of the game. Yes, Breanna Stewart was out (no return timeline in sight). Still, that doesn’t excuse the defending champs letting a then-7-19 Wings team run all over them for a 92-82 win.

Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale dropped 20 apiece and straight-up exposed New York’s lack of urgency. However, just when things seem to be clicking, this could be one of the last looks at this version of the Wings team. This key piece could be on the move!

Meanwhile, with Emma Meesseman finally landing in New York, fans are hoping for fresh energy for the Libs. Maybe it'll come, but so far it’s all going downhill. The very next game (long-awaited Finals rematch) was another L for New York. The Minnesota Lynx came in hungry for revenge. In a back-and-forth, they held their ground and outplayed New York, 100-93.

The Liberty suddenly feel more fragile than fierce, having lost 3 straight. Speaking of tough stretches, the Sky are in one too. After five straight double-digit losses, they would have hoped for something better. However, they fell 103-86 to Washington. DC had a historic night on offense. This will help you understand what we mean!

Still, the Sky have to own their part, too, for going MIA on defense. Even with Angel Reese returning to the lineup, they couldn’t stop the bleeding. The scope for mistakes is getting smaller by the day as the Playoffs near.

Mock Trades! Big Deals That Might Go Down Before August 7

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. Aliyah Boston Refuses to Enter DeWanna Bonner-Fever Narrative With One Blunt Response - Full Story

2. ‘Pay Us’ Protest Falls Flat? Candace Parker Criticizes Players' All-Star Effort - Full Story

3. Fever Star Ignored in Shared Historic Moment With Caitlin Clark - Full Story

4. How Did a Historic Performance End in Rage for Paige Bueckers? - Full Story

5. StudBudz Accused of Giving the Angel Reese Hate a Platform - Full Story

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

💌 Feedback