^{October 04, 2025 | Edition #146}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

After what felt like weeks of WNBA players and fans calling out league leadership, we got a brilliant game of basketball to get us hyped again! It’s not surprising considering there’s more on the line than just a trophy. A win for Phoenix would put them in that elite four-championship club, while the Aces are aiming for three titles in four years.

Game 1 felt like a fight for survival. And if history tells us anything, the door to glory might’ve already cracked open for Las Vegas.

Aces 1-0!

The Aces just know how to feed off their home crowd, especially in the Finals!

In their last two Finals runs, the Aces were a perfect 4-0 when playing at Michelob Ultra Arena. Well, make that 5-0 now. In a game of runs, Vegas (trailing for most of the game) pulled out an 89-86 win for the lead in the best-of-seven series.

Now, if you’ve been following this postseason (and us, duh), we have talked enough about Phoenix’s strong fourth-quarter defensive stands. But this time, it was Vegas’ suffocating zone defense that did the trick.

Sure, Alyssa Thomas will probably replay those two missed free throws with 24 seconds left in her head for a while, but most eyes (rather side-eyes) ended up on Satou Sabally for a moment that really shifted things: She picked up her fifth foul, then a tech, all while the Mercury led by six with just over eight minutes left. AT and DeWanna were visibly frustrated. Check out their angry reactions!

While the Mercury struggled to find their shot in the final quarter (6-18 FG), the Aces had a different story, and it was all about their depth.

A’ja Wilson put up 12 of her 21 points in the last 14 minutes and grabbed 10 boards, but Dana Evans stole the show, dropping 21 points off the bench and hitting five threes (tied for most in Finals history) in just 26 minutes! Jewell Loyd also went off for 18 points as the Aces’ bench outscored their Mercury counterparts 41-16! No wonder, Becky Hammon said before tip-off: “We have the best overall bench that we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

Kahleah Copper had 21 for the Mercury, but went cold in the 2nd half, and Alyssa Thomas was one assist shy of another triple-double (15 pts, 10 reb, 9 ast). While the final quarter proved to be their undoing, losing by just 3 in one of the toughest arenas should give them hope going into Game 2 on Sunday.

Now, history says 20 out of 28 Game 1 winners have gone on to take the series, but we must note here, Phoenix dropped its first games in both prior rounds… and look where that got them.

We’ll find out who breaks the streak soon!

Pick Your Side

Finally! The WNBA Finals are here, and so it’s time to suit up for it. Now, whether you’re backing the Aces or Mercury… or even if you’re just in it for the fun of every clutch moment, the WNBA Store’s got you covered. From statement jerseys to everyday tees and hoodies, you can now rep your favorites your way. And with their limited-time sale right now, you can grab it for up to 25% off!

Because your fit should match that intense Finals energy, and also flaunt your love.

Apology or Attack?

Cathy Engelbert is owning up… well, sort of.

The past few days have been, let’s say, heated in WNBA land. Players have been airing frustrations about the league and the Commissioner amid CBA negotiations. Perhaps the loudest from Napheesa Collier.

Now, finally, Commissioner Engelbert took the mic to share her side. “If the players in the W don’t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better and I have to do better,” she promised. Along with that, she revealed she and Collier are set to meet next week and have been exchanging texts.

Sounds positive, right? So why the continued backlash? Well, probably because while Engelbert addressed Phee’s allegations, her answer to that actually raised even more eyebrows. We’ll let you hear directly from her!

In wide-ranging comments, Cathy added that the officiating will be reviewed this offseason by a new “state of the game” committee. And she believes a new CBA deal will be finalized, though perhaps not by the Oct. 31 deadline. However, the biggest news here is that she has defied all the resignation rumors. “Not a quitter,” the Commissioner laid it out there.

See….amid everything, it’s worth noting Engelbert has delivered on many promises since joining the league in 2019. But players are past the “let’s believe Cathy” phase. Sophie Cunningham, who has made her feelings crystal clear before, took another shot at the Commissioner. Check out her harsh criticism.

All in all, the bottom line here is, for the first time in what felt like forever, Engelbert actually spoke directly about the issues. Now, the next few days will reveal how much her words hold weight and whether she can handle the challenges of profitable pressures, negotiations, and keeping players genuinely satisfied.

Watch: Cathy Engelbert’s Full Address to the Media

The Unexpected Stars

Smooth as butter. “Chemistry” might’ve felt like a stretch for Phoenix earlier this season with just two returners, but that word is fully back in their dictionary now. Because the way this team moved the ball was just….chef’s kiss.

Picture this: Alyssa Thomas drives inside, kicks it out to Bonner in the corner, who swings it to Sabally, back to AT, then to Monique Akoon-Makani, and finally to Sami Whitcomb in the opposite corner. Splash!

Six touches and yet the most seamless play! This is pure basketball poetry.

Evans can take a bow! We already talked about her five massive shots, each one feeling bigger than the last. That fourth three with 6:43 left gave Vegas their first lead in the final quarter, and she followed it up with another monster three with 3:40 left, pushing the Aces to their biggest lead (3) of the night.

Check out the big shot that had everyone in the arena losing their mind.

Plus, Evans became the first player in WNBA Finals history to knock down five threes and grab four steals in the same game. Talk about having yourself a night!

She Had to Let ‘Em Know: Satou’s “You’re Too Small” Roast Has Everyone Cracking Up

Sneakers With a Story

When we talk about behind the scenes in sports, most of us are not even aware of the challenges some of these athletes have been facing. Like A’ja Wilson and Jewell Loyd, for example, they’ve built phenomenal careers despite “daily struggles” of dyslexia.

While both continue to be associated with the campaigns raising awareness and support, it’s no wonder Loyd had to join the thread rocking Wilson’s special “Sequence” Nike A’One PEs that pay homage to the ones dealing with it. Check these crazy sneakers here!

Meanwhile, Wilson had her own shoe moment, stepping out in Susie Carmichael–inspired kicks. To most, it might just look like a nod to a movie character, but for A’ja, it carries a deeply personal meaning. If you’re curious, we got you covered!

1. Fever HC Blasts the WNBA, Says Clark’s Being Used As a Pawn - Full Story

2. Aces vs Mercury Ticket Prices For Game 1 Dropped Shockingly Low - Full Story

3. “This Could Be My Last Time!” Did Sophie Cunningham Just Hint at an Exit? - Full Story

4. How Bam Adebayo Fueled A’ja Wilson’s Aces Turnaround - Full Story

5. Sami Whitcomb Crumbled to the Floor After Scary Collision With NaLyssa Smith - 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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