^{August 23 2025 | Edition #128}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

How’s your weekend going? Well, if you’re anything like us, you’ve probably been doing a little math in your head….just this weekend, plus two more, and then…we hit pause on all plans. The Playoffs will officially be here. But we also know a lot can happen in the meantime. So, how does the picture look right now? We’ve got the full rundown for you today, especially as some eliminated teams continue playing spoiler.

Playoff Picture: The Fight for the Final Three

Less than 10 games remain for each team before the postseason, and the playoff race is as confusing as it was a week back. If the season ended today, the matchups would be:

• Lynx (1) vs. Valkyries (8)

• Dream (2) vs. Storm (7)

• Aces (3) vs. Fever (6)

• Mercury (4) vs. Liberty (5)

But the season isn’t over, and while the top five look secure, four other squads are clawing for the final three tickets.

At No. 6, it feels like Indiana (19-17) is hanging by a thread. Just a half-game up on the Storm, dealing with an injured core, dropping games they can’t afford, and they could even be cursed. We mean, what were the chances of another injury? This tragedy in the recent loss just fueled the belief that they are done.

Seattle, though, is the opposite story. The Storm (19-18) sit at No. 7, half a game ahead of Golden State, finally healthy and in form. They’ve won 3 out of their last 4 games.

Then comes Golden State. While the Valkyries (18-18) are in position to make history, they also seem to be cursed with the injury bug. Still, they’ve made a habit of surprising us when least expected. Nobody should count them out.

Then come the Sparks. From 6-14 to winning 11 of their last 15 (17-18 overall), the Los Angeles Sparks have surged back into contention and are just half a game behind GSV. But they’ve got to tighten up defensively.

Washington is there as well. But sorry, DC fans, realistically, it doesn’t look like your year. The Mystics (16-20) are 1.5 games behind LA with a brutal schedule, making a comeback unlikely. But with a promising young core, they could still play spoiler down the stretch.

With so little separating these squads, the race for the last three playoff spots is set to be a nail-biter.

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The Final Push Begins!

Believe it or not: The Aces are the 3rd seed now!!

We know we’ve not stopped talking about the Aces for a while, but can you blame us? This is a team that looked dead in the water for half the season and is suddenly just half a game out of the 2nd seed. That’s crazy!

On Thursday, they made it 9 straight wins after rolling over Phoenix, holding the Mercury to just 61 points in a 22-point blowout. And it wasn’t even the A’ja Wilson solo act this time. Five players hit double figures! All in all, balance, depth, swagger, everything was there. Feels like vintage Aces again. Now, to be fair, Phoenix didn’t stay down for long.

Alyssa Thomas reminded everyone why she’s in the mix for the MVP award with her fifth triple-double of the month: 13 pts, 12 reb, and a career-high 16 ast. That spark was all the Mercury needed to bounce back with an 81–72 win over the Valkyries. For Golden State, though, the real heartbreak was losing Tiffany Hayes to a brutal-looking injury. One of those collisions you really don’t want to watch twice.

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, the Dream played yet another nail-biter. This time, though, they held firm, edging out Minnesota 75–73 in what felt like a playoff preview. Allisha Gray was in her bag with 27 points, and Rhyne Howard delivered in the clutch.

The Lynx, who faced Indiana next, weren’t about to let that loss spiral, though. The Fever came into the matchup repping Kelsey Mitchell. These pregame fits were the perfect tribute to their “MVP!”

On the court, it was the Kayla McBride show as she dropped 29 points, while Jessica Shepard shocked everyone with a historic 22-11-10 triple-double. Indiana started hot from deep, but an ugly third quarter sealed their 95–90 fate.

She Got WHAT?! Kiki Iriafen’s ‘Goose Egg’ Forehead Bump Has Teammates Shook

Connecticut & Chicago Playing Spoiler?

You bet every Sun and Sky fan is muttering the same thing right now: “Where was this magic when it still mattered?” Both squads have caught fire, but these victories are about pride, not playoff paths.

For the Sun, they finally did something they hadn’t managed all season: back-to-back wins. And they did it against Washington, basically crushing the Mystics’ playoff hopes. Saniya Rivers was all over the place again. She had this monster block that sent Jade Melbourne crashing head-first to the floor. But what she did next reminded us why we love this game and its players. Catch the whole thing here!

Tina Charles led all scorers with 21 points as the Sun grinded out a 67-56 victory. Chicago, though, might’ve stolen the bigger headline. Their “Skyscrapers” toppled New York. Yup, the defending champs. It was one of those back-and-forth classics: 21 lead changes, 11 ties, and the Sky finally snapped a five-game skid, 91–85.

And you can bet Liberty coach Sandy Brondello wasn’t thrilled. She even admitted afterwards what she thinks is the Achilles’ heel for her squad. Her words, not ours, see it for yourself.

Kamilla Cardoso was unstoppable (22 points, career-high 16 boards), and Reese added 21 and 10, and maybe most importantly, they reminded everyone how good they can be when healthy and in form. For a season full of turbulence, that matters.

For another eliminated squad, though, it was heartbreak. The Wings started strong, only to fade as Seattle overwhelmed them in a 95–60 blowout. Maddy Siegrist led with 12 while Paige Bueckers, fresh off her 44-point eruption, managed just 11. Still, she cracked the WNBA’s all-time top-10 rookie scoring list with this one.

Too Harsh? Draymond Green Raises a Concerning Point About WNBA Attendance Records

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

We often talk about the top three rookies, and rightfully so. Paige Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen, and Sonia Citron even cracked the top 15 in this month’s PPG. But what we often forget is how Phoenix also hit the ultimate draft jackpot. Well, their rookies just reminded us, making WNBA history in the game vs. Golden State. And yes, it’s everything beyond the arc, literally! Check this out!

South Carolina’s “Swoosh” Era ft. A’ja’s Stamp

What everyone has been wanting for years is finally here. As the SEC rides a wave of apparel changes, South Carolina athletics is also making the switch from Under Armour to Nike, beginning July 1, 2026.

And while that means the entire athletic department gets a fresh new look, it comes with the ultimate full-circle flex for one of the greatest Gamecocks ever: A’ja Wilson. Here’s how the agreement includes Wilson!

As Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati explained, Under Armour, which had been a partner since 2007, simply “opted not to match” what Nike slid across the table. And what Nike brought is massive.

We’re talking a 10-year, $70 million partnership, plus $5 million in cash, $2.5 million in product allowance, and 15% of all net sales from Gamecock-branded Nike gear. Every one of USC’s 21 athletic programs will be decked out in Nike uniforms, footwear, apparel, and equipment.

On top of that, Nike’s design team will partner with South Carolina on a complete redesign of the Colonial Life Arena basketball court. Still beyond the flashy numbers and shiny floor, it’s just….Nike.

The brand that runs the sports world, the one that recruits already lean toward. Yet there’s a loophole in this deal that might not favor one of the most important parts of today’s college landscape, NIL. Could this turn off athletes & recruits?

For now, though, head coach Dawn Staley says she’s “over the moon happy” about the move. However, she didn’t forget to thank Under Armour. After all, campaigns like “Let Them Talk” prove UA never shied away from uplifting women’s basketball. The Swoosh may be the future in Columbia, but Under Armour’s contributions will always be stitched into, at least the Gamecocks’ WBB story.

Ref Drama What? Gabby’s Priceless Reaction to Skylar’s Classic Ref Meltdown

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. Wings Broadcaster Disses Paige Bueckers’ 44-Point Explosion - Full Story

2. Clark and Cunningham Feature in ION’s Major Fever Broadcast Blunder - Full Story

3. Risk It All? Sabally Takes Another Brutal Shot at Cathy Engelbert - Full Story

4. Hidden Caitlin Clark Injury Report Sparks Fury at Fever - Full Story

5. Cheryl Reeve Explains What Made Jessica Shepard's Historic Triple-Double Record Possible - 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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