^{June 09, 2025 | Edition #96}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

The WNBA returned just weeks ago, and we were so excited to see our favorite stars hoop. But not even a month into the season, that list is getting shorter by the day. So… what’s going on? Well, injuries have been piling up, and now, fingers are starting to point toward Commissioner Cathy Engelbert as questions swirl about the schedule.

Beyond the injury setbacks, however, the league itself feels split...almost like we’re watching two completely different stories unfold. And sadly, one side of that tale is having a very rough time. You probably already know which team we’re talking about.

The Cost of More? W’s Pushing Players to the Brink?

A career in sports is rewarding and empowering for all genders. However, female athletes often have it tougher as they're more prone to injuries. Studies show that the incidence of ACL injuries in female basketball players is 3.5 times higher than in their male counterparts! History speaks for itself.

But lately, the rise in injuries has been flat-out alarming. A 138.5% increase in the number of injuries that have affected games in May! Just look at this massive injury list. So… what’s causing this? Last year, one major criticism of the league was the sheer number of games packed into short windows. It wasn’t exactly the safest setup.

This season, even without an Olympic break, things aren’t looking that much better. Why? Well, one of the biggest changes from 2024 to 2025 was the WNBA’s decision to expand the regular season - from 40 to 44 games.

So, it’s been the same story, and players aren’t exactly thrilled. Satou Sabally made it very clear that this is a conversation that needs to be part of the next CBA. She even called out WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, calling her irresponsible. Here’s what Sabally said.

And we’ve also seen the toughest schedules. For instance, the Fever played 11 games in 19 days to start last season. This year, Mercury had 9 in 18. Load management might be part of the solution, but right now, injuries are running the show. With all the advancements in sports science, this shouldn’t be happening.

But here we are. Courtney Vandersloot just went down with an ACL tear, and the Sky’s season suddenly looks even worse. So, until this gets fixed from the ground up, the consequence will be a growing list of injuries.

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Predictable Collapses Meet Stunning Upsets

Saturday marked a historic day for hoops in the Windy City. The Sky hosted their first-ever WNBA game at the iconic United Center. Good vibes, great crowd, milestone moment. But... what was supposed to be a celebration quickly turned into a full-blown disaster. With Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, and even head coach Stephanie White all out, you’d think Chicago had the upper hand, right? Not even close.

Indiana absolutely steamrolled them 79–52. Yes, that’s Chicago’s lowest-scoring total since 2011. It was a full team effort led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 17. The game had some amazing hype moments, but the best antics came from the sidelines, where ‘Coach Caitlin’ had the most dramatic reactions throughout the night. Check out the best bits of ‘Coach Caitlin’!

But the result of the night came in the Bay. The Golden State Valkyries dropped a massive upset bomb on the Las Vegas Aces with a 95–68 thumping. The plot was juicy with three ex-Aces in the building: Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin, and head coach Natalie Nakase.

The whole squad showed up for Golden State, with three players notching double-doubles, the most in a game this season. The Aces got blitzed in the second quarter, outscored 34–15, and never recovered. And that quarter ended in the worst way possible for Vegas. The crowd went nuts after Kate Martin hit this insane buzzer-beating three right before halftime.

What exactly did the Aces lack? Well, after the game, Becky Hammon didn’t bother sugarcoating it, saying, “Effort has to come from your heart… but I’m not gonna coach effort.” The Aces don’t really look like a championship team right now. The next few games should give us a better picture of where they stand.

No Mercy! Four-Time NBA Champion Blasts Angel Reese and Sky’s 'Bad Brand of Basketball’

Plays That Fired Up the Night: Austin and Diggins in the Spotlight

Austin’s hustle heat. Just when it felt like the Connecticut Sun were ready to roll going forward, the Washington Mystics came crashing in with a 104-67 thrashing in DC. Britney Sykes lit it up with 28 points, but there were contributions from everyone. One of the best plays of the night came from Jade Melbourne.

Washington was up by 7 in the second quarter when Melbourne saw Saniya Rivers guarding her—and she got right to work. One smooth, clean crossover and boom, Jade was in the lane. She took the contact, tossed up a wild shot, and it dropped, plus the foul! This was a seriously impressive play!

Melbourne finished with 5 points and 2 assists in 15 minutes.

Diggins’ dance moves. Then came Seattle Storm’s Skylar Diggins, facing off against her old squad, the Phoenix Mercury. And what had the internet on fire wasn’t just the stat sheet - it was Diggins’ shot or wait…actually her celebration.

Coming off just 4 points in the first half, Skylar went off for 14 points in under 15 minutes, and with the shot clock ticking down in the fourth, she hit a three right at the buzzer and immediately busted out an offbeat dance, tongue out. Check out one of the best heat-check moments of the season so far.

Diggins finished with 26 points, handed out seven assists, and nailed four threes in a solid 89-77 win for the Storm.

DC Had A Special Guest: After Career Best Roland Garros Performance, American Star Watches the Mystics Trash Connecticut

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

They might be out with injuries, but Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham have been huge from the sidelines—always hyping up their teammates. And in no time, they’ve actually become really good friends. But when they were asked who they'd rather sit next to on a 3-hour bus ride, either of them picked each other! Caitlin’s answer was short and sweet—check it out yourself.

A Tale of Two Courts! Lynx Latch On While Dallas Wings Collapse

Dallas and Minnesota are in two very different places this season. When the Lynx show up, the job for their opponent is simple: buckle up and try to keep pace. During Sunday’s rematch, the Wings held their own for three quarters, but the fourth was a nightmare - a brutal 24-9 scoring run that slammed the door shut.

That’s five losses in a row for Dallas, and the buzz that had been building around this team has seriously fizzled. Paige Bueckers cleared her concussion but didn’t suit up due to illness, yet they still had Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington.

In fact, Arike and Napheesa Collier nearly had an identical night with 26 and 28 points, respectively. But this is what seperates Collier from the rest. For Dallas, though, is it a lack of hierarchy? Team chemistry? Or maybe just the wrong fit as head coach?

Chris Koclanes has been under fire, with fans criticizing his lineups, rotations, schemes, and overall readiness for the role. In multiple games, he’s been missing at crucial moments, with assistant coach Nola Henry taking the lead. On Sunday, fans noticed Arike literally shouting at Koclanes to sub in Carrington. That’s not a great look.

If that doesn’t signal something’s wrong, Arike almost dodged questions about the head coach, saying “They’re figuring it out,” but had no problem praising Coach Henry. More than that, her cryptic smile when the HC questioned the team's decision-making said it all.

Then there’s Minnesota, the exact opposite - everything’s clicking, unbeaten. While Phee is having the best season of her MVP campaign, team chemistry is soaring. This game couldn’t have been a better example of two teams on totally different timelines.

Next, the Wings head to the road to face the Phoenix Mercury, while Minnesota chases history, just ONE win away from becoming the third team in league history to start a legendary feat.

More Than Her Salary? You Won’t Believe What a Paige Bueckers Game-Worn Sneaker Sold For

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. NBA Legend’s Angel Reese Praise Backfires Big Time as Caitlin Clark Leaves Her in the Dust - Full Story

2. Napheesa Collier Sends Strong Message to Commissioner Cathy Engelbert - Full Story

3. Caitlin Clark Flaunts New Skill with 2-Word Message During Break from Indiana Fever Duties - Full Story

4. Sky’s Backcourt Crisis! Chicago Fans Call on Deja Kelly to Rescue the Season - Full Story

5. Cameron Brink’s Return in LA Jersey Sparks Buzz, But Coach’s Update Deflates Hype - 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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