Can the reality-show-like season the WNBA is experiencing shift back to basketball? Part of the role of the next commissioner will be ensuring it does. More on what league stakeholders think about the 2026 campaign & what they want in the next leader: www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...

Culture wars plague WNBA discourse. Can next commissioner return focus to basketball?

nytimes.com

The search for the next WNBA commissioner is unofficially underway. Identifying someone who can "unify the players with the players and the players with ownership," is a top priority for NBA commissioner Adam Silver. www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...

Adam Silver says next WNBA commissioner should help 'unify' the league

nytimes.com

Going live in five to discuss Team USA's fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup gold medal, with its 97-79 win over France on Sunday. LOCK IN! www.youtube.com/@No-Offseason

No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

No Offseason is your go-to podcast for everything women’s basketball. Whether it’s the latest headlines, in-depth interviews with the most important newsmakers in the game, we cover it all - year roun...

youtube.com

Team USA left no doubt with its 97-79 win over France to claim its fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup gold medal, the dynasty remains intact. www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...

Team USA takes down France for fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal

Despite France built up as a rival contender, Team USA used a dominant third quarter to shut the door on their bid.

nytimes.com

Jackie Young is the first with a resume that reads: 🏆 HS state champion 🏆 NCAA title 🏆 WNBA title 🥇 3x3 Olympic gold 🥇 5x5 Olympic gold 🥇FIBA World Cul gold

Team USA continues its reign as the most dominant in women’s basketball, claiming its fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup gold medal, with a 97-79 win over France on Sunday.

Former LSU center Kate Koval is in the transfer portal and will be immediately eligible after being granted a waiver, a source confirmed to @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...

Center Kate Koval receives NCAA waiver to transfer from LSU

Koval, who is Ukrainian, decided to transfer after LSU signed a Russian post player.

nytimes.com

USA's pursuit of its fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal is still alive after a dominant quarterfinal win over Hungary on Thursday morning. www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...

Team USA moves on to World Cup semifinals after blowout win over Hungary

The "young and turnt" crew got extra playing time thanks to the most complete World Cup game by Team USA.

nytimes.com

We're live discussing WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert's retirement. Tap in: www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Vo...

Emergency Pod: Cathy Engelbert era ends after 2026 Season

YouTube video by No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

youtube.com

BREAKING: WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert will retire at the end of 2026, the league announced. www.nytimes.com/athletic/756...

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert retiring at end of 2026 season

Engelbert’s tenure as the first WNBA commissioner has been marked by financial success, but she's been criticized for her leadership style.

nytimes.com

NEWS: Satou Sabally will miss the remainder of the season due to a head injury she suffered in the June 23 game against the Aces, the team announced today. She played 13 games for the Liberty this season, starting in five.

Kate Koval detailed her decision to leave LSU was tied to the recruitment of "a Russian player" in an Instagram post on Wednesday. What this means for Koval's eligibility for the upcoming season is unclear at this point. www.nytimes.com/athletic/756...

Ukrainian center Kate Koval details leaving LSU after recruitment of Russian player

Koval says she was told about the recruitment after the transfer window closes. She's hoping the NCAA allows her to play elsewhere.

nytimes.com

NEWS: Skylar Diggins will miss the remainder of the 2026 season to focus on recovering from an aggravated right knee injury, the Sky announced Tuesday. www.nytimes.com/athletic/755...

Sky guard Skylar Diggins to miss remainder of season with knee injury

Diggins has been sidelined with a right knee injury since July.

nytimes.com

Officially official: The Atlanta Dream have announced the signing of DeWanna Bonner to a rest-of-season contract. In corresponding roster moves, the Dream waived guards Aaliyah Nye and Jaylyn Sherrod

Unrivaled’s valuation reaches $650 million after an oversubscribed Series C fundraise. In season 3 the league will be touring for roughly 8 games, up from two last season. This will also be the league's last playing at Sephora Arena in Medley, Fla. www.nytimes.com/athletic/753...

Unrivaled announces new funding that sets league valuation at $650 million

The three-on-three league, founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, will begin its third season in January, adding more tour stops.

nytimes.com

* insert Jonah Hill freaking out gif here * The Athletic WNBA playoff projection bracket is HERE! Every team's odds of earning each playoff seed & a bracket forecast that will be updated as live games conclude all in one place. S/O to Ryan Best!! www.nytimes.com/athletic/int...

2026 WNBA Playoff projection bracket (Gift Article)

Every team’s odds of earning each playoff seed, updating live throughout the regular season

nytimes.com

The Phoenix Mercury and DeWanna Bonner reached a buyout agreement, so what now? Bonner will hit the waiver wire, which takes 48 hours to clear. If she does, she will become an unrestricted free agent and can negotiate with any team. www.nytimes.com/athletic/753...

Mercury buy out DeWanna Bonner’s contract, freeing 6-time All-Star to pursue title run

If Bonner clears waivers, she will become a free agent and can sign with a contender looking to make a deep playoff run.

nytimes.com

NEWS: The Phoenix Mercury and DeWanna Bonner have reached a buyout agreement. Mercury GM Nick U'Ren said the buyout "gives her the opportunity to chase a title in what could be her final postseason."

Two players have been most often discussed when it comes to the MVP conversation this season: A’ja Wilson and Olivia Miles. But has the race heated up since the All-Star break? And why has Caitlin Clark been on the outside looking in for much of 2026? www.nytimes.com/athletic/752...

Caitlin Clark is having a banner season, so why isn’t she in MVP conversations? (Gift Article)

If the Fever stay hot, does it boost Clark's case to dethrone Wilson? Or is Miles' strong rookie season enough to win the award?

nytimes.com

Nneka Ogwumike announces her retirement after 15 seasons in the WNBA. “I’ve learned there’s power in knowing when to walk away." www.nytimes.com/athletic/752...

WNBA veteran Nneka Owgumike announces retirement

This season will be the last for Ogwumike, who has been the WNBPA president and an All-Star.

nytimes.com

Diana Taurasi left an indelible mark on the WNBA. Sunday, the Phoenix Mercury — where she spent her entire 20-year career — raised her jersey in the rafters. www.nytimes.com/athletic/751...

Mercury retire Diana Taurasi’s No. 3, welcome WNBA legend to Ring of Honor

"If there was any little competitiveness still in me, I think today it goes up in the rafters with the number," Taurasi said.

nytimes.com

Satou Sabally will be stepping away from the team for "a little bit." Sabally has been out sine June 23 after suffering her second concussion in just over eight months. Liberty coach Chris DeMarco did not provide a timeline for her return. www.nytimes.com/athletic/751...

Satou Sabally taking indefinite leave from Liberty due to lingering head injury

The Liberty must continue to manage without Sabally, who has been out since June 23 under concussion protocol.

nytimes.com

Load management has become an increasingly important topic as the WNBA's season continues to expand. The Aces were a shell of themselves Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn as their Big 3 took a strategic rest day. www.nytimes.com/athletic/750...

Becky Hammon defends load management even if Aces have to ‘take the L’ vs. Liberty

Heading into the second game of a back-to-back, Aces coach Becky Hammon rested her stars in the nationally televised game.

nytimes.com

The Washington Mystics have claimed Betnijah Laney-Hamilton off waivers according to the WNBA transactions page.

Going live shortly to discuss the overnight trade of Kelsey Plum. TUNE IN: www.youtube.com/@No-Offseason

No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

No Offseason is your go-to podcast for everything women’s basketball. Whether it’s the latest headlines, in-depth interviews with the most important newsmakers in the game, we cover it all - year roun...

youtube.com

The Mercury are six games out of playoff position with 14 games remaining in the regular season. I'm told Kelsey Plum still intends to go through free agency, adding to the risk of acquiring the All-Star this late in the season. www.nytimes.com/athletic/748...

Los Angeles Sparks deal Kelsey Plum to Phoenix Mercury in a blockbuster move

Plum, who will be a free agent after this season, has only played in 12 games in 2026 but is second in the league in scoring.

nytimes.com

TRADE ALERT: The Toronto Tempo have acquired Connecticut Sun forward Aneesah Morrow and are sending the rights to Maria Kliundikova and their 2028 second round pick to Connecticut. www.nytimes.com/athletic/748...

Connecticut Sun trade Aneesah Morrow to Toronto Tempo

Morrow was the seventh overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

nytimes.com

A WNBA spokesperson said while the social media post showing Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers discussing a wager was intended to be "lighthearted" it "missed the mark." I'm told there will be no punishment for players. www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...

WNBA deletes post showing wager between Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese

nytimes.com

The Toronto Tempo have been actively shopping a future first-round pick, multiple sources tell me. Deals were presented to the Los Angeles Sparks and the Connecticut Sun but were turned down. www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...

Toronto Tempo shopping future first-round pick ahead of WNBA trade deadline

The 2028 draft will be deep with talent from Sarah Strong, Joyce Edwards, Jazzy Davidson and Sienna Betts.

nytimes.com

The WNBA trade deadline is Aug. 2. Here's what I'm hearing coming out of a busy All-Star weekend: www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...

What I’m hearing on Napheesa Collier, Kelsey Plum and other WNBA trade deadline targets

The Sparks are at risk of losing Plum, an All-Star averaging almost 24 points per game, for nothing.

nytimes.com