In New York, championships are the bar. The Liberty cleared the first round, but getting swept in the semifinals brings up similar questions the franchise faced last year. Is another coaching change necessary? And can this roster get it done? www.nytimes.com/athletic/767...

After playoff elimination, Liberty players' silence on coach Chris DeMarco speaks volumes

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Good morning and welcome to the new world order of the WNBA, thanks to the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream. @theathletic.com column from a scintillating night in Las Vegas, following the emotional one in New York, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/767...

Welcome to a new era of the WNBA, courtesy of Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream (Gift Article)

Just two years into the franchise's existence, Golden State made a statement by sweeping the defending champion Aces.

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Welcome to a new era of the WNBA, courtesy of Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream. @theathletic.com column from a breathtaking night in Las Vegas, following the one in New York, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/767...

Welcome to a new era of the WNBA, courtesy of Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream (Gift Article)

Just two years into its existence, Golden State has made a statement, sweeping the defending champion Aces.

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Natalie Nakase doesn't stop. But life pulled the emergency brake. So her gifts -- but more importantly her growth -- were all over a win that put Golden State on the brink of the championship round. @theathletic.com column from San Francisco, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/767...

For relentless Natalie Nakase, rest was the recharge the Valkyries required (Gift Article)

Golden State has a 2-0 lead on Aces. The key? Keeping their foot on the gas during games, and taking it off between them.

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Jewell Loyd is "probably" out for Game 2 against Golden State, Aces coach Becky Hammon said after shootaround Wednesday. Stephanie Talbot and Dana Evans will be game-time decisions.

Stephanie Talbot and Jewell Loyd both participated in a Las Vegas Aces workout Tuesday, but their status remains TBD for Game 2 against Golden State. "Just trying to ramp them up, but now we gotta see how they feel and recover off this," Aces coach Becky Hammon said.

"We played like ass," Becky Hammon said. The Aces sure did. And the championships earn them a pass for some bad days. But this lack of energy was startling. And the lack of healthy bodies is frightening. @theathletic.com column from Game 1 in San Francisco: www.nytimes.com/athletic/766...

Las Vegas Aces have two days of reckoning after flat-footed semifinals loss to Valkyries (Gift Article)

The Aces must adjust, but injuries to their rotation players are adding up.

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"I didn’t even know the Golden State Valkyries were going to be a thing," Veronica Burton said, "and here I am." A castoff became one of the WNBA’s most valuable assets because she got the chance, and loosened her grip. @theathletic.com story, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...

Veronica Burton went from overlooked to indispensable with the Golden State Valkyries (Gift Article)

Burton has been a key to Golden State Valkyries quick ascent in the WNBA.

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"I didn’t even know the Golden State Valkyries were going to be a thing," Veronica Burton said, "and here I am." A castoff became one of the WNBA’s most valuable assets because she got the chance, and loosened her grip. @theathletic.com story, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...

Veronica Burton went from overlooked to indispensable with the Golden State Valkyries (Gift Article)

Burton has been a key to Golden State Valkyries quick ascent in the WNBA.

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The Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark are right there, and not close. And everyone will wait, feet tapping, until they arrive. @theathletic.com column after the defending champs ended things in Las Vegas: www.nytimes.com/athletic/765...

Caitlin Clark and Fever now face new expectations after playoff elimination (Gift Article)

Puzzling out how to construct a title-winning supporting cast will be a necessary, complicated task for the Fever in its title quest.

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"The attention is the money, and the money is the attention, and you can’t love one and resent the other forever." Spot-on here from @theathletic.com's Jason Lloyd. www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...

The WNBA wanted attention. A’ja Wilson should know what comes with it (Gift Article)

There's a reason strict rules against confronting fans exist, especially after the Malice at the Palace. The WNBA's inaction is troubling.

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“I knew what I was capable of doing in the league,” Jessica Shepard says. The WNBA’s Most Improved Player officially has the trophy to prove it. Now can she bounce back to save the Wings' season? @theathletic.com story, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...

Jessica Shepard’s time has arrived with Wings: Can WNBA’s Most Improved Player bounce back again? (Gift Article)

Shepard may be the key for the Wings to rally against the Golden State Valkyries in Game 2 of the first round.

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“I knew what I was capable of doing in the league,” Jessica Shepard says. The WNBA’s Most Improved Player officially has the trophy to prove it. Now can she bounce back to save the Wings' season? @theathletic.com story, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...

Jessica Shepard’s time has arrived with Wings: Can WNBA’s Most Improved Player bounce back again? (Gift Article)

Shepard may be the key for the Wings to rally against the Golden State Valkyries in Game 2 of the first round.

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"I've never A’ja Wilson go like that," Becky Hammon said. A Game 2 loss and a four-time MVP's fuss with a fan comes to this: If the frazzled Aces don't reclaim their identity, imagine the finger-pointing then. @theathletic.com column from Indianpolis: www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...

A’ja Wilson, Aces frazzled and frustrated in Fever loss. In Game 3, they must reclaim their identity (Gift Article)

Las Vegas will now have to fend off the end of the season, at the hands of a team trying to be the next version of the Aces.

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"I've never A’ja Wilson go like that," Becky Hammon said. A Game 2 loss and a four-time MVP's fuss with a fan comes to this: If the frazzled Aces don't reclaim their identity, imagine the finger-pointing then. @theathletic.com column from Indianpolis: www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...

A’ja Wilson, Aces frazzled and frustrated in Fever loss. In Game 3, they must reclaim their identity (Gift Article)

Las Vegas will now have to fend off the end of the season, at the hands of a team trying to be the next version of the Aces.

nytimes.com

The Aces have A'ja Wilson. Nobody else does. That explains a lot of Sunday. But it's not the only conundrum for the Fever, or any other team. @theathletic.com column from Game 1 in Las Vegas, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/763...

Advantage in the WNBA playoffs goes to the team with A’ja Wilson, as usual (Gift Article)

Wilson scored 38 points to dominate the Fever in Game 1.

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The Aces have A'ja Wilson. Nobody else does. That explains a lot of Sunday. But it's not the only conundrum for the Fever, or any other team. @theathletic.com column from Game 1 in Las Vegas, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/763...

Advantage in the WNBA playoffs goes to the team with A’ja Wilson, as usual (Gift Article)

Wilson scored 38 points to dominate the Fever in Game 1.

nytimes.com

From @theathletic.com: Everywhere Caitlin Clark goes, the spectacle follows. Seemingly every move becomes a headline. Amid the constant attention and expectations, Clark is trying to hold on to the joy that made people want to watch her in the first place. nyti.ms/4dZqw8r

Can the WNBA’s biggest star just play basketball? Let’s ask Caitlin Clark

"“Everybody wants her to be something." But what does Clark want to be?

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Can Caitlin Clark just play basketball? Over 15 days in five cities, and one phone call about her garden, I tried to find out. Free to read @theathletic.com: www.nytimes.com/athletic/762...

Can the WNBA’s biggest star just play basketball? Let’s ask Caitlin Clark (Gift Article)

"“Everybody wants her to be something." But what does Clark want to be?

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Olivia Miles' curiosity made her The Spectacle. She's just not necessarily built to handle one. But if the WNBA's newest superstar does it well, it's because she asked herself the hardest questions already. Free to read @theathletic.com: www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...

"You understand this is the next phase of the league." Olivia Miles reset expectations in Minnesota and, well, wound up in people's yards. The curious Spectacle also changed the conversation about the WNBA's next 30 years. Free to read @theathletic.com: www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...

What makes Olivia Miles exactly ‘The Spectacle’ that the WNBA needs? (Gift Article)

Miles has been a revelation in her first professional season, guiding the Lynx to the best record in the league.

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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

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The WNBA’s growth created a rift, with longtime and new fans having different expectations. The next commissioner will need to hold that fanbase under one roof without pretending the fracture isn’t political, @jerrybrewer.bsky.social writes. Read for free: nyti.ms/4yC9OEi

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

i get it, the Jack White set on Thanksgiving was so amazing that you don't want to explode people's heads with Soundgarden on opening night they're just looking out for us

Now You Know The More You Know PSA

ALT: Now You Know The More You Know PSA

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Cathy Engelbert was a good commissioner for someone who once ran an accounting firm. Now the WNBA needs a true visionary. @theathletic.com column, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/756...

Cathy Engelbert did her job. Now the WNBA needs a true visionary as commissioner

The game has earned that type of leadership — a tone-setter instead of a caretaker.

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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

Introducing The Athletic LIVE 🎥🚨 A new show that brings together fans, journalists and creators for the most interesting “group chat” in sports. The show will launch on Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and will stream on YouTube, The Athletic app and theathletic.com. Details: bit.ly/3URycTv

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

"He doesn’t lose his s—," Geno Auriemma says. "He stays pretty calm, which is probably a welcome relief to her." Pushing Paige Bueckers? Resurrecting the Dallas Wings? After a long climb, it's just basketball to Jose Fernandez. @theathletic.com story, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/752...