- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,150,764
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
No Offseason Newsletter | This is The Athletic’s women’s basketball newsletter. Sign up here to receive No Offseason directly in your inbox.Week 3, here we go! We’re seeking reader questions for the newsletter and an upcoming episode of the “No Offseason” podcast at [email protected]. Coming up today:
Connecticut and L.A. observations
Vegas back atop power rankings
WNBA officiating deep-dive
On the Ground: Heartbreak in CT, Clark in L.A.
This week, Sabreena and I are checking in from the East Coast and West Coast.
I was in Connecticut for the Las Vegas Aces’ two-game series against the Sun when the WNBA and NBA board of governors’ approved the sale of the Sun and their relocation from the Mohegan Tribe to Tilman J. Fertitta in a unanimous vote.
Fertitta, who also owns the Houston Rockets, purchased the franchise for a record-breaking $300 million.
The Sun will be rebranded as the Comets, the WNBA’s original dynasty team, which folded in 2008.
Being in Uncasville, Conn., when this news broke, I can tell you fans are still reeling over this season being the franchise’s last in Connecticut. I spoke to a group of four friends who have been season ticket holders since the Sun’s 2003 inaugural season in Uncasville, and they were distrusting of the WNBA and its handling of the sale. They also felt concern for the Sun’s history and heartbreak over the loss of relationships with fellow season ticket holders they’ve sat next to for over two decades.
But for three more months, Sun fans will at least get to enjoy visiting teams’ final appearances in Uncasville, which brings me to the second noteworthy story from last week: Four-time MVP A’ja Wilson made history in the Aces’ 101-94 win over the Sun on Friday, becoming the first WNBA player to record multiple games with 45+ points. She finished the game with 45 points, shooting 15-for-18 from the field.
Over in Los Angeles, Sparks fans welcomed Caitlin Clark back to Crypto.com Arena for the first time since May of her rookie season, where she won her first-ever WNBA game. The Clark Effect has somewhat dimmed since then — the Sparks didn’t even make tickets in the upper bowl available — but Clark is vastly improved since that first game. It’s the passing that always stands out — my personal favorite was a bouncer to Ty Harris off an inbound, a real beaut.
More news from the W:
Fast Breaks
Introducing — or rather, reintroducing — Clark. In her return to the court in 2026, she seems ready to be a regular record-setter once again.
The Liberty, previously No. 1, fell down our latest power rankings, while the Sky saw a big boost.
Competing in both the WNBA and abroad can be complicated. One Mercury forward from France wasn’t available for the first two games because of FIBA clearance issues.
Aliyah Boston missed her first game, between her WNBA and college career, in eight years on Sunday. It snapped a 275-game streak.
“Egregious” officiating mistakes were made last offseason, the WNBA’s head ref said. To combat that, the league established a task force. Learn more about its job here.
️On the “No Offseason” podcast, Zena, Annie and Sabreena further break down the task force and the league response to officiating. Can it improve the overall flow of the game, and better protect players? Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts.
You Gotta See This
Olivia Miles’ wild inbound pass
Olivia Miles has already made history in a Lynx uniform. After finishing with 15 points and six assists against the Wings, she joined Sue Bird and Candace Parker as the only players in WNBA history with at least 10 points and five assists in each of their first three career games.
In a game full of breathtaking dimes, Miles’ best may have been on a sideline out-of-bounds play in the fourth quarter. Lynx guard Kayla McBride came off a screen set by forward Natasha Howard at the top of the key, putting Wings guard Azzi Fudd on her back. From the right sideline, Miles perfectly timed and placed the pass to McBride under the basket and she was fouled from behind by Fudd.
Miles has drawn high praise from around the league, with many comparing her passing style to Aces guard Chelsea Gray. I caught up with Gray in Connecticut to ask her thoughts:
“I love watching her play. She’s faster in the way she gets downhill. But I’m different in the way I’m able to rise on the pull-up. So, it’s just different, but our passing is very, very similar. It’s kind of crazy.”
Speaking of Gray …
Remember when WNBA GMs were asked who they would want taking a shot with the game on the line? Gray tied for first in that poll, and she showed why in the final 10 seconds of the Aces’ 85-84 win over the Dream on Sunday.
Trailing by one point, Aces forward Stephanie Talbot secured a jump ball and handed it off to Gray. Gray drove hard to the left before spinning to her right and pulling up for a fadeaway in the paint over her defender, putting the Aces up by one with 3.6 seconds on the clock. You can watch it here.
Now, Gray can say she should have the ball in her hands on offense and the main assignment on defense with the game on the line.
Foultopia
Orrrrr …. maybe not. The WNBA is adjusting to new refereeing points of emphasis, following the task force implementation. There have been some growing pains as players figure out what contact they can and cannot get away with. Sunday in Los Angeles? Everything was a foul, setting a high-water mark for the season of 59 fouls in one game — it is the only contest this season that has surpassed 70 free-throw attempts, as the teams combined for 72.
Players and coaches were united in their belief that the physicality of the game needed to be toned down after a rough 2025. For now, that means all but four games (out of 30) all season have lasted at least two hours, the default national television window.
The WNBA needs to find its flow soon, or even its TV partners might have some questions.
Numbers Game
3: Only one player has ever fouled out of her first two WNBA games … or her first three. Washington Mystics guard Cassandre Prosper’s debut has been promising nonetheless.
9: Paige Bueckers scored a game-high 18 points to go with seven assists in the Wings’ Monday night win over the Mystics. She’s put up at least 15 points and two assists in nine consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the WNBA.
12: In the Aces’ win over the Dream, Jackie Young set a record for the most field-goal attempts in a game (12) without scoring a point. Still, Las Vegas doesn’t win without Young, who had two steals, two blocks, seven assists and seven rebounds and won the jump ball with 8.5 seconds left to set up Gray for the game-winner.
48: Frieda Bühner became the first player in WNBA history to suit up for a game in No. 48, a jersey that didn’t even have her name on it on opening night. Bühner got her regular No. 20 back by the second game. The funny thing is, Basketball Reference has no record of Bühner’s number in her first game, so other No. 48s may have been lost to history. The Fire rookie is part of an exclusive club — but just how exclusive is unknown.
Watch Guide
Here are the top games we’re monitoring this week (all times ET):
Tempo-Mercury
Tonight at 10 p.m., League Pass
The Tempo’s four-game road trip continues with a tough matchup against the WNBA Finals runners-up.
Wings-Sky
Tomorrow at 9 p.m., USA Network
The 2-2 Wings will look to start their three-game road trip off with a win against the 3-1 Sky in Chicago.
Valkyries-Liberty
Thursday at 8 p.m., Prime Video
The 3-1 Liberty have not been at full strength, but Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally were both full participants in practice this week.
Sun-Storm
Friday at 10 p.m., Ion/League Pass
Will the 0-5 Sun still be searching for their first win of the season come Friday?
Sparks-Aces
Saturday at 8 p.m., CBS/Paramount+
As the 1-3 Sparks continue to search for their defensive identity, the Aces present a daunting challenge.
Wings-Liberty
Sunday at 3:30 p.m., Peacock/NBC
This is the WNBA’s Sunday primetime matchup, but will it live up to the billing as the Wings navigate early setbacks?
Fire-Liberty
Monday at 8 p.m., Peacock/NBC
The Fire took advantage of a depleted Liberty roster in Portland, but how will they fare against them on the road?
Love No Offseason? Check out The Athletic’s other newsletters.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
WNBA, Women's College Basketball, No Offseason
2026 The Athletic Media Company
Continue reading...
