Table of Contents

• WNBA CBA UPDATE

• Unrivaled Power Ranking

  • Laces 4-1 (+1)

  • Rose 3-2 (-1)

  • Breeze 3-2 (+4)

  • Phantom 3-2 (-)

  • Mist 3-2 (-)

  • Vinyl 2-3 (-2)

  • Hive Basketball Club 1-4 (+1)

  • Lunar Owls 1-4 (-3)

• Offseason News and Chisme

  • Film Session: WBB Highlights & Insights 📽️

  • Booked & Busy: WBB Reads 👓

  • Drip Report 💧

WNBA CBA UPDATE

The January 9th deadline passed with no CBA and no extension, which puts the league in a period of status quo.

What does that mean? Business as usual. No lockout or strike unless either side calls one, which they can do at any time.

Because free agency would have already started, the WNBA and WNBPA agreed to a moratorium on all free agency activity. No qualifying offers. No core designations. And honestly, this makes sense. Why would any player sign under the old CBA?

The sticking point has not changed. Players want 30 percent of gross revenue. The WNBA is offering 50 percent of net revenue, which is about 15 percent of gross.

Back in #ShrinkTheGame Vol. 19, I mentioned Cathy’s decision to sell 16% of the league for $75 million. Now it looks like the league is trying to buy that stake back.

The investors include Condoleezza Rice, Pau Gasol, and Nike, but also WNBA and NBA owners Ted Leonsis (Mystics/Wizards), Joe and Clara Tsai (Liberty/Nets), and Herb Simon (Pacers/Fever). That means three owners are triple-dipping.

The players are 100 percent right to force the WNBA to sort out this ownership structure. Those investors have already made back their money and then some. Buy it back and get ownership back to 50 WNBA/ 50 NBA; this will simplify revenue sharing even more.

Unrivaled Power Ranking

Weeks 1 & 2

Laces 4-1 (+1)

The Laces come in at number one in my power rankings as the only team with just one loss so far. They have an uncanny ability to be down for most of the game and then come storming back for the win.

The real highlight of this roster is Brittney “Slim” Sykes, who has had an amazing start to the season. She is leading her team in points per game and is second in the league in steals per game. Another highlight is Jackie Young, who is finally playing healthy and oozing confidence post WNBA championship run. A silent assassin no more, Jackie Young is playing at an elite level and talking her shit while doing it.

What’s going well: Slim and Jackie

What needs to improve: They are going to need more from Maddie, Naz, and Jordin Canada in the long run.

@unrivaled

INSANE END TO THIS GAME🫨 #lacesbc #unrivaled #jackieyoung #ajawilson

Rose 3-2 (-1)

The reigning champs dropped two spots after a dazzling first two games because of their tendency to fall behind by big margins and try to mount late comebacks, as well as their tendency to lose leads. Chelsea Gray has been playing at an unreal level and is reminding everyone why she was the Finals MVP of the Unrivaled Finals. The problem is that if the offense isn’t coming from Chelsea, there is no offense (she leads the league in points per game). Other teams have figured this out and are making it hard for her to score. With Kah back, can the Rose get an offense going that isn’t so CG reliant?

What’s going well: Chelsea MF Gray

What needs to improve: Offense from other teammates

Breeze 3-2 (+4)

Ok so I severely underestimated the Breeze lol. They are really good, and their team chemistry is through the roof. I still think they need a vet, and this is abundantly clear in their losses. However, when this team is clicking, they bring strong offensive and defensive energy.

Paige is nuts. I mean, absolutely unreal how she plays. Her efficiency, passing ability, defense, everything. She really represents this team’s fearlessness when it comes to facing older, more experienced teams. Dominique is another one who is scary good to only be 20 years old. We are still waiting on that dunk, though.

Unfortunately, Aari McDonald aggravated whatever injury she picked up during the WNBA season in the first game and has been out ever since. Lots of people are getting free money at Unrivaled, to be honest lol.

What’s going well: Paige Beuckers is unstoppable. Rickea looks great. Cam Brink is more comfortable and blocking everyone’s shit

What needs to improve: Dom is still very raw, like a little baby deer. Yesterday’s game and the one against Vinyl showed how easy it was for Stewie and BG to shut her down. She struggles against skilled bigs. Also, Kate Martin has been ehhh so far this season.

Phantom 3-2 (-)

The Phantom have looked extremely solid this season, and this is a testament to their strong team chemistry and balanced contributions. They are only going to get better as KP and Kiki get more comfortable with the league.

First and foremost, we must give Aliyah Boston her tens. She was not good last season, like at all. This season, she is DOMINANT. A pick’n’roll demon who is deadly next to Kelsey Plum. Speaking of which, PlumDaawg looked horrendous in her first game but has been killing it ever since.

Kiki has been improving every game, while Tash Cloud’s vocal leadership, defense, and timely shooting have made a huge impact off the bench. And they are not even at full strength yet. Wait until the mid-range demon Dana Evans joins the squad. Also, Satou can still come back..

I have them above Vinyl because they’ve beaten harder teams.

What’s going well: Kelsey Plum and her bigs (AB and KiKi)

What needs to improve: Consistent offense production from other players

@phantombasketballclub

KP CALLED GAAAAME 👻 #Phantom #Unrivaled

Mist 3-2 (-)

Last newsletter, my top concerns for the Mist were Stewie’s health and the contributions from other team members. Both were answered fairly quickly. She still has a janky three-point shot (only hitting her first one on Friday), but Stewie looks healthy and has flashes of her pre-injury 2023 form.

And boy oh boy, is this team as a whole good af. Allisha Gray is a literal 3×3 legend. She is so amazing, and you can feel the shift on the floor when she and Stewie leave the game. The Stewie–Veronica Burton–Allisha Gray lineup is a deadly combination.

My main concern now is Zach, the coach. He keeps throwing out funky lineups and benching Allisha and Stewie, which has cost them leads and stalled their comebacks. At least he finally put Lish in the starting lineup. I’m glad his ass is no longer on the Liberty bench tbh

What’s going well: The Stewie-Lish-VB lineup

What needs to improve: During Monday night’s game, Alanna picked up four fouls in 1.7 minutes. She needs to stop fouling. Arike needs better shot selection. Lish needs to stop complaining to the refs. When the bigs, Lan and Li, are struggling, it becomes easy for the other team to target Stewie and take the Mist out of the game.

@unrivaled

she makes it look so easy😭 #unrivaled #mistbc #liyueru

Vinyl 2-3 (-2)

I’m not going to sit here and lie to y’all. I don’t pay too much attention to Vinyl LOL. But they seem to be what they were last year, a good team that is more middle of the pack caliber. Dearica Hamby broke the league record with a 40 piece game, and Rhyne Howard is still an absolute sniper from three.

With BG back in their most recent games, it shows how much better they are with BG dominating the paint. I am excited to see them play and win against better teams.

 What’s going well: Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard

What needs to improve: Finishing games strong

Hive Basketball Club 1-4 (+1)

So this team isn’t great. I still cannot understand how the coaches were the ones drafting, and the construction of this team is still so horrible.

Not all is doom and gloom. They did secure their first win against the Rose off a Kelsey Mitchell masterclass.

I think, much like KP, as Kelsey Mitchell, Ezi, and Soni get more comfortable, the team will keep improving. Bright spots include Saniya Rivers, who is a defensive menace and ranks second in the league in steals per game.

What’s going well: They are slowly but surely figuring it out.

What needs to improve: Everything. I want to know why Natisha Hiedeman is only getting like 4 mins a game. Seems like she is underutilized

Lunar Owls 1-4 (-3)

The Lunar Owls were hit with a devastating blow when Phee was ruled out for the season and spent the first couple of games without Skylar Diggins. Despite heroic efforts from Marina and Aaliyah Edwards, who rank second and third in points per game in the league, it’s nearly impossible to win with zero offense or defense from anywhere else. Temi is also not a great replacement for Phee.

I know there is a lot of talk about Bec Allen and Rachel Banham on the team, but I like that folks are finally seeing that Bec, when not injured, is a solid ass role player. She has been giving great minutes. IDK about Big Latto tho, Phee’s her bestie so I understand why she’s there lol

The bright side is Skylar is back, and hopefully that means some wins as she works herself back into playing shape.

What’s going well: They are getting healthy! Marina and AE are playing like women possessed.

What needs to improve: Offensive distribution. With Sky back, everything doesn’t need to rest on Marina’s and AE’s Shoulder

Offseason News and Chisme

Check out some of the cool podcasts, videos, reads, and fashion I saw this week.

Natasha Cloud is catching some heat for her comments about Unrivaled potentially extending its season if there is no WNBA season. Does that make them competitors? Is it a conflict of interest? My opinion? It’s better to say less sometimes.

Steph Curry wore his 4th pair of Sabrina 3’s and his fifth pair of Sabrina’s overall. #Motion

Kamilla Cardoso continues to dominate in the Chinese Basketball League while also stressing Liz Cambage out 🤣 

AU Pro Basketball Players are pulling up to Nashville to start the season!

Film Session: WBB Highlights & Insights 📽️

Booked & Busy: WBB Reads 👓

Drip Report 💧