Welcome! 🎉 In an effort to stop spamming my friends with constant women’s basketball updates, I’ve created this newsletter. I know—so generous of me. No need to thank me! I’m here to keep you informed on most things WBB.

Table of Contents

• WNBA News

• Team by Team Updates

  • Atlanta Dream

  • Chicago Sky

  • Dallas Wings

  • Golden State Valkyries

  • Indiana Fever

  • Las Vegas Aces

  • Los Angeles Sparks

  • Minnesota Lynx

  • New York Liberty

  • Phoenix Mercury

  • Seattle Storm

  • Washington Mystics

• Unrivaled

  • Game Recaps:

  • Unrivaled In Person: My Takeaways

• Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball

• Hoops & Hype: Media Picks

  • Film Session: WBB Highlights & Insights 📽️

  • Booked & Busy: WBB Reads 👓

  • Drip Report 💧

WNBA News

Free agency kicked off on January 21st, allowing teams to begin negotiating with free agents. However, no deals can be officially signed until February 1st. This also means that Draft picks are now eligible for trade as well.

While we've already seen some significant moves, official announcements are delayed. Only Cored players signed at the supermax and those who have received qualifying offers can finalize their deals before February 1st.

The WNBA also dropped a comprehensive guide detailing the full list of unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents, cored players, reserved players, and signed reserved players.

Team by Team Updates

Atlanta Dream

The Atlanta Dream have made a massive push in free agency. Last week, they signed Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Brittney Griner (BG), and Brionna Jones, signaling a serious commitment to building a winning team around Rhyne Howard.

Head coach Karl Smesko, known for his three-point-heavy approach, has already stated that he’s willing to adapt to a five-out offense to maximize the strengths of BG and Jones.

However, these signings also came with some notable departures. The Dream waived third-year forward Laeticia Amihere, a University of South Carolina alum, and lost veteran Cheyenne Parker-Tyus in free agency after three seasons with the team.

It will be interesting to see how the Dream integrates both BG and Brionna—two dominant but slower-paced post players—into their system.

Chicago Sky

Last week, the Chicago Sky signed Courtney Vandersloot and immediately began building a competitive team around her. They brought in free agent Kia Nurse to add outside shooting.

If you’ve ever watched an LA Sparks game with me, you’ve probably heard me say, “Holy shit, Kia Nurse is ass!!!” But in AU’s opening game of Athletes Unlimited Basketball, she led her team with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists—earning MVP 1 honors. It looks like Kia is finally working her way back to pre-injury form, and for Chicago’s sake, I hope she proves me wrong for good.

Other moves by the Sky included trading point guard Lindsey Allen and the rights to Nikolina Milić to Connecticut in exchange for Rebecca Allen. They also brought back 2021 Rookie of the Year Michaela Onyenwere, who was just finding her footing in Chicago last season. This move also reunites Bec and Mic, who were previously teammates in both New York and Phoenix.

Connecticut Sun

As I said last week, Connecticut is in full rebuild mode—but in a strange way?? They made a surprising move by signing free agent Tina Charles. It’s not hard to see why Tina would return to CT; she was originally drafted by the team and is set to earn $170,000 (which also doesn’t matter because she gives her salary to charity every year). Her signing could also explain why the Sun allegedly turned down the New York Liberty’s offer of the #7 pick and a 2026 first-rounder for Natasha Cloud. But this move is confusing because… like, aren’t y’all rebuilding?? Why do you need Cloud??

On top of that, they traded Rebecca Allen to the Sky in exchange for Lindsay Allen and Nikolina Milić. And in the deal that sent Satou Sabally to the Mercury, CT received Jacy Sheldon (a second-year PG out of Ohio State) + the 8th overall pick, two-time French Olympian Yvonne Anderson, Robyn Parks, and Mya Hollingshed. They also picked up Diamond DeShields, who was previously with the Chicago Sky.

And finally, for the third time, Marina Mabrey finds herself on a rebuilding team—despite running away from them (Dallas, Chicago) like the plague. She’s now requested a trade. With a $200K contract, it’ll be interesting to see which team has the assets to trade for her… or if she ends up staying put.

Dallas Wings

Curt Miller is making big moves in Dallas! This offseason, he's been cooking, shaking up the roster with bold trades and bringing in top-tier talent for training camp.

One of his biggest swings was the blockbuster trade that sent Satou Sabally to Phoenix (details below). This deal not only reunited Miller with Dijonai Carrington and Tyasha Harris—both of whom he coached during his time with the Connecticut Sun—but also brought Dijonai back together with her partner, NaLyssa Smith. The duo hasn't played on the same team since their days at Baylor.

Golden State Valkyries

Golden State has finally joined the party with some interesting moves!

They signed unrestricted free agent and former Aces player Tiffany Hayes to a $200K unprotected deal—a huge jump from the $88K she made last season!

They also picked up some international talent, including Janelle Salaün (French National Team—so many French players are getting scooped up, love to see it!), Kyra Linskens (Belgian National Team), and Chloe Bibby (EuroLeague).

This squad is shaping up to be a fun mix of international players, young talent, and solid role players. With the right vets in place, they could be a really fun team to watch!

PS: GIVE KT BACK TO THE LIBERTY

Indiana Fever

The Fever went crazy with these signings—I didn’t see this coming. They seriously leveled up with more vets and shooters.

They locked in 2x champ DeWanna Bonner and 3x champ Natasha Howard, but the biggest plot twist (sorry, Luka) was getting Syd Colson to leave the Aces. Surrounding Caitlin with championship vets is a major W for both her growth and the team’s success.

Then, in that blockbuster trade that sent Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas to Phoenix, the Fever shipped out NaLyssa Smith and got Sophie Cunningham (PHX) and Jaelyn Brown (DAL) in return.

To clear space, Grace Berger and Victoria Saxton got waived—tough, but I hope other teams pick them. Additionally, Katie Lou Samuelson and the Fever agreed to a contract buyout. The Fever are cooking just a little bit. You can tell they are doing everything possible to win a championship in the near future.

Las Vegas Aces

After losing all of their free agents, Kelsey Plum, Tiffany Hayes, Aleysha Clark, and Sydney Colson, the Aces wasted no time making moves to build around A’ja, Jackie, Chelsea, and Jewell.

First, they signed rookie Elizabeth Kitley, who they drafted last year but missed the season due to an ACL tear. Then, they added former Atlanta Dream center Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and brought back Queen Egbo to bolster the frontcourt alongside A’ja. They also made a solid trade for PG Dana Evans, sending their 2025 16th and 22nd draft picks to Chicago in return.

On top of that, they reunited South Carolina Gamecock teammates Tiffany Mitchell and A’ja Wilson by signing Mitchell to a one-year, $101,123 deal. The Aces definitely look different—just like Becky Hammon said they would—but with this roster, I think they can still make some noise.

Los Angeles Sparks

Last week, I said the main thing the Sparks needed was a PG—and thankfully, their GM was on the same page. They signed veteran Odyssey Sims to a one-year, $130K deal, which she most definitely deserves! She’s spent so many seasons on hardship contracts and bouncing from team to team, so it’s great to see her finally start the season with a solid roster spot.

Other moves include signing their 2023 second-round pick, Australian guard Shaneice Swain, along with Emma Cannon and Anneli Maley on training camp deals.

On the flip side, the Sparks waived Zia Cooke, the #10 pick in the 2023 draft. Zia’s a solid player, but she hasn’t shown much growth since her rookie season and kind of got lost in the shuffle. Hopefully, she finds a good fit elsewhere.

Minnesota Lynx

The Minnesota Lynx continue to make quiet but smart moves in free agency, fine-tuning their roster.

They re-signed backup PG Natisha Hiedeman to a one-year deal and picked up Grace Berger off waivers. Grace showed a lot of promise as the Fever’s backup PG in her rookie season, but with Caitlin Clark’s arrival, she was stuck on the bench racking up DNPs. This is a great landing spot for her, especially under Cheryl Reeve and alongside experienced PGs like Courtney Williams and Hiedeman.

Most notably, the Lynx added French center Marième Badiane, giving them much-needed size and a solid backup for Alanna Smith.

New York Liberty

Much like the Lynx, the Liberty haven’t made any major moves this free agency, but they’ve been making some interesting low-key additions. They offered training camp contracts to Jaylyn Sherrod, Rebekah Gardner, Raquel Carrera, and Esmery Martinez.

They also re-signed Kennedy Burke, which I love for the team culture. I’m excited to see how she steps up to help fill Kayla Thornton’s role this season.

One big thing to note—Breanna Stewart still hasn’t signed her deal yet. This probably means the team is waiting to see if they want to add someone else before finalizing Stewie’s contract (she might take less money to make it happen).

Marine Johannès also hasn’t signed yet, and while I really hope she comes back, there’s a chance she reunites with her rumored boo, Gabby Williams, in Seattle. Fun Fact: Marine is the longest-tenured player on the Liberty’s roster. She’s the last remaining player from the team’s Westchester days. Crazy to think about how much this team has changed since then.

Phoenix Mercury

After the blockbuster trade that brought in Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally, Phoenix has been working to fill the gaps left by Sophie Cunningham, Bec Allen, and Natasha Cloud.

To help replace some of the lost outside shooting, they signed former Seattle Storm guard Sami Whitcomb, a solid shooter but not quite the same energy as fan-favorite Sophie. They also have a ton of players coming into training camp, which makes it clear they’re still figuring out who fits best around their stars.

But let’s be real—Matt Ishbia is running the Mercury the same way he’s running the Suns: sell all assets and future for a win-now superteam. And honestly? It’s looking messy. Their word already seems shaky (see: Natasha Cloud’s comments below), and Kevin Durant’s frustration with the Suns including him to trade talks just adds to the bad vibes.

If they win, it’ll justify the move. But history shows the Instant SuperTeam formula rarely works (see: 2023 Liberty, 2024 Storm). Phoenix might be next on that list.

Seattle Storm

After trading for the No. 2 pick in the draft, the Storm have been making moves to round out their roster.

They re-signed Gabby Williams and Nneka Ogwumike, locking in two key pieces, and also brought back Alysha Clark, who spent the last two seasons with the Aces. A solid mix of vets and familiar faces for Seattle.

Unfortunately, third-year player Jordan Horston—who was balling last season and in the WNBL(Australian league)—tore her ACL in AU Basketball’s opening game. She’ll be out for the entire 2025 WNBA season, which is a huge loss. She was really starting to break out, so this one stings.

Washington Mystics

At this point, do the Mystics even exist anymore?? WHAT ARE Y’ALL DOINGGGGG?!

They have no front office, no coach, and have made a grand total of two moves this offseason. Like… hello?? Is anyone home??

Seeing a healthy Shakira Austin, Stef Dolson, Brittney Skyes, and Aaliyah Edwards hoop in Unrivaled gives me a little hope, but if I were on this team, I’d be concerned about the lack of direction. This is not the energy you want heading into the season.

Unrivaled

Quick Refresher:

What is it? Unrivaled is a 3-on-3 full-court league where WNBA stars can play as an alternative to playing overseas. The league will be based in Miami for the 2025 season.

Who is playing? Unrirvaled revealed their 36-players, 6 team rosters. https://www.unrivaled.basketball/clubs 

Ways to Watch: TNT Sports has acquired the broadcast rights, and will show Monday and Friday games on TNT and Saturday games on truTV. All games will be available for streaming on Max. 

1 on 1: There will be a 1 on 1 competition! Not all players are doing it but you can find more info here

Game Recaps:

• Friday 2/7: Lunar Owls v Phantom

  • The Lunar Owls are clearly on another level—no one is touching them right now lol. Phee looks like she’s on revenge mode, and Alisha Gray is almost unstoppable. Then, you've got SDS in elite PG mode—everything’s clicking for them.

    The Phantom are still figuring it out. They have moments of greatness, but I think they’re just one more scorer away from being a serious contender. Having Marina back could make a huge difference for them. Either way, it was awesome to see in person! BG looks great and is an absolute dominant force in the paint when she’s in the zone

  • The Mist are a really solid team, but they seem to have too many lapses in crunch time. They’re close, but it feels like they’re almost there. Stewie’s been doing some serious heavy lifting, and Jewel Lloyd is struggling to find her groove—just like the same Jewel from the past two seasons.

    Rose, on the other hand, is so much fun to watch. They play hard, and Angel Reese is relentless on the boards—but her shot still needs some work. Chelsea’s getting close to Point Gawd form, but I can see age starting to slow her down a bit, just like Sloot. Still, Mature Vet Kah is always fun! She’s just as explosive as ever and has become such a great decision-maker

• Saturday 2/8

  • Laces vs Vinyl got canceled due to Laces’ injuries, and these were the only two teams I missed out on seeing :(

  • Mist v Rose: I honestly thought this was going to be a blowout, but the Mist came to play. Aaliyah Edwards was on fire—defending well, grabbing boards, and hitting shots. Sloot was also on point, making plays and knocking down shots. Of course, Stewie was doing Stewie things, carrying the load for the Mist. Unfortunately for them, the Lunar Owls fought back, locked in, and stole the win. The Mist’s struggles in crunch time showed up again, which seems to be their ongoing issue. But, on a positive note, I’m super excited to see Shakira Austin looking healthy and more like her pre-injury self. And once Rickea Jackson gets her shot falling consistently, she’ll be a problem

Unrivaled In Person: My Takeaways

• This is definitely giving start-up energy. The setup is cool—there’s a fan zone with spots for photos and games, plus a bar, food, and a merch store. The restrooms being trailers was a little eh, and overall, it felt more like a pop-up event than a fully established venue. But the festival vibes were fun, so no major complaints.

• Its a TV-first Product: The focus is definitely on filming for TNT. My seats were great, but my view was constantly blocked by camerapeople. Also, you’re definitely on camera, which made things a little awkward at times. It felt more noticeable than at a regular game, probably because the setting is so intimate

• Intimate setting is very cool. No matter where you sit, the view is solid. You’re right there, seeing everything up close. And the best part? Players who aren’t in the game are just walking around in the crowd—they’re super accessible, which makes the experience feel even more personal.

• They are playing HARD. Like, no one is out here coasting. One of my games (plus the afternoon 1v1 session) got canceled because of injuries to the Laces squad, which definitely makes me wonder—how are they going to balance this with staying healthy for the WNBA season? It’s great to see them going all out, but with such an intense schedule and high-level competition, I’m curious to see how they manage rest and recovery. W teams are definitely watching closely.

Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball

Due to me going to Unrivaled this weekend, I haven’t gotten a chance to watch AU yet, but I am excited to tune in this week!

Here is the full roster for AU

How to watch? FULL SCHEDULE

• 14 games will be broadcast live for FREE on the WNBA APP

• Fanduel Sports Network (formerly Bally Sports) will carry 14 games

• 10 games will be on ESPN+

Week Two Capitans have been announced: Crystal Bradford, Maddy Siegrist, Kia Nurse, Ty Harris

Hoops & Hype: Media Picks

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

Film Session: WBB Highlights & Insights 📽️

Make sure you peep Little Angel Reese in Angel Reese’s Mcdonald’s commercial

Booked & Busy: WBB Reads 👓

Drip Report 💧