logo
Ten questions (that don't involve Caitlin Clark) about the WNBA's second half

Ten questions (that don't involve Caitlin Clark) about the WNBA's second half

New York Times5 days ago
Welcome to the second half of the WNBA season. Every team but the New York Liberty has completed at least 22 of its 44 games, and the playoffs will be here in the blink of an eye, even in the longest WNBA season in history.
There is much to resolve before the 2025 postseason tips off, even beyond that groin injury to a Fever star that was the talk of the town in Indianapolis. Here are 10 questions for the second half of the season, starting with the top of the league's standings.
Advertisement
Collier continued her months-long dominance with a WNBA record 36 points in the All-Star Game, captaining her team to a victory (which included the first All-Star triple-double in league history, from Skylar Diggins). She is the reigning defensive player of the year, finished second in MVP voting, launched a new league, won MVP of that league and the one-on-one competition, and she is now the heavy favorite to capture one of the few trophies that still elude her.
Team Collier routs Team Clark in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, scoring an All-Star Game record 151 points ⭐️
◽️ Napheesa Collier: 36 PTS (ASG record), 9 REB
◽️ Skylar Diggins: 11 PTS, 11 REB, 15 AST (ASG record) pic.twitter.com/8fuTlzIVrq
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 20, 2025
A few familiar faces stand in Collier's way: A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. The winners of five of the last seven MVP trophies are both in the top five in scoring, blocks and win shares. Wilson has been better on the glass for the Las Vegas Aces, while Stewart is leading a winning team, the Liberty. Alyssa Thomas is also making a charge for the award after missing five games with the Phoenix Mercury earlier in the season. The defensive Swiss army knife also leads the WNBA in assists.
The real question isn't so much if any of them will swipe the MVP from Collier, but rather if their team can prevent Collier from getting the coveted finals MVP. The Lynx are still the favorites, but it isn't by a commanding margin. If either the Liberty or the Mercury can bring Emma Meesseman over, the title picture changes considerably.
After having four All-Stars each of the last two seasons, it was strange to see Las Vegas represented by two players in Indianapolis, the pair of whom combined for four points in the game. Neither Wilson nor Jackie Young is really to blame for the Aces' struggles thus far — though Young improving her 3-point shooting (30.3 percent in 2025) would help — but it doesn't change that Las Vegas is falling out of relevance despite rostering arguably the best player in the world.
The Aces lost a significant amount of veteran championship experience (players and coaches) in the offseason, including Kelsey Plum, Alysha Clark, Sydney Colson, Natalie Nakase and Tyler Marsh. The only way to avoid that regression was for the title-winning core to play up to its potential, and Chelsea Gray no longer reaches the 'Point Gawd' highs she did two years ago since her foot injury. Las Vegas has already wasted its big trade bullet, so unless Meesseman is on her way to the Aces, maybe this is just who the Aces are: a playoff team … but an early out.
Advertisement
The addition of Plum and the arrival of coach Lynne Roberts have transformed the offense in L.A. After finishing 10th or worse in offensive rating each of the last four seasons, the Sparks sit in sixth at the midseason mark. The problem is the other end, where L.A. provides minimal resistance at the point of attack and in the paint.
Brink, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, was a multi-time Pac-12 defensive player of the year and an effective rim protector even in 15 games as a rookie, averaging 2.3 blocks per contest. She is 13 months removed from the ACL tear that cost her most of her first season and has been practicing, though not with contact. The Sparks probably need to be a middle-of-the-pack defensive team to make a playoff run (they're currently 10th in defensive rating), and Brink is their best hope of raising their defensive ceiling.
Exclusive: Cameron Brink held her own personal half court 5 on 5 practice session after LA Sparks practice Saturday morning.
Sparks coach Lynne Roberts is hopeful Brink will return to action before the end of July. pic.twitter.com/z1FohQiYqe
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) July 12, 2025
The Mystics improbably sit in seventh in the standings, one game up on ninth-place Golden State. They have a realistic chance of making the playoffs if they want to, but should they? The front office of general manager Jamila Wideman and president Michael Winger was opportunistic in moving on from veterans (Ariel Atkins and Karlie Samuelson) in the offseason, and they could strike again by moving newly-minted All-Star Brittney Sykes. That removal of playmaking and rim pressure would cost Washington wins but help it get into the lottery of another deep class. It's worth noting that the lottery is the top five picks in 2026, and the worst playoff team would pick eighth thanks to the entrances of expansion teams (the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire) into the league.
Although its initial moves suggest Washington was planning for a deep reveal and wants to add a top draft pick, perhaps the early success has convinced Winger and company otherwise — that playing meaningful games will help the young core more. Either way, the Mystics hold a lot of cards.
The Wings were measured in their public preseason expectations, stating that their goal was to build a culture that prompts players to return rather than win games. It wouldn't be surprising if they started selling off veterans. Arike Ogunbowale is having the least efficient season of her career (40.7 effective field-goal percentage) and would be hard to move in-season on a max contract at the nadir of her value. However, perhaps DiJonai Carrington could fetch a draft asset if she is healthy. Carrington has significant playoff experience and would be an ideal third guard in a postseason rotation.
The union took advantage of a unique opportunity at All-Star Weekend to get all its members on the same page and perform a collective action. Now, the body of players splinters across the country with just over three months left before the CBA expires. Individual teams wearing 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' shirts won't resonate like the league's best players doing so together in the spotlight. So what comes next?
Advertisement
Union president Nneka Ogwumike didn't have a lot of specifics about what that will look like. 'We're going to do what we can to continue to stay intact, engaged,' she said. 'Moving forward, we're just going to have to do our best to talk online, see what we can do as everyone's getting into the depths of their season.' The players have been intentional and creative thus far at engaging the fans in their favor. Perhaps the fans start booing owners or making public appearances for Cathy Engelbert uncomfortable. It would be strange for the CBA noise to die down until the season is over, but the way it manifests itself is entirely up in the air.
Even after losing three consecutive games heading into the break, the Valkyries are one game behind the eighth spot in the standings. The second-worst 3-point shooting team in the WNBA also welcomes Iliana Rupert, a stretch five who has experience playing with Nakase in Las Vegas, to help resolve one of their issues. Golden State inspires confidence because of its defense, but at what point is there enough film for teams to adapt? The Valkyries would be the first expansion team in league history to make the playoffs, and they have veterans who expect to get there.
Last season, Caitlin Clark was one technical foul away from an automatic suspension and required a de-escalation committee to keep her away from referees. This season, Clark's injuries have kept her from playing enough games to rack up fouls, but others are testing the limits. And as the chorus of complaints about officiating grows, it seems likely that there will be enough confrontations between players and referees. Angel Reese is two technicals away from triggering an automatic suspension (the new limit is eight in a 44-game season), and Shakira Austin has accumulated five techs. If Reese is suspended for a game as the Sky fight for a playoff berth, it would open another conversation about the league's reffing, especially since four of her violations were double technicals.
Thomas is holding down the fort in Phoenix with Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper out, while Stewart is performing extraordinary feats in New York with Jonquel Jones out. Neither the Mercury's nor the Liberty's record has suffered in those absences, but keep an eye on Atlanta. Rhyne Howard is scheduled to be evaluated at the end of the month, and in that stretch, the Dream have a doozy of a road trip at Las Vegas, Phoenix (on a back-to-back) and then Minnesota. They also close out the month with another back-to-back that ends in Dallas. Atlanta is neck-and-neck with Seattle for the fourth spot in the standings, and though homecourt isn't as critical this year in the 1-1-1 first round format, hosting would still be preferable.
The 'Stud Budz' were the viral stars of All-Star Weekend, with everyone trying to get on their 72-hour stream (or consciously avoiding it). Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman highlighted the league's queer culture in an authentic format that featured everyone from their fellow All-Stars to the commissioner and even spilled some news in the process. The breakfast meeting that resulted in the players' union Saturday night shirts was teased on the stream, as Ogwumike came to wake up the Budz.
The official ending to the 72 hour stream on the PJ. Pink Pony Club…one more time 🥹
Note: they will be back for a livestream on Wednesday 😉
#WNBA #Studbudz
[image or embed]
— Shameka 🏀 (@shameka23.bsky.social) July 20, 2025 at 9:29 AM
With the season back, Williams and Hiedeman can't realistically participate in days-long streams, and their casual conversations would feel quaint after their All-Star bender. Whatever format the duo pursues, they have already proven that every type of player in the WNBA is marketable, no matter their sexuality or if they present more feminine or masculine. Maybe that opens a door for younger players who are even more well-versed in optimizing social media.
(Photo of Napheesa Collier: Ron Hoskins / NBAE via Getty Images)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

3 Forgotten Bruins Goalies From The 2010s
3 Forgotten Bruins Goalies From The 2010s

Yahoo

time22 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

3 Forgotten Bruins Goalies From The 2010s

The Boston Bruins were blessed with two superstar goalies during the 2010s in Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask. They were major reasons for the Bruins' immense success during the decade, as they gave them some of the best goaltending in the entire league. While Thomas and Rask will certainly be the Bruins' goalies remembered most from the 2010s, the Original Six club had other intriguing backup goalies from this decade who made an impact, even if their time with the team was short-lived. Because of this, let's go over three forgotten Bruins goalies from the 2010s and look at how they performed during their time with the Black and Gold. The Bruins memorably put together a fantastic 2013-14 regular-season, as they finished the year with a 54-19-9 record and won the Presidents' Trophy for having a league-leading 117 points. Rask's fantastic play was a major reason for the Bruins having such a good regular-season that year, as he recorded a 36-15-6 record, a .930 save percentage, a 2.04 goals-against average, and seven shutouts. However, Bruins backup Chad Johnson also helped the Bruins out tremendously that campaign. In his lone season as the Bruins' backup, Johnson recorded a 17-4-3 record, a .925 save percentage, and a 2.10 goals-against average in 27 appearances. It was an excellent breakout season for the then 27-year-old, and the Bruins truly could not have expected anything more from him in the backup role. Johnson's time with the Bruins ended during the 2014 NHL off-season, as he signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract with the New York Islanders in free agency. From there, he became quite the journeyman, as he had stops with the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, and Anaheim Ducks before playing his final NHL season in 2018-19. He also played for the New York Rangers and Phoenix Coyotes before joining the Bruins. In 192 career games over nine NHL seasons, Johnson had an 80-72-15 record, a .907 save percentage, and a 2.73 goals-against average. Overall, the Saskatoon native had nice career as a backup, but he had his best season as a member of the Bruins. Niklas Svedberg was another intriguing Bruins goalie from the 2010s. The 35-year-old joined the Bruins organization during the 2012 NHL off-season on an entry-level contract after winning the Le Mat Trophy with Sweden's Brynas IF during the season before. With this move, the Bruins brought in a new, fascinating goalie prospect to their system. Following joining the Bruins, he spent the 2012-13 season down in the AHL with the Providence Bruins. He left a fantastic first impression, posting a 37-8-2 record, a .925 save percentage, and a 2.17 goals-against average in 48 games during the 2012-13 season with Providence. He then had a 25-15-4 record, a .910 save percentage, and a 2.63 goals-against average in 45 appearances with Providence during the 2013-14 campaign. He also made his first NHL appearance with Boston that season, stopping 33 out of 35 shots in a win. Svedberg then spent most of the 2014-15 season on Boston's roster, where he proved to be a solid backup for Rask. In 18 appearances with the Original Six club that season, he posted a 7-5-1 record, a .918 save percentage, a 2.33 goals-against average, and two shutouts. Overall, he certainly worked well as the Bruins' backup, but this would surprisingly be his last season as a Bruin and in the NHL. During the 2015 NHL off-season, Svedberg signed with Salavat Yulaev UFA of the KHL and spent two seasons with the KHL club. From there, he returned to North America and spent the 2017-18 season in the AHL with the Iowa. After this campaign, the former Bruins netminder went back to the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and later had stints in Germany and Austria. With Svedberg leaving for the KHL following the 2014-15 campaign, the Bruins needed to find a new backup goalie. Due to this, they signed goaltender Jonas Gustavsson to a professional tryout (PTO) ahead of training camp, and he successfully earned a one-year contract with Boston for the season following this. In 24 games with the Bruins during the 2015-16 season, Gustavsson recorded an 11-9-1 record, a 2.72 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage, and one shutout. Overall, the 6-foot-4 goaltender was a fine backup for the Bruins during the 2015-16 season. Gustavsson's time with the Bruins ended during the 2016 NHL off-season, as he signed a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers. In seven games with the Oilers that campaign, he had a 1-3-1 record, an .878 save percentage, and a 3.10 goals-against average. He spent the majority of the season down in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors, however, recording an 8-9-0 record, a .917 save percentage, and a 2.42 goals-against average in 20 appearances. 4 Former Bruins Who Boston Misses Big Time The Boston Bruins have gone through a plethora of roster changes since their historic 65-win season during the 2022-23 campaign. Several former core players have found new homes, whether through trades or free agency, and it is a significant reason why the Bruins took such a notable step in the wrong direction this past season. Photo Credit: © Kim Klement-Imagn Images

Jordan Hick retirement leaves Browns defense short-handed
Jordan Hick retirement leaves Browns defense short-handed

Yahoo

time22 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Jordan Hick retirement leaves Browns defense short-handed

Three days into camp, the Cleveland Browns are dealing another massive blow at linebacker as Jordan Hicks announces his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons. Hicks was brought to Cleveland as a free agent in 2024 and played in 12 games, totaling 78 tackles and 2 sacks. Hicks hit his prime in Arizona during the 2019 season, where he had his best statistical season, but he wasn't on the radar of many to retire this close to the start of the season. With Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah already ruled out for the yea,r that leaves the Browns with Jerome Baker, Mohamoud Diabte, Devin Bush, and the rookie Carson Schwesinger to take the bulk of the snaps in 2025. The Browns quickly filled the spot by signing WR Winston Wright out of East Carolina, but look for Andrew Berry to bring in a veteran who can give you 20 to 30 meaningful snaps next season.

Aaron Judge out of Yankees' lineup Saturday due to elbow injury
Aaron Judge out of Yankees' lineup Saturday due to elbow injury

Yahoo

time22 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Aaron Judge out of Yankees' lineup Saturday due to elbow injury

Aaron Judge is not in the New York Yankees' Saturday lineup against the Philadelphia Phillies due to an "elbow issue," manager Aaron Boone said. According to Boone, Judge had an issue throwing the ball from the outfield during Friday's series opener. He was taken for imaging, and the team is currently awaiting the results. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Judge was seen wincing and gripping his right hand after a throw during Tuesday night's win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The follow day he did not play right field but served as designated hitter. Boone said the slugger was "OK." "It's not much," Boone said. "It's just probably a throw that didn't feel great. He's not DH'ing because of that. I think he's all right." This is the first game Judge has missed this season for the Yankees, who are 56-47 and sit 5 1/2 half games behind the Blue Jays for first place in the AL East. They are set to face left-hander Ranger Suárez and the Phillies on Saturday. The Yankees have dropped three of their last four games, including a 12-5 defeat Friday in the series opener. Judge is putting up another MVP-caliber season for the Yankees. Through 103 games, he leads the majors in hits (129), OPS (1.160) and batting average (.342) and is second in home runs (37) and RBI (85). While Judge will sit for Saturday's game, the Yankees will welcome third baseman Ryan McMahon to the lineup after he was acquired in a Friday trade with the Colorado Rockies. McMahon will bat ninth as the team hopes it's found a solution to a struggling left side of its infield. The Yankees finish their series with the Phillies on Sunday afternoon before welcoming the Tampa Bay Rays for a four-game set beginning Monday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store