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NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
WNBA Preview: Mercury faces tough test, WNBA All-Star Game
The 2025 WNBA season has officially hit its halfway point. And besides the upcoming All-Star break, general managers made some decisions at the end of last week in preparation for the August 7 trade deadline. GMs had until Sunday, July 13 at 5 p.m. ET to waive any players on unguaranteed contracts before those unguaranteed salaries became guaranteed. Players like the Mercury's Kiana Williams, the Lynx's Alissa Pili, the Sparks' Mercedes Russell, the Liberty's Marquesha Davis and the Sun's Haley Peters and Jaelyn Brown were all waived prior to this midpoint deadline. Why do GMs do this? It usually is a mechanism that allows for teams to maintain salary cap and roster flexibility. Once the midpoint date passes and players clear waivers—it takes 24 hours to do so— teams can sign players to 7-day contracts. In most cases, the teams who waived players can re-sign those same players to these 7-day contracts. A player can only be on a 7-day contract three times until a team then has to sign them to a rest of the season contract. The midpoint also marks a change for hardship contracts as those will also be just 7-day deals until that player reaches the limit of three 7-day contracts. Meanwhile, the Valkyries waived wing Stephanie Talbot, who was on a protected deal so that they could make room for the expected July 15 arrival of French center Iliana Rupert. To be clear, this wasn't a move done with the midpoint deadline in mind since Golden State has boat loads of cap space. The Valkyries needed to create another roster spot for when Rupert officially arrives. The Week Ahead This upcoming week is a shortened one because of the All-Star break that begins on Thursday July 17 and runs through Monday July 21 with games picking back up on July 22. While there are only three days of regular season games this week, that doesn't mean there aren't great matchups to watch right before the break. The Phoenix Mercury have a really difficult schedule leading into the break and as do the Golden State Valkyries. All of their matchups are must-see. Also, the Indiana Fever's first trip to the loud and rowdy Brooklyn crowd at Barclays Center to take on the Liberty on Wednesday night will for sure be a game to circle. The WNBA All-Star Game itself probably won't be super competitive on Saturday night, but expect the three-point contest and skills contests on Friday night July 18 to be super-competitive. Insurance company Aflac is giving $60,000 to the winner of the three-point contest and $55,000 to the winner of the skills contest in addition to the much smaller purse that the WNBA provides to the winners of those contests. Sabrina Ionescu and rookie Sonia Citron are currently the only confirmed participants in the three-point contest, although it wouldn't be shocking if Caitlin Clark joins the fun with All-Star weekend taking place at her team's home in Indianapolis. (Monday July 14 at 10 p.m. ET on League Pass) The Valkyries will be going into this game coming off a tough 104-102 loss on Saturday on the road to the Aces. The Mercury, however, will play for the first time in five days. Phoenix will be without Kahleah Copper (right hamstring) and Satou Sabally (right ankle) but will continue to integrate recent signee DeWanna Bonner into their schemes. Can Mercury point forward Alyssa Thomas continue her hot streak which included a 29/8/5 statline in their last game, defeating the Lynx, the league's top team, 79-71? Thomas will likely have to contend against the physical defense of first time All-Star Kayla Thornton in addition to the raucous Golden State crowd also known as 'Ballhalla' to extend their edge in the WNBA standings over the Liberty. (Wednesday, July 16 at 1 p.m. ET on League Pass) The Mercury's schedule only gets harder before the All-Star break as they then jet off to Minneapolis for a rematch against the Lynx, a team they beat just a week prior in Phoenix. As of now, the Lynx remain undefeated at home, but their recent struggles against the Chicago Sky at home and on the road prove that the Lynx might have hit a mid-season lull after rolling through the majority of the first half of the regular season. Since losing wing Karlie Samuelson to a Lisfranc injury for the rest of the season on June 29, the Lynx have had to play six games since, the most games in that stretch of time across the league. (Wednesday, July 16 at 3:00 p.m. ET on League Pass ) Both the Storm and the Valkyries have been incredibly inconsistent in the past couple of weeks of play. In that span, the Storm have lost to the Mystics, the youngest team in the league with the second-worst overall offensive rating. The Valkyries defeated the Fever handily 80-61 last week but then also fell in close games to both the Dream and the Aces. The last time these two teams battled, the Valkyries clobbered the Storm 84-57 and then previously in mid-June Golden State defeated Seattle 76-70. Golden State has struggled to win on the road, only winning three games on the road, including two against the Sparks in Los Angeles. Their first road win outside of the state of California came on July 9 against the Fever. (Wednesday July 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBSSN) The Fever will play at Barclays Center for the first time this season after splitting their two home games against the defending champs in the Liberty previously. In the first game between these two teams, Jonquel Jones powered the Liberty with a 26/12 double-double. But then once Jones had gone down with a sprained right ankle, the Liberty struggled without her, and Caitlin Clark exploded scoring 32 points in a 102-88 win over New York that kept the Liberty out of the Commissioner's Cup Final. While Jones most likely won't play on Wednesday as she continues to recover and ramp up her conditioning, the Liberty have found ways to win without her since the Fever last played them. (Saturday July 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC) Both Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark are All-Star captains for the first time in their careers for the 2025 WNBA All-Star game. Collier's team on paper looks a lot more balanced with much more size and versatility including Breanna Stewart, Nneka Ogwumike and Paige Bueckers. Clark's is a team that probably will shoot a ton of threes especially with Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally joining Clark from teams that put up a tad under 30 three-balls a game. When both Clark and Collier chose their teams, they agreed to trade their coaches so that Cheryl Reeve could coach her own player in Collier. Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello will coach Clark, Ionescu and her former player and first-time All-Star Kayla Thornton. Expect this game to be less competitive than the one from last year since Team USA won't be put up against the WNBA All-Stars. When that happens during Olympic years, players who don't make Team USA usually have a chip on their shoulders and show out. This year's game will be much more about entertaining the fans who tune-in instead of trying to beat the players on the other side.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
WNBA Power Rankings: Mercury and Lynx Battle for Top Spot
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The WNBA season is approaching the halfway point, with All-Star festivities set to take place on July 19 in Indianapolis. As teams head toward the break, squads are battling it out to be in pole position as no one wants to marinate in disappointment during their time away from the court. So, who's looking good? The Minnesota Lynx are leading the pack and are hunting for their first title since 2017. Elsewhere in the league, the reigning champion New York Liberty are dealing with tumultuous times without Jonquel Jones. But what about the rest of the landscape? Here's this week's power rankings. Kiana Williams of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against Kayla McBride of the Minnesota Lynx during the second half at PHX Arena on July 9, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. Kiana Williams of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against Kayla McBride of the Minnesota Lynx during the second half at PHX Arena on July 9, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona.13. Connecticut Sun (3-16) Last Week: | Upcoming LAS (7/13), IND (7/15) Connecticut was finally able to secure its third win of the season thanks to some vintage play from Tina Charles, who scored 29 in the victory. Rookie Saniya Rivers also displayed her playmaking, dishing out 7 dimes in the win. 12. Dallas Wings (6-15) Last Week: | Upcoming IND (7/13), LVA (7/16) Dallas had been on an impressive run lately especially after acquiring Li Yueru from the Seattle Storm, but after an upset win against the Phoenix Sun, the Texas team's wings may have been clipped. The squad has lost two straight, including by 30 in their rematch with Phoenix. 11. Los Angeles Sparks (6-14) Last Week: | Upcoming CON (7/13), WAS (7/15) The Sparks are working back to full health and find themselves in more competitive games. All-Star Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby make up one of the league's highest-scoring duos, and their one-two punch is as fearsome as any. They were within striking distance in games against the reigning champ New York Liberty and the team with the league's best record, the Minnesota Lynx. 10. Chicago Sky (6-13) Last Week: | Upcoming: MIN (7/12), MIN (7/14), ATL (7/16) The Chicago Sky have been a much more competitive team as of late with narrow loses to the rising Washington Mystics and league-leading Lynx preceding their win against the Dallas Wings. Bec Allen and Rachel Banham have found their shooting touch lately, with Allen's 27 points helping to knock off Dallas. 9. Las Vegas Aces (9-11) Last Week: | Upcoming: GSV (7/12), DAL (7/16) Right as the Las Vegas thought it was figuring it out and getting to the .500 mark, A'ja Wilson was sidelined with a sprained wrist. The Aces were already having a tough time with A'ja on the court and she leads the Aces in every statistical category. The Aces simply need her prowess on both sides of the ball to thrive. The Wilson-less Aces let the Washington Mystics go on 12-2 run at the tail end of a game they lost by two points. 8. Indiana Fever (9-10) Last Week: | Upcoming DAL (7/13), CON (7/15), NYL (7/16) Indiana had an up-and-down week after winning the Commissioner's Cup. Caitlin Clark returned to the lineup against the Golden State Valkyries, but her return was spoiled by a double-digit loss to the rising expansion team. 7. Washington Mystics (10-10) Last Week: | Upcoming SEA (7/13), LAS (7/15) The Mystics' rise has been nothing short of magical. The addition of All-Star rookies Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron has the team's future looking bright. Though she may not have been selected to this year's team, Brittney Sykes has been playing at an All-Star level for Washington, locking down on the defensive side and scoring at a career rate. 6. Atlanta Dream (12-7) Last Week: | Upcoming NYL (7/13), CHI (7/16) Atlanta's All-Star duo of Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray are joining Team Collier for the festivities in Indianapolis. The Dream representatives are first and second in the league, respectively, in made threes, but it was Naz Hillmon's three-point shooting that helped lift the squad against the surging Valkyries. 5. Seattle Storm (12-8) Last Week: | Upcoming WAS (7/13), GSV (7/16) Right as the Storm were about to rain on everyone's parade, the Sun came out to shine. After huge wins against two of the top teams in the Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty, Seattle fell short to a rebuilding Connecticut Sun team led by the legendary Tina Charles. Though it was a shocking upset, it should be an aberration for one of the most complete teams in the WNBA. 4. New York Liberty (13-6) Last Week: | Upcoming ATL (7/13), IND (7/16) It's been a bit of a mixed bag with Jonquel Jones out. The Liberty still have a high-powered offense that loves to knock down the three-ball, led by MVP candidate Breanna Stewart, who can score from anywhere, and Sabrina Ionescu, who has been one of the most prolific shooters this season. They rest of the roster is also capable of contributing on any given night, but New York still misses Jones' rebounding and overall efficiency. 3. Golden State Valkyries (10-9) Last Week: | Upcoming: LVA (7/12), PHX (7/14), SEA (7/16) The Golden State Valkyries continue to add to the history books with their first All-Star in Kayla Thornton. Thornton leads the team in points and rebounds and has some of the quickest hands in the WNBA on the defensive end. She also brings championship DNA and resilience to from her championship run with the Liberty last year. While the forward certainly deserves her flowers, the rest of the squad is filled with key contributors who help the team's relentless rebounding and perimeter attack. 2. Minnesota Lynx (18-3) Last Week: | Upcoming: CHI (7/12), CHI (7/14), PHX (7/16) Minnesota is rampaging through the league, having lost only once since their defeat in the Commissioner's Cup Final. Napheesa Collier looks like the runaway MVP and Courtney Williams is playing like the All-Star she is, but Minnesota has weapons at every position and depth to match. 1. Phoenix Mercury (14-6) Last Week: | Upcoming GSV (7/14), MIN (7/16) Phoenix has been one of the best teams in the league and just added another weapon in the great DeWanna Bonner. In Bonner's return to Phoenix, her fiancee, Alyssa Thomas, starred, dropping a career-high 29 points in a win against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA Team Cuts Ties With T.J. McConnell's Sister Megan McConnell Amid Injury
WNBA Team Cuts Ties With T.J. McConnell's Sister Megan McConnell Amid Injury originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's been a difficult week for the McConnell family. USA Today's Meghan L. Hall reported Thursday that the Phoenix Mercury announced guard Megan McConnell suffered a tibial plateau fracture in her right knee. Advertisement The Mercury released a statement saying that the team will continue to assist in her rehabilitation, but Phoenix has released McConnell. The team also signed guard Kiana Williams to replace McConnell on the roster. McConnell went undrafted in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The guard signed a contract with the Mercury on April 17. The team waived her about a month later, but then signed her to a second contract on June 3. McConnell made her WNBA debut against the Minnesota Lynx on the same day. The guard scored three points with three assists, one rebound and one steal while playing about 13 minutes. Advertisement She hasn't played since then because of her injury. Phoenix Mercury guard Megan McConnell Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images McConnell's release comes four days after her older brother, T.J., and his team, the Indiana Pacers, lost in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Coming off the bench, T.J. McConnell had 16 points, six rebounds and three assists in that game. But he also led the team with seven turnovers in the 103-91 loss. Meanwhile, Williams is in the fifth year of her WNBA career. The Seattle Storm drafted Williams at No. 18 overall in the second round of the 2021 WNBA Draft. In 27 career games, she has averaged under one point while playing 4.1 minutes per game. Williams has not appeared in a WNBA game this season. McConnell's recovery timeline depends on the severity of her injury. Tibial plateau fractures can take about 3-4 months to recover from if no surgery is required, but the typical return timeline for that injury is 6-12 months. Advertisement Related: Mercury Send Blunt Message After Potential WNBA All-Star Snub This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
