The WNBA season resumes on Thursday following the month-long Olympic break.
Here are five storylines we're watching as the race for the postseason intensifies.
Indiana has come a long way from its 1-8 start. The Fever are 10-7 in their last 17 games, and the team's turnaround has been fueled by the last two No. 1 overall picks of the WNBA Draft in Boston and Clark.
During the team's first nine games, Boston averaged 11 points on 45.2 percent shooting, 6.8 rebounds and fewer than one block per game. Since June 1, Boston has averaged 15.9 points (56.9 percent shooting), 9.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
Meanwhile, Clark averaged fewer points during the Fever's turnaround but has a better shooting percentage, more rebounds and assists and fewer turnovers per game since the start of the season.
The Fever (11-15) are seventh in the WNBA standings and three games ahead of the Dream (7-17) for the league's final playoff spot.
Clark's main Rookie of the Year competition is Angel Reese, a double-double machine in the season's first half. Earlier this season, Reese set the WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles (15). The former LSU Tiger is second in the league in total rebounds per game (11.9) and first in offensive rebounds (4.9).
The "Barbie" nickname she earned at LSU traveled with her to Chicago, where she found her "Ken" on the basketball court. Guard Chennedy Carter has become the team's go-to scoring threat.
Per Her Hoop Stats, Carter has the league's third-highest usage rate (28.9 percent). She's made a career-high 51.8 percent of her field goal attempts while averaging 17.2 points per game, her most since her rookie season (17.4).
With Carter taking her game to the next level, the Sky sent guard Marina Mabrey to the Sun on July 17. The six-year WNBA veteran could be the piece Connecticut needs to win its first league title.
The Sun have been the best defensive team this season, allowing the fewest points per game (72.9) in the league, but the offense has lagged. They rank eighth in scoring (79.8 points per game), with their three-point attack sorely lacking.
Connecticut is 10th in three-point attempts (424), makes (133) and percentage (31.4 percent). Mabrey is a career 35.9 percent shooter from beyond the arc and is 35 percent this season.
The biggest question about the fit is how Mabrey and guard DiJonai Carrington will coexist. The two have had a few dustups as rivals in the past, and both must bury the hatchet for the trade to work for the Sun.
The Olympics were an excellent showcase for some of the top unsigned WNBA talent, including Gabby Williams of the French national team.
The former UConn guard (2014-15 through 2017-18) finished the Olympics averaging 15.5 points, 4.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game. She nearly sent Sunday's gold medal game between the USA and France to overtime with a last-second field goal.
Williams' foot was inches past the three-point line, which gave the U.S. a 67-66 win. As close as she was to sending the game to overtime, Williams should be even closer to a WNBA roster spot.
One team we can likely cross off her list is the Sky. Reese recently implored Williams to sign with the franchise, which Williams shut down.
ok now that the game is over, would you like to be apart of the chicago sky again???@gabbywilliams15 (thought it wouldn’t hurt to try lmaoo)
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) August 11, 2024
orrrrrr we could just play together for a différent organization ♀️
— gabby williams (@gabbywilliams15) August 11, 2024
Williams played for the Sky from 2018-20. In 2021, the front office placed her on the suspended list and traded her to the Sparks after she prioritized her commitment to the French national team in the Tokyo Olympics.
Belgium's Emma Meesseman and Marine Johannes, also a member of Team France, had strong showings in Paris and should be on teams' radars as they gear up for a playoff push.
Meesseman averaged 23.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game as she helped lead Belgium to a fourth-place finish.
Johannes made 14 threes for France, and her ability to stretch the court could entice several WNBA teams.
The Liberty (21-4) entered the mid-season break with the league's best record. With sharpshooter Sabrina Ionescu and former league MVPs Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones playing at high levels, New York has the pieces to return to the finals for the second year.
The Liberty are 0-5 all-time in the WNBA Finals, including a 3-1 series loss to the Aces last season.
After a slow start, Las Vegas (16-8) went 10-2 over its last 12 games before the Olympic break. The Aces, led by MVP front-runner A'ja Wilson, are the favorite to win the 2024 WNBA championship (+155), followed closely by the Liberty (+165). (h/t ESPN Bet)
The teams meet on Saturday in Las Vegas for the second time this year. New York won the first meeting, 90-82, on June 15. With another win, the Liberty could signal to the rest of the league that they're the team to beat.
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The 2025 WNBA season has been nothing short of electric. From Angel Reese’s rebounding clinic, to Paige Bueckers igniting Dallas’ playoff hopes to Caitlin Clark struggling to stay healthy - the league has never seen this kind of consistent national buzz. But while the league’s biggest names continue to dominate the spotlight, a different kind of superstar is quietly putting together one of the best all-around seasons we’ve seen in recent years. Meet Napheesa Collier. Or better yet, recognize her. The Minnesota Lynx forward is leading her team the best record in the league — currently 22–5 after Sunday night's loss to the Atlanta Dream. She’s not doing it with flashy dunks or viral moments. She’s doing it with pure dominance. And yet, somehow, Collier is flying under the radar in the MVP conversation. Let’s talk about the numbers. Collier is first in the WNBA in points per game (23.5), fourth in blocks (1.6), fifth in steals (1.8) and fifth in field- goal percentage (52.1). If you play fantasy basketball, you already know she’s been the most valuable player all season — ranked No. 1 overall in standard fantasy formats. She's doing everything: scoring, defending, facilitating, leading. And most importantly? She’s winning. The Lynx don’t have the bright lights of New York or Los Angeles. They don’t have a viral media machine like Indiana’s. They just have one of the most efficient, hard-working and complete rosters in the league — led by a player who does it all, night in and night out. While debates rage on about Clark, Reese and Bueckers, Collier is stacking wins and stats that should have her at the top of the MVP shortlist. It’s not just her numbers — it’s her impact. When Collier is on the court, the Lynx look like a machine. She stretches defenses, protects the rim and plays with the type of poise you expect from a Finals MVP — not just a regular season standout. The Lynx as a team currently rank first in both offensive and defensive efficiency. And she’s doing this while mentoring younger players and shouldering the leadership role for one of the most balanced teams in the league. If you asked her, she’d probably credit her teammates first. But there’s no denying what’s happening here. This is her team. And right now, this league might be hers too. So why isn’t Collier getting more love? It’s the same old story: media market, rookie hype and headline-chasing. That’s not a knock on any of the young stars dominating the WNBA narrative this season — they’re earning every bit of that attention. But it’s also time to look past the marketing and recognize what we’re witnessing on the court. This is what greatness looks like. And if Collier were playing in a bigger market or had the benefit of a viral campaign, we’d be talking about her as a lock for MVP. Instead, she’s just quietly dominating everyone — and letting her play do the talking. In a season defined by flash, Collier is all substance. And if the WNBA season ended today, there’s a real case that she’d be the most deserving name on the MVP trophy – her first ever. So here’s the real question fans should be asking: Is Collier the best player in the WNBA right now? Maybe the better question is: How could she not be?
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the two best players currently on the ATP Tour, with either man having won every Grand Slam this season. With their fan base divided, Polish WTA star Iga Swiatek has chimed in on the debate. Both men have established a professional rivalry that will likely go down in tennis history, with Alcaraz currently leading 8-5 in career meetings. The Spaniard defeated Sinner in the final to win the Roland Garros title earlier this year. However, Sinner avenged his loss a few weeks later, dethroning Alcaraz after defeating the defending champion in the final to win his first Wimbledon title. Swiatek joined Sinner in the winner's circle at SW19, as the former World No.1 powered through the field to win her maiden Wimbledon title. Swiatek dropped only one set en route to the final, where she soundly defeated American Amanda Anisimova in the final. Although Sinner sits on top of the ATP rankings after having won two Grand Slam titles this season, Swiatek admitted to employing the same approach as Alcaraz. The WTA star stated she preferred his more laid-back approach, in addition to his commitment to taking some personal time away from tennis. Alcaraz's approach suits her better, says Swiatek "I wish I was more like Carlos because I have got to say he is a big inspiration in terms of that,” said Swiatek in an interview with TVA Sports. “He always says that the most important thing for him on a tennis court is to enjoy it and have fun and I sometimes forget about that. “And sometimes with all the pressure around and things we need to do off the court, you need to remind yourself about this kid that started playing tennis, instead of winning for somebody and having this baggage on your shoulders. “For sure, when Carlos shows that and when he speaks about that, it is always a good reminder for me, and I try to do that as well, but without me working on it, I think my mind would automatically go to just working, working, working." The Warsaw native is competing at the 2025 Canadian Open in Montreal, where she is the second seed. Swiatek will kick off her campaign with a second round clash against China's Guo Hanyu on Wednesday.
The Chicago Cubs are down another bat with two days to go before the trade deadline on Thursday. The Cubs had more frustrating injury news to reveal after a second-straight loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night. The Brewers defeated Chicago 9-3 in front of 40,136 fans at American Family Field to take a two-game lead over the Cubs for first place in the NL Central. Per Jesse Rogers of ESPN, the Cubs thought they received good news on Ian Happ after x-rays came back negative on the outfielder’s shin. “Happ got x-rays that were negative after fouling a ball off his left shin,” Rogers posted on X. “Was limping some just now in the Cubs room. Jackson Chourio (hammy spasm) says he’s feeling better. Doesn’t think it’s serious.” Chicago Cubs to put Ian Happ on IL About an hour later, Rogers reported that Chicago is expected to put Happ on the injured list. The Cubs are set to call up Moises Ballesteros from Iowa. “Looks like the Happ injury might require an IL stint,” Rogers posted. “The team is calling up Moises Ballesteros from Triple-A, per a source. He’s hitting .331 down there. He had a cup of coffee with the big league team earlier this year.” Happ’s injury comes at a time when the Cubs are looking to trade for an extra bat. Chicago needs help on offense with inconsistency coming from rookie third baseman Matt Shaw. Happ was batting .227 with 14 home runs and 50 RBI. Bottom line, the Cubs need to make some moves by Thursday if this team wants to compete for the NL Central, much less a World Series.
Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen and PGA Tour rookie Cristobal Del Solar of Chile each posted a 9-under-par 61 to share the first-round lead at the RBC Canadian Open on Thursday in Caledon, Ontario. Olesen and Del Solar took full advantage of TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in the venue's PGA Tour debut. They own a one-shot lead over Cameron Champ; Jake Knapp is alone in fourth at 7-under 63. Shane Lowry of Ireland went out in 5-under 30 on his way to a round of 64. He is tied for fifth with Rasmus Hojgaard of Denmark and Trey Mullinax. The low Canadian for the day was Taylor Pendrith (65), who set the clubhouse lead in the morning wave before several players passed him by. Defending champion Robert MacIntyre of Scotland is among the several golfers knotted with him in eighth place at 5 under. Del Solar birdied 10 of his first 16 holes to pass Olesen for the outright lead and threaten a score of 59. However, he failed to get up and down from the bunker at the par-4 17th hole and took his only bogey of the day. He missed a 15-foot putt for birdie for the outright lead at No. 18. Del Solar's claim to fame is a round of 57 he shot on the Korn Ferry Tour in February 2024. It was the lowest round ever recorded in a PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament. Olesen, meanwhile, has eight wins on the DP World Tour but is seeking his first title in the United States. Two-time Canadian champion Rory McIlroy is in danger of missing the cut after shooting a 1-over 71, which he ended with consecutive bogeys at Nos. 8 and 9. The Northern Irishman is playing for the first time since a T47 finish at the PGA Championship.