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Defector

WNBA

Women's Basketball

Tom Ley

Kelsey Plum Has Made Good

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Head coach Vanessa Nygaard of the Phoenix Mercury reacts during the second half of the WNBA game at Footprint Center on June 27, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Fever 83-71.

Phoenix Mercury’s Latest Internal Beef Is Between Skylar Diggins-Smith And Her Coach

Laura Wagner

US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022.

Politics

Swapping Brittney Griner For Viktor Bout Should Be An Easy Call

Tina Charles #31 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball against Cheyenne Parker #32 of the Atlanta Dream during the first half of the WNBA game at Footprint Center on June 10, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona.

How Are The “Post-Divorce” Phoenix Mercury Feeling?

Enjoy The Strangest Box Score Of The WNBA Season

Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm looks on during the first quarter against the Washington Mystics at Angel of the Winds Arena on September 07, 2021 in Everett, Washington.

Sue Bird, Always Game, Will Play Her Last

How Much Does Lori Lightfoot Love The Chicago Sky? An Investigation

Rhyne Howard Hit The Ground Running

Head coach Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces talks with Jackie Young #0 during their game against the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 08, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Storm 85-74.

Becky Hammon’s Vegas Dreams Are Coming True

<p>Maya Goldberg-Safir writes about women’s basketball and splits her time between Chicago and Oakland, where she was born and raised. She is the creator of <a href="https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/">Rough Notes</a>, a newsletter chronicling women’s basketball from the court, the road, and the heart.</p>


Maya Goldberg-Safir

Brittney Griner And The Labyrinth Of Wrongful Detainment

Liz Cambage Reportedly Called Nigerian Players “Monkeys” During Olympic Scrimmage

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 06: Minnesota Lynx gather before the game against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on May 06, 2022 in Seattle, Washington.

Even The Lynx Can’t Save Minnesota Right Now

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Skylar Diggins-Smith #4 of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after a turnover ahead of Allie Quigley #14 of the Chicago Sky during the second half in Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Finals at Footprint Center on October 13, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Sky 91-86 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

A 2022 WNBA Season Preview In Which Every Single Prediction Will Prove To Be 100-Percent Correct

Brittney Griner Should Have Never Been In This Situation


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

WNBA Team Fined $500K For Not Making Its Players Fly Next To Schmucks Like You In Commercial

Holly Rowe: Liz Cambage Pointing Out A Salary Disparity Is “Women Tearing Each Other Down”

Assistant coach Becky Hammon reacts from the bench while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on December 01, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 132-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Becky Hammon Makes Her Next Move

The Sky Seized Their Championship Window And Championship Door

Candace Parker #3 of the Chicago Sky celebrates after defeating the Phoenix Mercury 80-74 in Game Four of the WNBA Finals to win the championship at Wintrust Arena on October 17, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois.

Candace Parker Never Stopped Wanting To Win

Lauren Theisen

Kia Vaughn and Stefanie Dolson chase a loose ball

The WNBA Champion Chicago Sky Boomed The Mercury Off The Court

Courtney Vandersloot drives against Diana Taurasi in the first game of the 2014 WNBA Finals

How A Heartbroken Expansion Team Remade Its Way To The WNBA Finals

(L-R) Diana Taurasi #3, Brianna Turner #21, Sophie Cunningham #9, Brittney Griner #42 and Skylar Diggins-Smith #4 of the Phoenix Mercury stand on the court during the second half in Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Finals against the Chicago Sky at Footprint Center on October 13, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Sky 91-86 in overtime.

The Mercury Are The Villains Who Can’t Be Killed

Candace Parker Simply Loves Getting Trampled

Shey Peddy #5 of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates as time expires in Game Five of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 8, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mercury defeated the Aces 87-84 to win the series.