WNBA

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Get unlimited blogs for $8/month.

Subscriptions make our work possible.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Register your email to read more blogs.

Thanks for reading Defector!

Defector

Tom Ley

Angel Reese lays on her back during a game

The Chicago Sky Cost Themselves Angel Reese

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Lauren Betts #51 hugs Head coach Cori Close of the UCLA Bruins during the second half of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 5, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.

College Basketball

Cori Close And UCLA Won At Their Own Speed

David Roth

Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks argues with Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies during the second half of a NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal game on April 3, 2026.

South Carolina Upset Connecticut, But Not As Much As Dawn Staley Upset Geno Auriemma

Ray Ratto

Houston Rockets Kenny Smith (C) gets squeezed out on a screen play by Seattle Supersonic Detlef Schrempf (R) as his teammate Gary Payton (L) dribbles past during game one of their Western Conference semifinal series on May 4 in Seattle.

A Basketball Team Can Be Sold, But Who Owns Its History?

University of Wisconsin-Madison freshman women's basketball team in the gymnasium of Ladies Hall (now Chadbourne Hall), Madison, Wisconsin, 1900.

Podcasts

Please, Mr. Pibb Is My Father, With Emma Baccellieri

Lauren Theisen

Syracuse Coach After 53-Point Loss: Please Don’t Make Us Play UConn Again

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert holds a Golden State Valkyries jersey after announcing their fifth overall pick of Juste Joyce during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Welcome To The Craziest Possible WNBA Offseason, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Amaya Battle #3 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrates with her team after making a go-ahead shot against the Ole Miss Rebels in the fourth quarter during a second round game of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Williams Arena on March 22, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Minnesota’s Buzzer-Beater Sounded Like Home

Mikayla Blakes #1 and head coach Shea Ralph of the Vanderbilt Commodores react on the sideline against the Furman Paladins in the first half at Vanderbilt University Memorial Gymnasium on November 10, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Tournament’s Best Subplot Is Shea Ralph Vs. Her Old Coach

Kiki Iriafen #44 of the Washington Mystics, Gabby Williams #5 of the Seattle Storm, Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces, Sonia Citron #2 of the Washington Mystics and Brittney Sykes #15 of the Washington Mystics wear shirts saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The WNBA And Players’ Union Have A Verbal Agreement On A New CBA

Tamika Tremaglio, Executive Director of the NBA Players Association, speaks during the NBPA 2023 All-Star Weekend Press Conference at the Hyatt Regency on February 18, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah

Interviews

Former NBPA Head Tamika Tremaglio Discusses The WNBA Labor Battle And The Art Of Bargaining

Kelsey Plum #10 of the Phantom dribbles the ball against Breanna Stewart #30 of the Mist during the first quarter of an Unrivaled 2026 at Sephora Arena on January 12, 2026 in Medley, Florida

What’s Going On With The WNBA CBA Talks?

The cover of Rooting Interest, next to a jump ball in a WNBA game.

Women's Basketball

How Can You Not Be Romantic About Women’s Basketball? 

<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

Cardte Hicks Played Above The Rim And Ahead Of Her Time

Head coach Kim Caldwell of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers looks on in the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Colonial Life Arena on February 08, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina.

Kim Caldwell Is Running Out Of Hard Truths To Deliver


<p>Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

James Pearce Jr. attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on February 05, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

James Pearce Jr. Arrested, Charged With Aggravated Battery, Stalking

“Disgusted” Breanna Stewart Holds Up “Abolish ICE” Sign Before Unrivaled Game

Mikaylah Williams #12 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after making a basket during the second half of a game against the Texas Longhorns at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on January 11, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

LSU Actually Did Not Eat Too Many Cupcakes Before Dinner

Unrivaled Is A Great Source Of Unlikely Athletic Friends

LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey during a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and LSU Tigers, January 4, 2025, at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee.

LSU Ate Too Many Cupcakes Before Dinner

If Syla Swords Takes A Shot But The Clock Is Frozen, Did It Actually Happen?

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 28: Jalen Duren #0 and Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons celebrate against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena on November 28, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Project B For “Basketball”, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 18: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with her team after defeating the New York Liberty during Game Four of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center on October 18, 2023 in New York City. The Aces defeated the Liberty 70-69. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Why WNBA Owners Cheated To Help Their Players

Audi Crooks #55 of the Iowa State Cyclones takes a shot as Layla Hays #12 of the Iowa Hawkeyes blocks in the first half of play at Hilton Coliseum on December 10, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.

Audi Crooks Makes Every Minute Count

Bryce Young hugs NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected first overall by the Carolina Panthers during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.