Second-period lull spells doom for Mystics in blowout loss to Sparks
Shakira Austin had 16 points and eight rebounds for Washington. Sug Sutton added 14 points and Aaliyah Edwards scored 13.
The Sparks closed the first half on a 17-2 run over the final four minutes to reach their most points scored in any half this season at 59. Hamby scored 18 in the first half , including a three-pointer just before the buzzer for a 25-point lead.
The Mystics, who were held to 12 points in the second quarter, scored 12 points in the opening four minutes of the third. But the Sparks held onto their double-digit lead for the entire second half.
Los Angeles (8-14) won consecutive games for the first time this season to match its win total from last season.
Washington (11-11) had won three in a row.
Kelsey Plum scored 14 of her 20 points in the first half and Azura Stevens finished with 15 for Los Angeles. Julie Allemand had 10 assists to go with three points and five rebounds.
Brittney Sykes, Washington's leading scorer at 17.6 points, was held to eight points on 2-of-7 shooting.
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Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Every lesbian and sapphic WNBA No.1 draft pick since the league started
;;; Darrell Walker/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images From Left: Sue Bird, Brittney Griner, Paige Buckers, and Chamique Holdsclaw. The WNBA has been getting gayer every year since its inception. With 41 queer players in the league this year, the StudBudz taking over All-Star weekend, and couples like Paige Bueckers/Azzi Fudd and NaLyssa Smith/DiJonai Carrington making headlines, the WNBA's LGBTQ+ fans are eating well. Over the course of the nearly 30-year history of the WNBA, 11 of the No.1 overall draft picks have been gay. All of these players held off on coming out until after they had joined the league and have been living their lives out and proud ever since. Do we wish there were even more? Of course! But not only were these players the best of the best in the NCAA, but they've gone on to have illustrious, headline-making careers in the WNBA. So who are these gay No.1 draft picks, where are they now, and what's been going on in their romantic lives? Paige Bueckers (2025) Paige Bueckers is the latest No.1 overall pick after having won the NCAA National Championship in 2025 while playing for Conn. Bueckers was drafted to the Dallas Wings, where she now plays alongside DiJonai Carrington and Arike Ogunbowale. Relationship status Bueckers finally confirmed her relationship with her former UConn teammate and best friend Azzi Fudd last week, after months of teasing fans and speculation. Jewell Lloyd (2015) Jewell Lloyd was picked No.1 by the Seattle Storm after having played for Notre Dame. On February 1 she was officially traded to the Las Vegas Aces as part of a huge three-team trade involving the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm, that also sent Kelsey Plum to the Sparks. Relationship status On July 20, Lloyd semed to hard launch her new relationship with Miami Hurricane player Natalija Marshall. This comes after she started publicly dating Estonia point guard Téa Adams last year. Brittney Griner (2013) Brittney Griner was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury when she was the first overall pick in 2013. The three-time Olympic gold medalist and 10-time All-Star played 11 seasons with the Mercury before joining the Atlanta Dream. Relationship status Griner met her wife Cherelle Griner when they were both attending Baylor University. They tied the knot in 2019, and Cherelle stood by Griner's side while she was being detained in a Russian prison. The two were reunited in 2022 and in July 2024 they announced the birth of their son Bash. Angel McCoughtry (2009) Angel McCoughtry was originally drafted to the Atlanta Dream out of the University of Louisville. Since then, she was the WNBA Rookie of the Year, won two Olympic gold medals, and was a five-time WNBA All-Star. McCoughtry last played for the Minnesota Lynx in 2022, and is currently producing the thriller TV show Apartment 6B. 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Seimone Augustus (2006) Seimone Augustus was drafted to the Minnesota Lynx before going on to win four WNBA Championships, including leading the Lynx to their first title. She also took home Rookie of the Year, won multiple titles while playing overseas, and is now the assistant coach for the LSU women's basketball team, where she rocks incredible outfits every game. Relationship status Augustus married LaTaya Varner in 2015, but the couple divorced a few years later in 2018. Janel McCarville (2005) Janel McCarville was initially drafted to the now-defunct Charlotte Sting. The star center played her final WNBA season with the Minnesota Lynx in 2016, after winning a WNBA Championship with the team in 2013. After retiring from the WNBA, McCarville returned to he home state and is now coaching high school basketball in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Relationship status McCarville has been very private about her personal life, but appears to spend a great deal of time with her family. Diana Taurasi (2004) When GOAT Diana Taurasi was the No.1 draft pick back in 2004, the Phoenix Mercury snapped her up, and she ended up playing for the team for the entirety of her legendary 20-year-long career. She is the WNBA's all-time leading scorer and one of the most decorated basketball players of all time, taking home three WNBA championships, six Olympic medals, and is an 11-time All-Star. Relationship status Taurasi met her wife Penny Taylor in 2004 while they were both playing for the Mercury. They got married in 2017 and share two children together, a son named Leo and a daughter named Isla. Sue Bird (2002) Sue Bird, who is considered one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, was drafted by the Seattle Storm when she was the No.1 draft pick. During her career, Bird took home four WNBA championships with the Storm, five Olympic gold medals, was selected as an All-Star 13 times, and was picked for All-WNBA teams. 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This article originally appeared on Pride: Every lesbian and sapphic WNBA No.1 draft pick since the league started RELATED Meet all 41 queer players in this season's WNBA From elephants to purple aliens, ranking the WNBA mascots by how Sapphic they are Why the WNBA power couple NaLyssa Smith & DiJonai Carrington news has lesbians spiraling
New York Post
14 minutes ago
- New York Post
Sun vs. Sparks prediction: WNBA picks, odds, best bets
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. The Connecticut Sun own the WNBA's worst record at 3-19 and are widely recognized as the least-talented team. However, they are expected to welcome back top scoring guard Marina Mabrey on Thursday when they host the Los Angeles Sparks as six-point underdogs with a total of 166.5 points. A knee injury has kept Mabrey out for more than a month and Connecticut has managed just a 1-8 mark over that span. She is a necessary piece in their offense and her mere presence creates better opportunities for her teammates. Plus, during this extended absence, role players were asked to handle more of the scoring burden and that served as baptism by fire. Players such as Bria Hartley and Aneesah Morrow have seen their games evolve. Connecticut Sun players Aneesah Morrow (24), Saniya Rivers (22), Bria Hartley (14), Tina Charles (31) and Leila Lacan (47) stands on the court during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Boston. AP Plus, rookie Saniya Rivers is adjusting to the pro game, scoring in double figures in four of her past five games. Veteran Tina Charles has been a solid constant while leading the team with 15.6 points per game. Connecticut faced the Sparks less than two weeks ago and the teams combined for 180 points. The Sun offense has eventually learned to score without Mabrey, so I expect her return to only help that output. Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps These two defenses rank worst and second worst in field goal percentage and points allowed. This shapes up to be another high-scoring affair. I have a 56-47-1 ATS record in this Post sports section. My next play is Sun-Sparks Over 166.5 points (-110, FanDuel Sportsbook). Why Trust New York Post Betting Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He's also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.
Forbes
16 minutes ago
- Forbes
Why Caitlin Clark's Trading Card Selling For Nearly Double The WNBA Max Salary Proves Players Deserve More
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&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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) Less Getty Images Caitlin Clark's rookie trading card sold for $366,000 four months ago. That figure represents over $150,000 more than the maximum WNBA single-season salary and $28,000 more than Clark will earn across her entire four-year rookie contract. This disparity reveals a fundamental disconnect between market demand and player compensation that undermines the league's growth potential. Trading card valuations can offer a unique market assessment of fan interest and player marketability, untainted by the structural constraints that artificially suppress WNBA salaries. Yet whenever salary negotiations surface in public discourse, social media erupts with predictable refrains about players not deserving more money because "the revenue isn't there." This oversimplified argument not only ignores decades of systematic underinvestment but fails to recognize the league's current growth trajectory and future potential. As collective bargaining negotiations intensify and players articulate their demands for equitable sharing, it becomes essential to examine the flawed economic logic that has constrained women's professional basketball. Clarks's record trading card price demonstrates market demand not just for individual stars, but for the high-quality basketball that emerges when more players can focus exclusively on their craft over the course of a single season rather than seeking overseas supplements to inadequate salaries. For that reason, the players' positions reflect strategic thinking about capturing value from continued anticipated growth while recognizing that individual marketability depends on collective play and competitiveness among all players and teams. of a trading card is shown as Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever signs autographs before the game against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center on September 01, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by) Less Getty Images According to Dr. David Berri, professor of economics at Southern Utah University, "the WNBA has $200 million in revenue today. Adjusted for inflation, per team revenue in the WNBA today appears to exceed where the NBA was at back in the early 1970s when the NBA was the same age as the WNBA is today. The WNBA appears to be on the same path as the NBA." Berri has also noted, "WNBA players get less than 7% of (league) revenue. The top salary in the WNBA right now is less than $250,000. The NBA 50 years ago was paying its top players $400,000 a year, and that was (at a time) when the NBA only had $30 million in revenue 50 years ago. The WNBA is at $300 million in revenue, at least, and we also know that with the new television deal, it'll be at least $500 million." This comparison refutes the common myth that the WNBA operates in some fundamentally different economic reality from the NBA. Yet the treatment of players couldn't be more different and at no time in NBA history, including throughout the 1950s when the NBA was a very small operation with very few fans (roughly a fifth of the size and scope of the WNBA in 2025) were NBA players being treated as poorly as current WNBA players. of the Las Vegas Aces and Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces wear shirts saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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) Less Getty Images WNBA players are positioning themselves for the future of the league. These players are negotiating their fair portion of the profits that growth trends suggest are becoming more realistic, not asking for a larger share of losses. The revenue sharing structure established now will determine whether players benefit from the success their talent and marketability are driving into the future. As union president Nneka Ogwumike articulated during recent negotiations, "We see the growth in the league and as it stands, the current salary system is not really paying us what we're owed. We want to be able to have that fair share moving forward, especially as we see all of the investment going in." The key phrase from Ogwumike is "moving forward." Current negotiations are not simply about adjusting salaries to match existing revenue, but about creating structures that allow players to benefit from the growth trajectory for the league. Further, the "revenue isn't there" argument collapses under scrutiny because it conflates current constrained revenue with market potential. Every metric suggests the WNBA operates well below its revenue ceiling due to strategic choices rather than market limitations. Engelbert acknowledged this reality, "we want to significantly increase their salary and benefits while balancing with our owners, their ability to have a path to profitability, as well as continued investment." The path to profitability runs directly through maximizing the product's appeal, which requires treating players as valuable assets rather than cost centers. As Liberty guard Natasha Cloud noted, "We're fighting for what we're due, what we're worth, our value. They're going to be fighting for what they think protects the business. Our job is to find the common ground." That common ground exists in recognizing that player compensation and league growth aren't competing interests. These components of the business of women's sport are complementary strategies to be used to capture the massive market opportunity that current trends have revealed. The question isn't whether the WNBA can afford to pay players what they're worth; it's whether the league can afford not to make the investments necessary to realize its full potential. sign saying "Pay the players" during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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) Less Getty Images Schedule Expansion: While the NBA generates revenue across 82 regular season games from October through June (a span of nearly nine months) the WNBA season encompasses only 44 games compressed into five months from May to September. This means the WNBA has 46% fewer games to sell tickets, concessions, and merchandise, while also offering broadcasters less than half the inventory of live content. Expanding the WNBA season to even 60 games would increase revenue opportunities by 36%, without accounting for the multiplier effect of sustained fan engagement across a longer season. Yet the current CBA caps the season at 44 games, creating an artificial ceiling on revenue generation that has nothing to do with market demand and everything to do with ownership's investment priorities. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has indicated flexibility for seasons extending into November, particularly with the 2026 FIBA World Cup creating scheduling considerations. A longer season means more games, more broadcast inventory, and more opportunities for the viewership growth the league is already experiencing. Strategic Time Slot Optimization: When games receive proper placement and promotion, the numbers speak volumes about untapped demand. Weekend afternoon games between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. ET consistently deliver exceptional ratings, with four of the five highest-rated games airing at 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays and averaging 2.16 million viewers. Yet this proven time slot represents less than 25 percent of the national schedule. Meanwhile, only 25 percent of WNBA games currently air during traditional primetime windows, and many of those are relegated to cable networks with limited reach. The May 17 Chicago Sky at Indiana Fever game drew 2.7 million viewers on ABC at 3:00 p.m., which made it the most-watched regular season game since 2000. Shifting just half of the games to these proven time slots could increase average viewership from around one million to between 1.5 and 2 million per game. Expansion Economics: The league has already approved franchises for Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia at the record $250 million expansion fee. Each new market brings additional revenue streams through ticket sales, local sponsorships, and regional media rights. The expansion trajectory suggests demand far exceeds current supply, creating artificial scarcity that limits overall league revenue potential. of the Indiana Fever and Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty wears a shirt saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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) Less Getty Images 'Pay Us What You Own Us' When a trading card commands more market value than the athletes themselves can earn, the system isn't simply unfair, it's also inefficient. The WNBA's current revenue-sharing model represents a fundamental misallocation of resources that constrains the very growth it claims to seek. Players receiving less than 10% of league revenue while generating record viewership, sold-out arenas, and $250 million expansion fees defies basic economic principles that govern every other major sports league. The "Pay Us What You Owe Us" movement isn't about charity or special treatment. It's about applying standard sports economics to a league that has operated under artificial constraints for too long. When players can focus exclusively on their craft without being forced to compete overseas for additional income, when games air in optimal time slots, and when the season expands to meet demand, it's more than likely that the revenue ceiling will experience a significant rise. When a piece of cardboard sells for more than the maximum salary, it reveals the WNBA's fundamental failure to invest in the very players whose talent and marketability have generated and will continue to generate historic growth and fan demand.
