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Who's the WNBA's biggest trash-talker? Top athlete? Players dished in our anonymous poll
Who's the WNBA's biggest trash-talker? Top athlete? Players dished in our anonymous poll

Yahoo

time16 hours ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Who's the WNBA's biggest trash-talker? Top athlete? Players dished in our anonymous poll

The WNBA talent pool is deeper than ever. The MVP race features two multi-time winners in A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, a first-time favorite in Napheesa Collier, and several other stars like Alyssa Thomas gunning for the trophy. The last two draft classes have been overflowing with star power and record-breaking performers including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers. So how do WNBA players feel about the best of the best in their league? And what do they think about a host of issues facing the league, including expansion, salaries, and collective bargaining negotiations? Advertisement To answer those questions, 's anonymous player poll is back. Our writers spoke with more than 40 players from the start of the 2025 season. All 13 teams are represented, but none of the 30 rookies on rosters are included as the survey attempted to gather veterans' perspectives. Players were granted anonymity to speak freely. They were also permitted to skip individual questions; as a result, each question shows the total number of responses for full transparency. Players were not allowed to vote for their team or teammates. Two years ago, this question came down to Stewart vs. Wilson. Now, a different UConn alum takes Stewart's place in the league's hierarchy, as Collier and Wilson were neck-and-neck for the top spot. Wilson is the league's reigning MVP, capturing her third trophy unanimously in 2024 as she set the WNBA's all-time scoring record, and in a relative down year, Wilson is still second in the WNBA in scoring and third in rebounding. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year ceded that crown to Collier last season, however, and Collier looks poised to take another in 2025. After leading the 2024 postseason in points, rebounds, blocks and steals, Collier is the league's top scorer (23.6 points per game) in 2025 and has led the Minnesota Lynx to the WNBA's best record of 18-4 at the halfway point, as well as the best offensive and defensive ratings. Advertisement Stewart was the only other player to get multiple votes, and Allisha Gray and Alyssa Thomas would be the other early front-runners for the All-WNBA first team. In their words On Napheesa Collier: 'I love players who make the game look effortless, and her footwork is unreal.' 'Just how she's playing right now and how hard she is to stop.' 'She has had an incredible last couple years. She just hasn't quite gotten there. Last year she had an MVP season, but A'ja had an insane season, and I think (Collier) is continuing to grow this year.' On A'ja Wilson: "It's to a point where we think what A'ja is doing is normal. But it's not.' Advertisement 'She's having another great season at an MVP-level.' With the retirement of Diana Taurasi, the runaway winner of this category two years ago, there was an opening for the league's preeminent trash talker. Fittingly enough, a member of the Phoenix Mercury filled the void. Like Taurasi, Thomas backs up her talk with performance. She is the league leader in assists (9.5 per game) and one of three players to post a triple-double in 2025. And when Thomas gets the better of an opponent, she'll let them know. Although Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have reputations for trash-talking, neither received more than a vote from their peers. Advertisement On Alyssa Thomas: 'She smiles and talks s—, that's the crazy part, it's psycho stuff, she's crazy, man.' 'Everyone knows AT talks s—-. I don't even guard her, and she talks s— to me.' 'She always has something, and she's always talking.' On Marina Mabrey: 'I just feel like she's always in WNBA scuffles or around them' — 's Chantel Jennings contributed to this report. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, Golden State Valkyries, WNBA Advertisement 2025 The Athletic Media Company

Who's the WNBA's biggest trash-talker? Top athlete? Players dished in our anonymous poll
Who's the WNBA's biggest trash-talker? Top athlete? Players dished in our anonymous poll

New York Times

time17 hours ago

  • Sport
  • New York Times

Who's the WNBA's biggest trash-talker? Top athlete? Players dished in our anonymous poll

The WNBA talent pool is deeper than ever. The MVP race features two multi-time winners in A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, a first-time favorite in Napheesa Collier, and several other stars like Alyssa Thomas gunning for the trophy. The last two draft classes have been overflowing with star power and record-breaking performers including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers. Advertisement So how do WNBA players feel about the best of the best in their league? And what do they think about a host of issues facing the league, including expansion, salaries, and collective bargaining negotiations? To answer those questions, The Athletic's anonymous player poll is back. Our writers spoke with more than 40 players from the start of the 2025 season. All 13 teams are represented, but none of the 30 rookies on rosters are included as the survey attempted to gather veterans' perspectives. Players were granted anonymity to speak freely. They were also permitted to skip individual questions; as a result, each question shows the total number of responses for full transparency. Players were not allowed to vote for their team or teammates. Two years ago, this question came down to Stewart vs. Wilson. Now, a different UConn alum takes Stewart's place in the league's hierarchy, as Collier and Wilson were neck-and-neck for the top spot. Wilson is the league's reigning MVP, capturing her third trophy unanimously in 2024 as she set the WNBA's all-time scoring record, and in a relative down year, Wilson is still second in the WNBA in scoring and third in rebounding. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year ceded that crown to Collier last season, however, and Collier looks poised to take another in 2025. After leading the 2024 postseason in points, rebounds, blocks and steals, Collier is the league's top scorer (23.6 points per game) in 2025 and has led the Minnesota Lynx to the WNBA's best record of 18-4 at the halfway point, as well as the best offensive and defensive ratings. Stewart was the only other player to get multiple votes, and Allisha Gray and Alyssa Thomas would be the other early front-runners for the All-WNBA first team. Napheesa Collier, with 3,234 points, ranks 5th all-time in points scored in Lynx franchise history.#MVPhee — Napheesa Collier Muse (@NapheesaMuse_) July 12, 2025 On Napheesa Collier: 'I love players who make the game look effortless, and her footwork is unreal.' 'Just how she's playing right now and how hard she is to stop.' 'She has had an incredible last couple years. She just hasn't quite gotten there. Last year she had an MVP season, but A'ja had an insane season, and I think (Collier) is continuing to grow this year.' Advertisement On A'ja Wilson: "It's to a point where we think what A'ja is doing is normal. But it's not.' 'She's having another great season at an MVP-level.' With the retirement of Diana Taurasi, the runaway winner of this category two years ago, there was an opening for the league's preeminent trash talker. Fittingly enough, a member of the Phoenix Mercury filled the void. Like Taurasi, Thomas backs up her talk with performance. She is the league leader in assists (9.5 per game) and one of three players to post a triple-double in 2025. And when Thomas gets the better of an opponent, she'll let them know. Although Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have reputations for trash-talking, neither received more than a vote from their peers. On Alyssa Thomas: 'She smiles and talks s—, that's the crazy part, it's psycho stuff, she's crazy, man.' 'Everyone knows AT talks s—-. I don't even guard her, and she talks s— to me.' 'She always has something, and she's always talking.' On Marina Mabrey: 'I just feel like she's always in WNBA scuffles or around them' — The Athletic's Chantel Jennings contributed to this report.

WNBA Preview: Angel Reese on a tear, fallout from NaLyssa Smith trade
WNBA Preview: Angel Reese on a tear, fallout from NaLyssa Smith trade

Yahoo

time07-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

WNBA Preview: Angel Reese on a tear, fallout from NaLyssa Smith trade

With three empty-slate days, the opening week of July lacked the usual amount of WNBA action. Yet, the fewer days of games didn't equate to a shortage of news. WNBA EXPANSION TALK In case you missed it, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert took to the podium on the final day of June to announce 'that the WNBA is expanding from our currently announced 15 teams to 18 teams over the next few years.' Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030) will follow Toronto and Portland — the 14th and 15th teams — who will begin competing in 2026. Advertisement The WNBA's expansion from 12 teams in 2024 to 18 over a six-year period is exciting for the league and a clear reflection of the new heights it is reaching. Naturally, additional rosters will lead to more available spots for players of all types — international players, draft picks, etc. What will be interesting to watch unfold is the almost yearly expansion draft, in which select players from existing WNBA rosters will be poached and placed on the new teams. Golden State's fast start in its inaugural season could serve as a best-case scenario for these future expansion teams, but it's hard to envision that level of success being the case for each incoming franchise. Nonetheless, league growth is positive. RECENT WNBA PLAYER MOVEMENT It was also a noteworthy week in the W concerning player movement, with news ranging from minor and medium to major. The minor: The less headline-grabbing but still relevant stories were that players have begun to trickle back into the U.S. and rejoin their WNBA teams after completing their overseas commitments. Leonie Fiebich's return to the New York Liberty's starting lineup felt significant. In contrast, Teaira McCowan's return suddenly feels less consequential for a Dallas Wings team that has found its groove and added a center in her absence. Advertisement The medium: The Los Angeles Sparks released Shey Peddy and waived Odyssey Sims while claiming Julie Vanloo off of waivers. If you're like me, the string of transactions likely threw you for a loop — Sims had started the first 11 games of the season for L.A. and then missed five consecutive games for personal reasons before being cut after her first game back. Peddy, who had replaced Sims in the Sparks' opening unit, was released on the same day. Sims had been particularly helpful on the offensive end this season. Still, head coach Lynne Roberts spoke to the media and stated the rationale behind the transactions was that the team is 'starting to get some of the players back,' later referencing Rae Burrell and Julie Allemand. While her reasoning is valid, the suddenness caught me off guard and is still hard for me to move past. The major: The Las Vegas Aces parted with a 2027 first-round pick to acquire NaLyssa Smith from the Wings via trade. The move feels like a no-brainer deal for Dallas, but my thoughts are a bit more mixed when looking at this from the Aces' lens. On the one hand, I understand moving all your chips to the center to try to build out as competitive a roster around A'ja Wilson as possible to compete for championships while she's in her prime years, especially when the roster addition is young, provides a glaring need, and still packs some untapped potential as a recent lottery pick. However, on the other hand, the way the current veteran-heavy version of this team is performing, there's the uncomfortable possibility this team could find itself in an unfavorable situation by the end of the 2026 season; not owning their 2027 first-round pick in that scenario would be brutal. 2025 WNBA ALL-STARS REVEALED Finally, we'll put a bow on last week's action by touching on the 2025 All-Star reserves. A big round of applause to all the first-timers, specifically the veterans Kayla Thornton and Gabby Williams — it's cool to see players evolve and outgrow roles deep into their careers to reach new peaks. And what's All-Star discourse without complaints around whose name was not called (although it's always tricky to name the players they should replace)? So I'll leave it at this: here's a brief acknowledgement to Brittney Sykes, Brionna Jones, and the other unnamed players who had legitimate cases for making it in as reserves. Advertisement With that, we proceed to this week's five must-watch. THE WEEK AHEAD Golden State Valkyries @ Atlanta Dream (Monday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass) We're approaching the midway point of the season, and somehow, these two teams will be facing one another for only the first time. Atlanta had been rolling up until the past couple of weeks and has now lost three of four games, with the latest defeat coming without the services of Rhyne Howard (arm). Meanwhile, I was admittedly wrong about the Valkyries, who I claimed in one of my preseason takes would only be a fun team that plays hard. They've been a joy to watch and, not only that, but would be a playoff team if the postseason began today. Their success has led to Kayla Thornton becoming the franchise's first-ever WNBA All-Star. Advertisement When the two teams clash on Monday, it should be a fun one for the three-point lovers — the Valkyries and Dream both rank among the top teams in the league regarding three-point attempts. The difference in the game could be whichever team is hotter. Chicago Sky @ Washington Mystics (Tuesday, July 8 at 11:30 a.m. ET on WNBA League Pass) How about a quick hat-tip to Angel Reese and, to a lesser extent, the Sky? Reese has been on an absolute tear over the past five games, which has naturally equated to more team success for Chicago, who've won two of their past four games. And although the Mystics enter Tuesday's matchup as losers of two in a row, they'll also enter knowing they've already outclassed this Sky team earlier in the season. Brittney Sykes scored a season-high 32 points in that aforementioned matchup and might also take the floor with a chip on her shoulder after not being named a 2025 All-Star. Sykes' snub, along with the Mystics' desire to end their losing streak, could blend well with the Sky's resurgence to create an entertaining game on Tuesday. Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty (Tuesday, July 8 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN) Advertisement At the time of this writing, the Aces have not resembled the Aces we once knew, and injuries have knocked the defending champion Liberty off its path recently, resulting in six losses in the last nine games. Still, these are the two most recent WNBA champions whose star-studded rosters usually deliver a good viewing experience when matched up with one another. While the showdown may not be as anticipated as it has in the past, an A'ja Wilson vs. Breanna Stewart face-off is always top-tier when it comes to WNBA matchups. Both teams could really benefit from a big win at this point in the season, making Tuesday's game one worth tuning into. Minnesota Lynx @ Phoenix Mercury (Wednesday, July 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass) The Mercury are a banged-up group as I write these words, with Kahleah Copper (hamstring), Lexi Held (lung), and Satou Sabally (ankle) all unavailable to play against the Wings on Monday. If they remain out on Wednesday, Phoenix would still be capable of winning this game (see Indiana without Caitlin Clark vs. Minnesota in the Commissioner's Cup Championship), but it wouldn't be one I'd spotlight as a potential game of the week. Copper and Alyssa Thomas each missed the first two matchups between the two squads, while Napheesa Collier did not suit up for the first meeting. But if these two teams can meet at full strength for the first time this season, we'll be in for a treat on Wednesday. Advertisement Dallas Wings @ Indiana Fever (Sunday, July 13 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC) Everyone had circled the June 27 battle between the Wings and Fever, including me. However, injuries derailed the highly anticipated duel between Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark. The good news is that there's another bout on the schedule! The bad news is that we may potentially miss out again on the two most recent first-overall picks sharing center stage, as Clark has not taken the court since before the end-of-June matchup. So, much like the previously mentioned Lynx-Mercury game with injury caveats, the same is true for this Wings-Fever contest — it's certainly must-see TV if the two headliners are available. Get your popcorn ready and be prepared for either scenario.

Unscripted with Dawn Mitchell: Lynx's Napheesa Collier, Cheryl Reeve
Unscripted with Dawn Mitchell: Lynx's Napheesa Collier, Cheryl Reeve

Yahoo

time18-05-2025

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Unscripted with Dawn Mitchell: Lynx's Napheesa Collier, Cheryl Reeve

2025 WNBA Predictions: MVP, Champion, All-WNBA, and more The 2025 WNBA regular season is finally here and in this episode, we're sharing our predictions for how we think the year will shape out. We tell you who we're picking for MVP, who we think will be on the All-WNBA teams, who we think will win the title, and which teams are going to surprise people. Also, we share our thoughts on recent developments involving Connecticut Sun ownership, roster cutdowns, and news that impacts upcoming international competitions. 54:02 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing

Judge dismisses Hamby lawsuit against WNBA alleging mistreatment; she can pursue claim against Aces
Judge dismisses Hamby lawsuit against WNBA alleging mistreatment; she can pursue claim against Aces

Washington Post

time15-05-2025

  • Sport
  • Washington Post

Judge dismisses Hamby lawsuit against WNBA alleging mistreatment; she can pursue claim against Aces

LAS VEGAS — A federal judge last week dismissed Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby's lawsuit against the WNBA, but said her litigation against the Las Vegas Aces over alleged mistreatment because of her pregnancy could continue. Hamby filed the suit in August that alleged the Aces discriminated and retaliated against her, resulting in her January 2023 trade to the Sparks. The league and club filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit in September.

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