Phoenix Mercury suspends Alyssa Thomas for incident with Caitlin Clark
Phoenix Mercury suspends Alyssa Thomas for on-court incident with Caitlin Clark.
Event / Sports
WNBA Leadership and Growth
Coverage of WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's tenure, retirement, and the league's expansion and development including viewership growth, salary increases, franchise valuations, media rights agreements, and organizational challenges.
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28 articles0 articles
2026-07-20 – 2026-09-17 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 20 Jul, 03:59 UTC
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What happened
Azzi Fudd averages 13.2 points per game in 2026 WNBA rookie season
Through 26 games in her 2026 rookie season with the Dallas Wings, Azzi Fudd averaged 13.2 points, 1.9 assists, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. She moved into the starting lineup alongside teammate Paige Bueckers after initially coming off the bench.
Dallas Wings select two consecutive UConn players with No. 1 overall pick
The Dallas Wings selected Azzi Fudd with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, marking the second consecutive year the team selected a former University of Connecticut player with the top pick. Paige Bueckers was the No. 1 pick in 2025 and won Rookie of the Year that season.
Azzi Fudd sets rookie record with 30 points in 3-Point Contest final round
Azzi Fudd scored 30 points in the final round of the 2026 WNBA 3-Point Contest, setting a new rookie record for a single round. This surpassed the previous rookie record of 24 points held by Rhyne Howard, who set that mark in the opening round in 2022.
Dallas Wings have 18-9 record heading into 2026 All-Star Game
The Dallas Wings hold a 18-9 record heading into the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, which represents the fourth-best record in the league. This marks a significant turnaround for a team that was near the bottom of the standings in the previous season.
UConn alumna Azzi Fudd becomes first former Husky to win WNBA 3-Point Contest
Azzi Fudd became the first former University of Connecticut player to win the WNBA 3-Point Contest. Despite UConn's dominant history in women's basketball and numerous players in the WNBA, no previous Huskies alumna had won the event before Fudd's victory.
UConn women's basketball wins 12th national championship in 2025
The University of Connecticut women's basketball team won its 12th national championship in 2025, with Azzi Fudd as a key contributor on the roster. Fudd also helped lead the Huskies to the women's Final Four in 2026.
Paige Bueckers wins 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year with Dallas Wings
Paige Bueckers, drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings in 2025, won the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year award. She averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game in her debut season.
Azzi Fudd wins 2026 WNBA 3-Point Contest as first rookie champion
Dallas Wings rookie guard Azzi Fudd won the 2026 WNBA All-Star 3-Point Contest in Chicago on Friday, becoming the first rookie ever to win the competition. Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, defeated Portland Fire forward Bridget Carleton in the final round, scoring 30 points to Carleton's 19 points.
Azzi Fudd ranked 10th in 3-pointers made despite 23rd in shooting percentage
Azzi Fudd entered the 2026 3-Point Contest with the 23rd-best 3-point percentage in the WNBA but was 10th in total 3-pointers made during the season. Her opponent Bridget Carleton ranked 31st in 3-point percentage at .374 for the season.
Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon named All-Star Game captains
Legendary WNBA figures Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon, who faced each other in the first WNBA Finals, served as captains and general managers for the 2026 All-Star Game. They selected five starters and six reserves each from pre-determined player pools.
2026 WNBA All-Star Game scheduled at United Center
The 30th annual WNBA All-Star Game is taking place Saturday evening at the United Center. The game celebrates the 30th anniversary of the league.
Team Spoon favored by 3.5 points in All-Star Game betting
Team Spoon was listed as 3.5-point favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook with -162 moneyline odds against Team Coop for the All-Star Game.
A'ja Wilson named best player in WNBA
A'ja Wilson is identified as the best player in the WNBA and plays for Team Spoon in the All-Star Game.
Marina Mabrey ties WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points
Marina Mabrey scored 53 points in a game against the Sparks, tying the WNBA single-game scoring record. This achievement occurred in the month prior to the All-Star Game.
Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark assigned as ceremonial captains
Paige Bueckers, who received the most fan votes, and Caitlin Clark, the second leading fan vote-getter, served as ceremonial captains. A coin flip determined team assignments, with Bueckers going to Team Coop and Clark to Team Spoon.
2026 WNBA All-Star Game scheduled for July 25 in Chicago
The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Wintrust Arena (also referred to as United Center) in Chicago, Illinois. The game will be broadcast on ABC and available for streaming on DIRECTV, ESPN Unlimited, and Disney+.
WNBA commissioner addresses uptick in online harassment against players
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert scheduled a meeting with the executive committee of the players' union on Tuesday to discuss an increase in online hatred and threats directed toward players on social media. This reflects ongoing tension between league leadership and players regarding player safety and support.
WNBA negotiates record media rights deal valued at over $3 billion
Under Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's leadership, the WNBA negotiated a record media rights deal worth over $3 billion. This deal represents a significant increase in the league's media revenue and secures broadcast rights for the next decade.
WNBA players achieve increased commercial endorsement opportunities
WNBA players have secured significantly increased commercial endorsement deals with major brands including Gatorade, State Farm, Nike, and CarMax. Players featured in recent commercials include Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, A'ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Olivia Miles. Commissioner Engelbert attributed this surge to a 'domino effect' following Caitlin Clark's draft, where brands began recognizing the value of featuring WNBA players in advertising.
Team Washington wins WNBA Shooting Stars Contest
Team Washington, featuring Shakira Austin, Elena Delle Donne, and Jezelle 'GG' Banks, won the Shooting Stars Contest during the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend.
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2 alternative perspectives
WNBA Expands Player Safety Measures Amid Online Harassment Concerns
WNBA implements charter flights and addresses online harassment targeting players with operational safety improvements.
Engelbert's WNBA tenure ends as league expands to 15 teams
Engelbert retires as WNBA Commissioner as league expands to 15 teams amid historic player agreement.
Collier and Hayes clash in heated Valkyries-Lynx altercation
Collier and Hayes clashed physically during Valkyries-Lynx game.
Valkyries defeat injury-plagued Lynx behind Zandalasini's 18 points
Valkyries beat injury-hobbled Lynx 80-66 behind Zandalasini's 18-point performance.
Liberty's playoff push strengthens with victory over playoff-contending Fever
Liberty beats Fever 109-102 to strengthen playoff position with key players returning and performing.
Sparks, Mercury struggle to find playoff footing amid roster adjustments
Sparks and Mercury struggle with 10-17 and 11-19 records respectively, far from playoff positioning.
Plum traded to Mercury after injury-plagued Sparks tenure
Plum traded to Mercury after injury ended her Sparks season; fourth All-Star mid-season trade in WNBA history.
Dream Edge Wings in Thriller as Reese Records Double-Double
Dream edge Wings 82-81 behind Reese's 22 points and 12 rebounds.
WNBA clears players in betting incident, deletes social media post
WNBA cleared players in $400 betting incident despite league wagering ban in collective bargaining agreement.
All-Star performers shine: Jones, Mabrey lead standout individual efforts
Jones led Team Spoon to All-Star victory; Mabrey scored 23 points for Team Coop in standout performances.
Fudd drafted first overall by Dallas Wings in 2026 WNBA Draft
Azzi Fudd selected first overall by Dallas Wings in 2026 WNBA Draft.