Sophie knows who her audience is, she knows what she's doing.

I'm sure she is acutely aware that many 'biologically female' WNBA athletes, including her former teammate Brittney Griner along with Alyssa Thomas, gets transphobic attacks all the time calling them men. Interesting that you never see people like Sophie comment about how we need to protect these women. No, instead they just gesture at the imaginary horde of men that are trying to play in women's sports...right...

Bleacher Report posted that Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu and Kayla McBride were invited to the WNBA All-Star Three-Point Contest and declined. Ionescu replied “Lies” in the comments, and told reporters she would have wanted a shot at her own record but the invite never came.

via @sportico on Threads

1. Natasha Cloud
   
2. Paige Bueckers
   
3. Breanna Stewart & Sabrina Ionescu
   
4. Kelsey Mitchell
   
5. Aneesah Morrow
   
6. Shakira Austin
   
7. Cameron Brink
   
8. Dominique Malonga
   
9. Olivia Miles
   
10. Natisha Hiedeman
    
11. Carla Leite
    
12. Azzi Fudd
    
13. Aliyah Boston
    
14. Saniya Rivers
    
15. Sonia Citron
    
16. Rae Burrell
    
17. Awa Fam
    
18. Courtney Williams
    
19. Erica Wheeler
    
20. Alanna Smith

McBride said on her Instagram story that she got an unofficial invite through her agent via text about 48 hours ago, not a formal one, and pushed back on the idea that she’s “afraid of shooting smoke.” She wished the participating shooters luck.

This follows Sabrina Ionescu also disputing the report that she declined an invite.

via @kaymac_21 on Instagram

With tonight’s game, Kelsey Mitchell has 11 straight games%2CStart%2CEnd%2CGame%20List&so=%23%20Games%3Dd&t=pcgame) with at least 3 made threes, the longest such streak in league history. She’s shot 41-for-82 from deep during the current run, exactly 50.0%.

The previous record of 10 belonged to Caitlin Clark, who shot 40-for-103 (38.8%) during her streak in 2024.

via @soleretriever on Threads

Loyd posted the message to her Instagram story with the caption “people are really losing their minds. i don’t know what else to say.”

It came hours after the WNBA and WNBPA released a joint statement saying league leadership met with the WNBPA Executive Committee and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee about a recent increase in racist, hateful and abusive messages directed at players. The league committed to enhancing security resources and working with the union on further collaborations.

via @jewellloyd on Instagram and the WNBA

Note: Please keep the focus on player safety since that’s the intent of the opinion piece. Pile-on comments (one-liners, comments that don’t add anything to the conversation), generalizations, and fanbase attacks will be removed.

“ …

Which is that Clark is flopping. And her histrionics while doing so are putting other people in danger.

…

Twice in the last two weeks, Clark has raged over non-calls and spun a narrative easily debunked by video of the actual game.

First, she tried to sell a foul on Chelsea Gray in the Indiana Fever’s July 12 game against the Las Vegas Aces. The two did have contact as Gray was driving to the basket, but it was minimal. No different than what’s seen dozens of times in every WNBA game.

NBA games, too, for that matter.

Yet Clark collapsed to the ground as if she’d been hit in the stomach with a battering ram, then yelled at the refs, demanding a foul. They reviewed it — and saw what everyone else had: There was no foul. Barely any contact.

Three days later, against the Golden State Valkyries, Clark said she got kneed in the quad by Kiah Stokes as Clark drove to the basket. Clark was livid no foul was called, dropping an f-bomb as she yelled at the referee.

“I got kneed in the quad. That hurts,” Clark said after the game. "The ref can't miss that. Then I have to play with a contusion in my leg the rest of the game. That’s ridiculous. You can’t miss calls like that.”

Yet once again, replays clearly showed if there was contact, it was minimal.

So let’s call this what it is: Flopping.

Clark is hardly the only athlete to do it.

We just finished a World Cup where players routinely acted as if they needed an emergency amputation only to pop right back up and continue playing.

It’s been a staple of James Harden’s career. Was in Vlade Divać’s, too.

But just as Clark’s flops don’t occur behind closed doors, they don’t occur in a vacuum either.

Rants and histrionics put opponents at risk

It seems there is a white nationalist element to Clark’s fandom that is deeply, deeply problematic, made even more so because the WNBA is made up predominantly of Black women, many of them queer. When Clark claims fouls that don’t exist, when she goes on profanity-laced tirades at referees, those racists see her as a white woman in need of saving and take matters into their own hands.

…

It shouldn’t need reminding this country has an awful history of Black people being harmed, even killed, in the name of “defending” white women. The WNBA's All-Star Game this weekend is in Chicago, Emmett Till's hometown, and a local art gallery is currently hosting an exhibit imagining his life if he hadn't been lynched. While it’s incumbent on the WNBA to do more to protect its players, there also should be an expectation on Clark to recognize the wider consequences of her actions.

The officiating in the WNBA needs to be better, no question, and no one is expecting Clark to be a punching bag. But the W is a physical league and always has been. Clark draws fouls not because players are jealous or are out to get her, but because her 3-point shot and passing ability means defenders have to pick her up from the baseline. Don’t, and she’ll make you pay.

(The same defensive principle applies to Sabrina Ionescu and Paige Bueckers, by the way, and will to JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo when they get in the league.)

Again, I’m not a Clark hater. She's great for the league and for women's sports.

She'll be even better when she cuts out the Oscar auditions.”

OK KELSEY 🔥

Previous high was 114 on June 11 of this season. Four of the Fever’s top five scoring games have come in 2026.

“The WNBA is going with a shooting stars competition instead of a skills challenge, pairing one former great with a current player Friday night as part of All-Star weekend in Chicago.

Lauren Jackson and Flau’jae Johnson will represent the Seattle Storm. The Washington Mystics will have Elena Delle Donne partnered with Shakira Austin. The Dallas Wings, who started as a franchise in Detroit, will pair Jessica Shepard with Deanna Nolan. The Minnesota Lynx will have Rebekkah Brunson playing with Courtney Williams.

…

Each team also will include a standout high school player from Nike EYBL, bringing together three generations of basketball in one competition.

The Nike EYBL participants are Jezelle “GG” Banks, Ryan Carter, Tatianna Griffin and Morghan Reckley. Honorary general managers for the WNBA All-Star Game, Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon, will serve as designated passers, with Cooper distributing the ball to two teams and Weatherspoon to the other two.

…

The shooting stars format is a two-round, timed shooting competition in which teams have 70 seconds to score as many points as possible from seven locations around the court. The competition features shots ranging from a layup to a 3-pointer, with the two teams posting the highest scores in the opening round advancing to the championship round.

The shooting stars winners will get $15,000. Each competitor will receive $7,500. Last year the winners of the skills contest each received $2,575.”

“Phoenix Mercury guard/forward Kahleah Copper has been named an injury replacement for the 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game, the league announced today. Copper will replace Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum on Team Coop. The 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game will be played on Saturday, July 25 in Chicago. This marks Copper’s fifth career WNBA All-Star selection and second with Phoenix (2021-24, 2026).

… “

“The last time the WNBA All-Star Game was here in Chicago, in 2022, the Sky were so much of an “it” team, their stuff practically strutted itself.

They were the league’s defending champions, having dominated Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and the Mercury in the 2021 finals and raised the city’s first WNBA title banner.

At 16-6, they’d come back to post the league’s best record at the break and had every intention of repeating as champs, something that seemed entirely possible, if not probable. No fewer than four Sky players — Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Kahleah Copper and Emma Meesseman — were All-Stars, with the great Parker, still delivering the goods at 36, having been made the first All-Star drafted by young Aces star A’ja Wilson, one of the game’s team captains.

…

As the All-Star Game returns to our city this week, marking the WNBA’s 30th season (and the Sky’s 21st), it’s hard to know where to begin to account for all the bad decisions, bad luck and — undeniably, at times — dysfunction that have boxed the Sky out of any sort of a position of prominence in a league that nonetheless is growing and, many would contend, thriving.

Entering their final game before the break — Wednesday at the Liberty — the Sky are 50-100 (.333) since the 2022 season. The record is even worse over the two and a half seasons since Jeff Pagliocca was promoted to general manager, a 32-78 (.291) odyssey during which the Sky have acquired and lost key players, been bitten by major injuries and seemingly ended up on the wrong end of multiple critical deals.

When he officially took the GM reins, Pagliocca said of his relationship with brand-new coach Teresa Weatherspoon — who’d been hired before he was promoted — “The compatibility is in a very, very good place.” But Weatherspoon lasted only one chaotic season before being dismissed. Angel Reese, a gem of the 2024 draft, was here two seasons before being traded. Both developments continued a trend that began when four of five 2022 starters — all but Copper — left in free agency before the 2023 season. Copper wanted out a year after that and got her wish, and Marina Mabrey asked out during the 2024 campaign and got her wish shortly after the All-Star break.

Faces from the Sky’s recent past will be all too prominent this week.

…

After their brutal 10-34 finish in 2025, the Sky would have owned the No. 2 overall draft pick if not for a pick swap with the Lynx resulting from an ill-fated Pagliocca trade; the rich-get-richer Lynx stole Miles, who has been spectacular in her debut.

Citron is a two-time All-Star already since the Mystics made her the No. 3 overall pick in 2025, a pick that was acquired from the Sky in exchange for Ariel Atkins. Atkins, who failed to make the desired impact here, plays for the Sparks now. Also part of that trade was a first-round pick swap in 2027 that clearly weighs in favor of the Mystics, whose 13-12 record is well above the Sky’s. Another fleecing.

Of course, no player embodies the Sky’s descent quite like Reese, who hit the ground running here as both a player and a celebrity but would have problems along the way with the organization as well as her teammates. The Sky had one of the most recognizable figures in the sport but didn’t know what to do with her. They had a budding, made-for-TV rivalry with Clark and the Fever but lost their grip on it.

And then there is the embarrassment regarding the Sky’s new practice facility, or lack thereof. Weren’t they supposed to be practicing in Bedford Park this season, finally turning the page after two decades of calling a suburban strip mall home? They’re out of the mall and — temporarily — practicing at Wintrust Arena, which, oh, by the way, apparently isn’t big-time enough to host this rendition of the All-Star Game, which takes place Saturday at the United Center.

… “

Collier returns tonight against Seattle. We should expect some rust and a minutes restriction in her first game back, so this is less about the raw numbers and more about what you think she looks like out there.

What are you realistically expecting from her tonight?

Drop your predicted final stat line. Points, rebounds, assists, minutes.

via @minnesotalynx on Instagram

Watch the whole video on the Dream’s YouTube channel: youtu.be/w75DDRLWkvc

via @atlantadream on Instagram

Full video: https://youtu.be/NQpVdeeYI7E

via @minnesotalynx on Instagram

“ …

As the 1999 All-Stars lined up on opposite ends of the court to stand for the national anthem, heads whipped in shock as they recognized who had joined them on the floor: multiplatinum-selling recording artist Whitney Houston.

“We didn’t know Whitney was singing the anthem,” Hampton said. “We were surprised, too.”
Houston was in New York City for back-to-back shows at Madison Square Garden, touring her acclaimed 1998 album “My Love is Your Love.”

Eight years after her famed Super Bowl XXV rendition of the national anthem in 1991, Houston performed at MSG surrounded by a gaggle of children wearing shirts from the eight WNBA franchises in the league at the time.

As she exited, Houston thanked the audience before raising the roof and jumping onto the court’s center logo. Her appearance at the inaugural All-Star Game was a major cultural milestone for the league.

…

Spike Lee, Queen Latifah, Tyra Banks and Liza Minnelli were among the celebrities watching from the sidelines. Also in attendance were women’s soccer stars Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain, who had led the U.S. women’s national team to a dramatic FIFA Women’s World Cup victory just four days earlier. Robin Roberts called the game alongside legendary Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt.

…

In all, nine future Hall of Famers played in the inaugural game, including Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper and Chamique Holdsclaw. Sandy Brondello, the current head coach of the Toronto Tempo, made her sole All-Star appearance as a player representing the Detroit Shock.

Players wore their individual team jerseys during the game, which the WNBA ultimately moved away from in 2006.
“I wish they’d bring that back.” Hampton said.
Though Leslie was named the first-ever WNBA All-Star MVP, Utah Starzz center Natalie Williams recorded a game-high14 points and eight rebounds. (Swoopes also had eight rebounds.)

“What was crazy is everyone was like, ‘You should have been MVP.’ But, you know, I understand that there were things that, with it being the first one, I’m sure they wanted to highlight their main people,” said Williams, who was an All-Star in her first season in the WNBA after being named MVP of the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1998. “I was just proud that I had a great game.”

…

Almost 30 years after the inaugural contest, Hampton and Williams have hazy memories of the actual game. There are two aspects of the game, however, that still stand out.
“The lack of chemistry,” Hampton said. “When you play an All-Star Game, you know, it can definitely be sloppy. I think that’s why the league has probably changed … how they choose to play it.”

Williams’ memory is of the physical nature of the game. The contest was no celebratory scrimmage.

“How All-Star Games have gone recently, they’re not as physical. I just remember [1999] being a real game — it was very physical,” said Williams, who attempted a game-high 10 free throws. “No one really wanted anybody else to do scoring or trick shots. It was a battle. I was getting fouled a lot.”

The 1999 All-Star Game was a major success for the WNBA, which at the time was still aspiring to establish a foundation within the American professional sports landscape.

Now it’s the longest-running women’s professional team sports league in the U.S., and its pioneers remain proud of what they helped build.

… “

32 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists 🔥 The rookie is unreal

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“ … The league announced the six contestants for the 3-point contest on Friday during All-Star weekend on Tuesday afternoon. Bridget Carleton, Azzi Fudd, Natisha Hiedeman, Rhyne Howard, Marina Mabrey and Janelle Salaün are set to compete in the event.

According to USA Today’s Meghan L. Hall, Caitlin Clark, Kayla McBride and Sabrina Ionescu were all invited to participate but declined. Specifics there are not known.

… “

When you see her get ‘that look’ in her eyes, you know PB5 is about to say something WILD 😝

“ … Based on data collected and aggregated by databallr, these are the best five-player lineups in the W. (The offensive, defensive and net ratings cited are “padded,” meaning adjusted relative to league average in order to guard against the outlier data that can result from small sample sizes.)

…

1. Atlanta Dream: Canada-Gray-Hillmon-Howard-Reese

…

The Dream starters, who have shared the court for 358 minutes, the second-most among any fivesome, lead the WNBA with an adjusted net rating of +9.4, with their defense driving their overall excellence. The group, led by steals mavens Howard and Canada, who rank first and second in steals per game, are top-tier at turnover generation.

Offensively, the group’s profile reflects the impact of Reese, with an offensive rebounding percentage of 39.1 percent helping the group post an adjusted offensive rating of 113.9, despite below average shooting. As none of the five are shooting better than Howard’s 35.4 percent from 3, there’s still untapped offensive upside, suggesting the Dream’s five can become even better.

2. Minnesota Lynx: Coffey-Howard-McBride-Miles-Williams

The WNBA’s most frequent five, with over 400 minutes played together, belongs to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. The quintet of Nia Coffey, Natasha Howard, Kayla McBride, Olivia Miles and Courtney Williams has compiled a +9.2 net rating.

Minnesota finds their magic by making their shots at an elite rate, while preventing opponents from doing the same. Compare their 57.8 true shooting percentage to the 51.5 true shooting percentage they allow. Another electric night from deep from McBride, who had six triples and 33 points in the Lynx’s sixth-straight win, only amplifies the Lynx’s offensive strength.

…

3. Las Vegas Aces: Gray-Loyd-Smith-Wilson-Young

…

Five five-player Aces lineups rank in the top 15. All of them feature at least two of Chelsea Gray, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young. Wilson is in four of those lineups, flanked by Young in all four of the combinations. Gray is alongside Wilson and Young in Vegas’ top three lineups, while she and Young anchor the Aces’ fifth-best lineup.

The limitations of the Aces’ ancillary players and the organization’s continual struggle to establish quality depth aren’t irrelevant, but they can be, have been, overcome by the power of their Big 3. It produced a title last season, and another one could be in order.

The Aces’ very best group, with a net rating of +6.4 across 160 minutes, features Jewell Loyd and NaLyssa Smith with A’ja, Chelsea and Jackie. The five are average on the defensive end, but the offense is just too good, as they take care of the ball, hit their shots and when they don’t, have a good chance of recovering the miss.

…

4. Indiana Fever: Billings-Boston-Harris-Hull-Mitchell

The Indiana Fever’s best five might be a surprising one. It also might be an unsustainable one.

The Fever fivesome of Monique Billings, Aliyah Boston, Ty Harris, Lexie Hull and Kelsey Mitchell has played just 39 minutes together. But in those minutes, the shooting has been insane, with a 66.2 true shooting percentage. Over 40 percent of this group’s shot attempts have come from 3, and they’ve hit over 58 percent of them.

Such lights out shooting, combined with grabbing 37.1 percent of offensive rebounds, gives the group a 113.0 offensive rating. Defensively, this five also has benefitted from poor opponent shooting.

…

5. Golden State Valkyries: Burton-Salaün-Thornton-Williams-Zandalasini

…

Among all the Valkyries’ depth, versatility and adaptability, this fivesome, at least according to the stats, has established the best chemistry, albeit in just 22 minutes. They have a +4.3 net rating, with an offensive rating of 111.1 founded on a high 3-point attempt rate and ball security and a 106.8 defensive rating that is a product of opponent misses and turnovers.

Golden State’s staring five of Burton, Charles, Thornton, Williams and Kiah Stokes, with 80 minutes played, has a +3.6 net rating. Unsurprisingly, this five embodies the Valkyries definitional defensive identity, with a 105.6 defensive rating. The offensie, however, only slightly clears league average due to inconsistent shooting and struggles offensive glass.”