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<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><meta charSet="utf-8"/><title>Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Rookies on the Rise - WNBA</title><link rel="canonical" href="/news/inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-rookies-on-the-rise"/><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"/><meta http-equiv="x-ua-compatible" content="ie=edge"/><meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#000000"/><meta name="theme-color" content="#000000"/><meta property="og:title" content="Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Rookies on the Rise - WNBA"/><meta property="og:description" content="Michelle Smith takes a look at the top rookies of the season so far."/><meta property="og:image" content="/images/WNBA_fallback.png"/><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"/><meta name="twitter:title" content="Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Rookies on the Rise - WNBA"/><meta name="twitter:description" content="Michelle Smith takes a look at the top rookies of the season so far. 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data-interaction-type="icon" data-href="https://wnbastore.nba.com/" class="WNBANavbarMain--item"><a class="WNBANavbarMain--links__icon" href="https://wnbastore.nba.com/" aria-label="Shop"><svg fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><title>Shop</title><path d="M23.7 5.3c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-5.7c-.1-1.3-.6-2.4-1.5-3.3-1-1-2.4-1.6-3.8-1.6S9.2.6 8.2 1.7c-.9.9-1.4 2-1.5 3.3H1c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7l.1 14.7c0 .9.4 1.7 1 2.3.6.6 1.5.9 2.4.9h17c.9 0 1.7-.3 2.4-.9.7-.6 1-1.4 1-2.3L24 6c0-.3-.1-.5-.3-.7zM9.6 3.1c.6-.6 1.5-1 2.4-1 .9 0 1.8.4 2.4 1 .5.5.8 1.2.9 1.9H8.7c.1-.7.4-1.4.9-1.9zm12.3 17.6c0 .3-.1.6-.4.8-.3.2-.7.4-1 .4h-17c-.4 0-.8-.1-1-.4-.2-.2-.4-.5-.4-.8L2 7h20l-.1 13.7z"></path><path d="M12 15.1c1.4 0 2.8-.6 3.8-1.6s1.6-2.4 1.6-3.8c0-.6-.4-1-1-1s-1 .4-1 1c0 .9-.3 1.7-1 2.4-.6.6-1.5 1-2.4 1-.9 0-1.7-.4-2.4-1-.6-.6-1-1.5-1-2.4 0-.6-.4-1-1-1s-1 .4-1 1c0 1.4.6 2.8 1.6 3.8s2.4 1.6 3.8 1.6z"></path></svg></a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:icon" data-interaction-position="14/14" data-interaction-text="Sign Up" data-interaction-type="icon" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/signup" class="WNBANavbarMain--item"><a class="WNBANavbarMain--links__icon" href="https://www.wnba.com/signup" aria-label="Sign Up"><svg fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><title>User Logged Out</title><path d="M12 12.7c-3.5 0-6.4-2.9-6.4-6.4S8.5 0 12 0c3.5 0 6.4 2.9 6.4 6.4s-2.9 6.3-6.4 6.3zM12 2C9.6 2 7.6 4 7.6 6.4c0 2.4 2 4.4 4.4 4.4 2.4 0 4.4-2 4.4-4.4C16.4 4 14.4 2 12 2zM21.7 24H2.3c-.3 0-.6-.1-.8-.4s-.3-.5-.2-.8c.6-2.9 3.7-8.3 10.7-8.3 7.1 0 10.1 5.4 10.7 8.3.1.3 0 .6-.2.8s-.4.4-.8.4zM3.6 22h16.8c-1-2.4-3.5-5.5-8.4-5.5S4.6 19.6 3.6 22z"></path></svg></a></li></ul><ul class="WNBANavbarMenu--wrapper"><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="2/14" data-interaction-text="Schedule" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/schedule" id="WNBANavbarMenu--item-176900" class="WNBANavbarMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/schedule">Schedule</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="3/14" data-interaction-text="Standings" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/standings" id="WNBANavbarMenu--item-181658" class="WNBANavbarMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/standings">Standings</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="4/14" data-interaction-text="Stats" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://stats.wnba.com" id="WNBANavbarMenu--item-176909" class="WNBANavbarMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarMenu--links" href="https://stats.wnba.com">Stats</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="5/14" data-interaction-text="Teams" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/tickets" id="WNBANavbarMenu--item-177499" class="WNBANavbarMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/tickets">Teams</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="6/14" data-interaction-text="Players" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/players" id="WNBANavbarMenu--item-176907" class="WNBANavbarMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarMenu--links">Players<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor"><title>Caret Down</title><path d="M12 19.5.2 6.1c-.4-.4-.3-1 .1-1.4.4-.4 1-.3 1.4.1L12 16.5 22.2 4.8c.4-.4 1-.5 1.4-.1.4.4.5 1 .1 1.4L12 19.5z"></path></svg></a><ul class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--wrapper"><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="1/2" data-interaction-text="Players" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/players" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-176907" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/players">Players</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="2/2" data-interaction-text="Transactions" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/players/transactions" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-177505" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/players/transactions">Transactions</a></li></ul></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="7/14" data-interaction-text="News" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/news" id="WNBANavbarMenu--item-173889" class="WNBANavbarMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarMenu--links">News<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor"><title>Caret Down</title><path d="M12 19.5.2 6.1c-.4-.4-.3-1 .1-1.4.4-.4 1-.3 1.4.1L12 16.5 22.2 4.8c.4-.4 1-.5 1.4-.1.4.4.5 1 .1 1.4L12 19.5z"></path></svg></a><ul class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--wrapper"><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="1/3" data-interaction-text="News" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/news" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-173889" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/news">News</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="2/3" data-interaction-text="Key Dates" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/keydates" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-182298" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/keydates">Key Dates</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="3/3" data-interaction-text="Transactions" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/players/transactions" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-182203" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/players/transactions">Transactions</a></li></ul></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="8/14" data-interaction-text="Playoffs" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2024" id="WNBANavbarMenu--item-193617" class="WNBANavbarMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarMenu--links">Playoffs<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor"><title>Caret Down</title><path d="M12 19.5.2 6.1c-.4-.4-.3-1 .1-1.4.4-.4 1-.3 1.4.1L12 16.5 22.2 4.8c.4-.4 1-.5 1.4-.1.4.4.5 1 .1 1.4L12 19.5z"></path></svg></a><ul class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--wrapper"><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="1/4" data-interaction-text="Playoffs" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2024" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-193617" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2024">Playoffs</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="2/4" data-interaction-text="Bracket" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2024" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-194079" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2024">Bracket</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="3/4" data-interaction-text="Schedule" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2024#schedule" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-194080" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2024#schedule">Schedule</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="4/4" data-interaction-text="News" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2024/news" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-194081" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2024/news">News</a></li></ul></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="9/14" data-interaction-text="Expansion" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/#" id="WNBANavbarMenu--item-194378" class="WNBANavbarMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarMenu--links">Expansion<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor"><title>Caret Down</title><path d="M12 19.5.2 6.1c-.4-.4-.3-1 .1-1.4.4-.4 1-.3 1.4.1L12 16.5 22.2 4.8c.4-.4 1-.5 1.4-.1.4.4.5 1 .1 1.4L12 19.5z"></path></svg></a><ul class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--wrapper"><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="1/4" data-interaction-text="Expansion" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/#" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-194378" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/#">Expansion</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="2/4" data-interaction-text="Portland" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/portland" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-193213" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/portland">Portland</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="3/4" data-interaction-text="Toronto" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/toronto" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-184949" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/toronto">Toronto</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="4/4" data-interaction-text="Golden State" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://valkyries.com/" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-184028" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://valkyries.com/">Golden State</a></li></ul></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="10/14" data-interaction-text="More" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" id="WNBANavbarMenu--item-177463" class="WNBANavbarMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarMenu--links">More<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor"><title>Caret Down</title><path d="M12 19.5.2 6.1c-.4-.4-.3-1 .1-1.4.4-.4 1-.3 1.4.1L12 16.5 22.2 4.8c.4-.4 1-.5 1.4-.1.4.4.5 1 .1 1.4L12 19.5z"></path></svg></a><ul class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--wrapper"><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="1/3" data-interaction-text="All-Star" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/allstar/2025" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-195146" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/allstar/2025">All-Star</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="2/3" data-interaction-text="Experiences" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://wnbaexperiences.com/" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-182145" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://wnbaexperiences.com/">Experiences</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:link" data-interaction-position="3/3" data-interaction-text="WNBABet" data-interaction-type="link" data-interaction-section="drawer" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/wnbabet" id="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item-180409" class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--item"><a class="WNBANavbarSubMenu--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/wnbabet">WNBABet</a></li></ul></li><li class="WNBANavbarMenu--item__spacer"></li></ul><ul class="WNBANavbarBottom--wrapper"><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:icon" data-interaction-position="11/14" data-interaction-text="League Pass" data-interaction-type="icon" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/leaguepass/" id="WNBANavbarBottom--item-176943" class="WNBANavbarBottom--item"><a class="WNBANavbarBottom--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/leaguepass/" aria-label="League Pass"><svg width="52" height="24" viewBox="0 0 78 36" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img"><title>League Pass</title><path d="M14.1148 5.19722C14.1991 4.88511 14.4982 4.44218 14.5995 4.09621C14.6824 3.81 14.6539 3.60281 14.5397 3.54836C14.5683 3.1803 14.4877 2.81197 14.3074 2.48757C14.1272 2.16316 13.8549 1.89645 13.5234 1.71941C13.1918 1.54238 12.8151 1.46255 12.4382 1.48949C12.0614 1.51644 11.7005 1.64901 11.3989 1.87132C11.0973 2.09362 10.8677 2.39622 10.7377 2.74281C10.6077 3.0894 10.5828 3.46526 10.666 3.82533C10.7492 4.18539 10.937 4.51436 11.2068 4.77277C11.4766 5.03119 11.817 5.20808 12.1871 5.28222C12.333 5.31182 12.482 5.32452 12.631 5.32008C12.7007 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13.6062H52.2812C51.8312 13.0026 50.7314 12.6958 49.202 12.6958C47.3055 12.6958 45.9229 13.5551 45.9229 14.7012C45.9229 15.9497 47.3368 16.7074 49.2856 16.7074Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M64.3406 14.5399V11.377H66.5157V14.591C66.5157 17.149 64.6125 18.8994 61.2362 18.8994C57.8599 18.8994 55.9567 17.149 55.9567 14.591V11.377H58.1318V14.5399C58.1318 16.218 59.2949 17.0162 61.2328 17.0162C63.1707 17.0162 64.3406 16.218 64.3406 14.5399Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M67.9025 11.0684H76.5766V12.9277H70.0817V13.801H76.2415V15.582H70.0817V16.4718H76.7126V18.3312H67.9025V11.0684Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M16.5558 24.603V26.8164H14.3772V19.5469H20.5887C22.4239 19.5469 23.4905 20.622 23.4905 22.0444C23.4905 23.4562 22.4641 24.603 20.5887 24.603H16.5558ZM16.5558 22.7403H20.4112C20.987 22.7403 21.2494 22.4535 21.2494 22.0444C21.2494 21.6659 20.987 21.4096 20.4112 21.4096H16.5558V22.7403Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M41.0024 24.6639C41.0024 24.2237 40.5619 24.1114 38.7919 24.0397C35.1356 23.8963 33.9522 23.3438 33.9522 21.7368C33.9522 20.2021 35.6066 19.291 38.4459 19.291C41.1485 19.291 42.8458 20.2327 43.1599 21.9413H40.9603C40.7088 21.3483 39.9128 21.0408 38.6342 21.0408C36.9267 21.0408 36.1933 21.2254 36.1933 21.6139C36.1933 21.9825 36.7275 22.0954 38.8232 22.177C42.2171 22.3098 43.2415 22.8524 43.2415 24.5411C43.2415 26.1787 41.555 27.0692 38.9156 27.0692C35.7827 27.0692 34.1071 26.1886 33.6041 24.2748H35.8051C36.0675 25.0325 37.0286 25.3187 38.885 25.3187C40.4049 25.3187 41.0024 25.1348 41.0024 24.6639Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M51.2116 24.6639C51.2116 24.2237 50.7719 24.1114 49.0011 24.0397C45.3455 23.8963 44.1614 23.3438 44.1614 21.7368C44.1614 20.2021 45.8166 19.291 48.6558 19.291C51.3585 19.291 53.0551 20.2327 53.3698 21.9413H51.1675C50.9166 21.3483 50.12 21.0408 48.8421 21.0408C47.1346 21.0408 46.4011 21.2254 46.4011 21.6139C46.4011 21.9825 46.9354 22.0954 49.031 22.177C52.425 22.3098 53.4493 22.8524 53.4493 24.5411C53.4493 26.1787 51.7629 27.0692 49.1228 27.0692C45.9906 27.0692 44.3143 26.1886 43.812 24.2748H46.0116C46.2733 25.0325 47.2352 25.3187 49.0915 25.3187C50.6142 25.3187 51.2116 25.1348 51.2116 24.6639Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M29.6658 19.5469H26.6491L22.6475 26.8164H25.2767L26.1046 25.2505H30.2728L31.1218 26.8164H33.751L29.6658 19.5469ZM27.0148 23.5073L28.1561 21.3378L29.33 23.5073H27.0148Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path d="M39.7164 11.0684H36.699L32.6974 18.3345H35.3293L36.1573 16.7687H40.3254L41.1751 18.3345H43.8043L39.7164 11.0684ZM37.0654 15.0288L38.206 12.8593L39.3806 15.0288H37.0654Z" fill="currentColor"></path></svg>League Pass</a></li><li data-interaction-identifier="header:category:icon" data-interaction-position="12/14" data-interaction-text="Tickets" data-interaction-type="icon" data-href="https://www.wnba.com/tickets" id="WNBANavbarBottom--item-176940" class="WNBANavbarBottom--item"><a class="WNBANavbarBottom--links" href="https://www.wnba.com/tickets" 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Up</a></li></ul></nav></header><section class="News_Article__YPIS9"><div class="wrapper"><article class="_Article_n4g1q_6" style="--secondary-light:#fa4d00;--primary-light:#fa4d00;--text-link-color:#d64000"><div class="_Article__category-list_n4g1q_439"><ul class="_CategoryList_ieo60_5"><li><a style="--secondary-dark:#d64000;--text-secondary:#ffffff" class="_CategoryTag__link_wxpwb_19 _CategoryTag__tag_wxpwb_5 CategoryTag" href="/news/category/inside-the-w">Inside the W</a></li><li><a style="--secondary-dark:#d64000;--text-secondary:#ffffff" class="_CategoryTag__link_wxpwb_19 _CategoryTag__tag_wxpwb_5 CategoryTag" href="/news/category/inside-the-w-michelle-smith">Inside The W: Michelle Smith</a></li></ul></div><div class="_Article__header_n4g1q_12"><h2 class="_Article__title_n4g1q_15">Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Rookies on the Rise</h2><div class="_Article__sub-header_n4g1q_26"><div></div><div>Michelle Smith</div></div></div><div class="_Article__story_n4g1q_50"><figure class="wp-image size-full"> <img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/08/lynxcover-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image- size-full"/><br /> </figure> <p>The WNBA Rookie Class of 2020 is going to remember their first WNBA season for so many reasons. Living in the bubble. Social justice efforts. A fast-paced 22-game schedule that barely leaves time for absorbing the celebration of a big win or the lessons of a big loss, not to mention minimal practice time to acclimate to the speed, skill and physicality of the WNBA.</p> <p>This group of young women, regarded as one of the most potentially impactful collection of rookies in recent years, has had a rough road to the start of their pro careers. The COVID pandemic forced teams to make roster decisions without a training camp, and many first-year players were cut before they had a chance to prove themselves.</p> <p>The ones that made it on to rosters have seen their ranks thinned by injuries. No. 1 pick Sabrina Ionescu (New York) went down early with a significant ankle injury, followed a couple of weeks later by No. 4 pick Chennedy Carter (Atlanta), who returned last Friday after missing six games.</p> <p>Dallas forward Satou Sabally, the No. 2 pick in the draft, missed four games with a back injury, but is now back with a vengeance.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Crystal Dangerfield has become something of a pleasant surprise. Dangerfield has emerged a go-to scorer for the Lynx in her rookie season moving up the ladder following an injury to starting point guard Shenise Johnson and the early-season absence of Odyssey Sims.</p> <p> </p> <p>Should Dangerfield end up as the Rookie of the Year – and her numbers certainly make her a front-runner – she would be the first rookie drafted in the second round to win the award in league history. Dangerfield is averaging 15.5 points and 3.0 assists per game. Over the last nine games, she has averaged 19.3 points, including five 20-point plus games.</p> <p> </p> <p>But Dangerfield is hardly alone in having a positive impact on her team.</p> <p> </p> <p>Sabally is quickly making up ground in the rookie of the year race after being out with a back injury earlier in July. Sabally is one of five rookies ever to average 12.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 2.4 assists. The others are Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings, Candace Parker and Breanna Stewart. Good company.</p> <p> </p> <p>Carter, the Dream’s high-scoring guard, is a welcome sight for the Dream, who are out of the playoff race. Carter put up 26 points on Sunday against Los Angeles in her second game back from her ankle injury.</p> <p> </p> <p>And a big sigh of relief was felt league-wide when news came last week that Ionescu will not have to have surgery to repair her ankle sprain.</p> <p> </p> <p>“It’s all about opportunity,” said Dallas Wings coach Brian Agler, who has three rookies playing significant minutes for his young team. “Depending on your team’s situation, some are getting bigger ones than others.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Here are some of the best rookie performers of the 2020 season so far:</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Julie Allemand, Indiana. </strong>The Belgian guard, who had never played in the United States before this season, is making a run at Rookie of the Year. She has made significant contributions to the Fever as the starting point guard in the absence of All-Star Erica Wheeler. In her last four games, she scored 45 points, pulled down 18 rebounds and dished out 21 assists. She has scored double figures in eight games so far this season and ranks second in the league in assists (5.3 per game) behind Chicago’s Courtney Vandersloot and tied a team record with 11 assists against Dallas back on July 31. Only one other rookie in league history has collected more than 5.0 assists per game, Temeka Johnson in 2004. Fever coach Marianne Stanley said she knew the team had a “gem” when they signed Allemand, who has national team experience in Belgium, and so far she’s been proven right.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Te’a Cooper, Los Angeles. </strong>Cooper, drafted in the second round out of Baylor, has given the Sparks some very valuable minutes off the bench, including back to back double-digit games against Indiana (14 points) and Washington (10 points) earlier this month. Cooper is part of a Los Angeles bench crew including Seimone Augustus and Riquna Williams that is averaging 33.8 points a game to help propel Los Angeles to an eight-game win streak.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Tyasha Harris, Dallas. </strong>Harris’ minutes have been relatively consistent (18.3 minutes) off the bench, and she is averaging 6.7 points a game. With Moriah Jefferson out of the season with a knee injury, the South Carolina product’s minutes are likely to increase down the stretch of the season. Against Washington on August 21, she played 26 minutes and finished with 10 points and three assists in a big Wings win. Harris has been playing through a thumb injury.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Ezi Magbegor, Seattle.</strong> The 21-year-old Australian star (born in New Zealand) was drafted by the Storm with the 12th overall pick in 2019, but decided to make her WNBA debut in 2020, taking a year to get more experience before joining the world’s best professional league. She has scored in double figures in a pair of games this season.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Jazmine Jones, New York.</strong> The Louisville product, the final pick of the first round in April, is picking up some of the slack left behind by Ionescu’s injury. She is averaging 10.4 points a game, but she is picking up steam, averaging 13.1 points in the last eight games, including a 24-point effort against Los Angeles on August 11. On August 20 against Chicago, Jones finished with 18 points, four rebounds and three steals.</p> <p> </p> <hr /> <p><em>Longtime WNBA reporter Michelle Smith writes a weekly column on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.</em></p> </div><div class="_continueReading_n4g1q_498"><h3>Continue Reading</h3><div class="_Article__tag-list_n4g1q_439"><ul class="_TagList_1661w_5"><li><a class="_Tag__tagPill_6d1ft_5 _Tag__playerPill_6d1ft_26 TagPill" href="/news/player/1627700/julie-allemand"><img src="https://cdn.wnba.com/headshots/wnba/latest/260x190/1627700.png"/><p>Julie Allemand</p></a></li><li><a class="_Tag__tagPill_6d1ft_5 _Tag__playerPill_6d1ft_26 TagPill" href="/news/player/1629477/sabrina-ionescu"><img src="https://cdn.wnba.com/headshots/wnba/latest/260x190/1629477.png"/><p>Sabrina Ionescu</p></a></li><li><a class="_Tag__tagPill_6d1ft_5 _Tag__playerPill_6d1ft_26 TagPill" href="/news/player/1629496/ezi-magbegor"><img src="https://cdn.wnba.com/headshots/wnba/latest/260x190/1629496.png"/><p>Ezi Magbegor</p></a></li><li><a class="_Tag__tagPill_6d1ft_5 _Tag__playerPill_6d1ft_26 TagPill" href="/news/player/1630099/te’a-cooper"><img src="https://cdn.wnba.com/headshots/wnba/latest/260x190/1630099.png"/><p>Te’a Cooper</p></a></li><li><a class="_Tag__tagPill_6d1ft_5 _Tag__playerPill_6d1ft_26 TagPill" href="/news/player/1630101/crystal-dangerfield"><img src="https://cdn.wnba.com/headshots/wnba/latest/260x190/1630101.png"/><p>Crystal Dangerfield</p></a></li><li><a class="_Tag__tagPill_6d1ft_5 _Tag__playerPill_6d1ft_26 TagPill" href="/news/player/1630112/tyasha-harris"><img src="https://cdn.wnba.com/headshots/wnba/latest/260x190/1630112.png"/><p>Tyasha Harris</p></a></li><li><a class="_Tag__tagPill_6d1ft_5 _Tag__playerPill_6d1ft_26 TagPill" href="/news/player/1630119/jazmine-jones"><img src="https://cdn.wnba.com/headshots/wnba/latest/260x190/1630119.png"/><p>Jazmine Jones</p></a></li><li><a class="_Tag__tagPill_6d1ft_5 _Tag__playerPill_6d1ft_26 TagPill" href="/news/player/1630149/satou-sabally"><img 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","timestamp":1598907108000,"date":"2020-08-31T20:51:48Z","modified":"2023-05-11T19:55:27Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/08/Crystal-Dangerfield-850-Featured.jpg","category":"Inside the W,Inside The W: Michelle Smith","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"","title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Rookies on the Rise - WNBA","description":"Michelle Smith takes a look at the top rookies of the season so far. ","twitter":{"title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Rookies on the Rise - WNBA","description":"Michelle Smith takes a look at the top rookies of the season so far. ","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/08/Crystal-Dangerfield-850-Featured.jpg","imageId":""},"facebook":{"title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Rookies on the Rise - WNBA","description":"Michelle Smith takes a look at the top rookies of the season so far.","image":"","imageId":"129515"}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"inside-the-w":"Inside the W","inside-the-w-michelle-smith":"Inside The W: Michelle Smith"},"tags":{"2020-wnba-draft":"2020 WNBA Draft","chennedy-carter":"Chennedy Carter","crystal-dangerfield":"Crystal Dangerfield","ezi-magbegor":"Ezi Magbegor","julie-allemand":"Julie Allemand","rookies":"Rookies","sabrina-ionescu":"Sabrina Ionescu","satou-sabally":"Satou Sabally","tea-cooper":"Te'a Cooper"},"teams":{"1611661313":"New York Liberty - 1611661313","1611661320":"Los Angeles Sparks - 1611661320","1611661321":"Dallas Wings - 1611661321","1611661324":"Minnesota Lynx - 1611661324","1611661325":"Indiana Fever - 1611661325","1611661328":"Seattle Storm - 1611661328","1611661330":"Atlanta Dream - 1611661330"},"players":{"1627700":"Julie Allemand - 1627700","1629477":"Sabrina Ionescu - 1629477","1629496":"Ezi Magbegor - 1629496","1630099":"Te\u0026#8217;a Cooper - 1630099","1630101":"Crystal Dangerfield - 1630101","1630112":"Tyasha Harris - 1630112","1630119":"Jazmine Jones - 1630119","1630149":"Satou Sabally - 1630149","1630150":"Chennedy Carter - 1630150"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Michelle Smith","contentFiltered":"\u003cfigure class=\"wp-image size-full\"\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/08/lynxcover-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image- size-full\"/\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe WNBA Rookie Class of 2020 is going to remember their first WNBA season for so many reasons. Living in the bubble. Social justice efforts. A fast-paced 22-game schedule that barely leaves time for absorbing the celebration of a big win or the lessons of a big loss, not to mention minimal practice time to acclimate to the speed, skill and physicality of the WNBA.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis group of young women, regarded as one of the most potentially impactful collection of rookies in recent years, has had a rough road to the start of their pro careers. The COVID pandemic forced teams to make roster decisions without a training camp, and many first-year players were cut before they had a chance to prove themselves.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ones that made it on to rosters have seen their ranks thinned by injuries. No. 1 pick Sabrina Ionescu (New York) went down early with a significant ankle injury, followed a couple of weeks later by No. 4 pick Chennedy Carter (Atlanta), who returned last Friday after missing six games.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDallas forward Satou Sabally, the No. 2 pick in the draft, missed four games with a back injury, but is now back with a vengeance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile, Minnesota’s Crystal Dangerfield has become something of a pleasant surprise. Dangerfield has emerged a go-to scorer for the Lynx in her rookie season moving up the ladder following an injury to starting point guard Shenise Johnson and the early-season absence of Odyssey Sims.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShould Dangerfield end up as the Rookie of the Year \u0026#8211; and her numbers certainly make her a front-runner \u0026#8211; she would be the first rookie drafted in the second round to win the award in league history. Dangerfield is averaging 15.5 points and 3.0 assists per game. Over the last nine games, she has averaged 19.3 points, including five 20-point plus games.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut Dangerfield is hardly alone in having a positive impact on her team.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSabally is quickly making up ground in the rookie of the year race after being out with a back injury earlier in July. Sabally is one of five rookies ever to average 12.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 2.4 assists. The others are Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings, Candace Parker and Breanna Stewart. Good company.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarter, the Dream’s high-scoring guard, is a welcome sight for the Dream, who are out of the playoff race. Carter put up 26 points on Sunday against Los Angeles in her second game back from her ankle injury.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd a big sigh of relief was felt league-wide when news came last week that Ionescu will not have to have surgery to repair her ankle sprain.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“It’s all about opportunity,” said Dallas Wings coach Brian Agler, who has three rookies playing significant minutes for his young team. “Depending on your team’s situation, some are getting bigger ones than others.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere are some of the best rookie performers of the 2020 season so far:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJulie Allemand, Indiana. \u003c/strong\u003eThe Belgian guard, who had never played in the United States before this season, is making a run at Rookie of the Year. She has made significant contributions to the Fever as the starting point guard in the absence of All-Star Erica Wheeler. In her last four games, she scored 45 points, pulled down 18 rebounds and dished out 21 assists. She has scored double figures in eight games so far this season and ranks second in the league in assists (5.3 per game) behind Chicago’s Courtney Vandersloot and tied a team record with 11 assists against Dallas back on July 31. Only one other rookie in league history has collected more than 5.0 assists per game, Temeka Johnson in 2004. Fever coach Marianne Stanley said she knew the team had a “gem” when they signed Allemand, who has national team experience in Belgium, and so far she’s been proven right.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTe’a Cooper, Los Angeles. \u003c/strong\u003eCooper, drafted in the second round out of Baylor, has given the Sparks some very valuable minutes off the bench, including back to back double-digit games against Indiana (14 points) and Washington (10 points) earlier this month. Cooper is part of a Los Angeles bench crew including Seimone Augustus and Riquna Williams that is averaging 33.8 points a game to help propel Los Angeles to an eight-game win streak.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTyasha Harris, Dallas. \u003c/strong\u003eHarris’ minutes have been relatively consistent (18.3 minutes) off the bench, and she is averaging 6.7 points a game. With Moriah Jefferson out of the season with a knee injury, the South Carolina product’s minutes are likely to increase down the stretch of the season. Against Washington on August 21, she played 26 minutes and finished with 10 points and three assists in a big Wings win. Harris has been playing through a thumb injury.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEzi Magbegor, Seattle.\u003c/strong\u003e The 21-year-old Australian star (born in New Zealand) was drafted by the Storm with the 12th overall pick in 2019, but decided to make her WNBA debut in 2020, taking a year to get more experience before joining the world’s best professional league. She has scored in double figures in a pair of games this season.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJazmine Jones, New York.\u003c/strong\u003e The Louisville product, the final pick of the first round in April, is picking up some of the slack left behind by Ionescu’s injury. She is averaging 10.4 points a game, but she is picking up steam, averaging 13.1 points in the last eight games, including a 24-point effort against Los Angeles on August 11. On August 20 against Chicago, Jones finished with 18 points, four rebounds and three steals.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLongtime WNBA reporter Michelle Smith writes a weekly column on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":"","categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":"","bannerImage":"","mobileBannerImage":"","menu":{},"mobileMenu":{},"adfuelTarget":"","isHub":false},"powerRankings":[],"author":{"id":0,"slug":"","name":"Michelle Smith","firstName":"","lastName":"","organization":"","isNBAStaff":false,"authorPhoto":"","socialHandle":"","socialLink":"","wpseoTitle":"","wpseoMetadesc":"","description":"","userUrl":"","featuredAuthor":false},"latest":{"count":6,"items":[{"id":195122,"type":"post","name":"golden-state-valkyries-expansion-draft-faq","title":"Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft: FAQ and Things to Know","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"golden-state-valkyries-expansion-draft-faq","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/golden-state-valkyries-expansion-draft-faq","excerpt":"Get the answers to some of the main questions about the expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries on December 6, 2024.","timestamp":1732720781000,"date":"2024-11-27T15:19:41Z","modified":"2024-11-27T15:19:41Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/ValykriesDraftFAQ.png","category":"Team News","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft: FAQ and Things to Know","title":"Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft: FAQ and Things to Know","description":"Get the answers to some of the main questions about the expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries on December 6, 2024.","twitter":{"title":"Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft: FAQ and Things to Know","description":"Get the answers to some of the main questions about the expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries on December 6, 2024.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/ValykriesDraftFAQ.png","imageId":195125},"facebook":{"title":"Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft: FAQ and Things to Know","description":"Get the answers to some of the main questions about the expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries on December 6, 2024.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/ValykriesDraftFAQ.png","imageId":195125}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"team-news":"Team News"},"teams":{"golden-state-valkyries-1611661331":"Golden State Valkyries - 1611661331"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"WNBA Staff","author":{"id":776,"name":"WNBA"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMore Expansion Draft info and FAQs will be posted as information becomes available.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBelow are answers to some of the main questions about the expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW119270862 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eQ: What is an Expansion Draft?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW119270862 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"SCXW119270862 BCX0\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW119270862 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003e An Expansion Draft is a process used by professional sports leagues to allow a new team to build its roster by selecting players from existing teams. In this case, the WNBA’s 13th franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003ewhich will debut in the 2025 season, \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003ewill be able to select\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003e a\u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eplayer from a designated pool of unprotected players from each of the current 12 WNBA teams.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eQ: When will the 2025 WNBA Expansion Draft Presented by State Farm occur?\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e The Expansion Draft is scheduled for Friday, December 6, 2024, at 6:30 pm ET and will be broadcast on ESPN. \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;134233117\u0026quot;:false,\u0026quot;134233118\u0026quot;:false,\u0026quot;335559738\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW221818427 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eQ: Wh\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eich\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e players will be available in the Expansion Draft?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW221818427 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e Each of the existing 12 WNBA teams will \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003esubmit\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e a Roster List that includes every player they have rights to, covering active, suspended, \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003edraft list/reserved, \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003ecore, and retired\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e lists\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e. Each team can protect up to six players from this Roster List \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003ewho will not be available for \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eselection\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e. \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eAll other players \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eon the team’s Roster List who are not protected \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003ewill be made available for selection\u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eby Golden State \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003ein the Expansion Draft\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP SCXW221818427 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW93057017 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003eQ: When do teams have to \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003esubmit\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003e their \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003eRoster\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003e List\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003e?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW93057017 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003e Teams must \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003esubmit\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003e their \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003eRoster List\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003e by\u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003eMonday, November 25.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP SCXW93057017 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW188802407 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW188802407 BCX0\"\u003eQ: How many players can the Golden State Valkyries select?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW188802407 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW188802407 BCX0\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW188802407 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW188802407 BCX0\"\u003eThe Valkyries\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW188802407 BCX0\"\u003e will have the opportunity to select one available player from each of the current 12 teams.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP SCXW188802407 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003eQ: Can Golden State select \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003ea \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003eplayer\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003e from a team’s Roster List\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003e who \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003eis\u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003enot signed for the 2025 season?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e Yes. If a selected player is not signed for the 2025 season, Golden State will receive whatever rights to such player the existing team would have had if that player was not selected in the Expansion Draft. Golden State will acquire the player\u0026#8217;s contract if a selected player is signed for the 2025 season.\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW258083849 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003eQ: Can Golden State select \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003ea player\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e from a team’s Roster List\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e who will be an \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003eunrestricted free agent\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e after 2024\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW258083849 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003eGolden State may only select one player in the Expansion Draft eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season. That player may be selected only if they have not previously played under a Core Player contract for two or more seasons. Golden State may then \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003edesignate\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e that player as its one Core Player in January.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP SCXW258083849 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:278}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW60867975 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eQ: What about former players?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW60867975 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eEach team’s submitted Roster List for \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TrackedChange SCXW60867975 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003et\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003ehe Expansion Draft will \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eonly \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003einclude players on \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003ethe\u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eteam\u0026#8217;s\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003e active, suspended, draft list/reserved, core, and retired lists as of the final day of the 2024 regular season. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;134245418\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;134245529\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559738\u0026quot;:319,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:319,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:278}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW93373479 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eQ: Does Golden State have to select players \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eaccording to\u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eon-court \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eposition\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003e?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW93373479 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"SCXW93373479 BCX0\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr class=\"SCXW93373479 BCX0\" /\u003e\u003c/span\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW93373479 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003e There are no on-court positional requirements. Golden State can choose players regardless of position, depending on team needs and available players.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;134245418\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;134245529\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559738\u0026quot;:319,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:319,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:278}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003eQ: Does Golden State have to build its entire team through the Expansion Draft?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003cspan data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;134245418\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;134245529\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;335559738\u0026quot;:319,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e No. The Expansion Draft is just the start of Golden State’s roster-building process. After the Expansion Draft, Golden State will participate in the typical team roster-building functions in 2025, including the free agency period, which begins in February 2025, and the WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm, which will take place on Monday, April 14, 2025. Golden State currently holds the No. 5 overall pick and the fifth pick in the second and third rounds.\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;134245418\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;134245529\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;335559738\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:319}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":195105,"type":"post","name":"los-angeles-sparks-name-lynne-roberts-head-coach","title":"Los Angeles Sparks Name Lynne Roberts Head Coach","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"los-angeles-sparks-name-lynne-roberts-head-coach","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/los-angeles-sparks-name-lynne-roberts-head-coach","excerpt":"The Los Angeles Sparks have named Lynne Roberts the new head coach, and the organization announced the big news on Tuesday.","timestamp":1732115523000,"date":"2024-11-20T15:12:03Z","modified":"2024-11-20T15:12:03Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_-Recovered-Recovered.png","category":"Team News","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"Los Angeles Sparks Name Lynne Roberts Head Coach","title":"Los Angeles Sparks Name Lynne Roberts Head Coach","description":"The Los Angeles Sparks have named Lynne Roberts the new head coach, and the organization announced the big news on Tuesday.","twitter":{"title":"Los Angeles Sparks Name Lynne Roberts Head Coach","description":"The Los Angeles Sparks have named Lynne Roberts the new head coach, and the organization announced the big news on Tuesday.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_-Recovered-Recovered.png","imageId":195108},"facebook":{"title":"Los Angeles Sparks Name Lynne Roberts Head Coach","description":"The Los Angeles Sparks have named Lynne Roberts the new head coach, and the organization announced the big news on Tuesday.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_-Recovered-Recovered.png","imageId":195108}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"team-news":"Team News"},"teams":{"1611661320":"Los Angeles Sparks - 1611661320"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Official Release","author":{"id":774,"name":"WNBA"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLOS ANGELES —\u003c/strong\u003e The Los Angeles Sparks have named Lynne Roberts head coach, the organization announced Tuesday. The Redding, California native brings 27 seasons of collegiate women’s basketball coaching experience, including the past 18 as a Division I head coach. Roberts most recently helmed the University of Utah’s team for nine-plus seasons, where she led the Utes to three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and was named 2023 Pac-12 Coach of the Year.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003e“Lynne is an outstanding coach and leader,” Sparks Governor and Managing Partner Eric Holoman said. “We are thrilled to bring her decades of winning coaching experience to our organization. Through our comprehensive international search, Lynne’s modern view of basketball, her communication skills, and ability to build relationships made her the right choice for the role.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003e“First and foremost, Lynne’s leadership and integrity stand out. Her ability to partner with players while creating a winning culture will translate as we continue our path toward championship contention. Lynne has a dynamic and forward-thinking offensive mind, and her up-tempo style fits perfectly with the way we want to play,” General Manager Raegan Pebley added. “We love how she maximized her talent at Utah in one of the nation’s strongest conferences. We are honored to welcome Lynne and her family to Los Angeles.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003eThe veteran coach was hired by Utah in 2015, going 18-15 in her first year after taking over a 9-21 team. Roberts led the Utes to the Sweet Sixteen in 2023 and won the Pac-12 regular season championship. Her teams spent 40 consecutive weeks ranked in the Top 25 and 14 straight weeks in the Top 10, ranking as high as No. 2 in the nation. Average home attendance in Roberts’ tenure skyrocketed from 594 to 7,209. At Utah, Roberts coached 2024 No. 8 overall draft pick Alissa Pili and 2019 third-round selection Megan Huff.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003e “I am honored to be named the next head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks,” Roberts said. “I want to thank our ownership group for this incredible opportunity. From conversations with Eric Holoman and Reagan Pebley, it is evident that we share a like-minded commitment toward creating a winning culture and team. The Sparks have a talented roster with tremendous upside, and we will compete tirelessly for WNBA championships. I believe Los Angeles should be the premier market in the WNBA, and I’m eager to partner with our players and front office to make this happen.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003eThe past three seasons, Roberts’ teams have displayed historic efficiency, ranking No. 1 in the nation in field goal attempts from beyond the three-point line and at the rim, second in overall offensive rating, and third in effective field goal percentage. Collectively, these squads rank fifth among all DI schools in three-pointers made across the last three campaigns. In 2023-24, Roberts’ Utes shot 95% of their shots from beyond the arc, at the rim or in the paint. Her team attempted just 5% of their opportunities from the less efficient mid-range area, much more efficient than the 17% frequency that WNBA teams average.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003eAs a standout guard at Enterprise High School in Redding, Roberts earned 1993 Northern Section Player of the Year honors. She then played at Seattle Pacific University, setting a school record with 82 made three-pointers in a season. Roberts began her coaching career as a student assistant at Seattle Pacific while earning her master’s degree, serving as Falcons assistant coach from 1997-2002. She then took the reins as Division II Chico State’s head coach, tallying an 86-31 record. The Wildcats made the DII NCAA Tournament all four seasons Roberts coached them, advancing to the Final Four in 2006.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003eFrom 2006-2015, Roberts helmed the Pacific Tigers, earning 2013 Big West Coach of the Year honors, claiming the 2012-13 regular season championship and qualifying for the WNIT each of her final four seasons.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003eRoberts has been mentored by the winningest head coach in college basketball history—and Cameron Brink’s former coach\u0026#8211; Tara VanDerveer, who said in 2024 that Roberts’ teams “play what I call beautiful basketball.” Entering 2024-25, which she began as Utah’s head coach, Roberts’ collegiate head coaching record stood at 383-290.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003eRoberts will be formally introduced to media during a press conference (simultaneously in-person and virtual) on Thursday, November 21 at 1 p.m. PT at \u003ca href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://Crypto.com__;!!PMETyfE!JUjPmDJIwknzmJP_QAQ8aWKpoBbBQXbxe3D4QPQVcyduMh_NePtat9hWBRmHIzUeYB1_YcI5$\"\u003eCrypto.com\u003c/a\u003e Arena, alongside General Manager Raegan Pebley. A media advisory containing pertinent details will be distributed shortly.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;text-align: center\"\u003e###\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":195073,"type":"post","name":"2025-wnba-draft-lottery-results","title":"Dallas Wings Win Top Pick in 2025 WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm®","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"2025-wnba-draft-lottery-results","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/2025-wnba-draft-lottery-results","excerpt":"The Dallas Wings won the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm® and will have the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.","timestamp":1731884109000,"date":"2024-11-17T22:55:09Z","modified":"2024-11-17T22:55:51Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/WingsLottery.png","category":"Uncategorized","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"Dallas Wings Win Top Pick in 2025 WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm®","title":"Dallas Wings Win Top Pick in 2025 WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm®","description":"The Dallas Wings won the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm® and will have the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.","twitter":{"title":"Dallas Wings Win Top Pick in 2025 WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm®","description":"The Dallas Wings won the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm® and will have the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/WingsLottery.png","imageId":195074},"facebook":{"title":"Dallas Wings Win Top Pick in 2025 WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm®","description":"The Dallas Wings won the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm® and will have the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/WingsLottery.png","imageId":195074}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"2018-wnba-all-star-game":"Uncategorized"},"teams":{"1611661321":"Dallas Wings - 1611661321"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Official Release","author":{"id":776,"name":"WNBA"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e–\u003ci\u003e Los Angeles Sparks Receive Second Pick,\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eChicago Sky to Select Third, Washington Mystics will Choose Fourth \u003c/i\u003e–\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNEW YORK, \u003c/b\u003eNov. 17, 2024 – The Dallas Wings today won the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e®\u003c/span\u003e and will have the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm to be held on Monday, April 14, 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe results of the 24\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eth\u003c/span\u003e annual Lottery were revealed by WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin during the 30-minute, \u003ci\u003eWNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm\u003c/i\u003e special following its presentation of the TCU vs. North Carolina State women’s basketball game. This marks the 13\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eth\u003c/span\u003e consecutive year that ESPN networks has presented the WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDallas won the WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm for the first time in team history. The franchise had participated in the Lottery 11 times before winning the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe Los Angeles Sparks\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c/i\u003e\u003c/b\u003ewill have the second selection and will be followed by the Chicago Sky. The Washington Mystics will choose fourth.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eLottery odds were based on the two-year (2023 and 2024) cumulative records of the four teams that did not make the playoffs in the most recent season. With a cumulative record of 25-55, the Sparks had the most assigned combinations (442 out of 1,000) and were guaranteed at least the third pick.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDallas and Chicago, each of whom posted a combined record of 31-49 over the past two seasons, each had 227 chances out of 1,000. Additionally, as a result of a February 2023 trade, Dallas had the right to swap first round picks with Chicago had the Sky’s first round pick been above that of the Wings after the drawing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWashington, 33-47 over the past two seasons, has 104 chances out of 1,000 to win the top pick.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe order of selection for the remainder of the first round as well as the second and third rounds – with the exception of Golden State owning the fifth pick in each round – was determined by inverse order of the teams’ respective regular-season records solely from 2024.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA representative from the accounting firm of Ernst \u0026amp; Young was in attendance to oversee the Lottery process.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe following are results of the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eRESULTS OF WNBA DRAFT LOTTERY 2025 PRESENTED BY STATE FARM\u003c/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e®\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 120px\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 24px\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;text-align: center;height: 24px\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTeam\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;text-align: center;height: 24px\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCombined 2023-2024 Record\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;text-align: center;height: 24px\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChances (Out of 1,000)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 24px\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003eDallas Wings\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e31-49\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e227\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 24px\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003eLos Angeles Sparks\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e25-55\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e442\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 24px\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003eChicago Sky\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e31-49\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e227\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 24px\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003eWashington Mystics\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e33-43\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e104\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eREMAINING ORDER FOR FIRST ROUND (picks 6-12 based on 2024 Record)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTeam\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e5. Golden State Valkyries\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e6. Washington Mystics from Atlanta Dream (15-25) via Dallas Wings (Allisha Gray, 1/21/23) (Stephanie Soares draft rights, 4/10/23)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e7. New York Liberty from Phoenix Mercury (19-21) (Mabrey, DeShields, Onyenwere, 2/11/23)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e8. Indiana Fever (20-20)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e9. Seattle Storm (25-15)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e10. Chicago Sky from Connecticut Sun (28-12) (Marina Mabrey, Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, 7/17/24)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e11. Minnesota Lynx (30-10)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e12. Phoenix Mercury from New York Liberty (32-8) (\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eMabrey, DeShields, Onyenwere, \u003c/span\u003e2/11/23)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eIn May of 2023, the Las Vegas Aces had their own 2025 first round pick rescinded for violating league rules.\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout State Farm®\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor over 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eauto\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ehome\u003c/span\u003e insurance in the United States. Its more than 19,400 agents and 67,000 employees serve over 91 million policies and accounts – including auto, fire, \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003elife\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ehealth\u003c/span\u003e, commercial policies \u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003eand \u003c/span\u003efinancial services\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e accounts. \u003c/span\u003eCommercial auto insurance\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e, along with coverage for \u003c/span\u003erenters\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e, \u003c/span\u003ebusiness \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eowners\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eboats\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003emotorcycles\u003c/span\u003e, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 39 on the 2024 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ehttp://www.statefarm.com\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e# # #\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eContacts:\u003c/b\u003e Ron Howard, (212) 407-8641, \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003erhoward@nba.com\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eSam Tager, (212) 407-8358, \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003estager@nba.com\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":195052,"type":"post","name":"2024-wnba-community-assist-award","title":"Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens Receives Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"2024-wnba-community-assist-award","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/2024-wnba-community-assist-award","excerpt":"WNBA announces that Los Angeles Sparks forward-center Azurá Stevens is the recipient of the Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award.","timestamp":1731692532000,"date":"2024-11-15T17:42:12Z","modified":"2024-11-15T17:42:12Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_Azura.png","category":"Awards,Press Release","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens Receives Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award","title":"Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens Receives Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award","description":"WNBA announces that Los Angeles Sparks forward-center Azurá Stevens is the recipient of the Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award.","twitter":{"title":"Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens Receives Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award","description":"WNBA announces that Los Angeles Sparks forward-center Azurá Stevens is the recipient of the Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_Azura.png","imageId":195054},"facebook":{"title":"Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens Receives Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award","description":"WNBA announces that Los Angeles Sparks forward-center Azurá Stevens is the recipient of the Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_Azura.png","imageId":195054}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"awards":"Awards","press-release":"Press Release"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Official Release","author":{"id":774,"name":"WNBA"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNEW YORK\u003c/strong\u003e, Nov. 15, 2024 – The WNBA announced today that Los Angeles Sparks forward-center Azurá Stevens is the recipient of the Seasonlong WNBA Cares Community Assist Award in recognition of her extensive efforts to support and uplift youth across Los Angeles County and surrounding areas.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout the 2024 WNBA season, Stevens participated in local events involving more than 2,000 children. She assisted with a shoe drive, helped conduct several basketball clinics and visited patients at an area hospital multiple times. Stevens also took part in youth outreach programs through her team’s Jr. Sparks platform.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Community outreach is so important because, without a strong community, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Stevens said. “The people around us help shape our identities, and where I grew up, my community played a huge role in making me the person I am today. I’m incredibly grateful to have been embraced by the Los Angeles community, and I’m excited to continue giving back and deepening my connection here. It’s an honor to be able to inspire, serve and impact the next generation, just as my community did for me.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHighlights of Stevens’ efforts in the community are included below:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAir West Skills Clinic:\u003c/strong\u003e On May 8, Stevens worked with youth on fundamental basketball drills and participated in a Q\u0026amp;A session.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShoes That Fit Community Shoe Drive:\u003c/strong\u003e On May 22, Stevens helped distribute 900 pairs of new shoes to the entire student body of South Park Elementary School in an underserved community of South Central Los Angeles.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital Visit:\u003c/strong\u003e On July 15, Stevens made one of several visits to UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital to spend one-on-time with patients and engage with parents and nurses.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJr. Sparks x Shiekh Impact:\u003c/strong\u003e On Aug. 10, Stevens attended a Jr. Sparks x Shiekh Impact back-to-school event for more than 100 girls in Compton. Additionally, on Sept. 16, she helped host a Jr. Sparks clinic and shared tips about healthy habits.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRead to Achieve:\u003c/strong\u003e On Sept. 20 at South Park Elementary School, Stevens visited classrooms, read to students and answered questions about being a professional athlete.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStevens recently completed her seventh WNBA season. She has career regular-season averages of 9.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 176 games. A standout player in high school in North Carolina and in college at Duke and Connecticut, Stevens was selected by the Dallas Wings with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She has played the last two seasons with the Sparks after stints with the Wings (2018-19) and the Chicago Sky (2020-22).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn recognition of Stevens’ commitment to the community, the WNBA will donate $20,000 to United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County in North Carolina.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center\"\u003e# # #\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":195037,"type":"post","name":"atlanta-dream-hire-karl-smesko-as-head-coach","title":"Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko as Head Coach","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"atlanta-dream-hire-karl-smesko-as-head-coach","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/atlanta-dream-hire-karl-smesko-as-head-coach","excerpt":"The Atlanta Dream hired Karl Smesko as the team’s new Head Coach, the organization announced the big news today.","timestamp":1731517111000,"date":"2024-11-13T16:58:31Z","modified":"2024-11-20T15:12:26Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_Karl-Smesko.png","category":"Team News","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko as Head Coach","title":"Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko as Head Coach","description":"The Atlanta Dream hired Karl Smesko as the team’s new Head Coach, the organization announced the big news today.","twitter":{"title":"Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko as Head Coach","description":"The Atlanta Dream hired Karl Smesko as the team’s new Head Coach, the organization announced the big news today.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_Karl-Smesko.png","imageId":195039},"facebook":{"title":"Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko as Head Coach","description":"The Atlanta Dream hired Karl Smesko as the team’s new Head Coach, the organization announced the big news today.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_Karl-Smesko.png","imageId":195039}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"team-news":"Team News"},"teams":{"1611661330":"Atlanta Dream - 1611661330"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Official Release","author":{"id":774,"name":"WNBA"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cdiv class=\"Blocks_Text__1cLuT BlockText\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eATLANTA\u003c/strong\u003e (November 13, 2024) – The Atlanta Dream hired Karl Smesko as the team’s new Head Coach, the organization announced today.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the third highest winning percentage (.843) among active coaches in NCAA Division I (DI) women’s basketball history (behind only Geno Auriemma and Kim Mulkey), Smesko brings over two decades of head coaching experience to the Atlanta Dream. His 672 total wins ranks eighth overall among active head coaches.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Karl is a proven leader with a history of developing his players and creating a winning culture,” said General Manager Dan Padover. “His fast-paced, innovative style of play will be attractive to our players and fans alike. We are excited to have Karl bring his incredible basketball IQ to the Dream.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Blocks_Text__1cLuT BlockText\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Blocks_Text__1cLuT BlockText\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOff the court, Smesko’s impact ripples throughout the basketball universe, particularly as it relates to developing coaches. Currently, 22 of his former players have entered the coaching ranks \u0026#8211; including three on the current Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) staff \u0026#8211; and three of his former assistant coaches are now head coaches at the collegiate level.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This is an exciting moment for our fans, the city of Atlanta, and the entire Dream organization,” said Atlanta Dream Majority Owner, Larry Gottesdiener. “A great basketball mind is coming to our city. Karl’s passion for and commitment to women’s basketball bring out the best in everyone around him. I am confident we have found the right leader to take our organization to the next level.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Blocks_Text__1cLuT BlockText\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA native of Bath, Ohio, Smesko created and built the FGCU women’s basketball program from the ground up. During his 23 years as the Head Coach, Smesko’s teams have compiled a remarkable overall record of 611-110 (.8.47). His teams have won 14 Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) regular season titles, 11 ASUN tournament championships, and progressed to the NCAA tournament 10 times. Smesko has led FGCU to 25-wins in 14 straight seasons, an accomplishment only matched by UConn.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Blocks_Text__1cLuT BlockText\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“I am humbled and honored to be the head coach of the Atlanta Dream,” said Karl Smesko. “I am grateful for a remarkable 23 years at FGCU and will be forever indebted to the amazing women who have played for me, the incredible professionals who have coached with me, and the passionate fanbase who supported us along the way. I’m thankful to the leadership of the Atlanta Dream for their faith in me to lead this organization into the future and can’t wait to get started.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Blocks_Text__1cLuT BlockText\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Atlanta Dream will host a press conference introducing Karl Smesko as the franchise’s new head coach, accompanied by General Manager Dan Padover, early next week with details to follow.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":195027,"type":"post","name":"dallas-wings-name-curt-miller-evp-general-manager","title":"Dallas Wings Name Curt Miller Executive Vice President and General Manager","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"dallas-wings-name-curt-miller-evp-general-manager","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/dallas-wings-name-curt-miller-evp-general-manager","excerpt":"The Dallas Wings announced the hiring of Curt Miller as Executive Vice President and General Manager. Miller comes to the Wings after a two-year stint as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Sparks.","timestamp":1731084556000,"date":"2024-11-08T16:49:16Z","modified":"2024-11-08T16:49:16Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/CurtMiller.png","category":"Team News","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"Dallas Wings Name Curt Miller Executive Vice President and General Manager","title":"Dallas Wings Name Curt Miller Executive Vice President and General Manager","description":"The Dallas Wings announced the hiring of Curt Miller as Executive Vice President and General Manager.","twitter":{"title":"Dallas Wings Name Curt Miller Executive Vice President and General Manager","description":"The Dallas Wings announced the hiring of Curt Miller as Executive Vice President and General Manager. Miller comes to the Wings after a two-year stint as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Sparks.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/CurtMiller.png","imageId":195028},"facebook":{"title":"Dallas Wings Name Curt Miller Executive Vice President and General Manager","description":"The Dallas Wings announced the hiring of Curt Miller as Executive Vice President and General Manager. Miller comes to the Wings after a two-year stint as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Sparks.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/CurtMiller.png","imageId":195028}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"team-news":"Team News"},"teams":{"1611661321":"Dallas Wings - 1611661321"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Official Release","author":{"id":776,"name":"WNBA"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003eWings promote Travis Charles to Senior Vice President \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003eand\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003e Assistant General Manager and Jasmine Thomas to Vice President \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003eand\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003e Assistant General Manager\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003eArlington, TX\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e (\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003eNov\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e. 08\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e, 2024) –\u003c/span\u003e The Dallas Wings announced the hiring of Curt Miller as Executive Vice President and General Manager. Miller comes to the Wings after a two-year stint as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Sparks. Prior to his time in LA, Miller spent seven seasons with the Connecticut Sun, serving as General Manager and Head Coach.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003e“Curt Miller is a proven winner with deep experience building and leading WNBA rosters and staffs,” Dallas Wings President \u0026amp; CEO Greg Bibb stated. “I believe Curt’s ability to construct winning teams as well as his success in coaching in the WNBA and beyond will prove invaluable for our organization as we continue our pursuit of a WNBA Championship.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003eMiller, the 2017 WNBA Executive of the Year and two-time Coach of the Year (2017, 2021) has a 165-141 record over nine seasons (2016-24) as a head coach. He served as GM of the Sun in his final six seasons in Connecticut, with the Sun totaling a 126-66 record during that span – the best mark among all WNBA teams between 2017-22. During Miller’s tenure, the Sun went to the WNBA Playoffs six consecutive times, including two Finals appearances (2019, 2022). His win total ranks 11th in league history while reaching 150 total wins the fifth fastest in the league.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003e“I am excited to join the Dallas Wings as the new Executive Vice President and General Manager,” said Miller. “I’d like to thank Greg Bibb, Bill Cameron and the rest of the partners for this incredible opportunity. The potential of the Dallas Wings is immeasurable. With a new arena and practice facility on the horizon, a talented roster which is impactful both on the court and in the community, exciting positioning in the upcoming draft, a passionate and loyal fanbase, a fully invested ownership group, and a dedicated front office staff, now is the time for the Wings. As a veteran head coach and GM in the WNBA, I’m looking forward to bringing my experience, passion, and leadership to Texas while we strive to hang a WNBA Championship Banner in Dallas.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003ePrior to his time with the Sun, Miller was an assistant for the Sparks in 2015. Before joining the WNBA ranks, Miller made his mark at the collegiate level at Indiana University (2012-14) and Bowling Green State University (2001-12). In 11 seasons at BGSU, he won eight MAC regular season and five MAC tournament titles. Winning 290 games at the college level and 165 games at the professional level, he is one of only three coaches to win 250+ collegiate games and 150+ WNBA games, joining Van Chancellor and Lin Dunn.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003eOne of Miller’s first priorities with the Wings will be the hiring of the team’s new head coach while also preparing for the upcoming WNBA Expansion Draft, which is scheduled for December 6. Prior to that event, the Wings will learn its draft position in the 2025 WNBA Draft during a live draft special to be aired on ESPN on November 17. In part due to a pick-swap right with the Chicago Sky, the Wings can do no worse than selecting third in the 2025 Draft.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003eIn addition to the hiring of Miller, Bibb announced the front office promotions of Travis Charles and Jasmine Thomas.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003eCharles, who previously served as the Vice President of Basketball Operations and Assistant General Manager, was promoted to Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations and Assistant General Manager. He just concluded his 11th season with the organization, overseeing all logistics and strategy for basketball operations in video, scouting and travel.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003e“Travis Charles has been one of the longest-serving members of the Wings organization and has risen through the basketball operations ranks to become an invaluable member of our leadership team,” Bibb stated. “Having him work hand-in-hand with Curt on the basketball side of our business will provide us with a deep and talented leadership team.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003eThomas, who was promoted to Vice President of Basketball Operations and Assistant General Manager, recently wrapped up her first season in the Wings’ front office and sidelines as Director of Player Programs and Development Coach. In her role with the Wings, Thomas focused on on-court skill development while also working on programs centered around player services and support, including but not limited to career development, mentorship and philanthropic interests. Thomas had a highly decorated 13-year WNBA playing career, scoring 3,862 points and registering 1,477 assists. The Duke University graduate was a five-time WNBA All-Defensive Team member while playing under Curt Miller during her final eight WNBA seasons. Recognized as one of the most community-focused and socially engaged professional athletes, Thomas is a two-time recipient of the WNBA Community Assist Award having been honored by the League in both 2019 and 2021.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003e“Following an exemplary playing career, Jasmine has quickly established herself as one of the rising stars of WNBA front offices,” Bibb stated. “Her ability to connect and support our players on and off the court will provide a valuable resource for our organization. I believe our newly formed basketball leadership team is one that is very talented and highly experienced and I’m excited for our future.”\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""}],"total":5724,"pageNext":2,"pages":954,"queryParams":{"page":1,"count":6,"types":"post","exclude-id":"130255","excludeMeta-exclude_from_indexes":true}},"related":[{"id":131607,"type":"post","name":"inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-my-league-award-ballot","title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: My League Award Ballot","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-my-league-award-ballot","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-my-league-award-ballot","excerpt":"","timestamp":1599589250000,"date":"2020-09-08T18:20:50Z","modified":"2023-05-11T19:55:23Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/09/Inside2_Featured-scaled.jpg","category":"Inside The W: Michelle Smith,Latest News","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"","title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: My League Award Ballot - WNBA","description":"In this most extraordinary WNBA season, there have been many extraordinary performances, with many more to come as the regular season gives way to the WNBA Playoffs presented by AT\u0026#038;T beginning on Sept. 15 in Bradenton, Florida. Twenty-two games to find a team’s chemistry, to settle on a rotation, to break out from the pack [\u0026hellip;]","twitter":{"title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: My League Award Ballot - WNBA","description":"In this most extraordinary WNBA season, there have been many extraordinary performances, with many more to come as the regular season gives way to the WNBA Playoffs presented by AT\u0026#038;T beginning on Sept. 15 in Bradenton, Florida. Twenty-two games to find a team’s chemistry, to settle on a rotation, to break out from the pack [\u0026hellip;]","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/09/Inside2_Featured-scaled.jpg","imageId":""},"facebook":{"title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: My League Award Ballot - WNBA","description":"In this most extraordinary WNBA season, there have been many extraordinary performances, with many more to come as the regular season gives way to the WNBA Playoffs presented by AT\u0026#038;T beginning on Sept. 15 in Bradenton, Florida. Twenty-two games to find a team’s chemistry, to settle on a rotation, to break out from the pack [\u0026hellip;]","image":"","imageId":"131609"}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"inside-the-w-michelle-smith":"Inside The W: Michelle Smith","latest-news":"Latest News"},"tags":{"aja-wilson":"A'ja Wilson","alyssa-thomas":"Alyssa Thomas","angel-mccoughtry":"Angel McCoughtry","arike-ogwumike":"Arike Ogwumike","awards":"Awards","betnijah-laney":"Betnijah Laney","breanna-stewart":"Breanna Stewart","candace-parker":"Candace Parker","cheryl-reeve":"Cheryl Reeve","courtney-vandersloot":"Courtney Vandersloot","crystal-dangerfield":"Crystal Dangerfield","dearica-hamby":"Dearica Hamby","dewanna-bonner":"DeWanna Bonner","diana-taurasi":"Diana Taurasi","inside-the-w":"Inside the W","los-angeles-sparks":"Los Angeles Sparks","michelle-smith":"Michelle Smith","minnesota-lynx":"Minnesota Lynx","napheesa-collier":"Napheesa Collier","nneka-ogwumike":"Nneka Ogwumike","skylar-diggins-smith":"Skylar Diggins-Smith"},"teams":{"1611661317":"Phoenix Mercury - 1611661317","1611661319":"Las Vegas Aces - 1611661319","1611661320":"Los Angeles Sparks - 1611661320","1611661323":"Connecticut Sun - 1611661323","1611661324":"Minnesota Lynx - 1611661324","1611661328":"Seattle Storm - 1611661328","1611661329":"Chicago Sky - 1611661329","1611661330":"Atlanta Dream - 1611661330"},"players":{"100940":"Diana Taurasi - 100940","201496":"Candace Parker - 201496","201881":"Angel McCoughtry - 201881","201886":"DeWanna Bonner - 201886","202664":"Courtney Vandersloot - 202664","203014":"Nneka Ogwumike - 203014","203400":"Skylar Diggins-Smith - 203400","203826":"Alyssa Thomas - 203826","204324":"Dearica Hamby - 204324","204335":"Betnijah Laney - 204335","1627668":"Breanna Stewart - 1627668","1628932":"A\u0026#8217;ja Wilson - 1628932","1629481":"Arike Ogunbowale - 1629481","1629483":"Napheesa Collier - 1629483","1630101":"Crystal Dangerfield - 1630101"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Michelle Smith","author":{"id":"","name":""},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cfigure class=\"wp-image size-full\"\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/09/Inside_Cover-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image- size-full\"/\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this most extraordinary WNBA season, there have been many extraordinary performances, with many more to come as the regular season gives way to the WNBA Playoffs presented by AT\u0026#038;T beginning on Sept. 15 in Bradenton, Florida.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwenty-two games to find a team’s chemistry, to settle on a rotation, to break out from the pack or fall back. It’s been fast and furious. It\u0026#8217;s been fun. This season’s most thrilling moments have been countered by moments of sadness at injuries or departures. It has been unforgettable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd, as much as it’s ever been, the 2020 season has been about the WNBA players and what they were willing to sacrifice and work for to hold their season in the middle of both the COVID-19 pandemics and a clarion call to end racial injustice.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey have been leaders, and voices of hope and change and world-class athletes all at the same time.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs proudly as ever, I’m sharing my votes on my ballot for the WNBA 2020 Awards.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCoach of the Year \u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCheryl Reeve, Minnesota.\u003c/strong\u003e Why Reeve over Derek Fisher, Gary Kloppenberg or Bill Laimbeer? They are teams stacked with talent who were expected to be where they are right now. Not sure you can say that about the Lynx, considering the injuries they have sustained and the in-season roster and starting lineup changes that Reeve has had to make. The fact that the Lynx could well finish as a \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/standings/#?season=2020\"\u003etop four team in this league\u003c/a\u003e, making the postseason for the 10th straight season (the longest streak in the league) with Sylvia Fowles having played just seven games, with injuries to Karima Christmas-Kelly, Shenise Johnson, Lexie Brown and Rachel Banham is something of a surprise. But here they are. Crystal Dangerfield proved to be a steal as a second-round pick as she blossomed into a go-to scorer, Napheesa Collier solidified her status as an All-Star caliber pro, Damaris Dantas and Bridget Carleton made the most of their roles, and Odyssey Sims came into the fold in mid-August and has made some important contributions down the stretch, just in time for the postseason. The Lynx have wins over Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix and Connecticut. Thursday’s game with Las Vegas will be a barometer check heading into the postseason. But Reeve has made all the right moves. Again.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_131610\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"\u003e\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-131610\" class=\"wp-image-131610 size-large\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/09/GettyImages-1228290618-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" /\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-131610\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003ePALMETTO, FL \u0026#8211; AUGUST 31: Napheesa Collier #24 and Head Coach, Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx smile during the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 31, 2020 at Feld Entertainment Center in Palmetto, Florida. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDefensive Player of the Year\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNapheesa Collier, Minnesota.\u003c/strong\u003e A close pick between Collier, Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas and L.A.’s Candace Parker. Collier’s length makes her one of the most difficult defensive matchups in the WNBA. As her coach Cheryl Reeve says “you can’t go around her.” She is has become one of the league’s top rebounders (No. 2 behind Candace Parker), among the league leaders in steals (No. 3) and blocks (No. 8) and is the pace-setter for a Minnesota team that has built its identity and success around its ability to play strong team defense. Thomas’ 17 steals over the past six games and Parker’s dominance on the defensive boards makes this such a close race. Collier came away with it thanks to a bigger load to carry without Fowles on the floor.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_131611\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"\u003e\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-131611\" class=\"wp-image-131611 size-large\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/09/GettyImages-1228319161-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" /\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-131611\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003ePALMETTO, FL \u0026#8211; SEPTEMBER 2: Damiris Dantas #12 high-fives Crystal Dangerfield #2 of the Minnesota Lynx on September 2, 2020 at Feld Entertainment Center in Palmetto, Florida. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRookie of the Year\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCrystal Dangerfield, Minnesota.\u003c/strong\u003e Given all of the injuries to the Lynx roster, where would they be without the second-round pick out of Connecticut? Certainly not looking at a first-round playoff bye. Dangerfield, with 17 starts under her belt, is Minnesota’s leading scorer at 15.6 points a game. She has scored more than 20 points in a game six times this season. She has only failed to reach double figures twice and she is learning to be a strong distributor, finishing with at least five assists in four of the Lynx’s last nine games. No second-round pick has ever been selected Rookie of the Year. That streak may well end in 2020. Dallas’ Satou Sabally has also had an outstanding debut season, showing a versatile game that will make her a star in this league moving forward, but playoff position in 2020 made the difference here.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKim Perrot Sportsmanship Award \u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles.\u003c/strong\u003e As the President of the WNBA Players Association, Ogwumike has carried so much this season that her back is quite fittingly hurting her and limiting her time on the floor. Ogwumike’s leadership, her coalition-building and her role as the spokesperson for the players in the league has never been more important, more relevant and more critical to the players. She never fails to represent the players with a thoughtful calm and confidence and she will be remembered for what she did this season to unite the WNBA behind social justice.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eComeback Player of the Year\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAngel McCoughtry, Las Vegas.\u003c/strong\u003e McCoughtry left the only WNBA team she’d ever played for, pulling a new uniform over her head for the first time in 10 years. She missed the entirety of the 2017 season and played one game in 2019. Known as one of the league’s most mercurial players, she signed on to play for Bill Laimbeer, one of the most tell-it-like-it-is coaches around. And it’s worked out beautifully for both McCoughtry and the Aces, who are continuing to push hard for an all-important top-two seed. McCoughtry is picking up the offensive slack with the absence of Liz Cambage by averaging 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in approximately 21 minutes a game on the floor. She brings experience, leadership and a disruptive presence to the floor on the defensive end. All are welcome for the Aces as they make a title run.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e6th Player of the Year\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDearica Hamby, Las Vegas.\u003c/strong\u003e A repeat win in this category for the player that sets the standard across the league for coming in and proving her team whatever it needs. Hamby leads an Aces’ bench crew on the way to setting the league record for offensive production. She is averaging a career-best 13.2 points a game, career-highs in assists (2.3 per game) and steals (1.8 per game) to go with 7.3 rebounds. She ranks among the top 10 in the WNBA in field-goal percentage (.554), three-point percentage (.464), defensive rebounds (5.9) and steals (1.78).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMost Improved Player\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBetnijah Laney, Atlanta.\u003c/strong\u003e This has been nothing short of a game-changing season for the fifth-year guard/forward out of Rutgers. Laney was cut from the Indiana Fever roster before getting picked up by the team, who needed help in the backcourt because of the absence of Renee Montgomery and Tiffany Hayes (both decided to sit out the 2020 season). And they got much more than the defensive stopper they were expecting. Laney is averaging 16.5 points a game, her career-best by a factor of three. She has five 20-point plus games this season and two 30-point games. Against Las Vegas on Sept. 5, she finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Laney averaged 5.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season in Indiana. She scored a season high 11 points against Seattle. This season has changed her pro career for good.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMVP\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA’ja Wilson, Las Vegas.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilson by a nose over Stewart, who finished by a nose over Parker. This was not an easy season to pick an MVP. How do you not reward the best player on the best team with the kind of numbers and both-ends-of-the-floor impact that Stewart has? How do you not acknowledge the incredible all-around numbers that Parker has put up? But Wilson has the slightest of edges here because of the burden she had to take on without Liz Cambage and because of her consistency game in and game out and particularly down the stretch. Over the last seven games, Wilson has six 20-point-plus games and is shooting 50 percent from the floor. She hasn’t taken a 3-pointer all season and leads the league in free-throw attempts for the third time in her three years in the league. Stewart has struggled from the floor of late, going 23-for-96 in her last four games, a difficult 24 percent. Wilson has scored in double-digits every game this season and in a barometer game against Seattle on August 22, she finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds in an Aces’ win.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_131612\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"\u003e\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-131612\" class=\"wp-image-131612 size-large\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/09/GettyImages-1228161399-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" /\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-131612\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003ePALMETTO, FL \u0026#8211; AUGUST 22: A\u0026#8217;ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against the Seattle Storm on August 22, 2020 at Feld Entertainment Center in Palmetto, Florida. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Team All-WNBA\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBreanna Stewart, Seattle.\u003c/strong\u003e An amazing return from her Achilles injury. Seattle needs her to get her offensive groove back from the floor in time for the postseason.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA’ja Wilson, Las Vegas.\u003c/strong\u003e Steadily brilliant all season and the key to an Aces’ title run.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCourtney Vandersloot, Chicago.\u003c/strong\u003e Best point guard in the league, and at 9.8 assists per game, headed for the record books with Sue Bird.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArike Ogunbowale, Dallas.\u003c/strong\u003e Flat out scoring machine and a future MVP. If the Wings eek into the playoffs, as it looks like they will, she could make it very interesting in a single-game format.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCandace Parker, Los Angeles.\u003c/strong\u003e Rejuvenated and as versatile and dangerous as ever. Watching her play at this level is joyful.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSecond Team\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiana Taurasi, Phoenix.\u003c/strong\u003e The GOAT could will her team to a long playoff run at this rate. 32 3-pointers in her last seven games.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeWanna Bonner, Connecticut. \u003c/strong\u003eTone-setter and go-to scorer in Connecticut. 18 double-doubles this season and 14 in a row.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSkylar Diggins-Smith, Phoenix.\u003c/strong\u003e A change did Diggins-Smith very good in Phoenix. Settled and stellar over the past few weeks. Five of six games with 20-plus points.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNapheesa Collier, Minnesota. \u003c/strong\u003eShowing herself to be an elite talent.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlyssa Thomas, Connecticut. \u003c/strong\u003eFilling the stat sheet as always. Six 20-point games and an 19.5 ppg average in the last six games.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLongtime WNBA reporter Michelle Smith writes a weekly column on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":96236,"type":"post","name":"inside-the-w-impact-games-ballot-revealed","title":"Inside the W: Impact Games \u0026amp; Ballot Revealed","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"inside-the-w-impact-games-ballot-revealed","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/inside-the-w-impact-games-ballot-revealed","excerpt":"","timestamp":1534304788000,"date":"2018-08-15T03:46:28Z","modified":"2023-05-11T20:00:55Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/08/wilson-225.jpg","category":"Inside the W","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"","title":"Inside the W: Impact Games \u0026amp; Ballot Revealed - WNBA","description":"The number of games left in the 2018 WNBA regular-season season for each team can now be counted on one hand. All but one of the playoff spots, though few playoff positions, have been determined. And the stretch is going to be every bit the drama-fest we thought (and let’s face it, hoped) it would [\u0026hellip;]","twitter":{"title":"Inside the W: Impact Games \u0026amp; Ballot Revealed - WNBA","description":"The number of games left in the 2018 WNBA regular-season season for each team can now be counted on one hand. All but one of the playoff spots, though few playoff positions, have been determined. And the stretch is going to be every bit the drama-fest we thought (and let’s face it, hoped) it would [\u0026hellip;]","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/08/wilson-225.jpg","imageId":""},"facebook":{"title":"Inside the W: Impact Games \u0026amp; Ballot Revealed - WNBA","description":"The number of games left in the 2018 WNBA regular-season season for each team can now be counted on one hand. All but one of the playoff spots, though few playoff positions, have been determined. And the stretch is going to be every bit the drama-fest we thought (and let’s face it, hoped) it would [\u0026hellip;]","image":"","imageId":"96272"}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"inside-the-w":"Inside the W"},"tags":{"aja-wilson":"A'ja Wilson","alana-beard":"Alana Beard","angel-mccoughtry":"Angel McCoughtry","breanna-stewart":"Breanna Stewart","cheyenne-parker":"Cheyenne Parker","danielle-robinson":"Danielle Robinson","inside-the-w":"Inside the W","natasha-howard":"Natasha Howard","nicki-collen":"Nicki Collen"},"players":{"202658":"Danielle Robinson - 202658","203014":"Nneka Ogwumike - 203014","203823":"Chiney Ogwumike - 203823","203827":"Natasha Howard - 203827","204323":"Cheyenne Parker - 204323","1627668":"Breanna Stewart - 1627668"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Michelle Smith","author":{"id":"","name":""},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cfigure class=\"wp-image size-full\"\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/08/wilson1440.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image- size-full\"/\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe number of games left in the 2018 WNBA regular-season season for each team can now be counted on one hand. All but one of the playoff spots, though few playoff positions, have been determined. And the stretch is going to be every bit the drama-fest we thought (and let’s face it, hoped) it would be. Let’s take a look at the biggest games in the next six days, setting the stage for what might be the most competitive, compelling postseason in league history.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFRIDAY\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLas Vegas at Dallas (8 p.m. ET, League Pass):\u003c/strong\u003e A head-to-head meeting that could determine either team’s postseason fate. The young Aces have wondered, even out loud, this season, whether they will have the experience to pull off a critical win. Getting to be time to find out. The Wings haven’t won a game since mid-July and the tumult hit a new high on Sunday with the departure of longtime head coach Fred Williams. This will be as big a game as either team has been in all season.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLos Angeles at Washington (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV): \u003c/strong\u003eThe Sparks, currently sitting in the No. 5 seed with the playoff spot sealed, have their sights set on a third straight trip to the Finals, but it’s the Mystics who have the hot hand with six straight wins and a strong claim on the No. 3 seed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinnesota vs. Connecticut (7 p.m. ET, League Pass):\u003c/strong\u003e Both teams are in. The Lynx will still be tuning things up in their backcourt. But this game is going to have more than a little sentiment behind it with Lindsay Whalen making her final regular-season appearance in the place where her WNBA career began 15 years ago.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSUNDAY – Last Day of the 2018 regular season\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLos Angeles at Connecticut (3 p.m. ET, Twitter):\u003c/strong\u003e The Ogwumike sisters do battle for the final time during the regular season – the Sun has won both matchups against the Sparks so far this season. Nneka would certainly like to get one back on the cusp of the playoffs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAtlanta at Las Vegas (6 p.m. ET, ESPN 3): \u003c/strong\u003eWill this be the Aces’ last gasp? Or the last game in Sin City in this inaugural season for a lottery-bound team?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWashington at Minnesota (7 p.m. ET, ESPN 2):\\\u003c/strong\u003e In what could be Whalen’s last basketball game in front of her hometown fans in Minneapolis – not to mention against Mike Thibault, the first WNBA coach she ever played for \u0026#8211; this is the kind of game that could still be determining playoff positioning.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLATE-SEASON INJURY IMPACT\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNews that Danielle Robinson had surgery on her high ankle injury and will be out “indefinitely” with the postseason rapidly approaching is a less-than-welcome scenario for the Minnesota Lynx. They will have to hope that Whalen, playing in the final postseason of her professional career, is ready to carry them with a significant number of minutes into the postseason.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhalen has been averaging 5.5 points and 19.4 minutes per game, the lowest numbers of her 15-year WNBA career. Last Sunday night, against Seattle, Whalen came off the bench for the first time since she was a WNBA rookie in 2004. Veteran Tanisha Wright, who got the start Sunday in Seattle and scored just three points in 35 minutes and youngster Alexis Jones will also have to be prepared to contribute in a bigger way.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Atlanta, the Dream are proving that a team can move forward in a positive way even after an injury to a key player.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAngel McCoughtry’s season-ending knee injury could have been a major blow, but the Dream have great backcourt depth with Tiffany Hayes, Brittney Sykes, Renee Montgomery and Alex Bentley and they have so far been able to absorb the big loss and maintain their hold on the No. 2 spot in the league standings. But the postseason will be a different challenge.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMcCoughtry, who was averaging 16.5 points and 6.0 rebounds a game before her injury, has played in two Finals series. She is a postseason veteran and that experience is going to be missed on the floor when the going gets tough.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMY AWARDS BALLOT REVEALED\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMost Valuable Player \u0026#8211; Breanna Stewart, Seattle:\u003c/strong\u003e In her third professional season, Stewart proved without a doubt that she is one of the most versatile players on the planet. In a year of transition for the Storm under new head coach Dan Hughes, Stewart was the constant in the box score. The Storm are the best team in the league this season and Stewart is their best player. That equals Most Valuable Player.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRookie of the Year \u0026#8211; A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas:\u003c/strong\u003e A no-brainer vote for Las Vegas Aces’ star Wilson. Wilson’s impact was immediate, consistent and an opening act to what is surely going to be a spectacular WNBA career. If the Aces make their way into the playoffs, it will be because Wilson was able to carry them there.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoach of the Year \u0026#8211; Nicki Collen, Atlanta:\u003c/strong\u003e Collen, a first-time head coach, took a Dream team that was stagnant at 8-9 at the halftime point and vaulted them to a 14-1 second half (so far). She challenged them to find their defense and their chemistry and the players responded. They have won season series over the Storm, Sparks, Mystics, Sun and Lynx. As good a job as Hughes has done in his first season in Seattle with three All-Stars in Stewart, Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd, Collen\u0026#8217;s team\u0026#8217;s accomplishments make her a better selection for this award.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSixth Woman of the Year \u0026#8211; Cheyenne Parker, Chicago:\u003c/strong\u003e Though the Sky won’t be part of the postseason picture, the emergence of Parker has been one of the season’s bright spots. Parker is averaging 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds a game off the bench for the Sky this season in just under 20 minutes a game. Her breakout has included a 20-point, six-rebound effort against Dallas on July 31, an 18-point 9-rebound game against Washington on June 19 and a 20-point, 13-rebound game against Vegas on June 3.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMost Improved Player \u0026#8211; Natasha Howard, Seattle:\u003c/strong\u003e Howard won a title last year in Minnesota and she has a great shot of doing it again this year for the Storm after playing a critical role for Seattle all season. Howard is averaging a career-high in minutes (26.2), points (13.5) and rebounds (6.5). She has tripled her scoring average from last season from 4.3 points a game and is coming off a 21-point game against Minnesota last Sunday.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDefensive Player of the Year \u0026#8211; Alana Beard, Los Angeles:\u003c/strong\u003e Simply the best perimeter defender in the WNBA. At 36 years old. The Sparks lead the league in allowing opponents just 28.9 field-goals per game and 5.3 3-pointers made. They barely rank second behind the Minnesota Lynx in holding opponents to 77.2 points a game. Beard is the defensive glue player for the Los Angeles Sparks. She is revered and respected around the league. Beard also makes L.A. a championship caliber team when she is on the floor.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLongtime WNBA reporter Michelle Smith writes a weekly column on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http://www.wnba.com/inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-archive/\"\u003eINSIDE THE W ARCHIVE\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":139573,"type":"post","name":"inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-what-we-know-so-far","title":"Inside The W with Michelle Smith: What We Know So Far","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-what-we-know-so-far","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-what-we-know-so-far","excerpt":"Hello June. The calendar has turned to the heart of the WNBA schedule and the picture is becoming clearer. Competitive games, buzzer-beating shots and injuries are defining the early days of the 2021 season, but there is so much more basketball to be played, and an opportunity for many teams to redefine themselves in this critical month before the scheduled Olympic break.\r\n\r\nWhat do we know so far?","timestamp":1623008847000,"date":"2021-06-06T19:47:27Z","modified":"2023-05-11T20:01:32Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2021/06/seaft-scaled.jpg","category":"Inside the W,Inside The W: Michelle Smith,Latest News","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"","title":"Inside The W with Michelle Smith: What We Know So Far - WNBA","description":"Hello June. The calendar has turned to the heart of the WNBA schedule and the picture is becoming clearer. Competitive games, buzzer-beating shots and injuries are defining the early days of the 2021 season, but there is so much more basketball to be played, and an opportunity for many teams to redefine themselves in this critical month before the scheduled Olympic break.\r\n\r\nWhat do we know so far?","twitter":{"title":"Inside The W with Michelle Smith: What We Know So Far - WNBA","description":"Hello June. The calendar has turned to the heart of the WNBA schedule and the picture is becoming clearer. Competitive games, buzzer-beating shots and injuries are defining the early days of the 2021 season, but there is so much more basketball to be played, and an opportunity for many teams to redefine themselves in this critical month before the scheduled Olympic break.\r\n\r\nWhat do we know so far?","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2021/06/seaft-scaled.jpg","imageId":""},"facebook":{"title":"Inside The W with Michelle Smith: What We Know So Far - WNBA","description":"Hello June. The calendar has turned to the heart of the WNBA schedule and the picture is becoming clearer. Competitive games, buzzer-beating shots and injuries are defining the early days of the 2021 season, but there is so much more basketball to be played, and an opportunity for many teams to redefine themselves in this critical month before the scheduled Olympic break. What do we know so far?","image":"","imageId":"139365"}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"inside-the-w":"Inside the W","inside-the-w-michelle-smith":"Inside The W: Michelle Smith","latest-news":"Latest News"},"tags":{"inside-the-w":"Inside the W","michelle-smith":"Michelle Smith","what-we-know-so-far":"what we know so far"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Michelle Smith","author":{"id":"","name":""},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cfigure class=\"wp-image size-full\"\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2021/05/cover-sun.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image- size-full\"/\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHello June. The calendar has turned to the heart of the WNBA schedule and the picture is becoming clearer. Competitive games, buzzer-beating shots and injuries are defining the early days of the 2021 season, but there is so much more basketball to be played, and an opportunity for many teams to redefine themselves in this critical month before the scheduled Olympic break.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat do we know so far?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eInjuries are already defining this season in a way that no one would want\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElena Delle Donne hasn’t played a game yet for the Mystics and the date of her return is uncertain. Candace Parker’s hometown return is marred by an ankle injury (she’s played just one game so far), while Allie Quigley was out early with hamstring troubles. Diana Taurasi, who is six points away from 9,000 in her career, can’t add to her WNBA-leading scoring total because she is sitting out with a fractured sternum that might jeopardize her participation in the Olympics. In Los Angeles, both Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike are out with knee injuries, Nneka with a sprain that will keep her out at least a month. And Natasha Howard has been limited to just two games with a knee injury across the country in New York. All of this, by the way, after we already knew we’d be without Alyssa Thomas, Angel McCoughtry and Alysha Clark for 2021.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany of the teams with injured stars are feeling the consequences. Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles are under .500. Phoenix, thanks to the play of Skylar Diggins-Smith, Brittney Griner and a stellar game-winner by Kia Nurse, sit at 4-3. Meanwhile, Howard has played sparingly in New York, but the Liberty are riding the play of young talent to a surprising 5-2 start. Which brings us to the next thing we know\u0026#8230;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSabrina Ionescu has set a new tone in New York\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Liberty are 5-3 with their young star point guard healthy and motivated to make up for a lost rookie season. But Ionescu isn’t doing anything alone. Five players are averaging in double figures. Betnijah Laney, last year’s Most Improved Player, showed that last season was a launching point. Laney leads the team in scoring at 22.3 points, is shooting 51 percent from the floor and was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week and has put up at least 20 points in seven straight games to start the season. Ionescu has already notched her first career triple-double and is averaging 7.1 assists a game to go with 16.1 points. And then there is Michaela Onyenwere, the UCLA standout who is making an early run at frontrunner status for Rookie of the Year, averaging 12.1 points a game in a starting role, including a 29-point game against Atlanta on May 29. The Liberty aren’t leading the league in any of the big statistical categories, and the games they win are close ones (all within 10 points), but they are playing with grit and teamwork and it shows in their record.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe rust didn’t stick to Jonquel Jones\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaking 2020 off did little to slow Jones, who is further establishing herself as one of the best post players in the world. Jones is averaging a double-double in leading Connecticut to a fast start. Being named Eastern Conference Player of the Month sets Jones up nicely in the early MVP discussion. Her scoring average of 20.6 points a game is a career-high, which makes sense considering that Jones is picking up some of the offensive slack left by the year-long absence of Alyssa Thomas, and she is averaging 10.1 rebounds a game, which leads the league so far. Her 3.0 assists per game is also a career-high at this point. Her 28-point, 13-rebound day against Seattle on May 25 sent a message that she is ready to be included in the conversation of the league’s most elite players.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e⭐ \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/jus242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"\u003e@jus242\u003c/a\u003e of the \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/ConnecticutSun?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"\u003e@ConnecticutSun\u003c/a\u003e (6-2 record during May) averaged 20.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG and 3.3 APG (Kia WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month).\u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/CountIt?src=hash\u0026amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"\u003e#CountIt\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https://t.co/fAUV6UYSVL\"\u003epic.twitter.com/fAUV6UYSVL\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1400154910805704708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"\u003eJune 2, 2021\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cscript async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c/script\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Storm will stay calm\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn unexpected coaching change, with head coach Dan Hughes announcing his retirement and handing the reins to Noelle Quinn, in the first few weeks of the season, isn’t likely to disrupt Seattle or sink their 6-1 start. Gary Kloppenburg coached them to a title last season in the bubble, and the stability of Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd will not only keep Seattle on track, but will likely make Quinn’s transition to head coach a smooth one.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThere are several teams that look better than their records.\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLet’s take these three \u0026#8211; Atlanta, Minnesota and Dallas. The Dream are the hottest team in the league at this moment, riding a four-game winning streak that righted the way after an 0-2 start. Tiffany Hayes’ return this season has buoyed this team (she is averaging 16.6 points a game with a pair of 26-point efforts against Dallas and Chicago), but Chennedy Carter’s elbow injury is a major concern and a tough stretch is coming, with a trio of back-to-back opponent matchups with Minnesota (road) Seattle (at home) and Washington (road and home). The Lynx picked up their first win of the season last weekend against Connecticut behind the stellar play of new addition Layshia Clarendon, but with only five games played so far \u0026#8211; compared to other teams in the league who have played as many as nine \u0026#8211; the Lynx need more time on the floor to put things together and with Collier back and Clarendon settling in, Minnesota could be primed for a comeback. Meanwhile in Dallas, the Wings \u0026#8211; playing currently without Satou Sabally and Allisha Gray \u0026#8211; have lost four games by seven points or less and they are averaging 88.5 points a game. Shoring things up defensively and finding a way to close out games have to be the current priority.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Five Most Intriguing Games of June\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithout knowing the dates that some players might be returning, and going by what we know now, these look like the five best games coming up in June.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJune 4 \u0026#8211; Atlanta at Minnesota\u003c/strong\u003e. A surging Dream team, coming off a six-day break, comes up against a Lynx team looking to find some momentum after their first win.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJune 5 \u0026#8211; Las Vegas at Washington.\u003c/strong\u003e An ABC television audience will get a treat, watching Tina Charles \u0026#8211; who is averaging a league-high 26.7 points a game \u0026#8211; work against A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJune 13 \u0026#8211; Seattle at Connecticut. \u003c/strong\u003eThe defending champs will make the long trip to face the Sun and it is bound to be a good one if the first game in Seattle was any indication, the Storm pulling out a 90-87 win.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJune 19 \u0026#8211; Connecticut at Chicago. \u003c/strong\u003eA national TV game on CBS, let’s hope this game is part of Candace Parker’s comeback tour after an ankle injury has sidelined her for much of the season so far. A healthy Sky, including Allie Quigley, who made her first appearance on Thursday against Phoenix, would like to be in position to knock off one of the league’s top teams.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJune 30 \u0026#8211; Minnesota at Phoenix.\u003c/strong\u003e Let’s face it, who doesn’t love a Sylvia Fowles-Brittney Griner matchup?\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":90129,"type":"post","name":"inside-the-w-greatest-season-in-wnba-history","title":"Inside the W: Greatest Season in WNBA History?","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"inside-the-w-greatest-season-in-wnba-history","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/inside-the-w-greatest-season-in-wnba-history","excerpt":"","timestamp":1531498389000,"date":"2018-07-13T16:13:09Z","modified":"2023-05-11T19:58:14Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/07/Candace-Maya-250.jpg","category":"Inside the W","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"","title":"Inside the W: Greatest Season in WNBA History? - WNBA","description":"The halfway point of the WNBA season came and went with fireworks and potato salad last week. As we move into the heart of the second half of the season, the championship looks up for grabs, the standings are jam-packed, the MVP race is wide open, and one thing is crystal clear: we might well [\u0026hellip;]","twitter":{"title":"Inside the W: Greatest Season in WNBA History? - WNBA","description":"The halfway point of the WNBA season came and went with fireworks and potato salad last week. As we move into the heart of the second half of the season, the championship looks up for grabs, the standings are jam-packed, the MVP race is wide open, and one thing is crystal clear: we might well [\u0026hellip;]","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/07/Candace-Maya-1200.jpg","imageId":""},"facebook":{"title":"Inside the W: Greatest Season in WNBA History? - WNBA","description":"The halfway point of the WNBA season came and went with fireworks and potato salad last week. As we move into the heart of the second half of the season, the championship looks up for grabs, the standings are jam-packed, the MVP race is wide open, and one thing is crystal clear: we might well [\u0026hellip;]","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/07/Candace-Maya-1200.jpg","imageId":""}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"inside-the-w":"Inside the W"},"tags":{"inside-the-w":"Inside the W"},"players":{"100720":"Sue Bird - 100720","100940":"Diana Taurasi - 100940","100944":"Rebekkah Lemar Brunson - 100944","202632":"Maya Moore - 202632","202633":"Liz Cambage - 202633","203014":"Nneka Ogwumike - 203014","203399":"Elena Delle Donne - 203399","203400":"Skylar Diggins-Smith - 203400","203823":"Chiney Ogwumike - 203823","1627668":"Breanna Stewart - 1627668","1628878":"Ariel Atkins - 1628878","1628886":"Jordin Canada - 1628886","1628890":"Diamond DeShields - 1628890","1628909":"Kelsey Mitchell - 1628909","1628915":"Kia Nurse - 1628915","1628922":"Azurá Stevens - 1628922","1628932":"A\u0026#8217;ja Wilson - 1628932"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Michelle Smith","author":{"id":269,"name":"ANDREW GRUMAN | Associated Press"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cfigure class=\"wp-image size-full\"\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/07/Candace-Maya-1440.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image- size-full\"/\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe halfway point of the WNBA season came and went with fireworks and potato salad last week. As we move into the heart of the second half of the season, the championship looks up for grabs, the standings are jam-packed, the MVP race is wide open, and one thing is crystal clear: we might well be witnessing the greatest regular season in this league’s 22-year history.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy so many measures, the WNBA is experiencing the height of its collective power in 2018, a season that began with the promise of an exceptional rookie class in the April 12 draft and has already exceeded expectations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe level of play across the board is arguably as high as it has ever been. The balance between the record-smashing careers of some of the greatest women’s players ever and the infusion of new talent has brought new fans, new coverage, strong ratings and an increasing level of interest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe argument, however, is worth making. Even when stacked against the league’s inaugural season, or its barrier-smashing 20th season, could this really be the greatest season in WNBA history? Yes it is, and here’s why.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompetitive balance.\u003c/strong\u003e It’s not unusual to have bunching in the middle of the standings while a couple of teams establish themselves as the cream of the crop with gaudy records. But the parity of this season is remarkable by any standard. Five different teams have been at the top of the league standings so far this season. As of Thursday, the top eight teams in the league \u0026#8211; teams that would be in position for a playoff spot if the season ended right now \u0026#8211; are separated by 4.5 games.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEight of the 12 teams in the league have at least a .500 record. And the No. 9 team, Las Vegas, is closing fast, winning three in a row and six of its last 10 games. Even among the teams that are struggling, there are impressive wins. On Thursday, New York got a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Shavonte Zellous to beat Connecticut. Last week, last-place Indiana defeated the defending champion Lynx. Tenth-place Chicago has wins over Phoenix, Atlanta and Minnesota.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn seasons past, the league’s top teams have asserted themselves early. This season’s parity doesn’t mean that those teams have come down to the rest of the league. But the rest of the league has come up to them and it’s been exciting every day.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecords falling\u003c/strong\u003e. On July 5, Rebekkah Brunson, who has won more titles than any player in WNBA history (5), became the league’s all-time leading rebounder. Diana Taurasi became the WNBA’s all-time field goals leader last week as well, passing Tina Thompson. Mystics coach Mike Thibault became the first coach in WNBA history to reach 300 wins. Unprecedented feats that the record books haven’t even conceived are tumbling. On Wednesday, for example, the Atlanta Dream became the first team in league history to have four players in the same game with at least 20 points and five assists.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStars are shining.\u003c/strong\u003e The league’s marquee players are earning their top billing. The list of top scorers this season is a who’s who of the world’s best women’s basketball players: Breanna Stewart, Elena Delle Donne, Diana Taurasi, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Maya Moore.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStewart is leading the league in scoring in her third professional season, propelling Seattle to the top of the standings. In the past three games, Diggins-Smith has scored 74 points, pushing Dallas to a five-game winning streak. Delle Donne has scored at least 20 points in eight of her last 10 games as Washington makes a push for a top-four playoff seed. Taurasi and Moore are giving their experienced teams an offensive focal point with their consistently clutch play.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe best at their best.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOh, these rookies. \u003c/strong\u003eA’ja Wilson had plenty of buzz coming into the league as the No. 1 pick. She also had plenty of burden, the centerpiece of an Aces franchise that is settling into a new home, with a new coach, and trying to erase an old narrative of on-court struggles. And Wilson has delivered in every way. She ranks second in the league in scoring and third in rebounding, the only rookie on either top 10 list. Her Aces have won three in a row and six of 10 after a 1-8 start. But she’s not the only spectacular debut. Rookies like Diamond DeShields (Chicago), Kia Nurse (New York), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana), Ariel Atkins (Washington), Azura Stevens (Dallas) and Jordin Canada (Seattle) are all making an immediate impact on their teams, raising the level of play throughout the league with their talent and energy.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComeback kids.\u003c/strong\u003e Two of the best post players in the world are back on the WNBA court this season. Liz Cambage, the Australian star, hadn’t played in the WNBA in five years. The 6-foot-8, 26-year-old has vaulted Dallas to the list of title contenders. Cambage ranks sixth in the WNBA in scoring and second in rebounding and is an MVP candidate.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile, in Connecticut, Chiney Ogwumike has juggled her broadcasting career at ESPN with rehabbing an Achilles injury that cost her the 2017 season, a setback that followed the microfracture surgery that forced her to sit out all of 2015. But Ogwumike is back for the Sun, and she’s picked up where she left off. Ogwumike currently is second in the WNBA in field-goal percentage (59.3) and has only failed to score in double figures in two games so far this season. She also has two wins this season over big sister Nneka’s Los Angeles Sparks.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVeteran than ever.\u003c/strong\u003e Sue Bird, Taurasi and Alana Beard are some of the most experienced players in the league, and in many ways, they have never been better. Bird, in her 16th season, became the Storm’s all-time leading scorer last week, and is averaging 9.8 points and 7.3 assists a game, ranking No. 2 in the league in the latter category. Taurasi is averaging 19.6 points per game playing alongside Brittney Griner as the Mercury look for a title run. And Beard, who sustained a groin injury Thursday, is cementing her legacy as one of the best defensive players in the history of the league.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompressed schedule.\u003c/strong\u003e The compressed schedule is undeniably taxing teams with tight turnarounds and tough travel schedules. One WNBA coach this week called it “truly grueling.” But it is also creating a sense of urgency that is giving teams a win-now mentality. No time to fret over a loss because the next game is around the corner. As the second half moves on, teams will be tired, players will be gutting it out, and the WNBA will close with one of its most competitive finishes ever.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA finish that will be fitting for the greatest season in league history. Really.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLongtime WNBA reporter Michelle Smith writes a weekly column on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http://www.wnba.com/inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-archive/\"\u003eINSIDE THE W ARCHIVE\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""}]},"__N_SSP":true,"pageProps":{"articleSlugOrID":"inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-rookies-on-the-rise","layout":{"analytics":{"page":{"pageInfo":{"pageName":"wnba:news:article"},"content":{"contentAuthor":"Michelle Smith","contentTitle":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Rookies on the Rise","contentID":130255,"contentType":"post","contentKeywords":"Inside the W;Inside The W: Michelle Smith","contentDatePublished":"2020-08-31","categoryTitle":""}},"site":{"propertyName":"wnba:web","league":"wnba"},"exists":true}},"postJSON":{"id":130255,"type":"post","name":"inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-rookies-on-the-rise","title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Rookies on the Rise","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-rookies-on-the-rise","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-rookies-on-the-rise","excerpt":"Michelle Smith takes a look at the top rookies of the season so far. ","timestamp":1598907108000,"date":"2020-08-31T20:51:48Z","modified":"2023-05-11T19:55:27Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/08/Crystal-Dangerfield-850-Featured.jpg","category":"Inside the W,Inside The W: Michelle Smith","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"","title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Rookies on the Rise - WNBA","description":"Michelle Smith takes a look at the top rookies of the season so far. ","twitter":{"title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Rookies on the Rise - WNBA","description":"Michelle Smith takes a look at the top rookies of the season so far. ","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/08/Crystal-Dangerfield-850-Featured.jpg","imageId":""},"facebook":{"title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Rookies on the Rise - WNBA","description":"Michelle Smith takes a look at the top rookies of the season so far.","image":"","imageId":"129515"}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"inside-the-w":"Inside the W","inside-the-w-michelle-smith":"Inside The W: Michelle Smith"},"tags":{"2020-wnba-draft":"2020 WNBA Draft","chennedy-carter":"Chennedy Carter","crystal-dangerfield":"Crystal Dangerfield","ezi-magbegor":"Ezi Magbegor","julie-allemand":"Julie Allemand","rookies":"Rookies","sabrina-ionescu":"Sabrina Ionescu","satou-sabally":"Satou Sabally","tea-cooper":"Te'a Cooper"},"teams":{"1611661313":"New York Liberty - 1611661313","1611661320":"Los Angeles Sparks - 1611661320","1611661321":"Dallas Wings - 1611661321","1611661324":"Minnesota Lynx - 1611661324","1611661325":"Indiana Fever - 1611661325","1611661328":"Seattle Storm - 1611661328","1611661330":"Atlanta Dream - 1611661330"},"players":{"1627700":"Julie Allemand - 1627700","1629477":"Sabrina Ionescu - 1629477","1629496":"Ezi Magbegor - 1629496","1630099":"Te\u0026#8217;a Cooper - 1630099","1630101":"Crystal Dangerfield - 1630101","1630112":"Tyasha Harris - 1630112","1630119":"Jazmine Jones - 1630119","1630149":"Satou Sabally - 1630149","1630150":"Chennedy Carter - 1630150"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Michelle Smith","contentFiltered":"\u003cfigure class=\"wp-image size-full\"\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/08/lynxcover-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image- size-full\"/\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe WNBA Rookie Class of 2020 is going to remember their first WNBA season for so many reasons. Living in the bubble. Social justice efforts. A fast-paced 22-game schedule that barely leaves time for absorbing the celebration of a big win or the lessons of a big loss, not to mention minimal practice time to acclimate to the speed, skill and physicality of the WNBA.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis group of young women, regarded as one of the most potentially impactful collection of rookies in recent years, has had a rough road to the start of their pro careers. The COVID pandemic forced teams to make roster decisions without a training camp, and many first-year players were cut before they had a chance to prove themselves.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ones that made it on to rosters have seen their ranks thinned by injuries. No. 1 pick Sabrina Ionescu (New York) went down early with a significant ankle injury, followed a couple of weeks later by No. 4 pick Chennedy Carter (Atlanta), who returned last Friday after missing six games.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDallas forward Satou Sabally, the No. 2 pick in the draft, missed four games with a back injury, but is now back with a vengeance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile, Minnesota’s Crystal Dangerfield has become something of a pleasant surprise. Dangerfield has emerged a go-to scorer for the Lynx in her rookie season moving up the ladder following an injury to starting point guard Shenise Johnson and the early-season absence of Odyssey Sims.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShould Dangerfield end up as the Rookie of the Year \u0026#8211; and her numbers certainly make her a front-runner \u0026#8211; she would be the first rookie drafted in the second round to win the award in league history. Dangerfield is averaging 15.5 points and 3.0 assists per game. Over the last nine games, she has averaged 19.3 points, including five 20-point plus games.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut Dangerfield is hardly alone in having a positive impact on her team.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSabally is quickly making up ground in the rookie of the year race after being out with a back injury earlier in July. Sabally is one of five rookies ever to average 12.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 2.4 assists. The others are Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings, Candace Parker and Breanna Stewart. Good company.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarter, the Dream’s high-scoring guard, is a welcome sight for the Dream, who are out of the playoff race. Carter put up 26 points on Sunday against Los Angeles in her second game back from her ankle injury.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd a big sigh of relief was felt league-wide when news came last week that Ionescu will not have to have surgery to repair her ankle sprain.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“It’s all about opportunity,” said Dallas Wings coach Brian Agler, who has three rookies playing significant minutes for his young team. “Depending on your team’s situation, some are getting bigger ones than others.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere are some of the best rookie performers of the 2020 season so far:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJulie Allemand, Indiana. \u003c/strong\u003eThe Belgian guard, who had never played in the United States before this season, is making a run at Rookie of the Year. She has made significant contributions to the Fever as the starting point guard in the absence of All-Star Erica Wheeler. In her last four games, she scored 45 points, pulled down 18 rebounds and dished out 21 assists. She has scored double figures in eight games so far this season and ranks second in the league in assists (5.3 per game) behind Chicago’s Courtney Vandersloot and tied a team record with 11 assists against Dallas back on July 31. Only one other rookie in league history has collected more than 5.0 assists per game, Temeka Johnson in 2004. Fever coach Marianne Stanley said she knew the team had a “gem” when they signed Allemand, who has national team experience in Belgium, and so far she’s been proven right.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTe’a Cooper, Los Angeles. \u003c/strong\u003eCooper, drafted in the second round out of Baylor, has given the Sparks some very valuable minutes off the bench, including back to back double-digit games against Indiana (14 points) and Washington (10 points) earlier this month. Cooper is part of a Los Angeles bench crew including Seimone Augustus and Riquna Williams that is averaging 33.8 points a game to help propel Los Angeles to an eight-game win streak.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTyasha Harris, Dallas. \u003c/strong\u003eHarris’ minutes have been relatively consistent (18.3 minutes) off the bench, and she is averaging 6.7 points a game. With Moriah Jefferson out of the season with a knee injury, the South Carolina product’s minutes are likely to increase down the stretch of the season. Against Washington on August 21, she played 26 minutes and finished with 10 points and three assists in a big Wings win. Harris has been playing through a thumb injury.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEzi Magbegor, Seattle.\u003c/strong\u003e The 21-year-old Australian star (born in New Zealand) was drafted by the Storm with the 12th overall pick in 2019, but decided to make her WNBA debut in 2020, taking a year to get more experience before joining the world’s best professional league. She has scored in double figures in a pair of games this season.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJazmine Jones, New York.\u003c/strong\u003e The Louisville product, the final pick of the first round in April, is picking up some of the slack left behind by Ionescu’s injury. She is averaging 10.4 points a game, but she is picking up steam, averaging 13.1 points in the last eight games, including a 24-point effort against Los Angeles on August 11. On August 20 against Chicago, Jones finished with 18 points, four rebounds and three steals.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLongtime WNBA reporter Michelle Smith writes a weekly column on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":"","categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":"","bannerImage":"","mobileBannerImage":"","menu":{},"mobileMenu":{},"adfuelTarget":"","isHub":false},"powerRankings":[],"author":{"id":0,"slug":"","name":"Michelle Smith","firstName":"","lastName":"","organization":"","isNBAStaff":false,"authorPhoto":"","socialHandle":"","socialLink":"","wpseoTitle":"","wpseoMetadesc":"","description":"","userUrl":"","featuredAuthor":false},"latest":{"count":6,"items":[{"id":195122,"type":"post","name":"golden-state-valkyries-expansion-draft-faq","title":"Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft: FAQ and Things to Know","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"golden-state-valkyries-expansion-draft-faq","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/golden-state-valkyries-expansion-draft-faq","excerpt":"Get the answers to some of the main questions about the expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries on December 6, 2024.","timestamp":1732720781000,"date":"2024-11-27T15:19:41Z","modified":"2024-11-27T15:19:41Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/ValykriesDraftFAQ.png","category":"Team News","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft: FAQ and Things to Know","title":"Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft: FAQ and Things to Know","description":"Get the answers to some of the main questions about the expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries on December 6, 2024.","twitter":{"title":"Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft: FAQ and Things to Know","description":"Get the answers to some of the main questions about the expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries on December 6, 2024.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/ValykriesDraftFAQ.png","imageId":195125},"facebook":{"title":"Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft: FAQ and Things to Know","description":"Get the answers to some of the main questions about the expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries on December 6, 2024.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/ValykriesDraftFAQ.png","imageId":195125}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"team-news":"Team News"},"teams":{"golden-state-valkyries-1611661331":"Golden State Valkyries - 1611661331"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"WNBA Staff","author":{"id":776,"name":"WNBA"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMore Expansion Draft info and FAQs will be posted as information becomes available.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBelow are answers to some of the main questions about the expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW119270862 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eQ: What is an Expansion Draft?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW119270862 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"SCXW119270862 BCX0\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW119270862 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003e An Expansion Draft is a process used by professional sports leagues to allow a new team to build its roster by selecting players from existing teams. In this case, the WNBA’s 13th franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003ewhich will debut in the 2025 season, \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003ewill be able to select\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003e a\u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW119270862 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eplayer from a designated pool of unprotected players from each of the current 12 WNBA teams.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eQ: When will the 2025 WNBA Expansion Draft Presented by State Farm occur?\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e The Expansion Draft is scheduled for Friday, December 6, 2024, at 6:30 pm ET and will be broadcast on ESPN. \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;134233117\u0026quot;:false,\u0026quot;134233118\u0026quot;:false,\u0026quot;335559738\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW221818427 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eQ: Wh\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eich\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e players will be available in the Expansion Draft?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW221818427 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e Each of the existing 12 WNBA teams will \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003esubmit\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e a Roster List that includes every player they have rights to, covering active, suspended, \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003edraft list/reserved, \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003ecore, and retired\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e lists\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e. Each team can protect up to six players from this Roster List \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003ewho will not be available for \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eselection\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e. \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eAll other players \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eon the team’s Roster List who are not protected \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003ewill be made available for selection\u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003eby Golden State \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003ein the Expansion Draft\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221818427 BCX0\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP SCXW221818427 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW93057017 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003eQ: When do teams have to \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003esubmit\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003e their \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003eRoster\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003e List\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003e?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW93057017 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003e Teams must \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003esubmit\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003e their \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003eRoster List\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003e by\u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93057017 BCX0\"\u003eMonday, November 25.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP SCXW93057017 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW188802407 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW188802407 BCX0\"\u003eQ: How many players can the Golden State Valkyries select?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW188802407 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW188802407 BCX0\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW188802407 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW188802407 BCX0\"\u003eThe Valkyries\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW188802407 BCX0\"\u003e will have the opportunity to select one available player from each of the current 12 teams.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP SCXW188802407 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003eQ: Can Golden State select \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003ea \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003eplayer\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003e from a team’s Roster List\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003e who \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003eis\u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124169819 BCX0\"\u003enot signed for the 2025 season?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e Yes. If a selected player is not signed for the 2025 season, Golden State will receive whatever rights to such player the existing team would have had if that player was not selected in the Expansion Draft. Golden State will acquire the player\u0026#8217;s contract if a selected player is signed for the 2025 season.\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW258083849 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003eQ: Can Golden State select \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003ea player\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e from a team’s Roster List\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e who will be an \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003eunrestricted free agent\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e after 2024\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW258083849 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003eGolden State may only select one player in the Expansion Draft eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season. That player may be selected only if they have not previously played under a Core Player contract for two or more seasons. Golden State may then \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003edesignate\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW258083849 BCX0\"\u003e that player as its one Core Player in January.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP SCXW258083849 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:278}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW60867975 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eQ: What about former players?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW60867975 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eEach team’s submitted Roster List for \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TrackedChange SCXW60867975 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003et\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003ehe Expansion Draft will \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eonly \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003einclude players on \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003ethe\u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eteam\u0026#8217;s\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003e active, suspended, draft list/reserved, core, and retired lists as of the final day of the 2024 regular season. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP SCXW60867975 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;134245418\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;134245529\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559738\u0026quot;:319,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:319,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:278}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW93373479 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eQ: Does Golden State have to select players \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eaccording to\u003c/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eon-court \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eposition\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003e?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW93373479 BCX0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"SCXW93373479 BCX0\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003cbr class=\"SCXW93373479 BCX0\" /\u003e\u003c/span\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW93373479 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 4\"\u003e There are no on-court positional requirements. Golden State can choose players regardless of position, depending on team needs and available players.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"EOP SCXW93373479 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;134245418\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;134245529\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559738\u0026quot;:319,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:319,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:278}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003eQ: Does Golden State have to build its entire team through the Expansion Draft?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003cspan data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;134245418\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;134245529\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;335559738\u0026quot;:319,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:0}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003eA:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003cspan data-contrast=\"auto\"\u003e No. The Expansion Draft is just the start of Golden State’s roster-building process. After the Expansion Draft, Golden State will participate in the typical team roster-building functions in 2025, including the free agency period, which begins in February 2025, and the WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm, which will take place on Monday, April 14, 2025. Golden State currently holds the No. 5 overall pick and the fifth pick in the second and third rounds.\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan data-ccp-props=\"{\u0026quot;134245418\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;134245529\u0026quot;:true,\u0026quot;335559738\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:319}\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":195105,"type":"post","name":"los-angeles-sparks-name-lynne-roberts-head-coach","title":"Los Angeles Sparks Name Lynne Roberts Head Coach","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"los-angeles-sparks-name-lynne-roberts-head-coach","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/los-angeles-sparks-name-lynne-roberts-head-coach","excerpt":"The Los Angeles Sparks have named Lynne Roberts the new head coach, and the organization announced the big news on Tuesday.","timestamp":1732115523000,"date":"2024-11-20T15:12:03Z","modified":"2024-11-20T15:12:03Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_-Recovered-Recovered.png","category":"Team News","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"Los Angeles Sparks Name Lynne Roberts Head Coach","title":"Los Angeles Sparks Name Lynne Roberts Head Coach","description":"The Los Angeles Sparks have named Lynne Roberts the new head coach, and the organization announced the big news on Tuesday.","twitter":{"title":"Los Angeles Sparks Name Lynne Roberts Head Coach","description":"The Los Angeles Sparks have named Lynne Roberts the new head coach, and the organization announced the big news on Tuesday.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_-Recovered-Recovered.png","imageId":195108},"facebook":{"title":"Los Angeles Sparks Name Lynne Roberts Head Coach","description":"The Los Angeles Sparks have named Lynne Roberts the new head coach, and the organization announced the big news on Tuesday.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_-Recovered-Recovered.png","imageId":195108}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"team-news":"Team News"},"teams":{"1611661320":"Los Angeles Sparks - 1611661320"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Official Release","author":{"id":774,"name":"WNBA"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLOS ANGELES —\u003c/strong\u003e The Los Angeles Sparks have named Lynne Roberts head coach, the organization announced Tuesday. The Redding, California native brings 27 seasons of collegiate women’s basketball coaching experience, including the past 18 as a Division I head coach. Roberts most recently helmed the University of Utah’s team for nine-plus seasons, where she led the Utes to three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and was named 2023 Pac-12 Coach of the Year.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003e“Lynne is an outstanding coach and leader,” Sparks Governor and Managing Partner Eric Holoman said. “We are thrilled to bring her decades of winning coaching experience to our organization. Through our comprehensive international search, Lynne’s modern view of basketball, her communication skills, and ability to build relationships made her the right choice for the role.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003e“First and foremost, Lynne’s leadership and integrity stand out. Her ability to partner with players while creating a winning culture will translate as we continue our path toward championship contention. Lynne has a dynamic and forward-thinking offensive mind, and her up-tempo style fits perfectly with the way we want to play,” General Manager Raegan Pebley added. “We love how she maximized her talent at Utah in one of the nation’s strongest conferences. We are honored to welcome Lynne and her family to Los Angeles.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003eThe veteran coach was hired by Utah in 2015, going 18-15 in her first year after taking over a 9-21 team. Roberts led the Utes to the Sweet Sixteen in 2023 and won the Pac-12 regular season championship. Her teams spent 40 consecutive weeks ranked in the Top 25 and 14 straight weeks in the Top 10, ranking as high as No. 2 in the nation. Average home attendance in Roberts’ tenure skyrocketed from 594 to 7,209. At Utah, Roberts coached 2024 No. 8 overall draft pick Alissa Pili and 2019 third-round selection Megan Huff.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003e “I am honored to be named the next head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks,” Roberts said. “I want to thank our ownership group for this incredible opportunity. From conversations with Eric Holoman and Reagan Pebley, it is evident that we share a like-minded commitment toward creating a winning culture and team. The Sparks have a talented roster with tremendous upside, and we will compete tirelessly for WNBA championships. I believe Los Angeles should be the premier market in the WNBA, and I’m eager to partner with our players and front office to make this happen.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003eThe past three seasons, Roberts’ teams have displayed historic efficiency, ranking No. 1 in the nation in field goal attempts from beyond the three-point line and at the rim, second in overall offensive rating, and third in effective field goal percentage. Collectively, these squads rank fifth among all DI schools in three-pointers made across the last three campaigns. In 2023-24, Roberts’ Utes shot 95% of their shots from beyond the arc, at the rim or in the paint. Her team attempted just 5% of their opportunities from the less efficient mid-range area, much more efficient than the 17% frequency that WNBA teams average.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003eAs a standout guard at Enterprise High School in Redding, Roberts earned 1993 Northern Section Player of the Year honors. She then played at Seattle Pacific University, setting a school record with 82 made three-pointers in a season. Roberts began her coaching career as a student assistant at Seattle Pacific while earning her master’s degree, serving as Falcons assistant coach from 1997-2002. She then took the reins as Division II Chico State’s head coach, tallying an 86-31 record. The Wildcats made the DII NCAA Tournament all four seasons Roberts coached them, advancing to the Final Four in 2006.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003eFrom 2006-2015, Roberts helmed the Pacific Tigers, earning 2013 Big West Coach of the Year honors, claiming the 2012-13 regular season championship and qualifying for the WNIT each of her final four seasons.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003eRoberts has been mentored by the winningest head coach in college basketball history—and Cameron Brink’s former coach\u0026#8211; Tara VanDerveer, who said in 2024 that Roberts’ teams “play what I call beautiful basketball.” Entering 2024-25, which she began as Utah’s head coach, Roberts’ collegiate head coaching record stood at 383-290.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400\"\u003eRoberts will be formally introduced to media during a press conference (simultaneously in-person and virtual) on Thursday, November 21 at 1 p.m. PT at \u003ca href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://Crypto.com__;!!PMETyfE!JUjPmDJIwknzmJP_QAQ8aWKpoBbBQXbxe3D4QPQVcyduMh_NePtat9hWBRmHIzUeYB1_YcI5$\"\u003eCrypto.com\u003c/a\u003e Arena, alongside General Manager Raegan Pebley. A media advisory containing pertinent details will be distributed shortly.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;text-align: center\"\u003e###\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":195073,"type":"post","name":"2025-wnba-draft-lottery-results","title":"Dallas Wings Win Top Pick in 2025 WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm®","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"2025-wnba-draft-lottery-results","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/2025-wnba-draft-lottery-results","excerpt":"The Dallas Wings won the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm® and will have the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.","timestamp":1731884109000,"date":"2024-11-17T22:55:09Z","modified":"2024-11-17T22:55:51Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/WingsLottery.png","category":"Uncategorized","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"Dallas Wings Win Top Pick in 2025 WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm®","title":"Dallas Wings Win Top Pick in 2025 WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm®","description":"The Dallas Wings won the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm® and will have the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.","twitter":{"title":"Dallas Wings Win Top Pick in 2025 WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm®","description":"The Dallas Wings won the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm® and will have the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/WingsLottery.png","imageId":195074},"facebook":{"title":"Dallas Wings Win Top Pick in 2025 WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm®","description":"The Dallas Wings won the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm® and will have the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/WingsLottery.png","imageId":195074}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"2018-wnba-all-star-game":"Uncategorized"},"teams":{"1611661321":"Dallas Wings - 1611661321"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Official Release","author":{"id":776,"name":"WNBA"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e–\u003ci\u003e Los Angeles Sparks Receive Second Pick,\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eChicago Sky to Select Third, Washington Mystics will Choose Fourth \u003c/i\u003e–\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNEW YORK, \u003c/b\u003eNov. 17, 2024 – The Dallas Wings today won the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e®\u003c/span\u003e and will have the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm to be held on Monday, April 14, 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe results of the 24\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eth\u003c/span\u003e annual Lottery were revealed by WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin during the 30-minute, \u003ci\u003eWNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm\u003c/i\u003e special following its presentation of the TCU vs. North Carolina State women’s basketball game. This marks the 13\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eth\u003c/span\u003e consecutive year that ESPN networks has presented the WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDallas won the WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm for the first time in team history. The franchise had participated in the Lottery 11 times before winning the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe Los Angeles Sparks\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c/i\u003e\u003c/b\u003ewill have the second selection and will be followed by the Chicago Sky. The Washington Mystics will choose fourth.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eLottery odds were based on the two-year (2023 and 2024) cumulative records of the four teams that did not make the playoffs in the most recent season. With a cumulative record of 25-55, the Sparks had the most assigned combinations (442 out of 1,000) and were guaranteed at least the third pick.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDallas and Chicago, each of whom posted a combined record of 31-49 over the past two seasons, each had 227 chances out of 1,000. Additionally, as a result of a February 2023 trade, Dallas had the right to swap first round picks with Chicago had the Sky’s first round pick been above that of the Wings after the drawing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWashington, 33-47 over the past two seasons, has 104 chances out of 1,000 to win the top pick.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe order of selection for the remainder of the first round as well as the second and third rounds – with the exception of Golden State owning the fifth pick in each round – was determined by inverse order of the teams’ respective regular-season records solely from 2024.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA representative from the accounting firm of Ernst \u0026amp; Young was in attendance to oversee the Lottery process.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe following are results of the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eRESULTS OF WNBA DRAFT LOTTERY 2025 PRESENTED BY STATE FARM\u003c/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e®\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 120px\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 24px\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;text-align: center;height: 24px\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTeam\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;text-align: center;height: 24px\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCombined 2023-2024 Record\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;text-align: center;height: 24px\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChances (Out of 1,000)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 24px\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003eDallas Wings\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e31-49\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e227\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 24px\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003eLos Angeles Sparks\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e25-55\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e442\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 24px\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003eChicago Sky\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e31-49\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e227\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 24px\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003eWashington Mystics\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e33-43\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%;height: 24px\"\u003e104\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eREMAINING ORDER FOR FIRST ROUND (picks 6-12 based on 2024 Record)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTeam\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e5. Golden State Valkyries\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e6. Washington Mystics from Atlanta Dream (15-25) via Dallas Wings (Allisha Gray, 1/21/23) (Stephanie Soares draft rights, 4/10/23)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e7. New York Liberty from Phoenix Mercury (19-21) (Mabrey, DeShields, Onyenwere, 2/11/23)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e8. Indiana Fever (20-20)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e9. Seattle Storm (25-15)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e10. Chicago Sky from Connecticut Sun (28-12) (Marina Mabrey, Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, 7/17/24)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e11. Minnesota Lynx (30-10)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e12. Phoenix Mercury from New York Liberty (32-8) (\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eMabrey, DeShields, Onyenwere, \u003c/span\u003e2/11/23)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eIn May of 2023, the Las Vegas Aces had their own 2025 first round pick rescinded for violating league rules.\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout State Farm®\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFor over 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eauto\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ehome\u003c/span\u003e insurance in the United States. Its more than 19,400 agents and 67,000 employees serve over 91 million policies and accounts – including auto, fire, \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003elife\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ehealth\u003c/span\u003e, commercial policies \u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003eand \u003c/span\u003efinancial services\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e accounts. \u003c/span\u003eCommercial auto insurance\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e, along with coverage for \u003c/span\u003erenters\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e, \u003c/span\u003ebusiness \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eowners\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eboats\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003emotorcycles\u003c/span\u003e, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 39 on the 2024 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ehttp://www.statefarm.com\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e# # #\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eContacts:\u003c/b\u003e Ron Howard, (212) 407-8641, \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003erhoward@nba.com\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eSam Tager, (212) 407-8358, \u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003estager@nba.com\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":195052,"type":"post","name":"2024-wnba-community-assist-award","title":"Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens Receives Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"2024-wnba-community-assist-award","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/2024-wnba-community-assist-award","excerpt":"WNBA announces that Los Angeles Sparks forward-center Azurá Stevens is the recipient of the Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award.","timestamp":1731692532000,"date":"2024-11-15T17:42:12Z","modified":"2024-11-15T17:42:12Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_Azura.png","category":"Awards,Press Release","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens Receives Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award","title":"Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens Receives Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award","description":"WNBA announces that Los Angeles Sparks forward-center Azurá Stevens is the recipient of the Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award.","twitter":{"title":"Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens Receives Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award","description":"WNBA announces that Los Angeles Sparks forward-center Azurá Stevens is the recipient of the Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_Azura.png","imageId":195054},"facebook":{"title":"Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens Receives Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award","description":"WNBA announces that Los Angeles Sparks forward-center Azurá Stevens is the recipient of the Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_Azura.png","imageId":195054}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"awards":"Awards","press-release":"Press Release"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Official Release","author":{"id":774,"name":"WNBA"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNEW YORK\u003c/strong\u003e, Nov. 15, 2024 – The WNBA announced today that Los Angeles Sparks forward-center Azurá Stevens is the recipient of the Seasonlong WNBA Cares Community Assist Award in recognition of her extensive efforts to support and uplift youth across Los Angeles County and surrounding areas.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout the 2024 WNBA season, Stevens participated in local events involving more than 2,000 children. She assisted with a shoe drive, helped conduct several basketball clinics and visited patients at an area hospital multiple times. Stevens also took part in youth outreach programs through her team’s Jr. Sparks platform.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Community outreach is so important because, without a strong community, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Stevens said. “The people around us help shape our identities, and where I grew up, my community played a huge role in making me the person I am today. I’m incredibly grateful to have been embraced by the Los Angeles community, and I’m excited to continue giving back and deepening my connection here. It’s an honor to be able to inspire, serve and impact the next generation, just as my community did for me.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHighlights of Stevens’ efforts in the community are included below:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAir West Skills Clinic:\u003c/strong\u003e On May 8, Stevens worked with youth on fundamental basketball drills and participated in a Q\u0026amp;A session.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShoes That Fit Community Shoe Drive:\u003c/strong\u003e On May 22, Stevens helped distribute 900 pairs of new shoes to the entire student body of South Park Elementary School in an underserved community of South Central Los Angeles.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital Visit:\u003c/strong\u003e On July 15, Stevens made one of several visits to UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital to spend one-on-time with patients and engage with parents and nurses.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJr. Sparks x Shiekh Impact:\u003c/strong\u003e On Aug. 10, Stevens attended a Jr. Sparks x Shiekh Impact back-to-school event for more than 100 girls in Compton. Additionally, on Sept. 16, she helped host a Jr. Sparks clinic and shared tips about healthy habits.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRead to Achieve:\u003c/strong\u003e On Sept. 20 at South Park Elementary School, Stevens visited classrooms, read to students and answered questions about being a professional athlete.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStevens recently completed her seventh WNBA season. She has career regular-season averages of 9.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 176 games. A standout player in high school in North Carolina and in college at Duke and Connecticut, Stevens was selected by the Dallas Wings with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She has played the last two seasons with the Sparks after stints with the Wings (2018-19) and the Chicago Sky (2020-22).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn recognition of Stevens’ commitment to the community, the WNBA will donate $20,000 to United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County in North Carolina.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center\"\u003e# # #\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":195037,"type":"post","name":"atlanta-dream-hire-karl-smesko-as-head-coach","title":"Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko as Head Coach","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"atlanta-dream-hire-karl-smesko-as-head-coach","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/atlanta-dream-hire-karl-smesko-as-head-coach","excerpt":"The Atlanta Dream hired Karl Smesko as the team’s new Head Coach, the organization announced the big news today.","timestamp":1731517111000,"date":"2024-11-13T16:58:31Z","modified":"2024-11-20T15:12:26Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_Karl-Smesko.png","category":"Team News","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko as Head Coach","title":"Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko as Head Coach","description":"The Atlanta Dream hired Karl Smesko as the team’s new Head Coach, the organization announced the big news today.","twitter":{"title":"Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko as Head Coach","description":"The Atlanta Dream hired Karl Smesko as the team’s new Head Coach, the organization announced the big news today.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_Karl-Smesko.png","imageId":195039},"facebook":{"title":"Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko as Head Coach","description":"The Atlanta Dream hired Karl Smesko as the team’s new Head Coach, the organization announced the big news today.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/FEATUREIMAGE_Karl-Smesko.png","imageId":195039}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"team-news":"Team News"},"teams":{"1611661330":"Atlanta Dream - 1611661330"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Official Release","author":{"id":774,"name":"WNBA"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cdiv class=\"Blocks_Text__1cLuT BlockText\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eATLANTA\u003c/strong\u003e (November 13, 2024) – The Atlanta Dream hired Karl Smesko as the team’s new Head Coach, the organization announced today.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the third highest winning percentage (.843) among active coaches in NCAA Division I (DI) women’s basketball history (behind only Geno Auriemma and Kim Mulkey), Smesko brings over two decades of head coaching experience to the Atlanta Dream. His 672 total wins ranks eighth overall among active head coaches.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Karl is a proven leader with a history of developing his players and creating a winning culture,” said General Manager Dan Padover. “His fast-paced, innovative style of play will be attractive to our players and fans alike. We are excited to have Karl bring his incredible basketball IQ to the Dream.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Blocks_Text__1cLuT BlockText\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Blocks_Text__1cLuT BlockText\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOff the court, Smesko’s impact ripples throughout the basketball universe, particularly as it relates to developing coaches. Currently, 22 of his former players have entered the coaching ranks \u0026#8211; including three on the current Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) staff \u0026#8211; and three of his former assistant coaches are now head coaches at the collegiate level.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This is an exciting moment for our fans, the city of Atlanta, and the entire Dream organization,” said Atlanta Dream Majority Owner, Larry Gottesdiener. “A great basketball mind is coming to our city. Karl’s passion for and commitment to women’s basketball bring out the best in everyone around him. I am confident we have found the right leader to take our organization to the next level.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Blocks_Text__1cLuT BlockText\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA native of Bath, Ohio, Smesko created and built the FGCU women’s basketball program from the ground up. During his 23 years as the Head Coach, Smesko’s teams have compiled a remarkable overall record of 611-110 (.8.47). His teams have won 14 Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) regular season titles, 11 ASUN tournament championships, and progressed to the NCAA tournament 10 times. Smesko has led FGCU to 25-wins in 14 straight seasons, an accomplishment only matched by UConn.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Blocks_Text__1cLuT BlockText\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“I am humbled and honored to be the head coach of the Atlanta Dream,” said Karl Smesko. “I am grateful for a remarkable 23 years at FGCU and will be forever indebted to the amazing women who have played for me, the incredible professionals who have coached with me, and the passionate fanbase who supported us along the way. I’m thankful to the leadership of the Atlanta Dream for their faith in me to lead this organization into the future and can’t wait to get started.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Blocks_Text__1cLuT BlockText\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Atlanta Dream will host a press conference introducing Karl Smesko as the franchise’s new head coach, accompanied by General Manager Dan Padover, early next week with details to follow.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":195027,"type":"post","name":"dallas-wings-name-curt-miller-evp-general-manager","title":"Dallas Wings Name Curt Miller Executive Vice President and General Manager","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"dallas-wings-name-curt-miller-evp-general-manager","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/dallas-wings-name-curt-miller-evp-general-manager","excerpt":"The Dallas Wings announced the hiring of Curt Miller as Executive Vice President and General Manager. Miller comes to the Wings after a two-year stint as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Sparks.","timestamp":1731084556000,"date":"2024-11-08T16:49:16Z","modified":"2024-11-08T16:49:16Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/CurtMiller.png","category":"Team News","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"Dallas Wings Name Curt Miller Executive Vice President and General Manager","title":"Dallas Wings Name Curt Miller Executive Vice President and General Manager","description":"The Dallas Wings announced the hiring of Curt Miller as Executive Vice President and General Manager.","twitter":{"title":"Dallas Wings Name Curt Miller Executive Vice President and General Manager","description":"The Dallas Wings announced the hiring of Curt Miller as Executive Vice President and General Manager. Miller comes to the Wings after a two-year stint as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Sparks.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/CurtMiller.png","imageId":195028},"facebook":{"title":"Dallas Wings Name Curt Miller Executive Vice President and General Manager","description":"The Dallas Wings announced the hiring of Curt Miller as Executive Vice President and General Manager. Miller comes to the Wings after a two-year stint as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Sparks.","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/11/CurtMiller.png","imageId":195028}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"team-news":"Team News"},"teams":{"1611661321":"Dallas Wings - 1611661321"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Official Release","author":{"id":776,"name":"WNBA"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cp class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003eWings promote Travis Charles to Senior Vice President \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003eand\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003e Assistant General Manager and Jasmine Thomas to Vice President \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003eand\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003e Assistant General Manager\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003eArlington, TX\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e (\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003eNov\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e. 08\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e, 2024) –\u003c/span\u003e The Dallas Wings announced the hiring of Curt Miller as Executive Vice President and General Manager. Miller comes to the Wings after a two-year stint as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Sparks. Prior to his time in LA, Miller spent seven seasons with the Connecticut Sun, serving as General Manager and Head Coach.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003e“Curt Miller is a proven winner with deep experience building and leading WNBA rosters and staffs,” Dallas Wings President \u0026amp; CEO Greg Bibb stated. “I believe Curt’s ability to construct winning teams as well as his success in coaching in the WNBA and beyond will prove invaluable for our organization as we continue our pursuit of a WNBA Championship.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003eMiller, the 2017 WNBA Executive of the Year and two-time Coach of the Year (2017, 2021) has a 165-141 record over nine seasons (2016-24) as a head coach. He served as GM of the Sun in his final six seasons in Connecticut, with the Sun totaling a 126-66 record during that span – the best mark among all WNBA teams between 2017-22. During Miller’s tenure, the Sun went to the WNBA Playoffs six consecutive times, including two Finals appearances (2019, 2022). His win total ranks 11th in league history while reaching 150 total wins the fifth fastest in the league.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003e“I am excited to join the Dallas Wings as the new Executive Vice President and General Manager,” said Miller. “I’d like to thank Greg Bibb, Bill Cameron and the rest of the partners for this incredible opportunity. The potential of the Dallas Wings is immeasurable. With a new arena and practice facility on the horizon, a talented roster which is impactful both on the court and in the community, exciting positioning in the upcoming draft, a passionate and loyal fanbase, a fully invested ownership group, and a dedicated front office staff, now is the time for the Wings. As a veteran head coach and GM in the WNBA, I’m looking forward to bringing my experience, passion, and leadership to Texas while we strive to hang a WNBA Championship Banner in Dallas.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003ePrior to his time with the Sun, Miller was an assistant for the Sparks in 2015. Before joining the WNBA ranks, Miller made his mark at the collegiate level at Indiana University (2012-14) and Bowling Green State University (2001-12). In 11 seasons at BGSU, he won eight MAC regular season and five MAC tournament titles. Winning 290 games at the college level and 165 games at the professional level, he is one of only three coaches to win 250+ collegiate games and 150+ WNBA games, joining Van Chancellor and Lin Dunn.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003eOne of Miller’s first priorities with the Wings will be the hiring of the team’s new head coach while also preparing for the upcoming WNBA Expansion Draft, which is scheduled for December 6. Prior to that event, the Wings will learn its draft position in the 2025 WNBA Draft during a live draft special to be aired on ESPN on November 17. In part due to a pick-swap right with the Chicago Sky, the Wings can do no worse than selecting third in the 2025 Draft.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003eIn addition to the hiring of Miller, Bibb announced the front office promotions of Travis Charles and Jasmine Thomas.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003eCharles, who previously served as the Vice President of Basketball Operations and Assistant General Manager, was promoted to Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations and Assistant General Manager. He just concluded his 11th season with the organization, overseeing all logistics and strategy for basketball operations in video, scouting and travel.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003e“Travis Charles has been one of the longest-serving members of the Wings organization and has risen through the basketball operations ranks to become an invaluable member of our leadership team,” Bibb stated. “Having him work hand-in-hand with Curt on the basketball side of our business will provide us with a deep and talented leadership team.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003eThomas, who was promoted to Vice President of Basketball Operations and Assistant General Manager, recently wrapped up her first season in the Wings’ front office and sidelines as Director of Player Programs and Development Coach. In her role with the Wings, Thomas focused on on-court skill development while also working on programs centered around player services and support, including but not limited to career development, mentorship and philanthropic interests. Thomas had a highly decorated 13-year WNBA playing career, scoring 3,862 points and registering 1,477 assists. The Duke University graduate was a five-time WNBA All-Defensive Team member while playing under Curt Miller during her final eight WNBA seasons. Recognized as one of the most community-focused and socially engaged professional athletes, Thomas is a two-time recipient of the WNBA Community Assist Award having been honored by the League in both 2019 and 2021.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003e“Following an exemplary playing career, Jasmine has quickly established herself as one of the rising stars of WNBA front offices,” Bibb stated. “Her ability to connect and support our players on and off the court will provide a valuable resource for our organization. I believe our newly formed basketball leadership team is one that is very talented and highly experienced and I’m excited for our future.”\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""}],"total":5724,"pageNext":2,"pages":954,"queryParams":{"page":1,"count":6,"types":"post","exclude-id":"130255","excludeMeta-exclude_from_indexes":true}},"related":[{"id":131607,"type":"post","name":"inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-my-league-award-ballot","title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: My League Award Ballot","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-my-league-award-ballot","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-my-league-award-ballot","excerpt":"","timestamp":1599589250000,"date":"2020-09-08T18:20:50Z","modified":"2023-05-11T19:55:23Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/09/Inside2_Featured-scaled.jpg","category":"Inside The W: Michelle Smith,Latest News","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"","title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: My League Award Ballot - WNBA","description":"In this most extraordinary WNBA season, there have been many extraordinary performances, with many more to come as the regular season gives way to the WNBA Playoffs presented by AT\u0026#038;T beginning on Sept. 15 in Bradenton, Florida. Twenty-two games to find a team’s chemistry, to settle on a rotation, to break out from the pack [\u0026hellip;]","twitter":{"title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: My League Award Ballot - WNBA","description":"In this most extraordinary WNBA season, there have been many extraordinary performances, with many more to come as the regular season gives way to the WNBA Playoffs presented by AT\u0026#038;T beginning on Sept. 15 in Bradenton, Florida. Twenty-two games to find a team’s chemistry, to settle on a rotation, to break out from the pack [\u0026hellip;]","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/09/Inside2_Featured-scaled.jpg","imageId":""},"facebook":{"title":"Inside the W with Michelle Smith: My League Award Ballot - WNBA","description":"In this most extraordinary WNBA season, there have been many extraordinary performances, with many more to come as the regular season gives way to the WNBA Playoffs presented by AT\u0026#038;T beginning on Sept. 15 in Bradenton, Florida. Twenty-two games to find a team’s chemistry, to settle on a rotation, to break out from the pack [\u0026hellip;]","image":"","imageId":"131609"}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"inside-the-w-michelle-smith":"Inside The W: Michelle Smith","latest-news":"Latest News"},"tags":{"aja-wilson":"A'ja Wilson","alyssa-thomas":"Alyssa Thomas","angel-mccoughtry":"Angel McCoughtry","arike-ogwumike":"Arike Ogwumike","awards":"Awards","betnijah-laney":"Betnijah Laney","breanna-stewart":"Breanna Stewart","candace-parker":"Candace Parker","cheryl-reeve":"Cheryl Reeve","courtney-vandersloot":"Courtney Vandersloot","crystal-dangerfield":"Crystal Dangerfield","dearica-hamby":"Dearica Hamby","dewanna-bonner":"DeWanna Bonner","diana-taurasi":"Diana Taurasi","inside-the-w":"Inside the W","los-angeles-sparks":"Los Angeles Sparks","michelle-smith":"Michelle Smith","minnesota-lynx":"Minnesota Lynx","napheesa-collier":"Napheesa Collier","nneka-ogwumike":"Nneka Ogwumike","skylar-diggins-smith":"Skylar Diggins-Smith"},"teams":{"1611661317":"Phoenix Mercury - 1611661317","1611661319":"Las Vegas Aces - 1611661319","1611661320":"Los Angeles Sparks - 1611661320","1611661323":"Connecticut Sun - 1611661323","1611661324":"Minnesota Lynx - 1611661324","1611661328":"Seattle Storm - 1611661328","1611661329":"Chicago Sky - 1611661329","1611661330":"Atlanta Dream - 1611661330"},"players":{"100940":"Diana Taurasi - 100940","201496":"Candace Parker - 201496","201881":"Angel McCoughtry - 201881","201886":"DeWanna Bonner - 201886","202664":"Courtney Vandersloot - 202664","203014":"Nneka Ogwumike - 203014","203400":"Skylar Diggins-Smith - 203400","203826":"Alyssa Thomas - 203826","204324":"Dearica Hamby - 204324","204335":"Betnijah Laney - 204335","1627668":"Breanna Stewart - 1627668","1628932":"A\u0026#8217;ja Wilson - 1628932","1629481":"Arike Ogunbowale - 1629481","1629483":"Napheesa Collier - 1629483","1630101":"Crystal Dangerfield - 1630101"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Michelle Smith","author":{"id":"","name":""},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cfigure class=\"wp-image size-full\"\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/09/Inside_Cover-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image- size-full\"/\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this most extraordinary WNBA season, there have been many extraordinary performances, with many more to come as the regular season gives way to the WNBA Playoffs presented by AT\u0026#038;T beginning on Sept. 15 in Bradenton, Florida.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwenty-two games to find a team’s chemistry, to settle on a rotation, to break out from the pack or fall back. It’s been fast and furious. It\u0026#8217;s been fun. This season’s most thrilling moments have been countered by moments of sadness at injuries or departures. It has been unforgettable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd, as much as it’s ever been, the 2020 season has been about the WNBA players and what they were willing to sacrifice and work for to hold their season in the middle of both the COVID-19 pandemics and a clarion call to end racial injustice.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey have been leaders, and voices of hope and change and world-class athletes all at the same time.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs proudly as ever, I’m sharing my votes on my ballot for the WNBA 2020 Awards.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCoach of the Year \u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCheryl Reeve, Minnesota.\u003c/strong\u003e Why Reeve over Derek Fisher, Gary Kloppenberg or Bill Laimbeer? They are teams stacked with talent who were expected to be where they are right now. Not sure you can say that about the Lynx, considering the injuries they have sustained and the in-season roster and starting lineup changes that Reeve has had to make. The fact that the Lynx could well finish as a \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/standings/#?season=2020\"\u003etop four team in this league\u003c/a\u003e, making the postseason for the 10th straight season (the longest streak in the league) with Sylvia Fowles having played just seven games, with injuries to Karima Christmas-Kelly, Shenise Johnson, Lexie Brown and Rachel Banham is something of a surprise. But here they are. Crystal Dangerfield proved to be a steal as a second-round pick as she blossomed into a go-to scorer, Napheesa Collier solidified her status as an All-Star caliber pro, Damaris Dantas and Bridget Carleton made the most of their roles, and Odyssey Sims came into the fold in mid-August and has made some important contributions down the stretch, just in time for the postseason. The Lynx have wins over Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix and Connecticut. Thursday’s game with Las Vegas will be a barometer check heading into the postseason. But Reeve has made all the right moves. Again.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_131610\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"\u003e\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-131610\" class=\"wp-image-131610 size-large\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/09/GettyImages-1228290618-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" /\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-131610\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003ePALMETTO, FL \u0026#8211; AUGUST 31: Napheesa Collier #24 and Head Coach, Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx smile during the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 31, 2020 at Feld Entertainment Center in Palmetto, Florida. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDefensive Player of the Year\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNapheesa Collier, Minnesota.\u003c/strong\u003e A close pick between Collier, Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas and L.A.’s Candace Parker. Collier’s length makes her one of the most difficult defensive matchups in the WNBA. As her coach Cheryl Reeve says “you can’t go around her.” She is has become one of the league’s top rebounders (No. 2 behind Candace Parker), among the league leaders in steals (No. 3) and blocks (No. 8) and is the pace-setter for a Minnesota team that has built its identity and success around its ability to play strong team defense. Thomas’ 17 steals over the past six games and Parker’s dominance on the defensive boards makes this such a close race. Collier came away with it thanks to a bigger load to carry without Fowles on the floor.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_131611\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"\u003e\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-131611\" class=\"wp-image-131611 size-large\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/09/GettyImages-1228319161-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" /\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-131611\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003ePALMETTO, FL \u0026#8211; SEPTEMBER 2: Damiris Dantas #12 high-fives Crystal Dangerfield #2 of the Minnesota Lynx on September 2, 2020 at Feld Entertainment Center in Palmetto, Florida. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRookie of the Year\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCrystal Dangerfield, Minnesota.\u003c/strong\u003e Given all of the injuries to the Lynx roster, where would they be without the second-round pick out of Connecticut? Certainly not looking at a first-round playoff bye. Dangerfield, with 17 starts under her belt, is Minnesota’s leading scorer at 15.6 points a game. She has scored more than 20 points in a game six times this season. She has only failed to reach double figures twice and she is learning to be a strong distributor, finishing with at least five assists in four of the Lynx’s last nine games. No second-round pick has ever been selected Rookie of the Year. That streak may well end in 2020. Dallas’ Satou Sabally has also had an outstanding debut season, showing a versatile game that will make her a star in this league moving forward, but playoff position in 2020 made the difference here.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKim Perrot Sportsmanship Award \u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles.\u003c/strong\u003e As the President of the WNBA Players Association, Ogwumike has carried so much this season that her back is quite fittingly hurting her and limiting her time on the floor. Ogwumike’s leadership, her coalition-building and her role as the spokesperson for the players in the league has never been more important, more relevant and more critical to the players. She never fails to represent the players with a thoughtful calm and confidence and she will be remembered for what she did this season to unite the WNBA behind social justice.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eComeback Player of the Year\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAngel McCoughtry, Las Vegas.\u003c/strong\u003e McCoughtry left the only WNBA team she’d ever played for, pulling a new uniform over her head for the first time in 10 years. She missed the entirety of the 2017 season and played one game in 2019. Known as one of the league’s most mercurial players, she signed on to play for Bill Laimbeer, one of the most tell-it-like-it-is coaches around. And it’s worked out beautifully for both McCoughtry and the Aces, who are continuing to push hard for an all-important top-two seed. McCoughtry is picking up the offensive slack with the absence of Liz Cambage by averaging 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in approximately 21 minutes a game on the floor. She brings experience, leadership and a disruptive presence to the floor on the defensive end. All are welcome for the Aces as they make a title run.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e6th Player of the Year\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDearica Hamby, Las Vegas.\u003c/strong\u003e A repeat win in this category for the player that sets the standard across the league for coming in and proving her team whatever it needs. Hamby leads an Aces’ bench crew on the way to setting the league record for offensive production. She is averaging a career-best 13.2 points a game, career-highs in assists (2.3 per game) and steals (1.8 per game) to go with 7.3 rebounds. She ranks among the top 10 in the WNBA in field-goal percentage (.554), three-point percentage (.464), defensive rebounds (5.9) and steals (1.78).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMost Improved Player\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBetnijah Laney, Atlanta.\u003c/strong\u003e This has been nothing short of a game-changing season for the fifth-year guard/forward out of Rutgers. Laney was cut from the Indiana Fever roster before getting picked up by the team, who needed help in the backcourt because of the absence of Renee Montgomery and Tiffany Hayes (both decided to sit out the 2020 season). And they got much more than the defensive stopper they were expecting. Laney is averaging 16.5 points a game, her career-best by a factor of three. She has five 20-point plus games this season and two 30-point games. Against Las Vegas on Sept. 5, she finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Laney averaged 5.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season in Indiana. She scored a season high 11 points against Seattle. This season has changed her pro career for good.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMVP\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA’ja Wilson, Las Vegas.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilson by a nose over Stewart, who finished by a nose over Parker. This was not an easy season to pick an MVP. How do you not reward the best player on the best team with the kind of numbers and both-ends-of-the-floor impact that Stewart has? How do you not acknowledge the incredible all-around numbers that Parker has put up? But Wilson has the slightest of edges here because of the burden she had to take on without Liz Cambage and because of her consistency game in and game out and particularly down the stretch. Over the last seven games, Wilson has six 20-point-plus games and is shooting 50 percent from the floor. She hasn’t taken a 3-pointer all season and leads the league in free-throw attempts for the third time in her three years in the league. Stewart has struggled from the floor of late, going 23-for-96 in her last four games, a difficult 24 percent. Wilson has scored in double-digits every game this season and in a barometer game against Seattle on August 22, she finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds in an Aces’ win.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"attachment_131612\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"\u003e\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-131612\" class=\"wp-image-131612 size-large\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2020/09/GettyImages-1228161399-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" /\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"caption-attachment-131612\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003ePALMETTO, FL \u0026#8211; AUGUST 22: A\u0026#8217;ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against the Seattle Storm on August 22, 2020 at Feld Entertainment Center in Palmetto, Florida. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Team All-WNBA\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBreanna Stewart, Seattle.\u003c/strong\u003e An amazing return from her Achilles injury. Seattle needs her to get her offensive groove back from the floor in time for the postseason.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA’ja Wilson, Las Vegas.\u003c/strong\u003e Steadily brilliant all season and the key to an Aces’ title run.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCourtney Vandersloot, Chicago.\u003c/strong\u003e Best point guard in the league, and at 9.8 assists per game, headed for the record books with Sue Bird.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArike Ogunbowale, Dallas.\u003c/strong\u003e Flat out scoring machine and a future MVP. If the Wings eek into the playoffs, as it looks like they will, she could make it very interesting in a single-game format.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCandace Parker, Los Angeles.\u003c/strong\u003e Rejuvenated and as versatile and dangerous as ever. Watching her play at this level is joyful.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSecond Team\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiana Taurasi, Phoenix.\u003c/strong\u003e The GOAT could will her team to a long playoff run at this rate. 32 3-pointers in her last seven games.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeWanna Bonner, Connecticut. \u003c/strong\u003eTone-setter and go-to scorer in Connecticut. 18 double-doubles this season and 14 in a row.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSkylar Diggins-Smith, Phoenix.\u003c/strong\u003e A change did Diggins-Smith very good in Phoenix. Settled and stellar over the past few weeks. Five of six games with 20-plus points.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNapheesa Collier, Minnesota. \u003c/strong\u003eShowing herself to be an elite talent.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlyssa Thomas, Connecticut. \u003c/strong\u003eFilling the stat sheet as always. Six 20-point games and an 19.5 ppg average in the last six games.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003chr /\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLongtime WNBA reporter Michelle Smith writes a weekly column on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":96236,"type":"post","name":"inside-the-w-impact-games-ballot-revealed","title":"Inside the W: Impact Games \u0026amp; Ballot Revealed","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"inside-the-w-impact-games-ballot-revealed","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/inside-the-w-impact-games-ballot-revealed","excerpt":"","timestamp":1534304788000,"date":"2018-08-15T03:46:28Z","modified":"2023-05-11T20:00:55Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/08/wilson-225.jpg","category":"Inside the W","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"","title":"Inside the W: Impact Games \u0026amp; Ballot Revealed - WNBA","description":"The number of games left in the 2018 WNBA regular-season season for each team can now be counted on one hand. All but one of the playoff spots, though few playoff positions, have been determined. And the stretch is going to be every bit the drama-fest we thought (and let’s face it, hoped) it would [\u0026hellip;]","twitter":{"title":"Inside the W: Impact Games \u0026amp; Ballot Revealed - WNBA","description":"The number of games left in the 2018 WNBA regular-season season for each team can now be counted on one hand. All but one of the playoff spots, though few playoff positions, have been determined. And the stretch is going to be every bit the drama-fest we thought (and let’s face it, hoped) it would [\u0026hellip;]","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/08/wilson-225.jpg","imageId":""},"facebook":{"title":"Inside the W: Impact Games \u0026amp; Ballot Revealed - WNBA","description":"The number of games left in the 2018 WNBA regular-season season for each team can now be counted on one hand. All but one of the playoff spots, though few playoff positions, have been determined. And the stretch is going to be every bit the drama-fest we thought (and let’s face it, hoped) it would [\u0026hellip;]","image":"","imageId":"96272"}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"inside-the-w":"Inside the W"},"tags":{"aja-wilson":"A'ja Wilson","alana-beard":"Alana Beard","angel-mccoughtry":"Angel McCoughtry","breanna-stewart":"Breanna Stewart","cheyenne-parker":"Cheyenne Parker","danielle-robinson":"Danielle Robinson","inside-the-w":"Inside the W","natasha-howard":"Natasha Howard","nicki-collen":"Nicki Collen"},"players":{"202658":"Danielle Robinson - 202658","203014":"Nneka Ogwumike - 203014","203823":"Chiney Ogwumike - 203823","203827":"Natasha Howard - 203827","204323":"Cheyenne Parker - 204323","1627668":"Breanna Stewart - 1627668"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Michelle Smith","author":{"id":"","name":""},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cfigure class=\"wp-image size-full\"\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/08/wilson1440.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image- size-full\"/\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe number of games left in the 2018 WNBA regular-season season for each team can now be counted on one hand. All but one of the playoff spots, though few playoff positions, have been determined. And the stretch is going to be every bit the drama-fest we thought (and let’s face it, hoped) it would be. Let’s take a look at the biggest games in the next six days, setting the stage for what might be the most competitive, compelling postseason in league history.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFRIDAY\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLas Vegas at Dallas (8 p.m. ET, League Pass):\u003c/strong\u003e A head-to-head meeting that could determine either team’s postseason fate. The young Aces have wondered, even out loud, this season, whether they will have the experience to pull off a critical win. Getting to be time to find out. The Wings haven’t won a game since mid-July and the tumult hit a new high on Sunday with the departure of longtime head coach Fred Williams. This will be as big a game as either team has been in all season.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLos Angeles at Washington (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV): \u003c/strong\u003eThe Sparks, currently sitting in the No. 5 seed with the playoff spot sealed, have their sights set on a third straight trip to the Finals, but it’s the Mystics who have the hot hand with six straight wins and a strong claim on the No. 3 seed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinnesota vs. Connecticut (7 p.m. ET, League Pass):\u003c/strong\u003e Both teams are in. The Lynx will still be tuning things up in their backcourt. But this game is going to have more than a little sentiment behind it with Lindsay Whalen making her final regular-season appearance in the place where her WNBA career began 15 years ago.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSUNDAY – Last Day of the 2018 regular season\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLos Angeles at Connecticut (3 p.m. ET, Twitter):\u003c/strong\u003e The Ogwumike sisters do battle for the final time during the regular season – the Sun has won both matchups against the Sparks so far this season. Nneka would certainly like to get one back on the cusp of the playoffs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAtlanta at Las Vegas (6 p.m. ET, ESPN 3): \u003c/strong\u003eWill this be the Aces’ last gasp? Or the last game in Sin City in this inaugural season for a lottery-bound team?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWashington at Minnesota (7 p.m. ET, ESPN 2):\\\u003c/strong\u003e In what could be Whalen’s last basketball game in front of her hometown fans in Minneapolis – not to mention against Mike Thibault, the first WNBA coach she ever played for \u0026#8211; this is the kind of game that could still be determining playoff positioning.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLATE-SEASON INJURY IMPACT\u003cbr /\u003e\n\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNews that Danielle Robinson had surgery on her high ankle injury and will be out “indefinitely” with the postseason rapidly approaching is a less-than-welcome scenario for the Minnesota Lynx. They will have to hope that Whalen, playing in the final postseason of her professional career, is ready to carry them with a significant number of minutes into the postseason.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhalen has been averaging 5.5 points and 19.4 minutes per game, the lowest numbers of her 15-year WNBA career. Last Sunday night, against Seattle, Whalen came off the bench for the first time since she was a WNBA rookie in 2004. Veteran Tanisha Wright, who got the start Sunday in Seattle and scored just three points in 35 minutes and youngster Alexis Jones will also have to be prepared to contribute in a bigger way.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Atlanta, the Dream are proving that a team can move forward in a positive way even after an injury to a key player.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAngel McCoughtry’s season-ending knee injury could have been a major blow, but the Dream have great backcourt depth with Tiffany Hayes, Brittney Sykes, Renee Montgomery and Alex Bentley and they have so far been able to absorb the big loss and maintain their hold on the No. 2 spot in the league standings. But the postseason will be a different challenge.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMcCoughtry, who was averaging 16.5 points and 6.0 rebounds a game before her injury, has played in two Finals series. She is a postseason veteran and that experience is going to be missed on the floor when the going gets tough.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMY AWARDS BALLOT REVEALED\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMost Valuable Player \u0026#8211; Breanna Stewart, Seattle:\u003c/strong\u003e In her third professional season, Stewart proved without a doubt that she is one of the most versatile players on the planet. In a year of transition for the Storm under new head coach Dan Hughes, Stewart was the constant in the box score. The Storm are the best team in the league this season and Stewart is their best player. That equals Most Valuable Player.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRookie of the Year \u0026#8211; A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas:\u003c/strong\u003e A no-brainer vote for Las Vegas Aces’ star Wilson. Wilson’s impact was immediate, consistent and an opening act to what is surely going to be a spectacular WNBA career. If the Aces make their way into the playoffs, it will be because Wilson was able to carry them there.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoach of the Year \u0026#8211; Nicki Collen, Atlanta:\u003c/strong\u003e Collen, a first-time head coach, took a Dream team that was stagnant at 8-9 at the halftime point and vaulted them to a 14-1 second half (so far). She challenged them to find their defense and their chemistry and the players responded. They have won season series over the Storm, Sparks, Mystics, Sun and Lynx. As good a job as Hughes has done in his first season in Seattle with three All-Stars in Stewart, Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd, Collen\u0026#8217;s team\u0026#8217;s accomplishments make her a better selection for this award.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSixth Woman of the Year \u0026#8211; Cheyenne Parker, Chicago:\u003c/strong\u003e Though the Sky won’t be part of the postseason picture, the emergence of Parker has been one of the season’s bright spots. Parker is averaging 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds a game off the bench for the Sky this season in just under 20 minutes a game. Her breakout has included a 20-point, six-rebound effort against Dallas on July 31, an 18-point 9-rebound game against Washington on June 19 and a 20-point, 13-rebound game against Vegas on June 3.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMost Improved Player \u0026#8211; Natasha Howard, Seattle:\u003c/strong\u003e Howard won a title last year in Minnesota and she has a great shot of doing it again this year for the Storm after playing a critical role for Seattle all season. Howard is averaging a career-high in minutes (26.2), points (13.5) and rebounds (6.5). She has tripled her scoring average from last season from 4.3 points a game and is coming off a 21-point game against Minnesota last Sunday.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDefensive Player of the Year \u0026#8211; Alana Beard, Los Angeles:\u003c/strong\u003e Simply the best perimeter defender in the WNBA. At 36 years old. The Sparks lead the league in allowing opponents just 28.9 field-goals per game and 5.3 3-pointers made. They barely rank second behind the Minnesota Lynx in holding opponents to 77.2 points a game. Beard is the defensive glue player for the Los Angeles Sparks. She is revered and respected around the league. Beard also makes L.A. a championship caliber team when she is on the floor.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLongtime WNBA reporter Michelle Smith writes a weekly column on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http://www.wnba.com/inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-archive/\"\u003eINSIDE THE W ARCHIVE\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":139573,"type":"post","name":"inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-what-we-know-so-far","title":"Inside The W with Michelle Smith: What We Know So Far","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-what-we-know-so-far","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-what-we-know-so-far","excerpt":"Hello June. The calendar has turned to the heart of the WNBA schedule and the picture is becoming clearer. Competitive games, buzzer-beating shots and injuries are defining the early days of the 2021 season, but there is so much more basketball to be played, and an opportunity for many teams to redefine themselves in this critical month before the scheduled Olympic break.\r\n\r\nWhat do we know so far?","timestamp":1623008847000,"date":"2021-06-06T19:47:27Z","modified":"2023-05-11T20:01:32Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2021/06/seaft-scaled.jpg","category":"Inside the W,Inside The W: Michelle Smith,Latest News","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"","title":"Inside The W with Michelle Smith: What We Know So Far - WNBA","description":"Hello June. The calendar has turned to the heart of the WNBA schedule and the picture is becoming clearer. Competitive games, buzzer-beating shots and injuries are defining the early days of the 2021 season, but there is so much more basketball to be played, and an opportunity for many teams to redefine themselves in this critical month before the scheduled Olympic break.\r\n\r\nWhat do we know so far?","twitter":{"title":"Inside The W with Michelle Smith: What We Know So Far - WNBA","description":"Hello June. The calendar has turned to the heart of the WNBA schedule and the picture is becoming clearer. Competitive games, buzzer-beating shots and injuries are defining the early days of the 2021 season, but there is so much more basketball to be played, and an opportunity for many teams to redefine themselves in this critical month before the scheduled Olympic break.\r\n\r\nWhat do we know so far?","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2021/06/seaft-scaled.jpg","imageId":""},"facebook":{"title":"Inside The W with Michelle Smith: What We Know So Far - WNBA","description":"Hello June. The calendar has turned to the heart of the WNBA schedule and the picture is becoming clearer. Competitive games, buzzer-beating shots and injuries are defining the early days of the 2021 season, but there is so much more basketball to be played, and an opportunity for many teams to redefine themselves in this critical month before the scheduled Olympic break. What do we know so far?","image":"","imageId":"139365"}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"inside-the-w":"Inside the W","inside-the-w-michelle-smith":"Inside The W: Michelle Smith","latest-news":"Latest News"},"tags":{"inside-the-w":"Inside the W","michelle-smith":"Michelle Smith","what-we-know-so-far":"what we know so far"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Michelle Smith","author":{"id":"","name":""},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cfigure class=\"wp-image size-full\"\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2021/05/cover-sun.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image- size-full\"/\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHello June. The calendar has turned to the heart of the WNBA schedule and the picture is becoming clearer. Competitive games, buzzer-beating shots and injuries are defining the early days of the 2021 season, but there is so much more basketball to be played, and an opportunity for many teams to redefine themselves in this critical month before the scheduled Olympic break.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat do we know so far?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eInjuries are already defining this season in a way that no one would want\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElena Delle Donne hasn’t played a game yet for the Mystics and the date of her return is uncertain. Candace Parker’s hometown return is marred by an ankle injury (she’s played just one game so far), while Allie Quigley was out early with hamstring troubles. Diana Taurasi, who is six points away from 9,000 in her career, can’t add to her WNBA-leading scoring total because she is sitting out with a fractured sternum that might jeopardize her participation in the Olympics. In Los Angeles, both Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike are out with knee injuries, Nneka with a sprain that will keep her out at least a month. And Natasha Howard has been limited to just two games with a knee injury across the country in New York. All of this, by the way, after we already knew we’d be without Alyssa Thomas, Angel McCoughtry and Alysha Clark for 2021.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany of the teams with injured stars are feeling the consequences. Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles are under .500. Phoenix, thanks to the play of Skylar Diggins-Smith, Brittney Griner and a stellar game-winner by Kia Nurse, sit at 4-3. Meanwhile, Howard has played sparingly in New York, but the Liberty are riding the play of young talent to a surprising 5-2 start. Which brings us to the next thing we know\u0026#8230;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSabrina Ionescu has set a new tone in New York\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Liberty are 5-3 with their young star point guard healthy and motivated to make up for a lost rookie season. But Ionescu isn’t doing anything alone. Five players are averaging in double figures. Betnijah Laney, last year’s Most Improved Player, showed that last season was a launching point. Laney leads the team in scoring at 22.3 points, is shooting 51 percent from the floor and was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week and has put up at least 20 points in seven straight games to start the season. Ionescu has already notched her first career triple-double and is averaging 7.1 assists a game to go with 16.1 points. And then there is Michaela Onyenwere, the UCLA standout who is making an early run at frontrunner status for Rookie of the Year, averaging 12.1 points a game in a starting role, including a 29-point game against Atlanta on May 29. The Liberty aren’t leading the league in any of the big statistical categories, and the games they win are close ones (all within 10 points), but they are playing with grit and teamwork and it shows in their record.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe rust didn’t stick to Jonquel Jones\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaking 2020 off did little to slow Jones, who is further establishing herself as one of the best post players in the world. Jones is averaging a double-double in leading Connecticut to a fast start. Being named Eastern Conference Player of the Month sets Jones up nicely in the early MVP discussion. Her scoring average of 20.6 points a game is a career-high, which makes sense considering that Jones is picking up some of the offensive slack left by the year-long absence of Alyssa Thomas, and she is averaging 10.1 rebounds a game, which leads the league so far. Her 3.0 assists per game is also a career-high at this point. Her 28-point, 13-rebound day against Seattle on May 25 sent a message that she is ready to be included in the conversation of the league’s most elite players.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e⭐ \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/jus242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"\u003e@jus242\u003c/a\u003e of the \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/ConnecticutSun?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"\u003e@ConnecticutSun\u003c/a\u003e (6-2 record during May) averaged 20.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG and 3.3 APG (Kia WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month).\u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/CountIt?src=hash\u0026amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"\u003e#CountIt\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https://t.co/fAUV6UYSVL\"\u003epic.twitter.com/fAUV6UYSVL\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1400154910805704708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\"\u003eJune 2, 2021\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cscript async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c/script\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Storm will stay calm\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn unexpected coaching change, with head coach Dan Hughes announcing his retirement and handing the reins to Noelle Quinn, in the first few weeks of the season, isn’t likely to disrupt Seattle or sink their 6-1 start. Gary Kloppenburg coached them to a title last season in the bubble, and the stability of Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd will not only keep Seattle on track, but will likely make Quinn’s transition to head coach a smooth one.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThere are several teams that look better than their records.\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLet’s take these three \u0026#8211; Atlanta, Minnesota and Dallas. The Dream are the hottest team in the league at this moment, riding a four-game winning streak that righted the way after an 0-2 start. Tiffany Hayes’ return this season has buoyed this team (she is averaging 16.6 points a game with a pair of 26-point efforts against Dallas and Chicago), but Chennedy Carter’s elbow injury is a major concern and a tough stretch is coming, with a trio of back-to-back opponent matchups with Minnesota (road) Seattle (at home) and Washington (road and home). The Lynx picked up their first win of the season last weekend against Connecticut behind the stellar play of new addition Layshia Clarendon, but with only five games played so far \u0026#8211; compared to other teams in the league who have played as many as nine \u0026#8211; the Lynx need more time on the floor to put things together and with Collier back and Clarendon settling in, Minnesota could be primed for a comeback. Meanwhile in Dallas, the Wings \u0026#8211; playing currently without Satou Sabally and Allisha Gray \u0026#8211; have lost four games by seven points or less and they are averaging 88.5 points a game. Shoring things up defensively and finding a way to close out games have to be the current priority.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Five Most Intriguing Games of June\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithout knowing the dates that some players might be returning, and going by what we know now, these look like the five best games coming up in June.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJune 4 \u0026#8211; Atlanta at Minnesota\u003c/strong\u003e. A surging Dream team, coming off a six-day break, comes up against a Lynx team looking to find some momentum after their first win.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJune 5 \u0026#8211; Las Vegas at Washington.\u003c/strong\u003e An ABC television audience will get a treat, watching Tina Charles \u0026#8211; who is averaging a league-high 26.7 points a game \u0026#8211; work against A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJune 13 \u0026#8211; Seattle at Connecticut. \u003c/strong\u003eThe defending champs will make the long trip to face the Sun and it is bound to be a good one if the first game in Seattle was any indication, the Storm pulling out a 90-87 win.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJune 19 \u0026#8211; Connecticut at Chicago. \u003c/strong\u003eA national TV game on CBS, let’s hope this game is part of Candace Parker’s comeback tour after an ankle injury has sidelined her for much of the season so far. A healthy Sky, including Allie Quigley, who made her first appearance on Thursday against Phoenix, would like to be in position to knock off one of the league’s top teams.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJune 30 \u0026#8211; Minnesota at Phoenix.\u003c/strong\u003e Let’s face it, who doesn’t love a Sylvia Fowles-Brittney Griner matchup?\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""},{"id":90129,"type":"post","name":"inside-the-w-greatest-season-in-wnba-history","title":"Inside the W: Greatest Season in WNBA History?","hub":{},"status":"publish","slug":"inside-the-w-greatest-season-in-wnba-history","permalink":"https://www.wnba.com/news/inside-the-w-greatest-season-in-wnba-history","excerpt":"","timestamp":1531498389000,"date":"2018-07-13T16:13:09Z","modified":"2023-05-11T19:58:14Z","featuredImage":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/07/Candace-Maya-250.jpg","category":"Inside the W","blocksV2":[],"seo":{"keyword":"","title":"Inside the W: Greatest Season in WNBA History? - WNBA","description":"The halfway point of the WNBA season came and went with fireworks and potato salad last week. As we move into the heart of the second half of the season, the championship looks up for grabs, the standings are jam-packed, the MVP race is wide open, and one thing is crystal clear: we might well [\u0026hellip;]","twitter":{"title":"Inside the W: Greatest Season in WNBA History? - WNBA","description":"The halfway point of the WNBA season came and went with fireworks and potato salad last week. As we move into the heart of the second half of the season, the championship looks up for grabs, the standings are jam-packed, the MVP race is wide open, and one thing is crystal clear: we might well [\u0026hellip;]","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/07/Candace-Maya-1200.jpg","imageId":""},"facebook":{"title":"Inside the W: Greatest Season in WNBA History? - WNBA","description":"The halfway point of the WNBA season came and went with fireworks and potato salad last week. As we move into the heart of the second half of the season, the championship looks up for grabs, the standings are jam-packed, the MVP race is wide open, and one thing is crystal clear: we might well [\u0026hellip;]","image":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/07/Candace-Maya-1200.jpg","imageId":""}},"taxonomy":{"categories":{"inside-the-w":"Inside the W"},"tags":{"inside-the-w":"Inside the W"},"players":{"100720":"Sue Bird - 100720","100940":"Diana Taurasi - 100940","100944":"Rebekkah Lemar Brunson - 100944","202632":"Maya Moore - 202632","202633":"Liz Cambage - 202633","203014":"Nneka Ogwumike - 203014","203399":"Elena Delle Donne - 203399","203400":"Skylar Diggins-Smith - 203400","203823":"Chiney Ogwumike - 203823","1627668":"Breanna Stewart - 1627668","1628878":"Ariel Atkins - 1628878","1628886":"Jordin Canada - 1628886","1628890":"Diamond DeShields - 1628890","1628909":"Kelsey Mitchell - 1628909","1628915":"Kia Nurse - 1628915","1628922":"Azurá Stevens - 1628922","1628932":"A\u0026#8217;ja Wilson - 1628932"}},"useUpdatedDate":false,"shortTitle":"","tentpoleType":"","showSponsorship":false,"authorHide":false,"hidefromNewsFeed":false,"coverImageId":"","coverImage":"","authorOverride":"Michelle Smith","author":{"id":269,"name":"ANDREW GRUMAN | Associated Press"},"categoryPrimary":{"name":"","slug":""},"contentFiltered":"\u003cfigure class=\"wp-image size-full\"\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/07/Candace-Maya-1440.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image- size-full\"/\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\u003c/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe halfway point of the WNBA season came and went with fireworks and potato salad last week. As we move into the heart of the second half of the season, the championship looks up for grabs, the standings are jam-packed, the MVP race is wide open, and one thing is crystal clear: we might well be witnessing the greatest regular season in this league’s 22-year history.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy so many measures, the WNBA is experiencing the height of its collective power in 2018, a season that began with the promise of an exceptional rookie class in the April 12 draft and has already exceeded expectations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe level of play across the board is arguably as high as it has ever been. The balance between the record-smashing careers of some of the greatest women’s players ever and the infusion of new talent has brought new fans, new coverage, strong ratings and an increasing level of interest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe argument, however, is worth making. Even when stacked against the league’s inaugural season, or its barrier-smashing 20th season, could this really be the greatest season in WNBA history? Yes it is, and here’s why.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompetitive balance.\u003c/strong\u003e It’s not unusual to have bunching in the middle of the standings while a couple of teams establish themselves as the cream of the crop with gaudy records. But the parity of this season is remarkable by any standard. Five different teams have been at the top of the league standings so far this season. As of Thursday, the top eight teams in the league \u0026#8211; teams that would be in position for a playoff spot if the season ended right now \u0026#8211; are separated by 4.5 games.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEight of the 12 teams in the league have at least a .500 record. And the No. 9 team, Las Vegas, is closing fast, winning three in a row and six of its last 10 games. Even among the teams that are struggling, there are impressive wins. On Thursday, New York got a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Shavonte Zellous to beat Connecticut. Last week, last-place Indiana defeated the defending champion Lynx. Tenth-place Chicago has wins over Phoenix, Atlanta and Minnesota.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn seasons past, the league’s top teams have asserted themselves early. This season’s parity doesn’t mean that those teams have come down to the rest of the league. But the rest of the league has come up to them and it’s been exciting every day.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecords falling\u003c/strong\u003e. On July 5, Rebekkah Brunson, who has won more titles than any player in WNBA history (5), became the league’s all-time leading rebounder. Diana Taurasi became the WNBA’s all-time field goals leader last week as well, passing Tina Thompson. Mystics coach Mike Thibault became the first coach in WNBA history to reach 300 wins. Unprecedented feats that the record books haven’t even conceived are tumbling. On Wednesday, for example, the Atlanta Dream became the first team in league history to have four players in the same game with at least 20 points and five assists.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStars are shining.\u003c/strong\u003e The league’s marquee players are earning their top billing. The list of top scorers this season is a who’s who of the world’s best women’s basketball players: Breanna Stewart, Elena Delle Donne, Diana Taurasi, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Maya Moore.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStewart is leading the league in scoring in her third professional season, propelling Seattle to the top of the standings. In the past three games, Diggins-Smith has scored 74 points, pushing Dallas to a five-game winning streak. Delle Donne has scored at least 20 points in eight of her last 10 games as Washington makes a push for a top-four playoff seed. Taurasi and Moore are giving their experienced teams an offensive focal point with their consistently clutch play.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe best at their best.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOh, these rookies. \u003c/strong\u003eA’ja Wilson had plenty of buzz coming into the league as the No. 1 pick. She also had plenty of burden, the centerpiece of an Aces franchise that is settling into a new home, with a new coach, and trying to erase an old narrative of on-court struggles. And Wilson has delivered in every way. She ranks second in the league in scoring and third in rebounding, the only rookie on either top 10 list. Her Aces have won three in a row and six of 10 after a 1-8 start. But she’s not the only spectacular debut. Rookies like Diamond DeShields (Chicago), Kia Nurse (New York), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana), Ariel Atkins (Washington), Azura Stevens (Dallas) and Jordin Canada (Seattle) are all making an immediate impact on their teams, raising the level of play throughout the league with their talent and energy.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComeback kids.\u003c/strong\u003e Two of the best post players in the world are back on the WNBA court this season. Liz Cambage, the Australian star, hadn’t played in the WNBA in five years. The 6-foot-8, 26-year-old has vaulted Dallas to the list of title contenders. Cambage ranks sixth in the WNBA in scoring and second in rebounding and is an MVP candidate.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile, in Connecticut, Chiney Ogwumike has juggled her broadcasting career at ESPN with rehabbing an Achilles injury that cost her the 2017 season, a setback that followed the microfracture surgery that forced her to sit out all of 2015. But Ogwumike is back for the Sun, and she’s picked up where she left off. Ogwumike currently is second in the WNBA in field-goal percentage (59.3) and has only failed to score in double figures in two games so far this season. She also has two wins this season over big sister Nneka’s Los Angeles Sparks.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVeteran than ever.\u003c/strong\u003e Sue Bird, Taurasi and Alana Beard are some of the most experienced players in the league, and in many ways, they have never been better. Bird, in her 16th season, became the Storm’s all-time leading scorer last week, and is averaging 9.8 points and 7.3 assists a game, ranking No. 2 in the league in the latter category. Taurasi is averaging 19.6 points per game playing alongside Brittney Griner as the Mercury look for a title run. And Beard, who sustained a groin injury Thursday, is cementing her legacy as one of the best defensive players in the history of the league.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompressed schedule.\u003c/strong\u003e The compressed schedule is undeniably taxing teams with tight turnarounds and tough travel schedules. One WNBA coach this week called it “truly grueling.” But it is also creating a sense of urgency that is giving teams a win-now mentality. No time to fret over a loss because the next game is around the corner. As the second half moves on, teams will be tired, players will be gutting it out, and the WNBA will close with one of its most competitive finishes ever.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA finish that will be fitting for the greatest season in league history. Really.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLongtime WNBA reporter Michelle Smith writes a weekly column on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http://www.wnba.com/inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-archive/\"\u003eINSIDE THE W ARCHIVE\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","contentText":""}]},"siteFooterOptions":{"appStoreLinks":[{"height":48,"href":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wnba.centercourt","icon":"https://global.nba.com/nba-apps/static/google.svg","label":"Get it on Google Play","width":162},{"href":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/2013-wnba-center-court/id641992398?ign-mpt=uo%3D4","icon":"https://global.nba.com/nba-apps/static/apple.svg","label":"Download on the Apple App Store","width":144}],"copyright":"Copyright 2024 NBA Media Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of WNBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page.","changemakerLogos":[{"link":"https://www.att.com/","logo":{"url":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/06/att2.png","alt":"AT\u0026T Logo"}},{"link":"https://media.carmax.com/press-releases/news-release/2023/-CarMax-Expands-Commitment-To-Wnba-By-Becoming-Wnba-Changemaker-/default.aspx","logo":{"url":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/06/CarMaxLogo-White.png","alt":"CarMax Logo"}},{"link":"https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/wnba-sponsorship.html?id=us:2el:3dp:wnbafy23:eng:greendot:101422:cm","logo":{"url":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/06/DEL_PRI_ALL_WHT.png","alt":"Deloitte Logo"}},{"link":"https://blog.google/inside-google/company-announcements/wnba-espn-partnership/","logo":{"url":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/06/google-logo-transparent.png","alt":"Google Logo"}},{"link":"https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/nike-inc-invests-in-wnba","logo":{"url":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/06/Nike-Logo-PNG.png","alt":"Nike Logo"}},{"link":"https://www.usbank.com/financialiq/landing-page/wnba.html","logo":{"url":"https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/06/US_Bank_logo_white_RGB.png","alt":"US Bank Logo"}}],"legal":[{"href":"https://www.nba.com/privacy-policy","label":"Privacy Policy"},{"href":"https://www.nba.com/caprivacy","label":"California Privacy Statement"},{"href":"https://www.nba.com/coprivacy","label":"Colorado Privacy Statement"},{"href":"https://www.nba.com/eeaukprivacy","label":"EEA / UK Privacy Statement"},{"href":"https://www.nba.com/brazilprivacy","label":"Brazil Privacy Statement"},{"href":"https://www.wnba.com/terms-of-use","label":"Terms of Use"},{"href":"https://www.wnba.com/leaguepass/terms-of-use","label":"League Pass Terms of Use"},{"href":"https://www.nba.com/accessibility","label":"Accessibility and Closed Captions"},{"href":"https://www.nba.com/cookiepolicy","label":"Cookie Policy"},{"href":"","label":"Do Not Sell My Personal Information"}],"navigation":[{"href":"","label":"General Information","links":[{"href":"https://www.wnba.com/signup","label":"Newsletter Sign Up"},{"href":"https://www.wnba.com/wnba-rule-book","label":"Rules of the Game"},{"href":"https://careers.nba.com/","label":"Career Opportunities"},{"href":"https://contact.nba.com/wnba/","label":"Contact the WNBA"},{"href":"https://www.nbaofficials.com/","label":"Officiating Information"},{"href":"https://www.wnba.com/authorized-gaming-operators/","label":"Gaming Operators"},{"href":"https://support.wnba.com/hc/en-us","label":"Help Center"}]},{"href":"","label":"About the WNBA","links":[{"href":"https://www.wnba.com/changemakers","label":"Changemakers"},{"href":"https://www.wnba.com/history","label":"League History"},{"href":"https://www.wnba.com/keydates","label":"Key Dates"},{"href":"https://www.wnba.com/faq","label":"Frequently Asked Questions"}]},{"href":"","label":"More NBA Sites","links":[{"href":"https://www.nba.com/","label":"NBA"},{"href":"https://nba.2k.com/","label":"NBA 2K"},{"href":"https://jr.nba.com/","label":"Junior NBA"},{"href":"https://gleague.nba.com/","label":"G League"},{"href":"https://bal.nba.com/","label":"Basketball Africa League"}]}],"social":[{"url":"https://www.facebook.com/wnba","value":"Facebook"},{"url":"https://instagram.com/wnba","value":"Instagram"},{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/user/wnba","value":"YouTube"},{"url":"https://twitter.com/wnba","value":"X"},{"url":"https://www.tiktok.com/@wnba?lang=en","value":"TikTok"}]},"tags":[{"id":1627700,"name":"Julie Allemand","type":"player"},{"id":1629477,"name":"Sabrina Ionescu","type":"player"},{"id":1629496,"name":"Ezi Magbegor","type":"player"},{"id":1630099,"name":"Te’a Cooper","type":"player"},{"id":1630101,"name":"Crystal Dangerfield","type":"player"},{"id":1630112,"name":"Tyasha Harris","type":"player"},{"id":1630119,"name":"Jazmine Jones","type":"player"},{"id":1630149,"name":"Satou Sabally","type":"player"},{"id":1630150,"name":"Chennedy Carter","type":"player"},{"id":1611661313,"name":"New York Liberty","type":"team"},{"id":1611661320,"name":"Los Angeles Sparks","type":"team"},{"id":1611661321,"name":"Dallas Wings","type":"team"},{"id":1611661324,"name":"Minnesota Lynx","type":"team"},{"id":1611661325,"name":"Indiana Fever","type":"team"},{"id":1611661328,"name":"Seattle Storm","type":"team"},{"id":1611661330,"name":"Atlanta Dream","type":"team"}]}},"page":"/news/[...slug]","query":{"slug":["inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-rookies-on-the-rise"]},"buildId":"nQb33rhnWfurUhx_W6Bz7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"gssp":true,"appGip":true,"scriptLoader":[]}</script></body></html>