The Minnesota Lynx’s Alanna Smith was voted WNBA Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday, sharing the award with Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.
Each player received 29 votes from the 72 media members who participated. It’s the first time the award, first given out in the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997, went to more than one player.
The Lynx led the WNBA with 97.5 points per 100 possessions. Smith was second in combined steals and blocks with 135 and third in average blocks with 1.9 and total blocks with 80, both career highs. The total blocks set a franchise record for the Lynx.
Minnesota held opponents to 76.7 points per game on 42.3% shooting.
She is the second Minnesota player in a row to at least share this award. Napheesa Collier was voted the league’s top defensive player in 2024, making the Lynx the first team to have two different players win the award in consecutive seasons.
Wilson, who also won the award in 2022 and 2023, tied Sheryl Swoopes for the third-highest number of times capturing top defensive player. Tamika Catchings owns the record with five and Sylvia Fowles is next with four, two of which she won with Minnesota.
Wilson led the league with 2.3 blocks per game, was third with 7.9 defensive rebounds per game and finished fourth with an average of 1.6 steals.
Wilson and Collier are the front-runners for MVP, so whether the defensive player voting was any kind of harbinger for what could be a close vote remains to be seen. That award will be announced Sunday.
The Lynx captured the top seed for the playoffs, and the Aces were second. The Lynx dispatched the Golden State Valkyries in the first round and await their second-round opponent.
Wilson and Smith were far ahead of the others in votes for top defender. Seattle’s Gabby Williams was third with nine votes, Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas had three and Collier two.
September 17th, 2025; New York Liberty fall to the Phoenix Mercury 86-60 in during Round 1 Game 2 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
(Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)
The New York Liberty wanted to take advantage of home court Wednesday night to advance to the semifinals in a dominant fashion, but instead it crumbled. As soon as the second quarter started, the Phoenix Mercury realized it was win or go home, and they decided to win.
The score was tied at the end of the first quarter, but the Mercury took complete command from there to secure the 86-60 win and force a Game 3.
Phoenix swarmed whoever had the ball and New York struggled maintaining possession. The Liberty turned the ball over 15 times, which was six less than Game 1, but the Mercury capitalized and converted them into 25 points.
“We’re a way better team than what we showed today,” said New York head coach Sandy Brondello. “So I was disappointed with that. We turned the ball over and gave them easy baskets in transition and just went away from what was working for us in the first game.”
The first quarter seemed to be setting up another tight game. New York jumped out to a 14-8 lead and looked dominant on both sides of the floor for the first five minutes. However, Phoenix didn’t get too behind and fought back to tie the score at 25 at the end of the frame.
Despite the score locked, the Liberty outrebounded the Mercury 11-7 and had five blocks in the first 10 minutes. Phoenix’s advantage came from the free throw line, where it made all seven of its attempts and New York went just 2-of-7.
September 17th, 2025; New York Liberty fall to the Phoenix Mercury 86-60 in during Round 1 Game 2 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)
The second quarter was a completely different story and it no longer felt like the defending champions’ home court.
“We wanted to send this to a game three,” said Phoenix forward Alyssa Thomas. “I think you could feel it out there tonight, every possession, every loose ball, every rebound, we were fighting like it was the last one. We weren’t ready for our season to be over.”
Satou Sabally started the fire with the Mercury’s first seven points of the quarter. She took advantage of Breanna Stewart not being at full health and drove past her twice. Phoenix was completely fueled from there and rattled off seven points in just 58 seconds to take a 41-30 lead with 4:46 left before halftime.
New York was desperate to spark any sort of momentum and used a technical foul given to Sabally as a glimmer of hope. The Liberty ended the quarter on a 7-2 run, but they couldn’t build on it out of the locker room.
Phoenix outscored New York 26-12 in the second quarter, with four of the Liberty’s points coming from the free throw line.
New York couldn’t get anything going on offense as every player struggled to find the bottom of the net. Emma Meesseman finished the night with a team-high 11 points, except it all came in the first and third quarter. Sabrina Ionescu was next in line with nine points, but it came from 3-of-13 field goals, 1-of-8 three-pointers, and 2-of-6 free throws.
September 17th, 2025; New York Liberty fall to the Phoenix Mercury 86-60 in during Round 1 Game 2 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)
Meanwhile, the Mercury had a list of players to choose from to get a bucket. They had five players reach double digits with Thomas and Sabally notching 15, Kahleah Copper and DeWanna Bonner adding 14, and Kathryn Westbeld contributing 10.
“All of us have to step our game up, step our defense up, our offense up,” said New York center Jonquel Jones. “Looking at the stat sheet, we’re such a powerful team offensively, and tonight they were able to really congest us and kind of muck things up.”
The Liberty weren’t able to make the adjustments needed during halftime and allowed six points within the first four minutes to extend its deficit to 57-37. They took a timeout but still couldn’t get past their woes and the score read 69-47 at the end of the third quarter. New York held Phoenix to 69 points during the 45-minute Game 1.
The game was all but decided and the Liberty gave their starters a rest. With 4:54 left in the game they faced their largest deficit at 31 points. New York’s only player on the court with points at that time was Kennedy Burke with six.
The outcome was simply waiting for the clock to expire and the Liberty will now travel back to Phoenix for a win or go home Game 3.
“We can’t go out and play the same way we did and expect a different result,” Ionescu said. “We have to go out and make the adjustments and play like our season’s on the line, because it is, and so is theirs. It’s going to come down to who can execute, who can string together the best 40 minutes of basketball.”
Napheesa Collier made a go-ahead 18-footer with 1:24 left on the way to 24 points, and the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx rallied from a 17-point, third-quarter deficit to beat the Golden State Valkyries 75-74 on Wednesday night and move on in the WNBA playoffs.
Collier shot 10 for 16 and followed up her 20-point performance in Game 1 with a 14-point second half to bring her team back — and give the Lynx another chance to keep chasing that championship they just missed last year.
The Valkyries had one final chance with four seconds remaining following a shot-clock violation, and Cecilia Zandalasini couldn’t convert a jumper.
Kayla McBride made a go-ahead scoop shot for Minnesota with 2:48 to go after DiJonai Carrington connected on a 3-pointer from the left corner with 3:18 remaining to pull Minnesota within 70-69. McBride wound up with 18 points
Veronica Burton had 13 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals as the expansion Valkyries nearly extended their special season. Monique Billings scored 15 points off the bench.
Carrington banked in a 3-pointer with 8:30 left that got the Lynx within 63-56 and McBride’s jumper made it a five-point game at the 7:19 mark before Golden State called timeout. The Valkyries immediately committed a shot-clock violation and McBride scored again.
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of the WNBA basketball playoffs against the Golden State Valkyries, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in San Jose, Calif.
Godofredo A. Vásquez / AP
The Valkyries, cheered by their raucous sellout crowd of 18,543, were in control for much of the game — unlike their 101-72 Game 1 defeat Sunday.
Billings rebounded her own miss just before the third-quarter buzzer, scored and converted a three-point play to put Golden State ahead 63-49 going into the final 10 minutes. But Minnesota kept creeping back.
After the final buzzer, fans chanted “GSV!” to celebrate a season in which Golden State made WNBA history by becoming the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season.
And the Valkyries were unfazed playing in an unfamiliar venue for their first postseason home game. That “Balhalla” home-court advantage had to relocate nearly 50 miles south to the NHL San Jose Sharks’ SAP Center because the Laver Cup tennis showcase had booked Chase Center before Golden State had even been granted an expansion team.
Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski was one of the biggest supporters, sitting courtside with owner Joe Lacob and Warriors President Brandon Schneider.
Golden State lost all four regular-season meetings, three by double figures, so this one will both sting and show these women how close they are. Starting center Temi Fagbenle was a late scratch Wednesday because of right knee pain.
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase was recognized before the game as WNBA Coach of the Year and Burton the league’s most improved player.
NOTE: The original airdate of the video attached to this article is Sept. 14, 2025.
Ben Verbrugge is a freelance sportswriter with a journalism degree from CSU Dominguez Hills. He is a member of the Los Angeles media and spends most of his time covering the NBA, NFL, and MLB. When not writing, he is either playing or watching sports.
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The Phoenix Mercury (0-1) travel to Barclays Center to face the New York Liberty (1-0) in Game 2 of their first-round WNBA Playoff series.
Natasha Cloud #9 of the New York Liberty looks to pass the ball while Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury and DeWanna Bonner #14 attempt to take the ball during overtime at PHX Arena on… Natasha Cloud #9 of the New York Liberty looks to pass the ball while Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury and DeWanna Bonner #14 attempt to take the ball during overtime at PHX Arena on September 14, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Liberty find themselves with a golden opportunity to move into the second round of the WNBA Playoffs after a grueling 76-69 road win in overtime on Sunday. After a very fast-paced second quarter that was won 30-27 by the Mercury, the Liberty tightened the screws defensively, allowing just 26 total points in the second and overtime combined.
Offensively, New York got what they needed from their stars, with Natasha Cloud leading the team, scoring 23 points to go with six rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Breanna Stewart added 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists, with Sabrino Ionescu playing a team-high 42:59, scoring 16 points with six rebounds and seven assists.
If the Mercury are going to force a Game 3, they’ll have to figure out the Liberty defense that held them to a paltry 32.5% from the field and 23.1% from the 3-point line. Those numbers, while poor, cratered further when looking at just the second half, where the Mercury shot an abysmal 20.7% from the field and 18.2% from the 3-point line.
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Indiana Fever stars Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham have been relegated to cheerleaders after suffering season-ending injuries ahead of the playoffs.
But they still made an effort to impact the Fever’s playoff game against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night.
During the first quarter, Clark and Cunningham made a demonstrative gesture to officials, protesting that a Dream player should be called for traveling.
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark sits on the bench after an apparent injury during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Connecticut Sun, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Footage of their joint gesture went viral on social media.
Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever looks on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on Aug. 05, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.(Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Later in the game, when officials did call a travel on Atlanta, Clark was seen imitating the gesture again, playfully.
The Fever went on to win the game to even the series against the Dream at one game a piece.
The two teams will play a winner-take-all rubber game on Thursday for the right to advance in the WNBA playoffs.
Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever react from the bench in the second quarter against the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 30, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
But the Fever will have to do so without their two biggest stars, as they are not coming back this season.
Still, the cameras are likely to be on the two sidelined stars often so long as the team is still playing.
Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.
SAN JOSE — The Valkyries’ season hangs in the balance.
Down 1-0 in their first-round series against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, Golden State faces a win-or-go-home Game 2 at SAP Center on Wednesday.
The expansion team has lost each of its last five games against the Lynx, and most recently suffered one of their worst losses of the season in Game 1 on Sunday in a 29-point defeat.
But while the Valkyries will be clear underdogs playing in an arena they haven’t called home, the gritty first-year team is confident anything can happen in front of their favorable crowd.
“It’s win or die time,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said after Tuesday’s practice. “We understand that, but we’ve been approaching it every game since the time we played the L.A. Sparks (Aug. 9) and we made it a thing. In order to make the playoffs, it’s a must win mentality.
“We don’t think of it potentially being our last, we just think it’s a must win. And then we got to do our job. Minnesota did their job at home and we got to take care of doing our job here at home. It’s a must win.”
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, right, drives past Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fagbenle (14) during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
With the season on the line, the Valkyries will be playing in front of a sold out crowd on Wednesday night. Golden State opted to stay in San Jose and held practice at SAP Center on Tuesday.
Here are three keys for the Valkyries going into Game 2:
Stopping guard penetration
While Napheesa Collier is the driving force of Minnesota’s offense, it’s been the guard duo of Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, also known as the viral steaming pair called the StudBudz, that have given Golden State’s vaunted defense problems.
Williams, the steady floor general, has a knack for finding a way to get into the paint to score or dish to shooters. The veteran point guard is a threat to pull up from the 3-point line or in the mid-range as she has averaged 13.2 points per game on 40.3% shooting from the field and 38.1% from the 3-point line.
Point guard Natisha Hiedeman has torched the Valkyries coming off the bench. The sixth woman of the year candidate has scored 24, 21, and 18 points in the last three games against the Valkyries and has routinely been the spark plug for Minnesota in stopping the Golden State’s runs.
Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman (2) reacts after making a three point shot against the Golden State Valkyries during the first half of an WBA basketball game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
On Sunday, Hiedeman posted the second-highest plus-minus rating in Lynx postseason history with a +32.
“We really need to try to be more solid on defense, but as a unit,” Valkyries center Iliana Rupert said. “Be more aware when to shift and try to help more. Even if there’s a lot of rotations, at least not letting them get easy buckets. So we saw all of that on the video, and hopefully tomorrow will get even better.”
Make open looks
This one is simple. The Valkyries need to hit more shots.
After a hot start in which they hit nine of their first 18 shots, and five of their first eight 3-pointers in the first quarter, the Valkyries finished the game making just 11 more field goal attempts.
In the five games the Valkyries played against the Lynx this season, they shot just 36% from the field and 25.7 from beyond the arc.
A common thread in each of the five losses has been Golden State’s inability to stop Minnesota when it gets on a roll. The Valkyries have kept the game close in spurts, but the Lynx have always been able to deliver a crushing run that puts the game out of reach,
“We have to respond better,” Valkyries shooting guard Kate Martin said. “We have to know that basketball is about a game of runs, and they’re a really good team. So they’re gonna go on their runs. We’re gonna have to limit that as much as possible and make adjustments quicker.”
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 14: Cecilia Zandalasini #24 of the Golden State Valkyries shoots against Courtney Williams #10 of the Minnesota Lynx during the first quarter in game one of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs at Target Center on September 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)
A big factor going into Wednesday’s game will be if the Valkyries could get consistent scoring out of sharpshooting forward Cecilia Zandalasini.
Zandalasini will be playing in her fourth game since coming back from a calf injury that kept her sidelined for eight contests. She shot just 3-of-10 from the field and 1-of-5 from the 3-point line on Sunday.
Play off the momentum of the crowd
While the venue will be new, the Valkyries have consistently shown that they are at their best when they could feed off the home crowd’s energy.
The Valkyries have not been worried about the change in location as they have faith the home crowd will come through.
Golden State Valkyries fans watch the action during the fourth quarter of their WBNA game against the New York Liberty at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
“Someone told me the arena is smaller than Chase Center, but I’m sure the fans are going to come through,” Valkyries rookie forward Janelle Salaün said. “I just know the fans are going to come through and it’s going to be amazing.”
The Valkyries are 14-8 at home this season.
Notable
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase revealed that she was fined by the league after her comments regarding Game 1’s officiating. The first-year coach said she didn’t know how much the fine was, but said she stands by what she said.
“I heard it’s a tax write off,” Nakase said. “I moved on. We’ve already talked about the new game plan, offensively and defensively. That’s where I got to make sure my girls are at.”
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase (35) reacts to a call during their game against the New York Liberty in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Some fans hoped that Clark, last year’s No. 1 pick and WNBA Rookie of the Year, would suit up in time for the postseason.
On Tuesday, she arrived at the court to meet her teammates, including Aliyah Boston and Sophie Cunningham, who had strong reactions once she got there.
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever looks on prior to the game against the Chicago Sky at the United Center on July 27, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever looks on prior to the game against the Chicago Sky at the United Center on July 27, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
In a clip that surfaced on social media, Clark walked inside the arena to see some of her teammates seated on the bench. Fans already in the building let out cheers for the injured superstar.
Clark wore a black Indiana Fever WNBA Playoffs t-shirt and black pants. However, multiple teammates noticed the black Air Force 1 sneakers she also proudly wore.
Boston seemed particularly enthusiastic about Clark’s shoes, claiming, “She means business.”
Another teammate walked over from the bench and reacted by smiling and jumping a bit as she checked out Clark’s sneakers.
“She’s a threat,” Boston said to teammates, adding, “The refs better watch out. She’s gonna be stepping today.”
Caitlin Clark takes the court to big cheers. Her teammates love that she’s wearing black Air Force 1s.
However, Cunningham seemed unimpressed by the latest fit, jokingly pointing out, “Black socks. Awful dude.”
“I mess with it. You mean business. Black Forces is crazy,” Boston chimed in.
Clark averaged 16.5 points, five rebounds, and 8.8 assists in 13 games this past season. Even injured, she is seemingly doing what she can to try to inspire her team to get wins.
Ahead of Game 1, Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White and player Lexie Hull both expressed happiness that they’d have Clark and their other injured players there for support at their playoff games.
The Fever dropped that first game, 80-68, in Atlanta with Jordin Canada and Rhyne Howard each scoring 20 points. Kelsey Mitchell led all Fever players with 27 points. Boston had 12 rebounds to go with her eight points and five assists.
Game 2 occurs in Indiana in front of the home area fans. A loss on Tuesday would mean the end of the Fever’s postseason run, without Clark and other injured roster members.
Aliyah Boston previously defended her teammate’s decision to end her season and continue her recovery amid the team’s playoff run.
“We’d rather Caitlin sit out and then come back next season, and we’re ready to roll, and we’re ready to rock,” Boston said.
Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers is filling up her trophy case.
The WNBA announced Tuesday that Bueckers was named the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year. The award was voted on by a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Just last week, the Associated Press awarded Bueckers its Rookie of the Year honor for the WNBA. She was also named to the AP’s All WNBA Second Team and was a unanimous selection to the AP’s All-Rookie Team.
The accolades come months after Bueckers wrapped up her outstanding college career by helping lead the UConn Huskies to NCAA Women’s Basketball championship.
The Dallas Wings’ No. 1 pick averaged 19.2 points and 5.4 assists in her first season. She finished with the third most points ever by a rookie and second most assists.
Bueckers also had a 44-point game on Aug. 20, the highest scoring game of anyone in the WNBA this season.
Steven Rosenbaum is a digital producer for CBS Texas. A versatile journalist, Steven writes, edits and produces content for the CBS Texas digital platforms.
Napheesa Collier scored 20 points to lead five players in double figures and the Minnesota Lynx breezed to a 101-72 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round WNBA series.
Collier hit 7 of 11 shots with a 3-pointer and all five of her free throws, adding six rebounds.
Natisha Hiedeman made two 3-pointers and scored 18 for the Lynx, while Kayla McBride added 17. Jessica Shepard had 12 points and eight rebounds and Courtney Williams pitched in with 11 points and four steals.
Veronica Burton and Cecilia Zandalasini both scored 14 to lead Golden State. Burton added seven assists and three steals but also had seven of the Valkyries’ 16 turnovers. Janelle Salaün had 13 points and eight rebounds and Temi Fágbénlé scored 12 before fouling out.
Burton hit two 3-pointers for Golden State in an 11-4 run to start the game and the Valkyries led 28-21 after one quarter.
McBride had two baskets in a 12-3 run to begin the second period and Minnesota moved in front 33-31. McBride had 14 points by halftime and Collier scored 11 for a 47-39 lead.
Alanna Smith hit a 3-pointer with 8:47 left in the third quarter for a 52-42 advantage and Minnesota led by double digits the rest of the way. DiJonai Carrington sank two 3-pointers and Williams hit one in the final 70 seconds as the Lynx took a 79-58 lead into the final period.
The Valkyries are still looking for their first win over the Lynx in their first year in the league after losing all four regular-season matchups — three by double digits.
Minnesota’s 34-10 record led the league. Golden State will host Game 2 on Wednesday.
NOTE: The original airdate of the video attached to this article is Sept. 9, 2025.
The WNBA‘s New York Liberty game against the Washington Mystics on September 9 had more than basketball on the schedule. During halftime, the New York Liberty’s mascot, Ellie the Elephant, paid tribute to the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, with a performance that had the Barclays Center crowd in a frenzy. The tribute was a perfect cultural homage that perfectly captures Mary’s impact.
Source: Steph Chambers/Gilbert Flores
The beloved mascot rolled onto the court in full Blige-inspired fashion. Ellie’s costume included knee-high boots, a cheetah-print outfit, and a platinum blonde wig—all classic nods to the legendary R&B singer’s signature looks over the years. The performance was a standout moment, backed by a squad of dancers, with Ellie delivering choreography to a medley of Blige tracks, including “Be Happy” and “Just Fine.” Fans quickly noticed the mascot’s repeated take on the famous “Mary Strut,” a signature move Blige has made a concert staple.
According to Complex, the reaction was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. Cheers filled the arena, and clips of the performance quickly went viral online, with MadameNoire posting footage from courtside. The comment section was filled with fans praising Ellie’s moves and calling for the mascot to be protected at all costs.
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“Ellie better be the highest paid mascot,” one fan wrote. Another user noted, “The bob is sending me.” A third added, “Carrying the entire franchise on her back. GO ELLIE.” The energy online matched the crowd inside the arena, treating the halftime show as a perfect crossover moment between sports and music.
Though a relatively new figure in the WNBA, Ellie the Elephant has quickly become a fixture for Liberty fans since her debut in 2021. According to the team, Ellie was designed to embody traits tied to both elephants and the franchise itself, including “strength, wisdom, determination, loyalty, and resilience.” In practice, Ellie has lived up to her reputation, becoming a crowd favorite who balances playful antics with performances that connect to New York culture.
Mary J. Blige also caught wind of the viral performance, and when she ran into the mascot during New York Fashion Week, she showed nothing but love. She even complimented the jacket Ellie was wearing, further cementing her admiration.
Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers was honored Friday as the AP’s WNBA Rookie of the Year.
The Dallas Wings’ No. 1 pick averaged 19.2 points and 5.4 assists in her first season. The former UConn star finished with the third most points ever by a rookie and second most assists.
Bueckers also had a 44-point game on Aug. 20, the highest scoring game of anyone in the WNBA this season.
“I am very grateful for everyone who voted and saw me fit for Rookie of the Year,” Bueckers said. “I have always felt like individual awards are a way to acknowledge the team around you and that is exactly what this award means to me. My teammates, coaches, support staff and everyone from top to bottom in the entire Dallas Wings organization played a huge part in this.”
Bueckers was also named to the AP All-WNBA Second Team and was a unanimous choice to the AP All-Rookie Team.
The announcement came hours after the Wings wrapped up their regular season with a 97-76 win over the Phoenix Mercury. The Wings finished with a record of 10-24, tied for last place in the WNBA with the Chicago Sky.
Las Vegas Aces star Aja Wilson won the AP Player of the Year award for the second straight time.
The AP honors are distinct from the WNBA awards, which will be announced in the coming weeks during the league’s playoffs.
The AP awards are voted on by 14-member national media panel. It’s the 10th year of the awards.
Steven Rosenbaum is a digital producer for CBS Texas. A versatile journalist, Steven writes, edits and produces content for the CBS Texas digital platforms.
Natisha Hiedeman scored 21 points, Napheesa Collier had 19 and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Golden State Valkyries 72-53 on Thursday night to set a franchise record with 34 wins.
Minnesota (34-10) had already cliched home-court advantage in the playoffs, locking up the No. 1 seed with a win over Connecticut last week. The Lynx tied the 2023 Las Vegas Aces for the most regular-season wins in WNBA history.
Golden State (23-21) dropped to the No. 8 seed in the playoffs and will play Minnesota again on Sunday to begin a best-of-three series.
Collier finished the regular season shooting 53% from the field, 40.3% from 3-point range and 91% from the free-throw line to join Elena Delle Donne (in 2019) as the only players in WNBA history to have a 50/40/90 season.
Jessica Shepard had 11 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota. DiJonai Carrington (shoulder) missed her fourth straight game.
Iliana Rupert, Veronica Burton, Kaila Charles and Cecilia Zandalasini each scored eight points to lead Golden State.
Minnesota led 17-8 after the first quarter as Golden State was just 4 of 18 (22.2%) from the field, including 0 for 7 behind the arc. The Lynx held a 34-22 advantage at halftime behind 12 points from Collier.
The Valkyries missed their first 17 3-pointers before Rupert made one on back-to-back possession to cut Minnesota’s lead to 45-41 with 1:28 left in the third.
Minnesota opened the fourth on a 12-0 run to extend its lead to 59-41 after Hiedeman’s fast-break layup. Hiedeman scored nine points in the opening three minutes of the fourth.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 18 points and the Indiana Fever wrapped up the regular season with an 83-72 win Tuesday night over the league-leading Minnesota Lynx, who were resting MVP candidate Napheesa Collier.
Indiana (24-20) scored the first 10 points of the game and led by as many as 24, an impressive performance without star Caitlin Clark, who has only played 13 games this season and will not play in the playoffs that begin Sunday.
Odyssey Sims scored 15 points for the Fever, who set a franchise record for most wins in a season. Aliyah Boston had 12 points and eight rebounds, breaking her own club record for rebounds in a season with 361.
Indiana Fever’s Aerial Powers (23) is defended by Minnesota Lynx’s Anastasiia Olairi Kosu (7) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Indianapolis.
Darron Cummings / AP
Jessica Shepherd, starting in place of Collier, scored 16 points for the Lynx (33-10), who play their last game at home Thursday against Golden State. They finished 2 of 20 on 3-pointers.
Minnesota locked up the top seed on Aug. 30 but has only gone 5-5 in its last 10 games.
Indiana doubled up the Lynx 28-14 after one quarter and it was 49-36 at halftime.
Minnesota scored the first nine of the third quarter, getting within 49-45 when Alanna Smith drilled the Lynx’s first 3 of the night. But Indiana pulled away again and led 70-53 after three quarters.
The 2025 Basketball of Fame inductees brought tearful speeches, funny memories and the game’s most elite talent to the stage.
Among the honorees on the night were some of the game’s most notable names, like Carmelo Anthony, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Dwight Howard, and the superstars who made up the 2008 Olympic gold medal team dubbed “The Redeem Team,” including the late Kobe Bryant, who received his second induction.
Celebrating his more than 20 years in the NBA, Anthony paid tribute to his mother, father, children, and players who came before him. He received his iconic orange jacket from his son, Kiyan, who will also follow in his footsteps at Syracuse University this year. Anthony, who many believe has deserved more flowers throughout his career, racked up a bevy of awards during his reign on the court, including 10 All-Star appearances, a scoring championship and a national championship with his alma mater, Syracuse. He also helped to bring three gold medals to the USA.
Melo took home double honors on the night as the 2008 USA Basketball Men’s National Team was inducted for their impactful journey to bring a gold medal back to the States. Lebron James and Chris Paul became the only two players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame while still being active on a roster in basketball history.
Redeem Team Recognized With Late Kobe Bryant
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Dwyane Wade, Jason Kidd, and others took the time to also pay respect to the late Kobe Bryant. Bryant’s presence and impact on “The Redeem Team” were widely discussed even prior to his untimely passing in 2020, but was further driven home in the Netflix film that documented the players’ return to the top of the podium.
James took time to speak on how Kobe’s addition to the team motivated the younger players to raise their game to meet his, saying,
“We wanted to impress him and prove that we could play at his level. He was the missing link we needed in order to regain dominance with Team USA.”
Bryant’s one time teammate and NBA center, Dwight Howard, also received honors on the night. Over the span of 18 seasons, Howard notched 8 All Star appearances, three Defensive Player Of The Year awards, took home a Dunk Contest win and became a NBA champion. The 2004 No.1 draft pick, who would earn the nickname of “Superman” for his impressive skill above the rim, is one of the last true centers in league history. Howard was also a double honoree on the night as he, too, was part of the 2008 Olympic team. He was inducted into the hall by legendary centers Shaquille O’Neal and Patrick Ewing as well as Dominique Wilkins and Robert Parish.
Maya Moore Receives Her Flowers As WNBA Powerhouse
Though the men’s 2025 class was full of legends, the biggest GOAT of them all was WNBA legend Maya Moore. The 12-time champion took her rightful place among basketball’s best and brightest, boasting more accolades than every other inductee on the night. Her impressive career in both college and the pros is undoubtedly the stuff of legend.
Moore famously left basketball in her prime to become a social justice advocate for those wrongfully convicted of crimes. She used her speech to encourage the next generation of players to inspire outside of basketball and to foster community everywhere they go.
“Figure out what motivates you every day you get out of bed,” Moore said. “I want to challenge you up-and-comers every day to seek out joy and connection.”
Moore was joined by WNBA greats Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles, marking the first time that three women’s players were enshrined on the same night.
Chicago Sky star Angel Reese made quite a few controversial comments recently about her WNBA future. She went as far as to hint that if the Sky do not make the moves that she wants to see, she would consider leaving the team.
Reese, who is in her second WNBA season, ruffled a lot of feathers with those comments. While she has played a big role for the Sky, a second-year player making those kinds of statements usually isn’t taken very well.
One of her controversial comments had to do with veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot.
Vandersloot, who has missed most of the 2025 WNBA season due to a torn ACL, is working her way back from the injury. However, Reese decided to speak out about how Chicago couldn’t rely on her to come back from the injury due to her age.
Kamilla Cardoso #10, Kia Nurse #11, Courtney Vandersloot #22, Ariel Atkins #7 and Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky huddle against the New York Liberty during the second half at Wintrust Arena on May… Kamilla Cardoso #10, Kia Nurse #11, Courtney Vandersloot #22, Ariel Atkins #7 and Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky huddle against the New York Liberty during the second half at Wintrust Arena on May 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
“We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at,” Reese said. “I know she’ll be a great asset for us, but we can’t rely on that. We need someone probably a little younger with some experience, somebody who’s been playing the game and is willing to compete for a championship and has done it before.”
It didn’t take long for Vandersloot to response to those comments. She issued a very clear and pointed statement about her plans to come back stronger than ever.
“Oh absolutely,” Vandersloot said. “Contrary to what people say or think, my age is absolutely not a factor. I am coming back. I’m gonna come back better than ever.”
At 36 years old, Vandersloot has still been playing at a high level. In the seven games she played this season, she averaged 10.6 points, 5.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals, while shooting 43.9 percent.
Obviously, her response showed that she didn’t appreciate Reese’s comments. It doesn’t mean that there’s an issue between the two players, but it made things clear that the second-year star might have gone too far with some of her message.
All of that being said, it will be interesting to see what the fallout of Reese’s comments ends up being. Will the Sky be able to work things out and keep her around long-term? Is a split between the two parties coming?
No one knows, but it’s clear that Reese’s teammates didn’t exactly love her public statement.
For more on the Chicago Sky and for news on the entire WNBA, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Now Moore and Fowles will join their former teammates in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend when they are enshrined as part of the 2025 class, along with Sue Bird. Whalen was inducted in 2022 and Augustus entered the Hall of Fame in 2024.
It’s the first time that four players from the same WNBA team will be in the Hall of Fame. The Boston Celtics hold the record with nine players from their 1962-63 NBA championship team in the Hall.
“That’s one of the things that the legacy of our team, our culture at Minnesota, was we were committed to each other,” Moore said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We had a core that stayed together longer than any other I think, in the history of the league.”
Augustus and Whalen will be at the Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday presenting their former teammates. Whalen is currently an assistant coach with the Lynx, who play Saturday at Golden State, but she will skip the game to be at the Hall of Fame.
“I told Lindsay I didn’t want her to miss the ceremony,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said.
Reeve, who is enjoying a Hall of Fame-caliber career of her own, would like better collaboration between the WNBA and the Hall so that teams could attend the ceremony and celebrate former players.
Lindsay Whalen, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson and Maya Moore celebrate after the Minnesota Lynx defeating the Los Angeles Sparks 67-65 during Game 1 of the WNBA basketball Western Conference semifinals in Minneapolis, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015.
Ann Heisenfelt / AP
“It’s special to be a part of and it’s not every day you get a Hall of Fame nod, to not be a part of it is brutal,” she said.
Reeve was the architect of the championship run during which her team reached the Finals six times in that seven-year stretch.
“Four of the dynasty are in, it’s one of the best runs we’ve ever seen maybe second only to the Comets who won four in four years,” ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said of the Lynx quartet. “Looking at WNBA championship teams, they are the only ones with four in. It brings home again how incredible those Minnesota Lynx teams were in an era when you couldn’t build super teams. They built that the old fashion way, Maya was in the draft, Seimone was in the draft, Whalen was a trade, Syl was a trade.”
The dynasty started its run when the Lynx drafted Moore with the first pick in 2011 and won the title that season. They were champions again two years later with Moore winning Finals MVP honors.
After falling short in 2014 of reaching the WNBA Finals for the only time in that span, Minnesota added Fowles in a mid-season 2015 trade.
The 6-foot-6 Fowles made an immediate impact, earning MVP honors in the Finals that season and then again two years later when the franchise won the last of its four championships. A loss to Los Angeles in a decisive Game 5 in the WNBA Finals a year earlier fueled that final title.
“It definitely left a bittersweet taste in your mouth. I mean, credit to L.A,” Fowles said. “When you don’t achieve that goal and you are just one step away, getting a rebound, blocked shot, a putback whatever the situation may be. It definitely gives you that hunger to make you want to go back and chase that dream all over again.”
Fowles, who retired in 2022 as the WNBA’s career rebound leader, went on to be the league’s MVP and Finals MVP in 2017. She also has been the connecter to the current Lynx group that fell just short in the WNBA Finals last season and currently has the best record in the league and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.
“When I got there in 2015 they showed me the ropes and I thought it was very important that the next generation also understood,” Fowles said. “These are the things that we do here, and you can change it up a little bit, but these are your core values of what we stand for. This group definitely gave into that.”
Fowles is proud of the current team and how they’ve continued “the Lynx way” that Whalen, Augustus, Moore help start.
Now the four will forever be enshrined together in the Hall of Fame.
NOTE: The original airdate of the video attached to this article is Dec. 2, 2024.
A’ja Wilson had 31 points and eight rebounds, Jackie Young added 20 points and the Las Vegas Aces beat the first-place Minnesota Lynx 97-87 on Thursday night to set a franchise record with their 13th straight victory.
Wilson scored 30-plus points for 12th time this season to tie a WNBA record.
Las Vegas (27-14) snapped a six-game losing streak in the series, with its last victory over the Lynx coming on May 29, 2024. The Aces moved into a second-place tie with Atlanta (27-14) and Phoenix (27-14), five games behind Minnesota (32-9).
The Aces went ahead 63-55 five minutes into the third quarter after 3-pointers from Jewell Loyd and Young. Las Vegas finished the quarter up 70-66 after a buzzer-beater layup from Chelsea Gray.
Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) tries to steal the ball from Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas.
John Locher / AP
Wilson hit her only 3-pointer of the game halfway through the fourth to extend the lead to 81-71.
Natisha Hiedeman scored 22 points off the bench for Minnesota, 11 in the fourth quarter. Courtney Williams added 14 points and Napheesa Collier had 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
Las Vegas shot 55.1% from the field, including 11 of 24 from 3-point range.
The Aces, who lost by 53 points to Minnesota in their last meeting on Aug. 2, became the seventh team in WNBA history to reach 13 wins in a row in a single season.
NOTE: The original airdate of the video attached to this article is Aug. 28, 2025.
On Thursday night, the Golden State Valkyries became the first-ever franchise expansion team in WNBA history to make the playoffs in their inaugural season.
The Valkyries defeated the Dallas Wings 84-80 and secured their playoff berth inside Ballhalla and in front of thousands of their fans.
The playoff spot adds to what has been an already historic season for the Valkyries.
On Aug. 15, they became the franchise expansion team with the most wins during their inaugural season. They defeated the Chicago Sky and earned their 18th win in that August game. With the game on Thursday, they’ve extended that record to 23 wins.
Their success and fan fervor have also led them to be valued at $500 million, according to a June Sportico report. The valuation makes them the most valuable WNBA team, and the only women’s sports franchise to reach the half-billion mark.
On the court, the Valkyries are one of the leading teams when it comes to three-pointers made, rebounds per game and free throw percentage.
Veronica Burton was one of the top WNBA players for assists per game, and Iliana Rupert and Cecilia Zandalasini were in the Top 5 for three-point percentage in the WNBA.
The Valkyries are also a Top 5 defensive team.
Fan reactions
Randi Seidner says as soon as she heard that the WNBA was expanding to the Bay Area, she knew she had to get season tickets. She has some of the best tickets in the house, second row, courtside, right across from the Valks bench.
“These are incredible seats,” said Lynne Bernstein. “We see everything. They’re amazing.”
Seidner, Bernstein and crew were on the edge of their seats almost the entire game, or they were on their feet. Bernstein had hoop dreams growing up.
“For me, I’ve been watching women’s basketball since the ’80s and I said if we ever got a team, I was going to be here,” Bernstein said. “When it did, my wife said we’re going.”
They say watching the Valkyries reminds them of a time when women didn’t have the opportunities they have today. They are enjoying the ride of the inaugural season and will be at Chase Center for what they hope will be many more games like this one.
“We were going back and forth throughout the whole game,” said Bernstein. “Unfortunately, we kept losing the ball and we won, though.”
“They really went for it,” Randi added. “I mean, they did not want to lose this game. There was no way they were losing. That’s for sure.”
Valkyries History
When Natalie Nakase became the head coach for the Golden State Valkyries in 2024, she also became the first Asian American WNBA coach.
She was named the June WNBA coach of the month, and now also has the distinction of leading a franchise expansion team to a playoff run in its first season.
They got their first win against the Washington Mystics as Veronica Burton scored 22 points, 14 of them in the final quarter. Burton went on to become the first Valkyrie to score 30 points.
She also became the first-ever WNBA player to have a scoreline of 24 points, 14 assists and zero turnovers in a game.
Current Roster
Led by Nakase, the Golden State Valkyries had their first-ever season game on May 16. Their 23-18 record through Thursday night was enough to push them into the playoffs.
The Valkyries have three regular-season games left before the playoffs begin.
Laeticia Amihere Monique Billings Veronica Burton Kaila Charles Kaitlyn Chen Temi Fágbénlé Tiffany Hayes Elizabeth Kitley Carla Leite Kate Martin Iliana Rupert Janelle Salaun Kayla Thornton Cecilia Zandalasini
Jose Fabian is a web producer for CBS Bay Area where he reports on local crime, politics and breaking news. He studied political science and journalism at Sacramento State and was born and raised in Northern California.
Caitlin Clark will miss the rest of the Indiana Fever’s season because of a right groin injury.
“I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season,” Clark said in a statement Thursday. “I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling. I want to thank everyone who had my back through all the uncertainty.”
“This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good,” she continued. “The way the fans continued to show up for me, and for the Fever, brought me so much joy and important perspective. I am so proud of how this team has only gotten stronger through adversity this year. Now it’s time to close out the season and claim our spot in the playoffs.”
Clark was injured late in a July 15 game against the Connecticut Sun, and later sustained a bone bruise. The former Iowa star averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 13 games in her second season in the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever reacts during the second half of the WNBA game against the Phoenix Mercury at PHX Arena on Sept. 2, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Fever 85-79.
Christian Petersen / Getty Images
“Caitlin has worked so hard throughout this time, doing everything possible to recover and return to the court but, ultimately, time is not on our side,” Fever COO and GM Amber Cox said in a statement. “While we will continue working with Caitlin and provide her with every resource we have available, there is not enough time left in our season for her to safely return, and her long-term health and well-being remains our top priority. We are looking forward to having her back at full strength to start the 2026 season.”
The 2024 Rookie of the Year had been trying to get back to help her team reach the postseason for a second straight year. She participated in full-court drills without defense during a shootaround before the Fever faced the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night. Coach Stephanie White said Thursday at practice that Clark hasn’t done much contact work yet.
Indiana is currently in eighth place in the standings, 1 1/2 games in front of Los Angeles with three games to play.
It has been a rough season for Clark, who also dealt with injuries to her left quad and left groin. This was the first time she’s had injury issues. She never missed a game in her collegiate career at Iowa or her first year in the WNBA.
The Fever have lost five players for the season with injuries, now including Clark. Fellow guards Sydney Colson (knee), Aari McDonald (foot), Sophie Cunningham (knee) and forward Chloe Bibby (knee) are also out.
Clark has helped women’s basketball grow in both college and the WNBA. The league had record attendance this season, even with Clark missing most of the season.
Speaking to CBS News in September 2024, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert reflected on Clark’s importance to the league, describing her as “an unbelievable player” who has an “an unbelievable following” and “has brought a lot of new fans to the league.”
“No league’s ever about one player,” Engelbert said at the time. “That player could get hurt or whatever. So I think it’s just to give recognition that in sports, people watch for compelling content and rivalries. And you can’t do that alone as one person.”
SAN FRANCISCO — If the Valkyries reach the postseason in their inaugural year, one of the biggest questions will be where they will actually play.
A scheduling conflict with the Laver Cup — an international tennis tournament that includes stars Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz as well as legend Andre Agassi as a coach — presents Chase Center’s biggest hurdle in trying to accommodate a Valkyries playoff game.
In all likelihood, the Valkyries will not get a Top 4 seed in order to host two games in the first round, meaning their possible lone postseason game will take place either on Sept. 16 or 17.
The Laver Cup runs from Sept. 19-21, but setting up the state-of-the-art tennis court and allowing players time to practice before the tournament starts is the biggest challenge. The event was booked before the Valkyries became a franchise.
Golden State officials said an update on a decision on where the team will play will be coming in the next few days.
“We are finalizing details regarding our potential playoff venue and will share a comprehensive update with fans and season ticket holders in the coming days,” the Valkyries said in a statement sent to this news organization on Thursday. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through the logistics of the possibility of a historic inaugural playoff run and pre-existing scheduling conflict at Chase Center.”
A Golden State Valkyries fan wears a winged helmet while sitting courtside in the fourth quarter of their WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Washington Mystics 99-62. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
The Valkyries’ issues with scheduling their playoff game hasn’t gone unnoticed by the rest of the league.
“You want to think that you’re past it,” Stewart told SFGATE on Monday. “We want to think that we’re, like, better than this. Listen, sometimes it’s out of the control of everyone involved. But it’s just … You don’t see it happening with the NBA.”
The Valkyries will have other venues to consider should Chase Center not be available.
Oakland Arena, formerly known as Oracle Arena, would be an easy option as it was the Golden State Warriors’ former home. The venue does not have anything on its schedule the week of Sept. 15. SAP Center in San Jose has a concert scheduled on Sept. 15, but will have openings in the four days after.
Seating capacity won’t be a problem for Oakland Arena (19,200) and SAP Center (17,562) as they both seat over 17,000 fans.
Some reports have floated Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, home of the Sacramento Kings, as a possible venue as it is a current NBA Arena, though it would be the farthest trek for Bay Area fans.
Golden State Valkyries fans dress like the female warriors the name represents while cheering for their strong, bold and fierce Valkyries as they battle the Dallas Wings at the Chase Center in San Francisco on July 25, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
When reached for comment last week, Sacramento officials did not respond to questions about if Golden 1 Center would welcome the Valkyries for a home playoff game.
The Laver Cup is a relatively new tennis tournament, holding its inaugural event in 2017. The tournament pits some of the best international players against the best players from the United States.
According to the Laver Cup website, the unique black playing surface is the largest known court in the world at 49 meters long and 23 meters wide. The website claims the court is portable and can be set up in tight time frames.
Golden State has exceeded expectations this season.
BetMGM had their win total odds at 8.5 before the season started, finishing last in the league. The Valkyries eclipsed the previous highest win total set by an expansion team, previously held by the 1998 Detroit Shock, who had 17 wins in their inaugural season.
