2025 WNBA Off-Season

[oldhusky]

A’ja won’t go anywhere and IDT Jackie or Chelsea will either. I’d pencil in Loyd too. Dana might have also found a home. Of the rest, i think there could be some upgrades.

I agree with the likelihood of retaining the top 3, but think beyond that is almost impossible to predict. Loyd doesn't deserve anything close to a max contract but may still expect one. As for the rest of the roster as a desired destination and most of the league free agents, Vegas could improve on the rest of their rotation.

While the new numbers are highly in doubt, I suspect the strategies for true contenders will be the same. Max salaries for maybe the top 3 or so, relative bargains for the next 5 at between max and minimum, and then the remaining players at min or rookie contracts.

Free agency often works to the advantage of contenders and preferred destinations. Veteran players particularly near the end of their careers may ring chase by accepting a lessor role and pay for a likely champion. In essence the contenders get more for their free agent dollars than the teams near the bottom. At the other end bottom teams may have to overpay for the players they ultimately get. What really hurts a team's chances are a wasted max salary with a player not producing, or a player getting significantly more than the minimum that is not in the rotation.

With so many free agents for the next season, I expect there may be some combo deals, where some of the top free agents that would like to play with each other pitch themselves as a package, like Lebron James, Wade, and Bosh to Miami in the NBA. If I was dreaming as an Aces fan, maybe ex Uconn players and Unrivaled founders Napheesa Collier and Brianna Stewart sign near max deals with Vegas as a combo, Wilson and Young also at or near max, Gray resigning for significantly less and everybody else near minimum.

If they had a starting unit like that, I think they could fill the rest of the roster with players near the minimum that would be willing to take 20-30% less than their market value to chase a ring, and because of the off-court monetary possibilities with a high profile team. While that scenario is a big longshot, I fully expect some partnering among free agents that will immediately change the prospects of some team.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

I agree with the likelihood of retaining the top 3, but think beyond that is almost impossible to predict. Loyd doesn't deserve anything close to a max contract but may still expect one. As for the rest of the roster as a desired destination and most of the league free agents, Vegas could improve on the rest of their rotation.

While the new numbers are highly in doubt, I suspect the strategies for true contenders will be the same. Max salaries for maybe the top 3 or so, relative bargains for the next 5 at between max and minimum, and then the remaining players at min or rookie contracts.

Free agency often works to the advantage of contenders and preferred destinations. Veteran players particularly near the end of their careers may ring chase by accepting a lessor role and pay for a likely champion. In essence the contenders get more for their free agent dollars than the teams near the bottom. At the other end bottom teams may have to overpay for the players they ultimately get. What really hurts a team's chances are a wasted max salary with a player not producing, or a player getting significantly more than the minimum that is not in the rotation.

With so many free agents for the next season, I expect there may be some combo deals, where some of the top free agents that would like to play with each other pitch themselves as a package, like Lebron James, Wade, and Bosh to Miami in the NBA. If I was dreaming as an Aces fan, maybe ex Uconn players and Unrivaled founders Napheesa Collier and Brianna Stewart sign near max deals with Vegas as a combo, Wilson and Young also at or near max, Gray resigning for significantly less and everybody else near minimum.

If they had a starting unit like that, I think they could fill the rest of the roster with players near the minimum that would be willing to take 20-30% less than their market value to chase a ring, and because of the off-court monetary possibilities with a high profile team. While that scenario is a big longshot, I fully expect some partnering among free agents that will immediately change the prospects of some team.

Two things.

First: What you say is the strategy for most teams and this, along with the salary cap not increasing commensurately, has led to the “tweener” problem (mid-career players being priced-out of rosters). Players are aware of this problem and are looking at CBA solutions (more roster spots per team, salary cap increasing commensurately, etc.).

Second: Having two expansion drafts in a year with 100 free agents and the wacky coring rules of the current CBA has lead to wacky predicaments:

• Las Vegas, and several top teams with great cores, have many top players that are not max-cored;
• Expansion teams can pluck a great top non-max-cored player (e.g. Jackie Young) because Las Vegas can only protect one top player by coring her (e.g. A’ja Wilson);
• A list of some of the top teams with similar predicaments is here;
• As previously mentioned, this year’s wacky situation will lead to expansion teams having slim pickings, i.e. teams have barely enough players to protect and expansion teams can only pick one UFA total in the expansion draft.

 

[Dillon77]

Richard Cohen of Her Hoops Stats examines where the Los Angeles Sparks are in this offseason;
Key personnel notes:

Free agents:

• Unrestricted: Dearica Hamby, Kelsey Plum, Azurá Stevens, Emma Cannon
• Restricted: Julie Allemand
• Reserved: Rae Burrell, Julie Vanloo, Alissa Pili

Under contract: Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Sarah Ashlee Barker, Sania Feagin

Full Write-Up:

2025-26 WNBA Offseason Guides: Los Angeles Sparks

Our series of team-by-team offseason guides reaches Los Angeles, and looks at where the Sparks stand heading towards 2026

herhoopstats.substack.com

 

[Dillon77]

Cohen continues his examination of West/Left Coast teams with his guide to the offseason on the Golden State Valkyries.
@TheFarmFan might be particularly interested (but of course!).
Key personnel notes:

Free agents:

• Unrestricted free agents: Tiffany Hayes, Kayla Thornton, Monique Billings, Temi Fágbénlé (Given their age, Cohen thinks Golden State might pass on Hayes and/or Thornton, with the latter having a better chance of staying.)
• Restricted free agents: Veronica Burton, Cecilia Zandalasini
• Reserved: Janelle Salaün, Laeticia Amihere, Kaitlyn Chen, Iliana Rupert

Under contract: Carla Leite, Kate Martin

Full Write-Up for details:

2025-26 WNBA Offseason Guides: Golden State Valkyries

Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats newsletter.

herhoopstats.substack.com

 

[GamecockFam]

Richard Cohen of Her Hoops Stats examines where the Los Angeles Sparks are in this offseason;
Key personnel notes:

Free agents:

• Unrestricted: Dearica Hamby, Kelsey Plum, Azurá Stevens, Emma Cannon
• Restricted: Julie Allemand
• Reserved: Rae Burrell, Julie Vanloo, Alissa Pili

Under contract: Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Sarah Ashlee Barker, Sania Feagin

Full Write-Up:

2025-26 WNBA Offseason Guides: Los Angeles Sparks

Our series of team-by-team offseason guides reaches Los Angeles, and looks at where the Sparks stand heading towards 2026

herhoopstats.substack.com

Having Brink and Jackson under contract is a plus.

 

[cancontent]

 

[cancontent]

Sharing this article from the Ringer that looks to have done a good job outlining the complexities of the WNBA CBA contract negotiation. I've gotten through a third and have found it enlightening.

The WNBA’s Future Is on the Clock

It’s a make-or-break offseason for the WNBA. Is the league headed for a lockout? Or will the players get the changes they’re demanding?

www.theringer.com

 

[BRS24]

With social media misstep, Portland’s WNBA team causes confusion over potential coaching hire

On LinkedIn, the Portland Fire introduced a Cleveland Cavaliers assistant as their first head coach. Then they deleted the post.

www.oregonlive.com

 

[cancontent]

With social media misstep, Portland’s WNBA team causes confusion over potential coaching hire

On LinkedIn, the Portland Fire introduced a Cleveland Cavaliers assistant as their first head coach. Then they deleted the post.

www.oregonlive.com

This explains some of the chatter on X I've been seeing complaining about the ratio of coaches.

 

[Dillon77]

Richard Cohen completes his West/Left Coast Assessment of the WNBA Teams with a Guide to the Seattle Storm

The major decision is to decide if the organization wants to try to run it back with key veterans (Ogwunike, Diggins, etc.) or focus on a team built around youth (Malonga, Horston, etc.). Key personnel notes:

Free agents:

• Uncoreable unrestricted free agentsSkylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike
• Unrestricted Free Agents: Gabby Williams, Brittney Sykes, Ezi Magbegor, Katie Lou Samuelson, Erica Wheeler, Tiffany Mitchell
• Reserved: Mackenzie Holmes, Zia Cooke

Under contract: Lexie Brown, Dominique Malonga, Jordan Horston, Nika Mühl
(Horston and Mühl’s deals are still in place after being suspended for 2025)

2026 draft picks: Seattle gave up their own 2026 first-round pick in the deadline trade to acquire Brittney Sykes but still hold two other 2026 first-rounders anyway. They will also be picking right at the top of the second round, thanks to acquiring Dallas’s pick in the midseason Li Yueru trade. The Storm also still have their own third-rounder. (more detail in the linked piece below.)

2025-26 WNBA Offseason Guides: Seattle Storm

Our breakdowns of where WNBA teams stand heading into 2026 reach the Storm, who have significant decisions to make before next season

herhoopstats.substack.com

 

[Dillon77]

This explains some of the chatter on X I've been seeing complaining about the ratio of coaches.

It also sends a concerning note about, well, sloppiness and/or not paying attention in the front office, given some of the other missteps this author cites. As my first football coach once said, "...gotta block or tackle right to make a play work."

 

[cancontent]

It also sends a concerning note about, well, sloppiness and/or not paying attention in the front office, given some of the other missteps this author cites. As my first football coach once said, "...gotta block or tackle right to make a play work."

Their start hasn't been the most auspicious. Didn't they have a hiccup with the President role too?

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Here are two articles on the WNBA CBA negotiations:

• [1] WNBA CBA negotiations: What's at stake, what players want and what's next amid historic labor fight - Yahoo Sports
• [2] The WNBA Labor Dispute Is Just Another Choice Made by the NBA - The Sling

State of Play:

• The players’ association submitted its proposal binder in February;
• The league countered with its proposal binder around the All Star Game in July and in August;
• Currently (from August), the two sides agree on only two articles (retirement benefits and family planning) out of reportedly 30+;
• Pre-meditated lollygagging on one side? Unmindful of the rather congested offseason?

The root of the contention:

• Due to the WNBA’s ownership structure, the NBA decides &1 how “profitable”WNBA teams look on opaque and vacuous paper;
• There’s the low-ball media rights deal allocation (allegedly siphoning $6B-$8B over 11 years);
• There’s the carve-out of other basketball-related income (e.g. media rights deal, team ticket sales, merchandising) from revenue sharing;
• There’s the entirety of costs coming solely out of the WNBA teams’ pockets;
• Revenue sharing is part of the WNBA teams’ costs;
• in the current CBA, there is an opaque and vacuous metrics-driven convoluted formula to determine the players’ slice, if any, of the slice the NBA allows to trickle down to players;
• in its July/ August proposal, the NBA proposed — in a redux of the current CBA framework — a growing players’ share but capped at a fixed percentage of “revenue” for the life of the CBA; presumably, it is much lower than 50%, and the difference is to allow &1 owners &2 “a path to (opaque) profitability and continued investment”.

&1 This smells like an ownership dividend (alternatively, an equity and an asset-backed security) in perpetuity, where owners (e.g. the 16% private investors) not only benefit from increased valuations but also from a stream of payments. The 58% owners (NBA+private investors) don’t necessarily have a burning direct urge to reinvest in the WNBA.

&2 Natasha Cloud was more direct in clamoring for a change in types of owners. Maybe she had the change in ownership of the NY Liberty from James Dolan to the Tsai’s (and also the Aces’ Mark Davis) in mind.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Their start hasn't been the most auspicious. Didn't they have a hiccup with the President role too?

I'll just put it out there: as someone raised in Oregon (the eastern, dry part), the "Fire" feels like the wrong vibe given the recent history of devastating fires. Other than poaching Vanja, which was a smart move, it seems like the missteps have continued apace.

 

[Dillon77]

I'll just put it out there: as someone raised in Oregon (the eastern, dry part), the "Fire" feels like the wrong vibe given the recent history of devastating fires. Other than poaching Vanja, which was a smart move, it seems like the missteps have continued apace.

I haven't been to Portland in a decade or so, but used to get out there often enough. I remember on a clear day just being able to see the mountains clearly. Why not something like "Cascade," which is one of my favorite mountain range names.

While "Stumptown" is a cool nickname and was a fun show, don't think "Stumps" in the headline would do the trick. 😉

 

[cancontent]

I'll just put it out there: as someone raised in Oregon (the eastern, dry part), the "Fire" feels like the wrong vibe given the recent history of devastating fires. Other than poaching Vanja, which was a smart move, it seems like the missteps have continued apace.

Great point. Didn't think of the forest fire perspective.

 

[ochoopsfan]

Didnt want to start a new topic, so since Lou Lopez Senechal was prior WNBA I am putting it here.

Scary moment in her Euro Cup game today. With about 35 seconds left in 4th quarter she went down with nobody near her. It turns out it was bad cramps, but you never know if it was an achilles, calf or something else.

Forward the game to about 40 seconds left in the 4th quarter, LLS was coming back on defense and went down in pain, again nobody near her. Her coaches post game report said bad cramps.

Lou is #19 in the gold uniform.

 

[cancontent]

Didnt want to start a new topic, so since Lou Lopez Senechal was prior WNBA I am putting it here.

Scary moment in her Euro Cup game today. With about 35 seconds left in 4th quarter she went down with nobody near her. It turns out it was bad cramps, but you never know if it was an achilles, calf or something else.

Forward the game to about 40 seconds left in the 4th quarter, LLS was coming back on defense and went down in pain, again nobody near her. Her coaches post game report said bad cramps.

Lou is #19 in the gold uniform.

Phew. The Wings posted that she was playing overseas on X today. Taking that as a sign she'll be back in Dallas for training camp next year.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Phew. The Wings posted that she was playing overseas on X today. Taking that as a sign she'll be back in Dallas for training camp next year.

In fairness, they possess her rights, so there's literally no reason they wouldn't want her at training camp unless they trade her during the off-season. Which, of course, they still have 6+X months to do, where X=length of potential walkout.. Not taking anything away from her, but as everyone says "the W is a business," so they'll continue to promote her right up to the second they no longer want her on the team...

 

[Dillon77]

Moving to the Right/East Coast, Richard Cohen of Her Hoops Stats Offers an Off-Season Guide on The New York Liberty

Personnel Notes:

Free agents:

• Uncoreable unrestricted free agents: Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones
• Unrestricted free agents: Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Cloud, Isabelle Harrison, Kennedy Burke, Emma Meesseman, Stephanie Talbot
• Reserved: Rebekah Gardner, Marine Johannès

Under contract: Nyara Sabally, Leonie Fiebich.

2026 Draft Picks: Only have their own 3rd-round pick. (First went to Conn. for Natasha Cloud, Second to Chicago for Rebekah Gardner)
- Future Assets: Also, check out Cohen's tidbit on how Jon Kolb stockpiles players -- particularly international ones -- so he can build a roster even without a lot of draft choices (as this year). Link below.

2025-26 WNBA Offseason Guides: New York Liberty

Our series of offseason guides reaches the 2024 champions, who couldn't quite reach the same heights this year

herhoopstats.substack.com

 

[Dillon77]

Way-too-early '26 Mock Draft from Michael Voepel

WNBA mock draft 2026: UCLA's Lauren Betts projected No. 1

Lauren Betts, Azzi Fudd, Flau'Jae Johnson and Olivia Miles are projected 2026 lottery picks.

www.espn.com

Some Dillon Druthers:

- Actually, it's good to set a floorboard from someone who knows the components. Plus, it helped remind me of where some of these transfers ended up!

- Not surprisingly, Azzi Fudd and Serah Williams are highly rated.

- If Dallas lands the first pick, Paige B. will probably have a new center.

- Could easily see Miles fitting in with the Lynx. (Then again, most players could fit in with the Lynx.)

and some thoughts on the team that can get a lot (again) from the draft.

- The Washington Mystics dealt established talent to garner draft picks and, as a result, have three -- count 'em, 3 -- first-round picks to add to an already solid core of young players, including Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Shakira Austin, Lucy Olsen, Jacy Sheldon and Georgia Amoore, if she recuperates from her knee surgery.

Iriafen and Austin can both play low and run the court, so any front-court player they choose needs to be able to mesh with that style. It will be interesting to see Serah Williams on the court over the course of the NCAA season in that respect.

Getting another shooter to pair up with Citron, who led the W in three-pt. shooting this year, would stretch defenses. If Fudd slips just one place, would D.C. take her - a hometown kid -- to play with Citron (who could slide to wing)? That said, Kneepkens is the real deal and could also offer another killer three-shooter. As could Yarden Garzon, another great distance shooter who has length (6'3") and could play wing, leaving Citron at off-guard.

OK, this will undoubtedly change (a lot) over the course of the year, depending on who ends up where in the W and how some of these prospects fare, as well as ones who might play themselves into the picture.

 

[GamecockFam]

Way-too-early '26 Mock Draft from Michael Voepel

WNBA mock draft 2026: UCLA's Lauren Betts projected No. 1

Lauren Betts, Azzi Fudd, Flau'Jae Johnson and Olivia Miles are projected 2026 lottery picks.

www.espn.com

Some Dillon Druthers:

- Actually, it's good to set a floorboard from someone who knows the components. Plus, it helped remind me of where some of these transfers ended up!

- Not surprisingly, Azzi Fudd and Serah Williams are highly rated.

- If Dallas lands the first pick, Paige B. will probably have a new center.

- Could easily see Miles fitting in with the Lynx. (Then again, most players could fit in with the Lynx.)

and some thoughts on the team that can get a lot (again) from the draft.

- The Washington Mystics dealt established talent to garner draft picks and, as a result, have three -- count 'em, 3 -- first-round picks to add to an already solid core of young players, including Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Shakira Austin, Lucy Olsen, Jacy Sheldon and Georgia Amoore, if she recuperates from her knee surgery.

Iriafen and Austin can both play low and run the court, so any front-court player they choose needs to be able to mesh with that style. It will be interesting to see Serah Williams on the court over the course of the NCAA season in that respect.

Getting another shooter to pair up with Citron, who led the W in three-pt. shooting this year, would stretch defenses. If Fudd slips just one place, would D.C. take her - a hometown kid -- to play with Citron (who could slide to wing)? That said, Kneepkens is the real deal and could also offer another killer three-shooter. As could Yarden Garzon, another great distance shooter who has length (6'3") and could play wing, leaving Citron at off-guard.

OK, this will undoubtedly change (a lot) over the course of the year, depending on who ends up where in the W and how some of these prospects fare, as well as ones who might play themselves into the picture.

It's so hard to determine the pick order since the league will look so different next year. With that noted, I have trouble with so many of those picks. I assume so many of those teams will resign their core playmakers so with that idea in mind...

1) The Lynx need more size. They have a good core group of forwards but they need a defensive chess piece against the likes of Boston, Cardoso, Betts, B Jones, J Jones, Malonga, etc. I think Barker or Okot makes more sense but it feels odd to select them so early but both have high ceilings so getting them as project players and developing their talent is a possibility.

2) Fudd to Seattle doesn't feel like a good fit either because she would be adding more offense at the expense of defense -- the exact opposite of what Seattle needs. If Miles is available, she would be a perfect fit to balance out Malonga as the future of that organization.

3) The Mystics have a glut of promising forwards. I think they need some insurance at PG or have some scoring to balance out Citron. Fam makes no sense. If we're looking at best available guard, possibly Fudd or Latson makes sense. If they want a PG to balance out Amoore's deficiencies, R. Johnson or Kiki Rice would be intriguing picks.

4) Flau'jae makes sense to Chicago but a shooter like Fudd would be equally intriguing.

5) Janiah Barker to Indy makes absolutely no sense to me. They are already grooming a similar prospect in Timpson and I have very little faith that Barker will live up to her potential. The Fever need either a shooting guard to back up Mitchell or a forward that can shoot threes. If available, Serah Williams or Okot makes sense to me. Otherwise take the best available shooting guard.

 

[Bigboote]

. . .

5) Janiah Barker to Indy makes absolutely no sense to me. They are already grooming a similar prospect in Timpson and I have very little faith that Barker will live up to her potential. The Fever need either a shooting guard to back up Mitchell or a forward that can shoot threes. If available, Serah Williams or Okot makes sense to me. Otherwise take the best available shooting guard.

Your post just made me think, it's possible that Serah Williams's draft stock could shoot up after a season at UConn. She's already a two-time all-B1G selection.

 

[Dillon77]

Your post just made me think, it's possible that Serah Williams's draft stock could shoot up after a season at UConn. She's already a two-time all-B1G selection.

Very possible. I noted that I'll be paying attention to how she does in an offense that features ball-and people movement, as UConn does. If her play continues to be at the level she's shown thus far and/or improves, I think she'd be more of a fit with Iriafen and Austin than a very tall post. Stay tuned.

 

[cancontent]

Way-too-early '26 Mock Draft from Michael Voepel

WNBA mock draft 2026: UCLA's Lauren Betts projected No. 1

Lauren Betts, Azzi Fudd, Flau'Jae Johnson and Olivia Miles are projected 2026 lottery picks.

www.espn.com

Some Dillon Druthers:

- Actually, it's good to set a floorboard from someone who knows the components. Plus, it helped remind me of where some of these transfers ended up!

- Not surprisingly, Azzi Fudd and Serah Williams are highly rated.

- If Dallas lands the first pick, Paige B. will probably have a new center.

- Could easily see Miles fitting in with the Lynx. (Then again, most players could fit in with the Lynx.)

and some thoughts on the team that can get a lot (again) from the draft.

- The Washington Mystics dealt established talent to garner draft picks and, as a result, have three -- count 'em, 3 -- first-round picks to add to an already solid core of young players, including Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Shakira Austin, Lucy Olsen, Jacy Sheldon and Georgia Amoore, if she recuperates from her knee surgery.

Iriafen and Austin can both play low and run the court, so any front-court player they choose needs to be able to mesh with that style. It will be interesting to see Serah Williams on the court over the course of the NCAA season in that respect.

Getting another shooter to pair up with Citron, who led the W in three-pt. shooting this year, would stretch defenses. If Fudd slips just one place, would D.C. take her - a hometown kid -- to play with Citron (who could slide to wing)? That said, Kneepkens is the real deal and could also offer another killer three-shooter. As could Yarden Garzon, another great distance shooter who has length (6'3") and could play wing, leaving Citron at off-guard.

OK, this will undoubtedly change (a lot) over the course of the year, depending on who ends up where in the W and how some of these prospects fare, as well as ones who might play themselves into the picture.

Good, but I also wonder if she would be listed this high had she not transferred. Gut feeling is she'd be listed lower or not at all, which would be an insult in my opinion.

It's not a dig at her making the decision to move. My concern is with those who conduct the research to put these "way too early" polls out in the first place.

 

[BRS24]

As Geno has said numerous times, it's not when you get drafted, it's where you get drafted.

 

[Dillon77]

ESPN Article Surveys Array of WNBA-Connected People on Englebert, Officiating, CBA, Etc.
What caught my attention on the officiating was the institutional lack of support for refereeing, from not having a control center to the ability of certain arenas to support multiple camera angles.
Here's an excerpt:

"Players, coaches and executives across the league have flagged a lack of consistency by referees as well as the level of physicality allowed.
A team executive said those are valid concerns, but some of the issues have deeper roots.

"My first issue with officiating is not the officials, it's that it's not resourced from the arenas we play in, to not having a replay center," they told ESPN. "That's a fundamental [resource], I think, that objectively needs to be changed."

"The executive pointed to the WNBA arenas in Dallas, Connecticut, Chicago and Atlanta as problems -- those courts don't have the same technology and camera angles that other markets have that are viewed as crucial for calling a game correctly."

Well, that countered my frequent asides to my wife about "why doesn't the control center just get this done?" Mr. Silver...want to make your NBA center available?

Here's a link the rest of the story:

WNBA owners, insiders on Cathy Engelbert, officiating, CBA

Have owners and executives lost faith in the WNBA commissioner? We canvassed insiders on the biggest topics at the WNBA Finals.

www.espn.com

 

[cancontent]

ESPN Article Surveys Array of WNBA-Connected People on Englebert, Officiating, CBA, Etc.
What caught my attention on the officiating was the institutional lack of support for refereeing, from not having a control center to the ability of certain arenas to support multiple camera angles.
Here's an excerpt:

"Players, coaches and executives across the league have flagged a lack of consistency by referees as well as the level of physicality allowed.
A team executive said those are valid concerns, but some of the issues have deeper roots.

"My first issue with officiating is not the officials, it's that it's not resourced from the arenas we play in, to not having a replay center," they told ESPN. "That's a fundamental [resource], I think, that objectively needs to be changed."

"The executive pointed to the WNBA arenas in Dallas, Connecticut, Chicago and Atlanta as problems -- those courts don't have the same technology and camera angles that other markets have that are viewed as crucial for calling a game correctly."

Well, that countered my frequent asides to my wife about "why doesn't the control center just get this done?" Mr. Silver...want to make your NBA center available?

Here's a link the rest of the story:

WNBA owners, insiders on Cathy Engelbert, officiating, CBA

Have owners and executives lost faith in the WNBA commissioner? We canvassed insiders on the biggest topics at the WNBA Finals.

www.espn.com

Thanks for sharing. There are so many layers to this. Just wow.

 

[cancontent]

 

[Dillon77]

Her Hoops Stats' Richard Cohen Sets Sights South to Examine Atlanta Dream's Off-Season
Key Personnel:

Free agents:

• Uncoreable Unrestricted Free Agents: Brionna Jones, Brittney Griner, Jordin Canada
• Unrestricted Free Agents: Allisha Gray, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Nia Coffey
• Restrcited Free Agents: Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon
• Reserved: Maya Caldwell, Sika Koné (both reserved).

Under contract: Te-Hina Paopao, Taylor Thierry.

2026 draft picks: They still have all of their own with no extras and will likely be picking 13th in the 2026 draft.

Major Issue: Infrastructure. As Cohen says, their arena only seats 3,500 people and is a "glorified high school gym" and their practice facilities aren't far behind. Free agents are increasingly looking at both these resources, so Atlanta ownership will put their team behind if they don't move on both....soon.

2025-26 WNBA Offseason Guides: Atlanta Dream

The latest in our series of team-by-team WNBA guides breaks down Atlanta's performance in 2025 and where they stand heading into 2026

herhoopstats.substack.com