u/Steadyandquick

“While the road movie typically imagines the open highway as a conduit for freedom and self-discovery, these films explore the genre’s dark side.”

I recently watched The Vanishing, which was eerily creepy and innovative. Which of these 15 “Highway Horror” films do you recommend? Any particular order?

I think I am most excited for:

Dust Devil. Richard Stanley (1992).

Alone. John Hyam (2020).

And Soon the Darkness. Robert Fuest (1970).

The Cars that Ate Paris. Peter Weir (1974).

The above include Namibia as the setting for three character narratives; a widow heading to the Pacific Northwest only to escape kidnapping and be on the run from her kidnapper in desolate woods; two nurses on a biking trip wheee one disappears; and “strange citizens” in the “outback of Paris” “subsisting through a most unusual economy” involving cars.

It’s my first time outside of France playing basketball, and everything is so different,” says Pauline Astier, 24, on a sunny afternoon as lines of girls waiting for baby tees and frozen yogurt snake around the block. She’s not the only European player to make the switch. With its new collective-bargaining agreement and the addition of two teams, the WNBA is more appealing than ever to the game’s international stars. And rookies like Astier have serious pocket money: $270,000 for the season — triple what many players were making even last year. Her days off are mostly spent in Normatec boots on her couch, but today Astier is eager to treat herself.

12:53 p.m. | Repping the Team
Lately, the Liberty have been given the hypebeast treatment. Inside New York or Nowhere, which released custom merch for the team this year, Astier offers the sales associate a hand with returning a $175 seafoam-green polo to the top shelf. “I got it,” the rookie says sheepishly. Despite her five-foot-11 frame, she never had so many eyes on her until she moved here. “I feel like a princess,” she says of the attention.

1:22 p.m. | Making a Spectacle
“Oh, this brand’s my favorite,” she says, grabbing Miu Mius at Sunglass Hut. Different shades are already on top of her head. She knows what she likes and points out an oversize pair that channels Y2K. “Those are good,” she says. The thin black ones on the wall? “No, not good,” she replies, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle.

2:15 p.m. | Style Assessment
Astier is browsing the racks at Vince, comparing her tunnel fashion to her teammates’. Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones are known for their loud wardrobes, but her look is more subdued. Her closet has some Isabel Marant and Celine, but most days she’s wearing a simple tee and trousers from Aritzia or Zara. “If I had to say whose style mine is most like,” she explains, “I’d say Bec Allen,” the Liberty veteran.

3:00 p.m. | Retail Therapy
On the way to our next stop, she pauses to lust after some red Alaïa flats and a Miu Miu bowler in a window display. “I’ll have to come back for that,” Astier says, sighing. After not making France’s Olympic team in 2024, one of the harder moments of her career so far, she bought a red Yves Saint Laurent bag to cheer herself up. Did it actually work? “A little.”

3:45 p.m. | Teatime
“I need my matcha in the morning,” Astier announces while taking a sip of an iced vanilla matcha latte from Matchaful. It’s her only pregame ritual; after the final buzzer, she says she winds down at her Brooklyn apartment by doing puzzles. A few weeks before, her parents finally got to experience the electricity of a home game. “You can really feel that everybody’s behind us, and it makes it easier for us to give more on the court,” she says. What else has inspired the team? Watching the Knicks win, of course: “We just want to do the same. That’s the goal.”

4:18 p.m. | Get That Bag
Astier is an accessories girl at heart. “This is the one,” she says, modeling a suede Brooklyn bag in brown at Coach, a best seller and Gen-Z favorite. It immediately looks right, and she transfers all her belongings over for the rest of the day.

5:15 p.m. | Feeling Free
She’s taking deliriously silly selfies in a crocheted, bedazzled skullcap at Free People, looking the part of a fresh–to–New York 20-something. Astier eyes a bomber jacket before selecting a cinched yellow button-up with flared arms. “Now, this I’ll wear in the tunnel,” she says, smiling.

Lindsay Clancy is currently on trial for killing her three children.

Prosecutors say the murders were intentional, but her defense team says she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis — a condition that does not have a distinct diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

That's the handbook used to identify mental health conditions, so patients often have a hard time getting proper care.

The case has put a spotlight on maternal mental health and how its treated by the public and healthcare professionals. What does it reveal?

WBUR’s Deborah Becker contributed reporting to this episode.

It was produced by Megan Lim and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Éowyn Fain, Hannah Gluvna and Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Justine Kenin and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

If there’s one thing to know about Los Angeles Sparksforward Nneka Ogwumike, it’s that she doesn’t play about her family.

Owgumike is the oldest of four sisters, all of whom played competitive basketball while growing up in a Nigerian household in Tomball, Texas.
Ogwumike was the embodiment of big-sister energy. She looked out for her younger sisters, inspired and showed them what was possible, and supported their personal ventures.

She vigorously encouraged her sister Erica as she pursued a medical degree in dermatology. She celebrated her sister Chiney as she rose through the ranks of the broadcast industry and broke every major development in her big sister’s career. Nneka Ogwumike was her family’s pillar – through and through.

“For the women who paint my world in hues of strength and grace, your light is the masterpiece that guides my journey,” Ogwumike wrote in a 2025 Instagram post featuring her sisters.

In many ways, the WNBAbecame Ogwumike’s second family, and Ogwumike – through her contributions on and off the court – personified the league’s “big sister.” She invested in and watched over its development, sacrificed parts of herself for its betterment and – after announcing her retirement Wednesday following the conclusion of this season – is set to watch it grow into its next era.

While Ogwumike was always quick to give flowers to those who preceded her or even those coming up, she has never asked for her own. Despite being one of the best players to ever grace a WNBA court, she never lobbied for the attention that she sorely deserved but never properly received in full over her 15 seasons.

“There were times when I would perform better than other players that were playing college basketball, and nothing would be said,” she recalled in a 2019 interview with Andscape. “It didn’t matter to me, but I heard it enough to realize I’m just one of those players where I just have to work hard no matter what.”

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Ogwumike will end her career ranking in the top five all time in points (fourth), rebounds (third), steals (fifth), field goal percentage (fifth) and made field goals (third). She is one of five players with 7,000 career points and 3,000 career rebounds.

Ogwumike’s presence on teams provided players a sense of comfort and stability. To have Nneka Ogwumike on your team was to have a consummate vet who not only had your back but also kept you accountable. Young players lauded what it meant to learn pro habits from Ogwumike, and in return she looked out for and mentored the next generation.

“Since I came into the league, you’ve shown me nothing but love and treated me like I was one of your own. … Thank you for always pouring into me, believing in me and having my back,” Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese said Wednesday in a post on Instagram. “Like I already told you, your 15 years in this league were FLAWLESS, but somehow the person you are off the court speaks even louder than everything you accomplished on. … LOVE YOU SIS.”

Ogwumike has been the president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) since 2016, earning re-election by her peers three times over the past decade. She has strategically led players through two historic and transformational collective bargaining agreements with grace and strength.

She looked out for her “little sisters” — today’s WNBA stars and the next wave to come — by shepherding a salary increase that created the league’s first million-dollar contracts. According to ESPN Stats and Information, the deal marks the first comprehensive revenue-sharing model in women’s professional sports.

She also looked out for past players, her elders, to make sure they were taken care of through the CBA’s veteran recognition payment, compensating them for paving the way.

Sometimes helping her family meant sacrificing a part of herself. While navigating the demands that came with being union president during the league’s unprecedented bubble season in 2020, Ogwumike told Andscape that her on-court performance suffered greatly that season. However, she knew that was the cost of being president even before she took on the role – and she did so anyway.

“As President for the last decade, Nneka understood that leadership was not simply about having a seat at the table; it was about using that seat to move the game and the business of the game forward for every player — today and for generations to come,” WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson said in a statement posted to Instagram. “We are profoundly grateful for the countless ways Nneka has championed her teammates, strengthened this union, and helped shape its future.”

It certainly feels as though Ogwumike wouldn’t leave the WNBA unless she knew the league was set up for future success. Like a big sister, she ensured it was stable before walking away.
The WNBA likely won’t grasp the full weight of Ogwumike’s contributions to its growth for years to come.

Sean Hurd is a senior writer for Andscape who primarily covers women’s basketball. His athletic peak came at the age of 10 when he was named camper of the week at a Josh Childress basketball camp.

*Reposting since some Redditors could not see all comments in original post. Text ⬇️

SAN FRANCISCO – On game days, Paige Bueckers can’t get Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase’s attention.

Golden State Valkyries Top Plays vs. Dallas Wings

It doesn’t matter the relationship they built on Team USA together this past summer, nor the deep mutual passion they share for hoops, or even how much Bueckers goads Nakase in warm-ups; the Valkyries coach is laser-focused on the game in front of her.

Which is precisely why Bueckers respects Nakase.

“It's funny because as a competitor, she won't even look at me,” Bueckers said, laughing, in a small media scrum ahead of the Wings-Valkyries’ Monday night matchup.

“She won't even speak to me when we play the Valkyries, and I'm always trying to troll her and make fun of her, so we just have a great relationship. And she's super locked in right now. I have a ton of respect for her as a coach and what she means for basketball. So I'm excited to get under her wing again.”

With the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup set to take place in two weeks, Bueckers and Nakase will be rowing in the same direction on Team USA, as the Americans try to bring another gold medal back to the States. Bueckers is one of four 24-year-olds selected to the 12-woman roster, her first appearance on an international stage of that caliber.

But Bueckers and Nakase's relationship on Team USA won't be a new one.
This past March, Bueckers and Nakase were together on Team USA, as player and assistant coach, that went 5-0 in the World Cup qualifiers. And it was there that Bueckers got to know the reigning WNBA Coach of the Year as more than someone who schemes up intricate defensive game plans designed to slow her down.

“It was fun just to build a relationship with her,” Bueckers said. “I've had respect from a distance, not really knowing her personally, but getting to know her personally, watching film, just talking about the game. I think she lives it as much as I do, so there's a genuine respect and love for that between us too.”

What Natalie Nakase respects about Paige Bueckers
As Bueckers' willingness to playfully prod Nakase implies, it's a respect that goes both ways. Earlier this month in Dallas, Nakase could not stop raving about Bueckers' “passion for the game” when asked what flies under the radar about the 24-year-old superstar. 

“My first conversation (with her),” Nakase recalled. “We talked about how much she watches basketball, how much she does in terms of off-season preparation; she works with a close friend of mine, Irv (Roland), an NBA trainer. She just wants all the details on how to grow her game. Different footwork. The first time I guarded her at Team USA, I was like, ‘Oh wow, her footwork is insane.’ And her passion and hunger to want to be the best- I saw that right away with her. She’s really special.”

But that passion is also why Nakase takes every game with Bueckers and the Wings seriously. Bueckers enters Ballhalla averaging 20.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in 33 games this season. A two-time All-Star in just her second season, with a boatload of collegiate accolades at her back, Nakase knows the Valkyries will have to throw the weight of their league-best defense at the superstar guard. And Bueckers expects nothing less.

“They're extremely disciplined, very well coached,” Bueckers said of what makes the Golden State defense so tough. “They have a game plan and a scheme and identity on both sides of the floor, and they're really disciplined in their execution on both sides. And they just play as a string. Nobody's ever on an island. They're always helping, they're always communicating, they're always in scramble, they're always connected defensively. So it's tough to get any easy and clean looks on.”

With the Valkyries and the Wings both destined for the playoffs, the two teams may see each other in the postseason. In that scenario, one can only imagine the focus and fire that both Bueckers and Nakase would bring to that series.

For now, with the two bound for Team USA soon, the two will have a chance to direct their equally fierce competitive spirit at the rest of the world.

Kenzo Fukuda
Kenzo Fukuda (he/him) is a Japanese and Chinese American journalist and writer born and raised in San Francisco, CA. He is in his second season as the Golden State Warriors and Valkyries beat reporter after three seasons of covering Cal Bears basketball. Kenzo is also an avid filmmaker and holds extensive knowledge of basketball.

Moving to a new city in about a month and finalizing choices. Aiming for a city with strong public, govt, nonprofit, and academic sectors. Good public transit, bike friendly, pro fitness and healthy/ethical eating. Been in NYC and also lived in Bay Area when much younger.

Feel hopeful about finding a good rental anywhere and open to a small studio/1br. Street smart single woman in her late 30s who loves museums and lectures plus walkable neighborhoods. Prefer friendly and liberal to progressive communities.

Will stay through the end of spring and possibly move again or else stay put. Traveling very lightly and also open to going abroad in the future.

Used to cold weather but prefer less humidity and can stay indoors or travel when hot. Will most likely not have a car but open to rentals to go hiking or elsewhere.

What say you? Chicago, DC, Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Los Angeles?

I have visited most of the above cities at least once. I was hoping to be in a city with a WNBA team and the season runs spring through summer. I am very close to DC now and I am also open to VA or MD.

The rookie guard opens up about her electric transition to the pros, staying grounded through the hype and being her authentic self.

By Rashad Grove
August 5, 2026

The WNBA is home to the best women’s basketball players in the world, but Olivia Mileshas proven she’s a one-of-one. The Minnesota Lynx rookie is blending elite floor vision with multi-level scoring to command every single game.

Without question, the signature, relentless swagger that made her a college icon at Notre Dame and TCU translated effortlessly to the pro level. Dominating the stat sheet as a newcomer is one thing, but earning the nod as the lone rookie All-Star starter proved that Miles isn’t just adapting to the league, she’s already helping run it.

Speaking with The Root,  Miles shared how she has made the seamless transition to the pros.

“It’s definitely a cool opportunity. Life is moving so fast. I feel like I just got drafted, then I’m an All-Star, and the playoffs are in a month. So everything’s moving really fast. I had the whole Minnesota Lynx staff there, so there were some familiar faces,” Miles said. “I wasn’t alone, and then obviously [Lynx veterans] Courtney Williams and Natasha Howard made the All-Star team as well, so I had some people I knew, which was good.”

“I got really lucky to get drafted by the Lynx.  I had the opportunity to come and make an impact right away,” Miles continued. “I could be out there, make mistakes, play free, and have that trust from coaches and teammates.
Teaming up with Napheesa Collier, a five-time WNBA All-Star, the Lynx boast one of the best duos in the league. Although they’ve only played a few games together, Miles said the best is yet to come.

”Watching her come back from an injury, working really hard every day, gradually being able to walk, and then seeing her finally get on the court for the first time was really special; to share that moment,” she said. “Being on the court with another brilliant basketball player is always fun. And adding you as an MVP runner-up and consistent MVP candidate is really special.”

Along with her skills on the court, Miles credits the support of her family with helping her thrive in her first season in the league.

”My family has been with me through the ups and downs, good, bad, whatever it may be. They’ve been by my side and have been helping me transition in any facet of life, not just the WNBA, and then also just the work.
Beyond her elite court vision and game-changing playmaking, Miles’ off-court impact is defined by an unflinching commitment to authenticity—starting with her decision to step into the spotlight with her natural hair in all of its glory. She shared why making a statement with her hair is a big part of her mission to inspire young Black girls.

“That’s really special to me, and the reason that I play the game is to influence people and make them feel good about themselves, what they look like, and their identity,” Miles said. “I have a unique look, and I fully embrace it, and I want other Black girls to do the same.”

”I think it’s my job as a role model, as a person in this position, to be a role model for young Black kids, girls, women, men, whoever they may be. That’s where I feel the most fulfilled in what I do and it’s very inspiring,” she continued. “I’ve also been inspired by people who have come before me who have broken barriers like Dr. J and Allen Iverson, who wore their hair out being proud of it. I’m just putting my own little spice on it.”

Along with her hair, Miles is known for her trademark goggles, so it made perfect sense that she would launch a sports-performance and lifestyle eyewear line alongside GlassesUSA.com. She said the brand partnership aligns with her identity.

“Like my hair, glasses have always been a part of my story, so this partnership means a lot to me,” Miles said.
As she is playing some of the best basketball of her career, Miles couldn’t be more grateful to be in this position. In 2023, Miles was forced to watch from the sidelines. Now back at full strength, every assist, floor dive and highlight-reel play carries a deeper layer of gratitude for a sport that was nearly taken away from her.
“I went through a major injury a few years ago, and it changed my perspective about being present and being where your feet are,” Miles recalled. “As long as I make it out healthy and have a good time, it’s a win for me and you know all the other stuff will eventually take care of itself.”

For all the individual records she continues to break in her rookie season, Miles measures her value through a far simpler lens: the win column. To her, every personal accolade is secondary to helping her team compete for a championship.
“I think winning with my team at a high level would make this a successful rookie season for me,” Miles shared. “Ultimately,  individual awards and accolades are not what I’m striving for. I’m really focused on winning as a team and being healthy.”

Posting here partly because she also recently supported her own high school and the students as well. Plus she supported efforts to introduce young people to STEM.

I know we have had a few relevant postings. This one cites David Suggs.

Mods: Thank you. If you remove this, apologies for any inconvenience.

New York’s Jonquel Jones stood tall on Saturday, lifting the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game MVP trophy after leading Team Spoon to a 129-122 win over Team Coop.

The Liberty big pulled off the league’s first MVP sweep, after earning 2021 WNBA MVP, 2024 Finals MVP, 2023 Commissioner’s Cup MVP, and 2026 All-Star MVP.

“This is everything I dreamed about,” she said. “I told my parents when I was five years old that I was gonna be a professional athlete. The plan never changed — even when it looked murky.”
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert came under scrutiny during her State of the League address, deflecting questions about her future as multiple reports suggest her tenure might be nearing its end.

“I’m so blessed to be at the helm of this league during this incredible hyper-growth period,” she said. “I will just continue to do my job, execute the strategy, because it has been working.”
Engelbert also announced the WNBA will debut its first centralized review center in 2027, in an effort to “help bring greater consistency, efficiency, and transparency to our officiating process while continuing to improve the quality of the game.”

The regular season returns tomorrow, as No. 14 Connecticut faces No. 8 Washington at 7:30 PM ET (WNBA League Pass).

A shoe stole the spotlight at Bell Centre on Sunday.

New York Liberty guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was ejected late in the 93-91 loss to the Toronto Tempo for hitting Marina Mabrey with a shoe.
New York's Jonquel Jones lost her shoe, and Laney-Hamilton threw it down the court, striking Mabrey in the back. It caused a commotion and led to the ejection, but Laney-Hamilton explained the incident post-game.
"I would never intentionally try to hit someone with a shoe, especially while they're not looking," Laney-Hamilton said, per the New York Post's Madeline Kenney. "Teammate was without a shoe, so I did my best to try and get it to her. Unfortunately, it did hit someone.

"I know just by the way that things were going throughout the game that it can look a certain way, but that's just not something that I would personally do... especially in a moment like that where the game is on the line."
Jones lost her shoe as the Liberty attempted a comeback. They ended up falling short, and Mabrey was a big reason for that, with a game-high 30 points.

The Tempo's lone all-star didn't believe Laney-Hamilton hit her intentionally, but she still had to work on keeping her cool in a chippy game.

"I’m working on not being rage-baited," Mabrey said.

Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco also saw no ill intent in the shoe toss and felt the situation was blown out of proportion.

"I've never seen anything like that," DeMarco said, per Liberty reporter Myles Ehrlich. "We had all the momentum in the world. A shoe hit somebody. Ejected, free throws. I've also never seen a ref make such an atrocious call when he's on the other side of the floor."

He continued, "She was trying to get the shoe back to (Jones); it hit somebody. I think we're just making stuff up. I have no idea. You're asking the wrong person, okay? It was just an atrocious, atrocious end of that game from the officials."

Laney-Hamilton had already been assessed a flagrant 1 foul earlier in the game for her arm hitting Mabrey's face.
The Tempo and Liberty next play on Sept. 20 in Toronto.

Thought this had interesting historical perspectives and player viewpoints.

Jay Croucher and Trysta Krick review the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Award. Janelle Salaun of the Golden State Valkyries appears to be the top contender, per Krick, as she's "the engine of the league's best bench."

How Gabby Williams became Valkyries’ go-to star: ‘What can I do more?’
By Harrison Rich, Staff Writer. July 3

The Golden State Valkyries practice had ended, but one player wasn’t finished. As her teammates emptied into the locker room and the practice court quieted, Gabby Williams walked over to a group of assistant coaches standing at the far-side basket, readying for her post-practice shooting session.

Williams shot an array of free throws, jumpers and 3-pointers from all around the floor. The workout, which lasted less than 15 minutes, has become a small but important routine for the 29-year-old forward after practices and before games, with a heavy focus on footwork.

“It’s a compact season, and so it’s really hard to find those days where you can rep things out,” Williams told the Chronicle after the June 23 shooting session. “So just maximizing my time, getting reps up.”

It’s this type of focus and attention to detail that has allowed Williams, who signed a three-year deal with Golden State this past offseason as its top free-agent acquisition, to reimagine her identity as an eighth-year pro. After largely being viewed as a defensive stopper to start her WNBA career, Williams is averaging a career-high 16.5 points per game this season and has cemented herself as the No. 1 option for a playoff contender.

“The best thing with Gabby is she continues to push herself with her shooting routine,” head coach Natalie Nakase said. “Every game, every practice, she goes: ‘What can I do more?’

“Gabby is probably the most coachable star — one of them — that I’ve been around. She’s always looking for accountability. She knows she has evolved into the leader of this group, which is not easy because she’s brand new, and she’s taken on leadership of very difficult conversations that she never had.” 

Williams has been able to show off her scoring ability more in overseas competition. She’s averaged at least 12 points per game in every EuroLeague season since 2019 and has been a featured option for Turkish club Fenerbahce since signing with the team in 2024. Her 15.5 points per game led the French national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics and ranked top 10 among women at the Games.  

But in the WNBA, scoring was never Williams’ primary focus. Across three seasons with the Chicago Sky and four with the Seattle Storm, Williams averaged 10 or more shots per game just once. 

While mulling options as a free agent, Williams listened as the Valkyries pitched her, in part, on an expanded offensive role. The idea of joining a team without a clear offensive star and a style that favors ball movement over all else enticed the veteran.

At Williams’ introductory news conference, Nakase proclaimed her as “one of the best two-way players in the world,” and Williams spoke about how Golden State’s system reminded her of a European style offense: “Very tactical, the ball moves, everybody eats kind of thing.”

The marriage has paid off through 20 games. Golden State owns the league’s third-best record (13-7) while Williams is enjoying the most productive season of her WNBA career.

“Every team I’m on it’s different, whether it’s the national team, overseas, or here,” Williams said. “National team, I take a lot more of the responsibilities on offense. Last couple years in Seattle, (that) wasn’t as much of my responsibility, so now that I have a bit more to do here (I’m) just feeling confident in it.”

When the Valkyries need a bucket down the stretch of a close game, they have a clear answer. That’s not something Golden State could say last season, when its offense tended to stall out late in tight contests. 

The perfect example came June 26 in a home win over the Atlanta Dream. Williams looked befuddled through the game’s first three quarters, recording just three points. The Valkyries were on the verge of a crushing loss. But Williams took over in the fourth, exploding for 13 points as Golden State outscored Atlanta 27-20 over the final 10 minutes to earn a three-point victory. 

“She’s developing into our closer. She wants to close,” Nakase said after the game. “She’s building a different level of confidence that I’ve never seen before.”

“She’s been amazing,” forward Kayla Thornton added. “Getting downhill, making open shots for us, attracting a lot of attention. That helps us get our shots.”

Williams’ sudden jump as a 3-point shooter has been particularly notable, where she’s taken leaps in both volume and efficiency. The 5-foot-11 forward is shooting 35.2% from three on 5.3 attempts per game. Before this season, she had never shot better than 32.3% from beyond the arc. And Williams is only 13 threes away from her career high just more than a quarter of the way through the season.

It’s rare for an eighth-year veteran to add major wrinkles to their game. But Williams is an anomaly, and it’s a testament to her work ethic and insatiable desire to get better. Asked whether she ever worried about hitting her peak as she nears 30, Williams joked, “Oh, am I old now?”

“There’s always room to grow, whether it’s physical or mental,” Williams said. “Maybe if people are looking at me as old now, or if my physical ability is going, then I get better at other things, making me more dangerous.”
For much of her career, Williams floated somewhere between standout player and star. The Valkyries believed in her upside, and this season she’s made it easy for the rest of the world to see.

“She’s our star. She’s definitely an All-Star,” Nakase said. “We’re just providing the stage for what we already knew.”