u/femaleathletenetwork

by Sarah Maat

“I remember this game like it happened yesterday,” Laura Juskaite said during her exit interview.

The Lithuanian rookie had just been asked about the most defining moments of the Toronto Tempo’s inaugural season, and as she thought about Marina Mabrey’s 53-point game she broke into a beaming smile.

“She was doing incredible things,” Juskaite recounted.

The record-tying performance inside of Toronto’s rickety Coca-Cola Coliseum was an undeniable highlight of the first season. It was certainly a career highlight for the star shooting guard who had previously been overlooked, but it meant more than that to the fresh Tempo roster. It was emblematic of the success possible even on a WNBA team north of the border — it helped put Toronto on the women’s basketball map. Although injuries bit into the overall success the expansion franchise found, that moment of greatness still carries weight.

“We could not believe what we were watching,” Isabelle Harrison told the IX Sports when she, too, brought up the 125-point win over the Sparks as a defining moment.

According to the eight-year veteran, planning for the big night on June 25 began three days earlier in Atlanta. Harrison remembers sitting on the bench during that game and watching her squad struggle against the Dream. There, they began plotting how to turn things around.

When they returned to Toronto, change started to happen. Harrison explains how it felt seeing Mabrey knock down nine threes and watching Julie Allemand rack up a career-high 14 assists as the two got the score moving.

“It just felt like oh yeah we’re taking off, and it was such great momentum.”

Of course, Mabrey agreed, “I think the 53 tops everything. That was one of the best nights of my basketball career.”

The Tempo’s inaugural season was littered with record moments of greatness and first-time accolades, but is more easily defined by the injuries that racked up and derailed Sandy Brondello’s optimistic plans for year one.

“[Our team was defined by] going through adversity and still showing up every day,” Julie Allemand said. “No matter what happened, like the injuries. Every time we had someone else, so like it was crazy. Like when you think about it, like when you take some time to think about it, it’s insane.”

https://www.theixsports.com/features/tempo-players-recount-defining-moments-of-inaugural-season/

By Maggie Vanoni

The Toronto Tempo’s final game of its debut WNBA season was against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville.

For former UConn women’s basketball star Kia Nurse, the game was not only a sad goodbye (the Sun relocates to Houston this offseason) to the state that became her second home in college, but it also signified the end of her first season playing for her true home team.

"It was awesome to play that last game in Connecticut, and it brought back a lot of memories," said Nurse in her exit interview. "… Connecticut really set the blueprint for supporting women's sports and women's basketball in particular. ... It’s sad that the organization is leaving, but it's a place where it was truly normal to support women's sports at the highest level, and with everything you had, full heart and soul."

Nurse, 30, grew up about an hour southeast of Toronto in Hamilton, Ontario, and longed for the day when the WNBA would come to Canada. She’s represented her home country on the international stage a handful of times, yet sharing its passion for women’s basketball with the WNBA was an even greater dream.

That’s why she signed with Toronto this offseason – her fourth new team in as many years. The Tempo was one of two expansion teams to join the league this season and one of three in the last two years. To Nurse, it didn’t matter what her role would be. She just wanted to be home.

"All the different identities that make up myself outside of being a basketball player, I was actually able to live in them for all of those months," said Nurse, who was drafted No. 10 overall in 2018 and played her first three years in the league with New York. "I was able to be an auntie to my nephews and go see them. I was able to see my grandparents, be around my friends, and it just adds this different level of calm eventually when you're going through a stressful season or you're going through a stressful part of your job."

Toronto finished its debut season, 11-33, missing the playoffs but tying the Sun for the best odds in this offseason’s Draft Lottery. As injuries rocked the Tempo’s lineup all season, Nurse was one of just two players to play 40 games or more. The former Husky started four games but averaged career-lows in points (5.5), rebounds (1.2), assists (1.0) and minutes (14.3) per game.

While Toronto leaned on stars Brittney Sykes, Kiki Rice, Isabelle Harrison, and Marina Mabrey on the court, Nurse found comfort in a new leadership role.

"I think the biggest thing I learned about myself was that I can take on heavier and bigger leadership roles," said Nurse. "I've always been a leader in a lot of the places that I've been as I've gotten older in my career, but this one asked a little bit more of me, and so I was vocal, I was patient, I was in the midst of all the good and any of the things that needed to be kind of addressed."

While she would have preferred fewer losses, Nurse says one of the biggest wins this season was Canada’s reception of its first WNBA team. The Tempo sold out 15 home games at Coca-Cola Coliseum and drew a WNBA regular-season record 20,996 people to its game at the Bell Centre in Montreal in July. One of Nurse's favorite memories was watching her United States-born teammates learn the Canadian national anthem.

"There's been a lot of excitement around the team coming," Nurse told local media during Toronto's shootaround last week. "You can hear it all and see it all on social media and in the media and whatnot, but then to really actually feel it and see it in person and see all the butts in the seats and all of our fan bases coming out, and we got to travel around Canada, play in Montreal and Vancouver as well, and so to be able to see the outpouring of love for women's basketball and for the Toronto Tempo in particular has been so so special."

She added: "I think the Tempo have done a really good job of setting a really good foundation to continue to grow as an organization. ... Just walking around the streets of Toronto, and you see people in Tempo paraphernalia, like the merch; it's just so much fun to be able to experience all of that as somebody growing up in Canada and having walked around Toronto tons of times and only seeing Raptors gear. This is really really special."

The Tempo is the only professional women's basketball team in Canada, and the WNBA's first franchise outside of the U.S. Canada also has four PWHL teams and soon to be seven NSL (professional women's soccer) teams. Nurse is proud she's played a part in women's basketball's growth in her home country.

"I'm so grateful for what we were able to build and for what this is going to look like for the next generation of young women in Canada and young athletes in Canada, and how special that's going to be," she said.

Standing inside Mohegan Sun Arena during the Tempo’s shootaround last Thursday morning, Nurse reflected on her time as a Husky and her trips to Mohegan Sun Arena. At UConn, Nurse helped lead the Huskies to the 2015 and 2016 national championships and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. She still remembers the deep women's basketball fandom in Connecticut, like the time she was recognized at a mall in Hartford or how UConn made selling out arenas feel "normal."

"For my eight-year (WNBA) career and my career at UConn, like (12) years pretty much, I've been here (Mohegan Sun Arena) at least once or twice a year, just with all the conference tournaments we played as well. And so, it's sad to see (the Sun) go," said Nurse. "… I've had a lot of really really awesome memories here as a Husky and throughout my WNBA career, and so it is sad that we're gonna not be back here at Mohegan Sun."

Connecticut relocates to Houston this offseason and will be rebranded as the Houston Comets. Nurse said she’ll miss her annual trips to Uncasville.

"It's sad for the fans here in Connecticut," she said. "… I think it's really unique in this state that year-round they've had women's basketball and had successful women's basketball, basically with the Huskies playing, and then in the summertime the Sun. And so, it's a beautiful ending to an incredible run that has been here. And this is one of the main places where women's basketball has really grown, and the love for women's basketball has been so consistent throughout those years. So, it's been really special to see."

This offseason, Nurse will continue her role as an analyst for TSN’s coverage of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.

"I love being able to do that," she said. "It's a fun way to grow the game in Canada as well, and to show young women that it's a possibility to also sit in a seat for a male sport and be able to talk about it and help other fans digest what's actually happening. I love the broadcast aspect of it too. It gives me an opportunity to be at home."

https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/article/kia-nurse-canada-toronto-tempo-wnba-debut-sun-22452736.php

For a WNBA veteran like Toronto Tempo centre Temi Fagbenle, every season can feel like a litmus test on how much love she still has for the game.

And when the season is as challenging as the Tempo’s inaugural campaign, the answer to that question can’t get any clearer.

“I still do have a lot to learn and I’m ready for the challenge,” Fagbenle told media Wednesday in her end-of-season availability.

“It’s kind of lit a fire under me, like, this isn’t the time to lie down and die. It’s the time to stand up and put your best self forward and keep fighting to have your rightful place in this league.”

The Tempo signed the 34-year-old Fagbenle to a reported one-year $1-million (U.S.) contract in the spring, joining guards Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes as the highest-paid players on the roster. Part of the appeal was a successful run she’d just had with the Golden State Valkyries in their first year as an expansion team, in which she had helped them reach the playoffs.

Toronto was hoping Fagbenle’s defence and post presence would help them reach the post-season too, but injuries limited her on-court production to averages of 5.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 25 games, 10 as a starter.

The team showed a lot of promise early in the season and hovered around .500 at times, fuelling hopes of a post-season appearance. But they hit a wall and suffered a 12-game losing streak that all but sent them into lottery territory. Their 11-33 overall record tied them with Connecticut Sun for the second worst in the league, only better than the 8-36 Seattle Storm.

Through it all, Fagbenle said she learned to persevere and help her teammates to withstand the challenges of a gruelling season.

“There were a lot of difficult days, so it’s definitely obviously more tough to bring your best on the hard days, and that is the challenge,” she said. “But I just was trying to do what I could to lead by example, and that started with leading by myself and showing up how I know I needed to show up every day, and hopefully that translated to the rookies and some of the younger players.”

Read Full Article - https://www.thestar.com/sports/tempo/toronto-tempo-s-1-million-centre-temi-fagbenle-is-finding-the-good-in-a-tough-season/article_4b3aacf9-889b-4bbb-99f0-267d1ae7c194.html

Aaliyah Edwards cried on the podium and answered questions through thick, sad sniffles during her postgame press conference.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa said she cried on and off all day leading up to the game. Then, during a timeout in the fourth quarter, when the lights turned off and Connecticut Sun fans “lit up the Sun” one last time and waved their cell phone flashlights in the air, it all hit her.

The former UConn women’s basketball stars have played their last game in the state of Connecticut.

“It just made me reflect on just how many years I've been in Connecticut, from 17 years old to 26 now, and it was just such a beautiful moment,” Nelson-Ododa said. “But the whole day was super emotional. I was crying all day.”

The Sun hosted its final game last Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The franchise will move to Houston in the coming months and will rebrand as the Houston Comets, the name used by one of the original WNBA franchises. While Nelson-Ododa didn’t play in the Sun’s win over Toronto due to a right knee injury, Edwards finished with 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal in 17 minutes.

Edwards has been a part of the Sun for the last year and a half, while Nelson-Ododa was the Sun’s longest-tenured player on its 2026 roster, joining the team in 2023. Her last game in front of the CT home crowd was back on Aug. 18 when she scored 18 points with 11 rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal in 39 minutes in the Sun’s win over Los Angeles.

While the two former Huskies are sad to leave the state that took their basketball careers to the next level, they're excited for a new chapter with the Sun — one that not only includes a new home in Texas, but better resources.

“I think what excites me about Houston is just the eagerness for women's basketball in a new city. I think that's the biggest thing,” said Edwards. “Also, just being a part of a rebirth of a franchise. I've never really been a part of something like that before, so that anticipation is exciting for me.

“I hope to be a big part of that impact, a big part of that growth, and just continuing to push accessibility and visibility of women's basketball here in the States. … I'm excited about the Texas rivalry (with the Dallas Wings) as well. I can't wait for that.”

Edwards was traded from Washington to CT right before the trade deadline last August. While the trade was hard for a young player (the 2026 season was her third in the league), she’s grateful that it led her back to Connecticut and back to the fans she’s known since her days playing for UConn.

In Storrs, Edwards was named a two-time All-Big East First Team honoree and a 2024 All-American. She finished her collegiate career ranked in the top 15 of UConn’s career rebounding (No. 8), double-double (No.6) and scoring (No. 15) lists.

“My time here in Connecticut has been so great,” she said. “It's filled with making a lot of relationships, making a lot of memories, as well as just playing a lot of basketball, whether I've been in college or at the pro level. So, my journey here -- it's been a lot of my basketball journey; a lot of my young adult journey has been spent here, and I'm just grateful for the opportunity, grateful for the state for pouring so much love into me, someone from Kingston, Ontario, Canada.”

The former Husky was drafted No. 6 overall by the Mystics in the 2024 WNBA Draft. In 2025, she played 15 games for the Sun, averaging 4.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 0.7 assists and 0.5 blocks in 17.0 minutes per game.

This year, Edwards was in and out of the lineup due to injuries. However, she still started 21 of her 30 games played and averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks in 20.6 minutes per game. The former Husky finished the 2026 season with a 51.8 field goal percentage and a 38.9 shooting clip from deep.

“I am so passionate and competitive about this game that I hate to be sidelined,” said Edwards, who will be playing for Unrivaled this offseason. “So, for someone to tell me to sit down is very hard for me, but I did watch and became more of a student of the game and was able to lead from a different lens, which really strengthened my leadership skills.”

Nelson-Ododa began her pro career in Los Angeles but was traded to the Sun ahead of the2023 season. The former Husky proved her growth this year by stepping up for the Sun’s often injury-depleted frontcourt.

The center averaged career highs in points (10.1 per game), rebounds (5.9 pg), assists (1.6 pg) and steals (0.8 pg). She also finished with a career-best 57.6 field goal percentage, a career-best 23 games started and a career-best five double-doubles.

At UConn, Nelson-Ododa was named the 2021 Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-Big East First Team honors as a senior in 2022. She’s No. 6 in UConn’s record book for career blocks.

“(Connecticut) has just been such a big part of my formative years as a young adult, an adult now, and it's so special,” said Nelson-Ododa, who will be playing overseas in Turkey. “I mean, it will always hold such a special place in my heart. Just seeing the support from the fans at UConn to the fans here at the Sun.”

Like Edwards, Nelson-Ododa is excited for the move to Houston.

“It's going to be something that's just completely brand new, fresh, like a fresh new chapter, I think for all of us,” she said. “But I'm definitely looking forward to just how much the fans are willing to embrace us and are just excited to see us get there.”

The Sun’s move to Houston comes with perks.

For starters, the new, larger market comes not only with more activity off the court, but also better travel to and from games (in Uncasville, teams had to drive about an hour to the closest airport).

Most importantly, the team will have a dedicated practice facility with expected state-of-the-art resources. Connecticut was the only team in the WNBA without a facility, as it often held practices at the Mohegan Tribe community center and even at New London Recreation Center.

“I'm so ready for a fresh start,” said Saniya Rivers, who said she plans on getting to Houston early to explore and acclimate to the city. “I know that change can be scary, but it's also so good for the soul. We're just gonna have to adapt. I've never been to Houston before, but I've heard a lot of good things about the food, about the atmosphere. I heard it's a music city, and I'm so into music. So, I'm super excited to experience something different there.”

The rebrand will revive the iconic WNBA franchise that won the league’s first four championships. In Houston, the new Comets will play at the Toyota Center, home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets.

For Houston and Texas natives, the move and the Comets' revival bring excitement and nostalgia.

“For the franchise to come back, I mean, it's about time, honestly, for Houston to have a team,” said Brittney Griner, who’s from Houston and wore a ‘Houston Essentials’ hoodie to her Sun exit interview. “Basketball is super rich in Texas, super rich in Houston. The legacy that the Comets have, everything that those players did for the game.

“I mean, the teams that we have now today, and the players that are here still playing, wouldn't have happened without those players and without the Houston Comets. So, for us to go back, to go there and revive that and add to that legacy, it’s big. I know the city's ready. Everybody's super ready.”

Team president Jen Rizzotti and general manager Morgan Tuck will relocate to Houston and retain their roles. As of Sept. 28, decisions about the basketball staff are not finalized.

Rizzotti played for the Comets from 1999 to 2000, helping the franchise win two of its four WNBA titles.

“We just felt like it was too good of an opportunity to continue what we were building in a place that would be a lot more attractive for free agents,” Rizzotti told CT Insider. “We worked so hard here sometimes to feel like we were just keeping our head above water, and we were excited about the opportunity to put that to work in a market where it might be a little bit easier, right?

“And where free agents and rookies would be a little more excited to play. So although we appreciate Connecticut and love being here, we're also aware that it'll probably be a little easier for us in a major market like Houston.”

Nelson-Ododa and Edwards are signed with the team through the 2027 season. Rivers, Leïla Lacan, Nell Angloma, Gianna Kneepkens and Charlisse Leger-Walker also remain on rookie contracts with the team.

Griner, who only signed a one-year contract with the Sun, and Kennedy Burke are free agents. Diamond Miller is a restricted free agent, while Raegan Beers and Ashlon Jackson are under reserved contracts. According to the new CBA, the team’s development players, Hailey Van Lith and Rayah Marshall, are not on contract for the 2027 season.

“Spending four years away from home (at Duke), then this one in Connecticut, but knowing that I was coming home, so many people were so excited,” said Jackson, who grew up less than two hours northwest of Houston. “I already have a ton of people that are on waitlists to get season tickets. Like it's insane, and I'm just so excited about it.”

Heading into the offseason, Tuck will look to add veteran leadership and another consistent scorer to the roster. Connecticut/Houston also tied with Toronto for the best odds in the upcoming Draft Lottery, where USC star JuJu Watkins is expected to go No. 1 overall in next April’s WNBA Draft.

https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/article/ct-sun-relocation-houston-edwards-nelson-ododa-wnb-22452740.php

ESPN Gamecast Link

The Wings are 13-10 in conference matchups. Dallas leads the WNBA with 12.1 fast break points per game.

The Valkyries are 15-8 against Western Conference teams. Golden State is 3-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

Dallas makes 46.8% of its shots from the field this season, which is 5.4 percentage points higher than Golden State has allowed to its opponents (41.4%). Golden State averages 82.2 points per game, 3.1 fewer than the 85.3 Dallas allows to opponents.

The Toronto Tempo were about to take a 17-day break from playing WNBA games. It was Aug. 29, a Saturday night in Phoenix, and as losers of their last 16 of 17 games, including a 32-point loss that night, time away could be healing.

Some players, such as Nyara Sabally and Maria Conde, were gearing up for Berlin and the FIBA World Cup, others were readying for a few extra days off the court.

But as the Tempo sat together after the game and basked in yet another loss, it wasn’t about how quickly they could get away from recent disappointment. In that locker room, packing was slow.

Brittney Sykes, who is familiar with the post-loss locker room routine after 10 seasons in the WNBA, has catalogued that evening as a moment that best defines her team and their inaugural season.

“I just remember us all rallying behind each other and just giving each other encouragement and just pouring into each other’s cups,” Sykes said during her exit interview on Saturday.

When 2026 started, these players didn’t know they’d end up on the WNBA’s first international team, yet after four months together, they’d decided on the culture they wanted to have. Amid the losing record, injuries and disappointments, everyone in that room wanted to show up for each other, not hurry to get away.

“(We were) telling each other, as long as we got each other in this room, nothing else matters. As long as we’re happy with each other, nothing else matters,” Sykes said.

“We definitely made that decision in the beginning, but we reiterated it in that moment, and that stood out to me because not a lot of teams are able to do that. … I was really proud of my team.”

READ FULL ARTICLE - https://www.sportsnet.ca/wnba/article/takeaways-from-the-tempos-inaugural-season-injuries-dont-dictate-culture/

The WNBA might be getting a bit more Canadian.

A Vancouver group is preparing a bid for a WNBA team, three members of the group announced on Global News.

The bid committee members who went public with the venture were Bill Bakk, Jodi Evans and Kevin Hanson. The plan had been in place for about a year now.

Bakk is the leader of the committee, who has experience with Deloitte, while Evans is a former Canadian Olympic basketball player, and Hanson coached the University of British Columbia's men's basketball team for 25 years.

The group is looking for more investors, as they will need close to $500 million CAD for the venture.

There is no formal bid in to the WNBA as of yet, but they are in the process of getting there, with a rough timeline for a formal bid being two to three years.

A Vancouver franchise would be the second Canadian team to join the WNBA, as the Toronto Tempo are in the midst of their inaugural season.

The Tempo played two games in Vancouver earlier this year, and with such a great turnout, it showed the level of interest in women's sports in Vancouver.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/wnba/article/vancouver-group-preparing-bid-for-wnba-team/

From the Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady Show, Olivia Miles opens up about the biggest lessons she has learned as she has transitioned from college basketball into the WNBA.

"They love you until they hate you. The feeling is so fleeting. The praise is poison. You know who is really for you, and who is really fans of you and who is genuine. It's guys like you, guys in the NBA who have played and actually watch and understand and really appreciate the game. There's a lot of people who just like players and hate on you because you're not their favorite player."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbfA7QdyyFw

Playing point for a loaded team is something that Clark is basking in despite the challenges that go with it. She is more determined than ever to do her best and help the Stars and Stripes see through its world championship goal.  

*“Yeah, I mean, you got to get to play with so many talented players. That’s what makes it fun. Sometimes it’s hard to decide who to pass to because everybody’s so talented and everybody’s able to create their own shot. So, you know, it’s fun to get to play in transition with these players. Some for the first time, some I’ve played with prior with USA Basketball,”*Clark told TNT Sports following their victory over Czechia on Tuesday.

CC went on to admit that they are still shaping up to be the team they envisioned, but is encouraged by how things are coming along as they go deeper into their campaign.

“I think you can see our chemistry slowly building,” she said.

https://www.basketballnetwork.net/latest-news/caitlin-clark-on-playing-point-guard-for-team-usa

Any WNBA fan should have had a lot of fun watching the Toronto Tempo during their debut season. Marina Mabrey's offensive brilliance has been a sight to behold. Nevertheless, injuries to both Brittney Sykes and Temi Fagbenle have prevented the duo from showcasing how critical they could be to a fresh-faced franchise.

Entertaining spectators should be a priority for every organisation in the league, but such a mentality doesn't lead to success. Toronto must recognize where it currently stands in the WNBA hierarchy and formulate a realistic vision for the future that can ultimately open a championship window before it wastes too much time treading down the wrong path. Fortunately for the Tempo, Kiki Rice is already proving she can be a franchise cornerstone.

Kiki Rice can be the face of Toronto

While Kiki Rice has faced her own fitness problems, she has still forced her name into All-Rookie conversations. Young players deserve time to develop under as little scrutiny as possible, but Toronto can't afford to ponder where their future lies when they employ one of the league's most exciting guards.

The 22-year-old has already exhibited maturity beyond her years in both the WNBA and the NCAA. Rice's versatility and intelligence allow her to thrive in several roles depending on what her teammates require.

Throughout her rookie campaign, Rice has averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, while shooting 48.1% from the floor. Some may argue these are not the numbers of a future superstar, but Rice has proven that even as a less prominent offensive option, she can positively affect games and won't shy away when the pressure cooker is dialled to its maximum setting.

Nevertheless, talent only goes so far in a young player reaching their potential. A franchise must create an environment for the young star to thrive, much like the Seattle Storm are doing with Dominique Malonga and Awa Fam. Yes, the Storm may languish at the depths of the regular-season standings with just eight wins from 40 games; however, the young stars are gaining invaluable experience and growing together.

Kiki Rice already boasts championship experience -- albeit at the NCAA level. Winning is a mentality, and Rice is more than capable of being at the heart of a roster with the hopes of clinching titles. The front office must wake up to the star they have in front of them by creating a young core that complements Rice's exciting skill set.

Read More - https://highposthoops.com/tempo-must-come-strategic-kiki-rice-realization-sooner-rather-than-later

Panini America is bringing together several generations of WNBA stars in a new trading-card release headlined by Caitlin Clark, Diana Taurasi, Paige Bueckers and A’ja Wilson.

The company’s 30-card 2026 Panini Instant WNBA Timeless Treasures set goes on sale Sept. 3, with Panini also releasing a separate Taurasi card commemorating the Phoenix Mercury legend’s recent No. 3 jersey retirement. The base Timeless Treasures set is listed at $74.99, while collectors can spend considerably more for versions carrying a chance at scarce parallels or autographs.

That mix gives the release an unusual span of WNBA history. Panini’s checklist runs from Taurasi, Sue Bird, Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie to Clark, Bueckers, Wilson, Angel Reese, Napheesa Collier and Sabrina Ionescu.

Panini WNBA Timeless Treasures Set Includes 30 Stars

Panini lists the standard 30-card Timeless Treasures set for $74.99.

Among the names on the checklist are Taurasi, Bird, Swoopes, Swin Cash, Tina Thompson, Tamika Catchings, Leslie, Lauren Jackson and Maya Moore. The modern side of the set includes Clark, Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, Olivia Miles, Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Reese, Aliyah Boston, Collier and Alyssa Thomas.

Collectors chasing scarcity have two higher-priced options.

A $124.99 version comes with the complete base checklist plus a random parallel numbered to five. Panini is also selling a $249.99 edition containing the base set and either a random 1-of-1 autograph or 1-of-1 parallel.

That distinction matters for buyers. The $74.99 version offers the entire checklist, while the more expensive configurations effectively turn the purchase into a chase for one of the release’s lowest-numbered cards.

Panini describes WNBA Instant as a print-to-order line designed to capture notable moments shortly after they happen rather than making collectors wait for a traditional set release. The company says cards are available only for a limited window.

Diana Taurasi Gets Card Honoring No. 3 Jersey Retirement

Taurasi is getting additional treatment beyond her place in Timeless Treasures.

Panini’s 2026 WNBA Instant No. 313 Diana Taurasi base card is priced at $9.99, with a 30th Anniversary parallel numbered to 30 listed at $14.99 and a Metallic version numbered to five at $39.99.

The timing is significant.

The Mercury retired Taurasi’s No. 3 on Aug. 16 and inducted her into the franchise’s Ring of Honor during a night celebrating her 20-season career in Phoenix. The WNBA described Taurasi at the ceremony as its all-time leading scorer, a three-time champion, six-time Olympic gold medalist and former MVP.

Taurasi retired in 2025 after spending her entire WNBA career with the Mercury, making the new Instant card less of a routine in-season collectible and more of a physical marker of the franchise officially closing the book on her playing career.

For collectors, that also separates the Taurasi release from many Instant cards tied to individual games or statistical achievements. Jersey retirements happen once, and Panini is attaching No. 313 directly to one of the defining post-career moments for one of the league’s most accomplished players.

Panini says its Instant products generally ship 20 to 25 business days after the ordering window expires, although individual product pages note additional processing time may apply. All sales are final.

https://heavy.com/sports/cards/panini-wnba-timeless-treasures-instant-cards/

Marta painted a custom Phoenix Mercury design on a skateboard for Paige, bringing women’s basketball and skateboarding together in a cool way.

SLS shared the moment, saying the two traded boards after Marta created the custom piece for Paige.

The Phoenix Mercury team also shared photos of the exchange with the caption, “Who says swaps have to be jerseys?”

Read More - https://shredder.news/paige-heyn-marta-suarez-board-swap/

Lynx tickets felt like a bargain for decades. Now, as the WNBA celebrates its 30th anniversary, games are selling out and players are bringing home more cash.

But the growth of the league has also meant soaring prices for some fans, including original season-ticket holder Kathy Lee.

“I really like where I sit,” said Lee, who has a close-up view of the first-place Lynx and rookie sensation Olivia Miles. “I’ve kind of had the feeling the last year or two with these price increases that I may get priced out at some point.”

With renewals for the 2027 season underway, the Minnesota Star Tribune spoke with more than 20 Lynx season-ticket holders. Fifteen provided invoices for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, showing increases ranging from 15.3% to 47.3%, depending on section. Among those 15 season-ticket holders, the average increase was 28.7%. That translates to price hikes in the hundreds or thousands of dollars over a single year.

While fans of some WNBA franchises have expressed sticker shock, Lynx season-ticket holders who spoke to the Star Tribune said they understood what’s driving the increases. Many pointed to the expanded schedule — the Lynx will play three more regular-season home games next season — and higher player salaries under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement.

The average WNBA salary is expected to nearly quintuple from about $120,000 in 2025 to more than $580,000 this season, while team salary caps are projected to grow from $7 million in 2026 to more than $11 million by 2032.

But, as the four-time WNBA champion Lynx chase their first title in a decade, some longtime fans are concerned they won’t be able to follow the team the same way.

“I love that this league is doing so well,” said season-ticket holder Dianne Kersteter. “I love that these players are getting paid better. However, it feels like they’re pricing out the people who made this team their No. 1 thing.”

Kersteter and Lee are members of the Lexus Courtside Club, a group of premium seats surrounding the Target Center court.

Lee’s two seats, in the second row across from the scorer’s table, cost $4,388 in 2024. If she renews them for 2027, they will cost $11,730 — a 167% increase over three years. Lee said she’s likely to cut back to one seat for the first time in decades.

“Longtime season-ticket holders are feeling priced out, and that makes me sad because there’s a very small group of people that are original season-ticket holders,” Lee said. “But I also understand this is how it works with teams and businesses. This isn’t unique to the Lynx.”

Jill Bartyzal, a season-ticket holder since 2010, has watched prices climb with the crowds but said she has “nothing to complain about.” As she and her wife plan for retirement, Lynx tickets are part of the calculus.

“The athletes are making more money, so the money has to come from somewhere,” Bartyzal said.

Of the 20 season-ticket holders who spoke to the Star Tribune, none said they planned to cancel for next season. Some are considering cheaper sections, fewer seats or reallocating vacation savings.

Minnesota Lynx ticket demand is surging — and so are prices

Average WNBA game attendance is at a record high, hovering around 11,300. The Lynx reported 33% growth in ticket revenue — a franchise record — and 15% growth in average attendance, according to President of Business Operations Carley Knox.

The Aug. 2 game between the Lynx and Indiana Fever on ABC averaged 2.5 million viewers, at the time the second most-watched regular-season WNBA game ever.

Target Center’s upper level has been open for every game for the first time this season, Knox said. The organization also launched its “Cash in on the Ring” promotion, allowing fans to buy 200-level seats for the rest of the season with a refund or future credit if the Lynx win the 2026 WNBA championship.

But adding supply is more difficult closer to the court, where the league’s biggest price hikes appear to have been concentrated. Mystics and Mercury season-ticket holders have reported price hikes ranging from 48% to 60% for their floor and courtside seats, according to Front Office Sports.

Lynx 2026 and 2027 seating charts reviewed by the Star Tribune show Lexus Courtside Club members will see increases of 39% to 49%, depending on seat location. Still, recent demand has remained strong. Knox said the organization’s premium seating options sold out quickly in the offseason and now have wait lists.

“We tried to be as strategic as we could to try not to price people out, but we had to grow the revenue in order to operate our business,” Knox said. “But there’s absolutely a location for everybody.”

Michael McBride, whose three Lynx tickets will jump from $6,549 to $8,874, still considers them a bargain. The cheapest tier of premium Wolves season tickets costs $8,652 per seat — nearly what McBride will pay for all three Lynx seats.

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Awa Fam and Dominique Malonga prefer not to talk too extensively about what’s on the horizon for the Seattle Storm.

They would rather focus on what they can see, even as they endure a disappointing 8-31 season, as if to temper their excitement about what comes next.

It feels akin to the superstition in baseball when a pitcher is nearing a shutout, only to return to the dugout each inning to complete silence from those on the team. There is no need to talk about what’s taking place. To do so could potentially disrupt what’s in front of them.

Malonga and Fam already know: Something special is brewing in Seattle.

“We are not thinking about it, like, every day. We are here playing, we are here practicing, and we are happy having each other on the team,” Fam said while seated next to Malonga at Barclays Center last month. “We already know that this is going to be, in the future, a really good thing. It’s already a really good thing.”

Much of the optimism in Seattle falls on the shoulders of Fam and Malonga, the generational international prospects who form one of the most intriguing duos in the WNBA. Both just 20 years old and radiating with on-court potential, they will be tasked with restoring the Storm to its title-contending form.

The success of Malonga, a native of Cameroon who grew up in France, and Fam, a native of Spain, is also of paramount importance to the WNBA as it continues to lead an ardent push toward globalizing its brand. In a period of immense on-court international growth within the league, Malonga and Fam — who will represent their respective countries in September’s FIBA Women’s World Cup — stand as two of the faces of a new wave in the WNBA.

Their focus is on building chemistry and continuing to acclimate to each other’s styles on the floor. They know once those powers are unlocked, the sky’s the limit.

Until then, it’s one step at a time.

“One thing we’re good at is just to be where [our] feet are. Right now, we’re just here, grateful to have this opportunity and make the most of it,” Malonga said.

Read More - https://andscape.com/features/awa-fam-dominique-malonga-seattle-storm-wnba-international-players/

Lauren Jackson did not need much time to name her choice for the 2026 WNBA Most Valuable Player award.

“A’ja. A’ja Wilson,” Jackson told this writer during her visit to the Philippines for NBA House, which takes place this weekend.

“Again, she has had another remarkable season, and I don’t think anyone can really stack up to her,” she added. “There are so many great players over there. Obviously, I love Stewie. She’s a great player. But there’s also Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark. Actually, I’m naming everyone now, but I would say A’ja.”

Jackson is qualified to recognize dominant frontcourt play. The Australian basketball icon won three WNBA MVP awards, two championships, and the 2010 Finals MVP during her career with the Seattle Storm. She was also named Defensive Player of the Year in 2007, when she led the league in both scoring and rebounding.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer retired with career averages of 18.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. Her ability to score from the post, stretch defenses with her shooting, and protect the rim helped redefine what a frontcourt player could become in the women’s game.

“I just think it’s her pure dominance, especially in an era when the league has grown so much,” Jackson said. “She has been unstoppable for a period of time, so it’s been awesome to watch.

“And then, obviously, she’s a four-time, possibly five-time, MVP. It’s hard to argue against that.”

READ MORE - https://all-starmagazine.com/news-and-updates/lauren-jackson-backs-aja-wilson-in-wnba-goat-debate/