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Park Ji-hyun (26, LA Sparks), the star of South Korean women's basketball, delivered her first meaningful points and offensive contributions in just two games on the world's top stage, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), earning high praise from U.S. locals.

Park Ji-hyun's team, the Los Angeles (LA) Sparks, lost 96-106 to the Toronto Tempo in a home game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on the 18th (Korean time) in the "2026 WNBA Regular Season." With this loss, the LA Sparks recorded a season record of one win and three losses.

While the team's defeat was disappointing, the game was a significant milestone for Park Ji-hyun, marking another step forward on the WNBA stage. After making her debut in a short appearance against the Las Vegas Aces on the 11th, Park played an extended amount of minutes on this day, clearly demonstrating her presence. She played for 7 minutes and 33 seconds, recording 2 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists.

Park Ji-hyun entered the court right at the start of the second quarter. She immediately assisted teammate Enneka Ogwumike's score, securing her first assist and offensive point on the WNBA stage. Although she attempted two 3-point shots, she unfortunately missed the rim.

Park Ji-hyun, who fine-tuned her sharp touch, soon scored herself. With 6 minutes and 55 seconds remaining in the second quarter, she connected with Derica Hamby's pass with a clean layup shot, recording her first points in her WNBA debut. It was a moment that left another meaningful footprint in the history of South Korean women's basketball.

Park Ji-hyun, who performed flawlessly on both offense and defense, was substituted out with 4 minutes and 49 seconds left in the second quarter. Her short but intense performance drew a flood of praise from U.S. local media and experts. David Mendez-Yacobitz, a journalist for the U.S. sports outlet ClutchPoints, mentioned Park Ji-hyun on his social media, praising her: "She showed a stable performance during her playing time. It was great energy."

Teyana Taylor stepped out for a family night at a WNBA game, but it was not just the courtside seats that caught everyone's attention. A few sweet moments with her daughters — and their standout outfits — quickly became the real show.

In video footage from the recent Las Vegas Aces vs Atlanta Dream game, Teyana was seen sitting courtside with her youngest daughter, Rue Rose Shumpert, on her lap, while her oldest daughter, Iman "Junie" Tayla Shumpert Jr., sat next to them.

The two girls are Teyana's children with her ex-husband, Professional Basketball Player Iman Shumpert. Teyana's mom, Nikki Taylor, and other loved ones were also spotted sitting alongside them, making the outing look like a full family affair.

The "One Battle After Another" star looked effortlessly stylish for the game, wearing a silky green-toned outfit with loose, wavy black hair and oversized glasses. She held a glittering basketball-shaped accessory in her lap, adding a little extra shine to her already eye-catching courtside look.

Little fashionista, Rue Rose, wore a black-and-white basketball-style top with "ATL" lettering across the front, paired with a dark skirt. But the detail fans could not stop talking about was her sparkly silver cowgirl boots, which instantly became one of the biggest conversation starters.

Her big sister, Junie, matched the sporty theme in a black-and-white "ATL" top of her own, layered over a white long-sleeve shirt. She completed the look with black shorts, white socks, and black-and-white sneakers, giving off a relaxed courtside style that still looked camera-ready.

The young Washington Mystics are flying high, coming off Friday’s 104-102 OT win over the Indiana Fever ahead of tonight’s youth-fueled Mystics vs Wings clash.

Washington guard Sonia Citron led the team with 30 points, backed by three other double-digit scorers — enough to offset Fever guard Caitlin Clark’s own 32-point night.

“Every game we want to put our best foot forward,” Citron said. “We want to show who we can be, and we just want to be tough.”

The Wings will aim to match that toughness, as tonight’s game totals eight 2025 and 2026 first-round WNBA draft picks between the two sides.

Dallas is looking to snap a two-game losing streak, with reigning No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd appearing healthy after Thursday’s loss to the Lynx. “You’ve just got to make sure you keep [Citron] in front of you, and she can’t get wide-open looks,” Dallas head coach Jose Fernandez said.

“You can’t let really good players have uncontested shots.”

ARLINGTON, Texas — When Alysha Clark entered the WNBA in 2010, some of Dallas’ youngest players were still in elementary school.

Now, 13 seasons later, the veteran forward has become one of the most vocal pillars of a rebuilding Dallas Wings team still learning how to win together. This experience could prove especially valuable as Dallas prepares to face a youthful Washington Mystics squad on Monday night.

Clark’s presence has been pivotal for members of the Wings’ young core, with her guidance often coming before a question is even asked.

“A lot of the time, I don’t even have to say anything,” Wings rookie Azzi Fudd said. “They can see my brain turning, they can see whatever just happened in a play and they’re gonna come to me, and correct me and give me advice and tips on what to do. I am so fortunate to be on a team with vets and people with experience who are willing to help me.”

Along with Clark being an experienced player, she is also an accomplished one. With three WNBA championships, a Sixth Player of the Year award, and two All-Defensive First Team Honors under her belt, her time in the WNBA has been fruitful. However, she stressed patience and preparation to younger players as keys to success.

“They think it comes easy and that it’s supposed to come quickly,” Clark said. “Success looks different for everybody. Just because I’ve won a championship doesn’t mean my success is better than anyone else’s success who maybe hasn’t won yet. But I think just understanding that it’s gonna be the details, the preparation, and it’s the long game.”

Just two seasons ago, Kate Martin came to the WNBA draft to support Caitlin Clark, and made a dream journey to the Aces roster after only “hoping” to get name called on WNBA draft night. But since then, the player switched teams twice in as many seasons and now signed a development player contract with the Los Angeles Sparks.

The contract allowed the 24-year-old to stay in the league, play competitive games, and make a case for herself to secure a more lucrative and constructive contract.

She did not have to wait much for her debut as coach Lynne Roberts used her immediately after the contract signing, putting her on the roster against the Toronto Tempo. As it was an important moment for the star, it became even more special when she saw her mother approach her at the courtside, wishing her luck for the game.

The surprising visit caught the player off guard, who could do much but hug it out to show her love and appreciation for the support.

Sadly, though, the Tempo team pushed the Sparks to the limit, giving the former Iowa player just six minutes of game time, during which she collected only one rebound and missed both her attempts. She is happy with her association with the Sparks, though, as she opened up about joining three-time champions.

Shortly after winning a national championship with UCLA women’s basketball, the Toronto Tempo drafted guard Kiki Rice with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Rice was the first-ever draft pick in the expansion team’s history.

Now just three games into her WNBA career, Tempo coach Sandy Brondello said Rice has not disappointed. So far this season, Rice has averaged 7.7 points and 1.3 assists in 19.7 minutes per game.

“We got really lucky getting her in the draft,” Brondello said, per the Los Angeles Times. “She hasn’t disappointed.”

Rice returned to Los Angeles and even to UCLA’s campus over the weekend for the Tempo’s back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Sparks. Brondello told reporters Rice’s experience at UCLA, and working with coach Cori Close, has helped Rice transition smoothly into the WNBA.

“She stays confident in who she is, and that’s what we just pour into her,” Brondello said. “She comes from a really successful, you know, college program in UCLA. Cori [Close] is a great coach, and you know, pushed her hard for greatness. So she’s very mature. She knows that there’s another level that she can go to. She’s going to work really hard to get there.”

Rice is one of six Bruins who were drafted in the 2026 WNBA Draft. She explained to reporters that playing alongside five other 2026 draft picks helped prepare her for the professional level.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Paige Bueckers sees nothing fundamentally wrong with the Dallas Wings, and the guard said Saturday that the errors behind a 1-2 start are correctable.

Speaking after practice, Bueckers said the loss to the Minnesota Lynx showed miscommunications rather than anything structural, and that the film reinforced her belief that the problems can be cleaned up.

“I think most, if not all, of our mistakes and miscommunications are fixable,” Bueckers said. “We saw that in film. We felt that during the game, that it’s just stuff that we can clean up, and we feel like we’re being ourselves. So to be able to have that realization and then have those talks about what we need to do to improve, I feel like we want to continue to get better. We watched the film, we digested it, and we’re going to keep moving forward and get better from day to day.”

The Wings host the Washington Mystics on Monday in the finale of a three-game homestand, with all three of Dallas’ games decided late.

Bueckers traced Thursday’s 90-86 home loss to specific defensive lapses: a low man who was slow to rotate to the help side, and a failure to box out that handed Minnesota second chances.

“I think being on the same page in our pick-and-roll coverage,” Bueckers said. “A lot of times it’s hard to guard pick-and-rolls, especially with a great playmaker like Olivia Miles, who can see the floor. But to be on a string, we didn’t have our low man in help side in rotation quick enough. So those are things that we looked at. Then there was just 50/50 balls, offensive rebounds that Natasha Howard got that were in crucial moments. So it’s little things like that, boxing out, making sure we’re not turning and looking at the rim, and then pick-and-roll defense, us being in low man, us being in help side, and not so hooked up to our players.”

Flau’jae Johnson is having a remarkable May, achieving two significant milestones that showcase her ability to balance athletics, education, and personal growth. The LSU women’s basketball star graduated from Louisiana State University on May 16 before launching her professional basketball career with the Seattle Storm, proving that excellence in multiple areas is entirely possible.

Johnson proudly walked across the stage to receive her degree in interdisciplinary studies, complemented by minors in business administration, communication studies, and entrepreneurship. The LSU women’s basketball team celebrated her accomplishment by sharing videos of Johnson in her purple cap and gown, capturing genuine joy and pride in the moment.

The basketball standout marked the occasion on social media, expressing genuine excitement about becoming an LSU graduate. The announcement resonated widely, with fans and supporters flooding social platforms with congratulatory messages reflecting their admiration for her academic dedication alongside athletic pursuits.

Johnson’s entry into professional basketball happened just weeks earlier when she was selected eighth overall by the Golden State Valkyries on April 13. She was traded to the Seattle Storm on draft night, beginning her WNBA career with the Pacific Northwest franchise.

In her first professional game, Johnson demonstrated her readiness for the challenges of the league by contributing 12 points alongside two rebounds and two assists. Her immediate impact suggested a smooth transition from college basketball to the professional ranks despite the demanding adjustment period most rookies face.

The combination of these two accomplishments sparked widespread celebration online. Supporters highlighted how Johnson’s journey evolved from her early days as a reality television personality on “The Rap Game” to becoming both a college graduate and professional athlete. Many emphasized that her late father would be immensely proud of her accomplishments, reflecting on his influence in shaping her character and drive.

PHOENIX — Nate Tibbetts can’t recall watching a player smile while shooting the ball until Serbian basketball player Jovana Nogic was signed to the Phoenix Mercury after being scouted overseas.

“As long as she's smiling, it keeps going in,” Tibbetts said on Friday after the Mercury picked up their first win at home on his 49th birthday. “She's an elite level shooter. She has fun while she's doing it.”

Nogic has a lot to smile about lately. The 28-year-old rookie is off to a historic start and recorded four or more 3-pointers in three of her first four games in the league. That includes a 27-point outing in Phoenix’s win over the Chicago Sky on Friday, where she went 5-for-8 from deep and set a WNBA record for the most points by an undrafted rookie.

“It's just fun being out there with (my teammates),” Nogic said. “I really just try to enjoy the moment because this is, I thought, a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. … It's not every day you get to play with players like (Alyssa Thomas) … just letting the game come to me and have fun.”

Last week, Alyssa Thomas said the Mercury wouldn’t be overlooked as contenders if everyone was familiar with the elite players Phoenix brought in. Well, the cat's officially out the bag about Nogic.

With Monique Akoa-Makani overseas and Sami Whitcomb recovering from a procedure on her left knee, a unique opportunity opened up for Nogic to make her mark in the starting lineup. She did so immediately with 19 points (4-for-5 3PT) in her first career start in Phoenix’s 99-66 dismantling of the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.

SEATTLE — Newness defines the 2026 Seattle Storm. A new head coach, a new system and, for one assistant on the bench, an entirely new league.

Natalie Achonwa is in her first season as a WNBA assistant coach, joining Sonia Raman's staff after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan. The transition from college sidelines to the pros has come with its own learning curve.

"The speed of the game, the physicality of the game — the same adjustments that you make as a player to a professional player were the same adjustments I had to make in how I'm seeing the game," Achonwa said. "The margin for error is smaller at the pro level."

Despite spending her playing career as a post player, Achonwa has taken on a notable role developing guards, including veteran Lexie Brown. The pairing has surprised both of them in the best way.

"She's a post player and I'm a guard, like how is that supposed to work? But it's been amazing," Brown said. "It's really nice to see how she thinks the game, how I can use our post players to help me and vice versa how I can help our bigs. So it's been a really good match, actually."

Achonwa said her background in the paint gives her a distinct advantage coaching on the perimeter. She knows exactly what post players want from their guards.

The WNBA is back, and so is Bird’s Eye View! We’re kicking things off with rookie phenom Olivia Miles, who’s already made a huge impact for the Minnesota Lynx in the opening week. Olivia reflects on her journey from college star at Notre Dame and TCU to joining a successful franchise, and why she considers herself a throwback point guard.

It was a scoring drought of unfathomable, interminable, unbearable length.

From the moment Tamicha Jackson drained a free throw with 44 seconds remaining in a three-point loss to the Phoenix Mercury on August 11, 2002, the Portland Fire endured precisely 23 years, 8 months, 27 days, 21 hours and a loose collection of minutes, seconds and deciseconds without scoring a basket.

Then, 58 seconds into the first game here in a generation, a 22-year-old French point guard named Carla Leite used a screen to rid herself of her defender. Sixty-one seconds into the game, she fluttered a flawless left-handed scoop shot off the backboard — and into history.

Jackson was off the hook.

No longer would the official record show that she, a victim of the business realities of a once-fledging league, had scored the final points of the Fire’s existence.

That history, this time, is just beginning.

Sandy Brondello said she was ready for it, but there was no avoiding getting drenched.

The expansion Toronto Tempo earned their first win in the WNBA by defeating the Seattle Storm 86-73 on Wednesday. The team opened its season at home last Friday and lost a 68-65 nail-biter to the Washington Mystics.

The Tempo celebrated by dousing their head coach with water.

"She thought it was cool coming in there and she just had her paper and then Kia (Nurse) had the keyword. [Sandy] didn't hear it so we can't say it again," guard Brittney Sykes said. "We called our keyword and then we just lit her up with some water."

"I was ready for it. I took my jacket off it. I knew it was going to happen. I was just, yeah, you don't want to see these arms. That's why I'm covering them up," Brondello said, with towels over her shoulders and arms.

The win was more than just a step in the direction in improving for the Tempo.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Chennedy Carter needed just five dribbles in 5 seconds to race down the floor and eek in a layup before the third-quarter buzzer sounded in Wednesday's matchup between her Las Vegas Aces and the Connecticut Sun.

It was one of several jaw-dropping plays the 5-foot-9 guard made in her third game with Las Vegas, a 98-69 win in which Carter led all scorers with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 25 minutes off the bench.

"The speed is eye-popping ... especially if you haven't really seen it or you haven't seen it in a while," Aces coach Becky Hammon said. "Some of the moves she makes are crazy."

The WNBA hasn't seen Carter's explosiveness in a while, as she did not sign with a team in 2025, though she did play overseas. But the Aces (2-1), who retained their championship core from last season, made waves in free agency when they brought in Carter on a one-year deal at the veterans minimum.

And if her first three games are any indication of how the rest of the season will go, her signing will turn out to be perhaps the impactful move of the entire offseason.

"For me, it was like, I can help them. They can help me. This can be a dynasty," Carter said. "So I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to be a part of a winning organization."

Golden State Valkyries Postgame Media Availability: Head Coach Natalie Nakase. Postgame presser vs. Chicago Sky on May 13th, 2026.

Welcome to the Bay!

Join us in welcoming Juste Jocyte of the Valkyries to the Bay Area at Laughing Monk NoPa!

JJ joins the Valkyries from Palanga, Lithuania via ASVEL France and Girona, Spain and is excited to meet you! Come hang out for a Live Interview + meet and greet.

Event Details: June 7, 2026 5p-6p VIP Meet and Greet 6p-7p Live Show with Darryl “The Guru” Johnson

VIP Ticket Meet and Greet includes: Exclusive Meet and Greet from 5p-6p Autographed Poster (1) Drink Ticket Live Pod with Darryl “The Guru” Johnson Photo Opp

General Ticket Includes: Entry to event at 6p Live Pod with Darryl “The Guru” Johnson Photo Opp

No Personal Items allowed for signing.

Each Ticket is good for (1) Entry

Portion of ticket sales to benefit local Bay Area Youth Non-Profit Organization.

All sales final.

The New York Liberty do not look shorthanded to start the 2026 WNBA season. New York is 2-0 after getting a huge 98-93 overtime win over Washington on Sunday. One Liberty rookie stepped up against the Mystics and put herself into elite territory following her monster game.

Rookie point guard Pauline Astier got hot against the Mystics after a quiet game in New York's season opener. She joined two elite players in WNBA history.

Astier joined Paige Bueckers and Candace Parker as the only rookies in WNBA history with at least 18 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals on a 60% field goal percentage in a single game. Astier and Parker are the only two rookies to accomplish that feat within their first two career games.

Astier played a whopping 35 minutes at point guard, filling in for Sabrina Ionescu. New York's star point guard suffered a preseason foot injury and is not expected back until later this month.

The 24-year-old French guard first impressed during the preseason, logging 12 points and four assists in her Liberty debut.

New York have thrived without Ionescu in the lineup and Astier has played a large role in that success. Guard Marine Johannes also deserves recognition for filling in for Ionescu. Johannes contributed 25 points against the Mystics, more than any other Liberty player.