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Good morning! ☕️
Before we jump in: fan voting for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game closes tomorrow. So be sure to get your votes in and support your favorite players.
What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Marina Mabrey Ties the WNBA Scoring Record 🤯
Marina Mabrey put on a show Thursday night, scoring 53 points in Toronto's 125-97 win over the Los Angeles Sparks. She tied the WNBA record for most points in a single game and tied (again) the league record with nine made three-pointers. (Yahoo Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: Mabrey has long been known as one of the league's most dangerous scorers, and now her name will permanently sit alongside some of the greatest single-game performances in WNBA history. She made 9 of her 18 attempts from beyond the arc, marking the second time this season she's hit nine threes in a game. Toronto nearly made history as a team, too. The Tempo finished with 125 points, just one basket shy of the WNBA single-game scoring record of 127.
2. Bridget Carleton Is Heading to Unrivaled 👑
The Swiss Army Knife is headed to Miami. Portland forward Bridget Carleton is the newest player to join Unrivaled, signing on for the 2027 season. (The Rose Garden Report)
WHY IT MATTERS: Carleton spent seven seasons thriving as a role-player with Minnesota, but the latest league expansion created an opportunity for a bigger role and she's making the most of it. Carleton was selected as the Portland Fire's first player in the expansion draft and has become a cornerstone to the franchise, averaging a career high 13.4 points and 1.6 steals per game this season. Unrivaled's interest speaks to the impact she's had since stepping into a larger role in Portland.
3. Alyssa Thomas Suspended One Game 🚨
The WNBA has suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for one game after reviewing Wednesday night's matchup against Indiana. The league upgraded a play to a flagrant foul 2, citing Thomas for "recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.” (WNBA)
WHY IT MATTERS: A flagrant foul 2 is the most severe foul that can be assessed in the WNBA. It involves unnecessary and excessive contact that creates significant physical risk to another player. These calls are relatively rare, but this marks the second flagrant foul 2 incident this month following the earlier play involving Isabelle Harrison and Angel Reese. The league's decision reflects a stricter approach to overly physical play after players and coaches raised concerns about it last season.
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OVERTIME ⏱️
Here and Gone: Center Teaira McCowan was waived by the Minnesota Lynx less than a month after signing a rest-of-season contract with the team.
Small Countries, Big Talent: The FIBA Women's European Championship for Small Countries wraps up this weekend, with the tournament title set to be decided on Sunday.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked if you think the Sparks can make the playoffs this year without Kelsey Plum and it looks like it’s a tough call. Nearly half of you (49%) said it's too early to tell, while another 48% don't think Los Angeles can do it without her. Here's hoping Plum is back on the court soon!
