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Good morning! ☕️ Hope you all have a great weekend.
This Saturday kicks off 2026 WNBA Rivals Week, running August 8-14 and featuring some of the league's biggest player and team rivalries. 👉 Check out the schedule.
What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Team USA's 12-Player Team Is Set 🇺🇸
USA Basketball unveiled its 12-player roster for the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup, which begins Sept. 4 in Berlin.
The team includes Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Rhyne Howard, Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, Breanna Stewart, A'ja Wilson, and Jackie Young. (USA Basketball)
WHY IT MATTERS: This team blends some of USA Basketball's most experienced players with several young players making their World Cup debuts. Together, the roster has won 14 Olympic and nine World Cup gold medals, while seven players will be playing in their first Women's World Cup. Boston, Bueckers, Clark, and Reese will also be making their first appearances at a major international tournament.
🗳️ Which major international competition newcomer are you most excited to see?
2. UConn and LSU Will Meet For First Time in 10 Years 👀
College powerhouses UConn and LSU will meet for the first time since 2016 when they face off Dec. 20 at the ESPN W Invitational in Nashville. (Nola)
WHY IT MATTERS: Kim Mulkey's LSU teams have often been criticized for playing lighter non-conference schedules. This game marks a clear shift, giving the Tigers an early test against one of the nation's top programs before SEC play begins. It also renews a rivalry we haven't seen in a decade. UConn has won eight of the previous nine meetings, with LSU's lone victory coming in the 2007 Elite Eight.
3. Liberty Move On From Betnijah Laney-Hamilton 💙
The New York Liberty have waived veteran guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, ending a five-year run with the franchise. (New York Liberty)
WHY IT MATTERS: Laney-Hamilton helped lead New York to back-to-back WNBA Finals appearances, including the team's first championship in 2024, and was one of the key pieces behind the Liberty's rise into a title contender. Injuries limited her to 17 games this season, and she averaged her fewest minutes since 2018.
📬 Missed the August Issue?
I mailed out the August Post-Up Club last week, but I still have 9 August issues left in the archive if you missed it.
This month's issue includes a Team USA World Cup Watch Guide you can keep nearby throughout the tournament. If you've been curious about The Post-Up Club, this is a great chance to see what it's all about.
OVERTIME ⏱️
Clutch Chelsea: Chelsea Gray became the first player in WNBA history to hit a game-tying buzzer-beater in regulation and a game-winning buzzer-beater in OT in the Aces' win over the Fever.
Barbie Vibes: Jalen Williams' cinematic recap of the Dream's Barbie Night matchup against the Aces is well worth two minutes of your time.
Growing in ATL: The Atlanta Dream have already drawn more fans this season than they did during all of last year, with six home games still to play.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked which July award winner stood out to you most, and it was all about Kelz. 59% of you picked Kelsey Mitchell after she earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors.
