Did someone share this email with you? Get daily women’s basketball updates straight to your inbox. Sign up here!
What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. WNBA Announces May Award Winners 🏆
Summer’s only just begun and several players are already making waves. The WNBA announced its May award winners, with A'ja Wilson earning Western Conference Player of the Month honors, Allisha Gray winning Eastern Conference Player of the Month, and Olivia Miles taking home Rookie of the Month. (USA Today)
WHY IT MATTERS: These league awards recognize who's playing great basketball right now, and who is poised to have a great season ahead. For Wilson, it’s her 14th career Player of the Month award, the most by any player since the award was introduced. And Gray is beginning to make a case herself for MVP, averaging 20.4 points per game, while Miles is quickly becoming one of the leading contenders for Rookie of the Year after helping guide the Lynx to one a 6-2 start in May.
2. Gen Z Is Falling in Love With Women’s Basketball 📈
Young fans have joined the party. According to Ticketmaster's new State of Play Sports report, 71% of Gen Z female sports fans now name women's basketball as their favorite sport. (Ticketmaster)
WHY IT MATTERS: More fans create more opportunities. As interest grows, so does investment in the game through media coverage, sponsorships, facilities, and player opportunities. It's still early to know exactly how Gen Z will shape the future of women's basketball, but numbers like this are a very encouraging sign for the continued growth of this wonderful sport.
🗳️ When did you become a women's basketball fan?
3. Amy Herrig Tanny Headed to Iowa Hall of Fame ✨
Former Hawkeye and WNBA center Amy Herrig Tanny will be inducted into the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the university's 2026 class. (Iowa Athletics)
WHY IT MATTERS: Herrig Tanny put together one of the best careers in Iowa women's basketball history. She was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, a First-Team All-Big Ten selection, and an AP Honorable Mention All-American before going on to play professionally in the WNBA for the Utah Starzz. This honor recognizes a career that helped build the foundation for Iowa’s future success.
🏀 2026 WNBA Rebel Edition Basketballs
If you’ve been loving the new WNBA Rebel Edition uniforms this season, these new Wilson collector basketballs are worth checking out. Each one matches the bold colors and logos featured on the new jerseys teams are wearing this season.
*If you buy through this link, 30 Second Timeout may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting our work!
OVERTIME ⏱️
Cyclone No More: After 24 seasons with Iowa State women's basketball, associate head coach Jodi Steyer announced her retirement.
What’s Old Is New: Vanderbilt and Iowa will meet in a preseason matchup this fall, marking the first game between the programs since 1997.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked if A’ja Wilson is your MVP for this season so far and it’s a toss up. 42% of you say yes, she’s your pick, but another 39% of you say it’s too early to tell.
