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Good morning! ☕️
Hope you had a great weekend and got to catch Game 1 of the WNBA Finals! Along with Game 2 tonight, UConn and Texas face off in a highly anticipated exhibition game at 7 PM ET, streaming on UConn+ (paid).
What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. The Valkyries Take Game 1 in a Defensive Battle 🛡️
The Golden State Valkyries held off the Atlanta Dream 68-64 on Saturday to win Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Golden State struggled to score for much of the night and led for just 15% of the game, but pulled ahead when it mattered most. (The Athletic)
WHY IT MATTERS: This series is already living up to its defensive hype. The teams shot a combined 32% from the floor, the second-lowest mark in WNBA Finals history. Despite making just 21% of their three-point attempts, the Valkyries found a way to win.
Watch: Game 2 is tonight at 8 PM ET on USA and Peacock.
🗳️ Do you enjoy watching defensive battles like Game 1?
2. Cathy Engelbert Looks Back as Her WNBA Tenure Winds Down 👋
With her retirement coming at the end of 2026, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke with reporters before Saturday's Finals opener about how much the league has grown since she took over in 2019. She highlighted 3.8 million fans attending games this season and 51 games averaging more than one million TV viewers. (Reuters)
WHY IT MATTERS: Engelbert will leave behind a much bigger and more successful league than the one she inherited. But there's still plenty of work ahead for her successor, particularly when it comes to improving relationships with players and addressing concerns about officiating. With more teams joining the league, the next commissioner will also need to make sure the WNBA's growth can be sustained.
3. The NCAA Takes Ohio's Eligibility Order to Court ⚖️
The NCAA has sued Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine over an executive order granting college athletes in the state an extra year of eligibility. (Yahoo Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: This is the latest development in the ongoing battle over who gets to decide how long college athletes can compete. The NCAA argues that allowing individual states to set their own eligibility rules could give some schools an unfair advantage. These ongoing legal battles continue to create uncertainty, making it hard for teams to plan their rosters ahead of the college basketball season that’s right around the corner.
Two Finals Teams, Two New Mugs ☕️
The Dream and Valkyries are battling for a WNBA championship, and these new holiday sweater-inspired mugs feature each team's colors and basketball-themed designs.
I know it's only October, but if you're already thinking about holiday gifts for the women’s hoops fans in your life, here's a fun place to start.
👉 Get your Dream mug | Valkyries mug
*If you buy through this link, 30 Second Timeout will earn a commission. Thank you for supporting our work.
OVERTIME ⏱️
Finals Demand: A reported 42,000 fans joined the ticket presale queue for Finals Games 3 and 4 at Atlanta's State Farm Arena.
Dream in Color: Atlanta is lighting up landmarks in the Dream's colors to celebrate the team's Finals appearance.
Grateful JuJu: USC's JuJu Watkins talked about how she's feeling ahead of her return to the court following an ACL injury.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked who you thought would win Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, and 83% of you picked the Golden State Valkyries. Nice call!
