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Good morning! ☕️
This is the last weekend of WNBA regular-season games before the league pauses for the FIBA Women’s World Cup. Teams still have playoff seeding to sort out, so enjoy the hoops this weekend.
What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Unrivaled’s 2027 Roster Is Taking Shape 👀
Unrivaled has started revealing its 2027 roster, with 17 of 48 spots announced as of Thursday. Paige Bueckers, Veronica Burton, Olivia Miles, Marina Mabrey and Shakira Austin are among the names already in, with more reveals coming through Sunday.
WHY IT MATTERS: Unrivaled keeps attracting some of the WNBA’s best players, and its 3-on-3 format gives them a different way to work on their games during the offseason. With more space and less defensive help, players have to create, defend, and make decisions on their own more often, which can be especially valuable for younger players still developing. The league also announced a $650 million valuation this week and plans to play eight road stops outside Miami in 2027.
2. Power Conferences Put Limits on Returning Pros 🛑
The Power Four conferences have moved to stop former professional athletes from returning to college competition, but the policies are not identical. The SEC, ACC and Big 12 have rules that reach women’s basketball, including players who declared for or joined the WNBA, while the Big Ten’s new policy currently applies to football only and says it is still evaluating restrictions in other sports. (Yahoo Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: The issue grew out of the NCAA’s new five-year eligibility model and legal challenges from athletes seeking another college season after time in the pros. Conference leaders say they want to keep college sports distinct from professional sports and protect roster opportunities for current and future college athletes. The rules are already facing legal challenges, so this is likely not the last word on who can return.
3. Fever-Sky Draws 3.31 Million Viewers 📺
Sunday night’s Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game averaged 3.31 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, making it the most-watched WNBA regular-season game since the league’s opening weekend in 1997. It was also the third most-watched regular-season game in league history. (NBC Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: The only two regular-season games to draw larger audiences were played on the WNBA’s very first weekend in 1997: Liberty-Sparks at 5.04 million and Sting-Mercury at 3.59 million. NBC and Peacock are currently averaging 1.75 million viewers across seven WNBA games this season, up 35% from comparable coverage last year.
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OVERTIME ⏱️
A Tough Loss: Las Vegas forward NaLyssa Smith will miss the rest of the season after suffering a non-contact left leg injury against Toronto on Sunday.
Roster Moves: Atlanta waived Jaylyn Sherrod and Aaliyah Nye to make room for veteran forward DeWanna Bonner, who signed with the Dream for the rest of the season.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked if you would go to an Unrivaled game if it came to your city, and it looks like most of you are in. 66% answered “definitely!”
