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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Unrivaled Is Now Valued at $650 Million 💰
This is what happens when you invest in women’s sports. Unrivaled announced its Series C fundraise has surpassed $100 million, bringing the league’s current valuation to $650 million. (ESPN)
WHY IT MATTERS: That $650 million valuation puts Unrivaled in the same conversation as some individual WNBA franchises. For comparison, the Connecticut Sun sold earlier this year for $300 million. Unrivaled was valued at $340 million after its Series B raise last fall, so this is a big year-over-year jump and another sign of how much interest, and revenue, is in women’s basketball.
With the additional investment, the league plans to play in four times as many road venues next season. No new teams will be added, however, and rosters sizes will remain the same.
🗳️ Would you go to an Unrivaled game if it came to your city?
2. DeWanna Bonner Is Joining the Dream 😲
Who had this on their bingo card? DeWanna Bonner is signing with the Atlanta Dream for the rest of the season. She joins an All-Star roster with Allisha Gray, Angel Reese, and Rhyne Howard, that has been on a roll lately. (Alexa Philippou)
WHY IT MATTERS: Atlanta has won six of its last seven games, and is currently battling for a top-four seed and first-round home-court advantage in the playoffs. We’ll have to see exactly where Bonner fits in, but she gives an already talented team yet another option for its post-season run. Assuming Bonner won’t play in the two games this week before the FIBA break, she’ll have some time to get settled before Atlanta’s last four regular-season games and the playoffs.
3. Why World Cup Players Are Being Suspended 🌎
You may notice several WNBA teams suspending players’ contracts this week ahead of the FIBA World Cup. No need to worry. With national team practices beginning before the WNBA officially pauses on August 31, players are starting to leave their WNBA teams early.
WHY IT MATTERS: Because there are still WNBA games before the break, teams formally suspend the contracts of players who leave early for national team duty. That gives them the option to sign replacement players and keep a full roster while those players are away. These suspensions are expected, and World Cup players are expected to return to their WNBA teams after the FIBA tournament.
📚 For the Women’s Basketball Fan Who Loves to Read
If your free time is usually split between watching women’s basketball and getting lost in a good book, this Paige Bueckers bookmark brings the two together. It’s a small, fun way to take a little basketball with you into whatever you’re reading next.
*If you buy through this link, 30 Second Timeout will earn a commission. Thank you for supporting our work.
OVERTIME ⏱️
Exclusive Club: Alyssa Thomas is the first player in WNBA history to reach 5,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 2,000 assists in her career.
Captain Down: Australian national team captain Sami Whitcomb will miss this year’s World Cup due to her lingering knee injury.
Promoted: Hailey Van Lith has signed a seven-day contract with the Sun.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked what you’re watching most closely now that the playoff field is set, and it was another close one. 38% said you’re following the race for home-court advantage, while 34% said you’re focused on seeing where your team finishes.
