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What to Know About Womenâs Basketball Today
1. The WNBA Finals Are One Win Away for Two Teams đ
Both WNBA semifinal series are now 2-0 after a pair of thrilling Game 2 finishes Wednesday night. The Atlanta Dream beat the New York Liberty 101-98 in overtime, while the Golden State Valkyries pulled off a tight 83-80 win over the Las Vegas Aces. (The Athletic)
WHY IT MATTERS: The Dream are on quite a roll, having won a franchise-record nine straight games and 15 of their last 17. Meanwhile, the Valkyries are just one win away from reaching their first WNBA Finals in only their second season. Both teams now have a chance to close out their series in Game 3 on Friday, with Atlanta playing in Brooklyn and Golden State heading to Las Vegas. History is on both teams' side. No team has ever come back from a 2-0 deficit to win a best-of-five series in WNBA playoff history.
đłď¸ Do you think both semifinal series will end in a sweep?
2. The Valkyries Just Hit $100 Million đ°
In just their second WNBA season, the Golden State Valkyries have become the first women's sports team to generate $100 million in annual revenue. That number could climb as high as $130 million if they reach the WNBA Finals. (Sportico)
WHY IT MATTERS: For years, one of the biggest arguments against investing in women's sports was that the teams couldn't make money. This proves otherwise. By building a strong fan base and creating an experience people want to pay for, they're showing just how much revenue a women's sports franchise can generate.
3. Could College Basketball Get a Summer League? âď¸
The NCAA is considering a proposal that would allow women's and menâs college basketball teams to compete against other schools during the summer. Teams could participate in up to three events during an eight-week period, including exhibition games and scrimmages, with fans potentially allowed to attend. (ESPN)
WHY IT MATTERS: Summer has traditionally been a time for players to work on individual skills and prepare for the season ahead. This proposal could give teams more opportunities to play together against real competition before the season begins. But it also raises several questions: Could adding more games to the calendar increase the risk of injuries or player burnout?
Come Along With Me to the WNBA Semifinals
I was at Chase Center for Game 1 of the Valkyries-Aces semifinal series, and I brought my camera along so you could experience a little of what it was like to be there. And with the Valkyries now just one win away from the Finals, it's a fun time to look back at how this series started.
OVERTIME âąď¸
All Eyes: The WNBA semifinals averaged 1.15 million viewers for Sunday's two opening games, up 10% from last year's semifinal openers.
Starstruck: Allisha Gray tried to keep her cool when she spotted rapper T.I. at Wednesday's Dream-Liberty game.
Next Stop: Lauren Betts has arrived in Turkey to join Fenerbahçe for the 2026-27 overseas season.
đłď¸ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked if you attended a WNBA game this season, and 44% of you said yes. Nearly half of you got to experience the action in person this year.
