This week's Ball Up Top opens with a discussion about A’ja Wilson winning TIME Athlete of the Year, how both hosts feel about the feature story and the storytelling around the Aces forward. Andrew expresses his distaste for the dialogue surrounding Wilson and Caitlin Clark and why it’s time for everyone to let 2023 go.

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After dispensing with the pleasantries, the basketball talk begins with a preview of Wednesday night’s Cy-Hawk rivalry game between No. 10 Iowa State and No. 11 Iowa. The duo discuss how the Hawkeyes plan on defending superstar center Audi Crooks and if this is the Jada Williams breakout game basketball fans have been waiting three years for.

There were also some eye catching upsets in the last week of NCAA women’s basketball, from Kansas State managing to defeat No. 17 Ole Miss and Wisconsin pulling off a huge win over No. 20 Michigan State. Andrew and Tyler talk about their favorite moments in those games.

The show wraps with a couple more bigger basketball and culture discussions as Tyler breaks down his experience in Norman, Oklahoma so far covering star freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez before the duo get some jokes off about the fun trash-talking moment between LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson and Duke head coach Kara Lawson.

0:00 - Show Introduction.

1:05 - A’ja Wilson wins TIME Athlete of the Year.

18:50 - Iowa vs. Iowa State Preview

28:32 - Upsets of the week.

39:40 - The emerging movement of athlete led by Aaliyah Chavez.

51:15 - Flau’jae vs. Kara Lawson and the fun of ethical hate.

Our musical intros are brought to you by Denver’s King of Mile HiFi, DLZMKSBTS. You can check out his music on Spotify and YouTube.

0:00 Intro2:23 UConn vs Texas for #1 22:30 Buying and Selling Coaches Stocks35:33 ACC vs SEC Challenge Preview
Check out our website to catch our written coverage and podcast! https://www.nocapspacewbb.com/

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Yes, the world appears to be falling apart at the seams but we have the WNBA playoffs and I guess that’s the bread and circuses we all need in our lives, right?

All kidding aside, I’ve thought a lot about the state of the world, what we do here at No Cap Space and the idea of sports as distraction while everything around us feels like it’s burning down in some form or fashion. On some level, there is merit to the idea that games placate us and create environments that inoculate us to the very real problems that exist in the world. But, on another, it allows us to remember the things that give life meaning. Whether or not we feel this way all the time or not, sports allows us to the ability to feel during a time when nihilism feels like the emotion du jour.

Nothing matters and everything does at the same time. I spent last Wednesday covering the Evergreen High School shooting in Colorado for CBS News here in Denver. I’ve covered all of the 2020 summer civil unrest in Oregon, wildfires in four different states in the last five years and the truly awful terrorist attack that took place in Boulder a couple months ago. All of that paled in comparison to a singular moment that I saw that is seared into my brain forever: a mother hugging her high school aged daughter after not seeing her all day. As her mother wept on her shoulder, the daughter looked completely disassociated and in a state of shock at what her life now was. All day, you sit and wait for your live shot and wonder ‘Is this really the country we want to live in? Where parents and students know that this type of event can be an eventuality regardless of where they live?’

It was a hard day, to say the least. Working in general assignment news desensitizes you to a lot, to the point that the gallows humor you employ to make it through your day can become foreign even to yourself. But the joy of what sports gives us is a reminder that there is still a space to feel. It’s okay to protect oneself from the horror that we see unfold every day while allowing yourself, every now and then, to indulge in the kinds of things that give life meaning. Namely, the feelings of joy, shock, sadness and awe without the sheer weight of the world attached to them. So yes, while sports is a little meaningless in the grander scheme of things, it also means everything for us in this current moment. It’s a place where we can feel authentically without many strings attached. The games end and we go on with our lives. But we had the moment to feel. And right now, that moment, that freedom to feel, means everything.

Now, to the column…

1. Day One Playoff Takeaways

Instead of a big paragraph about the first day of the WNBA playoffs, let’s run you through each matchup and a couple big conclusions we can draw through one game…

New York vs. Phoenix -

The entire complexion of this series, as well as New York’s hopes to repeat as WNBA champions, hinges on what exactly the status of Breanna Stewart’s injury is. The New York superstar went down with a non-contact left knee injury with about three minutes left in overtime and we’re waiting on a prognosis. Clearly, her absence would change the calculus of the postseason. On Phoenix’s end, you simply can’t have Satou Sabally shoot 2/17 and 1/10 from 3. But in addition to her, Alyssa Thomas can’t smoke game winning layups. As dominant as she is, this is always the knock on her as a true MVP candidate. You can get away with not having a perimeter shot but if you’re going to operate mostly within 10 feet then you have to be more efficient than 7/18.

Minnesota vs. Golden State -

Simply put, the Lynx look ready. This was a team effort across the board as five Minnesota players finished in double digits, led by Napheesa Collier’s 20. Natalie Nakase had a lot to say about the officiating in this one and I get it to a point. A game needs to be called consistently and if you’re letting physicality slide in the first quarter then you can’t start tightening up in the ensuing quarters. At the same time, the Lynx shot three less free throws than the Valkyries so it wasn’t a case of lopsided opportunity for Minnesota. What this game really came down to was the Lynx swinging the ball well (25 team assists), shooting efficiently (51.5% FG) and looking like the title team we’ve expected them to be from day one.

Indiana vs. Atlanta -

This was another one where the foul discussion overtook what actually happened in this game. And the thing that people didn’t notice as much was that Bri Jones was given the assignment to defend Aliyah Boston and it paid dividends for the Dream. Boston went just 3/9 from the field and Indiana shot 2/15 from 3 as a team. That isn’t going to win you any games no matter how messy the fouls are on either end. I can understand coaches being frustrated about bad calls and how it disrupts the rhythm and momentum of a matchup. But the fact of the matter is you’re going to lose when you shoot 13.3% from beyond the arc no matter what happens. I expect Gainbridge to be rocking and would be a little stunned if this didn’t go back to ATL for a Game 3.

Las Vegas vs. Seattle -

The title series sure feels like Vegas vs. Minnesota at this point. The Aces are as dominant as they’ve been at any point since this run really got started in 2022. Now they got some help courtesy of the Storm chucking up some absolute garbage, especially in the first quarter, but the way this Vegas team has rallied around each other is remarkable. NaLyssa Smith has been exactly what A’ja Wilson has needed and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus returned after giving birth to a whole child and going 3/3 from the field. One thing we don’t talk about in this league enough is how utterly remarkable that is. If you get combined 10/20 shooting performances from Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans off the bench, the Aces are going to be really hard to beat this postseason. It may be presumptuous but it sure feels like we’re going to get the Minnesota - Las Vegas title fight we’ve been asking for since the Aces winning streak started in earnest.

2. Jeff Pagliocca Is Realizing The Motion Is Not Sold Separately…

Tyler hit the nail on the head when we spoke last weekend about Angel Reese and the evolving situation with the Chicago Sky…

The currency is different in the WNBA. Because, frankly, motion in the WNBA is the biggest currency of all right now. And Angel Reese has the motion to go up against everybody right now and to that point.

Take a bow, my friend.

The chants in Wintrust Arena weren’t deafening by any means but they were loud enough to send the message to the Chicago Sky organization and anybody watching: this is Angel Reese’s team and that’s who the fanbase is here for. Maybe that’s why Courtney Vandersloot looked so surprised on the bench and why Jeff Pagliocca is suddenly so willing to work with Angel publicly.

Whether or not the message came down from owners Michael Alter or Nadia Rawlinson is irrelevant. Even if they wanted to back Pagliocca and his way of doing things, the fans have spoken. In fact, they’ve yelled and chanted it over and over. Pags can say that he speaks to Angel every day and that this chapter of what’s been a messy year in the Windy City has closed. But even he knows that his authority is as brittle as a crystal wine glass.

It is worth noting that in one of his last interviews of the regular season, Pagliocca still asserted that Courtney Vandersloot will return, that he has the ear and respect from ownership and that Tyler Marsh is the guy for the job. I have no doubt that Marsh is probably safe, given the mess this year was. But Vandersloot and Pagliocca’s continued insistence that this can work with Reese while they’re there feels like the power struggle isn’t done yet. It takes an awful lot of confidence to feel like you’ve got the leverage in a situation where tens of thousands of fans are chanting for you to be fired but since you’ve already burned the bridge by arbitrarily suspending Reese for one half, leading to her not playing for the rest of the year, but that’s sort of in line with how the Sky’s General Manager has conducted himself this year.

This offseason, provided there is no work stoppage (which isn’t a guarantee, mind you), will be a huge one for Chicago. If they aren’t able to get serious free agents to play alongside Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, I don’t know how you can salvage this moving forward. Pagliocca seems committed to doing so, as long as he’s the man with the final say. But he may come to learn that his word may not travel as far as he thinks when it’s being drowned out by the voices of a bunch of pissed off Chicagoans who are tired of their WNBA franchise being run like Bluth’s Original Frozen Banana Stand.

3. Thanks for Reading No Cap Space, Cathy Engelbert…

It’s a glib headline, yes. I don’t actually think that Cathy Engelbert is a regular NCS reader (although we do have some important people that are, and we very much appreciate your patronage!). In an interview with Khristina Williams on her podcast, In Case You Missed It, the WNBA commissioner had this to say about the Connecticut Sun and their potential sale and/or relocation.

A lot’s been written about what’s going on. I wouldn’t believe everything you read in this case. We want the best success for the Mohegan, for the Connecticut Sun and for the team. They’re still looking at their strategic options and what they want to do and we’ve been in touch with them periodically.

The fake news angle really is timeless, isn’t it?

What’s remarkable is that Engelbert immediately gives up the game just a couple sentences later.

You need a process because it would be chaos if you let anybody move to anywhere they wanted to go.

In the most Regina George voice possible, so you’re saying you are influencing the Mohegan’s selling process…

Mind you, this isn’t the Mohegan Tribe asking the WNBA to let them sell the team to an ownership group that will relocate them to Sheboygan. This was a once-minority owner of the Boston Celtics, aiming to buy the franchise for a market rate valuation and bring them to one of the biggest media markets in the nation. Then there’s the other group, also led by a former NBA owner, who wanted to keep the team in Connecticut. Mind you, the 2024-2025 Nielsen TV Market rankings list Hartford as a larger market than Las Vegas, Austin and Kansas City.

As the United States government, led by Senator Richard Blumenthal, takes an interest in the WNBA/NBA’s potential monopolistic ownership of its women’s basketball franchises, Engelbert probably has to tread lightly. It’s important to remember that she’s an accounting executive from Deloitte who still has to answer to her majority owners (the NBA) at the end of the day. While she can try her best to divert and obfuscate the conversation, the facts remain. The WNBA is handing franchises to NBA owners while doing nothing to fight the perception that it is nothing but a money pit for its partner league to take advantage of however they see fit. In Engelbert’s eyes, and by her own admission on the podcast, she loves that controversy is driving discussion. She said as much last year on CNBC while WNBA players were being buried under torrents of racist invective from every side of the spectrum.

She preaches order and stability within her business while welcoming chaos as a means to hike the price of the product. But what good does that do anyone when the NBA is still, on some level, setting the market for everything from franchise valuations to TV rights deals? I’m not sure if the end result of full divestment is even possible at this point but the fact that the government, from the U.S. senate to the state of Connecticut (who put in a bid to buy a minority stake in the franchise to keep them in CT), is involved is extremely noteworthy and important to follow as we continue inching towards a conclusion on a variety of labor disputes from the CBA to the Sun.

And Cathy, if you are reading, feel free to email me. My inbox is always open for a discussion.

4. The Case for WNBA Voter Transparency…

I’ve always been a little uncertain about media voting for postseason awards mostly because I don’t love the idea of us having the power to decide whether or not players hit certain performance incentives. I’d like to think that, on the whole, the press corps knows ball. But everyone has such different views on what is important and why when it comes to voting that it just doesn’t feel fair to the players that contracts are tied to what we believe. Especially since the vast majority of us didn’t play (though I’ll be clear, playing the game at a high level doesn’t exclude you from having terrible basketball opinions either).

When money is tied to these awards, I do think there’s a need for transparency. If you vote for someone that has the chance to be a supermax player or even potentially be able to get a little more in free agency by winning Sixth Player or Most Improved, you should have to be able to make your case as to why. Whether people respect your argument or not is a completely different discussion (one we’ll touch on in just a minute) but the idea that WNBA voters are allowed to sit behind a shroud of secrecy while they put their votes in feels wrong. We already have enough stans masquerading as reporters in the space and way too many commentators with clear agendas or biases with votes. If they’re able to have the luxury of deciding who deserves an award or an All-WNBA nod, they should be asked to defend it on its merits. Otherwise, we start running into the problems that awards shows like the Oscars do.

Which brings me to my next point…

5. …And the Problem of Parasocial Fandoms

The reason it feels sometimes that we can’t allow voter transparency is because fans simply can’t handle it. If there’s a legitimate criticism to levy against WNBA fans, be they new ones or those in the space for awhile, it’s that there’s too much parasocial behavior and the need to treat athletes like artists. There is just too much overlap in how A’ja or Angel or Caitlin Clark fans speak about their favorite players and how they might speak about Beyonce, Nicki Minaj or any other musical artist. I’ve always argued that the difference we need to be aware of is that art is a subjective medium. If I think a song sucks, it doesn’t mean the song sucks. But if a player shoots 1/20 and their team loses, that performance sucked. It has nothing to do with any other outside forces that influence opinion. The ball just didn’t go in the hoop.

But awards season blurs those traditionally hard lines to the point where it becomes difficult to admonish fans w

The dog days are over for the Indiana Fever. The excitement around the team is still high and No Cap Space was able to talk with Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files with Scott Agness about what life has been like in the spotlight for the young Fever team.

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On this week's Luxury Tax, Grand Canyon head coach Molly Miller joins the show to discuss her coaching journey from Drury University to GCU and what can be accomplished in Phoenix.

After a Team USA victory to close out the group stage, Andrew, Greer and Tyler pop on Youtube to break down the matchup and the rest of group play.

Among the discussion topics…

* Most impressive Team USA player in the Tournament so far…

* How much is the rest of the world catching up to the Americans?

* Why Nigeria is the best story of the Olympics so far (if you missed our write up earlier in the week, click here)

* Which players to watch ahead of the knockout rounds…

* Who is the best international player that isn’t currently in the WNBA?

As always, you can subscribe to the Youtube channel to get notifications of rapid reaction shows and video specific pieces of content the minute they go live!

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Find our full preview on what to expect from Overtime Select here!

Carly Thibault-DuDonis is something of a renegade in today’s college athletics environment. The conventional wisdom is for coaches to continuously elevate within the profession. You either start as the head coach at a small school and rise through the ranks or you begin as an assistant at a big program and rise that way. Eventually you reach a school with the biggest brand or deepest pockets and either you win, or you get fired.

But at just 32, Thibault-DuDonis believes in an ethos typically espoused by coaches much older and further along in their career: that fit matters most and success is where you make it.

“We don't do what we do for the money,” she says. “If we had wanted to, we could have done that this offseason but that's not something that we're here to do”.

Thibault-DuDonis’ life has always been in basketball. Her father, Mike Thibault, has been a fixture in the WNBA for over a decade and her brother, Eric currently coaches the Washington Mystics. But Carly decided to walk a different path. After graduating from Monmouth University she joined Florida State as a Director of Recruiting, then jumped to Eastern Michigan as an assistant in 2014. She preferred college basketball, its’ inherent relationship building and the opportunity to spend time creating a program in her image.

While an assistant at Eastern Michigan, she met another MAC assistant coach from the University of Buffalo who shared a similar passion for the sport.

Blake DuDonis isn’t from a WNBA family. He didn’t even play college basketball. Instead, his career started as a student-assistant at Gardner-Webb. In addition to his duties running the student newspaper on campus, he spent two years helping head coach Rick Reeves. Eventually, his career started to take off as well. He took an assistant coaching job at Merrimack College, which turned into a full-time gig back at Gardner-Webb. Now that he was in the ranks of women’s college basketball, he started to climb. One of his first stops was on the shores of Lake Erie.

“We met at a recruiting event,” Blake remembers. “And as we were leaving, I was like ‘hey, you want to grab a bite real quick before we go our separate ways?’ and Carly was like ‘No, I don’t’. So, you know, a bit of an inauspicious start!”

The two started as friends in the coaching world. Even though they saw each other once a year, it became easy to talk about the game, talk more and confide in one another. The difficulty of maintaining a relationship while coaching college basketball is a challenge unique to many when they enter the profession. But to Carly, it was part-and-parcel of a life she was accustomed to.

“Early on in dating, I didn’t know it was hard for people,” she says. “But what immediately clicked [with Blake] was that I didn’t have to apologize for leaving the dinner table to take a phone call or that I got home at 9 pm instead of 6 pm.”

At first, she’d profusely apologize to him for missing obligations because of the constraints of the job. But Blake already knew what he was dealing with. He too would have to work crazy hours, be on his phone constantly and have to travel regularly. The two were bound by basketball and bolstered by a burgeoning love. As they advanced in their careers, sacrifices were made. Neither wanted to do long distance for too long and that led to some hard discussions. At one point, Blake left the coaching industry while Carly went to Mississippi State. Carly, for her part, had to deal with the guilt of feeling like she’d hamstrung Blake’s career. But those trials would eventually lead to the perfect fit the couple are currently enjoying. They made their way to Minnesota and that’s where the Fairfield story truly begins.

“We were able to be in the same business in the same place for the first time,” he explains. “Her at [the University of] Minnesota, me at [the University of Wisconsin] River Falls and coaching with an AAU team and being able to bounce ideas and kind of work through things and each of our situations together.”

It was, in many ways, a testing ground for the two of them. They’d come home and commiserate over their respective jobs but also would bounce ideas off each other. They’d talk strategy, personnel management, working with their assistant coaches and quickly, they realized they had the capability of working with each other When the Fairfield job opened up, Carly received and offer, took it and Blake came with her as her top assistant.

While the concept of couples coaching is not entirely new in women’s college basketball, Carly and Blake work extremely hard at keeping their marriage separate from their profession. On the floor, it’s all business to the degree that recruits sometimes aren’t aware and players rarely see them as anything other than coaches.

“We're here to do the job,” says Blake. “One of our kids even joked [with us] the other day. I was leaving to recruit and Carly kind of gave me a side hug. [The player’s] like, ‘that's the first time I've seen them hug in two years.’”

With their goals taking precedent and Carly in the lead, Fairfield quickly became a power in the MAAC. After a 15-15 debut season, the Stags went 31-2. They were 20-0 in conference play, won their conference tournament and gave No. 14 Indiana a run in the first half of the first round of the NCAA Tournament before the Hoosiers ran away with the game. They advocated fiercely to be ranked in the AP Top 25 and played a style of basketball that many in the media took notice of. As the energy around the program began to crystallize, it started to feel like this small Jesuit school in Connecticut was here to stay.

But at this point in the story, you’d expect the two to jet off for a bigger and better job. No one would blame them. Carly’s name was in the mix for multiple high-major gigs and there were phone calls from power programs to the Thibault-DuDonis house. At no point, they say, did the two entertain them all that seriously. They have big aspirations for Stags women’s basketball and take inspiration from a school of similar size and religious affiliation on the other side of the country. '

“We’ve joked we’re trying to be Gonzaga east,” says Carly. “I don’t think that’s far fetched. Obviously it’s something you have to sustain year after year but I don’t think that’s a pipe dream for us. With consistency and resources and getting the right people, I think that’s a possibility.”

Adding to Carly’s bullishness on the prospect is Fairfield’s close proximity to New York City (about a 50 minute drive), its’ facilities (which she argues are on par with some Big East schools) and an alumni base energized by the idea of a successful basketball program.

All those years of travel, of working with programs big and small, bouncing around from the SEC to the heartland to the northeast have now paid off. They take inspiration from a variety of places. Carly draws on her own father and brother, on former Mississippi State mentor and current Texas head coach Vic Schaefer’s defensive methods, on the ball movement displayed by Drake and South Dakota State and on Blake himself and the three point shooting strategy he utilized in Division III.

It works in tandem, from the two of them to their players to their program. And while they could replicate the success at a bigger school, Carly and Blake are more interested in being where their feet are. Would the WNBA one day come calling? Carly says if they did she wouldn’t be very interested, especially if it was her family.

“I couldn’t have worked with my Dad, we would have killed each other,” she jokes. “We’re too similar. My Dad and Eric can work together. Eric and I can work together. Those are the combinations.”

As for Blake, he’s enjoying his role as a top assistant and ace recruiter for the Stags. The two of them, after years on the road, are finally enjoying what many couples in industries like coaching dream of: the chance to work in the same place in a job that both people enjoy. While other programs may come calling, the duo don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. And that should be music to the ears of Fairfield fans and those that love a good mid-major.

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Yvonne Ejim’s first time on a plane was daunting. She was 13 years old, trying to read her boarding pass properly and not miss her flight. Her mom had told her the basics and to make sure she had all her belongings but it still felt a bit overwhelming. All this just to compete in a basketball tournament? She sat at the gate and wondered if she was at the right one or if her ticket was even valid.

Almost a decade has passed and Ejim now deftly maneuvers through the ticket lines and security checkpoints, wearing headphones and not worried about her destination. The journey will be the most special part of this particular summer. For in just a week, a little girl that had to fly alone to leave Alberta and compete in youth tournaments in Toronto is going to be representing Canada in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

She, along with the nation whose colors she will be wearing, have come a long way.

“There’s a lot more opportunity now,” Ejim says. “When I was playing, there was no opportunity. It may not be a two mile walk to find a basketball gym but it was a four hour flight to Toronto.”

Yvonne is the oldest sister in a family of 11 children, the daughter of Nigerian-Canadian dual nationals. She had four older brothers — Melvin, Kenny, Deon and Ryan — that helped cultivate her love of basketball. But initially, she was a tennis player.

“Serena Williams, she’s still kind of like my idol to this day,” she says.

As her brothers excelled on the hardwood, Yvonne started to follow them, gravitating towards basketball. Melvin, a former star at Iowa State, was a particularly big influence on her and helped her develop her skills as a player. If you were to ask her now who was the bigger influence — Melvin or Serena Williams — she’d have a tough time answering.

“I mean…both?” says Yvonne with a laugh. “Can I pick both?”

As her brothers progressed in their careers, she started to find her footing amongst the Canadian elite as well. At 13, she was selected for a U16 cadet camp. Despite being much younger and smaller than most of her counterparts, Yvonne was able to see a path to playing for the senior team one day.

“I was super scared,” she remembers. “I think I left camp still not knowing what was going on. But I think the next time, just having been around [Team Canada], being comfortable and understanding a bit of their play, I think that really set in stone that I can do this.”

It wasn’t until 2022 that Team Canada’s Olympic head coach, Victor Lapena, started to take notice of her. The Federation put on a pseudo-U-23 Tournament called GLOBL JAM and Ejim brought home gold. Impressed by her ability to play any position on the floor and do whatever was asked of her, Lapena asked her to try out for the senior team. Rather quickly, she found herself playing in the FIBA AmeriCup with Team Canada.

At just 22 years old, she is a part of what may be a golden generation up north. Along with Aaliyah Edwards and Laeticia Amihere, Ejim represents a coming wave of players that, when combined with the current crop of U19 guards, could make Team Canada as good as any in the world. But before she could zero in on the goal of being an aspirational figure for young girls across the country, she had to impress the veterans.

“I was so excited, nervous, scared, anxious, like all of the emotions,” she explains. “You have to adjust quickly to a lot of things. I think it just takes that next level of wanting to be there.”

With longtime national teamers and WNBA veterans like Natalie Achonwa, Sami Hill and Shay Colley welcoming her with open arms, Ejim found a place on the roster. Team Canada won Bronze at the 2023 AmeriCup and qualified for the 2024 Olympics. At one point in the NCAA regular season, she asked her Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier to release her so she could compete in Canadian qualifier games for Paris. Now, she hears that there will be a small pocket of Spokane, Washington rooting as hard for Team Canada as Team USA when the games begin.

“I’m just grateful,” she says of the support she’s received from Zags fans. “I think, if anything, they’ve always been supportive of me. So whatever support they can give — give to my team — I’m very grateful for it.”

Ask most Gonzaga supporters and they’ll say she’s pretty easy to root for. In addition to her personality, which has already won over fans who see her regularly around Spokane, she’s one of the most dominant players in program history. In 2024, she took home the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award, averaging 19.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while guiding the Bulldogs to their first NCAA Sweet 16 since the 2014-2015 season. By the end of the year, Ejim was named an Honorable Mention All-American, WCC Player of the Year and WCC Defensive Player of the Year.

“[It was] probably one of the most fun times I’ve had playing basketball,” Ejim says. “The group of girls that we had, I mean we had almost our whole team come back. I think it was very special and a great time to be in.”

Now, with a little bit of time off, she enters the 2024 Olympics fresh and ready to play. The games, the new food — she said she’s willing to try the escargot! — and the experience will be special. But what Yvonne is really excited about is the clothes. In Spokane, she’s known as a bit of a thrifter with a passion for crafting a tunnel fit worthy of the WNBA.

“I get so excited because I see a lot of different fits,” she explains. “Everyone looks so cool or so unique or like themselves and I kind of want to be able to be in a space that does that because we have a couple tunnel fits at Gonzaga but not as much. It’s every game for the W.”

Her teammate, Maud Huijbens, got her into the activity. Now they’re thrifting buddies, taking freshman forward Lauren Whittaker with them whenever they’re all free. They get some recommendations from their coaches and head to Value Village or Global Neighborhood Thrift & Vintage. But nothing compares to what she’s about to wear in Paris for the opening ceremonies.

“I’ve been anticipating this gear since they first told me to start packing!” says Ejim, laughing. “When they first sent out the form to fit for all of the gear, I was like ‘I don’t know how I’m gonna get everything back!”

Luckily, her Dad and brother are coming to Paris, as are some friends. There’s a few extra bags to go around and since Melvin has his own Team Canada gear from his playing days, Yvonne thinks she’ll have a full accounting on the way home. But past the fashion, the fun and being in France, the sentiment of representing the flag matters deeply to her. A dual-national Nigerian-Canadian, who still craves her mothers Ẹ̀bà whenever she comes home, Ejim wants to be an inspiration for young girls all over her country. A representation not often seen in the past but one increasingly more visible in Canadian culture.

“In Canada, I feel like we have a lot of diversity so there’s definitely people that I knew that had similar experiences to me,” she says. “I’m very happy and very proud that I got to grow up in that environment and in that culture, learn a lot of that stuff and take what I’ve learned from that into different areas of my life.”

As she prepares to float the Seine, draped in a Lululemon bomber jacket embroidered with Canadian art, Ejim sees herself as a leader in a cultural and athletic movement. One that, along with others in her generation, will hope to inspire the nation and every young girl with a dream of playing basketball on the biggest stages. Just like her idol did.

“I’m trying to do what I can for the sport of basketball [in Canada],” she says. “Kind of like Serena did for the sport of tennis.”

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In some breaking news on Wednesday, Chicago Sky guard Marina Mabrey was traded to the Connecticut Sun. The trade was first reported by Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times. In return, the Sky will receive guard Rachel Banham, forward Moriah Jefferson, a 2025 first round pick and a pick swap in 2026.

Elsewhere around the league, Front Office Sports reported that the WNBA is nearing a $2.2 billion dollar broadcast deal over the next 11 years. The rights agreement will be one of the most valuable in women’s sports history and put the WNBA on par with sports organizations like Major League Soccer.

Andrew and Tyler break down the implications of both in a rapid reaction show on Youtube and in podcast form. What will the Sky be getting? Is Mabrey better off in Connecticut? How will she handle being on a team with longtime rival DiJonai Carrington? And what does an influx of money mean for a looming collective bargaining agreement negotiation with the league and how much money players will earn?

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you get your pods. All of our Luxury Tax episodes are also in video format on YouTube along with our post-games and video essays. Subscribe to be get notifications of live shows and updates on new content when it comes out. And follow along with us on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

On this episode of Luxury Tax, Andrew and Tyler are joined by West Virginia guard JJ Quinerly. The 2024 Big 12 First Team selection and reigning conference Defensive Player of the Year first discusses why she stuck it out in Morgantown through two different coaching changes, leading to an NCAA Tournament with head coach Mark Kellogg this past season.

She dives further into her defensive mentality, gives her thoughts on guarding Caitlin Clark and Kellogg’s infamous pre-tournament speech. Afterwards, Quinerly jokes with the crew about her dream NIL deal, one of her strangest in-game traditions and her upbringing in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you get your pods. All of our Luxury Tax episodes are also in video format on YouTube along with our post-games and video essays. Subscribe to be get notifications of live shows and updates on new content when it comes out. And follow along with us on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

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On this edition of the ‘Luxury Tax’ podcast, No Cap Space is joined by Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke. Fresh off a national runner-up season in which the Hawkeyes took the nation by storm, Stuelke discusses the stardom that’s come along with her success. She breaks down how she developed chemistry with Caitlin Clark, her evolution as an athlete, new transfer Lucy Olsen and who is on the AUX in the locker room.

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you get your pods. All of our Luxury Tax episodes are also in video format on YouTube along with our post-games and video essays. Subscribe to be get notifications of live shows and updates on new content when it comes out. And follow along with us on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!

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On a special episode of the No Cap Space Postgame show, the crew welcomes a special guest: former Colorado Buffaloes star and new Liberty signing Jaylyn Sherrod. One of the best friends of NCS, she discusses her process back into the W, provides her favorite memories from Colorado women’s basketball and gives her breakdown of the season so far.

You can find the podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts. Be sure to subscribe, like and follow. You can also follow along and subscribe to our YouTube channel as well where most Luxury Tax episodes are available in video form.

Thanks for reading No Cap Space WBB! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Welcome to Ball Up Top, a weekly podcast from No Cap Space WBB. Every Wednesday, you can find a show in your emails or social feeds that touches on all the trending topics in women’s basketball. The crew will rotate based on availability, whether it’s Tyler, Andrew, Chauny, Greer or Rashard.

The WNBA regular season is coming to a close which means the award campaigns are in full swing. How do we think the teams are doing? Plus who has the best case for Coach of the Year and to make All-WNBA appearances?

If you love the show, we’d love and appreciate a five star rating on Apple podcasts as well as a kind review if you’ve got the time! We’re also on the road to 5,000 subscribers on YouTube and 2,000 followers on TikTok so if you enjoy our content here, tell a friend to tell a friend to follow us on their preferred platform!

Scroll Ahead to Hear…

0:00 Intro

2:35 Team Award Campaigns

43:31 Coach of the Year

56:29 All-WNBA Teams

Ball Up Top: A WBB Podcast is brought to you in part by Homefield. Just this past week they revealed the full Can’t Miss Kickoff release schedule with hundreds of new football themed products to get you ready for the fall! Want some women’s hoops merch instead? Check out our No Cap Space WBB collection, a curated page of all of Homefield’s best WBB shirts, jackets, jerseys and more!

Our intro music is made by Denver’s own DLZMKSBTS, the King of Mile Hi-Fi. Check out all his music on Spotify here and on Instagram here.

No Cap Space WBB is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The WNBA All-Star game will pit Team USA’s 2024 Olympic roster against the best of the rest of the league. No Cap Space has all your reactions in podcast and video form. Subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify or right here on Substack!

And be sure to subscribe to our Youtube page as well to get notifications for every new live stream, postgame show, reaction video and Luxury Tax series submission. Below are the top vote getters and selections for Team USA and Team WNBA.

Top All-Star fan vote-getters

* Caitlin Clark, Fever -- 700,735 votes 

* Aliyah Boston, Fever -- 618,680 votes 

* A'ja Wilson, Aces -- 607,300 votes

* Breanna Stewart, Liberty -- 424,135 votes

* Angel Reese, Sky -- 381,518 votes

Team WNBA roster

* DeWanna Bonner, Sun

* Aliyah Boston, Fever

* Caitlin Clark, Fever

* Allisha Gray, Dream

* Dearica Hamby, Sparks

* Brionna Jones, Sun

* Jonquel Jones, Liberty

* Kayla McBride, Lynx

* Kelsey Mitchell, Fever

* Arike Ogunbowale, Wings

* Nneka Ogwumike, Storm

* Angel Reese, Sky

Team USA roster

* Napheesa Collier, Lynx

* Kahleah Copper, Mercury

* Chelsea Gray, Aces

* Brittney Griner, Mercury

* Sabrina Ionescu, Liberty

* Jewell Loyd, Storm

* Kelsey Plum, Aces

* Breanna Stewart, Liberty

* Diana Taurasi, Mercury

* Alyssa Thomas, Sun

* A'ja Wilson, Aces

* Jackie Young, Aces

On this edition of ‘Luxury Tax’, Tyler and Greer are joined by NC State guard Saniya Rivers.

The senior opens up on a variety of topics, including her decision to leave South Carolina and return to her home state, being a part of Kelsey Plum’s Dawg Class, why she wasn’t considering going pro and an improbable Final Four run with the Pack this past year.

You can find the podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts. Be sure to subscribe, like and follow. You can also follow along and subscribe to our YouTube channel as well where most Luxury Tax episodes are available in video form.

On this edition of the Playback Postgame, Chauny, Greer and Tyler break down a massive Sunday slate of WNBA basketball. Caitlin Clark and the Fever come back from down 15 points to get the best of Diana Taurasi and the Mercury. Angel Reese continues to set double-double records for the Sky despite a loss to the Commissioners Cup champion Lynx. The crew also touches on the Liberty vs. Dream game that tipped off early on Sunday afternoon.

Subscribe to the Youtube page to get all notifications of live streams and when new videos drop. You can also find No Cap Space in podcast form on Apple and Spotify. Feel free to also share the Substack to friends who might be interested in some women’s hoops talk here with No Cap Space.

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On this edition of the Playback Postgame, the NCS crew dives into the four Thursday matchups in the WNBA. A’ja Wilson continued her dominance while Angel Reese set another record in the Aces vs. Sky game. Caitlin Clark’s frustration appears to be boiling over while Ezi Magbegor might be becoming a top 10 player in the WNBA as the Storm roll the Fever. Are the Sun topped out? Greer and Tyler break down the matchup that was almost the upset of the night before wrapping with a surprise Wings win over the Lynx.

Subscribe to the No Cap Space YouTube page or follow and like wherever you get your podcasts. And as always, subscribe to us here on Substack for access to all our content in one place.

On this edition of ‘Luxury Tax’, No Cap Space catches up with new Alabama transfer Zaay Green. The Arkansas-Pine Bluff standout talks about her time at Tennessee and Texas A&M, rehabbing injury by working in a gas station, her dream NIL deal and her time as one of the best players in HBCU women’s basketball.

Stay up to date with all our Luxury Tax series on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like and follow to get everything the minute it hits the air.

On this episode of ‘Luxury Tax’, Chauny and Tyler sit down with South Carolina sports performance coach Molly Binetti. On the heels of another national title, Coach Binetti gives No Cap Space an inside look at what went into building champions.

From workouts to mindset and the conversation she had with Dawn Staley at the start of the season, the curtain gets peeled back on one of the greatest teams in women’s college basketball history.

You can find the podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts. Be sure to subscribe, like and follow. You can also follow along and subscribe to our YouTube channel as well where most Luxury Tax episodes are available in video form.

Thanks for reading No Cap Space WBB! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Caitlin Clark scored 23 points, tallied 9 assists and 8 rebounds while Aliyah Boston contributed 19 points and 14 boards as the Indiana Fever topped Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky 91-83.

Andrew Haubner and Tyler DeLuca broke the whole game down start to finish. The two touch on what is starting to work in the Clark/Boston dynamic, NaLyssa Smith’s breakout third quarter and what to make of the Sky’s new rotations. They also discuss Angel Reese’s WNBA ceiling, her foul troubles in the game and Chennedy Carter’s emergence as one of the most electric scorers in the league.

Subscribe to No Cap Space on YouTube as well as the podcast on Apple, Spotify and elsewhere.

Tyler and Greer break down Caitlin Clark's reported Team USA Olympic snub, its implications and who could’ve been left off the roster in favor of Clark, if anyone. You can subscribe to the No Cap Space podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also subscribe to our Youtube page as well.

On this week’s edition of the Playback Post-Up, Tyler and Greer take a look at the Tuesday slate of games in the WNBA. They take a look at the Liberty vs. Sky matchup and go through Angel Reese’s ejection from the game in the second half.

The duo also rundown the revenge game for Skylar Diggins-Smith, taking on the Phoenix Mercury for the first time since joining the Seattle Storm and whether or not the Connecticut Sun can remain undefeated after a red hot 9-0 start to the WNBA season.

You can listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Be sure to subscribe to all our channels to stay up to date on all No Cap Space’s women’s basketball content.

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On this week’s Luxury Tax, the team is joined by a very special guest. Kamilla Cardoso is just coming off her debut with the Chicago Sky after being selected in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. The former South Carolina Gamecock and National Champion talks about everything from her roots in Brazil, coming to the United States, the similarities between Dawn Staley and Teresa Weatherspoon as coaches and living out her dreams on and off the court.

You can subscribe to the podcast wherever you get it and to our Youtube page as well. You can also subscribe to the No Cap Space Substack to get our content the minute we hit send right into your email inbox.

What a week, huh…

For those that are just finding us at No Cap Space through yesterday’s column on Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky (which you can read here in case you missed it), welcome! We’re a collective of five journalists, each with our own backgrounds in local TV/newspapers/digital, covering women’s basketball the way we feel it ought to be covered. Whether you’re just joining us or you’ve been a Ball-Knower for a while, we’re glad to have you in our community all the same.

If you missed any of our Sunday wrap show on YouTube, you can access it at this link or listen to it in podcast form above.

Five Out is a weekly column that runs every Monday here, touching on five big things that caught my attention in the last seven days. It can be things on, off or around the floor. And this past week, there was plenty of action everywhere to make a nice, meaty Monday column.

Let’s get to it…

1. Indiana Has Somehow Built A Culture With Caitlin Clark On The Bench.

Despite winning a WNBA championship in 2012 and pushing a legendary Minnesota Lynx to a Game 5 in 2015, the Indiana Fever have been in the wilderness for the better part of a decade. Draft picks didn’t pan out, coaches didn’t work and there just seemed to be a collective shrug by everyone in the league that “yeah, I guess Indiana kind of stinks now.”

Kelsey Mitchell stuck it out through the worst of this era while Aliyah Boston joined up in 2023 after being drafted first overall. The expectation in 2024 was that Caitlin Clark would take this team to the playoffs and she did. But there was still a lingering question among longtime WNBA media about whether or not the Fever remembered how to win as an organization.

Given everything they faced this year, on and off the floor, I think it’s fair to say that that dormant institutional knowledge came back to the forefront this year and has powered an improbable playoff run while their superstar has nursed one of the trickiest injuries in sports. Indiana managed to stay afloat amid turmoil, turnover and trades and have clearly built a culture that is sustainable with or without Caitlin Clark on the floor. They managed to navigate the disaster that was the DeWanna Bonner signing and exit, kept their heads afloat as guard after guard went down with injury and relied on their stars — Mitchell and Boston — to live up to their draft status and prove they could establish a playoff floor without Clark in the mix. The fact that they accomplished that should make any Fever fan optimistic about the future when their star guard comes back fully healthy.

There were plenty of times this year where the team could’ve fractured, packed it in or started to look towards the paycheck that the 2026 offseason promises. Instead, Stephanie White managed to keep the core together, Clark remained an active participant from the bench and the team coalesced around each other in a way that indicates they are built to last. If you’re a fan of Clark and are invested in her success, this is the best case scenario. Not only is it clear that she has a playoff team around her, it also indicates the organization is built and prepared to do what they need to do to maximize her window. That’s all you can really ask for from any organization. Some do, some don’t. But we all see the difference when it’s done right versus when it’s not.

2. Balhalla Is A Story of Success In Sports and Finding Joy In Resilience

Is there a better sports story this summer than Balhalla? The Golden State Valkyries, an expansion team with no superstars to speak of, operating on heart and guided by a Coach of the Year contender, have captured the hearts of WNBA everywhere. You couldn’t write a script more heartwarming than this. There’s Natalie Nakase, finally getting her first opportunity to run a team as one of the first Asian-American head coaches in the league’s history in a region with a deep and proud AAPI heritage. There’s journeywomen like Veronica Burton who have proven themselves to be legitimate starters in this league. There’s also international youngsters like Carla Leite and Iliana Rupert who are displaying just how global the game is becoming. And then you have Ballhalla.

Hail, Balhalla.

From the very beginning, Golden State’s management made a concerted effort to strike out on their own. It would’ve been extremely easy to try and lean into their connection to the Warriors and try to peel off the NBA fanbase that already exists in the Bay. Instead, the Valkyries let their own fans lead the way. San Francisco’s vibrant and historically significant LGBTQ+ population have been a driving force in building ‘Balhalla’ into an inclusive, fun, lighthearted and generally great fanbase. Everyone on the ground says that the atmosphere of Valks games is very different relative to the Warriors, and that may be a good thing. Our buddy maya goldberg-safir over at the wonderful rough notes had it pegged early on, writing the following about Balhalla back in June…

I can’t wait to better understand how these ‘vibes’ turn into memories, into traditions, into lore. Who will be our Heroes and Villains? Will whimsical fans start to stack rocks at select points along the route to Chase, like warriors marking the trail through Bay Area traffic? What love stories will unfold on the super gay Valkyries ferry? How far will our enthusiasm take us, and will fans ever chafe at the business decisions of this corporate league, betrayed to find it’s not actually the Bay Area’s latest grassroots community collective?

Chef’s Kiss.

Three months since that travelogue was published, Balhalla has already started to answer these questions. Sports, and the business alongside it, is all done in the shadow of capitalism. Just ask Liberty fans. But ultimately, we as fans find love in the small things. In the escape, the adrenaline of a buzzer beater or the anxiety of a final possession. It’s what makes us feel alive amid the unrelenting nihilism that permeates our current moment. As Dan Savage once wrote, it’s the dance that keeps you in the fight because it’s the dance you’re fighting for.

Golden State’s story is one of business and sporting success, sure. But it’s also a wonderful story about the cultivation of a fanbase — be they LGBTQ+, a Person of Color, or a mix of both — that dances all night amid unrelenting attacks on many of their personhoods. In every way, they’re worth rooting for, and I plan on doing that this postseason. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone that isn’t.

3. A’ja Wilson Is Having A Legacy Moment.

A’ja Wilson wanted that game against Minnesota. You don’t need to be an insider to know that. Becky Hammon came into the pregame press conference feeling loose and ready to engage with the press in the way that I personally really enjoy.

In her pregame press conference last Thursday, I asked her how she balances the idea of wanting to win this game while also knowing A’ja’s MVP case can be bolstered by a good individual game.

“Are you a voter?”, she asked me.

“I am not, which is why I have no skin in this and can ask you right now,” I quipped back.

What came next was a Becky Hammon special, in which she referenced Wilson playing hotter than a Wingstop frying pan, praising the chain’s fries and ranch while dropping this gem of a quote.

“I think at the beginning of every year, every voter starts with ‘who is better than A’ja Wilson?’”, she said.

It’s a good question, one worth a legit discussion up until about two days ago. The tricky thing about this year’s MVP race is that Napheesa Collier hasn’t necessarily done anything to lose the award. She’s been consistent and on top of her game in every matchup she plays in. When Phee is off the floor, the Lynx are still a top four unit but with her, they’re a finals team that borders on a different level of greatness. There’s just one problem.

When A’ja Wilson is on and her team is clicking, the Aces are the same kind of team.

You can argue there’s a recency bias in what A’ja is doing but a 14 game sample in which the Aces haven’t lost a single game is a little bit more than making a snap judgement based on one individual matchup at the end of the year. Was it a symbolic statement to the world that Vegas dominated Minnesota in T-Mobile Arena with Wilson completely taking over the game to the tune of 31 points and 8 rebounds? Sure. But to try and water it down to recency bias over one game discounts the run Wilson has been on since the All-Star break.

In the 19 games since the league returned to play, Wilson has averaged 24.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.1 blocks per game on 52% shooting from the field.

Not bad, right?

And even with Wilson’s performance in June, a below-average-by-her-standards month in which she averaged 20.4 points and 9.1 rebounds on 40.6% shooting, you can probably throw that out alongside the games Collier missed due to injury. If that’s an equalizer, then who would you say has been better this season across the sample?

I understand that there may be some degree of fatigue, a desire to see Collier finally get her recognition and moment for the player that she’s become. But we can’t let the need for sharing the spotlight obfuscate the obvious fact: A’ja Wilson is in the midst of the type of moment that creates all-time legacies. This is an MVP run, a 14 game win streak that has completely turned around the fortunes of the Aces as a franchise. They looked dead in June, a formerly great team that won a pair of championships before age and the rest of the league caught up. Instead of going quietly into that night, Wilson pulled her team together, started to play at a level we simply don’t see often (if ever) in the WNBA and now Las Vegas looks like they could be a contender to win title number three.

That’s greatness. The kind of greatness that we tell our kids about when we’re old. It would be malpractice to watch it pass by in the moment and not understand its significance. Might it result in Wilson’s fourth MVP, a feat never accomplished in this league before? Perhaps. But, more importantly, it’s a legacy run that asserts Wilson as a potential Greatest of All Time contender. Appreciate it when it happens because they don’t come around often.

4. The Politicians Are Getting Involved With Connecticut’s Fight To Keep The Sun…

This morning, United States senator Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to the WNBA regarding a “reported interference in the Mohegan Tribe’s negotiations with competing bidders for the ownership of the Connecticut Sun women’s basketball team and to warn that any attempts by the WNBA to block efforts to keep the Sun in Connecticut could violate federal antitrust laws.”

This news comes on the heels of a report that the state of Connecticut is considering trying to buy a minority stake in the team to keep it within the state. How might that work? According to WTNH, the state could make an investment in the team through their multibillion-dollar pension funds. So far, the discussions haven’t gone any further than that but the fact that we now have political influence on two ends to keep the Sun in Connecticut is noteworthy.

Perhaps even more noteworthy is Sen. Blumenthal’s decision to invoke the term ‘antitrust’ in the opening paragraph of his letter to the league. I’ve argued in the past that the NBA’s ownership of the WNBA has started to create conflicts of interest in which it seems that there is pressure being exerted on Cathy Engelbert and the W to try and tilt the scales of expansion in favor of awarding franchises to those with NBA ties. The last four new franchises — Golden State, Portland, Toronto and Cleveland — all are run by groups that are directly tied to the NBA as existing majority or minority owners. The next two teams — Detroit and Philadelphia — also contain ownership groups from the NBA’s orbit.

What’s made the Sun deal so strange is the attempt by the league to influence who the Tribe sells to and what becomes of the team. There seems to be a clear desire to extract an expansion fee from Boston instead of simply relocating the team while also providing a handout for Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, who submitted a bid to presumably bring the Comets back.

While all generally unseemly and shady in practice, the introduction of political influence to the saga may mark a significant point in the W’s history. Most of these politicians, I’d gather, don’t know about the intricacies of the WNBA/NBA ownership web. Once they get wise to that concept, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was more discussion of antitrust if the league decides they want to continue to dictate how the Mohegan Tribe sells their team and to whom.

In short, buckle up. This has the chance to get really interesting.

5. Chicago Has Officially Crossed The Rubicon.

In the year 49 BCE, Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with his army and invaded Rome. He took back control of the Senate, more or less became an autocrat and precipitated the long but steady fall of the Roman Empire.

The idiom we use now, when discussing passing a point of no return, is ‘crossing the Rubicon’.

In Chicago, we are officially at the point of no return.

In my Sunday column, I laid out the historical precedent that led us to this point and opined that this only ends one of two ways: with Angel Reese being traded or general manager Jeff Pagliocca getting fired.

After seeing what happened in Las Vegas last night, I’m even more convinced that there is no way back for either party.

Angel Reese, suspended for the first half of the Aces game due to the fracas that ensued after her comments to the Chicago Tribune, didn’t play at all. The team cited issues with her back, which has been bugging her this year, as the reason she didn’t enter the game.

Maybe I’m too cynical but I have a hard time believing that.

If the team knew the back was an issue, what was the purpose of suspending her? What was the point of speaking as though everything was just fine with regard to her health? Why even put out a statement in the first place?

Either the team sat Reese or she refused to go back into the game.

In any case, it points to an unfixable fracture between the second year star and the front offi

From MVP to Rookie of the Year, Tyler and Greer are here to breakdown their early takeaways from the WNBA season and if they think what we are seeing early will remain true the entire season.

This WNBA season, the NCS crew will be hosting game recaps and general shows on Playback and Youtube. On this inaugural eponymous pod, Andrew, Chauny, Greer and Tyler recap the Fever - Liberty matchup, what seems wrong with the Fever and Caitlin Clark’s adjustment to the WNBA. The show continues with some wrap ups on Angel Reese and Cam Brink’s respective WNBA debuts as well as what the rookie revolution means for the upcoming TV rights negotiation and collective bargaining agreement.

You can find and listen to our podcasts here in the Substack app or site as well as on Apple, Spotify and everywhere you get your podcasts. Be sure to follow and subscribe there as well as to our Youtube page to tap in with us live after games.

Topics covered on the show today include…

0:00 - Fever vs. Liberty recap.

7:35 - Should expectations be adjusted for Caitlin Clark?

17:30 - The Fever’s changing and evolving team culture.

39:05 - Sabrina Ionescu’s role on the Liberty two games into the year.

42:10 - Where does Indiana get their first win?

44:44 - Cam Brink’s rookie debut.

51:07 - Angel Reese’s rookie debut.

1:01:00 - How the rookie class is changing expectations in the W.

In this edition of No Cap Space’s ‘Luxury Tax’ series, Texas guard Laila Phelia joins Tyler and Chauny. The former Michigan guard and All-Big-Ten teamer discusses her decision to head to Austin, what it will be like playing under Vic Schaefer, her dream NIL deal and why pilates has factored into her rest and recovery process.

You can subscribe to the Luxury Tax series as a podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. You can also find our video show at the link below or on Youtube at No Cap Space WBB. Feel free to follow, like and subscribe!

On this newest edition of ‘Luxury Tax’, the No Cap Space crew welcomes back Talia Von Oelhoffen fresh off a transfer to USC. The guard discusses her decision to leave Oregon State following their Elite Eight run, what fans miss about why players transfer and how as well as her decision to head to Los Angeles. Talia also touches on why her transfer recruitment felt more like a traditional high school recruitment, which schools pulled out all the stops and what it will look like to play alongside JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen.

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. No Cap Space and all of our podcasts, recaps and longform video essays is available on our Youtube page as well. Subscribe and tell a friend!

After chatting in a No Cap Space Postgame Show, Jaylyn Sherrod joins the No Cap Space officially to talk the entire season from the win to begin the season against LSU to now with Caitlin Clark and Iowa on deck.

Fresh off a Pac-12 Tournament championship, USC head women’s basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb joins No Cap Space for this edition of Luxury Tax.

Coach Gottlieb breaks down some of her history playing for Scarsdale high school with future Duke WBB legend Hilary Heieck (ne Howard) and against future WNBA hall-of-famer Chamique Holdsclaw. She also touches on her coaching philosophy, leveraging social media in the age of the transfer portal and winning the final Pac-12 championship.

You can also find the video interview on our NoCapSpace Youtube page.

As we look for creative new ways to get you more of the women's basketball content you love, we’ll be experimenting with some new things, especially in the audio space. This is Rough Cuts, the pure, uncut good stuff. Usually, there’s a lot of interviews that end up being cut up for soundbites on social media or quotes in a feature or profile.

Rough Cuts is a chance for you as the fan to dig deeper. A chance to hear more from a player that had a quote you really loved. At No Cap Space, there is no dead money. So enjoy all our content and we mean all of it.

Welcome to Ball Up Top, a weekly podcast from No Cap Space WBB. Every Tuesday morning, you can find a show in your emails or social feeds that touches on all the trending topics in women’s basketball. The crew will rotate based on availability, whether it’s Tyler, Andrew, Chauny, Greer or Rashard.

With the WNBA regular season wrapping up in just eight days, Chauny and Greer take over the podcast to break down the scenarios and worst possible matchups for the top seeded teams. Who should be worried about whom and what series combinations could give us the most chaos? Our duo takes a look at all of them and what it means for each team.

The pod also touches the competitive advantages of some of the inconsistent late season scheduling by the league, the Dallas Wings deciding to try and push Arike Ogunbowale for First-Team All-WNBA and how real the Phoenix Mercury are as they head into the postseason.

If you love the show, we’d love and appreciate a five star rating on Apple podcasts as well as a kind review if you’ve got the time! We’re also on the road to 5,000 subscribers on YouTube and 2,000 followers on TikTok so if you enjoy our content here, tell a friend to tell a friend to follow us on their preferred platform!

Scroll Ahead to Hear…

0:00 - Show Introduction.

2:40 - The WNBA’s late season scheduling and competitive advantages…

7:35 - Dallas Advocating For Arike Ogunbowale as 1st Team All-WNBA?

11:36 - Who is making the WNBA playoffs?

31:25 - Worst possible first round matchups for top teams?

Ball Up Top: A WBB Podcast is brought to you in part by Homefield. Just this past week they revealed the full Can’t Miss Kickoff release schedule with hundreds of new football themed products to get you ready for the fall! Want some women’s hoops merch instead? Check out our No Cap Space WBB collection, a curated page of all of Homefield’s best WBB shirts, jackets, jerseys and more!

Our intro music is made by Denver’s own DLZMKSBTS, the King of Mile Hi-Fi. Check out all his music on Spotify here and on Instagram here.

No Cap Space WBB is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

There are five games or less in the WNBA regular season and we are being set up for one of the best finishes we’ve had in recent league history. There’s a fight for the second seed, the sixth seed and the eighth seed. No more than two games separate the groupings of teams in the mix for those positions so, naturally, that means there are a lot of games with stakes this upcoming weekend. In keeping with our end-of-season content offerings, we’ve got our Thursday recap and weekend preview available on podcast and video form on YouTube (you can watch it at the bottom of the email here if you prefer in video form).

It’s been a little light this week on the paid tier content, I know. But rest assured, this week was about getting interviews and the legwork to make sure your September is stuffed to the gills with insider content, analysis and some fantastic guests and profiles. If there were ever a time to get a free trial or hop on the Ball-Knower tier for a month, now is the time!

Now, let’s get to the Watch Guide!

Welcome to Ball Up Top, a weekly podcast from No Cap Space WBB. Every Tuesday morning, you can find a show in your emails or social feeds that touches on all the trending topics in women’s basketball. The crew will rotate based on availability, whether it’s Tyler, Andrew, Chauny, Greer or Rashard.

Tyler, Greer and Chauny are back on the pod this week with a couple broader topics as the regular season winds down in the WNBA. The show opens with a discussion about Candace Parker’s Chicago Sky jersey retirement and some of the simmering beef between her and Angel Reese. After a conversation about the concept of standing on business and when to do it, the discussion turns towards the WNBA playoffs.

With so many teams clogging the top six seeds, regularly jockeying for position, the show turns to a relatively simple question: who is the toughest matchup for each playoff team?

If you love the show, we’d love and appreciate a five star rating on Apple podcasts as well as a kind review if you’ve got the time! We’re also on the road to 5,000 subscribers on YouTube and 2,000 followers on TikTok so if you enjoy our content here, tell a friend to tell a friend to follow us on their preferred platform!

Scroll Ahead to Hear…

0:00 - Show Introduction.

3:05 - Candace Parker’s Jersey Retirement and the Game Within the Game…

18:20 - Toughest Matchup For Each Playoff Team…

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Our intro music is made by Denver’s own DLZMKSBTS, the King of Mile Hi-Fi. Check out all his music on Spotify here and on Instagram here.

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To quote the venerable Steve Miller Band, ‘Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’…into the future.’

Most teams have somewhere between six and seven regular season games left on their schedule while the difference between playoff qualification and elimination is one win or loss. If that doesn’t get you out of bed and ready to watch the WNBA, I don’t know what will. Add in a couple of increasingly compelling award races and we’ve got plenty to talk about going into the postseason. All season long I’ve been wondering how long it would take for the discourse to return to (semi) normal in the W and it feels like right now there’s no think pieces, no agitation outside the usual suspects and a chance to let the basketball do the talking.

It’s kind of nice, isn’t it?

If you missed any of our Sunday wrap show on YouTube, it’s here available as a podcast. We’re also expanding our coverage with Ball Up Top on Wednesdays, a Thursday night recap and weekend preview pod on Fridays and the Wrap on Sundays. Right when you need it, we’re ramping up for the stretch run as well. So tell a friend to tell a friend so you can stay up to date on all the action as we barrel towards one of the most fun Finals chases we’ve had in the W in the last four or five years.

Now, to the column!

1. Phee vs. A’ja For MVP. Buckle Up, Folks.

Guys, it’s okay to debate about awards. We don’t need to kumbaya and treat this like everyone gets a trophy at the end of the year. It’s sports. It’s competitive. As long as things stay within the lines (a big ask, I know), we should be comfortable standing behind our faves and their on-court cases for major awards. It’s part of what makes the game fun!

To that end, the race for MVP is officially on.

After A’ja Wilson’s 36 point ,13 rebound performance against Washington I opined on Bluesky that eventually the multi-time MVP had to be taking the lead in the race if she continued to do this. It was out of Napheesa Collier’s control, being injured and all, but if another player is repeatedly putting up guady statlines in your absence we’ve gotta have the conversation at some point, right?

Well, Phee returned to the Lynx lineup after 22 days out and put up 32 points and 9 rebounds on 11/16 from the field, 2/3 from deep and 8/9 from the line.

Game on.

With just seven or so games left in the regular season, and one matchup against each other, this MVP race is shaping up to be one for the ages. To put it in historical context, we’ve had two truly close battles for the award in the last 15 years in the W. In 2023, Breanna Stewart edged out Alyssa Thomas by just seven total votes and Wilson by 13 to win. Ten years earlier, Candace Parker outlasted Maya Moore by a mere 16 votes. It wouldn’t surprise me if this season is just as close.

Wilson has been the engine of a Las Vegas Aces turnaround that no one seemed to think was possible. Since the All-Star break, the reigning MVP is averaging 24.2 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game all while propelling the Aces to a 10 game winning streak.

Collier has been the difference between the Lynx being a very good finals team and a historically great one. She’s having her most efficient shooting year ever, is flirting with a 50-40-90 season (currently 54.3% FG, 37.8% 3PT, 90.7% FT) and still remains one of the top defensive players in the league.

You can’t really go wrong with either and if I bristled at the notion of pre-emptively awarding Wilson the MVP last season after just one month of play, I have to be consistent and say the same about Collier now. It’s a legit race and that September 4th matchup between the two may just be a Game of the Year contender.

2. Dominique Malonga For Sixth Woman of the Year? It’s Not That Crazy When You Think About It…

One of my favorite things to do is watch team social media accounts towards the end of the year. Subtly, you start to see little posts and pieces of content that range from subtly including historical context in stats to outright announcing MVP candidacies. On Saturday, Seattle Storm PR put out a curious tweet that led me to believe they’re trying to quietly push a narrative to the forefront…

Kind of interesting to make sure to include two Sixth Player of the Year winners, eh? Almost as if the wheels are turning to try and make a push for French rookie Dominique Malonga to be involved in the race. On the surface, one might think that it’s a bit late for this. I even wrote the other week in Five Out that Malonga was a lot like Rickea Jackson in that they came on extremely strong late in their rookie seasons but they hadn’t been out-front early enough to be in contention for an honor like Rookie of the Year. But when I started to dive into the Sixth Woman of the Year numbers, I realized the Storm may actually have a point.

Since the All-Star break, Malonga has averaged 12.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game on just 20.5 minutes per game. Her field goal percentage sits at around 57% from the field while she’s also become quite a prolific offensive board getter. Anyone watching her can see the potential, from her length to her defense down to the little things like her ability to reset screens and be an effective roller. When you start to find statistical equalizers, like Per 36 Minutes numbers, Malonga’s average skyrocket to 19.9 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. Compare that to Naz Hillmon, the Sixth Woman of the Year frontrunner, whose Per 36 averages come out to around 12.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

I can understand the argument that arriving late to the party can take you out of contention for a seasonal award and that it can sometimes be the fault of a coach rather than a player. But Sixth Woman of the Year is one of those rare awards where minute variance may actually be somewhat acceptable. After all, it’s an honor for the best bench player in the league. You could make an argument that Malonga isn’t your normal rotational center but, as of now, she hasn’t started in a single game this year. Maybe she should be getting a little more play than we’ve given her this year?

3. Are The Liberty Too Hurt To Contend?

After a dreadful two-loss weekend, the New York Liberty have now lost four of their last five and are now in a dogfight to keep a top four seed in the playoffs. Keep in mind, the difference between No. 4 and No. 5 is home court advantage in the best-of-3 opening round. To say that it matters a bit more in the WNBA would be an understatement. For example, if you’re New York wouldn’t you rather get Phoenix or Seattle at home rather than on the road in an elimination game?

But my concern is that this has just been the year from hell in terms of injuries. I know Indiana fans can relate. The Liberty are down basically their entire bench frontcourt plus Breanna Stewart and now Sabrina Ionescu has picked up an injury that sidelined her in a pivotal Saturday matchup against Atlanta. At this point I’m genuinely not sure who else they can lose and still remain competitive.

The belief is that Ionescu’s injury isn’t long term and that Stewart is aiming to be back before the playoffs but that still doesn’t solve the issue of Nyara Sabally (knee injury) and Izzy Harrison (concussion), two vital rotational pieces for New York. You saw it against Chicago, in which Emma Meesseman and Jonquel Jones were simply outrun by the trio of Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso and Elizabeth Williams. Against the best and deepest frontcourts in the league, how long can you expect to reasonably hold out before the dam breaks?

New York’s greatest asset last season was their depth and the ability to throw out talented and versatile defenders at any point in the game. They legitimately ran 8 deep with 6’1+ long defenders that could also shoot. Those players are still on the roster, the issue is that a good chunk of them are in street clothes. With just a couple weeks until the playoffs, the Liberty are caught between two hard places: they need to win games but also need to be patient with their stars to prep for a long postseason run. I don’t envy Sandy Brondello but if you dig deep and prove your championship bonafides with a skeleton crew roster, you’ll be set up well to win it all when you get everybody back.

4. The WNBA’s Treatment of the Mohegan Tribe Is As Bad Optically As It Is Economically…

I have a video coming on YouTube today that explores this more in depth but the gist of it is this: the WNBA is screwing up the Connecticut Sun deal to a point where I genuinely am wondering if the only route to true success for this league is to divest from the NBA entirely.

For those that need a quick refresher: the Sun were going to sell the team for about $325 million to a former Boston Celtics minority owner named Steve Pagliuca. His idea would be to buy the team, relocate them to Boston and play some games in Providence on the dates that conflicted at TD Garden with the Celtics and Bruins. The WNBA, more or less, spiked that deal, hoping to entice the Mohegan Tribe to sell the franchise to the league for roughly $250 million so they could relocate it to a market of their choice, preserving Boston as an expansion franchise that could fetch a hefty fee. This past week, further reporting came out that the Sun are considering taking the team completely off the market with an added revelation that the WNBA had come to the Tribe with an offer to buy the team and relocate them to Cleveland once before.

I’m no Juris Doctor but it feels like messing with someone’s business like this constitutes some type of tortious interference. If the argument is “well the Tribe aren’t owners but instead Governors of a franchise that is owned by the league thus they can set the market”, are we not talking about a monopoly?

Let’s face it: the economics here are terrible. I’ll eventually have a full column about why the W would be foolish to follow the NBA’s business practices of short-term gains at the expense of long-term fandoms but let’s focus on the Sun for now. Yes, the NBA and its existing Board of Governors comprise the majority of the WNBA’s control and voting power. But what kind of message does it send to the non-affiliated owners — Larry Gottesdiener and his group in Atlanta, the Alters in Chicago, Force 10 in Seattle or even L.A.’s consortium — and what their value to the league itself is? It’s no secret that there’s always been a schism between the non-NBA circle and the existing powers-that-be. The issue is now the shamelessness of the current cultural moment has brought that to light and now we’re seeing just how much of a ratfuck this is all turning into.

What exactly is the incentive for even billionaires like a Jimmy Haslem (the money behind the Nashville expansion bid) or the big money involved in Austin’s expansion to even try? The message being sent here is ‘we’re taking care of the NBA guys first and then we’ll talk’. And, given that the NBA has just sort of fallen upwards into its’ success on the back of a TV rights bubble that seemingly is never going to pop, is that really who you want to take your cues from? And why does every WNBA franchise have to be rooted in an NBA city? On one hand, the idea of full-year round basketball in a market carries some interest but the WNBA is also trying to establish itself as its own unique brand away from its’ male counterpart. Isn’t a market like a Nashville or Austin more interesting?

But beyond that, I have a huge issue with how this all looks. The Mohegan Tribe, as I’ve outlined before, are one of the most successful ownership groups in the WNBA’s history. None of these supposed business geniuses in the NBA managed to turn a profit for their W franchises in the early years of the league. The Tribe did. Many of the NBA owners didn’t even care to have a team, let alone take care of it. At a time when the W was on life support, the Tribe stepped up. It feels a little on-the-nose to have a collection of moneyed white dudes try to shortchange and dictate terms of ownership to one of just two Native American ownership groups in professional sports. As I’ve written before, the message is a terrible one on a bunch of different levels. Basically, you’re telling the independent owners who helped build the league to where it is that their contributions aren’t valued and that what Tilman Fertitta wants, Tilman Fertitta gets.

To be clear, I’m not naïve. This is capitalism, baby, and the way of the world as we know it. But just because things exist as they are doesn’t mean we immediately have to shrug our shoulders and bury our heads in the sand. It’s underhanded and unnecessary. My hope now is that the Tribe pulls the sale, takes the exciting core that they have and goes and wins a title with it in a few years. Make Cathy hand you that trophy with a smile on your face.

5. Paige vs. Caitlin And How To Keep Arguments Straight…

Paige Bueckers is finally receiving the Caitlin Clark treatment. After a 44 point explosion against Los Angeles late last week, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick was blitzed, double and tripled in the subsequent two games against Seattle and Golden State. While she managed to not allow that to turn into turnovers, Bueckers shot uncharacteristically bad from the field (2/7 vs. Seattle, 3/12 vs. Golden State) which brought an end to her season-long double figure scoring streak. Still, 30 games above 10 points per on average is pretty damn good.

Here’s where things get a little fuzzy and why we have to keep our arguments straight with regard to Paige and the others she’s compared to.

Yes, the Wings rookie has had a tough adjustment to the type of swarming defense Clark received all the way through her debut season. But that doesn’t necessarily matter in the Rookie of the Year race. Is Sonia Citron getting the Caitlin Clark treatment? Has she the entire year? No? Then it shouldn’t necessarily be part of the argument for Rookie of the Year. Furthermore, there is no doubt that CC managed to improve her team in her first WNBA campaign, guiding the Fever to the playoffs after a 13-27 season the year prior.

Is Paige doing that? Not particularly. But it’s worth noting the Washington Mystics are 3-7 since trading Brittney Sykes so if we’re utilizing a ‘rookie makes team better’ argument, it hasn’t really borne itself out even with Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron getting expanded roles.

This isn’t to take digs on Soni’s ROTY candidacy. Instead, it’s to try and give us all a little perspective and understanding that Paige for Rookie of the Year and Paige as the next Caitlin Clark are two separate arguments.

If you want to make the arg

As the WNBA regular season prepares to make way for the playoffs, we at No Cap Space WBB wanted to do something for the fans that just can’t get enough. On Friday mornings here and on YouTube, we’ll have a recap of Thursday’s game action as well as the Watch Guide in video and podcast form. Now, you’ll get the best of every world: A week recap/weekend preview on Friday, a weekend recap/week preview on Monday and the biggest topics in the game on Wednesdays for Ball Up Top.

Today we’re discussing Angel Reese’s impact now that she’s fully healthy for Chicago, the Aces complete turnaround and where Phoenix goes from here. After the review, we look at the week ahead. The Watch Guide remains the same, giving you even deeper dives on what to watch for as the standings get tighter and the stakes higher.

We’ve gotten some requests recently about additional donations for the NCS crew. If you don’t want to do a full subscription but want to support our work in any capacity, we are also opening up donations via Venmo as well. For those that have asked, we can’t tell you how much we appreciate and rest assured it is going back into the company to provide you with the best WBB coverage you can find!

Friday, August 15

Minnesota Lynx (28-7) vs. Indiana Fever (19-16): 7:30 PM ET, ION

Why It’s Worth a Watch: Minnesota is on the final leg of a three game road trip that included New York and Atlanta (both losses). Oh, and it’s a back-to-back tonight against the Fever who are coming off five days rest. Tired legs vs. fresh legs. You do the math. Yet in spite of that disadvantage, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Lynx made this a game. Matchups like this are the difference between playoff contenders and champions. Meanwhile, Indiana is fighting for their postseason lives. A win here could get you closer to Phoenix and New York, but a loss brings you a bit too close to the 8th or even 9th seed. There’s your stakes.

What to Watch For: Jessica Shepard had a phenomenal night against Brittney Griner and Bri Jones, pacing Minnesota with 15 points and 16 rebounds so I’m interested in her upcoming battle with Aliyah Boston. Courtney Williams will probably want a bounceback game after a 3-14 performance in the loss to Atlanta. For the Fever, I’m watching how Odyssey Sims plays given her ever increasing significance. They need to start fast because Minnesota won’t let them back into a game the way Connecticut did.

Must Watch Score: 8.5/10

Seattle Storm (18-18) vs. Dallas Wings (9-27): 7:30 PM ET, ION

Why It’s Worth a Watch: The Storm, like the Fever, are trying to stave off postseason elimination. With about eight or nine (depending on the team) games left in the regular season, every win counts. Seattle has just a half game lead on Los Angeles who don’t play again until next Tuesday. All the pressure is on them in this matchup as Dallas just plays for the end of the year.

What to Watch For: Paige Bueckers went thermonuclear against L.A., setting multiple records en route to a 44 point performance, and I’m curious how she follows that up. Skylar Diggins and Brittney Sykes are much better defenders than Kelsey Plum and Julie Allemand, so how will Bueckers adjust? In light of her performance, will Chris Koclanes decide to empower her by running things through her more? There’s a lot of cool to follow there. Unfortunately, I have a feeling the Storm frontcourt is going to tear the Wings apart. To that end, Dominique Malonga may have herself a game. If we get big minutes from her, this game turns into a really fun future superstars showcase.

Must Watch Score: 7.5/10

Golden State Valkyries (18-17) vs. Phoenix Mercury (21-14): 10:00 PM ET, ION

Why It’s Worth a Watch: This game has some of the highest stakes of the weekend from a postseason positioning standpoint. The Mercury were run out of the gym on Thursday night against Las Vegas and now welcome in a Valkyries team that has the capability of doing the same. Golden State, for their part, wants to keep pace with Indiana and can draw level with them if the Fever lose to Minnesota.

What to Watch For: The Mercury started to flow in the second quarter when they ran the offense a little less through Alyssa Thomas. The unintended consequence was Thomas looking visibly frustrated at times. I can attribute that to a fierce competitor who really wants to win but sometimes it feels like Kahleah Copper needs to be a bit more than a spot up shooter. How this big three of AT, Kah and Satou Sabally handle these big moments is important to understanding just how far they can this postseason.

Must Watch Score: 9/10

Saturday, August 16

New York Liberty (22-14) vs. Atlanta Dream (23-13): 2:00 PM ET, CBS

Why It’s Worth a Watch: I think Phoenix is fading a bit so I’d argue that New York, Atlanta and Las Vegas are the three teams vying for that second seed. Right now, the Dream hold a half game lead on the Aces and a full game lead on the Liberty. You see where I’m going with this? One game can be the difference between 2nd and 4th. Every single game matters especially in the W’s playoff format. A top four seed has home court advantage for the Best-of-3 first round. If you’re Atlanta or New York and drop one too many, you might end up in a much harder do-or-die playoff situation if it comes to that. Plus, we get some amazing individual matchups. Game of the Season candidate if both teams play to their potential.

What to Watch For: Sabrina Ionescu and Rhyne Howard feel very similar in that they can run hot and cold as shooters. When they’re on, the 2020 and 2021 number one picks are top 8 players in the league. When they’re off, it can look like Spice Adams shooting threes in open gym. If even one is cooking on Saturday, we’re in for a treat. Natasha Cloud vs. Allisha Gray is a great defensive stopper vs. dominant scorer matchup while the chess match between Sandy Brondello and Karl Smesko should be a blast for scheme scholars.

Must Watch Score: 9.5/10

Las Vegas Aces (23-14) vs. Washington Mystics (16-20): 3:00 PM ET, League Pass

Why It’s Worth a Watch: The Mystics are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs but that doesn’t mean they’re completely out. All it would take is a couple wins to be right back in the mix. The only tough part is they’re facing off against the hottest team in the WNBA right now. Could it get out of hand? Maybe. But there’s a cool narrative thread happening with these two teams. Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen bear some resemblance as players to Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson which gives us this cool young team vs. what-they-can-be story.

What to Watch For: A’ja Wilson has been on fire this August which will make this game a great test for Kiki Iriafen. In a lot of ways, it’s A’ja vs. Baby A’ja. A matchup of single-leg-sleevers. Potentially great television. Speaking of must-watch players, Chelsea Gray has successfully turned the clock back three years. The Point Gawd has returned to form at last and looks as good as she looked in the 2022 Conference Semifinals vs. Seattle. If you’ve been around, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, here you go. Enjoy. How Sonia Citron handles her and Jackie Young will be a fun storyline as well.

Must Watch Score: 7.5/10

Connecticut Sun (8-27) vs. Chicago Sky (9-26): 4:00 PM ET, CBSSN

Why It’s Worth a Watch: Both the Sky and Sun have been eliminated from the playoffs so you’d expect this to be a pair of teams that are just going through the motions before the year is out. Right? Wrong. Tyler Marsh and Rachid Meziane are building cultures in their respective cities and a game like this matters. It’s why you see the Sky beating New York and the Sun winning three in their last four. I expect the players to come out with the same energy they have all season and treat this like something it may not even be. That’s what makes both teams fun future buys…

What to Watch For: This frontcourt battle is going to be a blast. Olivia Nelson-Ododa, who has come on strong late in the year, and Tina Charles taking on Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. Size, scoring, versatility, intensity. You get it all. There’s also a fun LSU vs. LSU story with Reese meeting Sun rookie Aneesah Morrow. Connecticut’s backcourt duo of Saniya Rivers and Leila Lacan is quickly becoming one of my favorite tandems in the league and when they’re shooting well it’s legitimately a treat to watch.

Must Watch Score: 7/10

Sunday, August 17

Seattle Storm (18-18) vs. Washington Mystics (16-20): 3:00 PM ET, League Pass

Why It’s Worth a Watch: Not only is this Brittney Sykes’ first trip back to Washington since they traded her, this one feels like a bit of a make-or-break for the Mystics. A loss to the Aces will put them right on the edge of the cliff but a second loss to Seattle would tip them off the rocks and into the water. The schedule feels ripe for the Storm to rip off two wins before the last two games (Indiana, Minnesota) of their five game road stand. Can they do it against a Mystics team — one that’s won the previous two matchups against Seattle, it should be noted — that will probably be fighting for their playoff lives?

What to Watch For: I don’t even know if we’d get it but I want to see Dominique Malonga vs. Kiki Iriafen minutes. Those two are, to me, future All-WNBA forwards. In the backcourt, Brittney Sykes sees her old Mystics teammate in Sonia Citron. Given that the trade was, on some level, motivated by Washington going all in on Citron and Iriafen and letting Sykes go to a win-now team, will there be any added intensity? Especially given that the playoffs are more or less on the line? I would like to see it!

Must Watch Score: 7/10

Golden State Valkyries (18-17) vs. Dallas Wings (9-27): 4:00 PM ET, League Pass

Why It’s Worth a Watch: These are the exact games that no playoff hopeful should drop if they want to stay in the hunt. Dallas is inconsistent but has shown the ability to scare the hell out of (or even beat) teams that are better than them on-paper. Golden State is also a somewhat streaky team, winning or losing in bunches. If there’s a game on the schedule that feels like it could become weird in a hurry, it’s this one.

What to Watch For: Veronica Burton vs. Paige should be pretty fun. The former Northwestern superstar is a top candidate for Most Improved Player and has really come into her own as an impact player on both ends of the floor. How she defends Paige will be a cool battle to watch. Golden State has the size advantage and I’ve spilt enough ink about the Wings frontcourt issue. It wouldn’t surprise me if we saw a big game out of Iliana Rupert or Janelle Salaun.

Must Watch Score: 7/10

Indiana Fever (19-16) vs. Minnesota Lynx (28-7): 7:00 PM ET, CBSSN

Why It’s Worth a Watch: All the reasons outlined above, except even more stakes.

What to Watch For: What that↑ said.

Must Watch Score: 8/10

Monday, August 18

Connecticut Sun (8-27) vs. New York Liberty (22-14): 7:00 PM ET, League Pass

Why It’s Worth a Watch: This might be the most skippable matchup of the weekend but there’s still some possibility.. Belgian superstar Emma Meesseman sees her former national team head coach across the floor in Rachid Meziane and Connecticut does have an advantage in this one, assuming the injury report remains the same throughout the weekend. The Liberty’s loss to the Sky showed that their lack of depth in the frontcourt leaves them vulnerable over the course of a game especially if the threes stop falling. Connecticut does have a decent rotation of Tina Charles, ONO and Aaliyah Edwards. Maybe we might see something we weren’t expecting. After all, it happened at the start of August!

What to Watch For: Assuming Izzy Harrison, Nyara Sabally and Breanna Stewart are out for this game as well, the frontcourt minutes for New York will be vital. Jonquel Jones needs to continue to be the 20+ point per game scorer she is capable of being while Sabrina Ionescu just needs a couple threes to fall. But Connecticut will have Tina Charles to counter and Nelson-Ododa, who to me feels like the player that will decide this matchup. If she is playing her best, she can be a dimension New York doesn’t have right now.

Must Watch Score: 6.5/10

Las Vegas Aces (23-14) vs. Chicago Sky (9-26): 8:00 PM ET, NBATV

Why It’s Worth a Watch: This is another fun frontcourt matchup and while it’s likely to end in a blowout, we get Angel vs. A’ja. How will Becky Hammon handle her interior? Wilson on Kamilla Cardoso with NaLyssa Smith on Reese? Do they go bigger with Kiah Stokes and play them more traditionally, letting the shooters take advantage of the Sky’s perimeter defense? And it’s crazy to believe given that the season is almost over but this Tyler Marsh and Becky Hammon’s first time meeting one another as head coaches.

What to Watch For: Wilson is on a tear right now and this feels like one of those games where the master shows the pupils how it’s done. Both Reese and Cardoso will be superstars in their own rite but for now the belt belongs to A’ja. I’m a sucker for young upstars vs. bonafide champions so this is right up my alley.

Must Watch Score: 8/10

If You Can Only Watch One Game A Day…

Friday, August 22 - Minnesota Lynx (28-7) vs. Indiana Fever (19-16): 7:30 PM ET, ION

Saturday, August 23 - New York Liberty (22-14) vs. Atlanta Dream (23-13): 2:00 PM ET, CBS

Sunday, August 24 - Seattle Storm (18-18) vs. Washington Mystics (16-20): 3:00 PM ET, League Pass

Monday, August 25 - Las Vegas Aces (23-14) vs. Chicago Sky (9-26): 8:00 PM ET, NBATV

Honorable Mentions -

Friday, August 22 - Golden State Valkyries (18-17) vs. Phoenix Mercury (21-14): 10:00 PM ET, ION

No Cap Space WBB is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to Ball Up Top, a weekly podcast from No Cap Space WBB. Every Tuesday morning, you can find a show in your emails or social feeds that touches on all the trending topics in women’s basketball. The crew will rotate based on availability, whether it’s Tyler, Andrew, Chauny, Greer or Rashard.

It’s Tyler, Chauny and Greer on this episode of Ball Up Top: A WBB Podcast, recording on a Wednesday morning to make sure you got all the most recent reactions to a stacked Tuesday night of games. The Liberty defeated the Lynx, the Sun upset the Mystics while the Sky showed some fight and the race tightens between Las Vegas, Phoenix and Atlanta.

Our crew discusses all the major WNBA action from last night while taking a look at some of the more macro stories in the league as well. Is A’ja Wilson really making an MVP push? What do we make of the Connecticut Sun’s franchise sale troubles and how much much tighter can the seeding race get in the WNBA?

If you love the show, we’d love and appreciate a five star rating on Apple podcasts as well as a kind review if you’ve got the time! We’re also on the road to 5,000 subscribers on YouTube and 2,000 followers on TikTok so if you enjoy our content here, tell a friend to tell a friend to follow us on their preferred platform!

Additionally, we’ve gotten some requests recently about additional donations for the NCS crew. If you don’t want to do a full subscription but want to support our work in any capacity, we are also opening up donations via Venmo as well. For those that have asked, we can’t tell you how much we appreciate and rest assured it is going back into the company to provide you with the best WBB coverage you can find!

Scroll Ahead to Hear…

0:00 - Show Introduction.

2:05 - Lynx vs. Liberty Recap.

17:10 - The Race For A Top 4 Seed.

20:53 - The Aces Late Season Surge.

28:40 - How For Real Is Phoenix?

Ball Up Top: A WBB Podcast is brought to you in part by Homefield. Just this past week they revealed the full Can’t Miss Kickoff release schedule with hundreds of new football themed products to get you ready for the fall! Want some women’s hoops merch instead? Check out our No Cap Space WBB collection, a curated page of all of Homefield’s best WBB shirts, jackets, jerseys and more!

Our intro music is made by Denver’s own DLZMKSBTS, the King of Mile Hi-Fi. Check out all his music on Spotify here and on Instagram here.

While Five Out can sometimes venture out into the world of sports business, society and culture, it is occasionally fun to have a column that is just WNBA-centric.

After a week of great games, jockeying in the standings and some MVP caliber performances from some of the top players in the league, we get five topics that are as hoop-heavy as you can get.

In case you missed our Sunday wrap show, you can access it here as a podcast or below on YouTube. Be sure to like, share and subscribe or give us a five star rating and review on Apple if you enjoy the show! We always appreciate it and the growth of No Cap Space WBB doesn’t happen without you!

The WNBA season is over so we decided to do something special for this week’s Ball Up Top. Tyler, Andrew and Greer are at the sticks and decided to draft their best moments of the 2025 season.

Below are each staff member’s selection but we’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments or share our lists with your friends to figure out who can make the best moment list of the year.

Greer:

Paige Bueckers breaks the single game rookie scoring record with 42 points.

Skylar Diggins doing the electric slide in Minnesota.

Napheesa Collier’s unsung 50-40-90 season.

Pink wigs in the Target Center.

The back and forth battle brewing between A’ja Wilson and Dominique Malonga

Andrew:

A’ja Wilson’s WNBA Finals game three winner vs. Phoenix.

Napheesa Collier destroys Cathy Engelbert in exit interview.

Caitlin Clark’s high point: 32 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists vs. New York.

The mess of June’s Wings vs. Aces game.

The Rachid Meziane agenda ends on a positive note.

Tyler:

Studbudz take over All-Star weekend.

Players make a statement with ‘pay us what you owe us’ shirts.

Paige Bueckers and Haley Jones’ legendary meme.

Jacy Sheldon vs. Sophie Cunningham: The showdown.

Indiana’s playoff run.

Missed By Us (But We Wish We Had Back)

Ballhalla

Angel Reese vs. The Chicago Sky

Alyssa Thomas sets triple-double record

Kelsey Mitchell second half explosion vs. Connecticut

Kiki Iriafen vs. Sophie Cunningham preseason

Kiki Iriafen and Stef Dolson make a meme

If you love the show, we’d love and appreciate a five star rating on Apple podcasts as well as a kind review if you’ve got the time! We’re also on the road to 6,000 subscribers on YouTube and 3,000 followers on TikTok so if you enjoy our content here, tell a friend to tell a friend to follow us on their preferred platform!

Ball Up Top: A WBB Podcast is brought to you in part by Homefield. Just this past week they revealed the full Can’t Miss Kickoff release schedule with hundreds of new football themed products to get you ready for the fall! Want some women’s hoops merch instead? Check out our No Cap Space WBB collection, a curated page of all of Homefield’s best WBB shirts, jackets, jerseys and more!

Our intro music is made by Denver’s own DLZMKSBTS, the King of Mile Hi-Fi. Check out all his music on Spotify here and on Instagram here.

Now that we’re in the swing of Wednesday podcasts, we hope you’ve all been enjoying the double dose of our crew every week. If you missed our Sunday live show (or Monday morning pod, if you read Five Out), you can see it at the link below on YouTube. You can also see Ball Up Top in full over there in video form as well! Just be sure to like, share and subscribe if you do!

Chauny, back by popular demand, is in the host seat once again. One might say that in a group where everyone eats but there’s a clear star, she’s the Paige Bueckers of this ship. After a bit of internal crisis at such realizations, the show opens with a simple question: is there anyone in the same tier as the Minnesota Lynx right now? Andrew argues that Atlanta and New York could still get the best of them in a multi-game series and the debate ensues. After touching on Alanna Smith’s Defensive Player of the Year candidacy, the crew discusses the mess happening in Chicago and where the fault lies for an organization that feels caught in a death spiral. The show wraps with a look at another team in turmoil, the Seattle Storm.

Scroll ahead to hear…

0:00 - Show Introductions

4:59 - Is Minnesota in a tier of their own?

22:17 - Alanna Smith’s Defensive Player of the Year candidacy…

24:04 - The Sky is…falling…

43:31 - Storms in Seattle…

Ball Up Top: A WBB Podcast is brought to you in part by Homefield. Just this past week they revealed the full Can’t Miss Kickoff release schedule with hundreds of new football themed products to get you ready for the fall! Want some women’s hoops merch instead? Check out our No Cap Space WBB collection, a curated page of all of Homefield’s best WBB shirts, jackets, jerseys and more!

No Cap Space WBB is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Without being too hyperbolic, this has been one of the better WNBA late season playoff races I can remember. While there’s been plenty of jockeying in the standings at this point in prior years, there’s something about there being three (maybe even four) true Finals contenders in the mix. But before we dive into that, let’s welcome you back to Five Out now that we’re reformatted and back to our normal style.

As we mentioned last week, the column will now include a Monday podcast that comes from our Sunday live wrap shows on YouTube. It’ll cover the biggest games of the day and some of the biggest news items between Thursday and the end of the week. Ball Up Top: A WBB Podcast will now be dropping every Wednesday morning instead of Tuesday to give you two evenly spaced out podcasts that talk women’s basketball!

Keep an eye out for more Overtime Select coverage this week as well. Chauny was down in Atlanta for the weekend getting you caught up on the next generation of women’s hoops stars and the WNBA legends they’re working with this summer (and that’s before we start to get into NCAA previews). In short, it’s a great time to be a women’s basketball fan!

A quick programming note for you loyal podcast listeners. Ball Up Top is moving to Wednesdays full-time! We will now have a second show for you that will be a live weekend wrap up that will air on Sundays on YouTube and edited into pod form for Monday morning. That will push Ball Up Top to Wednesdays so you now get two chances to listen to some women’s basketball a talk a week with us!

Chauny is in the host chair with Tyler and Andrew as the trio discusses the recent action near the WNBA trade deadline. Brittney Sykes is now in Seattle and the pod breaks down how the move benefits both teams. The discussion then covers the hottest teams in the league right now including the Los Angeles Sparks who continue to surge towards a playoff spot before wrapping up with a discussion around DeWanna Bonner, Sophie Cunningham and how rivalries grow organically in the WNBA.

Scroll ahead to hear…

0:00 - Show Introduction

6:11 - Trade Breakdowns…

25:30 - What is L.A.’s ceiling?

46:05 - Connecticut Sun/WNBA sale drama.

53:10 - One last look at DeWanna Bonner’s Indiana exit.

Ball Up Top: A WBB Podcast is brought to you in part by Homefield. Just this past week they revealed the full Can’t Miss Kickoff release schedule with hundreds of new football themed products to get you ready for the fall! Want some women’s hoops merch instead? Check out our No Cap Space WBB collection, a curated page of all of Homefield’s best WBB shirts, jackets, jerseys and more!

Some news on the home front. Ball Up Top: A WBB Podcast is moving to Wednesdays so we can get you two pods per week. On Sundays, our No Cap Space WBB team will be live on YouTube breaking down the biggest WNBA games of the weekend and biggest news items headed into Monday.

Ball Up Top will be each Wednesday previewing the week ahead. It's all a part of our desire to get you a little more content and women's hoop talk!

Be sure to subscribe, like and rate us five stars on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening!

While the injury bug continued to hit the New York Liberty, the L.A. Sparks finally got one of their young superstars back after a 13 month recovery. Tyler, Greer and Andrew take a look at Cam Brink’s ceiling and what it could mean for a late season playoff push from Los Angeles.

The trio open the show with news of Kennedy Burke’s injury and how the short turnaround times are hurting the WNBA as a league and may become a source of contention at the CBA Bargaining table. The show wraps up with a discussion on the upcoming trade deadline and some of the best moves top teams can make.

Scroll ahead to hear…

0:00 - Show Introduction

2:15 - The WNBA’s Injury Issue & The Effect on CBA Negotiations

15:00 - Cam Brink’s Return and What It Means For L.A.

36:50 - One Move We Want To See At The Trade Deadline

Ball Up Top: A WBB Podcast is brought to you in part by Homefield. Just this past week they revealed the full Can’t Miss Kickoff release schedule with hundreds of new football themed products to get you ready for the fall! Want some women’s hoops merch instead? Check out our No Cap Space WBB collection, a curated page of all of Homefield’s best WBB shirts, jackets, jerseys and more!

Welcome to Ball Up Top, a weekly podcast from No Cap Space WBB. Every Tuesday morning, you can find a show in your emails or social feeds that touches on all the trending topics in women’s basketball. The crew will rotate based on availability, whether it’s Tyler, Andrew, Chauny, Greer or Rashard.

In longtime WNBA fan circles, there is a term called ‘Messy Monday’. Effectively it means that at the start of the week, we’re due for some fun things to talk about. Instead of a Messy Monday, we got a Meesy Monday this week with Belgian superstar Emma Meesseman joining the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty.

Tyler, Chauny and Greer are on the pod this week opening with the implications of the move and what it means for the rest of the league. The conversation then moves to the WNBA players and their ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us’ shirts at the All-Star game as well as the CBA negotiations continuing with the league. After a quick piece on the impact of the Studbudz 72 hour stream in Indianapolis, the crew takes a look at the season ahead and some predictions for the second half of the year.

Scroll ahead to hear…

0:00 - Show Introduction

1:39 - Emma Meesseman joins New York Liberty

6:55 - Are the Liberty the best starting five in WNBA history?

22:06 - The future of the WNBA/WNBPA CBA negotiations…

39:30 - Buy/Sell for the second half of the WNBA season…

Summer is here so get fitted for all your functions with Homefield! Use promo code NOCAP15 for 15% off your first purchase here! Check out their new ‘Summer School’ hat series and rock your favorite school in style as well as our No Cap Space WBB collection. In partnership with Homefield, we’ve curated all their women’s basketball merch into one place here.'

It wasn’t as messy of a Monday as last week was but we still got plenty of interesting storylines and topics to discuss on Ball Up Top. Andrew and Tyler hold down the fort, opening the show with a quick hitter on DeWanna Bonner’s move to Phoenix (the full reaction vid is available on YouTube here) before running through the finalized All-Star game lists. After that, the two discuss their biggest surprise storylines of the WNBA season so far before wrapping the show with a quick chat about Team USA’s championship win in the FIBA Americup.

Scroll ahead to hear…

0:00 - Show Introduction

1:27 - DeWanna Bonner to Phoenix reactions…

6:30 - All-Star roster reactions…

25:30 - Biggest surprises halfway through the WNBA season.

45:00 - Team USA/FIBA Americup takeaways

Summer is here so get fitted for all your functions with Homefield! Use promo code NOCAP15 for 15% off your first purchase here! Check out their new ‘Summer School’ hat series and rock your favorite school in style as well as our No Cap Space WBB collection. In partnership with Homefield, we’ve curated all their women’s basketball merch into one place here.

Welcome to Ball Up Top, a weekly podcast from No Cap Space WBB. Every Tuesday morning, you can find a show in your emails or social feeds that touches on all the trending topics in women’s basketball. The crew will rotate based on availability, whether it’s Tyler, Andrew, Chauny, Greer or Rashard.

To say this was a Messy Monday in the WNBA might be an understatement. Expansion franchises, a big trade as well as All-Star starter announcements? That’s basically asking for a packed Ball Up Top on a Tuesday. Tyler and Chauny have the wheel and dive into everything that happened this past week and in the past 36 hours to get you ready for another slate of games in WNBA world.

Scroll ahead to hear…

0:00 - Show Introduction

2:47 - Expansion Thoughts and Reactions.

21:37 - NaLyssa Smith Trade Reactions.

38:16 - All-Star Starters Reactions.

Summer is here so get fitted for all your functions with Homefield! Use promo code NOCAP15 for 15% off your first purchase here! Check out their new ‘Summer School’ hat series and rock your favorite school in style.

Well, glad the schedules didn’t align and we recorded this after our usual Monday night time slot. With so much happening in the last 18-24 hours in the WNBA world, this week’s Ball Up Top is up to date and ready to roll. Andrew, Chauny and Tyler are on hand to dissect the DeWanna Bonner situation and Aari McDonald’s signing to the Indiana Fever as well as wondering aloud what’s happening with Caitlin Clark, who is in a 3 point shooting slump over three games.

The pod continues with a discussion about the Los Angeles Sparks and whether or not the team can do a bit better than one of the worst in the western conference. While looking at the free agent possibilities, it opened up a discussion surrounding the Washington Mystics and their potential frontcourt duo of the future.

Scroll Ahead to Hear…

0:00 - Show Introduction

2:31 - DeWanna Bonner and the Fever break up.

21:46 - What to make of Caitlin Clark’s shooting slump…

39:27 - Is this a lost season for the L.A. Sparks?

49:34 - Is Kiki Iriafen/Shakira Austin the frontcourt of the future for the Mystics?

Summer is here so get fitted for all your functions with Homefield! Use promo code NOCAP15 for 15% off your first purchase here! Check out their new ‘Summer School’ hat series and rock your favorite school in style.