After the Chicago Sky’s 85-66 loss to the undefeated New York Liberty on June 10, forward Angel Reese put together one of her strongest games of the season. But the postgame focus shifted quickly from her double-double to questions about a flagrant foul — and broader criticism that continues to follow the 23-year-old. Reese’s teammate Ariel Atkins delivered an impassioned defense during the postgame press conference, urging media and fans alike to focus on basketball and to respect the pressures Reese faces. “Her crown is heavy! So whatever else y’all want to come at her for the way that she…
Author: Grant Afseth
Read More
ESPN analyst and WNBA legend Rebecca Lobo is forecasting big things ahead for Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston, especially once Caitlin Clark returns to the lineup. Lobo, a former All-WNBA center and one of the game’s most respected voices on post play, recently broke down Boston’s offensive numbers and efficiency during Clark’s absence. Her conclusion? The second-year big is primed for a breakout stretch once Indiana’s star point guard is back on the floor. “[Aliyah Boston] could be poised for a monster scoring outburst when CC returns,” Lobo wrote in a recent X post. Aliyah Boston’s Efficiency Has Been Off…
As the Indiana Fever look to establish themselves as contenders in the 2025 WNBA season, they have found an important voice of support from one of the sport’s most respected figures. South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley believes the Fever have the roster to compete for a championship, provided they can stay healthy. Speaking during a June 8 appearance on CBS Sports’ Women’s Basketball show, Staley was asked whether any team looks capable of challenging the league’s two early juggernauts — the undefeated Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty. Her answer? Indiana. “A healthy Indiana Fever team,” Staley said.…
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White has returned to the team after missing Saturday’s road game against the Chicago Sky due to personal reasons. White addressed her absence on Monday, thanking her coaching staff and players for their support as she navigates a difficult family situation. “Thanks. You know, I’m doing all right,” White said. “It’s helpful that we have such a great group, pouring into me and helping give me strength. I’ve said it all along, we’ve got three head coaches on our staff. And so knowing that they continue to step up and do great things gives me…
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers is edging closer to a return, but her status remains uncertain heading into a crucial stretch for the struggling team. Bueckers was cleared from concussion protocol over the weekend after missing three games but was held out of Sunday’s matchup against the Minnesota Lynx due to an unrelated illness. The earliest she could return is Wednesday, when Dallas hosts the Phoenix Mercury. “Just dealing with an illness and just being extremely cautious and supportive as an organization,” Wings head coach Chris Koclanes said before Sunday’s game. “Hope to have her back soon.” Paige Bueckers Cleared…
WNBA legend Candace Parker is pushing back against the ongoing media-driven comparisons between Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese. Speaking on Jemele Hill’s Spolitics podcast, Parker said the narrative surrounding the two young stars is not only unhelpful but fundamentally flawed. “It’s like comparing apples and oranges,” Parker said. “What are we doing? They like doing the Magic [Johnson] and [Larry] Bird comparison. … I’m not falling into that.” Candace Parker Urges Media to Move Beyond Rivalry Narrative Parker criticized how some outlets and fans continue to frame Clark and Reese as direct rivals, largely…
The Las Vegas Aces are suddenly facing a level of adversity they have rarely experienced in the Becky Hammon era. Saturday’s 95-68 blowout loss to the Golden State Valkyries marked the Aces’ third-largest defeat since Hammon took over as head coach and the first season under her leadership in which the Aces have suffered multiple 20-point losses. “What is out there, that’s not an Aces team we are used to seeing,” Aces guard Chelsea Gray said. “We are trying to figure it out in our locker room, in our meetings. … It’s uncharted territory right now that we have not…
Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark will remain sidelined Tuesday against the Atlanta Dream as she continues to recover from a left quadriceps strain, head coach Stephanie White said Monday. It will be the fifth consecutive game Clark has missed since suffering the injury on May 24 against the New York Liberty, marking the first time she has missed game action in her collegiate or professional basketball career. Clark has returned to portions of practice but has not yet been cleared for full-contact or live drills. “We’re going to be smart, and we’re going to be cautious and we’re going…
LSU national champions Flau’jae Johnson and Angel Reese once shared a close bond as teammates. But both stars have recently acknowledged that their friendship has faded, drawing interest and reflection from fans who watched them make history together in Baton Rouge. Johnson spoke openly about the topic during a June 9 interview on The Breakfast Club, providing her most direct public comments yet about why she and Reese are no longer close. “We’re not friends, but I mean that bond that we had, that thing that we did together, winning a national championship, you can never take that away from…
The Chicago Sky endured one of their most difficult weekends of the season, suffering a blowout loss to the rival Indiana Fever and losing veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot to a season-ending knee injury. However, the team’s struggles also reignited conversation about a familiar figure who is no longer on the roster. Former Sky guard Chennedy Carter took to social media with a cryptic post late Saturday, just hours after news of Vandersloot’s torn ACL was confirmed. The message, which did not name anyone specifically, drew a strong reaction online. “When the universe gives you signs, you pay attention! What…
The Golden State Valkyries delivered a defining moment in their young franchise’s history Saturday night, and one of their rising stars seized the spotlight. Golden State’s 95–68 rout of the Las Vegas Aces marked not only the team’s most impressive win to date but also a personal triumph for Kate Martin, who played her rookie season with the Aces last year. The second-year guard scored 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting, grabbed 7 rebounds, and posted a game-high +30 plus-minus while helping the Valkyries dismantle the defending WNBA champions. “It was very exciting,” Martin said postgame. “You know, I felt very…
Dallas Wings star rookie Paige Bueckers is on the verge of returning to the court. The No. 1 overall pick in April’s WNBA Draft has cleared concussion protocol after missing the team’s past three games, the Wings announced Saturday. She is officially listed as probable (illness) for Sunday’s matchup against the Minnesota Lynx. Bueckers entered concussion protocol last week following a collision late in the Wings’ loss to the Chicago Sky. At the time, the team said she was expected to miss at least two games. She remained out for a third contest on Friday but was present on the…
Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers aren’t about to get caught up in any premature celebration. After delivering a stunning 105–104 comeback win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals — sealed by Haliburton’s game-winning jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining — the Pacers’ locker room remained grounded. Their leader made sure of it. “What’s the point?” Haliburton told Andscape’s Marc J. Spears when asked about the team’s modest postgame mood. “Ain’t nobody expected us to win this [expletive] anyway. So what’s the point of tripping? Not a person expected us to win not a single…
As the Chicago Sky prepare to face the Indiana Fever on Saturday night, first-year head coach Tyler Marsh knows his team will see a very different Indiana backcourt than it did in the season opener. Back on May 17, the Fever rolled to a 93–58 win in Chicago behind Caitlin Clark’s early-season debut. But as the teams prepare for the rematch at Wintrust Arena, Clark remains sidelined with a left quadriceps strain. Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is also out with an ankle injury. Those absences have created new opportunities — and brought a new challenge — for Marsh and his…
For Caitlin Clark, the physical recovery from her left quadriceps strain is progressing well — but the mental adjustment has proven just as challenging. The Indiana Fever star guard spoke with the media on Thursday, June 5, offering her first public comments since being sidelined with the injury during the team’s May 24 game against the New York Liberty. As she updates fans on her progress, Clark is also being candid about what she’s missed most while away from the court. “I think at times, the hardest part is just not being able to be involved in practice,” Clark said.…