Cathy Engelbert is stepping down as WNBA Commissioner at the end of 2026, closing the book on one of the most consequential—and complicated—tenures in league history. We break down the massive growth the WNBA experienced under her leadership, from soaring franchise valuations and expansion to new media rights, charter flights and transformational player salaries, while also examining the strained player relationships, controversies and criticism that came to define the latter part of her tenure.

Then we head to Berlin for the FIBA Women’s World Cup, where Team USA gave everyone a scare with a 55-52 win over Italy before responding in a big way with a dominant 105-64 victory over Czechia. We discuss what went wrong against Italy, what changed against Czechia, the impact of Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Jackie Young, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, and whether France may be emerging as Team USA’s biggest threat heading into the knockout rounds.

Plus, Jordan Robinson sits down with basketball officiating legend Violet Palmer, the first woman to referee an NBA regular-season game. Palmer talks about breaking barriers, what fans misunderstand about officiating, handling players and coaches, how referees are trained and evaluated, the growing role of replay and technology, freedom of movement, and what it takes to make calls at the highest level of basketball.

The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup is officially here, and we’re breaking down everything you need to know before play tips off in Berlin!

Team USA enters as the heavy favorite, but they’ll do so without A’ja Wilson. What does her absence mean for the Americans, and what should we expect as Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and several other stars make their World Cup debuts? We preview Team USA’s roster and chances, the biggest international contenders, and the WNBA players representing countries around the world.

Plus, last episode we left DeWanna Bonner’s future as a cliffhanger. Now we know: she’s officially an Atlanta Dream player. Our own Autumn Johnson caught up with Bonner as she begins the next chapter of her career.

We’ll also explain why the WNBA is pausing its season for the World Cup, which teams could be helped or hurt most by the break, and what it could mean for the playoff race when the league returns.

WNBA legend Nneka Ogwumike has officially announced she will retire at the end of the 2026 season. We break down the former MVP's incredible 15-year career, her championship legacy, and her transformative decade as WNBPA president.

Plus, we celebrate the 2026 WNBA Hall of Fame class! Jordan Robinson and Sheryl Swoopes reflect on the inductees Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, and the legendary 1996 U.S. Olympic team.

Finally, we dive into DeWanna Bonner's buyout with the Phoenix Mercury and debate the hottest WNBA award races: Can Olivia Miles or Caitlin Clark make a late push to steal the MVP from A'ja Wilson?

Diana Taurasi’s No. 3 is officially in the rafters in Phoenix. Plus, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever keep stacking wins as the 2026 WNBA Playoffs approach!

In this episode, we break down Taurasi’s emotional jersey retirement, the Mercury’s concerning loss to Portland, and the growing risks around the Kelsey Plum trade now that she is injured and heading into free agency.

Then, we shift to the hottest teams in the league:

🌡️ Indiana Fever are surging at the perfect time behind the unstoppable duo of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.

🐱 Minnesota Lynx continue to strengthen their grip on the No. 1 seed after a massive win over A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces.

Finally, we look at the complete WNBA playoff picture, strength of schedule, and the biggest questions facing title contenders as the regular season winds down.

Rivals Week is underway, and the WNBA gave us plenty to talk about. Chelsea Gray hit TWO buzzer-beating threes to stun Caitlin Clark and the Fever, DiJonai Carrington’s ejection against Sophie Cunningham sparked controversy, and Kayla McBride set a WNBA record with 10 three-pointers.

Jordan Robinson and Bria Hartley also break down the Liberty’s 40-point win over an Aces team resting its stars and then have some fun with the rivalries the WNBA may not officially recognize, like Jose Fernandez vs. accountability after the Wings coach publicly challenged his players during Dallas’ recent slide.

Finally, it’s time to give the Washington Mystics their flowers. The young Mystics have gone from rebuilding team to one of the hottest squads in the league. We examine what’s driving their surge, the addition of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Shakira Austin’s breakout stretch, and whether Washington should now be considered a legitimate dark-horse championship contender.

The WNBA Trade Deadline just shook up the league! Kelsey Plum is officially heading to the Phoenix Mercury in a blockbuster move that signals a massive shift for both Phoenix and the Los Angeles Sparks.

Welcome back to The Women’s Hoops Show! In this episode, we break down all the biggest moves and storylines from a wild WNBA trade deadline.

Here is what we analyze this week:

☄️Phoenix Mercury's Masterplan: Why the Mercury pushed all their chips in to land Kelsey Plum

⚡LA Sparks Reset: Why Los Angeles is officially entering a full-scale rebuild

🇨🇦 Toronto Tempo's Big Move: Why the WNBA's newest expansion team acquiring Aneesah Morrow might quietly be the smartest acquisition of the season

Plus, we debut a brand-new edition of Hoop Roots! We look back at the biggest midseason trades in WNBA history before doing a deep dive into the Los Angeles Sparks. How did one of the league's flagship franchises become its biggest cautionary tale? We track their championship rise and their recent decline.

Finally, we recap the week’s best WNBA highlights:

🏆 Olivia Miles' massive Rookie of the Year (ROY) push for the Minnesota Lynx

🏀 Sydney Taylor's clutch game-winner against the Las Vegas Aces

🌟 Why we need to stop taking A'ja Wilson's historic greatness for granted

WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago delivered history, emotion, and record-breaking performances at every turn! In this episode of The Women's Hoops Show, Jordan Robinson and Autumn Johnson break down an unforgettable weekend at Wintrust Arena.

We dive deep into Dallas Wings star Azzi Fudd catching fire to become the first rookie ever to win the WNBA 3-Point Contest, and examine how Jonquel Jones’ All-Star MVP trophy caps off one of the most complete and unique résumés in league history. We also unpack Caitlin Clark’s first true WNBA All-Star Game experience, celebrate Dominique Malonga’s historic dunk, and honor Nneka Ogwumike as she takes the crown as the WNBA’s all-time All-Star leading scorer. Plus, we break down why the brand-new Shooting Stars competition was an instant hit for fans and players alike.

Beyond the court, Jordan takes you behind the scenes with exclusive stories from hosting the Orange Carpet. Finally, we tackle the growing business and leadership questions in the league, examining what the future holds for WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert amidst the league's explosive, record-setting growth.

Topics Covered in This Episode

🏀 Azzi Fudd wins the 3-Point Contest

🏀 Team Washington (Elena Delle Donne, Shakira Austin, and Jezelle "GG" Banks) win Shooting Stars Challenge

🏀 Jonquel Jones' historic MVP performance

🏀 Caitlin Clark's All-Star Weekend

🏀 Dominique Malonga's historic dunk

🏀 Nneka Ogwumike's scoring record

🏀 Cathy Engelbert's future as commissioner

🏀 StudBudz's live stream best moments

🏀 Winners, losers and biggest takeaways from All-Star Weekend

The WNBA is heading into the 2026 All-Star Weekend in Chicago with incredible basketball matchups…and major off-court controversy.

Jordan Robinson and Sheryl Swoopes break down the biggest stories surrounding the league, starting with Sandy Brondello’s one-game suspension following her "protected species" comments regarding Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese. Plus, we discuss the unprecedented involvement of members of Congress regarding Caitlin Clark and player safety, keeping the conversation grounded in nuance and accountability.

Then, it’s all about the basketball!

We recap an amazing week of hoops that included:

💥Nneka Ogwumike making history as the Los Angeles Sparks' all-time leading scorer by passing Lisa Leslie

💥Olivia Miles leading the Minnesota Lynx on a massive winning streak

💥New York Liberty's thrilling overtime victory against the Dallas Wings

Finally, we preview the highly anticipated 2026 WNBA All-Star Game: Team Coop vs. Team Spoon!

We break down the legendary rosters drafted by Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon, debate the biggest All-Star snubs, and predict the winners of the Three-Point Contest and the brand-new individual competitions.

🏀 Topics covered:

-Sandy Brondello's comments about Angel Reese

-Congress gets involved over Caitlin Clark

-The WNBA's biggest off-court controversies

-Nneka Ogwumike passes Lisa Leslie

-Olivia Miles and the Lynx keep rolling

-Liberty outlast Wings in overtime

-WNBA All-Star roster breakdown

-Biggest All-Star snubs

-Three-Point Contest predictions

-WNBA All-Star individual competitions

-What to watch during All-Star Weekend

👇 DROP A COMMENT: Who wins the All-Star Game:Team Coop or Team Spoon? And who was the biggest All-Star snub?

🔔 SUBSCRIBE to The Women’s Hoops Show for weekly WNBA analysis, game breakdowns, and everything else you need to know about the world of women’s hoops.

This week on The Women's Hoops Show, former WNBA player Bria Hartley joins to break down one of the biggest stories of the WNBA season as the Las Vegas Aces waive Chennedy Carter just months after she looked like an early Sixth Player of the Year candidate. Was it about production, role acceptance, locker-room fit, or something else?

We also dive into the controversy surrounding Caitlin Clark finishing 11th among guards in the WNBA All-Star player vote—even as she became the fastest player in league history to reach 600 career assists. We'll explain how the voting actually works, why the headline has been misunderstood, and whether the criticism of the process is justified.

Plus:

-The Liberty's shoe-toss controversy and officiating debate

-Toronto sets a WNBA regular-season attendance record

-The Aces' historic 48-point win—and their 34-point loss to Indiana two days later

-Which teams most need the upcoming All-Star break

If you enjoy in-depth WNBA analysis, subscribe for weekly breakdowns covering the biggest stories, players, and trends from around the league.

The New York Liberty are Commissioner's Cup champions, but what did the win really reveal about the championship race? We break down Sabrina Ionescu's breakout performance, the Las Vegas Aces' fight without A'ja Wilson, and what both teams learned heading into the second half of the season.

We also discuss the latest injury updates, including Napheesa "Phee" Collier's encouraging return to practice and what her comeback could mean for the Minnesota Lynx, along with Atlanta's growing need to get Bri Jones back on the floor.

Then we spotlight several under-the-radar players making a major impact this season, including Pauline Astier, Rebekah Gardner, Natasha Howard, Awak Kuier, NaLyssa Smith, and Kaila Charles.

Finally, we dive into one of the biggest stories in the WNBA: Skylar Diggins' public reaction after being moved to the bench and the latest questions surrounding the Chicago Sky organization. We wrap up with Unrivaled's newest signings and a look ahead at this week's marquee matchups.

Women’s basketball legend Taj McWilliams-Franklin joins The Women's Hoops Show LIVE from the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame! From dominating the ABL and WNBA to her current role as Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Upshot League, Taj has been at the center of the game for nearly three decades.

In this exclusive interview, the multi-time WNBA Champion reflects on her legendary career, winning championships with the Detroit Shock and Minnesota Lynx, and she shares untold stories and leadership lessons from basketball icons like Dawn Staley, Cheryl Reeve, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson.

Whether you're a day-one WNBA fan or new to women's basketball, Taj offers a masterclass on what it takes to win and where the game is heading next.

What We Cover in This Episode:

🏀 The Hall of Fame Journey: Reflecting on a 3-decade career from the ABL to the WNBA.

🏆 Championship DNA: Why team chemistry matters more than raw talent.

👑 Legends of the Game: Lessons learned from Dawn Staley, Cheryl Reeve, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson.

🔮 The Future of Women's Hoops: How the Upshot League is creating new professional opportunities for athletes.

🌟 Today's WNBA Stars: Taj’s honest thoughts on A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Olivia Miles, and the current state of the league.