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.

This weekend ESPN commemorated the 30th anniversary of the inaugural WNBA game, running it back with the Sparks vs. the Liberty. Nneka Ogwumike’s winning 3-pointer wasn’t just a buzzer beater–it was bigger than the moment, and we break down how it symbolizes the evolution of WNBA history.

Next, we reminisce on our highlights in one of the best-matched Commissioner’s Cups yet: Caitlin Clark's dagger over the Mystics, Sonia Citron's incredible game-winner, and Olivia Miles' huge effort against the Aces are top of mind. With the Liberty’s wobbles figuring out their lineup, do the Aces have an edge in the final?

Plus, Autumn Johnson and Jordan Robinson fangirl out in some recent WNBA highlights.

In this episode:

🏀 Nneka Ogwumike’s storybook ending against the Liberty

🏀 Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, and other legends say “there wouldn’t be a season 30 without a Day 1”

🏀 Sonia Citron’s Commissioner’s Cup Buzzerbeater

🏀 Angel Reese's record-breaking rally to 1000 rebounds

🏀 Marina Mabrey's star turn as the face of a franchise

🏀 Seattle Storm v. Dallas Wings showcasing the league’s young talent

What if every WNBA team could add an all-time legend to their current roster?

This week on The Women's Hoops Show, host Jordan Robinson and 4x WNBA Champion Sheryl Swoopes celebrate 30 years of WNBA history with the ultimate thought experiment!

We check in on every single franchise ahead of the season midpoint to answer one burning question: Which franchise icon would give their team the biggest boost right now?

We revisit the legacies of icons like Lisa Leslie, Maya Moore, Tamika Catchings, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Candace Parker, and more.

From teams needing immediate scoring or lockdown defense, to contenders looking for that one missing piece to secure a championship, we're drafting the ultimate throwback upgrades.

Plus, we break down a chaotic week of Commissioner’s Cup action!

🏆 The Liberty clinch a spot in the Championship Game

🏆 The Fever are eliminated despite winning three straight

🏆 The Aces go from controlling their destiny to needing help

🏆 The Lynx reclaim control of the Western Conference race

🏆 Are the Wings officially contenders?

The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup is heating up! Jordan Robinson and Kendra Andrews break down the early Cup standings and WNBA Awards races on this week’s episode of The Women's Hoops Show.

First, we sort the WNBA standings into four Commissioner's Cup categories: Cup Runneth Over, Cup Half Full, Cup Half Empty, and Cup’s Down to the Last Drop.

In this episode, we cover:

🏆 Minnesota Lynx Dominance: Why the Lynx remain the WNBA’s gold standard despite major roster changes and injuries.

🔥 Dallas Wings Rising: How Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and the Wings have emerged as legitimate WNBA Championship contenders faster than expected.

⚠️ Portland Fire Identity: Can the expansion Fire rediscover the magic that made them one of the biggest surprises of the season?

🚨 Chicago Sky Turmoil: Breaking down the Sky’s season from early optimism to mounting frustration following injuries, losses, and Skylar Diggins’ candid comments about the team's mentality.

Plus, we look at the latest WNBA Awards Races:

👑 WNBA MVP & GOAT Case: Why A'ja Wilson continues to separate herself from the rest of the league after becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 career points.

⭐ Rookie of the Year (ROTY): Is Olivia Miles running away with the award?

⭐ Hardware Predictions: Who are the early favorites for WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), Most Improved Player (MIP), and Sixth Player of the Year?

The Indiana Fever are facing tough questions after another uneven week, and while much of the conversation has centered around Caitlin Clark and her viral sideline interaction with Stephanie White, the bigger concern may be Indiana's defense.

This week, we break down how opponents are attacking Clark, why the Fever continue to struggle defensively, and what must change if Indiana hopes to become a true championship contender.

Plus, we're giving flowers to some of the WNBA's most overlooked stars. Jessica Shepard is putting together a historic season in Dallas, while Natasha Howard continues to be the backbone of Minnesota's rise near the top of the standings. These players are making a major impact…even if they're not dominating headlines.

We also take a trip around the globe to spotlight the international talent reshaping the WNBA. From Julie Allemand and Carla Leite to Janelle Salaün, Pauline Astier, Justė Jocytė, Jovana Nogic, Kamilla Cardoso, and more, the league's global influence has never been stronger.

And with Commissioner's Cup play heating up, we share our early reactions, contenders, and lessons learned from the first month of the WNBA season.

In This Episode:

🏀 Caitlin Clark's defensive challenges

🏀 Indiana Fever's biggest concerns

🏀 Stephanie White's coaching adjustments

🏀 Jessica Shepard's historic start

🏀 Natasha Howard's impact on Minnesota

🏀 International stars transforming the WNBA

🏀 Commissioner's Cup contenders

🏀 Biggest WNBA storylines this week