Swish Appeal
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Op-Ed: How the late Gloria Steinem’s spirit lives on in the WNBA
Yet another monumental icon of society and culture has left us. On Thursday, the news broke that feminist activist and journalist Gloria Steinem passed away at the age of 92. Throughout her lifetime of service, Steinem stood on the front lines in the quest for gender equality. She broke ground as a journalist, launching the […]
Op-Ed: Skylar Diggins shows how not to back down while preserving mind, body, and spirit
On Tuesday, the Chicago Sky got the news that veteran guard Skylar Diggins will be sidelined for the remainder of the season as she continues to battle a lingering right knee injury. A season full of potential and optimism has come to an abrupt end. The Sky acquired Diggins right before the season began, along […]
Without A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, here’s how Team USA must change their identity to win a fifth-straight World Cup
When the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup tips off on Sept. 4, USA Basketball will begin chasing a 12th world title and fifth-straight gold medal. However, the roster that has landed in Berlin looks noticeably different than the one that squeaked past France for Olympic gold two summers ago. A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum are […]
Why the Washington Mystics’ supporting cast makes them a dangerous team entering the 2026 WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA has the best women’s basketball talent in the world. Every team’s supporting cast is full of players who have proven themselves somewhere at some time. However, one supporting cast deserves some extra attention: that of the Washington Mystics. Overlook the Mystics in the playoffs at your own peril. Not only do they have […]
Three not-too-serious predictions for Team USA as the FIBA World Cup tips offs
When dominance is the expectation, everything attracts extra scrutiny. That promises to be the fate of Team USA at the FIBA Women’s World Cup. Who’s playing? And how much? And with who? And when? The excess of elite talent adds extra weight to every decision made by head coach Kara Lawson and her staff, even […]
Even with a key injury and other uncertainties, the Las Vegas Aces are the favorites to again win the WNBA title—and here’s why
The Las Vegas Aces may have fallen short of a WNBA championship in 2024. And they will be without NaLyssa Smith for the rest of this season. But the way in which they re-asserted themselves as champions last year, with best player A’ja Wilson raising their ceiling through the roof as she ascended to GOAT […]
Could one of these three teams actually upset Team USA in the FIBA World Cup?
The 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup tips off Friday, Sept. 4 in Berlin, Germany, and the United States is a heavy favorite to win it all. And for good reason. Team USA has won this competition the previous four times. The last time they lost a World Cup was in 2006, finishing third. Beating the […]
Three Washington Mystics are now headed to the FIBA World Cup. Who will contribute the most?
Early Monday morning, it was announced that Washington Mystics stars Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron have been added to Team USA’s FIBA World Cup roster, replacing A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum who will be inactive due to health reasons. Both Iriafen and Citron had attended the Team USA training camp in December, with Iriafen also […]
Get the best of Swish Appeal on the new SB Nation app
It’s a big day for Swish Appeal. Today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way to follow women’s basketball. You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android. A year ago we made some big changes to our community, including offering fewer ads and the addition of the […]
WNBA photo essay: How a record-breaking Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream dethroned the Minnesota Lynx in DeWanna Bonner’s debut
There’s a truism in basketball that the first home game after a long road trip feels like another road game. The Atlanta Dream proved the validity of that idea on Friday night, with a flat performance resulting in a nearly 20-point loss to the Portland Fire. On Sunday afternoon, re-acclimated and agitated, the real Dream […]
Here’s a run down of every WNBA player competing in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup
The 2026 WNBA season is officially on pause until Thursday, Sept. 17 as the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup tips off Friday, Sept. 4 in Berlin, Germany. A total of 51 WNBA players fill the rosters of the 16 national teams competing in the tournament, with every WNBA team except the Chicago Sky sending at […]
Unrivaled, now valued at $650 million, reveals players, plans and more for 2027 season
The existence of Unrivaled itself is a marvel. It’s a 3×3 full-court league where players have equity in the product. That, along with record-setting salaries and fun ideas like the 1-on-1 tournament, has made it an enjoyable, unique option for women’s basketball fans after the WNBA season ends. Surviving early on is a challenge for […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Questions for the Minnesota Lynx, Atlanta Dream, Dallas Wings and more before the FIBA World Cup break
It’s the final day of WNBA action before the FIBA World Cup break, with the regular season pausing until Thursday, Sept. 17. Sunday’s games begin with the Minnesota Lynx visiting the Atlanta Dream in a potential playoff preview (3 p.m. ET, NBA TV). Then, the Los Angeles Sparks play the Seattle Storm in what will […]
Why women’s basketball will always love Dolly Parton
This broken nation tormented by anti-intellectualism and a politics of lethargy briefly put all that to the side to commemorate the life of one of the world’s greatest cultural heroines: Dolly Parton. The country music powerhouse and philanthropist passed away at age 80 on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Immediately, a flood of tributes was unleashed, with […]
Interview: Why versatility is the key to Polish forward Lila Banaszak’s basketball career
Lila Banaszak is a 26-year-old and 6-foot-1 forward who plays for the Polish national team and Flammes Carolo Basket in France. She’s also played professionally in Egypt and Spain. Naturally strong, Lila is capable of playing multiple positions, demonstrating a willingness to do whatever is necessary for her team to win. Banaszak recently spoke to […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Don’t let the Phoenix Mercury’s struggles allow you to forget that Kahleah ‘Freaking’ Copper is still freaking good
KFC has been cooking. This season, Kahleah “Freaking” Copper has six 30-pieces, with the latest coming on Thursday night, when, a night before her 32nd birthday, she scored a sizzling 35 points. Yet, it also was the the fourth time this season that one of her gun-slinging games of 30 or more points came in […]
How Beyond the Game Health is already prioritizing athlete wellness for WNBA All-Star 2027
The 2027 WNBA All-Star Game coming to the Bay Area is a testament to what the Golden State Valkyries have built in such a short time… a passionate fanbase, sellout energy, and a community that has embraced women’s basketball at scale. — Zaileen Janmohamed, CEO, Bay Area Host Committee For former athlete and Bay Area […]
As the WNBA prepares to pause for the FIBA World Cup, what does the playoff picture look like?
As the FIBA World Cup break looms, the WNBA’s playoff picture is looking a lot clearer. We know who will be playing in the postseason now that all eight teams have clinched their spots. However, seeding is still very much up for grabs. Only three games separate the No. 3 seed and the No. 8 […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Can DeWanna Bonner help Atlanta realize their championship Dream?
DeWanna Bonner is now an Atlanta Dream, arriving with the goal of fulfilling one, final championship dream. On Aug. 24, Bonner and the Phoenix Mercury amicably agreed to a contract buyout, with the organization announcing through a statement from general manager Nick U’Ren: DeWanna has been an important part of our team and brought tremendous […]
Will four-time winner A’ja Wilson or rookie phenom Olivia Miles go down in WNBA MVP history?
Last year, in addition to becoming the first four-time MVP in WNBA history, A’ja Wilson became just the second back-to-back MVP. Cynthia Cooper accomplished the feat 27 years earlier in the league’s first two seasons. Now, Wilson is the frontrunner to win an unprecedented third MVP in a row. It would be her fifth total, […]
After a season of missteps, a (finally) forthcoming practice facility is a step in the right direction for the Los Angeles Sparks
Not much has gone right for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2026. But on Wednesday, Aug. 26, with the heat blazing in El Segundo, CA, a ray of sunshine landed on LA’s WNBA franchise as they held their topping-out ceremony for their practice facility. Things are far from done. There is no pavement to be […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Who is the most-underrated player in the league? And why is it Breanna Stewart?
Imagine telling someone six years ago that Breanna Stewart, who then would have been fresh off her second WNBA title within the first five seasons of her pro career after winning four national championships in four college seasons at UConn, along with garnering a slew of collegiate and professional individuals accolades, would be underrated. Yet, […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Could a (current) lower-seeded playoff team turn a first-round win into a Finals run?
Yesterday, I pondered the preferred first-round opponents for the current top-four seeds in the WNBA playoffs. Today, we turn to the final four playoff participants, as the Dallas Wings officially clinched their spot in the 2026 postseason on Tuesday night, defeating the Portland Fire behind a 22-point and 11-assist double-double from Paige Bueckers. Did the […]
Why the Washington Mystics should want the Golden State Valkyries in the first round of the WNBA playoffs
All eight WNBA playoff spots have officially been clinched, with the Dallas Wings claiming the final spot on Tuesday night. That means we now move into looking at potential playoff matchups, and there might not be a more intriguing playoff team than the Washington Mystics. The Mystics have seven games remaining on their schedule. Although […]
With a WNBA-record 26 boards in another Atlanta Dream win, Angel Reese proved she’s the best rebounder ever
The moment Angel Reese entered the WNBA she was its best rebounder in the league. As a rookie with the Chicago Sky, she averaged a league-best 13.1 rebounds per game, and her sophomore campaign was more of the same, grabbing 12.6 per game, which was also the league high for 2025. This season, her first […]
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