Swish Appeal
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How the Las Vegas Aces can become the first two-time WNBA Commissioner’s Cup champions
The time has come to crown a new(ish) WNBA Commissioner’s Cup champion. This in-season tournament has often been a good indicator of which teams are the best in the league. In 2023 and 2024, the Commissioner’s Cup matchup was identical to the WNBA Finals. So while plenty of events can alter the league’s hierarchy, the […]
In the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, Jonquel Jones is, once again, the X factor for the New York Liberty
When the New York Liberty won the 2023 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, Jonquel Jones was the MVP. And when the Liberty won the 2024 WNBA championship, Jones, again, was the MVP. So, if New York is win the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video), becoming the league’s first two-time Cup champs by defeating […]
WNBA game notes: Despite a four-overtime loss, the Portland Fire showed franchise-defining fight in the longest game in league history
WASHINGTON — For a team that is supposed to be tanking, the Portland Fire put forth one heck of an effort in their 124-123 quadruple-overtime loss to the Washington Mystics Sunday afternoon at CareFirst Arena. It was the longest game in WNBA history, lasting three hours and 35 minutes. But that just goes to show […]
Do the Los Angeles Sparks have a prayer of remaining in playoff contention without Kelsey Plum?
It was all good just a week ago. On Sunday, June 21, the Sparks were high off a comeback win against the Liberty. It was the sweet taste of victory mixed with the celebratory vibes surrounding the anniversary of the first WNBA game—New York against Los Angeles—that had Sparks fans rejoicing in their best win […]
Interview: From 3×3 to 5×5, Klaudia Papp is Hungary women’s basketball
Klaudia Papp is a 5-foot-6 point guard from Hungary who has played her whole pro career both in and for her home country. Papp has been a 3×3 mainstay for Hungary. Earlier this month, she helped Hungary finished an undefeated 5-0 at the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup Qualifiers in Slovakia. On the professional front, she […]
Despite the loss to the Las Vegas Aces, should the Chicago Sky still feel positive about their performance and direction?
The Chicago Sky felt confident heading into their United Center showdown against the defending-champion Las Vegas Aces on Sunday. They won back-to-back games against the Portland Fire at home, including a record-setting 124-94 win on Friday. However, that momentum was only temporary as they fell to the Aces 107-99. The game started off on even […]
WNBA fantasy grab bag: Kelsey Plum’s injury creates opportunities for Los Angeles Sparks teammates Erica Wheeler and Rae Burrell
The Los Angeles Sparks’ playoff hopes took a major hit last week when star guard Kelsey Plum suffered a lower leg injury. According to the team, Plum is expected to miss at least four weeks, which puts her speculative return somewhere around July 22, or about eight games. From a fantasy basketball perspective, this is […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Azzi Fudd is a perfect fit for the Dallas Wings, just as Olivia Miles is for the Minnesota Lynx
Sunday afternoon offers up the third showdown between the Minnesota Lynx and Dallas Wings (2 p.m. ET, CBS). It’s also the third tilt between the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the 2026 WNBA Draft: the Wings’ Azzi Fudd and the Lynx’s Olivia Miles. As the Lynx are the best team in the league […]
WNBA gameday discussion: What are the chances that Marina Mabrey, once again, unleashes a record-breaking scoring show for the Toronto Tempo?
“Sorry. Next time.” That’s what Marina Mabrey said about breaking the WNBA single-game scoring record after her 53-point and record-tying outburst on Thursday night. And as Edwin Garcia wrote, “Knowing the kind of player Mabrey is, the next time will be coming sooner rather than later.” Next time is here, with Mabrey and the Toronto […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Back-to-back rematches present opportunities for the Portland Fire and Atlanta Dream to earn revenge wins
The Commissioner’s Cup results in some weird scheduling quirks for WNBA teams. Because Cup play features a concentrated stretch of in-conference matchups, its conclusion brings the opposite, with the schedule immediately populated with inter-conference contests. Presumably to reduce travel demands, the WNBA favors back-to-back sets between Eastern and Western Conference teams. This week’s schedule has […]
With a WNBA record-matching 53 points, the Toronto Tempo’s Marina Mabrey was inevitable against the Los Angeles Sparks
Certain players can get hot from the field and suddenly become the best version of themselves. They enter a flow state. Suddenly, every jumper goes in, passes they shouldn’t try work and no matter what defenses do, it’s impossible to stop them. When Marina Mabrey gets going, flow state feels like an understatement. When she […]
After escaping their six-game slog, the Chicago Sky have to progress forward one game at a time
It hasn’t been the best of times for the Chicago Sky. But on Wednesday night, it wasn’t the worst of times. At least for one night; They notched their first win after a six-game losing streak, beating the Portland Fire, 101-78. After trailing 6-0 at the outset, the Sky attacked the paint, pushed the tempo, […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Could the Dallas Wings really earn a third-straight win over the Las Vegas Aces?
One team is the 2025 WNBA champions. The other team was bad enough to receive the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. And yet, when the Las Vegas Aces have played the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA season, the formerly-woeful Wings look like the defending champs, while the dynastic Aces appear in […]
Would these four WNBA teams be better off making a playoff push, or tanking for the 2027 WNBA Draft?
Currently, four WNBA teams can be considered contenders for the final spot in the 2026 playoffs: the Los Angeles Sparks (8-8), Washington Mystics (8-8), Toronto Tempo (8-9) and Portland Fire (8-10). While the NBA has recently adopted a flattened lottery system to prevent teams from tanking, the WNBA’s two-year cumulative record system still benefits teams […]
Interview: Tatum Forbes is a point guard who knows how to balance style and substance
A 5-foot-8 guard known for her flashy passes, Tatum Forbes was born and raised in Pawtucket, RI. She graduated from Saint Anselm (2023-26) and is about to embark on a pro career in basketball. In her last college season, she averaged 18.3 points and 5.1 assists for the Hawks. She joined Swish Appeal to talk […]
How the Golden State Valkyries have captured the hearts of the Bay Area and beyond, including this sports writer with NorCal ties
I can’t claim San Francisco as my own, but it will always hold a special place in my heart. My dad grew up in Concord, CA, about half an hour northeast of Oakland. He and my mom raised me in Boston, so it was hard to get out to California to see family frequently, but […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Which players on the All-Star bubble can strengthen their case with a “2-for-1” vote-worthy performance?
Voting for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game wraps up just before the clocks strikes midnight on Saturday, June 27. Today, however, is the final “2-for-1” day, where fans’ votes count twice. That means it’s an important day to craft a 10-player roster that features all your faves. Alternatively, maybe some players in one of tonight’s […]
Why it’s past time to move on from Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon’s comments about the New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson
There are hundreds of thousands of basketball takes that can be heard and seen all day, every day, from television shows to podcasts and even short-form content on social media. Most takes are doom-scrolling noise at best and toxic click-bait at worst. Some are legitimate analysis that can either be right or wrong. Las Vegas […]
Can the Toronto Tempo overcome injuries to Brittney Sykes and Kiki Rice?
The Toronto Tempo (8-9) are no strangers to playing shorthanded. Injuries to their frontcourt forced them to play smaller than expected right out of the gate, with Isabelle Harrison missing the first 10 games of the season and Temi Fagbénlé only recently returning from an injury suffered on opening day. The Tempo’s injury woes have […]
WNBA gameday discussion: What could prevent the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces from reaching their championship upside?
Slated to meet in the Commissioner’s Cup championship on Tuesday, June 30, the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces will give us a preview this Tuesday, with the Aces hosting the Liberty (10 p.m. ET, USA Network). As evidenced by advancing to the Cup final, both teams are contenders for the WNBA title, although […]
Defense wins championships? Three reasons why that might not be true in the 2026 WNBA
This season, the WNBA’s offensive numbers are up. Way up! There are over nine teams with an offensive rating above 105, while last season only six teams reached that mark. In 2025, the No. 1 offensive rating went to the Lynx at 109.5. Fast forward a year, and the same rating would make a team […]
Yes, you have Permission to call the Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard a superstar—and here’s why
Somehow, Rhyne Howard lacked the typical amount of hype a No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick receives entering her rookie season of 2022. Yes, 2021 No. 1 pick Charli Collier had failed to impress the year before, and, yes, Howard was coming off an NCAA Tournament first-round upset, as her Kentucky Wildcats lost to a […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Some of the league’s gravity queens will go at it in Toronto Tempo vs. Atlanta Dream
Expect there to be no shortage of spice when the Toronto Tempo visit the Atlanta Dream on Monday night (7:30 p.m. ET, WNBA League Pass). The extra curriculars that occurred between Isabelle Harrison and Angel Reese during Atlanta’s win in Toronto, which resulted in an early exit for Harrison after she was ejected for unnecessarily […]
All the ways that the Court Origins game between the Los Angeles Sparks and New York Liberty was perfect for the WNBA
LOS ANGELES — June 21, 1997, will be a legendary day for as long as the WNBA exists. This date marks the first-ever WNBA game between the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks. They met again on June 21, 2026 to celebrate that inaugural matchup. The 18,043 fans in attendance received a stellar basketball […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Appreciating the past, present and future of the league on a monumental milestone
Tonight, the New York Liberty visit the Los Angeles Sparks, just as they did exactly 30 years ago, competing in the first-ever WNBA game (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). Micahya Costen captured the significance of that inaugural contest. Where were you on June 21, 1997? Although my memories are fuzzy, I’m pretty sure 10-year-old me was […]
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