It’s once again rebuild season for NJ/NY Gotham FC.

The club announced Friday that players Domi Richardson, Nicole Baxter, Jennifer Cudjoe and Kumi Yokoyama will not return in 2023 after not being extended contracts. The club’s announcement came after the individual players had begun to trickle out statements, thanking fans and the club for their time there.

Baxter, who has been part of the club since 2019 under its previous name, Sky Blue FC, was the first to do so, writing Wednesday that while she’s “disappointed to not be offered a new contract at Gotham, I will always have a very special type of love for the people and fans of this club.”

Thank you @GothamFC 💙 pic.twitter.com/P0q4PC4Cg2

— Nicole Baxter (@NicoleBaxter512) October 12, 2022

“Domi, Nicole, Jennifer and Kumi are fan favorites and outstanding players who made significant contributions to Gotham FC on the pitch and in our community,” Gotham general manager Yael Averbuch said in a statement. “All of us at Gotham FC are deeply appreciative to them for everything they did for our club.”

She later added further comment to Jenna Tonelli, writing that she feels “the same way” about the players as the fans do.

“You never want to say goodbye to people and players of this quality,” said Averbuch. “But my expectation is that in the coming weeks and months, our supporters will see the contracts and moves we are working on, both with our roster and the coaching staff, and will feel excited about the future of Gotham FC.”

The departures come after Gotham finished at the bottom of the table during the regular season, winning just four games and compiling just 13 points across 22 matches.

Gotham parted ways with head coach Scott Parkinson in August, replacing him with interim head coach Hue Menzies. The club did not win a game after Parkinson’s departure but did manage a 3-3 draw against the Portland Thorns in the season finale on Oct. 1.

Gotham FC made key acquisitions last offseason in Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris as part of an attempted rebuild. The couple cited wanting to live in a more progressive place as a reason for the move — but also their desire to win championships.

“They are in the process of building something special, and in doing so, it’s funding, investment, it’s making your players feel wanted, needed, special, all the things that they deserve,” Harris told Just Women’s Sports last December.

Despite the on-field performance, those sentiments still ring true. Carli Lloyd, Kevin Durant, Sue Bird and Eli Manning have all joined the club’s ownership group, and Averbuch is committed to creating a winning team.

But despite the commitment from big-name stars on and off the pitch, the results haven’t lived up to expectations

In an article in The Athletic in early September, Averbuch cited the team’s age and the need to strike a balance between building for the future and utilizing veteran experience.

“It has to do with balancing players to bring out one another’s best characteristics, and looking at partnerships,” Averbuch said. “And not just partnerships between two players, but among players who will be on the same side of the field or in different (areas), working as the defense into the midfield or, the midfield into the forward line.

“Nothing is ever as simple as it looks on the outside,” Averbuch continued, speaking of the GM role. “I knew that going in. But really, it strikes me all the time how complex a culture of an organization or a club really is.”

The No. 4 Phoenix Mercury went the distance on Tuesday night, overcoming a 20-point deficit against the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx to secure an 89-83 Game 2 win in overtime — and sending the 2025 WNBA semifinals to Arizona tied at 1-1.

Even more, Phoenix's come-from-behind victory set records as the third-largest comeback in WNBA playoff history.

Mercury forward Satou Sabally led the team with 24 points, while guard Sami Whitcomb added 13 points off the bench — including the game-tying three-pointer that propelled the matchup into overtime.

"Just pride, toughness, grit. I couldn't be more proud of our group for doing that," Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said afterwards. "I'm fired up. Phoenix is going to be rocking on Friday and Sunday."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

After dominating Game 1, Tuesday's defeat marked the first time in Lynx franchise history that they lost a postseason game after holding a double-digit halftime lead.

"Suddenly, we lost our way," said Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve. "We didn't respond. Then when we needed to go get buckets and we had good opportunities, we weren't strong enough."

"I think we beat ourselves," forward Napheesa Collier added. "Unforced turnovers, not taking care of the ball when they were pressuring us, just keeping our composure in those situations is huge."

How to watch the Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury in Game 3

The No. 4 Phoenix Mercury will host the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx for Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA semifinals at 9:30 PM ET on Friday, airing live on ESPN2.

The No. 2 Las Vegas Aces reclaimed their contender status in Game 2 on Tuesday night, taking down the No. 6 Indiana Fever in a 90-68 blowout victory to tie their best-of-five 2025 WNBA semifinals at 1-1.

Reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson fueled the Aces' bounce-back performance with 25 points and nine rebounds, backed by 10 points apiece from reserves Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans.

"I just think we came to work," Wilson said following the win. "We didn't come to work in Game 1, and that's on all of us. I think Game 2, we just decided to come to work."

Physicality on the court — as well as the referees' response to it — has played a major role in the Aces vs. Fever series, with Las Vegas clearly upping the intensity to keep Indiana at bay on Tuesday.

"It's playoffs — very physical games," said Aces forward NaLyssa Smith afterwards. "I feel like we've got to match the energy, day in and day out."

"It's hard for us to find flow when there's a foul called every 10 seconds," Fever head coach Stephanie White lamented. "When they're at the free throw line, we can't get up and down the floor, and that's a challenge."

How to watch the Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever in Game 3

The 2025 WNBA semifinals next travels to Indiana for Game 3, with the No. 6 Fever hosting the No. 2 Aces at 7:30 PM ET on Friday, with live coverage airing on ESPN2.

Despite finishing at the bottom of the 2025 WNBA standings, the No. 12 Chicago Sky and No. 13 Dallas Wings will not be moving on from their current head coaches according to a report from Front Office Sports this week.

Dallas sideline leader Chris Koclanes and Chicago manager Tyler Marsh led their sides to identical 10-34 records in their first year at the helm — the worst in the league this season.

In contrast, 2025 playoff participants Seattle and New York are already making aggressive coaching changes, dismissing Storm boss Noelle Quinn and Liberty leader Sandy Brondello following first-round postseason exits.

While some fans criticized the presumed decision, Chicago Sky and Dallas Wings stars spoke out in support of their head coaches.

"Obviously the season didn't go how we expected, but being able to have a coach like Tyler, it was amazing through the ups and downs," Chicago center Kamilla Cardoso told reporters. "He always showed up every day with the same energy, no matter what the record was."

"The team embodies the attitude of your leader," echoed Dallas guard Paige Bueckers. "And for [Koclanes] to show up every single day at work and pour into all of us…it means a lot to us as a team."

With the 2025 WNBA Playoffs in full swing, many big-name players are shifting their focus to the winter, joining the 2026 roster for offseason leagues like 3×3 upstart Unrivaled and 5×5 Athletes Unlimited.

Connecticut Sun rookie Aneesah Morrow officially signed with AU Pro Basketball this week, joining WNBA veteran teammate Tina Charles, Las Vegas Aces standout and 2023 AU champion NaLyssa Smith, as well as fellow pro first-years in guards Kaitlyn Chen (Golden State Valkyries) and Te-Hina PaoPao (Atlanta Dream) on the AU court.

The 2026 Athletes Unlimited Basketball season also boasts several returning stars among its 40-player league roster, including Chicago Sky guard Kia Nurse, Washington Mystics forward Alysha Clark, Seattle Storm guard Lexie Brown, and New York Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison.

Tipping off its fifth season in February 2026, the month-long Nashville-based competition features rotating teams and individual leaderboards, offering an alternative to both overseas play and Unrivaled's 3×3 team format.

"It's player-driven," Charles said in her own AU Basketball signing announcement earlier this month. "I think that's really neat, you know, something that I've never been a part of, nor have I seen on men's or women's side."

How to watch the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Basketball season

The upcoming 2026 season of AU Pro Basketball runs from February 5th through March 2nd, with all 24 games airing live across several different broadcasters.