Chicago Sky star Angel Reese is running it back, with the 23-year-old confirming plans to return to the Windy City for the 2026 WNBA season while participating in a USA Basketball training camp over the weekend.

"I'm under contract, so yes, I plan on returning to the Sky," Reese told reporters. "[I'm] continuing to talk to [head coach] Tyler [Marsh], and building that relationship with [GM] Jeff [Pagliocca] and Tyler."

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Her future with the Sky came into question in September, after the front office suspended Reese for half a game for making comments deemed "detrimental to the team" in a Chicago Tribune interview — comments she later apologized for, both publicly and privately.

Drafted by the Sky as the overall No. 7 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, the LSU alum remains under a rookie contract through 2026, with an option to extend through the 2027 season.

After leading the WNBA in both double-doubles (23) rebounds-per-game (12.6) in the 2025 season, Reese's late-season availability waned due to a back injury — though the forward now reports a full recovery from the knock.

"Angel is an ascending young talent in this league who's had two very, very good seasons here in Chicago," said Pagliocca after September's suspension. "Obviously, we went through what we did. I feel like we closed the chapter on it."

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark is feeling the pressure, joining retired WNBA legend Sue Bird on last Friday's podcast to discuss the impact of her recent spat of injuries on league attendance and viewership.

"That's definitely been hard," Clark told Bird about having to ride the bench. "I'm going to go to every road game no matter what, whether I'm playing or not. It's hard because obviously I do feel this responsibility of being out there and playing."

"I sign autographs for way longer when I'm hurt than when I'm active," Clark told Bird, referencing her outsized popularity. "That's never something I wish for, but I still want to make as much time as I can for people."

In total, Clark has missed 19 of the No. 5 Fever's 32 regular-season games — plus this year's Indianapolis-based All-Star Game — as she manages three separate muscle injuries.

Before her injuries, Indiana's 2025 season opener pit Clark against fellow WNBA sophomore Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky earned what is still this year's highest viewership, with 2.7 million people tuning in on May 17th.

Since then, all three rematches have seen the regional rivals face off without one or both of their popular 2024 draft picks.

Despite star absences, however, ratings are up across all WNBA teams, with national networks averaging 794,000 viewers per game through July — a 21% increase over 2024's full-season average.

Thursday's WNBA trade deadline came and went with one final flurry of activity, as the No. 10 Washington Mystics leaned all the way into their rebuild by sending 2024 No. 6 draft pick Aaliyah Edwards to the No. 13 Connecticut Sun.

"Bringing Aaliyah to the Connecticut Sun is more than just a roster move.... Aaliyah is a transformational talent with the mindset and drive that aligns with our vision of building a championship culture," Sun GM Morgan Tuck said in a statement. "Aaliyah is the kind of person and player who can help redefine the future of this organization and we're ready to build that future together."

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In return for Edwards, Connecticut sent 2024 No. 5 draft pick Jacy Sheldon to the Mystics, with Washington also receiving the right to a first-round pick swap in 2026 WNBA Draft in the trade deal.

The move follows a Tuesday trade in which the Mystics offloaded their leading scorer Brittney Sykes to the No. 6 Seattle Storm in return for forward Alysha Clark and a 2026 first-round draft pick.

While a few major midseason moves emerged this week, seven of the league's 13 teams decided to forego any trades, with No. 2 New York, No. 3 Atlanta, No. 4 Phoenix, No. 5 Indiana, No. 8 Golden State, No. 9 LA, and No. 11 Chicago holding their rosters steady in the final week of the transaction window.

Second-year LA Sparks forward Cameron Brink is gearing up to make her long-awaited return on Tuesday night, stepping back on the WNBA court after missing more than a year of action due to a June 2024 ACL tear.

Brink's return couldn't come at a better time for LA, as the Sparks continue to take serious aim at a postseason run after rattling off five wins in a row.

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The 2024 No. 2 overall draftee will likely be on a minutes restriction as she works her way back into full-game fitness, with the Sparks easing her in during their Tuesday matchup against Las Vegas.

"It means the world," Brink told the Long Beach Press Telegram about her WNBA return earlier this week. "I'm just very excited, very humbled by this experience. It's no easy thing to come back from."

Brink's comeback will close out a trio of WNBA games on Tuesday:

WNBA viewership hit another milestone this weekend, as the highly anticipated first meeting of the 2024 and 2025 No. 1 draft picks — Indiana's Caitlin Clark and Dallas's Paige Bueckers, respectively — drew an average of 2.1 million viewers to ABC on Sunday.

Peaking at 2.5 million viewers, the clash clocked in as the fourth-most viewed WNBA game in ABC history, logging a 69% increase over the flagship channel's 2024 average.

Along with fueling off-court numbers, the young stars also led the charge on Sunday's court.

While Bueckers topped the game's scoresheet with 21 points, Clark notched the only double-double of the matchup, putting up 14 points and 13 assists to lead the No. 6 Fever to a 102-83 win over No. 12 Dallas.

Each guard also padded their WNBA resumes with records during the tilt, with Bueckers hitting 300 career points in near-record time while Clark notched 100 assists faster than any guard in WNBA single-season history.

With performances like that — and the fan fervor now following young talent from college to the pros — it's no surprise that overall WNBA viewership has seen steady growth from the league's breakout 2024 season, with numbers across all ESPN platforms up 7% over last year.

The first Nike Player Edition sneakers designed by WNBA star Caitlin Clark sold out almost immediately on Monday morning, with fans snapping up the limited run of the Fever guard's Kobe 5 Protros within minutes of the 10 AM ET online drop.

Inspired by the Indiana Fever's colors, Clark's high-gloss Kobe shoes come in Midnight Blue with a tongue and additional accents in Bright Crimson, as well as "vibrant hits of University Gold."

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Though Nike did not disclose actual stock numbers, multiple sneaker insiders estimated that Monday's release included just 13,000 pairs of Clark's edition.

Originally on sale for $190 through Nike's website, the Kobe 5 Protro PE is already topping $350 on the resale market.

Clark has been a Nike athlete since inking an NIL deal with the sportswear giant just before her junior NCAA season at the University of Iowa in October 2022, with the WNBA sophomore later signing a reported eight-year, $28 million endorsement contract just after finishing her collegiate career.

That current deal, inked just after the Indiana Fever selected Clark as the 2024 WNBA Draft's overall No. 1 pick, includes the release of a signature shoe.

While Nike still plans to add Clark to its signature shoe roster, the brand appears to be testing the market's waters using the guard's preferred on-court Kobe sneakers — to a sellout success.

How to buy the Caitlin Clark x Nike Kobe 5 Protro PE

Plans looking to pay retail prices for Clark's latest sneaker design will have to wait for Nike to restock, with online resellers like StockX, GOAT, and Flight Club currently selling the shoes at a significant markup.

As WNBA training camps tip off this week, the league announced Monday that fans will be able to watch live coverage of the entire 15-game preseason lineup for the first time in history.

"With superstars returning to the arenas where they starred in college and in some cases, teams from around the world serving as opponents, [the broadcast schedule] brings an entirely new level of excitement to the WNBA preseason," said WNBA chief growth officer Colie Edison in a statement.

Starting this Friday, four preseason matchups will air nationally:

The remaining 11 games plus three of the four aforementioned nationally broadcast games will be available to stream for free on the WNBA App. The lone exception is Indiana's May 4th game against Brazil.

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Roster cuts loom in WNBA preseason

The preseason broadcast moves underscores fan excitement surrounding the 2025 season at a time when teams across the country are tackling the often tough realities of training camp.

All 13 WNBA franchises must narrow their 18-player preliminary rosters down to 11 or 12 players by May 16th's season tip-off, meaning college favorites and vets on the bubble will battle for spots in the still-growing league.

The delayed arrival of international prospects complicates this process, as high-profile recruits like 2025 No. 2 overall pick Dominique Malonga are still to report to due to conflicting global schedules.

Last season, only 13 of the 36 players taken in the 2024 WNBA Draft made the league's opening-day cut.

Roster adjustments will undoubtedly surface throughout the coming weeks, as teams prepare to play out a competitive preseason slate — now on the public stage.

The WNBA continues its historic trajectory one week into the season, with attendance and viewership skyrocketing across the board. 

Indiana’s Saturday game against the New York Liberty was the most-watched WNBA game ever on ABC, drawing 1.71 million viewers. The Sparks vs. Aces matchup that followed became the third most-watched WNBA game broadcast on ABC with 1.34 million viewers.

On Monday, the tense finish between Indiana and Connecticut drew 1.56 million viewers to ESPN, the second most-watched WNBA game to ever air on cable.

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Outside of the league’s viewership, both in-person attendance and merchandise sales have also been on a meteoric rise. On Saturday, the game between New York and Indiana shattered the single-game ticket revenue record in the WNBA, with the Liberty pulling in $2 million in sales. 

New York and Indiana played their home openers in front of more than 17,000 fans, with attendance up 14% year-over-year, according to the league. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces, the Liberty, the Wings, the Dream, and others have already sold out of their 2024 season ticket allotments.

Since April’s WNBA Draft, revenue from the WNBA’s official online store is up 2,260%, already blowing past total sales for the entire 2023 season.

While the numbers may cool somewhat as teams settle into their seasons, the pop in demand has already overwhelmingly delivered for the WNBA in 2024.

The 28th WNBA season is finally here, and it's set to be one of the biggest yet — which also makes for some pretty entertaining narratives.

Leading the way are the Las Vegas Aces, who are vying for their third-straight WNBA championship. It’s only ever happened once in league history, when the Houston Comets ticked off four back-to-back titles wins from 1997-2000. Led by 2023 Finals MVP A’ja Wilson, the Aces look poised to have a go at making history.

Over in Indiana, Caitlin Clark has arrived as one of the most hyped WNBA rookies in a decade. There are massive expectations of both Clark and the Fever this season, with Clark a favorite to win Rookie of the Year — and possibly having good odds to win league MVP. 

Only one player has ever won MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same year: Candace Parker in 2008. But both Clark and her teammates are keeping things in perspective.

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"To create championship culture, you've got to build relationships with your teammates, get to know them," Clark said at last week's Fever media day. "We're a young team for the most part. Building that chemistry and being able to click on court are the biggest things."

The New York Liberty made it all the way to their first WNBA Finals since 2002 last year, but at times looked discombobulated as the "superteam" worked to establish on-court chemistry. Similar cracks appeared during preseason, when the seasoned squad conceded a near 50-point loss to the Chicago Sky.

Meanwhile, the Connecticut Sun are hunting down their first-ever WNBA trophy — and to finally put to bed their "always a contender, never a champ" reputation.

There’s also excitement in Chicago, where rookie rivals turned teammates Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese are gearing up to put on a show (as soon as Cardoso's shoulder recovers, of course). Speaking of rebuilding, Washington is entering its post-Elena Delle Donne era, and their future without the one-time franchise player has yet to be determined.

Both Dallas and Atlanta remain fan favorites, as each aim to make deeper runs this year. Out west, Phoenix and Seattle also look to return to form, eyeing postseason glory after major offseason acquisitions. And Los Angeles and Minnesota are betting the house on the youth, stocking their rosters with young, hungry talent in an attempt to foster some on-court fire.

With the 2024 WNBA season set to tip off on Tuesday, teams from around the league have issued their final rosters. 

While some big name players were subject to cuts, a few repeat bubble players were able to make their respective teams while a couple of surprise rookies also found their way onto opening-day squads. Here's everything you need to know about the each WNBA team's permanent roster, from training day waivers and draftee futures to projected season shakeouts.

Atlanta Dream

The Dream made some interesting offseason moves, adding seasoned post-scorer and 2012 WNBA MVP Tina Charles in an attempt to build on an impressive 2023 run that saw Atlanta through to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. On the flip side, the Dream cut all three of their rookies — Khadijiah Cave, Taja Cole, Elizabeth Balogun — along with training camp recruits Khaalia Hillsman and South Carolina grad Destanni Henderson.

Check out the final roster here.

Chicago Sky

The Chicago Sky have undergone something of a roster overhaul this offseason, kicked off by Kahleah Copper's trade to Phoenix. Newly minted head coach Teresa Weatherspoon’s first season at the helm will be led by Diamond DeShields, as well as star rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, currently sidelined with a shoulder injury. 

Former No. 4 pick Kysre Gondrezick made the Sky roster this year, while Chennedy Carter also found a landing spot in Chicago. 

Check out the final roster here.

Connecticut Sun

Just six players from the 2023 season have made their way back onto the Sun’s 2024 roster, including 2023 All-WNBA First Team member Alyssa Thomas. While there aren’t any rookies on this roster, Queen Egbo joins the Sun for the first time and alongside Olivia Nelson-Ododa, promises an interesting dynamic on the court. 

Check out the final roster here.

Indiana Fever

The Indiana Fever are carrying 13 players on their roster, with Damiris Dantas’ contract suspended as a result of injury. Headlined by Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and rookie phenom Caitlin Clark, Indiana is betting on their mix of veteran and young players as the team looks to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017. 

Check out the final roster here.

New York Liberty

2023 WNBA Finals contenders took their time whittling down their roster on Monday, announcing the final lineup two minutes after the league's 5 PM ET deadline. The result is a refreshed bench designed to fuel their road back to the offseason, balancing experience and star power (Vandersloot, Ionescu, Jones, Stewart, Laney-Hamilton) with some rookie ingenuity by way of 2024 11th overall pick Marquesha Davis.

Check out the final roster here.

Washington Mystics

Washington is entering a new era after losing stars Natasha Cloud and Elena Delle Donne and taking UConn standout Aaliyah Edwards No. 6 overall in the 2024 draft. Edwards will have her shot at returning to the playoffs with the Mystics, making the roster alongside 2022 draft pick Shakira Austin and proven contributors Brittney Sykes and Ariel Atkins. Also of note, former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year with Baylor DiDi Richards, who's back in the league after being cut by the Liberty in 2023.

Check out the final roster here.

Dallas Wings

The Dallas Wings are coming off of a solid 2023 season and are poised to enter 2024 with a lot of buzz. Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally head up a strong rookie class that includes Ohio State leader Jacy Sheldon and undrafted surprise hit Jaelyn Brown. Lou Lopez Sénéchal will also see playing time this season after spending last year out with an injury.

One notable absence is Victoria Brown, who was cut by the team on Sunday.

Check out the final roster here.

Las Vegas Aces

The 2024 WNBA champs are going for the three-peat this year, arming themselves with an arsenal of veteran talent in the face of Candace Parker's unexpected retirement. Two-time league MVP A'ja Wilson leads a pack that spans the likes of Kelsey Plum, Kiah Stokes, and Syd Colson while draftees Dyaisha Fair (Syracuse) and Kate Martin (Iowa) can finally breathe easy after officially making the cut.

Check out the final roster here.

Los Angels Sparks

With high-profile draftees Stanford's Cameron Brink and Tennessee's Rickea Jackson both securing their spots on the final roster, the well-balanced Sparks are looking to drum up chemistry between the young recruits and longtime power players like Dearica Hamby.

Check out the final roster here.

Minnesota Lynx

Versatility is the name of the game in Minnesota, where the Lynx look to dominate the frontcourt with the likes of Napheesa Collier, Diamond Miller, and Alanna Smith. Guard Courtney Williams has also made herself known in preseason action, while No. 8 overall draft pick Alissa Pili (Utah) survived a tough slate of cuts that showed third-round pick Kiki Jefferson (Louisville) and 2021 WNBA champ Ruthy Hebard the door.

Check out the final roster here.

Phoenix Mercury

The Mercury acquired some major players this offseason, adding Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Copper to a squad that already lists trusted vets Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi in a bid to right Phoenix's 9-31 2023 record. The rookies didn't have an easy go of it, however, with 2024 third-round picks Charisma Osborne out of UCLA and Jaz Shelley out of Nebraska joining former CU Buffs star Mya Hollingshed on the cuts list.

Check out the final roster here.

Seattle Storm

A revamped Storm aims to reclaim their place in the postseason this year, pairing league stars Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneke Ogwumike with starting guard Jewell Lloyd in an effort to put points on the board from the jump. UConn alum Nika Mühl, considered somewhat of a bubble player after going No. 14 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is officially sticking around, while fellow rookie Quay Miller (Colorado) failed to make the opening-day lineup.

Check out the final roster here.