Dwyane Wade is joining the WNBA as a member of the Chicago Sky’s ownership group.
The three-time NBA champion and 13-time All-Star announced the move on his Instagram on Friday.
“We all talk about support, and support looks different for everyone,” Wade, who will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame next month, told ESPN. “And so instead of tweeting out and saying ‘go support the W,’ instead of showing up at the game and supporting, I wanted to take it to that next level, and this was the next level for me.
“It’s a great opportunity to be a part of the league in its very early stages. … Growth is going to happen, and so I want to be a part of the growth of this league.”
His investment still needs approval from the WNBA board of governors. Details of the exact percentage have not been disclosed.
Wade, who is a Chicago native, first made his interest known last month. He made a trip to a team practice in Deerfield last month and the Sun-Times reported his interest on June 13.
On the June 22, Wade told the Sun-Times that he was taking a “deep look” at investing in the Sky.
This comes after the Sky sold approximately 10% of the team last month to a group headlined by Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts. The investment is set to go toward player experience, marketing and staffing, as well as the construction of a new practice facility.
Two weeks ago, head coach and general manager James Wade left the Sky for the Toronto Raptors’ assistant coaching job. Assistant coach Emre Vatansever is serving as head coach in his place. That departure didn’t discourage Wade from investing, and the team’s priorities will continue, but be “accelerated and amplified” with his investment, according to co-owner and operation chairman Nadia Rawlinson
“This is meaningful for the players, and this is meaningful for the city as a whole,” Rawlinson said. “Dwyane Wade is a son of Chicago. And the thing that differentiates us, I think, from other franchises is that we are Chicago. We are the future of Chicago. We are the culture of Chicago. We are in it and of it, and he is very much sort of a main character in that story. And we’re just pleased and thrilled at what the future can bring with both of us working together.”
Wade also holds ownership in the NBA’s Utah Jazz and MLS’ Real Salt Lake. He noted that the Sky partnership just “makes sense.”
“No pun intended, but the sky’s the limit,” Wade said. He joins Tom Brady, Alex Rodriguez and Magic Johnson in investing in the WNBA.
Despite his big name, Wade hopes that the attention remains on the players.
“No one is bigger than the players,” Wade continued. “No one is bigger than A’ja Wilson right now. No one is bigger than Aliyah Boston. No one wants to be bigger than them as an owner. That’s not what you want. And so we want to bring attention to the league that we can, but we also want to bring our resources to the league. We want to bring what we’ve learned by playing in these leagues for a long time to the front offices, to the management teams and to everyone.”
Kahleah Copper doesn’t know what her WNBA future will look like.
With Chicago Sky head coach and general manager James Wade departing for the NBA last weekend, Copper is focused on finishing out this season strong before turning her attention to what’s next. The 3-time WNBA All-Star will be a free agent this offseason after seven years with the Sky.
“There’s nothing you can do about it,” Copper told the Chicago Sun-Times after Wade’s decision to leave midseason for an assistant coaching job with the Toronto Raptors. “You can’t stress the [crap] that you can’t really control.”
Copper is leading a revamped Chicago roster in 2023 after all other starters from the Sky’s 2021 WNBA championship team — Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Candace Parker and Azurá Stevens — moved away in the offseason. Before leaving, Wade had spearheaded a rebuild, signing 2021 All-Star Courtney Williams and trading away multiple first-round draft picks for guard Marina Mabrey.
“There are no optics to it,” Wade, the 2019 WNBA Coach of the Year, told the Sun-Times. “It is what it is. Yeah, I left and it was the hardest decision I ever had to make in my life, but I felt like it was a good decision for me and my family.”
“It’s definitely tough,” Copper said. “I lose all my teammates and now I lose the head coach. That’s like the last of the band.”
But Copper isn’t dwelling on any negative feelings.
“What does it do for me if I’m pouting about it?” Copper mused. “I have a whole season to finish going into free agency next year. I have to show up and be the best version of myself.”
With the Sky organization valued at $85 million and in the process of looking for a new practice facility, Copper said she will take off-court strides into consideration when deciding whether to re-sign with the team in the offseason.
“I want to see the organization keep up with the Joneses,” Copper said. “We talk about facilities. We talk about moving to the city, maybe. But I want to see it happen, that shift really happen, and really have something in the works.”
Chicago Sky general manager and head coach James Wade is leaving the WNBA and taking an assistant coaching job with the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, the Sky announced on Saturday.
Wade was Chicago’s head coach since 2019, leading the franchise to its first WNBA title in 2021.
“We are thrilled that James can fulfill a lifelong dream to join the NBA, and we send him our warmest congratulations and best wishes,” Sky Principal Owner Michael Alter said in a statement. “We thank James for establishing a winning, team-oriented culture in Chicago and leading the Sky to our first ever WNBA Championship in 2021.”
Wade’s departure is the latest in a series for the Sky. Former players Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Azurá Stevens all signed with new teams for the 2023 WNBA season, while Allie Quigley left the team but is sitting the season out.
Chicago assistant coach Emre Vatansever will serve as interim general manager and head coach, beginning immediately. Chicago (7-9) plays next on Sunday against the Indiana Fever (5-10).
The Phoenix Mercury have had a disappointing start to the 2023 season, but that puts them in the lead in the race for the No. 1 pick for the 2024 WNBA Draft.
The four teams with the worst record at the end of the season all will have a shot for the top overall pick via the WNBA draft lottery. And as the WNBA season continues, teams get a better idea of if they have got a shot at one of the NCAA’s best.
The draft should be stacked with talent, with possible selections including Iowa senior Caitlin Clark, UConn redshirt junior Paige Bueckers and LSU fourth-year junior Angel Reese.
While each of these star players has at least one more year of eligibility remaining, they are far from the only talent on offer. Tennessee’s Rickea Jackson, Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Kitley and Ohio State’s Jacy Sheldon all are in their final year of eligibility and could have been first-round picks in 2023.
The Mercury (2-9) sit alone at the bottom of the league just over a quarter of the way into the season. Next comes the Seattle Storm (3-9), then the Minnesota Lynx (4-9). Chicago (5-8) rounds out the lottery spots, with the Sky on a five-game losing streak after beginning the season 5-3.
But the Sky’s offseason moves could come back to bite them, as they don’t even have a draft pick in the first round in 2024. Instead, their pick will go to the Dallas Wings, who also reserve the right to swap first-round picks with Chicago in 2025.
No matter where Candace Parker goes in Las Vegas, she’s recognized. At the airport, the grocery store, and even at the gas station when she’s filling up at the pump, people call out to her with a familiar refrain.
“Go Aces!” they yell and wave.
The 37-year-old WNBA legend can’t help but smile. The Aces started the 2023 season right where they left off after winning the 2022 championship. At 8-1, they are in first place in the WNBA standings and hadn’t lost a game until three weeks into the season.
The energy around town is palpable, and Parker feels it wherever she goes. The same fans that once rooted against her when she was with the Los Angeles Sparks (2008-2020) and then the Chicago Sky (2021-2022) are now cheering for her, elated to see her in an Aces jersey. Parker engages them, calls back and interacts with fans, young and old.
“We had a season ticket event with all our season ticket holders,”she says, “and just being able to meet all the fans that are little kids was a treat for me. Because I love getting to know [them].”
Parker’s reception of the fans is not an act. It’s a reflection of her genuine appreciation and awareness of just how far the WNBA has come. It’s also a reminder of how far she’s come in her basketball career, and the journey she’s still on.
Parker burst onto the national basketball scene in 2004 as the first woman to win the dunk contest during the McDonald’s All-American High School Game. She then went on to win back-to-back NCAA titles under the legendary Pat Summit at Tennessee. Among Parker’s long list of accolades are a collection of moments cemented in time: becoming only the second player in WNBA history to dunk in a basketball game (Lisa Leslie was the first), winning Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season (2008), playing for Team USA and collecting two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012) along the way, and winning her first WNBA championship with Los Angeles in 2016.
After all, Parker is a moments person. Small moments. Big moments. Happy moments. Hard moments. It doesn’t matter. She savors each one down to the very last drop, then tucks the memory away in her back pocket like a Polaroid for safe keeping.
With 10.5 seconds left to go in Game 4 of the 2021 WNBA Finals, the Sky were up 78-74 against the Phoenix Mercury, and Chicago veteran Courtney Vandersloot was at the foul line. As Vandersloot hit the first free throw and then the second, Parker couldn’t contain her emotions. She began to cry. After spending 13 seasons with the Sparks, she had returned to her hometown city with the goal of bringing the Sky their first WNBA title in franchise history.
In that moment, it was happening right before her eyes. Winning the WNBA championship in front of her family and friends, and for the city of Chicago, Parker reveled in the joy to the fullest extent. But in the days and weeks that followed the championship celebration and parade, she began to think about her future.
“I was like, I could just go out on a high, this is it. I mean, 14 seasons? That’s a lot, like, whatever,” she says. “I had my ankle injury that kind of kept me in and out. It was a tough season.”
Still, the thought of running it back with the same roster and playing another season fully healthy drew her back in. Chicago went 26-10 during the regular season and entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed with expectations of another Finals trip. But after they beat the Liberty in Round 1, the Sky’s storybook run came to an end against the Connecticut Sun in the semifinals. Despite Parker’s best efforts in the series, the Sky were eliminated in Game 5 after letting the Sun go on a 24-5 run in the fourth quarter.
The retirement rumors swirled. But Parker wasn’t ready to bow out.
“We lost last year and the way in which we lost, having a 14-point lead going into the fourth quarter, kept me up at night and just ate at my soul,” she says. “It was kind of just one of those things where I was like, I can’t end like this. The last time I play basketball, we’re not gonna blow a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. So, I think that kind of refocused and motivated me.”
Parker wants to win. And having the opportunity to win in different places, in different systems, with different pieces is a challenge she enjoys. She also loves to compete, even when she’s not on the basketball court.
“I mean, I’m an idiot. I’ll be on the Peloton and it’s like Pedals By Patty is trying to beat my score and I’m like, ‘Nooo!’” Parker laughs. “It’s just the competitive element. Even on chill days, I can’t let Pedals By Patty beat me.”
Feeding that competitive fire, Parker knew she wanted to play basketball for at least one more season. The only question was where. Going back to Chicago had been a dream opportunity, but the move had also been hard on Parker’s family, especially her daughter Lailaa. Flying back West for a couple of hours at time, and Lailaa missing school when she came to Chicago, didn’t make for a sustainable schedule. She also had a newborn son to care for with wife Anna Petrakova.
With her house still in Los Angeles, Parker says she considered a return to the Sparks. But it was Lailaa who suggested Las Vegas as a possibility, which had a lot to do with Aces point guard Chelsea Gray.
Gray and Parker became close friends while teammates with the Sparks from 2016 to 2020. They were in each other’s weddings. Parker introduced Gray to good wine. Gray and her wife, Tipesa, are godparents to Parker’s son. They’d spend hours sitting by a fire pit together talking about basketball and about life. And since they’d gone their separate ways to play for different teams, somehow they grew even closer.
“When you’re teammates, you know you’re gonna see that person in like a day or two. If it’s an off day, you know the next day you’re gonna see them,” Gray says. “And sometimes, it’s taken for granted — those moments. So being away from each other, we would have our long talks, but via FaceTime just to check in and talk about a bunch of stuff to make sure we’re not missing anything.”
Watching each other succeed from afar became routine during the past two WNBA seasons, with Parker’s championship in 2021 and Gray’s transcendent playoff performance in 2022. Gray waited until the aftermath of the Aces championship to reach out to her friend.
“(At first) we were talking like, ‘How’s her body feeling?’ Like outside of just trying to get her in Las Vegas, just having casual conversation,” Gray says. “And then I’d make the statement, ‘I’m putting on my Las Vegas Aces point guard hat — listen, this is a franchise that’s doing right by its players, that wants the best, that wants to win championships.’
“And that’s when the conversation kind of turned.”
“One thousand percent Chelsea had an impact,” Parker adds. “I mean, we were close when we played together, but we’ve gotten closer even since.”
After her initial chats with Gray, Parker spoke with Aces head coach Becky Hammon. She also connected with Aces president Nikki Fargas — someone Parker has known since her days at Tennessee, where Fargas was a former player and an assistant coach.
“Obviously, I go back with Nikki,” Parker says. “I can’t call her Nikki Fargas, it’s Nikki Caldwell. But we go back, and we started having conversations.”
Despite those encouraging conversations and her ties to Gray and Fargas, Parker says her final decision came down to what was best for her and her family. The flight from Las Vegas to Los Angeles is only 40 minutes, a fact that stuck with her when she ultimately chose to sign with the Aces on a one-year contract.
When Parker first arrived in Sin City, she says it took about a week and a half to get to know the lay of the land. She set up her home and got her family settled. Her teammates gave her tips on the best places to eat, shop and get her nails done. She reunited with Gray on the court and got to know her new teammates during training camp.
“Being away from her and then having her come back and seeing her every day in practice, it’s really cool to see,” Gray says. “Like, damn, I miss seeing you play this closely. And it’s been a cool dynamic to see her play with others that haven’t ever had that experience.”
“Sometimes it doesn’t really feel real still,” Kesley Plum marveled during a post-practice press conference before the season. “For me, I’ve just been really impressed with her humility. I think that Candace has come in from the jump and just been like, ‘Alright, what do I need to learn?’ Figure out the offense, learning our defensive schemes, how we do things. I know that our connection, with us two and then her with the rest of the team, is just going to continue to grow.”
Nearly a month into the WNBA season, the Aces look as if they haven’t lost a step since adding Parker to their championship roster. While her stats don’t jump off the page like they used to at 8.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, she’s still making an impact and has embraced her role as a supporting cast member on a team of All-Stars. She’s also enjoying all the amenities the organization has to offer — including the state-of-the-art practice facility and the fact that, for the first time in her 16-year career, she actually has a locker.
“I mean our practice facility is unbelievable. We have everything here, I don’t have to really go out of house,” Parker says. “It’s not like we gotta get on the court and off the court at this time because somebody else has to come in. That’s what I’ve been through in my career. I’ve been through two-a-days, I’ve been through 6 a.m. flights, I’ve been through all that.
“Now to be able to be in a place that makes sense, I think that’s a credit to the growth of women’s basketball as well.”
In her 16 WNBA seasons, Parker has seen the league evolve for the better in a variety of ways. Owners are spending money and investing in their players. Player visibility has never been higher. At the college level, NIL deals are changing the way players are marketed, setting them up to enter the pro game with a large following of dedicated fans.
“I think the progress in women’s sports has been being able to recognize women and know them from a long time ago,” she says. “You see that in the NBA. The players own their brand. It’s so important to understand the value and power of that. It’s not just about the game.”
Parker knows the importance of visibility, both as a longtime player and as an NBA analyst for Turner Sports. She sees the disparity between the men’s and women’s games firsthand and is doing her part to help close the gap.
“What it does with her sitting in the analyst seat is it allows people to really hear how smart women are when it comes to the game of basketball,” says ESPN WNBA analyst LaChina Robinson, who has been covering Parker since she came into the league.
“We’re just getting to the point where people are realizing how great of players women are, but now you’re adding another layer of she can talk the game. For people who need that validation, that women belong in sport, it’s just another opportunity to show that. Candace’s IQ is off the charts. It’s just awesome to hear her do that on such a big platform like the NBA.”
Broadcasting is only one facet of Parker’s life outside of playing basketball. She’s also dabbling in private equity, tech, wine, tequila and even artificial intelligence, setting herself up for life after the WNBA.
“I have a million things I want to do. It’s not gonna be just one thing. I truly believe the biggest thing I’ve taken from basketball is to be versatile,” she says. “That’s in income, but it’s also in the things that you do. I just like to do a lot of different things. My wife always jokes, ‘You will not be bored.’”
Back in 2020, when Parker last played with the Sparks during the WNBA’s pandemic-induced bubble season, she had already begun to think about what might be next. It was her 13th season in the WNBA, and she knew she had more basketball behind her than she did in front of her. Her career up until that point had been just as rewarding as it had been draining, with many challenging seasons mixed in with the championship years.
“I never thought of quitting after a hard season, 100 percent. If anything, I wanted to come back more and prove whatever I needed to prove,” Parker confesses. “I didn’t think I even needed to prove anything, but whatever. I think 2019 was really difficult. It was really hard. Just from a physical standpoint, from a health standpoint, but also from the moving piece of an organization.”
During the 2019 season, Parker battled through an injury, appearing in 22 games and recording 11.2 points per game, the lowest scoring average of her career. After going 22-12, the Sparks secured the third seed in the playoffs before being swept in the semifinals by the Connecticut Sun. In an odd twist, Parker played only 11 minutes in a must-win Game 3. Then-head coach Derek Fisher explained her benching in the fourth quarter as a way to initiate “a spark.” Shortly afterward, Penny Toler was dismissed as general manager and an ESPN report revealed growing tensions within the organization. Last year, Fisher was fired 12 games into the season amid additional team controversy.
As Los Angeles struggled to find its way forward and a new identity as an organization after years of success, Parker felt a shift. The WNBA’s power structure was changing, and she was changing as a player, a person and a mother. After the 2020 season, there was a rebirth. Parker emerged rejuvenated in Chicago. Now, at this stage in her basketball career and life, there’s a new feeling.
“Instead of using the word content, I think it’s peace,” says Gray. “Like she has a bit of peace about her in all facets of her life and the decisions that she makes, and being OK with that. Like, surrendering control but also having fun while she’s doing it. I don’t think she’s content or satisfied with where she is. I just think she’s at peace with how she’s going about life.”
When Parker does walk off the court for the final time, she’ll leave behind a lasting legacy as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time. For multiple reasons.
“Candace’s legacy is definitely far and wide-reaching,” says Robinson. “I don’t know that we had ever seen anyone that had inside/outside scoring, handles, passing ability, athleticism at the rim — just an incredible combination of skill set. Off the court, Candace has been one of those players that has allowed us a look into the challenges and the rewards of being an athlete mom, and when it comes to the marketing of the league, she has been arguably the most marketable player the league has ever seen and a trailblazer for Black women in that space.”
Parker is currently eighth all-time in the WNBA in career points (6,485) and second among active players, third in total rebounds (3,415) and seventh in assists (1,593). She’s also tied for first in the league with three regular-season triple-doubles in her career and first with three double-doubles in rebounds and assists. Parker is known just as much for her defense as her offense, ranking fifth all-time in blocks (612) and earning Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.
More significantly, Parker has become one of the most recognizable players in the history of the league. But before she became known around the world as CP3, she was simply “Ace” in the early days. Maybe it’s serendipitous then that she ended up playing for the Aces in what could be the final season of her career.
Parker will know when her playing days are over, just like she’ll know when it’s time to start her next life venture. Candace Parker is a moments person, after all, and the moment to hang it up hasn’t come just yet.
“I think the closer you get to the end, whenever that will be, I think the more you don’t take for granted,” she says. “And I said back in 2021 sometime — you don’t have to tell your story, time will. I firmly believe that. I’m still in the league, so … that’s a win.”
Lyndsey D’Arcangelo is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports, covering the WNBA. She also contributes to The Athletic and is the co-author of Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League. Follow Lyndsey on Twitter @darcangel21.
The Chicago Sky are valued at $85 million, which places them second in the WNBA behind the Seattle Storm, Sportico reported Tuesday.
Earlier this year, the Storm were valued at $130 million, a record for a U.S. women’s sports team.
The Sky sold 10% of the team at the $85 million valuation to a group of eight investors, most of them women, among them Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts. The group also includes Foot Locker CEO Mary Dillon and Smartly.io CEO Laura Desmond.
The $8.5 million investment will go toward player experience, marketing and staffing, with the construction of a new practice facility near the top of the to-do list, Sportico reported.
“It was important for us to go public with this because it’s a signal that capital is bullish about this [being] where people want to make significant investments for returns over time,” Sky operating chairman Nadia Rawlinson told Sportico. “That is a huge vote of confidence, not just for us, but for the league as a whole.”
Rawlinson, who joined the team in January as a co-owner, has invested additional money, as has John Rogers, an early minority owner of the Sky. Michael Alter will remain the team’s primary owner.
“Everyone has their place,” Rawlinson said. “This is a long-term investment and play that we’re making, and these people believe in the future we’re trying to get to. Everyone believes their contribution, not just financially but their own expertise and advice as well, will increase the overall value of the franchise.
“One of our goals is for this to be a place that’s not just for the Sky, but for the community writ large—not something that feels tucked away in this paragon of exceptionalism, but something that embodies that this team is in and of Chicago.”
The 2023 WNBA season is underway. And while the superteams are living up to their billing through the early going, anything is possible in the coming months.
Will A’ja Wilson repeat as WNBA MVP? Will the Las Vegas Aces repeat as champions? Or will we see new faces reach the top?
Just Women’s Sports’ WNBA experts Rachel Galligan, Lyndsey D’Arcangelo and Eden Laase came together to make their predictions for every major award.
Most Valuable Player
Galligan: Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
One of the greatest players in the world is in a new city and has a new team name stretched across her jersey. I have a feeling Breanna Stewart has just begun to scratch the surface of her prime in New York. Stewart set the WNBA world on notice early this season with a franchise single-game record 45 points against the Indiana Fever two games into the season. Stewart looked energized and driven after narrowly missing out on the MVP award in 2022. Coming up just short of a big award tends to have an impact, and I fully expect Stewart to have a monstrous year on the court. There is no doubt that the Liberty have enough pieces and talent to be in contention all season long, although it may take a while for all of them to fully mesh.
D’Arcangelo: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
Stewart has come out of the gate on fire and currently holds the highest PER rating (38.5). She’s averaging 25.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game and shows no signs of slowing down. New team, new city, new season. And it’s all adding up to a motivated Stewie, which spells trouble for the rest of the league. That being said, my dark horse to win the MVP is Brittney Griner. She may not be back to form physically yet, but she’s already averaging 21.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting a league-leading 74.2% from the field. If she’s back in court shape by the middle of the season, that’s a checkmark in her favor.
Laase: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
If the undefeated Aces continue their dominance, A’ja Wilson could repeat as MVP. Despite playing fewer minutes this season thanks to the addition of Candace Parker and a bolstered bench unit, Wilson’s stats are identical to her line from last season. She’s averaging 19.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Breanna Stewart has better numbers right now, but if the Aces end the season as the WNBA’s top team and Wilson continues to lead them to victory, then she could once again claim the top individual honor. As it stands, I see the two battling it out for the award, just as they did last year.
Rookie of the Year
Galligan: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
I have been very impressed with Boston’s ability to seamlessly make the transition from college to the WNBA in such a short amount of time. The 6-5 rookie is second on the Fever in scoring with 15.8 points per game to go along with 6.0 rebounds, and she is shooting an efficient 66.7% from the floor. While those numbers look nearly identical to the type of numbers she put up at South Carolina, the only glaring area of concern has been her ability to adjust to fouls called — which is completely expected. Boston looks comfortable, confident and has the ability to throw her Fever team on her back down the stretch in games. Boston will get the minutes and experience necessary this season to showcase her impact in the WNBA, and I fully anticipate her to take home the Rookie of the Year award when it’s all said and done.
D’Arcangelo: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
It’s no secret that Boston was the most pro-ready player in the 2023 WNBA draft. And she’s backed up the hype so far this season, averaging 15.8 points and 6.0 rebounds through four games. Out of all of the rookies, Boston has had the most minutes and the biggest impact on her team. While her former South Carolina teammate Zia Cooke, No. 2 overall pick Diamond Miller and international product Sika Koné are worth keeping an eye on, I think Boston might run away with this one.
Laase: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
The rookie race could change as the season progresses and players get settled into the league, but it’s hard to imagine anyone but Boston taking the award. She’s the frontrunner for all of the reasons mentioned above.
Coach of the Year
Galligan: Stephanie White, Connecticut Sun
We saw half the league face coaching changes this last offseason, and White didn’t have the easiest act to follow in the Curt Miller and Jonquel Jones era in Connecticut. The early showings of this Sun team seem promising, with a combination of the Sun toughness to which we’ve been accustomed but also a breath of fresh air and new faces. The Sun have experience, veterans who know what it takes to win and fresh faces eager to fit into White’s system. White has the experience to bring all of that together and compete at the highest levels this season, and because of that, I think she has a good shot at the Coach of the Year award.
D’Arcangelo: Curt Miller, Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks were a shell of their former selves last season. Derek Fisher was relieved shortly after the season started, and Liz Cambage jumped ship later in the year. Enter Miller. Since taking the helm, he’s added key players around the core of Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike, including Layshia Clarendon, Lexie Brown, Dearica Hamby and Karlie Samuelson. He also brought in Jasmine Thomas and Azurá Stevens, who are both recovering from injuries. Adding Zia Cooke via the draft looks like a smart move as well. And by all accounts, the player combination and rotation seems to be working. Miller has the coaching pedigree and savvy to turn things around in LA. By the end of the season, I think we see the Sparks make the biggest leap.
Laase: Christie Sides, Indiana Fever
I can see White or Miller taking home the award, but I’ll add in Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides as a dark horse candidate. After losing 20 consecutive games, the Fever snapped their losing streak against the Dream, and you can see the product coming together on the court. Winning one game certainly isn’t enough to earn Sides the COY award, but if they Fever continue to put things together and find themselves in the running for a playoff spot, then she could earn the accolade.
Defensive Player of the Year
Galligan: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
Griner was named Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons in 2014 and 2015 and is making a strong case for her third. Griner leads the WNBA in blocks at 3.7 per game early on this season, and the 6-9 center alters the entire dynamic of the game with her imposing presence in the paint. Griner has been dominant, swatting shots and forcing players to second guess their decision-making in the paint, and she single-handedly has the ability to shift game momentum. I’ve got my eye on Griner and the Mercury as they continue to work their way back into form.
D’Arcangelo: Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
Thomas has flirted with Defensive Player of the Year honors for the past few seasons. She was the WNBA steals leader and part of the All-Defensive First Team in 2020, and she made the All-Defensive Second Team in 2017, 2019 and 2022. Last season was her most productive year on the defensive side of the ball. Her physical play, knack for rebounding and court awareness have set her apart defensively, especially in the paint. Maybe this will be the year she finally comes away with the award.
Laase: Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
I’m with Lyndsey on this one. Thomas has been close to winning DPOY several times, and for good reason. Her defensive ability is well-known, but in many ways still underrated. Thomas has tremendous strength and instincts, and she can guard multiple positions on the court, making her a tremendous asset for the Sun. She also attacks the glass and manages to stay out of foul trouble. All of those qualities add up for an impressive DPOY resume.
Sixth Player of the Year
Galligan: Alysha Clark, Las Vegas Aces
This is a tough one for me early on this season, and with several names at the top of the list, ultimately I come back to Clark. She brings a well-rounded approach on both ends of the floor and has a versatility to her game that allows her to embrace whatever is asked of her. She made the decision to take her talents to the Aces fully understanding she’d likely need to embrace the sixth player role and contribute both offensively and defensively off the bench. Clark has been asked to accept many different roles during her WNBA career but arguably would be a starter for any other team. Early on, she’s been steady and consistent, averaging 8.5 points, shooting an efficient 48% from the field and collecting 1.8 rebounds per game.
D’Arcangelo: Sug Sutton, Phoenix Mercury
Sutton was selected 36th overall in the 2020 WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics. She played in 12 games, averaging 9 minutes and 2.8 points. This season, Sutton signed a training camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury. She not only made the roster, she’s been an integral part of the team. Coming off the bench, Sutton is averaging 30.0 minutes and 12.3 points per game. As the third-leading scorer on the Mercury, she has been a reliable and steady presence in the absence of Shey Peddy and Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Laase: Marine Johannès, New York Liberty
She hasn’t played a game yet because of overseas obligations, but now that Johannès is back on American soil, I expect her to make a major impact for the Liberty. The guard could easily be a starter on another team, but due to the stacked nature of the Liberty, she will be coming off the bench. Her ability to create, for herself and for others, makes Johannès an asset off the bench. It means the Liberty can sub out Courtney Vandersloot or Sabrina Ionescu without offensive drop-off, which is a major luxury. Johannès averaged 10.0 points and 3.4 assists last season, while dazzling with her passing ability.
Most Improved Player
Galligan: Lexie Brown, Los Angeles Sparks
While there is a strong case to be made for a lot of second-year players – including NaLyssa Smith, Shakira Austin and even Naz Hillmon – I have been so impressed with the way Brown has started this season. While it has taken Brown a few years to find her full comfort as she has faced a lot of change, she looks as confident and comfortable than I have seen her in her six WNBA seasons. Brown is getting a chance to play consistent minutes, averaging 10.7 points and is shooting 43% from the 3-point line, making her one of the top perimeter threats in the league early on. Curt Miller knows how to coach a backcourt, and he’s going to put his players in the right situations to have success. For that season, Brown is one of my early favorites for Most Improved.
D’Arcangelo: Lexie Brown, Los Angeles Sparks
This award is going to be tough to decide. There’s a handful of players who have put in the work in the offseason and it’s translating to the court. As Rachel mentions, Smith and Austin look like anything but second-year players. Satou Sabally is fully healthy and having a great start to the season for Dallas. But I really like what I’ve seen in Brown, who is now in her sixth season in the W. Brown has come alive in her second year with the Sparks, averaging career-bests in minutes, points, field goal percentage, assists, rebounds and 3-point field goal percentage. There’s no denying she’s improved across the board.
Laase: Shakira Austin, Washington Mystics
Shakira Austin is well on her way to becoming a WNBA star, and she’s already a major piece on a Mystics squad that can contend for a title. Austin’s minutes have increased from 21.6 to 27.0 per game, and her stats have followed suit. The center is averaging 14.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game, improving upon last season’s stat line of 8.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.8 steals. What’s more, Austin is becoming a player the Mystics can play through. When they get her the ball, good things happen, whether it’s Austin attacking her defender and finishing, or finding a teammate for an open shot.
Most Surprising Team So Far
Galligan: Washington Mystics
The Mystics came out of the gate hot from the jump, dominating the Liberty on opening day, but then they dropped their next two to the Sun. Elena Delle Donne looks fantastic and healthy and Shakira Austin has really taken a huge step from her rookie season, playing more and more like a seasoned veteran every single night. The Mystics’ backcourt has struggled to connect and score at the rate I would have expected, but I’m not concerned. It’s early, and I fully expect their veteran guards to start to connect more offensively in the coming weeks. Look for this team to be among the top four at the end of the season.
D’Arcangelo: Chicago Sky
The Sky was literally falling in Chicago, as the team’s core group of players left for other teams during free agency. But coach and general manager James Wade has seemingly pulled a little magic out of his hat, assembling a viable roster that’s deeper than people think. Kahleah Copper leads the team with 14.6 points per game and is relishing the go-to player role. And although it cost Chicago a pretty penny, Marina Mabrey has been worth every cent so far with 14.3 points per game. Grabbing Sika Koné off waivers after the rookie forward was let go from the Liberty also looks like a win for the Sky. Despite having a completely different player rotation, Chicago has manage to make it all work. And it’s been fun to watch.
Laase: Connecticut Sun
With a new coach and the absence of Jonquel Jones, I expected some drop-off from last season’s runner up. But the Sun look just as good – dare I say, better at times – than they did last season. No one player has stepped in to fill Jones’ shoes, but together, everyone is taking on bigger roles to fill the scoring and defensive gap she left behind. Connecticut has incredible chemistry, and every player understands what Stephanie White needs from them. With two early wins over the Mystics, the Sun have my attention.
WNBA Champions
Galligan: Las Vegas Aces
It’s hard to look at the Las Vegas Aces and argue against them as the heavy favorite to win a title again in 2023. The Aces reloaded in the offseason and found ways to address their lack of depth with the addition of WNBA champions Candace Parker and Alysha Clark to go along with their All-Star core from last year. This team has what it takes to repeat, they are a matchup nightmare, and someone different can go off any given night.
D’Arcangelo: Las Vegas Aces
After winning its first title in franchise history last season, Las Vegas somehow leveled up by signing Candace Parker and Alysha Clark in free agency. With a complete roster featuring some of the best players in the league, it’s difficult to find a weakness. Jackie Young won the Most Improved Player award last season and looks even better as an early MVP candidate, while Chelsea Gray, A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum are continuing to do their thing. Adding Parker into the mix along with a defensive X-factor like Clark only makes the Aces that much more dominant. A repeat looks inevitable — unless the Liberty have something to say about it.
Laase: Las Vegas Aces
The defending champs are once again the favorite to win the WNBA title. There are teams that could challenge them, including the Mystics, Sun and Liberty, but overall, no one compares. A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and Candace Parker are all incredible talents, but they also play well together as a team. Parker transitioned into the lineup seamlessly, and with the addition of Alysha Clark to bolster the bench unit, the Aces are even better than last season.
The 2023 WNBA season is here.
After much waiting and an eventful preseason, the 27th season of the league got underway Friday. With a busy few days of both regular season and commissioner’s cup action, Just Women’s Sports lays out how to watch every WNBA game this weekend, plus results and scores.
*All times are listed in ET
**Denotes a Commissioner’s Cup matchup
WNBA Games Today — Sunday, May 21
Washington Mystics vs. Connecticut Sun**
1 p.m. on WNBA League Pass (Local: NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports Washington/Monumental Sports)
After sending a message with a win against the Liberty on Friday, the Mystics face the Sun on the road.
Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty**
2 p.m. on Twitter, (Local: YES, Facebook.com/Indiana Fever); Replay on WNBA League Pass
After falling to the Mystics on Friday, the Liberty’s new “superteam” will look to rebound in their home opener at Barclays Center.
Chicago Sky vs. Phoenix Mercury
4 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN+
Brittney Griner’s homecoming game comes against the Sky. The eight-time WNBA All-Star competed in her first official WNBA game in 579 days on Friday night, playing 25 minutes in the Phoenix Mercury’s 94-71 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.
WNBA Results — Friday, May 19
Connecticut Sun 70, Indiana Fever 61**
7 p.m. on WNBA League Pass (Local: Bally Sports Indiana, NECN)
New York Liberty 64, Washington Mystics 80**
7 p.m. on NBA TV (Local: NBC Sports Washington/Monumental Sports, WWOR-My9)
Chicago Sky 77, Minnesota Lynx 66
8 p.m. on WNBA League Pass (Local: Bally Sports North Extra, Marquee Sports Network/CW 26)
Phoenix Mercury 71, Los Angeles Sparks 94**
11 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN+
WNBA Results — Saturday, May 20
Atlanta Dream 78, Dallas Wings 85
1 p.m. on ABC
Las Vegas Aces 105, Seattle Storm 64**
3 p.m. on ABC
The Aces defeated the Storm, 105-64, breaking the WNBA record for largest margin of victory by any WNBA team in a season opener. Read more here.
Chicago Sky center Astou Ndour-Fall opted out of the 2023 WNBA season due to her overseas commitments, becoming one of the first dominoes to fall in the wake of the controversial new rule.
The prioritization rule requires WNBA players to return from overseas play by the time the league opens its season on May 19. Players who fail to do so will be ineligible to play in 2023, and Ndour-Fall will be one of them. Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams could be another.
How does the prioritization rule work? And how did it come to be? Just Women’s Sports breaks down the answers.
How does the prioritization rule work?
The rule requires players to prioritize the WNBA over international leagues. It was codified in the 2020 collective bargaining agreement but goes into effect for the first time for the 2023 season.
Players with more than two years of experience in the WNBA must report to their teams by May 1. If they do not, they will be fined. And if they miss the start of the regular season on May 19, they will be suspended for the year.
In 2024, the consequences will get even harsher: Players will be suspended for the whole season if they do not join their WNBA teams by May 1 or the start of training camp, whichever is later.
What’s the problem?
Many WNBA players head overseas in the offseason to supplement their WNBA incomes. Last offseason, almost half of the WNBA’s 144 players went overseas, per the Associated Press.
Players can make much more money abroad then they do in the U.S.-based league.
Breanna Stewart, for example, signed a supermax one-year deal with the Seattle Storm in 2022. The deal was worth $228,094, just a fraction of the $1.5 million per year she made for Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg. Though she left the Russian club for Fenerbahce in 2022, she likely earned another large payday.
The WNBA holds its season in the summer, while international leagues play in the winter, which has allowed players to stay on the court throughout the year. But some international leagues’ late-season schedules have conflicted with the start of the WNBA season in recent years.
How did it come to be?
The prioritization rule was negotiated as part of the WNBA’s latest CBA, which was signed in 2020 and runs through 2027.
“The owners really stepped up on the compensation side for the players in this collective bargaining cycle, and I think the kind of quid pro quo for that was prioritization, showing up on time for our season,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said ahead of the 2022 WNBA Finals.
The WNBA Players Association agreed to the clause as a concession to the league so they could make gains in other areas of the CBA.
“The league was in a place of not negotiating without it,” WNBA legend Sue Bird said of prioritization. “We wouldn’t have got the money, the maternity leave, without it. I’m not defending it… I want the WNBA to be the only league people play in. I want it to thrive so we never have to go overseas.”
What’s next?
Several players have indicated that as long as salaries in international leagues eclipse those in the WNBA, the prioritization clause will remain an issue.
Emma Meesseman, who has not signed with a WNBA team for the 2023 season, has said the rule is unfair to non-American players.
The WNBA is heading to Canada for a preseason game. The Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx will play in front of a sold-out crowd at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.
The game will be broadcast on TSN and Sportsnet in Canada, while U.S. and international viewers can find the game on WNBA League Pass. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. ET.
It will mark the first time the WNBA has played a game in Canada and just the third time a preseason game has taken place outside of the United States. Previously, games have been played in Mexico (2004) and England (2011).
“Bringing a WNBA preseason game to Canada is an important milestone for the global growth of the league,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in January. “I’ve spoken often of the global popularity of women’s basketball and, this past season, WNBA games were broadcast in 207 countries and territories, including in Canada, where fans have shown a great appetite for WNBA action.
“And as Canadian stars like Bridget Carleton, Natalie Achonwa and Kia Nurse continue to flourish in and drive interest around the league, we’re looking forward building on the momentum and excitement surrounding the WNBA in Canada with this historic game.”
While the WNBA expansion timeline is murky, Toronto has been floated as a potential city for expansion, adding intrigue to the matchup and local the events surrounding it.
“We are looking forward to participating in this historic game for the WNBA,” said Lynx head coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve. “The league’s global popularity has shown incredible growth, and I am pleased our team will be a part of continuing to pave the path for the WNBA by bringing our game to Canada.”