A Mascot With Glasses? Only in the WNBA 👓

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

1. The Valkyries Hatch a Mascot 🐦‍⬛

There’s a new mascot in town. The Valkyries “hatched” Violet, a purple raven, during halftime of Monday’s game against the Connecticut Sun. (Golden State Valkyries)

👉 Watch Violet’s debut here

WHY IT MATTERS: Mascots are woven into the fabric of sports culture. They give fans (especially kids) something fun to connect with and often become part of a team’s identity. As the newest WNBA franchise, the Valkyries are showing other incoming expansion teams how to launch a mascot with creativity and fan engagement.

Plus, Violet’s rocking a pair of glasses. This might be the first professional sports mascot to pull that off, which makes her even more unique.

2. LeBron’s $5B Global League Vision 🌏

LeBron James and business partner Maverick Carter are reportedly raising $5 billion to launch a new international basketball league featuring six men’s teams and six women’s teams. (Complex)

WHY IT MATTERS: Like Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart’s Unrivaled, this league would give top players more opportunities—and potentially equity stakes in their teams. Games would tour cities around the world, similar to Formula 1, helping to grow the game’s reach and fan base. For the women’s game, more money, visibility, and opportunities mean the product (already great) gets even stronger.

3. Caitlin Clark’s $317K Trading Card 💰

One lucky collector just cashed in big. Panini’s Caitlin Clark Immaculate Logowoman 1/1 card sold for $317,200 over the weekend—the third-highest public sale to date for the young star. (Ben Burrows/X)

WHY IT MATTERS: Even in a season shortened by injury, Clark’s market power is undeniable. She now has 11 cards that have sold for $100K+ and three over $300K, putting her in rare air for women’s sports memorabilia.