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Good morning! ☕️
We’re in the thick of the WNBA Finals, but college hoops is right around the corner. Tipoff is now less than a month away.
Also, a quick heads-up: we’re dropping Part One of our brand-new holiday collection this week, featuring WNBA-inspired merch that makes perfect gifts (or, let’s be honest, self-gifts). Keep an eye out for that later this week.
What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Aces Take 2-0 Lead Behind Young and Wilson 🎰
The Las Vegas Aces defended home court on Friday and Sunday this past weekend, taking a 2-0 Finals lead over the Phoenix Mercury. Jackie Young exploded for 32 points while A’ja Wilson added 28 and 14 rebounds during Sunday’s dominant 91-78 win. (WNBA)
WHY IT MATTERS: This is the WNBA’s first best-of-seven Finals, so previous win odds are not exact, but history still favors the Aces. In past best-of-five formats, no team has ever come back from a 2-0 deficit. The Mercury will have home-court advantage for Games 3 and 4, but Vegas’ core trio of Wilson, Young, and Chelsea Gray has been unstoppable so far.
2. Engelbert and Collier at Odds as Tensions Rise 😤
Tensions between Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and Napheesa Collier continue to build after Engelbert pushed back on parts of Collier’s critical comments in her press conference on Friday. A scheduled meeting between the two was reportedly canceled by Collier after the presser, sparking speculation of a deeply troubled relationship between the two. (ESPN)
WHY IT MATTERS: With CBA negotiations looming, this rift comes at a crucial moment. Engelbert is juggling the expectations of owners, investors, and players, but recent pushback from Collier and the players’ union suggests growing frustration. Both are key figures in the next labor deal and this weekend’s fallout could further complicate the process.
3. Top High School Recruits Delaying Commitments ⏳
Top high school basketball stars are taking longer to commit to college programs. That trend may be here to stay. (ESPN)
WHY IT MATTERS: A new NCAA rule from the past year allows unlimited college visits starting January 1 of a recruit’s junior year. For the athletes, this rule gives them more time to make a decision. For colleges, the rule is meant to provide more recruiting opportunities to replenish rosters hit hard by the transfer portal.
The rule change could create challenges as well, however. Recruiting visits are expensive and delayed commitments make it hard for coaches to solidify their recruiting priorities. Programs with smaller recruiting budgets may struggle to keep pace, creating a wider gap between powerhouse programs and everyone else.
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OVERTIME ⏱️
Top Dog: ESPN’s first 2026 college bracket has UConn projected as the No. 1 overall seed.
Big Get: Notre Dame landed No. 9 high school recruit Jacy Abii, adding more firepower to an already strong squad.
Good Dish: Alyssa Thomas passed Courtney Vandersloot on Sunday to become the WNBA’s all-time postseason assists leader.
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