- 30 Second Timeout
- Posts
- The Highs and Lows of the WNBA Preseason
The Highs and Lows of the WNBA Preseason
May 5: WNBA preseason games give fans a first look, early roster cuts, and ESPN releases Season 2 of Full Court Press.

Did someone share this email with you? Get daily women’s basketball updates straight to your inbox. Sign up here!
What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. WNBA Players Hit the Court 🏀
The WNBA kicked off the 2025 preseason this weekend, giving fans their first look at potential rosters, rookie debuts, and team chemistry in action.
WHY IT MATTERS: Preseason games help teams establish their identity and finalize rosters. This year, they also give fans outside of major markets a chance to experience the W up close. Several teams hosted games on college campuses like Iowa, LSU, and Notre Dame.
There were five preseason games this weekend. Here are a few standout moments:
Paige Bueckers made her WNBA debut in a Wings jersey
3x MVP A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and the Aces already look locked in
Caitlin Clark’s first bucket back in Iowa is a deep three

MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR
100 Genius Side Hustle Ideas
Ready to escape the 9-5? The Hustle's side hustle database gives you 100 proven income opportunities, categorized by startup investment and skill level. Each idea includes real profit potential and time commitment details. Sign up now to unlock your next step to financial freedom and join our community of 1.5M entrepreneurs.

2. Training Camp Cuts Have Begun ✂️
With less than two weeks to go until the WNBA season officially opens, teams are making tough calls on their roster. Over the weekend, the wave of preseason cuts began, offering a stark reminder that returners and even draftees aren’t guaranteed a roster spot. (WNBA)
WHY IT MATTERS: One of the most surprising moves came from the expansion Golden State Valkyries, who waived Shyanne Sellers, their second-round draft pick and a former projected top-10 selection. Meanwhile, the New York Liberty released Kaitlyn Davis, their third-round pick from 2024.
It’s a brutal part of the process—teams must trim their rosters from 18 down to 11 or 12 before May 16. And with limited spots and veteran-heavy rosters, no name is safe.

3. ESPN Drops Season 2 of Full Court Press 📺
The hit ESPN docuseries Full Court Press is back for a second season. This time it spotlights LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, and USC’s Kiki Iriafen as they navigate the highs and lows of the 2024–25 college basketball season. (ESPN)
📺 Episodes 1 and 2 are now streaming on ESPN+ and Disney+.
📆 Episodes 3 and 4 will air live on ESPN2 on Sunday, May 11 at 9 PM ET, then be available to stream.
WHY IT MATTERS: After the success of Season 1, which featured Caitlin Clark (Iowa), Kamilla Cardoso (South Carolina), and Kiki Rice (UCLA), ESPN invested in another season with a new crop of top women’s college basketball players. This behind-the-scenes series offers fans a raw, personal look at some of the most popular players and programs.
OVERTIME ⏱️
Seattle Storm guard Katie Lou Samuelson suffered a torn ACL during training camp last Thursday and is expected to miss the entire 2025 season. It’s the third major knee injury to hit the Storm this year, making knee injuries their toughest opponent so far.
Reply