Buckle Up, the W is Back

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 Preseason Tips Off Today 🚀

The wait is over. The WNBA preseason tips-off today with two match-ups, including the highly anticipated debut of No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers with the Dallas Wings. (WNBA)

WHY IT MATTERS: With such a short training camp, teams have very little time to evaluate players and fine-tune their systems before the season opens. Most squads will play just one or two preseason games, putting pressure on rookies and veterans fighting for a roster spot. And for the first time ever, nearly the entire WNBA preseason is available to watch live, bringing added exposure and excitement to every matchup.

There are five preseason games this weekend:

Friday

• Dallas Wings vs. Las Vegas Aces – 7:00 PM ET | Ion & League Pass

• Chicago Sky vs. Brazilian National Team – 9:00 PM ET | Ion & League Pass

Saturday

• Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever – 1:00 PM ET | NBA TV & League Pass

Sunday

• Indiana Fever vs. Brazilian National Team – 4:00 PM ET | ESPN

• Connecticut Sun vs. Seattle Storm – 6:00 PM ET | League Pass

👉 View the full WNBA preseason schedule here.

2. The WNBA Injury Bug Bites Early 🩼

Injuries are already creating chaos for WNBA teams, and the regular season hasn’t even begun. Just days after news broke that Mystics rookie Georgia Amoore will miss significant time with an ACL injury, Washington was dealt another blow: second-year forward Aaliyah Edwards is sidelined with a lower back issue. Meanwhile, out West, Las Vegas Aces center Megan Gustafson is out with a lower leg injury sustained during practice. (SB Nation)

WHY IT MATTERS: With only 44 regular-season games, compared to 82 in the NBA, every game in the W matters. Injuries can derail team momentum and playoff hopes quickly. These setbacks add to a growing list that already includes Jordan Horston and Nika Mühl (Seattle) and veteran Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (New York).

For Washington, Edwards was expected to be a cornerstone in the team’s rebuild. After an impressive rookie season and a runner-up finish in Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 tournament, she looked poised for a breakout year. Her absence is a major hit to the Mystics' forward rotation. For Las Vegas, losing Gustafson, who provided solid minutes off the bench, may open the door for opponents to double team reigning MVP A’ja Wilson more easily.

3. USA 3X Nationals Play This Weekend 🏀

USA Basketball’s 3X Nationals Tournament is set for this weekend, May 2–4, in Mesa, Arizona. The event features 16 women’s teams competing in the fast-paced 3×3 format, with top talent from across the country. (USA Basketball)

WHY IT MATTERS: The 3X Nationals serve as an evaluation event for USA Basketball officials scouting talent for international competition, including the FIBA 3×3 World Cup and future Olympic teams. Team USA won gold in 2020 but settled for bronze in 2024, and this weekend could reveal the athletes ready to help reclaim the top spot.

This year’s tournament includes top college talent such as Mikayla Blakes, Chloe Kitts, and Joyce Edwards.

🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: 36.17% of you said you're most excited to watch Serah Williams suit up for UConn next season. Ta’Niya Latson at South Carolina was a close second.