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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Natalie Nakase Wins Coach (Staff) of the Year 🏀📋
The Golden State Valkyries’ incredible debut season added another milestone: first-year head coach Natalie Nakase has been named the 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year. (Golden State Valkyries)
WHY IT MATTERS: Nakase earned 53 of 72 media panel votes after leading the first expansion team in league history to clinch a playoff berth in its inaugural season. Her squad finished 23–21, setting a new single-season win record for an expansion team. Under her leadership, Kayla Thornton blossomed into an All-Star and Veronica Burton became Most Improved Player. True to form, Nakase credited her assistants, calling it a “coaching staff” award.
2. Round 1 Continues to Bring the Fireworks 🎆
The opening round of the WNBA playoffs continued to bring the thrills Wednesday night. The Valkyries’ magical first season came to an end with a one-point loss to Minnesota, while Phoenix flipped the script on New York, dominating on the road to force a decisive Game 3 on Friday. (Bleacher Report)
WHY IT MATTERS: Minnesota becomes the first team to advance to the semifinals, giving them valuable rest while everyone else battles it out. Phoenix’s blowout win in New York showed they’re every bit the contender, and now they’ll have home-court advantage in Friday’s win-or-go-home Game 3.
Here are the Game 3 matchups on tap tonight:
Indiana (6) at Atlanta (3) - 7:30 PM ET on ESPN 2
Seattle (7) at Las Vegas (2) - 9:30 pm ET on ESPN 2
3. It’s Not Too Early To Think About Free Agency 💰
Even in the middle of WNBA playoff excitement, it’s hard not to turn some attention toward the upcoming free agency bonanza. With new Collective Bargaining Agreement talks in progress and salaries expected to rise, virtually every top player structured their contracts to expire after 2025. (Her Hoop Stats)
WHY IT MATTERS: What this free agency picture means is that your favorite WNBA team is likely to look very different next year. With so many contracts expiring and two new expansion teams (Portland and Toronto) grabbing players via the expansion draft, it’s shaping up to be one of the most dramatic free agency periods ever.
Because every day is a WBB day
Coffee first. Women’s basketball always. This mug is a playful reminder of where your day’s priorities really are.
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OVERTIME ⏱️
Shoe Drop: Angel Reese's first signature shoe, the Angel Reese 1, hits stories today in three colorways.
Not Crying: Newly crowned MIP Veronica Burton delivered a heartfelt tribute to Valkyries fans and Ballhalla after Golden State’s season-ending loss.
