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The New York Liberty do not look shorthanded to start the 2026 WNBA season. New York is 2-0 after getting a huge 98-93 overtime win over Washington on Sunday. One Liberty rookie stepped up against the Mystics and put herself into elite territory following her monster game.

Rookie point guard Pauline Astier got hot against the Mystics after a quiet game in New York's season opener. She joined two elite players in WNBA history.

Astier joined Paige Bueckers and Candace Parker as the only rookies in WNBA history with at least 18 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals on a 60% field goal percentage in a single game. Astier and Parker are the only two rookies to accomplish that feat within their first two career games.

Astier played a whopping 35 minutes at point guard, filling in for Sabrina Ionescu. New York's star point guard suffered a preseason foot injury and is not expected back until later this month.

The 24-year-old French guard first impressed during the preseason, logging 12 points and four assists in her Liberty debut.

New York have thrived without Ionescu in the lineup and Astier has played a large role in that success. Guard Marine Johannes also deserves recognition for filling in for Ionescu. Johannes contributed 25 points against the Mystics, more than any other Liberty player.

Golden State Valkyries Postgame Media Availability: Head Coach Natalie Nakase. Postgame presser vs. Phoenix Mercury on May 10th, 2026.

Paige Bueckers had a strong debut, but this win wasn’t about one player. The Dallas Wings beat the Indiana Fever in one of their most complete offensive games in years to kick off the Jose Fernandez era. Let's dive into the film.

With the whistle going off and the Dallas Wings celebrating their staggering season-opener win, Paige Bueckers probably knew that she owed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander one.

The final verdict of this season’s most-anticipated game was the Wings blowing away the Indiana Fever by 107-104. But apart from her 20-points, Bueckers added the offseason insights she took from the OKC star.

“I want to work on my left hand… get to the free throw line more,” the Wings’ star admitted in early January, revealing what she wanted to add to her game. “So, lowkey a little foul bait, but also the Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander] shoulder bump into my midrange pull up.”

The 24-year-old established herself as a scoring machine as early as her rookie season, where she set a single-game scoring record of 44 points and averaged 19.2 PPG. But the W’s 5th leading scorer didn’t make many trips to the FT line.

But she knew where to look, and the NBA’s second-most free-throw attempter was her inspiration. And seeing the 3-of-6 FTs Bueckers landed against the Fever, needless to say, the learnings paid off decently.

With an elite 80% FG shooting, 33.3% 3P, and a solid 50% FTs, Bueckers opened her 2026 W season. And given the FT shooting she showed in the Unrivaled, the W should gear up for what’s coming.

SAN FRANCISCO - Joseph Dycus (Bay Area News Group), Marisa Ingemi, Kenzo Fukuda (ClutchPoints), Jane Kenny (San Francisco Standard) and Nathan Canilao (Bay Area News Group) break down the Valkyries season-opening victory in Seattle.

The group of Valkyries writers talk Gabby Williams' debut, Kaitlyn Chen's big night, Natalie Nakase trying out some smallball lineups, injuries to Ceci Zandalasini and Tip Hayes, the team saying farewell to Kate Martin (we think), Janelle Salaun scoring off the bench and more.

While the WNBA season is officially underway, with three games being played on Friday night, teams around the association are far from done making tweaks to their respective rosters. This was evident throughout the week as teams waived various players to finalize their lineups ahead of opening day.

One example of this was when the New York Liberty waived forward Anneli Maley, who they had signed to a training camp deal earlier in the offseason. The Australian would put up 26 points and 13 rebounds across her two preseason matches with New York, far exceeding her averages during her time with the Chicago Sky in 2022, when she appeared in four games, averaging two point sand 1.8 rebounds across 11 minutes of game time.

While getting waived means that the player doesn’t have any playing opportunities in the present, this won’t be the case for Maley, as she had been claimed off waivers by the Phoenix Mercury, according to the WNBA’s transaction tracker.

It’s not known if the Australian will be present for the Mercury’s season opener on Saturday afternoon against the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces. But when she does join the team, she’ll be seated alongside the likes of Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Valeriane Ayayi, among other forwards.

Tip-off between the Mercury and the Aces is slated for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST.

There’s a room with a piano at the apartment complex where most of the Seattle Storm players reside, and they’ve given it a nickname: “Dom’s Room.” Dominique Malonga tends to retreat there when her brain gets too overwhelmed—after practice, after a game, or at the end of a long week juggling professional basketball with assignments for her computer science classes.

“I spend my life there,” the 20-year-old tells me over Zoom in April. She’d taken piano lessons as a kid, and when she came back around to it four years ago she realized she hadn’t forgotten how to play. She taught herself piano pieces on YouTube and disappears to Dom’s Room when she needs an escape. “When my mind is full and I need to reset and calm myself, I just go play.”

Much of Malonga’s fanfare as one of the WNBA’s brightest young stars has centered on her athleticism. The 6-foot-6 French center was drafted second overall by the Storm last year; she was the youngest player in the league at the time, but her size, mobility, and ability to dunk made her impossible to ignore. She spent much of her rookie season quietly studying the game behind a team full of veterans. She gradually became a threat off the bench, and subsequently the youngest player ever to post a double-double and reach 100 career points.

But basketball is only part of what she's building. While she's learning the league, she's also chasing a college degree and filling every spare hour with something new, working toward a life that extends well beyond the court.

Malonga is calling from Seattle, where she just arrived ahead of training camp after a whirlwind WNBA off-season. She underwent wrist surgery in October, taking her time to truly recover physically and mentally for the first time in years. “It was the first time I had time for me,” she says.

She then spent the first two months of this year in Miami competing in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league, before going home to France to play in the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament. She suffered a concussion two games in, going back into recovery mode, and spent the rest of her time off with family in France.

The Golden State Valkyries are set to host a slate of activations and events surrounding the team’s opening weekend, which begins this Friday, May 8 when the Valkyries visit Seattle for a 7 p.m. tip-off and continues Sunday, May 10 for Golden State’s home opener at 5:30 p.m. against Phoenix, presented by Chase Freedom.

Season Opener - Friday, May 8 at 7 p.m. Ballhalla is back at Thrive City during the “Season Tip-Off Viewing Party” as the Valkyries take on the Storm in Seattle. Fans can enjoy a DJ, photo opportunities, games, and a chance to win prizes, including signed jerseys, all game long. Additionally, the Thrive City Entertainment Zone will be fully activated, allowing guests ages 21 and over to purchase to-go alcoholic beverages to enjoy throughout the plaza. Bay Area artist Lil Kayla is set to deliver a special performance at halftime. Fans looking to attend are encouraged to RSVP here.

Home Opener - Sunday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. The Valkyries host Phoenix in the team’s home opener, presented by Chase Freedom, with doors opening at 4 p.m. ahead of the 5:30 p.m. tip-off. All fans in attendance will receive a violet ‘This is Ballhalla’ t-shirt, courtesy of Chase Freedom, and bestie, Violet will be handing out flowers in celebration of Mother’s Day. Exclusive Valkyries merchandise and jerseys will also be available at the Golden State shop.

Olympian Eileen Gu will bang the GSV Drum, Bay Area native Lynnea Moorer will sing the National Anthem, and musician Sheila E. is set to perform at halftime.

Valkyries Bar Network Golden State is excited to unveil the Valkyries Bar Network, “Ballhalla Around The Bay,” a collection of 16 bars across the Bay Area where fans can gather and cheer on the Valkyries all season long. Members of the Bar Network will air all Valkyries games this season, allowing fans to bring their Ballhalla mentality throughout the Bay. Select locations will offer exclusive Valkyries-themed cocktails and mocktails, as well as special discounts for fans who are wearing Valkyries gear. A full list of participating bars can be found here. Bars interested in joining can email ValksMarketing@valkyries.com for more information.

Participating Bars include:

Oakland: Ben 'N Nicks, Cato's Ale House, Lucy Blue, Pickle Athletics, and The White Horse.

South Bay: Rookie's Sports Lodge (Downtown and Willow Glen locations).

San Francisco: ATWATER Tavern, Harmonic Brewing (Thrive City location), Harry's Bar, Hi Tops, Mother, Rikki's, Splash Sports Bar, Standard Deviant Brewing (14th Street and Pier 70 locations), Third Rail, and Valley Tavern.

A full Valkyries schedule can be found here. Tickets are available at valkyries.com.

Now the verdict on the team’s drafting philosophy hinges largely on whether Jocytė can validate its vision.

If the Valkyries get this right, everything changes. If not, questions will persist.

Jocytė doesn’t necessarily fit the mold of a can’t-miss WNBA prospect — mostly because she doesn’t appear to possess elite athleticism. But one of the main reasons she didn’t register near the top of 2025 mock drafts was uncertainty around her eligibility; specifically, how her age and international status would be evaluated, as she was born in the U.S.

The Valkyries were thrilled to see her available at No. 5 and believe they got a steal. Jocytė’s game is built on craftiness, pacing, and feel, all aspects that tend to age well but don’t always translate immediately to WNBA success.

Jocytė has been playing professionally overseas since 2019, becoming, at 14, the youngest player ever in France’s top league and the EuroLeague. That gives her six-plus years of experience against older, more physical players.

She’s known in Europe to be a legitimate three-level scorer. As a left-handed shooter, she looks comfortable spotting up and creating off the dribble. She can operate on and off the ball and — arguably most important for the Valkyries — can generate her own offense.

That skill set fills an under-the-radar need for Golden State. For a group still searching for reliable shot creation within an “everybody eats” style, Jocytė’s ability to bend defenses and make decisions with the ball should give the offense a different dimension, especially when Veronica Burton is off the floor.

“She’s just so smart, and the fact that she’s so young — it’s going to show, she’s going to have a great career,” said Kaila Charles, whose Umana Reyer Venezia team faced Jocytė’s Spar Girona in the EuroLeague.

All 12 South Carolina women's basketball alumnae who entered 2026 WNBA training camp in April were named to their team's opening day rosters tonight. It is the most Gamecocks to be active on opening day in program history and gives head coach Dawn Staley's program the second-most entries of any university this season. The Gamecocks' nine additions to the league in the last five years are the most of any program. South Carolina's nine roster spots lead the SEC, which has a total of 37 alumnae on rosters, including those on developmental contracts.

The highest profile player in the WNBA is a Gamecock with A'ja Wilson winning a league-record four MVP trophies in her first eight seasons with the Las Vegas Aces. The Gamecocks' first overall No. 1 selection in 2018 went on to claim WNBA Rookie of the Year honors has been an All-WNBA selection six times and earned five All-Star nods. She has earned Defensive Player of the Year honors three times and guided the Aces to three WNBA Championships over the last four seasons.

Guard and two-time WNBA All-Star Allisha Gray is the longest tenured Gamecock in the group, entering her 10th season in the league and her third in Atlanta. She was the fourth overall pick of Dallas in 2017 and was the Gamecocks' first WNBA Rookie of the Year. Gray has welcomed a Gamecock to her team in Atlanta each of the last two seasons. Guard Te-Hina Paopao is back for her second season after being selected in the second round by the Dream in 2025. The team added center Madina Okot in the 2026 draft with its No. 13 overall pick after she wrapped up her college career as an All-SEC selection for the Gamecocks.

The Indiana Fever also boast three Gamecocks on their roster with 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick and Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston welcoming six-year veteran Tyasha Harris back to the Fever, which drafted her seventh overall in 2020, via free agency. The Fever added rookie guard Raven Johnson with the 10th pick in the 2026 draft following her All-America and SEC Defensive Player of the Year senior season at South Carolina.

The Los Angeles Sparks have picked up a Gamecock each of the last two seasons, beginning with forward Sania Feagin in the second round of the 2025 draft. She reclaimed a roster spot this season while adding arguably the steal of the 2026 draft in guard Ta'Niya Latson in the second round following her fourth-straight All-America campaign.

Two more 2023 draftees are still in the league with forward Laeticia Amihere earning a roster spot for the fourth season, playing for the Golden State Valkyries this season. She began her career in Atlanta, where she played for two seasons after the Dream drafted her with the eighth overall pick. Guard Zia Cooke is back with the Seattle Storm for the second season after spending her first two in Los Angeles as the 10th overall pick in 2023.

Center Kamilla Cardoso rounds out the group as she enters her third season in Chicago, where she picked up WNBA All-Rookie honors after the Sky made her the third overall pick in the 2024 draft.

In program history, 23 Gamecocks have played in the WNBA, including 19 in Staley's 17-year tenure. Six Gamecocks have been named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team with three claiming WNBA Rookie of the Year honors – Gray (2017), Wilson (2018), Boston (2023). Two of Staley's alums have won WNBA Championships and three have been named to at least one WNBA All-Star team.

Some in the women’s basketball community may have been surprised by Kentucky’s signing of former first-round WNBA draft pick Ajša Sivka, but Chicago Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca and his front office were not.

Sivka, whom Chicago selected No. 10 overall in the first round of the 2025 WNBA draft, was announced as Kentucky’s latest signing Wednesday morning — adding a potential star with professional experience to Kenny Brooks’ roster while raising questions regarding eligibility and draft rights.

“We stayed in close communication with Ajša and her team through this offseason and always knew that this was an option,” Pagliocca said in a statement to the Herald-Leader. “Nothing about this is surprising to us. We’re looking forward to getting her stateside and watching her compete against some of the best talent in the NCAA. Additionally, she’ll receive world-class coaching from Kenny Brooks and his staff, who have proven to cultivate WNBA talent. We’re excited for Ajša and her development.”

The Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia, native attended last year’s WNBA Draft in person, a formal invitation presented to players projected as first-round selections. Sivka did not join the Sky last season, instead remaining in Europe to join the Slovenian National Team in the 2025 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket Championship.

Sivka will arrive in Lexington later in the offseason and join Kentucky’s 2026-27 roster. She’ll play alongside projected 2027 WNBA Draft pick Clara Strack and returning starter Asia Boone; incoming transfers Me’Arah O’Neal (Florida), Diana Collins (Alabama) and Ayanna Patterson (UConn); and UK’s five-star freshman class of Maddyn Greenway, Savvy Swords and Emily McDonald.

As outlined by the collective bargaining agreement, in order for international players to be eligible for the WNBA Draft, they must be at least 20 years old during the year of their respective draft. Sivka turned 20 years old in November 2025, seven months after Chicago drafted her.

Much of Clark's rehab was spent in Indianapolis where she could take advantage of the familiar facilities, trainers and medical staff. The two-time All-Star gushed about head athletic trainer Maria Witte, labeling her "the most selfless person" for the long hours she put in. Finally, after all that rehab with Witte, Clark was cleared for pickup games. The challenge was finding the right people to play against. The Fever employ a handful of men as practice players, but they're part time, with other responsibilities. A concerted effort was made to find the right people to play with Clark. Her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery -- a former player at Iowa who was an assistant coach at Butler last season -- did some recruiting. Player development coach Rob Dosier did the same.

They couldn't just announce an open run for anyone to join and face off against the most famous women's basketball player in the world. They had to be vetted but also had to understand the goal.

"Oftentimes, when you play pickup, it's like 3-point line to 3-point line, chuck, not really working on offense or defense," Fever coach Stephanie White said. "It's about being really intentional about what we're working on in the moment. It's not enough just to go out and play. It's, hey, we've got to play on the defensive end. We've got to move corner to corner, not just top of the key to top of the key. We've got to get movement patterns off the ball.

"And you've got to play with guys who understand that when she gives it up, this is how we get it back. To be real intentional about making it flow into how we want to play, as opposed to just getting up and down the court."

Some college players in the area participated, as well as others who had experience playing overseas. The formats were very specific, mimicking WNBA game scenarios. They would play a game as if it were the first quarter leading up to the first timeout. There was no way to simulate an actual game, but they could put Clark in game-like situations. During the entire process, Clark wore technology that tracked her movements and gave data for her and the medical staff -- how far she's running during a workout or how she's accelerating. The Fever have been using the technology for years, so Clark was able to compare her rehab data to data previously collected. The information would help make training decisions.

For someone such as Clark, who obsesses over details, that was invaluable.

On average, the Portland Fire are only just able to rent a car without additional surcharges. But the majority of individual players cannot.

Portland’s opening night roster, released Thursday, is among the youngest in the WNBA at 25.6 years old. Coach Alex Sarama joked it might be the youngest in league history, though the Washington Mystics’ training camp roster is younger at 24.6.

With that youth will come plenty of growing pains in the expansion team’s first campaign. But the Fire say they are ready for it.

“I think just really thinking where we could be year two, year three, year four,” Sarama said when asked what he’s excited about with this roster. “This is, like, a long term thing, and it’s how we’re establishing this foundation.”

While few around the league believe the Fire will play themselves out of the JuJu Watkins sweepstakes — with most power rankings placing Portland dead last out of 15 teams in the WNBA — development for this team means remaining competitive even as the losses pile up.

The gritty, relentless defensive effort seen in preseason should be a hallmark. And as players familiarize themselves with Sarama’s unique, situational offense, the flow should improve as the season moves along.

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 7, 2026 – The WNBA on USA Network makes its debut on Mother’s Day, this Sunday, May 10, as USA Sports begins its inaugural season covering the WNBA with 2025 Kia WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and the defending champion Las Vegas Aces visiting Cameron Brink, Kelsey Plum and the Los Angeles Sparks live at 6 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif.

Sunday’s coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. ET with the debut of the WNBA on USA Pregame Show presented by Ford. Elle Duncan hosts Sunday’s studio coverage alongside 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Chamique Holdsclaw andtwo-time WNBA champion Renee Montgomery as analysts. Kate Scott will call the game on USA Network alongside analyst Sarah Kustok and courtside reporter Paris Lawson.

Last season, Wilson secured her second consecutive and record-breaking fourth career WNBA MVP award after leading the Aces to their third title in the past four seasons. This season, the Aces return Wilson, six-time All-Star Chelsea Gray, and 2025 All-WNBA Second TeamerJackie Young, who have each been a part of all three title teams. The Sparks look to return to the WNBA Playoffs for the first time since 2020 this season, led by four-time All-Star Plum, who led the team with 19.5 points last season, and 2024 No. 2 overall pick Brink.

Anchoring the WNBA on USA Network schedule are Wednesday night doubleheaders throughout the season, which begin on Wed., May 13 as the Aces visit the Connecticut Sun (8 p.m. ET), followed by Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever visiting the Sparks (10:30 p.m. ET).

Calling Aces-Sun will be Meghan McPeak (play-by-play), Amy Audibert (analyst) and Edona Thaqi (courtside reporter), while Scott (play-by-play), Lea B. Olsen (analyst) and Lawson (courtside reporter) will be on the call for Fever-Sparks. Wednesday’s coverage begins with the WNBA on USA Pregame Show at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, featuring Duncan, Montgomery, and Holdsclaw.

USA Sports’ WNBA coverage will include dedicated pregame, halftime and postgame studio programming throughout the season, establishing USA Network as a weekly destination for WNBA fans. USA Sports will also present first round playoff games and up to five WNBA Finals games, with any Finals series longer than a sweep ensuring that the 2026 WNBA champion will be determined on USA Network. For the complete schedule and information on USA Sports’ WNBA broadcasting team, click here.

Angel Reese continues to chart new territory as a women’s sports star, launching multiple side careers from a very young age while also charting her own course in the WNBA. The latest example came in Reese’s recent comments about how she will handle media this season as she starts fresh in Atlanta.

During an appearance on First Lady Michelle Obama’s podcast, the oft-maligned Reese suggested she could be open to taking fines in certain instances rather than face aggressive reporters.

“I’ll take a fine before I have to go media and feel like my back is against the wall,” she said.

Obama’s brother and co-host Craig Robinson supported the idea and, half-jokingly, offered to pay any fines Reese received as a result.

During her time at LSU and early in her WNBA career, Reese was a frequent target of vicious criticism and even fabricated headlines, largely due to her ties to Caitlin Clark. In college, Reese admitted that the scrutiny weighed on her psyche. Reese worked with the Chicago Sky on a trade to the Atlanta Dream this offseason to reset her career.

And in an episode of A Touch More, USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe offered a strong endorsement of Reese’s updated approach.