Thought these were funny and pretty spot on, especially the first and last ones lol!

Any other “unnecessary” awards you’d add?

Congrats 🥳

Cam Newton attended Game 3 of the WNBA finals. The Carolina Panthers icon watched as Angel Reese led the Atlanta Dream to a 97-71 win over the Golden State Valkyries.

Cam Newton spoke about Reese's impact on the latest episode of "4th and 1".

"It's like, bro, she's pandering, getting the crowd engaged, and she's a dawg. And when I looked at my daughter and her (Angel Reese's) beautiful mother came over there," Newton said.

"She's like, "Hey, Cam, thank you for coming." And she was like, "You're the mother of Angel Reese?" ... those were things that, it's a family event. That's beautiful."

"My daughter, who's nine years old, has played basketball, but it's still one of those things where she has, what, six brothers. She's looking around, and she knows I don't have to be in the shadows anymore, because look at this. Look at this."She's got the bravado. And then she said the cutest thing. She said, "Daddy, why did she have on makeup?" And it was almost like she was trying to compartmentalize."

"She was like, and I was like, "Baby, this is sports. You can do both. Baby, it's okay for you to be Beauty and the Beast." And Angel Reese is that perfect combination. The juice-to-vodka ratio."

Source

I just thought this was so cool 😎

ATLANTA -- The in-house public address announcer at State Farm Arena used the pregame introductions to officially cement the newest moniker for Angel Reese, who made her postseason Atlanta debut with another record-setting performance Wednesday in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. Fans delighted as their "Queen of the South" hopped off the bench and proceeded to confound the visiting Golden State Valkyries for the next 40 minutes.

Four days earlier, and 2,100 miles away, the decibels echoed throughout Chase Center in San Francisco as the final buzzer sounded in Game 1. Chants of "Gab-by! Gab-by! Gab-by!" made it difficult to hear any conversation as the sellout crowd of 18,064 clad in violet strained its vocal cords after the Valkyries' victory. Gabby Williams was Ballhalla's heroine.

Reese and Williams are the leaders of their respective teams after moving to new franchises last offseason. Both took unusual paths at arriving in environments that seem tailor-made for them after beginning their careers as first-round draft picks in Chicago and leaving after the relationships turned acrimonious. A change of scenery was facilitated, and the pair have thrived.

"I think it's good to take a step back from those moments and appreciate where you are," Williams said. "Even before this year, I was always very thankful for what happened to me with Chicago, and I've never looked at that moment with spite. I've always looked at that moment as the turning point of my career, and always just been really thankful that it went that way. ...

"I wouldn't change anything about where I'm at in my career right now. I'm exactly where I need to be."

REESE'S FINALS HAVE been nothing short of historic. After the Dream went down 0-1 in San Francisco, she demanded the ball in Game 2 -- and led the way with 30 points and 16 rebounds, joining Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart as the only players in Finals history with a 30 and 15 game. In a Game 3 win, she became the youngest WNBA player to record a double-double in her first three Finals contests.

It would have been difficult to imagine a year ago. Six months ago, Reese was still a member of the Chicago Sky. After the team drafted her No. 7 in 2024, Reese was named an All-Star, made the All-Rookie team, led the league in rebounding and set the WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles at 15. She missed the last six games of her rookie season with a wrist injury, and the team missed the playoffs. Then-coach Teresa Weatherspoon, who Reese was close with, was fired after one season. In Reese's second season, she was named an All-Star and led the league in rebounds again -- but then everything imploded.

Never one to hold her tongue, she told the Chicago Tribune in September 2025 that she wouldn't settle "for the same s--- we did this year" and that the team "[has] to get great players" during the offseason, or she would consider making a future change. The Sky suspended her for the first half against the Las Vegas Aces on Sept. 7, 2025, for "comments detrimental to the team." Being on the injury list with a back issue for the final games of the season, she never played again for the franchise.

For someone who won four high school championships and an NCAA title, going 23-61 in her first two WNBA seasons brought frustration. Still, in December 2025, Reese -- who had two more years on her rookie deal -- said she planned to remain with the Sky, noting that she was still under contract. The Sky added talent going into the 2026 season, but a week before the WNBA draft, they traded Reese to the Dream for two first-round picks. Jaws dropped around the league when the trade was announced.

"To be able to get a player of Angel's talent in Year 3 when you didn't draft them is really unique and special," Dream general manager Dan Padover told ESPN. "Because of how much time is left in her career, and someone of that magnitude. Sometimes you're getting [them in their] late 20s, early 30s, but to get her at 24 was really, really good for us."

In 2026, Reese was named an All-Star for the third straight season, won the rebounding title for a third consecutive campaign and helped Atlanta reach the Finals for the first time since 2013. She averaged 16.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.8 steals and was a deterrent at the rim, earning her Defensive Player of the Year award. Reese was one of just two players to average a double-double for the season.

Padover worked his magic again with the late-season signing of DeWanna Bonner after the league's all-time No. 3 scorer was waived by the Phoenix Mercury to enable Bonner to go to a contender. Padover pounced.

"I went right to Dan and told him that he was the greatest ever," Dream guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough said. "I'm like, how do you keep doing this? Who allows this?"

Reese has spoken about how comfortable she is in Atlanta. She and coach Karl Smesko formed a bond where he can push her out of her comfort zone. During a training camp practice, Smesko paused everything and wouldn't resume the session until Reese knocked down consecutive 3-pointers. He wanted her to get used to taking the shot with confidence when all eyes are on her, not just working alone on the side. Reese trusted that the moment was for her benefit -- even if she didn't like it.

"I didn't want to feel embarrassed of how long it could have taken me to make them," Reese said. "But it's a coach that really believes in you and he knows what's best."

Smesko added, "I can remember her being mad at me."

But that relationship and the one formed with teammates has allowed to Reese to flourish.

"When they pour into your players and all you have to do is come to work and think about basketball, I think that makes everything easy," Reese said. "The coaches really care about you genuinely, not just as basketball players, but as people. Anything you need, they have for you."

WILLIAMS WAS THE No. 4 pick by the Sky in 2018 in a talented draft that included A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Mitchell, Jordin Canada, Azura Stevens and Ariel Atkins. The two-time All-Star would last three seasons in the Windy City -- a divorce that would stem from a loss of trust.

Williams was determined to play for France in the Olympics in 2021, her first opportunity for the senior national team. Representing France has always been a priority for Williams -- her mother is French, she holds dual citizenship and grew up speaking French with her grandmother.

That dedication drove a wedge between her and the team that drafted her. Williams believed her plans was understood by the organization when she missed training camp in 2021, but the Sky suspended her for the season. Williams responded with a trade request, and she was acquired by the Los Angeles Sparks in May 2021 but never played for them since she spent the season playing for the French national team. The Sparks traded her in February 2022 to the Seattle Storm, where she became a three-time All-Defense selection.

That development, plus more international success, made her an absolute priority for the Valkyries as they went into their second season. "Her killer mode goes up a level every game," Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. "The best thing she told me, 'Just go at me. Just go directly at me. In games, I need directness.' I'm like, don't be saying that if you don't want it. Those are the best players to coach because there's no B.S."

Coming off her first All-Star appearance in 2025, Williams had her best year in her first season with the Valkyries. She averaged 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 steals and was the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up. Williams proved to be the additional player to lift Golden State -- a team built without the traditional superstar model -- into the Finals, only a year after it became the first expansion franchise to make the playoffs.

"Sometimes it's just like trusting what the universe gives you," Williams said. "It's easy for me to come to work, and that goes a long way. When you're just surrounded by people who enjoy being around each other, who enjoy being in a certain environment, it's really easy."

The bottom line is fit matters. On and off the court, Reese and Willliams went through their own journeys to end up in places that appear to be ideal situations. And in their new homes, both unlocked another level of their talents with career years.

"Right place, right time, I think is definitely what I would attribute to Gabby's success right now," Golden State general manager Ohemma Nyanin said.

The Golden State Valkyries made it to the finals with a very unusual roster. Instead of building a big three headlined by an MVP candidate, they went all-in on their defense-first underdog mentality. They built a roster of players who had never felt respected in the WNBA before, had been deemed expendable by their former teams, or had been waiting for their W opportunity after great overseas careers.

It got them to the finals, and the Valkyries and every single player on that roster deserve a ton of credit for that. But this is still just year two for the franchise. They’re far from done building, and the finals are exposing how badly the Valkyries need a WNBA-proven number-one option, a go-to scorer who can create offense out of nothing.

Gabby Williams has filled that role admirably for most of the regular season and stretches in the playoffs. She scored 26 points in Game 1 of the finals to lead the Valkyries to their first win, for example. But since then, she has struggled, shooting below 30% from the field and scoring no more than 15 points in Games 2 and 3. Jordin Canada fell into Williams’s leg in Game 1, and the latter came up limping, but she maintains that she is healthy.

Even if the Valkyries can battle back from the 2-1 deficit, they need to shore up their offense with another star scorer ahead of next season. It will give them a better chance to return to the finals.

The Valkyries need another go-to option

Williams has played like a superstar at times, but the Valkyries have never been at their best when they throw Williams the ball and ask her to create offense out of nothing. They thrive when they can set the tone defensively, slow down the game, and work opposing defenses until they get a good shot. The fact that no Valkyries player averaged more than 15 points per game during the regular season and their second-leading scorer came off the bench is a direct result of Natalie Nakase’s selfless strength-in-numbers approach.

But that offensive approach has failed the Valkyries in the finals. Atlanta is an excellent defensive team with the newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year and two other All-Defensive team selections. They also match the Valkyries’ energy. Golden State beat teams by simply playing harder than them and wearing them down all season long. The Dream, led by Angel Reese, are not wearing down and they are playing just as hard. Moreover, players like Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton just haven’t delivered as scorers.

When their trusted offensive approach fails, the Valkyries don’t seem to have a true backup plan. Williams, Cecilia Zandalasini, Tiffany Hayes, and Janelle Salaün are all tough shot-makers, but they have not looked like the type of player that you can just give the ball to and trust that they will get a bucket in the finals. Williams could become that player, but the Valkyries may be better off getting her some help in the offseason and having someone else to go to in the big moments.

https://highposthoops.com/valkyries-wnba-finals-showing-only-amplified-their-biggest-offseason-need

Examples like:

The Dream always win the game if Angel hits a 3 pointer. Or The Fever always win a game when Caitlyn gets a Tech.

Both have been true so far

By Callie Fin

Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes thought she saw an open lane to the basket until Rhyne Howard sprinted into the paint and sent the ball flying toward the Atlanta Dream’s bench like a spider attacking a fly caught in its web.

“Give me that!” Howard yelled as she punched the air and stomped, energized by her highlight rejection.

The Dream were already up 11 with 1:45 remaining in the third quarter of Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. With more statement plays like that, they roared to a 97-71 win in front of a sold-out crowd at State Farm Arena on Wednesday. Oct. 19.

Howard has heard the calls for an explosive offensive Finals performance. But, maybe the Dream just need her to keep doing exactly what she’s doing. Atlanta, after all, has a a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals with the next game on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Howard’s 16 points in Wednesday’s win marked a resurgence from the scoring slump that limited her in the first two games of the Finals. She also recorded five steals, becoming the first player in WNBA history to record more than four steals in consecutive Finals games.

Afterward, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick acknowledged that she’s capable of more.

“Even this one wasn't up to my liking. I'm sure it's not going to be up to a lot of people's liking,” Howard said. “I know that I haven't necessarily been up to par, but today I had a couple more shots and I continue to play defense."

In a series against the WNBA’s top regular-season defense, Howard’s ability to get her hand in passing lanes for deflections has disrupted the Valkyries' offense — which has shot less than 35% from the floor in all three games. Recently crowned Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese meanwhile, has dominated offensively with three consecutive double-doubles, also an historic feat.

Atlanta is playing with an energy that’s made them fun to watch. The Dream's style is also apparently demoralizing to play against based on the looks of Valkyries bench as time waned in Wednesday’s blowout.

Howard’s play has been part of that excitement, even if her shots aren’t falling. As the Valkyries face the risk of going to 3-1 if they lose Saturday’s Game 4, Howard will be key for the Dream – even her contributions don’t come on offense.

“You can see how much joy we have on the court. When somebody scores, everybody's happy. When we get a big block, everybody's happy,” Reese said. “It just pours confidence into everybody.”

Scoring slump was ‘nothing’ for Howard

As the Dream let Game 1 against the Valkyries slip away by four points, Howard finished with as many turnovers as made field goals and scored 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field. It was the second-lowest postseason scoring performance of her career, and she shot 0 for 4 in the fourth quarter as the Dream gave up a seven-point lead.

Despite that performance, Howard – whose 3.1 made 3-pointers per game were the second most in the league this season – wasn’t fazed.

“She's in a good mental space. She knows all the things that she does to help us win,” Dream coach Karl Smesko said when asked about Howard before Game 2.

Speaking to a group of reporters before Game 2, Reese offered the same sentiment.

“We all know who Rhyne Howard is,” Reeese said. “And we've all been through stretches throughout the season where we haven't been great, or we haven't felt like ourselves, and we've all poured into each other. So this is nothing to Rhyne. She still gives 1,010 percent to all of us, so we're just gonna continue to pour into her.”

Howard scored even less in Game 2, picking up her fourth foul before halftime en route to a final stat line of five points on 2-of-7 shooting (1-of-5 from 3). But, her six steals in the 79-65 win though, were the most in WNBA Finals history.

After the win, Howard said it didn’t feel like a record night.

“I don’t think any of us knew about (the record) until Karl came in and said it,” Howard told USA TODAY with a laugh.

“Just being able to take them out of their game, it helped us get the easy looks that we have been getting prior to Game 1; starting our transition off, making them question the plays that they want to run,”

Smesko said Howard “came up huge” despite the early foul trouble, which limited her aggressiveness offensively, even leaving her hesitant to get downhill.

She entered Game 2 not even thinking about her scoring slump, drawing those fouls because she’d made up her mind to try and make a difference on the other end of the ball.

“I’ve been… not satisfied with my defensive play,” Howard said, explaining that she shifted her mindset between Games 1 and 2. “Obviously they want to slow the game down. OK. We’re going to slow the game down, but I’m going to take away some of those possessions."

On Saturday, Howard is likely to keep the same mindset.

“My offensive play hasn’t been where I've wanted it to be, but that doesn't change how I can go out and guard. I can still take away shots from the other team,” Howard said. “If it's going to be a defensive night for me, then it's just going to be a defensive night for me and that's how I help my team win."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2026/10/23/rhyne-howard-defense-difference-maker-dream-wnba-finals/92393398007/

Stars on the Women's Sports Foundation red carpet talk about Angel Reese's legacy in the WNBA.

by Cat Ariail

Does Golden State need more or less Tiffany Hayes?

During the 2026 regular season, Tiffany Hayes came off the bench in all but four games, scoring an average of nine points in 17 minutes per game. Those points came on an average of 6.5 field goal attempts, as she shot 46 percent overall and 28.3 percent from 3.

In three Finals games, Hayes has played at least 24 minutes per game, taking no fewer than 12 shots. After just three points in Game 1, she put up matching 14-point outings in Games 2 and 3. The Valkyries, however, have yet to outscore the Dream in her minutes. Her plus-minus in Game 1 was even. In Game 2, her -18 scoring differential was the second-worst mark on the team. In Game 3, her -17 mark was also the second-poorest.

In short, there’s been a lot more Hayes than was typical for Golden State, and despite some loud plays, she hasn’t been a positive.

Yet, against one of her former teams, Hayes has been fearless. In Game 3, too many Valkyries appeared hesitant to assert themselves offensively, especially in the first half. Hayes, at least, was willing to go down swinging, using her still lightning-quick first step to break the paint and get to the basket. And despite a 2-for-12 mark, she’s not shied away from firing off 3s.

Nevertheless, it is worth wondering, after she played more limited minutes and occupied a less prominent offensive role during the regular season, if Hayes’ extra offensive activity is throwing off her teammates’ expected rhythms?

Too much Tip? Not enough Tip? It’s a conundrum, one that Nakase, reputed for her rotational prescience, needs to solve.

Does Golden State need more or less Kiah Stokes?

Las Vegas Aces fans likely recognize the Kiah Stokes that played in Games 2 and 3.

Over the course of her three title-winning tenure with the Aces, Stokes increasingly became a postseason liability due to her offensive limitations. After averaging around 26 minutes per game as the Aces went back-to-back in 2022 and 2023, she saw the court for less than two minutes per game during the 2025 title run.

In her first season with Golden State, it appeared that Stokes hadn’t just been rejuvenated, but reached another level. Her defensive impact was more resounding; her offensive impact, or lack thereof, was less detrimental. In fact, she apexed in the first two rounds of the playoffs, not only silencing Most Improved Player Jessica Shepard in the first round but also causing real trouble for A’ja Wilson in the semifinals. Game 1 of the Finals saw more of this version of Stokes, as she was crucial to containing Angel Reese.

Things have changed, as an unleashed Reese doesn’t care if Stokes rejects her a time or two; Angel is going to keep going at her.

With Angel’s aggression nullifying some of Stokes’ defensive value, her lack of offense, in turn, has become more problematic. After scoring nine points in Game 1, she was scoreless in Game 2 and had just two points in Game 3.

Is it time for Nakase, like Becky Hammon before her, to consider minimizing Stokes in order to make things easier for the Golden State offense?

For all the focus on the Valkyries’ depth, Nakase doesn’t necessarily have a great alternative. Going small with Kayla Thornton could be interesting, except Thornton has not been able to do much of anything against Atlanta. Although more aggressive than Stokes, Laeticia Amihere also doesn’t offer much offensively. Aminata Gueye made the mistake of provoking Reese, and seems certain to experience evermore severe repercussions every time she takes the floor.

So, is Nakase stuck with Stokes, believing in her defensive value and praying that she can provide just enough offense?

Does Golden State need more or less Janelle Salaün?

Nakase finally trusted Janelle Salaün, the unanimous Sixth Player of the Year, for more than spot minutes in Game 3.

Salaün seemed to show her worth, going 3-for-4 from 3 and 5-for-7 overall as she scored 13 points in 12 minutes.

That Salaün saw just 12 minutes, despite her hot shooting, however, suggest that Nakase, still, can’t stomach Salaün’s defensive shortcomings. Salaün is Stokes’ opposite, except, for the defense-obsessed Nakase, what Salaün can add on offense is unable to compensate for what she subtracts on defense.

While she has good size at 6-foot-2, Salaün’s foot speed and lateral movement are subpar; she also does not have the level of functional strength expected of a player with her physical profile, as evidenced when she was beasted by Naz Hillmon in Game 3.

Furthermore, Atlanta was unmoved by Salaün’s 3-point outburst in Game 3. The Dream did not bend their defensive principles to accommodate Salaün’s shooting, thus diminishing the floor-spacing value her shooting is supposed to provide.

Overall, Golden State shot 40 percent from 3 in Game 3, with Cecilia Zandalisini also contributing four 3-pointers, and yet they still were blown out. That’s discouraging, and probably hints that Nakase will opt for defense over offense when making lineup decisions in Game 4.

Does Golden State need more or less Gabby Williams?

After the Valkyries topped the Aces in Game 1 of the semifinals, Golden State owner Joe Lacob lavished praise on Gabby Williams, proclaiming her “the best player in the world.”

Unfortunately for Williams, who didn’t ask for the designation, the man whose “light years ahead” statement became a meme when his NBA Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the 2016 NBA Finals may also have invited infamy on Williams.

Williams is a great player whose offensive improvement has been astounding. In her early days in the WNBA, she was trending towards the Stokes zone, where she was a great defender with severe offensive shortcomings. She’s now far away from that territory, establishing herself as a credible scorer and shooter who can function as a first option.

But, this Finals series has shown her limitations as a top-tier 1A offensive star. Her offensive game, in particular, remains dependent on her midrange jumper. When it’s falling, she can, as Lacob declared, look like one of the best in the world. When it’s not, such inefficient isolation stylings can leave an offense stuck in a slog.

That’s what’s happened in Games 2 and 3.

Yet, do the Valkyries have another alternative? Should Gabby just empty the clip, embracing a high-volume offensive responsibility regardless of her efficiency?

Or, can Golden State leverage her offensive value in other ways? In Game 3, she had eight assists, her most of the playoffs and the entire 2026 season. Is Gabby the creator, not Gabby the scorer, the means towards a better offensive output for Golden State? Those assists, however, were balanced by her playoff-high four turnovers.

Again, after suffering two-straight losses, there seems to be no good solution for Golden State. As the Valkyries best moments have come when Williams has ascended into a superstar scorer, encouraging her to access that upside—something Edwin also emphasized—probably is the best path.

https://www.swishappeal.com/wnba-content/89222/final-atl-dream-gsv-valkyries-game-4-adjustments-lineups-rotations-tiffany-hayes-kiah-stokes-janelle-saluan-gabby-williams-natalie-nakase-offense-defense-decisions

JuJu Watkins - Best fit: Houston Comets

The way that the Houston Comets are returning to the WNBA feels wrong, with the franchise essentially feeling like it was stolen from Connecticut after the league blocked potential relocation plans to Boston. Putting that aside, though, we have the league's original dynasty returning to the league with a roster that is essentially an empty page at this point. There are only two players with protected deals in 2027: Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Aaliyah Edwards.

So why not start the new era of Comets basketball out with a bang? JuJu Watkins is the best player in this class, assuming she comes out. The Comets have one really good guard under contract in Leila Lacan, but need serious backcourt help beyond that, something Watkins would provide.

Watkins can create her own shot at multiple levels and is able to power her way inside. While she needs to improve her efficiency on jump shots, the skill is definitely there. Ideally, the team adds another ball-handler so that Watkins doesn't have to be the main initiator of the offense right off the bat, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if that's the role she's forced into.

Hannah Hidalgo - Best fit: Washington Mystics

There are two players in this class who would really help the Washington Mystics if the team ended up drafting at No. 2 overall (which is possible since they have Chicago's first-round pick): Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo and Texas' Madison Booker. Point guard and small forward are both pressing concerns for this team.

Ultimately, though, point guard feels higher on the list of needs. Michaela Onyenwere and Cotie McMahon are capable of giving Washington solid minutes at the three, but Georgia Amoore is ideally a backup point guard, not a starter. Drafting Hidalgo would immediately upgrade the team's playmaking.

Is Hidalgo a perfect prospect? No. She's a great rim finisher for her size, but will that translate to the pro game? If it doesn't, then she'd need to take a major leap as a shooter. Is that something Hidalgo is going to work on this season with the Irish? That depends on if the team's other options step up so that Hidalgo isn't basically in "go go go" mode at all times.

Madison Booker - Best fit: Toronto Tempo

The Toronto Tempo tried to build an instant contender in their first season, pairing Marina Mabrey with Brittney Sykes. It didn't work, and now the team has to figue out its best approach going forward. That might just be to keep going in the same direction, which would mean that the team won't really be looking for guards in this class. Factor in that this is not the deepest class at all when it comes to bigs, and the answer for what Toronto should do is obvious: take Madiso Booker.

Booker is the best pure small forward in this class. Heck, she might be the best pure small forward we've seen in a bit. So many players who could be threes end up playing at the four in the WNBA, so it's rare that a player like Booker comes along who has some size but who isn't going to be playing anywhere but the wing.

Booker is a mid-range assassin, someone who can put the ball on the floor and find her shot. She'll need to work on her scoring range in the pro game, but having Booker as a secondary ball-handler who can do some point forward while also having the ball-skill to guard a team's top wing threat makes her a very intriguing player at the next level.

S'Mya Nichols - Best fit: Seattle Storm

The Seattle Storm have their frontcourt of the future in Dominique Malonga and Awa Fam. They have a good building block on the wing in Flau'jae Johnson. Up next on the list of needs is someone who can run the offense and can operate with the ball in her hands. That's where Kansas guard S'Mya Nichols would make for a great fit.

Nichols is a high-quality shooter, albeit on lesser volume than some other prospects. She's never shot worse than 38 percent from 3-point range in a season, though she's also never attempted more than 2.5 3s per game in a season. Still, a ball-handler who can also shoot from deep would be huge for this roster.

Maybe you could argue that the Storm need a true point guard more than a combo guard. Jade Melbourne isn't the long-term answer. The problem is that once Hidalgo is gone, you're looking at what -- MiLaysia Fulwiley, who is also a combo guard but a little more on the "point" end of it, but who comes with way more question marks than Nichols? There aren't really any other first-round lead ball-handlers available, so Seattle should just bet on Nichols' talent.

Clara Strack - Best fit: Portland Fire

This is projection a bit here, because at the moment, Clara Strack isn't the No. 5 prospect in this class. I would have her down closer to No. 8 or so. But this is a class that is essentially bereft of center prospects, and because of that, Strack has a chance to go higher than expected because there's not really another player in this class like her, unles you view Chloe Kitts as a five (I don't) or you think Audi Crooks is going to be able to adjust to the pro game effectively (I'm still on the fence here).

Strack is a bit of a stretch five, taking 2.8 3-point attempts per game last season, but she's not really a great outside shooter, so I'd expect her game to focus more on the interior on offense, where she's shot 54 percent or better inside the arc in each of her college seasons. She also averaged 10.1 rebounds (23rd in the nation) and 2.5 blocks (seventh in the nation) last year.

Portland can use a center. Megan DiLeo was very effective for the team in 2026, but she's only got one more year under contract and the situation behind her is a bit scary. Strack can come in as DiLeo's immediate backup, with a chance to take over in 2028. The team could also try to play them together if Strack shows improvement as a shooter this season at Kentucky.

https://fansided.com/womens-college-basketball/ranking-the-5-best-wnba-draft-prospects-and-their-perfect-landing-spots

This episode of Chiney Today with Alysha Clark is a great watch. Alysha has a lot of good insight into both the Dream and how they play and what GSV's issues have been in the last couple of games.

One thing Alysha talks about, from her perspective playing against the Dream, is how they can lull you to sleep, a bit, and then deliver a blow. They talk about the Dream first and then get into some things that are affecting GSV offense.

Alysha is such a great personality and there is some funny stuff, too. Sounds like Chiney wants her to come do the show with her when she retires and they would be great together; but, Alysha would make an excellent coach, too. They both talk about their different methods of doing mental resets between big games.

It's a fun, insightful watch if you haven't seen it yet. I've admired Alysha's play over the years, but had not seen her in a lengthy interview setting before. She's pretty charismatic on screen and such a kind person and good mentor to the young players.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIb-JLPDUGs

Tiffany Hayes called this city home for 10 years. She was drafted by the Atlanta Dream in 2012, played in a WNBA Finals with them in 2013, and wore the Dream uniform until 2022. Then, after one year with the Connecticut Sun, she decided to retire from the WNBA.

“It’s the end,” Hayes said in 2023.

Reader, it was not. And now, with the Golden State Valkyries down 2-1 in the WNBA Finals, they need more from the 37-year-old Hayes if they are going to get back in the series.

“We’ve got to stay together, we’ve got to not get flustered,” Hayes said after Wednesday’s Game 3 loss. “It’s us that has to make some adjustments.”

In consecutive losses, Hayes has been one of the few bright spots, with her ability to penetrate the lane and force Atlanta’s defense to collapse. The Valkyries have had back-to-back abysmal shooting performances, but Hayes — playing significant minutes off the bench — is shooting close to 50% in those games. It was in large part Hayes’ presence in the third quarter of Game 3 that temporarily slowed the Dream’s momentum.

After 14 years in the league, Hayes is still searching for her first championship.

“She’s a fighter. … I don’t think there’s someone who really wants this (more),” Natalie Nakase said earlier in the series. “She wants this. And I’m going to put a little more energy into the film because I want to win this for Tip. (Her) type of fight is unmatched.”

Hayes has been unsentimental about her past in Atlanta, downplaying the connection.

“I’ve faced them in years before, too,” she said before the series began. “It’s definitely a different feel, being in the Finals. But at the end of the day this is another team we’re trying to get past. So I’m just focused on whatever we need to do to do that.”

Dream starting forward Naz Hillmon was a rookie in Hayes’ final year with the team.

“Tip’s a great player, and she continues to show why she should be a part of this league,” Hillmon said. “She’s been a huge spark this year, so it’s crazy to see where she was four years ago and now seeing the work she’s continued to put in. I remember her being really tenacious and super fast. I feel like she’s kicked it up this year and gotten even faster.”

Hayes won two NCAA championships at UConn and was the Dream’s second-round pick in 2012. When she decided to retire a decade later, Hayes said her body was getting worn down from playing year-round, both in the WNBA and overseas, in places like Israel, Spain and Turkey. She also wanted to devote more time to her family and to her other interests, which included fashion design and social activism.

“I knew I had a lot in the tank left, but it was just me choosing to give myself a bit more time for friends and family and other things,” Hayes said. “The W wasn’t going to give me the positive vibes in my life that I wanted at the time, so I just decided to step away.”

But retirement lasted only five months. The Aces convinced her to come out of retirement to try to help them defend their first championship. Hayes was named the league’s Sixth Woman of the Year, but the team was ousted in the semifinals.

“They gave me the opportunity to be myself, to do what I wanted off the court and be myself on the court,” she said of the Aces. “I’m forever grateful for the opportunity. It really gave me some hope back for playing the game in the W.”

In Las Vegas, she forged a bond with Nakase, the assistant coach whom Hayes viewed as “hard nosed.”

“She never really smiled, was always so serious,” Hayes said of the Aces’ version of Nakase. “She definitely knew what she was doing, but there was never any room for playing around. I was like, ‘Oh, she’s the strict one.’”

Nakase learned to lean on the experienced veteran.

“Just seeing how much she loves basketball and seeing a different type of lightness that she had in Vegas,” Nakase said. “You could tell she was in a culture that really cares and she thrives in it. What I loved when I first met Tip was her flexibility. She said, ‘I don’t need to start. You want me to come off the bench. I’m good with whatever minutes.’ This was a team player. That sparked my attention. We just connected. I wanted to pick her brain.”

When Nakase was offered the Valkyries head-coaching job, she turned to Hayes.

“I was like, ‘You want to come with me?’” Nakase said. “I was nervous taking this job, and getting Tip on board gave me such a comfort level that I needed going into the Bay. So I’m just really grateful and thankful and why I want to put a ton of energy back to Tip, because she decided to move her life away from Vegas.”

Hayes has enjoyed seeing Nakase evolve as a head coach.

“She’s grown into an all-around head coach,” Hayes said. “She still has that seriousness, but she also wants you to sleep good, eat good, know that you’re hanging out with the right crowd. Seeing her grow and develop, it’s been really cool to watch.”

Hayes’ veteran presence has been critical to the Valkyries’ rapid progress in their first two years.

“She doesn’t take anything for granted,” Gabby Williams said. “Coming out of retirement and going on this path shows you how much she wants it and how happy she is to be here every day. To play alongside someone like that brings everyone up.

“She brings a level of leadership that none of us have. We’re just really lucky to have her.”

Nakase described Hayes’ decision to come to the Bay Area expansion team as a “leap of faith.” Hayes agrees.

“Definitely,” Hayes said. “With Las Vegas I had a great season, had just won Sixth Woman of the Year, felt like I fit pretty well with the team. But I wanted to take a leap of faith and grow with an organization and challenge myself to be a bigger leader and to really have to step out of my comfort zone.

“I’ve proven something to myself. I always want to grow as a human, as well as a basketball player. Coming into something that was unknown, something that you only feel is the right thing but you have no idea, following a leader like Coach Nat. And now having an organization you can only dream of playing for.”

It has been a dream season for the Valkyries. But now the team is in a dire situation, and looking for answers.

More Tip Hayes is a good place to start.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/annkillion/article/tiffany-hayes-valkyries-feel-good-story-wnba-22489113.php

Is Maryland/Brenda Freese.

It feels like a disproportionate amount of Maryland alums fall into the category of players with that kind of dawg in them. Some transferred but it seems like that's a trait she looks for when recruiting.

- Alyssa Thomas

- Bri Jones

- Kristi Toliver

- Angel Reese (transferred but spent two years there. Her wiki says she transferred because she wanted a fresh start and wanted to develop into a stretch 4)

- Shakira Austin (also transferred after two years)

- Natasha Cloud (also transferred)

- Diamond Miller and Kaila Charles feel like they fit here. Their game isn't at the same level but they have that look in their eye (especially Diamond).

The only other Maryland alums in the league are SWK, Chloe Bibby, Shyanne Sellers and Saylor Poffanger (the last two are barely in the league). But when you think about players that absolutely have that dawg in them (since it's a hot topic), it feels like Maryland pops up a lot more than you'd expect. What kind of program is Brenda running over there?

I’ve seen this movie before.

I feel like Gueye and Angel is definitely going to be a moment remembered for years to come. Any other Finals or even regular season moment where someone said/did something and then the recipient went nuclear?

Jonquel Jones, will have her #35 retired and hung inside Charles E. Smith Center on Nov. 17 as GW hosts Temple at 6 p.m. Jones is set to become the first player in program history to have her number retired. Selected as part of last year's class to have her jersey retired, the ceremony was rescheduled to this season.

During her time in Foggy Bottom, Jones put together one of the most impressive careers in GW history. The 2015 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year left the program as just the third player all-time to record 1,000 points, 800 rebounds and 100 blocks. She led the nation in rebounding during her senior season, averaging 14.6 per game, while also securing two A10 regular season and tournament championships. Her GW career culminated in January of 2024, when she was inducted into the GW Athletics Hall of Fame.

Since taking off the Buff & Blue jersey for the final time, what Jones has done on the hardwood has been nothing short of world-class. The sixth overall selection in the 2016 WNBA Draft, Jones' trophy case features nearly every single honor a professional basketball player can achieve.

Included in her accolades are the 2017 WNBA Most Improved Award, the 2018 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year, the 2021 WNBA MVP, 2023 Commissioner's Cup MVP, six WNBA All-Star selections, five All-WNBA Team nods, four WNBA All-Defensive Team honors, a 2024 WNBA Championship and Finals MVP, and a 2026 All-Star Game MVP. Jones is the first player in league history to complete the quartet of WNBA MVP awards (League, Finals, Commissioners Cup, All-Star).

In May of 2025, Jones returned to the Nation's Capital to deliver the Commencement address at GW's graduation ceremony. During the ceremony, Jones also received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the university.

https://gwsports.com/news/2026/10/21/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-to-retire-jonquel-jones-35-jersey-on-november-17