The Aces got their 2025 WNBA championship rings before Saturday afternoon’s season opener at T-Mobile Arena. But their bling day turned into a blowout for the Mercury.
The Mercury, who were swept by the Aces in the WNBA Finals last year, won 99-66, the largest margin of victory in a season opener for Phoenix. It was also the largest margin of defeat by a defending champion in its season opener in WNBA history.
The Phoenix Mercury defeat the Aces, 99-66, in their 2025 Finals rematch to open the regular season!
Despite the loss, Caitlin Clark just became the fastest player in WNBA history to record 1,000+ points, 250+ rebounds, and 250+ assists. She reached this milestone in just 54 games, shattering the previous record of 62 games.
Clark’s scoring and playmaking have transformed the league. This record proves she’s an all-around force and the new face of professional basketball.
The Indiana Fever dropped a heart-breaker in their season opener, falling 107–104 to the Dallas Wings in a game defined by relentless back-and-forth action. The contest was a statistical dead heat for much of the night, featuring 12 lead changes and 8 ties, with neither team able to carve out a double-digit advantage.
While the half-court battle remained even, Dallas found their edge in transition. The Wings dominated the fast-break points category, outscoring the Fever 25–12. This ability to push the pace allowed Dallas to capitalize on Indiana’s defensive rotations and keep the pressure on the Fever’s backcourt.
Kelsey Mitchell put on a masterclass for Indiana, leading all scorers with a blistering 30 points. She was supported by Aliyah Boston, who anchored the interior with 23 points. Caitlin Clark finished with a quiet but efficient stat line of 20 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds, facilitating the offense through heavy defensive pressure.
For the Wings, Arike Ogunbowale proved once again why she is one of the league’s premier finishers. Ogunbowale led Dallas with 22 points, including a clutch, go-ahead step-back three-pointer in the final seconds that effectively sealed the game. Paige Bueckers debuted with a strong 20-point performance, while former Fever guard Odyssey Sims haunted her old team with 20 points of her own.
The Fever had opportunities to force overtime in the closing seconds. Both Mitchell and Clark had looks from beyond the arc to tie the game, but their attempts failed to find the mark.
Indiana will look to bounce back as they travel to Los Angeles for a Wednesday night matchup. Meanwhile, the Wings remain at home to host the Atlanta Dream this Wednesday evening.
The Golden State Valkyries waived Kate Martin on May 7, 2026, as the expansion franchise finalized its inaugural 12-player roster. Martin’s professional journey began on 2024 Draft Day, where she was selected 18th overall by the Las Vegas Aces while attending the event as a spectator to support teammate Caitlin Clark.
During her 2024 rookie season with the Aces, Martin became a fan favorite, appearing in 34 games and contributing to the team’s deep playoff run. She joined Golden State via the 2025 Expansion Draft, where she averaged 6.2 points per game before a quad injury hampered her 2026 preseason.
The Connecticut Sun have officially announced the acquisition of 5’9” guard Hailey Van Lith, adding one of the most decorated collegiate players in history and a recent Olympic medalist to their 2026 roster.
Van Lith joins the Sun following a stint with the Chicago Sky, where she was selected as the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, then was waived by the Sky before the start of the 2026 WNBA Season.
After appearing in 29 games during her rookie campaign with Chicago, Van Lith showed significant flashes of elite efficiency during the most recent preseason. In two outings with the Sky, she averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 assists, shooting a blistering 71.4% from the field.
Beyond the WNBA, Van Lith has already proven herself on the world stage. She represented the United States at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she earned a bronze medal as a key member of the USA 3×3 Women’s National Team.
Indiana Fever has officially announced the 2026 Roster
#0 Kelsey Mitchell: Guard
#2 Myisha Hines-Allen: Forward
#3 Raven Johnson: Guard
#7 Aliyah Boston: Center-Forward
#8 Sophie Cunningham: Guard
#10 Lexie Hull: Guard
#12 Damiris Dantas: Center-Forward
#13 Justine Pissott: Guard-Forward
#21 Makayla Timpson: Forward-Center
#22 Caitlin Clark: Guard
#25 Monique Billings: Forward
#32 Shatori Walker-Kimbrough: Guard
#52 Tyasha Harris: Guard
Stephanie White will be the Fever’s head coach, while Briann January, Karima Christmas-Kelly, and Austin Kelly will be the assistant coaches, along with trainers Alexis Gholston and Todd Champlin.
In related news, Indiana also announced that the team have waived Megan McConnell, Jessica Timmons and Kayana Traylor.
In a separate move, Chicago waived Hailey Van Lith, with sources telling ESPN that the decision was based on the coaching staff’s “style-of-play preference.”
Van Lith was selected by the Sky with the 11th pick in the 2025 draft and averaged 3.5 points per game in 12.4 minutes during her rookie campaign. The 5-foot-9 guard was limited to 29 games last season as she dealt with an ankle injury throughout the year, but she is healthy after spending the summer rehabbing, per sources.
Van Lith now enters a 48-hour waiver period. If a team with cap space claims her, they inherit her rookie contract; otherwise, she becomes an unrestricted free agent. With several teams reportedly expressing interest in her scoring potential, Van Lith is expected to find a new home quickly as rosters finalize across the league.
The Indiana Fever wrapped up their preseason with a promising 2-1 record, signaling a shift in momentum for the franchise. Led by a blend of veteran leadership and high-caliber rookie talent, the team showcased a more fluid offensive rhythm and improved defensive communication.
First game, Indiana Fever win against the New York Liberty;
The Indiana Fever defeated the New York Liberty, 109-91, to pick up their first preseason win!
The Indiana Fever officially exercised the fourth-year option on Caitlin Clark’s rookie contract, securing her through the 2027 season. While routine for top picks, this move is a strategic necessity for the franchise to lock in their star player and continue to capitalize on her historic impact.
Under the WNBA’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement, exercising this option triggers the EPIC (Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract) provision. Because Clark earned All-WNBA honors as a rookie, this allows her to renegotiate her fourth-year salary to a much higher figure and potentially sign a multi-year supermax extension. Her compensation is projected to jump from roughly $78,000 in 2025 to over $500,000 in 2026, with the 2027 option year serving as the foundation for a future max-level contract, this is similar to the deal that Aliyah Boston, Clark’s teammate, signed two weeks ago.
By finalizing this team option, the Fever ensure roster stability and eliminate any risk of Clark becoming an unrestricted free agency after 2026. This allows the franchise to focus on their upcoming season, which starts this May 9th, and build long-term around their core talent. This basically confirms that Clark will remain as the face of Indiana franchise for the foreseeable future while receiving a significant pay raise.
The Indiana Fever had a strong start to their 2026 campaign with a commanding 109–91 victory over the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on Saturday. While exhibition games often focus on roster experimentation, the Fever showcased a high-octane offense that left the Liberty scrambling to keep pace.
Indiana’s victory was fueled by a balanced scoring effort as Kelsey Mitchell and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough led the charge with 18 points each, demonstrating the backcourt depth the team has assembled in the off-season. Raven Johnson, the No. 10 overall pick, shut critics down by making a game-high eight assists and proving she is ready for the professional spotlight. Caitlin Clark back from her USA basketball, ignited the crowd in her return to action, finishing with seven points and four assists in 17 minutes.
The Liberty, playing without their full starting rotation, saw strong flashes from Han Xu, who recorded 20 points and was a defensive presence with 2 blocks, and Breanna Stewart, who added 16. However, Indiana’s fast paced-game game and 32-point first-quarter explosion proved too much to overcome. The Fever now look toward their next preseason test against the Dallas Wings on May 1st.
Game Highlights;
The Indiana Fever defeated the New York Liberty, 109-91, to pick up their first preseason win!
The Indiana Fever and Aliyah Boston have agreed to a new contract, with the center signing a new, multiyear agreement through the 2029 WNBA season. With the agreement, Boston becomes the first player in WNBA history to sign a deal under the newly-created Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract (EPIC) provision.
Indiana did not provide any financial details on the contract but ESPN’s Alexa Philippou reports that the deal is “a four-year, $6.3 million contract extension with the Indiana Fever, giving her the richest total salary in league history to date.” Boston will earn $1M this year, then 20% of the cap through 2029, which is approximately $1.77 million per year, for the final three years of her contract.
The new deal secures Aliyah Boston’s long-term future with the Fever, especially since Caitlin Clark is expected to receive a similar, if not larger, contract from Indiana.
A'ja Wilson, the WNBA's first ever four-time MVP, is signing a three-year, $5 million supermax contract to return to the Las Vegas Aces, sources tell me and @Andraya_Carter. The deal, which is the largest in WNBA history to date and fully guaranteed, was negotiated by Jade-Li… pic.twitter.com/xSJhkHOvId
That’s a no brainer for Las Vegas, Wilson is arguably the best player in the WNBA and I’m sure that $5M is just pocket change for the owners!
Andraya Carter and Shams Charania, reporting for ESPN;
Last season, Wilson became the first WNBA or NBA player to win the scoring title, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP all in the same season. She averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 steals while shooting 50.5% from the field in 2025.
Indiana Fever will be the No. 10 in this year’s 2026 WNBA Draft and from the 1st to 3rd round, they made the best out of what’s available with their pick.
Below are the picks of Indiana Fever in the 2026 WNBA Draft;
with the No. 10 pick in the @WNBA Draft, we have selected @GamecockWBB guard Raven Johnson 🌟
1st round – Raven Johnson from South Carolina, she’s famous for being waved by Caitlin Clark during the 2022 Final Four game between Clark’s Iowa’s Hawkeyes and South Carolina.
Stat-wise, Johnson is a 5’9″ guard, who has improved her outside shooting since “that game” against Clark and Hawkeyes in the Final Four. In her final collegiate season, Johnson posted career-highs across several categories:
Points Per Game: 9.9
Assists Per Game: 4.0
Rebounds Per Game: 4.0
Steals Per Game: 1.5
FG%: 42.3%
3P%: 39.8%
It’s funny how after what has happened between the two, Clark and Johnson are now teammates.
with the No. 25 pick in the @WNBA Draft, we have selected @VandyWBB guard Justine Pissott 👏
2nd round – Justine Pissott from 6-foot-4 forward out of Vanderbilt. Justine Pissott from 6-foot-4 forward out of Vanderbilt. She is the first Vanderbilt player to be drafted into the WNBA under fifth-year Commodore head coach Shea Ralph. In her last year in College, Pissott had a career year in 2025-26, putting up 11.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.9 blocks per game, all career-bests.
She will be a great addition to the Fever and playing along side Caitlin Clark will be a great stretch big with her career 40% in the 3-point line at Vanderbilt, 9th-best in school history.
3rd round – Jessica Timmons a 5-foot-8 guard from the Alabama Crimson Tide from the University of Alabama, she averages 16.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.3 apg and 39.4% from the 3-point line.
As the 40th draft pick, she will most likely be at the end of the roster and will be a 3rd stringer at the guard position and may see limited playing time.
The 2026 WNBA Draft took place yesterday, April 13, 2026, and it was a historic night for UCLA, which set a record with six players selected, including five in the first round alone. Azzi Fudd (UConn) was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings.Here is the full list of picks from all three rounds:
Here is the full list of picks from all three rounds:
The Indiana Fever have officially announced the return of fan-favorite guard Sophie Cunningham for the 2026 season. After being acquired via trade from the Phoenix Mercury in 2025, Cunningham quickly cemented herself as a cornerstone of the Fever’s roster and a locker-room leader.
Despite a shortened 2025 campaign due to an MCL tear in the final month of the regular season, Cunningham’s impact was undeniable. She stepped up significantly during Caitlin Clark’s injury-related absence, providing elite floor spacing and veteran grit. Her statistical contributions were stellar, as she shot:
47% from the field overall.
43% from 3-point range (ranking 3rd in the WNBA).
General Manager Amber Cox praised Cunningham’s “infectious energy” and competitive spirit, noting that her elite perimeter shooting creates vital opportunities for her teammates. Cunningham expressed her excitement to return to Indianapolis, citing a desire to finish what the team started during their “special” 2025 run. Now fully recovered, the sharpshooting veteran is expected to be a primary catalyst in Indiana’s 2026 championship pursuit, much to the delight of a fanbase she has dubbed the best in the league.
“Sophie’s that wild card. Sophie’s a dawg. She’s a competitor, but what she brings from an energy standpoint, she raises the level of play of everybody around her. She’s definitely an X-factor.”
After re-signing Kelsey Mitchell, the Indiana Fever added veteran forward Monique Billings to their roster. Billings, an eight-year WNBA veteran, entered the league in the same 2018 draft class as Mitchell. The two have already established strong chemistry this year as teammates for Hive in the 2026 Unrivaled basketball league.
Before joining Indiana, Billings played for the 2025 WNBA expansion side Golden State Valkyries. In her 26 games there, she averaged 7.3 points per game and recorded a total of 21 blocks and 16 steals.
Billings also brings experience playing alongside Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. The trio represented the United States as members of the 2026 Women’s World Cup Qualifying Team, where Billings helped the squad to a 5-0 record while averaging 6.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Most recently, she participated in the April 2026 USA Basketball training camp in Phoenix, Arizona.
Indiana Guard Lexie Hull will stay with the Indiana Fever, the team announced. The resigning of Hull to the Fever was “prematurely announced” after a video of Caitlin Clark and Lexie Hull was posted on Hull’s social media account.
via WNBA;
Hull returns to the Fever following a 2025 season which saw the guard set new career highs in points per game (7.2), rebounds per game (4.3), assists per game (1.8) and steals per game (1.2). Additionally, Hull recorded her first career double-double in June against Seattle with 15 points and 11 rebounds, followed by her first career postseason double-double against Las Vegas in September with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Along the way, Hull helped the Fever lift the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup and secure a berth to the 2025 WNBA Semifinals for the first time in a decade.
Through five seasons with the Fever, Hull has appeared in 134 out of a possible 160 regular season games, totaling 741 points, 165 assists and 396 rebounds. Hull is currently just 25 offensive rebounds away and 19 three-pointers away from becoming 10th all-time in franchise history in both categories.
Before being drafted No. 6 overall by the Fever in the 2022 WNBA Draft, Hull spent four years at Stanford University where she made two NCAA Final Four appearances, winning the NCAA Championship in 2021.
“I’ve loved my years here in Indiana. I’ve built a life here. I love this franchise. I love the people. I love the fans.”
Indiana Fever has resigned All Star Kelsey Mitchell, with the two sides agreeing to contract terms ahead of the 2026 WNBA season. This will be Mitchell’s ninth season with the Indiana Fever, the team who drafted her No. 2 overall by the Fever in the 2018 WNBA Draft. The signing will keep Fever’s Big 3, the includes Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston for the 2026 WNBA Season.
Mitchell returns to the Fever following what was her most successful season, a year which saw the guard win the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup, earn her first All-WNBA First Team honors and named a finalist for 2025 WNBA Most Valuable Player. In 2025, Mitchell set a new franchise record for points per game in a single season (20.2), surpassing a two-decades long record set in 2003 by Tamika Catchings. Additionally, Mitchell was named a WNBA All-Star for the third-consecutive year and was a two-time WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
In the postseason, Mitchell led the Fever to the WNBA Semifinals for the first time in a decade, appearing in all eight of Indiana’s playoff games while scoring 178 points, the third most in a single postseason in franchise history, behind only Catchings (2012, 2015).
After the announcement of Kelsey Mitchell’s resigning, Clark and Boston has a special for their team-mate;
NEW YORK, April 9, 2026 – The WNBA and NBA Board of Governors have formally approved WNBA expansion teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, the WNBA announced today. Cleveland will begin play in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030.
This coming season WNBA currently have 15 teams, this will be the inaugural season of Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire. Each WNBA team is set to feature 44 games per team and by 2030, with 18 teams, we could see an increase in games played to 52 to 55 games per team.
A 52-game schedule would allow for a more balanced rotation, potentially seeing every team play each other exactly four times (2 home, 2 away) in an 14-team league, or adjusted “rivalry” scheduling as the league hits 18 teams.
WNBA free agency for the 2026 season is officially underway, following a condensed timeline necessitated by the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations. While teams and players are currently in the middle of negotiations, the WNBA has officially released the full list of 2026 Unrestricted Free Agents, Restricted Free Agents, Reserved Players, and Core Players for each team.
This expanded list of designations guides each franchise as they transition from the Negotiation Period (April 8–10) to official Signings (April 11). These movements represent a massive financial leap for the players; for the first time, top-tier stars like A’ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu are expected to sign deals worth $1.4 million annually, a nearly five-fold increase from the previous maximum.
The entry of expansion teams, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, has also sparked a bidding war for “Reserved” talent as these new organizations look to build competitive rosters around the veterans they secured in the expansion draft.
Ten of 15 WNBA teams have extended core qualifying offers to players since free agency started Monday.
Players who have been “cored” — akin to being given the NFL’s franchise tag — include Sabrina Ionescu, by the New York Liberty; Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx); Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever); Kelsey Plum, (Los Angeles Sparks); and Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings).
The core designation gives a team exclusive negotiating rights to a player and comes with a baseline contract of a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth the supermax ($1.4 million in 2026), though the player can negotiate different terms.
The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association agreed today that free agency will open tomorrow, April 6, with the start of the Designation Period, the WNBA announced today.
The Negotiation Period will begin on Wednesday, April 8 and continue for three days. Teams and players will first be able to sign new contracts beginning on Saturday, April 11.
This is a free-for-all period for teams and free agents alike. It could make or break a team, depending on how the front office performs during this free agency window.
The 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft took place on April 3, 2026, for the league’s two newest franchises: the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo. Each team selected 11 players from the unprotected lists of the existing 13 WNBA teams. Notably, both teams reached agreements with the Chicago Sky to bypass their roster in exchange for draft picks.
Portland Fire Selections
The Fire held the No. 1 overall pick and focused on a mix of versatile forwards and young international talent.
Player
Position
Former Team
Bridget Carleton
Forward
Minnesota Lynx
Carla Leite
Guard
Golden State Valkyries
Emily Engstler
Forward
Washington Mystics
Haley Jones
Forward/Guard
Atlanta Dream
Nika Mühl
Guard
Seattle Storm
Sarah Ashlee Barker
Forward
Los Angeles Sparks
Nyadiew Puoch
Forward
Connecticut Sun
Sug Sutton
Guard
Phoenix Mercury
Maya Caldwell
Guard
Atlanta Dream
Luisa Geiselsöder
Center
Dallas Wings
Chloe Bibby
Forward
Las Vegas Aces
Toronto Tempo Selections
The Tempo focused heavily on veteran leadership, shooting, and international experience for their inaugural roster.
Player
Position
Former Team
Julie Allemand
Guard
Los Angeles Sparks
Marina Mabrey
Guard
Connecticut Sun
Nyara Sabally
Center
New York Liberty
María Conde
Forward
Golden State Valkyries
Kristy Wallace
Guard
Indiana Fever
Nikolina Milić
Forward
Minnesota Lynx
Aaliyah Nye
Guard/Forward
Las Vegas Aces
Kitija Laksa
Guard
Dallas Wings
Maria Kliundikova
Center
Phoenix Mercury
Adja Kane
Forward
New York Liberty
Maria Vadeeva
Center
Los Angeles Sparks
After the expansion draft, both Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will still get draft new player from the WNBA Draft which will be on the 13th of April. In the WNBA Draft, Toronto Tempo will be the No. 6, while the Portland Fire after choosing to pick first in the expansion draft will be No. 7.
With the USA Basketball Women’s National Team, winning is the only thing that matters.
Follow the #usabwnt on its mission at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan. Puerto Rico, as the team ushered in a new era with a handful of senior team debuts.
USA Basketball just announced the 15 players who will participate in a training camp set for April 1-3 in Phoenix.
A’ja Wilson
Azura Stevens
Brittney Sykes
Cameron Brink
JuJu Watkins
Kayla Thornton
Mikayla Blakes
Monique Billings
Napheesa Collier
Paige Bueckers
Rae Burrell
Rickea Jackson
Sabrina Ionescu
Stefanie Dolson
Veronica Burton
2025-28 USA Basketball Women’s National Team head coach Kara Lawson (Duke University) will lead training camp and will be assisted by court coaches Niele Ivey (Notre Dame), Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries), Shea Ralph (Vanderbilt University), Nate Tibbetts (Phoenix Mercury) and Stephanie White (Indiana Fever).
USA Women’s National Team managing director Sue Bird is set to evaluate the current roster pool ahead of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin. This assessment will include players from the recent qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico as the U.S. prepares to pursue its fifth consecutive gold medal from September 4–13.
Under the new CBA, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania, the salary cap will start at $7 million (up from $1.5 million in 2025) with the supermax starting at $1.4 million (was $249,244 in 2025). The average salary will be around $600,000 ($120,000 in 2025), with the minimum salary surpassing $300,000 ($66,079 in 2025), sources said.
Sources said the average revenue share would be nearly 20% across the length of the deal.
The fact that the new average salary exceeds the supermax of the previous CBA proves that this deal is truly transformational.
Watch the BEST of Caitlin Clark in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments. From deep threes to elite playmaking, Clark controlled the game like a true floor general, showcasing her full offensive arsenal. This marks her first senior FIBA competition, and she’s already making a massive impact.
FIBA also named her as the MVP of the Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament.
Despite starting only in just one game, WNBA Star Caitlin Clark is named as the MVP of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament.
She posted the best average efficiency for her team (14.6), was the second-best scorer for the USA with 11.6 points (52.9 percent shooting), and recorded a tournament-best 6.4 assists.
You can visit Caitlin Clark’s FIBA Player Profile for more stats.
The U.S. Women’s National Team officially punched their ticket to the 2026 FIBA World Cup with an exclamation point, grinding out a hard-fought 84–70 victory over a resilient Spain. The win over the “pesky” Spaniards in their final qualifying match, the Americans finished the tournament with a flawless 5–0 record, proving they remain the gold standard of women’s international basketball.
From the opening tip, Spain’s signature defensive pressure disrupted the U.S. rhythm, leading to eight lead changes and 3 times that both team tied. Spain was led by the interior duo of Megan Gustafson and Raquel Carrera, who each dropped 15 points to keep the contest within striking distance. However, the depth of the U.S. roster eventually wore down the Spanish frontline, building a 12 point lead by the end of the first half and a 14-point margin at the start of the 4th qtr.
The momentum shifted permanently in the third quarter thanks to the explosive play of Kahleah Copper, who finished as the game’s leading scorer with 20 points. Her ability to attack the rim blew the game open, while veteran Kelsey Plum provided much-needed stability with 18 points, including a critical 11–0 solo run that silenced the Spanish bench.
Defensively, Dearica Hamby was the anchor, contributing 14 points and a game-high three steals that fueled the American transition game. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark—who was ultimately named Tournament MVP—controlled the tempo with seven assists and a highlight-reel block, ensuring the U.S. maintained its composure during Spain’s final fourth-quarter push.
With this undefeated cycle complete, the U.S. now shifts its focus toward the World Cup in Berlin this September. The team’s coach Nate Tibbetts’ squad heads into the main event not just as favorites, but as a battle-tested unit that has proven it can handle the heat when the stakes are highest.
