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The 10 starters for the 2026 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game were unveiled on Thursday — a group that features a mix of award-winning veterans and rising young stars building out their trophy cases.
Let’s take a closer look at the first 10 players who have punched their tickets to Chicago for All-Star weekend (July 24-25).
Note: The All-Stars are presented in alphabetical order, with all stats through games played on Sunday, July 5.
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<h2>Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (4th All-Star selection)</h2>
<div id="attachment_265428" style="width: 2010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-265428" class="wp-image-265428 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131255.768.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131255.768.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131255.768-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131255.768-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131255.768-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131255.768-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />Aliyah Boston #7 of the Indiana Fever</div>
In her fourth WNBA season, Boston earns her fourth All-Star selection as the Fever’s center-forward has been an All-Star staple since entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 Draft. This season, Boston is averaging a career-best 17.1 points per game (15th in the WNBA) along with 8.6 rebounds per game (9th).
Inside/Outside Threat
Through her first three WNBA seasons combined, Boston made a total of 17 3-pointers over 124 games, shooting just 26.2% from beyond the arc. This season, she has already made 23 3-pointers in just 19 games. Not only is Boston expanding her range, she’s doing so with great efficiency, ranking third among all WNBA players in 3-point percentage at 45.1%.
In addition to ranking fourth among all centers in 3-pointers made, Boston still maintains her back-to-the-basket game, ranking 10th among all players in field goals made within five feet, with 74 buckets on 67.3% shooting.
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<h2>Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (2nd All-Star selection)</h2>
Not only is Bueckers an All-Star starter for the second time in her sophomore WNBA season, she also led all players in fan voting in 2026, amassing 1,045,051 votes. The reigning Rookie of the Year has elevated her game in her second campaign, averaging career-bests in points (20.3 per game) and assists (6.1 per game) — ranking seventh in the league in both categories. She’s also more efficient, with her 52.3% FG and 39.1% 3-point shooting up 4.5 and 6.0 percentage points, respectively, from a season ago.
Paige Is Clutch
In 11 clutch games, Bueckers has scored a total of 39 points, which ranks fourth in the WNBA and first among the All-Star starters. She has put up those points on 14-for-21 shooting, with her 66.7 FG% ranking fifth among all players with at least 10 clutch shot attempts. Here’s one of her latest clutch moments, putting the Wings up late after they had trailed Connecticut by as many as 14 points.
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<h2>Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (3rd All-Star selection)</h2>
Similar to Boston and Bueckers, Clark has earned All-Star honors in every one of her WNBA seasons. After missing last year’s game due to injury, this year’s second-leading vote getter (1,023,321) aims to return to the All-Star stage. Earlier this season, Clark surpassed 1,000 points, 250 rebounds and 250 assists in just 54 career games, topping Diana Taurasi’s previous record of 62 games. But that is not the only record in play this season.
Scorer &amp; Playmaker
Clark is the only player to rank in the top five in both points (career-high 21.2 per game, 4th in WNBA) and assists (8.2 per game, 2nd in WNBA) this season as she fuels Indiana’s top-ranked offense. The Fever lead the WNBA in both points per game (93.5) and offensive efficiency (111.6).
Clark is on pace to post a season unlike any other in league history. No player has ever averaged at least 20 points and eight assists per game. In fact, Clark is the only player to ever average at least 16+ ppg and 7+ apg, and now she can set the bar even higher.
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<h2>Natasha Howard, Minnesota Lynx (3rd All-Star selection)</h2>
The league-leading Lynx tout both the oldest and youngest players among the All-Star starters for 2026. Howard is the veteran, earning her third All-Star selection with her third different team after nods in 2019 (with Seattle) and 2022 (with New York).
In her 13th WNBA season, and first back in Minnesota after an eight-year hiatus, Howard is averaging 17.2 points (14th in the WNBA), 8.1 rebounds (13th) and 1.8 steals (3rd). And she’s doing it all on career-best efficiency, shooting 59.8% from the field, which ranks fifth among all players.
Doing Work Inside
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-265423" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/unnamed-2.png" alt="" width="481" height="512" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/unnamed-2.png 481w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/unnamed-2-282x300.png 282w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 481px) 100vw, 481px" />
As the shot chart above illustrates, Howard handles most of her business in the paint, where she leads the WNBA in scoring (13.7 points per game). In addition to showing off her craftiness with some of her finishes down low, Howard also makes a ton of effort plays. She ranks second in the league in offensive rebounds (3.4 per game) and third in second-chance points (3.8 per game).
Minnesota&#8217;s top-ranked defense (98.9 rating) also averages a league-best 18.6 points off turnovers, with Howard leading the charge at 4.6 points per game, which is second in the league among all players.
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<h2>Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx (1st All-Star selection)</h2>
<div id="attachment_265429" style="width: 2010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-265429" class="wp-image-265429 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131531.378.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131531.378.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131531.378-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131531.378-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131531.378-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131531.378-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />Olivia Miles #5 of the Minnesota Lynx</div>
The opposite end of Minnesota’s All-Star duo is the rookie sensation Miles, who leads all first-year players in points (18.5 per game) and assists (5.7 per game), which also rank 12th and eighth, respectively, across the entire WNBA. 
As brilliant as Miles has been on offense, she has also shined defensively, with her 96.1 defensive rating leading the 120 players averaging at least 15 minutes per game this season. Her elite two-way impact has helped Miles post a league-best plus/minus of +197 over her first 20 career games.
Continuing A Trend
Miles is on pace to become just the 12th player in league history to average at least 18 points and five rebounds over a full WNBA season. If she maintains this pace, she will become the third straight rookie to do so, joining fellow All-Star starters in Clark (2024) and Bueckers (2025), who each won Rookie of the Year honors.
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<h2>Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever (4th All-Star selection)</h2>
Mitchell earned her first WNBA All-Star selection in 2023, her sixth season in the league. She’s been an All-Star every year since, as she has steadily improved her game year after year: 18.2 points per game in 2023, 19.2 ppg in 2024, 20.2 ppg in 2025 and 21.9 ppg in 2026.
Mitchell’s 21.9 points are a career-high, as is her 48.9% shooting, while her 12 games with 20+ points ranks second in the league only to A’ja Wilson. Mitchell and fellow Fever All-Star Clark form the WNBA’s highest-scoring duo this season at 43.1 points per game.
The Iron Woman
Beginning with her first All-Star season in 2023, Mitchell has not missed a single game over the past four seasons. Her last missed game came at the close of the 2022 season on Aug. 14, meaning she has not missed a game in 1,422 days.
Last season, with the Fever ravaged by injuries, Mitchell carried the Fever to the brink of the WNBA Finals, before finally succumbing to exhaustion in Game 5 against the eventual champion Aces. After recovering from that frightening situation, Mitchell is not only back to 100%, she’s playing the best basketball of her career.
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<h2>Jessica Shepard, Dallas Wings (1st All-Star selection)</h2>
After playing her first five seasons in Minnesota, Shepard signed with Dallas as a free agent this offseason and has put up career-best numbers across the board in her debut season with the Wings: 14.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, five assists, two triple-doubles, 12 double-doubles.
Shepard is the only player to record a triple-double so far this season (she has two, which are also the first two of her career). She also ranks second in both double-doubles and rebounds per game, trailing only Atlanta’s Angel Reese in both categories.
Hall Of Fame Company
Shepard is on pace to join Candace Parker as the only players to average at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists over a WNBA season. Parker accomplished the rare feat in 2015, when she appeared in just 16 games but still finished fifth in MVP voting. Shepard has already maintained those averages through 21 games. If she sustains this all-around mastery for the remainder of the schedule, history awaits.
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<h2>Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty (8th All-Star selection)</h2>
Stewart has been an All-Star staple since she entered the WNBA in 2016 with her eight selections tied for the third-most among active players. The only years she was not an All-Star there was either no game (2016 due to the Olympics, 2020 due to the pandemic) or she was injured (2019 due to an Achilles tear).
This season, Stewart is one of only two players (along with A’ja Wilson) averaging at least 20 points and eight rebounds. She ranks ninth and 11th, respectively with averages of 20.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks over 20 games.
The Champ Is Here
Stewart has already added to her massive trophy case this season, making history in the process:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">The Ultimate Winner: She’s the only player in WNBA history to win the Commissioner’s Cup three times (2021 with Seattle, 2023 and 2026 with New York). Her three Cup titles mirror her three WNBA titles (2018, 2020, 2024).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Clutch MVP: She’s the lone player to win multiple Commissioner’s Cup MVP honors (2021 with Seattle and 2026 with New York). Her two Cup MVPs match her 2 regular season MVPs and WNBA Finals MVPs.</li>
</ul>
The only major MVP award left to add to her sparkling resume: All-Star Game MVP.
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<h2>Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries (2nd All-Star selection)</h2>
In her first season in Golden State, Williams earned her first All-Star start and second overall selection. The 5-foot-11 forward has established herself as one of the top two-way players in the league, averaging a career-best 16 points this season, while remaining one of the game’s top defenders.
Limited Minutes, Maximum Impact
Among the 10 All-Star starters, Williams averages the fewest minutes per game at 26.3, which ranks 46th in the WNBA. However, she ranks 18th in scoring (16.0 points per game), tied for ninth in steals (1.6 per game) and tied for 13th in 3-pointers made (2.0 per game).
Williams is one of only two players (along with Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard) to average at least 15 points, two 3-pointers made and 1.5 steals per game this season. But while Howard leads all WNBA players in floor time (35.2), Williams has hit those marks in just 26.3 minutes per contest.
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<h2>A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (8th All-Star selection)</h2>
<div id="attachment_265430" style="width: 2010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-265430" class="wp-image-265430 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131705.539.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131705.539.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131705.539-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131705.539-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131705.539-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/07/Thumbnail-2026-07-06T131705.539-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />A&#8217;ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces</div>
So far, the only thing that has been able to slow down A’ja Wilson is an ankle injury, which has sidelined the four-time MVP, three-time Defensive Player of the Year and three-time WNBA champion for the past three games.
In her 19 games on the court, Wilson’s numbers have been phenomenal: she leads the WNBA in both scoring (25.7 per game) and blocks (2.0 per game) while ranking third in rebounds (9.4 per game). Wilson already boasts a league-high six games with 30 or more points this season — twice as many as any other player in the league this season (four players are tied with three: Breanna Stewart, Brittney Sykes, Kahleah Copper and Marina Mabrey).
Chasing History
At 25.7 points per game, Wilson is on pace to post the second-highest scoring season in WNBA history, trailing only herself in 2024 (26.9 ppg). She would own three of the top 10 individual scoring seasons in league history.
Top Single-Season Scoring Averages (WNBA History):
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A&#8217;ja Wilson: 26.9 (2024)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A&#8217;ja Wilson: 25.7 (2026)*</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Diana Taurasi: 25.3 (2006)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Jewell Loyd: 24.7 (2023)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Diana Taurasi: 24.1 (2008)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Kelsey Plum: 23.9 (2026)*</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Maya Moore: 23.9 (2014)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Lauren Jackson: 23.8 (2007)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A&#8217;ja Wilson: 23.4 (2025)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Elena Delle Donne: 23.4 (2015)</li>
</ol>
*current season (in progress)

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Players to Watch Ahead of All-Star 2026

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Week 2: Eastern Conference Player of the Week Rhyne Howard

– Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo to Begin Constructing Inaugural Rosters –
NEW YORK, Mar. 25, 2026 – The WNBA’s 14th and 15th franchises, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, set to begin play in May, will begin assembling their respective rosters when the league conducts the WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY on Friday, April 3. Coverage and analysis will be provided by ESPN, which will air the WNBA Expansion Draft Special 2026 Presented by State Street Investment Management SPY at 3:30 p.m. ET.
A coin toss will be conducted between Portland and Toronto on Friday, March 27, with the winner having the right to choose between either receiving the first selection in the Expansion Draft or the sixth pick – rather than the seventh pick – in the first round of the annual draft set for Monday April 13, 2026.
The Expansion Draft will consist of two rounds with Portland and Toronto having the ability to select from a designated pool of available players as determined by each of the current 13 teams. The Fire and the Tempo will “snake” picks such that the team that holds the first pick in the first round via the coin toss selection will have the second pick in the second round. In each round, Portland and Toronto will alternate selections and shall have the right to acquire the player contract of, or the negotiating rights to, one player listed on the Unprotected List of each of the existing 13 teams.
In the college draft, Portland and Toronto will alternate picks such that whichever team holds the sixth pick in the first round will then have the seventh pick in the second round and the sixth pick in the third round. The other team will have the seventh pick in the first round, the sixth pick in the second round, and the seventh pick in the third round.
In preparation for the Expansion Draft, each of the existing 13 teams will be required to submit to the league office by Sunday, March 29, a Roster List that includes every player to whom the team has rights – players on the team’s active, suspended, draft list/reserved, core, or retired lists – as of the final day of the 2025 regular season.  The 13 teams will be required to designate a maximum of five “Protected Players” who will not be available for selection in the Expansion Draft. All other players on each team’s Roster List will be eligible for selection by the Fire and Tempo (“Unprotected players)”.
If a player who is not signed to a contract for the 2026 season is selected by Portland or Toronto in the Expansion Draft, the selecting team will receive whatever rights to such player that the existing team would have had if that player was not selected in the Expansion Draft.
Any player who has completed the playing services called for by her [previous] player contract and has five or more years of service as of the end of the 2025 season must be designated on the Roster List as a “Potential Unrestricted Free Agent.” All such players must be further designated as either “Protected Players” or included on the Unprotected List.
Only one of the players selected by Portland and only one of the players selected by Toronto in the Expansion Draft may be a “Potential Unrestricted Free Agent.” Such a Potential Unrestricted Free Agent may be selected even if they can no longer be designated as a Core Player, permitting the selecting team to be the only team that can negotiate a supermax contract with such player.
Between the time that the Roster Lists are submitted and a designated time on the day before the Expansion Draft, Portland and Toronto will be permitted to make the following trades with existing teams: (i) an agreement to select a particular player from an Unprotected List and trade that player to a team other than her existing team; and (ii) an agreement to select (or not select) a particular player from such trading team’s Unprotected List.
# # #
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Before investing, consider the funds&#8217; investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. To obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus which contains this and other information, call 1-866-787-2257 or visit <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.statestreet.com%2Fim&amp;esheet=54325144&amp;newsitemid=20250916954913&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.statestreet.com%2Fim&amp;index=5&amp;md5=009a7618ec2b33c6900327665ad0a669">www.statestreet.com/im</a>. Read it carefully.
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Exp. date: 3/31/2027

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WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 Presented By State Street Investment Management SPY Set For Friday, April 3 on ESPN

BOSTON and NEW YORK – September 16, 2025 – State Street Investment Management and the Women&#8217;s National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced a multi-year partnership making State Street Investment Management and its SPY ETF the official investment management and exchange-traded fund (ETF) partner of the league.
“State Street Investment Management and the WNBA share a vision that when you believe and invest in your future, your dreams can become a reality,” said Yie-Hsin Hung, President and Chief Executive Officer of State Street Investment Management. “We’re thrilled to partner with the WNBA, one of the fastest-growing brands in all of sports, to help tens of millions of fans learn how investing in their future can advance their ambitions – just like the athletes they admire.”
As part of the partnership, State Street Investment Management and SPY will serve as the title sponsor of the WNBA Preseason and Coach of the Year Award, an annual honor that recognizes a coach who demonstrates exceptional leadership, player development and the ability to guide their team to success. State Street Investment Management and SPY will also be the presenting partner for “Year 1”, a rookie content series profiling a select group of exciting first-year players and will join other WNBA sponsors as an associate partner for the WNBA Draft presented by State Farm and the AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game.
“At the WNBA, we are proud to be partnering with State Street Investment Management, one of the largest asset managers in the world,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “State Street Investment Management is an incredibly innovative leader in the investment management industry, and we have a shared mission to inspire and support our fans beyond the game. We look forward to working with State Street Investment Management as they help investors evaluate and reach their financial goals.”
State Street Investment Management’s sponsorship program aims to educate and inspire millions of WNBA fans to take action and invest – financially and in themselves – to advance their ambitions. Future initiatives by State Street Investment Management will include bringing the league’s excitement to the next generation of professional athletes by hosting youth clinics with WNBA ambassadors and refurbishing community basketball courts, providing greater access to the game.
In addition to the WNBA partnership, State Street Investment Management will feature Lisa Leslie, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee, three-time WNBA MVP, and four-time Olympic gold medalist, in the firm’s “Getting There Starts Here” campaign created to inspire people to make a better financial future possible by investing in themselves. As one of the most decorated athletes in the history of women’s basketball, the campaign will focus on Leslie’s professional and personal journey, highlighting how investing has helped her pursue her passions – as a player, coach, commentator, real estate investor and developer, and community leader.
“Whether you’re a professional athlete, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a recent college graduate who just landed your first job, investing in the long-term potential of the financial markets is investing in your own potential,” said Leslie. “I’ve seen firsthand what’s possible through the power of investing, and I’m excited to be partnering with State Street Investment Management to inspire more people to take control of their future.”
About State Street Investment Management
At State Street Investment Management, we have been helping to deliver better outcomes to institutions, financial intermediaries, and investors for nearly half a century. Starting with our early innovations in indexing and ETFs, our rigorous approach continues to be driven by market-tested expertise and a relentless commitment to those we serve. With over $5 trillion in assets managed*, clients in over 60 countries, and a global network of strategic partners, we use our scale to create a comprehensive and cost-effective suite of investment solutions that help investors get wherever they want to go. State Street Investment Management is the asset management business of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT).
*This figure is presented as of June 30, 2025 and includes ETF AUM of $1,689.83 billion USD of which approximately $116.05 billion USD in gold assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Investment Management are affiliated. Please note all AUM is unaudited.
About the WNBA
Currently in its 29th season, the WNBA celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it. The league was ranked by Morning Consult as the fastest-growing brand in 2024, and No. 4 on Fast Company’s list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2025, on its way to setting records for engagement on social and digital platforms, attendance, merchandise sales and unique viewers across its broadcast partners. The WNBA’s commitment to societal impact is supported by the first-of-its-kind WNBA Changemaker Collective, a group of purpose-driven companies that have partnered with the WNBA to enhance the player experience, build the brand of the league and players, inspire innovation and connectivity, increase media coverage and visibility, and help drive the league’s business transformation. Ally, AT&amp;T, CarMax, Deloitte, Google, and Nike are part of the WNBA Changemaker Collective. The WNBA is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women in sport.*
*https://www.wnba.com/changemakers
Important Risk Information
State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is now State Street Investment Management. Please click <a href="https://www.ssga.com/us/en/about-us/what-we-do">here</a> for more information.
Investing involves risk of including the risk of loss of principal.
The information provided does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor&#8217;s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your tax and financial advisor.
The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.
All information is from SSGA unless otherwise noted and has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. There is no representation or warranty as to the current accuracy, reliability or completeness of, nor liability for, decisions based on such information and it should not be relied on as such.
The Fund&#8217;s investments are subject to changes in general economic conditions, general market fluctuations and the risks inherent in investment in securities markets. Investment markets can be volatile and prices of investments can change substantially due to various factors including, but not limited to, economic growth or recession, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of issuers, and general market liquidity. The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.
ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETFs net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
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State Street Investment Management and WNBA Announce Multi-Year Partnership

Awards

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2025 – Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton has been named the 2025 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player, the WNBA announced today.
Burton received 68 of 72 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Azurá Stevens finished in second place with 2 votes, and Allisha Gray and Natisha Hiedeman tied for third with 1 vote each.
In her fourth WNBA season, Burton averaged career highs of 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 44 games, up from 3.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.5 steals in 31 games with the Connecticut Sun in 2024. She became the first player in WNBA history to increase her averages by at least five points, two rebounds and two assists per game from one season to the next (minimum 30 games played in each season).
The only Valkyries player to start all 44 regular-season games, Burton ranked third in the WNBA in assists per game and ninth in free throw percentage (87.8). On Aug. 19 against the Phoenix Mercury, she became the first player in WNBA history to have at least 24 points, at least 14 assists and no turnovers in a game. It was one of her three games in 2025 with 10 or more assists and no turnovers, a WNBA single-season record.
Burton helped the Valkyries (23-21) set the WNBA record for victories by an expansion team in its inaugural season. She also led the Valkyries to be the first expansion team to reach the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google in its first season.
Burton was selected by the Dallas Wings with the seventh overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. After playing two seasons with Dallas and one season with Connecticut, she was selected by the Valkyries in the 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft presented by State Farm.
In honor of being named the Kia WNBA Most Improved Player, Burton will receive $5,150 and a trophy designed to commemorate her achievement.
Below are the voting results for the 2025 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player Award and a list of past recipients
2025 KIA WNBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER VOTING RESULTS
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<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 120px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Player</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Team</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Votes</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Veronica Burton</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Golden State  </td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">68</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Azurá Stevens</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Los Angeles</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Allisha Gray</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Atlanta</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Natisha Hiedeman</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Minnesota</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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KIA WNBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER WINNERS
2000 – Tari Phillips, New York
2001 – Janeth Arcain, Houston
2002 – Coco Miller, Washington
2003 – Michelle Snow, Houston
2004 – Kelly Miller/Wendy Palmer, IND/CON
2005 – Nicole Powell, Sacramento
2006 – Erin Perperoglou, Sacramento
2007 – Janel McCarville, New York
2008 – Ebony Hoffman, Indiana
2009 – Crystal Langhorne, Washington
2010 – Leilani Mitchell, New York
2011 – Kia Vaughn, New York
2012 – Kristi Toliver, Los Angeles
2013 – Shavonte Zellous, Indiana
2014 – Skylar Diggins-Smith, Tulsa
2015 – Kelsey Bone, Connecticut
2016 – Elizabeth Williams, Atlanta
2017 – Jonquel Jones, Connecticut
2018 – Natasha Howard, Seattle
2019 – Leilani Mitchell, Phoenix
2020 – Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Atlanta
2021 – Brionna Jones, Connecticut
2022 – Jackie Young, Las Vegas
2023 – Satou Sabally, Dallas
2024 – DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut
2025 – Veronica Burton, Golden State
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About Kia America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys. Kia is recognized as one of the TIME World&#8217;s Most Sustainable Companies of 2024. Kia serves as the &#8220;Official Automotive Partner&#8221; of the WNBA and NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America*.  
For media information, including photography, visit <a href="http://www.kiamedia.com">www.kiamedia.com</a>. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert__;!!PMETyfE!LQ_AWgu_xS8m2ZdpIVOeFIM6CjzB7GXan16p-xQBBSMFDqSqBaxovepbT109Px9yCDy8QlykRUjGqeA$">www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert</a> 
 
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Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton Named 2025 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-203888" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-97.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-97.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-97-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-97-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
Golden State Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin was asked back in December of 2024, right after the WNBA’s first expansion draft since 2008, what the first word that came to mind was when thinking about the team she had just assembled through the process.
“Competitve.”
After picking Kate Martin, Kayla Thornton, Temi Fagbenle, and others through the process, Nyanin was clearly confident that she, alongside new head coach Natalie Nakase, had just assembled a team of players willing to defend for all 40 minutes, and willing to represent the energy of Golden State as a basketball city.
She’d end up being very right about that. 
Golden State, the first expansion team to play since the Atlanta Dream did so 17 years ago, went from <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/2025-wnba-power-rankings-tip-off-week-edition">being considered one of the worst teams on paper </a>headed into the 2025 season to the 8 seed, set to face off with the Minnesota Lynx in the First Round of the WNBA Playoffs. They’re <a href="https://valkyries.wnba.com/news/valkyries-preview-franchises-historic-playoff-debut-embrace-underdog-mentality-20250912">the first expansion team</a> to make the postseason in their inaugural season in WNBA history. 
It’s a huge accomplishment for a squad assembled out of a pool of players other teams didn’t deem crucial enough to protect from the expansion draft, and from the remaining players on the free agency market. 
Golden State managed this by focusing on two things throughout the year, as hammered home by Nakase at the helm: defense, and chemistry. The first year head coach told reporters after the expansion draft that those were the two things she was most looking for with this brand new roster, and something that she wanted to establish as a cornerstone of the Valkyries’ culture for the year. 
“I think, like I&#8217;ve kind of just been mentioning about the characteristics, when you have players that compete every night at a high level, and like I said, if you just watch these players, all 11 players, they compete. They compete like their life depends on it. I think I have a lot of confidence with that, because to me that means that they have a great work ethic. If they&#8217;re playing that hard, that means that they have at least had to have practiced that hard,” said Nakase of what she expected from the initial roster handed to her in that draft. 
Competing is what Golden State did in 2025. They managed to topple contending teams like the New York Liberty (twice), the Las Vegas Aces, the Seattle Storm (twice), and the Atlanta Dream, and they were a top-3 defensive team with a defensive rating of 99.8 &#8211; just behind the Dream and Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx, of course, are the only above .500 team they struggled to defeat in 2025, and that’s their First Round matchup.
On the year, they averaged 77.7 points per game, shooting just 40.7 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from three point range. Most of their points came in the paint, shooting 42.4 percent from that zone &#8211; good for third best in the league, and just behind the Indiana Fever and Aces. Scoring was, in short, not their strong suit. Stopping the other team from scoring was, though. Notably, they only allowed other teams to shoot 34.4 percent from the midrange against them this season, and 31.7 percent on above the break three pointers. 
Minnesota was the best above the break three point shooting team in the WNBA this year, shooting 36.9 percent on those attempts. From the midrange, they were even deadlier, shooting a second-best 40.7 from there thanks to contributions from Courtney Williams and Napheesa Collier.  Regardless of this matchup being lopsided on paper, there’s confidence oozing from a team like the Valkyries that cannot be ignored. A lot of that has to do with their chemistry and “togetherness,” something Nakase was seeking out this offseason when assembling this team with Omehaa. Their support for one another has rubbed off on their fanbase, with the Valkyries <a href="https://valkyries.wnba.com/news/valkyries-set-all-time-wnba-attendance-record-20250906">selling out every single home game they had in 2025</a>. It’s just another notch for the franchise that set out to simply win as many games as possible, and instead, broke multiple records along the way.
This postseason presents a very narrow and tough road ahead for the Valkyries. They’re still without All-Star forward Kayla Thornton for the year, Tiffany Hayes has been ruled out for Game 1 against Minnesota on the road, and they’re only now getting back a key player in Cecilia Zandalasini prior to the series. They also finished the year on a three game losing streak, with two of those losses coming against the Lynx. 
Underdog isn’t necessarily the term to describe Golden State in this series, but they’re going to need to make it a rock fight in order to get anything going against an All-Star cast featuring Collier, Kayla McBride, Alanna Smith, and others. 
Still, this is not a team to completely write off &#8211; they’ve shown that multiple times throughout their inaugural season. Minnesota has to hope they can firmly revoke Golden State’s confidence in Game 1. 
“Look, the ultimate goal here for the Golden State Valkyries and from my owner, straight from his mouth, is we would like to win a championship in five years. He said maybe even sooner. With that in mind, you have to have competitive players in order to win a championship,” said Nakase of that initial 11 player pool assembled through the draft.
2025 may not be the championship year for them, but the goal of one within the next five years, as laid out by Joe Lacob, doesn’t seem so far-fetched anymore.

valkyries-made-history-in-first-year

How the Golden State Valkyries Made History in Their First Year

We’re officially two-thirds of the way through the 2025 WNBA season, and the storylines are stacking up. The Sparks have rattled off five straight wins, putting themselves back in the playoff mix, and they just got Cameron Brink back in the lineup. Out East, the Liberty have hit a skid, dropping three in a row, including a high-stakes Finals rematch with the Lynx. And no, I haven’t forgotten about Paige Bueckers. The rookie’s been steady as ever, averaging 18 points and nearly six assists a night over her last four.
Let’s take a look at the latest <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">WNBA odds</a> for Finals Winner, give a weekend preview, and I’ll share my WNBA best bets for Friday and Saturday’s slates of games on DraftKings Sportsbook. You can also find more WNBA previews, picks, and daily content on <a href="https://dknetwork.com/?source=WNBAArticlebyMeghan">DraftKings Network.</a>
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<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=team-futures&amp;subcategory=champion">2025 WNBA Finals Winner</a>
The Favorite: MIN Lynx (+180)
Normally I’d start with the MVP board on DraftKings Sportsbook before moving to Finals odds, but let’s be real: Napheesa Collier (-900) is running away with it. Alyssa Thomas is the closest name at +700, but no one’s touching the reigning Defensive Player of the Year right now. The title race, though? That’s where it gets interesting. The Minnesota Lynx now lead the pack at +180, just ahead of the New York Liberty at +190. These two have owned the top of the standings all season, but Minnesota taking over as the favorite is a new shift. Back on July 11, New York held the edge at +190 with the Lynx behind at +220. So, what changed?
Minnesota’s now 23–5, riding the league’s best record with a five-game cushion over the Liberty. New York’s gone 6–4 in their last ten, but Minnesota? They lead the league in offensive rating (109.1) and defensive rating (95.9). It’s not just Collier — though she did drop 30 in a recent 100–93 win over New York. Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams keep pouring in points, while Collier and Alanna Smith hold it down on defense (Smith’s averaging 2.1 blocks a night). This team isn’t just good — they’re for real.
<hr />
WNBA Best Bets and Weekend Preview
LA Sparks at Seattle Storm — Friday, August 1, 10:00 PM ET
Los Angeles finally got Cameron Brink back after she missed nearly a full year recovering from a torn ACL just a month into her rookie season. The 6&#8217;4&#8243; forward out of Stanford played 14 minutes in her return, easing in with five points and three rebounds. On Friday, she and the Sparks face a Seattle Storm team creeping up the standings after winning six of their last 10. Nneka Ogwumike isn’t showing her age — at 35, she’s putting up 17.4 points, 7.1 boards, and just dropped 26 in Seattle’s blowout win over the Sun.
Seattle’s still just 9th in offensive rating (101.7), but defensively they’re elite — second in the league with a 97.7 rating and allowing only 77.6 points per game. LA, meanwhile, saw its five-game win streak snapped by a 34-point barrage from A’ja Wilson on Tuesday and now has to dig in for another tough matchup. Offensively, the Sparks rank 8th, but they’ve struggled to take care of the ball, posting a TOV% of 19.5% —second-worst in the league. Look, I’m thrilled Brink is back. She’s essential to what LA wants to do defensively, but there’s no shot Lynne Roberts unleashes her for heavy minutes just yet. And against a disciplined, defensive-minded Seattle team? Yeah, I’m taking the Storm.
Lean: SEA -5.5
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=player-points&amp;subcategory=points-o%2Fu">PICK: Nneka Ogwumike Over 16.5 Points (-125)</a>
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Minnesota Lynx at Las Vegas Aces — Saturday, August 2, 3:00 PM ET
What’s better than a showdown between the reigning MVP and the current MVP frontrunner? Maybe a Finals rematch… but we already got that. So next up? Lynx vs. Aces. A’ja Wilson is coming off a monster 34-point, double-double performance in a win over the red-hot Sparks. She was also one of our two Queens of the Court during DraftKings Sportsbook’s July 22 promo <a href="https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/2025/07/22/draftkings-queen-of-the-court-wnba-picks-for-july-22/">(you saw that, right?).</a> Jackie Young has been quietly leveling up too, dropping her first career triple-double in that same win and averaging 17.0 PPG — the second-best mark of her career.
The Aces are riding real momentum heading into Saturday, but this isn’t just any opponent — they’re running into the MVP favorite and the Finals favorite. Minnesota’s defense is no joke, allowing just 76 points per game, anchored by Alanna Smith’s rim protection and Napheesa Collier’s perimeter lockdown work. So here’s the question: can the Lynx contain A’ja Wilson? Because if they can’t, Vegas might just flip the script on the top seed.
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/event/min-lynx-%40-lv-aces/32593377?category=odds&amp;subcategory=game-lines">PICK: MIN LYNX -6 (-110)</a>
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<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=player-points&amp;subcategory=points-o%2Fu">PICK: Paige Bueckers Over 17.5 Points (+100)</a>
After digging into this weekend’s slate, there’s one more pick I’ve got to lock in, and it’s all about Ms. Buckets. Paige Bueckers has been everything the Wings could’ve hoped for in her rookie season: averaging 18.3 points, 5.5 assists, and logging ten 20+ point games already. She became just the 10th rookie to ever start a WNBA All-Star Game, and she’s doing it all efficiently — shooting 45.2% from the field, 34.6% from three, and keeping her turnovers low at just 2.1 per game.
She’s been steady, smart, and adapted well. With that in mind, I’ve got no hesitation backing her to hit over 17.5 points against the Fever on Friday. Give Paige her flowers!
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All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
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WNBA Best Bets for August 1: Weekend Preview and Finals Winner Odds

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199787" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1.png" alt="" width="2560" height="100" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-300x12.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-1024x40.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-768x30.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-1536x60.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-2048x80.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Editor&#8217;s Note: Read more WNBA coverage from the Athletic <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/wnba/">here</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201242" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-32.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-32.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-32-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-32-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-32-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-32-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-32-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Tiffany Hayes breathes harder now.
So hard, she can hear herself. Sometimes, she’ll just be sitting, fully relaxed. But her breathing would sound as if she were running. Like she’s mid-workout. Like it’s a struggle.
It’s been some two months since Hayes took a blow to the nostrils on a post-up by Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin. The injury leaves her nasal passage still restricted. The wheeze lives with her for now, until she can address it comprehensively in the offseason. A black protective mask covers her face during games. Multiple hits to the face since then remind her of its necessity.
“The mask is staying for now,” said Hayes, affectionately dubbed “Tip” by most. “It’s chippy out here. People just do a little too much sometimes. So, yeah, it’s definitely going to stay. I like the mask. ‘Masked Tip’ be hooping.”
The irony, though, is that Hayes is breathing easier than she ever has.
Because what she’s inhaling now isn’t the stale, recycled air of others’ expectations. The pressurized toxicity of outside validation no longer fills her lungs. That was another life. Another version of Tip. The Hayes who did what others thought was best. Who quietly pursued affirmation in praise and accolades, who found value in their attainment.
This Hayes, the one who came out of retirement and won Sixth Woman of the Year in 2024, the one who assumed the leadership role of the expansion Golden State Valkyries, has found something rare in pro sports.
Peace.
“I used to do things that were best for other people, and I regret it,” she says now. “So I just try to do what’s best for me. And it’s been working out great.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Perfect tip to Tip 🎯
Kayla Thornton finds Tiffany Hayes for three!
PHX-GSV | League Pass <a href="https://t.co/Aoavmk8xMv">pic.twitter.com/Aoavmk8xMv</a>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1944960882087182531?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The signing of Hayes, infusing her into the building blocks of this infant franchise, has been one of the best moves in this surprising season.
It took Hayes a long time to reach this enlightenment. She’ll be 36 in September. She’s in her 13th season. But she looks and plays 10 years younger thanks to the fresh air she’s found above the fray. Her value, she’s convinced, is independent of accolades. Her game, her character, her contributions to whatever team she’s on — they’re valuable no matter who sees them.
The peace she owns made jumping into the expansion life an easy call for Hayes. It explains why she seems to be loving it, why she embraces being in the center of this patchwork huddle.
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She came to the Bay without fanfare. No billboard. Just a lowkey deal between a veteran who’d seen it all and a franchise just opening its eyes. Golden State needed credibility. Someone who wouldn’t flinch at what was to come. Hayes needed freedom to be herself, play her game. A place where she could be Tip.
They found each other at the perfect time.
“To be a pioneer is hard,” Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said. “This was an opportunity to co-create an experience that would be beneficial for both. She has a beautiful entrepreneurial spirit. And what I pretty much told her was that this is a class in entrepreneurship — 101 to 501 in one year. To really put an idea to paper. To give us a precious year of her career to help build what we thought would be something amazing. … And she took a chance.”
Expansion teams can be a mess. Overwhelmed to the point of disorganization. A locker room lacking cohesion from its hurried collaboration, loaded with misfit pieces and fringe players hoping to carve out relevance.
But the Valkyries? They’ve been shockingly cohesive. Professional. Even joyful at times. They hit a rough patch before the All-Star break, losing five of six. But they’re still in the playoff hunt.
Somehow, Golden State has made it work. In part because of Hayes.
Hayes starred at UConn — from the 90 straight wins era — and spent 10 years with the Atlanta Dream. She made her lone WNBA All-Star appearance in 2017. Should have been more than one, if you ask her. Hayes is now on her third team in three seasons. She retired and came back. She’s started and come off the bench. She excelled at scoring and played defense. She’s played for Team USA and the Azerbaijan women’s national team. Her wealth of experiences made her ideal for this inaugural season. She came in equipped to deal with just about whatever would come.
Including the warmth she’s found. The camaraderie of being on a team furnished with overcomers.
“I still believe that I was an underdog in most of my career,” Hayes said, “and kind of unseen for most of my career. I’ve been having my head down and being a good professional and playing my hardest every single season I’ve been in the league. So to be on a team full of people like that, and a team full of people who want everybody to the left and right to succeed, it’s super dope to be part of. So I’m grateful.”
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase predicted this. She told Nyanin to go and get Hayes. Nyanin didn’t know Hayes. She knew she’d never heard a bad word about her, and remembers appreciating her reasoning for opting out of the WNBA bubble in 2020.
But Nakase was with Hayes last season in Las Vegas. Nakase was an assistant coach as Hayes came out of retirement to average 9.5 points in 21 minutes off the bench — shooting 50 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from 3.
According to Nyanin, Nakase was certain Hayes would be ideal for the locker room. Nakase knew she’d need a true vet. She also knew Hayes deserved an opportunity like this, to be liberated as a player and leader.
Nakase was proven right immediately. One illustrative moment came after she sustained a nose injury. Hayes missed the next three games. Upon her return, coaches were considering lineup combinations — including Hayes coming off the bench. An early chance to create tension in this new relationship.
But Hayes was clear. She told coaches she didn’t come to the Valkyries to start. She came to win. Whatever it takes.
“And to hear that from your ultimate vet, the person who took a chance on this new franchise,” Nyanin explained. “There’s been a ton of growth (in Hayes), and I’m just grateful to be a part of it.”
Her teammates call her auntie. Auntie Tip.
Auntie is a term of endearment, a reference to the mom-aged woman young people like being around. Aunties are cool, with their cocoa butter and classic music. They don’t call her Auntie Tip just because she’s the eldest on the squad and eight years above the league average. It’s an appreciation of her sophistication and polish. Recognition of the swag that comes with her experience.
“I don’t mind it though,” Hayes said. “It’s whatever. I don’t look like your auntie. I probably look younger than you. But go off.”
Hayes embodies the Valkyrie’s personality. The urgency. The rebellious energy. The aggressiveness. It’s the character of the roster and the foundation of the new franchise. The freedom to compete, to be uninhibited in pursuit of victory.
One play in Minnesota earlier this month, she lost her shoe during a possession and tossed it aside. She ended the same possession by draining a 30-footer. The type of moment to laugh about in film sessions. The type of moment that’s memorable because it meant more than it looked. It was gritty. Unorthodox. Unbothered. Just like this team.
Hayes sets the whatever-it-takes tone. Whether being glued to Caitlin Clark — which is why she’s 7 of 26 from the field against the Valkyries this season, including 2 of 12 from 3 — or lighting up Seattle like she did at Chase Center in June. Hayes’ energy, which still seems endless, feeds the team.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
TUFF BUCKET TIFFANY HAYES!
Tip is up to 14 PTS and counting for the <a href="https://twitter.com/valkyries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@valkyries</a> 
NYL-GSV | League Pass <a href="https://t.co/Iz8xT2a2R9">pic.twitter.com/Iz8xT2a2R9</a>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1938066307871584733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Mask on, motor humming, cutting through defenders like it’s 2015 again. There’s still fire in her game. She still boasts the first-step quickness that made her a menace in Atlanta. But what Hayes has now is a calm spirit to match.
Hayes worked for this peace. Earned it. Built it brick by brick out of heartbreak, hard lessons, and a whole lot of self-reflection. Emotionally. Mentally. She’s never been clearer.
She meditates. She prays. She enjoys uplifting music. She savors good food. She consumes fashion. And that’s not to say she likes nice clothes. She can rock gigantic fur pants, or shorts with a blazer, or incorporate 10 ties into her outfit — and make it all look fly.
It’s all part of her bent to stimulate her mind and body.
“I don’t even like to be associated with negativity,” Hayes continued. “Nowadays it’s just like people feed off that, especially in the W. People, the fans, feed off of negativity, and it just seems like that’s growing a little too much for me. And I don’t really like that. So I try to stay out of it. I try to duck the smoke, like the kids say, whatever that is.”
It’s easier to breathe that way.
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/marcus-thompson-ii/">Marcus Thompson II</a> is a lead columnist at The Athletic. He is a prominent voice in the Bay Area sports scene after 18 years with Bay Area News Group, including 10 seasons covering the Warriors and four as a columnist. Marcus is also the author of the best-selling biography &#8220;GOLDEN: The Miraculous Rise of Steph Curry.&#8221;
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tiffany-hayes-breathes-life-into-valkyries-inaugural-season

How Masked Veteran Tiffany Hayes Has Breathed Life into the Valkyries’ Inaugural Season

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REGARDING THE MAKING OF THE WNBA SCHEDULE
Why are there multiple games on at the same time? Unless a specific game time is required for an allotted national broadcast/streaming window, each WNBA team selects the start time for their home games, taking into account the optimal start times for fans in their market. The WNBA is similar to other sports leagues that have a lot of regular season games start at the same time to accommodate fans who attend games (such as NFL Sundays, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc.). 
 
Who is responsible for scheduling? The league office works with the teams and arenas, who submit to the league a list of dates on which the venues are available. The league then creates the schedule while factoring in additional elements such as, game density, travel, available windows provided by the broadcast networks and streaming partners, key matchups creating compelling national broadcast content, etc. 
 
Why do some teams play games on consecutive days? While WNBA teams infrequently play games on back-to-back dates, “back-to-backs” do occur in the WNBA as teams play more games than those on the college level.  In scheduling games, the WNBA, teams, and our broadcast and streaming partners take into account such variables as arena availability, the maximization of weekend games, travel efficiency, etc. and work to minimize the number of back-to-backs or where possible, schedule them so that the team having the back-to-back has two home games in a row.
Why are there some dates with no games? Dates on which there are no games are a product of a variety of factors including the potential lack of arena availability, an effort to reduce back-to-back games for a team(s), scheduling for reasonable travel by teams, fan demand in attending games on weekends versus weeknights particularly during the school year, filling predetermined broadcast windows (such as scheduling a minimum of two games on Fridays for the standard ION doubleheader the next night, having teams available for predetermined CBS and/or ABC windows on Saturdays, etc.).
Why aren&#8217;t games being televised? There are no other sports televised today, and all these games are on League Pass. Not all games are intended to be nationally televised (similar to other sports with a number of games at or above that of the WNBA). The WNBA has a set number of national TV games as agreed upon with our broadcast and streaming partners, some games are purposely reserved for local/regional broadcast partners, and all non- nationally broadcast or streamed games are available on WNBA League Pass.

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FAQ: The Making of the WNBA Schedule

With All-Star in the rearview, it is full speed ahead as the Playoff push begins.
Only 45 days remain in the regular season, which means every winning streak, every shooting slump, every missed game takes on added importance as the days tick down toward the regular-season finale on Sept. 11.
With the calendar flipping to August this week – and the trade deadline just 10 days away – here’s a look at how the teams stack up entering the home stretch.
1. Minnesota Lynx (22-5)
Last Week: 1 ↔️
This Week: Wed. vs. NYL, Sat. at LVA
It took 15 tries, but a team finally beat the Lynx in Minnesota this season. Sunday’s 90-86 loss to Atlanta snapped Minnesota’s franchise-record 14-game home win streak.
The Lynx became the fourth team to open a season with 14+ home wins, joining the 2001 Sparks (16-0) 2010 Storm (17-0) and 2023 Aces (16-0), who all went on to win the championship that same season.
The next team to test the Lynx at home? The defending champion Liberty, who visit Minnesota on Wednesday (8 ET, ESPN).
2. New York Liberty (17-7)
Last Week: 3 ⬆️
In addition to welcoming Kia Skills champion Natasha Cloud and two-time Starry 3-point champ Sabrina Ionescu back from the All-Star break, the Liberty also saw reigning Finals MVP Jonquel Jones return to the court after a monthlong absence (ankle).
New York is 10-2 with Jones in the lineup, but that record will be tested as the Liberty open a four-game road trip tonight in Dallas without Breanna Stewart, who suffered a lower leg injury early in Saturday’s loss to Los Angeles. Stewart is expected to accompany the team on the trip as they continue to monitor her progress.
The Liberty are the busiest team this week with four games on their plate, highlighted by the Finals rematch with Minnesota on Wednesday.
3. Atlanta Dream (15-10)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201186" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-29.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-29.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-29-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-29-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-29-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-29-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-29-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Last Week: 6 ⬆️
This Week: Tue. vs. GSV, Wed. at DAL, Fri vs. PHX, Sun. vs. WAS
After falling to Las Vegas in their first game since All-Star,  the Dream knocked off two of the top three teams in the standings to close out the week – defeating the Mercury for the second time in three meetings this season before handing the Lynx their first loss at Target Center this season.
Keep an eye on Brittney Griner, who dropped a season-high 22 points in Sunday’s win over the Lynx. 
4. Phoenix Mercury (16-9)
Last Week: 2 ⬇️
This Week: Wed. at IND, Fri. at ATL, Sun. at CHI
Sunday’s win over the Mystics snapped a season-long three-game losing streak for the Mercury. But double-digit losses to the two teams directly ahead of them in the rankings – Atlanta and New York – drop the Mercury to fourth.
In the win on Sunday, Alyssa Thomas put up numbers (27 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast) only matched by four other players in WNBA history. AT’s season numbers (15.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg. 9.4 apg) have been matched or topped by no player in league history. She is simply a class of one.
5. Seattle Storm (15-11)
Last Week: 4 ⬇️
This Week: Mon. at CON, Fri. vs. LAS, Sun. vs. IND
The Storm are 1-2 coming out of All-Star. In the two losses, Seattle was held to 63 and 58 points, respectively. Sunday’s 58-point total marked the third time the Storm have scored fewer than 60 points this season, and both their offensive rating and scoring average rank ninth in the league – the lowest among all teams playing above .500 ball.
6. Indiana Fever (14-12)
Last Week: 5 ⬇️
This Week: Wed. vs. PHX, Fri. at DAL, Sun. at SEA
Kelsey Mitchell dropped a season-high 35 points with seven 3s to lead the Fever past the Sky to close out a 2-1 week for Indiana. With the win, the Fever improved to 6-7 without Caitlin Clark in the lineup this season (they’re 8-5 when she plays).
On Thursday (July 24), the Fever released an update on Clark, saying there was no set timetable for her return as she continues to recover from a groin injury that has kept her out since July 15.
7. Las Vegas Aces (13-13)
Last Week: 8 ⬆️
This Week: Tue. at LAS, Sat., vs. MIN, Sun. vs. GSV
No team was busier coming out of the break than the Aces, who split four games this past week to remain at .500 ball for the season so far. In Sunday’s win over the Wings, it was Jackie Young (24 pts, 8 ast, 5 3pm) and Jewell Loyd (20 pts, 4 3pm) that combined for 44 points and nine 3s to lead Aces.
With A’ja Wilson leading the WNBA in usage rate (30.2%), getting big nights from players like Young and Loyd eases some of the burden that the three-time MVP brings to the court every night. 
8. Los Angeles Sparks (11-14)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201187" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-30.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-30.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-30-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-30-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-30-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-30-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/07/Thumbnail-30-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Last Week: 11 ⬆️
This Week: Tue. vs. LVA, Fri. at SEA
The Sparks are the hottest team in the league at this very moment – making a four-spot  rise in this week’s rankings thanks to a five-game win streak that was capped by Rickea Jackson’s game-winning layup at the buzzer.
Jackson finished with 22 points – her third game with 22+ points in the past four contests — as the sophomore forward is one of four Sparks averaging 17+ points during their longest win streak since Aug. 2023: Dearica Hamby &amp; Kelsey Plum (20.8 ppg), Jackson (18.2 ppg) and Azurá Stevens (17.0 ppg).
Can L.A. keep its streak alive when they host the Aces Tuesday and visit the Storm on Friday?
9. Washington Mystics (12-13)
Last Week: 7 ⬇️
This Week: Tue. vs. CHI, Thur. vs. GSV, Sun. at ATL
After winning three straight games prior to All-Star – all decided in clutch time by five points or less – the Mystics have dropped three of their last four contests to fall back below .500 on the season.
The Mystics are 8-5 at home this season and have two more home games this week – Sky on Tuesday and Valkyries on Thursday – as they try to get back on track before hitting the road for four straight. The Mystics are just 4-8 outside of Washington this season
10. Golden State Valkyries (11-13)
Last Week: 9 ⬇️
This Week: Tue. at ATL, Thur. at WAS, Fri. at CHI, Sun. at LVA
On Friday, the Valkyries used a big second half to rally past the Wings for their 11th win of the season. However, they also announced a key loss on that same day – All-Star Kayla Thornton will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury in practice that required surgery.
Two days later, the Valkyries struggled to score in a loss to the Sun, scoring just 64 points (their second lowest output of the season) in the first game of a five-game road trip that the squad will close out this week.
11. Chicago Sky (7-18)
Last Week: 10 ⬇️
This Week: Tue. at WAS, Fri. vs. GSV, Sun. vs. PHX
After defeating the Lynx on July 12 behind a pair of double-doubles from Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, the Sky have not won since. Chicago has dropped five straight games by an average of 25.2 points per game.
In order to turn things around, Chicago must find its offense. The Sky rank 12th in scoring on the season (76.8 ppg), but have averaged nearly 11 fewer points during this losing streak (66.0 ppg). 
12. Dallas Wings (7-19)
Last Week: 12 ↔️
This Week: Mon. vs. NYL, Wed. vs. ATL, Fri. vs. IND
Dallas opened its post All-Star schedule with a 24-point over the Storm in Seattle, but was unable to carry that momentum through the remainder of the week – falling to Golden State and Las Vegas.
The Wings have lost six of their last seven games, but have five of their next six contests at home, beginning tonight with the Stewie-less Liberty. It’s the first of three matchups with New York in the span of 11 days.
13. Connecticut Sun (4-20)
Last Week: 13 ↔️
This Week: Mon. vs. SEA, Fri. vs. NYL, Sun. vs. NYL
The Sun didn’t just snap a four-game losing streak with their 95-64 win over the Valkyries on Sunday, they posted their largest win of the season in terms of point differential (+31). It was the 15th win by 30+ points in franchise history.
This week, the Sun continue their season-long six-game homestand by welcoming the Storm (15-11) and Liberty twice (17-7) to Mohegan Sun – two teams that are well above .500. So far this season, Connecticut is 2-11 against winning teams.

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2025 WNBA Power Rankings: Week 8

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