free

final-0330-wild-ending-toronto-tempo-vs-las-vegas-aces-07-20-2026

Final 03:30 WILD ENDING Toronto Tempo vs. Las Vegas Aces 07/20/2026

top-plays-of-the-day-07-14-2026

Top Plays of the Day, 07/14/2026

<figure class="wp-image size-full">
					<img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/09/COVERIMAGE_USA.png" alt="" class="wp-image- size-full" /> 
				</figure>
One of the greatest parts about basketball is how an environmental change can drastically alter play style. International play, in particular, turns much of what’s known and given on its head. Rosters are different, roles change, and those two monumental shifts redirect the game entirely; it’s awesome!
Where else can we see a team assembled like the United States national team? Every single player on this squad has been an All-Star except lone rookie Shakira Austin. While the star power emanates off the page, this group’s ball movement and collective decision-making stand out for me.
This is a star-studded team, but they’re playing intuitive basketball and with some flair.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165163" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/09/Jewell-Flip-Pass.gif" alt="" width="600" height="338" />
First off, I love using Chelsea Gray as the first screener to make it harder to guard the action with her popping to the corner. She lifts up towards the slot as the play develops and adds some strain to the defense, and Jewell Loyd capitalizes with the type of pass you can’t really plan for. It’s concise, gorgeous, and effective, and that’s all Gray needs to splash effortlessly.
I love their flow offensively in the half-court, progressing through reads and actions fluidly into their best openings.
Where this team’s bread is buttered is on the defensive end. That’s an understatement; where their croissant is doused in ghee? Is lox finished off with capers? You get the point; this defense is insane.
They smothered Belgium, getting out to a monstrous early lead behind an all-out pressure defense, forcing 25 turnovers in the game. Kahleah Copper’s on-ball defense was key on Sky teammate Julie Allemand in particular. Few replicate the way she gets down in a stance and locks in.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-165159 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/09/Kah-Defense.gif" alt="" width="600" height="338" />
She’s had a bevy of ball-handlers seeing ghosts. What’s made the US’ ball pressure so remarkable is their rotations behind that pressure, as well as the rarity of breakdown. Even if a slight advantage is gained off a screen or with a savvy dribble move, who you then dribble into is mesmerizing as an analyst and terrifying as opposition.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165162" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/09/USA-defense.gif" alt="" width="600" height="338" />
This sees minute from the outside looking in, a four-five switch on the pick and roll with an eventual miss. Looking at this holistically, you’re getting Breanna Stewart switched off of you, a DPOY candidate, to have the 2022 DPOY switched onto you, to drive into Alyssa Thomas’ help at the nail. That’s three of the five best defensive players in basketball at the moment. That’s insane! One team’s level of defense, length, speed, and aptitude is wild.
The team can routinely run out lineups containing five players that have made All-Defensive teams. This is the type of basketball I yearn for.
Other teams have cleanly stood out as well for their difference in roster construction. The Australian national team is grabbing headlines for Lauren Jackson’s return, which has admittedly been very cool to see.
She’s, of course, not the same player she once was, but she brings a punch with her intersection of size and skill. I think they’re still figuring out how they want to play defensively with Jackson in the game. She has fantastic instincts, which has led to some great plays, but at 41, she’s lost a step (or two) laterally. Some interesting chess match-esque adjustments were going on during the Australia/France game that I think will play out and are worth watching for in the coming games. She did some hedging, played more in drop, and had moments closer to the screen. My guess is they continue to mix and match based on each game and personnel.
As for personnel, can we talk about Bec Allen? I love Bec Allen’s game, and it’s been on full display at FIBA.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165160" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/09/Bec-Allen.gif" alt="" width="600" height="338" />
I wouldn’t consider Allen a great passer, her accuracy can be shoddy, but she makes very quick decisions, which is pivotal for her role. She touches the ball a lot, but rarely for very long. She shoots, or she moves the ball and moves herself. This is what makes it so humorous that she soaks up so much of the offense’s touches/usage. She exemplifies what I find funky and fun about this roster.
They lack a true downhill ball-handling threat, so the majority of their looks to set up any sort of paint touches are borne out of weave action, East/West movement, and secondary pick and rolls. They equally thrive and die on their shooting.
The majority of their playmaking reads and ability to manipulate a defense come through pick and roll, and the way a defense adapts to their ability to take and make shots off the dribble. When the shots are falling, they open the gaps that open up Ezi Magbegor on the roll or allow a quick drive and kick to secondary or tertiary action. It’s incredibly fun to watch.
Turnovers and missed shots are killers, though, proving costly as the game closed out against France, and they went cold. They have a ton of quality ball-handlers and defense throughout the team, but if they make a run, it’s going to be reliant on their shot-making.
Shifting to another team showing out; Canada. No longer undefeated after a fantastic game that ended with a loss against the host-nation Opals, Canada has really impressed me. I thought coming in that they’d be fun, but their guard play gives them a verve I’ve really enjoyed early on. Shay Colley is extremely fun!
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165164" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/09/Shay-Colley-1.gif" alt="" width="600" height="338" />
I was so hot watching when this didn’t end up an assist! Nirra Fields brings a shiftiness on the ball alongside her shot-making and crafty passing that’s difficult not to admire and appreciate.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165167" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/09/Nirra-Fields.gif" alt="" width="600" height="338" />
Add Kia Nurse back into the fold, playing currently on a minutes restriction, and you have a trio of players who can all shift on and off the ball to varying degrees. That’s proven difficult for opposing teams to defend.
Canada also has the size in the frontcourt with Kayla Alexander and Natalie Achonwa. South Carolina player Laeticia Amihere brings crucial depth as well and has had really intriguing flashes in spite of some struggles from the field.
While multiple teams have stood out, individual players have shined equally, if not more. French team Gabby Williams is special.
The team at large is in an odd spot, as with Marine Johannes sidelined; they are pretty lacking with respect to ball-handling and playmaking off the dribble.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165161" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/09/Gabby.gif" alt="" width="600" height="338" />
Finishing through contact, pull-up jumpers, coast to coast strafes, Williams has had it all as a scorer in international play as the French team has primarily played through her. She runs point in transition and comes off of screens into secondary actions in the half-court. Her stellar all-around play has mitigated many of France’s offensive issues.
Her playmaking has been fantastic, routinely generating paint touches, drawing, and manipulating the defense. Her assist numbers don’t imply her true value as a passer, especially given some of France’s struggles from the field in their latest game against Canada.
Arella Guirantes has played inspired basketball for Puerto Rico. The former Sparks player has dazzled as the hub of the team’s offense, scoring with step-backs, pull-ups, fadeaways, and at-rim finishes. While she doesn’t create separation in a typical sense with speed and acceleration, her strength and handle give her just enough room to get her game off.
She currently leads the field in scoring, averaging 20 points per game across three games on 53.7% true-shooting. Guirantes struggled against the United States, as they really squeezed her with pressure and were adept at forcing her into tough attempts, but she handled aggressive coverages much better against Belgium. Her blend of playmaking and shot creation at the wing spots is incredibly tantalizing.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165165" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/09/Arella-Pass.gif" alt="" width="600" height="338" />
Mya Hollingshed has also been impressive for Puerto Rico. She still has some rawness in her defensive feel and how she sees the court, but her rim protection has flashed repeatedly. Her shooting stroke is incredibly smooth, and I love her pick-and-pop game.
The player I probably knew the least about who’s plastered themselves in my mind for the future is Li Meng of China. First and foremost, China traveled incredibly well for last night’s game in Sydney against the USA; that crowd was jam-packed and raucous. Meng has incredibly fun and funky pacing as a wing. She moves well without the ball, which opens her up to be even more effective when she’s on it.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-165166" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/09/Li-Meng-Pass.gif" alt="" width="600" height="338" />
I really like her dump-offs and flips to the dunker spot when she gets driven to the interior. The shot is for real, by the way, folks!
Last season in the WCBA, Meng shot nearly 50/40/90 (42% from deep), averaging 15 points and nearly 5.5 assists. She possesses really good functional strength, I like her handle for her role, and she hasn’t seemed overwhelmed defensively either. She can flat-out play.
The World Cup has been a joy already, and it’s still in its early stages, be sure to check out the games on ESPN + as the tournament continues to heat up!
WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes a column on <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at @MG_Schindler. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs..

fiba-world-cup-2022-takeaways-and-standouts

FIBA World Cup 2022: Takeaways and Standouts

Diana Taurasi scores a game-high 25 points to lead the Mercury to a win over the Fever, 95-77.

game-recap-mercury-95-fever-77

GAME RECAP: Mercury 95, Fever 77

kayla-alexander-swats-it-away

Kayla Alexander swats it away!

<figure class="wp-image size-full">
					<img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2018/02/Alexander-1440.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74145 size-full"/> 
				</figure>
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever have acquired five-year WNBA veteran Kayla Alexander in a trade with the Las Vegas Aces, as announced by Head Coach and General Manager Pokey Chatman. Indiana also receives the Aces’ third-round pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft, in exchange for Indiana’s second-round draft selection in 2019.
A 6-4 center from Milton, Ontario, Canada and Syracuse University, Alexander was the No. 8 pick in the first round of the league’s 2013 draft. She has played mostly as a reserve for the former San Antonio Stars, who recently relocated to Las Vegas.
Alexander averaged 6.2 points and 3.1 rebounds while appearing in all 34 games with 10 starts last season. She scored a career-high 19 points against New York last August and contributed double-figure scoring in six of her last ten games last year — including 11 points at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in last year’s finale against the Fever. She averaged career highs of 8.0 points and 4.5 rebounds with San Antonio in 2016.
“I’m excited to have Kayla join our team,” said Chatman who assumed Indiana’s GM position last fall. “Her size and length, along with her offensive efficiency, will bolster our paint presence on both ends of the floor.”
The second Syracuse player ever selected in the WNBA Draft, Alexander finished her Syracuse career as the program’s all-time leader in points (2,024), blocks (350), field goals (736), free throws made (552), free throws attempted (750) and games played (140). An honorable mention All-American and three-time All-BIG EAST selection, she set Syracuse single-season marks in scoring and blocked shots.

indiana-fever-acquire-kayla-alexander-trade-las-vegas

Indiana Fever Acquire Kayla Alexander in Trade With Las Vegas

Tina Charles scores 16 points for the Liberty as they take down the Stars, 81-69.

liberty-81-stars-69

Liberty 81, Stars 69

Maya Moore scores 24 points for the Lynx as they take down the Stars, 89-70.

lynx-89-stars-70

Lynx 89, Stars 70

kayla-alexander-nets-15-points-in-loss-to-the-lynx

Kayla Alexander nets 15 points in loss to the Lynx

Nneka Ogwumike grabs 14 points and scores 22 points as the Sparks defeat the Stars, 75-55.

game-recap-stars-55-sparks-75

Game Recap: Stars 55, Sparks 75

Latest

Kayla Alexander

CAREER TRANSACTIONS
Selected 8th overall by San Antonio in the 2013 WNBA Draft&#8230; signed with the Stars April 22, 2013&#8230; re-signed with the Stars Feb. 2, 2017.
WNBA CAREER
2017 (San Antonio) 
Ranked 27th in the WNBA in blocked shots per game (0.5) … Was tops among Stars regulars in field goal percentage (.582), but was four made field goals shy of qualifying for the league leaders (would have ranked third) … Scored a career-high 19 points thanks to a career-high 9 made field goals vs. New York on August 1, while tying her career highs with 3 blocked shots and 3 steals in the same game … Grabbed a season-high 9 rebounds vs. New York on September 1 … Handed out a career-high tying 3 assists vs. Phoenix on July 7 … Scored 10 or more points in a game on 10 occasions, including each of her last 4 games…
2016 (San Antonio) 
Appeared in 25 games, averaged 8.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 19.5 minutes, the highest season averages of her career… sustained a concussion on Aug. 28 at Washington and missed the remainder of the season… led the Stars with 47 offensive rebounds and ranked second in field goal percentage (.546)… led the Stars in rebounds 4 times and scoring twice… scored 10-plus points 10 times, 5-plus rebounds 11 times and 10-plus rebounds 2 times… scored a double-double on June 2 at Los Angeles with 14 points and 10 rebounds, setting two career-highs in points (14) and offensive rebounds (6). The 6 offensive rebounds were the most scored by a Stars player in 2016…scored season-high 12 points at Phoenix (6/9) and at Connecticut on (6/19)… attempted a career-high 9 field goals at Washington (6/29)… played a career-high 26 minutes versus Minnesota (7/12).
2015 (San Antonio) 
Scored 6 points in 14 minutes against Atlanta (6/11) and registered career-high 3 blocks&#8230;recorded 8 points against Tulsa (6/14) and tied career-high 3 blocks&#8230;tied her season-high defensive rebounds (4) and total rebounds (5) against Phoenix (6/30)&#8230; Led the Stars in rebounding with career-high 11 total rebounds, including career-high 8 defensive rebounds, against Minnesota (7/12)&#8230;In 14 minutes of play against New York (7/15), she scored 7 points, brought in 2 boards and 2 blocked shots&#8230;Against Atlanta (7/29), tied her season-high with 8 points; also added 5 rebounds.
2014 (San Antonio) 
Played in 33 of 34 regular season games&#8230;averaged 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds&#8230;Grabbed a season-high 7 rebounds vs. Chicago (7/29) &#8230; Scored 7 points on 3-4 shooting in just 13 minutes vs. Tulsa (7/22) &#8230; Scored a career-high 11 points at Phoenix, while playing just 14 minutes and shooting 5-6 from the field &#8230; Collected a season-high 6 rebounds against Tulsa (5/17) &#8230; Recorded 4 points and 2 rebounds in only 9 minutes at Atlanta (5/16)&#8230;Playoffs: Played 1 minute in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
2013 (San Antonio) 
Averaged 2.8 points in 33 games…Led Stars’ rookies in rebounds per game (3.0)… Tied a season-high 10 points at Tulsa (8/23), while also recording a team-high 8 rebounds and 2 blocks against the Shock &#8230; Recorded a career-high 4 assists at Seattle (8/11) &#8230; Tallied a season-high 10 points at Seattle (8/9) &#8230; Had 6 rebounds at Washington (7/16) &#8230; Had 5 offensive rebounds at Atlanta (6/30) &#8230; Notched 6 points at Chicago on (6/9) &#8230; Had 4 points and a team-high tying 5 rebounds in her professional debut against Indiana on (5/24).
INTERNATIONAL
2016-17
(Bourges- France): French Cup Winner… Ranked second in scoring (253) and first in rebounds (189)… Averaged 10.2 points and 7.3 rebounds in 24.4 minutes.
(Bourges- Euroleague): Appeared in the Euroleague quarterifnals… Ranked second in scoring (151) and first in rebounds (123)… Averaged 9.4 points and 7.7 rebounds in 25.3 minutes.
2015-16
(Dyn. GUVD-Russia): Averaged 19.1 points and 13.4 rebounds in 35.1 minutes … shot 51.4 percent from the field.
(Sparta&amp;K MR- Eurocup): Helped lead team to quarterfinals… Ranked third on her team in points averaged (.120)… Averaged 12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals.
2014-15
(Chevakata- Russia): Led the team in rebounds (175)…. Ranked seond in field goal percentage (.503) and second in points averaged (.105)… averaged 8.0 rebounds.
(Sparta&amp;K MR- Russia): Appeared in Russian PBL Semifinals… Led the team in rebounds (210), scoring (339), and field goal percentage (.523)… Averaged 14.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals.
CANADA BASKETBALL 
2012: Senior Women’s National Team tryout invitee. 
2009: Played in nine games for Team Canada at the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women, helping the team to a 4-5 record … Led the team with 11.3 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per contest … Shot 42 percent from the field. 
2008: Played in five games for Team Canada at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women, leading the team to a 4-1 record … Led the team with 11.6 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per contest … Shot 61.8 percent from the field. 
2006: Played for the U15 National Team
SYRACUSE 
Senior (2012-13): Earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades from the Associated Press … Garnered All-BIG EAST First Team accolades … Finished her career as Syracuse’s all-time leader in points (2,024), blocks (350), field goals (736), free throws made (552), free throws attempted (750) and games played (140) … Set the single-season records for scoring (573) and field goals made (151) … Posted 31 career double-doubles, including 12 double-doubles as a senior … Became the all-time scoring leader with six points at Villanova on Jan. 26 … Became the all-time blocks leader with eight blocks against Farleigh Dickinson on Nov. 11.
Junior (2011-12): Named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team … Earned WNIT All-Tournament Team recognition … Three-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll honoree (Nov. 21, Nov. 28 and Jan. 23) … Started all 37 games, finishing the season leading the BIG EAST and ranking 19th nationally with 2.6 blocks per game … Ranked second on the team and 10th in the conference with 14.8 points per game … Ranked ninth in the conference with 7.5 rebounds per game … Set the school single-season blocks record with 96 … Averaged 16.2 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game during the WNIT while corralling a tournament record 22 offensive rebounds.
Sophomore (2010-11): Named to the All-BIG EAST First Team … Three-time BIG EAST Weekly honor recipient … Led the team in points, blocks, field goal percentage and free throw percentage … Selected to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team.
Freshman (2009-10): Named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team … Led the team with 69 blocks and ranked third with 10.8 points per game … Selected to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team.
HIGH SCHOOL
2008-09 city champions and team MVP &#8230; Won a national championship with Team Ontario in 2008 &#8230; Played on the Under-18 Canadian National Team in 2008 &#8230; Rated the No. 87 prospect in the country by Blue Star Basketball Report.
PERSONAL
Kayla Janine Alexander … Born on January 5, 1991 … Daughter of Joe and Audrey Alexander … Has one brother and one sister … Graduated from Syracuse University in 2013 with a degree in social studies education and a minor in French and francophone studies.
AWARDS &amp; HONORS
Canadian U19 National Team- 2007, 2009
Canadian U18 National Team- 2008
FIBA Americas U18 Championships in Buenos Aires- 2008
World Championships U19 in Thailand- 2009
Eurobasket.com All-World Championships U19 1st Team- 2009
Canadian National Team- 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015
Big East Conference All-Freshman Team- 2010
NIT Elite Eight- 2010, 2011
All-Big East 1st Team- 2011, 2013
All-Big East 2nd Team- 2012
NIT Final Four- 2012
Big East Tournament Semifinals- 2013
Big East All-Tournament Team- 2013
AP NCAA All-America Honorable Mention- 2013
Eurobasket.com All-Russian PBL 2nd Team- 2014
Eurbasket.com Russian PBL All-Imports Team- 2014
WNBA Quarterfinals- 2014
EuroCup Quarterfinals- 2016
Russian PBL Semifinals- 2016
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Boys and Girls Club
Park Clean Up
School Visits
Faith Night
CAREER HIGHS
Points    14 vs. Los Angeles (6/2/2016)
Field Goals          6 (2 Times, 2016)
Field Goal Attempts         9 vs. Washington (6/29/2016)
3-Point Field Goals          0
3-Point Field Goal Attempts         0
Offensive Rebounds        6 vs. Los Angeles (6/2/2016)
Defensive Rebounds        8 vs. Minnesota (7/12/2015)
Rebounds            11 vs. Minnesota (7/12/2015)
Assists   3 vs. Minnesota (7/12/2015)
Steals    2 (3 Times, 2015/2016)
Blocks   3 (2 Times, 2016)
Minutes               26 vs. Minnesota (7/12/2016)

The  Toronto Tempo released Kayla Alexander.

Kayla Alexander signed a 7-Day Contract (2nd Contract) with the  Toronto Tempo.

Kayla Alexander signed a 7-Day Contract (1st Contract) with the  Toronto Tempo.