WNBA

Press Release

NEW YORK, Mar. 27, 2026 – As a result of a coin toss conducted today, the Toronto Tempo has chosen to select sixth in the first round of the league’s 30th annual draft when the WNBA Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY is conducted on Monday, April 13.
As a result, the Portland Fire will have the first pick in the WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY on Friday, April 3, and the seventh pick in the first round of the annual draft on April 13.
Information regarding the Expansion Draft is available <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-expansion-draft-2026-set-for-april-3">here</a> and details of the annual draft are available <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-draft-2026-to-be-held-april-13">here</a>. Coverage and analysis of the Expansion Draft will be provided in the United States by ESPN, which will air the WNBA Expansion Draft Special 2026 Presented by State Street Investment Management SPY on April 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Information on Canadian media distribution will be provided in the coming days.
The exact order of selections in the Expansion Draft is reflected in the table below:
Order of Selections for WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 Presented by State Street Management Investment SPY
Up to 24 total selections (up to 12 per team)
Round 1 (Picks 1-12)
<ol>
<li>Portland</li>
<li>Toronto</li>
<li>Portland</li>
<li>Toronto</li>
<li>Portland</li>
<li>Toronto</li>
<li>Portland</li>
<li>Toronto</li>
<li>Portland</li>
<li>Toronto</li>
<li>Portland</li>
<li>Toronto</li>
</ol>
Round 2 (Picks 13-24)
13. Toronto 
14. Portland 
15. Toronto 
16. Portland 
17. Toronto 
18. Portland 
19. Toronto 
20. Portland 
21. Toronto 
22. Portland 
23. Toronto 
24. Portland
# # #

– League’s 30th Annual Draft to be Exclusively Televised on ESPN from 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. ET – 
– State Street Investment Management and SPY Join as League’s Presenting Partner 
for WNBA Draft–   
–Tickets Go on Sale for WNBA Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY on Friday, March 27 –
NEW YORK, March 26, 2026 – The WNBA Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY will be held on Monday, April 13 at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the draft picks live on ESPN with exclusive coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. The draft on ESPN, along with WNBA Orange Carpet Special (ESPN2, 5:30 pm ET) and WNBA Countdown Presented by Google (ESPN, 6:30 pm ET) will also be available live on the ESPN App.
Top collegiate and international prospects will participate in person as the WNBA Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY returns to New York City.
This marks the third consecutive year the draft will be a marquee live event with fans in attendance. Individual tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster on Friday, March 27 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
As determined by the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery held on November 23, 2025, the Dallas Wings will select first, followed by the Minnesota Lynx (second), Seattle Storm (third), Washington Mystics (fourth), and Chicago Sky (fifth).
“We are proud to welcome State Street Investment Management and SPY as the presenting partner of the WNBA Draft as we celebrate the league’s historic 30th season,” said WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison. “Every year, the draft is a defining moment for our league and its future stars, and together with State Street Investment Management, we’re excited to create an unforgettable experience as we welcome the next generation of WNBA talent.”
The official tip-off of draft night festivities will begin when invited draft prospects arrive on the WNBA Draft Orange Carpet presented by Coach. Earlier in the day, draft prospects will visit the iconic Empire State Building for a lighting ceremony to celebrate the WNBA Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY.
“We are proud to serve as presenting sponsor of the 2026 WNBA Draft,” said John Brockelman, Chief Marketing Officer of State Street Investment Management. &#8220;This event is more than a moment &#8211; it&#8217;s a beginning. And these incredible athletes serve as a powerful reminder of what&#8217;s possible when you believe in, and invest in, your future.&#8221;
On draft night, WNBA social and digital platforms – including the WNBA App and WNBA.com – will provide live updates, an interactive Draft Board, and comprehensive coverage of all draft-related events.
For more information on the WNBA and on the WNBA Draft 2026 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY, visit WNBA.com and the WNBA App.
The WNBA’s historic 30th season will tip off on Friday, May 8 with the Connecticut Sun visiting the New York Liberty, the Washington Mystics visiting the Toronto Tempo as the first ever Canadian WNBA team, and the Seattle Storm hosting the Golden State Valkyries.
# # #
WNBA
Tipping off its historic 30th season in 2026, the WNBA continues to be one of the fastest-growing brands in sports, fueled by record-breaking momentum and unprecedented growth. Having reached a tentative agreement on a new transformational Collective Bargaining Agreement in March 2026, the league enters a bold new chapter focused on elevating the player experience, drawing increased investment, and growing women’s basketball globally. The WNBA’s dedication to societal impact is supported by the WNBA Changemakers Collective (Ally, AT&amp;T, CarMax, Deloitte, Google, and Nike), a first-of-its-kind group of purpose-driven companies working to empower players and the league, increase visibility, and drive business transformation.
About State Street Investment Management
At State Street Investment Management, we have been helping create better outcomes for 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 deliver a comprehensive and cost-effective suite of investment solutions that help investors get wherever they want to go.
*This figure is presented as of December 31, 2025 and includes ETF AUM of $1,950.80 billion USD of which approximately $173.02 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.
 
Important Risk Information
State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is now State Street Investment Management. Please click <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ssga.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fabout-us%2Fwhat-we-do&amp;esheet=54325144&amp;newsitemid=20250916954913&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=here&amp;index=2&amp;md5=3920fd23d9fba637b39d145b64dc1648">here</a> for more information.
Investing involves risk of including the risk of loss of principal.
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.
Intellectual Property Information: The S&amp;P 500® Index is a product of S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“S&amp;P DJI”) and have been licensed for use by State Street Global Advisors. S&amp;P® , SPDR® , S&amp;P 500® ,US 500 and the 500 are trademarks of Standard &amp; Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&amp;P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”) and has been licensed for use by S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices; and these trademarks have been licensed for use by S&amp;P DJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by State Street Global Advisors. The fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&amp;P DJI, Dow Jones, S&amp;P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of these indices.
Distributor: ALPS Distributors, Inc., member FINRA, is distributor for SPDR® S&amp;P 500®
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.
&nbsp;
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ALPS Code #SPD004505

wnba-draft-2026-to-be-held-april-13

WNBA Draft 2026 Presented By State Street Investment Management SPY To Be Held on April 13

Uncategorized

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-257778" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/Thumbnail-2026-03-26T085237.788.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/Thumbnail-2026-03-26T085237.788.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/Thumbnail-2026-03-26T085237.788-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/Thumbnail-2026-03-26T085237.788-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/Thumbnail-2026-03-26T085237.788-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/Thumbnail-2026-03-26T085237.788-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was taking a different kind of shot while the Indiana Pacers hosted LeBron James, Luka Doncic the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.
Clark, donning a photographer’s vest, was credentialed by the Pacers as a photographer and snapped pictures along the baseline. She was presented with a folding seat with her personal logo before the game.
“Got some good stuff coming,” <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://x.com/CaitlinClark22/status/2036968282377355388" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">Clark posted</a> on social media.
Clark is entering her third season with the Fever. After missing most of last season because of injuries, she returned to action earlier this month in the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament. She led the United States in scoring at 11.6 points per game as the Americans went 5-0.

caitlin-clark-captures-photos-for-the-indiana-pacers

Caitlin Clark Captures Photos for the Indiana Pacers

– 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.
# # #
Important Risk Information
State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is now State Street Investment Management. Please click <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ssga.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fabout-us%2Fwhat-we-do&amp;esheet=54325144&amp;newsitemid=20250916954913&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=here&amp;index=2&amp;md5=3920fd23d9fba637b39d145b64dc1648">here</a> for more information.
Investing involves risk of including the risk of loss of principal.
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.
Intellectual Property Information: The S&amp;P 500® Index is a product of S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“S&amp;P DJI”) and have been licensed for use by State Street Global Advisors. S&amp;P® , SPDR® , S&amp;P 500® ,US 500 and the 500 are trademarks of Standard &amp; Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&amp;P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”) and has been licensed for use by S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices; and these trademarks have been licensed for use by S&amp;P DJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by State Street Global Advisors. The fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&amp;P DJI, Dow Jones, S&amp;P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of these indices.
Distributor: ALPS Distributors, Inc., member FINRA, is distributor for SPDR® S&amp;P 500®
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.
Adtrax # 8842085.1.1.AM.RTL
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Exp. date: 3/31/2027

wnba-expansion-draft-2026-set-for-april-3

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

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-257765 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image001-1024x90.png" alt="" width="1024" height="90" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image001-1024x90.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image001-300x26.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image001-768x67.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image001.png 1427w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
CBS Sports to Present up to 20 Regular Season Games Annually on
The CBS Television Network and Paramount+ 
An Expanded “THE WNBA TIP-OFF SHOW” Returns Led by 
WNBA Legends Lisa Leslie and Renee Montgomery and Host Jenny Dell
 CBS Sports and the WNBA have expanded their seven‑year partnership through a new long‑term, multiplatform rights agreement. Under the enhanced package, CBS Sports will feature up to 20 regular‑season games annually on the CBS Television Network and streaming live on Paramount+. CBS Sports will present 20 regular-season games for the upcoming 2026 season, marking the Network’s most ever WNBA games on broadcast television.
“The WNBA’s growth and cultural impact have never been stronger, and CBS Sports is proud to deepen our longstanding partnership with a league that continues to drive the evolution of women’s sports,” said Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports. “With our entire schedule of games on broadcast television, we are broadening the league’s reach and amplifying the WNBA’s momentum with best‑in‑class coverage that reflects the excellence of its athletes and resonates with fans.”
Jordan Kent (play-by-play), Isis “Ice” Young (analyst) and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline) return as the WNBA on CBS’s lead broadcast team.
THE WNBA TIP OFF SHOW, the Network’s pregame, halftime and postgame studio show, is back and will expand to support 10 matchups including six shows airing on CBS and Paramount+ and four digital-exclusive editions available via CBS Sports HQ. The show will also welcome Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie as analyst and CBS Sports reporter Jenny Dell as host, joining analyst Renee Montgomery.
The full 2026 WNBA on CBS schedule will be announced at a later date.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-257766" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image002.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="500" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image002.jpg 640w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image002-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-257767" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image003.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="500" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image003.jpg 643w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/image003-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />

cbs-sports-wnba-new-rights-agreement

CBS Sports Reaches New Long-Term Multiplatform Rights Agreement with the WNBA

Analysis

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: March. Where superstars are made. Where shots become historic. Where teams hoist trophies. As we gear up for a month-long women’s basketball frenzy with today’s stars like UConn’s Azzi Fudd, LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, and UCLA’s Lauren Betts, let’s flash back to some WNBA greats who made their mark during the Big Dance in the 1990s before they were pros. 
These players deserve their due for how they captivated audiences en route to winning a national championship. As a nod to the viral social media trend, “What were you like in the ‘90s?” let’s go down memory lane while “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls serenades in the background. 
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center">Jennifer Azzi, Stanford (1986–1990)</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-257751" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-688x1024.jpg" alt="" width="538" height="800" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-688x1024.jpg 688w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-202x300.jpg 202w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-768x1143.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-1032x1536.jpg 1032w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-1376x2048.jpg 1376w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-314250-scaled.jpg 1720w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px" />
Before Azzi was an Olympic gold medalist with the 1996 Dreamers and a member of the WNBA Top 20@20, the point guard led Stanford to its first women’s basketball National Championship in 1990. They defeated Auburn, and her future Olympic teammate and WNBA foe Ruthie Bolton, in a thrilling 88-81 victory. Stanford trailed in the first half, but rallied back thanks to Azzi’s 17 points.  
Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer knew her Cardinals were going to win it all that 1990 season. She hung a sign on the locker room door: “1990 National champions. Get comfortable with it.” 
“Not winning never entered our minds,” Azzi <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/annkillion/article/In-Tara-they-trusted-Stanford-s-1990-16053720.php">said</a>.
That year, Azzi racked up the awards. She was named the Wade Trophy winner, Naismith Player of the Year, and the tournament’s most outstanding player. Azzi was drafted fifth overall in the 1999 WNBA draft by the Detroit Shock, who reached the playoffs in her first season. She then played three seasons with the San Antonio Silver Stars, leading the league in the 3-point percentage in both 1999 and 2001.
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center">Sheryl Swoopes, Texas Tech (1991–1993)</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-257752" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="533" height="800" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-scaled.jpg 1707w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-295331-1365x2048.jpg 1365w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px" />
Swoopes was on a mission in 1993. Her Texas Tech Lady Raiders entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed in the West Regional and demolished everyone in their path to reach the National Championship game. They’d face No. 1 overall seed Ohio State, and future WNBA legend Katie Smith, for the title. 
Swoopes scored a Final Four record of 47 points (16-24 from the field and 11-11 from the free-throw line) in the upset, being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Her 144 total tournament points (35.4 ppg) in a five-game stretch still holds 30 years later. It was her 17th 30-plus game. 
“There are no words to describe what a great player she is,” head coach Marsha Sharp <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-05-sp-19403-story.html">said of Swoopes then</a>. “I’ve never seen a player who can dominate a game like she can. She’s the greatest player of her time, and she does everything with so much class. She has a certain charisma—it’s why all our people love her so much.”
It was not only women’s basketball’s first title, but it was also the first National Championship in any sport at Texas Tech. 
The Texas native would go on to win the first four championships in WNBA history with the Houston Comets, and would finish her Hall-of-Fame career as a three-time MVP, six-time All-Star, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center">Charlotte Smith, North Carolina (1991–1995)</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-257753" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="535" height="800" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-scaled.jpg 1712w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-201x300.jpg 201w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-685x1024.jpg 685w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-768x1149.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-1027x1536.jpg 1027w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-2002807-1369x2048.jpg 1369w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px" />
Trailing by two points with 0.7 seconds left, North Carolina’s coach Sylvia Hatchell burned back-to-back timeouts. The first huddle’s play was drawn for a 6-foot-5 center, Sylvia Crawley, to catch a lob and finish at the rim. But Louisiana Tech quickly caught on and clogged the paint. The next whistle, a new one was drawn up: a baseline out-of-bounds play that would go for the win. Junior forward Charlotte Smith started on the ball-side block in a box set. On the whistle, she screened diagonally. Tech’s miscommunication left Smith wide open for a weak-side 3. The hometown kid sinks it. UNC’s lone title is stamped as one of the most thrilling title finishes ever.
“When I look back at that moment, the magnitude of it is still pretty shocking because it created waves all over the world,” Smith <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2022-02-16/1994-womens-ncaa-tournament-north-carolinas-charlotte-smith-remembers-buzzer">reminisces</a>. “It put not only women’s basketball on the map and UNC women’s basketball on the map, but Charlotte Smith became a household name.”
Smith was selected 33rd overall in the 1999 draft by the Charlotte Sting, then also played for the Washington Mystics and the Indiana Fever. She’d play eight seasons in the WNBA before getting into coaching; after serving as a long-time assistant coach at UNC, she took over at Elon University and led them to their first NCAA tournament bid in history. 
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center">Rebecca Lobo, Connecticut (1991–1995)</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-257754" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/03/GettyImages-280422-e1774456985332.jpg" alt="" width="562" height="800" />
UConn’s first unblemished season came in 1995 with six-foot-four Lobo in the center, and it would go down as one of the most dominant seasons ever. They went a perfect 35-0, and won every regular-season game by double digits. They set the record for the highest average scoring margin at 33.2. (<a href="https://justwomenssports.com/reads/uconn-womens-basketball-undefeated-regular-season-31-0-2026/#:~:text=However%2C%20the%20Huskies%20went%20on,third%2Dhighest%20in%20DI%20history.">This season’s UConn team</a> is winning by a whopping 37.8 ppg. Sheesh.) 
Lobo was crowned the Naismith Player of the Year, the Wade Trophy, and AP Player of the Year for averaging a near double-double (17.1 points, 9.8 rebounds). Soon after the confetti and the national championship celebrations concluded, Lobo was headed to join Team USA — she skipped her college graduation to attend tryouts — and won gold with the 1996 Olympic squad. 
She was one of the founding players of the WNBA with the New York Liberty, was an All-Star in 1999, and is a part of the Naismith Hall of Fame. 
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: center">Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee (1995–1999)</h2>
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Before Holdsclaw was the No. 1 WNBA draft pick in 1999 and had a historic career for the Washington Mystics, she was wreaking havoc for Pat Summitt’s Tennessee Lady Vols. She’s the program’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She won three national championships (1996, 1997, and 1998), was the back-to-back MOP in 1997 and 1998, and was the back-to-back Naismith Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999. 
She was also one part of the “Three Meeks”: Semeka Randall, Tamika Catchings, and Holdsclaw. Mik, Meek, and Mique. Not only did they share the same middle syllable, but they shared the same winning desire at Tennessee. “We wanted to go out there and dominate and embarrass people,” Holdsclaw would say decades later. During the 1998 season, they did. A perfect 39-0 with a fairytale national championship ending. They each knew their role: Randall was the floor general, orchestrating Summitt’s offense to a T. Catchings was the defensive wizard, picking pockets and taking names. Holdsclaw was a precisionist, slicing through the defense like she was a contestant on Iron Chef. Together, they molded into a three-headed Meekmonster, virtually impossible to contain. 
Holdsclaw was a six-time WNBA All-Star, getting her first start as a rookie, and won Olympic gold in 2000. 
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<h2 style="text-align: center">Stephanie White, Purdue (1995–1999)</h2>
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When the game clock struck zero on March 28, 1999, in San Jose, CA, Purdue’s All-American Stephanie White and her head coach Carolyn Peck were national champions. The top-ranked Boilermakers handily beat Duke, 62-45, despite White going down with a severe ankle injury with only four minutes to go in the contest. It was Peck’s last game before heading to the WNBA to be the coach and GM of the Orlando Miracle. The 17,753 fans in the San Jose Arena went wild, and chanted “One more year!” as she cut down the net.
They wish they could’ve said the same for White, who in her senior year nabbed the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, Wade Trophy, and the Honda Sports Award while averaging 20.2 points per game. She’s still the Boilermakers’ third all-time leading scorer. 
White was drafted by the Charlotte Sting in 1999, then played the rest of her six-year WNBA career with the Indiana Fever. But White took to coaching early on, even while she was still playing pro. In the WNBA, she’s made stops in Chicago and Connecticut, where she won Coach of the Year in 2023, before returning to the Fever as head coach in 2025. 
Jordan Robinson is a freelance journalist, author, host, analyst, and content creator based in Los Angeles, CA.

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March Icons: A Look Back at Tournament Greats

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NEW YORK, March 24, 2026 – The WNBA Board of Governors has unanimously ratified the terms for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the WNBA announced today. The seven-year agreement will begin with the 2026 season and run through 2032. The WNBA and Women’s National Basketball Players Association will now work together to finalize the long-form agreement.
“This marks the beginning of a bold new era of the WNBA – one made possible by the passion and dedication of the players, team owners, fans, investors, partners and the entire WNBA family,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “We remain focused on building on the unprecedented momentum around the league and preparing for our milestone 30th season, tipping off in May.”
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WNBA Board of Governors Ratifies Terms of New Collective Bargaining Agreement

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WNBA Announces Results Of Coin Toss For WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 Presented By State Street Investment Management Spy

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WNBA Announces Results Of Coin Toss For WNBA Expansion Draft 2026 Presented By State Street Investment Management Spy

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