Red Hawks

Alyssa Thomas has never been ordinary. She has never conformed to the traditional archetypes that have long defined basketball positions, nor has she allowed physical limitations &ndash; most notably two torn labrums in her shoulders &ndash; to dictate her game. Instead, she has rewritten the rules of what a forward can be, becoming the WNBA&rsquo;s most unique playmaker, a relentless competitor whose power and precision leave indelible marks on every contest.
Now, Thomas stands on the precipice of the one achievement that has eluded her: a WNBA championship. With the Phoenix Mercury, she is no longer just one of the league&rsquo;s most distinctive stars &ndash; she is the heartbeat of a team that has fought its way past both of last year&rsquo;s finalists, the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx, to sit just one series away from hoisting the trophy.
The one-of-a-kind blueprint
Thomas&rsquo; game is a study in contradictions. Listed at 6-foot-2, she is undersized compared to most dominant forwards, yet she plays with a ferocity that makes her feel much larger. She has no jump shot to speak of &ndash; her chronic shoulder injuries have left her unable to lift her arms fully above her head &ndash; yet she is among the WNBA&rsquo;s most creative offensive engines, manufacturing buckets through brute force, footwork, and finesse around the rim.
What sets her apart, however, is her vision. Thomas operates as a point forward in the truest sense, initiating offense with the instincts of a guard while anchoring the interior with her strength. No player in league history has more triple-doubles than Thomas, who has piled them up not through chasing numbers, but by simply playing the only way she knows: involving everyone, rebounding relentlessly, and attacking mismatches with precision.
Thomas is the ultimate connector, and when she is on the floor, everyone gets easier looks. Thomas is going to wear you down on both ends, and there&rsquo;s really no one else like her in the league.
Phoenix&rsquo;s resurgence this season
The Mercury have long been defined by legends, from Diana Taurasi&rsquo;s scoring brilliance to Brittney Griner&rsquo;s dominance in the paint, Phoenix&rsquo;s championship pedigree has always been tied to its superstars But this season, it&rsquo;s Thomas&rsquo; tenacity and versatility that have become the foundation of the Mercury&rsquo;s title pursuit.
In the quarterfinals, Phoenix knocked out the New York Liberty &ndash; a team that spent much of the season viewed as the championship favorite. Thomas imposed her will throughout the series, controlling tempo, dictating matchups, and ensuring Phoenix never wilted against a roster loaded with talent.&nbsp;
Then came the Minnesota Lynx, last season&rsquo;s runner-up, in the semifinals, a team known for physicality and defensive toughness. Once again, Thomas proved to be the difference, her relentless motor overwhelming Minnesota&rsquo;s interior presence while her passing picked apart their rotations.
Now, Phoenix sits at the doorstep of a championship. Thomas has emerged as the Mercury&rsquo;s lodestar &ndash; the player whose fingerprints are on every possession and whose competitive fire fuels the group &ndash; along with capable star teammates Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper.
Redefining greatness and the reflection of a leader
Thomas&rsquo; rise to this moment is about redefining what greatness looks like in the WNBA. For decades, the league&rsquo;s superstars have often been bucket-getters &ndash; high-scoring guards or dominant post players who could bend games with sheer offensive output. Thomas represents a different mold.
Her greatness is measured in the connective tissue of the game: the rebound that sparks a fast break, the no-look pass to a cutting teammate, the defensive rotation that prevents a layup. She is the star who doesn&rsquo;t need the spotlight, the engine whose work is most felt in the way her teammates shine brighter.
And yet, Thomas herself has built a resume that cannot be ignored. She is the WNBA&rsquo;s all-time leader in triple-doubles, a perennial All-Star, and a force who consistently pushes her teams to overachieve. Still, for all her accolades, the absence of a championship has loomed large. With Phoenix, that narrative has a chance to finally change.
It is no coincidence that Phoenix&rsquo;s postseason surge has mirrored the very qualities Thomas embodies. The Mercury have played with resilience, grit, and selflessness &ndash; the same hallmarks of Thomas&rsquo; game. Every possession feels like a battle, and every victory has been earned through effort rather than ease.
This title run is about Thomas validating a career defined by sacrifice and unconventional brilliance. Few players would have thrived without a jump shot in today&rsquo;s game, but Thomas has carved a path by emphasizing everything else: defense, rebounding, playmaking, and leadership. She has shown that dominance comes in many forms, and that sometimes it is not just about the one filling up the scoring column, but the one making sure everyone else is in position to succeed.
Legacy in the making
The Mercury&rsquo;s journey is not complete. A championship series looms, either with the Indiana Fever or 3-time MVP A&rsquo;Ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces, and with it, the most difficult test of all. Opponents will key in on Thomas, daring Phoenix to find answers elsewhere. But Thomas has spent her entire career proving doubters wrong, overcoming obstacles that might have ended others&rsquo; careers, and finding ways to impose her will regardless of circumstance.
This, perhaps, is her ultimate chance to etch her name alongside the greats. Not just as the triple-double queen, not just as the league&rsquo;s most unique forward, but as a champion.
If Phoenix completes this run, it will be impossible to tell the story of the 2025 WNBA season without Alyssa Thomas at its center. She has already changed the way the game is played and understood, expanding the definition of stardom and forcing observers to appreciate the value of versatility.
Now, with the Mercury one step away from glory, Thomas is poised to add the ultimate chapter to her legacy. For a player who has done everything except win it all, the moment has arrived. And if the past few weeks are any indication, she is more than ready &ndash; because Alyssa Thomas has never been ordinary &ndash; she has been extraordinary in every sense of the word.

Alyssa Thomas, the WNBA’s triple-double queen, is powering the Phoenix Mercury’s title run.

WNBA triple-double queen Alyssa Thomas ready to lead Phoenix Mercury to a title

The Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury have been two of the WNBA's most dynamic risers this season, having used the offseason as a springboard to elevate themselves from fringe playoff teams to legitimate postseason threats. With aggressive and calculated roster moves, both franchises took advantage of a star-heavy free agency market and are now reaping the rewards with improved records, on-court cohesion, and a renewed sense of direction.
In a league where parity is rising and every roster spot carries weight, the Dream and Mercury have shown that smart offseason hauls can redefine a franchise&rsquo;s ceiling.
Atlanta Dream: Currently 2nd in the East and 5th in the league overall, 14-10 record
At 14-10, the Atlanta Dream currently sit 4th in the WNBA standings and second in the Eastern Conference as of this writing. This is a significant improvement over their 2024 campaign, when they finished with a sub-.500 record of just 15-25, enough for an 8th seed, and bowed out early in the postseason. But what sets this team apart now isn&rsquo;t just their growth; it&rsquo;s the way behind their acceleration.
Allisha Gray has continued to be a steady force, earning a well-deserved spot as an All-Star starter this season. The veteran guard has grown into her role as both a scorer and leader, thriving in head coach Karl Smesko&rsquo;s aggressive system. However, the biggest shift came with the high-impact signing of Brittney Griner in the offseason.
After a tumultuous past few seasons marked by injury setbacks, Griner&rsquo;s decision to join Atlanta surprised many. But the move has paid off handsomely for both sides. Griner has given the Dream an elite interior presence and a reliable starting center, anchoring a much-improved Atlanta defense after losing their starting frontcourt from last year in Tina Charles and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus. Her chemistry with Gray and point guard Jordin Canada has created a versatile inside-out attack that&rsquo;s difficult to contain.
Griner's arrival has also opened the floor for other contributors to shine. Rhyne Howard, the 2022 Rookie of the Year, has been able to play with more freedom as a perimeter scorer now with Griner providing her with screening capabilities to get more players open. The Dream currently rank among the top five in both defensive rating and second-chance points &ndash; a testament to Griner&rsquo;s influence on both ends of the court.
This season, Atlanta isn't just looking to make the playoffs, but they're aiming to make a mark once they get there.
Phoenix Mercury: Currently 2nd in the West and 3rd in the league overall, 15-8 record
While the Dream made one big splash, the Mercury made several &ndash; and they&rsquo;re paying off even quicker.
Phoenix sits second in the Western Conference with a 15-8 record, trailing only the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. It&rsquo;s a remarkable rise for a franchise that sub.500 last season and looked rudderless in the wake of roster instability after Diana Taurasi&rsquo;s retirement and the absence of Brittney Griner, who departed for Atlanta.
Rather than rebuild, the Mercury doubled down on star power. Their front office landed two of the offseason&rsquo;s biggest names: former Connecticut Sun All-Star Alyssa Thomas and 2023 All-WNBA forward Satou Sabally. Both have been transformational.
Thomas, known for her toughness, versatility, and near triple-double averages, has brought a level of all-around excellence that&rsquo;s elevated the Mercury&rsquo;s ceiling. Thomas has been serving as the team&rsquo;s offensive engine, acting at times as their point guard and main playmaker. Her physicality on defense and elite decision-making have stabilized Phoenix in close games, many of which they&rsquo;ve won due to her crunch-time brilliance.
Sabally, meanwhile, has returned healthy and dominant. She&rsquo;s providing much-needed wing scoring and rebounding while defending multiple positions. Her ability to stretch the floor has complemented Thomas perfectly, creating mismatches across the board.
Phoenix wasn&rsquo;t done after those marquee signings. In what might be one of the savviest moves of the season, the Mercury claimed and signed veteran forward DeWanna Bonner off waivers. The 36-year-old, a former WNBA champion and franchise icon in Phoenix, has provided instant leadership and shot-making, giving the team a battle-tested voice off the bench.
Their offseason signings and together with their homegrown star Kahleah Copper, this revamped Mercury roster has thrived in head coach Nate Tibbetts&rsquo; system. They play with pace, move the ball, and now have the defensive personnel to match up with anyone. Even without Griner, who left a huge void in the frontcourt, Phoenix has compensated with a multi-pronged attack and a deep, star-laden rotation.
Phoenix and Atlanta&rsquo;s smart and bold moves are leading to playoff impact and championship hopes
What the Dream and Mercury have done this season isn&rsquo;t just about bringing in talent, but it&rsquo;s about bringing in the right talent.
Atlanta targeted Griner, knowing she could immediately solve their rim protection issues and elevate their pick-and-roll game. Phoenix bet on two of the best two-way forwards in the league and then added a proven winner in Bonner to glue it all together.
These moves weren&rsquo;t just splashy, they were also strategic. Each franchise assessed its weaknesses, acted decisively in free agency, and built complementary lineups around existing core players. The results have been dramatic and immediate.
With over a month of regular-season basketball left, both the Dream and Mercury are not just aiming to secure playoff spots &ndash; both teams are looking to make deep runs.
Atlanta, with its improved defense and emerging stars, could become a dangerous matchup for any top seed. Phoenix, meanwhile, boasts the kind of star-studded, playoff-hardened roster that could upset the status quo and challenge the Lynx or Liberty for the title.
In a WNBA season defined by aggressive movement and team-wide recalibrations, the Dream and Mercury stand out for how quickly and effectively they&rsquo;ve turned the page. With smart roster building and the boldness to act, both teams have enjoyed good regular seasons thus far and are looking to build on them to bring them to the playoffs.

The Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury have been two of the WNBA's most dynamic risers this season.

WNBA: Dream, Mercury capitalize on offseason hauls to make run for the playoffs

Super rookie Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever got a rude welcome in her first-ever playoff game.
After a historic rookie season, Clark came into Sunday excited for her first taste of high-stakes basketball. However, Alyssa Thomas and the Connecticut Sun came ready to play.
The third-seeded Sun blew out the sixth-seeded Fever, 93-69, to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series. Thomas had a triple-double for Connecticut, dropping 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists while veteran DeWanna Bonner scored 22 points while playing outstanding defense on the aforementioned Clark.
Clark struggled from the field, going only 4-17 including 2-13 from three as she saw the entire Connecticut defense turned on against her. Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 while Aliyah Boston added 17 but it was not enough as the Fever got blown out by 24 points.
In the other games of the day, the New York Liberty began their quest for a back-to-back Finals appearance with a comfortable 83-69 win over the Atlanta Dream. Leonie Fiebich led all scorers with 21 points while former WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart added 20.
The defending champions Las Vegas Aces started their title defense after winning wire-to-wire against the Seattle Storm, 78-67. Recently crowned unanimous WNBA MVP A&rsquo;Ja Wilson had 21 points in the win.
Finally, MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier starred for the Minnesota Lynx in their Game 1 win over the Phoenix Mercury. Collier had the best game of the day with 38 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists as they won by seven, 102-95.

Super rookie Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever got a rude welcome in her first-ever playoff game.

WNBA Playoffs 2024 Day 1 recap: Caitlin Clark, Fever get reality check from Sun

The women&rsquo;s NCAA Tournament field is set and now the fun begins with 68 teams vying for the national championship and cutting down the nets in Dallas.
There&rsquo;s a new format to March Madness, with two regionals in Seattle and Greenville, South Carolina, instead of the usual four. Here&rsquo;s a look at what could happen over the next few weeks. This guidance will be 100% accurate &mdash; until the first round tips off on Friday.
CHALK RULES
A No. 1 seed has won the national championship the past 10 tournaments and 14 of 15. The only time that didn&rsquo;t happen was in 2011 when coach Gary Blair led Texas A&amp;M to the title as a No. 2 seed. Since 2005, at least two of the No. 1s have made the Final Four every year except for 2016. This year&rsquo;s overwhelming betting favorite is top-ranked and defending national champion South Carolina, the only undefeated team in the tourney.
LACK OF MAJOR UPSETS
There is a feeling that parity continues to find its way into women&rsquo;s basketball with 19 losses by top 10 teams in the AP Top 25 poll to unranked schools. Still, it&rsquo;s hard to pick against the top teams in the tournament as no 14 or 15 seed has ever won a game (the women&rsquo;s tournament was the first to see a 16 seed upset a top seed when Harvard beat Stanford 71-67 in 1998). Two came close last season with Jackson State falling late to LSU and UT Arlington hanging tough with Iowa State.&nbsp;
BEWARE THE 12
No. 12 seeds have had success, just like in the men&rsquo;s bracket the last few seasons, beating some of the 5s. At least one 12 has made it out of the first round in four of the last five tournaments, including two last season.
And now the picks:
GREENVILLE REGION 1
Analysis: South Carolina won&rsquo;t have to leave the state to reach the Final Four if it wins, playing its first two games at home and then traveling 90 minutes to Greenville for the regional. The Gamecocks (32-0) have been tested this season and still found a way to win every game. Dawn Staley&rsquo;s squad is looking to be the 10th team to finish a season unbeaten by winning a national championship. Second-seeded Maryland and No. 4 UCLA both played South Carolina during the season, giving them familiarity if there&rsquo;s a rematch.
Players to watch: Aliyah Boston, South Carolina; Cherita Daugherty, Southern Utah; Diamond Miller, Maryland; Charisma Osborne, UCLA.
Bracket Buster: Sixth-seed Creighton is the team most likely to spoil brackets. Last season as a 10-seed the team made the regional final before falling to South Carolina. Host Notre Dame is missing star Olivia Miles and the third-seeded Irish could fall to the Bluejays.
First-round picks: South Carolina, South Florida, Oklahoma, UCLA, Creighton, Notre Dame, Arizona, Maryland.
Second-round picks: South Carolina, UCLA, Creighton, Maryland.
Regional semifinal picks: South Carolina, Maryland.
Regional champion pick: South Carolina.
GREENVILLE REGION 2
Analysis: Indiana has been the second-best team most of the season behind South Carolina and earned the first No. 1 seed in school history. Led by Mackenzie Holmes in the middle and a dominant defense, the Hoosiers will be looking to reach their first Final Four. There&rsquo;s a lot of star power in the region including Villanova&rsquo;s Maddy Siegrist, LSU&rsquo;s Angel Reese and Utah&rsquo;s Alissa Pili.
Other players to watch: Leigha Brown, Michigan; Kaitlyn Chen, Princeton; Charlisse Leger-Walker, Washington State.
Bracket Buster: UNLV is one of three 30-win teams in the country, yet the Lady Rebels haven&rsquo;t faced many teams as good as Michigan this year. Florida Gulf Coast knocked off Virginia Tech as a 12 seed last season and could do it again this time if they beat Washington State.
First-round picks: Indiana, Oklahoma State, Florida Gulf Coast, Villanova, Michigan, LSU, Princeton, Utah.
Second-round picks: Indiana, Villanova, Michigan, Utah.
Regional semifinal picks: Indiana, Utah.
Regional champion pick: Indiana.
SEATTLE REGION 3
Analysis: No one had a worse string of injuries than UConn this season and yet Geno Auriemma has the Huskies playing their best basketball heading into the tournament. They&rsquo;ve made every Final Four since 2008 and there&rsquo;s no reason to think that streak can&rsquo;t continue if star guard Azzi Fudd keeps getting healthier. Virginia Tech is the one seed and has had a stellar year behind Elizabeth Kitley.
Other players to watch: Ashley Joens, Iowa State; Myah Selland, South Dakota State; Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State.
Bracket Buster: No. 9 seed South Dakota State ran through the Summit League and also beat Louisville and Kansas State this season. The Jackrabbits have enough talent to put a scare into the Hokies in the second round. No. 12 seed Toledo beat Michigan earlier this season and has won its last 16 games. Iowa State could be victim No. 17.
First-round picks: Virginia Tech, South Dakota State, Iowa State, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio State, Baylor, UConn.
Second-round picks: Virginia Tech, Iowa State, North Carolina, UConn.
Regional semifinal picks: Virginia Tech, UConn..
Regional champion pick: UConn.
SEATTLE REGION 4
Analysis: Stanford is in its usual spot as a No. 1 seed but has looked vulnerable this season, struggling on offense at times. The second-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes have had no problem scoring and are one of the hottest teams after winning the Big Ten Tournament behind star Caitlin Clark. No. 4 Texas was picked in the preseason top five before struggling with injuries and fitting transfers in. Vic Schaefer has had a lot of success in March and this could be another one of his great coaching jobs.
Other players to watch: Cameron Brink, Stanford; Rori Harmon, Texas; Ta&rsquo;Niya Latson, Florida State; Hailey Van Lith, Louisville.
Bracket Buster: No. 11 seed Middle Tennessee has won 10 straight games and had an early season victory over Louisville so Colorado should beware. Drake has been playing well lately, sweeping its way to a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. Louisville has been playing better lately, but needs to be sharp against the 12th-seeded Bulldogs.
First-round picks: Stanford, Gonzaga, Louisville, Texas, Middle Tennessee, Duke, Florida State, Iowa.
Second-round picks: Stanford, Texas, Duke, Iowa.
Regional final picks: Stanford, Iowa.
Regional champion pick: Stanford.
THE FINAL FOUR
Analysis: There should be some familiarity in the Final Four, which will likely see three teams from last season&rsquo;s national semifinals returning. South Carolina will likely face Stanford in a rematch of a November game that the Gamecocks won in overtime while UConn will likely face Indiana.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Pick: South Carolina and UConn will meet again and the Gamecocks will win back-to-back titles.
Analysis: The teams played in February and the Huskies gave the Gamecocks one of their stiffest tests of the season. UConn didn&rsquo;t have Fudd for that game (knee injury). Fudd is back, but she won&rsquo;t be enough for the Huskies to stop the Gamecocks from becoming only the fourth different school to win consecutive titles (USC, UConn and Tennessee).

Here’s a look at what could happen over the next few weeks in the 2023 Women's NCAA Tournament.

Chalk rules in women’s March Madness bracket picks

What an odd offseason for the Las Vegas Aces.
On the positive end, they've followed up their first championship by adding future Hall of Famer Candace Parker and two-time champion Alysha Clark. From a basketball perspective, swapping out Dearica Hamby &mdash; who was traded in an effort to create room for these moves &mdash; and youngster Iliana Rupert (<a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces/status/1622721210617581568?s=20&amp;t=RZ_OYhKtoA9EA040wrkoRw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">waived on Monday</a>) for Parker and Clark signifies an upgrade on both ends.
How they got those upgrades, however, is rightfully under the microscope.&nbsp;
The circumstances around the Hamby trade, specifically how she was treated before the deal, is currently under investigation by the WNBPA. In a statement <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsXXblSRPN/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released by Hamby on Instragram</a>, she levied allegations against the organization of being "lied to, bullied, manipulated and discriminated against" due to her pregnancy.&nbsp;
During Parker's introductory press conference on Tuesday, which also served as the first time media was allowed to pose questions to Nikki Fargas (Aces president) or Natalie Williams (Aces general manager), an attempt was made to gain further clarity into the investigation. Not only were those efforts dodged, but it was done so sloppily.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In case folks are interested in seeing how this was handled on Candace's intro press conference...Here is the video of <a href="https://twitter.com/ANYamashita?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ANYamashita</a> trying to ask his question about Dearica Hamby: <a href="https://t.co/D3lMME5cAV">https://t.co/D3lMME5cAV</a> <a href="https://t.co/t4fYChCs6f">pic.twitter.com/t4fYChCs6f</a>
&mdash; Ben Pickman (@benpickman) <a href="https://twitter.com/benpickman/status/1623072856450953218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

I'm no expert, but surely there's a better way of no-commenting a question than interrupting said-question while stating the subject of the question isn't available... while you can still see her in the Zoom call. At best, the approach <a href="https://theathletic.com/4165422/2023/02/07/las-vegas-aces-dearica-hamby/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">generated even more questions</a>.&nbsp;
There was another line in Hamby's post worth following up on, especially now: "I was promised things to entice me to sign my contract extension that were not followed through on."
That could mean anything &mdash; from a guaranteed role or a "we won't trade you" pact, to paid opportunities outside of basketball. We don't know what that entails, but it would appear the WNBA would like to find out.
First reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNextHoops/status/1623320054946209794?s=20&amp;t=Q9-Y7fO2FLnDdbkLHTGUow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Megdal of The Next</a>, the WNBA is now investigating the Aces for potentially circumventing the cap by "making under-the-table payment offers to both current players and free agents the team has pursued."
From Megdal's report:&nbsp;
<blockquote>
According to those familiar with the allegations, the pattern alleged that the team followed typically involved a high-level member of the Aces instructing the agent of a potential signing &mdash; either a free agent, or an Aces player negotiating an extension &mdash; that at the conclusion of the phone call between team and agent, the agent would receive a call with an offer for a specific amount of money from a particular, pre-selected company. The work involved would be negligible, according to those familiar with the allegations.
</blockquote>
If true, it would certainly help explain how the Aces were able to land Parker and Clark this season. Per <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardCohen1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richard Cohen</a> of Her Hoop Stats, Parker agreed to a one-year deal worth $100,000, while Clark signed a two-year deal worth $110K per season; Parker alone made $195,000 last season, while Clark ($183K) wasn't far behind.&nbsp;
Taking a paycut to join a contender isn't unheard of, and it's worth noting Parker receives another stream of income through her NBA work for TNT/NBA TV. Still, those are pretty big pay cuts. And following the Hamby promise allegations, it's understandable that the league would look into how the Aces conducted their business.
On its own, though, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to be up in arms about&nbsp;these&nbsp;allegations.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
On one hand, rules should be followed. The specific allegations the Aces are facing have <a href="https://wnbpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/WNBA-WNBPA-CBA-2020-2027.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">been spelled out in the CBA</a>. The W is serious about having a level playing field, highlighted by the $500K fine they levied to the New York Liberty ahead of last season <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2022/03/01/new-york-liberty-fined-wnba-violation-cba-chartered-flights/6977597001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">for chartering flights</a>.&nbsp;
On the other hand,&nbsp;man&nbsp;these players deserve to make more money &mdash; and simply be treated better &mdash; than they currently are. It's a small league &mdash; 12 teams, up to 144 players &mdash; that's operating under a hard cap. Roster spots are limited; earning potential within the league is a bit restrictive &mdash; and that's without getting into how the prioritization rules will <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/first-year-of-wnba-prioritization-clause-is-good-little-test-run-for-players-to-choose-whats-important-140007061.html#:~:text=It%20requires%20veterans%20with%20three,salary%20for%20every%20day%20missed." target="_blank" rel="noopener">affect players moving forward</a>.
It's hard for me to be upset at an organization for, if true, finding outside-opportunities (read: money) for players within a system in which they're underpaid.
I wasn't upset at all with the Liberty for chartering flights for their players, and didn't care much for the "competitive balance" argument against doing so. The players deserve to fly private, and owners that can't &mdash; or simply don't want to &mdash; spend enough to provide that service probably shouldn't be in ownership positions, in my humble opinion.&nbsp;
Regardless of my feelings, the rules&nbsp;are&nbsp;the rules. And ultimately, this is yet another cloud over what could've been an offseason for the ages for the defending champions. We'll see how things play out.&nbsp;

Nekias Duncan discusses the latest allegations surrounding the Las Vegas Aces and how the WNBA is handling them.

Latest allegations cast larger cloud over Las Vegas Aces' offseason

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If you have a minute and change to spare &mdash; and I'd assume so since you've opened this piece &mdash; I want you to watch this video. It's an assist compilation of Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray from Tuesday night's win over the Atlanta Dream. It includes 5 of her game-high 9 assists.
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The assists, in order:
<ul>
<li>A pick-and-roll with A'ja Wilson (MVP, by the way) in which Gray freezes Cheyenne Parker (Wilson's defender) with a hesi, forces a rotation from Naz HIllmon (#00) with her drive and waits out the secondary rotation from Rhyne Howard (#10, Rookie of the Year front-runner) before firing to Jackie Young</li>
<li>A full-court lead pass to Young after a singular dribble</li>
<li>An instantaneous feed to Wilson through a pair of defenders after a loose-ball scramble</li>
<li>A 20-plus-feet behind-the-back bounce pass (?????) to a cutting Kelsey Plum</li>
<li>A no-look feed to Young after a drive in transition</li>
</ul>
Highlight films are typically dangerous for narrative-driven minds. With just a few clips, you can present a chapter as a full-blown story. But I assure you that this isn't a doctored snippet; this is who Chelsea Gray, The W's #PointGawd, really is.
The numbers don't do her justice, though it's worth noting that she's averaging a career-high in assists this season (6.2 per game). Only three players &mdash; Courtney Vandersloot, Natasha Cloud and Sue Bird &mdash; are assisting more than Gray on a <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=AST&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=PerPossession&amp;CF=GP*GE*15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per-possession basis</a>.
But to appreciate Gray's playmaking ability, you have to watch. Her cadence is different. The angles she spots for passes are almost unheard of for mere mortals; the angles she can create&nbsp;are more rare. There isn't a pass in the book she can't make; more importantly, there isn't a pass that she won't try.
If those descriptors sound familiar, it's because they've been used &mdash; reserved, even &mdash; for legends. Magic Johnson was and is the standard for that sort of creativity on the NBA side. Ticha Penicheiro &mdash; the league's all-time assist leader until Bird passed her in 2017 &mdash; certainly fits the bill for The W. You can see their inspiration shine through Gray's game.
"With Magic, it was everything he could do as a bigger point guard," Gray told Basketball News in a Zoom interview. "It was how he incorporated flashiness too. Being able to balance effectiveness with a little flash."
While Magic helped with broad strokes, you can thank Penicheiro's influence for Gray's affinity for no-look passes.
"With Ticha, her ability to <a href="https://youtu.be/REAzNuZM9Yw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">look at a completely different person</a> but pass it somewhere else always intrigued me," Gray said. "I used to look to the side and try to hit a pole [to practice]."
A throughline with Magic, Penicheiro and Gray is the ability to see plays develop before they happen. It's an obvious gift; it's easier to beat a defense if you're ahead of them conceptually. But there is an obvious drawback: It's a gift because only a few players can see the game that way.
What is genius if it isn't understood? It's likely a turnover in basketball.
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Like many great playmakers before her, Gray has to walk a tightrope between doing her thing and coloring inside the lines. It's also the responsibility of the coach to help find that balance. She certainly felt that during the early portion of her Los Angeles Sparks tenure.
"It's like, if [the passes] go through, they're good. If they didn't, it'd be so terrible; 'I don't know what she saw; I don't know what that was (laughs),'" Gray said. "But as my game progressed and I got a little smarter about when to make certain passes, there was more of a balance.
"There's always a balance of not taking away the player and their effectiveness, but reeling them in so they're within what you're trying to accomplish."
When watching a Gray pick-and-roll, or a no-look, or a transition touchdown, it's hard not to wonder how she makes decisions. Luckily, Gray was kind enough to not only answer that question broadly, but also talk through some of her assists from this season for further insight with Basketball News.
(This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.) 
When you're making fancier reads, are any of those predetermined? What goes into your process?
Chelsea Gray: "It's a mixture of what the defense is doing, and my head.
"Sometimes I feel like the most 'complicated' way to get it there is the easiest way for me to get it there, or the quickest or most efficient. I was just having a conversation about a simple thing like a pick-and-pop. Me doing a bounce pass behind the back is the easiest, most efficient way to get it there, so my teammate has a wide-open shot rather than spinning in a circle to throw the pass.
"Sometimes, maybe I could do that, but [the behind-the-back bounce pass] is the most efficient way for me to do that to make sure my teammate has an easier read when they catch the ball."
With great playmakers, I'm always curious about their process, and what or who they're reading on the floor. When you're running a ball-screen, what are the kind of things you're looking for?
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Gray:&nbsp;"My initial read is seeing how my defender is guarding me. If they're playing off, that changes my angle going into the pick-and-roll. From there, I'm looking at my post player or whoever's setting the screen to see how their defender is guarding them &mdash; are they (the screener's defender) going to jump out?
"Some pick-and-rolls are defended differently based on who's setting the screen. Defenses might play it one way when Kiah Stokes is involved, but a different way if it's Dearica Hamby or A'ja Wilson. My teammates also do different things. Kiah, most of the time, is going to roll while the others may mix in pick-and-pops.
"All of that is going into my head when heading into a ball-screen. Then, it's like, 'If this happens, then this&nbsp;happens.' That's the repetitive nature of running so many pick-and-rolls throughout my career. When a defender does something, they're giving up something else. From there, it's about how to make the right decision as quickly as possible."
You mentioned how defensive coverages may differ based on who's screening for you. Who's the best screener on the Aces?
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Gray:&nbsp;"That's so hard. Honestly, it does depend on the coverage they're getting. Against Dallas (on Aug. 4), Teaira McCowan was hitting A'ja and wasn't letting her screen. But because of that, I was able to hit her on the roll off the back side. Kiah tries to head-hunt&nbsp;every single time (laughs), so the angle is different.
"It's hard to say who the best pick-and-roll player is. Like, Dearica Hamby will hit and just go, super quickly. So it'll look like, 'Whoa, what a great screen,' but really, there was a lot of indecision on the defensive end. She's able to get us both open because she creates some thought in their head like, 'Oh snap, I'm hit; what are we doing on our coverage?' It really depends."
With this pick-and-roll (video below), this ends up being a pass to Iliana Rupert. It looks like you're flowing out of HORNS. When you get the first screen, are you gauging what the big (NaLyssa Smith) is doing first?
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Gray:&nbsp;"Yeah, I'm seeing what this big is doing here. I see Emily Engstler sink in for the help because Destanni Henderson is hit with the screen. I know Iliana Rupert is going to be open on the pop; it's a simple HORNS action."
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I have two transition clips to share now. In the first one, you find Kelsey Plum trailing the play. She makes a move and gets the bucket; you get the assist on this one. In the second one, you hit a streaking Jackie Young. When you're making these full-court hit-aheads, which defender are you reading? What determines where you go with the ball?
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Gray:&nbsp;"As we cross half court, our angles have to be clear and concise. As we're running, we know one big will run down the floor while the other will trail the play. As the trailer, Dearica Hamby will either come set a drag screen, or I'll pass to her and she'll flow to the next side."
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"So if you pause it when Kelsey catches the ball, I'm reading to see if A'ja's defender picked her up, and if Dearica's defender picked her up. Indiana is pretty much matched up; they did a solid job in transition defense.
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"Personally, I don't know if I would've counted this as an assist. I just get it there for her to be able to make a move. After the initial catch, she has to make a good and solid move to get into the paint and finish.
"This second one, on the other hand, people are just flying down the court. Kiah Stokes actually gets Jackie open by the way she runs the floor. Kayla Thornton feels like, 'Oh shoot, [Kiah's] going; Teaira McCowan, help!' Meanwhile, Jackie is streaking down the court.
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"I see all of that unfolding, and that's on top of them being concerned about A'ja filling in. Jackie's able to knock the shot down, right in the flow."
We have to talk about the falling pass to Kelsey Plum! You get a screen from Kiah Stokes. We have good defense from Brittney Sykes. When did you decide you're going to find the angle for the pass that way?
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Gray:&nbsp;"Really, I decided in the moment. I saw it afterwards and was like, 'I know I fell, but I had&nbsp;to fall to get it there.' I felt that it would've been a turnover or Brittney Sykes would've gotten her hand on it. The way&nbsp;I fell was a bit of a dramatic fall, but it was necessary.
"It took all of my power in order to get it there. The angle and the rate in which [Kelsey Plum] was cutting was all going into my thought process. So I was like, 'Alright, I have to fall or else it's not going to get there.' If I threw a straight bounce pass, the defender would've gotten it."
Alright, last one for the fancy passes. A&nbsp;behind-the-back pass&nbsp;on a baseline inbound?!
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Gray:&nbsp;"To me, it was simple. In the moment, I realized what I did, but I got excited because the play that we called &mdash; we hadn't scored on it yet.&nbsp;
"If you pause it here, Tiffany Mitchell is already beat:
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"But I can't make a bounce pass there with Lexie Hull right there. There's no possible way. So the only way I feel that I can get it there is by going behind the back.
"If you keep going... right there:
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"I would have to angle my body to be able to throw a chest pass. Hull might be able to get a hand on it, or Jackie [Young] won't be able to finish it. So if I look one way, it just takes half a step for Hull to come over, and I'm able to get the angle for Jackie.&nbsp;
"Honestly, a lot of times when I do the behind-the-back or a fancy pass, it's the quickest, most efficient way I feel it can get there. It's not like, 'Let me do this pass because it'll be on a highlight reel.' Sometimes I want to add a little no-look flair to it, and I probably could've gotten it there by looking at her. But the fanciness of the curve, or behind-the-back, or behind-the head &mdash; that's the quickest way for me to get it there without a turnover. Maybe that's just ridiculous (laughs)."
No, I don't think so at all! On the no-look front: When you're watching others, does it bother you when players fake it? Sometimes, it's obvious that a player will stare their teammate down before looking off and making it seem like a real no-look.
Gray: (Laughs) "Maybe that's their version of the way they want to do a no-look! I don't know, it doesn't bother me. As long as they get the assist, they should be fine with the way they're doing it."

Nekias Duncan talks to Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray to gain insight into her passing prowess.

Through Her Eyes: How Chelsea Gray sees what you can't

The 2022 WNBA rookie class has continually impressed on a multitude of fronts a third of the way through the season.
Atypical rookies like Kristy Wallace and Rebekah Gardner, who entered the league with a wealth of overseas play, are already playing a fundamental role on playoff teams.&nbsp;
Aisha Sheppard (Las Vegas), Jasmine Dickey (Dallas), Evina Westbrook (Minnesota), and Olivia Nelson-Ododa (Los Angeles) have all shown glimpses as second- and third-round picks to varying degrees.&nbsp;
The Indiana Fever superclass has been electric. NaLyssa Smith looks like someone who could grow into one of the best scorers in the league. Queen Egbo has impressed me greatly, blowing away rookie-year expectations with her stellar defense. Destanni Henderson should have been a first-round pick (and I'll die on that hill!). Emily Engstler has some of the most intriguing flashes and upside in the class, and I have no idea what to project her as going forward. Lexie Hull's minutes have been inconsistent, but the idea of what she can be in the league is clear as day.
Veronica Burton's defense has been fantastic for a Wings team trying to establish an aggressive scheme and mentality. The flashes she has shown as a steady hand in the halfcourt have been impressive as well, and her scoring and shooting are coming along too (she has as many threes in the past two games as she had in the first 11!).
There are multiple first-rounders whom we haven't even seen in extended minutes due to rotation crunches (Kierstan Bell) and injuries (Rae Burrell and Nyara Sabally).
Atlanta Dream forward <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-atlanta-dream-struck-gold-with-rhyne-howard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rhyne Howard</a> has taken the league by storm, already cementing herself as one of the better perimeter players in the WNBA. She could make the All-Star team or All-Defensive team as a rookie and I wouldn't bat an eye.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Building our foundation for this season AND next.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AllAboardToTheFuture?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AllAboardToTheFuture</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/Amtrak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@amtrak</a> <a href="https://t.co/6Fge9u77j7">pic.twitter.com/6Fge9u77j7</a>
&mdash; Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) <a href="https://twitter.com/WashMystics/status/1511796682215800840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Based on the way Howard and No. 3 overall pick Shakira Austin have played thus far, this is a trade we're going to retrospectively debate for years to come.&nbsp;
Howard has been sensational for the Dream, and while Austin's box score isn't as gaudy and she doesn't create offense in the same way, her impact has arguably been as strong for the Mystics. I'm not interested in pitting the two against one another and going "____ won the trade because ____ is better than _____!"
We are not even a full year into their careers! It's too early for that! But it's important to note that while Howard is rightfully a runaway for Rookie of the Year at the moment, Austin has been vital for a team in contention, earning a starting role and showing bright flashes of her offensive upside as well.
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On/off stats are imperfect. They shouldn't be taken at face value, but they're a notable point of reference when considering state of play. Among players who have played at least 200 minutes in the 2022 WNBA season, only six players have an on/off swing of +22 or higher: A'ja Wilson, Ariel Atkins, Brianna Turner, Chelsea Gray, Sabrina Ionescu and Shakira Austin. That's pretty incredible company!
The Mystics' offense (+16.67) and defense (+12.44) perform substantially better with Austin on the court, per PBP Stats.
As she showcased last night against the Phoenix Mercury, she's adept at flowing within the offense. Her screening and rolling along with intuitive cutting make her a remarkably effective spacer in spite of not being a shooter out to the arc. Quick decisions and intuitive decisions that work within the offense are arguably as impactful as shooting, especially when a player with Austin's size and fluidity is making them.
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Austin makes some fantastic connective passes within the offense, an incredibly important aspect for someone functioning primarily as an offensive outlet.&nbsp;
Her face-up drives both off the catch and from a standstill have impressed. Her ball control and strides at her size make her a difficult cover for bigger 5s, but her strength to mash a smaller defender provides an equal challenge for defenses. Her footwork is already incredibly advanced as a rookie, both on the roll and in the post. Her coordination at 6-foot-5 is kind of insane!
Send a blitz at Natasha Cloud or Ariel Atkins, and Shakira can slip and cover that ground to the rim just as quickly as you took it away.
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She's made some stellar live-dribble passes on the roll and on drives that make me extremely excited about her playmaking potential as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Austin's defense has been equally adept. Off rip, the shot-blocking and rim protection has translated (seventh in the league in total blocks, per Her Hoop Stats), but her pick-and-roll defense has been huge for a team built on the back of it's ability to contain the ball. She already has shown good feel for showing and recovering, playing near the level of the screen, and particularly roaming weak-side.
Watch the first stab playing close to the level against Courtney Vandersloot in pick-and-roll. Her hand activity keeps improving, and her reaction time and recovery tools give her top-notch margin for error.
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Most of her fouls have come from overaggression or general timing on late contests, largely on switches or against smaller wings and guards. Austin has shown the ability to switch in a pinch and ride out drivers to the rim, but honing that aggression will be huge in developing that versatility.
What Austin has brought the Mystics from day one as a rookie cannot be understated. She's played even better defense than former First Team All-Defensive member Elizabeth Williams (who has been very good in her own right!) and solidifed a starting spot. The sky is the limit on what she can be, and although she's been in a more contained role in DC, it's clear that there's a great deal of untapped potential that continues to be excavated game by game.
Shakira Austin is already a problem in the league, and her culmination of skills, size, aptitude and demeanor make her one of the most exciting young players in the WNBA.
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Shakira Austin's play continues to impress in the present while showing promising glimpses of what she can be in the future.

Shakira Austin is showing out for the Washington Mystics

Year 26 of the WNBA is finally here! There will be plenty of storylines to follow this year: Swan songs for long-time legends (Sylvia Fowles, Sue Bird), highly anticipated returns (Elena Delle Donne), new faces in new places (Tina Charles and Liz Cambage among others), and plenty of young stars looking to make leaps. It's a great time to get invested in the W if you haven't already.
Opening night was a doozy: four games featuring eight teams with wildly different expectations. Every game got my brain churning in some capacity, and the same can be said for my pal <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mark Schindler</a>.
So, naturally, we decided to team up and share our takeaways from each game. Let's dig in!
INDIANA FEVER VS WASHINGTON MYSTICS
THE SCORE: 84-70 MYSTICS
THE STORY: MYSTICS' OFFENSE SCARY HOURS
This was a weird game to say the least, something that will likely be the norm for an extremely young Fever team that started three rookies and had five who played significant rotation minutes last night.
The youth was apparent, but so was the budding potential. NaLyssa Smith finished her first game in the pros with a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double while showcasing the footwork, fluidity and athleticism that make her a remarkable prospect.
Destanni Henderson carved up the floor with passes, hitting cutters with ease and operating out of ball screens with the guile that made her a joy to watch at South Carolina.
Most importantly, seeing a healthy Elena Delle Donne back was just awesome. She's gone through an insane amount medically in the past few seasons, and to come in without a minutes restriction was great.
The 84 points scored by the Mystics last night undersells the brilliant flashes they put together offensively. While noting again that this Fever team is of course inexperienced, Washington put them through the ringer. They threw so many actions and looks at the wall in the first game that impressed, and it felt like a playoff gameplan at times. The second Crystal Dangerfield checked into the game, sets were called to run lead guard Natasha Cloud off screens or cuts to post the much smaller Dangerfield up and draw a foul or easy bucket.
Cloud saw the court extremely well last night, and her control of the offense and ability to shift east and west to find better angles to attack was impressive.&nbsp;
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For a roughly five-minute stretch in the second quarter, the Mystics went to Delle Donne at the 5 with Cloud, Ariel Atkins, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Tianna Hawkins. All five players can shoot, pass, handle and attack the floor. While it's not a look that the Mystics can fully embrace for large chunks of the game, the run they went on (outscoring Indiana by 8 in a 4:47 stretch, per InStat scouting) showed glimpses of a potent lineup.
With Delle Donne up screening this high and three shooters fanned out, Fever rookie big Queen Egbo has to play at the level. Cloud is capable of hitting a pull-up two against drop. Delle Donne is too good of a shooter from *checks notes* everywhere to give her any modicum of space. It's hard to draw help from any of the off-ball defenders given the personnel the Mystics are employing.
Washington went repeatedly to a 5-out look with this group. Space Delle Donne and use Hawkins as a popper off a pick for Cloud, as she can drive to the basket off a hard close. This is a stout group defensively as well! There's length and mobility. While they'd likely struggle against a true post, the offense feels like it could be so good that it can dictate matchups and opposing lineups.
This Mystics team has a chance to really pop, and it's great to see them whole again. - Mark
STRAY THOUGHTS
-&nbsp;I was a bit surprised by how straight-up the Fever defended the Mystics in this one. Pick-and-rolls were defended two-on-two, often allowing Delle Donne to pop into open space or, if the Fever executed a late switch, drivers to get one-on-ones against bigs. Delle Donne saw plenty of single coverage on post-ups, including a notable up-and-under against NyLyssa Smith. Bless her heart.&nbsp;
- On the pick-and-roll front, I'm curious to see how teams defend the Cloud-Delle Donne duo moving forward. Drop is a non-starter, and switches aren't ideal considering the scoring ability of both. Do you really want to give Delle Donne short-roll opportunities with traps? Good luck.
- The post-up bullying aside, it was nice to see Dangerfield scooting around out there. I'm still a little shellshocked by the Lynx waiving her, especially considering the struggles they had generating offense in their game against the Storm. - Nekias
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LOS ANGELES SPARKS VS CHICAGO SKY
THE SCORE: 98-91 (OT), SPARKS
THE STORY: DANA EVANS!!!!
The most competitive game of the evening was also a cagey affair! Both teams have new faces in prominent roles, and it was clear that both coaching staffs were trying to pinpoint these new areas early to test the waters of their personnel.
Chennedy Carter had great flashes as a scorer out of transition and in the halfcourt, but she was also on a very different rhythm than the rest of the team, which was to be expected in her first game in LA. Derek Fisher rode with Jordin Canada down the stretch, as she cut up the Sky in the halfcourt on drives and set up her teammates extremely well. They don't win the game without her shotmaking (and that call on the last shot).
Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike were both fantastic &mdash; Parker with her playmaking and defensive freneticism, Ogwumike with her aggression on offense and defense as well. It was great to see Nneka look this fluid and fully healthy.
The story of the game for me was backup guard Dana Evans. A member of the Sky's title team as a rookie last season, Evans shined bright, going for a career-high 24 points, easily surpassing her 14-point outing that paced her scoring last season.
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Evans toggled on and off the ball, which made her performance all the more impressive. She got to her pull-up and operated well as a ball-handler in pick-and-roll. She canned some deep threes, which opened up even more for her off the catch. She was great intiating sets and then relocating and making herself involved in play, which is essential playing alongside star players.
Evans was great drawing contact, finishing through it and making herself a weapon as a secondary scorer and advantage attacker last night, feasting off of initial plays in sets.&nbsp;
With Julie Allemand (part of the Diamond DeShields trade in the offseason) coming over from overseas to play soon, it'll be interesting to see how the backup guard rotation shapes up in Chicago. Allie Quigley was out last night and Kahleah Copper (who is also finishing up overseas play) is really the only true wing on the roster. As <a href="https://twitter.com/5outbasketball" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Peter Kilkelly</a> pointed out last night, we should expect a lot of 3-guard sets from the Sky this season. This was a special, special performance from Dana that perhaps signified even more reason for excitement this season. - Mark
STRAY THOUGHTS
-&nbsp;Consider me intrigued with Chicago's frontcourt. Starting big with Parker, newcomer Emma Meesseman, and Azura Stevens is sure to pose problems for everyone. That combination of size and ball skills can only be matched by... two other teams? Maybe three? To the three-guard point, I'm excited to see more of the Parker-Meesseman duo. They already showcased some high-low chemistry in the opener.
- How about Jordin Canada, Starting Point Guard? It's about darn time! She's been one of the W's best drivers and point-of-attack defenders for quite some time. Watching her direct the offense and call her own number down the stretch was pretty fun. I don't think she's a 21-and-8 player, but there's clearly more in the bag than she was able to show in Seattle.
- Chennedy Carter is playing basketball again! Her shot creation should pop in this bench role. One might say she'll provide a Spark. - Nekias
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LAS VEGAS ACES VS PHOENIX MERCURY
THE SCORE: 106-88, ACES
THE STORY: OFFENSIVE FREEDOM
Let's get the caveats out of the way early. It's one (1) game. The Mercury, in particular, were missing a ton of talent. There was no Brittney Griner (GET BRITTNEY HOME) as she's still detained in Russia. Brianna Turner, one of the best young frontcourt players in the W, is still playing overseas. The same is true for Diamond DeShields, one of the most athletic wings in the W. That's a pretty large chunk of the Mercury's defensive infrastructure missing.&nbsp;
With that said:&nbsp;whew, buddy, did the Aces put the ball in the basket.
Not only did they drop 106 points, a mark they eclipsed just twice last season, the way they went about it was encouraging.&nbsp;
With A'ja Wilson starting alongside Dearica Hamby, there was more space to operate with. The pace was pushed more frequently &mdash; they won the fastbreak points battle, 15-6 &mdash; and the tempo was up in the half-court. More pace and space means Wilson and Hamby getting busy as screeners or post hubs. Actions with an empty corner have a little more juice now.
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Ah, and then there were the threes.&nbsp;
The Aces were the league's most efficient offense last season, but did so in the most predictable, traditionalist way. They fed the block and brutalized opponents inside. This wasn't a team that shot threes often; their 13.5 attempts last season ranked last in the league by a pretty decent margin.&nbsp;
The tide seems to be turning for the group under new head coach Becky Hammon. They attempted 23 triples in their lone preseason game. They took 21 on Friday night, making 11 of them. It was, per the broadcast, the third time in&nbsp;franchise history&nbsp;that they made 11 or more threes in a game.&nbsp;
Between Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray bombing away from deep (hitting a combined 6-of-11 from three), and the complementary play styles (and general mobility) of Wilson and Hamby, it should come as no shock that Jackie Young (20 points on 8-of-10 shooting) was also&nbsp;able to shake loose.
Good freaking luck with this group. - Nekias
STRAY THOUGHTS
- I've already started the Kelsey Plum All-Star campaign, and Kelsey has done so accordingly with her play!
- I was so so impressed by Las Vegas' ball movement and connective passing. While it's important to note that the Mercury were pretty depleted heading into game one, the Aces exacerbated all the advantages they could find and make.
- Jackie Young!!! Entering her fourth season, I have really high expectations for who Jackie can be. With a new coach and system, I think Friday night was a glimpse of her bright spots from past years as well as how beneficial pacing and an even more spread floor benefits her game. She's so strong on her power-drives to the rim and such a fantastic mid-range shooter on a variety of self-created looks. Her defense on Diana Taurasi was extremely fun and effective as well, really sticking to her off the ball. - Mark
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SEATTLE STORM VS MINNESOTA LYNX
THE SCORE: 97-74, STORM
THE STORY: GABBY WILLIAMS IS BACK
It's been a tumultuous stretch from Gabby Williams, a UConn standout turned gap-filler for the Chicago Sky. She had her contract suspended for roster-spot reasons &mdash; you can get a breakdown of that ordeal <a href="https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/hc-sp-uconn-women-gabby-williams-explainer-20210508-20210507-gtqqe5sspjdrfncall7kpcxzm4-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> &mdash; and was then traded from the Sky to the Los Angeles Sparks before the 2021 season began.
She was traded again over the offseason, this time to the Seattle Storm for Katie Lou Samuelson and the pick (#9 overall) that became Rae Burrell.
We're only a game in, but this is already looking like one of the best moves of the offseason for the Storm.
Wiilliams can do just about everything but shoot from deep (as she's a career 24.8% from three), which bodes well for a Storm team as active as this one.&nbsp;
Offensively, she's able to get the machine churning with her passing ability. Whether it's making entry passes, making kicks off the dribble or running the occasional ball screen, Williams can find her teammates. Off the ball, she's a willing screener and heady cutter. You can't really afford to "gap" her because she'll make herself &mdash; or a teammate &mdash; a threat.
The real appeal comes on the other end. Williams is a true multi-positional defender. She has the mobility to slide with guards, can deal with virutally any wing you throw at her, and is pesky enough to bother bigger players as well. Watching her slither across screens and mirror ball-handlers is a joy.&nbsp;
For people who aren't familiar or needed the reminder of what she can do defensively, look no further than her work in the second quarter of this game. These are just&nbsp;three&nbsp;examples of her versatility.
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You get it all here. Active hands, timely rotations off the ball, switchability, contesting without fouling. She's a beast. - Nekias
STRAY THOUGHTS
- I'm super intrigued by who Jessica Shepard could be for this team. Her shot was there and she looked confident in it. She displayed some really fun and tantalizing ball skills and court vision as a DHO operator and high-post playmaker. With the Lynx this depleted to start the season, they'll need as much as she can offer as well.
- The Storm miss Mercedes Russell's post presence without a doubt, as Sylvia Fowles bodied them early (a norm for W frontcourt players the past decade-and-a-half). Yet, their ability to rotate backline and flash recovery skills and communicate as a defense throughout the game was impressive. Williams and Briann January bring extra pop at the point of attack and this team shows real capability early to be a more stout defense. - Mark
<a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mark Schindler contributed to this article.</a>
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Nekias Duncan and Mark Schindler team up to give their observations from the opening night of the 2022 WNBA season.

2022 WNBA season: Thoughts from each opening-night game

Legalized sports gambling is coming to New York sometime this year. Whether it will work and exactly when it will be up and operating remain open questions. That means New Yorkers will have to drive to New Jersey if they want to wager on the Brooklyn Nets to win the NBA championship.
Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, a Democrat who works with state governor Andrew Cuomo, has some serious doubts and concerns about the law. He wonders whether New Yorkers will even want to use the new system whenever it is up and running.
&ldquo;New Hampshire did not make a single dollar on Super Bowl Sunday, and Governor Cuomo is using New Hampshire as his model,&rdquo; said Pretlow, whose own proposed legislation calling for a responsible gambling law (which included a &ldquo;kill switch&rdquo; for problem gamblers) did not get enacted during the prolonged budget process in the State Capitol of Albany.
As a result, the exact dates and rules for New York&rsquo;s new law are complicated and fluid.&nbsp;
There will be at least two operators that will be issued licenses through an auction process, but what that process will look like remains vague. There will be at least four &ldquo;skins&rdquo; &ndash; lingo for smartphone gambling apps on which New Yorkers can wager -- by the time the system becomes operative.&nbsp;
Exactly how many skins? Nobody knows. The proper acronym is TBD (to be determined).
The Nets are currently the favorite to win the title, listed Wednesday at +250 (wager $100 to win $250). The Los Angeles Lakers are +350, and the New York Knicks are 250-1. Julius Randle of the Knicks is the favorite to win the Most Improved Player award at -200. Michael Porter Jr. of Denver, who was 150-1 Sunday when this site <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/can-michael-porter-jr-beat-the-odds-and-win-most-improved-player" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highlighted his recent surge</a>, dropped from 100-1 to 20-1 on Wednesday following the news that teammate Jamal Murray is out for the season with a torn ACL.
New York politics are complicated, and Cuomo is fighting for his political life after several former female staffers accused him of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/19/nyregion/alyssa-mcgrath-cuomo-harassment.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inappropriate comments and sexual advances</a>. But he retains enormous power, and as a practical matter, he gets whatever he wants in the state budget process. That budget was passed on April 7 &ndash; seven days late.
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The gambling law negotiations included a number of compromises and verbal agreements, but the 3,000-page state budget document includes pages and pages and pages of vague language. The process now goes to the state lottery commission, which falls under the auspices of the state gaming commission (which is run by Pretlow but has several members appointed by Cuomo who answer to gaming commission executive director Rob Williams, a Cuomo ally who earned $166,393 in 2019, <a href="https://govsalaries.com/williams-robert-t-89173702" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to a state website</a>).
The commission has up to 180 days to set rules for a public auction of operating licenses, and Cuomo&rsquo;s press office has said the state will earn $50 million from the auction process.&nbsp;
But if it is an auction, how could anybody know the price?&nbsp;
It is all very complicated, and as a practical matter, we will continue to see New Yorkers wager tremendous amounts of money across state lines in New Jersey. Officials at various U.S. sportsbooks say the amount of money being wagered daily in New Jersey is astonishing. (New Jersey and Michigan allow online sports gambling and online casino gambling). Sports gambling stocks have been rallying since the pandemic began, and is an enormous growth industry in America.
New York remains in a state of semi-lockdown, with bars and restaurants continuing to close at 11 p.m. under an executive order issued by Cuomo early in the pandemic.&nbsp;
So New Yorkers have been watching a lot of basketball.
New York has an acute information void caused by a 13-month suspension of traditional news meetings at mainstream media entities whose employees have been working remotely for more than a year. Pretlow complained that when it comes to media coverage of this story, roughly 60% of what he reads in articles and sees on television includes blatant inaccuracies. He tried to explain this legalized gambling story to all of the major New York newspapers, but he was met with disinterest, which is astonishing given the growth of the legalized sports gambling industry in U.S. states where it has been legalized.
The District of Columbia and 20 states now have various sports gambling laws.&nbsp;
New Jersey&rsquo;s law allows gamblers to wager on just about anything with the exception of New Jersey's college teams (such as Rutgers and Seton Hall). It is also illegal in West Virginia, which basically copied and pasted New Jersey&rsquo;s law and enacted it.&nbsp;
Since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court on May 14, 2018, New Jersey has processed $13,548,845,123 in wagers, just shy of Nevada&rsquo;s $13,881,507,631. Gambling has been legal inside several of New York&rsquo;s upstate Native American casinos, and Pretlow cast the first legal bet in New York. But when he went to check the ticket (a $20 wager on the Seattle Seahawks), it was unreadable because someone had forgotten to change the ink cartridge at the casino&rsquo;s ticket printing machine.
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Legal gambling in New York &ldquo;is not going to start for a while,&rdquo; Pretlow said, adding that Cuomo wanted to allow only one licensed operator, but yielded during budget negotiations.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The state, being the bookie, actually can lose money,&rdquo; Pretlow added. &ldquo;There is no enthusiasm for this new law from the betting public, and everybody I have spoken to in the gambling industry said this just won&rsquo;t work.&rdquo;
The legislation includes language calling for a &ldquo;minimum&rdquo; of two licenses, which in actuality could become as many as 10 or 20 licenses depending upon how the process evolves. Gambling apps (a.k.a. skins) were going to be limited to four. But after reviewing the legal documents during a three-and-a-half-hour interview at Pretlow&rsquo;s office in Mount Vernon, N.Y., it was discovered that the language could allow many more.&nbsp;
The gaming commission has until July 1 to set the auction rules and alert all of the sportsbooks about what the exact rules will be, and the sportsbooks will then have 30 days to apply for a license. After that, the commission has up to 150 days to accept bids.
The political appointees on the gaming and lottery commissions can speed up the process if they choose, so all dates remain fluid. But given that many industries in New York are not operating at optimal efficiency because of the number of people working remotely, having a wagering system that is up and running efficiently will likely take several months.
Pretlow said the goal was to have the system running by the beginning of the NFL season. But because of the peculiarities of New York politics, he does not expect that to happen. Sometime around Thanksgiving is more likely, he told BasketballNews.com.
And if it fails, it might be fixed next year when the legislature reconvenes in January.
&ldquo;I hate to wish against myself, but I just don&rsquo;t see this working. But we do have a built-in fail-safe that if this is not successful under the governor&rsquo;s proposal, we can revert back to the legislative proposal, which is all-inclusive,&rdquo; Pretlow said.
In the meantime, New Yorkers who choose to gamble will continue to place their bets across the Hudson River in New Jersey for the forseeable future. And the tax dollars from those wagers will go to the State Capitol instead of Albany.&nbsp;
Clearly, this story will evolve over the remainder of the NBA season and beyond.&nbsp;

Chris Sheridan spoke to Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow about the future of sports gambling in New York and his concerns about the law.

Alyssa