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WNBA draft lottery set for Nov. 23 with Dallas Wings having best odds

The Wings, who drafted Paige Bueckers No. 1 last year, have a 42% chance to secure the top pick again.

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Associated Press,

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Sonia Raman

SEA Head Coach

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ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the Storm will name Sonia Raman the team’s new head coach.

Following a first-round exit at the hands of the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces, the Storm parted ways with Noelle Quinn after five seasons at the helm. She’s been replaced by Raman, who becomes the first Indian-American head coach in WNBA history. A member of Sandy Brondello’s coaching staff with the Liberty this season, Raman spent the prior four seasons on Taylor Jenkins’ coaching staff in Memphis. Like many teams, the Storm have multiple key players who will be unrestricted free agents this offseason, including Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike. However, promising rookie Dominique Malonga is under contract for 2026 after playing well to finish the 2025 campaign.
Alex Sarama

POR Head Coach

The Portland Fire announced Alex Sarama as the franchise’s first head coach.

The Fire are one of two teams that will enter the WNBA next season, and the franchise has gone to the NBA ranks to find its first head coach. Sarama most recently served as an assistant on Kenny Atkinson’s staff in Cleveland, helping lead the Cavaliers to 64 regular-season wins and a second-round playoff appearance in 2024-25. His focus as an assistant coach at multiple stops has been on player development, which can be helpful for a franchise that will build its roster from scratch, starting with the expansion draft (if the WNBPA and the league’s owners agree to a new collective bargaining agreement).
José Fernandez

DAL Head Coach

The Wings will hire José Fernandez as their new head coach.

While there’s been a recent trend for the WNBA to look to the NBA assistant coaching ranks to fill head coaching vacancies, the Wings have chosen the college route for the franchise’s next head coach. Fernandez moves to the professional ranks after a highly successful run at the University of South Florida, leading the Bulls to 11 NCAA tournament appearances in 25 seasons. USF has won at least 19 games in 14 consecutive seasons, and Fernandez led the program to 12 20-win seasons. He’ll now be asked to lead a rebuild in Dallas featuring WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, and the Wings will also have a high lottery pick in the 2026 draft.
Sandy Brondello

FA Head Coach

According to The IX Basketball’s Howard Megdal, the Toronto Tempo will hire Sandy Brondello to be the franchise’s first head coach.

The Tempo have reportedly zeroed in on their first head coach, and Brondello brings an impressive résumé to the table. She has 13 seasons of WNBA head coaching experience, leading franchises in San Antonio (now Las Vegas), Phoenix and New York. Brondello led her teams to three WNBA Finals appearances, winning titles with the Mercury in 2014 and the Liberty in 2024. New York was hit hard by injuries this season but still won 27 regular-season games before being eliminated from the playoffs by Phoenix. Toronto’s bringing in an established coach who also played in the WNBA to lead the franchise in its inaugural season is a significant development for the franchise.
Jonquel Jones

NYL C #35

The IX Basketball’s Jackie Powell reports Jonquel Jones underwent right ankle surgery on Monday.

After appearing in 40 and 39 games the two seasons prior, Jones made 31 regular-season appearances for the Liberty in 2025. She missed time before the All-Star break with a right ankle injury and managed to play through persistent issues during the post-break portion of the schedule. According to Powell, Monday’s procedure was minor and addressed instability in Jones’ ankle. Jones is one of six Liberty players who will be unrestricted free agents this offseason, including Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart.
DeWanna Bonner

PHX G-F #25

DeWanna Bonner tallied 10 points (4-of-10 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), 10 rebounds, one assist, one block and one three-pointer in the loss to the Aces on Friday.

Bonner recorded a double-double in her first start of the series. Her impact was less significant than her 25-point, 10-rebound Game 3, but the veteran forward still managed to provide some value on both ends of the floor. She finished as one of five Phoenix players to score in double figures and one of two to collect double-digit rebounds.
Kahleah Copper

PHX G-F #2

Kahleah Copper finished Friday’s loss to the Aces with 30 points (12-of-22 FGs, 6-of-7 FTs), six rebounds and one assist.

Copper went out swinging in the Mercury’s final game of the season. She repeatedly attacked downhill and put pressure on the Aces’ defense throughout, which was especially notable in her 13-point third quarter that helped get Phoenix back in the game. The former Finals MVP ultimately set a new personal best for points scored in a WNBA Finals game before fouling out of Friday’s contest late in the fourth quarter. She averaged 22.8 points through the four games and was arguably the Mercury’s most consistent scorer throughout the series.
Alyssa Thomas

PHX F #25

Alyssa Thomas finished with 17 points (7-of-11 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the loss to the Aces on Friday.

Thomas had another balanced performance on Friday, impacting the game in several ways on the offensive end. The MVP finalist briefly left the contest late in the second quarter after colliding with the Aces’ Jewell Loyd when attempting to run through a screen. She eventually returned to begin the third quarter and helped the Mercury mount a spirited comeback attempt. Ultimately, Thomas’s production wasn’t enough, and her game-high nine turnovers were costly, accounting for half of Phoenix’s total turnovers. She finished her first postseason run with the Mercury, fittingly, having recorded a triple-double.
Chelsea Gray

LVA G #12

Chelsea Gray totaled 18 points (6-of-15 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks and four three-pointers in the win over the Mercury on Friday.

Gray came alive in the fourth quarter in time to give the Aces a much-needed lift on the offensive end down the stretch. In the frame, she made multiple momentum-changing three-pointers just when the home crowd seemed ready to unleash during the Mercury’s comeback attempt. She drew fouls down the stretch on both ends of the floor, as well, helping the Aces run through the tape and capture their third WNBA championship. Gray, a former Finals MVP, proved her value on both ends of the floor throughout the series and finished as one of five Aces players to score in double figures.
Jackie Young

LVA G #0

Jackie Young amassed 18 points (5-of-14 FGs, 7-of-8 FTs), seven rebounds, eight assists, one steal and one three-pointer in the Aces’ win over the Mercury on Friday.

While Young didn’t have her most productive game as a scorer through three quarters, the veteran guard functioned as the Aces’ main facilitator for most of Friday’s contest. She constantly set up her teammates for easy baskets throughout Game 4 to help keep the Las Vegas offense running smoothly. She contributed a couple of timely baskets and several free throws down the stretch, ultimately finishing just shy of a triple-double in what was a stellar postseason for the multiple-time WNBA All-Star.

More WNBA

Q&A: Becky Hammon used Emmy-winning storyteller to motivate Aces

Becky Hammon turned to creative storytelling as a way to inspire players during Aces’ championship season

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WNBA Finals champions, history: Full past winners list by year, Finals MVPs

Dig into some WNBA Championship history, including Finals MVPs and which team has won the most titles.

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Two-time WNBA champion Sandy Brondello named the first head coach of the Toronto Tempo

The Toronto Tempo start play in 2026.

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

WNBA: Finals-Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces

Breaking down the WNBA’s CBA negotiations: Key issues and what’s at stake

The two sides have agreed to a 30-day extension for negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Jackie Powell,

Jackie Powell,

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WNBA: Playoffs-Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces

Dominique Malonga joins Unrivaled league after leaving Turkey’s Fenerbahce

Seattle Storm rookie Dominique Malonga is joining the Unrivaled 3-on-3 women’s basketball league for its second season.

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

WNBA and players union agree to 30-day extension for CBA negotiations

The WNBA and players union have agreed to a 30-day extension to continue negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement with a caveat.

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Cheryl Reeve headline 2026 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame class

Other players getting inducted on June 27 include international stars Isabelle Fijalkowski of France and Amaya Valdemoro of Spain, Kirkwood Community College coach Kim Muhl and Barbara Kennedy-Dixon will also be inducted as well as Doris Burke.

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

Report: WNBA offers 30-day extension to players as CBA deadline looms

The WNBA has offered a 30-day extension to players to continue negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, according to two people familiar with the decision.

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

Report: Sonia Raman to make history as first Indian head coach in WNBA with Seattle Storm

Raman was an assistant with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies for four years before coming to the New York Liberty this past season.

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

NCAA Womens Basketball: South Florida at Connecticut

WNBA’s Dallas Wings name Jose Fernandez as new coach

Fernandez spent 25 years leading the Bulls and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

WNBA and players’ union spar over CBA negotiations, revenue sharing

Tension is rising in the ongoing labor battle between the WNBA and the union representing the players, with the existing collective bargaining agreement expiring next week and no new deal in sight.