Rebekah Gardner helped the New York Liberty win the Commissioner's Cup trophy last week, and she could help them secure more silverware later this year. The Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces to become the first team to repeat as champions, with Breanna Stewart winning MVP and Sabrina Ionescu hitting clutch three-pointers. But Gardner stepped up in her minutes, tallying seven points in 12 minutes on 60% shooting from the field.
Rebekah Gardner: A Key Bench Piece for the Liberty
Gardner, a UCLA product, was a 31-year-old undrafted rookie in 2022 after playing overseas in Turkey, Romania, and Spain. She burst onto the scene with the Chicago Sky, earning a spot on the All-Rookie team. Now with New York, she plays a significant role off the bench, taking on the toughest defensive assignments, maintaining efficient shot selection (50.7% on the season), and staying healthy—something the Liberty desperately need.
NaLyssa Smith: Stepping Up for the Aces
After being traded to the Las Vegas Aces from the Dallas Wings midway through last season, NaLyssa Smith says she "fell in love with the game again." This season, she is playing like a champion, starting alongside four-time MVP A'ja Wilson and showcasing some of the best basketball of her career. Through 21 games, Smith leads the league in field-goal percentage at nearly 66%. In an overtime win against the Sky last Friday, she posted a season-high 29 points on 11-for-14 shooting without Wilson, who was sidelined with an ankle injury. "She's truly our glue," Wilson said of her teammate. "She does all the little things."
Kaila Charles: An Unsung Hero for the Valkyries
Kaila Charles has been in and out of the league since 2020 but seems to have found a home with the Golden State Valkyries. Her scoring stats may not be flashy (6.0 points per game off the bench), but her contributions extend beyond scoring. She averages 4.7 rebounds per game, fifth-best among guards, and consistently gets defensive stops in crunch time, knocks down timely three-pointers, and embodies the hard-nosed identity Golden State has established. The University of Maryland product is an unsung hero who will be crucial for the Valkyries in the postseason.
Madina Okot: A Rapid Rise in Basketball
It is hard to believe Madina Okot has only been playing basketball for six years. South Carolina fans were hopeful she would make the Atlanta Dream's roster after being selected with the No. 13 pick in this year's draft. Not only did she make the team, but she made an immediate impact. With All-Star center Brionna Jones out indefinitely due to injury, Okot seized the opportunity, averaging 5.7 points per game in 9.5 minutes of action while guarding the league's top bigs. Remarkably, Okot only started playing basketball in 2020. Since then, she played college basketball in her home country of Kenya, reached the NCAA national championship game with South Carolina, and started a game as a WNBA rookie.
Caitlin Clark Condemns Harassment After Flagrant Foul
Almost two weeks after Alyssa Thomas's Flagrant 2 foul on Caitlin Clark led to a one-game suspension, the fallout continues. Thomas stated she and her family received death threats and faced social media toxicity. Clark faced criticism for not responding but issued a statement on Friday condemning the hatred. Fever coach Stephanie White said, "I think for the league as a whole, there's been so much more toxicity, racism, homophobia – straight up hateful nonsense, and it is absolutely unacceptable." The WNBA also released a statement calling it "unacceptable" for fans to send death threats to players.
Robin Roberts and Geno Auriemma Reunite in the Booth
On June 23, 1997, Robin Roberts and Geno Auriemma called ESPN's first nationally televised WNBA broadcast, featuring the New York Liberty defeating the Sacramento Monarchs 73-62. They called many WNBA games together in the league's early years. On Tuesday night, Roberts (now co-anchor of Good Morning America) and Auriemma (UConn's head coach) reunited for a special one-night-only broadcast 30 seasons later as the Liberty hosted the Dallas Wings. The game featured three of Auriemma's former players: Breanna Stewart for New York and Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd for Dallas. Bueckers and Fudd, who won a championship with Auriemma in 2025, led the Wings to an 88-77 victory.
Tunnel Fits: Connecticut Sun Shine
The Connecticut Sun may be last in the standings, but their tunnel outfits are first-place worthy. Olivia Nelson-Ododa wore a Christopher Esber baby blue satin gown, looking like she was on the Oscars red carpet. Aaliyah Edwards paid homage to Diana Taurasi with a custom No. 3 jersey dress during a UConn reunion. Aneesah Morrow sported an all-black leather look with boots that screamed "I mean business," and her Sun secured a 29-point victory over the Chicago Sky.
