That fourth Thursday of November. We all look forward to it. The food, the friends, the family – and, yes – even the football.
But who says football is the only sport that has to be on our brains when we are stuffing so much food in our bellies we need to be on a Body By Binetti workout regimen afterwards.
More than likely, our dinner tables will include a number of sports fans – meaning they are taking more notice of women’s basketball these days. From top names in the high school and AAU ranks to the collegiate realm to the professional leagues like the WNBA, Unrivaled, Project B and Athletes Unlimited.
Here are seven women’s basketball topics that can really make for a lively Turkey Day dinner.
A’ja Wilson = GOATed
Do we remember earlier this season past that the Las Vegas Aces were 14-14?
Do we remember that we were declaring the Aces’ dynasty over? WNBA Twitter was referring to coach Becky Hammon as a Bill Laimbeer “merchant.” The Minnesota Lynx had embarrassed the Aces on their home floor.
Then – something happened. A’ja Wilson happened and the entire WNBA did not stand a chance.
From her 31-point performance against those same Lynx down the stretch to leading Las Vegas from the brink of missing the postseason to a second seed in the playoffs. To winning her fourth regular season MVP award to that Game 3 Finals game-winner against the Phoenix Mercury to a third championship – and another Finals MVP.
Wilson is in rarefied air. GOAT conversations are always lively – and one can make them even livelier by bringing up South Carolina’s very own.
Phoenix Mercury’s Rebrand
Speaking of the Mercury, the insignia that we have known the Merc to have for much of its history has gone by the wayside.
Phoenix recently released a more minimalistic logo and unveiled new Heroine and Explorer threads. The purple and orange colors that are so synonymous with the Mercury are remaining, but many are believing the Mercury may have swung and missed with this one.
One had a feeling that a team such as the Mercury would ultimately change its insignia since many a WNBA team has embraced more modern logos as opposed to what these teams had throughout the 2010s.
The New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Atlanta Dream, Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm are also teams that have undergone recent logo changes.
Some of the negative reaction to Phoenix’s new identity could be the least bit of Mat Ishbia’s problems. He is being sued for allegations that he is using the Mercury and Suns as his “piggybank.”
Paige Bueckers’ World Tour
The year 2025 was a whirlwind for one Paige Bueckers as it is for any WNBA rookie.
It was especially one for Bueckers considering she went from leading UConn to a national championship to being the first overall selection of the Dallas Wings to a Rookie of the Year campaign.
Since then, to say Bueckers is in high demand would be the understatement of understatements. She was on the sidelines at a Dallas Cowboys games where she even saw a bird’s eye of a halftime performance courtesy of its famous cheerleading team.
Not to mention, Carmax – a high-profile sponsor of the WNBA and NBA – now has Bueckers on board as a spokeswoman.
Anyone who follows Bueckers on social media can see that it appears she is always exploring a new city or signing a new deal – and she deserves every bit of her ongoing glow-up.
Collective Bargaining Agreement
Of course, the dominant topic regarding the WNBA nowadays is the status of its collective bargaining talks.
The most recent CBA expired last month and the league requested a 30-day extension to continue conversations on ironing out a new CBA. Those conversations have continued as said extension was granted by the WNBPA.
Approximately a week ago, it was leaked to Shams Charania (almost certainly by a W source) that the WNBA offered the players a deal that would include revenue sharing and an increase in the max salary to more than $1 million available to one player per team.
Apparently the players were not impressed by this most recent of proposals from the WNBA.
A significant increase in players receiving league revenues is at the heart of these CBA talks. After all, there is a lot more cash flow flowing in the WNBA’s direction given the increasing valuations of teams, money from expansion franchises and new money from its upcoming television and streaming deals with NBC and Amazon.
Sarah Strong
While we as basketball fans yearn for the day that USC’s Juju Watkins will be in USC’s signature red and gold threads and on a court again, another name has established a robust professional profile.
That name is Sarah Strong. The WNBA factory that is UConn has produced many a noteworthy name that has gone on to do big things in the pro ranks. Those names include Sue Bird, Tina Charles, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier and – most recently – Paige Bueckers.
Geno Auriemma has landed another one in Strong – who is making a (no pun intended) strong case for National Player of the Year. Strong already has one national championship on her resume – and it appears the Huskies could win another as long as she is in UConn’s threads.
Remember when the long-term plan for a team like the Indiana Fever was to win back-to-back draft lotteries so Indiana could draft Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark? Remember when the plan for the Dallas Wings was to anoint Paige Bueckers as the centerpiece of its team for the next 15 years?
Many a WNBA team is thinking “franchise” with someone like Strong as she appears ready for the W as we speak. Strong also recently inked an NIL deal with Jordan Brand.
“Go weak to get Strong” may be the motto of many a WNBA front office (existing and expansion) when looking at that 2028 draft class.
Also – as an aside to those who lament that Strong would take a pay cut by becoming a WNBA player – Strong will not lose that Jordan Brand money when she enters the WNBA later this decade. That NIL deal will become an endorsement.
Expansion Franchises
Speaking of expansion franchises, the Golden State Valkyries really put pressure on the two incoming franchises set to join the W’s family in 2026.
After all, many a pundit (including us) envisioned the Valks going through typical expansion team struggles. Not only did Golden State not struggle, it thrived.
The ascent of the Valkyries began in earnest in 2025 and Ballhalla was the place to be this summer in the Bay Area. Natalie Nakase won Coach of the Year. Veronica Burton earned the WNBA’s Most Improved Player award. Kayla Thornton earned All-Star honors.
Not to mention Golden State made the postseason – and nearly upset the Lynx in Game 2 of the first round.
Plenty of pressure is on the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire to duplicate what the Valkyries did in 2025. Toronto particularly appears to be on that track – given Sandy Brondello (who won championships with the Mercury and Liberty) has been hired as Tempo head coach.
Connecticut Sun
Lately, we have not heard much about the developments regarding the Sun, but the writing appears to be on the wall.
Cathy Engelbert appears to be tilting the process to ensure the Sun get sold to an NBA owner – likely Tilman Fertitta in Houston – instead of remaining in New England because Fertitta was part of the W’s expansion process.
Houston deserves a WNBA franchise once again. The way in which Engelbert appears poised to skewer New England – particularly Boston where the Sun have recently played in one game a year at TD Garden – has to raise plenty of red flags.
Connecticut has established itself as one of the best basketball states in the country in large part to the success of UConn. That fandom translates over to the Sun – a franchise that has had its fair share of ups and downs.
Having the Mohegan Tribe as a WNBA owner is also a good look for the W’s progressive image. We also understand that is getting more difficult to compete in today’s WNBA given the emphasis on state-of-the-art practice facilities.
The prospective owners that were looking to keep the Sun in New England were planning on doing just that – investing lots of money into practice facilities. It is yet to be seen how this saga will unfold in 2026 but it will be a very bittersweet moment if the W were to return to Houston at the expense of Connecticut.
