What's Going On With The WNBA
BROOKLYN, NY - JULY 3: Mercedes Russell #21 & Rae Burrell #12 of the Los Angeles Sparks high five during the game against the New York Liberty on July 3, 2025 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE(Photo by Evan Yu/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images The Indiana Fever have signed veteran center Mercedes Russell to a season-ending injury exception contract.
Russell, who played for the Los Angeles Sparks last season, will bolster the teamâs frontcourt after Damiris Dantas underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
Russell was drafted 22nd overall by the New York Liberty in the 2018 WNBA Draft after an illustrious career at the University of Tennessee. She played for the Seattle Storm for the majority of her WNBA career, averaging 4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds across 209 games in the league. She won the WNBA championship in 2018 and 2020 as a member of the Storm.
The 31-year-old has also played overseas over the past few years; she won the 2024 WNBL Championship with Australiaâs Southside Flyers, and was named Grand Final MVP after averaging 14.3 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in the series.
Mercedes Russell will replace the injured Damiris DantasDantas had appeared in 12 games this season, averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists. Her role, albeit limited, meant that Stephanie White had another veteran big option at her disposal. Now, Russell assumes that role.
Russell, who is 6â6, gives the Fever more size and optionality at the center position. Mikayla Timpson has been a key backup for Indiana, averaging 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.9 minutes per game. In addition to Timpson, Myisha Hines-Allen and Monique Billings have played significant frontcourt roles.
The Fever are currently 20-12, owners of the WNBAâs fourth-best record. If the playoffs began today, they would face the Washington Mystics in the first round.
Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark. (Photo by Sydney Bezelik) | NBAE via Getty Images At 20-12 and in fourth place in the WNBA, could the Indiana Fever be threatening to win their second championship and first in the Caitlin Clark era?
If so, the path to get there will undoubtedly face the same scrutiny that has followed them for the past three seasons.
The Fever were expected to make the playoffs entering 2024, Clarkâs rookie year. They did, as the No. 6 seed with a 20-20 record, before falling to the No. 3 seed Connecticut Sun (28-12) in the first round.
The Clark-only fans may have been disappointed by the .500 record and first-round exit, as many of them expected Clark and her team to immediately dominate the sport. However, it wasnât until 2025 that it became a consensus expectation that Indiana should compete for a championship.
Those expectations came with the additions of DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and Sophie Cunningham over the offseason. Injuries plagued the Fever though, including limiting Clark to 13 games, and they would finish just four wins better than 2024 in the regular season.
The 2025 playoffs were a different story, as the team, still missing Clark and a number of other key contributors, upset the No. 3 seed Atlanta Dream in the first round and then took the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces to the brink in the semifinals. Vegas went on to sweep the Finals, indicating that perhaps Indiana would have won it all had they fared better in overtime of Game 5 versus the Aces. And, keep in mind, their All-WNBA First Teamer, Kelsey Mitchell, missed all of the fourth quarter and overtime because of cramping.
Thatâs how close the Fever were to winning the championship last year, and they would have won it without arguably their best player in Clark.
It was a quieter offseason in 2026, with the team losing Howard to the Minnesota Lynx and not picking up any stars. (Bonner had already rejoined the Phoenix Mercury during the 2025 season.)
But Clark was back, and the expectations remained similar to what they were entering 2025. Our Edwin Garcia put Indiana in the tier of true title contenders and WNBA.com placed them at No. 3 in their preseason power rankings.
Indy has overcome early-season adversityThe Fever lost their opener by three points to a Dallas Wings team that featured the last two No. 1 draft picks but that wasnât expected to be in the top tier right away. Two games later, Indiana fell to 1-2 when they lost in overtime to a Washington Mystics team is building around promising young talent.
Clark averaged 25.3 points and 8.7 assists through those first three contests, but the Fever failed to pick up where they left off after their phenomenal 2025 playoff run without her.
Indiana won their next three games, but then lost two in a row to drop to 4-4. The latter loss was the low point of the season, as they fell 100-84 to the expansion Portland Fire, with Clark scoring just six points. To make things worse, head coach Stephanie Whiteâs benching of Clark during the game was caught on camera and blown way out of proportion.
Three games later, in DC, I witnessed Clark make the first game-winning 3 of her WNBA career to prevent the Fever from falling below .500.
The sky-is-falling feeling in Indiana seems to have been kept in check ever since. The Fever have gone 14-7, and have avoided falling to or below .500 at any point.
The Feverâs offense has been historically high scoringDuring the All-Star break, former President Barack Obama offered words of encouragement to Clark, pointing out that the Fever were on a ânice little run.â
At the time, Indiana had won three in a row with point totals of 110, 108 and 123. They won their first two games after the All-Star break as well, with point totals of 105 and 112. The previous WNBA record for consecutive 100-point games was three. The Fever reached the 100-point threshold for a record-increasing sixth-straight time on August 2 against the Lynxâs third-best defense in the W, albeit in an eight-point loss that snapped their winning streak.
It was still an admirable effort against the best team in the league, and, in their next game, they nearly picked up a huge win over another top tier team in the Aces, falling in overtime by two points.
On Saturday, it may have been too close for comfort against a weak Chicago Sky team, but Indiana got back to their winning ways with a 90-86 victory that pushed their record to 20-12. They are now alone in fourth place, which puts them in position to have homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in the Clark era. They have 12 games to go.
Because of their offense, particularly the offense of Mitchell, Clark and Aliyah Boston, I think itâs fair to call them championship contenders.
Indyâs Big 3 is dominant, despite all the noiseMitchell is following up her First Team All-WNBA season with murmurs of an MVP candidacy, as sheâs averaging 24.2 points per game, which is on pace for sixth all time for a single season.
She is on a current streak of 16 games with at least 20 points, the longest such stretch within the same season in league history.
Mitchell is a professional scorer who can score in a variety of ways, and sheâs having a career year not just in volume, but also in efficiencyâfrom 2 and 3. Sheâs No. 4 in the league with 2.9 triples per game and No. 5 with a percentage of 43.5.
In my opinion, Clark should also be in MVP discussions. As I mentioned back on May 20 in my attempt at a fair assessment of her, nobody else in the league is going to be in the running for BOTH the scoring and assist titles year in and year out. This season, Clark is No. 2 in assists per game at 8.1 and No. 3 in scoring with 21.6 points per game.
She gets docked for her efficiency and turnovers, but her field goal percentage of 44.2 this year is actually solid for a guard, as is her 35.5 percent clip from distance. Her assist to turnover ratio of 1.7 still leaves something to be desired, but the high scoring and assist numbers are overwhelmingly good.
With a combined 45.8 points per game, Mitchell and Clark form a historically good backcourt.
When you add in the Feverâs third-leading scorer, Aliyah Boston, the conversation remains historic.
She is good for 16.9 points per game this year and is shooting 44.9 percent from 3, second in the league, as a center. She, of course, provides a lot more than scoring, with 8.5 rebounds, three assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. With those numbers, she is a superstar in her own right, giving Indiana one of the best Big 3s not just in todayâs W, but of all time.
Could defense or drama undo the Fever?Defense remains something the Fever need to improve on; they are ninth in the league with a defensive rating of 110. But their offensive rating of 116.7 is second to none, and theyâve got a lot of feel-good vibes going their way as of right now, which they hope will be their X factor down the stretch and in the playoffs.
So much negativity sometimes surrounds this team, and I think itâs unfair to put Clark under so much pressure to make the Finals just because the team nearly got there without her last year. Indiana went on an incredible run in the 2025 postseason, and hopefully Clarkâs presence on the court will lead them to even greater heights. But if it doesnât, that shouldnât be an indictment of her talent and potential in the league.
Ultimately, Obamaâs advice to Clark rings true: Keep the joy, especially since things actually are going pretty well right now.
With Mitchell, Clark and Boston doing what they are doing, and with the team threatening to put up 100 points on a regular basis, itâs a fun time to be a Fever fan.
Enes Kanter Freedom played 11 seasons in the NBA [Getty Images]The WNBA is still in the midst of its 2026 season and yet it is next year's Draft for North America's top women's basketball league that is dominating the headlines.
Why? Because some former men's NBA players have declared they will enter for selection - citing the current eligibility guidelines, or lack of, for transgender women players.
"I'm officially declaring myself a WNBA prospect," said Enes Kanter Freedom, who played 11 seasons in the NBA.
It is the latest development in a story ignited by a comment made by Indiana Fever playerSophie Cunningham, who said she wanted to protect young girls "who shouldn't have to go against biological men" in sport.
Her words have instigated protests - albeit not grand in scale - on both sides of the argument, and once again catapulted the debate around transgender women in sport into the spotlight.
How did we get here?Last month, Cunningham, one of the league's most high-profile players, gave an interview to ESPN in which the conversation turned to the topic of "protecting" women's sports.
The Indiana Fever guard said she had received criticism from people who believed she "hated" transgender people, something she denied.
She said she wanted to "extend love" to everyone, but added: "I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."
She later doubled down on her comments, saying it was "common sense" to bar transgender athletes from competing in women's sports.
Her words quickly moved beyond basketball and into a wider political debate in the United States.
President Donald Trump expressed his support for Cunningham, while vice-president JD Vance said she was "inspiring".
Though the 29-year-old later said she is "not a very political person", her remarks have followed her around the country. Competing rallies from critics and supporters were organised at Indiana's games, along with small-scale protests.
The scale of the debate in the media, online and in politics was striking given no openly transgender woman is due to play, or has ever played, in the WNBA.
Sophie Cunningham is playing in her eighth WNBA season [Getty Images]
Demonstrators protest before the WNBA matches between Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever earlier in August [Getty Images]What do the rules say? The WNBA operates under a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), a deal negotiated between the league and its players association (WNBPA), setting rules on matters including player salary caps, revenue sharing, benefits and overall league operations.
On player eligibility, the CBA states: "Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA."
The WNBA has yet to comment publicly on the row since Cunningham's comments but league commissioner Cathy Engelbert reportedlysent a memo to teams last week in which she said the matter would be discussed at an upcoming pre-arranged meeting with team presidents.
In the memo, seen by the Associated Press, Engelbert said the league would "always approach this topic thoughtfully, respectfully, and in alignment with the longstanding values of our league".
She added: "Our player eligibility rules, unlike the eligibility rules of some other leagues and governing bodies, are collectively bargained. Preserving the integrity of our game and ensuring fair competition will always remain among the league's highest priorities."
However, the lack of detail in the league's eligibility criteria has been brought to light by Kanter Freedom, who finished his playing career with the Boston Celtics in 2022.
"If simply declaring who you are is all that's required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA," he wrote on Instagram.
Kanter Freedom, who has previously spoken out about human rights violations in China and Turkey, among other issues, added: "I know my presence on the court will stir up strong opinions. I am definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices.
"I'm simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone - the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for."
A day after Kanter Freedom's 'announcement', Royce White - who made three appearances in the NBA as a player and is now a Republican Senate candidate - said he would also declare for the Draft, adding: "I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for purpose of basketball."
Whether the vagueness of the rules are by design to leave it open to transgender women or a sign of an oversight that genuinely needs tightening up is not clear.
BBC Sport has contacted Cunningham's representatives, the WNBA and WNBPA for comment.
What has the reaction been?Cunningham's comments have become a flashpoint inside a league which has a long history of player activism on issues including race, gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights.
The players' association did not mention Cunningham by name when it eventually addressed the debate.
In a statement the WNBPA denounced "hate abuse and demonisation of the transgender community" and reaffirmed its commitment to "justice, equity, diversity and inclusion".
It called on fans to report abusive behaviour at games and added that it would continue to have "hard" conversations but it "will not be used as political pawns".
There is strong feeling on both sides of the argument. Minnesota Lynx head coach and president Cheryl Reeve, who said: "I come from a space of inclusion.
"The narrative that I think is problematic is to suggest that transgender athletes are the biggest problem in women's sports."
Reeve wore a "Trans Kids Belong" T-shirt before Minnesota played Indiana earlier this month and was seen speaking to Cunningham on court before the game.
Cunningham later said the pair had exchanged their perspectives and that the conversation ended with "love and respect".
Cheryl Reeve wearing a 'Trans Kids Belong' t-shirt [Getty Images]Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams said she would welcome a transgender athlete "on my team or against my team, any time".
Last month, the WNBA suspended Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton from attending the team's next five home games after an exchange with two fans, who were sat courtside displaying signs thanking Cunningham for "speaking up for girls".
Keaton reportedly confronted the teenage fans and admonished them during the game. The Storm have since apologised.
As for Cunningham, the attention has increasingly become an unwelcome distraction.
Having defended her original comments, she said recently that she now wanted the conversation to return to what was happening on court.
"I want to get back to basketball, it's always been about basketball" she said, arguing that the standard of play in the WNBA was being overshadowed by issues away from the game.
But that may prove difficult, as pressure grows on the league to clarify exactly who is eligible to play.
What are the rules in other sports?In recent years, many governing bodies in sport have amended their rules about the inclusion of transgender athletes at the elite level, moving more towards restrictions.
Athletics, cycling and aquatics, for example, have implemented outright bans on transgender women taking part in women's events.
In March, it was announced that the women's category of Olympic sports will be limited to biological females from the LA Olympic Games in 2028.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says eligibility will be determined by a "once-in-a-lifetime" sex test, which would prevent transgender women and those with differences in sexual development (DSD) who have gone through male puberty from competing.
In the United States, transgender women and girls are banned from competing in women's sports categories in schools, universities and the grassroots level.
That was part of an executive order - titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" - signed by President Trump last year.
It does not cover professional sport.
Carrington makes 'white privilege' post after ejectionNBA forward Clarke's death due to effects of drugs
âThe Coach and I See Eye to Eyeâ â Royce White Picks Potential WNBA Draft Landing Spot Amid Trans-Athlete DramaThe transgender debate in the WNBA is getting a new chapter almost every day now, and former NBA player Royce White has just added another page.
White has made it clear that he isnât done stirring the pot, and this time he has dropped a hint about exactly which WNBA team heâd like to land on if he gets drafted.
Royce White Names WNBA Landing Spots Amid Trans-Athlete DebateWhite posted an AI-generated image of himself in a WNBA uniform on X. In the caption, he said heâd like to play for the Minnesota Lynx, but also hinted that being drafted by the Indiana Fever would work for him.
âThose uniforms are looking good. Personally, Iâd like to play for the Minnesota Lynx! The coach and I see eye to eye! Maybe the Fever? Royce White for U.S. Senate MN 2026 WNBA #LetHerPlay,â read the caption of the post.
The timing isnât random, as this topic has become a highly polarizing one. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham made comments about not wanting transgender players in the WNBA last month, sparking a nationwide debate on the issue.
Not long after, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve made her own statement. She wore a shirt reading âTrans Kids Belongâ underneath her blazer while coaching against Sophie Cunninghamâs Indiana Fever at Target Center on August 2.
The move came as protesters on both sides of the debate gathered outside the arena. Reeve had already spoken about the transgender-athlete issue before that game even started.
âWe need to protect trans kids⌠To me, itâs a human rights issue. Every kid has a right to sports,â Reeve said before the August 1 game, per ESPN.
Perhaps that is why White name-dropped the Lynx. White isnât the only former NBA player doing this, as former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom made a similar move just hours before White. He declared himself eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft after saying that he now identifies as a woman for basketball purposes.
On Friday, the WNBA commissioner announced that the eligibility criteria will be discussed at a previously scheduled meeting with WNBA team presidents and general managers.
âI know many of you have received questions in recent weeks regarding transgender athlete participation in womenâs basketball, and I expect this topic will continue to receive significant attention.â
âI wanted to reach out to share how we are approaching these conversations at the league office and to thank those of you who have responded to questions from the media with thoughtfulness and professionalism,â Cathy Engelbert said as per the Associated Press.
It remains to be seen whether the WNBA reaches a decision on this issue anytime soon or whether the debate continues to escalate heading into next weekâs meeting.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
Rivals Week, the WNBA event highlighting classic and emerging rivalries between teams and players across the league, continues this week with a matchup between the Indiana Fever and New York Liberty. The teams enter Tuesday's contest with near-identical records this season and each boasts a roster of superstars, including the Fever's Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, and the Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones. The game will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and, tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty game this Tuesday and all the rest of the Fever's schedule for the season.
How to watch Caitlin Clark's next WNBA game:Date: August 11, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, YouTube TV, DirecTV and more
Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty game time:The game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 11.
Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty game channel:The Liberty vs. Fever game will be broadcast on ESPN.
How to watch the Liberty vs. Fever game without cable:This week's WNBA matchup between the Liberty and Fever will be available on ESPN, which means it'll be streaming on ESPN Unlimited, as well as on streaming platforms like DirecTV and YouTube TV.
What channel are WNBA games on this season?For the 2026 season, WNBA games will be spread across a wide range of channels (and streaming platforms). Games will air on ABC, ESPN (and ESPN2/ESPN+), CBS, NBC (and NBCSN), ION, USA Network, and NBA TV. Plus, some games will be exclusive to Amazon Prime Video; games that air on NBC will stream on Peacock; games on CBS will be available on Paramount+; and select games airing on ABC will stream on Disney+. Certain games will also be available only via League Pass.
Confused? Overwhelmed? Don't have cable these days? Here's a loose weekly schedule for which nights of the week get which channels, plus what you'll need to watch WNBA games in 2026:
Sunday â ABC, CBS, ESPN, NBA TV, or NBC
Monday â NBCSN/Peacock or USA
Tuesday â ESPN
Wednesday â USA
Thursday â NBA TV or Prime Video
Friday â ION
Saturday â ABC, CBS or NBCSN/Peacock
Indiana Fever 2026 Broadcast Schedule:All times Eastern.
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
New York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday, August 14, 2026
Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever, 7:30 p.m. (ION/WNBA League Pass)
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Toronto Tempo, 7 p.m. (ESPN/Local Broadcasters)
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings, 8 p.m. (Prime Video/Local Broadcasters)
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty, 7 p.m. (Prime Video)
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky, 7 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
Friday, August 28. 2026
Connecticut Sun vs. Indiana Fever, 7:30 pm. (ION/WNBA League Pass)
Friday, September 18, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Toronto Tempo, 7:30 p.m. (ION/WNBA League Pass/Local Broadcasters)
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever, 4 p.m. (NBA TV/Local Broadcasters)
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Minnesota Lynx vs. Indiana Fever, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Indiana Fever vs. Minnesota Lynx, 8 p.m. (USA Network/Local Broadcasters)
Dave Portnoy and Brandon Walker on Barstool.Dave Portnoy is on a roll calling out the WNBA. After blasting ESPN and Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White for not defending Sophie Cunningham when she was fouled intentionally by Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington, the Barstool Sports founder was back at it Monday alongside colleague Brandon Walker.
Walker and Portnoy took aim at the controversial technical foul against Fever star Caitlin Clark during Saturdayâs 90-86 win over Chicago. Clark received the tech for making contact with an official, though she had been bumped by the Skyâs Natasha Cloud, which caused her to lose her balance. Following the game, crew chief Maj Forsberg said the official âdeemed that Clark intentionally made contact; therefore, a technical foul was assessed.â
The technical was Clarkâs eighth of the season, resulting in a suspension for Indianaâs next game. However, it was later rescinded by the league.
Barstool crushes the WNBA refsâDave, I think what I see right there on the screen is the single worst call in the history of basketball,â Walker said Monday morning. âI have never seen anything like it.â
Portnoy, who sported an Indiana Fever hat during the segment and is a longtime Caitlin Clark supporter, agreed.
âYeah, itâs brutal,â Portnoy said. âAnd you know whatâs funny? They have nowâand again people are digging up old clipsâof that ref actually getting pushed and bodied and not calling it. And then you got Monica McNutt on that other network (ESPN) being like âI donât know, maybe it was the right call because I saw someone bump into a coach one time.â Itâs crazy. That call was insane.â
Portnoy went on to call it âactually shockingâ that the league rescinded the technical, which means Clark wonât have to miss any time.
âThere was another Caitlin technical where she was mad at herself for missing a shot and she, like, hit the stanchion, and she got a T for that as well,â he added. âSo listen, the league is out of control, itâs off the rails and I canât stop watching.
âIâve been preaching now for years that this league is the most passionate. They hate each other, the infighting, the dating, the cultural, the politicsâŚThis league, they donât like each other, and itâs pretty exciting.â
Because the league rescinded the technical foul, Clark is able to play in tomorrow nightâs showdown against the New York Liberty. Both teams come in having won seven of their last 10 games
The post âThe single worst call in basketball historyâ: Barstool does not hold back on WNBA refs after Caitlin Clark call appeared first on The Comeback: Todayâs Top Sports Stories & Reactions.
May 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) and guard Azzi Fudd (35) stand on the court during the second half of a WNBA game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesPaige Bueckers had the opportunity to come home over the weekend. The second-year Dallas Wings guard returned to her native Minnesota for a Sunday game against the Minnesota Lynx, the top team in the WNBA.
Bueckers turned in a typically strong performance (23 points on 10-of-15 shooting, eight assists), but the Wings fell 103-90 to drop to 19-14 on the season. It was their third loss in a row and sixth in the their last eight games.
Despite the setback, Bueckers made clear in her postgame media session that the trip home served a bigger purpose.
A chance to âheal my inner child,â Bueckers called itBueckers was born in Edina, Minnesota and played her high school ball in Minnetonka. While in Minnesota this weekend, the WNBA All-Star had the chance to visit the hometown park where she grew up honing her game.
Asked by a reporter what it meant to spend time there, Bueckers called the opportunity ârefreshing.â
Paige on visiting the park where she grew up playing.
âThatâs where I always went when life was life-ing. This stretch has been tough. Losing is tough. People got personal stuff going on and at the end of the day life is bigger than basketball. So to go kind of heal my inner⌠pic.twitter.com/5nxOvpThQa
â j (@thearkvi) August 9, 2026
âThatâs where I always went when life was life-ing,â she explained. âThis stretch has been tough. Losing is tough. People got stuff going on in their personal lives. At the end of the day, life is bigger than basketball. So to go kind of heal my inner child, go back home to where I fell in love with the game, go visit that park, walk the same walks that I did as a kid. I donât talk about myself often but just to reflect on the journey thatâs been to get here it was really refreshing.â
âJust to be able to settle and be balanced in life, with all the exterior pressures and all the things life can throw at you,â Bueckers continued. âIâm very grateful to be back home and be able to get that experience. I was happy to do that.â
Itâs unclear if Bueckers is referring to herself or one or more of her teammates going through personal struggles. Itâs clear though that the grind of a season can take its toll on teams, and sometimes you just need to get away and recharge.
The post âLife is bigger than basketballâ: Paige Bueckers opens up amid losing streak appeared first on The Comeback: Todayâs Top Sports Stories & Reactions.
CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 04: Enes Kanter #11 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during their game at Spectrum Center on January 4, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) Getty
American basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom poses during an interview with AFP at the United Nations Office in Geneva on April 5, 2022. Enes Kanter Freedom, whose human rights advocacy has ruffled feathers, hopes to bend UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet's ear on Thursday about her forthcoming China visit. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images) Getty
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 03: Enes Kanter #11 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball against Derrick Jones Jr. #10 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on March 3, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Thunder 118-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) GettyFormer OKC Thunder center Enes Kanter has followed up on his intention to move to the WNBA. On Monday, Kanter made his transition to the womenâs counterpart to the NBA official by submitting the required documents to the league to declare himself eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft.
Kanter revealed in his Instagram post that his WNBA move is now underway after declaring for the leagueâs draft just three days prior.
âOfficially official, @wnba,â he wrote in his IG post.
âPlease accept this formal document as my official written notification to the Womenâs National Basketball Association of my voluntary decision to enter the player pool for the 2027 WNBA Draft,â Kanter added in the video he posted.
What Is Inside Enes Kanterâs WNBA DocumentGettyAmerican basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom poses during an interview with AFP at the United Nations Office in Geneva on April 5, 2022. Enes Kanter Freedom, whose human rights advocacy has ruffled feathers, hopes to bend UN human rights chief Michelle Bacheletâs ear on Thursday about her forthcoming China visit. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images)
The document was addressed to the WNBA League Office and WNBA Player Personnel, and the WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Kanter cited age and lack of intercollegiate eligibility requirements under the collective bargaining agreement, stating he wants rules applied equally and consistently.
In his post, Kanter said that he intends to âexercise my draft rights,â under the leagueâs collective bargaining agreement.
It is also worth noting that Article XIII of the collective bargaining agreement states that only women can play in the WNBA. However, the word âwomenâ has become a point of contention among the players, coaches, and league officials.
His announcement followed comments made by WNBA players regarding competitive fairness in womenâs sports. Another former NBA player, Royce White, made a similar declaration shortly after.
The WNBA is facing a major cultural and policy controversy sparked by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunninghamâs public comments opposing the inclusion of transgender women in womenâs sports.
Kanterâs move is set to challenge the leagueâs eligibility rules.
Enes Kanterâs NBA CareerGettyPHOENIX, AZ â MARCH 03: Enes Kanter #11 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball against Derrick Jones Jr. #10 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on March 3, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Thunder 118-111. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Kanter, who changed his name to Enes Freeedom, played 11 seasons in the NBA as a dominant rebounding center.
Drafted third overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, he played for five different franchises, finishing his career with averages of 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
He spent his early years in Utah before a 2015 mid-season trade sent him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was in OKC that he truly flourished as a premier low-post scorer and offensive rebounder, anchoring the bench unit as part of the âStache Brothersâ duo alongside Steven Adams and helping the team reach the 2016 Western Conference Finals
Over the latter half of his career, Freedom transitioned into a reliable journeyman big, bringing interior presence to the New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, and Boston Celtics. Notably, during his 2020-2021 stint with Portland, he recorded a historic, franchise-record 30-rebound game.
His time in the league concluded after the 2021-2022 season, when his on-court production diminished, before focusing on being an activist figure.
Kanterâs activism focuses on human rights, religious freedom, and political oppression, most notably targeting the Turkish government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Now, he turns his focus to the WNBA, which now faces a highly polarizing debate over transgender athlete participation and league eligibility requirements.
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