What's Going On With The WNBA
Jun 10, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Sun head coach Stephanie White watches from the sideline as they take on the Indiana Fever at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports ©Jun 10, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Sun head coach Stephanie White watches from the sideline as they take on the Indiana Fever at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY SportsCaitlin Clark had an uncharacteristically forgettable performance on Saturday night against the Portland Fire. She finished the game with a season-low six points, alongside six assists and two rebounds. But if you actually watched the first three minutes of the game, it looked like it was going to be another masterclass performance from Clark, and even the Fever team as a whole. In those opening three minutes, Indiana raced out to an 8-2 run, with Clark either scoring or assisting on every single point. But then, Fever head coach Stephanie White decided to sub Clark out halfway through the first quarter.
This and several other coaching decisions did not quite make sense to WNBA analyst Rosalina Lee. In a recap video of the game shared on her YouTube channel, Lee pointed to a number of such decisions that she described as confusing.
âI do unfortunately have to call out the coaching in this game because the rotations were just so confusing,â she said. âI do not understand why Ty Harris, Raven Johnson, Grace VanSlooten, and Makayla Timpson were all on the court at the same time.â
Looking at how the game unfolded and eventually ended in a 100-84 loss, it would not be entirely out of place to place some of the blame on Fever head coach Stephanie White. In fact, the decision to take Clark out at a time when she was the âhot hand,â as Lee described it, was the first questionable call.
As Lee put it, âSubbing the hot hand out 3 minutes in in the first quarter feels a little soft.â
That also happened to be the same point at which White took Aliyah Boston out of the game. And it ultimately affected the game. As soon as Caitlin Clark came out, the Portland Fire went on a 13-2 run and completely took control of the contest, something Lee also highlighted. However, this was not the only decision that Lee found rather shocking. According to her:
âThe entire game was sloppy.â
She questioned some of the lineup combinations used throughout the game. She said:
âSteph White, for some reason, played the entire team in that first quarter. Monique Billings played eight minutes and she was yanked out without scoring anything. The defense in this game was so weird.â
Among all of those decisions, however, the biggest talking point still remained the early removal of Clark alongside Boston. Although coach Stephanie White has since explained the move, saying that Aliyah Boston was still on a minutes restriction and that taking her out at that point simply coincided with the time Clark is usually substituted. That explanation still did not convince Lee.
As she said, âYou have to kind of like read the room or read the court, I guess. When you have a player with a hot hand starting out, you keep the ball rolling. You donât really sub them out in their typical substitution times.â
With that loss, the Fever now sit at 4-4 this season. They are also currently ninth in the overall league standings and fourth in the Eastern Conference. Their next game comes against the Atlanta Dream, where they will be hoping to bounce back and return to winning ways.
Coach Stephanie White says the hungrier Portland Fire team outworked the FeverFor the quality that the Indiana Fever have on their roster, the manner in which the Portland Fire dominated the game had only one explanation for head coach Stephanie White. For her, it simply came down to the fact that Portland was the hungrier team and played with a greater competitive edge than the Fever.
Speaking during the post-game press conference, a video of which was shared on the Feverâs YouTube channel, Whiteâs exact words were: âI just thought they were the hungrier team. I thought that they played with a relentless effort, a relentless pursuit⊠They wanted to be disruptive on defense, to get to their spots on offense. I thought their competitive spirit was better than ours.â
Portland had a good reason to stay competitive, considering its previous loss to the Atlanta Dream by 20 points. As for the rotations as well as the foul trouble that occurred throughout the game, White also credited Portlandâs intensity. She mentioned:
âI thought Portland did a really good job of attacking the matchups that they wanted. That created foul trouble, that created rotations. You know, it created opportunities for them to run free for offensive rebounds as well because we were in rotations.â
In short, the way Stephanie White sees it, the Indiana Fever simply did not compete well enough to win. But for WNBA analyst Rosalina Lee, the fault rests on Whiteâs shoulders for the many confusing coaching decisions she made throughout the game.
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Will Fever fire Stephanie White? Why Indiana coach is on hot seat with Caitlin Clark struggles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Indiana Fever are now one of the highest-profile teams in the WNBA, putting pressure on head coach Stephanie White.
Despite the Fever's unexpected trip to the semifinals in last year's playoffs, Indiana's slow start has some wondering whether White will last the season. The second-year head coach and point guard don't seem to be appearing eye-to-eye, which is getting the attention of WNBA observers.
The season is still early, giving White time to turn things around, but the early nature also means that the organization could make a move to spark the club. Here's the latest on White's job status.
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Will Fever fire Stephanie White?While the Fever are currently out of the playoff picture, it's still too early to say that the team will fire Stephanie White. Indiana is 4-4 and in ninth place in the league entering play on Monday, but a win could put them right back into the playoff picture.
Still, there have been some curious incidents surrounding White and the Fever in the last few weeks. White was criticized for mischaracterizing a Caitlin Clark injury to the media before Indiana held Clark out of a game, then Clark and White got into an argument in the middle of a game on Saturday.
With rumors surrounding the Fever potentially dismissing White, beat writer Chloe Peterson reported that no firing is imminent.
For those that have seen Skip Baylessâ tweet about reports of Stephanie White being let go from the Fever: Iâm told there is absolutely no validity to that report.
Stephanie White is still the head coach in Indiana.
MORE: What was Caitlin Clark's role at the Indy 500?
What's wrong with Fever?The biggest issue facing the Fever this year is their defense. While Indiana leads all WNBA teams with 91.8 points per game, they are allowing 89.0 points per game on defense, the second-worst mark in the league.
That number is buoyed by the fact that the Fever have allowed at least 100 points in a game three times, all of which came in losses. Indiana hasn't allowed any more than 82 points in any of their four wins.
At the center of these defensive struggles is Caitlin Clark, who has struggled on that end of the floor this year. Fever opponents have made it a goal to attack Clark in isolation, and it has worked more often than not. In fact, Clark currently has the seventh-most fouls per game this year, a sign of her defensive struggles.
If it's felt like teams have *really* looked to attack Caitlin Clark 1v1 this year, it's because they have.
Total isolations defended so far, per Second Spectrum:
1) Caitlin Clark (42)
2) Olivia Miles (19)
3) Pauline Astier/DeWanna Bonner (18)
5) Kelsey Mitchell (17)
During the Fever's most recent loss to the Portland Fire, White and Clark got into an argument on the bench that appeared to lead to White taking Clark out of the game. That loss to Portland featured Clark scoring six points while dealing with foul trouble all night, playing just 22 minutes.
Thought Steph left her fire in Connecticut! đ„” pic.twitter.com/meFefzUAAf
â Mostly WNBA Tweets îš (@MostlyWNBA) May 31, 2026MORE: Caitlin Clark makes WNBA history as fastest to 1,000 points and 500 assists
Stephanie White record with FeverWhite is in her second stint as the Fever head coach, having also coached the team from 2015-2016. In that first stint, White went 37-31 as head coach but led the team to the WNBA Finals in 2015.
After What was re-hired ahead of the 2025 season, the Fever have gone 28-24 in parts of two seasons. That includes a handful of games in which White took a leave of absence due to personal reasons.
Fever upcoming schedule| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| June 4 | vs. Atlanta Dream | 7:00 p.m. | Prime Video |
| June 5 | @ New York Liberty | 8:00 p.m. | CBS |
| June 8 | @ Washington Mystics | 7:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| June 11 | vs. Chicago Sky | 7:00 p.m. | Prime Video |
| June 13 | @ Connecticut Sun | 6:00 p.m. | Peacock |
May 28, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) controls the ball during the first half against the Las Vegas Aces at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Because of the back-to-back wins, there is a lot to look forward to for the Dallas Wings next game against the Seattle Storm on Monday night. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at the College Park Center.
Excitement is brewing after Dallas defeated the defending champion Las Vegas Aces with a 95-87 win on Thursday night at home. The win was the second straight victory for Dallas over a top-team in the WNBA. Dallas won 91-76 over the New York Liberty on May 24.
New York won the WNBA Finals in 2024 while Las Vegas won the WNBA Finals in 2025,2023 and 2022. Both teams are expected to compete for a championship again this season so Dallas beating both teams brings excitement to a fanbase that watched two straight bad seasons in Dallas.
Because of the wins against the Aces and Liberty, the Wings fanbase can start dreaming about the playoffs instead of wondering who Dallas will pick with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft.
Dallas used its second straight No. 1 overall pick to select Azzi Fudd, who adds to the excitement because of her recent performances. Fudd has scored at least 20 points in the last two games.
In the win against the Liberty, Fudd scored 24 points off the bench, shooting 9-of-15 from the field and 6-of-12 from beyond the arc. Her performance led to her earning her first career start and scoring 22 points. She went 9-of-15 from the field and 3-of-5 from the 3-point line against the Aces.
She struggled early in the season, and there is still a chance for Fudd to struggle again this season. However, the past two games show what the Wings were thinking when drafting Fudd.
Dallas wanted to pair Fudd with 2025 No. 1 overall pick and Offensive Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers. The teammates won a national championship together in the 2024-25 season at the University of Connecticut, and Dallas wanted to replicate that success. The Wings also added more players through free agency to help the team improve its record.
One of those players was Jessica Shepard, who has already recorded two triple-doubles this season. She recorded her first triple-double this season in the 99-89 win over the Chicago Sky on May 20. Her second triple-double came in the win against the Aces.
Shepard finished with 22 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists as she shot 8-of-13 from the field.
While she adds to the rebounding presence for Dallas, Shepard adds a new dimension to the offense with her ability to pass the ball, averaging 6.5 assists per game. She talked about using her passing to alleviate the pressure from Bueckers being the main facilitator after the win against the Sky.
Shepard and Fudd recent performances have caused Dallas to earn two victories over competitive teams, but things can quickly change with each game. Seattle currently has a 3-6 record while Dallas has a 5-3 record. How will the team perform on Monday night?
How to WatchThe Wings play at 7 p.m. on Monday at the College Park Center in Arlington. The game will be broadcast locally on Channel 29 KFAA.
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Ah, crap, itâs Monday again.
Rather than that double shot of espresso to get your week rolling, how about a double shot of âThe Dubâ?
The WNBA betting board has two matchups on Monday, with the Seattle Storm visiting the surging Dallas Wings and the Phoenix Mercury hosting the Minnesota Lynx.
I comb the player props for my best WNBA picks and predictions for June 1.
Top WNBA player prop bets for today Jessica Shepard | Double-Double | -110 |
 Kayla McBride | Over 1.5 made threes | -165 |
 Kahleah Copper | Under 19.5 points | -112 |
The Dallas Wingsâ star-studded backcourt gets a lot of the love, but letâs recognize the gritty work in the trenches of center Jessica Shepard.
The 6-foot-4 center is holding it down in the paint for the Wings, especially with fellow big Awak Kuier ruled out tonight. Shepard has posted five straight double-double efforts, averaging almost 14 points and 14 rebounds in that stretch.
She can keep those impressive stats sizzling against the Seattle Storm, which is missing a ton of size. Center Dominique Malonga and forward Ezi Magbegor are out, and thatâs dragging down the Stormâs rebound rate.
Seattle has been especially weak at cleaning the defensive glass, giving up the third-most offensive rebounds. Shepard is one of the best offensive rebounders in the land and will clean up misses on that end for easy putbacks.
Tonightâs game models call for as many as 13+ points and 13+ rebounds from Shepard. But given the big spread, Dallas could run away late in the second half, and that could eat into her minutes. Rather than go Over on her puffed-up points or rebound totals, Iâm going to play it safe with a double-double bet at -110.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ETWhere to watch: USA Network, KUNS - CW Seattle, KFAA 29, Amazon PrimeKayla McBride Over 1.5 threes (-165)If Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride is going to snap out of her chilly shooting, a trip to the desert to face the Phoenix Mercury is the perfect scenario to thaw that cold hand.
McBride is a collective 5-for-18 from beyond the arc in the last four games, including going 1-for-7 from distance in Fridayâs win over Chicago. Granted, that recent shooting skid included games against Toronto and Atlanta, who sit second and third in 3-point defense (behind the top-rated Lynx).
The Mercury, however, enters tonight as the worst 3-point defense in the league, giving up more than 10 triples per game and allowing foes to shoot better than 38% from downtown. It also doesnât help that the top perimeter defender, Sami Whitcomb, is sidelined.
These rivals clashed inside the Mortgage Matchup Center in the second game of the schedule, with McBride finishing 2 for 6 from long range back on May 12. I expect her to post a similar success rate from deep.
Iâm not overly crazy about laying -165 vig on a WNBA prop, but you rarely find McBride with a triples total this low at a reasonable price. Projections lean toward two 3-point makes, and knowing McBrideâs long-range potential, Iâd sprinkle a little 3+ threes at +180 on the alt markets.
Time: 10:00 p.m. ETWhere to watch: NBCSN, Peacock, Victory+Kahleah Copper Under 19.5 points (-112)The last time Kahleah Copper faced Minnesota, she dropped 30 points on the Lynx in the second game of the season.
The Minnesota squad coming back for a return meeting in Phoenix tonight isnât the same team from that May 12 meeting. At least, defensively.
The Lynx were dealing with a lot in the opening games of the 2026 schedule. Not only did they have to adjust to massive turnover in frontcourt talent (including DPOY Alanna Smith) from the offseason, but star bigs Napheesa Collier and Dorka Juhasz entered the season injured and have yet to play.
Head coach Cheryl Reeve retooled the defense, and while itâs taken a few games to take hold, Minnesota has quickly moved to the top of defensive metrics. The Lynx have really turned the screws on opponents during their current four-game run, with a defensive rating of 88.0 in that span.
Copper enters Monday mired in a shooting funk. The 6-foot-1 guard has cracked 20 points just twice in the six games since lighting up the Lynx, firing at less than 32% from the field. Sheâs been able to mitigate those issues by getting to the foul line for points, but Minnesota has done a great job avoiding whistles as the team buys into Reeveâs defensive schemes.
Copper has stayed Under her points prop in four of the past six games since facing the Lynx. Her total for tonight sits at 19.5 O/U, with a return home and that 30-point performance puffing up the number. Projections call for 18 points from Copper tonight and even that feels ambitious.
Time: 10:00 p.m. ETWhere to watch: NBCSN, Peacock, Victory+Where to bet on WNBA player propsAll major sportsbooks will offer WNBA props throughout the season, but make your bets at our best basketball betting sites. See the most trusted operators that offer the best prices, most diverse markets, enticing promos, and quickest payouts!
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Wingsâ Arike Ogunbowale keeps it real on Commissionerâs Cup money prize appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Wings will open the WNBA Commissionerâs Cup on Monday as they host the Seattle Storm at College Park Center. The Wings will gun for their third straight win, while the Storm will try to stop a two-game losing streak.
The Wings did not have success in last yearâs edition of the in-season tournament. The Indiana Fever won the title, defeating the Minnesota Lynx in the knockout finals.
Dallas has looked impressive to start the campaign, sitting on a 5-3 record. With Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Azzi Fudd, and Jessica Shepard leading the charge, the Wings could be a major threat in the WNBA Commissionerâs Cup.
Ogunbowale kept it real when she asked about the possibility of claiming the $500,000 prize.
âNo matter how much money you get, itâs always good to make more money. So definitely, thatâs a motivation,â said the four-time All-Star in the video posted by The IX Sportsâ Melissa Triebwasser.
I asked Arike Ogunbowale about the cash prize as a motivator in the Commissioners Cup as well as Paige Bueckersâ debut jersey selling for more than her rookie salary:
âNo matter how much money you get, itâs always good to make more money.â#wingsuppic.twitter.com/VBdkokOaEQ
â Melissa Triebwasser (@TheCoachMelissa) May 31, 2026
Instituted in 2021, the WNBA Commissionerâs Cup has seen a different champion every year. The Wings are looking to become the sixth titlist, joining the Fever, the Storm, the Lynx, the Las Vegas Aces, and the New York Liberty.
Ogunbowale, meanwhile, was also asked about Bueckerâs debut jersey selling for $65,000 at a recent auction, which was worth more than the veteran guardâs rookie salary in 2019.
âRookie contracts were really, really small. If you didnât have another job, you had to get one, or you wouldnât be able to survive. Now, obviously, this can be your major source of income. Even without endorsements, youâll be okay with just your W contract,â noted Ogunbowale.
Ogunbowale was limited to just 18 minutes in their upset of the Aces, 95-87, on Thursday due to an illness.
Related: Why Wingsâ Paige Bueckers dropped honest âannoyingâ truth bomb
Natasha Howard and Courtney Williams. | Getty Images Five years of the WNBA Commissionerâs Cup has produced five different champions: the Seattle Storm, Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever.
As the sixth edition of the WNBAâs in-season competition begins, which of those former champs has the best chance of becoming the first franchise to raise a second Cup banner?
Should it be the team that, surprisingly, sits at the top of the regular-season standings? Can the Lynx become the first two-time Cup champs?
Their quest begins on Monday night against the Phoenix Mercury (10 p.m. ET, NBCSN/Peacock).
In addition to their unexpected early-season success, achieved without Napheesa Collier and Dorka JuhĂ sz, along with a number of other faces who helped Minnesota win the Cup in 2024 before departing in free agency this offseason, there are a couple of factors that go beyond the court that inspire confidence in the Lynxâs ability to conjure up a competitive run of Cup play, return to the Cup final for a third-straight time and take the Cup trophy again.
It seems appropriate the Minnesota opens Cup play in Phoenix, the location where their 2025 season ended in disappointing, dramatic fashion.
After losing a Game 3 in which head coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected and Napheesa Collier was injured, the thought-to-be title favorites where eliminated in Game 4, with Reeve suspended and Collier sitting on the sidelines.
A Cup win will not erase all that.
But, these Lynx, even if they look a lot different, likely will return to Mortgage Matchup Center with plenty of motivation, and they wonât mind inflicting some pain on the Mercury, who look even less like the team that slammed the door on Minnesota in that semifinal series.
Not only do the Lynx have motivation, but they also have the MVPâ0r, at least, the Cup MVP.
No, not Phee, the 2024 Cup MVP. Theyâve got Flash! Natasha Howardâs 16-point and 12-rebound double-double captained the Fever to their Cup upset of the Lynx last season.
Now, sheâs back in Minnesota, playing in a way that suggests her addition could help the Lynx complete a second successful Cup charge that, possibly, ends with Howard becoming the first two-time Cup MVP.
Will Monday night mark the start of Minnesotaâs march to the Cup, with a win that would also accelerate Phoenixâs spiral?
Alternatively, might a Cup champion be coming together in Texas?
What are the chances the Wings become Cup champions?The Mercury, for now, can still tell themselves that itâs a long season. Thereâs plenty of time for things to change.
But sometimes, change doesnât take time. Monday night will only be the Dallas Wingsâ ninth game of the season, but the teamâs early turbulence already seems long ago settled.
Two-straight wins over the last two winners of the WNBA Finalsâthe Liberty and Acesâthat were, in a significant part, powered by the back-to-back No. 1 picks in the 2025 and 2026 WNBA Drafts, plus the possible best free agent to change teams this past offseason, can convince that the Wings have already figured it out.
After scoring 42 points combined across her first five WNBA games, Azzi Fudd filled it up for 46 points over her last two games, shooting 60 percent from the field behind the 3-point shooting (9-for-17) that made her a top prospect. Itâs not just the shooting; Fudd is also executing on the defensive end thanks to her strong frame and smarts. Thereâs a reason the Wings outscored the Liberty and Aces by the most in Azziâs minutes.
Meanwhile, Paige Bueckers is providing the production expectation, calibrating her playmaking and shotmaking responsibilities depending on the needs of the team.
Then, Jess Shepard is establishing herself as the third tentpole of Dallasâ possible new Big 3.
Always an efficient around-the-basket finished during her time with the Lynx, Shepard has been more empowered as a playmaker for the Wings, averaging a team-best and career-high 6.5 assists per game. Sheâs also maintained the elite work on the glass she developed in Minnesota, pulling down 11.4 rebounds per game.
All that has added up to the only two triple-doubles in the WNBA this season, including 22 points, 20 assists and 10 boards against the defending champs. Additionally, she is effectively applying some of the versatile defensive principles she absorbed as a Lynx.
Itâs a trio whose talents mesh well together, especially when surrounded by shooting threats like Maddy Siegrist and Arike Ogunbowale, as well as the fearless length of Awak Kuier.
It is unwise to presume that the Wings will not experience another rough patch or two over the course of the season. This is still a young, unfamiliar group that needs find ways to maximize Alanna Smith, as well as coax more consistency from Ogunbowale.
But, encouragement has replaced anxiety in Dallas, and that sense will only become stronger if the team can compete for the top spot in the Western Conference Cup standings with the likes of the Lynx.
Their Cup journey begins with a favorable matchup, hosting a Seattle Storm squad fully focused on the future (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN/Peacock).
Is the time now for the Wings? What do you think about their Cup chances? Do you also see Azzi, Paige and Jess as the teamâs foundational players?