A BIG TIME SHOWDOWN IN SIN CITY

Las Vegas has hosted plenty of big time matches in 2026, and they’ll host one more this weekend.

The Minnesota Lynx have been one of the biggest stories in the WNBA in 2026. Even without Napheesa Collier, the team is atop the standings and are tops in various statistical categories.

They have the best record in the league at 10-2 and are 4-0 in Commissioner’s Cup play with a league leading differential of +81. They’ve won eight straight games, with seven of them by double digits. Good teams win, and great teams win big.

Most impressive is how strong the defense is.

The Lynx are tops in the W in defense, holding teams to just 96.5 points per 100 possessions. The

“She’s tough,” Olivia Miles said. “She gets on you. I think that’s what’s different.

She doesn’t let us be average, and you don’t see that very often in coaches. She knows what she’s doing, and she knows what wins.”

On offense, the wins have come thanks to their youngest player. Miles has been a sensation and is wowing people across the basketball community

Along with Miles, the Lynx have gotten tremendous play out of Natasha Howard. The former WNBA champion and 2019 Defensive Player of the Year is having one of the best offensive seasons of her career. Howard is shooting a career best 71 percent on shots inside the restricted area and is first in field goal attempts, averaging almost nine per game. It’s been a total team effort for Minnesota and they

The Lynx face their toughest challenge of the season so far in Las Vegas.

The Aces have won five straight games after defeating the Portland Fire on June 11. The champs are starting to round into form. As usual, A’ja Wilson is leading the way for Becky Hammon’s club. The MVP leads the WNBA in scoring and blocks while being fourth in rebounding. Wilson continues to expand her game and is shooting a career best from three point range.

In this matchup, Natasha Howard will have to do everything she can to avoid foul trouble. Howard is one of the league leaders in personal fouls and if she has to sit early, that spells trouble for Minnesota. However, if the Lynx get solid contributions from Howard and the rest of the roster, they can all but guarantee their spot in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

Things are going incredibly well for the Minnesota Lynx. Their vets are playing at a high level. Cheryl Reeve remains one of the best coaches in the game. And Olivia Miles has been a sensation. If they put on a show against the Aces, it’ll announce their arrival in a major way.

Here’s what you need to know today:

⛈️ Across the BRM Network
The Seattle Storm make a roster move.

🎧The Extra Possession:
Lexie Brown waived. Now what?

🏀 Family matters
Becky Burke stands up for a righteous cause.

💰 Money moves
The Las Vegas Aces avoid the White House.

🗓 Upcoming games
What’s on deck to begin the week.

📰 What we’re reading
Some great writing that’s come across our desks.

THE SEATTLE STORM SHAKE THINGS UP

The Seattle Storm decided to move on from one of their veterans.

On June 8, the team announced that they waived Lexie Brown. Brown had been with the team the past two seasons and was one of their most experienced players. Lexie was in Sonia Raman’s rotation to begin the year, but gradually fell out of it as time progressed.

With Brown’s exit, that will leave more minutes for Zia Cooke and Jade Melbourne off the bench.

In happier news, Dominique Malonga is back! Dom missed almost a month due to a concussion and made her return on June 6. Malonga has seen her minutes increase in each outing as she’s working her way back to full strength.

The Storm have lost seven games in a row, and on the latest edition of Tempestade Talk, Erica L. Ayala took stock of what’s happening in Seattle

Building foundation takes time. It’s slow, messy, and taxing. However, if you do it right, the rewards will last for years.

That’s where the Seattle Storm find themselves as they work to return to glory.

BECKY BURKE STANDS UP FOR HERSELF AND HER FAMILY

Arizona women’s basketball head coach Becky Burke will be welcoming her second child into the world this December with her wife, Savannah. In what should have been a momentous occasion, it turned into something depressingly familiar.

Following her announcement, Burke and her family were on the receiving end of criticisms on social media. The attacks originated from right wing voices that are hoping to reverse rights obtained by same sex couples and families and generally make their lives more difficult.

For as loud as those negative voices are, Burke and her family’s perseverance and strength mattered a lot more.

“Let me be VERY clear, our announcement is about something much bigger than us. Representation matters. Visibility matters. As a public figure, I take great pride in representing my community and helping create that visibility,” Burke shared on social media.

Our announcement is for people who have spent years wondering whether a future like this was possible for them. It’s about showing people in our community that families like ours exist, that they are real, and that they deserve to be celebrated too.”

Representation matters. When you do something major for the community, everyone wins. And when you shut down bigoted voices who work to worsen society, representation becomes even more important. It's on us to follow Becky Burke's lead and create welcoming environments for all.

RESTRICTED AREA

This weekend, the United States government will be holding a UFC event on the White House lawn. It’s part of the government’s efforts to use sports to burnish their images, but people see through it and are responding accordingly. The government will continue trying to use sports to wash its reputation at home and abroad.

Thankfully, professional basketball teams don’t appear to be a part of this vision.

Earlier this week, the Las Vegas Aces revealed that they did not receive an invitation from the White House to celebrate their 2025 championship. The Aces join Gotham FC and the United States women’s national hockey team as women’s sports teams that will not be partaking in celebrations with the White House.

It also continues a trend of this administration not inviting WNBA or NBA champions to the White House. When asked if they would accept an invitation if one were offered by the White House, the Aces declined comment to Annie Costabile of The Athletic.

Although there won’t be a celebration in Washington, DC, there will be an acknowledgement of their accomplishment closer to home. Flavor Flav will be hosting the Aces and plenty of other women’s sports champions during “SHE weekend” from July 16-19 in Las Vegas.

Go where you’re wanted.

The Las Vegas Aces should be happy they don’t have to go to the White House and subject themselves to disrespect. Better to be around people who appreciate you instead of someone who has no respect for you, your community, your peers, and your work.

Here’s the schedule for the next few days

At Black Rosie Media, we love to give flowers to other writers and creators in the women’s basketball community.

Here’s what we’re reading:

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