👑 ACE ENTERS CHICAGO RAFTERS

THE HOMETOWN KID GETS A SPECIAL HONOR

Candace Parker has been an integral part of the basketball landscape since the early 2000s. From high school, to college, to the pros, Parker set a standard of excellence everywhere she went. It even continues now as Parker is a major presence in the media landscape. The No. 1 pick from the 2008 Draft led a new era for the Los Angeles Sparks that culminated in her first WNBA championship in 2016.

Parker left the Sparks to join her hometown Chicago Sky, and her presence helped lift the team to their first championship in 2021. And just like in Los Angeles, Parker’s contributions will forever be etched in Sky team history.

On August 25, Parker’s #3 was retired in a special ceremony. Candace was the second member of the 2021 championship team to have their jersey retired, joining former teammate and Chicago icon Allie Quigley. It was an emotional night for Parker as the sold out Wintrust Arena showered her with love and appreciation.

“I have to quote the late, great Pat Summitt: you win in life with people,” Parker said during the ceremony.

“Through my time away, I realized that it’s y’all. To play in a Sky jersey, it’s about the people that were clapping for you. The people that were there cheering you on. The people that knew you were great before you did. So I’d like to thank all of you all…

“All the supporters through the years are going up in the rafters. All the love that this city brings is going up into the rafters.”

Parker has meant so, so much to the game of basketball. Her grace, excellence, consistency, and fearlessness inspired generations of hoopers around the globe. As she continues to be a presence even in retirement, her contributions will never be forgotten.

🎙 ACROSS THE BRM NETWORK

THE SEATTLE STORM ARE A MYSTERY…

In the Aug. 15 edition of the Women’s Basketball Roundup, we talked about the big trouble the Seattle Storm find themselves in. At that point, the Storm were riding a six-game losing streak and their season appeared to be falling apart. Seattle picked themselves up off the mat with a tremendous win against the ascendant Atlanta Dream in Vancouver.

Going into Tuesday night’s game against the Indiana Fever, Seattle was on a three-game winning streak and looked to be back on track; however, the Storm only led for 18 seconds, as the Fever cruised to a 95-75 victory. That win for Indy moved the Fever up to sixth in the standings and completed the season sweep (3-0) over the Storm.

Most concerningly for Seattle, two of their losses to the Fever happened without Caitlin Clark playing. On the latest edition of Tempestade Talk, Erica L. Ayala and Roberta F. Rodrigues broke it all down.

After that embarrassing loss, the Storm managed to pull off a resounding comeback win over the Lynx in Minnesota on Aug. 28. The Storm were down by as much as 21 points and the victory was tied for the second largest comeback win in team history. They did even more with a home victory against the Chicago Sky on August 30. The Storm had a chance to tie up the season series and essentially knock the Los Angeles Sparks out of the playoff race, but they blew a 17 point second half lead on the way to a truly disastrous home loss. I just don’t know what to do with this team…

As of this writing, the Storm are in the eighth and final playoff seed. They trail the Golden State Valkyries by half a game and see them for the fourth and final time this season on September 9. They currently trail the season series 2-1. and a two game lead on the ninth seeded Los Angeles Sparks. They trail the seventh seeded Indiana Fever by one percentage point, but lost the season series to them 3-0 so in the event that these teams have the same record, Indiana will get the higher seed.

Luckily for Seattle, all of their games will be at home to close out the regular season. They return to action on Friday night against a New York Liberty team that’s looking to get back on the right track. Simply put, the playoffs begin NOW for the Seattle Storm.

If the Storm are serious about competing, they’ve got to finish this season strong. If they don’t, the storms surrounding this team will get even louder. Join Roberta & Erica Wednesday night for some REAL TALK about the Seattle Storm team as they try to get off the ropes.

⛹🏽‍♀️ UPCOMING GAMES

Here’s the schedule for the next few days (Eastern Standard Time)

IN MINNEAPOLIS

MORE GUN VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES

On August 27, there was a shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two children were killed and 17 other kids and adults were injured in the attack. It was another mass shooting in the United States, and you almost begin to lose count at how many instances of violence our communities have to suffer through.

"I've been sending prayers ... It's just really unfortunate," Dallas Wings guard and Minnesota native Paige Bueckers said. "I hope there are stricter gun laws put in place so parents don't have to worry about sending their kids to school, people don't have to worry about attending church and all these places are safe. It's just really unfortunate that gun violence continues to be an issue."

The WNBA has partnered with Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund for many years and often does events surrounding gun safety and gun violence prevention. It’s an issue that means a lot to the players, and it is something that they will continue to use their platforms to speak about.

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve spoke about the shooting and said:

Unfortunately, that’s where we find ourselves in 2025. Hopefully things start to change for the better.

💰 MONEY MOVES

 AS THE ROAD TO CBA NEGOTIATIONS TURNS

October is drawing closer, and the deadline for the current WNBA CBA looms. Throughout the year, the WNBPA has spoken publicly about the state of negotiations and some of the goals they hope to achieve with a new contract. For as much as the players want to get a deal ratified, it appears the league office doesn’t share that same desire.

On August 25, Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports reported that it is highly likely that a new CBA will not be agreed to by the deadline of Oct. 31, 2025. If that does happen, the league and WNBPA would need to agree to an extension of the deadline in order to prevent a work stoppage.

As for the conversations themselves, Satou Sabally gave us a glimpse of what the league is prioritizing:

Sabally’s comments echo what Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams said during All-Star Weekend:

“It's very clear that the league wants to push away all other leagues…”

The strategy becomes even more apparent when you consider the NBA is looking to create its own basketball league in Europe in direct competition with the EuroLeague. NY Liberty star and WNBPA Vice President Breanna Stewart has been out of action with a bone bruise for much of this past month. However, her on-court absence allowed her the chance to attend some meetings in person. How was the meeting, by the way?

“Not great,” Stewart said on Aug. 27. “But what I hope is that they heard my perspective, the player perspective, and why we’re feeling the way we’re feeling. And now, we want to have a conversation.”

In big time negotiations like this, having your stars involved goes a long way. As Stewart mentioned to Black Rosie Media earlier this summer, all the players are deeply involved and following along closely. And having the biggest names in the league speaking up sends a powerful message to their peers and the people on the other side of the bargaining table.

“To have player leadership in the room,” WNBPA President Terri Carmichael Jackson told Annie Costiable of Front Office Sports, “whether it’s our first session or at some point during the midpoint of negotiations—if that’s what this turns out to be—the ability for the other side to hear directly from a player who makes it clear that she speaks not for herself personally but as a vice president in this union on behalf of the members makes the league sit up straight. Even straighter and pay attention.”

The players have dedicated a lot of time and energy into making the WNBA a fantastic game to watch and take part in. As they continue fighting for better conditions and a fair contract, they know that they’re all in this together and will fight for as long as possible to get the best possible outcome. The battle is just beginning, but the players are ready for whatever comes their way.

📰 WHAT WE’RE READING

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:

• [WATCH] Gabby Williams should win Defensive POTY + Picks for MVP, MIP, Sixth Player and MORE I WNBA Awards by We Need to Talk, CBS Sports

• [WATCH] Aces Overcome Adversity To Extend Win Streak by Erica L. Ayala and Chris Williamson, CBS Sports HQ

• The facts and fiction fueling the WNBA's CBA fight by Lindsay Gibbs, Power Plays

• A closed loop by Katie Heindl, Basketball Feelings

• “The Work is Paying Off”: Malonga Emerging as Force For Seattle Storm by Grant Afseth, RG

• Are the Aces serious title contenders? Reasons for optimism, pessimism amid Las Vegas' 12-game win streak by Jack Maloney, CBS Sports

• What’s behind our obsessive surveillance of celebrities? by Haaniyah Angus, Dazed & Confused

• Healing Is A Fluid Journey: How Hurricane Katrina Changed Me by Melanie Dione for NewsOne

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