🏀 HAPPY RETURNS

Contrary to what some people may have told you, the WNBA didn’t cease to exist when Caitlin Clark got injured.

The games continued on, buildings continued to be jam packed, fan interest continued to build, etc. But with Clark back, one of the game’s biggest stars is ready to pick up where she left off. And she picked the biggest stage possible to do it.

Clark returned in an afternoon showdown against the undefeated, defending WNBA champion New York Liberty. Clark had one of the best games of her career, tallying 33 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, as Indy gave the champs their first loss of the season. Caitlin hit seven three pointers, including this one where Breanna Stewart and Sandy Brondello could only laugh at how audacious it was.

Basketball is incredibly fun when you let it be! With Clark back, business will pick up for the Fever as they look to work their way up the standings.

Coming into this season, I had the Fever in the contenders tier. Now that their MVP is healthy, we’ll see if they can go on a run.

Meanwhile in the desert, the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP made her season debut. Kahleah Copper underwent left knee surgery at the start of the regular season and missed the first month of action. Now that she’s back, the Mercury big three of Copper, Alyssa Thomas, and Satou Sabally is complete.

In her first game of the season, Copper scored nine points in the second half as she and AT started to display the chemistry that should thrill Mercury fans.

Phoenix went on to win 76-70 over the Las Vegas Aces. At 8-4, Phoenix is looking good and have a chance to go on a big run now that Copper is back.

LI YEURU TRADED TO THE DALLAS WINGS

On June 11, the Seattle Storm and Minnesota Lynx played in a potential WNBA Playoffs preview and early contender for game of the year. It was close throughout, with a fair dose of antics at the end, but the Storm pulled off the upset and ended Minnesota’s unbeaten streak. Erica L. Ayala and Roberta F. Rodrigues broke it down on the latest episode of Tempestade Talk.

Following that game, the Storm took care of an issue that had been lingering for some time. Earlier this month, Li Yueru requested a trade. While Li did enjoy her time in Seattle, she was open and honest about why she wanted to be traded:

"I just want to play. I came to America only for one reason -- just that I want to play basketball."

On June 14, Li got her wish. The Storm sent Li to the Dallas Wings in exchange for a 2026 second round draft pick and 2027 third round draft pick.

Paige Bueckers is back after being out with a concussion and has looked good in her return, meaning Li will be the beneficiary of some great passes in the biggest opportunity of her WNBA career thus far.

For the Storm, they get some draft picks that will be helpful in the future while also clearing the way for Dominique Malonga to be the full time backup center. Dom is still getting acclimated to the WNBA and the Storm coaching staff is easing her along slowly, so we’ll see what her role will look like for the rest of this season.

We’ll have more on this trade and all things Seattle Storm on the next edition of Tempestade Talk with Erica Ayala and Roberta Rodrigues!

📰 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:

• Naz Hillmon is redefining her game — and the Atlanta Dream’s identity by Wilton Jackson for The Next

• Kennedy Burke’s college coach sees lesson in Liberty breakout: ‘Turn weakness into a strength’ by Madeline Kenney for the New York Post

• Caitlin Clark set to return Saturday with fresh perspective by Tony East for The Next

• Rep. Melissa Hortman, killed in targeted attack, was a champion for Minnesotan families by Grace Panetta for The 19th

• The authenticity of the late former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis echoes through the past, present of the WNBA by Zachary Draves for Swish Appeal

⛹🏽‍♀️ UPCOMING GAMES

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

💰 MONEY MOVES

ION IS HERE TO STAY

Since 2023, ION has been the Friday night home of the WNBA. It’s a free channel that’s over the air and doesn’t require a subscription to access it. It can also be accessed on free streaming services like Pluto TV and Tubi as well. For the league to continue to grow, they need to be in as many places as possible. And on Friday, they locked in for the foreseeable future.

Scripps Sports and the WNBA entered into a multi-year contract extension that will see ION continue to air games on Friday nights. In an increasingly unstable sports media landscape, having your games on a free channel will provide some stability for viewers and the league alike.

“I think any time we can get on TV, it’s an added bonus,” Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello said prior to Saturday’s game against the Fever. “We get more eyes watching us, that's fantastic. It’s another opportunity for us to continue to grow. The WNBA is a real movement at the moment. I’d be jumping on board [too] with not just TV, but as many sponsors that can be a part of it.”

“I think it's incredible for our partnership to renew with ION,” Breanna Stewart told Black Rosie Media at Liberty practice on Monday. “I think that it's a great opportunity for people who have basic cable to be able to watch WNBA games. And also, we want the games in as many places as possible,” Stewart said.

“The more the merrier at this point because people want to watch us. And it used to be a struggle of “how to find [the games]”, or [it’s] blacked out, or this or that and the other. Now it's, it's almost like… I wouldn't say it's in your face yet, but it's pretty much everywhere. It needs to be more in your face! WNBA, WNBA, WNBA, we’re getting there!”

As we wait to hear what the numbers are, we learned that the league office did not include the Players’ Association in these talks with Scripps Sports even after Cathy Engelbert previously told union leadership that she would.

It’s fair to wonder if the league left some money on the table, similar to the discussion after it was announced that the WNBA got $2.2 billion in their new TV contracts with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon.

As the league continues building to a new CBA and a prosperous future, it’s up to them to ensure they make the most out of every opportunity available.

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