💰 MONEY MOVES

A NEW PLAYER STEPS INTO THE ARENA

-It’s a great time to be Courtney Williams.

Court was one of the big stars of All-Star Weekend as her Studbudz stream with Natisha Hiedeman wowed fans all over the world. On July 30, she collected a career-high 13 assists as the Lynx beat the New York Liberty at Target Center.

And that sneaker deal we mentioned? It’s not with any of the major players, but with an independent company named Moolah Kicks.

Moolah Kicks was founded by Natalie White in 2020 and began selling their shoes to customers in 2021. During that time, the company has started to make a name for itself via sponsorships with brands like Stanley Cups and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements with women’s college basketball players.

Williams has been with Moolah Kicks since the 2023 season and has worn them each time she steps on the court. Although she’s been with them for three years, Moolah does not have a licensing agreement with the WNBA.

As a result, Court has had to blur the Moolah Kicks logo on her shoes. The league has taken increasingly punitive measures with Williams, increasing the amount of her fine each time Moolah’s logo isn’t obscured enough for the league’s liking.

In a press release from Wednesday, Moolah Kicks announced they, “covered all the WNBA fines and ordered shoes without.”

The league has also threatened Williams with a suspension if the issue persists. It’s a big cost, but one that Williams understands as she explained to David Waldstein of the New York Times,

That support has been essential for Moolah’s continued rise. They reported that their sales increased 329 percent from July 2024 - July 2025. And thanks to the big New York Times story with Williams on July 18, they’ve seen a 700 percent jump in sales since then.

As the women’s basketball space continues to grow and evolve, new players will step into the arena. These new players will allow for more excitement, ingenuity, and opportunity for fans, athletes, and everybody in between.

Last year at the Women’s Basketball Roundup, we talked about sneaker companies investing in the women’s basketball space. We mentioned big companies like Nike, Puma, and Reebok spending big to become major players in the space.

Jordan Brand made a big play for Napheesa Collier earlier this year, and Phee’s Minnesota Lynx teammate has a sneaker deal of her own. It turns out the story of that deal is more complicated than what we’re used to.

For the WNBA in particular, this is a moment where they should be doing everything in their power to expand their tent and welcome these new voices like Moolah into the space. By doing so, they will connect to even more people and give their players another avenue to reap the dividends of their hard work.

As we continue thinking about the future, we should make sure we’re creating space for good new people to join the party and make names for themselves.

🌲WELCOME BACK, CAMERON BRINK! 🌴

THE SPARKS’ YOUNG STAR RETURNS TO THE COURT

It’s been a long journey for Cameron Brink. In 2024, she got off to a great start in her rookie season before an ACL tear in June cost her the rest of her season and the first two months of this season. Now, she’s back and ready to take off.

When Brink was cleared to return, it was a sign that maybe, just maybe, the injury woes for the Sparks may finally be over.

She returned and, although she’s currently on a minutes restriction, had some good moments in her 13 minutes of playing time. Brink had five points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in her time out there.

Brink’s return wasn’t enough to propel the Sparks past the Las Vegas Aces as A’ja Wilson scored 34 points and Jackie Young collected her first career triple-double.

"I'm just thankful for the process, the people who've helped me along the way, and just happy to be playing the sport I love again," Brink said in postgame media availability.

"I'm tougher than I thought, you're always stronger than you think. There's so many lessons I've learned, but I think if I can come back from this, there's not much I can't do."

The Sparks have started to turn things around in recent weeks. They’ve won five out of their last six games and are solidly in the playoff race.

With Brink’s return and a clean bill of health, now is the time for the Sparks to give their fans something to cheer for as they climb back to respectability.

🔨 AU STARTS BUILDING ITS ROSTER

2026 IS ON THE WAY

This winter, Athletes Unlimited returns to Nashville! The first 5v5 player-led league in the United States will be back in action from Feb. 4-28 as they look to crown a champion. In 2026, they’ll be welcoming some new faces into the fold.

Among the new additions will be Ariel Atkins, who was one of the initial players in Unrivaled and will be going from offseason 3v3 play back to 5v5. Meanwhile, the returning players are highlighted by Sydney Colson. The face of the league has been a consistent presence in AU and has helped make it a premier off-season destination for vets and young players alike.

One of the young players making their way to AU this winter will be Deja Kelly! Kelly impressed at Las Vegas Aces training camp, but didn’t wind up making the final roster.

In an interview with For the Win’s Meghan Hall, Kelly acknowledged that the past few months have been tough for her, but Athletes Unlimited provides an amazing new opportunity for her:

“I think that's why AU has such a great platform because it allows you to interact and connect with other players to build those relationships, just connecting in a different way and on a different level. It's a platform that allows you to continue to build that.”

For more on the big news, check out the story I wrote over at Black Rosie Media!

📰 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:

• The Ever Growing Legend of Allisha Gray by Chaunte'l Powell for No Cap Space

• Aces have an impossible Jewell Loyd problem to solve in the second half of the season by Justin Carter for Fansided

• How art helped Anisimova recover from burnout and plot her return by Courtney Nyugen for WTA Insider

⛹🏽‍♀️ UPCOMING GAMES

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

📲 STAY CONNECTED!

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