⛈️ A(NOTHER) STORM BREWING IN SEATTLE

On Wednesday morning, Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports TV and In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams reported that Seattle Storm center Li Yueru has requested a trade. Roberta F. Rodrigues of Beta Basket and Tempestade Talk confirmed and added some details to the big news

The Storm frontcourt is jam-packed with All-Stars Nneka Ogwumike and Ezi Magbegor, combined with their second overall pick, Dominique Malonga. Yueru has appeared in all eight of the Storm’s games, but only averages nine minutes a night.

She hasn’t played over 20 minutes in a game since their opening night loss to the Phoenix Mercury. With Malonga starting to take on a bigger role in the Storm’s rotation, it appears as if Yueru is on the outside looking in.

As if that wasn’t enough, Khristina reported the following later in the afternoon

Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports later reported that the league had reviewed the complaint and that fines or suspensions are not expected. For the Storm coaching staff, this is the second review or investigation they’ve undergone within the past seven months.

The team has been under the microscope for some time, and it will be interesting to see how the organization responds to this latest controversy.

Erica and Roberta will discuss the latest controversies in Seattle this Friday on the latest edition of Tempestade Talk!

📰 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:

• WNBA teams reveal which charities they’re supporting in 2025 Commissioner’s Cup by Chelsea Leite for Breakaway

• WNBA Power Rankings as A'ja Wilson's Aces, Angel Reese's Sky Rise by Nekias Duncan for Bleacher Report

• 2025 WNBA Power Rankings (Week 3): Aces ascend, Fever fall; Liberty, Lynx in lockstep by Natalie Esquire for NBC Sports

• How Rookie Te-Hina Paopao Is Leading The Atlanta Dream To Success This Season by Brenden Potts for World Exposure Report

• Caitlin Clark and Tyrese Haliburton’s friendship is the Indiana basketball mind-meld of Hoosier dreams by Jacob Rude for Breakaway

• Clipse Talk Love, Hate, and What Rap’s Been Missing by Frazier Sharpe for GQ

• Issue #102: Dwight Yoakam's 'Purple Rain' and the Art of the Country Cover by Natalie Weiner for Don’t Rock the Inbox

🐺 CHASING GREATNESS

Usually, when you’re undefeated after the first few weeks of the season, things are going well. You’re at the top of the league with plenty of room to spare and are hitting a bunch of benchmarks. However, when you are looking to win a championship, you aim a bit higher than that.

The Minnesota Lynx are currently a WNBA leading 8-0. The reigning Commissioner’s Cup champions and Finals runner-ups have come strong and are hoping to make their way back to the Finals and a possible showdown with the New York Liberty.

Before we get there, the Lynx want to fine-tune some things. After struggling in the first half against the Golden State Valkyries, the Lynx turned things up and held Golden State to just 23 points on .267/.176/.667 shooting splits on the way to victory. Despite the win, Minnesota left that game feeling they could’ve been a lot better,

"It's a matter of us locking in,” Courtney Williams said in the postgame. “We need to bring it every night. I think sometimes we take that for granted. We've got to stop doing that. If we want to accomplish the goals we have for ourselves, we can't be a second-half team."

To Court’s point, the difference in play from half to half for the Lynx is pretty striking. In the first half of games, they outscore teams by 5.3 points per 100 possessions, second best in the league. In the second half, they outscore teams by an astounding 20.1 points per 100 possessions. When the games get tight, the Lynx reach another level and push their way to victory. It also helps to have one of basketball’s brightest stars leading the way.

Napheesa Collier does everything you would want out of your superstar. Dominate on the court? Check!

Be the face of a multimillion-dollar brand? Check!

Be a leading advocate for players as they fight for improved working conditions? Check!

She leads the league in scoring and has a great chance at attaining a 50/40/90 season. Minnesota has been outstanding, and the league recognized Phee’s game.

Per Leo Sun of Canis Hoopus, Phee joins Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus, Rebekah Brunson, and Lindsay Whalen as the only players in franchise history to win that award.

I’m betting that won’t be the last award Collier receives this season.

⛹🏽‍♀️ UPCOMING GAMES

Here’s the schedule for the next few days (Eastern Standard Time). These games count for the Commissioner’s Cup standings

💰MONEY MOVES

THE ACES GET SOME OLD NEW SPONSORS

To borrow a phrase from Carl “CJ” Johnson…

The Las Vegas Aces players have once again partnered with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) to receive $100,000, which will help promote the city of Las Vegas. This year, the partnership began with an appearance at Janet Jackson's May Residency.

It’s the pleasure principle!

Last season, the Aces players received sponsorships from the LVCVA, but this ultimately led to an investigation by the WNBA league office. As of this writing, the league has still not provided updates on the status of their investigation. This time, all parties involved are working extra hard to avoid any legal complications.

“This was not in coordination with the team, and there was not an attempt to support the salary cap,” LVCVA President Steve Hill told Callie Fin of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “It’s just a sponsorship that helps draw attention to the pay levels of players. So getting those ambassadors out there and making them a part of our marketing effort has been great.”

At the WBB Roundup, we’ve talked about the road to CBA negotiations and some of the issues players are fighting for. Finances are at the top of the list, and players are seeking the compensation they deserve.

With organizations like the LVCVA ready to pay big money to promote their city, this could be a new avenue for players to earn some extra money. This story is far from over, and we’ll see what the league has to say about this.

📲 STAY CONNECTED!

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