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Good morning! Another rich week in the WNBA. Coming today:
Serious Matters: Reeve responds to Cunningham’s comments
The WNBA has never been too far from the culture wars throughout its existence, especially in recent years as the league has exploded in popularity. Keeper after the fever by Sophie Cunningham expressed the opinion that transgender girls do not belong in youth sports, W has once again become an unintentional political prop in the larger conversation.
Cunningham’s comments led to small gatherings of a few dozen people in the last three visits of Indiana Fever (in Seattle, Portland and Minnesota). That size of the crowd included people who advocated for Cunningham’s position and counter-protesters, who also came out to support the inclusion of transgender athletes. The protests before the game were mostly civil. However, Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was fined and suspended for five games after last Tuesday’s contest, when two girls sitting courtside in support of Cunnigham said Keaton swore at them and called them crazy.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was the most prominent voice in opposition to Cunningham. Reeve spoke for nearly five minutes on Saturday about the importance of inclusion and exclusion from the narrative of transgender athletes as the biggest issue facing women’s sports. While wearing a T-shirt that said “Trans Kids Belong,” Reeve even had a pregame chat with Cunningham on Sunday and said they discussed how to use their platforms.
The common thread of all who spoke this week was that The WNBA prides itself on being a safe space for everyone. So what does it look like in practice? Peaceful protests are allowed anywhere in the US, regardless of the message. But a league with a large population of queer players and fans has a different comfort level when it comes to opinions favoring the exclusion of members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Fever has been in the spotlight since Caitlin Clark arrived at the W two years ago. There’s a weight to that, but one that Fever embraced; they entered 2025 saying “every game is a home game” and treating the season like a concert tour. Now, the attention that follows the team — and Cunningham in particular — is heavier and a bigger burden.
Clark was not available to the media for the first three days after the protest began. Even if Cunningham claims this isn’t a distraction for Indiana, there was a strange, tense energy in the building when I was in Portland, not the excitement that usually accompanies a Fever crowd, even on the road.
The WNBA has an opportunity to show some leadership and take control of the conversation that is being taken over by outside actors. Although allowed, there is no reason for WNBA games to be the site of demonstrations advocating anything but inclusion.
Blockbuster: Plum appears in Mercury debut
Despite our high hopes for an active trading season, the noise approaching Sunday’s deadline has turned out to be mostly loud and furious. But there was one big transaction, as the active All-Star was traded for the second straight season; this time it was kelsey plum.
Plum’s departure from Los Angeles (11-17) was expected given the Sparks’ free fall during her injury absence — they snapped a six-game losing streak Sunday at Portland — and the sense around the league that they won’t re-sign in LA in 2027. What wasn’t quite expected was Plum moving to the team behind the Phoenix Spark.
Mercury (12-19) gains great momentum, I am sending a first round pick and a good young player in Monique Akoa Makana to Los Angeles for a two-month rental on the Plum that is unlikely to even result in a playoff appearance, with a seven-game losing streak against the No. 8 seed. It’s a type of “pre-agency” more common in the NBA, where teams not competing in the postseason trade for a player ahead of their free agency to get a head start on signings during the offseason.
CEO Nick U’Ren — who said Phoenix “wanted” Plum for a while – also said it was important to get her into Mercury’s facilities and understand the organizational dynamics as soon as possible.
Phoenix certainly doesn’t believe his season is over. Plum had the best possible debut against Chicago yesterday, shooting perfectly from the field in the first half to score winning three in the last minute (that pushed her over the minute limit by one, but who’s counting?). This is a group that believes it is playing for the postseason, even if it means the Mercury have to win their final 13 games.
It’s an interesting coincidence — or maybe not, you decide — that The two front offices that made one of the biggest midseason trades in recent memory have strong ties in the NBA. U’Ren cut his teeth with the Golden State Warriors, and both of the Sparks’ interim GMs didn’t join the WNBA until 2026 after long NBA stints, and moving expiring contracts is the kind of deal that’s often made on the men’s side.
Whatever forces conspire to take Plum to Phoenix, mark your calendars for August 11th when he returns to Los Angeles (albeit in USC’s home arena since Crypto.com Arena is otherwise occupied by singer Benson Boone). The Sparks don’t have much incentive to tank because they’ve already had too many wins over the past two seasons to improve their lottery chances; no matter how amicable this split with Plum was, there were going to be heightened emotions in the building that night.
Fast Breaks
🔄 Speaking of deal deadlines: Only one other move was made last week. Aneesah Morrow was traded from Connecticut to Toronto for a second round pick in 2028 and the right to Marija Kliundikova.
🪽 The The Dallas Wings also win new home in 2027, and is much larger than their current one.
🙏 The WNBA issued a mea culpa after promoting a video showing a bet between Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese in the Wings-Dream contest.
🇼 The Lynx own the longest winning streak in the league, and the second in length belongs to the beginner Mystics. More on what both teams do well this week’s power rankings.
🎙️No Offseason podcast crew. breaks down the Cunningham situation, the trade deadline and Sabreen’s latest power rankings. Enjoy wherever you get your podcasts.
🗳️ Results of last week’s survey: About 62 percent of voters chose the Bay Area to host the WNBA All-Star Game in 2027. Kudos to the intrepid reader who wrote in to suggest the International Space Station over the three options.
The 5-on-5 rule: How the new NCAA rule could affect the WNBA
The NCAA recently announced a rule that will grant five years of eligibility to athletes within five years, beginning with their high school graduation in 2023. That could significantly diminish the WNBA’s 2027 draft class. if players like Madison Booker, Hannah Hidalgo and Mikaylah Williams decide to play in college for a fifth year instead of moving to the WNBA. (Don’t worry, I’m not forgetting JuJu Watkins — she already had a fifth-year option as a medical redshirt.)
Like everything the NCAA does, this decision could be tied up in lawsuits and changed by the time the 2027 draft rolls around. But if you’re wondering why Mercury was willing to give up its first-round pick for a Plum flyer, rest assured that uncertainty about who would be available on draft day was part of the calculation. Plus, the Mercury haven’t gone through the draft since selecting Brittney Griner in 2013, but that’s a story for another day.
Last week, a judge in Colorado issued an injunction that will allow the 2022 high school class to play a fifth year, further raising questions about eligibility. Bella Fontleroy, who signed a training contract with the Dream in 2026, is now on the transfer window to play out her final college season. And other players who were not involved in the WNBA could return to the NCAA – players like Maggie Doogan or Brooklyn Meyer.
Given former NBA player Amari Bailey’s efforts to return to college or Charles Bediak returning to Alabama after playing in the G League (NBA Development League), would it be surprising to see a developmental player like Tonia Morgan or Kara Dunn petition for a fifth season? Honestly, seeing some of these big names return to college basketball would make me even more excited for what is already shaping up to be a great 2026-27 season.
Meet… 🥁🥁🥁
Cleveland Sirens!
In case you didn’t believe that “Odyssey” was the biggest pop-culture phenomenon of the year, allow me to introduce you to the newest WNBA team set to debut in 2028. Cleveland Sirens.
OK, so team president Allison Howard’s time in Los Angeles (when she crossed paths with director Christopher Nolan) wasn’t a deciding factor in the team’s new name — Lake Erie was a true inspiration — but what’s not to like about a women’s sports franchise named after a mythological creature that lures men to their deaths?
Even as someone who expected the Rockers to return to Cleveland (I’m already 0-for-1 on the week in these forecasts for the second half of the league), I heard the call and I’m completely behind Sirens. As for the logo, though? That might have to go back to the drawing board.
Let us know what you think of the Sirens logo and any changes you would make below or at NoOffseason@theathletic.com.
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