When WNBA expansion was discussed in previous years, it was all about wanting more. More cities where a new batch of fans can cheer for their new home team, more roster spots to limit the painful training camp cuts, and more overall opportunity for players to showcase their talent in the best women’s professional basketball league in the world. For the three expansion teams in the last two years: check, check and check.
In a single season last year, the Golden State Valkyries were able to prove just how deep this league really is. Their star players had been role players on other teams. Veronica Burton, who was waived by the Dallas Wings in 2024, went on to win Most Improved. Kayla Thornton received her first All-Star selection after only averaging 5.5 points with the New York Liberty the season prior. Both helped the Valkyries become the first expansion team to earn a playoff spot in year one. The talent was always there, but with more varied opportunities to show their skills, the results were different.
This season, it’s happening all over again with Portland and Toronto. It confirms that what the Valkyries did wasn’t a fluke. And that there’s still so much more to discover.
🫡 More respect
Megan Gustafson is one of the University of Iowa’s most decorated women’s basketball players. She led the country in scoring twice and was the national college player of the year in 2019. Drafted by the Wings, she averaged 4.6 points in her first seven pro seasons and earned a championship ring as a role player with the Las Vegas Aces last year.
But this season with the Portland Fire, she’s truly shining. She inked a two-year, $1.025m contract in the offseason and is playing the best basketball of her career. On Saturday, the Fire steamrolled the Indiana Fever 100-84; Gustafson went 8-for-8 from the field and finished with 22 points.
“We’re a bunch of overlooked players … I’ve never really been respected as a basketball player until I’ve gotten here,” Gustafson said while getting emotional postgame. “I’m thankful for this team, this organization. They believe in me.”
Expansion teams get to handpick their rosters from scratch, and players can feel wanted for the first time in their WNBA careers. That’s really cool.
✈️ More international flair
International talent has always been a key part of the WNBA’s history, but with the refreshed collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the top talent from overseas has more reason than ever to play here. It’s been exciting to get acquainted with new players, some of whom have been professional ballers since they were teenagers in their home countries.
The Liberty’s Pauline Astier (France) has been a bright spot, keeping the team afloat until Sabrina Ionescu is healthy. The Phoenix Mercury’s Jovana Nogic (Serbia) is shooting 50.9% from three – wild. And the Golden State Valkyries’ Justė Jocytė (Lithuania), the No 5 overall draft pick in 2025, who made her debut last week, is going to be really, really good at the guard position for them.
⛹️♀️ More development
One of my favorite things about this CBA was the addition of two developmental spots on each roster. It’s an opportunity for a young player on the cusp to ease their transition into the league. The developmental spots are mutually beneficial; the players’ contracts don’t count against the teams’ hard salary cap and in case of an injury, coaches won’t need to pull in a random, outside player to quickly learn the plays.
But it’s a nod to the future of the WNBA as well. Developmental players are active in practice, competing against the league’s best players, and they’re on the bench during games to soak up real-time situations. There’s so much incredible talent that it’s created overflow. What a time to be a fan.
📉 Trending down
The Mercury have hit a six-game skid and now sit last in the standings at 2-8. Their two wins: an emphatic 33-point victory over the Aces on opening night and a mid-May romp of the Chicago Sky. Despite Alyssa Thomas nearly averaging a triple-double (again) with 15.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists, the Mercury have yet to return to the winning ways that led them to the 2025 finals.
🗓️ This week’s can’t-miss matchups
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Atlanta Dream v Indiana Fever
Thursday 4 June, 7pm eastern time, Prime Video
This matchup is personal. An injury-depleted Fever team bounced the second-seeded Dream from last season’s playoffs. Atlanta have retooled and are seeking revenge.
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Dallas Wings v Los Angeles Sparks
Friday 5 June, 10pm eastern time, ION
Last year, Paige Bueckers tied the single-game rookie record of 44 points in Los Angeles. Could we be in for another 40-piece?
📸 Tunnel picks: jackets, jerseys and fuzzy jeans … oh my!
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Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream: Angel loves a trenchcoat dress (her Met Gala look was also this concept), but this mini moment is everything. It’s giving business up top with the collared shirt and tie, but party on the bottom with the ruffles.
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Erica Wheeler, Los Angeles Sparks: E-Weezy always brings the fashion heat, but this hockey jersey, paired with black cargo pants and a chunky loafer, is top-tier. Plus, the “EW” initial diamond chain dancing around her neck? Tough.
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Azurá Stevens, Chicago Sky: The only thing I love more than a denim-on-denim moment is fuzzy denim-on-denim. It looks comfy and cozy, and the white pump makes it chic.
📨 Reader feedback
If you were a WNBA player, which current WNBA coach would you want to suit up for? Why? Email wnba30@theguardian.com with your answer, and we may feature it in the next edition.
This is an extract from WNBA 30, where Jordan Robinson covers the biggest stories in the league on and off the court each week. Subscribe for free here.
