WNBA Drama: Expansion Teams Announced and All-Star Starters Revealed as Liberty Seek Redemption

WNBA Expansion Plans Unveiled

Online banter frequently highlights that Mondays are the zenith of excitement and drama for the WNBA, mainly because most teams are off that day, allowing significant off-court activities to steal the spotlight. Yesterday was no exception to this unwritten rule, as the WNBA unveiled plans for significant expansion: three new franchises are set to join Toronto and Portland in the coming years.

The expansion team based in Cleveland will kick off in 2028, Detroit will follow in 2029, and Philadelphia will round out the growth with its debut in 2030. Each of these teams has committed a staggering $250 million to join the league, a sum vastly higher than the initial fee paid by Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, who brought the Golden State Valkyries into the fold in 2023.

Recent Trades and Player Movements

In a flurry of activity, the Las Vegas Aces executed a trade for NaLyssa Smith, sending a first-round draft pick to the Wings in 2027 in return. The transaction necessitated the waiving of rookie Elizabeth Kitley and veteran Tiffany Mitchell to ensure compliance with roster and salary cap regulations.

Meanwhile, the Valkyries made headlines of their own by releasing Julie Vanloo just as she returned from participating in EuroBasket, missing the celebration for her Belgian national team’s gold medal achievement. Her shocking release came mere moments after her arrival back in California, leading to questions about the franchise’s communication during her lengthy journey home.

Standout Performances and All-Star Selections

In the midst of these developments, last Sunday saw Angel Reese deliver a standout performance, boasting a shooting accuracy above 52%, alongside 16 rebounds and seven assists, narrowly missing out on another triple-double. This happened to coincide with Candace Parker receiving tribute in Los Angeles, where her jersey was retired before the game.

As for the 2025 WNBA All-Star game, the starters were announced this Monday evening, with Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier being voted as team captains following their high fan tally. Over the following day, the remaining eight All-Star starters were named through a combination of fan, media, and player votes, with fans’ choices weighted most heavily at 50%.

Interestingly, Clark found herself ranked ninth among her peers despite being a fan favorite. This could stem from her limited presence in the Fever lineup, having participated in only nine games thus far, and facing challenges with shooting efficiency and turnovers. Allisha Gray and Sabrina Ionescu were favored over Clark when the players cast their votes, a familiar sight as Ionescu faced a similar fate a couple of years back.

Among those chosen for the All-Star roster were other notable names: A’ja Wilson continues to craft impressive statistics, while Nneka Ogwumike marked her tenth selection with standout efficiency. Paige Bueckers has emerged as a leader among rookies, contributing significantly in points and assists per game, though experts have started to critique Clark’s absence of more consistent statistical contributions as a reason for her lower ranking.

All-Star Snubs and Upcoming Matches

The discourse around All-Star selections inevitably led to discussions about potential snubs, with Skylar Diggins and Kelsey Plum standing out as candidates whose club-level performances could warrant consideration for starting roles. Diggins is not only amongst the league’s top scorers but also has an impressive assists average, while Plum has maintained a high scoring average, leading the guard category.

Amidst these All-Star discussions, the week ahead in the WNBA promises excitement with the Commissioner’s Cup Championship game set for tomorrow. A break follows before the league resumes on Thursday, which will feature rematches including the Fever seeking to avenge previous defeats against the Aces, and the Liberty aiming for redemption versus the Storm. All eyes will be on how the teams adapt to recent player absences and strategize for upcoming matchups.