WNBA

Caitlin Clark is working her way back from a leg injury and is making "a lot of progress" toward returning to the court for the Indiana Fever.

"As far as a status update, she's had a lot of progress in the last 24 hours, and that was our goal," head coach Stephanie White said, per ESPN's Michael Voepel. "We'll see what happens and how she feels after the workouts that she went through today. Hopefully, she'll be ready to go (Sunday)."

Clark missed her first game in six years on Saturday during the Indiana Fever's preseason opener, but she’s expected to return Sunday when the team faces Brazil’s national squad at her former home court, the University of Iowa.

Last year's Rookie of the Year played in all 40 regular-season games and both of the team’s playoff games, averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds.

The Iowa Hawkeye alum also never missed a game in four college seasons, becoming the all-time Division I scoring leader over 139 appearances.

Clark watched from the sidelines after being moved from questionable to out ahead of the Fever’s 79-74 overtime win against the Washington Mystics.

"Her communication was outstanding," White said, per Voepel. "She was really engaged, and I felt like at one point she wanted to go back and put her uniform on and come out and play."

Clark will look to join Saturday's game leader Sophie Cunningham, who scored 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting, Sunday as the Fever play back-to-back games.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been ruled out of her team's preseason home game against the Washington Mystics on Saturday afternoon with a left leg injury.

Game Status Report for today's game against Washington:

Caitlin Clark - Out (Left Leg) pic.twitter.com/3NIi2G4FRQ

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 3, 2025

The injury doesn't appear to be too serious. Clark provided an update to reporters before pregame warmups on Saturday and said she was dealing with "a little tightness."

Caitlin Clark (left leg) provides an update 90 minutes before tip-off:

"Just a little tightness. I'll go through all our warmups and everything — and then they'll decide if I'm good to go or not." pic.twitter.com/Me6iFwpw6y

— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) May 3, 2025

Clark did go through warmups and was seen nailing corner threes.

Caitlin Clark is looking good guys! pic.twitter.com/ZKI2KJLAKg

— Indiana Fever Report (@FeverReport) May 3, 2025

Saturday marks Indiana's first of three preseason games. The Fever are scheduled to host the Brazilian national team on Sunday before visiting the Atlanta Dream next Saturday.

Indiana is shooting for greater heights in Clark's second season after making the playoffs as a No. 6 seed with a 20-20 record but falling in the first round to the Connecticut Sun.

The Fever made a coaching change, hiring Stephanie White and adding some big names to the roster, including Natasha Howard, DeWanna Bonner, Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson.

Indiana should certainly be primed for a winning season and perhaps a deep playoff run now, especially with Clark running the show alongside former No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston.

Ultimately, this injury doesn't appear to be a long-term issue, and resting for this matchup almost seems precautionary. Thankfully, the regular season doesn't start for two weeks, when Indiana hosts the Chicago Sky, so Clark has plenty of time to get ready for that one.

Angel Reese appears to be ready for the WNBA season.

The Chicago Sky star was in midseason form on Friday, putting up 15 points and 10 rebounds in a 89-62 win over the Brazilian national team during a preseason matchup.

Angel Reese gets the bucket to drop at her LSU homecoming 🙌

📺 CHI-Brazil on ION. Stream FREE on the WNBA App with League Pass Preview pic.twitter.com/kmLKNY8xQN

— WNBA (@WNBA) May 3, 2025

Rookie Hailey Van Lith added seven points and five assists for Chicago off the bench, making a solid impact in the second half.

First preseason bucket for Hailey Van Lith and it’s an AND-1🗣️

Angel Reese’s bench reaction says it all.

📺 CHI-Brazil on ION. Stream FREE on the WNBA App with League Pass Preview pic.twitter.com/ZAZO6rBtir

— WNBA (@WNBA) May 3, 2025

The Sky were always expected to handle business without much issue on Friday night, but fans were happy to see the former LSU duo handle business back in Baton Rouge at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center:

Angel Reese haters been REAL QUIET tonight pic.twitter.com/tUPtYt41Ol

— Marina Mabrey’s pasta (@River1385983900) May 3, 2025

Them Angel Reese haters just gon have to find someone else to hate. It’s just what it is

— Beignet Boy ⚜️ (@_joshisking) May 3, 2025

Angel Reese keeps spoiling us with double doubles 🥹🥹

— KathyGifty (@InaraKathy) May 3, 2025

Yes, it’s a preseason game.

But Angel Reese put up a double-double in 16 minutes.

15 points and 10 rebounds.

— Karli Bell (@KarliBell33) May 3, 2025

Van Lith is looking good!

— 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘺 𝘈 (@heyitscaseyduh) May 3, 2025

Hailey Van Lith out there looking fearless asf

— Blasian254🇰🇷 (@Blasian254) May 3, 2025

Cardoso, Van Lith, Westbeld and Reese! I’m gonna love watching the Chicago Sky this season!

— Eternity (@Eternity9) May 3, 2025

Van Lith hopped in the game and got straight to it😭🔥🔥

— SDP (@SDPTtarp) May 3, 2025

Van Lith is gonna feeeeed this season and I’m all here for it! #WNBATwitter #chicagosky

— Shaft (@shaftybag) May 3, 2025

For Reese, it was certainly a welcome homecoming.

"I haven't been back since I graduated," she told reporters this week, "which is so crazy."

Van Lith, meanwhile transferred to TCU ahead of last season, bypassing the WNBA draft for one more year. The Sky then drafted her No. 11 overall, likely much higher than she would have gone had she declared a year earlier, all while reuniting her with Reese.

Expectations are high in Chicago. Reese, the double-double machine, returns for year two, as does Kamilla Cardoso. To fully unlock Cardoso, the Sky seem prepared to broaden Reese's role on the offensive end.

"Everywhere," new head coach Tyler Marsh told reporters when asked where he wants Reese to play from this season. "There is no limit. I think we want her to be dynamic. We want her to be able to score inside, want to be able to create space for her to have more one-on-one finishes inside and not have to feel like she's got to play in a crowd. We want to put the ball in her hands on the perimeter and allow her to facilitate and create off the dribble as well."

If she can handle that role, the Sky should be a much better team than the one that went 13-27 a year ago. Friday night was a positive start.

The Paige Bueckers WNBA era begins now.

The 2025 top overall pick and Dallas Wings rookie made her WNBA preseason debut on Friday night, putting up 10 points and four rebounds in a 112-78 loss against the Las Vegas Aces.

Paige Bueckers scores her first ever WNBA preseason bucket. Welcome to the league, rook ✨

📺 DAL-LVA on ION. Stream FREE on the WNBA App with League Pass Preview pic.twitter.com/ZpbHBqUh5r

— WNBA (@WNBA) May 2, 2025

Paige Bueckers lines it up perfectly for the triple! She's up to 7PTS in the matchup. 🎯

📺 DAL-LVA on ION. Stream FREE on the WNBA App with League Pass Preview pic.twitter.com/wHbPTfJwUk

— WNBA (@WNBA) May 3, 2025

Jackie Young (28 points, nine assists) and A'ja Wilson (19 points, seven boards) led the way for the Aces.

It was a humbling first entry into the WNBA world for Bueckers from a team perspective, but individually she held her own. Afterwards, a number of WNBA fans were impressed with the debut effort:

Just tuned into the Dallas Wings vs Vegas Aces game and Paige Bueckers looks like she made a seamless transition into the league

— NeverMadeJB (@NeverMadeJB) May 3, 2025

Paige Bueckers hate is so forced tbh. I get trolling cause every player gets trolled but the hating makes no sense to me cause all girly does is hoop, uplift her teammates, and use her platform for good

— ap🫧 (@soupysupremacy) May 3, 2025

A lot of people were hoping Paige Bueckers would look rattled and struggle tn in her debut

instead she’s having a seamless transition and already looking comfortable as hell from the gun 😂 womp womp.

— ©️ (@controvrse) May 3, 2025

paige bueckers had an efficient night. she needs to shoot more idk.

— 🎅🏿🧚🏿‍♀️ (@jusanothernword) May 3, 2025

paige bueckers is good at basketball im #notworried

— cc (@bidingmytongue) May 3, 2025

Paige Bueckers actually had a good debut. Don't let your hate blind you.

— Jericho Whiskey (@Gold_Boom317) May 3, 2025

Obviously, Bueckers brings plenty of hype with her to Dallas. The three-time All-American, 2020-21 Wooden Award winner and 2024-25 national champion with UConn may not have the sort of impact on the league that Caitlin Clark did a year ago, but at the very least, she's the next best thing.

She's the early frontrunner to be the Rookie of the Year and is now the face of a new-look Wings team that is building for the future.

"There is a lot of new in this organization, so to be a part of something where we can build with each other and create a new sisterhood, we're really excited," she told reporters in April. "And plus, we got these hats, the cowboy boots, we're ready to invest all of ourselves into Dallas."

The city of Dallas lost Luka Dončić this year. Adding Bueckers should help somewhat soothe that pain for hoop fans in the area, and the first glimpses of her with the Wings were mostly positive.

Reebok officially released its collection for Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese.

In addition to women's training and fashion apparel, the line includes decided player editions of the Shaqnosis, Premier Road Plus VI and Club C Bulc sneakers:

She dominates the paint. Now she’s redefining style. Introducing the Angel Reese x Reebok collection—a bold mix of performance and unapologetic personality. Hoops meets high fashion. Game on. https://t.co/WvlsneAoxG pic.twitter.com/cBQojoRt1b

— Reebok (@Reebok) May 1, 2025

Angel Reese x Reebok Collection 🎀https://t.co/6rCwehoZYq pic.twitter.com/cPyDlf3Jfq

— SneakerAlert (@SneakerAlertHD) May 1, 2025

Reebok signed Reese when she was in college at LSU. She was the first player to endorse the brand following the relaunch of Reebok Basketball and hiring of Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal as the division's president.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported last October they extended their partnership and that Reese will receive a signature shoe in 2026.

Getting her own kicks reflects how well the 6'3" forward performed on the court and how much her sizable popularity helped to improve both the Sky and the WNBA's bottom lines.

Reese averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds, and she almost certainly would've set the single-season rebounding record were it not for a wrist injury that caused her to miss Chicago's final six games. She was named an All-Star and finished runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting.

The Sky, meanwhile, saw increased ticket demand at both their home and road games. Reese had one of the highest-selling jerseys, with WNBA merchandise sales across the board spiking.

After going 13-27 and finishing 10th in the league standings, Chicago could once again be on the playoff bubble in 2025. That's doing little to dampen the enthusiasm surrounding Reese heading into her second season.

The Washington Mystics announced Wednesday that rookie guard Georgia Amoore suffered a right ACL injury during Tuesday's practice.

No further specifics were provided regarding the injury, but the Mystics added that they "will examine treatment and rehabilitation options and provide an update as appropriate."

The Mystics selected Amoore with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft two weeks ago following her highly productive collegiate career at Virginia Tech and Kentucky.

A 5'6" guard from Australia, Amoore was a two-time All-ACC First Team selection and the 2023 ACC tournament MVP in 2023 during her time with the Hokies.

As good as Amoore was at Virginia Tech, her play reached a new level last season at Kentucky, as she averaged a career-high 19.6 points and 6.9 assists per game, while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Amoore was an All-SEC First Team selection as a result, and she helped the Wildcats reach the NCAA tournament as a No. 4 seed.

On the heels of going 14-26 last season and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, the Mystics entered the 2025 WNBA draft with three top-six picks and a chance to infuse their roster with their young talent.

Amoore was the third of Washington's three first-round selections following Notre Dame wing Sonia Citron at No. 3 and USC forward Kiki Iriafen at No. 5.

Aside from their draft picks, the Mystics didn't make any major additions during the offseason, which suggests they are counting on young players and a coaching change helping them improve from last season.

If Amoore's injury turns out to be a torn ACL, it would likely cause her to miss the entire 2025 season, thus eliminating a potential difference-maker from the equation.

Still, the Mystics have a ton of young talent entering the fold and a chance to be a far more exciting and promising team than they were last season.

Caitlin Clark isn't shying away from the massive expectations that surround herself and the Indiana Fever heading into the 2025 WNBA season.

The second-year guard told reporters Wednesday she's setting the bar for success at winning a championship:

Caitlin Clark says success this season means one thing: bringing a championship to Indiana. Can they do it? @Winsidr pic.twitter.com/RJSihFFHWj

— C. C Dunham, Esq. (“Cway”) (@ItsCwaysWorld) April 30, 2025

Caitlin Clark on if the Fever talk about winning a championship this year:

"Yeah, absolutely."

Caitlin on what success looks like:

"A championship."

Didn't flinch answering either question. Said it matter-of-factly.

— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) April 30, 2025

The Fever went 20-20 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2016 last year. They were particularly good after the monthlong pause for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Indiana was fifth in net rating (plus-3.2), per WNBA.com, after the schedule started back up.

Clark was the single biggest factor in the turnaround. She shook off a sluggish start to average 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists. She was the Rookie of the Year winner and a first-team All-WNBA honoree while finishing fourth in the MVP voting.

A championship run would be a sizable step forward when the Fever got swept by the Connecticut Sun in two games, but the front office's ambition matches that of Clark.

The Fever hired 2023 Coach of the Year Stephanie White and signed six-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner and two-time All-Star Natasha Howard. They also acquired guard Sophie Cunningham in a trade that cost them forward NaLyssa Smith.

Still, Clark lifting a title this early into her career would put her ahead of the curve in terms of when other notable WNBA stars captured their first championship.

Breanna Stewart was in her third year with the Seattle Storm in 2018. A'ja Wilson was in Year 5 with the Las Vegas Aces, having lost once in the Finals to Stewart and the Storm in 2020. Elena Delle Donne was in the W for seven years before getting the Washington Mystics over the top in 2019. Diana Taurasi was with the Phoenix Mercury for four seasons before they even made the playoffs in 2007, when they went all the way.

Neither the reigning champion New York Liberty nor runner-up Minnesota Lynx got any worse in the offseason. The Aces secured Jewell Loyd as their replacement for Kelsey Plum, who bolted for the Los Angeles Sparks.

The Fever have some stiff competition in the 2025 title race. With the progress Clark made as a rookie, they will at least be considered a credible threat to New York.

Few people would know what it is like to arrive in Chicago as a highly anticipated rookie with plenty of expectations on their shoulders better than Angel Reese, and she is ready to help her former teammate navigate the same situation in 2025.

"I know a lot of pressure is probably on here from the outside," Reese said Monday of new Chicago Sky teammate Hailey Van Lith, per Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times. "I know how it is just being the big name coming to town expected to do big things. … Just being that 'big sister' I guess kind of to her this year is super important for her."

Angel's got Hailey Van Lith's back 💙 💛 pic.twitter.com/gshZnHnySn

— espnW (@espnW) April 28, 2025

Reese was the No. 7 overall pick of the 2024 WNBA draft and was an All-Star who led the league with 13.1 rebounds per game during her first season.

While she struggled at times offensively with a 39.1 shooting percentage, she was a walking double-double who finished second only to Caitlin Clark in Rookie of the Year voting. Her presence is one reason there is optimism for the future in the Windy City, and she will be joined by another high-profile playmaker during the upcoming season.

Chicago selected Van Lith with the No. 11 overall pick of the 2025 WNBA draft after a collegiate career that included stops with Louisville, LSU and TCU.

Van Lith was a guard on the 2023-24 LSU team that reached the Elite Eight with Reese leading the way. They will be back together again at the professional level, which had the forward fired up on draft day:

We ain’t do it right the first time. Let’s run it backkkkk🫣 https://t.co/8PXLsHkUyN

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 15, 2025

As for Van Lith, she told reporters when speaking about Reese, "Mostly, I'm just excited to get to be around her again. I think we have a lot of similarities on how we carry ourselves and our mindset on what's important to us.

"And she's a dog, man. She turns up the intensity of everybody around her, so I'm excited to be in that environment again where she can pull more out of me than I think I have."

Hailey Van Lith on playing with Angel Reese pic.twitter.com/RBESQn8HIe

— Moreau Sports Media Prod Co. (@MoreauSportsCo) April 15, 2025

The pair will immediately be thrown into the spotlight, as the Sky open their 2025 campaign on the road against Clark and the Indiana Fever on May 17.

The WNBA announced Monday that four preseason games will be nationally broadcast, marking a first for the league.

WNBA League Pass will stream all but one of this year's 15 preseason clashes. The other will be aired exclusively through ESPN platforms.

Preseason STARTS FRIDAY! And we're giving you ALL the ways to watch 👀

First on ION. Paige Bueckers makes her Wings debut against A’ja Wilson and the re-loaded Aces roster. Then, Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese kick off their sophomore campaigns against the Brazilian National… pic.twitter.com/HsRErJyQqg

— WNBA (@WNBA) April 28, 2025

Here's a list of the matchups that will get a national TV showcase:

• May 2: Dallas Wings vs. Las Vegas Aces, ION (7 p.m. ET)
• May 2: Brazil National Team vs. Chicago Sky, ION (9 p.m. ET)
• May 3: Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever, NBA TV (1 p.m. ET)
• May 4: Brazil National Team vs. Indiana Fever, ESPN/TBA (4 p.m. ET)

That slate includes Paige Bueckers' first game as a member of the Dallas Wings.

The 2025 No. 1 overall pick enters the league with massive expectations. The Wings hope she can rejuvenate a franchise that has struggled for consistency from year to year. A city that's still reeling from the trade of Luka Dončić also saw another potentially generational basketball talent fall into its lap.

"There is a lot of new in this organization, so to be a part of something where we can build with each other and create a new sisterhood, we're really excited," Bueckers told reporters at her introductory press conference. "And plus, we got these hats, the cowboy boots, we're ready to invest all of ourselves into Dallas."

The national TV schedule will also give fans an early glimpse at Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese as they look to build on historic rookie seasons.

Beyond just having four preseason games on television, putting nearly all of them on League Pass addresses what became a louder criticism last season with Clark and Reese bringing their sizable fanbases with them from college.

As one example, viewers who wanted to see Reese don a Sky uniform for the first time were limited to a grainy stream from the phone of a fan who was in attendance for the contest.

Now, that will no longer be a problem.

"We've seen the demand for WNBA content grow exponentially and we are meeting that demand by working with our broadcast partners and our teams to make a significant investment by making all 15 preseason games available to WNBA fans," said WNBA chief growth officer Colie Edison said.

"It will be the ultimate way for fans to follow their favorite players as all 13 teams prepare to tip off the regular season in mid-May. And the preseason schedule itself, with superstars returning to the arenas where they starred in college and in some cases, teams from around the world serving as opponents, brings an entirely new level of excitement to the WNBA preseason."

Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers is "super excited" to be playing in the same home market as the Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving after being an admirer of the nine-time All-Star's game.

PB5 ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/6CMeTkO8nZ

— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) April 23, 2025

Bueckers said Wednesday at her introductory press conference with the Wings that Irving has "been my favorite player for forever now," and she hopes to get some advice from him:

Paige Bueckers on playing in the same city as Kyrie Irving#VoltUp pic.twitter.com/DrSPWJnenn

— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) April 23, 2025

The feeling is mutual.

A day after making Bueckers the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, Dallas shared a video of Irving welcoming her to the city. He said he's "so happy that you're going to be right down the street."

From one 1st overall pick to another 🤝@paigebueckers1’s longtime favorite player @KyrieIrving welcomes her to Dallas. https://t.co/7IMaxyelj8

— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) April 15, 2025

For Dallas basketball as a whole, Bueckers' arrival couldn't come at a better time.

The Luka Dončić trade continues to cast a massive shadow over the Mavericks, with general manager Nico Harrison acknowledging he underestimated how the fans would react. With Irving recovering from a torn ACL that will keep him out for the start of 2025-26, the organization's short-term outlook is murky at best.

The Wings can at least sell their fanbase on a bright future with Bueckers at the fore.

The UConn guard averaged 19.8 points on 53.1 percent shooting along with 4.6 assists over four years. She has the skills to be a perennial All-Star in the WNBA.

The Indiana Fever's immediate success with Clark is an example of how much a rookie can positively impact her team, too. The Fever overcame a shaky start to win seven more games in 2024 compared to the previous season, ending a seven-year playoff drought in the process.

Wednesday's press conference certainly struck the right tone in terms of Bueckers signaling her enthusiasm to be a member of the Wings.