Well Played

EDITOR’S NOTE

It's been a historic few days on the hardcourt. Caitlin Clark shattered a WNBA milestone so fast even LeBron James tipped his cap. (GOAT recognizes GOAT.) The Las Vegas Aces may have lost their season opener, but they still had reason to celebrate. The team received their 2025 championship rings with an unexpected twist. A'ja Wilson's reaction says it all. Meanwhile, Angel Reese began her next chapter in a fierce fit and stepped straight into a little piece of basketball history. But the moment I can’t stop thinking about? Ellie the Elephant, who honored a female music legend during the New York Liberty’s halftime performance. Over in the men's league, defensive player of the year Victor Wembanyama picked up a career first he definitely didn’t want, while Knicks fans marched into Philadelphia, took over the arena (this little man led the charge), and made me believe in sports destiny again. Now let’s get to the rest of the sports headlines...

— Mallory Simon, Writer, New York, NY

Let's Discuss

Proof of Concept

What's going on: For decades, people believed it was impossible to run a four-minute mile… until Roger Bannister did it in 1954. Then someone else broke the barrier weeks later. The roadblock turned out to be mental as much as physical. In some ways, the WNBA's new seven-year collective bargaining agreement feels similar for women’s sports. The deal raises the salary cap from $1.5 million to $7 million, locks in charter flights and housing benefits, strengthens protections for pregnant players, and introduces a revenue-sharing model tied to league growth. Now other women's leagues — from hockey to soccer, rugby, and baseball — are watching closely. Because once one league proves a new standard is possible, it gets harder to convince everyone it’s not.

Our take: Don’t expect the ripple effects of the WNBA’s CBA to look the same — or take as long — in every league. It took the WNBA 30 years (with NBA backing) to reach this point. The National Women’s Soccer League, for example, benefited from the US Women’s National Team’s equal pay fight, which reset expectations across women’s soccer. It’s helped players like Trinity Rodman and Cat Macario land record-breaking deals. The Professional Women’s Hockey League (in its third season) may be locked into its current labor agreement through July 2031, but they continue to sell out arenas and build must-watch rivalries. Still, the bigger shift may be psychological. Mo’ne Davis, who’ll suit up in the debut season of the Women’s Pro Baseball League this August, says the WNBA deal makes her excited for what comes next. The real story isn’t that every women’s league reaches the same financial finish line at once, but that getting there no longer feels impossible.

Pick Six

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Timeout...

Can someone please explain a WNBA development contract to me?

Think of it like a freelance gig for players — a development contract keeps them in the game (so to speak) and can convert to a full-time spot on a team’s roster at any time. Take Kate Martin. She became a fan favorite as Caitlin Clark’s right-hand while both played for Iowa. Last season, she earned a starter role with the Golden State Valkyries… who waived her from the team last week. The decision led to some hard feelings. Now, she’s on a development contract with the LA Sparks. Martin can practice with the team, dress for up to 12 games (and earn around $6,000 each time). When she’s not playing, she’ll receive a weekly stipend that’s decidedly less than that. And she’s not the only one. Two-time NCAA national champion Bree Hall, Spanish star Marta Suárez (who chose a development contract), and several other players are in the same position. What does it mean for their futures in the WNBA? Hard to say. This is the first year the league has implemented this new policy, so its impact on players and franchises is still, ahem, under development.

Related: Angel Reese's Teammate Got Waived While Boarding the Bus to a Game (Essentially Sports)

In Her Court

theSkimm caught up with tennis legend Venus Williams about the lack of research focused on women athletes, how her relationship with training has changed over time, and the mindset shift that helps her push through difficult days.

“Most days are not going to be perfect… Once you start to reframe it, then you kind of get out of this feeling of ‘[I] gotta feel good. I've gotta be perfect. I gotta feel great.’”

Read more from Williams, including the training adjustment she says made her feel “so much stronger” and why she wants to see more investment in women’s sports science.

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No Notes

Tell US

Which city will soon have more pro women’s sports teams than men’s?

A. Detroit

B. Las Vegas

C. Portland

Kylie Kelce’s mic-drop moment