Sabreena Merchant

1 week ago | nytimes.com | James Boyd |Sabreena Merchant

INDIANAPOLIS — The Eastern Conference will be represented by the Indiana Fever in the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup final. The reward did not come easily for the Fever, who had to fight for it, quite literally. The Fever won 88-71 on Tuesday against Connecticut in a game marred by multiple scuffles, but still needed an Atlanta loss to overtake the Dream. The New York Liberty provided the assist, overcoming a 17-point deficit to beat Atlanta 86-81.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Sabreena Merchant

The undefeateds are no more. After they started the season 9-0, New York and Minnesota both suffered their first losses in dramatic fashion. Nine teams in league history have won their first nine games; six of the previous seven advanced to the WNBA Finals, but only half of those six ended up capturing the title. Therefore, even though the Liberty and Lynx have separated themselves in the standings, hope is not lost for the rest of the pack.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Sabreena Merchant |Ben Pickman

Caitlin Clark sized up Breanna Stewart on the wing in the second quarter, crossed over and stepped back for a 3-pointer from 31 feet. After the preposterous triple splashed through the net, Clark ribbed the two-time MVP back down the court, and all Stewart could do was laugh. After five games away from the court, Clark was rearing to go, eager to get the Fever back on track after an uneven start to the season.

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Sabreena Merchant

After missing three weeks with a quad injury, Caitlin Clark will return Saturday for the Indiana Fever against the New York Liberty, the team announced Friday. The Fever host the Liberty for the second time this season; Clark injured her quad during the first game, a 90-88 loss on May 24. "She's working her way back, I feel like today was better than yesterday in terms of movement, balance," coach Stephanie White said after practice Friday.

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Sabreena Merchant

The unpredictability of the WNBA hit Aari McDonald hard during the offseason. Coming off her first season with the Los Angeles Sparks, a successful campaign when she started a career-best 10 games, McDonald went into free agency as one of the better pure point guards on the market. But when this season began, she wasn't on a roster for the first time in her WNBA career. "I was very anxious," McDonald said.