The news heats up

Today's results:

The Storm routed the Fever, 95-73. Jewell Loyd lead the way with 25 points.

The Wings defeated the Sun, 82-71.

WNBA team news:

The Aces are focusing on defense after a disappointing road trip.

The surging Sparks are on a roll.

The league's power rankings.

CBS Sports power rankings.

WNBA player news:

The trainer who is behind Sue Bird's success.

Evina Westbrook is undeterred with the Washington Mystics, her third team.

President Biden said he read Brittney Griner's letter to him, and "it was very personal to him."

Griner's coach, Vanessa Nygaard, says she'd be home if she were LeBron James.

Rev. Al Sharpton has asked Biden to set up a meeting with her and faith leaders.

Biden insists the case is a priority while Griner's family complains of inaction.

Lynx reserves have fueled the team to better offensive production.

Maya Moore and husband Jonathan Irons announced the birth of their son......last February.

The film, "The Jackie Stiles Story" is scheduled for release this summer.

College conference news:

The Pac-12 has accelerated media rights negotiations.

College team news:

The transfer portal has breathed new life into Mississippi State.

Youthful Siena is preparing for the season.

College player news:

Q&A with Florida's Zippy Broughton.

College coach news:

Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton is energizing Virginia.

Coach Rebecca Tillett is putting together the pieces at St. Louis.

A game and a day off

Today's result:

The Sparks held off the Mercury, 78-75, behind 23 points from Nneka Ogwumike.

WNBA team news:

How the Sun will continue to build an identity in the second half of the season.

There is some movement in ESPN's weekly power rankings.

WNBA player news:

Briann January prepares for her final trip to Indiana, where she became a star.

Brittney Griner wrote a heartbreaking note to President Joe Biden, asking for his help in getting her release. She said she is afraid, and worries that she'll be in Russia indefinitely.

WNBA coach news:

Becky Hammon ripped the Aces after last night's 31-point loss.

College coach news:

How Lee Cummard ended up back on BYU's coaching staff.

New special assistant Bett Shelby is ready to help Arizona reach new heights.

Surprising....or not

Keep in mind, with today's unexpected scores, that we are almost at All-Star break, and teams are tired.......

Today's results:

The Sun rallied from 17 down to edge the Mystics in OT, 74-72.

The Dream took care of the Storm, 90-76.

The Sparks closed out the Liberty, 84-74.

The Lynx trounced the Aces, 102-71.

WNBA player news:

The rise of rookie Shakira Austin.

Q&A with Marine Johannes.

Rebekkah Brunson's legacy was simple: she was the ultimate winner.

Holiday weekend vibes

Today's result:

The Sky dominated the Mercury, 91-75.

WNBA player news:

Twice-waived rookie Evina Westbrook hopes to stick with the Mystics.

College team news:

TJ Harris and Ryan Freeman are new assistant coaches at Northern Arizona.

College coach news:

Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer says UCLA and USC leaving is a "major blow" to the Pac-12.

All-Star teams are set

A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart chose their teams for the All-Star game today, and it was a lot of fun:

Chasing the Championship

Today's results:

The Sparks defeated the Wings, 97-89.

The Aces rebounded with a 91-85 win over the Lynx.

The Storm ran past the Fever, 73-57.

WNBA team news:

Six questions that may determine who wins the Championship.

WNBA player news:

Reshanda Gray is bringing physicality to the Mercury.

Winning back-to-back championships doesn't come easy - just ask Candace Parker.

Q&A with Jasmine Thomas.

How Brittney Griner's trial is playing out in Russia.

College conference news:

The Pac-12 is eyeing expansion after the exit of UCLA and USC.

College team news:

The Gamecocks are back on campus, with one goal in mind.

College coach news:

Chicago State has named Andrea Williams their new head coach.

Georgia Tech assistant coach Mickie DeMoss is retiring.

Michelle Edwards is a new assistant coach at UCF.

Cal Poly's new assistant coach is Njeri Nelms.

Kabrina Merriweather has joined Memphis as an assistant coach.

Plots always thickening

Today's result:

Tiffany Hayes returned to the Dream, and lead them to a 92-81 win over the Liberty in OT, with 21 points.

WNBA news:

The WNBA's Pride evolution: authenticity draws people in.

The WNBA needs to stabilize and expand rosters before expansion.

WNBA team news:

Three questions for the Storm at midseason.

The Sparks are aiming for franchise win No. 500 tomorrow.

The last-place Lynx hope to add some wins in their upcoming long homestand.

WNBA player news:

Player journeys are chronicled in the documentary "We Are the W."

Sue Bird became the league's most winning player last night, with dub No. 324.

Tina Charles with the Storm: too good to be true?

Catching up with Rhyne Howard.

Rookie Evina Westbrook's "crazy" transition to her third WNBA team.

A rally for Brittney Griner is set in Phoenix for July 6.

Her trial in Russia opens tomorrow.

College program news:

UCLA and USC will move to the Big Ten Conference in 2024.

College coach news:

Longtime Fordham coach Stephanie Gaitley has left the program.

How will new Mississippi State coach Sam Purcell make the pieces fit?

Sky, Sun earn big dubs

Today's results:

The Sky ran past the Sun, 91-83.

The Mercury routed the Fever, 99-78.

The Storm beat the Aces, 88-78.

WNBA player news:

Today Candace Parker became the first player in league history with 6,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 1,500 assists.

Dearica Hamby has signed a two-year contract extension with Las Vegas.

Jackie Young's breakout season has lifted the Aces.

Win shares: a Brionna Jones case study.

Nikolina Milic is here to stay for the Lynx.

Rookie Shakira Austin is ahead of the game.

Arike Ogunbowale says Brittney Griner would be home by now if she were a man.

Griner is still locked up, and we are helpless to free her.

Griner's wife says she is struggling and terrified in Russia.

College team news:

Buffalo begins the summer with a new roster and new expectations.

College player news:

Diamond Brooks returns to Louisville from injury.

College coach news:

Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson wants Georgia back in the title hunt.

Marc Mitchell is the new head coach at UIndy.

John Hampton is a new assistant coach at Rutgers.

SIU's new assistant coach is Mike Geary.

All-Stars and trouncings

Today's results:

The Mystics routed the Dream, 92-74, with 15 three-point shots.

The Lynx squashed the Wings, 92-64.

WNBA All-Star news:

All-Star reserves were named.

Notable surprises and snubs.

WNBA team news:

The league's weekly power rankings.

WNBA player news:

How Tina Charles can bolster the Storm's title hopes, or disrupt the team chemistry......the move makes sense if chemistry is preserved.

Charles said leaving the Mercury was hard, but signing with Seattle "just made sense."

Why she made the midseason move.

Allisha Gray is quiet, and lets her game do the talking.

In tonight's Minnesota win, Moriah Jefferson posted the franchise's first triple-double.

Kelsey Plum has been the main reason behind the Aces' success.

In last night's press conference, A'ja Wilson was moved to tears when asked about Brittney Griner.

The White House says it is "actively" seeking her release.

Griner's situation is simple, but bringing her home is not.

The Mercury are pushing for Griner's release.

College coach news:

Nikki McCray-Penson is a new assistant coach at Rutgers.

Aaron Kallhoff comes aboard BYU as an assistant coach.

Columbia has hired Allie Bassetti as an assistant coach.

The strong get stronger

Today's results:

The Mercury prevailed over the Fever, 83-71, on the strength of seven three-pointers from Diana Taurasi.

The Aces held off the Sparks, 79-73, as A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum combined for 54 points.

WNBA team news:

Though they're struggling on defense, the Lynx has found their scoring touch.

ESPN's power rankings for the week now have Chicago on top.

Amber Cox is the new COO for the Dallas Wings.

WNBA player news:

Naz Hillmon is fitting in with Atlanta.

A Russian court has scheduled Brittney Griner's trial on drug charges to begin Friday.

Layshia Clarendon says Republicans are coming for all of our rights.

College player news:

Aliyah Boston has won the Honda Cup as the top female college athlete of the year.

College coach news:

Former Rutgers standout Tasha Pointer returns as an assistant coach.

Jakeria Otey joins Central Arkansas as an assistant coach.