Around the hoops world

World Cup news:

Kara Lawson says this World Cup will be the most challenging yet for the U.S.

Paige Bueckers' World Cup debut brings her USA Basketball journey full circle.

The time is now for Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

Team USA's golden era isn't over. It's cake walk is.

Everything to know about the World Cup.

WNBA team news:

After six straight losing seasons, the Sparks are betting on youth and a $150 million practice facility.

WNBA player news:

Clark says she's feeling the best she's felt in her career.

Skylar Diggins will miss the rest of the season as she continues to rehab a knee injury.

Diggins' future with the organization is open to interpretation.

Another pause for the cause

World Cup news:

Kelsey Plum is out for the season with injury, and A'ja Wilson will also miss the World Cup.......Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron will be their replacements.

The Liberty have seven players going to Berlin.

WNBA team news:

After the break, the Dream will face a sprint for playoff seeding.

The Valkyries are primed for a big finish after the World Cup break.

The Fire are leaning into experimentation after playoff elimination.

WNBA player news:

DeWanna Bonner is embracing the whirlwind.

And with that, we are on FIBA World Cup break

Today's results:

The Dream took down the Lynx, 89-81.

The Sparks trounced the Storm, 90-74.

The Valkyries rolled past the Fire, 86-69.

The Wings crushed the Sun, 97-71.

Regular-season play resumes Sept. 16.......

WNBA team news:

Minnesota heads into the break on a two-game losing streak. Here's what they can learn from it.

WNBA player news:

Angel Reese notched a WNBA record 29th season double-double today.

Sarah Ashlee Barker has rejoined Portland after knee surgery.

FIBA World Cup news:

Team USA specs.

Winding down

Today's results:

The Liberty ran past the Sky, 85-66.

The Mercury dismantled the Tempo, 101-69.

WNBA team news:

Why is one WNBA team calling in national security experts?

WNBA player news:

Kiah Stokes anchors Golden State's dominating defense.

Sydney Taylor's first slump is part of becoming a star.

Unexpected losses

Today's results:

The Fever dimmed the Sun, 111-91.

The Fire surprised the Dream, 101-83.

The Aces routed the Tempo, 93-73.

The Sparks edged the Mystics, 88-82.

WNBA team news:

Lynx ticket prices are soaring.

What should the Sky's owner do about the team missing the playoffs again?

Both familiar and new faces will help the Mercury down their final stretch.

WNBA player news:

Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark continue their assault on the WNBA record books.

Mitchell is putting together one of the greatest scoring seasons in league history.

The league's future is global. Awa Fam is what it looks like.

The Force is strong with some teams

Today's results:

The Valkyries humbled the Liberty, 79-60.

The Mystics outlasted the Mercury, 80-73.

WNBA team news:

The Dream have always had good chemistry. Now it's paying off.

WNBA player news:

NaLyssa Smith will miss the rest of the season with a lower leg injury.

DeWanna Bonner has signed with Atlanta.

Cruising toward the pause

Today's results:

The Valkyries crushed the Sun, 89-64.

The Storm ran away from the Tempo, 90-78.

WNBA team news:

In just their second season, Golden State are already likely contenders.

The Fire are out of the playoffs, but there are at least seven reasons why the future is bright.

The Storm have a potentially dominant frontcourt. Can they coexist?

All's well that ends well

Today's results:

The Sun stopped the Sky, 87-81.

The Wings blew out the Fire, 96-78, and clinched their first playoff berth since 2023.

The Mystics eased past the Mercury, 94-84.

WNBA team news:

The Liberty are confident they are continuing to shore up their defense.

Here's why there is still a lot of hope left for Portland.

The World Cup break creeps closer

Today's results:

The Valkyries upended the Lynx, 80-66.

The Dream pulled away from the Sparks, 78-71.

WNBA team news:

The playoff race has tightened as the league readies for the World Cup break.

Napheesa Collier's return has boosted Minnesota's title chances.

The Tempo are learning and growing through a tough inaugural season.

The Sparks believe they have a lot left to prove, with eight games left.

WNBA player news:

The Mercury will buy out DeWanna Bonner's contract.

Angel Reese keeps getting better as Atlanta continues their surge run.

Nneka Ogwumike is retiring from the WNBA on her own terms.

Big performances, big results

Today's results:

Paige Bueckers propelled the Wings over the Storm, 92-70.

Caitlin Clark lead the Fever past the Sky, 113-90.

The Mystics rallied from behind to eclipse the Fire, 105-100.

The Aces downed the short-handed Tempo, 88-78.

WNBA team news:

In a higher-scoring league, Indiana has one of the best offenses ever.

The recent struggles of the Valkyries may have revealed their biggest flaws.

With today's loss, Chicago is out of the playoffs.

WNBA player news:

Natisha Hiedeman built a brand bigger than basketball, and is doing the same in Seattle.

Brittney Sykes, Aneesah Morrow and maybe Marina Mabrey are all out for the rest of the season with injury.

NaLyssa Smith was injured in tonight's game.

Other news:

A former NBA player was kicked out of the Sky-Fever game after he was confronted by Natasha Cloud.