Swish Appeal
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Why the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever face the most pressure in the WNBA playoffs—and why the Las Vegas Aces face the least
As the 2026 WNBA postseason approaches, I have a feeling that all eight playoff teams will hold their own and make it an interesting first round. Any team could go on to win it all, but some teams need to win more than others. So instead of picking who is most likely to win, let’s […]
World Cup gameday discussion: Look for Hungary and Germany to advance to the quarter-finals—and here’s why
Now, the 2026 FIBA World Cup starts to get real. Group play is complete, and a quartet of single-elimination quarter-final qualification games are up. On Tuesday, the second- and third-place teams from Groups A and B will be striving to extend their tournaments. First, Hungary, the second-place finishers from Group B, take on Japan, who […]
Did Team USA’s dominant win over Czechia to close out World Cup group play ease concerns?
Monday was the final day of FIBA World group play, and the action didn’t disappoint. Team USA dominated against Czechia, Belgium best Australia and Mali’s Cinderella story came to an end. The group winners are Spain (Group A), France (Group B), Belgium (Group C), and Team USA (Group D), so they’ll automatically advance to the […]
World Cup gameday discussion: Who’s advancing? Who’s out? What’s next? Here are the stakes ahead of the final day of group play
The 2026 FIBA World Cup completes group play on Monday, Sept. 7, with all 16 teams playing their third and final group game. For some teams, the final group match will be perfunctory. That’s true for the United States and Group D. Even if they made things way too interesting against Italy. At 2-0, Team […]
Rather than a display of dominance, Team USA survived for a disgusting three-point win over Italy at the World Cup
Well, Team USA had tons of trouble with Italy. Less than six months ago, Team USA defeated Italy by 34 points in the World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On Sunday in Berlin, Germany, Team USA squeaked out a three-point win, 55-52. On paper, the Italians may not have had any advantages […]
Mali’s historic win over Spain injected the World Cup with emotion, excitement and unpredictability
Why should we have expected predictability from the FIBA World Cup? On the second day of the tournament, the results immediately defied any “if-then” logic. In Friday’s Group A action, Japan defeated Mali in a competitive game before Spain beat Germany in a blowout fashion, establishing Spain as the presumptive favorite to win the group. […]
World Cup gameday discussion: How will head coach Kara Lawson and Team USA approach their second game of the tournament?
Team USA put on a clinic in their opening World Cup win over China. The dominance was driven by the American youth, or the “Young and Turnt” crew, with head coach Kara Lawson using the game as an opportunity to allow the rising generation of American talent to showcase their skills on the international stage. […]
World Cup gameday discussion: These underrated international stars are already shining in the tournament spotlight
After all 16 teams played their opening World Cup game on Friday, half of the teams are back at it today, navigating a tight turnaround as they aim to put themselves in position to advance out of the group stage and into the quarter-finals. The first day of World Cup play was a reminder of […]
China was bigger, but Team USA was way better in their opening World Cup win
Day 1 of FIBA World Cup action saw eight contests take place, and Team USA established themselves as the clear favorite. The Americans made the No. 4-ranked country, China, look pedestrian, beating them 94-61. Other favorites such as France took care of business as well. They beat Hungary 99-53. Spain also dominated, beating Germany 83-53. […]
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who has overseen the league’s growth and the challenges that have come with it, will retire at the end of 2026
On Friday morning, Cathy Engelbert surprised the basketball world by announcing that she was retiring from her role as WNBA commissioner at the end of 2026. Shams Charania of ESPN was the first to report the news. In a WNBA press release, Engelbert explained her decision. After more than seven years at the WNBA and […]
Op-Ed: How the late Gloria Steinem’s spirit lives on in the WNBA
Yet another monumental icon of society and culture has left us. On Thursday, the news broke that feminist activist and journalist Gloria Steinem passed away at the age of 92. Throughout her lifetime of service, Steinem stood on the front lines in the quest for gender equality. She broke ground as a journalist, launching the […]
Op-Ed: Skylar Diggins shows how not to back down while preserving mind, body, and spirit
On Tuesday, the Chicago Sky got the news that veteran guard Skylar Diggins will be sidelined for the remainder of the season as she continues to battle a lingering right knee injury. A season full of potential and optimism has come to an abrupt end. The Sky acquired Diggins right before the season began, along […]
Without A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, here’s how Team USA must change their identity to win a fifth-straight World Cup
When the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup tips off on Sept. 4, USA Basketball will begin chasing a 12th world title and fifth-straight gold medal. However, the roster that has landed in Berlin looks noticeably different than the one that squeaked past France for Olympic gold two summers ago. A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum are […]
Why the Washington Mystics’ supporting cast makes them a dangerous team entering the 2026 WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA has the best women’s basketball talent in the world. Every team’s supporting cast is full of players who have proven themselves somewhere at some time. However, one supporting cast deserves some extra attention: that of the Washington Mystics. Overlook the Mystics in the playoffs at your own peril. Not only do they have […]
Three not-too-serious predictions for Team USA as the FIBA World Cup tips offs
When dominance is the expectation, everything attracts extra scrutiny. That promises to be the fate of Team USA at the FIBA Women’s World Cup. Who’s playing? And how much? And with who? And when? The excess of elite talent adds extra weight to every decision made by head coach Kara Lawson and her staff, even […]
Even with a key injury and other uncertainties, the Las Vegas Aces are the favorites to again win the WNBA title—and here’s why
The Las Vegas Aces may have fallen short of a WNBA championship in 2024. And they will be without NaLyssa Smith for the rest of this season. But the way in which they re-asserted themselves as champions last year, with best player A’ja Wilson raising their ceiling through the roof as she ascended to GOAT […]
Could one of these three teams actually upset Team USA in the FIBA World Cup?
The 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup tips off Friday, Sept. 4 in Berlin, Germany, and the United States is a heavy favorite to win it all. And for good reason. Team USA has won this competition the previous four times. The last time they lost a World Cup was in 2006, finishing third. Beating the […]
Three Washington Mystics are now headed to the FIBA World Cup. Who will contribute the most?
Early Monday morning, it was announced that Washington Mystics stars Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron have been added to Team USA’s FIBA World Cup roster, replacing A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum who will be inactive due to health reasons. Both Iriafen and Citron had attended the Team USA training camp in December, with Iriafen also […]
Get the best of Swish Appeal on the new SB Nation app
It’s a big day for Swish Appeal. Today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way to follow women’s basketball. You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android. A year ago we made some big changes to our community, including offering fewer ads and the addition of the […]
WNBA photo essay: How a record-breaking Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream dethroned the Minnesota Lynx in DeWanna Bonner’s debut
There’s a truism in basketball that the first home game after a long road trip feels like another road game. The Atlanta Dream proved the validity of that idea on Friday night, with a flat performance resulting in a nearly 20-point loss to the Portland Fire. On Sunday afternoon, re-acclimated and agitated, the real Dream […]
Here’s a run down of every WNBA player competing in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup
The 2026 WNBA season is officially on pause until Thursday, Sept. 17 as the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup tips off Friday, Sept. 4 in Berlin, Germany. A total of 51 WNBA players fill the rosters of the 16 national teams competing in the tournament, with every WNBA team except the Chicago Sky sending at […]
Unrivaled, now valued at $650 million, reveals players, plans and more for 2027 season
The existence of Unrivaled itself is a marvel. It’s a 3×3 full-court league where players have equity in the product. That, along with record-setting salaries and fun ideas like the 1-on-1 tournament, has made it an enjoyable, unique option for women’s basketball fans after the WNBA season ends. Surviving early on is a challenge for […]
WNBA gameday discussion: Questions for the Minnesota Lynx, Atlanta Dream, Dallas Wings and more before the FIBA World Cup break
It’s the final day of WNBA action before the FIBA World Cup break, with the regular season pausing until Thursday, Sept. 17. Sunday’s games begin with the Minnesota Lynx visiting the Atlanta Dream in a potential playoff preview (3 p.m. ET, NBA TV). Then, the Los Angeles Sparks play the Seattle Storm in what will […]
Why women’s basketball will always love Dolly Parton
This broken nation tormented by anti-intellectualism and a politics of lethargy briefly put all that to the side to commemorate the life of one of the world’s greatest cultural heroines: Dolly Parton. The country music powerhouse and philanthropist passed away at age 80 on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Immediately, a flood of tributes was unleashed, with […]
Interview: Why versatility is the key to Polish forward Lila Banaszak’s basketball career
Lila Banaszak is a 26-year-old and 6-foot-1 forward who plays for the Polish national team and Flammes Carolo Basket in France. She’s also played professionally in Egypt and Spain. Naturally strong, Lila is capable of playing multiple positions, demonstrating a willingness to do whatever is necessary for her team to win. Banaszak recently spoke to […]
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