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We’re less than three weeks into the WNBA season, and we’ve already witnessed a little bit of everything. Thirteen games have been decided by five points or fewer, nine players have scored more than 30 points in a game (Brittney Sykes did it twice and A’ja Wilson dropped 45), and there were two overtime nail-biters. Are you not entertained?
Team identities are slowly taking shape, and it’s never too early to start talking MVP. But it’s the rookies who are shining like the new iced-out WNBA 30 diamond chain. It’s been just over 40 days since the WNBA draft, so let’s check in with our top-drafted rooks to see how they’re getting acclimated to the big leagues.
Olivia Miles joins elite company
Here’s my theory of why Miles is so good, so fast: her goggles have superpowers. They must allow the No 2 pick to see through defenders and map out the perfect pass every possession. OK, maybe not, but wow, has it been impressive what she’s been able to do in such a short time. Through her first six games, Miles is the fifth player in WNBA history to average 15 points a game and five assists. She joins Candace Parker, Sue Bird, Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu.
My favorite part? It appears she’s having the time of her life out on the court. She’s constantly grinning, doing her patented skip after a big play, and she’s learned the Minnesota Lynx’s electric slide celebration. How could you not be happy when you’re leading all rookies in points and your team is in fourth place without Napheesa Collier?
It’s also evident that the point guard has elevated her teammates. Courtney Williams is finally able to play off the ball in her natural position, Natasha Howard had a rare 26-point eruption and Kayla McBride is joyfully receiving passes perfectly in her shooting pocket. If Miles keeps this up, the Rookie of the Year trophy is hers.
Azzi Fudd sets a rookie record
There was a weather alert for rain in Brooklyn on Sunday, but people didn’t know it would happen inside Barclays Center. What started as a back-and-forth battle between the Dallas Wings and the New York Liberty finished as Fudd’s breakout game. She rattled off six threes, breaking the rookie franchise record that her teammate Paige Bueckers set last season. And, after starting the second half, she scored 17 in the third quarter, the second-most single-quarter points by a rookie in WNBA history. The No 1 overall pick finished with 24 points, a career high, in 32 minutes off the bench.
Head coach Jose Fernandez still won’t commit to moving Fudd to the starting five, but that’s neither here nor there. What I think is most important is confidence. In a post-game interview, Fudd said she’d been rushing her shots in previous games. Now, if she’s ever doubting herself, she can go back and watch this game where her shooting arm transformed into a flamethrower.
Awa Fam makes her Storm debut
Awa has arrived! After the No 3 pick finished up her overseas commitments (and won the Spanish league championship, btw), Fam finally made her rookie debut for the Seattle Storm on Sunday against the Washington Mystics. The Storm picked up their third win 97-85 and Fam finished with 10 points. According to ESPN, the 19-year-old is the 14th teenager to play a game in WNBA history and is only the second to score 10-plus points in their debut.
Watching Fam glide down the court, I couldn’t help but get giddy. Because, as good as she was, we still have yet to see the Storm’s young core all on the court together: Fam, Flau’jae Johnson (the eighth pick in 2026) and Dominique Malonga (the second pick in 2025). It points to not only the future of the franchise with this monster lineup of length, poise and energy, but also to the future of W.
📈 Trending up
The Atlanta Dream are sitting in first place after defeating both the Wings and the Phoenix Mercury last week. With Rhyne Howard back in the lineup after clearing concussion protocol, the Dream look like the strong title contender we thought they’d be. The scariest part: they’re still without their All-Star forward, Brionna Jones. 👀
🗓️ This week’s can’t-miss matchups
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Indiana Fever v Golden State Valkyries
Thursday 28 May, 10pm eastern time, Amazon Prime
These two just met last Friday in a high-scoring thriller. The Fever came out on top with Caitlin Clark pouring in 22 points, but this time, they’ll be battling in one of the toughest home-court settings: Ballhalla.
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Chicago Sky v Minnesota Lynx
Friday 29 May, 7.30pm eastern time, ION
This will be the teams’ third meeting in two weeks, and they’ve split the results so far. Who will win this in-season series? These teams could be battling for a playoff spot down the line, so even a win in May is important here.
📸 Tunnel picks: growl power
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Monique Billings, Indiana Fever
Billings struts in a full cheetah outfit (that’s so 2000s, by the way) and Raven-Symoné (the original Cheetah Girl) attends a WNBA game in the same week. Coincidence? I think not.
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Satou Sabally, New York Liberty
I don’t think there’s ever been a more iconic look before a debut game. The anticipation of having Sabally back on the court was high, but this look – accessorized with a fiery red lip – set a whole new standard for the Liberty forward.
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Cameron Brink, Los Angeles Sparks
OK, this look is from last season, but I still cannot stop thinking about this SEROYA matching short-jacket leopard set. Brink is always going to give us legs or abs; this day, she chose legs, and we’re grateful.
This is an extract from WNBA 30, where Jordan Robinson covers the biggest stories in the league on and off the court each week. Subscribe for free here. Who do you think will have a breakout season and why? Email [email protected], and we may feature it in the next edition.
