WNBA breaks attendance record amid epic season

The GIST: More than 2.5M fans (and counting) have packed WNBA arenas this year, making 2025 the most-attended season in league history. Amazing what can happen when folks have access to world-class hoops — here’s the latest from the ever-captivating hardwood.

🐣 A historic night for Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers: Bueckers is putting together a debut season for the ages, most recently dropping a rookie record 44 points in the Wings’ 81–80 Wednesday loss to the LA Sparks. But it’s not just what she’s doing, it’s how: Her efficiency is unmatched (she missed just four shots in that game), catapulting her into elite company.

• It’s giving shades of another dominant debutant: the legendary Candace Parker, whose 2008 rookie campaign earned her Rookie of the Year (ROY) and MVP honors. While MVP would be a stretch for Bueckers, All-WNBA honors (in addition to ROY) might be within her grasp.

🔥 Three-time MVP A’ja Wilson makes late push for record-breaking fourth award: From becoming the first W player to tally 30 points and 20 rebounds in a single game last week to logging yet another double-double, the Las Vegas Aces superstar has been on a tear. And it’s leading to big dubs — the Aces have dropped just three games since the All-Star break.

• Wilson’s on-court explosion comes at a crucial time: Minnesota Lynx Napheesa Collier — the season-long MVP favorite — missed her sixth consecutive game last night with an ankle injury. But Collier’s return is imminent, meaning this race will come down to the wire.