The biggest headlines from the WNBA’s opening weekend

The GIST: From expansion team debuts to long overdue homecomings, WNBA opening weekend more than lived up to the hype. Jaws? Still dropped.

🃏 Defending champ Las Vegas Aces flip the switch: Saturday’s 99–66 loss to the Phoenix Mercury was…uninspired, giving shades of last season’s flat start. But this year’s turnaround came much faster — no text required. The Aces used 19 points from four-time MVP A’ja Wilson and another 22 off the bench from Chennedy Carter to top the LA Sparks 105–78 yesterday.

🐣 Checking in on the rookie class: Two debutants made some early statements. The Minnesota Lynx’s Olivia Miles joined an exclusive club in her W debut, dropping 21 points, eight assists, three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in Minnesota’s nailbiting 91–90 loss to the Atlanta Dream. Talk about stuffing the stat sheet.

• Over on the West Coast, Seattle Storm multi-hyphenate Flau’jae Johnson has been electric, averaging 14 points through two games, including a 16-point showing in yesterday’s 89–82 win over the Connecticut Sun.

🍿 Game to watch: Atlanta Dream vs. Dallas Wings — tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET: Three of the biggest names in basketball — Atlanta’s walking double-double Angel Reese and Dallas’ duo of the aforementioned Bueckers and Azzi Fudd — will clash in this early-season battle of title contenders. Can’t wait.