WNBA 2020 Season Begins July 25th

The GIST: Basketball is back too, baby! We are just two days away from the WNBA’s opening tip-off, so here’s #thegist of what to expect during this v. unconventional season.

What’s the structure?: All 12 teams will play in this regular season revamp, which is taking place in a “Wubble” environment at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, and the season has been shortened from 36 games to 22.

• The league is skipping preseason and jumping right into the regular season, which will run from this Saturday until mid-September. Then it’s time for the playoffs, when the Washington Mystics will look to become the first back-to-back WNBA champs since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2002.
  

• All eyes will be on No. 1 draft pick Sabrina Ionescu (pronounced YOH-NESS-COO) at noon ET on Saturday, when her New York Liberty take on the Seattle Storm. She’s already the college GOAT, so we expect big things from her rookie WNBA season. For a full breakdown on the favorites, the stars and the can’t-miss matchups, check out our 2020 WNBA Season Guide.

What else is going on in the W?: Senator Kelly Loeffler is back on her sh!t. Loeffler is a part owner of the Atlanta Dream, and earlier this month she wrote a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, asking her to reconsider the league’s promotion and involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement (which Engelbert did not do).

• Despite intense backlash from players, Loeffler is continuing her push, now saying that she’s worried the league’s support of BLM (which she says is a political organization...) will drive fans away, and that “American values aren’t at the core of what we’re doing here.” We literally can’t even.

Ugh. Tell me something good: In contrast to whatever Senator Loeffler is after, the league’s players association, the WNBPA, has partnered with the family of Breonna Taylor to create t-shirts and hoodies in her honor, calling it The Breonna Taylor Collection.

• All proceeds from the sales of the shirts will go to The Breonna Taylor Foundation, which aims to seek justice in her memory. BRB, have to go buy a sweet T and #SayHerName.