
WNBA Dimes
Hosted by Cookie
About This Episode
Generated sports podcast with host Cookie based on prompt: Daily WNBA news. Scores, highlights, and general news. Call it WNBA Dimes
Transcript
Hey! It's Cookie O'Clock! Welcome to WNBA Dimes, your daily digest of everything happening off the court in the WNBA world. I'm Brooke, your host, ready to sprinkle some wit and insight onto the latest news, player honors, and more. Let's dive right in!
First up, Players of the Week! Huge congrats to Sabrina Ionescu, the New York Liberty star who just snagged Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Averaging 21.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists—I mean, what doesn’t she do? Sabrina's on fire, becoming the first Liberty guard to nail this award three times in one season. Over in the West, Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury claimed the spotlight, averaging 19.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. Not too shabby, Alyssa, not too shabby.
Now, let’s talk about some roster shake-ups. The Golden State Valkyries activated forward Iliana Rupert. Fresh off a EuroLeague title, she’s ready to bring that winning mojo back stateside. Meanwhile, the Washington Mystics have added some international flair by signing French forward Sika Koné. Length? Check. Defensive versatility? Double check. It’s going to be exciting watching these moves play out on the court.
In All-Star news, Indiana Fever’s rookie sensation Caitlin Clark had to bow out due to a groin injury. Bummer! But stepping into those All-Star sneakers is Brittney Sykes, earning her second career nod. Brittney, give us a show—we'll have the popcorn ready.
Okay, time for some schedule talk! Breanna Stewart from the New York Liberty brought up a hot topic: the league's expanded 44-game regular season. She’s concerned about the extra back-to-backs and has called for more responsible rest periods. Makes sense—four games in six days? Even my coffee needs more breaks than that!
And speaking of games, the Indiana Fever are breaking new ground by taking two home games against the Chicago Sky to Chicago’s United Center. Double the arena size, double the drama—especially with the much-anticipated Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark showdown. Mark those calendars, folks!
On the injury front, Caitlin Clark’s groin strain has been a storytelling twist no one wanted. She’s already missed ten games this season, with her return still up in the air. Coach Stephanie White aims for a comeback, but it’s all about patience—something I personally have none of when it comes to snacks.
Looking ahead, the WNBA is gearing up to resume regular-season play after the All-Star break. Key matchups include Seattle hosting Dallas and the LA Sparks taking on the Mystics in Washington. Make sure to check those local listings or hop on the WNBA League Pass for the action.
That wraps up our WNBA rundown. Thanks for tuning in to WNBA Dimes. Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s episode where we’ll serve up more updates with my usual blend of humor and love for the game. Remember, it’s not just basketball—it’s the WNBA! Catch you next time on WNBA Dimes. Stay fabulous!
**WNBA Dimes: July 21, 2025**
Your daily digest of all the off-court news, player honors, roster moves and league chatter.
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## Players of the Week
• Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty) earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the period ending July 15 after averaging 21.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists over three games, becoming the first Liberty guard to win the award three times in a single season ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_WNBA_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
• Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury) claimed Western Conference Player of the Week for the same span, posting averages of 19.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists, her second weekly honor of 2025 ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_WNBA_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
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## Roster Moves & Contracts
• The Golden State Valkyries activated forward Iliana Rupert from her overseas hardship list on July 17, bolstering their frontcourt with a 2023 first-round pick fresh off a EuroLeague title ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2025_WNBA_season_transactions?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
• Washington Mystics inked French forward Sika Koné to a rest-of-season contract on July 18, adding length and defensive versatility to their bench ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2025_WNBA_season_transactions?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
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## All-Star Fallout
• Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark (groin) officially withdrew from all All-Star weekend events—including the Skills Challenge and the July 19 game—on July 17, opting to rest and rehab her right groin strain before rejoining the Fever’s lineup ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_WNBA_All-Star_Game?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
• Brittney Sykes was named Clark’s replacement on Team Collier’s roster, marking her second career All-Star nod and giving the Mystics guard a midseason showcase ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_WNBA_All-Star_Game?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
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## Schedule & Venue News
• Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty) publicly questioned the strain of the league’s now-44-game regular season, noting it piles extra back-to-backs into the same calendar span and urging the next CBA to consider recovery windows: “we’re playing four games in six days three times in a season…and need responsible rest,” she said after New York’s 85-66 win over Chicago on July 7 ([si.com](https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fastbreak/news/liberty-star-breanna-stewart-latest-to-voice-concerns-over-expanded-wnba-schedule-01jxftz99516?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
• In a historic first, the Indiana Fever announced two home games against the Chicago Sky will be staged at Chicago’s United Center—on June 7 and now July 27—doubling standard arena capacity and spotlighting the Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark matchup on the league’s biggest stage ([si.com](https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fastbreak/news/fever-announce-historic-change-for-caitlin-clark-angel-reese-2025-wnba-sky-showdowns-01jn6zdfbmsf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
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## Injury Updates
• Clark’s right groin strain, sustained in the July 15 loss at Connecticut, has sidelined her for ten games this season. Head coach Stephanie White continues to list her as day-to-day, aiming for a return once she’s cleared all recovery benchmarks ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Indiana_Fever_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
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## Looking Ahead
• On Tuesday, July 22 the WNBA resumes regular-season play following the All-Star break. Key matchups include the Seattle Storm hosting the Dallas Wings and the Los Angeles Sparks visiting the Washington Mystics. Check local listings and WNBA League Pass for live coverage.
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