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Some Warriors coaches reportedly didn't prefer Jonathan Kuminga in 2021 draft

Some Warriors coaches reportedly didn't prefer Jonathan Kuminga in 2021 draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As the Jonathan Kuminga free-agency saga continues with the Warriors, it was revealed that some within the organization reportedly would have preferred to select a different player with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. 

“A few” members of the Warriors’ coaching staff voiced a preference to draft eventual Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner instead of Kuminga, but Golden State owner Joe Lacob was the “driving force” behind selecting the Congolese forward, ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania reported, citing sources, in a piece published Monday. Wagner was drafted one pick later by Orlando with the No. 8 selection. 

“Lacob has remained a staunch Kuminga supporter and vocal believer in his long-term future,” Slater and Charania wrote. “He voiced an unwillingness to include Kuminga in a proposed trade from Chicago for Alex Caruso a couple of seasons back, sources said, and was still glowing about Kuminga’s performance in May after he rose from out of Steve Kerr’s first-round rotation to the team’s leading scorer in the second-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.” 

Despite being drafted back-to-back, the two forwards have had vastly different experiences in their four years of NBA service. 

In four seasons with the Magic, Wagner has played 291 games and was in the Orlando starting five for each game he played. In contrast, Kuminga has played 258 regular-season games with the Warriors and has started in just 84. 

Wagner signed a five-year, $224 million contract with Orlando prior to the 2024-25 NBA season. Golden State has reportedly offered Kuminga a three-year, $75.2 million contract. 

Kuminga’s usage has fluctuated throughout his four-year career with the Warriors. In the 2023-24 season, he logged a career-high 26.3 minutes per game and played in 74 of the 82 regular-season games. That number saw a downtick to 24.3 minutes per game last season, as he battled injuries and rotation changes while appearing in just 47 games, a career low. 

The 22-year-old restricted free agent’s playing time under coach Steve Kerr took its biggest hit after the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat at the NBA trade deadline in February. 

Kuminga played in just three of the seven games in the first-round NBA playoff series against the Houston Rockets. That changed in the next series, as he broke out in the Western Conference semifinals against the Timberwolves in large part due to the hamstring injury to superstar Stephen Curry in Game 1 at Minnesota.  

In Curry’s absence, Kuminga was the Warriors’ leading scorer in the series, averaging 20.8 points per game. 

An obstacle to the re-signing of Jonathan Kuminga for the Warriors is the question of a substantial role for the forward, a key concern for Kuminga and his camp in free agency according to Slater and Charania. 

On the other hand, there has been no question about Wagner’s role with the Magic. Last season, the forward averaged 24.2 points per game, the second-most for the Magic behind NBA All-Star forward Paolo Banchero. 

Unlike Kuminga, Wagner did not face much competition for rotation minutes early in his career. In their rookie seasons, Orlando finished with a 22-60 record, the second-worst in the NBA in the 2021-22 season. In contrast, the Warriors went on to win the NBA Finals in that season, a much harder team to play vital rotation minutes for as a rookie. 

Although there was little difference in their draft position, there is a large gulf between Kuminga and Wagner in terms of contract size and team role in their young careers.

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Red Wings Announce Initial Schedule for Centennial Jersey Nights

The 2025-26 NHL season is a special one for the Detroit Red Wings, as it officially marks a full century of play.

The entire theming of the campaign will be centered around the centennial celebration of the winningest U.S.-based NHL franchise, and to that end, the Red Wings released their special alternate centennial uniforms they'll be wearing on select dates this season. 

The Red Wings have announced that the uniforms will be worn in each of their first two home games at Little Caesars Arena, both against fellow Original Six opponents.

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Detroit will face the Montreal Canadiens in the regular season opener on Oct. 9, followed by a matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 11. In both games, the Red Wings will take the ice in their newly released centennial uniforms.

“Red Wings fans have long embraced the Winged Wheel, and we wanted our Centennial uniform to commemorate its legacy,” said Ryan Gustafson, President and CEO, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment via the Red Wings official website. “This design honors the traditions that make Red Wings hockey truly distinctive, while incorporating meaningful details to celebrate this remarkable milestone in a way that stays authentic to Detroit. It recognizes the outstanding players, the defining moments and above all, the devoted fans who have shaped us into who we are today. We believe this uniform will serve as a powerful reminder of our history, while inspiring anticipation for the memorable moments yet to come.”

The new look incorporates elements from past uniforms the Red Wings have worn throughout their history, including when they were initially known as the Cougars and Falcons. 

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All You Need To Know About The Three Players The Hurricanes Signed To PTOs

Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

The Carolina Hurricanes signed three players to PTOs heading into training camp, as they will compete to make the Hurricanes’ opening night roster. 

Here’s all you need to know about these three players:

Kevin Labanc:

Lebanc has spent eight of his nine NHL seasons playing for the San Jose Sharks, while he spent last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

In 512 career games, Leblanc has recorded 84 goals, 153 assists, and 237 points. 

The 29-year-old forward’s career best season came during the 2018-19 campaign with the Sharks when he tallied 17 goals and 39 assists for 56 points.

Oliver Kylington:

Oliver Kylington was most recently with the Anaheim Ducks where he played in six games. 

This past season, Kylington was traded twice. He was first dealt from the Colorado Avalanche to the 

New York Islanders as part of the Brock Nelson trade, and the Islanders quickly shipped him off to the Ducks for future considerations.

In his seven NHL seasons, Kylington has played for the Calgary Flames, Avalanche and Ducks. In 220 career games, the 28-year-old defenseman has recorded 18 goals, 42 assists, and 60 points. 

Givani Smith:

Smith was also traded twice during the 2024-25 campaign. He was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Avalanche in a deal that included Alexandar Georgiev and Mackenzie Blackwood in December. 

Full Look At The Hurricanes' Preseason ScheduleFull Look At The Hurricanes' Preseason ScheduleWith the start of training camp just around the corner, here's a full look at the Carolina Hurricanes' preseason schedule. 

Right before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, he was dealt from the Avalanche to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Erik Johnson. 

In six NHL seasons, Smith has played for the Detroit Red Wings, Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Avalanche. The 27-year-old forward has recorded nine goals, 13 assists, and 22 points in 168 career games.

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Hawks trade point guard Kobe Bufkin to Nets for cash considerations

Kobe Bufkin has played in just 27 NBA games across two seasons — because of time in the G-League and injuries — but at Summer League in Las Vegas this July he showed some potential as a point guard who could run the pick-and-roll, like during his 29-point outing against the Heat (17 in the fourth quarter to spark a comeback win).

That was enough to get the Nets to take a chance on him.

Atlanta is trading Bufkin to Brooklyn for cash considerations, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.

For Atlanta, this is a salary dump. The Hawks save Bufkin's $4.5 million salary, putting them $7.7 million below the luxury tax line and $15.4 million below the first apron, where they are hard-capped (plus they create a trade exception they can use for the next year). For the Nets, this move puts them above the league's salary floor, but they still have $11.4 million in cap space to facilitate trades.

The Nets also get a one-year roll of the dice on Bufkin, to see if he is the point guard who was putting up so many points in Las Vegas, or if he is more the guy who was committing turnovers and not shooting consistently while he was doing so. This is the kind of move Nets GM Sean Marks made a lot during his first rebuild, taking a shot on a flawed player with potential to see if other teams have given up too quickly. Sometimes that works out, sometimes it doesn't, but it's a risk worth taking for the Nets, who are in the middle of another rebuild.

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Kings 2025-26 Player Preview: Francesco Pinelli

As the Los Angeles Kings prepare to try and finally make a deeper playoff run than in the previous few seasons, some players in the organization may be players to watch as potential call-ups throughout the campaign.

In this article, we take a look at Francesco Pinelli's 2024-25 season, what to expect out of him in the 2025-26 season, and his potential role in the Kings' organization.

Pinelli's 2024-25 Season

Pinelli, who is 22 years old, played with the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League (AHL) last season, scoring 15 goals and adding 14 assists for 29 points through 70 games.

Kirill Kaprizov Rejects Record-Breaking Offer, Should LA Kings Consider Targeting Him?

It was his second professional campaign with the Reign. In the 2023-24 season, he scored 13 goals and added seven assists for 20 points through 67 games. 

He was the Kings' second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at 42nd overall, and while he hasn't yet exploded offensively at the professional level, it seems as though there is still plenty of time to grow as he continues to try and turn himself into an NHL contributor one day down the line.

2025-26 Season & Expectations

As he looks to increase his production at the AHL level, there is a chance he becomes a player the Kings could call up if they run into some injury trouble.

There is a very slim chance that he makes the Kings' opening night roster, but a long shot is more than nothing. It's more than likely that he starts the season in the AHL with the Reign, where he will look to continue building on his offensive production and fine-tuning his defensive game. 

Pinelli has been praised previously for his offensive IQ and his ability to support his teammates while creating scoring opportunities for them and himself. He has been referred to as a craft playmaker who has a knack for finishing with the puck on his stick, and the Kings will be hoping he can continue to grow into a solid two-way contributor. 

According to the depth chart, Pinelli would have to beat out some really strong players to make the Kings out of training camp. So, the Kings are taking their time with Pinelli and letting him build confidence as he figures out his game, which is the right thing to do, rather than rushing him, so this will be another development campaign for the prospect.

Stay tuned in with your Los Angeles Kings here at The Hockey News, as the 2025-26 season inches closer.

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Mrtka’s Future May Not Include Return To WHL

The Buffalo Sabres wrapped up their 2025 Prospects Challenge with a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at LECOM Harborcenter on Monday afternoon. The weekend marked the first time that Sabres fans got a look at defenseman Radim Mrtka, who was selected ninth overall last June.

The 18-year-old blueliner showed off his skating and physical attributes, and he will get a long look at the club’s training camp when it opens later this week, but after that, it is unclear whether the big defenseman will be heading back to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds or to the American Hockey League. 

"I think he's in the same situation as (2024 first-rounder Konsta Helenius) was last year because I think he was signed and (is) eligible to play (in Rochester),"Amerks head coach Michael Leone said after the game.  "Whatever (Sabres management) chooses to do, we support, but I think it's more of a conversation of what is the best for him and his development going forward."

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Helenius played exclusively for Jukurit in the Finnish SM-Liiga prior to being drafted by the Sabres in 2024, and came over to North America last season, earning a selection to the AHL All-Rookie team. Mrtka played at the junior and pro level for Ocelari Trinec in Czechia before heading to Seattle and playing 43 games for the Thunderbirds. When asked where he thought he would be the best fit, the young defenseman said he wasn’t thinking about that, but Leone cautioned what the 18-year-old playing professionally in the AHL would be like. 

“With forwards, it’s a little easier to hide in pro hockey. With defensemen, it’s a different animal.” Leone said. “Either way is a possibility, but (Assistant GMs) Jerry (Forton) and Jason (Karmanos) and the management staff will make a decision after that.”

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Sabres goaltender Scott Ratzlaff did not play in any of the three games due to illness. Topias Leinonen, Ryerson Leenders, and 2025 draftee Samuel Meloche went the full 60 minutes in losses to New Jersey, Columbus, and Pittsburgh. 

 

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It's been a surreal season for Phillies' Otto Kemp

It's been a surreal season for Phillies' Otto Kemp originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

LOS ANGELES – Surreal. It’s the best one-word description that Phillies third baseman Otto Kemp can give to describe his first time playing in the big leagues.

And Monday night’s series opener will add to all of it, as he has close to 30 family members in the stands of Dodger Stadium to watch him try to help the Phillies clinch their second consecutive National League East title. Kemp was penciled to hit sixth and play third base for the Phillies.

Kemp was called up from Lehigh Valley on June 7 and played 46 games with the Phillies until being sent back down to the IronPigs on August 15. He came back to the big club on September 8 and has gone 9-for-24 (.375) with three home runs and seven RBIs.

“It’s been really cool,” said Kemp, who is batting .249 on the year. “Been nice to kind of have that first little stint to get comfortable and see what everything’s about and just kind of accept it as the learning curve and now that we’re back I feel like my feet are under me and feel a lot more comfortable. I feel like I’m a part of this team with all these guys in this clubhouse.

Getting to know Philly, the stadium, the game, the area, all of it. It was all kind of new at the beginning. I’m just the kind of guy that kind of takes a lot in and it takes me a second to get my feet under me and get comfortable. That was kind of the story at every level. Just getting a little more comfortable. To go back, reset for a second and come back and try and contribute was the right formula for me. “

Monday, the Fullerton, California native was showing off his formula in front of all those family members in a stadium that he had been to as a kid, but never played in. Another new experience to add to the list.

“It’s cool to be back in the home state. I grew up closer to Anaheim, so I was more of an Angels fan than a Dodgers fan. It’s still unbelievable to be here. It’s a historic place. Family has a lot of history of being Dodgers fans and growing up in this area and around this ballpark and seeing a lot of the Dodgers legends pass through here. Cool to be here and experience this place.”

Still, there is a job to do and when so much is on the line, it certainly adds some pressure, no matter how hard you try to block that out of your mind.

“You have to get used to it,” Kemp said. “In order to have success you have to push that to the side a little bit. For me, when I first came up, I think I let a lot of those little things play in my head a little bit more. My first time I didn’t know what the right mentality was to have success up here was. We got a job to do and I think the setting just changes a little bit. It’s the same game between those lines so I’m trying to treat it like any other day, which is hard to do. For me, that’s just the adjustment I’ve made. I belong here and sticking to my guns and doing what I do.”

His hope, obviously that he does stick for the playoff roster. That’s a decision manager Rob Thomson and the front office will have to make in a couple of weeks. For now, Kemp is still just soaking it all in.

“If you let your mind wander that’s when it starts to be harder and harder to get to that one point to where you want to go,” he said. “Not giving it more energy that it needs and it’s just another game. We’re going to get there. But the more we try and force it the worse it’s going to be. Just playing the game for what it is.

“You have ideas of where you think you can go but when pencil comes to paper it’s pretty unbelievable to think last year I was in double-A at this time and transitioning to triple-A not knowing what was next after that. Kind of hoping I had a shot at the big leagues, but little did I know it was right around the corner. You can make a lot of stuff up in your mind and you can create a lot of situations – create the worst case, create the best case – but it’s pretty surreal to be sitting here and having a chance to go and win a title.”

Injury updates:

There is never a good time of the year for injury, obviously, but the small dings that have hit the Phillies recently seem to be improving well.

Trea Turner, Alec Bohm and Edmundo Sosa all have missed time recently with various injuries but are progressing well, according to Thomson.

“Hope so,” said Thomson when asked if Bohm should be ready by Friday. “He’ll work out today, so we’ll know more after today. Same thing with Sosa and then we’ll reevaluate tomorrow.” Thomson said there’s a possibility Sosa could be back from his groin strain as early as tomorrow. Bohm is working out soreness in his shoulder.

Turner, diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, appears to be progressing ahead of schedule.

“Stayed in Philly. Did a full workout today,” said Thomson of Turner. “Did a little bit of jogging. Hit in the cages, tee and toss, ground balls. Really good. He feels good. We’re hoping (Turner will return before playoffs). Said he feels really good.”

Travel troubles

For the umpteenth time this season, the Phillies had travel issues in getting out to the West Coast.

“It was mechanical, and we had to wait for another plane. That’s the way it goes,” said Thomson, adding the team got in around 2 a.m. “I slept most of the time. All the way out pretty much, then I got to bed and slept some more. We kind of pulled back on (the players) because of how late we got in last night. Some later busses (to Dodger Stadium) and going to keep the workload to just make sure they’re ready to play.”

Pitching change

The Dodgers announced Monday that they would be starting left-handed reliever Anthony Bande instead of previously listed starter Emmet Sheehan. Thomson said he didn’t make a change to the starting lineup that he told his team on Sunday.

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The Wraparound: Will Morgan Rielly's Offensive Production Rebound In Toronto?

The Wraparound is here with new, rapid-fire NHL and hockey discussions.

Will Morgan Rielly's Offensive Production Rebound In Toronto? by The WraparoundWill Morgan Rielly's Offensive Production Rebound In Toronto? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Jon Bailey discussed in this episode:

0:00: Could the Pittsburgh Penguins convince Marc-Andre Fleury to come out of retirement?

4:51: Should the Los Angeles Kings be concerned about Corey Perry’s injury?

8:10: Will Morgan Rielly have a strong offensive season for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

11:33: Breaking down Spencer Knight’s three-year extension with the Chicago Blackhawks

15:10: Could the Boston Bruins possibly trade Jeremy Swayman if things go wrong this season?

18:55: Should the Tampa Bay Lightning be considered contenders this season?

23:10: Which Edmonton Oilers youngster will have a bigger impact this season: Isaac Howard or Matthew Savoie?

27:45: Will Luke Evangelista continue to hold out on a contract extension with the Nashville Predators?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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How Giants top prospect Bryce Eldridge fared in MLB debut vs. Diamondbacks

How Giants top prospect Bryce Eldridge fared in MLB debut vs. Diamondbacks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Top Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge made his highly anticipated MLB debut against the Diamondbacks on Monday in Arizona, batting fifth in the lineup as the designated hitter.

While he put together an 0-for-3 performance with one groundout, one strikeout and one flyout, there still was plenty to like from the young slugger’s first game in The Show which proved he is more than capable of handling big-league pitching.

As he walked up to the Chase Field plate for his first major league at-bat in the top of the second inning, Eldridge received a loud ovation from his family and friends in attendance.

With no one on and one out, the 20-year-old worked his way to a full count against Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen before grounding out sharply to first baseman Ildemaro Vargas.

Eldridge tried to check his swing but couldn’t hold back on the first pitch of the at-bat, a 93.6 mph four-seam fastball, before Gallen threw him four straight changeups low and away — one of which was a swing-and-miss.

He hit the sixth pitch of the at-bat, a 94 mph four-seamer, 99 mph off the bat to conclude a quality showing for his first big-league hacks.

The next at-bat against Gallen didn’t go as well. With the count 2-2, Eldridge struck out on a knuckle curve for the third out in the top of the fourth inning.

For a moment, it looked like Eldridge had his first big-league homer during his third at-bat in the top of the seventh inning, which came against Diamondbacks right-hander Taylor Rashi. With Matt Chapman on first base, the slugger hit a ball 407 feet to the deepest part of the outfield in center, but Jorge Barrosa made a leaping catch on the warning track.

Even Eldridge’s cheering section thought the ball was out — and it actually would have been a home run in 23 other ballparks.

The flyout was made all the more impressive by the power Eldridge showcased on an inside pitch, casually flipping the four-seamer over 400 feet the other way.

All in all, Eldridge wasn’t the only Giant who didn’t record a hit in San Francisco’s 8-1 loss. In fact, Casey Schmitt had the Giants’ only two hits of the game.

But there certainly were some promising at-bats from San Francisco’s top prospect, who hopes to make an impact as the Giants continue their quest for an MLB playoff spot.

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Yankees' Aaron Judge named AL Player of the Week after homering five times in six games

Aaron Judge, likely in the midst of another MVP season, took home a different award on Monday, as he was named the American League Player of the Week.

In six games from Sept. 8-14, Judge slashed .450/.560/1.200 with five home runs and nine runs scored. His 1.760 OPS during that span also led all American League hitters.

The Yankees went 3-3 last week and are currently 4.0 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East and are 1.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox for the top Wild Card spot.

Judge, the AL MVP in 2022 and 2024, is the overwhelming favorite to win the award again this season, with Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh the other player in contention. 

Judge has once again put up absurd numbers hitting .326, which would be a single-season best for him, to go along with a .447 OBP, a .678 slugging percentage, 48 home runs, and 102 RBI.

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Nets acquiring Kobe Bufkin for cash considerations in trade with Hawks: report

The Nets are acquiring guard Kobe Bufkin in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, reports ESPN's Shams Charania. 

Brooklyn is sending the Hawks cash considerations for the 21-year-old who was selected 15th overall out of Michigan in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Appearing in just 10 games for Atlanta last season, Bufkin averaged 5.3 points on 38.3 percent shooting (21.1 percent from three). He also added 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists while playing 12.4 minutes per game. He played in 17 games during his rookie season and has spent most of his professional career playing for the Hawks' NBA G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.

Bukin, 6-foot-4 and 194 pounds, will join a crowded Nets roster and will look to make the team out of camp as perhaps a backup point guard.

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'This Is Where I Want To Be': Sidney Crosby Reaffirms Commitment To Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby made it clear on Monday that he is sick and tired of the trade rumors surrounding him.

Crosby took some time to meet with local reporters while he was delivering season tickets to fans and confirmed that he wants to be a Penguin. It comes after Pat Brisson, his longtime agent, made some comments to the national media about Crosby's future last week.

"I don't take those rumors or some of those things lightly. Like I said, this is where I want to be," Crosby told reporters. "It's a special place, and it's something that is hard to put it all in a soundbite, but it means a lot." 

Crosby has been a Penguin his entire career since he was drafted first overall in the 2005 NHL Draft and doesn't want that to change. He's heading into his 21st NHL season this year and is focused on winning, despite the team being in a rebuild.

It's the way he's wired, having helped the Penguins win three Stanley Cups during his playing career and having appeared in four Stanley Cup Finals and five Eastern Conference Finals. 

The Penguins will open training camp this Thursday, and Crosby will obviously be there with the rest of his teammates as they get set for the regular season. The Penguins will open the regular season against the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden on October 7.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

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No ‘funky rugby’: new England coach Lee Blackett targets substance over style

Steve Borthwick’s new attack coach believes he has time to create a winning culture before the World Cup in 2027

To say England have been through a few attack coaches in recent times is an understatement. The latest cab off the rank, Lee Blackett, is the 11th individual to take on the role in nine years but it may just be that the national team have found the ideal catalyst to enhance their chances at the next Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027.

Blackett, 42, auditioned successfully for the job in the summer tour of Argentina and the US, where England scored 13 tries in three Tests, and he has emerged as the big winner in Steve Borthwick’s latest cabinet reshuffle with Richard Wigglesworth switching to defence and Joe El-Abd helping out with the forwards.

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2025 WNBA Awards: Jackie Powell's picks for MVP, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved, and more

A common refrain about the 2025 WNBA season has been how much more parity exists across the league than in recent years. There’s an argument to be made that potentially five out of the eight teams currently in the playoffs have a fair shot to contend for the WNBA championship due to how rosters are constructed and the coaches for those teams.

Because of that parity and due to some unfortunate injuries to key players around the league throughout the season, determining season-ending awards has been more difficult than in recent memory. This was the fourth season that I cast my vote across the variety of awards that the league gives out to those who performed exceptionally during the 2025 regular season.

Ballots were officially due from voters by noon ET on Friday, September 12. The league will roll out the winners of these awards as the WNBA playoffs continue. Who probably will win and who should win? In this article, I'll reveal my ballot as well as who I expect will actually take home the various awards.

WNBA Most Valuable Player Award

Who should win:Napheesa Collier  — F, Minnesota Lynx

My vote went to Collier simply because she was incredibly consistent throughout the entire season. She was the best player on the most consistent team all season long. But also Collier made league history in a really meaningful way and became the first player in WNBA history to record a 50-40-90 (overall field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage) while averaging over 20 points per game. A 50-40-90 has only been accomplished one other time in league history when Elena Delle Donne did the same in 2019 while averaging 19.5 points per game. She won her second MVP award that very season.

Who will win: A’ja Wilson — C, Las Vegas Aces

Wilson will win because of how recency bias has often swayed WNBA voters. Wilson’s ability alongside her head coach Becky Hammon to rally the troops to start performing at their potential after the Aces fell 111-58 to Collier’s Minnesota Lynx has made a significant impression on voters. The Aces haven’t lost a game since that August 2 blowout game.

Also, Collier missed a bit over three weeks following that blowout. She sprained her right ankle in the third quarter of that game and for a while the Lynx kept their head above water and didn’t endure a huge amount of drop off. Since the Aces’ entire way of playing is based upon Wilson and her strengths, her team is much less capable and performs a lot worse without her. The on-off numbers don’t lie here.

WNBA Defensive Player of the Year

Who should win: Alanna Smith  — F, Minnesota Lynx

Being a great defender isn’t incumbent on just how many blocks and steals a player has or if they lead the league in defensive rebounding. Those are worthwhile numbers to consider, but those aren’t the be-all and end-all to determine who has been the most impactful defender in the league. I voted for Smith because of how much she anchors the Lynx’s defense and style of play even while Napheesa Collier was out with an ankle injury.

“I think [Smith] does more for us that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet than probably any other player in the league,” Kayla McBride said on August 10 during the three weeks Collier was out with her ankle sprain. “Her ability to put her body on the line and just the awareness and the competition level that she has on a nightly basis for us is priceless. We can put her on anybody.”

Smith has been the anchor of the team that was the top defense all season long. She’s an undersized center that often takes a lot of contact and uses her competitive nature in addition to her high basketball instincts to make some of the most dominant players in the league feel uncomfortable.

Who will win: A’ja Wilson — C, Las Vegas Aces

Defensive player of the year is one of the most difficult awards to assess simply because defensive aptitude is really difficult to determine just by box score stats like blocks, steals and defensive rebounds. Wilson averaged the most blocks this season with 2.3 and she averaged the second most defensive rebounds (7.9) to just Angel Reese with 8.5. Without her on the floor, the Aces’ defensive rating drops around 10 points.

The case for Wilson as DPOY is really quite similar to hers for MVP. While the Aces’ defense finished the regular season ranked eighth overall, along the last 15 games of the season it was ranked second led by Wilson. If recency bias prevails, I wouldn’t be shocked if Wilson wins her third DPOY.

WNBA Most Improved Player

Who should win: Veronica Burton — G, Golden State Valkyries

Who will win: Veronica Burton

Note: Burton was announced as the winner in overwhelming fashion on Monday afternoon, taking 68 out of the 74 votes.

Burton took such a huge jump as a player who got waived by the Wings a season ago, to a backup point guard on a veteran heavy Connecticut Sun team during the second half of the 2024 season to now the starting point guard on a playoff team in the Golden State Valkyries.

Burton has not only the narrative on her side but also the numbers. Her minutes have gone up year over year by over 131%, her scoring increased year or year by over 283% and her average assists also went up year over year by over 215%

While candidates like Azura Stevens, Allisha Gray, and Aliyah Boston all made fair cases when it came to their improved ceilings as players, there wasn’t a more dramatic year over year jump that overcame Burton’s. She earned my vote for that very reason and it is fair to assume that she earned the majority of the voting pool’s votes for that reason as well.

WNBA Sixth Player of the Year

Who should win: Natisha Hiedeman — G, Minnesota Lynx

The only rule the WNBA has to qualify for this award is that the player must come off the bench in more games than she has started. While Naz Hillmon only started in 17 games out of the 44 games she played, Hiedeman has only come off the bench this season. Hideman’s role all season long has been about providing a lot of energy off the bench when Courtney Williams isn’t playing her best. To me that’s a textbook definition of a sixth player of the year.

Although, Hiedeman definitely had some recency bias on her side when it came to getting my vote. In her last ten games of the season including the Lynx’s first playoff win against the Valkyries, Hiedeman has averaged 12.8 points, 52.3% shooting and 48.6% shooting from three-point range.

Who will win: Naz Hillmon — F, Atlanta Dream

The sixth player of the year and most improved awards can sometimes overlap. Is this an award about who is the best player coming off the bench or is this about which player has stood out the most in their role coming off the bench? Hillmon’s case as sixth player of the year is confusing to me simply because she was elevated off the bench with over a month left of the season. Once Brittney Griner injured her neck, Dream head coach Karl Smesko moved Hillmon to the starting lineup and didn’t really look back. Hillmon is starting in the playoffs.

Hillmon is such an important connector for the Dream and her development starting off as a back-to-the-basket post in college and then completely transforming her game so that she’s a tweener who can do a little bit of everything is incredibly impressive. There might be a desire to award a player on the Dream especially with Smesko most likely losing out on coach of the year and Allisha Gray not being in top contention for MVP.

WNBA Rookie of the Year

Who should win: Paige Bueckers — G, Dallas Wings

Who will win: Paige Bueckers

Bueckers proved to be exactly who many thought she would be while a star in college at Uconn. She’s a generational talent who plays on both sides of the ball who can create at a high level for herself and others. She’s someone who coaches and GMs build a team around and that’s exactly what I expect to be in the future of the Wings all things being equal.

Bueckers’ ability to take over a game was put on display on August 20 against the Sparks when she set a WNBA rookie record for points scored in a game with 44. She recorded the most points by player during the 2025 regular season in addition to becoming the first player in WNBA history to score over 40 points while shooting at least 80% from the field.

While Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen had impressive rookie seasons, they didn’t have to carry the load that Bueckers did when it came to scoring and distributing the basketball. Bueckers still managed a super high level of play all the while her team had 28 total injuries and 121 games lost to injury, some of the highest margins in the league.

WNBA Coach of the Year

Who should win: Natalie Nakase — Golden State Valkyries

Who will win: Natalie Nakase 

While I voted for Nakase and believe she’s the front runner, Karl Smekso achieved a huge feat. Not only did he transform one of the most inconsistent offenses in 2024 into a powerhouse in 2025, but he did so with players that didn’t fit his vision for how he likes to play. General Manager Dan Padover signed two back-to-the-basket centers for a team that was expected to play at a high pace and get up a ton of three-pointers. Smesko made lemonade out of lemons.

But the reason I voted for Nakase and why this is a relatively simple pick to make is because she took an expansion team without any top end talent to the postseason and coached that team to have the third-best defense in the league. No other expansion in league history has ever reached the playoffs. That’s a story in itself that reflects the buy-in that Nakase got from her players. Also, the Valkyries had some of the most injuries this season in the WNBA and the team still performed well enough to make the playoffs.

2025 All-WNBA Teams

I truly believe that Collier, Wilson, Thomas, Mitchell and Gray were the most consistently great players this season and that’s what All-WNBA ought to be about. The second team, however, is so difficult to judge just because Stewart and Ionescu both had moments where they were brilliant and had to uplift their heavily injured stricken team. Boston took a massive leap this year as a scorer and facilitator but also struggled when the Fever were absolutely decimated by injuries.

Nneka Ogwumike’s efficiency and consistency and the fact that she shot 51.9% from the field this season on a team that really struggled to create open looks on offense in the Storm is part of why she earned my second team vote here. While Young started out less efficient and potent than she’s expected to be just like the majority of that Las Vegas Aces team to start the season, she embraced her new role as the Aces’ primary ball handler and facilitator. Her pick-and-roll chemistry with A’ja Wilson has been untenable at points during the regular season.

My votes

First Team:

Napheesa Collier, A’ja Wilson, Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Mitchell, Allisha Gray

Second Team:

Nneka Ogwumike, Jackie Young, Aliyah Boston, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu

Projected honorees

First Team:

A’ja Wilison, Napheesa Collier, Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Mitchell, Allisha Gray

Second Team:

Nneka Ogwumike, Jackie Young, Aliyah Boston, Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum

WNBA All-Defensive Teams

The Lynx, the Dream, and the Valkyries all had the top three defenses in the league during the regular season. And as a result, my ballot reflected that. My first team included two Lynx players in Smith and Collier, two of the best defenders on the best defensive team in the league.

My second team was littered with players from the Dream and the Valkyries for that very reason. Brionna Jones anchored the Dream’s paint defense while Rhyne Howard took a step forward defensively proving she could competently defend forwards and guards. Burton was an excellent point of attack defender this year and Fágbénlé made it so difficult for centers like Aliyah Boston, Brionna Jones and Jonquel Jones to play well. Gabby Williams made my ballot because of how she averaged 2.3 steals a game while the Storm’s defensive rating drops 7 points without her on the floor.

Breanna Stewart earned my vote simply because of how much the Liberty’s defense suffered without her on the floor. Her ability to roam everywhere, help her teammates and then recover to hold her assignment which can be any player type of the floor, was something that stood out in particular this year.

Also, I expect that players like Ezi Magbegor and rookie Saniya Rivers are going to get votes simply because of their defensive reputation. Magbegor is known for her defensive excellence while Rivers also had a ton of stocks (steals and blocks combined) and became the second rookie in league history to have 100 steals and 100 blocks in a season.

My votes

First Team

Alanna Smith, A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Gabby Williams, Breanna Stewart

Second Team

Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones, Temi Fágbénlé, Veronica Burton, Rhyne Howard

Projected honorees

First Team:

A’ja Wilson, Alanna Smith, Alyssa Thomas, Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton

Second Team:

Rhyne Howard, Breanna Stewart, Allisha Gray, Ezi Magbegor, Saniya Rivers

2025 WNBA All-Rookie Team

The 2025 rookie class will be one remembered for how deep it truly was. There are some years when it’s difficult to fill out an All-Rookie team just because so few rookies registered meaningful impacts, see 2021 and 2022. But 2025’s rookie class was not only highlighted by college draftees, but it also was highlighted by some international players who came over as a result of smart front office scouting.

The first three in Bueckers, Citron, and Iriafen are a given, but the final two spots were much more difficult. My decision came down to how Monique Akoa Makani and Te-Hina Paopao impacted their teams during critical moments rather than the rookies that scored the most points. Ako Makani has burst onto the scene as a really solid two-way presence able to lock-down an opponent’s best offensive threat. Paopao filled in at backup point guard multiple times when Dream starting point guard Jordin Canada dealt with multiple injuries during the regular season.

My votes

Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Monique Akoa Makani, Te-Hina Paopao

Projected honorees

Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Janelle Salaün, Dominique Malonga