Bleav in the W

After a compelling first-round series against the Indiana Fever, the Las Vegas Aces advance after an entertaining Game 3. Is there any team left that can stop the Aces, and more specifically A'ja Wilson? Plus, how do we grade Caitlin Clark's second playoff series in the WNBA? Storm Chasers' Jeff Brown joins Tyler Byrum to recap Thursday's game. Subscribe to Jeff's work at Storm Chasers here: https...

Tuesday's WNBA Playoff action was a far cry from what transpired on Saturday. Caitlin Clark led the Indiana Fever to a strong win over the Aces to force a Game 3, while the eighth-seeded New York Liberty stunned the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx in a sweep. The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant joined Bleav in the W to recap the action. Top storylines we discuss include how the Minnesota-New York matchup w...

A stunner in New York, a masterclass from A'ja Wilson, a fun battle in Atlanta and a dominant Valkyries performance all highlighted the first day of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs. The IX Sports' Rob Knox joined Bleav in the W's Tyler Byrum to discuss the storylines from the first day. Answering questions from is New York a legitimate championship contender? to Can the Indiana Fever win a title with Caitl...

From the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever's two-game set to a critical matchup between the Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty, there are plenty of games of consequence in the final week of the WNBA's regular season. Every seed is on the line with just three days left in the regular season. Tyler Byrum breaks down all the implications and scenarios. He also projects the 2026 WNBA Playoff seeding an...

The Washington Mystics have been one of the more pleasant surprises of the 2026 WNBA season. Will they continue to be a surprise in the WNBA Playoffs? Bleav in the W's Tyler Byrum and the IX Sports' Jenn Hatfield answer some of the most burning questions surrounding the Mystics as they begin to make their playoff push. From how the Mystics got to the postseason on the backs of Shakira Austin and S...

Two-time WNBA champion and 17-year veteran DeWanna Bonner was waived after she and the Phoenix Mercury agreed to a buyout of her contract. The move comes after the Mercury were eliminated from the postseason and will allow the 39-year-old to pursue another championship in what could be her last WNBA Playoffs. Who are the frontrunners for Bonner and which teams does she make sense for if she clears...

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham unleashed a firestorm of controversy around her and the WNBA, stating her opinions on trans athletes in a July ESPN feature. It has led to the WNBA and its lack of a trans athlete policy garnering national attention from right-wing pundits and anti-trans bad actors. Bleav in the W's Tyler Byrum and The IX Basketball's Jackie Powell try to provide historical co...

WNBA champion and All-Star Betnijah Laney-Hamilton has been claimed by the Washington Mystics off of waivers. Tyler Byrum grabs Jenn Hatfield from The IX Basketball to break down the new addition to a DC team that is on a six-game winning streak and showing to be a contender in the WNBA's playoff picture. Can Betnijah Laney-Hamilton actually raise the once youngest team in the league's ceiling? Ho...

Only two trades this 2026 WNBA Trade Deadline, but one of them was massive as All-WNBA star Kelsey Plum was traded away from her hometown team to help the Phoenix Mercury chase a lost season. Second-year player Aneesah Morrow also was on the move as Connecticut moved on from their former first-round draft pick. Tyler Byrum breaks down the trades and then hands out grades to all four franchises inv...

Two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne made a surprising appearance as a member of Team Washington for the WNBA's Shooting Star event at All-Star weekend. After winning the competition, she joked with ESPN's Holly Rowe about what it would take to return to the W, but didn't quite shut down the possibility. Bleav in the W's Tyler Byrum and The IX Basketball's Jenn Hatfield explain why this isn't the b...

The success of the Seattle Storm's season will not be judged on wins and losses this year. It will be on the growth and development of their massive swath of young players. At the midway point of the season, Tyler Byrum checks in with Seattle correspondent Jeff Brown from Storm Chasers to grade Dominique Malonga's, Flau'Jae Johnson's and Awa Fam's 2026 seasons. Subscribe to Jeff's work at Storm Ch...

WNBA budding star Paige Bueckers was asked about the lack of Black coaches in the WNBA and did not miss the opportunity to address the need for a pathway and equal chances for Black women to become head coaches. Hear the numbers behind the history of Black female coaches in the WNBA and which prominent assistants could be in line to be the next one to fill the vacancy. Andscape story - The WNBA is...

In a stunning mid-season move, the Los Angeles Sparks have parted ways with general manager Raegan Pebley. Timely, with the WNBA Trade Deadline just three weeks away and the Sparks in the middle of a crossroads. The Sporting Tribune's Rey Moralde joins the show to discuss the decision, who's now in charge and where he thinks the team goes from here. Follow Rey Moralde on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/...

Eleven republican members of Congress addressed a letter to Commissioner Cathy Engelbert concerning the treatment of players both on and off the court. Most, but not all, of the letter was concerning one player: Caitlin Clark. Tyler Byrum tries to break down what it all means and why the House representatives sent the letter now. A link to the full letter: https://x.com/RepPfluger/status/207489638...

Let's have some fun with the 2026 WNBA All-Star selections with a new, hypothetical format. Tyler Byrum and Rob Knox select a team of WNBA All-Stars with a format similar to Major League Baseball and where every team is represented in the game. Our full All-Star roster: Team Selections: Atlanta Dream - Angel Reese Chicago Sky - Kamila Cardoso Connecticut Sun - Brittney Griner Dallas Wings - Paige...

Mystics starting point guard Georgia Amoore is in the midst of overcoming an ACL injury while learning how to play in the WNBA. The 2025 No. 6 overall pick spoke with Tyler Byrum to discuss what she thinks of her play and how one of the biggest challenges this season is giving herself grace to get back to full health. Podcast episode on Alicia Florez and how it affects Georgia Amoore: https://blea...

Rookie and 2026 No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd has signed a contract to join Project B for their first season this upcoming winter. That is after signing a NIL deal in college with Unrivaled and her girlfriend Paige Bueckers is committed to the 3x3 league for multiple seasons. USA TODAY's Mitchell Northam joined the show to discuss Project B and the cast of players Fudd is joining. Read Mitchell's s...

Tyler Byrum catches up with Minnesota Lynx associate head coach Eric Thibault on life, his strengths as a coach, what pops up when you Google his name and his predictions for the remainder of the World Cup. Follow Tyler Byrum on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetylerbyrum.bsky.social Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of p...

Olivia Miles has all but locked up the WNBA's Rookie of the Year award by leading the Minnesota Lynx to the top of the standings. The IX Basketball's Terry Horstman joins Tyler Byrum to discuss how Miles' pairing with Lynx assistant coach Lindsay Whalen is leading to this incredible first season. We also go back through the past several years of point guards to don a Minnesota jersey, with an upda...

The WNBA announced that its schedule will grow from 44 games to 50 games starting in the 2027 season. It marks a massive increase in games, which was 34 in 2019. From TV ratings, to increased television network inventory to conflicts with other women's basketball leagues, we dive into the biggest topics surrounding the move. This includes Tyler Byrum's reservations on why less is more when it come...

Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson became the fastest player to reach 6,000 career points. There's no more debate; she's the best player in the world right now, and this is another record that proves she's on the path to becoming the best women's basketball player ever. In many ways, the 4x MVP has already passed Diana Taurasi. Wilson is on track to achieve it in every way possible. Follow Tyler...

Hear from Alicia Flórez after the Washington Mystics converted her developmental player contract to a standard WNBA contract. The IX Basketball's Jenn Hatfield also joined Tyler Byrum to discuss why the Mystics made this move, the roster moves that made way for Flórez and who might be on the Mystics' radar for the next developmental player spot. During her interview, Flórez speaks on this being he...

When Caitlin Clark was a late scratch before the Indiana Fever's game against the Portland Fire on May 20, the tin foil hats were all pulled out. Controversies and rumors were everywhere. Now that the dust has settled, Tyler Byrum brings in Indiana Fever reporter Tony East from Circle City Spin to clear the air about what happened. We also go through a comprehensive history of Caitlin Clark's inju...

Former Big 12 Player of the Year and 2025 first-round draft pick Hailey van Lith was waived for the second time this month. Tyler Byrum explains the logic behind the move and why she was chosen to make room for Leila Lacan. The podcast concludes with potential landing spots for Van Lith as she searches for new opportunities. ESPN's Alexa Philippou reporting on Hailey van Lith and "transparenc...

Portland Fire head coach Alex Samara has not scheduled morning shootarounds for his expansion team this season, a topic that has made waves in WNBA media. Tyler Byrum dives into why this is becoming a common practice and the studies behind finding peak athletic performance time. Also, hear from Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson on the subject. Answer from Alex Sarama on eliminating morning shootar...