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 waivers?

Statements from Phoenix general manager and DeWanna Bonner: https://x.com/PhoenixMercury/status/2091927699594051804

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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 context and discuss where the WNBA can go from here.

ESPN profile by Hallie Grossman on Sophie Cunningham: https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/49306657/sophie-cunningham-finger-point-indiana-fever-wnba

Cunningham's follow-up answers after the ESPN profile was released: https://x.com/RomeovilleKid/status/2080069445364433144/video/1

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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? How does she fit? What happens to Rori Harmon, who was waived? What does this tell us about the franchise's impression of this team?

The Her Hoops Stats podcast explaining how the Mystics save cash by signing Hamilton: https://youtu.be/npi0dcmJPCo?si=a0VeFucwBnG800Mp

Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger's statement, per Kareem Copeland: https://x.com/kareemcopeland/status/2086200263531233524

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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 involved.

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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 beginning of a comeback tour for the legendary MVP. They also reflect on her career, what could be in store for Delle Donne in the future, and also the star of the event, GG Banks.

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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 Chasers here: https://www.stormchasersbasketball.com/

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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 growing, so where are the Black female coaches: https://andscape.com/features/the-wnba-is-growing-so-where-are-the-black-female-head-coaches/

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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.

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Read Rey's work in the Sporting Tribune: https://www.thesportingtribune.com/author/reymoralde

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