SEATTLE — The Seattle Storm just did what their housemates haven’t.

While the Kraken have missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, clinging stubbornly to an aging core that will never win a Stanley Cup, the Storm embraced a rebuild this month that could make them WNBA contenders for seasons to come.

On Monday that meant drafting a...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Amid a glittering sports celebration, a team from Los Angeles dominated the WNBA draft.

But it wasn't Los Angeles' WNBA team.

The Sparks couldn't hold a candle to UCLA.

At a Monday event during which six Bruins were drafted among the first 18 picks — a WNBA record — the Sparks didn't have their first pick until No. 20 in ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As he exited the arena bowl into the unknown of the offseason late Tuesday night, it was as if Miami Heat president Pat Riley had been here before.

Because he had.

A quarter century ago.

Also in Charlotte.

As aware then, as he must be now, that change was necessary, inevitable, mandated by the moment.

That was in 2001, ...Read more

INGLEWOOD — Steph Curry had two defenders on him and a tie on the scoreboard as he faded away with 50 seconds remaining against the Clippers in a win-or-go-home game at Intuit Dome.

After burying the improbable 3-point shot, he roared, flexed and celebrated to a crowd that was obviously cheering for the visitors. On the very next possession, ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Barely 24 hours after LaMelo Ball’s play on Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo, the NBA handed out its discipline for the act.

Upon review, the Charlotte Hornets’ star point guard was hit with a Flagrant 2 foul and fined $35,000 “for making unnecessary and reckless contact,” the league announced on Wednesday night. Ball was...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Magic will have one last chance Friday to advance to the playoffs after falling to the 76ers in the Nos. 7 vs. 8 game of the NBA play-in tournament on Wednesday night.

In a tight, chippy contest that featured 12 lead changes and was tied nine times, the Sixers pulled away late for a 109-97 victory inside Xfinity Mobile ...Read more

CHICAGO — For Skylar Diggins, the weeks of free agency leading up to her decision to sign with the Chicago Sky created a rare moment of reframing.

More than 80% of the league was out of contract in anticipation of the newly signed collective bargaining agreement. For months, every team took on an amorphous shape with no guarantees except for ...Read more

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida power forward Alex Condon will return for his senior season to help the Gators try to avenge their disappointing NCAA Tournament exit and boost his NBA draft stock, a source confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel.

Condon entered his name into the draft following Florida’s 2025 national title run, but withdrew after ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson has agreed to a supermax contract to return to the Las Vegas Aces, the team announced Wednesday.

After leading the Aces to their third championship in four years with a historic 2025 campaign, Wilson became an unrestricted free agent along with a majority of the league. The deal she and the team ...Read more

MIAMI — The previous Miami Heat season ended with the ignominy of Miami being swept from the first round of the playoffs by a combined 122-point margin, an NBA record blowout. The Heat season that ended Tuesday night in Charlotte, N.C., was worse. Didn’t even get that far. Perished in play-in purgatory.

But give Miami this much. The Heat ...Read more

DALLAS — If you are a Dallas Mavericks fan who likes Cooper Flagg, you do not want him to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.

To win that award as a Maverick means Flagg will be traded either entering, and or in, the prime of his career. Historically, the Mavs just do not have much use for their ROY winners.

Jason Kidd shared the award...Read more

NEW YORK — Tempting as it was, this could not be a decision made on sentiment, or the allure of a charming storyline. When the Dallas Wings were on the clock, they had to be cold and calculating.

Was it, or was it not the best basketball and business decision to reunite Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd? The No.1 overall pick in a draft is too ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With “Protect the Hive” shirts scattered across Spectrum Center on Tuesday, the Hornets furthered their quest to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

In a battle that came down to the final 9 seconds of overtime — in front of a record 19,698 fans — Charlotte bested the Miami Heat, 127-126, ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The play-in magic is gone. And so are the Miami Heat.

After navigating the treacherous play-in round the past three years to make it to the playoffs, and even the NBA Finals in 2023, the Heat’s run of six consecutive seasons in the playoffs is over.

Next stop? The May 10 NBA draft lottery, where the Heat will face even ...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Even with his team’s season on the line, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr is not willing to risk his players’ health for a better chance at winning.

After Sunday’s regular-season finale, Kerr said that Steph Curry, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis would not be asked to play 40 minutes in the play-in game at ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rebounding was not a strength of the Lakers over the course of the regular season. Rebounding was a strength of the Houston Rockets during the 2025-26 campaign.

So, on their first day of practice Tuesday for Game 1 of the first round Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers worked diligently on rebounding drills, knowing full ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Sky were always waiting on Gabriela Jaquez.

Weeks before they selected the guard with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 WNBA draft on Monday, general manager Jeff Pagliocca and head coach Tyler Marsh had already landed on Jaquez as their preferred pick.

There are plenty of obvious reasons why the guard appealed to the Sky. ...Read more

The Golden State Warriors lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in Sunday’s regular-season finale.

Big deal. This team lost all the time this season.

The Dubs were locked into the 10-seed, whether they bothered to show up in Inglewood or not.

So go ahead and ignore the fact that they tried — really tried — until Los Angeles took their lunch ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Maybe it’s better this way.

Nobody has to pretend.

For the first time in more than a decade, the Sixers will enter a postseason expected to lose. Maybe not right away. But shortly thereafter.

Whenever it happens — likely within the next couple of weeks, when the Celtics or Pistons make quick work of them — there will be...Read more