We have that and more in Thursday’s basketball newsletter.
The 2019 WNBA season begins on Friday, and while a number of injuries and sit-out decisions have thinned the ranks of the stars, there’s still a lot to look forward to seeing.
Given that there are just 12 teams, some people need help finding a team to call their own if there isn’t one nearby (or if they don’t believe geography should dictate happiness). The good news is that our brilliant women’s basketball crew put together a 7-question quiz to help you find your WNBA team. The questions are essentially also a description of your perfect cook-out.
In proof that the quiz is infallible, I picked hamburgers, mac and cheese, cornbread, and “Summer Time” by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and came out with the Las Vegas Aces, the obviously correct answer. Liz Cambage, A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum? LET’S GO.
(In related news, it’s wild that the Bay Area doesn’t have and has never had a WNBA team. Come on, rich people! Also, new-ish Kings ownership promised to bring back the Monarchs after building Golden 1 Center. BRING BACK THE MONARCHS. Plant some milkweed gardens or whatever and BRING BACK THE MONARCHS.)
Take the quiz, learn about your new favorite team and follow along with the crew at SBNation.com/WNBA and Swish Appeal all season. (I can’t guarantee the newsletter will cover the season as closely as we do the NBA season, primarily because your boy needs rest after NBA free agency so we decrease the newsletter schedule to twice a week. But we’ll do our best.)
Scores
Schedule
Raptors at Bucks, 8:30 ET, TNT
Series tied 2-2
Links
I haven’t been this excited for an Eastern Conference finals Game 5 since 2016 when ... uh ... the Raptors lost by 38. Uh oh.
I wrote about the miracle of the Warriors’ historic 5-year NBA Finals streak.
Michael Pina on the perilous future of the Bucks.
Kristian Winfield on six reasons the Raptors turned the East finals around.
Great piece by Kevin Pelton and Baxter Holmes on how huge comebacks have made a comeback this season.
Should the Nets offer Tobias Harris a max contract?
If Damian Lillard signs a supermax deal with the Blazers, how does that affect the rest of the roster?
Comparing the WNBA of 2019 to the WNBA of 1999.
Is it Elena Delle Donne’s year? WNBA GM survey says ... yes!
All-NBA teams will be announced soon. There is a lot at $take.
Dan Devine on the Raptors’ role players.
The Knicks could technically trade for Anthony Davis and sign two max free agents. They could also have Luke Kornet starting 60 games next year.
Penny Hardaway built a superteam of freshmen at Memphis. You love to see it.
And finally, the great Sopan Deb writes a wonderful defense of Drake, the demonstrative, annoying celebrity fan every team should have.
Be excellent to each other.