AnalysisSaturday, Oct 17, 2026

Dream coach Karl Smesko was optimistic forward Allisha Gray would return from a finger injury to play in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Valkyries.

Which Valkyries and Dream players have played the best so far in the postseason heading into the WNBA Finals?

The Spurs will start guards De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper alongside Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama when they face the Thunder in Tuesday's season opener.

Cathy Engelbert said she's proud of the growth she's helped oversee as WNBA commissioner while acknowledging you need to have a "thick skin" to do the job.

Dalton Knecht was selected with the No. 17 pick by the Lakers in 2024 but his future with the franchise appears murky, Dan Woike of The Athletic reports. Noted for his outside shooting, Knecht doesn’t have a rotation spot coming out of training camp. He could be traded now or kept on the roster to […]

Having wrapped up their first preseason together, LeBron James and Joel Embiid acknowledged there is still work to do before they become the best versions of themselves for this iteration of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Walker Kessler said facing Nikola Jokic in the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason game against the Denver Nuggets helped him prepare for the regular season, describing the matchup as a valuable test against one of the NBA’s best players. “It knocked off a lot of rust,” Kessler said during his postgame press conference on Saturday, October […] The post Walker Kessler reflects on guarding Nikola Jokic appeared first on TalkBasket.net.

The NBA doesn't crown a champion or hand out awards for preseason play, but dismissing exhibition games as meaningless is a mistake.

The Los Angeles Lakers closed out the preseason on Friday night with a 121-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson confirmed on Friday that he will use a three-guard lineup for the season opener, with De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper on the court alongside Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN. Johnson’s announcement follows months of speculation that Harper is ready for a starting […]

Giannis Antetokounmpo is still the new star in town, but his fit with the Heat is feeling more natural as the regular season approaches, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald writes in a subscriber-only story. Antetokounmpo didn’t play in Friday’s preseason finale, but he turned in another dominant performance Wednesday against Brooklyn, finishing with 20 […]

Rookie forward Trevon Brazile made a compelling case for a regular season rotation role during the preseason, Nuggets insider Chris Dempsey writes at his Demps and Circumstance blog. In addition to bringing plus size and leaping ability at power forward, Brazile is a top-tier finisher around the basket and can stretch the floor from well […]

The Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns may be unhappy about not getting an extension during training camp but he’s thrilled with his new backup. Towns has plenty of nice things to say about veteran big man Andre Drummond. “He’s amazing, he’s amazing,” Towns said, per Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. “In my opinion, one […]

So once more, two old New York champions gathered to spread their timeless message of teamwork and possibility, right on the eve of what may well be one of the signature basketball seasons we’ve ever had around here.

Some good questions answer themselves.

Winning once makes you immortal. But there is a winner every year.  Repeating and doing it again, though? That elevates you into that special, exclusive pantheon of all-time great teams. The tier of the most memorable winners ever. The legacies that define eras.  “The great thing about winning is you don’t realize how good it...

Who will replace Gonzaga as the conference's top (bull)dog? The post 2026-27 WCC preview appeared first on The IX Sports.

Two years of tanking and a summer of judicious additions have gotten the Nets here.

Gabby Williams. | Getty Images The Golden State Valkyries’ arrival in the 2026 WNBA Finals has inspired many big picture proclamations. In just their second WNBA season, the Valkyries have made history with their rapid ascent toward the very top of the league, proving to be “light years ahead” of a seemingly overly ambitious five-season contention plan. And they’re here with an atypical roster construction amplified by a unique culture, prioritizing a deep group of previously-undervalued-yet-...

Dream forward Angel Reese is embracing her first trip to the WNBA Finals with open arms, saying she's not about to "shy away from the moment" against the Valkyries.

Bronny James' $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 is guaranteed. That's the good news. The rest? It's pretty cloudy after the young guard's third NBA preseason.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick believes Walker Kessler is ready to embrace the pressure that comes with playing center for one of the NBA’s most scrutinized franchises. Speaking after the Lakers’ 121-106 preseason loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, October 16, Redick discussed the expectations facing Kessler following his arrival in Los […] The post JJ Redick addresses pressure on Walker Kessler with Lakers appeared first on TalkBasket.net.

Finally, real basketball is around the corner.  The Lakers played five preseason games. They had more practices than they’ll have all season. So, what have we learned about the team over the last few weeks? With nine new players, the Lakers will have some kinks to work out. But there’s a lot to be excited about as...

Rhyne Howard attempts to finish around Tiffany Hayes. | Getty Images Tip off of Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals demands a flashback to 2008 WNBA Finals. To win the franchise’s third title, the Detroit Shock swept the San Antonio Silver Stars, 3-0, in the Finals, with Katie Smith, the Shock’s best player, capturing Finals MVP honors. That’s significant to 2026, as Smith is the last best player on championship team to never become a regular-season MVP. The highest she ever finished in MVP voting...

Steve Kerr dropped another truth-bomb this week that cut to the core of the Warriors' uphill battle this season.

As Giannis Antetokounmpo prepares for his first season with the Miami Heat following his departure from the Milwaukee Bucks, former NBA champion Shawn Marion pushed back on comparisons between himself and the two-time MVP, emphasizing the differences in their playing styles. Speaking to Kyle Odegard of Action Network, Marion explained why he believes the comparison […] The post Shawn Marion pushes back on comparisons to Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared first on ClutchPoints.

PHOENIX– The Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker, and Jordan Ott had one thing on their minds throughout the preseason. Health. Just a year prior, they lost Booker’s backcourt mate, Jalen Green, to a hamstring injury that limited him to 30 games. Now with the 2026-27 season around the corner, the Suns appear to be fully healthy. […] The post Devin Booker, Jordan Ott share Suns’ biggest victory in preseason appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Washington Wizards star Trae Young has a message for rookie AJ Dybantsa as the No. 1 overall pick prepares to navigate the expectations surrounding his first NBA season: prioritize winning over individual success. With Washington concluding its preseason schedule following Friday’s 107-106 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, Young shared his thoughts on Dybantsa’s development […] The post Trae Young’s advice to Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa as he stares down barrel of No. 1 pick pressure appeared ...

The NBA regular season is still around the corner, but Draymond Green has already found himself in familiar territory with the officials. The Golden State Warriors forward picked up a technical foul during the team’s preseason matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers. It remains unclear what Green said to the officials, but based on the […] The post Of course Warriors’ Draymond Green got a technical foul for chirping at officials appeared first on ClutchPoints.

LeBron James has only been with the Philadelphia 76ers for one offseason, but he has already made it clear which teammate helped bring him there. After Friday night’s preseason finale against the Boston Celtics, James heaped praise on Tyrese Maxey, crediting the guard as a big part of why he chose Philadelphia. “I work out […] The post 76ers star LeBron James gives Tyrese Maxey the ultimate compliment after Celtics clash appeared first on ClutchPoints.