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Alexa Philippou
@alexaphilippou.bsky.social
6.3K followers 160 following 330 posts
ESPN women’s college basketball, WNBA reporter. Posting on here and, for now, X | IG: alexaphilippou_ESPN
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alexaphilippou.bsky.social
What’s the latest on WNBA CBA negotiations as the two sides meet this week? We look at the players’ reaction to the league’s proposal last week, which one player called a “slap in the face,” and latest expansion draft news. The Nov. 30 deadline looms.

www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...
WNBA CBA negotiations: Why players say league's latest proposal is 'slap in the face'
The Nov. 30 WNBA deadline is looming for a new CBA. The two sides continue to meet during the holiday week.
www.espn.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:54 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, JuJu Watkins, Lauren Betts, Cameron Brink, Sonia Citron, Rickea Jackson, Veronica Burton and Kiki Iriafen are making their senior national team camp debuts

www.espn.com/olympics/bas...
Clark, Bueckers, Reese set for USA camp debuts
Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and JuJu Watkins will be among the 10 players making their USA Basketball senior national team camp debuts next month.
www.espn.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
USA Basketball's training camp roster for Dec. 12-14 at Duke:

Lauren Betts
Aliyah Boston
Cam Brink
Paige Bueckers
Veronica Burton
Sonia Citron
Caitlin Clark
Kah Copper
Chelsea Gray
Brittney Griner
Dearica Hamby
Kiki Iriafen
Rickea Jackson
Bri Jones
Kelsey Plum
Angel Reese
JuJu Watkins
Jackie Young
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
This is the fifth instance where a franchise has had consecutive No. 1 overall picks:

Wings, 2025-26
Fever, 2023-24
Aces, 2017-19
Storm, 2015-16
Storm, 2001-02
alexaphilippou.bsky.social Alexa Philippou @alexaphilippou.bsky.social · 4d
For the second year in a row, the Dallas Wings won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA draft.

Rest of the lottery order:

2. Minnesota Lynx
3. Seattle Storm
4. Washington Mystics
5. Chicago Sky
November 23, 2025 at 11:56 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
For the second year in a row, the Dallas Wings won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA draft.

Rest of the lottery order:

2. Minnesota Lynx
3. Seattle Storm
4. Washington Mystics
5. Chicago Sky
November 23, 2025 at 11:49 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
Happy WNBA draft lottery day!

Here are each team’s odds to land the No. 1 pick:

Dallas Wings: 42%
Minnesota Lynx: 26.1%
Seattle Storm: 16.7%
Washington Mystics: 9.7%
Chicago Sky: 5.5%
November 23, 2025 at 6:07 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
News: Cameron Brink, the 2024 No. 2 WNBA draft pick, has signed with Zack Miller at WME Basketball, joining its powerhouse roster of active players including Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum, Aliyah Boston, Satou Sabally and Jackie Young
November 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
ESPN story on the New York Liberty hiring Golden State Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco, first reported by Shams Charania, as the franchise's new head coach. Three of five WNBA hires this offseason have NBA ties:

www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...
Sources: Liberty tab Warriors' DeMarco as coach
The Liberty have agreed to a deal to hire Chris DeMarco, who has been with the Warriors since 2012, as their new coach, sources told ESPN.
www.espn.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:26 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
More details here on why the WNBPA feels the WNBA's CBA proposal misses key demands.

Sources told ESPN the players' union does not feel the league's proposal includes a system where the salary cap and player salaries sufficiently grow with the business.

www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...
Sources: Players unmoved by WNBA's proposal
The WNBPA feels the league's latest CBA proposal misses the mark and does not include a system where the salary cap and player salaries sufficiently grow with the business, sources told ESPN.
www.espn.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:21 AM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
Some new tidbits on exclusivity, WNBA draft eligibility, the expansion draft and more in our latest piece on what we're hearing on the WNBA's CBA negotiations:

www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...
What we're hearing on the WNBA's CBA negotiations
With the Nov. 30 WNBA deadline looming for a new CBA, where do talks stand?
www.espn.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:47 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
ICYMI last night: The WNBA's latest collective bargaining proposal would include revenue sharing with a maximum salary of more than $1.1 million available to more than one player per team growing each year, per the AP and confirmed by ESPN.

www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...
Source: WNBA proposes max salary over $1.1M
The WNBA's latest CBA proposal would include revenue sharing with a maximum salary of more than $1.1 million and a new league minimum of more than $220,000, a source confirmed to ESPN.
www.espn.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by Alexa Philippou
thechrismosier.bsky.social
And if you're an Azzi Fudd fan, check out this piece @katiebarnes.bsky.social wrote about her in February 2021!

This piece highlights friendships, stuggles & a devastating injury, further cementing the young athlete's legacy.

www.espn.com/espn/feature...
How Azzi Fudd became the best prospect in a generation
Basketball's best prospect in decades couldn't be derailed by a devastating knee injury or a pandemic. The next step in Fudd's ascension: teaming with Paige Bueckers at UConn.
www.espn.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:14 AM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
Sarah Strong in the first half: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 1 block.

Kid's good.
November 16, 2025 at 5:49 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
Today’s hoops
November 16, 2025 at 5:48 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
No. 14 Michigan routed No. 18 Notre Dame, 93-54, today in the Shamrock Classic. That’s:

-Michigan’s largest win over a ranked opponent in program history

-Notre Dame’s largest loss since the 2002 NCAA tournament and largest loss to a ranked team in program history
November 15, 2025 at 11:09 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
Earlier this week, we took a look at the different player constituencies impacted by the CBA talks. Now, here's what the management side of CBA negotiations -- from Cathy Engelbert to Adam Silver to various WNBA owners -- is focused on and what’s at stake for them:

www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...
What's at stake for Engelbert, Silver, owners and teams in WNBA CBA negotiations
From Cathy Engelbert and Adam Silver to WNBA owners, here's what the management side of CBA negotiations is focused on.
www.espn.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:31 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo recorded the following tonight vs. Akron:

-44 points, the most in a game in Notre Dame history

-16 steals, the most in a game in recorded Division I history (steals fully tracked since 1987-88)

-9 rebounds, 4 assists
November 13, 2025 at 2:23 AM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
@kpelton.bsky.social, @michaelvoepelespn.bsky.social, @kendra-andrews.bsky.social & I tried to make sense of what's at stake for the various sets of interests among WNBA players in this labor battle, and how might those differences manifest in CBA negotiations:

www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...
What's at stake for every player in the WNBA labor battle
From stars with millions in off-court endorsements to those making the minimum, every WNBA player stands to gain in the new CBA.
www.espn.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:45 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
Jazzy Davidson in her second-career game: 21 points, 5 blocks, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and the game-winning layup over No. 9 NC State

No. 18 USC takes down NC State, 69-68, despite trailing by as many as 11. Huge non-con win for the JuJu Watkins-less Trojans
November 9, 2025 at 10:09 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
The WNBA draft lottery will take place Nov. 23 on ESPN, featuring the Dallas Wings, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics & Chicago Sky

Odds to land the No. 1 pick:

DAL: 42%
MIN: 26.1%
SEA: 16.7%
WAS: 9.7%
CHI: 5.5%

The ‘26 draft is scheduled for April 13
November 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
A big week for new coaches in the WNBA: Jose Fernandez was introduced earlier today in Dallas, where he said, "This won't be the same old Dallas Wings, my brother," paraphrasing his late colleague at USF, Amir Abdur-Rahim. "Change is coming, and we're gonna win."

www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...
Fernandez eyes change for Bueckers-led Wings
New Wings coach Jose Fernandez says he is excited to work with Paige Bueckers and promised change for the last-place franchise.
www.espn.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Alexa Philippou
kpelton.bsky.social
News story on the Storm introducing new coach Sonia Raman as a "trailblazer," with GM Talisa Rhea highlighting Raman's expertise in analytics and player development as well as her ability to build relationships: www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...
Storm introduce Raman, hail her as 'trailblazer'
The Storm introduced Sonia Raman as the team's new head coach at a news conference Wednesday.
www.espn.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:58 AM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
Don't miss @katiebarnes.bsky.social on Azzi Fudd before she and the Huskies officially begin their title defense tonight

www.espn.com/womens-colle...
The real Azzi Fudd? 'None of you have seen it'
The Most Outstanding Player of last year's Final Four has shown her peak powers only in small glimpses. Now Azzi Fudd is ready to level up for the Huskies' repeat bid.
www.espn.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:14 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
Statement from the WNBPA:

“The WNBPA Executive Committee agreed to the league’s proposed 30-day extension of the current CBA, with the condition that the players may terminate the extension at any time with 48 hours’ notice. ...
October 31, 2025 at 2:00 PM
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
Can confirm the WNBA and the WNBPA have agreed to a 30-day extension as they work towards a new collective bargaining agreement. The new deadline will be Nov. 30.

The 30-day extension was initially offered by the league, as reported earlier this week
October 31, 2025 at 12:30 AM