Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · 6d

NEWS: Caitlin Clark will not join the second season of Unrivaled, sources familiar with the matter told me today.

The league's second season tips off Jan. 5th and will include a slate of games being played outside of its Miami base in Philadelphia.

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Caitlin Clark Will Not Join Second Season of Unrivaled

The Fever star struggled with several injuries in her second WNBA season.

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · 7d

As the Oct. 31 deadline nears, the union and league appear further apart than ever. Where does the league go after its stars lambasted commissioner Cathy Engelbert?

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Where Does the WNBA Go After Its Stars Bashed the Commissioner?

The union and league appear far apart after Napheesa Collier shredded commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Tuesday and many players backed Collier.

frontofficesports.com

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Reposted by Annie Costabile

Richard Deitsch @richarddeitsch.bsky.social · 9d

NEW PODCAST:

• @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social on Netflix getting MLB Opening Day and NFL games abroad.

• @anniecostabile.bsky.social on the state of the WNBA, why we don't more about Caitlin Clark’s injury and more.

To Listen/Subscribe: link.chtbl.com/SportsMediaP...

Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

The Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch is a weekly show that features interviews with members of the sports media about their work, as well as roundtables with sports media reporters about tele...

link.chtbl.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · 10d

Cheryl Reeve will watch from her hotel room as the Lynx play a must-win Game 4 against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday night.

Her one-game suspension for “conduct and comments during and after" Game 3 spotlights the WNBA's officiating issues.

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Reeve's Suspension Puts Spotlight on WNBA’s Officiating Issues

Multiple sources expressed concerns over training standards and the league’s top officials being promoted to the NBA.

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · 15d

Sandy Brondello's 4-year tenure with the Liberty included leading the franchise to its first WNBA title in 2024.

Tuesday, the team announced her contract would not be renewed bringing the league's coaching vacancies to four:

frontofficesports.com/liberty-fire...

Liberty Fire Sandy Brondello One Year After Winning WNBA Title

Brondello will not return in 2026, the Liberty said Tuesday morning. The WNBA now has four head coach openings.

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · 15d

BREAKING: After four seasons with the Liberty—including winning a title in 2024—Sandy Brondello is out as head coach.

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · 16d

The WNBA has no Black women in HC positions for the first time since 2020 after the Storm's decision not to renew Noelle Quinn's contract.

She was the first fired this offseason, but where do other franchises stand on coaching changes?

More:

frontofficesports.com/wnba-noelle-...

WNBA Has No Black Woman Head Coaches After Noelle Quinn Fired

Quinn could end up being the only coach fired in this cycle.

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · 16d

Unrivaled will begin announcing Season 2 players at noon ET today.

Plan is to announce a player approx. every hr on social channels. Six players announced every wkday thru Oct. 1 bringing them to 48 rostered players on 8 clubs. Devel. pool will be announced at a later date.

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Reposted by Annie Costabile

Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · 17d

Longevity is a fleeting concept in sports, but not in Minnesota.

Over the last 15 years, Cheryl Reeve has built a level of sustained success that no other franchise has mirrored. Now, the Lynx are in position to win a historic fifth WNBA title.

frontofficesports.com/cheryl-reeve...

How Cheryl Reeve Turned the Lynx Into the WNBA Gold Standard

Players, coaches, and executives who have worked with Reeve tell FOS how she built a team that has “tortured” the WNBA for years.

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · 17d

omg thanks, Rachel! Means a lot coming from you!!

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · 17d

Longevity is a fleeting concept in sports, but not in Minnesota.

Over the last 15 years, Cheryl Reeve has built a level of sustained success that no other franchise has mirrored. Now, the Lynx are in position to win a historic fifth WNBA title.

frontofficesports.com/cheryl-reeve...

How Cheryl Reeve Turned the Lynx Into the WNBA Gold Standard

Players, coaches, and executives who have worked with Reeve tell FOS how she built a team that has “tortured” the WNBA for years.

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · 21d

Yesterday at the FOS Tuned In summit NBA commissioner Adam Silver defended the W’s involvement in the sale of the Connecticut Sun.

More on what was said and where the sale stands here:

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Adam Silver Defends WNBA Involvement in Sun Sale

"Once you’re talking about moving it to another city, that’s a league matter," Silver told FOS. "That’s not an individual team matter."

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · 27d

The Democratic Women's Caucus is involved in CBA negotiations between the WNBA & WNBPA.

After sending a letter to the league urging "good faith" negotiations, the DWC hosted a press call to further emphasize their message of support for the union.

frontofficesports.com/democratic-w...

Democratic Women’s Caucus Urges WNBA To End CBA Stalemate

Leaders from the Democratic Women’s Caucus hosted a call with the WNBPA urging the league to improve the tenor of negotiations.

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · Sep 8

Unrivaled's valuation hit $340 million—10X what it was in the spring of 2024—with its latest round of funding.

Additionally, the league doubled its revenue projections from season one, leading to salary increases "across the board."

frontofficesports.com/unrivaled-34...

Unrivaled Hits $340M Valuation, Doubles Revenue Projections

The startup women’s basketball league is rapidly growing after one season.

frontofficesports.com

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Reposted by Annie Costabile

Sean Highkin @highkin.bsky.social · Sep 5

Ever since the Angel interview I've been saying it's a similar situation to Jimmy Butler/Fred Hoiberg in Chicago but I didn't think they'd literally give her the same punishment by suspending her for a half.

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · Sep 5

The Sky have suspended Angel Reese for the first half of their game against the Aces on Sept. 7.

The decision follows Reese's public critiques of coach Tyler Marsh and her teammates, which the organization characterized as "detrimental to the team."

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Angel Reese Suspended For Half-Game After Ripping Teammates

Reese will only be available for the second half of the Sky’s game against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · Sep 5

Due to a scheduling confict the Valkyries will be at the SAP Center in San Jose instead of Ballhalla for the team's first playoff game. But they're not the first WNBA team to be displaced in the playoffs.

frontofficesports.com/valkyries-wn...

Valkyries Are Only Latest WNBA Team To Be Displaced in Playoffs

The Mercury, Sparks, and Mystics have all been booted from their homes during the playoffs because of scheduling conflicts in recent years.

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · Sep 5

US Open Women’s Singles Final is set, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face No. 8 Amanda Anisimova after she defeat No. 23 Naomi Osaka in the semis.

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · Sep 5

Caitlin Clark's sophomore season—which has been limited due to injury—is officially over.

The 2024 Rookie of the Year said that after "spending hours in the gym" she will not return for the Fever's final three games or any potential playoff series.

frontofficesports.com/caitlin-clar...

Caitlin Clark Says She Won't Return This Year

Clark only played thirteen games and the Fever, hyped as title contenders, are just a game above .500 with a week to go.

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · Sep 5

Caitlin Clark announces via social media that she will not return to play this season.

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Reposted by Annie Costabile

Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · Sep 3

Angel Reese went on record and torched her teammates in what multiple league executives characterized as an unprecedented move.

Where her future in Chicago stands & how the team is addressing her critiques here:

frontofficesports.com/angel-reese-...

Angel Reese's Sky Future Uncertain After Torching Teammates

There is a belief among some sources that Reese’s future in Chicago may not be reparable after her most recent comments.

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · Sep 4

The Chicago Stars FC new stadium is significantly smaller than SeatGeek with capacity reaching 12,000 compared to 20,000 in Bridgeview.

Team president Karen Leetzow believes the smaller venue will help the team foster the right fan experience.

frontofficesports.com/chicago-star...

Chicago Stars FC Move to Evanston After 12 Years in Bridgeview

The team’s new stadium, which they’re now committed to playing at through the 2026 season, holds 12,000 fans—smaller than their current home.

frontofficesports.com

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · Sep 4

While discussing what the players are asking for in CBA negotiations TCJ reiterates the top priority is a salary system tied to the business.

"Right now we're in a system, that, if you look at it, it's not tied to the business."

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · Sep 4

WNBPA Executive Director and two-time WNBA champion and HoFer Sylvia Fowles take the stage at Bloomberg Power Players

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Annie Costabile @anniecostabile.bsky.social · Sep 4

INBOX: Angel Reese is the latest athlete to join TOGETHXR's ownership group.

The media + commerce co. was founded by Alex Morgan, Sue Bird, Simone Manuel and Chloe Kim. In May, Michelle Wie West invested.

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