Sidelines with Lily

  One of the most beloved players in the WNBA, Kate Martin has had an unpredictable season full of highs and lows. Earlier today (September 2), Martin was signed by the Chicago Sky on a developmental contract. A Career Full of Ups and Downs Martin's WNBA Transaction Summary Kate Martin has had one of the most unique careers in recent WNBA history and she's only in her third season. From getting drafted from the audience by the Las Vegas Aces in 2024, to be selected in the 2025 WNBA Expansion Draft by the Golden State Valkyries, to then being waived by the Valkyries, to then being signed the Los Angeles Sparks to a developmental contract, to then have her contract upgraded to a standard contract, to then get waived by the Sparks, to most recently be signed by the Chicago Sky on a developmental contract, if there's one thing we know about Martin is how resilient she is.  Searching for Stability In her rookie season for the Las Vegas Aces, Martin averaged 2.6 points and 1.6 re...

The WNBA season's two-week break for the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup has begun! As numerous players from the W travel to Berlin, Germany to represent their country in the World Cup, we will not only continue to be showered with spectacular matchups, but also with a new level of competition as players look to put it all on the line for the pride of their country. Team USA Player Availability The team with the most WNBA players is none other than Team USA. Through each World Cup and even Olympics, Team USA never fails to rise as the favorite to win each tournament. However, as we approach the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, Team USA has already faced a few challenges and may even face more down the road. Early yesterday morning (August 31), the official accounts for USA Basketball took to social media to announce that neither A'ja Wilson or Kelsey Plum will be able to compete in the 2026 World Cup for "health reasons." Shortly after, Plum also...

  Just as WNBA fans had gained hope in Azzi Fudd's return after missing the past five games for the Dallas Wings, the team announced earlier today that the 2026 No. 1 overall pick will not return for the remainder of the season. Fudd's Historical Rookie Season Comes to an End In the 30 games that Azzi Fudd competed in this season for the Dallas Wings, there's no doubt why she was taken with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Far beyond any statistics or averages, Fudd was the missing piece that the Wings have been looking for. In her rookie season, Fudd became one of the primary scorers as well as the leader of Dallas' defense. It was in this rookie season cut short that Fudd averaged 13.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. She did so while also shooting an average of 45.6% from the field, 39.7% from three, and 82.6% from the free-throw line. Not only do these stats and shooting splits prove Azzi Fudd's efficiency as she transitions to t...

  Yes, you read that right, Nneka Ogwumike has just announced that she will retire from basketball following the 2026 WNBA season. Now with this comes a lot. It brings sadness that one of the greatest careers is coming to an end, but it also brings an appreciation for all that Madam President has done, to which we can give Ogwumike her hard-earned flowers. A Career Defined by Excellence A Rookie Season That Set the Tone From serving as the president of the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), to breaking records and raking in accolades, Nneka Ogwumike has done so much for the WNBA and the position it is in today, but first, let's break down her career. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft, Nneka Ogwumike had all eyes on her when she landed on the Los Angeles Sparks. Coming off her best season yet at Stanford where she averaged 22.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.2 blocks, taking Ogwumike with the first pick was a no-brainer fo...

I have some exciting news that I’ve been looking forward to sharing: my first article with Winsidr is officially out! For me, this is a really exciting step in my journey as a once aspiring sports writer in the world of sports media. When I first started this blog, one of my biggest goals was simply to give myself a place to write about the sports and players I care about while continuing to improve as a writer. I never expected that it would eventually lead to opportunities like this so quickly, and getting the chance to have my work published with Winsidr is something I’m really proud of. My First Winsidr Article My debut article for Winsidr covers the incredible season that the Chicago Sky's undrafted rookie, Sydney Taylor has had. It covers her entire journey to the W from her five collegiate seasons to her overseas play to having a breakout rookie season. I personally have really enjoyed watching her growth and progression this season and can't wait to see what's next...

  Making the decision to move forward from her time with the Chicago Sky was a bold move, but for Angel Reese, in just her first 31 games with the Atlanta Dream, she has already made a lasting impact from the records she's broken to the crucial role she now has in their success. A New Beginning for Reese Building Her Foundation in Chicago Gaining all the traction she needed in her final two collegiate seasons at LSU, Angel Reese had momentum coming into her rookie season for the Chicago Sky. The No. 7 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Reese arguably an underdog having dropped to the middle of the First Round. However, Reese has used these doubts and uncertainties from the media and fans as fuel for an incredible start to her professional career. Despite being a rookie, Reese put the league on notice in 2024 when she averaged 13.6 points, 13.1rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. In 27 of the 34 games, she competed in during her rookie season, Reese recorded a double-double. No...

  In a critical point of the season for the Dallas Wings, Azzi Fudd has been ruled out for the second game in a row, another huge loss for the Wings ahead of their matchup with the Lynx. Azzi Fudd's Journey to the WNBA Fudd's Rise at UConn Being the No. 1 pick in any draft brings a lot of attention and high expectations and for Azzi Fudd, although she's always captivated the attention of women's basketball fans since her time in college, she's had more eyes on her than ever. Coming off of a spectacular run at UConn, Fudd was considered a top prospect for the 2026 WNBA Draft for years. In five seasons at UConn, Fudd recorded 14.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Not only are these stats impressive considering that she would truly only play two full seasons at good health, but Fudd also did so shooting 46.9% from the field, 42.2% from three, and 92.5% from the charity stripe in her career. These shooting splits not only prove her dominance t...

  In what was a heavily anticipated trade deadline filled with rumors, only a few transactions were made. That said, these few roster changes may be pivotal to teams' playoff pushes. Toronto Tempo Land Aneesah Morrow Ahead of Deadline Kicking off what many hoped to be a frenzy of trades coming in just days before the deadline today (August 2 at 3 pm EST), the Connecticut Sun traded Aneesah Morrow to the Toronto Tempo for the rights of Maria Kliundikova and a 2028 second-round pick on July 31, 2026. Just at a glance, it may already be safe to say that the Tempo won this trade. Throughout the first half of the season, it was clear that the Toronto Tempo were stacked in guard play, but not so much in the post and Aneesah Morrow is the exact answer. In just her second season in the W, Morrow has made a huge jump since her rookie season going from averaging 7.7 points and 6.9 rebounds to 11.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Not only has Morrow improved her averages, but she has also h...

  A heavily anticipated contest that came right after the All-Star break, this matchup between the Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream delivered as it came down to the final buzzer. Inside the Wings-Dream Matchup Fresh out of a break and record-breaking All-Star Weekend, WNBA fans across the globe were in for a treat when the Dallas Wings faced off against the Atlanta Dream earlier this evening (July 29, 2026). Neck and neck with each other, the Wings and Dream were separated by one game in the WNBA standings with Dallas at 18-10 and Atlanta with a 17-10 record. Not only was this matchup crucial to where these teams stand in the W, but it also played a huge factor into the trajectories of their seasons in the final stretch before the playoffs. To start this contest, the Wings and Dream went back-and-forth exchanging buckets in the first quarter with Jessica Shepard leading the way for Dallas with 8 points. Although Atlanta's Allisha Gray would get started early offensively, it was the g...

  In a star-studded All-Star Weekend, so much history was made from the largest attendance in WNBA All-Star history (19,783) to record breaking winners in the events. 2026 All-Star Weekend did not disappoint. Team Washington Dominates in Shooting Stars Contest Understanding the Shooting Stars Contest Format In the 2026 WNBA Shooting Stars Contest, each team consisted of a WNBA legend, current WNBA player, and rising high school star. In the First Round, each team had one minute and ten seconds for each player to shoot one shot from each of the seven marked spots. When a shot is made, a set number of points are awarded depending on the location of the marked shot. Shots made inside the paint are worth one point, shots made inside the arc are worth two points, shots outside of the arc are worth three points, and only shots made at Spot 7 are worth four points. Once the team makes it to the seventh shot, they may continue to shoot there until their time is up. That said, they must mai...

  After opening her sophomore season with confidence and emerging as one of the Portland Fire's brightest young contributors, Sarah Ashlee Barker saw her breakout campaign interrupted by an injury against the Dallas Wings. Sarah Ashlee Barker's Journey: From Rookie to Rising Star Finding Her Role: SAB's First Season in Los Angeles Even from her 45-point performance in the Second Round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament (March Madness), people knew Sarah Ashlee Barker was something special. The Ninth-Overall Pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Barker was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks. Playing behind LA's lead point guard and 5x All-Star Kelsey Plum, Barker would only start 8 games in her rookie season while averaging just over 14 minutes per game. Making the most of the minutes she earned, SAB averaged 3.1 points and 1.9 assists per game in her rookie season for LA. In the Sparks' final game of the season, Barker would put up a career-high (at the time) of 15 points followe...