Full Court Buckets https://fullcourtbuckets.com/ Independent WNBA news and analysis en-us Sun, 18 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/logo.png Full Court Buckets https://fullcourtbuckets.com/ Valkyries or Dream players will each get $60,000 for the 2026 WNBA title, up from $22,908 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/wnba-finals-bonus-2026-champions-60000/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/wnba-finals-bonus-2026-champions-60000/ Sun, 18 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi news Each eligible player on the 2026 WNBA champion gets a $60,000 bonus, up from $22,908 in 2025. The runner-up gets $20,000 each and the Finals MVP gets $30,000, up from $5,000. Gabby Williams scores 8 of the last 9 as Valkyries beat Dream 68-64 in Finals Game 1 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/dream-valkyries-finals-game-1-recap/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/dream-valkyries-finals-game-1-recap/ Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi news The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-64 in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday at Chase Center, and they did it by holding Atlanta scoreless for the final 3:12. Goapele, Rita Moreno and Larry June set for Valkyries' Finals Game 1; Alanis Morissette sings before Game 2 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/valkyries-wnba-finals-performers/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/valkyries-wnba-finals-performers/ Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Who performs at Valkyries vs. Dream WNBA Finals Games 1 and 2 at Chase Center: Goapele, Rita Moreno, Larry June, Alanis Morissette, Too $hort and LaRussell. WNBA Finals open Saturday at 12:30 PM PT with the Valkyries hosting the Dream in Game 1 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/wnba-finals-2026-schedule-dream-valkyries/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/wnba-finals-2026-schedule-dream-valkyries/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Game 1 of the WNBA Finals is Saturday, Oct. 17, at 12:30 PM PT at Chase Center. Full schedule, how both teams swept the semifinals, Allisha Gray’s status and Finals attendance context. WNBA Finals attendance by year, record and history (2002–2026) https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/2026-wnba-finals-ratings-tracker/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/2026-wnba-finals-ratings-tracker/ Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA WNBA Finals attendance by year since 2002. The record is 92,599 fans at the 2024 Finals, or 18,520 per game, the highest series total since 2002. Search by game or series, with sources and a record calculator. How the Valkyries’ league-best defense takes away the next option, not just the first https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/valkyries-defense-film-breakdown/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/valkyries-defense-film-breakdown/ Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Golden State led the WNBA with a 99.1 defensive rating. Film of Caitlin Clark and Breanna Stewart possessions shows the help, recovery and box-outs behind it. Liberty lost the turnover battle by 18 in the sweep. Here are 5 moves I'd make as GM https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/liberty-offseason-five-gm-moves/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/liberty-offseason-five-gm-moves/ Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi Opinion and roster analysis Atlanta swept the Liberty while shooting 42.0% to New York's 47.1%. The gap was 18 turnovers. Five offseason moves I would make. WNBA Finals arrive after 51 games topped 1 million viewers https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/wnba-finals-2026-audience-growth-dream-valkyries/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/wnba-finals-2026-audience-growth-dream-valkyries/ Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Atlanta faces Golden State in the 2026 WNBA Finals after 51 regular-season games topped 1 million viewers. See the numbers, our audience estimate and the TV schedule. WNBA Finals Game 1 preview: Atlanta’s +19 pressure meets Golden State’s +23 rebounding https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/finals-game-1-preview-dream-valkyries/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/finals-game-1-preview-dream-valkyries/ Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs The Dream and Valkyries open the WNBA Finals on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 12:30 PM PT. Updated Oct. 15, 2026. Allisha Gray Is Out for Game 3 as the Dream Go for the Sweep in Brooklyn https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/allisha-gray-game-3-status/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/allisha-gray-game-3-status/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Allisha Gray is out for Game 3. The Dream will try to sweep the Liberty without their leading scorer. Semis Game 3 Preview: Can the Liberty and Aces Do What No WNBA Team Has Done? https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/semis-game-3-preview/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/semis-game-3-preview/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Teams up 2-0 in a best-of-five WNBA series are 19-0. Turnovers sink the Liberty, rebounds sink the Aces. Picks for both Game 3s on Friday. Valkyries beat Aces 87-77 in overtime to sweep their way into the WNBA Finals https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/aces-valkyries-semis-game-3-recap/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/aces-valkyries-semis-game-3-recap/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs The Valkyries beat the Aces 87-77 in overtime in Las Vegas to sweep the semifinals and reach the WNBA Finals. Dream sweep the Liberty, 85-83, and head to the WNBA Finals https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/dream-sweep-liberty-game-3-semifinals/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/dream-sweep-liberty-game-3-semifinals/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs The Dream beat the Liberty 85-83 in Brooklyn to sweep the semifinals and reach the WNBA Finals. Angel Reese scores 23 as Dream take 2-0 lead over Liberty https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/angel-reese-game-2-stats-liberty-dream-semis/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/angel-reese-game-2-stats-liberty-dream-semis/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Her plus-11 was the best mark in the game. Free throws with 4.3 seconds left made it 101-98, and Atlanta leads 2-0. Burton's late three and Stokes' block lift Valkyries over Aces 83-81 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/aces-valkyries-semis-game-2-recap/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/aces-valkyries-semis-game-2-recap/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Vegas led for 11 seconds. Burton's 28-footer and Stokes's block gave the Valkyries an 83-81 win and a 2-0 lead. Hillmon Scores It, Ionescu Throws It Away: Dream Win Game 2 in OT, Lead 2-0 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/liberty-dream-semis-game-2-recap/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/liberty-dream-semis-game-2-recap/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs With 20.8 seconds left in overtime, Hillmon's layup made it 99-98. The Dream held on, 101-98, and lead the semis 2-0. Angel Reese follows DPOY award with four steals against Liberty https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/angel-reese-game-1-liberty/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/angel-reese-game-1-liberty/ Sun, 04 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Three days after winning DPOY, Angel Reese had four steals from four Liberty players in a 92-82 Dream win. 10 women's college basketball cards and what their recorded sales tell us https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/top-10-womens-college-basketball-cards-to-collect-2026/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/top-10-womens-college-basketball-cards-to-collect-2026/ Sun, 04 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi Collecting Women's college basketball cards to buy before the WNBA. JuJu Watkins' 1/1 sold for $24,404 at Goldin, Sep 26, 2026 PT. Others on this list sold under $30. Canada scores 25 as Dream beat Liberty 92-82 in Game 1 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/liberty-dream-semis-game-1-recap/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/liberty-dream-semis-game-1-recap/ Sun, 04 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs With 1:30 left, Canada's step-back three made it 87-77. The Dream beat the Liberty 92-82 to lead 1-0. Valkyries Own the Glass, Stun the Aces 71-60 in Semis Game 1 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/aces-valkyries-semis-game-1-recap/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/aces-valkyries-semis-game-1-recap/ Sun, 04 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Golden State grabbed 52 rebounds to Vegas's 25 and beat the Aces 71-60 in Game 1. The glass leader did not score. Valkyries Close Out the Wings 77-73, Win Series 2-1 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/wings-valkyries-game-3-recap/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/wings-valkyries-game-3-recap/ Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Dallas led 44-37 at half. Golden State won the fourth quarter 23-14, finished 77-73, and took the series 2-1. Ogunbowale Scores 45, Wings Beat Valkyries 108-100 in OT https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/valkyries-wings-game-2-recap/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/valkyries-wings-game-2-recap/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Arike Ogunbowale scored 45 points, including the tying three with 4.1 seconds left, and the Wings beat the Valkyries 108-100 in overtime to tie the series 1-1. Aces vs. Fever Series Breakdown: A'ja Wilson Won the Matchup That Mattered https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/aces-fever-series-breakdown/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/aces-fever-series-breakdown/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs A'ja Wilson scored 96 points on 64.6% shooting as the Aces beat the Fever 2-1. Indiana won the paint in all three games. Caitlin Clark's bloody-mouth no-call deserves a closer look https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/clark-no-call-aces-game-3/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/clark-no-call-aces-game-3/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Caitlin Clark caught an elbow from Jewell Loyd with about three minutes left in Game 3. No foul was called. The Aces won 94-83. Wilson Scores 36, Aces Close Out the Fever 94-83 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/fever-aces-game-3-recap/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/fever-aces-game-3-recap/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs A'ja Wilson scored 36 points with 10 rebounds as the Aces beat the Fever 94-83 to win the first-round series 2-1. WNBA Expansion Teams 2026: Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/wnba-expansion-teams/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/wnba-expansion-teams/ Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA The WNBA has 15 teams in 2026. Here's how the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo were built, how their first seasons went, and which new WNBA teams come next. Clark Hits Back-to-Back Threes, Fever Even Series with Aces https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/fever-aces-game-2-recap/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/fever-aces-game-2-recap/ Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Caitlin Clark scored 27 points with 15 assists and Aliyah Boston had 22 as the Fever beat the Aces 99-89 to tie the series 1-1. Johannes Hits the Dagger Three, Liberty Sweep the Lynx 87-71 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/liberty-lynx-game-2-recap/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/liberty-lynx-game-2-recap/ Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Marine Johannes hit a 24-foot three, Jonquel Jones finished the and-one, and New York closed out an 87-71 sweep of the No. 1 Lynx. Liberty Stun No. 1 Lynx 91-75: Game 1 Full Recap https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/liberty-lynx-game-1-full-recap/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/liberty-lynx-game-1-full-recap/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Breanna Stewart had 34 points and 12 rebounds, Leonie Fiebich hit 4 of 5 threes, and the No. 8 Liberty beat the No. 1 Lynx 91-75 to take Game 1. Dream Rally From 11 Down to Beat Mystics in Game 1 https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/dream-mystics-game-1-howard-reese/ https://fullcourtbuckets.com/news/dream-mystics-game-1-howard-reese/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Ryan Moalemi WNBA Playoffs Rhyne Howard scored 26 with five steals, Angel Reese had 13 and 12 in her playoff debut, and the No. 4 Dream beat the No. 5 Mystics 92-77.