Overview: WNBA All-Stars & Analysts Breakdown the Playoff Race
MSR Sports Columnist Charles Hallman taps in with WNBA All-Stars and veteran journalists Cindy Brunson and Erica L. Ayala to give us the real breakdown on who’s making a playoff push, how the Lynx are holding down the top spot, and why the game’s growing footprint is historic.
CHICAGO — The second half of the 2026 WNBA (W) season began earlier this week.
On a seven-game win streak, Minnesota (22-6) hosted Toronto on Tuesday, the first of the team’s 16 remaining games before the playoffs in September, which coach Cheryl Reeve calls “a sprint.”
We talked to All-Star players about the W’s second half. “Stick to our principles,” which is largely built on defense, Lynx forward Natasha Howard said.
Atlanta guard Allisha Gray said her Dream must be more consistent than they were in the first half of the season. “The biggest thing is not making the same mistakes you made in the first half of the season.”
Courtesy photo: Charles Hallman/MSR
“I think the biggest thing for us in the second half is consistency,” added Washington forward Kiki Iriafen.
“Right now, we are in eighth place, so we are in that playoff spot and want to stay there. There’s been games on paper we shouldn’t have won and won, and games on paper we should’ve won and we haven’t. Being locked in for every single matchup.”
Las Vegas guard Jackie Young pointed out, “We know we can score the ball,” but the Aces must “lock down on the defensive end,” she stressed.
We also asked two longtime Black female journalists for their thoughts on the W’s second half.
Courtesy photo: Threads
“The top eight teams are going to have to really fight to maintain their playoff position because everybody 1 through 15 can get anybody else,” said play-by-play voice Cindy Brunson. “I just think Minnesota, barring injury, will be the team to beat going into the playoffs. I love the upside of Seattle. If they just had a point guard, Seattle will be dangerous in the second half.”
Courtesy photo: Charles Hallman/MSR
Erica L. Ayala, a veteran multimedia journalist and founder of Black Rosie Media, covers women’s pro and college basketball and hockey, among other sports; her site describes its mission as “empowering Black women and other melanated people in sports media.”
“For me, the storylines for the second half,” Ayala said, “start with two teams. One is the New York Liberty. We know they have a new head coach and are still dealing with injuries, and I just think there’s still some questions about the team, how they are executing when it comes to the game plan.”
“We haven’t seen (guard-forward) Betnijah Laney-Hamilton in games when the team needs defensive stops. Will they be able to turn things around and get closer to the top of the standings where they want to be?” she continued.
“The team that’s making it difficult for them is the Washington Mystics. They are a great young, scrappy team. They have been able to compete with the top teams, spoil and win some games when, statistically speaking, you didn’t know it would necessarily be the outcome. They’ve been able to do that for a few seasons, and it comes from their coach,” said second-year head coach Sydney Johnson. “Who’s to say they can’t be the postseason team of today, not just building for the future.”
Brunson added, “Portland Fire (and) Toronto Tempo, expansion teams, can they grab somebody by the shirt collar and shock the world and make the playoffs like Golden State last year? I like the Tempo’s chances better when Brittney Sykes comes back, just because that team can score.
“Let’s just go ahead and hand ‘Most Improved Player’ award to (guard) Marina Mabrey. She is literally shooting the leather on the basketball. Oh, my goodness gracious, 40% from three; she was just at 27% from three last year. She is reminding me so much of Diana Taurasi.”
Ayala said she’d like to see more stories about the legends of the game. “We have some cities that are getting back WNBA (expansion) teams, and a lot of these legends are being activated. I love that we are seeing more former players on broadcasts and network television, which is amazing. There are a lot of former players that I’d like to know their stories, where are they now.”
“There is so much rich history. I want more of that history, and there is so much that we can reach back and recall for fans that lived it and experienced it, and there are new fans that don’t know about Detroit, Utah or Miami. I’d like to see more of that,” she said.
After years calling WNBA games, Brunson is watching this season as a fan. “As much as I am bummed that I’m not participating directly,” she admitted, “the joy in my heart when I can easily find a game on network TV, when I can watch and see arenas full of fans loving on these women and growing the game.”
Brunson attended last Saturday’s All-Star Game, where Team Spoon defeated Team Coop 129-122 before a record All-Star attendance of 19,783. Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, and teammate Courtney Williams had 12 points and 7 assists for the winners.
“It was an amazing atmosphere,” Brunson said of the new attendance record. “The game is in such a good place and in such good hands with these young stars like ‘The Spectacle’ (Miles) and Paige (Bueckers of Dallas). It’s just been so wonderful to see the rise of the game as a fan.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses at challman@spokesman-recorder.com.
Copyright © Charles Hallman