The WNBA Finally Has Stars. Why Is It Fighting Them? | The Riley Gaines Show
Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham are giving the WNBA exactly what every league says it wants: attention, rivalry, ratings, personality, memes, and real fan emotion. So why does the league keep looking uncomfortable with the very energy that is making people watch? On this episode of The Riley Gaines Show, Riley breaks down Clark’s return to elite form, the Fever’s surge, the technical foul controversy, and Sophie Cunningham pushing back on the “enforcer” label. This is not about painting Caitlin Clark as a victim. It is about a bigger question for women’s sports: can the WNBA embrace stars who are intense, competitive, physical, marketable, and unapologetically themselves? From officiating debates to viral moments the league seems hesitant to monetize, Riley argues that women’s sports do not grow by sanitizing rivalry. They grow when athletes are allowed to have edge, personality, loyalty, toughness, and a point of view.
We had one play in the WNBA last night, and it went the exact opposite of how I expected it to go. The Fever played like they had nothing to gain, and the Lynx played like they were fighting for playoff spots. Now we move into the postseason. Before we start the actual games, which tip off on Sunday, we should look at each series and see if there are any future bets that are worth putting into our accounts. All eight teams have a legitimate case for the championship, so this could get interesting fast.
Olivia Miles No. 5 of the Minnesota Lynx drives to the basket during a game against the Indiana Fever on Aug. 2, 2026, at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. (NBAE via Getty Images)
Lynx vs. Liberty
When the season first started, the Liberty were the favorite to win the WNBA Title. I’m not sure if New York was just the popular pick or if it was due to Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones on the roster. Either way, the season didn’t go quite as planned for the Liberty but they still ended up winning almost 60% of their games. The Lynx were also expected to have a different season. Without MVP Naphesa Collier for much of the year, it was expected that Minnesota would struggle this year. Olivia Miles, this year’s Rookie of the Year and potential MVP, led the way, and they earned the best record in the WNBA. I think there is some good value on taking the Liberty to win at least one game in this series. I’m going to take this series to go three games at +100.
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RISING WNBA STAR OLIVIA MILES ECLIPSES CAITLIN CLARK’S ROOKIE SCORING RECORD
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu is interviewed by ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after winning the three-point contest during the 2025 WNBA All Star Skills Challenge at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 18, 2025. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
Valkyries vs. Wings
One team is built on star power, and the other is built on being a complete team. The Wings have the star power with Paige Bueckers, and she will be getting her first taste of the postseason. The team lost the #1 overall pick, Azzi Fudd, earlier this year to injury, so they aren’t quite as deep as they used to be. The Valkyries are the #2 seed overall and have the best defense in basketball. They have the personnel to deal with Bueckers and everyone else on the Wings. I don’t see the Wings winning a game here; I like this one to go just two games at -130.
LYNX, VALKYRIES COACHES RIP ‘SAVE WOMEN’S SPORTS’ MOVEMENT AS PRO-TRANS MOB ROCKS 1ST RALLY AT NON-FEVER GAME
Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron celebrates during the first half of a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on May 15, 2026. The Mystics defeated the Indiana Fever 104-102 in overtime. (Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Dream vs. Mystics
The Atlanta Dream are one of the better teams in the game right now. They went 30-14 and have a good balance between inside and outside offense. The Dream have had good health this season, and all five starters are averaging nine or more points per game. The Mystics are led by Sonia Citron, but there are still some other solid players. Shakira Austin led the team in scoring and could cause some problems for the Dream. Washington beat the Dream 2-1 in the regular season. They were blown out in the loss and then won two home games, both by five points. I don’t love the game for the Dream, and I think it will be just a two-game series, but I won’t put an official bet on this one.
CAITLIN CLARK SHINES, BUT FEVER SUFFER EMBARRASSING BLOWOUT LOSS TO MYSTICS AS PLAYOFF RACE HEATS UP
Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) drives against Las Vegas Aces guard Dana Evans (11) during the second half of Game 5 of a WNBA basketball playoff semifinals series Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Aces vs. Fever
This is the marquee matchup of the first round. The Aces are the defending champions, and they’ve won three of the past four titles. A’ja Wilson is still the elite player who can be the difference-maker in any series. The Fever have been rather inconsistent this year, but they seemed to lock in for the postseason last year, and I think there is reason to believe they can do it again. I’m going to back Indiana to win this one at +145. Indiana gave Las Vegas the toughest battle last year in the playoffs; I think they make this go the full three games, even if the Fever don’t win.
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