Michelle Smith McDonald, APR

Much of what Tiffany Hayes brings to the floor is Golden State’s identity: passion, energy, fight and offense for a team that needs all the scoring punch it can get, writes Michelle Smith. Here, she spotlights Hayes' performance on Saturday, where she moved into the starting lineup and delivered.

I like this starting lineup a lot for the Valks.

Kanter wanted to walk out into the crowd surrounded by security, so he could look like a martyr or the cause. And the WNBA and the Dream said. "Or you can sit in this room all by yourself."

If your first reaction to the WNBA's Enes Kanter move last night was anger, dig deeper. It was checkmate. And for the first time in a while, it was exactly the right move.

In this week's Basketball Insider, @macsmith413.bsky.social reflects on the Valkyries' fresh approach to the WNBA and the success they've had in just two seasons www.theixsports.com/newsletter/g...

NEWS (From NBC): Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals averaged 2.1 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, making it the most-watched WNBA Finals Game 1 ever. Dream vs. Valkyries is up 11% vs. last year’s Game 1 between Mercury and Aces.

Beyond deserved my friend!

Veronica Burton may not have the flashiest stat line on the box score, but her composure is making the difference when it counts. @macsmith413.bsky.social has more about Golden State's steady point guard: www.theixsports.com/the-ix-baske...

Experience and depth have come to define ACC women's basketball. @macsmith413.bsky.social previews the upcoming season and presents three teams as favorites to win the conference championship.

And so excited for all the #WNBA Finals coverage ahead from @theixsports.bsky.social. @michaelwaterloo.bsky.social, @mingemi.bsky.social and Hall of Famer @macsmith413.bsky.social are here to give you every angle of the 2026 championship series!

What’s the Valkyries’ secret sauce? @macsmith413.bsky.social on how Natalie Nakase's intentional approach to rest and depth gives Golden State a full roster heading into the WNBA Finals. Read: www.theixsports.com/the-ix-baske...

Natalie’s coaching tree is Ty Lue, Becky, and Pop. Like you can’t get better than that

May 30. Just sayin. www.theixsports.com/the-ix-baske...

Valks never go away from who they are. Ever.

"Now look, she’s thriving again because of the love and care we have in our culture.” - Natalie Nakase @macsmith413.bsky.social wrote about Tiffany Hayes and her career renaissance with the Valkyries.

Can't describe what it's like in here tonight. #ballhalla.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/766...

Before the game, @lvaces.bsky.social head coach said of the Valkyries crowd. "These fans...they are lit." Indeed they are. There is magic in this building. Game 2 tipping off...

Holy shit.

A moment for Janelle ✨ The UNANIMOUS 2026 Sixth Player of the Year. #KiaSixth | #WNBASeason30

The Valkyries won their first playoff series in their second season ever

Man the WNBA finals goes through Ballhalla now

Not enough bench for GSV.

Arike Ogunbowale breaks a WNBA playoff scoring record with 43 points. Most points in a playoff game in league history.

All season long, Golden State's identity revolved around its defense. So what do we make of a Game 1 in which the Valkyries set numerous offensive records? Our @macsmith413.bsky.social reports live from San Francisco. #WNBA www.theixsports.com/the-ix-baske...

First playoff win in Valks' history was a statement win. Franchise-best 104 points. Franchise-best (tied) 18 3-pointers. Three players +20 for the first time. Nakase still going to be pissed about giving up 80.

This is how loud it is and it hasn’t even started yet

With 1:35 left in the second quarter, the Valkyries have outscored Dallas 31-11.

No justifying this. edsource.org/2026/ice-imm...

Nneka Ogwumike’s stellar career on the court will always be regarded side by side with her historic leadership impact on the W and sports more broadly. She is nothing less than a civil rights figure. Having covered her since her career at Stanford, I am unabashedly and objectively proud of her.

Rumors about “rigged elections" are now a fixture of U.S. elections, leading to diminished trust in election results & democracy (broadly). These rumors can sometimes be hard to debunk, esp. in their early stages. Our UW team has identified the 6 common ways that election integrity rumors mislead:

Here are Valks playoff scenarios after games today... - Still 1 game back of MIN, Lynx need to win to clinch; 2 games with IND If Valks stay in 2nd, these are scenarios for 7: - Dallas: W/Seattle, 2 WAS Ls - NY: W/Atl, WAS and DAL Ws - WAS: 2 Ls, NY and DAL Ls - IND: 2 Ls, NY W, WAS 2 Ws, DAL W

@minakimes.bsky.social such a good conversation with Pedro this week.

Valkyries (31-11) close out Seattle 70-57 in regular season home finale. Third career double-double for Charles. Jocyte with a career-high 11 points. Valks finish 17-5 at Ballhalla in the regular season.

International basketball is an exercise in maturity. Clark’s biggest weakness spot. She will have to get there.

on the topic of Coach Charmin Smith, this Berkeley, Ca event is tonight! An evening w/ sports journalist Michelle Smith & #CALWBBALL Coach Charmin Smith, in conversation about Tara VanDerveer's legacy and the past, present & future of women's sports. tix here www.booksociety.social/event-detail...

Literally awake at night feeling the excitement of my impending arrival of my first grandchild and a deep existential worry about the world she is coming into. Totally normal right?

USC and UCLA should never be forgiven for what they did to the Pac-12.

FWIW I don’t see Nneka taking on commissioner. Would make more sense for her to take over leadership of the WNBAPA at some point. Or my secret wish, run for office in Texas… But there is another former Stanford player out there who might be in line…Amy Brooks.

Fair assessment. But I give her a lot of credit for navigating the league through the pandemic season, giving the players a platform for their social justice efforts and having the league thrive, coming out the other side.

Seattle Times comes out against I-638. It s terrible law, based in bigotry, that hurts all girls who want to compete in school sports, requiring invasive sex testing. If you’re in WA state or know someone who is, please spread the word: Vote NO on I-638. www.seattletimes.com/opinion/edit...

Summary of thoughts on Cathy Engelbert’s retirement. Good for business. Not great with people. Not well served by those who could’ve helped with that. I want to retire at 62 too. You get to a point where you’re just frigging tired of dealing. Players don’t need next commissioner to be their friend.

BREAKING: Cathy Engelbert has decided to retire as #WNBA commissioner at the end of the 2027 calendar year. She spoke to our @howardmegdal.bsky.social about this decision: www.theixsports.com/features/bre...

How very Susan Collins of him.

In the way-back machine, my flag football story from Alaska from espnW, when the sport was just getting started... www.espn.com/espnw/more-s...

Another banger from @jerrybrewer.bsky.social. www.nytimes.com/athletic/753...

In crisis communications, we ask the following guiding question, “What would reasonable people appropriately expect a responsible organization to do in this situation?” The @WNBA needs to ask this question more.

Here's the official announcement of Parton's passing from her reps, along with the request that in lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com