Three days of WNBA training camps are in the books.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest developments from around the league. Jump in the comments and share what’s caught your eyes, or raised your eyebrows, so far.
WNBA stars sidelined for training camps
Injuries, unfortunately, have grabbed headlines in too many places. These are some of the most significant players who are likely to begin the 2026 WNBA season on the sidelines:
- Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx): The Lynx confirmed that Collier underwent her second ankle surgery on March 24, with her return to the court expected in early June.
- Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm): In Seattle, it was revealed that Magbegor injured her right foot while competing with Australia in March’s FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament, sidelining her for at least six to eight more weeks.
- Brionna Jones (Atlanta Dream): Jones underwent an offseason knee procedure, with the Dream declining to reveal if the surgery was for the meniscus tear she suffered while competing for USK Praha or for a different issue. Her status for the beginning of the regular season is uncertain.
- DiJonai Carrington (Chicago Sky): Now with the Sky, Carrington is not yet back on the court, recently undergoing a procedure to remove hardware from her left foot. She had offseason surgery after a left foot injury ended her 2025 season.
- Dana Evans (Las Vegas Aces): Evans is continuing to rehab the left leg injury that also caused her to miss much of the 2026 Unrivaled season.
Which of these injuries most concerns you the most?
I’m a bit concerned it could be awhile until we see Phee finally take the court, and that Minnesota’s knowledge of her longer recovery timeline makes their more conservative free agency strategy make more sense.
But, that’s not all bad. The first half of the season can serve as an information gathering opportunity, with head coach Cheryl Reeve evaluating how players, headlined by No. 2 pick and potential Rookie of the Year frontrunner Olivia Miles, can both support and shine alongside the eventual Phee-led Lynx. Then, the team can begin to implement those visions in the second half of the season, preparing themselves to become true title contenders in 2027. How does that sound, Lynx fans?
Which WNBA training camp has the best vibes?
North of the borders, the first-ever WNBA training camp in Canada is bursting with good feelings.
Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello praised the coachability, energy and engagement of her squad, while also emphasizing how she is prioritizing building culture and connection.
The Portland Fire are relishing their WNBA rebirth. Players have exuded positivity about the acclimation to Portland, especially the Portland food scene, in addition to endorsing the methodologies of head coach Alex Sarama, who adheres to a constraints-led approach (CLA) to basketball.
Those methods include pumping in arena music during practice drills, preparing players to navigate the noise-based challenges that could arise in actual games.
In addition to capturing photographs of the Atlanta Dream’s training camp, Christina Merrion reported that, “The team chemistry is off the charts.”
Newcomer Angel Reese, certainly, is embracing her opportunity in Atlanta with enthusiasm, gushing over the floor spacing generated by Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, while also underscoring her desire to elevate her game under head coach Karl Smesko. Reese shared:
Being coachable isn’t just about taking it, it’s about wanting it … I really want to be coached, I want to be coached hard and be put in predicaments I am uncomfortable with to help me get better.
It’s a new day in New York, with the arrival of Satou Sabally and head coach Chris DeMarco injecting the Liberty with a refreshed energy.
The now-bespectacled Sabally has reunited with Sabrina Ionescu on the Liberty super team, as Zack Ward already wrote about. And encouragingly, she has been a full participant in training camp, as has the now-healthy Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.
The new offensive system being implemented by DeMarco intends to maximize those two, as well as the entirety of the Liberty roster.
DeMarco has preached simplicity, insisting that easy to understand concepts will allow his team to execute more quickly. Ionescu expressed excitement about the improved spacing, while Rebecca Allen described DeMarco’s philosophy as a “family offense,” where there’s more involvement by all players.
What sights or sounds from training camps have most intrigued you? Certainly, it’s all smiles early on for every team, so which team do you think will be able to translate all the good feeling throughout the season?
What young WNBA star is poised for another leap in 2026?
Expectations are, of course, high for Paige Bueckers’ sophomore season.
The 2025 Rookie of the Year didn’t just spend her offseason getting buckets for Breeze in Unrivaled, but also bulking up, adding strength that should equip her to be at her best at the end of 40-minute games and throughout the 44-game season.
That’s what her new head coach Jose Fernandez emphasized as he praised Paige’s worth ethic and elaborated on her potential. Josh Felton also discussed Fernandez’s desire to see Bueckers take more 3s, in addition to exploring other questions about the revitalized Wings.
Up in Indy, the Fever are feeling good about Caitlin Clark’s third season.
Clark explained how her injury-plagued sophomore campaign has made her more aware of the importance of working smarter, not just harder. Head coach Stephanie White echoed Clark, expressing that the team intends to be “mindful” about the load on all of the Fever’s stars.
The Washington Mystics are loaded with young players who could take a leap, including one who is waiting to make her official WNBA debut: Georgia Amoore.
Head coach Sydney Johnson indicated that Amoore should be ready to go after missing all of her rookie season with an ACL injury. Amoore shared what she learned from her season on the sidelines, noting that she feels prepared to put her teammates in the best position to succeed after observing their game’s in detail last season.
Who do you think is poised to take her game to another level?
A stronger Paige? A healthier Caitlin? What about a more empowered Alanna Smith in Dallas or an EPIC season from Aliyah Boston in Indianapolis? Do you think Georgia will be awesome right away alongside Sonia and Kiki in DC?
Who are the other young (or older) players in store for a huge season?
