Belles of the Balls

Welcome to Melanin MVP 👋🏾, where we celebrate minority women athletes making history. I’m cooling down from my trip to the beach as I write this week’s sports highlights. When you reach the last word, let me know! 🥂

Women to Watch 🏅

• The first female assistant coach in the NBA is none other than Lindsey Harding, a former Duke player. The news leaked earlier this summer but was made official this month.

• Tina Charles became the #2 all-time leading scorer, right behind Diana Taurasi, in her game with the Atlanta Dream vs. none other than the Phoenix Mercury. Here’s a look at the 3-pointer that sealed the deal.

• Nneka Ogwumike passed Candace Parker to be ranked number 7 in the highest field goals made by a WNBA player. Sue Bird’s rank at number 6 might be falling next. In the meantime, LeBron James has already passed her the torch to More Than a Vote as the nonprofit shifts its focus to reproductive rights.

• Bunny Shaw wins the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) Women’s Players Player of the Year Award.

• A’Ja Wilson is the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award winner.

• Coca Gauff plays tennis with Billie Jean King at the U.S. Open, I assume after she ate some Wheaties out of a box with her face on it.

• Naomi Osaka and her mixed doubles partner wore matching number 8 Lakers basketball jerseys during their exhibition match.

• Grace Williams returns to the Seattle Storm after much debate on WNBA contracts for exclusivity.

• Jaylyn Sherrod scored her first points in the WNBA with the New York Liberty as they played against the Dallas Wings. She wasn’t picked up in the draft but did participate in the Liberty’s training camp and 2 pre-season games as an undrafted signee. She signed another 7-day contract with the team in July, and while I don’t see news of a contract extension, it looks like she’s stayed with the team post-Olympics and is fitting in nicely.

• The North Carolina Courage (my local women’s soccer team!) acquired rookie defender Maycee Bell, a UNC alum, via trade from NJ/NY Gotham FC. Bell signed a guaranteed contract through the 2026 season in February.

• Messiah Bright has the first-ever hat trick (scoring 3 goals in a single game) in Angel City FC history.

Top Stories 📰

• The NWSL will become the first major sports league in the U.S. to eliminate its draft. Every contract will be guaranteed, and every trade now requires a player's approval. It's all part of a landmark new CBA which includes provisions for workload management and revenue sharing (some things the WNBA seriously needs to take a look at). Briana Pinto joined Good Morning America to share the historic news. The NWSL returns to ESPN on Sunday, August 25th.

• Arsenal WFC spent some time in the States with the Washington Mystics after their match at Audi Field.

• Season 2 of Sprint on Netflix has an arrival date and roster list. The docuseries will return to Netflix on November 13th and feature Gabby Thomas, Julien Alfred, Melissa Jefferson, Twanisha “TeeTee” Terry, Shericka Jackson, and more. They released the first season about a month before the Olympics, and have announced the second season right on the heels of some incredible races. Their timing is impeccable. 

• Angel Reese, also known as the queen of maximizing her 24 hours, has been busy during the Olympic break. While off the court, she has secured: her place on NBA 2K25, a Reese’s merch deal, and a Mattel x Chicago Sky game day collab. Reebok has also dropped merch and a shoe for their star athlete. She’s even hinted at a movie appearance. Brand deals aside, I love this commercial on cyberbullying featuring Angel Reese, and it looks like I’m not the only one.

• The Chicago Sky announced the development of their new training facility, slated to open in December 2025.

• The Seattle Storm announced their new partnership with Starbucks and I’m surprised this wasn’t already a thing.

• Not to be outdone, the Dallas Wings have signed a multi-year agreement with Raising Cane’s and have become one of the highest-valuated WNBA team with recent investments.

• A few people caught A’Ja Wilson slipping while she was occupied with the Olympic games and leaked the news of the colorways for her new shoe with Nike.

Only Fans 🏟️

• Wanda Sykes was photographed courtside at the Dallas Wings vs. Connecticut Sun game.

• Jason Tatum was among the many Boston Celtics who came out to support their sister organization the Connecticut Sun at their first sold-out game in Boston at TD Garden. (and they won!)

The Last Word 🥂

I’m still making the slow transition from vacation to work, so here are a few things on my watchlist:

• This cute, short video of the difference between the WNBA and the NBA

• The Power of the Dream documentary detailing how the Atlanta Dream and WNBA rallied behind now-Senator Raphael Warnock. I believe it’s currently only available on Amazon Prime. The girls are not new to politics.

• Skylar Diggins-Smith sat down with ESPN’s LaChina Robinson to share her story. I had no idea Seattle had catfish, and now my Southern self is ready to visit again. You can watch the full conversation here.

• This players-on-players interview series, In The Paint With the Las Vegas Aces.

• The Chicago Sky held a 2024 Mental Health Panel that you can watch here.

• “The Money Game” docuseries by LSU actually isn’t yet available, but if you’re pining for an intimate look at how the NIL ruling changed the game for college athletes this might be right up your alley. The season drops September 10th, and you can watch the trailer here.

I hope you enjoy the ladies’ games or some fun videos this weekend, because: