WNBA

The Trump shooter looked up a famous assassination before his would-be attempt, Halle Berry is celebrating her "Catwoman" anniversary, and a couple WNBA rookies are boosting merchandise sales ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live" Harvey and Charles explain the recent revelation from the FBI director ... who says Thomas Matthew Crooks googled the JFK assassination details before trying to kill Donald Trump.

The WNBA's growing popularity is resulting in some seriously historic merchandise numbers for the organization ... and Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese deserve a ton of credit, 'cause the two superstars lead the entire league in sales.

Fanatics -- the W's official retail partner -- tells TMZ Sports it has seen a 500% surge in business during the first half of the season when compared to the same time period in 2023.

In fact, there's been an 1,000% increase in player-specific merch sales, and Clark and Reese are Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.

"Parks and Rec" star Aubrey Plaza entered WNBA All-Star Weekend with two healthy knees ... but she left it with just one after an unfortunate mishap amid all the festivities.

According to the All-Star Game's broadcaster, Ryan Ruocco, Plaza suffered a torn ACL while playing in a spirited game of "Knockout" at the Phoenix Mercury's practice facility just hours before Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and A'ja Wilson tipped off their Team WNBA vs. Team USA exhibition clash.

Plaza still somehow mustered up the strength to catch the game at the Footprint Center ... although she needed an ice pack and a crutch to get through the night.

Caitlin Clark is opening up on her decision to pass on the WNBA's three-point competition on Friday ... saying it all came down to getting some much-needed rest.

The Indiana Fever star is notably not among the sharpshooters taking part in the long-distance All-Star Weekend event ... and many wondered why the league's biggest star declined to be involved when it could have been an opportunity to get more eyeballs on the organization.

Clark provided some answers earlier in the day ... explaining she's been playing non-stop for a long time -- and she wants to put her energy into helping her Fever teammates, rather than prepare for the contest.

Brittney Griner made a special announcement Friday ... she and her wife, Cherelle, have welcomed their first child!!

The Phoenix Mercury star dropped the exciting news on CBS Sports' "We Need To Talk" ... prior to the WNBA's All-Star Skills Challenge and 3-Point contest in Phoenix, Arizona.

"He's here," the Phoenix Mercury center said. "Seven pounds, eight ounces."

The kickoff to the WNBA All-Star Weekend's festivities looked more like a fashion show ... as Caitlin Clark, A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and all the ladies pulled up to the party's Orange Carpet dressed like models!!

The superstars donned their finest 'fits and headed over to the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona on Thursday night ... to officially let the world know their league's annual midseason showcase is starting.

One by one, they strutted their stuff in front of media members and cameras ... and they looked gooooood.

The vibes were certainly high for Cameron Brink after undergoing surgery to fix her busted ACL ... 'cause the WNBA star shared a clip right from the hospital bed -- and she was SO chill.

The L.A. Sparks rookie -- who suffered the injury back in mid-June -- recently went under the knife to repair the ailment ... and it appears she was drugged out to the max for the procedure.

The video is great ... with 22-year-old Brink giving her family and boyfriend an update on how she was feeling.

In less than three months in the WNBA, Caitlin Clark has already rewritten one of the league's most prestigious records.

On Wednesday night, the Indiana Fever star set the new mark for assists in one game ... after she tallied NINETEEN total against the Dallas Wings.

The previous record belonged to Courtney Vandersloot, who logged 18 two times -- once in the regular season in 2020 and once in the postseason in 2021 -- when she was with the Chicago Sky.

Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky got a very special surprise after beating the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday ... with none other than Usher greeting the big winners in the locker room.

The Sky had one of their most impressive outings of the season after handling the defending champions in a 93-85 finish in Sin City ... with Reese capturing another double-double, tallying 13 points and 10 rebounds.

After the final buzzer, the ladies got the chance to hang out with Ursher, baby!!

Caitlin Clark's used to shooting from logos, but one NASCAR team just revealed the WNBA superstar will actually be a logo this weekend!!

Stewart-Haas Racing announced Tuesday they've put an image of the Indiana Fever rookie squarely on the hood of Josh Berry's No. 4 Ford Mustang ... and will officially debut the cool look at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The paint scheme is all part of a partnership between the racing team and Panini America, which just recently released a "Caitlin Clark Collection" of trading cards.

Cameron Brink is proving she's a star both on and off the court ... 'cause the WNBA rookie just landed the cover of a fashion magazine!!

The L.A. Sparks forward dropped the major news on Monday ... announcing she recently posed for the Flaunt publication's "Gold Standard" issue. The 22-year-old, who tore her ACL just about a month ago, took part in the shoot weeks before the unfortunate injury happened.

Brink rocked multiple outfits for the photoshoot -- including one featuring Skims, which she's posed for in the past -- and also sat down for a quick Q&A. When asked how she deals with all the business opportunities that come with being a pro, she said her time at Stanford got her ready for the next level.

If the WNBA season ended today, Angel Reese -- NOT Caitlin Clark -- would be named Rookie of the Year ... so says legendary college basketball coach Dawn Staley.

The South Carolina women's hoops honcho didn't mince words when TMZ Sports caught up with her out at LAX ... telling us right now, Reese is more deserving of the honor.

"At this time -- today -- it's Angel," she said. "Without a doubt."

Jaylen Brown and Kysre Gondrezick sure look like an item ... the two pro basketball players pulled up to the ESPYs together arm-in-arm -- and even appeared to get ready for the event inside the same hotel room.

The annual sports award show is going down Thursday evening at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles ... and the Boston Celtics star and the WNBA player were seen preppin' for the event at Pendry West Hollywood.

Check out a photo TMZ Sports obtained of the two on a balcony just hours before they hit the ESPY red carpet together ... they seemed to be sharing the same room as they got dolled up.

Cameron Brink ain't letting a torn ACL stop her from being one of the WNBA's fashionistas ... 'cause the L.A. Sparks star rookie is back wearing heels without a brace just weeks after suffering the injury.

The 6-foot-3 forward went to support her team at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday when the Sparks went up against the Minnesota Lynx ... and she pulled up to the game looking like a model.

Brink wore a leather jacket, a cute blue top, a white skirt ... and, most notably, some boot heels with no leg brace.

Angel Reese's Reese's Pieces could be coming to a grocery store near you ... TMZ Sports has learned Hershey's is in talks with the WNBA superstar about a potential partnership.

The connection first playfully began after the Chicago Sky's thrilling win over Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever late last month ... when Reese went to X to call her followers "Reese's pieces."

"Where yall at?????" she wrote.