WNBA

The WNBA All-Star Weekend festivities will go on without its biggest star -- Caitlin Clark just announced she will not be competing to allow her body to rest after suffering an injury.

The Indiana Fever guard confirmed the news in a statement on Thursday ... saying even though she was stoked for her home city to host the whole slate of events, she is "sad and disappointed to say I can't participate in the 3-Point Contest or the All-Star Game."

"I have to rest my body."

Caitlin Clark's frustrations with recent officiating boiled over on Tuesday -- the WNBA superstar went off on a referee during the Fever vs. Sun game, forcing a coach to step in and pull her away.

It happened in the third quarter of the contest at TD Garden in Boston ... when Clark and referee Michael Price were going back and forth on the court.

It's unclear what Price said to Clark, but whatever it was struck a nerve ... turning a calm exchange into a heated one.

Shaquille O'Neal just sent a stern warning to Robert Griffin III ... telling the Heisman Trophy winner if he continues to keep Angel Reese's name in his mouth, the Big Diesel is going to serve up a big ol' knuckle sandwich.

The NBA legend took aim at RGIII during an appearance on the "Off The Record" podcast this week ... going off on the former NFL quarterback for re-posting a racist meme of Reese on his X page.

"RGIII," Shaq said as he took off his sunglasses and stared into a camera. "Tweet another monkey post about my girl Angel Reese and I'm going to punch you in your f***ing face. OK? It's enough."

Swin Cash is all-in on the WNBA coming back to Detroit ... telling TMZ Sports the city and its fans deserve it -- no matter what the haters say!!

We spoke with the three-time champion at the Taylor vs. Serrano fight on Friday ... and asked her about the W's announcement that Motor City -- where Cash played from 2002 to 2007 -- would be home to a pro women's hoops team once again in 2029.

Of course, the Shock relocated to Tulsa in 2009 ... and eventually settled in Dallas in 2016.

The Caitlin Clark effect hate is real ... so says Nancy Lieberman, who tells TMZ Sports players need to embrace the "cash cow" and stop being petty.

We spoke with Lieberman after the All-Star voting results were released ... which showed Clark as the 9th-ranked WNBA guard in the player vote.

Keep in mind, CC has been suffering from injuries ... but has managed to earn 18.2 points and 8.9 assists per game.

Pro hooper Caitlin Cunningham -- known online as "Caitlin Dark" -- has been making waves for their unique on-court appearance ... and they tell TMZ Sports they're down to team up with the WNBA superstar who inspired their new nickname!!

The Australian baller, who currently plays for the Rockhampton Cyclones of the NBL1, recently broke the internet for their gothic looks on the court -- a face full of makeup, jet-black hair, tattoos and fang teeth.

As it turns out, everyone's just late to the game ... 'cause Cunningham says this has been going on for their whole 20-year career!!

A "Jeopardy!" contestant mistakenly identified Paige Bueckers as Caitlin Clark during a clue that also included a PHOTO of the 2024 first overall pick ... in a record scratching moment on the famed gameshow!

The moment went down on Wednesday night's "Jeopardy!" episode ... as host Ken Jennings read the clue from the "Sporty Stuff" category to the three contestants, saying ... "This UConn star had an intense spring in 2025, playing on her first national championship team, and being picked first in the WNBA draft."

To make things even easier, the clue came with a photo of Bueckers in her Huskies uniform ... but it still wasn't enough for one of the contestants, Rahul.

11:40 AM PT -- NBA 2K general manager Zak Armitage opened up on the decision to feature Angel Reese on this year's cover ... telling TMZ Sports, "NBA 2K26 is celebrating the bold, the confident and the visionaries -- and WNBA All-Star Angel Reese carries all that on and off the court."

"In her sophomore year in the WNBA, Angel Reese has made waves, created impactful conversations, and inspired the next generation. She’s a storyteller and has helped the WNBA grow its audience."

Armitage went on to praise Reese for making her presence known "on the biggest stages, including in gaming," and the crew is honored to have her join the 2K family.

Angel Reese has reached "cover athlete" status -- the Chicago Sky hooper was just revealed as the face of the NBA 2K26 "WNBA Edition" ... leaving some folks wondering if Caitlin Clark's invite got lost in the mail.

The popular video game franchise announced the slate of stars who would join NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with the honor for the upcoming installment ... with Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony landing the "Superstar Edition" cover.

The decision to go with Reese over the Indiana Fever guard has folks weighing in ... and it's breathing new life into the biggest rivalry in women's basketball in the process.

Angel Reese was pissed off to the max on Tuesday ... and she took her frustrations out on her coach's clipboard in the process -- swiping it out of her hands in the middle of the Chicago Sky's loss!!

The outburst happened with 29.9 seconds left in the game at George Mason University ... when Reese and the Sky were tied at 77-77 with the Washington Mystics.

As the Sky challenged a loose-ball foul, players headed back to the bench ... and Reese was visibly upset.

Kalani Brown looked ready to be pulled for a chat ahead of the Phoenix Mercury game on Monday -- channeling her inner "Love Island" bombshell as she made her way to the locker rooms!!

The WNBA center arrived in style at the Footprint Center for the showdown against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings ... rocking a sexy, two-piece orange dress for the occasion.

Brown certainly understood the assignment ... looking stunning before throwing on her jersey and sneakers.

Nancy Lieberman isn't taking any Detroit hate sitting down ... telling TMZ Sports Sophie Cunningham needs to get her facts right after dissing the D earlier this week.

Cunningham -- who joined the Indiana Fever this year -- took a jab at Motor City when she was asked about the WNBA's decision to expand, saying, "I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit."

She didn't sound thrilled about Cleveland and Philadelphia -- the two other cities receiving WNBA teams -- all that much, either.

3:11 PM PT -- Reps for Red Panda tell TMZ Sports the iconic halftime performer suffered a severe left wrist fracture in Tuesday night's fall, an injury she also previously experienced.

We're told the accident was due to the left pedal of her unicycle being damaged in transit.

After spending 11 hours in the hospital, Red Panda's reps say she is now on her way home and will meet with an orthopedic surgeon for further repair.

We're told Red Panda is thankful for all the support she's received in wake of the accident ... as "it means the world to her."

Red Panda left the WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship on Tuesday night a little black and blue ... as the halftime show legend sustained an injury during a scary fall.

Sophie Cunningham must be a Juvenile fan ... 'cause the Indiana Fever guard was backin' that ass up after her squad won the WNBA Commissioner's Cup!!

The party went down on Tuesday after the Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx with a 74-59 victory in the finale of the in-season tournament.

It was the first Commish's Cup win for the Fever ... and the champs certainly celebrated like it -- live streaming the whole bash on social media.

Dick Vitale is taking WNBA players to task for snubbing Caitlin Clark on their All-Star Game ballots ... ripping their voting as nothing more than "PURE JEALOUSY."

It was revealed on Monday that Clark was named just the ninth-best guard when it came to the players' ASG vote ... and it didn't take long for Dickie V to go off on the league for the results.

"Absolutely PURE JEALOUSY," he wrote on his X page. "Some day they will realize what she Has done for ALL of the players in the WNBA. Charted planes - increase in salaries-sold out crowds - improved TV Ratings."

Cameron Brink has no problem strutting her stuff in the buff ... opening up on her experience going "fully naked" for a recent photo shoot -- saying she wasn't sweating it one bit!!

The Los Angeles Sparks forward talked about her time in front of the cameras for the "PLAYERS" publication with her mom, Michelle, and teammate Dearica Hamby on the latest episode of her "Straight To Cam" podcast ... and she gushed over the artistry involved in the collab.

On the cover, the 23-year-old rocked a black suit with a grey shirt and black pants ... with her upper half opened up to expose her chest.

Tensions were high between the Sparks and Sky on Tuesday ... as Rickea Jackson and Angel Reese got physical during an on-court scuffle.

It went down in the first quarter of the LA vs. Chicago game at Wintrust Arena ... when Sparks forward Jackson and Sky forward Rebecca Allen got tangled up under the rim while battling for the rebound.

It got a little too rough for Jackson's liking ... so she lunged at Allen, who immediately called her out for the thrust and got in her face -- and that's when Reese got involved.