The WNBA starts the second half of its schedule Tuesday, with three teams emerging as the most likely to contend for the championship: the Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury.
The biggest question at a league level will be answered off the court: Can the WNBA and the players' association reach a collective bargaining agreement this calendar year -- or at least by January? With the expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, plus an enormous free agency period coming in 2026, having a CBA in place sooner than later is important.
Players put the labor negotiations in the spotlight over the weekend in Indianapolis, discussing the CBA during every media availability and wearing T-shirts that read "Pay Us What You Owe Us" at Saturday's All-Star Game.