beyond the back page There’s a lot to like about this WNBA season once you get past the noise By Madeline Kenney Published Aug. 20, 2026, 7:40 a.m. ET Lynx guard Olivia Miles (above) brings the ball up court against the Wings on Aug. 9, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Just weeks after Sophie Cunningham’s remarks about transgender athletes placed the WNBA at the center of a political and cultural firestorm, the Fever guard had a plea.
“I want to get back to basketball,” Cunningham told reporters earlier this month.
So much of the WNBA conversation among casual sports fans has revolved around on-court skirmishes, racist messages and what Cunningham thinks about transgender inclusion.
With the focus seemingly being on everything but what’s unfolding on the court, some great basketball storylines are being underdiscussed.
