Hoops Happening: Here’s what’s buzzing in the WNBA!

WNBA game action returns tomorrow with all 12 teams on the schedule! Competition begins with the Connecticut Sun taking on the Dream in Atlanta at 7 p.m. EST on WNBA League Pass. Four of tomorrow’s matchups will be aired live on ESPN2 and ESPN3.

Stay tuned for previews!

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Angel’s Dream

Atlanta’s Angel McCoughtry notched herself into league history on Tuesday in the Dream’s comeback effort against the Liberty in New York.

Tis the season for tying Candace Parker’s achievements, apparently, as A’ja Wilson tied Parker for rookies to put up 35 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks in a game. Wilson did it in the Aces’ win over the Fever on June 12.

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Storm bodies

ESPN has announced the athletes who will be featured in the forthcoming 10-year anniversary of The Body Issue. The bare-naked representatives from the WNBA include Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm.

Stewart shared some personal details on Twitter about why she chose to pose nude.

The “journey of coming forward” to which Stewart refers in her tweet is partially detailed here. Other WNBA players who have been featured in The Body Issue include: Nneka Ogwumike, Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner, Swin Cash and Candace Parker.

The Body Issue hits newsstands June 29.

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The Aces added a roster spot

Although no official reports have been released, we assume Lady Liberty will come off the bench at the center position.

And ... perhaps it would be safe to assume the testy New York Liberty players won’t care for this too much?

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Post player by day, poet by night

Imani McGee-Stafford visited the Academy of American Poets for a pop-up reading.

The diverse talents of the women in the WNBA should inspire action and awe in everyone.

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All-Star voting is here!

Cast your ballots because your vote matters! (And we’re not just talking about WNBA All-Star voting, people.) On Twitter, simply tweet a player’s full name accompanied by the hashtag #WNBAVOTE. You can also vote online.

Any questions? Check out the Complete Rules and Regulations.

The polls close on July 12 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

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Link lush

• A Tale of Two Natashas — Michelle Smith’s list of players who are having unique breakout seasons (or the title of an international indie film — you decide).
• A’ja Wilson and the Aces are running Vegas. Forget Cirque du Soleil. The city’s WNBA team is quickly becoming the hottest ticket in town.
• Candace Parker was named AP Sports Player of the Week.
• The NBA Community Assist Award goes to ... Diana Taurasi.
• And, Taurasi is killing it from the free-throw line this season. As seen in the first episode of the Mercury’s docuseries The Chase, Taurasi’s jokes are kind of corny, so at least we don’t have to wonder too hard about whether she’s actually human.
• Chicago Sky’s Gabby Williams discusses her bumpy rookie season in her rookie diary.
• Gravity-defying athlete Simone Biles quietly purses her gymnastics coaching dreams.

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Scorching the status quo

• ESPNW went deep into the link between Mulan and our “inner warriors.” The story collection is an impressive reflection on representation of Asian athletes and broader themes.
• Nate Robinson spoke out about verbal abuse from NBA coaches and how the league gave him his depression. Despite all of this, he is fighting for a comeback.
• All of the Ali Sports Humanitarian Award finalists are male and the reasons are likely many.
• A collegiate women’s basketball referee pleaded guilty to molestation charges and has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. The infrequency with which charges and convictions are brought forward in these cases makes this a victory.
• Sterling Brown of the Milwaukee Bucks is suing the police department that tased him. One of the officers involved in the incident has a history of making racist comments online, which included jokes about police brutality.
• Track star Caster Semeya is fighting back against the IAAF’s testosterone ruling.

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How to #WatchThemWork all season

Shine brighter. * flicker flicker *