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Rickea Jackson Becomes First WNBA Player To Sign With Skechers

Rickea Jackson has signed a multi-year shoe deal with Skechers and will become the first WNBA player ever to sign with the brand. In her first photoshoot, the brand unveiled the upcoming SKX NEXUS, a low top hoop shoe that will launch in 2025. 

This past year, Skechers signed several NBA players as they increase their marketing in the basketball space, signing New York Knicks All-Star Julius Randle, LA Clippers forward Terance Mann, and 76ers star Joel Embiid. 

“We’re proud of the player relationships we’ve established as we enter our second year on the court in basketball,” said Greg Smith, Skechers VP of Product Development & Merchandising.“Signing a premier WNBA player like Rickea has always been one of our top priorities, which is why we’re so happy to partner with her.”   

Team USA Beats Germany, Satou Sabally Returns To Hoops! 

In a commanding performance on Tuesday, the USA Women’s National Team trounced Germany with an 84-57 victory in their final exhibition game before the Olympics in London. Star forwards A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart led the charge, combining for 34 points and 20 rebounds. Wilson, showcasing her versatility, scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Stewart contributed 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Jewel Loyd and Diana Taurasi also played pivotal roles, ensuring Team USA controlled the game from start to finish. With the Olympics set to begin on July 26th, Team USA aims for gold, starting their campaign against Japan on July 29th. Satou Sabally made her return to the court for Team Germany after sitting out the start of the season for the Dallas Wings. She chipped into Germany’s loss with 8 points. 

Golden State Valkyries Breaks Record for Most Season Tickets Deposits For A Professional Women’s Sport

The Golden State Valkyries are setting records before even hitting the court, becoming the first women's sports team to surpass 15,000 season-ticket deposits ahead of their debut season. The Valkyries, the first WNBA expansion team since 2008, will begin play at Chase Center in the 2025 WNBA season. Season-ticket deposits cost $25 per seat. In the first week after launching their brand in mid-May, the Valkyries secured over 3,500 additional season-ticket deposits, pushing their total past 11,000 according to Sports Business Journal.

The Chicago Sky Will Add A State Of The Art Training Facility In 2025 

The Chicago Sky is set to build a $38 million, 40,000-square-foot practice facility in Bedford Park, just south of Midway Airport. Slated for completion in 2026, the state-of-the-art facility will feature two WNBA courts, private amenities for players, and community partnerships with The Obama Foundation and YMCA of Metro Chicago. This is a welcome change to the current Sky facilities which look a bit more like a rec basketball court than a professional practice facility. Congrats Sky! 

Angel Reese Will Play in The 3x3 Unrivaled League, Joining WNBA Stars

Breanna Stewart + Napheesa Collier’s 3x3 Unrivaled League will soon begin its first season in Miami. Earlier this week, the league announced that Angel Reese will play in the league this upcoming season. She joins Kelsey Plum, Jewell Loyd, Arike Ogunbowale, and other WNBA stars for the league's first season! Miami Barbie loadinggggggggg….

WNBA Inks Controversial New Media Rights Deal Through 2036

The WNBA has renewed its partnerships with The Walt Disney Company and Amazon Prime Video and forged a new agreement with NBCUniversal. Starting with the 2026 season and running through 2036, these deals will see WNBA games distributed on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NBC, USA Network, Peacock, and globally on Prime Video. Together, the partners will broadcast over 125 regular-season and playoff games annually. According to the Associated Press, sources estimate that the WNBA will receive around $200 million annually. 

Hoops legend Cheryl Miller called the deal a “low ball” at WNBA All Star weekend, saying: “We need tough and fair negotiators and visionaries. And we need a bully...behind the table that’s willing to say, ‘We’ll break up the pieces and go from there.’ But there’s a certain number bigger than 2 that we want.”

South Carolina Is Driving Non-Conference Games To Larger Venues

Earlier this week, TCU announced that they would be playing South Carolina in their non-conference games at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. Dickies Arena holds 14,000 people while TCU’s Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena only 8,500. 

NC State also announced that they would be playing South Carolina this season in Charlotte at the Spectrum Center. The Spectrum Center is 17,500 compared to NC State’s capacity which is between 5,500 and 6,000. 

In Other Hoops News: 

• Watch Rickea Jackson’s launch video with Skechers.
  

• Andraya Carter stopped by the Lady Volunteers practice this week.
  

• Aaliyah Chavez Has Revealed Her Top 6 Schools.
  

• 3.4 million people watched the WNBA All Star Game.
  

• Watch A’ja Wilson’s stellar performance for Team USA.
  

• Watch Flau’jae’s freestyle at WNBA All Star Weekend.
  

• Watch How One HBCU Athlete Is Suing The NCAA. 
  

• Diana Taurasi Will Not Compete In 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
  

• KB Partners With Woxer.

Some Funny Stuff 

Earlier this week we played “Guess That WNBA Player” with Black Lady Sketch Show’s Da’mya Gurley. Watch here.

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