A New WNBA Champion Is Coming
Golden State’s depth meets Atlanta’s disruption in a best-of-seven Finals.
Read the story →Basketball coverage without the clutter
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Editorial coverage updated September 29, 2026.
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Updated on October 16, 2026
Championship Basketball and the College Countdown
Men’s College Basketball: The Starting Order
KenPom’s preseason top ten and the questions the first games can answer.
Read the story →Women’s College Basketball: The Power 10 Before Tipoff
South Carolina and UConn lead Autumn Johnson’s preseason assessment.
Read the story →Updated on October 16, 2026 • NBA opening week
A New Season, Four Questions Worth Watching
The regular season begins October 20. Follow the roles, decisions and habits that will give the opening results meaning.
Opening Week: Watch the Habits Before the Standings
The regular season begins October 20. The first useful evidence is in the details.
Read the story →Luka’s Leadership Has to Reach the Other Four
A focal point becomes more valuable when teammates can act decisively.
Read the story →Minnesota’s Fit Test Starts Between the Highlights
The value of two creators depends on how the other three players fit.
Read the story →San Antonio’s Response Will Be Measured in Repetition
Ambition becomes useful when it changes ordinary possessions.
Read the story →Earlier Hardwood Insights
Archive • September 2026. These articles retain their original publication context; schedules, injuries and roster details may have changed.
Basketball analysis built around the questions that last beyond one headline: roster fit, conference movement, player development and the construction of a contender.
Protect the Players: What the College Sports Bill Proposes
NIL rights, scholarships, medical care and transfer rules are on the table. Will the protections give college athletes enough voice and recourse?
Read College Sports AnalysisBasketball Week in Review
The WNBA playoff race, the NBA preseason calendar and the new shape of the college game—in a September briefing.
Read the Weekly BriefThe WNBA Seed Is Only the Beginning
What lineup flexibility, home strength and late-game creation will mean in the September playoff preview.
Read Playoff FocusUse the NBA Preseason for Questions
A practical guide to the roles, habits and lineup evidence worth watching before the October 20 opener.
Read NBA RoadmapThe New 76-Team College Field
Why expansion changes the bubble for both tournaments without changing the standard for winning in March.
Read College AnalysisThe Lakers Change Hands Again
What a reported $12.5 billion valuation says about control of one of basketball’s defining franchises.
Read NBA BusinessNneka Ogwumike’s Farewell
A champion, MVP and longtime player leader prepares to close a defining WNBA career on her own terms.
Read WNBA LegacyOlivia Miles Beyond the Rookie Label
Minnesota’s first-year guard has played her way into a conversation much larger than Rookie of the Year.
Read Rookie WatchToronto’s Depth Test
With Brittney Sykes and Aneesah Morrow out for the season, the Tempo’s final stretch becomes an evaluation of resilience and roster depth.
Read WNBA Team FocusPhiladelphia’s Role Puzzle
How Embiid, Maxey, Brown and LeBron can create one connected offense instead of taking turns.
Read Tonight’s StorylineActions, Not Turn-Taking
How Nick Nurse can use screening, movement and quick decisions to connect four stars.
Read Coaches CornerMinnesota’s Two-Creator Experiment
Why LaMelo Ball can help Anthony Edwards—and where opponents will test the pairing.
Read Worth WatchingThe Thunder Defensive Model
Why lineup versatility now matters as much as choosing the right defensive coverage.
Read Trend WatchAnthony Edwards’ New Read
How playing beside LaMelo Ball can change the way Edwards receives and attacks the defense.
Read Player SpotlightMinnesota Needs More Offense
Why Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams need dependable scoring support.
Read WNBA Team FocusAJ Dybantsa’s First Assignment
Why the No. 1 pick can develop without carrying every Washington possession.
Read Rookie WatchFive Questions Beneath the Headlines
Specific lineup, role and strategy questions that will shape the coming season.
Read Around the Association