David Yapkowitz Articles - Page 23

LOS ANGELES – With a new head coach and new offseason acquisitions, there was fresh optimism surrounding the Los Angeles Sparks. An energy level that hadn’t been seen in previous seasons. But with the 2025 WNBA season officially underway, the Sparks have had a bit of a rocky start to the year amid multiple key […]

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks came into their Sunday game against the Chicago Sky looking to snap a three-game losing streak and get back in the win column. And they did just that, with a 91-78 win. A huge third quarter offensive explosion from Kelsey Plum made the difference for the Sparks, and […]

LOS ANGELES – When the Los Angeles Sparks hired Lynne Roberts as the franchise’s new head coach for the 2025 WNBA season, they were taking a bit of a risk. Although Roberts has decades of experience in coaching women’s basketball, she didn’t have any experience in the WNBA to this point. With the 2025 WNBA […]

With the Minnesota Timberwolves facing the prospect of falling behind 0-3 in the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Anthony Edwards put the team on his back in Game 3 to get the Wolves back into the series. Prior to the game, Edwards had been selected to the All-NBA Second Team, and that […]

With the New York Knicks down 0-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, drastic changes could be coming for Game 3. One of those potential changes for Game 3 could be Knicks guard Josh Hart moving to the bench. With the Knicks desperate to get a win and get back in this […]

The Chicago Bulls are coming into the 2025 NBA Draft with another lottery pick at No. 12. Last season, the Bulls used their NBA Draft lottery pick on Matas Buzelis of the G League Ignite. Buzelis turned in a solid rookie season, and the Bulls are hoping for a similar result in this upcoming draft. […]

The rumor mill is bound to churn once the NBA free agency period begins later in the offseason. Two of the big names to keep an eye on appear to be Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving and LA Clippers star James Harden. The Clippers reportedly could be active in the trade market after addressing Harden’s […]

The Minnesota Timberwolves got back into the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder following their Game 3 win in the Western Conference Finals. Helping to set the tone for the Timberwolves’ win, especially on the defensive end was Jaden McDaniels. McDaniels was such a factor on defense that Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards called out the […]

The LA Clippers were eliminated in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs by the Denver Nuggets in seven games. With their elimination comes a host of questions for the offseason, namely what their roster plans are. With not much to spend by way of free agency, the offseason trade market is the Clippers’ best […]

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks dropped their third consecutive game, this time an 82-73 loss at home to the Golden State Valkyries. The Sparks ended up trying to play catch-up in the second half after giving up a 26-1 run in the second quarter. As has been a recurring theme for the Sparks […]

When the Los Angeles Sparks lost Rickea Jackson temporarily due to the WNBA’s concussion protocol, that put them at only nine available players and eligible for a hardship contract. Needing the additional roster depth, the Sparks opted to bring back rookie wing Liatu King via said hardship contract. Liatu King had been one of the […]

During the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, head coach Chris Finch made the decision to bench Julius Randle in the fourth quarter. The decision spawned numerous think pieces heading into Game 3. But Julius Randle bounced-back in Game 3 with a much better performance, earning […]

This has been a big week for Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. The oldest player in the league was recently named to his 21st All-NBA selection, and then later in the week, his youngest son Bryce James had his graduation from high school. During Bryce James’ graduation, LeBron James couldn’t help but be excited […]

The Indiana Fever came into Sunday with a marquee matchup against the defending champion New York Liberty. The game lived up to its billing, coming down to the final possession with the Liberty winning 90-88. But it ended in a bit of controversy in the eyes of the Fever. Caitlin Clark felt there was a […]

The New York Liberty have begun the 2025 WNBA season with a 2-0 record, with their most recent win, 99-74, coming against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. Not only did the Liberty win in resounding fashion, but they also managed to set a new WNBA record in the process. With 5:50 left to go […]

It’s been a big week for Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Not only did the Thunder take an early 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but Shai was honored with his first career NBA MVP Award. Ahead of Game 2 of the WCF, Shai’s former Thunder teammate, Chris Paul […]

The Los Angeles Sparks have posted a record of 1-2 in the early days of the 2025 regular season, but one player who has had an incredibly strong start to the year is Azurá Stevens. Slotting in as the starting center in place of the injured Cameron Brink, Azurá Stevens has put up strong numbers, […]

With the Denver Nuggets’ elimination from the NBA Playoffs in the Western Conference Semifinals, one of the top questions they had to answer was what the future held for interim head coach David Adelman. They answered that on Thursday with the decision to keep Adelman as head coach with a new contract. The next set […]

The Los Angeles Sparks dropped their second straight game, falling to 1-2 after their 89-86 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday. In what’s been a recurring theme in these two losses, the Sparks were essentially ‘out-toughed’ by their opponents. The WNBA is a physical league and the Sparks need to adapt to it. Following […]

The Los Angeles Sparks suffered their second consecutive loss, a heartbreaking 89-86 defeat, against the Phoenix Mercury. The Sparks had their chances in the fourth quarter as they battled back from a double-digit deficit, but it wasn’t enough to get across the finish line. Following the game, Sparks star Kelsey Plum took full responsibility for […]

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks got underway on Wednesday, reigniting an age old rivalry that was at it’s peak when Pacers great Reggie Miller was roaming the  court. But if this is a rivalry renewed, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton wasn’t shy about his thoughts on […]

As the Dallas Wings hit the road against the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday, it was a major deal for rookie guard Paige Bueckers as it was her return to her home state. The Wings are 0-2 to start the 2025 WNBA season, and looking to get in the win column for the first time this […]

Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ early playoff exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the overwhelming consensus was they needed major help in the frontcourt. Julius Randle had his way with the Lakers’ defense, and then Rudy Gobert put the exclamation point with a 27-point, 24-rebound performance in the closeout Game 5. To acquire a starting center, […]

As Paige Bueckers’ rookie season in the WNBA with the Dallas Wings continues, her next stop is a return to her hometown against the Minnesota Lynx. Bueckers grew up in Minnesota and attended nearby Hopkins High School where she blossomed into the top recruit in her class. Plenty has happened since then, between winning a […]

The 2024-25 NCAA season was a disappointing one for the Kansas State Wildcats and head coach Jerome Tang. Two years after making a run to the Elite Eight, the Wildcats finished 16-17 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. But Kansas State has brought in help from the transfer portal, including a […]

The UConn Huskies won their 12th national championship in program history, but one of the biggest questions facing the team next season was how they would replace star guard Paige Bueckers. Bueckers is off to the WNBA, entering her rookie season with the Dallas Wings. There is no replacing a player like Bueckers, but UConn […]

The Connecticut Sun had two first round picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft which they used on LSU’s Aneesah Morrow at No. 7 and NC State’s Saniya Rivers at No. 8. Saniya Rivers did not play in the Sun’s season opener against the Washington Mystics on Sunday, but she made her WNBA debut against the […]

With the Los Angeles Sparks tipping off the 2025 WNBA season this past week, plenty of eyes will be watching to see how Kelsey Plum looks with her new team. Ahead of the Sparks’ upcoming games this week, we’ll be making our bold predictions for the team during this WNBA season. The Sparks have played […]

The Los Angeles Sparks will hit the road against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, looking to get back in the win column after dropping their home opener, 89-75 against the Minnesota Lynx. But it appears they will be even more short-handed than they already were as Rickea Jackson popped up on the Sparks’ injury report. […]

The Los Angeles Sparks came away with an 84-67 win in their 2025 WNBA season opener against the Golden State Valkyries, but they lost Rae Burrell in the process due to an injury she suffered in the first quarter. Burrell was ultimately ruled out for the remainder of the first half, and then for the […]

The Connecticut Sun will tip off the 2025 WNBA season on Sunday on the road against the Washington Mystics, but they will be down a few players on the injury report. The Sun had two first round picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft, which they used to select Aneesah Morrow at No. 7 and Saniya […]

During the Indiana Fever’s 98-59 win against the Chicago Sky in both teams’ season opener on Saturday, things got a little heated after Caitlin Clark fouled Angel Reese on a layup attempt that was upgraded to a flagrant foul. In the ensuing drama, Fever star Aliyah Boston was hit with a technical foul, a bewildering […]

The Chicago Sky did not get off to a good start to the 2025 WNBA season, as they were embarrassed, 93-58 by the Indiana Fever in both teams’ season opener. But despite the final score, one of the major talking points following the game was the flagrant foul committed by Caitlin Clark on Angel Reese. […]

The Indiana Fever tipped off the 2025 WNBA season on Saturday with a resounding 93-58 win against the Chicago Sky. It was the start of Fever star Caitlin Clark’s second season in the WNBA, as well as the Fever debut of DeWanna Bonner whom the team signed as a free agent in the offseason. DeWanna […]

The Los Angeles Sparks pulled off one of the biggest blockbusters of the offseason when they acquired Kelsey Plum in a three-team trade that involved the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm. For a franchise that has struggled to find success in recent seasons, her arrival gave the Sparks a sense of legitimacy. Kelsey Plum […]

The Los Angeles Sparks opened the 2025 WNBA season on Friday on the road against the Golden State Valkyries, but early in the game their attention turned to more pressing matters. In the first quarter, Sparks guard Rae Burrell suffered an apparent knee injury while contesting a shot, and had to leave the game. Rae […]

When the Los Angeles Sparks tip off the 2025 WNBA season on Friday against the Golden State Valkyries, they will not have Cameron Brink in the lineup as she continues her injury recovery. Brink suffered an ACL tear that cut her rookie season short. Ahead of the Sparks’ season opener, head coach Lynne Roberts gave […]

This week is an especially tough one in the WNBA as teams make their final roster cuts in preparation of the start of the regular season. Ahead of the May 15 deadline to finalize their roster, the Sparks made a pair of cuts which brought their number of players to 13, one more than the […]

During the NBA Draft Combine this week in Chicago, there have already been a few names that have turned heads as they hope to raise their draft stock. One player who has had a strong showing at the NBA Draft Combine is former Auburn star Tahaad Pettiford. Pettiford’s Auburn teammate Johni Broome is also hoping […]