Jess Koffie Articles - Page 3

Napheesa Collier isn’t just a leader for her elite Minnesota Lynx squad — her roles as the vice president of the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) and co-founder of the Unrivaled league have placed her at the forefront of one of the most important collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations in women’s basketball history. For Collier, she […]

Canadian tennis star Genie Bouchard may have delayed her retirement by one extra match, but she wasn’t able to get past the second round of the Canadian Open in front of her hometown fans. Bouchard left a professional WTA Tour court for the last time after falling 2-6, 6-3, 4-6 to World No. 17 Belinda […]

Coco Gauff’s track record since winning the French Open has been rocky at best, with the two-time Grand Slam winner bowing out early from every tournament she’s played in since. Gauff fought hard to ensure her second-round match against Danielle Collins didn’t end the same way, but the Montreal-set contest definitely tested the young tennis […]

Paige Bueckers came into the WNBA with a high basketball IQ and an already impressive skill set for a rookie — there’s a reason why she was the No. 1 overall pick in April’s WNBA Draft, after all. Those abilities were on full display during the Dallas Wings’ thrilling contest against the Atlanta Dream on […]

Teams around the WNBA have finally started to settle into the second half of the season, and the dynamics that are shaping the potential postseason picture are becoming clearer. From reversing fortunes to injury scares and recoveries, there’s plenty to keep an eye on around the W in this week’s WNBA power rankings. There are […]

Canadian tennis great Genie Bouchard originally planned to hang up her tennis racket at the end of July after the National Bank Open in her hometown of Montreal, but fans haven’t seen her last match yet. Bouchard moved on to the second round after beating Emiliana Arango 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, reaching the 300-win mark and […]

Angel Reese is famous for many things on and off the basketball court, but her style is one of the traits that stand out the most to her fans and the public. Reese’s fashion sense and interest have earned her all types of honors, from becoming a Met Gala host committee member to recently being […]

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League‘s Talons made history on July 27 by clinching the first-ever AUSL Championship in history. After withstanding two rain delays, the Talons swept the best-of-three series with a 1-0 Game 2 victory in a moment that’s been years in the making for fans. The long-awaited professional softball league, partnered with MLB, […]

The WNBA finds itself at a defining moment in its history. Following the league’s 2025 All-Star Weekend, the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations between players and league officials have emerged as the most pressing issue for the future of women’s basketball. As the current CBA, originally signed in 2020, faces an early opt-out deadline triggered […]

Just when it looked like Nigeria’s record nine-year streak as the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions would end, the Super Falcons pulled off a shocking come-from-behind 3-2 victory over home nation Morocco to reach the historic feat of 10-straight tournament wins. Substitute midfielder Jennifer Echegini knocked in the 88th-minute game-winner to cap off […]

Dawn Staley knows a thing or two about packing the stands full of fans, and she’s letting the Portland Fire in on her secrets as the WNBA expansion team prepares for play in the 2026 season. While the South Carolina women’s basketball head coach spoke at “The Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit,” she directed a […]

When Li Yueru’s trade request from the Seattle Storm to the Dallas Wings was granted just a month into the 2025 WNBA season, she was unaware of how perfect landing in Dallas would be for her career. Now, a month after the fact, Yueru broke her silence in an interview with Khristina Williams on her […]

The New York Liberty’s most recent injury report contained some bittersweet news for the reigning WNBA champions ahead of their game against the Los Angeles Sparks. Center Nyara Sabally was listed as out for the third-straight contest, which is a significant blow to the Liberty’s depth at the position. However, Sabally is the sole player […]

Paige Bueckers is no stranger to sponsorship deals, racking up impressive NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals as a star student-athlete at UConn. After netting about $1.4 million during the 2024-25 season with the Huskies, Bueckers has her sights set on even bigger opportunities now that she’s a member of the Dallas Wings. “I’d like […]

As the league marches toward September, the playoff picture remains fluid. Key looming matchups — particularly the Lynx‑Liberty battles — offer a preview of a possible Finals rematch with conference positioning at stake. Injury timelines, especially for Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Jonquel Jones, and Satou Sabally, and emerging role‑player consistency will prove critical in the […]

Plenty of hype surrounded France’s Dominique Malonga before the Seattle Storm took her at No. 2 overall in the 2o25 WNBA Draft, and the young phenom has finally shown her flash of basketball brilliance in WNBA play. Malonga hasn’t gotten as much consistent court time as her rookie counterparts like Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, Kiki […]

After returning to a professional tennis court for the first time in 16 months, Venus Williams’ short-lived Cinderella run in the Mubadala Citi DC Open has come to an end. The former World No. 1 fell 2-6, 2-6 to Magdalena Freçh in the second round, but she was anything but upset when giving her thoughts […]

With the WNBA 2025 All-Star Weekend officially over and the second half of the season underway, it acts as a sort of soft reset for some of the league’s teams and players. As the campaign barrels toward the playoffs, there are some important storylines to keep track of as they approach a conclusion. Let’s take […]

Naomi Osaka’s path back to Grand Slam glory has hit yet another roadblock. The two-time US Open champion fell short in the second round of the DC Open to Britain’s Emma Raducanu in straight sets, with her 4-6, 2-6 finish marking the latest in a string of disappointing WTA tournament losses. Despite winning points on […]

A’ja Wilson keeps on racking up the honors. The league announced that the Las Vegas Aces star and reigning WNBA MVP has been chosen as the first-ever Jr. WNBA Global Ambassador, meaning she’ll have the opportunity to guide the next generation of basketball players while serving as the strategic advisor and participating in various Jr. […]

The WNBA CBA (collective bargaining agreement) negotiations have been the hot topic since the league and players’ meeting ahead of All-Star Weekend, and the players seemingly just doubled down on their solidarity. A source in the W has unveiled to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou and Ramona Shelburne that three of the biggest young stars, the Indiana […]

As the WNBA entered the All‑Star break, culminating the first half of the 2025 season, Week 9 provides a snapshot of a league defined by dominant frontrunners, rising challengers, and rebuilding teams laying the foundations for their future success. Let’s explore all 13 teams in this week’s WNBA power rankings, looking at key storylines and what […]

The 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana, wasn’t just a series of basketball-related events — it was a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the hardwood. From the on-court historic performances to the off-court viral moments, there was no shortage of electrifying activity that entertained fans and created an unforgettable weekend. Let’s take a […]

Courtney Williams may have been in Indianapolis, Indiana, over the weekend to play in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game as a reserve, but she made headlines for her actions off the court instead. The Minnesota Lynx star, alongside friend and teammate Natisha Hiedeman, make up the StudBudz duo that took the league, fans, and social […]

Skylar Diggins put up a historic performance in this year’s WNBA All-Star Game, notching the first-ever triple-double in the exhibition game while setting the assist record with 15 total. The Seattle Storm star gave credit for her outstanding play in the game and all season to the time she spent playing in Unrivaled before the […]

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese and her mom — also named Angel Reese — have publicly shared many close moments, but it seems the elder Angel was underprepared for the aftermath of a night out with her daughter. The morning after a spirited night out during the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend, “Big Angel” dropped a […]

Angel Reese has been reaching career milestones throughout the 2025 season, which earned her a place in this year’s WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis. The improvements in her game aren’t going unnoticed by fans and around the league, and the Chicago Sky star is now opening up about the reasons for the change. Reese sat […]

A’ja Wilson didn’t just pull up to the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend Friday night events — Wilson made sure to arrive in style and make her presence known. The Las Vegas Aces star channeled a bit of Shaquille O’Neal’s iconic move from the 2006 NBA All-Star Weekend, turning her signature Nike A’One shoe into a […]

Unrivaled only has one completed season under its belt, but it’s already shaking things up in the women’s basketball world. The offseason league for WNBA players was very visible during the 2025 All-Star Weekend, setting up its own schedule of events alongside the W’s in Indianapolis, Indiana. Two of the biggest draws of the weekend […]

Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes has earned her first placement on a WNBA All-Star Game roster, and seemingly no one is happier for her than New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud. The two were caught on camera celebrating during the players’ first practice, with Cloud carrying Sykes before they giddily jumped around the court together […]

The Minnesota Lynx are well-represented at the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend, with MVP candidate Napheesa Collier headlining her own All-Star Game team that also features star Courtney Williams as a reserve and Cheryl Reeve filling her familiar position of head coach. But so far, the most attention they’ve drawn has come from their off-court activities. […]

Flau’jae Johnson has some words for fellow college athletes who are bringing in the big NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) bucks. The LSU women’s basketball star turned her appearance on Club Shay Shay, hosted by former NFL star Shannon Sharpe, into a portfolio-building session in an attempt to help other young players find financial longevity […]

As the top elite athletes of their sport, WNBA players are understandably competitive, and there’s no better stage to show that off than the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend. In an interview posted to the league’s account on X, formerly Twitter, no one demonstrated that drive better than Seattle Storm star Skylar Diggins and Minnesota Lynx […]

Angel Reese’s positive impact on the court is being well-documented, but her off-court moves deserve just as much spotlight. The Chicago Sky star is making sure of that, sharing with ESPN journalist Holly Rowe her next community outreach project and the deep meaning behind it for her. “[Giving back to kids] is really important because […]

UCLA’s Jordan Chiles is used to grabbing the public’s attention, but this time, she’s done so off the mat. The two-time Olympian strutted down the 2025 ESPY Awards red carpet in a look from Cong Tri’s spring 2025 collection and completed her monochromatic theme with Christian Louboutin “So Kate” pointed-toe stiletto pumps. Chiles’ bright golden […]

WNBA legend Candace Parker may have ended her on-court career, but she’s found plenty to keep herself busy off the court. Outside of her retirement achievements — which include becoming the president of Adidas women’s basketball, getting involved with media coverage of the W, and releasing a book in June — Parker is now linking […]

The ESPY Awards bring out the biggest names in sports every year, and the 2025 version of the event was no exception. Among the stars were former WNBA and USWNT  stars Diana Taurasi and Alex Morgan, respectively, who were there accepting the appropriately named ESPYs Icon Award in “recognition of their incredible careers and significant […]

Teams all around the WNBA are celebrating their players as they send them off to Indiana for a star-studded All-Star weekend, and the Atlanta Dream are no different. The organization presented three-time All-Star and first-time starter Allisha Gray with a special video montage of heartfelt messages from her closest loved ones, which left an emotional […]

Chicago Sky phenom Angel Reese has been on the receiving end of tons of shade thrown her way, both from those within and outside of the basketball world. However, the attention former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III has given Reese recently drew ire from some of the biggest icons in sports. First, Shaquille O’Neal called […]