🤔 Layup Lines: Overreaction Monday

Happy Monday and welcome back to Layup Lines, your quick recap of what’s going on in the WNBA. What a fun first weekend of hoops!

• Scheduling note: I’ll be back in your inbox on Friday — have a truly excellent week out there.

This 512 word newsletter should take less than 2 minutes to read.

💭 Five thoughts from the first weekend

1. The most anticipated game of the weekend was Indianapolis - Dallas on Saturday, which ended as the first-ever season-opening game where both teams scored over 100 points. But what really stood out to me in the Wings’ 107-104 win was that 53 fouls were called. 53! A foul called more than once per minute creates the kind of no-flow, stunted basketball nobody wants to watch.

2. In hindsight, it’s very classic Las Vegas to get smoked by Phoenix in an opening night WNBA Finals rematch, 99-66, only to turn right around and hand it to L.A. the next day, 105-78. The Aces are so talented that many of their losses just come down to, well, did they care about this or not?

3. Remember when I wrote that Sabrina Ionescu being out for the Liberty to start the year could be a huge problem? Well, the Liberty are 2-0 and have averaged 102 points per game so far. This is the kind of insight you pay for.

4. No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd scored three points in 18 minutes for Dallas on Saturday. Later in the day, No. 2 pick Olivia Miles led the Lynx in scoring by dropping 21 points in 34 minutes. I’m not going to do this all season, but the national media is going to be watching Fudd’s box scores like hawks.

5. Angel Reese’s fit in Atlanta is going to be a blast. She had the game-winning block for the Dream and moves so much faster than the vet she replaced, Brittney Griner.

   

   Courtesy @AtlantaDream. Reese is now the fastest WNBA player ever to 50 career doubles (65 career games)

📺 Games of the week

• There are no games today for what I’m sure are reasons. But otherwise, we’ve got a full slate the rest of the week. I’m going to be watching:

  • Tuesday: Atlanta @ Dallas, 8pm ET (League Pass)

    • Bet I like: Under 181.5 points scored

  • Wednesday: Chicago @ Golden State, 10pm (League Pass)

  • Thursday: New York @ Portland, 10pm (Prime Video)

  • Friday: Washington @ Indiana, 7:30pm (ION)

💰 $100k card of the day

• This numbered, PSA 10 Clark rookie card just sold for a wild $103,849.

• For another incredible sign of the times, check out WNBA vs NBA Cards April 2026: Why Women’s Collectibles Are Outperforming Men’s.

📸 Reader pic to go

• Thanks to reader Simon K. for this great shot from opening night in Brooklyn!

  • Want to see your pictures, takes or questions in the newsletter? Just hit reply.

Layup Lines is written 100% by a human being. AI tools help with the visuals. I very much appreciate you reading and will see you back here on Friday!

— Everett Cook, Founder & Editor