WNBA Playoffs

The Dream Sneak In and the Bracket is Set!

It’s official, the drama-filled 2024 WNBA regular season has come to an epic close! All 12 teams hit the court Thursday night for their 40th and final game of the season, and there was a lot on the line, especially for one team: the Atlanta Dream.

The No. 8 seed was still up for grabs, with the Dream, Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky all fighting for their playoff lives. But in a win-and-you’re-in situation, the Dream pulled off a huge 78-67 victory over the league-leading New York Liberty to snatch the last playoff spot. The Atlanta Dream were pretty much packing their bags a few days ago, thinking it was all over, but now? They’re punching their ticket to the postseason.

With the Dream locking up the No. 8 spot, here’s what the playoff bracket looks like:

Will She or Won’t She?

Meanwhile, Diana Taurasi might be pulling a LeBron on us, will she stay, or will she go? The 42-year-old GOAT hasn’t made up her mind yet on retirement, but Phoenix Mercury isn’t taking any chances. They’re already prepping the ultimate farewell tour for their queen.

When asked if this season would be her last, Taurasi was, of course, non-committal. In classic Taurasi fashion, she said she’ll think about it later. So, the Mercury went ahead and released a heartfelt tribute video celebrating her insane 20-year career.

This woman has basically done it all. Three WNBA titles, two Finals MVPs, 11-time All-Star, league’s all-time leading scorer... the list goes on. She’s led the league in scoring five times and has Olympic gold medals for every Olympics since Athens in 2004 (that’s six, by the way). Plus, she dominated overseas with seven Russian National League championships and six Euroleague titles. If that’s not GOAT status, what is?

At 42, Taurasi has nothing left to prove, but the way she’s still balling out makes you wonder if she’s got one more year left in the tank. The Phoenix Mercury are playoff-bound, so we’ve still got more Taurasi moments ahead. And if this is indeed her swan song, she’s going out like the legend she is, and the Mercury are making sure of it.

Tina Charles Takes Over the WNBA Record Books

In a season already packed with record-smashing moments, Tina Charles decided she wasn’t about to be left out of the history books. During the Atlanta Dream's regular-season finale, Charles made history—twice

Coming into Thursday’s game, Charles was just three rebounds shy of overtaking Sylvia Fowles for the most career rebounds in WNBA history. And sure enough, just a few minutes into the game, she pulled down her 4,007 rebound and secured the all-time leader title.

Not content with just one record-breaking moment, Charles went ahead and grabbed her 10th rebound in the third quarter, earning her 195th career double-double. You guessed it—another record. Yep, she knocked Fowles off that list too.

For those who’ve been following Tina’s career, this was really just the latest chapter in an incredible story. Since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2010, Charles has been the WNBA’s go-to rebounder, leading the league in rebounds four times (more than anyone else) and averaging a jaw-dropping 11.7 rebounds per game as a rookie. That record stood tall until Angel Reese came in this summer to snatch the rookie rebound crown.

Nets Set to Retire Vince Carter's Jersey

The Brooklyn Nets are rolling out the red carpet to honor one of the best to ever put on a Nets jersey, Vince Carter. On January 25, 2025, Carter’s iconic No. 15 will be lifted into the rafters at Barclays Center. It’s about time, right?

Carter, aka "Half-Man, Half-Amazing," brought high-flying excitement during his five-year stint with the Nets, averaging 23.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. He led the team to three playoff berths and two Eastern Conference Semifinals, plus, who could forget those gravity-defying dunks? Now, he’ll join the ranks of Nets legends like Jason Kidd, Julius Erving, and Dražen Petrović with his jersey hanging in the rafters.

This marks the second tribute for Carter this season, earlier, the Raptors honored him with their City Edition jerseys.

It’s safe to say that Vince Carter’s legacy is cemented in both franchises, and honestly, no one could forget those Vinsanity moments even if they tried.

Is History About to Be Made?

Get ready for some history, because Bronny James is about to make his long-awaited NBA debut with his dad. We’re on the verge of seeing the first-ever father-son duo play together in the NBA. The storyline basketball fans have been waiting for is almost here, and it’s safe to say this will be one of the most-watched moments in sports this season.

With training camp starting on October 1st, all eyes are on when Bronny will finally step onto the court with LeBron. ESPN's Zach Lowe has a pretty bold prediction, he thinks we’ll get that father-son magic right from the jump in the Lakers’ season opener on October 22.

While Bronny is expected to spend most of his rookie season with the South Bay Lakers, there’s still a strong chance we’ll see him share the court with LeBron before the G League season starts on November 8. Either way, this moment is going to be huge.

Warriors Add Blake Hinson to the Mix

Blake Hinson is packing his bags and heading up north. After being waived by the Lakers, Hinson has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Warriors. But don’t expect to see him in Warriors gold just yet, he’s likely headed to their G League affiliate in Santa Cruz.

Exhibit 10 contracts usually mean a player is getting a chance to earn a spot, and while the Warriors aren’t filling their 15th roster slot, Hinson will still have an opportunity to show his stuff in training camp. It’s the long road to the NBA, but hey, you never know, Santa Cruz has produced its fair share of breakout stars.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading.

We’ll see you on Monday!

— The Players Unlimited Team