The All-Star break has come and gone as teams gear up for games ahead of the FIBA World Cup break and the final stretch before the WNBA playoffs. For those who may be unaware, the league’s schedule is structured this way every two years due to international competitions, whether it’s FIBA or the Summer Olympics. This time around, the World Cup is in Berlin next month.
“Players already knew their schedule and when they’d be off during All-Star break,” said Dallas Wings coach Jose Fernandez before facing the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday. “They’ve already gotten in the matrix of when they’re going to be off and when we will be practicing during that break. As we look forward, at least I know what’s going to happen within that two-week frame leading into those final four games.”
Teams like the Minnesota Lynx stand to benefit the most from the break before the playoffs. Superstar forward Napheesa Collier has returned to the court and played three games to date. While it’s clear the perennial MVP candidate needs time to gel with star rookie guard Olivia Miles and the new additions to the team, the World Cup break could not come at a better time for Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve. Collier has only fully practiced a few times, if that, so far this season. For a unit that’s at the top of the league and returning a top-five player in Collier, the two-week period will serve as another rest and strategy session to prepare for the championship push.
Napheesa Collier (30/7/26) pic.twitter.com/Ni0Pmbu3UV
— Cristian Doural (@DouClips28) July 31, 2026
Other franchises around the league might not be so lucky. Take the Las Vegas Aces and Atlanta Dream, for example. Both teams have at least two players apiece heading to Germany next month. The Dream have yet to consistently look like the championship contender many thought them to be. This break could come at the wrong time with stars Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard leaving. If any team needed this break to spend together on the court as much as the Lynx would be Atlanta.
After an unprecedented 17-0 win streak to the title in 2025, the Aces had the luxury of a schedule without stopgaps in it. This isn’t the case this time around. The last time Las Vegas was eliminated from the playoffs was in 2024, which just so happened to be an Olympic year. FIBA years have been kinder to the Aces since their dynasty started, as they claimed their first championship in 2022 after the U.S women’s national team defeated China in Australia. It will be interesting to see if another team utilizes this time to mount a run to unseat the projected playoff seeding as well.
WNBA All-Star weekend is officially here, folks. From unparalleled coverage on the StudBudz stream of fan favorites Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, to a star-studded 3-PT Contest and the All-Star […]
