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Scotiabank Arena will host an Eastern Conference tilt between the Toronto Raptors and the Chicago Bulls on Thursday evening. The Raptors are 10-10 at home this season, with Toronto entering at 16-25 overall and on the second night of a back-to-back. The Bulls are 19-23 overall and 6-13 on the road. Patrick Williams (ankle) is listed as questionable for Chicago, with Torrey Craig (foot) ruled out. Jakob Poeltl (ankle) is out for Toronto.

For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Bulls as 2-point favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 228 in the latest Bulls vs. Raptors odds. Before you make any Raptors vs. Bulls picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 13 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 42-23 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Bulls vs. Raptors and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Raptors vs. Bulls:

Bulls vs. Raptors spread: Bulls -2
Bulls vs. Raptors over/under: 228 points
Bulls vs. Raptors money line: Bulls -132, Raptors +112
CHI: The Bulls are 8-11 against the spread in road games
TOR: The Raptors are 3-4 against the spread with no rest
Bulls vs. Raptors picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Bulls can cover
DeMar DeRozan captains a Bulls team that is playing well right now in conjunction with the emergence of Coby White. DeRozan is averaging 22.0 points and 5.3 assists as the centerpiece of Chicago’s offense, and he has scored 20 points or more in 27 games this season. The Bulls are also 4-2 in the last six games and, over that span, White is shooting 51.7% from the field and 46.2% from 3-point range on the way to 22.8 points per game. In a broader sample of 29 games, White is enjoying the best stretch of his career, averaging 21.7 points and 5.3 assists, and he is putting up 18.5 points per game on 40.5% 3-point shooting for the full season.

Beyond individual contributions, the Bulls are excellent at taking care of the ball, committing only 12.4 turnovers per game to rank No. 2 in the NBA. Chicago is also facing a Toronto defense that has clear flaws, including bottom-tier marks in opponent 3-point percentage (38.8%), opponent field goal percentage (48.4%), and assists allowed (27.9 per game) in 2023-24. See which team to pick here.

Why the Raptors can cover
Toronto is led by Scottie Barnes, and the youthful forward is having a breakout season. He is averaging 20.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, and Barnes is averaging 21.2 points and 9.2 rebounds in home games. Toronto also leads the league in fast break points (17.8 per game) with a top-three mark in assists (29.5 per game). The Raptors round out their profile by shooting 48.2% from the field and averaging 54.0 points in the paint, with Toronto also committing only 13.2 turnovers per contest.

On defense, Toronto is elite at preventing free throw attempts, yielding fewer than 20 per game. The Raptors also can benefit from the issues of the Bulls. Chicago is just 6-13 on the road this season, with opponents out-scoring the Bulls by 7.1 points per 100 possessions in those games. The Bulls are also scoring only 1.12 points per possession on offense for the full season, with bottom-five marks in the NBA in 2-point shooting, free throw creation, and assists per game. See which team to pick here.

How to make Raptors vs. Bulls picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 223 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread has all of the value. You can only see the model’s picks at SportsLine.

The New York Knicks (24-17) will host the Washington Wizards (7-32) in an Eastern Conference tilt on Thursday. The Knicks lead the all-time series 181-136 over the Wizards, and New York has knocked off Washington in four straight games. On Jan. 6, the Knicks beat the Wizards 121-105. New York is 12-5 at Madison Square Garden, while the Wizards are 4-18 on the road. Daniel Gafford (concussion) is out for Washington, while Josh Hart (knee) is questionable for the Knicks.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Knicks are 12-point favorites in the latest Wizards vs. Knicks odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 234. Before making any Knicks vs. Wizards picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 13 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 42-23 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Wizards vs. Knicks and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Knicks vs. Wizards:

Wizards vs. Knicks spread: New York -12
Wizards vs. Knicks over/under: 234 points
Wizards vs. Knicks money line: New York -693, Washington +491
NYK: The Knicks are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games
WAS: The Wizards are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games against New York
Wizards vs. Knicks picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Knicks can cover
Forward OG Anunoby is a superb two-way threat who uses his length to play suffocating defense and is aggressive in attacking the paint. The Indiana product averages 15 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. In his last matchup, Anunoby notched 15 points, five boards, and four steals.

Guard Donte DiVincenzo is a smooth addition off the bench. DiVincenzo plays with high energy and excels in transition. The Villanova product has great IQ and owns the ability to handle the rock. DiVincenzo averages 11 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. On Jan. 15 versus the Magic, he finished with 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists. See which team to pick here.

Why the Wizards can cover
Forward Kyle Kuzma has a knack for scoring in multiple different ways. Kuzma uses his quickness to penetrate the lane but will space the floor due to his jumper. The Utah product logs 22.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. In his last game, Kuzma racked up 21 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

Guard Tyus Jones provides Washington with a smart facilitator in the backcourt. Jones scans the court quickly and owns a secure jumper from both mid-range and 3-point land. The Duke product averages 12.8 points and 5.6 assists per game. On Jan. 15 against the Pistons, Jones tallied 22 points and seven assists. See which team to pick here.

How to make Wizards vs. Knicks picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 224 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time. You can only see the model’s picks at SportsLine.

Welcome to another edition of the USFL, a football league which will carry us from the spring to the summer. Last year, Skip Holtz and the Birmingham Stallions defeated the Philadelphia Stars in the championship, but much has changed over the last nine months.

Kevin Sumlin, Larry Fedora, Kirby Wilson and Jeff Fisher are out as head coaches, the Tampa Bay Bandits are now the Memphis Showboats and the Pittsburgh Maulers have ditched their purple color scheme to fall in line with the rest of the professional Pittsburgh teams, and will now rock the black and gold. Additionally, plenty of former USFL stars will not be back this year, as they are either in the NFL or XFL.

Betting on games in a league that is unfamiliar to everyone is ridiculous to some and fun to others. Rumor has it sportsbooks always have the edge, but how could they have the edge in this kind of situation? Maybe — just maybe — they don’t.

I went 4-0 ATS in Week 1 of the XFL this year. Let’s see how I fare in the USFL. For our CBS Sports’ USFL season preview, click here, and you can view the full 2023 schedule here. On to the picks.

All odds are via Caesars Sportsbook

Philadelphia Stars (-2.5) at Memphis Showboats
Time, date: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
Game location: Memphis

The Stars upset the New Jersey Generals to get into the championship game last year, as Philly caught fire late in the season. Quarterback Case Cookus broke his leg in that final game, but he is back to shine for the Stars.

The Showboats, on the other hand, went 4-6 last year when they were the Tampa Bay Bandits, despite many expecting them to be one of the best teams in the league. Memphis lost its quarterback in Jordan Ta’amu, who’s now in the XFL. It instead will start the hometown boy Brady White.

With Philly bringing back some important pieces, I’m going to lay the points.

The pick: Stars -2.5
Projected score: Stars 20-16

New Jersey Generals at Birmingham Stallions (-5)
Time, date: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
Game location: Birmingham

The Generals were tied for the best regular-season record in the league last year at 9-1, but were upset in the playoffs. They had the Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and MVP. The OPOY, running back Darius Victor, is back, while the MVP, KaVontae Turpin, is not. Running back Trey Williams is returning to the fold, too, and he helped the Generals average a league-high 160.6 yards on the ground in 2022. Add in De’Andre Johnson at quarterback, and you can expect plenty of rushing attempts from New Jersey.

Holtz’s Stallions return about 80% of last year’s roster, which is absolutely frightening. Quarterback J’Mar Smith, running back Bo Scarbrough and linebacker Scooby Wright are the stars to keep an eye on. “Shark Dog” was undoubtedly the most fun player in the entire league last year.

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This may be the game of the week. I like Stallions on the moneyline more, but I’ll lay the points with the reigning champions.

The pick: Stallions -5
Projected score: Stallions 26-20

Michigan Panthers at Houston Gamblers (PICK)
Time, date: Sunday, 12 p.m. ET (NBC)
Game location: Memphis

The Panthers have a new head coach in Mike Nolan. They played a handful of quarterbacks last year, but hopefully have found some consistency with either Josh Love or Carson Strong. Keep an eye on wide receiver Trey Quinn, who can be a star in this league if he has someone who can throw him the football. Expect Michigan to rely on running back Reggie Corbin, who was a top five rusher last year.

The Gamblers return running back Mark Thompson, whose success last year led to a tryout with the Green Bay Packers. Kenji Bahar, Montell Cozart and Terry Wilson are the quarterbacks.

This game is a pick’em for good reason. Give me Michigan to win a low-scoring affair.

The pick: Panthers
Projected score: Panthers 13-10

Pittsburgh Maulers at New Orleans Breakers (-3.5)
Time, date: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Game location: Birmingham

The Maulers offense was hard to watch last year, and it’s unknown who the quarterback will be. My best guess is James Morgan out of Florida International University. Expect them to run the ball with Garrett Groshek and Madre London, who both were on the team last year. One headline for Pittsburgh is the return of linebacker Reuben Foster to the gridiron. The former first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers is back playing football after suffering a terrible knee injury with the then-Washington Football Team.

The Breakers no longer have Kyle Sloter on roster, so new coach John DeFilippo will be working in a new quarterback. The offense may struggle early, but the defense looks good on paper. With all that being said, I’m going to take Pittsburgh to cover the small number.

The pick: Maulers +3.5
Projected score: Breakers 17-14

The revamped USFL is back for its second season in 2023, and if you’re wondering who plays for each team, you’re in luck. Below we’ll examine the 52-man rosters for all eight of them.

Some of the names you might recognize include former first-round NFL draft pick Reuben Foster (Pittsburgh Maulers), tight end Jace Sternberger (Birmingham Stallions), reigning USFL rushing leader Darius Victor (New Jersey Generals) and a host of quarterbacks such as J’Mar Smith (Stallions), Case Cookus (Philadelphia Stars), Kyle Lauletta (Generals), James Morgan (Maulers), Carson Strong (Michigan Panthers) and others.

Be sure to check out the full USFL 2023 schedule here, along with our season primer and all our USFL coverage.

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium takes the stage on Saturday afternoon in the professional football world. The 2023 USFL season begins with doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday, with the first matchup of the campaign held in Memphis. The Philadelphia Stars visit the Memphis Showboats in the first week, as Philadelphia aims to recapture the magic that helped the team reach the championship game last season. Memphis is in its first season after taking over for the Tampa Bay Bandits, though there is a strong foundation for the club.

Caesars Sportsbook lists Philadelphia as the 2.5-point favorite for this 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 39.5 in the latest Stars vs. Showboats odds. Before making any Showboats vs. Stars picks or USFL predictions, see what SportsLine expert Emory Hunt has to say.

Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, which has been supplying analysis of all levels of football since 2007. He is a former running back for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and knows the game from a player’s perspective. Hunt’s dedication to analysis of all levels of college and professional football helped him start the USFL season 24-18 last year and he’s also off to a fast 21-11 start on his XFL spread picks this season.

Now, Hunt has set his sights on Stars vs. Showboats. You can head to SportsLine to see his picks. Now, here are several USFL betting lines for Stars vs. Showboats:

Stars vs. Showboats spread: Stars -2.5
Stars vs. Showboats over/under: 39.5 points
Stars vs. Showboats money line: Stars -145, Showboats +125
Stars vs. Showboats picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Stars can cover
Philadelphia is capable of creating some havoc on defense, producing 25 sacks last season. The Stars also have arguably the best defensive back in the league in Channing Stribling, who led the USFL with seven interceptions. Despite shaky yardage metrics on defense, Philadelphia led the league with a +8 turnover margin, and part of that can also be attributed to an elite offense.

The Stars have a high-powered passing offense that led them close to a title last season. Quarterback Case Cookus was excellent after taking the reins during the season, and he is flanked by Jordan Suell and Corey Coleman. Suell ranked in the top 10 of the USFL in receiving yards and receptions last season, with Coleman arriving with immense pedigree and speed as a former first-round pick in the NFL. Philadelphia also has a tremendous running game behind Matt Colburn, who ranked second in the USFL with eight rushing touchdowns.

Why the Showboats can cover
Memphis has an immediate local connection after the move from Tampa Bay. The team’s starting quarterback will be University of Memphis product Brady White, who threw for more than 10,000 yards at the college level. The Showboats also return their top four receiving options from last season, giving White some comfort on the outside. In addition, Philadelphia gave up the third-most points in the league (21.5 per game) and that could give Memphis a leg up.

On the defensive side, Memphis posted a top-four mark in the USFL in allowing fewer than 300 total yards per game, and that includes the third-best mark in passing defense, yielding only 173.2 yards per contest. While operating in Tampa Bay, the Showboats produced 21 sacks, and Memphis allowed only 19.1 points per game to opponents.

How to make Stars vs. Showboats picks
Hunt has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he’s leaning Over on the point total, he has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.

The Indiana Fever won the 2024 WNBA Draft Lottery on Sunday, securing the No. 1 overall pick in the highly anticipated 2024 WNBA Draft. Rounding out the lottery is the Los Angeles Sparks at No. 2, the Phoenix Mercury at No. 3 and the Seattle Storm at No. 4. This is the second year in a row in which the Fever have won the lottery.

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, the reigning Naismith Player of the Year, is the projected first pick, and she has been for some time. After leading the Hawkeyes to their first national championship game in school history last season, Clark is leading the nation in scoring at 29.6 points per game. She’s also fourth in assists at 7.6 and hauling down 6.7 rebounds for good measure.

Here are some key takeaways from the result:

A Boston-Clark partnership?
In last season’s Final Four, Caitlin Clark led Iowa to a dramatic upset over Aliyah Boston and South Carolina, ending the Gamecocks’ 42-game winning streak. Now, the last two Naismith Player of the Year award winners are on track to become teammates at the next level.

The Fever won the No. 1 overall pick for the first time in franchise history last year, and selected Boston, who went on to win Rookie of the Year in unanimous fashion after a historic campaign. She immediately established herself as the best young center in the league and has all the makings of a franchise player. Clark, with her elite 3-pointer shooting and playmaking ability, is the most talented guard prospect in a number of years, and she would be a perfect backcourt partner for Boston.

After years of bad luck in the lottery and poor decision making by the front office, the odds have finally turned in the Fever’s favor. Thanks to Boston, Indiana won more games last season (13) than it did in 2021 and 2022 combined (11), as the team was already showing signs of being back on the right path.

Adding Clark to the mix would immediately give them the best and most exciting young duo in the league, bringing genuine excitement back to the once-proud franchise.

Lottery system punishes the Storm
The WNBA’s lottery system uses the aggregate record of the two previous seasons to determine the odds for the No. 1 overall pick. While a useful tool for combating tanking, the system punishes teams who fall off for other reasons.

That’s just what happened to the Seattle Storm. They were a legitimate title contender in 2022, but then lost Sue Bird to retirement and Breanna Stewart to free agency, and understandably fell off a cliff. Last season Seattle finished in 11th place at 11-29, and it has a long way back to the league’s upper echelon.

The No. 1 pick would have helped, but the Storm never really stood a chance. Their 33-42 record over the past two seasons was the best of the four lottery teams, which gave them the worst odds at 10.40%. To little surprise, they wound up with the No. 4 overall pick.

This is a great draft, and they’ll still wind up with a talented player, but there’s a big difference between picking first and fourth.

Does anyone go back to school?
There’s a major wrinkle with this year’s draft due to the extra year of eligibility granted to all players who were active during the COVID-19 pandemic. The so-called “COVID year” means that the majority of this season’s top prospects are eligible to return to school next year, even if they’re currently seniors.

That includes Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso, Aaliyah Edwards and Angel Reese. Paige Bueckers could also go back to school, though she’s only a junior after red-shirting in 2022 due to a torn ACL. If any number of these players decide against turning pro, it would alter not only this year’s draft, but next year’s as well.

The Fever, of course, will be crossing their fingers that Clark leaves, but they’ll at least get the first pick regardless of what happens. If a bunch of these players stay in school, it would be a disaster for the Mercury and Storm further down the lottery.

The Indiana Fever were the lucky winners of the 2024 WNBA Draft Lottery on Sunday, and they now have the No. 1 overall pick for the second year in a row. With it, Indiana is expected to select Iowa star Caitlin Clark, who, along with unanimous 2023 Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston, should end the Fever’s status as a perennial lottery team.

But what about the other teams and the other top prospects in this talented 2024 draft class? Now that the lottery is set, let’s take a look at how things might shake out with an initial lottery-only mock draft.

(Note: Clark, Bueckers and Brink are all eligible to return to school next season.)

1. Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark – G, Iowa
   Let’s be honest, you could have pre-written this months ago, as Clark has long been the projected first pick regardless of which team won the lottery. That it was the Fever, who have won the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row and can now pair her with unanimous Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston in a perfect inside-outside combination, only makes it more certain.

Clark leads the nation in scoring at 29.5 points per game, is tied for fourth in assists at 7.4 and seems likely to become the first player since Breanna Stewart to win back-to-back Naismith Player of the Year awards. She is a true game-changing talent on the perimeter with elite shooting and playmaking ability. The best guard prospect to turn pro in years, Clark would immediately form the most exciting young duo in the league with Boston.

2. Los Angeles Sparks: Paige Bueckers – G, UConn
   After the Fever, the Sparks were the day’s big winners. They only missed out on the playoffs by one game last season as the result of horrible injury luck, and are not a typical lottery team. They were the only team to move up a slot based on the projected odds, and have secured the No. 2 pick — their highest selection since 2012.

Best of all from their perspective, their biggest need is on the perimeter, and this now ensures they’ll get Bueckers, who is by far the best guard prospect after Clark. The 6-foot UConn product has some serious injury concerns — in the last two years, she’s torn her ACL and meniscus, fractured her tibial plateau and undergone ankle surgery — but her talent is undeniable. Her impressive shooting and playmaking skills are just what the Sparks need.

3. Phoenix Mercury: Cameron Brink – C, Stanford
   No team needed the first pick as badly as the Mercury, who have had an extremely difficult couple of years and are coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history. Instead, their unlucky streak continued, as they were the only team to slide down the board based on the odds and wound up with the No. 3 pick. On the bright side, this is a deep class and in Brink they will get the best frontcourt prospect in the class.

The 6-foot-4 Brink is an interior force currently averaging 11.4 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game, numbers that are good for seventh and third in the country, respectively. She’s also improved as a scorer while upping her usage rate this season. In Brink the Mercury could find their long-term replacement for Brittney Griner.

4. Seattle Storm: Rickea Jackson – F, Tennessee
   The Storm got punished by the league’s lottery system, which uses the aggregate record of the past two seasons to determine the odds for the top pick. That anti-tanking measure doesn’t take into account situations like Seattle’s where they were a contender one year then fell off because of player departures. As a result, the Storm were the second-worst team in the league last season, but wound up with the worst lottery odds and, in the end, the No. 4 pick in what appears to be a three-player draft.

Which direction they go in here will be interesting to see. Their biggest need is on the wing, but the best players available are centers. This is the lottery slot most subject to change, but for now we’ll lean toward Rickea Jackson. The Tennessee forward has been injured for most of the season, but she has been a 20-point-per-game scorer at multiple schools and has the size and physicality to adjust to the professional game.

Connecticut Sun guard and former UConn star Tiffany Hayes is officially retiring from the WNBA, she announced on Wednesday. The 2017 WNBA All-Star shared the news on the “Count Me Out” podcast.

“This right here with the Connecticut Sun was my last season,” Hayes said.

Hayes averaged 12.1 points in 40 games for the Sun through the 2023 season. Before joining the Sun’s roster earlier this year, she spent 10 years with the Atlanta Dream. Her resume was already impressive before being selected 14th overall in the 2012 WNBA Draft, as the Florida native won two national championships with the UConn Huskies in 2009 and 2010.

“It’s a lot of things. I really feel like I’m older now. I got a lot of stuff that I really always want to get into but I’m so busy ’cause I’m playing year-round,” Hayes said. “Plus, my body, playing 11 seasons straight with no breaks, every year, two seasons in a year every time, that’s a lot.”

Fun fact: Tiffany Hayes is one of just 10 players in WNBA history with…

4,000+ PTS
1,000+ FTM
1,000+ REB
750+ AST
350+ 3PMhttps://t.co/0LvIF4NzLh

Congrats on an incredible WNBA career! pic.twitter.com/Y1QrYFCdCz

— Across the Timeline (@WBBTimeline) December 13, 2023
The 34-year-old is not completely leaving basketball just yet. Throughout her time as a pro, Hayes has played overseas during the WNBA offseason — most recently with Çukurova Basketbol in Turkey. A lot of WNBA players play two seasons to make more money, but Hayes is now choosing to do just one so she can spend more time enjoying other areas of her life.

“You could still catch me overseas,” she said. “I just figured I’d focus on one thing and then summer time I could turn up my business. I could turn up life with my family and just live life like that.”

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) and MALKA Media Group have partnered on a new sports documentary set to hit Tubi, Fox’s free ad-supported streaming television service, on Jan. 31, 2024. The film “Shattered Glass: A WNBPA Story,” will follow three current and one former athlete as they discuss their careers, their families and what’s on the horizon for the WNBA.

The documentary is directed by rising filmmaker Andrea Buccilla and an all-women development team. Buccilla herself played golf while attending college at Ole Miss and returned to her creative endeavors after teaching in Mississippi and New York for nearly nine years.

“SHATTERED GLASS: A WNBPA Story is more than a documentary – it’s a movement,” said Terri Carmichael Jackson, WNBPA executive director and an executive producer on the film, in the media release. “We’re bringing to light the incredible stories of these athletes, who are not just sports icons but powerful advocates for change, respect, and inspiration – something that all women can relate to and feel empowered by.”

CBS Sports viewed a rough cut of the documentary before it airs on Tubi next month.

For casual sports fans, the documentary will serve as a primer to the WNBA — its history, its athletes and a debunking of the myths and stereotypes that have followed the league and its players since 1997.

For more dedicated women’s basketball fans, “Shattered Glass” is a glimpse into the daily life of Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart and Nneka Ogwumike during the 2023 season. The trio of current WNBA players also weigh in on whether the WNBPA should opt out of its current collective bargaining agreement.

From Good to Great
The documentary starts at an October WNBPA meeting including PA executive committee members and team representatives to discuss the CBA. The meeting served as a 12-month countdown to the opt-out deadline and served as the first of ongoing strategic meetings to determine what the union will decide.

“Yes, I want to opt out,” Stewart says is a 15-second trailer released today.

While the 2020 CBA was groundbreaking, there are still improvements WNBA players want to see. Buccilla gives viewers a glimpse into what topics the WNBPA will consider ahead of the next CBA negotiations. At the top of the list is salary increases, travel and expanded benefits for working moms.

The WNBPA is part of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), a collective of 60 labor unions including the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA.

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“Shattered Glass” follows Jackson as she joins SAG-AFTRA on the 110th day of their most recent strike. The film suggests the WNBPA will capitalize on its AFL-CIO network while considering whether to opt out of the current league contract.

Salaries and compensation is often at the heart of contract negotiations, and things will be no different for the WNBPA. Throughout the documentary, Jones, Stewart, Ogwumike and other players also weigh in on expanded benefits for parents and a pension program to support retired players. Through the ongoing interviews in the film, Buccilla portrays why these topics are important to current players.

“SHATTERED GLASS: A WNBPA Story is a transcendent documentary that uniquely captures the power and spirit of female athletes,” Tubi CEO Anjali Sud said. “Tubi is proud to collaborate with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association as part of our commitment to uplifting bold and inspiring voices for young and diverse audiences.”

The documentary has a current run time of nearly 75 minutes and will be available to watch exclusively on Tubi beginning Jan. 31, 2024. Jones, Stewart and Ogwumike are listed as executive producers alongside Jessica McCourt (MALKA), Rebecca Otto (Wasserman), Faith Suggs (Sports International Group) and Sheryl Swoopes. Erin Gilchrist managed the production.

The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup will take on a slightly different look in its fourth year. No, the league didn’t announce flashy court designs or a $18 million dollar prize pool like its younger brother, the NBA Cup. However, like the men’s tournament, the Commissioner’s Cup will condense the Cup games.

“After crowning three Commissioner’s Cup champions since 2021, we believe it is time to introduce a new, streamlined format for the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase for the 2024 season,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in the league press release.

Here’s a breakdown of the changes.

Two-week competition
In 2024, all WNBA teams will play their five qualifying games between June 1-13. As in years past, these designated games will be part of every team’s 40-game schedule and will count toward their season record. However, unlike in years’ past, all Commissioner’s Cup games will be played in a specific window of time.

“The newly designed, concentrated structure for this in-season tournament adds an increased sense of urgency and excitement as we place a particular spotlight on Eastern and Western Conference Commissioner’s Cup play in a two-week window near the tip-off of our regular season,” Engelbert said.

In the first three years, the first home game and first road game each team played against its five conference rivals were designated as Cup games. The teams with the highest winning percentage through those five games would punch their ticket to the Championship Game of the Commissioner’s Cup. Additionally, the Cup championship will be played in late June, as opposed to August.

Last year, this led to a showdown in Sin City between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces. The Liberty took the midsummer championship with an 82-63 win over the 2022 Cup winners. The Aces went on to defeat the Liberty in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals for their second consecutive championship.

More competition, more drama
Engelbert continues to prioritize opportunities to grow WNBA rivalries. Rivalries among fans of specific WNBA players and teams are in good supply on social media. What things like the Commissioner’s Cup or tight MVP races do is turn heated debates into live entertainment.

“The focus is on making the Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase even more engaging for all our stakeholders, including fans, teams, players and the community organizations that collaborate with our teams during the designated games,” Engelbert said.

This hyper-focus helps build household names, which in turn drives deeper and more significant opportunities for the league to parlay the celebrity of players like A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and others into marketing opportunities.

“I think the more and more people know who our players are, the more they watch,” Engelbert told media ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. “The more viewership you get, the more attendance you get … the more cities you are in.”

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The 2023 WNBA Finals increased across five categories year-over-year. Graphic courtesy WNBA PR. WNBA
The formula seems to be working. The league announced expansion to Northern California in October and Engelbert plans to add a second expansion team by 2025. Additionally, the WNBA hit record numbers in attendance, viewership and merchandise sales. Highlights include:

Over 36 million total unique viewers across all national networks, up 27 percent from 2022 and the highest since 2008
The highest total attendance (1,587,488) in 13 years
9.5 million unique viewers throughout the postseason
Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Barclays Center hit an all-time attendance record of 17,000 fans
Just like the NCA Cup, the Commissioner’s Cup took a while to resonate with players and fans alike. The prize money helped bring players along. The in-season tournament final yields a $500,000 prize pool split between the top teams from the Eastern and Western Conference, respectively. Each player on the Los Angeles Lakers received $500,000 for their win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup. No doubt players would like to see the league move toward larger payouts.

As the league prepares to renegotiate broadcast deals with media partners and likely a new CBA with the players association, it will be interesting to see if and how these growth numbers impact salary increases, compensation bumps or even roster sizes in the WNBA.

More changes on the horizon?
Overall, the Commissioner’s Cup goes hand-in-hand with Engelbert’s growth strategy. The minor schedule changes seemingly provide an opportunity for the league to go all-in with marketing ahead of the Commissioner’s Cup Final. Yet, after seeing how the NBA rolled out the red carpet — or unique court designs — for its in-season tournament, perhaps the WNBA will make additional changes to the Commissioner’s Cup.

The NBA Cup courts drew mixed reviews. “In theory, having unique courts to set the tournament apart from the rest of the games was a brilliant idea, but execution wasn’t quite there,” said CBS Sports NBA writer Jasmyn Wimbish.

Players complained about unacceptable court conditions and raising health and safety concerns. The New York Liberty has used special court designs in partnership with Xbox the past two seasons with no complaints. Whether the league opts for special court designs or not, they will need more than a minor schedule change to drive interest.

🚨🚨

The @nyliberty have announced they will be collaborating with @Xbox for a 2nd season to bring a Starfield inspired basketball court to Barclays center.

The Liberty will play their 2 remaining home games ( 9/7 Sparks & 9/10 Mystics) on the custom court.

📸: NY Liberty pic.twitter.com/R0bBofQAZv

— The Local W (@TheLocalW) September 7, 2023
Speaking of the schedule, the league announced the full 2024 slate, which includes the final Commissioner’s Cup schedule. Given how last season played out, most people were excited to see when the Liberty and Aces square off for the first time, and that matchup is slated for June 15. However, that date will do little to drive excitement for the Commissioner’s Cup since the teams are in opposite conferences. Further, the two WNBA Finals teams dropped four Commissioner’s Cup conference games combined.

The NBA Cup played its hand well by announcing the Cup Final would be played in Las Vegas. “Sopranos” star Michael Imperioli, narrated and starred in a “Ocean’s Eleven”-esque commercial in which Anthony Davis, DeMar DeRozan, Trae Young, Julius Randle, Darius Garland, Draymond Green and Kawhi Leonard plotted elaborate heist attempts to claim the NBA Cup. All attempts were futile because, “The only way to get the NBA Cup is to win it,” Imperioli says.

It would be great to see the league lean into this level or marketing, including naming the Cup Final location in advance. The WNBA currently holds the championship game at the arena of the team with the best record in Cup play. Bumping the tournament to earlier in the regular season may help boost early viewership numbers.

However, the new schedule gives fans a shorter window to plan travel, and that may impact the ability for the WNBA to get anywhere close to the record 17,000 fans in attendance for Game 3 of the 2023 Finals.

The 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup will be held Tuesday, June 25 at the home arena of the higher seed. Although Prime Video has aired the Commissioner’s Cup Championship in the past, game time and broadcast details have not yet been announced.