Proof of Concept

Let's Discuss

Proof of Concept

What's going on: For decades, people believed it was impossible to run a four-minute mile… until Roger Bannister did it in 1954. Then someone else broke the barrier weeks later. The roadblock turned out to be mental as much as physical. In some ways, the WNBA's new seven-year collective bargaining agreement feels similar for women’s sports. The deal raises the salary cap from $1.5 million to $7 million, locks in charter flights and housing benefits, strengthens protections for pregnant players, and introduces a revenue-sharing model tied to league growth. Now other women's leagues — from hockey to soccer, rugby, and baseball — are watching closely. Because once one league proves a new standard is possible, it gets harder to convince everyone it’s not.

Our take: Don’t expect the ripple effects of the WNBA’s CBA to look the same — or take as long — in every league. It took the WNBA 30 years (with NBA backing) to reach this point. The National Women’s Soccer League, for example, benefited from the US Women’s National Team’s equal pay fight, which reset expectations across women’s soccer. It’s helped players like Trinity Rodman and Cat Macario land record-breaking deals. The Professional Women’s Hockey League (in its third season) may be locked into its current labor agreement through July 2031, but they continue to sell out arenas and build must-watch rivalries. Still, the bigger shift may be psychological. Mo’ne Davis, who’ll suit up in the debut season of the Women’s Pro Baseball League this August, says the WNBA deal makes her excited for what comes next. The real story isn’t that every women’s league reaches the same financial finish line at once, but that getting there no longer feels impossible.

Related: Breanna Stewart on Why the WNBA's Win Is Bigger Than the Paycheck (Instagram)

Pick Six

More sports talkers you don't want to miss.

🎤 These five words from Kylie Kelce’s acceptance speech are now tattooed on our brains. Talk about a mic drop moment. 

🏀 Wait until you hear how Connecticut decided to honor Sue Bird. We screamed. Then we nodded. Then we LOL’d. 

🤔 Watching Olivia Culpo’s pregnancy video begs the question: Where did that donut cake come from?

💪 Ilona Maher thinks we use gym mirrors wrong — and coming from someone who squats almost 300 pounds, we're listening. 

😆 Tom Brady passed Kevin Hart the perfect little gift during his roast. His delivery was flawless, which is what we’d expect from the former QB. 

📺 A Ted Lasso star just did something so completely, perfectly on brand that the writers couldn't have scripted it better.

In Our Rotation

We found the cutest skort to take you from tee time to dinner reservation. 

Old Navy just dropped their Red, White, & New collection, and it has us dreaming of hot dogs and pool parties.

Timeout...

Can someone please explain a WNBA development contract to me?

Think of it like a freelance gig for players — a development contract keeps them in the game (so to speak) and can convert to a full-time spot on a team’s roster at any time. Take Kate Martin. She became a fan favorite as Caitlin Clark’s right-hand while both played for Iowa. Last season, she earned a starter role with the Golden State Valkyries… who waived her from the team last week. The decision led to some hard feelings. Now, she’s on a development contract with the LA Sparks. Martin can practice with the team, dress for up to 12 games (and earn around $6,000 each time). When she’s not playing, she’ll receive a weekly stipend that’s decidedly less than that. And she’s not the only one. Two-time NCAA national champion Bree Hall, Spanish star Marta Suárez (who chose a development contract), and several other players are in the same position. What does it mean for their futures in the WNBA? Hard to say. This is the first year the league has implemented this new policy, so its impact on players and franchises is still, ahem, under development. 

Related: Angel Reese's Teammate Got Waived While Boarding the Bus to a Game (Essentially Sports)

In Her Court

theSkimm caught up with tennis legend Venus Williams about the lack of research focused on women athletes, how her relationship with training has changed over time, and the mindset shift that helps her push through difficult days.

“Most days are not going to be perfect… Once you start to reframe it, then you kind of get out of this feeling of ‘[I] gotta feel good. I've gotta be perfect. I gotta feel great.’”

Read more from Williams, including the training adjustment she says made her feel “so much stronger” and why she wants to see more investment in women’s sports science.

In Our Rotation

Unfortunately, zits have no place in our summer lookbook. Here’s what we’re using to clear up our skin. 

Yankees fans have been wearing these slippers as a good luck charm — and it's working. (It’s us, we’re the Yankees fans.)

No Notes

Skimmed by Mallory Simon and Jordan Galloway. Fact-checked by Barbara Kean.