Episode 16 | WNBA Season Preview, USWNT vs. Japan, PWHL Playoff Push

The WNBA is officially back, and Episode 16 is your full preview of the 2026 season — from A'ja Wilson's record-breaking supermax to the teams you need to watch on opening weekend.The Las Vegas Aces re-signed their entire core four (A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewell Loyd), and Wilson's three-year, $5 million deal is the largest contract in women's professional basketball history. The 30th WNBA season tips off May 9th across five broadcast platforms, and the league has never been more watchable. We break down the scary contenders, the sleeper teams, and the biggest questions heading into the year.We also dig deep into the U.S. Women's National Team's three-game series against Japan — a 2-1 series win that told us a lot more than the scoreline suggests. Emma Hayes played the long game in every sense of the phrase, and we cannot stop talking about her coaching philosophy and what it means for the 2027 World Cup.This week we cover:- A'ja Wilson's $5M supermax and the Aces dynasty: reigning champions return 90% of their scoring, with Becky Hammon running the show again- WNBA season preview: our scary contenders (Las Vegas, New York Liberty, Dallas Wings), honorable mentions, and the teams with the highest upside- USWNT vs. Japan series breakdown: Rose Lavelle's 100th cap, Sophia Wilson's return from maternity leave, record attendance in Seattle, and Emma Hayes' masterclass in building for the World Cup- Emma Hayes deep dive: her possession-first tactical shift, her relational leadership style, and why she is the best coach in the modern era- PWHL playoff picture: Montreal, Boston, and Minnesota are in — but the fourth seed battle between Ottawa, Toronto, and New York is going down to the literal last game of the regular seasonWe also cover the 2026 WNBA Draft viewership numbers (1.5M average, up 20% year-over-year), the PWHL hitting 1 million in-person fans faster than projected, the NWSL calendar shift debate, Oklahoma's back-to-back NCAA gymnastics title, and LOVB Austin's golden-set championship win.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]