LIFE BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

HERSTORY

The W is full of whole people, not just stat lines. Follow current players through the classrooms, companies, communities, labor leadership and life chapters shaping who they are beyond basketball.

MORE THAN THE MOMENT

Every player carries a story the box score cannot hold.

Herstory gathers publicly shared milestones in one place, then connects them to each player’s main Playerpedia profile. Explore by theme below or start with the full player directory.

NEW HERSTORY FEATURE · LABOR + LEADERSHIP

The Union Behind the Deal

Nneka Ogwumike was the public face of the 2026 CBA, but the agreement was built by an executive committee, team player representatives, union staff and a membership that stayed engaged through 17 months of bargaining.

2026 CBA · LABOR HISTORYNneka, the role players and the union that changed the economics of the W

Meet the seven-player executive committee, the 26 team representatives, Terri Carmichael Jackson and the broader membership behind the $7 million cap, new revenue sharing system and unanimously ratified agreement.

 LEARN THE RULESFront Office 101

See what the new CBA means in practice for contracts, roster spots, free agency, waivers, trades and developmental deals.

2026 FREEDOM AWARDNneka Ogwumike honored beyond the box score

The National Civil Rights Museum named Ogwumike a 2026 Freedom Award honoree, recognizing her player leadership, mentoring, girls-in-sports advocacy and civic engagement.

EXPLORE HERSTORY

The stories behind the players.

EDUCATION

Degrees & learning

College journeys, graduate degrees, continuing education and academic milestones.

MASS COMMUNICATIONS

A’ja Wilson

Wilson studied mass communications during her four-year career at the University of South Carolina.

Player profileSouth Carolina source ↗
MAGNA CUM LAUDE

Aliyah Boston

Boston graduated magna cum laude from South Carolina in May 2023 with a degree in mass communications after earning national Academic All-America honors.

Player profileSouth Carolina source ↗
PSYCHOLOGY

Nneka Ogwumike

Ogwumike completed her decorated Stanford basketball career as a psychology major, pairing an elite athletic résumé with an academically demanding university experience.

Player profileStanford source ↗
HUMAN BIOLOGY

Karlie Samuelson

Samuelson earned a human biology degree from Stanford in 2017. She later returned to the program as an intern while rehabilitating a foot injury.

Player profileStanford source ↗
Explore more education stories
ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Business moves

Brands, investments, ownership, media ventures and companies built off the court.

UPSHOT INVESTOR + AMBASSADOR

Chamique Holdsclaw

Holdsclaw joined the UPSHOT League ownership group in September 2026, bringing a Hall of Fame player perspective to a league expanding professional opportunities and entering new markets for 2027.

Player profileUPSHOT League hubUPSHOT announcement ↗
LEAGUE FOUNDERS

Napheesa Collier + Breanna Stewart

Collier and Stewart co-founded Unrivaled, a player-centered professional 3-on-3 league that created a domestic offseason option for WNBA players.

Collier profileStewart profileUnrivaled source ↗
FOUNDER

A’ja Wilson

Wilson and her mother, Eva, launched Burnt Wax, building a fragrance business around scent, memory and storytelling.

Player profileBoardroom source ↗
TEAM OWNER

Angel Reese

Reese became the first announced member of DC Power Football Club’s ownership group, investing in a professional women’s soccer team rooted in the DMV.

Player profileDC Power source ↗
INVESTOR + ADVISOR

Sabrina Ionescu

Ionescu joined Bay FC as an investor and commercial advisor in 2025, bringing her athlete perspective to the NWSL club’s brand and business strategy.

Player profileBay FC source ↗
Explore more business stories
COMMUNITY

Giving back

Foundations, nonprofits, camps, local programs, advocacy and causes players choose to champion.

DYSLEXIA + ANTI-BULLYING

A’ja Wilson Foundation

Wilson’s foundation works to reduce the stigma surrounding dyslexia, challenge bullying and help young people build confidence through resources and programming.

Player profileFoundation source ↗
GIRLS + EQUITY

Angel C. Reese Foundation

Reese’s foundation expands opportunities for girls and underrepresented groups through sports, education, financial literacy and other empowerment initiatives.

Player profileFoundation source ↗
ACCESS + MENTAL HEALTH

Kelsey Plum Foundation

Plum launched a community initiative focused on expanding access to girls’ sports and supporting student-athlete mental health.

Player profileTeam source ↗
WOMEN + YOUTH

Breanna Stewart Foundation

Stewart launched a hometown-rooted foundation in 2026 to build longer-term support for women and young people through healthcare, education, mentoring and sports.

Player profileReported source ↗
Explore more community stories
LIFE CHAPTERS

Milestones beyond basketball

Family moments, public firsts, identity, major transitions and meaningful accomplishments players have shared publicly.

PUBLISHED AUTHOR

Natasha Howard

Howard released The Vision Through My Lens: My Life in Basketball and Beyond in September 2026. Coauthored with Deyscha Smith, the memoir connects her childhood, championship career and the life she built beyond basketball.

Player profilePublisher source ↗
MOTHERHOOD + COMEBACK

Napheesa Collier

Collier welcomed her daughter, Mila, in 2022 and returned for a WNBA game 74 days later, an experience she has since discussed candidly while advocating for players and parents.

Player profileESPN source ↗
FAMILY

Brittney Griner

Griner and her wife, Cherelle, welcomed their son, Bash, in July 2024. Griner has publicly described parenthood as a new source of purpose and motivation.

Player profileCBS source ↗
FAMILY + IDENTITY

Breanna Stewart

Stewart and former professional player Marta Xargay married in 2021 and are raising two children, Ruby and Theo, while sharing parts of their family story publicly.

Player profilePublished profile ↗
PUBLIC FIRST

Angel Reese

Reese became the first professional athlete to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2025, extending her public presence from basketball into fashion.

Player profileVictoria’s Secret source ↗
Explore more life chapters

Herstory standard: This page includes only milestones players or credible public sources have shared. Sources are linked with each entry. Last editorial review: September 22, 2026.

PROFILE CONNECTION

One player. One connected story.

Herstory entries connect directly to each player’s main profile so on-court and off-court stories stay together.

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