How Valkyries star Gabby Williams has enjoyed offensive breakout

SAN FRANCISCO – With every stop, strip and steal, Gabby Williams has become the rarest of basketball archetypes. In a sport obsessed with scoring from the perimeter, her highlight reel, Williams’ claim to notoriety, lies almost entirely on her prowess as an elite defender, an impassable obstacle.

And make no mistake, Williams’ resume as a stopper remains peerless for the red-hot Valkyries.

The Valkyries’ huge offseason addition has been arguably the league’s top defender and is a lock to make her third All-Defense team as the leader of the WNBA’s No. 1 unit in points allowed and defensive rating.

The 5-foot-11 forward’s 1.7 steals per game severely understate her impact in the passing lanes, but barrels of ink have been spilled about her role as the fulcrum of coach Natalie Nakase’s offense-stifling machine.

Less has been made of her remarkable improvement as a shooter. After years of being a defensive specialist who dabbled in being a playmaker, rebounder and opportunistic scorer, the 29-year-old has emerged as a bonafide bucket-getter for a team with title aspirations in just its second season of existence.

She is averaging career highs in points (14.9) and 3-point percentage (34.7%). When queried about the reasons for her breakout, Williams kept it simple.

“Just confidence getting the ball out, and having the ball in my hands more, and our spacing has also helped a lot,” Williams said on Wednesday morning.

Her usage is 29.3% in the 25 minutes per game she plays – that somewhat limited playing time suppresses her raw stats – the kind of responsibility reserved for only the superstars. In most cases, if a jack-of-all-trades standout was asked to take on a heavier scoring load, efficiency would drop as defenses begin to tilt her way.

Williams has done the opposite.

She has taken a career-high 31% of her shots between 3-10 feet, and yet has also connected on 50.4% of those attempts, compared to 37.7% in her previous four seasons in Seattle. Ditto for the short midrange of 10-16 feet: 39.2% accuracy rate this season compared to 35.4% in the Pacific Northwest.

After spending last season deferring to stars such as Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins and Jewell Loyd, it is now Williams who has the ball in her hands facing a set defense with the clock running down.

It is a role Nakase is confident Williams is built for.

“She’s developing into our closer and she wants to close,” Nakase said after Williams scored 13 fourth quarter points against Atlanta in June. “I’m very proud. I’m proud of Gabby because she’s building a different level of confidence that I’ve never seen before.”

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Early Intel, PC Specs, Pre-loading, and More

This continues our focus on giving each Call of Duty game its own distinct identity. Modern Warfare 4 launches with an entirely redesigned UI, and you’ll get your first look at part of that new experience during the Beta.

How to Download and Launch the Modern Warfare 4 Beta

Whether you’re joining your first Call of Duty Beta or returning for another deployment, getting started is straightforward, no matter your platform of choice.

What do I need to do first?

Before downloading the Beta, make sure you’re ready to play.

Signing in with your Activision Account allows you to:

Carry progression across supported platforms, letting you continue with the same profile if you play on more than one platform.
Keep eligible Beta rewards tied to your Activision ID.
Access earned Beta rewards when Modern Warfare 4 launches.
Continue your progression if you switch between supported platforms.

Don’t have an Activision Account? Create one here before launching the Beta to ensure your progression and eligible rewards are saved.

When is the Modern Warfare 4 Beta Available to Play?

The Modern Warfare 4 Beta is available during two scheduled Beta weekends.

Early Access (Weekend One)

Early Access begins at 11:00AM PT, Friday August 21 for players who have pre-ordered or pre-purchased Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, PlayStation®5, Steam, and Battle.net. The Early Access Beta is scheduled to end at 10:00AM PT on Tuesday, August 25.

Here’s how to participate in the Early Access Beta:

Pre-order or pre-purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 or
Redeem a Beta Code

TIP: If you can’t find the Beta, confirm it’s currently live for your platform, region, and Beta access window. Also, make sure that you’re eligible to play during Early Access via pre-order / pre-purchase or redeeming a Beta Code, or you may not be able to see the Beta on your platform of choice.

Weekend One access is not available on the Nintendo Switch™ 2.

How do I redeem a Beta Code?

For further information about redeeming a Modern Warfare 4 Beta Code, read our support article here. Beta Codes are only useful for the Early Access Beta.

Open Beta (Weekend Two)

The Open Beta begins at 10:00AM PT, Friday August 28 for players on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, PlayStation®5, Steam, Battle.net, and Nintendo Switch 2. The Open Beta is scheduled to end at 10:00AM PT on Tuesday, September 1.

Here’s how to participate in the Open Beta:

The Beta is available to all players.
Download the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta on your platform of choice.
No pre-order or Beta Codes are needed.

How do I Download and Launch the Beta?

The Modern Warfare 4 Beta is downloaded separately through your platform’s digital storefront. You can preload early before a Beta Weekend begins, or at any time during either Beta Weekend. Here’s how to accomplish this:

Download and install the Beta, then launch the game once the Beta is live.

Can I preload the Modern Warfare 4 Early Access or Open Beta?

Providing you meet the participation criteria for the Early Access Beta (see above), you can pre-load the Early Access Beta starting at 9:00AM on Thursday, August 20 on all platforms excluding Nintendo Switch 2.

All players can preload the Open Beta starting at 9:00AM on Wednesday, August 26, on all platforms.
If you are participating in both Beta Weekends, you only need to download the game once, as content and progression carries over from Weekend One to Two.

How do I download the Modern Warfare 4 Beta on XBOX Series X|S or XBOX on PC?

Download the Beta:

Turn on your XBOX Series X|S console or open the XBOX on PC app.
Open the Store.
Search for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta.
Select the Beta.
Choose Install.

XBOX on PC: A small portion of the Beta will then be downloaded. The bulk of the download will be available to download on August 21 at 7AM PT.

Launch the Beta:

Open My Games & Apps.
Select Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta.
Choose Play (once the Beta is live).

How do I download the Modern Warfare 4 Beta on PlayStation® 5?

Download the Beta:

Turn on your PlayStation®5.
Open PlayStation Store.
Search for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta.
Select the Beta.
Choose Download.

Launch the Beta:

Return to the Home screen.
Open Game Library if needed.
Select Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta.
Press Play (once the Beta is live).

How do I download the Modern Warfare 4 Beta on Steam (PC)?

Download the Beta:

Launch Steam.
Open the Store.
Search for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
Open the Store page.
Steam automatically adds the Beta to your Library and begins downloading.

Launch the Beta:

Open your Steam Library.
Select Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta.
Click Play (once the Beta is live).

How do I download the Modern Warfare 4 Beta on Battle.net (PC)?

Download the Beta:

Open Battle.net.
Navigate to the Call of Duty page from your Favorites bar or otherwise
Select Call of Duty: MW4 Beta in the Game Version dropdown
Click Install.

Launch the Beta:

Wait for installation to complete.
Navigate to the Call of Duty page from your Favorites bar or otherwiseSelect Call of Duty: MW4 Beta in the Game Version dropdown
Click Play (once the Beta is live).

How do I download the Modern Warfare 4 Beta on the Nintendo® Switch™ 2?

Pre-orders for Modern Warfare 4 (full game) on Nintendo Switch 2 begins at 9:00AM on Thursday, August 26. This is also when Nintendo Switch 2 players can preload the Beta, ready to access the Open Beta (Weekend Two). You do not need to pre-order the full game to play; the Open Beta is available to all players.

Download the Beta:

Turn on your Nintendo Switch 2.
Open Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2.
Search for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta.
Select the Beta.
Choose Download.

Launch the Beta:

Return to the HOME Menu.
Select Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta.
Press Start (once the Beta is live).

Frequently Asked Questions about the Modern Warfare 4 Beta

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Steve Aoki Left Speechless After Bad Breath Question

https3A2F2Fmedia.zenfs .com2Fen2Ftv insider 6392F7a77f3a431dd43e5f8f836de0a31a941

A compliment from Steve Harvey and a question about bad breath are enough to leave anyone speechless. Celebrity Family Feud contestant Steve Aoki did not have an answer when it came to bad breath.

DJ Aoki is set to play with his wife, Sasha, as well as his brother, Kevin, his sister, Kana, and Ann Sofine, on the Thursday, August 20 episode of Celebrity Family Feud. They will face off against actor and comedian Joel Kim Booster, John Michael Sudsina, Solomon Georgio, Patti Harrison, and George Civeris. The Aokis are playing for the Aoki Foundation while Booster and his team are trying to raise money for SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition.

The other game will take place against rapper Bow Wow and comedian Rickey Smiley. Bow Wow, raising money for Make-A-Wish, is playing with Teresa Caldwell, Justin Spaulding, Jamall Willingham, and Donna Jones. Smiley will try to win with his morning show team consisting of Gary Hayes, Tamika Scott, Rocky Turner, and Georgia Alfredas, for the NAACP.

In the exclusive clip, Aoki and Booster start off the game. The two men fist-bumped before preparing for the question.

CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD - "Bow Wow vs Rickey Smiley and Steve Aoki vs Joel Kim Booster" - Hosted by Steve Harvey, rapper and actor Bow Wow and comedian and television personality Rickey Smiley compete, followed by DJ and producer Steve Aoki and actor-comedian Joel Kim Booster, who face off for their selected charities. THURSDAY, AUG. 20 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EDT) on ABC. (Disney/Quantrell Colbert) — CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD – “Bow Wow vs Rickey Smiley and Steve Aoki vs Joel Kim Booster” – Hosted by Steve Harvey, rapper and actor Bow Wow and comedian and television personality Rickey Smiley compete, followed by DJ and producer Steve Aoki and actor-comedian Joel Kim Booster, who face off for their selected charities. THURSDAY, AUG. 20 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EDT) on ABC. (Disney/Quantrell Colbert)

Disney/Quantrell Colbert

Harvey looked at Aoki’s jeans, which had colorful stars and lines on them, and said, “I like them pants. They’re dawg. I’m about to get them.”

The question was: “I didn’t know my breath was bad until people kept doing what when I was talking.” Booster rang in first and said, “covering their nose.” It was the second answer on the board.

Harvey read the question again to see if Aoki could get the number one answer. He buzzed in, even though he didn’t need to, and said, “Uhhh.” The buzzer sounded before he could give an answer.

“It’s ok,” his wife, Sasha, said.

Stvee turned around and said, “I need your help!”

“Well, you got that part right,” Harvey joked. Both of the men laughed before he asked Booster if they wanted to play or pass. He chose to play. Tune into the episode to see what the rest of the answers are and who wins for their charity.

Celebrity Family Feud, Thursdays, 8/7c, ABC, stream next day on Hulu

Watch the full video on TV Insider.

Read the latest entertainment news on TV Insider.

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WWE’s Growing Problem with Oba Femi

Oba Femi has had a breakout year for WWE, enjoying a magical run through the main roster that has seen him dominate the competition, defeat Brock Lesnar in two of their three wars and win the King of the Ring tournament.

Femi is incredibly popular with fans and looks every bit the future star that Lesnar labeled him at the conclusion of their Hell in a Cell Match at SummerSlam.

However, The Ruler’s meteoric rise and early career triumphs are not without a significant growing problem for WWE.

Femi exploded onto the scene in WWE and within three months of his main roster call-up, defeated Lesnar clean and in the center of the ring.

He lost the next matchup, but put an end to The Beast Incarnate’s Hall of Fame-worthy career inside the unforgiving confines of Hell in a Cell at SummerSlam in their third encounter.

There is no better way for WWE to have introduced Femi to the fans and announced him as the next big thing than the way he has been booked.

However, when a star arrives in WWE and immediately conquers the seemingly unconquerable, there are only so many directions they can go and still maintain their momentum.

For Femi, beating and retiring Lesnar was a blessing and a curse in that the only logical next step for him is vanquishing Roman Reigns or CM Punk and claiming one of the company’s top two titles.

WWE, however, appears content to deliver the slow build, with Femi likely winning the men’s Royal Rumble match in January 2027 and challenging for one of those titles at WrestleMania 43.

The Show of Shows is still nearly nine months away.

The only thing that can possibly happen between now and then is that Femi loses momentum. Even his rivalry with Bron Breakker, a showdown between two men expected to carry WWE well into the future, feels like a step down for The Ruler.

That is not an indictment of Breakker. There are levels to this, though, and to suggest he has not been adversely affected by baffling creative would be an understatement.

A match with Femi clearly means more to Breakker than it does to The Ruler.

That there is unlikely to be a clean finish means the two will keep each other busy for a few months. That will benefit one half of the pairing while leaving fans to speculate when Femi will step up to Reigns.

Resisting Creative Misfires

WWE Creative has not had the best track record over the last two years, with head-scratching decisions hurting story progression, leading to nonsensical developments and stunting the growth of some of its top young stars.

Case in point, Breakker, who returned at WrestleMania 42, defeated Seth Rollins at Backlash, but ultimately lost that feud and has been saddled in a tag team with Austin Theory ever since.

It would be fair to question whether WWE can effectively push Femi in a way that does not undo everything it has accomplished with him to this point.

One loss here, or a bad segment of TV there, could do considerable damage and threaten it all. Lesnar put Femi in a prime position to go out and succeed as the new smashing badass in WWE.

If someone in the room overthinks a single match or moment, it could unravel, and Femi’s aura and popularity will be adversely affected. Again, nine months is a long time, with plenty of opportunities for someone to make a call that sabotages the biggest slam dunk the company has had in decades.

Yes, WWE has carefully booked Femi to this point, except for the guaranteed title shot he willingly gave up to battle Lesnar at SummerSlam. But that was a momentary lapse with little ill-effect.

The company will not be that lucky if it fails him on the road to what feels like an inevitable and appropriate coronation as soon as WrestleMania next spring.

Holding off on crowning Femi champion at that event would only deepen WWE’s growing problem.

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