What are we expecting from women’s basketball in 2025?

Summary

No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

Episode: What are we expecting from women’s basketball in 2025?
Release Date: December 24, 2024
Hosts: Zena Keita, Chantel Jennings, Sabreena Merchant, and Ben Pickman

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Introduction and Overview

Recorded on December 18, the holiday-season episode of No Offseason dives deep into the current state and future expectations of women's basketball as we approach 2025. Hosts Zena Keita, Chantel Jennings, Sabreena Merchant, and Ben Pickman engage in a comprehensive discussion, addressing listener questions that range from NCAA team performances to WNBA strategies and emerging stars poised to make significant impacts in the coming years.

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NCAA Team Performances: Surprises and Disappointments

The conversation kicks off with an analysis of NCAA teams' performances this season, highlighting both unexpected successes and notable underperformances.

Disappointing Teams:

• Iowa State:
  Chantel Jennings expresses her disappointment with Iowa State, stating, “I think Iowa State is the team that has disappointed the most” (08:10). Despite a promising lineup with players like Addie Crooks and Emily Ryan, the team struggled against top-tier opponents, leading to unexpected losses.

• NC State:
  Sabreena Merchant voices her frustration with NC State’s performance, especially after a stellar previous season:
  “They have four good guards and not much of anything else this year has been a real bummer” (10:34). The team's inability to maintain their offensive prowess has been a letdown for fans.

• Louisville:
  Ben Pickman criticizes Louisville’s inconsistent performance, noting, “they have been expected to go all solid choices” (11:47). The team’s struggles, particularly in high-stakes games, have led to strong negative feedback from fans and analysts alike.

Surprising Teams:

• Tennessee:
  Ben Pickman identifies Tennessee as a standout, mentioning their record-breaking three-point performances and cohesive play under coach Kim Caldwell:
  “Tennessee I think is right at the top of the list of biggest surprises” (14:38). Sabrina Merchant adds, “Talisha Cooper is someone who went to Tennessee not to play in that system and yet is thriving” (16:01).

• Michigan State and Kentucky:
  Sabreena highlights Michigan State’s defensive improvements and Kentucky’s swift adaptation to Kenny Brooks’ system:
  “Michigan State is very exciting defensively” (18:33) and “Kentucky is really enjoying the new system” (18:34).

Emerging Stars and WNBA Readiness

The hosts discuss key players transitioning from college to the WNBA, focusing on their readiness and potential impact.

• Janiyah Barker (UCLA):
  Sabrina Merchant assesses Barker’s WNBA readiness:
  “Physically, absolutely WNBA ready. She’s a hell of an athlete” (23:38). However, Ben Pickman raises concerns about her three-point shooting consistency:
  “She’s shooting under 20% from 3” (25:28). The consensus is that while Barker possesses the athleticism and defensive capabilities needed, her offensive versatility and shooting precision require further refinement to maximize her professional potential.

3x3 Basketball and International Competitions

The episode transitions to discussing the growing significance of 3x3 basketball and Team USA’s performance in recent competitions.

• Team USA’s Silver Medal:
  The hosts evaluate Team USA’s silver medal finish, considering it a respectable outcome given the evolving dynamics of 3x3 basketball:
  “A silver is not bad. They lost in overtime to Canada. It’s right there” (34:21). Chantel Jennings emphasizes the importance of team chemistry, particularly in a fast-paced 3x3 format:
  “They developed chemistry over the course of six days” (37:32).

• Emerging Tournaments and Player Development:
  The discussion highlights the need for more domestic 3x3 tournaments to foster team cohesion and player synergy, which are crucial for future Olympic success.

WNBA Team Strategies and Expansion Plans

The conversation shifts to WNBA team strategies, particularly focusing on expansion teams and existing franchises’ future directions.

• Washington Mystics’ Rebuild:
  Chantel Merchant advises the Mystics to “accumulate as much talent as possible” using their first-round draft picks to build for the future rather than trading them for immediate gains (47:03). The emphasis is on selecting high-upside players to lay the groundwork for a competitive roster in the coming seasons.

• Golden State Valkyries’ Draft Strategy:
  Ben Pickman recommends that the Valkyries focus on drafting players with high potential to complement their active free agency period:
  “Take the best player, take the player with the highest upside” (49:53). This strategy aims to balance short-term competitiveness with long-term team development.

Future Expectations for 2025

In closing, the hosts share their curiosities and anticipations for the next year in women’s basketball, both on and off the court.

• On-Court Developments:

  • Valley Expansion Team Reception:
    Zena Keita is eager to see how the new Golden State Valkyries are received both by their community and within the league:
    “Very curious to see how that executes and unfolds off the court” (54:37).
  • Las Vegas Aces’ Evolution:
    Sabreena Merchant discusses the Aces’ potential transformation amidst recent institutional changes:
    “What impact these new faces have, if it’s going to be positive” (56:06).

• Off-Court Dynamics:

  • Increase in Viewership and Engagement:
    Ben Pickman is intrigued by whether the surge in viewership and interest, often attributed to “the Caitlin Clark Effect,” will sustain or amplify in 2025:
    “Does what’s the juice, what’s the lift, what’s the punch it still has in 2025” (53:00).
  • NIL and Revenue Sharing Impact:
    Sabreena Merchant discusses the upcoming changes in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies and revenue sharing, which could significantly influence team budgets and player compensation:
    “NIL will be regulated by the NCAA and could restrict how much teams spend on their players” (56:06).

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with the hosts expressing gratitude for listener engagement and encouraging continued support and subscription to the show. They emphasize the importance of staying informed and passionate about the evolving landscape of women’s basketball, both at the collegiate and professional levels.

Notable Quotes:

• Chantel Jennings on Iowa State's Performance:
  “I think Iowa State is the team that has disappointed the most” (08:10).
• Sabreena Merchant on NC State:
  “They have four good guards and not much of anything else this year has been a real bummer” (10:34).
• Ben Pickman on Tennessee's Surprise Performance:
  “Tennessee I think is right at the top of the list of biggest surprises” (14:38).
• Sabrina Merchant on Janiyah Barker:
  “Physically, absolutely WNBA ready. She’s a hell of an athlete” (23:38).
• Ben Pickman on Team USA’s 3x3 Chemistry:
  “They developed chemistry over the course of six days” (37:32).

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This detailed summary encapsulates the comprehensive discussions and insights shared by the hosts, providing valuable information for both avid listeners and newcomers to the world of women’s basketball.

Transcript

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[Podcast Host]

What'S up friends? Before we dive into today's episode, it's important to note that this episode was recorded on December 18 to accommodate for holiday schedules. So if you're hearing any discrepancies between what we've shared today and what you've seen in recent days, it's because this was previously recorded. All right, let's get into it. Welcome back to the Athletic Women's Basketball show, where we are here to talk all things women's hoops. So if you're wondering is this the place for you to talk the game and learn about the game, you don't know what's going on, you're trying to figure out where the college game's at, where the W's at, where international play's at, where everything's at. Don't worry, you're in the right spot. You're here. You're in a safe space. We're here to learn alongside me and the writers at the Athletic. You gotta subscribe, though. Like, please go subscribe, because we cover a lot. We interview a lot of cool people, and the writers that join me on this show write a lot of cool content. So please go subscribe not only to the POD, but also to the site. All right, Got that out of the way. I am so excited because it's holiday season, y'all, and when it's holiday season, you want to bundle up and get comfy and cozy and just, you know, shut it down for the year. And we were doing that at the Athletic, thinking about everything that's happened over the course of the year, what's going on in the world of the women's basketball. And we were like, I'm sure a lot of people have some questions that they just want to get cozy on the couch with a cup of cocoa and a blanket and say, let's let the experts answer these questions. I'm with y'all. I'm with y'all on that. So I got all three of our writers in the building, y'all. I got Ben, Sabrina, and Chantelle. It is a party in here, and we're about to answer some of the questions that you guys sent us over various sites. So shout out to everybody on X, on blue sky blue. Got dm, me, emails, all the above. We are very, very appreciative now. Sabrina, Ben, Chantel, you guys excited for these questions?

[Podcast Co-Host]

Feels like you're about to, like, go game show on us right now.

[Podcast Host]

No, no, no, no. I'm just excited. I think it's cool to, like, anytime that we get the feedback right, every show, I'm like, guys, send us questions, et cetera. So it was really cool to actually hear you guys, see you guys actually do it and send us some good questions. And what's cool about these questions is that they range. It's not just about college. It's not just about W. It's about a lot of different topics. So we're going to be jumping around a little bit here, which is great because we got the experts on all of it in the podcast. Let's stick with what's going on right now, which is the ncaa. We've been talking about the NCAA in Our recent episodes. And Chantelle, I'm going to actually direct this first to you as you've been doing a lot of our NCAA coverage alongside Sabrina. And I want to ask, which NCAA teams have surprised you and which ones have disappointed you so far this season? This came in from Mr. Ed 3:1:5. Which teams have surprised you and which ones have disappointed you?

[Podcast Co-Host]

Hmm. Well, I think probably this probably says more about my personality than anything. The teams that disappoint me is what first comes to mind here. Um, I think Iowa State is an obvious one. That's a group that I, you know, sorry, Sabrina, I know you feel this, this ennui as well, but on paper, you know, as you're coming into the preseason, you look at how they perform last year, you're talking to people about their off seasons. You're talking to coaches both at the school and elsewhere. Like, what are you thinking? Who are you seeing? Who do you think is up and coming? And it was like Iowa State was such, such a team that was on the rise. It felt like, like buy this stock. They were young, they got some good transfers, they have a system that works for them, and then everything is just kind of falling apart a little bit. And especially, you know, I, I just assumed that the steps taken by Adi Crooks and Addie Brown, with Emily Ryan, a fifth year senior point guard, like all of these pieces make the most sense for this to be a team that you're like the final four potential here and it just hasn't panned out. I will say, you know, they're really good power conference opponents. They've gotten at really shitty times. Like to play South Carolina after they lose to ucla. You're going to get a really fierce version of South Carolina to get UConn after they lose to Notre Dame, you're going to get a really fierce version of UConn. Like, their schedule has kind of worked out such that it's like, you know, you're going to get your best opponents are looking to make a statement specifically against you. I don't think that's an excuse though, necessarily for like 40 point losses. And so, yeah, I think Iowa State, for me is the team that has disappointed the most. Ben. Sabrina, I don't know if, if you're feeling the same as I am.

I mean, they also got Iowa coming off of their first loss to Tennessee. So just row of opponents back to back to back.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, that, that game against UConn, 10 points in the first quarter was brutal. Brutal. Um, I would, I would agree with that. For sure. In terms of, like, teams that have not met expectations. I don't know. Disappointed, Ed sounds real rough. I don't know. I'm just like, I don't want to put that. That weight on these young women, but, yeah, definitely haven't met expectations. Um, Ben, Sabrina, I. We'll stick with the disappointed before we get to the good news of teams who have surprised you, Any teams that have just not met the expectations you had for them this season, I'm not.

[Podcast Co-Host]

Sure if it totally counts, but I've been disappointed with NC State. I don't know that they should have had the highest of expectations considering how much of their front court was gone from last season. But I just loved watching this team so much last year. It was like, my personal. Just pride to see how good they were all throughout the season. You know, those big win against UConn to start the year, win against Colorado, just. They were so much fun getting to the Final Four. And then for them to have four good guards and not much of anything else this year has been a real bummer. I still wonder if it's gonna be able to work out, but from a personal, just, like, enjoyment perspective, that the Wolf Pack have not been as good as I want them to be is. Yeah, that's the number one thing on my list.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Saniyah Rivers, AI James. Like, that backcourt last year had you hype to watch them and you were so excited. The fact that they were coming back and it just. It felt like it should have been another step forward, but, yeah, they've been a little bit stagnant. Uh, still, you know, top 25, still relevant. Let's not. Let's not completely crap on them, but it's just definitely not as dominant. You know, I think I had them in my. I think I had them in the championship for my bracket last year. Like, definitely different vibes this year. Ben, what about you?

[Podcast Co-Host]

Yeah, I'll stick with another ACC team. And maybe this is Dan. Dan ACC anchored in a problematic way heading into the season. But Louisville, I can't say I'm emotionally distraught about how they've performed any more than Jeff Waltz seems to be about his team, because the feedback on them over these last couple games has been very strong and very blunt. And, you know, he's. Words used, words like embarrassing did not show up. He's been apologetic to fans about how the Louisville Cardinal have performed beginning the year six and five. I mean, I was there in New York at Barclays center when they put up that stinker against UConn I spent much of the second half wandering the concourse talking to whoever else was in the arena because seemingly the sense during that game, the second half it was over after the first 10 minutes. They were preseason number 17. So Sabrina Chantel, you guys are AP voters here. Maybe you guys got it wrong heading into the season along with the other members of the AP voting pool. But I would say Louisville, for anyone who had expectations this season has not gone the way it has. They have expected certainly for it to.

[Podcast Host]

Go all solid choices. Ah. I feel and it's interesting because Louisville is one of those teams that you think you, I would have expected particularly their defense to help like out blow out competitors and be able to like get them to a higher level. But yeah, it shows. You actually do need a little bit more offense out of your players for sure.

[Podcast Co-Host]

I just checked my preseason poll and I did not have them in my top 25. So not on me.

I actually don't think they were in my top 25 either. I was actually literally looking back at the AP, I can't think figure out how to find my week one vote but I don't think they were in my top 25 either.

I have you know, very high on Iowa State and NC State but I.

Was also very, I think Iowa State was number like six or seven for me.

So number seven for me. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. This is why we have the experts. As you can see they knew what was going on before the season started. I, I, I was gonna say Kansas State for me. Similar to how you know the idea of Iowa State moving forward behind Audi Crooks and Audi Brown. I'm thinking Aoki Lee is the best center in the game period. They're going to find a way to like center around her. They've been okay. And their, their like non conference schedule has been a little bit lackluster as well so. But I, I like NC State as a choice especially considering how high I was on them last year. And I'm also from Raleigh so I was a little bit disappointed that they didn't show up in the in certain games this season. Okay, teams that have surprised you. Who's gotten you excited? Ben, we'll work backwards. You go first. Teams that have surprised you.

[Podcast Co-Host]

I think there's three or four kind of more clear cut candidates so I'll throw one out and put out some recommended reading to go alongside of it. I think Tennessee is one of those teams that has surprised a lot of people. Whether that is setting a record in terms of three pointers made in a game, whether that is the hot start, undefeated start to their season, whether that is just how quickly the program has gelled and players seem to be buying into Kim Caldwell's system. I all rec. I would recommend everyone listening to pause the podcast, go read Chantel's excellent story on the foundation and the conception of this Tennessee team and the hiring process that led Kim Caldwell to Tennessee. Go read that story, come back, listen to it and come come back listen to us. Because Tennessee I think is right at the top of the list of biggest surprises through the first, you know, month plus of the college basketball season.

[Podcast Host]

Of course, that game against Central is going to continue to come up throughout the rest of this NC. I mean 13959 is a crazy score period. But Sabrina surprised me last show and told me that that was the number one like period. And even in the NBA, wnba, most amount of threes made by a team in a 40 minute period. Like what? That's absolutely crazy. Okay, Tennessee, great choice for surprise. Any thoughts on Tennessee guys?

[Podcast Co-Host]

Absolutely. I think Tennessee's been a like a blast to watch you. I think in general with a system like that, my main question is like can, can that thrive during an era when the transfer portal is so active? Like it feels like a system where you want to be in it for several years or you need people to be in it for several years and in the transfer portal era you can't really bank on that. But I think the fact that and we talked about this on the pod a few weeks back, like Talisha Cooper is someone who went to Tennessee not to play in that system and yet is thriving in that system. So I think if you get the right players with the right mentality who are athletes and are like ready to just throw it all on the floor, it works. And so I think it's more about finding like the right people for that system. And Kim Caldwell's 2025 class already has four top 100 players, two top 25 players. Like the recruiting is picking up. Clearly recruits are seeing this as a system that they're interested in playing. So yeah, like give me a team that wants to press for 40 minutes and take threes one second into the shot clock. Like I'm game. Let's fun, let's do it.

[Podcast Host]

Caldwell definitely got them to buy in and I think that's huge too. Like a new coach coming in and getting all the step up their defense, step up all their activity on the floor. I mean you talking about the running, that just happens. Like if I'm a college College player and my last coach, like, barely had us running suicides, and then I'm now in practice running 90% of the time, like, just baseline to baseline. That's a lot to buy in on. So good for her to get the locker room to, like, lock in on her. Her system. What about you, Sabrina? Thoughts?

[Podcast Co-Host]

Well, last week on our power conference show, Chantelle and I brought up Cal and Georgia Tech both as pretty big surprises in the. So I'm not going to belabor the point there. They're really fun. They're. You know, just listen back to that show again, like, very high on both those teams. Lots of. Lots of threes, lots of wins. I kind of have two teams on my mind here. In terms of surprises, Michigan State is one. Just stylistically, it's been really enjoyable to watch them play defense this year. Like Chantel said, give me a team that's going to press and put up a lot of threes. Like Michigan State is, not to the degree of Tennessee, but they do a lot of that. And their ability to force turnovers is just so unlike any Michigan State team of recent vintage. So it's been. It's been fun to watch them. I'm very excited for this Michigan State, Maryland game on schedule. That will tell me a lot. I think about the Spartans. Um, I mean, at the risk of taking Chantel's answer, sorry, if it was Michigan State, I apologize.

It was.

I also really like watching. I also really like watching Kentucky this year. You know, I've really grown accustomed to Kenny Brooks system. And the fact, like, buy in and all of that, that it's happened so quickly in Kentucky is surprising to me. You know, we talked about, like, how teams coming into new conferences are going to adjust to the style of play. I almost feel like it's an ACC team joining the sec, and I'm really excited to see what that's going to look like. But, yeah, I. I just like watching, you know, all these players, like, become the new Kayla King, like Deja Lawrence and like Amelia Bassett. It's been fun to see, like, all of these pieces that I'm familiar with in the Virginia Tech context exist in blue jerseys.

Clara Strack as Elizabeth Kitley.

Exactly.

Georgia Amore starring as Georgia Amore.

Except not quite as efficient, right?

[Podcast Host]

Exactly. She kept her same role. She kept her same role.

[Podcast Co-Host]

We're on an uptick. Okay. We're on an uptick.

[Podcast Host]

I'm happy you brought up MSU in terms of, like, Michigan State, because we actually did get an email regarding Michigan State and some questions around that from Maddie Archer. And so Maddie, this is for you. Thank you, Sabrina, for bringing up Michigan State. Chantel thoughts on Michigan State as a team that's been surprising.

[Podcast Co-Host]

You know, we talk a lot about players sort of that freshman to sophomore year jump. And I feel like as much as like Kenny Brooks at Kentucky and Kim Caldwell at Tennessee have had these like outstanding freshman seasons. And their new roles like those sophomore seasons for coaches are also really fascinating to watch because you get someone who's had like a first full year of recruiting and stuff. And I think Robin Froehlich is someone who has brought players in both through recruiting in the portal, but also Julia A. Rault, someone who's been there their entire career, a Michigan native just developing the system and getting them to play a very different way than sort of the Michigan State of the past. But I was thinking what was really interesting and this actually got cut from my Tennessee story, was that when Kim Caldwell was considering the job at Tennessee, she actually called Robin Froehlich at Michigan State because Robin and Kim both sort of have a similar background. They both coached for a long time at the Division 2 level. Kim at Glenville State in West Virginia and Robin Froelich at Ashland. And Kim Caldwell called Robin and was like, hey, I'm considering a power conference job and I'm trying to decide whether or not to take it. She didn't tell her it was Tennessee. She just said a power conference job. And Robin was like, what's the worst that can happen? You can always go back to the mid major level. It's a learning opportunity. Whatever, Whatever, right? Like great. Kim doesn't say it's Tennessee. Kim gets the Tennessee job. They run into each other at the EYBL tournament this summer. They didn't know each other very well and Robin pulls her aside and said, just to make it really clear, you and I have very different jobs. The Michigan State and Tennessee job are very different jobs even though they're both power conference jobs. So I just thought that was a nice. From the cutting room floor, from the story of these sort of coaches and similar paths and two coaches who both have their programs I think maybe ahead of schedule than where we thought they'd be at this point.

[Podcast Host]

That's actually pretty cool, like being able to connect in that way. One thing that's like always interesting from a coaching perspective, especially because there's so little coaches that go from the D2 level to the D1 level and then like immediately find success is the, the community. Sometimes you get fearful that people are going to kind of play musical chairs where, like, I've got to be the one example of the best coach that's ever come from the D2 level, go to go on, you know, on the D1 level and succeed. So it's really nice to hear those stories of coaches, like finding community within the realm of the ncaa regardless of the competition. I always think about Dawn Staley, like, cutting down her championship net and like mailing it out to coaches, but like that story in itself just like calling each other to check in or whatever it was, even without knowing what the job was. And that I thought that was pretty cool to hear. Okay, my team, it's tcu. I'm not gonna lie. I was even. Yes, they are incredibly experience. That's what we've talked about. They are more veteran players on this team. It's a hodgepodge. And when you think about what TCU was last year with the walk on situation and the team just handling and dealing with all these random injuries, it's pretty cool to see them, like, come together. And then also the most surprising has been, like, showing up in some of these big games. Now, let's. Let's just be real. That South Carolina game was an aberration, but like some pretty big wins over the season already, you know, over Notre Dame and NC State, Like, I think they had some pretty like, great wins throughout the season and they've gelled pretty well. Shout out to Mark Campbell on doing that. All right, let's keep it moving. And we're going to stay in the NCAA realm, but we're going to talk about a particular player that's shown up in, I guess the Big Ten, I want to say Pac 12, but in the Big Ten, showing up for a big time contender for the national championship. And I'm talking about ucla and we're talking about Janiyah Barker. We have a question on Janaya from Killian A. Frost. Is Janiya Barker, WNBA ready? Sabrina, I'm gonna go to you.

[Podcast Co-Host]

So Barker played her first two seasons at Texas A and M and was part of a team that had a lot of really good athletes that never really coalesced into anything more than the sum of their parts. And I think what's been good for her at UCLA is to channel all of that energy into a very specific role. Like even Dawn Staley pointed this out after they played against South Carolina, how it's very clear that Janaya only gets to do a certain number of things in the system, but she's very good at doing those things. And that was something that impressed her in particular having played against her in the SEC when South Carolina played against A and M. So I think physically, absolutely WNBA ready. She's a hell of an athlete. She's got incredible jump, attacks the glass really well, can defend a lot of different positions. It's just a matter of like, does she know how to play within a system? Like, she's done it for 11 or so games at UCLA and it's gone extraordinarily well, I think, you know, but it's the kind of thing where if I were a WNBA gm, I'd want to see a little bit more proof of concept of her being able to fit into, you know, a style of play. But if she decides to declare, and she can, because she will turn 22 in the year 2025 and can leave after her junior season, like, I can assure you that people have been taking looks at her at UCLA and they're happy with what they see. And there's already been a massive jump in her stock in between last year and this year. So if she decides to go pro, she's going to be a first round pick, I can almost assure you of that. But if it were me, I would just want to see her at UCL a little bit longer. Maybe the Big Ten schedule will, you know, assuage me of any of those doubts. Like she'll have an excellent time against these teams with other pro prospects. But yeah, she's WNBA ready. It's just a matter of like how good she can be immediately when she gets to the pros.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, Ben, as you cover WNBA too, let us know. What do you think?

[Podcast Co-Host]

Yeah, I mean, I think Sabrina hit the nail on the head there. I think one of the questions that I have is her ability to stretch the floor is something that, you know, seemingly is a prerequisite of a lot of bigs of her size. And she's six'four in the WNBA right now. And you know, she has shot three pointers a little bit over the course of her collegiate career. She averaged less than two a game her freshman year around to her sophomore year and she's averaging 2 this year. But if you look at her 3 point percentage right now she's shooting under 20% from 3. Again, it's not on a very high volume at all. But last year and the year before that on again not that high of a volume, she was shooting around 40% and 35% from 3. So we've seen some regression there. Part of that could be system and how she's being used. But if you're, you know, a WNB GM or a scout, obviously you want players with as many tools in their bag as possible. And so that is one kind of glaring question that I think some team personnel might have or will have as they evaluate her and they evaluate how she might fit into a WNBA context.

[Podcast Host]

Now I gotta follow up on this because when you talk about that 6, 4 frame, obviously my mind goes to Asia Wilson, Brianna Stewart, like, you know, these like big time power forwards. Nafisa Collier. Asia is developing her, like developed her three point shot later on. I don't think she was a four or a big, that really shot in college. Is that something that Janae Barker could look to, to do in, in the W?

[Podcast Co-Host]

I mean you can look to Asia Wilson to do anything, Xena, but like, that doesn't mean that's fair. You're Asia Wilson, right? Like we're talking about the most skill player in the world right now. And like Asia is not as good of a three pointer. She's not the best big, you know, who's capable of shooting three pointers in the league, but she's elite at everything else. And so, you know, it's not an issue that you still have to guard her 18ft from the basket. And she is so crafty that even despite, you know, some teams occasionally sagging off of her from deep, if she gets downhill, whether that is off the dribble, whether that is in the post, it's basically an automatic basket. And so, you know, if, if you are a player and you're able to make up for perceived weaknesses or weaknesses by having such extreme strengths, you're able to make that math and that kind of balance work. I don't think Barker certainly at her age still as a college prospect, is able to do that just yet.

And one thing I want to add about Barker is she's going to be entering a league with three more teams than like the usual, right? That's true if she comes in 2026 or if she comes in 2025. And I do think that the WNBA will just have more room for development than it has in previous years because there are more roster spots and you can just, I think, wait a little bit longer to get players to where they need to be versus they got to contribute right away.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, all right, let's, let's continue on the college space. We had a question come in from Becky Gayle on bluesky becke, BSGuy Social. That's how it reads, guys. Asking what would it take for y'all. I'm assuming this is like the world of media or particularly the athletic, but what would it take for y'all to take Maryland more seriously as a contender this year? What does the program need in general? What do they lack? And there's a little bit more context. They've had an easy schedule, they're undefeated, and they're in the top 10. Um, but there's not much discussion on Maryland Thoughts on that?

[Podcast Co-Host]

That's fair. I feel like we haven't necessarily talked about them as much as maybe some other top 10ish teams. I don't know where they are in your rankings, Sabrina. I have them at or 8 in mine. You know, they haven't played a great schedule, but they beat Duke. Like, that's. That's a significant win game.

[Podcast Host]

Bri McDaniels.

[Podcast Co-Host]

And so I think maybe that's. That's a team where, like, we should have talked about that win more at the time. But that was also two or three games into the season. And I think that win over time has aged better. Like, when you think about games one or two or three games into the season, like, we still don't know who those teams are. And I think over the last month, everyone has gained a greater appreciation for Duke and like, wow, this is a really good offensive team. Like, holding them to 80. Not bad. Like, pretty good way to go, Maryland. And so, yeah, I think they're. But they're also a team that we're still getting to know. Brenda Freeze went into the transfer portal pretty hard, and so you've got new faces there and old faces as well. Cheyenne Sellers feels like she's been in college forever at the same spot, which in this day is kind of a rarity. She's one of my favorite players. And yeah, I think also in general, like, Maryland is a team that I always start really high on, and then they get into the Big Ten schedule, and it's just such a brutal schedule. Like, you kind of, as the Big Ten season goes on, you like, you know, tire of a few teams. And I feel like Maryland has been one of those teams over the last few years that because of injuries or, you know, whatever it might be, has just sort of like, fallen down the pecking order in the Big Ten. But no, I think this is a group that you look up and down this roster, and I think they've got, you know, Freeze is running like eight players deep. They've got five players averaging double digits. They've got a good rotation going. Again, I think that Cheyenne Sellers is one of the best big guards in the game. We should talk about her pro potential. I'd be curious what both Sabrina and Ben think about that, but, no, I think Maryland is a really, really interesting team. We're about a week away from Maryland, Michigan State, which I think that will be now that we both. Now that we have an idea of both of these teams and sort of what their potentials are at this point in the year. I think that game will be really telling in terms of not only the Big Ten sort of pecking order, but also these two individual teams.

I mean, I'm just a huge Maryland hater. Like, I. I try not to retain too many biases from my time in college, but, yeah, women, that's. That's the team that I can't really get over. So, yeah, that's a. You know what?

[Podcast Host]

I want to. Just for those that don't quite know the history between Maryland and Duke, there is a particular moment in the history of these two programs, particularly for championship credit. Break that moment down for us, Sabrina.

[Podcast Co-Host]

Yeah.

So Duke and Maryland met in the 2006 national title game. Duke was up 13 points near the end of the second half. This is before we went down to court in women's basketball, and Marilyn came back and ended up winning. I believe it was a shot that Christy Tolliver hit over these six, seven outstretched arms of Alison Bales. Yeah, there you go.

[Podcast Host]

I was just hoping you'd mention her.

[Podcast Co-Host]

Just a real toughie. A real toughie.

[Podcast Host]

If you go back and look at this clip, it is very blurry. It makes you feel as if you're, like, going back in time, like, significantly further than 2006. But Christie Toliver hitting that shot is what cemented her in my mind as a clutch shot maker. Yeah, as a clutch shot maker, which she went on to become in the W2. But that right there was, like, a moment in time. The way she runs back to the bench. I'm sorry, I'm not going to relive this for you, Duke. I'm so sorry, Sabrina. But, yeah, it's a great moment.

[Podcast Co-Host]

This is why Christy Tolliver tells people you spell her name with one L, because she doesn't lose that much.

[Podcast Host]

Ooh, I like it.

[Podcast Co-Host]

Well, if you want to pull a happy moment out of this memory, Sabrina, I believe this current Duke team is averaging the most points since that 2016. So, you know, wow, that's a good.

Team to be compared to.

Good company to keep.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. All right, well, let's keep it moving. Because I've. I just realized we've only gotten through, like, a few questions and we're already 30 minutes in. Okay, let's shift away from the NCAA and let's get into. Before we get to the WNBA, let's get into some other formats of basketball, particularly 3 on 3. Okay, we got some questions around that. Someone named SFM KY334. Sarah Serra asks. My questions on the 3x3 are at this point, were the results expected or disappointing? Where did things fall short? What does this mean for what's next? Sabrina, I understand you watched the entire America three by three competition. USA got silver in that. I again, the word disappointing keeps coming out. Y'all are tough critics out here, but silver, you know, not so bad, especially when you think about where Team USA ended up in. In. In Paris. So give us your thoughts. Were these the results of where Team USA landed expected or not expected? Where did things fall short?

[Podcast Co-Host]

Well, it's one thing to finish bronze, like, in a world competition like the Olympics. The America is a much more limited pool of teams, so I think the USA would expect to be among the best. Though they did lose to Canada, which is another team that did well at the Olympics and, you know, is a 3x3. I'm not going to say powerhouse, but they tend to do pretty well in that event.

[Podcast Host]

Give it to them. Give them powerhouse. I like that.

[Podcast Co-Host]

I do think that you kind of. So the. The USA had a 3x3 camp earlier in November, and they invited Shakira Austin, Grace Berger, Ray Burrell, Emily Ansler, Natasha Howard, Abby Shue Taylor, Mike Seller, Alyssa Peely, Jalen Sherrod, Maddie Segris, Azari Stevens, and Brittany Sykes. So you kind of see a balance of young players. We want to get into the pool and older players who are not going to be on the 5 on 5 team who we could convince to take some time and play 3x3. And the four that ended up making the America team were Segrist Sykes, Ezra Stevens, and Abby Shue. And I think you see with Azeray and Brittany Sykes, those are older veterans who are just like now they're playing unrivaled. You can keep them around in the, like, in the USA pool over the course of the offseason. They can play in all these events and, like, start to gain some chemistry together. So I think you're just starting to see the outlines of, like, how the USA wants to build its program going forward as far as, like, the results. I thought Brittany Sykes was phenomenal. I think she's a perfect 3x3 player because she can beat any defender off the dribble and she keeps her man in front when she's guarding. So yeah, maybe she doesn't shoot threes super effectively, but like, she can get to the room every time if you get your opponent in foul trouble. That is a huge disadvantage in 3x3. So I like her quite a bit going forward in this format. Maddie Seacrest also just like gets a ton of rebounds. Like, if you can just rebound your own misses over and over again, like, eventually she's going to score. I really liked her in this particular setup. Azaria Stevens, like, I understand the appeal of someone who can shoot threes and like, it's kind of a long, leggy defender. I've always wanted her to be more physical in the WNBA and she's not physical enough for 3x3. Like, I just don't see it. So, you know, things to keep working out. But I think you can see the outlines of what the USA is trying to do in terms of building a program that has more cohesion going forward. So when you get to the Olympics, it doesn't look like they're playing together for the first time, which they kind of were because of the Cameron Boink injury, but just trying to see what they have in the pool. Like, you have more options now because if unrivaled people are available more during the off season, I think than they would be were they playing overseas. And a silver is not bad. They lost in overtime to Canada. Like, it's right there, you know, in terms of winning gold. So I don't think the result is disappointing. I'm not sure, like what they expected going in, but I think this is all part of a long term plan leading into LA 2028.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. And I think that the, the question of disappointing versus expected actually applies more to Paris. There was some games at the top of the three by three team in Paris that you were like, whoa, whoa, whoa, what's going on? They definitely cleaned it up at the end. And I think that one thing that was waiting to kind of emerge in the 3x3 experience in Paris that Brittany Sykes showcased immediately is microwave scoring. Like a creator. Like someone that can immediately get by their defender and like, and create a shot. You saw Haley Van Lith, like, really struggling to do that, needing a lot of screen action, et cetera. Chantel, you were at the olympics watching the 3x3 team. You saw the, like progression from those losses to picking things up at the end. What would you say about that? Experience and how that fits into Sara? Sara's question?

[Podcast Co-Host]

Yeah, I mean, I think the thing about 3x3 specifically roster selection is that, you know, for the 5 on 5, Team USA, like, there aren't technically parameters. The selection committee can pick whomever they want. Like, there are unofficial parameters. Like you have to be at camps, you have to show up when they want you to be there, or else you're not going to make the team. But more or less like it's. It's the selection committee's decision. With 3x3, there's actual rules, like you need to be. They have to have two players who are one of the top 10 in their country in terms of points. And you get points by playing in sanctioned tournaments. And there's only so many sanctioned tournaments that happen at certain times during the year. Most of them are overseas. So there are significant commitments in terms of going to these tournaments versus the five on five. Team USA camps are usually in Colorado Springs at the headquarters. And so you're not flying to, like, Belgrade, you're flying to Colorado Springs. And so I think that specifically, you know, this was something I actually talked to Jim Tooley, who's the CEO of USA Basketball, about when I was in Paris this summer, because it was a disappointment. I think you see the USA jersey and to see anything other than a gold on that jersey is like something bad has happened. I like these two things don't compute. And I think a big part of it Sabrina touched on this is the chemistry aspect. And you look at other countries, their pools are smaller specifically for their five on five teams. And so I think earlier on in the seasons, you know, they have an idea of like, this is going to be our five on five team. And this is kind of who we have for three on three. You don't really have that for Team usa. You know, people are debating the roster up until the day before it's released. And so, you know, it's not necessarily going to be as cut and dry. So it's like, oh, I'm out of the 5 on 5 roster. So I'm gonna try to be a part of this three, three on three team and then gaining chemistry as a team. The Canadian team, I believe it was, had like two twins or two sisters that have played together for like 25 years. Like, that is inherently beneficial on a team when you have such a small court, like, having that chemistry. And I think that's what we saw with Team usa. Like, they're stepping on the court and you obviously had the late addition of Dear Cahambi because of the Cameron Brink injury, but this wasn't a group that had played together very much and early on they suffered a bunch of losses. And then the more they played together, the more chemistry they got. So even over the course of what was it, six days, they developed chemistry, but that was more time together than they really had. And so I think as they move forward into this next Olympic cycle, specifically gearing up for what they hope, you know, in 2028 can sort of be a really cool sport. I don't know where they're going to play it in la, but you know, where they played it in Paris was awesome. And so I think they just need to figure out a way to develop more chemistry for the group going forward. And I don't, I don't know what that looks like necessarily, but finding ways to maybe bring more tournaments to the States to get those players who are W players versus like mid major college.

[Podcast Host]

Players, you know, the variety and just sheer volume talent in this situation in these international competitions can sometimes be a detriment to the Team USA because there's just so many different types of people that could potentially be on, be put on a roster. But you can see Team USA being very diligent about trying to keep people in a pool in which they have some sort of familiarity. But when it comes to the Derickah Hamby edition, you could not have planned that, right? Of course, Cambrink gets hurt. Derek Hamby steps in for her. I think the first time that they had really like played was at All Star when they had that, you know, that little exhibition game. Speaking of the injuries, Ben, I'm going to direct this to you next. JoJo Joe. Joe Riley at B Sky Social. Joe Reilly asked about the 3 on 3 unrivaled format with regard to injuries, wondering do we foresee more or fewer injuries with the three on three unrivaled format?

[Podcast Co-Host]

I mean, I think, certainly think that WNBA teams are hoping that their players stay healthy throughout this process. And I would expect that, you know, for a league that has put such an emphasis on player development and with rosters that each have five or six players on them, that if a player expresses soreness or goes down with an injury, everyone from, you know, league executives up high to coaches to players are going to be as cautious as possible recognizing that while unrivaled might pay really well and you know, be trying to carve out a place in the women's basketball calendar, it is not the competitive priority for these players. Like I think unrivaled management has also made clear that they are not trying to usurp the wnba, they're trying to complement the WNBA calendar. So in that regard, like, I would expect teams and players to exercise as much caution as possible. And I do think that the format will allow just for, you know, players to not have to put as much strain on their body. You know, the calendar they're going to have, they'll play Thursday, Friday, Monday in many cases. And so you're going to have most of the week kind of off of gameplay in between games. So, you know, I think the league is doing all, all it can to try and mitigate any kind of health issues that players have. The other thing I will say is that, you know, with players traditionally going overseas in the off season, and I written about this a couple of years back, one of the big anxiety points for WNBA teams is that when a player gets hurt, say in Turkey or in Israel or just in any other non English speaking country, the medical care and system and communication lapses that might occur with a player fully out of market. Right. Like just from a very simple method of like communicating with doctors, knowing the doctors, making sure you have the top medical care or treatment or procedures that, you know, we're familiar with here in America or that a team is. When an injury occurs overseas, there's always this question of where do you then get the treatment. So, you know, if an injury does occur in unrivaled, I think no team, obviously no player wants that to happen, but they're at least in the US they're presumably close to their market, a flight away, if that. And so, you know, I would expect caution and teams to be aware of the fact that a player could get hurt, but also like, you know, recognizing that they're still in really good hands in this new, in this new format.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. All right. I definitely think that, I don't think people put enough thought in when players are hurt overseas, what that process looks like. Hell, I. If I'm traveling and I don't have travel insurance and I do anything, I'm like scared out of my mind. I can imagine that the programs overseas aren't, are more responsible than I am when it comes to getting travelers insurance. But still very important to be able to be home and you know, stateside if anything happens. So I think that is a huge positive. You guys, I'm going to ask you a question that's going to be opinionated. It's not going to be journalistic. Okay. We're going to see what you're really looking at when it comes to unrivaled, any 1v1 matchups you excited about? When it comes to unrivaled, I mean.

[Podcast Co-Host]

It'S got to be Fever Stewie, right?

[Podcast Host]

Like, yeah, that makes sense. Especially I mean, the finals. The founders. Yeah, right. The founders of this league. But also the way the finals ended. I mean, now it's like redemption. Sabrina, I'm with you. That was my. That was my matchup. Ben Chantel.

[Podcast Co-Host]

I mean, I think we should just say for context here, there's actually going to be a one on one tournament in the middle of the unrivaled season, hence this question in mid February. Details are a little light right now, but that's part of what's kind of going on here. I guess I'm going to say ariquembawale against the field. Someone who is as dynamic and of a creator as she is and has shown that in the biggest moments with the best players that she can dance with the basketball like the best of them. And so, you know, I think seeing her kind of compete in that format and just dip into her bag is something I'm really excited about and looking forward to seeing.

[Podcast Host]

Absolutely. After you saw, I mean, what she did at all Star was ridiculous. It was. I love the way you put it. A dance with the ball. Absolutely. And people were not keeping up on rhythm on the other side of the ball. Okay. Chantel, what about you?

[Podcast Co-Host]

I've got a side of Sabrina here. I feel like fee Stewie is like the rematch everyone wants to see. It's like the UConn history that everyone wants to see. It's like the older, younger sister generation. You know, they played together at UConn, won a title together at UConn and then competed for titles in the WNBA against one another. So I feel like that's the way to go.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, thank you to Nikki Face for dropping that one in there. I was very curious to see what my co hosts thought. Okay, let's shift to the wnba and I'm actually particularly excited. Cause there's quite a few questions about a new team out in the bay. But before we get to some of those, let's jump into a question about the Mystics. Uh, this is an interesting one. We just talked about Brittany Sykes. When you think about her impact on the. The Mystics has. It's been hobbled because of her injuries. Right. And then you think about Shakira Austin's injuries and you think about the shift away from Elena Deldawn. There's just so many different factors. They just lost their point guard, Julie Van Lew. What should the Mystics do with their first round draft picks? Should they use both? Trade one, trade both? What should their goal be this off season?

[Podcast Co-Host]

I think it's just accumulate as much talent as possible. From what we've heard from Michael Winger, the president of, you know, Monumental Basketball and theoretically the lead decision maker on all things Mystics. Considering the Mystics don't have a head coach or gm, I would say they seem to be gearing up for a long rebuild. So it doesn't make any sense to trade these picks. They've got four and six. You'd hope that like a Dominic Malanga becomes available, you know, somebody who's young, who's going to take a little while to potentially come over to the W and like develop into the star that they're hoping to build their, you know, next great era of Mystics basketball around. But yeah, I think, I think they absolutely have to use both of them. I think you just go as much upside as possible. They're not looking to fill any roles, right? Like, you don't need to go like we need a point guard or we need anything like this. Like, they're just trying to build for the future. So best player available at 4 and at 6 and whatever that ends up with, I think like the younger the better.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, I'm curious. So you talked about not needing a point guard. Julie Van Leeu was starting earlier in the season, still was a solid backup in terms of like depth at the guard position. Is that something they should be looking forward in the, in the draft?

[Podcast Co-Host]

I mean, they have Jade Melbourne on their roster who they acquired in a trade last year with Seattle. She's one of the youngest players in the WNBA and someone who, you know, I think still has a very high upside and has proven to be really capable. International competition when having to lead a team, you know, leading kind of the Opals in the backcourt too in the Olympics. But I think Sabrina hit the nail on the head here. Like there's no player, you know, they should just be trying to maximize talent here and young talent and building for the future. And so, you know, they should not really be. They should be positionally agnostic, I guess just take high upside players. The best player, you know, it first starts with hiring a coach and a gm. We had some reporting last month that a source close to me confirmed that, you know, they're hoping to have both of those things hired by January 1st or early on in 2025. So I would expect Some news there shortly and we shall see as free agency approaches in mid mid January, end of January and early February, what tack they play. But you know, I think this is a pretty clear rebuild for Washington that they enter the next season. They will enter next season as, you know, one of these teams that many people, if not everyone projects to not make the playoffs and continue to try and, you know, chart the next course in the franchise's history overall.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, I'm sensing a lot of Indiana vibes here, especially with, you know, the way that Aaliyah Edwards came in as a rookie, what this could mean in terms of being able to maximize talent and maybe make a jump with a new coach. We'll see what happens next year. Speaking of maximizing talents and the draft, let's ask the next question. Janelle12 or Janelle Moore asks who should the Valkyries select with the fifth pick?

[Podcast Co-Host]

I think this goes along the same lines as the Washington Mystics and I think we're going to combine two questions here with one, Xena. That Golden State stands to be pretty active in free agency in mid January and February as they build out the rest of this roster. Right. They selected 11 players in the expansion draft. But I think, you know, as Sabrina and I talked about a couple weeks ago, I don't think either of us are expecting all 11 to be on the roster come opening night. When you factor in the kind of moves they can make in free agency, potentially targeting a lead guard, someone like a Jewel Lloyd, a Kelsey Plumb via trade or via free agency or just, you know, other kind of all star caliber players for a team that seemingly does want to compete in the short term, that then plays you forward to the draft. And then I think it's just a matter of what holes do you still have to fill on your roster and what high potential players can you build around. You know, one of the players that they drafted, Carla Late, a guard from France, you know, she's just 20, 21 years old. She was a first round pick of the Dallas Wings. It's unclear if she's going to come over to the WNBA this upcoming season. But that is also the kind of player that like if Golden State has the opportunity to pick in the first round, in the second round, in the third round, like those kind of high potential upside swings, I think those are worthwhile, especially if Golden State is able to kind of build out a roster that is able to compete in the short term. So like Washington, I think Golden State is just take the best player, take the player with the Highest upside look towards the future, really overall, as they look to, again, like, both compete, it seems like, and kind of straddle this line of competing in the short term, but also thinking big picture here.

Yeah. Just to add on to that, I think Golden State really needs to prioritize the future with its draft picks and not think about filling immediate holes because their free agency period is basically just going to be one year contracts. Like, they're not going to be able to sign anybody, I think, this offseason who's going to want to be on the team. Not to say to be on their team, but, like, want to sign a contract extending past the season just because of the institution of the new CBA in 2026. And players don't really want to get locked into contracts before the money starts to increase, theoretically in the new salary cap. But so that I'm looking at the Golden State Valkyries, like the team that they want to build for this year, I imagine will be accomplished during free agency. The team that they want to build for 2026 and going forward, that's where you look at the draft. So I think, like, the holes that they're trying to fill in the roster, I would imagine those get filled prior to the draft even.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, that actually kind of answers another question from Ken Kaufman about the aggression. He wanted to ask, you know, how aggressive do you envision the Valkyries being this off season in the free agency? So I hope, Ken, that gave you a little bit of insight into how the Valkyries might be able to attack it this year. Okay, we gotta close this out. We are so grateful for all these questions. And I gotta ask one more that actually came from one of our hosts, which was so sweet. You. You wanna know our thoughts? Ben, thank you. Thank you for including us. Ben asked, what's the biggest thing that we are curious about or looking out for when it comes to women's basketball next year, in 2025? Ben, I'm gonna ask you first, what is the biggest thing you're curious about or looking out for next year?

[Podcast Co-Host]

Yeah, there's really two things that I am most curious about in the WNBA context. It is what happens with the Caitlin Clark effect and the Indiana Fever, and what kind of leap are they able to take in year two of, you know, her being in the pro game and with Steph White. But I think more interestingly, I'm really interested in what viewership and what interest across women's college basketball is going to be like this March and April, because, you know, the Caitlin Clark Effect in college did not come out of nowhere. But I certainly think there were so many people who were captivated by women's college basketball in a way that they never were previously, you know, last February, last March and last April. And I do think there were obviously seeds of that boom that were kind of being planted and, like, ready to sprout and explode the way they did. But I still think, you know, even us on this, like, on this show right now, like, I think we're still even coming to terms with just how big of an explosion in interest women's basketball had in 2024. And so I'm just trying to think about, like, in 2025, is a similar boom going to happen? Is there a star that's going to come out of seemingly nowhere to just become a household name? Not that Clark came out of nowhere, but, like, just now become this preeminent figure in all of sports in a way that, you know, maybe they didn't before. So I think the toothpaste is kind of out of the tube overall in women's basketball in terms of interest and where the sport is growing. But, like, does what's the juice, what's the lift, what's the punch it still has in 2025, from, like, a business and interest standpoint, that's kind of the number one thing off court related that I am eager to see next year.

[Podcast Host]

I like the way you put that on court related. Off court related. I don't know if Chantel or Sabrina, you guys want to follow that format. I'll say on court related, absolutely. Very curious to see, like, the Valkyries take the court. And I'm not even just saying, like, basketball wise, but how they're received as a new team by their community in the league, what it looks like for them to join the league. We haven't seen a new team be a part of the WNBA since 2008. Like, it's been a long time. So very curious to see how that executes and folds off the court. I'm very curious to see improvement. I'm hoping to see improvement in the racialized context and conversation around women's basketball. It's just been ridiculous. It's been ridiculous. And now with the. With the interview that Caitlin Clark did, shutting down some of those things and seeing a lot of the people that used her as a character in the story that they created, that racialized women's basketball in a negative way move away from the sport, I'm wondering if what is left is going to be a better ecosystem in which women's basketball can be discussed and can be debated and can be celebrated in all ways. So I am looking out for an improvement in that and just a celebration of the league overall in a better way.

[Podcast Co-Host]

I feel like what Ben said is something that definitely resonates with me. Viewership numbers this year we just saw UConn Notre Dame set a record for regular season viewership this season. It peaked above 900,000 but had an average of 850,000 for like a regular season game. That, that's, that's pretty good. My, like on court, off court piece that I'm really interested in is like highly in the weeds. So I'll try to explain it really quickly. But it has to do with money, revenue sharing and nil. This is something that will be implemented thanks to a case settlement with the NCAA that happened over the last year. But basically the way that NIL happens is going to change moving forward and it could highly impact the way specifically women's basketball teams are affected. And it'll basically restrict the amount of money that teams have to spend on their, on their players. Like it is becoming more professionalized in the college level. Yeah. So you're basically going to have like salary caps, but not every team is going to have the same salary cap. It'll be dependent on how much their school wants to spend on women's basketball. And so teams within the same conference might have different amounts. Teams across conferences might have different amounts. NIL will be outside of this, but it will be regulated, if you can use that word, by the ncaa. We'll see how much oversight actually exists there. And if there are penalties for crossing the line. Tbd. Let's see what you got. Ncaa. But I guess without getting too much into the weeds, this feels like to me the next really big game changer in the women's college basketball world. And how we've seen player movement exist over the last few years with the transfer portal opening up and. And players having access to nil.

Yeah. So since Chantel went the college direction, I think I'll steer back in the pro lane. On court wise. I just, I want to know what the Las Vegas Aces look like after this disappointment of a 2024 season. I guess disappointment is a strong word considering they did make the WNBA semifinals and Asia Wilson put together possibly the greatest individual season in WNBA history. But back to back champions didn't want a third title. I want to know what that looks like going forward, especially with all of the changes happening in Las Vegas. Big picture, the WNBA has we Talked at length this offseason about all the firings that happened this year. Just a big institutional knowledge drain, I think, out of the league, whether that's for the better, for the worse. I'm curious to see what all of these new faces do to either change the direction of the league, if it looks more of the same, just what, what impact these new faces have. If it's going to be, you know, positive, if it's going to be a step back to lead to a step forward, I don't know. But just a lot of new people around and I wonder what they're able to do to change the direction of the league.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, it seems in all of these, particularly for the off the court type of things we're looking out for, it's turning points and it's turning points based off of the big boom that happened this past season in terms of viewership, engagement and just support of the WNBA and women's basketball overall. Lots of in there. Also unrivaled. Let's just be real. I want to see unrivaled. I want to see what this looks like as well. I'm going to add that in there for everyone that submitted a question like, if we didn't get to it, we apologize. We'll find a way to get to it in all our shows. This for the rest of this month and also going into future shows. But we just appreciate you guys tuning in, sharing those questions. Please continue to do so. Like, we want to make sure that we're talking about the things that you care about, but we're very grateful to be able to talk about these things. And also that's our gift to you this holiday season. Hopefully it's a good one and you don't think it's cheap. Alrighty. On behalf of Ben, Sabrina and Chantelle, I'm Zena Keda. As always, thanking you for your ear, encourage you go subscribe. All right. Not only to the pod, but also to the site. But most of all, encouraging you to keep listening, keep watching, keep learning and keep loving the game because that's the only way we're going to keep growing it. Happy holidays, guys. Until next time.

[Podcast Co-Host]

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[Podcast Host]

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Hey folks, it's Marc Maron from WTF. It's been more than 15 years now, and I'm still talking to all kinds of people in my garage every week. Sometimes it's Bill Burr, sometimes it's Ariana Grande. She just looks at me because she's.

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Always going like, dad, it's not that big a deal.

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Yeah, I go, sorry, I lost my temper. I go, I still love you. You know, Daddy has issues.

[Podcast Host]

Are you afraid of issues of death?

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Well, I don't.

I think about it all the time.

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How are we here already?

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Listen to WTF with Marc Maron twice a week on your favorite podcast app. Or get more WTF with a WTF plus subscription. Just go to wtfpod.com and click on WTF Plus.

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