Thursday, October 15, 2020

Practices continue, with 41 days until the season

College team news:


Michigan State has begun practices.


Some five-star additions are expected to boost Minnesota.


Vanderbilt is poised for new beginnings.


Alabama has begun practice.


UC Santa Barbara is shooting for success.


College player news:


Indiana junior Aleska Gulbe has a different COVID tale.


Alexis Sevillian is ready to lead Iowa this year.


Evina Westbrook is embracing the big sister role for the Huskies.


UConn freshman Paige Bueckers already has a huge following.


Bueckers is set to build a new resume with the Huskies.


Heralded Maryland transfer Olivia Owens has been granted immediate eligibility at Kentucky.


New Mexico transfer Jayla Everett is immediately eligible at Pitt.


Oklahoma senior guard Ana Llanusa will miss the season due to injury.


College coach news:


South Carolina coach Dawn Staley hopes her team finishes what they couldn't last season.


At the top of Staley's list is replacing two Gamecock greats.


Geno Auriemma is constantly evolving at UConn.


Lynne Roberts is rolling with all COVID matters at Utah has begun practices.


Interview with Mississippi coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin.


Niele Ivey is carrying on Muffet McGraw's legacy at Notre Dame, while building her own.


The Kara Lawson era is officially underway at Duke.


NCAA news:


Portland's Final Four bid miss is just the start of the story.


WNBA news:


Glossier's new product launch includes WNBA players.


Sue Bird said the lack of fans at the Storm's Championship game made it "not quite as fun."


Bridget Carleton is using her breakout season in the league as a stepping stone to the Olympics.


The challenger for Kelly Loeffler's seat praised the courage of WNBA players.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Tampa and Phoenix named Final Four hosts for 2025 and 2026

NCAA news:


For 2025 and 2026, the Final Four will be in Tampa and Phoenix, respectively.


Division I winter sport athletes will be granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA.


A council proposal will expand the DI transfer exception.


A survey has found that college coaches and athletes feel racism is an issue everywhere, and they feel compelled to act.


College team news:


Despite the challenges, UCLA is grateful to begin the season.


Nine burning issues as Syracuse begins practice.


Expectations are high for Indiana.


The Gophers are in good hands with their sophomore guards.


Minnesota will have a different look this season.


Georgia Tech has a renovated locker room.


A new season brings a healthier outlook for Michigan State.


Five questions facing UConn.


Florida State has the same mentality under new circumstances.


JMU expects to contend for the CAA title.


Illinois State is catching up.


College player news:


Players talk about mental health through the COVID-19 crisis.


Iowa's captains are keeping morale high.


Mardrekia Cook's return will be a boost for the Spartans.


Stephanie Watts is ready for her final season at North Carolina.


Three sophomore captains are poised to lead Toledo.


UConn freshman Paige Bueckers is warming to coach Geno Auriemma's trash talk.


An Arkansas radio host was fired for derogatory remarks about a Razorback player.


College coach news:


Dawn Staley says South Carolina is losing all its big games to the pandemic rescheduling.


Orange coach Quentin Hillsman stays safe and makes a fashion statement at the same time.


North Carolina A&T coach Tarrell Robinson is coping with a new team and a pandemic.


Jonathan Tsipis is excited about Wisconsin's potential in his fifth year there.


Lynne Roberts is optimistic about Utah's season.


Duke coach Kara Lawson talks about the team's first practice today.


WNBA news:


The WNBA was honored today for its social justice work.


The Dallas Wings and coach Brian Agler have mutually agreed to part ways.


Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve already likes her roster, which could get better in the offseason.


Candace Parker has returned to her "semi-normal life."


The league's most underrated players.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

First official practice for most college teams begins tomorrow

College team news:


Duke notebook.


LSU is attacking the season head on, together.


A cluster of COVID-19 cases at UNC Greensboro has shut down practices.


College player news:


The bonds of Penn State's sophomores are leading to culture changes on and off the court.


Three player keys to success for Syracuse.


SIU's guards are versatile.


Notre Dame forward Danielle Cosgrove will take a leave of absence to address mental health issues.


Ruby Porter's Husker diary.


College coach news:


Catching up with Duquesne coach Dan Burt.


LSU coach Nikki Fargas is optimistic, despite uncertainty around the season.


With Minnesota's practices set to start, Lindsay Whalen is energized.


Kennesaw State coach Agnus Berenato has stepped down while she battles cancer.


Interview with ETSU assistant coach Britney Snowden.


College conference news:


The majority of athletic leaders in the Power 5 schools favor an NCAA sports restructuring.


NCAA news:


The NCAA will introduce a one-time transfer exception proposal that would allow college athletes to transfer one time without sitting out a season.


Final Four:


Could Phoenix and Portland emerge as winners in their Final Four bids?


WNBA news:


The growth of their young players will force the Mystics to make some tough financial decisions next year.


Kiara Leslie's defense should get her a bigger role next year.


T'ea Cooper on her journey into the WNBA.


Maryland's pipeline of pro talent shined in the bubble.


Kelly Loeffler's fight with the WNBA is backfiring.


Bonus:


Catching up with two-time gold medalist Katrina McClain.


From no team to Tournament bids, these three Michigan fans have seen it all.


Former Wolverine Veronica Peterson created a voting app.

Sunday, October 4, 2020

Storm claim Game 2 to go 2-0 in the Finals series

Seattle vaulted past the Aces, 104-91, to take a 2-0 Finals series lead.


The Storm kept setting records today.


Seattle is closing in on another Championship.


Why Sue Bird and the Storm are one win away from a fourth title.


Can Seattle close out?


The Aces have fallen into a 2-0 hole.

All-WNBA teams named

The league has announced its first and second All-WNBA teams:


First team


A'ja Wilson

Candace Parker

Breanna Stewart

Courtney Vandersloot

Arike Ogunbowale


Second team


Diana Taurasi

DeWanna Bonner

Napheesa Collier

Skylar Diggins-Smith

Myisha Hines-Allen


No Alyssa Thomas? And who was the lone person who didn't think Breanna Stewart should be on the first team?

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Finals eve

Playoffs news:


Finals preview, and in depth.


The match up is set.


It will be a showdown between the league's two best teams.


What you need to know.


How each team got here.


Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart look to lift Seattle over Las Vegas for their fourth title.


Bird feature.


It will be a battle of the MVPs.


The Storm know nothing will come easy in the series.


A fourth title would cap a thrilling and exhausting year for Seattle.


The Storm are leaning on experience.


Three keys to victory for the Aces.


How Las Vegas can win without Dearica Hamby.


ESPN will air most of the games.


Predicting who will win Storm-Aces and why.


WNBA team news:


The Sun's deep postseason run bodes well for their future.


Connecticut pushed the limits of winning, losing and playing in pain.


The Fever are sticking to the plan after a difficult season.


WNBA player news:


Candice Dupree talks about her time in the bubble.


Diana Taurasi unsigned and Brittney Griner unsettled for the Mercury this year.


Kamiah Smalls' journey to becoming a WNBA player.


WNBA news:


Viewership rose a whopping 68 percent this year.


WNBA commissioner news:


League commissioner Cathy Engelbert says the pipeline is there for more diversity in hiring.


College team news:


Arizona can't wait to bring back their fans.


A look at the Wildcat roster.


UConn is ready to expect the unexpected.


College coach news:


Siena coach Ali Jaques is happy with her team.


Former Morgan State star Corin Adams has joined Loyola Maryland's men's basketball staff, and is the second woman in Division I to be an assistant coach on the men's side.