Story lines have the suspense building

College team news:

Expectations are high throughout the Pac-12.

Five reasons why Oregon is the favorite to win the title.

Boise State is picked to win the Mountain West title.

Mississippi is preparing for the season.

How UConn's newcomers fit in.

Michigan State is building off of powerful chemistry.

Young Weber State is gearing for growth and a tough schedule.

Washington State has two big stars and many risers.

College player news:

Sabrina Ionescu, Lauren Cox, Chennedy Carter, Beatrice Mompremier and Kaila Charles are the AP's preseason All-American team.

Ionescu is coming for the title.

Ionescu reacts to a young boy dressed as her for Halloween.

Kentucky's Rhyne Howard is a humble star in an age of exhibitionists.

Jack of all trades Moira Joiner is making her presence felt for the Spartans.

The NCAA denied Destiny Littleton's transfer waiver to South Carolina, and both player and coach are devastated.

Junior center Eva Rubin is transferring from Arizona State.

Senior Mikayla Christian is leaving Nevada.

College coach news:

DeUnna Hendrix is set to begin her first season as Miami Ohio's coach.

The Michael Meek era has tipped at Portland.

Former Binghamton coach Elizabeth Naumvoski won a settlement in her case against the school for discrimination.

WNBA news:

What's really at stake in the CBA negotiations.

Lindsay Whalen will be inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame.

Some teams looking at big seasons

College team news:

Oregon is ready to work on that Unfinished Business.

South Dakota is positioned for a special season.

Rutgers looks to stay in Big Ten contention.

Arizona talks expectations for the year.

How will BYU overcome the loss of Shaylee Gonzales?

With all the pieces finally in place, Alabama looks to take a big step forward.

Penn State guard preview.

SIU could go 10 deep this season.

The College of Charleston is building a winning culture.

What to know about the Big Ten.

Two DII teams took down DI teams on the same night.

College player news:

Baylor's Lauren Cox is using the basketball spotlight to inspire her sister and other diabetics.

The NCAA has denied Oregon State's Kat Tudor a redshirt season.

Will Evina Westbrook play for UConn this year?

Sophomore Aquira DeCosta is leaving Baylor and entering the transfer portal.

Six potential Naismith players of the year.

College coach news:

Oregon's Kelly Graves talks about his No. 1 Ducks and the upcoming season.

Longtime Villanova coach Harry Perretta will retire at the end of the season.

AP top 25 preseason rankings has Oregon on top

AP top 25 preseason rankings:

1 Oregon (25) 697 33-5 7
2 Baylor (3) 675 37-1 1
3 Stanford 631 31-5 6
4 Maryland 596 29-5 9
5 UConn 569 35-3 2
6 Texas A&M 554 26-8 14
7 Oregon State 525 26-8 11
8 South Carolina 518 23-10 15
9 Louisville 477 32-4 5
10 Mississippi State 443 33-3 4
11 UCLA 380 22-13 20
12 Florida State 354 24-9 25
13 Kentucky 342 25-8 17
14 N.C. State 320 28-6 10
15 Texas 303 23-10 23
16 Notre Dame 290 35-4 3
17 Michigan State 205 21-12 NR
T-18 DePaul 174 26-8 24
T-18 Miami 174 25-9 19
20 Arizona State 118 22-11 22
21 Syracuse 103 25-9 12
22 Arkansas 93 22-15 NR
23 Minnesota 90 21-11 NR
24 Indiana 86 21-13 NR
25 Michigan 77 22-12 NR

One week to go

One week from today, college basketball season begins (!!!!)

College team news:

ESPN's Power 5 predictions.

SEC coaches have picked Texas A&M to win the conference this season.

VCU is the A-10 favorite.

South Dakota State is aiming for another NCAA Tournament run.

Missouri State preview.

How and why Ball State ended up with two freshmen from Spain.

Arizona notebook.

Rice holds high expectations heading into the year.

Wisconsin looks to build on last year's Big Ten Tournament success.

What the Sooners said at media day.

Idaho State is battling an uncommon uncertainty.

College player news:

The top four rebounders in college hoops are back for the year.

The Cox sisters will face off in Baylor's Type I Diabetes Awareness game.

Gabby Gregory is making an immediate impact for Oklahoma.

College coach news:

Tara VanDerveer previews Stanford's season.

Cincinnati coach Michelle Clark-Heard begins her second season with an established culture.

Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell has donated $1 million to a park in Lexington.

What we learned about Kellie Harper from Tennessee's exhibition game.

The Megan Duffy era has begun at Marquette.

Deb Patterson has joined Kamie Ethridge's staff at Washington State.

NCAA news:

The NCAA has cleared the way for athletes to profit from their names, images and likenesses.

But some say, don't be fooled.

Key questions.

Former Ohio State great Jantel Lavender has joined the Big Ten broadcast team.

WNBA news:

Natalie Achonwa has won the season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award.

Erica Wheeler can't be stopped.

The Golden State Warriors will honor the most powerful couple in sports: Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe.

Gushing news

Feels like we're finally getting into the swing of things........

College team news:

Baylor are the favorites to win their tenth straight Big 12 title.

Pac-12 predictions.

Deep, talented Maryland are favorites to win the Big Ten.

Louisville looks to continue their climb up the ACC ladder.

Notre Dame faces a big rebuild after back-to-back title runs.

Purdue beat the Irish in a closed scrimmage Saturday.

UConn needs role players to step up this season.

Oregon State is ready for a "dream team" challenge and a big season.

Boise State returns hungry after last year's record-breaking season.

Tennessee preview: back court.

Meet Nebraska.

Can Bucknell hold on to the Patriot League's top spot?

North Dakota State begins a new chapter.

Charleston Southern faces big challenges this season.

College player news:

This season's top returning passers.

Sabrina Ionescu returns for her final season and chase for the title.

All heart and soul, Haley Gorecki can make Duke history this year.

The versatility of Leaonna Odom makes her the best choice to run the Blue Devil offense.

This senior tandem has stepped into a leadership role at DePaul.

Ana Llanusa and Mandy Simpson are looking to fill big roles for Oklahoma.

Llanusa is benefiting from a clean bill of health.

Kendall Grasela is stepping up for Penn.

Poised and confident, Kayla Belles is ready to make a bigger impact for Michigan State.

Taylor Jones had an impressive debut for Oregon State yesterday.

How Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw is living out her dream playing for Iowa State.

College coach news:

Kellie Harper is set to make her debut as Lady Vols coach.

College conference news:

The SEC enters the season without a true post player.

NCAA news:

2019-2020 NCAA Tournament dates and schedule.

The NCAA meets tomorrow to consider allowing athletes to profit from endorsements.

WNBA news:

The WNBPA and WNBA have extended the current CBA to Dec. 31 as negotiations for a new contract continue.

Oregon sits atop ESPN's preseason top 25

Interesting rankings to start the year:

1. Oregon
2. Baylor
3. UConn
4. Stanford
5. Maryland
6. Oregon State
7. Louisville
8. South Carolina
9. Texas A&M
10. Mississippi State
11. Florida State
12. UCLA
13. NC State
14. Kentucky
15. Texas
16. Notre Dame
17. Minnesota
18. Miami
19. Arizona
20. Arkansas
21. DePaul
22. Drake
23. Michigan
24. Indiana
25. Tennessee

Slim pickings

College team news:

UAlbany is ready to take the next step.

College player news:

Australian guard Jessie Rennie is a savvy guard for the Lady Vols.

Duke player previews: Emily Schubert and Uchenna Nwoke.

Maddy McVicar does what's needed for UMaine.

College coach news:

Geno Auriemma says WBB "blew it" by not moving the three-point line back.

Days until the season: 10

College team news:

Rebuilding Notre Dame opens the way for Louisville and NC State in the ACC.

Oregon State expects to have a "really fun" year.

Maryland looks to meet lofty expectations.

A youth movement is underway at Ohio State.

College player news:

Destiny Slocum is settling in as a junior at Oregon State.

Virginia center Felica Aiyeotan has ended her career after being diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder.

Denver transfer Grace White's waiver has been granted, and she is immediately eligible to play at Valpo.

College coach news:

Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell put on a full concert today prior to the school's match up with Missouri.

Geno Auriemma would like to de-emphasize three-pointers in women's basketball.

Recruiting news:

UConn recruit Aaliyah Edwards is just like any other player, until she steps on to the court.

WNBA player news:

Jewell Loyd never let dyslexia define her.

Evolving stories

College team news:

Observations after Missouri's season-opening scrimmage.

Observations after Maryland's exhibition rout.

Indiana is stacked with guards.

Vanderbilt has enough talent to win, but will they?

Alabama wants to end a 20-year NCAA Tournament drought.

VCU wants to replicate last year's success.

College player news:

Kentucky hopes that Rhyne Howard's versatility will make her impossible to stop.

Meet the Wildcat roster.

College coach news:

Carolyn Kieger hopes to make Penn State great again.

Wright State coach Katrina Merriweather has players prepared for bigger roles.

WNBA news:

From money to media, disparities exist in every fact of the game.

The Seattle Storm will soon have a new home, with some sacrifice.

USA Basketball news:

Family and basketball are inseparable for Nneka Ogwumike.

Lisa Leslie Award preseason watch list

The top 20 centers to watch:

Bayley Plummer, Appalachian State

Queen Egbo, Baylor

Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Connecticut

Jade Williams, Duke

Kristin Scott, Iowa State

Kayla Cooper-Williams, James Madison

Shakira Austin, Maryland

Beatrice Mompremier, Miami

Elissa Cunane, NC State

Kate Cain, Nebraska

Janelle Bailey, North Carolina

Eleah Parker, Penn

Ae'Rianna Harris, Purdue

Nancy Mulkey, Rice

Aliyah Boston, South Carolina

Maya Dodson, Stanford

Charli Collier, Texas

Ciera Johnson, Texas A&M

Brittany Brewer, Texas Tech

Mariella Fasoula, Vanderbilt

Increasing news fodder

College team news:

ESPN's preseason mid-major rankings has Drake at No. 1.

Big East play looks to be intense.

Once again, the Big Sky is anyone's to win.

UConn is adjusting to having zero All-Americans.

A new offense meets a new era for Iowa, who has new uniforms this year.

Michigan is pushing for a breakthrough year.

Western Illinois returns after an offseason overhaul.

College player news:

Pile up on highway J: the name game at Duke.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa is the key to the season for UConn.

The Lady Vols are happy Jordan Horston is still with the program.

Ranking five potential impact newcomers for Tennessee.

Hawkeye forward Amanda Ollinger is ready for a starting role, while Kate Martin is commanding respect. And the Meyer sister act will be a first for the program.

Jaiden McCoy's bumpy basketball ride is set smoother with the Lady Vols this year.

College coach news:

Muffet McGraw on unintended consequences.

Carolyn Kieger is bringing culture to the start of her tenure at Penn State.

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder hopes for another big year of attendance, and she talked about expectations on media day.

An NCAA waiver is allowing Makayla Waterman to return to Ohio State as part of the coaching staff.

Bonus:

Q&A with Debbie Antonelli.

The coach behind a fearless Great Britain team.

Katrina McClain Award preseason watch list

The power forward top 20:

Cate Reese, Arizona

Unique Thompson, Auburn

Lauren Cox, Baylor

Summer Hemphill, Buffalo

Sara Rhine, Drake

Leaonna Odom, Duke

Kiah Gillespie, Florida State

Peyton Williams, Kansas State

Ayana Mitchell, LSU

Stephanie Jones, Maryland

Naz Hillmon, Michigan

Taiye Bello, Minnesota

Ruthy Hebard, Oregon

Brooklyn McDavid, Pacific

Eleah Parker, Pennsylvania

Bella Alarie, Princeton

Francesca Belibi, Stanford

Joyner Holmes, Texas

N'dea Jones, Texas A&M

Hanna Crymble, Vermont

Preseason polls abound

College team news:

New faces, same mission for Louisville in the post-Asia Durr era.

Baylor may be the favorite in the Big 12, but the battle for positioning after that will be fierce.

Penn State media day cookbook.

Momentum is hard to carry for Gonzaga.

Five things to know as App State opens the season.

Northern Kentucky looks to build on last season's momentum.

Penn and Princeton are tied atop the Ivy League preseason poll.

Full poll.

UC Irvine and UC Davis top the Big West poll.

NEC poll.

College player news:

Meet the Louisville Cardinals.

Shadeen Samuels is set to lead Seton Hall.

La Salle's Kate Hill has 75 pairs of sneakers.

College coach news:

Big 12 coaches prepare for a strenuous conference slate.

WNBA news:

How the USA's female pro players are missing out on mental health services.

The pro gender pay gap is the perfect business problem, says new WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

Nneka Ogwumike on WNBA misconceptions and salary discrepancy.

What do the Liberty need to consider in their head coach search?

Before she went overseas to play, Ariel Atkins returned to her Texas high school to inspire the next generation of players.

Bonus:

Jenna Schroeder is now the fourth woman on an NBA referee staff.

Cheryl Miller Award preseason watch list

It will be a tough choice for this award:

DiDi Richards, Baylor

Megan Walker, Connecticut

Chante Stonewall, DePaul

Francesca Pan, Georgia Tech

Ashley Joens, Iowa State

Rhyne Howard, Kentucky

Kaila Charles, Maryland

Courtney Woods, Northern Illinois

Sam Brunelle, Notre Dame

Ana Llanusa, Oklahoma

Vivian Gray, Oklahoma State

Satou Sabally, Oregon

Mikayla Pivec, Oregon State

Shadeen Samuels, Seton Hall

DiJonai Carrington, Stanford

Mia Davis, Temple

Rennia Davis, Tennessee

Kayla Wells, Texas A&M

Michaela Onyenwere, UCLA

Borislava Hristova, Washington State

Season countdown: 14 days to go

College team news:

Kentucky opens the season with talent and experience.

Lots in the UConn notebook.

Creighton held off NAIA champs Concordia in two OTs, in their exhibition game.

VCU is gearing for the season.

College player news:

Baylor's Lauren Cox is looking good after last spring's Championship game injury.

Kentucky's Rhyne Howard has big goals for the upcoming season.

What can Howard do for an encore? She envisions dunking in a game.

Villanova's Mary Gedaka has pivoted into a big-time career.

College coach news:

The science of scheduling: how coaches approach an unheralded task.

Texas coach Karen Aston is rejuvenated.

Cal coach Charmin Smith learns from Muay Thai boxing.

Miami coach Katie Meier says her team is scrappy, and plays their tails off.

Bonus:

Sheryl Swoopes on being the first woman to have a signature athletic shoe.

Candace Parker reflects on returning to basketball 53 days after the birth of her daughter.

Some of the women in NBA jobs this year.

Women's influence in men's pro basketball is growing.

Anne Meyers Drysdale Award preseason watch list

Twenty on the list for this award:

Aari McDonald, Arizona

Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas

Juicy Landrum, Baylor

Christyn Williams, Connecticut

Lauren Loven, Denver

Becca Hittner, Drake

Haley Gorecki, Duke

Kathleen Doyle, Iowa

Taylor Mikesell, Maryland

Destiny Pitts, Minnesota

Aislinn Konig, NC State

Lindsey Pulliam, Northwestern

Taylor Robertson, Oklahoma

Minyon Moore, Oregon

Erica Ogwumike, Rice

Kiana Williams, Stanford

Stephanie Watts, USC

Jocelyn Willoughby, Virginia

Amber Melgoza, Washington

Tynice Martin, West Virginia

Picking up steam

College team news:

Preseason bracketology.

How the Pac-12 could make history with three No. 1 seeds.

Maryland has been picked to win the Big Ten title.

Arkansas stories, part II.

Nebraska is seeing the benefits of a summer trip to Europe.

Five observations from Duke's blue-white exhibition game.

The Blue Devils showed off a fast-paced offense.

Colorado State is ready to rebound after a tough season.

Notre Dame is reloading.

The Irish completed the military's "The Program" to build teamwork.

Three questions for Iowa State.

Duquesne is embracing the unknown.

Creighton must replace Audrey Faber.

Northern Iowa preview.

The Panthers are embracing higher expectations.

Bradley season preview.

College player news:

TeTe Maggett will lead Illinois State.

How Buffalo's Jessica Schiffer recruited her coach and herself.

Virginia Tech senior guard Kendyl Brooks had season-ending hip surgery.

College coach news:

Changes and additions for Rutgers.

Arizona coach Adia Barnes provided a spark for "Girl Power Day."

WNBA news:

Elena Delle Donne will miss Team USA's four exhibition games with injury.

Bonus:

Pregnancy and motherhood are bad for the sports business.

Nancy Lieberman Award preseason watch list

Twenty point guards to watch for the upcoming season.

Te'a Cooper, Baylor

Crystal Dangerfield, Connecticut

Kelly Campbell, DePaul

Nicole Cardano-Hillary, George Mason

Ali Patberg, Indiana

Lauren Dickerson, Miami-Ohio

Cierra Hooks, Ohio

Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon

Destiny Slocum, Oregon State

Stella Johnson, Rider

Tyasha Harris, South Carolina

Tiana England, St. John's

Sug Sutton, Texas

Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M

Miyah Barnes, UAB

Kay Kay Wright, UCF

Japreece Dean, UCLA

Dru Gylten, Utah

Taja Cole, Virginia Tech

Chloe Wanink, Wofford

Just a whiff

College team news:

Ten facts heading into WCC play.

Gonzaga showed off its new roster at fan fest.

College player news:

Charisma Osborne is ready for a new journey at UCLA.

Top-ranked recruit Chasity Patterson is looking for a career launch at Kentucky.

Raven Johnson's goal is to go get the ball for East Carolina.

WNBA player news:

Brittney Griner is a slam dunk for a spot in LGBTQ sports history.

Kelsey Plum was back at the University of Washington this weekend and talked about her career.

Another day, another way

College team news:

UConn reveled in their tipoff event last night.

A tradition in the making? The Gamecocks went outside and under the lights for their tipoff event.

Colorado is excited about their youth.

USC season preview.

North Dakota State season preview.

Portland State is gearing for the year.

Examining the bottom half of the WCC.

College coach news:

Duke's assistant coaches are fire and ice.

WNBA news:

The Liberty are aiming for a family atmosphere as they begin their coaching search.

Skylar Diggins-Smith says she played the entire 2018 season pregnant.

A look at what could be the fracture between the Wings and Diggins-Smith.

Injured Jantel Lavender has turned her misfortune into opportunity.

Standout previews

College team news:

Maryland: three things to watch this season.

A talented freshman class is already making waves for the Terps.

Arkansas is savoring its progress.

Tennessee is trying to catch up with the top SEC teams.

Alabama is healthy and has more depth.

College player news:

From menace to leader: Kiah Gillespie's maturation at Florida State.

Naz Hillmon and the importance of the sixth player.

Jade Thurmon is a potential playmaker for Iowa State.

Vanderbilt has lost Kaleigh Clemons-Green for the season, for unspecified reasons.

Maryland freshman Ashley Owusu was lucky surviving an accident in her last year of high school.

The NCAA has approved Kallie Searcy's waiver for Chattanooga, giving her immediate eligibility.

Grace Berg is ready to play for Drake, when the NCAA allows it.

WNBA news:

Looking towards 2020.

WNBA team news:

The Liberty's move to the Barclay Center provides a boost to the entire league.

The Atlanta Dream's new home court is Gateway Center Arena in College Park.

The franchise also has rebranded with a new logo.

WNBA player news:

The Lynx suspended Odyssey Sims for the first two games of the 2020 season following her DWI guilty plea and sentencing yesterday.

Kristi Toliver and a thing called confidence.

Storylines unfolding

College team news:

Maryland's freshman won't have to wait to contribute.

Texas A&M is primed for a big season.

Green Bay and Wright State are co-favorites in the Horizon League.

FGCU is the ASUN first pick.

Rice is tabbed to top C-USA.

Missouri State feels disrespected by the MVC poll.

College player news:

Tyasha Harris is ready to lead South Carolina, and get hers on offense.

The Gamecocks have 10 legit starters, and every freshman stands out.

Naz Hillmon is ready to be a star for Michigan.

Emily Engstler is prepped for a bigger role at Syracuse.

Transfer Marta Sniezek is already a leading voice for Notre Dame.

Kentucky's smallest player, Jaida Roper, will be a big presence this season.

Oregon State's freshman are getting up to speed.

It's been a busy offseason for Duke's Miela Goodchild.

Terp freshman Zoe Young is remaining positive despite her ACL tear.

College coach news:

Quentin Hillsman won't be scheduling Rhode Island anytime soon.

Coaching is an unexpected second career for Delisha Milton-Jones.

The SEC's stability underscores a challenge for Tennessee coach Kellie Harper.

Quinnipiac coach Tricia Fabbri is ready to test her young team.

WNBA team news:

The New York Liberty's new home arena is the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, it was announced today.

WNBA player news:

Odyssey Sims pleaded guilty to DWI and was given 10 days of house arrest.

Bonus:

The USBWA has named their freshman of the year award in honor of Tamika Catchings.

Women are affecting change in the NBA in various roles.

More preseason prognostications

College team news:

With their vaunted freshman class, Missouri enters a new era.

Five things to know about Michigan coming off another NCAA Tournament run.

The Wolverines are trying to take the next step and compete in the tourney.

Colorado is motivated to start the season.

SIU has maturity, confidence and depth.

Louisville is the ACC favorite for the year.

Syracuse is lagging in the ACC poll.

UMaine has been picked to finish first in the America East Conference.

College player news:

Thirteen of the best moments of Sabrina Ionescu's career so far.

Kaila Charles will lead the way for Maryland.

Notre Dame's frehman duo looks to make an immediate impact.

Maryland freshman Zoe Young has torn her ACL and is out for the season.

College coach news:

Muffet McGraw doubts the pay to play act will help women. I agree 100 percent.

USA Basketball news:

The US 3X3 team lost to Brazil in overtime, dashing their gold medal hopes.

WNBA player news:

Elena Delle Donne dropped the ceremonial puck at the Washington Capitals game tonight.

Bria Holmes relished her first season with Connecticut.

UConn prepared Morgan Tuck for the Sun's title chase.

WNBA coach news:

The New York Liberty will not renew the contract of Katie Smith.

Who will rule the SEC this year?

College conference news:

A panel of voters has tabbed South Carolina as this year's SEC champions, followed by Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Auburn, LSU, Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.

Can see the Gamecocks coming out on top. Arkansas fifth and Tennessee sixth?

College team news:

New-look Notre Dame is getting used to changes.

Expectations remain high for the Irish.

Oregon is unfazed by high expectations.

Drake is ready to take the next step this year.

Iowa State is moving on after lost leadership.

Arizona State is renaming its home court Desert Financial Arena.

College player news:

Lauren Cox is poised to lead Baylor back to the top.

At the end of this season, Satou Sabally will have the option to forego her senior season for the WNBA.

UConn can be good if Crystal Dangerfield is great.

Kiara Lewis is ready to run the show for Syracuse.

College coach news:

Despite losing key seniors, coach Robin Pingeton says Missouri isn't rebuilding.

DoBee and Theresa Plaisance: a story of family hoops.

New Xavier coach Melanie Moore has a plan to turn the program around.

USA Basketball news:

The USA's 3X3 team trounced Russia, 22-3, to go undefeated into the quarterfinals of the World Beach Games.

WNBA news:

The CBA is the chief priority for the league this offseason.

Euroleague primer: where your favorite WNBA players will be overseas this winter.

Elena Delle Donne threw out the first pitch in tonight's Washington Nationals game.

Chelsea Gray spoke to women in the military today.

22 days until college season

College team news:

Despite being favorites in the AAC, UConn faces challenges.

The Huskies are in a state of flux.

With a reloaded roster, West Virginia has their sights set on the NCAA Tournament.

College player news:

New Lobo Jordan Hosey is adjusting to mile-high elevation and expectations.

Braxtin Miller's transfer to Ohio State is a homecoming.

Evina Westbrook is waiting to hear from the NCAA on her transfer waiver.

College coach news:

Tara VanDerveer on Charmin Smith: "very precise."

Memphis coach Melissa McFerrin says the team is "functioning normally right now."

Kansas State and Kansas coaches are joining together to provide a coaching clinic.

A documentary on longtime Montana coach Robin Selvig will pull the heartstrings.

High school news:

Natalija Marshall is ready to be Christ the King's newest star.

International news:

Canberra Capitals update.

The Boomers and Flyers are chasing big improvements.

The sky is the limit for Kia Nurse.

WNBA coach news:

Cheryl Reeve has agreed to a new three-year contract with the Lynx.

Low-key Sunday

USA Basketball news:

USA's 3X3 team opened the World Beach Games with a pair of wins.

WNBA player news:

Alexis Jones underwent a successful knee procedure.

College coach news:

Nell Fortner is back on the sidelines teaching and coaching.

WNBA 2019: looking ahead after a unique season

Season summary, and what's ahead.

Quieting down

Two nights removed from the Championship game, and the news is slow.........gotta rest up for college season, in 24 days.

WNBA team news:

The Sun's suffering now will make winning in the future even more sweet.

WNBA player news:

Elena Delle Donne is celebrated by her former high school.

Tina Charles has earned another special honor.

College coach news:

Matthew Mitchell danced to "Old Town Road" at last night's Kentucky Blue Madness.

Courtney Banghart has settled in at North Carolina as practices commence.

The day after

More on the WNBA Championship:

Recap.

Photos.

Bruised and battered, but never broken, the Mystics ran it back to a Championship.

Washington's path to the title began in July with a face mask.

From league laughingstocks to champs: a Mystics timeline.

Elena Delle Donne played with three herniated discs.

Already a legend, she displayed legendary toughness.

Emma Meesseman was the missing piece.

Washington proved that social justice work doesn't preclude WNBA titles.

The Mystics rode their confidence to a Championship.

The win involved several former Terrapins.

Father and son rose to a title.

Washington celebrated today with a rally.

They have to skip the parade due to overseas commitments.

The parade will be in the spring.

Inside the Connecticut locker room after Game 5.

The Sun hope to rise again in 2020, and they look to reload.

The team transformed this season.

Despite their Finals loss, Connecticut showed they belong on the big stage, and they are just getting started.

The Finals appearance marked the arrival of Curt Miller.

WNBA player news:

Could Candace Parker accelerate the Sky's ascension?

College team news:

DePaul tops the Big East preseason poll.

Furman has been tapped to win the Southern Conference.

Siena is optimistic entering the season.

College player news:

Adriana Camber is Iowa State's oldest and newest starter.

College coach news:

Coach Quentin Hillsman is irked by lowered expectations for Syracuse.

Washington Mystics are 2019 WNBA Champions

The Mystics rallied past the Sun, 89-78, to win their first WNBA Championship.

The Mystics and Elena Delle Donne finally won a title, for the first time in franchise history.

Emma Meesseman is Finals MVP.

College coach news:

An investigation by Memphis revealed coach Melissa McFerrin made inappropriate comments and fostered a lack of trust culture.

The administration is also to blame.

College coach news:

Q&A with Buffalo coach Felisha Legette-Jack.

Bonus:

Female athletes will be the main benefactors of the Fair Pay to Play Act.

Someone will be cutting down nets tomorrow

Game 5:

Will this be the best Game 5 ever?

Preview for this deciding game.

A winner-take-all game is what the WNBA and this Sun-Mystics series deserves.

Washington's plan for tomorrow is simple: be themselves.

The Mystics want to block out the noise and close out the Championship.

Natasha Cloud guaranteed Washington will win the title.

Connecticut is embracing their underdog status.

Courtney Williams has stepped up her game.

Maryland coach Brenda Frese calls this Finals a dream come true.

About Game 4:

Washington almost came all the way back, thanks to their bench.

Bonus:

The WNBA needs perspective.

College team news:

The Lady Vols are working to make their fresh start successful.

Preseason Big 12 awards.

College player news:

Jade Thurmon could be the X-factor for Iowa State.

Noelle Mannen has found an unexpected home with Oregon State.

Kentucky freshman Deasia Merrill has torn her ACL and is out for the season.

NCAA bonus:

How the AP preseason poll predicts success in the college game.

USA Basketball news:

Team USA will play for college teams in a November tour.

Connecticut holds off Washington to force a Game 5

What a game, what a night:

A big third quarter got Washington out of a deficit, and Connecticut barely held them off, 90-86.

It was the Sun's fast start and big finish that got them the win.

Connecticut continued the first quarter trend of this series.

The Mystics couldn't complete their rally, and hence, Game 5.

WNBA player news:

Believe the hype: Courtney Williams feeds off her dad's energy.

College team news:

Gonzaga is ahead of schedule but still searching for a leader.

Towson welcomes the pressure to compete in the CAA.

Pitt aims to be scrappy in coach Lance White's second year.

Is this a Championship day?

Pre-game 4 hype:

Why the first 10 minutes might be the most important of Game 4.

The Mystics are determined to win a Championship.

Emma Meesseman is Washington's not-so-secret weapon.

Three keys for a Connecticut victory.

Courtney Williams is the key to the Sun extending the Finals.

Natisha Hiedeman is getting Finals experience with her former coach watching.

College team news:

UCLA enters the season with a strong sense of identity.

College coach news:

Bill Fennelly has a big task in front of him at Iowa State as he enters his 25th year of coaching.

Adia Barnes enters the season with higher expectations.

Game 4: ready to rumble

Game 4 tomorrow:

Preview.

Elena Delle Donne will play in Game 4 despite her back injury.

Her presence in Game 3 gave her team an emotional lift.

The Mystics want to clinch in Connecticut for coach Mike Thibault.

Film study: Washington's three-point shooting.

SunCast: Finals edition.

Jasmine Thomas discusses the Sun's adjustments for Game 4.

WNBA player news:

Delle Donne says having a herniated disc feels like having a pole up her back.

Elena Delle Donne's determination was the difference for Washington in Game 3.

Family comes first for Delle Donne.

Kristi Toliver knows how to win titles, and the Mystics are just one step away.

Kia Nurse will take the road more traveled if that's what it takes to get to the Olympics.

College team news:

Pac-12 media day notebook.

Coaches have voted Oregon the conference favorite.

Furman has been tabbed the favorites to win the Southern Conference.

South Dakota has been picked to win the Summitt League title.

Five unanswered questions for UConn.

Arizona is on a mission for more this year.

BYU is missing one big piece this season.

College player news:

Stanford's talented freshman class is already making its mark.

Oregon's Satou Sabally is playing for her injured sister Nyara this year.

Teammate Sabrina Ionescu is the face of college basketball, her coach says.

Oregon State's Kat Tudor is being patient rehabbing her ACL.

Iowa State needs Ashley Joens to take a leap this season.

Why expectations for Joens are growing.

Freshman Kiersten Bell will make it to the Ohio State record books, her coach says.

College coach news:

Tara VanDerveer talks about the possibility of passing Pat Summitt in the all-time wins category.

First-year Cal coach Charmin Smith has the support of Pac-12 coaches.

Smith must alter the Bears' style.

Jory Collins is flipping the script at North Dakota State.

USA Basketball news:

3X3 teams for the World Beach Games have been named.

High school news:

Predicting where the top 2020 undeclared prospects will sign.

EDD returns, Mystics top Sun to go 2-1 in series

Elena Delle Donne's return inspired the Mystics to an impressive 94-81 win and a 2-0 series lead.

Delle Donne played through the pain and her team caught fire from downtown.

She delivered a gutsy performance.

Sharpshooting by Washington puts Connecticut on the brink of elimination.

The Mystics dimmed Sun. (love the pun)

Connecticut fell to Washington.

WNBA team news:

The Fever were rebuilding slowly but surely this past season.

WNBA player news:

A Washington Wizards player's tribute to Delle Donne.

2020 vision: Diamond DeShields is eyeing the Tokyo Games.

WNBA coach news:

The coaches of the Finals.

Awards:

All-WNBA first and second teams were announced today.

College team news:

Florida State is ready to make a leap.

Indiana is prepared to take the next step.