pollardsvision
Footballguy
Looking rough now @Desert_Power , but Dawn always gets them going in the 3rd.
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***official 2024/25 women’s college bball thread*** paige gets her title and will soon be beat up and abused in the wnba (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter SWC
- Start date
pollardsvision
Footballguy
Caitlin on Bird and Taurasi is so fun.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
Vegas had them as the favorite, but they didn't have the resume. It was February before Fudd was healthy. They lost to ND, who fell apart. And UT, who was a 5 seed.
But for the last month, a healthy Paige and Fudd, and Strong at the end of her freshman year. They are unstoppable.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Weird to watch them get beat inside so much. My son really does enjoy saying/repeating PaoPao though.
irish eyes
Footballguy
Love how SC players can run full steam into Strong or elbow her every time & Strong gets called for fouls.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
Damn this game sucks.
But Caitlin, Sue and Diana just talking ball has been awesome.
But Caitlin, Sue and Diana just talking ball has been awesome.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
Beat down.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
Good for Geno and Paige and sarah
Dawn is going to come back strong, but this was UConn's year.
Dawn is going to come back strong, but this was UConn's year.
irish eyes
Footballguy
Beat 2 #1 seeds by 30, unreal.
FarFromHome
Footballguy
To those more engaged fans Paige is the lock #1 pick right?
Yo Mama
Footballguy
100%. I was bummed when the Sparks missed out on the top pick.
So happy for Bueckers. She’s just done everything right, from the time she’s been playing varsity as an 8th grader through a couple pretty significant injuries in college, that it’s got to be just an incredibly gratifying championship for her. She is what a role model should be for little kids.
FarFromHome
Footballguy
Just saw a crazy stat. The Clark effect is mind boggling.
2024 final four had 10.8 million viewers
2025 final four had 3.9 million viewers
2024 final four had 10.8 million viewers
2025 final four had 3.9 million viewers
rockaction
Footballguy
Saw a guy in the store today (he was very overweight with a ponytail—I say that so you can picture it) wearing a jersey that said "Indiana" on it. It was too small for his frame and I knew as soon as he turned around what I would see. Sure enough, he walked past me with "Clark" emblazoned on the back of it.
What's my point? My point is that if there's a dude in an Inland Empire, CA, Wal-Mart walking around with a Caitlin Clark jersey on, you know she's absolutely huge. And I'm not sure what was fueling it all. It certainly wasn't race, because Paige is caucasian and could easily have gotten that treatment. The whole phenomenon is sort of odd all around. People must love threes.
Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
I mean, last year’s games were a lot closer. Maybe in part because Clark doesn’t play D?
(Just kidding. Mostly. Salty Bueckers fan here)
pollardsvision
Footballguy
There's never really been a player quite like her.
The logo 3's and the long passes obviously make her a lot of fun to watch. That expains a lot, but probably not all.
Going to and staying at Iowa was a big part of it, I think. Paige did what all the great midwestern kids did....went to UConn.
Juju gets some extra love for staying home, but that's an LA thing.
It's hard to pinpoint completely, but part of being a true phenomenon is that there is no exact recipe. Record companies have been trying to build phenoms in a lab forever, but they couldn't have imagined a Taylor Swift.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
One of the many great things about women's basketball is just as the depression of no more college games hits, you realize the WNBA Draft is in one freaking week and the regular season is about 5 weeks away.
rockaction
Footballguy
Couldn’t agree with you more here. I actually kind of know that but wanted to relay the image and existence of the Simpsons comic book guy wearing his Caitlin Clark WNBA shirt amidst exurban squalor, especially in an area that tends more toward barbed-wire tattoos and machismo rather than the ins and outs of women’s professional basketball.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I mean, we're beating around the bush on a big part of Clark's popularity. She's one of the best women's hoops players I've ever seen. So was Sheryl Swoops and so is Ashley Reese.
rockaction
Footballguy
So were Taurasi and Sue Bird and Paige also the best. Taurasi had game that rivaled Clark’s back in 2002, and she was white and marketable yet you could hear crickets.
Clark is a weird phenomenon unto herself and race doesn’t explain it.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
Climate's a lot different now, rock. Clark is also straight (as far as I know).
FarFromHome
Footballguy
I remember when Clark was a senior in high school and Paige was a junior. Id really never watched women's basketball. These two female high school basketball players clips kept hitting my social media feed and I loved it. At the time I actually thought Paige was clearly the better player. They were just both fun to watch. Then Clark just went off in college. I rarely watch NBA or WNBA games, but I morning box score surf Clark games. I got the Clark fever. Whatever it is I got it. I'm hoping Paige goes off her rookie year.
Ramblin Wreck
Footballguy
Clark dates one of Fran McCaffrey's kids. Not sure what her sexuality and skin color have to do with her popularity. She's popular because she's fun as hell to watch and one of the best players ever. I like Bueckers too but she's a level below Clark, IMO.
I think doing it at Iowa helps too where 50 other women have been great and won at UConn, for example, over the course of 30 something years.
Navin Johnson
Footballguy
Pretty sure they were in the same class
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I'm not saying she wouldn't be fun to watch if she had green skin and was from Jupiter, but to say her being white and pretty and straight doesn't play into her popularity is myopic.
rockaction
Footballguy
uh, two out three ain't bad, and are we sure about the third in the series?
pollardsvision
Footballguy
It could have gone either way but I was pretty disappointed that Strong didn't get MOP.
It would have been well deserved of course, but it also would have given her a chance to get 4 of them like Stewie did.
4 straight titles is obviously a long shot, but if there's any player that can pull it off, it's Strong.
It would have been well deserved of course, but it also would have given her a chance to get 4 of them like Stewie did.
4 straight titles is obviously a long shot, but if there's any player that can pull it off, it's Strong.
Ramblin Wreck
Footballguy
People like superstars regardless of color. Many Clark fans are already waiting for Juju to possibly break a lot of her records but obviously the injury will threaten that.
Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
Before Bueckers had all the injuries, I thought she was clearly the better all around player, someone I would rather build a team around. And then Clark went crazy the next couple years and changed women’s basketball. Like Curry, she changes the topography of the court. Bueckers isn’t the same player she was pre-knee issues, but she sure is fun to watch as an all-around player. Not sure who her NBA comp is, but hope she shows out in year 1 of the WNBA. She’s not going to be like Clark - her game will be more well rounded and a far lower usage rate.
Balco
Footballguy
UCONN has an excellent shot next year with basically everyone except Bueckers and Chen coming back. If Fudd plays like she did in second half of year, I can definitely see them repeating. I think she finally felt comfortable and not tentative coming back from her leg injuries.
If anything they can use a veteran point guard like Chen in the transfer portal.
SWC
Bromigo
uconn has a kid named allie ziebell who i have watched play and had a girl play in her program here in wisconsin she is one of the best shooters i have ever seen not used much this year but can do it all and uconn will be just fine with strong kk and her take that to the bank brohans
General Malaise
Footballguy
I thought what the Minnesota Vikings did for Bueckers was pretty neat. What a little cutie!
General Malaise
Footballguy
Having spent a few days/nights in the Inland Empire, I think you just succinctly described the residents and the area about as perfectly as anybody ever has or could.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
Yeah, I could see them getting another guard in the portal.
Olivia Miles would be the big name, but I don't know if she'd be a good fit with her defense. Sounds like she's going to TCU.
Kaleigh Heckel and Avery Howell out of USC are now (unfortunately) available in the portal.
But yeah, when you have the best player on the floor, you've always got a shot. Until Juju comes back, UConn will always have the best player on the court if Strong is there.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
Yeah, the contrast of styles between the two should be really fun for years to come. Caitlin's a gambler, and Paige is so conservative.
General Malaise
Footballguy
Team Sabrina here. 
pollardsvision
Footballguy
As we have the Draft coming, the W just had it's first ever Combine on Friday.
This draft isn't overloaded with star power. It's Paige and a whole bunch of players that could have a role In the league for a long time. For star power, Malonga could be that. 6'6" and could certainly be the female Wemby.
But it's loaded with players that can have a role. The Combine coincided with the NCAAW All-Star game full of potential 2nd and 3rd round picks.
I'm always going to beat the drum for Alyssa Ustby. There's been a lot of great Heels in a lot of sports. She's among the best Heels. I'm biased, but she was the most athletic player on that court. She's a terrible shooter, but she does everything else incredibly well. She's going to go in the 2nd or 3rd, or maybe not at all. But a smart team will get her, and she will have a role.
This draft isn't overloaded with star power. It's Paige and a whole bunch of players that could have a role In the league for a long time. For star power, Malonga could be that. 6'6" and could certainly be the female Wemby.
But it's loaded with players that can have a role. The Combine coincided with the NCAAW All-Star game full of potential 2nd and 3rd round picks.
I'm always going to beat the drum for Alyssa Ustby. There's been a lot of great Heels in a lot of sports. She's among the best Heels. I'm biased, but she was the most athletic player on that court. She's a terrible shooter, but she does everything else incredibly well. She's going to go in the 2nd or 3rd, or maybe not at all. But a smart team will get her, and she will have a role.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
Sorry, I've had a few cold pops. All you Oregon fans, congratulations on stealing Deja Kelly. She left us because she thought she was too good to play with Alyssa Ustby.
She got knocked out around earlier and I can't imagine she's going to sniff the draft.
She got knocked out around earlier and I can't imagine she's going to sniff the draft.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
8.5 million viewers for the Championship game (peaked at 9.8 mill). Very encouraging.
It's obviously not the 19 million ('24) or 10 million ('23) of the Caitlin Clark championship games, but it's basically double what it was in '22 (4.85 million) and '21 (4.1 million).
2022 is interesting. For 2025, you could say well it's Paige/UConn vs South Carolina, but so was 2022.
It's obviously not the 19 million ('24) or 10 million ('23) of the Caitlin Clark championship games, but it's basically double what it was in '22 (4.85 million) and '21 (4.1 million).
2022 is interesting. For 2025, you could say well it's Paige/UConn vs South Carolina, but so was 2022.
General Malaise
Footballguy
Anecdotal, but I took my 3 sons to a Blazers' game on Sunday and we had planned on having lunch before the game at Spirit of 77, a sports bar close to the stadium where folks like to pre-game. Completely forgot that the women's championship game was on at that time. There wasn't an empty spot anywhere in the place. JAM PACKED with people watching the game. We just left and went to the stadium. Kinda cool to see.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
Miles to TCU, which was widely assumed.
Ta'Niya Latson to South Carolina makes a lot of sense. They struggled to score a lot of times this season, and Latson is a walking bucket that just led the nation in scoring.
That guard rotation could be tricky though. Raven Johnson, Fulwiley, Tessa, and Maddie McDaniel all coming back. You'd assume the young'ens would all be itching for more minutes next year, but you don't bring in the nation's leading scorer to come off the bench.
I'm sure Dawn will work it out, but that's a lot of mouths to feed.
Ta'Niya Latson to South Carolina makes a lot of sense. They struggled to score a lot of times this season, and Latson is a walking bucket that just led the nation in scoring.
That guard rotation could be tricky though. Raven Johnson, Fulwiley, Tessa, and Maddie McDaniel all coming back. You'd assume the young'ens would all be itching for more minutes next year, but you don't bring in the nation's leading scorer to come off the bench.
I'm sure Dawn will work it out, but that's a lot of mouths to feed.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
That's fantastic!
Portland is a big women's sports town isn't it? Wasn't "The Sports Bra" the first women's sports bar in the country?
Speaking of which, we need a name for the Portland W team. I don't love the Tempo name, but at least Toronto has given us one. Hoping the delay means it won't be the Fire. Never understood naming a team after a tragic event in the city.
General Malaise
Footballguy
Ha! You heard about the Sports Bra? That's fantastic. I've never been but it's on my to-do list.
The Portland Thorns play in front of sold out crowds - women's soccer is definitely a draw here. I've gone to a handful of games and love the experience.
Hopefully the WNBA does well here this time around - I think it will, especially if some homegrown talent suits up here. Sabrina is treated like royalty in the state - she did College Game Day at UO and it was madness how popular she is with the students.
Fire isn't a good name, agree. Not sure what the leader in the clubhouse is, but there's so many good options out there. We have a minor league baseball team here called the Hillsboro Hops with a giant beer hop as the logo. That name would be great for a basketball team but it's taken.
Deepster
Footballguy
Fudd was open about seeing a sports pyschologist during the year and that really clicking in her ability to maximize her talents and visualize things better.
If you're a betting type of fan, they were a cash cow down the stretch and look to be the same or better next year. Easy pickins.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
Should be a pretty fascinating draft coming up on Monday.
It doesn't have the headliners of 2024, but it's got 20 or so players with a good shot to stick in the league and be solid role players.
Paige and Malonga are the only 2 with MVP contender upside. Malonga is a wildcard, but a 6'6" 19 year old with a 7'1 wingspan. Great athlete and offensive game developing rapidly. She's been called Lisa Leslie with a 3, and of course the female Wemby.
I think my Storm take her at #2. As much as it was speculated that they traded for the pick to get Miles, I think it makes more sense that it was Malonga all along. Between Lauren Jackson and Ezi, the Storm are very adept at drafting great international bigs.
After that, basically anything can happen in this draft (and it wouldn't be a total shock if the Storm took Citron or Kiki at #2). Players 3 through 20 or so in this draft are really good and similar in overall value.
If the Mystics hit, they have have a chance to have a really fast turnaround. They have picks 3, 4, and 6.
The rest of the league is about to become free-agents, and the only players under contract will be 2024 and 2025 draft picks (at a bargain at that). If they hit here, they could do some damage. Mystics are a dumpster fire organization, so I feel bad for the young ladies drafted to them, but they could eff around and catch a lick like they did in 2019.
It doesn't have the headliners of 2024, but it's got 20 or so players with a good shot to stick in the league and be solid role players.
Paige and Malonga are the only 2 with MVP contender upside. Malonga is a wildcard, but a 6'6" 19 year old with a 7'1 wingspan. Great athlete and offensive game developing rapidly. She's been called Lisa Leslie with a 3, and of course the female Wemby.
I think my Storm take her at #2. As much as it was speculated that they traded for the pick to get Miles, I think it makes more sense that it was Malonga all along. Between Lauren Jackson and Ezi, the Storm are very adept at drafting great international bigs.
After that, basically anything can happen in this draft (and it wouldn't be a total shock if the Storm took Citron or Kiki at #2). Players 3 through 20 or so in this draft are really good and similar in overall value.
If the Mystics hit, they have have a chance to have a really fast turnaround. They have picks 3, 4, and 6.
The rest of the league is about to become free-agents, and the only players under contract will be 2024 and 2025 draft picks (at a bargain at that). If they hit here, they could do some damage. Mystics are a dumpster fire organization, so I feel bad for the young ladies drafted to them, but they could eff around and catch a lick like they did in 2019.
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pollardsvision
Footballguy
Chicago now has picks 10 and 11 tonight.
Sky gave the Lynx it's 2026 1st round pick. Lynx already owned a swap on that pick, so now they just get it outright.
Sky keep the Mercury pick that has a swap with the Sun pick, which should be a great pick.
Seems like a good trade for both sides. Draft is deep so the Sky could end up with some role players if they hit.
Not hard to imagine them getting a solid back-up PG in Amoore or HVL to learn under Sloot, and a solid scorer like Paopao or Aziah James.
And congrats to Paige on a 3-year deal with Unrivaled that will pay as much in the 1st year as her entire 4 year W rookie deal.
Sky gave the Lynx it's 2026 1st round pick. Lynx already owned a swap on that pick, so now they just get it outright.
Sky keep the Mercury pick that has a swap with the Sun pick, which should be a great pick.
Seems like a good trade for both sides. Draft is deep so the Sky could end up with some role players if they hit.
Not hard to imagine them getting a solid back-up PG in Amoore or HVL to learn under Sloot, and a solid scorer like Paopao or Aziah James.
And congrats to Paige on a 3-year deal with Unrivaled that will pay as much in the 1st year as her entire 4 year W rookie deal.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
Really excited about my Storm's draft.
Malonga is a generational prospect. There's some bust potential because she's so young, but there's clear MVP upside.
The Sundell and Conner picks were such good value. Picks that late don't usually make a roster, but I think they probably will.
I love HVL and hope it works out, but Sundell might be a better pro prospect and they got her 15 picks later.
Not to hate on HVL, but I don't see 1st round value. No matter what she's listed at, she's close to 5'6". When you are that small, you better be a great pure PG and/or a great 3-point shooter and she is neither.
And Madison Conner? Storm need 3 point shooting and they took the best 3P shooter in the draft at 28.
Love Jordan Hobbs too, but hard to imagine she makes the roster.
Mystics had a fun draft, and I hope it works. Citron and Kiki were fantastic at 3 and 4. Amoore might have been a reach at 6, but I'm a big fan of hers. In the small guard club, I like her a lot more than HVL. Good spot for all those kids. They should not only make the roster, but get solid minutes from the jump.
Valkyries had a sneaky good draft. Juste could be an absolute star. Been playing professionally since age 14 (from the same hometown as Luka, so that draws comparisons). Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't, but it's certainly a swing worth taking.
Then Sellers at 17 is just ridiculous. A 6'2" guard that's a 3-level scorer that can create and get her own shot. A better prospect than a lot of 1st rounders.
Kaitlyn Chen probably won't make the roster, but it was awesome that she got drafted. And mad props to Paige for speaking the drafting of Chen and Griffin into existence.
Fever got such a steal in Timpson at 19. Fantastic shot blocker and rim runner. Good size. Going to set a great screen and roll hard to the rim. Caitlin will have a field day with that. And defensively, wow. I've watched too many times my Heels be completely lost trying to deal with her. You just don't even try to take it to the rim because Timpson will block it.
Malonga is a generational prospect. There's some bust potential because she's so young, but there's clear MVP upside.
The Sundell and Conner picks were such good value. Picks that late don't usually make a roster, but I think they probably will.
I love HVL and hope it works out, but Sundell might be a better pro prospect and they got her 15 picks later.
Not to hate on HVL, but I don't see 1st round value. No matter what she's listed at, she's close to 5'6". When you are that small, you better be a great pure PG and/or a great 3-point shooter and she is neither.
And Madison Conner? Storm need 3 point shooting and they took the best 3P shooter in the draft at 28.
Love Jordan Hobbs too, but hard to imagine she makes the roster.
Mystics had a fun draft, and I hope it works. Citron and Kiki were fantastic at 3 and 4. Amoore might have been a reach at 6, but I'm a big fan of hers. In the small guard club, I like her a lot more than HVL. Good spot for all those kids. They should not only make the roster, but get solid minutes from the jump.
Valkyries had a sneaky good draft. Juste could be an absolute star. Been playing professionally since age 14 (from the same hometown as Luka, so that draws comparisons). Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't, but it's certainly a swing worth taking.
Then Sellers at 17 is just ridiculous. A 6'2" guard that's a 3-level scorer that can create and get her own shot. A better prospect than a lot of 1st rounders.
Kaitlyn Chen probably won't make the roster, but it was awesome that she got drafted. And mad props to Paige for speaking the drafting of Chen and Griffin into existence.
Fever got such a steal in Timpson at 19. Fantastic shot blocker and rim runner. Good size. Going to set a great screen and roll hard to the rim. Caitlin will have a field day with that. And defensively, wow. I've watched too many times my Heels be completely lost trying to deal with her. You just don't even try to take it to the rim because Timpson will block it.
pollardsvision
Footballguy
LSU is apparently the frontrunner for Fulwiley.
If you want maximum drama, this would be it.
Seems crazy, but Mulkey is a genie in the portal and Fulwiley wants to stay close to home. Could be a disaster, but LSU with Flau'jae, Mikayla, Fulwiley, and a (hopefully/presumably) improved Kate Koval would be very interesting. Certainly a lot of fun when they play SC.
Janiah Barker going to Tennessee is also incredibly interesting. Athletic as hell, and was a presumed 1st round pick going into this year. Then went to UCLA and couldn't get any minutes. Now going to UT where Caitlin Clark and A'ja Wilson would be limited to 18 minutes a game.
We're seeing with all sports that NIL is causing kids to make bad long-term decisions. This feels like one for Barker.
If you want maximum drama, this would be it.
Seems crazy, but Mulkey is a genie in the portal and Fulwiley wants to stay close to home. Could be a disaster, but LSU with Flau'jae, Mikayla, Fulwiley, and a (hopefully/presumably) improved Kate Koval would be very interesting. Certainly a lot of fun when they play SC.
Janiah Barker going to Tennessee is also incredibly interesting. Athletic as hell, and was a presumed 1st round pick going into this year. Then went to UCLA and couldn't get any minutes. Now going to UT where Caitlin Clark and A'ja Wilson would be limited to 18 minutes a game.
We're seeing with all sports that NIL is causing kids to make bad long-term decisions. This feels like one for Barker.
Navin Johnson
Footballguy
Been following HVL since 2017 and agree. She is undersized for a PG and has the skill set of a weak SG. Below average 3 point shot and no right hand. She's a volume shooter and no competitive team at that level can afford to give her that many shots. Chicago basically drafted her IG account.
