LOS ANGELES — Sometimes a result can hide the truth. On paper, everything is great with the UCLA Bruins. They’ve started the season No. 3 in the country and both of their wins have been blowouts. However, head coach Cori Close knows better than most what it takes to be a top team always in […]
4 months ago | 1 read
The most-anticipated rematch of Week 5 of EuroLeague Women play fizzled, as Fenerbahçe flexed their dominance on Valencia, running away with a 71-49 victory to remain unbeaten. Julie Allemand approached a triple-double, with 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Kayla McBride made four 3s on her way to a game-high 16 points. Already […]
4 months ago | 0 reads
Can Rose repeat? Will Lunar Owls again be a regular-season juggernaut? Is a stronger second season in store for Phantom? Is Laces the most athletic team ever? Will Breeze sell more jerseys or score more points? Is Vinyl or Mist the better club? How will Hive fare in their debut season? Answers to those questions […]
4 months ago | 0 reads
After a couple of games, some interesting trends have already are emerging in women’s college basketball. Certain players are looking ready for the big stage, teams are making it clear they are contenders and others are already raising some eyebrows. Here are five observations from just a few days into the season: The kids can […]
4 months ago | 0 reads
Four, six and five. The point totals for the Loyola (MD) Greyhounds in the second, third and fourth frames, respectively, against the Maryland Terrapins Monday night at XFINITY Center in College Park. Measly single-digit numbers that any defense should be proud of against any Division I-level competition, especially when strung together over three consecutive quarters. […]
4 months ago | 0 reads
Tuesday’s pair of top-25 matchups mostly unfolded as expected. It took a go-ahead basket in the final minute followed by a pair of clutch free throws for No. 9 NC State to edge No. 8 Tennessee, 80-77. In contrast, No. 1 UConn’s 79-66 win over No. 20 Louisville was more comfortable than the final score […]
4 months ago | 0 reads
No. 19 Vanderbilt, debuting in Paris against a feisty Cal team, escaped France with a 74-65 win. While they may not have moved the needle as a cohesive unit, they reminded the nation why they’re worthy of a top 25 ranking: Mikayla Blakes. A third-team AP All-American last season, Blakes may be the most interesting […]
4 months ago | 1 read
No. 18 USC started life without JuJu Watkins with a win over New Mexico State, beating the Aggies 87-48 at home. While Watkins is out for the year, her presence still permeates the Galen Center. Watkins jerseys can be seen everywhere inside the arena, and before the opening tip, she was presented with the John […]
4 months ago | 0 reads
The title defense for No. 1-ranked UConn begins, with the Huskies meeting No. 20 Louisville at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD at 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). The opener was supposed to be the first NCAA women’s college basketball game held outside the United States, with Ramstein Air Base in Germany the original site of […]
4 months ago | 1 read
One of the upsides of the new EuroLeague Women competition system, which was first instituted last season, is the opportunity to see high-profile matchups played several times during both group phases. This week, Fenerbahçe Opet (4-0) will take on Valencia Basket Club (3-1) for the second time this season; both clubs have enormous budgets and […]
4 months ago | 0 reads
The opening day of the 2025-26 women’s college basketball season would’ve been a typical one, with the top teams beating their lower-ranked opponents as expected. But, No. 16 Baylor upended expectations by besting No. 7 Duke 58-52 in Paris. It was an even contest entering the fourth, but new Bear Taliah Scott ended that immediately […]
4 months ago | 8 reads
Over the last few years, the 3-point shot has become the bread and butter for Iowa women’s basketball. 3s fueled their legendary high-octane, push-the-pace offense, which has carried them to national prominence. It was a shot absolutely mastered by a select few, and one in particular who needs no explanation. So one might expect the No.21 […]
4 months ago | 2 reads
The 2025-26 NCAA women’s basketball season tips off today at 11 a.m. ET, when teams from across the country will hit the hardwood for their first official action. Opening day’s most interesting matchup, however, will not take place in the United States, but in Paris, when No. 7 Duke and No. 16 Baylor meet at […]
4 months ago | 5 reads
The 2025-26 women’s college basketball season is officially here! Before you tune in to watch your favorite players and teams, catch up on all of Swish Appeal’s preseason coverage: Conference previews As the undisputed beasts of the Big East, defending-champion and No. 1-ranked UConn has bigger ambitions than more conference championship trophies. Another national title […]
4 months ago | 0 reads
The transfer portal in women’s college basketball is a powerful thing. Just one or two key transfers can change the entire competitive landscape of any conference, and such transfers are becoming increasingly common with the introduction of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rules. If a school wants to be in the running for a top […]
4 months ago | 1 read
Unrivaled is going to be bigger in Season 2, and we bet it’s also going to be even better. The 3×3 league has expanded to six teams, with Breeze BC and Hive BC joining Rose BC, Lunar Owls BC, Vinyl BC, Laces BC and Phantom BC, and now will feature 48 players, up from last […]
4 months ago | 1 read
Things had not gone well for Julie Vanloo during her debut EuroLeague Women campaign with ÇBK Mersin. Through the first three group play games, the Belgian guard has tallied eight total points, all of which came in a single game. She was 3-for-19 from the field and 1-for-7 from 3, although she had contributed 16 […]
4 months ago | 1 read
Before all the women’s college basketball fun officially begins on Monday, Nov. 3, let’s have some fun with three bold player-based predictions for the season ahead: Mikayla Blakes will lead the nation in scoring—with at least 30 points per game I teased this prediction in The Feed and, to be honest, suggesting that Mikayla Blakes […]
4 months ago | 2 reads
Everything is set up for Lauren Betts to have a monster year for UCLA. The coaches and media voted Betts the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. Both also placed her on the Preseason All-Big Ten Team, and did so unanimously. No other Big Ten player made the All-Big Ten Team by both the […]
4 months ago | 1 read
CBA negotiations between the WNBA and WNBPA will continue. On Thursday, both sides agreed to a 30-day extension, moving the deadline from Oct. 31 to Nov. 30, as first reported by The Athletic’s Ben Pickman. Pickman further reported that the WNBA and WNBPA held in-person meetings on Wednesday and Thursday before the players union decided […]
4 months ago | 1 read
The murder of right-wing activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10 has brought out the best and worst in all of us. It has compelled those of sound mind, compassion, empathy and maturity to call out acts of political violence on both sides of the aisle. It’s also forced us to […]
4 months ago | 1 read
Every college basketball season brings fresh opportunities for players to elevate their games and establish themselves as elite talents. The 2025-2026 season could be the launching pad that transforms these three players from promising prospects into household names in women’s college basketball. Here’s more on Michigan’s Syla Swords, Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes and Maryland’s Oluchi Okananwa: […]
4 months ago | 1 read
The WNBA is in a paradoxical position. On the one hand, the league has never been more popular, with ratings surging and crowds piling up from Las Vegas to Indianapolis. On the other hand, the league also is in a state of vulnerability over what the future holds for the players. The Oct.31 deadline for […]
4 months ago | 1 read
Because the WNBA offseason is longer than the actual season, players have the chance to develop and play elsewhere to improve their game. Many use the time well, playing in Unrivaled or Athletes Unlimited in the States. Many others, however, head overseas for work. In addition to the number of WNBA players competing in Europe […]
4 months ago | 1 read
The 2025-26 EuroLeague Women season is only a few weeks old, but we’ve already reached the halfway point in the first round of group play. Every team has now played each of its first-round opponents once, setting up rematches for the next three weeks: Week 4 will have the same matchups as Week 1, Week […]
4 months ago | 1 read