28.5 Women's Basketball

1st Quarter – Early Conference Upsets
We opened with the chaos of the first week of 2026, highlighting major upsets, early losses by previously undefeated teams, and the resulting shakeup in national rankings.

2nd Quarter – Notre Dame's Reality
We analyzed Notre Dame’s back-to-back conference losses, roster depth concerns, and the impact of injuries and transfers, while spotlighting Olivia Miles (TCU) and Kate Koval (LSU).

3rd Quarter – Tennessee Check‑In
We assessed the Lady Vols’ season so far, touching on performance, coaching changes, team culture, and the challenge of maintaining Tennessee’s historic standards.

4th Quarter – Texas Tech Momentum
We closed with an undefeated Texas Tech deep dive—key wins, smart portal moves, and the potential impact of new center Stephanie Okechukwu from Nigeria.

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1st Quarter – Coaches Innovating in Women’s Basketball
We open by discussing coaches and programs driving change in women’s basketball, highlighting USC, UConn, Oklahoma, TCU, Michigan, and Vanderbilt, and how recruiting, NIL, and the transfer portal are shaping success.

2nd Quarter – Midseason All-Star Picks
We each share our Midseason All-Star starting five and debate our choices, breaking down what separates these players based on performance and impact.

3rd Quarter – Coaches We’d Want to Play For
We name the current women’s basketball coach we’d most want to play for and explain what makes their leadership and program culture stand out.

4th Quarter – Conference Championship Predictions
We close by predicting the ACC, SEC, and Big Ten regular-season champions and discussing the key factors that could decide each race.

Final Thought – Consistency
We wrap by emphasizing why consistency remains the key to winning in today’s women’s basketball landscape.

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In the 1st Quarter, we dig into NC State’s suspension of one of their post players and what her absence means for a shallow Wolfpack rotation heading into conference play.
 
The 2nd Quarter breaks down Iowa State’s rivalry win over Iowa, fueled by standout performances from Audie Crooks and Addie Brown.

In the 3rd Quarter, we unpack the NCAA’s proposed transfer‑portal rule changes—shorter windows, new timing exceptions, and how coaching moves could factor into January’s review.

The 4th Quarter is jam‑packed: we recap Oklahoma’s victory over Oklahoma State, UConn’s dominant win over USC without Juju Watkins, and debate the top duos and trios across women’s college hoops. We also revisit Texas’ blowout over Baylor, Louisville’s OT upset of UNC, and wrap with previews of Tennessee–Louisville and UConn–Iowa while inviting listeners to send in questions for upcoming Huddle Q&A episodes.

Quick Overtime - couple good games you need to tune into!

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We’re bringing the heat this week!

1st Quarter – ACC vs SEC Women’s Challenge:

We break down the biggest battles—Oklahoma vs NC State, Tennessee vs Stanford, South Carolina vs Louisville, Texas vs UNC, Ole Miss vs Notre Dame, and LSU vs Duke—spotlighting game-changing strategies and standout performances.

2nd Quarter – Top Scorers & Stats:

Who’s lighting up the scoreboard? We dive into Audie Crooks, Hannah Hidalgo, Liv McGill, Mikayla Blakes, and Mia Castro, plus Ball State’s jaw-dropping rebounding record.

3rd Quarter – Mikayla Blakes Hits 1,000:

We celebrate Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes reaching 1,000 career points in just 42 games—only the ninth player in NCAA history to do it this fast—and explore her impact on the SEC.

4th Quarter – Upcoming Matchups:

Circle your calendars! Iowa State vs Iowa, Oklahoma vs Oklahoma State, UConn vs USC, Texas vs Baylor, and UNC vs Louisville—we share predictions and key players to watch.

Extra – Who’s Best Now vs Best Later?

We debate which team rules today and which will dominate by season’s end. Spoiler: Texas is our pick, but UConn’s depth makes it interesting. Listen to all the reasoning behind our pick.

Press play for bold takes, elite insights, and all the energy women’s hoops deserves!

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In this episode, we dive into two big topics shaping college basketball:

First Half – Players Era Championship & NIL Impact

We break down the tournament’s innovative structure, the inclusion of women’s teams, and the eye-popping $1,000,000 NIL payout per team. We recap Texas’s wins over UCLA and South Carolina, UCLA’s bounce-back against Duke, and Duke’s offensive struggles. Plus, we spotlight standout players like Rory Harmon, Madison Booker, and Justice Carlton, and analyze coaching strategies from Vic Schaefer and Dawn Staley. Finally, we look ahead to how this championship could reshape recruiting, expansion, and the future of college hoops.

Second Half – Upcoming Women’s Matchups & Rankings

We preview the week’s must-watch games: NC State vs. Oklahoma, Tennessee vs. Stanford, South Carolina vs. Louisville, Texas vs. UNC, LSU vs. Duke, and Ole Miss vs. Notre Dame. We debate the latest rankings, question Notre Dame and USC’s positions, and ask if Texas deserves the #1 spot. We highlight stars like Audi Crooks and Cotie McMahon, then share our Final Four predictions and why balanced seeding matters.

Don’t miss this episode—it’s your ultimate guide to the Players Era Championship and what’s next for women’s basketball!

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 We kick off with upsets: we break down Iowa’s short-handed stunner over #7 Baylor—shoutouts to Ava Heiden and Hannah Stuelke, and Baylor’s Taliah Scott—then relive Notre Dame’s buzzer-beating win over #11 USC behind Hannah Hidalgo, improved defense, and lifts from KK Bransford and Vanessa De Jesus.

We keep it rolling with marquee wins and tight games: we unpack #1 UConn vs. #6 Michigan—spotlighting Syla Swords, Azzi Fudd, and Sarah Strong—and why Michigan looks disciplined, plus Kentucky’s 72–62 rivalry win over Louisville.

We celebrate clutch moments with Arizona State’s last-second three vs. UNLV, then preview Thanksgiving tournaments—the Player’s Era (Las Vegas), Discover Puerto Rico Shootout, and Virgin Islands Paradise Jam—with the matchups and teams to watch.

We close with can’t-miss games—Texas–UCLA, South Carolina–Duke, Maryland–Kentucky, and Tennessee–UCLA—share our own holiday tourney memories (Becca in Puerto Rico, Sydney at the Paradise Jam), and pick the Player’s Era as our must-see, with a soft spot for the Virgin Islands vibes.

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Player Movement and Fan Engagement
Transfers are reshaping college basketball and making it harder for fans to follow their favorite stars. Becca and Sydney discuss the impact on loyalty and highlight big names like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Haley Van Lith.

UCLA’s Big Week
Two statement wins for the Bruins: #3 UCLA beat #6 Oklahoma 73–59 and #11 UNC 78–60. We break down guard dominance and coaching adjustments.

Record-Breaking Performances and Drama
Hannah Hidalgo scored 44 points and set an NCAA record with 16 steals, while Audi Crooks dropped 43 points in just 19 minutes. Plus, LSU vs. Charlotte sparked controversy, and Duke vs. West Virginia turned chaotic with six ejections—yet WVU still won.

Weekend Highlights
Michigan crushed Notre Dame, South Carolina handled USC, and NC State battled TCU. We analyze what these results mean for rankings and recruiting.

Upcoming Matchups
Previewing Iowa vs. Baylor, USC vs. Notre Dame, Michigan vs. UConn, and Kentucky vs. Louisville—key players and potential upsets to watch.

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Check out Episode 2 featuring week 1 of women's college basketball news and outcomes!

1st Quarter: NC State and Baylor deliver early-season shockers with upsets over Tennessee and Duke, setting the tone for a wild opening week.

2nd Quarter: Key injuries to Juju Watkins, Chloe Kitts, and Sienna Betts plus Ruby Whitehorn’s dismissal from Tennessee dominate headlines.

3rd Quarter: UConn looks unstoppable after a big win over Louisville, while USC stuns NC State behind clutch performances and smart coaching.

4th Quarter: Week 2 brings marquee matchups like UCLA vs. Oklahoma, Michigan vs. Notre Dame, and South Carolina vs. USC, promising more drama.

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We’re back for Season 2 of 28.5 Women’s Basketball and diving straight into the action! In this episode, Becca and Sydney break down the hottest topics shaping the 2025–2026 women’s college basketball season:

• Transfer Portal Frenzy – Who won big? We spotlight game-changing moves like Tanaya Latson to South Carolina, Olivia Miles to TCU, Serah Williams to UConn, and more.
• Preseason Top 25 – From UConn’s reigning dominance to South Carolina’s depth and UCLA’s star power, we analyze the top contenders and what makes them dangerous.
• Coaching Systems & Styles – How do legendary coaches like Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley keep evolving? Plus, the rise of new systems like Kim Caldwell’s high-octane offense at Tennessee.
• Upcoming Matchups – Four Top 25 clashes in Week 1, including Tennessee vs. NC State and UConn vs. Louisville in Germany. We preview the games you can’t miss.

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In this exciting conclusion to the inaugural season of 28.5 Women's Basketball, hosts Becca and Sydney break down the highlights of women's hoops. They kick things off with the Final Four recap and UConn's triumphant claim to the national championship title. The second quarter dives deep into the transfer portal, unraveling the intrigue of who's moving where and which players remain undecided. For the third quarter, Becca and Sydney bring you up to speed on the WNBA Draft, revealing where college stars have landed to shape the league's future. Finally, in the heartfelt fourth quarter, Becca and Sydney sign off for the season, expressing gratitude to their listeners and sharing their excitement for season two when the NCAA women's college game makes its return this fall. Don’t miss this buzzer-beating finale to an unforgettable season

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