Next Gen WNBA Podcast

Paige Bueckers is destroying opponents late in games, but who are the other best late game performers in the league? Today, host Hunter Cruse answers that question, and dives into some other fun superlatives around the 2026 WNBA season.Timestamps0:00 Intro0:53 Clutch Player of the Year6:46 Best Passer 7:40 Best 1-on-1 Defender9:04 Best Bargain FA Signing11:28 Least Improved Player15:12 ‘I Owe You An Apology’ Award18:01 Best 3-Level Scorer19:59 Most Average Player22:34 Outro

JuJu Watkins is one of the greatest prospects in WNBA history. On this episode, host Hunter Cruse breaks down what team needs the No. 1 pick the most, and then moves to ranking WNBA lottery teams with the brightest future.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:43 Lottery Standings

5:17 Ranking WNBA Team's Futures

In this episode, Hunter Cruse dives deep into the 2025 WNBA draft class through player's first year (and some change).

0:00 Intro0:29 Paige Bueckers2:17 Dom Malonga5:15 Sonia Citron7:28 Kiki Iriafen9:01 Juste Jocyte11:23 Georgia Amoore13:39 Aneesah Morrow15:16 Saniya Rivers17:18 Sarah Ashlee Barker19:27 Aziaha James21:20 Anastasiia Olairi Kosu23:16 Te-Hina Paopao25:14 Makayla Timpson26:23 Aicha Coulibaly27:28 Kaitlyn Chen28:05 Revisiting My 2025 Board

In this episode, Hunter Cruse grades every WNBA team's season through the first month.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:25 Golden State

4:29 Washington

7:52 Minnesota1

2:33 Indiana

16:15 Chicago

18:56 Phoenix

20:25 New York

22:38 Las Vegas

24:14 Los Ángeles

26:46 Dallas

28:30 Toronto

29:37 Portland

30:29 Atlanta

31:42 Seattle

33:33 Connecticut

In this episode, Hunter Cruse goes through an early-season check-in on the 2026 WNBA Draft Class, then discuss potential first-time All-Stars and Leïla Lacan's return to Connecticut.

Timestamps

0:00 Intro

1:49 Azzi Fudd

3:44 Olivia Miles

5:39 Kiki Rice

8:29 Awa Fam

10:35 Flau’jae Johnson

12:33 Mystics Rookies

16:52 Gabriela Jaquez

18:32 Sun Rookies

21:22 Raven Johnson

22:47 Other Rookies

26:05 First Time All-Stars

28:48 Weekly Flowers

In this episode, Hunter Cruse dives into the Atlanta Dream's 4-1 start, why you should never doubt Cheryl Reeve and Minnesota, and more.

Timestamps

0:00 Intro

0:52 Atlanta Looks Dangerous

9:56 Don't Overlook Minnesota

16:24 The Good & Bad For Las Vegas

20:00 Players Struggling Early...

24:45 Weekly Flowers

In this episode, Hunter Cruse breaks down some of his early takeaways from the 2026 WNBA season, including Chicago’s impressive start, Los Angeles’ defensive struggles, and why international scouting is becoming more important across the league. He also talks about why you should buy stock in the Portland Fire long-term and other league-wide trends. 

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:20 Chicago

7:27 Los Angeles

13:34 Intl. Rookies

20:00 Portland

26:34 Fouls Up

28:38 Post-Ups Down

32:14 Weekly Flowers

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