Who’s actually the #1 team in women’s college basketball heading into the season? Michael and Melissa break down their personal Top 16 power rankings with rosters set and summer workouts winding down. There’s plenty of debate within the ranks… beyond the Top 4, at least.

Then, Gabriella Jaquez drops in ahead of All-Star weekend in Chicago to talk about life in the W, her TikTok, keeping up with her UCLA championship teammates via the legendary group chat, and to help set up an interview question for coach Cori Close for when she joins the podcast later this summer.

Be sure to check out the full lineup of The IX Sports podcasts!

USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Welcome back to the IX Sports Podcast Women's Basketball Edition. Happy WNBA All-Star weekend!

Howard Megdal reports live from Chicago for WNBA All-Star weekend where he brings Jackie Powell some new fresh reporting to discuss when it comes to the two main issues that have been in the conversation as of late: officiating, league security measures and online harassment. Hear from Cheryl Reeve, and Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Nneka Ogwumike and Marina Mabrey on all of these issues. What do both Howard and Jackie expect from Commissioner Cathy Engelbert during her state of the league address on Saturday night when it comes to addressing some of these issues? Later Jackie explains what listeners should take away from Reeve’s stance on politics in the WNBA in 2026 especially in light of President Obama visiting players earlier today during the All-Star practices.

0:00 - Introduction

2:50 - # 1 at The IX

6:23 - Cheryl Reeve provides an officiating update

11:54 - Breanna Stewart reflects on officiating

13:20 - The need for new officiating infrastructure

15:57 - Jonquel Jones discusses officiating and security issues

18:12 - Howard and Jackie react to Jones’ comments

23:18 - Nneka Ogwumike addresses WNBA security issues and meeting with Cathy Engelbert

29:03 - Could the WNBA ban player pro bets?

31:54 - Marina Mabrey speaks on the online harassment that players have been dealing with

33:42 - Court Vision: Cheryl Reeve on the WNBA and politics right now

Thumbnail Photo Credits:

Left: Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve looks on against the Phoenix Mercury in the second half at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 13, 2026. Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Right: Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike speaks during WNBA All-Star Weekend Media Day at Obama Presidential Center on Jul 24, 2026 Chicago, IL. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Links to click that are referenced throughout the show:

Our most recent show on what can be done to address online harassment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHZPnOyA4UY

Jackie was recently on The WNBA Ringer show discussing WNBA Security and a host of other topics:

https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/the-ringer-wnba-show/2026/07/21/a-2026-wnba-draft-check-in-and-fixing-wnba-security-with-jackie-powell

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The Ottawa Charge lost some of their top players in expansion, have they done enough to stop the bleeding going into the next season?

Host Maya Smith talks about where the Ottawa Charge stand as the off-season continues, including the new addition of Jenna Buglioni and the need for Sanni Ahola to step up. Will they be able to get back to the Walter Cup finals for the third straight season?

Maya also talks about the World Championships camp rosters that have been released, and some headlines around the league, including the Mark Walter Group's federal investigation.

She also talks about her time meeting and chatting with Emily Clark at an event earlier in the week.

SBJ article: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/07/20/report-mark-walters-insurance-companies-guggenheim-face-federal-probe/

Follow Maya on X: https://x.com/mayaxeverysport

Photo credit: PWHL

Host Kathleen Gier looks ahead to the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, or WAFCON, with guests Jacob Mitchell and Kofi. They start with the tournament format, then run through teams and players to watch like Nigeria, Morocco and Ghana.----------------Follow Jacob and Kofi:https://bsky.app/profile/gingers4hal.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/socratescousin.bsky.socialThe B Team Podcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/4CVd7MzH4AVJwsYwxu38Sahttps://www.gingers-4-hal.com/https://medium.com/@ObservationStationPhoto credit: Denis Poroy | Imagn Images

On this edition of The IX Sports Podcast: College Basketball Edition, hosts Melissa Triebwasser and Michael Waterloo break down some of the biggest storylines shaping the 2026–2027 season.

First, they discuss South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel’s decision to step away from the program to prioritize her mental health, analyzing the immediate impact on the Gamecocks' rotation and examining the escalating pressure young athletes face both on and off the court.

Next, they pivot to the recruiting trail to evaluate five-star prospect Jayla Forbes’ commitment to Texas, exploring what her elite post presence means for Vic Schaefer’s squad and how her profile fits into the modern landscape of women's basketball.

Finally, they unpack the NCAA's groundbreaking "true ranking" bracket rule change and its long-term implications for the future of March Madness, before welcoming Los Angeles Sparks guard Chance Gray to the show.

Photo Credit: Domenic Allegra | The IX Sports

Editor’s note: This podcast was recorded before a report from Front Office Sports that noted that a meeting at WNBA All-Star has been scheduled between the players and the league regarding player safety, security and these online threats. 

In a very special episode of the IX Sports Podcast, Howard and Jackie unpack a recurring issue in the WNBA that took center stage this week. Chelsea Gray posted the racist threat she recieved on social media and as a result fans mobilized and got that person fired from his job at Hilton Grand Vacations. What exactly is the WNBA doing about these threats? Howard spoke to many people around the league to learn about it. And then Howard and Jackie present a multi-pronged plan that the WNBA could use in trying to protect its players moving forward. Then during the court vision segment: Howard and Jackie flash back to when he had a feeling that Justine Pissott could play in the WNBA following her breakout debut for the Las Vegas Aces. 

0:00 - Introduction 

1:42 - # 1 at The IX 

2:37 - What does the WNBA do right now to handle security?

6:26 - Breanna Stewart believes fans know the least about security around the league

8:38 - Remember No Space For Hate 

11:09 - How social media has hindered and helped the WNBA

12:58 - Laying out the security process in the WNBA  

32:33 - Court Vision: Justine Pissott’s debut on the Aces 

Thumbnail Photo Credits: 

Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) holds her head during the second quarter of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever at Michelob Ultra Arena on Jul 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Links to click that are referenced throughout the show: 

More on how WNBA fans got Hilton employee fired: 

https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/aces/hilton-grand-vacations-fires-employee-who-sent-aces-chelsea-gray-racist-message-3850469/

Colin Salao reports on WNBPA plan and response to security issues: 

https://frontofficesports.com/natasha-cloud-calls-engelbert-silver-address-sports-betting-threats/

Breanna Stewart on Post Moves podcast: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeUUiuvHDxo&t=1781s&pp=ugUHEgVlbi1VUw%3D%3D

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PWHL Detroit had a really strong expansion period, but after an okay draft, where do they go from here? Host Maya Smith and guest Alyssa Turner take a look at PWHL Detroit's current roster going into the off-season and address some big questions. What might the lineups look like? Who will back up Andrea Brandli? And what do they need to do before the season starts? They also talk about the Ottawa Charge heading to the Canadian Tire Centre for their home games next season, and a quick look at a few headlines around the league. The #1 at the IX: https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/pwhl/pwhl-ottawa/ottawa-charge-pick-the-best-available-option-in-kanata-pwhl-canadian-tire-centre/Follow Maya on X: https://x.com/mayaxeverysportFollow Alyssa on X: https://x.com/aturnz11Photo credit: PWHL

Host Kathleen Gier breaks down the updated Gotham FC roster after the recent additions of Sam Kerr and Denise O'Sullivan. She also takes a look at the updated NWSL rankings and previews this week's WPSL Championships in Kansas City.

Heaps and Kerr return to a different NWSL than the one they left - https://www.theixsports.com/newsletter/lindsey-heaps-and-sam-kerr-return-to-a-different-nwsl/

Photo credit: Robert Deutsch | Imagn Images

Before engineering a new era on the Hilltop, Adia Barnes was a legend on the court at Arizona, leaving as the program's first-ever All-American. She won a WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm in 2004 and put together a long career overseas before trading her jersey for a clipboard.

Barnes doesn't take the easy route. She returned to her alma mater as head coach and built a struggling program into a national powerhouse, leading Arizona to within a single basket of a national championship in 2021. Now, she’s bringing that underdog mentality to Dallas, working to rebuild an SMU program while competing in a deep and challenging ACC.

In this episode, Coach Barnes opens up about why she left her comfort zone in Tucson for a new challenge, how matching up against legends like Cheryl Miller and Diana Taurasi shaped her "dawg" mentality, the brutal realities of the modern NIL era, and some incredible behind-the-scenes stories about the future pros she learned from as a Wildcat - on both the men’s and women’s side.

Content Warning: This discussion contains mentions of miscarriage and pregnancy loss.

Photo Credit: SMU Athletics

They got Laila Edwards and some key expansion pieces, but can they score goals? This week, podcast host Maya is joined by Eli Fastiff to talk about where PWHL San Jose stands heading into the off-season.

But first, the Boston Fleet are heading to Agganis Arena full-time next season. The Fleet will leave behind a lot of fans in Lowell, but is this the right move?

Eli also tells Maya about the experience of being in-person at the PWHL Draft and Awards show. He then breaks down what's missing in San Jose, what's exciting about this team, and where he thinks their strengths are going into the 2026-27 season.

Follow Eli on X: https://x.com/Eli_Fastiff

Follow Maya on X: https://x.com/mayaxeverysport

Read Lydia's story about the Boston Fleet: https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/pwhl/pwhl-boston/boston-fleet-to-call-agganis-arena-home-next-season

Maya's story based on last week's episode: https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/where-the-vancouver-goldeneyes-stand-heading-into-the-off-season/

Cover photo credit: PWHL