We Need To Talk NOW

By CBS SportsSports News Sports News

We Need To Talk NOW episodes

March 25 WNBA CBA Updates: HISTORY has been made + Cathy Engelbert to CONTINUE as Commissioner?
Alicia Jay and Erica L. Ayala break down all of the latest in the WNBA CBA, including its ratification and newly-emerged details. PLUS, Adam Silver's latest comments on Cathy Engelbert continuing as commissioner.
(0:00) Intro
(0:50) CBS announces slate of 20 WNBA games for 2026 season
(2:53) WNBA CBA ratified: Breaking down the details
(21:02) Will Cathy Engelbert continue as WNBA commissioner?
27 min
March 24 March Madness is DELIVERING: Virginia HISTORY over Iowa, UConn DOMINATES I Women's Tournament Recap
Virginia making HISTORY with a win over Iowa. UConn DOMINATING Syracuse. Amaya Battle playing hero for Minnesota. Madison Booker dropping 40 and SO. MUCH. MORE. Round 2 had it ALL.
Alicia Jay and Erica L. Ayala break down all of the BIGGEST storylines of the second round of March Madness as we enter the Sweet 16.
(0:00) Intro
(0:30) Is this the MOST exciting Round 2 in recent memory?
(6:07) Standout performances from individual players
(13:25) Games that stood out
(28:25) Looking ahead to the Sweet 16
(32:30) Is Notre Dame the Cinderella of this tourney?
(36:24) Emerging storylines that we LOVE: Azzi Fudd’s nails and Brenda Freese’s coaching
59 min
March 23 Diana Taurasi doesn’t think Geno Auriemma will retire anytime soon: ‘Many more Championships’
Diana Taurasi joins Alicia Jay to discuss this year's NCAA Tournament, including standout moments thus far, who she has going to the Final Four and more. Additionally, they talk about Taurasi's former teammate Shea Ralph, the coaching job she's doing at Vanderbilt and how far she thinks the Commodores could go.
They also talk UConn, where Sarah Strong stacks up against the all-time greats and how this is the most determined she's seen Geno Auriemma in a long time.

(0:00) Intro and the importance of being a good pet parent
(1:36) Favorite March Madness memory
(2:09) Standout moments from the tourney thus far
(2:53) Who does she have going to the Final Four?
(3:57) How proud she is of Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt: ‘On any given night they can beat anyone’
(5:06) Mikayla Blakes could be ‘the best player’ on any team in the country
(5:48) Any other players that stand out in the tournament?
(6:52) On where Sarah Strong stacks up against UConn greats: ‘At the rate she’s going, it would be silly to not think she’ll be No. 1 eventually’
(8:05) Is there a player that she wishes she could’ve played with at UConn?
(8:43) What it meant to present Olivia Vukosa with POTY award & Why the decision to attend UConn isn’t an easy one
(9:57) Her retirement advice for Geno Auriemma and why she doesn’t think he’ll retire soon
(11:00) What makes Geno Auriemma a great coach
(12:06) Where this year’s UConn team will rank if they finish the season undefeated
14 min
March 22 NCAA Tournament First Round Recap: Iowa SURVIVES, Jazzy Davidson ARRIVES and Sarah Strong is HER
Who were the standout performers of the first round? Alicia Jay and Erica L. Ayala break down all of that and MORE in our NCAA Tournament First Round recap.
(0:00) Intro
(2:40) Where does Tennessee go from here?
(10:08) 1-seeds roll through the first round
(15:30) Iowa survives + Iowa State disappointment
(20:10) These players are HISTORY MAKERS
(27:58) Carver-Hawkeye Arena got STEAMY
(34:30) Chat Questions
(37:33) Round 2 Lookahead
44 min
March 21 Why Mikayla Blakes reminds Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph of Maya Moore
Alicia Jay and Erica L. Ayala are joined by Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph to talk at length about her career, including how this year's Commodores squad has changed her as a coach, how far she thinks they can go in the NCAA Tournament and beyond.
Additionally, she opens up about why Mikayla Blakes reminds her of UConn and WNBA great Maya Moore, why she chose to leave UConn and how she's forming her own legacy at Vanderbilt.
(0:00) Intro
(0:25) What she's looking forward to in this tournament
(1:45) Where she’s at in her 6-year Vanderbilt plan
(4:40) On teaching her players to be 'kind not nice'
(7:10) How this team has built toward the postseason
(9:10) The moment she knew this Vanderbilt team was special
(11:50) How does Vanderbilt get back to the Final Four?
(13:20) Impact that AD Candice Storey Lee has had on the team & Piece of advice from Geno Auriemma taking head coach job
(16:20) How she bonded with Mikayla Blakes on building a legacy
(19:02) Biggest growth she's seen in Mikayla
(19:55) What having back-to-back SEC Freshmen of the Year means for Vanderbilt
(20:55) What makes Mikayla built different, like Maya Moore
(22:48) How do they retain talent in the NIL age
(24:57) How UConn changed her as a player and coach
(28:30) How overcoming injuries made her a better coach
(31:01) What did it take for her to feel confident stepping into a head coach role?
(34:35) How she’s feeling about potential matchup with UConn in the tournament
(35:21) Advice coach Shea Ralph would give to player Shea Ralph
(35:55) Favorite and least-favorite basketball drill
(36:50) Former UConn player that she implicitly trusts with her daughter
(37:50) One thing people don’t normally know about Geno Auriemma
(39:45) Favorite March Madness memory
42 min
March 20 UCLA’s Gianna Kneepkens addresses pressure team faces in getting back to Final Four, reflects on how culture at UCLA has grown her game
Alicia Jay and Erica L. Ayala are joined by UCLA's Gianna Kneepkens ahead of the NCAA Tournament as the team aims to get back to the Final Four.
They get into spending her final season at UCLA, biggest things she’s learned and how she’s managing the lofty expectations for this Bruins squad. Additionally, they talk about how the team has kept the joy in playing and how that has propelled them this season.
Finally, they wrap talking a bit about the WNBA, with Gianna shouting out the Minnesota Lynx and Kayla McBride, and saying that the one skill she would steal from any current player is A’ja Wilson’s dominance.
(0:00) Intro & Welcome Gianna
(0:28) Biggest thing she’s learned going from Utah to UCLA
(1:07) What has the transition been like and what she feels she’s added to this Bruins squad
(2:02) On her impact at UCLA
(2:35) Importance of having a team mindset
(3:29) What winning the Big Ten Championship meant to her
(4:20) How she would describe this season at UCLA
(5:36) On how this season prepared her for the pros
(6:30) UCLA’s lack of coverage and keeping their circle tight
(7:32) Lessons she’s learned from Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez
(8:25) Any superstitions and Lauren Betts being the locker room DJ
(9:15) The importance of finding the joy in playing basketball
(10:38) Lauren Betts’ go-to pre-game jams
(11:41) What UCLA makes of their side of the NCAA Tournament bracket
(13:04) On the goal of making it back-to-back Final Four appearances
(14:06) On this being her final March Madness and staying present
(15:18) The Big Ten Tourney win already ranks among her favorite March Madness memories
(16:12) What Gianna now would say to Gianna after her injury
(17:17) What her mother’s support has meant to her
(18:21) Celebrating Big Ten win with her family
(19:09) Minnesota: The State of Women’s Basketball?
(20:32) Her favorite Minnesota basketball player
(21:14) Excitement around the WNBA CBA news and having a season
(22:13) Looking ahead to the WNBA Draft
(22:57) What makes Diana Taurasi her GOAT
(24:03) Which current WNBA player she looks up to
(24:52) One skill she wants? A’ja Wilson’s dominance
(25:49) How she describes her game
(26:24) How she’s learning the fashion game from her teammates
(27:40) Her pre-game routine and rituals + the importance of visualization
(29:17) One thing people don’t know about Gianna Kneepkens
32 min
March 19 NCAA March Madness Preview: Concerns around Texas, UCLA + These 5 Teams Could Be Disruptors
Which 1-seed is in the MOST danger? And which teams could stage early-round upsets? Alicia Jay, Erica L. Ayala and Terrika Foster-Brasby get into all of that and more in our NCAA Women's Tournament preview.
(0:00) Intro
(0:46) The BIGGEST storylines entering March Madness (concerns around Texas, UCLA?)
(9:49) Teams to look out for in Rounds 1 & 2 plus Dark Horse Final Four teams
(20:12) Teams Peaking & Teams That Have Something to Prove
(28:54) These 3 Players Will See Their Stock Rise in March
(36:07) Bracket Predictions for the First Two Rounds
45 min
March 18 ‘We Needed the Honesty:’ Aaliyah Crump reveals Vic Schaefer’s accountability changed Texas' season
Texas star freshman Aaliyah Crump joins Alicia Jay to break down what makes her a ‘Silent Assassin’ on the court, what she learned from players like Rori Harmon and Madison Booker and what the team is looking forward to in the NCAA Tournament.

Additionally, they talk about her decision not to redshirt after an injury that kept her out for two months, how Arike Ogunbowale inspired her to want to play in March Madness and what it felt like to win Texas’ first SEC Championship.

(0:00) Intro
(0:30) How would she describe herself? ‘Silent Assassin’
(1:25) Biggest thing she learned in her freshman year at Texas
(2:22) How Rori Harmon and Madison Booker have made her a better player
(3:57) How she’s settled into the Texas offense
(4:37) What would be on her scouting report?
(5:28) On the decision not to redshirt following two-month injury absence: ‘Texas is Bound for Greatness’
(6:35) Going from watching March Madness on TV to playing in it
(7:08) What it felt like to win the SEC championship
(8:08) One March Madness moment that made her want to play in the tournament one day
(8:51) Experiencing her first Selection Sunday
(9:51) Mikayla Blakes, Minnesota among players and teams she’s enjoyed watching this season
(10:43) How Vic Schaefer’s calling out Texas was pivotal for team’s growth
(11:59) What it means to have Kevin Durant be a huge supporter of Texas women’s basketball
(12:59) On being named to the SEC Community Service Team and the importance of giving back
(14:39) Her personal GOAT
(14:57) Why Maya Moore was her favorite basketball player to watch growing up
(15:20) Current WNBA player she looks up to: Paige Bueckers
(16:39) One thing people should know about Aaliyah Crump
(17:13) Who was the best freshman in the country this year?
18 min
March 18 Breaking Down ALL of the WNBA CBA Details + When Will The Season Start?
Alicia Jay and Erica L. Ayala break down everything you need to know about the WNBA CBA agreement.
(0:00) Intro
(0:44) Agreement details
(12:30) What makes it so groundbreaking & lingering questions
(16:40) How does this affect players playing in other leagues?
23 min
March 17 Jon Rothstein reacts to & picks every game in 2026 NCAA Tournament Bracket!
Follow Inside College Basketball Now on Apple or Spotify
Jon Rothstein breaks down his bracket.
33 min

About We Need To Talk NOW

From the publisher's feed

CBS Sports' groundbreaking women-focused brand We Need To Talk is launching a podcast. Get your weekly sports and culture fix with Alicia Jay and Erica Ayala. They will cover the top news in…