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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Atlanta Takes Control of the Finals 🕹️
The Dream are becoming Golden State’s worst nightmare. The Atlanta Dream took a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals with a commanding 26-point win over the Valkyries on Wednesday. (USA Today)
WHY IT MATTERS: The Dream now have the edge, as well as their very first Finals home win in franchise history. They made a big statement in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,099 at State Farm Arena. Atlanta quickly filled the larger venue after moving the game from the 3,500-seat Gateway Center on short notice.
Game 4 is this Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
2. South Carolina Lands Another Top Recruit 🐔
The henhouse may be getting crowded soon. Zaniya Johnson, a five-star prospect ranked No. 18 in the Class of 2027, has committed to South Carolina. The 6-foot-4 recruit chose the Gamecocks over LSU. (Yahoo Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: Dawn Staley's program has now landed three highly ranked recruits this month. Johnson joins guards GG Banks, ranked No. 4 in the class, and Taylor Brown, ranked No. 30. South Carolina is continuing to put together an impressive recruiting class that could lead the Gamecocks to another national title in the future.
3. WNBA Finals Are Setting TV Records 📺
Fans are tuning in big time for the Finals. Game 1 averaged 2.1 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, making it the most-watched multi-game WNBA Finals game ever. Game 2 averaged 1.33 million, a record for a Finals Game 2 on cable. (Front Office Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: Game 1’s viewership increase, up 11% from the previous record, reflects the continued enthusiasm for the game, as well as the star power of Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese. This is her first season with Atlanta, and she’s putting on a show, averaging a double-double through the first three games of the Finals.
🗳️ Have you been watching the Finals?
🤝 From Our Partners: We occasionally share sponsored resources our readers might enjoy:
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OVERTIME ⏱️
Early Exit: Missouri's Sydney Mains announced her medical retirement after injuries limited her to three games in 2024-25 and kept her out last season.
Watchlist: ESPN spotlights JuJu Watkins, Sarah Strong, Hannah Hidalgo, and Mikayla Blakes as stars to watch this upcoming college season.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked if you have a favorite WNBA broadcaster, and it sounds like plenty of you have a familiar voice you look forward to hearing on game day. 78% of you said, “Yes, I do!”
