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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Caitlin Clark Is Headed to the Broadcast Booth 🎙️
Caitlin Clark has a new role to add to her LinkedIn profile. She’ll join NBC Sports as a special contributor for Basketball Night in America, making her pregame studio debut on February 1st. She’s also set to appear again on March 29. (NBC Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: This is Clark’s first-ever TV analyst role, and it’s coming very early in her playing career. We’ve seen former WNBA players like Candace Parker, Renee Montgomery, and Chiney Ogwumike thrive in broadcasting, but that move usually comes later. Clark stepping into this space now says a lot about her comfort in the spotlight and the NBA’s growing interest in voices fans know and trust.
2. Naismith Awards Reveals DPOY Watch List 🛡️
The 2026 Naismith Women’s College Defensive Player of the Year midseason watch list is officially here, highlighting the top 25 players who make life miserable on the other end of the floor.
Big names are all over it. KK Arnold and Sarah Strong represent UConn, Joyce Edwards and Raven Johnson hold it down for South Carolina, and Hannah Hidalgo continues to make her case as one of the most disruptive guards in the country.
WHY IT MATTERS: Offense might sell tickets, but defense still wins championships. This list reflects individual performance, yes. But it also could be a preview of which teams are built for deep March runs. It’s no coincidence that UConn, Texas, and South Carolina each landed multiple players on the watch list, reinforcing their title conversation status.
3. Iowa State Is Leading the Ratings 📺
Iowa loves women’s basketball. According to Nielsen TV ratings, Iowa State Cyclones are the most-watched women’s college basketball program so far this season, with the Iowa Hawkeyes coming in second. (Des Moines Register)
WHY IT MATTERS: Iowa’s love for women’s basketball clearly didn’t disappear with former Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark’s graduation. Fans are still tuning in because they care about the programs. One important caveat, though: Nielsen doesn’t include streaming numbers, where teams like UConn often air their games, meaning this picture is impressive, but still incomplete.
Head Into Your Day With WBB Vibes
Share your WBB love with the ones you love this Valentine’s Day. Women’s basketball is good vibes, and this cute mug is a fun way to start your day!
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OVERTIME ⏱️
A Tough Ending: Iowa senior, and fan favorite Taylor McCabe’s career came to a close after a torn ACL. She finishes 11th in program history with 172 threes and owns a career 40.7% mark from deep, tied for best ever at Iowa.
Bigger Than Basketball: Nneka Ogwumike was named to TIME Magazine’s 2026 The Closers list, recognizing Black leaders advancing wealth equality.
Eyes on Paris: USA Basketball managing director Sue Bird shared her mindset on building the next Olympic roster on the latest episode of A Touch More.
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