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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Naismith Reveals Coach of the Year Watch List 🏆
The Naismith Trophy released its 2026 Women’s College Coach of the Year Watch List this week, spotlighting the top 15 coaches in the game right now.
WHY IT MATTERS: There are some real turnaround stories on this list. Take Shea Ralph at Vanderbilt, who in her fifth season as head coach has turned a program with a losing record into a national championship contender this year. And then there’s Kara Lawson with the Duke Blue Devils, who after a rocky start of going 3-6 to start the season, are now on a 16-game win streak and sit at No. 9 in the national rankings. This kind of midseason adjustment says a lot about leadership.
🗳️ Who Should Win College Coach of the Year?
2. Becky Hammon Mid-Major Semifinalists Announced 🌟
The 2026 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year semifinalists are out, highlighting the top 10 players outside the Power 4 conferences.
WHY IT MATTERS: Mid-majors have produced serious WNBA talent before. Think Courtney Vandersloot (Gonzaga), Natasha Cloud (Saint Joseph’s), and Alysha Clark (Middle Tennessee). So, this award could very well spotlight the next long-term pro.
It’s also a reminder that talent isn’t necessarily from one part of the country. This year’s semifinalists represent eight different conferences and ten different teams from across the country, such as Maine and UC Riverside. The next major player could be somewhere you least expect it.
3. UConn Clinches Another BIG EAST Title 🐺
With a win over Villanova on Wednesday night, UConn officially clinched the BIG EAST regular season championship. The Huskies improved to 28–0 overall and 17–0 in conference play. (The UConn Blog)
WHY IT MATTERS: This makes six straight BIG EAST regular season titles since UConn returned from the AAC in 2020–21. They’ve now won an impressive 64 consecutive conference games. That consistency is why they’re once again at the center of the national title conversation.
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OVERTIME ⏱️
Reunited?: ESPN’s latest 2026 mock draft projects Azzi Fudd as the No. 1 overall pick, which would reunite her with Paige Bueckers in Dallas.
TV Ticking Clock: The WNBA’s CBA timeline has another variable not often discussed — ESPN reportedly has about two weeks before it may need to adjust programming plans if no deal is reached.
Good Vibes: If women’s basketball makes you happy, so will this mug. Because it’s all about your vibe.*
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🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: Looks like we’re feeling mixed about the status of the WNBA CBA negotiations. We asked whether the latest CBA news feels encouraging, and only half of you (51%) are feeling like a real progress is being made.
