In partnership with
Did someone share this email with you? Get daily women’s basketball updates straight to your inbox. Sign up here!
Curious about Unrivaled? Our guide to why you should watch the 3-on-3 league will help you get the most out of season two.
What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. AP Poll Sees Massive Shakeup 📊
The latest AP Top 25 dropped, and conference play wasted no time stirring things up. Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Louisville all jumped into the top 10, while LSU slid seven spots to No. 12 after back-to-back losses to ranked opponents. Notre Dame fell out of the rankings entirely, ending their streak of 85 consecutive AP Top 25 appearances.
WHY IT MATTERS: Now that Power 4 teams are facing each other night after night in conference, many teams are seeing their first real tests of the season. Expect even more movement like this over the coming weeks as conference play continues and the true contenders begin to separate themselves.
2. Unrivaled Open to Future WNBA Partnership 🤝
Unrivaled tipped off its second season Monday and also sparked some bigger-picture conversation. While no formal talks are happening, league president Alex Bazzell said Unrivaled would be open to partnering with the WNBA down the road, emphasizing that the league views itself as a complement to the W, not a competitor. (ESPN)
WHY IT MATTERS: This idea makes a lot of sense when you zoom out. As WNBA salaries rise under a new CBA, fewer players will need to head overseas just to make the math work in the offseason. Unrivaled offers something different. Players get paid to stay stateside and sharpen their games in a short, high-level winter league. It has already shown it can be a real development space, not just a fun side project. If the WNBA and Unrivaled ever align, it could reshape what the offseason looks like for a lot of players.
3. Napheesa Collier Addresses CBA Talks 🎙️
During Unrivaled’s season opener on Monday, Napheesa Collier joined the broadcast and delivered a clear message regarding ongoing WNBA CBA negotiations: The players are unified, and they are not backing down. (Yahoo Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: The current negotiation deadline is this Friday, January 9, and there is still no sign that a deal is close. Talks could continue past the deadline without an immediate work stoppage, but a strike is still on the table. Collier’s comments are a reminder that players are prepared to hold firm as they push for meaningful changes.
🤝 From Our Partners: We occasionally share sponsored resources our readers might enjoy:
Stop Waiting & Start Losing Weight Before for Just $179
Finally serious about weight loss? Join 500,000 weight loss patients & lose pounds of fat every week. MedVi provides highly effective GLP-1 treatments, personalized guidance, and everything you need to see real, consistent fat-loss results.
There are no membership fees, nothing confusing, and no insurance required. Just one simple, science-backed program that helps you get healthier each week.
Start today for only $179 and get free shipping.
Read all warnings before using GLP-ls. Side-effects may include a risk of thyroid c-cell tumors. Do not use GLP-1s if you or your family have a history of thyroid cancer. In certain situations, where clinically appropriate, a provider may prescribe compounded medication, which is prepared by a state-licensed sterile compounding pharmacy partner. Although compounded drugs are permitted to be prescribed under federal law, they are not FDA-approved and do not undergo FDA review for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality.
OVERTIME ⏱️
Building Blocks: Paige Bueckers added LEGO to her growing list of partners, turning a lifelong love of building into a major offseason deal.
Midseason Movers: CBS Sports released its first midseason Top 10 player rankings, with new faces joining familiar preseason names.
Young and Wise: Audi Crooks shared a great perspective after Iowa State’s first loss of the season.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked if you plan to watch Unrivaled this season, and the answer was a clear “of course.” 67% of you said you’re planning to tune in.
Love this newsletter and want to buy us a coffee? Virtual coffee, of course! You can help us keep this newsletter free for women’s hoops fans by contributing as much or as little as you like here 👇
