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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Expansion Draft Details Are Official 👀
The WNBA set the date and rules for the expansion draft as the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire get ready for 2026. The draft will take place Friday, April 3 on ESPN at 3:30 PM ET. A coin toss this Friday will decide who picks first in the expansion draft or gets the No. 6 pick in the April 13 college draft. The expansion draft will have two rounds, with each team making up to six picks per round and alternating selections. Current teams can protect five players. (WNBA)
WHY IT MATTERS: This is the first big step after the new CBA agreement. Toronto and Portland finally get to start building real rosters, and they’ll do it by picking from players left unprotected. If you’re a fan of one of the current teams, this is the part that gets uncomfortable. There’s a strong chance a player you like ends up on a new team.
🗳️ What are you most excited to follow as teams start building their rosters?
2. The Naismith Race Is Down to Four 🏆
The finalists for the Naismith Player, Defensive Player, and Coach of the Year awards are in. The Player of the Year finalist group includes Lauren Betts, Mikayla Blakes, Azzi Fudd, and Sarah Strong.
WHY IT MATTERS: These are the biggest individual awards in college basketball, so this list always gets attention. Betts is back as a finalist for the second straight year, and both she and Strong are up for multiple awards, which says a lot about their all-around impact this season. With the tournament still going for each finalist, every game now adds to her case.
3. CBS Doubles Down on the WNBA 📺
CBS Sports and the WNBA agreed to a new long-term media deal that will bring up to 20 regular season games to CBS and Paramount+ each year. The coverage will include pregame shows and a lineup of familiar voices like Lisa Leslie and Renee Montgomery. (CBS Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: More games on broadcast TV is always a win. This is the most WNBA coverage CBS has ever committed to, which means more visibility and more chances for new fans to find the league. It’s another sign that the business side of women’s basketball continues to look up.
Keeping Your Priorities Straight
With March post-season college games in full swing, and the WNBA season about to start, priorities are, well… priorities. It’s time to put women’s basketball on the to do list, and we’ve got you covered.
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OVERTIME ⏱️
Cyclones Shakeup: Seven Iowa State players have announced they’re entering the transfer portal, while Audi Crooks is still weighing her next move.
All-Access: Sabrina Ionescu just launched her own YouTube channel, giving us a closer look at her life on and off the court.
Story worth watching: Robin Roberts joined Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston to talk about her new Pat Summitt documentary.
