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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. AU Champions Week Is Here 🏀
Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball enters its fourth and final week of the season today. Just three game days left, and the 2026 champion will be crowned. Odyssey Sims currently sits atop the leaderboard with 4,612 points, but Rebekah Gardner, Tina Charles, Kierstan Bell, and Kaitlyn Chen are on her heels. (AU)
WHY IT MATTERS: AU’s format is unique in that it’s 5-on-5, but players earn individual points for how they perform. With just three game days left, this is the make-or-break stretch. The title, which comes with a cash bonus and a donation to the nonprofit of the winner’s choice, is still up for grabs.
🗳️ Who wins the AU title this week?
2. USA Basketball Names U18 Coaching Staff 🇺🇸
USA Basketball announced its 2026 Women’s U18 National Team coaching staff, with Niele Ivey (Notre Dame) serving as head coach. She’ll be joined by Charmin Smith (Cal) and Robyn Fralick (Michigan State) as assistants. They’ll lead Team USA at the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup, set for June 8–14. (USA Basketball)
WHY IT MATTERS: The USA is chasing its 12th straight gold medal in this event and its 13th overall. Bringing in this level of experience sends a clear message: USA Basketball expects to keep winning. Ivey is not new to this stage. She won gold as an assistant at the 2025 U19 World Cup and the 2024 U18 AmeriCup.
3. The Bird & Taurasi Show Is No More 🎙️
After six years, ESPN’s alternate Final Four broadcast, The Bird & Taurasi Show featuring Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, will not return this year. The network says the concept is being reimagined, with a new secondary broadcast planned instead. (Aya Abdeen)
WHY IT MATTERS: The alt-cast drew 1.4 million viewers for the 2024 title game, so it clearly worked. But a lot has changed. Both Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi have retired since the show launched. Taurasi has mostly stayed out of the spotlight, while Bird is juggling her USA Basketball front office role, multiple podcasts, and part ownership of the Seattle Storm. This could also be a sign that ESPN is leaning further into its current women’s basketball voices like Andraya Carter, Chiney Ogwumike, and lead host Christine Williamson.
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OVERTIME ⏱️
Sore But Worth It: Allisha Gray and Chelsea Gray hilariously share with Sue Bird about how exhausted they were after their Unrivaled 1v1 Finals.
Alone in the 600 Club: Chelsea Gray becomes the first player in Unrivaled history to reach 600 career points.
Record Breaker: Geno Auriemma breaks a tie with Tara VanDerveer for the most AP Top 25 appearances by a head coach.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked whether the WNBA and players union will meet the March 10 deadline. The mood was cautiously optimistic. Nearly 48% of you said, “Not sure, but I hope so!” Another 42% think they’ll get it done. Only 10% believe there isn’t enough time.
