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Good morning! ☕️
For Valkyries fans, Happy Parade day. Golden State celebrates their historic championship with a parade in San Francisco at 12pm PT today.
What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. The Liberty Are Searching for A New Coach 🔎
One and done. The New York Liberty fired head coach Chris DeMarco on Tuesday after just one season. New York reached the second round of the playoffs before getting swept by Atlanta. (The Athletic)
WHY IT MATTERS: DeMarco signed a multiyear deal when he took the job last year, but the New York front office has seen enough. Expectations are high for this team who won the title in 2024 and still have the super trio of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu on their roster. A costly late-game mistake against Atlanta added to the frustration. Now the Liberty have another coaching search ahead of them.
2. Viewership Soared for the Finals Game 7 📺
Boohalla made history in more ways than one. The WNBA Finals Game 7 drew 3.3 million viewers on Halloween. That makes it the most-watched playoff game in league history. (Front Office Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: Game 7 was also the league’s second-most-watched game ever since opening weekend in 1997. And the full series averaged 1.89 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA Finals ever. The series brought a compelling match-up, with two defensive powerhouses vying for their first franchise championship, and the fan base showed up in a big way, even with the game being broadcast on a smaller cable network, which typically draws lower viewership compared to the major broadcasters.
🗳️ Did you watch the Finals Game 7?
3. Chloe Donnell Hits 14 Threes in One Game 🎯
An NCAA scoring record almost fell and the season has just started. Northwestern State sophomore Chloe Donnell tied the NCAA Division I record for made 3-pointers, making 14 three-pointers in the team’s first game of the season. (USA Today)
WHY IT MATTERS: Mid-major programs like Northwestern State don’t always get the attention that Power Four schools do. Donnell’s incredible shooting night is a good reason to pay attention to players across college basketball, including those outside the biggest programs.
Happy Ballhalla-days 🎄
In honor of the Valkyries’ championship parade today, we’re sharing these ornaments that will make GSV fans smile. Celebrate their historic ‘ship this holiday with an ornament that’s sure to be a conversation starter around the Christmas tree.
*If you buy through this link, 30 Second Timeout will earn a commission. Thank you for your support!
OVERTIME ⏱️
Hoops & Books: Caitlin Clark stopped by Good Morning America to discuss her new children’s book.
Sooner Down: Oklahoma sophomore Keeley Parks will miss the season with a knee injury.
The Next Gen: Gabby Williams talked about why it matters for girls to see 20,000 fans cheering for women’s basketball.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked what you thought about the Comets keeping their leadership in place. The votes were pretty split, but 44% of you said it makes sense because the team already has enough to manage with the move.
