Did someone share this email with you? Get daily women’s basketball updates straight to your inbox. Sign up here!
Good Morning! ☕️
While you’re probably just getting your day started, the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup quarterfinals are already underway in Berlin. Team USA and Hungary tipped off first this morning. 👉 Check out the game results here.
What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. The WNBA Playoff Schedule Is Here 🏆
Time to get serious. We officially have dates for the 2026 WNBA playoffs. The first round begins Sunday, Sept. 27, followed by the semifinals on Oct. 4 and the Finals on Oct. 17.
WHY IT MATTERS: We’re almost there. With only a few regular-season games left, teams are still fighting for playoff positioning and every game can change the matchups we’ll see in the first round. We already know the eight teams that are in, and now we know exactly when the race for the championship begins.
2. The SEC Could Vote LSU Out of the Conference 🐯
Don’t mess with the SEC. Conference leaders are expected to meet today to vote on whether or not they will expel LSU from the conference. The situation is primarily focused on LSU’s football program and their unwillingness to follow SEC rules around the recruitment of professional athletes. (Sporting News)
WHY IT MATTERS: The issue may be coming from football, but a decision to remove LSU from the SEC impacts all Tiger sports programs. LSU women’s basketball would also be affected, and could potentially wreak havoc on the 2026-2027 schedule at the last minute, even impacting their ability to compete in the postseason.
🗳️ Should the SEC allow LSU to recruit professional athletes?
3. Alanna Smith Is Out for the World Cup 🩼
Tough break for the Opals. Alanna Smith will miss the rest of the FIBA World Cup due to a leg injury. The Australian forward is an important piece for the Opals, who have advanced to the quarterfinals and play today against Spain. (Yahoo Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: Australia heads into the quarterfinals without an important piece, but there’s also a WNBA concern. Smith plays for the Dallas Wings, who currently hold the No. 8 seed but are essentially tied with Washington and New York in a crowded bottom half of the standings. Dallas could climb as high as fourth with a strong finish, so Smith’s availability is hugely important for the Wings when the WNBA season resumes.
💌 Curious About The Post-Up Club? Start Here.
The September Post-Up Club issues are starting to land in mailboxes, but you don’t have to be a monthly member to get one. Kim has a limited number available as one-off issues if you’d like to see what The Post-Up Club is all about before deciding whether a subscription is for you.
OVERTIME ⏱️
Coverage Needed. A new report found that women’s sports still account for less than 10% of total TV sports coverage, even as the audience size and enthusiasm continues to grow significantly.
New Crew: USA Basketball announced the 3x3 U23 World Cup roster for the tournament beginning Sept. 16 in Wuhan, China.
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked how you were feeling about Team USA’s chances against Hungary today, and you were feeling pretty good. 79% of you said you were very confident. See if that confidence paid off by checking the game score here.
