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NBC Sports
14-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2025 WNBA Draft: Unpacking Meghan McKeown's first round predictions
Just eight days after the 2025 women's March Madness championship, the WNBA draft will take place tonight, Monday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m ET in New York, NY. RELATED: How to watch 2025 WNBA Draft: Schedule, date, time, draft order, location The draft has already seen prominent shifts, with star guard Olivia Miles transferring from Notre Dame to TCU for her last year of eligibility. Miles was predicted to be a top pick in the 2025 draft. Azzi Fudd, who had a stellar performance for UConn during the NCAA Tournament, also announced her decision to decline the draft and play a final year for the Huskies. Got Next's Meghan McKeown made her 2025 draft predictions for the first round, headlined by Paige Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen and Shyanne Sellers. 1. Dallas Wings: G Paige Bueckers, UConn Fresh off a national championship win, Bueckers is expected to be the No.1 pick in the draft — as McKeown says, she 'will be shocked if that goes otherwise.' Bueckers finished her final season as a Husky with a 19.9 point average and an impressive 41.9% mark from 3-point range. To no one's surprise, she put up stunning numbers during March Madness, scoring a career high of 40 points in a Sweet 16 win vs Oklahoma. 2. Seattle Storm: F Kiki Iriafen, USC McKeown said she thinks the draft 'could go either way, shape or form' after the No. 1 pick but chose Iriafen as No. 2 because she's shown her worth and experience in the college game. The forward is coming off a strong performance in the NCAA Tournament and put up an average of 18 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game during her senior year with the Trojans. 3. Washington Mystics: G Sonia Citron, Notre Dame One of McKeown's favorite players in college basketball, Citron boasts a high basketball IQ and invaluable instincts on defense. McKeown thought she had one of the best performances guarding against USC star JuJu Watkins during the 2024-25 season and reasons that 'you can never argue against having a smart guard.' SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - MARCH 23: Sonia Citron #11 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish shoots the ball during the Second Round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Purcell Pavilion on March 23, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Abigail Dean/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) Abigail Dean/NCAA Photos via Getty Images RELATED: 2025 WNBA Draft: Predictions and recent shake-ups 4. Washington Mystics: C Dominique Malonga, ASVEL Féminin in the French Ligue Féminine de Basketball Malonga has a powerful blocking ability as an up-and-coming talent from France but will need time to develop according to McKeown. At 6'6, she averaged 15.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game this season. Just 19 years old, she was the youngest member (18) of the French basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the host nation took home silver, second to Team USA. PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Dominique Malonga #14 of Team France looks on prior to a Women's semifinal match between Team France and Team Belgium on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by)5. Golden State Valkyries: F Aneesah Morrow, LSU McKeown believes that Morrow, a dynamic offensive-rebounding forward, has a physicality that will help her adjust to the WNBA style of play. Morrow finished her career with 100+ double-doubles, a feat only one other player has accomplished in DI history. As a new franchise for the 2025-26 season and the 13th program in the league, the Valkyries will surely be looking for offensive talent to add to its roster. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 28: Aneesah Morrow #24 of the LSU Tigers in action against the NC State Wolfpack in the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Spokane Arena on March 28, 2025 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Kristen Young/University Images via Getty Images} Kristen Young/LSU/University Images via Getty Images RELATED: Meghan's 2025 WNBA mock draft: Picks 6-10 6. Washington Mystics: G Shyanne Sellers, Maryland Sellers spent a fair amount of her senior year rehabbing a knee injury, but the 6'2 point guard put up strong stats during the NCAA Tournament, including 28 points in the Terrapins' OT win against Alabama in the Sweet 16. She also provides defensive depth, which is crucial for WNBA rookies, and McKeown believes the locality of Sellers could be a bonus for the Mystics: 'The WNBA does not take locals into consideration at all, I'm sure, but from a fan standpoint, this could be fun to have.' 7. Connecticut Sun: G Hailey Van Lith, TCU Van Lith is a crafty guard and a smart playmaker, especially with ball-screen action. McKeown thinks that her decision to transfer to TCU from LSU and play a fifth year of college basketball drastically improved her draft stock, as Van Lith was able to gain more exposure and develop as a playmaker. Van Lith put up an average of 17.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in her final year. 8. Connecticut Sun: F Saniya Rivers, NC State The Sun are looking to rebuild with a new coach, Rachid Meziane, and an updated roster. This skilled forward could become a valued addition. Rivers put up 11.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game this season, leading the Wolfpack to the Sweet 16. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 28: Saniya Rivers #22 of the NC State Wolfpack dribbles the ball in the third quarter against the LSU Lady Tigers in the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Spokane Arena on March 28, 2025 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by)RELATED: WNBA Draft Order 2025: Full list for all three rounds including Dallas Wings with first overall pick 9. Los Angeles Sparks: G Georgia Amoore, Kentucky The Australian point guard finished her college career with the Wildcats after spending four years at Virginia Tech. Amoore is one of only three DI players ever with 2,300+ points and 800+ assists, alongside Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu. A tough guard, Amoore can find a way to get the ball in the hoop in many situations on the court. LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - MARCH 23: Georgia Amoore #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats passes the ball during the game against the Kansas State Wildcats in the NCAA women's basketball tournament Second Round on March 23, 2025 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by)10. Chicago Sky: G Serena Sundell, Kansas State Sundell was the first player in Big 12 history to record four seasons with 350 or more points and 150 or more assists. She finished the 2024-25 season with 508 points and 262 assists. Sundell could be the 12th player from Kansas State to play in the WNBA and the first since 2018. LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - MARCH 23: Serena Sundell #4 of the Kansas State Wildcats drives to the basket during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA women's basketball tournament Second Round on March 23, 2025 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by) 11. Minnesota Lynx: G JJ Quinerly, West Virginia As McKeown notes, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve values defensive players, and Quinerly fits that bill as a two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. After narrowly losing the 2024 WNBA championship against the New York Liberty, the Lynx could be looking for Quinerly's offensive power as well, as the guard racked up 20.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game this last season. KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 08: West Virginia Mountaineers guard JJ Quinerly (11) with the ball in the fourth quarter of a women's Big 12 tournament semifinal game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and TCU Horned Frogs on March 8, 2025 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images 12. Dallas Wings: F Sania Feagin, South Carolina The Gamecocks' forward had a slower start to her collegiate career but gained confidence over time, especially in the latter half of the 2024-25 season. With creative passing and screening abilities, Feagin helped the Gamecocks advance to the national championship for the second year in a row. COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 23: Sania Feagin #20 of the South Carolina Gamecocks passes the ball during the first half of a second round game in the NCAA Women's basketball tournament on March 23, 2025 in Columbia, South Carolina. The South Carolina Gamecocks won 64-53. (Photo by)After securing an NCAA title in dominant fashion, relive Paige Bueckers' top moments from UConn's championship 2024-25 season ahead of her leap to the WNBA, where she's expected to be drafted No. 1 overall. USC forward Kiki Iriafen was one of the top transfers and best players from the 2024-25 women's college basketball season. Watch the former Stanford star's top moments in her lone season with the Trojans. Look back on the best highlights from Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers' 2024-25 season, where she averaged 14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for the Terrapins. Watch Hailey Van Lith's best moments from the Paris Olympics, where she helped Team USA win bronze in 3x3 basketball.
Forbes
01-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Burgeoning Business Of Women's Sports: An Interview With Jane McManus
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 28: Aneesah Morrow #24 of the LSU Lady Tigers takes photos with fans ... More after the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Spokane Arena on March 28, 2025 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) The business of women's sports has boomed over the past several years. A number of converging factors, from social media to analytics to growing audiences, have benefitted the business of women's sports. Sports writer and professor Jane McManus explores the burgeoning women's sports business in her new book, The Fast Track: Inside the Surging Business of Women's Sports. I talked with McManus to get the scoop on what's behind the financial growth of women's sports. Jane McManus' new book, The Fast Track, explores recent growth in the business of women's sports. The timing of our conversation is really great given we're in the middle of March Madness, and that's the place where I think we see some of the most significant gains for women's sports. Your book really does a nice job of giving details about how we've gotten to this moment. What would you say are the top two or three contributors to the sea change that we've witnessed over the past couple of decades in women's sports? I would say number one is probably social media, and the reason for that is that there has always been a lot of reluctance around platforming women's sports, not because people aren't interested in women's sports, but because the advertising model makes that challenging when it comes to sports. Advertising is sold to men. I mean, that is just the way that it is. That's the business model for your average sports network, whether it's radio or TV, and that's always made it challenging, but social media showed that there was audience. When you have Megan Rapinoe or Serena Williams, and they have 2 million followers on a platform--2 million people bothered to click follow--that's an audience, and you can't deny that. And you know, who's really not interested in denying it are sponsors and companies who want to find 'influencers.' And athletes who play in women's sports leagues are some of the best influencers out there. What that means is, there's a demonstrated marketplace now, and I think that, in and of itself, is a huge factor. I think once there's this demonstrated audience, then that means you pay attention to that audience, you respect the audience. You want to sell that audience products, and the audience followed to TV. The pandemic kind of set up this little perfect storm for what was already bubbling to really overflow, and that was the WNBA and the NWSL coming back first from the pandemic. Those ratings were there. The audience was there. It showed that platforming these games can find success. LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Players from USA lift the FIFA Women's World Cup Trophy following her ... More team's victory the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United State of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) And then, and then the next thing would be, you know, a conversation around equity. I think it was in 2019 with the US Women's National Team, that's where you had a literal chance of equal pay. And then you have the NCAA coming back, and Sedona Prince's moment, which capsulized all of those things together, you know, equity, audience, and social media coming together to really demonstrate the power of women's sports. The book really focuses on sports as a business. What did you discover as the key takeaways for how the business of women's sports has changed over the past couple of decades? Data. I think there was very little interest in figuring out who the fan of women's sports was if they didn't act exactly like the fan of men's sports. And it was the de facto mode. Think about, for example, Google. If you were to put a search into Google, you know, 'NCAA games', you would have just been fed back men's games. So, it was always the default. But now you know again, audience. You can see the audience. The audience is arriving, capitalizing on that and figuring out who that audience is. So I think now you have sports innovation labs, Wasserman Collective, Big Blue, you know, all of these other entities which are interested in really getting into the analytics on the women's sports marketplace. Who is the consumer? How much do they spend? How are they consuming women's sports? Is it watching a game from beginning to end, or is it some other way of consuming, and I think there's more interest now in trying to meet the market, rather than expecting the market to meet the presentation. So of course, you know, one of the things that's happened recently is the transfer portal and NIL. How do you think those things have shifted the business of women's sports? I think it just goes to show you how NCAA college sports are so driven by revenue. Now that's such a difference in your and my lifetimes, you know? It does mean that women, just like men, can make money during their college years. And however, I think the marketplace for NIL and men is a little bit different than the marketplace for NIL and women. Women are still cultivated as influencers for the same reason that women have always been useful in advertising, which is physical attractiveness. And so, you know, again, there's no point in railing at the moon about this. It's just the way that it is. You know, it's very hard to say to somebody who's really marketable don't make money. Of course, they should go and make money in the way that they can. However, the marketplace around men and NIL is much more around athletic excellence and your last name if you happen to be Deion Sanders' kid. So there are other things that have an influence, rather than just how well you do. I think, it's been a real benefit for women who play sports; the same inequities, however, show up on an individual basis. Another thing you write about is the potential still for a lot of growth in women's sports as a business. Where do you see the greatest potential for that? PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 30: JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans smiles after a play during the ... More second half against the Baylor Lady Bears in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 30, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by) I think we're seeing a lot right now at the WNBA with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, that kind of rivalry coming in at the same time and extending into the WNBA from the NCAA. That rating for that game for the NCAA Women's final four last year—it's a paradigm busting number. So you see that kind of wash into the WNBA. You have Paige Bueckers and Juju Watkins, they're not far behind. So I think that it could continue. I also think because of the association with the NBA, which has not let it fail in 25 years despite different levels of interest and revenue generation, you do have that solidity. I think they realize now that they have a potential gold mine on their hands in terms of where a women's basketball is in the American consciousness at the moment. I see so those the rights fees when it comes to broadcast rights, the buy in when it comes to expansion teams. Numbers are all going way, way up, particularly in the WNBA with the NWSL too. I think the WNBA right now is really poised to capitalize. One of the things I really appreciate it is that very early on the book, you center women's bodies in the conversation. Why did you do that? Why did you see bodies as so central to the conversation? I think the reason I wanted to do something about bodies is because you cannot get away from it, that the expectations of women as physical creatures is very tied to their ability to move in the world. It's only recently that women really have had meaningful bodily autonomy in our in Western culture. And I think it's really important, because [young people] don't really have a sense of what happened before they were born or before they were 10. They don't really understand what how hard that fight was, and they kind of feel like things have just arrived, and this is the way it is. And that's true, but it's not the way it's always will been or always will be. Thinking of the current moment as some sort of inevitability on the road to progress is a mistake in my mind, because things are cyclical, and they go back and forth. You cannot look at women's sports without looking at women's bodies. You cannot have women's professional sports at scale without having reproductive freedom and autonomy. And so I felt like it was really important to establish that because, in this country, changing laws and changing norms around that will have an impact on women's sports. Your book's coming out as we've entered a new political era that's been marked by the targeting of DEI and women's bodies, and trans women in particular. Given what you've learned as you did your research for this book, what impact do you think things like Executive Orders, state legislation, corporate backtracking on diversity commitments, and Project 2025 will have on women's sports? This is a really important time for people to be very aware and wary. I think of political headwinds for sure. I think the idea of policing the bodies in women's sports will be pretty detrimental for women who want to play ,and for girls, if you have it set up, if there are laws that are passed so that for any 12-year-olds soccer team, another opposing parent can point at a little girl and say, 'That's a man.' I had a I had a young woman come up to me at a college where I was speaking, and she was a volleyball player, tall and, you know, impressive. And she said, 'When you said that, it really spoke to me. Because, there were parents who--I was the tallest girl sometimes, when I had short hair, somebody could easily misgender me.' Particularly as somebody who used to be a 12-year-old girl myself, I know how that feels. I know what it feels like to be accused of something, how that feels in the pit of your stomach. And I just think there's a lot of opportunity for situations where girls end up quitting because something just feels so bad. And that's what happens if you imagine you have to have period trackers in order to play in high school, or you have to go to a doctor and have a physical examination in order to prove to an opposing parent that you can actually play in the category of the team that you want to. I just think these things are ultimately things that will dampen the enthusiasm around women in sports. I also think you're right that the idea of DEI could be problematic because so many companies that are investing in women's sports do consider it to be part of the DEI platform. I think they just need to remove that. I think they need to remove that from that area of DEI. There are plenty of reasons to invest in women's sports, data, audience, etc, etc. You don't have to have it check the DEI box. Find other reasons, because the business proposition is there, and that remains strong. And I think it's probably a stronger reason. You know, there have been a lot of like things like, 'well, it's the right thing to do.' Those aren't as compelling to people. In a capitalist society, revenue generation counts, and the revenue is being generated right now. There's no other reason that really matters in the current moment. I think that the athletes who play and the women who want to play and the fans of women's sports just need to be very aware that this is a precarious environment. Show up, support, buy products. The fact of the matter is that if something is successful in our current moment on a sports platform, it's hard to just undo that. It's not impossible. I mean, we have seen the WNBA go from being super popular its first couple of years to a real trough, but it's back, and I think you have more girls and women playing sports now. You have more interest in women's sports now. So, the momentum is definitely on the side of the category, but it it could swing in the other direction as well.
USA Today
29-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas eliminates Lady Vols in Sweet 16
Texas eliminates Lady Vols in Sweet 16 No. 1 seed Texas (34-3) defeated No. 5 seed Tennessee (24-10), 67-59, Saturday in the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. The Longhorns led, 34-30, at halftime before Tennessee rallied to tie the game, 50-50, in the third quarter. Ruby Whitehorn totaled 16 points, two assists and one steal for Tennessee, which scored just nine points over the final 10 minutes of the contest and converted 5-of-26 three-point attempts against Texas. Texas also forced the Lady Vols into 18 turnovers. Zee Spearman recorded 13 points and seven rebounds, while Samara Spencer had 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal for Tennessee. Talaysia Cooper finished with seven points for Tennessee, which led, 13-8, in the first quarter. The Longhorns' Madison Booker led all scorers with 17 points. She also totaled six rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 March Madness: South Carolina survives Maryland scare to advance to Elite Eight, continue title defense
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 28: MiLaysia Fulwiley #12 of the South Carolina Gamecocks shoots the ball during the game against the Maryland Terrapins in the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 28, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Jason Clark/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) (Jason Clark via Getty Images) After a major scare, Dawn Staley and South Carolina are still dancing. The Gamecocks overcame a seven-point deficit and a very close fourth quarter to win 71-67 and advance to the Elite Eight. The game came down to the wire, with the two teams staying within point throughout most of the final quarter. But South Carolina pulled away in the final two minutes, and held off Maryland even as the Terrapins got back within as few as three points. Advertisement The defending champs stayed alive behind a huge 23-point performance from MiLaysia Fulwiley, who hit wild contested shots and drove the Gamecock's momentum in transition. Both teams got off to a sleepy start: In a low-scoring first quarter, Chloe Kitts and MiLaysia Fulwiley were the only two Gamecocks to get any points on the board. Maryland pulled ahead to a narrow lead heading into halftime, and began to grow that lead in the third quarter. But South Carolina began to march back, going on a big run to erase a seven-point deficit. Things stayed tight throughout the fourth quarter, with the two teams trading leads and staying within a point or two. In the final minute, with South Carolina up four points, the game came down to a fingertip. After an out-of-bounds ball had been ruled Maryland's possession, a successful challenge from Dawn Staley overturned the call, with the referees finding that the ball had grazed Kaylene Smikle's fingertip while she was out of bounds. Advertisement A pair of free throws from Chloe Kits gave the Gamecocks a six-point lead. But Maryland's Saylor Poffenbarger hit a beautiful three-pointer to make it a one-possession game with 25 seconds left. A handful of free throws and a crucial turnover from Maryland's Shyanne Sellers — who let the ball slip right through her fingers after the inbound — sealed the deal for South Carolina. Even a foul on Fulwiley with 0.5 seconds on the clock — which the officials called after Staley and Brenda Frese had started shaking hands — and the ensuing extra possession couldn't stop the Gamecocks from taking the win. South Carolina will now face Duke, who beat North Carolina in a relatively dull rivalry matchup earlier on Friday, in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lady Vols defeat Ohio State, advances to Sweet 16
No. 5 seed Tennessee (24-9) defeated No. 4 seed Ohio State (26-7), 82-67, Sunday in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. The Lady Vols led, 40-35, at halftime. Tennessee's victory over the Buckeyes earned the Lady Vols a 37th trip to the Sweet 16. Talaysia Cooper totaled 19 points, eight rebounds, seven steals and five assists for the Lady Vols, who trailed by as many as 11 points and faced a, 21-17, deficit at the end of the first quarter. Tennessee forced the Buckeyes into a season-high 23 turnovers and scored 37 points off Ohio State's miscues. Zee Spearman recorded 17 points, five rebounds and one block, while Ruby Whitehorn had 14 points and five rebounds for Tennessee. Samara Spencer added 10 points, six assists and two steals. Tess Darby scored nine points, all in the first half. She converted 3-of-6 field goal attempts and 3-of-4 three-point attempts Jewel Spear finished with seven points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. Jaloni Cambridge led Ohio State with 19 points. This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Talaysia Cooper scores 19 points to lead Lady Vols past Ohio State
