Florida

Why They’ll Win

Sometimes, the best team just wins. Florida, at least since the beginning of 2025, has been one of the best teams in the country. They’ve been in the upper tier of championship caliber programs all year. And in a loaded SEC, it was Florida who finished on top, capturing the conference tournament crown. They’ve won ten in a row, including defeating last year’s champs UConn—a team with a ton of postseason resolve. Walter Clayton Jr. leads a Gators backcourt that can really shoot it. He’s proven that he can carry the responsibility of the team for stretches, even as the Gators are trying to mount comebacks after not playing their best. That matters in games where nerves are heightened and not everyone on the floor is an NBA-level player. Florida has a player who can rise above and deliver in the clutch, and the Tournament is made for heroes like Clayton Jr. to ascend to legendary status.

Why They Won’t

Florida’s ugliest loss of the season was a 64-44 drubbing at Tennessee. In that game, the Gators shot an abysmal 24.5% from the field—with much credit to the Volunteer defense, obviously. That game is likely more aberration than characteristic, but no team is impervious to bad shooting. They only played Saturday’s opponent Auburn once before this season, but that familiarity still accounts for something. The Tigers were also one of the best teams all year, so the game will come down to who performs better with higher expectations on the line. If Clayton Jr., Will Richard and the like struggle from distance, Florida’s title run could end before Monday night. 

Duke

Why They’ll Win

Having the best pro prospect in the Tournament isn’t necessarily a guarantee to be playing for the title. While, for example, newly cemented first ballot Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to the title in 2003 and Derrick Rose and Memphis did lose to Kansas in the 2008 Championship game, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant did not make it to the Final Four in 2007 and John Wall didn’t in 2009, despite having other pro players on their collegiate teams. It is difficult to carry a team to a title in college offensively, specifically because of the way zone defenses and coaches’ schemes can secretly limit the number of shots a star can get in a 40-minute game. But that does not mean one player cannot be impactful. Duke’s Cooper Flagg is that player. As the potential number one pick in this June’s NBA Draft, Flagg is certainly at the top end of the talent pool in college. Having him gives head coach Jon Scheyer’s crew an advantage in San Antonio. Flagg is every bit as good as advertised, with wing versatility in a 6’9” athletic frame. The depth of young talent Dune has, including Tyrese Proctor and fellow freshman lottery prospect Kon Knueppel, the Blue Devils can definitely beat any of these teams to cut down the nets. They’ve proven it by beating Auburn 84-78 back on December 4^th.

Why They Won’t

Youth comes with a lot of perks. Youth brings an abundance of energy, a feeling of time on one’s hands, fewer moments of needing to stretch for hours before doing simple tasks. Youth is life. But youth rarely combines with experience and wisdom in a way that you can use it. Experience is a thing that can be gained after one needs it the most. Duke does not have much, college basketball experience on its roster, tournament experience. Going against other teams who both have more studied players and coaches could cost them in the intricate moments in close games. Could Duke overwhelm with their sheer talent and win both games by 20 and that lack of experience not matter? Sure. But these teams are all number one seeds—they’re the best of the best this year. It will be absolutely pertinent for the Blue Devils’ guards in particular to keep their composure this weekend.

Auburn 

Why They’ll Win

There are experienced teams like Houston, and then there is the Auburn Tigers starting lineup. Everyone in is a senior, including 25-year-old Chad Baker-Mazara, who’s as steady a forward there is in the country. That experience definitely allows for the Tigers to just be comfortable playing in big collegiate games. Aside from being good and talented, headed by National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome, they are much more mature on the floor than their collegiate counterparts. Evidenced by their comeback victory against March Madness staple Tom Izzo and Michigan State, being down early does not faze the Tigers. Even with Broome suffering an arm injury, the Tigers were able to overcome the Spartans to earn a trip to San Antonio—aided by Broome returning and having 25 points and 14 rebounds in that game. Freshman sixth man guard Tahaad Pettiford provides that youthful exuberance needed to change the energy in some games, but it will be the maturation of the starting five that will carry Auburn to the title, if they win it.

Why They Won’t

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl is one of the more charismatic figures in college basketball. During a time where more and more players and coaches seem to be less willing to be themselves, Pearl had never stayed from that going back to his Cinderella-leading days at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Now at Auburn, Paul has a chance to capture that elusive title. But having a team with valid championship aspirations means there are outside championship expectations. This leads to the pressure of winning, and Pearl’s teams have fallen short of those expectations in previous years. Just last year, Pearl’s Tigers won the SEC Tournament only to lose to Yale in the first round. Pearl was the coach at Tennessee in the 2007-08 season where the Vols won 31 games and lost in the Sweet Sixteen as a #2 seed. Pearl had to get over the proverbial hump one of these years. Unfortunately, a disappointing end to the regular season and other teams, including his conference tournament on Saturday, being as good as Auburn could thwart him from finally cutting down the nets.

Houston

Why They’ll Win 

There are some teams you just don’t want to face. Depending on the team, that reason to avoid them could be because of a unique style of play difficult to prepare for. Houston is that team, but not necessarily because their offensive identity is so rare that teams have to play different coverage to stop you. Simply put, Houston looks to beat teams up, imposing a physical and legal brand of basketball that tests the willpower of its adversaries. The Cougars hold teams to just 38.3 percent shooting, force over 13 turnovers with 7 steals a game, and out-rebound their opponents 40 to 36—all without a player taller than 6’8” on their roster. To call some of their, let’s say defense-oriented games rock fights would be offensive to rocks. Not only that, Houston brings catapults and boulders to these rock fights, overwhelming teams with the weight of their physicality. These other trans better be in both mental and physical shape to go 40 minutes with the Cougars. Sometimes, toughness in sports carries an embellishment with it, as everyone competing has to have some measure of it to even be here. Houston’s toughness is tangible and would be the driving force behind head coach Kelvin Sampson’s team being crowned champions. 

Why They Won’t

Putting the ball in the basket can be a struggle at times for Houston. Of the four remaining squads, Houston averages the fewest amount of points per game. The other three teams are over 80 a night while Houston averages less than 75 points. While that may not seem like a huge difference, it is in a 40-minute game where there just aren’t as many possessions. This means the Cougars will either have to shoot well or turn the game into a slog and hope the other team is more off from the field than they are. It’s not impossible, as it’s their form and nature to play those kinds of games. But consecutive misses and multiple scoring drought can add to the fatigue on defense. With each basket carrying more weight than just points on the scoreboard, a lot of responsibility will be placed on the shoulders of leading scorer L.J. Cryer to make sure quality buckets are taken. He and his backcourt mates are certainly up to the task, but said task is still a formidable. But it’s the final weekend in college basketball. It’s supposed to be difficult. 

That’s it from me. May this weekend’s games be legendary and entertaining and good luck to all teams involved. I’ll catch you next time!

The post MoCo Men’s Final Four Preview appeared first on Montgomery CoPod.

Texas

Why They’ll Win 

Defense, defense, defense. The Longhorns’ road to the championship starts on the end where their team does not have the basketball. Texas puts incredible pressure on their opponents’ guards, especially in inbound situations. Against TCU, Texas employed a, “three-on-two” method in which three defenders—led by senior guard Rori Harmon—defended the two closest TCU players to the inbounding player. This led to at least three five-second violations and a host of frantic turnovers and forced Big 12 Player of the Year Hailey Van Lith to have to expend more energy to bring the ball across halfcourt. And with a subpar performance from Sedona Prince, the Horned Frogs were leaned on and unable to ever truly threaten Texas in the second half. If Texas plays like that, along with Madison Booker living up to her All-American, Conference-Player-of-the-Year-in-two-separate-conferences ability, the Longhorns could very well cut down the nets. Head coach Vic Shaeffer will have his team prepared, and they will be formidable for South Carolina and possibly beyond.

Why They Won’t

 No matter how well a team plays defense, the name of the game of basketball is to score points. Texas will not shut out any opponent for 40 minutes, and the Longhorns themselves struggle to be dynamic on offense. Part of this is by design, as they lead the nation in two-point field goals. But part of those twos are out of necessity, as they just don’t have a lot of shooting. South Carolina can match Texas defensively, and has the added benefit of having beaten Texas twice earlier in the year. A fourth matchup means there won’t be anything new either team can surprise the other with, and in games like that, shot-making is mandatory. Booker is an incredible closer to be so young, but that does not dismiss the fact Texas is better equipped to wear teams down on defense than keep up scoring with them. Both teams on the other side of the bracket can get points up without becoming defensive sieves. Texas will have its hands full, for sure.

South Carolina 

Why They’ll Win

There is something to be said about championship experience and poise. While it is impossible to quantify in any tangible way, there is proof that prior experience in a situation improves one’s response to similar situations in the future. South Carolina is the most Tournament-tested team left, by far. And whether you believe they’re playing with fire facing second-half deficits in three consecutive games or that just cements how much valor the Gamecocks have in the face of basketball danger, South Carolina knows how to play in pressurized games—and their coach Dawn Staley has the patience of an entire convent. If South Carolina were to lose for the first time in the Tournament since 2023, it will not be because the moment is too big for coach nor team. That’s a big advantage, as nerves are natural to heighten this weekend. 

South Carolina’s guards are also not going to cost their team the game. Sometimes, especially in college postseason play, guards have a tendency to let their egos guide their decision making. This can lead to them playing outside themselves and costing their teams on both offense and defense. South Carolina does not have that issue with the likes of Te-Hina Paopao, Raven Johnson and Bree Hall. Even sensational sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley has yet to know defeat in the Tournament, and she brought South Carolina back in the Sweet Sixteen game against Maryland with her speed and quickness. No team will be able to make South Carolina quit with an early deficit.

Why They Won’t

As much as South Carolina is as balanced as sturdy an operation on the floor, there isn’t much that’s dynamic about them. Sure, not having that phenomenal fulcrum in the post like Aliyah Boston and Kamilla Cardoso has stunted the kind of offensive mismatches the Gamecocks are used to having. But even with them there, the guards were not asked to be explosive on offense. Sometimes, a team needs a different spark that isn’t as buttoned-up. That can be Fulwiley and freshman Joyce Edwards, who is First-Team All-SEC this year, but no one on the team—by design—can consistently call themselves South Carolina’s go-to person on offense. That can result in some confusion when it’s time to go get a bucket. Again, Texas has seen them three other times this season, so it may just come down to individual ability during clutch time. South Carolina won’t be rattled, but not having a hero when the world needs saving may spell doom for the crew from Columbia and keep them from a second-straight title.

UConn 

Why They’ll Win

They have the best player left in the Tournament. They also have a coach whose won eleven championships. Even including the fact Huskies coach Geno Auriemma is closing in on a decade without a title, the last time he won one, he won four in a row. I do not think he has forgotten what is like to capture a title, and Paige Bueckers is the top pro prospect in the women’s game. Add senior Azzi Fudd and freshman Sarah Strong, and the talent is there to carry UConn to the title. 

The Huskies’ offense is the most explosive from the perimeter left in the Tournament. Four players in the team have made at least 50 threes this season, and they shoot over 38 percent from distance as a team. South Carolina experienced how hot UConn can get in their matchup, in which UConn won 87-58 back in February. Teams must be very wary that at any moment, Paige and the Huskies can go on a run their opponents can’t match. And that run will not feel like an outlet for them. 

Why They Won’t

Talent has never been an issue for the Huskies. Since Auriemma has been at the helm, the list of collegiate and pro legends to come through Storrs, Connecticut, is near-infinite (I’m writing for one’s publications, right now). Even looking at the roster and coach, it is very difficult to find a legitimate reason Connecticut won’t win the championship. However, UConn is not infallible. They have lost three games, and maybe the deterrent to the Huskies’ trophy run lies in those losses. In two of the three defeats, UConn did not make their threes. That’s a very simple formula for losing—it’s difficult to win when you don’t make shots. It could just be that simple, as any team can have an off night. Trusting so much in a shot made less than two-fifths of the time, while really good comparatively, still means you miss more than you make. The law of averages operates in, “as above, so below,” which means UConn can possibly perform better than their 38 percent average and they can perform worse. Just ask Tennessee, a team that both beat UConn and did not make it past the Sweet Sixteen shooting threes at a high clip. UConn doesn’t totally commit to the long ball like the Vols, but jump shooting is still a big part of their philosophy. If enough shots don’t go through the net, the Huskies could be denied from cutting down the nets.

UCLA

Why They’ll Win

Lauren Betts also has claim to arguably be the best player left in the Tournament, if not the best player so season. This claim is not solely about her being 6’7”. Her skill level is super high, with incredible agility, footwork, and instructional tape worthy sealing in the post. The junior plays 30 minutes a game, and I’m sure that number would be higher if UCLA didn’t have as many lopsided victories as they do. Betts is both in shape and foul-avoidant. In the game against LSU, Betts picked up two personal fouls in the first quarter for the first time in her career. So this means that teams will have to content with Betts for most of the game on both ends of the floor, and there won’t be many moments without her presence in the game. Of course, UCLA has so much talent that even without Betts playing in the second quarter of that LSU game, the team extended their lead going into the half. She’s not all the Bruins have, but she is certainly a joker the other teams just do not carry in their decks. If Lauren Betts can impose her will on Friday and potentially Sunday, the UCLA women’s team can very easily be this year’s champs.

Also, to make another simple point, UCLA has only lost two games this season. Those two games were to chief rival USC, and they avenged that loss to capture the PAC-12, uh, Big Ten conference tournament championship. The Trojans are no longer in the bracket, meaning no team can feel too confident in believing UCLA is vulnerable. In November, the Bruins handily beat the Gamecocks 77-62, and the game wasn’t that close. They did not play Texas or UConn but it can be argued that UCLA has been better then those teams all year even if they were behind them in rankings during parts of the season. UCLA is really good, and there are times when the best team simply wins. That was the case for South Carolina last year. Maybe it could be the case for UCLA this year.

Why They Won’t

Unlike the men’s program, UCLA’s women’s basketball team has yet to win the NCAA Basketball Championship. Until this season, they had not reached the Final Four before. And like I explained with South Carolina, experience matters in highly-pressurized competitions. Some people are adept at performing well through nerves, but that doesn’t make them impervious to nervousness. This goes for player and coach, as Bruins head coach Cori Close had never reached the Final weekend, either. Close has been there since 2011, and this is her first and only head coaching gig. She’s been remarkable in Westwood upon arrival, winning nearly 70 percent of her games. Of course, the addition of Betts, guards Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez bolstered the program to further national prominence, but she is a very good coach and floor-raiser of her team. That said, UCLA was good enough to win it last year, and their guards and lack of feeding Betts factors in to their loss to LSU in the Sweet Sixteen a season ago. I mentioned guards and ego earlier. Another way that ego can manifest is in seemingly taking matchups personally and wanting so badly to show up the direct opponent in front of them. I do not know these players, so I cannot speak for their feelings. But last year against LSU, foregoing giving Betts the ball severely limited their chance to win. Credit to Kim Mulkey and the Tigers for defensive execution. However, to go back to the spades analogy, not feeding Betts is similar to keeping your aces for later in the hands—it’s too late to use them and now they aren’t as impactful. UCLA must avoid the trap of trying to go perimeter shot for perimeter shot, especially with UConn, and especially if UConn goes on a quick burst of scoring from deep. The temptation to be a hero is real during the Tournament, and UCLA must let the cape find them and not have players trying to put one on that’s too big for them. So that’s the Women’s NCAA Final Four Preview. Catch the games starting Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN and continuing Sunday, April 6^th on the same network. Catch y’all next time!

The post MoCo Women’s Final Four Preview appeared first on Montgomery CoPod.

What We Know

The #1 Seeds: UCLA is the top overall seed, with South Carolina, Texas and USC joining them. South Carolina comes into the Tournament having won last year’s championship. While they’re missing the dominant interior presence they’ve had in years past, they’re still a formidable opponent for anyone else in the field. The Gamecocks and their supporters may be a little surprised at not being the overall number one seed, but either way, they’re done talking. UCLA has been the best team for the most part of the season, but their two losses are to their biggest rival, who’s also on the #1 line. If chalk holds, the two Final Four matchups—Texas and South Carolina as well as USC and UCLA—will be the fourth time they occur this season. That makes for a hard-fought and well-earned trip to the Title Game. 

The Field

But we know chalk rarely holds, especially these days. Part of the magic that is March Madness is the fact that upsets happen all through the bracket. Though a top-3 seed has won every women’s NCAA basketball championship since its inception, there are some very good teams outside of those 12 teams—but I’d still pick one of those 12 to win. UConn is the #2 seed no one wants to play, and Notre Dame is the #3 teams would rather avoid. The ACC still gets two #2 seeds even without the Irish, with Duke and NC State playing their way to host games the first weekend. Familiar faces like Baylor, LSU, and North Carolina are also in that top-4 tier. But the intrigue is outside of that as well. Teams like Tennessee, West Virginia and Vanderbilt have a chance to advance to the second weekend, given a seemingly favorable draw. There is also likely to be at least one double-digit seed to win a game, but it’s difficult to be even somewhat sure of who.

Several schools have earned their first Tournament bids ever. These include Fairleigh Dickinson, Arkansas State, George Mason, William & Mary, Grand Canyon and UC San Diego. That’s another great aspect of the Tournament—teams that experience going to The Big Dance for the first time. In between the heavy favorites and those newbies are a few dozen teams looking to go on a surprise run like NC State’s Final Four run a year ago.

Underappreciated Players to Watch

Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State. The nation’s leading scorer plays for the Seminoles. Latson comes into the Tournament averaging 25 a game for a Florida State team that finished with 23 wins and defeated Notre Dame in the ACC regular season. Latson is relentless to the basket, averaging nearly eight free throw attempts a game in 30 minutes on the floor. In addition, she shoots 45 percent on 19 shots a night. So despite being a volume scorer, she’s still efficient. She also doesn’t bog down the Noles’ offense, since teammate Makayla Timpson still averages a double-double. Florida State has George Mason in the round of 64 before a potential matchup with 3-seed LSU in Baton Rouge, with LSU down star forward Aneesah Morrow out with injury.

Harmoni Turner, Harvard. With her flowing blonde hair, Harmoni Turner nearly does it all for the Harvard Crimson. She leads the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. In the two games in the Ivy League conference tournament, Turner had 44 in the semifinal against Princeton and 24 against Columbia in the final. She is shooting a career-high 44% from the field and 36% from three. At 5’10”, Turner has the size to complete with other guards. The 10^th-seeded Crimson have a first round date with Michigan State and those 7-10 matchups can get really interesting. Watch either against the Spartans this coming Saturday.

JJ Quinerly, West Virginia. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year is also a 20-point scorer. And in March, quality guard play carries teams through the weekends. Quinerly is a tough-minded guard for the Mountaineers and poses a major threat for 3-seeded North Carolina if both teams win on Saturday in the Round of 64. Quinerly plays hard and applies pressure every minute she’s out there, which could be every minute of the game.

Sonja Citron, Notre Dame. I know the Fighting Irish are a high-profile team in college basketball, even appearing in national commercials and such. And a lot of the attention the team gets is due to head coach Niele Ivey and the All-American backcourt of Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo. But senior Sonja Citron has been the steady glue for the Irish. She’s their defensive stopper, sometimes asked to defend the opponent’s best player and sacrifice her scoring. But there’s a reason she’s on the first round board of WNBA scouts. She’s that good. She always makes the right play and is in the right position on the court. That is essential for the Irish to advance in the Tournament.

Sedona Prince, TCU. Sedona Prince is arguably the best player in the country that does not get the recognition as one of the best players in the country. Prince is the Horned Frogs’ 6’6” center and she is the fulcrum of everything the team does on offense and defense. Her chemistry with Louisville and LSU transfer point guard Hailey Van Lith is a big part of why TCU won the Big 12 outright in the regular season and conference tournament. While guards may be a major key to a team advancing to the next weekend and beyond, a dominant center is the great equalizer in college basketball—just ask Dawn Staley and South Carolina. Prince is 0.1 points behind Van Lith in scoring on the team, to go along with her 9 boards, 3.1 blocks per game and 58.7% shooting. TCU is in a tough draw with potential matchups against Notre Dame and Texas in the second weekend, but Prince and the rest of the Horned Frogs are more than capable of making it to Tampa. 

“Predictions” 

I don’t really like giving predictions. I don’t care about being wrong—we’re all guessing, anyway–but I would rather just let the Tournament unfold as is. With that said, I did fill out one bracket and that bracket has UCLA cutting down the nets. If the Bruins’ guards do not forget they have the best center in America on their team and let Lauren Betts lead them to six straight wins, then it’ll be tough to beat them. If their guard lead with their egos, they can be defeated, even before they reach Tampa. I think only about six teams can win it all, which are the four #1 seeds, UConn and Notre Dame. The winner of Texas’ region won’t win it, to me, because it’s so grueling of a run to get through, especially compared to South Carolina’s draw on that same side of the bracket. It’s a tall task to ask any team there to win the region and potentially beat the Gamecocks to get to the title game. 

It also kind of feels like UConn is due for one, huh? It’s been none years since Geno and the Huskies have won, and Paige Bueckers would like nothing more than to cap off her legendary career with a title. No matter what happens, there will be excellent basketball played with drama, heartbreak, joy and passion. Happy March Madness everyone!

The post MoCo Womens’s College Basketball Tournament Preview appeared first on Montgomery CoPod.

What We Know

The #1 Seeds: Auburn, Duke, Houston and Florida are atop the bracket, with the Tigers nabbing the top overall seed. All four are the top four odds-on favorites to win the title, but championships aren’t won on sportsbook apps. 

The Field

Record conference dominance. Conference realignment has shifted the makeup of college sports all across the board. One of the main ways it has affected college basketball is in the fact there are more cross-country matchups within conferences. Another is that the bigger conferences have a chance to have more teams in the field than ever before. One year in to this new alignment and the SEC is already reaping benefits. The conference has a record 14 teams in the field, with Auburn and Florida headlining as #1 seeds

No 3-peat? UConn has won the previous two championships, the first team since 2006-07 Florida. But comparatively, they’ve had a disc season. Of course, losing four players, including two freshmen, to turning pro leaves some semblance of a void in talent. Yet UConn still managed to make the field as an #8 seed. They have a potential second round date with—oddly enough—with Florida, and Huskies head coach Dan Hurley certainly believes his team can pull off the upset. We will see just how close icon can come to winning a third-straight title.

Underappreciated Players To Watch 

Derik Queen, Maryland. Queen is a post player with a bevy of skills. To only be a teenager, his footwork (I day “feetwork” like Shaq) is polished both close to and away from the basket. Queen is averaging nearly 17 points a game with 9 rebounds. Maryland could see Memphis in the second round, and possibly either UConn or Florida to start the Sweet Sixteen.

D.J. Wagner, Arkansas. If you are a basketball fan of a certain age, you will recognize the name and face of D.J. Wagner. Son of former Memphis Tiger and former #4 overall pick Dajuan Wagner—who was also coached there by John Calipari—Wagner followed the coach from Kentucky to Arkansas for his sophomore season. The 6’4” guard has all the markings of a future pro and could be a tough matchup for 7-seeded Kansas to open the round of 64. The Razorbacks could be one of the double-digit seeds to win a game this year. 

Kam Jones, Marquette. Marquette seems to always keep quality upperclassmen guards. From Dwyane Wade to Jimmy Butler, there have been players in the backcourt that oka6y sound, impactful basketball. Kam Jones fits that mold. The 6’5” senior leads the Golden Eagles with 19.3 points per game on 48% shooting. He also dishes out 6 assists a game with a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Jones will take care of the ball and apply pressure as a scorer, and could be a tough matchup for New Mexico in the first round and potentially Michigan State afterward. It would be interesting to see the senior Jones against the freshman Jase Richardson as two talented guards on opposite portions of their collegiate journeys.

“Predictions”

The Men’s Tournament is a little more unpredictable than the women’s bracket, but the trends are generally similar. The upsets happen in the first weekend, but eventually, the higher seeds win out and the bracket leans closer to chalk when we reach the second and third weekend. In the lone bracket I filled out, I picked the Houston Cougars to win it all. Senior experience, tenacity and heady guard play will push Kelvin Sampson’s team to cut down the nets this year. 

No matter what happens over the next three weeks, here’s to an exciting Tournament filled with dreams, intrigue and all the Madness of March.

The post MoCo Men’s College Basketball Tournament Preview appeared first on Montgomery CoPod.

The NWSL was first established in 2013, with eight charter teams. The first championship was won by the Portland Thorns FC with the New York Flag winning the NWSL shield due to then playing in their fourth league in four years. A dozen years later, the NWSL has 15 teams now, with the Orlando Pride winning last year’s championship. 

The league has expanded to the point where regular season matches can be seen in multiple ways. Games will air on Amazon Prime, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+, CBS and CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, ION and NWSL+. Roku just announced an NWSL Zone, exclusive to Roku Sports. The Zone will showcase live and upcoming games, popular programming and more for the league. “With the popularity of women’s sports soaring, we’re focusing on amplifying the talent that makes it all happen,” said Joe Franzetta, Head of Sports at Roku. “Curating a dedicated zone for the NWSL is another step in our mission to champion female athletes, their record-breaking achievements, and their inspiring stories.”

The Orlando Pride will be in the first game of the season, with Championship MVP Barbra Banda leading Orlando alongside Brazilian soccer legend Marta against Chicago Stars FC. Last year’s runner-up, the Washington Spirit, will play in the other opening night match against the Houston Dash.  Trinity Rodman, Olympian and USWNT member, plays for the Spirit and returns as the team’s leading goal-scorer. 

As I previously stated, the NWSL has grown exponentially as part of the overall growth in interest and support of women’s sports. The league has an assortment of major partners. These entities include Nationwide, CarMax, Nike, Adobe, Ally, EA Sports, Amazon, Google Pixel, Bobbie and Deloitte. The league has also partnered with e.l.f Cosmetics on a multi-year deal as The NWSL’s official makeup and skin care partner. Kory Marchisotto, Chief Marketing Officer, e.l.f. Beauty, said, “Soccer’s global momentum is unstoppable. In the U.S. specifically, soccer attracts the youngest, most inclusive and diverse fanbase, with 54% under age 45 and 40% fans of color. By breaking barriers and connecting communities with the NWSL, e.l.f. furthers its mission to democratize access for every eye, lip and face. We help level the playing field so everyone wins.”

Before the regular season begins, the NWSL had a Challenge Cup that saw last year’s championship opponents, Orlando and Washington, square off again. This time, it was the Washington Spirit coming away with the penalty shootout victory after an Orlando goal late in regulation was ruled offside. Washington’s Aubrey Kingsbury came away with Challenge Cup MVP honors for scoring during the shootout. The spirit were able to win that Cup without Rodman in the lineup, signifying their depth of talent.

With a new slate, all 15 teams will be looking to vie for the 2025 NWSL championship. Players have changed teams and the shuffle of ever-growing talent can only hope to produce better on-field play. Over the next seven-and a-half-months, everyone will be in pursuit of teaching the top of the NWSL mountain. It should be a bun and thrilling journey, and I hope even more people tune in. 

That’s it for me. Catch y’all next time.

The post MoCo NWSL Preview appeared first on Montgomery CoPod.

Normally, I pick a couple general topics or happenings around basketball and give a little additional perspective that’s hopefully different and insightful. Today’s post rightfully focuses on one person. Let’s talk about Diana Taurasi.

For nearly 25 years, Diana Taurasi has been a staple in the landscape of women’s basketball. One of her first landmark moments in hoop came in college. However, as much as she won in her life, it is with a loss where this moment occurs. In her freshman year at UConn, Taurasi and the Huskies lost in the 2001 Final Four to Notre Dame. She vowed that UConn, “would never lose another Tournament game while I’m wearing this uniform.” Three straight National Championships later, Taurasi backed up her claim and demonstrated that she is determined to do what she wants to do.

UConn women’s head coach Geno Auriemma once proudly proclaimed that, “We have Diana and you don’t.” I’d like to think alongside that, Taurasi’s core principle is something similar:

“I’m Diana and you’re not.”

I don’t mean this is such a way that it frames Taurasi as haughty or so self-absorbed—nothing along those lines. Yet I do mean that fully-honed and cemented, partially-irrational confidence that comes with the growth of the immensely talented into the great. In my research of the concept of greatness, talent, desire and commitment are three key components the person must have to even attempt to pursue greatness. They work as a triumvirate of complete harmony, balancing and supporting each other should the person begin to doubt. For example, I commit to being a great writer because I have a desire to do so, even if I may sometimes doubt my talent. The development of desire, commitment and talent leads to what most superstar athletes have: a whole lot of confidence. Taurasi has never been short of confidence. But that’s because she is one of basketball’s most dedicated stewards. She never cheated the game.

From the time she was selected first overall in 2004 until her announcing retirement recently, Taurasi has accomplished so much. It’s almost better fitting that she has only one WNBA MVP that stands lonesome in her trophy case. Three WNBA championships, 14 first and second team All-WNBA selections, 5 scoring titles and making the 15th, 20th and 25th Anniversary teams only scratch the surface of her resulting impact over 20 professional seasons. This does not include her work overseas and the multitudes of winning she’s done there.

One of my favorite things about basketball is that a player’s personality shows up in their game, giving it its uniqueness. No two players shoot alike, choose to attach off the dribble alike, regardless of mimicry and study. There is no one that plays like Diana Taurasi. Again, she’s Diana and you’re not. She plays like she knows that, with her long-distance shooting, gamesmanship with trash talk and brash desire to win. It’s appropriate that she spent her entire W career with the Mercury: she plays with a fire that only someone close to the Sun can have, and that allowed her to ascend to celestial greatness.

As popular as the “G.O.A.T.” conversation is these days, it’s still a subjective matter that is based on feelings and an amalgamation of how an athlete’s feats and accomplishments make people feel. The certainly lies in the fact that Diana Taurasi is so uniquely great that it is a must that we acknowledge that uniqueness. Even in retirement, she did what she wanted to do—be interviewed, announce it and that’s it. Yes, she addressed the crowd after her final home game while it was not clear to us if she was done with basketball. But that’s the thing: if she had an interview with Time, then she had already made up her mind for some time that she was retiring. Just like her game on the court, she kept us guessing until it was time for her to reveal her already thought-out plan to leave the game as a player.

Diana Taurasi is timeless. She is a living legend worthy of celebration and worthy of her being able to rest and join us as we watch where the game of basketball goes from here. Thank you, DT, for being who you are. Basketball is thankful because we have Diana and other sports do not.

The post Hoop Recap: One of One appeared first on Montgomery CoPod.

Well, February certainly has started with its share of dreams and intrigue. In both the Men’s and Women’s National Basketball Associations, moves have been made and transactions have been processed. Major names have changed addresses and both leagues will have a new look to them going forward.

First, in the W, it seems like Unrivaled has become a recruiting ground for players in free agency and looking for a trade. From Brittney Griner signing with Atlanta to Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum involved in a trade to the Connecticut Sun dismantling their core to start anew, the WNBA seems to be taking advantage of this increase in attention and fandom. More people truly care what’s going on this off-season, and the W has more than delivered through Unrivaled and its free agency period.

Over in the NBA, of course the big transaction is the Los Angeles Lakers acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis. The key component in the deal—apologies to the other players and pieces involved—is that no one but the two GMs, Rob Pelinka and Nico Harrison, knew the deal was about to happen. This naturally leads to questions surrounding the why behind the secrecy as well as the why behind the reason Dallas traded a 25-year-old superstar that led them to the Finals a season ago. No matter the reason, the deal is done, and now both teams must solve new problems with their adjusted team makeup.

This is true of the other deals, like Jimmy Butler being traded to Golden State and De’Aaron Fox being traded to San Antonio. Those teams have a different construct, and the players and coaches will have to figure it out with roughly 30 games left in the season. I also don’t know what this means going forward as far as trade requests and demands go. For the past few years, “player empowerment” has been the movement, especially in the NBA. That means players have had much more say in where they would like to play going forward, and more willing to express displeasure and unhappiness with their current circumstances. Granted, the number of players with this kind of power is very minuscule compared to the overall population of players in the league. But there are enough of them that are willing to be vocal about where they would like their team’s direction to go. I don’t know if this is the start of front offices trying to wrestle a little more control back or not. But one thing is true, regardless of workplace, disgruntled employees must ultimately either be removed or satiated. Otherwise, the entire company can tank off bag vibes alone.

All-Star weekend may be a little awkward…

February Till Takes!
Unrivaled will have their 1-on-1 tournament starting February 7th. Thirty of the 36 players will participate. I encourage people to tune in because we will see just how skilled these women are. One-on-one allows players to really get into their isolation game and treat every possession like a potential game-winner. That should be done good hoop over the next couple weeks.

The Lakers trading for Mark Williams was the quality move that may not seem like it on the surface. Williams is young and willing to protect the paint. He’s not Anthony Davis but he certainly fills a need.

I do not think Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green will butt heads just because they’re both fiery personalities. If anything, they’ll team up and fuss at Buddy Hield.

That’s it for this hoop recap. I’ll catch up with y’all next time.

The post Hoop Recap: Big Moves, Bigger Questions appeared first on Montgomery CoPod.

Young has been a sublime scorer and shooter even going back to college. In his one season at the University of Oklahoma, he led the nation in scoring and assists—the first player ever to do so. But to carry that level of production into the NBA as one of the league’s smaller players—he’s listed at 6’0”—is remarkable in itself. Factor in that Young is a three-time All-Star and he truly is, in a foundational sense, really good at basketball.

If there is one area that Young and the Hawks would need to improve is more postseason success. Atlanta has reached the Eastern Conference Finals once in Young’s seven seasons, and have lost three times in the first round. Of course, failure or success is not solely dependent on one player. But Young is the face of the franchise, so he does carry some measure of responsibility to lift the team to be better.

That’s one of the factors of growth in a star player. It’s very easy to forget both how young these players are and simultaneously seeing how quickly these careers matriculate. Yes, we know how long the giants like LeBron, Steph and KD have been in the league. But those other players are creeping up there as well. Even with being in the NBA for seven seasons, he’s only 26. For perspective, Michael Jordan did not win a title until he was 28, and LeBron was 27. But even with that perspective, Young’s talent can be argued should elevate the Harms to more consistent second round appearance, at least.

Even with Young being a bit of an antihero—and a downright archnemesis to Knicks fans—his maturation is evident. There is far less on-court irritation, particularly with referees. And while he remains productive on offense, he has allowed other players to blossom, like Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels. He’s still “Ice Trae,” doing his signature shivering celebration after a big shot and mimicking shooting dice on the Knicks logo. But his growth is in his he plays the game. And the Atlanta Hawks have benefitted from it. Hopefully it will turn into more playoff success, but it will not be because Young hasn’t matured as a player and leader.

The post The Growth of Trae Young appeared first on Montgomery CoPod.

Alright, so this will likely be the last post from me in 2024. And I’m sure like most of you reading this, this year was more than a doozy in so many ways. I have had my share of setbacks and challenges that latch themselves onto the negative feelings like doubt and anxiety that cause me to not feel like I’m progressing every day. And that doesn’t include any physical problems that have arisen throughout the year. Since January 1^st—and of course, well before that date—life has certainly done life things in a way that doesn’t always feel good. 

Doesn’t it also seem like this is both the longest and shortest year ever? In the winter, nighttime feels like it comes before business hours are closed, as of the Sun decides to clock out early because even it needs a break sometimes. At the same time, something like Caitlin Clark’s first WNBA game feels like forever shi when that was in May. Six months ago, Kawhi Leonard was set to play on Team USA in the Olympics and we haven’t seen him play basketball at all since that very same month of May. With the constant cycle of problem, solution and outcome, we can lean into the fatigue and feel like there isn’t much to celebrate. 

But that does not mean there is nothing to celebrate. 

To tie it in with hoop, the Milwaukee Bucks just won the 2^nd Emirates NBA Cup, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in Vegas. Bucks assistant coach and former Lakers head coach Darvin Ham led Los Angeles to the Cup last year, and he suggested to the Bucks to avoid celebrating with champagne like the Lakers did in order to leave room that there is now work to be done during the season. The Cup is nice, and it certainly is something worth winning, but the goal of NBA teams is to hoist the Finals trophy much more than it is to lift the Cup one. 

So Milwaukee didn’t use the separate room to celebrate winning the Cup (and the $500k each) by spraying bottles of bubbly everywhere. But they did celebrate, and that’s my point. 

One thing this and recent years have taught me, aided by the institution of sports and championships, is that we celebrate the entirety of the journey. The final step to victory is worth it because of everything that led up to it. If you notice, when people give thanks and acknowledgments after winning something, the phrase, “along the way” is intimated throughout their words. That’s not coincidence. When you win, everything contributed to that win. Yes, the strategies that worked and the great days are essential. But so are the bruises, the doubts, the streak of days that lead to ideas like “slump” and “regression” to take root. The pursuit of excellence is not easy. And because it is not easy, it is lined with mistakes. But mistakes are the soil for greatness, because from a mistake, we decide that we can be better and start the voyage towards it. 

So I say to you, for 2024, lift your trophy high. You earned it. 

Till Takes! 

• The NBA is deciding to change the All-Star Game format to a quick pickup game tournament. I will maintain that the NBA has tricked fans into both believing these players don’t play hard and that they should always and only be concerned with winning championships. That begs of the question: why is it necessary for these nine-figure assets—because that’s what they are to these billion-dollar franchises—to take an exhibition game seriously? Why is it paramount to know they care to win this game as badly as a regular season or playoff game? The All-Star Game is a celebration of the best players of the first half of the season and acknowledging how good they’ve been so far. It is not a competitive battle for some arbitrary measure of effort. And those of you who believe it have allowed billionaires and party poopers mislead you into siding with management and not labor. 
• With USC and UConn set to okay in women’s college hoops, that game will feature Juju Watkins and Paige Bueckers. It is the rare occasion that both those young women have claim to the best guard in the country and that neither of them are that right now. I say that because Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo has begun her sophomore campaign with an amplified moxie and productivity, even as fellow All-American Olivia Miles is back with the Irish. Hidalgo is over 25 points a game and is her usual menacing self on defense. The Irish will be a tough out come March. 

That’s it for me in 2024. See y’all on the other side with another year and more hoop stories to recap. 

The post Hoop Recap: Lift The Trophy High appeared first on Montgomery CoPod.

Congratulations to the New York Liberty got winning their first championship in franchise history. One of the original teams that are still around finally has a title in its trophy case. Center Jonquel Jones was named Finals MVP and the Liberty defeated and incredibly tough and competitive Minnesota Lynx team in five closely-contested games. The atmosphere in the Barclays Center was beyond electric. It was fitting for the kind of year that W had. Not to mention the edition of Ellie the Elephant, the wonderful mascot of the New York Liberty, who was one of the brightest spots in the W.

From stellar rookies, record-setting attendance and individual statistical campaigns to competitive games and drama in the final days of the regular and postseasons, the 28th WNBA season was worth all the attention it garnered and then some. The product will be even better with the addition of more teams in the next couple years along with the continual edification of the league as a whole and its stars and their personal shine. There is room for so much more to grow if we continue to genuinely support women and women’s sports. It’s been time for us to catch up. Let’s see what happens in 2025.

Till Take!
The NBA season is set to begin and while I do not do predictions because they are sure to go wrong, I do believe the Association is poised to have a memorable season itself. To me, the NBA is better when its historically core franchises—the Knicks, the Celtics and the Lakers—are all relevant and at least good teams. This is the case this year, as well as last year’s contenders either improved or are still very good. There will be some teams that surprise and play better than expected, and that means there will be contenders who struggle more than we thought. From now until April, there is a lot to figure out and I can’t wait to watch it all unfold. Let’s enjoy the journey together.

That’s it for this recap. See you next time!

The post WNBA Recap: Championship Edition appeared first on Montgomery CoPod.