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<ul class="summary-list"><li>The 2022 <keyword id="13568780" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba-draft" source="Orion">WNBA Draft</keyword> will see hoops dreams realized Monday starting at 7 p.m. ET.</li><li>Top prospects <keyword id="13391711" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nalyssa-smith" source="Orion">NaLyssa Smith</keyword>, <keyword id="13596931" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="veronica-burton" source="Orion">Veronica Burton</keyword>, and <keyword id="13596932" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lexie-hull" source="Orion">Lexie Hull</keyword> spoke to Insider ahead of the draft.</li></ul><keyword id="11896033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba" source="Orion">WNBA</keyword> Draft day is upon us, and a handful of college stars are preparing to realize their lifelong dreams of becoming professional basketball players.Three of the best-known prospects — <keyword id="12055088" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="baylor-bears" source="Orion">Baylor Bears</keyword> forward NaLyssa Smith, Northwestern Wildcats point guard Veronica Burton, and Stanford Cardinal shooting guard Lexie Hull — spoke to Insider about their mindsets leading up to the big day and what it would mean to hear their names called at the draft.<div type="image" title="NaLyssa Smith." height="1333" width="2000" msid="90786346" hostid="261"></div>Smith, who is projected to be among the top three picks in this year's draft, expressed confidence about her professional basketball prospects. And while she said it would be "a blessing regardless" to hear her name called Monday night, she's set her eyes on the top of the board."<a href="https://www.insider.com/wnba-draft-2022-nalyssa-smith-deserves-number-one-pick-2022-4">I deserve to be the number one pick</a>," Smith said.The 2019 NCAA champion and two-time All-America selection cited "all the time and energy I've put into the game of basketball" as part of her reasoning for going first overall while speaking to Insider about <a href="https://www.insider.com/womens-college-basketball-stars-reflect-ncaa-weight-room-scandal-2022-3">her NIL partnership with Wingstop</a>. And that hard work and dedication shows up in her statistics and highlight reels; the 6-foot-4 forward averaged 15.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game over her four years at Baylor, becoming one of just eight Bears players to record 2,000+ career points and the seventh to do so while also accumulating 1,000 career rebounds.<div type="image" title="NaLyssa Smith." height="1407" width="2500" msid="90786347" hostid="261"></div>This year, Smith averaged a team-high 22.1 points and 11.5 boards en route to a Baylor single-season record 25 double-doubles. Her 403 rebounds on the year were the most from a Bears player in more than 40 years, and the Texas native hinted that her style of play — and sheer dominance in the post — was inspired by two of the greatest bigs to ever play in the WNBA."I was always a Sparks fan growing up because of Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie," Smith said.Burton, meanwhile, spent four years dominating the other end of the court for Northwestern. One of the best defensive guards in this year's draft, the 5-foot-9 point guard led the nation with four steals per game this season en route to becoming a third-team All-America selection.<div type="image" title="Veronica Burton." height="1406" width="2500" msid="90786348" hostid="261"></div>After averaging a team-high 17.8 points and 6.4 assists per contest with 5.5 rebounds per game to boot in her senior season, Burton watched in disappointment as her Wildcats fell on the wrong side of the NCAA tournament bubble. She told Insider that the snub will help fuel her as she moves on to the pros."It was definitely pretty tough to not hear our name on Selection Sunday," Burton said of Northwestern. "But it for sure fueled me for whatever is to come next for me, and from seeing the disappointment on my teammates' faces I know they'll use it as motivation for the future as well."A stint in the WNBA is likely on the horizon, as Burton is projected to be among the first 15 players picked in Monday night's draft. Experts at <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/wnba/2022/4/7/22986574/wnba-2022-mock-draft-rhyne-howard-nalyssa-smith-shakira-austin-nyara-sabally-destanni-henderson">SB Nation</a>, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/2022-wnba-mock-draft-2-0-dream-take-rhyne-howard-no-1-after-blockbuster-trade-destanni-henderson-to-aces/">CBS</a>, and <a href="https://winsidr.com/2022/04/wnba-mock-draft-3-0/">Winsidr</a> all expect the Wildcats star to be taken in the first round, according to their most recent mock drafts, while <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10032303-2022-wnba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions-no-1-pick-trade-breakdown">Bleacher Report's Jackie Powell</a> has Burton going the highest at sixth overall.<div type="image" title="Veronica Burton." height="1406" width="2500" msid="90786349" hostid="261"></div>But the Newton, Massachusetts, native isn't all that concerned with how quickly her name is called. She's just interested in landing somewhere she has a chance to make "an impact" and snag one of the highly coveted roster spots."It would mean a lot to hear my name called come Draft night," Burton told Insider. "Being able to experience a night where all your hard work is celebrated is extremely special."I really am not focused on what round or what number I get called," she added. "Any opportunity is all I could ask for."<div type="image" title="Lexie Hull." height="1667" width="2500" msid="90786350" hostid="261"></div>After four standout years playing for Tara VanDerveer's Stanford squad, Hull has a similar outlook on Monday night's draft. The prolific shooting guard has already made her case to the powers that be in the pros: Her career stat line of 11.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game — plus two regular-season Pac-12 titles, three conference tournament trophies, and an NCAA championship — speaks for itself.But the draft is just a reflection of what she's already accomplished. Hull knows that the tough part comes after the picks come in. "It would mean the world to me able to walk on the stage at the draft, but I am hungry for any pick because I know that regardless of where I'm taken, there is a lot more important work to do," Hull told Insider. "I am excited for an opportunity to try out for any WNBA team and have the chance to play with the best players in the world."<div type="image" title="Lexie Hull." height="1399" width="2103" msid="90786351" hostid="261"></div>"I am excited for the draft, but I know that the draft is the first step of many to making a team and not necessarily the most important," she added.Smith, Burton, and Hull will be among a pool of 108 players hoping to hear their names called as one of the 36 picks at the 2022 WNBA Draft. But as the Cardinal star insinuated, the journey from draft pick to a roster spot is arguably even more arduous; even some lottery picks have failed to make the cut in years past.Still, getting drafted is a huge step on the path to the pros. Fans can tune in Monday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN to watch it all unfold at the 2022 WNBA Draft.

3 WNBA draft prospects express what it would mean to hear their names called to go pro

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12055088" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="baylor-bears" source="Orion">Baylor Bears</keyword> star <keyword id="13391711" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nalyssa-smith" source="Orion">NaLyssa Smith</keyword> told Insider she should be "the number one pick" in the <keyword id="13568780" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba-draft" source="Orion">WNBA Draft</keyword>.</li><li>Smith and <keyword id="12470934" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kentucky-wildcats" source="Orion">Kentucky Wildcats</keyword> star <keyword id="13568781" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rhyne-howard" source="Orion">Rhyne Howard</keyword> are widely expected to be the first two names off the board.</li></ul>With just 12 teams in the league and extremely limited roster spots available, NaLyssa Smith knows it will be "a blessing regardless" to hear her name called at the 2022 <keyword id="11896033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba" source="Orion">WNBA</keyword> Draft.But if you ask the Baylor Bears superstar when she should walk across the draft stage, she won't hesitate to give you a blunt answer: before everyone else."I deserve to be the number one pick," Smith told Insider.<div type="image" title="NaLyssa Smith." height="994" width="1325" msid="90710494" hostid="261"></div>The 2019 NCAA champion and two-time All-America selection cited "all the time and energy I've put into the game of basketball" as part of her reasoning for going first overall while speaking to Insider about <a href="https://www.insider.com/womens-college-basketball-stars-reflect-ncaa-weight-room-scandal-2022-3">her NIL partnership with Wingstop</a>. And that hard work and dedication shows up in her statistics and highlight reels; Smith is undoubtedly among the most skilled and most athletic prospects in the class.The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 15.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game over her four years at Baylor, becoming one of just eight Bears players to record 2,000+ career points and the seventh to do so while also accumulating 1,000 career rebounds.This year, Smith averaged a team-high 22.1 points and 11.5 boards en route to a Baylor single-season record 25 double-doubles. Her 403 rebounds on the year were the most from a Bears player in more than 40 years.<div type="image" title="NaLyssa Smith." height="1333" width="2000" msid="90710496" hostid="261"></div>"It's a blessing to be in the position I'm in today, and I appreciate everything that Baylor Nation has given me," Smith said. "I gave my all and stayed loyal to the program so I hope that I made Baylor Nation proud."It's no wonder that Smith is widely expected to be selected as one of the top-two picks in this year's draft. But whether she goes to the Atlanta Dream with the first pick or she drops to the Indiana Fever with the second is still up for debate.Kentucky Wildcats superstar Rhyne Howard — one of just a handful of three-time first-team All-America selections in <keyword id="12055086" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-college-basketball" source="Orion">women's college basketball</keyword> history — has long been considered a favorite to go first in the draft. She's an elite sharpshooter and lock-down defender who poses a mismatch threat as a 6-foot-2 guard, but it may take some time for Howard to adjust to the speed and talent level of the pros.<div type="image" title="Rhyne Howard." height="1861" width="2481" msid="90710497" hostid="261"></div>Smith, meanwhile, is viewed as "the most pro-ready player in this draft as far as being able to slide into a WNBA game today," an anonymous WNBA general manager told <a href="https://theathletic.com/3232328/2022/04/06/anonymous-wnba-draft-scouts-3-gms-assess-naz-hillmon-emily-engstler-thyne-howard-and-more/">The Athletic's Chantel Jennings</a>. That may make all the difference, as <a href="https://www.insider.com/atlanta-dream-recruit-top-management-team-gm-overhaul-wnba-franchise-2021-10">the Dream are embarking on a total rebuild</a> and are in need of a franchise cornerstone.Smith — who played for former Atlanta head coach Nicki Collen at Baylor this year — could very well be the best-suited draftee to improve the Dream's outlook for the 2022 season."There are two things that college players have to deal with immediately, it's the faster pace — the 24-second clock — and the physicality of the league," another anonymous GM told Jennings. "You're 21, and you're playing against someone who's 30, and they've been in the weight room nine more years than you. With Nicki [Collen], what she helped NaLyssa with is that they played faster, they played more up-tempo, inside and outside."<div type="image" title="NaLyssa Smith." height="1666" width="2222" msid="90710500" hostid="261"></div>"[I] can't imagine anyone passing on her if she's sitting there," the GM added.The WNBA Draft is scheduled for Monday, April 11 at New York's Spring Studios. Fans can tune in to watch the action on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET.

Top WNBA draft prospect NaLyssa Smith says 'I deserve to be the No. 1 pick'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The 2021 <keyword id="11932023" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ncaa" source="Orion">NCAA</keyword> tournament was marred by controversy following the weight room scandal.</li><li>Social media posts revealed disparities between the resources at the men's and women's tourneys.</li></ul>With increased parity across the board, bigger stars emerging each season, and more coverage of the sport itself, the women's NCAA tournament has been steadily making gains.But in 2021, focus shifted from the hardwood to the weight room as <keyword id="12832958" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="march-madness" source="Orion">March Madness</keyword> was embroiled with controversy.Thanks to a video shared on social media by Oregon Ducks star Sedona Prince, blatant disparities between the resources offered to athletes at the men's and women's tournaments were broadcast for all to see. Most notably, players at the men's tournament had access to a sparkling weight room filled with rows of top-notch machinery. At the women's tournament, players were expected to make due with a pile of yoga mats and a pathetic-looking rack of dumbbells.Nearly a year later, four of college basketball's biggest superstars — Louisville's <keyword id="13391712" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="hailey-van-lith" source="Orion">Hailey Van Lith</keyword>, Baylor's <keyword id="13391711" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nalyssa-smith" source="Orion">NaLyssa Smith</keyword>, Michigan's <keyword id="13391713" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="naz-hillmon" source="Orion">Naz Hillmon</keyword>, and UConn's <keyword id="13391714" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="christyn-williams" source="Orion">Christyn Williams</keyword> — reflected on the experience during an exclusive roundtable with TOGETHXR."I mean, that was crazy," Williams said. "You can't even make that up.""They tried us, for sure," Smith added with a laugh. "They tried to play us."<div type="image" title="UConn's Christyn Williams looks to pass the ball." height="1855" width="2500" msid="90234718" hostid="261"></div>Williams then recounted the moment she and her Huskies teammates saw the weight room situation with their own eyes, a hint of disbelief in her voice."Like, honestly, we went to the gym and saw it had like five yoga mats and two-pound dumbbells," Williams said. "I'm like, WHAT?!""Our practice gym, like, had the lights turned off," Van Lith chimed in. "There was no lights in the practice gym! It was like a ballroom."<div type="image" title="Louisville's Hailey Van Lith handles the ball." height="1667" width="2500" msid="90234719" hostid="261"></div>Williams then broke down <a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessWBB/status/1372676389208477696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1372676389208477696%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insider.com%2Fncaa-sexism-images-show-inequality-mens-womens-march-madness-2021-3">the NCAA's "reasoning"</a> for the uneven resources provided to the men's and women's basketball stars. Leadership of the governing body for college <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> initially claimed that a lack of space at the women's tournament resulted in the lackluster weight room situation, but that turned out to be <a href="https://www.insider.com/ncaa-sexism-images-show-inequality-mens-womens-march-madness-2021-3">an easily debunked excuse</a>."They had a whole new gym the next day, didn't they?!" Hillmon said, referencing the replacement weight room the NCAA cobbled together after the scandal erupted."They got it quick!" Williams added. "I'm like, y'all could've just did this at the beginning."<div type="image" title="Michigan's Naz Hillmon grabs a rebound." height="1667" width="2500" msid="90234720" hostid="261"></div>All four athletes commended Prince for making the initial video that shined a light on the NCAA's wrongdoing. Hillmon also noted that the powers that be will always find a way to cut corners "if we don't continue to hold them accountable.""That took guts, too," Van Lith said of Prince. "If I was her, I don't know about going against the NCAA like that. That's big time."Check out the full video — in which Van Lith, Smith, Hillmon, and Williams discuss NIL, March Madness, social media, mental health, and more —below:

4 college basketball stars blasted the NCAA for the 'crazy' 2021 March Madness weight room scandal

<ul class="summary-list"><li>WNBA players Natasha Cloud and Sydney Colson competed head-to-head in Athletes Unlimited Wednesday.</li><li>During the fourth-quarter, Cloud pulled down Colson's shorts as her teammate prepared to take a free throw.</li></ul>Natasha Cloud turned to some unconventional tactics to help her team try to eke out a win.During Gameday 4 of Athletes Unlimited Basketball Season 2 Wednesday night, the WNBA star's team — "Team Harrison" — played a closely contested matchup against "Team Smith." With the game coming down-to-the-wire late in the fourth quarter, Cloud found herself guarding fellow WNBA player Sydney Colson.<div type="image" title="Natasha Cloud competes in Athletes Unlimited's inaugural basketball season." height="1666" width="2222" msid="98372906" hostid="261" sizebytes="149900"></div>As Colson's team captain — Indiana Fever star NaLyssa Smith — prepared to shoot a free throw, Cloud got in position to box out the 2022 WNBA champion, despite standing outside the three-point arc. Then the point guard reached her arms back and pulled down Colson's blue shorts.A chorus of laughter erupted from off the court, and Cloud turned to say something indecipherable to the fans, teammates, opponents, and media members watching a few feet away. Colson pulled her pants back up over her compression shorts with a smirk on her face, as if to say, "Well played." As fellow WNBA players who are both taking part in the second season of AU Basketball, Colson and her pants-er are actually good friends. After the game, Cloud reposted the video with "we childish" and "I love you OG" to her Instagram story.The Las Vegas Aces fan favorite — known to be a jokester in her own right — re-shared the story and added: " THAT'S A TECH "But ultimately, Colson was the one who got the last laugh. She contributed 16 points, three rebounds, seven assists, and three steals to Team Smith's two-point win over Cloud's squad.<div type="image" title="Sydney Colson with Athletes Unlimited." height="1666" width="2222" msid="98372908" hostid="261" sizebytes="112622"></div>And in the <a href="https://www.insider.com/athletes-unlimited-basketball-league-natasha-cloud-jon-patricof-interview-2021-10" rel="">innovative league</a> — which features a unique athlete-centered model — players earn points based on both team wins and individual performance. Not only was Colson the second-highest points earner on <a href="https://auprosports.com/leaderboard/">AU's leaderboard for the game</a>, but her 520-point output on the night also helped her pass the Washington Mystics star on the 2023 season leaderboard.Colson sits at No. 25 overall through four games — one spot and just seven points higher than Cloud. Both guards will have the chance to improve their rankings as they hit the court in Dallas Friday and Saturday.While Cloud and Colson won't face off head-to-head again this week, they'll again share the court — maybe as foes or maybe as teammates — come Week 3, when new captains are chosen and given the power to draft new squads. Fans can tune in for upcoming AU Basketball games on <a href="https://www.insider.com/wnba-athletes-unlimited-partner-streaming-womens-basketball-2023-2">WNBA League Pass</a>.

A women's basketball star pantsed her opponent mid-game, but the prank victim wound up with the last laugh

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Athletes Unlimited has signed 15 current or past WNBA players for its second basketball campaign.</li><li>Former WNBA All-Stars, champions, and top-notch rookies will face off for a month in Dallas, Texas.</li></ul>Athletes Unlimited has inked 31 players — including 15 current and former WNBA stars — for its upcoming basketball season.The innovative <a href="https://www.insider.com/athletes-unlimited-basketball-league-natasha-cloud-jon-patricof-interview-2021-10">professional basketball league</a>, which serves as a complement to the WNBA by keeping stars stateside during the off-season, announced Tuesday that it's set to host its second campaign from February 22 to March 26, 2023 in Dallas.In addition to returning six of its top 10 stars from last year's campaign in Las Vegas — including Natasha Cloud, Lexie Brown, Odyssey Sims, DiJonai Carrington, Courtney Williams, and Taj Cole — Athletes Unlimited has signed several additional WNBA stars, champions, standout rookies, and even an Olympic gold medalist to its impressive roster of contenders.<div type="image" title="Sydney Colson with Athletes Unlimited." height="1666" width="2222" msid="95082814" hostid="261" sizebytes="112622"></div>NaLyssa Smith, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft who went on to earn All-Rookie honors after her professional debut, could have <a href="https://www.insider.com/brittney-griner-russia-arrest-wnba-players-overseas-dilemma-2022-4">easily traveled overseas</a> to play like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/low-wnba-salaries-brittney-griner-arrest-russia-detainment-2022-3">many others in the W</a>. Instead, she chose to remain in the US and join AU back in her home state of Texas."I love that it's in Dallas, so my family could see me play again," Smith told Insider. "Because they missed a lot there in the WNBA for sure."Location was far from the only factor influencing the Indiana Fever forward's decision to suit up for AU. A former Baylor Bear, Smith joined the Fever's ranks for her rookie season less than a month after ending her collegiate career.<div type="image" title="NaLyssa Smith." height="1333" width="2000" msid="95082815" hostid="261" sizebytes="89472"></div>Had she gone abroad to compete for a European or Asian club, Smith very well could have spent an entire year playing at the top levels of women's basketball without a moment for rest and recovery. She knew herself and her body well enough to understand that she "needed a break, honestly."And Athletes Unlimited gave her the time for just that."I went straight from college straight to the WNBA, then it would've been straight to overseas," Smith said. "So I knew like as soon as the WNBA ended I was gonna do AU, because it gives you some time to prepare."<div type="image" title="NaLyssa Smith with the Indiana Fever." height="1667" width="2500" msid="95082819" hostid="261" sizebytes="120818"></div>"Then you go play AU and you still get to compete at a high level," she added. "It's not you taking time off — you're still going to compete and you get to play with different people... I feel like this is gonna help me grow a lot."Athletes Unlimited's unique athlete-centered model, which offers a markedly different product from the more traditional approach to basketball the WNBA has taken for 26 seasons and counting, also appealed to Smith. In each Athletes Unlimited league — there are currently four, including softball, basketball, lacrosse, and volleyball — players earn points based on both team wins and individual performance.The player leaderboard changes in real-time, and at the end of each week, the top four point earners become the captains of reshuffled squads for the following week's games. Basketball, where individual stat lines drive much of the discourse, pairs well with AU's approach to quantifying both individual and team contributions.<div type="image" title="Odyssey Sims dribbles into the paint." height="1667" width="2500" msid="95082821" hostid="261" sizebytes="189826"></div>"I like how different the scoring is and how it's not just your average basketball game," Smith said. That's one of the things that drew me to AU, and also playing with different players each week and being able to be a captain.""There's some excitement in wanting to compete hard so you could be a captain," she added, then vowed "to be on the top" of the leaderboard.For Smith and the other 30 players headed to Dallas' Fair Park Coliseum in a few months, Athletes Unlimited's broadcast deal is a major bonus, too. All 30 games will be readily accessible to audiences around the world, and for fans in the United States, five contests appear on CBS Sports Network.<div type="image" title="DiJonai Carrington with Athletes Unlimited." height="1877" width="2500" msid="95082822" hostid="261" sizebytes="209040"></div>"I watched last season — I watch it a lot, actually, because it was televised on places that we could watch it, so that was another thing that I liked about it," Smith said. "After the WNBA season, a lot of players go overseas, but you don't get to really watch them and follow their path. AU you gives you that opportunity to keep watching and keep following your favorite players."So I knew right then and there like I was gonna do it, and that's why I'm here," she added.As with AU's other sports leagues, participating athletes will be — and already have been — instrumental to decision-making efforts ahead of the basketball season. Players are empowered to control everything from uniforms and accommodations to roster formation and league rules.<div type="image" title="Mercedes Russell and Isabelle Harrison go up for a jump ball." height="1667" width="2500" msid="95082824" hostid="261" sizebytes="272898"></div>And without team owners in the mix, the athletes split league profits. Athletes Unlimited even enables players to compete on behalf of non-profit organizations via its <a href="https://auprosports.com/read/athletes-unlimited-reaches-1-million-given-through-athlete-causes-program/">"Athlete Causes" program</a>.Though the complete Athletes Unlimited basketball schedule has yet to be finalized, fans can prepare for the upcoming season by tuning in for the CBS special "Athletes Unlimited: A Pro Sports Revolution," Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET. Tickets to watch in-person in Dallas go on sale Thursday at 12 p.m. ET <a href="https://auprosports.com/tickets/basketball/">on AU's website</a>.The list of participating athletes for the 2023 Athletes Unlimited basketball season is as follows:<table><tbody><tr><td>No.</td><td>Name</td><td>Pos.</td><td>Height</td><td>Hometown</td><td>College</td><td>Pronouns</td></tr><tr><td>33</td><td>Antoinette Bannister</td><td>G/F</td><td>5-10</td><td>Jacksonville, Fla. East Carolina</td><td>East Carolina</td><td>She/Her</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Kristi Bellock</td><td>F</td><td>6-1</td><td>St. Rose, La.</td><td>Texas A&amp;M</td><td>She/Her</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Lexie Brown</td><td>G</td><td>5-9</td><td>Suwanee, Ga.</td><td>Duke</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>Kirby Burkholder</td><td>G</td><td>5-11</td><td>Bridgewater, Va.</td><td>James Madison</td><td>She/Her</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Jordin Canada</td><td>G</td><td>5-6</td><td>Los Angeles, Calif.</td><td>UCLA</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>41</td><td>DiJonai Carrington</td><td>F</td><td>6-0</td><td>San Diego, Calif.</td><td>Stanford</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Essence Carson</td><td>G</td><td>6-1</td><td>Paterson, N.J.</td><td>Rutgers</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Layshia Clarendon</td><td>G</td><td>5-9</td><td>San Bernardino, Calif.</td><td>California</td><td>They/Them</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Natasha Cloud</td><td>G</td><td>6-0</td><td>Broomall, Pa.</td><td>Saint Joseph's</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Taj Cole</td><td>G</td><td>5-9</td><td>Richmond, Va.</td><td>Virginia Tech</td><td>She/Her</td></tr><tr><td>51</td><td>Sydney Colson</td><td>G G</td><td>5-8</td><td>Houston, Texas</td><td>Texas A&amp;M</td><td>She/Her</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Drew Edelman</td><td>F</td><td>6-4</td><td>Sunnyvale, Calif.</td><td>USC</td><td>She/Her</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Allisha Gray</td><td>G</td><td>6-0</td><td>Sandersville, Ga.</td><td>South Carolina</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Rebecca Harris</td><td>G</td><td>5-7</td><td>Belleville, Ill.</td><td>Illinois</td><td>She/Her</td></tr><tr><td>75</td><td>Air Hearn</td><td>G</td><td>5-8</td><td>Memphis, Tenn.</td><td>Memphis</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Naz Hillmon</td><td>F</td><td>6-2</td><td>Cleveland, Ohio</td><td>Michigan</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>90</td><td>Meme Jackson</td><td>G/F</td><td>5-11</td><td>Murfreesboro, Tenn.</td><td>Tennessee</td><td>She/Her</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>N'dea Jones</td><td>F</td><td>6-2</td><td>Lawrenceville, Ga.</td><td>Texas A&amp;M</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Whitney Knight</td><td>G</td><td>6-3</td><td>Winston-Salem, N.C.</td><td>Florida Gulf Coast</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>Jessica Kuster</td><td>F</td><td>6-2</td><td>San Antonio, Texas</td><td>Rice</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>32</td><td>Akela Maize</td><td>C</td><td>6-5</td><td>Greensboro, N.C.</td><td>NC State</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>73</td><td>Danni McCray</td><td>F</td><td>6-1</td><td>West Palm Beach, Fla.</td><td>Ole Miss</td><td>She/Her</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Laurin Mincy</td><td>G</td><td>6-0</td><td>Newark, N.J.</td><td>Maryland</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Kelsey Mitchell</td><td>G</td><td>5-8</td><td>Cincinnati, Ohio</td><td>Ohio State</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Karisma Penn</td><td>F</td><td>6-2</td><td>Shaker Heights, Ohio</td><td>Illinois</td><td>She/Her</td></tr><tr><td>99</td><td>Odyssey Sims</td><td>G</td><td>5-8</td><td>Irving, Texas</td><td>Baylor</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>NaLyssa Smith</td><td>F</td><td>6-4</td><td>Converse, Texas</td><td>Baylor</td><td>She/Her</td></tr><tr><td>92</td><td>Destinee Walker</td><td>G</td><td>5-9</td><td>Orlando, Fla.</td><td>North Carolina</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Evina Westbrook</td><td>G</td><td>6-0</td><td>Salem, Ore.</td><td>UConn</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Courtney Williams</td><td>G</td><td>5-8</td><td>Folkston, Ga.</td><td>USF</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Ty Young</td><td>G/F</td><td>6-2</td><td>Wilmington, N.C.</td><td>James Madison</td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table>

15 WNBA players sign on for Athletes Unlimited's second basketball season

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The WNBA and Athletes Unlimited are teaming up to bring more women's basketball to fans.</li><li>The league's streaming service — WNBA League Pass — will show 25 of 30 AU games this season.</li></ul>More pro women's basketball games are hitting screens across the country.The WNBA and Athletes Unlimited are teaming up to bring the second season of AU basketball to WNBA League Pass. The league's live game streaming platform — also home to archived WNBA content — will provide 25 of Athletes Unlimited's 30 games to subscribers at no additional charge."WNBA League Pass is the destination for women's professional basketball and Athletes Unlimited is just the latest addition to our programming lineup," WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison said in a release. "We are committed to expanding our direct to consumer offering with year-round content, bringing our fans closer to the game they love."<div type="image" title="NaLyssa Smith with the Indiana Fever." height="1665" width="2220" msid="97929019" hostid="261" sizebytes="105240"></div>Athletes Unlimited, which complements the WNBA by <a href="https://www.insider.com/athletes-unlimited-basketball-wnba-players-second-season-dallas-2023-2022-10">keeping stars stateside</a> during the off-season, is set to host its second campaign beginning February 23 in Dallas. Seventeen players with significant WNBA experience, including 14 rostered during the 2022 season, will suit up for the five-week season."With a number of WNBA players set to star in AU's upcoming season, and with an additional group of talented, young players on AU rosters looking to make their mark, WNBA League Pass provides a terrific platform to further showcase these players and women's basketball and a great leadup to the upcoming 2023 WNBA season," Edison added.The <a href="https://www.insider.com/athletes-unlimited-basketball-league-natasha-cloud-jon-patricof-interview-2021-10" rel="">innovative league</a>, which boasts a unique athlete-centered model, offers a markedly different basketball product than the more traditional approach to basketball the WNBA has taken for 26 seasons and counting. In each Athletes Unlimited league — there are currently four, including softball, basketball, lacrosse, and volleyball — players earn points based on both team wins and individual performance.<div type="image" title="Sydney Colson with Athletes Unlimited." height="1666" width="2222" msid="97929021" hostid="261" sizebytes="112622"></div>"We are thrilled to partner with the WNBA to bring Athletes Unlimited's exciting brand of basketball to the most passionate fans of the sport, WNBA League Pass subscribers," Athletes Unlimited Senior Vice President Cheri Kempf said in a release. "Fans will enjoy seeing world-class athletes competing as individuals with our unique scoring system and fast-paced season."The player leaderboard changes in real-time, and at the end of each week, the top four point earners become the captains of reshuffled squads for the following week's games. Basketball, where individual stat lines drive much of the discourse, pairs well with AU's approach to quantifying both individual and team contributions.With play wrapping up in the final week of March, Athletes Unlimited basketball serves as an ideal lead-in to the WNBA's 27 season, which unofficially begins with the 2023 WNBA Draft on April 10 and officially tips off just over a month later.<div type="image" title="Los Angeles Sparks sharpshooter Lexie Brown is returning to Athletes Unlimited for its sophomore season." height="1405" width="1874" msid="97929022" hostid="261" sizebytes="114024"></div>"I went straight from college straight to the WNBA, then it would've been straight to overseas," NaLyssa Smith, who is embarking on her sophomore season in the WNBA, previously told Insider. "So I knew, like, as soon as the WNBA ended, I was gonna do AU because it gives you some time to prepare.""Then you go play AU, and you still get to compete at a high level," she added. "It's not you taking time off — you're still going to compete, and you get to play with different people... I feel like this is gonna help me grow a lot."Fans already subscribed to WNBA League Pass have instant access to the majority of AU's upcoming games. Those not streaming on the platform will air on CBS Sports Network, with select simulcasts from the Women's Sports Network and Bally Sports.

The WNBA and Athletes Unlimited are joining forces to bring more women's basketball to fans

<ul class="summary-list"><li>For nearly a decade, the Indiana Fever have been among the worst teams in the WNBA.</li><li>Despite its on-court struggles, the franchise never earned a No. 1 WNBA Draft pick — until now.</li></ul>The stars are finally aligning for the Indiana Fever."It's about damn time," <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianaFever/status/1591808104383094784">General Manager Lin Dunn said</a>.Considered one of the weakest teams in the WNBA for the past several years, Indiana has not put together a winning regular season since 10-time WNBA All-Star Tamika Catchings was the face of the franchise. In the six years since their legendary forward stepped off the hardwood for the final time, the Fever have amassed a paltry 45-147 record and have only once won more than 10 games in a season.<div type="image" title="Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell." height="1405" width="1874" msid="95566431" hostid="261" sizebytes="101974"></div><h2>Indiana's on-court struggles haven't translated to franchise-changing draft picks</h2>Unsurprisingly, the Fever have failed to qualify for the playoffs ever since Catchings' retirement. But even despite their on-court woes — which brought them to the WNBA Draft Lottery in each of the past six years — the Fever never earned the top overall pick. In fact, not once in the franchise's entire 22-year existence had the team selected first in the draft.In all but one of the last six seasons, Indiana had the best or second-best odds to land the No. 1 selection. Instead, they finished with two No. 2 picks, two No. 3 picks, and a No. 4 pick; only two of the players selected with said picks remain with the Fever today: Kelsey Mitchell (2018) and NaLyssa Smith (2022).<div type="image" title="NaLyssa Smith with the Indiana Fever." height="1665" width="2220" msid="95566433" hostid="261" sizebytes="105240"></div>But on Friday, Indiana's unlucky streak came to a screeching halt. At long last, the perennial bottom-dwellers of the league earned their highly coveted No. 1 overall pick for the 2023 WNBA Draft.And the presumptive prize awaiting head coach Christie Sides' squad may very well have been worth the excruciating years-long wait.<h2>Aliyah Boston has dominated both sides of the ball in three years of college basketball</h2>A 6-foot-5 senior at the University of South Carolina, Aliyah Boston has taken over the NCAA ever since she first suited up for the Gamecocks. The Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, native has averaged an incredibly efficient double-double on her career and added 2.5 blocks per game to boot.<div type="image" title="Aliyah Boston." height="1405" width="1874" msid="95566435" hostid="261" sizebytes="66322"></div>During her junior season — her best yet — Boston broke the record long held by WNBA legend Sylvia Fowles for <a href="https://www.insider.com/college-basketball-superstar-aliyah-boston-intentionally-missed-shot-break-record-2022-2">most consecutive double-doubles in the SEC</a>. She finished the year with a Division I-leading 30 double-doubles and, unsurprisingly, swept the postseason awards as the consensus National Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.But her most impressive piece of hardware came at tournament time, when she led South Carolina to its second-ever national championship and earned NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors for her historic efforts. The two-time first-team All-American's 16.8 points and 15.2 rebounds per game through March Madness made her the first player ever to average 15 and 15 for the eventual title-winning team, per <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1510804614744096770">ESPN Stats &amp; Info</a>.It's no wonder than Geno Auriemma, the 11-time national championship-winning coach of the UConn Huskies, called Boston "the hardest person in America to guard," as well as "the most important person in the country in terms of what she does for her team."<div type="image" title="Aliyah Boston." height="2627" width="3503" msid="95566437" hostid="261" sizebytes="365382"></div>"She scores if there's one, two, three, four people on her," Auriemma said ahead of facing Boston in the 2022 NCAA title game. "It doesn't matter. She's able to carve out the space she wants. She gets the ball on the rim whenever she wants. She rebounds whichever ball she goes after. She just has a knack."How do we guard her? I don't know," he added. "I'm open for suggestions."Perhaps most terrifying for any coach not named Dawn Staley, Boston will only get better from here.<h2>Could Boston be the messiah the Fever have been waiting for?</h2>Boston's senior season has started out even more impressive than her junior year did. Shooting a whopping 76.9% from the field, she's put up back-to-back double-doubles — one of which came in the top-ranked Gamecocks' 25-point win against the No. 17 Maryland Terrapins.<div type="image" title="Aliyah Boston looks to drive against a Maryland defender." height="1666" width="2222" msid="95566439" hostid="261" sizebytes="139436"></div>The reigning player of the year is bound to keep up the momentum in hopes of helping South Carolina repeat as national champions before she moves on to the pros. <a href="https://www.insider.com/aliyah-boston-ready-for-special-final-run-with-south-carolina-2022-5">Boston previously confirmed to Insider</a> that the 2022-23 season is "gonna be my last year" with the Gamecocks, adding that "it's definitely gonna be a special one" and that she and her teammates intend to "give it everything we got."Barring a catastrophe, Boston will be the top pick in the WNBA draft next spring. And if her game carries over to the pros the way most anticipate that it could, she will have a massive, immediate impact on the team that undoubtedly needs it most.Indiana's leadership knows it to be true — and they celebrated accordingly once news of the opportunity to pick Boston came over the airwaves:The 2023 WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 10, just eight days after this season's NCAA championship game. If things go according to plan, Boston will have a thrilling few weeks next spring.

The WNBA's worst team finally caught a break by securing a historic chance to draft a generational superstar

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12055087" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="baylor" source="Orion">Baylor</keyword>'s women's basketball program has changed its name from "Lady Bears" to "simply the Bears."</li><li>The new moniker "creates consistency among Baylor teams," the school said in a statement.</li><li>Baylor's name shift comes as newly-minted coach <keyword id="12055089" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nicki-collen" source="Orion">Nicki Collen</keyword> embarks on her first season.</li></ul>One of the premier programs in <keyword id="12055086" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-college-basketball" source="Orion">women's college basketball</keyword> will be going by a new name this season.Baylor's women's basketball - the Big 12 powerhouse that has advanced to the Sweet 16 or beyond in each <keyword id="11932023" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ncaa" source="Orion">NCAA</keyword> tournament since 2009 - has dropped the "Lady" from its longtime nickname to become "simply the Bears," the school announced ahead of the 2021-2022 season.<div type="image" title="Baylor's NaLyssa Smith." height="450" width="600" msid="86046762" hostid="261"></div>"While the use of Lady Bears is still very much a part of the program's decorated history, in an effort to be more consistent with the current nomenclature of the other 18 Baylor sport programs, the team will now be referred to as simply the Bears," the statement read. "This evolution is unique in that it creates consistency among Baylor teams while also highlighting the individual sport and contributions of its athletes and coaches."Prior to the university's announcement, Baylor was one of the few prominent NCAA Division-I schools that continued to differentiate between its men's and women's programs in such fashion - along with Tennessee's "Lady Vols," Oklahoma State's "Cowgirls," Georgia's "Lady Bulldogs," LSU's "Lady Tigers," Penn State's "Lady Lions," and USC's "Women of Troy."<div type="image" title="Baylor softball's Emily Hott." height="450" width="600" msid="86046766" hostid="261"></div>And though Baylor's softball team announced its name change in tandem with its basketball program, the school's volleyball and women's soccer teams had previously nixed the "Lady" title. Now, all of Baylor's <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> teams will be known as the Bears.The shift marks a new era for Baylor's women's basketball program, which has seen other significant changes in recent months. In May, the school hired former Atlanta Dream head coach Nicki Collen to take over the team following the departure of longtime Baylor play caller <a href="https://www.insider.com/kim-mulkey-lsu-press-conference-mask-2021-4">Kim Mulkey, who left the program for LSU</a>.<div type="image" title="Baylor women's basketball head coach Nicki Collen." height="450" width="600" msid="86046769" hostid="261"></div>But even with a new name and a new coach, the Bears figure to continue their dominance in and beyond the Big 12. With a handful of highly-touted transfers and five returners at her disposal - including arguably the best player in all of women's <keyword id="12055085" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="college-basketball" source="Orion">college basketball</keyword> in 6-foot-2 forward NaLyssa Smith - Collen has an opportunity to avoid a rebuild and continue Mulkey's long history of on-court success in Waco, Texas.

Baylor women's basketball is dropping 'Lady' from its team name to become 'simply the Bears' in line with the school's 18 other teams

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11896033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba" source="Orion">WNBA</keyword> star <keyword id="12266440" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="candace-parker" source="Orion">Candace Parker</keyword> made her pick for <keyword id="12055086" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-college-basketball" source="Orion">women's college basketball</keyword>'s Player of the Year.</li><li>The former Tennessee Volunteer picked South Carolina star <keyword id="12954632" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="aliyah-boston" source="Orion">Aliyah Boston</keyword> to win the coveted award.</li></ul>This year's red hot women's college basketball National Player of the Year race is coming down to the wire.Four players are still in the running as finalists for the prestigious Naismith Trophy — Baylor's NaLyssa Smith, Stanford's Haley Jones, Iowa's <keyword id="13024877" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="caitlin-clark" source="Orion">Caitlin Clark</keyword>, and South Carolina's Aliyah Boston — but the latter two are widely considered the favorites to take home the sport's most coveted individual accolade.<div type="image" title="Caitlin Clark." height="1707" width="2276" msid="90428939" hostid="261"></div>WNBA superstar Candace Parker knows which one she'd go with."I am picking Aliyah Boston as player of the year, just because what more was she gonna do?" Parker told Insider. "She's the best player on the best team in the country."Indeed, Dawn Staley's 6-foot-5 center has been the crown jewel for the Gamecocks throughout their near-perfect season, averaging a remarkably efficient 16.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. But considering South Carolina's 2021-22 roster boasts a whopping 11 former McDonald's All-Americans, Boston's impressive numbers are actually deflated compared to what she'd accomplish with virtually any other team.<div type="image" title="Aliyah Boston." height="1666" width="2222" msid="90428940" hostid="261"></div>But Parker doesn't believe Boston's surrounding cast should impact her Player of the Year campaign."The definition of MVP is hilarious, because it's like, 'Well, they don't have as much on their team [whereas] they do and they have a better record,'" Parker said. "Like no, you can't help who's next to you. You can't help the judgment of the players that are next to you, if you have help or whatever. Judge on her performance."And Boston's performances have been absolutely magnificent on both sides of the ball. The SEC Player of the Year and three-time conference Defensive Player of the Year boasts a top-10 ranking in both offensive and defensive efficiency, rating at ninth and second, respectively. No other player in the country appears in the top 30 of both categories.<div type="image" title="Aliyah Boston." height="1665" width="2220" msid="90428941" hostid="261"></div>Additionally, the St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, native is riding on a conference-record 24 consecutive double-doubles — the longest active streak in the nation. But perhaps most impressive about the junior's season has been her Division I leading 13.9 win shares. Reminder: 10 of Boston's teammates were considered among the best players in America heading into college, and she's still putting up the nation's best statistics in the category."As of now, in terms of defensively [and] offensively," Parker said. "Whenever South Carolina needs a bucket, she's the one that gets it."Clark — the electrifying 6-foot guard who took the Big Ten conference and the whole country by storm in her sophomore season — is quite the bucket-getter in her own right. She orchestrated the Hawkeyes' offense and led the entire nation with 27 points and 8.0 assists per game, becoming the only player besides Oklahoma-turned-NBA superstar Trae Young to rank first in Division I in both categories. <div type="image" title="Aliyah Boston." height="1667" width="2500" msid="90428942" hostid="261"></div>The West Des Moines, Iowa, native also tallied 8.1 rebounds per game and <a href="https://www.insider.com/college-basketball-top-scorer-impressive-list-30-point-triple-doubles-2022-1">more triple-doubles on the year</a> than any other player — regardless of gender — in Division I college basketball. Despite all the aforementioned accolades, Clark is almost certainly best known for letting it fly from far and wide, <a href="https://twitter.com/kendallbaker/status/1490640323068014597">sinking three-pointers from the logo</a> like Steph Curry or Damian Lillard."I know Caitlin Clark is a sniper in Iowa," Parker said. "[But] I think the ranking of Iowa may hurt her."Clark and the Hawkeyes entered March Madness as a two seed in the Greensboro region just over a week removed from winning the Big Ten tournament. But after trouncing Illinois State by 40 in the opening round of March Madness, Iowa faltered against the 10th-seeded Creighton Bluejays, bowing out of the tournament before the second weekend — where a potential matchup with Boston and No. 1 South Carolina loomed.<div type="image" title="Caitlin Clark." height="1406" width="2500" msid="90428943" hostid="261"></div>The Gamecocks, meanwhile, are still dancing into the Sweet 16. They dominated the Howard Bison with a whopping 58-point victory in their opening-round game, then took down a surging Miami Hurricanes squad by 16 points despite shooting a season-low 29.5% from the field.They'll take on the fifth-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels Friday and, should they win, advance to face the winner of Iowa State vs. Creighton for a trip to Minneapolis. Surely, Boston leading South Carolina to the Final Four would help bolster her case for National Player of the Year.The Gamecocks take on North Carolina Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Naismith Women's College Player of the Year award winner will be announced Saturday, April 2 — the day before the national championship game.

Candace Parker is picking Aliyah Boston over Caitlin Clark for college basketball's Player of the Year

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12055086" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-college-basketball" source="Orion">Women's college basketball</keyword> has gotten more competitive by the season.</li><li>This year, two double-digit seeds have made their way to the <keyword id="13440805" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sweet-16" source="Orion">Sweet 16</keyword> in the women's <keyword id="13357676" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ncaa-tournament" source="Orion">NCAA tournament</keyword>.</li></ul>Predictability and a lack of upsets has long kept the women's <keyword id="11932023" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ncaa" source="Orion">NCAA</keyword> tournament from garnering the buzz or recognition afforded to men's March Madness.But these days, women's college basketball no longer exclusively revolves around Storrs, Conn., Geno Auriemma, and UConn's endless carousel of top-tier talent. And it's showing in this year's Big Dance, where massive upsets, compelling Cinderellas, and a very close call for those famed Huskies have helped women's March Madness (marketed that way for the first time this year) live up to the billing.<h2>More upsets than ever</h2>The No. 10 Creighton Bluejays kicked off the mayhem on Sunday, taking down Player of the Year contender Caitlin Clark and her second-seeded Hawkeyes in front of an Iowa home crowd, 14,000 fans strong. Just a few hours later, the No. 10 South Dakota Coyotes of the Summit League toppled the mighty No. 2 Baylor Bears and their All-American superstar, NaLyssa Smith, on their home turf.<div type="image" title="Creighton players celebrate their big win against the No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes." height="1668" width="2500" msid="90383792" hostid="261"></div>The pair of 10-seed victories helped this year's tournament tie the record for number of double-digit seeds in the Sweet 16 just halfway through the Round of 32. And with three more double-digit seeds tipping off their own games on Monday, <keyword id="13375437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="march-madness-2022" source="Orion">March Madness 2022</keyword> looked poised to break that record.None of those three teams — the No. 11 Villanova Wildcats, No. 11 Princeton Tigers, and No. 12 Belmont Bruins — managed to break through on Monday. Villanova gave No. 3 Michigan a good fight, but Wolverines superstar Naz Hillmon's 27-point showing proved too much for Maddy Siegrist and company to handle.Despite going into halftime down 10, Princeton climbed back and took the No. 3 Indiana Hoosiers down to the wire later that evening. The Tigers even took a narrow lead with just a minute to go, but the hometown heroes managed to grit it out in the final seconds to avoid the upset. <div type="image" title="Princeton's Ellie Mitchell (left) and Indiana's Aleksa Gulbe battle for the ball." height="1667" width="2500" msid="90383793" hostid="261"></div>Even Belmont — the Ohio Valley squad that shocked the world by taking down the Oregon Ducks in the opening round — gave the Tennessee Volunteers a fright in Knoxville. The Bruins overcame a 13-point halftime deficit and claimed the lead for much of the final five minutes of the game, but a crucial three from Tennessee's Sara Puckett and several clutch free throws from Tamari Key sealed the deal for the Volunteers and ended Belmont's Cinderella run.But perhaps most startling and exciting of all was that UConn itself — long the crown jewel of the women's basketball universe — nearly faltered in the Round of 32. The No. 7 UCF Knights, out of the American Athletic Conference, led the Huskies for most of the first half in Monday's late-night showdown.UConn ultimately survived, pulling away in the second half and fending off a late-game push from UCF. But the fact that the Huskies' mind-boggling streak of 28-consecutive Sweet 16 appearances was ever in jeopardy — at the hands of a non-Power 5 program, no less — was emblematic of the larger trend across women's college hoops.<div type="image" title="UConn's Olivia Nelson-Ododa looks to block a shot from UCF's Masseny Kaba." height="1667" width="2500" msid="90383794" hostid="261"></div><h2>Increased talent, attention, and investment has yielded a stronger field</h2>The women's college basketball generation currently <a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessWBB/status/1505272962919788549">Euro stepping</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessWBB/status/1505341639765549056">half-court heaving</a>, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-womens-ncaa-tournament-dunk-stanford-fran-belibi-2022-3">even dunking</a> on screens across America is full of stars who have never known a world without the WNBA — the country's first mainstream, sustainable foray into women's professional <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword>. As these players came of age, they watched stars, like Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, and countless others, compete under the bright lights, giving them someone to emulate and something to aspire to.They bought into basketball like never before, playing competitively throughout their youth in pursuit of something greater. And with <a href="https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/state-of-high-school-sports-report-final.pdf">greater participation</a> and more options to play, both at high schools and on the AAU circuit, talent flourished.Not only is there more talent than ever before, but there's now an increased incentive for that talent to head to programs that aren't just UConn, Tennessee, or Notre Dame. Schools outside of the traditional powerhouses have invested much more in their women's college basketball facilities and resources than in the past; just look at coaching salaries on the women's side, which have <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaw/2022/03/11/womens-college-basketball-coaches-pay-salary-analysis/9350209002/">risen by $200,000</a> on average over the past decade.<div type="image" title="Dawn Staley." height="1667" width="2500" msid="90383795" hostid="261"></div>Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules, which came into effect this season, offer even more impetus for high school players to commit to college programs outside of the big-name brands. Why wait in the wings, playing behind the likes of Huskies star Paige Bueckers when you can hit the court immediately and build a brand with a less-stacked team?Take the aforementioned Hawkeye Caitlin Clark, who chose to stay home in Iowa rather than committing to Duke, Texas, Oregon, or a number of bigger, more established programs. She was a star the moment she stepped foot on campus last season, and <a href="https://frontofficesports.com/iowas-caitlin-clark-is-collecting-records-and-sponsors/#:~:text=Her%20net%20worth%20is%20estimated%20to%20be%20between%20%241%2D5%20million.">she was paid handsomely this year as a result</a>. And for those who start their college careers at a UConn-like program and find themselves stuck on the bench, the <a href="https://www.sportico.com/leagues/college-sports/2021/college-basketball-transfers-2021-1234646192/">new transfer rules</a> have made it easier — and more common — than ever to switch teams with the lure of increased playing time, superstar status, and lucrative NIL deals.<div type="image" title="Caitlin Clark." height="1406" width="2500" msid="90383796" hostid="261"></div>This increase in talent and willingness to spread it beyond the established dynasties of the past has left women's college basketball looking more competitive than ever. And more evenly matched contests bring more upsets, more buzzer-beaters, and more eyes on the game. <h2><keyword id="11956145" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="parity" source="Orion">Parity</keyword> — and viewership — is on the rise </h2>Predictability long prevented some fans from exploring the women's side of the bracket. But now that Cinderellas are shaking up the field and UConn is far from guaranteed its usual spot in the Final Four, more and more people are flipping the channel to the women's games.Last season's Final Four — featuring the Huskies, of course, as well as Stanford, Louisville, and South Carolina — was the most-viewed championship weekend in more than 10 years, per ESPN. And <a href="https://www.si.com/college/2022/03/18/ncaa-womens-tournament-equity-2022-daily-cover">according to Sports Illustrated</a>, regular-season viewership entering this year's tournament was up nearly 50% from last season, and the bracket-unveiling show — which aired on Selection Sunday after the men's seeding was revealed — jumped up 160% year-over-year.<div type="image" title="ncaa women's basketball" height="1667" width="2500" msid="90383797" hostid="261"></div>It all paints an encouraging picture of the future — and the present — of women's college basketball.No longer does one school rule the roost. No longer does the March Madness moniker — and the eyes that accompany it — solely belong to the men's game.No longer can the NCAA avoid giving the women access to equitable resources — <a href="https://www.insider.com/ncaa-sexism-images-show-inequality-mens-womens-march-madness-2021-3">like weight rooms</a> or the name of the tourney itself — nor should they. There's a return on this investment; ESPN <a href="https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/en/Daily/Morning-Buzz/2022/02/22/NCAA-women">sold out ad inventory</a> for the women's tournament this year.Women's college basketball is proving that if you build it, they will come. And if you invest far and wide, the upsets will follow.

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3 WNBA draft prospects express what it would mean to hear their names called to go pro

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Top WNBA draft prospect NaLyssa Smith says 'I deserve to be the No. 1 pick'

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4 college basketball stars blasted the NCAA for the 'crazy' 2021 March Madness weight room scandal

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A women's basketball star pantsed her opponent mid-game, but the prank victim wound up with the last laugh

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15 WNBA players sign on for Athletes Unlimited's second basketball season

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The WNBA and Athletes Unlimited are joining forces to bring more women's basketball to fans

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The WNBA's worst team finally caught a break by securing a historic chance to draft a generational superstar

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Baylor women's basketball is dropping 'Lady' from its team name to become 'simply the Bears' in line with the school's 18 other teams

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Candace Parker is picking Aliyah Boston over Caitlin Clark for college basketball's Player of the Year

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A historic number of double-digit seeds in the Sweet 16 shows how much women's college basketball has grown

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