^{October 23, 2025 | Edition #154}

Hey, Hoophead!

It took a century and a half, but the oldest continually running professional sport, baseball, has finally opened its doors to women. And this is exactly the kind of impact women in sports are making, with the WNBA at the forefront of this revolution. Some of these trailblazing women got well-deserved shoutouts, and of course, the W had plenty of faces shining there.

Staley’s Gamecocks Poised for SEC Title

Nine of the last 12 regular-season SEC Championships and nine of the last 11 SEC Tournaments, and yet, South Carolina isn’t sitting at the very top of the SEC rankings this time. Yes, SEC coaches pegged the Gamecocks to finish at No. 2.

But honestly, if you know Dawn Staley, you know her team doesn’t really care about preseason polls. “We're not going to skip a beat,” she said. And we believe her.

After last season’s 35-4 run, which ended with a tough 82-59 loss to UConn in the national championship game, the Gamecocks lost three players to the WNBA Draft… and MiLaysia Fulwiley too.

But instead of panicking, Staley’s squad decided to reintroduce themselves. Enter Ta'Niya Latson, the highly touted transfer who also made the AP preseason All-American Team. Here’s the full team.

Add to that another transfer, Madina Okat, giving South Carolina extra size, speed, and interior presence. Plus, boost on both ends with recruit Agot Makeer. And suddenly, both ends of the court are looking mighty solid. So, along with the returners like Joyce Edwards, the talent is stacking up.

However, the team has already lost two starters for the season, Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins. Plus, the bench production might also be an issue.

Last season, the second unit was a juggernaut, averaging a D1-leading 40.3 points per game, mostly thanks to Fulwiley. Staley could plug in any of eight bench players, and the team barely missed a beat. This year, she’s working with five.

Don’t get it wrong, though. Sure, it’s going to be challenging, but impossible? Not in the slightest. The group is still talented, still capable. It’s just that the margin for error is smaller. We’ll likely get the real answers once they hit the court on Nov. 3.

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The Women Leading the Charge in Sports

Once upon a time, women’s basketball had to fight for the spotlight. Now, it is the spotlight. Anybody keeping tabs on WNBA knows just how far the game has come and the faces who’ve been front and center leading the charge. So when Forbes dropped its list of “America’s Most Powerful Women in Sports,” let’s just say it was no surprise that the W showed up strong.

Before we get to the league’s stars, let’s start with one of its greatest alumni: the one and only Dawn Staley. What she’s built at South Carolina is nothing short of an empire: three national titles, countless wins, and a culture that’s unmatched. And she somehow still finds time to have fun. She was dancing at the team’s season-opening event.

Next up, her protégé, the force of nature herself, A’ja Wilson, coming in at No. 15. Honestly, does anyone even need to ask why she’s there? One of the greatest basketball players ever, period. A’ja’s dominance on the court and her impact off it have made her a blueprint for the next generation of stars dreaming of making it to the W.

At No. 9, we’ve got Breanna Stewart & Napheesa Collier. The former UConn teammates and current co-founders of Unrivaled, the new women’s league valued at a whopping $340 million. They’ve done just as much for the players as they have for the game. And by the way, Stewie’s not the only Liberty name on the list, and Staley’s not the only coach either. The full Forbes list of the 25 top women in sports.

Topping all W stars on the list is no shocker here: Caitlin Clark. After becoming a global sensation during her historic run at Iowa, CC didn’t leave the spotlight behind when she turned pro. At just 23, the impact she continues to make is just generational.

So yes, this Forbes list feels more like a well-deserved little “thank you” to the women who’ve inspired, uplifted, and completely changed women’s sports.

Longhorns’ Top Minnesota Recruit

The highest-ranked prospect of the Vic Schaefer era has arrived!

Aaliyah Crump isn’t just any recruit; she’s coming straight out of Minnesota, a state known for producing basketball royalty. And she’ll tell you herself where it all started: “The Lynx, Maya Moore, and Lindsay Whalen.”

But let's not forget another important tie here. Crump is the highest-rated player from Minnesota since Paige Bueckers. Her highlights in that same uniform might even bring back some Bueckers vibes. The toughness is definitely in that Minny water.

Talking skills, the freshman is versatile, a deadly 3-point shooter, confident, and not afraid to take over a game. “I’m pretty versatile, so you have to pick and choose what you want to guard,” she says. Crump’s also got a pull-up jumper off the drive that can make defenders rethink their life choices.

Last season, Crump led her Minnesota team to a Class 4A state championship, averaging 24.5 points. For her senior year, she made the move to Montverde Academy in Florida and earned McDonald’s All-American honors.

Sure, Texas could have landed Aaliyah Chavez as well, and this might have been the start of a new dynasty under Vic Schaefer. While that didn’t happen, something historic did happen with this year’s top 10 recruits that hasn’t occurred since 2010.

Anyways, forget the ‘could be,’ Longhorns fans should be counting their lucky stars for their 3-point shooting beast alone. For now, Crump will come off the bench, but Schaefer sees clear parallels between her and Madison Booker. It’s only a matter of time before she jumps into the starting five.

Caitlin Clark Inspires Miss Indiana

The Clark Effect is taking over the pageant stage, too.

The WNBA season may have ended, but Indiana has something else to cheer for this week: Sydney Shrewsbury was crowned Miss Indiana on April 5 and is now in the running for Miss USA. And she brought a little Fever magic with her. Shrewsbury paid homage to Indiana’s superstar, Caitlin Clark, putting together this incredible Clark-themed outfit.

“I choose to represent the Fever and Caitlin Clark specifically because of everything that she’s done for women and women’s sports,” Shrewsbury explained. She put it together for the costume portion of the competition. Donning the CC fit, she absolutely slayed the walk.

As for Clark, she hasn’t publicly reacted yet, but we’re hoping she does soon.

1. Sandy Brondello Lands New WNBA Coaching Gig Just Days After Liberty Exit - Full Story

2. WNBA Slams Players Union Over CBA ‘Incorrect Claims’ - Full Story

3. Paige Bueckers’ Latest Historic Honor Proves She’s Playing a Whole Different Game - Full Story

4. Sophie Cunningham’s Rehab Update Comes With a Shot at Phoenix - Full Story

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

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