USC’s Revenge at Risk Without JuJu

^{December 13, 2025 | Edition #170}

Hey, Hoophead!

We might come from different places, but a familiar mix seems to unite us right now: a touch of year-end nostalgia, an enduring love for basketball, and, of course, curiosity after everything that has unfolded this year. Well, that curiosity (or, at least, a part of it?) finally had an answer when Caitlin Clark announced her final decision on Project B. But she wasn’t the only one offering clarity this time around.

Chicago, Take a Breath!

This WNBA season gave us more than a handful of moments none of us saw coming. The Fever making a deep run. The Valkyries sneaking into the playoffs. The Aces ending the year with a championship.

And yet, for all the chaos on the court, two off-court storylines somehow kept everyone just as locked in: the ongoing CBA conversations and what’s happening with Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky.

If you remember, with fewer than 10 days left in the regular season, Reese (amid a tough year) spoke about her teammates’ contributions. Or, depending on who you ask, “called them out.” She later apologized, but not before the situation resulted in a half-game suspension.

That didn’t sit well with many, Reese included, it seemed, as she didn’t suit up for the final games of the Sky’s season. The official word was a back injury, but not everyone was buying it.

And naturally, that opened the floodgates. Trade rumors. Exit theories. But….let’s pause the rumor mill right here! Reese shut it down herself. She isn’t going anywhere. Her tone spoke volumes, though. You’ll want to watch it for yourself!

For Sky fans, that’s a relief.

For the franchise, it’s bigger than that.

Chicago’s history isn’t exactly known for long-term stability with star players. Elena Delle Donne, Sylvia Fowles, Kahleah Copper, and even Marina Mabrey, more recently, all eventually moved on. Gabby Williams, too, has spoken openly about how things unraveled for her in Chicago before she found her footing in Seattle.

So hearing Reese, the face of the franchise, commit publicly matters. It buys Chicago some breathing room. But it’s not a permanent safety net. Reese has been clear about what she wants next: to play alongside other “great players.”

Now the ball is firmly in the Sky’s court.

Rivalry: Reloaded and Rising

Clear your schedule. The nation’s top two recruits are suiting up tonight.

We kick things off with the Bedlam series. After a one-year break, it returns as a top-25 battle between No. 9 Oklahoma and No. 23 Oklahoma State at the Paycom Center in OKC, with tipoff set for 4 p.m. ET.

If you love high-scoring games, this is the game for you. The Cowgirls are trying to end a six-game losing streak to OU. Meanwhile, the Sooners enter with the fifth-best offense with a chance to make it 10 wins in a row. And we just know, it all starts with Aaliyah Chavez.

She’s leading her team and is the third-best freshman scorer in the country, followed by Jazzy Davidson. So, who’s No. 1? Check it out here!

Meanwhile, as the college basketball world looks forward to this old-school rivalry, some new ones are starting to take shape as well—and the next game is one of them. The Huskies take on the Trojans, with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. ET.

For two straight tournaments, USC and UConn have collided in the Elite Eight, and both times the lower-seeded Huskies pulled off the win. The Trojans would kill for some revenge, but this year’s regular-season showdown loses a bit of its shine with JuJu Watkins sidelined.

Sure, the Trojans still have Davidson, and Geno Auriemma is basically her unofficial fan club president. Here’s what he had to say about Jazzy!

But trying to beat the best team in the country, with Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong putting up 36.1 points together, without JuJu Watkins? That’s a mountain almost no one can climb.

So settle in, grab your favorite snacks, and enjoy the weekend hoops!

"Great person!" JuJu Watkins on Bueckers’ Steady Support

Gainesville’s New Hero

It was special. It was huge. It was the start of something new in Gainesville!

For a program that has rarely heard its name called on Selection Sunday, signing Alivia ‘Liv’ McGill carried a feeling only a few could really understand. After all, the top-20 recruit was the highest-ranked recruit Florida had ever pulled.

At Hopkins High School, she was the heartbeat of her team, taking them to consecutive state championship games. So, no wonder it finally felt like Florida had its own Katniss Everdeen, ready to lead them out of the shadows and into national prominence.

One look at her 2024 highlights and you’ll get exactly why she was rated so highly!

Sure, she couldn’t get the Gators back to the Big Dance in Year 1, but she quickly proved she was one of the best freshmen in the country. Averaging 16.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.1 steals, Florida knew she’d come back even stronger next season. And she did!

Now, even if she doesn’t get as much attention, she’s the nation’s second-leading scorer, putting up 27.3 points per game (behind Audi Crooks with 27.8). On top of that, her teammates match that energy! On The College Cut, our new athlete-led podcast, one of them even reaffirmed that the end goal is the Final Four this season.

Hear it straight from her in our exclusive interview!

All in all, coming off back-to-back 30-point games, McGill and the Gators are off to a 9–2 start. All signs point to them not only returning to the Big Dance under coach Kelly Rae Finley but also finally breaking free from those early exits.

USA Basketball Camp Spotlight! Bueckers Drains a Big Shot Over Clark

Off-Court Highlights You Can’t Miss

The greatest showman this sport has ever seen just keeps finding new ways to leave everyone in awe.

Recently, the NBA shared a video of Steph Curry casually knocking down a full-court shot, and the crazy part is that the ball didn’t even hit the rim. It just dropped straight through for a perfect swish. Everyone was left stunned… including Caitlin Clark, who straight up refused to believe it. You’ve got to see her reaction!

Meanwhile, A’ja Wilson continued her streak of collecting hardware. Aren’t you tired yet, A’ja? But honestly, a once-in-a-lifetime season like hers deserves every bit of recognition. After being named Time’s Athlete of the Year and AP’s Female Athlete of the Year, she’s now even been honored on the House floor.

In some other off-court headlines:

• Kiki Iriafen and Nneka Ogwumike recently participated in a promotional campaign for NBA 2K26.

• Reese and Bueckers had a fun behind-the-scenes banter during the Team USA photoshoot.

• Caitlin Clark debuted her “USA” Nike Kobe 5 Protro at USA Basketball Training Camp.

1. Caitlin Clark Makes Feelings Clear on Reuniting With Cameron Brink After 9 Years - Full Story 

2. College Basketball Rankings: Top Underated Players - Full Story 

3. How ZaKiyah Johnson’s Nike Deal Signals LSU’s Next Dominant Era - 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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