Women's Hoops Heats Up: New Leagues, Draft Prospects, and Realignment Shake Up
Paul Riverbank, 1/9/2025The women's basketball landscape is evolving rapidly, with new leagues, draft prospects, conference realignments, and free agency shaping the future. Amidst the excitement, the passion and talent of players remain the driving force, propelling the sport to greater heights.
January marks a pivotal juncture in the women's basketball landscape, with conference play intensifying and the WNBA's free agency period on the horizon. Amidst this flurry of activity, the debut of Unrivaled, a 3x3 league co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, adds an intriguing new dimension to the sport.
One question looming large is the draft prospects of standout players like Paige Bueckers and Kiki Iriafen. While Sabreena Merchant boldly predicted Bueckers might forgo the 2025 WNBA Draft to capitalize on a potential new CBA in 2026, the allure of professional competition could sway her decision. As Caitlin Clark observed, "Professional players and professional coaches -- this is no disrespect to college women's basketball -- are a lot smarter."
Iriafen, on the other hand, faces a different dilemma -- whether her draft stock might slip, with Notre Dame's Olivia Miles emerging as a compelling prospect. "Considering how Miles has been playing -- career-high 16.9 points, ACC-leading 7.1 assists, and 6.8 rebounds per game with a 47.8 3-point percentage -- I'd lean toward her over Iriafen at No. 2," the article notes.
While the momentum from last year's thrilling women's basketball season seems to have stalled, the NCAA Tournament could reignite the excitement. "Keep in mind that the 2023-24 regular season averaged just under 500,000 viewers across games on ESPN and ABC, a stark decrease from the NCAA Tournament ratings," the article states, underscoring the potential for a resurgence in March and April.
Among the undefeated teams, Ohio State emerges as a sleeper to watch, with the article highlighting the Buckeyes' depth and the explosiveness of Freshman of the Year candidate Jaloni Cambridge. Kansas State, TCU, and Oklahoma State are also touted as intriguing "sleeper" teams in the Big-12 conference.
In the WNBA realm, bold predictions abound -- with the article suggesting Nneka Ogwumike might leave the Seattle Storm to join the Golden State Valkyries, lured by the prospect of shaping a new culture and earning a maximum salary. "Perhaps Golden State can lure Ogwumike with this pitch: With the Valkyries, the nine-time All-Star will be the fulcrum on both ends of the floor," the article muses.
The Unrivaled 3x3 league promises to be a game-changer, with versatile wings and forwards like Satou Sabally, Rhyne Howard, Breanna Stewart, and Napheesa Collier expected to excel in the fast-paced, free-flowing format. "Players will be tested constantly defensively, as it's difficult to help in the format without allowing open shots for others," the article notes, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in women's basketball.
Amidst the conference realignment upheaval, traditional rivalries have been upended, with the article citing Cal and SMU's move to the Atlantic Coast Conference, and UCLA and Oregon's shift to the Big Ten as examples. "The short explanation is that in a quest to maximize TV revenue (and specifically revenue generated because of college football), schools around the country changed conferences," it states, underscoring the financial imperatives driving these seismic shifts.
As the season unfolds, the article posits Duke as Notre Dame's biggest challenger in the ACC, while predicting the Indiana Fever could take the biggest step forward in the WNBA, with the Connecticut Sun or Seattle Storm potentially taking a step back. These projections, however, come with the caveat of being subject to the whims of free agency.
In this ever-evolving landscape, one thing remains constant -- the passion and talent that fuel the women's game, propelling it to new heights with each passing season.
