Category: NCAA Women’s Basketball

Haley Jones on her ‘sketchy’ experiences playing the Pac-12 tourney in Vegas and how she limits sports betting noise

Being shouted at in a casino doesn’t sound fun.

With sports betting legal in over 30 U.S. states, there aren’t many athletes who don’t periodically hear from a fan or two about how their performances impacted a bet.

Those usually one-sided interactions are typically limited to social media or during games. Especially for an athlete based in a state where betting isn’t legal, like Stanford basketball star Haley Jones. So, as you can imagine, playing a game in Las Vegas is a different experience than what she’s used to.

Vegas has hosted the Pac-12 women’s basketball tournament since 2019. Up until this year, Stanford had reached the final each time, winning the last two. This year’s team had its time shortened with a semifinal loss to UCLA, but that didn’t make the betting chatter any less noticeable.

“We’re walking through the casino to get to our games, and there’s the betting stations and this and that, and I can feel people’s eyes on me and I’m like, ‘Oh gosh, your money is in my hands. That’s sketchy,'” Jones said in a conversation with FTW about her new podcast, Sometimes I Hoop. “I feel like people just take it more intense since they have something personal on the line. After games, if I’m walking through the casino after we lose or after we win, they’re like, ‘Oh, you won me this. Oh, you lost me that.’ And I’m just like, what the heck. I was just over here trying to get back and get to post-game meal and shower. I don’t need you shouting at me right now. So I think it’s definitely created a different environment.”

That environment is likely more intense for a team like Stanford that has achieved so much in Jones’ four years on campus. The Cardinal have been to each of the last two Final Fours, winning it all Jones’ sophomore year. As this year’s tournament approaches, their +700 title odds at DraftKings are second only to undefeated South Carolina.

As legal betting has exploded during that time, conversations about lines have even penetrated Jones’ own circle. But if you plan on chatting her up about point spreads and parlays, just know she hasn’t caught up on all the lingo.

“My brother, he’ll be on ESPN like ‘Oh my gosh, you guys are up this, down that.’ And I’m like, I don’t know what any of that means, so awesome,” the 2021 Final Four Most Outstanding Player said. “But I think fans are in some cases more into it because they have money on the line. So it’s a lot more intense of a crowd.”

That noise spills over on to social media, but Jones has found a way to filter it out.

“You definitely get tagged and whatnot, but there’s different security and privacy things that I’ve been able to put on my account so I’m not just getting tagged in a million hate messages of ‘Haley, you lost me $1,000!'”

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Q&A: Stanford’s Haley Jones is on the precipice of an exciting new chapter, but first she wants to go out on top

Haley Jones has a lot to look forward to, but she’s trying to stay grounded.

Haley Jones is doing her best to stay in the moment.

The 2021 Final Four Most Outstanding Player and national champion has a chance to do something special one last time. Stanford is projected as a No. 1 seed for a third straight Women’s NCAA Tournament. The senior would love nothing more than to reach a third Final Four and go out on top.

But no matter when Jones’ illustrious college career comes to an end, she’ll be ready for what’s next.

Jones will be one of the first names off the board in April’s WNBA draft. She’s also dipping her toes into another future career, launching a podcast with The Players’ Tribune called Sometimes I Hoop. The podcast allows Jones to shine a light on her fellow basketball stars through conversations about their experiences on the court and interests away from the game. She’s already interviewed players like Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark.

FTW had a chance to chat with Jones about the podcast, her own hobbies, March Madness and more.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

A running list of women’s college basketball teams that have punched their March Madness tickets

Which teams are joining Saint Louis and Virginia Tech?

Selection Sunday is rapidly approaching for women’s college basketball.

The women’s tournament has the same number of teams as the men’s after a First Four was added for the tournament last season. We’ll have a total of 68 NCAA Tournament teams; 32 of them will be automatic qualifiers from squads that win their conference tournaments and the other 36 will be teams that are awarded at-large bids from the selection committee based on resume.

ESPN will air a Selection Sunday show for the women’s bracket at 8 p.m. EST on March 12.

In order to keep track of which teams have already made it to the postseason, check out the running list below. This will be updated as conference tournaments finish.

A handful of teams will dance in March for the first time ever, or for the first time in a while. Cleveland State won the Horizon League to make its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 13 years, and Saint Louis – coached by Rebecca Tillett, who guided Longwood to the tourney last year – will compete in March Madness for the first time in program history. Monmouth won the CAA to punch its ticket to the dance for the first time since 1983.

Other teams, like ACC Champion Virginia Tech, could be in line to have their highest seed in program history.

Here’s the full list of AQs:

Women’s College Basketball Vibe Check: Caitlin Clark is ridiculous, UConn is healthy

Is Caitlin Clark the National Player of the Year?

It’s conference tournament season, y’all.

Elizabeth Kitley and Virginia Tech won the ACC on Sunday thanks to Georgia Amoore’s wizardry and heroics. Amoore broke the tournament’s 3-point record with 14 connections from behind the arc in three games as the Hokies won their first-ever ACC crown.

South Carolina bulldozed its way to another SEC Tournament title, the Pac-12 was wild and the Big Ten saw one player just completely take things over. The only remaining Power 5 conference tournament is the Big 12, which begins Wednesday. We could see Taylor Robertson’s sharp 3-point shooting carry the Sooners far in the tournament.

We’ll touch on all that and more in this week’s VIBE CHECK, an unscientific and unserious ranking of all things in women’s college basketball.

Tennessee vs. South Carolina live stream, TV channel, time, Women’s Basketball, SEC Tournament Championship

The stage is set for what promises to be an exciting SEC Championship between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers.

The stage is set for what promises to be an exciting SEC Championship between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers. The two teams will face off at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in what is expected to be a one-sided affair, with South Carolina heavily favored to win.

The Gamecocks are coming into this game with an undefeated record of 31-0, and they are determined to continue their winning streak. As for the Lady Volunteers, they’ve had a mixed season so far, with a record of 23-10. However, they have shown that they are capable of pulling off upsets, and they will be looking to do just that against the top-ranked Gamecocks.

This will be a good one in NCAA hoops, here is everything you need to know to watch or stream the action.

SEC Tournament Championship

Tennessee vs. South Carolina

  • When: Sunday, March 5
  • Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

NCAA Basketball Odds and Betting Lines

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Iowa’s Caitlin Clark connects on dramatic game-winning three against No. 2 Indiana

Everyone knew Caitlin Clark was getting this ball. It did not matter.

Every single person in Carver-Hawkeye Arena knew who was going to get the ball. Trailing by one with just over one second remaining, the No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes needed a bucket to secure the home win over the No. 2 — and red hot — Indiana Hoosiers.

It was Caitlin Clark time.

The once-in-a-lifetime shooter got the ball on the inbounds play, moving to her right and letting loose the ball from beyond the arc. After a second on the rim, which seemed more to savor the moment than cause any added stress, the ball dropped through for the 86-85 victory.

It was an incredible moment to end an incredible game. The Hoosiers took a late lead at the free throw line after a controversial foul call that seemed to come after Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes traveled in a tie game.

Well, ball certainly does not lie.

For Iowa fans, it has been a rather tumultuous (but exciting) weekend of basketball after the Hawkeyes pulled off a mind-blowing comeback to win in overtime on Saturday. Clark finished the game with 34 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

Elizabeth Kitley sank a buzzer-beater that gave Virginia Tech a crucial (and historic) win over UNC

Kitley is playing like the ACC Player of the Year.

It feels like women’s college basketball has been littered with buzzer-beaters this year, from Diamond Miller giving Maryland an early season win over Notre Dame, to Olivia Miles coming through in crunch time for the Irish last week against Louisville.

On Thursday, it was Elizabeth Kitley’s turn.

Ninth-ranked Virginia Tech was on the road in Chapel Hill taking on the No. 22 Tar Heels, who were boosted by the return of Alyssa Ustby.

The game was tied 59-59 with 2.1 seconds remaining. And it seemed like everyone knew the ball was going to Kitley, the 6-foot-6 reigning ACC Player of the Year.

Well, everyone except for UNC’s defense.

Kitley broke away from coverage and caught the inbounds pass just outside the painted area, then – pretty much wide-open – turned and fired a mid-range shot.

The ball fell through the hoop, the buzzer sounded, and Kitley skipped towards midcourt. Her teammates mobbed her, and her dad – former Wake Forest center Ralph Kitley – pumped his fist from the stands.

Kitley scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory, but her game-winner was historically notable for the Hokies:

  • It gave Virginia Tech its 13th ACC win of the season, which matches a program record.
  • It was the seventh straight ACC victory for the Hokies, which is the best the best streak in program history.
  • The win was the 23rd overall of the regular season for the Hokies, matching a program record set in 1999.
  • Locked the Hokies into the No. 3 seed in the ACC Tournament, securing them a double-bye.

The victory also boosted Virginia Tech’s NCAA Tournament resume, likely making them a lock to host games during the tournament’s first weekend. In Thursday night’s Top 16 reveal by the NCAA committee, the Hokies were slated with the eighth-overall seed – the fourth-highest ranked No. 2 seed.

Virginia Tech came into this season with big expectations after adding All-ACC forward Taylor Soule and former Ann Meyers Drysdale award-winner Ashley Owusu through the transfer portal. Owusu has battled injuries this season though and has largely been a non-factor, but it hasn’t mattered all that much because Kitley, Soule, Georgia Amoore and the rest of the Hokies have stepped up to play some of their best basketball.

Kitley is averaging career-bests in scoring and rebounding this season with 18.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. She’s ninth in the nation in 2-pointers made per game with 7.4, and 15th nationally in blocks per game with 2.3. She’s also ninth in the country in win shares with 9.3.

And before her buzzer-beater on Thursday, she made another memorable shot against UNC, flushing an elbow jumper with about five minutes left to make her Virginia Tech’s all-time leading scorer in program history.

Kitley broke former teammate Aisha Sheppard’s record in 46 less games, too.

Simply put, Kitley is playing like an All-American and certainly like someone who could retain her ACC Player of the Year honors.

Syracuse’s Lexi McNabb hit a ridiculous half-court shot while shouting out her quarterback dad, Donovan

“Everyone remember, I am the QB’s kid.”

Syracuse women’s basketball freshman guard Lexi McNabb is ready to make a name for herself.

The daughter of former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb, the freshman Cuse player decided to impress her teammates by hitting a really sweet, overhanded half-court shot during a practice.

“Everyone remember, I am the QB’s kid,” Lexi joked before sinking the bucket to the delight of her fellow Syracuse athletes.

It’s all at once a reminder of just how good you have to be to make it to Division 1 athletics, and also how it’s not just the name that’s going to make Lexi a factor for Syracuse in the years to come.

Lexi was right to ask someone to post that awesome highlight.

 

We’re guessing being the quarterback’s kid has some great perks when it comes to the lessons you get to learn along the way, and the younger McNabb seems ready to take hold of the family name and make something new with it.

Women’s College Basketball Vibe Check: Cameron Brink is awesome, Maryland is thriving

Straight up not having a good time: UConn.

The women’s college basketball season is winding down. The final Top 16 reveal by the NCAA committee is this Thursday, and conference tournaments start next week. Time flies, right? Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were making jokes about Jeff Walz’s slide and lamenting the absence of Sedona Prince?

We’ve done Heat Checks on women’s college basketball earlier this season, where we raved about Georgia Amoore and Angel Reese, and complained about midday games and the loss of Tamari Key.

And now, we’re returning with a VIBE CHECK, an unscientific and unserious ranking of all things in women’s college basketball.

Let’s dive in and assess who is thriving and who is having a bad time.

Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles sank a ridiculous buzzer-beater in OT, and women’s basketball fans loved it

Oliva Miles, y’all.

Notre Dame has been the victim of a buzzer-beater earlier this year, losing to Diamond Miller and Maryland. But on Thursday night, the Irish were the ones dishing out the heartbreak.

The Irish were tied with Louisville in overtime at home in South Bend and would get possession with 3.8 seconds left. The inbounds pass went to Sonia Citron, who handed the ball off to Olivia Miles, who proved to be cool and clutch.

She curled around a defender, took one dribble and then pulled up and faded away from mid-range.

Swish. Buzzer. Game.

Miles’ teammates mobbed her in celebration. The victory snapped a six-game losing streak for Notre Dame against the Cardinals, a streak that dated back to when both were in the Big East.

The ridiculously awesome shot left both Miles and Irish head coach Niele Ivey were a bit aghast and astounded afterwards.

“I’m almost speechless because that was just a moment,” Ivey said in the postgame press conference. “In the last couple minutes, I told the team it’s time for us to separate ourselves, and that shot is what you call separation. That was unbelievable.”

“I blacked out,” Miles said with a smile. “I don’t know what just happened.”

A candidate for ACC Player of the Year, Miles finished the game with 18 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists – just one dime shy of what would’ve been her fourth career triple-double. On the season, she’s averaging 15 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. Her assist percentage of 42.8 is third-best in the nation.

And because No. 9 Duke lost Thursday night at No. 11 Virginia Tech, the sophomore guard’s clutch bucket moved Notre Dame back into a first-place tie with the Blue Devils for the lead in the ACC, a conference that has been wild and wide open this season.

Notre Dame is projected to host first-round games in the NCAA Tournament and have the 10th-best odds to win the national championship.

Women’s basketball fans loved the shot too, reacting how you might expect on Twitter.