Category: NCAAW

Diana Taurasi was a hilarious soundbite during the Women’s Final Four and fans couldn’t get enough

Taurasi was a walking one-liner.

There are few things WNBA great Diana Taurasi hasn’t accomplished.

From being three NCAA titles, three WNBA titles, and five Olympic gold medals, to six Euroleague Championships and almost countless individual accolades, she’s one of the most talented people to ever dribble a basketball.

If you weren’t already familiar with her off the court, as it turns out, the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer also brings a lot to the table as an analyst. How could someone who’s achieved so much not have a keen eye for the game?

During the Women’s Final Four matchups on Friday night — where Taurasi hosted ESPN’s Megacast simultaneously with fellow great Sue Bird — she brought another element to her terrific insight: A dry comedic wit.

The first notable instance occurred during No. 1 overall seed South Carolina’s (8.5-point favorites coming in) matchup with Louisville.

When the Gamecocks began to pull away for good during the third quarter (before eventually winning 72-59 to advance to the National Title Game), Taurasi commented on their amazing, natural athletic ability.

Nothing more.

Why are Bird and their guest Kelsey Plum cracking up and hiding their faces behind Red Solo cups at Taurasi’s completely factual analysis? Basketball isn’t supposed to be funny, you guys. It’s serious business.

“You can’t help it,” said Plum in reaction.

Later, when Connecticut (one-point underdogs before tip-off) squared off against Louisville, Taurasi chimed in with more trademark excellence.

As former Stanford star and current Sparks centerpiece Nneka Ogwumike joined the Taurasi-Bird dynamic duo, Taurasi mused about the incredible dedication today’s young athletes have to basketball when compared to herself.

Hey, we’ve all been there, right? Why run an extra suicide or eat brown rice for dinner when the pizza and Coke is right there? If one of the greatest athletes ever lives her life to the fullest (i.e. lounging on the couch), why can’t we?

Diana Taurasi: Role Model.

Between the jokes, the honesty, and the analysis, fans watching the ESPN Megacast understandably couldn’t get enough of the ever-charismatic Taurasi. Here’s some reaction:

Why Mark Emmert and the NCAA will never admit defeat

Dancing around defeat: The name of the game for Emmert.

Mark Emmert is no fool. He might feign indifference and ignorance, but he knows exactly what he’s doing.

The current president of the esteemed (loose definition) NCAA, Emmert, is no stranger to controversy. With a trademark word salad, the man practically invites a not-so-subtle war of words whenever he steps in front of a microphone.

With the Final Four in both Men’s and Women’s college basketball around the corner, the president, or should I say, CEO (important definition), had thoughts on the current state of his nonprofit organization (loose definition).

Most notably, Emmert discussed the fallout of the landmark Alston vs. NCAA case from last summer — where the United States Supreme Court voted 9-0 (!!!) in favor of collegiate athletes getting academic benefits and reimbursements.

I’m sorry, Mark, I don’t quite understand? Let’s rewind.

Did you mean to say you cannot lose landmark Supreme Court cases and still win?

I’ll be vulnerable for a second and admit that I can speak fluent word-salad. (It’s a learned skill. It would be best to possess it in life, dear readers.)

What Emmert’s saying about Alston v. NCAA — which may soon help flip the paradigm of major college sports’ outright exploitation of young men for and women for profit — is that he and his “nonprofit” will never admit defeat. At least not in public.

And for a good reason: The NCAA’s fight to maintain their Vise-Grip over what amounts to free labor on the field, on the court(s), on the grass, in the pool, and in the ring, is a public relations battle. It’s one contested over a microphone, in front of people sitting in folding chairs while holding small recording devices. All decisions will, ultimately, evolve there.

The moment Emmert is honest and surrenders ground, even an inch, on the practice he and his cronies are trying to uphold is the exact moment they lose forever. If there’s still an opening, no matter how small, to influence public opinion and sway legal experts at the very top of the American legal system — then Emmert and Co. will do everything in their power to use it and pry it open.

I’m aware I might be preaching to the choir, but the NCAA has never been about amplifying and helping the “student-athlete.” As you also might know, student-athlete, in itself, is a key language choice. Emmert and his friends use a funny euphemism purely to uphold the segment of collegiate athletics that operates like a billion-dollar NFL or NBA organization behind a thin veil of valuable continuing education they don’t actually care about.

If the NCAA were about protecting students, or athletes, or any people at all, don’t you think there’d be more material substance and action to that than the usual dog-and-pony show? But there isn’t, and there may never be.

The only thing Emmert and his NCAA have ever cared about protecting is the lining of their pockets. He would’ve admitted outright defeat in a unanimous Supreme Court case if that weren’t true. You know, that same Supreme Court famous for having every serving Justice agree on setting a legal precedent.

They might pretend otherwise, but Mark Emmert and the NCAA know what they’re doing. It’s nothing to the benefit of young people who deserve better.

[mm-video type=video id=01f7s13v690635kdtg0v playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f7s13v690635kdtg0v/01f7s13v690635kdtg0v-ec958c50446a279cc21da5bef5e95a0b.jpg]

[listicle id=1863034]

Dawn Staley, Aliyah Boston take home Coach of the Year and Player of the Year ahead of Friday’s Final Four

Dawn Staley and Aliyah Boston are big winners on Wednsday!

The Gamecocks had a few major wins on Wednesday.

Both standout center Aliyah Boston and head coach Dawn Staley received some recognition for their contributions to South Carolina’s 33-2 season.

Boston was named the 2022 Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year after averaging 16.8 points and 12.2 rebounds. Boston’s POTY campaign was not only highlighted by her SEC record-breaking 27 consecutive double-doubles but also her 2.5 blocks per game and effectiveness on the defensive end. So, you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that Boston also earned the 2022 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year honor.

While Boston took home the on-the-court awards, Staley was there to grab the accolades that recognize those on the sideline. She was named the 2022 Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year after leading the Gamecocks to the Final Four as they went through the entire season without relinquishing their No. 1 spot in the rankings.

The COTY award is her second.

Surely the 2022 award winners are thrilled to be recognized for their success. I’d bet there’s another honor that both Boston and Staley are greedy for — being crowned national champions.

The Gamecocks had the shortest championship odds (+162 at Tipico) entering the NCAA Tournament and remain the favorites to win it all.

Can they avenge their 2021 Final Four heartbreak?

[mm-video type=video id=01fze67fn95nt4sgwsh4 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fze67fn95nt4sgwsh4/01fze67fn95nt4sgwsh4-8adfbf8d344c9b300e4bea2bcfd4ccb8.jpg]
[listicle id=1867771]

Women’s Final Four: Best bets, odds and picks for March Madness 2022

Breaking down the NCAAW Final Four.

The women’s NCAA Tournament has seen madness from the opening tip, and it’s served as the perfect formula to debunk the whole “women’s tournament is predictable” thing.

Some of the lower seeds pulled off unexpected upsets that sent some of the sport’s more recognizable names home prematurely. Additionally, a few of the projected lottery picks of the upcoming draft also failed to make it past the first weekend.

Yet, as wildly chaotic as a lot of the tournament was, the dust is settled and the four best teams in the nation are left standing.

Let’s talk about the Final Four!

All odds via Tipico Sportsbook

[tipico]

Winner’s Circle: Double your Final Four title odds by picking a matchup, you coward

We’re swinging for the fences.

Welcome to the Winner’s Circle, a weekly column by Bet For The Win senior writer Prince J. Grimes. Here, you’ll read about stats and trends that can help you make informed betting predictions for the week ahead and beyond. Got something you want to see in the next Winners Circle, shoot Prince a message and check back next week for the response.

I can say with a lot of confidence that the majority of college hoops fans weren’t hoping for a storybook ending to Mike Krzyzewski’s career. A lot of those people would’ve been perfectly happy if Duke was eliminated from the NCAA tournament in the first round. But as we prepare for the Final Four this weekend, you have to admit the way things have shaped up is pretty cool.

Duke is set to face archival North Carolina in the Final Four, and the storylines write themselves. It’s the first time Duke and UNC will meet in the NCAA tournament. The last time these teams played, UNC stunned Duke in Coach K’s final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Now, the Tar Heels — who ended Saint Peter’s incredible run — stand in the way of his chance to capture a sixth title on the way out. Duke is favored by 4.5 points, as are the Kansas Jayhawks in the other semifinal game against Villanova.

The spread in that latter matchup might’ve been closer if not for an unfortunate injury to Villanova guard Justin Moore in their win over Houston. He was diagnosed with a torn Achilles, putting some doubt on what they might be able to accomplish against Kansas and beyond. The Jayhawks (+175) join Duke (+150) with the best odds to win it all.

Injury news hit the NBA as well, with Boston Celtics center Robert Williams reportedly tearing his meniscus. The injury comes in the midst of an incredible run by the Celtics from 10th to first place in the Eastern Conference. Williams is a big part of what they’ve been able to do on defense and he’ll be sorely missed as we move closer to the playoffs.

Not all news was bad, however, as Chris Paul made his return to the Phoenix Suns last week. They didn’t miss a beat in his absence, going 11-4 without him, but the Point God no doubt makes them better. They’re 2-0 since getting him back, winning both games against playoff teams — the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets — by 10 points each. This week, they’ll have games against the West’s next best teams, the third place Golden State Warriors on Wednesday and the second place Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Here are a few more things I’m looking at in the week ahead.

[tipico]

Paige Bueckers went off for UConn in the second half and the internet loved it

Bueckers was unstoppable in the second half and overtime.

In potentially the college basketball game of the month, the UConn women’s team earned a spot in their 14th straight Final Four with a dramatic double overtime win over 1-seed NC State. The Huskies — which had essentially a home game in Bridgeport, CT — pulled away in the second extra period for the four-point victory, but it was a back-and-forth affair throughout.

Although several UConn players stood out in the win, it was sophomore guard Paige Bueckers that made the difference. Twenty-three of Buecker’s 27 points came in the second half as she shot a nearly-perfect 8-for-9 from the field after halftime.

The internet was overwhelmed with praise for the Minnesota native’s performance as she led her team to the Final Four in Minneapolis next weekend.

Eilte 8: UConn vs. NC State, live stream, TV channel, time, NCAA Women’s college basketball

The UConn Huskies will meet NC State in Elite 8 action on Monday night with a trip to the Final Four for the winner of tonight’s game.

The UConn Huskies will meet NC State in Elite 8 action on Monday night with a trip to the Final Four for the winner of tonight’s game.  UConn is coming off a 75-58 win over Indiana in the Sweet 16 on Saturday to advance to the Elite 8 while NC State was able to hold off Notre Dame 66-63 in their last game.

This will be a great night of Elite 8 action, here is everything you need to know to watch and stream the game.

#2 UConn vs. #1 NC State

  • When: Monday, March 28
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

NCAA Basketball Odds and Betting Lines

NCAA Basketball odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds last updated Monday at 6:40 p.m. ET.

UConn (-4.5) vs. NC State

O/U: 131.5

Want some action on college basketball? Place your legal sports bets on this game or others in CO and NJ.

We recommend interesting sports viewing/streaming and betting opportunities. If you sign up for a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Q&A: Candace Parker talks about her new Title IX documentary, parenthood and equity in sports

Candace Parker’s new documentary debuts the weekend of the men’s Final Four.

Sometimes, one dream leads to another. And sometimes those new dreams are built on the backs of those who came before them.

That’s becoming the life of WNBA superstar Candace Parker. In 14 years as a player with the Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky, she’s more than lived out her dream of being a basketball player — she’s literally one of the all-time greats. Her career accomplishments include two WNBA MVPs, two Olympic gold medals, a defensive player of the year and rookie of the year award, two college national championships, and after helping Chicago win the title last season, two WNBA championships. The list goes on.

But now she’s also a budding star as a studio analyst for Turner Sports, where she signed a multi-year extension in September.

It’s an opportunity she called “a dream.”

It’s also keeping Parker busy this time of year. She’s in the thick of March Madness, covering the NCAA men’s basketball tournament across Turner’s family of networks. This comes a month after she and wife Anna Petrakova welcomed to the world their first child together. In two weeks, she’ll introduce another baby to the world; the very first film from her production company, Baby Hair Productions, in association with Turner Sports and Scout Productions. Titled “37 Words,” the film is a feature-length documentary that will “chronicle and celebrate the societal and cultural impact of Title IX, anchored through the perspective of Parker,” according to a press release.

Oh, and the WNBA season starts in less than two months.

It’s not lost on Parker that her impressive portfolio may not have been possible without the 37 words tucked inside the 1972 education amendments that make up Title IX. The law prevents discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities. And though there’s still a way to go to create true equity across genders, as highlighted by the discrepancies between the 2021 men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments, there’s no denying progress has been made. That’s the story Parker wants to highlight, she told For The Win in an interview that took place just before the start of this year’s tournaments.

Villanova, North Carolina and the 4 best NCAA women’s tournament games to watch Monday

The second-leading scorer in the country is in action Monday night.

The remaining Second Round games of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament will be played Monday night. And after No. 2 Baylor and No. 2 Iowa were sent packing Sunday, all eyes will be on the top seeds to see if any more upsets are on the way.

No. 2 UConn is in action against No. 7 UCF and No. 4 Tennessee takes on No. 12 Belmont, just to name a couple of the matchups with lopsided point spreads. There’s also No. 1 NC State in action against No. 9 Kansas State, looking to make it a clean sweep for the top seeds in advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.

At this stage, every game carries a little intrigue with it. Below are the games I’m most looking forward to with point spread information from Tipico Sportsbook.

[tipico]

Stanford’s Fran Belibi just made some incredible March Madness history with this in-game dunk and fans loved it

Fran Belibi is going to catch a body

There isn’t much March Madness expected when it comes to No. 1 overall seed Stanford in the Women’s NCAA tournament.

They’re pretty much expected to dominate most of the field as a No. 1 seed in the tournament. So it came as no surprise that they were totally dominating No. 16 seeded Montana State on Friday 29-6 just midway through the second quarter.

What did catch some folks off guard was a play that happened at that moment, though.

Stanford forward Fran Belibi blocked a jump shot from a Montana State player and got the ball out on the break. She jumped out in transition slightly ahead of the rest of the pack and then — boom — she dunked the ball.

It was an absolutely fantastic display of athleticism from the block to corraling the ball in transition and pushing it on the break to the dunk itself.

This wasn’t just any dunk. It was a dunk of historic proportion. It was the third dunk of Belibi’s career and also the third dunk in Women’s NCAA tournament history.

The only other two players to pull this off were Brittney Griner in 2013 and Candace Parker in 2006. That’s some pretty fantastic company to be in.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to see Belibi throwing it down like this. She’s been throwing down alley-oops since high school.

Still, Fran’s big dunk had college basketball fans hyped.