Tag: NCAAW

Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso being drafted to the Chicago Sky has fans making Tim Duncan and David Robinson memes

The internet is gonna internet, and these memes are glorious.

The Chicago Sky shook up the first round of the WNBA Draft Monday night when they drafted Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. The team’s decision has fans making so many memes, including Tim Duncan and David Robinson comparisons.

After her stellar play in the national championship, there was always a chance that Kamilla Cardoso would get drafted sooner than where she was projected. The Chicago Sky scooped her up at pick No. 3 and then came back and grabbed Angel Reese at Pick No. 7, a pick they didn’t own before April 14.

Truthfully, that’s one heck of a first-round draft haul. Cardoso and Reese will likely do some serious damage on the glass, and the front office should be thrilled after the Sky had a very shaky off-season.

Fans immediately noticed the endless possibilities of what happens when pairing the two players together. Rightfully so, they responded with tons of memes, including several of former Spurs greats Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

Here’s some of the best the internet has to offer:

Angel Reese shared an epic selfie with Caitlin Clark and 4 other top WNBA draft picks

That’s a whole lot of buckets in one photo.

NEW YORK — The WNBA Draft class of 2024 took in some of the best sights New York has to offer ahead of Monday night’s festivities, including some epic photos from the top of the Empire State Building.

Monday evening’s WNBA Draft will likely shatter all kinds of viewing records and become the start of some truly historic careers. This year’s draft class took time to remember such a huge milestone with a trip to the Empire State Building. After Caitlin Clark and Kamilla Cardoso lit up the building orange, several players also in attendance went to the observatory deck to take in the view.

But what’s better than the view from the 86th floor? A selfie with Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, Aaliyah Edwards, Dyaisha Fair and Marquesha Davis to commemorate the moment. BOOM.

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Caitlin Clark is really going to get congratulated in person at the 2024 WNBA Draft by Jake from State Farm

A trio you never knew you needed: Caitlin Clark, Jake from State Farm and the WNBA Draft.

The 2024 WNBA Draft is probably one of the most anticipated drafts in recent memory. The incoming rookie class is loaded with talent, including Caitlin Clark, the presumed No. 1 pick. It also includes another baller who more people need to cause a ruckus over — Jake from State Farm.

Since the announcement of Caitlin Clark’s NIL deal with State Farm, Jake has been seen in commercials like this one with Caitlin. He’s even shown up to watch her break the all-time NCAA scoring record. So, it makes all the sense in the world that Jake would be there for another moment in Caitlin’s career, the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Per Jacob Feldman at Sportico, Jake and TV personality Taylor Rooks are expected to be among the people who will congratulate Caitlin after she is drafted. State Farm has also said that it will highlight her career achievements in Times Square and send her a congratulatory message after she is drafted. The company is even partnering with ESPN to create a rolling Instagram story as more first-round picks are announced.

Here’s why 2024 WNBA Draft prospect Mackenzie Holmes won’t make her debut until 2025

Mackenzie Holmes won’t make her debut until 2025. Here’s why fans will have to wait.

Indiana Hoosiers forward Mackenzie Holmes hopes to be selected in the 2024 WNBA Draft on April 15. However, if a team selects her, fans will have to wait to see her make her debut. Holmes announced via social media on Wednesday that she won’t be ready until 2025.

Knee issues have been an ongoing hurdle for Mackenzie Holmes since high school. They sidelined her multiple times during her college career and even impacted her heading into this year’s NCAA tournament. But, with Holmes poised to turn pro, she’s addressing her knee problems head-on so that she can be ready for 2025.

Here’s what she shared ahead of the 2024 WNBA Draft:

“At this time, to ensure my body is healthy and my playing career is as long and successful as possible, I have decided to get the necessary surgery in May to prevent further issues and alleviate the pain it has caused. I have declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft and pray that a team honors me with a selection, knowing that I will be ready for the start of 2025 training camp.”

Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer used a morbid (but on-brand!) joke when explaining her retirement decision

Tara VanDerveer, everybody!

Tara VanDerveer’s retirement shocked many fans, but it was a new reality for her that finally made sense. On Wednesday, when describing why she decided to retire now, after 38 seasons, she dropped a morbid one-liner — a “Tara-ism” — about what making that decision was like.

To know Tara VanDerveer is to understand that she can coach the heck out of some basketball and deliver a zinger like nobody else can. Affectionately known as “Tara-isms,” VanDerveer’s witty but impactful one-liners were a staple of her career. That wasn’t going to change simply because she’s retiring.

During her retirement press conference on Wednesday, the Stanford head coach explained to the media that she wasn’t sure the day she would no longer coach would ever come. VanDerveer jokingly said she thought the conclusion of her life would be on the bench.

“Sometimes, it’s just…you’re ready. I just felt I’m ready. I never really thought I would be. I kind of just felt like maybe I would keel over on the bench…because I love it.”

Jason Sudeikis did a ‘you can’t see me’ celebration during epic LSU-Iowa March Madness clash

Ted Lasso was loving what he saw in Albany.

Comedian Jason Sudeikis was in attendance for one of the best games of the year as the Ted Lasso star took in the Elite Eight matchup between the LSU and Iowa women’s basketball teams. Monday night’s highly anticipated game was a rematch of the 2023 National Championship game, which was won by Angel Reese and the Tigers.

MORE: Ryan Ruocco delivered the funniest call of a thrilling Caitlin Clark 3-pointer during LSU vs. Iowa

Sudeikis is no stranger to supporting women’s hoops, with the Horrible Bosses actor frequenting games on both the pro and college level. Late in the fourth quarter, Sudeikis could be seen replicating the “you can’t see me” celebration made famous by wrestler John Cena and adopted by a lot of athletes, including Iowa’s incredible star Caitlin Clark.

The celebration was the same as the one Reese used to taunt Clark in last year’s loss, but the record-setting Hawkeye got revenge in 2024 with a 94-87 victory to make the Final Four.

The NCAA still doesn’t care about women’s sports and the Texas-NC State 3-point line debacle proves it

We’re so tired of waiting on the NCAA to be better.

This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.

Good morning, Winners! Thanks so much for reading the Morning Win today. We appreciate you spending a bit of time here with us today. Hope you had a fantastic weekend.

The NCAA had an opportunity to really put women’s sports on a pedestal it’d never been on before this season with the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Unfortunately, it’s failing. Badly.

Don’t get me wrong. The basketball so far has been excellent. These ladies know how to put on a show. The Elite 8 is going to be absolute must-watch television. LSU and Iowa’s rematch will be one of the most-watched college basketball games ever.

The players are holding up their end of the bargain. The NCAA is not. That’s the only explanation for what happened in Portland this weekend.

NC State and Texas played an Elite 8 game where the 3-point lines on the court were different distances. That’s unfathomable to me. Could you imagine a Duke-UNC game on the men’s side like that? The answer is no. Because it’d simply never happen.

RELATED: Fans crushed the NCAA after NC State and Texas pointed out the 3-point lines in Portland were incorrect 

It was discovered only because NC State and Texas pointed it out just before their Elite 8 matchup. But, by then, it was too late. The teams had already warmed up and players were prepared to play ball, so they just continued as if it was business as usual. It essentially was because, well, that’s how the NCAA has always treated women’s sports.

No, those things aren’t quite the same as skimping on weight rooms or canceling entire golf tournaments, but let’s be honest. How far is that stuff from sending Utah off to Idaho Coeur d’Alene or making Hannah Hidalgo remove her nose ring in the middle of a game because of an obscure rule? Or painting 3-point lines wrong, for that matter? It’s all in the same bucket.

The women’s basketball tournament is still looked at as secondary despite all the inroads women’s basketball has made. You’ve got stars galore in the game. College basketball’s most popular players play on the women’s side these days. Their NIL deals are crazy. One would think that, with that being the case, the NCAA would make sure these ladies get the best and only the best.

But no amount of NIL deals or Instagram followers matters here. Women’s basketball — and women’s sports overall — just don’t seem to be a priority at this point. And that’s so unfortunate because the game is so good. The stars are so bright and fun. They all deserve so much better. We’re all just waiting for the NCAA to give it to them finally.

Maybe they will someday. It’s just unfortunate that today does not seem to be that day.

Thank you so much, UVA, for giving us NC State in the Final Four

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Man. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen someone’s downfall so ironically bring so many people joy in this way. But if not for this missed free throw from UVA in the ACC tournament, do we even know who DJ Burns is?

The answer is probably not. But here we are. UVA missed. NC State won. And, now, Gen-Z Bo is America’s favorite player. It’s incredible how things work out sometimes.

Things only get tougher from here. NC State is playing Purdue in the Final Four, and Burns will face Zach Edey, who’s been quite the problem himself. It’ll be a tough one.

No matter how things end, though, we’ll always be pulling for you and your thicc boi buckets, Big Burns.

The MVBiid is back

Joel Embiid is nearing his return with the Philadelphia 76ers after tearing his meniscus, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

He’s been out since January 30 but could play later on Monday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This is huge news. The 76ers are currently the 8th seed in the East and need every win they can get to get out of the play-in tournament. Embiid’s return should help with that.

Quick hits: More on those awful MLB jerseys … DJ Burns in the NFL? … and more

— MLB players aren’t wearing the see-through Fanatics pants to start the season. I can’t blame them. Andrew Joseph has more.

— Could DJ Burns be playing left tackle for somebody in the NFL next season? Here’s Charles Curtis with more.

— ESPN is out here accidentally tipping pitches. This is wild. Mary Clarke has more.

— I don’t know what kind of magic The Simpsons have, but I do know I need it. Here’s Prince Grimes with more.

— Here’s Angel Reese explaining her relationship with Caitlin Clark. They don’t hate each other. Here’s Andrew again with more.

— Here’s Dan Hurley with a perfect explanation on why so many people hate UConn. Charles has more.

That’s a wrap, folks! Tap back in tomorrow for more. Thanks so much for reading today. We out. Peace.

-Sykes ✌️

Angel Reese sang Flau’jae Johnson’s new song back to her after LSU topped UCLA in the Sweet 16

“Get out your feelings. Get a bag.”

Flau’jae Johnson is a certified baller, and her electric performance against UCLA will have fans totally amped for quite some time. It already had fellow teammate Angel Reese very hype, and Reese was not afraid to sing Flau’jae’s newest song back to her during a funny postgame interview.

Saturday’s Sweet 16 matchup against No. 2 UCLA should be dubbed the Flau’jae Johnson game. The rapper and hooper, who actually listens to her own music before games, didn’t need much motivation Saturday to churn out a 24-point and 12 rebounds performance. Flau’jae was dynamic, putting defenders in a spin cycle and doing things like this that simply defy comprehension.

Postgame, Flau’jae revealed what has fueled her dominance. Here’s what she told ESPN’s Holly Rowe:

“I know people are going to discredit me because I rap and I hoop. I know I gotta go extra hard, so that’s what I do. I’m in the gym.”

A moment later, Rowe attempted to weave in a reference to Flau’jae’s newest song, AMF, into the interview — an acronym that means “Ain’t My Fault” and is an ode to Louisiana rapper Silkk The Shocker’s 1998 hit. However, she was hilariously stopped by Flau’jae, who chimed in with, “It is our fault.” Angel Reese added to the fun moment by completing the lyrics to Flau’jae’s song — Get out your feelings. Get a bag. — back to her.

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The Kim Mulkey Washington Post profile finally dropped, and fans had memes after reading it

How college basketball fans reacted to The Washington Post’s profile of Kim Mulkey.

The Washington Post’s story on Kim Mulkey published Saturday, and if diehard fans were hoping for explosive revelations about the LSU women’s basketball coach, they likely didn’t get them.

The in-depth profile of Mulkey, by feature writer Kent Babb, is a thorough look at one of the best coaches in basketball, her controversies and how she got to where she is.

It’s far from a “hit piece,” which is how Mulkey described the story last weekend before it was published with other scathing and unprompted remarks during a press conference. She also threatened to sue The Washington Post if it published anything untrue, but several details in the story were already previously reported.

With the profile published, basketball fans predictably reacted with memes and jokes about Mulkey’s preemptive and unnecessary attack against the story, the paper and Babb. The story was thorough but didn’t seem to match the fire Mulkey insinuated it would have.

Here’s how some basketball fans reacted:

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Raven Johnson explained how Dawn Staley keeps South Carolina calm with the smoothest motto

“We have THE Dawn Staley…how can you sweat?”

South Carolina has won an impressive 35 games in a row, but their record hasn’t come without some close calls, including Friday’s thriller with Indiana. Sophomore guard Raven Johnson says the team doesn’t panic in those high-pressure situations because of two words: Dawn Staley.

We’ve been saying it all season long, but Dawn Staley is putting on a masterclass in coaching. After losing all five starters from last year’s team to the WNBA, many analysts didn’t think South Carolina would look as dominant as they have. But, despite the doubt, the Gamecocks have churned out an undefeated record — the only team to do so in college basketball. They have won 35 games and recently survived a nail-biter against Indiana that required a clutch 3-point bucket from Raven Johnson to propel South Carolina to the Elite 8.

Bree Hall, Johnson’s teammate and fellow 3-point specialist, was asked why the team continues to succeed in such high-stakes situations. Hall answered the question very transparently, and Johnson quickly followed up, adding a Dawn Staley-themed one-liner for the ages. Per Amanda Poole of WACH FOX 57, here’s what Johnson said that had the whole room, including Staley, giggling:

“We have THE Dawn Staley. I mean, when you have a coach like that, how can you sweat? If she don’t sweat, we don’t sweat.”