Houston Roundball Review Women's Hoops Blog

Discussing the new Houston Comets logo; the logo unveiling event; retaining the head coach

2026-11-02T18:43:32.509-06:00

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The new Houston Comets logo is blah. Most of the local media was not invited / notified to attend the logo unveiling event. Retaining Rachid Meziane as head coach is another head-scratching decision.

Clip from episode 207 (11/01) of the "Folks Talkin' Sports" livestream show featuring Kennetra Pulliams, LaQuita Thompson, and Kris Gardner.

Time stamps

00:00 - Thoughts on the new Houston Comets logo

05:19 - JuJu Watkins does not have to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft

07:35 - Local media did not receive an email to attend / cover the Houston Comets' logo unveiling

11:19 - The decision to bring back Rachid Meziane as head coach of Houston Comets 2.0

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Comets unveil new logo; Valkyries are WNBA champs; Yormark to step down and more on Folks Talkin' Sports

2026-11-01T21:03:59.694-06:00

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Watch episode 207 of Folks Talkin' Sports on YouTube (w/ timestamps) featuring Kris Gardner, Kennetra Pulliams, and Laquita Thompson (Extreme Heat Sports Management) as they discuss the Houston Comets new logo; the Golden State Valkyries winning the 2026 WNBA Finals; Brett Yormark decides to step down as Big 12 Commissioner; and more.

Time stamps

00:00 - Intro

02:23 - Thoughts on the new Houston Comets logo

07:19 - JuJu Watkins does not have to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft

09:35 - Local media did not receive an email to attend / cover the Houston Comets' logo unveiling

13:27 - The decision to bring back Rachid Meziane as head coach of Houston Comets 2.0

16:10 - Congrats to the Golden State Valkyries

22:32 - The city of Houston is not a finalist to a Women's Final Four in 2032 - 2036

25:29 - The Houston Comets project to have the 2nd most salary cap room this offseason

30:05 - Discussing why Houston is no longer bidding to host a Women's Final Four

39:50 - IF Tilman Fertitta wanted to host a Women's Final Four in Houston, he'd get it.

46:08 - Brett Yormark's decision to step down as Big 12 Commissioner

49:13 - Another example of why the Big 12 needs to do more with its FAST channel

53:20 - JoJo Tugler is not the best interviewee

56:14 - LaQuita Thompson promotes her e-book, "The Playbook Beyond the Game"

57:54 - Thank you to Star Pizza. Advertise@TheHRR.com

59:40 - Kingston Flemings has been suspended by the NBA for 1 game for an "intentional elbow"

01:00:30 - Wrapping up the show.

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2026 WNBA Finals Schedule and Results

2026-10-31T21:24:00.000-05:00

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Updated, 10/31/26 - 9:24 p.m.

Please be advised of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs – Finals Schedule and Results:

Day	Date	Match-up	Game	Time (CT) / Results	TV
Sat	10/17	Atlanta at Golden State	1	Golden State 68, Atlanta 64.	NBC / Peacock
Mon	10/19	Atlanta at Golden State	2	Atlanta 79, Golden State 65.	USA / CNBC / Peacock
Wed	10/21	Golden State at Atlanta	3^	Atlanta 97, Golden State 71.	USA / CNBC / Peacock
Sat	10/24	Golden State at Atlanta	4^	Golden State 67, Atlanta 62.	NBC / Peacock
Mon	10/26	Atlanta at Golden State	5	Golden State 64, Atlanta 55.	USA / CNBC / Peacock
Thu	10/29	Golden State at Atlanta	6^	Atlanta 80, Golden State 69.	USA / Peacock / E! Syfy
Sat	10/31	Atlanta at Golden State	7	Golden State 68, Atlanta 63.	USA / CNBC / Peacock

Golden State defeats Atlanta in best of seven series, 4-3.

Valkyries win 2026 WNBA Finals.

^ -- played at State Farm Arena, in Atlanta, GA

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USA Sports Delivers 1.5 Million Viewers for Valkyries - Dream Game 6 Thursday Matinee

2026-10-31T15:20:39.304-05:00

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USA Sports’ coverage of Game 6 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday afternoon averaged 1.5 million viewers across USA Sports' linear platforms (USA Network, E!, and SYFY) and streaming led by Peacock, up 4% vs. last year’s series-clinching game (LV-PHX Game 4), based on Nielsen panel-only data and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

The Dream topped the Valkyries, 80-69, on Thursday to force the first Game 7 in WNBA history tonight at 7 p.m. CT on USA Network and CNBC (pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m. CT).

Below are additional Finals Game 6 viewership notes:

Live weekday coverage of Game 6 across USA Sports' linear platforms (USA Network, E!, and SYFY) and streaming led by Peacock was UP 4% compared to last year's LV-PHX Finals LV-PHX clinching broadcast in primetime.
USA Sports’ Game 6 coverage delivered the fifth most-watched WNBA Finals game on cable on record.
USA Sports averaged a total of 1.7 million viewers for Game 6 on Thursday when factoring in encore presentations on USA Network and CNBC in the original 8 p.m. ET broadcast window, marking the second time that USA Sports has averaged 1.7 million viewers for a rescheduled Finals game, following Game 3's move to Wednesday night.

TONIGHT: DREAM-VALKYRIES GAME 7 LIVE ON USA NETWORK & CNBC AT 7 P.M. CT AS A WNBA CHAMPION WILL BE CROWNED

USA Sports’ coverage of the 2026 WNBA Finals culminates tonight with a winner-take-all Game 7 live at 7 p.m. CT on USA Network and CNBC as Gabby Williams and the Golden State Valkyries host Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream with each franchise looking to take home its first WNBA title. Tonight’s pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m. CT.

Kate Scott (play-by-play), analysts Tamika Catchings and Sarah Kustok, and courtside reporter Meghan McPeak will call Game 7 live from Chase Center tonight.

USA Sports continues to surround the WNBA Finals with comprehensive pregame shows and extended postgame coverage. Pregame, halftime and postgame coverage, beginning tonight at 6 p.m. CT, features Elle Duncan (host) and Renee Montgomery (analyst) anchoring coverage from Chase center, with host Paris Lawson alongside analysts and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers Chamique Holdsclaw and Cynthia Cooper in-studio. Cooper, a four-time WNBA champion and four-time WNBA Finals MVP, is set to join tonight’s Game 7 studio coverage for the first time with USA Sports this season.

Veteran WNBA Finals referee and the WNBA’s current Referee Performance & Development Advisor Kurt Walker serves as USA Sports’ rules analyst.

USA Sports’ WNBA Finals Game 7 coverage on USA Network will simulcast live on CNBC. Throughout the regular season, CNBC’s game simulcasts introduced 1 million new viewers to the WNBA.

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Houston Comets Unveil Brand Identity as Iconic WNBA Franchise Returns to Houston

2026-10-30T08:00:45.927-05:00

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Thursday evening, the Houston Comets unveiled a new brand identity, marking a defining moment in the return of one of the most iconic franchises in women’s sports.

Revealed during a celebration in downtown Houston at POST Houston, the new identity marks the beginning of the Comets’ next chapter. The evening brought together Comets legends, fans, partners, and community leaders for a first look at the franchise’s new era, culminating in the unveiling of the team’s new logo.

The brand identity honors the Comets’ historic championship legacy while introducing a bold, modern look for a new generation of fans as the team prepares to return to the court in 2027. Assets are linked here.

One of the WNBA’s original eight franchises, the Comets established the league’s first dynasty by winning four consecutive championships from 1997-2000. The brand identity pays homage to that foundation while looking ahead to the new era of the team and its connection to its fans.

"This is a landmark moment for the Comets, for Houston, and for the continued growth of women’s sports,” said Gretchen Sheirr, President of Business Operations for the Houston Rockets and Comets. "This franchise helped define the early years of the WNBA, and we are incredibly proud to honor that championship history while building something modern, bold, and distinctly Houston for the future.”

The logo features an ascending “H” with a basketball moving through its center, symbolizing the team’s pursuit of greatness. The four stars within the logo honor the Comets’ four WNBA championships, while the white star pays tribute to Texas, the Lone Star State, reflecting the organization’s connection to Houston and the community it represents. At the heart of the brand are the signature colors of red, silver and navy, which symbolize passion, excellence, innovation, strength and confidence.

The brand identity reflects the Comets’ bold, competitive spirit and their place in the future of women’s basketball. Additional elements of the brand will be revealed in the coming months as the franchise builds towards its return for the 2027 season.

Fans can be the first to shop the new look at the Comets exclusive pop-up shop at the George R. Brown Convention Center, open Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. The weekend will feature special appearances by Comets legends and Hall of Famers Van Chancellor, Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes.

Season Tickets are on sale now at HoustonComets.com.

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2027 WNBA Draft Lottery to take place Sunday, Nov. 15 on ESPN

2026-10-29T09:31:51.708-05:00

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The 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery will be broadcast in the U.S. on Sunday, Nov. 15, on ESPN, from 6:30-7:00 p.m. CT, following the broadcast of the UConn vs. Louisville women’s basketball game, the WNBA announced today. TSN will distribute coverage of the event in Canada.

ESPN will air the 30-minute, WNBA Draft Lottery Special, which will feature WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin revealing the results of the Lottery. This marks the 15th consecutive year that ESPN networks will present the WNBA Draft Lottery.

Houston, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Toronto and Washington will take part in the 26th annual WNBA Draft Lottery. Phoenix previously traded its first-round pick to Los Angeles; Chicago traded its first-round selection to Washington. The 2027 WNBA Draft is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 12, 2027.

Lottery odds for five of the seven teams that did not make the playoffs in the 2026 season – Chicago, Houston (previously Connecticut Sun), Los Angeles, Phoenix and Seattle – are based on their two-year (2025 and 2026) cumulative records. Odds for the remaining two Lottery participants – Portland and Toronto, expansion teams in 2026 – will be based on their record from this past season.

Houston’s 2025 and 2026 cumulative winning percentage and Toronto’s 2026 winning percentage were identical (.250) and, accordingly, each will receive 329 combinations, the most of any of the teams. Houston was 1-2 against Toronto in the 2026 regular season (the first tiebreaker) and, therefore, cannot fall further than the third pick. Toronto is guaranteed at least the fourth pick.

As the result of a prior trade between Washington and Chicago (26-62), the Mystics possess the Sky’s first-round pick and will have the third-most chances (161) to win the top pick. Seattle (31-57) has the fourth-most chances (93) and Portland (17-27) has the fifth-most (52). Los Angeles (37-51) has 24 chances by virtue of its own two-year record and an additional 12 chances as the result of a previous trade with Phoenix (43-45).

In the drawing, 14 balls numbered 1-14 will be placed in a lottery machine and mixed. Four balls will be drawn to determine a four-digit combination. The team assigned that four-ball combination will receive the No. 1 pick. The four balls will then be placed back into the machine and the process will be repeated to determine the second pick. Of the five Lottery teams not selected in the drawings, the team with the worst cumulative winning percentage shall select third; the team with the next worst records will, in order, select fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh.

A representative from the league’s independent accounting firm Ernst & Young will be in attendance to oversee the Draft Lottery process.

Below are the number of chances for teams to land the top pick in 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery.

* Chicago traded its own 2027 first round pick to Washington in exchange for Ariel Atkins (2/23/25)

+ Phoenix traded its own 2027 first round pick and Monique Akoa Makani to Los Angeles.

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GAME 6 OF 2026 WNBA Finals to be Played at State Farm Arena on Thursday, October 29, at 11:30 a.m. CT

2026-10-26T17:45:02.647-05:00

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Game 6 of the WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream will be played at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Thursday, October 29, at 11:30 a.m. CT, the WNBA announced today.

The game, originally scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, will still air on USA Network and stream on Peacock.

To accommodate the Finals game, the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks have agreed to move the start time of their regular-season game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers to 7:00 p.m. CT.

The WNBA and NBA, alongside USA Network, NBC and Peacock, will bolster their marketing and promotional efforts with a coordinated push across broadcast, digital and social platforms to drive tune-in and build awareness of the new game time.

“The sellout crowds and extraordinary atmosphere at State Farm Arena for Games 3 and 4 were a tremendous success, and we’re excited to give thousands more fans the opportunity to experience Game 6 with a championship on the line,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “We thank the NBA, Dream, Valkyries, Hawks, State Farm Arena and USA Network for the collaboration and flexibility that made this move possible. We look forward to delivering another unforgettable Finals experience in Atlanta.”

Tickets for Game 6 of the WNBA Finals are on sale to the general public now at atlantadream.com.

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2026 All-WNBA First and Second Teams

2026-10-24T14:13:40.204-05:00

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WNBA Viewership: USA Sports Delivers Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 3 Since 1999, Best Ever on Cable

2026-10-24T14:03:33.976-05:00

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USA Sports delivered the most-watched WNBA Finals Game 3 since 1999 – second-best all-time and most-watched ever on cable – averaging 1.71 million viewers for Wednesday night’s Game 3 coverage across USA Sports’ linear platforms (USA Network and CNBC) and streaming on Peacock, according to official Nielsen Big Data + Panel and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

The Atlanta Dream took a 2-1 series lead with a 97-71 victory over the Golden State Valkyries in Game 3, as Angel Reese continued her impressive Finals performance with 21 points and 12 rebounds in front of a sellout crowd at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Additional viewership notes:

Game 3 viewership was up 31% vs. last year’s 2025 Game 3 (LV/PHX) and saw a 24% year-over-year gain on cable in the P18-49 demo.
Game 3 also delivered a 29% increase in viewership from Game 2 (1.33 million).
This marks the second consecutive game that USA Sports has posted record viewership, after delivering the most-watched WNBA Finals Game 2 on cable in history.
USA Sports’ 2026 WNBA playoff coverage is averaging 1.4 million viewers, up 39% vs. the comparable First Round and Finals windows in 2025.

USA Sports resumes its WNBA Finals coverage on Monday, October 26, with Game 5 live from Chase Center in San Francisco at 7 p.m. CT. USA Sports will also have live coverage for Games 6-7, if necessary, with pre-game coverage for all games beginning at 6 p.m. CT on USA Network followed by tip-off at 7 p.m. CT. NBC Sports presents coverage of Game 4 on Saturday afternoon.

Kate Scott (play-by-play), analysts Tamika Catchings and Sarah Kustok, and courtside reporter Meghan McPeak will call Games 5-7 for USA Sports.

Pre-game, halftime and postgame coverage features Elle Duncan (host) and Renee Montgomery (analyst) anchoring coverage from the site of the game, with host Paris Lawson alongside analysts and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers Chamique Holdsclaw and Teresa Weatherspoon in-studio. Veteran WNBA Finals referee and the WNBA’s current Referee Performance & Development Advisor Kurt Walker serves as USA Sports’ rules analyst.

With the series guaranteed to go at least five games, the 2026 WNBA champions will be crowned on USA Sports as up to three more WNBA Finals games - Games 5 and 6-7 (if necessary) – will air live on USA Network.

All of USA Sports’ WNBA Finals coverage on USA Network will simulcast live on CNBC. Throughout the regular season, CNBC’s game simulcasts introduced 1 million new viewers to the WNBA.

All games throughout the WNBA Finals will also stream live on Peacock. NBC Sports will present Game 4 on October 24 on NBC and Peacock.

Last year, USA Sports and the WNBA announced an 11-year media rights agreement for USA Network to present WNBA games – including the regular-season and portions of the Playoffs and WNBA Finals in select years – beginning with the 2026 season.

As part of the multi-year agreement which runs through 2036, USA Sports will present at least 50 WNBA games annually on USA Network, including coverage of the WNBA Playoffs and WNBA Finals games in select years beginning this year.

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TEGNA and Houston Comets Announce Partnership to Broadcast Games Locally on KHOU and KTBU

2026-10-22T16:46:44.125-05:00

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TEGNA and the Houston Comets today announced a multi-year partnership making KHOU and KTBU the local broadcast home of the Comets. Starting with the team's 2027 season, locally available Comets games will air free over-the-air on KTBU, with select games simulcast on KHOU, TEGNA's CBS affiliate in Houston. The games will also be simulcast on Space City Home Network, the team's regional sports network, and on SCHN+, the direct-to-consumer streaming service.

As a founding marketing partner for the team, KHOU will create new and exclusive Comets content year-round, providing coverage across its newscasts, 24/7 streaming channel and digital platforms. KHOU and TEGNA will also play a key role in advertising and sponsorship sales for the team's broadcasts on the stations.

“The Comets’ return to Houston is a big moment for the city, and we’re proud to be part of it,” said Brad Ramsey, senior vice president and head of sports rights, TEGNA. “This partnership expands our WNBA footprint and lets us connect the team with the community, bringing fans closer to the Comets on and off the court, all year.”

“Bringing the Comets back to Houston is about reigniting the passion, pride and energy that have always connected this organization with its fans and community,” said Gretchen Sheirr, President of Business Operations for the Houston Rockets and Comets. “As the WNBA continues to reach new heights, we’re thrilled to partner with TEGNA to make Comets basketball more accessible to fans across the Houston area through free, over-the-air broadcasts on KTBU and additional coverage on KHOU. We’re excited to bring fans closer to the action and deliver outstanding coverage as we begin this exciting new chapter in Comets history.”

One of the WNBA’s original eight franchises, the Comets won the league’s first four championships and helped create the early identity and success of the league. Houston’s return to the WNBA comes during a period of extraordinary momentum for the league, which plans to expand to 18 teams by 2030.

“KHOU has covered Houston sports for decades, and the Comets’ homecoming is a story we’ve been waiting to tell,” said David Loving, president and general manager, KHOU. “As a founding partner, we’re ready to bring Comets action to fans across the region.”

How to watch:

KTBU (channel 55): Every locally available game airs live on KTBU.
KHOU 11: Select games each season are simulcast on KHOU.
Over the air: Fans can watch for free with an antenna.
On Space City Home Network and SCHN+ streaming service

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WNBA Viewership: USA Sports' Coverage of Dream-Valkyries Game 2 is Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 2 Ever on Cable

2026-10-21T17:30:00.000-05:00

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USA Sports delivered the most-watched WNBA Finals Game 2 ever on cable on Monday night, averaging 1.33 million viewers across USA Sports’ linear platforms (USA Network, CNBC and E!) and streaming on Peacock, according to official Nielsen Big Data + Panel and digital data from Adobe Analytics. Monday night’s Game 2 viewership was up 9% vs. the 2025 WNBA Finals Game 2 (PHX/LV) on broadcast television.

The Atlanta Dream evened the series 1-1 with a 79-65 victory over the Golden State Valkyries in Game 2 on Monday behind Angel Reese’s 30-point, 16-rebound double-double, as she became the youngest player in WNBA history to record 30 points and 15 rebounds in a playoff game.

USA Sports’ 2026 WNBA playoff coverage is averaging 1.25 million viewers, up 37% vs. the comparable First Round and Finals windows in 2025.

USA Sports’ 2026 WNBA Finals coverage continues tonight at 7 p.m. CT on USA Network and CNBC with a pivotal Valkyries-Dream Game 3 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. USA Sports will preview the game with an hour-long pregame show at 6 p.m. CT on USA Network, followed by tip-off at 7 p.m. CT.

Kate Scott (play-by-play), analysts Tamika Catchings and Amy Audibert, and courtside reporter Meghan McPeak will call Game 3 live from State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Tonight’s pregame, halftime and postgame coverage features Elle Duncan (host) and Renee Montgomery (analyst) anchoring coverage from State Farm Arena, with host Paris Lawson alongside analysts and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers Chamique Holdsclaw and Teresa Weatherspoon in-studio. Veteran WNBA Finals referee and the WNBA’s current Referee Performance & Development Advisor Kurt Walker will serve as USA Sports’ rules analyst.

With the series tied 1-1, the 2026 WNBA champions will be crowned on USA Sports as up to four more WNBA Finals games - Games 3 and 5 and 6-7 (if necessary) – will air live on USA Network.

All of USA Sports’ WNBA Finals coverage on USA Network will simulcast live on CNBC. Throughout the regular season, CNBC’s game simulcasts introduced 1 million new viewers to the WNBA.

All games throughout the WNBA Finals will also stream live on Peacock. NBC Sports will present Game 4 on October 24 on NBC and Peacock.

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WNBA Viewership: NBC and Peacock Deliver Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 1 Ever

2026-10-21T09:18:42.299-05:00

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Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries on Saturday, Oct. 17, averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 2.1 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, making it the most-watched WNBA Finals Game 1 ever, based on official Nielsen Big Data + Panel and digital data from Adobe Analytics. Dream-Valkyries is up 11% vs. last year’s Game 1.

Led by Gabby Williams’ 26 points, Golden State’s 68-64 win over Atlanta peaked at 3.0 million viewers for the game’s exciting conclusion from 4:45 – 4:55 p.m. CT. Dream-Valkyries was the first WNBA Finals game presented by NBC Sports since Aug. 31, 2002.

The 1997 winner-take-all championship game averaged 2.85 million on NBC. The WNBA adopted a championship series format in 1998.

Below are the top local market viewership ratings for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the Dream and Valkyries. In its return to WNBA coverage, NBC Sports averaging a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 1.8 million viewers for its seven regular season games on NBC and Peacock, up 35% vs. comparable coverage last season. This is NBC Sports’ first season with WNBA coverage since 2002. NBC Sports’ coverage of Game 1 of the WNBA Semifinals between the Valkyries and the Las Vegas Aces on Oct. 4 averaged 1.12 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, making it the third-most-watched Semifinals Game 1 ever.

NBC Sports’ WNBA Finals coverage continues with Game 4 from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 12 p.m. CT on NBC and Peacock. WNBA Showtime on-site studio coverage will begin at 11:30 a.m. CT on NBC and Peacock. Game 3 and Games 5-7 will see Peacock simulstream USA Network’s coverage produced by Versant’s USA Sports.

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Los Angeles Sparks' Nneka Ogwumike Wins 2026 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award

2026-10-13T18:24:11.672-05:00

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Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike has been named the recipient of the 2026 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award, the WNBA announced today. This is Ogwumike’s second consecutive Sportsmanship Award and fifth overall, extending her league record. She previously won the award in three straight seasons from 2019-21 and in 2025.

The Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award is presented each season to a player who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court, including ethical behavior, fair play and integrity. The award is named in honor of the late Kim Perrot, who helped the Houston Comets win the first two WNBA championships, in 1997 and 1998, before passing away in August 1999 after a seven-month battle with cancer.

Ogwumike received 38 votes from a national panel of 74 sportswriters and broadcasters. New York Liberty forward-guard Rebecca Allen finished second with seven votes, and Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell was third with six votes. Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton and Washington Mystics forward Michaela Onyenwere tied for fourth after each received four votes.

In her 15th and final WNBA season, Ogwumike averaged 17.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and a career-high 3.1 assists per game in 43 games. She led the Sparks in total points and rebounds and started every game she played.

Ogwumike finished her career ranked fourth in WNBA history in both points (8,047) and steals (718) and third in rebounds (3,657). She also became the Sparks’ all-time scoring leader and set the record for career points in the WNBA All-Star Game. Ogwumike is the only player in WNBA history with at least 7,000 career points and a career field goal percentage of at least 50.0 percent. In addition to her on-court performance, Ogwumike has served as the President of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) since 2016.

Below are the voting results for the 2026 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award and a list of past recipients.

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Minnesota Lynx's Cheryl Reeve Wins Third WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award

2026-10-12T14:36:49.922-05:00

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Minnesota Lynx Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve has been named the 2026 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year, the WNBA announced today.

Reeve, who also won the award in 2019 and 2024, joins Atlanta Dream Executive Vice President and General Manager Dan Padover with a record three selections. She recently earned her record fifth WNBA Coach of the Year Award, becoming the first person to win Executive of the Year and Coach of the Year in the same season twice (2024 and 2026). Current Dallas Wings General Manager Curt Miller is the only other person to receive both honors in the same season, doing so with the Connecticut Sun in 2017.

The award was determined by a voting panel composed of one basketball executive from each of the WNBA’s 15 teams. Each voter selected three executives in order of preference and could not vote for themselves. The executive who appeared on the most ballots won the award.

Reeve appeared on 13 ballots, followed by Padover on 11 and Golden State Valkyries General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin on eight. The other executives appearing on ballots were Dallas Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Curt Miller (five ballots); Portland Fire General Manager Vanja Černivec (four); Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger of the Washington Mystics (three); and Toronto Tempo General Manager Monica Wright Rogers (one).

Under Reeve, who oversees basketball operations and completed her 17th season as head coach, Minnesota posted a 33-11 record and earned the No. 1 seed in the WNBA Playoffs. The Lynx set a WNBA record with 18 road wins and recorded a 10-game winning streak from July 11 through Aug. 12, its longest since 2016.

Before the season, Reeve selected guard Olivia Miles with the No. 2 overall pick in the WNBA Draft and signed veteran forward Natasha Howard. Miles was the unanimous 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year and set the league’s rookie record with 790 points. Howard started all 44 games and was voted a starter in the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game.

Reeve earned WNBA Coach of the Month honors for June and served as an All-Star head coach for the sixth time. On July 8 against the Connecticut Sun, she earned her 380th victory to become the WNBA’s all-time leader in regular-season coaching wins. She ended the regular season with 397 career victories.

Below is the list of recipients of the WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award since its inception in 2017.

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Texas Women’s Basketball predicted No. 2 in SEC Preseason Media Poll

2026-10-12T10:51:54.498-05:00

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Texas women’s basketball has been predicted to finish second in the Southeastern Conference for the 2026-27 season in a vote of a select panel of both SEC and national media members.

The media panel also voted on Preseason All-SEC First and Second Teams with five players on each. Texas senior Madison Booker earned a spot on the Preseason All-SEC First Team.

The Longhorns are coming off back-to-back Final Four appearances and have won an SEC regular season and tournament championship in two seasons in the league.

Texas has upcoming exhibition games at UConn, on Oct. 19, and they host UCLA in an exhibition game in Cedar Park, Texas, on Oct. 25. A final exhibition game will take place on Oct. 29, at Moody Center, against Eastern New Mexico, and the season opener will be at Moody Center against Fairleigh Dickinson on Nov. 4.

2026-27 SEC Preseason Media Poll

Order of Finish

South Carolina
Texas
LSU
Vanderbilt
Kentucky
Oklahoma
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Mississippi State
Alabama
Texas A&M
Florida
Georgia
Missouri
Auburn
Arkansas

Preseason Players of the Year -- Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt

Preseason All-SEC First-Team

Madison Booker, Texas

Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt

Joyce Edwards, South Carolina

Clara Strack, Kentucky

Mikaylah Williams, LSU

Preseason All-SEC Second Team

Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma

Tessa Johnson, South Carolina

MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU

Chloe Kitts, South Carolina

Talaysia Cooper, Ole Miss

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WNBA Finals; college football; Big 12 and more on Folks Talkin' Sports

2026-10-12T06:41:49.633-05:00

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Watch episode 204 of Folks Talkin' Sports on YouTube (w/ timestamps) featuring Kris Gardner (KG) and Kennetra Pulliams as KG and KP discuss the 2026 WNBA Playoffs with an early look at the WNBA Finals match-up between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries. Plus; upsets galore in college football on Saturday. Also, Big 12 Basketball Media Days on ESPNU?! And more.

Time stamps

00:00 - Intro

01:07 - Condolences to Laquita Thompson and her family

01:45 - Kennetra discusses the Longhorns' loss to the Sooners

04:07 - College football updates

06:28 - What's wrong with the Aggies?

07:34 - Coogs' 35-16 road win over K-State

07:58 - Coogs host Oklahoma State on 10/17 - game should be a sellout; Coach Fritz challenged Coog Nation to attend the game

14:55 - Kennetra explain why she doesn't like TNT Sports' game day production

17:22 - Big 12 Basketball Media Days will be shown on ESPNU and ESPN+

22:46 - 2026 WNBA Finals schedule

26:40 - Is A'ja Wilson the WNBA's version of Michael Jordan?

28:40 - I hope the national media will introduce the Golden State Valkyries to casual basketball

30:05 - Game 1 of the WNBA Finals airs on NBC (2:30 pm CT) will go against SEC college football

33:30 - Golden State or Atlanta. Who ya got?

35:35 - The Golden State Valkyries franchise is one of - if not THE BEST - the most well-run franchises in the W

38:22 - Eight Big 12 WBB games will be sublicensed from ESPN to CBS Sports Network

39:12 - Kingston Flemings documentary

41:01 - What is Houston Athletics doing to incentivize / attract support?

45:20 - Coach Fritz is disappointed with the poor attendance at TDECU Stadium

46:54 - Where else is the competition for the recreational dollars?

48:01 - Thank you, Afrikan Center of Wellbeing.

50:20 - Keep Laquita Thompson and her family in your prayers

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2026 WNBA Playoffs – Semifinals Schedule and Results

2026-10-10T06:25:00.000-05:00

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Updated, 10/10/26 - 6:25 a.m.

Please be advised of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs – Semifinals Schedule and Results:

Day	Date	Match-up	Game	Time (CT) / Results	TV
Sun	10/4	New York at Atlanta	1	Atlanta 92, New York 82.	ABC
Sun	10/4	Las Vegas at Golden State	1	Golden State 71, Las Vegas 60.	NBC / Peacock
Wed	10/7	New York at Atlanta^	2	Atlanta 101, New York 98 - in OT.	ESPN
Wed	10/7	Las Vegas at Golden State	2	Golden State 83, Las Vegas 81.	Peacock / NBCSN
Fri	10/9	Atlanta at New York	3	Atlanta 85, New York 83.	ESPN2
Fri	10/9	Golden State at Las Vegas	3	Golden State 87, Las Vegas 77 - OT.	Peacock / NBCSN

Atlanta won best-of-5 series 3-0 over New York and advances to 2026 WNBA Finals.

Golden State won best-of-5 series 3-0 over Las Vegas and advances to 2026 WNBA Finals.

^ – State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

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Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson Wins Record Fifth WNBA Most Valuable Player Award

2026-10-09T13:51:26.830-05:00

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Thursday, Las Vegas Aces center-forward A’ja Wilson was named the 2026 WNBA Most Valuable Player.

Wilson extends her WNBA record to five WNBA MVP awards, adding to her honors in 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2025. She also becomes the first player in the 30-year history of the league to win the award in three consecutive seasons. Cynthia Cooper, the winner in 1997 and 1998, is the only other player to have earned the award in back-to-back seasons.

Wilson received 65 of 74 first-place votes and nine second-place votes (713 points) from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Minnesota Lynx rookie guard Olivia Miles (442 points; six first-place votes) finished in second place, followed by Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (287 points; two first-place votes) in third. Indiana guard Caitlin Clark (212 points; one first-place vote) finished fourth and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (171 points) was fifth.

Players were awarded 10 points for a first-place vote, seven points for a second-place vote, five points for a third-place vote, three points for a fourth-place vote and one point for a fifth-place vote.

In her ninth WNBA season, Wilson averaged 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.9 blocked shots and 1.4 steals in 32.0 minutes in 41 games. The 6'4" Wilson led the league in points per game for the third straight season and in blocks per game for the fifth consecutive season and the sixth time overall (2020 and 2022-26). She also paced the WNBA in efficiency rating (30.4).

Wilson’s 26.2 points per game this season rank second in league history, behind her own mark of 26.9 set in 2024. She has increased her career scoring average to 22.1 points, the highest figure in WNBA history. Wilson ranked second in total points this season (1,073), behind Kelsey Mitchell (1,086), and now owns four of the top seven single-season points totals in league history.

The University of South Carolina alum shot 52.7 percent from the field, 40.4 percent from three-point range and 86.4 percent from the free throw line, all the second-best marks of her career. She set career highs with 38 three-pointers made, 94 three-point attempts, 279 free throws made and 323 free throw attempts.

Behind Wilson, Las Vegas finished with a 31-13 regular season record and earned the No. 3 seed in the 2026 WNBA Playoffs. Wilson and the Aces will host the Golden State Valkyries, October 9, in Game 3 of their Semifinals series (7:30 p.m. CT on Peacock/NBCSN). Golden State leads the series 2-0.

In addition to her five WNBA MVP honors, Wilson is an eight-time WNBA All-Star, five-time All-WNBA First Team selection, four-time WNBA All-Defensive First Team choice, three-time WNBA champion, three-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and two-time WNBA Finals MVP.

Additional highlights of Wilson’s 2026 season and career are listed below:

Led the league with 13 games of at least 30 points, tying her own WNBA single-season record (2025).
Recorded 33 games with at least 20 points, the third-highest single-season total in WNBA history, behind Mitchell’s 35 this season and her own 34 in 2024.
Scored 45 points against the Connecticut Sun on May 15, becoming the first player in WNBA history to record multiple games of at least 45 points in a career.
Finished the season ranked second in league history with 50 career games of at least 30 points, behind Diana Taurasi (54).
Posted a league-high 19 double-doubles of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, including two stretches of four straight such games – the longest streak in the WNBA this season (May 31 – June 8 and June 28 – July 12).
Recorded a league-high seven double-doubles of at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, raising her career total to a WNBA-record 33.
Climbed to 11th on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list (6,792 points) after beginning the season 21st. Wilson is now 12 points from passing Sue Bird (6,803) for 10th place.
Wilson earned all four WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month awards in 2026, becoming the first player in league history to sweep a conference’s honors twice in her career (she also did so in 2020). She was recognized as the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week a league-high five times (Weeks 1, 5, 10, 13 and 15).

In honor of being named the 2026 WNBA Most Valuable Player, Wilson will receive $60,000 and a trophy specially designed by Tiffany & Co.

Below are the voting results for the 2026 WNBA Most Valuable Player Award and a list of past recipients of the annual honor.

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TNT Sports Tips Off Second Season of BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Coverage with 15-Game 2026-27 Slate

2026-10-08T09:47:27.385-05:00

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TNT Sports and the BIG EAST Conference will tip off their second season of women’s college basketball coverage with a 15-game conference slate, showcasing reigning National Player of the Year Sarah Strong and UConn, along with some of the BIG EAST’s top programs and rising stars throughout the 2026-27 season. Coverage begins Thursday, Dec. 10 with a truTV and HBO Max doubleheader featuring Georgetown at St. John’s at 6 p.m. CT, followed by Villanova at Marquette at 8 p.m.

The 2026-27 schedule builds on a strong inaugural season for BIG EAST women’s basketball on TNT Sports. UConn went a perfect 8-0 across TNT Sports platforms en route to an undefeated BIG EAST regular season, the conference tournament title and the program’s 25th Final Four appearance. Sarah Strong swept the sport’s major National Player of the Year honors, including the AP Player of the Year, Naismith Trophy and Wade Trophy.

UConn enters the season with Strong, now a junior and the reigning unanimous National Player of the Year, leading a loaded Huskies roster. The program will make seven appearances on TNT Sports’ networks and platforms, including four on TNT. UConn returns senior leaders KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade and sophomore Blanca Quiñonez, while welcoming McDonald’s All-American Olivia Vukosa, the No. 3 prospect in the Class of 2026, as the Huskies pursue the program’s 13th national championship after last season’s undefeated run ended in the Final Four.

The Huskies’ TNT Sports slate opens Thursday, Jan. 7 when Georgetown visits Storrs at 6 p.m. on TNT, truTV and HBO Max. UConn will then take center stage on three consecutive Sundays on TNT, truTV and HBO Max, beginning with UConn at St. John’s on Jan. 24 at Noon, followed by Providence at UConn on Jan. 31 at 11 a.m. and UConn at Marquette on Feb. 7 at 1:30 p.m.

Beyond UConn, TNT Sports’ schedule will showcase compelling matchups throughout the BIG EAST race.

Villanova, coming off a 25-win season and return to the NCAA Tournament, makes four appearances behind junior guard Jasmine Bascoe, who surpassed 1,000 career points in just two collegiate seasons and made her Canadian senior national team debut this summer. The Wildcats’ slate includes home dates against Seton Hall on TNT and Creighton, along with road matchups at Marquette and DePaul.

The schedule also features multiple appearances by St. John’s, Marquette, Providence, Creighton and Seton Hall, including a Feb. 7 TNT doubleheader with Seton Hall at Villanova at 11:30 a.m. followed by UConn at Marquette at 1:30 p.m.

In addition to game broadcasts, fans can expect comprehensive coverage with in-depth highlights and storytelling across Bleacher Report, House of Highlights, and B/R W Sports, as well as enhanced game-day coverage and player features across digital and social platforms. Additional broadcast details for the 2026-27 BIG EAST women’s basketball season, including commentator assignments, will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2026-27 season marks the second year of TNT Sports’ media rights agreement with the BIG EAST Conference, a cornerstone of TNT Sports’ expanding college basketball coverage, which also includes BIG EAST and Big 12 men’s basketball and exclusive coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV, which is co-produced with CBS Sports. TNT Sports’ growing roster of women’s sports also includes Unrivaled, the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, U.S. Women’s National Team soccer matches, Roland-Garros, and more.

Date	Match-up	Time (CT)	Network
Dec. 10	Georgetown at St. John’s	6 p.m.	truTV & HBO Max
Dec. 10	Villanova at Marquette	8 p.m.	truTV & HBO Max
Jan. 2	Georgetown at UConn	6 p.m.	TNT, truTV & HBO Max
Jan. 13	Marquette at UConn	6 p.m.	truTV & HBO Max
Jan. 24	UConn at St. John’s	11 a.m.	TNT, truTV & HBO Max
Jan. 31	Providence at UConn	11 a.m.	TNT, truTV & HBO Max
Feb. 4	UConn at Butler	6 p.m.	truTV & HBO Max
Feb. 4	Villanova at DePaul	8 p.m.	truTV & HBO Max
Feb. 7	Seton Hall at Villanova	11:30 a.m.	TNT, truTV & HBO Max
Feb. 7	UConn at Marquette	1:30 p.m.	TNT, truTV & HBO Max
Feb. 14	Creighton at St. John’s	11 a.m.	truTV & HBO Max
Feb. 21	Creighton at Villanova	1 p.m.	truTV & HBO Max
Feb. 21	Providence at Marquette	3 p.m.	truTV & HBO Max
Feb. 24	Seton Hall at St. John’s	6 p.m.	truTV & HBO Max
Feb. 25	UConn at Providence	6 p.m.	TNT, truTV & HBO Max

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Texas WBB will have 20 games on Linear TV across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and SEC Network

2026-10-07T18:55:17.140-05:00

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ESPN today announced a slate of 130 Southeastern Conferences women’s basketball games and network designations for linear television across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and SEC Network. The Longhorns will have 20 games on linear television, including 13 of their 16 Southeastern conference games.

Texas will have seven non-conference games on ESPN networks, highlighted by the SEC/ACC challenge at home vs. Louisville, the Player’s Era Showcase with games against Duke and UCLA and the Lone Star Series with games in Fort Worth against Ohio State and TCU.

Additionally home games against South Dakota State and Southeastern Louisiana will be televised on SEC Network.

The Longhorns have three conference games that will be televised on ABC with home games against South Carolina and Vanderbilt and a road game at Kentucky. Texas will have four conference games on ESPN or ESPN2 and six conference games on SEC Network.

Games that are not on ESPN networks will be available via SECN+ or ESPN+.

Texas Women’s Basketball ESPN Television Games

Date	Match-up	Time (CT)	Network
Nov. 11	Texas vs. South Dakota State	6 p.m.	SEC Network
Nov. 22	Texas vs. Ohio State	12 p.m.	ESPN
Nov. 25	Texas vs. Southeastern Louisiana	6 p.m.	SEC Network
Dec. 2	Texas vs. Louisville	8:15 p.m.	ESPN2
Dec. 6	Texas vs. TCU	12 p.m.	ESPN2
Dec. 19	Texas vs Duke	5 p.m.	ESPN2
Dec. 20	Texas vs UCLA	4 p.m.	ESPN
Jan. 3	Texas vs. South Carolina	2 p.m.	ABC
Jan. 7	Texas vs. Tennessee	6 p.m.	ESPN2
Jan. 10	Texas at Kentucky	1 p.m.	ABC
Jan. 17	Texas vs Vanderbilt	12 p.m.	ABC
Jan. 21	Texas at Texas A&M	8 p.m.	SEC Network
Jan. 24	Texas at Mississippi State	4 p.m.	SEC Network
Feb. 4	Texas at Auburn	6 p.m.	SEC Network
Feb. 8	Texas vs Arkansas	6:30 p.m.	SEC Network
Feb. 11	Texas at LSU	6 p.m.	ESPN
Feb. 14	Texas vs Texas A&M	3 p.m.	SEC Network
Feb. 21	Texas vs Florida	2 p.m.	SEC Network
Feb. 25	Texas at Oklahoma	7 p.m.	ESPN2
Feb. 28	Texas at Ole Miss	1 p.m.	ESPN / ESPN2

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ESPN unveils SEC women’s basketball schedule

2026-10-07T14:47:49.286-05:00

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As the 2026-27 women’s college basketball season draws near, ESPN and the SEC have announced the network designations, with more than 130 linear games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and SEC Network.

Additionally, games will be available on the ESPN App via an applicable subscription.

ESPN tips off its premier coverage of SEC women’s college basketball Monday, Nov. 2 with the Oui-Play Paris event, featuring two SEC programs. No. 1 South Carolina faces Maryland to start the Paris doubleheader at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN, followed by No. 9 North Carolina taking on No. 24 Oklahoma in the second matchup at Adidas Arena (1:30 p.m., ESPN). Later that evening, Southeast Louisiana takes the trip to the Maravich Center to face the 10th-ranked LSU Tigers on SEC Network (6 p.m.) to continue the momentum of day one of play.

ESPN is the home of the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament and the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

2026-27 SEC on ESPN Women’s College Basketball Schedule Highlights:

Non-Con Showdowns: The season starts with a strong non-conference slate in November. In addition to the Oui-Play Event, the Ally Tipoff sees four perennial powerhouses compete in Charlotte.

On Sunday, Nov. 8, No. 17 Kentucky takes on NC State at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN2, followed by a top-10 battle between No. 1 South Carolina and No. 9 North Carolina on ESPN (5:30 p.m.).
In December, ESPN is home to the Women’s Players Era – featuring No. 1 South Carolina and No. 8 Texas against some of the top teams in the nation in Vegas.
Rounding out non-conference play is the Sprouts Farmers Market espnW Invitational on Dec. 20, which features No. 2 UConn vs. No. 10 LSU at 12 p.m., followed by No. 17 Kentucky vs. Virginia at 2:30 p.m.

SEC WBB on ABC: Beginning in November, ABC is set to air five SEC teams throughout the season. Amongst those matchups, is “The Real SC” which features No. 1 South Carolina against No. 5 USC as the two teams look to crown the “real SC”.

Additionally, the Gamecocks clash with storied rival LSU on Feb. 21 in a matchup that is expected to have major implications on the SEC regular season championship race.
No. 8 Texas, No. 11 Vanderbilt and No. 17 Kentucky also make appearances on ABC throughout the year.

SEC/ACC Challenge: The two-day women’s challenge will see four Top-25 matchups, including No. 10 LSU at No. 9 North Carolina tipping off Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. on ESPN2.

Immediately following is another Top-10 battle between No. 7 Louisville and No. 8 Texas in Austin at 8:15 p.m. (ESPN2).
Viewers can catch a premier ESPN doubleheader on Thursday, with No. 1 South Carolina heading to No. 3 Duke (6 p.m.), followed by No. 16 Notre Dame against the 11th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores at 8 p.m.
Click HERE for more details on the fourth annual SEC/ACC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Challenge.

We Back Pat: Once again, the SEC will hold a week-long initiative focused on bringing awareness and recognition to the Pat Summitt Foundation’s fight against Alzheimer’s disease. This season, games begin on Jan. 10 and run through Jan. 17 across ABC, ESPN, SEC Network and SEC Network+. The week is bookmarked with two top-20 matchups on ABC, with No. 8 Texas at No. 17 Kentucky starting action on Jan. 10 at 1 p.m. and No. 11 Vanderbilt facing No. 8 Texas on Jan. 17 at 12 p.m.

SEC Network

SEC Network will showcase more than 80 women’s basketball games during the 2026-27 season, beginning on Nov. 2. The top-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks appear on SECN seven times throughout the season, while fellow top-15 conference foes No. 8 Texas (8), No. 10 LSU (6), No. 11 Vanderbilt (6) and No. 15 Ole Miss (6) combined for 26 appearances on the network.

SEC Network+ will stream an additional 160+ games throughout the season.

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ESPN reveals ACC Women’s Basketball Schedule

2026-10-06T13:42:33.908-05:00

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ESPN and the ACC have announced the 2026-27 women’s television basketball schedule, with more than 120 linear games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ACC Network. All games are also available on the ESPN App via an applicable subscription.

Additionally, all ACC women’s basketball games distributed by the CW will also stream live on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited subscription.

ESPN’s industry-leading women’s basketball coverage begins on Monday, Nov. 2, with the ninth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels competing against the 24th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth season of Oui-Play Paris. North Carolina’s game is set to tip at 1:30 p.m. CT, on ESPN2.

ESPN is also home of the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament and the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

2026-27 ACC on ESPN Women’s College Basketball Schedule Highlights:

Non-Con Showdowns: The ACC sees an incredibly strong non-conference schedule throughout November and December, starting with the aforementioned Oui-Play Paris.

On Sunday, Nov. 8, NC State and No. 9 North Carolina compete in the Ally Tipoff, with the Wolfpack starting the action at 2 p.m. against No. 17 Wildcats of Kentucky (ESPN2) and the Tar Heels taking on the top-ranked Gamecocks on ESPN (4:30 p.m.).
No. 16 Notre Dame is heading south to the Battle 4 Atlantis Thanksgiving week to continue the strong November for the league.
Next up, the Fighting Irish take on the No. 2 UConn Huskies on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. on ESPN, followed by No. 7 Louisville taking on in-state rival No. 17 Kentucky at 8 p.m.
Closing out the non-conference on Dec. 19/20 is ESPN’s first Players Era Women’s Showcase, featuring No. 3 Duke and No. 16 Notre Dame each playing two games against some of the toughest competition in the nation: No. 1 South Carolina, No. 5 USC, No. 8 Texas and No. 13 UCLA.

Conference Rivalries: The schedule features eight top-25 intraconference showdowns, according to ESPN.com’s Way-Too-Early Top 25.

Highlights include a top-20 battle between No. 3 Duke and No. 16 Notre Dame on Sunday, Jan. 10 on ABC (11 a.m.). No. 9 North Carolina travels to Louisville to face the seventh-ranked Cardinals the same day, with action tipping at 2 p.m. on either ESPN or ESPN2.
The final day of conference play on Feb. 28 will feature two games with potential major conference championship implications on the line. No. 16 Notre Dame hosts No. 7 Louisville to start the day at 11 a.m. (ESPN), while the battle of Tobacco Road between No. 9 North Carolina and No. 3 Duke is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN.

SEC/ACC Challenge: The two-day women’s challenge will see four Top-25 matchups, including No. 10 LSU at No. 9 North Carolina tipping off Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. on ESPN2. Immediately following is another Top-10 battle between No. 7 Louisville and No. 8 Texas in Austin at 8:15 p.m. (ESPN2).

Viewers can catch a premier ESPN doubleheader on Thursday, with No. 1 South Carolina heading to No. 3 Duke (6 p.m.), followed by No. 16 Notre Dame against the 11th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores at 8 p.m. Click HERE for more details on the fourth annual SEC/ACC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Challenge.

ACC Network

ACC Network will highlight more than 70 women’s basketball games during the 2026-27 season, beginning on Nov. 4. The ACC Network action tips off with Campbell at NC State at 5 p.m., followed by Stetson at No. 7 Louisville at 7 p.m.

ACC Network Extra will stream an additional 180+ games throughout the season.

ACCN will also once again offer extensive studio coverage of ACC women’s basketball throughout the season with its daily flagship studio show ACC PM, the ACC Network Basketball Podcast and its signature basketball show Nothing But Net, all offering insight and analysis of the latest news, storylines and highlights from around the league.

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Cindy Brunson returns to Folks Talkin' Sports to discuss the 2026 WNBA Playoffs and more

2026-10-04T20:45:38.739-05:00

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Watch episode 203 of Folks Talkin' Sports on YouTube (w/ timestamps) featuring Kris Gardner (KG), Kennetra Pulliams, and Laquita Thompson speak with Cindy Brunson, Arizona Wildcats Women's Basketball tv analyst. We discuss the 2026 WNBA Playoffs; WNBA issues; women in sports; and more.

Time stamps

00:00 - Intro

01:47 - Kudos to the Golden State Valkyries

05:27 - Options for the Las Vegas Aces in Game 2 versus the Valkyries

06:27 - Gabby Williams is the real deal

07:37 - Have you seen the billboards for the Houston Comets?

09:59 - Thoughts on who should be the next WNBA Commissioner

13:25 - Who did you pick to win the Aces - Valkyries series?

14:57 - Were you surprised the New York Liberty eliminated the Lynx in the First Round of the WNBA Playoffs?

15:53 - Atlanta Dream - New York Liberty playoff series

22:12 - Napheesa Collier is an unrestricted free agent. Who should the Comets sign in free agency?

26:22 - How did Kelsey Mitchell phrase her thoughts on being a free agent?

27:04 - the Indiana Fever

35:08 - Compare results: Stewie to Caitlin Clark

36:56 - Caitlin Clark needs to help develop her overall skills and her leadership skills

43:40 - Will or should the Indiana Fever re-sign Sophie Cunningham?

46:33 - the Protect College Sports Act

49:06 - College players' eligibility / ineligibility

50:23 - Valhalla reminds me of the Comets' Sea of Red

51:20 - TV networks would probably prefer a WNBA Finals matchup between the Aces and the Liberty

54:19 - Final comments from Coach Cindy Brunson

55:14 - Laquita Thompson's discusses the Rockets' upcoming fall basketball camp for kids

56:32 - Thank you, Byron Riley, CPA.

57:25 - Thanks to Kennetra, Laquita and Cindy Brunson for being part of FTS

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Golden State Valkyries’ Janelle Salaün Unanimously Selected as 2026 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year

2026-10-04T11:56:34.375-05:00

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Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün has been unanimously selected as the 2026 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year, the WNBA announced today. She has earned the honor as the league’s top reserve for the first time, becoming the first Valkyries player to win the award.

Salaün received all 74 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. To be eligible for the award, a player had to play more games as a reserve than as a starter.

In her second WNBA season, Salaün led all WNBA reserves in scoring with a career-high 12.7 points per game (minimum 20 games played) and in cumulative plus-minus (+160). She came off the bench in all 40 of her appearances, setting WNBA single-season records for points (509), three-pointers made (93) and games with at least 10 points (27) by a reserve.

The 6'2" forward from France finished eighth in the league in three-pointers made, shooting 39.2 percent from beyond the arc. She helped lead Golden State to a 32-12 regular season record and the No. 2 seed in the WNBA Playoffs. The Valkyries will host the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Semifinals today at 3 p.m. CT on NBC.

A WNBA All-Rookie Team selection in 2025, Salaün scored at least 20 points six times this season, tied for the fourth-most such games by a reserve in a single WNBA season. The Valkyries went 6-0 in those games.

In honor of being named the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year, Salaün will receive $15,000 and a trophy designed to commemorate her achievement.

Below is the list of recipients of the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Award since its inception in 2007.

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2026 WNBA Playoffs - First Round Schedule and Results

2026-10-03T02:46:00.000-05:00

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Updated - 10/3, 2:46 a.m.

Please be advised of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs – First Round Schedule and Results:

Day	Date	Match-up	Game	Time (CT) / Results	TV
Sun	9/27	New York at Minnesota	1	New York 91, Minnesota 75.	ABC
Sun	9/27	Indiana at Las Vegas	1	Las Vegas 102, Indian 85.	ABC
Sun	9/27	Washington at Atlanta^	1	Atlanta 92, Washington 77.	Prime
Sun	9/27	Dallas at Golden State	1	Golden State 104, Dallas 80.	USA / CNBC
Tue	9/29	Las Vegas at Indiana	2	Indiana 99, Las Vegas 89.	Prime
Tue	9/29	Minnesota at New York	2	New York 87, Minnesota 71.	USA / CNBC
Wed	9/30	Atlanta at Washington	2	Atlanta 93, Washington 75.	ESPN
Wed	9/30	Golden State at Dallas	2	Dallas 108, Golden State 100 - OT.	ESPN
Thu	10/1	Indiana at Las Vegas	3	Las Vegas 94, Indiana 83.	USA / CNBC
Fri	10/2	Dallas at Golden State	3	Golden State 77, Dallas 73.	ESPN2

New York won best-of-3 series over Minnesota, 2-0. New York advances to the 2nd round.

Las Vegas won best-of-3 series over Indiana, 2-1. Las Vegas advances to the 2nd round.

Atlanta won best-of-3 series over Washington, 2-0. Atlanta advances to the 2nd round.

Golden State won best-of-3 series over Dallas, 2-1. Golden State advances to the 2nd round.

^ – State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

The Semifinals will be played on October 4, 7, 9, 11*, 14*.

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