A season that was supposed to be defined by parity instead ended with the two most iconic brands in women’s basketball meeting in the national title game and UConn adding a historic record 12th title. Those programs once again top the field in this way-too-early look at 2025-26. As is tradition in these power rankings,…
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — When Dawn Staley drew up South Carolina’s final offensive possession, the goal was simple: Get the ball to Chloe Kitts. Kitts, the 6-foot-2 junior post, was South Carolina’s best offensive weapon in the fourth quarter. She scored eight of her 14 points in that quarter, but for her final two, she didn’t…
The 2025 WNBA Draft will be headlined by UConn’s Paige Bueckers, who has been penciled in as the top pick ever since she decided to exercise her fifth year of eligibility. But beyond Bueckers, there is a deep pool of lead guards, scorers, and wings who are eager to make their impact at the next…
As the college basketball world gears up for March Madness, this is the last chance for seniors to make an impression on WNBA talent evaluators ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft, which will be held eight days after the national championship. Unlike on the men’s side, tournament risers aren’t as prevalent, thanks to four years…
The Athletic’s debate series features two writers breaking down a topic. In this edition, Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman debate which teams are capable of winning the national championship. Ben Pickman: We’re less than two weeks away from Selection Sunday and the whole world caring about seed lines, bracket draws and Cinderellas. Before March Madness…
The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off in a few days, and it provides a great callback to our annual Freaks List of college football phenoms. Some of those Freaks in this draft aren’t expected to work out this year, including East Carolina star cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., who is coming off of a torn ACL….
Five years ago, this was a fairly simple exercise: Rank Alabama either No. 1 or 2, then drop Ohio State, Clemson or Georgia immediately before or after. Look like a genius 365 days later. But these days, it takes the GDP of a small country to keep a roster intact in college football. Ohio State…
We’re firmly into conference play in the college basketball season, which means it’s time to update the 2025 NBA Mock Draft here at The Athletic. Why does conference play matter so much more than the nonconference slate? First and foremost, it’s later in the season. Freshmen have had a chance to adjust to the speed…
Caitlin Clark. A’ja Wilson. Breanna Stewart. Ratings growth. Increased attendance. Record merchandise sales. It was a historic year across women’s basketball with professional and college games breaking into the broader cultural zeitgeist like never before. Before turning the page to 2025, our team of The Athletic women’s basketball writers are handing out their superlatives from…
One of the most anticipated showdowns of the season is on the docket this week, as UConn and USC face off in a rematch of the 2024 Elite Eight in Hartford, Conn. Both teams boast top-10 offenses and defenses, per Her Hoop Stats, which generally indicates a national title contender. During the preseason, this game…