women’s basketball

Paige Bueckers Signs Multi-Year Deal With Nike

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UConn star Paige Bueckers has inked a multi-year partnership with Nike. Bueckers was one of the hottest prospects in college basketball, winning National Player of the Year as a freshman in the 2020/21 season. However, injuries have derailed her promising career. She missed most of her sophomore year and all of her junior year. While she is still expected to be a top draft pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, the 2023/24 collegiate campaign is make-or-break for Bueckers. Most experts have Bueckers as the #3 prospect in the 2024 WNBA Draft behind Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

“I am blessed and honored to announce my partnership with Nike,” Bueckers said in a statement. “Joining the Nike family is a childhood dream come true. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together on and off the court.” Furthermore, According to Nike, her contract could stay with her if she chooses to go pro. Earlier this year, Nike partnered with former first-overall pick Sabrina Ionescu to produce the WNBA’s 12th signature shoe. Additional details of Bueckers’ deal with Nike were not made available.

Read More: LSU signs Kim Mulkey to 10-year, $32 million extension, the richest contract in women’s basketball history

Bueckers Ready For Comeback

Bueckers has only appeared in 46 games for the Huskies since joining them three years ago. However, she has an average of 18 points and 5.1 assists per game in those appearances. Last month, Bueckers announced that she had been cleared to resume playing. However, she opted not to participate in the team’s tour of Europe. UConn opens their season against Dayton. Other non-conference highlights include UCLA, Notre Dame, South Carolina, and Texas.

However, UConn is in an interesting position this season, with a much bigger focus on the players already on the roster. Their top recruit is KK Arnold, ranked #6 in the 2023 class by ESPN. DraftKings has given the second-best odds to win the 2024 National Championship at +500. However, they are significant behind LSU, who spent the offseason building a superteam with transfers Hailey Van Lith and Aneesah Morrow. How do you think UConn will do this year? Let us know in the comments.

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LSU Make Kim Mulkey The Richest Coach In Women’s Basketball

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As their title defense season approaches, LSU has locked down their head coach. The LSU Board of Supervisors is expected to approve a 10-year, $32 million contract for Mulkey, which will set the mark as the richest contract in the history of collegiate women’s basketball. Prior to his contract, Mulkey was already one of the top-paid coaches in the game, alongside the likes of Geno Auriemma (UConn) and Dawn Staley (South Carolina).

Mulkey came to LSU ahead of the 2021-22 season after spending the last two decades turning Baylor into a national powerhouse. However, 2022-23 was her statement year with the Tigers, using the portal to create a super team that would go on to win the school’s first National Championship. With her new contract in place, Mulkey will be free to continue building LSU into a true dynasty, even after the departure of superstar Angel Reese.

Read More: LSU invites Cardi B to campus after shout out

LSU Ready To Run It Back With Superteam 2.0

Mulkey leads another superteam heading into the school’s title defense campaign. LSU stands as far and away the best roster in women’s basketball heading into the 2023-24 season. The addition of Hailey Van Lith raised them above UConn to the #1 spot on ESPN‘s “Way Too Early Top 25” back in April. However, the addition of Aneesah Morrow made that ranking unarguable. Alongside Reese, Van Lith, Morrow, Kim Mulkey’s squad is stacked. Alongside sophomore-to-be Flau’jae Johnson, LSU welcomes two top-10 freshmen to Baton Rogue in the fall. With South Carolina rebuilding after the loss of their generational class, this may be the year LSU wins the SEC. LSU last won the SEC regular-season championship in 2008 but has not claimed the tournament title since 2003.

LSU recently revealed that they will open their season against Colorado in Vegas on November 6. Other highlights of their non-conference schedule include Virginia and Virginia Tech. While it’s not as much of a cupcake schedule as last season, Mulkey is still clearly avoiding any true coin-toss matchups before the start of SEC play in January. Despite this, DraftKings lists LSU at +350 as their favorite to win the 2024 National Championship. Do you agree? Let us know your predictions for the 2023-24 women’s basketball season in the comments.

Read More: LSU apologizes after Flau’jae Johnson references 9/11 in Latto freestyle

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Nigerian Player Calls Cap On Liz Cambage Claims

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It’s been a very busy week for Liz Cambage. It all began with Bleacher Report releasing a very uncritical interview between Cambage and Taylor Rooks, where Cambage told her side of the story on two issues. The first was her shock exit from the LA Sparks in 2022. The second was claims that she had used racial slurs towards Nigerian players during an Olympic warm-up match. On both counts, Cambage denied any wrongdoing and painted as the victim. This was immdiately met with people calling BS. Jordin Canada, one of Cambage’s Sparks’ teammates, even told Bleacher Report to call her if they wanted the “real truth.”

Then someone leaked the video of the scrimmage in which Cambage reportedly used racial slurs. While the audio does not capture Cambage’s comments, the video does show her being punched by at least one Nigerian player. Furthermore, the video’s release was another for Cambage to make another post denying any wrongdoing as well addressing claims that she was seeking to join the Nigerian National Team ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. However, there is one account that many people appear to be overlooking.

Read More: Bradley Beal calls cap on Cooper Flagg altercation rumors

Promise Amukamara Calls Out Cambage

The notion that “no Nigerian players have addressed Cambage’s claims”, which has been pushed by some media outlets, is untrue. Right at the start of the debacle, Nigerian international Promise Amukamara called cap on everything that Liz Cambage said in her Bleacher Report interview. “Sorry but this is False. Lol,” the New Jersey-born Amukamara began her tweet thread. “She called us Monkeys & told us to go back to our country. Yes she said that! Literally everyone from both teams have the same story BUT her, so y’all do the math! [And] the only person has been in “cahoots” w/ was the former head coach of our National team & he’s no longer the coach, so there’s that! 🫠.”

It’s a pretty major account of Cambage’s actions, especially when it comes to her claims of attempting to join the Nigerian National Team for the 2024 Olympics. The coach in question is Otis Hughley Jr., who left the Nigerian National Team in 2022 to take over the men’s basketball team at Alabama A&M. As mentioned by Amukamara, who went 30/7/8 over Nigeria’s three Olympic matches, no one present at the scrimmage has ever vouched for Cambage. Jenna O’Hea, Australia’s captain, corroborates the story and says she hasn’t spoken to Cambage since the incident. Furthermore, Cambage has not played international basketball since it happened.

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Angel Reese Bounces Back After Brazilian Humbling

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Angel Reese is currently in León, Mexico as part of Team USA for the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup. Team USA, the two-time defending champions, were drawn into a group with Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, and Venezuela. Reese was perhaps the most known player on a roster of standout collegiate talent. Well, it is perhaps fairer to say that Reese’s ascension to the top of the basketball world makes her the best-known mainstream player.

Furthermore, Reese continued to display excellent basketball as the team cruised through their early matches. In games against Venezuela and Argentina, Reese had 16 points and 24 rebounds. However, the team’s July 4 game against Brazil was their toughest yet. Brazil was running a veteran roster, with just one player born after 2000. Team USA lost 67-54, with the game being especially humbling for Reese. The LSU star had just three points and three rebounds in the loss. UCLA’s Lauren Betts led the team with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Reese Bounces Back Against Cuba

Angel Reese
DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Angel Reese #10 of the LSU Lady Tigers looks on during the third quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game at American Airlines Center on April 02, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

However, Reese didn’t let the poor performance get to her too much. She bounced back in Team USA’s final game of the group stage against Cuba. Team USA absolutely dominated the Cuban team, winning 106-44. Reese had 12 points and 14 rebounds. Betts once again led the team, putting up 17 points and 14 rebounds of her own. While the opposition may have been subpar, it was absolutely the sort of gimme game the team needed heading into the knockout stages.

Group B is still being decided at the time of writing. However, Team US will likely face either Colombia or Mexico. While neither team should be taken lightly, it’s a game that Team USA should win. However, that will likely set up their next major test – a semifinal against Canada. The Candian is a mix of professional and collegiate talent. They also have 17-year-old star Syla Swords, who is ranked #22 in the 2024 recruiting class. If they can get past Canada, that will likely set up a rematch with Brazil in the final. Regardless, it’s good to see Angel Reese being able to overcome a tough game with a standout performance.

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Niya Morant Announces College Commitment

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Ja Morant has dominated basketball headlines this week. The superstar guard was suspended by the Memphis Grizzlies after a video of him flashing a gun on a live stream went viral. The NBA is yet to hand down a punishment to Morant, who was suspended for the same offense earlier in the year.

However, Morant is not the only hooper in the family. His 18-year-old sister Teniya has also been turning heads on the court. Her play has been featured on a number of outlets like ESPN. Many have compared her style of play to her brother’s, who was the #2 pick in the 2019 NBA draft. Furthermore, she recently announced where she will be taking her talent on the NCAA stage.

Teniya Morant Commits To Mississippi Valley State

In an Instagram post, the 5″7 Morant announced that she had committed to Mississippi Valley State of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. While not heavily recruited, Morant did also receive an offer from Grambling State. Morant averaged 10.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game at Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee. Founded in 1950, Mississippi Valley State is an HBCU located near the town of Itta Bena. The women’s basketball team is coached by second-year head coach Kimberly Anderson. Prior to Mississippi Valley State, Anderson had spent seven years at Division II Lane College. Mississippi Valley State is by no means a current SWAC powerhouse. They last won the SWAC regular season title in 2012 and the conference tournament in 1993. Currently, Jackson State rules supreme over the conference and has since 2020.

During the 2022-23 season, the Devilettes went 2-27, only beating Nicholls (5-24) and New Orleans (8-20). However, there’s every chance Mississippi Valley State turns their fortunes around. Furthermore, the NCAA’s one-time transfer exemption would allow Morant to explore the transfer portal if at any point she feels like she needs a change of scenery. While her brother had the benefit of the NBA’s “one and done” college rule, he also attended a mid-major college at Murray State. And who knows, maybe the Morant siblings will one day join the exclusive list of WNBA-NBA sibling pairings. Regardless, the team here at HotNewHipHop wishes Morant all the best in her freshman season.

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Big Name Cuts Sparks Calls For WNBA Expansion

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There are 144 roster spots in the WNBA. The 12 teams in the league each have a hard-capped 12 roster spots. This makes it difficult for rookies and less tenured players to stay in the league, as they often engaged in tense competitions for limited roster spots. On average, teams will have no more than half of their roster spots available for all rookies and free agents.

Furthermore, the WNBA has been cagey in recent years about expansion. Every few months, the league comes out with a vague update about the state of league expansion. The most recent update was that the league had narrowed down a list of 100 potential expansion sites to 20. But this isn’t enough for many fans.

Multiple Top Picks Waived

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 14: Forward Charli Collier #35 of the Dallas Wings handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Los Angeles Convention Center on May 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

In recent days, Charli Collier (#1 pick in 2021), Emily Engstler (#4 in 2022), and Abby Meyers (#11 in 2023) are among the players who have been waived by their teams. The Collier, who has played 45 games over the last two seasons, waive was taken especially hard by fans. Collier is averaging 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in her career. The Dallas Wings, Collier’s former team, currently have three rookies on the roster and one player from Collier’s draft class.

However, the cuts have once again raised calls to expand the league, either through new teams or larger rosters. “Another day of WNBA roster cuts, another day of needing WNBA roster expansion. Franchises need spots to develop college talent!!” Gaming Society‘s Matt Ellentuck tweeted. “Expansion is needed. However when there’s only 144 spots we have to be realistic. The gap between being a great NCAA player and a good enough #WNBA player is large. You have a few that come in ready but teams don’t have enough time to try & develop. They need you to be ready now.” argued Women’s Hoopz. Despite fan outrage, it doesn’t appear that the league is yet in a place to follow through on this.

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LSU Apologizes For Flau’jae Johnson 9/11 Reference

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Angel Reese is not the only famous face on LSU’s women’s basketball team. Freshman Flau’jae Johnson also had a starring role in the Tigers’ National Championship season. The SEC Freshman of the Year put up 11 points per game and 139 defensive rebounds as she helped give LSU a major backcourt presence. She is expected to play an even bigger role in her sophomore season.

Johnson is also a rapper, performing under the stage name Flau’jae. She already has a deal with Roc Nation and after stepping into the national spotlight, landed collabs with Lil Wayne and DJ Khaled. However, her rap prowess has landed her in some trouble. Furthermore, the university has been forced to apologize.

Johnson Adds 9/11 Line To Latto Remix

DALLAS, TEXAS – MARCH 31: Flau’jae Johnson #4 of the LSU Lady Tigers reacts after the 79-72 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at American Airlines Center on March 31, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Johnson posted a video to her YouTube channel in which she remixed Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor”. However, the freshman guard added the line “In this 911, blowing smoke just like them towers”. The bar is a fairly masterful double-entendre referencing both the iconic Porsche 911 and the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. However, many people were not impressed with the inclusion of the lyric. A number of right-wing commentators argued that Johnson was making light of the attacks.

“In this 911 blowing smoke just like those towers.” – Flau’jae Johnson.

Take a bow @LSUwbkb. A player on your team mocked those who died on 9/11 by comparing it to a Porsche. Disgusting. I know people who still struggle to sleep at night because of what they did in war after 9/11. She thinks it’s a joke.

Outkick writer David Hookstead via Twitter

After the backlash emerged, LSU raced to issue a formal apology. “We spoke with Flau’jae this evening, and while she never intended to offend or upset anyone with her lyrics, she expressed sincere remorse for any possibility of a misunderstanding and immediately took the video down,” the college told Fox News. “We will learn and grow from this experience together,” their statement continued. Johnson is yet to make a personal statement about the incident.

Aneesah Morrow Completes LSU Superteam

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Hailey Van Lith and Aneesah Morrow were the two most sought-after players in the women’s basketball transfer portal. Van Lith was an experienced three-year starter at Louisville. She had never fallen short of the Elite Eight come March and finished her junior year as a career 42.2% shooter. She shouldn’t have been available but made the shock decision to graduate early from Louisville and play one more year as a graduate transfer.

Morrow is one of the best players in the nation, despite only being a sophomore. Barely getting attention out of high school, the Chicago-born player chose to attend nearby DePaul. There has been the heart of the Blue Demons team on both sides of the court. Averaging 23.5 points and 13.0 rebounds a game, Morrow played elite basketball despite rarely finding herself with anything less than a double team on her. Now both she and Van Lith will join Angel Reese at LSU next season.

Aneesah Morrow Commits to LSU

Morrow had narrowed her transfer choices to three schools – LSU, South Carolina, and USC. She has relished the spotlight, taking every opportunity to hype her personal brand and transfer decision. But on May 5, she finally revealed where she was headed next. “New Home” Morrow wrote on Twitter, followed by a gold and purple heart. Morrow had been stood at a crossroads and decided to venture south to Baton Rogue. She joins Van Lith on the reigning National Champions after Van Lith committed on April 27.

LSU now stand as far and away the best roster in women’s basketball heading into the 2023-24 season. The addition of Van Lith raised them above UConn to the #1 spot on ESPN‘s “Way Too Early Top 25”. With Morrow joining the Tigers too, that ranking is unarguable now. Alongside Reese, Van Lith, Morrow, Kim Mulkey’s squad is stacked. Alongside sophomore-to-be Flau’jae Johnson, LSU welcomes two top-10 freshman to Baton Rogue in the fall. With South Carolina rebuilding after the loss of their generational class, this may be the year LSU wins the SEC. LSU last won the SEC regular-season championship in 2008 but have not claimed the tournament title since 2003.

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Brittney Griner Defends Inclusion Of Trans Athletes

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The debate around transgender athletes is a fierce and unpleasant one. Pro-trans supporters point to the stringent qualification regulations imposed by sporting authorities. They also argue that we should treat people with respect and dignity, not call them groomers or similar. Those on the opposite side of the issue largely rely on their belief that transgender individuals are simply pretending to be the opposite gender to one they were assigned at birth. They claim “men” have a biological advantage over “women” and that transgender women make it unfair to “real women”.

Anti-trans advocates point to the likes of former NCAA swimmer Lia Thomas. Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA title. In 2022, she won the women’s 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA National Swimming Championships. In response, pro-trans defenders point to literally every other race and event where a cisgender person beat a transgender person. Furthermore, the issue recently made headlines once again. The House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban transgender athletes from competing at any educational institution that received federal funding.

Brittney Griner Calls Trans Exclusion “A Crime”

WNBA veteran Brittney Griner spoke to the media on Friday as part of the Phoenix Mercury’s training camp. The press conference was also part of a launch of a campaign between the Mercury and the Bring Our Families Home campaign. Bring Our Families Home seeks to help free American political prisoners held overseas. Griner was recently freed after spending nine months in a Russian jail on drug charges. Furthermore, her imprisonment, which occurred days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was widely seen as a political detention.

Griner, who is a cisgender woman, has long been an advocate for the rights of transgender athletes. When asked about the recently passed House bill, Griner said that she “definitely will be speaking up against that legislation and that [trans ban] law expected to be passed.” Continuing, Griner said “Everyone deserves the right to play. I think it’s a crime to separate someone for any reason.” While not segregated because of her gender, Griner has experience on what it is like to be yourself. Identifying as lesbian, Griner was reportedly told by her college coach Kim Mulkey to not be openly gay while on her Baylor Bears squad.

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Aneesah Morrow Flexs LSU Fit During Official Visit

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Aneesah Morrow is living her best life right now. The DePaul sophomore is the hottest uncommitted commodity in the women’s basketball transfer portal. Last weekend, she narrowed her choice down to three schools. One road takes her west to former women’s basketball titan USC. Another leads her to 2021 National Champions South Carolina. Finally, she could head south to the reigning National Champions LSU. However, it’s all about that power five and basketball royalty for Morrow, whatever path she takes.

In two collegiate seasons, Morrow is averaging 23.5 points per game and 13 rebounds per game. Furthermore, a majority of those rebounds come on defense as the 6’1 forward guards the paint like few others. She was fourth in scoring and seventh in rebounds last season. DePaul has ran their women’s basketball program through Morrow the past two years. All three choices have pros and cons. Earlier in the week, Morrow showed off her style in the red and gold of USC. Now she’s pulling headlines by visiting Baton Rogue.

Morrow Hypes Up Official LSU Visit

April 28 saw Aneesah Morrow officially visit LSU. It was a much-hyped, and much-documented visit. Morrow did TikToks with Angel Reese and took selfies with Flau’jae Johnson. Finally, the visit was capped off by Morrow dropping a video of herself in an LSU uniform with the caption “LSU fans where y’all at?” Safe to say that they showed out in force in the comments. We have to say, Morrow is looking good in the white and purple.

LSU is preparing to run the board in the 2023/24 season. ESPN‘s Charlie Creme ranked the team as the #2 overall team in March Madness 2024. However, that bracket was made before standout Louisville transfer Hailey Van Lith committed to the Tigers. Even without Morrow, LSU boasts Reese, van Lith, Johnson, #2 ranked freshman Mikaylah Williams and #7 ranked freshman Aalyah Del Rosario. Morrow would just be the cherry on the cake for Kim Mulkey’s program. She also brings a strong defensive presence to an offense-heavy team. Are you hyped about LSU’s lineup next season? Do you think Aneesah Morrow will join them? Get all your women’s basketball news here at HotNewHipHop.

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