Hoops Off

The trade deadline did not go gentle into that good night, instead it went bonkers and shocked everyone with one of the most blockbuster trades in NBA history. And the WNBA had some serious movements that have changed the landscape moving forward into the new season. But back to the NBA trade that shook the world... Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis. Liz and Karen break down the rumors, the potential and the follies of this trade. They also look at other impactful trades in the NBA, including Jimmy Butler's forced move from the Miami Heat to Karen's Golden State Warriors. And on the WNBA side of things, Both Karen and Liz discuss the winners and losers and pick their top 3 teams for next W season. Hoops come off once again as we want more merch!

When did the NBA All-Stars start sucking and can Adam Silver save this unofficial mid-regular season break from further calamity. Liz and Karen break down the weekend event that put the Bay back on the map. Karen reports from the ground with an insider's look at the All Star parties, panels and activations. Her favorites include Hennessey, Wing Stop and Crocs! Liz gives her take from her VIP seat on her home sofa and wonders why the stadiums look so empty. Both give hard critiques as well as ways Adam Silver can save this hallmark of the NBA games. Adam pick up the phone!

Karen and Liz are headed your way with hot takes on All Stars, trades, and more. Get ready.

Liz and Karen wrap up this season of Hoops Off with a look at the big business of women sports.Money Mama Karen gives us a deep dive into projected revenues and of women's sports--poised for generating billions--and the massive viewership growth over last season. Also: a critical look at the WNBA players getting brand deals. They also discuss the first official season of Unrivaled, and look at basketball clubs of this new women's sports league. On the NBA side of things, Liz and Karen make their Christmas Day predictions--including their own personal rivalry, The Los Angeles Lakers vs. The Golden State Warriors--as well as build out their 2025 NBA All-Star starters. Lastly, the holiday book club pick is announced!MENTIONSSparks hire Lynne Roberts as head coach:https://www.thenexthoops.com/wnba/los-angeles-sparks/lynne-roberts-new-los-angeles-sparks-head-coach-pebley-offense/ WNBA Players Are Getting Brand Deals, But Not Equally by Frankie De La Cretaz:https://www.complex.com/sports/a/frankie-de-la-cretaz/wnba-salaries-endorsements-brand-deals Unrivaled Basketball Clubs:https://www.unrivaled.basketball/clubs NBA Christmas Day Games:https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/nba-christmas-games-schedule-teams-how-to-watch NBA 2025 All-Stars:https://www.nba.com/warriors/2025-allstarHoliday Book Club Pick: There's Always This Year. On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/695817/theres-always-this-year-by-hanif-abdurraqib/

This week, Liz and Karen want to share part of a wild true story, a story in which not all the main characters have been heard from before--until now. It's the story of how Seattle lost its NBA team. Listen to episode one of Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost its Team, produced in partnership with The Ringer, and hosted by reporter and writer Jordan Ritter Conn. To hear the rest of the episodes, subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sonic-boom-how-seattle-lost-its-team/id1567722424or directly on Luminary:http://luminary.link/sonics)

The WNBA Draft Lottery numbers are in, and Liz and Karen are not sure if everyone is happy about the top 5 drafting teams. With Paige Bueckers as a major first-round draft pick, predictions as to who will hit the target are still up in the air. With the league poised to grow to 16 teams by 2028, Karen and Liz kick around the cities they think would be natural contenders and lively additions. And, from the women-in-business buzz come these juicy updates: the new JuJu Watkins docuseries (On the Rise) premiers this week; Whoopi Goldberg is launching the All Women's Sports Network, and U.S. Soccer gets a huge cash contributor. Ka-ching. Meanwhile, the NBA is not looking as shiny as the realm of womens sports: a boatload of injuries is plaguing the league and it’s really hitting the starting lineups. Not to mention there is still lots of pettiness going around with Inside the NBA: Clay vs. The Bay and the same old stale foolery. In the face of so many injuries, Liz and Karen share Fantasy League tips to help keep thing optimized from week to week, then they. take their hoops off for some real talk, and tie up this episode with a bow of gratitude.MENTIONSNBC, Peacock to premiere docuseries featuring USC Star Juju Watkins:https://www.si.com/college-basketball/usc-star-juju-watkins-docuseries-nbc-peacock Whoopi Goldberg launches All Women's Sports Network:https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/all-womens-sports-network-whoopi-goldberg-launch-november-2024/ NBA Injuries Up 35 percent over last season:https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/278024/NBA-Injuries-Up-35-perc-Over-Last-SeasonIn Street Clothes covering sports injuries from the perspective of a certified athletic trainer and backed by analytics:https://instreetclothes.com/

Hoops Off podcast welcomes Jenny Nguyen, founder of the The Sports Bra, located in Portland, Oregon, and dedicated ENTIRELY to women's sports. Jenny’s origin story and her journey to getting the bar off the ground travel a fascinating trail--from the shoe-squeaks of hoops courts through professional kitchens, the pandemic, rounds of deep introspection, amateur Keynote pitch decks, and wildly encouraging rejections, Listen to her immersive journey and find out what's next as she discusses the current infusion of monetary investment from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, who is also husband to award-winning tennis champion Serena Williams, as well as life in the world of franchising. Also in this episode, Karen breaks down the Emirates Cup (formerly known as the In-Season Tournament) including the renaming, how it works, fancy new courts and foolish heist marketing.MENTIONSThere's never been a better time to run a women's sports bar:https://www.thecut.com/article/how-jenny-nguyen-the-sports-bra-owner-gets-it-done.htmlThis popular women's sports bra in Portland is bringing its winnning formula to other cities:https://www.fastcompany.com/91111766/sports-bra-womens-sports-bar-portland-franchise-alexis-ohanianThe Sports Bra announces plan to franchise with investment from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian:https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2024/04/the-sports-bra-announces-plans-to-franchise-with-investment-from-alexis-ohanian.htmlNBA's Emirates Cup Features New 2024 Courts. What's Changed:https://frontofficesports.com/nbas-emirates-cup-features-new-2024-courts-whats-changed/

Women's basketball courts are still going strong with the start of Women's College Basketball. Meanwhile, the revolving door of WNBA head coaches are making heads spin. Liz and Karen run through the firings that have popped up just a few weeks into the WNBA offseason. Then, Money Mama Karen breaks down the millions--in both dollars and reach--for the college WBB. The NBA's numbers are trending in a less favorable direction than the W's, particularly in the viewership department. Liz and Karen discuss what the league can do to be better. Plus they breakdown the slew of injuries happening way too early in the season, reflect on the Joel Embiid suspension, dig into the on court player beefs, and Giannis trade rumors, before laying up some insightful Fantasy NBA tips. To close it all out, this week's Hoops Off segment gets personal.Give us your thoughts and questions in an email or, better yet, a voicemail: Send it here: hoopsoffpod@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @thehoopsoff https://www.instagram.com/thehoopsoff/MENTIONSOver Half of WNBA Coaches Have Been Fired. What's Happening?https://frontofficesports.com/half-of-wnba-coaches-have-been-fired-whats-happening/ Opinion: The NBA is causing its own failure:https://www.dailynebraskan.com/opinion/nba-viewership-declines/article_f6b829f2-9a26-11ef-8aaf-83b76cb16d34.html Joel Embiid suspended three games for shoving columnist:https://nypost.com/2024/11/05/sports/joel-embiid-suspended-three-games-for-shoving-reporter/ Nets predicted to cut ties with $177 million guard to acquire Bucks superstar:https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/milwaukee-bucks/news/nets-predicted-cut-ties-177-million-guard-acquire-bucks-superstar/a03bb4e3cf4bfb31a3f46070

Award-winning sports journalist and host of the Sportly podcast on Immigrantly, Kavitha Davidson, joins Liz for a one-on-one interview about her remarkable sports journey. From the sights and sounds of old Yankee Stadium to her memories of former Yankees Center Fielder and musician Bernie Williams, Kavitha reflects on her unique path, including her parents’ inspiring immigrant story. But before that great convo, Liz and Karen kick off the episode by savoring the electric ending to the 2024 WNBA championship, where the New York Liberty clinched the title, and dive into the journey of the team’s Finals MVP-winning Center, Jonquel Jones. Drafted with the 6th overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft, this Bahamian basketball star’s career reads like a movie script, and the women of the Hoops Talk pod are here to give her her flowers!