Hoops Off

This is a whopper of an episode! Liz and Karen recap the WNBA 2024 Finals with a big congrats to the New York Liberty champions, as well as MVP of the finals, Jonquel Jones. The duo also takes a look at court side fashions spotted during the series, including Angel Reese's iconic Stewie/Napheesa jersey, made by the talented Jocelyn Hu. Liz and Karen also unpack Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve's post-game comments: her emotional critique of the officiating and her shady congrats to the Liberty. And, of course Ellie the Elephant, the MVP of mascots, gets her flowers in this episode. With the start of the 2024-25 NBA season upon us, Liz and Karen tee up burning questions about teams and players (i.e.Will the Celtics repeat? Can the Knicks beat Boston? How many games will Lebron play? Or Curry?) This over/under round of predictions is coming in hot. Closer to home, it’s time to look at the Hoops Talk Fantasy League, critiquing the 8-teams draft and trades, while also passing along some fantasy team tips.MENTIONSLiberty finally give New York City a basketball championship:https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/21/nyregion/new-york-liberty-champions.html?unlocked_article_code=1.UE4.Ojqv.eXM8ZO79uei8&smid=url-share Jocelyin Hu:https://jocehu.com/Jocelyn Hu Instagram Reel:https://www.instagram.com/p/DBZFqopuHOQ/ Jocelyn Hu Brittney Griner 42 Weeks:https://jocehu.com/42-weeks Fantasy Basketball All-Fades Team: 5 players you should avoid in drafts for the 2024-25 NBA Season:https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy-basketball-busts-2024-25-121000752.html

Liz and Karen, spirits high, are loving the WNBA playoffs (with one tiny, but very relatable, exception.) The duo shine a light on the historical rises in playoff viewership. They also try to understand the short lifespan of WNBA coaches—now that a third head coach has been fired. On the announcement of Big Brittney Griner signing as a founding member of the Unrivaled League, Liz and Karen do a deeper dive into the rules, players, equity, salary and more, of the league. Update on the Hoops Off NBA fantasy league open spot: it has been filled! But Liz is still feeling commissioner's woes, and half of the teams are still needing to register and pay! This week’s Hoops Off segment gets personal for Karen. For Liz, she looks directly into the recording camera to give the so-called “new-look” Los Angeles Lakers a much needed kick in the pantsMENTIONSWNBA Most Viewed Semi-finals in 22 Years:https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/10/sundays-wnba-matchup-between-las-vegas-aces-new-york-liberty-delivered-wnbas-most-viewed-semifinal-in-22-years/ Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark deserve better sophmore seasons from everyone:https://andscape.com/features/angel-reese-and-caitlin-clark-deserve-better-sophomore-seasons-from-everyone/What Wright's Firing Means for Dream, WNBA coaching landscape:https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/41576332/wnba-2024-atlanta-dream-fire-tanisha-wright-coach-openings-vacancies-nextUnrivaled League:https://www.unrivaled.basketball/All-Star Brittney Griner joins Unrivaled's 3-on-3 hoops leaguehttps://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/41572520/all-star-brittney-griner-joins-unrivaled-3-3-hoops-leagueLindsay Gibbs Power Plays Substack:https://substack.com/@powerplaysNatasha Cloud Get Out The Vote:https://www.powerplays.news/p/get-out-the-vote-with-natasha-cloud Give us your thoughts and questions in an email or, better yet, send us a voicemail: hoopsoffpod@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @thehoopsoff https://www.instagram.com/thehoopsoff/

With an expansion draft for the W coming up, and NBA trades making news, Liz and Karen deliver some spicy astrological perspectives on building team chemistry. But first: Playoff basketball is special, and Liz and Karen are LIVING for the excitement of these high-caliber WNBA semifinals! Once again Liz breaks down the box score and goes deeper into the +/- category for individual players. The Golden State Valkyries will soon have players. (The expansion draft is scheduled for December 6th). Karen explains the expansion draft rules, and names the players she’d recommend for potential draft picks. Overall, things can get messy because current teams can only protect 6 players from the draft; and the head coaching job is a chance for the WNBA to do better! The NBA Media Days offered no shortage of drama and fun. The ladies discuss the impact, and astrological signs, of the blockbuster trade with the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves that included Karl Anthony Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo and a first draft pick from the Detroit Pistons. Lastly, the Hoops come off when Liz takes a stand for Fantasy League Commissioners, and Karen slams the WNBA for a slow response to protect players against threats. Plus, The ladies also choose the first listener to take one of the two spots available in the Hoops Off NBA Fantasy league. 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/MENTIONSWNBA Playoffshttps://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2024Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft:https://valkyries.com/news/golden-state-valkyries-expansion-draft-set-for-december-6-20240930/ Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft Rules:https://www.instagram.com/p/DAjPpZDyU5B/?img_index=3 Draymond Green already mad at media days:https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/draymond-green-nba-reporter-fans-teammates-fan/2821a8c1f31398250c299f54Lonzo Ball is Back:https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lonzo-ball-with-a-brand-new-knee-hopes-to-play-in-bulls-season-opener-after-two-and-a-half-years-away/ Knicks and Karl Anthony Towns trade:https://www.nba.com/news/knicks-await-official-arrival-of-karl-anthony-townsWNBA won't tolerate racism:https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba-says-wont-tolerate-racism-191322093.html

Liz and Karen's WNBA Playoff breakdown is coming in fast and hot this week. They take a look at stats (believe it or not!) and discuss how the matches are stacking up. Players are racking double-doubles and triple-doubles during these playoffs, but there are tweaks Liz and Karen would like to see some of the teams make. Both are excited about A'Ja Wilson's unanimous MVP distinction. They highlight her 2024 accomplishments, and recount the impressive way she received the MVP news. Liz wants us to keep an eye on Raj Sports, who, in addition to owning the Sacramento Kings, now own two professional women’s sports teams in Portland (the yet-to-be-named WNBA Portland franchise, and the NSWL Portland Thorns). Karen breaks down Kelsey Plum’s style, as well as the lack of style in the newly rumored NBA City Edition Jerseys. A farewell to Adrian Wojnarowski, who dropped his final Woj Bomb via social media, and reflections on his legacy. And, finally, podcast listener Don, takes his hoops off with Liz and Karen!MENTIONS:WNBA Announces Portland Franchise: https://www.wnba.com/news/portland-15th-franchise-announcement RAJ Sports now owns two Sports Franchises in Portland:https://rajcapital.co/rajsports#raj-sportsMore reporting on that from the Oregonian's Sports Columnist Bill Oram:https://www.instagram.com/oregoniansports/reel/DAJ-GaGBNQr/WNBA Playoffs:https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2024Kelsey Plum talks to Complex Sports:https://www.complex.com/sports/a/caidin-ferrigno/kelsey-plum-las-vegas-aces-wnba-interview-smartwaterNBA City Edition Jerseys:https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2024/9/19/24248969/nba-city-edition-jersey-2025-season-ranked-best-worstWith Retirement from ESPN, 'Woj' Leaves a Changes Sports Media World:https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/19/sports/basketball/adrian-wojnarowski-retires-espn.html 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/

Liz is BACK! And Liz is already calling it: Caitlin Clark is going to be Rookie of the Year. The duo also discuss professional hoops’ most-shipped couple (A’ja Wilson has been spotted with who?), plus more record breaking in the league. Also, a few basketball expansions and WNBA Commissioner's BIG misstep around misogny and racism in the comments.

Playoffs are on the horizon, fashion week is popping, and Playa Society's Esther Wallace is in the Hoops Off house. Celebrating guest host Mya's last week, she and Karen discuss the Minnesota Lynx as the sleeper team to watch, and they each lay down their Aces predictions and more playoff thoughts. The duo then dives into the amazing, magical, delicious collision that is sports and New York Fashion Week, and compare notes on which WNBA player's closet they'd like to raid. Plus, Playa Society founder, the athlete and designer Esther Wallace joins the group chat to share her Candace Parker fan girl moment, and to unpack what the ideation process is like for the WNBA's most creative statement maker.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/Mya's IG: https://www.instagram.com/themyapetersonWSLAM IG: https://www.instagram.com/wslamPlaya Society: https://www.playasociety.com

Karen and guest host Mya Peterson switch it up by kicking off the show with their Hoops Off segment--coming in strong with a defense of W legend Sheryl Swoopes, who, let's be clear, has nothing to apologize for. The duo then dig into the phenom A'ja Wilson's statement 'fit, the white tee, and what it signals. Plus, Karen and Mya serve up predictions for Rookie of the Year, and Most Valuable Player of the W, along with a side dish of very hot takes. Then, sights set on the horizon, they spotlight some of the NCAA women hoopers to watch, and close it out by celebrating Virgo birthday girl Mya.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/Follow Mya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themyapeterson?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Follow WSLAM on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/wslam?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Guest host Mya Peterson, of the iconic hoops media brand WSLAM, joins Karen for an episode jam packed with WNBA analysis, playoff predictions, and more. Plus, fresh off her Paris podium appearance, 2024 USA 3x3 Basketball Olympian Cierra Burdick is this week's guest. Cierra breaks down the distinct features that make 3x3 such a fun game to play, and to watch. She also shares what it was like being seen as the most wanted/unwanted player in the league, and what she wants for the future of women's basketball. This episode is serving Hoops Off versatility--from Draymond to whatever's "demure."Give us your thoughts and questions in a voicemail: Send it here: hoopsoffpod@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @thehoopsoff https://www.instagram.com/thehoopsoff/Follow Mya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themyapeterson?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Follow WSLAM on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/wslam?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Follow Cierra Burdick on IG: https://www.instagram.com/c_burdick11?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Learn more about Cierra: https://www.ccburdick.com/Learn more about FIBA 3x3 Womens: https://fiba3x3.com/2024/olympics/news/2024-usa-basketball-3x3-women-s-national-team-announced