Posts by Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith has covered women’s basketball nationally for more than three decades. A 2024 inductee into the U.S. Basketball Writer’s Hall of Fame, Smith has worked for ESPN.com, The Athletic, the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as Pac-12.com and WNBA.com. She is the 2017 recipient of the Jake Wade Media Award from the Collegiate Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) and was named the Mel Greenberg Media Award winner by the WBCA in 2019.

Cal coach Charmin Smith and her team waits for tipoff.

Is Cal turning a winning corner?

January 9, 2024

Smith: ‘We’re exponentially better’

UCLA's Londynn Jones shoots from long distance against USC. (Photo via Lillie Yazdi/UCLA Athletics)

Five things we learned from Pac-12 opening weekend

January 2, 2024

Los Angeles is embracing women’s college hoops, Oregon State is surging and more

Washington State's Charlisse Leger-Walker takes her opponent off the dribble.

Cougars still looking to find their consistency

December 28, 2023

‘I don’t think we’re playing our best basketball yet’

USC's JuJu Watkins shoots over two Ohio State defenders in the Hall of Fame Series at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on Nov. 6, 2023. (Photo credit: John McGillen/USC Athletics)

Nonconference grades for every Pac-12 team

December 23, 2023

Only one team gets an A

UCLA forward Emily Bessoir is shown in profile, preparing to take an open jump shot. An Arizona defender is barely visible in the photo, several steps from Bessoir with her hands down.

Arizona loses Maya Nnaji to medical school and other Pac-12 news

December 16, 2023

UCLA’s Emily Bessoir injured, Washington’s defense and more

Utah forward Alyssa Pili (35) holds the ball and looks to pass during a game at the Huntsman Center. A referee stands and signals behind her.

Utah moving on without Gianna Kneepkens’ poise, presence and perimeter scoring

December 6, 2023

Roberts: ‘We had to grieve it’

UCLA's Kiki Rice dribbling away from an opponent during a Pac 12 matchup with Stanford.

UCLA hits a defining non-conference stretch

November 30, 2023

Close: ‘I think I’m going to know a lot more going into the holiday break than I do now’

Colorado fifth-year senior guard Jaylyn Sherrod goes to the basket against LSU on November 6.

Pac-12 teams propelled by fifth-year players

November 27, 2023

Pac-12’s final year as we know it could also be its best, thanks to a crop of college elders

Stanford forward Kiki Iriafen goes for a layup during a game against Indiana at Maples Pavilion. No other players can be seen around the paint.

Kiki Iriafen is the key to Stanford’s success

November 12, 2023

‘She is going to surprise a lot of people this year.’

UCLA's Charisma Osborne drives into the lane during a Pac-12 matchup against USC.

Pac-12 to be defined by its non-conference matchups

November 5, 2023

Ten of the most intriguing games to watch in November and December