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.

Kamie Ethridge celebrates with her players after knocking No. 3 ranked Utah out of the Pac-12 Tournament on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Photo Credit: Powers Imagery

Ethridge’s tenacity turns Washington State into a winner

March 3, 2023

Kamie Ethridge has turned the tide for the Cougars program that is experiencing unprecedented success.

STANFORD, CA - DECEMBER 12: Cameron Brink during a game between Pacific and Stanford University at Maples Pavilion on December 12, 2021 in Stanford, California.

Can Stanford win with an old-school offensive scheme?

February 23, 2023

‘We have to maximize our strengths’

USC defining themselves as a Pac-12 power

February 18, 2023

How the Trojans meshed into a defensive juggernaut

UNLV building something big in the desert

February 2, 2023

The Rebels’ 80-57 win over their in-state rival was witnessed by a sellout crowd of more than 2,500 — the first in program history

Pac-12

Dissecting the Pac-12’s wild Sunday

January 17, 2023

The Pac-12 has nine teams currently in the Top 64 positions in the NCAA Net Rankings — eight of those teams among the Top 41

Washington State has a mountain to climb in the Pac-12

January 8, 2023

Washington State is playing without junior guard Charlisse Leger-Walker and is trying to win without her

Stanford's Lauren Betts is pictured driving to the basked against Cal's Ugonne (Michelle) Onyiah.

The case for patience and Lauren Betts

December 29, 2022

Both Betts and coach VanDerveer are preaching patience

USC guard/forward Rayah Marshall dribbles the ball with her right hand as a UCLA defender tries to wall up.

Asking the Pac-12’s big questions

December 16, 2022

Which team will surprise, how dominant will Stanford be, and more

Fifth year transfer Jade Loville drives to the basket during Arizona's 77-50 loss to Kansas. She is wearing traditional red, white and blue home Arizona uniform colors.

Arizona is a powerhouse in progress

December 9, 2022

Early season 77-50 home loss to Kansas exploits ‘glaring’ areas for improvement

Teammates swarm Oregon's Ednyia Rogers while she is hoisted into the air in celebration

Auditioning for No. 2 in the Pac-12

December 1, 2022

Oregon, UCLA and Arizona among the contenders