January 18, 2025
Locked on Women’s Basketball: Latest in college basketball, Unrivaled
By The Next
On today's episode of Locked on Women's Basketball, host Hunter Cruse is joined by co-hosts Emily Adler and Lincoln Shafer to talk about the latest across women's college basketball.
On today’s episode of Locked on Women’s Basketball, host Hunter Cruse is joined by co-hosts Emily Adler and Lincoln Shafer to talk about the latest across women’s college basketball, plus their early thoughts after the first day of games at Unrivaled.
Continue reading with a subscription to The Next
Get unlimited access to women’s basketball coverage and help support our hardworking staff of writers, editors, and photographers by subscribing today.
Already a member?
Login
The trio discussed TCU’s recent play, Texas’ offense, and LSU.
“(Kaitlyn Gilbert) saved LSU in like three games,” Cruse said. “They could easily have three losses like right now, and it wouldn’t have been possible without her. At LSU, their guard situation isn’t great, but at least they have bucks better than their post situation.”
Order ‘Becoming Caitlin Clark’ and save 30%
Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, just announced his latest book. It captures both the historic nature of Caitlin Clark’s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible. Interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder, C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and so many others were vital to the process.
If you enjoy his coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX, you will love “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar.” Click the link below to preorder and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout.
They also hit on the up-and-down Big Ten after everyone has some conference games under their belts this month.
“The Big Ten Conference is so fascinating right now, there’s so many teams in like Lincoln (Shafer) told me, the bottom four teams all have no wins in conference play, they’re all 0-5, 0-6, 0-7, 0-7,” said Cruse. “And then the top is Ohio State, UCLA, USC, Maryland, who are all top eight teams. So for the top eight teams, and they also maybe have the four worst power four teams.”
They went on to discuss their thoughts after the first night of Unrivaled in Miami from Friday night.
Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?
Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.
Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.
“It’s fun basketball,” Shafer said. “The pace is out of this world. There’s an 18 second shot clock, and it’s 70 feet of court, so there’s just not as much ground to cover. They’re flying up and down the court. It’s crazy. It’s a lot of fun to watch. I really like this format. Azura Steven was maybe my favorite player to watch last night. She has skills in the paint and she can shoot the three. Defensively she was doing some things, scoring on the on the offensive end. Fun, fun player, fun games.”
