December 9, 2024
Locked On Women’s Basketball: Monday women’s basketball musings and more
By The Next
Catching up on the week's biggest WNBA and women's college basketball stories
In the latest episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, The Next’s Missy Heidrick and Matthew Walter break down what happened in an eventful weekend of women’s basketball, from the 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft to several top-25 college matchups.
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Heidrick asks Walter about the players he was most impressed with the Golden State Valkyries getting in the expansion draft. Walter names a few:
“I’ll start with that point guard spot. I’m going to start with, I think [Veronica] Burton will be a great fit. She’s a phenomenal defender. She can really make people’s life tough. I think she’s a good rotation piece. The person [who stands out] to me is Julie Vanloo from Washington. She was a very, very good rookie last year: top 12 in the league in 3-pointers made, top nine in the league in assists. She started 34 of 40 games for the Mystics last year. She started on the Belgian national team in the Olympics. … She’s someone who could come in and start at the point guard spot. And you and I both know having a floor general makes or breaks any team. …
“The other couple players I really like is their three, four swing spot. I’m going to start with Temi Fagbenle from the Indiana Fever. Phenomenal in the pick-and-roll last year. She crushed it, especially with Caitlin Clark in that pick-and-roll. … [She] just exploded onto the scene last year in her time with Indiana and I think could make a big impact for the Valkyries right away.”
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Later in the episode, the conversation shifts to women’s college basketball. Walter talks about how the formerly top-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks have rebounded from a loss to then-No. 5 UCLA on Nov. 24, including with dominant wins over then-No. 8 Duke on Thursday and then-No. 9 TCU on Sunday:
“There’s just a level of like, you’re the best. Everyone wants to beat you. … And I think sometimes you go on the road, especially across the country, to Los Angeles, to play a team that is very, very good. …
“And I think you see that [South Carolina head coach] Dawn Staley is the kind of coach that when you get punched in the mouth, she’s going to get her kids right back up and they’re going to come back and punch you in the mouth. And you saw that for the first three quarters against Duke, and you saw that yesterday against TCU.”
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Here at The Next, in addition to the 24/7/365 written content our staff provides, we also host the daily Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast. Join us Monday through Saturday each week as we discuss all things WNBA, collegiate basketball, basketball history and much more. Listen wherever you find podcasts or watch on YouTube.
