As the youngest of six siblings, Aari McDonald had to earn every win she’s ever enjoyed on the basketball court. And when family games of one-on-one didn’t go her way? Push-ups were inescapable. “Whoever lost in one-on-one, you owe the other person push-ups,” reminisced Aari McDonald. “That’s how it was, for real. It was always
Continue ReadingVeronica Burton has spent much of her life operating in and around the world of sports. Her mother, Ginni, was an All-American swimmer at Northwestern, where Veronica would later attend. Her father, Steve, played quarterback for the same university before pursuing a career in broadcasting covering the Boston sports scene. Veronica’s siblings all played college
Continue ReadingThe National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced the launch of Jr. NBA Leagues today. Parents and kids can soon enjoy the new national network of youth basketball leagues for boys and girls ages 6-14. The program will start with leagues in 11 U.S. markets in November 2022. Then, the league
Continue ReadingRoll out the red carpet. The Los Angeles Sparks adopted the motto “time to show” this year, with the intention of getting back to the franchise’s winning tradition and reestablishing relevance. In their effort to return to the top of the league, the Sparks signed a swath of A-list players during the offseason, beginning what
Continue ReadingJewell Loyd calls for a G League, Sue Bird has an idea about what she could have done differently in her career, and DiJonai Carrington shares a hot take on Seattle. Enjoy your weekly Seattle Storm recap complete with standings, quotes, clips, and a comment presented without comment. To get this in your inbox, be
Continue ReadingLast night Seattle Storm bested New York Liberty 79-71. The Liberty currently stand at last place in the league with a 1-6 record. “We’re not executing. We’re just turning the ball over. …I liked our fight, but we don’t execute like we need to.” recapped Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello highlighting some of the team’s
Continue ReadingThis offseason Aerial Powers could be spotted in local 24 Hour Fitness gyms. Lucky for those of us who didn’t catch her in person, the 5-foot-11 Minnesota Lynx forward-guard now playing her fifth season in the WNBA, filmed her pick-up game exploits. Since then, some of her videos have gone viral on TikTok and Instagram
Continue ReadingBrittney Griner has been wrongfully detained in Russia for over 90 days. It’s unbelievable, and we need her home. It’s surreal that the WNBA season has started. Yet it’s still unclear when Brittney may be back. We’ve been thinking about BG non-stop. So have many others including New York Liberty head coach and former Phoenix
Continue ReadingSick of getting charges called on you at the basket or need to do a better job protecting the ball in traffic? The pro hop is a great move you can use to effectively finish around the basket. And it’s a creative way for shorter players to be more explosive by the rim. So today
Continue ReadingThe Women of Troy is a must-watch for basketball fans. It’s a documentary on HBO that provides an insider’s look at the University of Southern California women’s basketball team in the early eighties, and its focal point is 6’2″ megastar Cheryl Miller. The film is a rare chance to hear directly from the team that
Continue ReadingLooking for the best basketball Mother’s Day gifts? We’ve got you covered. Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8, 2022 this year. So today we’ve pulled together a few favorites that mom is sure to love. From new shorts and tees, to helpful home decor and even a funny keychain, find something that’s right for the
Continue ReadingHosted by Michelle Kwan, the Summer of Gold podcast provides an unrivaled perspective on one of the most important moments in American sports and cultural history: the ’96 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia. The story is told by the 1996 Olympics women’s basketball team (Team USA) who dominated that summer. Be sure to give
Continue Reading“I think it’s hard to watch the film, and not fall in love with Lucy’s laugh.” said director Ben Proudfoot. He’s right. And there’s so much more to love about Lusia “Lucy” Harris. You must watch The Queen of Basketball documentary produced for The New York Times: Op-Docs series that debuted earlier this year and
Continue ReadingOne of the skills that sets elite hoopers apart is their superior footwork. So today we’re going to reveal some basketball pivot drills to improve your game. The goal of a pivot in basketball is to create space by clearing your defender. It’s a simple move but it’s low key lethal when properly used. “We
Continue ReadingThe first WNBA fantasy basketball designed by ESPN is on the way. ESPN Fantasy Women’s Basketball, a full-scale, season-long fantasy game dedicated to a major women’s sport will be introduced by ESPN Fantasy next month. The game will be open for signups in early April ahead of the start of the 2022 WNBA season, which
Continue ReadingOn Saturday, February 26, the first season of Athletes Unlimited basketball came to a close. It was the culmination of five weeks of hoops, with the league’s unique scoring system and player-first approach universally lauded by participants and media members alike. Point guard and Washington Mystics player Natasha Cloud, who had drawn the later game
Continue ReadingThe hesi move in basketball is one of the most simple but unstoppable moves in the game. The idea is to be unpredictable by using a change of pace – a pause – in order to freeze your defender, giving you time to make your next read. Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it?
Continue ReadingYou don’t necessarily have to be the fastest or the tallest player on the court to be dominant during the game of basketball. Having a high basketball IQ can bring you just as many wins. So today we’ll dig into a few ways to improve your basketball IQ for better results with examples from WNBA
Continue ReadingThis summer the story of women’s basketball’s ‘Fab Four’ will hit your TV. So be sure to tune in! The hour-long documentary, “CATCH98,” reveals the story of Tamika Catchings and the 1997-98 Tennessee Lady Vols – unequivocally the best in the country at the time. The film debuts on Thursday, June 23, which will be
Continue ReadingThe push cross move in basketball is a useful way to get by defenders while maintaining high speed. It’s relatively simple to learn. Especially if you’re already familiar with crossovers. So today we’ll explain what it is, why it’s helpful, and provide a few specific game situations to use it in. We’ll also share some
Continue ReadingTrash talk in basketball from opponents and hecklers is common. “Trash-talking is part of the game,” Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. “You have to give it. You have to be able to take it. It’s just that you don’t want to see it ever cross the line and become personal, because the game
Continue ReadingWhat if we told you something that takes less than five minutes a day could improve your basketball performance? Journaling for basketball can actually lead to more wins on court. Writing things down in a basketball journal will help you see your progress and build on your success; follow through on building new habits; and
Continue ReadingBasketball and injuries unfortunately go together like peanut butter and jelly. They’re basically unavoidable, and it’s highly likely that at some point during your career you’ll encounter one. So today we’ll look at ways to recover mentally after a basketball injury. Overcoming the emotional and physical challenges of an injury requires the ability to deal
Continue ReadingPoint guard Natasha Cloud raps Dreams and Nightmares like her life depends on it before every single Athletes Unlimited Basketball game. She’s unlocked a simple secret to improving her performance: Music helps for basketball training! Being “in tune” while you are practicing or playing basketball can elevate your performance. Listening to great music is one
Continue ReadingDid you know how you talk to yourself can make a big difference on how you feel and perform? Practicing positive self-talk in basketball will help improve your confidence and your performance. It’s not always easy to keep your self-talk positive and many pro athletes have struggled with overcoming their own negative self-talk. Los Angeles
Continue ReadingDon’t let bad body language limit your playing time or results. Did you know that 93 percent of communication is “nonverbal”? The body language of hoopers is easy to pick up on while watching a game, and it typically shows who is winning or losing at the moment. So today we’ll do a deep dive
Continue ReadingSports psychology studies and anecdotal reports from winning athletes confirm that confidence in basketball is crucial for success on the court. Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young credits his self-confidence for his success in the league. “You work extremely hard, and that’s what builds confidence. For me, that’s all it is.” he said. So today,
Continue Reading“For me, mental stress is everything.” said Phoenix Suns’ 12-time NBA All-Star guard and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Chris Paul. One way to deal with mental stress is visualization and mental imagery. Visualization for basketball is the process of using all your senses to help with learning and developing new hooper skills and strategies, as
Continue ReadingToday we’re going to introduce you to one of the coolest awards there is, because it’s all about supporting and growing women’s hoops: the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy award. You’ll find out what the award is, how it is earned, and when it started. You’ll also discover why the Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul
Continue ReadingToday we’ll share how to set basketball goals so you can achieve your wildest dreams. The most important thing when it comes to setting goals for basketball, is that you take the time to do it! Basically you need to define your objectives, and clarify what it will take to get there. Then you can
Continue ReadingAre you going to watch a WNBA game, and in the process of planning your trip, or are you trying to see whether you can fit it into your TV schedule? We’ve got you covered. Today we’ll share the answers to all your questions including: how long is a WNBA game? We’ll cover how many
Continue ReadingThe Athletes Unlimited basketball league has partnered with an All-Star list of content creators to document the inaugural season’s action, including HighlightHER’s Arielle Chambers. Together they’ve launched “All on the Table” – a long-form YouTube series featuring candid discussions about players’ experiences in sports and life. You can subscribe here. In the first episode, Ari is joined by pro hoopers
Continue ReadingMore than 60% of WNBA players headed abroad during the offseason this year. There are times where women’s professional basketball overseas can be a magical wonderland for WNBA players: a fantasy full of glamorous stat lines, MVP envelopes stuffed full of fresh $100 bills, private jets, and exclusive concerts. But for every fairy tale, there
Continue ReadingYou’re not alone. Most basketball players feel anxious before and during competitions. What they do to cope is they accept performance anxiety as a perfectly normal. Instead of freaking out, they let the anxiety sharpen their focus. After all, having anxiety is proof that you care about your basketball game and outcomes – which is
Continue ReadingBasketball leadership is a game changer. Leaders make a positive difference by helping those around them develop from good to even better. And every member of a team, not just the captains, can and should be a leader. Everybody should look for opportunities for leadership in their own ways, and consider how they can make
Continue ReadingWomen’s 3×3 basketball made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020. Originally started as street basketball in USA in the late 1980s, the game, at its core, is a condensed form of traditional full-court basketball. The game is fast and furious due to its different 3×3 basketball rules which cap the score at 21, provide very few
Continue ReadingWhat if you could improve your game with something that’s free, comfortable, and requires no sweating!? NBA Champion and Los Angeles Lakers guard LeBron James already knows this one simple secret: “Sleep is the most important thing when it comes to recovery.” he said. So today, we’ll explore the impacts of sleep for basketball. As
Continue ReadingSuccess on offense can start with your stance. The triple threat position is an offensive basketball stance that equips a player to be dangerous. In this position a player can quickly spring into action three ways: dribble the ball, pass the ball, or shoot the ball. The best way to catch the basketball is with:
Continue ReadingThe WNBA’s CBA Prioritization rule (Section 9) was designed with the intention of ensuring players hoop in the WNBA for the entire season, thus prioritizing the league versus their overseas play. It achieves this by punishing players for reporting late to training camp by suspending them for the entire season. Which means they forfeit their
Continue ReadingBasketball mental health is a major key to happiness on the court. Conquering the inner game takes as much time and effort as the physical game. And yet, sadly, today it’s often under-invested in by athletic leagues. In the latest episode of Nike’s Trained: Mental Health Miniseries Podcast, three-time WNBA All-Star and Minnesota Lynx hooper,
Continue ReadingToday we’re excited to share big news about big money for the league we love! The WNBA has announced the largest-ever capital raise for a women’s sports property: $75 million. This was the first time that the WNBA raised money from investors in its history. And it was funded by selling equity in the WNBA.
Continue ReadingBasketball mindfulness was a game changer for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, and it can be for your game as well. In 1993, after winning three consecutive championships with the Chicago Bulls, legendary head coach Phil Jackson brought in stress expert George Mumford to help the team deal with the pressures of success and the toll that stress
Continue ReadingIf you love listening to WNBA podcasts, there’s a new gem you have to add to your list. The New York Liberty’s sharp shooter and two-time WNBA Champion Sami Whitcomb has released Shooting the Shot sponsored by Jett Capital Advisors and Hoops Heaven. It’s a series of intimate, behind-the-scenes conversations with some of your favorite
Continue ReadingLooking for a fun way to spend your evening? Watch the best basketball documentaries ever – many of which you can view for free! We’ve pulled together a few of our favorites to make it easy to get started. These documentaries offer a rare chance to go behind the scenes with NBA and WNBA legends.
Continue ReadingSo you’re looking for the perfect basketball Valentine’s gifts? No worries – we’ve got you covered. We’ve pulled together a selection of some of the most unique gifts you can give your child, partner, boyfriend, girlfriend and more. From custom kicks, to cool sweatshirts, and even special Athletes Unlimited Basketball access – you’re sure to
Continue ReadingThe Athletes Unlimited Basketball model is shaking up everything we’ve come to expect from pro women’s hoops, for both the fans and the players — in a good way. Established in 2020, Athletes Unlimited is a brand of women’s sports leagues, that offers a range of innovations to bring athletes and fans a unique and intense
Continue ReadingFive Olympic gold medals, four WNBA championships, and a 12-time All Star — and she makes it look easy. The top overall pick in the 2002 draft’s name is all over the WNBA record book. That’s right, we’re talking about Sue Bird. As the WNBA’s all-time leader in assists, games, and minutes played enters her
Continue ReadingWe’re swishing you a happy Valentine’s Day! So we’ve pulled together a few cool basketball Valentines cards to make your shopping simple this year. That way you don’t have to travel all over to find the perfect note. Whether you’re looking for a thoughtful card for a partner who loves hooping, or just a whole
Continue Reading“Man it’s everything and more that I could’ve imagined…You know the older I’m getting, I want to leave this game better than I found it. So now that we’re finally here, finally at this day, I’m just so proud to be one of the 44 women here creating opportunities and resources for the next generation.”
Continue ReadingAn Adidas signature shoe, the cover of NBA2K, and her own official day in Chicago (September 16th)—Candace Parker has more than arrived. But she’s not done yet. In April 2022, the two-time NCAA and WNBA champion, and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has something new in store for us. Candace Parker’s Title IX Documentary, 37 Words: A Title
Continue Reading