Beyond the Bleachers

It's week 3 yall-Maryland is in a slump and South Carolina is flying high! Samantha and Joslyn are also joined by the DMV's own Courtney Young. She shares her journey from growing up playing in Prince George's County, MD, including her AAU and High School experiences, to now coaching girls basketball and her career goals in the tech field. Growing up you'd never find Courtney without a ball in her...

We're back with updates on Maryland's second consecutive loss and South Carolina's historic win. Also, Joslyn and Samantha were very excited about the premiere of long time favorite Candace Parker's first documentary "Unapologetic." They reflect on some of their favorite moments as well as some aspects they hope she will shed light on in a future part 2! Upsets are still happening around NCAA and...

Samantha and Joslyn are joined by a special guest co-host this week. She's a fellow Sophisticated Spectator and one of Beyond the Bleacher's biggest supporters: Allie aka @ajas.aces on Instagram. She joins the ladies as they discuss the highlights of the first week of the NCAA women's basketball season. This South Carolina fan fits right in, but also tries to hide her bias as she shouts out anothe...

Welcome to season 2 yall! Samantha and Joslyn start season 2 with a very special guest...2023 WNBA Champion Alaina Coates! The ladies try not to fan girl as Alaina talked about her journey from high school champion to NCAA champion and all the way to WNBA Champion. She left no stone unturned as she highlighted her personal gains and how she has battled back from tough losses. She is truly an inspi...

A winner has been crowned!!! The Las Vegas Aces are the 2023 WNBA Champions! We recap the final game of the season, the drama that has ensued since the last game (because the season couldn't end without a little drama!), and our hopes for next season. Join us on Instagram @beyondthebleachers_ as we continue the WNBA talk and transition to the 23-23 NCAA Women's Basketball Season. We look f...

The Las Vegas Aces came out on fire for games 1 and 2, but the New York Liberty were not going down without a fight as they dominated game 3. Samantha and Joslyn take you through the highs and lows of games 1-3 and what needs to happen in order for the Aces to clinch in game 4 or what the Liberty need to do to keep the series alive. Plus, Chelsea Gray went down with a non-contact lower leg injury...

Samantha and Joslyn have heard enough of the disrespect, so they dedicated their highlights segment to discuss several hot topics that have the W fans talking. All bets are off when it comes to James Wade’s abrupt decision to leave the Chicago Sky midseason, Aliyah Boston haters, and the firing of second year Phoenix Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard. Plus, Liberty University and University of Te...

It’s Finals baby!!! The 2023 WNBA Finals are locked and two teams (the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty) have made it all the way to the home stretch! It’s the battle everyone has been waiting all season for. Joslyn and Samantha recap the second round of the playoffs while sharing what clean up needs these two teams need to do and what they need to continue to do to lock in a championship....

Round 2 of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs did not disappoint. While the Las Vegas Aces had a dominating performance against the Dallas Wings, the New York Liberty had possibly their worst performance I this season as the Connecticut Sun dominated on both ends of the floor. Joslyn and Samantha were LIVE for it all on Instagram and recapped both games in this episode. Then, both ladies shared their thoughts...

Samantha and Joslyn recap week one of the finals. They have some tough criticism for the Atlanta Dream and applaud the Las Vegas Aces for clicking on all cylinders just as Joslyn has expected. Their main topic takes them a little away from the W as they discuss LA Sparks guard Zia Cooke’s decision to not play overseas this season. This discussion led to the bigger discussion of the player opportun...

It's playoff time!!!!! The W is kicked into high gear as we get ready for the first round of the playoffs. Samantha and Joslyn reflect on some of the most memorable moments from the end of the season and transition to predictions for the first round and some of the end of the season awards. We feel an upset brewing in the first round. Let us know what teams you think will make it out alive and who...

The playoff picture is shaping up, but as the regular season winds down, new revelations cause a stir around the league. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert seems to be moonwalking back on her travel accommodations promise to the players and a couple players have things to say about it. This only highlights the bigger, overarching problem: the lack of care and regard some people have for actually growing...

Joslyn tried to start on a high note by giving her flowers to A'ja Wilson for tying for the most points in a WNBA game, but Samantha had to cut her at the knees and remind her that her defensive minded Washington Mystics recently beat Wilson's Las Vegas Aces, putting Las Vegas dangerously close to giving up the #1 seed. Then, Joslyn and Samantha continue their off-podcast conversation and talk inj...

The Las Vegas Aces have finally lost at home, and the Los Angeles Sparks are you who we have to thank. While Joslyn felt the Aces were almost unbeatable, Samantha shares the teams she felt were built to beat them, LA included. Joslyn adds a new segment and puts two plays (both from the LA/Vegas game) in TIMEOUT! Speaking of the Sparks, the conversation leads us to talking about Liz Cambage and her...

*BONUS EPISODE* Samantha and Joslyn are BACK with a BONUS EPISODE and discussing the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces. These two teams squared off twice already in the month of August and the ending was less than stellar for the Aces and quite anticlimactic overall. They discuss what went wrong, and keeps going wrong, for the Aces and what the Liberty are doing to capitalize on all their mi...

The Connecticut Sun are shining bright, and all their hard work on defense is paying off. Samantha gives a huge nod to Briann January for bringing her defensive skills as a player to her new job as an Assistant Coach. Meanwhile, in the wake of Candace Parker’s indefinite absence, the Las Vegas has signed some new talent that has everyone excited, Joslyn included. The tide quickly shifts as Samanth...

*trigger warning* In this episode, Joslyn and Samantha discuss the seriousness of domestic violence (DV). Beyond the Bleachers does not condone DV of any kind, and we send our prayers to all those that may be involved in situations of DV. If you are in need of support related to DV, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or visit https://www.theh...

The second half of the season is underway! Some teams have gained momentum, while others still struggle to find their ground. Samantha and Joslyn received a special request to give our thoughts on a new Sophisticated Spectator's favorite player, which led us to talking about the new Unrivaled league being started by two WNBA superstars and UConn alum. How does this league match up with the already...

We are officially at the halfway point of the 2023 WNBA season. Samantha and Joslyn go through the past, present, and future by highlighting their favorite moments of the season thus far, their favorite moments from All-Star Weekend, and their predictions for the winners of the top awards at the end of the WNBA season (Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Im...

This episode is a little longer because we have a lot to say! Las Vegas has been defeated once again. We told you last week that its all in the hair and this week Alysha Clark proved our theory to be correct. Meanwhile, it's the elephant in the room. The big E. You guessed it. We're talking about the almighty ego. We all have one, but when does it go too far? We talk team success vs personal gains...

It’s officially all-star season, as the WNBA has announced the 2023 all-star game starters! Find out which players we are most excited about, and which players we think should be reserves. Also, find out about the devastation that has hit the Connecticut Sun and what two players Samantha believes are the keys to their success moving forward. Here's a hint...one of them is her breakout star of the...

Samantha and Joslyn have a special guest this week-2014 McDonald's All American and Duke Blue Devil Lynee' Belton (@lynee_be). She shares her experience playing for a Power 5 program, her passion in advocating for mental well-being in and out of basketball, and the family ties she shares with Samantha. As an avid WNBA watcher herself and current AAU basketball coach, Lynee’ shows just why we dubbe...

Samantha and Joslyn have nothing but praise for the Connecticut Sun! They took time to highlight their win over the previously undefeated Las Vegas Aces and selected two of their starters as breakout stars this week. Then, they do team recaps and discuss what each team is doing well or needs to be doing in order to find success moving forward. They also share some opinions that they feel may be sl...

Samantha and Joslyn have officially hit WNBA overload! June has sent the season into high gear and there’s no slowing down now. In noting the lack of diversity shown reporting on the league, they highlight the importance of Black media voices in and around the W and where you can find all the latest and greatest that mainstream media doesn’t tell us. Plus, is Napheesa Collier the next superstar fo...

Rosters continue to change moment by moment, but one thing that remains devastating is being cut from the team. LSU standout and 2023 second round draft pick Alexis Morris was waived by the Connecticut Sun after one preseason game, but it’s her words in the days following that had the league talking. Samantha recounts those words plus the reactions around the W that ultimately lead to Morris’ apol...