The 6th Woman Basketball Podcast

What does leadership look like when you're just 24 years old and captaining one of the world's best basketball teams? In Episode 15 of The 6th Woman Basketball Podcast, Beza and Tony sit down with Chinese National Team captain, Olympic bronze medallist and global basketball star Yang Shuyu. Currently playing with the Melbourne Tigers as part of her preparation for the FIBA Women's Bask...

What needs to change for the WNBL to truly break through? In Part 2 of this exclusive conversation, newly appointed WNBL Chief Operations Officer Justin Nelson outlines his vision for the future of the league - and why relevance, innovation and fan connection will define the next era of women's basketball in Australia. Starting with his top three priorities for the WNBL over the next 12 months, Ju...

What does innovation really look like in women's basketball? In Part 1 of this special two-part conversation, newly appointed WNBL Chief Operations Officer Justin Nelson joins Beza and Tony to discuss the journey that shaped him - from leaving school at 14 and working as a baker to rebuilding leagues and clubs across Australia and New Zealand. Justin opens up about the Melbourne Boomers years, his...

Project B might become one of the biggestdisruptors women’s basketball has ever seen. But what actually is it? In this exclusive interview, WNBA legend and Project B Chief Basketball Officer Alana Beard explains the real visionbehind Project B — player ownership, global basketball, premium experiences and why they believe basketball can become the number one sport in the world. Beza and Tony sit d...

The WNBA has changed the economics of women’sbasketball — and Australia is right in the middle of it. With 19 Australian players now part of the WNBA system, this is a definingvmoment for the sport locally. But it raises a bigger question: Is the WNBL ready for what comes next? In this episode, Beza and Tony focus on the Australian impact of the WNBA boom — from elite player pathways to growing pr...

Why Big Money Didn’t Move the WNBA’s Biggest Stars The WNBA is entering a new financial era —record contracts, global talent pipelines, and more money than ever before. So why didn’t the league’s biggest stars move? In this episode, Beza and Tony break down one of the most surprising outcomes of WNBA free agency: only 5 of the 22 All-Stars changed teams. With more money on the table than ever befo...

The WNBA just agreed to what might be the most important deal in the history of women's basketball — a $7 million salary cap (up from $1.5 million), a 20% revenue share, and a new minimum standard for player welfare that changes the game forever. But what does it actually feel like to live it?' This week, Beza and Tony are joined in the studio by WNBA and Australian Opal star Bec Allen — s...

What does it actually take to build a winning team in the WNBA? In this episode of The 6th Woman Basketball Podcast , Atlanta Dream GM Dan Padover breaks down how championship-calibre teams are built — from drafting and player development to culture, ownership alignment, and navigating one of the most important moments in league history. Recorded during the uncertainty surrounding the WNBA&r...

With just weeks until the WNBA season opener, ongoing CBA negotiations have created real uncertainty around the 2026 season. In this episode of The 6th Woman Basketball Podcast, we speak with Jackie Powell, host of IX Sports Podcast, Women's Basketball Edition & WNBA Writer at NBC Sports to break down what’s happening, why the ownership structure of the WNBA is central to the negotiation...

Angel Reese’s visit to Australia comes at a pivotal moment for women’s basketball. With just weeks until the WNBA season opener, ongoing CBA negotiations have created real uncertainty around the 2025 season. In this episode of The 6th Woman Basketball Podcast, we break down what’s happening, what the players are demanding, and what could happen next. Beza shares her excitement ab...

Welcome back to the 6th Women Basketball Podcast for 2026.  In this episode Beza and Tony speak in studio with WNBA veteran Lindsay Allen about her career, the importance of the WNBA CBA , playing internationally and in the WNBA, her greatest teammates and how the global shifts in women's basketball are providing choices for players that didn't exist when she came out of Notre Dame almost a d...

Women’s basketball is officially entering a new era. In this episode of The 6th Woman Basketball Podcast , Beza and Tony break down the biggest global shift the sport has seen since the creation of the WNBA in 1997. Project B has arrived with seven figure salaries, equity for players, a Formula One style global tournament model and some of the biggest names in the game rumoured to be involve...

Our latest episode features an interview with one of the most influential figures in women's basketball, a true legend of the game. Her journey from Portugal to becoming an NCAA sensation and later a WNBA icon is a testament to her dedication to the sport. This conversation brings to light her impact on women's college basketball and the broader landscape of womens basketball. From a small Portugu...

In this episode of  The 6th Woman basketball podcast, hosts Beza “Courtside” Mickan-White and Tony “T-Swizzle” Hallam sit down with Last-Tear Poa , Australian-Samoan college basketballer and leader for the Arizona State Sun Devils . From winning a National Championship with LSU to becoming the face of a legal case challenging U.S. government rules for international stu...

This episode dives into the cultural force that is Angel Reese and her rapid growth from college star to global icon, and her influence on the WNBA.  We review the WNBA Finals and the dynasty led by A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young.  First impressions of the new Australian WNBL - likes and dislikes - and how the announcement of Project B could reshape women’s basket...

In this episode of The Sixth Woman Basketball Podcast , Beza and Tony break down everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming WNBL season — from new league ownership to previews on teams and the faces of the WNBL. They explore predictions for the top and bottom four teams, highlight players like Cayla George, Anneli Maley and Jade Melbourne faces of the league, and dive into recent WNBA...

Welcome to the FIRST EVER episode of ‘The 6th Woman Basketball Podcast’ where wespeak to the the stories, leagues, and players shaping women’s basketball globally.  In this first ep we are spotlighting the shifting opportunities for players starting with the WNBA and Unrivaled leagues and how star athletes Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are changing the game on and off the co...