The IX Sports Podcast

They got Laila Edwards and some key expansion pieces, but can they score goals? This week, podcast host Maya is joined by Eli Fastiff to talk about where PWHL San Jose stands heading into the off-season. But first, the Boston Fleet are heading to Agganis Arena full-time next season. The Fleet will leave behind a lot of fans in Lowell, but is this the right move? Eli also tells Maya about the exper...

A lot of news and history is unpacked in the latest episode of The IX Sports podcast women’s basketball edition. Cheryl Reeve became the winningest head coach in WNBA history, All-Star teams have been announced in full and two players in particular made headlines this week. What is going on with Skylar Diggins and Chennedy Carter and what happens next for the Chicago Sky and Las Vegas Aces? Later,...

Host Kathleen Gier starts this episode with the news that Gotham FC is moving to Queens in 2028. The team has been playing in New Jersey, but will build a new 25,000-seat venue. Then, Kathleen dives into the last week of NWSL scores and how they've affected the standings after the break. Links: https://www.theixsports.com/features/nwsl-returns-sanchez-goals-utahs-streak-broken-gloom-louisville...

Lamar Women’s Basketball coach Aqua Franklin starred as a high school hooper in East Texas before matriculating to Texas A&M, where she was a three-year captain and two-time All-American honorable mention. She led the Aggies to their first-ever Big 12 championship, an Elite Eight, and was named to the school’s Hall of Fame in 2018.After spending a few seasons in the WNBA, Franklin moved to the...

Merry off-season, podcast listeners! The entire PWHL is taking a much-needed week off, but there's still news to talk about. Montréal Victoire's captain and playoff MVP, Marie-Philip Poulin, announced that she will be undergoing knee surgery and is out for the foreseeable future. What does that mean for Montréal and why is it going to take so long? Maya breaks all of that down in the #1 at...

It was a wild day and some change in the WNBA and Jackie Powell and Howard Megdal broke it all down. They start at the game that was actually played on Tuesday night, the Liberty vs. Aces for the Commissioner’s Cup Championship and then address the off-court drama that is still brewing in the aftermath of Alyssa Thomas’ suspension. The IX Sports’ Dylan Kane joins the show to explain what we learne...

Host Kathleen Gier and guest Thomas Costello recap Gotham FC's 2-0 win against the Kansas City Current in the 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup, and discuss Gotham FC's big new addition in Sam Kerr. They also talked through a couple of the big storylines they'll be watching as the NWSL returns to action this week. Follow Thomas Costello: https://www.theixsports.com/author/thomas-costello/ https:...

In this episode of The IX Sports Podcast: College Basketball Edition, hosts Melissa Triebwasser and Michael Waterloo sit down with On3 National Reporter Talia Goodman to break down a chaotic women's college basketball offseason. With the transfer portal dust finally settling, the conversation offers an insider's look at the moving pieces shaping the upcoming 2026–2027 season. The trio dive...

Jackie Powell rides solo this week hosting The IX Sports Podcast Women's Basketball Edition. First she reflects on the latest discourse surrounding WNBA officiating especially following contact between Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark on Wednesday night. Was the league right to fine and suspend Thomas? What did we learn about the state of the WNBA following the situation. Later Jackie is joined...

Free agency is more frenzied than ever, and the PWHL has its first outside investors. Host Maya Smith and guest host Alyssa Turner start by talking about the new investments. Kilmer Sports Ventures and Ilitch Companies have both invested in the league, with the investments being upwards of $100m. But the league isn't turning a profit. What does this mean, and is it to be expected? Then, they b...

Host Kathleen Gier reports from Kansas City, where the Current signed two-time MVP and Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga to a contract extension through the 2029 season. She shared a clip from coach Chris Armas' availability and discussed the team's upcoming appearance in the Challenge Cup as well. Photo credit: William Purnell | Imagn Images Video credit: Kansas City Current

On this week's edition of The IX Sports Podcast, Michael Waterloo and Melissa Triebwasser are joined by new University of Florida women's basketball head coach Tammi Reiss. After a highly successful run turning around the program at Rhode Island, Tammi is making the leap to the SEC. She sat down with us to talk about the timing behind the move, how she leveraged community support to build a comple...

The WNBA makes history once again??!! Howard Megdal and Jackie Powell are back on The IX Sports Podcast Women’s Basketball Edition to break down the recent news that the WNBA will be expanding to 50 regular season games in 2027. Also, Howard and Jackie react to the two teams facing off in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game, the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces. Later in the show The IX Sp...

The 2026 PWHL Entry Draft has come and gone, with 72 players hearing their names called by 12 different teams. With the first overall pick, the Vancouver Goldeneyes selected Caroline ‘KK’ Harvey, who won Gold and Olympic MVP at the Milano Cortina Olympics. Host Maya Smith breaks down why Harvey is a good fit for the Vancouver Goldeneyes and talks about each player selected in the first round. She...

Maryland Women’s Basketball head coach Brenda Frese joins Melissa Triebwasser and Michael Waterloo for an incredible, wide-ranging conversation about her legendary 25-year tenure with the Terrapins. Coach Frese pulls back the curtain on how she’s built a modern powerhouse, reflecting on last season’s gritty 24-win run despite a wave of injuries, and how she’s adapting to the new era of NIL, revenu...

Are the Indiana Fever in crisis? That’s a question that Howard Megdal and Jackie Powell try to answer today on the latest episode of The IX Sports Podcast Women’s Basketball Edition. What are productive ways to be talking about the Fever: their successes and their current flaws as they may be? Later, Jackie shines some light on some data and reporting she collected to explain why we are talking ab...

Phase 2 of expansion is complete, and the newest PWHL expansion teams have all signed five new players... well, more or less. Host Maya Smith and guest Giselle Velazquez introduce the 20 players headed to expansion teams in this phase. They also talk about the Hilary Knight situation and whether or not Detroit made the right decision to give up a draft pick. Then, they dive into the PWHL Entry Dra...

Host Kathleen Gier recaps both USWNT matches against Brazil, a 2-1 loss and 1-0 victory. She shares some thoughts from coach Emma Hayes and a few of her top takeaways: - Sophia Wilson keeps hitting benchmarks - The US has another shutout - Forwards need to find a way to score Shades of Blue Network: https://youtube.com/@shadesofbluenw Photo credit: Darren Yamashita | Imagn Images Video credit: US...

What does it actually take to play for Dawn Staley and build an unstoppable dynasty? In this packed episode of The IX Sports Podcast, Melissa Triebwasser and Michael Waterloo bring you the ultimate look inside South Carolina Women’s Basketball. We sit down with Gamecock legends Zia Cooke and Te-Hina Paopao, as well as South Carolina beat writer Lulu Kesin, to break down the culture, the championsh...

Was Cheryl Reeve born with magical powers? That’s a question that The IX Sports Podcast Women’s Basketball Edition ponders while discussing the hot start of the Minnesota Lynx. To gain clarity of how the Lynx are the best team in the WNBA right now, Howard and Jackie talk to Lynx beat reporter Terry Horstman who has been on the ground covering how the Lynx have done what they have without play fro...

The expansion distribution process is underway, and all eight existing PWHL teams have announced the three players they will protect going forward. Sarah Nurse, Aerin Frankel, Ann-Renée Desbiens, and more will stick with their teams, but what about Hilary Knight or Daryl Watts? Host Maya Smith breaks down what protection choices make sense and which ones are a bit confusing. Plus, she talks about...

Host Kathleen Gier runs through the latest USWNT roster drop, shares clips from coach Emma Hayes' press conference and updates listeners on where NWSL teams stand ahead of the summer break. Photo credit: David Gonzales | Imagn Images Video credit: USWNT

On this week's episode of The IX Sports: CBB Edition, new Pitt Women's Basketball coach Robin Harmony joins the program. Coach Harmony talks her decorated collegiate career, her coaching journey, and the Hershey, PA native tells us why you just can't beat factory-fresh Reese's Peanut Butter cups.#basketball #collegebasketball #h2p

The IX Sports women’s basketball edition is back where Howard and Jackie go over reporting they’ve compiled over the past week. Jackie has been keeping a close eye on how the new freedom of movement officiating rules are impacting WNBA defense. Howard examined if the Dallas Wings can compete on an excellent offense and a middle of the road defense. And then both Howard and Jackie report what they...

The PWHL Players Association voted this week to make salaries public for the first time in league history. Host, Maya Smith, and guest, Alyssa Turner, talk about what these numbers mean for the future of the sport, how far we've come in women's hockey, and where we have left to go. Then, they talk about the four new expansion franchises. All four teams have hired GMs, including former Toro...