Being the nation’s best two-loss team isn’t exactly a coveted crown. Coaches, players and fans would prefer to own the “undefeated” tag for as long as possible.

Yet, the Ole Miss Rebels, ranked No. 18 in the latest AP poll with a 5-2 record, should be proud to be the nation’s top two-loss team. (Even if the No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish believe the title should belong to them.)

They also might be poised to the disrupt the SEC. While the No. 3 South Carolina Gamecocks, No. 4 Texas Longhorns and No. 5 LSU Tigers have Final Four visions and the new-look No. 14 Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Lady Vols appear increasingly frisky, the overlooked team from Oxford could not only obstruct opponents’ aspirations, but also could vault themselves atop the conference.

Rebels with a (defensive) cause

The Rebels opened the season in Paris, expected to be the collateral for the then-No. 3 ranked USC Trojans’ early-season coronation. It was an international stage for sophomore superstar JuJu Watkins, surrounded by a reloaded supporting cast. Ole Miss, of course, had other plans, requiring USC to battle to the buzzer for a hard-fought, ugly 68-66 victory. The Rebels had 15 steals and forced the Trojans into 25 turnovers, including nine by Watkins.

It was the kind of defensive performance that shows the Rebels are capable of competing with any and all comers. As USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said after the game, “I’m really impressed with Ole Miss. They’re going to win a ton of games.” For the season, Ole Miss is forcing over 24 turnovers per game, a mark that ranks in the top 20 nationally and third in the SEC. It’s a team-wide effort, too. Seven Rebels are snagging at least one steal per game, led by freshman guard Sira Thienou’s 2.3 steals per contest.

The Rebels dialed up a similar defensive performance against another top team last week, meeting the No. 2-ranked UConn Huskies in the Baha Mar Women’s Championship. Ole Miss caused plenty of trouble for UConn, forcing the Huskies into a season-high 17 turnovers.

The Rebels also held the Huskies to a season-low 14 3-point attempts and a season-worst three 3-point makes. Shutting down opponents’ outside shooting has been an essential element in Ole Miss’ fourth-ranked defense, which is allowing only 47.1 points per game. For the season, Rebels’ opponents are shooting just 20 percent from behind the arc. No matter how aggressive the team might be in closing out on shooters, that number is unsustainably low. Yet, that Ole Miss is allowing so few attempts from deep is replicable, suggesting that, even if an opponent enjoys a hot shooting night from long range, which inevitably will happen, the Rebels could survive by continuing to limit 3-point attempts.

Even though Ole Miss gave UConn a scare, recovering from a poor first half to reel off a 28-15 third quarter, despite head coach Geno Auriemma warning his team that a Rebel surge was coming, they could not hang on in the final period, falling 73-60.

Nevertheless, the Rebels’ showings against the Trojans and Huskies, not to mention how they’ve shut down overmatched mid majors, suggests their defense could be strong enough to stifle the SEC’s titans. South Carolina, in particular, could be susceptible, especially since Coach Yo’s teams traditionally have played Dawn Staley’s squads tough. In contrast to offensively-explosive Texas and LSU, teams that might have enough juice to overcome even the best defensive efforts that Ole Miss can muster, South Carolina has not consistently generated good offense this season, falling into bouts of clunkiness that they largely avoided last season. But, that game’s a long way off, scheduled for Feb. 27 in Oxford.

Before then, Ole Miss also needs to sharpen things on the offensive end.

The Rebels’ cause for concern

The saying goes, “Defense wins championships.” And thus far, elite, aggressive and unrelenting defense has allowed Ole Miss to compete with championship-caliber teams, but, to actually defeat such teams, as well as to chase a championship themselves, the other side of the floor also matters, and offense could prove to be a reoccurring obstacle for the Rebels.

For the season, Ole Miss is shooting 43 percent from the field. From 2-point range, it’s 48.2 percent; from 3, it’s 30.8 percent. So far, the Rebels have been able to overcome less than sparkling shooting by taking a lot of shots. Their more than 68 shots attempts per game ranks 21st nationally. Nearly 20 offensive boards per game help the Rebels generate all those attempts, turning missed shots into Kobe Assists. Volume, rather than efficiency, is Ole Miss’ scoring solution. Still, the best teams in the sport wed volume and efficiency.

The Rebels, however, have plenty of capable offensive players. If everyone’s shooting percentages tick up a point or two, the team soon will be scoring more than their 78.3 points per game, which ranks ninth in the SEC. That begins with KK Deans, the grad guard who missed almost all of last season with a knee injury after transferring from Florida. She brings self-created scoring pop from the perimeter, and is taking a career-best 6.7 3s per game. As Coach Yo emphasized after the USC game, Deans also plays with a fearless spirit:

She plays with a lot of passion. The team feeds off her and she’s not afraid of the big moment… She’s just someone that, if you want to go to war, you want to go with someone with her personality that is a competitor and that wants to win.

Grad guard Kennedy Todd-Williams also sports a sweet jumper that, at 5-foot-11, she can get off with relative ease. After a pair of standout seasons at UT Arlington, senior forward Starr Jacobs has introduced her forceful inside scoring game in Oxford, turning o-boards into easy scores as she shoots a team-best 66 percent from the field. That trio all is averaging at least 11 points per game, equipping Ole Miss with offensive balance.

Such contributions have lessened the scoring load on grad wing Madison Scott, who has upped her facilitation, all while continuing to be one of the nation’s best defensive playmakers. Increased opportunity for Thienou, the freshman guard who is scoring 10.7 points per game and shooting 37.5 percent from 3, also could give the Rebels some extra scoring punch.

In short, Ole Miss is not without solves for their less-than-perfect offensive attack.

What’s next for Ole Miss?

And on Wednesday, the Rebels’ elite defense and good-enough offense will be put to test against a team with a similar profile, as the NC Wolfpack arrive in Oxford for the SEC/ACC Challenge (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2). Expect a slugfest, where whichever team more efficiently converts defensive stops into offensive scores is more likely to get the win.

And if the home team prevails, their claim to be the nation’s best two-loss team will only be stronger.

How will the WNBA’s first expansion draft since 2008 shake out? Who knows!

There’s a myriad variables to consider, beginning with the player protection decisions of the league’s 12 existing teams and extending to the Golden State Valkyries’ team-building priorities.

That an absurd seven teams have made, or are still in the process of making, a head coaching change makes it even more difficult to discern which six players some teams will choose to protect. In naming the six players, organizations are balancing their own internal considerations with the external ones of Golden State. Internally, protecting a player signals that the franchise values them; they are part of the favored six. And while those who are unprotected may understand that, “It’s a business,” the protection process inevitably draws distinctions within a team. As a significant number of a team’s unprotected players could return to the roster next season, management of player emotions—on top of evaluations involving talent, fit and contractual status—has to be part of a team’s process.

Then, there’s the external, as every organization has to estimate what kind of team Golden State wants to build. Will the Valkyries favor younger players who are under contract for multiple seasons? Or, is the organization more ambitious, intending to contend in their inaugural season with a mix of vets and up-and-comers?

On top of that, agents might engage in angling, seeking to steer their client to a new opportunity by the Bay. The impending expiration of the CBA, which has resulted in most players signing contracts that expire after the 2025 season, further complicates things, as the decisions made for the 2025 season could be wiped out by the avalanche of player movement that could occur before the 2026 season (assuming the successful negotiation of a new CBA).

It’s the WNBA. It seems best to expect the unexpected, especially in this time of unprecedented growth that seems to have provoked restlessness among franchises. From the outside, decisions made might seem more rash than rational. Tune into ESPN on Friday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. ET for potential fireworks.

Before then, here’s a look at how teams might navigate the Golden State Expansion Draft:

Atlanta Dream

Roster: Aerial Powers (UFA), Allisha Gray, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (UFA), Haley Jones, Iliana Rupert (suspended), Isobel Borlase (unsigned draftee), Jordin Canada, Laeticia Amihere, Lorela Cubaj (reserved), Maite Cazorla (suspended), Matilda Villa (unsigned draftee), Maya Caldwell (reserved), Naz Hillmon, Nia Coffey, Nyadiew Puoch (unsigned draftee), Rhyne Howard, Tina Charles (UFA; ineligible to be drafted)

Which six players should be protected and why?

1. Allisha Gray
2. Iliana Rupert
3. Jordin Canada
4. Naz Hillmon
5. Nyadiew Puoch
6. Rhyne Howard

The Dream obviously will protect their core of Allisha Gray, Jordin Canada and Rhyne Howard. Even if she doesn’t possess the kind of shooting range prioritized by new head coach Karl Smesko, Naz Hillmon’s increasingly essential play over the course of the 2024 season should have earned her keeper status. Smesko’s emphasis on shooting could leave 2023 first-round picks Haley Jones and Laeticia Amihere unprotected, with Golden State possibly nabbing one of them. Iliana Rupert, who did not participate in the WNBA last season in order to prepare for the Olympics with the French national team, profiles as the kind of big that would fit with Smesko’s five-out offensive system. After that, would Atlanta make sure to protect 2024 first-round selection Nyadiew Puoch, who remained in Australia, or Nia Coffey, an under-contract vet whose on-court value often exceeds her up-and-down production?

Chicago Sky

Photo by Dylan Goodman/NBAE via Getty Images

Roster: Angel Reese, Brianna Turner (UFA), Chennedy Carter (RFA), Dana Evans (RFA), Diamond DeShields (UFA), Elizabeth Williams, Isabelle Harrison (UFA), Kamilla Cardoso, Lindsay Allen, Maria Conde (suspended), Michaela Onyenwere (RFA), Moriah Jefferson, Nikolina Milić (reserved), Rachel Banham

Which six players should be protected and why?

1. Angel Reese
2. Chennedy Carter
3. Elizabeth Williams
4. Kamilla Cardoso
5. Lindsay Allen
6. Michaela Onyenwere

Along with Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, Michaela Onyenwere should have must-protect status. Beyond that, things could get interesting with Chicago’s final three spots. By firing former head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, the organization signaled a desire for change. Who will general manger Jeff Pagliocca and head coach Tyler Marsh see as part of a renewed Sky team? Although Chennedy Carter has solicited new destinations on social media, she’s too talented not to protect. And while Elizabeth Williams overlaps positionally with Reese and Cardoso, she is the type of steady, veteran presence any new coach would like to be able to call on, both on the court and in the locker room. The same goes for Lindsay Allen, except from the backcourt.

Connecticut Sun

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

Roster: Abbey Hsu (unsigned draftee), Alyssa Thomas (UFA), Astou Ndour-Fall (UFA), Brionna Jones (UFA; ineligible to be drafted), Caitlin Bickle (reserved), DeWanna Bonner (UFA; ineligible to be drafted), DiJonai Carrington (RFA), Leïla Lacan (unsigned draftee), Marina Mabrey, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Tiffany Mitchell (UFA), Ty Harris, Veronica Burton (reserved)

Which six players should be protected and why?

1. Alyssa Thomas
2. DiJonai Carrington
3. Leïla Lacan
4. Marina Mabrey
5. Olivia Nelson-Ododa
6. Ty Harris

February’s free agency period likely will determine if the Sun, still without a new head coach, again run it back or embark on a new era. Until then, it makes most sense for the organization to protect the players who were in the rotation during a successful 2024 season: Alyssa Thomas, DiJonai Carrington, Marina Mabrey, Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Ty Harris. The last spot, however, might present a difficult decision. While Veronica Burton emerged as a favorite of former head coach Stephanie White, protecting the promising French youngster Leïla Lacan could be the smarter long-term play.

Dallas Wings

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Roster: Arike Ogunbowale, Awak Kuier (suspended), Carla Leite (unsigned draftee), Jacy Sheldon, Jaelyn Brown (reserved), Kalani Brown, Lou Lopez Sénéchal, Maddy Siegrist, Natasha Howard (UFA; ineligible to be drafted), Paige Robinson (unsigned draftee), Satou Sabally, Sevgi Uzun, Stephanie Soares, Teaira McCowan

Which six players should be protected and why?

1. Arike Ogunbowale
2. Awak Kuier
3. Carla Leite
4. Jacy Sheldon
5. Maddy Siegrist
6. Satou Sabally

Whether or not presumptive 2025 No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers eventually ends up in a Dallas uniform, new general manager Curt Miller should think about sustainability when deciding which Wings to protect. Which players are most likely to help Dallas to become a consistent contender? Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally are no-brainers. Recent top draft picks Jacy Sheldon and Maddy Siegrist also should be protected without question. What about the bigs? For all her talent, Teaira McCowan brings limitations as a traditional big. In contrast, the rawer Awak Kueir offers a more modern, versatile skillset. If unprotected, Golden State might quickly pluck her. That’s also true of Carla Leite, who, like the Sun’s Lacan, is a young French player with star(ish) upside.

Indiana Fever

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Roster: Aliyah Boston, Amanda Zhaui B., Caitlin Clark, Damiris Dantas, Erica Wheeler (UFA), Grace Berger, Katie Lou Samuelson, Kelsey Mitchell (UFA), Kristy Wallace, Lexie Hull, NaLyssa Smith, Temi Fagbenle (RFA), Vicataria Saxton

Which six players should be protected and why?

1. Aliyah Boston
2. Caitlin Clark
3. Kelsey Mitchell
4. Lexie Hull
5. NaLyssa Smith
6. Temi Fagbenle

The Fever’s top six should be one of the more straight forward. Even if new head coach Stephanie White has different plans for the team than former head coach Christie Sides, she’ll want to make sure that Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, NaLyssa Smith and Temi Fagbenle are, barring forthcoming free agent decisions or trades, part of her process in Indy. This scenario would leave the underutilized-yet-versatile Grace Berger available for the Valkyries.

Las Vegas Aces

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

Roster: A’ja Wilson, Alysha Clark (UFA), Chelsea Gray, Elizabeth Kitley (unsigned draftee), Jackie Young, Kate Martin, Kelsey Plum (UFA), Kiah Stokes, Kierstan Bell, Megan Gustafson, Queen Egbo (reserved), Sydney Colson (UFA), Tiffany Hayes (UFA)

Which six players should be protected and why?

1. A’ja Wilson
2. Chelsea Gray
3. Elizabeth Kitley
4. Jackie Young
5. Kate Martin
6. Kelsey Plum

The Aces’ core four of A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum aren’t going anywhere. After that, will Vegas look to protect their veterans, meaning some combination of the three of Alysha Clark, Kiah Stokes and Tiffany Hayes? Or will the team choose to hold onto to youngsters Elizabeth Kitley and Kate Martin in hopes of building out a reliable, homegrown bench, something the organization has struggled to do in their championship-chasing era? Because Golden State might be more intrigued by Kitley or Martin, Vegas could choose to lock them down and risk leaving their free-agent-to-be vets in Clark and Hayes unprotected.

Los Angeles Sparks

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Roster: Aari McDonald (RFA), Azurá Stevens, Cameron Brink, Dearica Hamby, Julie Allemand (suspended), Kia Nurse (UFA), Layshia Clarendon (retired), Lexie Brown, Li Yueru (reserved), Maria Vadeeva (suspended), Rae Burrell, Rickea Jackson, Shaneice Swain (unsigned draftee), Stephanie Talbot, Zia Cooke

Which six players should be protected and why?

1. Aari McDonald
2. Azurá Stevens
3. Cameron Brink
4. Dearica Hamby
5. Rickea Jackson
6. Stephanie Talbot

While Los Angeles has a new head coach in Lynne Roberts, the organization’s leadership team otherwise is the same. So, in addition to Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, expect Azurá Stevens and Stephanie Talbot also to be protected, as both were signed to contract extensions during the 2024 season. Maybe Roberts will have some say in selecting the team’s sixth protected player. Although a shaky 3-point shooter, Aari McDonald’s ability to push the pace as a point guard could appeal to the new, offensive-minded head coach. If she intends to return to the WNBA next season, Julie Allemand also could be a fit for the Roberts-led Sparks.

Minnesota Lynx

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Roster: Alanna Smith, Alissa Pili, Bridget Carleton, Cecilia Zandalasini (reserved), Courtney Williams, Diamond Miller, Dorka Juhász, Jessica Shepard (suspended), Kayla McBride, Maia Hirsch (unsigned draftee), Myisha Hines-Allen (UFA), Napheesa Collier, Natalie Achonwa (retired), Natisha Hiedeman (UFA), Olivia Époupa (reserved)

Which six players should be protected and why?

1. Alanna Smith
2. Bridget Carleton
3. Courtney Williams
4. Diamond Miller
5. Kayla McBride
6. Napheesa Collier

The five starters who helped the Lynx make it all the way to Game 5 of the WNBA Finals—Alanna Smith, Bridget Carleton, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier—certainly will not escape Minnesota’s clutches. The team then has a tough decision for their sixth spot. If the organization prioritizes upside, that final spot has to go to Diamond Miller. But with the Lynx sure to be chasing the championship they believe should already be theirs, the organization might opt for fit over talent. In that case, could Dorka Juhász or Jessica Shepard be protected? Regardless, it seems like Alissa Pili will not be one of Minnesota’s six, leaving her as an appealing option for Golden State.

New York Liberty

Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

Roster: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Breanna Stewart (UFA), Courtney Vandersloot (UFA), Han Xu (suspended), Ivana Dojkić (reserved), Jaylyn Sherrod (reserved), Jonquel Jones, Kaitlyn Davis (unsigned draftee), Kayla Thornton, Kennedy Burke (UFA), Leonie Fiebich, Marine Fauthoux (unsigned draftee), Marine Johannès (reserved), Marquesha Davis, Nyara Sabally, Raquel Carrera (unsigned draftee), Rebekah Gardner (reserved), Sabrina Ionescu

Which six players should be protected and why?

1. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton
2. Breanna Stewart
3. Jonquel Jones
4. Leonie Fiebich
5. Nyara Sabally
6. Sabrina Ionescu

It will take less than a New York minute for the Liberty to protect the five players who started throughout the team’s run to the 2024 WNBA title: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich and Sabrina Ionescu. For the sixth player, it gets tricky. Courtney Vandersloot’s arrival helped inaugurate this era of Liberty basketball. But, the General has lost a step or two. That said, a slightly diminished Sloot might be the best potential point guard option for the Valkyries, resulting in Golden State snapping her up if she is left unprotected. However, the same might be said of Nyara Sabally, a Game 5 hero for the Liberty who, when healthy, would be one of the league’s best backup bigs in New York or a deserving starter in Golden State. Because her primary loyalties are with the French national team, it seems unlikely that the Liberty would protect Marine Johannès, leaving the flair-filled fan favorite as an intriguing possibility for the Valkyries.

Phoenix Mercury

Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images

Roster: Amy Atwell (reserved), Brittney Griner (UFA; ineligible to be drafted), Celeste Taylor (reserved), Charisma Osborne (reserved), Diana Taurasi (UFA), Kahleah Copper, Klara Lunquist (reserved), Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (reserved), Monique Billings (UFA), Natasha Cloud, Natasha Mack (reserved), Rebecca Allen, Sophie Cunningham

Which six players should be protected and why?

1. Celeste Taylor
2. Kahleah Copper
3. Natasha Cloud
4. Natasha Mack
5. Rebecca Allen
6. Sophie Cunningham

Surely Golden State has no interest in starting their team with a player who will turn 43 during the 2025 season, if she doesn’t decide to retire? Phoenix shouldn’t waste a protected spot on Diana Taurasi, even for symbolic, nostalgic reasons. Four of the team’s protections quickly should be claimed by Kahleah Copper, Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen and Sophie Cunningham. It makes sense to reserve one of the final two spots for Natasha Mack, who proved herself a capable back up for Brittney Griner in 2024. Will the team’s final slot go to Celeste Taylor, who seemed to find a home in Phoenix after a peripatetic rookie year, or could the organization choose to hang onto someone like Monique Billings, as the team lacks a traditional power forward?

Seattle Storm

Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images

Roster: Ezi Magbegor, Gabby Williams (UFA), Jewell Loyd, Jordan Horston, Joyner Holmes (UFA), Mackenzie Holmes (unsigned draftee), Mercedes Russell (UFA), Nika Mühl, Nneka Ogwumike (UFA; ineligible to be drafted), Sami Whitcomb (UFA), Skylar Diggins-Smith, Victoria Vivians (UFA)

Which six players should be protected and why?

1. Ezi Magbegor
2. Gabby Williams
3. Jewell Loyd
4. Jordan Horston
5. Nika Mühl
6. Skylar Diggins-Smith

Things might be a bit messy in Seattle at the moment, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the team made some substantial moves during free agency to address internal tensions. That said, the Storm certainly will protect their All-Star-caliber players: Ezi Magbegor, Jewell Loyd and Skylar Diggins-Smith. Jordan Horston likewise is a keeper. And even with her iffy commitment to playing in the WNBA, Gabby Williams shouldn’t be left for Golden State to grab. That leaves one final spot. Is the team invested in developing the little-used Nika Mühl? Or, does the organization have more hope for Mackenzie Holmes, who could debut in 2025? Golden State, most likely, would have their eyes on either of those 2024 draft picks.

Washington Mystics

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Roster: Aaliyah Edwards, Ariel Atkins, Bernadett Határ (reserved), Brittney Sykes, Elena Delle Donne (UFA), Emily Engstler (reserved), Jade Melbourne, Julie Vanloo (reserved), Karlie Samuelson, Li Meng (reserved), Nastja Claessens (unsigned draftee), Shakira Austin, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (UFA), Sika Koné, Stefanie Dolson, Sug Sutton (reserved), Txell Alarcón (unsigned draftee)

Which six players should be protected and why?

1. Aaliyah Edwards
2. Ariel Atkins
3. Brittney Sykes
4. Emily Engstler
5. Shakira Austin
6. Stefanie Dolson

How Washington manages the expansion draft will be fascinating. The Mystics remain without a general manager or head coach, but the executive leadership team at Monumental Sports, led by president Michael Winger, has made it clear that the organization intends to rebuild. That mindset probably means that the most interesting Mystic—Elena Delle Donne, who stepped away from the WNBA last season after her trade request went unfulfilled—will be unprotected. And yet, does the franchise want to risk seeing a healthy Delle Donne suiting up in Valkyrie Violet and giving the league buckets? Regardless of the uncertainty in DC, Aaliyah Edwards, Ariel Atkins, Brittney Sykes, Shakira Austin and Stefanie Dolson should be protected. Emily Engstler, who emerged as an impactful player in Washington after an unstable start to her WNBA career, might be the obvious candidate for the Mystics’ final slot.

After a somewhat calm start to the 2024-25 season, chaos has begun to infect women’s college basketball, with more tumbles from top teams following last week’s upsets:

Feast Week’s peaks and valleys

Among a buffet of Thanksgiving week women’s basketball that included back-and-forth battles, close calls and blowouts, a few teams’ performances stood out above others, for both the right and wrong reasons.

TCU has earned top billing. Unranked to begin the season, they’re sure to shoot up the rankings after knocking off Notre Dame on Friday, with grad guard Hailey Van Lith’s 19 second-half points helping the Horned Frogs overcome a 14-point third-quarter deficit to take down the Irish, 76-68, at the Cayman Islands Classic. The Horned Frogs also avoided a letdown game after leftovers, taking care of South Florida, 87-46, on Saturday. Van Lith again led the way with 21 points and eight assists, while grad center Sedona Prince, named the tournament’s MVP, followed up her 20-20 performance against Notre Dame with a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds.

In contrast, it was a bleak Feast Week for Notre Dame. The Irish had the opportunity to show that their slip up against TCU was a mere blip by responding to their second-half stumble against the Horned Frogs with an authoritative win over Utah. Instead, the Irish suffered a second-straight upset on Saturday. In the 78-67 win, new Utah head coach Gavin Peterson benefitted from balanced production, with junior guard Gianna Kneepkens scoring 16 points and senior guard Kennady McQueen contributing 15 points to lead the Utes.

Conversely, a lack of bodies appears to be catching up with head coach Niele Ivey’s team. Although Hannah Hidalgo never appears short on energy or intensity, back-to-back 40-minute efforts appeared to have sapped some of the sophomore guard’s verve, as she shot just 6-for-17 from the field and scored a season-low 16 points against the Utes. Senior guard Olivia Miles managed just seven shot attempts, while senior guard Sonia Citron, who also logged 40 minutes, led the team with 22 points. Even if their returns will not lessen the load on the Irish guards, senior forwards Maddy Westbeld and Liza Karlen, both of whom have been recovering from injuries, will offer more options for the Irish.

South Carolina responded to their humbling at the hands of UCLA last Sunday in signature South Carolina fashion. Smothering defense delivered the Gamecocks’ dominant wins at the Fort Myers Tip Off. First, they silenced Iowa State, 76-36. Then, they pulverized Purdue, 99-51. Both victories also proved the power of South Carolina’s depth. While the offense remained clunky against the Cyclones, the Gamecocks got matching, team-leading 13-point efforts from the starting lineup and the bench, via senior forward Sania Feagin and freshman forward Joyce Edwards, respectively. Against the Boilermakers, the Gamecocks’ offense came alive, with sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley scoring 14 points from off the bench to lead the team’s seven double-figure scorers.

It looked like LSU’s Charmin-soft early-season schedule was about to cost them in their first game of the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship on Monday. They barely escaped against Washington, 68-67, the first Power 5 team the Tigers had played this season. Head coach Kim Mulkey’s squad, however, disabused any doubts about their quality with a complete victory over NC State, 82-65, on Wednesday. NC State head coach Wes Moore, who also has seen South Carolina and TCU up close this season, said of LSU, “That’s what a Final Four team looks like.” (More on the performance of tournament MVP, LSU senior wing Aneesah Morrow, below.)

Great-ful performances

Now for some deserved and delightful appreciation for some of the best individual efforts from Feast Week:

• On Monday, Duke met Kansas State in the opener of the Ball Dawgs Classic. The game turned into the Ashlon Jackson show. The junior guard scored 30 points, swishing six of her nine 3-point attempts. The Blue Devils defeated the Wildcats 73-62, earning a matchup against Oklahoma in the Ball Dawgs title game on Wednesday. In that overtime thriller, it was senior guard Reigan Richardson’s turn to go off. The tournament MVP netted a career-high 35 points, swishing five triples. She also tallied seven assists in the Blue Devils’ 109-99 win. The Sooners also posted some far-from-shabby performances in the shoot out, headlined by senior guard Peyton Verhulst’s triple-double of 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Verhulst also was responsible for the buzzer-beating 3 that sent the game into OT.

• It’s been a rough start to the season for Texas A&M. At 4-4, the team has two losses to mid-major opponents. In a competitive SEC, wins might be hard to come by for the Aggies. So, let’s give some love to Jada Malone. The senior forward not only scored a career-high 26 points when A&M defeated Southern Miss, 79-57, on Monday, but she also registered the second-most efficient shooting performance in program history, going 11-for-12 from the floor and making all four of her free throws.

• Oklahoma State obliterated Chicago State on Monday, 113-50. The 113 points scored is a new OSU record. The Cowgirls’ offensive explosion was led by junior guard Micah Gray, who made a program-record 10 of her team’s program-record 16 3-pointers. Gray finished with 36 points.

• In his preview of the Acrisure Classic, Edwin Garcia noted that Khamil Pierre could have some big games for Vanderbilt. Well, the sophomore forward did not disappoint. In the Commodores’ win over Arizona on Tuesday, 71-60, Pierre posted a 25-point and 15-rebound double-double. She also racked up seven steals! Vandy, however, did not escape Palm Springs unscathed, falling to Michigan State in the tournament’s title game on Wednesday. The Spartans’ victory was spurred by grad wings Julia Ayrault’s and Grave Vanslooten’s double-doubles. Ayrault had 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Vanslooten, who passed the 1,000-career points plateau in the game, finished with 25 points and 10 boards in Michigan State’s 78-70 win.

• LSU senior wing Aneesah Morrow is the sport’s double-double queen. She’s making them seem routine. When LSU pounded NC State, 82-65, to win the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship on Wednesday, Morrow turned in 20 points and 15 boards for the Tigers. Her seventh double-double of the season also helped her earned tournament MVP honors. Morrow, who remains the nation’s leading rebounder, registered her eighth double-double as the Tigers smoked NC Central, 131-44, on Sunday.

• Penn State stands an undefeated 8-0 in large part due to the play of Gracie Merkle, the 6-foot-6 sophomore center who joined the Lady Lions after an ASUN Freshman of the Year season at Bellarmine. Most recently, she put up a 31-point and 11-rebound double-double in an overtime win over Drexel on Wednesday, 86-78.

• The nation’s leading scorer put up another big number on Thanksgiving Day. Florida State junior guard Ta’Niya Latson treated Texas Tech to a 30-piece in the 70-62 Seminole win at the Paradise Jam. She also tallied her second-career double-double, tying her career-best by grabbing 11 boards. After scoring 21 points in Florida State’s Friday win over Missouri State, 97-66, she posted her first-career triple-double on Saturday, apparently unbothered by playing a third day in a row. Latson had 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the Noles’ 95-54 victory over Gonzaga.

• Through the season’s early going, undefeated Ohio State continues to get contributions from up and down a talented roster. Grad forward Ajae Petty had her best in game in a Buckeye uniform on Thursday. The transfer from Kentucky pushed Ohio State past Old Dominion, 70-47, at the Daytona Bech Classic with a 24-point and 11-rebound double-double.

• Ho hum, another Harmoni Turner masterclass. Harvard needed everything the senior guard could muster to edge St. John’s 54-52 on Thanksgiving Day. And she had it all, scoring from all three levels as she netted 27 points. She also went coast to coast for the game winner! Behind Turner, the Crimson have won seven-straight games and are off to the second-best start in program history.

• Another incredible effort from Maya McDermott, however, was not enough to score Northern Iowa a second upset of a Power 5 opponent. Meeting Auburn at the Paradise Jam on Thursday, the Panthers fell 65-64, despite 29 points, including four 3s, from the grad guard, who also is the nation’s third-leading scorer. Northern Iowa did rebound to defeat Pitt, 90-74, in their final game in the Virgin Islands on Saturday. While McDermott had 21 points and seven assists, fellow grad guard Kayba Laube popped off for 34 points, a point total powered by program-record 10 3-pointers!

• 11 3-pointers! Richmond junior guard Rachel Ullstrom was unconscious on Friday. Her program-record 11 triples took her to a career-high 35 points, and took the Spiders past Oakland, 76-49, at the Daytona Beach Classic.

• Kiki Iriafen had her most productive game in a USC uniform on Friday. The senior forward had a tidy 30-point and 12-rebound double-double. She also was a sparking 12-for-12 from the foul line as the Trojans crushed Saint Louis at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational, 104-65.

• As is her wont, grad wing Alyssa Ustby did a little bit of everything for North Carolina on Friday, scoring a season-high 24 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, tossing four assists, swatting three shots and snagging a pair of steals. The Tar Heels easily took care of NC Central, 119-43.

• Stanford senior guard Elena Bosgana was nearly perfect on Friday. She only missed a single free throw as she went a matching 5-for-5 from both 2-point and 3-point range, finishing with 26 points in the Cardinal’s 84-54 win over UC San Diego.

• DeYona Gaston continues to make an impact for Auburn. The grad forward propelled the Tigers past Pitt at the Paradise Jam, 82-50, with a 28-point and 10-rebound double-double.

• In Texas’ second game at the Gulf Coast Showcase on Saturday, freshman forward Justice Carlton had her coming out party, scoring 30 points as she shot 80 percent from the field in the Longhorns’ 94-59 win over Butler.

JuJu’s a good neighbor

Another day, another JuJu Watkins NIL deal. On Monday, State Farm officially welcomed the USC sophomore superstar to their roster of athlete endorsers.

Beginning on Nov. 29, you’ll see JuJu in a State Farm commercial with Jake. You also can catch more of Watkins in the docuseries, On the Rise: JuJu Watkins. Our Zachary Draves caught up with some behind-the-scenes folks about the series and its expected impact.

A look ahead

The SEC/ACC Challenge headlines a week brimming with must-see women’s college basketball action. Here are some of the most exciting matchups:

Wednesday, Dec. 4

Oklahoma vs. Louisville (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

Florida State vs. Tennessee (7:15 p.m. ET, SEC Network)

Thursday, Dec. 5

Kentucky vs. North Carolina (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

Texas vs. Notre Dame (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Ole Miss vs. NC State (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network)

Duke vs. South Carolina (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Stanford vs. LSU (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

Saturday, Dec. 7

USC vs. Oregon (4 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)

Tennessee vs. Iowa (7 p.m. ET, FOX)

Louisville vs. UConn (9 p.m. ET, FOX)

Sunday, Dec. 8

Illinois vs. Ohio State (4 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)

South Carolina vs. TCU (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

A busy WNBA offseason continues to buzz, with head coaches, new and old, making additions to their staffs:

Whalen, Thibault join Lynx bench

On Saturday, the Minnesota Lynx announced that franchise legend Lindsay Whalen would be returning to the team as an assistant coach. Eric Thibault, recently dismissed as head coach of the Washington Mystics, also will join the staff of head coach Cheryl Reeve.

On the additions of Whalen and Thibault, Reeve said:

I am excited to add both Eric and Lindsay to our coaching staff. Eric has vast experience coaching in the WNBA as both a head and an assistant coach and is a WNBA Champion. Lindsay adds a unique perspective as a Lynx legend and Naismith Hall of Famer. I look forward to working with both in our quest for another WNBA Championship.

According to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Reeve had attempted to hire Whalen, who won four titles with the Lynx, two years ago, after her five seasons (2018-23) serving as head coach at her alma mater, Minnesota. On accepting Reeve’s offer this time around, Whalen told ESPN, “It just feels like it’s time to get back, work hard and be a part of a team and a group. It just all felt like the timing was really right.”

Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier offered an appreciative assessment of Whalen’s support of the team from afar and excitement about her formal addition to the staff, saying of Whalen and returning assistant coach Rebekkah Brunson, who also won four championships in Minnesota:

I think it’s what makes us so unique at Minnesota; we have people who’ve been through what we’re going through. They won so many championships in the place they’re coaching and we’re playing at now….I feel super lucky I get to be a part of that.

Both Reeve and Whalen emphasized to ESPN the mentorship role they envision Whalen assuming for Lynx point guard Courtney Williams, with Whalen telling ESPN, “I think having me will really help her take hopefully another step this year into continuing to lead the team and be a successful point guard for the franchise.”

Reeve likewise sees Thibault benefitting the organization’s player development. She also noting his strategic alignment with Minnesota’s preferred playing style, as Thibault’s Mystics, like the Lynx, prioritized five-out offensive basketball in recent seasons. On Thibault’s Washington teams, Reeve told ESPN, “It was very clear the team continued to trust in what they were doing, trusted each other, trusted the leadership of Eric.”

The hires of Whalen and Thibault come after Minnesota lost assistant coach Katie Smith, who headed back to her alma mater, Ohio State, to serve as an assistant coach, and general manager Clare Duewlius, who left to serve as the general manager and executive vice president of Unrivaled.

White fills out staff in Indy

New Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White has begun to fill out her bench.

On Tuesday, the organization announced that Karima Christmas-Kelly, an assistant coach in Indiana since 2023, will maintain her role under White. Christmas-Kelly’s husband Austin Kelly, who was an assistant for White with the Connecticut Sun in 2023 and 2024, will also join the Fever staff. Kelly also worked with White when she was the head coach at Vanderbilt, serving as the program’s director of recruiting from 2019 to 2021.

Plum to pass on Unrivaled

On Wednesday, Kelsey Plum announced that she has decided not to participate in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, posting in an Instagram story:

I’ve decided to not take part in the inaugural season of Unrivaled in order to take some more time for myself this offseason. I appreciate the league understanding and being so accommodating. I wish the league and all of the players nothing but the best and I’m excited to watch!

Plum’s decision to prioritize her well being should be applauded. Her team, Laces Basketball Club, certainly will miss her services. With Plum, Laces looked like the best team in the 3×3 professional league. Without her pace pushing, pull-up shooting and dawg mentality, the club might struggle to ascend to the top of league. At minimum, Laces now need a replacement player who can, at minimum, handle the ball and knock down open shots.

What’s women’s sports worth?

Finally, women’s professional sports leagues and teams are being valued. But, are they still being undervalued?

That’s what Wasserman Collective, the women’s sports research arm of Wasserman agency, explores in the report, “The New Economy of Sports – Part II,” which was produced in partnership with the Royal Bank of Canada.

The report finds that the metrics that determine the valuation of men’s sports franchises are ill-equipped to accurately value women’s sports franchises, leading to the undervaluation of women’s professional teams. Wasserman Collective’s revitalized framework, which takes into account the historic underinvestment in women’s sports, suggests the combined valuation of WNBA teams should increase by $1.6 billion over the next three years, with the total valuation of all the league’s team exceeding $4.3 billion. This increased valuation is projected to come from continually increasing viewership and attendance, in addition to expansion franchises.

The report ultimately confirms what already is evident: Women’s sports is a booming business. Wasserman Collective, however, puts more exact numbers on this growth, suggesting that women’s pro sports should not simply celebrate their increased value, but demand to be valued accurately.