The Florida State Seminoles have made a name for themselves as an offensive-minded team that plays at a breakneck pace under Brooke Wyckoff, who is now in her third full season as the program’s head coach—and they’re off to a hot start to the 2024-25 season. Florida State is currently 5-1 and fresh off a win over in-state rival Florida, with the Seminoles’ uptempo offense proving simply too much for opponents to keep up with.

That’s not to say the Seminoles lack an inside game, though. Senior forward Makayla Timpson has thrived in Wyckoff’s system, providing the rebounding, shot-blocking and overall physicality to complement Florida State’s guards, and she’s playing the best basketball of her career, averaging 20.2 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.7 blocked shots per game.

At 6-foot-2, Timpson isn’t the biggest frontcourt player, but her impact for the Seminoles is massive nonetheless. A plus wingspan and top-notch instincts make her one of the most prolific shot-blockers in the country, and she gets her own offense within the flow of Florida State’s system, yielding consistently efficient scoring. If Timpson continues the trajectory she’s been on, expect her name to come up more often as the 2025 WNBA Draft approaches.

Honors and statistics

In high school, Timpson was named to the Georgia All-State Team by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and was ranked as the No. 48 overall recruit in the class of 2021 by ESPN HoopGurlz. She got off to a modest start as a freshman at Florida State, playing 17.8 minutes per game mostly as a reserve, though she did lead the Seminoles in field goal percentage (62.3 percent) while blocking one shot per game, earning All-ACC Freshman Team honors.

Timpson broke out as a sophomore and has gotten better in every season since. In 2022-23, she averaged 13.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game as a full-time starter, winning the ACC’s Most Improved Player award and earning nods to the All-ACC Second Team and All-Defensive Team.

As a junior, Timpson put together her strongest all-around performance to date, posting averages of 14.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 29.8 minutes per game. She was once again named to the ACC All-Defensive Team and also earned All-ACC First Team honors. According to Her Hoop Stats, Timpson was one of just three players in the ACC to average a double-double during the 2023-24 season, and the 2.5 blocks per game she averaged ranked No. 12 among Division I players.

Timpson continues amassing blocked shots and rebounds for Florida State

To thrive as a post player in a fast-paced, guard-heavy offense, one must typically be willing to do the dirty work on defense and on the glass, all while being opportunistic with their own offense. They also must have the conditioning and athleticism to keep up with the team’s guards.

Thankfully for Florida State, that describes Timpson’s game to a T. A rangy forward with a long-armed build, Timpson has the physical profile to excel on a team that takes a lot of risks. That, most notably, comes on the defensive side of the floor, where she’s currently blocking 3.7 shots per game, as well as swiping 1.8 steals. Timpson is mobile and she’s aggressive, and that suits the Seminoles’ style of play perfectly. “Defensively she does so much for us,” says Wyckoff of Timpson. “She’s rotating, she’s blocking shots, she’s guarding the biggest player on the other side.”

The wingspan, the vertical leap and the instincts—Timpson has almost every tool (besides, perhaps, pure height) that you’d expect an elite shot-blocker to have. And they were all on display against Florida when she swatted four Gator attempts, none of them particularly kindly.

Highlights: Timpson throws a first-half block party

Where Timpson has grown, however, is on the boards. She’s made a conscious effort to continue to improve in that phase of the game, and she’s currently posting a rebound rate of 22.4 percent, which, according to Her Hoop Stats, ranks in the 99th percentile. This, too, is especially important for a Florida State team that pushes the ball as often as possible, which Timpson acknowledges with a simple philosophy: “Just stack those rebounds so we can go out in transition.”

Offensively, while Timpson gets a good amount of her points from offensive rebounds and finding openings created by the Seminoles’ dribble penetration—which, to be clear, are two skills in their own right—she’s more than just a basic rim-runner. When Timpson does assert herself, good things tend to happen: She’s scoring 1.53 points per possession on post-ups (Synergy Sports), and 24 percent of her points scored have come from the free throw line.

Will all of this be enough for WNBA scouts to overlook Timpson’s relative lack of size? During media availability at the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Wyckoff noted that Timpson understands how to attack players larger than her and how to defend them, and at the collegiate level, there’s plenty of evidence to support that. How Timpson will adjust to a much more physical professional game remains hypothetical for now, but if she keeps up her current levels of production, it will become more and more difficult for WNBA coaches and executives to look past her.

Watch her play

The SEC/ACC Challenge is fast approaching, and the Seminoles will have a matchup with the Tennessee Lady Volunteers—one of the few teams in the country who can match Florida State’s pace of play—on Dec. 4. That game will be televised on the SEC Network.

ACC play will begin around the turn of the calendar year, and Florida State will have a challenging start to its conference schedule with games against Virginia Tech (Jan. 2), Syracuse (Jan. 5) and Stanford (Jan. 9). The Seminoles will also play nationally-ranked opponents such as NC State (Feb. 9), Notre Dame (Feb. 27) and Duke (Mar. 2) later in the season; while none of these games are currently scheduled to air on national television, most of them will be available on ACC Network.

All statistics, team records and rankings for the 2024-25 NCAA season are current through Saturday, November 22, 2024.

On Saturday afternoon, Los Angeles hosted the first of two potential national championship previews, with No. 6 Notre Dame earning the statement win over No. 3 USC, 74-61. On Sunday afternoon, No. 1 South Carolina, the defending national champs who have won 43-straight games, visit No. 5 UCLA for the second Southern California showdown (4 p.m. ET, FS1).

It’s the toughest test yet for the Gamecocks. Although an undefeated 5-0 with an average margin of victory of 27 points per game, South Carolina has yet to feel as dominant as last season’s squad, with somewhat slow starts plaguing the Gamecocks through the season’s early going. Also unbeaten, UCLA persevered for victory in the season’s opener over Louisville. Since then, the Bruins have cruised against overmatched opponents, most recently ringing up 101 points as they trounced Arkansas.

Here are three areas of the game that could determine the course of the contest, including if UCLA can pull off the upset:

Can Betts and the Bruins own the glass?

More than most challengers, the Bruins are equipped to go toe-to-toe with the Gamecocks. The size and athleticism of South Carolina usually overwhelms opponents; UCLA, in contrast, also has roster with those traits. In fact, they might have the advantage. Last season, South Carolina benefitted from a 6-foot-7 difference maker in Kamilla Cardoso. Now, the 6-foot-7 force is on the other side in junior center Lauren Betts. She’s been dealing double-doubles for UCLA, averaging 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.

But, Betts is not the only interior presence South Carolina will have to handle. Junior forward Janiah Barker, a transfer from Texas A&M, also has the athleticism required to keep up with the Gamecocks. She’s nearly registering a double-double, posting 11.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Quiet in the Bruins’ first two games, Barker has begun to find a groove, with consecutive games of at least 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Led by that pairing, UCLA has owned the glass, ranking fifth nationally in total rebounds. From the wings, junior Gabriela Jaquez and senior Angela Dugalic also help the Bruins haul in the boards. Traditionally, rebounding has been an essential component of South Carolina’s dominance. Thus far, they rank 10th in total rebounds, led by junior forward Chloe Kitts’ 9.8 boards per game. If UCLA not only neutralizes, but potentially betters, South Carolina on the glass, the Bruins could have the Gamecocks on their heels.

Will the 3-ball advantage the Bruins or Gamecocks?

UCLA could gain another edge over South Carolina from behind the arc. While the Bruins’ 33 percent from 3 isn’t much better than the Gamecocks’ 32.2 percent, UCLA takes 25 triples per game compared to South Carolina’s 19.2. Those extra attempts could produce crucial points in a close contest. Junior forward Timea Gardiner’s proficiency from deep could be particularly pivotal. If her defender is forced to guard her from the outside, whether that be Kitts, junior forward Ashlyn Watkins or freshman forward Joyce Edwards, that pulls a rim protector and rebounder away from the basket for the Gamecocks, which gives Betts more room to work inside.

South Carolina, however, has more shooters who can potentially catch fire. If the Gamecocks increase their volume, the 3-ball could swing their game in their favor. Sophomore guard Tessa Johnson has been scorching from outside, making over 55 percent of her 3s. Senior guards Te-Hina Paopao and Bree Hall both are shooting better than 40 percent from deep. Albeit at only 33.3 percent, sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley certainly could rain in a series of triples that drown the Bruins.

Will South Carolina’s depth be the difference?

Depth, however, remains South Carolina’s most valuable weapon. Head coach Dawn Staley has a full bench of players she is comfortable calling on, trusting them to be prepared to play the kind of disciplined, detail-oriented ball she demands.

South Carolina gets an average of 38.2 bench points per game, which ranks 10th in the nation. Fulwiley and Edwards, South Carolina’s third and fourth leading scorers, respectively, captain the Carolina bench; Fulwiley averages 12.8 points per game, while Edwards averages 9.6 points and 5.2 boards. Conversely, UCLA is tied for 139th in bench scoring nationally, with 22.8 points per contest. Outside of Barker, head coach Cori Close cannot count on consistent production from her reserves.

Even if UCLA is able to establish the rare advantages over South Carolina, the relentlessness of the Gamecocks, which derives from the depth of their roster, could prove too much for the Bruins. If that’s the case, expect South Carolina to leave Westwood with a 44th-straight win.

Game information

No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks (5-0) vs. No. 5 UCLA Bruins (4-0)

When: Sunday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m. ET

Where: Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA

How to watch: FS1

USC sophomore phenom JuJu Watkins is the subject of a new docuseries, On The Rise: JuJu Watkins. The first two episodes will debut on NBC on Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. ET, just before Watkins and the No. 3-ranked Trojans take on the No. 6-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The episodes will then be available to stream on Peacock beginning Nov. 24.

The series, which was produced by LeBron James’ production company Springhill/UNINTERRUPTED and executive produced by Watkins herself, chronicles her journey, beginning as a high school standout at both Windward School and Sierra Canyon School in her hometown of Los Angeles. It then goes into her still-blossoming superstardom at USC, the same program which produced legends Cheryl Miller, Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper and Pamela and Paula McGee.

Last year, Watkins became a national sensation with her explosive game. She averaged 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game. She tied Miller’s mark with three-consecutive 30-point games. On Feb. 2, she scored 51 points in a 67-58 upset victory over Stanford. She won the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, as the nation’s best shooting guard. She also was named the top freshman by the United States Basketball Writers Association and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. On Nov. 15, Watkins became the fastest player in USC history to score 1,000 points, accomplishing the milestone in just 38 games.

Along the way, Watkins captured the frenzy of fans from all over, especially in Southern California. Her humility and strong sense of self has made her a bona fide star who possesses the maturity to take it all in stride. The film crew got a taste of that back in her high school days.

Director Danny Barton told Swish Appeal:

I think her poise and her natural, sort of, leadership from a really early age, I think that’s my biggest takeaway. She just has this thing about her where she’s really in control of her game on and off the court, for that matter, giving back to the community and she’s so young and she still has such a great perspective on life on, like I said, on both on the court and off the court. I think I’ve just heard stories and knew a little bit about it, but then watching it and documenting it, you really get to know her even more and it’s incredibly impressive.

Watkins, who is represented by Klutch Sports, has lucrative NIL sponsorships with Nike, Gatorade and AT&T. She has used her Nike endorsement to give back to the community, sharing gear with local schools.

She is an athlete who’s spirit is the perfect product of her time, as executive producer Jamal Henderson explained to Swish Appeal:

She’s the embodiment of the type of athletes we want to work with. I mean she is giving back to her community. She’s a generational hooper, first and foremost. I think what’s possible is just really incredible and we were there early on in the high school days and then to see just how she impacted the college game in the first year was great and obviously proof that we guessed right. But beyond the court is just super impressive. I was never this impressive at that age and what she’s doing for the community and then also her family and her support structure and the village around her, which I think is so cool, keeps her humble, keeps her grounded. I think it’s really important to show what it takes for these young hoopers with all these distractions, staying home, NIL, a program on her back and she kind of handles it with such grace and maturity. So for us this is exactly the type of story we wanted to tell.

Then it helps that there’s a lot of beautiful beats of Watts and home and all the things that we love in storytelling that go beyond just how the games go. So I think you’re going to see a lot of real fun access in this show. You’re going to see behind the scenes, you’re going to see people that are really close to her telling you about her coaches, family members. So I think you get a real essence of it

Watkins’ on-the-court accomplishments, combined with her off-the-court humility, make her story worth telling. Barton emphasized:

I think a lot of people will take away that you can be a superstar and still be humble and also give back, really care about the people around you and lift everyone else up. I think for JuJu, that really comes across in the show. I think that’s a great lesson and thing.

On Saturday afternoon, No. 3 USC is hosting No. 6 Notre Dame, and neither team will be in for an easy game.

The Trojans will be favored at home and have the slight edge, but the Fighting Irish are stacked in their own right. This non-conference matchup will start at 4 p.m. ET and can be viewed on NBC/Peacock.

How the Trojans can win

You know her name by now—it’s JuJu Watkins. The sophomore is one of the most electrifying players in college basketball, averaging 21.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. She is the main reason USC is favored to reach the Final Four this season.

No player does it alone, and Watkins is part of a “Big 3” that features senior forward Kiki Iriafen and graduate guard Talia von Oelhoffen. Iriafen has quickly adjusted after transferring to USC from Stanford, flirting with a double-double each game as she averages 17.3 points and 7.5 rebounds. Von Oelhoffen has had a slow start to the season, scoring just 5.3 points per game, but she’s second on the team in assists with 4.5. She also had the game-clinching free throws in the season opener in Paris against No. 20 Ole Miss.

For USC, it’s all about getting this trio moving and grooving early. If they do that, they’ll be able to protect home court and walk away from this battle of the unbeatens undefeated.

How the Fighting Irish can win

Besides simply interrupting Watkins’ offensive game as much as possible, Notre Dame needs big games from sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo and senior guard Olivia Miles.

Hidalgo arguably has been just as good as any guard in the nation. She’s averaging 25 points per game on 50 percent shooting, while grabbing 6.3 rebounds per game. Miles is a top draft prospect who has been equally impressive in the backcourt, scoring 18.3 points and securing eight rebounds per game.

Going guard for guard with USC is tough, but the counter for Notre Dame could be getting their frontcourt going. Freshman Kate Koval dominates the glass with 13 rebounds; she’s also scoring 12.8 points a night. Playing well in such a high-profile game might be asking too much of her, but the pressure and standards at Notre Dame are always high, and a big performance on Saturday could be her coming out party. Liatu King, a transfer from Pitt, can also turn the tables on this contest. She has a nose for the rim and is averaging 17.7 points per game.

After this showdown, one team will take a stronger place near the top of the sport, and the other will see the dream of a perfect season die. Regardless of the result, expect elite hoops.

Game information

No. 3 USC Trojans (4-0) vs. No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0)

When: Saturday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m. ET

Where: Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA

How to watch: NBC/Peacock

It’s been a historic week for the Los Angeles Sparks, filled with disappointment, optimism and a vision for the franchise’s future.

The first event was the hardest one to deal with. The WNBA Draft Lottery took place on Sunday, and despite the Sparks having the highest odds of securing the top selection at 44. 2 percent, they walked away with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

With UConn’s Paige Bueckers viewed as the clear No. 1 pick and a generational talent, missing out on her is a devastating blow for an organization that needs that kind of excitement surrounding it.

To be clear, the No. 2 pick will present the Sparks with plenty of exciting prospects to choose from, like USC’s Kiki Iriafen or Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles. But Bueckers’ status is similar to that of Caitlin Clark, a clear No. 1 pick—who the Sparks just missed out on. The Dallas Wings can rejoice in having the opportunity to draft Paige, and the Sparks will have to move on.

A state-of-the-art facility is coming to LA

A point of contention amongst Sparks fans has been the desire for the team to have their own practice facility. The Sparks currently have to run practices at El Camino College, working around the college’s schedule. This pales in comparison to teams like the Las Vegas Aces, who have world-class facilities they can access whenever they desire.

Having to borrow someone else’s gym will soon be a thing of the past. The Sparks announced on Thursday morning that they would be building a new state-of-the-art practice facility.

No timeline has yet been given, and the location will be announced at a later date, but needless to say, this is long overdue and a pleasant surprise. The organization issued a statement about this new facility:

We are building more than a practice facility; we are investing in the future of women’s basketball in Los Angeles. This facility is part of a broader vision to elevate the LA Sparks as the premier franchise in the WNBA and to create an environment where our players have every resource they need to achieve greatness. Los Angeles is a city of champions, and we are determined to bring that winning legacy to the Sparks.

Lynne Roberts is introduced to LA

With a new rookie and practice facility on the way, the organization introduced new head coach Lynne Roberts Thursday afternoon inside the Sparks’ home, Crypto.com Arena.

She entered with general manager, Raegan Pebley alongside her, taking questions in front of media members and a handful of players, including Cameron Brink, Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell.

The coach and general manager talked for nearly 40 minutes, discussing the hiring process, basketball philosophies and optimism for the Sparks’ future. Roberts’ opening statement clearly outlined her goals while being aware of the challenges ahead:

This should be the best organization, program, team, in the W. I’m a competitor at heart. I’m up for the challenge and I know there’s going to be peaks valleys and all the stuff. But I’m here to do what I can and do my part to win as many games as we can and get that championship culture back here.

There’s obviously a storied history here, three titles, some incredible names have come through here, Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie, Nneka [Ogwumike], like, there’s some unbelievable players, and, I’m looking at three right here that I think are pretty unbelievable, too. We’re going to do just fine. I want to compete, I want to win now, I know that’s easier said than done, but I’m up for the challenge and I can’t wait to get started.

The former Utah Utes head coach is familiar with the tough challenges that come with a rebuild. When she took over at Utah, the team missed the NCAA Tournament four years in a row and was unranked for even longer. But during her nine-plus years there, the Utes would reach the NCAA Tournament three times and rise to as high as No. 4 in the AP Poll. She also was named the 2023 Pac-12 Coach of the Year.

The turnaround in LA might be her toughest task yet, as the Sparks just registered their worst winning percentage in franchise history and have not made the playoffs since 2020. With a young nucleus in place and another top draft pick in hand, the hope is that Los Angeles can be back in contention sooner rather than later.

The Sparks have checked off some boxes on their offseason to-do list. Next up will be the Golden State Expansion Draft on Dec. 6, followed by free agency in February and the WNBA Draft on April 14. So while the offseason is considered a time for rest, basketball never sleeps, and there are even fewer hours to kick back when you’re at the bottom looking for a way up.