Two weeks into the college basketball season, teams are raising the scaffolding of their identities: some recognizable, some refreshingly new. The usual suspects are thriving in the Big 12, but a handful of players and programs are off to notable starts:

Winners

HVL at TCU

The shadow of Hailey Van Lith’s Louisiana incongruity was cast quickly over TCU when she announced her transfer. Could the 3×3 Olympian salvage her all-ACC confidence that she flaunted at Louisville, or would her time in Fort Worth reflect the unharmonious nature of her brief LSU tenure?

Albeit after just two weeks with the Horned Frogs, it doesn’t seem premature to claim that Van Lith has ascended beyond her Louisville output. She’s taking more shots than she’s ever attempted in her college career, and bringing home 17 points per game—barely shy of her career-best of 20 per game average. More impressively, Van Lith is averaging eight assists, more than double her career average.

Van Lith and graduate center Sedona Prince have been unstoppable. Prince is bagging 22 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks a night, leading the Big 12 in all three categories. The duo tore up No. 20 NC State, both notching double-doubles in a statement victory. Van Lith and Prince have had volatile, emotional and dominant collegiate careers, and this season is shaping up to be a memorable finale for them both. If you love storylines, TCU has no shortage.

UCF and freshman Emely Rodriguez

Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images

UCF, projected to be one of the worst teams in the Big 12, hasn’t looked as such through four games. Not only are the Knights undefeated with an average win margin of 25 points, but they’re doing so with the fifth-hardest strength of schedule in the conference. They gutted out a tough win over Marquette, who went 23-9 last season en route to a NCAA Tournament berth. UCF will undoubtedly cool off in conference play, but early showings project that the Knights could really compete against other Big 12 rosters.

Freshman guard/forward Emely Rodriguez, who hails from the Dominican Republic, has looked like a potential game changer for the Knights. Rodriguez was named Miami-Dade County Girl’s Basketball Player of the Year by the Miami Herald earlier this year after an illustrious high school career in which she averaged 27 points, 16 rebounds and six assists. Her game is translating, as she’s up to 14 points and six rebounds per game through her first four. She began the season as a reserve, but has quickly joined the starting lineup for head coach Sytia Messer. Assuming her hot start isn’t a fluke, Rodriguez may see some rookie hardware at the end of the Big 12 season.

Losers

Utah’s early-season adversity

Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images

Ok, it’s admittedly dramatic to call a 3-1 Utah squad “losers” because they lost a singular game by two points. However, Utah absolutely collapsed in their loss to Northwestern (1-2). The Utes built a 14-point lead halfway through the third period, and it looked like they were well on their way to a substantial win. However, a quick 17-3 run tied the game for Northwestern.

The game was then rudely interrupted by a fire alarm, stalling the action for nearly 12 minutes and freezing out the competition. A back-and-forth closing period gave way to one final Northwestern possession, where senior forward Caileigh Walsh sent the Utes packing with a game-winning step-through post move.

As brutal of a loss as it was, Utah will be fine. They bounced back a few days later, channeling their rage upon an unsuspecting McNeese State program which woefully accepted a 68-point loss. Utah has the potential to be a top-five team in the Big 12 this year, and maybe the Northwestern loss was needed motivation to fix their trajectory.

One thing that won’t help Utah? Lynne Roberts, head coach of the Utes, was just hired by the Los Angeles Sparks. Associate Head Coach Gavin Petersen will be making the internal move to the top spot in Utah, but expect adversity to follow.

Fans of competitive basketball

Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

As Power 5 teams look to cushion their records against mid-major programs at the beginning of non-conference play, the biggest loser may be basketball fans. Marquee matchups aren’t nonexistent in November, but they are certainly rare. Entering Wednesday’s games, only 14 out of 71 games featuring a Big 12 team have been decided by single-digit points, and most of those games featured one of the conference’s bottom feeders. (Although, maybe Northern Iowa’s upset of No. 8 Iowa State on Wednesday night is sign that some more exciting hoops are on the horizon.)

Kansas State and West Virginia, however, haven’t come close to an upset thus far. Both are winning by more than 30 points a night. As we wander deeper into non-conference play and the beginning of the Big 12 season, entertainment will cease to be at a premium. Until then, it may be best to pick and choose which games are worth your time.

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Unrivaled’s six head coaches divided the league’s 36 players—34 identified and two yet-to-be-named—into six clubs, with the coaches not knowing which coach would be in charge of which six-player club.

While the coaches sought to create six balanced rosters, the laws of competition demand that distinctions be drawn. One club likely will quickly cohere into a strong side, while one or two may struggle to find a groove.

Considering the dynamics of the game play still remain unclear—as compressed, full court 3×3 play will be unique to Unrivaled—it’s hard to predict which clubs are best prepared to thrive. Will games be dominated by fast-paced, free-flowing play with limited halfcourt sets? Will this style place a premium on versatile, switchable perimeter defenders over traditional rim protection? If halfcourt play is limited, will 3-point spacers be as valuable as they are in a 5×5 game?

We have just under to two months to imagine how things might play out, as Unrivaled’s inaugural season tips off on January 17 in Miami. So here’s our first stab at it, with some way-too-early Unrivaled club power rankings:

1. Laces Basketball Club

Roster: Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx), Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun), Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx), Kate Martin (Las Vegas Aces), Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics)

Head coach: Andrew Wade

While we don’t know if Unrivaled will foster intense competition or a competitive-yet-rather-convivial atmosphere, we know Alyssa Thomas will be all business. Her mentality and abilities seem perfectly suited to own the Unrivaled court. Able to get a stop against anyone, Thomas can then turn defense into offense, ramming the ball up the court in transition before finding a teammate for an easy score.

This also seems like a roster ready to amplify Thomas’ strengths, starting with the two dawgs she’ll be supported by: Kelsey Plum and Courtney Williams, a pair of always-on, absolutely fearless guards who are more than willing to take a clutch shot—and let you know about it when they drain it in your face. Then, there’s the supreme 3-point shooting of Kayla McBride, who can never be left alone from behind the arc and, in turn, will create passing and scoring space for Thomas, Plum and Williams. Stef Dolson, a 3×3 Olympic gold medalist alongside Plum at the Tokyo Olympics who is fresh off the best shooting season of her WNBA career, can demonstrate the value of a stretch-big in the 3×3 setting, where her shooting and playmaking should far outweigh her limitations as a defender. On top of that quintet is Kate Martin, a right-place, right-time connective player willing to fill any role.

Driven by Thomas, Laces B.C. is designed to dominate Unrivaled.

2. Lunar Owls Basketball Club

Roster: Skylar Diggins-Smith (Seattle Storm), Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream), Natasha Cloud (Phoenix Mercury), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Shakira Austin (Washington Mystics), Wildcard

Head coach: DJ Sackmann

As with Laces, Lunar Owls B.C. have their share of spirited players unafraid to snarl and snipe, even if the Unrivaled environment trends toward the collegial. Skylar Diggins-Smith and Natasha Cloud are cut-throat competitors, who, after irritating opponents as defenders, will take it right at them on the other end of the floor.

Their fire is balanced by the cooler, composed play of Napheesa Collier and Allisha Gray. As she showed throughout the 2024 WNBA season and even more so in the playoffs, Collier can almost singularly carry a club to victory with her enviably versatile and ever-fundamental skill set. Gray also sports a multi-faceted game, as well as high-level 3×3 experience as a 2020 Olympic gold medalist. Quietly relentless, she’s ready to assume a tough defensive assignment, put pressure on the rim through repeated drives to the basket and, as she showed at All-Star Weekend, rain in triples from behind the arc.

That foursome will be boosted by the athletic, two-way play of a hopefully healthy Shakira Austin, who has the potential to run opposing bigs off the floor and, after that happens, exploit an undersized opponent. Even before their sixth teammate is named, the Lunar Owls are equipped to take on any and all comers.

3. Rose Basketball Club

Roster: Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces), Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury), Angel Reese (Chicago Sky), Brittney Sykes (Washington Mystics), Lexie Hull (Indiana Fever), Azurá Stevens (Los Angeles Sparks)

Head coach: Nola Henry

Rose B.C. brings bunches of versatile athleticism, all conducted by the Point Gawd Chelsea Gray. There’s Kahleah Copper, who not only is one of the fastest players in the game but also has complemented her speed with an improved outside shot. Brittney Sykes likewise is one of the sport’s best athletes. Just imagine Gray delivering the ball to those two as they streak down the court. Their lanes to basket will be even more open when Lexie Hull is on the floor, threatening as quick trigger 3-point shooter. Hull’s willingness to do the thankless work on the defensive end also will augment Sykes’ defensive playmaking.

Rose then has a one-two interior punch, with the unrelenting athleticism of Angel Reese and the more refined skills of Azurá Stevens. In free-flowing games, players might neglect the glass. Not Reese. Expect her to feast on rebounds for second-chance points or to kickstart transition opportunities. Stevens, meanwhile, can capably operate both inside and outside.

Gray, however, is the key that really will make this club kick. If her extended injury recovery that resulted in uneven play throughout the 2024 WNBA regular season spills into the Unrivaled season, Rose might not reach their peak.

4. Mist Basketball Club

Roster: Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), DiJonai Carrington (Connecticut Sun), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Courtney Vandersloot (New York Liberty), Rickea Jackson (Los Angeles Sparks), Aaliyah Edwards (Washington Mystics)

Head coach: Phil Handy

The omni-positional Breanna Stewart seems tailor-made for 3×3 hoops, as she can fit with any other two players. For Mist B.C., she’ll be combining with WNBA teammates old and new in Jewell Loyd and Courtney Vandersloot. There’s also a UConn connection with Aaliyah Edwards. Then, two of the game’s most promising young wings in 2024 Most Improved Player DiJonai Carrington and Rickea Jackson round out the squad.

Yet, for all the ways that Stewie can work within any three-player combination, Mist might be a bit short on outside shooting and high-level athleticism, two club characteristics that seem essential to consistent 3×3 success. Outside of Carrington, members of Mist are smooth, rather than explosive, athletes. On the shooting front, Loyd’s outside stoke went wayward during the 2024 WNBA season, while Vandersloot is increasingly hesitant from 3, Carrington is inconsistent from the outside and Jackson is more comfortable from midrange. That area of the floor should not be a problem for this group. Stewart, Loyd and Jackson can can cash in plenty of 2-point jumpers, with Carrington’s smart cuts and Edwards’ duck ins also earning easy buckets at the cup.

Stewie’s not wrong—her team is good. But, every Unrivaled club is good. And if most games trend toward faster-paced, up-and-down affairs, does Mist have enough firepower to hang with the competition?

5. Vinyl Basketball Club

Roster: Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings), Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream), Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever), Jordin Canada (Atlanta Dream), Rae Burrell (Los Angeles Sparks), Dearica Hamby (Los Angeles Sparks)

Head coach: Teresa Weatherspoon

Rhyne Howard and Dearica Hamby experienced a 3×3 trial by fire this summer, expected to immediately triumph on the Olympic stage with a too-quickly constructed team. After a rough start, Howard and Hamby helped Team USA recover to win bronze at the Paris Games. That experience should serve them well in Unrivaled, where improvisation and adaptability could prove valuable when thrust into a unique 3×3 format with new teammates. Fortunately, not only do Hamby and Howard have familiarity with each other, but both have played with Jordin Canada. Hamby and Canada also have played with Rae Burrell.

On top of that foursome, Vinyl B.C. sports two of sport’s true talents, albeit with quite different games. Arike Ogunbowale is an offensive dynamo, capable carrying her club to victory with a high-volume scoring display. Aliyah Boston, in contrast, thrives because of her efficiency, with her often quieter contributions on both ends of the floor elevating the play of her teammates.

It’s a bit difficult to imagine how this roster, featuring players with more isolationist tendencies in Ogunbowale, Howard and Hamby, will fit together. That could put a lot of responsibility on Canada to serve as the authoritative orchestrator, especially in order to make sure that Boston is consistently involved. Alternatively, fit, or lack thereof, might not matter, as the explosive scoring potential of Ogunbowale and Howard could produce more than enough wins.

6. Phantom Basketball Club

Roster: Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces), Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Sun), Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings), Tiffany Hayes (Las Vegas Aces), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Wildcard

Head coach: Adam Harrington

It’s similarly hard to grasp how Phantom B.C. will fit together. Possibly, the club’s final, yet-to-be-named player will make all the pieces click.

For all her brilliance, Brittney Griner might not be the ideal big for this style of 3×3 ball. Not the swiftest floor runner, she could get lost in up-and-down action. Yet, if games are played a slower pace with more halfcourt sets, the option of just throwing it to BG could be a cheat code for Phantom. It could be especially valuable since this club also might be a bit short on playmaking. While Marina Mabrey, Jackie Young and Satou Sabally all have matured as passers over the course of their careers, they’re better suited to serve as secondary or tertiary playmakers. Shooting also is a slight concern, as Mabrey, Young and Sabally, along with Tiffany Hayes, have tended to be streaky from the outside.

Yet, Phantom also has the potential to avoid those pitfalls by leaning into high-flying, small-ball combinations. With Sabally has the lone big surrounded by two of Mabrey, Young and Hayes, the club could run over opponents, quickly turning stops on one end into scores on the other. Sabally can be a do-everything unicorn. Mabrey brings the saucy scoring. Young can punch with power or finesse. And Hayes’ quickness can leave any opponent in the dust. It could be phantasmagoric.

On the surface, week 5 of EuroLeague Women wasn’t particularly memorable, as there weren’t any truly big performances. But dig a bit deeper and find that some stories began and some were put to a close—sometimes during the same game.

With one more week of first-round games, two spots remain to be filled by the end of next week’s action. The 10 teams that already have advanced to the second round are: Basket Landes, Beretta Famila Schio, Casademont Zaragoza, ÇBK Mersin, Fenerbahçe Opet, Tango Bourges Basket, Umama Reyer Venezia, Valencia Basket Club, Žabiny Brno and ZVVZ USK Praha.

2024 belongs to Amy Okonkwo

Tango Bourges Basket clinched a spot in the next round on Tuesday. The standout constant for Bourges is Nigerian-American Amy Okonkwo. After captaining D’Tigress to their best performance in history during the Paris Olympics, the former USC and TCU player scored game-high 17 points on 62 percent shooting against Olympiacos. The Greeks remain winless in the competition and have no chance at progressing to the second round, unlike three other teams from Group B, whose spots there are secure.

In the other Group B game ÇBK Mersin made the most out of Žabiny’s shooting struggles (28 percent from the field), cruising to their fifth-consecutive win in the competition. The offense went through Natasha Howard, who scored over 20 points for the third time this season, and Yvonne Anderson, who dished out nine dimes.

Győr put together their best game of the season, but it still wasn’t enough

Prior to the game against Praha we caught up with Bridget Carleton, who rejoined the team she played for last year. Asked about her expectations for the season in Hungary, she said:

I am excited to be in Győr, and get back to playing basketball again. When I am away from the game too long I get a bit antsy to play again. I am excited to be back in a familiar club, where I got a lot better last season and I am excited to build on that. My goal is always to play in the EuroLeague Women, the top league in Europe. So much fun! I love playing in Hungary and in Europe and experiencing different things. I am excited to be back and excited to see what we can do this year.

Late in the third quarter, when she knocked down a big 3 and stole the ball in the next play to put her team up by three points, it sure looked like she was back home, after trying to find her rhythm prior to that shot.

This was the tightest contest of the week and the game could have gone either way. With Praha up by three with 30 seconds left, Győr first fired a 3, but the ball fell out of the rim, then the Hungarian team stole the ball, only to lose it again because of an unlucky bounce. Praha won, in large part thanks to Brionna Jones, who dominated the middle and finished the game with 21 points, 10 boards and three blocks.

Week 5 scores

Group A

Beretta Famila Schio 71, DVTK HUN-Therm Miskolc 57

Basket Landes 59, Avenida 58

Group B

ÇBK Mersin 64, Žabiny Brno 45,

Tango Bourges Basket 82, Olympiacos B.C. 62

Group C

Villeneuve-d’Ascq LM 100, KGHM BC Polkowice 83

Fenerbahçe Opet 80, Casademont Zaragoza 69,

Group D

ZVVZ USK Praha 81, UNI Győr 76,

Valencia Basket Club 83, Umana Reyer Venezia 72

The 2024-25 WCBA officially has begun, with the first few rounds of play already completed. Several teams appear to be starting off hot, including the Sichuan Blue Whales, who seem to be early title favorites as they remain undefeated. Other teams have gotten off to pretty strong starts as well, including Inner Mongolia, Liaoning Flying Eagles and Jiangxi Gan Xing.

Who’s on fire from the W?

Through the first few games of the season, many players from the WNBA have been blazing hot, including Chennedy Carter, Kelsey Mitchell, Kalani Brown and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus.

Kelsey Mitchell has had the most recent showing of dominance with her insanely clutch play propelling her Shanxi Flame to 3-1 on the season after she unleashed 23 points, four rebounds and seven assists, including 11 fourth-quarter points to secure the win for her squad and keep them high in the standings. That was her third-straight game of 20 or more points. Beijing’s Aari McDonald also has had her share of stardom in the matchup, dropping 30 points, four boards, and six assists, although it was not enough to secure the win versus Mitchell and the Flame.

McDonald’s teammate, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, has recently been playing great ball as well, going off for 31 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and three blocks while shooting 65 percent from the floor and 66 percent from 3-point land en route to leading Beijing Great Wall to their first win of the season.

Moving forward

With round one past us and round two upon us, it will be interesting to see how the W talent continues to progress this season. There are certain stipulations that dictate the type of impact foreign players can have. A maximum of two foreign players are allowed on the court to start the first three quarters, while only one is allowed to play in the fourth, which definitely plays a large factor in the way the players are utilized and the flows they are able to establish.

Standings are tight so far so it will also be interesting to see what teams keep the ball rolling and can gain separation in the standings, and which other teams begin to drop the ball.