Napheesa Collier and Alex Bazzell Talk the Unrivaled League, Growing Women’s Basketball, and the WNBA Finals

Natalie Nakase on Building the Golden State Valkyries. Plus, Hunter Cruse on the Valks and Aces. This week, Seerat takes a closer look at the newly assembled Golden Stake Valkyries! First, she speaks with their head coach, Natalie Nakase, who discusses the team’s thought process on putting together a roster for an expansion team, the three non-negotiable qualities for her team, and reuniting with Kate Martin from the Aces. Nakase then talks about her time with the LA Clippers, and the incredibly valuable lessons she learned from Jerry West (1:28). Later, Seerat welcomes WNBA draft expert Hunter Cruse to break down the Valkyries' expansion draft and how it will position the team for a championship run sooner than later. Finally, they look at Las Vegas Aces' and what they will look like after losing key members of their team (46:15). Host: Seerat Sohi Guests: Natalie Nakase and Hunter Cruse Producer: Brian H. Waters Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of this week’s expansion draft, Seerat is joined by Nekias Duncan. They start by questioning what adding another franchise in the Valkyries means for the league. Then they run through the league and look at teams that have tough decisions to make concerning who to protect from the expansion draft. Briefly, they later touch on the rest of the teams in the league. (11:50) Sparks (21:50) Dream (37:25) Wings (41:20) Sky (46:41) Sun Host: Seerat Sohi Guest: Nekias Duncan Producer: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey hoops fans, Seerat has a very special bonus episode for you as she chats with the CEOs of the Unrivaled league, Napheesa Collier and Alex Bazzell, about what fans can expect from the league, its unique All-Star Game weekend, balancing being partners in life and business, and whether or not Caitlin Clark will be a part of the league. Later on, Napheesa discusses the WNBA Finals, holding in her emotions during the game, and being with other UConn greats during Geno Auriemma’s celebration. Host: Seerat Sohi Guest: Napheesa Collier and Alex Bazzell Producer: Brian H. Waters Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Seerat rolls solo and discusses Hannah Hidalgo's epic performance against JuJu Watkins in Notre Dame’s big win over USC. Then, she discusses UCLA’s win over South Carolina and the tension between Dawn Staley and MiLaysia Fulwiley. Host: Seerat Sohi Producer: Brian H. Waters Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Seerat welcomes two guests following the results of the WNBA Draft lottery. First, she speaks with The Ringer’s Mirin Fader to talk Paige Bueckers, the presumptive number one pick in the WNBA Draft. They discuss her style of play and how Geno Auriemma has called on her to be more “selfish” in her last year at UConn (0:46). Later, Seerat welcomes The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant to discuss the options available for the second and third picks of the draft currently held by the Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky (28:25. Host: Seerat Sohi Guests: Mirin Fader and Sabreena Merchant Producer: Brian H. Waters Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Seerat taps in with WNBA draft scribe Mark Schindler to talk about the highs and lows of the USC women’s basketball team led by JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen (1:09). Later, Mark shares his 2025 mock draft, explains why Paige Bueckers is not the only surefire star in this class (30:13), and discusses how the world champion New York Liberty will look to protect everyone (1:04:24). Host: Seerat Sohi Guest: Mark Schindler Producer: Brian H. Waters Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Seerat welcomes The Ringer’s own Van Lathan, as they kick off the show discussing the origins of Van’s W fandom and which teams he follows most (3:01). Then, they discuss the infamous controversy surrounding the referees in this year’s Finals (4:28). Later, they do a deep dive into how the current WNBA is comparable to the 1970s NBA (7:24), how Caitlin Clark doesn’t actually have someone to complete a Bird-Magic rivalry (14:23), and the growing excitement surrounding JuJu Watkins (21:21). Host: Seerat Sohi Guest: Van Lathan Producers: Brian H. Waters and Jonathan Kermah Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat has two special guests this week! First, she chats with Indiana Fever beat writer Scott Agness, who discusses the plethora of head coaching vacancies around the league, Christie Sides's time in Indiana, and Stephanie White’s potential fit for the Fever (1:14). Then, Seerat welcomes Fever point guard Lexie Hull, who discusses her friendship with Caitlin Clark, Sides’s departure, the rising popularity of the Fever and the WNBA as a whole, growing up with a twin, and much more (38:27)! Host: Seerat Sohi Guests: Lexie Hull and Scott Agness Producer: Brian H. Waters Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As expected, the WNBA players are opting out of their current CBA. To wade through the muddy financial waters, longtime ESPN WNBA reporter Michael Voepel joins Seerat Sohi to discuss the timing of this decision, what the WNBA players want from their next deal, how difficult it might be for the players to secure what they want, and what made the 2024 season the most transformative in WNBA history (00:00). Then, New York native Ros Gold-Onwude tells Seerat what it was like to watch her hometown team capture their first WNBA championship. She also gives her take on the CBA negotiations and the WNBA’s insane growth this season (46:25). Host: Seerat Sohi Guests: Michael Voepel and Ros Gold-Onwude Producers: Erika Cervantes and Troy Farkas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat is back for an immediate reaction to the conclusion of the 2024 WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx. She recaps the first half of Game 5 for the Liberty and their rocky start, Sabrina Ionescu’s historic 1-of-19 performance, and Breanna Stewart's free throws. Then, she dives into what they did right with Nyara Sabally stepping up and Jonquel Jones locking up Finals MVP (3:20). Later, she shares what we saw from the Minnesota Lynx and discusses Alanna Smith’s injury, Napheesa Collier’s impressive performance, and what happened in overtime (20:51). Host: Seerat Sohi Producer: Erika Cervantes Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices