Liz and Karen wrap up this season of Hoops Off with a look at the big business of women sports.Money Mama Karen gives us a deep dive into projected revenues and of women's sports--poised for generating billions--and the massive viewership growth over last season. Also: a critical look at the WNBA players getting brand deals. They also discuss the first official season of Unrivaled, and look at basketball clubs of this new women's sports league. On the NBA side of things, Liz and Karen make their Christmas Day predictions--including their own personal rivalry, The Los Angeles Lakers vs. The Golden State Warriors--as well as build out their 2025 NBA All-Star starters. Lastly, the holiday book club pick is announced!

MENTIONS

Sparks hire Lynne Roberts as head coach:

https://www.thenexthoops.com/wnba/los-angeles-sparks/lynne-roberts-new-los-angeles-sparks-head-coach-pebley-offense/

WNBA Players Are Getting Brand Deals, But Not Equally by Frankie De La Cretaz:

https://www.complex.com/sports/a/frankie-de-la-cretaz/wnba-salaries-endorsements-brand-deals

Unrivaled Basketball Clubs:

https://www.unrivaled.basketball/clubs

NBA Christmas Day Games:

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/nba-christmas-games-schedule-teams-how-to-watch

NBA 2025 All-Stars:

https://www.nba.com/warriors/2025-allstar

Holiday Book Club Pick: There's Always This Year. On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/695817/theres-always-this-year-by-hanif-abdurraqib/

This week, Liz and Karen want to share part of a wild true story, a story in which not all the main characters have been heard from before--until now. It's the story of how Seattle lost its NBA team. Listen to episode one of Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost its Team, produced in partnership with The Ringer, and hosted by reporter and writer Jordan Ritter Conn.

To hear the rest of the episodes, subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sonic-boom-how-seattle-lost-its-team/id1567722424

or directly on Luminary:

http://luminary.link/sonics)

The WNBA Draft Lottery numbers are in, and Liz and Karen are not sure if everyone is happy about the top 5 drafting teams. With Paige Bueckers as a major first-round draft pick, predictions as to who will hit the target are still up in the air. With the league poised to grow to 16 teams by 2028, Karen and Liz kick around the cities they think would be natural contenders and lively additions. And, from the women-in-business buzz come these juicy updates: the new JuJu Watkins docuseries (On the Rise) premiers this week; Whoopi Goldberg is launching the All Women's Sports Network, and U.S. Soccer gets a huge cash contributor. Ka-ching. Meanwhile, the NBA is not looking as shiny as the realm of womens sports: a boatload of injuries is plaguing the league and it’s really hitting the starting lineups. Not to mention there is still lots of pettiness going around with Inside the NBA: Clay vs. The Bay and the same old stale foolery. In the face of so many injuries, Liz and Karen share Fantasy League tips to help keep thing optimized from week to week, then they. take their hoops off for some real talk, and tie up this episode with a bow of gratitude.

MENTIONS

NBC, Peacock to premiere docuseries featuring USC Star Juju Watkins:

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/usc-star-juju-watkins-docuseries-nbc-peacock

Whoopi Goldberg launches All Women's Sports Network:

https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/all-womens-sports-network-whoopi-goldberg-launch-november-2024/

NBA Injuries Up 35 percent over last season:

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/278024/NBA-Injuries-Up-35-perc-Over-Last-Season

In Street Clothes covering sports injuries from the perspective of a certified athletic trainer and backed by analytics:

https://instreetclothes.com/

Hoops Off podcast welcomes Jenny Nguyen, founder of the The Sports Bra, located in Portland, Oregon, and dedicated ENTIRELY to women's sports. Jenny’s origin story and her journey to getting the bar off the ground travel a fascinating trail--from the shoe-squeaks of hoops courts through professional kitchens, the pandemic, rounds of deep introspection, amateur Keynote pitch decks, and wildly encouraging rejections, Listen to her immersive journey and find out what's next as she discusses the current infusion of monetary investment from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, who is also husband to award-winning tennis champion Serena Williams, as well as life in the world of franchising. Also in this episode, Karen breaks down the Emirates Cup (formerly known as the In-Season Tournament) including the renaming, how it works, fancy new courts and foolish heist marketing.

MENTIONS

There's never been a better time to run a women's sports bar:

https://www.thecut.com/article/how-jenny-nguyen-the-sports-bra-owner-gets-it-done.html

This popular women's sports bra in Portland is bringing its winnning formula to other cities:

https://www.fastcompany.com/91111766/sports-bra-womens-sports-bar-portland-franchise-alexis-ohanian

The Sports Bra announces plan to franchise with investment from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian:

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2024/04/the-sports-bra-announces-plans-to-franchise-with-investment-from-alexis-ohanian.html

NBA's Emirates Cup Features New 2024 Courts. What's Changed:

https://frontofficesports.com/nbas-emirates-cup-features-new-2024-courts-whats-changed/

Women's basketball courts are still going strong with the start of Women's College Basketball. Meanwhile, the revolving door of WNBA head coaches are making heads spin. Liz and Karen run through the firings that have popped up just a few weeks into the WNBA offseason. Then, Money Mama Karen breaks down the millions--in both dollars and reach--for the college WBB. The NBA's numbers are trending in a less favorable direction than the W's, particularly in the viewership department. Liz and Karen discuss what the league can do to be better. Plus they breakdown the slew of injuries happening way too early in the season, reflect on the Joel Embiid suspension, dig into the on court player beefs, and Giannis trade rumors, before laying up some insightful Fantasy NBA tips. To close it all out, this week's Hoops Off segment gets personal.

Give us your thoughts and questions in an email or, better yet, a voicemail: Send it here: hoopsoffpod@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram @thehoopsoff https://www.instagram.com/thehoopsoff/

MENTIONS

Over Half of WNBA Coaches Have Been Fired. What's Happening?

https://frontofficesports.com/half-of-wnba-coaches-have-been-fired-whats-happening/

Opinion: The NBA is causing its own failure:

https://www.dailynebraskan.com/opinion/nba-viewership-declines/article_f6b829f2-9a26-11ef-8aaf-83b76cb16d34.html

Joel Embiid suspended three games for shoving columnist:

https://nypost.com/2024/11/05/sports/joel-embiid-suspended-three-games-for-shoving-reporter/

Nets predicted to cut ties with $177 million guard to acquire Bucks superstar:

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/milwaukee-bucks/news/nets-predicted-cut-ties-177-million-guard-acquire-bucks-superstar/a03bb4e3cf4bfb31a3f46070

Award-winning sports journalist and host of the Sportly podcast on Immigrantly, Kavitha Davidson, joins Liz for a one-on-one interview about her remarkable sports journey. From the sights and sounds of old Yankee Stadium to her memories of former Yankees Center Fielder and musician Bernie Williams, Kavitha reflects on her unique path, including her parents’ inspiring immigrant story. But before that great convo, Liz and Karen kick off the episode by savoring the electric ending to the 2024 WNBA championship, where the New York Liberty clinched the title, and dive into the journey of the team’s Finals MVP-winning Center, Jonquel Jones. Drafted with the 6th overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft, this Bahamian basketball star’s career reads like a movie script, and the women of the Hoops Talk pod are here to give her her flowers!

This is a whopper of an episode! Liz and Karen recap the WNBA 2024 Finals with a big congrats to the New York Liberty champions, as well as MVP of the finals, Jonquel Jones. The duo also takes a look at court side fashions spotted during the series, including Angel Reese's iconic Stewie/Napheesa jersey, made by the talented Jocelyn Hu. Liz and Karen also unpack Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve's post-game comments: her emotional critique of the officiating and her shady congrats to the Liberty. And, of course Ellie the Elephant, the MVP of mascots, gets her flowers in this episode. With the start of the 2024-25 NBA season upon us, Liz and Karen tee up burning questions about teams and players (i.e.Will the Celtics repeat? Can the Knicks beat Boston? How many games will Lebron play? Or Curry?) This over/under round of predictions is coming in hot. Closer to home, it’s time to look at the Hoops Talk Fantasy League, critiquing the 8-teams draft and trades, while also passing along some fantasy team tips.

MENTIONS

Liberty finally give New York City a basketball championship:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/21/nyregion/new-york-liberty-champions.html?unlocked_article_code=1.UE4.Ojqv.eXM8ZO79uei8&smid=url-share

Jocelyin Hu:

https://jocehu.com/

Jocelyn Hu Instagram Reel:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBZFqopuHOQ/

Jocelyn Hu Brittney Griner 42 Weeks:

https://jocehu.com/42-weeks

Fantasy Basketball All-Fades Team: 5 players you should avoid in drafts for the 2024-25 NBA Season:

https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy-basketball-busts-2024-25-121000752.html

Leaves fall, the W ascends, NBA fantasy leagues draft, “Les Brons” debut: this season’s many transitions are ripe for hot takes, and Liz and Karen are here to deliver. Plus, special guest Alex Taylor, founder of Hoop York City, sits in with the Hoops Off Pod for a chat about her journey, drive, and mission to create a NYC-based women's basketball collective. Taylor reveals the devastating incident that triggered her into action, and shares the special meaning behind one of her favorite Hoop York City logos. Liz and Karen also discuss rookie of the year Caitlin Clark's offseason plans to joins LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam on the green and at the Women's Leadership Summit. Then, due to a listener's correction, Liz sets the record straight by providing a deep dive into the ownership and head coaching changes for the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks. Karen gets a good chuckle at the "Elder" nomenclature being used to differentiate the Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James from his son Bronny James, making history as the first Father/Son duo to play on the same team in the NBA. Liz and Karen also show some love to Shamwow, share NBA Fantasy League tips and of course, take off their hoops!

MENTIONS

Hoops York City:

https://www.hoopyorkcity.com/

WNBA's Caitlin Clark to compete in the LPGA Pro-Am hosted by Annika Sorenstam in November:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10138470-wnbas-caitlin-clark-to-compete-in-lpga-pro-am-hosted-by-annika-sorenstam-in-november

JuJu Watkins and Nike reach a lucrative deal:

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/41684352/sources-usc-juju-watkins-nike-reach-lucrative-extension

Lebron, Bronny James first father and son to play together:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41653840/lebron-james-bronny-james-share-court-first-nba

Can Zion Williamson, Ja Morant reach their 'potential' after years of starts and stops?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5825604/2024/10/08/zion-williamson-ja-morant-usa-basketball-void-pelicans-grizzlies/?source=freedailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=728016

ESPN hires Shams Charania:

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/10/08/shams-charania-espn-move?publicationSource=sbd&issue=33a8f5eecf1f4d208320439ad68169e2

Fans are outraged that Josh Giddey is playing during NBA Investigation:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/fans-outraged-josh-giddey-playing-220001062.html