How *does* Everyone Watch Women's Sports???
A comprehensive guide of how to watch women's basketball during the off season.
Last Sunday marked the end of the 2024 WNBA season, and like many fans, I am already counting down the days until next season starts. But I’m no fool; just because this season has come to close, it doesn’t mean basketball simply stops. Sure, you could watch the NBA, but who wants to do that? I for one actually like defense…But anyways…This week I present to you a postseason guide for following women’s hoops (and women’s sports as a whole)!
In addition to the the entertainment value of this list, there are other key reasons why it’s important to continue watching women’s sports. Increased eyeballs during the off-season encourage investments in all of these leagues and prove the marketability. Watching women’s sports helps improve women’s leagues at every level. Before I get to basketball, a quick preview of what is happening in women’s sports this upcoming year: The National Women’s Soccer League is about to enter their month of playoffs after their international break which ends tomorrow (USWNT is playing Argentina at 7pm EST, which you can watch on TNT or truTV.); Pro Volleyball Federation will begin their second season this January; Pro-Softball will begin in 2025 with Athletes Unlimited; and in 2025, Women’s Elite Rugby launches in March of 2025. Although this list will focus on the WNBA basketball off-season, this also serves as a reminder that all women’s sports deserve our attention. So if basketball isn’t your cup of tea, seek out other leagues and show your support. Not only does it bring these leagues and players to the forefront, but it helps improve their work conditions, rights, and long-term ability to play. And, it is fun to watch.
Without further ado, here is my comprehensive list of what, who, when, where, how, and why you can and should watch women’s basketball (in chronological order)!
Tried and True: Overseas Basketball
September—April/May
What: The US is not the only country that loves basketball (contrary to popular belief). The EuroLeague is perhaps the most prominent of overseas leagues, and has been the typical off-season destination for W players. Though the wages and player support is better overseas, the efforts to keep WNBA players in the US has grown rapidly, especially following the imprisonment of Brittney Griner in Russia in 2022. Though the number of players going overseas has decreased from the 2010s, there were still over 50% of players overseas last year in the offseason.1 And the inverse is true too; star rookie Leonie Fiebich predominantly played overseas prior to her rookie season with the W.
Who: Although the EuroLeague is the most prominent, there are teams all across the world. Finding players you love and following their overseas team is your best bet! Gabby Williams (Istanbul), Chennedy Carter (Wuhan), Isabelle Harrison (Prague), and Kamilla Cardoso (Shanghai) are just a handful of the WNBA players that spending their off-season abroad.
When: It’s already started! Overseas basketball began in September and it runs through the start of the WNBA. This poses issues for WNBA players: WNBA contracts force players to be present for training camp which can often overlap with the end of the EuroLeague season and EuroCup. Take Gabby Williams: She did not sign with the Seattle Storm until after the Olympic break, and the chances of her returning to the WNBA rely on improved salaries and benefits.2 She represents why so many choose to play abroad, despite the critiques of overseas play.
Where: Quite literally anywhere! My dream is to someday watch the Caledonia Gladiators in Scotland….see you in March maybe??
How: Well…again…a hard one, but that’s why I made this guide! A lot of games can be found on YouTube, through EuroLeague and FIBA channels. This reddit link also has specific places where other leagues, like the French and Spanish League, stream their games (which are also, you guessed it, on YouTube.)
Why: There are a few reasons why overseas basketball is fun to watch. First, players you already know go overseas, so it’s nice to keep up with them. Second, players like Leonie Fiebich who played with Germany and France prior to being drafted by the WNBA, are a great example of a player who came to the WNBA after an overseas career. And third, it’s never too early to begin preparing for the 2028 Olympics by getting to know international players prior to when they play for their home countries.
Future Rookies: College Basketball
November—March
What: NCAA Women’s Basketball has risen in the ranks of college sports in the last couple of years. Sure, March Madness is nothing new, but the leagues and divisions have been changing. Most notably, University of Oregon, University of Washington, USC and UCLA (Go Bruins!) have joined the Big Ten conference, which I’m told means something for football too? After grilling my dad about how all of the conferences work (and double checking my sources), I have finally gotten a grasp on what is in store for women’s college basketball.
Who: Well, any college you like, so the “who” is up to you! Though the big names you may recognize are Paige Bueckers (Senior, UConn), JuJu Watkins (Sophomore, USC), and Kiki Rice (Junior, UCLA).
When: Women’s college basketball starts in November and it culminates in March with March Madness. March Madness is the NCAA Championship which is typically thought of as a predictor who might stand out in the WNBA draft, which will take place in April. 68 teams get narrowed down to one champion.
Where: Anywhere there is a college near you! Tickets can be as cheap as $15, even for Big 10 schools!
How: This is where things get a bit tricky. If you are a fan of a team already, figuring out where your conference is televised is probably the easiest (and cheapest) way of watching your team if you have cable. However, if you’re like me, and you don’t want to leave watchability up to the powers that be, ESPN+ seems like the way to go. ESPN+ is the hub for the NCAA which means you can watch almost all women’s sports on the platform. It is $11.99 a month which is a bit steep, but since college basketball is only November—March, it may be worth the investment. You also have the ability to watch quite literally every other sporting event on ESPN+ besides women’s basketball, if that’s something you’re into.3
Why: This is the best way to familiarize yourself with upcoming rookies! Since the draft takes place in April, watching college basketball allows us to start to get to know players that will hopefully make it into the W (and make your draft picks for your fantasy team much better). And on the other side of that coin, it’s really cool to see breakout stars who may never play basketball again. It’s their 15 minutes of stardom before they graduate and live their normal lives.
New Kid on the Block: Unrivaled
January—March
What: If you have read anything else I’ve written, you have seen me mention “Unrivaled” and been like “ok and?” so here is my official rundown of Unrivaled. Unrivaled is a new league that will have its inaugural season this year. It was co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, WNBA players who were teammates at UConn and were most recently, rivals in last weeks WNBA finals/ They also played together and won gold for Team USA in the past two Olympic games. Unlike the other off-season leagues, Unrivaled is 3x3 basketball (but will use a full court, rather than a half court.) The full court will be smaller than a traditional 5x5 court, pictured above. The league will divide into 6 “basketball clubs,” each team having 5 players (3 on court and 2 subs).4 As an added bonus to the excitement of the league, the inaugural 30 players in Unrivaled will have equity ownership in the league, and will offer the highest average salary in women’s sports. Pretty awesome.
Who: Unrivaled touts having the 30 best professional basketball players in the world. They aren’t necessarily wrong, but who are they all? Just the top players in the WNBA and world. Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, Arike Ogunbowale, Kayla McBride, and Skylar Diggins Smith are just a handful of stars playing with Unrivaled. They have 2 more players to announce, and do so on their Instagram.
When: Unrivaled will take place from January—March, and there are playoffs at the end of the season. There will also be a 1v1 tournament in February to determine the best 1v1 player in the world.
Where: Miami! To avoid the cold of winter, Unrivaled will be kicking off its season in Miami. Though venues have not been announced yet, I am confident the Unrivaled team will put on a great season!
How: Unrivaled will be the easiest league to access in the offseason, yay! Just this month, Unrivaled signed a TV deal with TNT. The whole season will be streamable through Max, but if you don’t have Max, weekday games (Monday and Friday) will air on TNT and weekend games (Saturday) will air on truTV. Bleacher Report and HighlightHER will be covering the league on socials as well!
Why: Not only is it a historic league for player salary, player retention, and off-season protection, it features 30 fan favorites all playing with each other. What is so much fun about the Olympics and USA Basketball, is that you get to see your favorite players playing with their opponents for a common goal. Unrivaled will deliver something similar. It is also founded by two players, so fans know that they are putting player’s rights first. And, if you’re already a fan of the W, it will be super exciting to see opponents become teammates and vice versa. If you’re just starting to get interested in basketball, this is also a great way to get to know players and their game before the regular season, helping you decide what team you’ll cheer for in 2025. Unrivaled seems to be the most anticipated off-season venture so far and I cannot wait to watch them all play. Don’t be shocked if you see me in Miami this winter…just saying!
Playing with Form: Athletes Unlimited
February—March
What: Athletes Unlimited is a newer format of off-season play. Athletes Unlimited (AU) is a 5x5 full court format with an individual point system. AU redrafts teams every week, the top four players serving as team captains. The captains are also the coach for all intents and purposes (though there is a coach they collaborate with as well, “we refer to them as facilitators.”) It’s a bit confusing but walk with me. The scoring on the court is the same (2pts, 3pts, free throws, etc.), but each team earns 60 points for each quarter that they lead, a full 180 if they win the game. Individual players earn team points as well as points based on their personal performance each game. For example, an assist, steal, or block will earn a player 10 points, but a turnover or missed free throw will lose a player 10 points. There is also the opportunity for fans to vote for game MVPs, which increases player points. AU breaks it down like this: Athletes earn points in three different ways, 1. team wins, 2. making a positive play, and 3. if they earn MVP. At the end of the season, the player with the most points is crowned the champion.
Who: “40 of the best women’s professional basketball players in the world,” many of whom are WNBA players who opt to not go overseas.5 That will be a recurring theme! So far Sydney Colson, Lexie Brown, Alissa Pili, and sisters Isabelle and Dorie Harrison have announced that they will be playing.
When: AU is a month-long season, starting in February and ending in March.
Where: Games are happening in Nashville, TN this season and being broadcast on a few different channels. Ticket wise, it seems like they are currently only selling season tickets. But I am sure as it gets closer to February, single game tickets may go on sale as well.
How: AU are the most complicated games to catch, as they don’t have a cut and dry TV deal or home channel. Based on last season, a large chunk of the games were broadcast free on the WNBA app. Beyond that, Bally Sports, ESPN+, and local channels broadcast the other games. So your best bet is the WNBA App and ESPN+. This feels like an ad for ESPN+ but I swear I am not in Disney’s pockets, it just really is one of the only places to watch games consistently.
Why: Athletes Unlimited is not just breaking the mold for women’s basketball, but women’s sports as a whole. AU also has a Volleyball league (which is in its final week this week!) which follows a similar draft and scoring model. Many of the PVF players play in AU in the off season, and like basketball, allows fans to watch their favorite players become opponents and vice versa. AU also has women’s Lacrosse and Softball (which is having its inaugural season in June of 2025). AU is a great league to support because it promotes women’s sports at an individual level and showcases players that perhaps get less playing time in national leagues.
2024 has been an incredible year for women’s sports, especially women’s hoops, so it’s important to keep the momentum moving. I can’t wait to watch new players and leagues, unique game formats, and some of my favorites return to the court.
Jacob Feldman, “U.S. Growth, Global Tumult Keep WNBA Stars Closer to Home,” Sportico, February 27, 2024.
During her exit interview with the Seattle Storm, Williams rightfully criticized the WNBA front office for their treatment of players and salaries. She doubled down on TikTok on her flight to Turkey for the off season. As she should!
Each conference may have their own streaming platform as well. For example, B1G+ is the hub for Big Ten teams and the NCAA streams March Madness on their platform.
Athletes Unlimited! Check in here for full player announcements.