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Interview: Alanna Smith

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 31: Alanna Smith #11 of Phoenix Mercury handles the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces on May 31, 2019 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

Alanna Smith plays as a forward for both the Phoenix Mercury and the Australian National Team. Born in Tasmania, Australia, Smith was an All-American at Stanford University, where she was the Cardinal’s first-ever international recruit.

When did you decide you wanted to play college ball in America? 

My uncle went to college in California, and that put the idea in my head. My dad pushed it. Both him and my uncle had played professionally, so they were a big part of my basketball life growing up.

How did you decide on Stanford? 

I wanted basketball to be a vehicle to a good education, and Stanford, academically and athletically, was one of the best. It took a while to get on their radar, though. The women’s basketball team had never had an international recruit before, and I had to email them for three months before anyone responded. I stayed persistent and told them that I wanted to do a visit. They finally relented and said I could come. I had to walk right off a 17 hour flight and into a workout for the coaches. It was brutal, but I did enough to pique their interest. Other schools treat you like a celebrity when you’re a recruit, but Stanford is very business-like because they can never promise you admission. So I was thrilled when I finally got the call. I started running around my house.

What was it like going to school 8,000 miles from home? 

The first two years were rough. When I arrived, I thought I’d made it. I’d fought my way into my dream school. But because of a national team commitment, I couldn’t come to athlete orientation in the summer, so I had to jump right into classes and basketball in the fall while also adapting to a new country. It was a struggle. On the court, I wasn’t performing as well as I could, and I was having a hard time keeping up with my school work. I developed anxiety and was super homesick, but the 17 hour time difference made it hard to call my family in Australia.

Were you experiencing culture shock?  

Yes. I thought the transition would be easy because I’d grown up watching American television, and obviously I spoke English. But there were a lot of subtle cultural differences. Like a lot of Australians, I’m pretty laid back, so I had to adjust to how formal American etiquette can be, especially in restaurants. There’s so much emphasis on service here. And in Australia, we don’t tip. I kept forgetting that my first year, which resulted in a lot of side-eyes whenever I’d leave a table.

I also didn’t know what “tailgating” was. People kept referencing it during the fall in my freshman dorm, so finally I had to ask what they were talking about. I thought it might have something to do with trucks, so I was very confused.

What about on the court? Were there differences in how American players approached the game?  

For one thing, I had to start calling out plays with an American accent so my teammates could understand me. In terms of culture, it’s definitely more of a collective mindset in Australia. You always feel like you’re working as a group. The mentality in America is more individualistic, even when you’re on a team. You have to find ways to put yourself out there as a player. That’s not really the case back home.

After that first year, what kind of adjustments did you make? 

I had actually gotten a decent amount of playing time off the bench for a freshman despite my struggles, so I thought sophomore year was my time to step up and be a starter. But the season started off the same as the one before. I wasn’t playing well. I still felt homesick. Coach started a freshman over me. I kept thinking, what the hell? This was supposed to get better. 

I just had to keep grinding. Toward the middle of the season, I had a break-out game, which instilled some confidence in both myself and my coaches. I started to string more games together, and by the end of the year, I’d carved out my role as the 6th woman. We made it all the way to the Final Four. The next season, I was a full-time starter. And then my senior year, I was an All-American.

Did you ever consider quitting during those first two years? 

There were moments I came close, but I had a great support system around me on the team. And having to go through those pains and fight for my minutes meant that once I’d established myself as our top scorer and rebounder, I knew I’d earned it. And I felt I owed it to myself to go out and perform every night because of how hard I had worked to get that opportunity.

How was the jump to the WNBA?

On a more personal level, one thing I had to quickly internalize was that this is a business. You can be cut at any point during, especially as a rookie. You have to be mentally tough to go out there and do your job knowing you might not have it tomorrow.

Do you think having to work your way off the bench at Stanford helped you prepare for the WNBA? 

Absolutely. There’s something to be said for having to fight for your spot every step of the way. It weeds out a lot of personalities and teaches you to stay confident even when you’re on the bench. There are some players in this league who have been stars their entire careers, and they have to adjust to not being the go-to scorers. I don’t play some games, but I’m always ready. I know my time will come, so I have to be prepared.

Looking back on your rookie season, what stood out? 

It didn’t go exactly as I planned because of injuries, but I still learned so much from some of the best players in the world, and I got to play in the best league in the world. I’m now super keen to start my second year.

How have you changed since coming to America?

Mentally, I’m in a much better place now. A lot of my early college struggles were due to anxiety, which I’ve come to realize is a serious issue for a lot of athletes. More attention needs to be given to mental health in sports. People shouldn’t be afraid to discuss these issues. I know that for me, talking with my teammates and leaning on my family helped me develop a more consistently positive mindset. Words of encouragement from people I trusted were really important.

What are some of your current strategies for dealing with anxiety? 

I write a lot of stuff down. Simple as that sounds, it helps. Just writing out what I’m feeling helps me gain some distance from it. And on days when I’m down, I’ll list out things I’m thankful for. Doesn’t matter if it’s big or small: air conditioning, pancakes, having the opportunity to play in the WNBA. Writing it out forces me to take a step back and reflect on the privileges I enjoy. It forces me to remember that no matter my mood that day, I’m ultimately fine. I’m genuinely in a very good spot right now.

Is there any other advice you’d like to pass along? 

I’m someone who firmly believes that positivity is required if you want to get anything done. You’ll never have the necessary energy if you’re just feeling awful all the time. The right mindset has to be there before you can really get to work.

Gotham FC Signs Record-Breaking Sponsorship Deal with Dove

Emily Sonnett shows off the new Dove sponsorship above her last name on her Gotham jersey.
Dove's partnership with Gotham is the brand's first major investment in a women's sports team. (Gotham FC)

Gotham and Dove are teaming up, with the 2023 NWSL champs signing a record-setting multi-year kit partnership with the beauty brand on Thursday.

As Dove's first major investment in a women's sports team, the move also ranks as the highest-ever back-of-jersey sponsorship deal in NWSL history.

While Gotham did not provide specific numbers, the contract surpasses Bay FC's then-record $500,000 deal with private equity giant Sixth Street.

Dove joins Gotham in fight to keep girls in sports

The partnership is a part of Gotham's "Keep Her in the Game" initiative, a community effort launched last August to help adolescent girls stay in sports. Dove will serve as the program's presenting sponsor.

"Dove is the ultimate leader in female strength and empowerment, and we could not be prouder to partner with the brand in a number of impactful ways," Gotham FC chief business officer Ryan Dillon said in the team's release. "We are excited to team up with Dove to create key pathways for young female athletes to stay in sports, develop confidence, and become strong future leaders."

"The partnership is taking effect at a crucial time when supporting girls in sports has never been more important."

With girls twice as likely as boys to abandon sports by age 14, "Keep Her in the Game" aims to bolster young athletes' resilience and amplify the joy and connection that happens on and off the playing field.

After impacting 30 local New Jersey and New York youth clubs and more than 500 players in 2024, the initiative is aiming to double its reach in 2025. It will also pass the proverbial mic to the young athletes themselves by creating a Youth Leadership Council.

"The data is clear: Sports build confidence, leadership skills and resilience in young women, benefiting them for years to come," stated Laura DiMiceli, the head of personal care sports marketing for Dove's parent company, Unilever North America. "Dove is committed to supporting 'Keep Her in the Game' as part of our overall mission to help young girls pursue sports and keep playing the games they love."

Unrivaled to Crown First-Ever 1v1 Tournament Champion

Lunar Owls forward Napheesa Collier dribbles the ball during an Unrivaled game.
Napheesa Collier is one of four Unrivaled players competing for the 1v1 tournament's $200,000 prize. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball will crown its first-ever 1v1 tournament champion on Friday night, when all four semifinalists take the court with a $200,000 grand prize on the line.

Vinyl guard Arike Ogunbowale will kick off the semis against Mist forward Aaliyah Edwards, before Unrivaled co-founder and Lunar Owls forward Napheesa Collier faces Rose forward Azurá Stevens. The victors will immediately advance to the night's best-of-three final series.

Notably, Friday's set puts alma mater pride on center court. A trio of UConn alums in Collier, Stevens, and Edwards will all clock in, while Ogunbowale reps Notre Dame — one of just three teams to beat the Huskies this NCAA season.

Along with those priceless bragging rights, the semifinalists are battling for a six-figure payday, though none will leave empty-handed. Each are guaranteed at least $25,000, with $50,000 on deck for the tournament's runner-up.

The players' Unrivaled teammates will also be watching with interest, as the winner's entire 3×3 team will snag $10,000 each.

Though 1v1 can feel like a schoolyard version of basketball, with this much money involved, expect the competition to rise miles above playground tussles.

Rose BC's Angel Reese defends Mist forward Aaliyah Edwards during an Unrivaled game.
Aaliyah Edwards is one of three UConn alums in the Unrivaled 1v1 semifinals. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Endurance could decide Unrivaled 1v1 tournament champion

Friday's format is in part a test of stamina, as players stare down a grueling schedule where the eventual winner must play either three or four 1v1 games in a single night.

To that end, Collier's elite conditioning could make her the favorite, if she can outlast Stevens in the pair's semifinal.

"Her motor is unmatched," Stevens said of Collier's endurance, a key factor in her success so far. "I try to conserve some energy in between possessions, especially when the games get really tiring."

Motors aside, Friday's title will boil down to fundamentals — and which athlete best leverages their personal skillset.

"I have to use my size and stick to my strengths," said Edwards. "It’s about imposing my will and getting the job done."

How to watch the Unrivaled 1v1 tournament finals

The inaugural Unrivaled 1v1 tournament concludes on Friday. Live coverage begins at 7:30 PM ET on TNT.

USC Beats UCLA as JuJu Watkins Ends Bruins’ Undefeated NCAA Season

USC's JuJu Watkins drives to the basket between UCLA's Janiah Barker and Elina Aarnisalo.
Watkins scored 38 points to hand UCLA their first loss of the season. (Robert Hanashiro/Imagn Images)

The last perfect DI basketball season has officially fallen, as USC phenom JuJu Watkins put up a historic performance to lead the No. 6 Trojans to a 71-60 win over then-undefeated No. 1 UCLA on Thursday.

Watkins finished the night with 38 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and eight blocks, becoming the first DI player to register an overall stat-line so robust in 20 years.

"It took everything. It's been a rough couple weeks for me," Watkins said after the game, referencing uncharacteristic performances leading up to Thursday's rivalry matchup. "To be able to kind of snap back into it and get into my rhythm here at Galen versus UCLA, it's really all I could ask for."

"I'm really just like a kid out there and living out my dream."

Throughout the back-and-forth battle, Watkins's consistency made all the difference. She scored every one of USC's 14 second-quarter points, and helped lead a monster fourth quarter in which the Trojans slammed the door by outscoring the Bruins 24-8.

"I didn't teach JuJu any of that," commented USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb after the game. "[I] just try to put her in situations to be her best self, and she does most of that work. What I was so impressed with tonight, obviously, was just the mentality she came out with."

With the marquee win, USC now sits firmly atop the Big Ten. That said, UCLA will have a chance to avenge the loss in the pair's March 1st rematch, when that final regular-season game could decide the conference title.

Until then, the Trojans will be riding high on their Thursday night dominance.

"We'll never forget this night," Gottlieb said. "It's as good as anything I've ever seen."

UConn star Paige Bueckers dribbles the ball during a game.
UConn takes on South Carolina on Sunday. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

How to watch Top 10 NCAA basketball this weekend

With no undefeated teams left in DI basketball, Watkins's performance has put the field on notice to not make any assumptions about who might end up on top.

While Sunday will see USC roll against unranked Washington and UCLA try to bounce back against No. 22 Michigan State, the NCAA slate will also serve up two huge Top 10 matchups.

First, No. 7 UConn will take their final major regular-season test when they visit No. 4 South Carolina at 1 PM ET, when Paige Bueckers and the Huskies will aim to pull off a similarly impressive USC-inspired upset.

Then at 3 PM ET, No. 5 LSU heads to No. 3 Texas, where the Tigers will hunt their first win over the Longhorns in more than 22 years.

Both elite meetings are set to air live on ABC.

Pro Women’s Lacrosse League Debuts at WLL Championship Series

A promotional graphic for the WLL Championship Series.
The WLL played its first-ever pro games at this week's Lexus Championship Series. (ESPN)

The brand-new professional Women's Lacrosse League (WLL) made its official debut this week just outside of Washington, DC, where its first-ever game saw the New York Charging take down the Maryland Charm 14-13 in the WLL Championship Series.

After the inaugural Tuesday result, the action continued on Wednesday, when the California Palms opened their WLL account by getting the better of the Boston Guard in a tight 16-15 matchup.

Founded and run by the Premier Lacrosse League, the WLL fosters top-level competition as the sport gears up for its 2028 Olympic return.

The four-team WLL Championship Series follows an Olympic-style "sixes" format. Unlike traditional lacrosse, which uses a larger pitch and 10 athletes per team, sixes employs a condensed field with six players per side.

In the Championship Series, teams are first competing in three round-robin games to determine semifinal seedings. The tournament will culminate with the knockout semifinal and final rounds on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

Team USA lacrosse star Charlotte North gestures during a 2022 World Championship game.
Team USA star Charlotte North competes for the WLL's Boston Guard. (Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)

WLL looks to level up lacrosse ahead of 2028 Olympics

Despite the competition's quick turnaround, the WLL represents a growing professionalization movement in women's lacrosse — with all involved betting big on the sport's Olympic success in LA.

When lacrosse steps back onto the Olympic stage in 2028, it will have been 80 years since its last 1948 outing — and even then, it was merely a demonstration event. The last time the sport earned medals was in 1908.

Furthermore, the sport's entire Olympic history rests in the men's game — 2028 will see women take the Olympic lacrosse pitch for the first time ever.

"We are honored to be a part of the WLL, and we couldn't be more excited to bring this game to the fans in new ways than ever before," said Boston Guard star Charlotte North in a league statement.

"We firmly believe that this is the beginning of what will be a monumental movement in the game of professional women's lacrosse, and for female athletes around the globe.... It's our time."

Former Northwestern lacrosse star Izzy Scane shoots the ball during an NCAA game.
Izzy Scane, the NCAA DI lacrosse career scoring leader, plays for the New York Charging. (Greg Fiume/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

How to watch the WLL Championship Series

The tournament's round-robin play continues with the Maryland Charm facing off against the Boston guard at 9 PM ET on Thursday, before the California Palms contend with the New York Charging at 6 PM ET on Friday.

All WLL Championship Series games will stream live on ESPN+, with Sunday's and Monday's knockout rounds airing live on ESPN2.

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