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Sidwell’s Kiki Rice, JWS Player of the Year, primed for basketball royalty

(Christian Jenkins/Just Women’s Sports)

The next queen of women’s basketball has yet to be crowned.

Whoever inherits the throne will lay claim to unprecedented riches — and responsibility. Between name, image and likeness (NIL) deals infusing cash into the college game and a $75 million investment from backers into the WNBA, the sport is closer to reaching mainstream popularity than ever before.

“Women’s basketball, in a good way, is going to probably go through some growing pains,” legendary Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird said. “We’re going to start getting attention that we’re not used to getting. You’re going to probably have more cameras in your face.”

The queen will need to be someone who plays at a high level, but who also stays cool under pressure. Someone who understands the history and the potential of the game. Someone who will not be made by the crown, but who will make the crown themselves.

Someone like Kiki Rice.

Rice, the incoming UCLA point guard, is our inaugural JWS high school basketball Player of the Year, and not just because of her superlative on court-abilities — she’s averaging more than 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game entering the State Champions Invitational national tournament next month. The Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) senior, many believe, has the tools and the makeup to help shepherd the sport to the next level.

Central to her appeal is her deferential demeanor. Rice’s family moved from the Bay Area when she was young, and even today she’s more California chill than D.C. domineering.

“From day to day, what’s on my mind is not necessarily, oh, a ton of people are watching me, and I have high expectations,” Rice said. “It’s just about having fun and helping those around me have the same opportunities that I did.”

***

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(Christian Jenkins/Just Women's Sports)

It’s a little after 10 a.m. on March 12, and more than a foot of snow is decorating the Sidwell Friends campus. Rice is at the school for the JWS photoshoot, and though she’s the star of the show, she also assumes the role of photographer’s assistant, moving the light stand from station to station. Then she hurries back into position, waits for the flash, and smiles.

In between pictures, she hoists shots on the court where she’s become a local icon.

The basketball gym, which Rice will leave behind this year when she enrolls at UCLA, functions as something of a paean to her basketball power.

Pinned to the balcony overlooking the court is a white banner recognizing her gold medal with Team USA at the 2019 FIBA Americas U16 Championship. Another white banner, hanging against the baseline where Rice has swooshed so many jumpers, commemorates the Quakers’ 2022 D.C. State Athletic Association Championship. And in the locker room, printed on the whiteboard in red lettering, is an axiom that’s helped Rice guide Sidwell to heights few thought were possible: #SUCCESSNEVERRESTS.

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(Christian Jenkins/Just Women's Sports)

Before Rice, Sidwell was known more for the presence of Secret Service agents than Division I basketball scouts. Graduates include Barack Obama’s children, Sasha and Malia, Chelsea Clinton, Al Gore III and several of President Joe Biden’s grandchildren.

Rice’s family runs in similar circles; her aunt Susan was Obama’s national security adviser. So when it came to decide on her high school path, Rice felt most comfortable remaining at Sidwell, where she’d become a basketball sensation as a middle schooler, instead of running off to the more competitive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.

She lifted the Quakers program up with her.

“She laid the foundation for the quality of the kids and people we want in our program,” said Sidwell Friends coach Tamika Dudley, who took over the program ahead of Rice’s sophomore season. “We coach her hard, and she’s OK with that. And I think that sets the example for others.”

It was that work ethic that drew Alex McLean to Rice. McLean, the director of player development for the Washington Wizards, has also worked with UConn stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd. Rice, he said, has the ability to reach those same heights.

Over the past year, McLean has worked with Rice to improve her jumper from a bio-mechanical standpoint. Using the Noah shooting system, a machine that tracks shots from anywhere on the court and provides verbal feedback for shot arc and depth, McLean helped Rice become a dead-eye shooter.

“She’s always been known for her ball-handling. She’s super fast, super strong. The knock on her was her shooting,” McLean said. “Now she’s knocking stuff down left and right.”

Sidwell opponents, both local and national, witnessed that transformation firsthand. With Rice leading the way, the Quakers enter the State Champions Invitational, beginning April 8 in Tampa, with a 28-0 record.

What was once referred to by locals as the “Obama school” is now the “Kiki Rice school.” But Rice is looking to expand her reach even farther.

“I think if she can convey to the world who she truly is, which I think she will,” Dudley said, “she’s going to be a complete rock star.”

***

Every few nights, when she’s laying in bed with the lights off, Rice flicks her phone to “Do Not Disturb” mode and takes a few moments to reflect.

“It’s just me … thinking back on what’s happened to me, just how fortunate I am to be in the situation I am,” Rice said.

And then she’ll fall asleep, but not for too long. Rice often rises at 5 a.m. for workouts, whether with McLean, Wes Dunning, her strength and conditioning coach who’s helped her become a more physical player (Rice can deadlift almost 300 pounds), or her father John, who played basketball at Yale.

Back in the gym on March 12, right after the JWS shoot, it’s John’s turn for some face-time with the royalty-in-waiting. Rice ties up her hair and trades her Quakers jersey for some workout clothes.

The previous week, Rice had been named Naismith National Player of the Year. The following week, Bird would personally honor her as the Gatorade National Player of the Year. The awards, though, come secondary to the work. Now, it’s time to get up some shots.

The cameras have been stowed away, but Rice’s day is just beginning. Her hair bounces atop her head as she shuffles across the court. Her curls are dyed blond, but from a distance they almost look gold, a custom crown for the next queen of women’s basketball.

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.

Top Tennis Stars Crash Out of Wimbledon in the First Round

US tennis star Coco Gauff reacts to her 2025 Wimbledon first-round loss to Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska.
World No. 2 Coco Gauff fell to Ukraine's unseeded Dayana Yastremska in the first round of 2025 Wimbledon on Tuesday. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

The grass court chaos of Wimbledon didn't disappoint this week, as the unpredictable surface claimed more than one surprise victim in the 2025 Grand Slam's first round.

A full 10 of the London tournament's 32 seeded players fell in the competition's first round, including four of the WTA's Top 10: World No. 2 Coco Gauff, No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 6 Qinwen Zheng, and No. 9 Paula Badosa.

"I should just play no tournaments, get no wins, then roll into Wimbledon, and maybe I'll have better results," US star Pegula joked after her two-set Tuesday loss to Italy's No. 116 Elisabetta Cocciaretto, referencing her recent wins.

Gauff's short Wimbledon outing also represented a new challenge for the 21-year-old standout, as the top-ranked US tennis player struggled to bounce back after winning the 2025 French Open last month.

"I feel like mentally I was a little bit overwhelmed with everything that came afterwards," Gauff told ESPN. "So I didn’t feel like I had enough time to celebrate and also get back into it."

The upsets continued as Wimbledon entered its second round on Wednesday morning, claiming several more seeded players like world No. 5 Jasmine Paolini and No. 15 Diana Shnaider, though both No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and unseeded fan favorite Naomi Osaka cruised into the Slam's third round on two-set wins.

No. 8 Madison Keys now leads the US contingent, with fellow US contender No. 12 Amanda Anisimova joining the 2025 Australian Open champion in snagging their own two-set, second-round victories on Wednesday.

How to watch the 2025 Wimbledon Championships

Second-round play at the 2025 Wimbledon women's singles tournament continues on Thursday, as seven US players — including No. 10 Emma Navarro and No. 28 Sofia Kenin — look to advance to the competition's third round.

Live continuous coverage of the London Grand Slam airs on ESPN.

USWNT Faces Rivals Canada in Final Summer Friendly

USWNT players Alyssa Thompson and Sam Meza eye the ball during a June 2025 training camp.
The USWNT will face Canada in their final summer friendly on Wednesday. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

The world No. 1 USWNT will close out their summer international break against a familiar foe on Wednesday night, facing North American rival No. 8 Canada for the first time this year.

"It's never friendly, you know? It's always like a final," US midfielder Sam Coffey told media earlier this week. "We all know each other super well."

"I'm really excited to be a part of it again for our younger, newer players," she continued. "I think it's going to be a huge learning opportunity on what representing this crest means."

The Northern neighbors are the USWNT's most frequent opponent, with the US entering the pair's 67th meeting with a 53-4-9 all-time record against Canada.

Wednesday's matchup will also mark Canada's first US clash under new head coach Casey Stoney, who joined the team in January following her abrupt June 2024 dismissal by the NWSL's San Diego Wave FC.

As for US boss Emma Hayes, she'll be looking for yet another refreshed set of starters on Wednesday after swapping out all 11 players between the team's two friendlies against Ireland last week.

"It's a testament to players and staff alike that we can rotate to different groups like we did last game, and everybody's understanding [the tactics] to varying degrees," Hayes said on Tuesday.

With months to go before the next USWNT camp in October, Wednesday's showdown serves as the last chance for bubble players to prove their worth, all while the team aims to cap the summer window with a big win over their longtime rivals.

How to watch the USWNT vs. Canada on Wednesday

The USWNT will cap their three-friendly summer break against Canada at 7:30 PM ET in Washington, DC.

Live coverage of the clash will air on TNT.

Indiana Upsets Minnesota, Wins WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Without Clark

The Indiana Fever celebrate and lift the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup trophy.
The Indiana Fever upset the Minnesota Lynx to win the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup. (David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Indiana Fever lifted their first trophy since 2012 on Tuesday night, winning the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup with a 74-59 upset victory over reigning Cup champs Minnesota — all while injured star guard Caitlin Clark watched from the sidelines.

To snag the win, Indiana leaned on balanced scoring, with forward Natasha Howard's 16-point, 12-rebound double-double leading the Fever's five double-digit shooters.

At the same time, the Fever employed a shutdown defense, limiting the Lynx to their lowest point total of the season.

Beyond the $500,000 payout, Tuesday's win gives the 8-8 Fever a momentum boost as the team continues contending with both high-profile departures and the limited availability of their floor general.

"We have a resilient group, you know?" Indiana head coach Stephanie White said after the game. "They're tough, mentally and physically, they pull for one another. I'm just really proud."

"It felt good to get a win under gut-check circumstances," echoed guard Kelsey Mitchell. "To have so much going on and still stay consistently for each other, it was beautiful. It felt really amazing."

As for the league-leading Lynx, the Commissioner's Cup loss won't impact Minnesota's regular-season WNBA standings — and they’ll hope to build on the learnings from last night's ego blow.

Minnesota also has a bit of history one their side, as the last two Commissioner's Cup runners-up went on to win the WNBA Championship in the same year.

"We have to take this game to heart and learn from the mistakes we made, the way we showed up, the way we prepared, and make sure we don't do it again," said Lynx center Alanna Smith.

How to watch the Indiana Fever, Minnesota Lynx this week

Neither 2025 Commissioner's Cup contender will have much time to reflect on Tuesday's game, as both Indiana and Minnesota will dive back into regular-season WNBA play on Thursday.

The Fever will host the Las Vegas Aces at 7 PM ET, airing on Prime, before the Washington Mystics visit the Lynx at 8 PM ET, with live coverage on WNBA League Pass.

Indiana Fever Guard Sophie Cunningham Sounds Off on WNBA Expansion

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham speaks to reporters before the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup final.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham expressed concern about the new WNBA expansion cities. (David Dow /NBAE via Getty Images)

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham turned heads on Tuesday, criticizing the latest WNBA expansion plans in light of ongoing WNBPA CBA negotiations.

Cunningham drew ire from some fans after expressing skepticism about the WNBA awarding expansion teams to Detroit and Cleveland over other possible cities, while also suggesting that the league might be growing too quickly.

"You want to listen to your players, too. Where do they want to play?" she told reporters ahead of Indiana's Commissioner's Cup win. "I'm not so sure what the thought process is there, but at the end of the day, you want to make sure that you're not expanding our league too fast."

"It's kind of a hard decision-making situation. But man, I don't know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland]."

Elsewhere, Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally also voiced her expansion concerns on Tuesday, calling on the WNBA to keep player support at the forefront when adding expansion teams.

"We really have to put an emphasis on the players that are in our league right now," she told reporters. "Maybe focus on the teams that find excuses continuously to lack investment in their players before we focus on adding more to the grain of people that can't really be sustained."

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