Welcome to my JWS weekly column during the WNBA season! Here, you will find my thoughts and analysis on what’s transpired in the league in the past week.

It’s easy to overreact after teams have played one to two games through the opening weekend of the season. I usually like to hold my thoughts until at least two weeks into the season, but that’s no fun, so here is what stood out to me from the first live WNBA action of 2022.

Rookies showed up and showed out

The 2022 WNBA draft class made quite the splash on opening weekend. The Fever and Dream, last year’s bottom two teams, are in a position where they need their rookies to play early and often, and the players have rewarded them so far.

While Indiana lost both of its games to the Mystics and the Sparks, I have not had this much fun watching the franchise in years. With three rookies in their starting rotation, the Fever competed on offense and defense and, unlike in past seasons, refused to roll over. Much of that has to do with the competitiveness of their draft class.

No. 2 pick NaLyssa Smith tallied a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double in her pro debut against the Mystics. Smith was aggressive from the opening tip, hunting her opportunities to score often. It’s clear the Fever’s coaching staff has given her the confidence to make plays and shoot on offense.

rookieeeess! @em__baller ➡️ @NaLyssaSmith pic.twitter.com/8ZdvLIA1EI

— Indiana Fever ⛹️‍♀️🏀 (@IndianaFever) May 8, 2022

Destanni Henderson then played like an experienced vet against the Sparks, scoring 19 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the 3-point line and leaving many to question the teams that passed on her in the draft, allowing the guard to fall to the second round.

No. 10 pick Queen Egbo is still developing her offensive skill set, but her ability to rebound, score around the rim and make her presence felt in the paint gives the Fever an element they did not have before.

In her pro debut for the Dream, Rhyne Howard showcased her potential with 16 points and four assists, playing nearly the entire game in their win over the Dallas Wings. Howard was just 4-of-15 from the field (all four of her field goals came on 3-pointers), but I expect the guard to continue to get more comfortable on the floor as time goes on, because Atlanta will give her the minutes.

I’m not sure anyone expected Shakira Austin, in her second game as a pro, to go toe-to-toe with one of the greatest centers in the history of the WNBA. But the Mystics rookie center held her own against Sylvia Fowles on Sunday night.

AND-1 for the rook 🔥 @Theylove_kira has notched a double-double w/ 13 PTS and 10 REB w/ 5:17 left!#Mystics25 // #TogetherDC pic.twitter.com/dg11zOqLwc

— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) May 9, 2022

Austin finished with a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double while shooting an efficient 6-for-8 from the field. We knew Austin had the size and skill to transition smoothly into the pros, but it was her confidence that stood out to me the most. You can tell that she not only feels like she belongs, but also that she can be great in this league.

Hellooooo Las Vegas Aces

Many of the questions about what this Aces team would be capable of in the Becky Hammon era were put to bed over the weekend.

The Aces are off to a 2-0 start after beating the Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm, the latter of which was particularly impressive. The game felt like part of a best-of-five playoff series, with heavyweight superstar talent making play after play. The Aces put their foot on the gas early and controlled key areas of the game, out-rebounding the Storm 45-30 and outscoring them 42-16 in the paint to win 85-74.

Dearica Hamby and A’ja Wilson combined for 30 points and 34 rebounds, and Jackie Young added 19 points. While Kelsey Plum struggled from the field, the fact she still finished with 18 points, seven assists and 6-for-6 shooting from the free-throw line suggests she’s ready to take her pro career to the next level this season.

The Aces’ tenacity on defense fueled their offensive outbursts in both games. They controlled the glass and were disruptive on-ball and in passing lanes, forcing the Storm into tough contested shots. While we’ve become accustomed to Las Vegas’ offensive firepower, we haven’t seen this type of defensive grit from them in the past.

A'JA SAID NOT IN MY HOUSE! 🚫🚫@_ajawilson22 // #ALLIN ♦️♠️ pic.twitter.com/WShqCzcnCf

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) May 9, 2022

My biggest question remaining for the Aces lies in their depth. With four starters each playing over 34 minutes against Seattle, sustaining the pace and level of their play will be challenging. The Aces will benefit greatly from the return of Riquna Williams, but getting valuable minutes and production out of players like Kierstan Bell and Theresa Plaisance will be especially key down the road.

What’s up with the …

Minnesota Lynx

The Lynx were expected to struggle early on this season, and that certainly was the case as they fell to the Storm and Mystics over the weekend. The loss to Washington on Sunday was particularly painful to watch, but still there’s no reason to hit the panic button. Remember that Minnesota started 0-4 in 2021 and finished fourth.

The Lynx fell victim to a discombobulated offense that was unable to get the ball inside to Sylvia Fowles and a defense that seemed non-existent at times. They are still without Damiris Dantas, who is expected to return soon from injury, and Kayla McBride will rejoin the team from overseas in the coming weeks. Odyssey Sims has been with the team for just over a week and is still finding her footing.

Jessica Shepard was a bright spot for the Lynx over the weekend, with a career-high 16 points and 12 rebounds against Washington and a near double-double against Seattle. For Minnesota to have success this season, she’s going to need to elevate her play and have a breakout season. Shepard, after missing nearly all of the 2019 and 2020 seasons while recovering from an ACL tear, is on my early shortlist of Most Improved Player candidates.

I’m giving the Lynx more time before I start questioning specific pieces of this roster.

Phoenix Mercury

After a 106-88 opening loss to Las Vegas, Phoenix’s play left much to be desired. While I’m confident in the Mercury’s ability to score the basketball, I do question their ability to get stops with the makeup of their current roster. When you concede 108 points in your first game, and allow your opponent to shoot 53 percent from beyond the arc and close to 60 percent for the game, the concern is warranted.

Brianna Turner and Diamond DeShields, who reported to Phoenix on Monday, will be key defensive additions as the Mercury head into back-to-back matchups with Seattle. While the Storm struggled a bit offensively during the opening weekend, they will give the Mercury’s defense a good, early test.

Week 1 Power Rankings

1. Las Vegas Aces, 2-0
2. Seattle Storm, 1-1
3. Chicago Sky, 0-1
4. Connecticut Sun, 0-1
5. Washington Mystics, 2-0
6. Los Angeles Sparks, 2-0
7. New York Liberty, 1-0
8. Phoenix Mercury, 0-1
9. Minnesota Lynx, 0-2
10. Atlanta Dream, 1-0
11. Dallas Wings, 0-1
12. Indiana Fever, 0-2

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

No. 7 USC took down No. 4 UConn on Saturday, winning 72-70 in a battle between two bonafide NCAA basketball championship contenders still figuring out a consistent flow of play.

USC led by as many as 18 in the first half. However UConn came storming back, briefly pulling ahead in the fourth quarter before the Trojans outlasted the Huskies to secure the narrow victory.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

JuJu holds on to secure USC win

With UConn superstar Paige Bueckers tight on her heels, USC standout JuJu Watkins registered a game-leading 25 points, alongside six rebounds, five assists, and three blocks.

Bueckers and Huskies freshman Sarah Strong split scoring duties for UConn, notching 22 points each with Strong adding 11 rebounds.

After opening the season at No. 2, this highly touted UConn squad has dropped pivotal games against Notre Dame and now USC to go 0-2 in Top 10 matchups. It's a pattern legendary coach Auriemma will hope to correct before the Huskies face their next ranked opponent in early February.

"I thought the execution part in the first half was just as bad as I've seen in a few years here in Connecticut," Huskies boss Geno Auriemma said after the loss.

"This is a really significant win, and it's a really significant win because of the stature of UConn's program and what Geno Auriemma has done for our sport," commented USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb.

Weekend upsets shake top-ranked NCAA basketball teams

Elsewhere, upsets dominated the NCAA basketball conversation this weekend, with Top 25 contenders falling short as this season's undefeated list continues to shrink.

No. 15 Michigan State saw their first loss on Friday, falling to unranked Alabama 82-67 in a low scoring matchup. Afterwards, No. 9 Duke suffered their own unranked loss on Saturday, ceding a tough defensive battle to USF 65-56.

Seventeenth-ranked Georgia Tech remains undefeated with Saturday's ranked win over No. 23 Nebraska, while No. 14 West Virginia lost to unranked Colorado later that day.

Parity is the name of the game this season, with conference realignment, the transfer portal, and other recent shifts impacting a number of programs across the NCAA. And with conference play looming, teams will rely on regional rivalries and schedule strength to prepare them for heightened competition in the new year.

Penn State won the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Championship on Sunday, rising above Louisville's hometown advantage and a monster second set by the Cardinals to claim the program's eighth all-time title and first in 10 years.

In the victory, Penn State head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley became the first woman head coach in NCAA tournament history to win the championship — all while battling breast cancer.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

Penn State tops Louisville in a back-and-forth matchup

Sunday's championship game drew a sell-out crowd of 21,860 to the KFC Yum Center in downtown Louisville, setting a new NCAA volleyball championship record. It was Louisville's second-ever title match, after finishing second to Texas in 2022.

After suffering an ankle injury in​ Thursday's semifinal upset against Pitt, however, Louisville entered the match without senior outside hitter Anna DeBeer. The absence ultimately proved too great to overcome.

The Nittany Lions won the first set 25-23, before Louisville saved 10 set points to dramatically take the second set 34-32.

But the Nittany Lions roared back, overwhelming the Cardinals to win the third set 25-20 before closing out the deciding set 25-17.

A moving win for Penn State's women's volleyball coach

Penn State coach Schumacher-Cawley, who was diagnosed with cancer last fall, stayed with her team throughout the 2024 season.

"I'm very happy for Katie, and it's a big deal for this sport," Louisville head coach Dani Busboom Kelly said. "I'm thankful… that we can move on and that more women will be in this position in the future."

As for Schumacher-Cawley, she remained ever humble.

"I'm inspired by the young kids that are sick," she said after the win. "If I can be an inspiration, then I take that. But I feel good. I'm fortunate to be surrounded by so many great people."

The new-look New York Sirens continue to impress in the early stages of the 2024/25 PWHL season, most recently notching a big 4-2 win over Toronto in the the team home opener on Wednesday.

All four of New York's goals came in the second period — the most in a single period all season — and all were the first goals of the season by each scorer.

Finland international Noora Tulus opened the game's scoring with her first PWHL goal, with teammates Emmy Fecteau, Micah Zandee-Hart, and Jaime Bourbonnais following suit. Both Fecteau's goal and team captain Zandee-Hart's were the first of their PWHL careers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

Sirens rookie Sarah Fillier and teammate Alex Carpenter both assisted on Tulus's game-opening goal, with each booking a point in their fourth straight contest. Fillier remains in the PWHL's lead with two goals and five assists for a total of seven points, while Carpenter is just behind with six points — though her three goals make her the league's scoring leader.

As for the Sceptres, forwards Hannah Miller and former Siren Emma Woods each made a dent in the scoresheet with goals of their own in the third period, but it wasn't quite enough as Toronto failed to complete the comeback.

Last-place Toronto has now allowed their opponents to breach the scoresheet first in each of their 2024/25 matchups, ultimately losing their last three games in regulation.

New York Sirens to face Minnesota Frost in top matchup

New York's shifting fortune highlights the second-season league's rapidly growing parity. With only one loss through their first four games, the Sirens sit in second place to stake an early season claim on "most improved" after finishing last in the PWHL's inaugural season.

Just above New York on the league's table are the Minnesota Frost. The reigning Walter Cup champions are holding strong as the team to beat, but New York has already proved that it's possible after handing Minnesota an overtime 4-3 season-opening loss on December 1st.

The Sirens' will officially take aim at the top of the PWHL table on Sunday, when New York will try to gift Minnesota a second season loss in the league's pre-Christmas closer. This time, the Sirens will have the crowd on their side as the Frost visit New York's home ice.

How to watch New York Sirens vs. Minnesota Frost in PWHL action

The puck is set to drop on New York vs. Minnesota at 12 PM ET on Sunday, with live streaming coverage on YouTube.

Despite being populated by all four No. 1 seeds, Thursday's 2024 NCAA volleyball semifinals served up the bracket's biggest upsets, as heavily favored Nebraska and overall top seed Pitt were sent packing by their conference foes.

In front of 21,726 fans — a new record for college volleyball's postseason — Louisville shocked Pitt with a 3-1 victory before Penn State ousted Nebraska in a five-set instant classic.

Louisville books second national championship ticket

After dropping their first set to Pitt on Thursday night, it seemed the deck was stacked against the Cards, who had already lost twice to the Panthers in the regular season.

However, buoyed by their raucous home crowd, Louisville surged back, sweeping the next three sets to book their first trip to the national championship match since 2022, when they became the first and only ACC team to ever compete in the collegiate final.

As for Pitt, Thursday's loss was just their second all season, and not even 2024 AVCA Player of the Year Olivia Babcock's astounding 33 kills could extend their title chase. Notably, their national semifinal curse continues, with the Panthers now falling in the NCAA tournament's penultimate round for four straight years.

On the other hand, Louisville's victory was a true team effort, with three senior outside hitters — Anna DeBeer, Charitie Luper, and Sofia Maldonado Diaz — leading the offensive charge with 14 kills each.

The Cardinals' roster was also required to step up in unexpected ways. Just two points into the fourth set, Louisville star DeBeer crumbled to the court with an ankle injury and did not return to the match. The visibly shocked Cards looked to freshman Payton Petersen, who made a massive statement by recording two kills and four clutch digs to help seal the win.

"I wanted to do this for her," Petersen said of DeBeer. "She's meant so much to me."

Penn State roars back to top Nebraska

In Thursday's battle between two Big Ten titans, the message was clear: Never count out the Nittany Lions.

After falling behind the Cornhuskers 2-0 in what increasingly looked like an inevitable Nebraska victory, Penn State emerged from the brink of defeat to pull off the first reverse sweep of the Huskers in the NCAA tournament since 1982.

Following a 5-0 run that helped the Nittany Lions stay alive with a third set win, they flipped a 22-16 deficit into a match-point battle that ended the fourth set 28-26 in Penn State's favor. With the match now equalized, Penn State took control in the fifth, holding off Nebraska 15-13 to clinch their first championship trip since winning their seventh title in 2014.

Star Jess Mruzik led the Nittany Lions' charge with a 26-kill, 12-dig double-double, putting together what Nebraska head coach John Cook called "one of the best performances [he's] ever seen by an outside hitter." 

Like Louisville's Petersen, freshmen also stepped up for Penn State, with Izzy Starck recording six key blocks and redshirt freshman Caroline Jurevicius hammering 20 kills against her former team, having transferred from Nebraska in December 2023.

As for the Huskers, their stacked roster showed out, with outside hitter Harper Murray leading the charge with a 20-kill, 15-dig double-double, plus three aces — the most by any player in either match on Thursday. Middle blocker Andi Jackson also had a standout night, putting together a near-errorless performance to finish with 19 kills.

Four-time All-American libero Lexi Rodriguez added program history to Thursday's mix, closing out her NCAA career as the Huskers' all-time digs leader with 1,896.

Sunday's court will make NCAA history

Louisville and Penn State's semifinal victories have guaranteed that Sunday's 44th NCAA volleyball championship match will go down in the history books.

With Dani Busboom Kelly leading the Cardinals and Katie Schumacher-Cawley coaching the Nittany Lions, a woman head coach will lift the national championship trophy for the first time.

Only two women have ever coached their teams into the college volleyball final, with Florida's Mary Wise doing so in 2003 and 2017 before Busboom Kelly followed in 2022.

For context, the last seven Division I basketball trophies came under women head coaches.

The fact that this glass ceiling still exists is partially due to volleyball having less women in head coaching positions than other NCAA sports. Less than half of Division I's 334 teams are led by a woman, while basketball boasts nearly 68% female leadership and softball claims almost 74%.

Busboom Kelly's ACC exceeds that 50% stat, but the Schumacher-Cawley remains one of only six women leading the Big Ten's 18 teams.

Both of Sunday's sideline leaders know what it takes to win the national championship, with Schumacher-Cawley taking the 1999 title while playing for Penn State and Busboom Kelly doing the same with Nebraska in 2006.

Even so, in some ways, this year's title will mean even more, as the coaches pave the way for future generations of volleyball leaders.

"[There’s] just honestly no better feeling than being led by a female because that could be me someday, that could be one of my teammates someday," Mruzik noted. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

How to watch the 2024 NCAA volleyball championship match

Sunday's final won't just make women's coaching history, it could see Louisville earn the ACC's first-ever NCAA volleyball title. But to do so, the Cardinals, who fell to Penn State 3-0 in early September, will have to deny the Nittany Lions an eighth national championship.

NCAA volleyball will crown its Division I champion in Sunday's 3 PM ET match, with live coverage on ABC.