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.

Zimbabwean swimming legend Kirsty Coventry made history on Thursday, when she became both the first woman and first African ever elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

At 41-years-old, Coventry will also be the youngest president in the organization's 131-year history and the 10th individual to ever hold the office.

"As an nine-year-old girl, I never thought I would be standing up here one day getting to give back to this incredible movement of ours," the five-time Olympian said in her remarks.

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An extensive Olympic resume, in and out of the pool

The Auburn University grad and seven-time Olympic medal-winner — including back-to-back golds in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games — retired from competition after the 2016 Rio Olympics.

At that time, Coventry was already three years into her IOC membership, after initially joining as part of the governing body's Athletes' Commission. She joined the Executive Committee in 2023.

"I will make all of you very, very proud and hopefully extremely confident in the decision you have taken," Coventry said to her fellow members in her acceptance speech. "Now we have got some work together."

That work that awaits Coventry in her eight-year mandate will include navigating the 2028 LA Games and selecting a host for the 2036 Summer Games.

Her first Olympic Games at the helm, however, will be the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, giving her less than a year to prepare before the Opening Ceremony kicks off.

Coventry to continue IOC efforts to promote gender equity

Coventry will have a few months to adjust before assuming her new office on June 23rd, when she will succeed her mentor, 71-year-old Thomas Bach.

Bach will have served the IOC's maximum 12-year tenure in the role when he steps down, having led the governing body to stage the first-ever Olympic Games with equal numbers of women and men competing — a mark captured at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

With gender equity as a driving force in his leadership, Bach also increased the number women serving as both IOC members and in the organization's leadership roles, with women comprising seven of the body's 15-person executive board.

Coventry is one of those seven women, and Bach specifically hand-picked her as his successor.

The legacy she inherits isn't lost on Coventry, both in the efforts of Bach and in the women who paved the way — perhaps none more directly than IOC member Anita DeFrantz, a 1976 Olympic bronze medal-winning rower for Team USA and the only other woman to ever run for IOC president.

Recognizing the election's historic significance, 72-year-old DeFrantz overcame significant health issues to travel to Greece in order to vote for Coventry — with her ballot securing the exact number of votes Coventry needed to win.

"I was really proud that I could make her proud," an emotional Coventry said.

The NCAA is leveling the playing field, with Women’s March Madness teams in line to receive their first-ever prize payouts based on tournament performance — a mechanism the men’s tournament has enjoyed since 1991.

Sparked by 2021's landmark NCAA gender equity review, the NCAA will distribute a total of approximately $15 million to individual conferences based on how many games their teams play, with each March Madness performance "unit" worth about $113,000.

This year's inaugural $15 million purse represents 26% of the competition's $65 million media rights valuation — putting it proportionally on par with the percentage allocated to the men's fund.

That overall prize pool will jump to $20 million in 2026 and $25 million in 2027, before switching to a successive 2.9% increase per year.

"We are all playing in the same March Madness," said UNC Greensboro head coach Trina Patterson, whose No. 16-seed Spartans will face No. 1-seed USC in the first round on Saturday. "The treatment for the men and women should be equal. We get a unit!"

March Madness teams get additional NCAA tournament perks

While the performance payouts are new this year, women's March Madness teams also receive perks like charter flights throughout the tournament, which can make all the difference for smaller programs eyeing an upset.

"Everyone is so excited about the experience. Going from the bus directly to the plane, everyone was so happy," March Madness debutante William & Mary head coach Erin Dickerson Davis told ESPN ahead of her No. 16-seed team’s First Four victory on Thursday.

Columbia junior Perri Page, whose No. 11-seed Lions defeated Washington in their own First Four matchup on Thursday, echoed Davis' sentiment, saying, "It was cool going to the charter, and we've been taking it all in."

"We've been enjoying the whole season," the forward added, noting "It's great we can make money for the school now."

"It should have always been that way. Women's basketball has been fighting for equality for a very long time," said Davis. "I've been in this business for many, many years. I played college basketball. It's a long time coming."

"You got to start somewhere, and I think we've been so far behind," added Columbia head coach Megan Griffith.

"This is more like the whipped cream. I think the cherry on top is going to keep coming — but it's really good so far."

Less than two months before the season tips off on May 16th, the WNBA dropped its full 2025 national broadcast slate on Thursday, rewarding last year’s most in-demand teams with a significant uptick in screen time.

Fueled by the fan fervor around 2024 Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever will see a league-record 41 of their 44 regular-season games aired nationally this season.

That tally includes all five Fever matchups against regional rival Chicago, after the pair's June 23rd game averaged 2.3 million viewers — becoming the most-watched game of the 2024 regular season.

Just behind Indiana in earning significant national broadcast coverage are two-time WNBA champs Las Vegas, who will see 33 of their games aired across the country. As for the reigning champions New York Liberty, they trail the Aces by just one game, with 32 of their 2025 season games garnering national attention.

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Record WNBA ratings spur big broadcast moves

Thanks to 2024’s monster ratings, big-name networks are increasingly recognizing the WNBA as a profitable summer product, with broadcasters expanding their coverage as the league prepares for its 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights contract to kick in next year.

With the 2025 WNBA season expanding from 40 to 44 games per team, ION is leading all broadcasters with 50 regular-season games, with ABC/ESPN, CBS Sports, NBA TV, and Amazon Prime all taking a piece of the pro women's basketball league's pie.

Broadcasters are also moving games off of their sports-specific networks and onto flagship cable channels, with a record 13 matchups — a full half of Disney Networks' 26 regular-season games — set to air on ABC, including the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game.

The league will also see its first-ever regular-season games earn primetime broadcast TV slots, with CBS Sports elevating two of its 20 games — the June 7th and August 9th battles between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever — to its flagship network, CBS.

As the WNBA shoots for an even more impactful 2025 season, broadcasters are helping to boost the charge, offering increased access to the league’s brightest stars and biggest games.

The NCAA tournament tips off in earnest with the bracket's 64-team first round on Friday, as eager March Madness fans look beyond the chalk to eye the competition's underdogs after a rollercoaster 2024/25 basketball season.

Early upsets aren’t exactly the norm in the women’s tournament. Only one lower seed won their first-round matchup in 2024, and no team below a No. 3 seed has ever gone the distance, but in a season of increased parity, a few lower-rated squads are rounding into underdog form.

Breaking down potential March Madness bracket-busters

For potential March Madness upset instigators, late-season momentum late season momentum is the name of the game — a dangerous factor in any single-elimination tournament.

Even without superstar grad Caitlin Clark, No. 6-seed Iowa capped their regular season on a high before narrowly losing to No. 4-seed Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament's quarterfinals. Should they advance past No. 11-seed Murray State in their first-round Saturday matchup, the Hawkeyes are poised to give No. 3-seed Oklahoma a run for their money in the second round on Monday.

Entering as a No. 10-seed, Ivy League tournament champs Harvard will have their hands full against No. 7-seed Michigan State on Saturday, but Crimson senior Harmoni Turner and her season-average 22.5 points per game could tilt the scales in Harvard's favor.

After edging out first-round opponent No. 11-seed Iowa State, No. 6-seed Michigan is playing like an upset contender. Now a potential second-round matchup against No. 3-seed Notre Dame — fresh off a recent losing skid — awaits the young squad. 

With the brackets locked and the teams loaded, the prospects of twists and turns make the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament especially exciting — even if this year’s frontrunners appear destined for Tampa.

How to watch Women's March Madness games this weekend

The Big Dance officially begins at 11:30 AM ET on Friday, when No. 11 Iowa State tips off against No. 6 Michigan on ESPN2.

Saturday's slate will complete the 2024/25 NCAA tournament's first round, with No. 6 Iowa beginning their Madness run against No. 11 Murray State at 12 PM ET on ESPN.

No. 10 Harvard will start dancing a few hours later, with the Crimson facing No. 7 Michigan State at 4:30 PM ET on ESPNews.

All games in the 2025 March Madness tournament will have live coverage across ESPN networks.