Chiney Today

Team USA is golden again. 🥇🇺🇸 Chiney Ogwumike breaks down Team USA’s 97-79 win over France in the 2026 FIBA World Cup Final, extending its streak to 36 straight World Cup wins and securing a fifth consecutive World Cup championship. Ashanti Plummer joins Chiney LIVE from Berlin to share what it was like inside the arena as Team USA flipped the game in the second half. Chiney also goes to the tape to break down the adjustments that changed the game, including Kara Lawson’s elite substitutions, Breanna Stewart’s impact, Napheesa Collier’s hustle and Caitlin Clark’s huge three before halftime. Plus, Chiney and Ashanti look ahead to the future of USA Basketball. What will Team USA’s 2028 Olympics roster look like? How will Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and the rest of young core fit alongside the vets playing in their final Olympic game? And with Gabby Williams, Marine Johannès, and France continuing to improve, what will the future look like with the world beginning to close the gap? IN THIS EPISODE: -Team USA wins its fifth straight FIBA World Cup title -How USA dominated France in the second half -Chiney breaks down the biggest plays on the Telestrator -Breanna Stewart earns World Cup MVP -Jackie Young shines on the biggest stage -Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese make a huge impact -What will Team USA’s roster look like at the 2028 Olympics? -Gabby Williams, France and the growing international threat -Ashanti Plummer officially joins the Chiney Today family Subscribe for more episodes of Chiney Today: The Heartbeat of Hoops. Timestamps: -0:00 Intro -1:16 Chiney welcomes a new friend of the show! -3:12 Team USA beats France to win 5th straight Gold medal -5:26 The two halves of basketball -8:15 Breaking down the key moments in Team USA’s win -11:57 Giving flowers to EVERY player -18:20 How will Team USA look in 2028 for the Olympics? -21:13 France, Spain, and the World have caught up -22:46 Give Gabby Williams her flowers! -26:11 Marine Johannes gave us the BEST World Cup moment -27:17 Final World Cup Takeaways -28:51 Drop THIS in the comments! -29:20 Goodbye Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Team USA is headed to the FIBA World Cup semifinals after its most dominant performance of the tournament, a 108–56 win over Hungary! In today’s episode of Chiney Today, Chiney Ogwumike and ESPN Senior Researcher Jason Joseph break down what made Team USA so effective, including the versatility of Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the team’s transition attack, and the chemistry developing between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Chiney uses some new technology to explain where Team USA still has room to improve, including defensive breakdowns and potential rotation changes as the competition gets tougher. Plus, France continues to roll and has moved ahead of Team USA in the FIBA rankings. Chiney and Jason discuss why Gabby Williams and France have looked like the best team in the tournament so far and whether a Team USA vs. France championship matchup could be on the way. IN THIS EPISODE: -Team USA dominates Hungary 108–56 and advances to the semifinals - Napheesa Collier + Breanna Stewart lead USA’s Best Game Yet -Chiney breaks down Team USA’s offensive versatility on the telestrator - Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese continue building chemistry -Why Team USA may need to adjust its rotations in the medal rounds -Defensive issues with Team USA still need to be cleaned up -Why France has overtaken Team USA in the FIBA rankings -Gabby Williams and France emerge as Team USA’s biggest threat -Could Team USA vs. France be the World Cup championship matchup? Subscribe to Chiney Today for more conversations from the heartbeat of hoops. Timestamps: -0:00 Intro  -1:42 USA dominates in win vs. Hungary -4:29 Breaking down plays where Breanna Stewart went to work! -7:23 Breaking down plays where Caitlin Clark & Angel Reese shifted the game -14:00 The young stars provide options for Team USA -17:15 Team USA has some areas to tighten up -19:18 Are France and Team USA on a collision course? -23:40 Goodbye Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Team USA is undefeated through the group stage of the 2026 FIBA World Cup… but they’re no longer ranked No. 1! 👀 In today’s episode, Chiney Ogwumike breaks down her biggest takeaways from Team USA’s run so far, including Caitlin Clark’s record-setting World Cup debut, the impact of Team USA’s “Young + Turnt” lineup, and why veteran experience seems to matter most in international play. Chiney also details the three things WNBA players have to adjust to in their hunt for another gold medal — from the different ball and court surface to FIBA rules, physicality, and the overall challenges of playing overseas. Plus, France jumped Team USA in the latest FIBA rankings! Chiney explains why she still wouldn’t put anyone ahead of Team USA until somebody actually knocks them off. With Gabby Williams leading France and Belgium’s Emma Meesseman also showing out, France and Belgium round out the Top 3 alongside Team USA. Team USA now turns its attention to the quarterfinals against Hungary as the medal rounds begin. In this episode: -Why Team USA dropped to No. 2 in the latest FIBA rankings -Why France has earned the No. 1 spot, but Chiney ain’t buying it -Caitlin Clark, Bueckers & Angel Reese’s “Young + Turnt” lineup -Caitlin Clark’s record-setting World Cup debut -The sequence that led to Team USA’s close win over Italy -The biggest differences between WNBA and FIBA play -What WNBA stars are showing out for their country -What Team USA needs to clean up before the medal rounds begin Subscribe to Chiney Today for more conversations from the heartbeat of hoops. Timestamps: -0:00 Intro -3:32 Team USA Swept Group D To Advance To Quarterfinals -6:50 Challenging Variables Team USA Is Navigating -16:21 The Stars Experience Is Game-Changing -23:29 Young & Turnt Have Officially Arrived! -28:42 France Is Ranked Number 1?!  -34:33 Goodbye Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The WNBA playoffs are almost here, and this year’s race is more wide open than ever. Chiney Ogwumike and ESPN Senior Researcher Jason Joseph break down the new WNBA playoff format, the tight standings, and the potential first-round matchups that could define the postseason. From the Minnesota Lynx holding onto the top spot to the Las Vegas Aces chasing another championship run, the field is packed with contenders and dangerous lower seeds. They also dive into each possible matchup if the playoffs started today! Starting with a Lynx-Wings matchup featuring Olivia Miles, the Golden State Valkyries’ historic rise, the Washington Mystics’ dangerous young core, another potential Aces-Liberty showdown, and why Indiana’s explosive offense could make the Fever one of the most dangerous teams in the bracket, but they have to get through Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream first. IN THIS EPISODE: -How the new WNBA playoff format works -Why the Minnesota Lynx still sit atop the field -How close the race is from the No. 3 seed through No. 8 -Olivia Miles and the potential Lynx-Wings matchup -Golden State Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics -A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and another Aces-Liberty battle -Why the Fever’s offense could create playoff chaos -Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese continues: Atlanta’s defense vs. Indiana’s Offense  Who do you think will win the WNBA championship? Subscribe to Chiney Today for more conversations from the heartbeat of hoops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The WNBA may be on FIBA World Cup break, but Chiney Today is hitting rewind on everything August gave us. Chiney Ogwumike breaks down the biggest moments from a wild month in the W, including Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell taking the Indiana Fever to another level, Chelsea Gray’s double buzzer-beaters in the same game, and Angel Reese’s record-setting run on the glass. Plus, Chiney looks at the Minnesota Lynx’s dominant stretch, DeWanna Bonner joining the Atlanta Dream for their playoff push, Nneka Ogwumike’s offensive run after announcing her retirement, and Diana Taurasi’s jersey in the rafters. Before all that, Chiney checks in from Ethiopia and reacts to A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum missing the FIBA World Cup, opening the door an even bigger opportunity for Team USA’s next generation. IN THIS EPISODE: -Caitlin Clark & Kelsey Mitchell become “Double Trouble” -Chelsea Gray’s historic two-buzzer-beater performance -Angel Reese continues rewriting the rebounding record book -Minnesota Lynx dominate August -DeWanna Bonner joins the Atlanta Dream -Nneka Ogwumike receives her flowers after announcing retirement -Natisha Hiedeman’s Run Buds takes over Seattle -Team USA adjusts without A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum -Plus recapping 2026's wildest scam in sports Subscribe to Chiney Today for more conversations from the heartbeat of hoops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices