The IX Sports Podcast

Our conference previews continue as Michael Waterloo and Melissa Triebwasser dive into the newly reshaped Pac-12 and the perennial powerhouses of the Big East. They kick off the episode by reacting to the major recruiting news of five-star point guard Jazelle "GG" Banks committing to Dawn Staley and South Carolina over LSU and Texas, and what her signing means for the future of Gamecocks Women’s Basketball.Next, Michael and Melissa explore the reincarnation of the Pac-12 featuring incoming programs like Gonzaga, Colorado State, and San Diego State, discussing what it will take for this new league to recapture national prestige and navigate the NIL era. The duo then make their NCAA tournament picks and predictions in a conference draft for both the Big East and Pac-12, debating powerhouse programs like UConn and Villanova, dark horses like Creighton and St. John’s, and their top Player and Coach of the Year candidates in each league. Finally, they wrap up with their "New Face, New Place" segment, breaking down Butler's hire of head coach Maria Marchesano and what her return to Indianapolis means for the Bulldogs.Photo Credit: David Butler II   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Howard Megdal and Jackie Powell are back with a newsy episode of The IX Sports Podcast Women’s Basketball Edition. They can report that the WNBA has now opened an investigation into the reset timeout controversy involving Breanna Stewart, the New York Liberty and official Kevin Fahy during game 2 of the semifinals.  Why does this single incident represent two giant stories that Howard and Jackie have been reporting on all season long? What comes next for both the WNBA and the Liberty? And why have both Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu taken serious accountability for the reset timeout issue but their head coach, Chris DeMarco, hasn’t?Also, for courtvision, Jackie explains her latest column for Basketball Insider which examines the state of the Atlanta Dream and why she believes they are the most important franchise that is currently without a title.Thumbnail Photo Credit:Breanna Stewart warms up before a game against the Chicago Sky on August 29, 2026 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Photo Credit: Hannah Kevorkian | The IX SportsLink to click that are referenced throughout the show:Read Jackie’s column on the Atlanta Dream: https://www.theixsports.com/newsletter/atlanta-dream-deferred-no-more-allisha-gray-playoff-status-update-basketball-insider/ Follow us & Subscribe on:YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TheIXSportsSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0vn5r287B0oS3wX2fHmLZ8?si=39f2fd261ec1467fApple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ix-sports-podcast/id1845604905BlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/theixsports.bsky.socialInstagram https://www.instagram.com/theixsports/  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The PWHL has been dropping news left, right, and centre, so there's plenty to talk about on this week's episode.Host Maya Smith kicks off the episode by talking about the brand-new PWHL expansion jerseys that hvae been released. She talks through the jersey release information and shows the new jerseys.Then she talks about the PWHL schedule for the 2026-27 season, as well as the new conferences the league has introduced, and the new playoff format. Maya also highlights some games that fans can circle on their calendars, the takeover tour situation and broadcasting details.Lastly, Maya talks about the training camp rosters that were released earlier this week. She talks about some familiar names at different camps, as well as some new exciting names from across USports, the NCAA, SDHL, and more!Follow Maya on X: https://x.com/mayaxeverysportSJ Training camp break down: https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/pwhl/breaking-down-pwhl-san-joses-training-camp-invitations/Hamilton Training Camp break down: https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/pwhl/a-look-at-pwhl-hamiltons-training-camp-invites/Thumbnail photo credit: PWHL Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anumita Jain joined host Kathleen Gier to talk about Gotham FC's loaded roster, position at the top of the table and chances to win another NWSL title. The two also made a few predictions about the other teams we might see competing in the postseason. Follow Anumita:https://bsky.app/profile/ajsportstat.bsky.socialhttp://thebatsignal.beehiiv.com/subscribehttps://www.theixsports.com/author/anumita-jain/Photo credit: Mark Smith | Imagn Images Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Conference preview season rolls on with the Big Ten next up on The IX Sports Podcast College Basketball Edition! Melissa Triebwasser and Michael Waterloo dive into what might be the deepest conference in the country, breaking down the storylines, contenders, and dark horses shaping the league this season.First, Michael and Melissa examine reigning national champion UCLA after losing their "Super Six" to the WNBA, asking what Cori Close and the Bruins must do to defend their conference crown against a loaded field, and whether the Big Ten remains the undisputed toughest conference in college basketball.Then, the NCAA Tournament team draft returns as Melissa and Michael go head-to-head selecting the Big Ten programs they believe are locks or sleepers to punch tickets to the Big Dance. They survey the field from locks to bubble teams, reveal their picks for the Big Ten Tournament title game, and make their early selections for Conference Player and Coach of the Year.Finally, the show wraps up with the "New Face, New Place" spotlight on forward Nunu Agara, breaking down what her arrival via the portal brings to Brenda Frese’s Maryland squad and how she fits into the Terrapins’ championship aspirations.Photo Credit: Melissa Triebwasser Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.