TWO HOMETOWN KIDS BRING

In October, Unrivaled announced that they would be heading to Philadelphia in January 2026. It was the first time that they’d be playing outside of the Miami area as they look to broaden their horizons. The big day is here, and there’s plenty of excitement in the air. And for two of the players suiting up on January 30, this weekend takes on even more meaning.

For Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Copper, the games are a homecoming. They grew up and represent the city in everything they do. The hometown heroes have won everywhere they’ve been, and now that they’re helping to bring professional basketball to their hometowns, the games take on greater importance.

“It’s so surreal to me,” Cloud said at the media availability. “You know how we get older, and our inner child is still there? My inner child is so happy. I’m so happy for young Tash, young Kah. Two kids that really just worked their asses off to get where they were.

Copper also attended Media Day and discussed her excitement about visiting familiar places and having her friends and family at the game.

At the end of the session, Owen Pence asked her what’s been the most gratifying part of her journey to this full circle moment, and here’s what she said:

Being able to reach the top of your profession and celebrate that success with your friends, loved ones, and community is truly special.

In a sold-out Xfinity Mobile Arena, fans will see Cloud’s Phantom BC take on Paige Bueckers and Breeze BC first. In the second half of the doubleheader, they’ll see Copper’s Rose BC take on Skylar Diggins and the Lunar Owls.

The Philadelphia games will help Unrivaled reach new fans while celebrating its early success. It sets the stage for the WNBA’s Philly debut in 2030.

And most importantly, it honors two hometown icons who have changed women’s basketball for the better.

OKLAHOMA LOOKS TO DETHRONE ANOTHER TOP 5 TEAM

Oklahoma has been one of the better teams in the college ranks this season. Led by the amazing freshman Aaliyah Chavez and senior Raegan Beers, Jennie Baranczyk has this team in a great position to go on a deep tournament run. They improved their record to 17-4 after beating Texas A&M on January 29. This Sooners team has seven freshmen and sophomores

“Honestly, that was something Jennie talked about this week in practice,” senior guard Payton Verhulst said in the postgame.

“This is the time of year where you have to find joy in basketball. It kind of gets redundant a little bit in the SEC. You're playing the same times, you're practicing the same time, and doing the same drills. So I think that was something important for us to find this week and going forward in the SEC now that we're going into February.

I thought our young girls, and honestly just our team in general, did such a great job of finding the joy in the little things.”

The Sooners head to Austin and a showcase showdown against long-time rival, Texas. The Longhorns are 20-2 and No. 4 in the nation, but they come into this game with a lot to prove. Texas has lost its last two games against ranked opponents (LSU and South Carolina), but both games were on the road. Even in defeat, the Longhorns learned

“Looking back at our two losses this season,” Madison Booker said following the win against Florida on January 29, “we got beat by toughness. We got out-toughed in possessions, rebounds, and paint points. Every team brings toughness in the SEC, so we’ve got to continue to bring our toughness to the SEC, too.”

For Oklahoma to capture another top-five win, they’re going to need a big game from Raegan Beers. Beers leads the SEC in rebounding at 10.7 per game. Booker, Kyla Oldcare, and the rest of the Longhorns will have to keep her off the boards and make things difficult for her in the paint.

But ultimately, they’re going to need another superstar performance from their freshman star, Aaliyah Chavez. We’ve seen Chavez rise to the occasion against elite competition, and with a national TV audience on ABC, she has another opportunity to shine on the biggest stage.

There are no nights off in the SEC, and winning here prepares you for the postseason grind. Oklahoma has done well so far, and another big win will signal to the nation that it's a contender.

The road to the Final Four is arduous, but Oklahoma is charting a good path.

A RACE AGAINST TIME?

We’ve been waiting (and waiting) for the WNBA CBA to be agreed to. It looks like we’re gonna be waiting for a little while longer.

On January 28, ESPN’s Alexa Philippou reported that the WNBA has not sent a response to the WNBPA’s most recent proposal since both sides entered the status quo period. The WNBA is waiting for players to submit a “realistic” proposal so negotiations can continue. There hasn’t been reporting on what the league considers to be realistic, but there have been prominent voices in the women’s basketball community urging players to take what the league is currently offering.

In any CBA negotiations, management tends to stall talks in hopes of getting labor to give up. The WNBA is no exception, but players are focused on getting the best deal possible, no matter how long it takes.

“I don’t think we’re being pressured because of the timeline at the expense of what we’re really trying to negotiate,” Nneka Ogwumike told Front Office Sports. “I don’t mean that we’re being disrespectful of the time. We know something like this takes time. If we can do this the right way, it will get done in a way that will be something we can be proud of and have a season.”

That said, Kelsey Plum mentioned that the players will meet with the league in person on February 2 in New York City. Players have been calling for owners, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum to attend. The hope is that a face-to-face can lead to progress and eventually, a just and fair CBA.

It’s a great time to be in the women’s sports business. There are billions of dollars coming in and plenty of superstar talent.

It’s up to management to ensure they properly compensate labor and build a sustainable future. If they don’t, all hell will break loose.

At Black Rosie Media, we love to give flowers to other writers and creators in the women’s basketball community.

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