Women’s basketball is officially entering a new era. In this episode of The 6th Woman Basketball Podcast, Beza and Tony break down the biggest global shift the sport has seen since the creation of the WNBA in 1997.

Project B has arrived with seven figure salaries, equity for players, a Formula One style global tournament model and some of the biggest names in the game rumoured to be involved. At the same time, the WNBA is deep in its CBA negotiations and players around the world are weighing up their futures.

We look at what is confirmed, what is speculation and what this all means for the WNBA, international leagues like the Australian WNBL and the future of women’s basketball globally.

Plus, we highlight the rise of Chinese superstar Han Xu playing in Australia, the latest WNBL storylines and a few cringe moments that show why the media still needs to catch up.

Sponsor:

https://www.uncloud.org/whats-uncloud/

What We Cover

• The global shake-up caused by Project B and how it rivals the WNBA
  
  
• Why players like Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese are the biggest unknowns
  
  
• How the WNBA CBA negotiations and possible lockouts could impact the 2026 WNBA season
  
  
• The rise of Unrivaled, Athletes Unlimited and the shrinking need for WNBA players to go overseas and play in offseason
  
  
• Why the Australian WNBL must pivot to a winter league window to stay relevant globally
  
  
• The Winners and losers of the new landscape in women’s basketball
  
  
• Local highlights in the Australian WNBL including the arrival of Han Xu and the Tasmanian Jewels brand launch

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
00:41 Global Reach of Women's Basketball
01:49 What is Project B?
03:24 Impact on WNBA CBA Negotiations
06:04 Historical Context: From 2019 to Present
08:26 Project B Details and Player Announcements
10:37 Notable Players and Potential Signings
13:43 WNBA CBA Negotiations
15:48 Impact on International Leagues
17:48 Future of the Australian WNBL
21:03 Strategic Move of Australian WNBL to a Winter Season
26:16 Why Lifestyle and Career are Major Considerations for Players
26:54 Winners and Losers Analysis
33:08 WNBL Highlights and Han Xu
35:06 Closing Thoughts

In this episode, hosts Beza and Tony unpack the future of women’s basketball as Project B emerges with unprecedented money, global ambition and player empowerment. With CBA negotiations in the WNBA reaching a critical moment, players may be forced to choose between stability, lifestyle and history.

We explore what Project B could mean for the WNBA, Australian WNBL, European leagues, China, and for fans worldwide. Big money, big names and big reshuffles are coming, and this episode explains it all in clear, engaging terms.

women’s basketball, Project B league, WNBA CBA, WNBL analysis, Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, Unrivaled basketball, Athletes Unlimited, global women’s sports, Han Xu, WNBL highlights, women’s basketball podcast, basketball news 2025, player equity sports, international basketball leagues

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Our latest episode features an interview with one of the most influential figures in women's basketball, a true legend of the game. Her journey from Portugal to becoming an NCAA sensation and later a WNBA icon is a testament to her dedication to the sport. This conversation brings to light her impact on women's college basketball and the broader landscape of womens basketball.

From a small Portuguese town to NCAA superstardom and a decorated career in the WNBA and Europe, Ticha shares rare insight into the evolution of the women’s game, her mission to guide the next generation of athletes and her thoughts on Caitlin Clark and Angel Reece.

Ticha opens up about the global momentum shifting women’s basketball, the emergence of new leagues such as Project B and Unrivalled, and how today’s athletes navigate unprecedented opportunities.

She also reflects on her transition into player representation, the mindset behind major career decisions, and the release of her new feature-length film "Feel the Magic - Ticha Penichiero Against All Odds" documenting her life, legacy and impact on the sport.

If you care about women’s basketball, athlete rights, the WNBA pipeline or the future of college sports — this is essential viewing.

👉 Subscribe to The 6th Woman Basketball Podcast for more stories on the athletes redefining women’s basketball globally.

Sponsor: https://www.uncloud.org/whats-uncloud/

Key Moments:

00:00 – Who Is Ticha? | Portugal → ODU → WNBA Legend

02:00 – The Explosion of Women’s Basketball

04:00 – Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese & the New Wave

06:00 – How Ticha Guides Players Through Career Choices

08:30 – Georgia Amoore: Mentality of a Future Star

14:00 – “Feel the Magic” Documentary — Origin & Meaning

17:00 – Growing Up in Portugal | Playground Lessons

20:00 – Sliding Doors: How ODU Discovered Her

24:00 – Passing Genius: Born or Built?

26:45 – Life After Basketball & The Reality of Being an Agent

33:00 – Rapid Fire: WNBA CBA, Favourite Assist, Underrated Stars, Dream Dinner Guests

38:00 – Caitlin Clark Breaking Ticha’s Rookie Assist Record

References:

Watch "Feel the Magic - Ticha Penichiero Against All Odds"

https://youtu.be/fZNJbnk4MfA?si=lOMhY7YKmtTWL8X9

Ticha Penichiero Top 10 Assists Highlight Reel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieAs4eHps5Y

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In this episode of The 6th Woman basketball podcast, hosts Beza “Courtside” Mickan-White and Tony “T-Swizzle” Hallam sit down with Last-Tear Poa, Australian-Samoan college basketballer and leader for the Arizona State Sun Devils. From winning a National Championship with LSU to becoming the face of a legal case challenging U.S. government rules for international student-athletes, LT’s story is one of grit, family, faith and purpose.

LT opens up about her early journey and the lessons from Coach Kim Mulkey at LSU, and her decision to transfer to ASU and play for Coach Molly Miller. She also shares what she learned from teammate Angel Reese, how she prepared to defend Caitlin Clark in the National Championship game, and what it felt like visiting the White House after LSU’s championship win.

Beyond the court, LT reflects on fighting for NIL rights for international athletes, maintaining discipline, and staying grounded through her strong faith and family bond — including heartwarming moments with her younger siblings and her mum’s sacrifices to support her dream.

Sponsor:

https://www.uncloud.org/whats-uncloud/

Key Moments:

• (01:17) LT’s journey from Melbourne to U.S. college basketball with LSU and now Arizona State University
  
  
• (05:21) Social media, fans, and building a community off the court
  
  
• (06:20) Leading a ground-breaking legal case for international athletes’ NIL rights against the US Government
  
  
• (11:11) Advice for young Aussies following the U.S. college path
  
  
• (13:23) Balancing study, basketball, and a major lawsuit
  
  
• (15:00) The National Championship game and winning the title with LSU
  
  
• (17:03) Lessons from teammate Angel Reese
  
  
• (19:03) Guarding Caitlin Clark — “She’s the Steph Curry of women’s basketball”
  
  
• (21:30) Going to the White House and meeting President Biden
  
  
• (24:00) The influence and support of her family
• (29:30) The origins of the name “Last-Tear”
• (32:30) Fashion opportunities off the court
• (33:00) Rapid fire questions
• (34:30) Dinner guests

Last-Tear Poa, LSU Women’s Basketball, Arizona State Sun Devils, Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, WNBA, Women’s College Basketball, NIL rights, international athletes lawsuit, Australian basketballers in US College, women in sport, basketball podcast, NCAA, LSU Tigers, ASU basketball

Listen Now On:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

References:

www.uncloud.org

https://sundevils.com/sports/womens/basketball

https://www.espn.com.au/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46315688/judge-rules-us-government-nil-visa-lawsuit

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/it-s-about-equity-the-australian-athlete-taking-on-us-government-for-slice-of-billion-dollar-industry-20251023-p5n4o9.html

https://www.basketball.com.au/news/last-tear-poa-to-play-final-season-of-ncaa-womens-college-basketball-with-arizona-state-sun-devils

https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-basketball/news-arizona-state-commit-last-tear-poa-goofy-fun-new-head-coach-molly-miller-teammate-video

https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-basketball/news-last-tear-poa-shows-stunning-red-dress-lsu-star-enters-lover-girl-season-in-photos

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