At last Jackie Powell and Howard Megdal talk about women’s college basketball in this week’s IX Sports Podcast Basektball Edition. In the pair’s final women’s basketball show before the new year, the co-hosts take you inside what they noticed at Barclays Center during the second annual Shark Beauty Championship Classic. Why did defense stand out for both UConn and Iowa? And how exactly did Louisville, behind the strong play of senior transfer Laura Ziegler, trounce a Tenneesee team still trying to find its footing? Later in the show, Jackie breaks out a powerpoint to explain two key terms that have been prevalent in coverage of the on-going WNBA CBA negotiations. What are net and gross revenue sharing models and what’s the difference between the two? Thumbnail Photo Credit: Pamela Smith-Imagn ImagesVideo Credit: Gabby AlfvebyLinks to click that are referenced throughout the show: Stephanie Kaloi writes about Ruby Whitehorn’s dismissal from Tennessee: https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/ruby-whitehorn-dismissed-lady-vols/Natalie Heavren introduces Laura Ziegler prior to her arrival at Louisville:https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/early-success-and-a-family-away-from-home-laura-zieglers-journey-from-denmark-to-saint-josephs/Jacob Mox’s CBA coverage: https://www.thenexthoops.com/wnba/wnba-cba-negotiations-hit-milestone-with-a-catch-salary-cap-revenue-share/Reporting from The Athletic, ESPN and Front Office Sports about Gross and Net revenue sharing: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6889889/2025/12/15/wnba-union-labor-cba-revenue-share/https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/47360397/wnba-players-ready-do-takes-get-fair-cba-dealhttps://frontofficesports.com/adam-silver-says-he-could-join-wnba-cba-negotiations/

In this soccer edition of the IX Sports Podcast, Kathleen Gier breaks down the NWSL's new High Impact Player rule and the Players Association's reaction. She also talks about the return of Sophia Wilson and players to watch on the U.S. women's national team in 2026.

Editor’s note: This podcast was recorded prior to the WNBA’s 5:41 p.m. statement on Thursday responding to the WNBPA’s strike authorization vote.

To find out more about what the WNBA’s statement entailed and the latest that the league has proposed, check out Sydney Wingfield’s latest story about the WNBPA’s recent vote here: https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/wnbpa-executive-committee-strike-when-necessary-wnba/

Also, you can also find a recap of Thursday’s collective bargaining agreement developments on Women’s Sports Daily with Stephanie Kaloi, right here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0nFSMYsKhIGkO8CbrCwZPL?si=gDegIv7wRC-KbRDwAsDQ0w

So much happened in the world of women’s basketball this week, and we aren’t even talking about the college game.

Join our hosts Howard Medgal and Jackie Powell where they provide a look into a new era of USA Basketball following the camp that was held at Duke University in addition to early impressions from the Unrivaled media days prior to their second season beginning officially on January 5.

Toward the end of our show, Jackie and Howard address the latest news from the WNBPA and their decision to vote to authorize a strike and what comes next in the CBA negotiations between the league and the players.

Thumbnail Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Video Credit: USA Basketball and Unrivaled

Links to click that are referenced throughout the show:

Gabby Alfveby on what to expect from Unrivaled Season 2

https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/unrivaled-opening-day-is-around-the-corner/

Stephanie Kaloi on how Unrivaled’s fandom has grown the league:

https://www.thenexthoops.com/unrivaled/breanna-stewart-candace-parker-unrivaled-success/

Howard Megdal writes about the big bang in WNBA revenue:

https://www.theixsports.com/features/after-the-big-bang-womens-basketball-in-2025-live-from-sienna-betts-debut-for-ucla/