Utah Women’s Basketball Independent
Unaffiliated but friendly with the University of Utah, the Big 16 Conference, and other Pac-12 remnants
My seat in the Chase Center affords an excellent view of the pregame introductions. There’s a kid on every team who knows the ritual greeting for each starter. At Utah, it’s Alyssa Blanck. Here’s how I think this evolved: Long ago, the first player introduced would run on the court, then stand alone for a […]
On Thanksgiving weekend at the Cayman Island Classic, Utah fell 20+ behind Mississippi State, came back to lead in the last couple minutes, but lost. Then the Utes beat #3 Notre Dame, which actually looked less impressive because Texas Christian also beat the Fighting Irish two days earlier. The Frogs are one of the best […]
My friend Rebecca — a stalwart Liberty supporter — was first to tell me that WNBA Los Angeles hired Lynne Roberts as their head coach. (My question is “Did Golden State have the chance to hire Coach, and if so, how did they fuck that up?”. Your question might be “Why hire Roberts?”, and one […]
Three of my favorite ’80s bands — Til Tuesday, The Go-Go’s, New Order — are playing at the Cruel World festival May 17 in Pasadena. I purchased a ticket package the first day they were available. The Los Angeles Sparks and their new head coach are the Golden State Valkyries’ inaugural night opponent on May […]
This is the first of Coach Roberts’ jobs at which she might be fired prematurely. A media officer at Pacific said — in the midst of one of the Tigers’ bad years — that it was a possibility. I said: No way, much too early. He agreed, but Division I athletic departments have done worse, […]
Lynne Roberts, the Golden State Valkyries, and Paige Bueckers are joining the WNBA in the same season. That just sank in. I mentioned Bueckers because everyone should be jazzed about that. Much bigger to me are the Valkyries, who are a local story; and Coach. I’ve read people referring to Coach as an unknown. It […]
Utah beat Weber State 86-46 Thursday 11/7 in Salt Lake. Fifth-year senior post Mayè Tourè, a transfer from Rhode Island, led all scorers with 22, and was one of five players with a game-high 5 rebounds. The Utes led 47-14 at halftime, after the Wildcats shot 6-for-22. Weber St. made 26 turnovers leading to 38 […]
I’m moving again, and the timing is notably weird. I moved into this room on Adams Point in Oakland, Calif., on April 1. Which meant I picked up a front door key, parked my car, and went to the airport for NCAA rounds 1 and 2 at Gonzaga (where Utah’s 2023-24 season ended). The 2024-25 […]
The WNBA players’ union is opting out of its present contract, due to expire in one year. Which suggests the Caitlin Clark Effect has been SO great for professional American women’s basketball that the players have built a position from which they can effectively walk out. Progress: The highest-ever attendance and TV viewership has spiked […]
The banking industry is organized crime, but so is scholastic chess — we’re all looking the other way. Since Chase is a major partner for the Golden State Valkyries (Chase owns the naming rights to the arena, and their label is plastered on every damn thing), I thought to apply for a Chase credit card. […]