It takes a village.

Staley & Auriemma reconcile after Final Four tiff

Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma are burying the hatchet, as both NCAA coaches released statements yesterday squashing their Final Four dust-up.

• “I spoke with Geno, and I want to be clear — I have a great deal of respect for him and what he’s meant to this game,” South Carolina’s Staley wrote. “One moment doesn’t define a career.” (See full statement)

• “I have nothing but respect and admiration for the game and the coaches who coach it,” UConn’s Auriemma echoed. “Dawn and her team deserved to win, and they deserved better from me.” (See full statement)

Up next: The Gamecocks-Huskies rivalry returns to the court next season, as the nonconference foes headline November’s Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase.

• “Having two Hall of Famers leading their teams in this marquee matchup perfectly represents our mission to honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future of basketball,” Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame CEO and President John L. Doleva said of the coaches. (See full details)

Stay tuned: The 13th annual Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase tips off November 24th at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Arena.

LSU makes moves as NCAA transfer portal spins

NCAA basketball’s roster carousel keeps spinning, as LSU steps up to the plate in search of new talent after 1,000+ players entered this year’s transfer portal.

• The Tigers lost three guards this week, after freshman Bella Hines joined Divine Bourrage and Kailyn Gilbert in the portal on Tuesday.

• But coach Kim Mulkey’s program did see a boost, as 6-foot-5 No. 3 high school recruit Caroline Bradley committed to LSU ahead of her planned 2027/28 season debut.

Big moves: With a free range of movement and money to be made, the transfer portal can impact blue chip programs both positively and negatively as rosters become increasingly stacked.

• Back-to-back Final Four participant Texas is also feeling the spin, as top 2025 recruit Aaliyah Crump joined forwards Aaliyah Moore and Justice Carlton in the portal on Tuesday.

• Powerhouse programs also stand to benefit from the talent pool, with key prospects like Iowa State center Audi Crooks and Virginia guard Kymora Johnson shopping for new teams.

Stay tuned: Keep up with the latest transfer portal action via On3’s tracker.

Bay FC owners buy England’s Sunderland AFC

Bay FC ownership is crossing the pond, acquiring a majority stake in WSL2 club Sunderland AFC this week as Bay Collective adds a second club to its global football portfolio.

• The investment aims to utilize the group’s “athlete-first model, deep women’s football expertise and knowledge, and long-term resources to launch a new era of success for Sunderland Women on and off the pitch.”

• “We are committed to honoring Sunderland Women’s DNA and legacy, protecting what makes this club and community so special, and supporting the players, staff, and the academy with cutting-edge resources, infrastructure, and training models tailored to the unique needs of women athletes,” said Bay Collective CEO Kay Cossington. (See full release)

Big picture: Bay FC now joins fellow NWSL clubs Washington and Kansas City as multi-club operations, with European investments becoming increasingly popular as the women’s game expands worldwide.

• Based in Northeast England, Sunderland currently sits eighth in the second-flight WSL2, with two matchdays remaining. (See full standings)

Breanna Stewart signs with Panini trading cards

Liberty star Breanna Stewart is getting the Panini treatment, becoming the latest WNBA star to sign with the trading card giant in an exclusive multi-year autograph deal.

• Stewart joins Panini’s growing women’s basketball market, spanning Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and Stewart’s own Unrivaled.

• “Seeing yourself on a trading card is still both a proud and humbling moment,” said the seven-time WNBA All-Star. “Partnering up with Panini is very exciting, especially since fans will now have more opportunities to collect.” (See full release)

Big business: Women’s sports trading cards have boomed in recent years, after a signed one-of-one Caitlin Clark rookie card went for a record-breaking $660,000 last July.

Get yours: Check out the latest WNBA drops at PaniniAmerica.net.

WSL introduces smart ball technology

England’s WSL is making technological strides, becoming the first-ever football league to use match balls embedded with sensor-driven trackers when it introduces Sportable’s Connected Ball next season.

• The ball, player-worn GPS devices, and sideline beacons come together to create a 3D map, allowing teams to collect finely tuned data in real time. (See full release)

Big picture: FIFA began using sensor-equipped balls at the 2022 Men’s World Cup, but the WSL will be the first domestic league to adopt the tech via a four-year deal with Nike.

• “The opportunity to create a consistent, data-rich view of performance, from training pitches to stadiums, is truly groundbreaking,” said Sportable CEO Dugald Macdonald. “We are excited to help unlock the next level of insight for teams across the league.”

Number of the day 

27%

Of the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball transfer portal’s 1000+ current players, 27% have already transferred at least once in their college careers.