Oklahoma breaks through in latest AP Top 25 shakeup

Avengers, assemble.

 Aaliyah Chavez propels Oklahoma up the AP Top 25

While the AP Top 10 stayed mostly intact this week, a few programs are making a case for themselves as the women’s college basketball season’s non-conference schedule hits its peak.

• No. 8 Oklahoma was Monday’s only Top 10 breakthrough, jumping one spot after toppling unranked Oklahoma State 92-70 on Saturday behind star freshman Aaliyah Chavez’s 15 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

• Bouncing back from an early loss to No. 4 UCLA, Oklahoma’s strengthening record dislodged undefeated TCU, with the Horned Frogs falling to No. 9 despite a perfect week against unranked competition.

Big picture: No. 1 UConn retained their crown after Saturday’s top-ranked win over No. 19 USC, while No. 2 Texas continues to shine after humbling in-state rivals No. 15 Baylor on Sunday.

• The Longhorns received eight first-place votes this week, a tick down from the last round after notching two Top 5 late-November wins.

ACC stands up: Despite some ranked blowouts, the ACC saw the greatest movement, as No. 16 Louisville rocketed up six spots after upsetting now-No. 18 North Carolina — while the Tar Heels skidded the same distance.

• The SEC also saw gains, as No. 12 Kentucky and No. 14 Ole Miss both crept toward the Top 10 with one loss apiece.

Read more: See this week’s full AP Top 25 Women’s Poll.

Report: WNBPA eyes doubled revenue share in latest CBA ask

Tensions remain high between the WNBA and WNBPA, after The Athletic reported the Players Association’s latest CBA proposal more than doubled the league’s revenue share offer — suggesting a deepening rift in negotiations.

• The union outlined a deal that would give players around 30% of total league and team revenue — a significant leap from the league’s proposed 15%.

• According to sources, the WNBPA also suggested linking the salary cap to the previous season’s total revenue, after factoring in player benefits and the number of teams in the league.

Bottom line: The move intends to undercut the league’s accusation that the players have yet to put forward an economically viable revenue sharing model.

• The union’s proposal begins at 29% of the prior season’s total league grosses, growing to 34% by the CBA’s final year with a one-time adjustment for the WNBA’s blockbuster 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal.

• The league recently rejected a flat 33% revenue share proposal, with the union shifting to the 1%-per-year increase system in response.

Bottom line: It’s clear that the league office and WNBPA are at odds, but the union is showing their work as both sides strive to keep players on the court in 2026.

Katie Ledecky clocks a record sub-15-minute mile

Olympic swimming icon Katie Ledecky has done it again, becoming the first women’s swimmer to break the 15-minute mile with a time of 14:59.62 at her namesake Katie Ledecky Invitational in Maryland.

• Smashing her own US 1,650-meter freestyle record of 15:01.41, Ledecky now holds the event’s eight fastest times, with US teammate Erica Sullivan earning the ninth-best in 2019.

• “This is a special one for sure,” Ledecky said afterwards. “This has been a goal of mine, to break 15 minutes in the 1,650, for probably eight or nine years. So, just putting in the hard work, believing that I could do it someday, and to do it at this meet, is really special.”

Big picture: The 28-year-old Washington, DC native remains the most decorated women’s swimmer in history, leading Nation’s Capital Swimming — where she got her start at age six — to name their event after her earlier this year.

• “I definitely was a little nervous before the race, just knowing there were a lot of eyes on me and all that,” she continued. “But I knew I could just relax and have fun with it, and whatever happened, happened.”

Up next: Ledecky’s next major competition will likely be Austin’s TYR Pro Swim Series, kicking off January 14th, 2026.

Panini drops ‘Caitlin Clark Chronicled’ trading card set

With her rookie card still doing numbers, trading card manufacturer Panini America is debuting Caitlin Clark Chronicled this week, a limited-edition release featuring a 22-page collectible book and 100-card set.

• The book spans images of Clark on and off the court, alongside eight four-card packs and 32 randomly inserted cards plus autographed one-offs.

• “We wanted to create something different that combined great photography with trading cards, including some special exclusives,” Clark said in Monday’s statement. “I am proud of this collection and hope fans enjoy it.”

Big picture: The WNBA superstar has long partnered with Panini in the trading card space, making headlines last July when her one-of-one signed rookie card sold for more than $600,000.

Get yours: The full collection is available now at Target stores and Target.com.

LOVB scores primetime deal with USA Network

LOVB is coming back to cable, as the pro volleyball league announced a Wednesday night primetime partnership with USA Network in 2026.

• From January to April, USA will air “Match of the Week” almost every Wednesday, starting with January 7th’s championship rematch between LOVB Nebraska and LOVB Austin.

• USA will also broadcast a portion of LOVB’s postseason, including one semifinal and both championship matches.

Big picture: Gearing up for its second season, LOVB features a talented player pool amid an increasingly crowded pro volleyball market and growing demand.

• One in every five LOVB athletes are Olympians, with 90% of international players and 75% of US players showcasing national team experience.

Tune in: Austin opens LOVB Season Two against Nebraska on January 7th at 6 PM ET, live on USA Network.

Quote of the day

Nebraska volleyball junior Harper Murray
consoling graduating senior Rebekah Allick after Texas A&M ousted the once-undefeated Huskers from the 2025 NCAA Volleyball Tournament.