Fastballs & Fast Breaks: Catch Up on Women’s Sports

Fastballs & Fast Breaks: Catch Up on Women’s Sports

Episode Summary

In this episode of Play Like A They, Monica and Sara cover all the chaos and celebration happening in women’s sports—from million-dollar softball deals to early-season WNBA shakeups.

They kick things off with college softball, where Texas just claimed the national title and Texas Tech nearly pulled off the upset with a pitcher backed by a record-setting NIL deal. Sara breaks down what it means for the future of the game, why it matters when schools invest in women athletes, and how Athletes Unlimited is flipping the pro league model on its head (shoutout to Bandits fans).

Then it’s WNBA time: the Liberty and Lynx are dominating, the Wings are struggling, and the Valkyries are out here proving what team chemistry can really do. They talk fantasy picks, expansion hype, and why scrappy playmakers deserve just as much love as the big names.

Fact-Checks

• Mike White became Texas softball head coach on June 25, 2018. His record at Texas through 2024 is 260–81–2
• Patty Gasso has won eight national championships in 2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021–2024.
• Nyjahree Kennedy signed a $1,050,024 deal in July 2024 and later signed a second NIL deal for $1.2 million in June 2025.
• Jean-Claude Jones sprained ankle on June 5, 2025, listed as questionable, returned to practice, and suited up next game.
• Nike launched A'ja Wilson’s signature shoe (A’One) on May 6–15, 2025, retail price $110 (plus $90 kid sizing)
• The Sports Bra is expanding from Portland to Boston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, and St. Louis, adding four new locations.

Read the transcript here.