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April 18: Academic All-America honors drop, Michelle Marciniak joins Arizona as GM, and the WNBA boosts All-Star prize money.
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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today
1. Academic All-America Teams Announced đź“š
The 2024–25 Academic All-America teams for NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA were announced Wednesday, spotlighting student-athletes who’ve excelled on the court and in the classroom. Headlining the list:
Kiki Iriafen (USC) – NCAA DI Member of the Year
Grace Foster (Lubbock Christian) – NCAA DII Member of the Year
Natalie Bruns (NYU) – NCAA DIII Member of the Year
Lilli Frasure (Indiana Wesleyan) – NAIA Member of the Year
WHY IT MATTERS: It’s one thing to get it done on the court, it’s another to do it while crushing it in the classroom. These athletes are balancing early-morning practices, grueling travel, and tough course loads. As fans of women’s basketball it’s easy to forget that these are still college students. The Academic All-America awards are a great reminder that college is about more than basketball.
2. Michelle Marciniak Named GM of Arizona Women’s Basketball 💼
The University of Arizona has hired former WNBA player and Tennessee Lady Vol standout Michelle Marciniak as the general manager of its women’s basketball program. In this new role, she’ll oversee program operations, staffing, roster management, global recruiting, and NIL development. (ESPN)
WHY IT MATTERS: Marciniak is the second general manager hired in women’s college basketball this year, joining Cal’s Meghin Williams. More programs are adding GMs—just like pro teams do—as part of the sport’s growing professionalization. With NIL, the transfer portal, and increased recruiting and retention demands, college basketball is evolving fast. Marciniak’s combined playing and business experience makes her well-equipped to help Arizona navigate this new era.
3. WNBA 3-Point Contest Gets Prize Money Boost đź’¸
The WNBA announced a prize increase for next season’s All-Star Weekend 3-Point Contest, with the winner now taking home $60,000. The Skills Challenge prize will remain at $55,000. The prize pool comes from Aflac, the official sponsor of both events. (Front Office Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: The 3-Point Contest prize now matches the NBA’s $60,000 payout, but with one key difference. The NBA’s prize is built into its collective bargaining agreement, while the WNBA’s is sponsor-funded. Last year’s contest offered $55,000, and this bump is part of the league’s push to draw big-name participants like Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu.
OVERTIME ⏱️
USC commit Jazzy Davidson finishes the season as the No. 1 ranked recruit in the final high school rankings. The Oregon MaxPreps Player of the Year becomes the second top-ranked prospect in three years to choose USC, joining sophomore star JuJu Watkins.
📺 Watch: Recap highlights from Jazzy’s senior season
🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: 43.75% of you said it’s time for NCAA athletes to sign contracts and be treated more like professionals.
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