William Rhoden

2 months ago | andscape.com | William Rhoden

TAMPA, Fla. — University of Connecticut forward Sarah Strong is the best freshman in college basketball — men’s or women’s. That may seem blasphemous in a season where everyone has been saying that distinction belonged to Duke forward Cooper Flagg. But while Duke was eliminated from the men’s tournament on Saturday, Strong’s 24-point, 15-rebound performance against South Carolina on Sunday helped lift UConn to an 82-59 victory and a national championship.

2 months ago | andscape.com | William Rhoden

TAMPA, Fla. — “I think we built our program based on the standard. UConn is and was the standard in our sport. If you can beat UConn, you can beat anybody.” — Dawn StaleyWe often talk about the need for individual stars in women’s college basketball, but the lifeblood of sustainability is programmatic rivalry. The next chapter of an intense rivalry will play out on Sunday when UConn and South Carolina meet here for the national championship.

2 months ago | andscape.com | William Rhoden

SPOKANE, Wash. — During a recent press conference, UCLA women’s basketball head coach Cori Close referred to LSU star guard Flau’Jae Johnson as a pioneer. The designation seemed a bit odd. You typically think of a pioneer as an older warrior who has helped clear forests and take down barriers. Johnson is only 21. But Close was making the point that her praise for Johnson was not just about her basketball talent but the role she has played in moving the women’s game forward.

2 months ago | andscape.com | William Rhoden

SPOKANE, Wash. — UCLA associate head coach Shannon LeBeauf is a unicorn and an outlier. Next month, LeBeauf, 49, will celebrate her 14th season as a part of head coach Cori Close’s staff at UCLA. In that time, she has helped build the No. 1 ranked Bruins into a national power, though her role has been as much spiritual as tactical. “She’s my rock, period,” Close said Saturday before UCLA’s matchup against LSU in the Elite Eight on Sunday (ABC, 3 p.m. ET).

2 months ago | andscape.com | William Rhoden

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — When you work in the field of sport and play, it’s easy — convenient even — to insulate yourself from disruptions outside the arena, especially during March Madness. But in the last month, the disruptions have become too pronounced to ignore — particularly when it comes to efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Sports — and the NCAA tournament in particular — may be the greatest pushback to the negativity surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion.