The Late Sub with Claire Watkins Just Women's Sports

Claire talks this week’s NWSL snapshot through the context of the league’s coaches, discussing her early coach of the year shortlist, with both surprises and steady performances. She also breaks down which coaching seats might be getting a little hot, and they might not be the names you’d expect. Then, she turns to the first full week of WNBA action, giving out superlatives for the strongest performers thus far. She takes a look at how the 2024 rookie class is doing, and makes a pitch for how Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever could start to turn things around.

Claire watched every game of WNBA opening tip-off on Tuesday and she has some things to say! Connecticut dampened Caitlin Clark’s big debut (but there are reasons to think she’ll be okay), Las Vegas looked ready for a three-peat and a few rebuilding teams surprised. Then, she digs into another busy NWSL slate of games, where the separation between the top and bottom of the table means more interesting matchups in the middle, where the Gotham superteam is slowly beginning to show off on the field.

This week, Claire takes a look at the first weekend of WNBA preseason, as fans saw first glimpses of Caitlin Clark and the rest of her draft class against league competition. She also talks through some growing pains the league is still experiencing while trying to capitalize on fan interest. Then, she breaks down packed NWSL week, where winning and losing streaks only tell part of the story for each club as they navigate short rest, travel, and player availability. Orlando sits atop the table, but who else is separating themselves from the pack?

Claire takes a look at the weekend’s NWSL action through the lense of the USWNT’s next era, with permanent manager Emma Hayes’ first roster rapidly approaching. She breaks down the USWNT roster bubble for the Olympics and beyond, and shouts out the NWSL talent providing an Olympic preview for other international sides. Then, she discusses Candace Parker’s surprise retirement announcement. She breaks down what made Parker so special in a still-growing league, and why her legacy will be felt for many years to come as embodied by this year’s rookie class.

Claire goes deep on a number of NWSL teams, including why she likes Angel City’s recent trades, what Washington is doing right, and what Vlatko Andonovski seems to have learned from his time coaching the USWNT. Then, Claire breaks down Caitlin Clark’s massive new Nike deal and what it tells us about the economic realities of women’s basketball today.

Claire recaps the WNBA Draft, discussing both the winners as well as the surprises from draft night. She breaks down what Caitlin Clark brings to the Fever, and why this draft class might put pressure on the league to accelerate their timelines. Claire also talks Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese in Chicago, and Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson in LA. Then, she turns to the NWSL, explaining what’s gone wrong for the Thorns this year — and reacting live to the breaking news that Mike Norris has been removed from the head coaching role.