Episode 14 | UCLA Wins It All, Connecticut Sun to Houston, WNBA Free Agency, USWNT vs. Japan

UCLA just won the national championship, and they did it convincingly. Episode 14 covers the Bruins' blowout over South Carolina, the Geno-Dawn Staley postgame controversy, and what Cori Close's transformational coaching style says about the future of the program.From there, the WNBA news is wall-to-wall this week. The Connecticut Sun are officially moving to Houston as the Houston Comets in 2027, ending a 23-year run in New England under circumstances that raised serious questions about how the league handled the sale. Angel Reese landed in Atlanta. Free agency is live. The WNBA draft is days away. And amid all of it, the league just announced a long-term broadcast deal with CBS Sports.This week we get into:NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: How UCLA won the title with dominant defense, a five-senior starting lineup bound for the WNBA draft, and why Cori Close's John Wooden-influenced coaching philosophy stood in sharp contrast to what we saw from Geno Auriemma after the lossConnecticut Sun relocation: Why the WNBA passed on higher offers to move the franchise to Houston, what Adam Silver's reported involvement signals about NBA influence over the league, and what fans in New England lostWNBA free agency and expansion draft: Angel Reese to Atlanta, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo making their first picks, and a full breakdown of the WNBA draft order with five UCLA players in the top 15USWNT vs. Japan: Three friendlies against the reigning AFC Champions coming up, Sophia Wilson returning after 17 months away, and what Emma Hayes is actually evaluating heading into World Cup qualifyingNWSL and Denver Summit: A record 63,000 fans at the inaugural NWSL home opener, plus the Summit's $40M bond financing for a new training center, marking a first for the leaguePWHL playoff push: The Minnesota Frost chasing home ice advantage, Kelly Pannek one point from the single-season scoring record, and attendance records falling across the league including a sellout at MSGWe also hit the figure skating World Championships (Kaori Sakamoto's fourth world title and retirement, Amber Glenn's redemption skate), Sabalenka's Miami Open win over Coco Gauff, the NFL's women's flag football league launch, NCAA gymnastics nationals bracket, and LOVB playoffs.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]