If you’re a new fan just tuning in, or an OG needing a refresher, here’s everything you need to know about training camp: from who makes the roster for training camp, roster cuts and more.

Fyi, the start of the regular season is May 14.

When training camp starts:

Training camp is set to begin on April 28. Players will have to lock in and get ready for preseason, which starts on May 3.

How it works:

This year’s WNBA draftees, as well as current players and those who receive an invite to camp will arrive in to their respective teams and begin training. Everyone is competing for a spot.

Who is on the training camp roster?

Teams have already begun announcing their training camp rosters. We’ll update them below:

What happens next?

Not everyone will make the official team roster, as Laeticia Amihere of the Atlanta Dream shares in her TikTok. There are 144 roster spots across the League, with a maximum of 12 spots available on each of the 12 teams.

The date for final roster cuts is May 13.

What if my fav gets cut?

Just because a player is cut from the roster doesn’t mean their hoop dreams are over—or that you should stop supporting your fav. Some opt to go overseas and, even after the regular season starts, there’s hardship contracts as well.

The post Everything You Need to Know About WNBA Training Camp: How it Works, Rosters and more appeared first on SLAM.

Headlined by No. 1 pick and SLAM 249 cover star Caitlin Clark, as well as No. 2 pick Cameron Brink and more, this year’s draft welcomed the arrival of the League’s new, and stylish, rookies.

Let’s take a look back at yesterday’s draft night fits:

Breaking records and making history isn’t anything new for Caitlin Clark. She reportedly is the first athlete, ever, to be dressed by Prada on draft day.

Cameron Brink was runway ready.

Bayou Barbie shining bright, both on and off the court.

Nika Mühl pulled up to the draft rocking grills. Seattle fans, get ready for the tunnel fits.

Rickea Jackson had an ICONIC outfit change during the draft. Rockstar status.

Alissa Pili, who is Samoan-American, paid homage to her tribal heritage. Powerful.

Aaliyah Edwards with the fit AND the bedazzled basketball accessory. Baller.

The beauty is in the details of Dyaisha Fair’s draft suit.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Grills and Formal Wear: The 2024 WNBA Draft Was Full of Fire Fits appeared first on SLAM.

In South Carolina’s season opener against Notre Dame, MiLaysia Fulwiley made headlines after she blew by a swarm of green jerseys with an elite behind-the-back move, finishing with flair.

The Gamecocks would go on to dominate the Fighting Irish, 100-71, in their season opener held in Paris, France. Fulwiley finished the game with 17 points, six assists and six steals in her collegiate debut. And it didn’t take long for her compelling stat line and highlight clips to flood timelines.

Word traveled 4,000 miles back to the United States: a star was on the rise. 

Gamecocks fans were enlivened, haters were quieted and the world was put on notice. Since then, Fulwiley has just kept on hoopin’. The Columbia, S.C. native is a burst of speed, undeniable swagger and equipped with a shot-making ability and handles. It’s been clear from the start that she is special, and since then, she’s been in her first season, averaging 11.7 points and logging 82 assists and 63 steals. Her season crescendoed into the SEC Tournament final matchup against LSU, where she dropped 24 points off the bench. The silky-smooth sorcerer of the basketball was then rightfully crowned the SEC Tournament MVP. 

“MiLaysia is a generational player, an artist who is expanding her understanding of how to marry all aspects of her game every day,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said, per a press release announcing Fulwiley had signed with Curry Brand. “We are learning things from each other about how to maximize her game, and it has been incredible to work with her on that process.” 

Her flashy game is transcendent. “When it comes to the ability to change the game for good, nobody can speak to that more than MiLaysia,” Stephen Curry said. “She’s changing the women’s game on the fly with how she plays and moves on the court.”

While Fulwiley’s offensive prowess is undeniable, that isn’t all she can do. Despite being a natural scorer, Fulwiley isn’t afraid to show up on the defensive end of the floor: she grabbed nine boards against East Carolina and has multiple games with six steals. And most impressively, she does all of this while coming off the bench.

It’s crazy to think Fulwiley is only a freshman, but then again, she’s helping lead a new generation of phenoms who don’t just got next, but right now. Look no further than her, SLAM 248 cover star Juju Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo (to name a few), and even her own teammate, Tessa Johnson, who also dropped buckets in last night’s iconic championship win against Iowa.

Under the guidance of head coach Dawn Staley, Fulwiley has shined all season long.  What we witnessed from her in this year’s NCAA tournament is just a glimpse of what she can do: jaw-dropping plays, unreal dimes and finishes at the rim. She’s fun, she’s got flair and she’s just getting started. 

Photos via Getty Images.

The post South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley is an ‘Artist’ with Crazy Court Vision and Transcendent Talent  appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

With the hardwood as their canvas, the 2019 Duke Blue Devils painted a masterpiece that will be remembered for generations to come. 

Legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff painted the first stroke by recruiting one of college basketball’s greatest freshman classes; No. 1 RJ Barrett, No. 2 Zion Williamson, No. 3 Cam Reddish, No. 17 Tre Jones and No. 41 Joey Baker. As soon as the five top-ranked 18-year-olds stepped foot on campus, the entirety of the basketball ecosystem zoomed in on Durham. 

Under the leadership of Coach K, the Blue Devils were loved and feared. They would rip teams apart inside the storied Cameron Indoor Stadium, where it was standing room only and thousands of blue-painted ‘Cameron Crazies’ would scream, jump and chant endlessly. And when they went on the road, the squad always dressed for the occasion in their all-black unis, a nod to the opposing team’s ensuing “funeral”. Every possession was an opportunity for showtime, with high-flying, thunderous dunks and defense-freezing dimes becoming the norm rather than the exception. 

And for much of the season, Duke prevailed: they finished their campaign with 32 wins and just six losses, though their championship hopes were squashed by Michigan State in the Elite Eight. 

Williamson was the main star who adorned the vast Durham sky. The freshman forward was a force of nature whose gravity-defying athleticism and boundless energy transcended the sport itself and left Twitter spinning with highlights. The Salisbury, N.C. native’s mere presence was enough to elevate Duke to new heights, bringing an unseen national spotlight down onto Tobacco Road. 

But Duke was far from a one-man show. Alongside him stood RJ Barrett, a lefty Canadian sensation whose silky-smooth scoring touch and explosiveness made him one of the nation’s most exciting prospects. Together, they formed one of Coach K’s best tandems that brought nothing but hope to the legions of Duke faithful. 

Reddish dazzled with his shot-creating prowess, while Tre Jones anchored the backcourt with his poise and playmaking ability. Meanwhile, Javin LeLaurier often sent shots flying to the third row on one end and cleaned up dump-offs in the paint on the other. 

Together, this cohort of bucket-getting artists produced scenes that have been stamped in the minds of basketball aficionados. Mesmerizing—Williamson bolted and elevated to send De’Andre Hunter’s corner three deep into a sea of staggered Virginia fans. Breathtaking—Barrett finds Reddish between the legs for a triple to tie the game against Louisville after being down by 23 points. Picturesque—Williamson spins 360 degrees in the air and hammers it home, everyone around freezing still. 

Duke’s 2019 squad exemplified what Duke basketball has come to mean—a cultural phenomenon, an eternal love-or-hate relationship. But this season was also unique: every game felt like an ethereal experience, the truest showing of pure talent and unrivaled chemistry, all backed by arguably the greatest basketball coach of all time. This squad, in all its glories and shortcomings, might have been the ‘Dukest’ Duke team to date. 

Five years since 2019, the tears, screams and memories have yet to fully escape the creaking wooden doors of Cameron Indoor Stadium. And much like the most beautiful and coveted of paintings, the 2018-19 Blue Devils’ story perhaps will remain timeless.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: 2019 Duke  appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

In the heartland of basketball, where scarlet and gray reign supreme, the ‘06-’07 Ohio State Buckeyes emerged as game icons, stealing the nation’s hearts with their blend of youth, talent and tenacity. 

Under the guidance of Coach Thad Matta, the Buckeyes played basketball like it was an art form. They zapped the ball around effortlessly in search of an open man, giving up good looks for better looks. The ball moved seamlessly from one set of hands to another until it eventually found its way down the net. 

That isn’t to say that the Buckeyes didn’t let the individual prowess of their players shine. Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook made up the core of this Buckeyes squad. Freshman phenoms with the composure of seasoned vets, these Buckeyes were ready to make a name for themselves from the very first game. 

Oden was a towering force hailing from Lawrence North High School, where he developed close on-court chemistry with fellow freshman guard Mike Conley. Oden’s sheer force in the paint was unmatched, while his soft touch around the rim solidified him as a sure-fire top-two pick in the NBA Draft. Meanwhile, Conley’s crossovers would leave defenders frozen, while his acrobatic finishes stunned thousands of fans.

Their dominance and chemistry would be the motor on which the Buckeyes operated. Conley would blow by defenders and find Oden in the paint, who mercilessly punished anyone who dared to jump with him. In a statement win against Iowa in the regular season, Oden exploded for 29 points and 10 rebounds, with Conley running the show with 10 dimes. 

The scariest thing about this Ohio State team was that the offense didn’t just end with Oden and Conley. Senior guard Ron Lewis could catch fire quickly, while Daequan Cook would put the team on his back with his momentum-swinging shots. And there was Jamar Butler, a rim-punishing presence in the paint. 

The Buckeyes team was dynamite with enough firepower to explode at any instant and ignite the crowd with their exhilarating play. 

And explode they did in the Big Ten, cruising past teams on the way to a league-best 15 wins, only losing one along the way. The Big Ten wasn’t just their playground; it was their empire, and they ruled it with an iron fist. 

But it was in the madness of March that the Buckeyes truly shined. With the eyes of the nation upon them, Ohio State embarked on a postseason journey that would showcase the talent and grit of the team. Victories over powerhouses like Georgetown and Memphis showcased their talent and resilience, showing the world that this team had what it took to hoist the national championship trophy. 

For all Buckeyes fans, these were heart-crushing moments that still haunt them to this day. But as long as the scarlet and gray flies high, the legend of the ’07 Buckeyes—for the stars it produced, the historic comebacks and dominance—will live on.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: ’07 Ohio State appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

Dynasties rarely surface in college basketball and for all the right reasons. 

The uncertainty of March Madness puts any talented team at risk of an early exit, no matter how well they played for the entirety of the season. Even the greatest individual collegiate careers are capped at five years, and, more often than not, the lure of the NBA—the checks, the followers and the chance of playing for a childhood favorite team—pulls players out of college. 

But if any team resembled the makings of a dynasty, it was the ‘06-07 Florida Gators.

After crusading to a national title in ‘06, beating UCLA and Villanova, the Gators immediately had their eyes set on a second-straight championship. Head coach Billy Donovan sat down each of his five starters after their championship season and convinced them to return for another year, painting the picture of a blue and orange dynasty. 

NBA-bound college superstars like Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green resisted the allure of the league and stuck with Donovan. Donovan’s speech and the promise of two national trophies weren’t the only things that led to the return of the starters. 

The decision was also a testament to the camaraderie of the star players. The ‘06-’07 season would be the final time for the tight group of bucket-getters to play alongside one another. Back-to-back NCAA titles were on the horizon, and they thought it could be the perfect fairytale farewell for a team that had already accomplished so much. 

The trio of eventual NBA lottery picks led the Gators’ season. Headlined by Horford, Brewer, Noah, Florida boasted the most efficient offense in America, knocking down 41% of their looks from behind the arc. Their dominance continued on the defensive end, holding opponents to a low 62.6 points per game. 

Noah, a pony-tailed, skyscraping big who called both NYC and Paris home, was the heart and soul of the team. The 6-11 junior dominated with a unique blend of size and skill, but his boundless energy and igniting passion gave him an edge on any hardwood he found himself on. In his third season in Gainesville, the big man stuffed the stat sheet, averaging 12 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. 

Alongside Noah were Horford and Brewer, who could carry the load whenever necessary. Horford was a crafty big man down low and a full-time double-double machine. The Dominican Republic’s big man would shoot, post up and rebound his way to 13.2 points and 9.5 boards per game.

Brewer was a silky-smooth sorcerer with the rock, masterfully crafting his way around defenders to big shots and acrobatic finishes around the rim. 

The brilliance of this squad, however, resided in how each complemented one another on the hardwood. And that they did.

The Gators quickly gave up good shots for better ones, thriving on selfless ball movement that found players in the right position to score. The starting five, all of whom are 1000-point scorers, gelled together seamlessly and, at their best, looked unstoppable.

 From the moment the players were recruited to the picture-perfect moment of big smiles, confetti and championship caps, there was never much to doubt about this team. They were dominant like no other, winning 12 straight in the ‘06 and ‘07 NCAA tournaments, outscoring their opponents by an average of 15 points per game. Over 15 years since the Gators’ back-to-back championships, no team has yet to emulate the kind of basketball Florida played. We’ll rarely find that same level of dominance and camaraderie in the new age of college hoops, making the imprint left by the Gators that much more impactful.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: ’07 Florida appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

“Almost Jordan-like in his early days when the jump shot is falling,” the play-by-play broadcaster said as Marquette’s Dwyane Wade hit a long-range shot against Kentucky in the Elite Eight of the 2003 NCAA Tournament. 

In more ways than one, the two players were just like each other. Jordan’s arrival in Chicago signaled a new era of dominance for the Bulls, while Wade’s tenure at Marquette rejuvenated the program and propelled it to national prominence. 

And just like the Bulls, the Golden Eagles left a lasting mark on their league’s history. 

At the helm of this Wisconsinite powerhouse was the mastermind himself, Tom Crean. The suit-and-tie-wearing coaching genius molded his players into bucket-getting hoopers. His emphasis on relentless defense and fast-paced offense turned Marquette into a whirlwind of chaos for any matchup in the nation. Under his guidance, the Golden Eagles flew high, winning the hearts of basketball fans across the country. 

A high-flying, sharp-shooting Wade was at the center of the team’s success. 

Wade was all you could ever want in a first option: his quickness helped him blow by defenders. He could levitate for emphatic posters and knock down big shots consistently. The Chicago native was one of the hottest players in the NCAA during his junior season, averaging 21.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.2 steals. 

Though Marquette could always rely on Wade’s star power, the squad also thrived on collective brilliance. Alongside Wade were Travis Diener, Robert Jackson and Steve Novak, who epitomized the essence of team basketball. 

Diener dished out dimes left and right, thriving as the team’s primary facilitator. Senior forward Jackson was a brawny bully inside the paint, punishing any defender who stood between him and the rim – the Milwaukee, WI native averaged 15.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Off the bench was an emerging star in Novak, who knocked down 50.5 percent of his shot attempts from behind the arc as a freshman. 

From Wade to the 12th man on the edge of the bench, each player brought a unique skill set to the court, complementing each other with selfless play. Together, they became one of the most explosive offenses in the Conference USA, capable of giving any Blue Blood and top collegiate team a run for their money. 

And it showed in time for March Madness. 

The Golden Eagles started their postseason campaign with a showdown against Holy Cross, setting the stage for a clash of coaching titans as Crean faced off against his mentor, Ralph Willard. Despite a slow start and Wade battling foul trouble, Marquette rallied behind Diener’s hot hand to secure a hard-fought victory, one that helped him shake off the ghosts of past postseason disappointments.

Marquette’s most dramatic game came in the second round, where they found themselves locked in an overtime thriller against Missouri. With Wade leading the charge and freshman sharpshooter Novak seizing his moment in the spotlight, the Golden Eagles soared to victory in a game that embodied the spirit of March Madness—heart-stopping action, clutch performances, and an unwavering determination to win. 

The Golden Eagles then survived a narrow win against Pittsburgh in the Sweet Sixteen to punch their ticket to the Elite Eight in thrilling fashion. 

In what might be the biggest game in program history, Marquette clashed with basketball royalty in Kentucky, a showdown that would test their firepower and define their legacy. With Wade delivering a virtuoso triple-double performance for the ages featuring 29 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists and four blocks, the Golden Eagles ended the first-seeded Wildcats’ 26-game winning streak on their way to the program’s third-ever Final Four appearance. 

Although they failed to hoist the national championship trophy in the end, Wade’s heroics and stardom elevated Marquette to national prominence. Across the Golden Eagles fanbase, the Windy City native instilled excitement and hope, just like Jordan’s impact on Chicago in the 80s.  

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: ’03 Marquette appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

An orange headband-donning megastar, Carmelo Anthony. The coaching genius of Jim Boeheim and a trademark 2-3 zone defense. The ‘03 Syracuse Orangemen always had what it took to be the best team in the nation. 

But no one really saw it that way. Not until they did the impossible, of course.

 Syracuse went into the 2002-03 season unranked and never reached the top 10 during the regular season. But with a blend of style, resilience, and sheer determination, they hoisted the first national championship trophy in program history, etching their names alongside a long line of NCAA tournament champions. 

Led by Jim Boeheim, the second-winningest coach in NCAA men’s basketball history, Syracuse embraced their trademark 2-3 zone defense, a maneuver that left opponents casting threes and fans dripping in orange paint roaring in joy on the fast break. Boeheim’s strategic acumen and ability to adapt his game plan to his team’s strengths were the pillars on which the success of this historic Syracuse team would be built. 

That isn’t to say that the squad was nothing more than just a revolutionary defensive scheme. It was the leadership of Kueth Duany, the second senior on the team. It was Gerry McNamara, a sharp-eyed sniper from behind the arc. And it was Anthony whose gravity-defying dunks and iso-shooting mesmerized all college basketball fans alike.

The freshman sensation hauled Orange County to the national spotlight as soon as he stepped foot onto the sprawling upstate campus. At 18 years old, Melo had it all—the self-confidence, the fearlessness, the stuff that separates good from great.  

With a stellar regular-season record of 24-5, including a Big East regular-season title, the Orange stormed into the NCAA Tournament with a chip on their shoulder and a hunger to prove everyone wrong. 

Starting their campaign in Boston, Cuse cruised past Manhattan and Oklahoma State in the first two rounds. The No. 3 seed then traveled up to New York, where they survived a narrow one-point win against Auburn and took down Oklahoma to reach the Final Four. 

Whenever the Orangemen found themselves in trouble, they turned to the team’s jab-stepping, bucket-getting savior: Carmelo Anthony. The Brooklyn, N.Y. native worked his magic in isolation en route to a 20-point double-double in the Elite Eight. And then he went nuclear in the Final Four, exploding for 33 points and 14 boards. 

Ultimately, the team’s season came down to one game: the national championship showdown against the No. 6 Kansas Jayhawks. In a back-and-forth battle for the ages, the Orange dug deep, drawing on every ounce of grit and determination they possessed to walk away with an 81-78 triumph. (Replace with above? – The stage was set for a national championship showdown against the No. 6 Kansas Jayhawks. The Orange stamped the mardi gras-colored court with an electric display. McNamara was scintillating in the first half, knocking down six treys, while the growing legend of No. 15 was cemented with a 21-point performance. With Hakim Warrick’s game-sealing block, a bright sea of orange erupted as a pile of players in orange unis and warmups cascaded at half court. 

In a back-and-forth battle for the ages, the Orange had secured their first-ever NCAA Championship behind the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, Carmelo Anthony.)

Before they knew it, the freshman-heavy squad of Orangemen would soon decorate headlines, magazines and walls at Syracuse University—and their legacy still lingers on campus.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: ’03 Syracuse appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

At the turn of the century, the Cincinnati Bearcats were the team that struck a perfect balance of old-school toughness and flash and flare. 

Led by the legendary Bob Huggins, a coaching maestro famous for his relentless pursuit of excellence, the 1999-2000 Bearcats epitomized hard-nosed basketball. Huggins, a master tactician, instilled in his players a defensive prowess and a tangible thirst for victory. 

Their mantra was simple: outwork, outlast, outplay. And they did so with ferocity, leaving opponents quaking in their kicks. But it wasn’t just their on-court prowess that captured the imagination of fans across the nation. It was the colorful cast of characters of this storied team. From the towering presence of Naismith Player of the Year Kenyon Martin to the sharpshooting finesse of DerMarr Johnson, the Bearcats boasted a roster brimming with talent and personality. 

Martin and Johnson would eventually declare for the NBA draft. The New Jersey Nets picked Martin with the first pick, and Atlanta scooped Johnson with the sixth. 

On the court, the dynamic duo and the rest of the team donned white and red jerseys that drooped below their knees, repping the fashion trends of the times with gusto. Stamped with the Bearcats’ iconic bear claw logo, headbands and ankle socks accompanied the team’s ensemble at the turn of the century. But it was the reserved allure of the Jumpman logo and the litany of Air Jordans that catapulted Cincinnati to cultural prominence. The Bearcats were one of just four programs to introduce Brand Jordan to the collegiate ecosystem. In their oversized jerseys, the players strutted, oozing confidence, reflecting the swagger and confidence of players who seemed destined for greatness. 

And greatness they achieved. 

With an impressive regular-season record of 29-4, including a Conference USA regular-season title, the Bearcats bulldozed their way through the competition, leaving a trail of defeated foes in their wake. The team’s toughest challenge would come near the end of the season when Martin broke his leg in the C-USA Tournament quarterfinal game against Saint Louis. 

Despite the heartbreak of losing the nation’s then-biggest college phenomenon, the Bearcats rallied together, sending out a clear message: even without their top performer, the team has what it takes to give any team a run for its money. They marched into the NCAA Tournament as the second seed, still determined to reach the promised land. 

The Bearcats stomped into the first round of the tournament, blowing out UNC Wilmington. Their championship hopes, however, would be cut short in heartbreaking fashion by Tulsa. The Golden Hurricanes upset the Bearcats in a close game in the tournament’s second round. 

It was a bitter pill to swallow, but the team’s legacy of resilience and determination would endure for generations to come. Over 20 years later, people are still left wondering how much greater this team could have been if it weren’t for Martin’s gruesome leg injury.

As the final buzzer sounded on the ‘99-2000 season, the Bearcats may not have ended the season where they wanted to, but they had won the hearts of fans nationwide. Theirs was a season filled with triumph and adversity, highs and lows, but through it all, they still enjoyed a 29-4 season, going undefeated in Conference USA. And when Martin was healthy, they boasted the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll for 12 weeks during the season. 

Steeped in a rich tradition of tenacity and ferocity on the court, this team etched its name into the hearts of fans and the history book of hooping legends.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: ‘00 Cincinnati appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

Former Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski once said, “Two are better than one if two act as one.” And he is right, especially when talking about the ‘99 Blue Devils’ stars Elton Brand and Trajan Langdon. 

Led by the size and athleticism of Brand and the finesse and flair of Langdon, Duke’s squad established itself as one of the most unstoppable forces in college basketball history, a true embodiment of the Blue Devils’ perennial preeminence. They were rock stars of the college basketball scene. Everyone wanted to be like them, but no one really was. Brand bulldozed his way through defenses, earning accolades and admiration with his sheer dominance on the court. He averaged 17.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, earning him the Naismith National Player of the Year award as a sophomore. 

While the brawn of Brand was inside the paint, the artistry of Langdon was outside the arc. The senior guard, nicknamed the “Alaskan Assassin,” was Duke’s lethal scoring weapon. While his size and athleticism helped him find success attacking the paint, some of his best moments came from long-range. At any instant, Langdon would rise over defenders with the flick of his wrist, signaling an automatic three points.

The three-time All-ACC guard logged 17.3 points and knocked down the three ball at an efficient 44.1 percent clip. His best games always came when it mattered most, whether it’d be his 24 points against Missouri State or his 25-point explosion in the national championship game. 

For every scorer—or, in this case, for every two scorers—there must be a floor general who can distribute the ball for things to work. Luckily for Duke, and to everyone else’s misfortune, the Blue Devils had William Avery running the show. 

Avery was a Swiss Army knife kind of player. He consistently splashed jump shots from any place on the floor, threw dimes left and right and even sneaked up on opponents for run-ending steals. Meanwhile, sophomore Shane Battier stifled opponents on the wing as one of the best defenders in the ACC, while his spot-up shooting would deflate opposing arenas with quickness. 

Defense was their backbone, fundamentals were their gospel and team-play was their anthem. Under Coach K, the distinct personalities of the players would gel into a singular unit destined to destroy teams on the hardwood. Combining the collective brilliance of the nation’s top college players and a world-class coaching staff—not to mention the unwavering support from the craziest fans in college basketball—the Blue Devils tore through their campaign with a jaw-dropping 37-2 record. 

Duke’s only regular season losses came against Cincinnati in November when they fell just two points shy against the Bearcats. But the Blue Devils bounced back tremendously, reeling off 32 straight wins up to their matchup against Connecticut in the NCAA tournament final. Though the loss still stings today for the Cameron Crazies, the sheer greatness of that ‘99 team will forever be etched into their memory.

Photos via Getty Images.

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But there are also other stories that need to be told. From Perry Wallace, who was the first Black basketball player to compete in the SEC to the social justice work led by WNBA players and protests that took place across the W and the NBA in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, author Andrew Maraniss is here to tell them all.

Maraniss, a New York Times bestselling author and a Visiting Author at Vanderbilt University Athletics, is a pioneer in his own right. He’s just released four books, including a new 10th-anniversary edition of Strong Inside (for adults), the paperback edition of Inaugural Ballers (for teens/adults) and the first two books in a new series for first and third graders called Beyond the Game. Get your copy here.

SLAM recently caught up Maraniss to discuss the inspiration behind his work and writing books for the next generation of sports fans:

SLAM: Let’s start with the first book you published. What inspired you to write Strong Inside?

ANDREW MARANISS: Growing up like you I was really into sports writing. I always saw sports and reading and writing as connected. My parents said I learned how to read by reading the back of baseball cards when I was a little kid.

In my sophomore year, I was taking a Black history course I was a history major. And it just coincidentally happened to be the same year that Perry Wallace was invited back to Vanderbilt to be honored as the Jackie Robinson figure of the SEC.

[It was] just a coincidence that he comes back at the same time I’m taking this course and there’s an article in a student magazine about his experience as the first black player in the league. Not growing up [in Tennessee], I had never heard Perry’s story before. And so it immediately grabbed me as something that I was interested in…so I called Perry out of the blue. He was a professor in Baltimore at that time, and I wrote a paper about him when I was 19 years old…And 17 years later, I emailed him and said, Hey, do you remember me wrote a paper about you and time ago? I’d like to write a biography about you.

SLAM: Your two books from your new series Beyond the Game are written for first and third graders. In which ways was your approach to writing a book for younger audiences different?

AM:  One piece of advice that I’ve gotten from my editors working on these books, not only for these little kids, but also for teenagers is to respect the audience and not dumb things down. And so what I’m trying to do is just tell a story in a clearer way, which I would be trying to do whether I was writing for elementary school kids or high school kids or adults…The major difference is the length of the books…[And] on the back, they have a glossary of terms that they might be unfamiliar with. They have sort of a call to action, like what have you learned from reading the story that could guide the kids and their families as they read the book.

The reason why I wrote [Beyond the Game] is that these issues are things that matter to families that a lot of families are actually experiencing…Maya Moore and LeBron James are fighting for the same values that these families have, and that they would like their kids to read about, at a time when there’s a lot of pressure on libraries and school districts and teachers from others in the community…And so I understand that these books are coming out at a time when they could be seen as controversial by some people.

But for me, that’s all the more reason to write them.

SLAM: This is a lot like making you choose a favorite child, but which of your four books is your favorite and why?

AM: Yeah, that is exactly like asking for your favorite child is. And I’ve used that analogy before. With that caveat, I would say that Strong Inside being my first book, with it being the book that took me eight years of my life to write, and also because of the relationship that I was able to form with Perry Wallace himself while he was alive, will always be the most special book to me.

And even while I was working on it, he was becoming a real father figure, mentor, favorite professor, type of figure to me. And I feel so fortunate that I was able to spend so much time around him and to learn so much from him about life and racism and courage and toll of pioneering. I saw him on his deathbed, you know, and he asked if we could plan the memorial service for him here at Vanderbilt.

SLAM: Even compared to other major sports, basketball has been a big player in advocating social equality. What makes basketball special as a platform to discuss societal injustice and promote equality amongst different genders and races?

AM: That’s a really interesting question. I think the answer goes back to the very beginnings of basketball. In Inaugural Ballers, I write that [basketball] was an international game…The first players were students from around the world, we actually have a sketch of the very first basketball game ever played. That was done by a Japanese student at that school. So from the very beginning, it was international, right, which I think is unusual in sports…Because there are only five players on the court, they’re not wearing helmets, it’s a very personal game and the players are visible. In that way, it gives them a platform that’s a little bit different than football even in visual ways.

Basketball has been a place where women and African Americans and other groups that are marginalized often have found success. Today’s game has enormous platforms…so with that comes an opportunity to use that platform to speak out for civil rights or human rights, women’s rights. And it’s been really impressive, I would say, to see how these basketball players are using that platform to try to make the world a better place for all people, not just for themselves.

SLAM: Now that your four books will be coming out in a couple of days, what’s next for you?

AM: Oh, well, the Beyond the Game series continues beyond these first two books that will come out on March 5. So the third book will be on Pat Tillman. You know, the NFL player who enlisted after 9/11 was killed by his fellow troops from friendly fire. And then the army lied about the circumstances of his death. So again, you could call that a heavy topic for first, second and third graders, but it’s a really interesting story.

The fourth book, I’m just beginning now will be about a Native American distance runner named Jordan Marie Daniel, who raises awareness of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. That’s her advocacy through her sport. So yeah, that would be the other things for people to know.

You can purchase Andrew’s books here.

Illustrations by DeAndra Hodge for the James and Moore books.

The post From LeBron James to Maya Moore, Author Andrew Maraniss Latest Work is for Every Generation of Hoops Fans appeared first on SLAM.

While W players have long been showing out in the tunnel, Harrison and Austin are continuing a movement of women’s hoopers in the high-fashion space. Thanks to the visionary work of renowned stylist Sydney Bordonaro—who credits the weekend’s success to the help of writer and strategist Kirsten Chen (@hotgothwriter)—Harrison, a dynamic forward on the Sky and Austin, a standout center/forward for the Mystics and ’22 All-Rookie Team honoree, looked stunning in pieces by Kim Shui, DAILY PAPER and more.

To give us the inside scoop, Bordonaro joined the latest episode of hoop(ish) to talk about their recent WNBA NYFW takeover.

Bordonaro was in charge of working around the outfits given by the shows with flashy accessories that best complemented their looks and personality. She says Harrison’s sister, @dolledbydorie, also worked her magic with both players’ makeup, too.

It was Harrison’s second show since her appearance for Kim Shui two years ago and a first for Austin. “Izzy and Shakira ate,” Bordonaro says. “The girls just did what they needed to do.”

On Friday and Saturday, Harrison and Austin both rocked elegant, flowy designs by Collina Strada while accessorizing with handbags.

Then, on Saturday, they took things to another level with more edgier looks. Harrison’s outfit included a Jumpman original with a beaded-corset overlay, while Austin rocked designs by KidSuper. They both also wore more looks by DAILY PAPER.

After an eventful weekend, Bordonaro hopes this was a much-needed wake up call for the fashion world to include even more women’s hoopers. “It was a good introduction for the fashion space to get basketball girls,” Bordonaor said. “They handled themselves like they were stars. So many people when they saw them were taken back.”

This is just the beginning, too. From the tunnel to the runway, we’re hyped to see more looks by Bordonaro this upcoming season and to watch Harrison and Austin show out on, and off the court.

Check out the entire episode of hoop(ish) below:

Photos by Dominique Oliveto (@dommyo).

The post WNBA Stars Isabelle Harrison and Shakira Austin Takeover New York Fashion Week appeared first on SLAM.