Posts by Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith has covered women’s basketball nationally for more than three decades. A 2024 inductee into the U.S. Basketball Writer’s Hall of Fame, Smith has worked for ESPN.com, The Athletic, the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as Pac-12.com and WNBA.com. She is the 2017 recipient of the Jake Wade Media Award from the Collegiate Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) and was named the Mel Greenberg Media Award winner by the WBCA in 2019.

Stanford's Nunu Agara answers questions from the stage at ACC Media Day in October.

How Stanford is on the way to proving it’s for real

November 26, 2025

A 7-0 start has put the Cardinal on the verge of being ranked with their toughest non-conference stretch to come

Cal head coach Charmin Smith embraces sophomore Lulu Twidale at the end of the Bears' first-round NCAA game against Mississippi State in Los Angeles.

Cal modeling after the Golden State Valkyries in Year 2 in the ACC

October 25, 2025

The Bears have veteran leadership in Lulu Twidale and fresh star power in Puff Morris to lead them back to the NCAA Tournament.

Hannah Hidalgo drives to the hoop.

2025-26 ACC preview

October 21, 2025

After losing 70% of all-conference performers from last season, ACC teams are looking for fresh starts all around

Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase embraces guard Veronica Burton following the Valkyries season-ending loss to Minnesota in the WNBA playoffs.

Valkyries finish with guts, grit and a roaring crowd

September 18, 2025

Natalie Nakase: ‘We were the first to do this’

Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton screams excitedly. Her arms are extended to the side, with both palms turned upward.

Why it’s dangerous to assume Golden State Valkyries can’t compete with Minnesota Lynx

September 13, 2025

The Valkyries’ margin for error in this playoff series is razor-thin, but they’ve defied assumptions all season long

Golden State Valkyries players Veronica Burton, Kate Martin, Janelle Salaun, Temi Fagbenle and Iliana Rupert high-five each other after a game. They are standing roughly in a circle, wearing black uniforms with light purple numbers and white trim.

At present, the Valkyries are set up for the playoffs

September 1, 2025

Golden State’s magic number – the combination of Golden State wins and Los Angeles losses to secure a playoff spot, the first in league history for an expansion team, sits at three.

Golden State Valkyries players Veronica Burton, Kate Martin, Janelle Salaun, Temi Fagbenle and Iliana Rupert high-five each other after a game. They are standing roughly in a circle, wearing black uniforms with light purple numbers and white trim.

Why resilience is the Golden State Valkyries’ superpower

August 16, 2025

At first, the Valkyries were ‘killers.’ Now, they’re something even more effective

Cameron Brink runs back on defense, smiling in her return against the Los Vegas Aces at Crypto.com Arena on July 29, 2025.

Cameron Brink emotional in her return to the Bay Area

August 10, 2025

Brink doesn’t know yet what she has learned from this experience

Golden State Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin sits in the audience of a press release during her time with the New York Liberty.

GM Ohemaa Nyanin assesses the Valkyries’ roster heading into stretch run

August 10, 2025

Nyanin has made a decision to stand pat with the gritty, resilient team she has built

Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton runs back after making a 3-pointer. She is shown from the front and a packed crowd cheers behind her.

The Valkyries’ second half may finally be marked by stability

July 21, 2025

The mission to become the first expansion team in league history is very much in play in Golden State.