Episode
436: "Court Queens" - With Emma Baccellieri & Jordan Robinson
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- Good Seats Still Available
- Published
- Mar 9, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4961
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- https://goodseatsstillavailable.libsyn.com/placeholder-371
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Summary
Women's basketball is enjoying a remarkable surge in popularity — but it also stands at a pivotal moment. As the Women's National Basketball Association and the WNBA Players Association remain locked in difficult negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, the sport faces a paradox: unprecedented visibility and momentum, yet uncertainty just weeks before the next season. In many ways, the tension reflects the league's maturation—and serves as a reminder of the decades-long struggle that built the modern women's game. This week, we explore that history with Emma Baccellieri and Jordan Robinson , authors of the sweeping new book " Court Queens: Celebrate the Players, Teams, and History of Women's Basketball . " Baccellieri, a staff writer at Sports Illustrated , and Robinson — who covers women's basketball across multiple outlets, including Audacy's "The Women's Hoops Show " podcast — have created a richly researched and visually stunning chronicle of the sport's evolution: from 1892, when Senda Berenson introduced basketball to women at Smith College , through the collegiate era of the AIAW and the rise of the NCAA tournament, early pro experiments like the late-1970s Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL) and the 1990s American Basketball League (ABL) , and ultimately the launch — and staying power — of the WNBA . Packed with hundreds of photos, memorabilia, and vivid storytelling, " Court Queens" celebrates the pioneers, iconic teams, unforgettable games, and overlooked trailblazers who fought for opportunity across more than 130 years of basketball history. Our conversation explores those stories — and why understanding that long arc of progress makes today's moment for women's basketball feel both thrilling and consequential. PLUS: your chance to…