Hoops Off

Liz Lapp and Karen Uyenco

Sports! Athletes! Activism! Hoops Off is sports talk from a woman’s point of view. Each week, Liz Lapp and Karen Uyenco discuss the latest ways Sports is intersecting with women’s issues, culture and society. Sports journalists, athletes, activists, agents, talent, comedians, and more join them to bring additional perspectives to the discussion. New episodes weekly. read less

Our Editor's Take

Hoops Off is a podcast that explores sports, pop culture, and women's issues through fun and insightful perspectives. The hosts are women of color, giving them a different standpoint on the NBA. These perceptions, along with their sense of humor and friendship, help to make the show fun.

The hosts and creators of this podcast are Liz Lapp and Karen Uyenco. They have been working in social media and digital marketing for over a decade. The show began when the duo worked on a project for the same client. During a break, Liz and Karen began talking and learned they both had a mutual love for the NBA and WNBA. They also realized that there was not a lot of commentary on these leagues available from women of color. Thus, Liz and Karen decided to begin Hoops Off to create a space to share their thoughts on basketball.

How the hosts weave multiple topics into each episode makes Hoops Off fun and fresh. In a matter of moments, they can go from discussing Caitlin Clark's WNBA salary to what kind of music Shaquille O'Neal likes. The playful pacing and Liz and Karen's ability to not take anything too seriously are fun. For example, the two discuss Clark and how many WNBA players play in Russia. Then they joke that a descendant of Anastasia is funding the Russian league.

But basketball isn't the only subject of the podcast. Liz and Karen are happy to discuss other sports, such as the NFL, or share their thoughts on "Bennifer 2.0," as they call it. This is a reference to the marriage of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. On occasion, they will have a third guest offer additional commentary. This can be an artist or athlete that the hosts are friends with. The hosts care how all of these conversations affect the perception of women of color.

New episodes of the Hoops Off podcast air each week on Fridays.

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Episodes

New Era for the NBA, Candace Parker Retires, and a WNBA Season Look-Ahead
May 10 2024
New Era for the NBA, Candace Parker Retires, and a WNBA Season Look-Ahead
This week Liz gets some relief knowing her Los Angeles Lakers have ended their playoff run. And while others are already speculating about LeBron James' future with the Lakers, she is going to sit back with Karen and start looking ahead to the 2024 WNBA season, which kicks off on May 14th. In the NBA analysis this week, the anticipation meter cranks up a notch as Liz and Karen discuss the new era for the league, which includes rising stars Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, and Shai Gilgious-Alexander and his whole OKC squad. Transition from the old to the new is not always easy, but Liz and Karen feel the excitement. Speaking of transitions, Candace Parker announced, via Instagram, her retirement from the WNBA after 16 impactful seasons on and off the court. Liz and Karen process this startling news and give the GOAT Candace Parker all the flowers. They also discuss 2024 Hall of Fame inductees and reflect on Diana Taurasi calling the new fans "a little too sensitive." And, as always, L. and K. take their hoops off.MENTIONS:Candace Parker retirement news:https://apnews.com/article/candace-parker-retires-wnba-6b28339cc1e21731760e6c0c1902d1b9 LeBron James future:https://www.si.com/nba/2024/04/30/lebron-james-statement-future-varying-reports End of an Era and Superteams: https://www.essentiallysports.com/nba-active-basketball-news-suns-may-have-killed-it-stephen-a-smith-foresees-the-end-of-super-team-era-started-by-lebron-d-wade-chris-bosh/Diana Taurasi new fans: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10119282-wnbas-diana-taurasi-calls-out-really-sensitive-fans-after-caitlin-clark-analysis#:~:text=Phoenix%20Mercury%20star%20Diana%20Taurasi,All%2DStar%20told%20reporters%20Sunday Nike's Olympic track and field women's kits: https://theathletic.com/5410677/2024/04/12/nike-olympic-track-field-team-usa/
WNBA 2024 Draft Picks, Orange Carpet Lewks, and Caitlin Clark's Rookie Salary
Apr 19 2024
WNBA 2024 Draft Picks, Orange Carpet Lewks, and Caitlin Clark's Rookie Salary
The WNBA had its moment this week with the 2024 draft class, talk of expansion, and the outrage sparked by number one draft pick Caitlin Clark's rookie salary. Liz and Karen recap the first seven picks of the first round of draftees in the 2024 WNBA draft. They discuss the storylines around Kamilla Cardoso's journey from Brazil at 15 to the WNBA 2nd round pick, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso going from rivals to team mates for the Chicago Sky, and Rickea Jackson being dubbed a "ready made baller" as the second pick for the Los Angeles Sparks. They also breakdown some of the fashions and fashion brands that were worn by the rookie players on the Orange carpet, includcing Caitlin Clark being the first draftee in both WNBA and NBA to be dressed by Prada, and Alissa Pili's paying tribute to her Samoan-American heritage with the tribal symbols. And a Hoops Off first this season: Liz and Karen tag team the Hoops Off segment, sharing outrage about Caitlin Clark's rookie salary of $76,535 for her first year when she is obviously worth millions.Mentions:Caitlin Clark salary: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/gap-caitlin-clarks-wnba-salary-male-counterparts-draws-outrage-rcna148024WNBA Draft Grades by Sabreena Merchant: https://theathletic.com/5418814/2024/04/16/wnba-draft-grades-caitlin-clark-angel-reese/WWD WNBA draft fashions slideshow: https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/gallery/wnba-draft-2024-photos-1236315177/2024-wnba-draft/WNBA expansion headed to 16 teams: https://theathletic.com/5418223/2024/04/15/wnba-expansion-16-teams-portland-toronto/