WVU Women’s Basketball did West Virginia proud last night. True to their reputation as a defensive disruption machine, they forced nine turnovers in the first half and held Iowa scoreless for much of the fourth quarter.

With about two minutes to play, WVU still held the score even at 52. Iowa has the highest-scoring offense in the country with over 92 points per game, but they managed just 64 points against WVU.

Basketball, Paying It Forward

I’m originally from Indiana. In the Hoosier State, we take our basketball very seriously.

My cousin’s preteen daughters in Indiana live to play basketball. They’ve been to basketball camps coached by the Indiana University players and they cheer on their favorite teams in the NCAA, WNBA, and NBA (not necessarily in that order).

After IU advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, my cousins’ family rooted against Iowa and hoped to see the Mountaineers give them a tough ride. Though WVU couldn’t quite hold down Clark & Company, JJ Quinerly, Lauren Fields, Jayla Hemingway and others gave us a lot to cheer about.

Getting Smart

I’m grateful that we’re now able to watch NCAA Women’s Basketball during prime time in March (though not the championship game, that will be at 3 p.m. ET). I hope that by the time my young cousins are in college, even more NCAA and WNBA games will be on prime time and more leading players will gain endorsement contracts.

It was never true that there was no market for women’s basketball. We couldn’t value and reward something we didn’t have access to. But ask us — we care.

For the sake of those girls in Indiana (and everywhere else) who find their best versions of themselves with a basketball in their hands, I’ll say thank you, NCAA … and also it’s about time!