Hoops Off podcast welcomes Jenny Nguyen, founder of the The Sports Bra, located in Portland, Oregon, and dedicated ENTIRELY to women's sports. Jenny’s origin story and her journey to getting the bar off the ground travel a fascinating trail--from the shoe-squeaks of hoops courts through professional kitchens, the pandemic, rounds of deep introspection, amateur Keynote pitch decks, and wildly encouraging rejections, Listen to her immersive journey and find out what's next as she discusses the current infusion of monetary investment from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, who is also husband to award-winning tennis champion Serena Williams, as well as life in the world of franchising. Also in this episode, Karen breaks down the Emirates Cup (formerly known as the In-Season Tournament) including the renaming, how it works, fancy new courts and foolish heist marketing.

MENTIONS

There's never been a better time to run a women's sports bar:

https://www.thecut.com/article/how-jenny-nguyen-the-sports-bra-owner-gets-it-done.html

This popular women's sports bra in Portland is bringing its winnning formula to other cities:

https://www.fastcompany.com/91111766/sports-bra-womens-sports-bar-portland-franchise-alexis-ohanian

The Sports Bra announces plan to franchise with investment from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian:

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2024/04/the-sports-bra-announces-plans-to-franchise-with-investment-from-alexis-ohanian.html

NBA's Emirates Cup Features New 2024 Courts. What's Changed:

https://frontofficesports.com/nbas-emirates-cup-features-new-2024-courts-whats-changed/

Women's basketball courts are still going strong with the start of Women's College Basketball. Meanwhile, the revolving door of WNBA head coaches are making heads spin. Liz and Karen run through the firings that have popped up just a few weeks into the WNBA offseason. Then, Money Mama Karen breaks down the millions--in both dollars and reach--for the college WBB. The NBA's numbers are trending in a less favorable direction than the W's, particularly in the viewership department. Liz and Karen discuss what the league can do to be better. Plus they breakdown the slew of injuries happening way too early in the season, reflect on the Joel Embiid suspension, dig into the on court player beefs, and Giannis trade rumors, before laying up some insightful Fantasy NBA tips. To close it all out, this week's Hoops Off segment gets personal.

Give us your thoughts and questions in an email or, better yet, a voicemail: Send it here: hoopsoffpod@gmail.com

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MENTIONS

Over Half of WNBA Coaches Have Been Fired. What's Happening?

https://frontofficesports.com/half-of-wnba-coaches-have-been-fired-whats-happening/

Opinion: The NBA is causing its own failure:

https://www.dailynebraskan.com/opinion/nba-viewership-declines/article_f6b829f2-9a26-11ef-8aaf-83b76cb16d34.html

Joel Embiid suspended three games for shoving columnist:

https://nypost.com/2024/11/05/sports/joel-embiid-suspended-three-games-for-shoving-reporter/

Nets predicted to cut ties with $177 million guard to acquire Bucks superstar:

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/milwaukee-bucks/news/nets-predicted-cut-ties-177-million-guard-acquire-bucks-superstar/a03bb4e3cf4bfb31a3f46070

Award-winning sports journalist and host of the Sportly podcast on Immigrantly, Kavitha Davidson, joins Liz for a one-on-one interview about her remarkable sports journey. From the sights and sounds of old Yankee Stadium to her memories of former Yankees Center Fielder and musician Bernie Williams, Kavitha reflects on her unique path, including her parents’ inspiring immigrant story. But before that great convo, Liz and Karen kick off the episode by savoring the electric ending to the 2024 WNBA championship, where the New York Liberty clinched the title, and dive into the journey of the team’s Finals MVP-winning Center, Jonquel Jones. Drafted with the 6th overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft, this Bahamian basketball star’s career reads like a movie script, and the women of the Hoops Talk pod are here to give her her flowers!