Doubleheader: Oregon vs. Stanford is the other game.

Bears To Play In 2025 Invisalign Bay Area Women's Classic - California Golden Bears Athletics

I wonder if we could arrange a doubleheader with the Valkyries?

Cal has fared well in non-conference games in recent years. The Bears usually lose only 1-2-3 OOC encounters and finish up 9-3,10-2 or 12-1 (last season). The caliber of the teams that are being announced as opponents are going to be extremely difficult to compete with and end up as probable losses.

Charmin Smith has announced USC at the Chase Center in SF, Vandy in Paris & a road affair at Missouri. Cal would have to play at a very high level to come out on top in any of these matchups. The remainder of the pre-conference schedule had better be filled with a lot of home games against weaker opponents. GO BEARS!

CalWSportsFan said:

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So predictable. So negative. Why bother playing eh?

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He has nothing good to say about the trio of outstanding players we got. Sees that Shepherd only had 3.9 points a game, doesn't realize she's an outstanding lockdown defender, and make some off the cuff comment about we need more offensively skilled players to come in from the portal. A clueless Cal woman's basketball fan for sure.

Ccajon2-I never talked negatively about the three new transfers. I actually made positive statements regarding their strengths.

I think that we have learned that to do well in the NET rankings, you have to play some good teams and either beat them or only lose to them by a few points, Beating up on weak teams does not move you very high in the NET ranking system.

However, there is also talk that the NCAA tournament may expand to up to 76 teams. If that is the case, you may be able to get into the tournament in the future just by having a break-even record.

I just visited Missouri's website, and their situation is quite similar to Cal. The Tigers have a new HC, Kellie Harper, who spent the last five years at the helm of the Tennessee Volunteers.

2025-26 Women's Basketball Roster - University of Missouri Athletics

Missou returns only 3 players from their eight-player rotation of last season. The trio are all guards including their top scorer, 6-2 junior Grace Slaughter. She averaged 15 ppg. The new coach has brought in seven transfers that are listed on their roster of a dozen. Ten are listed as guards. The Tigers only have two posts, one is a backup returnee (6-4) and the other is a transfer (6-3).

I would imagine that this game is unpredictable at this point in time. Cal should have an opportunity here.
GO BEARS!

Valkyries season ends in September

I doubt I'll be going not a fan of Joe Lacob after moving the warriors to SF.

Schroeder71 said:

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Cal has fared well in non-conference games in recent years. The Bears usually lose only 1-2-3 OOC encounters and finish up 9-3,10-2 or 12-1 (last season). The caliber of the teams that are being announced as opponents are going to be extremely difficult to compete with and end up as probable losses.

Charmin Smith has announced USC at the Chase Center in SF, Vandy in Paris & a road affair at Missouri. Cal would have to play at a very high level to come out on top in any of these matchups. The remainder of the pre-conference schedule had better be filled with a lot of home games against weaker opponents. GO BEARS!

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There is a rumor that SC's best player tore an ACL and might not be ready to play by then.
Now, I could be wrong, I mean, you know how the media can be .. your sources telling you there is no truth to that?????????

CalWSportsFan said:

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OBear073akaSMFan said:

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I doubt I'll be going not a fan of Joe Lacob after moving the warriors to SF.

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Well, I understand, but I'm thankful the organization brought the Valkyries to the Bay and in did so in a way that made the team and its venue the best fan experience in the W. I never went to Warriors games except when working (as TV photojournalist). The team(s) still practice and have their HQ in Oakland, but to be honest, I'm happier go to the Chase Center than I would be going to the Oakland coliseum. There's a lot of restaurants there, a beautiful walk along the Bay from the Embarcadero, etc. It's a great setting and a really fun fan experience all around. I bought season tickets not knowing what to expect, but now am hooked. So much fun. I take BART/Muni to every game so parking etc. not an issue.

BTW, if the Valkyries do happen to make it to the playoffs, sounds like some games would be held in Oakland due to scheduling. We shall see.

That said, I bought two tickets for the Cal game in December and am looking forward to it. Go Bears!

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I intend to buy two tickets for the December game too. Given your experience with Chase Center, are there seating sections that you would recommend/highly suggest for such a purchase?

Thanks.

mbBear-I have not heard anything but Ju Ju Watkins was injured for the NCAA Tournament at the end of last season. Is she still injured? I have not heard anything new about her condition for this season. One would think that the word would get out on a player of her stature...

CalWSportsFan said:

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I like 116 or 115.... good view of court, but not too high (and club access which is nice for restrooms and easy in and out of Chase). My Valkyries season tickets are in 116 opposite bench. You can see virtual views from specific seats here: https://warriors.io-media.com/web/index.html

When buying tix on ticketmaster they may show you the view from the seat directly, but above is the general link for Warriors so it works too..

(edited to add) I got my 2 tickets for about $200 total which included the stupid Ticketmaster add on....

I just took a look, 117 has seats for $76 and those are pretty good too...or 114....looks like 115 and 116 are sold out or maybe locked up until Friday.... Of course behind bench sections 103 and 104 are good too and still available so maybe that's a good option.

https://www.ticketmaster.com/bay-area-womens-classic-stanford-v-san-francisco-california-12-21-2025/event/1C0062D1F0736401

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Thank you!!

Go Valkyries!!

Go Bears!!

USC is still loaded with talent but has lost their big players. The Trojans have lost 5 of their top 7 scorers: Kiki Iriafen (6-4), Rayah Marshall (6-4) & Clarice Akunwafo (6-6) are posts that are gone. They also have lost three solid guards: Talia von Oelhoffen, Avery Howell & Kayleigh Heckel.

2024-2025 USC Women's Basketball

Troy has continued to recruit the top recruits in the nation. Ju Ju Waltkins was a #1 recruit two seasons ago, soph SF Kennedy Smith was top five nationally and averaged 9.5 ppg last season. This year they have the top player in the nation, 6-1 combo guard Jazzy Davidson from Clackamas, Oregon. I saw her play against Mitty and she is unstoppable. She can drill threes or drive through the entire defense and score at the rim. Lindsey Gotlieb has also brought in two more outside bombers, in Kara Dunn (15.5 ppg) from Ga Tech and 5-4 southpaw Londynn Jones from UCLA.

If Ju Ju misses the Cal game, then maybe it will be competitive. If Watkins is back with all of the other scoring guards, the Bears will not be able to keep up the scoring pace (80 ppg) of the Trojans GO BEARS!


2025-26 Women's Basketball Roster - USC Athletics