Attended the Golden Circle zoom today. I make some donations to Cal WBB, but I don't think enough to get me in the Circle,, but I'm not complaining, mind you.
There were 36 people on the zoom - but several were Cal Athletics people, so maybe 30 people?
Anyways, Jay spoke first. He has no charisma and he ran down stuff about athletics in general barely touching on WBB. Almost like he didn't know his audience. He talked about how successful other sports were too. He said CalWBB had raised 3M in the last year which was "amazing". He didn't note that the fundraising was in spite of J&J. He dropped names thanking everyone in AD. He said these people were increasing revenue - but no examples were given. He spoke about the increase in the House limit - without stating how much would go to WBB. He claimed ACC teams were 10M over the House cap. Then he said over the cap money has to be "legitimate" without explaining how Cal was going to make those determinations. He referenced TheLinkU (without giving the website address). He highlighted that Cal athletes have a 93% graduation rate and that WBB is ... well, he didn't say. He suggested the WBB grad rate is going up. He said there was going to be work on the practice facility and locker room - but didn't give the status. I don't know why he didn't know the status because GM Meghan Williams who spoke next did give the actual status update. And Jay then omitted asking people to consider donating - he thanked donors but directed people more to TheLinkU. Like his cohort, he never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
And then, Meghan Williams spoke. And Jay left the zoom. She is impressive and more open/candid. She spoke about recruiting philosophy and high school recruiting in particular. She had a slide of the current HS players Cal is recruiting in the Top 100 (well, someone's Top 100), but indicated this was part of the strategy because it establishes a relationship so that when some of these top HS women go elsewhere and don't get the playing time they want, Cal will be there to pick them up through the portal the next year. She said 90% of HS basketball players are looking for playing time and 6figure NIL deals - and are not interested in sitting on the bench and developing.
Williams went through much of the roster - the four core (Twidale, Sheppard, Barnes, Maul) the first two portal players - Syla and Dowell (noting how Dowell beat the Bears) - and then the recruits - Jevtovic, Russell, Perkins, Ruby and Lagonikaki. She suggested that Laonikaki is a back-up. She noted that when Walker wasn't on the court last year, that play really suffered Naya was not mentioned. She provided a chart with arrows of people in positions that was nice. Apparently, Williams gave a similar presentation a week or two before this Zoom call which she acknowledged
She said Cal has about 1.5M in NIL while top ACC programs are 3-5M, so Cal is significantly behind. She spoke about international recruiting as a way for Cal to balance out and even addressed changes in recruiting rules and years of eligibility such that the Bears are working with the 6.4 Serb Jevtovik as some paperwork to go through and may have to give some money back.
She did talk about how Cal prepped for the portal and hit the ground running having secured as much retention as Ca wanted/could get. It sounded like there may have been some pre-Portal contact, perhaps by agents. But, I want to emphasize that Williams made no such statement.
She said the Cal degree holds sway more amongst international players but some domestic as well. She emphasized Cal culture under Smith. She said she had to tell Smith and other coaches to stop helping the Bears who had entered the Portal to find a home. There was an implication that the players who left were spoken to about their place in the program and suggested there were some tough conversations - without mentioning anyone. She said Amborn reached out to Cal and asked to meet Coach Smith face to face which was arranged and that Amborn said she should have chosen Cal and wanted to be at Cal. It sounded like Amborn is coming in with no promise of playing time and probably minimal NIL - that coming to Cal was Amborn's idea instigated by Amborn. But, Cal is happy to have her.
I don't know if this is news or not - but non-conference schedule will include @USC, Nebraska in the Chase Classic, a game against UCLA (she didn't say where) and tournament in Maui.
Williams did get asked about how those on the call could do more than just "bring a freakin' friend" and I don't recall a solid answer other than they are working hard to raise the team profile to raise interest and thus attendance and revenue. She said that Strawberry Ventures will be a big help. She did note that WBB is running a TV commercial now on Peacock and on Bay Area TV (which has been noted on this Board).
The Practice Facility is having the floors done right now and painting
The Locker Room has its "groundbreaking" next week and should be ready by October 15.
The WBB staff gave the impression that they are working hard on many fronts. Williams was not all roses and sunshine but was very positive about the program advancing and taking steps up.
That's what I recall and what notes I took. Others can join in.
There were 36 people on the zoom - but several were Cal Athletics people, so maybe 30 people?
Anyways, Jay spoke first. He has no charisma and he ran down stuff about athletics in general barely touching on WBB. Almost like he didn't know his audience. He talked about how successful other sports were too. He said CalWBB had raised 3M in the last year which was "amazing". He didn't note that the fundraising was in spite of J&J. He dropped names thanking everyone in AD. He said these people were increasing revenue - but no examples were given. He spoke about the increase in the House limit - without stating how much would go to WBB. He claimed ACC teams were 10M over the House cap. Then he said over the cap money has to be "legitimate" without explaining how Cal was going to make those determinations. He referenced TheLinkU (without giving the website address). He highlighted that Cal athletes have a 93% graduation rate and that WBB is ... well, he didn't say. He suggested the WBB grad rate is going up. He said there was going to be work on the practice facility and locker room - but didn't give the status. I don't know why he didn't know the status because GM Meghan Williams who spoke next did give the actual status update. And Jay then omitted asking people to consider donating - he thanked donors but directed people more to TheLinkU. Like his cohort, he never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
And then, Meghan Williams spoke. And Jay left the zoom. She is impressive and more open/candid. She spoke about recruiting philosophy and high school recruiting in particular. She had a slide of the current HS players Cal is recruiting in the Top 100 (well, someone's Top 100), but indicated this was part of the strategy because it establishes a relationship so that when some of these top HS women go elsewhere and don't get the playing time they want, Cal will be there to pick them up through the portal the next year. She said 90% of HS basketball players are looking for playing time and 6figure NIL deals - and are not interested in sitting on the bench and developing.
Williams went through much of the roster - the four core (Twidale, Sheppard, Barnes, Maul) the first two portal players - Syla and Dowell (noting how Dowell beat the Bears) - and then the recruits - Jevtovic, Russell, Perkins, Ruby and Lagonikaki. She suggested that Laonikaki is a back-up. She noted that when Walker wasn't on the court last year, that play really suffered Naya was not mentioned. She provided a chart with arrows of people in positions that was nice. Apparently, Williams gave a similar presentation a week or two before this Zoom call which she acknowledged
She said Cal has about 1.5M in NIL while top ACC programs are 3-5M, so Cal is significantly behind. She spoke about international recruiting as a way for Cal to balance out and even addressed changes in recruiting rules and years of eligibility such that the Bears are working with the 6.4 Serb Jevtovik as some paperwork to go through and may have to give some money back.
She did talk about how Cal prepped for the portal and hit the ground running having secured as much retention as Ca wanted/could get. It sounded like there may have been some pre-Portal contact, perhaps by agents. But, I want to emphasize that Williams made no such statement.
She said the Cal degree holds sway more amongst international players but some domestic as well. She emphasized Cal culture under Smith. She said she had to tell Smith and other coaches to stop helping the Bears who had entered the Portal to find a home. There was an implication that the players who left were spoken to about their place in the program and suggested there were some tough conversations - without mentioning anyone. She said Amborn reached out to Cal and asked to meet Coach Smith face to face which was arranged and that Amborn said she should have chosen Cal and wanted to be at Cal. It sounded like Amborn is coming in with no promise of playing time and probably minimal NIL - that coming to Cal was Amborn's idea instigated by Amborn. But, Cal is happy to have her.
I don't know if this is news or not - but non-conference schedule will include @USC, Nebraska in the Chase Classic, a game against UCLA (she didn't say where) and tournament in Maui.
Williams did get asked about how those on the call could do more than just "bring a freakin' friend" and I don't recall a solid answer other than they are working hard to raise the team profile to raise interest and thus attendance and revenue. She said that Strawberry Ventures will be a big help. She did note that WBB is running a TV commercial now on Peacock and on Bay Area TV (which has been noted on this Board).
The Practice Facility is having the floors done right now and painting
The Locker Room has its "groundbreaking" next week and should be ready by October 15.
The WBB staff gave the impression that they are working hard on many fronts. Williams was not all roses and sunshine but was very positive about the program advancing and taking steps up.
That's what I recall and what notes I took. Others can join in.
