It’s a wee bit sad…

[Cloneon]

This women's team is breaking ISU records left and right. Most wins in a season. Most assists by a single player in a season. Career scoring record broken. Others moving up record standings. And when I look at the top five headlines on this site how many are covering the women? One and it’s focus is on the crowd. Look at other sources and it’s much the same way. Yes, the men's team is a nice story. I love it. But geesh….we have posters here asking why national pundits never talk about the team or Ashley and yet those vested in covering the program give it minimal coverage. This is the best and greatest womens team in the history of ISU basketball and it deserves better. Rant over.

Two things:
- Your summaries are among the best of any sport men's or women's. In large part, your contribution takes the fizzle out of commenting because it's so in-depth. In other words, no other posts needed.
- I've never taken greater interest in the women's program than this year. However, at the same time I also don't consider myself familiar enough or informed enough to comment/post. I imagine there might be others who feel the same.

Oh. BTW, there must be a lot of frustrated people in the world to emoticon this 'dumb'. It's a legitimate question. Now 'disagreeing' is another matter. But 'dumb'. Well, that's just 'dumb'.

 

[Cycsk]

Hi, Steph Copley here. I co-host the Title IX pod on the CycloneFanatic feed every other week. If you've ever listened, you know I'm extremely sensitive to the disparity in treatment and coverage of women's sports. And you’re right, women’s basketball is generally under-covered as a sport, and it sucks. But everyone at CF, Chris especially, has made an effort to make sure that’s not the case with this Iowa State squad.

Chris was gracious enough more than two years ago to give Alisa and I platform to highlight women’s sports. We don’t take that lightly--we’ve devoted the majority of our time on the Title IX pod to coverage of the women’s team since the season began. Billy Fennelly joined us earlier in the season.

Connor Ferguson has been covering the women’s team all year. He live tweets the games and does game previews and game recaps—just like Chris and Jared do with the men’s team. I know Chris and Blum spend time talking about the women during every episode of their Sunday night podcast, too. And on Sunday, Jamie Steyer Johnson joined the CF team during the pregame show to discuss the women’s match-up against Georgia.

Is CF’s coverage of the women’s team 100% equal to that of the men? No, it isn’t. That’s the unfortunate reality of limited time and resources. But CF has gone out of its way to make sure these ladies are getting the attention and recognition they deserve.

So, as someone who appreciates your message and is also sensitive to inequities of men and women’s sports, I can honestly say I’m proud of the coverage CF has and will continue to give to this special squad. Go Cyclones.

Oh no, you guys got Steph riled up.

Looking forward to the Title IX podcast rant.

Seriously, I really hope the United Center will do "live look-in's" of our women's game on Friday night.

 

[BryceC]

Geesh folks…re-read my post. It’s about the here and now not what happened last week or the week before. I understand financials. I appreciate coverage of any kind. I was also referring to other coverage outside of this site. It was in response to several posters asking why there isn’t more national discussion that focuses on players like Ashley Joens. I was making the point of why it happens. Take a deep breath and back off the ledge.

It just sounds like you're scolding this website for not talking about the women as much.

If you want to talk about the women, start the conversation, don't go school marm on us.

 

[CoachHines3]

Geesh folks…re-read my post. It’s about the here and now not what happened last week or the week before. I understand financials. I appreciate coverage of any kind. I was also referring to other coverage outside of this site. It was in response to several posters asking why there isn’t more national discussion that focuses on players like Ashley Joens. I was making the point of why it happens. Take a deep breath and back off the ledge.

Iowa St and Ashley Joens won't ever get the national media attention that they or she probably deserves.

For one, national media attention to women's basketball is hard to come by. When you do see it, it's talking about South Carolina/UCONN/Caitlyn Clark/any 1 seed.

Hell, once the women's bracket was released all it was from the "talking heads" was can't wait to see Caitlyn Clark vs South Carolina in the Elite 8.

 

[Urbandale2013]

Two things:
- Your summaries are among the best of any sport men's or women's. In large part, your contribution takes the fizzle out of commenting because it's so in-depth. In other words, no other posts needed.
- I've never taken greater interest in the women's program than this year. However, at the same time I also don't consider myself familiar enough or informed enough to comment/post. I imagine there might be others who feel the same.

Oh. BTW, there must be a lot of frustrated people in the world to emoticon this 'dumb'. It's a legitimate question. Now 'disagreeing' is another matter. But 'dumb'. Well, that's just 'dumb'.

It was dumb because it was criticizing the best source for Womens basketball. If you want to be critical you have to start with the poor sources not the best sources. Otherwise what motivation is there to do better if you are still going to get criticized for it.

 

[carvers4math]

Oh. BTW, there must be a lot of frustrated people in the world to emoticon this 'dumb'. It's a legitimate question. Now 'disagreeing' is another matter. But 'dumb'. Well, that's just 'dumb'.

I guess it was insightful of CW to realize the site could make money by selling the right to be disrespectful of others. If I notice someone who uses it constantly, I just put them on ignore, even if they have never called me personally dumb. People used to be able to disagree respectfully but that is no longer our world.

 

[Clonefan32]

Iowa St and Ashley Joens won't ever get the national media attention that they or she probably deserves.

For one, national media attention to women's basketball is hard to come by. When you do see it, it's talking about South Carolina/UCONN/Caitlyn Clark/any 1 seed.

Hell, once the women's bracket was released all it was from the "talking heads" was can't wait to see Caitlyn Clark vs South Carolina in the Elite 8.

I don't think this necessarily a WBB problem. All these major networks have pretty well identified what resonates with large crowds and they focus on it. NFL/NBA drama. SEC football. Duke/Kentucky basketball. Other than that you are going to brief snippets, whether its men's basketball, women's basketball, wrestling, etc. Heck our men's team and their historic 1 season turnaround doesn't even get much national play.

I think in order to get coverage in the women's game you have to set yourself apart. Clark's style of play does that. Bueckers style of play does that. It's easy to throw in a clip of her making a 30 footer because you can ignore the dozen other horrible shots she missed. Ashley, while obviously great, doesn't have as flashy of a game. You're not going to get ESPN covering an and-one after 5 pivots. You just aren't.

So as others have said it stinks, but it just kind of is what it is. But going after the only media outlet that appears to give a **** about the women's game is an odd route to take.

 

[CoachHines3]

I don't think this necessarily a WBB problem. All these major networks have pretty well identified what resonates with large crowds and they focus on it. NFL/NBA drama. SEC football. Duke/Kentucky basketball. Other than that you are going to brief snippets, whether its men's basketball, women's basketball, wrestling, etc. Heck or men's team and their historic 1 season turnaround doesn't even get much national play.

I think in order to get coverage in the women's game you have to set yourself apart. Clark's style of play does that. Bueckers style of play does that. It's easy to throw in a clip of her making a 30 footer because you can ignore the dozen other horrible shots she missed. Ashley, while obviously great, doesn't have as flashy of a game. You're not going to get ESPN covering an and-one after 5 pivots. You just aren't.

So as others have said it stinks, but it just kind of is what it is. But going after the only media outlet that appears to give a **** about the women's game is an odd route to take.

Oh I 100% agree. CF goes above and beyond for women's hoops.

 

[seadog]

I only come over here for the women’s basketball forum. i can’t stand the stupid mega threads on other forums.

 

[PSYclone22]

While @acoustimac communicated in what appeared to be a frustrated way, it's reasonable to ask - even of the best source of news and information for Cyclone women's basketball - for more coverage / attention of what is one of our best teams ever.

Attention to the women's game is as high as ever, but it is okay to ask for more.

 

[cydsho]

I can't read this thread's title without thinking a leprechaun wrote it.......

 

[Clonefan32]

While @acoustimac communicated in what appeared to be a frustrated way, it's reasonable to ask - even of the best source of news and information for Cyclone women's basketball - for more coverage / attention of what is one of our best teams ever.

Attention to the women's game is as high as ever, but it is okay to ask for more.

I guess I don't get it. There were two articles and a video. What does "more coverage/attention" look like? What exactly are you asking them to do?

Also keep in mind this site is at it's core an open forum. It's not a newspaper. While they do a great job reporting, it's more a place for people like you and I to come to discuss Cyclone athletics. And if the game thread only gets 4 pages, it only gets 4 pages. That's not Chris's fault.

 

[cyfanatic13]

While @acoustimac communicated in what appeared to be a frustrated way, it's reasonable to ask - even of the best source of news and information for Cyclone women's basketball - for more coverage / attention of what is one of our best teams ever.

Attention to the women's game is as high as ever, but it is okay to ask for more.

With all due respect Psy, (and I appreciate you as a poster), after a brief search through your posts, it appears this is your first comment on the women's team since at least Jan 30th, I didn't go back any farther than that. Did you do a tourney seed check throughout the year for the women? While CF's women's coverage is better than nearly every other site in the country, I'm assuming they also care about clicks and traffic. It's on everyone, not just the CF staff.

 

[PSYclone22]

With all due respect Psy, (and I appreciate you as a poster), after a brief search through your posts, it appears this is your first comment on the women's team since at least Jan 30th, I didn't go back any farther than that. Did you do a tourney seed check throughout the year for the women? While CF's women's coverage is better than nearly every other site in the country, I'm assuming they also care about clicks and traffic. It's on everyone, not just the CF staff.

I appreciate that. I'm not pretending to be engrossed in the women's game at the level I am with the men's game.

I'm only saying that the OP shouldn't be ridiculed for seeking more details and information about our women's team. I think we're all in agreement where the clicks are at, and this is a business. Both the OP and CW have different vantage points for the discussion and it's irreverant to just tar and feather OP for asking for more.

 

[Tre4ISU]

I've been waiting for this annual event. Two points:

1. Whether you like it or not, womens basketball won't pay the bills at these sites. If they did, you'd see dedicated WBB sites across the country but, yet, you don't. It's just like the AD where it's being subsidized by other sports. Again, that's not a good thing but it's a reality.

2. This place covers women's sports, especially WBB, more than anywhere else. As a fan of another program, I can assure you ISU WBB is getting more media support from CF than places generating A LOT more revenue are giving their prospective womens sports.

I have critiques of this place but this is one area where they deserve to be commended for the effort rather than chided for a lack of content. There's no doubt they're doing it at a financial loss.

 

[Al_4_State]

I'm guessing there isn't a fan site in the country with more coverage of women's basketball than this one.

 

[carvers4math]

I'm guessing there isn't a fan site in the country with more coverage of women's basketball than this one.

Notre Dame has some pretty decent coverage of women’s basketball on their fan sites. They were wondering if the team had some weird axe to grind against Oklahoma last night since they just kept laying it on.

 

[SimpsonClone]

While @acoustimac communicated in what appeared to be a frustrated way, it's reasonable to ask - even of the best source of news and information for Cyclone women's basketball - for more coverage / attention of what is one of our best teams ever.

Attention to the women's game is as high as ever, but it is okay to ask for more.

I think it was the manner in which it was phrased that rubbed people the wrong way. Sure we can ask CW and CF to do more, but we should give credit where it is due. The coverage CF provides is not done for financial gain, but ultimately, if we want more coverage of the women then we as fans and regulars on this site need to support the content that does get posted. If those articles generate more clicks then the revenue will be there to encourage more coverage. I am making it a point to read more coverage of the women's team and watch more of their games.

 

[SimpsonClone]

I guess it was insightful of CW to realize the site could make money by selling the right to be disrespectful of others. If I notice someone who uses it constantly, I just put them on ignore, even if they have never called me personally dumb. People used to be able to disagree respectfully but that is no longer our world.

Isn't the "dumb" emoticon free for everyone?

Past that, this is the internet where civil disagreement between two people has never really been commonplace. I take CF in doses because it can be quite toxic at times. Unfortunately that is the state of social media and the internet currently.

 

[NickTheGreat]

Where to start ...

-- We staffed two writers at both Big 12 Tournament games and one at the NCAA Tournament. Two with the men. We only have three full-time employees.

-- It's important to point out that Connor, our newest full-time employee, is partly dedicated to women's basketball. I can assure you that financially, from a business standpoint only, we would be wise to use those resources elsewhere as much as I love it, women's basketball does not generate the interest that football and men's basketball do. It's just a fact. It's the same with wrestling.

-- We have had a writer dedicated to women's basketball since 2010, when I took over here. We have paid these writers and I promise you, have lost significant money in the process. We do it to support the women's program, that I love so very much and have worked my ass off to promote over the years.

-- Connor is going to Greensboro on Wednesday for the entirety of the next two rounds and hopefully will be in Minneapolis too. I'd like to see another free fan site in America sending writers half way across the country to cover women's basketball. (Again I believe it is important to do so we are doing it. BUT most publishers and business owners do not, and won't choke down the loss).

-- We have a bi-weekly podcast dedicated to the women, which of course touches on other things too. But the basis of the podcast when we created it was to give an extra boost towards women's sports at Iowa State.

-- A few other notes ... This past weekend, we did an NCAA Tournament preview show. Billy Fennelly joined us. On Sunday, we did a Round of 32 preview show. Jamie Steyer-Johnson joined us. On last night's show, an entire segment was dedicated to the women.

On top of that, here are links to every story we have done ONLY in the postseason.

CFTV: Bill Fennelly, Ashley Joens and Morgan Kane preview Big 12 Tournament

Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joens & Morgan Kane previewed the weekend's Big 12 Tournament after a practice on Thursday. The Cyclones (25-5, 14-4 Big 12) come in to the weekend as the No. 2 seed and will play the winner of No. 7 West Virginia and No. 10 TCU. https://y

cyclonefanatic.com

PHOTOS: Iowa State women practice in KC

The Iowa State women's basketball team practiced before it takes the court for the Big 12 Tournament this weekend at Municipal Auditorium. Emily Ryan gets ready for a pass at Big 12 Tournament practice. Photo by Connor FergusonAubrey Joens shoots a ball during Big 12 Tournament practice. Photo by

cyclonefanatic.com

WILLIAMS: Iowa State fans' support of women's basketball is special

Mar 11, 2022; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Lexi Donarski (21) is introduced before facing the West Virginia Mountaineers at Municipal Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports KANSAS CITY, Mo. — I’ve covered somewhere around 15 Big 12 Tournaments over the y

cyclonefanatic.com

WBB: Cyclones survive scoring droughts, advance to Big 12 semifinal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- Iowa State had a 21-point lead at one point Friday night in its 66-60 win over West Virginia at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. Despite multiple scoring droughts that lasted more than three minutes, the Cyclones managed to survive and advance. "They're talented," Iowa

cyclonefanatic.com

CFTV: Bill Fennelly, Joens & Donarski, address media following loss to UT

https://www.jcorpdesignbuild.com Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and the pair of players in Ashley Joens and Lexi Donarski addressed the media following Saturday's game against Texas. https://youtu.be/wvSne6lDzYg

cyclonefanatic.com

STANZ: Freedom of movement is dead

Mar 12, 2022; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Bill Fennelly looks on in the first half against the Texas Longhorns at Municipal Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- Freedom of movement in college basketball is dead -- and has bee

cyclonefanatic.com

FERGUSON: Iowa State proved it Saturday that it can hang with the bullies

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ashley Joens set a pick to allow a teammate to get open during Iowa State's 82-73 overtime loss to Texas in the Big 12 semifinal game. She was run over like a bowling pin sitting in the lane waiting to be knocked down to complete the spare. This wasn't an outlier in the game. It w

cyclonefanatic.com

WBB: Iowa State a No. 3 seed in NCAA Tournament, could face Iowa in Sweet 16

Iowa State women's basketball team will play its first round NCAA Tournament game on Friday, facing off with No. 14 UT Arlington in the first round. As the No. 3 seed in its bracket, Iowa State will host the first and second round games in the four-team pod it is in. If Iowa State can make it

cyclonefanatic.com

CFTV: Fennelly & Co. talk NCAA Tournament

Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joens and Morgan Kane spoke to media members on Sunday about its 2022 NCAA Tournament draw: https://youtu.be/I6C8o00aMig https://youtu.be/UdbmIkF1odg

cyclonefanatic.com

WBB: Scouting UT Arlington

Dec 2, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; UT Arlington Mavericks forward Starr Jacobs (4) shoots over South Florida Bulls forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (32) during the second half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports After being announced as a No. 3 seed, Iowa St

cyclonefanatic.com

Title IX: Episode 68

Steph Copley and Alisa Woods dive into the women's basketball NCAA Tournament bracket and run back through everything that happened last week in Kansas City on a new episode of Title IX presented by the Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University.

cyclonefanatic.com

WBB: Ashley Joens named to AP All-American Second Team

The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications: AMES, Iowa – Ashley Joens continues to make history, earning Second Team All-America honors by the Associated Press, the organization announced on Wednesday. Joens becomes the fourth Cyclone to make an AP All-America team,

cyclonefanatic.com

WBB: Iowa State earns commitment from four-star wing out of Kansas

Iowa State added a fourth player to its 2023 recruiting class Wednesday night, with the news of four-star wing Addy Brown's commitment to the program. The Cyclones are preparing to face off with UT Arlington on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Ames, but remain diligent in

cyclonefanatic.com

CFTV: Fennelly, Joens and Ryan preview UT-Arlington

Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly, plus stars Ashley Joens and Emily Ryan, preview the Cyclones' NCAA Tournament first-round tilt with UT-Arlington on Friday in this CFTV. https://youtu.be/WlfX4jCx8b8

cyclonefanatic.com

Iowa State's Big Three saved the Cyclones from madness

Iowa State Cyclones guard Emily Ryan (11) shoots as Texas-Arlington Mavericks guard Camryn Hawkins (23) attempts to block during the second quarter in the NCAA first-round game at Hilton Coliseum Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. AMES --- Iowa State trailed UT Arlington by eight points

cyclonefanatic.com

WBB: Cyclones survive UTA, advance to Sunday's Round of 32 matchup

For just over three quarters, it looked like March Madness may have caught up to the No. 3 seed Iowa State women's basketball team. Although it waivered early, trailing by eight after the first quarter, the Cyclones powered to a 78-71, NCAA Tournament win. Ashley Joens finished the game with a

cyclonefanatic.com

WBB: A quick turnaround, and onto Georgia

AMES --- Iowa State's first round game in the NCAA Tournament against UT Arlington ended at 11:03 p.m. Friday. Coach Bill Fennelly eventually got to bed at 3:30 a.m. after doing as much immediate prep for the second round game as he and his staff could. "I'm about six Red Bull's in right now,

cyclonefanatic.com

CFTV: Fennelly, Joens & Ryan prepare for Georgia

Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and players Ashley Joens & Emily Ryan spoke to media members ahead of practice about preparing for Georgia, with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line: https://youtu.be/vMw0Yb-11qo

cyclonefanatic.com

WATCH: Round of 32 preview show

Join us at 2 for a live pregame show for Iowa State / Wisconsin on the men's side and Iowa State / Georgia for the women's. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XztoHuCSYb8

cyclonefanatic.com

WBB: Cyclones down Georgia, earn first Sweet 16 bid since 2010

For the first time in 12 years, the Iowa State women's basketball program is headed back to the Sweet 16. The Cyclones rolled No. 6 Georgia on Sunday night at Hilton Coliseum in a 67-44 win. Lexi Donarski led the team in scoring with 20 points on the night, and helped the Cyclones turn an earl

cyclonefanatic.com

WBB: The Hilton environment that helped Iowa State dance some more

AMES --- Sunday's game between No. 3 Iowa State and No. 6 Georgia got off to a lopsided start, seeing the Cyclones up 9-0 with four forced turnovers before their opponents could call timeout. The team punched its ticket into the Sweet 16 for the first time in 12 years with a 65-30 win, but what h

cyclonefanatic.com

CFTV: Fennelly, Ryan & Donarski secure Sweet 16 bid

Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly and Cyclone standouts Lexi Donarski & Emily Ryan addressed media members following their team's win over Georgia that punched its ticket to the Sweet 16: https://youtu.be/6P6fXfa4uIY

cyclonefanatic.com

Williams & Blum: Our sweetest podcast ever

Chris Williams and Brent Blum did their podcast live on Sunday night following the Iowa State men's and women's programs both advancing to the Sweet 16. Complete analysis on both games and what's to come.

cyclonefanatic.com

By my count, that is 23 pieces of content since the start of the Big 12 Touranment.

That doesn't count the one-on-one podcast that I did with Bill Fennelly before the start of the tournament. He also joined me on my KXnO show, where I talk about this team constantly.

It's just funny to me that I wake up today getting "thank you for your coverage" texts from the program and read this on our free message board.

Whatever though. You have a right to your opinion, and I do mine. I challenge you to find another fan site in America that covers women's basketball as much as we do.

Other than that, what have you done for WBB?