Louisville Coach Criticizes Media for Lack of Coverage on Women's Basketball Team

Jeff Walz says his team's balanced scoring has led to less national attention despite their strong season.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Louisville women's basketball coach Jeff Walz criticized the national media for failing to adequately cover his team, which has a 25-6 record and is ranked No. 11 in the country. Walz says the Cardinals' balanced scoring, with no player averaging more than 12 points per game, has led to less individual attention and national stories about the team despite their success.

Why it matters

Walz's comments highlight the ongoing challenges women's basketball teams face in garnering national media coverage, even when they are performing at a high level. The lack of attention can impact recruiting, fan engagement, and overall program visibility.

The details

Heading into the ACC Tournament, the Louisville Cardinals have a 25-6 record and are ranked No. 11 in the country. They started the season at No. 19 and climbed as high as No. 6 in the rankings in early February. However, Walz says the team's balanced scoring, with four players averaging double figures but none over 12 points per game, has led to less individual player coverage and fewer national stories about the team's success.

  • The Cardinals entered the season ranked No. 19.
  • In January, the team cracked the top 10, reaching as high as No. 6 on February 3.
  • Heading into this week's ACC Tournament, Louisville has a 25-6 record and is ranked No. 11.

The players

Jeff Walz

The head coach of the Louisville women's basketball team.

Taj Roberts

A guard for the Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team.

Imari Berry

A guard for the Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team.

Laura Ziegler

A forward for the Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team.

Elif Istanbulluoglu

A forward for the Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“When we get a narrative, we stick with it. We aren't very good, at as stories develop and teams develop, of talking about them. And we're not the only team.”

— Jeff Walz, Head Coach, Louisville Women's Basketball

“We're gonna beat that dead horse as long as we can. That's just kinda what we do in women's basketball. So, it doesn't surprise me.”

— Jeff Walz, Head Coach, Louisville Women's Basketball

“I think we started the season in the 20s and worked our way all the way up to No. 6, and nobody was really talking about us.”

— Jeff Walz, Head Coach, Louisville Women's Basketball

What’s next

The Louisville Cardinals will compete in the upcoming ACC Tournament, where they will look to continue their strong season and potentially earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Walz's comments highlight the ongoing challenges women's basketball teams face in gaining national media attention, even when they are performing at a high level. This lack of coverage can impact a program's visibility, fan engagement, and recruiting efforts, underscoring the need for more equitable coverage of women's sports.