College sports sometimes intersect across different paths. In this case, a women’s basketball game and later college football events appeared on the same timeline.

The sequence begins in April 2023, when Hailey Van Lith entered the transfer portal after three seasons at Louisville and later committed to LSU. 

Nearly a year later, LSU faced Iowa in the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. 

Caitlin Clark finished the game with 41 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds as Iowa advanced to the Final Four. Van Lith matched up with Clark on multiple possessions during the game.

Following the tournament, Van Lith entered the transfer portal again and later committed to TCU.

Around that period, Haley Cavinder had planned to play the 2024–25 season at TCU. She later changed her plans and transferred back to Miami. Her sister, Hanna Cavinder, also returned to college basketball at Miami.

By mid-2024, Hanna Cavinder was in a relationship with Georgia quarterback Carson Beck. After the 2024 season, Beck entered the transfer portal in January 2025.

Miami later emerged as his destination. Beck transferred to the program ahead of the 2025 season.

Hanna Cavinder and Carson Beck's relationship ended, while Beck remained with the Hurricanes.

During the College Football Playoff semifinal against Ole Miss in January 2026, Beck scored a three-yard rushing touchdown with 18 seconds remaining. Miami secured a 31–27 win and advanced to the national championship game.

Viewed together, these events place a 2024 women’s tournament game and subsequent roster decisions across sports on the same timeline.

That shared timeline also reflects how audiences now follow sports beyond a single game or league. But this isn't the first time the fanbase of these two sports crossed paths.

Why NFL and WNBA Audiences Expect More Than Traditional Advertising

As sports marketing expands across platforms and fan groups, broadcasters, sponsors, leagues, and teams have placed greater focus on understanding their audiences.

The WNBA’s revamped media strategy is no different in that it represents an intentional model of simulating what makes the NFL the 'most powerful broadcast offering in sports.'

Central to all of this is both league's focus on presentation and data. The WNBA is thus seeking partnerships with broadcast networks to upgrade its reach through the use of advanced analytics, alternative broadcast feeds, and immersive viewing experiences, which will certainly sound familiar to NFL enthusiasts.

In that context, Manny Puentes, general manager of advertising at Genius Sports, has observed how fan engagement in Basketball and the NFL has changed over time. 

According to Puentes, the exchange develops through how users interact with the product. Puentes said in a May 2024 Sports Business Journal interview. “You’re like, ‘Oh, my God, you know me, I like this feeling.’”

During his career, Puentes has seen a shift from audiences consuming what publishers presented to brands responding to audience behavior through user input and ongoing interaction. Thus, for both leagues, the goal seems to be clear: as much as the brand representation, success also depends on listening to the fans.

What do you think about the said butterfly effect? Do you think it's an overreach, or do you find how the fanbases think fascinating?

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Joyita Das