In less enlightened decades in my life, I ignored women’s college basketball. I won’t reprise the dopey tropes that played through my head those many years that kept me from paying any attention to the women’s games.
Older and wiser, I’ve become a fan, and it wasn’t Caitlin Clark of the University of Iowa who lured me in. No, it was another Kaitlyn — Kaitlyn Chen and her Princeton teammates who made me take notice.
I started going to Princeton women’s games a few years back, and it didn’t take me long to realize that the women’s college game was fast-paced and skill-based, with rough-and-tumble rebounding and 3-point shots raining down on the hoops.
The moment I got hooked was, ironically, at the end of a game Princeton lost. It was the decisive game for the Ivy League championship, with Penn defeating Princeton.
The hometown crowd at Jadwin Gym was quiet as the Penn players poured onto the court to congratulate one another in a leaping, hugging, shouting celebration. Disappointed for the Tigers, I still had to smile. The Quakers’ joy was a wonder to see.
After catching more games in increasing numbers in subsequent years, I talked my wife and another couple into going to a few games last season. We enjoyed the games so much — Princeton winning the Ivy title and advancing a couple of rounds in the NCAA tournament didn’t hurt — that we bought season tickets for the current season.
Princeton is on top so far in the Ivy League and is rankled in the Top 25 nationally. I hope they keep rolling right along.
Go, Tigers!
The Ball Caps Blog 
Kudos to you Dan for warming up to a new sport or not a new sport, but the female variety. I vaguely remember the short lived Milwaukee Does of the Women’s Professional Basketball League and wish I would have gone to a few games. The college athletics atmosphere is so enthusiastic and fun to watch. Enjoy the rest of Princeton season.
Thanks, Steve. I feel kind of silly keeping the women’s game at a distance for so long. Now to take in a WNBA game!