From its sold-out inaugural game last May to its current standing at the top of the upstart UpShot league, Jacksonville’s first-ever pro women's basketball team is definitely making waves. We take a midseason TV timeout with the coach and two players to ask about their 20-6 record, how the First Coast has received the team and what it means to be dominating the new league at a time when women’s basketball is culturally ascendent. We also watch some tape of the Jacksonville Wave’s finest moments in the paint.

Guests:


Jessica Bogia, head coach, Jacksonville Waves


Khayla Pointer, point guard, Jacksonville Waves


Taylor Soule, forward, Jacksonville Waves

On 4

As part of our ongoing election coverage, we sit down with the fourth of five candidates seeking to represent Florida’s Congressional District 5. Incumbent congressman John Rutherford, who is seeking his sixth term, has not responded to repeated requests to appear on the program, but we have previously spoken to Democratic candidates Rachel Grage, Mark Heggestad and Republican contender Mark Kaye. On Wednesday, we sit down with 29-year-old first-time candidate Alex Hazen, a video game developer who helps create training software for nurses and other healthcare workers. First Coast Connect is covering a range of local races and election-related topics between now and Nov. 3. You can find all of our election coverage here, and you can find detailed information about upcoming elections, including information about candidates and ballot initiatives in your district, at the nonpartisan League of Women Voters website Vote411.org. Additional candidate coverage is featured in Jacksonville Today’s political section.

Guest: Alex Hazen, Democratic candidate for Florida’s 5th Congressional District

Stage to Screen

From the groundbreaking and exuberant Stop Making Sense to the beautifully nostalgic Scorsese passion project The Last Waltz, the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is hosting a free concert film series throughout the month of August. The inaugural Stage to Screen series invites music fans to experience performances in a space built for live music and includes four concert films featuring the Talking Heads, The Band, The Rolling Stones and film composer Hans Zimmer. Audiences can experience improved acoustics in the concert hall, which saw major improvements after a nearly $13 million, 14-month renovation. All screenings are free, but registration is required.

Guests:


Dianya Markovits, director of public relations and partnerships, SJC Cultural Events Inc.


Tim Kirkpatrick, director of programming and strategy, SJC Cultural Events Inc.

From its sold-out inaugural game last May to its current standing at the top of the upstart UpShot league, Jacksonville&rsquo;s first-ever pro women's basketball team is definitely making waves. We take a midseason TV timeout with the coach and two players to ask about their 20-6 record, how the First Coast has received the team and what it means to be dominating the new league at a time when women&rsquo;s basketball is culturally ascendent. We also watch some tape of the Jacksonville Wave&rsquo;s finest moments in the paint.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>
Jessica Bogia, head coach, Jacksonville Waves
</li>
<li>
Khayla Pointer, point guard, Jacksonville Waves
</li>
<li>
Taylor Soule, forward, Jacksonville Waves
</li>
</ul>
On 4
As part of our ongoing election coverage, we sit down with the fourth of five candidates seeking to represent Florida&rsquo;s Congressional District 5. Incumbent congressman John Rutherford, who is seeking his sixth term, has not responded to repeated requests to appear on the program, but we have previously spoken to Democratic candidates <a href="https://news.wjct.org/show/first-coast-connect/2026-07-21/on-wednesdays-show-congressional-challenger">Rachel Grage</a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/jDpRiTe_hto?si=kL9MaFPofLuTq31w">Mark Heggestad</a> and Republican contender <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbMZds5EzQY">Mark Kaye</a>. On Wednesday, we sit down with 29-year-old first-time candidate Alex Hazen, a video game developer who helps create training software for nurses and other healthcare workers. First Coast Connect is covering a range of local races and election-related topics between now and Nov. 3. You can find all of our election coverage <a href="https://news.wjct.org/elections">here</a>, and you can find detailed information about upcoming elections, including information about candidates and ballot initiatives in your district, at the nonpartisan League of Women Voters website <a href="http://vote411.org/">Vote411.org</a>. Additional candidate coverage is featured in Jacksonville Today&rsquo;s <a href="https://jaxtoday.org/category/government-and-politics/">political section</a>.
Guest: Alex Hazen, Democratic candidate for Florida&rsquo;s 5th Congressional District
Stage to Screen
From the groundbreaking and exuberant Stop Making Sense to the beautifully nostalgic Scorsese passion project The Last Waltz, the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is hosting a free concert film series throughout the month of August. The inaugural Stage to Screen series invites music fans to experience performances in a space built for live music and includes four concert films featuring the Talking Heads, The Band, The Rolling Stones and film composer Hans Zimmer. Audiences can experience improved acoustics in the concert hall, which saw major improvements after a nearly $13 million, 14-month renovation. All screenings are free, but <a href="https://www.pvconcerthall.com/events">registration</a> is required.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>
Dianya Markovits, director of public relations and partnerships, SJC Cultural Events Inc.
</li>
<li>
Tim Kirkpatrick, director of programming and strategy, SJC Cultural Events Inc.
</li>
</ul>

Stay connected to Jacksonville and Northeast Florida with WJCT News Now — your free, daily news podcast from WJCT Public Media. Every morning, anchor Steven Ponson breaks down the headlines you need to start your day informed. Then go deeper with highlights from First Coast Connect — the show where local newsmakers, civic leaders, artists, and community voices come together to talk through what's happening in your backyard.

 Subscribe free and make WJCT News Now part of your daily routine.

Stay connected to Jacksonville and Northeast Florida with WJCT News Now &mdash; your free, daily news podcast from WJCT Public Media. Every morning, anchor Steven Ponson breaks down the headlines you need to start your day informed. Then go deeper with highlights from First Coast Connect &mdash; the show where local newsmakers, civic leaders, artists, and community voices come together to talk through what's happening in your backyard.
&nbsp;Subscribe free and make WJCT News Now part of your daily routine.