Locked On Women's Basketball

It's a brand new era for the Indiana Fever, from NaLyssa Smith to Emily Engstler in this year's 2022 WNBA Draft lottery to a backcourt including national final hero Destanni Henderson of South Carolina. Host Alex Simon is joined by Tony East, Fever beat reporter for The Next, to discuss this and much more — from the fit of Lexie Hull on both ends to how soon Queen Egbo can be a legit two-way five. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a culture year for the Atlanta Dream, and The Next Dream beat reporter Spencer Nusbaum joined host Alex Simon to discuss what that means on the court. Tiffany Hayes' return, the development of Aari McDonald, expectations for top overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft Rhyne Howard and Cheyenne Parker's critical season are all discussed, along with much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Seattle Storm face a critical season — it is the likely last year of Sue Bird's career, while Breanna Stewart is set to head into free agency. So exactly how will the roster shake out, and what did we learn from Seattle's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Sparks? Host Howard Megdal is joined by The Next Seattle Storm beat reporter Em Adler to discuss topics ranging from who can fill in for Mercedes Russell at center to what is a legit true-talent shooting expectation for Stephanie Talbot, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New York Liberty training camp is in full swing, and our Jackie Powell is on the scene. She discusses numerous aspects of the Liberty camp with host Howard Megdal, including Han Xu's growth spurt, Jocelyn Willoughby and her return from injury, how the wings shake out between Willoughby, Michaela Onyenwere and Rebecca Allen, plus an in-depth look at the questions left to be answered between now and the May 7 opener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carly Thibault-DuDonis was going to be a head coach. It was always a matter of time, anyone who knew her could tell you this. So it was no surprise Fairfield hired her this month to take on the Stags' challenge: to be the top team, year-in and year-out, in the MAAC. She talked at length to host Howard Megdal about the ways she wants to build on Fairfield's 25-win season in 2021-22 while creating a team in her own style. She also explains what it is like to be part of a family of coaches -- her father is Mike Thibault, after all, her brother is Eric Thibault, and her husband is rising coaching star Blake DuDonis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chiene Joy Jones founded Grow Our Game to do just that — provide an opportunity for girls 4-7 and 8-11 to learn to play basketball, find joy in the game she loves, and create a pipeline for those looking to pursue it seriously. Pepper Persley, who has participated in the program, hosts this episode that delves into Jones' history and connections to New York City basketball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Washington Mystics have as high a ceiling as any WNBA team in 2022, and there are three words to describe why: Elena Delle Donne. But Delle Donne has played a total of three games since her 2019 MVP season concluded, navigating a degenerative back condition, and finding new ways not to just play, but even to walk. Delle Donne spoke to Howard Megdal, Jenn Hatfield and assembled media this week, and got into detail on what her plan is and how she can lift her Mystics to the top of the league once again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was an eventful 2022 WNBA Draft for the Washington Mystics. Before it began, they traded the top overall pick to Atlanta for picks 3 and 14 in the 2022 draft, along with the right to swap their pick for LA's pick (now controlled by Atlanta) in 2023. Got all that? Jenn Hatfield, Managing Editor and Mystics beat reporter at The Next, is here to explain what it meant in 2022 terms as well, with Shakira Austin getting selected third overall, and Christyn Williams of UConn going 14th. Jenn was at DC's draft party with Mike Thibault and gives you the inside scoop from it all. Plus, initial media day observations, including what we know, and don't yet know, about Elena Delle Donne's return to regular play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dallas Wings selected Veronica Burton of Northwestern with the seventh pick, a two-way point guard. But wait: don't the Wings already have Moriah Jefferson, Marina Mabrey and Ty Harris? What gives? Don't worry, The Next Dallas Wings beat reporter Arie Graham is here to fill you in and explain it all. Plus, Graham talks other picks Jasmine Dickey and Jazz Bond with host Howard Megdal, along with extended conversation about how Charli Collier and Teaira McCowan fit together and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2022 WNBA Draft was Monday, but LaChina Robinson is here to discuss the ripple effects of the night, which will be felt for many years to come. Host Howard Megdal discusses the night with Robinson, the vital voice in women's basketball, on everything from what Indiana did and how it fits together, from NaLyssa Smith to Destanni Henderson, right through to the importance of Naz Hillmon to the Atlanta Dream. Then the two get into the importance of Rising Media Stars, LaChina's company that boosts the careers and provides mentorship to young women of color in the media space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Los Angeles Sparks make the most of the 2022 WNBA Draft, selecting multi-talented wing Rae Burrell out of Tennessee with the ninth overall pick. But Derek Fisher's night was just getting started, as host Alex Simon of Bay Area News Group and The Next Sparks beat reporter David Yapkowitz detail in this deep dive into L.A.'s draft night. The Sparks selected Kianna Smith from the University of Louisville with the 16th overall pick, Olivia Nelson-Ododa from the University of Connecticut with the 19th overall pick, and Amy Atwell from the University of Hawaii with the 27th overall pick Monday night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Seattle Storm had an eventful 2022 WNBA Draft without any first-round picks! It's a pivotal season ahead for Seattle, with Sue Bird in likely her final season, Breanna Stewart a free agent after the year is over, and a clock that screams win-now. So how did Talisa Rhea make the most of her 2022 assets? Host Howard Megdal is joined by Em Adler, Seattle Storm beat reporter for The Next, to discuss what Rhea's war room was like, how Elissa Cunane and Evina Westbrook fit into the 2022 plans, and of course, much more. For instance: how great of a prospect is Aliyah Boston, historically? You won't want to miss any of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brittney Griner is detained in Russia, shadowing everything in the women's basketball world right now. It also creates an incredibly difficult set of choices for the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury, who have a season to plan even as they focus on bringing Griner home. So what does it all mean for things like the roster number, salary cap, and how to make sure there is a runway for Griner's return that doesn't create more difficulties for anyone involved? Alex Simon of Bay Area Sports Group joins Howard Megdal to discuss what we learned on draft night, what the Mercury are doing to solidify their post play in the meantime, and why the rules created for Brittney Griner truly don't have any comps in league history — and, everyone hopes, never need to be used again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2022 WNBA Draft had twists and turns aplenty, and the New York Liberty were at the center of it. Hear from General Manager Jonathan Kolb and head coach Sandy Brondello on the picks of Nyara Sabally, Lorelaj Cubaj and Sika Kone. Hosts Howard Megdal and Jackie Powell then talk to Isabel Rodrigues, who reported live from the WNBA Draft. Tony East comes to you live from Indiana Fever headquarters, where he recaps a night that began with NaLyssa Smith among the four Fever selected in the top ten. And finally, we hear some from Matthew Walter, intrepid Las Vegas Aces reporter, on their three picks in the top 13, before David Yapkowitz teases an upcoming show about the Los Angeles Sparks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The South Carolina Gamecocks are your national champions! How did Aliyah Boston, Dawn Staley and Destanni Henderson do it? Join Howard Megdal, Jackie Powell, Alex Simon, Em Adler and special guests like Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Lindsay Gibbs of Power Plays as they group talks about what went right for South Carolina, what went wrong for the UConn Huskies, and what 2022-23 looks like for this group, along with the Stanford Cardinal and other potential storylines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2022 Women's Final Four just concluded its national semifinals in Minneapolis with South Carolina defeating Louisville and UConn toppling Stanford. Host Howard Megdal conducts a lively conversation on all things Gamecocks, Cardinals, Cardinal and Huskies with a robust group from The Next, including Jackie Powell, Mitchell Northam, both of whom also covered the game live, and analysts Em Adler, Alex Simon of Bay Area News Group, Matthew Walter and noted heckler Lindsay Gibbs, editor of Power Plays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a battle between North Carolina and South Carolina. Rori Harmon and Texas are rolling, but so are Taylor Mikesell and Ohio State. UConn and Paige Bueckers run into Grace Berger's Indiana, while a couple of ten seeds, Creighton and South Dakota, look to continue shocking the world. Debbie Antonelli joins Pepper Persley, with these two iconic voices in women's basketball on hand to talk about this epic second weekend of NCAA Tournament action. Will Naz Hillmon keep on shooting 75% for Michigan? Does Angel Reese's Maryland have what it takes to upset Haley Jones' Stanford? Answers within!And make sure you follow all of our wall-to-wall coverage at The Next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Howard Megdal talks about Locked On Women's Basketball and its brand-new partnership with The Next. Daily shows are coming starting April 11. And we're getting ahead of it all, with coverage from Em Adler, who talks about NC State, UConn, Indiana and Notre Dame — the four in Bridgeport this weekend — while Missy Heidrick gets into the Wichita regional where Louisville faces Tennessee, and Michigan takes on surprising South Dakota. Enjoy this look at what you'll soon be hearing every single weekday! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First, hear from host Howard Megdal on why Caitlin Clark matters. Then, a conversation with Clark herself, along with Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder and center Monika Czinano. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Howard Megdal explains why it is such a big deal that Lin Dunn is back in the WNBA. Then Dunn breaks down the task ahead of her, rebuilding the Fever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices