Locked On Women's Basketball

If you've enjoyed a women's sports broadcast on the ESPN family of networks anytime in the past, oh, 29 years, you have someone to thank: Carol Stiff.The longtime ESPN executive joined Howard Megdal on the Locked on Women's Basketball podcast ahead of what is a banner weekend for women's sports all over ESPN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull is joined by LaChina Robinson to discuss the Atlanta Dream, including a look back at the run to the semifinals and the groove the team found before Angel McCoughtry's injury, the impact of Jessica Breland and Renee Montgomery in their first season in Atlanta, the team's offseason needs and how the new players can make an impact, how Brittney Sykes can be a catalyst as McCoughtry works her way back, appreciation for the perpetually overlooked Tiffany Hayes, Atlanta's status as a contender with and without McCoughtry and the local impact of the team's return to State Farm Arena.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull is joined in part one by Lindsay Gibbs of ThinkProgress, The Athletic DC, Burn It All Down and High Post Hoops to discuss the Washington Mystics, including a look back at their Finals run, expected improvement of second-year players Ariel Atkins and Myisha Hines-Allen, Kim Mestdagh and Shey Peddy battling it out for a roster spot, why both may still log time with the team this season, the injuries to Kiara Leslie and Aerial Powers and working Emma Meesseman back into the rotation. Brady Klopfer joins the show in part two to preview the season for the Los Angeles Sparks, including impressions of new head coach Derek Fisher, the dust finally settling on the Liz Cambage sweepstakes, LA's handling of free agency, their draft class, the Chiney Ogwumike trade, Candace Parker's hamstring, the guards/wings battling for final roster spots and Brady's outlook on the team's status as a contender.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull is first joined by Jasmine Baker to preview the season for the Dallas Wings, including the return on the Liz Cambage trade, the addition of Imani McGee-Stafford, thoughts on the 2019 draft class, new head coach Brian Agler, the latest on Skylar Diggins-Smith and the team's chances of competing for a playoff bid. In part two, Eric Nemchock of Swish Appeal and Hashtag Basketball joins the show to preview the season for the Chicago Sky, including the hiring of James Wade, the decision to draft Katie Lou Samuelson, improving the team's defense and the expectations Wade & Co. are facing to make the playoffs.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nick Niendorf, Chicago Sky beat reporter at High Post Hoops, takes you on a weekly journey of all things Chicago Sky! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull is joined by Rachel Galligan of WNBAInsidr and Hero Sports to preview the upcoming season for the Indiana Fever, including what to watch for in Teaira McCowan's rookie season, the impact of the Victoria Vivians injury, how Kelsey Mitchell can take the next step in year two, Shenise Johnson's return from the 2017 knee injury and the addition of Betnijah Laney in free agency.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull is joined by David Siegel of the Connecticut SunCast to preview the upcoming season for the Connecticut Sun, including reaction to the team's back-to-back single-elimination exits, a potential continuity advantage and what it means for their pursuit of a top-two seed, the Alyssa Thomas-Jonquel Jones frontcourt, the Chiney Ogwumike trade, what to watch for from key reserves, the battle for the final roster spots and the team's toughest potential playoff matchup.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull is joined by Kevin Pelton of ESPN to preview the upcoming season for the Seattle Storm, including reaction to last season's title run, Breanna Stewart's injury, finding a fifth starter, the idea of relying more on smaller lineups, expectations for Jordin Canada's second season, how Jewell Loyd can take on a bigger scoring role, and the battle for the final roster spots.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull is joined by Jeff Metcalfe of AZCentral Sports to preview the upcoming season for the Phoenix Mercury, including the team's early reaction to Diana Taurasi's back surgery, how DeWanna Bonner and Brittney Griner can carry a bigger scoring load, the expected additional impact of a healthy Briann January and the difficult decisions facing general manager Jim Pitman and coach Sandy Brondello in finalizing the team's 12-player roster.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Howard Megdal is joined by Chloe Pavlech, who has done so much already. She played for Brenda Frese at Maryland, earning a BA and then a Masters in four years. She coached under Geno Auriemma at UConn. And now she's expanding her work in the media space with Overtime's new women's basketball venture, building on what Chloe helped create at the SheHoops network.Listen to this wide-ranging conversation about women's sports and media, and learn more about Chloe's new venture, one that will gladden the hearts of everyone who listens to this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Howard Megdal is joined by Texas forward Joyner Holmes. The multi-talented Longhorn has been through plenty of adversity in her career already, from a semester-long suspension to an ankle injury that cost her several months this season.The two discuss Joyner's basketball origins, how she came to know and love the game, along with how she's evolved into a player unlike those who came before her. Joyner looked to Kobe Bryant and Tina Thompson for inspiration, and the discussion delved into what that's meant for her work ethic, composition of inside-outside skills and where she expects it all to take her.Holmes is also philosophical about her suspension, her relationship with head coach Karen Aston, and provides insight on a range of topics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Howard Megdal is joined by new Los Angeles Sparks head coach Derek Fisher. The two have a wide-ranging conversation, looking at both the details of how Fisher was hired and the task ahead, operating a roster filled with both stars like Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike, along with developing players like Sydney Wiese and Maria Vadeeva.Fisher did not shy away from the difficult questions raised by the way his hiring came about—with Sparks general manager Penny Toler making it clear she had no other people in for interviews before hiring her one and only choice in Fisher, something that rubbed many the wrong way.Fisher talks about his past, what led him to the Sparks, and why he thinks this can be such a productive partnership. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Howard Megdal is joined by the new Chicago Sky head coach and general manager, James Wade. The two discuss how Wade found his way into coaching (with an assist from Dan Hughes), what he learned coaching on the staffs of both Hughes and Cheryl Reeve, and then the two dive deep into what the Sky roster looks like, how free agency and the draft is likely to change it, and what Wade's goals are for 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull is joined by Lindsay Gibbs and Joseph Zucker to discuss the key themes heading into the WNBA Finals, including: how Elena Delle Donne's knee will be tested early in the series, what happened to Jewell Loyd, how LaToya Sanders will impact these Finals, why this is a good matchup for key reserve bigs on both teams, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull is joined by Lindsay Gibbs to discuss Elena Delle Donne's return to the lineup, Kristi Toliver's big night, what needs to happen for both teams in Game 5 and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull is joined by Lindsay Gibbs to discuss Game 3 between the Dream and Mystics and the ripple effects of the Elena Delle Donne injury. Alex Simon then joins the show to discuss Storm-Mercury Game 3 and evaluate Phoenix's chances of forcing a Game 5.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull is joined by Lindsay Gibbs then Alex Simon to cover the first two games of Mystics/Dream and Mercury/Storm and look ahead as those series transition to DC and Phoenix, respectively.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Howard Megdal is joined by Ben Dull to preview the Storm/Mercury semifinals series and the key issues that will be at play, including: defending Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart, Phoenix's lineup change and the additional pressure it will put on Seattle's defense, and how Natasha Howard can be expected to leave her mark on the series.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull is joined by Lindsay Gibbs of High Post Hoops to recap Sparks-Mystics, Mercury-Sun and look ahead to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Dull recaps Lynx/Sparks from Staples Center with Delmy Barillas of LA Sports Access and Brady Klopfer of WNBAinsidr/The Athletic Los Angeles and looks ahead to LA's round two matchup with the Washington Mystics, then is joined by Jasmine Baker of High Post Hoops to recap Wings/Mercury and look ahead to Mercury/Sun.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices