Sunday, September 8, 2024

Locked On Women’s Basketball: Brittney Griner is back – The Next

Must read


California here you come ☀️

Can’t decide what to do this sunny season? How about an all-expenses paid weekend trip for two to LA to watch both the LA Sparks and Angel City FC next month? Problem solved.

Complete with sweet swag from our friends at Birdies, take in some WNBA action in premium seats when the LA Sparks host the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces on July 5th. 

  • Then catch Angel City vs. the reigning NWSL champs, Gotham FC, on July 6th in style before the Olympic break. In addition to two premium tickets which include warm up field passes, the winners will also walk away with jerseys.

Be part of the women’s sports movement and enter to win today.


Megdal and Reid begin the episode by discussing the excitement and emotions around Griner’s return. As Reid explains, it was a relatively last-minute decision on the Mercury’s behalf to re-insert Griner into the lineup. When the fans found out, “the crowd was just electric … And she definitely helped and played a big role in that game.”


Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?

Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.

Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.


Megdal and Reid continue reflecting on Griner’s career. “Her journey has been kind of an astounding story,” Reid describes. “I think she has a very driven mindset and unique motivation … especially to come back from the kind of situation that she was in. It takes something within a person to be able to kind of put that behind them and keep moving forward and have that motivation.”


The Next, a 24/7/365 women’s basketball newsroom

The Next: A basketball newsroom brought to you by The IX. 24/7/365 women’s basketball coverage, written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff and dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.


Later on, Megdal and Reid shift focus to other players on the Mercury making an impact this season, such as Kahleah Copper. “Just look at the numbers she’s putting up,” Megdal says. And Reid concurs. “I mean, she had back-to-back games where she scored over 37 points in the beginning of the year,” she reminds listeners. Copper, Griner, and other core members are putting up a strong showing for the Mercury. But are they a title contender? “Probably not,” asserts Reid. “It’s a far-fetched possibility for them.”

Make sure to subscribe to the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast to keep learning about the WNBA, women’s college basketball, basketball history and much more!


Get 24/7 soccer coverage with The Equalizer

The Next is partnering with The Equalizer to bring more women’s sports stories to your inbox. Subscribers to The Next receive 50% off their subscription to The Equalizer for 24/7 coverage of women’s soccer.


Latest article