Host Howard Megdal speaks with Kent Youngblood of the Minnesota Star Tribune, on the very week the distinguished journalist is retiring, inside the Minnesota Lynx practice facility ahead of Tuesday night's Commissioner's Cup Final between the Lynx and the Indiana Fever. Will Caitlin Clark play? And even if she does, will it matter when the Lynx are 14-2 and leading the WNBA in offensive and defensive efficiency, driven by the MVP season of Napheesa Collier? All that, plus putting Kent's career, ...
Jul 01, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1374
The WNBA is expanding to 18 teams by 2030, and our host Howard Megdal takes you inside the room of the announcement. Megdal spoke with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, representatives from ownership groups in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia, plus longtime Detroit Shock star Deanna Nolan, and breaks down ALL you need to know about what this means financially, for fans and for women's basketball as a whole.
Jun 30, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1373
The WNBA season is off and running and we have dozens and dozens of storylines emerging from coast to coast. Injuries, day-to-day availability, waivers and signings – we got it all – and games going on too. This first part of the season has not been smooth sailing for the Indiana Fever – and it has been filled with a bit of drama too. Analyst and host Missy Heidrick is joined by The Next's Tony East to take the temperature of this Fever squad and what lies ahead for them in the month of July. (p...
Jun 30, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1372
Jonquel Jones is the lowest-drafted MVP in league history. Today, host Emily Adler and co-host Lincoln Shafer revisit Jones' film at George Washington to contextualize her fall to No. 6 in the 2016 WNBA Draft. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OLIPOP Get a free can of OLIPOP! Just buy any two cans in store and they’ll reimburse you for one. Head to drinkolipop.com/LOCKEDONNBA to claim your free can and find OLIPOP near you. SKIMS Shop SKIMS Mens at SKIMS.com/lockedonnba . Let them know we s...
Jun 28, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1371
Wednesday night A'ja Wilson became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 5,000 points and today host Natalie Heavren is joined by The Next’s Las Vegas Aces beat reporter Kelly Johnson to chat all about that moment. The pair also talk about how the team fared in back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday, the season so far and take a look at what’s ahead for the Aces. Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the group that owns the Washington Mystics, holds a minority stake in The Next. The N...
Jun 27, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1370
The Indiana Fever have had a wild week. DeWanna Bonner was waived, Aari McDonald was signed, and Damiris Dantas departed for international play. Plus, Caitlin Clark is injured and the Fever keep blowing leads. Tony East — Indiana Fever beat reporter for The Next — breaks it down on Locked On Women's Basketball. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OLIPOP Get a free can of OLIPOP! Just buy any two cans in store and they’ll reimburse you for one. Head to drinkolipop.com/LOCKEDONNBA to claim your...
Jun 27, 2025•30 min•Ep. 1369
In today's Locked on Women's Basketball, Chelsea Leite and Jamie Steyer Johnson talk about the stiff competition for playoff spots. They talk about the Las Vegas Aces' issues with depth and effort this season, their offseason moves, and the danger of missing the playoffs. thumbnail: © Lucas Peltier | 2025 Jun 25 SKIMS Shop SKIMS Mens at SKIMS.com/lockedonnba. Let them know we sent you! After you place your order, select "podcast" in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu that follow...
Jun 26, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1368
It turns out that in the post-Caitlin Clark era, even with Lisa Bluder retiring, Iowa is stronger than ever. Having the leadership of Jan Jensen will do that — and she joins host Howard Megdal to discuss her 23-win, inaugural campaign as head coach after decades as Lisa's trusted lieutenant. The two talk about everything from Lucy Olsen's ascendance to Addie Deal, the next big Iowa guard you're going to hear a ton about — and what it says about the Hawkeyes that she's from California, not Cedar ...
Jun 25, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1367
The WNBA season is off and running with dozens of storylines emerging from coast to coast. One of the most intriguing is the newest team in the league, with women's professional basketball back in the Bay Area and the success of the Golden State Valkyries. Expansion has brought a team with invested owners, top-notch leadership in the front office and a head coach that is focused on winning their way. Analyst and host Missy Heidrick is joined by hall-of-fame journalist and contributor at The Next...
Jun 23, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1366
Today, host Hunter Cruse is joined by co-hosts Emily Adler and Lincoln Shafer to give their early All-Rookie team picks for the 2025 WNBA season. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OLIPOP Get a free can of OLIPOP! Just buy any two cans in store and they’ll reimburse you for one. Head to drinkolipop.com/LOCKEDONNBA to claim your free can and find OLIPOP near you. CarGurus Buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus at CarGurus.com to make sure your big deal is the best deal. WayFair Give yo...
Jun 21, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1364
Host Jackie Powell explores the latest hot topic in WNBA circles and that’s officiating. First she explains the reasons for the latest complaints in officiating after there was a shuffle that broke out between Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever and Jacy Sheldon’s Connecticut Sun earlier this week. Also, Powell shares how Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello feels on the subject. Later she is joined by Lucas Kaplan, a New York based basketball reporter who covers both the Liberty in the WNBA and the Net...
Jun 20, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1365
The Indiana Fever have Cailtin Clark back and are showing signs of improvement. On today's Locked On Women's Basketball, Tony East -- Indiana Fever beat reporter for The Next -- breaks down the team's growth after talking about the team's officiating concerns and Commissioner's Cup East victory. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OLIPOP Get a free can of OLIPOP! Just buy any two cans in store and they’ll reimburse you for one. Head to drinkolipop.com/LOCKEDONNBA to claim your free can and fi...
Jun 20, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1363
A much-deserved honor, induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, leads the discussion between WNBA legend Alana Beard and host Howard Megdal on today's show. The two remenisce about her career highlights, when she knew it was time to retire, and how the WNBA has evolved since she did so. Plus hear from The Next correspondents Terry Horstman and Gabby Alfveby from Minnesota and Connecticut, who take you inside the workings of the WNBA. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OLIPOP Get a...
Jun 19, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1362
It was a busy night in the WNBA, and Howard Megdal gets you caught up on the most important stories. The show starts with the Indiana Fever-Connecticut Sun brawl, what it meant and just as important, what it didn't mean. Hear from Fever coach Stephanie White (and YouTube viewers, enjoy Caitlin Clark's facial expressions). Then Megdal is joined by Brittney Griner, Jordin Canada and Te-Hina Paopao as he explains why the Atlanta Dream are so good, so soon. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OLI...
Jun 18, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1361
With the signing of the much anticipated House Settlement, the world of college athletics has changed - yet again. We have a new world of pay for play, revenue sharing, roster limits and how NIL is going to be run across the board starting this summer. What does it mean? Who gets the biggest pieces of the pie? Who determines what really is NIL market value? Analyst and host Missy Heidrick breaks it all down on today's episode. (Photo credit: © Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK / US...
Jun 16, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1360
Today, host Hunter Cruse is joined by co-hosts Emily Adler and Lincoln Shafer to re-draft the 2021 WNBA Draft, which is regarded as the worst draft class in league history. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OLIPOP Get a free can of OLIPOP! Just buy any two cans in store and they’ll reimburse you for one. Head to drinkolipop.com/LOCKEDONNBA to claim your free can and find OLIPOP near you. WayFair Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to Wayfair.com right now. Wayfair. Every ...
Jun 14, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1359
Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, joins host Natalie Heavren to discuss his latest book, “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar.” The pair chat about why he wrote it, how six-on-six has influenced the modern era of basketball in Iowa, and go behind the scenes of recording an audiobook and writing a book. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OLIPOP Get a free can of OLIPOP! Just buy any two cans in store and they’ll reimburse y...
Jun 13, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1358
Today on Locked on Women's Basketball, Chelsea Leite and Tony East catch up on Caitlin Clark updates, including her status ahead of the Fever's game against the New York Liberty on Saturday. Thumbnail: Hannah Kevorkian | The Next Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to Wayfair.com right now. Wayfair. Every style...
Jun 12, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1357
Guess who showed up at the New York Liberty game Tuesday night? Yes, Coco Gauff. Our The Next reporter Jackie Powell discussed this with Sabrina Ionescu. Then CBS Sports' Isabel Gonzalez chats with host Howard Megdal about what this crossover tells us about the women's sports moment, along with a discussion on everything from Paige Bueckers' impact to Dawn Staley's new book. Enjoy!
Jun 11, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1356
It's another jam-packed day in women's basketball. First, Kelsey Plum went off on WNBA officiating postgame. Our Sparks beat reporter, Cameron Ruby, was there and joins host Howard Megdal to dig into whether or not she's got a legitimate beef. Then Richmond head coach Aaron Roussell talks to Megdal about how he built the Spiders, what modern analytics has done to transform his team's offense, and much more.
Jun 10, 2025•32 min•Ep. 1355
Today, host Hunter Cruse is joined by co-host Emily Adler to rank every WNBA team’s young cores. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at www.openphone.com/lockedonnba Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. Your well-being is worth it. Visit BetterHelp.com/lockedonnba today to get 10% off your first month. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use co...
Jun 07, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1354
Host Jackie Powell is joined by Marisa Ingemi of the San Francisco Chronicle to walk through why the Golden State Valkyries are going to struggle in June with so many of their players overseas competing in EuroBasket. Then Jackie and Marisa discuss a conversation they both had with Liberty guard Marine Johannès about why she decided not to go over and play with the French National team for this EuroBasket tournament. And finally, the pair explains the push and pull type relationship that interna...
Jun 07, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1353
In today's episode, Chelsea Leite sits with Minnesota-based writer for The Next, Lucas Seehafer to break down the Minnesota Lynx's chances of winning the WNBA championship this season. They talk Minnesota's strengths and weaknesses, and how they can beat the dominant New York Liberty. Right now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL...
Jun 05, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1352
What is going on in Seattle? A big win, powered by Seattle's bench, is quickly overtaken by Li Yueru's trade demand. Our Bella Munson and Jackie Powell fill you in. Then Howard Megdal gets to speak with Jacy Sheldon, Connecticut Sun guard, about her busy year in hoops, from an offseason trade to patrolling the sidelines for her alma mater, Ohio State. A busy day in women's hoops, as always!
Jun 04, 2025•28 min•Ep. 1351
The great Jordan Robinson, host of The Women's Hoop Show, She's Got Next and much more — seriously, go subscribe — joins host Howard Megdal as the two bat around a lot of the early-season WNBA storylines. How good are the Atlanta Dream, and how sustainable is it? Does this model of A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces work if A'ja is asked to do this much? And just who will the eighth playoff team be? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communication...
Jun 03, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1350
Today, host Hunter Cruse is joined by co-hosts Lincoln Shafer and Emily Adler to talk about early WNBA season performances from second-year players like Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese, and more. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! WayFair Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to Wayfair.com right now. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first ye...
May 31, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1348
Two weeks into the WNBA season, The Next’s Washington Mystics beat reporter Jenn Hatfield joins host Natalie Heavren to chat all about the team’s season so far. The pair chats about the Mystics win over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night as well as what lies ahead for Washington. Hatfield also discusses the impacts of veteran guard Brittney Sykes as well as rookie guard Sonia Citron and rookie forward Kiki Iriafen. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! WayFair Give your home the refresh it ne...
May 30, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1347
It's another season to remember already for the Minnesota Lynx, who are off to a 5-0 start. Lucas Seehafer of The Next joins host Howard Megdal to discuss the particulars of how Napheesa Collier has somehow gotten better, the team's depth promises even more offensive firepower this season, while the two begin reflecting on Wednesday night' big game in Baltimore, Caitlin Clark or not, and what we can learn about the durability of WNBA audiences through the Lynx. Support Us By Supporting Our Spons...
May 29, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1346
On Wednesday's edition of Locked On Women's Basketball, Howard Megdal and Jackie Powell discuss the week's biggest topics, starting with separating the signal from the noise on Caitlin Clark's injury and what it means — and doesn't — for the WNBA. Hear from The Next's correspondents around the league, along with a deeper dive into the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, Natasha Cloud, from Powell. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! WayFair Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair....
May 28, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1345
Between the Oregon alums in the WNBA like Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally, the Oregon Ducks returning to the NCAA Tournament and the forthcoming WNBA team in Portland, Oregon is quickly becoming the center of the women's basketball universe. Kelly Graves, who knows a little something about how that happened, joins host Howard Megdal to talk about his Ducks, the landscape out west, and how he plans to navigate this newfound attention in Oregon to maximize the growth of the game.
May 27, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1344
