The Athletic’s women’s basketball coverage is expanding

The Athletic’s women’s basketball coverage is expanding
By Shannon Ryan
Nov 22, 2022

It’s no longer up for debate whether women’s basketball has taken a firm foothold in our sports consciousness.

The 2022 women’s NCAA Tournament championship grew to 4.85 million views – the most-watched women’s title game since 2004. The WNBA, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last season, broadcast its most-watched regular-season game since 2012. Merchandise sales and attendance numbers are up, star players are household names, the W hoodie is an undeniably cool look.

Advertisement

Through the recent years of the sports’ substantial growth, The Athletic has been a leader covering women’s college basketball and the WNBA. With our deep investigations, going behind the scenes of players’ NIL power, providing strong analysis of free agency and mock drafts, delivering unmatched storytelling and, of course, capturing the magic of the NCAA and WNBA championships, we’ve been committed to covering the sports’ most important stories.

But we want to do more. As the popularity and exposure of the WNBA and women’s college basketball are growing, so are we.

The Athletic is delighted to announce we have added two full-time national reporters to our staff in Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman. Along with senior reporter Chantel Jennings, we have the largest full-time staff dedicated to women’s basketball in mainstream sports media. With our long-time regular contributors Lyndsey D’Arcangelo and Dorothy J. Gentry, The Athletic’s women’s basketball staff is as robust, knowledgeable and talented as it comes.

Sabreena, who previously worked at SB Nation, is a leading national voice on the WNBA with her strong analysis work and keen eye for finding unique stories. Ben, who comes to us from Sports Illustrated, is among the nation’s best storytellers and will continue to discover gems about players, coaches and teams.

Women’s basketball fans know the sport is at a special moment — a turning point of growing interest and unprecedented investment. Their only frustration is wanting more. And that’s what we plan to deliver with stories from college campuses, WNBA courts and international competition. This WNBA offseason, we’ll be shadowing players overseas to provide readers with a glimpse of their lives, struggles and triumphs.

Follow along as The Athletic tells the women’s basketball stories you’ve been seeking.

(Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)

Get all-access to exclusive stories.

Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.

Shannon Ryan is The Athletic’s women’s basketball managing editor. She spent the previous 13 years as a college sports reporter and columnist for the Chicago Tribune, primarily covering college basketball and football. She began her journalism career covering the NFL and college sports for The Philadelphia Inquirer.