Posts by Jenn Hatfield

Jenn Hatfield has been a contributor to The Next since December 2018 and is currently the site's managing editor, Washington Mystics beat reporter and Ivy League beat reporter. Her work has also appeared at FiveThirtyEight, Her Hoop Stats, FanSided, Power Plays and Princeton Alumni Weekly.

Photos of Stanford guard Talana Lepolo and LSU guard Last-Tear Poa are displayed side-by-side. Both are dribbling the ball with their right hand, and Poa points ahead of her with her left hand.

Which women’s college basketball teams are taking foreign tours in 2024?

June 22, 2024

LSU, Stanford headline the jetsetters

Washington Mystics guard Ariel Atkins sits on the court and claps her hands. Teammates Karlie Samuelson, Aaliyah Edwards and Stefanie Dolson yell in celebration, and Samuelson extends her hands to help Atkins up.

Defenses are throwing everything at Ariel Atkins. Here’s how the Mystics star hit her stride

June 21, 2024

Atkins: ‘If I see an opening, I’m gonna take a shot’

Washington Mystics wings DiDi Richards and Karlie Samuelson face each other. They smile and shimmy, and Richards sticks her tongue out.

How DiDi Richards has put her stamp on Washington Mystics’ starting lineup introductions

June 19, 2024

Karlie Samuelson: ‘You can rely on DiDi for anything fun’

Washington Mystics guard Julie Vanloo reaches her right arm out to the side to high-five center Stefanie Dolson, who is walking toward her.

‘We got the lid off’: Washington Mystics relieved to end 0-12 start

June 13, 2024

And Brittney Sykes returns — then departs with another injury

Washington Mystics point guard Jade Melbourne yells in celebration after two quick 2-pointers. She points two fingers on each hand down at the ground.

21-year-old Jade Melbourne is a quick study for Washington Mystics

June 11, 2024

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough: ‘I forget how young she is because of her composure’

Washington Mystics point guard Julie Vanloo talks to four of her teammates and uses her right hand to point away from their huddle. Her teammates have various serious expressions on their faces.

What the record doesn’t tell you about Washington Mystics’ 0-11 start

June 8, 2024

They’ve hung around in almost every game, but it’s on to the next one

Side-by-side photos of Katie Lou Samuelson shooting a jump shot in warmups and Karlie Samuelson shooting a jump shot in a game. Katie Lou is shown straight on, while Karlie is shown in profile.

Karlie and Katie Lou Samuelson prepare for sister showdown

June 6, 2024

The Samuelsons will go head-to-head on Friday, when Washington hosts Indiana

Washington Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards is shown in profile, smiling broadly as she prepares to take a shot in warmups.

Rookie Aaliyah Edwards, Mystics’ ‘Duracell Bunny,’ makes WNBA transition look easy

May 31, 2024

The league’s third-youngest player brings energy, consistency amid Washington’s struggles

Washington Mystics players huddle near the free-throw line before a game.

Washington Mystics miffed at WNBA charter flight program’s uneven rollout

May 20, 2024

Cross-country flights were expected to be prioritized for charters before full charter program takes effect

Washington Mystics guard Julie Vanloo shoots an open right-handed layup as two Connecticut Sun defenders look on from behind the play.

Brimming with confidence and ‘European flash,’ Mystics’ Julie Vanloo introduces herself to the WNBA

May 18, 2024

How the 31-year-old Belgian rookie finally realized her WNBA dream