Posts by Natalie Heavren

Natalie Heavren has been a contributor to The Next since February 2019 and currently writes about the Atlantic 10 conference, the WNBA and the WBL.

Karen Logan (right) and John Geraty (left), general manager of the Chicago Hustle, presents Chicago Mayor Michael A. Bilandic (center) with a signed WBL ball that reads "Mayor Bilandic, To a super athlete and Mayor -Karen Logan". The photo is signed by Bilandic with the message "To Karen Logan

The journey and lasting impact of women’s basketball trailblazer Karen Logan

August 22, 2022

How a pre-Title IX athlete changed women’s basketball forever

Richmond's Jaide Hinds-Clarke handles the ball against FAU

“Once a Spider, always a Spider”

July 1, 2022

Jaide Hinds-Clarke continues making an impact on Richmond Athletics by building connections and serving as a role model and ambassador.

Diana Taurasi, Brianna Turner, Tina Charles and Skylar Diggins-Smith huddle during the team's June 12 99-90 overtime win over the Washington Mystics.

Phoenix Mercury came to DC with two missions

June 14, 2022

Mercury players and coaches focus on winning, bringing Brittney Griner home

Top Left: Adrian Mitchell-Newell shoots over the defender. Top Middle: Molly (Bolin) Kazmer drives past the defender. Right: Retha Swindell appears in a newspaper article previewing the upcoming Texas season. Bottom Middle: Patricia “Trish” Roberts goes up for a layup. Bottom Left: Peggy Kennedy dribbles up the court.

“We Are Title IX”

June 13, 2022

WBL trailblazers share their Title IX experiences

Candice Dupree sits in the stands and prepares for the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.

Candice Dupree explores coaching in the NBA Assistant Coaches Program

May 13, 2022

The seven-time All-Star begins her post-playing career

Rebecca Tillett addresses the crowd at her introductory press conference on April 13.

‘It seemed like a perfect fit’: Rebecca Tillett looks to take Saint Louis to new heights

April 23, 2022

What the start of the Tillett era means for the Billikens

Allison Guth stands at the podium and addresses the audience during her introductory press conference on April 11. Photo Courtesy of Steve Woltmann/Loyola Athletics

How Allison Guth will lead Loyola Chicago into the Atlantic 10 Conference era

April 18, 2022

Guth: ‘It’s truly where I fell in love with coaching’

Tamika Williams-Jeter stands at the podium at her introductory press conference on March 28.

Tamika Williams-Jeter returns home to Dayton

April 6, 2022

What the start of the Williams-Jeter era means for the Flyers

Left: Aaliyah Edwards shows a younger girl how to hold a basketball. Top right: (from left to right) Nika Mühl, Sofia Payan, Edwards, Wang Fuqu, Siya Deodhar and Diouma Berthe pose with the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament trophy. Bottom left: Mühl handles the ball during a program activity. Bottom right: Georgia Amoore stretches. Photos Courtesy of NBA Academy.

Preparation, opportunities and friendship: The NBA Academy Women’s Program’s impact on alumnae

March 31, 2022

Four years after it started, the NBA Academy Women’s Program saw 12 alumnae reach the 2022 NCAA Tournament

UMass huddles and puts their hands in before the game

Where do Dayton and UMass go from here?

March 21, 2022

The 2021-22 season comes to a close in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament for two Atlantic 10 teams