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.

UMass head coach Tory Verdi watches his players cut down the net after winning the A-10 championship on March 6, 2022 while wearing a championship hat and shirt

UMass head coach Tory Verdi extended through 2026-27

November 30, 2022

What Verdi’s extension means for the Minutewomen

Nancy Lieberman statue at Old Dominion. The statue is bronze. Nancy Lieberman reaches her left arm over while holding the ball in her right hand.

Nancy Lieberman unveils her statue and dedicates “Dream Court” in historic weekend

November 8, 2022

Lieberman’s impact and legacy lives on in Norfolk

Sam Breen and Destiney Philoxy help up teammate Sydney Taylor.

2022-23 Atlantic 10 preview

October 31, 2022

New coaches, new players and a new member school

UMass

UMass selected as unanimous Atlantic 10 favorites

October 20, 2022

La Salle-Rhode Island-Fordham and VCU round out the top five selected by the coaches

Anita Ortega runs past Liz Galloway in a 1979 WBL matchup between the San Francisco Pioneers and Chicago Hustle

Anita Ortega: A Pioneer in more ways than one

September 25, 2022

From WBL star to the LAPD-Ortega blazed the trail on and off the court

UMass huddles and puts their hands in before the game

Five must-watch Atlantic 10 games

September 23, 2022

What stands out in the 120 game A-10 conference slate

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