October 16, 2024
Locked On Women’s Basketball: WNBA Finals press on
By The Next
'It's only 25% coaching. The rest is what the players want and what they put into these games'
On the latest episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, host Howard Megdal is joined by The Next’s New York Liberty beat writer Jackie Powell to discuss Game 3 of the WNBA Finals and beyond. Megdal and Powell reflect on conversations they had with the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart and the Minnesota Lynx‘s Courtney Williams. They also discuss what they think are the keys for both the Liberty and the Lynx going into Game 3.
Continue reading with a subscription to The Next
Get unlimited access to women’s basketball coverage and help support our hardworking staff of writers, editors, and photographers by subscribing today.
Already a member?
Login
Add Locked On Women’s Basketball to your daily routine
Here at The Next, in addition to the 24/7/365 written content our staff provides, we also host the daily Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast. Join us Monday through Saturday each week as we discuss all things WNBA, collegiate basketball, basketball history and much more. Listen wherever you find podcasts or watch on YouTube.
Megdal and Powell open the show by reviewing statements of determination from both Stewart and Williams. “Courtney Williams, talking to her … she said, ‘Our focus is to end in four,'” Megdal says. He asks Powell what Stewart’s goal is. Per Powell, Stewart “also wants to end in four.” Neither team wants to go back to New York.
Later on, Megdal and Powell go back in time and review Williams’ career, starting with the college days. “The 2016 [University of] Connecticut team was the best team I ever covered in any sport,” Megdal says. “Courtney Williams was unafraid of that team. That team that went and crushed everybody, Courtney Williams would get her shots up. They couldn’t stop her.”
Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?
Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.
Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.
Megdal and Powell finish out the show by discussing what they think may happen in Game 3. “On the Minnesota side, we’re all gonna have our eye on how they start,” Powell says. “Reeve has been banging her gong, her drum … about her team getting off to better starts in the first quarter.” But, as Powell also says, “It’s only 25% coaching. The rest is what the players want and what they put into these games.”
Make sure to subscribe to the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast to keep learning about the WNBA, women’s college basketball, basketball history and much more!
Win a New York Liberty trading card when you subscribe!
Until the end of November, every new subscriber (and subscription renewal) to The Next will be entered to win a Panini trading card celebrating the WNBA champion New York Liberty — and yes, we can confirm it will be the Ellie rookie card!
