December 4, 2024
Locked On Women’s Basketball: Meghan McKeown talks women’s sports media landscape
By The Next
McKeown discusses explosion of women's basketball audience
Meghan McKeown, a prominent voice in the coverage of women’s basketball, has become a key figure in bringing legitimacy and visibility to the sport, especially through her podcast, Got Next, co-hosted with Zora Stephenson. McKeown joins host Howard Megdal to discuss the sports media landscape, both around who is covering women’s sports and the explosion specifically of women’s basketball in 2024 and how those who have been in the space for a long time are navigating it.
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Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, released his latest book on May 7, 2024. This deeply reported story follows four connected generations of women’s basketball pioneers, from Elvera “Peps” Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.
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The inception of Got Next stemmed from a gap McKeown and Stephenson saw in the media landscape. At the time, there were few dedicated podcasts focused on women’s basketball compared to the abundance in men’s basketball.
On the podcast, McKeown notes, “We figured, why not try to put our hat in there and help raise the profile of the sport?” The show has quickly gained traction, thanks to its balance of expert analysis and engaging interviews. McKeown shares how her experience in calling games for NBC, often traveling with Stephenson to cover high-profile events, has helped shape the direction of the podcast and fostered deeper connections with players and coaches.
McKeown, who grew up surrounded by the sport with her father being a women’s basketball coach at Northwestern, has seen this firsthand. She reflects on how much the sport has grown, noting how people from all walks of life, including those from traditionally male-dominated spaces like men’s college basketball, have begun seeking her out to discuss women’s hoops. While excited about the increased attention, McKeown also highlights the frustration that the sport’s rich history is often overlooked, despite the incredible talent and groundbreaking achievements that preceded the current wave of attention.
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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.
