On the latest episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, host Howard Megdal talks with The Next’s Portland Fire beat writer Annie Peterson to discuss the progress the expansion team is making, especially compared with fellow expansion franchise, the Toronto Tempo. Megdal also checks in with beat writers in Las Vegas and the Bay Area.
Megdal starts out the show by reviewing commentary from beat reporters. After a clip from beat reporter Kelly Johnson at the Las Vegas Aces game, Megdal remarks that “there is a lot riding on the next few weeks,” in terms of how far the Aces can go. And following a video from beat reporter Matthew Walter out in Golden State, Megdal acknowledges Natalie Nakase’s successful first season at the helm of the team. “I think Natalie Nakase has a really good at winning Coach of the Year … if they make the playoffs,” he says. “I think it’s really hard to argue against it.
“Becoming Caitlin Clark” is out now!
Howard Megdal’s newest book is here! “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar” captures both the historic nature of Clark’s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible, including interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and many others.
Later on, Megdal and Peterson dive into expansion details for the new Portland team. Peterson gives some background on women’s sports in Portland, including some information about the original Portland Fire, who played from 2000-2002, and the renaissance of women’s sports in Portland years later due to the rise of women’s soccer. Peterson talks listeners through all the excitement, as well as the hurdles and gets them up to speed to the team’s current moment. “All of a sudden, it became, oh, Portland’s got this,” Peterson says. “The general manager is going to be named, from what my sources say, by the end of the summer, and we’re a go.”
Make sure you tune in to Locked On Women’s Basketball for daily shows covering the latest news across women’s basketball from the college ranks to the WNBA, as well as Athletes Unlimited, Unrivaled and international competitions.