The IX: Hockey Friday with Erica L. Ayala, July 24, 2020

#WomenSupportingWomen — Interview with Cammi Granato and the Seattle Storm on the Kraken — Must-click links

(Hi! Howard Megdal here. The IX helps build the necessary infrastructure for women’s sports media. In this moment, freelance budgets have been cut, reporters are losing their jobs. Women’s sports always bears the brunt of that first.

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The WNBA is So Important

Okay, here’s the deal fam. There is no women’s hockey on the horizon and I am very locked in on women’s basketball. So, I want to take this opportunity to make a case for the WoHo community to support women’s basketball. Who knows, the next female-led ownership group for the WNBA could be reading this!

  1. The WNBA is the longest-running women’s league (for a team sport) by a lot

    The 24th consecutive WNBA season will be a shorter one due to COVID, but it will be exciting! Things tip-off tomorrow with the old guard led by Sue Bird and the Seattle Storm taking on The Rookie Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty.

  2. Support Black Women

    The league is made up of 80% Black players and the league is the best-kept secret among all of women’s sports. If you want to know how I really feel about the inequity in media coverage of the WNBA, check this out.

  3. LIVE SPORTS

    The NWSL Championship between the Houston Dash and the Chicago Red Stars will leave the WNBA as the sole women’s team sport in action until the fall when women’s hockey (hopefully) returns.

    Get your fix while you can! Also, it’s very likely your favorite WoHo or WoSo player will be watching.

    Subscribe now


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This Week in Women’s Hockey

GamerDoc returns with a special edition of NWHL Open Ice on Twitch.

Janine Weber Re-signs with Connecticut Whale.

Seattle Scout Cammi Granato talks about the Seattle Kraken.

Speaking of NHL scouts, THIS IS Happening Sunday!

Where is women’s hockey growing? A look at the analytics with Mike Murphy.

Practice self-care with Black Girl Hockey Club. REGISTER HERE!

Kim Davis weighs in on Seattle Kraken, NHL return to play.


Tweet of the Week

What a cute thread!


Five at The IX: Cammi Granato and Seattle Storm weigh in on new NHL team name

On the team name

I’m so excited that was my number one choice and it was amazing how tight-lipped it was around the organization this last year. None of us knew we were not supposed to know … it’s a unique name, it’s a powerful sea monster that reflects the city … I love the logo, the color scheme is really surprising to me, I love it. I’m really excited.

On the rivalry with Vancouver

I think the rivalry is real now that we’ve got our sea monster here. There will be a nice battle.

On playing in the pacific division

I think it’s a good conference. I think the rivalries, because it’s everything so close, will it develops and how it plays out. And hopefully, you know, we do our job on the field a pretty good team out of the starting gate.

Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd on Seattle Kraken

It was cool to see, to learn some history behind it … I’m excited! Hockey’s a great sport, being from Chicago and going to Blackhawks games, it’s fun.

Sue Bird on Seattle Kraken

I think when you put a name on something, it makes it a little more real. So, obviously I love the city of Seattle and I think the more pro teams we have the better. It’s a city that loves to support its teams, so I already know the NHL is going to be in good hands here. I’m not gonna lie, I had to look up what a Kraken was, but it looks pretty intimidating, so I’m down for it.

Stewie on the Seattle Kraken

Everyone in Seattle was kind of excited … I think it’s hard to come up with a team name and I think that the way that their logo is and then everything else like that, I’m excited to share facilities with them and I look forward to seeing what they bring to Seattle. The way I was welcomed in Seattle with open arms we will continue to welcome the NHL and all the players and everyone that’s a part of that franchise.


Mondays: Soccer
By: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson AP Women’s Soccer
Tuesdays: Tennis
By Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon  Freelance Tennis Writer
Wednesdays: Basketball
By: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal The Next
Thursdays: Golf
By Carly Grenfell, @Carlygren PGA.com
Fridays: Hockey
By: Erica Ayala, @ELindsay08 NWHL Broadcaster

Written by Erica L. Ayala