In an ever-changing media panorama, girls’s sports activities content material is now, greater than ever, throughout our feeds, timelines and information protection. For these of us who’ve at all times tuned in, this ain’t something new—from media and journalists to sports activities personalities, there are numerous, many individuals who’ve labored endlessly over time to cowl girls’s hoops. With all the brand new followers and viewers delivering, together with the rise of social media, there’s additionally been an increase of content material creators overlaying the W in their very own, distinctive methods, too
As we get able to have fun the beginning of the 2024 WNBA season, WSLAM is hyped to highlight among the many gifted creatives within the trade who’re making waves, rising the sport and serving to push girls’s basketball protection ahead, all on their very own phrases. We requested them a variety of questions, from how they received into social to their method to constructing their private manufacturers, what they’re most excited for this season and, after all, their common display screen time.
Don’t get it twisted although, this isn’t an unique listing or “membership,” however quite a celebration. And when you’re captivated with girls’s hoops, too, we invite you tune in, faucet in, and share how a lot you’re keen on the sport, one publish at a time.
How do you steadiness being a journalist together with your social presence: I feel it’s a mix of the 2: between being genuine and actual after which naturally constructing a following. I really feel like that for me is what works greatest. There are another journalists who actually attempt to persist with having their social platforms be simply reality based mostly…And that’s wonderful as a result of which may work for them. For me, I really feel like the explanation why individuals tapped into me is as a result of not solely did I current no matter story I used to be engaged on or no matter data I had, however I did so in a means that was genuine to who I used to be and was relatable. That appeared to be what my model has at all times been: being genuine [and] being unapologetically me, but additionally being factual and presenting the knowledge that folks need to know.
What’s your recommendation to journalists and creators seeking to get into this area: For anybody up and coming on this area, I might undoubtedly inform them that one: by no means lose who you might be as a result of that’s vital. The extra that we’re beginning to see social platforms and content material creators take off, the extra we understand that individuals are actually going to narrate with what resonates with them. And so being your self is so vital. Don’t lose that [and] something that makes you are feeling humorous while you sleep at night time might be not one thing that you just need to affiliate your self with…But additionally, there’s no restrict to creativity. I feel during the last 10 years I’ve finished possibly 50 to 60 various things creatively and a few have labored and a few haven’t, nevertheless it’s the truth that it’s a must to attempt it.
The best way that algorithms and issues work within the social area, one thing might be a success right this moment and two months later, nobody’s eager about it. All the time be keen to be adaptable change or not essentially change, however enhance and be keen to step outdoors of the field to do issues..Adaptability is certainly one thing that I might share with any younger up and coming journalist.
Display time: 12 hours.
How did you begin constructing your private model on social: I received into social media as a result of none of my mates in highschool cared about basketball as a lot as I did and so they stopped answering my textual content messages about it. I needed to exit and discover freaks like me on Twitter, and as soon as I began having enjoyable and making mates on-line I saved going with it.
How would you describe your method to content material creation: I’m right here for vibes, jokes and highlights – however I feel my greatest work is once I can let my ardour for the sport and its athletes shine by means of. I’m by no means going to be as good as coaches or gamers on X’s and O’s, however I feel I’m good at describing why somebody is simple to root for, what makes an individual fascinating or why an occasion was monumental.
What you might be most excited for this season: I promise if I had a favourite crew I’d let you know! However I don’t. In all probability as a result of they’ve all bullied me on-line sooner or later (I see you, 2x champs). I’m actually excited for each side of the rookies vs. vets battle, although. Are the brand new youngsters nearly as good as marketed? However extra importantly, can the vets present us why the W is a distinct degree from faculty?
Display time (how lengthy are you in your telephone per day?): 9.5 hours final week.
What does content material creation imply to you: Masking the WNBA and overlaying girls’s basketball is a public service as a result of there are legions and legions of followers which were primarily underserved for a really very long time. And this is a chance to offer them, the followers, protection that girls’s sports activities and ladies’s basketball must be getting. If we need to discuss concerning the spirit of equality and fairness and what that every one means. And so I used to be gonna put my head proper into this. I used to be gonna dive proper in.
What you might be most excited for this season: What I’m most excited for is definitely seeing which pop cultural icons and other people come to WNBA video games. That’s gonna be one thing that I will probably be throughout as a result of clearly Caitlin Clark has introduced so many eyes to the game. You already know that Beyonce despatched Daybreak Staley an enormous flower basket, I consider. And there have been many WNBA gamers, together with New York’s personal Betnijah Laney, who has been making an attempt to advocate to get Beyonce at Barclays Middle for a Liberty sport…I’m wanting ahead to who’s gonna come to video games. I’m wanting ahead to how the scores are going to develop. I’m wanting ahead to extra Aces vs Liberty battles. I imply, these are the perfect, proper?
Display time: 4 hours and eight minutes.
How did you begin constructing your private model on social: The Ladies Discuss Sports activities TV model is constructed off of three pillars the place athletes may be seen, heard and valued. I constructed my model off of the facet that girls’s sports activities solely obtain lower than 4% of all media protection and fewer than 1 % of that illustration in newsrooms are black girls. So these three facets was vital to me once I was constructing my model, but additionally constructing group was tremendous vital, particularly within the digital area. For me, I’ve at all times been a hands-on sport grower, particularly in my group when it comes to with serving to with youth basketball applications and the nonprofit sector. So for me, constructing a model was all about simply being true to myself, but additionally simply true to that facet of eager to be a group builder.
What you might be most excited for this season: I’m most excited to see the athletes within the highlight the place they must be. I’m excited to see not solely informal followers, however new followers get to know these athletes by means of their sport, but additionally by means of the off the courtroom storytelling. I feel that girls’s sports activities is greater than only a second, it’s a motion and it’s at its inflection level proper now. And I’m simply excited for not solely the athletes to get what they deserve when it comes to the protection and the highlight, but additionally for the individuals which might be doing the storytelling to get larger alternatives.
Display time: 15 hours per day.
How would you describe your method to content material creation: What’s distinctive is I’ve been a photographer, however I’ve additionally been a social media supervisor for my jobs. And so I feel what I deliver with pictures is having the ability to deliver storytelling into my like social media platforms with my pictures. So once I take pictures, particularly on the ladies’s facet, and I share them, I actually attempt to share, like utilizing the captions and phrases, I attempt to inform tales about these gamers or about these groups and applications. Utilizing my pictures, not simply you already know, dropping the pictures is like, Hey, have a look at these cool pictures. It’s like, Hey, have a look at these pictures. And right here’s some fascinating factor about these girls, or right here’s one thing like right here’s a loopy sport that this participant had, and actually attempt to join the tales to the pictures utilizing my social media platforms.
Favourite photograph: I in all probability have a little bit of recency bias right here as a result of I only recently adopted Iowa and Caitlin Clark on like their match run. I’m additionally from Iowa. In order that was like further particular for me. So I might in all probability say, the Caitlin Clark trophy Kobe photograph was in all probability one among my favorites simply because I received to pay homage to love Kobe and a really well-known photographer whereas additionally exhibiting like Caitlin’s greatness with three again to again the Massive 10 titles. I might say that’s in all probability my favourite. However once more, there’s some recency bias there. I feel one other particular one among Caitlin is rather like her together with her arm stretched out and her tongue out which was like a signature Caitlin transfer. That’s a extremely particular one to me as a result of it was like the primary sport of the Massive 10 match and it exhibits her persona. I feel that’s one of many marks particular issues about her is just like the persona that she has on the courtroom. So, having the ability to inform that by means of my pictures, I feel is absolutely particular.
What you might be most excited for this season: I’m actually excited for the brand new faces within the League and the brand new followers that it’s going to deliver, I feel that the WNBA is at a real turning level regarding the consideration that it’s getting and the joy and buzz round it. And so I feel I’m most excited to see, just like the data that this season breaks the historical past that we get from the season that I feel will probably be talked about for many years to come back. I’m excited to see this like new era of followers see this league and the way particular it’s and the way particular the gamers are and the extent of expertise which might be on this league. I’m simply, it’s actually essentially the most excited I’ve been for a season in a extremely very long time, I feel that that is going to be I feel the 2024 season is one thing that we’re gonna look again on as like a needle mover regarding the WNBA. So I’m very excited for that.
Display Time: 9 hours and 12 minutes.
How did you get into overlaying the WNBA: I had a background in advertising and marketing lengthy earlier than I turned a journalist. I used to be truly a content material advertising and marketing supervisor proper earlier than I transitioned into sports activities full time. However primarily, I simply, once I determined I needed to transition to sports activities, I actually needed to search for a spot that wanted extra genuine tales. And a extremely good buddy of mine urged the WNBA as a result of he knew I used to be a very good storyteller. And he additionally knew that, you already know, the League wanted some extra storytelling. So as soon as I simply opted in sure overlaying video games, I used to be hooked. And I’ve been right here ever since.
What’s your method to content material creation: As soon as I [started] actually specializing in girls’s basketball, the next saved coming actually fast, and it simply escalated I might say within the final couple of weeks. I received the superior probability to go to the WNBA draft. And in the course of the draft, I went viral…It’s simply been a enjoyable journey to have the ability to lean into that and maintain going.
What are you most enthusiastic about this season: I feel it’s for everybody to sort of see what I’ve been seeing. I feel once I once I received to the WNBA final season, I used to be kicking myself as a result of I’m like, The place have I been like? Why did I not get right here sooner?…To see the League rising after which girls’s faculty basketball rising and now they’re sort of colliding in real-time with this exponential progress, I’m so excited for anybody to get to come back to a sport or watch a sport on TV or actually simply benefit from the League. The [W] is tremendous, tremendous gifted.
Display time: 10 hours and 33 minutes a day.
How did you get into content material creation: If I’m being trustworthy, it was sort of an accident. It was one thing that I sort of fell into. I like girls’s basketball [and] I’ve at all times been tweeting about it on Twitter trigger that’s simply what I do. Posting about it on Instagram and stuff simply naturally—it’s simply one thing that I’ve been in love with since I used to be somewhat lady. I observed that I had like a following and I might say stuff and I see individuals repeating it and other people could be latching on to among the issues I say.
What’s your method to your content material: It’s authentically me. I imply, in each sense of the phrase. At this level, individuals will be capable of inform if I’m not being authentically me after which they’re going to be like, Oh no, we’re not messing with you no extra. So at this level [for] my model, it needs to be.
Display time: 4 hours and 31 minutes.
How did you get into being on social: I’m a sports activities author greater than I’m a content material creator. I feel it comes with the territory while you’re on social media. The one social media app I’ve is Twitter. I’ll do humorous memes and stuff like that…I’ve tried to leverage it to develop my platform and share my work.
What are you most excited for this season: I feel, like all people, this new draft class, there’s simply a lot expertise, but additionally, you already know, NIL modified issues a lot that they’re extra well-known than say different rookies who’ve are available in. They’ve already established platforms. They have already got their very own manufacturers. They have already got their very own followings. So, all of that bringing it into the League is like this injection of pleasure. I do know girls’s sports activities appears to be exploding proper now and they’re, however this WIC was led a very long time in the past. Now we’re simply seeing the explosion from it. It’s been slowly constructing to this. And I wanna see how that interprets over to the season [and] how the WNBA can capitalize on it.
Ideas on content material creation: Seeing now, particularly since I first received into sports activities writing, so many extra people who find themselves contributors, who’re writers, who’re content material creators within the area now’s superior. There’s simply a lot protection taking place on totally different ranges and in numerous artistic methods. As somebody who’s been round for a short while, it’s actually cool to see.
Display time: I watch quite a lot of video games on my telephone or tablets or no matter in the event that they’re not on tv. However with social media, I attempt to take breaks on the weekends.
How did you get into content material creation: I got here throughout tunnel matches, I need to say like two years in the past, and determined to make a video about it. I ended up making just a few however they did very well, surprisingly effectively, and that sort of made me assume like, oh my goodness…I simply determined to sort of begin speaking about it right here and there and I did the identical factor with NWSL. The extra I did it, the extra I noticed that: A, there’s individuals watching this and like to see the movies and so they’re commenting on it and the whole lot. However there’s additionally the people who find themselves like, oh my gosh, like I had no clue this was a factor, didn’t know tunnel matches had been a factor, didn’t learn about these gamers, yada yada. And that sort of made me need to pursue it.
What’s your method to constructing your model: As soon as I noticed that there was sort of a distinct segment for girls’s sports activities, I made a decision to essentially develop it and sort of give myself the job to cowl the whole lot. And I feel it has coincided very well with the rise of ladies’s sports activities as a result of I began [in] 2022, possibly ’21. That’s sort of after we noticed like this large push to get to the place we at the moment are. So it’s been actually cool as a result of with that progress, I’ve additionally been rising as a creator. And there was somewhat little bit of a swap within the fall of final yr, the place manufacturers began coming to me and all these platforms saying, ‘We would like you to make content material. We love what you’re doing. We would like you to do it for us.’ And that’s sort of actually how I constructed it right into a profession right this moment.
Display time: 8 hours.
What your method to constructing your model on social media: I’m a freelancer. And what which means is that almost all large tales are being coated by beat writers or workers writers will say, not at all times in girls’s sports activities, and notably the W that’s clearly been rising, and we’re seeing a large change forward of this season. However I might say that almost all of my time overlaying this League has been actually making an attempt to persuade publications, that there’s an viewers for this. And what has been profitable for me is looking for angles that aren’t, you already know, this sports activities journalism market is absolutely oversaturated. And so for me, both going to attempt to discover a actually distinctive angle that nobody has coated.
An instance I can consider that’s in all probability my greatest story up to now was I wrote for Sports activities Illustrated about nonbinary athletes and the place they match and Layshia Clarendon was sort of the main focus, the centerpiece of that story. That was in 2021 and that was an area that nobody had entered. We had been beginning to discuss trans athletes, however non-binary athletes actually weren’t being talked about. And in order that was like a spot I may enter. I feel additionally making an attempt to pitch girls’s publications issues about girls’s athletes. I’ve been within the New York Occasions a number of occasions, and I’ve by no means been revealed within the sports activities part, proper? I’m actually artistic about whether or not I’m writing about in-game proposals for the vows part, or I’m writing about WNBA trend for just like the opinion part. I’ve at all times tried to be actually, actually artistic about the place and the way and bringing my protection and what different communities may be overlapping apart from rating.
What are you most enthusiastic about this season: The W was actually my entry level into turning into a basketball fan and what I beloved was what number of athletes had been queer. I’m like, Oh, I’m queer. And I like their coronary heart and I like rooting for them and seeing them be superb. I feel the ladies’s soccer crew, we hear loads about that and lesbian areas, however the W has like been actually neglected I feel for a very long time…I feel to me, that’s actually cool—discovering people who find themselves not solely invested within the sport, however can discover different causes to purchase in…I’ve beloved all the shit speaking earlier than the season. I like all the truth that everybody’s already getting chippy…I’m simply excited to look at individuals see what the W actually is.
Display time: 4 hours and 32 minutes.
How did you get into sports activities media: Along with creating content material, I’m a journalist, host and producer, so I’m actually a jack of all trades. I can do many issues, together with content material creation. I began my profession off at ESPN on the enterprise facet, and after three and a half years, I noticed I needed to do one thing totally different. I needed to storytell. I needed to be round individuals. And I didn’t need to be in my cubicle anymore. I used to be on the headquarters in Connecticut, and I needed to guess on myself, so I made a decision to do this and that modified my life. I actually have sort of constructed this type of lane for myself. I by no means noticed anyone who appeared like me doing what I’m doing. And it’s been quite a lot of studying alongside the best way.
What’s your method to constructing your model: In each single area and I present up as me. I’m happy with who I’m. A part of my journey, it has not been straightforward in any respect and I by no means inform people that it has been straightforward however I’m additionally proudly Dominican and Puerto Rican and you already know that’s an enormous a part of my id. I’ve realized [that] the extra I lean into that, the extra I have fun myself and individuals who appear like me, the extra alternatives come.
What are you most enthusiastic about this season: There’s quite a lot of change inside the groups— Natasha Cloud in Phoenix, Skylar Diggins-Smith in Seattle, Candace Parker retired. All these adjustments inside girls’s basketball. Change may be actually good and I’m excited to simply see all of the competitors. There are quite a lot of eyes, quite a lot of younger gamers from Caitlin Clark to Angel Reese to Kamilla Cardoso. There’s quite a lot of pleasure proper now.
Display time: 7 hours and 18 minutes.
How did you get into content material creation: What has at all times been vital to me was taking the entry that I had from being in these areas [as a sports writer] and discovering methods to get that data to the followers. I began simply by reside tweeting all these press conferences as a result of they weren’t on TV and I knew that followers needed to know what these gamers had been saying. I assume my model sort of grew out of that and since then I’ve gotten to jot down about so many gamers within the League…It began with simply making an attempt to share and inform tales and the model, no matter my following has come from there has sort of all grown from that.
Favourite WNBA crew: I feel a lot of my job is simpler when issues are going effectively, however the longer I’m on this area and the extra gamers that I get to know and the extra that there’s simply a lot motion within the league that I’m rooting for these gamers that I’ve constructed connections with. So now I’ve received gamers on each single crew that I’m rooting for as a result of I do know them personally on some degree, however I additionally am simply rooting for sort of the general League success.
Anything you’d like so as to add: To have a League that’s majority queer girls, to have a League that’s majority Black girls and to know that these are areas, that these tales are very hardly ever instructed. And to pay attention to my privilege as a white man on this area, however to have the ability to use no matter platform I’ve to have the ability to amplify these tales is absolutely vital to me. It’s an honor for me.
How did you get into content material creation: It was actually one thing that simply randomly occurred again in 2018 or so. Initially, I used to be at all times a fan of the WNBA and, again in round 2019, just a few individuals reached out to me and mentioned, ‘Hey, we see these alternatives. We expect you’ll be good for it. You’re at all times speaking about sports activities.’…I used to be like, ‘I don’t have a journalism background.’ I used to be working in finance, doing the entire company America factor at the moment And I used to be like, Okay, I’ll give it a attempt. And it actually simply snowballed from there. Went [from] simply beginning out as a author after which it grew to working in social after which to being an on-camera host and a photographer. I’ve been in a position to do quite a lot of issues simply by me [and] somebody taking an opportunity on me and considering that I might be good for the job.
What’s your method to constructing your model: I feel what lots of people get pleasure from, for me is simply, I gained’t say hottakes or something, and I don’t assume I’m a comic, however lots of people simply assume that, Oh my God, you’re so hilarious…Individuals simply at all times assume that it’s been one thing of only a breath of contemporary air on the subject of particularly the ladies’s sports activities area surrounding girls’s basketball. They only actually love my following, or what I’ve finished, whether or not it’s written work or on air work or pictures, or simply one thing so simple as live-tweeting concerning the sport. I’ve at all times simply made positive that I attempt to keep true to me, proper? Issues that I like, I simply share that with individuals. I don’t attempt to be anybody else. I’m at all times me. I discuss being late for touring, meals, sneakers and sports activities. And that’s what I like and for some cause, it resonates with everybody else. They [see] that I’ve an actual life other than what it’s that I do for work.
What are you most enthusiastic about this season: This season, I’m actually simply wanting ahead to aggressive basketball. I’m wanting ahead to seeing these superb girls having the ability to play on such a bigger stage. We all know that over the previous few years, girls’s basketball and the eye that’s acquired has been on the uptick and, you already know, we’re acquainted with it. We’ve been right here. We’ve been within the trenches overlaying it. And so now I’m excited that everybody else is lastly beginning to take discover to one thing that we’ve identified or I’ve identified has been nice for simply so a few years. So, that’s what I’m actually wanting ahead to. And I feel that this new wave of expertise that’s coming in, they’re able to compete and I’m all for it.
Display time: 9 hours and 50 seconds.
What’s your method to constructing your model on social media: I feel my greatest factor is that I’ve at all times been unapologetically me. I keep in mind in grad college, one among my professors had mentioned to me, ‘If you develop into knowledgeable, it’s a must to maintain your biases apart.’ However you have a look at sure broadcasters or radio personnel, who they root for. I feel that’s been my greatest factor. I do know, too, that I’m somewhat little bit of an overshare. I sort of share each the great and the dangerous of my life, the trade and other people actually resonate with that as a result of it isn’t all roses. Individuals at all times say [that] social media is a spotlight reel, however I attempt to be tremendous actual with issues. And so I’m simply sort of a goofy individual, I attempt to not take issues too significantly, but additionally in the identical breath, when life will get me down I share that with different individuals as a result of I feel that it’s actually vital to share that issues aren’t good on a regular basis.
I feel that’s sort of how I constructed my private model. It’s simply being true and open and trustworthy on a regular basis. And on the finish of the day, I’m nonetheless a sports activities fan. I feel that’s the largest factor, too, is that quite a lot of the time you see reporters and so they’re doing their job, after all, however they’re simply tweeting issues which might be skilled and I feel I’ve quite a lot of enjoyable with it. I nonetheless am a fan. On the finish of the day, even once I’m overlaying the WNBA, while you see a sick participant or a sick shot, you need to get pleasure from it the best way you’ll as an everyday fan. Sure, reporting is my job. And once I’m going to [do] a narrative, I’m going to do it with out bias, however I nonetheless need to benefit from the sport. Benefit from the gamers, benefit from the groups the identical means any fan would…Sure, I feel I’m good at my job and I attempt to be as skilled and unbiased in my work, however on the finish of the day, I’m nonetheless a fan and I wish to move on with it. That’s sort of why all of us received into sports activities within the first place.
Ideas on the expansion of ladies’s sports activities and content material creation: Thanks guys for showcasing these creators. I feel it’s enormous, particularly within the girls’s sports activities area. As a lot as girls’s sports activities has been rising and we’ve seen the info develop and never even simply in girls’s basketball, however throughout girls’s soccer you’re seeing like the professional leagues for volleyball and issues like that…There’s so many individuals who’ve been overlaying the W. That is my fifth season and I nonetheless really feel like a rookie as a result of there’s been individuals who have had boots on the bottom because the early days. It’s actually superb that you just guys put within the work to showcase these unimaginable girls who’ve been placing within the work since earlier than all people else noticed the imaginative and prescient and now all people’s catching up.
Display time: 8 hours and 37 minutes.
When did you get into content material creation: I created a Twitter account in like 2018 as a result of I saved happening Twitter to test [game] scores. I figured I’d as effectively create an account, so I simply began out as a fan. However I feel once I began to get extra into the writing facet, that’s once I began to fulfill extra individuals, particularly on WNBA Twitter, too. I feel the primary yr that I began overlaying in 2021, individuals had been very welcoming and it was only a matter of placing myself on the market…Simply to sort of put my identify on the market, I might touch upon reside video games, issues like that. I might share the place the W video games are on what channels as a result of as we all know, it may be somewhat bit tough at occasions to just accept these and so I feel simply by doing that, and getting my identify on the market and extra individuals began to see me and so they began to comply with me as effectively. I feel being from Toronto, too, there are numerous Raptors followers that at the moment are WNBA followers as effectively. I feel once I moved into that area of overlaying a W, quite a lot of the fan base I had constructed from the Raptors facet sort of comply with by means of and transfer together with me by means of this journey. I feel that’s simply how my platform grew and my model sort of turned overlaying WNBA and ladies’s basketball in addition to tennis as a result of that’s additionally my different principal sport that I like to look at and to cowl.
What are you most enthusiastic about this season: I’m so excited to see how all the brand new additions to totally different groups sort of paired out, like with the Storm getting Skylar and Nneka… I feel there was a lot motion within the offseason and so I’m very curious to see quite a lot of gamers who at the moment are carrying new jerseys after carrying, you already know, one jersey for everything of their careers. I feel that’s going to be actually thrilling.
Display time: 5 hours.
What’s your method to constructing your model: Simply sort of having enjoyable with it. That’s sort of my greatest factor is simply—I do know I love to do video content material. I wish to be on digital camera, however finally for me, it’s simply, [do] I need to watch this and do I’ve enjoyable making it? And usually if I’ve enjoyable making it, somebody’s going to have enjoyable watching it whether or not that be social media movies or YouTube movies or no matter that may be. Simply sort of simply having enjoyable with it. And if I can have enjoyable with it, another person can have enjoyable watching it.
I like girls’s basketball. That is what I like to look at. If I wasn’t doing content material for it, I might be speaking about it the identical means, simply in a distinct method. For me, my greatest inviting issue is the truth that I’m a fan similar to everybody else. Sure, I’m within the media. Sure, I’m credentialed to issues, however I’m a fan and I like girls’s basketball.
What are you most enthusiastic about this season: I feel you’ll be able to really feel the totally different degree of pleasure for this season coming into it. I’m personally most excited [about] all the brand new followers to have the ability to see what we’ve identified about and the way unimaginable that this League really is. And quite a lot of that has to do with how widespread the expertise is and the way good I feel the groups are this season. I’m able to see these groups go to struggle and simply have some good video games. I’m excited for some actual, genuinely good basketball this season.
Display time: 11 hours.
How did you get into content material creation: I feel social media—I didn’t understand its energy in reference to sports activities. I feel till I used to be working at The Ringer and I simply noticed how not solely the corporate’s media presence was vital however every particular person author and persona had their very own following. I used to be like, Wow, that’s actually cool and I sort of had a chat with myself, OK, what do I would like my following to essentially be about? I don’t need to have my hand in the whole lot. What do I would like the individuals following me to essentially comply with me for?
I keep in mind I went to my husband, who was my boyfriend on the time, I used to be like, I would like individuals after they consider the WNBA, that they point out my identify [and] that they’ve me in these conversations. So, what do I have to do to do this? I discovered by sharing my story with my fandom with the WNBA and with the Sacramento Monarchs, actually simply pulled on the heartstrings of lots of people…As soon as I tapped into that fandom, that’s once I began eager to develop the sport by sharing extra of these tales and extra of these tales concerning the gamers as effectively. I’m not gonna be breaking information, however I need to make it possible for gamers know that they’ll discuss to me and I’m gonna see them as a human.
I’m going to verify they know that I’ve been right here from the start and as a former girls’s basketball participant myself, I see them. I’m not simply right here for the second or the motion, I’ve been right here.
What would your recommendation be to individuals, particularly younger Black girls that wish to get into the area and questioning whether or not they need to go the standard media route or content material creation: I feel having your personal model and going into content material creation proper now, you’ve got the ability to do this. I feel that’s each a constructive and a unfavorable as a result of generally as somebody who went to journalism college. I’ve my diploma on this, I’m on the identical platform as any person who has none of these accolades or none of that education. You may as well simply pop up and have your personal video and make your personal YouTube present, like, the ability could be very a lot within the arms of the creator.
[For] the longest time, I used to be so hesitant and so nervous and taking a look at lots of people within the area and saying, effectively, I can’t do this. I’ll simply keep over right here or I’ll by no means get there, I’ll simply keep over right here.And as soon as I simply began and likewise going into freelance, I simply actually guess on myself. That’s at all times my recommendation to younger ladies, particularly younger Black ladies: you’re at all times instructed to remain on this field or keep on this lane or do issues that everybody else is doing to get higher. Once I made the choice to cowl the W NBA and ladies’s basketball, it was very a lot a, I’m doing one thing fully totally different than what you guys are wanting me to do or, you already know, simply to cowl the NBA solely. I adopted my ardour and I mentioned, I’ve the ability set, I’ve the data and I’m going to guess on myself.
Display time: 8 hours.
What’s your method to constructing your model: I feel actually the largest factor is simply authenticity. Anybody who follows me on Twitter, anybody who listens to our podcast, I feel you’re at all times getting me in my truest type. I’m at all times going to be a fan of my favourite gamers and I’m at all times gonna rep the groups and the gamers that I like whereas additionally making an attempt to stay goal and supply perception and evaluation and my opinion on issues. So I feel that quite than like having this completely curated model the place the whole lot’s so pristine and no matter, I feel I’ve went in the other way the place I’ve discovered that the best strategy to be myself and provides individuals like authentic distinctive content material is to sort of let that private fan facet come out somewhat bit extra. I feel that enables me to entry a deeper degree of storytelling once I’m writing items as a result of it’s extra concerning the individual I’m writing about. I’m not as involved with the way it seems to be or no matter, I simply wanna be spreading the tales of those gamers.
Favourite WNBA crew: It’s two solutions: the true reply is the Aces, after which the opposite reply is no matter crew Kahleah Copper is presently enjoying for. For a very long time, it’s been the Aces and the Sky, however now I’m gonna should rep the Mercury, which is gonna be somewhat bizarre for me, however wherever Kai goes, I’m gonna be a fan of them. However Aces, you already know, Jackie Younger and A’ja Wilson are two of my all-time favorites.
Display time: 4 hours and 20 minutes.
How did you get into content material creation: I really feel like everybody actually began throughout COVID. I used to be like, effectively, I’d as effectively simply publish some stuff on tiktok as a result of that’s the factor and as soon as college began opening up, I began doing like somewhat little bit of basketball content material with the varsity crew that I used to be teaching and that will blow up right here and there after which the massive blow up was my niece and nephew being as cute as they’re. Me being their aunt, it was actually nothing like that particular—I imply, it’s particular to me that I’m their aunt however nothing that particular the place it was like some large break. It was similar to, Wow, that lady loves her niece and nephew.
There was one video I did, it wasn’t even with the children, it was a dancing video on my own and I child you not each single remark was like, ‘Get it Auntie Nae! Go Auntie. Yeah, Auntie! I used to be like, OK, is that my identify? Is that what individuals name me. So, that’s been the factor ever since then.
I’ve at all times been a fan of the W. I publish Detroit Shock throwbacks on a regular basis, however by no means actually had the prospect or actually by no means knew l might be somebody to speak about it in that means simply because I’m not a reporter, I’m not a journalist. I simply love the sport, love being there. However I used to be in the fitting place on the proper time: I used to be in Dallas on the Remaining 4 final yr and somebody from the League was like, ‘Hey, I’ve seen a few of your Tik Toks, I really need you to come back to the draft subsequent week…Earlier than going into the draft, I used to be speaking to my spouse and I used to be similar to, ‘I’m so scared. I don’t know anyone. I’m undecided how I’m going to be acquired there as a result of I don’t know if individuals know me. I don’t need to step on toes. I simply needed to be in expertise and all that. And my first interplay strolling in, I rotated and I noticed Aliyah Boston strolling in direction of me. inside, I’m freaking out, I’m like, Oh my God, it’s Aliyah…That’s the second I used to be like, OK, possibly I’m purported to be right here.
What’s been your method to content material creation and constructing your model: I don’t take a distinct method in any respect with my private versus my skilled model. I feel that when you stay constant, your viewers is aware of the place you might be, what you’re going to do. And so by me simply authentically wanting to essentially get to the meat of the story and get to know the gamers as people, it’s past simply fast fireplace, proper?… Individuals need to get to know individuals nevertheless it doesn’t should be these fast hitting issues. I feel I do an important job of long-form, get to know you content material, versus brief type heavy hitting. I imply, I can do the brief type however I maintain that constant in how I discuss to individuals as people and meet them the place they’re as people with the best way I inform tales. My private model, you see quite a lot of athletes simply having enjoyable, getting actual, and simply being open and trusting and susceptible and acknowledged as a privilege. They really feel comfy sufficient to do this. And you then see that once I take it to knowledgeable setting, I’ve a present with the WNBA known as Off High and that’s the place we simply sit down [and] I don’t have a preconceived notion of what I need to discuss. I simply say, Hey, welcome to my Massive Cozy Sofa. And I allow them to take it the place they need to take it. So I, it doesn’t matter what I do between my objective, private model or skilled model, I need to open up area for individuals to be themselves. And I need to facilitate that dialog in a means that it sticks with the overall lots, and amplify that I’ve been a cheerleader to my core. And that’s what I herald my journalism, too.
What are you most enthusiastic about this season: I’m actually excited to see gamers take possession of their tales. I’m actually excited to see them step right into a panorama that is able to absolutely digest the truth that they belong there. And for them to be celebrated the best way they’ve at all times deserved. And due to the empowerment across the sport proper now. It permits gamers to point out up as absolutely themselves. So whether or not that’s translating by how they play basketball stylistically, or how they costume within the tunnel, or how they convey their tales with media. I’m simply excited concerning the individuality being showcased this season…
I would like most people to not be reliant on the larger names and actually know that while you go searching in that locker room. For the W, there are 11 or 12 gamers in there. Each single individual’s story issues. And so going into this season, each single individual’s story must be instructed as a result of we have now so many extra eyes on it. What I concern is that the legacy gamers, the gamers who’ve been across the tremendous vets, they’re gonna be overshadowed in that. I would like media to know like, it’s our duty to inform that historical past and it’s our duty to essentially exit and showcase the excellence. We have now greats stepping away, [like] that Candace Parker retirement, which crushed me. And I by no means thought we gave her sufficient credit score for the way transformative she was. I’m an enormous Candace Parker and actually I’m very underwhelmed about that. However like I don’t assume we ever gave her sufficient credit score about how transformative she was. And I would like these vets [that] resolve to step down and step away from the sport, an lively participant function, for them to really feel like they’ve been appreciated their complete profession. And so, whether or not that’s us reconciling and having this heavy reconciliation in pushing their tales ahead in a means we haven’t earlier than, that’s what we have to do. We want to take the time to essentially push them in to understanding that their flowers are there and they need to obtain them.
Display time: 9 hours and 37 minutes.
How did you get into content material creation: I’ve at all times been obsessive about creating content material. Even in highschool, I had an nameless Twitter web page overlaying my highschool sports activities. After which once I received to varsity, I used to be overlaying Wichita State Athletics [and] males’s Basketball was like, the largest factor within the metropolis. This was in 2016, 2017, I used to be so adamant about utilizing my very own social media or like totally different social media channels to advertise our protection, just like the newspaper and the whole lot. Lengthy story brief, I used to be instructed that utilizing my social media is unprofessional and it wouldn’t get me anyplace. However I actually didn’t hearken to that. And that’s once I began Sports activities with Aliyah my junior yr of faculty, and that’s the place I’m like, Okay, I’m gonna write articles, do interviews, create content material on my phrases, and I do know I can create an viewers that likes me for me and my protection.
From there, Sports activities with Aliyah has simply grown a lot. It was a chat present in Wichita— I’d like to get again to that—however a chat present or simply going to any sports-related factor I may presumably go to and simply present it from my viewpoint. I like specializing in issues that make the athletes extra human as a substitute of similar to their stats, like, I need to know their private tales, I need to present their personalities. I additionally love the best way basketball intersects with trend, music tradition, that’s simply my favourite factor.
And on the subject of girls’s sports activities, lots of people noticed me overlaying girls’s sports activities as like a charity, like, Oh, that’s so good that you just’re overlaying the ladies’s sport, too. And I’m like, ‘It’s not good. It’s what I need to do.’ That is what I’m captivated with. That’s sort of how I approached it in my content material. I’ve quite a lot of males’s sports activities followers following me, however I might simply proceed to speak about girls’s basketball, girls’s sports activities very casually [and adding] it in with my regular content material, as a substitute of simply being like, Guys, look, I’m doing such an important factor by overlaying girls’s sports activities. I’m similar to, Yeah, that is what I’m speaking about and get with it. And I feel that’s sort of how I’ve sort of transformed some males’s sports activities followers into liking girls’s sports activities, and it’s been simply built-in into my life at this level.
What’s been your method to constructing your private model: My method has at all times been group first and never getting wrapped in with the numbers. I imply, it’s social media, issues can go viral left and proper. However what are you doing to maintain it? I’ve at all times valued a group, that’s why I began a gaggle chat with my followers to assist them break into sports activities or discuss sports activities. Neighborhood is the whole lot after which additionally simply capitalizing off of what makes me distinctive within the area. The human tales or the tradition, I wish to make an enormous deal out of the little issues. I like to point out what a traditional broadcast wouldn’t present, these small moments between a participant and a fan. Or, two gamers having a pleasant second. I need to present issues you could’t see by simply studying an article or watching ESPN or the printed. I feel that’s been my key.
Display time: 8-9 hours.
How did you get into content material creation: I really feel like TikTok actually turned large my senior yr of highschool. [In] faculty, I had a really small platform, not likely quite a lot of followers, nevertheless it simply gave me a spot to be artistic and publish about my life, publish about being a student-athlete. I grew up watching quite a lot of YouTube and I really feel like YouTube is certainly tedious, so having a platform the place you’ll be able to sort of share extra brief type movies and it’s a better raise was actually interesting to me. I sort of simply received began there.
I additionally am a journalist, so I do some extra conventional work, however I really feel like TikTok is a spot for me to sort of have my very own little group and be somewhat bit extra artistic and do some untraditional issues, whether or not it’s sharing my opinions or doing enjoyable interviews. That’s actually how I received into it and I’ve continued to publish round large sporting occasions and simply sort of giving my takes or getting alternatives to interview gamers and my platform has grown from there.
What’s your method to constructing your model: I feel reporting and being a journalist is a big a part of my model and I at all times need that to be the very first thing that’s conveyed once I’m posting and sharing on-line, but additionally sharing that enjoyable facet of me and understanding that quite a lot of these student-athletes who I’m interviewing, particularly in faculty, are comparable in age to me and possibly those that I might be mates with if I wasn’t working as a result of I used to be additionally a student-athlete. So, I completely get the ins and outs of what they’re going by means of. Attempting to mix that perspective within the interviews, in my content material, I feel reaches them somewhat bit extra as a result of they’re human, too. They’ve their favourite artists off the courtroom. They’ve hobbies that they love to do. I feel it’s only a actually great way for me to attach with these athletes.
Display time: 5 hours.
How did you get into content material creation: I had already been within the queer content material creation area…Soccer’s at all times been my factor and that’s the factor I knew essentially the most about—the intersection of queer and World Cup content material. I used to be in a position to make like a bunch of like breakdown movies with the World Cup and now I simply discuss sports activities and sort of attempt to make girls’s sports activities as accessible as attainable to as many individuals and inform the sort of human curiosity tales behind the whole lot that occurs. [It]s] simply sort of the stuff I already am keen on and now I get to speak about it on TikTok.
What’s your method to content material creation: I feel that quite a lot of it’s that I feel that I’ve created a group of those that watch my movies, they care about girls’s sports activities, they care about girls’s basketball, they care about what’s happening, and I like being round these individuals. And so it’s simply sort of like, I, in my life, have had mates who I discuss to about issues taking place within the W or issues taking place within the sports activities world. And now it’s like, I’ve a large group of these individuals and like so many extra mates to speak about…The factor that I at all times come again to is rather like, I wanna develop the dialog and that sort of is the driving pressure [in] what number of extra mates can I get to speak about girls’s basketball and all that, the whole lot with?
Favourite WNBA crew: I’m a DC lady. I’m excited for Aaliyah [Edwards]…that’s gonna be thrilling for us for the Mystics.
Display time: 9 hours and quarter-hour.
How did you get into content material creation: I’ve at all times been very vocal and extroverted and any person that’s been taking footage since I used to be a younger age. I at all times felt that sharing movies [and] footage in addition to my ideas as a means of bringing individuals into my life and I assume I by no means considered myself as a content material creator, I at all times simply considered myself that was sort of sharing what was happening in my life…
I’ve at all times simply cared about curating. I might say not solely a picture, however not a picture or a model, however authenticating and showcasing my life, what I’m doing, what I aspire for, how I may help different individuals, how we will deliver extra individuals in. So I might say on Instagram, I really need us to simply showcase the ups and downs, but additionally the probabilities for everyone of their life…On Twitter, which is the app that I’ve essentially the most following on, I simply discuss. I’ve at all times been very vocal and I’ve at all times needed to share how my background in African American research and historical past has allowed me to take a look at quite a lot of issues a bit extra critically and supply some perception in addition to my very own private emotions and ideas.
What are you most enthusiastic about this season: The competitors, the outfits, the model offers that shoppers get. I feel that the Liberty have the perfect courtroom facet expertise with the Crown Membership, with celebrities that come to video games. It’s immaculate. I’m excited for the movie footage that I’m going to take this yr—I feel I’ve actually discovered my lane with reference to capturing issues between my telephone and my cameras, and actually having the ability to help W and be a face of the League and other people know.
We get down in New York. I’ve been known as the mayor. I wouldn’t take into account myself as such, nevertheless it’s enjoyable to know that when individuals are coming to sport in New York, they know they’re gonna see me and that I’m gonna deliver that power to each sport.
Display time: 4-6 hours a day.
What’s do you assume makes your content material distinctive on social: I actually like taking a look at and understanding private growth: why is a participant rising? How did they adapt over an offseason? What did they begin seeing in another way? It’s superb watching the consistency that they develop into, and understanding them as gamers and other people is what I’m all about.
What are you most enthusiastic about this season: I’m excited a few plethora of issues, however I’m most excited to look at the Seattle Storm discover their means as a crew this yr. There’s a lot expertise coming collectively, and I can’t wait to look at Noelle Quinn match the whole lot collectively
Display time: It’s round 8 within the low season after which about 11.5 or 12 on common in-season.
