The IX Basketball, powered by The Next
Welcome to The IX Basketball (pronounced “the nine basketball”), powered by The Next.
We provide 24/7/365 women’s basketball coverage written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff, dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.
With over 100 reported pieces every single month on the past, present and future of women’s basketball, we are the only full-service newsroom dedicated to the sport. This dovetails with how we intend to cover every single women’s sport, and you can help us get there by becoming a paid subscriber to help support our writers, editors and photographers.
Our team includes our founder/editor, Howard Megdal. He has covered women’s basketball at countless outlets, including Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, SLAM, The Washington Post and many more.
The IX Sports and our sites represent a new era in media where women’s sports are always front-page news. We’ve created a space where stories are told, athletes are celebrated and fans are engaged like never before. This platform is built to empower and amplify women’s sports, providing a voice for the athletes, teams and leagues who deserve to be heard through a trusted, independent lens.
Our masthead below, full of young writers you’ve come to know and trust as they’ve covered the WNBA, the NCAA, high school and international basketball, needs your support to do this vital work and to tell these stories every single day.
Masthead
Founder/editor: Howard Megdal
Managing editor: Jenn Hatfield
Executive editor: Kathleen Gier
Senior vice president, sales/marketing: Bella Alarie
Contributing editors: Tee Baker, Natalie Heavren, Jacob Mox, Tia Reid, Isabel Rodrigues, Julie Schreiber, Alex Simon, Deyscha Smith
Senior contributor: Michelle Smith
Contributor at large: Jackie Powell
Social media contributor: Andrea Delaney
WNBA beat writers: Wilton Jackson (Atlanta Dream), Hope Perry (Chicago Sky), Thomas Costello (Cleveland WNBA), Gabby Alfveby/Deyscha Smith (Connecticut Sun), Grant Afseth/Arie Graham (Dallas Wings), Michelle Smith/Matthew Walter (Golden State Valkyries), Tony East (Indiana Fever), Kelly Johnson (Las Vegas Aces), Cameron Ruby (Los Angeles Sparks), Terry Horstman (Minnesota Lynx), Jackie Powell (New York Liberty), Dylan Kane (Phoenix Mercury), Annie Peterson (Portland Fire), Bella Munson (Seattle Storm), Chelsea Leite (Toronto Tempo), Jenn Hatfield (Washington Mystics)
NCAA beat writers: Tee Baker (BIG EAST), Todd Goclowski (Patriot League), Jenn Hatfield (Ivy League), Natalie Heavren (Atlantic 10), Angie Holmes (Big Ten/Missouri Valley), Wilton Jackson (SEC), Stephanie Kaloi (SEC), Rob Knox (HBCUs), Scott Mammoser, David Mendez-Yapkowitz, Steve Silverman (Summit League), Matthew Walter
National columnists: Emily Adler, Missy Heidrick (NCAA)
Team USA: Scott Mammoser
Australia/WNBL: Lukas Petridis
Contributing writers: Aya Abdeen, Emily Caron, Dr. Abby Gordon, Chelsea Leite, Kiri Oler, Lauren Rouse, Rowan Schaberg, Lucas Seehafer, Sydney Wingfield
Photographers: Domenic Allegra, Lydia Ely, Hannah Kevorkian, John McClellan, Chris Poss
Join us and experience the work across the writing, photography, podcasts and videos you’ve come to expect from our incredible journalists. We can’t do it alone. Become a paid subscriber today.
We’re here to provide the best coverage in the most dynamic, in-depth and unparalleled way possible. Our goal is simple: to lead the charge in bringing women’s sports into the spotlight and offering fresh perspectives, exclusive stories and real-time insights, all while giving fans the coverage they deserve.
Through The IX Sports, we’re not just covering the game. We’re changing it.
Questions? Contact us at editors@theixsports.com.
