Posts by Em Adler

Em Adler (she/they) covers the WNBA at large and college basketball for The Next, with a focus on player development and the game behind the game.

A collage of seven pictures of top WNBA draft prospects: In the middle, UConn guard Paige Bueckers screams in celebration while clenching her fists and flexing; surrounding her, from top-left clockwise: Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo holds the ball while looking into the distance; South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley jumps in midair higher than every other player on the court to release a floater; Stanford big Kiki Iriafen holds the ball above her head in midair to release a jump shot over the extended arm of a defender; Texas A&M big Janiah Barker looks down; Texas wing Madison Booker leans over and yells in celebration, while teammates yell in random directions in celebration as well; JuJu Watkins holds the ball over head to release a free-throw.

Who are the top WNBA draft prospects in college basketball?

April 23, 2024

The future has never been brighter

Mystics guard Rui Machida sits on the bench during practice with two assistants. They are all looking at a computer screen.

Inside the data revolution coming to the WNBA

April 9, 2024

Second Spectrum, a real-time data tool, to come online for teams in 2024

A collage of four pictures of 2024 WNBA draft prospects: top left, Iowa point guard Caitlin Clark looks down in thought; top right, Stanford center Cameron Brink smiles while looking down; bottom left, UConn center Aaliyah Edwards celebrates during a game; bottom right, Angers combo guard Leïla Lacan looks ahead while crouched over to dribble forward.

Who’s Next — The Next’s 2024 WNBA Draft Board v2.0

April 8, 2024

In-depth scouting reports on every potential major contributor

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark dribbles while being defending by LSU guard Hailey Van Lith in the Elite Eight game

Why did Kim Mulkey keep Hailey Van Lith on Caitlin Clark?

April 3, 2024

The LSU coach stuck to her gameplan. It didn’t work.

LSU Tigers player Angel Reese hugs teammate Flau'jae Johnson as a ref behind them assigns a foul to an incredulous UCLA Bruins player. All stand on the court in front of a packed crowd.

LSU is sensational. Don’t let distractions get in the way

March 31, 2024

We don’t have to take Kim Mulkey or the trolls seriously

Looking down from the nosebleeds into a completely empty basketball court

The Sunday Notes column goes on hiatus

March 17, 2024

You’ll just have to enjoy Easter and Passover without me

A partially sliced grapefruit being held in the palm of a hand, except the remaining peel looks like a basketball

The weirdest, craziest things I saw in the 2023-24 college season

March 10, 2024

Triptychs of women’s basketball as we move deeper into March

South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley gets a step on her defender and elevates for a right-handed layup.

The nastiest, filthiest, most lethal handles of the 2023-24 college season

March 3, 2024

Yes, JuJu Watkins and MiLaysia Fulwiley show up a lot

A logo of the 2024 Women's College All-Star Game

First Women’s College All-Star Game in 18 years to be played April 6

February 29, 2024

Clark, Brink, Reese among eligible participants

Conference title check-ins: Why Stanford’s collapse against Arizona could threaten its March Madness seeding

February 25, 2024

Projecting the regular season conference winner across high- and mid-majors