Sean Hurd

West African roots, strong work ethic drive Washington Mystics rookie Sonia Citron With Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron, there’s more than meets the eye. The rookie guard has made waves this WNBA season for her versatile play, which has …

‘You can’t tell by just looking at me, but I do have a lot of culture, and it has definitely shaped who I am.’

From an upbringing steeped in Cape Verdean & Senegalese cultures to a love of music and dance – there's more to Sonia Citron than meets the eye.
andscape.com/features/wes...

Golden State Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton kept putting in work. Now she’s an All-Star. Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton calls the period between 2014 and 2016 the hardest years of her career.  After ending her college career as t…

"If I didn’t go through what I did, then I don’t think I'd have the fire that I have in me now.”

Kayla Thornton was raised on the principles of faith and discipline, which have also defined her WNBA career. My story on KT's path from undrafted to All-Star.
andscape.com/features/gol...

Ahead of All-Star weekend, I sat down with Indiana Fever legend Tamika Catchings at one of her tea shops in Indy.

We discuss her All-Star Game memories, the state of the WNBA, the growth of Caitlin Clark & Aliyah Boston as a tandem, and her awesome mural!

Full 🎥: youtu.be/O3lxOdpa8es?...

These Black women are moving the WNBA forward This weekend, the WNBA ecosystem will converge on Indianapolis to celebrate the league’s standout performers.  On site will be all of the WNBA’s biggest mo…

We’ve assembled a list of Black women who are moving the WNBA forward – movers and shakers who are leading the league into the future.

With insightful words from LaChina Robinson, Monica McNutt, Ari Chambers and Carolyn Peck on the impact these women have made
andscape.com/features/the...

Setbacks slowed Azurá Stevens’ ascent, but now she’s enjoying a breakthrough season For much of her WNBA career, Los Angeles Sparks forward Azurá Stevens has been in search of consistency on and off the court. In her previous seven WNBA seasons…

When I asked Azurá Stevens about what's motivating her play, she didn't mention any accolade or personal achievement.

Stevens is fueled by gratitude – to be healthy, make her family proud, to play in the W.

It's resulted in the best season of her career.
andscape.com/features/set...

The Golden State Valkyries’ Temi Fagbenle loves basketball — but acting is her dream As a student at Blair Academy, a small boarding school in New Jersey, Temi Fagbenle was living the best of both worlds.  At 6-foot-4, Fagbenle, who now pla…

Before she shined on a basketball court, Temi Fagbenle had a love of acting and dreamed of one day starring on screen

New story on how a DM to Gina Prince-Bythewood led to a role for Fagbenle in the star-studded adaptation of 'Children of Blood and Bone'
andscape.com/features/the...

For Seattle Storm’s Gabby Williams, investing in herself has paid dividends When looking at Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams’ pro basketball career to date, the 2021 WNBA season marks an inflection point – despite Williams not havin…

"She’s taken her career into her own hands.”

Gabby Williams, the Seattle Storm's "French army knife," is having a career year as one of the most dynamic forces in the W. The prospective All-Star invested in herself.

Now, it's paying dividends.
andscape.com/features/for...

NEW PROJECT: WNBA Franchise History Quiz - See how your knowledge of the W’s many franchises (from 1997 to 2026 and beyond) stacks up.

www.espn.com/espn/feature...

Napheesa Collier’s influence in the WNBA grows with each win on and off the court As Napheesa Collier prepared to take the court for Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 tournament in February at Wayfair Arena in Miami, she was asked how she dealt with having …

Napheesa Collier is currently charting a path that could one day make her one of the top stakeholders in women's basketball.

It's clear the Minnesota Lynx star has realized her power in the sport. Now, she’s ready to wield it.
andscape.com/features/nap...

NC State’s Saniya Rivers nearly cast aside her WNBA dream. Now it’s coming true. Saniya Rivers found herself in need of some tattoo therapy. The NC State guard was reeling after her team had been upset by Virginia Tech in January 2024 by way…

Tonight, Saniya Rivers will have her WNBA Draft moment.

But there was a period during Rivers' collegiate career where she thought she didn't want to become a pro.

On Rivers' journey and what led her to recommit to her dream – one which she'll now realize
andscape.com/features/nc-...

A’ja Wilson’s imprint on South Carolina’s program stretches far beyond the court Dawn Staley first met A’ja Wilson in 2009. Staley had just finished her first season as the head coach of the University of South Carolina women’s basketball te…

“A’ja has given hope to every little boy & girl who dare to dream and have their dreams realized before their very eyes. ... Her reality is she’s the best player in the world – from our city.”

On A'ja Wilson's enduring SC legacy ahead of her jersey retirement on Sunday
andscape.com/features/aja...

Golden State Valkyries general manager strategizes game plan for expansion draft For Ohemaa Nyanin, it felt like the perfect ending and best-case scenario.  As the New York Liberty celebrated its first WNBA championship in franchise his…

“What I don’t think that I gave a lot of credence to in the beginning is not everybody wants to build.”

I spoke to Ohemaa Nyanin about her first months as GM of the Valkyries, what she's looking for in Friday's expansion draft and what her biggest strength is as a GM
andscape.com/features/gol...

Natalie Nakase’s next challenge? Coaching the Golden State Valkyries to Year 1 success Natalie Nakase has never shied away from a challenge.  For the new coach of the Golden State Valkyries, a challenge is merely a provocation, an opportunity…

“People are saying expansion teams aren’t usually very good in their first year. That’s a great challenge to tell me."

Valkyries HC Natalie Nakase on her motivation for coaching, the non-negotiables she seeks in players and her yearslong preparation for this moment
andscape.com/features/nat...

Golden State Valkyries general manager strategizes game plan for expansion draft For Ohemaa Nyanin, it felt like the perfect ending and best-case scenario.  As the New York Liberty celebrated its first WNBA championship in franchise his…

“What I don’t think that I gave a lot of credence to in the beginning is not everybody wants to build.”

I spoke to Ohemaa Nyanin about her first months as GM of the Valkyries, what she's looking for in Friday's expansion draft and what her biggest strength is as a GM
andscape.com/features/gol...

Lauren Betts, my word

This felt like an important sequence for Notre Dame

Hannah Hidalgo rebound, pushes in transition, finds Olivia Miles for 3

Then Miles steal, transition, finds Hidalgo for 3

Though stars individually, they have really bought in to elevating each other. When they combine their games, it's electric

Which WNBA players might hear their name called in the Valkyries' expansion draft? Every WNBA team can protect six players in Golden State's expansion draft on Dec. 6. We project which players will be protected on draft day.

WNBA teams must send the Golden State Valkyries their list of six protected players for the Dec. 6 expansion draft by Monday, and I went through my projections for which players each team will protect: www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...

Texas A&M’s Amirah Abdur-Rahim carries on brother’s legacy in ‘every play, every basket’ When Texas A&M forward Amirah Abdur-Rahim was in high school, the 6-foot-3 forward from Georgia had over a dozen Division I college basketball programs vyin…

“One thing that keeps me going every day is just knowing that he would want me to keep going."

Texas A&M's Amirah Abdur-Rahim is intent on upholding and sharing her brother Amir's legacy, remaining connected to him by continuing to play the game that bonded them.
andscape.com/features/tex...

Small sample size, but it's apparent that Te-Hina Paopao has emphasized getting to the rim and scoring inside the arc this season – on top of being a perimeter threat.

- 24.4% of FGA have been at the rim; 11.4% last year (per CBB Analytics)

- 56% of her FGA have come inside the arc (41% last year)

Big overtime win for Kenny Brooks and No. 20 Kentucky tonight over No. 18 Louisville.

Kentucky's last win against Louisville was in 2015. Brooks gets the W in his first year leading the Wildcats.

The Brooks era in Lexington is off to an impressive start

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 class highlighted by WNBA legends Sylvia Fowles, Sue Bird The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 class is highlighted by WNBA legends Sylvia Fowles, Sue Bird, Cappie Pondexter and Alana Beard.

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 class is here, and it's a big one. WNBA legends Sylvia Fowles, Sue Bird, Cappie Pondexter and Alana Beard highlight the class.

Coaches Lucille Kyvallos and Mark Campbell join them, as well as WBCA director Danielle Donehew www.knoxnews.com/story/sports...

JuJu Watkins scored her 1,000th career point in her 38th career game. That's tied for the 4th-fewest games to reach 1K in DI history. The others:

Sandra Hodge, New Orleans (37)
Carol Menken, Oregon St. (37)
Maree Jackson, LSU (37)
Elena Delle Donne, Delaware (38)
Kathy Miller, Weber St. (38)

Per @Unrivaledwbb, the 6 head coaches on board for the inaugural season are: Phil Handy, Adam Harrington, Nola Henry, DJ Sackmann, Andrew Wade, and Teresa Weatherspoon. Season will tip off January 17, 2025 in Miami!

Women’s college basketball 2024-25: What we’re excited to see After a record-drawing and nail-biting WNBA season and Finals, the baton has been handed back to women’s college basketball, which appears positioned to once ag…

andscape.com/features/wom...

Before the season started, I highlighted Harvard's Harmoni Turner as a player to watch. Her ridiculous performance in a win against B.C. tonight is exactly why:

41 PTS (program record)
14-23 FG
7-11 3PT
10 REB

Turner is asked when she knew she was in a groove: "when I woke up this morning"

Olivia Miles is back and playing with the dynamism that's made her one of the most exciting players in college basketball

She also has the skillset and upside to be a game-changer for the 2025 WNBA Draft class, should she decide to enter
tgnwnba.com/p/2025-wnba-...

A lil intro seems fitting for a first post..

Hey 👋🏽

I write about the #WNBA and #WCBB for ESPN's Andscape. I highlight Black athletes and coaches, team/league execs and, yes, (especially?) mascots.

Excited to do my part to help grow the Bluesky WBB community!

Thanks for following along 🏀