by ROB KNOX
It’s exciting to witness the growth and explosion of the WNBA, which is celebrating its 25th season. I remember my first WNBA game, which was in 1999 between the Los Angeles Sparks and Washington Mystics.
I got a chance to live out my dreams of covering the WNBA and telling memorable stories about some of the best players on the planet. It was a blessing to use my storytelling talent, relationship skills, and curiosity to help make a significant impact on the growth and visibility of the WNBA.
My commitment and care for the league allowed me to cover contests at Capital One Arena, Banker’s Life Fieldhouse, Madison Square Garden, Mohegan Sun Arena, and UT-Arlington’s College Center to write plenty of stories of the resilient, passionate, and amazing women of the WNBA.
In celebration of the WNBA’s 25th Year, here are 25 personal memories in random order from me of covering the league over the past quarter-century. Enjoy. Yes, I’ve been around.
- Interviewing Deanna Nolan in a dressing room at Radio City Music Hall in 2004 when the USA Olympic Team battled a group of WNBA All-Stars in an exhibition.
2. Covering the 2002 and 2003 WNBA All-Star Games in Washington and New York, respectively. Interviewing Tina Thompson performance in the locker room after the game in Washington.
3. Being inside the dressing room and watching the Seattle Storm pop champagne after winning the 2018 WNBA championship at George Mason and speaking with Alysha Clark following the celebration. It was also a night that I got a selfie with Jordin Canada.
4. Spending 30 minutes one-on-one with Skylar Diggins-Smith as a member of the Tulsa Shock following practice inside of the Mystics’ practice gym at the Capital One Arena in 2014 for an in-depth story on her a week after her appearance on the ESPY’s and her skit with Drake. Diggins-Smith was so open, laid back during our conversation, and vulnerable when discussing her tough rookie season. She shined in her second year.
5. Sharing a freight elevator at Madison Square Garden with members of the Atlanta Dream in 2014. That was a cool moment although I didn’t get any photos.
6. Pre-game chats with Mystics head coach Mike Thibault were always educational and entertaining.
7. Being offered a bowl of banana pudding by Tiana Hawkins postgame following a Mystics game.
8. Spending 20 minutes with Maya Moore outside of the visiting locker room at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. discussing the future of the league following a 2015 story she wrote in the Players Tribune about the lack of visibility of the league. Moore has gone on to make a bigger impact in society since that time.
9. Enjoying the Phoenix Mercury’s shootaround at Madison Square Garden during the midst of its historic 2014 season in which it finished with a 29–5 regular-season record and won the championship.
10. Later that night, I watched Candice Dupree break into the top 20 of the WNBA all-time scoring list. I also wrote a feature on rookie guard Tiffany Bias and spoke with Diana Taurasi and Dewanna Bonner that same day. It was one fun day for sure.
11. Participating in a conference call with Becky Hammon after she was hired as a San Antonio Spurs assistant coach in 2014, making her the first female to ever serve in that role, was memorable considering I was parked in a Dunkin Donuts parking lot on my way to cover a Mystics game.
12. Swin Cash offered this comment to me on Hammon’s hiring: “I was just overjoyed. I know Becky is awesome and she spent time with them last season. For me, it was kind of a defining moment for how things have transpired lately. It’s really showing how the NBA is forging forward and opening doors for women.”
13. Having the chance to speak with Candace Parker in 2016 and the impact of her daughter on her career was awesome. What I remember the most is before the game how the Mystics and Sparks locked arms as a show of solidarity before the national anthem to bring awareness to social justice. It was powerful.
14. I wrote a feature on Marianne Stanley in 2002 and Lisa Leslie shared this classic story with me. Stanley was an assistant coach at USC during Leslie’s career. “I remember the first time she came to my house to recruit me. My dog tried to jump on her leg. I was so embarrassed but since that experience, it’s been all uphill for our relationship.”
15. Interviewing Tamika Catchings for the first time inside of a locker room at Madison Square Garden in 2014.
16. A few weeks later, I covered my first WNBA playoff game and watched as Catchings delivered 26 points and 11 rebounds to help the Fever eliminate the Mystics, 81–76, in overtime. I was glad to be there to document that game.
17. Having the opportunity to speak with A’ja Wilson for a magazine cover story in one of her first professional contests in 2018. She shared a story about two kids who are her motivation.
18. Always speaking with my homie, Natasha Cloud. Just a phenomenal person. Seeing the difference she made with her activism was inspiring.
19. Watching the Mystics combine excellence and entertainment to beat the Sparks in a 2018 playoff game at George Washington University by a score of 96–64. The Mystics had 28 assists in the win.
20. Hanging out at Navy in 2014 as the several WNBA stars gathered for spots on the USA roster for the world championships. That included running into Briann January and Tina Charles in Starbucks following their practice. That was cool. I did features on Moore, Sue Bird, Bria Hartley, and Dawn Staley.
21. Interviewing Staley while covering my first WNBA All-Star Game in Washington in 2002 while she was a member of the defunct Charlotte Sting was awesome. I had always admired her game when she played at Virginia and to get the chance to write about her was one of my career highlights.
22. That same year at the All-Star Game the next night, I literally bumped into Ashanti. Again, no selfie. Lisa Leslie was the All-Star game MVP.
23. Covering a game between the Mystics and Liberty in which the electricity went out during the second half and caused a 30-minute delay. The Liberty rallied to win the game.
24. While the headliners were always gracious with their time, it’s the time spent with Betnajah Laney, Maggie Lucas, Delisha Milton-Jones, Sydney Carter, Brianna Kissel, Tayler Hill, Jasmine Thomas, Victoria Vivians, and Kayla McBride for stories that resonate with me the most.
25. All the great people that I’ve met along the way during the last 25 years who love the WNBA and are dedicated to telling the story of the league. They are the best.
25A. All the students who have job shadowed me during my time covering the league have been a blessing.
It’s truly been a fun journey and I have no doubt that the WNBA will continue to prosper and thrive in the next 25 years and beyond. I’ve been fortunate to experience these wonderful moments. I am looking forward to the next one.
