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It's important to take a look back at those that paved the way, as we could never forget the work that was done to carve space for women within sports. #JMC602

Just seeing a black woman talking about sports on a national television platform allowed black little girls to dream of a world of sports. And we've seen the outcome of that with the Jamele Hill’s and Cari Champion’s of the world, dominating on television screens in the past decade. #JMC602

This was an important conversation for me. Because it would remind me of Jayne Kennedy, the first black woman sports reporter on CBS’ The NFL Today in the 1970s, who did an amazing job paving the way forward for the women in sports media coming after her, especially black women. #JMC602

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Her husband was a former Bears receiver, and I had I just mentioned her because, you know, she passed away fairly recently, and she was a real role model and really generous.” 2/2 #JMC602

“Yeah. I was not the first woman. There was a wonderful woman, by the name of Jeanie Morris, who was with the TV station. She was covering them in the 70s really? Well, on television... 1/2 #JMC602

Melissa Isaacson, veteran Chicago sports beat writer, joined our journalism masterclass with stories and advice from a storied career. At one point she spoke about the women that came before her. #JMC602 A 🧵

It was nice to see at I'm following a long tradition of women in sports media, making their way. 3/3 #JMC602

...started talking about the WNBA on the air, and then I pitched an idea to become their reporter for the radio station. And though my main job is still producer, I've managed to get my foot in the door of sports journalism by paying attention and being proactive. 2/3 #JMC602

This story resonated with me because I also became a reporter similarly. I became a radio producer and then decided I wanted to be more involved in the world of sports. I noticed that the only available beat was the WNBA, simply because we hadn't covered it at all. 1/3 #JMC602

Can you take this? And then how about if you take this? And then six months later they were like, you know, you've written too much. You were an independent contractor. You can't do this anymore.” 2/2 #JMC602

Isaacson states, “I started working for ESPN almost on my own. Like, I literally don't think I even asked anyone. I was like, I'm going to write you guys something. 1/2 #JMC602

Melissa Isaacson, veteran Chicago sports beat writer, joined our journalism masterclass with stories and advice from a storied career. At one point she spoke about how she began working at ESPN. #JMC602 A 🧵

These two instances of reporting show how important integrity is and the fine line that journalists have to walk between reporting the truth and remaining employed. #JMC602

In this case, a journalist has decided to fan the flames for profit, instead of investigating an exciting story about talent, popularity and an already existing league, trying to get its footing.#JMC602

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Except in this book, Brennan paints other WNA players in a negative light, in an attempt to write a bestseller. Clark, for her part, refused an interview with Brennan, while the other WNBA players mentioned within the book, took exception to the way they were portrayed. #JMC602

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This story brings to light the situation with Christine Brennan and her unauthorized Caitlin Clark biography, On Her Game. #JMC602 📷: Simon and Simon

In writing a book that dared to paint Michael Jordan in a light that was less than perfect, Smith's career was effectively sacrificed. Though the book sold well, he was unable to continue his beat in Chicago. #JMC602

And one of the reasons why it was such a big deal is because it had negatively portrayed Michael Jordan at a time when he was a god. And, and so clearly he couldn't cover the beat anymore, became clear at that time that, because he wrote this book, he would still be the Bigfoot NBA writer” #JMC602

Isaacson states, "[Sam Smith] just wrote a book called Jordan Rules, which, if you've never seen it, was one of the really first kind of its time, big sports books. it made it. It sold a ton of books. I'm not sure if it was a New York Times bestseller, but it did very well. 1/2 #JMC602

She spoke on many moments over career, but I’d like to focus on Chicago journalist Sam Smith and the book Jordan Rules. #JMC602 📷: Google

Having the chance to hear Melissa Isaacson speak about her experience as a beat writer in Chicago during the 80s and 90s brightest sports moments was a personal and professional treat. #JMC602 A 🧵

a female basketball player with the number 22 on her shirt

If any other player missed 56% of the season, shooting 29.5% from 3, while leading the league in turnovers, they’d be lucky to be a reserve on the team, let alone a captain. #JMC602

media.tenor.com

ALT: a female basketball player with the number 22 on her shirt

An All-Star selection is not about off-court impact, TV ratings, or chartered flights. It’s about individual achievements on the court. #JMC602

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He did not, however, mention an on-court basketball reason as to why Clark should have been voted number one across the board. #JMC602

Vitale lists several changes within the W that were either in progress or still in progress and attributes those to Clark, concluding, “No doubt she is THE BEST thing to happen to the WNBA.” #JMC602

Legendary basketball analyst Dick Vitale expressed his outrage over the media and player results, accusing them of jealousy and mistreatment. He implies that not voting for her as the top overall player makes them ungrateful. #JMC602

In the seven games played without Clark, she managed to pass her as the team’s leading scorer and helped lead the Fever to a Commissioner's Cup win. #JMC602

Even in the Yahoo! article, the led is, “Clark finished behind her teammate in the player voting.” The teammate in question is guard Kelsey Mitchell, who’s had more on her plate with Clark’s injury absences. #JMC602

So why is the voting so controversial? #JMC602

while leading the league in turnovers, and an absence of defense. None of which has stopped her from becoming the 2025 All-Star Captain. 2/2 #JMC602

Clark, however, has been out 56% of the season with a quad injury – Including the Commissioner's Cup game against the Lynx – along with inconsistent shooting (29.5% from 3) 1/2 #JMC602

In May, Gray won Eastern Player of the Week and Month. She was on a heater heading into All-Star voting. #JMC602 📷: @AtlantaDream on X 📷: @WNBA on X

1B to franchise player Rhyne Howard, Gray showed consistent shooting and defense, while Howard was finding her footing in the new system as the leader on the floor. #JMC602

The media and players reacted to Gray’s hot start to the season in a new system that prioritizes outside shooting. #JMC602

This selection makes Gray the first Atlanta Dream All-Star starter since 2018. #JMC602

Though Clark’s fans made their voices heard with their votes, giving Clark the most fan votes in history, the media and players disagreed, voting Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray as their top All-Star. The voting has caused discourse within the WNBA community. #JMC602

After announcing Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier as the WNBA All-Star game captains, following their domination of fan voting, which increased significantly from the previous year, the WNBA released the voting breakdown from fans, media, and players. #JMC602 📷: @WNBA on X

Brian Moritz @bmoritz99.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Reposted by A. Noel White

Our first ever mailbag at Sports Media Guy! We talk Simmons-Torre, we talk gambling, we talk Stephen A., we talk best ledes. It’s a fun one. Check it out! sportsmediaguy.substack.com/p/mailbag-pa...

sportsmediaguy.substack.com

Mailbag! Pablo Torre, Stephen A, best ledes

It’s our first-ever mailbag at Sports Media Guy.

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The combination of Wilson’s greatness, her first signature shoe and the first Black Disney princess, Princess Tiana is important for the image and reach of the WNBA and a celebration of Black women’s greatness in a league that’s unsure how to celebrate or market their Black stars. #JMC602

...but I'm definitely gonna cherish this moment because it's been a lot of fun, but obviously we got a lot of work to do." 2/2 #JMC602

Wilson expresses her feelings stating, “I'm so happy I got to do it in my Princess Tianas, 'Princess and the Frog' is my favorite movie, so I got the chance to do it in these shoes and it's my first time ever writing something on shoes... 1/2 #JMC602

During the post-game presser, Wilson explained that her shoes for the night were inspired by the first Black Disney princess, Princess Tiana, from “The Princess and the Frog.” To celebrate the movement, she wrote “5k” along with the date of the game. #JMC602 📷: Willie G Ramirez

Wilson and Nike, for their part, were prepared for the moment as Wilson laced up a special green and yellow PE edition of the Nike A'One. #JMC602 📷: Willie G Ramirez

Wilson achieved this milestone as her first signature shoe, the Nike A'One, has taken the league and the sneaker world by storm. #JMC602 📷: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Career-wise, it only took Wilson 238 games, eclipsing New York Liberty superstar forward Breanna Stewart’s previous record of 242 games, while also becoming the second youngest player behind Lauren Jackson. #JMC602 📹: Gatorade X

Wilson, who is having a typically productive season statistically, only needed seven points to hit the milestone, which she achieved by the end of the second quarter. She ended the game with 5,015 career points. #JMC602 📷: Sole Retriever X

On June 25, Las Vegas Aces superstar forward A’ja Wilson became the fastest player in the WNBA to reach 5,000 career points. The three-time league MVP achieved the goal in record time, adding more accolades to her trophy wall. #JMC602 Image: ESPN X