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Akiem 👨🏾‍💻🎙️🎥📰📺📸
@akiembailum.bsky.social
Women’s sports ink slinger at Beyond The W and Prep Girls Hoops/Prep Softball…Georgia State c/o 2015!…Voice actor on the rise…Unapologetic radio nerd/road geek with a radio voice…He/Him
Also today #BeyondTheW!

This year's Phoenix Mercury fell four wins shy of their goal...

But given where it appeared PHX would be after losing DT & BG, this year was a successful season in the Valley

@loirabtw.bsky.social

#WNBA #WelcomeToTheW #WNBAFinals
WNBA Finals Epilogue: Even After a Crushing Finals Loss, Phoenix Mercury Still Deserve Flowers - Beyond The W
Of course, just as a team has to win a Finals, a team has to lose in the Finals as well.  And even though the Las Vegas Aces are learning the meaning of “to the victors belong the spoils” for the…
beyondthew.com
October 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Today at #BeyondTheW!

This year's Las Vegas Aces may not have had had a playoff series w/Minnesota Lynx - but Lynx are a major reason why the Aces are celebrating its 3rd championship in 4 years

#WNBA #RaiseTheStakes #WelcomeToTheW #WNBAFinals

@loirabtw.bsky.social
WNBA Finals Epilogue: Aces Were a Masterclass in Resilience – and They Should Thank Minnesota Lynx for Championship - Beyond The W
It was what the Las Vegas Aces got accomplished in 2022 and 2023 that began so much of the conversation about if this team was the next WNBA dynasty alongside those of the Houston Comets in the late…
beyondthew.com
October 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I won’t lie…

I was one of those who thought roughly 3/4 of the way through the season that Vegas was finished.

The real Las Vegas Aces stood up, stood on business and made more history.

#WNBA #WNBAFinals  #RaiseTheStakes  #WelcomeToTheW
October 11, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Also at #BeyondTheW!

Now with 3 championships and 4 MVPs, A'ja Wilson is firmly in the GOAT conversation alongside Sheryl Swoopes, Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi & Maya Moore

#WNBA #WelcomeToTheW #RaiseTheStakes #WNBAFinals

@loirabtw.bsky.social
WNBA Finals Epilogue: A’ja Wilson Is Firmly in WNBA’s GOAT Conversation - Beyond The W
Often times, the conversation of who a sport’s Greatest Of All Time will enter its way into a sport’s fan and media discourse.  On the NBA’s side, it often revolves around three relatively…
beyondthew.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Today #BeyondTheW!

3/4 of the way through the season, the idea of Las Vegas Aces winning a championship seemed unlikely

Aces were 14-14

Fast forward to today....and the rest is history

@loirabtw.bsky.social

#WNBA #WelcomeToTheW #RaiseTheStakes #WNBAFinals
Return of Viva Las Vengeance! Aces Sweep Mercury, Establish Dynasty Status With Third Championship in Four Years - Beyond The W
It was not that long ago that we at Beyond The W wrote a piece regarding the 2025 Las Vegas Aces season entitled “Will The Real Las Vegas Aces Please Stand Up.”  The remainder of the season, the Aces…
beyondthew.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Also today #BeyondTheW!

As we draw closer and closer to today's #WNBAFinals tip-off between Las Vegas Aces & Phoenix Mercury, I examined a few storylines in advance of the first-ever best-of-7 championship round

#WNBA #WelcomeToTheW

@loirabtw.bsky.social
Starting Five: Storylines in Advance of Mercury vs. Aces WNBA Finals - Beyond The W
A 44-game WNBA season.  All-Star.  A Best-of-three first round of the playoffs.  A best-of-five second round of the playoffs.  Has once again led us to this point where we are on the precipice of…
beyondthew.com
October 3, 2025 at 5:05 PM
This morning #BeyondTheW!

Today's the big day....tip-off of #WNBAFinals between Aces & Mercury!

In case one needed a reminder, Vegas did win season series 3-1.

That was then....this is now.

#WNBA #WelcomeToTheW

@loirabtw.bsky.social
Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces: Previewing 2025 WNBA Finals! - Beyond The W
This may not have been the Finals may predicted either at the beginning of the season or at the beginning of the playoffs.  But that is why professional basketball games are played on that 94-by-50…
beyondthew.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Also today #BeyondTheW!

Napheesa Collier's comments shook the #WNBA world to its core.

They displayed how solidified players are - and practically guaranteed we are careening towards a lockout on Oct. 31...

#WelcomeToTheW #WNBPA #CBA

@loirabtw.bsky.social
Napheesa Collier Said What Needed to be Said – And All But Guaranteed WNBA is Heading to a Lockout - Beyond The W
Speaking truth to power has always been in the DNA of the WNBA.  Ask the Atlanta Dream of 2020 when they rallied from the bubble in an election year in support of Raphael Warnock in his U.S. Senate…
beyondthew.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Throwback Thursday #BeyondTheW!

Why did Napheesa Collier say what she said? She and rest of #WNBPA know it has a massive financial argument to make to #WNBA in push for a fair #CBA

My words from prior to All-Star break #WelcomeToTheW

@loirabtw.bsky.social

beyondthew.com/wnbpa-has-pl...
WNBPA Has Plenty of Leverage – And Then Some – In CBA Talks with WNBA - Beyond The W
The first half of the 2025 WNBA season has once again produced its fair share of storylines.  The Minnesota Lynx being on a revenge tour. The Phoenix Mercury emerging as real championship…
beyondthew.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Also today #BeyondTheW!

The 2025 seasons came to a close for the Dream, Storm, Valkyries and defending champion Liberty

What's next for these four teams following their first-round playoff eliminations?

@loirabtw.bsky.social

#WNBA #WNBAPlayoffs #WelcomeToTheW

beyondthew.com/dream-libert...
Dream, Liberty, Storm, Valkyries: What is Next For Four Teams Eliminated From 2025 WNBA Playoffs | Beyond The W
The story of any postseason series, of course, continues with who advances to the ensuing rounds. In the case of this year’s WNBA playoffs, the semifinals will see the Minnesota Lynx face off against ...
beyondthew.com
September 21, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Don’t be sad it’s over…

Be happy it happened!

Only the beginning…upward and onward!

@alongcamepoly4thew.bsky.social
September 18, 2025 at 4:52 AM
This morning #BeyondTheW!

It is looking more likely that LA Sparks are once again on outside of playoff picture...

But given Los Angeles was an eight-win team last season, one can consider 2025 a success for SoCal's #WNBA team

#WelcomeToTheW

@loirabtw.bsky.social
Playoffs or No Playoffs, 2025 LA Sparks Season Can Already Be Considered a Success - Beyond The W
Ever since Candace Parker’s departure from the team following the 2020 season in the bubble, the Los Angeles Sparks have been in a state of flux.  The season before, the Sparks were one of the…
beyondthew.com
September 9, 2025 at 1:04 PM
More today at #BeyondTheW from #25HoopClass!

Sylvia Fowles placed emphasis on staying true to oneself and earning success in her Naismith Hall of Fame remarks

This has been a year of speeches for Syl as she also spoke at WBHOF in June

@loirabtw.bsky.social

#WNBA
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 2025: Sylvia Fowles Instills Importance of Staying True to Oneself - Beyond The W
The three WNBA representatives that were part of this year’s Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 struck different tones in their speeches.  First up among the W contingency was…
beyondthew.com
September 8, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Also today at #BeyondTheW!

The key word for Sue Bird's speech as part of #25HoopClass was "belonging"

As her career blossomed into one of the most illustrious in history, she regularly found people who assured her she did belong

@loirabtw.bsky.social #WNBA
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 2025: Sue Bird Delivers Message on Belonging, Finding One’s Tribe - Beyond The W
Sue Bird – Long Island’s very own – was one of two WNBA all-time greats who this year delivered speeches at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Massachusetts as well as the Women’s…
beyondthew.com
September 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Good morning from #BeyondTheW!

"Auntie" Maya Moore's #HallOfFame speech was a much-needed SERMON on how the positive attributes of sports can translate into building championship culture through community & love

#WNBA #25HoopClass

@loirabtw.bsky.social
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 2025: ‘Auntie’ Maya Moore’s Sage Advice on How Sports Can Build Love and Community - Beyond The W
As many Hall of Fame speeches as we have heard over the years, we practically know what the typical one will sound like.  One gets to the podium and immediately begins telling never-before-told tales…
beyondthew.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:19 PM
I agree with @maggiehendricks.bsky.social

Pointer Sisters is my go to jump ball vibe…

#WNBA #WelcomeToTheW
September 2, 2025 at 12:35 AM
A #BeyondTheW exclusive!

@QuitaLovesSports.Bsky.Social chats with us on covering #WNBA on YouTube, her recent partnership with All City Network and covering this year's All-Star weekend as a credentialed media member!

#WelcomeToTheW

@loirabtw.bsky.social
1-On-1 With Quita Loves Sports: Rising WNBA Media Star on Covering The W on YouTube, All City Partnership, All-Star Experience in Indy - Beyond The W
There is no quit in this Quita.  It was approximately 18 years ago – in the early days of YouTube when a sports account ran by one of the few women’s basketball aficionados on the platform at the…
beyondthew.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Live look at #WNBA MVP voters having to choose between Phee, Lish, AT & A’

#WNBA #WelcomeToTheW
a cartoon of winnie the pooh scratching his head with the word think written on his chest
ALT: a cartoon of winnie the pooh scratching his head with the word think written on his chest
media.tenor.com
August 23, 2025 at 11:19 PM
There’s a decent chance Atlanta Dream make Finals this year for the first time since 2018…

And if they do, I hope those games are moved to State Farm Arena…

#DoItForTheDream #WelcomeToTheW #WNBA
August 23, 2025 at 8:23 PM
A’motion.
August 21, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Also this morning #BeyondTheW!

Dream's Karl Smesko and Valkyries' Natalie Nakase appear to be this year's Coach of the Year frontrunners

Dream defeated Valks last night, but here is my argument for Nakase over Smesko

#WNBA #WelcomeToTheW

@loirabtw.bsky.social
The Case for Natalie Nakase for WNBA Coach of the Year Over Karl Smesko - Beyond The W
As the 2025 WNBA regular season reaches its crescendo, the debate over awards is sure to pick up.  Many a WNBA pundit will likely mention names such as Napheesa Collier, A’ja Wilson, Allisha Gray and…
beyondthew.com
August 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
This morning at #BeyondTheW!

It appeared a few weeks ago that this year's #WNBA MVP race was a foregone conclusion...

Things have become very interesting ever since as the regular season reaches the home stretch...

#WelcomeToTheW

@loirabtw.bsky.social
How 2025 WNBA MVP Battle Has Become a Five-Player Race - Beyond The W
Even with the somewhat down season the Las Vegas Aces encountered in 2024, that year’s MVP was still very cut and dry with A’ja Wilson running away with those honors last season.  This year, as the…
beyondthew.com
August 18, 2025 at 1:03 PM