Jackie Powell

@classicjpow

I have covered Women's basketball for Yahoo Sports, MS NOW, Bleacher Report, NBC Sports more. I cover the New York Liberty for @theixsports.bsky.social‬ & host @theixsportspod.bsky.social Basketball Edition. Obsessed with pop culture and Lady Gaga.

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Jackie Powell@classicjpow· 18d

I went two-for-two with the predictions. And I will say it again, I can't wait to watch Azzi Fudd and Sabrina Ionescu battle it out in 2027.

Prediction:
Team Washington Mystics will come out on top because their team which includes Austin, Delle Donne and a young up-and-comer to be determined will all be under 40 years old which will bode well for a competition based on speed and accuracy.

Delle Donne is only a mere three years out from playing in the W and I expect her to be in good form. She was named the managing director of USA Basketball’s 3x3 women’s national team this past September and Austin was rostered on USA’s 2026 3x3 challenge cup team this past March. I expect that synergy to play out.

3-Point Contest Prediction:
Azzi Fudd will be the WNBA’s new three-point champion because of her extremely consistent shooting form and that will translate smoothly to being able to fire shots off a rack. Her shot chart indicates that she can consistently shoot the ball almost anywhere beyond the three point line. Fudd’s nerves will come into play during the first round, but once she finds her rhythm, gets comfortable and settles in, she will defeat Howard narrowly to become the new three-point champion.

Fudd and Ionescu will have to battle it out in 2027.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· 20d

I asked Williams what's an example of a step that's going to be taken moving forward re security. Here's what she had to say:

"I think there's also going to be even more streamlined conversation between team security and security, and then if it gets escalated to law enforcement, that's something that I think it happens, but I don't know if everyone knows the steps that are being taken."

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· 20d

A group of reporters caught up with Elizabeth Williams earlier today, the secretary of the WNBPA. We asked her all about the meeting that the executive committee and JEDI committee of the PA had with Cathy Engelbert and the league last night. Here are some takeaways.

Williams described the meeting as “good”
It was an hour and a half meeting where the two main topics were security and officiating accountability.
Cathy Engelbert and the league’s head of security were on the call along with the WNBPA EC (Nneka Ogwumike, Napheesa Collier, Brianna Turner, Alysha Clark, Breanna Stewart and Williams ) and the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee committee which is Aliyah Edwards, DeWanna Bonner and two other EC members in Clark and Stewart.
There was discussion for more meetings between the league and the EC to happen in the feature so that these aren’t reactive but are proactive instead.
The head of security walked through with the EC and the JEDI committee what the process when it comes to reporting online harassment or any other security measures is.
Williams thought that walking away from the meeting there are steps being taken to handle security but there needs to be more consistency in communication. Engelbert took accountability for the need for better communication with players going forward.
There was discussion about the Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark situation and that if the officials made that call then players wouldn’t have taken backlash for it.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· 25d

There's an extra incentive for players participating in the #WNBA All-Star game. Both Team Cooper & Team Weatherspoon will be playing for charitable organizations that are dedicated to keeping girls involved in sports. $70K will be donated from the winning team, and $30K for the runner-up.

In recognition of the WNBA’s milestone 30th season, the league will introduce a new initiative in which each All-Star team will compete on behalf of a different Chicago organization dedicated to keeping girls involved in sports, with charitable donations awarded to both organizations. Team Cooper will play for Angels Athletics, an organization that encourages young girls to participate in sports, supporting them in the development of skills and confidence to break down barriers and achieve goals throughout their lives. Team Weatherspoon will support Girls in the Game, an organization that partners with schools, parks, and community centers in Chicago to offer sports, health, and leadership programs. Between both organizations, a combined $100,000 will be awarded, with the winning team receiving $70,000 and the runner-up receiving $30,000.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jul 12

One of the most passionate press conferences I've witnessed from head coach Chris DeMarco. Thanks to @madkenney.bsky.social we will have a pool report shortly. But in the mean time, here's what I'm talking about. He was particularly frustrated by the no call at the final play of the game.

Madeline Kenney: What was that thing with Betnijah getting tossed?

Chris DeMarco: I've never seen anything like it. I've never seen anything like that. We had all the momentum in the world. Shoe hit somebody, ejected, free throws. I've also never seen a ref make such an atrocious call when he's on the other side of the floor. The ball is clearly off the defender and comes over and overturns and gives the ball back to Tempo at the end of the game.

I've never seen one of the [DeMarco proceeds to raise his voice] *best players to ever play in this league attack the rim and get fouled and absolutely no call, and we're just gonna play*. Atrocious, pathetic. It was pathetic.

Jackie Powell: Just about the ejection there. I just want to understand why. I mean Betnijah was on the bench. So, what exactly happened? It was hard for us to really see what was going on.

Chris DeMarco: I don't. She's trying to get the shoe back to JJ. It hit somebody. I think we're just making stuff up. I have no idea. You're asking the wrong person. I just know it was just an atrocious, atrocious end of that game from the officials.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jul 4

Tanisha Wright is here.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 29

It's always fascinating to see where Breanna Stewart's head is at after loses. Take a look at how she responded to similar questions tonight after this loss against the Valkyries and then around a month ago after falling to the Fire. Peep the Brondello-ism in tonight's answer.

May 25 after losing to the Portland Fire at home

Annie Costabile: Stewie for you, you guys talked a lot through training camp, and even the first week and a half about this is going to take time to come together. Is this what you expected when you said that?

Breanna Stewart: No. Um, no, definitely not. I think that, but it's a learning experience for everyone. I think that, you know, my message to the players in the locker room is like, you know, nobody expected this, and not to say that we thought it was going to be easy, because we definitely didn't, but it's going to take time, and there's going to be highs and lows, and while it seems like we're in the lows right now, eventually we'll get to a place where everybody's really competent and comfortable in what's going on.

Listen, I'm happy it's happening early and not late, and I know we did a lot of wrong things tonight, but I thought that our fight and effort was definitely better than what it was last night for sure.

June 28 after losing to the Valkyries, second straight loss on the road

Maddie Kenney: Breanna, this roster was built to be a championship contender. There's a lot of depth, obviously, to withstand any adversity that might come with injuries. Are you, obviously learning a new system, new head coaching staff, everything? Are you surprised at where this team is at at this point in the season?

Breanna Stewart: Um, honestly, like, no, I think that it's my 10th season, you know. When you think it's going to go good, sometimes it goes bad, and vice versa. I think that the biggest thing that I can continue to kind of preach to the team is not too high or too low, you know.

Of course, these games, when we take these L's, these are going to matter, these matter later, but we really want to just continue to be our best. I think that, of course, like, there's just going to be some that we're going to look back on and really be upset at later, but the focus is on the now, and that's all that we can do.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 25

Updated injury report for the Liberty: Breanna Stewart is OUT for REST after she played in 35 mins against Vegas. Satou Sabally is OUT and in concussion protocol after she got hit in the face against Vegas.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 24

A step forward for the Liberty tonight as they defeat Vegas 87-76 after three games where they just weren't as focused. I asked Chris DeMarco what he would rank his team 1 out of 10 when it came to the team's focus on both ends of the floor. He gave a thoughtful response.

Chris Demarco: “9. [We] followed the game plan very well, especially with this is [our] first time playing the Aces, obviously, so sometimes you play a team and you already kind of know the game plan, or what we want to do, or the adjustment we want to make. So, I thought we stuck with it, and it's hard sometimes if we're in a specific game plan and somebody scores to stick with it. Or obviously fans, whoever's watching the game, you know, it'll look like, hey, Sab just got scored on, and really the gameplan might be for her to be in help, or whatever it is. So, I am just really proud of the group to just continue to stick with it. And then, offensively, we executed very well. Turnovers late, but only having 12 for the game, especially the way it has been for us, like it allows us to get the defense to set the defense that was super important.”

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 23

Unfortunately it’s not a beautiful day to vote, but I voted anyway!

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 22

Jonquel Jones spoke about how and why the Liberty lost what was a 17 point lead in the third quarter.

“I think they really started to get into what they do well as a team, and some of the things that we saw in this scouting report. I think the fact that they didn't really get into it early, it kind of lulled us to sleep a little bit, and then when they started to execute some of their things. Nneka getting to her pops, you know, their guards getting downhill and finding her in those open areas.

I think some of the game plan and game planning that we had prepared for the for those moments we hadn't really got into until later into the game when they started to do it, and I think we have to do a better job of just being a little bit more locked in on the things that we talked about, even if a team isn't playing that well early on in the game. So I think that's what really happened today.”

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 22

Chris DeMarco was asked both about Sabrina Ionescu's struggles and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton not playing tonight although she dressed.

On Sabrina: “Just getting her back to where she's comfortable out there, and it's and it's gonna take time, you know. And I thought she had good moments, and yeah, it's just gonna take time.”

On Betnijah Laney-Hamilton: “This is part of the plan of reintegration.”

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 21

I asked DeMarco pregame to give us an idea of what he was doing back in June of 1997, what basketball he was watching and how much he knew about the #WNBA's launch.

“I'd love to remember what I was doing exactly, but one thing I do love is I love the Liberty jersey, you know. We bring it back this year, and that's a memory of mine, and I always remember Lobo and Spoon and everything. So, but yeah, I was just a basketball junkie. I grew up in the Midwest. I was playing outside a lot, especially, you know, in the summertime as well. I was always playing outside, I'd always had basketball on, like, that was just my thing. My father was a coach, so competing against my brothers, friends in the neighborhood, I just remember just how much I loved the game of basketball.”

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 20

I missed getting these up during last night’s game, but there were very warm welcomes for @kimberlecrenshaw.bsky.social of @aapf.com American Policy Forum, Cynthia Nixon, and Lea DeLaria.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 15

I just still cannot get over the Destiny’s Child #wnba mascot performance from yesterday. Violet and Skye obviously rehearsed this with Ellie.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 15

What presents did the New York Liberty get for @bigellieliberty.bsky.social on her birthday? I explore below. #wnba youtube.com/shorts/0NBxq...

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 14

Atonia Gentry of Ginny and Georgia, Ella Emhoff , Myha’la from Industry and Chloe East who was in the Fabelmans are here! The group just took some pictures with birthday girl during halftime.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 7

Jon Batiste is here.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 7

Bowan Yang is in the house tonight.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· Jun 3

A first at Barclays Center during #WNBA season. “Oh Canada!”

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· May 28

Wanda Sykes is here!

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· May 27

We've got an updated NYL status report. Sabrina Ionescu has been downgraded to OUT with back soreness.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· May 24

Large round of applause for Shonda Rhimes.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· May 18

Also, Satou Sabally, who was another full participant at practice today, spoke to us about when she might make her Liberty debut and if it could come on Thursday night at home against the Valkyries.

Question: Satou, when do you foresee being able to play in a game? I know there's one coming up on Thursday.

Satou Sabally: Whenever the trading staff tells me, all right, you're good to go. I feel like I always want to just go 100% and so I feel like whenever they give me the green light, I'll be there.

Question: And I'm assuming that means you don't have it right now for Thursday. You're not sure what that is.

Sabally: If we would play right now? I don't know.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· May 18

Sabrina Ionescu was a full participant in practice today and spoke to reporters today for the first time following that injury during preseason. She was asked if she thinks she'll play on Thursday against the Golden State Valkyries. TBD at the moment. This is what she said. ⬇️

"I can't make that decision yet. I'm kind of just day by day seeing how I improve, how I feel, how it responds to what I do the day before. And so it'll be a kind of game time decision."

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· May 14

The New York Liberty announced that they signed training camp player Alex Fowler to a development deal, their second spot. This doesn’t come as a surprise because 1) she knows Chris DeMarco’s system and 2) she posed to her Instagram story that she was in Portland on Monday.

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· May 13

I also asked head coach Chris DeMarco about why the defense has struggled and has given up 90+ points in the last two games.

"Yeah, we'll be all right,” he said. “It's the beginning of the season. New rosters for a lot of these teams, going through some stuff ourselves. So, you know, we'll make the adjustments, and you know, make sure we were protecting the three point line a little bit better and securing the ball. And, you turn the ball over a lot, it hurts her defense, but yeah, a lot of it is communication andjust being in the right spot. So yeah, we'll keep at it.”

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· May 13

Breanna Stewart alluded to there being a lack of discipline when it came to the Liberty's defense. She took accountability herself knowing that she has to "get the rest of the group ready to go" for Thursday.

"I think that we just need to be a little bit smarter based on personnel," she said. "I think knowing who's a shooter and who's not and who's not really much of a playmaker. Just being smarter. I mean, it's the third game of the season, so we'll get better at it. And luckily, we play them again Thursday."

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· May 12

The Liberty's status report is exactly the same as it was against the Mystics. The only difference is that Ionescu isn't listed as NWT and presumably traveled w the team. Rebecca Allen remains out even after DeMarco noted on Sunday that the team "hoped to have her in Portland".

Rebecca Allen – OUT (L. Leg)

Sabrina Ionescu – OUT (L. Foot)
Marine Fauthoux [DEV] - OUT (L. Knee Rehabilitation)
Satou Sabally – NWT (Cyst)
Raquel Carrera – NWT (Overseas Commitment)
Leonie Fiebich – NWT (Overseas Commitment)

Jackie Powell@classicjpow· May 11

I asked Chris DeMarco about this yesterday and here was his answer. Will be curious to see if there's more of a focus on finding her when guarded by smaller guards. There were a bunch of times when she was posting up Georgia Amoore and the ball handlers just didn't find her.