The IX Sports Podcast Basketball Edition: Inside the WNBA Security Crisis—and Our Plan to Fix It

The IX Sports Podcast Basketball Edition: Inside the WNBA Security Crisis—and Our Plan to Fix It

Editor’s note: This podcast was recorded before a report from Front Office Sports that noted that a meeting at WNBA All-Star has been scheduled between the players and the league regarding player safety, security and these online threats.  In a very special episode of the IX Sports Podcast, Howard and Jackie unpack a recurring issue in the WNBA that took center stage this week. Chelsea Gray posted the racist threat she recieved on social media and as a result fans mobilized and got that person fired from his job at Hilton Grand Vacations. What exactly is the WNBA doing about these threats? Howard spoke to many people around the league to learn about it. And then Howard and Jackie present a multi-pronged plan that the WNBA could use in trying to protect its players moving forward. Then during the court vision segment: Howard and Jackie flash back to when he had a feeling that Justine Pissott could play in the WNBA following her breakout debut for the Las Vegas Aces.  0:00 - Introduction  1:42 - # 1 at The IX  2:37 - What does the WNBA do right now to handle security? 6:26 - Breanna Stewart believes fans know the least about security around the league 8:38 - Remember No Space For Hate  11:09 - How social media has hindered and helped the WNBA 12:58 - Laying out the security process in the WNBA   32:33 - Court Vision: Justine Pissott’s debut on the Aces  Thumbnail Photo Credits:  Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) holds her head during the second quarter of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever at Michelob Ultra Arena on Jul 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images Links to click that are referenced throughout the show:  More on how WNBA fans got Hilton employee fired:  https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/aces/hilton-grand-vacations-fires-employee-who-sent-aces-chelsea-gray-racist-message-3850469/ [https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/aces/hilton-grand-vacations-fires-employee-who-sent-aces-chelsea-gray-racist-message-3850469/] Colin Salao reports on WNBPA plan and response to security issues:  https://frontofficesports.com/natasha-cloud-calls-engelbert-silver-address-sports-betting-threats/ [https://frontofficesports.com/natasha-cloud-calls-engelbert-silver-address-sports-betting-threats/] Breanna Stewart on Post Moves podcast:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeUUiuvHDxo&t=1781s&pp=ugUHEgVlbi1VUw%3D%3D [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeUUiuvHDxo&t=1781s&pp=ugUHEgVlbi1VUw%3D%3D] Follow us & Subscribe on:  YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@TheIXSports [https://www.youtube.com/@TheIXSports] Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0vn5r287B0oS3wX2fHmLZ8?si=39f2fd261ec1467f [https://open.spotify.com/show/0vn5r287B0oS3wX2fHmLZ8?si=39f2fd261ec1467f] Apple Podcasts  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ix-sports-podcast/id1845604905 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ix-sports-podcast/id1845604905] BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/theixsports.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/theixsports.bsky.social] Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/theixsports/ [https://www.instagram.com/theixsports/]

The IX Sports Podcast Hockey Edition: Where Does PWHL Detroit Go From Here?

PWHL Detroit had a really strong expansion period, but after an okay draft, where do they go from here? Host Maya Smith and guest Alyssa Turner take a look at PWHL Detroit's current roster going into the off-season and address some big questions. What might the lineups look like? Who will back up Andrea Brandli? And what do they need to do before the season starts? They also talk about the Ottawa Charge heading to the Canadian Tire Centre for their home games next season, and a quick look at a few headlines around the league. The #1 at the IX: https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/pwhl/pwhl-ottawa/ottawa-charge-pick-the-best-available-option-in-kanata-pwhl-canadian-tire-centre/ [https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/pwhl/pwhl-ottawa/ottawa-charge-pick-the-best-available-option-in-kanata-pwhl-canadian-tire-centre/]Follow Maya on X: https://x.com/mayaxeverysport [https://x.com/mayaxeverysport]Follow Alyssa on X: https://x.com/aturnz11 [https://x.com/aturnz11]Photo credit: PWHL

The IX Sports Podcast Soccer Edition: NWSL champion Gotham FC signs another star

Host Kathleen Gier breaks down the updated Gotham FC roster after the recent additions of Sam Kerr and Denise O'Sullivan. She also takes a look at the updated NWSL rankings and previews this week's WPSL Championships in Kansas City. Heaps and Kerr return to a different NWSL than the one they left - https://www.theixsports.com/newsletter/lindsey-heaps-and-sam-kerr-return-to-a-different-nwsl/ Photo credit: Robert Deutsch | Imagn Images

The IX Sports Podcast College Basketball Edition: Adia Barnes

Before engineering a new era on the Hilltop, Adia Barnes was a legend on the court at Arizona, leaving as the program's first-ever All-American. She won a WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm in 2004 and put together a long career overseas before trading her jersey for a clipboard. Barnes doesn't take the easy route. She returned to her alma mater as head coach and built a struggling program into a national powerhouse, leading Arizona to within a single basket of a national championship in 2021. Now, she’s bringing that underdog mentality to Dallas, working to rebuild an SMU program while competing in a deep and challenging ACC. In this episode, Coach Barnes opens up about why she left her comfort zone in Tucson for a new challenge, how matching up against legends like Cheryl Miller and Diana Taurasi shaped her "dawg" mentality, the brutal realities of the modern NIL era, and some incredible behind-the-scenes stories about the future pros she learned from as a Wildcat - on both the men’s and women’s side. Content Warning: This discussion contains mentions of miscarriage and pregnancy loss. Photo Credit: SMU Athletics

The IX Sports Podcast Hockey Edition: Setting Up the Off-Season for PWHL San Jose

They got Laila Edwards and some key expansion pieces, but can they score goals? This week, podcast host Maya is joined by Eli Fastiff to talk about where PWHL San Jose stands heading into the off-season. But first, the Boston Fleet are heading to Agganis Arena full-time next season. The Fleet will leave behind a lot of fans in Lowell, but is this the right move? Eli also tells Maya about the experience of being in-person at the PWHL Draft and Awards show. He then breaks down what's missing in San Jose, what's exciting about this team, and where he thinks their strengths are going into the 2026-27 season. Follow Eli on X: https://x.com/Eli_Fastiff [https://x.com/Eli_Fastiff] Follow Maya on X: https://x.com/mayaxeverysport [https://x.com/mayaxeverysport] Read Lydia's story about the Boston Fleet: https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/pwhl/pwhl-boston/boston-fleet-to-call-agganis-arena-home-next-season [https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/pwhl/pwhl-boston/boston-fleet-to-call-agganis-arena-home-next-season/] Maya's story based on last week's episode: https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/where-the-vancouver-goldeneyes-stand-heading-into-the-off-season/ [https://www.theixsports.com/the-ice-garden/where-the-vancouver-goldeneyes-stand-heading-into-the-off-season/] Cover photo credit: PWHL