Wild time to be a journalist who covers women’s basketball and transgender athlete policy

The Supreme Court upheld Idaho and West Virginia's laws barring transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports, but there are still questions about what this means and what happens next. I did my best to answer many of them. www.espn.com/espn/story/_...

FAQ: What does the Supreme Court ruling mean for transgender athletes?

The court cites safety and fairness in its ruling that allows, but doesn't order, states to ban transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports.

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Deeply honored to be this year’s recipient of the Billie Jean King Award from APSE! It’s amazing to see how competitive this award is and the strength of coverage in women’s sports. Below are the pieces that comprised my winning portfolio. apsportseditors.com/katie-barnes...

Katie Barnes wins 2026 Billie Jean King Award

Associated Press Sports Editors and the APSE Foundation on Friday announced that Katie Barnes of ESPN.com is the third winner of the Billie Jean King Award for Excellence in Women’s Sports Coverage. ...

apsportseditors.com

Also, this is incredible timing because @katiebarnes.bsky.social's really excellent Fair Play comes out TOMORROW in paperback so no excuse not to grab a copy now. us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

Fair Play

“An electrifying debut…Through in-depth and compassionate reporting, Barnes breaks down the misunderstood science surrounding sex and gender that has bee...

us.macmillan.com

This is a review essay featuring three books on trans-inclusion in sport: @katiebarnes.bsky.social's Fair Play, Harrison Browne and @rachelbrowne.ca's Let Us Play, and Ellie Roscher and Anna Baethe's Fair Game. I recommend them all! I recommend reading them all together.

Texas Observer@texasobserver.org · 3mo ago

New from @jessicawluther.com, in our magazine: Because sports have a built-in gender binary at their core, gender-expansive athletes are immediately seen as a threat. But it's also an opportunity to question our assumptions about gender and belonging.

In light of the news about the IOC’s new policy affecting trans and intersex athletes and it being transgender day of visibility, I wanted to share that my book Fair Play will be published in paperback on May 19. It’s the most comprehensive overview of how we got here. bookshop.org/p/books/fair...

Spent some time in Iowa and went long on Iowa State’s Audi Crooks. Despite her dominance, she deals with a lot of negativity, especially about her body. But no matter what is said about her, Audi Crooks wears a smile. www.espn.com/womens-colle...

The pride and power of Iowa State basketball's Audi Crooks

Audi Crooks hears the haters. But Iowa State's star inherited resilience from her mom and joy from her dad. Her high-scoring game is the ultimate counterpoint.

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For the first time in league history, the WNBA generated enough revenue in 2025 to trigger revenue sharing with players. Players will receive $8 million. The union will also pay out $9.25 million from revenue generated from its group licensing program. www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...

Union: WNBA made enough money for revenue sharing

The WNBA players union says that the league generated enough revenue to trigger revenue sharing.

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If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been wondering what players think of the WNBA CBA negotiations. I went to Nashville to talk with a bunch of them at AU. Here’s why i found out www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...

WNBA players CBA confidential: Negotiations get mixed reviews

Athletes Unlimited players underscore the importance of housing and retirement plans but swear they won't sweat a missed paycheck or two.

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Today is the perfect LOTR day (until football obviously)

Tuned into live updates from the Supreme Court on the trans athlete bans from @katiebarnes.bsky.social, the pivotal expert on this topic

Supreme Court live updates: Cases on transgender athlete bans

Live updates from oral arguments at the Supreme Court in Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J.

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Two cases involving transgender athletes and laws prohibiting transgender girls and women in girls’ and women’s sports will be argued at the Supreme Court tomorrow. Here’s what you need to know about the cases, the laws, and the arguments. www.espn.com/espn/story/_...

Supreme Court transgender athlete cases FAQ: What to expect

The national debate over transgender athlete participation will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Here's what you need to know.

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This Q&A from @katiebarnes.bsky.social with Nneka Ogwumike and Napheesa Collier is worth your time today: www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...

WNBA CBA Q&A: Nneka Ogwumike, Napheesa Collier on 'standstill'

WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike and VP Napheesa Collier applaud player solidarity but bemoan a lack of progress in CBA negotiations.

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Team-provided housing has emerged as a flashpoint in CBA talks. @katiebarnes.bsky.social and I explored how housing works in the WNBA, why the league may no longer want to provide it and the potential ramifications: www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...

WNBA CBA negotiations: Why team-provided housing has become a flashpoint

As both sides continue negotiations ahead of the Jan. 9 deadline, housing emerged as an issue in the latest proposal.

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Don't miss @katiebarnes.bsky.social on Azzi Fudd before she and the Huskies officially begin their title defense tonight www.espn.com/womens-colle...

The real Azzi Fudd? 'None of you have seen it'

The Most Outstanding Player of last year's Final Four has shown her peak powers only in small glimpses. Now Azzi Fudd is ready to level up for the Huskies' repeat bid.

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new pod with the great @katiebarnes.bsky.social -the Aces dynastic trio and Becky Hammon’s bet on culture -a history of distrust between the union and Engelbert -is “commissioner” an obsolete position? spotify.link/NDWYTdFmuXb

The Aces Are WNBA Champions! What Happens Now?

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The Aces are officially a dynasty. I went behind the scenes on how the Las Vegas Big 3 delivered. Again. www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...

The three stars who made the Aces three-time WNBA champs

Las Vegas won its third title on the shoulders of A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, and the star trio has no plans to stop there.

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It’s (almost) that time of year! I build a Christmas playlist every year that I make public on Black Friday. To make this happen, I start listening to Christmas music on Oct 1 (or now apparently). Tell me your faves! What should I be listening to this year?

Teamed up with @katiebarnes.bsky.social and @michaelvoepelespn.bsky.social to discuss why the Liberty moved on from Sandy Brondello, who could be next on the sidelines in New York and where Brondello might land (Seattle?): www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...

What's next for New York Liberty after firing Sandy Brondello?

Sandy Brondello seemingly had support from her players, but she's out after four seasons, including the 2024 WNBA title.

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Y’all I wrote about the StudBudz and it was just as fun as I imagined www.espn.com/wnba/story/_...

'We got that vibe about us': Inside the StudBudz WNBA takeover

With pink hair, lively banter and bold basketball, Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman champion Black, gay, masc representation in the WNBA.

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Missed it by a few days, but Aug. 17 was my 10th anniversary at ESPN. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work here and grow up here, really. Thank you to my editors for putting up with me and to the athletes who have trusted me. Here are some of my favorite stories from the past decade.

The roof is about to pop of Mohegan as the Sun take a 16-point lead over the Sky into halftime. My ears are ringing!

Y’all! Im writing another book! I can’t wait to dive into reporting and writing about this incredible moment in women’s basketball :)

Who is watching the ultimatum queer love?!? I need people with whom to discuss!

So it’s relatively well known that I got my start in writing through fanfiction when I was a teenager. I deleted that shit a decade ago. Imagine my surprise to find a google drive of it on a subreddit last night. It was like opening a time capsule but full of old, terrible writing lol

Today: - @katiebarnes.bsky.social on trans women in sports, - @cancerletter.com's Paul Goldberg on 100 years of oncology, - Exploring the state of cancer research, w/ @aaas.org's Sudip Parikh, @jhu-bdps.bsky.social's Otis Brawley & @julierovner.bsky.social Live at 10 on 93.9 FM, AM820 or @wnyc.org

From my side quest of a Christmas novel lol Favorite: puppy love is temporary but lopsided wood-carved hearts are forever. Last: Nicholas smiled down at his grandchild and squeezed their hand. “Welcome to the North Pole.”

Kiki Lee | Author ✒️ 🩷💜💙@kikilegendlore.bsky.social · last yr.

Authors, let's hear it! -What is your favorite line from your WIP? -What was the last line you wrote? #writingcommunity #writersky #writingprompt #WIP #fantasy #author #booksky #writing #writer #authors #worldbuilding #storydevelopment

I just saw something about Earth’s core possibly leaking and to be totally honest there is just some news I can do without

Just in time for the start of the WNBA season, please welcome the great @michaelvoepelespn.bsky.social to BlueSky! And if you're not already, follow my colleagues @alexaphilippou.bsky.social, @kendra-andrews.bsky.social and @katiebarnes.bsky.social