From The Host's Chair: 300

STUDIO 171: Two years and five months ago, a 20 year old fan of the WNBA and broadcast college student sat down and storyboarded an idea to create a live streaming YouTube channel to serve in his mind as the "NBATV for the WNBA" providing news, scores and analysis for the entire WNBA and Women's Basketball community, along with providing positive media coverage for the league.

From the early beginnings of being exposed to the daily trashing of sports fans who were trying as they always do to tear down the talented athletes and the sport for almost no reason what so ever. In the end, eighty people logged onto the channel and watched the first show featuring WNBA coverage on the Network...that was February 24, 2014.

Along the way in that first year of shows, Tanisha Stewart became a member of our on air panel o recap the entire 2014 Sparks offseason on a two (2) part, two (2) hour show, which also marked Tanisha's first ever appearance on the Network. Shorty's analysis, along with her collaborative effort on the petition gave her an "off the bench" roster spot, meaning she would be a fill-in guest on the Network. Soon after, Kristul Thomas made her 365 debut to recap a Sparks/Mercury game, it was from their we needed to keep our own KT, as another "off the bench" guest...as she brought the comical relief that I was looking forward to make the shows more enjoyable for fans and viewers to watch.

After a successful first year on the Network filled with positive feedback and excellent reviews, changes were coming. It became increasingly difficult to get our original broadcast team together on a nightly basis, which at the time was just one other co-host, assembled for a show and,it was becoming a pain as they would drop out of co-hosting at the last possible minute. Announcing a game or even hosting a show by yourself is a tough situation to be caught in as you may run out of material to bring up and there's no safety net for you to fill that dreadful "dead air" There were many times where Kristul or Tanisha couldn't make it in time to fill the void and it would be just me talking to myself for thirty minutes. That was the moment I knew I needed to start fresh with a new team and identity.

We would right out the ship for the 2015 season with our broadcast team, then the changes came starting with the termination of our former co-host due to negative fan responses via social media and e-mails, along with declining numbers because of the co-host. On September 27, 2015, It was time to sit down, go back to the drawing board and figure out our next move. After a week of deliberating, I was approached by Eric Nemchock, the WNBA beat writer for Today's Fastbreak who had heard about the casting call for the vacant position. Following maybe a ten (10) minute Google Hangout conversation, I officially gave Eric the co-host's spot. But I thought we needed to add more people to the roster, and I still had two players on the bench...Following Eric joining the team, Kristul and Tanisha were officially added to the starting lineup.

In less than 24 hours, I had four (4) devoted, loyal and dedicated WNBA and Women's Basketball fans who know the in's and outs of the game and that insight and information that I instantly knew would take us to that next level, and that next level...would be the WNBA 365 NETWORK. Following our first show after the rebrand, we brought Reagan Patrick aboard after she showed interest in joining the team. With her addition, we now had a starting lineup of five (5) people who know the game extremely well. After two (2) shows, we changed our format from half an hour, to a full hour show to get through more news and more thoughts from the team.

Just in 2016 alone, the WNBA 365 Network has celebrated it's two year anniversary show, hosted our largest panel in one show, added another member to the broadcast team in Marquez Anderson, but we now sit on the cusp of another milestone...OUR 300TH SHOW.

If you would have told me that this Network would reach 300 shows, I would have told you exactly what was running through my mind when I first got the idea for the Network in 2014:

"Crazy", "Stupid", "What was I thinking?", "Is anyone even going to watch?", "I'm wasting my time."

Turns out I was wrong about every single thing that I was saying to myself that day. With the help of six devoted and loyal fans to the WNBA and Women's Basketball world along with some hard work and dedication, took something that I didn't think would last to the next level, and to be here for 300 shows is truly humbling and remarkable. And of course, None of this would be possible without the hard work, dedication, devotion and love for the game and league without the full backing and support of the entire WNBA and Women's Basketball community. Thank you for allowing us to be an intricate part of the WNBA and Women's Basketball community. We are truly honored, appreciative and grateful for everyone support.

CHEERS TO 300 SHOWS!! AND HERE'S TO 300 MORE!!...AND THOSE, ARE THE THOUGHTS...FROM THE HOST'S CHAIR <>

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