WNBA Reporter Describes Pregnancy Complications While Covering 2025 Championship Season

A sports reporter for USA Today described her experience covering the Las Vegas Aces during their 2025 WNBA championship season while pregnant from start to finish. She said she began hiding her pregnancy in group photos and professional settings out of concern that it would affect perceptions of her dedication to her career in a competitive journalism environment.

The reporter had started writing for her college newspaper in 2019.

During her pregnancy she was diagnosed with preeclampsia, a high blood pressure disorder that can endanger both mother and baby. She received the diagnosis a few hours before the Aces' exit interviews after reporting swelling and elevated blood pressure readings that had previously been dismissed. Doctors scheduled an induction for the same day after tests showed protein in her urine.

The initial hospital said it had no space available, leading to a wait of around 12 hours as her symptoms including headaches and vision problems worsened. Family members with medical backgrounds intervened and arranged for her to be admitted to the emergency wing for monitoring until a delivery room became available. The reporter said the group narrowly avoided a more serious crisis.

She noted that the United States has the highest rate of maternal deaths of any high-income country according to a 2024 Commonwealth Fund study. Black women are three times more likely than white and Hispanic women to die from pregnancy-related complications according to March CDC data.

Black women are also 60 percent more likely to suffer from preeclampsia and to develop severe cases compared with white women according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The reporter referenced track athlete Allyson Felix and tennis player Serena Williams, both of whom had preeclampsia during their pregnancies. She described receiving support from several people in the WNBA community while covering the Aces. Aces coach Becky Hammon discussed motherhood and back pain with her during the season.

Members of the Aces' medical team offered her water and encouraged her to sit during long reporting shifts. She received parenting advice from A’ja Wilson’s parents, delivery tips from Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, and messages of support from UNLV women’s basketball coach Lindy La Rocque.

The reporter said she spent five months building courage to inform her supervisors about her upcoming maternity leave.

She stated that her bosses were supportive but that a peer in sports journalism responded by saying she had significant potential and expressing surprise at her pregnancy. She later received an apology for the comment. The reporter said covering women’s basketball provided relief from concerns that colleagues in other sports might view her pregnancy as a sign she had abandoned her professional goals.