The Maritime Women’s Basketball Association has made plenty of noise for its growth and basketball prowess.
It’s also making noise on social media.
Numbers continue to climb across numerous MWBA social media outlets, but there is another wave of popularity settling in with its new podcast.
Hoops Our Way: Inside the MWBA Podcast is available on all of your favourite streams and allows fans an inside look of players, personalities and league news.
Co-hosted by Fredericton’s Bill Gibson and Halifax’s Katherine Khorovets, the podcast has been well received through two episodes.
The initial ‘cast featured MWBA commissioner Jen McKenzie of Dartmouth, NS, and the second guest was league veteran Bailey Black.
Gibson is the voice of the Fredericton Freeze and Port City Fog of Saint John. He called last year’s championship Legacy Cup weekend at TD Station in Saint John.
Khorovets played two seasons in the MWBA and won four Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association championships with Mount St. Vincent University Mystics. She played this past season in Ontario Collegiate Athletic Association play with Humber College Hawks.
Khorovets also won the inaugural MWBA Legacy Cup championship in 2022 as a member of the Halifax Hornets.
Gibson has been thrilled with the podcast development.
‘There are so many great stories to tell in the league that you can’t get to during the webcast of a game or a halftime interview,’ he said. ‘The webcast format allows for longer discussion with no clock running or referee blowing a whistle. Make no mistake the basketball played in this league is incredible, but the stories behind the people who are playing and involved in the league take that to a whole new level.’
Gibson is also co-host of a popular Fredericton-based podcast called Late Scratches, the covers local sports and invites guests to spread the word of who is playing and where.
An avid community supporter, Gibson chats about the MWBA on Late Scratches, but the league having its own podcast allows for that primary focus.
‘I continue to be privileged to be involved with the league – and in fact was lucky enough to call the first ever league regular season game,’ he said. ‘It’s outstanding to see current post secondary players take the court with veterans who are among the top USports players to play at their respective schools.’
Other than calling games involving Khorovets, Gibson was happy she came on board with the MWBA podcast.
It can be a challenge not sitting opposite a co-host, but technology bridges the gap and Gibson and Khorovets are developing podcast chemistry.
‘I am thrilled to be working with Kat on the podcast. Her perspective as a former – and likely future – player adds context that I could never provide,’ said Gibson. ‘Through two episodes I’ve picked up insights on the league from her that I would not have otherwise.’
The MWBA has produced numerous ‘faces of the league,’ over its almost three-year existence.
Players have used the MWBA as a stepping stone to professional contacts, officials are assigned games with the ability to improve at its hectic pace, young coaches are getting opportunities and players like Kelly Vass of the Moncton Mystics, Amanda Russell of the Fredericton Freeze and others like them have the opportunity to play in front of their children.
Instead of sifting through pictures or videos of playing at the university or other levels, families and friends get to watch them play again.
There are so many stories in the MWBA.
‘Aside from promoting the upcoming games around the league, one of things we try to get at in the podcast is why the MWBA is important to those involved in the league,’ said Gibson. ‘It’s a form of a question I often ask during in game interviews. The answers are always varied but always spoken with such passion. For some, it’s important for their children to see them as more than a mom. For others it’s an avenue to improve in the off-season or springboard to professional basketball opportunities. For others, it’s an opportunity to keep playing the game they love beyond university. Sharing those stories is our real motivation behind the podcast.’
He speaks for Khorovets when he conveys heartfelt thanks to early guests and those who will follow.
From players to coaches to administrators to financial partners, it’s one stop shopping for the MWBA.
Through its own podcast.
‘On behalf of Kat, I’d like to thank our guests for their participation in the podcast and willingness to speak with us,’ he said. ‘ We know how busy life is and finding an hour of time to chat is not always easy. Our goal is to run roughly once a week for the duration of the season with the hope of having at least one guest from each team by the time the MWBA season is over.’
You can follow Hoops Our Way: Inside the MWBA Podcast at https://themwba.ca/hoops-our-way-the-inside-the-mwba-podcast/ on the league website or check it out on your favourite service.