The W: A History of the WNBA is finally hitting shelves on September 22, 2026, and get this: the New York Times has already tagged it as one of the most-anticipated nonfiction books of the entire year. Talk about a heavyweight title entering the ring!
From Editor-in-Chief to Author Extraordinaire
Tamryn Spruill, a name many of you probably remember from her three-year run as editor-in-chief over at Swish Appeal, is the genius behind this monumental project. Seriously, those three years were wild, smack in the middle of a global pandemic and all the sociopolitical chaos that came with it. She stepped down in 2021, dead set on finishing this book, which was originally slated for a 2022 release. Yeah, 2022. It’s 2026 now, so you know there’s a story there. She recently caught up with Swish Appeal, sharing everything that went into this absolute labor of love, from the grinding challenges of writing a whole book to how digging into the league’s past completely reshaped her understanding of today’s game. It’s surreal to hear her say she’s reemerging after years with her nose to the grindstone, but man, we are ready.
The Unseen Battles Behind the Biggest WNBA Story
So, why the delay? Every factor you can imagine piled up. Beyond the obvious book-writing hurdles, 2022 threw some serious curveballs. Remember Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia? The New York Times broke that story on March 5, 2022. Angel McCoughtry hit social media to tell us her “homie” had been locked up for weeks already. Tamryn didn’t just stand by; she immediately launched the Change.org/FreeBG petition, pushing for Griner’s release. If that wasn’t enough, just two months later in May, Tamryn and her partner, Dani, had to make an abrupt move into Dani’s childhood home. Dani’s mom, Susan, was battling an aggressive brain cancer that was rapidly taking her vision, and they were there to help with her daily living. Then, COVID-19 hit their home. Everyone got sick, but Susan’s immune system was already shot from chemotherapy and radiation. She was days away from a promising clinical trial, but everything got postponed while she fought off COVID-19 and secondary infections. By early July, Tamryn and Dani became Susan’s in-home hospice caregivers. Susan didn’t even make it to August. Tamryn dedicated “The W” to Susan, who she called Susu. Even on her absolute worst days, Susan would come back from treatment and immediately ask: “Did you finish your chapter? Have you heard any news about BG? Did you get feedback from your editor?” That’s raw, folks. That’s the heart poured into this book.
This book is more than just a history; it’s a testament to one person’s incredible resilience through unthinkable challenges, all while championing the WNBA. Mark your calendars for September 22, because when “The W” finally drops, it’s not just going to tell us about the league’s past; it’s going to show us the power of dedication. Get ready to dive deep.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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