Photo credit: Dani Shaw.

tamryn spruill

is an award-winning independent journalist and author of The W: A History of the WNBA (Abrams Press, September 2026).

Formerly the editor in chief of Swish Appeal, she has written for The Athletic, Harper’s BAZAAR, The New York Times, The Red Bulletin, SLAM, and elsewhere. A lifelong lover of basketball, Spruill has followed the WNBA since its inception and began reporting on it in 2014, with the aim of giving the then-neglected league meaningful coverage.

She has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Goddard College and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Journalism from the University of South Carolina. As an adjunct professor, Spruill is passionate about teaching media history/studies, world literature, and creative writing.

She thrives in nature, feels most grounded when making music and art, and lives in Massachusetts with her wife, stepson, and two cats.

Spruill currently writes at thehardscreen.net.

AWARDS & HONORS
"Critical Assist" in The Red Bulletin
2021 Southern California Journalism Award
Best Sports Commentary, Print/Online 

MISCELLANY

• I'm a classically-trained violinist and performed and at 16 performed at Carnegie Hall with my youth orchestra. 
• I also play piano and am a self-taught guitarist, bassist, and songwriter.
  
• Harmonium, ukulele, kalimba, stylophone, and melodica are among other items in my sound kit. 
  
• Collage-making and crafting tiny, cute, hand-stitched notebooks and other twee paper-based things are my love language. 
  
• Yes, I do love trees. I've planted several in recent years and also maintain the gardens in our yard and over 100 plants inside and, in warmer months, outside on the deck.
  
• Astrology-wise, I'm an Aquarius, and proud of it. I take my water-bearing duties seriously.
  
• I was born exactly 100 years after French literary icon Colette. I also share a birthday with other late-January visionaries such as Big Freedia, Sarah McLachlan, and Gregg Popovich.
  
• Personality-wise, I am an INFP.  
  
• I'm an Army brat: My earliest childhood memories take place in Vicenza, Italy.
  
• We have two cats, Astro and Roux, who ensure there is never a dull moment. 

Q & A

Q: You're still in the game? Where have you been?
A: I did an interview with Swish Appeal recently in which I got to answer that question and many more. You can check it out here.

Q: What might surprise people about you?
A: I'm a fan of Lifetime movies and it is my dream to one day write a script for one.