Angel McCoughtry: from hardwood to headphones

Another stage for the WNBA great

Olympic gold medals. WNBA All-Star appearances. Ice cream shops. iTunes. Angel McCoughtry’s range far exceeds basketball. She sets the standard for beyond-the-court activity.

On January 3, McCoughtry kicked off the decade with fresh energy by announcing the release of her newest single, Never Let Go. The afro-beat, feel-good song reminds me of summertime in the 90s: beach ball, popsicles, laughter and all. It’s very smooth overall and we’re fortunate enough to have the ability to stream it on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music.

“…I wanted to create new outlets in my life to stay busy, to relieve stress, to just create. I’m a creator,” McCoughtry said. Her “new outlet” isn’t necessarily so new, though; she is now in year seven of releasing songs. Her first singles, What U Left and Vanity, dropped in 2013 and 2017, respectively.  Both are saturated with house beats and fall into the pop/club genre.  Proceeds from each download and purchase of “Vanity” contributed to McCoughtry’s foundation.

There’s a clear evolution of McCoughtry’s music over the years. Never Let Go, in particular, has a distinct afro-beat undertone. “I really found a passion in creating a sound and I’m just glad people can enjoy my sound the way I do.”  she said.  Personally speaking, I’ve had the song on repeat and am on my sixth stream and counting.

McCoughtry announced the single’s debut while in Ghana. “Africa is a built up, beautiful nation that produces everything that we need in the world.”

The WNBA-star-turned-artist frequents the continent and has been several times in the past year, alone. “Music is everything…it makes the world go round,” McCoughtry said, as her music makes its way around the world. “I’m not putting any stipulations on my music. If it gets big, it’s big. If it doesn’t, it’s okay. I just like to create it. And if people want to enjoy the journey they can.”

After over 450 days of non-competitive play, McCoughtry was cleared to play on November 6, 2019.  On August 7, 2018, she tore her ACL and meniscus in her left knee, on top of suffering a bone bruise in an Atlanta Dream win over the Las Vegas Aces.  The ambiguity of the Olympian’s return has driven people to make their own conclusions about her future in not only the WNBA, but basketball in general.

However, McCoughtry has exited the studio and returned to the hardwood. Currently traveling with her overseas team, Dynamo Kursk, she will make her on-court debut against Italian team Famila Schio on January 8, 2:30 pm ET.

For those who miss McCoughtry suiting up on United States soil,  McCoughtry intends to join her fellow USA Basketball teammates for a homecoming on February 2 as the National Team will take on Louisville at 2pm in the KFC Yum! Center.

There’s still no word of where McCoughtry’s WNBA home will be this season.  But there are no shortage of places to experience Angel McCoughtry.

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