What is Valley Tales?

Valley Tales was a newsletter and website created by me, Gina Mizell. The final edition was published on Nov. 5, 2020.

I covered the Phoenix Suns at home and on the road as The Athletic’s beat reporter the past two seasons, until COVID-19 halted live sports for months and, unfortunately, eliminated my full-time job. But as the Suns took part in the NBA’s historic restart at Walt Disney World in Orlando, I wanted to keep writing about the franchise using the same creative approach I applied at previous jobs.

I brought you exclusive interviews and in-depth features about the people on and surrounding the team (like this story about the original Suns Gorilla, and the literal and metaphorical masks we all wear).

I’ll created virtual game-watching parties via Substack’s discussion threads, then provide my observations after the buzzer (like this breakdown of the Suns’ first scrimmage in Orlando).

I put the news and on-court performance into context, and answered your questions via mailbag Q&As (like this one, which asked me to cast Hamilton using the Suns’ roster).

I analyzed the moves made during an important offseason, as Phoenix builds toward the future under coach Monty Williams, general manager James Jones and player cornerstones Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton (like this collaboration with friend and former colleague John Hollinger). 

I hope you’ll come along for the ride.

Who am I?

I’m Gina Mizell, a sports reporter based in Phoenix, Arizona.

I’ve spent most of my 10-year career as a traveling beat writer, most recently covering the Suns for two seasons for The Athletic. Before that, I covered the Nuggets for The Denver Post and college football for The Oregonian and The Oklahoman. This job has put me on the ground at super-cool events such as the NBA Finals, the Fiesta Bowl and the Women’s Final Four. But I most enjoy telling the stories of the people involved in sports, and the opportunity to lift the curtain to reveal the inner-workings of the readers’ favorite teams.

I am a longtime board member of the Association for Women in Sports Media, an international nonprofit organization that advocates for women in all areas of sports media. I am the VP/Professional Programming, overseeing the organization’s monthly regional events, the AWSM Champions mentorship program and the nomination and voting process for the Pioneer and Service Awards presented annually at AWSM’s national convention.

I’m Phoenix native and 2010 graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.