Portfolio - written work

Heather has more than a decade of experience as a sports journalist. The work has provided her valuable experience covering events, growing her writing portfolio and covering a variety of sports and major events. 

Some of her event coverage includes the 3M Championship (now 3M Open), World Junior Championship, Schwan's USA Cup, WNBA Finals, NCAA volleyball regionals, USA sled hockey tournaments, Isobel Cup Final, NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, PWHL Walter Cup Playoffs, 2022 NHL Winter Classic, Hockey Day Minnesota, USA/Canada women's hockey Rivalry Series, NCHC Frozen Faceoff, Big Ten men's hockey tournament, NCAA men's hockey Frozen Four, Minnesota State High School League section/state tournaments (hockey, basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, baseball, soccer, swimming, badminton, adapted sports).

Below, you can find other pages in Heather's written work portfolio. This page also includes other published clips with Heather's bylines in the USA Today, Omaha World-Herald, the Herald-Sun, the Register-Guard, St. Cloud Times, The Seattle Times, ProVolleyball.com and Minnesota Hockey. ​PDFs of each story below are available to view/download via the corresponding images.
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written work pages​

USA Today - 2016 WNBA Finals
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Thanks to a colleague, Heather got the chance to cover the 2016 WNBA Finals between the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx for USA Today. She covered Game 1 and Game 2 of the series at Target Center in Minneapolis before also writing a preview story on the off day in between games. The stories from USA Today were picked up by other publications across the country.
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Alana Beard wasn't first option, but best one for Sparks
​Oct. 9, 2016

Alana Beard had one field goal when the Los Angeles Sparks began their final possession of the game.​
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Lynx even WNBA Finals series with Sparks
​Oct. 12, 2016

The Minnesota Lynx dominated the Los Angeles Sparks for a 79-60 victory in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals Tuesday night at the Target Center. ​
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Sparks need another big defensive effort in Game 2
Oct. 20, 2016
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If the Los Angeles Sparks are going to take a 2-0 lead in the WNBA Finals, they might look to again shut down Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus.
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NCAA Volleyball
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Below is some freelance work Heather completed as a local sports stringer in the Twin Cities, covering NCAA volleyball on three different occasions at the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis.
These assignments were coordinated through Heather's work as a freelancer for the Star Tribune. Newspapers in Omaha, Neb., North Carolina and Eugene, Ore. needed a stringer to cover the NCAA volleyball tournament.
No. 10 Gophers end Jays' tournament stay
​Omaha World-Herald
Dec. 4, 2010
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Minnesota celebrates at the end of their third and clinching NCAA college volleyball tournament game against Creighton in Minneapolis, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. 

No. 7 North Carolina beats Oregon, 3-1
The Herald-Sun
Dec. 13, 2014
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The winning streak continues for the No. 7 University of North Carolina women’s volleyball team.
No. 7 UNC loses Elite Eight thriller to No. 2 Texas
The Herald-Sun
Dec. 14, 2014

A record-setting run, including a 20-match win streak, came to an end Saturday for the No. 7 North Carolina women’s volleyball team, as it lost to Texas in four sets. Pages B1 and B5.
Oregon Ducks volleyball knocks off Minnesota, one win away from NCAA Final Four
The Register-Guard
​Dec. 7, 2018 
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No. 15 seeded Oregon defeated No. 2 seeded Minnesota in front of the maroon-and-gold home crowd with a 21-25, 41-39, 25-14, 26-24 victory in the NCAA Sweet 16 that took nearly 2 hours, 30 minutes on Friday at Maturi Pavilion.
Nebraska sweeps Oregon Ducks volleyball out of NCAA Tournament in regional final
​The Register-Guard
Dec. 8, 2018 

Even after a huge upset victory the night before and becoming the second team in Oregon volleyball history to make it this far, seeing the season end is still tough for players.
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St. Cloud Times
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Settling for second: SCSU falls to UMD in double OT, finishes as NCHC Frozen Faceoff runner-up
March 23, 2019 

The St. Cloud State men’s hockey team will head into the NCAA tournament as the NCHC Frozen Faceoff runner-up for the second year in a row.
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The seattle times​
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MLS playoffs: Sounders eliminated in Game 3 loss to Minnesota United 
Nov. 8, 2025 

The game was a roller coaster of excitement that included nearly everything. Except a victory for the Sounders. 

Pro Volleyball.com - MLV Minnesota
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Mendes brings international coaching experience as new MLV Minnesota GM, head coach
Jan. 29, 2026 

Mendes was named Wednesday as the general manager and head coach of MLV Minnesota, the new professional women’s volleyball team that will open league play for its inaugural season in January 2027. 
‘Volleyball here is just a dream’ for Stephanie Samedy
May 7, 2026 

Stephanie Samedy is the first player signed to a contract in MLV Minnesota franchise history.

Minnesota Hockey​​

​Home Sweet Home: Maddy Christian’s Path from Elk River to the Frost
July 20, 2026 

Q-and-A with Maddy Christian, Elk River native and Frost 2026 draft pick.