1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where I'm in 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: Canada for the espnW summit and trying my hardest to 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: say Toronto without the second te Toronto just feels weird. 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 2: Man. 5 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: It's Wednesday, June eighteenth, and on today's show you'll hear 6 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: my conversation with Sports Illustrated Women's sports staff writer Emma Bachelari. 7 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: We talk about her SI cover story on the Indiana 8 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:23,959 Speaker 1: Fever and the franchise is sped up timeline in search 9 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: of a title, why she'd love to write a long 10 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: form profile on Links coach Cheryl Reeve, the women's basketball 11 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 1: book she's working on with friend of the show Jordan Robinson, 12 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: and her Soda substack side quest. Plus, the NWSL gets 13 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: a little more international. We remember a long distance running 14 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 1: legend and two Hoopers show the utmost respect for each 15 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: other's games, while a third takes it one step too far. 16 00:00:47,280 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: It's all coming up right after this. Back, y'all, here's 17 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: what you need to know today in footy news, the 18 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: Washington Spirit are welcoming the first ever Italian player to 19 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: the NWSL after winning the Serie A league with club 20 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: side Juventus. Twenty five year old forward Sofia can Torre 21 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 1: will join the DC based club Cantory, not thirteen goals 22 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,919 Speaker 1: and six assists across all competitions with Juventus this past season, 23 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: and new Spirit head coach Adrian Gonzalez, the former DC 24 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: assistant who officially begins his new head role today, is 25 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: excited to have her on the roster, he told the 26 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: Athletic Quote. Sofia is an important signing for this Spirit 27 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: team as we continue to build up our roster to 28 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: compete for trophies. Her extensive experience in the Italian leagues 29 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: and exceptional talent in the attacking third will help add 30 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: a new layer for the Spirit moving forward end quote. 31 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: Can Torre has also got international experience. She's suited up 32 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: thirty six times for Italy, scoring five goals. Washington is 33 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: currently fourth in the NWSL standings and hoping that Kentry 34 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: can help close the eight point gap between the Spirit 35 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: and the first place Kansas City. Current in running news, 36 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: we're sad to announce that Nina Cusick, a longtime advocate 37 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: for women in long distance running, passed away last week 38 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: at the age of eighty six. Cusick was a pioneer 39 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: in many ways. She ran the Boston Marathon four times 40 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: between nineteen sixty eight and seventy one before women were 41 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: officially allowed to race. Then, due to the pressure, she 42 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: and others applied, the marathon added a women's division for 43 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: the first time, and in nineteen seventy two, Cusick raced 44 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,799 Speaker 1: in it and won an inductee into the Long Distance 45 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: Running Hall of Fame in nineteen ninety nine. Cusick ran 46 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: more than eighty marathons in her lifetime. She also set 47 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: the American record for the fifty mile run in nineteen 48 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 1: seventy seven and won the Empire State Building Run up 49 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: three straight times from nineteen seventy nine to eighty one. 50 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: Catherine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon 51 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: as an official competitor in nineteen sixty seven before there 52 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: was a spot on the race's sign up form for gender, 53 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: summed up Cusick's influence to the AP, saying quote, Nina 54 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: was not only a champion runner, but she was instrumental 55 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: in the official acceptance of women and distance running because 56 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,679 Speaker 1: she did years of time work of changing rules, regulations, 57 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: and submitting medical evidence to prove women's capability. 58 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 3: End quote. We hear at good game. 59 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: We'll continue to remember Nina Cusick as an icon in 60 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: women's sports to hoops. Only one game on the WNBA 61 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: slate tonight, so no need for multiple screens. The Phoenix 62 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: Merkury Pay visits the Connecticut Sun Out in Uncasville at 63 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 1: seven pm Eastern. Catch that one streaming live on WNBA 64 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: League Pass. And in softball, we've got an athlete unlimited 65 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: Softball League doubleheader come in your way tonight starting at 66 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 1: seven pm Eastern. It's the Bandits versus the Talons at 67 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 1: Wilkins Stadium in Wichita, Kansas, followed by the Blaze against 68 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: the Volts at nine thirty Eastern. 69 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 3: If you're in the area, get there. It's another single 70 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 3: admission doubleheader, which means it's very easy on the pockets. 71 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 3: If you're not in Kansas, you can watch the seven 72 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 3: pm game on ESPN two and the nine to thirty 73 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 3: contest on MLB dot Com, MLBtv, and FanDuel Sports Network. 74 00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 3: We got to take a quick break when we come 75 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 3: back in sports, with Emma Bachelari joining us now. 76 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,040 Speaker 1: She's a staff writer who focuses on women's sports and 77 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,479 Speaker 1: baseball for Sports Illustrated and Soda for her sub stack, 78 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: The Soda Fountain a member of the Baseball Writers Association 79 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: of America. She previously wrote for Baseball Prospectus and Deadspin, 80 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 1: and has appeared on BBC News, PBS News Hour, and 81 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 1: MLB Network. A Duke grad food lover, expert, traveler, Amtrak evangelist, 82 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: and person who knows that perfect days are found in Chicago. 83 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,239 Speaker 1: It's Emma Bachelari. Hi, Emma, that is quite the intro. 84 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: You clearly scoped out the Instagram. I appreciate it. 85 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 4: That was great. 86 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, I want to take that Amtrak trip. 87 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 1: It looked amazing and I was so appreciative that you 88 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: found the perfect day. 89 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 3: And of course that day was in Chicago. Duh. 90 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 2: Yes, that is one of my best friends from college 91 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:58,280 Speaker 2: lives in Chicago and I recently had a great day 92 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 2: with her. But yes, anyone who's looking for a way 93 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 2: to get around the country. I spent three weeks on 94 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 2: Amtrak and could fill its own podcast with that. I 95 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 2: truly loved it. So yes, go take the train. 96 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 1: I love a good train ride, and I really resent 97 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: the creators of American travel who prioritized cars over public 98 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: squares and trains. But that's a conversation for another time. Actually, 99 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 1: it's a conversation for now in this sense, because I 100 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 1: saw you were just recently in Brussels and I've never been, 101 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 1: So instead of turning this into a full travel pod, 102 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: we'll limit it to just one must do in Brussels. 103 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 2: Obviously drink beer, but beyond that too, not to over 104 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 2: index on trains, but they have this crazy train museum 105 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 2: called train World in Brussels, which had a really fun 106 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 2: train simulator, and it's especially in Europe. The history of 107 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: trains are really like the history of the continent in 108 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 2: so many ways. And I was with one of my 109 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 2: friends who does not care about trains the way I do, 110 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 2: and train World was still the highlight of her Brussels 111 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 2: s trip, like kind of beer and muscles aside. So yes, 112 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 2: go to Brussels, drink some beer, and then go to 113 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 2: the train. 114 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 3: Museum, Beer, muscles, train World. Got it. I'm on it. 115 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 3: Let's talk about. 116 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 1: Your sports writing, because you did a great SI cover 117 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: story on the Indiana fever, and this was a topic 118 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: ripe for discussion. New coach, new roster, new president, new 119 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: general manager, and a new timeline for a team that 120 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: realized after Caitlin Clark's arrival that they wanted to take 121 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: advantage of every single minute she played, every game they 122 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 1: had her in uniform, and every opportunity to win with her. 123 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 3: So let's start there. 124 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: What did you learn about the Fever's timeline from dropping 125 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 1: in and talking to all their big pieces. 126 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, this was really interesting to me from AFAR over 127 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 2: the winter, just because you know, everyone has been talking 128 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 2: so much about this big reset that we're going to 129 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 2: see in twenty twenty six, when you know you have 130 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 2: free agency opening up, you're going to have a new 131 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 2: CBA ideally potentially a ton of player movement, and so 132 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 2: many teams were kind of in like weight and see 133 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 2: mode and the fact that the Fever so clearly were 134 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 2: not was fascinating to me. And I think the biggest 135 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 2: thing that came through in all of the conversations I 136 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 2: had with you know, Kelly Cross, Coop and Ambercox and 137 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 2: Steph White, all of these new pieces that they've brought 138 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 2: in on the administration and coaching side, was how much 139 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 2: they really wanted to build a true contender this year. 140 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 2: That the idea wasn't like, oh, like make it a 141 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:23,559 Speaker 2: little further in the playoffs and see how it goes, 142 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 2: but to do everything you can to potentially win it 143 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 2: all this year, which, like as we've seen already, that's 144 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: a hard thing to do. To get that many new 145 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 2: pieces to gel. It's going to take time. It's not 146 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 2: easy to say you have a one year window, let's 147 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 2: go and take it. But to use this year both 148 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 2: as a chance to try to win it all and 149 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 2: to set the groundwork to then build something even bigger 150 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 2: and greater in twenty twenty six and ideally beyond, which 151 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 2: is a tricky thing to do, right, to have a 152 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 2: window that is as open as you can get it 153 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 2: now and also potentially in the years to come, to 154 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 2: kind of have that be not just you're throwing open 155 00:07:57,800 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 2: the door, but also you're trying to build for the 156 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 2: future at the same time time. But I think they 157 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 2: did about as create a job as you can do 158 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 2: of getting those pieces in And then, of course the 159 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 2: bigger question is how do you integrate them? Incorporate them, 160 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 2: and that is not always easy. But yeah, it was 161 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 2: interesting to work on to see exactly how they went 162 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 2: about trying to pull that and all of that in 163 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 2: screen for the right personalities, et cetera. And so yeah, 164 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 2: it was fun to work on. 165 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, and obviously this is a team that is in 166 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: the position it's in with two of its stars, Caitlin 167 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 1: Clark and Eleiah Boston because they were the worst of 168 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: the worst, because they got to have number one picks. 169 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: Those players are actually signed through and beyond this season, 170 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: which is rare to have two stars that you're having 171 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 1: the rights to beyond this massive transition time in the league. 172 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: We've seen across a number of teams we've looked at 173 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: that they literally have one player sometimes none, that are 174 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: actually signed beyond this season. And so to know that 175 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 1: they can build around those two when they're trying to 176 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: attract free agents during this what we expect to be 177 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 1: this big free agent frenzy in the off season is 178 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 1: great for them, but they need to prove this season 179 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 1: essentially that they're a different franchise than the one that 180 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:16,679 Speaker 1: has gotten them to the point where they're drafting back 181 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: to back number one overall picks, and that's why this 182 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: season was so important to them. We've seen a lot 183 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: of coverage of Eliah Boston and Caitlin Clark's relationship. 184 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 3: We see a lot of cute little clips of them. 185 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: What else did you notice when you were covering this 186 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: team and going to report on this team about the 187 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: interaction between the players and which players felt like the 188 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 1: vocal leaders, which players felt like they led just with behavior. 189 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 3: What did you notice? 190 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 2: I think Kelsey Mitchell is such an important piece here, 191 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 2: which obviously people who watch the team know, but I 192 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 2: really think it can't be overstated how much she does 193 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 2: for this group. That she was the one piece who 194 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 2: has really stuck through all of those rough years when 195 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 2: they were losing to get those number one picks. It was, 196 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 2: you know, they're in the trend, just through the worst 197 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 2: of it, and then decided to stay. Twice She's resigned 198 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:05,319 Speaker 2: with them, once a couple of years ago and then 199 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:11,439 Speaker 2: once this off season. And hearing how both Kitlyn Leah 200 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 2: Lexiehill all talk about her, you know, there are other 201 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 2: newer veterans on this team, but I really think Kelsey 202 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 2: Mitchell is She's not like a super over the top 203 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 2: vocal leader, but they just respect her so much. She 204 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 2: has such an important part to play here on and 205 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:29,319 Speaker 2: off the floor. And I think obviously talking about the 206 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 2: chemistry that you see between Kitlin Clark and Aliah Boston, 207 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 2: that's huge, but that also really frees up Kelsey Mitchell 208 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 2: at the two to do, which she does, and she 209 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 2: had the best season of her career last year. Has 210 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 2: shown flashes with that again, like when everything is clicking here. 211 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 2: She's really such a leader here who's so important to 212 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 2: what they do. Obviously, Kitlyn is the point guard, that's 213 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 2: like a natural. She also is a much more vocal, natural, 214 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 2: outgoing leader in a lot of ways that I think 215 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 2: you see on the floor all the time and off 216 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 2: the floor when she was injured yelling on the bench. 217 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,479 Speaker 2: But I think it really in a lot of ways, 218 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:05,439 Speaker 2: Kelsey Mitchell is kind of the heartbeat of this group 219 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 2: and that she just has such an important part to 220 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 2: play here in every facet of her job. 221 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: I want to hear about Natasha Howard and Dwana Bonner. 222 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 1: Those are two really big time, successful veteran players to 223 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: add to the mix. There could be a conflict in 224 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: terms of who's the alpha, who's the big dog, who's 225 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: the one who wants to impart wisdom? When you've got 226 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 1: a Caitlin Clark who's only in her second year but 227 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: obviously has her own solar system Essentially, how does it 228 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: seemed to work out so far with those two veterans 229 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: coming in? 230 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I think it's been a little bit 231 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 2: tricky on the floor. There's certainly been an adjustment period. 232 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 2: I think you know, anyone who's watching this team has 233 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 2: seen do Wanna Bonner started in the starting lineup, and 234 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 2: then it has been coming off the bench more recently. 235 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 2: Obviously they've had some injury struggles across the board that 236 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 2: made them shuffle some things. But I think both of 237 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:59,599 Speaker 2: these players were kind of screened coming in here for recognizing, 238 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:03,840 Speaker 2: like this is an important veteran leadership position, it is 239 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 2: not necessarily your typical one, and just so much about 240 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 2: this roster, about the hubbub that exists around this roster, 241 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 2: is so different than certainly anything else you're seeing in 242 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 2: the w But I think you can make the case 243 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 2: anything else you're seeing in sports right now in terms 244 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 2: of the gravity of one star like that, and how 245 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 2: you navigate that as a team where everyone has a 246 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:29,439 Speaker 2: role to play, and recognizing that the noise is so loud, 247 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 2: but to some extent it's just noise. They were screened 248 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 2: for knowing, like you are going to have to adjust 249 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 2: to some different things here that weren't the case in 250 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 2: other environments, And certainly both of them are accustomed to 251 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 2: playing with stars don't want to. Bonnor was in Phoenix 252 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 2: with DT forever. They know what that's like. But just 253 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 2: realizing like this is a different phase of your career. 254 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 2: That was something dB had talked about a lot of 255 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 2: you know, she realizes these are her last few years. 256 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 2: She wants something different, that she feels like she has 257 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 2: something to give back and this is a chance to 258 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 2: do that. That was something both of them talked about, 259 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 2: but especially do Wanna Bonner and that maybe means your 260 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 2: role shifts on the floor. That means maybe you're sharing 261 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 2: different aspects of that with each other, with other vets, 262 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 2: but basically just knowing They had long conversations with Kelly 263 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:21,560 Speaker 2: Cross cop with Amber Cox, and Kelly Cross knows Natasha 264 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 2: Howard very well. She had drafted her originally in Indiana, 265 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,719 Speaker 2: and Amber Cox had worked with Dowanna Bonner that even 266 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 2: though there's so much that's new here, they really leaned 267 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 2: on pre existing relationships and so it's certainly not an 268 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 2: easy thing to balance in terms of being in this 269 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 2: particular spotlight. But they really had a lot of conversations 270 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 2: about it ahead of time in terms of finding like 271 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:42,319 Speaker 2: are these the right personalities to walk that line that 272 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 2: they're going to have to walk. 273 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, speaking of that was so interesting to read write 274 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: Thompson's story about Caitlin Clark in her final year at Iowa, 275 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: and in particular how much work had to be done 276 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: behind the scenes by her coaching staff and the rest 277 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: of the team staff to help her better understand how 278 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 1: her body language, her frustration, her approach to teammates that 279 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: let her down by not catching a great pass or 280 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 1: finishing a shot would impact the team at large. And 281 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 1: it feels like, obviously that's a work in progress for 282 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: Caitlyn and always will be. If you're looking real hard, 283 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: you can still find those moments in a game when 284 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: she's very clear in expressing her frustration. How is it 285 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: felt in this season with all these new teammates and 286 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: with this added pressure and expectation for this team to succeed. 287 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: How have you seen Caitlyn either evolve in that way 288 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: or still struggle in that way? 289 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 2: I mean, I think the biggest thing is that we 290 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 2: had this extended stretch of her on the bench, which 291 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 2: is an extremely new role for her. She obviously wasn't 292 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 2: injured at all in college or in her rookie year 293 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 2: in the W and so I think for the most part, 294 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 2: seeing that was just really interesting. Of this is someone 295 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 2: who obviously is used to not just being a focal 296 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 2: point on the floor, but like playing to as close 297 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 2: to forty minutes as she can and having an offense 298 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 2: run through her where she's involved on every single play. 299 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 2: You have to step back and watch the game from 300 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 2: the bench, I think seeing the ways in which you 301 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 2: could try to involve herself in other ways. You heard 302 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 2: her talk about, like you literally see the game in 303 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 2: a different way, that was an advantage point she had 304 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 2: much experience from. I think in the long run, we're 305 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 2: going to see that potentially be something that helps her there. 306 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 2: Of just it's a different way to experience the game 307 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 2: of watching it, of watching your teammates, maybe picking up 308 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 2: on things that you don't see when you're on the 309 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 2: floor with them. You can see them better from the bench. 310 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 2: So I think we've seen some evolution there. I think obviously, 311 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 2: as you said, she's still this is her second year. 312 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 2: There's still clearly moments of frustration. There's still We just 313 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 2: saw this weekend and she had this insane game against 314 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 2: the Liberty and they handed them their first loss, and 315 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 2: there was this one sequence where like she's clearly on 316 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 2: a heater and like begging for the ball and didn't 317 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 2: get it, and like she's going to be frustrated. She's, 318 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 2: you know, competitive, obviously that's what makes her her. 319 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: Honestly, it was probably best for her as that possession 320 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: still ended in a made basket for the fever. 321 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 2: Ye. 322 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: So in that moment, as frustrated as she might have 323 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: been of like how could you not keep coming back 324 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 1: to me? I'm so hot, it was also like, oh, okay, okay, 325 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 1: you guys can do it. 326 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 3: In that moment, I know that I can leave it 327 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 3: up to my teammates too. 328 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 2: Yeah. Completely, Just like that moment of frustration is going 329 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 2: to be there, But then you get the reminder. I 330 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 2: think that's important, And so I think it's certainly a 331 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 2: work in progress, and I'm interested to see as we 332 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 2: keep going how much that time of being injured and 333 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 2: observing and interacting with humans in a different way kind 334 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 2: of shapes how she's able to control that. 335 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 1: You also profiled Caitlin when she was at Iowa. Can 336 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: you get a sense of how she really feels about 337 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: all this coverage, all this pressure, all this expectation, even 338 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: all the controversy. I think she's been pretty stoic in 339 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: her own way, and also at times has said I 340 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: don't really listen or watch or read, But then sometimes 341 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: it becomes clear that she does, just like any other humans, 342 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 1: sometimes engaged with what's being said about or around her. 343 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:09,439 Speaker 1: Can you get a feel for beneath the surface, what 344 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 1: it really has been like for her to be the 345 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: center of focus now for a couple of years. 346 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean, there are so many layers to a 347 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 2: star like that, in terms of the people they have 348 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 2: around them, the processes that you have to go through 349 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:28,439 Speaker 2: to talk to someone like that, that it's hard to 350 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 2: say for sure. And I think that's a good thing 351 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:34,120 Speaker 2: that she's been able to insulate herself to that degree 352 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 2: that it makes sense to tread carefully when you're really 353 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 2: kind of just entering this new space as a star 354 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,160 Speaker 2: at that level. But one of the things that really 355 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 2: stood out to me about that trip to Iowa, which 356 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 2: was a magazine profile in September twenty twenty three, I 357 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,360 Speaker 2: went down so a few months after the national championship 358 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 2: game against LSU, but before her senior season had started, 359 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:02,200 Speaker 2: was just how completely self assured she was and how 360 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 2: it didn't exactly feel like media training. And I actually 361 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,639 Speaker 2: had asked the iOS Idea at the time, like what 362 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 2: have you done here, Like this is a crazy amount 363 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 2: of like poise and confidence for a college athlete to 364 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:16,359 Speaker 2: handle any question, But they said nothing, like she really 365 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 2: is just like this, and I was kind of inclined 366 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,199 Speaker 2: to believe them, just because it really for you know, 367 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 2: a college athlete for a college student period, like thinking 368 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 2: about myself at twenty one or twenty two, my friends, 369 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 2: other college athletes I've interviewed in the years since, like 370 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 2: to just have that kind of complete self assuredness of 371 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 2: being able to answer anything, to kind of know what 372 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 2: you're working with, to be so confident in who you 373 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 2: are and what you want, Like it just really was 374 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 2: a level of I'm not sure if poise is the 375 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 2: right word, and I'm not sure if confidence is either, 376 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 2: but kind of a mix of them. That was really 377 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 2: striking to me, And that like I think you've seen 378 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,959 Speaker 2: Carrie through and I think like some people are just 379 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,919 Speaker 2: made to handle that. That doesn't mean that it's not 380 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 2: incredibly hard to handle it sometimes, and I think certainly 381 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 2: like we've seen glimpses of that in the right Thompson profile. 382 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:13,160 Speaker 2: There were moments where she had got a sense of 383 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:15,640 Speaker 2: how hard it could be. At some points, I think 384 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 2: in certain moments in her rookie year, you could see 385 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 2: like frustration with being that singular of a focus rather 386 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 2: than it being more diffused across the team. Certainly last 387 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 2: year brought challenges in terms of losing that were new 388 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 2: to her, But I think in general, this is just 389 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 2: someone who is very confident in what she can do, 390 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 2: is very confident in herself. I think it's been nice 391 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 2: to see a little bit more of her personality, which 392 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 2: is super competitive and intense and a lot of fun 393 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 2: come out this year. This was something we did, you know, 394 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,399 Speaker 2: with the cover shoot. We also had a video that 395 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:50,880 Speaker 2: went with that of the teammates interacting and quizzing each 396 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:53,679 Speaker 2: other and like her getting really into that was a 397 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 2: lot of fun to watch. Yeah, So yeah, that's kind 398 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 2: of I think from the thirty thousand foot view what 399 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 2: I've seen from she's. 400 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: Very funny, and a lot of times the humor comes 401 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: out in those competitive moments. I remember I mentioned on 402 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: the show a couple months ago that I had this 403 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: incredible opportunity to sit with David Letterman on a zoom 404 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 1: for like ninety minutes and just tell him ahead of 405 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 1: his interview with her the things that I thought would 406 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:19,919 Speaker 1: be really important to make sure he asked her or 407 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 1: addressed in the conversation, and things that I would want 408 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 1: to know about her, things I thought fans would want 409 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: to know about her. And one of them that I 410 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:28,240 Speaker 1: said was like, I think she's pretty funny, but we don't. 411 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:29,120 Speaker 3: Get to see it that much. 412 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: So try to find a way to compete with her 413 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 1: at stuff so that we get that to come out 414 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: and that she loosens up. Because it feels like her 415 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:38,640 Speaker 1: truest self is just when she's ballin, whether that's literally 416 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: basketball or any other thing. 417 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 3: And so yeah, I completely agree on that. 418 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 1: I also think her sort of natural composure and poise 419 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 1: is partly how she's able to not only deal with 420 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: the pressure of the intense focus on her but also 421 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,159 Speaker 1: on the court, like the reason that she can be 422 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: a clutch shooter in those insane moments and be as 423 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 1: dialed and as she is. Probably this like preternatural quality 424 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,439 Speaker 1: that can't be taught so much as just is a 425 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 1: part of the reason that she's as great as she is. 426 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 1: You told this great fever story. Is there another story 427 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:13,639 Speaker 1: you most want to tell next in the W? 428 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 2: Oh this isn't as fun, but one I have been 429 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 2: thinking about a lot this year is refereeing, which obviously, 430 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,679 Speaker 2: across all sports, people are going to hate the refs. 431 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 2: I don't think the ideal situation here would be for 432 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 2: everyone to be like, refereeing is amazing and we love it, 433 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:31,639 Speaker 2: because that's never going to happen, and if it is, 434 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 2: probably you have different problems. But the variety of complaints 435 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,400 Speaker 2: we've seen against refs, but certainly last year and then 436 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,959 Speaker 2: this year we just saw Kelsey Plumb really go at 437 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 2: the refs. We've seen a variety of coaches and players 438 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,959 Speaker 2: call it out, and I'm curious as the league gets bigger, 439 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 2: is under more scrutiny kind of the systems of refereeing. 440 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:57,400 Speaker 2: So when we talk about referee pay, referee recruitment, replay 441 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 2: review as something that is done literally by the refs 442 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 2: on the court rather than by an off site replay 443 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 2: review center like is done in the NBA, that's really 444 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 2: interesting to me. And I do wonder if we're starting 445 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 2: to hit a kind of breaking point for the w 446 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 2: to be at a spot where it needs to reevaluate 447 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 2: some of those systems just in terms of having the 448 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 2: best people on the floor with the resources they need 449 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:22,400 Speaker 2: to do the best job all the time. 450 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 3: I think that's a very worthy story. 451 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 1: I think you're right there will always be complaints, but 452 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:29,879 Speaker 1: at some point there's a tipping point for whether it 453 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 1: affects the product so much so that people are less 454 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: interested or less trustworthy, or even in terms of things 455 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 1: that aren't a priority but are certain a reality, which 456 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:42,479 Speaker 1: is gambling and things like that. You need to make 457 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 1: sure people really think that you're operating at the highest level. 458 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 3: And it does affect also. 459 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 1: The value of what you believe you're watching if it 460 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: doesn't seem completely professional. 461 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 3: So all right, I endorse that story. 462 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: What about a player who you think you'd like to 463 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 1: do a long form profile on or get to know better. 464 00:22:58,240 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 2: I'm going to flip this and go with a coach 465 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:04,879 Speaker 2: instead of a player. That's okay, Cheryl Reeve. It just 466 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:07,440 Speaker 2: is so interesting to me the way we've seen kind 467 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 2: of really a full turnover of coaching in the last 468 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 2: couple of years, and that Cheryl Reeve is still here, 469 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 2: has been here for so long and has seen the 470 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,640 Speaker 2: league through so much but also is still doing such 471 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 2: a fantastic job that I think obviously the Links are 472 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,639 Speaker 2: maybe my championship pick right now. I'm sure the Liberty 473 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 2: will give them a run for their money. But watching 474 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 2: what she's done with this team that necessarily wasn't built 475 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:37,159 Speaker 2: to contend last year, and the way that she's evolved 476 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:39,120 Speaker 2: as a coach, the way that her style has evolved 477 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 2: while still feeling very much like the same Cheryl Reeve 478 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,159 Speaker 2: who led those Mayam War teams, is just really interesting 479 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,159 Speaker 2: to me to have a figure that has stayed in 480 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 2: place as the league has changed so much around her, 481 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:52,920 Speaker 2: as her team has changed so much, as the type 482 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:55,160 Speaker 2: of star she works with has changed, and I think 483 00:23:55,640 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 2: also as someone who is really like she's always been 484 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 2: such a vocal presence in terms of the values of 485 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 2: the league and what it stands for and what it 486 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 2: means to speak up about that, you know, at a 487 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,959 Speaker 2: time when that wasn't as popular or as easy, and 488 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,159 Speaker 2: the fact that she's still doing that, it just I 489 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 2: think she's a fascinating person. She's always been a great quote, 490 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:18,360 Speaker 2: and so she is the one I think I'd want 491 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:19,159 Speaker 2: to spend more time with. 492 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, completely agree. 493 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: Also, I think really interesting to see over the next 494 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 1: year to what it means for the links to change 495 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: ownership Mark Laura and Alex Rodriguez taking over. That's been 496 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:34,919 Speaker 1: a pretty fraught transition from the current owner, Glenn Taylor, 497 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:39,400 Speaker 1: and you always hope that there will be a continued 498 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 1: investment in care for a team when there's new owners 499 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:45,639 Speaker 1: coming in, but it's always difficult when the owners are 500 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 1: primarily focused on the NBA team that they want to buy, 501 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:53,400 Speaker 1: and along with it comes a WNBA team. So we'll 502 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: be really interesting to see how she also and the 503 00:24:56,359 --> 00:25:00,919 Speaker 1: team fair under that transition and in that new ownership. 504 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:03,359 Speaker 1: I want to cover the coverage a little bit because 505 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 1: you do a lot of baseball coverage. How different does 506 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 1: that feel logistically for you? Before we even get to 507 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:14,439 Speaker 1: the athletes, but as far as resources and access, interacting 508 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 1: with the PR staff and the comms folks, how different 509 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:20,200 Speaker 1: is it when you're going to cover MLB for the 510 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: day versus WNBA. 511 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,439 Speaker 2: Very different in some ways and very similar in others, 512 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:31,640 Speaker 2: I think, And it was a huge adjustment winning first 513 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 2: started doing more w coverage just because I mean, MLB 514 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 2: I think has the best access among men's professional sports too, 515 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,679 Speaker 2: Like It's long been known for that the BBWA is 516 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 2: one of the strongest Greaters associations in sports media, and 517 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 2: because of that, they have really good access compared to 518 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 2: lots of other sports. And so I was really used 519 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:59,360 Speaker 2: to a system where it's every single day everything is 520 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:02,640 Speaker 2: open that there are certainly plenty of players who don't 521 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 2: want to talk or won't talk on a specific day, 522 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 2: but you can go up to a guy and say, hey, 523 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 2: would you be interested in X y Z today, and 524 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 2: like it is between you and him if he can 525 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 2: say no totally, but like that it is not mediated 526 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:16,120 Speaker 2: by the pr staff, that is not mediated by the team. 527 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:19,840 Speaker 2: That is a conversation you can have every day because 528 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 2: the clubhouse is open before a first pitch, you can 529 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,480 Speaker 2: hang out during batting practice, and then it's open afterward 530 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 2: and it has to be open for an hour in 531 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,320 Speaker 2: both of those sessions, and it's totally open to everyone. 532 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,640 Speaker 2: And that sets a standard for a lot of access 533 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 2: that is not really seen in other sports. And I 534 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 2: think the part that's the same is that it's built 535 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:44,640 Speaker 2: on relationships and showing up and talking to people and 536 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 2: just like being open and honest about what you're trying 537 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 2: to do. And also like what players have to share, 538 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 2: which sometimes can be totally different than when you go 539 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 2: into something thinking you might write that's the same. But yeah, 540 00:26:57,119 --> 00:26:59,919 Speaker 2: it is an adjustment to have the system where you know. 541 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:02,680 Speaker 2: The PR staffs in the W A lot of them 542 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:04,919 Speaker 2: do a great job and are trying their best, but 543 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,880 Speaker 2: they are much smaller. Some teams really only have one 544 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 2: person who's there on a daily basis, juggling a lot 545 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:16,880 Speaker 2: with fewer resources. That's hard to adjust to you. Obviously, 546 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 2: the daily nature of baseball versus basketball is that is 547 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:22,920 Speaker 2: going to be different no matter what. But the fact 548 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 2: that it is every day in baseball really gives you 549 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 2: a chance to build rapport and talk about silly things 550 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,879 Speaker 2: and just like you know, build points by showing up 551 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:36,360 Speaker 2: basically in a way that is different in basketball. And 552 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:40,360 Speaker 2: I think you know, there are so many amazing stories 553 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,120 Speaker 2: in the W and so many athletes like I would 554 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 2: love to be able to write more on and it 555 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 2: can be kind of frustrating when it feels like something 556 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 2: is super mediated by a PR staff who's maybe over attacks, 557 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 2: doesn't have the resources to do what they want to do. 558 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 2: Of like, I want to tell these stories and a 559 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:59,640 Speaker 2: lot of times like players want to talk and want 560 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:02,119 Speaker 2: to share it too, but they only have you know, 561 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:04,639 Speaker 2: like a very short window when they're supposed to be 562 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,360 Speaker 2: on the court during you know, either before a game 563 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 2: or even at a practice, and it's all mediated and 564 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 2: put into boxes. It can be harder to get to 565 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 2: a place to build those relationships, which is frustrating. And 566 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 2: I think there are lots of instances of like we 567 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:22,439 Speaker 2: both want these stories told, Like can't we get on 568 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:24,399 Speaker 2: the same team to make this happen, Like you have 569 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:26,159 Speaker 2: to be a little more open and give people a 570 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:30,639 Speaker 2: little more space to work in order to get that built. 571 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 2: And that's hard. But at the same time, like the 572 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:36,119 Speaker 2: building box of it are the same, but it is 573 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:41,640 Speaker 2: definitely you can tell fewer resources, fewer people. It's hard. Yeah. 574 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:43,840 Speaker 1: With baseball, it's a necessity for it to be daily 575 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 1: because there's a game every day, so every day there's 576 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 1: a new win or loss, or moment or play to 577 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 1: react to. And yet also they are so busy because 578 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 1: they have a game every day that it's kind of 579 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 1: a miracle that you have the kind of access that 580 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:56,719 Speaker 1: you have. 581 00:28:56,840 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 3: And so in the w there's got to be. 582 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:03,960 Speaker 1: A balance of fewer games and still enough access to 583 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 1: try to talk to the players, understanding that they don't 584 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:10,520 Speaker 1: make the same money as MLB players. They deserve to 585 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 1: have balance in lives and everything else. But yeah, it 586 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 1: feels like there's this real push and pull right now 587 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 1: of the direction the W as a league wants to 588 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 1: go in and the resources and investment and changing coverage 589 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 1: that's happening. 590 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 3: That's going to require. 591 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 1: A change in staffing and resourcing for that side of 592 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 1: things too, because too often folks who want to give 593 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:33,840 Speaker 1: the coverage aren't able to have the access to And 594 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 1: there are a lot of issues in the W and 595 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 1: in women's sports that aren't present in men's and that 596 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 1: includes things. 597 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 3: Like we just saw. 598 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:45,520 Speaker 1: Reporter from OutKick, you know, interviewing Brittany Grinder about an incident. 599 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: We've seen reporters who are not operating in good faith 600 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,240 Speaker 1: or don't seem to be there to get the honesty 601 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:54,600 Speaker 1: of a story, but rather to spin something for a 602 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 1: certain kind of audience. And on the one hand, you 603 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 1: want to offer up that that kind of access is 604 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 1: just inevitable in sports, and that kind of coverage is 605 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:06,600 Speaker 1: inevitable and you have to push through it. On the 606 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 1: other hand, it feels like there is a necessity for 607 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: some protection or care with these athletes as well because 608 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:15,480 Speaker 1: of all the intersectional issues at play. How do you 609 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 1: feel about that? There's been conversations about just don't credential 610 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:21,640 Speaker 1: those people, just don't give access to people if their 611 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 1: coverage in sight never seems to be actually doing any 612 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:29,160 Speaker 1: meaningful work and is only coming in to stir up shit. 613 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: How do you feel about that approach to still credentialing 614 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: or deciding not to. 615 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I also felt my stomach huring kind of watching 616 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:44,040 Speaker 2: that video of OutKick with Britney Griner, And I think 617 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 2: this is mostly something I see as an issue of 618 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:50,360 Speaker 2: the systems of PR and the resources they have that 619 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 2: do you have enough people to Like I don't think 620 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:58,520 Speaker 2: this answer is necessarily auto rejecting credentials, but like talking 621 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:01,280 Speaker 2: to people when you get a credential, work us, what 622 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:03,720 Speaker 2: game are you looking to cover? Why is there something 623 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 2: we can help you with? Then maybe being able to 624 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 2: have a PR staff for present instagrums like that to 625 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:16,080 Speaker 2: know when maybe something should be shut down like that's 626 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 2: in a lot of ways just as a matter of 627 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,600 Speaker 2: having enough PR staff to be able to do that, 628 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:24,240 Speaker 2: to be able to be in multiple places at once 629 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:28,320 Speaker 2: because you have multiple people. That's kind of what I 630 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:31,080 Speaker 2: see as the best way to go through this, that like, 631 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 2: it's never going to be perfect, that you know, but 632 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 2: you need to do as much as you can to 633 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:44,240 Speaker 2: make sure that. I think you certainly can't guarantee positive coverage, 634 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 2: and you shouldn't, but I think you can do everything 635 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 2: you can to guarantee good faith coverage. And that is 636 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 2: a different question to me, and that, to me, is 637 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 2: mostly one of talking to people who are new level, 638 00:31:56,960 --> 00:32:00,200 Speaker 2: setting expectations and then being able to be physically and 639 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 2: for conversations that might be more difficult. 640 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:06,440 Speaker 1: I want to ask how Court Queen's is going. We've 641 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 1: had Jordan Robinson on the show. Are you guys still 642 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:11,360 Speaker 1: in the process of writing Where are we at with 643 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 1: that book? 644 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 2: We are almost done with our book. Yes, Jordan and 645 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 2: I have been putting together this photographic history of women's 646 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 2: basketball and we are in the last stages of like 647 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:27,640 Speaker 2: design review, which is really fun and exciting, and yeah, 648 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:30,200 Speaker 2: it's just been so cool to work on something that 649 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:32,920 Speaker 2: takes such a broad look at the game from literally 650 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 2: eighteen eighty two to twenty twenty five and just really 651 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:39,480 Speaker 2: fun to look at all these different stories that some 652 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:42,320 Speaker 2: I had no idea about. Some have just so much 653 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 2: more depth to them than I realized. Just so much 654 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,760 Speaker 2: that happened in the game, you know, before nineteen eighty six. 655 00:32:48,280 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 2: So yeah, we are almost done with this design review 656 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:52,120 Speaker 2: and then it's mostly done. 657 00:32:52,520 --> 00:32:55,360 Speaker 1: Congratulations. That's so exciting. We can't wait to see it 658 00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 1: all right, last question for you. You do have a 659 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 1: sub stack called soda Fountain dot com. It's actually soda 660 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 1: dash Fountain dot com. I have three questions for you. 661 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:06,280 Speaker 1: Number one, the best soda you've ever had? 662 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 2: Oh, a diet coke from McDonald's on a really hot day. 663 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:15,320 Speaker 2: That is nothing touches that. Lots of like fun niche 664 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 2: sodas out there, but in McDonald's diet coke ice cold, 665 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:19,880 Speaker 2: hot day, like nothing comes close. 666 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 1: Okay, I want to tell you something. It's going to 667 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:24,960 Speaker 1: hurt your feelings. I quit soda like eight or nine 668 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:28,360 Speaker 1: years ago. But the exception that I make is for 669 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 1: orange Fanta or orange crush, and I only have it 670 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:33,880 Speaker 1: a couple of times a year, and it's either in 671 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:36,040 Speaker 1: Europe when I can get it in the glass bottle 672 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 1: or to your point, like an extremely hot day when 673 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:43,680 Speaker 1: I feel completely dehydrated, and even though water would be 674 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:45,520 Speaker 1: the best choice, it's like I want the water and 675 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:48,640 Speaker 1: the sugar at the same time, and an orange crush 676 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 1: just hits the spot, just can't can't be top. So 677 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:55,360 Speaker 1: it's worth cheating from my role a couple times a 678 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:57,320 Speaker 1: year for that. Okay, worst soda you've ever tried. 679 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 2: As a Coke loyalist, I appreciate pepsi has its uses, 680 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 2: but those uses are not for me other than that. Like, 681 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 2: I'm a pretty broad soda drinker, any kind of weird 682 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:13,640 Speaker 2: fruit soda, and like I love trying international ones, but 683 00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:16,680 Speaker 2: in terms of like domestically what I can get regularly, 684 00:34:17,520 --> 00:34:19,719 Speaker 2: it just even like in Arcy Cola, I think is 685 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:22,719 Speaker 2: interesting enough that it's like differently is distinct enough from 686 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:24,160 Speaker 2: coke that I can enjoy it for what it is, 687 00:34:24,160 --> 00:34:26,880 Speaker 2: But at pepsi is just such a like pale imitation 688 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:28,520 Speaker 2: of what I actually love that I can't do it. 689 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:32,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's some interesting like Russian and Ukrainian sodas that 690 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 1: I've been around, but I haven't been bold enough to try. 691 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:37,319 Speaker 1: I thought one of them might make the list of 692 00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:41,080 Speaker 1: worst and weirdest, but it sounds like it sounds like 693 00:34:41,120 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: pepsi is the real sticking point. 694 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:43,000 Speaker 3: For you, all right? 695 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:45,520 Speaker 1: Last one is what's the weirdest or wildest story Bunk 696 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:48,320 Speaker 1: covered while writing about soda. 697 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:52,040 Speaker 2: Great question I think I'm going to go with. When 698 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:55,480 Speaker 2: I did a survey of all of the coke Freestyle 699 00:34:55,840 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 2: machine locations. 700 00:34:56,680 --> 00:34:57,320 Speaker 3: Those are the. 701 00:34:57,320 --> 00:35:00,960 Speaker 2: Machines that have like a whole universe so flavors. It's 702 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:03,120 Speaker 2: not just a regular soda fountain. It's the touchscreen and 703 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:06,560 Speaker 2: it's like, here's cherry vanilla, caffeine free diet coke rather 704 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 2: than just diet coke. Coke runs a map of all 705 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:12,080 Speaker 2: of those, and I had so much fun seeing which 706 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:18,200 Speaker 2: government buildings, which universities, which Federal reserve locations have freestyle 707 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:19,919 Speaker 2: coke as opposed to regular coke. 708 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:23,320 Speaker 1: There's I've never even heard of this, so you can 709 00:35:23,719 --> 00:35:27,920 Speaker 1: click different kinds of coke. It's like a soda fountain machine, 710 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:30,280 Speaker 1: but like every kind of coke you could mix together. 711 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:34,239 Speaker 2: Yes, So probably the most popular location to find them 712 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 2: is movie theaters. AMC has gone really in on the 713 00:35:37,239 --> 00:35:40,439 Speaker 2: coke freestyle like Burger Kings also have them, and five 714 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:43,040 Speaker 2: guys and yeah, it's like a giant touch screen and 715 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:46,080 Speaker 2: it just has every single kind of like syrup permutation 716 00:35:46,760 --> 00:35:50,759 Speaker 2: for like a mellow yellow, a coke Fanta, like any 717 00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:52,760 Speaker 2: coke product is in this machine. 718 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:55,719 Speaker 1: So yes, well, we'll dive in on your blog and 719 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:58,360 Speaker 1: see if there's any other SODA's worth making an exception for. 720 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:01,080 Speaker 1: Right now, just stick with my orange fant and my 721 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:03,839 Speaker 1: orange crush. Emma, thank you so much for the time. 722 00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:06,200 Speaker 3: We look forward to your future coverage and we appreciate 723 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:06,640 Speaker 3: you coming on. 724 00:36:07,239 --> 00:36:08,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks for having me. 725 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:13,759 Speaker 3: We have to take another break. When we come back. 726 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:26,320 Speaker 1: It'll always be serious, but it was never that serious. 727 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:29,960 Speaker 3: Welcome Max Slices. 728 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:32,400 Speaker 1: We love that you're listening, but we always want you 729 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:34,359 Speaker 1: to get in the game every day too, So here's 730 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:36,800 Speaker 1: our good game play of the day. Go read Emma's 731 00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:40,239 Speaker 1: Sports Illustrated cover story on the Indiana Fevers rebuild. We'll 732 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:41,800 Speaker 1: be sure to link to it in our show notes. 733 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:43,759 Speaker 1: And we always love to hear from you, so hit 734 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:46,640 Speaker 1: us up on email good game at wondermedianetwork dot com 735 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:48,920 Speaker 1: or leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two 736 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:52,759 Speaker 1: oh four fifty seventy, and don't forget to subscribe, rate 737 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:53,280 Speaker 1: and review. 738 00:36:53,640 --> 00:36:54,200 Speaker 3: It's easy. 739 00:36:54,440 --> 00:36:59,080 Speaker 1: Watch a hair pull a hug and an unnecessary PostScript 740 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:02,920 Speaker 1: rating two out of three stars and one gal who 741 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:06,520 Speaker 1: took it too far review. Remember that Angel Reese triple 742 00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:08,920 Speaker 1: double game we told you about earlier this week. Well, 743 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:11,760 Speaker 1: in that contest between the Chicago Sky and the Connecticut Sun, 744 00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:15,080 Speaker 1: there was a moment of tension when Connecticut's Bria Hartley 745 00:37:15,120 --> 00:37:17,560 Speaker 1: made a play with one hand and grabbed and pulled 746 00:37:17,560 --> 00:37:20,040 Speaker 1: one of Reese's braids with the other. While the two 747 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:22,959 Speaker 1: were battling for a rebound. Angel Rees turned around ready 748 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:26,160 Speaker 1: for some smoke and son veteran forward Tina Charles stepped 749 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:27,880 Speaker 1: in to back up Hartley, her teammate. 750 00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:29,439 Speaker 3: Things were tippy for a moment. 751 00:37:29,600 --> 00:37:32,080 Speaker 1: Reese and Charles were drawn after the play while being 752 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:34,640 Speaker 1: held back by teammates, and they kept john while walking 753 00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:38,959 Speaker 1: back to their respective benches, but tensions eventually subsided. Both 754 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:43,319 Speaker 1: Reese and Charles were assessed technical fouls and Hartley escaped unpunished. 755 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:46,759 Speaker 1: After the game, Reese and Charles found each other, embraced 756 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:49,920 Speaker 1: and exchanged a few words. Reese explained the exchange in 757 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:52,200 Speaker 1: the postgame presser, Obviously a. 758 00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:53,279 Speaker 4: Little scuffle that we had. 759 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:54,440 Speaker 2: Obviously she had a stick. 760 00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:56,360 Speaker 4: Up for her teammate, but she was like, you know, 761 00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:57,840 Speaker 4: I gotta do that, Like I got to stick up 762 00:37:57,880 --> 00:37:58,759 Speaker 4: for my team. And I was like, you know what 763 00:37:58,960 --> 00:38:00,920 Speaker 4: that person would like. I love a vet like you, 764 00:38:00,960 --> 00:38:02,920 Speaker 4: I love a player like you. Obviously I respect your game. 765 00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:04,480 Speaker 4: You've done a lot of great things for this game. 766 00:38:04,760 --> 00:38:06,799 Speaker 4: And obviously I love guarding her because I can see 767 00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:08,040 Speaker 4: a lot of the things that I can add to 768 00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:08,439 Speaker 4: my game. 769 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:10,600 Speaker 3: She has that pro pro probe and. 770 00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:11,840 Speaker 4: Being able to get to the cup and get that 771 00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:14,000 Speaker 4: right hook. So it's great having a VET that really 772 00:38:14,080 --> 00:38:15,839 Speaker 4: wants to talk to you and make sure you want 773 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:18,200 Speaker 4: to get better, because obviously when she leaves this game, 774 00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:19,080 Speaker 4: she wants to leave it. 775 00:38:19,040 --> 00:38:19,640 Speaker 2: In the right way. 776 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:21,920 Speaker 3: Love that simple. 777 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:26,440 Speaker 1: Just another reminder that women are competitors and that momentary 778 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:28,280 Speaker 1: beef on the court in the heat of the moment 779 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:32,200 Speaker 1: doesn't have to extend off of it. But with the 780 00:38:32,239 --> 00:38:36,040 Speaker 1: beef squashed and no TECH to her name, Bria Hartley 781 00:38:36,040 --> 00:38:38,800 Speaker 1: should have been happy to move on instead, She tweeted 782 00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:42,200 Speaker 1: later that night quote, my son said, it's not your 783 00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:44,320 Speaker 1: fault you grabbed her hair. It was way too long 784 00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:46,560 Speaker 1: and it was really an accident and the refs got 785 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:46,959 Speaker 1: it right. 786 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:50,160 Speaker 3: End quote. Now, I know you didn't just bring your 787 00:38:50,239 --> 00:38:51,440 Speaker 3: kid into this brio. 788 00:38:51,840 --> 00:38:56,200 Speaker 1: As if we don't have replays, multiple replays. Just be 789 00:38:56,280 --> 00:38:59,960 Speaker 1: glad you didn't get a tea and keep it moving. Seriously, Slices, 790 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:02,600 Speaker 1: check the screen grab in the show notes and tell 791 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:06,120 Speaker 1: me that doesn't look intentional. That braid is wrapped around 792 00:39:06,160 --> 00:39:10,160 Speaker 1: her hand and her arm is pulling back. All right, now, 793 00:39:10,160 --> 00:39:12,720 Speaker 1: it's your turn. Rate and review, Give us five stars, 794 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:15,120 Speaker 1: Tell us you love us, thanks for listening. See you 795 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:18,560 Speaker 1: tomorrow for my conversation with Superstar Women's sports stat keepers 796 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:22,200 Speaker 1: Jen Cooper and Richard Cohen. Good Game, Emma, Good Game, 797 00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:25,640 Speaker 1: Angel and Tina. Few people who don't recognize that women 798 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:31,040 Speaker 1: can be competitive in sport. Good Game with Sarah Spain 799 00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:33,879 Speaker 1: is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep 800 00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:36,279 Speaker 1: Blue Sports and Entertainment. You could find us on the 801 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:39,839 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 802 00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:43,600 Speaker 1: Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are Alex Azzie 803 00:39:43,719 --> 00:39:47,840 Speaker 1: and Misha Jones. Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, 804 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:51,400 Speaker 1: Jenny Kaplan, and Emily Rudder. Our editors are Emily Rutterer 805 00:39:51,440 --> 00:39:55,360 Speaker 1: Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch and Gianna Palmer. Our associate producer 806 00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:58,200 Speaker 1: is Lucy Jones, and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain