1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're muting 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: the words Diana Tarasi and retire just like ex user 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: Phoenix Sun twenty five. Don't want to get hit with 4 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: retirement news while scroll in the timeline. Our emotions cannot 5 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: handle that Right now. On today's show, we're gonna be 6 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: chatting with Los Angeles Sparks forward Derek Hamby about her 7 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: team season and the backlash she's gotten since filing a 8 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: lawsuit against the Las Vegas Aces and the WNBA. Plus 9 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 1: we've got another entry into the Good Game Hall of 10 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: Fame and how a long line derailed my date with 11 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: a dairy field delicacy. It's all coming up right after this. 12 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: Welcome back, my little slices. Here's what you need to 13 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: know today in NWSL news, ESPN's Jeff Casoof conducted a 14 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: one on one anonymous phone survey of gms from each 15 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: of the league's fourteen teams and found that some believe 16 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: that league reforms have quote gone too far. One GM 17 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: told the SPN quote, there's a fear amongst staff about 18 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: what you can say, what you can't say, what you 19 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: have to ask players permission for what you don't if 20 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: you're going to get in trouble for this, and that 21 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: means it's gone too far end quote. Others described apprehension 22 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: about holding one on one meetings with players about their 23 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: performance and expressed worries about player complaints doing disproportionate damage 24 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: to staff members' reputations over misunderstandings, and WSL Players Association 25 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: chief Megan Burke, who we had on good Game not 26 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: too long ago push back. She told the ESPN quote 27 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: I flatly reject that there is evidentiary or factual basis 28 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: for the narrative that players have too much power end quote, 29 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: and that it's quote disingenuous to simultaneously agree that the 30 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 1: league has been completely transformed and we've created a healthier, 31 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: better work environment and culture, and to simultaneously claim that 32 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: players have too much power, because you can't have one 33 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: without the other. The players did the work of transforming 34 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: the league. There was no savior, no league, no team, 35 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: no one else who is going to come in and TRANSFORMSL. 36 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: It was the players themselves. End quote. Burke added that 37 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: in her view and he, concerns about holding meetings with 38 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 1: players are due to quote misinterpretations of band conduct. The 39 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: survey also found that GMS are concerned about the league 40 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: spending too much money too quickly, that seventy nine percent 41 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: of respondents believe teams don't follow league rules when it 42 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 1: comes to discovery, which is basically calling DIBs on certain players, 43 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: and that many teams frequently pay off the record additional 44 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: compensation to cheat the salary cap. We'll link to that 45 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: ESPN story in our notes. Two women's basketball. The twenty 46 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,239 Speaker 1: twenty four national champions South Carolina game Cocks basketball team 47 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 1: made their trip to the White House yesterday, led by 48 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: head coach Don Staley. In his opening remarks, President Biden 49 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: said of the program, quote, I know why you're so good. 50 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 1: You've got a girl from Philly running this team. I'm 51 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: married to Philly girl. You don't screw around with a 52 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: Philly girl. Man, They're tough Jilly from Philly. End quote. 53 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,519 Speaker 1: We love the super cute chaut out to first Lady 54 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,519 Speaker 1: Joe Biden, but we got to say that nickname's already taken, 55 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: and it's taken by in comp singer and actress Jill Scott. 56 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: And while we're on Jill Scott, I advise you to 57 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: look up the live version of the Roots. You got 58 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: me with Jill Scott. Hits different and it was on 59 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: my pregame mix for every game and every track meet 60 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: from senior year of high school all the way through college. 61 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: I promise you won't be sorry you got me roots 62 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: Jill Scott do it In any event, it was an 63 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: incredible celebration for a team that accomplished amazing things last season. 64 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: Led by Camila Cardoso, the crew from Columbia South Carolina 65 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: finished with a dazzling thirty eight to oh record, becoming 66 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: just the tenth Division one women's team in history to 67 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: finish the season undefeated, and they did it after losing 68 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: all five starters from the year prior. This year, they'll 69 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: have four of their five starters back, which is frankly 70 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: scary hours I can't wait to see what the Cox 71 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: cook up in twenty four to twenty five. More college hoops. 72 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: Four time Team Canada Olympia Natalie Chanwall is headed to 73 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 1: the University of Michigan to serve as assistant coach for 74 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: player development. It's a new adventure for her following her 75 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: retirement from international basketball after the Paris olymp but it's 76 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: not her first dip into the off court side of 77 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: college ball. She spent some time as interim director of 78 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: operations at her alma mater, Notre Dame. In twenty fourteen, 79 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 1: She'll joined Kim Barnes Arico's staff in ann Arbor after 80 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: the Wolverines finished the twenty twenty three to twenty twenty 81 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: four season with a twenty and fourteen record, losing in 82 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 1: the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Achanwa brings a 83 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: ton of hoops experience to this role. Obviously, in two 84 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 1: thousand and nine, she was the youngest player ever selected 85 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: to the Canadian senior national team, and she's got more 86 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: Olympic appearances than any other team Canada basketball player. She 87 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: spent eight years in the w starting her career with 88 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: the Fever and concluding it with the Lynks, and she 89 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: helped the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to three national championship 90 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: appearances during her time as a player. Michigan's getting a 91 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: good one there to the WNBA. With less than two 92 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: weeks remaining in the regular season, the playoff picture is 93 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: nearly complete. Seven teams have clinched a postseason birth, while 94 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: the Chicago Sky, the Atlanta Dream, and the Washington Mystics 95 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,239 Speaker 1: are all still battling for the eighth and final spot. 96 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: The Dallas Wings and Los Angeles Sparks have been officially 97 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: eliminated from playoff contention. Three games tonight, including a consequential 98 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: matchup between the number eight Sky and the number ten Mystics. 99 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: Those teams are only separated by two games in the standings, 100 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: and with the win, the Sticks could close the gap 101 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: to one. This will be the Sky's second matchup without 102 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: Angel Rees, who's out for the season, but their third 103 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: with explosive score Kennedy carter Back in the lineup. A 104 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: loss would definitely loosen Chicago's grip on the last seed 105 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, and it would be their eighth loss 106 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: in the last ten games. We'll link to the full 107 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: schedule of w games in our show notes. Finally, in 108 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:34,799 Speaker 1: w News, WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert went on CNBC's Power 109 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 1: Lunch on Monday, and CNBC anchor Tyler Matheson brought up 110 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: the rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, how it 111 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 1: began in college but became something altogether different in the 112 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: W Here's a bit of their exchange. 113 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 2: Now, it seems on some social media channels to have 114 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 2: taken a darker turn, a more menacing turn, where race 115 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 2: has been introduced into the conversation, where sexuality is sometimes 116 00:05:57,800 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 2: introduced into the conversation. 117 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: How do you. 118 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 3: Try and stay ahead of that, try and tamp it 119 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 3: down or act as a league when two of your 120 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 3: most visible players are involved, not personally, it would seem, 121 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 3: but their fan bases are involved in saying some very 122 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 3: uncharitable things. 123 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 4: Well, the one thing that's great about the league right now, 124 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 4: we do sit at this intersection of culture and sport 125 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 4: and fashion and music. Like the WNBA players are really 126 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 4: looked at now as kind of cultural icons. True, and 127 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 4: when you have that, you have a lot of attention 128 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 4: on you. There's no more apathy. 129 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: Everybody cares. 130 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 4: It is a little that bird magic moment if you 131 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 4: recall from nineteen seventy nine when those two rookies came 132 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 4: in from a big college rivalry, one white, one black, 133 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 4: and so we have that moment with these two. But 134 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 4: the one thing I know about sports, you need rivalry. 135 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 4: That's what makes people watch. They want to watch games 136 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 4: of consequence between rivals. They don't want everybody being nice 137 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:00,120 Speaker 4: to one another. So social media is different today and 138 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 4: it was in nineteen seventy nine when it didn't exist. 139 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 4: But you know, I always tell the players, you know, 140 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 4: I was told a long time ago. If someone's typing 141 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 4: something in and you wouldn't. 142 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: Ask their advice, ignore it. 143 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 4: So it's it's a balance, but certainly from a marketing dollars, 144 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 4: But corporate partners are stepping up to endorse these players 145 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 4: much much more so than they were five years ago 146 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 4: because they see the benefit of having women and diverse 147 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 4: women representing their brand. 148 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: So plenty to say about this, and plenty of folks 149 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: are talking about this. We're going to get into it 150 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: more on Friday's show, but I want to say quickly, 151 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: Engelbert isn't wrong. Nothing she said there was inaccurate, but 152 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: it was incomplete, and it sounded like someone who prioritizes 153 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: capitalism and the business side of her job over the 154 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: empathy and leadership side. Obviously, when she talks about social 155 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: media and the idea of you know, you wouldn't ask 156 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: them for advice, to don't listen to them, it sounds simple, 157 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: but when so much of your economic opportunity as a league, 158 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: so much of the conversation around the league, and frankly, 159 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: so much of life for young people takes place online 160 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: and to simply say, don't read the comments, which I 161 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: do have a key chain that says that and tries 162 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: to remind me of that. Simply saying that is not enough, 163 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,239 Speaker 1: and it doesn't acknowledge how much business actually gets done 164 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: on social media. And it reminded me of the way 165 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: the league never really worked to get ahead of this problem. 166 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: We saw this bubbling, and as the anchor on CNBC remarks, 167 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: through the college rivalry, there were hints that this was 168 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: going to take a darker turn, and the league really 169 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: could have had a more concerted effort when the season 170 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: started to combat some of the conversations, to make sure 171 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: informed people were leading the conversations. And I even look 172 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:36,959 Speaker 1: at the way this league and its players have come 173 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: together in the past around issues as serious as trying 174 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: to elect people into prominent political positions in the US. 175 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: When they work together and they act together, they get 176 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: shit done. And it feels like there wasn't that collective 177 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: effort in this case to prioritize not just the experience 178 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,839 Speaker 1: of the rookies, but the way the league was entering 179 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:00,599 Speaker 1: this new era of attention. And I think Kathy Engelbert, 180 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: perhaps as a leader. If this is the way she'd 181 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:06,479 Speaker 1: used this problem is part of the issue there. Claire Watkins, 182 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: a Great women's sports reporter, asked on Twitter, this is 183 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: a real question. Is there anyone in the league office 184 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 1: who has shown Engelbert what it is exactly a player 185 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: like Ree sees on her social media every day. It's 186 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: a great point if Engelbert is too distanced from the 187 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: actual experience of the players to recognize the severity of this, 188 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: which includes death threats and I know where you live 189 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: and here's your address, and awful, racist and homophobic and 190 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: every other kind of comment that these players are getting. 191 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 1: She might feel like her answer was comprehensive enough. It 192 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: clearly wasn't. This isn't just a dog on Kathy, but 193 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: it is to say that as the league increases in 194 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: popularity and attention, so too must it acknowledge the responsibility 195 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: that it has to handle big issues like this. This 196 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: answer was a fail. It was incomplete. We're going to 197 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: talk about this more later, and by then we probably 198 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: will hear from players too. In fact, some of them 199 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: are already out there very clearly speaking their mind about 200 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:01,839 Speaker 1: what they saw from Kathy. I haven't seen many full 201 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: on say this is what she should have said or 202 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: I disagree with that, but there are some pretty obvious ones. 203 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: Brianna Turner, for example, wrote, I stand against all forms 204 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: of discrimination, hatred, and bias, especially in reference to sports. 205 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: The intersection of racism and sports should always be rejected. 206 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 1: No platform is too big or too small to stand 207 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: for the right thing, no excuses. She posted that to 208 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:23,679 Speaker 1: social no context. I think it's pretty clear that she 209 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: was suggesting that that's something Kathy Engelbert should have said. 210 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: I agree, although I'll say that the simplistic idea of 211 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 1: like denouncing racism, homophobia, sexism, yeah, absolutely start with that. 212 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 1: But ultimately the question here for Kathy, and the larger 213 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: question for the league is what do you plan to 214 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 1: do about this? How do you get ahead of it? 215 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: Not just how do you respond to it, but how 216 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 1: are you preventative or how are you collective in your 217 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: efforts to make sure that it doesn't get fostered by 218 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: anyone in the media, by fan bases, by groups that 219 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: allege to support you, your team, or your league. I 220 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: know a lot of people are going to call for 221 00:10:56,559 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: Kathy to explicitly face this issue head on and that's accurate, 222 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: Like you have an opportunity there to speak head on 223 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 1: to an issue that has plagued this league since its 224 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:08,199 Speaker 1: beginnings and very clearly has taken on an even darker 225 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:11,199 Speaker 1: turn this year, and she didn't do it. And criticism 226 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 1: for that is completely fair. But to be honest, at 227 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: this point, I think we're so beyond needing to just 228 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,439 Speaker 1: say racism bad that I want to hear more definitive 229 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: ways that she wants to respond. It feels like this 230 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:25,079 Speaker 1: league is very aware of the homophobian racism that plagues 231 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: women's sports par particularly the w and the coaches are 232 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: and probably most of the front office. I just don't 233 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 1: know if Kathy wants it to be part of her job, 234 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: and I don't want to speak out a turn. I 235 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: don't know how much she does behind the scenes, and frankly, 236 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: I haven't done reporting on whether behind the scenes she 237 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: is active in this, but that answer certainly led me 238 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 1: to believe that she isn't. She's more focused on the 239 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: business side and props to the business of the W 240 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: going the direction that's going in. But Kathy needs to 241 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 1: care as much about this issue, and she needs to 242 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: make that clear when she does interviews like this and 243 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 1: when she's making decisions about the league moving forward. Finally, 244 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: there's a new research report from the Women's Sports Foundation 245 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 1: titled Play to Lead The Generational Impact of Sports on 246 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 1: Women's Leadership, and this breakthrough study reveals the profound cross 247 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: generational impact youth sport participation has on women's leadership development. 248 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: It's a survey of multiple generations of women, from those 249 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: in their twenties all the way up to their eighties, 250 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: exploring the effects of policy driven changes, most notably the 251 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: passage of Title nine in nineteen seventy two, and diving 252 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: into the barriers that have impeded full and sustained sport 253 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 1: participation across the decades. Now, some of this reporting is 254 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: stuff that I've been talking about people in this industry 255 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: have been talking about for a really long time. We 256 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: know that early access to sport and youth participation tied 257 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 1: directly to leadership at the highest levels. You've likely heard 258 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: that longsighted Ernst and Young report ninety four percent of 259 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: C suite women played sports, a staggering number. But there's 260 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: new takeaways from this research that I found surprising to 261 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: including the fact that the youngest group of women interviewed. 262 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: Those in their twenties have escalating concerns around barriers to 263 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: full and safe participation as a component of youth sports. 264 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 1: That means those who most recently participated in youth sports 265 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: see problems and see those problems getting worse. The report 266 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 1: recommends all sorts of potential policy action, like advocating for 267 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:10,439 Speaker 1: Title nine to be enforced at all levels of education, 268 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: starting even younger, expanding the Equity and Athletics Disclosure Act 269 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,680 Speaker 1: to include second education programs, and advocating for US Congress 270 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: to pass the Fair Play for Women Act. It also 271 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: suggests other solutions, including elevating youth sport coaching training, expanding 272 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: the number of women coaches through training and active recruitment, 273 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: and prioritizing mental health and wellness support. There's a ton 274 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: of good stuff in this report, and the most important 275 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 1: part might be that it gives us the hard data 276 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 1: on the impact of sport for women on future leaders 277 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: and women's success in the workplace, and the effect it 278 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: has on our economy as a whole. And we know 279 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: how much people are moved by the business case for things, 280 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: by the economics of things. We understand how important it 281 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 1: is to keep putting this data in front of decision 282 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: makers and having them see the direct correlation between girls 283 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 1: and women in sport and what that means for our economy. 284 00:13:57,640 --> 00:13:59,719 Speaker 1: We should care a whole lot about whether we're helping 285 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:02,319 Speaker 1: the next generation, and that includes all of them, regardless 286 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: of economic status, race ability. How to get all of 287 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: them access to sport so that we can ensure that 288 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 1: the future includes more women in those leadership positions. You 289 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:13,599 Speaker 1: can find the full Women's Sports Foundation report in the 290 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 1: show notes, and I highly recommend a lot of you 291 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: checking it out. It's good stuff, all right, my little 292 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 1: orange slices. I got to give you a little context 293 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: here ahead of my interview with La sparkstar Derika Hamby. 294 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: So last month, Hanby filed a federal lawsuit against her 295 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: former team, the Las Vegas Aces, as well as the 296 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: WNBA itself. She claimed that she was discriminated against on 297 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: the basis of pregnancy. 298 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 4: So. 299 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: She was a member of the Aces from twenty eighteen 300 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: through twenty twenty two, and she signed a two year 301 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: contract extension in June of twenty two. She says that 302 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 1: to sweeten that extension offer, the Aces made specific assurances 303 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: outside the contract, including allegedly promising to pay the private 304 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: school tuition of her daughter through a school quote unquote donation, 305 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: and to supply both assistance with childcare and housing accommodations. 306 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: Just days after Hamby and the a has won the 307 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two WNBA title, she announced that she was 308 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 1: pregnant with her second child. According to her lawsuit, Hamby 309 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: says that following that pregnancy announcement, she experienced changes in 310 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: how she was treated. She alleges that Ace's head coach, 311 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: Becky Hammond, made hostile and discriminatory remarks about her pregnancy, 312 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: and she says Hammond accused her of signing her contract 313 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: extension while knowingly pregnant, not taking proper precautions to avoid 314 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: another pregnancy, and more. Now, if you remember, this isn't 315 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: the first time the topic has come up. On the 316 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 1: day that Hamby was traded to the Sparks, she took 317 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: to social media to publicly accuse the Aces of misconduct, 318 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: and in February of last year, the WNBA announced that 319 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: it was investigating her allegations. The league ultimately stripped the 320 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: Aces of a first round draft pick as punishment for 321 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 1: quote impermissible player benefits since those aforementioned assurances about the 322 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: school tuition and the childcare payments violate the WNBA standard 323 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: player contract. The league also suspended Hammond for two games 324 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,479 Speaker 1: for violating league and team respect in the Workplace policies, 325 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: but Hamby's federal lawsuit takes the case to a new level. 326 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: Details in the law lawsuit alleged that the Aces directed 327 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: players to stop communicating with her, and that the team 328 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 1: didn't invite her to the team's WNBA title white House 329 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 1: ceremony with Vice president Kamala Harris, among other things. She 330 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: also says the WNBA refused to extend a marketing contract 331 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: that paid her in addition to her player salary. WNBA 332 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: has said it's reviewing the complaint, and Hamminis denied wrongdoing 333 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: on multiple occasions, but while the legal process unfolds, Hambias 334 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: had to deal with harassment, including from Las Vegas Aces fans. 335 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 1: When the Sparks played the Aces in Vegas last month, 336 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: she was booed just about every time she touched the ball, 337 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: despite helping that team to its first title just two 338 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: seasons ago. Deerica is limited on what she's allowed to 339 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 1: say about the case given that it's still ongoing. But 340 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: I did get her thoughts on what it's been like 341 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 1: playing under so much pressure and how she handled the 342 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 1: hostile response from the Aces fans, plus a whole lot more. 343 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 1: That conversation's coming up next stick Around. She's a WNBA champion, 344 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: a three time All Star at two times sixth Woman 345 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: of the Year, and an Olympic bronze medalist three x 346 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: three at the Paris Games. She's the mother of two, 347 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: and she broke my Sky fan heart with her insane 348 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,399 Speaker 1: last second half court game winner against Chicago in the 349 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 1: second round of the twenty nineteen playoffs. It's the Los 350 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: Angeles Sparks, Dereka Hanby, what's up, Dereka? 351 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 5: You haven't healed from that. 352 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 1: No, that was a terrible play on all accounts by 353 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: the Sky. But you also had to make the shot 354 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: to make. 355 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 5: It hurt, and you did, which was meant to be 356 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:25,120 Speaker 5: a lot of. 357 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 1: Was it for who? 358 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:28,199 Speaker 5: For who? For me? 359 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: Who was in charge of that kind of destiny? 360 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:32,640 Speaker 5: Referee? 361 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: That's right. I want to start with the most important thing, 362 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: which is your cute little babies. I want to know 363 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 1: where the names came from. Amaya and legend Marie. 364 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 5: Uh So, Amya. 365 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 6: She's actually in the shooting basketball right now, but I 366 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 6: just wanted to stick with an a name. Her father's 367 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 6: names Alonso, so I was trying to kind of keep 368 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 6: that thing going. And Marie is my family's like middle name, 369 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 6: my mom's middle name, my grandmoms, my sister, so felt 370 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 6: I wanted to keep that going. And then when I 371 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 6: had a son, I was like, he can't be Murray, 372 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 6: so he'll be like Mari and so r e E 373 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 6: and his name just kind of just kind of crazy 374 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:13,880 Speaker 6: how it came about. I was at All Star weekend 375 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 6: and I had to bracelet on my wrists and at 376 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 6: the time I didn't know, but uh like I was pregnant, 377 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 6: and the bracest said legend, and I was talking to 378 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 6: Kelsey Plum and I was like, I'm gonna name my 379 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 6: next kid this like legend And then sure enough, Yeah. 380 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:32,160 Speaker 1: Wow, I'm not gonna lie as a person whose name 381 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 1: is better than my siblings, because just Sarah Spain, the 382 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: alliteration is better than Katie Spain. I've always wondered if 383 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:39,919 Speaker 1: she's like, why didn't I get the cool name? And 384 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 1: I feel like Amaya might be like, I'm just a 385 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: Maya and my legend but I can't honestly might inspire 386 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: her to greatness, I would just like spite. 387 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 5: Oh she's on it. 388 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:53,120 Speaker 6: She's she works already, Like she's in there working out 389 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 6: right now and play. So I'm hoping she likes tennis 390 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 6: and she's really picked up on it, So hoping she's 391 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 6: gonna stay with that. 392 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 1: Okay, you might have inspired her with those name choices. 393 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 1: What's been the best part of adding the job of 394 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:08,919 Speaker 1: mom to your job of basketball player? 395 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 6: Just having like a little mini me, you know, she's 396 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 6: just the life I get to experience is one thing, 397 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 6: Like you know, your parents are like, oh, I got 398 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 6: to do this and do that, And I think it's 399 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 6: pretty cool. Me and my mom were really close growing up. 400 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 6: She had me at seventeen, so we've always had a really. 401 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 5: Good relationship, close relationship. 402 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 6: So to be able to kind of repeat that with 403 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 6: my daughter and have her goal along and experience everything, 404 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 6: this meant a lot to me, and I know it'll 405 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:31,880 Speaker 6: mean a lot to her. 406 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, last weekend, your Sparks were officially eliminated from the playoffs. 407 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,160 Speaker 1: What are your teammates and coaches saying about staying motivated, 408 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: staying competitive through the end of the season. 409 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 6: Uh, just we're just talking about the future and continue 410 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 6: to build and while it obviously isn't going to quite 411 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 6: matter right now, and just continue to do little. 412 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 5: Things and continue to get better. 413 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 6: If we just had a meeting, coach had to treat 414 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 6: this like our playoffs, because we're going to get back 415 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 6: to backs with Connecticut and Seattle and like you would 416 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 6: typically do that in a playoff series. 417 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 5: So just kind of get a little experience with that 418 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 5: going through that process. 419 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 6: But yeah, I mean going into the season, it wasn't 420 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 6: We didn't have the highest expectations, and I think at 421 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 6: a point in time we thought like we could still 422 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 6: be pretty good, but we obviously had some bad luck 423 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 6: with some injuries that happened. But we're excited. We got 424 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 6: good pieces. Obviously we're gonna add another piece probably in 425 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 6: the draft. Yeah, we're gonna be good to go. 426 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, there might be a there might be a chance 427 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 1: we see Page Beckers there this year. 428 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 6: We won't. 429 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: We will, you know, I don't want any tampering. I'm 430 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: not sure what the rules are for you in potential 431 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: first round picks, but you're looking at the future and 432 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: you do have Rakia Jackson, one of the stellar rookies 433 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: to come out of this year's draft class, who's been 434 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: just playing her ass off. You've gotten to watch her 435 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,479 Speaker 1: up close all season. What makes her so special and 436 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: what do you see for her future in the league. 437 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 6: I mean, she's just skilled, honestly, on both ends of 438 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 6: the ball. I know we obviously have seen her offensive talent, 439 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 6: but her lengthdin and versatility, she can be special in 440 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 6: defense as well. And honestly, I think after like her 441 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 6: second her third week here, I wrote her a letter 442 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 6: and I told her that she was the future of 443 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 6: this team and that she was the start. And at 444 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 6: that point she hadn't even hear her stradia, and I 445 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:11,159 Speaker 6: know she was frustrated, and I tried to keep reminding her, 446 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 6: like it's gonna click, it's gonna click, like you know, 447 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 6: just the new the rookie transition. And at the beginning, 448 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 6: with some injury, she was playing out of position, so 449 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 6: it was a little hard. You know, she was at 450 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 6: the four going against like me, and so it was 451 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 6: kind of frustrating for her. But I just tried to 452 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 6: be in her ear, just remind her how confident she 453 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:30,199 Speaker 6: needs to stay in that how good she's going to be. 454 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 1: That's a vet move. But it's also kind of a 455 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:35,639 Speaker 1: mom bove to take the right under your wing and 456 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:37,160 Speaker 1: write her a letter. That's really sweet. 457 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 6: Oh, every I wrote all my teammates letters, maybe after 458 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 6: the first couple of weeks. Yeah, just about what they 459 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 6: could do well and just kind of things they give 460 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 6: them confidence. 461 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's old school, instead of sending them a text 462 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: or an email. Do you have specific like special paper 463 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: or cards that you use. 464 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 6: Oh, Maya got we got index cards and I let 465 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 6: Maya decorate them and they get kind of lazy towards 466 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:03,160 Speaker 6: the end. But that was something that when Maya was here, 467 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:05,199 Speaker 6: she was fresh out of school. Also, it was just 468 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 6: an opportunity for also met Amita Bond and I wrote 469 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 6: them out on my phone and then I just kind 470 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 6: of like translated them over and I gave them before game. 471 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:14,959 Speaker 6: And I think it meant a lots of them are 472 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 6: Kisa that she still has it on refrigerator actually, so ah, 473 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 6: that was great on the line for her to hopefully 474 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 6: share that story. 475 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, yet another rookie phenom and Cameron Brink and her 476 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: injury was a real disappointment for the Sparks, especially to 477 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,200 Speaker 1: have to see a rookie go down like that. How 478 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: has the team sort of supported her and how is 479 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,880 Speaker 1: she handled being sidelined really well? 480 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 6: I mean, if you know anything about him, she's she's 481 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 6: super sensitive and she's hard on herself, and so I 482 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 6: think initially it was I mean, I don't think for 483 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 6: anybody to be really draining, but I think she's slipped 484 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 6: her perspective and she knows it's a good opportunity for 485 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 6: her to get stronger, watch a lot of film and 486 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 6: just grow, and you know, she got a taste of it, 487 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 6: and so I think she's going to be prepared, you know, 488 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:02,680 Speaker 6: come back next season and she'll have a growth a lot. 489 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, of course, we never want anyone to get hurt, 490 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 1: but her injury did open up a spot for you 491 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 1: on the Olympic three x three squad. Can you take 492 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: us through how you got that news that you would 493 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: be elevated and playing. 494 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 6: Yeah, very disappointed at first on the initial selection process. 495 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 6: I won't speak too much because obviously I still ended 496 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 6: up on the team. And yeah, you know, Cam and 497 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:25,719 Speaker 6: I were on that phone call together and we were 498 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 6: both crying and like, I was happy for her, but 499 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 6: she was like sad for me. So we kind of 500 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 6: went through that process together and actually a couple of 501 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 6: days ago we had another conversation about it and she 502 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 6: was talking about how she thinks were intertwined and just 503 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:39,880 Speaker 6: I was like meant to me and like a moment 504 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 6: for her to have like like tremendous growth in her 505 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 6: life because of where she was at with basketball, and 506 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 6: so it was kind of like a sad. 507 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:49,479 Speaker 5: But like a bonding moment for us. 508 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 6: And she was super supportive and I'm gonna be there 509 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:53,640 Speaker 6: for her through this process as much as I can. 510 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:56,360 Speaker 5: But yeah, I got the phone call. 511 00:23:56,760 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 6: It was ironically, I was already in Connecticut with the Rosati, 512 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 6: the head coach of three on three, and the day 513 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 6: before we had sat down for a little bit and 514 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 6: we kind of talked about it and maybe an alternate 515 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,320 Speaker 6: and so the way it kind of played out the 516 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,639 Speaker 6: day after that was kind of like bittersweet, which is 517 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:14,520 Speaker 6: I feel like for me, I wasn't able to fully 518 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 6: like you know, processing to be excited because I was 519 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 6: still just so like in shock for camp. 520 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 1: Yeah that's wild though, that she was the one comforting 521 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 1: you after the initial roster decision and then you're the 522 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:28,679 Speaker 1: one comforting her after the jury. It does sort of 523 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: connect you to in a really special way. I know 524 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 1: that the new three on three not three x three 525 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 1: because Unrivaled is using three on three and they have 526 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 1: different rules. That new league is going to be different 527 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:42,359 Speaker 1: than the Olympic version. But there's obviously a lot of 528 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 1: crossover when you've got three on three play. So are 529 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:47,199 Speaker 1: you going to be generous with your advice for competitors 530 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: or are you keeping those secrets to yourself. 531 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 6: I mean it's gonna be new to me quite honestly. 532 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:55,840 Speaker 6: I mean it's still it's five on five court style 533 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 6: because you're still going up and down, right, So I think. 534 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 1: Are going to be because they're using both sides of 535 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:02,920 Speaker 1: the court like three x three. 536 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 6: Yeah, there's gonna be players that have advantages just because 537 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 6: like foot speed up and down. I think I'll be 538 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 6: one of those. But just a great opportunity. You know, 539 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 6: the best players in the world are gonna be in 540 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:17,400 Speaker 6: the city of Miami, you know, getting better and competing 541 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 6: and just bringing more attention to women's basketball. So I'm 542 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:22,679 Speaker 6: looking forward to you know, I get to go and 543 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 6: learn more. I mean, I'm ten years in and I 544 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:29,119 Speaker 6: still have to go so to be able to be 545 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 6: around the best players in the world. 546 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 5: I'm looking forward to it. 547 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: I'm excited, and I'm I'm a really big fan of 548 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,159 Speaker 1: when you've got a versatile player that can be a 549 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: big and still shoot threes, like you know, handle the ball. 550 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 1: So you're right, those players that have enough size and 551 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: length to be tough on defense and to take up 552 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 1: space in a three x three situation, but also can 553 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: have the speed to play full court as opposed to that. 554 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: That benefit in three x three was that you weren't 555 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 1: having to run the floor, but they're gonna make you 556 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 1: work for it, which I mean, if it's no Fisa 557 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 1: and Brianna, that's why that's happening. They basically created the 558 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 1: thing that was the best for their skill set. 559 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 6: I mean, I think you're gonna have to be in 560 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:08,399 Speaker 6: better conditioning to do three x three, honestly, because you know, 561 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 6: three on three you can kind of walk the ball 562 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 6: up a little bit, so you might be able to 563 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 6: That's fair. 564 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 1: That's fair, and I didn't even think about that. You 565 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 1: get a little break between the reaction and the. 566 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 6: Games will probably be longer, so there's a little bit 567 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 6: more room for air versus. But it's like one on 568 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:24,680 Speaker 6: one and so We're. 569 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: Gonna see who's got the handles, that's for sure. That's 570 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 1: gonna be fun. I'm excited for that. So, speaking of competing, 571 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 1: Maya's auntie, Olivia Nelson Adota plays for the son sister 572 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 1: of Maya's dad. When you play each other, does that 573 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: connection make you go extra hard or do you take 574 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:39,680 Speaker 1: it easy on her? 575 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 5: Uh? 576 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:42,479 Speaker 6: I think I'd take it easy on her. I mean, 577 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 6: she'd probably to take it hard, but I have a 578 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:46,239 Speaker 6: little soft spot for her. 579 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 5: So I've known her since she at least it's on 580 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:52,120 Speaker 5: Maya seven, I've been ten. 581 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 6: Fourteen, sixteen years. Wow, So i've known her. She was 582 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 6: kind of mean to me when she was little, so 583 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 6: like a protective little system. 584 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:05,399 Speaker 5: But no, we have a great relationship. 585 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 1: You know. 586 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 6: I'm just trying to be supported to her and be 587 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:10,160 Speaker 6: there for her and in all areas of life. And 588 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:11,800 Speaker 6: I'm thankful for that relationship. 589 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: What if Amia wants to wear her jersey instead of yours? 590 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:15,959 Speaker 5: How does that? 591 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:16,639 Speaker 1: What happens? 592 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 6: Then she says she's just she said she doesn't cheer 593 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:22,120 Speaker 6: against us, but whoever wins, she's happy for them. 594 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:27,360 Speaker 1: Perfect. Can I ask about when your sparks went to Vegas? 595 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: Some of the aces fans booed you despite you having 596 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,800 Speaker 1: a major role in getting the team its first title. 597 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 1: How did that feel in that moment, because I have 598 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:39,440 Speaker 1: not seen a single person, former player or a fan 599 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,880 Speaker 1: say that they felt that that was a fair move 600 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 1: from the fans. 601 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:50,239 Speaker 6: Ironically, I tried to process it and prepare myself in 602 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:53,399 Speaker 6: a sense, but it's still you can't really prepare for 603 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:55,879 Speaker 6: it until you go through it and I fall back 604 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 6: tears like the entire game like. 605 00:27:59,720 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 2: It was. 606 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:03,880 Speaker 6: Yeah, it was heartbreaking, but I you know, people don't 607 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:06,440 Speaker 6: fully know and understand. They're just going off the sport 608 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 6: aspect of it. So I understand that. But it was 609 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 6: a moment that I had, like leading up to it, 610 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:16,399 Speaker 6: I had severe like overwhelmingness and like anxiety in my stomach. 611 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:20,680 Speaker 6: But that process has passed. I'm just looking forward to 612 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:22,199 Speaker 6: the right thing being done. 613 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 1: I don't blame you for having that reaction, and I 614 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 1: think as much as we can know that fans operate 615 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:29,680 Speaker 1: from this sense of us versus them, it doesn't mean 616 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:32,199 Speaker 1: that it doesn't hurt in that moment. What would you 617 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 1: say to those fans about what they didn't understand about 618 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:36,680 Speaker 1: you coming back to play there? 619 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 6: I don't know if they're new fans. I think a 620 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:43,440 Speaker 6: lot of the old fans probably weren't participating in that. Yeah, 621 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 6: just like the loving heart that I poured into being 622 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 6: a part of that, and I didn't like ask to 623 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 6: leave so to say. 624 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 5: So, you know, it's a complicated situation. 625 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 6: For all them and fans included, and it was like 626 00:28:58,040 --> 00:28:58,840 Speaker 6: kind of torn but. 627 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 5: Is eventually hoping to have it all situated and figured out. 628 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I wanted it to be like that NBA game 629 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: where Popovich like grabbed the mic midgame and was like 630 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 1: shut up. I wanted like Kelsey or someone to hop 631 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 1: on and be like, okay, everybody, like we're not doing that. 632 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: But I know that's easier said than done. From afar, 633 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 1: I'm obsessed with Michael Jordan's massive Jordan obsessed with both 634 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 1: the gear but also the guy. I'm a Chicago getal, 635 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 1: you're a Jordan athlete, So I got to know, like, 636 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 1: what's the best thing you've been gifted by Jordan brand 637 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:31,360 Speaker 1: or like the coolest experience that you got because of 638 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 1: your partnership. 639 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,400 Speaker 6: I would just say the ability I get so many shoes, 640 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 6: Like actually, I don't even know if it was really 641 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:42,480 Speaker 6: like put out there, but I sign up for extension. 642 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 1: Congrats amazing. 643 00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 6: Yeah signed four years. I just what the brand stands 644 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 6: for and just how comfortable and how loving they are, 645 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 6: and you know they kind of cater to you as 646 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:56,440 Speaker 6: a person and an athlete. My family, I just always 647 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 6: have really appreciated and they just do right by you. 648 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:03,800 Speaker 6: And like I said, like I love representing the brand 649 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:05,400 Speaker 6: and I'm excited. 650 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:08,479 Speaker 1: You don't even have to think about like Christmas presents. 651 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:11,360 Speaker 1: You just got the play and everybody gets Jays. Yeah, 652 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:14,480 Speaker 1: I send everybody Nike money and say like, yes please, 653 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: that's I need someone in my family to design with Jordan, 654 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: because I've been sitting on stock X just throwing throwing 655 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:25,200 Speaker 1: cash at all my jays. What's your goal for this offseason, 656 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:28,480 Speaker 1: including both playing and unrivaled and looking ahead to next season. 657 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 5: Yeah, it just continues to get better. You know. 658 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 6: I think I obviously took a tremendous growth Elite this year, 659 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 6: and I still think I have more. 660 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 5: That I can add to my game. First of all, 661 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 5: I need to make graph free throws. 662 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 6: I think if not saying, we'd be in the playoffs. 663 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 6: But you know there's a lot of games I've we 664 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 6: kind of lost to a couple of points. So just 665 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 6: being able to knock down free throw shots because I 666 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 6: an't getting into the line, and I would say at 667 00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 6: a midrange game, I've shot, I'm shooting the ball well 668 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:01,160 Speaker 6: from the three, and obviously it's at the paint, but 669 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:02,880 Speaker 6: teams are guarding me a little bit different now. So 670 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:05,920 Speaker 6: being able to kind of have that mid range area 671 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:07,040 Speaker 6: under control. 672 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:09,680 Speaker 5: I think you see it in Likenfisa and Asian Stewey. 673 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:12,080 Speaker 5: So being able to add that to my. 674 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 1: Game, Yeah, well we'll be watching. We'll be watching for 675 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: the free throws too, I can I can bet on 676 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 1: that now that you said you're going to work on it. 677 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:20,720 Speaker 1: We're always one of my goals. 678 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:23,160 Speaker 6: I had a little basketball, a big bass of dub 679 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 6: Bay ball, and I wrote down my goals for the 680 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 6: year and I think I said eighty percent. I'm nowhere 681 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:31,360 Speaker 6: to hear that, so but at least I was thinking 682 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 6: about it. 683 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, just keep at it. Just roll that roll the 684 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:37,960 Speaker 1: goals ball over to the next season too. Don't need 685 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:40,400 Speaker 1: to start a new keep. Some of those just add 686 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 1: to it. Thank you so much for coming on. I 687 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:43,720 Speaker 1: was so great to talk to. Enjoy the rest of 688 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 1: your season. Appreciate the time. 689 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:45,720 Speaker 5: Thank you. 690 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:50,720 Speaker 1: Thanks again to Deerica for the time. We got to 691 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:52,480 Speaker 1: take another break. When we come back. A pair of 692 00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 1: Hoopers entered the hallowed halls of the Good Game Hall 693 00:31:55,320 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 1: of Fame. It's next, You're back, We're back to We're 694 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 1: all back together, and I'm still feeling inspired by Deerica, 695 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:12,480 Speaker 1: who's absolutely killing it as a Hooper and a mom. 696 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:20,120 Speaker 1: So inspired another entry into the Good Game Hall of Fame. Okay, so, 697 00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 1: just to remind her, Deerica had her son Legend on 698 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:26,200 Speaker 1: March sixth, twenty twenty three. And get this, she returned 699 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:28,880 Speaker 1: to Sparks training camp seven and a half weeks later 700 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:32,200 Speaker 1: April twenty eight, twenty twenty three, and she proceeded to 701 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 1: play all forty games that season. Insane, right, Well wait 702 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 1: till you hear this. Way back in nineteen ninety seven, 703 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 1: in the first season of the WNBA Friend of the Show, 704 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:44,040 Speaker 1: Cheryl Swoops was the face of the league. She was 705 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:46,080 Speaker 1: the first player to sign with the WNBA, the first 706 00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:48,080 Speaker 1: to have her own signature. Shoe Anne was set to 707 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:51,080 Speaker 1: join the Houston Comments. Swoops was a big deal in 708 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 1: Texas too, having put Texas Tech on her back, leading 709 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:57,080 Speaker 1: the program to its first and only NCAA championship in 710 00:32:57,120 --> 00:33:00,120 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety three. So Cheryl Swoops was pregnant before for 711 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:01,840 Speaker 1: the start of the ninety seven season and had her 712 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:05,480 Speaker 1: son Jordan great name just as the season tipped off. 713 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:08,720 Speaker 1: It took Cheryl just six weeks to return to the court. Now, 714 00:33:08,760 --> 00:33:10,920 Speaker 1: she didn't play all forty games like Deerica, but her 715 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 1: comments went on to win the first championship in WNBA 716 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 1: history and then win three more in a row. The 717 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:19,880 Speaker 1: rest is well, you get it, and we got a 718 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 1: shout out another friend of the show, Candace Parker, for 719 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:24,560 Speaker 1: her journey as a hooper and a mom too. In 720 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight, Candas was at the top of 721 00:33:26,280 --> 00:33:28,720 Speaker 1: her game, coming off two national championship titles with the 722 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:32,160 Speaker 1: University of Tennessee and an Olympic gold. She became the 723 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 1: only player in w history to win Rookie of the 724 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:39,760 Speaker 1: Year and MVP in the same season. And surprise, she 725 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:43,200 Speaker 1: did it all while pregnant. That's right, her daughter Laila 726 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 1: was in her belly helping mama to that Olympic gold, 727 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:50,200 Speaker 1: Rookie of the Year and MVP. Candas was back on 728 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 1: the court and Staples Center fifty three days after giving 729 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 1: birth to Laila, and was named to the All WNBA 730 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:58,800 Speaker 1: Second Team and All Defensive Second Team despite having missed 731 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 1: almost a full month due to her maternity leave. She 732 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:03,480 Speaker 1: started her career as a mom, and in her final 733 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:06,560 Speaker 1: years playing she expanded her family and finished it as 734 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:08,840 Speaker 1: a mother of three. She married fellow Hooper on A 735 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:11,440 Speaker 1: Petrokova in twenty nineteen, and they've added two sons to 736 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 1: the mix, Air born in twenty twenty two and Hart, 737 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:17,280 Speaker 1: born in May of this year. Cheryl set the precedent 738 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:20,280 Speaker 1: for Hooper moms in the w and Candace continued that legacy. 739 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:24,160 Speaker 1: Both proved that returning after birth might be difficult, but 740 00:34:24,200 --> 00:34:27,520 Speaker 1: it isn't impossible. We salute you, Cheryl, Candace Deerica and 741 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:30,360 Speaker 1: all the athlete moms out there. Oh and miss Swoops 742 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:33,000 Speaker 1: and miss Parker. Welcome to the Good Game Hall of Fame. 743 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:37,719 Speaker 1: We love that you're listening, but we want you to 744 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 1: get in the game every day too, y'all know that. 745 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:41,600 Speaker 1: So here's our good Game Play of the day. It's 746 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:44,759 Speaker 1: inspired by that Women's Sports Foundation report we told you about. 747 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:46,520 Speaker 1: So we want to hear from you. How did your 748 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:49,879 Speaker 1: experience playing sports impact your life down the road, Got 749 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:52,239 Speaker 1: any great stories about it? Hit us up good game 750 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:55,160 Speaker 1: at wondermedianetwork dot com. Leave us a voicemail at eight 751 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:57,920 Speaker 1: seven two two o four fifty seventy. Hit me up 752 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:00,680 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Sarah Spain or on Instace at Spain 753 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:04,439 Speaker 1: two three two three, and don't forget to subscribe, rate 754 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:07,920 Speaker 1: and review. How many times do I have to tell? Yeah, 755 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:12,080 Speaker 1: it's really easy, guys. Just watch the White Sox Campfire 756 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:15,920 Speaker 1: milkshake rating incomplete out of five stars. 757 00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:17,000 Speaker 5: Review. 758 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:20,760 Speaker 1: I didn't get to have one. The line was too long. Now, 759 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:23,040 Speaker 1: how is that possible, you asked, when the White Sox 760 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:24,640 Speaker 1: are the worst team in the history of baseball and 761 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:27,640 Speaker 1: their pathetic crowds are a thing of mockery on the interwebs, 762 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:30,480 Speaker 1: How was there a long line? I'm stumped, as you are. 763 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:32,520 Speaker 1: A list. This is what happened. A handful of my 764 00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:34,160 Speaker 1: friends and I went to the game as like a 765 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:36,920 Speaker 1: bit like, let's support our White Sox fan friend for 766 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:39,560 Speaker 1: his birthday and witness the grossest, most heinous display of 767 00:35:39,560 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 1: baseball ever put on a field. They'll be like seventeen 768 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:44,960 Speaker 1: of us. It'll be fun and it actually was fun, 769 00:35:45,360 --> 00:35:47,640 Speaker 1: but there was like eleven thousand of us and the 770 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:49,759 Speaker 1: Guardians had a perfect game through six plus innings, so 771 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:51,399 Speaker 1: like for a while there we actually thought we might 772 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:54,759 Speaker 1: witness history. Alas, the White Sox got a hit and 773 00:35:54,960 --> 00:35:57,439 Speaker 1: I missed out on like the main reason I was there, 774 00:35:57,840 --> 00:36:02,840 Speaker 1: the infamous campfire milkshake. Pictures of this beautiful monstrosity have 775 00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:07,680 Speaker 1: been taunting me for months. Chocolate milkshake, s'mores, Graham Cracker, 776 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:11,319 Speaker 1: Hershey Bar, marshmallows, and I was finally gonna get one 777 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:13,960 Speaker 1: until I got to the stand and I saw the line, 778 00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:18,439 Speaker 1: dozens and dozens of people waiting and each marshmallow being 779 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:22,080 Speaker 1: meticulously placed atop the dairy delight. It was gonna take forever. 780 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:26,200 Speaker 1: Everybody get tamp today. What a disappointment. I might have 781 00:36:26,239 --> 00:36:28,440 Speaker 1: to go back for it though, Like I'm really I 782 00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:30,640 Speaker 1: really need to try this thing, and I hear it's 783 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:33,200 Speaker 1: dog Days at the park coming up, so I don't know. 784 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:35,200 Speaker 1: The wait talks about gets some more of my money. 785 00:36:35,640 --> 00:36:38,680 Speaker 1: Now it's your Dirk rate and review. Thanks for listening, everybody, 786 00:36:38,719 --> 00:36:42,240 Speaker 1: see you tomorrow. Good game, Deerica, Good game, Cheryl and Candice. 787 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:47,000 Speaker 1: Few long lines for a great shake. From a shitty team. 788 00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:49,800 Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports 789 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,960 Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You 790 00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:55,800 Speaker 1: can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 791 00:36:55,880 --> 00:36:59,560 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, 792 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:03,560 Speaker 1: producers are Alex Azzi and Misha Jones. Our executive producers 793 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:07,120 Speaker 1: are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan, and Emily Rudder. 794 00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:10,920 Speaker 1: Our editors are Jenny Kaplan, Emily Rudder, Brittany Martinez and 795 00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:14,520 Speaker 1: Grace Lynch. Production assistants from Lucy Jones and I'm Your 796 00:37:14,560 --> 00:37:15,600 Speaker 1: Host Sarah Spain