1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, It's Jason Kelly in New York with a 2 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: special edition of Bloomberg Business of Sports. Well for our 3 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: latest episode of Quick Take Originals Athlete Empire series. We 4 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 1: found someone who's building an empire that until very recently 5 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: was against the rules. As Fudd, she's a nineteen year 6 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 1: old sophomore star on the storied University of Connecticut women's 7 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: basketball team, and if that's not notable enough, she's also 8 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,879 Speaker 1: thriving off the court as one of the first cohort 9 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,279 Speaker 1: of college athletes to make money tied to their athletic 10 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: prowess while they're still in school. Under new rules that 11 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: went into effect just a year ago, athletes are able 12 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: to get paid for use of their name, image, and likeness. 13 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: Azs Inch deals with Chipotle, American Eagle, Bio Steele and others, 14 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: even becoming the first woman and first college athlete ever 15 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: to partner with Steph Curry's SC thirty brand. She's advised 16 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: by some agents and also her parents. Both of them 17 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 1: were college basketball stars in their own right, and they 18 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 1: were her coaches right up until she went to Yukon, 19 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: playing alongside fellow star Page Becker's and for the same 20 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: program that produced the likes of Rebecca Lobo, Renee Montgomery, 21 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 1: Sue Ber, and Diana Tracy. As has quite a platform, 22 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 1: she says she's eager to leverage it, not just for herself, 23 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: but for all those players coming up behind her, especially 24 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: young women in a world that's now able to compensate 25 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: her beyond just trophies and cheers. We got to spend 26 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: a couple of days with As on campus, there, in stores, 27 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 1: and also in Los Angeles. She was there shooting a 28 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: commercial for SC thirty, and during a wide ranging sit 29 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: down in l A, she talked about how she approaches deals, 30 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: the changing landscape for female athletes, and how Steph Curry 31 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: is filling a critical role once held by Kobe Bryant. 32 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: Here's a zing so easy. It's fun to see you 33 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles, and I think if we tried to 34 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: script a more different place from when we last week 35 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: did like stories, Connecticut and Los Angeles are two very 36 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 1: different places. Tell me why we find you in l A. 37 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: I'm out in l A right now. I had some stuff, 38 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 1: like a shoot with Curry brand Um, and then I 39 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 1: came out a little bit early to be with family. 40 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: But the main reason was Curry brand shoot, And so 41 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 1: what do you make of l A Like you said, 42 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: it is like the complete opposite from Stories Connecticut, But 43 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: it's beautiful. I love it. Yeah, And so tell me, 44 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,399 Speaker 1: I mean this is a core part, you know, doing 45 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 1: stuff with the Curry brand. We're gonna talk a lot 46 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 1: about that. How do you sort of feel about how 47 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,679 Speaker 1: how does that fit into sort of your overall plan? 48 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: It feels like that's a that's a dream assignment. It 49 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: really is kind of, like you said, a dream. I mean, 50 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 1: this brand, it's kind of stands for so many things. 51 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: But I love the partnership. It's one of my favorites. 52 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 1: I don't know if I can say that, but just 53 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 1: kind of everything that Curry and his brand stand for, 54 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 1: you know, like the family aspect, like both on and 55 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: off the court. So I'm really this is a brand 56 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: that I'm really happy to be representing. And tell me 57 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 1: the story of how that all came together, like how 58 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: you and Steph came together. How I mean, he's, from 59 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: my interpretation, like he's investing in you like someone would 60 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: invest in a startup in in some way. So tell 61 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: me the story. So I first met him at Curry Camp. 62 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,799 Speaker 1: I think I was going. Right after my freshman year 63 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: in high school, I got invited. I was one of 64 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: the first two girls invited to camp, and then I 65 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: was invited the next year as well, and I was 66 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: started training with his trainer a little bit. Um, but 67 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: he was one of my favorite players, so I I mean, 68 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: I just continued to look up to him, and he 69 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: continue to be a role model. And I went to 70 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: an under emmer school, so like there was still a 71 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: little bit of contact here and there. And then when 72 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: I and I all got past I think Curry Brand 73 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: reached out to my agent, my group and they let 74 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: me know and I was all for it. And so 75 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 1: you said, you know, there are elements of the way 76 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: he is as a player his family. Tell me more 77 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: about that sort of what you think he stands for. 78 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: I mean, he's a very big family man. You can 79 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 1: see that with his kids, with his wife. UM. And 80 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: I'm huge with my family, Like I do everything with them. 81 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: They're with me here on this trip. So I think 82 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 1: the family aspect was huge, and just kind of his personality, 83 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: like he welcomed me in right away even when I 84 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: was at camp. He made me feel part of that 85 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 1: group um and special. UM. So just being here, Like, 86 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm really part of this, part of 87 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: this brand, part of this team, part of the Curry family. 88 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: And I couldn't be more grateful. And you're working at 89 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 1: you work out with him, you know what you're here? 90 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: What's that like? It's kind of crazy. I mean I 91 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: try to keep my cool when I'm working out with 92 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: him and then like with Seth and stuff on set, 93 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: but it is like in my head, I'm going a 94 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: little bit crazy. Yeah, And so what's it like doing 95 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:02,720 Speaker 1: uh A to shoot a commercial shoot? I mean again, 96 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: this is something that college athletes haven't been able to 97 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: do really, you know, for a long time, at least 98 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: in a meaningful way. So what's what's that like? It's 99 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 1: really cool? I mean, like you said, getting to work 100 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: out with him too. I mean, I'm working out with 101 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: someone that I look up to and someone that inspires me. 102 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: So getting to see firsthand like him in action, like 103 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: what he does behind the scenes. So um, I get 104 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: to challenge myself and compete a little bit with him. 105 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: It's it's amazing. So you mentioned, you know Steph's connection 106 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,359 Speaker 1: with his family. You are very close with your family 107 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: as as you mentioned, you guys have been like trapsing 108 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: around l A doing doing lots of fun stuff. Tell 109 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 1: me about your family, Tell me about like growing up. 110 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: I mean, you know your parents have been a huge 111 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:54,720 Speaker 1: influence as still you know, important advisors to you. Tell 112 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: me about them, I think a good way to explain 113 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 1: us with we're like very I don't know. I lended 114 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 1: the most functional, dysfunctional group. I have two younger brothers 115 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: and then my parents. We at times we have no 116 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: filter and I think, like one of my favorite activities 117 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: is making fun of my brothers. Um. But I think 118 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 1: like we just really go with the flow. We can 119 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: have fun anywhere, We can entertain ourselves at any moment. 120 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:21,840 Speaker 1: So getting to be here with them on this trip 121 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 1: they don't get to My brothers don't get to go 122 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: on any trips, so getting to share these moments with 123 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: them has been a lot of fun. Yeah, I mean 124 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: I would imagine also, I mean you're at a very 125 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 1: young age and incredibly high pressure environment as an athlete 126 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: and now as a businesswoman. Um. In many ways, they 127 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: seem to counter that a little bit, right. I mean 128 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: they're the first to give you a hard time about things. 129 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,279 Speaker 1: Is that fair? That is very fair? But at the 130 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: same time. I mean, both my parents coached me and 131 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: trained me, and then my brothers rebound for me whether 132 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: they like it or not, but they're always there with 133 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: me in the gym after hours and stuff. So it's 134 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: been nice that, yes, you make fun of each other 135 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: and stuff, but it's been nice like they've helped me 136 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: get to where I am so now like they can 137 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: see all that hard work has paid off. It's now 138 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: we can enjoy it together. And it's interesting to to 139 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: think about you in the context, you know, not just 140 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: in your own family, but in the broader family of 141 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: Yukon basketball and the broader family of college athletes like you. 142 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: You're on the on the leading edge of something that 143 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: feels for those of us who've been looking at sports 144 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 1: for a long time, like a very meaningful moment in sports, 145 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: like that the economics are changing the role of sports 146 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: and society is changing. We see that from the outside. 147 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: You're inside it. Does it feel momentous to you? And 148 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: I l the the growing influence and importance of sports? 149 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: Does it feel like that on the inside you can 150 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: tell like how important it is, But at the same time, 151 00:07:57,880 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: like this is all I know in college? Basshaw is 152 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: and I l so like I'm still trying to find 153 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: my way in it by my groove and stuff, but like, 154 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: I know how important it is, and um, kind of 155 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: like the people before me paved the way and set 156 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: that path for me to be able to do this, 157 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: and how important it is for me to be able 158 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: to take advantage of this and be able to continue 159 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: this on for the female not just females with athletes 160 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 1: to come. So let's talk about who sort of who 161 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: came before you. You know, we spend some time together 162 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: in stores and man, I mean even as an outsider, 163 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: I walk into that building and it is just dripping 164 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 1: with history. I mean literally, you know, the the biggest 165 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: names in the sport. I mean their pictures, their jerseys, 166 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 1: their accolades, all of that. Talk about that heritage and 167 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 1: sort of being a part of that. Yeah, well you 168 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 1: walk in the gym and it's banners everywhere, all these awards, 169 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,839 Speaker 1: like you said, accolades. Um, it can be a little 170 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: intimidating at times. I remember my first my first couple 171 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: of visits there, it was very intimidating. I was like whoa. Um, 172 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: But like my past year, I kind of learned that 173 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: that's that's kind of like the Yukon standard. That's all 174 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: the things that they've achieved, but like we're here to 175 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: pave our own path, make our own history. And the 176 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 1: Yukon History books. And so when you think about that 177 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 1: sort of series of women who came before you in 178 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: that program and beyond um at other programs, what do 179 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 1: you think about in terms of the key moments or 180 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:32,079 Speaker 1: have you thought about sort of the key moments that 181 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:35,959 Speaker 1: got that made all this possible? To your point, well, 182 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: I think I just I feel like looking at the 183 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: Yukon like he's like the Yukon history books, looking at 184 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: the walls and stuff, I feel like all like their 185 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,079 Speaker 1: national championships and all that has really like raised the 186 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,559 Speaker 1: game of women's basketball, raised the exposure and like even 187 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: now it's still it's coming a long way with the 188 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:56,199 Speaker 1: exposure and everything. But I think the Yukon has played 189 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: a really huge role in getting women's bossles where it is. 190 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: And so let's let's talk about N I L for 191 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: a minute if we can, because it is brand new 192 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: in in many ways it was kind of lingering around 193 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: for a while. You know, obviously Ed O'Bannon you know, 194 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: went to school not far from where we're sitting. Um, 195 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: you know was was catalytic in that regard as you 196 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: were coming up as an even younger person than you are. Now, 197 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: what was your sense of what it meant? You know? What, 198 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: how do you remember sort of first hearing about what 199 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: this could mean that would be different for you? Um? 200 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: I remember just learning that you could make you could 201 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: profit off of your name and brand, and like I 202 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:46,679 Speaker 1: could profit off of as the basketball player, not just 203 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:50,959 Speaker 1: aisy the person, which I didn't really understand why you couldn't, 204 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: because at least for me, like easy the basketball player 205 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: is also easy the person. Like basketball is such a 206 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 1: huge role in my life that I didn't understand why 207 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be able to profit from it. And and 208 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: yet you weren't. I mean your parents weren't they They 209 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: both played you know, college basketball, So did you did 210 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: you talk about that with that? I mean, what have 211 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: you learned from them? Because obviously, as you say, this 212 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: is all you've ever known, but they knew something very 213 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: different they came up. Um, you know, your mom had 214 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: a very similar path in terms of being a standout 215 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: basketball player in her own right. Like, what have you 216 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: learned from them? And from others about what it was 217 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: like before. I've learned a lot, not just from n 218 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:38,199 Speaker 1: I l but how like different it was with women's basketball, 219 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: how like the inequalities and stuff. But I think, like 220 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,200 Speaker 1: on trips like this, I love just watching my parents 221 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: reaction because they've been in the game. They've both played 222 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: UM in college and they played professionally, So seeing their 223 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 1: reaction to kind of where I am and UM, it's 224 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: just really funny. I mean, like my dad loves being 225 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: around all these NBA players, my mom loves seeing all 226 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: these high level workouts and so seeing like them happy, 227 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 1: It's it's really fun because this is I mean, this 228 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: is a different world. I mean, and your parents are young, 229 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: like you know, they played you know, pretty recently, and 230 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: yet there has been this massive, massive change. It must 231 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: be interesting too, sort of, as you say, sort of 232 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: see it through their eyes in many ways, when and 233 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 1: I really sort of first came onto the scene in 234 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: terms of the actual changes a year or so ago 235 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: from when we're talking now, what was your initial approach, 236 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: How did you how did you think about it? How 237 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 1: did you talked to your parents and your team about it? 238 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,559 Speaker 1: My dad started to both of my parents started to 239 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 1: kind of like have conversations about what it meant because 240 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 1: I didn't really understand UM, and they kind of just 241 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 1: broke it down. I think one way they explained it 242 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: was like, um, when you sell like a jersey, the 243 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: jersey would just be Yukon and like a generic number, 244 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: no names on the back and whatever. But now you 245 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: can have a Yukon jersey with your number or a 246 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: name on the back and you'll be able to profit 247 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: from that when people buy it. UM. But I just 248 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: I really didn't know what to expect. I definitely didn't 249 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: I think that I would be sitting here doing this 250 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:12,679 Speaker 1: interview but having the brands that I have, doing a 251 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: shoe with career brand. I didn't think any of that 252 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: would be what I'd be getting myself into with n 253 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: I L So what does it feel like in the moment? 254 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: You know? I mean, get and I'll be honest with you. 255 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: You know, this is usually a series where we talked 256 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,319 Speaker 1: to This is different for me because I'm usually talking 257 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: to someone like Steve Young, who played in the league 258 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: for you know, in professional football for eighteen years and 259 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,439 Speaker 1: now he's an investor and he is significantly older than 260 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: you are, you know, and so we spend a lot 261 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 1: of time talking about We'll tell me about when you 262 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: were a kid. You're, from my perspective, still a kid, 263 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,719 Speaker 1: so it's a very different you know, it's a very 264 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: different view of the world. And I imagine it must 265 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 1: feel waity to some extent for you to be taking 266 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: all of this on. Do you see what I'm saying. Yeah, 267 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: I would definitely say that this past year, my freshman year, 268 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: it was a little difficult managing. I mean, I was 269 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: really lucky to have my parents so involved, so they 270 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: did a lot of the background stuff with my agents 271 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 1: so that I wouldn't need to be on calls and stuff. 272 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,839 Speaker 1: I could focus on school and basketball. But I was 273 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: still trying to figure my way out navigate my first 274 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: year of college while also navigating an I L stuff. 275 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: So it did feel a little overwhelming at times. But 276 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: I think we did a really good job managing and 277 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: I've definitely now, like, looking back on that whole year, 278 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: I feel a lot more comfortable. Tell me about what 279 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: it's like to have all these responsibilities. And we've alluded 280 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: to this a little bit. At a program at a 281 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: school like Yukon, which is top of the heat, I mean, 282 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: this will go down, you know, Ukon will go downs, 283 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: and the women's team specifically, it's probably one of the 284 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: most powerful pro grahams in the history of sports, certainly 285 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 1: college sports full stop. It's a lot of responsibility that 286 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: that comes just with playing on that team. How do 287 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: you how do you manage that in the context of 288 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: such a prominent role. It's definitely difficult, But I think 289 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: just knowing that what your priorities are, that my priorities 290 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: right now are basketball in school because without good grades 291 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: that we'll be able to play, and without basketball, I 292 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 1: wouldn't have these opportunities in these deals. So keeping those 293 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: making sure that they're always first, and I'm always making 294 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: sure like I'm on time, getting my extra work in 295 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: everything I need to then and I all can come 296 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: second and I can make sure that I'm handling all 297 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: that stuff on the side. But just keeping your priority straight. 298 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:47,359 Speaker 1: You know, It's funny because you know, as people outside 299 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: of the you know, your your world of actually doing it, 300 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: speculate about the consequences and maybe some of the unintended 301 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: consequences of ail. You think, well, you know, the really 302 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: prominent player is like you were going to benefit and 303 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: then other players or not, and so maybe there's some 304 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 1: you know, jealousy or envy or whatever. We got a 305 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: chance to spend some time with you and your team. Like, 306 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: you guys are tight. Um, it doesn't seem like this 307 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: has had that effect on your team. How do you 308 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: make sure that it doesn't? Like you said, we're very tight. 309 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: We're a super close group. I mean, you've been to 310 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: stores or not. There's not much else to do besides 311 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 1: play basketball and hang out with each other. I mean, 312 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: we're all really supportive of each other. And I think 313 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 1: it also is because that whatever deals we get, like 314 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: we share with each other. So I have a jealo 315 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: Chipotle my whole team whenever they want fully they let 316 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 1: me know. Or American Eagle they can get whatever they want, 317 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: they just let me know. And I think it goes 318 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: both ways with whatever deals other people have, that we're 319 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 1: super open and always willing to share. I mean, it 320 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: was funny and and cool to watch you and Paige Beckers, 321 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: you know, who obviously is another very prominent athlete, very 322 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: successful on the court and off. You guys have a 323 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: very good vibe. I mean we got to watch you 324 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,240 Speaker 1: literally like riding horses together in the in the barn. 325 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,119 Speaker 1: Tell me about like what you guys learned from each 326 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: other on and off the court. I learned a lot 327 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 1: from her both on and off the court when she 328 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 1: was hurt. Um. She was hurt in the summer last 329 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: summer too, so like my first few months there, and 330 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 1: then also when she was out with her knee, she 331 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,640 Speaker 1: would make sure, like coach me, not coaching from the side, 332 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: but give me tidbits because she can see like my 333 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 1: mind going with the plays and whatnot. So she would 334 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 1: just like relax, like you're doing fun, like remember to 335 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: shoot the ball when you're open. Whatever. But so that's 336 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 1: really like comforting knowing having someone before I got there, 337 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: just like make me feel at home before I filled 338 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: at home with everyone else. But um, off the court, 339 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 1: I mean, it's not just her, we're so close the 340 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: whole team that we everyone messes with each other's were 341 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: always hanging out. But I think just our dynamic is great. 342 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 1: There was legitimate heckling going on when you guys were 343 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: riding horses, so the background, like you were, this was 344 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:06,640 Speaker 1: a team bonding activity. That is this that's typical for 345 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: for your team, right like you go, you guys go 346 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:12,199 Speaker 1: and do stuff together. That team bonding activity was the 347 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 1: most like non competitive if you've been in any other 348 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: ones was trash talking and all wow, so why horses 349 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: because you guys seem to This did not seem like 350 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:25,239 Speaker 1: a chore. You guys were into it. Oh yeah, we 351 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: were into it for sure. It was a lot of fun. 352 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,240 Speaker 1: I mean, Yukon is I think they're known for their 353 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 1: agriculture program in uh like the horses and the cows. 354 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 1: But I mean that was it was definitely a different 355 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 1: environment for us. But we had a lot of fun, 356 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 1: like we do with everything when we're together, there's always fun. Yeah, 357 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 1: you mentioned Paige when when she was injured, you had 358 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:48,120 Speaker 1: to deal with an injury of your own right. And 359 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:50,920 Speaker 1: so how does the I mean, how do you start 360 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:53,200 Speaker 1: of getting your mind around that knowing that like this 361 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 1: is such a critical time for you as a you know, 362 00:18:56,359 --> 00:18:59,360 Speaker 1: as a budding player, how do you sort of keep focused. 363 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: I set goals for myself both kind of on and 364 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:05,919 Speaker 1: off the court, So with grade, making sure I keep 365 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 1: my grades up, and then with basketball, and I think 366 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 1: just knowing like my higher my higher goals, I mean 367 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 1: is being like one of the former Yukon players with 368 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 1: all the banners being an Olympic gold medalists and all that. Um, 369 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: So I think just keeping that in mind and making 370 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: sure that I'm learning everything that I can from the 371 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 1: coaches and the players, making sure that i can learn 372 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: as much as I can so that I'm ready eventually 373 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: for the next level. And so when you going back 374 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 1: to Yukon and and sort of the role of the program. 375 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 1: You know, one one could argue that Yukon, the Yukon 376 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: women's basketball team maybe the most famous women's basketball team, 377 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 1: like professional college, whatever it is. How do you ensure 378 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: that you take advantage of that, you know, both from 379 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 1: a playing perspective, but also candidly from an economic perspective. 380 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 1: You know, this is this is a big four years, 381 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: you know, to to be at the center of the sport. Um. 382 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:07,440 Speaker 1: I think they definitely go hand in hand. I mean, 383 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,879 Speaker 1: the coaches coaches done a really good job of making 384 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:13,400 Speaker 1: sure that, like over the years, you kind of set 385 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 1: that standard of they play, we play the right way, 386 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: we um do all the things the right way. It 387 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 1: makes people want to watch. So I think that like 388 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 1: all of the coverage and stuff that we have now 389 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 1: definitely well earned and hard, like really worked for. But 390 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 1: I think that because of that coverage, it really helps 391 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 1: with all the n i L stuff, because we have 392 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 1: so many games that are UM like on ESPN, and 393 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: so many top ranked games that people want to watch. 394 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:42,159 Speaker 1: It definitely does help with Then I help youwings and stuff, 395 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 1: and do you worry that this is this could be 396 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: one of the biggest platforms that that you ever had. Mean, Unfortunately, 397 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: the professional league in some ways, even though it's you know, 398 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:58,920 Speaker 1: twenty five years old, sometimes doesn't feel like it has 399 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: the cachet of of college basketball. How do you how 400 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 1: do we change that? That's really disappointing to know. But 401 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:08,880 Speaker 1: that's another reason why we have to take full advantage 402 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: of n i L and why it was so important 403 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: that it's past now UM. But I think that kind 404 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:18,919 Speaker 1: of our goal, like my UM Greater or the n 405 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:21,680 Speaker 1: i L Group school kind of thing, is to continue 406 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 1: this over and hoping that we can build our brands 407 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,159 Speaker 1: and followers will continue to then keep watching at the 408 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: next level, keep watching professionally, and the views will go 409 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: up with it. And so what I would imagine you're 410 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:39,639 Speaker 1: already at a point where you know, young women and 411 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: maybe young men are coming to you and asking for 412 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: your advice, and probably players coming in, you know, even 413 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: just a year or two. You know behind you, recruits, 414 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:50,920 Speaker 1: what have you. What do you tell them about sort 415 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: of how to smartly build your brand, how to make 416 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 1: the right choices when it comes to N I, L 417 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:00,920 Speaker 1: and other and other decisions. I would tell them kind 418 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 1: of just to be themselves to like I said, keep 419 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: your priorities strayed. Basketball is number one because with that, 420 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: Without that, you wouldn't have these opportunities. So make sure 421 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 1: you have that in order. But be true to yourself, Like, 422 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:15,680 Speaker 1: don't do deals that aren't true to you, that don't 423 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:17,640 Speaker 1: mean things to you. Don't you don't want to represent 424 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: things that you don't support. Yeah, tell me more about 425 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: that process with you. I know your parents are obviously 426 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: integral in that they're sort of the your screen in 427 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 1: many ways, they know you arguing better than anyone. How 428 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: does that work? So they are in direct contact with 429 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:36,399 Speaker 1: my agents. So when a deal comes along, people will 430 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 1: contact the agents and then they'll bring that idea to 431 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: my parents and me. UM. But I don't really think 432 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 1: I've had people reach out that I haven't really been 433 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,640 Speaker 1: interested in. UM. But so I've been really lucky with 434 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:51,800 Speaker 1: deals and brands that I support and want to be 435 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:56,719 Speaker 1: UM a face of UM. But it's been I wouldn't 436 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: say it's been easy. It's definitely been a challenge to 437 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: have a gate, but I've been really grateful for it. 438 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 1: Shifting gears a little bit. And you know, I'm thinking 439 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: about being here in Los Angeles and obviously you're working 440 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:11,199 Speaker 1: out with Steph. You're going to continue, you know, you're 441 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,879 Speaker 1: gonna spend some time I think with him at Curry 442 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 1: Camp and in San Francisco, but being in l A. 443 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 1: You have to be thinking. And I certainly am about Kobe, 444 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:25,880 Speaker 1: you know, I know you had some contact with with him, 445 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 1: with his his trainers and his team. Feels like he's 446 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: a role model as well. I mean, tell me about 447 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: who you emulate and who you've looked up to, you know, 448 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 1: men and women players over the years. Uh, he was 449 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: a big one that I really looked up to. And 450 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 1: I was actually at the Sports Academy when we first 451 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: got here on this trip, and the last time I 452 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 1: had been there was I had gone there the mom 453 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: was were playing a tournament and as when I had 454 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: first met him in person, him and Gig and that 455 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: memory kind of came back and it hurt a little, 456 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 1: but it was like one of those memories. I could 457 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 1: like look up at the room and remember going up 458 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 1: there and meeting them um, which was incredible at the time, 459 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:09,680 Speaker 1: it was amazing. It's a memory I'll never forget. But 460 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:12,239 Speaker 1: he was definitely someone that I looked up to and 461 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:16,440 Speaker 1: I will always look up to um. But for sure stuff, Well, 462 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:19,919 Speaker 1: just before we leave, Kobe, why why with Kobe? My 463 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:22,200 Speaker 1: dad was a huge fan, so when I was younger, 464 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 1: I didn't watch much basketball, but he was a huge fan. 465 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,600 Speaker 1: So Kobe was on the TV a lot um and 466 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:29,959 Speaker 1: then as I got older, I mean, everything that he 467 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:32,880 Speaker 1: was trying to do for the women's game, change women's game. 468 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: And I really liked g G two. I mean I 469 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 1: didn't get to spend too much time with her, but 470 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 1: I enjoyed working out with her when I visited. Anyway, Sorry, 471 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:43,919 Speaker 1: you were going to talk about stuff as well, and 472 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: we talked a little bit about him. But tell me 473 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 1: about other people who maybe you you either emulate or 474 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:54,920 Speaker 1: look up to. I don't know who emulate. I mean, 475 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: like I said, my parents were my coaches, so I 476 00:24:57,560 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: think I have a lot of my mom's game in 477 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: my game, Um, I get my shot from her. So 478 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: I would definitely say that my shot is hers definitely 479 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:09,640 Speaker 1: emulate that. Um, but I just love watching good basketball. Yeah, 480 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 1: tell me more about your mom as as a coach 481 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: and as a you know, as someone you literally it 482 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:18,800 Speaker 1: sounds like model yourself after in in terms of her shot. 483 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 1: What have you picked up from her? Because she you know, 484 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:25,159 Speaker 1: she was on a similar journey do you you know, 485 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: playing it at a high level in college and ultimately professionally. Um, 486 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: I would say I get some of my work ethic 487 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 1: from her. I mean both of my parents were kind 488 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 1: of showed me like what it takes to work hard 489 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 1: and what it takes to get to the level that 490 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 1: I'm at. Um, all the stuff you do on your 491 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: own and behind the scenes when no one else is watching. 492 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 1: So I definitely get that from her and both of them. 493 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:51,360 Speaker 1: But I would say my shot and me and they've 494 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 1: gotten me to where I am. You know that we 495 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: sort of talked a little bit around this idea, but 496 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:02,400 Speaker 1: you know, the women's game, women's sports, but specifically women's basketball, 497 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 1: feels like it's at a really interesting moment right now. 498 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:08,959 Speaker 1: W n b A is twenty five years old, seems 499 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 1: to be gaining in popularity if you look at ratings 500 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 1: and you look at social engagement and and all sorts 501 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:18,360 Speaker 1: of things. Social activism obviously has has become a big 502 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:21,160 Speaker 1: issue there as well. You know, as we sit here, 503 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 1: obviously there's still a lot of talk about Britty Grinner 504 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: and that's been an interesting and important sort of rallying point. 505 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,879 Speaker 1: It feels like for for the league, what do you 506 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 1: think about women's basketball at this moment? Does it feel 507 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 1: like there's momentum behind it? And why do you think 508 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 1: that is? I definitely think that there is momentum behind 509 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 1: women's boss all right now. And I mean I grew 510 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,639 Speaker 1: up listening to my mom's stories of what college rassal 511 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 1: was like at her time and her experiences and how 512 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:56,959 Speaker 1: a lot of them were not so good experiences. Um, 513 00:26:57,040 --> 00:26:59,120 Speaker 1: and just like my experience is now, how like how 514 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:02,080 Speaker 1: far the change has come across the boards. But then 515 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 1: also with the professional level, seeing like the views are 516 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: going up like there are there's more support behind women's basketball, 517 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:13,360 Speaker 1: more change like with um, the women getting to have 518 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,200 Speaker 1: their NC double a tournament being March badness this year. 519 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:20,680 Speaker 1: I didn't even realize that there was a difference between 520 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 1: like the men's march badness and stuff. But I think 521 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:25,400 Speaker 1: like the little things are starting to change, and there's 522 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 1: still a lot a lot more to go, but I 523 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 1: think that there's definitely a lot of changes. It is interesting, 524 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 1: and we talked about this when we were in stores together. 525 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 1: This this idea that you walk into that practice facility 526 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:43,439 Speaker 1: and it's mirror images. You know, it's like men's men's 527 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:45,360 Speaker 1: on the right, women's on the left. By the way, 528 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:50,360 Speaker 1: more trophies on the women's side. Um, you know, equal 529 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 1: and in all aspects. It feels like at least and optically, 530 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:59,480 Speaker 1: how important is that do you think the physical space 531 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:03,000 Speaker 1: and then the optics of basically saying we have two teams, 532 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:07,119 Speaker 1: they're both great, they're equal in our in our eyes 533 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:10,199 Speaker 1: and and in fact, if you're looking for the more 534 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:13,880 Speaker 1: accomplished when it's over there, I think it's really important. 535 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,639 Speaker 1: I mean, the respect is huge, both at least in 536 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: our program, like we respect the men and the men 537 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 1: respect us. And that's something that not a lot of 538 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:24,639 Speaker 1: programs used to have. I mean, I can't really speak 539 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 1: for any other schools, but that is something that I 540 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:31,680 Speaker 1: only know in college, right now and it's it's incredible because, 541 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:33,960 Speaker 1: like I said, like we respect each other. So it 542 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: makes it, like my experience so far, that much more valuable. 543 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 1: You have these you know, incredible facilities obviously, and certainly 544 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:48,719 Speaker 1: that's attractive when you're being recruited and you're showing up. 545 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: And yet you know, our team spent some time with 546 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 1: you in your dorm room. Like that's a dorm room, man. 547 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 1: You know, it's like you're living and you know, I 548 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: think super back and heard I lived in the same 549 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 1: you know building that you did. It does dispel a 550 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 1: little bit of the myth of like the high level 551 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 1: college athlete and you know they're pampered and they live 552 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 1: in these and and maybe that's true when it comes 553 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: to SEC football, but maybe not the case when it 554 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 1: comes to even literally the best um and most storied 555 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 1: college program in women's basketball. Right. Yeah, I am definitely 556 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 1: grateful for where we live. But you wouldn't say it's 557 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 1: like the nicest or the fanciest it gets a job done. 558 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 1: I mean, we're all there um living together, so we 559 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 1: figured out together. Yeah. Do you think that change? I mean, 560 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 1: do you do you either hope or worry that n 561 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: I l and everything that may come as the money 562 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 1: gets bigger and bigger. Do you worry that it will 563 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 1: change UM college athletics. What do you think will happen 564 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 1: looking years ahead? I don't know. I feel like it 565 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:59,600 Speaker 1: would change the dynamic a little bit, but I'm hoping 566 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 1: that it it doesn't, at least for the basketball dynamic. 567 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:05,960 Speaker 1: I mean, we have a great system, like I explained 568 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:08,440 Speaker 1: going on that we support each other. There's no drama, 569 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:11,719 Speaker 1: no jealousy, all love and support UM. But I can 570 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:14,800 Speaker 1: definitely see how it could change a lot of things. Yeah. 571 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 1: What has surprised you the most about the n I 572 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:20,680 Speaker 1: L process so far? I mean, by all accounts, it's 573 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 1: a little bit of the wild wild West. People are 574 00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:25,480 Speaker 1: figuring it out. You have the benefit and we've talked 575 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 1: a lot about it of a great team around you. 576 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:31,960 Speaker 1: I I would be very surprised if anyone was able 577 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 1: to take advantage of you economically, just because you've got 578 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 1: a great system in place. It's not the case for everybody. 579 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:41,120 Speaker 1: Do you worry about other players who don't have kind 580 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 1: of the infrastructure that you have. Yeah, I mean I 581 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:49,760 Speaker 1: I couldn't imagine going through this process without people like 582 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: my parents who I trust be in contact with my 583 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: agents that I can focus on other things, or without 584 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 1: having my agents or people to get in touch with 585 00:30:58,320 --> 00:31:01,479 Speaker 1: UM brands, Like I can't imagine having to get in 586 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:03,960 Speaker 1: touch with brands directly. I feel like that would be 587 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:08,400 Speaker 1: definitely an added stress. UM that's unnecessary to have when 588 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 1: you're trying to get through school. I'm sure I'm not 589 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: the first person to ask you this, you know, either 590 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 1: in your life or outside, but like, what's what's the 591 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 1: aisy trajectory? Like what do you imagine like when you 592 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:24,320 Speaker 1: look you're a goal center? Like if you look two years, 593 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 1: five years, ten years out, like what does that look like? Um, first, 594 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:34,960 Speaker 1: as a national championship, that's first on the goal list 595 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 1: for next year and the rest of my years in college. 596 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 1: But then it's to get drafted really anywhere would be 597 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:44,520 Speaker 1: kind of a dream come true. But to get drafted, 598 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 1: played professionally, and then I right now I would like 599 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:52,280 Speaker 1: to play overseas. Obviously, as I learn more about things, 600 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 1: maybe I wouldn't, but I want to play overseas. I 601 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:56,560 Speaker 1: think one of my biggest goals is to be an 602 00:31:56,600 --> 00:32:00,160 Speaker 1: Olympic gold medalist. I think that would be incredible. And 603 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 1: then I have no idea what I want to do 604 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 1: after bass, while I'm hoping to be able to play 605 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 1: as long as i can and stay in the game. 606 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 1: But when did you know? When did you know that 607 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: this is what you were going to do, that you 608 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:13,720 Speaker 1: were going to that you had both the talent and 609 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:18,360 Speaker 1: the drive to play at this level basketball. So I've 610 00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:20,800 Speaker 1: always played up since I was younger. I was always 611 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 1: really tall, so I would play up and then I 612 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:26,040 Speaker 1: would just be normal sized. But I didn't really know 613 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:28,280 Speaker 1: that I was that good. I just thought it was 614 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:30,400 Speaker 1: like pretty average, very normal, and my parents had to 615 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:33,560 Speaker 1: sit me down. I forget what great. It was, maybe 616 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,720 Speaker 1: like sixth grade. They sat me down and they were 617 00:32:36,760 --> 00:32:39,239 Speaker 1: like maybe I think younger than that actually, but they 618 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 1: were like, you know, you're actually good, Like you're actually 619 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:44,760 Speaker 1: pretty good at this. And I was always very hard 620 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:47,880 Speaker 1: on myself. They were very hard on me. But that 621 00:32:48,280 --> 00:32:50,480 Speaker 1: meant a lot to me to know that I was 622 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:53,600 Speaker 1: actually decent. I think then was kind of that change 623 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:57,800 Speaker 1: and attitude. I always did stuff after practice and stuff, 624 00:32:57,800 --> 00:32:59,560 Speaker 1: but that change and attitude where like I really wanted 625 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 1: to do things on my own as well and make 626 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 1: sure that I was getting in the gym and getting 627 00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:07,800 Speaker 1: better every chance I could, And so did you know 628 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:10,920 Speaker 1: then you know that sort of fifth sixth rights, You're like, 629 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:12,840 Speaker 1: all right, I'm gonna playing like I'm good enough to 630 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:15,200 Speaker 1: play it. Like what went through your mind? What? What 631 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:17,720 Speaker 1: was the switch? I think that was the switch to 632 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 1: kind of like being more dedicated to it. And then 633 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 1: I got my first offer pretty young, and I like, 634 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:25,880 Speaker 1: the coach told me I received an offer, and I 635 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:27,239 Speaker 1: looked at my parents and I was like, what does 636 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:30,080 Speaker 1: that mean? And they told me, like, you get to 637 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:33,560 Speaker 1: go to the college for free. And that was kind 638 00:33:33,560 --> 00:33:36,200 Speaker 1: of a shock. I didn't really still didn't really understand 639 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 1: and like going to college for free. But I think 640 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:40,760 Speaker 1: that was also like when it kind of became real, 641 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 1: like colleges are looking at me now, and um, I 642 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:47,160 Speaker 1: have a real chance to get to go anywhere I want? 643 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 1: Was that exciting? Scary? What? What was that feeling as 644 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:56,120 Speaker 1: you whipped through the process, Because candidly picking a college 645 00:33:56,280 --> 00:33:59,680 Speaker 1: for a kid is stressful enough, but then thinking about 646 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:02,600 Speaker 1: the dynamic of the basketball team and the potential and 647 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 1: where you're gonna play and the coaching staff and teammates 648 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 1: and all of those what what do you recall of 649 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 1: that process now, wasn't that long ago. It was exciting 650 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:15,719 Speaker 1: and scary. It was exciting that I could have all 651 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 1: these opportunities that I had choices, UM, that I could 652 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:22,319 Speaker 1: pick between whatever number of schools I had, but I 653 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 1: could pick, and it wasn't I just had one offer, 654 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:25,680 Speaker 1: like I had to go here that I could pick 655 00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:28,960 Speaker 1: kind of in do whatever I wanted to do. UM. 656 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:30,879 Speaker 1: But it was scary in a sense that, like you said, 657 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:34,560 Speaker 1: it's a new program, new coaching staff, new environment, new 658 00:34:34,560 --> 00:34:38,000 Speaker 1: team dynamics. So it was definitely a really weighted decision. 659 00:34:38,640 --> 00:34:42,840 Speaker 1: I'm an indecisive person, so it was very difficult, stressful, 660 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:45,720 Speaker 1: But then you were happy when you made the decision, 661 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 1: and you've been happy with your decisions, very happy. You know, 662 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:53,879 Speaker 1: we've seen your work ethic, first person on, last person off. 663 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:57,520 Speaker 1: Even here in l A, you're working. You're nominally sort 664 00:34:57,520 --> 00:34:59,279 Speaker 1: of on vacation, but you're working on a couple of 665 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 1: times a day. I mean, this is this is your life? 666 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 1: Where does that come from? That definitely comes from my parents. 667 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:09,320 Speaker 1: They kind of instilled that hard working mentality that drive 668 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:11,839 Speaker 1: UM and me when I was younger, like they would 669 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:14,480 Speaker 1: have me stay after practice when I was a little um, 670 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:16,399 Speaker 1: just really twenty minutes just to go around a couple 671 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:18,840 Speaker 1: of times, get extra shots up and then that just 672 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:22,560 Speaker 1: became the norm for me. UM. And now that I've 673 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:24,680 Speaker 1: recognized like I've gotten to this level, and I've gotten 674 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:26,759 Speaker 1: to this level by doing all the little things, by 675 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:29,880 Speaker 1: getting an extra shots and um working hard on my 676 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 1: own outside of the group workout sessions or times. So 677 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:37,759 Speaker 1: kind of just falling back on what I've done to 678 00:35:38,040 --> 00:35:40,239 Speaker 1: prepare me and get me here, Like I gotta keep 679 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:44,680 Speaker 1: doing that. It doesn't stop. So you know, you are 680 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:47,320 Speaker 1: you know, for your family, for yourself sort of this 681 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:50,719 Speaker 1: entree into this world. Does that feel to you? Is 682 00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 1: that exciting? Does it feel like pressure? Like? What what 683 00:35:54,680 --> 00:35:59,319 Speaker 1: is the what? What's your reaction to that? It's really exciting. Um, 684 00:35:59,560 --> 00:36:01,839 Speaker 1: Like I, like I said, my brothers don't really get 685 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:03,520 Speaker 1: the chance to go on many of these trips my 686 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:06,480 Speaker 1: parents are. UM. Just getting to see all them together 687 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:08,560 Speaker 1: and this is a pretty big shoot that I just did. 688 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:11,440 Speaker 1: So getting to see all their reactions to like the 689 00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:14,760 Speaker 1: setup of the gym and like even just the snacks, 690 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:16,880 Speaker 1: like my brothers love that. But just getting to the 691 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 1: reactions and being in this environment. It's it's really cool. 692 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:23,640 Speaker 1: Just you know, one thing that we touched on a 693 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:27,759 Speaker 1: little bit earlier, Um, and I thought about it when 694 00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:33,280 Speaker 1: you were talking about Kobe and then you know, watching 695 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:36,640 Speaker 1: what Kobe did and then now being a part of 696 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:40,960 Speaker 1: what Steph is doing in terms of supporting women, you know, 697 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:46,040 Speaker 1: and supporting women athletes and supporting women basketball players. Tell 698 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 1: me about your experience with that and whether that feels 699 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:53,600 Speaker 1: like it's happening more, whether it feels rare, Like how 700 00:36:53,640 --> 00:36:58,320 Speaker 1: do you how do you see that evolving? I think 701 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:00,440 Speaker 1: that that was kind of a big question shin when 702 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:03,120 Speaker 1: Kobe died, was like who was going to step up 703 00:37:03,200 --> 00:37:07,080 Speaker 1: and continue to help fight for women's basketball and help 704 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:11,480 Speaker 1: kind of raise the game. And I think Steph um 705 00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:14,319 Speaker 1: is doing a really good job of like trying, like 706 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:18,800 Speaker 1: inviting women to his camp and little things like that 707 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:21,960 Speaker 1: that are helping to elevate women's game. And like this 708 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:25,480 Speaker 1: deal is incredible, being not just the first like n 709 00:37:25,520 --> 00:37:27,640 Speaker 1: I l deal in college athlete, but also the first 710 00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:30,839 Speaker 1: female signed to his brand. Um, Like I don't even 711 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:32,840 Speaker 1: really know what word to you is to describe that 712 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:35,440 Speaker 1: feeling when I first signed it and being here now 713 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:38,600 Speaker 1: like it means so much. Being with step has been incredible, 714 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:41,960 Speaker 1: And what's it like to to have that sort of 715 00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:47,160 Speaker 1: creative say two, because this is not it doesn't feel superficial. 716 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:50,200 Speaker 1: It feels meaningful and is that fair? Yeah, it's very 717 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:51,920 Speaker 1: everyone And that's part of the reasons why I was 718 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:55,799 Speaker 1: so excited, because stuff is like, he's not superficial, Like 719 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:58,920 Speaker 1: what you see is kind of very real, Like I 720 00:37:58,960 --> 00:38:02,239 Speaker 1: don't really know how the stics in it. Yeah yeah, yeah. 721 00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:05,040 Speaker 1: So that that shoot you that you designed, if if 722 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:08,120 Speaker 1: I have that right was all, you know, wrapped in 723 00:38:08,160 --> 00:38:11,239 Speaker 1: an effort around women's retirement with T i A. A 724 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:16,960 Speaker 1: talk about using your platform for those sorts of issues, 725 00:38:17,040 --> 00:38:19,120 Speaker 1: you know, not just to build your own brand, but 726 00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:22,680 Speaker 1: to bring awareness, which does feel like it's very intrinsic 727 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:27,200 Speaker 1: to basketball, but especially to women's basketball. That's sort of 728 00:38:27,239 --> 00:38:30,799 Speaker 1: social impact. That was a really cool brand because that 729 00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:33,240 Speaker 1: was t i A was one of the first brands 730 00:38:33,239 --> 00:38:35,640 Speaker 1: where I kind of got to use my platform to 731 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:40,959 Speaker 1: speak out about like Title nine and retirement equality, um, 732 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:42,960 Speaker 1: and I think that's definitely something that I still want 733 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:46,359 Speaker 1: to continue to do. But that was big for me 734 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:49,560 Speaker 1: because I'm still trying to figure out what I stand 735 00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:51,400 Speaker 1: for and what I support and things I want to 736 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:53,880 Speaker 1: be able to support, and that was one of the 737 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:56,080 Speaker 1: first things I've been able to do. So I I 738 00:38:56,120 --> 00:38:59,719 Speaker 1: definitely learned a lot during that whole um a couple 739 00:38:59,719 --> 00:39:02,359 Speaker 1: of months sided stuff with them. UM, I learned a lot. 740 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:05,200 Speaker 1: But I'm also really grateful for the people in relationships 741 00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:07,399 Speaker 1: that I met all the way. And so how do 742 00:39:07,440 --> 00:39:10,920 Speaker 1: you think figure out like what's important to you? You know, 743 00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:13,640 Speaker 1: because you walk through the watch us through the process 744 00:39:13,680 --> 00:39:16,600 Speaker 1: of like picking brands, and they need to be reflective 745 00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:20,839 Speaker 1: of who you are and who your family is. UM. 746 00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:25,400 Speaker 1: This is a exciting but also challenging time to be 747 00:39:26,640 --> 00:39:31,080 Speaker 1: someone with a public face, someone who and increasingly people 748 00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:34,560 Speaker 1: are looking to athletes to help them understand these social issues. 749 00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:37,840 Speaker 1: So what's that process like for you? That's kind of 750 00:39:37,880 --> 00:39:40,120 Speaker 1: a question I ask my parents, like, how do I know, 751 00:39:40,320 --> 00:39:42,480 Speaker 1: like what I want to stand for, what I want 752 00:39:42,480 --> 00:39:45,840 Speaker 1: to support? UM? And I think I'm, I mean, I 753 00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:47,560 Speaker 1: guess I'm kind of just letting it come to me. 754 00:39:47,719 --> 00:39:50,279 Speaker 1: But I think the title nine is a huge It 755 00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:53,160 Speaker 1: ties into basketball so well. I mean, especially with my parents, 756 00:39:53,239 --> 00:39:57,879 Speaker 1: my mom playing, hearing her stories about like her experiences 757 00:39:57,960 --> 00:40:01,200 Speaker 1: and how things have changed and how Title nine um 758 00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:06,319 Speaker 1: just helped so many female athletes and it's incredible. Does 759 00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:12,360 Speaker 1: it feel like women and female athletes are being heard more? 760 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:16,000 Speaker 1: I mean it feels like, again it's recent history, but 761 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:21,560 Speaker 1: the summer between the pandemic and George Floyd's murder, it 762 00:40:21,680 --> 00:40:27,360 Speaker 1: was women athletes, especially women's basketball athletes who really pushed 763 00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:32,280 Speaker 1: these issues forward, whether it was around criminal justice reform, 764 00:40:32,440 --> 00:40:36,839 Speaker 1: police reform, voting, all of that. Does that feel like 765 00:40:36,920 --> 00:40:40,200 Speaker 1: it's accelerating to you? For sure? And I think social 766 00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:42,760 Speaker 1: media has done a huge Like it's had a really 767 00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:46,920 Speaker 1: positive impact on all of these things, um, both all 768 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:50,960 Speaker 1: these um like the social justice issues with Title nine, 769 00:40:51,440 --> 00:40:54,000 Speaker 1: but also like with the awareness of women's bosseball and 770 00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:58,279 Speaker 1: just like um spreading Oh God was one of those things, 771 00:40:58,480 --> 00:41:00,640 Speaker 1: but like spreading the coverage and stuff. I feel like 772 00:41:00,680 --> 00:41:02,600 Speaker 1: social media has done a really good job of making 773 00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:05,960 Speaker 1: people aware of all these topics and issues and with that, 774 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:08,799 Speaker 1: your voice is heard. How do you raise your n 775 00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:10,759 Speaker 1: I L game? Do you think about that? I mean, 776 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:12,319 Speaker 1: do you think about now that you've got a year 777 00:41:12,360 --> 00:41:15,920 Speaker 1: under your belt, how do you evolve it? How do 778 00:41:15,960 --> 00:41:19,960 Speaker 1: you grow it in a way that's authentically Easy. Well, 779 00:41:19,960 --> 00:41:22,160 Speaker 1: I think now that I have my first year kind 780 00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:25,759 Speaker 1: of under my belt, I have established my brands with 781 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:28,080 Speaker 1: all these other people, but I think I need to 782 00:41:28,200 --> 00:41:32,600 Speaker 1: be able to kind of like establish my own brand 783 00:41:32,640 --> 00:41:35,800 Speaker 1: more like the Easy brand, and like post about myself 784 00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:38,879 Speaker 1: more as well. But I mean, I'm not really sure 785 00:41:38,920 --> 00:41:40,920 Speaker 1: what other deals like. I'm so grateful for the deals 786 00:41:40,920 --> 00:41:43,520 Speaker 1: that I have now, I'm so happy with them, but 787 00:41:43,719 --> 00:41:46,759 Speaker 1: I think it's kind of just, uh, let's see what 788 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:56,640 Speaker 1: happens next sort of deal, right, and that's easy fun 789 00:41:56,800 --> 00:41:59,160 Speaker 1: you kind of basketball star and and I L pioneer. 790 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:01,840 Speaker 1: I think to her as well as her family and 791 00:42:01,840 --> 00:42:03,680 Speaker 1: the rest of her team for helping make our latest 792 00:42:03,719 --> 00:42:06,960 Speaker 1: installment of Athlete Empire possible. You can check out the 793 00:42:06,960 --> 00:42:10,640 Speaker 1: full documentary on Bloomberg dot com, YouTube or Bloomberg Television. 794 00:42:11,239 --> 00:42:13,440 Speaker 1: Next week Part two of our look at n I 795 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:16,640 Speaker 1: L featuring U c l A's Chase Griffin. He's a 796 00:42:16,719 --> 00:42:20,680 Speaker 1: backup quarterback who's consistently cited as one of the savviest 797 00:42:20,719 --> 00:42:24,279 Speaker 1: dealmakers in this new and I L landscape, and check 798 00:42:24,320 --> 00:42:27,719 Speaker 1: out the Business of Sports feed for past Athlete Empire conversations, 799 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:32,920 Speaker 1: including Steve Young Dominican Sue and Alex Ardriquez. I'm Jason Kelly. 800 00:42:32,960 --> 00:42:34,520 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, See you next time.