WEBVTT - There's Always Tea with Megan Perry 0:00:00.720 --> 0:00:03.320 Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're still 0:00:03.400 --> 0:00:07.000 battling the plague. Shouts to everybody out there dealing with 0:00:07.040 --> 0:00:09.799 any one of the several annoying ass illnesses going around 0:00:09.880 --> 0:00:13.440 right now. It's Wednesday, January twenty ninth, and on today's show, 0:00:13.440 --> 0:00:15.760 we're skipping the need to know and getting straight into 0:00:15.760 --> 0:00:18.279 my conversation with Beg and Perry, head of Basketball for 0:00:18.280 --> 0:00:20.880 Athletes Unlimited. We talked about what to expect from the 0:00:20.920 --> 0:00:24.680 league's fourth season, tipping off on February fifth, including new players, 0:00:24.720 --> 0:00:27.840 a new location, and the stars steak stats and stories. 0:00:27.920 --> 0:00:30.520 You should know that Combo's coming up right after this, 0:00:41.800 --> 0:00:44.839 joining us now. She's the head of Basketball for Athletes Unlimited, 0:00:44.920 --> 0:00:48.400 overseeing the strategic planning and execution of all basketball operations 0:00:48.440 --> 0:00:51.879 and player personnel matters. A former college basketball analyst and 0:00:52.000 --> 0:00:55.639 former studio analyst for the Miami Heat. Most importantly, she's 0:00:55.680 --> 0:00:59.720 a former d one hooper for Cordell University. Let's go, 0:01:00.800 --> 0:01:03.600 It's Megan Perry. I think you might be our first 0:01:03.600 --> 0:01:04.880 Cornell grad on the show. 0:01:05.760 --> 0:01:08.240 Really that can't be well. First, thank you, thank you 0:01:08.280 --> 0:01:09.960 for having me, And if I am the first, I'm 0:01:10.000 --> 0:01:12.720 glad to blaze the trail for the many Cornelians to 0:01:12.720 --> 0:01:13.200 come after. 0:01:13.760 --> 0:01:15.480 Yeah, I feel like, what am I doing with my life? 0:01:15.480 --> 0:01:18.160 If I'm not using my power and influence to elevate 0:01:18.200 --> 0:01:20.840 the profile of fellow Cornelians. It's almost like I'm not 0:01:20.840 --> 0:01:23.000 in charge around this bitch. What am I doing? I 0:01:23.680 --> 0:01:27.720 gotta start just force feeding people Cornell grads? All right, 0:01:27.880 --> 0:01:28.400 that's fair. 0:01:28.480 --> 0:01:29.200 It starts today. 0:01:29.240 --> 0:01:33.520 It starts today, It starts with you. Okay. The fourth 0:01:33.560 --> 0:01:37.480 season of Athletes Unlimited gets going February fifth. For those 0:01:37.520 --> 0:01:40.320 who aren't familiar, let's give the league my patented four 0:01:40.400 --> 0:01:43.640 US's treatment, so star stake, stats and stories give them 0:01:43.640 --> 0:01:45.800 all the information that they need to dive in to 0:01:45.880 --> 0:01:48.360 this season of Athletes Unlimited. Let's start with the stars. 0:01:48.400 --> 0:01:50.000 Who are some of the biggest names that are gonna 0:01:50.000 --> 0:01:50.680 be playing this season. 0:01:51.480 --> 0:01:53.560 You can expect some of the names that you already 0:01:53.560 --> 0:01:56.360 know and some new names. I'll say our roster, which 0:01:56.360 --> 0:01:59.040 we're really excited about. Over half of our roster. 0:01:58.960 --> 0:01:59.639 Or new names. 0:02:00.000 --> 0:02:02.920 And we have this healthy amount of players with WNBA 0:02:02.960 --> 0:02:05.320 experience and a number of players that you will find 0:02:05.320 --> 0:02:07.720 currently on a roster, names that you will know already. 0:02:08.080 --> 0:02:11.640 Three time WNBA champion Alisha Clark headlines our roster this season. 0:02:11.880 --> 0:02:15.480 You'll find names like Isabelle Harrison, Sidney Colson, Alissa Hilly, 0:02:16.360 --> 0:02:20.760 Jalen Sharad, I mean, just keya nurse. The list goes 0:02:20.800 --> 0:02:23.040 on and on and on. We have a healthy balance 0:02:23.080 --> 0:02:27.480 of vets, new and young emerging talent. And I will 0:02:27.480 --> 0:02:30.600 say for those that are just women's basketball fans, right 0:02:30.639 --> 0:02:33.280 you've been following the game from sometimes their their high 0:02:33.320 --> 0:02:35.359 school days to their collegiance space and then what they 0:02:35.360 --> 0:02:37.840 are doing professionally, these will be names that you are 0:02:37.880 --> 0:02:40.000 familiar with and you will know and you'll have a 0:02:40.080 --> 0:02:42.720 chance to plug in to this part of their professional journey. 0:02:43.160 --> 0:02:46.040 Yeah, it's a great opportunity for five on five basketball 0:02:46.080 --> 0:02:48.560 in the offseason for w players, for those trying to 0:02:48.600 --> 0:02:51.360 make a W roster. And one of the biggest complaints 0:02:51.400 --> 0:02:53.520 we seem to have every year, particularly right after the 0:02:53.600 --> 0:02:55.520 draft and as the rosters are getting set for W 0:02:55.880 --> 0:02:57.600 is some of our favorite players that we watched in 0:02:57.600 --> 0:03:00.760 college can't find a spot. It is such a tight league. 0:03:01.200 --> 0:03:03.080 I can't remember what the new number is. We've been 0:03:03.080 --> 0:03:05.400 saying one forty four for so long that now I 0:03:05.440 --> 0:03:07.440 got to be like okay plus the Valkyries and then 0:03:07.440 --> 0:03:10.200 eventually there will be this team, but somewhere more than 0:03:10.240 --> 0:03:12.160 one forty four but still not a lot is what 0:03:12.280 --> 0:03:14.959 limits some of these players from finding a professional spot. 0:03:15.040 --> 0:03:17.800 So you're right, there are faces that people will remember 0:03:17.880 --> 0:03:20.400 really enjoying watching in the college game, we had the 0:03:20.440 --> 0:03:23.200 faces of the league. Of course, Sid Colson and Teresa 0:03:23.200 --> 0:03:26.200 plays on sit in TP on this very show. There 0:03:26.200 --> 0:03:28.919 are as much comedians as they are basketball players. They're 0:03:28.919 --> 0:03:31.320 two of the ogs that have really established themselves in 0:03:31.360 --> 0:03:33.960 this league in the past. Are there others that you 0:03:34.000 --> 0:03:36.600 can point out to us that like they're walking back 0:03:36.640 --> 0:03:39.160 in like big woman on campus style, like you know, 0:03:39.280 --> 0:03:40.520 I'm here to show up. 0:03:41.040 --> 0:03:43.000 Let me say this to you, Sarah, that overall, like 0:03:43.040 --> 0:03:45.440 we have such a competitive roster in the space, so 0:03:45.480 --> 0:03:48.240 for four weeks our players coming together to compete to 0:03:48.280 --> 0:03:51.520 crown the individual champion. There are there's a little bit 0:03:51.560 --> 0:03:54.040 of new blood in right, and there are some old 0:03:54.200 --> 0:03:56.560 vets and familiar names and spaces that very much so 0:03:56.800 --> 0:04:00.320 recognized the stakes or what's at stake. But I will 0:04:00.320 --> 0:04:04.480 say some names you should pay attention to. Obviously returners 0:04:04.520 --> 0:04:06.520 as in Mattie Segrest, I think is a name that 0:04:06.600 --> 0:04:07.920 often flies under the radar. 0:04:08.000 --> 0:04:08.360 For sure. 0:04:08.400 --> 0:04:10.520 We know what TP can do, what Sid can do, 0:04:10.760 --> 0:04:13.480 what Lexi Brown, and she's kind of been kind of 0:04:13.520 --> 0:04:16.400 managing some health challenges, is really in prime condition. I 0:04:16.400 --> 0:04:19.320 think I have a really great another great AU Pro 0:04:19.400 --> 0:04:22.359 basketball season. I would say some new names that you 0:04:22.440 --> 0:04:25.000 may not be thinking of, and some things that some 0:04:25.000 --> 0:04:27.520 people that should be on the radar. Dejah Fair we 0:04:27.560 --> 0:04:31.880 speak about the college landscape when we talk about ballers 0:04:31.880 --> 0:04:32.880 and straight up hoopers. 0:04:32.960 --> 0:04:35.200 Very excited to welcome Dasha to the family. 0:04:35.279 --> 0:04:38.800 When you think about NCUBA all time leading scores, it 0:04:38.880 --> 0:04:43.600 goes Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Plumb, Dejah Fair, and Kelsey Mitchell, right, 0:04:43.760 --> 0:04:46.200 And so that's a name that I know will keep 0:04:46.240 --> 0:04:49.200 our scores table really busy and stands super engaged. 0:04:49.320 --> 0:04:50.559 And we have a number of others. 0:04:50.560 --> 0:04:53.400 When I think about some of our vets, I'll say 0:04:53.720 --> 0:04:55.880 new to AU this year, but keya. 0:04:55.760 --> 0:04:57.040 Nurse and Ria Hartley. 0:04:57.279 --> 0:05:01.320 Names that women's basketball players know for their amazing collegiate 0:05:01.320 --> 0:05:04.719 careers and professional careers, but new to AU and we'll 0:05:04.760 --> 0:05:05.719 definitely mix. 0:05:05.600 --> 0:05:07.400 Up that leaderboard that you were speaking about. 0:05:07.680 --> 0:05:10.159 I'm pumped already, I'm excited. I'm excited for this. Okay, 0:05:10.200 --> 0:05:12.640 let's talk about stats, because that's really important for us 0:05:12.680 --> 0:05:15.640 to understand how everything works on AU. Can you explain 0:05:15.720 --> 0:05:19.440 how the scoring works for AU basketball, just how it's 0:05:19.480 --> 0:05:21.320 both an individual and a team competition. 0:05:22.040 --> 0:05:24.719 Absolutely, so I want to make clear to everyone overall. 0:05:24.760 --> 0:05:26.960 AU Pro Basketball was founded with the premise that we 0:05:27.000 --> 0:05:30.400 want to create another space for professional women's basketball players, 0:05:30.720 --> 0:05:34.560 whether they are here domestically, or they have extensive experience overseas, 0:05:34.600 --> 0:05:36.680 or if they're fresh out of the college space right 0:05:36.680 --> 0:05:38.560 trying to figure out their professional trajectory. 0:05:38.920 --> 0:05:41.640 We created a space for five on five basketball, the 0:05:41.680 --> 0:05:43.120 game that you know. It is that simple. 0:05:43.279 --> 0:05:46.000 But what's cool about AU is we've layered on top 0:05:46.040 --> 0:05:50.080 of that a scoring system, a scoring system that highlights individuals' 0:05:50.160 --> 0:05:52.560 ability to compete, because at the end of the season, 0:05:52.600 --> 0:05:56.760 we crown one individual champion, but we also fully embrace 0:05:57.240 --> 0:06:01.160 team basketball. So our format is driven by a leaderboard. 0:06:01.200 --> 0:06:03.200 I often tell people, think of the Peloton leaderboard. I 0:06:03.200 --> 0:06:06.160 don't know if we have Peloton all Peloton errs if 0:06:06.160 --> 0:06:09.120 you will out there, sure, but there's a basketball for basketball. 0:06:09.160 --> 0:06:11.000 It's the AU Pro Basketball leader board. 0:06:11.080 --> 0:06:13.440 And for forty players that we have on our roster, 0:06:13.839 --> 0:06:16.160 they are ranked on that leaderboard. And how do they 0:06:16.160 --> 0:06:18.840 get that ranking. It's determined by their own court performance. 0:06:19.080 --> 0:06:21.760 They get points tied to the leaderboard for positive plays. 0:06:21.800 --> 0:06:24.520 You're three pointers, you're a sess, you're an awesome place. There's 0:06:24.560 --> 0:06:28.000 also negative points for turnovers and things that are you know, 0:06:28.080 --> 0:06:30.520 that don't serve the game as well, so they're rewarded 0:06:30.560 --> 0:06:34.040 for that, but they are also rewarded for team points. 0:06:34.080 --> 0:06:35.640 Team wins is what we call them. 0:06:35.920 --> 0:06:39.760 We incentivize every single moment in AU pro basketball matters 0:06:40.000 --> 0:06:42.520 because it's not just about winning the game as the team, 0:06:42.760 --> 0:06:43.640 it's also about. 0:06:43.400 --> 0:06:44.279 Winning each quarter. 0:06:44.480 --> 0:06:46.760 So let's say regular game, it could be seventy five 0:06:46.760 --> 0:06:49.280 to one hundred and you're like, I'm done, I'm kind 0:06:49.279 --> 0:06:52.280 of tuned out. Not in AU, because the team that 0:06:52.360 --> 0:06:56.440 wins the quarter. There's also compensation tied to these wins, right, 0:06:56.560 --> 0:07:00.200 So where you fall on the leaderboard absolutely matter, and 0:07:00.240 --> 0:07:03.560 so our players are competing like a playoff like environment 0:07:03.800 --> 0:07:06.960 the entire time. So what you can expect is five 0:07:07.000 --> 0:07:09.720 on five basketball with a really cool innovative scoring system 0:07:09.800 --> 0:07:11.480 that engages our fans in a new way. 0:07:12.080 --> 0:07:15.080 Yeah, we're never going to get those late blowouts where 0:07:15.080 --> 0:07:18.360 everybody's dragging ass. You're always incentivized to keep playing and 0:07:18.360 --> 0:07:21.040 getting those stats and getting those good plays. What's a 0:07:21.080 --> 0:07:23.760 great game for a player? Is it similar to a 0:07:24.000 --> 0:07:25.240 WNBA stat line? 0:07:25.440 --> 0:07:26.320 That's really interesting. 0:07:26.360 --> 0:07:28.160 I think when I think about that question, it's a 0:07:28.160 --> 0:07:29.880 great it's I mean, it's going to be different. 0:07:30.120 --> 0:07:32.080 And I'll say why is it different for every player? 0:07:32.120 --> 0:07:33.480 I mean, every player. 0:07:33.160 --> 0:07:35.880 Comes into AU with a different reason. Right, So for 0:07:35.920 --> 0:07:37.960 some players, it might be that this is a space 0:07:38.000 --> 0:07:40.480 that I use to become my best self in preparation 0:07:40.640 --> 0:07:43.720 for the WNBA season. As I'm already have a confirmed 0:07:43.800 --> 0:07:46.320 roster spot on the WNBA, Right, there might be another 0:07:46.320 --> 0:07:50.200 player where they are working to earn that opportunity, or 0:07:50.200 --> 0:07:51.960 there might be a player where they're like, I'm not 0:07:52.040 --> 0:07:53.760 quite sure where I want to go in my career. 0:07:53.800 --> 0:07:56.600 I really enjoyed being a part of this community, right, 0:07:56.640 --> 0:08:01.560 And I've been playing professionally for fifteen five whatever years overseas, 0:08:02.120 --> 0:08:04.480 and this is my opportunity to play with a new group, right, 0:08:04.520 --> 0:08:06.960 a new family. So a good game it varies, but 0:08:07.000 --> 0:08:10.240 I would say our games are high scoring, our games 0:08:10.320 --> 0:08:13.880 are fast paced our games. It is not an anomaly 0:08:13.960 --> 0:08:17.520 to see a forty point performance from a player. Right, 0:08:18.360 --> 0:08:20.800 I would say, you know, a good AU Pro basketball 0:08:20.840 --> 0:08:24.480 game just like any other five on five games, twenty points, 0:08:24.520 --> 0:08:28.880 ten rebounds, six success right, blocks and steals. 0:08:28.960 --> 0:08:30.200 That's filling the stat sheet. 0:08:30.240 --> 0:08:33.040 I think is really what fans continue to love and 0:08:33.040 --> 0:08:35.160 how they engage, and that's what our players do. So 0:08:35.240 --> 0:08:38.079 that's a good game. But it'll vary based on what 0:08:38.160 --> 0:08:39.440 that player is there for. 0:08:40.800 --> 0:08:42.520 We got to take a quick break when we come 0:08:42.559 --> 0:08:55.280 back more with Megan Perry. What are the stakes? How 0:08:55.320 --> 0:08:58.199 big is one good game or bad game? Both in 0:08:58.320 --> 0:09:00.800 terms of team play like making it to the playoffs 0:09:00.800 --> 0:09:02.760 depending on the length of the season and how many 0:09:02.800 --> 0:09:04.880 games they play, and then in terms of individual play 0:09:04.920 --> 0:09:06.440 if you have a really bad game or really good 0:09:06.440 --> 0:09:09.120 game in terms of accumulating points, what are the stakes 0:09:09.160 --> 0:09:10.280 for each game we're watching? 0:09:10.760 --> 0:09:12.520 So the stakes are high, and I'll tell you because 0:09:12.520 --> 0:09:15.680 of our format, our leaguest player driven right down to 0:09:15.920 --> 0:09:19.280 how they play the game. Across our forty players, they 0:09:19.280 --> 0:09:23.480 are split into four teams. Each team has a captain 0:09:24.000 --> 0:09:27.520 and every single week, the captains draft players onto their 0:09:27.559 --> 0:09:31.560 teams and your draft, You're right, so where you are drafted, 0:09:31.600 --> 0:09:35.760 so how you play is determined oftentimes where you fall 0:09:35.880 --> 0:09:39.360 during that draft, and so our players are competing the 0:09:39.520 --> 0:09:41.840 entire time, not only for that position on the leaderboard, 0:09:41.840 --> 0:09:45.120 but also you're thinking about where you might be drafted, 0:09:45.200 --> 0:09:48.040 who you might be playing with, what compliments you, what doesn't. 0:09:48.080 --> 0:09:51.120 And this season, one change that we did make is 0:09:51.160 --> 0:09:54.440 that the way that we go about selecting our captains 0:09:54.440 --> 0:09:56.640 this season, we will create we think a little bit more 0:09:56.720 --> 0:09:58.960 variation at the top of the leaderboard in terms of 0:09:59.200 --> 0:10:00.680 who might be a So. 0:10:01.080 --> 0:10:03.480 The captains will be determined for. 0:10:03.320 --> 0:10:06.520 Week one, We'll have a random pool of returners that 0:10:06.559 --> 0:10:08.520 we will select from to be captains for week one, 0:10:08.800 --> 0:10:12.200 or for weeks two and weeks three. Our captains will 0:10:12.240 --> 0:10:15.080 be selected by that prior week's top performers. So it's 0:10:15.120 --> 0:10:17.280 almost like you got to lock in and you got 0:10:17.320 --> 0:10:20.360 to bring your game every single week. So it's not 0:10:20.400 --> 0:10:22.760 that you could have an amazing performance for one week 0:10:22.840 --> 0:10:25.240 or one game that in that series and then kind 0:10:25.240 --> 0:10:28.160 of lay out no, every single moment matters, and at 0:10:28.200 --> 0:10:31.559 the end of the season, that last and final championship 0:10:31.600 --> 0:10:35.240 week that we call Week four, it's it's accumulative scores 0:10:35.320 --> 0:10:37.240 from that leader board that we take a look at 0:10:37.240 --> 0:10:40.920 to crown that one individual champion. So to put it simply, 0:10:41.040 --> 0:10:42.480 every moment matters. 0:10:42.760 --> 0:10:46.080 Yeah, yeah, the stakes are high, the math is required, 0:10:46.120 --> 0:10:48.640 but not by us, thankfully, y'all do that for us, 0:10:48.679 --> 0:10:50.679 and then we watch and you tell us what happened 0:10:50.840 --> 0:10:53.319 and how the points added up and all that. That's right, Yeah, 0:10:53.320 --> 0:10:55.080 I mean, that's one of the most fascinating parts and 0:10:55.080 --> 0:10:57.440 always has been for me, about the AU model for 0:10:57.559 --> 0:11:00.839 the leagues that are combining team and individuals, is this 0:11:00.920 --> 0:11:04.280 idea that like, if you're a big shit talker, if 0:11:04.320 --> 0:11:08.119 you're a little dirty, if you start fights with opponents, 0:11:08.200 --> 0:11:10.360 then you're setting yourself up to potentially be on that 0:11:10.400 --> 0:11:13.520 person's team the next week and have to mend some fences. 0:11:13.880 --> 0:11:16.920 And I'm not speaking from personal experience or anything. I'm 0:11:16.960 --> 0:11:19.520 just saying that would have been hard for me. I'm 0:11:19.640 --> 0:11:22.560 very competitive and whoever's not with me is against me, 0:11:23.200 --> 0:11:26.680 and so to switch that up is a very interesting 0:11:26.720 --> 0:11:27.559 element of all this. 0:11:28.280 --> 0:11:30.360 Well, we respect that, and I'll say that's what's the 0:11:30.400 --> 0:11:32.640 cool part of AU. I Mean, we talk about the game. 0:11:32.720 --> 0:11:35.800 It speaks for itself, but I think there's layers right 0:11:35.840 --> 0:11:38.160 that go on top of the game, from the captain 0:11:38.200 --> 0:11:40.800 selection to like, yeah, you could be a terrible teammate, 0:11:40.920 --> 0:11:42.920 but you might have to see that person next week. 0:11:43.160 --> 0:11:45.800 And we're all all together as a family for that 0:11:45.880 --> 0:11:48.280 time on the ground for the season. So all those 0:11:48.360 --> 0:11:50.360 dynamics do come into play, so you have to watch 0:11:50.400 --> 0:11:53.680 closely and follow along the I'll call them the healthy 0:11:53.720 --> 0:11:54.640 storylines that. 0:11:55.720 --> 0:11:58.920 We call it the tea we at t over here. 0:11:59.040 --> 0:12:00.520 Oh there's t let's. 0:12:00.400 --> 0:12:02.920 Talk about the stories and the storylines. Are there any 0:12:02.960 --> 0:12:05.800 in particular we should follow, maybe someone coming back from injury, 0:12:06.200 --> 0:12:08.480 someone who's looking to get back on a w roster 0:12:08.600 --> 0:12:11.600 that was but has slipped off the tail end, anything 0:12:11.679 --> 0:12:12.480 that we should watch for. 0:12:12.960 --> 0:12:13.640 Yeah. Absolutely. 0:12:13.640 --> 0:12:16.360 When I think about the big storylines this season, I 0:12:16.360 --> 0:12:18.000 think one is going to be about the new pool 0:12:18.000 --> 0:12:18.960 of players. 0:12:18.559 --> 0:12:20.319 And it has to write its own story. 0:12:20.840 --> 0:12:22.679 One of the names that we're most excited about, I 0:12:22.679 --> 0:12:25.120 would say, and I say we because I work in 0:12:25.200 --> 0:12:30.320 collaboration with our Player ex Executive Committee our PEC, which 0:12:30.360 --> 0:12:32.959 is the pool of players that hand selects the talent 0:12:33.000 --> 0:12:36.080 that we bring into the Aupro Basketball family each year. 0:12:36.120 --> 0:12:37.800 But I'll say the name Melissa. 0:12:37.440 --> 0:12:41.240 Peelee rings really loud, right, and Alissa Pilly being the 0:12:41.320 --> 0:12:43.520 high draft pick that she was for the twenty twenty 0:12:43.559 --> 0:12:46.840 four season, coming off of a season in which her 0:12:46.840 --> 0:12:50.720 team was really close to taking that WNVA championship home, 0:12:51.400 --> 0:12:54.160 having that experience, and now for her to be able 0:12:54.160 --> 0:12:56.920 to kind of settle into her own and kind of 0:12:56.920 --> 0:13:00.480 show us what's next for Alissa Peely. I'm really excited 0:13:00.520 --> 0:13:04.199 about following her story in her journey because I really 0:13:04.280 --> 0:13:05.880 do think the best is yet to come for what 0:13:05.960 --> 0:13:09.000 she can do on court, uh and as well evolving 0:13:09.360 --> 0:13:12.439 Alyssa off the court, because we know the presence that 0:13:12.520 --> 0:13:15.480 she has in the indigenous community uh and how she 0:13:15.559 --> 0:13:19.520 inspires and impacts people, you know, across across the landscape. 0:13:19.880 --> 0:13:21.040 So we're excited about Alissa. 0:13:21.440 --> 0:13:23.920 I would also say, when I think about vets, one 0:13:23.960 --> 0:13:25.920 of the top vets that comes to mind, actually there's two, 0:13:27.120 --> 0:13:28.040 Elizabeth Williams. 0:13:28.080 --> 0:13:30.320 Elizabeth Williams is coming off in front of the show. 0:13:30.920 --> 0:13:32.719 Yes, Yes, we love we love E. 0:13:33.040 --> 0:13:34.559 And so she's going to be a new member of 0:13:34.600 --> 0:13:37.800 the AU Pro Basketball family this season, and I think, 0:13:37.880 --> 0:13:41.520 quite frankly, her leadership speaks for itself. Anyone that knows 0:13:41.520 --> 0:13:44.679 her knows I almost call her like president. She has 0:13:44.760 --> 0:13:48.440 that that presence right about her. But I think her 0:13:48.840 --> 0:13:50.800 coming back and how she's going to be able to 0:13:50.840 --> 0:13:52.240 perform from injury. 0:13:52.440 --> 0:13:54.880 And then I will also say we think about the 0:13:54.880 --> 0:13:56.240 free agency storylines. 0:13:56.280 --> 0:13:58.280 I mean that's that's ever present, and so we do 0:13:58.360 --> 0:14:00.440 have a couple of free agents within the AU Pro 0:14:00.480 --> 0:14:04.400 basketball family. Alicia Clark's a free agent, Zndy Colson's a 0:14:04.440 --> 0:14:07.719 free agent. Jalen Sharad is a free agent coming off 0:14:07.720 --> 0:14:10.520 for a championship run with the New York Liberty. And 0:14:10.559 --> 0:14:14.240 then let me also say, when I think about younger 0:14:14.320 --> 0:14:16.840 talent and names that you may not be familiar with 0:14:17.040 --> 0:14:19.600 just yet but need to know, there's a player by 0:14:19.600 --> 0:14:22.160 the name of Mackenzie Forbes who I think has a 0:14:22.200 --> 0:14:23.360 really interesting story. 0:14:23.480 --> 0:14:24.000 Mackenzie. 0:14:24.080 --> 0:14:26.960 If you're a super like basketball junkie, you know she 0:14:27.000 --> 0:14:30.520 played basketball. I believe that cow then went to Harvard 0:14:30.600 --> 0:14:32.800 University so rep in the IVY League. Shout out to that, 0:14:33.280 --> 0:14:37.120 and then spent some time at USC and she played 0:14:37.120 --> 0:14:40.720 alongside Juju. But she is a versatile, a versatible like Tweener, 0:14:40.840 --> 0:14:44.800 and that I think she's gonna make some noise and lastly, 0:14:44.880 --> 0:14:50.440 I'll say when we talk about names in storylines, Alicia Clark, 0:14:50.720 --> 0:14:56.400 Alisha Clark, Isabelle Harrison, Jordan Horston, we have some names 0:14:56.440 --> 0:14:59.640 which have i would say, elevated themselves amongst the W 0:14:59.800 --> 0:15:02.560 and B A ranks that are coming. And let me say, 0:15:02.560 --> 0:15:04.800 they're competitors, so it's not that they have something to prove, 0:15:05.120 --> 0:15:07.240 but they always show up and give their best, and 0:15:07.280 --> 0:15:10.640 so I'm excited to see how that manifests for the 0:15:10.680 --> 0:15:12.680 season for AU Pro Basketball. 0:15:12.720 --> 0:15:15.360 So we'll keep our eyes on some of those and 0:15:15.400 --> 0:15:15.840 many more. 0:15:15.960 --> 0:15:18.520 You know, Yeah, I want to shout out. You mentioned 0:15:18.520 --> 0:15:21.680 Elizabeth Williams, you kind of you know, you call her president. 0:15:21.800 --> 0:15:24.520 She just got her Masters in Global health in December, 0:15:24.960 --> 0:15:29.400 so friend of the show, Smarty Pants Leader, she'll be 0:15:29.400 --> 0:15:32.320 fun to watch. And also we'll be watching TP because 0:15:32.360 --> 0:15:34.840 when she was on our show, she did say that 0:15:35.280 --> 0:15:37.360 in her future plans she would love to get back 0:15:37.400 --> 0:15:39.600 into the W if she could. And I know, obviously 0:15:39.640 --> 0:15:42.200 playing AU is part of her story and part of 0:15:42.200 --> 0:15:46.000 her desire to keep getting better, competing and finding way 0:15:46.000 --> 0:15:47.800 back on a roster. So we'll be watching for that 0:15:47.840 --> 0:15:51.920 as well. The seasons in Nashville first time, anything special 0:15:51.920 --> 0:15:54.000 we can look forward to in the music city. 0:15:54.000 --> 0:15:56.760 So much, how much time do I have talk about it? 0:15:57.640 --> 0:15:59.760 I'll say, what we're really excited about when I think 0:15:59.760 --> 0:16:02.400 about out Nashville, and a lot of people ask you, 0:16:02.480 --> 0:16:04.920 is why did you choose Nashville one. If you know 0:16:05.080 --> 0:16:08.360 anything about women's basketball, you know about the rich history 0:16:08.400 --> 0:16:12.280 that exists across the entire state of Tennessee, right, and 0:16:12.320 --> 0:16:16.000 so it makes sense for us to bring professional women's 0:16:16.040 --> 0:16:19.520 basketball back to a space that has been just ripe. 0:16:20.160 --> 0:16:24.200 I think a space for women's basketball fans, for talent 0:16:24.280 --> 0:16:27.400 that exists there, and it only feels right to make 0:16:27.440 --> 0:16:30.360 that space home. I will say that Nashville specifically has 0:16:30.360 --> 0:16:34.560 been an amazing partner and host for a U Pro basketball. 0:16:34.600 --> 0:16:37.560 They they were I would say, very friendly. I won't 0:16:37.560 --> 0:16:41.600 call it aggressive, but wonderful and courting us. Courting us 0:16:41.840 --> 0:16:46.480 we love. Yes, we have been courted. And when I 0:16:46.520 --> 0:16:50.320 think about the evolution of sports, like the history that exists, 0:16:50.520 --> 0:16:53.560 the innovation in which like the newness of a U 0:16:53.640 --> 0:16:58.560 Pro Basketball, and this generation bringing that together and in 0:16:58.600 --> 0:17:03.760 that state, as well as the clash of sports music culture, 0:17:04.560 --> 0:17:07.200 it is a fit. And so we are really excited 0:17:07.200 --> 0:17:10.480 to bring that blend to music city. So you're going 0:17:10.560 --> 0:17:13.280 to see basketball, that's a given. The product on the 0:17:13.320 --> 0:17:16.680 floor unquestionable, right like that, that is solid, And what 0:17:16.720 --> 0:17:18.320 I think fans are going to enjoy the most this 0:17:18.359 --> 0:17:21.160 season is like seeing the blend of how we've integrated 0:17:21.160 --> 0:17:23.800 parts of the Nashville community into our you know, our 0:17:23.840 --> 0:17:27.880 game presentations, and how we are kind of reaching out 0:17:28.280 --> 0:17:31.360 to many members of the community. The HPCU community will 0:17:31.400 --> 0:17:35.320 be around and thriving, and just how we are embracing 0:17:35.359 --> 0:17:38.440 the culture that exists there. I think that's what's most exciting. 0:17:38.720 --> 0:17:40.400 And if SID and TP were on here, they would 0:17:40.400 --> 0:17:44.800 probably be talking about music and karaoke. I think said I'm. 0:17:44.640 --> 0:17:49.440 Coming because you said every game. So yeah, yeah, it's 0:17:49.480 --> 0:17:50.480 a party. It's a party. 0:17:50.480 --> 0:17:53.840 It's a party. Nashville is a good time. If people 0:17:53.920 --> 0:17:56.600 have not made it out to Nashville, getting out on Broadways, 0:17:56.600 --> 0:17:59.359 seeing all the live music, go to Husk, go to 0:17:59.400 --> 0:18:01.800 Loveless Cat, they get all the good food. I mean, 0:18:01.840 --> 0:18:03.760 it's a scene down there. It's a really good time. 0:18:04.720 --> 0:18:05.639 How could people watch? 0:18:06.080 --> 0:18:08.359 Oh I love that question and so I cannot wait 0:18:08.400 --> 0:18:12.520 to be able to share dropping shortly what the distribution 0:18:12.600 --> 0:18:14.440 will look like for this season. But I will say 0:18:14.480 --> 0:18:16.359 you can find AU pro basketball. You're going to be 0:18:16.359 --> 0:18:19.520 able to find it in familiar places that you found 0:18:19.520 --> 0:18:22.159 it in seasons before, in some new places this season. 0:18:22.359 --> 0:18:25.439 So I will not get myself in trouble by sharing 0:18:25.440 --> 0:18:29.000 anything that's not been publicly announced just yet, but I 0:18:29.040 --> 0:18:32.160 will say all the details for the AU Pro basketball 0:18:32.200 --> 0:18:34.840 season can be found at auprobasketball dot com. 0:18:34.880 --> 0:18:36.440 Follow our social handles. 0:18:36.440 --> 0:18:39.760 We put all the deats there, and stay tuned because 0:18:39.760 --> 0:18:42.200 we will be announcing that very shortly. 0:18:42.720 --> 0:18:46.280 Love it. Last question for you, we know Unrivaled is 0:18:46.320 --> 0:18:48.800 getting a lot of enthusiasm and excitement this new three 0:18:48.840 --> 0:18:51.840 on three league happening. Does that affect the viability of 0:18:51.880 --> 0:18:54.439 AU basketball. It's a different format, but it's trying to 0:18:54.440 --> 0:18:56.400 pull some of the same players that probably were playing 0:18:56.440 --> 0:18:57.080 AU before. 0:18:57.400 --> 0:19:00.159 I would say no, and I'll say no because for 0:19:00.160 --> 0:19:02.879