1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: Full Circle is an iheartwoman's sports production in partnership with 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, y'all, 4 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: welcome back to another episode of Full Circle. I am 5 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:19,479 Speaker 1: so excited today we have a very special guest and 6 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: I'm going to kick it to Lexi to do the intro. 7 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:25,319 Speaker 2: Hey, y'all, welcome back to our show. I hope you 8 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 2: guys have been enjoying it so far. I'm so excited 9 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 2: to introduce our very first guests of this season. She 10 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 2: really needs no introduction, but I'm gonna guess her up 11 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 2: a little bit because she deserves one. We have Terry 12 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 2: Jackson in the building with us. Terry is the current 13 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 2: executive director of the Women's National Basketball Players Association. She 14 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 2: joined the WNBPA after four years with the NCAA. She 15 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 2: has also taught courses on women's in sports at American University, 16 00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 2: Trinity University, and Tulane University. She earned her You're a 17 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 2: Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and her Bachelor of 18 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,559 Speaker 2: Arts from Georgetown University. And she is the proud mama 19 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 2: bear of Jaron Jackson Junior, who plays for the Memphis Chrizzlies. 20 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 3: Welcome Terry, Welcome. 21 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 4: Thank you ladies. Yes, all of that, and thanks for 22 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 4: the problem at the end. 23 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 2: Yes, Oh my gosh, I'm so happy that you're here. 24 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 2: I remember I asked you weeks ago to be one 25 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: of my first guests and you said yes immediately, which 26 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 2: is why I love you so much. 27 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 3: And I'm just so happy and excited that you're here. 28 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 4: Well, I'm happy and excited that you are doing this. 29 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 4: I'm happy and excited to be the first, and of 30 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 4: course I said yes. Of course I said yes. Oh 31 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 4: my god. 32 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 2: I'm so excited because I feel like people see your 33 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 2: name attached to all these monumental things that we're doing 34 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 2: in the WNBA, but they don't really know who Terry is. 35 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 2: And I think that this episode, we want people, our 36 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 2: listeners to get to know you a little bit more, 37 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 2: because there is no us without you, like absolutely not. 38 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 4: Aw thank you for that. Yeah, let's peel out the 39 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 4: layers a little bit. 40 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 3: Yes, let's get into it. 41 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 2: How long have you been with the Players Association and 42 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 2: what made you want to get involved. 43 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 4: With the Oh love this question. Love this question because 44 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 4: twenty twenty four marked my ninth season, LEXI, my ninth 45 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 4: season with the league. And so when I say that, 46 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 4: the staff team here says, start claiming twenty twenty five, 47 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 4: and they're right right, Like, I'm headed into my tenth 48 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 4: season serving the most amazing professional athletes on the planet, 49 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 4: the badass women of the w LEXI included, Yeah, this 50 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 4: is an amazing job. And I got here because I 51 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:53,519 Speaker 4: read an email, like that's the short answer to the question. 52 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 4: I was at the NCAA. I was working for the 53 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 4: best boss in the building, the chief legal officer. At 54 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 4: the time. I was kind of like his chief of staff. 55 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 4: And then I got this email and I'm in the 56 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 4: middle of NCAA convention and I'm like, I don't have 57 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 4: time to read this. And a friend of mine she said, 58 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 4: did you read that email? And I said, no, I 59 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 4: don't have time. She said, no, read the email. I 60 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 4: start reading the email. I click on the attachment. It's 61 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 4: a job notice for this position, and I'm like, okay, 62 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 4: I got to call you back. And that's how I 63 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:32,359 Speaker 4: learned about the opportunity. And from there it was like 64 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 4: preparing for war, like I wanted this job, though seriously, 65 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 4: I want it working out, preparing, working out twice a day, 66 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 4: reading everything I could read, texting everybody I knew, saying 67 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 4: do you know anybody? Because I want this job? Do 68 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 4: you know anybody? Like? Put a good word in that? 69 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 4: Really is that's a prepare for war. 70 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 2: You guys might think she's joking, But every time we 71 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 2: get off of a call with Terry about the CBA, 72 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 2: which we'll get into in a minute. 73 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 3: She's literally like, buckle up, prepare for war. 74 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 2: Like that's how passionate she is about that, and that's 75 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 2: why she is who she is, and that's where the 76 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 2: league is where it's at now. 77 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 3: But like y'all, she's not joking. 78 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: Well, I'm curious, Terry, because a lot of my audience 79 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: is new to being a fan of the W, which 80 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 1: is so incredible that there's so many new fans. 81 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 4: Thank you for the news. 82 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: A lot of people know what Lexi does and what 83 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: the players do on the court. But could you describe 84 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: for people who are new to being a fan of 85 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: the W what you do? 86 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 4: Wow? Yeah, could I describe it? I don't know if 87 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 4: I could describe it, honestly, being the executive director, let 88 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 4: me start first and foremost means that as leads staff 89 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 4: for the union of the first Union for professional women athletes, 90 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 4: means I report to the players. Heart stop, everybody understand 91 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 4: what that means. We have a governance structure that's really 92 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 4: quite easy. We have a board of player representatives, two 93 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 4: player representatives from each of the teams. We have an 94 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 4: executive committe. They are large and in charge of this union. 95 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 4: I report to them. That's the way it goes. And 96 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,919 Speaker 4: so the vision that they have for this union, the 97 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:15,279 Speaker 4: agenda they look to set as staff, I look to 98 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 4: execute and implement it. So it's a lot about monitoring 99 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 4: the CBA and ensuring that we're holding the team and 100 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 4: the leagues accountable to the things that we've negotiated, getting 101 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 4: the players paid and paid on time, talking about the 102 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 4: drug policy, housing, how they travel, making sure that their 103 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 4: working conditions are safe. That's the CBA, that's the collective 104 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 4: Bargaining Agreement. That's what we're largely responsible for monitoring. They're 105 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 4: also a group licensing rights that we get to monetize 106 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 4: and produce additional revenue for this union, but for the 107 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 4: players directly. There's so many parts to this job, and 108 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 4: you know, as a lawyer, I couldn't have a better 109 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 4: job in the world than doing what I get to do, 110 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 4: making a difference every single day, making it. 111 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:07,480 Speaker 3: Yeah. 112 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, you've basically explained a simple way of what 113 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: the CBA is. And I remember the last CBA that 114 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 2: we negotiated. I was only in my second season, so 115 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 2: I was young. I had no idea what was going on. 116 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 2: I was just listening to veterans and they're like, this 117 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 2: is what we're doing, this is what we need to do, 118 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: and I was just. 119 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 3: Like, okay, okay, okay. 120 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 2: Fast forward four years later, we're opting out, which I 121 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 2: think we all knew was going to happen. What do 122 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 2: you think is like the biggest difference between that negotiation 123 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 2: period and this. 124 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 4: Ooh great question. First of all, I didn't assume that 125 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 4: the players were opting out. I know everybody else decided 126 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 4: that the players were going to opt out. Of course 127 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 4: they were going to opt out. I wasn't there because 128 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 4: we had to do the work right. We had to 129 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 4: understand the business. We had to review the financials, We 130 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 4: had to understand the CBA. We were in now, the 131 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 4: twenty twenty CBA, what was that going to look like 132 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,559 Speaker 4: over the long term. We had to assemble a group 133 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 4: of badass experts to do the crystal ball thing and 134 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 4: predict were the players going to start gaining, were they 135 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 4: going to start realizing the success that they are contributing to. 136 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 4: And so we had to do all that and understand 137 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 4: how to advise the players and help them. Also understand 138 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 4: that this negotiation was going to look very different from 139 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 4: before that there was going to be a fight this time, 140 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 4: and everybody had to be aware of that. Last time, 141 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 4: we were looking to fix so many things. It was salary, 142 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 4: it was compensation, it was player health and safety, it 143 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 4: was the player experience, and we did so much. I'm 144 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 4: proud of the twenty twenty CBA. With the system that 145 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 4: we had, we made significant gains. Players aren't sharing hotel 146 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 4: rooms anymore. We're supporting player moms in a big way. 147 00:07:57,920 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 4: There were more dollars, but there were limited dollars that 148 00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 4: were coming in. We had to kind of rebuild this 149 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 4: system and show the league that marketing w players was 150 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 4: key and how to do that and do the storytelling 151 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 4: in a way that resonated with fans and that would 152 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 4: drive commerce and all the metrics. So we did that, 153 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 4: and so here we are having done that groundwork here, 154 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 4: we are seeing the business thriving year over year, and 155 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 4: so now we're in a position where there are real 156 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 4: dollars flowing through here, and so we have to talk 157 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 4: about the business model again. Is there an opportunity to 158 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 4: do another shift, another change and make sure that the 159 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 4: players are valued again for their contributions on and off 160 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 4: the court because they are the W. 161 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: What's an area that you feel like going into this 162 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 1: next round you are really focused on honing it on 163 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: because I know you said last time you were focused 164 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: on just overall player safety, players being happier. But now 165 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,719 Speaker 1: with all of these new eyes and some of these 166 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: new dollars that you were referring to, what is the 167 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 1: huge area that you think needs to be focused. 168 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,559 Speaker 2: I want Mariah to answer that because she has a difference. 169 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:19,719 Speaker 4: Maybe she does what has everybody seemingly been laser focused on, 170 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 4: and maybe there's a top two or top three. So 171 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 4: name one of the things you think, Mariah. 172 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: The biggest thing I hear about. Number one is travel. 173 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: Obviously I heard that the W is now chartering flights, 174 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,199 Speaker 1: but then there was reports that it wasn't for every 175 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: single team, And then I would say the second thing 176 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: would just be facilities, like being pretty equal across the board, 177 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: because it's like some teams have these incredible expensive facilities 178 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: and then some teams don't have practice facilities. And then 179 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:52,959 Speaker 1: the third thing I would say is. 180 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 4: Pay Okay, we're done. You named them as one, two, three. 181 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 4: I know you didn't actually do them in any order. 182 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 4: It's not actually you were gonna say pay first, because 183 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 4: that's what we really hear a lot about. There's so 184 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 4: many comparisons across s boards that help or don't help 185 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 4: advance the conversation. Charter travel, I know, is a big one, 186 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 4: and I think the league LEXI, you tell me if 187 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 4: you agree with this. I think the league helped itself. 188 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 4: The commissioner helped herself and helped the league in the 189 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 4: teams by announcing last year at the beginning of the 190 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 4: season that there was going to be charter travel and 191 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,559 Speaker 4: it was charter for all. To answer that question, Mariah 192 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 4: Charter for All. She had been phasing it in the postseason, 193 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 4: but had announced it for the whole season, from the 194 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 4: regular season through the end of the postseason. That was great. 195 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 4: She announced it for twenty twenty four, and she announced 196 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 4: it for twenty twenty five. Really no problem there. The 197 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 4: only question or concern that we have is are we 198 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 4: going to write that down? Because the announcement of it 199 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 4: is great. It's not in the CBA right now. Of 200 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 4: course we've opted out of the CBA, so there's opportunity 201 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 4: to put it in there. So we need it in writing. 202 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 4: It's the lawyer in me and the players under they've 203 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,719 Speaker 4: got contracts. They read their contracts. They know that if 204 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 4: it's in the contract, then they're getting it. So we've 205 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 4: got to get it in the contract. With respect to 206 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 4: charter travel facilities, I think you've seen an arms race 207 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 4: almost right when it comes to the teams and the facilities. 208 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 4: They are finally stepping up in a big way that 209 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 4: is about player health and safety. Quite frankly proud to 210 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 4: see lots of teams taking great, big strides. Hopeful that 211 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 4: we won't have teams holding back the rest of the league. 212 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,439 Speaker 4: Everybody needs to make big strides when it comes to facilities. 213 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 4: And then yes, of course we're going to talk about salary. 214 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 4: We're going to talk about salary separate from compensation. Salary 215 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,679 Speaker 4: is what you get paid for doing the job that 216 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 4: you are contracted for, and salary demonstrates your worth, demonstrates 217 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 4: your value, and we've got to put a spotlight on that. 218 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 4: And to your new fans, thank you again for joining 219 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 4: and being a part of our fight and being part 220 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 4: of this advocacy and part of the fandom. What we 221 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 4: need you to understand is these three things are big. 222 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 4: When the players opted out, they said that this is 223 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 4: what opt out is about. They were very clear on that, 224 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 4: and they said it's about doing business, and so that's 225 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:19,959 Speaker 4: what we're here to do business. 226 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 227 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 2: I think the one thing that I would add from 228 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 2: a player's perspective, which is something that I personally in 229 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 2: the last round of negotiations, since I was so young, 230 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 2: never really thought about, was the benefits for retired players. 231 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,559 Speaker 2: And I feel like that has come up recently in 232 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 2: our conversations about the CBA amongst us as teams, and 233 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,439 Speaker 2: these past few years, I've gotten really close with Cheryl Swoops, 234 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 2: so I've really gotten a different insight onto life as 235 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 2: a WNBA player and a retired WNBA player and how 236 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 2: she quite literally was kicked to the curb once her 237 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 2: time in the WNBA was done. And I think think 238 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 2: now we as this younger generation, you know, taking the 239 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 2: responsibility of giving the players that built this amazing league 240 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 2: their flowers and protection and the support that they need 241 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 2: post career. You know, I've seen our conversations obviously, I've 242 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 2: been in those rooms. Where would you rank that as priority, 243 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 2: you know, in comparison to salaries to travel to the facility. 244 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 4: First of all, let's tell the listeners why you're in 245 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 4: the room and why you've heard those conversations, Because you've 246 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 4: gone from being a young player looking up to the 247 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,679 Speaker 4: vets and connecting with them and listening to them and understanding, 248 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 4: to now stepping into your own power and claiming the 249 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 4: opportunity to be part of leadership. So Lexi is part 250 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 4: of that high discovering body in our union. She's a 251 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 4: member of the Board of Player Representatives. And that's right, Yeah, 252 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 4: we made it. 253 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 3: We made it. 254 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 2: I had to survive long enough, and I did. And 255 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 2: I'm like, okay, now let me hoppy. 256 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 4: Yes, And I was always throw this lead Lexi that 257 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 4: you you would recognize and step into that power and 258 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 4: be a part of these conversations at this high level. 259 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 4: And yes, you do know what's taking place and how 260 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 4: folks are talking about it, how players have been talking 261 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,439 Speaker 4: about it. In our meetings, but how they've also been 262 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 4: connecting with veterans and retired players and understanding the need 263 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 4: to think about this CBA in a more holistic way. 264 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 4: And there are so many priorities that are top priorities. 265 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 4: And I think we've heard how can we support retired 266 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 4: players or players who are retiring, How can we be 267 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 4: creative in what we do for them? What can that 268 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 4: look like now or based in over time? I don't know, 269 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 4: what do you think? What do you think it's up there? 270 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 4: Isn't it? 271 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 2: I mean, yeah, And I think it's really because for 272 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 2: the first time, these older players are coming back around 273 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 2: the W in or a really positive way. They're getting involved, 274 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 2: they're getting to know us, they're teaching us th And 275 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 2: I feel like in my early career I didn't really 276 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 2: see very many retired players around. 277 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 3: I grew up watching. 278 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 2: The W My dad coached in the W, Like, I 279 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 2: don't know where any of his players are, Like, I 280 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 2: never kept in contact with them, and I'll take ownership 281 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 2: of that. 282 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 3: But again, I was just the child, you know. 283 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 2: But I think with the growth of social media in 284 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 2: general has allowed all of us become more connected, which 285 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 2: I think, you know, even though we say there's like 286 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 2: a lot of negatives about social media and all this 287 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 2: constant contact. I think that's been really important to us 288 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 2: as a league. And again, like mentioning Cheryl, like I 289 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 2: never in a million years thought that I would have 290 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 2: a relationship with. 291 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 4: Cheryl Swoops, And it was so easy. 292 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 2: Right, yes, and it was so genuine, and she's been great, 293 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 2: and I'm just glad that, you know, we're able to 294 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 2: give her her flowers, show her love, and that she's 295 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 2: back on the forefront of the w like she's literally 296 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 2: one of one of one of our greats, right and 297 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 2: now she's finally being treated like one. 298 00:15:56,200 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 4: Janapel Marinelli also retired player. So when I was interviewing 299 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 4: for this job and my first season or two, I 300 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 4: was reporting to Jane and other players. She was part 301 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 4: of player leadership. Jane retired soon thereafter and joined us, 302 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 4: joined our staff at the Union. She's mission focused on 303 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 4: retired players, and so I really give credit to her 304 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 4: and the rest of the staff team for how we 305 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 4: have looked to rebuild that bridge between the current players, 306 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 4: the union and retired players. Of course, they have their 307 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 4: own Retired Players Association, but it's something meaningful to be 308 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 4: a part of that alumni group and for us to 309 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 4: recognize them as that alumni group and all the wisdom 310 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 4: and all the experience and all the stories that they have, 311 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 4: And that was key to us working with Cheryl in 312 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 4: Shattered Class in the documentary that is still streaming free 313 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 4: on two Be by the way, shameless plug, because you 314 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 4: don't move forward without remembering where you've come from and 315 00:16:56,480 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 4: all the advances, and so their important part again, who 316 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 4: we are, our identity and our future. 317 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 1: I wonder because you alluded to this a bit when 318 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,439 Speaker 1: you said people make comparisons that are sometimes helpful and 319 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,639 Speaker 1: sometimes not helpful at all. As a mama bear to 320 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 1: an NBA player and also as the collective mama bear 321 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: to the w I'm curious when you see those comparisons, 322 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 1: if you could rewrite the narrative, what would you want 323 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: people to know about women's basketball separate from those comparisons 324 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: people are always trying to make. 325 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 4: I answered that question when I interviewed for this job, 326 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 4: and quite frankly, I think it's why the players in 327 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:48,919 Speaker 4: leadership at that time chose me. They asked me, you know, 328 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 4: the typical interview question that you get at the end 329 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 4: and I was prepared for all of them. When I 330 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 4: said preparing for war, I was like writing out all 331 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 4: my answers, thinking about them, like living, breathing them. And 332 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 4: then you get the question that you know you're going 333 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 4: to get at the end, where do you see yourself? 334 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:05,719 Speaker 4: Where do you see this union in five to ten years? 335 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 4: And I had an answer ready, and I probably still 336 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 4: have those little index cards I could find out. I 337 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 4: don't remember my answer, but during the course of the interview, 338 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 4: there were so many references, Well, in the NBA and 339 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 4: the NBA guys have this, and at the NBPA the 340 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 4: Brother Union, this is what they do. There was so 341 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 4: much comparison. It was about to make my head explode. 342 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 4: I was like, wait, why are we doing this? 343 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 2: Wait? 344 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 4: Where am I? I'm in this interview for the WNBPA 345 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 4: to talk about WNBA players and why are we still 346 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:37,120 Speaker 4: talking about the NBA guys and what they had. When 347 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 4: they asked me the question where do I see myself? 348 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 4: Where do I see this union in five to ten years? 349 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 4: I had to decide in a split second was I 350 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 4: going with my prepared answer or was I going to 351 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 4: address what was the moment right there? And I pivoted 352 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 4: and I don't usually do that, but I pivoted and 353 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 4: I said, in five to ten years, we are going 354 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 4: to recognize our game and our identity for what it is. 355 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 4: We are going to recognize that we are different, and 356 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 4: we are going to stop comparing ourselves to the NBA 357 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 4: guys and to the NBA game because our game is different. 358 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 4: Who we are is different, and we need to celebrate 359 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:24,360 Speaker 4: that different doesn't mean lesser than it just simply means different. 360 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 4: That's it. And so what I want to see and 361 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 4: what I want us to do is build brand relationships 362 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 4: based on who we are, not based on what they 363 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,679 Speaker 4: are or what they have. But what I do think 364 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 4: and what I think is helpful to me in this 365 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 4: role is being that mama bear of an NBA player 366 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 4: who happens to be in leadership at his brother union. Right. 367 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 4: It gives me a vision to see what they have, 368 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 4: to see what they're doing, how they're maneuvering, how they're operating, 369 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 4: what they have what we don't have, but to see 370 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 4: how we can do it for ourselves in a way 371 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 4: that's true and authentic to who we are. Not to 372 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 4: play this. We got to catch up with the Joneses 373 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,120 Speaker 4: before the twenty twenty CBA. We kind of had their 374 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 4: CBA that didn't work for us. It was kind of 375 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 4: a bad cutting pace job of the NBA, NVPA CBA 376 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:16,959 Speaker 4: that wasn't working for us. That doesn't work for professional 377 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 4: women athletes. And so that's what I told them. I said, 378 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 4: we're going to value who we are. We're gonna value 379 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:27,080 Speaker 4: being different. We're gonna build something different, and we're going 380 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 4: to wait and let people come to us. And where 381 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 4: are we right now? Women's sports is the new it girl, right. 382 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 4: Everybody wants to be our friend, everybody wants to be 383 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 4: our partner, work with us, support us, and we welcome that. 384 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 4: The W is the W. It's not trying to be 385 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,879 Speaker 4: the n We're the Wright period. 386 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:52,920 Speaker 2: And now I'll stay on the topic of comparison. Yeah, 387 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 2: you know, I didn't think that there would be another 388 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:59,120 Speaker 2: women's basketball league that we could ever compare the W two. 389 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,680 Speaker 2: You look at leagues like athletes, unlimited, like unrivaled. 390 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 4: I'm a big fan. 391 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 2: From your perspective in our negotiations, Does this provide the 392 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 2: players more leverage or is it going to be problematic 393 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 2: in your opinion, because honestly, I'm not sure because I'm 394 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 2: seeing the conversations online about unrival is just going to 395 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 2: take over, like there's just going to be no more W. 396 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 2: Like again, these conversations and opinions that people are throwing 397 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:29,880 Speaker 2: out are just coming out of thin air. 398 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 3: So I would love for you. 399 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:36,479 Speaker 2: To educate us on what having these off season leagues 400 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 2: means to us and negotiations, and then also like what 401 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:41,680 Speaker 2: that means. 402 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 3: For the W like moving forward. 403 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 4: These are leagues that operate during the off season of 404 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 4: the WNBA Ding Ding Ding. That's a win. That's huge, 405 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:54,919 Speaker 4: And already they're showing that they're not looking to compete 406 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 4: with the W. They have found that sweet spot of 407 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 4: a time to op rate during the off season and 408 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 4: before the college tournaments really kick off right or before 409 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 4: March Madness, and so they are flourishing, and they're giving 410 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 4: young women athletes in the wor or looking to be 411 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 4: in the W. They're giving them opportunities to work on 412 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 4: their game to develop their gain here in the United States. 413 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 4: That's got to be a win. That's what I think 414 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 4: is special about both of them, particularly the timing and 415 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 4: the opportunity that they give, and that there's compensation tie 416 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 4: to each of them. So players playing with Athletes Unlimited 417 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,919 Speaker 4: are getting paid. Players playing with Unrivaled or getting paid. 418 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 4: And I think the Unrivaled model is also significant in 419 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:44,919 Speaker 4: that this is started by players. That's what I like 420 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 4: about Athletes Unlimited too. 421 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, we're in charge. 422 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 2: We aren't founders like in Unrivaled, but we are in 423 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:52,120 Speaker 2: like leadership positions. 424 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 4: Well, Unrivaled has taken the model in kind of another direction, right, 425 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 4: So players are in charge, but players have founded this. 426 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 4: Players have an EQUI stake. I mean, when you look 427 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 4: at sports, you look at the landscape, it is shifting constantly, 428 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 4: and women's sports is right there with it. I love 429 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,879 Speaker 4: what's happening with AU. I love what's happening and Unrivaled. 430 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 4: I love the narratives that are coming out. The fact 431 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 4: that the average salary and Unrivaled is two hundred and 432 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 4: twenty thousand dollars. I'm paying attention. I hope the league 433 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 4: and the teams are too. I mean that's a statement move. 434 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 4: Like I said, there's equity. I think it's an extraordinary 435 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 4: move that their games are televised. That's huge. I think 436 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 4: Unrivaled and I think AU are augmenting what the w 437 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 4: has and continuing to make women's basketball at this professional 438 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 4: level not only relevant, but accessible and exciting to the fans. 439 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:55,880 Speaker 4: I see honestly nothing but positives coming from it. And 440 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 4: if we're smart on the union player side of the house, 441 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 4: we use it as leverage. And if the league and 442 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:07,120 Speaker 4: teams are smart, they're paying attention to because there are 443 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:10,399 Speaker 4: lessons to be learned. There should not be any hard 444 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 4: feelings here. We should all be pulling in the same 445 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 4: direction to support, to support what's happening here, because as 446 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:22,880 Speaker 4: you all say all the time, this is more than 447 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 4: a moment, right, It is definitely a movement and it's exciting. 448 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah. 449 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 1: And then for both of you, I think on an 450 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:35,199 Speaker 1: outside looking in perspective, even with unrivaled in AU and 451 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:39,119 Speaker 1: with this growth the WNBA is experiencing, I think a 452 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,719 Speaker 1: lot of people reach for comparisons or even saying things 453 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 1: like giving credit to younger players coming in while saying 454 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,640 Speaker 1: that the league isn't trying to embrace them, or there's 455 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 1: hating going on or whatever. As two people who are 456 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: like actually super involved in the league, what are you 457 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 1: noticing as far as player relationships in this new era 458 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: and people welcoming in these new players and what is 459 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: that looking like actually from the inside. 460 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 4: So I love that you asked this, Mariah, because all 461 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 4: that commentary on social media and in traditional media about 462 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 4: the hate and the non support, like, honestly, that makes 463 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 4: us laugh. Do the players compete like heck and want 464 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 4: to win? Are they fierce competitors on the court. Absolutely, 465 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:29,719 Speaker 4: But at the end of the day, we are a 466 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 4: union and we understand what it means to support each 467 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:37,920 Speaker 4: other off the court too. We have to because we're 468 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 4: one of the smaller unions. We don't have a lot 469 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 4: of resources like those other unions do. We got to 470 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 4: rely on the collective voice and we got to link 471 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 4: arms and be together. So does that mean that Lexi 472 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 4: and whomever you want to go out there and beat 473 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:55,320 Speaker 4: the Seattle Storm with with Neka Gumk and Skyler Diggain Smith. Yes, 474 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:59,080 Speaker 4: they want to beat their butts. Absolutely, and we all 475 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 4: understand that as fans like that's the kind of level 476 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:05,439 Speaker 4: of competition we want to see. But off the court, 477 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 4: do they respect what Lexi's doing and how she's moving? 478 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 4: Do they respect Meca as their president? Absolutely? So to 479 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 4: those of you who want to say there's jealousy and 480 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 4: they don't like each other and they don't support each other. 481 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 3: All right, wrap it up. 482 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,119 Speaker 4: That's old. How many games do you go to if 483 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 4: that's what you're saying, Come to a game, check them out, 484 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:30,919 Speaker 4: and then see how we are moving as a union 485 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 4: because we couldn't get it done if that narrative was 486 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 4: the truth. 487 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely, to add on to that, we're going to see 488 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:42,879 Speaker 2: a different w because so many of us are able 489 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 2: to stay home in the off season. Can you imagine 490 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 2: being on a team or working in an office and 491 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:50,760 Speaker 2: you don't see or speak to each other for six 492 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 2: months because y'all are all in different countries making a living, 493 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 2: and then you have to just reconvene when training camps start. 494 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:00,399 Speaker 3: That's a great point. That's basically been the real of 495 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 3: the WNBA. 496 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 2: And now y'all see what's going on in Miami, all 497 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:06,359 Speaker 2: of the Tampa. 498 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: My next question and tampering. 499 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 3: Quote unquote going on down there, and how much. 500 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 4: There's there's not tampering, there's just coffees. 501 00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 3: No, there is no coffees and tiktoks. 502 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,439 Speaker 2: You're gonna see the same camaraderie in Au coming up 503 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 2: this week when we start playing like these are the 504 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:26,479 Speaker 2: relationships that have always existed, but nobody has really been 505 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 2: able to see them because they've just been private because 506 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:32,919 Speaker 2: everyone's been so spaced out all the time. So for me, 507 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 2: seeing more players being able to stay stateside to play, 508 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 2: to follow different career paths, marketing stuff, brand stuff, that's 509 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:43,679 Speaker 2: one of the biggest difference I've seen and why this 510 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 2: league has been able to move forward so much quicker 511 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 2: than we've ever seen is because we are all able 512 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,959 Speaker 2: to just be here and be present here together. 513 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:55,160 Speaker 4: Agreed, that's a great point. 514 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:57,720 Speaker 1: I never thought about that. It's not that the relationships 515 00:27:57,720 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 1: weren't there, we didn't really get to see them because 516 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 1: you were physically apart. And now I feel like that'll 517 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:06,680 Speaker 1: improve the overall just like health and level of competition too, 518 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:09,160 Speaker 1: because you're not having to do all of that traveling 519 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:11,880 Speaker 1: and live somewhere else physically and then come back here 520 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: and have to get used to your teammates and time 521 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 1: changes and all of that stuff. 522 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 3: And I was insane. It's insane. 523 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:20,479 Speaker 2: And then on top of that, you are coming from 524 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:23,200 Speaker 2: overseas straight to training camp. You don't really have that 525 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 2: time to breathe, and it was just like just a 526 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:28,919 Speaker 2: non stop constant and you never really got to just 527 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:31,720 Speaker 2: sit back and be like, how can I build a 528 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 2: relationship with my teammates? How can I help this league grow? 529 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 2: Because I'm just moving non stop. So I'm really grateful 530 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:41,360 Speaker 2: that this is all happening. I'm grateful that I'm still 531 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 2: in the league to experience it, witness it, be a 532 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 2: part of it. 533 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 3: Because Terry knows. 534 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 2: There was moments where I was like, can I come 535 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 2: work with you? 536 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 4: Everybody had these movements. It's a tough lead. Think about it, 537 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 4: before expansions, one hundred and forty four jobs. Now there's 538 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 4: one hundred and fifty six. We're still swalln mighty. But 539 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 4: this is the toughest league to make. Do the math, 540 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 4: only one hundred and fifty six jobs. You've got to 541 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 4: be elite. You've got to be cream of the cream, right, 542 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 4: you got to be at the top. You've got to 543 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 4: be at the top. 544 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 2: And thirty six new people coming in every year that's 545 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 2: just drafted. So you don't only have to make it 546 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 2: you get make it. 547 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:28,200 Speaker 4: You got to keep it. You got to sustain that 548 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 4: level of talent and performance. 549 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 1: What about the WNBA's moms because obviously with women performing 550 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 1: at the highest level as athletes. That also poses a 551 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: unique challenge for women, you know, having children. And I 552 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: saw that the Fever's new facility is supposed to have 553 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: daycare and whatnot. But what are some things in your 554 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:55,920 Speaker 1: job and your roletary that you feel like need to 555 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:58,040 Speaker 1: be recognized as far as women you know who are 556 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 1: having children and still are performing at the t level. 557 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 4: When I first got this job, I remember during the 558 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 4: interview process, you know, reading the CBA, and I said, wait, 559 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:10,560 Speaker 4: what happens when they're pregnant. I didn't remember reading that 560 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 4: in the CBA, And so I go back to the 561 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 4: CBA and I'm looking at I'm like, Okay, we don't 562 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:17,560 Speaker 4: really talk about that. That's crazy. The only thing you 563 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:20,880 Speaker 4: really see in that old CBA was players have to 564 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 4: disclose and players only get paid half their salary. And 565 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 4: I was like, oh my god, who agreed to that? 566 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 4: And why we've got to fix that. I also thought about, 567 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:34,040 Speaker 4: you know, when I was a young mom and my 568 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 4: son's dad was playing in the NBA at the time, 569 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 4: I'd walk into the arena and somebody would scoop him 570 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 4: up and take him to the family room and he 571 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,360 Speaker 4: could play with the other kids. He would be fed 572 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 4: if he wanted to sleep, or he could come hang 573 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 4: out in the seats with me and watch the game. 574 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:52,840 Speaker 4: And so I'd go in my new job as head 575 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 4: of this union and I'd say, Okay, where's the family room? 576 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:58,560 Speaker 4: And people would look at me like I was crazy. 577 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 4: I was like, wait a second. The guys had this. 578 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 4: Now I'm comparing. Right, the guys had this, and we 579 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 4: don't do this for professional women athletes. Okay, we got 580 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 4: to fix that. I thought there were so many opportunities 581 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 4: that we had to demonstrate how we could support women 582 00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:16,960 Speaker 4: who wanted to start a family or who had a 583 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:21,600 Speaker 4: family and maintain playing in the W. And this twenty 584 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:24,360 Speaker 4: twenty CBA, when Lexi and I talk about, it's good. 585 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:26,760 Speaker 4: It did a lot of things. It helped fix that. 586 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:30,120 Speaker 4: And we saw more players who were moms or starting 587 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:35,200 Speaker 4: their families than ever before. And we've got to continue 588 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 4: that because that's really important. We want young women who 589 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:41,120 Speaker 4: are in high school getting ready to go to college 590 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:44,480 Speaker 4: thinking about aspiring to be a W player to say 591 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:46,640 Speaker 4: I can do that and I can have it all, 592 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 4: just like working women in any industry across this country, 593 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 4: across the globe are saying, how can I have it 594 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 4: all we can do that. It can't be a challenge. 595 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 4: It should not be a challenge a hindrance, right, It 596 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 4: should be something that we do and that we celebrate. 597 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 4: And I am celebrating the fact that we see more 598 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 4: player parents in the w than we have in decades, 599 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 4: and we have probably ever in its history, and it's 600 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 4: because of this twenty twenty CBA. But we opted out 601 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:21,520 Speaker 4: of this one, and I think we have to do 602 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 4: even better. 603 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:27,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I've heard and I've seen player mothers still 604 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty four having grievances with how they handle 605 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:35,600 Speaker 2: them as moms, and it is one of the reasons 606 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 2: why we saw so much movement in the free agency 607 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:41,960 Speaker 2: from some mothers was literally like there was no type 608 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 2: of childcare in place like we were promised, So we 609 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:47,480 Speaker 2: got to go somewhere that there is one. 610 00:32:47,600 --> 00:32:49,120 Speaker 3: And I think that's so important. 611 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:51,400 Speaker 2: You know, for me, I don't have any kids, but 612 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 2: you know, five years ago, I was like, am I 613 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 2: gonna be able to have kids and play and be 614 00:32:56,840 --> 00:33:00,600 Speaker 2: comfortable and be embraced and yeah, and now the answer 615 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 2: is yes, I agree with you. 616 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:03,320 Speaker 3: We do still have a lot of work to do. 617 00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:04,720 Speaker 2: One of the things I love about you is like 618 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:08,280 Speaker 2: your candidness and openness. And when I was doing some 619 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:13,360 Speaker 2: reading prior to this, I was seeing the NWSL they 620 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:17,120 Speaker 2: just had their renegotiation period and they talked about how 621 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:20,840 Speaker 2: they kept theirs very close to their chest and didn't 622 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:24,760 Speaker 2: really have people or the media or the outside have 623 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:27,120 Speaker 2: any type of insight into what they were doing. 624 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:30,080 Speaker 3: Where obviously the complete opposite of that. 625 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:34,560 Speaker 2: What benefits do you see of us being so candid 626 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 2: and open with so many people about what we're trying 627 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:38,640 Speaker 2: to achieve in our CVR. 628 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:41,320 Speaker 4: Well, I think there's a balance there. Hopefully you feel 629 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:44,760 Speaker 4: that this conversation with you and Mariah is candid and 630 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 4: open and with your listeners, because that's what I always 631 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:50,840 Speaker 4: look to be. But I don't look to negotiate in 632 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 4: the press. I look to negotiate in the war room, 633 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:56,600 Speaker 4: right in the conference room. That's where we do the work, 634 00:33:56,680 --> 00:34:00,960 Speaker 4: and we do ourselves a favor by maintaining that kind 635 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:05,200 Speaker 4: of strategy and approach. Will we talk big picture about 636 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:08,719 Speaker 4: what new can look like? Absolutely, that's part of this 637 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:12,440 Speaker 4: candid conversation, and I think the players do themselves a 638 00:34:12,560 --> 00:34:15,719 Speaker 4: service a great service to say this is what's on 639 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:18,799 Speaker 4: our minds. The women of the W With all due 640 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:22,239 Speaker 4: respect to our colleagues in soccer, but in the W 641 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:26,200 Speaker 4: we lead, we really do. We know all eyes are 642 00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:29,160 Speaker 4: on us, and so we've got to do the work 643 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 4: and get it right and get this CBA to respond 644 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:36,240 Speaker 4: to who we are, to who you are as players, 645 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:39,880 Speaker 4: as professional women athletes, to ensure your value, to ensure 646 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:42,759 Speaker 4: your rights, to ensure you're safe, to ensure that you 647 00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 4: are able to play at that high level. Sure, I 648 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 4: will talk about that in terms of broad strokes and 649 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:51,879 Speaker 4: big picture, but when it comes down to what are 650 00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:55,319 Speaker 4: we actually talking about, what are the actual negotiations and 651 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:56,960 Speaker 4: the day to day or the week to week or 652 00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:00,040 Speaker 4: the months to month meetings and the outcomes. No, that 653 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:02,960 Speaker 4: I will hold close to the vest, and that I 654 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 4: will they in terms of the playbook that we had 655 00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 4: last time and our strategy that we had last time, 656 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:13,240 Speaker 4: and we had no leaks. Let's do that again because 657 00:35:13,280 --> 00:35:15,480 Speaker 4: I think we do ourselves as service and I think 658 00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:19,440 Speaker 4: that brings a certain level of credibility to the negotiations, 659 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:22,520 Speaker 4: and so that's what I want to repeat again. But 660 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 4: telling our stories, making sure that our fans still feel 661 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:29,799 Speaker 4: connected to you, that's the goal. 662 00:35:39,239 --> 00:35:40,920 Speaker 1: I'm not sure if this is something that happens with 663 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:44,880 Speaker 1: the CBA or not, But as far as you were 664 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:47,759 Speaker 1: referring to with mothers and the w LEXI I think 665 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:51,920 Speaker 1: you said some teams have different type of childcare facilities 666 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:53,920 Speaker 1: and whatnot in place, and some teams don't, and that 667 00:35:54,040 --> 00:35:57,160 Speaker 1: causes some women who are free agents to go a 668 00:35:57,160 --> 00:36:00,680 Speaker 1: different route because different teams have different of abilities for them. 669 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 1: And I noticed that come up a lot in free agency, 670 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:05,680 Speaker 1: not just with mothers, but with players being like, Okay, 671 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:08,360 Speaker 1: well that team has these facilities and this team has that, 672 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:12,160 Speaker 1: and this comparison game. Is there a future in which 673 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 1: it becomes uniform across the board what teams have to 674 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:18,600 Speaker 1: have for their players, because that I feel like it's 675 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:21,600 Speaker 1: going to cause on the court a difference in the 676 00:36:21,719 --> 00:36:23,920 Speaker 1: quality of talent, because some talent are going to be like, 677 00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:25,799 Speaker 1: I don't want to play there because I might want 678 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:27,440 Speaker 1: to have a kid in a couple of years and 679 00:36:27,640 --> 00:36:29,120 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. So is there a world 680 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:31,319 Speaker 1: in which that becomes more uniform team to team. 681 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:33,040 Speaker 2: I mean I would be like, yes, I would love 682 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:35,680 Speaker 2: that to be a uniform because it's getting into competitive 683 00:36:35,719 --> 00:36:37,680 Speaker 2: advantage territory. 684 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:40,120 Speaker 1: I feel like, yeah, so is that a possibility as 685 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:42,520 Speaker 1: far as you know the paperwork behind the scene. 686 00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:45,000 Speaker 4: And let me ask you this, do you think it's 687 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:51,000 Speaker 4: a good idea that facilities are standardized across a league, 688 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:56,920 Speaker 4: any league, WNBA, NBA. Do you think it's helpful to 689 00:36:57,080 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 4: see top notch facility have the kind of equipment, have 690 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:06,440 Speaker 4: the kind of recovery resources that professional athletes need. This 691 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:08,640 Speaker 4: is not about being a diva, right, This is not 692 00:37:08,719 --> 00:37:12,279 Speaker 4: about who's got the new shiny This fair? But do 693 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:13,440 Speaker 4: you think it makes sense? 694 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:17,560 Speaker 1: And it's not even about being a diva as much 695 00:37:17,560 --> 00:37:20,200 Speaker 1: as it is at least holding them to the standard 696 00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:22,440 Speaker 1: that they're used to in college. Me and Luxy have 697 00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:25,839 Speaker 1: talked about this before. Going from college. Seems like they 698 00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:28,880 Speaker 1: have access to everything and more, and so it's like 699 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:30,680 Speaker 1: that's a standard that they're used to. As far as 700 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:32,920 Speaker 1: even being prepared to compete on the court, it's not 701 00:37:33,040 --> 00:37:35,880 Speaker 1: about oh, I want the shiniest new toy. It's like, no, 702 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:37,600 Speaker 1: I want to perform at my best. I want to 703 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:40,120 Speaker 1: be able to win. My worry though, is I don't 704 00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:43,719 Speaker 1: want them getting undercut by their being. 705 00:37:43,480 --> 00:37:45,720 Speaker 4: A uniform standard, If that makes sense. 706 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:48,840 Speaker 1: Like, my worry would be like the NCAA tournament situation 707 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:51,560 Speaker 1: years ago where they had won rackawaits and that was 708 00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:54,640 Speaker 1: what was required, the one racket, dumbbells. I don't want 709 00:37:54,680 --> 00:37:56,080 Speaker 1: that to happen. So that's my wife. 710 00:37:56,120 --> 00:37:58,799 Speaker 4: Well, well, I mean that's why you have a standard 711 00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:01,719 Speaker 4: that's at least said level that makes sense. I'm not 712 00:38:01,840 --> 00:38:05,080 Speaker 4: talking about something that is below basic. You have a 713 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:10,200 Speaker 4: standard that puts everybody unnoticed that this is the way 714 00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:13,600 Speaker 4: you treat professional athletes and that this is what is 715 00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:17,600 Speaker 4: expected of you if you're going to have a WNBA 716 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:19,480 Speaker 4: or name a team franchise. 717 00:38:19,640 --> 00:38:22,080 Speaker 1: But like Legacy said, that bleeds into the competition on 718 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:24,480 Speaker 1: the court because if one team all is training with 719 00:38:24,520 --> 00:38:26,600 Speaker 1: the same training staff and it's getting in the sauna 720 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:29,520 Speaker 1: after and the ice bath together and he ha ha, 721 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:31,560 Speaker 1: and then one team is all getting trained by their 722 00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:32,520 Speaker 1: own separate trainers, that. 723 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:34,239 Speaker 3: Affects exactly. 724 00:38:35,760 --> 00:38:39,120 Speaker 2: Bare minimum. And I want people to also understand that 725 00:38:39,440 --> 00:38:42,920 Speaker 2: it's not the league, Like, obviously we can put what 726 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:45,759 Speaker 2: we want in the CBA negotiations, but it's on the 727 00:38:45,840 --> 00:38:49,960 Speaker 2: ownerships to put the money into these facilities. Everyone is 728 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:51,920 Speaker 2: always just like the WNBA needs to do this the 729 00:38:52,040 --> 00:38:56,600 Speaker 2: Wakers like one designated person giving money to each team 730 00:38:56,680 --> 00:38:58,759 Speaker 2: like No. These are the different ownership groups, which is 731 00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:03,160 Speaker 2: why you're seeing such a disparity between franchises right now, 732 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:06,759 Speaker 2: because you have owners that care and are investing in 733 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:11,160 Speaker 2: their teams like Phoenix in Las Vegas and now Indiana 734 00:39:11,200 --> 00:39:14,799 Speaker 2: that we're seeing, and then you have other franchises who 735 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:17,120 Speaker 2: I won't name because we're not gonna throw anybody end 736 00:39:17,120 --> 00:39:20,560 Speaker 2: of the bus right now, and they their owners look 737 00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:23,799 Speaker 2: like they just don't care. And I think this is 738 00:39:23,840 --> 00:39:26,600 Speaker 2: a very important part of our next round of negotiations 739 00:39:26,719 --> 00:39:30,840 Speaker 2: is standardizing what players need to compete at the highest 740 00:39:30,920 --> 00:39:35,080 Speaker 2: level to win championships, because, like Mariah said, we're used 741 00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:35,920 Speaker 2: to it in college. 742 00:39:36,160 --> 00:39:37,520 Speaker 3: In no universe should. 743 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:39,480 Speaker 2: We be able to comprehend that you get to the 744 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:42,839 Speaker 2: highest level and everything is downgraded. 745 00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:46,680 Speaker 1: That's why it's important for our listeners and fans and 746 00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:50,480 Speaker 1: the public to hear from Terry, from you to understand 747 00:39:50,480 --> 00:39:53,239 Speaker 1: that it's not like when fans say the WNBA needs 748 00:39:53,239 --> 00:39:55,080 Speaker 1: to do this, and that it's not like the WNBA 749 00:39:55,239 --> 00:39:57,359 Speaker 1: is the enemy of the players and they don't want 750 00:39:57,400 --> 00:39:59,279 Speaker 1: the players to do well and have nice like it's 751 00:39:59,320 --> 00:40:01,120 Speaker 1: not like that. I'm not that about the ownership either, 752 00:40:01,239 --> 00:40:04,200 Speaker 1: but it's important that fans understand that there are bodies 753 00:40:04,239 --> 00:40:06,960 Speaker 1: in place that are fighting for the players to have 754 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:09,520 Speaker 1: what they need and what they want and what they desire. 755 00:40:09,719 --> 00:40:11,440 Speaker 1: It's not like the WNBA just like, oh, we don't 756 00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:13,440 Speaker 1: want them to have practiacilities. That doesn't make sense for us. 757 00:40:13,480 --> 00:40:15,240 Speaker 2: And at the end of the day, it is a business, 758 00:40:15,280 --> 00:40:17,400 Speaker 2: and we do all understand that we've just done a 759 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:20,160 Speaker 2: really good job navigating this new time in this new era, 760 00:40:20,239 --> 00:40:24,000 Speaker 2: and I think we just have positioned ourselves to take 761 00:40:24,040 --> 00:40:27,760 Speaker 2: a leap with these next negotiations. So the last question 762 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:31,759 Speaker 2: before we get off of here, we'll circle back to 763 00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:36,520 Speaker 2: your interview question, Terry, where do you see the WNBA 764 00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:40,160 Speaker 2: in the next five to ten years? God willing that 765 00:40:40,239 --> 00:40:42,440 Speaker 2: this CBA goes the way that we wanted to go. 766 00:40:42,680 --> 00:40:44,719 Speaker 2: What do you envision for us in the next. 767 00:40:44,680 --> 00:40:47,680 Speaker 4: Five Well, let me go to the it's business comment. 768 00:40:47,760 --> 00:40:51,560 Speaker 4: I think there is no better time for workers to 769 00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:56,880 Speaker 4: collectively organize and become a part of a union. And 770 00:40:56,960 --> 00:41:00,440 Speaker 4: I am hopeful that there is a resurgence of the 771 00:41:00,520 --> 00:41:04,880 Speaker 4: labor movement that is driven by the leadership of you, 772 00:41:05,480 --> 00:41:09,280 Speaker 4: Lexi and the women of the W. That is my hope, 773 00:41:09,400 --> 00:41:12,640 Speaker 4: that is what I believe will truly happen, that through 774 00:41:12,680 --> 00:41:17,319 Speaker 4: these negotiations, we will once again show not just the 775 00:41:17,360 --> 00:41:22,120 Speaker 4: sports world, but the world generally, what you can do 776 00:41:22,600 --> 00:41:25,760 Speaker 4: when even when you are a small but mighty group, 777 00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:29,520 Speaker 4: small but mighty labor union, what you can do when 778 00:41:29,560 --> 00:41:34,120 Speaker 4: you collectively organize, when you work together, when you understand 779 00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:36,759 Speaker 4: the power of consensus and you understand the power of 780 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:40,640 Speaker 4: your collective voice, the labor movement will have a resurgence. 781 00:41:41,080 --> 00:41:47,160 Speaker 4: Mark my words, mark this moment, in marketyar that it 782 00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:51,000 Speaker 4: will be because of you all and what you do 783 00:41:51,239 --> 00:41:53,239 Speaker 4: this time. And that's the other reason why I say 784 00:41:53,280 --> 00:41:56,040 Speaker 4: all eyes on us. I think we're also going to 785 00:41:56,120 --> 00:42:02,400 Speaker 4: see a stronger movement of player advocacy. The power of 786 00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:06,520 Speaker 4: the player has been growing and it's going to reach 787 00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:10,919 Speaker 4: great heights in the W. I think that you will 788 00:42:11,040 --> 00:42:14,759 Speaker 4: finally be seen as you should always have been seen 789 00:42:15,440 --> 00:42:20,319 Speaker 4: as respected business women in this league, because it is 790 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:23,880 Speaker 4: quite clear to me as your executive director, that you 791 00:42:24,080 --> 00:42:27,520 Speaker 4: know the business of sport, you know the business of 792 00:42:27,560 --> 00:42:31,000 Speaker 4: this league, you care about it, you look to protect it, 793 00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:35,200 Speaker 4: and you are going to finally be seen as the 794 00:42:35,280 --> 00:42:41,640 Speaker 4: respected players and business women of the w Power. 795 00:42:41,360 --> 00:42:43,759 Speaker 3: To the Players, Power to the Players. 796 00:42:44,239 --> 00:42:47,160 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, that is the perfect title, and it's 797 00:42:47,160 --> 00:42:50,160 Speaker 2: going to be the title of our episite Terry. Thank 798 00:42:50,200 --> 00:42:54,440 Speaker 2: you so much for coming on. I am honored, I'm grateful. 799 00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:57,280 Speaker 2: I love you so much. I would not be here 800 00:42:57,400 --> 00:42:59,840 Speaker 2: without you. I tell you all the time, So thank you, 801 00:42:59,880 --> 00:43:01,520 Speaker 2: so so much. I'm so excited for this episode to 802 00:43:01,600 --> 00:43:04,920 Speaker 2: drop and we can educate our listeners and you, guys, 803 00:43:05,400 --> 00:43:07,000 Speaker 2: thanks for tuning in for another. 804 00:43:06,719 --> 00:43:09,080 Speaker 3: Episode of Full Circle. We will see you next week. 805 00:43:09,160 --> 00:43:12,200 Speaker 4: Thank you, Thank you, Mariah. 806 00:43:12,680 --> 00:43:14,919 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to Full Circle. We'll be back next 807 00:43:14,920 --> 00:43:17,920 Speaker 1: week with more basketball for the girls, by the girls. 808 00:43:18,280 --> 00:43:20,320 Speaker 1: We want to hear from you. Leave us a review 809 00:43:20,360 --> 00:43:22,759 Speaker 1: on Apple Podcasts, and tell us what you want us 810 00:43:22,800 --> 00:43:25,359 Speaker 1: to talk about. Full Circle is hosted by Lexi Brown 811 00:43:25,400 --> 00:43:28,799 Speaker 1: and Mariah Rose. Our executive producer is Jesse Katz. Our 812 00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:32,680 Speaker 1: supervising producer is Grace Fuse. Our producer is Zoe Danklab. 813 00:43:33,680 --> 00:43:37,360 Speaker 1: Listen to Full Circle on America's number one podcast network, iHeart, 814 00:43:37,600 --> 00:43:40,000 Speaker 1: open your free iHeart app and search Full Circle with 815 00:43:40,080 --> 00:43:42,200 Speaker 1: Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose and start listening