1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where the Aces 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: were huggin' Usher while the Mercury gave a whole new 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: meaning to the phrase Sunday scaries. It's Monday, October sixth, 4 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 1: and on today's show, will be chatting with women's hoops 5 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: broadcaster Cindy Brunson about the Las Vegas Aces big Game 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: two wins Sunday over Phoenix in the WNBA Finals, what 7 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: the Mercury need to do to get back in the series, 8 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: and her take on the Nofisa Collier Kathy Engelbert Beef 9 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: plus Unrivaled is headed to the City of Brotherly Love 10 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: flag in a new opportunity and consider this our signal 11 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: to you. 12 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 2: It's all coming up right after this welcome back, Slay says, 13 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 2: hope you had a great weekend. Here's what you need 14 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 2: to know today. 15 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: In the WNBA, the Las Vegas Aces have taken a 16 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: commanding two games to none lead in their best of 17 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: seven finals series with the Phoenix Mercury. After winning Game 18 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: two on Sunday ninety one seventy eight. Asia Wilson and 19 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: Jackie Young led the way for the Aces. 20 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 2: With twenty eight and thirty two points. Respectively. 21 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: Wilson added fourteen rebounds for a double double, while Chelsea 22 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: Gray had ten points and tennisis for a double double 23 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: of her own. Collia Copper Paste the Mercury start to 24 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 1: finish with twenty three points, while Satusabli had twenty two 25 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: points and nine rebounds, but a lot of her production 26 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: came with the game out of reach. Game three of 27 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: the series is Wednesday night in Phoenix. Lots more on 28 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: the w Finals with Cindy Brunson later in the show 29 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: more WNBA. 30 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: The fallout continues in the. 31 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 1: Wake of the prepared statement made by Minnesota links forward 32 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: and if he'sa Collier during her exit interview last Tuesday. 33 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: Per ESPN, Collier texted WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert to express 34 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 1: a willingness to meet this week, but after a Friday 35 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: press availability in which Engelbert denied making comments Collier attributed 36 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: to her sources TELEDESPN, Collier has canceled that meeting. Per 37 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: one source, Engelbert's comments have quote pretty much pushed the 38 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: relationship beyond repair end quote. I want to play a 39 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: little bit of what the commissioner had to say in 40 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: that press availability ahead of game one first, when asked 41 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,559 Speaker 1: directly by ESPN's Malik Andrews whether she said that players 42 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: should be on their knees thanking her for the TV 43 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 1: rights deal she got them, she said this. 44 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 3: There's a lot of inaccuracy out there through social media 45 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 3: and all this reporting, and so I think what's most 46 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 3: helpful is to focus on I have been in touch 47 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 3: with the FISA, We've exchanged texts, we're talking next week. 48 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 3: So I think obviously a lot of reporting, a lot 49 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 3: of inaccuracy about what I said or what I didn't say. 50 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 3: And I will tell you I highly respect the players. 51 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 3: There's a lot of emotion and passion going on right 52 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 3: now because we're in collective bargaining. We're in the w 53 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 3: NBA finals. Uh, And so I'll leave it there. I mean, 54 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 3: I'm just obviously disheartened. You know, I'm a human too. 55 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 3: I have a family. I have two kids who are 56 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 3: devastated by these comments, and so all I'll say is 57 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 3: just you know, it's it's obviously been a tough week, and. 58 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:00,399 Speaker 2: I just think there's a lot of inaccuracy up there. 59 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: Near the end of the press or Friend of the show, 60 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: Annie Costable followed up, asking this. 61 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 4: You've continued to express that you were disheartened by the 62 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 4: characterization of your conversation with the FISA. Collier just again 63 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 4: seeking clarity. Did you in fact say that Caitlin Clark 64 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 4: should be grateful she makes sixteen million off the court, 65 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 4: because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she 66 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,519 Speaker 4: wouldn't make anything. And do you actually feel that way 67 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 4: that without this platform, players like Kaitlyn Clark wouldn't be 68 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 4: making what they do off the court. 69 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, obviously I did not make those comments. Caitlin has 70 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 3: been a transformational player in this league's She's been a 71 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 3: great representative of the game. She's brought in tens of 72 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 3: millions of new fans to the game, proud of what 73 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 3: she's put on the court. Unfortunately, the injuries held her 74 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 3: back from a full season this year. But again, I'm 75 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 3: not going to get into every point counterpoint, it's not 76 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 3: productive here. 77 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 2: We're here to celebrate. 78 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 3: The WNBA Finals. I think what Indiana just did was 79 00:03:56,080 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 3: amazing with all the injuries they had and the everything 80 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 3: they face this year, bringing that to a game five 81 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 3: and overtime. But yeah, as I said, there's a lot 82 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 3: of inaccuracies reported out there, and I certainly did not 83 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 3: say that. 84 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 4: Now. 85 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: During that press availability, Engelbert also announced a multi stakeholder 86 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: task force to address the issue of officiating in the league, 87 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 1: a quote unquote State of the Game committee that will 88 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: include players to ensure the officiating platform quote unquote evolves 89 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 1: in step with the growth of the league. So that's 90 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: good news. But while Engelbert and the league leadership try 91 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 1: to appease critics of the w's officiating and quiet calls 92 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: for her job from media talking heads, players continue to 93 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 1: come out in support of Colliure and of the criticism 94 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: she levied at leadership, including the Indiana Fever Sophie Cunningham, 95 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 1: who said in her exit interview in part quote, I 96 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 1: think there are a lot of people in position of 97 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: power in the WNBA who they might be really great 98 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: business people, but they don't know shit about basketball end quote. 99 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:56,600 Speaker 1: Now I do wonder if we'll hear from NBA Commissioner 100 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: Adam Silver, who's in charge of hiring and firing the 101 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: WNA DA commissioner and who runs the league that owns 102 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 1: forty two percent of the W Actually more, as Friend 103 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: of the Show Lindsay Gibbs points out in a great 104 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 1: piece for cbsports dot Com. The league doesn't really just 105 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 1: own forty two percent of the w Multiple NBA owners 106 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: were part of the twenty twenty one equity capital raise 107 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: and own part of that sixteen percent equity share, and 108 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 1: six of the thirteen current WNBA teams are owned by 109 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,799 Speaker 1: their NBA counterparts, and four of the five expansion teams 110 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: coming in the next four years will be run by 111 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: NBA owners two So, as Gibbs points out, NBA owners 112 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,239 Speaker 1: collectively owned about sixty percent of the WNBA, she writes 113 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: of the NBA commissioner quote. For decades, Adam Silver has 114 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: complained publicly about the WNBA's lack of popularity and profitability, 115 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: all while doing very little to invest in its success. Usually, 116 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: people who own businesses talk them up publicly and laud 117 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: their successes. Instead, the NBA has empowered the WNBA's detractors 118 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 1: and publicly treated the league as a burden, essentially tanking 119 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 1: their own asset. Not coincidentally, these public degradations always ramp 120 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 1: up when it's time for a new CBA. 121 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 2: To be bargained en. 122 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: There's plenty more worth your time in that story, including 123 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: how the idea of sustainability has been weaponized against female 124 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 1: athletes to keep them from asking for money and resources. 125 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 1: We'll link to that Gibbs story in the show notes, 126 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,600 Speaker 1: More hoops and Morenafisa Collier. Season two of the unrivaled 127 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: three on three women's basketball league started by Collier and 128 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: Brianna Stewart, is set to tip off in January, and 129 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 1: the league has announced a pair of games will be 130 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: played in Philadelphia. Exfinity Mobile Arena, home of the NBA's 131 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 1: seventy six Ers and NHL's Flyers, will host back to 132 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: back matchups on January thirtieth. The four teams set to 133 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 1: compete have not yet been announced. That'll be a fun 134 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 1: little taste of women's hoops for a city which has 135 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: been awarded an expansion team but isn't set to tip 136 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: off until twenty thirty to the NWSL. A celebration for 137 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: the Thorns that doubled as a kill shot for BFC's 138 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 1: playoff hopes on Saturday night, twenty year old Olivia Moultrie 139 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: scored twice to help the Thorns rally from behind to 140 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: grab a two to one win, officially eliminating BAFC from 141 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: postseason contention. 142 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 2: Before the game, Thorn's legend. 143 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: Christine Sinclair became the first player inducted into the Thorns 144 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: Ring of Honor and the first player ever to have 145 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: her jersey retired by the team. The other team that 146 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: was facing playoff elimination this weekend, the Utah Royals, managed 147 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: to live to fight another day, but just by the 148 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: skin of their teeth. They drew two to two with 149 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: the Chicago Stars, but got an assist from the San 150 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: Diego Wave, losing their match. The Wave fell to the 151 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: Washington Spirit two to one. They benefited from a pair 152 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,679 Speaker 1: of goals from Rosamond Quasi, including a hail Mary game 153 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: winner at the death ninety eight minutes from deep. 154 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 2: We'll link to that goal in the show notes. It 155 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 2: was abute. 156 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: Also some Spirit news this weekend, as stand out Casey Krueger, 157 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: who hasn't played since the NWSL one on Summer break 158 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: in July, has announced why she's expecting her second child. 159 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: Kruger's son Caleb, helped break the news to her teammates, 160 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: taking off a jacket after training to reveal a T 161 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: shirt that said big Bro. Kruger joins teammate Ashley Hatch 162 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: on maternity leave. A Hatch announced her pregnancy in July, 163 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: while teammate Andy Sullivan gave birth to her first child 164 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: in July and is working her way back into playing shape. 165 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: We'll link to Kruger's Instagram post of Caleb sharing the news. 166 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 2: In the show notes. 167 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: More NWSL a big win for Racing Louisville on Saturday. 168 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 1: They entered the weekend in the eighth and final playoff 169 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: spot and grabbed a three to one win over the 170 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,439 Speaker 1: North Carolina Courage, who were lurking just one spot behind 171 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: them in ninth. 172 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 2: And some Courage news as well. 173 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: Per Friend of the Show Jeff Casoof of ESPN Courage 174 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: and US women's national team, goalkeeper Casey Murphy has signed 175 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: a deal with expansion team Boston LEGACYFC. Sources Telcasoof that 176 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: Murphy will head East after her contract with the Courage 177 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 1: expires at the end of this season. Murphy's been North 178 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: Carolina's number one in net since the twenty twenty one season, 179 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: but she hasn't played since August, with Marissa Jordan starting 180 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: in her place. Week twenty three in the NWSL actually 181 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 1: continue tonight as Angel CITYFC hosts the Kansas City Current, 182 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: who have already clinched the shield and number. 183 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 2: One seed in the playoffs. 184 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: ACFC is currently an eleventh place, so they need every 185 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: last point they can get to keep their postseason hopes alive. 186 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: You can catch that one at ten thirty pm Eastern 187 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: on CBS Sports Net to Tennis and the Hard Courts. 188 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: At the China Open, American Amanda Anisamova claimed the title 189 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:24,959 Speaker 1: Sunday with a six zho two six, six to two 190 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: win over Linda Noskova, the third seed at Anisamova ended 191 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: fellow American Coco Goff's title defense in the semi final 192 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: before defeating Noskova for her second WTA one thousand title 193 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: of the season. Anisimova is now the world number four 194 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: after she also posted runner up finishes at the US 195 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 1: Open and Wimbledon this year. Finally, at Thursday's Leaders in 196 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: Sport conference in London, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced plans 197 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: to launch men's and women's professional flag football leagues. The 198 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 1: goal is to get the leagues up and running in 199 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: advance of flag football's Olympic debut at the twenty twenty 200 00:09:58,120 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: eight LA Games. 201 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 2: We got to take a quick break when we come back. 202 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 1: It's Cindy Brunson I talked to her Sunday night after 203 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 1: the Aces Game two victory, joining us for a second 204 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: time here on Good Games. She's the former TV play 205 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: by play voice for the Phoenix Mercury and former longtime 206 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 1: sports and her host on ESPN. You can now hear 207 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,839 Speaker 1: her calling Arizona Women's basketball, Big Ten Basketball and NBC 208 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: Sports in Peacock, and she's entering her fifth season as 209 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:33,079 Speaker 1: the principal play by play voice for Athletes Unlimited Basketball. 210 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 1: A proud Washington State alum, she's a walking billboard for 211 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 1: our show because she's always rocking her I'm a Slice 212 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: tea pretty much on just about every flight she's on. 213 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: It's Cindy Brunson, and I am wearing my I'm a 214 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: Slice for you in honor of your dedication to our 215 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: merch So thank you. 216 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 2: I love it. 217 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 5: Cindy Slice reporting for duties, Sarah, how are you. 218 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 2: I'm good. 219 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: I'm surprised this WNBA final series has not gone the 220 00:10:58,600 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 1: way I anticipated. 221 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:01,199 Speaker 2: We're going to get into it, and I. 222 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: Want to talk quickly about this new look Phoenix Mercury team. 223 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: We've been talking about them all season, and that new 224 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,960 Speaker 1: look includes a new play by play voice and I'm 225 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 1: not dogging any new hires, but I do miss Cindy 226 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,679 Speaker 1: Brunson on the call. So why are we not hearing 227 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: the dulctones of Cindy Slice when we're listening and watching 228 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:18,680 Speaker 1: our mercury. 229 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 5: I wanted to be there. I was told by the organization, 230 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 5: like they told Britney Griner, we're going in a different direction. 231 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 5: So it was out of my control. And hmmm, that's it. 232 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 5: That's all. I missed. The job. I missed representing and 233 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 5: driving to the arena, working with the Hall of Famer 234 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 5: and Myers Drysdale. I thought I comported myself well and 235 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 5: did right by the players and the fans, which is 236 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 5: always my goal whenever I get behind the mic. So 237 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 5: it was a bummer. It was unexpected, but it is 238 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:52,079 Speaker 5: what it is, and it's their loss ultimately. 239 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, that's kind of the only way you 240 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,199 Speaker 1: could think about it, because obviously you're still quite busy 241 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: doing your other work and proving your chops are great. 242 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 1: You've actually been flying around to games too. I've been 243 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 1: watching you. You're keeping tabs on the w You're bouncing 244 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:06,839 Speaker 1: around to different games. So let's talk about what we're 245 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: seeing in these finals. Because I'm seeing an ACES team that, 246 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: through two games, finally feels focused. Were past the beginning 247 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: of the season when they were a mess, past the 248 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: win streak where they seemed sort of unbeatable, and early 249 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: in the playoffs they were pushed to the brink in 250 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 1: both series and you could see flashes of it working 251 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: and then flashes of what the hell are they doing 252 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 1: out there? Bad passes, lack of focus, an inefficient offense, 253 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:38,319 Speaker 1: poor ball movement. But through two games, this team looks 254 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: real tough to be What are you seeing with the Aces? 255 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 5: I tell you what. I was able to tour the WNBA, 256 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 5: like you mentioned, wearing my sliced T shirt on various 257 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 5: flights throughout the regular season because I wanted to maximize 258 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 5: the opportunity. Right, I don't get to go to games 259 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 5: in other arenas like I had in years past having 260 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 5: been with the Mercury, so I took advantage of that 261 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 5: and I got to see the Aces up close as 262 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:05,559 Speaker 5: a result, and I saw them in Chicago most recently, 263 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 5: and I tell you what, that team remembered who it 264 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 5: is the only thing that was missing when they were 265 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 5: fourteen and fourteen and in the eighth spot a few 266 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 5: months ago was their swagger. There are so many current 267 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:25,079 Speaker 5: Olympians and All Stars and champions on that roster. They 268 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 5: just had to look in the mirror and remember who 269 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 5: they are. And they can send thank you notes to 270 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 5: Seattle and to Indiana for reminding them that they can 271 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 5: rely on each other when the going gets tough. They 272 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 5: are tested, tried and true. Conversely, in the other locker room, 273 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 5: you have a couple of champions, only one starter and 274 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 5: only two returning players from last year's Mercury team. There's 275 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:57,319 Speaker 5: a lot of unfamiliarity, and their path to the finals 276 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 5: was markedly different, a little bit easier, even though they 277 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 5: went through last year's finals combatants, because those teams just 278 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 5: weren't quite together, whether it was injury or what have you. 279 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 5: That wasn't the New York team that we saw at 280 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 5: the beginning of the season, and Minnesota wasn't quite right. 281 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 5: So they just didn't have the same tests, if you will, 282 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 5: that Indiana and that Seattle provided for Las Vegas. 283 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 2: I don't know if I agree with you on that. 284 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: I'd certainly agree with you on the liberty, but the 285 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: links to me beside that final game, of course, without 286 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: Cheryl Reeven, if He's a Collier. That team, to me 287 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 1: at moments, looked unbeatable. I think the Mercury had a 288 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: tougher road, but they were playing so well it didn't 289 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: matter Whereas I thought the Aces in theory could have 290 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: put away Atlanta or Indiana. 291 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 2: If they had had their shit together. 292 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: Their shit has not been together for a full game 293 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: or close to it until I think this series. So 294 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: what are they doing to make a Mercury team that 295 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: I thought looked unbeatable look so fallible? 296 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 5: They are taking away what they like to do, shoot 297 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 5: the three. The three ball is not falling in this 298 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 5: series for Phoenix like it did during the regular season 299 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 5: and earlier in the playoffs. And then you have the 300 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 5: knee injury to Sammy Whitcomb, which is huge. Remember how 301 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 5: critical she was against Minnesota in that twenty point comeback, 302 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 5: hitting that dagger three to force overtime. Ever since she 303 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 5: went down with injury, she hasn't been right. She was 304 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 5: scoreless in Game two and fourteen minutes of action on 305 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 5: the floor. And then you have Satu Sombli going down 306 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 5: with an ankle injury late in the fourth quarter. And 307 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 5: this is a young woman that spent part of the 308 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 5: season in a wheelchair and in a boot for Phoenix, 309 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 5: so that could bloom very large for a game three. 310 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 5: The only player who was consistently hitting threes in the 311 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 5: first two games is Cock Copper. She cannot do it 312 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 5: all alone. And the defense that Las Vegas has relied 313 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 5: on to get past Indiana in particular, and all of 314 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 5: the three points shooting that that team could bring to 315 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 5: the table even though they were so injured, I tell 316 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 5: you it's made them ready to take on this Phoenix group. 317 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: Yeah five for twenty eight from beyond the Arc for 318 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 1: the Mercury, they started out three or four and just 319 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: went downhill from there. You mentioned Colia Kopper to me, 320 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: the only Phoenix player looking efficient and in rhythm, taking 321 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 1: shots when they come to her and finishing sa too 322 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: sobbly in particular, looked impatient early on a lot of 323 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: jumpers early in the shot clock. Most of the damage 324 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: she did if you just look at the box score, 325 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: looks pretty good, but mostly with the game out of reach. 326 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 2: What is not clicking in this Mercury offense. 327 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: Let's say they do take a meeting after this one 328 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: and say we can't rely on the three they're defending 329 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: the perimeter. Why aren't they going in to Alisa Thomas, 330 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 1: the bulldog in the middle. 331 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 2: Why aren't they using the. 332 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: Physicality that has helped them so often leading up to 333 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: this series. 334 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 5: Because Alicsa Thomas, every time she gets near the paint, 335 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 5: she's met by a double team and a little guard, 336 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 5: whether it is Jewel Lloyd or Dana Evans, swiping at 337 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 5: that basketball, creating turnovers. Las Vegas is expertly taking away 338 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 5: what Phoenix wants to do. And I keep waiting for 339 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 5: Phoenix to adjust, and they're just not adjusting in real time. 340 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 5: We see Las Vegas adjusting in real time. We see 341 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 5: them go to the zone in Game one, which completely 342 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 5: fouled up. Thanks, and then we see them just goat 343 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 5: Phoenix into a double team on Asia. Right, she went 344 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:33,920 Speaker 5: off with thirteen points in the second quarter. You're gonna 345 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 5: single cover me. I'm gonna show you why I'm a 346 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 5: four time MVP. So they adjust, right, They bring the 347 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 5: help in the third quarter, and then Jackie Young says, 348 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 5: thank you, I will eat now and score a w 349 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 5: NBA record twenty one points in the third quarter. Like 350 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 5: that's what Becky drew up. She's like telling her fellow 351 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 5: South Dakota coach in Nate tibbets, I'm setting this trap 352 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 5: and he's falling for it every time. And that gets 353 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 5: me back to my original point. This is a team 354 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,640 Speaker 5: in Las Vegas that has been there and done that. 355 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 5: The core group of this franchise with Becky, Asia, Jackie, 356 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 5: and Chelsea and you could even add in Kirsten Bell 357 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 5: because she's been there the whole time too. They understand 358 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 5: what this is supposed to look like. They understand how 359 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 5: big of a deal it is to protect home court. 360 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 5: And even though they were crazy tired after that incredible 361 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 5: Indiana series, they found a way. Phoenix let him screw 362 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 5: up and find a way and get Game one, because 363 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 5: that was the gettable game for Phoenix. Yeah, and they 364 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 5: didn't get it. They didn't get it. 365 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 2: They needed Game one. That was the gettable game. Especially now. 366 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:51,720 Speaker 1: Jackie Young after the game, kind of joking around but 367 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: being serious, she said she called what her legs felt 368 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: like in Game one forty four and for those who 369 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: don't know what that meant, that was the reference to 370 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: this is the first season where they played four forty 371 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 1: four games and then the playoff series that they had 372 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 1: to battle through together or she was tired. She found 373 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: her legs for this one. Becky Hammond gave it the 374 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: day off yesterday and that certainly helped. I want to 375 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 1: talk about that. The first game, aces bench gets the 376 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 1: job done. This game, they're superstars show up. Yes, Asia 377 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,920 Speaker 1: Wilson twenty eight points, fourteen rebounds, three assists, Jackie Young 378 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 1: thirty two points twenty one and the third you mentioned 379 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 1: that a record for a quarter in the WNBA Finals. 380 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:29,439 Speaker 1: For Game three, you're Nate Tibbitts invites you into the 381 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: huddle to give them a game plan. Who are you stopping, 382 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:35,919 Speaker 1: who are you focusing on, and what are you changing 383 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: for yourself to give you a shot to get back 384 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: in the series. 385 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 5: I think you let Asia Wilson eat because she's going 386 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 5: to beat you with mostly twos and not threes. You've 387 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 5: got to defend the perimeter better. You can't let Chelsea 388 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 5: greg get an open three, you can't let Jewel Lloyd 389 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 5: get an open three. And you've got to try to 390 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 5: contain Jackie Young. And that's a tall order because every 391 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 5: defender that Phoenix had in uniform that was on the 392 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 5: floor or tried valiantly, but it did not work to 393 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 5: stop Jackie young. I mean, she just was eating uncontrollably 394 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:12,439 Speaker 5: and it was awesome. She was just on one. She 395 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:14,640 Speaker 5: went on a heater and there was nothing Phoenix could 396 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 5: do about it. So they have had success Phoenix throughout 397 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:22,640 Speaker 5: the season with live ball turnovers and relying on their defense, 398 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:24,679 Speaker 5: and they've got to go back to that. But for me, 399 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 5: the biggest question for Phoenix is the health Sammy wickhamb 400 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 5: not being able to score a single point is a 401 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 5: problem because she's your your bench cheater right she comes 402 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:39,200 Speaker 5: off the pine. She gives you instant offense, instant energy, 403 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 5: calms everybody down, makes everybody comfortable because she makes it 404 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 5: look so easy with that quick release. If she is 405 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:49,239 Speaker 5: not providing points, then Nate has to get uncomfortable and 406 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,200 Speaker 5: expand the bench that he's tightened up to eight players. 407 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 4: Yet. 408 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 1: To me, it also just feels like Alyssa Thomas isn't 409 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 1: everywhere on the court like she has been in the past. 410 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: And I don't know if that's thing that Aces are doing, 411 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 1: or if she's tired, or if they're just not in 412 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:05,920 Speaker 1: a flow offensively, but I certainly feel like we need 413 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:09,400 Speaker 1: to feel the presence of Alissa Thomas on both ends. 414 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 1: A bit more now, even if it means fighting through 415 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: those double teams. 416 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 2: I want to talk about the officiating in. 417 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: This game because I've seen throughout these series in the playoffs, 418 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:20,719 Speaker 1: certainly some calls that didn't look great, but this one 419 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 1: there were. 420 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:23,200 Speaker 2: So many egregious ones. 421 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 1: And this is about the last thing I think Kathy 422 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: Engelbert wanted to see was a game full of controversial 423 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 1: calls and phantom calls. 424 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:30,679 Speaker 2: This one had plenty. There was a call on Chelsea 425 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 2: Gray and. 426 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: The third followed immediately by a terrible fourth foul picked 427 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: up by Alissa Thomas and the fourth a complete miss 428 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: calling Collia Cooppra on an offensive foul when Jewell Lloyd 429 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: was falling into or trying to defend before that. 430 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 2: What do you make of the officiating this one? 431 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: And were you surprised that Nate Tibbitts didn't use his 432 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:48,440 Speaker 1: challenges until the very end when the game was essentially over. 433 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 5: Well, Nate tibbets has called himself out right. He didn't 434 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 5: call time out correctly at the end of game one, 435 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 5: and I think he'll regret not using his challenges earlier 436 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 5: in game two, and that's thing that he can adjust 437 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 5: to right this is his first time in a WNBA finals. 438 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 5: Becky Hammond is used to this. She's been there, done that. 439 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 5: She's a two time WNBA champion coach. She knows the 440 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:14,879 Speaker 5: ebb and flow, and she has had to deal with 441 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 5: officiating that she has called out. Nate Tibbins has been 442 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 5: the quiet coach in all of the officiating rants throughout 443 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,680 Speaker 5: these playoffs. We've heard plenty from Cheryl Reeve, We've heard 444 00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:27,880 Speaker 5: plenty from Becky. Everybody has had something to say about 445 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 5: the officiating. Stephanie White as well, and understandably, you know, 446 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 5: we as fans, we have eyeballs. We see what's going 447 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 5: on our TV screens. For me, the officiating at both 448 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:43,359 Speaker 5: the collegiate and professional levels, whether it's athletes unlimited or 449 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 5: the WNBA or NCAA Women's Division one basketball has been 450 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 5: terrible since twenty nineteen. And that's the last precipitous jump 451 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 5: for me in my mind's eye of the uptick and 452 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:00,919 Speaker 5: athleticism and speed and shot making official and see that 453 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 5: we see all over the place. Now, I just don't think, yeah, 454 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 5: the officiating has leveled up to that yet and is 455 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 5: still playing catch up in that regard, and it just 456 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:16,879 Speaker 5: needs to be held to account when these athletes are playing. 457 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:20,439 Speaker 5: They deserve top tier officiating, period, point blank. 458 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, completely agree. 459 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: I want to appease the internet demons and just ask 460 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:29,840 Speaker 1: you quickly. Asia Wilson two fouls total in two games. 461 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:32,680 Speaker 1: Something fishy or just a controlled defender. 462 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:36,480 Speaker 5: I think she's an elite and controlled defender. She doesn't 463 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 5: body up her opponent, and I think that's a big 464 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:43,120 Speaker 5: difference between her and Alyssa Thomas. 465 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 2: You know, at is there. 466 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 5: She lets you feel her where because she's such an 467 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 5: elite shot blocker. Remember as many times as she has 468 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 5: won MVP four times, she could have just as many 469 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 5: defensive Player of the Year awards. And she does that 470 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 5: because of her leaping ability. She has that volleyball block 471 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 5: leap ability, and because she has that, she stays for 472 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:11,880 Speaker 5: work way. Yeah, her footwork easy elite, So she stays away. 473 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 5: She gives her opponent that little bit of space, so 474 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:20,199 Speaker 5: she's jumping up and in and not necessarily bodying, and 475 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 5: so I don't think that she has Maybe they might 476 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 5: have missed one, maybe two, but I don't think there's 477 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:30,360 Speaker 5: any balance there, just based on the way she defends. 478 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:32,919 Speaker 1: I don't see a lot of it either, but you know, 479 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 1: throwing a bone to those who are convinced that the 480 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: fix is in. 481 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 2: I said, for whom and to what end? They didn't relate. 482 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,920 Speaker 1: Someone's always complaining about officiating, which is something we acknowledge 483 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: every year, and it was certainly part of the complaints 484 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,880 Speaker 1: from coaches and the FISA Collier. But Callier's statement made 485 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:53,880 Speaker 1: such a splash because it wasn't really about just officiating 486 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:56,199 Speaker 1: needing to be better for the quality of the product. 487 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: It was also about failures in leadership. You've been covering 488 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: the game a long time. What did you make of 489 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,880 Speaker 1: the statement, and what did you make of Kathy Engelbert 490 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 1: alleging in her press availability that essentially call your lied 491 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: or misrepresented to be a slightly softer version of the 492 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:15,120 Speaker 1: same thing that Kathy alleged. 493 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:19,119 Speaker 5: I am ten toes down with the FISA Collier. 494 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 2: I believe every word that. 495 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 5: Came out of her mouth in her statement. That was 496 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:27,119 Speaker 5: the strongest four and a half minutes in sports that 497 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 5: I have seen in a very long time. I have 498 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 5: been covering professional sports for the last three decades plus, 499 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 5: and I was so blown away and completely impressed with NEFISA. 500 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 5: And as for Kathy Ingelbert's response, lukewarm. It just you know, 501 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:53,640 Speaker 5: at this point she has made so many missteps. 502 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:55,200 Speaker 4: I just. 503 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 5: And for her to even intimate that NAFISA is lying. Uh, 504 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 5: that just did not sit will with me and I 505 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 5: understand exactly why I call your canceled their previously scheduled 506 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 5: meeting as a result. 507 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:11,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, I. 508 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:16,879 Speaker 1: Think when you've got a player in the heat of 509 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 1: the moment, it is much more likely to believe that 510 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 1: their paraphrasing is incorrect than when you have a player 511 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 1: who is vice president of the Players Association who has premeditatively. 512 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:27,240 Speaker 2: Is that a word? 513 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:30,680 Speaker 1: I don't care written down a four minute plus statement 514 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 1: to read from knowing full well what the outcome and 515 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:37,920 Speaker 1: fallout might be. You are going to be careful with 516 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:40,359 Speaker 1: what you say and what quotes you attribute to someone. 517 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:45,120 Speaker 1: It feels highly unlikely that she made up or misrepresented 518 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: Kathy Engelbert. There is a lot more skin for Kathy 519 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 1: to deny than there is four feet to invent those 520 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,439 Speaker 1: Her argument could be the same without those direct quotes, 521 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: so I very much believe that they exist. Do you 522 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: think Kathy Engelbert survives this mess? And if so, is 523 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 1: it maybe after a CBA negotiations are done because they're 524 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: in the midst of that or is it something where 525 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,160 Speaker 1: it's very hard to tell because we really don't hear 526 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: from Adam Silver and the NBA and the folks who 527 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:13,160 Speaker 1: are essentially in charge. 528 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 2: Of her job. 529 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 5: Yeah, that is the rub right. I don't know what 530 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:19,160 Speaker 5: Adam Silver is thinking. He hasn't put out any sort 531 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:23,359 Speaker 5: of statement in support or anything like. He has just 532 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 5: been out of sight, out of mind. So that's frustrating. 533 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 5: I know from a player's perspective, being friendly with so 534 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:33,400 Speaker 5: many of them and in contact with so many of them, 535 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 5: they do not want Kathy Engelbert anywhere near this product, period, 536 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 5: point blank. And there are so many elite women who 537 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:49,399 Speaker 5: could step into that role as former players and represent beautifully. 538 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:53,480 Speaker 5: I think I've Swing Cash and Lisa Leslie just today. 539 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 5: I'm a couple off the top of my head. I 540 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 5: just I know Nekka is still playing, but Nekogumackay for 541 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 5: me as the current president of the WNBAPA would also 542 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 5: be an excellent choice. There's just too many elite leaders. 543 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 5: I get rubbed the wrong way as a fan period 544 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:20,640 Speaker 5: when Kathy intimates that these players don't understand business. They 545 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 5: are business women. They are individual business entities marketing themselves 546 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,399 Speaker 5: and their personal brands all over the place. So for 547 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 5: Kathy Engelbert to say, yeah, they just don't understand a 548 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:37,439 Speaker 5: big picture, no, boo boo, you don't understand. You don't 549 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:41,920 Speaker 5: understand the quality and caliber of athlete that you are 550 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 5: dealing with here in the year of our Lord twenty 551 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 5: twenty five. And as a result, you're missing the message. 552 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 5: You just miss the mark over and over and over again. 553 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 5: And I just I know they're fed up with it. 554 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 5: I know I am. The players just deserve better because, 555 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 5: as the shirts say, pay us what you owe us, 556 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 5: they are the product. We don't have a league without 557 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:08,800 Speaker 5: the players. We don't have expansion, we don't have a 558 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 5: first time seven game WNBA Finals without them. We don't 559 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 5: have anything that we enjoy as a fan base without 560 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 5: the players. 561 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I'm interested in the conversations we've had about 562 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 1: commissioners at other leagues, and the one that stands out 563 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:28,200 Speaker 1: to me is someone like Roger Goodell, who can be 564 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: constantly embattled and criticized, but ultimately is paid big bucks 565 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 1: to take the. 566 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 2: Slings and arrows of the media. 567 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 1: The players, the fans to protect and do the bidding 568 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: of the owners, which is ultimately who he works for. 569 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:44,960 Speaker 1: Now it's more complicated in the WNBA because Kathy Engelberg, 570 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:47,440 Speaker 1: who works for the NBA, she works for the owners, 571 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 1: some of whom are also NBA owners, some of whom 572 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: are longtime w some are brand new, some are expanding, 573 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: Like whether or not the missteps or the potentially calculated 574 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:02,320 Speaker 1: choices she makes that get sized are done in order 575 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: to toe the line that is being set by the NBA, 576 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 1: which includes oftentimes criticizing its own product right before negotiations 577 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: or during times when it will benefit the NBA to 578 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: count the WNBA as a loss, and without transparency around 579 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 1: financials and everything else, it really makes it tough. And 580 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,560 Speaker 1: so I'm just curious to see whether what we expect 581 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:28,640 Speaker 1: and what the players will demand from Kathy feels different 582 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:31,680 Speaker 1: than what is sometimes expected and demanded by other of 583 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:34,640 Speaker 1: other commissioners. And a lot of that I think has 584 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:38,880 Speaker 1: to do with her statements on social issues race bullying, 585 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 1: toxic fan behavior, etc. As opposed to the business side, 586 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:44,440 Speaker 1: because that's where she steps in it the most, and 587 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:45,960 Speaker 1: that's where to me it feels like there's the biggest 588 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:48,200 Speaker 1: disconnect between her and the league that she is. 589 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:49,080 Speaker 2: Tasked with running. 590 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:52,240 Speaker 1: One last thought about this, I wanted to ask you 591 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:54,680 Speaker 1: what do you make of the players who have chosen 592 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:58,200 Speaker 1: not to publicly support fee or have offered up a 593 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 1: no comment so far. I know there are so many 594 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 1: players in the league and not all of them have 595 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:05,040 Speaker 1: had an opportunity to speak yet, but I'm thinking in particular, 596 00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:07,920 Speaker 1: someone like Alyssa Thomas, who you know well. Her team's 597 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 1: in the finals, she was an MVP finalist. She's been 598 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 1: in this league a long time. She's one of the 599 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 1: best players. Are you surprised that she chose no comment? 600 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 5: Not at this juncture because she's chasing something she's never 601 00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 5: had before, and that's a championship, And I think she 602 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 5: I'm giving her grace because I know her focus and 603 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 5: just based on comments she has made previously, I know 604 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 5: she's in luck step with me. I don't have to 605 00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:37,520 Speaker 5: even hear her say it, but I think for her 606 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 5: the no comment is right now. All I'm focused in 607 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:46,840 Speaker 5: is leading this team to a championship, because if she 608 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 5: doesn't do that, then she continues to be the bridesmaid 609 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 5: that she has been her entire WNBA career, and quite frankly, 610 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 5: I know for a fact she doesn't like that label 611 00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:57,719 Speaker 5: and wants to shake it. 612 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I agree with you in the sense 613 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 1: that for Lyssa Thomas, this is in keeping right. She 614 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 1: hasn't posted something on Instagram in months. 615 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:08,840 Speaker 2: She hasn't. 616 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:11,880 Speaker 5: She's not a social media person. 617 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so I will say others who are also 618 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:18,360 Speaker 1: pursuing their first title, who are also singularly focused on winning, 619 00:32:18,760 --> 00:32:22,160 Speaker 1: have commented during this week or so, But also they 620 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:24,160 Speaker 1: are people that are much more often in front of 621 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:28,840 Speaker 1: a mic on their phones, you know, commenting on things. 622 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:31,840 Speaker 1: That is to say, though, I do hope that all 623 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 1: of the best players and loudest players and most involved 624 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:42,000 Speaker 1: players do take a moment to stand with fee because ultimately, 625 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 1: that's what we've seen across every single sport and every 626 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:47,320 Speaker 1: single opportunity for women to take a step forward is 627 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:49,400 Speaker 1: unfortunately they've had to do it for themselves, and they've 628 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:52,400 Speaker 1: had to do it publicly calling out the people in 629 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:55,120 Speaker 1: the way, because behind the scenes hasn't seemed to work 630 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 1: for the US women's national team. The you know women's 631 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 1: hockey players, you know, Billy Jean King and company. Like 632 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 1: if you go back in history, it ends up having 633 00:33:03,880 --> 00:33:11,080 Speaker 1: to be shame, sadly, or public defamation that forces folks 634 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:12,520 Speaker 1: who should already be acting. 635 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:12,960 Speaker 2: To finally act. 636 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:16,040 Speaker 5: It's incredible how in our day to day life, I 637 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:19,440 Speaker 5: feel like shame doesn't exist, but we need it in 638 00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:23,600 Speaker 5: women's sports, and it still exists, thankfully, because we have 639 00:33:23,640 --> 00:33:26,920 Speaker 5: to call things out and call attention to them over 640 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:30,160 Speaker 5: and over and over again. And that's the only way 641 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:33,720 Speaker 5: by that drum bea continually going, we get things done. 642 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:37,479 Speaker 5: And thankfully we have that in this women's basketball space, 643 00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:40,440 Speaker 5: and like we've seen in soccer and tennis, hopefully we 644 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:45,360 Speaker 5: can get this done. But yeah, I just it's frustrating 645 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:48,280 Speaker 5: and I feel for the players, but I know ultimately 646 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:50,000 Speaker 5: it's going to be for the greater good. 647 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:53,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's such a great point, and I hate to 648 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:56,200 Speaker 1: be super cynical, but it's hard not to be at 649 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:58,720 Speaker 1: this moment when the rest of the country, and particularly 650 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:02,960 Speaker 1: the Trump administration, is trying to push women into lanes 651 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:07,080 Speaker 1: that are restrictive and backwards and send us back into 652 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:11,239 Speaker 1: the kitchen. It feels scary to have this place of 653 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:16,480 Speaker 1: great progress be fighting itself. Yes, at a moment when 654 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 1: it needs to come together and push forward and take 655 00:34:19,239 --> 00:34:23,000 Speaker 1: advantage of such an incredible time of interest and engagement 656 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:27,200 Speaker 1: and investment to be fighting itself when we could have 657 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:31,600 Speaker 1: even more dangerous forces looking to slow it down and 658 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:32,400 Speaker 1: send it backward. 659 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:34,319 Speaker 5: And this is why I don't think Kathy is the 660 00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:37,799 Speaker 5: person for the job, period point blank. Because if she 661 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 5: says in her news conference that, you know, she's admitting 662 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:44,920 Speaker 5: that she's not built to take the slings and arrows 663 00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:47,200 Speaker 5: that you mentioned. Roger Goodell, does I think that forty 664 00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:49,840 Speaker 5: million dollar a year's salary helps him do that? But 665 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:53,520 Speaker 5: ultimately he doesn't care, right, He is a successful guy. 666 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 5: He's been doing it forever. You can say whatever you 667 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:59,880 Speaker 5: want about him, But you say a few things credibly 668 00:35:00,239 --> 00:35:03,160 Speaker 5: about Kathy and all of a sudden, oh my kids 669 00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:06,160 Speaker 5: heard that. Oh no, Well, maybe this isn't the job 670 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:09,360 Speaker 5: for you then, honey, Because I don't think Nafisa Collier 671 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:11,840 Speaker 5: is going to put together four and a half minutes 672 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 5: that she has spelled out, written out and is reading 673 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:19,400 Speaker 5: to everybody in the world and not do so accurately 674 00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:23,000 Speaker 5: and truthfully. So if that's a problem, go ahead and 675 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:26,600 Speaker 5: step aside. Because there are several women off the top 676 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:28,520 Speaker 5: of my head, swing Cash being at the top of 677 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:31,360 Speaker 5: the list, Lisa Leslie, on and on and on, who 678 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:34,759 Speaker 5: are built for that job. I think it is one 679 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:40,080 Speaker 5: of the few commissioner positions in the world that demands 680 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:41,359 Speaker 5: a former player be in it. 681 00:35:41,719 --> 00:35:43,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, I have empathy for any person who's going through 682 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:45,799 Speaker 1: a tough time and anyone whose kids are sad about 683 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:47,320 Speaker 1: that getting criticized publicly. 684 00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:50,480 Speaker 2: But if you think that's tough, then. 685 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:52,120 Speaker 1: You should be in the shoes of the players who 686 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:54,040 Speaker 1: have been fighting on behalf of this league for the 687 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:57,200 Speaker 1: entirety of its existence and see what that feels like, 688 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:01,279 Speaker 1: especially if, more likely and not, those comments did come 689 00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:02,319 Speaker 1: from you and you. 690 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:04,040 Speaker 2: Just don't want to have to owne up to them publicly. 691 00:36:05,239 --> 00:36:07,719 Speaker 1: Cindy, I could listen to you talk about this all day, 692 00:36:07,719 --> 00:36:09,480 Speaker 1: I could ask you a million questions, but we got 693 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:11,759 Speaker 1: to go. Thank you so much for coming on, Thank 694 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:13,640 Speaker 1: you so much for knowing all the things all the 695 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:16,120 Speaker 1: time and being just the best at this. Looking forward 696 00:36:16,160 --> 00:36:18,319 Speaker 1: to hearing you on the call for AU and college Ball. 697 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:21,160 Speaker 5: Thanks appreciate it, Cindy Slice checking out. 698 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:25,880 Speaker 2: Thanks again to Cindy for taking the time. She is 699 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:28,879 Speaker 2: the best. We gotta take another break when we come back. 700 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:39,320 Speaker 2: No goggles for you. Welcome back, Slices. 701 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:41,520 Speaker 1: We love that you're listening, but you know we always 702 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:43,479 Speaker 1: want you to get in the game too, and y'all 703 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:46,040 Speaker 1: have been doing a great job delivering on our good 704 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:48,920 Speaker 1: game plays of the day. First, want to shout out 705 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:51,719 Speaker 1: super Slice Sean Quinn for calling in to congratulate us 706 00:36:51,719 --> 00:36:55,680 Speaker 1: on the Signal Award nomination for Best Daily Podcast and 707 00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:58,360 Speaker 1: to remind you that you can vote through October ninth, 708 00:36:58,600 --> 00:36:59,479 Speaker 1: and we need some votes. 709 00:36:59,560 --> 00:36:59,840 Speaker 2: Y'all. 710 00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:02,640 Speaker 1: We're losing, so check the link in our show notes, 711 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:05,280 Speaker 1: vote early and often, tell your friends, tell your enemies. 712 00:37:05,640 --> 00:37:08,239 Speaker 1: Truly takes less than link twenty seconds to plug in 713 00:37:08,280 --> 00:37:12,120 Speaker 1: an email and vote, so it'll help us go do it. Also, 714 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:13,720 Speaker 1: we asked you all for your finals predictions. 715 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:14,560 Speaker 2: We got some good ones. 716 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:17,560 Speaker 1: Super Slice Amanda Valo not only chimed in with her pick, 717 00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:20,120 Speaker 1: which is aces in five, but she also sent some 718 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:22,839 Speaker 1: prop bets for the finals. A couple funny ones in there, 719 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:26,239 Speaker 1: including quote Kathy Engelbert doesn't need to buy any goggles, 720 00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:28,399 Speaker 1: she will not be invited into the Winter's locker room, 721 00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:30,840 Speaker 1: and the refs hoop swallowed the whistles will not be 722 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:36,080 Speaker 1: given heimlicks. Valve also suggested that Big Citrus shows aren't 723 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:40,000 Speaker 1: kick ass, they're squeeze ass. And I'm sorry, Manda, but 724 00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:41,680 Speaker 1: we're going to stay away from that one for obvious 725 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:42,640 Speaker 1: HR reasons. 726 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:44,640 Speaker 2: We're gonna stick with kickass. 727 00:37:45,440 --> 00:37:48,200 Speaker 1: She also sent over some fun end of season WNBA 728 00:37:48,200 --> 00:37:51,480 Speaker 1: awards for slices to vote on, like best hoops and 729 00:37:51,520 --> 00:37:55,400 Speaker 1: gay shit and who's excelling in the sheets spreadsheets that is. 730 00:37:55,880 --> 00:37:58,520 Speaker 1: We'll get to those in an upcoming show, and that's 731 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:01,880 Speaker 1: what we call it tease. And this biz, folks, we 732 00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:03,960 Speaker 1: always love to hear from you. Hit us up on email, 733 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:06,360 Speaker 1: good game at wondermedianetwork dot com or leave us a 734 00:38:06,440 --> 00:38:09,280 Speaker 1: voicemail at eight seven two two o four fifty seventy 735 00:38:09,719 --> 00:38:12,760 Speaker 1: and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review. It's easy, 736 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:15,240 Speaker 1: like I say every time, real easy. 737 00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:18,400 Speaker 2: Watch Screaming Pink Pony Club. 738 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:20,719 Speaker 1: At the top of your lungs with thirty thousand strangers 739 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:24,280 Speaker 1: rating ten out of ten bangers to keep us dancing 740 00:38:24,360 --> 00:38:25,520 Speaker 1: through this shit storm. 741 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:28,000 Speaker 2: Review. The other day, on. 742 00:38:28,080 --> 00:38:30,400 Speaker 1: One of my favorite podcasts, We Can Do Hard Things, 743 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:33,400 Speaker 1: my friend Glennon Doyle shared some words from queer activists 744 00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:37,080 Speaker 1: and writer Dan Savage. The quote was during the darkest 745 00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:39,560 Speaker 1: days of the AIDS crisis, we buried our friends in 746 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:43,280 Speaker 1: the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced 747 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:43,799 Speaker 1: all night. 748 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:44,880 Speaker 2: End quote. 749 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:47,759 Speaker 1: And that quote stood out to me because obviously, right 750 00:38:47,760 --> 00:38:51,239 Speaker 1: now feels super heavy, in between extra judicial killings in 751 00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:55,280 Speaker 1: the Caribbean and a government shutdown and ice raids in Chicago, 752 00:38:55,520 --> 00:38:58,320 Speaker 1: and what feels like a complete and utter loss of 753 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:01,719 Speaker 1: humanity by way too much any of our fellow American citizens. 754 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:04,200 Speaker 1: It's pretty hard not to want to scream or cry 755 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:07,920 Speaker 1: or hide under your covers or all three. And it's 756 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:11,680 Speaker 1: fine to do all three, frankly, but we still got 757 00:39:11,680 --> 00:39:13,839 Speaker 1: to keep showing up. And in order to show up, 758 00:39:14,120 --> 00:39:17,240 Speaker 1: we need to recharge our battery. We need to surround 759 00:39:17,280 --> 00:39:20,359 Speaker 1: ourselves with kindness and like minded people, and we need 760 00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:23,080 Speaker 1: to remind ourselves how many people out there still do 761 00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:27,680 Speaker 1: care about other people and about what's right and legal 762 00:39:27,760 --> 00:39:31,040 Speaker 1: and fair. And I have to say that Friday night 763 00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:34,600 Speaker 1: in Kansas City, I was in this sea of awesome people, 764 00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:38,080 Speaker 1: friendly and joyful and kind, no matter how packed tightly 765 00:39:38,160 --> 00:39:40,560 Speaker 1: we were, no matter if someone accidentally spilled some beer 766 00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:43,200 Speaker 1: on them, and we were singing along to Chapel Ron 767 00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:46,240 Speaker 1: who was telling us all that she was so proud 768 00:39:46,360 --> 00:39:48,920 Speaker 1: to create these safe spaces where people could show up 769 00:39:48,960 --> 00:39:52,520 Speaker 1: and be themselves and be together, and she was amazing. 770 00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:55,919 Speaker 1: The night was a very necessary break from reality, and 771 00:39:56,000 --> 00:39:58,799 Speaker 1: it was a just reminder that after we cry and 772 00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:01,840 Speaker 1: scream and hide, we have to go out and protest. 773 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:04,120 Speaker 1: We have to go out and fight, and then we 774 00:40:04,120 --> 00:40:06,840 Speaker 1: got a dance at night. So I hope you, slices, 775 00:40:06,840 --> 00:40:09,719 Speaker 1: are finding some ways to do that. If you're like me, 776 00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:12,160 Speaker 1: it's probably by listening to the new Taylor Swift every 777 00:40:12,160 --> 00:40:14,000 Speaker 1: single minute of the day. You're not at a Chapel 778 00:40:14,040 --> 00:40:17,200 Speaker 1: Run concert. All right, Slices, now it's your turn, rate 779 00:40:17,239 --> 00:40:21,080 Speaker 1: and review. Thanks for listening, See you tomorrow. Good Game, Cindy, 780 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:25,040 Speaker 1: Good Game, Asia and Jackie, thank you, two mentions of 781 00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:29,880 Speaker 1: Roger Goodell and a women's sports show. Good Game with 782 00:40:29,920 --> 00:40:33,239 Speaker 1: Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership 783 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:35,799 Speaker 1: with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us 784 00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:39,000 Speaker 1: on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 785 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:43,040 Speaker 1: your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are 786 00:40:43,120 --> 00:40:47,200 Speaker 1: Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive producers are Christina Everett, 787 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:51,440 Speaker 1: Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Our editors are 788 00:40:51,440 --> 00:40:55,120 Speaker 1: Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch and Gianna Palmer. Our 789 00:40:55,120 --> 00:40:59,520 Speaker 1: associate producer is Lucy Jones. Production assistance from Avery loftis 790 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:01,280 Speaker 1: your host Sarah Spain