1 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're celebrating 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: the arrival of our new producer, Bianca Hillier. It's Tuesday, 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: January thirteenth, and on today's show, we welcome in former 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: WNBA player Sonya Chase and former MNBA Players Association Executive 5 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: director Tamika Trimalio. We'll get insight on the behind the 6 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: scenes of the WNBACBA negotiations, the revenue sharing specifics that 7 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: are keeping the two sides apart, and how it is 8 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,479 Speaker 1: that forty two years after male players earned a share 9 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: of gross revenue, women are still fighting for the same. 10 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: Plus a Denver homecoming College Hoops delivers streaks and slides 11 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: and a reminder that you're never too young to start 12 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 1: manifesting your dreams. It's all coming up right after this 13 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: welcome back slices. Here's what you need to know today. 14 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:56,959 Speaker 1: Let's start with the NWSL and the news that US 15 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: women's national team captain Lindsay Heaps formerly ze Horan, has 16 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: signed with the expansion side Denver sum at FC. Heaps 17 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,119 Speaker 1: will continue her current contract with French club ol Leon 18 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: and join Denver in June, midway through the team's inaugural 19 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: NWSL season. This marks a long awaited homecoming for Heaps, 20 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: a Colorado native who's played most of her professional career 21 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 1: in Europe. In twenty twelve, at age eighteen, she became 22 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: the first US women's player to skip college and turn 23 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:25,839 Speaker 1: pro straight out of high school, signing with French club 24 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: Parisain Germain. In twenty sixteen, she returned to the US 25 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: to play with the NWSL's Portland Thorns. This was back 26 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 1: during the era when US Soccer required players to sign 27 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: with NWSL teams, but then she returned to France in 28 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, signing with Oe Leon. In a statement, 29 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: Heap said of coming back to the NWSL, quote, I'm 30 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: incredibly excited to come home to Colorado and join Denver 31 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: sum At FC. This club represents something special, not just 32 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: for the league, but for this community and for the 33 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: next generation of players growing up here. 34 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 2: End quote. 35 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: We're pretty pumped about this because we have to keep 36 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: watching Alissa Thomas and Naomi Gurma ball out from Afar 37 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: and we're preparing to say goodbye to at another star 38 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: at Sam Coffee. So it's nice to welcome an American 39 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: legend back to the NWSL, this time to college hoops 40 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: where there was so much action over the weekend, we 41 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 1: needed a whole day to process it. Let's start with 42 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: number twelve LSU seventy sixty five upset over number two 43 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: Texas on Sunday, marking the longhorns first loss of the season. 44 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: Competing in front of a sold out crowd of thirteen 45 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: thy two hundred on the LSU campus, the Tigers had 46 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 1: five players score in double digits and out rebounded the 47 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,959 Speaker 1: Longhorns nineteen to eleven, just days after LSU assistant coach 48 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: Bob Starkey delivered an Angel Reese me bound shirt to 49 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: every player in their locker. It was a crucial win 50 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,639 Speaker 1: for the Tigers after they fell to sec fos, Kentucky 51 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 1: and Vanderbilt to start conference play, and per ESPN research, 52 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 1: it's also the first time LSU has beaten an AP 53 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 1: Top two team since two thousand and eight, back when 54 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: the Tigers defeated UNC in the NCAA Elite Eight. It's 55 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: also the first time since twenty twenty three LSU has defeated. 56 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 2: An AP Top five opponent. 57 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: That was back when the Tigers defeated Iowa to win 58 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:02,079 Speaker 1: the National Championship. With Texas now at eighteen and one 59 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: on the year. There are just three remaining undefeated D 60 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: one teams left, number one Yukon, number seven Vanderbilt, and 61 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 1: number seventeen Texas Tech. More Hoops LSU was not the 62 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,399 Speaker 1: only team to punch above its weight on Sunday. Other 63 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: upsets included number nineteen Ohio State defeating number eight Maryland 64 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: eighty nine seventy six, unranked Perdue defeating number twenty three 65 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 1: Washington seventy eight seventy two unranked West Virginia, top in 66 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 1: number eleven Iowa State eighty three to seventy, marking the 67 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: Cyclone's third straight loss, and unranked Minnesota defeating number twenty 68 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: one USC sixty three sixty two, continuing the Trojans struggles 69 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: in this Juju liss season. Meantime, it was good news 70 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: for Notre Dame, who found themselves out of the top 71 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: twenty five for the first time since twenty twenty one. 72 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: Last week, they made a statement with their dominant seventy 73 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: three to fifty win over number twenty two North Carolina. 74 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: The latest College Hoops ap pole reflected the aforementioned upsets 75 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: and chaos. Yukon is holden steady in the number one spot, 76 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: but South Cahairline and uclayer out to number two and 77 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: three respectively, and Texas is lost. 78 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 2: To LSU cost them two spots in the poll. 79 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: The Longhorns now sit at number four, while LSU climbed 80 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: all the way from twelfth to sixth thanks to the win. 81 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: Oklahoma fell the furthest this week, from fifth all the 82 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 1: way down to thirteenth after losses to Ole Miss and Kentucky. 83 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: We'll link to the full ap Top twenty five in 84 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: the show notes to Unrivaled. During yesterday's episode, we told 85 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,679 Speaker 1: you about Kelsey Plum matching the Unrivaled record of thirty 86 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 1: eight points at a single game, a mark shared by 87 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 1: Nafisa Collier and Chelsea Gray as well, and we hope 88 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: no one printed out new record books because on Sunday night, 89 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 1: Deerica Hamby broke that mark, putting up forty points to 90 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: lead Vinyl BC to their first win of the season 91 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: eighty nine sixty six over Hive BC to the snow 92 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,039 Speaker 1: and more specifically, the World of Moguls, where skiers navigate 93 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: bumps and throw down big tricks, all will being scored 94 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: on time, form and skill of all the US teams 95 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 1: for the upcoming Milan Courtina Games, the women's moguls team 96 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: might just be the toughest to make, and this weekend's 97 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 1: World Cup Style in valsank Holm, Canada showed why. On Sunday, 98 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: Americans swept the podium in the dual moguls event, with 99 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: Jalen Kaff winning the competition, followed by Elizabeth Lumley and 100 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,919 Speaker 1: Tess Johnson. Their teammate Olivia Giaccio finished just off the 101 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: podium in fourth. One day earlier, it was Johnson and 102 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: Giaccio on the podium behind Aussi Jakara Anthony, who plays 103 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 1: first in the traditional moguls competition. The US qualified to 104 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: fill the maximum four spots and women's moguls for the 105 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: upcoming Games. Kauf has already been nominated to the team, 106 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: while the other three spots will be confirmed after this 107 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 1: weekend's World Cup stop at Waterville Valley in New Hampshire. Finally, 108 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: in college hockey, the Women's Bean Pop, the four team 109 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: women's hockey tournament featuring Boston's best squads, gets underway this 110 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: afternoon at Walter Brown Arena. The first semi final features 111 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 1: Boston College versus Harvard at four to thirty pm. Eastern, 112 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: followed by Northeastern versus Boston University at seven thirty. The 113 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 1: winners will meet in next week's championship game at t 114 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 1: D Garden, the home of the Boston Bruins and Celtics, 115 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: and organizers are hoping to break the all time US 116 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: Women's hockey at time tendance record with that one, and 117 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: you can help East Coast Slices. We'll link to the 118 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: ticket website in the show notes for those of you 119 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 1: in the Boston area if you want to attend, and 120 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:09,919 Speaker 1: if you can't make it to the Garden. The game's 121 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 1: layer locally on Nessen and nationally on ESPN Plus. Speaking 122 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: to Boston slices, we want to introduce you to the 123 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: woman that's turning us from little Citrus back into big Citrus. 124 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: Alex and I are so excited to welcome in Bianca Bianka. 125 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: Get in here with them, Hey, Sarah, Okay, So, first 126 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: of all, Bianca not Bianca. That's going to take some 127 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: getting used to. Is there a reason for this unique pronunciation? 128 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 3: My parents were born, born and raised in South Africa, 129 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 3: and I was born in Australia, so that's just the 130 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 3: way the name is pronounced and growing up whenever I 131 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 3: had a professor or teacher from there, from England, even 132 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 3: they pronounced it Bianca, so I. 133 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 2: Think it's just an accent thing. Yeah. Wait, hold on, 134 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 2: do you have citizenship in Australia? 135 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 4: I do. 136 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 5: I do. 137 00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 2: I've never been more jealous of anyone in my life. 138 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 1: It's a good one to have reasons. Well, I would 139 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: like literally anything right now. Australia is one of the 140 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 1: I love Australia. Have you been there a lot? 141 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 3: Not a lot, but I've been a couple times since 142 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 3: I moved here, which was when I was an infant. 143 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 3: My family moved to Ohio, which is where I was raised. 144 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 3: But yeah, it's a good place to go if you 145 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 3: want to get basically as far away as possible. 146 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: And I made it to South Africa for the first 147 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: time in September of last year. 148 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 2: Have you been there much? 149 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 3: A couple of times. 150 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 2: Beautiful, beautiful, Yeah, it's amazing. 151 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: Cape Town's like when everyone raved about it, I was like, 152 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 1: what's so great about it? And then I got there 153 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 1: was like, Okay, well this is the most incredible city ever. 154 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 2: Absolutely well, welcome to the team. 155 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: You act carefully, I don't know ten seconds to tell 156 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,239 Speaker 1: us your entire life story after you moved to Ohio. 157 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 5: Hit it. 158 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 3: Okay, moved to Ohio, stayed there through college, went to 159 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 3: Ohio University, Go Bobcats, went to school for journalism. Have 160 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 3: been a journalist ever since. I've been covering sports for 161 00:07:58,200 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 3: the past six or seven years. 162 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 4: There's six and a half. 163 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 3: I should probably say to not get into that six 164 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 3: to seven mess. 165 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 2: Look at that, but she's worried about everyone at home 166 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 2: going six. 167 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 4: To seven exactly. 168 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 3: I thought that you were clarifying for the purpose of 169 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 3: making sure that you were being a good journalist and 170 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 3: not round and up or down. But no, no, I 171 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 3: don't want to get into that mess. 172 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 4: That's the reason. 173 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, but have been covering global sports and really psyched 174 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 3: to be here. Favorite teams is It's it's tough, but 175 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 3: I will get in the game. I will say my 176 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 3: favorite w team is the Liberty. But I'm really excited 177 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 3: about Sandy Brundella up in Toronto, so that's going to 178 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 3: be super exciting. Also a big Casey Current fan. But 179 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 3: living in Boston, I'm going to keep my heart open. 180 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 3: It's been quite a couple of years here watching this 181 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 3: team get off the ground, and we're still waiting obviously 182 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 3: for a few key detas, but that'll be great. And 183 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 3: then I'm a marathon runner, so I love distance running, 184 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 3: track and field. Yes, that's that's my personal sport of choice. 185 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: Cool, Oh, I love all of this Boston legacy. 186 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 2: Might be your team. Listen. We allow side pieces here at. 187 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain, and we understand that it's 188 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: even harder to pick just one team and women's sports 189 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: where people are generally likable and we're run of rooting 190 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: for everyone totally, so we'll allow it, will allow. Well, 191 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: welcome to the mix. We're so excited to have you. 192 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: I'm a little bit concerned about you and Alex being 193 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: in Boston or close to Boston and how East Coast 194 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: bias will attempt to take over yet another piece of 195 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: the journalistic arena. But I am going to hold strong 196 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: for the Midwest and the West and everywhere else in 197 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: the country that y'all will try to erase with your 198 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: East Coast time zones and otherwise. 199 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 3: I've spent twenty plus years in the Midwest, so count 200 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 3: me as a Midwesterner and okay, yeah, maybe I'll just 201 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 3: start adopting West Coast teams like maybe I'll just be 202 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:01,839 Speaker 3: an l Sparks person from now on, try to hold 203 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 3: it down. 204 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 2: Maybe I should switch to the Valkyries. 205 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 5: Actually, I was. 206 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: Gonna say, I don't know if that's the one I 207 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 1: would pick, but yeah, we'll see, we'll see. 208 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:09,959 Speaker 3: Maybe. 209 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 4: Well. 210 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 2: Welcome Bianca. 211 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 1: Thank you for restoring us to big Citrus status. Little 212 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: Citrus was a lot of fun, but it was also 213 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: a lot of work. 214 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 2: So we're looking forward to. 215 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: Piling our responsibilities onto you on day one. 216 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 2: Welcome. 217 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 3: I'm ready. 218 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 4: I'm so ready when. 219 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,440 Speaker 1: We come back to Mika and Sonia join us to 220 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 1: talk all things WNBACBA negotiations. 221 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 2: Joining us now. 222 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: She's the former executive director of the NBA Players Association 223 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: and a former Deloitte exec who was named one of 224 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: Washington's one hundred and fifty most Powerful Women in twenty 225 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: nineteen and twenty twenty one by Washingtonian Magazine. A Mount 226 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: Saint Mary's grad she earned her law degree from Maryland 227 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: and an MBA from the University of Baltimore. She's now 228 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,079 Speaker 1: a managing director at Secretariat, a global expert services and 229 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: litigation consulting firm. She threw it back to her disco 230 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 1: days and slayed a gold sequence suit to celebrate fifty 231 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 1: five last year. 232 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 2: It's Tamika Tremalio. Thanks for joining us. 233 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 4: Tamika, thank you very much, Thank you for having us 234 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 4: with her. 235 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: She's a former WNBA player who started out her career 236 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: with the Charlotte Sting, one of the league's original eight teams, 237 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: finished her career with the Minnesota Links, and played off 238 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 1: season ball in ten countries, including Greece, Turkey, and China. 239 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,719 Speaker 1: A Marilyn grad, she's the founder, president and CEO of 240 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: the nonprofit Chase Your Dreams Academy and an associate director 241 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 1: at Secretariat. If she's not working, she's probably at a 242 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,479 Speaker 1: Mystics game. It's Sonya Chase Hi, Sonya. 243 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 5: Hey, Sarah. Thank you so much for having me. 244 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 2: Thank you guys for joining me. 245 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: I'm excited to talk about these ongoing CBA negotiations between 246 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: the WNBA and the Players Association, negotiations that have just 247 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:43,719 Speaker 1: blown past a third deadline last Friday. Both sides now 248 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: in status quo mode, so they're operating under the guidelines 249 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: of the now expired previous CBA and trying to get 250 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 1: things done so we can have a season. 251 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 2: Please. 252 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: And I want to start Sonya with the WNBA players 253 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: announcing over a year and a half ago that they 254 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: were opting out of the previous CBA October of twenty 255 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: twenty four. So we should have had plenty of time 256 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 1: to get this done, and instead we're now staring down 257 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: what should be the start of the league calendar. A 258 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 1: lack of a new deal is now threatening to push 259 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: back qualifying offers free agency negotiations. It feels like they 260 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 1: might need the pressure of a delayed or lost season 261 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,439 Speaker 1: to actually get them to find some common ground. Which 262 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: side do you think is more negatively impacted if they 263 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 1: do end up having a work stoppage. 264 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 5: What a great question, Sarah to start off with. I 265 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 5: have to kind of just, I guess set the groundwork 266 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 5: to say, as a former player, I do understand the 267 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 5: urgency just in general right and as a business executive though, 268 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 5: I also understand the complexity and you have those two 269 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 5: things working there, and I think the player's desire for 270 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 5: revenue sharing and structural equity is valid and it's forward thinking. 271 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:58,439 Speaker 5: I think the league's responsibility for ensuring long term financial 272 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 5: stability is also equally real, and so I think both 273 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 5: perspectives are essential and this is not about just one 274 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 5: side winning, right, but about really ensuring shared growth. And 275 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 5: I've said that throughout this whole process, and I think 276 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 5: true progress will come from three things. Collaboration, creativity, and transparency. 277 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 5: And Tamik and I we talk about that pretty much 278 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 5: all the time in the office. 279 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 1: Transparency is such an interesting one for those of us 280 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: trying to cover this because there is so little transparency 281 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: in terms of who's negotiating, who's on the other side 282 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: of the table, and so much of the economic realities 283 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 1: that we're not privy to. So with that in mind, 284 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: to me, GOD actually like your perspective because I want 285 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 1: to better understand the behind the scenes of the sides 286 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: that are working to get this new deal done. And 287 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:45,559 Speaker 1: you're the perfect person to speak on it because you've 288 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 1: been there. You were hired by the WNBPA to assist 289 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: with the last CBA negotiations back in twenty twenty. What 290 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: sense did you get of how the NBA and Adam 291 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: Silver and the WNBA and Kathy Engelbert worked together to 292 00:13:58,160 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: represent the league side. 293 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, so really great question, And I think you know, 294 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 4: first of all, I love that you started out with 295 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 4: I just want to piggyback on Sonia's comments. Yes, it 296 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 4: was October of twenty twenty four, so we all knew 297 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 4: that this was coming. Let's start there, right. This is 298 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 4: no surprise to anyone. What is a surprise, however, is 299 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 4: that we are where we are right that January ninth 300 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 4: came and went and we still don't have resolution to 301 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 4: all of this. And so to answer your question specifically, 302 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 4: you know, when we were at the negotiating table in 303 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 4: twenty twenty which, as you know, so much has happened 304 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 4: that has changed this, which is precisely why in October 305 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 4: of twenty twenty four they said, wait a minute, we're 306 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 4: doing so well here, We're going to have to look 307 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 4: at this and sort of figure out what we should 308 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 4: be doing so that we're all sort of getting a 309 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 4: piece of this growing pie. 310 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 5: Right. 311 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 4: That's what negotiation is about, is how do we all 312 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 4: get a portion of this? So, yes, obviously Kathy was 313 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 4: at the table, Terry Jackson was at the table, you know, 314 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 4: all of whom are just incredible female leaders trying I'm certain, 315 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 4: to all do the right thing. There were occasions where 316 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 4: you know, sort of Adam would come in and you know, 317 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 4: have some discussions but in general this is something that 318 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 4: is handled by Kathy and Terry specifically as leaders of 319 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 4: their respective organizations. 320 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: So in most leagues, the commissioner is hired by and 321 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: answers to the owners in the league there. As you know, 322 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 1: my twenty years or whatever in this business, I've had 323 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: so many conversations about someone like Roger Goodell getting paid 324 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: massive sums of money to sort of take the slings 325 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: and arrows of the public so that he can represent 326 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: the best interests of the owners and their negotiations. 327 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 2: With the WNBA. 328 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 1: Kathy answers to owners, but also reports to Adam Silver. 329 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: So is Adam Silver ultimately the one that leads the 330 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 1: intentions of the w and by default, so many of 331 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: the NBA owners who were involved as well in these negotiations. 332 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 4: You know, Sarah, it's a great question, but I think 333 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 4: to be quite honest, you know, as you know, Kathy 334 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 4: was the CEO and her own right at Deloitte, for 335 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 4: which both Sonya and I had worked with, and so 336 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 4: while I would certainly i'd be clear that she was 337 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 4: actually engaged with Adam, I think that the decisions are 338 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 4: being made by her, you know, I think that she 339 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 4: is at the helm and really leading this. Certainly she 340 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 4: is seeking the advice of many people, including Adam in 341 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 4: terms of the overall decisions, including the owners. But I 342 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 4: would think that this is something that she is really 343 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 4: leading and directing for certain and. 344 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 1: Then not hamstrung by Silver and the NBA, because I 345 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: think that's the concern sometimes without the transparency of the financials, 346 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: is whether the NBA is using the WNBA as it 347 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: means by which to bring in financial security to that side, 348 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: and then they're publicly saying that WNBA is losing money 349 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 1: or not financially soluble in all these things so that 350 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 1: they can give the players less money and still bring 351 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: in these incredible TV revenues and other things that are 352 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: sort of vaguely split between the two entities as far 353 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: as the public is concerned. Right, because we don't have 354 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: those financials, do you think she's hamstrung at all by 355 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: his desire to benefit both sides? 356 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 4: First of all, we are all being pulled in a 357 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 4: million different directions, right, and certainly at the time of negotiation, 358 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 4: she has to have she does have some ownership to 359 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 4: the players, she does have some ownership to the league, 360 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 4: she does have some ownership to the owners themselves. Kathy's 361 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 4: background is audit, right, Let's be very clear, So she 362 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 4: understands what it means to be transparent, She understands the 363 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 4: questions that are being asked. She certainly u zderstands the 364 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,399 Speaker 4: difference between gross revenue and net revenue, right, and so 365 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 4: there there is nothing that's you know, this is a 366 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 4: lack of like making sure that that information is being 367 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 4: clear to the players who need to make the right decision. 368 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 4: So when Sonya started by saying transparency is one of 369 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 4: the issues, it clearly is. And the fact that it 370 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:45,199 Speaker 4: hasn't been when that's what they've been asking for for 371 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 4: the last year and a half really surprises me that 372 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 4: as we sit here today that we're still in the 373 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 4: same situation. 374 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: Okay, last question on this, just so I have clarity. 375 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:55,639 Speaker 1: Do you think that Kathy or do you know that 376 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 1: Kathy has her own budget discretion that she is personally 377 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: allowed to sign off on, or how is that tied 378 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: to whether the NBA and the about sixty percent of 379 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:07,479 Speaker 1: ownership in the w is tied up to NBA owners 380 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 1: either through that sixteen percent equity share that was sold 381 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 1: off or through their investment and purchase of teams. Do 382 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: they then have control over the final say because of 383 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: their percentage of leadership. 384 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 4: Well, I don't think they have controlled that's for certain, 385 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 4: that's not the case given their percentage, But they absolutely 386 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 4: have a say in how things are being done. So yes, 387 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 4: she is leading, Yes she is, you know, determining what 388 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 4: to go back to say to the players, et cetera. 389 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 4: But I think that's just good governance, right that she 390 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 4: would have to go back to her board, that you 391 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:43,959 Speaker 4: have to go back to the league. But you know, 392 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:48,439 Speaker 4: for certain, I think she is leading these negotiations, but 393 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:51,400 Speaker 4: she absolutely has to be accountable to all of the parties. 394 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: It's complicated, It's more complicated than the average negotiation, Sonya. 395 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 1: And you know, one of the fundamental disagreements between the 396 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 1: two sides seems to be whether or not the players 397 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: still need to sacrifice their own wealth in order to 398 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 1: ensure league stability and survival. You played in the very 399 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 1: first WNBA season. You saw the beginnings of this league, 400 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: and it was about establishing a foundation, figuring out how 401 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: to stay in business and survive. But twenty nine years later, 402 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 1: the WNBA is not in survival mode. Teams are valued 403 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: at four hundred five hundred million dollars. There's a two 404 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 1: point two billion dollar media deal that starts this year. 405 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: How do you view the leverage of the players negotiating 406 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: now in this moment versus when the league started and 407 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: you were playing. 408 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 5: I have to go back to what I've been saying 409 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 5: about this whole thing of going from survival mode from 410 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 5: when I played to what we say strategy mode. Right, Obviously, 411 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 5: as you mentioned, when I played, the league was so different. 412 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:48,920 Speaker 5: This was the early years of the W proven the 413 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 5: league could exist, not yet negotiating or leveraging, not even 414 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 5: thinking about right, using that players often work second jobs. 415 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 5: You know, we were overseas, We were just to make 416 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,959 Speaker 5: ends meet in so many different ways outside of the W. 417 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 5: The focus I thought was at that time was keeping 418 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 5: the doors open, not redefining what success could look like. 419 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 5: I think also the foundation was critical in terms of 420 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 5: how it allowed today's players to negotiate from a position 421 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 5: of strength. But as we talk about again, from you know, 422 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 5: survival mode to strategy mode, I think the WS has 423 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 5: reached I think a new level of visibility in sponsorship 424 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:34,479 Speaker 5: and investment, and I think players today like myself are 425 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 5: seen as business women, right, they've grown up with the 426 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 5: NIL rights and social platforms and brand power. I will 427 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 5: say I did not necessarily grow up with the NIL, 428 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,640 Speaker 5: but I have become a business woman to understand what 429 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:49,199 Speaker 5: that means. Right, So if I'm in a room and 430 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,200 Speaker 5: I'm with other business folks, I'm understanding how to negotiate. 431 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 5: And I think strategy mode means ensuring player compensation, league expansion, 432 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 5: and like you said, media value moved together and not separately. 433 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, Tamika, you mentioned the revenue sharing. That 434 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: everyone needs to understand difference between gross and net and 435 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: this has been the biggest sticking point between the League 436 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: and the PA, according to all reports. ESPNS Ramona Shelburne 437 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 1: reported the union wants about thirty percent of gross revenue. 438 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,360 Speaker 1: The league is offering about seventy percent of net revenue, 439 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: which is revenue minus fixed costs things like travel. 440 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 2: And operating expenses. 441 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,199 Speaker 1: So the league's version would mean sharing about twenty one 442 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 1: to twenty eight million dollars. The Union's version means sharing 443 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: about ninety to one hundred and twenty million dollars. That 444 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 1: is a big difference. Now, I just want to tell 445 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 1: people that the NBA introduced the first revenue sharing plan 446 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: of its kind in team sports, and that was back 447 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,439 Speaker 1: in nineteen eighty three. There's a CBA that gave players 448 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,160 Speaker 1: fifty three percent of gross revenue starting with the eighty 449 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 1: four eighty five season, and NBA revenue in eighty four 450 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 1: was actually very similar to WNBA revenue in twenty twenty 451 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: two to twenty three. But if the WNBA players were 452 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:59,400 Speaker 1: paid like NBA players all the way back in nineteen 453 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: eighty four, they'd be making approximately three times what they 454 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 1: do currently. So clearly there's a disconnect. Why is it 455 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,440 Speaker 1: that forty two years after the men earned a share 456 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: of gross revenue, the league expects women to settle for 457 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: net revenue. 458 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:17,159 Speaker 4: That is funny, and I love the way that you 459 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:22,160 Speaker 4: positioned it, right, because it is absurd by all accounts, Right, 460 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:26,439 Speaker 4: that just doesn't make logical sense. And we are to 461 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 4: the point that Sonya mentioned before, very sophisticated women that 462 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 4: are playing in the WNBA, and they recognize that that 463 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:37,399 Speaker 4: doesn't make sense because essentially, what's happening, and we've already 464 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 4: seen it happen over this last year, right as they 465 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 4: prepared for the new media deal, they spent a lot 466 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 4: of money making sure from an expense perspective, they were 467 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 4: where they needed to be to actually reap the benefits 468 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 4: of this deal. All of those expenses that they incurred 469 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 4: that reaped the later benefit. They had no say it 470 00:22:56,680 --> 00:22:59,120 Speaker 4: how that was actually being done, but what it did 471 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 4: mean is that they weren't going to actually be able 472 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 4: to participate in revenue share because they weren't going to 473 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:10,600 Speaker 4: be profitable. If you now, why would the WNBA expect 474 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 4: the women to agree to something that is going to 475 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 4: say that it's going to be based on profitability going 476 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 4: on in the future when they have said that they 477 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 4: aren't profitable, Who would in their right mind enter into 478 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 4: any agreement like that. That just doesn't make sense. So 479 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 4: what they're saying is, hey, let's do gross revenue, because 480 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:33,200 Speaker 4: if we do gross revenue, we're starting at a point 481 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 4: where we're not leaving it in your hands to make 482 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 4: the decisions on the spend because that's going to directly 483 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:43,639 Speaker 4: impact us. Let's be very clear, at any point in time, 484 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:46,719 Speaker 4: you could decide that you're gonna I'm going to use 485 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:51,920 Speaker 4: something incredibly absurd open an amusement park and encounter expenses 486 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 4: related to that, and therefore that means that you receive nothing. 487 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 4: You have complete control of the cost. You could decide 488 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 4: to pay coach ten million dollars and then that reduces 489 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,680 Speaker 4: what actually is available to be split amongst the players. 490 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 4: And they don't want to leave that in the hands 491 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 4: of the individual teams to make those decisions. They've seen 492 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 4: what's happened when they have done that. So it really 493 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 4: is starting from a place that just logically doesn't make 494 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 4: any sense. 495 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:21,920 Speaker 1: Right be in it together, where the amount that you're 496 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: spending to grow impacts everyone, so that there's an intention 497 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: about what you're spending on growth, and also everyone benefits 498 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: from the result of that spend, which is what we're 499 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:33,880 Speaker 1: seeing across the WNBA the last couple of years, which 500 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:37,199 Speaker 1: is really incredible exponential growth, you know, Sonya, and I 501 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:38,919 Speaker 1: want to stick with the numbers quickly, and I mentioned 502 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:41,360 Speaker 1: this on the show before, but a Nobel Prize winning 503 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 1: economist Claudia Golden crunched the numbers in the WNBA on 504 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 1: player salaries and in the NBA as well, using broadcast revenue, 505 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:52,400 Speaker 1: attendance data other metrics, and she estimated that the average 506 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 1: WNBA salary should be somewhere about a third to a 507 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 1: fourth of the average NBA salary, but it's actually an 508 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:03,399 Speaker 1: eightieth Okay, So your secretariat colleague also broke down some 509 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 1: salary numbers based just on the new TV deals for 510 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 1: the two leagues, and he wrote in a memo quote, 511 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:11,160 Speaker 1: the NBA and WNBA just negotiated media deals in which 512 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 1: the value of the men's league content was thirty four 513 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:15,199 Speaker 1: and a half times out of the women's league. But 514 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,399 Speaker 1: the men are paid in total almost two hundred and 515 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:21,160 Speaker 1: eighty six times as much as the women. So WNBA 516 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:25,160 Speaker 1: players current salaries are undervalued relative to WNBA media rits 517 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:28,720 Speaker 1: by a factor of eight. Okay, Well, acknowledge that the 518 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:32,120 Speaker 1: second calculation doesn't account ticket sales, merchandising, things that bring 519 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: in more money to the NBA. But even if you 520 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 1: factor that in one eightieth or two hundred and eighty 521 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: six times, those are sort of unfathomable numbers. 522 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:42,160 Speaker 4: So is there a. 523 00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 1: Reasonable excuse that you can see in these negotiations for 524 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: why the men would still make so much more than 525 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 1: the women? What do you think the NBA slash WNBA 526 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: side is offering up as to why those gaps would 527 00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 1: be something that the players could agree to. 528 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 5: This isn't just about the numbers per se. Right, it 529 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:02,199 Speaker 5: is about that, but I think in addition to that, 530 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:05,719 Speaker 5: in steering up in that pot, it's also about professional 531 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:11,920 Speaker 5: dignity and retention, right, ensuring top athletes see the WNBA 532 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:15,119 Speaker 5: as a full time, longtime career, not just as a 533 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 5: seasonal pursuit. There's a reason why this is becoming such 534 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:22,120 Speaker 5: a big conversation because there's other things like the professional 535 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:24,480 Speaker 5: dignity and the retention, And the league doesn't want the 536 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 5: players to play in any other league. They just want 537 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 5: them to focus on this, But then they don't want 538 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 5: to necessarily take them to the point where the number 539 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 5: should be. So how can you then regulate what other 540 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 5: players or what the players are decided to do in 541 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 5: the off season. 542 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:41,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, Tamika, you've been in the room for these battles, 543 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,680 Speaker 1: both on the NBA side when you were running the 544 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 1: NBA Players Association, but also in those twenty twenty WNBA negotiations. 545 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:50,960 Speaker 1: So what do you think, Kathy Engelbert Adam Silver The 546 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 1: league folks are saying right now in defense of WNBA 547 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 1: players not having the same financial relationship with their. 548 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,880 Speaker 2: League that the men have had with their league for decades. 549 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,400 Speaker 4: So essentially, what I think is happening. Where the pressure 550 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 4: perhaps is coming from is a little bit on the 551 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 4: ownership side as well, right, because the reality is, what 552 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 4: I have heard the league to say is that we're 553 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:13,879 Speaker 4: going to have seven hundred million dollars in losses if 554 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:16,199 Speaker 4: we increase the salary cap to ten million dollars. 555 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 3: Right. 556 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 4: The reality is, we all know that that's not one 557 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:22,920 Speaker 4: hundred percent accurate. Right. What's happening is the owners are 558 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 4: concerned about their delution, right, the fact that they believe 559 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,399 Speaker 4: we should be getting all of the gains as a 560 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:33,800 Speaker 4: result of this windfall that we have from our expansion. 561 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:38,199 Speaker 4: The w the players are saying, no, we should be 562 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 4: sharing in that too. That should be basketball related income, 563 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 4: just like it would be if we were in the NBA. Right. So, 564 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 4: I think that's where the rub is coming from, because 565 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 4: they're making it sound like there's all of these losses 566 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,600 Speaker 4: when the reality is we all know that there aren't 567 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 4: these losses. And quite frankly, I think we've heard Kathy 568 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:57,920 Speaker 4: say quite a bit that she wants to make sure 569 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 4: there's sustainability. Well, there is nothing like proving that there 570 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 4: is sustainability than expansion and the fact that there are 571 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:09,439 Speaker 4: owners incredible owners who own you know, not only the 572 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:12,199 Speaker 4: commanders and the seventy six ers, but that want to 573 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:15,160 Speaker 4: gain and be an owner in the w's. 574 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 5: That is proof in the. 575 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 4: Putting that this is a viable league that will continue 576 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 4: to be a going concern. And so for them to 577 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 4: come back and say, oh, wait, hold on, we're concerned 578 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 4: that we might you know, not be able to continue, 579 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 4: that just doesn't make any sense. And anybody can see 580 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 4: through that. And the players, again as sophisticated business women, 581 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 4: know that that doesn't make sense, and they want to 582 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 4: share in all of this. 583 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:41,920 Speaker 1: The convenient claims of we will not be profitable with 584 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 1: this exact number, which happens to be exactly what you're 585 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:48,280 Speaker 1: asking for, you know, while we see people scrambling to 586 00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:50,959 Speaker 1: get involved, to buy expansion teams and to put their 587 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 1: money into something that's very clearly a positive venture. 588 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 4: And Sarah, even more to your point, that we will 589 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 4: not be profitable, but hey, by the way, we want 590 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 4: you to be paid based on profitability. 591 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: Wait a minute, like right, right, exactly, well, and I 592 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:08,959 Speaker 1: want to ask about that because you know, whenever the 593 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 1: topic of WNBA profitability comes up, even when CBA negotiations 594 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: aren't happening, but especially when they are. Adam Silver likes 595 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 1: to somehow go out in public and basically dilute the 596 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 1: value of the product that he represents. He loves talking 597 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 1: about losses in a way that we do not usually 598 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,600 Speaker 1: see heads of leagues or folks associated with leagues doing. 599 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 1: And he said back in twenty eighteen that the WNBA 600 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: was losing ten million a year. This is what trolls 601 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 1: use constantly to argue that the league shouldn't exist and 602 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: that the women haven't earned and aren't owed anything. 603 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:42,960 Speaker 2: How much did that quote come up when. 604 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:45,480 Speaker 1: You were negotiating in twenty twenty How much did they 605 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 1: try to use losses in a way that we don't 606 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:51,360 Speaker 1: usually see things like sports leagues use losses in terms 607 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:52,560 Speaker 1: of negotiations. 608 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:57,640 Speaker 4: Oh, just way too many times? Right, because you know, 609 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 4: and again it came up quite a bit with out 610 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 4: transparency into even how those numbers were arrived at, right, 611 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:06,200 Speaker 4: because you know, we can all get behind something that 612 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 4: we can prove or disprove. But when you look at it, 613 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 4: and certainly, as we talked about earlier with Alan Ingram, 614 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 4: for example, one of our PhD economists, he said, look, 615 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:18,680 Speaker 4: there is no reason that the players aren't making seven 616 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 4: hundred and fifty thousand on average, right, this number at 617 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:24,680 Speaker 4: five point fifty is leaving a lot on the table. 618 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:27,200 Speaker 4: Not on the table for the players, but it's leaving 619 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 4: a lot for the owners to actually receive. And that's 620 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 4: just not where they should be. They put a lot 621 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 4: into this. And even more fundamentally, Sarah and basic, if 622 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 4: you can look at someone like a Caitlin Clark, who 623 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:45,280 Speaker 4: is making less than one hundred thousand dollars a year, it. 624 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:48,080 Speaker 2: Is with a twenty five million dollar Nike deal. 625 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:49,960 Speaker 1: If you want to look at what the market is 626 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:53,360 Speaker 1: actually telling you about value. 627 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 4: Right and the sold out games, and how can you 628 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,520 Speaker 4: i mean comfortably sleep at night knowing that you're paying 629 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 4: someone less than one hundred thousand dollars that's bringing you 630 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 4: millions of dollars in revenue. I mean, that's the basic. 631 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:09,240 Speaker 5: Not only that wasn't she offered fifteen million from Big three? 632 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 3: You know? 633 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 5: Right? 634 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 2: Yeah? 635 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, So I want to ask you that, Sonya, because 636 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:16,760 Speaker 1: we're at this incredible inflection point. 637 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 2: It is impossible right. 638 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 1: Now to deny the value of women's sports and women athletes. 639 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 1: It feels like it's sort of now or ever, for 640 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:26,720 Speaker 1: these women to put their foot down on this bullshit 641 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: and not let the league bully them into yet again 642 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 1: settling for less while everyone else in their ecosphere is 643 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:34,760 Speaker 1: making more. Is this something where it would be worth 644 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 1: a work stoppage for the players If that's what it 645 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:37,520 Speaker 1: comes down to. 646 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:41,760 Speaker 5: You gave me the That is the question of the game. 647 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:46,640 Speaker 5: That is the question of Sarah. You're talking to a 648 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 5: former player. We want to play, Okay, we want to play. 649 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:53,000 Speaker 5: Nobody wants to see a work stoppage, right, That's just 650 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 5: not You know, at the end of the day, most women, 651 00:31:56,720 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 5: when you interview them, they'll tell you they play for 652 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 5: the love of the game, right. But at the end 653 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 5: of the day, we also understand that compensation is extremely important. 654 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:07,960 Speaker 5: So I will say this to the inflection point that 655 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:12,000 Speaker 5: you just made, I think both sides in the next 656 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 5: few weeks will will define the next decade. Right, And 657 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 5: maybe hopefully it's in the next few weeks, but you know, 658 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:21,680 Speaker 5: well we'll see, right. But I think with expansion, with 659 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:24,600 Speaker 5: new sponsorships and record ratings and all of that stuff 660 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 5: we've already been talking about, I think the WNBA's positioned 661 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 5: for that exponential growth, right. But I also think the 662 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:34,840 Speaker 5: the players that they're they're asking for that their economic 663 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 5: participation just reflect that success. That's it. So we don't 664 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:40,600 Speaker 5: want to have a luckout. 665 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 2: We yeah, and respect. 666 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 1: In my opinion, it doesn't feel respectful the way that 667 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:46,880 Speaker 1: the negotiations have gone so far. 668 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 2: It's a denial and forget. 669 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:51,320 Speaker 5: I think that's what's at stake is not just the pay, 670 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:55,560 Speaker 5: but it's the structure of Again, as we're saying the partnership, 671 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:58,040 Speaker 5: there's the way that it's being structured, I think, and 672 00:32:58,080 --> 00:33:02,360 Speaker 5: I think the the the blueprint. This will be a 673 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 5: blueprint for women's sports worldwide. That's what I'm feeling. I'm 674 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:09,280 Speaker 5: feeling like we're moving to something as Tamika's buzzword. And 675 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 5: I've been waiting for her to say it because I 676 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 5: don't want to say it before she says it. But 677 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:14,560 Speaker 5: it starts with a T. 678 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: All right, it's your word, Tamika, Tamika tea with the 679 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:18,800 Speaker 1: T word, give it to us. 680 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:22,160 Speaker 4: Yes, Yeah, And I think Sonya hit it right on 681 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 4: the nose. 682 00:33:22,680 --> 00:33:23,160 Speaker 5: It is. 683 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:25,840 Speaker 4: It has to be transformational, almost, Sarah, And I know 684 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 4: you've heard me say this already many many times, but 685 00:33:28,680 --> 00:33:32,000 Speaker 4: they need to just scrap this, because that's what's happening. 686 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 4: The problem is when you sort of are building on junk, 687 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:38,560 Speaker 4: you continue to get it right, and so they almost 688 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 4: need to just start over and reimagine what they can do, 689 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 4: because that is precisely the problem. Like, yes, I can 690 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:48,000 Speaker 4: you know, we all know we've had our first job. 691 00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:50,400 Speaker 4: Right when you're paid, you know, twenty thousand dollars and 692 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:53,320 Speaker 4: you continue to get five percent, ten percent, like at 693 00:33:53,320 --> 00:33:55,880 Speaker 4: a certain point you're like, I just need a new job, right, 694 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,280 Speaker 4: And we're seeing with Unrivaled, like they're able to pay 695 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 4: the players so much more money for such a much 696 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 4: smaller period of time. They're able to give them the benefit, 697 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:08,880 Speaker 4: so they know that this is possible. So what needs 698 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:12,320 Speaker 4: to happen is that they all need to reimagine what's possible, 699 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:15,840 Speaker 4: even outside of the formal agreement. Why aren't they looking 700 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:18,040 Speaker 4: at if they think there's so much an expansion and 701 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:20,800 Speaker 4: potential teams, why aren't they looking at giving the players 702 00:34:20,840 --> 00:34:24,080 Speaker 4: a piece of this new giving them some ownership in 703 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 4: this right, just like Unrivaled is giving them ownership. 704 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:28,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, I want to get to that. 705 00:34:28,719 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 1: The kind of creative things we've seen on the men's 706 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:32,440 Speaker 1: side that they might be able to bring. You just 707 00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 1: had me thinking, and I always loved this phrase and 708 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:38,160 Speaker 1: did not think it was worthy of mocking. But Kamala saying, 709 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:41,439 Speaker 1: unburdened by what has been, it feels like they need 710 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:44,480 Speaker 1: to stop burdening themselves by what has been and start 711 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 1: thinking completely differently about it, because there's a great value 712 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:50,680 Speaker 1: to the length that the WNBA has existed. Is the 713 00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:53,520 Speaker 1: longest running professional women's league in America. It is also 714 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:56,600 Speaker 1: in some ways burdened by a system set up decades 715 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:59,000 Speaker 1: ago that is not the reality for women athletes and 716 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:01,239 Speaker 1: women's sports anymore, and yet the owners are trying to 717 00:35:01,320 --> 00:35:04,040 Speaker 1: tie it to that history in order to keep denying 718 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:06,880 Speaker 1: them the reality of what is now. And to me, 719 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:09,200 Speaker 1: that's such a great point by you just start over, 720 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:11,799 Speaker 1: start thinking about it completely differently when you get into 721 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:13,880 Speaker 1: these negotiations. Let's talk about what you just mentioned, the 722 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:16,800 Speaker 1: creative stuff, because in some ways the NBA Collective Bargaining 723 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:19,719 Speaker 1: Agreement has allowed players to benefit from league success in 724 00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:23,320 Speaker 1: ways that aren't just revenue share, things like private equity investments, 725 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:27,439 Speaker 1: participation in expansion fee revenue. So talk to me about 726 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 1: some ways you think the WNBA in the league could 727 00:35:29,520 --> 00:35:31,000 Speaker 1: be a little more creative here. 728 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:35,520 Speaker 4: Yes for sure. So yes, in the last NBA or negotiations, 729 00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:38,960 Speaker 4: they were able to actually buy in to private equity 730 00:35:39,040 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 4: that could buy into teams, just like the NBA and 731 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:45,080 Speaker 4: the other owners have been able to benefit from this. 732 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:49,799 Speaker 4: Now players can collectively benefit from this as well. That 733 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:53,120 Speaker 4: gives them the opportunity for more revenue into their union 734 00:35:53,160 --> 00:35:56,239 Speaker 4: to be able to support things like education, things that 735 00:35:56,360 --> 00:35:59,920 Speaker 4: really matter, right, that create generational wealth. They could do 736 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:03,080 Speaker 4: the same thing here, right, There's no reason that they 737 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:05,960 Speaker 4: can't do that. They also could give them opportunities to 738 00:36:06,080 --> 00:36:09,840 Speaker 4: leverage into buying ownership even outside of the WNBA. So 739 00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:12,480 Speaker 4: as you know, like now the players can buy in, 740 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:16,200 Speaker 4: the men can buy into women's teams, they can have 741 00:36:16,239 --> 00:36:18,719 Speaker 4: an equity interest things like that. So they really just 742 00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:23,000 Speaker 4: have to expand this. I love that you quoted Kamala 743 00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:23,719 Speaker 4: because I had not. 744 00:36:24,080 --> 00:36:25,480 Speaker 5: I forgot about that. 745 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:27,279 Speaker 4: I'm like, I wish there was a great way to 746 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:30,600 Speaker 4: say this, but you were right to just be unburdened 747 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:33,920 Speaker 4: by what has been and that is precisely I mean. 748 00:36:33,960 --> 00:36:36,040 Speaker 4: If there could be a headline that comes out tomorrow 749 00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:38,399 Speaker 4: on the Wall Street Journal, that's what it should be 750 00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:40,480 Speaker 4: compliments of Sarah. 751 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:43,440 Speaker 2: Spain right, with a hat tip to Kamala my president. 752 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:48,040 Speaker 4: Exactly, that is precisely what needs to happen. They really 753 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 4: need to think outside of the box here, and they 754 00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:53,680 Speaker 4: need to think about how to grow the pie so 755 00:36:53,719 --> 00:36:57,839 Speaker 4: that everyone's benefiting, not thinking about, oh gosh, we took 756 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:00,800 Speaker 4: such a loss, you know, twenty thirty years ago. Well, 757 00:37:00,880 --> 00:37:04,160 Speaker 4: you know that's what investment's about, right, That's what it's about. 758 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:06,200 Speaker 4: And so they need to help them. 759 00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:08,480 Speaker 1: And the reason more people are arriving is because the 760 00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:11,600 Speaker 1: economic reality is different now and that has to be 761 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:13,400 Speaker 1: acknowledged and the players have to be a part of that. 762 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:15,600 Speaker 1: I just hope that they haven't spent so long at 763 00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:19,080 Speaker 1: the table already fighting each other that they can't revisit 764 00:37:19,120 --> 00:37:22,120 Speaker 1: the idea of building and growing this thing together. 765 00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:23,919 Speaker 2: We shall see. 766 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:25,960 Speaker 1: Last question for both of you, brilliant ladies, do you 767 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:27,239 Speaker 1: think a deal is going to get done? 768 00:37:27,520 --> 00:37:29,440 Speaker 2: And do you have any idea when sonya? 769 00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:36,680 Speaker 5: Yes, that's the former player talking. Okay, yes, the business 770 00:37:36,719 --> 00:37:41,160 Speaker 5: side is saying, I just don't know when, right, Because 771 00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:45,279 Speaker 5: if you listen to the quotes of some of the players, right, 772 00:37:46,719 --> 00:37:50,319 Speaker 5: they have been very transparent in what's going on, and 773 00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:55,160 Speaker 5: although they are hopeful, they are preparing for that, you know, 774 00:37:55,719 --> 00:37:58,239 Speaker 5: which could potentially be that lockout, you know, and so 775 00:37:58,320 --> 00:37:59,920 Speaker 5: you hear that and you hear Remnims in it, so 776 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:04,120 Speaker 5: you know that they're discussing that. So yes, I am hopeful. 777 00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:06,960 Speaker 5: I am we want to see it. And let me 778 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:10,480 Speaker 5: say this, Sarah, there is something about playing in the W. 779 00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:13,880 Speaker 5: I had an opportunity to be drafted by the A 780 00:38:14,040 --> 00:38:17,000 Speaker 5: b L back in the day, and that was the 781 00:38:17,040 --> 00:38:20,960 Speaker 5: other league my assistant coach from University of Maryland. She 782 00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:24,160 Speaker 5: was the head coach for the Columbia Quest, the same 783 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:26,640 Speaker 5: team that I think Don played on a couple other people. 784 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:31,239 Speaker 5: But anyway, I chose the W because even though I 785 00:38:31,239 --> 00:38:33,399 Speaker 5: could have made more money planned in the ABL, because 786 00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:36,160 Speaker 5: they were offering more at the time, I knew that 787 00:38:36,239 --> 00:38:38,480 Speaker 5: there was just something about being in an NBA arena, 788 00:38:38,840 --> 00:38:41,200 Speaker 5: you know, that couldn't take the place of anything that 789 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:44,280 Speaker 5: childhood watching, you know, come fly with me, Michael Jordan, 790 00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:46,960 Speaker 5: and you know, being in the in the in state, 791 00:38:47,680 --> 00:38:49,239 Speaker 5: in LA and so many at the time it was 792 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:54,000 Speaker 5: Staples Center. So I'm hopeful that that a deal will 793 00:38:54,040 --> 00:38:56,880 Speaker 5: get done. Despite women having the opportunities to play in 794 00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:59,319 Speaker 5: other leagues. It is not the w So that's why 795 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:01,000 Speaker 5: I hope that that we are able to see the 796 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:02,680 Speaker 5: women back on the court again pretty soon. 797 00:39:03,160 --> 00:39:04,160 Speaker 2: What about you, Tamika. 798 00:39:04,239 --> 00:39:06,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, so I would agree with Sonia one hundred percent 799 00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:10,080 Speaker 4: that yes, this will get done. Now to the point 800 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:12,800 Speaker 4: that she made about, you know, a lockout, I don't. 801 00:39:12,960 --> 00:39:15,640 Speaker 4: I don't believe that it'll get done without a lockout. 802 00:39:15,719 --> 00:39:19,440 Speaker 4: You know, just even listening to their in house counsel 803 00:39:19,560 --> 00:39:22,520 Speaker 4: last week, it sounds like they didn't even hear from 804 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:25,800 Speaker 4: the WNBA over the last couple of weeks, right Adam 805 00:39:25,840 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 4: and I were actually having meetings, negotiations like right up 806 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:32,440 Speaker 4: to that day. Like the fact that you wouldn't have 807 00:39:32,520 --> 00:39:34,960 Speaker 4: heard from them in a couple of weeks just blows 808 00:39:35,040 --> 00:39:37,840 Speaker 4: my mind. It is almost like, you know, sort of 809 00:39:37,880 --> 00:39:41,239 Speaker 4: blatant disregard. And so when you do things like that, 810 00:39:41,360 --> 00:39:43,560 Speaker 4: assuming that that is true, let me you know, have 811 00:39:43,680 --> 00:39:47,000 Speaker 4: that one caveat, it makes you think that they are 812 00:39:47,040 --> 00:39:50,120 Speaker 4: not being valued, and so you know, there has to 813 00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:53,560 Speaker 4: probably be something that is, you know, much more brutal 814 00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:57,880 Speaker 4: than status quo, quite frankly, to make them do it. 815 00:39:58,080 --> 00:39:59,880 Speaker 4: But I do think that they will reach in a 816 00:40:00,400 --> 00:40:03,480 Speaker 4: there is nothing better than playing in the W As 817 00:40:03,520 --> 00:40:05,719 Speaker 4: a woman in the US who with buyers to play 818 00:40:05,800 --> 00:40:08,839 Speaker 4: basketball professionally, I one hundred percent agree, And I think 819 00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:11,279 Speaker 4: they will continue to be a going concern and they'll 820 00:40:11,320 --> 00:40:14,200 Speaker 4: be incredibly successful. That they all have to be in it, 821 00:40:14,320 --> 00:40:17,200 Speaker 4: and they all have to value each other, you know, respectfully, 822 00:40:17,320 --> 00:40:19,400 Speaker 4: and I think that's what's really critically. 823 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:20,080 Speaker 2: Important to Mika. 824 00:40:20,080 --> 00:40:22,439 Speaker 1: I want to clarify it's the league side that says 825 00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:24,799 Speaker 1: they haven't heard from the players in a couple of weeks. 826 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:27,600 Speaker 4: Now, No, it was the PA side. So they're in 827 00:40:27,680 --> 00:40:30,680 Speaker 4: hosp council who said, you know, we're sitting here on 828 00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:35,439 Speaker 4: January ninth, eight hours before and we haven't heard from them. 829 00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:39,120 Speaker 1: Nothing that explains the inflatable rat in the truck with 830 00:40:39,160 --> 00:40:40,719 Speaker 1: the screens on the side. Because I was going to say, 831 00:40:40,719 --> 00:40:42,839 Speaker 1: I could see the players Association saying, if you don't 832 00:40:42,880 --> 00:40:45,520 Speaker 1: ever move off this gross revenue net revenue, we have 833 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:48,080 Speaker 1: nothing to talk about. But if the if the owner 834 00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:50,799 Speaker 1: side is the one not even communicating, that feels even 835 00:40:50,800 --> 00:40:52,960 Speaker 1: more worrisome that they're putting their foot down at a 836 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:54,760 Speaker 1: place that is nowhere near what the players are asking 837 00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:59,279 Speaker 1: for Oh boy, all right, ladies, this was so informational 838 00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:01,319 Speaker 1: on education. Well, thank you so much for the time. 839 00:41:01,320 --> 00:41:03,080 Speaker 1: I really appreciate you bringing your insight. 840 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:03,200 Speaker 2: To the show. 841 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:06,319 Speaker 4: My pleasure absolutely, thank you for giving us the opportunity. 842 00:41:08,719 --> 00:41:10,800 Speaker 2: Thanks again to Sonya and tamike It for taking the time. 843 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:12,799 Speaker 1: We got to take another break when we return, a 844 00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:14,719 Speaker 1: childhood intention that paid off. 845 00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:22,560 Speaker 2: Welcome back slices. 846 00:41:22,600 --> 00:41:24,160 Speaker 1: We love that you're listening, but we want you to 847 00:41:24,160 --> 00:41:25,880 Speaker 1: get in the game every day too, So here's our 848 00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:27,000 Speaker 1: good game play of the day. 849 00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:29,880 Speaker 2: Pretty easy. Follow Sonya and to meet on social media. 850 00:41:30,080 --> 00:41:32,360 Speaker 2: We'll link to their Instagram handles in the show notes. 851 00:41:32,760 --> 00:41:35,000 Speaker 1: We'll also link to the podcast episode to Meeta mentioned 852 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:36,799 Speaker 1: at the end there, featuring Friend of the Show Aaron 853 00:41:36,880 --> 00:41:39,759 Speaker 1: Drake from the WNBPA. She sat down with fellow friend 854 00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:42,000 Speaker 1: of the show Christina Williams. We'll link to that in 855 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:44,399 Speaker 1: the show notes. Also want to send out a quick 856 00:41:44,440 --> 00:41:48,120 Speaker 1: couple high fives today. First slice Sarah, who ran into 857 00:41:48,120 --> 00:41:50,440 Speaker 1: Friend of the Show Annie Costable at Unrivaled and was 858 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:54,000 Speaker 1: rocking our good game, Good game. Few T shirt shouts 859 00:41:54,040 --> 00:41:56,040 Speaker 1: to you, Sarah, Thank you for listening, Thank you for 860 00:41:56,160 --> 00:41:58,520 Speaker 1: rocking the merch. If anyone out there wants to be 861 00:41:58,520 --> 00:42:00,560 Speaker 1: cool like Sarah and get spotted by friends of the 862 00:42:00,600 --> 00:42:02,640 Speaker 1: show like Annie, you could check it out at breakingta 863 00:42:02,640 --> 00:42:06,040 Speaker 1: dot com slash Spain to get your own merch. Also 864 00:42:06,480 --> 00:42:09,400 Speaker 1: little teaser here some new merch is in the works 865 00:42:09,480 --> 00:42:10,200 Speaker 1: coming soon. 866 00:42:11,320 --> 00:42:12,520 Speaker 2: Also one more high five. 867 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:15,000 Speaker 1: I got a shout out comedian and women's sports lover 868 00:42:15,120 --> 00:42:18,440 Speaker 1: Wanda Sykes, who presented at Sunday Night's Golden Globes and 869 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:21,880 Speaker 1: as she was announcing the nominees, first she cleverly insulted 870 00:42:21,880 --> 00:42:24,160 Speaker 1: Bill Maher in a way that made him look genuinely hurt, 871 00:42:24,239 --> 00:42:26,479 Speaker 1: which I enjoyed. And then as she was announcing Ricky 872 00:42:26,520 --> 00:42:28,880 Speaker 1: Gervais as one of the nominees for stand up Specials, 873 00:42:28,960 --> 00:42:31,479 Speaker 1: she said if he was absent and one, she would 874 00:42:31,520 --> 00:42:34,800 Speaker 1: thank God and the trans community on his behalf. Well, 875 00:42:35,080 --> 00:42:38,400 Speaker 1: Ricky Gervais, noted atheist and teller of many anti trans jokes, 876 00:42:38,680 --> 00:42:41,280 Speaker 1: did end up taking home the trophy, and she followed 877 00:42:41,280 --> 00:42:44,280 Speaker 1: through on her promise, thanking the trans community on his behalf. 878 00:42:45,120 --> 00:42:49,320 Speaker 1: Absolute queen shit, Wanda. I love it and we always 879 00:42:49,320 --> 00:42:51,240 Speaker 1: love to hear from you, so hit us up on email. 880 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:53,600 Speaker 1: Good game at Wondermedia Network dot com or leave us 881 00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:55,800 Speaker 1: a voicemail at eight seven two two o four fifty 882 00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:59,920 Speaker 1: seventy and don't forget I tell you every day. Subscriber 883 00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:04,800 Speaker 1: and review slaces, It's easy. Watch Manifesting your Olympic future. 884 00:43:05,239 --> 00:43:10,400 Speaker 1: Rating one of one determined Kiddo review. After figure skater 885 00:43:10,520 --> 00:43:12,680 Speaker 1: Isabel Lovito was named to the US team for the 886 00:43:12,760 --> 00:43:16,440 Speaker 1: upcoming Milan Courtina Winter Olympics, US Figure Skating posted the 887 00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:20,239 Speaker 1: most adorable video of young Livito putting her dream out 888 00:43:20,280 --> 00:43:25,279 Speaker 1: in the world. Take a listens, I can meet a winner. However, 889 00:43:29,120 --> 00:43:32,040 Speaker 1: my goodness, that's what we call manifesting. We'll link to 890 00:43:32,080 --> 00:43:34,320 Speaker 1: the full video of Isabe's goal setting session in the 891 00:43:34,360 --> 00:43:37,680 Speaker 1: show notes. It's too precious. Now it's your turn, rate 892 00:43:37,719 --> 00:43:41,160 Speaker 1: and review. Thanks for listening, See you tomorrow. Good game, 893 00:43:41,239 --> 00:43:45,239 Speaker 1: Sonya and Tamika. Good game, Biancak. You telling players you'll 894 00:43:45,239 --> 00:43:47,000 Speaker 1: pay them out of a profit you claim you're not 895 00:43:47,080 --> 00:43:54,600 Speaker 1: gonna make. Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart 896 00:43:54,600 --> 00:43:58,000 Speaker 1: women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. 897 00:43:58,280 --> 00:44:01,000 Speaker 1: You could find us on the iHeartRadio app, up, Apple Podcasts, 898 00:44:01,080 --> 00:44:04,400 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts production by Wonder Media Network. 899 00:44:04,480 --> 00:44:05,960 Speaker 2: Our producers are alex. 900 00:44:05,719 --> 00:44:09,680 Speaker 1: Azzie, Grace Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and Lucy Jones. Our executive 901 00:44:09,719 --> 00:44:13,560 Speaker 1: producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutterer. 902 00:44:13,840 --> 00:44:17,200 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer. 903 00:44:17,520 --> 00:44:21,160 Speaker 1: Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah 904 00:44:21,160 --> 00:44:21,480 Speaker 1: Spain