1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where WNBA roomors 2 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: have got a scouring players socials, trying to figure out 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 1: if posts are just life updates or free agency easter eggs. 4 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: We're looking at you and that blurry ass pick of 5 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 1: a New York exit side Colia Copper. It's Friday, April tenth, 6 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: and on today's show, Big Citrus is jumping on to 7 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: celebrate basketball's Taint Week. 8 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 2: That's right, the little. 9 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,240 Speaker 1: Space between the final four the WNBA Draft, and there's 10 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: so much to discuss from the ever expanding college transfer 11 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: portal class and the teams and coaches stress in the 12 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: most this offseason, to predictions about which teams will draft 13 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: our favorite stars on. 14 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 2: Monday, and of course the pressure of picking out the perfect. 15 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: Draft day fit. Plus the US women's national team enters. 16 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: It's Japan Era, another reminder that everyone watches women's sports 17 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 1: and in record making, timing is everything. It's all coming 18 00:00:51,920 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: up right after this. Welcome back to Happy Frya. Here's 19 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: what you need to know today. Let's start in the 20 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: WNBA where the news continues to come fast and furious. 21 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: Friend at the show and front office sports reporter Annie 22 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 1: Costable reported on Thursday afternoon that the Chicago Sky and 23 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: La Sparks are in discussions on a trade that would 24 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: send Aeriel Atkins, recently given a core offer from the 25 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: Sky to the Sparks. 26 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 2: In exchange for Rakia Jackson. 27 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: Now, per the rules of the core designation, Atkins would 28 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 1: have to agree to any sign and trade and would 29 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: have to sign for less than the supermax. The team 30 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: coring a player is the only team that can offer 31 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: that full one point four million dollar max. But I 32 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: wouldn't be surprised if Atkins was willing to take a 33 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: little less to go elsewhere. Annie reported that while nothing 34 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: is finalized, the trade announcement is expected tomorrow. More pro hoops. 35 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: The Indiana Fever have unveiled a first look at their 36 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: new sports performance center, and it looks nice. The one 37 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: hundred eight thousand square foot three story facility will feature 38 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: practice courts, a recovery suite and event space, luxury locker room, 39 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: a full service kitchen, golf simulator, childcare space, is a podcast. 40 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 2: Room, and more. Damn can we move in? Oh, it's 41 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,839 Speaker 2: gonna cost about seventy eight million dollars. Yeah, we don't 42 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 2: got that kind of cash. 43 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: The Fever say they want the facility to quote redefine 44 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: what a player first environment can be. It'll be located 45 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 1: in downtown Indian near Gainbridge Field House, the home of 46 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: the Fever and the mnba's Indiana Pacers. They're expected to 47 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: open it before the twenty twenty seven WNBA season. 48 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 2: Let's get to the ice in. 49 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: The PWHL, where there are three games this Saturday with 50 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: playoff implications at stake. With just over two weeks left 51 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: in the regular season, three or four playoff spots have 52 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: already been locked up, with the Montreal Victoire, Boston Fleet, 53 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: and Minnesota Frost all mathematically qualified for the postseason. Meantime, 54 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: no team has officially been eliminated yet, with four games 55 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: left to play. For most teams, there's an eight point 56 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: spread between the fourth place Toronto Scepters and eighth place 57 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 1: Seattle torrent And you remember, a win is three point, 58 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: so needless to say, from here on out, every point counts. 59 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: This weekend's games also include one that could ultimately determine 60 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: which team earns the number one seed in the playoffs, 61 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 1: Number two Boston Fleet hosting the top ranked Montreal Victoire 62 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: at seven pm Eastern on Saturday, This game will mark 63 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: the Fleet's debut at the Boston Garden, home of the 64 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: NHL's Boston Bruins. Actually kind of a funny, little full 65 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: circle moment, as longtime Boston folks will recall that the 66 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: arena was previously known as the Fleet Center from its 67 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: opening in ninety five until it was renamed in. 68 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 2: Two thousand and five. 69 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: Now, the only bummer for Boston fans the fact that 70 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: this game wasn't played before last week's PWHL contest at 71 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: New York's Madison Square Garden because the Fleet have sold 72 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: out Boston Garden. That's more than seventeen eight hundred tickets, 73 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: and they likely would have broken the US Women's hockey 74 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: attendance record, except that MSG, which boasts a slightly higher 75 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: capacity of eighteen thousand and six, already broke that record 76 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,119 Speaker 1: last week. This weekend also marks the first of eight 77 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: Pride Unity games in the league, one for each team 78 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 1: at home, and the Frost kick things off on Saturday, 79 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: hosting the New York Sirens. Among the Pride activations a 80 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: partnership with the queer women owned Canadian apparel brand Podulu 81 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: to launch the twenty twenty six Pride Collection and apparel 82 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: line anchored by the campaign taking the Rainbow Back, reinforcing 83 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: a core belief of the PWHL Pride is not seasonal, 84 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: it's foundational. You can grab your merch in arena during 85 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: the PWHL team's Pride Unity Games, and then it'll be 86 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: online at the PWHL Shop beginning Monday, April twenty seventh. 87 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: To soccer, where the US national team will play the 88 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 1: first of three friendlies against Japan Saturday at PayPal Park 89 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 1: in San Jose. That game gets underway at five thirty 90 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 1: pm Eastern with English language cover john TNT, True TV, 91 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: and HBO Max. The games against current number five in 92 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: the world, Japan should be a good test for Emma 93 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: Hazing Company, as the number two ranked US women's national 94 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 1: team preps for the CONCACAF W Championship later this year. 95 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: That'll be the team's first chance to qualify for the 96 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:00,559 Speaker 1: twenty twenty seven Women's World Cup. Skip back to hoops 97 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: and college basketball. On Wednesday, it was confirmed that South 98 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 1: Carolina's Medina Ocott has been denied an extra year of 99 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: eligibility from the nc DOUBLEA now. Ocott hails from Kenya. 100 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:11,599 Speaker 1: She came to the US in twenty twenty four and 101 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 1: played one season for Mississippi State before transferring to South 102 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 1: Carolina ahead of this season. While dealing with a multi 103 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: year process to get her visa approof to come to 104 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: the US, Ocott played two years for University in Kenya, 105 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: which the NCBLEA counted towards her years of college eligibility. 106 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 1: South Carolina asked the NCAA to give Ocott one additional year, 107 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: but the request was denied and she's now expected to 108 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: enter the WNBA draft. It's a big loss for Staley squad. 109 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,279 Speaker 1: This season, Ocott ranked third in the country with twenty 110 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 1: two double doubles. She was sixteenth in rebounding average and 111 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: nineteenth in field goal percentage, and she leaves second all 112 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: time in the game COS program single season record books 113 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: in offensive rebounds and third in both total rebounds and 114 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: defensive rebounds. Now, speaking of eligibility, we're also keeping an 115 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: eye on a proposal to expand nc DOUBLEA eligibility to 116 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: five years, sources tell the eight and NCAA panel has 117 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: been scheduled to discuss a potential change to eligibility rules 118 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 1: that would incorporate age into the process. Per the AP quote, 119 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: the proposal would give athletes five years of eligibility, with 120 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 1: the clock starting at the earliest of two dates, either 121 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: when they turned nineteen or graduate high school. There would 122 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: be limited exceptions, but they would not involve injuries, which 123 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 1: has been a common reason for players to ask for 124 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 1: extra eligibility. 125 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: End quote. More college hoops. 126 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 1: The viewership numbers for the Final four are out, with 127 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: Nielsen data showing that this year's championship game was the 128 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 1: third most watched women's NCAA championship game on record. About 129 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 1: ten million viewers tuned in to watch UCLA defeat South 130 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: Carolina on Sunday, about sixteen percent more viewers than watch 131 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: last year's title game. Good numbers for what was ultimately 132 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: not a great weekend of basketball or title game in 133 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: terms of competitiveness. So here's hope when we get closer 134 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 1: games and even more eyeballs next year. Good news is 135 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: there were a lot of good games across March Madness 136 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,600 Speaker 1: and per ESPN, it was also the second most watched 137 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 1: women's tournament over all to volleyball. A reminder that the 138 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: Love semi Finals get underway today in Louisville with friend 139 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: at the Show Molly McCage and Love Austin take it 140 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: on Love Atlanta at four pm Eastern, and Friend at 141 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: the Show Jordan Poulter and Love salt Lake facing off 142 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: against Love Houston at six thirty pm Eastern. 143 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 2: Both matches will be available to stream on Victory. 144 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 1: The semi finals continue on Saturday with the second match 145 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: between Austin and Atlanta, while Salt Lake and Houston will 146 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: play their second match on Sunday. Now remember Love introduced 147 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: new playoff procedures this year in which each semi final 148 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: series features a best of two formats, so if the 149 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: team split the matches one to one, second match is 150 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: immediately followed by a golden set to fifteen points. Finally, 151 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: even morvibs because another professional league, MLV also has a 152 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: jam packed weekend. With one month left in the Major 153 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: Leaguevolleyball regular season, The Indian Night currently top the league standings, 154 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: followed by the Dallas Pulse and Omaha Supernovas. 155 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 2: Will link to the full match schedule in the show 156 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 2: notes slices. 157 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: Before we take a break, I wanted to quickly mention 158 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 1: that we heard from the folks at Tourney Town that 159 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: are beyond the baseline show. The live show with Sueberd 160 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: and Dinah Tarrassi set another record for the most attendees 161 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: in the history of the Beyond the Baseline shows. So 162 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 1: we broke our own record from last year. You know, 163 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: should I say I'm surprised, I'm not. All right, We're 164 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: gonna take a break when we come back hoops and 165 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: draft shit with big Citrus. 166 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 2: Welcome back slices. 167 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: It's just been a few days since the UCLA Bruins 168 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: lifted the NCAA championship trophy in Phoenix, and the celebrations 169 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: continue for Corey Closet Company. There was a huge pep 170 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: rally with fans at Polly Pavilion. They did an appearance 171 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: on Jimmy Kimmel Live. They got halftime recognition on the 172 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 1: court at the Lakers game, and in case you missed it, 173 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: there's this great clip of Lauren Bett saying to our teammates. 174 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 2: Guys, guys, guys, guys. Lebron made eye contact with me. 175 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 2: It's really good. 176 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: And then on Wednesday night, Bett and Charlie's Ledger Walker 177 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: and Gabriella Hakeas did their viral dance with the Clippers 178 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: cheerleaders on the court during their game. Y'all that is 179 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: that is too fun. But it can't be all party 180 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:14,839 Speaker 1: in the back. We also got to talk about the 181 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,439 Speaker 1: business upfront. So let's welcome in producers Alex and Bianka 182 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: to talk about basketball's mullet in Tate Week, mullet week, 183 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 1: whatever we're calling it. 184 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:25,479 Speaker 2: It's a busy, busy. 185 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 1: Time for the graduating players who are going for tournament 186 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: to draft, and for NCAA players who are entering the 187 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,479 Speaker 1: portal and looking for a new home. So Alex Bianca, 188 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 1: let's get into it. Let's start with the college game. 189 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: Let's start with the transfer portal. And I want to 190 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 1: mention something that we didn't talk about last week. Just 191 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: before the women's final four tipped off, President Trump signed 192 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 1: an executive order that included calling for quote, clear, consistent 193 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: and fair eligibility limits, including a five year participation window 194 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: end quote. The executive order also said one transfer, with 195 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: one more available once an athlete gets a four year degree. 196 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: But attorneyment Win True follows College Sports Not told the 197 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: AP the order is likely to set up a situation 198 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: where the NCAA and schools are trying to figure out 199 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:07,839 Speaker 1: whether they should follow a federal court order or an 200 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: executive order. 201 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 2: Winter told the AP quote. 202 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: Either way, we're likely going to see litigation challenging the 203 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: EO by athletes and third parties end quote. So it 204 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: will be worth keeping an eye on whether athletes or 205 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 1: schools panning mind to the limit that Trump is trying 206 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: to attempt to put on the number of transfers, or 207 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: if this means nothing because it's not really enforceable, like 208 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 1: what appears to be so much of current law when 209 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: it applies to NCAA sports, I don't know, like Title nine. Okay, 210 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: So with that in the back of our minds, we 211 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: have still seen more than a thousand women entered the 212 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 1: women's basketball transfer Portal on the very first day it 213 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: was open. So on three is keeping tabs on the entries. 214 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: As of this recording, it's actually up to thirteen hundred athletes. 215 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: You can always go check that to see the latest 216 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 1: names and kind of keep track if anyone's committed. 217 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 2: Ladies. 218 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: Some of the biggest names Audie Crooks from Iowa State, 219 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,839 Speaker 1: Jordan Lee from Texas a really shocking one one of 220 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: the starters for their final four run. 221 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 2: Kumara Johnson from Virginia. 222 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: Maybe not as surprising now that we know that there's 223 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: the coaching change there. 224 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 2: The entire Tennessee program. 225 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 1: There is one player incoming freshman, Gabby Minus, who is 226 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 1: still technically planning on going to Tennessee, but some of 227 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: the other top recruits, like Olivia Edwards, number two in 228 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: the se Next one hundred class of twenty twenty six, 229 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 1: has requested release from her letter of intent to go there. 230 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: So yeah, we've got some big names, and then we've 231 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: got some programs like Tennessee and then Iowa State. In 232 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:33,319 Speaker 1: addition to Crook's eight other players are leaving there. Stanford 233 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 1: six players in the portal. 234 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 2: Alex, what's your. 235 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 1: Biggest takeaway from what we've seen so far, just in 236 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: this first couple of days since March Madness ended. 237 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 3: I have just a lot of questions about why athletes 238 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 3: are transferring, and especially the domino effect that I think 239 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 3: we sometimes see when a big name athlete says that 240 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 3: they're entering the transfer portal, and it almost feels a 241 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 3: little bit like fomo sometimes, where everyone else on the 242 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,559 Speaker 3: team is like, well, if they're leaving, like I should 243 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 3: be looking around too. And so whenever you see these 244 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 3: schools that have seven, eight, nine, ten, thirteen, Pittsburgh has 245 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:12,719 Speaker 3: thirteen players in the transfer portal. I'm always super curious, 246 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 3: like how much of that? If you had asked each 247 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 3: person independently if they wanted to transfer, they would have 248 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 3: said yes. But I actually ended up looking into this 249 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 3: NCAA survey. It's called the Goals Survey, and they do 250 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 3: it every couple of years, and they survey college athletes 251 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,959 Speaker 3: on a variety of different topics, from how much sleep 252 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 3: they're getting. The answer is always not a lot. But 253 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 3: they started including information on the transfer portal, including asking 254 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 3: athletes to transfer what their top five reasons are and 255 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 3: so in women's sports, the number one reason cited by 256 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 3: forty seven percent is needed a change from a previous 257 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 3: coach or teammates. Second is thirty nine percent to improve 258 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:54,439 Speaker 3: my mental health or well being. 259 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 2: I think these. 260 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,839 Speaker 3: Percentages are additive, so people can select multiple things. Thirty 261 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 3: four percent wanted to conte at a higher level, thirty 262 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 3: two percent wanted a better academic opportunity or preferred degree 263 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 3: or major, and twenty nine percent said playing time. 264 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 2: This is for all sports, not just basketball. 265 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 3: All sports, not just basketball, but all women's sports and 266 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 3: men's sports. Athletes actually have a different ranking order. Men 267 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 3: are more likely to say that they wanted to compete 268 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 3: at a higher level or wanted more playing time. And 269 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 3: so for me, when I saw a lot of these names, 270 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 3: you know, some of them make sense to me. But 271 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 3: sometimes when you just see people entering to enter the portal, 272 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 3: I kind of assumed, like, oh, they want more playing time, 273 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 3: But it seems like that's not always the case. 274 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. 275 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I think Audie Crooks is would have been 276 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: a domino that I would expect to be the first 277 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: to leave Iowa State and then everyone else would follow 278 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 1: and say, well, if our superstars leaving, we're not going 279 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,439 Speaker 1: to compete as much. But instead it was the opposite. 280 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 1: Eight players left before she declared. Or you look at 281 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: someone like Jordan Lee from Texas. That's a great program 282 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: that still has Madison Booker and younger players that and 283 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 1: a great coach like so that feels more like a 284 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: fit issue, right, you know, this is someone who was 285 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:04,119 Speaker 1: a really big. 286 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 2: Part of what they did. 287 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: She was a starter for the final four team, she 288 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,319 Speaker 1: was the second leading scorer. She's now entering the portal 289 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: as the best two way player that's out there. So 290 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: you kind of have to wonder if there was more 291 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: of a fit issue for her or maybe if she 292 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: thinks that she can upgrade, but you know, that would 293 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: be based on her belief that Texas isn't going to 294 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 1: be of the same quality nexture without, for instance, Rory Harmon. 295 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 2: Which is fair, Alex. 296 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 4: I'm so glad that you brought that data into this 297 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 4: because it really confirms validates the framing that I often 298 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 4: look at the Transfer Portal with is. I see it 299 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 4: as like this sociology of college troops or of the sport, 300 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 4: because it can be so interesting to peel back that 301 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 4: curtain and say, why is that one player, like you're saying, Sarah, 302 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 4: why is that player leaving such a you know, esteemed program? 303 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 4: Why is that other player staying when everybody else is leaving? 304 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 4: And just like we see outside of sports, the reason 305 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 4: why people leave jobs, or leave companies, or leave relationships 306 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 4: is a lot of the time, as that data points out, Alex, 307 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 4: it's not about primarily the gameplay or what's happening on the. 308 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 2: Course, so to speak. 309 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 4: It's about the people who are surrounding the player and 310 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 4: everything that goes into making a team. And I want 311 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 4: to bring up that framing for our listeners because I 312 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 4: think that Transfer Portal news can either be so exciting 313 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 4: to you if you're deep in the sport this is 314 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 4: you know, women's basketball is what you live and breathe, 315 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 4: or it can I think, cause people to tune out 316 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 4: if they think, hey, you know, I'm just usually here 317 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 4: to watch the players on the court. I'll see them 318 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 4: next year, Like March Madness is over, I'll see them 319 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 4: next year. But if you start to look at it as, oh, 320 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 4: this is actually a really interesting peak behind the curtain 321 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 4: as to what's been going on in the locker rooms 322 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 4: or in practice sessions as I've been watching them over 323 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 4: the past season, I think that's a really interesting way 324 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 4: in I think if you can get enough reporting and 325 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 4: information or direct interviews with the players that gives you context, 326 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 4: it can be really meaningful and it can really help 327 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 4: open up sort of like what's been going on behind 328 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 4: the scenes. 329 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: But I don't think it's that simple to say from 330 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: out the outside, right. There are so many factors that 331 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: include potentially parents saying you deserve more playing time, agents 332 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: or otherwise saying you're going to be better off here, 333 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: You're going to get better looks in terms of going pro, 334 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: or what the next. 335 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 2: Level looks like. 336 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: You do have programs that are very successful and very esteemed, 337 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: but with a lot of graduates, folks might not think 338 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: that they're going to have the same success the next year, 339 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: and if it's their last season, they want to go 340 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: somewhere that can make a deep run. To Nia Latson, 341 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: there was no indication that Florida wasn't a good place 342 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: for her, but Florida had a cap and going to 343 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: South Carolina let her be in her first Sweet sixteen, 344 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: first lade eate, first final four, first championship game, right 345 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: and be in a different position heading into the draft. 346 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: So yes, and yes, it's hard to assume anything. Even 347 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: if a situation looks like, well, this one seems pretty 348 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:07,120 Speaker 1: clear everyone's leaving because of X. We don't really know that, 349 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: Like we might find out later that someone was like 350 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: I really want to study animal science and they don't 351 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 1: have a good program, you know, whatever it is. But 352 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: so it's always worth sort of keeping an open mind. 353 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,360 Speaker 1: But to your point about the sociology aspect of it, it 354 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:20,640 Speaker 1: reminded me of this quote. There's two versions I've heard. 355 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: One is people don't quit jobs, they quit bosses. 356 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:24,439 Speaker 2: Yeah. 357 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: And the other version is people don't leave jobs, they 358 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: leave cultures. I mean, it's not the work, it's the 359 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: place I'm doing it. And that is worth looking at 360 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: when it comes to the college experience. And we've talked 361 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 1: about this a couple of times, and we've talked about 362 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: the transfer portal in general, but the amount that coaches 363 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:45,159 Speaker 1: are able to move with sort of a it's not 364 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: an unlimited amount of time. We're all going to die, 365 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 1: but it is a much lengthier amount of time to 366 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 1: be coaches and have experiences than players who have this 367 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 1: very short window. And so I'm glad that they can 368 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:00,160 Speaker 1: choose to play somewhere that feels right, that they enjoy, 369 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: that they get playing time. And as we've talked about, 370 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: there are transfers who go into the portal and do 371 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: not find a new home, and that stinks. 372 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 2: The idea of the. 373 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: Grass is always greener, the idea of leaving adversity instead 374 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 1: of fighting through it and learning from it is and 375 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 1: what we've heard from so many former players and former 376 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 1: coaches from before the transfer portal time of the value 377 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: of four years in one place and winning with those 378 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: people you've been working alongside for that long. Maybe it's idyllic, 379 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 1: but to me that if you can do that, lucky 380 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 1: for you. But I don't blame people who also maybe 381 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 1: have a better opportunity elsewhere. 382 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 3: And it's not a small number of people that don't 383 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 3: find another home. So again I went to the data, 384 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 3: thank you NCAA dot org, and the last year that 385 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:48,919 Speaker 3: they have on record is twenty twenty four. Of all 386 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,880 Speaker 3: of the athletes that entered the transfer portal for D 387 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 3: one women's basketball, seventy five percent transferred, five percent Withdrew, 388 00:18:58,240 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 3: meaning that they kind of stayed with their own team, 389 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 3: and then twenty percent are considered quote active, And so 390 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 3: that's for athletes that may be transferred to a non 391 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 3: NCAA school or left the sport. 392 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 1: Or floating in purgatory in the middle of the transfer portal, 393 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: which is a liminal space, and they haven't been heard 394 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:19,880 Speaker 1: from since. I was going to say something, and neither 395 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 1: of you are going to get it. Gosh darn it, 396 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 1: where are you guys so young? 397 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 2: Try to pick I get that one. 398 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:25,200 Speaker 4: Now. 399 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,919 Speaker 2: You finally watched cut again and she liked it. Everyone 400 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 2: Quantum Leap. 401 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 1: It was like they got thrown into the quantum Leap 402 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:35,120 Speaker 1: machine and they never made it to their next ascidion. 403 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 2: It's a great show. If you did it, go it's 404 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 2: called Quantum Leap. Oh okay, just go watch it. 405 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 1: This guy was, like you said, run a time machine 406 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,119 Speaker 1: and he would just wake up and be in a 407 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 1: new body and have to fix something for the person 408 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 1: whose body he was in, like keep them from dying, 409 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: or repair something or save someone. And he would wake 410 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 1: up and he would have this like little guide that 411 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 1: would help tell him what his role was and how 412 00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: he was supposed to change his person's life before he. 413 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 2: Quantum leaped somewhere else. Anyway, great show. Deep cut. 414 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 1: Before we move on from the transfer portal, I do 415 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:09,679 Speaker 1: want to talk about something we've been hinting at year 416 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: after year for the last few years, which is the 417 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:13,679 Speaker 1: impact that it has on the game and the viewers. 418 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 1: One of the best parts about the women's game is 419 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 1: watching these players and their stories over the years. 420 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:22,359 Speaker 2: It is something the men's game does not have. The 421 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 2: one and done's the players leaving the. 422 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 1: Michigan team that won the men's championship this year, I 423 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:31,160 Speaker 1: believe had starting five of all transfers. 424 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 2: I might be wrong. 425 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:34,640 Speaker 1: It might be four plus one that transferred two years ago, 426 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 1: but did whatever it was, it was a high percentage 427 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:39,920 Speaker 1: of players that had just arrived and won a title, 428 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: sort of mercenaries, right. And there's something to be said 429 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:47,360 Speaker 1: for a UCLA that brings in Charlie's Ledger Walker two 430 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: years ago. 431 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 2: She has that redtrit year. 432 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 1: Because of the knee, and then she plays plus JOHNA. Neepkins, 433 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 1: and they have this huge role in helping them win. 434 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 1: People might take fault with that as well, but it 435 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: felt like you at least had this Lauren Betts who 436 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 1: had transferred and from Stanford a few years earlier, right, 437 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 1: a bunch of transfers over there, but you had a 438 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: through line of a couple of years to root for 439 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: and to see. And if we lose that entirely, if 440 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: the transfer portal becomes too many players too often on 441 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 1: too many top teams moving around, you're. 442 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:18,400 Speaker 2: Sort of just to your point. 443 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: Bank going to have to be someone who says, I 444 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:22,120 Speaker 1: guess I'll wait till the season starts, find. 445 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 2: Out who's where, and then watch the basketball. 446 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, And will people stick with a team as fans 447 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 4: or will they stick with a player in the college space, 448 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 4: I'm not sure. 449 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 2: I think that it would vary a lot. 450 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, depends on if it's your alma mater and you 451 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: have a personal connection, or if it's in your neighborhood 452 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 1: and you go watch the games, or if you're like 453 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: me where you just bounce around and by the time 454 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: the final four you're like, I would like for them, tomin, 455 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: but also I'd be happy for them, but that would 456 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: be really cool to see them, And then you sound. 457 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:49,679 Speaker 2: Like a moron. 458 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:52,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, it reminds me a little bit of the conversation 459 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 3: we were having in the Fall about the Phoenix Mercury, 460 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 3: where you're just basically rooting for laundry because everything else 461 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,640 Speaker 3: has changed since their last time in the WNBA finals. 462 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 2: I don't know. 463 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,119 Speaker 3: I think what often also gets lost to me in 464 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 3: all of this is the fact that call me old school, 465 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 3: but like the student athlete of it all, the student 466 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 3: is getting lost. And I think you could say this 467 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 3: about so many Division one sports where it's like these 468 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 3: athletes are competing as if it's their full time job, 469 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 3: and I think there are a lot of evidence that 470 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 3: they are not getting necessarily the education that they deserve 471 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 3: or were promised, And so where does that leave them 472 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 3: when their college career comes to an end and we 473 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 3: know that the chances of playing pro are exceptionally low 474 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,960 Speaker 3: in general. We've all seen those NCAA commercials of you know, 475 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 3: I'm going pro and something else. Well, what is that 476 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 3: something else? And are they being set up for success? 477 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 3: Because I think a lot of the times the answer 478 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 3: to that question is known. 479 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:54,880 Speaker 2: It bums me out. 480 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, it's getting so much more complicated, And 481 00:22:57,560 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: it's something we also keep talking about, which is like, 482 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: how do we bring in the money, the interest that coverage, 483 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:06,200 Speaker 1: the nil deals, the support, and also keep the purity. 484 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 2: That we so enjoy about women's sports. And it is 485 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:12,920 Speaker 2: trickier and trickier with each passing year, which brings us. 486 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 1: To the WNBA, which is going to be experiencing a 487 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: whole new look in this twenty twenty six season with 488 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 1: the new CBA and the attention from everybody, and the 489 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: athletes that are moving from the college game and looking 490 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 1: to play in the WNBA have just been thrust into 491 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:27,920 Speaker 1: this incredibly fast moving timeline. If you check out the 492 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: docuseries from last year, I got to go to a 493 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 1: fun premiere for it during the WNBA finals last year. 494 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:35,240 Speaker 1: It's called the fastest six weeks in sports. It offers 495 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: this first person perspective and the film follows a couple 496 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 1: of players, including Georgia Amore and Sanaa Fagan, as they 497 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: got out of the tournament and into the draft and 498 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:46,359 Speaker 1: then try to navigate the transition to basically like heading 499 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: to training camp and starting a season. So definitely worth 500 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: a watch if you want that first person view and 501 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:53,640 Speaker 1: if we're looking at the players trying to make that transition. 502 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 4: Now. 503 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 1: Like I said, the UCLA players are still partying, they're 504 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: still receiving their flowers, and there could be six of 505 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: them in this draft getting drafted. So Alex, you know, 506 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:07,160 Speaker 1: between the new CBA, between the stakes getting that much 507 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: higher for athletes and for their agents, maybe even a 508 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:14,520 Speaker 1: more stressful time than ever leading up to this draft 509 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 1: on Monday, I think it's a good thing that they've 510 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:18,919 Speaker 1: probably got established relationships with their reps. 511 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 2: Unlike how it used to be. 512 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, it used to be a thing before the NIL era, 513 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 3: there was no reason that an athlete would be allowed 514 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 3: to have an agent prior to finishing their collegiate eligibility, 515 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:32,360 Speaker 3: and so it used to be a thing where athletes 516 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 3: would play in the championship game or their team would 517 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 3: be eliminated, and then they would have to find an 518 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:41,360 Speaker 3: agent who's talking coaches and figuring out, you know, where 519 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 3: they might be getting signed in a couple of weeks, 520 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 3: and so I do think it's more stressful. I also 521 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 3: feel a little bit more optimistic. I know that we've 522 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 3: talked about this on the show before, but you know, 523 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,400 Speaker 3: the odds have historically been pretty bad when it comes 524 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 3: to draftees making rosters. Over the years, only about fifty 525 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 3: percent of people who get drafted into the WNBA. That's 526 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 3: those thirty six athletes that hear their name on draft 527 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 3: night go on to even finish the season and team yeah. Yeah. 528 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 3: And so I think with the both expansion and then 529 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 3: also having some developmental spots, I'm really happy to see 530 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:20,120 Speaker 3: that there's now an avenue for players that maybe aren't 531 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:24,719 Speaker 3: WNBA ready right on day one still have an opportunity 532 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 3: to be paid to train, because that's been the thing too, 533 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 3: where you know, athlete might want to keep their name 534 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 3: in the mix, so they're having to go back to 535 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:34,959 Speaker 3: their college gym and basically ask for somebody to let 536 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:36,679 Speaker 3: them into the weight room for free so that they 537 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 3: can be ready if they get a phone call. So 538 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 3: I'm really curious to see how that changes the dynamic 539 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 3: and the success that we hopefully see from this draft class. 540 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:46,200 Speaker 2: Five ten years down. 541 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:50,159 Speaker 1: The road, Yeah, we'll have those developmental players, will have 542 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 1: more rosters, and in the coming years even more expansion 543 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 1: teams to offer spots. We've also got leagues like the 544 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: Women's Premier Basketball Association we had Fatima a on talking 545 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: of it, and then the Upshot League Donna Ornder's New League. 546 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,200 Speaker 1: These are going to be opportunities for players to play 547 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:07,920 Speaker 1: who aren't quite at that WNBA level but want to 548 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,920 Speaker 1: continue in a competitive space. And you know, all of 549 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 1: that is going to make for a better ecosystem to 550 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 1: support these women. That and having enough money to live, 551 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:21,639 Speaker 1: hire a chef and do all the things that is 552 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:23,679 Speaker 1: required to keep your body at the level edgit. All 553 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: these facilities that are going up that make it so 554 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:30,560 Speaker 1: that they'll hopefully be healthier for longer. And then you know, 555 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 1: one of the interesting things too, that I was talking 556 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,200 Speaker 1: to some agents about during Final four weekend in Phoenix 557 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 1: was the elevated expectation for Draft night itself. You know, 558 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 1: back in the day it was often at like the 559 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:49,360 Speaker 1: ESPN campus in Bristol, you'd wear your horrifically outdated outfit. Now, 560 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 1: when we go back and look and you'd walk out 561 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: to the stage and shake a hand and go back 562 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:55,119 Speaker 1: to your little roundtable, that looked like a wedding reception, 563 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 1: and that was mostly it. But now there's the Coach sponsorship, 564 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: with which means players are having conversations in advance of 565 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: the draft about whether they'll be one of the sponsored 566 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 1: dresses or fits from Coach. And they've got a draft 567 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:12,880 Speaker 1: parties that they're all expected to have in New York City. 568 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 1: So these agents are trying to rent out spaces for 569 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:18,159 Speaker 1: family and friends for after the draft. They're trying to 570 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:22,399 Speaker 1: negotiate with Coach or other brands getting sent dresses. 571 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 2: It's like they're going to the Oscars or something. 572 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:27,440 Speaker 1: Right Like, it's it's a very different experience and that's 573 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,960 Speaker 1: exciting and wonderful, and that's what these players deserve. 574 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 2: But the stress and the timeline of it is what's 575 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 2: so crazy. 576 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:36,159 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'd be more worried about getting an outfit for 577 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 3: Draft night than hearing my name because that just sounds 578 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 3: hellish to me to be like, oh, great, people are 579 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 3: going to judge me based on what I'm wearing no forever. 580 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:50,479 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, So We've got all of this swirling right 581 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: while trying to figure out where you might potentially go, 582 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:56,960 Speaker 1: and we saw March madness affect a lot of the 583 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 1: sort of mock drafts. Now, keep in mind that when 584 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 1: places like ESPN, for instance, which is one of the 585 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:04,880 Speaker 1: ones I often go to make multiple mock drafts, they 586 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 1: are going to change it up, and not always because 587 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,200 Speaker 1: something has very drastically changed, but because they want to 588 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 1: keep offering possible solutions. But I'm going off the latest 589 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: mock draft and I'll just give y'all a couple things 590 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:20,120 Speaker 1: that stood out to me right now. They've got the Wings, 591 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 1: the Dallas Wings, who have number one taking Olivia Miles. Now, 592 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:25,920 Speaker 1: Olivia Miles averaged nineteen points, nine point eight rebounds and 593 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:28,000 Speaker 1: nine assists through the tournament. 594 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:30,359 Speaker 2: She had six triple doubles this season. She really did 595 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 2: a fine job of. 596 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 1: Making sure that the draft stock she had last year 597 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 1: when she was coming out of Notre Dame and had 598 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 1: the opportunity to declare still stayed high. 599 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 2: But they offered up that easy. 600 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:41,360 Speaker 1: For a long time, Azy Foot out of Yukon had 601 00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 1: been in the top spot and could still be there now. 602 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 1: An interesting wrinkle to me is that if you're avid 603 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 1: on the socials, there's not been a lot of asy 604 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 1: and page content of. 605 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 2: Late, right. 606 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: I don't want to declare anything. I'm not in the 607 00:28:57,040 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 1: business of these youngsters. They're young women, and you know 608 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 1: they're best friends and have been for a very long time. 609 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:06,200 Speaker 1: But when you're making a selection like that, in anticipating 610 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 1: the relationship of your two star players, which they would be, 611 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 1: that's something to consider. I'm not saying it's a reason 612 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:13,560 Speaker 1: not to take easy if there is something going on there, 613 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 1: and I would like to think because of their long 614 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 1: friendship that they would be able to work through it. 615 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: But they're twenty something year old kids. We've all been 616 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 1: in relationships that have gone up and down. So I've 617 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 1: just been watching socials and been like, hmmm. Last year 618 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 1: around this time, we were all excited to see the 619 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 1: pinky touch on the draft carpet and you know what 620 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: I mean, and then the official it's happening. 621 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 2: We all had suspected, many of us knew, but like 622 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 2: it was out, it was out. We're so excited for them. 623 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 1: We're a couple days ahead of the draft, and I 624 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:46,120 Speaker 1: don't think based on social media that's what we would 625 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 1: be seeing, and that is something to consider for the wings. 626 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 4: Forget the outfit, forget the team you're going to going 627 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:55,840 Speaker 4: back to myself at that age, that would by far 628 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 4: be the most stressful. 629 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:01,160 Speaker 1: Yes, by far, even a message Yes, and you didn't 630 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 1: have entire Reddit threads and message boards talking about you 631 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 1: and your partners, thank god. 632 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. 633 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 1: I mean also, it's worth noting so they did end 634 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 1: up couring arik Agunbalwalle. They can still do a sign 635 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 1: and trade, she can go elsewhere. But page plus Arik 636 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:19,840 Speaker 1: plus Azy is a whole lot of people in that 637 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:22,840 Speaker 1: backcourt that are worth kind of like considering how they'd 638 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:25,959 Speaker 1: all fit together. So number two with the Links, By 639 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 1: the way, if you're like, hold up, why do the 640 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: Minnesota Links have the number two pick? 641 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 2: Because of the. 642 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:35,440 Speaker 1: Fucking Chicago Sky, Because of the brilliant minds who continue 643 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 1: to run things over at the Chicago Sky. 644 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:40,280 Speaker 3: Mm hmmm, Sarah, we have to do a quick break 645 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:43,800 Speaker 3: here to talk about the fantastic post following the Neca 646 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:49,680 Speaker 3: balloon image out of Minnesota, somebody put up a hilarious, 647 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 3: I don't even know what to call it display of 648 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:53,640 Speaker 3: what it would look like if the Chicago. 649 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 1: Sky I tried to take a hand drawn shitty poster 650 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 1: sign and a couple like deflated balloons that said welcome 651 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:00,480 Speaker 1: back into the sky. 652 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:02,480 Speaker 2: Oh and if you see. 653 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:05,120 Speaker 1: Naka also commented in her own way, so go follow 654 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:07,080 Speaker 1: her on Socialist's see what she had to say about 655 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:09,480 Speaker 1: balloon gate if you will. But yeah, so the Links 656 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:13,880 Speaker 1: have the second pick. Congratulations to the Links. Awa Fam 657 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 1: predicted to go there. Aha was also someone that they've 658 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:19,200 Speaker 1: talked about at number one. I mean, there's just it's 659 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:20,840 Speaker 1: going to be a really exciting night. I don't think 660 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 1: it is clear at all where all these folks are going, 661 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 1: because you could also have Lauren Betts here too, if 662 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:27,080 Speaker 1: the Links decide to go Big Fam is a six 663 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:30,480 Speaker 1: to four center out of Spain. She's only nineteen, but 664 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 1: she's playing out for Valencia in Spain and already has 665 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: that professional experience. 666 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:36,520 Speaker 2: So the Links could go Lauren Betts, they could go 667 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 2: Awa Fam. 668 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 1: They could trade down, as I mentioned in a previous show, 669 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:42,440 Speaker 1: maybe they trade down and the Mystics get number two. 670 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:45,239 Speaker 2: And take hometown girl Azy Fudd. That's something to keep 671 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 2: an eye. 672 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 1: In the latest DESPN, The Storm with new coach Sonya Raman, 673 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:53,720 Speaker 1: have they've got asy going to Seattle. Her draft stock 674 00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 1: maybe dropped just a little bit because she didn't play 675 00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 1: that well in the last three games of the tournament. 676 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: She had that career high thirty four eight three pointers 677 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 1: in her final game in Stores, but after that wasn't 678 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 1: quite as strong. So we'll see if that has an impact. 679 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:10,520 Speaker 1: And then they've got the Mystics taking bets. Now, what's 680 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:13,640 Speaker 1: fascinating about trying to predict this draft, y'all, is how 681 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:16,360 Speaker 1: few players are technically on a roster right now. So 682 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 1: when you say something like, I don't know if the 683 00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:21,040 Speaker 1: Mystics want another big, they have several bigs. 684 00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 4: Do they? 685 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:24,840 Speaker 1: They might right now they definitely have Peaky Erie of 686 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 1: fin But do they have Shakira Austin? Do they have 687 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 1: Steph Dolson? Not technically, So depending on what they feel 688 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 1: like they're going to do with those existing players and 689 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 1: whether those free agents have plans to go elsewhere, they 690 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:40,040 Speaker 1: might want to add Lauren Betts, who, by the way, 691 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:42,680 Speaker 1: her stock, shot at least sixty percent from the field 692 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 1: in all six of her tournament games, average twenty one points, 693 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 1: nine point three rebounds, three point two assists, two point 694 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:50,480 Speaker 1: eight blocks, was the most outstanding player, like she was 695 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:52,280 Speaker 1: already in good position heading in and now. 696 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:53,360 Speaker 2: She made it even better. 697 00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:57,120 Speaker 1: But I'm just curious how what we don't know about 698 00:32:57,160 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 1: what teams are doing with the rosters that they finished 699 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:03,120 Speaker 1: with last year will very much impact what they're looking 700 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 1: for in this draft. 701 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:06,840 Speaker 3: Yeah. It reminds me a little bit where the conversation 702 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 3: every year with the WNBA Draft is it doesn't matter 703 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:11,960 Speaker 3: how high you go, it matters if you go to 704 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:14,280 Speaker 3: a team that's a good fit. And this gets back 705 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:16,040 Speaker 3: to the point of are you even going to stick 706 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:16,800 Speaker 3: on the roster. 707 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:20,720 Speaker 2: Right, not just fit for where you'll thrive, but where 708 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 2: you will literally have a space to be on the roster. Yes, 709 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 2: you could be a great player and they could not 710 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:27,240 Speaker 2: have room for you. 711 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:27,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. 712 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 3: And so it makes me think even this year, I 713 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 3: certainly don't have a good idea of like what that 714 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:33,880 Speaker 3: looks like because we don't know what the rosters are. 715 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:34,680 Speaker 1: Yeah. 716 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:37,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, And I want people to remember what you just said, 717 00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 4: Alex when Rory Harmon is not in the first round, 718 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,640 Speaker 4: because I as much as it would be great to see, 719 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:47,840 Speaker 4: you know, a five to six guard does not historically 720 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:49,480 Speaker 4: go in the first round, And I don't think. 721 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:52,080 Speaker 2: She did enough. It has happened before. I looked it up. 722 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:55,480 Speaker 4: Five Pot three Tamika Johnson was a sixth overall pick 723 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:56,440 Speaker 4: in two thousand and five. 724 00:33:57,520 --> 00:33:59,040 Speaker 2: It has happened before. 725 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:05,320 Speaker 4: But second round could land Rory Harmon somewhere that really works, right. 726 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:07,120 Speaker 1: And we have seen players in the last couple of 727 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:09,080 Speaker 1: years play their way out of the second round onto 728 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:11,879 Speaker 1: a roster spot. We've seen players like Shay Petty who 729 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:14,919 Speaker 1: are picked up on a roster mid season and play 730 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:15,680 Speaker 1: a big role. 731 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:17,080 Speaker 2: And thankfully now with the. 732 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:19,160 Speaker 1: New CBA, someone like Shaye Petty won't be paid like 733 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:21,560 Speaker 1: ten dollars in a snack every day in order to 734 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:24,799 Speaker 1: stick on that roster really quickly. Just to round out 735 00:34:24,840 --> 00:34:28,239 Speaker 1: the top five of the ESPN draft, because specifically, and 736 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:30,200 Speaker 1: with a bit of bias, I do want to mention 737 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:34,279 Speaker 1: Chicago the number five pick, and right now they've got 738 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:38,120 Speaker 1: fla je Johnson. Okay, this is just a fun thought experiment, 739 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,520 Speaker 1: because not only you know, did she average nineteen points 740 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:43,399 Speaker 1: a game shot over fifty two percent in the three 741 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:48,160 Speaker 1: tournament games for LSU was one of the consistent pieces 742 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:51,359 Speaker 1: for a team that couldn't find consistency in their tournament run. 743 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 1: But I'm thinking about the marketing move from Angel to Flage. Right, 744 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:57,720 Speaker 1: you just gave up a millions and millions and millions 745 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 1: of followers athlete, And when you look at the number 746 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:04,000 Speaker 1: of I mean truly millions of followers that she has 747 00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:07,280 Speaker 1: across all of her different spaces, she is a huge straw. 748 00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:09,560 Speaker 1: So you bring someone like Flage who's not just a 749 00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:12,759 Speaker 1: basketball player but a rapper, has a presence, has a 750 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:16,719 Speaker 1: persona outside of the basketball side, and that's a good 751 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:18,800 Speaker 1: move for a team like Chicago, in a city with 752 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:21,400 Speaker 1: a great rap and hip hop history, with a culture 753 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:24,400 Speaker 1: that would absolutely embrace Flage. But will you then have 754 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:27,279 Speaker 1: the same problems of bringing in a player with an 755 00:35:27,360 --> 00:35:32,200 Speaker 1: expectation of how she should be living and be treated. 756 00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:37,239 Speaker 2: Flage has been buying land for her family. Flage is 757 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:40,440 Speaker 2: performing on stage at Like the SPI's. 758 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:44,040 Speaker 1: She's cutting singles with Lil Wayne and Public Enemy. She 759 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:46,279 Speaker 1: got Game, which we talked about on the show, and 760 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:48,719 Speaker 1: now she's going to go to the sky where she'll 761 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:51,240 Speaker 1: be changing next to a sixty five year old pickleball 762 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:53,320 Speaker 1: player after practice. 763 00:35:53,360 --> 00:35:56,040 Speaker 2: In the locker room that they share. What an image. 764 00:35:56,600 --> 00:35:59,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I want to someone photoshop that's the good game 765 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 1: play of the day. Somebody photoshop Flasee and a sixty 766 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:06,560 Speaker 1: five year old pickleball player just next to each other 767 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:10,320 Speaker 1: in a locker room chatting about the weather. I mentioned 768 00:36:10,360 --> 00:36:12,440 Speaker 1: earlier in the show the potential for Rickia Jackson to 769 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:15,200 Speaker 1: get traded to Chicago. We're talking about someone going from 770 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:21,040 Speaker 1: the La market, who is, you know, fashionable and interested 771 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:25,080 Speaker 1: in culture, like just get dropped into the Sky facilities. 772 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:27,440 Speaker 2: Something to think about. 773 00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:30,800 Speaker 3: I did, just for fun look up Chicago Sky followers 774 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:35,080 Speaker 3: on Instagram versus Angel Reese followers, and she is ten 775 00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:36,680 Speaker 3: times the number of followers. 776 00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:38,759 Speaker 2: Easy, not surprising. 777 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:42,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, anyway, I guess all that's to say that I'm 778 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:45,239 Speaker 1: dying for the tight shot on whoever gets drafted by 779 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:48,719 Speaker 1: the Sky and what their face looks like, and also 780 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:51,640 Speaker 1: just dying to watch everything on Monday. I'm so excited 781 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:53,680 Speaker 1: for this draft. I think it's going to be just 782 00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:57,879 Speaker 1: anybody's guess how it goes down. So we'll be looking 783 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:00,839 Speaker 1: forward to that all right, Before we could talk about 784 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:02,480 Speaker 1: when we've gone too long, we got to take another break. 785 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:05,880 Speaker 1: When we return charge the bar tab to Ottawa stick around. 786 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:16,440 Speaker 1: Welcome back, Slics. We love that you're listening, but we 787 00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:17,880 Speaker 1: want you to get in the game every day too, 788 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:19,719 Speaker 1: So here's our good game play of the day. 789 00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:23,440 Speaker 2: I was serious, guys, so photoshop whizzz. 790 00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:26,360 Speaker 1: We want to see that flage pickleball lady mock up 791 00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:29,600 Speaker 1: and please let's keep both ladies fully clothed. 792 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,319 Speaker 2: AI is far too advanced at this point to make 793 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:34,800 Speaker 2: that request without qualifying it, so thank you. 794 00:37:35,560 --> 00:37:37,000 Speaker 1: We always love to hear from you, so hit us 795 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:39,640 Speaker 1: up on email good game at wondermedianetwork dot com or 796 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:41,759 Speaker 1: leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two oh 797 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:45,640 Speaker 1: four fifty seventy and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review. 798 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:49,520 Speaker 1: It's easy watch taking pucks and geish it to the 799 00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:53,279 Speaker 1: next level. Rating one of one venue fee you didn't 800 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:57,480 Speaker 1: have to pay review. We've seen a handful of proposals 801 00:37:57,520 --> 00:38:00,440 Speaker 1: at PWHL games, but one couple took their love of 802 00:38:00,520 --> 00:38:03,520 Speaker 1: hockey and each other to the next level by actually 803 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:07,040 Speaker 1: having their wedding reception at a game Outawa. Charge fans 804 00:38:07,120 --> 00:38:10,640 Speaker 1: Allison and Danielle tied the not Wednesday afternoon and celebrated 805 00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:12,920 Speaker 1: with a reception at the Charge Torrent game that night. 806 00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:17,719 Speaker 1: Very smart Duo Wednesday Wedding way cheaper, and then you 807 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:20,239 Speaker 1: skip the venue fee and the cost of an open bar. 808 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:23,440 Speaker 2: Well done. Congrats to the happy couple. 809 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:25,919 Speaker 1: Here's hoping your love is more successful than the charge 810 00:38:25,920 --> 00:38:29,120 Speaker 1: where Wednesday night they lost five to three. Now it's 811 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:32,520 Speaker 1: your turn, rate and review. Thanks for listening, See you 812 00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:36,439 Speaker 1: next week. Good game players prepin' for the draft, Good 813 00:38:36,560 --> 00:38:41,520 Speaker 1: game agents working on no sleep you the links picking second. 814 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:46,960 Speaker 1: Goddamn Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iheartwomen's sports 815 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:50,080 Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You 816 00:38:50,160 --> 00:38:53,080 Speaker 1: can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 817 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:56,440 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, 818 00:38:56,680 --> 00:39:00,000 Speaker 1: our producers are Alex Asi and Bianca Hillier. Our executive 819 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:03,680 Speaker 1: producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. 820 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:06,800 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rutterer, Lucy Jones, Brittany Martinez and 821 00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:10,640 Speaker 1: Gianna Palmer. Production assistant from Avery Loftus and I'm your host, 822 00:39:10,840 --> 00:39:11,480 Speaker 1: Sarah Spain