1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're wondering 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: where the big money DJ powered party paddock track meets 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: were when we still had wheels and two functioning Achilles. 4 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: On today's show, we'll be unpacking the WNBA Playoffs, looking 5 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,319 Speaker 1: ahead to a finals rematch in the Semis, and calling 6 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: in a favor from a friend. 7 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 2: Of the show. 8 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: Plus what the fact that will make your blood boil? 9 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: It's all coming up right after this. Welcome back, everybody. 10 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:32,480 Speaker 1: Here's what you need to know today. Two more first 11 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: round series in the books, and that makes it a 12 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: clean sweep for all four top seeds. In the first 13 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: round of the WNBA Playoffs, Connecticut Sun eliminated the Indiana 14 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: Fever with an eighty seven to eighty one victory in 15 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 1: the early game, and the Minnesota Links finished off the 16 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 1: Phoenix Mercury with a one oh one eighty eight win 17 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 1: in the late game. The Fever Sun game had everything 18 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: a fan that Caitlin Clark had to get security to 19 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: put in time out. Clark and Dwana Bonner get into 20 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: a couple of feisty exchanges, a scary moment where Erica 21 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: Wheeler flew into a cameraman, but did return to play 22 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: a Marina the Dog Maybury Dagger three at the end 23 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 1: and some more insane stat lines from who else but 24 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: Alyssa Thomas. Thomas had nineteen points, thirteen assists, and five rebounds. 25 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: She now has just the second game in WNBA playoff 26 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,199 Speaker 1: history with fifteen plus points, thirteen plus assists, and five 27 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: plus rebounds. She also had the first one last year, 28 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 1: and per ESPN stats at Info, Thomas's twenty six assists 29 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: in the series ty with Sueberd in twenty twenty for 30 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: the most assists over a two game span within a 31 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: postseason all time. On the other side, a much better 32 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: game from Caitlin Clark in the loss. She put up 33 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: twenty five points, nine assists, and six boards. Via ESPN 34 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: Stats and Info, Clark became just the second rookie in 35 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: WNBA postseason history with at least twenty points, five rebounds 36 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 1: and five assists, joining her hero Maya Moore, who did 37 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: it in twenty eleven. Clark's team, Adaliah Boston had sixteen 38 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: points and nineteen boards, becoming the second youngest player in 39 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:56,279 Speaker 1: WNBA playoffs history with fifteen plus points and fifteen plus 40 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: rebounds in a postseason game. Trailing only Candice Parker. I'm 41 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: sure sad to see the Fever season end, but an 42 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: incredible year for last year's last place team. I see 43 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: a whole lot of success in their future, especially with 44 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: arrested Kitlin Clark. And according to Wednesday night's ESPN broadcast, 45 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: she's going to take some time to rest this offseason, 46 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: which means likely no Overseas league and no Unrivaled. We 47 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: were actually wondering if we were going to see that 48 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: announcement drop anytime soon about her joining Unrivaled, and it 49 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: turns out Indiana Fever gm Lyn Dunn revealed on one 50 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 1: oh seven five the Fans Wake Up Call show a 51 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: few months ago that Kaitlyn was invited to Unrivaled, but 52 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: she said at the time she thought Caitlyn preferred to 53 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 1: get more five on five reps. So could we see 54 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 1: her join AU basketball That's just a four week season, 55 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: could still get some reps in Caitlin and Nashville would 56 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: be very fun. We'll keep you updated on that. One 57 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: more thing about this series I think is worth noting. 58 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 1: In the postgame presser, Alisa Thomas was asked about her 59 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: son team staying professional in the face of racism and 60 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 1: threats from social media users and alleged fans during the series. 61 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 1: Here's some of what Thomas had to say. 62 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 3: Honestly, it's been a lot of nonsense. I think in 63 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 3: my eleven year career, I've I've never experienced the the 64 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 3: racial comments from the India and the Fever fan base. 65 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 3: It's unacceptable, honestly, And yeah, there there's no place for it. 66 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 3: And we've been professional throughout the whole entire thing. But 67 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 3: I I've I've never been called the things that I've 68 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 3: been called on on social media and and and there's 69 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 3: no place for it. And and you know, basketball is 70 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 3: headed in in in a great direction, but we we don't. 71 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 3: We don't want fans that are are gonna degrade us 72 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 3: and call us racial names. I mean, we already see 73 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 3: what what's happening in the world and and what we 74 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 3: have to deal with. 75 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 2: In that aspect. 76 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 3: And you know, we come to play basketball for our 77 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 3: job and it's fun, but we don't wanna go to 78 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 3: work every day and and and have social media blown 79 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 3: up over over things like that. It's it's it's uncalled 80 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 3: for and something needs to be done, whether it's you know, 81 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 3: them checking their fans or this league checking it. 82 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 2: There's there's no time for it anymore. 83 00:03:58,000 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: And I think it's necessary to give you an example 84 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: of just how graphic and horrific these messages have been, 85 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: especially in the direction of djn A Carrington, who accidentally 86 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: caught Kitlin Clark in the ie in game one of 87 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:11,119 Speaker 1: the series. Before the game, Carrington shared to her Instagram 88 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: an email she received, and I'm warning you about the 89 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: language here, but I think it's necessary to share the 90 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:19,239 Speaker 1: email read quote worthless N word bitch. I hope someone 91 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: rapes you and cuts your head off. All over social 92 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: media there are things like that and just awful things 93 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 1: being said, in particular to the Sun, A team opposing 94 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:31,799 Speaker 1: Kaitlyn Clark's fever. Now, Kaitlin Clark is not to blame 95 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: for this, but it is something that the league finally 96 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: felt they should address. After this game, the WNBA put 97 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: out a statement that read, the WNBA is a competitive 98 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 1: league with some of the most elite athletes in the world. 99 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: While we welcome a growing fan base, the WNBA will 100 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,919 Speaker 1: not tolerate racist, derogatory or threatening comments made about players, teams, 101 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: and anyone affiliated with the league. League security is actively 102 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: monitoring threat related activity and will work directly with teams 103 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: and arenas to take appropriate measures to include involved law 104 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: enforcement as necessary. Now it feels like that statement is 105 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: a few days, if not weeks too late, but better 106 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: late than never. After the game, Fever coach Christie Sides 107 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: also made a statement about how there is absolutely no 108 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: place for these players who are going to work and 109 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,799 Speaker 1: doing their best to be receiving this kind of treatment. 110 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: To the late game where the Minnesota Links managed to 111 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: finish off the Phoenix Mercury one oh one eighty eight 112 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: behind a fist at Collier. Picking up where she left 113 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:28,679 Speaker 1: off in Game one, she put up twenty three points 114 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 1: in the first half and finished with forty two in 115 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 1: the game, tying a WNBA playoff record some truly ipop 116 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: and stats for Fee thanks to across the timeline first 117 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 1: player with back to back thirty five point games in 118 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: WNBA playoffs history. First player was seventy three plus points 119 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 1: in a two game span in a WNBA postseason. Fee 120 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 1: was cash money all night long. On the other side, 121 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: Britney Grinder was all but unstoppable and they got it 122 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: tour in the paint and she put up twenty four 123 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 1: in the game, but the Mercury simply couldn't get enough 124 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: stops on defense. Points off, turnovers were a hiller for them, 125 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 1: and they had no answer for the Links half court 126 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 1: offense either. Twenty eight team assists for the Links in 127 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: the game, a truly well oiled machine. This from across 128 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: the timeline again. In the two game series, the Links 129 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: had fifty eight assists on sixty eight field goals made. 130 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 1: That's eighty five point three percent of makes assisted down 131 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 1: That's the best mark over a two game span in 132 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: WNBA Playoffs history. Like Game one, Khalia Copper was slowed 133 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 1: down by foul trouble, she had thirteen in the lost 134 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: Natasha Cloud sixteen points and ten boards, and in what 135 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 1: might have been the final game of her incredible career, 136 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:34,039 Speaker 1: Dina Trossi put up ten points. If she's done, she 137 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: leaves sitting in first place all time in points, field 138 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: goals made, and three pointers made, second in games played, 139 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,360 Speaker 1: and fourth in assists. So much more to say about 140 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: Diana Trossi if she lets us know in the coming days, weeks, 141 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: or months that this was indeed it. Seeing Diana walk 142 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 1: off the court to a standing ovation from the Minnesota 143 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: crowd in fact, you know, seeing all these teams done 144 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: for the year, I'm not ready. I'm not ready to 145 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: say goodbye. Fans need a chance to see their squad 146 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:04,679 Speaker 1: at home in the postseason at least once. I think, 147 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: and I think these lower seeded teams need a chance 148 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: to make some money off a home playoff game or two. 149 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: So I got to give to Twitter RTIs and shout 150 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: out on this show to this. Shay Serrano tweet, he wrote, WNBA, 151 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: the first round should be best of five. This best 152 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: of three nonsense is nonsensical. Please do something about this 153 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: at FBI, at the Rock, at Michelle Obama, someone, anyone. 154 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: Shay is right, Michelle, we need you help us. In 155 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: WNBA Awards news, it's official. Connecticut Sun guard Dja Carrington 156 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: is the WNBA's most improved Player. It's the terry. On 157 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: top of the best regular season of her career, Carrington, 158 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 1: in her fourth year in the league, average a career 159 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: high twelve point seven points, five rebounds, one point six assists, 160 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: and one point five to six deals. The Stanford alum 161 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: got twenty eight of the sixty seven votes for the award, 162 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: with Dereka Hamby of the Sparks receiving eighteen and Bridget 163 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: Carlton of the Thanks getting fifteen to round out the 164 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: top three senior at a seat belt, one of the 165 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: best defensive guards in the league has been doing her 166 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: job in a variety of ways, which keeps the main thing, 167 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,559 Speaker 1: the main thing, locking opponents up. That's where that seat 168 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: belt celebration she does got its inspiration, and now that 169 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: playoff NAY is activated, she's showing no signs of slowing down. 170 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: Congratulations to Dja Carrington. More w News. Kurt Miller is 171 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: out as head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks. The 172 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: franchise announced the move on Tuesday, after Miller's second season 173 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: with the team. While the Sparks were twenty five and 174 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: fifty five during Miller's time at the Helm, the move 175 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: still came as a shock, seeing that Miller was brought 176 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: in to rebuild a struggling franchise and the player spoke 177 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: very highly of his leadership. The team was plagued with injury, 178 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: including an absolute killer to star rookie Cameron Brink, and 179 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: most assumed he'd be given more time to turn things around, 180 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 1: especially since Miller was the WNBA Coach of the Year 181 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: in twenty seventeen with the Connecticut Sun and the league's 182 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: first ever executed the year when he was the GM 183 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: for the Sun as well. After the news broke, sparkstar 184 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,439 Speaker 1: Deerica Hamby took to Twitter, thanking Miller for always having 185 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 1: her back. She wrote, quote, A little lost for words. Honestly, 186 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: this is hard for me as a big part of 187 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: my transition success and support to LA has been Kurt. 188 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: I hope there is grace in this process for a proven, 189 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 1: amazing coach. Everything shouldn't fall on his shoulders. And there's 190 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 1: so much more that goes into coaching besides wins and losses. 191 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: And then she put in parentheses that a lot of 192 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 1: you don't see but you speak on end quote. In 193 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 1: another tweet, Hanby continued, quote takes courage to come into 194 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: a situation as such and do the dirty work that 195 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: essentially you don't and won't get credit for. Everyone not 196 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: built for that. He wanted that challenge. Some people like 197 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: and only want gold hand it on a platter. 198 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 2: End quote. 199 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 1: Kurt Miller actually responded, writing thanks to Erica, you are 200 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 1: one of a kind. I do and always will have 201 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 1: your back. Congratulations again on your year. Keep leading this group, 202 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: nothing changes, build LA into a champion period. Hashtag if 203 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: you know you know hashtag love You Shoe News Las 204 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: Vegas Aces, practical joker and self described bench warmer, Sidney 205 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 1: Colson is one step closer to being the quote face 206 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: of the league thanks to a new shoe deal. Colson 207 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: is the first signature shoe athlete and official brand partner 208 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: of Creative Control. Per the press release that went out, 209 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: Quote Creative Control is rewriting the rules of athlete brand partnerships, 210 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: putting athletes at the center of creative decision making and 211 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: offering a fifty one percent profit share from design to production. 212 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: Athletes like Sidney Colson are given full ownership over their 213 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: signature shoe journey, allowing them to build a personal brand 214 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: that extends beyond the court. 215 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:30,959 Speaker 2: And if you don't know. 216 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: What Face of the League refers to get yourself to 217 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: a TV and watch season one of the Sydney TP Show. 218 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 1: We'll link to the trailer in the show notes. Track 219 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: News Athlos NYC, the women's track event organized and backed 220 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 1: by Alexis Ohanian and headlined by Gabby Thomas, is tonight 221 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: in New York City. A total of thirty six women 222 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: with thirty Olympic medals between them will compete under the 223 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 1: lights at Icon Stadium. DJ Nice will be spinning sets 224 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: in between races, and Megan the Stallion will perform at 225 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: the end of the night. Superstar participants include Thomas of 226 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: course in the two hundred meters plus Friend of the Show, 227 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 1: Massi Russell and the hundred meter Hurdles and fifteen hundred 228 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: meters goat Faith Kip Yagan. The winner of each event 229 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: will receive sixty thousand dollars plus a crown from Tiffany 230 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: and Company. And by the way, to put that in perspective, 231 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: that's double the money that athletes get for winning in 232 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: the Diamond League, which is track and Field's elite circuit 233 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: to soccer. We mentioned earlier this week that Kelly O'Hara 234 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: had played her final game after the Gotham FC defender 235 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:29,839 Speaker 1: was placed on the season ending injury list due to 236 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: chronic needed generation. Back in May, O'Hara had announced her 237 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: plans to retire from soccer at the end of this season, 238 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 1: and we're happy to see that the US women's national 239 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,439 Speaker 1: team won't let her career pass without celebrating it. US 240 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: Soccer announced it honor O'Hara in a retirement ceremony during 241 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 1: halftime of the team's friendly versus Iceland on October twenty seven. 242 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: Per the Athletic US Soccer is also planning to honor 243 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: Alex Morgan, who retired this month after announcing she's pregnant 244 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: with her second child, but details on the timing of 245 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 1: that celebration are still in the works. And finally, great 246 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 1: news for chikai Ugo Red Stars fans and fans of 247 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: world class goalkeeping, Alissa Naier has re signed with the team, 248 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 1: agreeing to her tenth season with Chicago world's best keeper 249 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: sticking in the world's best city. But I'm not biased, 250 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:18,719 Speaker 1: So the other day on Twitter, I asked y'all the 251 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: vote on this question, what's the ideal WNBA playoff watching 252 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: situation at the arena? At home on the couch with 253 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: your favorite snacks, in your own bathroom, out and about 254 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 1: running errands, are at the club on your phone, or 255 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: at a team sponsored watch party. And it turns out 256 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: y'all like free snacks and no bathroom lines, because at 257 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: home one with sixty two percent of the vote. In 258 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: the arena second with twenty eight percent. At a team 259 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: watch party, earned seven percent of the vote, and watching 260 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: on your phone while running errands are at the club 261 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 1: snagged two percent. Speaking of voting, it's hard to believe, 262 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: but we're officially less than forty days from election day, 263 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 1: My little slices, As November fifth approaches, there are sports leagues, teams, 264 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:00,959 Speaker 1: and groups organizing all over the place in support of 265 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: Kamala Harrison Tim Walls. Last week, more than fifty former 266 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 1: football players and coaches, including several Pro Football Hall of 267 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 1: famers and Super Bowl MVPs, announced their endorsement of the 268 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: VP on National Black Voter Day. And this past Monday, 269 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 1: I joined an organizing call for Athletes for Harris. I 270 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: got to hear from co chairs Magic Johnson and Billy 271 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:23,199 Speaker 1: Jean King, from current Second Gentleman Doug M. Hoff, coaches 272 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: Steve Kerr, Doc rivers, Greg Popovich and Moore. Other co 273 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: chairs of the group include South Carolina coach John Staley, 274 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 1: soccer legend Ali Krieger, MNBA players Draymond Green and Chris Paul, 275 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,319 Speaker 1: and paralympian Ali Truett. Now, a few things stood out 276 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: from that call that I thought might be useful to 277 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:41,439 Speaker 1: you slices as we spend these weeks approaching election day. First, 278 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: Magic Johnson talked about not needing to know every single 279 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: issue in order to feel comfortable talking to friends and 280 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: family about voting. Just figure out the ones that matter 281 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: most to you and your loved ones and community and 282 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: start conversations about those issues, talk about how they would 283 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: be affected by the election of either candidate. And second, 284 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,359 Speaker 1: Steve Kerr had an interesting angle on getting traditionally conservative 285 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: voters to cast a ballot for Harris Walls. He talked 286 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: about the need for a stable Republican party in this country, 287 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 1: how valuable and necessary it is for the GOP to 288 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 1: be a functioning party, and he talked about how removing 289 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,959 Speaker 1: Donald Trump as the leader of the GOP and resetting 290 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: their idea of what would be a successful candidate can 291 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: help start their path back to a respected party that 292 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: differs in issues of policy instead of issues of decency. 293 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: So if you're in a battleground state like Arizona, Georgia, 294 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: at Michigan, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin or near one of those states, 295 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: it is all the more important that you talk to 296 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: folks about voting and you get involved. You can actually 297 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: go to events dot Democrats dot org and find opportunities 298 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: to do things like phone banking or canvassing in places 299 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 1: all across the country. It might not be something you've 300 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: ever done before. They will walk you through every single 301 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: little detailed They'll show you how to do it and 302 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: you can make a difference. You could truly talk to 303 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: people that are on the fence or aren't sure what 304 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: they're going to do and help them understand what an 305 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: important election this is going to be for the future 306 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 1: of our country and in particular the future of the 307 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 1: rights for women in our country. So be sure to 308 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: share the site iwill vote dot com and tell folks 309 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: to make sure they're registered. They can learn how to 310 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: vote by mail and all sorts of other stuff. All Right, 311 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: we got to take a quick break when we come back. 312 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: Who's got the edge when you run back a WNBA 313 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: finals matchup one year later, the team that won last 314 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 1: year or the team with the better record this year. 315 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: We'll talk about it next. 316 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 2: Welcome back, my little slices. 317 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: The WNBA semifinals, which are best of five, get underway 318 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: this Sunday. Both semifinals series start that day. But today 319 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: I want to dig in on the Aces Liberty series. 320 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 1: It's a rematch of last year's WNBA finals. So let's 321 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: set the stage. It's twenty twenty three, can you remember it? 322 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: Barbie and Oppenheimer were dueling at the box office. Billionaires 323 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: still had high hopes of visiting the Titanic in a submersible. 324 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: We were at the very beginning of what hopefully will 325 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: be an endless in Infinity era tour from Taylor Swift, 326 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: and every WNBA headline was about the battle of the 327 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: super teams, the Las Vegas Aces versus the New York Liberty. 328 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: What a time to be alive. So no one was 329 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: surprised when the Liberty and the Aces met in the finals. 330 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: But were we a little surprised when the Aces, after 331 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 1: losing Chelsea Gray and Kia Stokes to injury, made easy 332 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: work of the Liberty to win a second straight WNBA title. 333 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: We were, We were surprised, and in their postgame celebration, 334 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 1: the Aces made it clear there was only one real 335 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: super team in the league. Fast forward to twenty twenty four, 336 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: and the Liberty have been the better all around team, 337 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 1: earning the number one seed in the playoffs. New York 338 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: dominated the Aces in the regular season, beating them in 339 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: all three meetings. Ninety to eighty two on June fifteenth, 340 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: seventy nine to sixty seven on August seventeenth, and seventy 341 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: five to seventy one on September eighth. After the matchup 342 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: was set, Aces guard Kelsey Plumb had this to say 343 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: about taking on the liberty. I think, first of all, 344 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: New York is a lot better than they were last year, 345 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: just playing simple, bigger. They shove the ball at a 346 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: better clip if you. 347 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 2: Go down the line, like pound for pound. 348 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 1: Individually, all of them are better basketball players, So credit 349 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 1: to them. And here's ace's coach Becky Hammond talking about 350 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: the finals rematch. 351 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'll just say they've been the best team all year. 352 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 4: They played like a team pissed off with an edge, 353 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 4: and you know, we've worked our way there. 354 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 3: I feel like we got our edge back probably in 355 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:25,720 Speaker 3: the last three to four weeks. 356 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: So let's get into it. Mis Let's start with you, 357 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: how similar is this actually to last year's final matchup? 358 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 4: You know, Sarah, It's funny because it doesn't feel similar 359 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 4: at all to me. Frankly, the vibe feels completely opposite, 360 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 4: like the pendulum has totally swung on this head to head. 361 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:43,920 Speaker 4: So some more stats to kind of back up what 362 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 4: you just told the people. First and foremost, the Aces 363 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:48,200 Speaker 4: were the best team in the league. They were thirty 364 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 4: four and six this year. Obviously, they looked shaky until 365 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 4: about three quarters of the way through. 366 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 2: Chelsea Gray was healthy the entire year. They had beaten 367 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 2: New York twice. Already in the regular season. 368 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 4: They were scoring at one hundred and thirteen points per 369 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 4: one hundred possessions rate, which is good for the best 370 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 4: offensive rating in the history of the league. So that's like, 371 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 4: that's drastic compared to what we've seen this year. Oh 372 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:16,919 Speaker 4: and by the way, nobody was suing the organization, so 373 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,120 Speaker 4: I think there was probably a little bit less stress. 374 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 2: Involved as well. 375 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,399 Speaker 4: And then for New York, they'd written Stewie's cold tales 376 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 4: all year. She was the MVP last season for a reason. 377 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,439 Speaker 4: John cole Jones was dealing with a foot injury. She 378 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 4: was trying to acclimate to the team, so was Courtney 379 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,719 Speaker 4: van der Sloute. She was new, they didn't have arguably 380 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 4: the sixth player of the year and Leoni Phoebich doing 381 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,959 Speaker 4: her thing, So things were just completely different for both sides. 382 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, it is a completely different setup in 383 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: so much of that was also kind of like momentum 384 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: and confidence. Yes, So, Alex, when we look at these 385 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: two teams, who has the edge in that category? You've 386 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 1: got a team coming in two time defending champs and 387 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 1: they won this matchup in the playoffs last year. But 388 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: on the other side, the Liberty had the better record 389 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 1: this year, looked the best from start to finish, and 390 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: they won all three regular season matchups. Who should come 391 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: in more confident? 392 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 5: I think the Liberty do. But I want to go 393 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,719 Speaker 5: back because you know, when we were talking about that 394 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 5: super team superteam matchup last year, I think the thing 395 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 5: that made the Aces hate that the Liberty were also 396 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 5: being called a superteam was this idea that you can't 397 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 5: just build a super team overnight. You know, the Aces 398 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 5: and the Liberty on paper had the pieces, but the 399 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,919 Speaker 5: Aces had the chemistry and the Liberty did not. Heading 400 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 5: into this series, right, the Liberty has the momentum. They've 401 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 5: made it clear that these pieces can work together, it 402 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 5: can achieve great things on the court. But I think 403 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 5: what the Aces have going for them is they know 404 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 5: how to do it. It's just whether or not they're 405 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 5: all healthy in the same head space. At the same time, 406 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 5: And I do think that that's something that you can 407 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 5: turn on in the playoffs in a way that if 408 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 5: you don't have those pieces, you have no hope at all. 409 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's such a good point. And Mesh I talked 410 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 1: to Calli finn slash loss and Freeman. We're still adjusting 411 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: to that name change the other day and I asked her, 412 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,120 Speaker 1: and I wonder what your take on this is. Do 413 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 1: you think that Asia's unbelievable season has come as a 414 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: response to some of the other players not playing as 415 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: well as they had last year and also Chelsea Gray 416 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: being out, or do you think that because Asia is 417 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:22,640 Speaker 1: so dominant sometimes the team is almost maybe even subconsciously 418 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 1: or unintentionally deferring to her instead of stepping up. 419 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 4: You know, it could be a good mix of both, right, 420 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 4: one could lead to the other. And what I mean 421 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 4: by that is Kelsey Plumb, Jackie Young, Alicia Clark, like 422 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 4: the rest of their group. It's not like they haven't 423 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 4: been putting in the work and doing the same stuff 424 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 4: they were doing in the twenty twenty three regular season, 425 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 4: like they've been doing that. But at a certain point, 426 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 4: once you realize you don't have it going. You kind 427 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 4: of have to make that decision because if you keep 428 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 4: jacking shots up, Hey, Becky's not gonna be real happy 429 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:54,360 Speaker 4: with you, and b you're not gonna have a one 430 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:56,640 Speaker 4: hundred and thirteen offensive rating like you did in twenty 431 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 4: twenty three. So I think, you know, it's kind of 432 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 4: a domino effect in that they realized, Okay, we don't 433 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:03,880 Speaker 4: have it going, and somebody's gonna have to write this shit. 434 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 4: And Asia is the best player in the world and 435 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,160 Speaker 4: she's on the team, so why would you not defer 436 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 4: to her? But it's a really good question, especially in 437 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 4: the playoffs, when it comes down to the crunch time, 438 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 4: you gotta figure out who your go to is gonna be, 439 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 4: who's hands you're putting that ball in, because everybody can't 440 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 4: have the ball. 441 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 2: At one time. 442 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:21,200 Speaker 1: Well, we saw in game two of that opening round 443 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 1: series Kelsey Plumb couldn't hit the broadside of a barn 444 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,439 Speaker 1: in game one, and in game two she erupts. And 445 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:28,919 Speaker 1: we love to see it in the first game that 446 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 1: she kept shooting because you're like, that's the kind of 447 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:32,920 Speaker 1: confidence you need if you're gonna be a good player. 448 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,400 Speaker 1: You try to shoot through it. You don't just stop. 449 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 1: And in game two we saw the Kelsey plum that 450 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 1: we're used to seeing. That's gonna be huge for the 451 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:42,880 Speaker 1: Asis is having nights where some other player just explodes 452 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:45,399 Speaker 1: because the other team is going to focus on Asia, 453 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 1: and rightfully so, but you need to figure out then 454 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: if Asia's getting double team triple teamed, or if she's 455 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 1: just tired, who are you going to and are they 456 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 1: gonna step up exactly? 457 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 4: And like to that point, you hear people talked about it. 458 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 4: In the Liberty series against Atlanta, get the ball to 459 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 4: Tea and Charles, she's got to touch the ball with Seattle. 460 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 4: Against Vegas in the elimination game, get the ball to 461 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 4: Echo Gumacase she's got to touch it so she can 462 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:09,640 Speaker 4: spray it out and make other things happen. 463 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 2: So you know that's the other thing. 464 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 4: Asia Wilson is also a fantastic passer, shares the ball so. 465 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 2: Well and reads the floor so well. 466 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 4: So if I'm Becky and the rest of that crew, 467 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 4: I'm just glad she's on our team and she's gotten 468 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 4: them out. 469 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 2: Of a lot of holes. 470 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 1: All right, Alex, we talked about confidence. Who should come 471 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:29,680 Speaker 1: in more confident? What about pressure? You've got a team 472 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:33,399 Speaker 1: trying to repeat a very rare occurrence in any sport, 473 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 1: and especially in the W And then you've got a 474 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 1: team trying to win their first title, and with the 475 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 1: extra added pressure of this roster most likely not looking 476 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:45,640 Speaker 1: too similar next year once all these contracts and deal 477 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:47,400 Speaker 1: shake out, who's got more pressure. 478 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,479 Speaker 5: I always think when you see someone win a title 479 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 5: for the first time, the emotion that accompanies it is joy, 480 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 5: and when you repeat or repeat again, the feeling is real. 481 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 1: Ooh see, I disagree. Ooh what do you think? I 482 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 1: think the first title is relief. I think the first 483 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: title because legacy is all about titles, and we know 484 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,680 Speaker 1: that because of the players that have gone down as 485 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 1: some of the best ever and have never won it all, 486 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 1: and that is the asterisk that lives on their resume forever. 487 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 2: No matter what their stats are. 488 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,360 Speaker 1: So to me, the first one is joy and relief, 489 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 1: and the ones that come later there's a little relief there, 490 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 1: but it's more just like, oh man, this is all 491 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: like cherry on top, keep adding on top, like that's interesting, 492 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 1: that's I've never heard that. 493 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 5: Maybe I'm thinking of it more in respect to the 494 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 5: pressure that you come in facing. So you know, if 495 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:45,199 Speaker 5: you've won everything else that there is to win, but 496 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 5: you haven't yet won a WNBA title, right, Like, that 497 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 5: is probably more pressure than if you haven't ever won 498 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 5: anything at all. 499 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's why for me, it's the Liberty. 500 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's the Liberty hands down. 501 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 4: Funny you say that because this is the team that 502 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 4: the most finals appearance is five with no championship. And 503 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 4: I've heard from Erica Elaiyala shout out to Black Rosie 504 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 4: and all them folks and all the people who love 505 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 4: the Liberty in New York. They're fed up, they're mad 506 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 4: at this team. They were pissed last season after Game four. 507 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 4: So I definitely would agree the pressures on New York. Yeah, 508 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:20,880 Speaker 4: who's the X factor in this series? Let's give one 509 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 4: for each team. 510 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:24,439 Speaker 1: This is where the semantics come in, because like, X factor, 511 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: does that mean like the glue gal? 512 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:30,000 Speaker 2: Does that mean the star? Does that mean the unexpected? 513 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:33,399 Speaker 1: Like? So take your pick of what you think it 514 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:36,239 Speaker 1: means when someone says X factor, but make sure you're 515 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 1: X factors. 516 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 4: You know Sarah, she's been doing her job really well 517 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:43,440 Speaker 4: and hasn't been forced to step up to the plate 518 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 4: in an offensive way. 519 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 2: Thus far these playoffs. 520 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 4: But I think Kiya Stokes is gonna be really really 521 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:51,919 Speaker 4: important in this series, not just on the offensive end, 522 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 4: but on both sides of the ball because she's gonna 523 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 4: have to deal with John Quell, She's gonna have to 524 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 4: deal with Brianna Stewart and y Aresabii, who's coming off 525 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 4: the bench and I think actually really producing well for 526 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 4: New York when she gets some minutes. So but he 527 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 4: has also got to be ready to take that corner 528 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:08,439 Speaker 4: three balls. She's got to be ready to knock down 529 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 4: any open jumpers and clean up on the offensive boards. 530 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:13,159 Speaker 4: I think that's something that'll help them get over the 531 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 4: hump and then gosh. 532 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:18,400 Speaker 2: New York team full of X factors. 533 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 4: But I'm gonna go with Arguably she's not my pick, 534 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 4: but I love what she's done. Arguably the sixth woman 535 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 4: of the Year in Leoni Phoebich, Oh. 536 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 2: You mean the one I selected? Not too much? 537 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: Not too much. 538 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 2: I'm standing by Tiffany Hayes. 539 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 4: Okay, I am standing by her, but I think you know, 540 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:39,200 Speaker 4: based on what she didn't for her playoff debut, twenty 541 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:41,399 Speaker 4: one points in your playoff debut, when you know she 542 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:44,360 Speaker 4: can go off like that, if, for example, John Quel 543 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 4: gets into foul trouble, which we know she can, if 544 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 4: for some reason Stewie doesn't have it going from three, 545 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 4: any of these myriad of things can happen. Leoni Phoebich 546 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:53,399 Speaker 4: can help put a band aid on it. 547 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's that's mine. Mine are actually two people you 548 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: just mentioned. It's Foebitch and it's Tiff Hayes. I know 549 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:02,640 Speaker 1: that that's cliches all the six women, but I do 550 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:05,880 Speaker 1: think that these starting lineups, there are so many ways 551 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 1: I can see them offset each other. There are ways 552 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:10,960 Speaker 1: I can convince myself, oh, they've got this matchup beat, 553 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: this is going to be easy, And then there's completely 554 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 1: other side. I'm like, okay, well there's a there's a 555 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: mismatch here that I'm worried about. But that person coming 556 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:20,359 Speaker 1: off the bench in the moments where people are tired, 557 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:22,880 Speaker 1: in the moments where there's a foul someone gets hurt, 558 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 1: like knowing that that person's coming off and going to 559 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: be able to contribute, which we've already seen from both 560 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 1: of them just in this first round. So yeah, I 561 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 1: think for me it's Tiff and Leoni Febitch. What about you, Alex. 562 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think for the Liberty, I'm gonna go with 563 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:38,479 Speaker 5: John Quell Jones. And maybe it's a little bit strange 564 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 5: to call somebody who's such an integral part of the 565 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 5: team and X factor, but I think John Quell can 566 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:46,919 Speaker 5: be so hot and can also be so cold. And 567 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:49,200 Speaker 5: when you look at when the Liberty haven't had success 568 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 5: this year, it is often because John Quall is getting 569 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:55,399 Speaker 5: three points, you know, And so I think she really 570 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,399 Speaker 5: has to turn it on, have confidence, and be willing 571 00:26:58,440 --> 00:26:59,679 Speaker 5: to do her thing and be set up in a 572 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,080 Speaker 5: position to do her thing for the Liberty to have success. 573 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 5: For the Aces, this maybe sounds like a little bit 574 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 5: of a copad answer, but their bench, And the reason 575 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 5: why I say that is I think that the Aces, 576 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 5: out of all the teams in the league, have the 577 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:15,359 Speaker 5: best bench chemistry, and that's led by Sid Colson, self 578 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:19,080 Speaker 5: described benchwarmer. Right like she owns that title. She knows 579 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:20,919 Speaker 5: that she's not going to be the star on the court, 580 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:23,679 Speaker 5: and it is hard, I think, in a league with 581 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 5: the best players in the world to have people on 582 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,639 Speaker 5: the bench who know what their place is, who know 583 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 5: how to set up their teammates for success, and aren't 584 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,200 Speaker 5: resentful of that. It's that off court chemistry that really 585 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 5: makes a big difference when you get down to the 586 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 5: finals in the semifinals. 587 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 2: I love that answer. 588 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 1: I love that answer because I have found, like, particularly 589 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: with my teams that I follow, that's the stuff you 590 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 1: notice when you watch every single game of a season. 591 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:51,199 Speaker 1: You notice when the bench has certain celebrations for different 592 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 1: players doing things. You notice how hype they get when 593 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,119 Speaker 1: someone comes last woman off the bench and gets some 594 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:58,879 Speaker 1: playing time and everyone loses their shit. You notice when 595 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:00,760 Speaker 1: they're messing with Kate Martin and then leaving her off 596 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,600 Speaker 1: the bus and having like those things stand out to me. 597 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 1: So I do love that answer, and I do think 598 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:08,159 Speaker 1: oftentimes I'll look back on a championship year from one 599 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 1: of my teams and I'll be like, you could almost 600 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:13,880 Speaker 1: tell from the beginning they just had it. They had it. Okay, 601 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 1: last question, big question, Miish, I'm starting with you. 602 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 2: Who's your pick? 603 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 1: Who? 604 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:21,720 Speaker 4: I literally was the person to write this in our 605 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:28,200 Speaker 4: rundown today. I want everybody to know that I'm still struggling. Oh, 606 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:31,639 Speaker 4: I have to go liberty, and it is it's going 607 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 4: against all the Leo cells in my body to not 608 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 4: pick Asia Wilson to advance here. But I'm at a 609 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:41,520 Speaker 4: point where, looking big picture, it's got to be New 610 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 4: York this year, or it's got to be Connecticut, like 611 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 4: somebody's gonna get that payoff. 612 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 2: And it just feels like New York's time. 613 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:52,800 Speaker 4: Everybody's clicking la China Robinson said it on WNBA accountdown 614 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 4: called it in the clinching game to Brittany and Escue 615 00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:00,160 Speaker 4: was gonna lead the way she did the Tiger. She's 616 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 4: built different this season, and I think the rest of 617 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 4: the team is also following that lead. 618 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 5: So Alex New York, I'm still ninety. 619 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 2: That's right. 620 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 1: Alex is sticking to her guns. She said it a 621 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:14,480 Speaker 1: month or so ago, and she's sticking to it. Okay, 622 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 1: I like that. 623 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 2: I'm going Liberty. 624 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 1: I'm going Liberty for a lot of what you said me. 625 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 1: She'm going Liberty because in the matchups, every time this 626 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 1: season they've come out on top, they've figured out how 627 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 1: to beat an Ace's team that yes has gotten better 628 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: and maybe hasn't even been at its peak in those 629 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 1: regular season matchups. But something about this Liberty team that 630 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 1: I think is it's it's gonna get it done this year. 631 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 1: By the way, Sharyl Reeve is jotting down your name 632 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: for not including the links in that conversation. 633 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:42,280 Speaker 2: I know you were saying two teams that have never won, 634 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:43,280 Speaker 2: but she's like. 635 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 1: Oh for real, okay, all right, good to know. 636 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 2: All right, good stuff, guys. We got to take another 637 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 2: break when we come back. 638 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 1: Oh what the fact that puts the WNBA's recent success 639 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 1: into perspective. 640 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 2: Stick around. 641 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:04,600 Speaker 1: You're back, We're back to welcome backslices. It's time for 642 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:09,240 Speaker 1: a little what the fact? Okay, so a little context here. 643 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 1: As women's sports have exploded of late, I've spoken on 644 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: a number of panels, I've done some keynotes, and I'm 645 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 1: always trying to emphasize the context around what we're seeing now. 646 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 1: It's not just Caitlin Clark changing the whole landscape for 647 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 1: women's sports. It's also what came before and prevented it 648 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: from blowing up before. That includes patriarchal values that kept 649 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:31,480 Speaker 1: women from participating, pseudoscience dictating what women were allowed to 650 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: even attempt to do, actual bands on women's sports, like 651 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,480 Speaker 1: seventy years banning women's pro soccer in England, and then 652 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 1: lack of investment, lack of data, lack of resources, lack 653 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 1: of coverage, you get the idea. The point is all 654 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:46,920 Speaker 1: that context around the landscape of women's sports is so 655 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:50,480 Speaker 1: necessary when we have conversations about how we got here 656 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 1: and where we're going. And that's true in the WNBA two. Yes, 657 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 1: we've seen Kaitlin Clark be the match that lit up 658 00:30:56,640 --> 00:30:58,800 Speaker 1: the bonfire of a league that was being built over 659 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 1: the last quarter century. And when we talk about this change, 660 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:05,880 Speaker 1: this pivotal moment, so much of it is around the 661 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:08,600 Speaker 1: hype about Kaitlin Clark. But we also have to talk 662 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 1: about the league's starts and stops, it's moments of growth 663 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:15,080 Speaker 1: and regression, and we just got some new information about 664 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 1: that because the recent sportsmediawatch dot com article entitled how 665 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:22,040 Speaker 1: Caitlin Clark raised the bar for the WNBA highlights an 666 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 1: excerpt from a book about ESPN. Now I actually have 667 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:26,720 Speaker 1: this book, and I thought I read the whole thing, 668 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:29,640 Speaker 1: but I do not remember this section. Maybe it's just 669 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:32,200 Speaker 1: hitten a little different in the context of everything that's 670 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:34,680 Speaker 1: going around with the w But the story talks about 671 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 1: this part of the book and reflects on how decision 672 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 1: making from one higher up at the worldwide leader changed 673 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 1: the whole trajectory of the league. So here's a bit 674 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: of that story from sportsmediawatch dot com, written by John Lewis. 675 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 1: Quote in the Jim Miller and Tom Shales book Those 676 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:54,320 Speaker 1: Guys Have All the Fun. Former ESPN executive Mark Shapiro 677 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:57,800 Speaker 1: was blunt about the clashes he and then NBA commissioner 678 00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:01,120 Speaker 1: David Stern had over the airing of WNBA games in 679 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 1: the early two thousands. This quote from Shapiro, he wanted 680 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:08,920 Speaker 1: the WNBA on the air. I told him the WNBA stinks, 681 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:11,600 Speaker 1: it doesn't rate, and I didn't want it. No one 682 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:14,520 Speaker 1: watches it, men don't watch it, women don't watch it. 683 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:16,680 Speaker 1: My goal was to get it off the air. I 684 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 1: wanted it off altogether. But he went above me to 685 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:23,200 Speaker 1: ESPN president George Bodenheimer, and I think Disney CEO Bob 686 00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 1: Iiger and one. It was one of the few times 687 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:28,920 Speaker 1: George ever overruled me. At least I got it put 688 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:32,200 Speaker 1: on ESPN two where it couldn't hurt us. End quote. 689 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:36,480 Speaker 1: Lewis's story continues quote. The WNBA's banishment to ESPN two 690 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:40,240 Speaker 1: after benefiting from regular windows on NBC and ESPN, was 691 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:43,520 Speaker 1: the beginning of its dark ages when viewership tanked, every 692 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:46,120 Speaker 1: team jersey was the same except for color and the 693 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 1: ad on the front, and playoff games were being moved 694 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:52,280 Speaker 1: to college campuses because Disney on Ice held precedents. A 695 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:55,360 Speaker 1: WNBA title was once clinched at the Convocation Center of 696 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:58,400 Speaker 1: Eastern Michigan. The only attention the league got was as 697 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:01,320 Speaker 1: the butt of jokes on Network's It Comes. It took 698 00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 1: nearly twenty years for the league to merely recover to 699 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:07,040 Speaker 1: the point where it was viewed as having potential. It 700 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:10,120 Speaker 1: may well have continued to grow without Clerk. The difference 701 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:13,000 Speaker 1: she has made is not between survival and failure, but 702 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:16,280 Speaker 1: between gradual growth and a level of cultural relevance that 703 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:19,280 Speaker 1: the league realistically may never have reached without her. From 704 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 1: baby steps to a full sprint. End quote. Now, again, 705 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 1: this book has been out there, but I think looking 706 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:28,280 Speaker 1: at everything around the w right now, looking at all 707 00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:31,240 Speaker 1: the bad faith arguments people have made about the product 708 00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:36,320 Speaker 1: being bad, about nobody watching it, hits especially to read 709 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: that an executive at the most powerful sports media company 710 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 1: was trying to tank it with intention and listen. As 711 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:46,800 Speaker 1: business people, you can decide whether you want to elevate something, 712 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:49,080 Speaker 1: whether you believe in something, whether you want to bet 713 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:52,160 Speaker 1: on something to bring in ratings and revenue and ad dollars. 714 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 1: But also at every turn in history, usually men have 715 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 1: not bet on women. They have not given it a 716 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:03,480 Speaker 1: shot to thrive. And as it said in that story 717 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 1: and as it said in the book, when it did 718 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 1: have the opportunity to be seen and covered, it did thrive. 719 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:11,800 Speaker 1: And as soon as they took that away, it started 720 00:34:11,840 --> 00:34:14,719 Speaker 1: to falter. And that example is true across so many 721 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:17,640 Speaker 1: different opportunities for women's sports in the past. And I 722 00:34:17,680 --> 00:34:20,560 Speaker 1: hope that now that we're having real dialogue about this 723 00:34:20,680 --> 00:34:24,400 Speaker 1: and being transparent about how those decisions can change everything, 724 00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:27,239 Speaker 1: we do not allow that to happen again. And I'm 725 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:29,640 Speaker 1: thankful for those who fought him on at least keeping 726 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:32,319 Speaker 1: it on. But man, does that suck to hear how 727 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:34,759 Speaker 1: much farther along the league could have been if it 728 00:34:34,760 --> 00:34:37,440 Speaker 1: hadn't been for people putting those roadblocks in the way. Anyway, 729 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:40,040 Speaker 1: it's really important to keep talking about that stuff, and 730 00:34:40,120 --> 00:34:42,840 Speaker 1: it's really important to keep calling out those what the facts, 731 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:44,680 Speaker 1: so that we can make sure we don't make those 732 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 1: same mistakes in the future. We love that you're listening slices, 733 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:49,520 Speaker 1: but we always want to get you in the game 734 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:52,000 Speaker 1: every day too. So here's our good gameplay at the day, 735 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:54,600 Speaker 1: and it's a real easy one. Just go watch Sidney 736 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:57,000 Speaker 1: Coolson's shoe launch video. We'll link to it in our 737 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,160 Speaker 1: show notes. It finally puts an end to the age 738 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:03,120 Speaker 1: old question, can you flirt with yourself? Yes? Yes, you 739 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:05,920 Speaker 1: can go watch it. You'll understand we love to hear 740 00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:07,680 Speaker 1: from you. Hit us up on email good game at 741 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 1: wondermedianetwork dot com or leave us a voicemail at eight 742 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:14,000 Speaker 1: seven two two four fifty seventy and don't forget to subscribe, 743 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:16,560 Speaker 1: rate and review and tell your friends to do the same. 744 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:19,600 Speaker 1: In fact, that's what we did today. There's been some 745 00:35:19,719 --> 00:35:22,120 Speaker 1: major drama in the ultra running world, so we called 746 00:35:22,160 --> 00:35:24,200 Speaker 1: up friend of the show, former group Chat guest and 747 00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 1: ultra marathon Kalaim Conahan to help us out. 748 00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:31,520 Speaker 6: Here's her review, changing Wikipedia pages for your competitors. Out 749 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:36,360 Speaker 6: of five stars, this story gets crazy. Eights before yesterday, 750 00:35:36,560 --> 00:35:39,200 Speaker 6: I knew Kamille Herron as one of my favorite ultrarunners, 751 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:42,360 Speaker 6: a champion who had earned twelve world records in ultra running, 752 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 6: including fastest one hundred miler, running a ridiculous seven minutes 753 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:50,759 Speaker 6: thirty eight seconds per mile for one hundred miles. She 754 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:54,319 Speaker 6: remains the only athlete to have won all the IAW 755 00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:57,719 Speaker 6: World championships for the fifty K, one hundred k, and 756 00:35:57,800 --> 00:36:01,520 Speaker 6: twenty four hours. Her talent, wins and accolades are undeniable. 757 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:04,960 Speaker 6: But then, just like when my headlamp went out in 758 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:06,800 Speaker 6: the deep woods of Rocky Point, New York in the 759 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,920 Speaker 6: middle of the night, things have taken an unexpected turn 760 00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:11,360 Speaker 6: to the dark side. 761 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:13,320 Speaker 1: Uh oh. 762 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:17,240 Speaker 6: In an article from Canadian Running magazine, reporter Marley Dickinson 763 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:20,319 Speaker 6: details how heron and her coach slash husband Connor Holt, 764 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:24,400 Speaker 6: have been caught removing accolades from other runners Wikipedia pages. 765 00:36:25,160 --> 00:36:29,640 Speaker 6: That's right, slices. One of veres sneaky Wikipedia account has 766 00:36:29,680 --> 00:36:32,720 Speaker 6: been found pulling superlatives from the pages of fellow runners 767 00:36:32,719 --> 00:36:35,800 Speaker 6: like Desi Lindon, who won the twenty eighteen Boston Marathon, 768 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:38,959 Speaker 6: and Courtney de Walter, who, after winning the three most 769 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:42,640 Speaker 6: prestigious one hundred milers last summer, is arguably the sport's 770 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:47,520 Speaker 6: biggest star. This Wikipedia account removed phrases like quote, widely 771 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,480 Speaker 6: regarded as one of the best trail runners ever from 772 00:36:50,520 --> 00:36:55,160 Speaker 6: de Walter's Wikipedia page, meanwhile adding the suspiciously similar phrase 773 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:58,520 Speaker 6: quote widely regarded as one of the greatest ultra runners 774 00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:02,960 Speaker 6: of all time, to you guessed it. Camille Heron's Wikipedia page. 775 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:07,640 Speaker 6: Also sketchy, This Wikipedia account was created hours after a 776 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:11,279 Speaker 6: prior account was temporarily banned for conflict of interest policies, 777 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:14,919 Speaker 6: specifically for jusging up Heron's page, and it was later 778 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:18,279 Speaker 6: determined to be a continuation of that banned account. Even 779 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:22,520 Speaker 6: more sketchy, this same Wikipedia account was awfully quiet during 780 00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:26,040 Speaker 6: Heron's six day world record attempt back in March. Either 781 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:29,160 Speaker 6: the Internet is full of great detectives, or perhaps this 782 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:33,320 Speaker 6: account was not so sneaky after all, changing other runners 783 00:37:33,360 --> 00:37:37,359 Speaker 6: Wikipedia entries is not cheating per se. So you really 784 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:40,719 Speaker 6: can't take away any of Camille Heron's incredible successes as 785 00:37:40,760 --> 00:37:43,560 Speaker 6: an ultrarunner. So why is she trying to take away 786 00:37:43,560 --> 00:37:47,120 Speaker 6: the success of her peers. I'm all for healthy competition, 787 00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:52,200 Speaker 6: but this ain't it. It's embarrassing and cringe and downright bananas. 788 00:37:52,680 --> 00:37:55,680 Speaker 6: As an ultrarunner myself, I don't mind being called crazy. 789 00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:58,160 Speaker 6: I'm kind of used to it, but this is crossing 790 00:37:58,200 --> 00:37:58,640 Speaker 6: the line. 791 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:02,840 Speaker 1: Camille absolutely Bonker's story. 792 00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:03,800 Speaker 2: Thanks Klain. 793 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:07,360 Speaker 1: Now it's your turn, rate and review. Thanks for listening, slices. 794 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:11,560 Speaker 1: See you tomorrow. Good Game, Kalaine, Good Game, Djona Kew 795 00:38:11,719 --> 00:38:16,399 Speaker 1: execs who held back the growth of women's sports. Good 796 00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:18,880 Speaker 1: Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports production 797 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:21,719 Speaker 1: in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can 798 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:24,520 Speaker 1: find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 799 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:27,880 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, our 800 00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:31,200 Speaker 1: producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive producers 801 00:38:31,239 --> 00:38:34,520 Speaker 1: are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan, and Emily Rudder. 802 00:38:34,800 --> 00:38:38,000 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and 803 00:38:38,080 --> 00:38:41,440 Speaker 1: Lindsay Cradowell. Production assistant from Lucy Jones and I'm Your 804 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:42,400 Speaker 1: Host Sarah Spain