1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're catching 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: up on some non sports television. 3 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 2: Y'all see that South Park season premiere devilishly funny. 4 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: It's Friday, July twenty fifth, and on today's show, we'll 5 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: be chatting with AU Pro Sports Senior reporter Savannah Collins 6 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 1: about this weekend's Athletes Unlimited Softball League Championship Series, the 7 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: keys for the Talons and the Bandits as they pursue 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: the title, her AUSL MVPs, and what surprised her most 9 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: about the league's inaugural season. 10 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 2: Plus Team USA has a tough. 11 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: Go in the pool, the Portland Thorns give a superstar 12 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: her flowers, and we call out yet another sports gender disparity, 13 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: this time on the diamond. It's all coming up right 14 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: after this Welcome back Slices, Happy Friday. Here's what you 15 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: need to know today in softball news. The Athletes Unlimited 16 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: Softball League Championship Series between the Talents and the Bandits 17 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: starts tomorrow at three pm Eastern on ESPN. These two 18 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: teams finished the inaugural AUSL regular season at the top 19 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 1: of the four team table, and we'll compete for the 20 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: right to call themselves the first ever league champions at 21 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: Rhodes Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Game two of the series 22 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: is slated for Sunday at two pm Eastern on ESPN, 23 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 1: and if necessary, Game three will go down on Monday, 24 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: seven pm Eastern on ESPN two. We'll get into that 25 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 1: best of three matchup and championship weekend with Savannah Collins 26 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: in just a few minutes. Speaking of AUSL, the league 27 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: is released the list of athletes chosen to compete in 28 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: the AUSL All Star Cup, a four week competition to 29 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: crown the ultimate individual softball champion. We'll put a link 30 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: in the show notes where you can see the sixty 31 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: athletes chosen and the schedule for that competition, which begins August. 32 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 2: Second to the Pool. 33 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: The twenty twenty five World Aquatics Championships in Singapore are 34 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: well underway and the US water polo team advanced all 35 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: the way to the semi finals before falling to Greece 36 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: four thirteen ten on Monday. Then on Wednesday, the squad 37 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: came up just short in the bronze medal match, losing 38 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: to Spain by a hare thirteen to twelve. Grease won gold. 39 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 1: That's the team's first medal of any color in fourteen years, 40 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: while Hungary took silver. There are lots of other events 41 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: being contested through August third, including swimming, diving and artistic swimming, 42 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 1: and don't forget those much anticipated Katie Ldecki versus Summer 43 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: Macintosh races. We'll link to the Championships website in our 44 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 1: show notes and keep you posted on competition results as 45 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: the action rolls on. 46 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 2: To the NWSL. 47 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: On Thursday, The Guardian reported that an investigation commissioned by 48 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: the NWSL found that the San Diego Wavefront office quote 49 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: could have done more end quote in handling a sexual 50 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: assault allegation that was made by a member of the 51 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 1: staff in October twenty twenty three. The Guardian's reporting is 52 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: based on the summary of an investigation that was not 53 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: previously made public. The investigation, conducted by Connecticut basse law 54 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: firm Finn, Dixon and Hurlan, detailed what unfolded after a 55 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: Wave staff member reported that she had been quote unquote 56 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: traumatized by a male coworker. 57 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 2: In reporting the incident. 58 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,239 Speaker 1: To her manager, the staff member said she didn't want lawyers, 59 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: the club or the league to investigate further. She was 60 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 1: later fired after her work performance declined. The investigation found 61 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: that while the club could have done more to uncover 62 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: details about what had caused the trauma, there was quote 63 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,959 Speaker 1: no specific issue with how the claim was handled because 64 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 1: the alleged victim did not use the term sexual when 65 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 1: describing her experience end quote. Six months after the investigation 66 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: into that alleged assault, a lawsuit was filed by five 67 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: former Wave employees against the NWSL. The suit, filed at 68 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: October of twenty twenty four, focused on complaints of an 69 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: abusive work environment, sexual harassment, sexual assault and wrongful termination. 70 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: Will link to the Guardians reporting in the show notes 71 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: and keep you updated if we learn more more. 72 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 2: NWSL. 73 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: Canadian footy icon and friend of the show Christine Sinclair 74 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: is said to become the first inductee into the Portland 75 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: Thorns Hall of Fame. The franchise will honor her during 76 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: Portland's home match against BFC on October fourth. Saint Clair 77 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: reti hired in September twenty twenty four, and her incredible 78 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: twenty five year soccer career included twelve years with the Thorns. 79 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: She led the franchise to three NWSL championships in twenty thirteen, seventeen, 80 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: and twenty twenty two, and two NWSL shields. 81 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 2: In twenty sixteen and twenty twenty one. 82 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: Sinclair retired as the club's all time leading goalscorer with 83 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: seventy nine goals across all NWSL competitions, and her two 84 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: hundred and thirty seven matches played, two hundred and fifteen 85 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: games started, eighteen thousy, five hundred and seventy nine minutes played, 86 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: and ten penalty goals are all club records as well. 87 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,599 Speaker 1: Needless to say, Sink deserves the honor and we can't 88 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: wait to watch or get her flowers, which we got 89 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 1: to assume will be Rose's on ion. 90 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 2: October fourth, over to hoops. 91 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 1: Unrivaled co founder and Minnesota link Start if You Si 92 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: Callier pointed out an intriguing statistical note during an appearance 93 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: on Between the Lines, the Just Women's Sports podcast hosted 94 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: by WNBA legend Lisa Leslie. During the episode recorded live 95 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: at WNBA All Star this past week, Leslie asked Collier 96 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: whether she thought playing and Unrivaled in the off season 97 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: helped her game. 98 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 2: Take a listen to fees answer. 99 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I definitely think Unrivaled helped and In fact, I 100 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 3: think it's like ninety ninety five percent of Unrivaled players 101 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 3: are having record breaking years. 102 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, let's go give it up. That's awesome. 103 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 3: I mean the phrase iron Sharpen's iron, and I think 104 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 3: exactly what's happening at Unrivaled. You have the best players 105 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 3: in the world playing it against each other in a 106 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 3: format where they're touching the ball every procession, where it's 107 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 3: fast paced, every game ends on a game winner. 108 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 2: I mean, what more could you ask for? Now? 109 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,679 Speaker 1: I know your immediate reaction might be, can somebody confirm 110 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 1: the stats on this? 111 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 2: And the answer is yes. 112 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 1: Mostly per stats compiled by Unrivaled and released on Monday, 113 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: ninety one percent of the players who competed in the 114 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: league have posted a career high in at least one 115 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 1: statistical category during the twenty twenty five WNBA season. More 116 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 1: than one third of Unrivaled bets are currently posting career 117 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 1: high points per game, thirty eight percent of Unrivaled participants 118 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: are dishing out career high assists per game, and over 119 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,919 Speaker 1: quarter of Unrivaled players are also enjoying career best rebound rates. Now, 120 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: it's worth noting that we don't know how these stats 121 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: compared to the WNBA as a whole. So while they 122 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: may seem impressive, are they actually an anomaly. We're digging 123 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: into it and we'll keep your posted once we get 124 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: to the bottom of it. More basketball. The Phoenix Mercury 125 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: played the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday night for the first 126 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,840 Speaker 1: time since Britney Griner left the franchise, and the Valley 127 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: welcomed her back with open arms. Phoenix put together a 128 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: beautiful tribute video for Grinder that played pregame and well, 129 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: you just got to watch it for yourself. We'll link 130 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: to it in our show notes and a warning, get 131 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 1: out the tissues. Grinder suited up for the Mercury from 132 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: twenty thirteen to twenty twenty four after they selected her 133 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 1: first overall in the twenty thirteen WNBA draft. She won 134 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: a title with the squad in twenty fourteen and was 135 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: a nine time All Star in. 136 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 2: A Mercury uniform. 137 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: She didn't play in the twenty twenty two season as 138 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: she was wrongfully detained in Russia for nearly ten months, 139 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: and the franchise was extremely active in the push to 140 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 1: get her back home to the US. While the Superstar 141 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: Center and the Mercury clearly have ties. That's it in 142 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: Stop Grinder and the dream from stealing a game on 143 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: the road defeating Phoenix ninety seventy nine. More w On Thursday, 144 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: the Indiana Fever provided an update on Caitlin Clark's status. 145 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: Clark was evaluated by team medical staff and they confirmed 146 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: she hasn't suffered any additional injuries or damage. 147 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 2: There's still no timetable for. 148 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: Her return, though you'll recall she's been out nursing a 149 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: groin injury and even had to miss the Three Point Contest, 150 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: an All Star game this past weekend in Indianapolis. She's 151 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: only played in thirteen of the Fevers twenty four games 152 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: this season. As of the time of the statement, she'd 153 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 1: only played in thirteen of the Fevers twenty four games, 154 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: and the team, which started the season with championship aspirations, 155 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: were just twelve and twelve seventh in the standings heading 156 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: into Thursday night's game against the Las Vegas Aces. Finally, 157 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: in cycling news, the Tour de France fem begins on Saturday. 158 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: This year's seven hundred and twenty three mile route begins 159 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: in Vaughan, ends in Chatel and has a record total 160 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: elevation gain of fifty six thousand feet. After consisting of 161 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: eight stages last summer, the tour increased to nine stages 162 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: this year. Polish rider Kasia Nuiadoma won the overall title 163 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: last year despite not winning a single individual stage. She'll 164 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: look to defend her title in this year's race. You 165 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: can watch all nine stages on Peacock and we'll link 166 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: to the tour site in our show notes. 167 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 2: Slices. 168 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: If you haven't picked a squad to root for in 169 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: the AUSL Championship Series this weekend, my interview with Savannah 170 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: Collins might help. She's going to tell you her league 171 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: MVPs during the regular season, plus how both the Talents 172 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 1: and Bandits made it to the final weekend, and which 173 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: stars to watch four in Tuscalosa. But if you want 174 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: to get crazy and pick a team based on best names, 175 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: you're going to have to root for the Bandits. According 176 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: to my personal name rankings, they've got three of the 177 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 1: five top named athletes in the game. Drum roll please, 178 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: because it's time for my top five AUSL player names. 179 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: First honorable mention to the Volts Deja Moulipola. That's just 180 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: a real fun name. To say, and her home highlights 181 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 1: are called Deja's Dingers So Good. 182 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 2: But she's just outside. 183 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: The top five because number five is The Bandits Delaney Whiz. 184 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 2: I'm a child, I'll always laugh when I say Whiz. 185 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: Number four The Bandits Odyssey Alexander, Number three the Talent's 186 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: Montana Fouts, Number two the Volts Cis Baits, and number 187 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 1: one The Bandits Bubba Nichols, who does now have a 188 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: married name, and it's hyphenated, but for the purposes of 189 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: this game, we're sticking with Bubba nichol O. Congrats to 190 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: my all name team, an honor almost as meaningful as 191 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: the first ever AUSL title. Speaking of, after this break, 192 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:54,079 Speaker 1: we'll talk AUSL with Kick Ass Athletes Unlimited Reporter Savannah 193 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: Collins stick around. 194 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 2: Joining us now. 195 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: She's the senior reporter for au Pro Sports, working as 196 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: a sideline reporter for the league's TV broadcast and host 197 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: of The Gap Show, a live stadium show broadcasted by 198 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: ESPN as part of the network's coverage of pro softball. 199 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: Plus she's writing, hosting, and producing content on women's. 200 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 2: Professional basketball, softball, and volleyball. 201 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,199 Speaker 1: She also works as an analyst covering college basketball and 202 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: softball for the American Conference and as a sideline reporter 203 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: for college football. She's a Gator alum, a dancing queen, 204 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: and always on the hunt for the biggest fish. It's 205 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:34,719 Speaker 1: Savannah Collins. 206 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 4: Hi, savvy, Hey, glad to be here. 207 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 2: How are you? 208 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:41,319 Speaker 4: Oh good? I feel like it's we're a couple of 209 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 4: days off from the championship. My adrenaline is starting to 210 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 4: pump because I know what's coming for the AUSL. 211 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, let's talk about Athletes Unlimited before we get to 212 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: specifically softball, because you are the face of Athletes Unlimited 213 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 1: every sport, every season. 214 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 2: Can you tell us how you first got started with 215 00:10:57,800 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 2: AU Sports. Yeah. 216 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 4: I remember being in my office in the NPF, so 217 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 4: the league that is no more, but you know, helped 218 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:07,680 Speaker 4: pave the way for where we are now. I will 219 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 4: not forget the day I saw AU Prosoftball on my 220 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 4: Instagram feed and I turned to my coworker and I'm like, 221 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 4: I gotta work there, Like I have to work there, 222 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 4: and so I basically bang down the door until somebody 223 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 4: gave me a job, you know, and you kind of 224 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 4: use those player connections and stuff that you have of like, hey, 225 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 4: you know, how's it going. 226 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 2: Do you like it? 227 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 4: What's the process? 228 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:27,680 Speaker 1: Like? 229 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 4: Can you tell me who runs like the content department? 230 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 2: Maybe? 231 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 4: And so that's how I got in. You know, it's funny. 232 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 4: I didn't ever expect my like niche to be pro softball, 233 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 4: but at the time, I was one of the only 234 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 4: pro softball reporters in the country, and so with a 235 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 4: new league starting, it was an easy transition in. And then, 236 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:46,319 Speaker 4: you know, thankful to my parents who put me in 237 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 4: a lot of sports growing up. Because as AU added sports, 238 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 4: they were ones I had played. We added volleyball. I 239 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 4: played volleyball at a basketball I'm a lifelong basketball fan. 240 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 4: My dad's a coach. So it just kind of happened 241 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 4: to where I'm like, everything that this league has gone 242 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 4: on has kind of been like my multi sport life, 243 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 4: and I'm really grateful. So I hopped in in twenty 244 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 4: twenty in year one and have been rolling since. 245 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: I was going to ask you the biggest challenge in 246 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 1: covering all the different sports and leagues that AU does. 247 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think for me it sometimes comes down to 248 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 4: you don't always get to dive completely into one sport 249 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 4: year round. You've got to constantly change gears. So you know, 250 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 4: it can be tough, like when we're playing our softball season. 251 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 4: Oftentimes the WNBA is going on, and while i'd love 252 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 4: to be, you know, in the weeds of that, we've 253 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 4: got soft We're in our softball season. So you know, 254 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 4: as we're going into year five, that's a big part 255 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 4: of my job that's kind of starting to change of 256 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 4: just just being softball focused. We've got a new reporter 257 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:44,679 Speaker 4: on staff, Sierra, who's going to take over volleyball and basketball, 258 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 4: so that's going to be different. It's a former challenge, 259 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 4: but now I think the new challenge is, you know, 260 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 4: how do you really become the expert in the all around, 261 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 4: you know, go to person for a sport. So former challenge, 262 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 4: I think it might be changing here soon. 263 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a conversation I've had a lot back when 264 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: I did local radio than switched to national. 265 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 2: There are benefits to both. 266 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: Local you need to know the last person on the 267 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 1: bench of every team in your city all the way 268 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: down to like what they had for breakfast, and then 269 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: nationale you need to know every single team in every 270 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 1: single city, in every single sport. 271 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 2: But you get to be a little bit more broad 272 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 2: about it because. 273 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 1: You're not expected to dive as deep in every single one, 274 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: and I. 275 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,439 Speaker 2: Think it depends on what your interest is. I love 276 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 2: being a generalist. 277 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: I like to know about as many things as possible, 278 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,719 Speaker 1: and I'm a little less nitpicky into like making sure 279 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: I remember someone's like batting average off the fly, whereas 280 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 1: some people love when they can really really break down 281 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: all the numbers and every little detail. 282 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 2: So it's nice for you. 283 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:39,199 Speaker 1: You're kind of getting to see both and maybe it'll 284 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: help you figure out what you like better. 285 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. 286 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 4: I think throughout this AUSL season just kind of like 287 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,559 Speaker 4: blinders have been on for like just softballs pretty much 288 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 4: all I've thought about since May, and it's kind of 289 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 4: neat because I am I definitely feel myself becoming that 290 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 4: person of like, well, somebody will bring up a player 291 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:57,959 Speaker 4: we're at dinner and they're like, oh, so insad of 292 00:13:58,000 --> 00:13:59,559 Speaker 4: a game, and I'm like, did you know she. 293 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 2: Ate this this? 294 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 4: In Like, oh, I'm becoming that person. 295 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 2: I love that. 296 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: Though, and sports like I think women's sports need the 297 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 1: true die hard deep dive experts because too often the 298 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: content that we get is very surface level, and for 299 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: real fans, they want someone who's their front center and 300 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 1: can bring them all the good stuff, which is what 301 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: you've done for au And let's talk about the AUSL. 302 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: We're grabbing you in the tiny gap between the end 303 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: of the regular season and the start of the first 304 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: ever AUSL Championship Series. So I want to start with 305 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: a little recap of the first ever regular season. So 306 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: what surprised you most about how this first AUSL season went? 307 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 4: Gosh, you know, I you kind of set your hopes 308 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 4: on this, like being in pro softball since twenty eighteen, 309 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 4: you're always hoping that, like, I hope this next one 310 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 4: is it, Like I hope this next first thing becomes 311 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 4: our last first thing, And you don't always know, and 312 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 4: you worry and you wonder how it's gonna go, like 313 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 4: will people show up? Like will people watch? Will people 314 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 4: come out? And I think the thing that has just 315 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 4: blown me away is the crowds. I've never seen anything 316 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 4: like it, like in my life. You know, to go 317 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 4: to a game and there's over six thousand people there 318 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 4: on a Saturday night. Now we've had nineteen sellouts, and 319 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 4: we've been in some like different kinds of markets. You know, 320 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 4: you're in a smaller area like Omaha, we sell out. 321 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 4: You know, you go to somewhere as large as like 322 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 4: the Austin area, being in Round Rock at a minor 323 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 4: league stadium, also like sold out crowds Seattle, Salt Lake, Rosemont, 324 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 4: which has been our home for a long time. And 325 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 4: I think for me that is what continuously takes is 326 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 4: kind of taking me aback because you see the numbers, 327 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 4: you see the viewership for the Women's College World Series, 328 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 4: and you're like, can we just can we tap into that? 329 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 4: You know, are we gonna get there? And to step 330 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 4: back this season and go, holy smokes, like we not 331 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 4: only had like a successful first year, I felt like 332 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 4: we took the country by storm. You don't always know 333 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 4: that when you're in the weeds and in the moment, 334 00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 4: but as we're going into this championship, I'm kind of 335 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 4: in all. You know, when you look at pictures and 336 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 4: video and it's just packed behind you because it's not 337 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 4: the case there's a lot of pro softball games, so 338 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 4: there's a lot of empty seats in the past, that 339 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 4: for me has been a treat. There's nothing like a 340 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 4: big crowd for a game. 341 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: What was the biggest surprise in terms of location where 342 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: you either were surprised by the makeup of the fans 343 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: or the size of the crowd. 344 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think for me it was the pro softball 345 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 4: or just softball history in Omaha, you know, going there 346 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 4: and getting to talk to Connie Clawsan who you know, 347 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 4: started what would become one day the Women's College World Series, 348 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 4: you know, and hearing from her in her lifetime that 349 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 4: she was trying to create a softball program, you know, 350 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 4: before Title nine, and was sending checks in the mail 351 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 4: to get girls to come out and join the team. 352 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 4: So I think that shocked me, you know, because you 353 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 4: think of Omaha being the men's College World Series site, 354 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 4: but Amanda's that town love their softball. It was a 355 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 4: beautiful stadium, and it was really neat because you kind 356 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 4: of step into places that I wouldn't necessarily consider Omaha 357 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,360 Speaker 4: softball hotbed. You know, you know they're going to show 358 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 4: up right outside of Austin. We know that they're there 359 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 4: in Chicago, you know, same with Seattle, like they Washington 360 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 4: loves their softball, and to go into a town like 361 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 4: that and just to be so warmly received and know 362 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 4: that like there's people in those stands, like you know, 363 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 4: Coach Clawston, who like built this from when she was 364 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 4: an athletic director. 365 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 2: Wasn't an athletic. 366 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 4: Director then it was like physical education director. 367 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:31,400 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, yeah, that's awesome. What's the most important improvement 368 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: you think you'd like to see for the AUSL next season? 369 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 4: Oh, man, improvement for the AUSL next season. And I 370 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 4: know it's coming, but like we we just got to 371 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 4: play more games with more teams. I feel for these 372 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 4: pictures in particular, you know, to face the same three 373 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 4: lineups day in and day out, it's tough. 374 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 2: Murderers row too, the best, the best and the best. 375 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,479 Speaker 4: Like when teams are all hitting above three hundred, like 376 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 4: it's got to give. So I think that would be 377 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 4: like for me, an improvement in parity and gameplay, because 378 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 4: we did have two dominant teams this season, and we 379 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 4: had two teams that struggled. And I think that for 380 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 4: me would be a big point of improvement is to 381 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 4: go into most series and really not know on any 382 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 4: given night who's going to come out on top. And 383 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 4: as you know, talent is distributed from four teams to six. 384 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 4: You would hope that the teams kind of find some 385 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 4: equalizers to where I would hope that we're down to 386 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 4: the last games of the regular season and teams are 387 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 4: fighting for that championship slot. That's an improvement I'd like 388 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 4: to see now. 389 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 1: I know they've talked about the inevitable expansion. Is there 390 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 1: a date set for that already? 391 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 2: No date. 392 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 4: I'm wondering too. You know, who are these next two 393 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 4: teams going to be, What are they going to look like? 394 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 4: You know, what are their team names going to be? 395 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 4: And then where are they going to be too? Yeah, 396 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 4: we're still, you know, in the process of figuring out 397 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 4: where will these teams be based. 398 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: Because this season was a barnstorming style where different cities 399 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 1: hosted games of the four existing teams that are not 400 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: affiliated with cities. But next year is when they will 401 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 1: assign teams to cities and start playing in locations. 402 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 4: Yeah, which you know, I think will be neat. We've 403 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 4: had some good indicators too, of like where where do 404 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 4: the crowds come out? 405 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 1: I feel pretty good about Chicago hanging on to the Bandits. 406 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:21,880 Speaker 1: I feel pretty good about the Bandits being in Rosemont, 407 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:26,360 Speaker 1: seeing as that's been a historical, historical team in that spot. 408 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 4: Without a doubt. 409 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 1: You work for AU and cover AU, this gives you 410 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:34,439 Speaker 1: incredible access, you are known by all the players and 411 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: the folks in charge. Do you ever feel conflicted if 412 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: you want to criticize something, whether it's a player that 413 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: you're going to see all the time or something that 414 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: the league itself chooses to do. 415 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 2: How do you handle that? 416 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think that's something I really started to feel 417 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 4: this year, you know, because you're when we're in our 418 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,439 Speaker 4: leader board system, it's a little bit different. That's a 419 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,959 Speaker 4: lot of like we're just talking about the highlights. If 420 00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 4: people don't do well, they're at the bottom of the 421 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 4: leader board. I don't really have to talk about them. 422 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 4: This is different, you know, because we've got four teams 423 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,719 Speaker 4: who are competing for a championship. You know, there's coaches 424 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 4: and players that you know, are are paid and now 425 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 4: like it's based on performance only as a unit. So 426 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 4: that's something I've tried to learn to navigate a little 427 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 4: bit better this year. You know, coming out with my 428 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 4: draft grades for the teams that got selected was tough. 429 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 4: You know, I'm like, man, you know this this is different. 430 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 4: So that's been a challenge for me this year. I'm 431 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 4: trying to learn, you know, where is that balance of 432 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 4: being like critical without being you know, I think harsh 433 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 4: in a way because I you know, I do work 434 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 4: for the league and I want to have those great relationships. 435 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 4: But I try and lean on just knowing who these 436 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 4: players are and that you know, if I'm criticizing them 437 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 4: or if I'm criticizing their team, that it's always warranted 438 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:52,640 Speaker 4: and it's always back down by something. Expectations fair fair 439 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 4: is but sometimes fair is hard and sometimes their hurts. 440 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 4: And so I think as the league gets bigger, it's 441 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 4: it's going to be a challenge. It makes me nervous, 442 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 4: but in a good way. 443 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, before we get to the top two teams that 444 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 1: are going to face off in the championship, who were 445 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: a few players across all four teams that stood out 446 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 1: as sort of MVPs of the season too? 447 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 4: Oh man, offensively, you could do almost the bandits one, two, three, 448 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 4: which is crazy. Sidney McKinney, Morgan's Circle, Aaron Koffle, I 449 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 4: cannot believe those three hitters like are in a row lineup. 450 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 4: They just continue to find a way on base and 451 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 4: they all did it so differently. You know, when I 452 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 4: submitted my ballots for you know, hitter of the Year 453 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:35,640 Speaker 4: in MVP, like those are three that I was looking 454 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 4: at hard because they all were productive in different ways. 455 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 4: You know, some had higher slugging but then others they 456 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 4: were just consistently on base. So they were a great defender. 457 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 4: But Aaron Koffle put together a season of hitting that 458 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 4: I've really never seen before. I mean it was incredible 459 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 4: just her ability to hit the long ball, find a 460 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 4: way on bass, get hit by pitches, also walk, you know. 461 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:58,720 Speaker 4: So for me, like she was my top MVP coming 462 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 4: in out of this season. And then Georgina krk to 463 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,119 Speaker 4: have you know, how low of an era that she 464 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 4: has in this league and how often she has to 465 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,640 Speaker 4: face these hitters, she just just dealed. You know, There's 466 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 4: only two. There's only two like complete games like in 467 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 4: the season, and they belonged to George. And so for me, 468 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 4: those were two that really stood out. And then one 469 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 4: maybe not necessarily in the MVP category, but I think 470 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 4: was the breakout star of the season was Jadlen Alcin. 471 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 4: She came out of the reserve player pool, so she 472 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 4: wasn't a contracted player. She came in because the talents 473 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 4: had injuries, and she secured herself a spot in the 474 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 4: two hole and was one of the best hitters on 475 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 4: the team, So to be somebody who wasn't drafted in 476 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:48,639 Speaker 4: the allocation draft and to train and commit and not 477 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 4: even knowing if she would ever get an opportunity. To me, 478 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 4: that has been I think my favorite story of the 479 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 4: season that's tied into the person and performance together. 480 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:01,400 Speaker 1: So Georgina and Jadelene are or talons. The other three 481 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:04,199 Speaker 1: you mentioned are bandits. Can you shout out a player 482 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 1: from each of the other two teams that you thought 483 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: had a great season even though they struggled as a team. 484 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 4: Oh Man, Rookie of the Year on a gold she 485 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 4: tore it up. To me, there's no question that she 486 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,880 Speaker 4: was the best newcomer this season, you know, coming out 487 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:22,359 Speaker 4: a duke a program that's still building up its reputation 488 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 4: in college softball, and then to take this season by storm. 489 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 4: She hits so well. But I think for me as 490 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 4: a rookie to come in and play not only the 491 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:34,640 Speaker 4: hot corner, but then shift to play shortstop, like those 492 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 4: opportunities are often afforded to rookies in pro softball and 493 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 4: so on, on the Blaze just put together like an 494 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 4: incredible season on both sides of the ball. She was 495 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 4: up there for me for Defensive Player of the Year two, 496 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:50,720 Speaker 4: not just Rookie of the Year. So from the Blaze 497 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 4: on a gold really comes to mind. And then from 498 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:55,920 Speaker 4: the Vaults, No, Mandela Lorenz continues to be one of 499 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 4: the best hitters in the world. You know, I'll be 500 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:01,439 Speaker 4: down on that just about any day of the week 501 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 4: that nobody can hit a ball like Amandla Rins and 502 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:05,679 Speaker 4: she was really a bright spot of that team to 503 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 4: have the most consistent offense in a team that struggled 504 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:13,440 Speaker 4: with offense. So when nobody is always like consistently hitting 505 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,880 Speaker 4: around you for me, what really I've learned about Amanda 506 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 4: is that she will have good days regardless of the 507 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:22,920 Speaker 4: circumstances at the plate. And so those are two players 508 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 4: that really stood out to me this season of just 509 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 4: like you know, their team struggled. They went through a 510 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 4: lot of rollercoasters and a lot of times staying down, 511 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:32,480 Speaker 4: but they didn't lose their game and that was really 512 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:33,199 Speaker 4: impressive to me. 513 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 1: Quick question for you, do you know are these players 514 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,160 Speaker 1: staying on these teams next season regardless of where they're located, 515 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:41,199 Speaker 1: or are these contracts for a year and then they 516 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: can shift around depending on where the cities are. 517 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 4: Man, we have to go through an expansion draft, so 518 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 4: when we add those two teams, those things will change. 519 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 4: You know, a lot of our league conversations have been 520 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 4: looking at, you know, what did the WNBA do when 521 00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:58,159 Speaker 4: they've expanded and they've added the Valkyrie. So taking a 522 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 4: look at how leagues have managed that process of how 523 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 4: do you keep some core players that kind of you're 524 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 4: starting to associate with a uniform, Like after just one year, 525 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 4: there's some players I'd have a hard time seeing in 526 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 4: a different uniform, but still creating parity for those other 527 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 4: two teams to be able to have some of the 528 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 4: veteran top talent. So we have to go through that process. 529 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:20,960 Speaker 4: So there will be some rosters that are definitely shaken up. 530 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:23,679 Speaker 4: And I kind of feel in a way for a 531 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 4: lot of the bandits and talents rosters because those feel 532 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 4: like real core teams. But I know people are going 533 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:30,199 Speaker 4: to want to pick from those players because they're of 534 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 4: course this season. 535 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 2: Yeah all right, so tell us about the talents. 536 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:35,440 Speaker 1: They finish the regular season on top, they've got home 537 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 1: field advantage in the championship series this weekend. 538 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:39,160 Speaker 2: What got them here? 539 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 1: Oh? 540 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 4: Man? You know, I think the stats are great for 541 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 4: the talents. They have the best era in the league. 542 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 4: You can always rely on good pitching, third best batting average, 543 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:53,639 Speaker 4: but they hit incredibly well situationally. Hannah Flippan described it 544 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 4: to me that when they see somebody on second base, 545 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 4: they just go, oh, she's going to score, Like there's 546 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 4: no doubt that when somebody gets this and base, they're 547 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 4: going to score. So they've just got a really great 548 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 4: pitching staff and a veteran group too, just across the board, 549 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:09,679 Speaker 4: and a good mix of some new rookie talent like 550 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:12,480 Speaker 4: Sierra Saco coming out of Mississippi State. Raylen chaf And 551 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 4: has tore up in the circle as a rookie. Brie 552 00:26:15,359 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 4: Ellis is on that squad too. But I really want 553 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 4: to talk about like Howard Dobson, their head coach. You 554 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:24,480 Speaker 4: know what he's done with that group. He to me, 555 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 4: is like Ted Lasso in person. He has metaphors and 556 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 4: acronyms for everything, and you know, as you're kind of 557 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 4: getting to know him, you're like, man like, he's always 558 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 4: got something to pull out of his pocket to describe 559 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 4: something to you. But he just does a really great 560 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 4: job of simplifying the game, and that team is in 561 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:46,600 Speaker 4: the film room. They are in their day in and 562 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 4: day out. So to me my self, ball IQ I 563 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:53,119 Speaker 4: feel like has skyrocketed being around the talents, players and 564 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,119 Speaker 4: coaching staff, and so you know, coming into this series, 565 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:59,120 Speaker 4: they're not a team that really gets rattled. I think 566 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:03,120 Speaker 4: it's gonna be really tough to best them multiple days 567 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:05,879 Speaker 4: in a row. I don't see a sweep happening in 568 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,960 Speaker 4: this championship, but that's kind of been been their big 569 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 4: identity and I've gel kind of since day one, which 570 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 4: is neat because they had a lot of players who 571 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:15,199 Speaker 4: came in late from playing in Japan. So to me, 572 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 4: that's the talents. 573 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 2: And then the Bandits. 574 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:20,680 Speaker 1: You've got the Bandits the second seed, and these two 575 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 1: teams split their regular season meetings. No team won consecutive 576 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,440 Speaker 1: games or consecutive series, so this feels like we are 577 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,879 Speaker 1: set up for what could be a really incredible championship series. 578 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:33,360 Speaker 1: How did the Bandits make their way to the first 579 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: ever AUSL postseason. 580 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 4: Gosh, they hit their way there, that is for sure. 581 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 4: You know, as a team, they've got a three thirty 582 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 4: one batting average. Their eer is pretty solid too. But 583 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:48,720 Speaker 4: it was just so fascinating to watch the Bandits team, 584 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 4: especially going you know one through nine, that it could 585 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:55,959 Speaker 4: be anybody and that's me is just so exhausting. It 586 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 4: was neat too, the way that they just like bought 587 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:00,640 Speaker 4: into their team culture. I got to spend a lot 588 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:02,679 Speaker 4: of the front half of the season with them, so 589 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 4: I was on the bus with the Bandits and on 590 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 4: planes and things like that, and by week two I 591 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 4: was like, man, this is a real team. And that's 592 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 4: a credit to their GM Jenny Dalton Hill and then 593 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:16,200 Speaker 4: their head coach Stacy Newman Denise who just from day 594 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:19,919 Speaker 4: one really set the standard. They had an intense spring training, 595 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 4: like they grinded and it was tough, and somehow, like 596 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 4: in that same way it's always worked, like when you 597 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,800 Speaker 4: go through that with somebody, you just become very close. 598 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:32,640 Speaker 4: And so that's been their big identity. They lean into 599 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 4: each other a lot. They don't feel a lot of 600 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,159 Speaker 4: pressure personally to perform because they know they're going to 601 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 4: be picked up. And that's really what stood out to 602 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 4: me about the Bandits. And then they've got a head 603 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,959 Speaker 4: coach who has you know, coached for that team before, 604 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:48,320 Speaker 4: which is so special. So they're a team that's got 605 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:52,920 Speaker 4: really strong culture. Obviously, they hit incredibly well and they 606 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 4: just have a never say die attitude. You can never 607 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 4: count them out. They will come back on you at 608 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 4: any given time. Not big momentumss of the Bandits, So 609 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 4: they've been really fun to watch and they've got a 610 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 4: big crowd. 611 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 1: For those who don't know, can you explain the coach 612 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 1: carrying over situation? Because the Bandits were a team that 613 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 1: existed in a previous league and they're the only team 614 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 1: in the AUSL that sort of has a little bit 615 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 1: of an identity carrying over. So when you talk about 616 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:22,120 Speaker 1: the coach having coached, how many of those players are 617 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:25,480 Speaker 1: the same as the previous Bandits roster and how much 618 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 1: is there really carry over and a feeling that this 619 00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:31,520 Speaker 1: Bandits team is the same as previous iterations totally. 620 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 4: So throughout the National Pro Fast Pitch League, the Bandits 621 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 4: were the longest standing team of that league and so 622 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:41,840 Speaker 4: they had a lot of stability. They also played in 623 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 4: the only dedicated pro softball stadium in the country, and 624 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 4: so it created this really unique atmosphere that the people 625 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:53,920 Speaker 4: of like Rosemont in the Chicago area embraced. And so 626 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 4: when the AUSL was starting up, you know, that was 627 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,719 Speaker 4: kind of a legacy program that not only did fans 628 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 4: want to see, but just I think pro softball as 629 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 4: a whole like wanted to come back because a lot 630 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 4: of those players still have a lot of pride in 631 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 4: being a Bandit. And so coach Stacy Newman Denise, she 632 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 4: coached the Bandits. She took them to the NPF championship 633 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 4: in twenty eighteen, and she's had a great pro career 634 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 4: herself too, and so that was, you know, really neat 635 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 4: to see her have like worn that uniform before coach 636 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 4: that program. And then we have some players who played 637 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 4: for the Bandits in the NPF before they disbanded who 638 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:38,280 Speaker 4: are now on this roster today and so they kind 639 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 4: of picked up where they left off. It's wild to 640 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 4: me to be in Rosema and see people in like 641 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 4: the old logo and old T shirts, which has been 642 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 4: really neat because it's kind of like, oh, they will 643 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 4: eventually like have a throwback and like. 644 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:55,800 Speaker 1: Have the old school unis, and that's so hard to 645 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 1: do in women's sports. Like one of the things I 646 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:00,640 Speaker 1: always think about, and especially when I was a part 647 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: of the ownership of the Chicago Stars formerly Chicago Red Stars, 648 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:07,560 Speaker 1: was how do you create the nostalgia and the feeling 649 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:10,160 Speaker 1: of history that we all have for like the Chicago 650 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:13,280 Speaker 1: Cubs with a league that's been around less than a 651 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:16,240 Speaker 1: decade at the time, right, And how do you have 652 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 1: organic moments of tradition and memories that fans bring to 653 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 1: the next game And when this or that happens, they go, oh, 654 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 1: I know what this is, I've been here before. Let 655 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:27,959 Speaker 1: me tell my new friends about this, and then you 656 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 1: feel like the expert. It becomes a part of your identity. 657 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 1: You want to bring folks back and tell them what 658 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 1: it is to go to a game and have that experience, 659 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: and for the bandits to have that through line as 660 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,320 Speaker 1: the rest of the league builds. It's really important to 661 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:42,400 Speaker 1: me for the reasons that you said, whether that's folks 662 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 1: rocking the old school jerseys to people having memories of that, 663 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 1: it does add a little history to something that is 664 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 1: very brand new in the AUSL. 665 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 2: So I love that. I mean I'm a little biased, 666 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 2: but I love that they made it to the Championship Series. 667 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 2: I get it. What's the format for the Championship Series 668 00:31:59,280 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 2: this weekend? 669 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:03,840 Speaker 4: Sure? So it's a best of three, So first team 670 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,640 Speaker 4: to two wins is going to take it home. We 671 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:10,120 Speaker 4: play Saturday Sunday. Monday is the IF game. I'm very 672 00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:13,680 Speaker 4: confident we will need the if game. So it's that's 673 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 4: another thing when he asked about, you know, maybe improvements 674 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:18,400 Speaker 4: and changes, like would love to see an expanded championship 675 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:20,480 Speaker 4: next year, like want I want more? 676 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:23,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, sounds like it. 677 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:27,160 Speaker 1: And Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the location for the championship. I 678 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 1: should know this, But did they have games in the 679 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 1: regular season there or did Tuscaloosa just get get the 680 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:33,480 Speaker 1: good stuff at the end? 681 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:36,720 Speaker 4: So they got two regular season games actually this week. 682 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:39,520 Speaker 4: So the Volts and the Talents played their last two 683 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:42,160 Speaker 4: games of the regular season yesterday in the day before 684 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 4: in Tuscaloosa, And so they get the championship too, which 685 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:48,280 Speaker 4: is kind of a treat because it's going to be 686 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:50,560 Speaker 4: the best series we see all season, without a doubt. 687 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 2: Okay, what's the key for the Bandits to win it all? 688 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:56,360 Speaker 4: Oh man, Well, the Bandits kind of had a wrench 689 00:32:56,400 --> 00:32:58,880 Speaker 4: thrown in them in this last two games. They had 690 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:03,080 Speaker 4: two injuries. The status has not been updated, but Skyler Wallace, 691 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 4: they're starting shortstop. She went down kind of looked like 692 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:10,240 Speaker 4: a lower leg like ankle type injury. Then Odyssey Alexander, 693 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:11,960 Speaker 4: you know, one of their pitchers kind of looked like 694 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 4: she took a ball like off of her hand and 695 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:15,720 Speaker 4: both of them had to come out of the game. 696 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:18,760 Speaker 4: So that to me is a really big unknown. When 697 00:33:18,760 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 4: we talked to coaches tomorrow at availability, I think that 698 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 4: is going to be huge. They need their full pitching 699 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 4: staff and Skyler is is their very vocal leader. 700 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:28,680 Speaker 2: On the field. 701 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 4: You know, she is kind of the commander in that way. 702 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,200 Speaker 4: Those are two presences. I would not want them to 703 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:37,280 Speaker 4: miss out, but for them, I think that they will 704 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:41,840 Speaker 4: need to like ride the momentum changes that the talent creates. Well, 705 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:44,880 Speaker 4: I was kind of talking to both head coaches the 706 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:47,160 Speaker 4: last time they met, and I'm like, when you're just 707 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:52,400 Speaker 4: exchanging blows like who wins, and coach Nuveman Denise said 708 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 4: she was like, it's going to come down to like 709 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:56,760 Speaker 4: here she goes. You know, it might be a little philosophical, 710 00:33:57,080 --> 00:33:59,080 Speaker 4: but it really is going to come down to the 711 00:33:59,120 --> 00:34:00,800 Speaker 4: buy in. And so for her, she wants them to 712 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:04,320 Speaker 4: lean into their culture and their trust. But they're going 713 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:06,240 Speaker 4: to have to continue the hitting streak that they have 714 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:08,719 Speaker 4: and knock it down, facing one of the best staffs 715 00:34:09,160 --> 00:34:10,280 Speaker 4: in the league. 716 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:12,160 Speaker 2: And what's the secret for the talents? What has to 717 00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:13,000 Speaker 2: go right for them to win? 718 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:16,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, they are not going to be able to make 719 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:18,439 Speaker 4: errors in the field. They haven't done it a lot 720 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:20,640 Speaker 4: this season. They had the lowest of any team. They've 721 00:34:20,680 --> 00:34:25,000 Speaker 4: only made thirteen twenty four games just wild. So they 722 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:27,719 Speaker 4: need to play clean and then they're gonna have to 723 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:32,640 Speaker 4: just like continuously hit well Situationally, We've seen them when 724 00:34:32,680 --> 00:34:35,359 Speaker 4: they do it well, they win. They've kind of had 725 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:38,560 Speaker 4: a couple shutouts and some slow offense the last couple 726 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:41,879 Speaker 4: of games, so that I think will be key for them. 727 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:44,440 Speaker 4: And then to just like utilize that staff well, like 728 00:34:44,520 --> 00:34:47,399 Speaker 4: when they can keep the runs low, just like that 729 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:49,480 Speaker 4: has scored by the band. It's like they just got 730 00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 4: to continuously bring in run support, you know, kind of 731 00:34:52,080 --> 00:34:54,719 Speaker 4: just basic stuff. But I think, you know, for the talents, 732 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:56,920 Speaker 4: when they kind of get those three pieces going, like 733 00:34:57,280 --> 00:35:00,560 Speaker 4: solid offense, defense that creates momentum, and then a chip 734 00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:04,640 Speaker 4: away like naggy type offense, that's when they do well. 735 00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 2: All right. 736 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:09,960 Speaker 1: So Saturday three Eastern on ESPN at Rhodes Stadium and 737 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:15,520 Speaker 1: Tescaloosa Sunday at two eastern on ESPN, and if necessary, 738 00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:19,879 Speaker 1: Monday's game would be seven eastern on ESPN two. There's 739 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:22,640 Speaker 1: also tickets available you can go, I think still available. 740 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:24,400 Speaker 1: You can go check it out in person if you're 741 00:35:24,440 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 1: anywhere near Tescalusa. Before we let you go savvy, you 742 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:30,240 Speaker 1: do have to answer our question, our version of bench 743 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:36,200 Speaker 1: start cut, which is good gooder, goodest, So nothing gets cut, 744 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:38,719 Speaker 1: but something is just good and the other two are 745 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 1: gooder and goodest. 746 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:42,799 Speaker 2: So hecause you're good good or goodest? The bandits home 747 00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:47,480 Speaker 2: run cowboy hat that's been dazzled and rhinestoned, the Blaze 748 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:52,520 Speaker 2: making sacrifices to Torchy, the stuffed flame, or the talents 749 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:57,960 Speaker 2: claws out celebration, Oh man, good give us good first? 750 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:02,759 Speaker 4: Yeah good his claws out, goodest claws out. I think 751 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:05,920 Speaker 4: that one is the most, you know, most organic. I 752 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:09,960 Speaker 4: also like the weirder things get to me, the gooder. 753 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:13,880 Speaker 4: Then I'm gonna go with a badazzled cowboy hat because 754 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:17,719 Speaker 4: that thing is pristine, and I love like, especially the 755 00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:20,799 Speaker 4: players who like don't wear anything like that to interview them, 756 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:25,759 Speaker 4: I got love it. Gooder, Goodest is Torchi let me, like, 757 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:30,080 Speaker 4: bring out the superstitions and sacrifices and weird stuff. 758 00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:31,600 Speaker 2: I love it. 759 00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:34,040 Speaker 4: And I love when they like squeeze his little stuffed 760 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:35,280 Speaker 4: head and put it in a butN. 761 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 2: So weird. 762 00:36:37,640 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 4: I love it. 763 00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:43,960 Speaker 1: For the olds out there, Drew bo needs a chicken sacrifice. 764 00:36:44,239 --> 00:36:48,440 Speaker 1: This is of course deep cut from Major League, the ritual, 765 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:54,520 Speaker 1: the crazy like hair thing that like the guy that 766 00:36:54,640 --> 00:36:58,040 Speaker 1: was in the locker. I love that they're repeating that 767 00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:02,640 Speaker 1: kind of And I love Torchi, although Torchi's legs sometimes 768 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:05,040 Speaker 1: to me look like cinnamon roll penises, and I don't 769 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:05,279 Speaker 1: want to. 770 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:06,279 Speaker 2: Put that in people's heads. 771 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:08,680 Speaker 1: If you google Torchi, I hope that you see a cute, 772 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:13,279 Speaker 1: just stuffed campfire. Unfortunately for me, once I saw the 773 00:37:13,320 --> 00:37:15,919 Speaker 1: cinnamon roll penises, I couldn't not see them. 774 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:17,200 Speaker 4: I can't move past that. 775 00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:20,600 Speaker 2: I can't move past it. But delicious, I guess. 776 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:21,080 Speaker 1: Uh. 777 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:24,719 Speaker 2: Savvy, thanks for coming on every glastekend. 778 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:26,640 Speaker 4: Thanks can't wait. 779 00:37:31,080 --> 00:37:33,239 Speaker 2: Thanks so much to Savannah for joining us. We got 780 00:37:33,239 --> 00:37:34,839 Speaker 2: to take another break. When we come back. 781 00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:37,840 Speaker 1: A softball what the fact That'll make your head spin 782 00:37:38,040 --> 00:37:38,920 Speaker 1: like a curveball? 783 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:52,680 Speaker 2: Welcome back, Slices. 784 00:37:52,719 --> 00:37:56,800 Speaker 1: It's time for another What the fact Back in twenty 785 00:37:56,840 --> 00:38:00,560 Speaker 1: twenty one, following outcry over the disparities between the NCAA 786 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:04,400 Speaker 1: men's and women's basketball tournaments, lots of women's college softball 787 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:07,279 Speaker 1: players began asking if there were major disparities in how 788 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:11,200 Speaker 1: the NCAA treated them versus their counterparts in men's baseball. 789 00:38:11,680 --> 00:38:13,960 Speaker 2: The answer, in a word, was yes. 790 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:17,600 Speaker 1: While the NCAA baseball and softball tournaments have long drawn 791 00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:21,319 Speaker 1: large and comparable audiences on television, the reality on the 792 00:38:21,320 --> 00:38:25,440 Speaker 1: ground looked dramatically different. An independent report into gender equity 793 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:28,719 Speaker 1: in the NCAA found that in twenty nineteen, the organization 794 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:32,480 Speaker 1: spent approximately ninety two hundred dollars on each baseball athlete 795 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:35,880 Speaker 1: compared to forty nine hundred dollars on each softball athlete. 796 00:38:36,080 --> 00:38:38,799 Speaker 1: The report came to the conclusion that quote Division one 797 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:42,719 Speaker 1: baseball is better funded, has significantly better facilities and more 798 00:38:42,719 --> 00:38:46,040 Speaker 1: staff support, and offers more amenities for student athletes and 799 00:38:46,120 --> 00:38:49,880 Speaker 1: their fans end quote. For example, the softball tournament was 800 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:52,720 Speaker 1: contested in half as many days as the baseball tournament, 801 00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:55,880 Speaker 1: with no buffers built in for rain delays or late nights. 802 00:38:56,280 --> 00:38:59,840 Speaker 1: Baseball players had access to massages, while softball players didn't. 803 00:39:00,040 --> 00:39:02,480 Speaker 1: The men's tourney featured perks like a golf outing and 804 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:06,359 Speaker 1: necessities like instant replay, while the women's had neither. Up 805 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:09,160 Speaker 1: until twenty eleven, softball players didn't even have locker rooms 806 00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:12,560 Speaker 1: or bathrooms in the dugouts at their championship venue. Players 807 00:39:12,640 --> 00:39:15,000 Speaker 1: instead changed into their uniforms on the team bus or 808 00:39:15,040 --> 00:39:18,560 Speaker 1: hotel and shared bathrooms with fans or used porta potties. 809 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:22,520 Speaker 1: The bathroom situation thankfully changed in twenty fourteen, but as 810 00:39:22,520 --> 00:39:24,759 Speaker 1: of twenty twenty three, players still didn't have showers in 811 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:27,719 Speaker 1: the locker rooms. Baseball also has the ability to make 812 00:39:27,760 --> 00:39:31,640 Speaker 1: more revenue from ticket sales. The longtime venue for baseball's 813 00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:34,920 Speaker 1: World Series, Charles Schwab Field and Omaha, can hold upwards 814 00:39:34,920 --> 00:39:38,520 Speaker 1: of twenty five thousand fans, while the softball venue, Devon 815 00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:42,240 Speaker 1: Park in Oklahoma City currently holds a max of thirteen thousand, 816 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:45,399 Speaker 1: and they're set to host every Women's World Series through 817 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:49,080 Speaker 1: twenty thirty five. As a reminder, Devin Park is also 818 00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:51,200 Speaker 1: the stadium slated to host the sport of the twenty 819 00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:54,600 Speaker 1: twenty eight Los Angeles Olympics. Now in recent years, the 820 00:39:54,719 --> 00:39:57,880 Speaker 1: NCAA has heard these complaints, adding two days to the 821 00:39:57,960 --> 00:40:00,040 Speaker 1: length of the Softball World Series tournament to help with 822 00:40:00,120 --> 00:40:03,840 Speaker 1: player rest and recovery, and approving and adding instant replay. 823 00:40:04,360 --> 00:40:07,680 Speaker 1: But even with improvements, it's clear that college softball is 824 00:40:07,719 --> 00:40:11,399 Speaker 1: a fast growing, revenue driving sport that's been prevented from 825 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:14,400 Speaker 1: capitalizing on its appeal and success by the very institution 826 00:40:14,560 --> 00:40:17,719 Speaker 1: meant to support it and sell it. So there's still 827 00:40:17,760 --> 00:40:20,279 Speaker 1: a lot of progress to be made. This what the 828 00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:23,080 Speaker 1: fact brought to you by ELF Beauty. And here's another fact. 829 00:40:23,360 --> 00:40:26,320 Speaker 1: When a company reflects the community it serves, it makes 830 00:40:26,480 --> 00:40:29,720 Speaker 1: elfing sense, especially when it starts in the highest seats 831 00:40:29,719 --> 00:40:33,239 Speaker 1: of decision making. ELF Beauty, who has delivered twenty five 832 00:40:33,360 --> 00:40:36,280 Speaker 1: consecutive quarters of net sales growth and market share gains, 833 00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:39,000 Speaker 1: is one of only five publicly traded companies in the 834 00:40:39,080 --> 00:40:41,880 Speaker 1: US with a board of directors that's sixty seven percent 835 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:44,960 Speaker 1: women and forty four percent diverse. It is the only 836 00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:47,680 Speaker 1: cosmetics brand to grow market share every single quarter for 837 00:40:47,719 --> 00:40:51,280 Speaker 1: the past twenty five quarters. Elf is for every eye, lip, 838 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:54,520 Speaker 1: and face, and one You're for the every everyone wins. 839 00:40:54,880 --> 00:40:56,640 Speaker 1: Learn more about what ELF Beauty is doing to help 840 00:40:56,680 --> 00:41:02,160 Speaker 1: diversify corporate boards. Visit Change the board game. We always 841 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:03,640 Speaker 1: love that you're listening, but we want you to get 842 00:41:03,680 --> 00:41:05,600 Speaker 1: in the game every day too, So here's our good 843 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:08,319 Speaker 1: game play of the day. Follow Savannah and the four 844 00:41:08,360 --> 00:41:11,440 Speaker 1: AUSL squads on Instagram. We'll link to their accounts in 845 00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:14,200 Speaker 1: our show notes. We'll also link to a video of 846 00:41:14,280 --> 00:41:17,640 Speaker 1: Torchi so you can see those cinnamon roal penises. Tell 847 00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:20,880 Speaker 1: me I'm lying, you can't. We'd love to hear from you. 848 00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:23,640 Speaker 1: Hit us up on email good game at wondermedianetwork dot 849 00:41:23,640 --> 00:41:25,799 Speaker 1: com or leave us a voicemail at eight seven two 850 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:29,359 Speaker 1: two four fifty seventy, and don't forget to subscribe, rate 851 00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:34,480 Speaker 1: and review slices. It's easy watch the WNBA issuing fines 852 00:41:34,480 --> 00:41:38,360 Speaker 1: to players wearing shoes made by brands they endorse, rating 853 00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:40,840 Speaker 1: zero out of ten for picking people's pockets. 854 00:41:41,239 --> 00:41:41,640 Speaker 2: Review. 855 00:41:42,400 --> 00:41:46,440 Speaker 1: Okay, so this is grinding my gears a bit. Minnesota 856 00:41:46,480 --> 00:41:49,560 Speaker 1: Links guard Courtney Williams, one half of the stud Buds, 857 00:41:49,640 --> 00:41:51,640 Speaker 1: who has an endorsement deal with Friend of the show 858 00:41:51,719 --> 00:41:55,400 Speaker 1: Natalie White's Moolah Kicks, isn't allowed to wear Moola sneakers 859 00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:57,839 Speaker 1: and games without getting fined unless. 860 00:41:57,560 --> 00:41:58,720 Speaker 2: She covers up the logo. 861 00:41:59,480 --> 00:42:02,480 Speaker 1: Why because the WNBA has a rule that states players 862 00:42:02,520 --> 00:42:05,520 Speaker 1: can't wear sneakers from brands that don't have contracts with 863 00:42:05,600 --> 00:42:08,120 Speaker 1: the league. Now, I get that the league has got 864 00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:12,200 Speaker 1: to make that money, and I understand exclusivity contracts. 865 00:42:11,680 --> 00:42:14,240 Speaker 2: But in my opinion, shoes should be exempt. 866 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:17,319 Speaker 1: They're an essential part of performance and players should be 867 00:42:17,320 --> 00:42:20,399 Speaker 1: allowed to wear whatever feels best. A New York Times 868 00:42:20,520 --> 00:42:23,360 Speaker 1: article outlines that Williams has received four separate buns for 869 00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:25,239 Speaker 1: the shoes, starting at one hundred. 870 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:26,600 Speaker 2: Bucks and doubling for each instance. 871 00:42:26,840 --> 00:42:28,600 Speaker 1: Now, it's not a lot of money, but it's the 872 00:42:28,680 --> 00:42:31,440 Speaker 1: principal and shoes aren't the only things the w is 873 00:42:31,480 --> 00:42:33,680 Speaker 1: cracking down on. We told you in a previous show, 874 00:42:33,719 --> 00:42:36,520 Speaker 1: Member New York Liberty players Natasha Cloud and Isabel Harrison 875 00:42:36,719 --> 00:42:39,000 Speaker 1: were issued fine warnings for the hats they wore on 876 00:42:39,040 --> 00:42:39,960 Speaker 1: the sideline. 877 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:40,680 Speaker 2: When they weren't even playing. 878 00:42:41,160 --> 00:42:43,440 Speaker 1: Cloud's a black cap with the words Calm before the 879 00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:46,799 Speaker 1: Storm on it and Harrison's a white beret. Per friend 880 00:42:46,840 --> 00:42:49,239 Speaker 1: at the show, Ben Pickman at the Athletic, Cloud didn't 881 00:42:49,239 --> 00:42:51,120 Speaker 1: even know she could be penalized for wearing a hat 882 00:42:51,120 --> 00:42:53,879 Speaker 1: on the sideline during a game she didn't suit up for. 883 00:42:55,040 --> 00:42:55,840 Speaker 2: I can't lie to you. 884 00:42:56,080 --> 00:43:00,839 Speaker 1: This all seems extremely unnecessary. Why penalize players for trying 885 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:04,960 Speaker 1: to support brands that support them or for harmless self expression. 886 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:08,840 Speaker 1: It's ridiculous, So stop making or fork out the moolah 887 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:12,560 Speaker 1: for wearing moola. Now it's your turn, y'all rate and review, 888 00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:16,120 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, See you next week. Good Game, Savannah, 889 00:43:16,320 --> 00:43:20,040 Speaker 1: Good Game sync few network execs who cave to the 890 00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:23,200 Speaker 1: thin skinned and tiny petered man who can't handle jokes 891 00:43:23,239 --> 00:43:27,239 Speaker 1: being made about him. Good Game with Sarah Spain is 892 00:43:27,239 --> 00:43:30,319 Speaker 1: an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue 893 00:43:30,360 --> 00:43:33,640 Speaker 1: Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, 894 00:43:33,760 --> 00:43:37,359 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Production by 895 00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:41,280 Speaker 1: Wonder Media Network, our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. 896 00:43:41,560 --> 00:43:45,680 Speaker 1: Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan 897 00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:49,719 Speaker 1: and Emily Rudder. Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, 898 00:43:49,760 --> 00:43:53,760 Speaker 1: Grace Lynch, and Gianna Palmer. Our associate producer is Lucy Jones. 899 00:43:54,080 --> 00:43:57,920 Speaker 1: Production assistance from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah 900 00:43:57,920 --> 00:43:58,240 Speaker 1: Spain