1 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to another episode of Strictly Business, the podcast in 2 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: which we speak with some of the brightest minds working 3 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: in the media business today. This is Andrew Wallenstein with 4 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: Variety Intelligence Platform. The NBA season may have recently ended, 5 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: but you wouldn't know it from the fever pitch at 6 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: which this league continues to throw off headline making news. 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: There really is no off season for people like this 8 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: week's guest, Cheney Okumakay, a seasoned ESPN analyst for both 9 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: men's and women's pro and college hoops, and she knows 10 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: well the world of which she speaks. She's a former 11 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: WNBA All Star, not only well into a second career 12 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: anchoring shows like her new Disney Plus series Vibe Check, 13 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: but also recently announced she's embarking on a third producing 14 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: for scripted TV. More with Chaney after the. 15 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 2: Break to stick around, we are back. 16 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: With ESPN basketball analyst Jeneogumkay. 17 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 3: Thanks for joining us, so glad to be here. 18 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 2: Cool. 19 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: So, before we get your thoughts on the NBA and 20 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: the WNBA as media phenomena, let's do some level setting 21 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: for us, because I want to know where you currently 22 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,479 Speaker 1: are amidst all this madness. You know, what is your 23 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: summer itinerary in terms of basketball coverage? Where are you 24 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 1: going to be? 25 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:40,199 Speaker 2: Where are you now? 26 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 4: First of all, thank you so much for this wellness check. 27 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 4: Very few people ask so when you were asking that question, 28 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 4: I'm like, I'm quite literally right now in Bristol, Connecticut 29 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 4: launching vibe Check, and a lot of my friends and 30 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 4: family have been checking on me lately because since March Madness, 31 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 4: I probably have no slept in my bed in Los 32 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 4: Angeles for two nights straight. It's been on the go 33 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 4: in Bristol for women's college basketball tournament, then we go 34 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 4: to Tampa for the final four. I'm a Basketball Africa 35 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 4: League ambassador. I went to Morocco for the start of 36 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 4: their playoffs, and I came back worked the WNBA draft, 37 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 4: worked the launch of the WNBA season, went to the 38 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 4: Western Conference Finals, during the NBA Playoffs, and then the 39 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 4: NBA Finals and then now leading to the NBA Draft 40 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 4: and then Vibe jack. So I've been to many different cities, 41 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 4: but it's the best time of the year. It's the 42 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 4: intersection of so much. You've got hoops all over the 43 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,919 Speaker 4: WNBA season, you know, all star right around the corner. 44 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 4: You think about the NBA. No nights off with the news, 45 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:54,519 Speaker 4: the conversation, and so I have been everywhere, but it's 46 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 4: been a good time, so I can't complain. 47 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: That's great. So you mentioned the NBA, Let's start there. 48 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: We'll talk more WNBA a little later. It just is 49 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: so striking to me how I mean, of course every 50 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: summer is busy, but this one in particular, just is 51 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: it especially crazy to you given i'd say the volume, 52 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: particularly of the potential trades that are out there. 53 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,959 Speaker 4: So one of the most fun aspects of my job 54 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 4: as a broadcaster is the commercial breaks. That's when the 55 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 4: real te flows. At ESPN, We're all like, how are 56 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 4: you What are you hearing on this team? What do 57 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 4: you hear on that team? What do you hear on 58 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 4: that player? And then you get some of the backstories. 59 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 4: Our teammates are the best in the business. And I'll 60 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 4: never forget Scham's was like sane, it's going to be active. 61 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: He's like talking about Shams, Tarania. 62 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 4: Them Tarania. Yes, the first year, first few months, can 63 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 4: you imagine the year that he's had the news He's broke, Yeah, 64 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 4: he was, he said a couple of times, and I 65 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 4: started hearing I was like, Okay, he's not lying. Like 66 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 4: these teams are going to really push for championships, and 67 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 4: so when I think of the NBA, I think about, 68 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 4: you know, it's it's unfortunate reality that, like my dad 69 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 4: has to saying, every disappointment is a blessing if you 70 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 4: allow it to be. He told me this, particularly when 71 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 4: I was coming back from injury, as when I was 72 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,160 Speaker 4: a WNBA player and this last NBA playoffs, we saw 73 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 4: a lot of catastrophic, really you know, injuries that happened 74 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 4: to a number of players from Dame Lillard to Jason 75 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 4: Tatum and most recently Tyrese Haliburton. 76 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 3: But now it's. 77 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 4: Created a frenzy where people feel like there's an opportunity 78 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 4: to compete. The East is wide open, the West has 79 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 4: consistently been wild, and now you're starting to see those 80 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 4: machinations come to reality. The Bucks want to preserve Janni 81 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 4: Santa to Coumpo, you know, the Texas teams want to 82 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 4: one up each other. Like it's really cool to be 83 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 4: at the intersection of ambition, but also the reality that 84 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 4: watching the in Dana Pacers, watching the Thunder, everyone's like, 85 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 4: if we play our best basketball at the right moment, 86 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 4: we have a shot, and now everyone is literally shooting 87 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,359 Speaker 4: their shot to make a team, to assemble a team 88 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 4: to win. 89 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: I think what you just said hits on what is 90 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: to me the key positive attribute propelling the NBA. But 91 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 1: I think you also hit on something that is a 92 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 1: big negative. So let's start with the positive, which is 93 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: I think what you're getting at here is the word parody. 94 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 3: M M. 95 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: I should say pa R I T Y, not pa 96 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: R O D Y. Any team see that? Well, I 97 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 1: shouldn't say any team. There are so many teams. There 98 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: are a few that aren't have a shot. And I think 99 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: is that more interesting to you? Do you think to 100 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 1: fans as a product than what the NBA maybe used 101 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: to be, where it was a little more dynastic, shall 102 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: we say, where one or two teams were dominant and 103 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: everyone else was catching up. 104 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 4: It absolutely is more interesting to me when leagues have parity, 105 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 4: because now the stakes are higher for each team and 106 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 4: every move gets dissected. 107 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:10,840 Speaker 2: Now. 108 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 4: It also will hold myself as a media member accountable 109 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 4: because when we do have parity, it's on us to 110 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 4: tell the stories the best way so that when the 111 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,840 Speaker 4: Indiana Pacers make it to the finals, everyone knows who 112 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 4: their star players. When Oklahoma City Thunder is having one 113 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 4: of the most dominant defensive runs and SBA is collecting 114 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 4: every Infinity stone when it comes to awards, we want 115 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 4: our viewers and our fans to know who these players 116 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 4: are and. 117 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 3: How amazing they are. 118 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 4: So I think it works hand in hand like bettering 119 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 4: our us as media, which is why I focus on 120 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 4: like the players, the breakdown, the essence of the game. 121 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 4: That's what gets me going, you know. But at the 122 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 4: same time, the teams are doing their jobs because I 123 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 4: believe there's a sense of urgency to win. 124 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 3: You see the magic making moves. 125 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 4: You also see the Celtics in the you know, in 126 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 4: the spirit of parody now dishealthling their roster because they 127 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 4: understand the implications of being at the second aprin you know, 128 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 4: similar to what the Phoenix Suns are doing. So I 129 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 4: do think it's a great thing and also like and 130 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 4: I'm sorry because I go on these roles because I 131 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 4: get so excited. But I also believe that fandom has 132 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 4: changed because of the influx of digital media and social media. 133 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:35,119 Speaker 4: So maybe for you and for me, as we bridge 134 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 4: our generations. When we watched the basketball game. It was 135 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 4: one day, one or two games, and those were the 136 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 4: stars that you had access to, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, 137 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 4: Lebron James, Steph Curry. Like it was a handful that 138 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 4: drove the interest. Now with social media, I talked to 139 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 4: a lot of kids because I do kids camps and 140 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 4: stuff like that. Their favorite player is LaMelo ball because 141 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 4: that's what they see a note. You go to an 142 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 4: AA tournament, they're all wearing LaMelo shoes. So the access 143 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 4: to what fans the next generation think superstars are, it's different. 144 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 4: It's very different, and I think it helps propel the game. 145 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 4: So there are many more superstars. And I know people 146 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 4: debate the use of the word superstars. I don't want 147 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 4: to get it to that. There are many more stars 148 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 4: into the mix, and I think now every team is 149 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 4: starting to build around them and try to see if 150 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 4: we can actually have a shot. And lastly, I'll say this, 151 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 4: seven different champions the last seven years, seven seasons in 152 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 4: the NBA. It's so much harder to have a dynasty. 153 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 4: And so I think that's all feeding the beast, the 154 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 4: engine of hoops. 155 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: But when you talk about the power of social media 156 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 1: for the NBA, and I completely agree with it. I 157 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: do also wonder what that means for the Espns of. 158 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 2: The world or the new right holders. 159 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: That are coming in this season NBCUniversal, Amazon, do you 160 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 1: feel to some degree as a new generation comes to 161 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: embrace the league, but through maybe more so social media 162 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 1: than TV, what does that mean for the games? What 163 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 1: does that mean for the value of the kinds of 164 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: shows that you're anchoring on television? 165 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 4: So I was a post player when I played, and 166 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 4: I love doing the dirty work. I love setting screens 167 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 4: and I loved winning right. So I may not be 168 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 4: the normal person to answer this, but I think of 169 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 4: it twofold one. I loved one the acquisition of inside 170 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 4: the NBA, finding a way for us to preserve what 171 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 4: I believe is the best product that is cuts through 172 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 4: generations in. 173 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 3: That group, that Hall of Fame, iconic group. 174 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 4: But I also love competition, and I believe with more 175 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 4: partners in with basketball, whether it's NBC or Amazon, it 176 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 4: forces us to be better at ESPN. So one at espn' 177 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 4: I'm grateful that we own sports in the sports fandom. Like, 178 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 4: if you love sports, you know ESPN, you know the 179 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 4: channel to Turn two, you know the events are going 180 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 4: to more often than not going to be there on 181 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 4: a daily basis. But I also do like bringing in 182 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 4: fresh voices, fresh perspectives so that we continue to level up, 183 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 4: you know, our game, and it's gonna be I think 184 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 4: it's going to be good. 185 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 3: I think it's. 186 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 4: Good, you know, to spread the wealth, to share the wealth, 187 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 4: but also make sure that we put out the product 188 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 4: that sports fans won. 189 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: I mentioned earlier, you know, the positive of parity, But 190 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: I want to get back to the negative, which is 191 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: when you talk about those catastrophic injuries to Tatum, Haliburton, Lillard. 192 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: Is this becoming a problem for the NBA in terms 193 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: of when you've got star attractions that are going down 194 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: for like not just a few months, but entire seasons. 195 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,839 Speaker 1: I got to wonder whether League Commissioner Adam Silver has 196 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 1: a problem on his hands. 197 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:21,079 Speaker 3: One thing I do appreciate. I was working in the 198 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 3: NBA draft. 199 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 4: Our fabulous hosts Malika Andrews was interviewing Adam Silver and 200 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 4: she asked him this question, and I really this is 201 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 4: one thing that I believe makes Adam great. He doesn't 202 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 4: duck from these issues. He actually goes and uses science 203 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 4: and information to help create solutions, and so that was 204 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 4: his response. We have a team of people that are 205 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 4: looking into the eight I believe they said there were 206 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 4: eight over the course of this season amongst all players 207 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 4: Achilles injuries and why this has happened. Now, I'm someone 208 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 4: who has dealt with achilles injury. That's one of my 209 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 4: achilles playing overseas in China, and so I know what 210 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 4: that rehab is. And that is really a tough blow 211 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 4: because you look at a team like Boston and you're like, Okay, 212 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 4: would they be making the moves they're making if Jason 213 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 4: Tatum we're healthy now I know that luxury taps the 214 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 4: new ownership, maybe the cases, they'd still be making different choices, 215 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 4: you know, these same choices. But from my vantage point, 216 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 4: and this is purely my opinion, I think those things 217 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 4: happen obviously with fatigue. And if there's a way to 218 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 4: build out pockets of the NBA schedule, and I'm gonna 219 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 4: just say, pro hoops, you can include it in the 220 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 4: WNBA as well. Because we've had a couple of acls 221 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:38,439 Speaker 4: which are tied to anatomically the body of a woman 222 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 4: that people are researching more. Now, if we build out 223 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 4: a few more pockets of rest that is such a 224 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,320 Speaker 4: game changer for an athlete, like having three. If we 225 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 4: know that there's you know, we love to Our goal 226 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 4: is to win Christmas Day, and I know that Fella's 227 00:12:56,480 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 4: coming for us, right, But from Christmas Day December or 228 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 4: is it Boxing Day the twenty six, I believe it. 229 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 3: This is Boxing Day? 230 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, From Boxing Day through New Year's we're all gearing 231 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 4: up for college football playoffs, right, And to me, I 232 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 4: feel like that's a good opportunity to sort of build 233 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:22,079 Speaker 4: out rest because everyone knows where the sports fans' attention 234 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 4: really is cool. We have the play in we have 235 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 4: the playoffs, and those are so sequential. Maybe if there's 236 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 4: an area where you can build out a little bit 237 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 4: of more pockets of rest. An athlete going into a 238 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 4: long stretch, getting three days four days in between, that 239 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,960 Speaker 4: does wonders for their body, and I know that's what 240 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 4: the league is probably looking into. But there's so many components, 241 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 4: you know, that go into scheduling and just being able 242 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 4: to pull off a season that times out well with 243 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 4: other leagues. So this is just my personal perspective building 244 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 4: out and you know, I'm very tuned into the WNBA 245 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 4: as a former player, they've expanded that we're in a 246 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 4: forty four record number, forty four amount of games this year. 247 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 3: Obviously we add a new team in the Golden State Valkyries. 248 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 3: We're gonna add. 249 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 4: Portland in Toronto. They just announced Cleveland Philly in Detroit, 250 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 4: So we'll go from twelve to eighteen by I believe 251 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 4: twenty thirty. 252 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 5: Right. 253 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 4: That means even within the current CBA, you're expanding the 254 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 4: number of games. You deal with Olympic years where you're 255 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 4: condensing the amount of time. 256 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 3: Like, there's some things that I think need to. 257 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 4: Be explored to protect players now again, like I was 258 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 4: on the Players Association, so like that's my brain. And 259 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 4: then as someone who has done the injury, I don't 260 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 4: know if this is all certified, but that was just 261 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 4: my gut. 262 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 3: Reaction to what I'm seeing. 263 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: Got it, Well, we will talk more WNBA with China. 264 00:14:54,360 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: Right after this break stick around, we are back with 265 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: Janey Agoomackay, the ESPN analyst for men's and women's pro 266 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: and college hoops. We just talked a ton about the NBA. 267 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 1: Let's now switch gears to the WNBA. You just mentioned 268 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 1: the recent news of Team expansion, three more teams coming 269 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: in the coming years. What does this mean for the WNBA? 270 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: How significant is it? 271 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 4: We're where the money resides finally, like in my head 272 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 4: as a dot dot dot finally, finally it's the years 273 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 4: of investment partnership. Obviously with the NBA, it took the 274 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 4: superstardom of Caitlin Clark and the new young generation really 275 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 4: and also like bringing in fans, like all of these 276 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 4: things were the perfect storm. We stand on the shoulders 277 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 4: of those who came before us. This is coming off 278 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 4: of recently retiring kandas Parker's jersey like there, it's been 279 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 4: a long time coming, but now the expansion is here. 280 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 4: And one thing that I do like, especially with our 281 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 4: commissioner Kathy Engelbert, I think the key is having the 282 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 4: right ownership, you know, having people truly invested for the 283 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 4: long term, because ownership, the only way it pays off 284 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 4: is not these short term returns like in four or 285 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 4: five years. It's a generational asset. If you just look 286 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 4: at what the Bus family has accomplished with the Los 287 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 4: Angeles Lakers, like those are the blueprints for sports success. 288 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 3: We're at that. 289 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 4: Beginning moment where it's still I know it sounds crazy 290 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 4: for all of us, but like a decently affordable by 291 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 4: in for certain owners, but knowing that the upside is 292 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 4: growing exponentially quicker than we even imagined. You look at 293 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 4: the valuations of the Golden State Valkyries being you know, 294 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 4: half a billion, five hundred million. You know, so my 295 00:16:54,560 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 4: thoughts on expansion, I'm really excited. I believe the players, 296 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:07,719 Speaker 4: the investment, the new eyes, the history allow us to 297 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 4: be at this moment where we can capitalize on it 298 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 4: in the best way possible. 299 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 1: I'm so curious how you, as a player or former player, 300 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: did you always see this coming, this growth for the WNBA, 301 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,200 Speaker 1: or does it has it taken you by surprise. 302 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 3: I didn't always see it coming. 303 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 4: I am right now living and it sounds so corny, 304 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 4: but like living out my dreams. I always go back 305 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 4: to this story where I always go back to this 306 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:45,679 Speaker 4: story where last year was Yes, last year, the w 307 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 4: mid season started deploying charters for the players, and I 308 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 4: called Mekka, my older sister who's president the players Association, 309 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 4: and Nika was like, Chaney, I really can't believe that 310 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 4: we're actually on private planes, Like this is something that 311 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 4: I had already mentally blocked out of my head, like 312 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 4: we won't benefit from this, The next generation will same 313 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 4: type of call I got from her Chaney. I walked 314 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 4: into the Seattle Storm practice facility dedicated exclusively to us, 315 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 4: and I can't believe I'm resting in a hyper bear 316 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 4: chamber right now and can go get meals from our shots. 317 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 4: It can go get shots anytime that I want. So 318 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 4: my answer to that is, I am completely astonished to 319 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 4: be in the present moment right now. Anybody that picked 320 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 4: up a ball, probably around my age or prior, did 321 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,880 Speaker 4: not expect for it to happen the way it did currently, 322 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 4: and so it's been amazing. 323 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 3: It's also been really difficult because. 324 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:48,680 Speaker 4: The passion for players, the passion for teams, the passion palpable. 325 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 4: But also it's it's a pressure cooker when it comes 326 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 4: to rhetoric because as women, we operate at the intersection 327 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:04,439 Speaker 4: of gender race. Our league has been historically political, you know, 328 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:09,880 Speaker 4: an advocacy of what we represent given the primary demographics 329 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 4: of what the WNBA is and so it and we 330 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 4: are unapologetically ourselves, and at times that puts us in 331 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 4: the line of fire, you know, and that at times 332 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 4: things that I say, or we say as broadcasters or 333 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 4: media is not perfect. But one thing I always go 334 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 4: back to is and it's something that Scottie Pippen told 335 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 4: me when I was early on ESPN. It was the 336 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 4: Jump Show with Rachel Nichols. He said, if they boot, 337 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 4: it's okay. It shows you that they care. And there 338 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 4: are more people that will celebrate the hard work you 339 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 4: approach with the game with than they will hate. And 340 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 4: I believe we're at the point where people are appreciating 341 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 4: women's basketball more than they are hating on what they 342 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 4: perceived it to be for a long time, and that's 343 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 4: why we have this amazing growth, this moment and all 344 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:57,160 Speaker 4: the good. 345 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: You mentioned Kaitlin Clark earlier early. She's a factor in 346 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 1: all this, but I think there's a healthy debate going 347 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 1: on about how much of a factor is she is 348 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 1: the star power spreading around beyond her. Where do you 349 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 1: sit on this? 350 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 4: I always say that the rising tide lifts all boats, 351 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 4: and Caitlin the rise of women's basketball that she has 352 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 4: helped usher in. I remember seeing the statistic about a 353 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:25,720 Speaker 4: professor who said that she has generated close to a 354 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 4: billion dollars for the WNBA, that rising tide helps advance 355 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:36,440 Speaker 4: everyone else. I know this personally, and like, I don't 356 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 4: want to put too much tea out there, but I'll 357 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 4: just speak generally, but like endorsements for players, for myself 358 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 4: as a broadcaster. With this women's basketball boom has grown 359 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:49,679 Speaker 4: a lot of people that work in the business of 360 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 4: the WNBA. I talked to a lot of brands, you 361 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 4: know here things, and they're like, this past few years 362 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 4: have been the best for my business, you know. 363 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 3: So I believe you show. 364 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 4: You know, just because you give flowers to one player 365 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 4: doesn't mean you can't give flowers to other players, you know, But. 366 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 3: Everything becomes a debate. 367 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:15,480 Speaker 4: I think that there are so many factors, but the 368 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:22,679 Speaker 4: way that she drives appointment television is something that you 369 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 4: can't replicate often and it only happens once in a generation. 370 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 4: You know, the compass Larry Bird and Magic Johnson created 371 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 4: appointment television, you know, television views and the cinema of 372 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 4: her collegiate run going up against Angel Reese in LSU 373 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 4: and like that cinema also fueled you know. 374 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 3: Like, so. 375 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:54,159 Speaker 4: There's so many factors that helped, but what she has 376 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 4: done is someone who works in TV and sees the 377 00:21:56,520 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 4: numbers that average like that changes the game for so 378 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:05,359 Speaker 4: many But I do really think there's, like I could 379 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 4: list off so many other things that I think help 380 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 4: as well, but like, the moment is here and it's 381 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:16,120 Speaker 4: and you have to give her flowers. 382 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: And I think the moment has to some degree helped 383 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: your moment as you expand your footprint. First, you know, 384 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 1: obviously you do work on a bunch of ESPN shows, 385 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: but you just recently started a news series on Disney 386 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:33,719 Speaker 1: Plus that you referenced earlier called Vibe Check Sports from 387 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: a female Perspective. What's that been, like? Just what You've 388 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,160 Speaker 1: only been doing this now a week or two, right, Yeah. 389 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 3: It's been so much fun. 390 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:45,640 Speaker 4: And like you said, you know, the way that I've 391 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 4: seen it is women's basketball. We've always cared about it, 392 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:53,639 Speaker 4: you know, real ones, okay, But it also takes visionaries 393 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 4: to pay the pathway for the success that we're experiencing today. 394 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 4: And that's why when we I mentioned like Cannis Perker's 395 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 4: jersey being retired, like you get to see the visionaries 396 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 4: that help pave the path for these players to get 397 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,439 Speaker 4: paid and recognized and celebrated. 398 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:13,280 Speaker 3: I see it also on broadcasts. 399 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 4: It took a number of ESPN execs that got put 400 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:21,119 Speaker 4: on the assignment to like, hmm, women's basketball, we should 401 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 4: create a show, a pregame show, a WNBA countdown. We 402 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 4: should really prioritize our NCAA tournament, because the nca tournament 403 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 4: is amazing. We should really work to make sure as many, 404 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 4: you know, we could be as inclusive of talent, even 405 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 4: if China's on the West coast working NBA Today and 406 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 4: NBA Countdown, like can she come? And also service women's basketball, 407 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,080 Speaker 4: which is something that I've been desperate to do. I 408 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 4: just needed a boss to be like, give it the kiddies, 409 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 4: give the schedule and all of these things. That vision 410 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:54,919 Speaker 4: to fight for me to be on that desk, that 411 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,399 Speaker 4: vision to take l Duncan off of Sports Center to 412 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:01,679 Speaker 4: host that, that vision to Andrea Carter do both men's 413 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,879 Speaker 4: and women's you know, college basketball and bring us together 414 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 4: alongside the amazing Monica mcnutts and Christine Williamson's and you know, 415 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 4: they're they're that choice being at the right place at 416 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 4: the right time through the work that we have built 417 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 4: credibility and then also have this natural chemistry and then 418 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 4: on top of it, have the cinema, as I said 419 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 4: of the NCAA Tournament, the Yukon's, the Pagebeckers, the Caitlin's, Iowa's, 420 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:30,199 Speaker 4: the Lsus, the andle Reas like the Notre Dames to 421 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 4: be all there. That's why I say is it's a 422 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 4: perfect storm which highlighted the need to continue to invest 423 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 4: in women's sports, which propelled us to be on stage 424 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:44,639 Speaker 4: with the amazing Bob Iger at Disney Upfronts, to be 425 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 4: the faces of what media can care about from what 426 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 4: everyone just witnessed, to create a platform that's called Vibe 427 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 4: Check that is taken from the segments that we used 428 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 4: to do during the NCAA Tournament and expand it now 429 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 4: to include all women at ESPN. That's the full circle nature. 430 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 4: But then the cool thing is that the studio is 431 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:07,640 Speaker 4: shot with a woman's touch. 432 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 3: What does that mean women? 433 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 4: Like I was, So we got into studio and it's 434 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 4: like we looked at like, oh, we got oprah lighting, 435 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 4: like the beautiful talk show, feminine soft Oprah lighting. We 436 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 4: get to talk about culture, you know, things that women 437 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 4: might be interested in, but also bring in the topics 438 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 4: of the day. Lebron James ops into his fifty million 439 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:35,479 Speaker 4: dollar deal, you know that is interesting to us so 440 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 4: and also being at like places that matter and like 441 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:43,120 Speaker 4: being this is a creative show because it's technically under 442 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 4: the Disney umbrella, even though it's primarily ESPN talent, And 443 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 4: that's the flexibility of the show and the versatility being 444 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 4: a little bit more out of the box per Disney brand, 445 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 4: but also honing in on sports. 446 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:58,400 Speaker 3: Being the intersection of so much. 447 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:02,120 Speaker 4: So it's truly a vibe and it is a product 448 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 4: of all the amazing things that we have been able 449 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:10,200 Speaker 4: to experience recently. And it's just a wild ride pun 450 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 4: intended to mister Bob Bicker because that's his book. 451 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. 452 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 1: Well, yet another way that you're capitalizing on this perfect 453 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 1: storm is you're getting into scripted television. You and your 454 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 1: business part are producing a show for Peacock based on 455 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:36,120 Speaker 1: your own adventures in the WNBA. How did this even 456 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 1: come together? 457 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 4: Speaking of investing in something before people see the vision, 458 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:45,399 Speaker 4: so long, story short, even though you have you can 459 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 4: tell I'm. 460 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 3: Pretty long when it's so apologies. 461 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,680 Speaker 4: In twenty twenty, it was a very big year. That 462 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 4: was the first recent year where the WNBA women's basketball 463 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:57,440 Speaker 4: got a huge spotlight because of the WNBA bubble and 464 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 4: people being stuck at home during COVID watching Live sports. 465 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:04,440 Speaker 4: Very happy that it was back on TV. But also 466 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:06,119 Speaker 4: we were at the point of an election year, an 467 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:09,639 Speaker 4: election cycle, and you saw what the WNBA did for advocacy, 468 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 4: especially when it comes to social justice. Now, at that time, 469 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 4: I was at ESPN. I could not play in the 470 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:17,199 Speaker 4: bubble because I was nursing an injury, and so I 471 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:21,359 Speaker 4: started working all day every day and I had on 472 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 4: my phone line, my sister, my teammates, and I was 473 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:27,280 Speaker 4: just checking in. And so we had this documentary called 474 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:31,159 Speaker 4: One That Captured. It was Sports Emmy nominated that captured 475 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:34,120 Speaker 4: the season and the story of the season. And then 476 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 4: after that there's actually a really funny story, but I'm 477 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 4: not going to spill my tea. But after that, because 478 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:42,400 Speaker 4: of the success of that, we were able to meet 479 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:50,160 Speaker 4: every group internally when it comes to Disney, FX, Hulu, ABC, Signature, 480 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 4: all those entertainment groups, because we accomplished something in the 481 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:56,919 Speaker 4: unscripted space. I had an idea I pitched them that 482 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 4: had been like near and dear to my heart and 483 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 4: I still one day hope to accomplish. But in those 484 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:05,119 Speaker 4: pitch in those meetings, in those pitches, people saw the 485 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:07,960 Speaker 4: dynamic of myself and my agent and they said, hey, 486 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,680 Speaker 4: you guys are interesting because I chose my agent when 487 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 4: I was drafted number one at the age of twenty two. 488 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 4: She was twenty four, fresh out of law school, studying 489 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,639 Speaker 4: for the bar, with no major clients. And by that 490 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:21,359 Speaker 4: I say, maybe she had one that was a friend 491 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 4: of hers. But she thought out of the box and 492 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 4: was like, snay, everyone goes overseas. I want to be 493 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:29,400 Speaker 4: in charge of building you here in the US, you know. 494 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:31,159 Speaker 4: And so I was like, I like your vision, I 495 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 4: like your hustle. So that is how we started working 496 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 4: together and that story became our pitch and it was 497 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 4: our authentic story. So we worked with great partners at Condye, 498 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 4: NASS and obviously Peacock through NBC, and now we went 499 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 4: and pitched and they loved our pitch and we got 500 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:53,719 Speaker 4: a scripted show. And I guess the point and this 501 00:28:53,760 --> 00:28:56,800 Speaker 4: happened like twenty nineteen, twenty twenty. I guess the point 502 00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 4: that I'm saying is that, like it when it comes 503 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 4: to women in sports, a lot of times people thought 504 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:06,200 Speaker 4: that we fit in a certain you know, box. But 505 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:09,520 Speaker 4: I realized through media that storytelling is truly powerful, from 506 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:11,960 Speaker 4: one forty four to documentary. It's like, if we can 507 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 4: get something to the big screen to change people's perceptions 508 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 4: on the sport we care about, wouldn't that be the 509 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 4: ultimate win. That's what drives conversations outside of the phenomenal play. 510 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 3: We need to be different. 511 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 4: Uh. My business partner, Alison Gaylor, her agency is called 512 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 4: disrupt the Game. 513 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 3: We need to do something disruptive. 514 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:30,040 Speaker 4: And we were able to, you know, a converse that 515 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:32,920 Speaker 4: now I'm not gonna lie as an athlete who's used 516 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 4: to seeing immediate results. You practice, you shoot, you see 517 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 4: your free throw percentage go up. Like entertainment is a 518 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 4: different beast. 519 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, no turner. 520 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 4: It is a slow turner. But we have fabulous partners 521 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 4: and we have amazing showrunners, and it's it's so the 522 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:54,600 Speaker 4: pitch met the moment, and that's you know, because we 523 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 4: everything happened within the last year or so year and 524 00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 4: a half with. 525 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 3: The rise of everything that we're experience. 526 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 4: But we were ready because we had already done the legwork 527 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 4: and so by the time we came and pitched, I. 528 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:07,440 Speaker 3: Was like, whoa, we love it. We love women's. 529 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:10,320 Speaker 4: Best, you know. So I'm trying my best. We're at 530 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 4: a very very critical, key awesome stage, and I'm excited 531 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:17,880 Speaker 4: for this project. And we have a couple more that 532 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:20,720 Speaker 4: hopefully we'll keep going and you guys will hear about soon. 533 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 3: So you this is not just a one off. 534 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:27,200 Speaker 1: You've got a vision for doing a whole bunch of things. 535 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 4: I have a vision, yes, And we have a prospective slate. 536 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 4: We have another concept that we're very excited about. We 537 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:39,280 Speaker 4: have unscripted things in the cooker that hopefully people will 538 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 4: hear about soon. But I'm very much someone that doesn't 539 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 4: like I like to walk before I run, you know, 540 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:47,800 Speaker 4: And I feel like we're very much in an exciting 541 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 4: let's put it out there. Let's put it out that 542 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 4: I'd rather know it's concrete and it's real and it's happening, 543 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 4: and then be like, all right, y'all, this is the 544 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 4: fruition of all the work. And so yeah, but we 545 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 4: have things coming which I'm very very excited about. 546 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:03,240 Speaker 1: Well, looking forward to seeing that vision come together. Looking 547 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 1: forward to seeing your coverage of the NBA and the 548 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:09,720 Speaker 1: WNBA in the coming weeks and months. Janey, thanks for 549 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 1: taking the time out to talk with me today. 550 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:14,960 Speaker 4: Thank you for being a joy a part of my 551 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:16,240 Speaker 4: day and I'll do it anytime. 552 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:21,280 Speaker 3: Appreciate you guys. 553 00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 5: Thanks for listening. Be sure to leave us a review 554 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 5: at Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music. We love to hear 555 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 5: from listeners. Please go to Variety dot com and sign 556 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:34,800 Speaker 5: up for the free weekly Strictly Business newsletter, and don't 557 00:31:34,840 --> 00:31:38,360 Speaker 5: forget to tune in next week for another episode of 558 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:39,320 Speaker 5: Strictly Business.