1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: This show was independently created by iHeartMedia. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: Is the exclusive advertising partner. It is intended for informational 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 1: and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: Please speak with your healthcare professional before making any treatment decisions. 5 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're taking 6 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: you beyond the Arena. It's Wednesday, September twenty fourth, and 7 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: on today's show, we'll be skipping the need to know 8 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: and getting right into my honest and surprising interview with 9 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 1: South Carolina women's basketball head coach Don Staley. It's the 10 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: latest installment of our series Life Beyond Living Beyond Labels, 11 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: a powerful podcast campaign brought to you by Iheartwomen's Sports. 12 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: Don's exceptional career as a player and a coach has 13 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: shaped generations of athletes. We had a really candid conversation 14 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: about her journey to the top of the hoops world 15 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: and the importance of leading in life beyond just wins 16 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: and losses. She also discusses the pressure of coaching in 17 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: a new nil and house versus NCAA era, her advocacy 18 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: for equity and women's dot let us and the emotional 19 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 1: strength required to support friends and family through health challenges 20 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: including breast cancer. Together, we explored how true and lasting 21 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: influence lives well beyond the scoreboard and well beyond the arena. 22 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: Our Life Beyond series showcases the extraordinary resilience and strength 23 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: of successful women, diving deep into their lives, highlighting their 24 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: personal journeys, passions, and the ways in which they're living 25 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: beyond the labels they've been given by others. My conversation 26 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: with Don is coming up right after this. Joining us now, 27 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 1: she's the head coach of the South Carolina game Cocks 28 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: women's basketball team, a squad she's led to three national 29 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 1: titles in twenty seventeen, twenty twenty two, and twenty twenty four. 30 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: A former pro hooper, she played college ball at Virginia 31 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: before playing three seasons in the ABL and then eight 32 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: seasons in the WNBA. She was an All star and 33 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: six of those eight A three time Olympic gold medallist 34 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: as a player on TMUSA. She went on to coach 35 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: that Olympic squad to another gold in twenty twenty one. 36 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: The only person to win the Naysmith Award is a 37 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: player and a coach. She's a four time Naysmith Coach 38 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: of the Year, a two time AP Coach of the Year, 39 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: and the highest paid coach in women's soops either college 40 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: or the WNBA. She's in the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, 41 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Good Game 42 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: of Sarah Spain Hall of Fame. She's gone viral for 43 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: her cornhole dominance. She's got a damn statue. It's Don Staley. Hi, Don, 44 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: thanks for joining us. 45 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 2: Oh, thank you for having me. It's a great introduction. 46 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: We're kind of obsessed with the cornhole stuff, to be honest. 47 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 1: That's the outlier that we didn't see coming, but that 48 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: viral clip just keeps coming up, so we're well aware. 49 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 2: They asked me to do cornhole. 50 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 3: Probably that was my second time doing it over the 51 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 3: past like four years, and that was actually my second 52 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 3: time playing over the past for whiles. Like it's something 53 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 3: that once I'm playing, I'm good. Once I'm there at 54 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 3: the at the monament, I'm good. 55 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 4: Instant champions. It's very impressive. 56 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: I want to start a pig picture because we're talking 57 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: in late September, we're about a month and a half 58 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,799 Speaker 1: out from the start of the new college basketball season. 59 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: I'm wondering what level of intensity you're at when it 60 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 1: comes to practice, game planning, scouting other teams, prepping. 61 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:13,239 Speaker 4: For the year. 62 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 3: I'm pretty chill, Like I don't get too high with 63 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 3: the highs or too low the lows, and I actually 64 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 3: go by really how we practice, and we really haven't 65 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 3: had bad practices, like since the summer until now. And 66 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 3: when we've had bad practices, I say it and then 67 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 3: we move on or I make them admit to it. 68 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 3: So it's not just we having to feel a bad practice. 69 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 3: Is everybody feeling a bad. 70 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 4: We're all on the same page that it didn't go 71 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 4: great today. 72 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: How similar or different does it feel this year in 73 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: terms of talent and style from last year's team another 74 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: great run, but a different look this year. 75 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 3: Different look, I mean, same talent, Like I think we're 76 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 3: I think we're pretty talented. I think we also have 77 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 3: a team that we have have been together, you know, 78 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 3: as a as a unit very long, meaning we got 79 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 3: our entire team together in August when we. 80 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 2: Return to school. 81 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 3: That was the first time that we were together, like 82 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 3: all eleven of us. So because of that, we're probably 83 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 3: a little bit behind, but we more than make up 84 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 3: for it because there's a certain cohesion with this team, 85 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 3: there's a certain thirst for actually coaching, which is really 86 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 3: an anomaly in this day and age, where where everybody 87 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 3: wants to be a star, everybody wants where do I 88 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 3: fit in? Everybody wants to ball, everybody wants to be 89 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 3: the focal point. And this particular team just wants to win. 90 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 3: They want they want to get better individually and they 91 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 3: want to win. And when you have that kind of perspective, 92 00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 3: it's it's a lot easier on coaches. 93 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure, You've got returning folks, joy sad Words, 94 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 1: Raven Johnson, Chloe Kats, Tessa Johnson who are trying to 95 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: turn the page after that loss at the end of 96 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: last season, but coming off more success. And then you've 97 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: got Tanaya Latson who led all of Division One in 98 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 1: scoring last season, had over twenty five points per game. 99 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 4: How are you taking the. 100 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 1: New talent, mixing it in with the old talent and 101 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: making sure everyone is equally as hungry to. 102 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 4: Get a title. 103 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 3: Everybody's coming really just wanting to win and wanting to 104 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 3: get better. Tanaya Danaia just wants to get better, and 105 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 3: you know I had to say this to our media 106 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:37,600 Speaker 3: today and that it's it's Florida State did everything they 107 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 3: could do to put Tanaya in this position, and they 108 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 3: needed her to play that role of having to score 109 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 3: a lot of points and playmake for them, and we 110 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 3: need her to do the same things. But also just 111 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 3: watching her play over the years, and I you know, 112 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 3: I watched her play and when it got close to 113 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 3: tournament times, just in case we got metched up with them, 114 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 3: she's gifted, she gets or to basketball. Tanaya came here 115 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 3: probably for a different look, for different probably a responsibility, 116 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 3: but also to put her in a position where she 117 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 3: can learn some things to be a better pro and 118 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 3: a change of just just a change of environment will 119 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 3: help to do that, you know, But I feel a 120 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 3: responsibility to help her become her better pastor to counter 121 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 3: the fact that she can score points and score points 122 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 3: and bunches to help her to be more accurate from 123 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,479 Speaker 3: shooting outside the three. And then probably the last part 124 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 3: of it is we need her to continue to do 125 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 3: what she's doing with play of defense, like really e 126 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 3: locked in defense because because she's going to a world 127 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 3: where you it has to exist. Both worlds have to 128 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 3: exist and when you go to the next level, because 129 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 3: you could be the greatest scorer, but if you're giving 130 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 3: up as many more points than your scoring, then you 131 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 3: got a problem. 132 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 1: Yep, You'll end up on the globetrotters, on the and 133 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: one circuit. You'll have plenty of places to score, but 134 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: probably not the W How has the introduction of house 135 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: versus NT double A and the payments made directly from 136 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 1: school to players affected how you. 137 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 4: Recruit and manage and put together this team. 138 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 3: I mean it's a part of our conversations when recruiting now. 139 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 2: It is. 140 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 3: You know, I think we're probably a lot more fortunate 141 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 3: than other teams. I do think our new ad, Jeremiah Nadi, 142 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 3: I mean, he really gets it. I mean he really 143 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 3: gets the importance of women's sports, you know, not just 144 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 3: women's basketball, but women's sports in general. 145 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 2: And I know he's charged. 146 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 3: With, you know, getting football to where it needs to 147 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 3: be and getting into contending for a national you know, championship. 148 00:07:56,640 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 2: But at the same time, you know, he. 149 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 3: He's had some programs on this campus and specifically women's 150 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 3: programs that have you know, that have been the final 151 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 3: fours that have won national championships, that have been pretty 152 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 3: much the cornerstone of this athletics department by having success 153 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 3: like a court success and in the classroom success. So 154 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 3: when you get an ad that really just sees all 155 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 3: of it and it's unafraid to put his money where 156 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 3: his mouth and pouring into women's boards. 157 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 2: So is it great? No, it's competitive, and that's what 158 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 2: we need to be in this space. 159 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 3: It's competitive with other women's basketball programs around the country. 160 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 4: You said you were lucky, and it's true. 161 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 1: Every school will get to decide how they want to 162 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 1: dole out that twenty million or so every year, and 163 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: a lot of schools, a lot of places are very 164 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: worried about whether the women's programs will be forgotten. That's 165 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: not the case for you, but you do have the 166 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: added responsibility now of dealing with how the players are 167 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: impacted not just by nil deals from outside the program, 168 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: but buy money that's coming from inside the house. In 169 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: an episode of the IMO podcast with Michelle Obama and 170 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,840 Speaker 1: Craig Robinson, you talked about how you have essentially NDAs 171 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: with your players. 172 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:10,439 Speaker 4: They're not supposed to. 173 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 1: Talk to each other or anyone about how much of 174 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: that pie they're getting, presumably to keep them all from you. 175 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 4: Know, being jealous or I want more of this or 176 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 4: more of that. 177 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:21,199 Speaker 1: But you did say you have a certain amount of 178 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 1: money to work with, but you're within budget while staying 179 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: innovative in the ways you help. 180 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 4: Your players out. 181 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: What are some of the things that you're doing to 182 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 1: offset maybe not having all the money that you wish 183 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: you could give. 184 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:32,199 Speaker 3: Yeah, and let me just say this, you know, when 185 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 3: I when I say things like that the NDAs, you know, 186 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 3: then then our athletics department is flooded with full request. 187 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 3: And I've made our players side NDAs you know, like 188 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 3: two years ago. 189 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 2: So it's not something that we do every year. 190 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,439 Speaker 3: Obviously, we just want to protect we you know, we 191 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 3: try to just run a program in which weakest weakest 192 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 3: stay in a place where it's not entering the locker room, 193 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 3: because once it gets to your locker room, it's not 194 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 3: a it's not a great place. 195 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 2: What we had to do this year was front load. 196 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 3: Everything like and gotta give a shout out to our 197 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 3: donors who really put us in a position where we 198 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 3: could we We basically front loaded everybody's nil money except 199 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 3: three of our players. 200 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 2: So the money that we have in rep share we gotta. 201 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 3: We got a certain amount that if we needed to 202 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 3: front load some players returners, if we needed to go 203 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 3: out and get a transfer like a Tonight Lasson, we 204 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 3: got enough money to play with to go get those 205 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 3: players or to front load our players for the following 206 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 3: season and then still have the money that we'll receive 207 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 3: next year as far as REP share. So I'm hoping 208 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 3: we could keep that cycle going because it'll allows us 209 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 3: just more opportunity to be creative in the space. 210 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 2: Because I do think women will get shafted. 211 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,959 Speaker 3: I'm not saying that we're not, but across the country 212 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 3: women's basketball teams and programs are getting shafted like we're 213 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 3: good on our own, like the house settlement hurts women's 214 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 3: sports to be to me, because I could go out 215 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 3: and ask a donor for one hundred grand here or 216 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 3: one hundred grand there. 217 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 2: They give to our program. 218 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 3: We could directly, just not directly, you got to go 219 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 3: through the collective and has to play the play. 220 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 2: So we could have done that a great deal. And 221 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:43,479 Speaker 2: we had enough money. 222 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 3: And we had seven figures more than seven figures to 223 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 3: give out the front load, so it was more than 224 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 3: the REP share that we're getting so it hurts us. 225 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 3: It hurts us now, and if we ask a donor 226 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 3: for money, it can't go to the players. It has 227 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 3: to go to enhancing our program, which enhancing our program 228 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 3: is signing players, right, that's the name of the game. 229 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 3: So I'm hoping that that ads and presidents do right 230 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:19,239 Speaker 3: by women's sports, like do right bys make it competitive 231 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 3: to where we could go out and get players. You 232 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 3: can't go fill the roster with one hundred grand or less, 233 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 3: or two hundred grand or three hundred or four hundred 234 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 3: or five hundred. You really can't. You really can't. It's 235 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 3: really impossible. So we got to keep pleading, and I'm 236 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,839 Speaker 3: gonna keep pleading the case for specifically women's basketball programs, 237 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 3: even as that if it's at our detriment, because the 238 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 3: better my my, you know, my competitors are maybe the 239 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 3: worse we are, but it's better for better for the game. 240 00:12:55,520 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 3: So you know, it's it's it's a tough business. You 241 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 3: always have to think creatively or else we're going to 242 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 3: lose some great coaching because you just can't survive in 243 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 3: a space like that. 244 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's fascinating to talk to college coaches. I remember 245 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 1: talking to Corey Close of UCLA about how you're not 246 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: just a coach anymore. 247 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 4: You're a business manager. You're a GM. 248 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: You're the person that goes between the players and the 249 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: school and the boosters and the I mean, I would 250 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: have spent, if I were you, my whole summer just 251 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: reading up on the specifics of house versus NCAA, the payments, 252 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 1: the structures. I mean, it is a whole nother job 253 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: that hopefully you have people on your staff to help 254 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 1: work you through. But I mean the difference between what 255 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: you had coming up and what it meant to commit 256 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: to a school and play there versus now is absolutely 257 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 1: night and day. 258 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 4: I know you did probably do. 259 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 1: A lot of that this summer, working and looking ahead 260 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: to this year, but you also spent some of your 261 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 1: time promoting your book Uncommon Favor Basketball in North Philly, 262 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:55,679 Speaker 1: My Mother and the Life Lessons I learned from all 263 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: three instant New York Times bestseller, So congrats on that. 264 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: I know you've got a lifetime of lessons to share, 265 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:05,679 Speaker 1: advice to impart, how do you decide what you want 266 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: to include and what you want in black and white 267 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: as part of your legacy? 268 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 2: I mean, I mean writing a book. 269 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 3: You're you know, you're you're vulnerable, you don't know how 270 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 3: it's going to be received. But I mean I pretty 271 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 3: much live my life like as an open book, Like 272 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 3: I don't have anything to be ashamed of. And obviously 273 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 3: I put stuff in the book that some people could 274 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 3: be ashamed of, like not being a great student my 275 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 3: first year. 276 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 2: I mean there are things in there that you know, 277 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 2: I mean, there are. 278 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 3: Peer pressures, there's failure, there's you know, obviously some achievements 279 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 3: in there, and it's very much like anybody else that 280 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 3: has the highs and lows of life, and how you 281 00:14:56,920 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 3: fight through those experiences is what makes you. And I 282 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 3: don't I don't mind sharing. Like again, even to the 283 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 3: detriment of me, I don't mind you. I don't mind 284 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 3: sharing because these are life lessons that everybody goes through. 285 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 3: And fortunately for me in writing uncommon favor like I 286 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 3: haven't had a bad review, like not one person. 287 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 2: Actually I did look up on Amazon. 288 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 3: There was there was one person that wrote a bad 289 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 3: review because of the condition that their book came in. 290 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 4: You're like, that's not my problem, that's like the. 291 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 2: Books I'm like five point those stars, you know what. 292 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 3: I'm saying I don't like, I don't like anything less 293 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 3: than perfection when I. 294 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 2: Can control it. 295 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: You said you're an open book, but I would say 296 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 1: your private life is pretty private. So how did it 297 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: feel to either be pushed by your publisher to share 298 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: more about that or to decide, like here's what I 299 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: am willing to share and even this, maybe it's a 300 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: little uncomfortable. 301 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 4: For me when I want to want to talk about hoops. 302 00:15:58,000 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, well I would say this. 303 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 3: I mean, I'm I guess I've built enough armor because 304 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 3: when you when you're over fifty, life just really leans 305 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 3: out for you and it clears up for you. 306 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 2: So no matter what happened prior to me being less 307 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 2: than fifty. 308 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 3: We're lessons like and and I want to share like 309 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 3: I did, like like God has has blessed me with 310 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 3: like so much like my cup runned over to the 311 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 3: point of I'm like, I got to share it now. 312 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 3: Was the time, like I you know, I talked to Charlemagne, 313 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 3: like when we won a championship in twenty twenty two, 314 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 3: he was like, you should write a book. 315 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 2: I'm like, Okay, I heard this. I heard this. I mean, 316 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 2: I've heard this pretty much all my life. 317 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 4: To write a book thirty years ago. 318 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I'm like, yeah, okay, But then he was 319 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 3: really persistent about writing it. Obviously he's got a publishing company, 320 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 3: and I think he being in the space, he knows 321 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:11,119 Speaker 3: a lot more about books than I do, and a 322 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 3: lot more about people because that's his that's his job 323 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 3: to get to know people and ask people questions. And 324 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 3: that wasn't my first time being on the Breakfast Club, 325 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 3: so you know, obviously he finds me interesting or he's 326 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 3: just giving me, you know, some space because I'm a 327 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 3: South Carolinian. But he was just really persistent on writing 328 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 3: the book. And then when we won in an undefeated fashion, 329 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:36,919 Speaker 3: I'm like, this is the time. 330 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 2: Like this is really the time to do it. 331 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,120 Speaker 1: I love the BF and AF before fifty and after fifty. 332 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 1: I've been saying forty because I think a lot changes 333 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: after forty. 334 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 4: But I'll let you know when I get to fifty. 335 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:53,439 Speaker 4: He's better at us, he's better. Glad to hear it. 336 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 4: You know. 337 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 1: Some of the battles that you fought outside the arena, 338 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: outside the basketball court include fighting for love, ones, friends, 339 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: and family. You advocate for cancer research and bow marrow donations. 340 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 1: Your sister Tracy was diagnosed with leukemi in twenty twenty 341 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 1: and your former assistant coach teammate, dear friend Nikki McCray 342 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: Penson passed away after struggling with breast cancer. So your 343 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 1: efforts in that have earned you the twenty twenty four 344 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 1: Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the espi's You've made 345 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: a lot of headlines working in hospitals, working with sponsors 346 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: to advocate for research. What did you learn, I wonder 347 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: from being around people you loved so much during those battles. 348 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:33,880 Speaker 1: What did you learn, specifically being by your own sister's 349 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 1: side as she took on a life threatening disease. 350 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 3: I mean what I learned is you activate, like activate 351 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 3: for your loved ones, like you know, my sister when 352 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:51,120 Speaker 3: she was diagnosed that. I mean, that's such a personal thing, 353 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:55,880 Speaker 3: Like it's something that that consumes you as the person 354 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:57,640 Speaker 3: that has been diagnosed. 355 00:18:57,840 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 2: Right. 356 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 3: I don't want to die, right, So for loved ones, 357 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 3: it is who do you know? 358 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:05,679 Speaker 1: Like? 359 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:09,159 Speaker 2: So for me, I really did. 360 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 3: I contacted Sylvia Hatchell, who had leukemia. Coach k I 361 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 3: had my doctor that treated me at Cleveland Clinic and 362 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:27,879 Speaker 3: he was a cardiologist. I spoke with someone that that 363 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 3: had cancer here, like one of our one of our donors, 364 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:35,679 Speaker 3: her her husband had cancer and he got treated at 365 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 3: m D Anderson. So I got a chance to speak 366 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,639 Speaker 3: to a doctor that treated him at m D Anderson. 367 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 3: And then and then you're talking to Mayo Clinic like 368 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 3: I Sloan, like I talked to doctors from all of 369 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:52,679 Speaker 3: those places. When to visit doctor Raziri at Duke and 370 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 3: he was really so kind, so loving, so just gave 371 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:03,360 Speaker 3: up so much information and then he did a lot 372 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 3: of them, so it wasn't like, you know, it wasn't 373 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 3: an unknown for him. So my sister was very comfortable 374 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 3: with him. And we decided to stay a little bit 375 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 3: close to the home where we could drive, you know, 376 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 3: we could drive up and if she could get home, 377 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 3: we could drive home. And so I think you have 378 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 3: to activate, and I just my sister was just really 379 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 3: positive throughout it, like she never she never had a 380 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 3: bad day, Like I would say. She did have a 381 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 3: bad day, probably after her after her fourth chemo treatment, 382 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 3: after she had the. 383 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 4: Bone marrow transplant and she. 384 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 3: Had lesions on her lips that were just hanging off. 385 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 3: That was probably when she felt the worst, and it 386 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 3: was more so because she could actually see it. 387 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 2: Before she couldn't really see it, but you have to 388 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 2: tell it. 389 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 3: Look, you won't die from leukemia, like you really, we 390 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 3: got you, like we got the best people, the best doctors, 391 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 3: we got the best care. You won't die from leukemia. 392 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 3: So if you could just keep a positive outlook we 393 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 3: get you open the hump and where thank god, we're 394 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 3: over five years from that place. 395 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 4: Incredible. 396 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:14,120 Speaker 1: Well, and you used your network to really reach out 397 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: and say, I know, we're gonna get you the best 398 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: that's available. 399 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 4: And then it's just on you to stay positive. 400 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 1: You obviously everyone wants to do that for loved ones 401 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 1: to go through those things. 402 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 4: But for Nicki, she wasn't able to be saved. What 403 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:28,360 Speaker 4: did you learn from losing her? 404 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 3: I mean what I learned is Nicki gave up an 405 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 3: incredible fight, like she gave it all she had. And 406 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:42,199 Speaker 3: to tell Nikki's story, Niki, Nikki didn't want kids, like 407 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 3: at all somehow, and Nikki did a lot of stuff 408 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 3: to not have a kid. And then you know, when 409 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:53,439 Speaker 3: she found out she was pregnant, you know, it was 410 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,320 Speaker 3: it was miraculous and a lot of people don't know this. 411 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 3: You know the year that she was pregnant and then 412 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 3: she had her son, little Thomas. 413 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 2: She didn't get her mammogram that year. 414 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 3: For some reason, and she used the up on it 415 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:11,879 Speaker 3: because cancer runs in her family. And then when she 416 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 3: got her mammogram, she found the spot. And then we 417 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 3: were with her, Me and Coach Boyer were with her 418 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 3: with every treatment that she sat through. 419 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,120 Speaker 2: NICKI again, Nikki didn't have a. 420 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 3: Bad day, meaning meaning we were taking best as to 421 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 3: when Nikki would have her surgery and when she would 422 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,120 Speaker 3: get back into the office, Like she had a surgery 423 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 3: on a Wednesday, right, I said, Niggy's probably gonna be 424 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 3: back Monday. 425 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 2: Like Monday, And if she could have been back. 426 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 3: Friday, she would have been back Friday. But the lose Nikki, 427 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 3: you know, is I mean, it was tough. Like Nikki 428 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 3: is her smilest, infectious. She absolutely loved basketball, She loved 429 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,360 Speaker 3: her family, she loved and a mom, she loved being 430 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:07,199 Speaker 3: a wife, she loved the sun shining like she loved life. 431 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 2: And when we lost her, it was super sad. 432 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 3: Like I I at a funeral, at a service, I 433 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 3: asked you if I could have one of her plants 434 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:20,919 Speaker 3: that that was at the funeral, and I still have 435 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 3: her plant. 436 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 2: Like I talked to her plant. 437 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 3: I talked to Nikki. I, you know, I don't have 438 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 3: a green thumb, but but but it's still going strong. 439 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 2: It's probably because of Nikki. 440 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:36,400 Speaker 1: We got to take a quick break when we come 441 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: back the rest of my conversation with Don Staley. You 442 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: know you're wearing the necklaces that you never seem to 443 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 1: be without. 444 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 4: Can you share the story of why you wear those? 445 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:59,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, really cool story. I believe. 446 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 3: I met at Blakely Thompson in twenty twenty two at 447 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 3: UVA Children's Hospital. 448 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,440 Speaker 2: I got a partnership with a flag and AFLAC. 449 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 3: They have this like automatic duck that when little kids 450 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 3: aren't able to verbalize because they're going through their treatments 451 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 3: what they're feeling. These ducks have these emojis that you 452 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 3: put on their stomach. It tells doctors how their young 453 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 3: patient is feeling. So we took Blakely and a few 454 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 3: of her friends through a scavenger hut. At the end 455 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,640 Speaker 3: of it, they got their duck and then that after 456 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,159 Speaker 3: they got their duck, they were able to make necklaces 457 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:38,919 Speaker 3: for their duck. And I you know, you wouldn't know 458 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 3: that she was sick, like probably deathly sick, but you 459 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 3: wouldn't know it because we're having a conversation. 460 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 2: She's just talking and she's. 461 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 3: Just carefree, and I'm sitting there thinking like, how brave 462 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 3: of her. I know her parents are so consumed with 463 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:03,920 Speaker 3: their child's health like every day, and I just. 464 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:05,199 Speaker 2: Wore in her honor. 465 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 3: And then when we were on our way to winning 466 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 3: our championship, she knew it was getting pretty worn down. 467 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 3: She ended up sending me another one and we ended 468 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 3: up winning the championship in twenty twenty two. 469 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 2: And then I went this other one. 470 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 3: Again because Athletic took me over to Columbia's Children Hospital 471 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 3: for sicka cel, so same thing. Scavenger Hunt met this 472 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:36,120 Speaker 3: dude and we just we just had a really good 473 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:41,880 Speaker 3: time and I went for pediatric cancer and pediatric cica cel. 474 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 4: It's really incredible. 475 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: I wonder sometimes being empathetic to people like that does 476 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 1: give you perspective, but you also carry their stories with 477 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: you and it can be a lot to feel what 478 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:58,360 Speaker 1: they're feeling. You're going to talk to these kids, you're 479 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,640 Speaker 1: fighting on behalf of your friends and family and through 480 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:04,440 Speaker 1: it all, you're still coaching, how do you compartmentalize, find 481 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 1: your focus, stay strong enough to show up for your 482 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 1: players during those moments. 483 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 3: I really draw strength, you know, and perspective from those 484 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:18,920 Speaker 3: who have to go through a disease like every day. 485 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 3: You know, like sometimes my knee hurts doesn't compare to 486 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 3: what they go through. I would say, sometimes I have 487 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 3: a bad day, but really I don't have bad days. 488 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 3: I really, you know, in comparison to other people, I 489 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:35,880 Speaker 3: don't have bad days, So I don't feed into bad days. 490 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 2: Every day is a good day. Every day. 491 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 3: I try to share my passion, like I really love 492 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:46,120 Speaker 3: my job. I really love working with young people. I 493 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,439 Speaker 3: really love being a dream merchant for my players, like 494 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 3: I really love that part of what I do. I 495 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 3: do walk with a limp because of just the years 496 00:26:55,480 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 3: of playing basketball. But I'm kind of pain like and 497 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 3: it doesn't compare to what other people have to go 498 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:07,719 Speaker 3: through on a daily basis. So you know, I'm counting 499 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:12,560 Speaker 3: my blessings while also praying for those who are afflicted 500 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 3: by you know, cancer, sick of sell, any other debilitating 501 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 3: disease to where it consumes your your every day, like your. 502 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:25,400 Speaker 2: Everyday thoughts that's exhausting. 503 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 3: I pray for their piece, even if it's for an hour, 504 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,199 Speaker 3: even if it's for half a day, that they have 505 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:37,159 Speaker 3: the piece to be normal, like think, just not be 506 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 3: consumed with what they're going through. 507 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 1: You mentioned your relationship with your players, which is incredibly special. 508 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:47,640 Speaker 1: Y'all really do ride for each other, whether that's supporting 509 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:51,439 Speaker 1: each other's books, shoes, showing up at games. Two of 510 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,360 Speaker 1: your former athletes, Alisha Gray and Asia Wilson, were finalists 511 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:57,720 Speaker 1: for WNBA MVP this season, Asia obviously going on to 512 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:01,160 Speaker 1: win her record forth MVP. Asia currently facing off against 513 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 1: another game Cock star in Eleiah Boston in the WNBA 514 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:07,400 Speaker 1: semi finals. So hard for you, presumably to figure out 515 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 1: where to put all your allegiances. But what do you 516 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 1: think you do specifically to help your players succeed at 517 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 1: the next level? Why are there so many former Don 518 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 1: Staley players that are thriving at the. 519 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 3: W I would say this, You know, young people come 520 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 3: to South Carolina for a reason. One is just the 521 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 3: history of the known, which is we continue to work prohabits. 522 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 3: Prohabits are the driving force of what we do here 523 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,000 Speaker 3: at South Carolina. All of our players want to be 524 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:43,720 Speaker 3: pros and if you. 525 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 2: As a coach have it. 526 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:50,360 Speaker 3: If you haven't put anybody you know in the WNBA, 527 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:54,320 Speaker 3: you really don't know. But until you do, you'll understand 528 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 3: and you understand what that process is for those players 529 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 3: or those type will players, that type of talent, and 530 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 3: you know what works and what doesn't work. So for 531 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:09,400 Speaker 3: us we figure out what works. One is just really 532 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 3: clear communication clear, and that is that is you know, 533 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:20,320 Speaker 3: whether something's going great or not so great, we're gonna 534 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 3: we're gonna give it to you just like just like 535 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 3: it is, whatever whatever that moment deserves, we're gonna give 536 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 3: it to you. And we've conditioned our players to take that. 537 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 3: Whereas some people you gotta coddle. Some people you just 538 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 3: gotta make sure. You gotta walking on eggshells. There's none 539 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 3: of that here, Like this is the training ground to 540 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 3: being successful at the next level. Tell me when you 541 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 3: when you don't like something, tell me if you think 542 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:49,200 Speaker 3: we should play a certain way. Now, when you suggest 543 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:51,680 Speaker 3: something that we need to change in what we're doing, 544 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 3: you gotta back that thing up with some film. Because 545 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 3: we're watching film. We're watching You probably won't watch as 546 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 3: much as we watch it, but we listen. 547 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 2: And I mean we got proles. You just mentioned it. 548 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 3: Like Aliyah, I do think Aleah Boston will be should 549 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 3: be on the at least the first and second team 550 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:17,040 Speaker 3: of all w NBA. Alisha Gray continuously comes back and 551 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 3: practices with us and share exactly what's happening at the 552 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 3: next level, right like when she came. When she comes back, 553 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:28,560 Speaker 3: I always ask her to talk to the team, what 554 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:32,920 Speaker 3: what can what can our players do to prepare themselves, you. 555 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 2: Know, for the next level. For someone that used to 556 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:37,480 Speaker 2: not talk. 557 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 3: A whole lot, Alisha gray Leish said, talking vets don't 558 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 3: want to play with anybody that doesn't talk out there 559 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 3: on the floor, like like they will they will remove 560 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:53,120 Speaker 3: you from the floor, not even the coach, they will 561 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 3: remove you off the floor. 562 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 2: So Angel always talks about off season workouts, what she 563 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 2: done us, like the amount of time that she spends. 564 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 3: Working out getting better and being specific and what she's 565 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 3: working out with Aliyah. She's always talking about just getting 566 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:16,440 Speaker 3: better and the type of shape that you need to 567 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 3: be in the Like Aliah doesn't go overseas to play, 568 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:23,880 Speaker 3: but she's always around basketball. 569 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:24,880 Speaker 2: She's commentating. 570 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 3: She's an analyst, so her mind is always thinking the 571 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:33,680 Speaker 3: game and thinking of ways and how what she's seeing 572 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 3: could help her. 573 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 2: When she's playing out there in the w NBA. 574 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:41,920 Speaker 3: Like all of our players, Zaia Cook, I talked to Zaia, 575 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 3: I talked to La like they are all learning, but 576 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 3: they're still there because a lot of people in the league. 577 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 3: Tiffy Mitchell was, you know, one of our first to 578 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 3: get drafted. She's still in the league, and she's still 579 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 3: in the league because she's smart and she created these people. 580 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 3: Because even if she doesn't play a whole whole lot, 581 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 3: she brings value. She brings value to the locker room. 582 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 3: So that's why I, you know, I choose to stay 583 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 3: on this level, is because I'm able to shape their 584 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:19,920 Speaker 3: lives in a way that it protects us continue to 585 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:21,480 Speaker 3: have a women's professional league. 586 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, and at the level you're at too, it's so 587 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:29,880 Speaker 1: necessary and important to set a precedent for women coaches. 588 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 1: We know all the statistics about Post Title nine, and 589 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 1: as more money got into the game, fewer women. 590 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 4: Were given opportunities to coach. 591 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,600 Speaker 1: There is such a need for more women coaches across 592 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:42,920 Speaker 1: every level of basketball and every other sport. And not 593 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 1: only are you doing it and setting an example, But 594 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:49,000 Speaker 1: you're demanding the pay that your accomplishments call for. How 595 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 1: do you summon the courage and the fearlessness it takes 596 00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:54,680 Speaker 1: to walk into an office at South Carolina and ask 597 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:57,080 Speaker 1: for what you deserve, ask for more than what anyone 598 00:32:57,120 --> 00:32:57,720 Speaker 1: else is getting. 599 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:00,920 Speaker 3: Well, I don't do Would I get somebody to do 600 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:06,720 Speaker 3: it for me? I mean, here's the reason why if I, 601 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:09,200 Speaker 3: if I don't do it, it's easy. It's probably easy 602 00:33:09,240 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 3: to tell me no, right, no, we don't have it, 603 00:33:11,920 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 3: budgets whatever, whatever, Right, I mean, you get somebody that 604 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 3: that really believes that it should happen, right, and then 605 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:22,920 Speaker 3: they have the expertise. 606 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:26,000 Speaker 2: You know, you got to get lawyers involved. Just make 607 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:27,960 Speaker 2: sure that you know we. 608 00:33:28,040 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 3: All speak in the same language. Because the budget is 609 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:36,640 Speaker 3: the budget, you know. I'm sure the budget doesn't call 610 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:40,960 Speaker 3: for any coach to get an increase. But when you 611 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:44,560 Speaker 3: have the type of success that we've had, I do 612 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:48,360 Speaker 3: understand my worth like I do. I have a pretty 613 00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:51,360 Speaker 3: good understanding of my worth. And It'll be quite honest, 614 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:55,120 Speaker 3: I'm not driven by money. I am driven by principle. 615 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:59,000 Speaker 3: I am driven by principle, and I am an example 616 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:02,120 Speaker 3: for our player. Like I tell them all the time, 617 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 3: don't settle right if you got some non negotiables, Like 618 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:10,279 Speaker 3: I recruit young people all the time, what are your 619 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 3: non negotiables? That's what I asked, What are your non negotiables? 620 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:18,120 Speaker 3: And if we aren't able to deliver their non negotiables, 621 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:21,719 Speaker 3: then we're not the school for them. What my non 622 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:26,640 Speaker 3: negotiables are? It is principal. I'm principled in knowing that 623 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:32,040 Speaker 3: if we've had sustained success, sustained you know, and I'm 624 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:35,920 Speaker 3: not talking just success, we've won like we've won, like 625 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:37,800 Speaker 3: we've been the last team standing. 626 00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:43,560 Speaker 2: And if you're the last team standing on any campus, you. 627 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 3: Deserve a race, no matter if y'all want back to back, 628 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:48,880 Speaker 3: no matter if y'all won like I don't know how 629 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:53,800 Speaker 3: many Connecticut one like in a row, but ginot deserve 630 00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:58,400 Speaker 3: the race every single time. Because if football or men's basketball, 631 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:03,239 Speaker 3: if they've ever one back to back, they're rich people. 632 00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:05,080 Speaker 2: Yeah right there, they're. 633 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 3: People, and it's and it's the conversations aren't very long. 634 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:15,759 Speaker 3: They don't out for months or you know, months on end. 635 00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:17,200 Speaker 2: They get it done. 636 00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:22,840 Speaker 3: A football coach, if he has success and the last 637 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:27,320 Speaker 3: game is on whatever it is last last week of November. 638 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:32,399 Speaker 3: There's a month between that and the ball game. It's 639 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 3: getting done within that, within that time frame. So I mean, 640 00:35:37,360 --> 00:35:40,160 Speaker 3: that's why I do it, because I want my players 641 00:35:40,239 --> 00:35:43,479 Speaker 3: to know for the same type of work that they'll 642 00:35:43,560 --> 00:35:45,360 Speaker 3: mal counterparts may do. 643 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 2: In the future. Then it's okay to bet on self. 644 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:53,920 Speaker 3: It's okay to have hard, uncomfortable conversation, It's okay to 645 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 3: know their worth. 646 00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:58,359 Speaker 1: You have a special relationship with South Carolina. You've been 647 00:35:58,400 --> 00:35:59,960 Speaker 1: there a long time, You've had a lot of success. 648 00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:02,480 Speaker 1: We were at an event together in Portland. You talked 649 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:05,759 Speaker 1: about how you call the fans fams instead because they're 650 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:06,560 Speaker 1: part of the family. 651 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:08,839 Speaker 4: But you did interview for the next job. 652 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:12,719 Speaker 1: How much of you was really interested and drawn to 653 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:16,000 Speaker 1: the idea of coaching the New York next in the MNBA. 654 00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:18,640 Speaker 2: Well, well, one, let me just say this. I'm a 655 00:36:18,719 --> 00:36:19,600 Speaker 2: people's person. 656 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:25,120 Speaker 3: So I mean, I know Leon I know worldwide West, 657 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:30,160 Speaker 3: I've known him for thirty years. And when I when 658 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:33,360 Speaker 3: I got the call, you know, I'm like, yeah, right, Leon, 659 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:36,200 Speaker 3: Like I'm talking to Leone, like you're right, okay, what what? 660 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:38,280 Speaker 2: Then he was like, I'm serious. 661 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:42,080 Speaker 3: And when he told me why he was serious, and 662 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:44,360 Speaker 3: then I was like, okay, well, okay, let's do it. 663 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:49,480 Speaker 3: Part of me, you know, was like, really, this isn't 664 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:54,080 Speaker 3: this isn't what I've ever wanted, right, And then the other. 665 00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:56,680 Speaker 2: Part of me was a little intrigued, you know, because 666 00:36:56,680 --> 00:36:57,480 Speaker 2: it was a challenge. 667 00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 3: And then when I was preparing for the interview and 668 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:06,160 Speaker 3: I'm having these conversations with different people and I'm taking 669 00:37:06,239 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 3: my notes and I'm preparing myself, and then when I'll 670 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:12,879 Speaker 3: go and do the interview, I wasn't nervous at all. 671 00:37:13,719 --> 00:37:17,000 Speaker 3: And part of me was doing it for a female coach, 672 00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:21,040 Speaker 3: if ever there's somebody that is going to be interviewed 673 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:22,520 Speaker 3: and taking seriously. 674 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:25,279 Speaker 2: I got all the notes and I'm keeping them and 675 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:27,880 Speaker 2: I'm going to share them. Yeah, but then you're in 676 00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:29,160 Speaker 2: the interview and you're talking. 677 00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:32,960 Speaker 3: I'm just doing what I normally do and speaking on 678 00:37:33,080 --> 00:37:37,560 Speaker 3: who I am one as a leader, as a collaborator, 679 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:41,760 Speaker 3: as a unifier, Like if you want all of those things, 680 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:46,520 Speaker 3: that's what I've done my entire career, my time, not 681 00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:51,279 Speaker 3: as a coach, okay, I mean as somebody in my neighborhood, 682 00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:52,600 Speaker 3: in the projects. 683 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:54,360 Speaker 2: I did those things. 684 00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:59,320 Speaker 3: So I gotta not just experience coaching doing it. I 685 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:04,320 Speaker 3: got experience outside of coaching. This thing is real simple, 686 00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:07,840 Speaker 3: to be quite honest, to be successful. It's really simple. 687 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:08,719 Speaker 2: To be a. 688 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:13,280 Speaker 3: Collaborator, is simple to be a unifier. It's really simple. 689 00:38:13,920 --> 00:38:17,040 Speaker 3: It looks sound feel something looks sounds to feel off, 690 00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:20,480 Speaker 3: you address it. If it looks sounds to feel good 691 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:23,640 Speaker 3: and positive, you encourage it and you want more right 692 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:24,360 Speaker 3: and you praise it. 693 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:27,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, I was excited for the interview. 694 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:29,680 Speaker 1: I was torn because I think it's a great thing 695 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:32,160 Speaker 1: to keep having women in those interviews, even if they 696 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:34,640 Speaker 1: don't get the job, to normalize the idea that the 697 00:38:34,719 --> 00:38:37,000 Speaker 1: pool should include great former. 698 00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:38,440 Speaker 4: Players and current coaches like yourself. 699 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:41,600 Speaker 1: I also worry about whether you're ever being used as 700 00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:43,600 Speaker 1: a token to say, oh, yeah, we interviewed a lady, 701 00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:45,200 Speaker 1: but we're never going to hire her. 702 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:47,120 Speaker 4: You know, that's always my concern. 703 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:48,000 Speaker 2: I don't think so. 704 00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:53,800 Speaker 3: I don't think that's what their intentions were. But when 705 00:38:53,840 --> 00:38:57,120 Speaker 3: it was all said and done, you have to be 706 00:38:57,280 --> 00:39:02,080 Speaker 3: prepared as a franchise. You have to think differently. You 707 00:39:02,239 --> 00:39:04,480 Speaker 3: can't think the same because you're not hiring to say, 708 00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:07,319 Speaker 3: if I'm the coach, if we go on a five 709 00:39:07,400 --> 00:39:11,520 Speaker 3: game skid. It ain't gonna be because I'm a bad coach. 710 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:14,640 Speaker 3: It's gonna be because I'm a woman, right, a female 711 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:18,600 Speaker 3: come And it has nothing to do with like all 712 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:22,160 Speaker 3: these coaches they go on five game skid, three game skid. 713 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:25,040 Speaker 2: The conversation around that will be a lot different. 714 00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:27,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, you gotta be ready for that. Yeah, you gotta 715 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:28,719 Speaker 4: be ready. If you are going to hire and be 716 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:30,920 Speaker 4: one of the firsts, how do you plan to support that? 717 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:32,239 Speaker 4: You know, I want to ask you. 718 00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:35,279 Speaker 1: About your early time in I mentioned you were in 719 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:37,560 Speaker 1: the ABL for a couple of years before the WNBA, 720 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:40,640 Speaker 1: and you have been on the forefront of the firsts 721 00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:43,000 Speaker 1: of things and the early times of things. 722 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:45,719 Speaker 4: And of course the growth in the w is fantastic. 723 00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:48,080 Speaker 1: Of course we love the increased investment and all the 724 00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:50,800 Speaker 1: attention and all the hype. But there were some pretty 725 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:55,000 Speaker 1: legit attendance records, moments of history that happened back in 726 00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:57,200 Speaker 1: the early days. And when you hear people talking about 727 00:39:57,239 --> 00:40:00,320 Speaker 1: the current time as the end, all be y'all, what 728 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:03,160 Speaker 1: do you wish they knew about those early years too? 729 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:05,239 Speaker 1: And some of the records we're seeing get broken now 730 00:40:05,760 --> 00:40:07,760 Speaker 1: that you got to go pretty far back to see when. 731 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:09,040 Speaker 4: They were set, when it was thriving. 732 00:40:09,120 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 3: Then well, I mean women's basketball has been thriving for 733 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:16,440 Speaker 3: a very long time. 734 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:18,920 Speaker 2: Like we we we have a tendency to think that 735 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:22,320 Speaker 2: it's just started like now, like we've been doing this. 736 00:40:24,120 --> 00:40:27,960 Speaker 2: We've been doing this forever, like people had. 737 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:32,920 Speaker 3: People were intentionally not looking, intentionally not pouring in like 738 00:40:33,440 --> 00:40:35,680 Speaker 3: like calculatingly. 739 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:36,040 Speaker 2: Not doing it. 740 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:40,200 Speaker 3: So when it's when it's like that, you're only gonna 741 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:44,120 Speaker 3: you're only gonna see what you what you tell your 742 00:40:44,239 --> 00:40:45,040 Speaker 3: eyes to see. 743 00:40:46,320 --> 00:40:50,400 Speaker 2: And and now people's eyes are wide open because they 744 00:40:50,520 --> 00:40:52,439 Speaker 2: see we're there. 745 00:40:53,160 --> 00:40:56,080 Speaker 3: When you put in resources behind us, oh we're gonna 746 00:40:56,080 --> 00:40:58,680 Speaker 3: take you to another level. You you'll get a return 747 00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:01,960 Speaker 3: in your investment in this up and then and then 748 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:06,680 Speaker 3: you want to do more, well, well you can't continue 749 00:41:06,760 --> 00:41:07,279 Speaker 3: to do more. 750 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:08,800 Speaker 2: But this could have been you. 751 00:41:08,960 --> 00:41:11,719 Speaker 3: You could have been sitting fat and happy at home, retired, 752 00:41:12,440 --> 00:41:15,760 Speaker 3: all because you brought it to women's women's basketball, women's 753 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:16,680 Speaker 3: sports in general. 754 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:20,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to the party, guys. We've been waiting we do 755 00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:23,239 Speaker 1: something on this show. It's kind of like bench start cut, 756 00:41:23,360 --> 00:41:27,399 Speaker 1: but you don't have to cut anything. It's just good, good, good, 757 00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:30,959 Speaker 1: or goodest. So starting with good and then getting better. 758 00:41:31,640 --> 00:41:33,839 Speaker 1: We know that you're Asia Wilson's number one hype woman. 759 00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:40,800 Speaker 1: So good, good or goodest, Asia's statue, Asia's shoes, Asia's 760 00:41:40,880 --> 00:41:41,399 Speaker 1: pink hair. 761 00:41:42,719 --> 00:41:43,160 Speaker 2: Asia. 762 00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:50,520 Speaker 3: Ooh, I'm gonna say, gooddest is the statue? Oh right, 763 00:41:51,719 --> 00:41:57,120 Speaker 3: good is this shoe? And then the pink hair. The 764 00:41:57,239 --> 00:41:59,080 Speaker 3: pink hair got to go. You can get cut. 765 00:41:59,520 --> 00:42:02,680 Speaker 1: Oh okay, okay, so we got good is the pink care, 766 00:42:02,960 --> 00:42:06,080 Speaker 1: gooder is the shoes, and goodest is the statue. 767 00:42:06,280 --> 00:42:08,640 Speaker 4: Yes, I love it all right. 768 00:42:08,719 --> 00:42:10,880 Speaker 1: Last question for you, if you look at Don Staley 769 00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:13,879 Speaker 1: beyond the arena, you'll find. 770 00:42:14,600 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 2: I'm really a homebody, simply I love being at home. 771 00:42:19,719 --> 00:42:23,600 Speaker 3: And then I would say this, I'm like, I love TVs. 772 00:42:24,239 --> 00:42:26,959 Speaker 3: I got TVs all over, like all over my house. 773 00:42:28,120 --> 00:42:30,280 Speaker 4: If you look beyond the arena, you'll find TVs. 774 00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:32,000 Speaker 2: That's what you'll find it. 775 00:42:32,480 --> 00:42:35,960 Speaker 4: I love it. What's on the TVs just basketball or 776 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:36,439 Speaker 4: something else? 777 00:42:37,080 --> 00:42:40,720 Speaker 2: I mean, I like crime like, I like crime, war movies. 778 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:43,360 Speaker 2: I like I don't mind blood. 779 00:42:43,800 --> 00:42:46,560 Speaker 3: I don't mind any of that. Like a Dateline is 780 00:42:46,600 --> 00:42:49,359 Speaker 3: one of my favorite shows. I fall asleep the floor 781 00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:50,440 Speaker 3: Forensic Files. 782 00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:54,800 Speaker 1: So I'm just picturing you in a beautiful house, covered 783 00:42:55,239 --> 00:42:59,880 Speaker 1: in all TVs everywhere, just like blood, guts, gore. Okay, 784 00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:03,080 Speaker 1: your special, your special. I knew you were special. You're 785 00:43:03,120 --> 00:43:05,320 Speaker 1: even more special than I thought. Thank you down for 786 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:05,759 Speaker 1: coming on. 787 00:43:06,120 --> 00:43:06,840 Speaker 4: Really appreciate it. 788 00:43:07,160 --> 00:43:07,480 Speaker 2: Thank you. 789 00:43:11,080 --> 00:43:13,720 Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports 790 00:43:13,760 --> 00:43:16,880 Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You 791 00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:20,040 Speaker 1: can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 792 00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:23,680 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, 793 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:27,400 Speaker 1: our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive 794 00:43:27,400 --> 00:43:31,880 Speaker 1: producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutterer. 795 00:43:32,320 --> 00:43:35,680 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and 796 00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:40,239 Speaker 1: Gianna Palmer. Our associate producer is Lucy Jones. Production assistance 797 00:43:40,280 --> 00:43:43,360 Speaker 1: from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain