1 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: For you. 2 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 2: Welcome to No Dunks. I'm tas Melos for some summertime 3 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 2: fun here in the Classic Factory at the desk, solo, 4 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 2: but flying this plane as always, it's super producer JD. Hello, 5 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 2: what's up? 6 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: JD? 7 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 2: And joining us from Las Vegas where I saw her 8 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 2: ten days ago and she's still there. Oh my god. Yes. 9 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 2: Sabrina Merchant Sambrina is a women's basketball staff writer for 10 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 2: The Athletic. Sabrina, thank you for joining us, and how 11 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:46,319 Speaker 2: are you holding up? 12 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: I'd like to point out that I did go home 13 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:53,599 Speaker 1: in between the last thankfully. 14 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 3: I live in Los Angeles regularly, so easy trip back home, 15 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:58,639 Speaker 3: which just happened this silly back here for. 16 00:00:58,640 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: WWA All Star. 17 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 3: So yeah, I'm not a total Vegas degenerate, but I 18 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 3: certainly feel like it sometimes. 19 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 2: Well, awesome, congrats, you got to go home. You are there, 20 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 2: as you said, to cover the WNBA All Star Game. 21 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: You saw Sabrina Jonescu and you covered it for the Athletic. 22 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 2: Drop twenty five of twenty seven shots, twenty straight three balls, 23 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:19,960 Speaker 2: an NBA record, WNBA record, all that, and she called 24 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 2: out steps for a shootout. So we'll get to that. 25 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 2: We'll get to Kelsey Plumb asking for tickets, We'll get 26 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 2: to Wade buying a stake in the Chicago Sky. We'll 27 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 2: talk about the Aces and Liberty and whether their dominance 28 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:35,199 Speaker 2: is good for the game. But first, when the NBA 29 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: in season tournament was announced, I thought, this is kind 30 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 2: of like the Commissioner's Cup for the WNBA. So I 31 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 2: asked you, is it similar enough to have a discussion 32 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: about it to learn something from the WNBA's route here 33 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 2: the last couple of seasons through the tournament. You said yes, 34 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: and I said yes, all right, let's have a discussion. 35 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: So overall, the Commissioner's Cup in its third year here 36 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 2: just a general question, do you deem it a success? 37 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: Yes? 38 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 3: Thus far, the wain that Las Vegas Aces celebrated when 39 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 3: they won last year was literally eighty percent of what 40 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 3: they celebrated when they won the actual WNBA title. So 41 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 3: I think so definitely success, especially considering that the prize 42 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 3: pool is more than what WNA players win for actually 43 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 3: winning a WNBA title. So when you have that much 44 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 3: money involved for a league that is already working to 45 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 3: increase its salary and compensation, it's definitely gonna be something 46 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 3: that players look forward to, and it was interesting. I 47 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 3: was listening to The Old Man and the Three with 48 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 3: JJ Reddick and Gabe Vinson said that like prizes that 49 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 3: he got for making the finals with Miami last year 50 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 3: are less than what he would get for winning the 51 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 3: NBA Cup this year, So I think a similar compensation 52 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 3: is come in the NBA's way too. 53 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a great point about the NBA players in 54 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 2: their compensation, because it's going to be five hundred thousand 55 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 2: per player for the winning team, which most people just 56 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 2: generally say, ah, if NBA players make so much money, 57 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 2: they don't care about that, But looking up and down 58 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:04,839 Speaker 2: a roster, I'd say half the players would be excited 59 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 2: to get a huge bonus. That's it would mean something 60 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 2: to win five hundred thousand dollars. So you think the 61 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 2: financial incentive, although it's far lower this year it's thirty 62 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 2: K per member of the winning team for the WNBA, 63 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 2: is a financial incentive for these players. 64 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, because even though it's far lower than you know, 65 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 3: the NBA incentive, the maximum salary and. 66 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: The WNBA is about two hundred and forty thousand, so 67 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,519 Speaker 1: thirty K is still an eighth of that. It's still 68 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:32,359 Speaker 1: a big chunk of money. 69 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 3: And you've heard a lot of veterans especially talk about 70 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 3: how much it means to them to be able to 71 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 3: give their rookies or their hemates on rookie contracts, which 72 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 3: generally range from like seventy to eighty thousand, the chance 73 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 3: to add a lot more money to their pockets in 74 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 3: the event that they win this. 75 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 2: Okay, so the players seem like they care, as you said, 76 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 2: like eighty percent of the vibe of the finals, and 77 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 2: in a general way, do you think fans care about it. 78 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 3: I'm not sure fans are totally aware of what's happening 79 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 3: at any point in the Commissioner's Cup. And I think 80 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 3: that's where the NBA really improved upon the WNBA's execution, 81 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 3: because the thing that's most similar is that the games 82 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 3: are regular season games in the group stage, so they 83 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 3: count for both Commissioner's Cup standings and for regular season standings, 84 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 3: but they're so spread out in the WNBA schedule, and 85 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 3: they don't all occur on anyone given night or have 86 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 3: any particular branding associated with them, other than if you 87 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 3: go on the WNBA dot com page, there's like a 88 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 3: little cup next to the schedule, like Icon on their 89 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 3: you know scores list. So I think it's it's hard 90 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 3: for fans to figure out when the games are happening 91 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 3: unless you just check the Commissioner's Cup standings later. And 92 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 3: I'm not sure that all of the broadcast partners have 93 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 3: done the best job of highlighting the fact that it's 94 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 3: the Commissioner's Cup game during the course of the action, 95 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 3: especially because you know, the WNBA sold the Commissioner's Cup 96 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 3: rights to Amazon and there's like seven thousand other providers 97 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 3: that carried WNBA games, so they're not all in advised 98 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 3: to be talking about it all the time. Like just 99 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 3: this year, you know, the WNBA had actually the Eastern 100 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 3: Conference representative for the Commission's Cup come down to the 101 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 3: very last game of the first half of the regular 102 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 3: season and what happened at like nine o'clock am on 103 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 3: a camp to day game in New York, and it 104 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 3: was just not a super big deal. 105 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,719 Speaker 2: Right, So I think similarly the NBA, which as you said, 106 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 2: like the WNBA, the regular season games just kind of 107 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 2: overlap with the tournament games. They're just one and the same. 108 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 2: But then they hit in the NBA a semi final 109 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 2: and final that take place in Las Vegas, where it's 110 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 2: this big to do, and that is the game that, 111 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 2: as you said, in the Commissioner's Cup, that the finals game, 112 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 2: which is sort of on its own, is not a 113 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 2: regular season game, is the one that stands out. So 114 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 2: I think similarly that's what will happen in the NBA. Okay, 115 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 2: there are these other games, although the NBA, as you said, 116 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 2: kind of planned it a little bit better. They're on 117 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 2: Tuesday nights and they're on Friday nights for this group play, 118 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 2: and then once they get to the semifinals and the finals, yeah, 119 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: there's there's a bigger sort of yeah, there's a bigger 120 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 2: drama around it. There will be things happening. Although the 121 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 2: WNBA doesn't have a neutral site game for its finals, 122 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 2: So how do you think that'll play out in the NBA, 123 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 2: which will take place in Las Vegas. 124 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 3: So it's interesting because the first time the Commissioner's Cup 125 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 3: was introduced to the WNBA in twenty twenty one, they 126 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 3: did have the neutral site game for the final. It 127 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 3: was staged in Phoenix, and it was sort of like 128 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 3: the welcome back for the WNBA season when they came 129 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 3: back from the Olympic break in twenty twenty one, and 130 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 3: because Phoenix was not involved in the Commissioner's Cup Final, 131 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 3: it was between Seattle and Connecticut. There wasn't exactly the 132 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 3: same sort of excitement that you'd hope for for a 133 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 3: game that is featuring arguably two of the best teams 134 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 3: in the league. 135 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: So I understand the the. 136 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 3: You know, the incentive to go back to a host 137 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 3: team that you know gives a little bit more incentive 138 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 3: to win games in the standings, Like you know, this year, 139 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 3: Las Vegas is hosting it because they had more. 140 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: Wins than New York, who's the East and Conference representative. 141 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 3: I just think scheduling wise, that the WNBA kind of 142 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 3: has to do it for the host city because there's 143 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 3: already so much arena unavailability that the league has to 144 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 3: deal with that. I mean, once you have a team 145 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 3: that is innate, you kind of just want to be 146 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 3: able to sell tickets for that specific team. And frankly, 147 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,559 Speaker 3: the wm BA host its best events in Las Vegas anyway, 148 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 3: so it's kind of a good thing that it's here 149 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 3: this year. 150 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: Do you plan on going back in August? Are you 151 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 2: that much of any how many days you stay in 152 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 2: for this time, not obviously not ten, you know. 153 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: It might actually be ten. 154 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 3: The Aces are in the middle of a five game 155 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 3: homestand with the Commissioner's Cup kind of slapped in the 156 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 3: middle of it, and two of those games are going 157 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 3: to be against New York Liberty, So I'll be here 158 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 3: for quite a bit. 159 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 2: Oh wow, Ace's Liberty. That's big stuff. We'll get to 160 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 2: them and they're dominance in the league a little bit later. 161 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 2: But first, just back to the tournament. I know New 162 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 2: Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin said that this tournament 163 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 2: could be sort of a good little stepping stone, good 164 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 2: experience for the younger players in his rotation that haven't 165 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 2: had a lot of playoff experience. Have WNBA coaches used 166 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 2: the Commissioner's Cup as playoff experience? Have they changed their 167 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 2: rotations to play some of their younger players? Will we 168 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 2: potentially see that in the n season tournament in the. 169 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 3: NBA Literally, no WNBA coach has ever talked about changing 170 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 3: the rotation during the commissioners stuff because they're they're all 171 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,680 Speaker 3: regular season games and there are ten Commissioner's Cup group 172 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:36,719 Speaker 3: stage games the WNBA. That's actually kind of one of 173 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:38,679 Speaker 3: the things that I like better about the NBA's version 174 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 3: because when you have ten games out of forty that 175 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 3: count for the Commissioner's Cup, you're basically just getting the 176 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 3: very best teams in the league in the Cup. And 177 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 3: I think in the NBA version we're going to have 178 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 3: some inherent randomness with only four group stage games, where like, 179 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 3: just because these two teams are projected to make the finals, 180 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 3: doesn't mean they're most likely to. 181 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 1: Meet up in the NBA Cup final as well. 182 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 3: So because there's so much of the right which is 183 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 3: an at stake with these Commissioner's Cup games, you just 184 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 3: don't see a lot of mixing and matching with the rotation. 185 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 3: And then there's no like quarterfinals or semifinals. There's only 186 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,719 Speaker 3: one big finals, so it's only one additional game they 187 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 3: have to play, and you kind of just go balls 188 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:15,439 Speaker 3: out in that game. 189 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a great point that the regular season is essentially. Yeah, 190 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 2: twenty five percent of the regular season is this tournament 191 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 2: matches up with the Commissioner's Cup group play well. In 192 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 2: the NBA, as you said, it's four of eighty two 193 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 2: games as far as the group play goes, so it's 194 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 2: far different. So maybe the rotations are different at Adrian 195 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 2: Griffin throwing that out there because it doesn't mean as much, 196 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 2: and maybe the lights will be brighter in a neutral 197 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 2: site in Las Vegas, so that could help some of 198 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 2: the younger players. But what is similar is that one 199 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 2: game in the Championship doesn't count for the standings, same 200 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 2: thing as the NBA, just that one particular game. Those 201 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 2: two teams will play eighty three games this coming season. 202 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 2: Has there been any complaints about that? What's the vibe 203 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 2: around that part of it? 204 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, So, as I mentioned in twenty twenty one, the 205 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 3: first year they did this, it was right after the 206 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,319 Speaker 3: Olympic break, so those two teams had to come back 207 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 3: a little bit earlier. And then you saw Seattle actually 208 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 3: its two stars Brianna students superb for a couple of 209 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 3: games after the Commissioner's Cup to start the regular season 210 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 3: because they had just played in Tokyo for the Olympics. 211 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 3: And you know, the Seattle coaches were not thrilled about that. 212 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 3: But at the same time, like I have to imagine 213 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 3: that they would be sitting their best players for a 214 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 3: little bit after the Olympics, regardless of whether there was 215 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 3: a Cup or not. I know Vegas complained about it 216 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 3: a little last year because they had to go on 217 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 3: an additional road trip to play in Chicago for the 218 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 3: Cup Final last year, and their travel schedule around the 219 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 3: Aulstar Break was already pretty hilarious, as is. 220 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: The Liberty. 221 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 3: Thank goodness, are already in Vegas for another game that 222 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 3: happens to be two days after the Commissioner's Cup, just 223 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 3: a regular season games, so travel will not be too 224 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,560 Speaker 3: like extenuating for either of these teams. 225 00:10:57,920 --> 00:10:59,479 Speaker 1: The cadence of forty games. 226 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 3: Within the WMA regular season is something that I've looked into, actually, 227 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 3: because this is the longest regular season that the WNBA 228 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 3: has had so far, and there are some teams that 229 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 3: are complaining just like about the lack of practice time 230 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 3: and with commercial traveling it's getting a little hectic. Adding 231 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 3: one more game, I'm sure is something that nobody's exactly 232 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 3: thrilled about. But this is literally the best space cacenario 233 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 3: that could have happened, because Biggas is already on this 234 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 3: extended homestand and New York has already. 235 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 2: Coming okay well on the New York Liberty and the 236 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 2: Las Vegas Aces. It is amazing that they are like 237 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 2: you said, within sort of a season series. As the 238 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 2: game the game comes up, and it's interesting that it 239 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:41,559 Speaker 2: is more of a potential mirror of the finals a 240 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 2: little bit later on. Those two teams feel like they 241 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 2: are destined to play in the w NBA Finals as 242 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 2: the super teams that loaded up in the offseason. How 243 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 2: do you see it as a just sort of as 244 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 2: a w NBA fan and writer, is it a good 245 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 2: or bad saying that super teams are now headlines of 246 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 2: the WNBA and aren't a crash course for the finals? 247 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 1: Yeah? 248 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 3: You know, the WNBA is kind of littered with super 249 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 3: teams throughout its history. 250 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: Like we had the Houston Comments winning. 251 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 3: The first four titles, led by Hall of famers Cynthia 252 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 3: Cooper or Cheryl Sopsy and Tina Thompson for the. 253 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 1: First part of the league. 254 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 3: And then you had Lisa Leslie and the Los Angeles Sparks, 255 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 3: who weren't exactly super team but are also the last 256 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 3: ones to repeat. Then you had these Links Sparks rivalries 257 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 3: in their early twenty tens, with the Links maybe having 258 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 3: the greatest starting five ever assembled up until this current 259 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 3: last Vegas Aces team against a Sparks team with Kamnas 260 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:39,840 Speaker 3: Parker or Chelsea Gray who happened to be on this 261 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 3: last Vegas Aces team, and a couple other great players 262 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 3: in Mecho Goom McKay and Christy Tolliver. So, you know, 263 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 3: super teams have just they've been a thing in the 264 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 3: WNBA for as long as has existed. It just sort 265 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 3: of happens when you have twelve teams that the concentration 266 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 3: of talent on any one given team is going to. 267 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: Be pretty prodigious. I think the difference with the. 268 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 3: Way the Liberty were created this year and how part 269 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 3: of the Aces were created, as much of it happened 270 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 3: through free agency, and this is the first time really 271 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 3: within the last couple of years that the WNBA has 272 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 3: been able to have any sort of off season magic at all, 273 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 3: because free agents are actually able to change teams and 274 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 3: we get the drama of talking about player movement and 275 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 3: player agency and all of the good stuff that comes 276 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 3: with you know, NBA off season, which you know, depending 277 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 3: on how much you like that, you can take. 278 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: It or leave it. 279 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 3: But I think it's inarguably good for the WNB to 280 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 3: have that conversation during the off season. 281 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: You know, I quibble with the. 282 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 3: Characterization of the Liberty as a super team because they 283 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 3: obviously signed a great amount of talent during the off 284 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 3: season and traded for john Well Jones, But the gap 285 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:43,439 Speaker 3: between them and the Aces is still to me so 286 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 3: significant that it's like Aces super team and then everybody 287 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 3: else kind of in a separate tier. 288 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 2: And the Connecticut Sun. So I guess, yeah, I guess 289 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 2: the gap between the Aces and the Liberty far bigger 290 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:02,839 Speaker 2: than the Liberty and the Sun, I imagine absolutely. Okay, well, 291 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 2: I want to hear about what you're covering there, the 292 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 2: All Star Game festivities. Hopefully we got you here before 293 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 2: you catch a flight, because I'm sure you want to 294 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 2: get the heck out of there, no offense. What time's 295 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 2: the flight? Do we got time here? I know we 296 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 2: caught you. Oh, we got plenty of time. All right, 297 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 2: So yeah, we'll get to the ticketing issue. Weighed buying 298 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 2: in to the Chicago Sky and a whole lot more. 299 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 2: But first, a word from our sponsors. All right, we 300 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 2: are back with Sabrina Merchant, women's basketball staff writer for 301 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 2: The Athletic Jewel. Lloyd dropped thirty one one All Star 302 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 2: Game MVP the day before Sabrina Jonescu put on a show, 303 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 2: an incredible show. She missed the first one in the 304 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 2: three point contest, then bang home twenty straight, only missing 305 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 2: two shots of her twenty seven in the three point contest, 306 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 2: and then what I loved, she went on Twitter and 307 00:14:57,280 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 2: hit up Steph Curry shootout. Steph me and you, let's 308 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 2: do this. Were there any rumblings in Las Vegas about 309 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 2: a potential you ANDSCU Steph Curry three point contest in 310 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 2: the future. 311 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 3: You know, Steph was pretty wrapped up in that golf 312 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 3: championship part of this weekend, really aggressive celebrations from stuff 313 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 3: on the golf course. 314 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 2: No, no, no, no rumblings. 315 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: I've yet to hear anything about that. 316 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 3: But you know, I always think about NBA All Star 317 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 3: Weekend and how they use WNBA players in their participation, 318 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 3: and I've always kind of hated that the WNA players 319 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 3: are in the celebrity game. 320 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: I think it kind of means what they're. 321 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 3: Capable of rightly, because they're not really trying in a 322 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 3: celebrity game, and then they don't excel in a celebrity 323 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 3: game and it looks like, Oh, WNA players can't even 324 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 3: beat random celebrities at basketball but if you just brought 325 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 3: Sabrina to the three point shootout this week, like this year, 326 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 3: I don't see why that would be a problem. I mean, 327 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 3: we have it in college McDonald's All American Weekend, the 328 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 3: women's play against the men, and three point shit up 329 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 3: at the very end they have like in the Dunk 330 00:15:58,800 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 3: Contest occasionally. 331 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: I think, shooting wise. 332 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 3: It's probably the best way to have WMA players compete 333 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 3: against NBA players. And I mean, thirty seven, like that's 334 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 3: six higher than Steph has ever hit in a three 335 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 3: point shoot out, So I think that would you just 336 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 3: find there? 337 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, thirty seven points out of forty, that's a ridiculous number. 338 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 2: And I do think Steph said something on Twitter about 339 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 2: her being ridiculous or whatever she said, or whatever he said, 340 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 2: I should say he was busy winning a celebrity golf tournament. 341 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 2: As you said, did you want to say something about 342 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 2: the thirty seven out of forty? 343 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: You know, it's funny because she missed the first ones, 344 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 1: so you. 345 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 3: Kind of lose track of the fact something ridiculous is happening. 346 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: Because like it's not perfect right away, but then you 347 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: just keept hitting and hitting. 348 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 3: And hitting, and I feel like it's the only time 349 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 3: I've ever seen someone hit like a full money rack 350 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 3: and the two starry balls, which I can't believe I'm 351 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 3: actually saying those words allowd but the three pointers or whatever, 352 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 3: you know, the long distance ones. Yeah, And it's funny 353 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 3: because you know, we talked about ass liberty, and there 354 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 3: is there's definitely like the rumblings of a rivalry being 355 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 3: created between Las Vegas and New York among the fans, 356 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:12,439 Speaker 3: just because New York is like the team that has 357 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 3: the best chance of throwning Las Vegas this year, and 358 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 3: so Sad isn't exactly like the most. 359 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: Popular player around the league, especially not in Las Vegas. 360 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: And even then, like you couldn't help. 361 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 3: But just get so hyped in that crowd for what 362 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 3: she was doing, because it was just it was insane. Like, 363 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 3: you know, again, I don't even think she's like the 364 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 3: most popular player, but when you're witnessing back kind of greatness. 365 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:34,119 Speaker 1: Everyone was just losing their minds. 366 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,879 Speaker 3: And we've got three point great Ali Quigley, who's won 367 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 3: three or four three point shootouts in attendance, and like 368 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 3: who's announced her retirement from the event, and everyone's asking 369 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 3: her if she's going to come back, and she's like, 370 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 3: nobody's ever freaking breaking this, Like, why would I try 371 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 3: to come back and breakfast? 372 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,199 Speaker 2: That's a really good point. I totally feel you on 373 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 2: losing track of the number. I've watched it like six times, 374 00:17:55,800 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 2: just trying to understand missing the first one and then 375 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:04,919 Speaker 2: in the twenty straight. Yeah, it was including those starry 376 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 2: balls as Yeah, I don't want to see it either, 377 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 2: but yeah stepped up and hit those those those long 378 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 2: distance ones in her her twenty straight. It was a 379 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:19,439 Speaker 2: great show, and like you said, they could easily be 380 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 2: part of Saturday Night, why the heck not? Actually, you know, 381 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 2: we always complain about the skills challenge here on the show, 382 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 2: and the w NBA one was far more entertaining. They 383 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 2: they wanted it a heck of a lot more. Uh, 384 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 2: Sabrina lost that and she said she wanted some revenge 385 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 2: in the three point contest. I we can scrap the 386 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 2: skills challenge on Saturday Night in the NBA, right, make 387 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 2: it a longer three point contest or whatever. We absolutely 388 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 2: don't need it. So I would like to see Sabrinian 389 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 2: escue against Steph. And we always have sort of these 390 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 2: gimmicky like these random I shouldn't say gimmicky, but like 391 00:18:55,640 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 2: there have been gimmickyond Greeners. Yeah, yeah, totally, like Dick 392 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,399 Speaker 2: Bavetta racing, Charles Barkley, you know that kind of stuff. 393 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 3: So I mean we should we sulk the time is 394 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 3: there on Saturday night to add Sabrina Escue taking seventy 395 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 3: seconds to. 396 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,640 Speaker 2: The time is there? You're totally right. 397 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, just. 398 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:17,439 Speaker 2: Correct me if I'm wrong. It was just the skills 399 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 2: challenge and the three point contest on Friday night, correct correct, Yeah, Yeah, 400 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 2: WNBA took care of business, got everybody out of the building, 401 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 2: So yeah, we can manage our time a little bit 402 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:31,919 Speaker 2: better as well on the Saturday night. Anyways, Aside from that, 403 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 2: let's move to to Saturday night the All Star Game 404 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 2: WNB All Star Game. I know Kelsey Plumb tweeted a 405 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 2: couple of days before that she was having some problems 406 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 2: getting some tickets. She hit up Commissioner Kathy Engelbert and said, 407 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 2: what's up. I know you wrote about it on the Athletic. 408 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 2: What has been the fallout from that tweet? Kelsey asking 409 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 2: for more tickets? 410 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 3: You know, kind of just seemed like bad communication from 411 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 3: the league and the players. Because all of the players 412 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 3: who reached out to the union or to the league 413 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 3: were able to get tickets for themselves, and every All 414 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 3: Star got you know, four tickets for their family members 415 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,959 Speaker 3: and two additional tickets for each Friday event that they 416 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 3: participated in. 417 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 1: Admittedly, like four its as an. 418 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:17,400 Speaker 3: All Star seems a little light, you know, when they're 419 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 3: only twenty two All Stars. But it is a you know, 420 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 3: building that only seats about ten thousand, and you're trying 421 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 3: to incorporate as many fans as possible, So I get 422 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 3: like why. 423 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:26,199 Speaker 1: They tried to limit it. 424 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 3: I think they probably stand to give the players a 425 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:32,640 Speaker 3: few more tickets than just four, you know. I give 426 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 3: the WAA a grief for a lot of different things 427 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 3: with its messaging and communication. I don't think this one 428 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 3: is really entirely on them. It just seems like the 429 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 3: players didn't. 430 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:43,640 Speaker 1: Really know where to go, and once they knew where 431 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:43,880 Speaker 1: to go. 432 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 3: They were able to get the tickets. Like Alicia Clark 433 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 3: Kelsey Plumbs Teamate, who was the one that was suggesting 434 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 3: that she didn't have a ticket to the game right away, 435 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:51,159 Speaker 3: Like I saw her everything. 436 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 1: She was there with multiple other WNA players. They had no. 437 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:57,360 Speaker 3: Problem getting in so, you know, it was I think 438 00:20:57,359 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 3: it was a bigger deal than it needed to be. 439 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 3: But that's just kind of what happens when a league 440 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 3: that is historically been there, not great at dealing with 441 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 3: its players just has another thing come up. 442 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, taken to Twitter just to voice some displeasure sometimes 443 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:15,680 Speaker 2: doesn't work all that well. But I saw yeah the area, Yeah, 444 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,639 Speaker 2: a lot of like neck a Guomukay basically saying I 445 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 2: talked to the PA, We've got it done, no problem. 446 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. 447 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 2: So yeah, there's got to be a slack channel or something, 448 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 2: you know, where things are voiced rather than on Twitter. Well, 449 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,360 Speaker 2: we saw our man Dwyane Wade buying an ownership stake 450 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 2: in the w NBA Chicago Sky this past week. Very 451 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:41,439 Speaker 2: excited for him hometown. He he obviously has plans. There 452 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 2: was the rumors when he visited a practice in June 453 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 2: and now it's come to fruition and he seems like 454 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 2: a very hands on person. So do you think there 455 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 2: will be any near term effects of Wade buying into 456 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 2: the Sky. 457 00:21:57,760 --> 00:21:59,719 Speaker 3: You know, the main thing that the Chicago Sky need 458 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 3: is a dedicated practice facility where they practice. Is this 459 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,400 Speaker 3: public gym that other people can just come into and 460 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 3: they don't have like a locker or storage or anything there. 461 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 3: And they share an arena with the DePaul College basketball team, 462 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 3: So just facilities wise, it's not super exciting to go 463 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 3: play for the Sky when you could choose another team 464 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:20,439 Speaker 3: like let's say the New York Caliberty where they have 465 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:22,680 Speaker 3: their own dedicated space in Barclay Center and they play 466 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,400 Speaker 3: in a real NBA arena and you know there's room 467 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 3: for seventeen thousand fans to come on any given night. 468 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 3: I don't know how much space there is in the 469 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,159 Speaker 3: city of Chicago for doing a way to actually like 470 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 3: fund like the construction of new places for the Sky 471 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:40,879 Speaker 3: to exist. I do wonder like his money can actually 472 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 3: just help create better relationships with maybe United Center or 473 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 3: other places that are already built for the Sky to have, 474 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 3: like a more comfortable relationships. They don't again have to 475 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 3: practice in public places where anybody can just come through. 476 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:54,880 Speaker 3: I think that's kind of the number one thing that 477 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 3: free agents have sort of cided about Chicago when like 478 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,200 Speaker 3: this mass exodus left over the summer, and even James Wade, 479 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 3: their head coach, just left recently to become an assistant 480 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:03,919 Speaker 3: with the Toronto Raptors. 481 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:05,640 Speaker 1: So if he can just. 482 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,440 Speaker 3: Help it all in, like professionalizing the infrastructure in the 483 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 3: Chicago skuy, I think that would be a really big 484 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 3: step towards putting them on equal footing with some of 485 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 3: the other teams in the league. 486 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a great point. It has to be done, 487 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 2: and there's lots of room in Chicago. I'm not an 488 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 2: expert on the ground in Chicago, but we've been there JD. 489 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 2: Seemingly there's there's lots of space. I think, get it done. 490 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:29,719 Speaker 2: Do wait it. 491 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 3: I've heard some other front office people around the league 492 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 3: complain that, like Las Vegas, it's so easy to find 493 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 3: room in Henderson, Nevada to build like the sprawling practice 494 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:40,040 Speaker 3: facility that the Aces did right, and just the permitting 495 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 3: would be so much harder in some of the other cities. 496 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:44,360 Speaker 3: But you know, you got money and just just do it. 497 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 2: You know that's yeah. Yeah, we're not urban planners here, 498 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 2: but yeah we can. 499 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:49,199 Speaker 4: Uh. 500 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:51,920 Speaker 2: I think I think d Wade can get it done. 501 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:55,679 Speaker 2: And yeah he's uh. He's obviously extremely passionate about anything 502 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 2: he sets his mind to. So I I mean, I'm 503 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 2: yesing that a practice facility will be built. I don't 504 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 2: have d Wade's pocketbook or his his ledger, but I 505 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 2: think he's got the ability to do that. So I 506 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 2: will let you go, Sabriena, because I know you got 507 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:15,439 Speaker 2: you got flights to catch. 508 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 1: Sure. 509 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 2: It's as you said, it's damn early in Las Vegas. 510 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 2: There's nobody walking around. 511 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: Zero. The pool is entirely empty right now. It's a 512 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: it's a wild stay. 513 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,120 Speaker 2: And that's why I was excited to get on, because 514 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 2: I knew the Wi fi would be far less occupied 515 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 2: right now at eight am, eight am on a Monday morning. 516 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 2: So Serena Merchant, thank you so much for joining us. 517 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,439 Speaker 2: Make sure to catch all her stuff over at the 518 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 2: Athletic again. She has written already about Saprino Yunescu, plus 519 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 2: the plum tweet and and all that stuff. So thank 520 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 2: you so much, Sabrina for coming on. 521 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, thanks for having me any time. 522 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:02,119 Speaker 2: All right, as far as No Dunks goes this week, 523 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,719 Speaker 2: I will be back on Wednesday with an episode of 524 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 2: No Bunts. Check out the Athletic Baseball Show feed for that. 525 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 2: The No Dunk's crew will be back Thursday for an 526 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 2: episode of Squad. That's exciting, very exciting. Yeah, that episode 527 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 2: where we draft things. Fruit. Fruit is on the list, 528 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 2: Fruit will be drafted, and a guest will be joining us. 529 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 2: That's right. 530 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 4: Is it a secret guest or. 531 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 2: It's not a secret guest? 532 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 4: I think if you've been listening to the show and 533 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 4: fruit is a great hint. 534 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 2: So yeah, yeah, undone. Actually, Sabrina reminded me of something 535 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 2: we used to do at the end of the season 536 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 2: back in the starters days. She said, are you guys 537 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 2: going to do one of those trivia wrap up shows? 538 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 2: There was a term for it. There was a word 539 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 2: for it. You remember the title of it. It was 540 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 2: like the Immaculate Trivia Show or something. 541 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 4: Hey, yeah, but it was you and Lee versus Trey 542 00:25:57,800 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 4: and skeets usually right. 543 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're we answered questions about the previous season. 544 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 4: That's right. And yeah, it's all coming back to me now. 545 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 4: And we actually hired Andrew Andrew Underberger to write the 546 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 4: questions and they were epic questions. 547 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:16,760 Speaker 2: They were that was a good time. Maybe we should 548 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 2: do it again. I don't know if somebody wants to 549 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:22,400 Speaker 2: do the work, because it's some work. It's a lot 550 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 2: of work. It is a lot of work. And plus 551 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 2: Andrew's up for it, you know. 552 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 1: What. 553 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 2: Plus, we're into summer fun here, so it feels like, 554 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:32,359 Speaker 2: you know, we want to dabble elsewhere, right like we 555 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:35,919 Speaker 2: did for part of A King's Reign, a new multi 556 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:41,440 Speaker 2: series podcast by the talented people at the Athletic covering 557 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 2: the life, career, and impact of Lebron James. The first 558 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 2: episode in the series dropped today July seventeenth, covering Young Lebron. 559 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 2: Episodes drop daily hours drops in the Athletic eight NBA 560 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 2: show feed I Can't Talk Friday, July twenty first, so 561 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 2: that's where you can find it. Plus, if you want 562 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 2: someone to listen to right this second. Is This Good? 563 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 2: From Mattio and JD discussing the best and worst summer 564 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 2: activities with Ryan Nanny. Find it on the Is This 565 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 2: Good YouTube and podcast feeds. JD any teas from that show. 566 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:22,160 Speaker 4: We go through ten summer activities and ask whether they're 567 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 4: good or not. And Ryan was a delight. 568 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 2: It was. 569 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 4: It was a lot of fun. And it's on YouTube 570 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:34,440 Speaker 4: and your favorite podcast catcher now, podcast catcher, podcast podcatcher, 571 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 4: I guess you'd. 572 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:38,399 Speaker 2: Call it, yeah, podcatcher. Yeah, catching all pods all right, 573 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:42,119 Speaker 2: you can catch the rest of our pods later this week. Again, 574 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:44,400 Speaker 2: thank you to Sabrina Merchant for joining us for JD, 575 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 2: for my safe self, Holy Cow. We'll see you next week.