1 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we just 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: know all the young hoopers out there are practicing a 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,560 Speaker 1: spin in fades so they can pull off a buzzer 4 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: beater like neco Ogumakay. It's Tuesday, August twenty sixth. Then 5 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: on today's show, Big Citrus is jumping on to discuss 6 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: the state of the WNBA MVP race, the behind the 7 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: scenes of how the voting process works, and how the 8 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: term MVP is even defined. Plus winning on your Home 9 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: green a thirty point return. How could we have forgotten 10 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: that the sky is falling? It's all coming up right 11 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:38,240 Speaker 1: after this welcome back slicays, here's what you need to 12 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: know today. Let's start with the WNBA and that aforementioned 13 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 1: buzzer beater. Neko ogum Makay led the Seattle Storm to 14 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 1: an eighty four eighty two win over the Washington Mystic 15 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: Sunday Night, scoring thirty points, including a career high six 16 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: three pointers and that last second clutch jumper to seal 17 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,279 Speaker 1: the win. French phenom Dominique Malonga also had a stellar night, 18 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: coming off the bench to put up her fourth double 19 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: double of the season. The win was Seattle's fourth in 20 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: its last five games, a nice bounce back after they'd 21 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: suffered a six game skid. Continuing this hot streak could 22 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: be crucial for the seventh place Storm heading into the 23 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: final stretch of the regular season. Meantime, the Mystics are 24 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: sitting in tenth after losing four straight and seven of 25 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 1: their last ten. More WNBA Sunday night also saw the 26 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: highly anticipated return of the Minnesota Lynx's defeast A Collier, 27 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,479 Speaker 1: who had been out since August second, missing seven games 28 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: with an ankle injury. Collier wasted no time in her 29 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: return to the court, picking up her MVP campaign season 30 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: with an eleven of sixteen shooting night for thirty two 31 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 1: points plus nine rebounds to lead the Links to a 32 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: ninety seven to eighty four winner for the Indiana Fever. 33 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: We'll have plenty more to say on her return and 34 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: the other WNBA MVP contenders later in the show. One 35 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: final w highlight, this one involving the newest member of 36 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: the Good Game Hall of Fame, Page Beckers, and perhaps 37 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: that honor we gave Beckers Jinxter because she saw one 38 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: of her streaks and shortly after we recorded yesterday's episode, 39 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: during the Dallas Wings ninety to eighty one loss to 40 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: the Golden State Valkyrie. Sunday, Becker scored just nine points, 41 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 1: marking the first game of her pro career that she 42 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: didn't score in double digits. Up until now, Beckers had 43 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: recorded at least ten or more points in her first 44 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: thirty games as a pro, including, of course, last week's 45 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: rookie record forty four point contest. Still, becker streak ranks 46 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: pretty high in WNBA history. Her thirty straight games marked 47 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,359 Speaker 1: the fourth longest stretch of double digit points to start 48 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: a WNBA career, behind only Candae Parker with thirty two straight, 49 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: Asia Wilson with thirty seven, and Cynthia Cooper with ninety two. Yes, 50 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: Cynthia Cooper recorded double digit points for ninety two straight games, 51 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: a streak that lasted from her WNBA debut in nineteen 52 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 1: ninety seven until two thousand now. As we mentioned yesterday's show, 53 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: Cooper already had a lot of pro basketball experience by 54 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: the time she made her WNBA debut in the league's 55 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 1: inaugural season, but those ninety two games still marked the 56 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: longest double digit streak of all WNBA Pais players. 57 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 2: Regardless of years of experience. The great. 58 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 1: Simone Augustus is number two on that version of the list, 59 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: having recorded eighty eight straight double digit games with the 60 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: Minnesota Lynx from six to eight. So while Becker's maybe 61 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: back to zero with the start of a career streak, 62 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: we do have a feeling she'll start a new streak 63 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: very soon. 64 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 2: To golf. 65 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: The LPGA's Canadian Women's Open wrapped up on Sunday in Ontario, 66 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: with Canadian player Brooke Henderson winning her first victory on 67 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 1: tour in more than two and a half years. Henderson 68 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 1: took the win by defeating Minji Lee by one stroke. 69 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: Henderson has won fourteen times in her LPGA career, but 70 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: her last win came back in January of twenty twenty three. 71 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: She said after the tournament, quote, this year has not 72 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: gone very well up to this point, and it just 73 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: feels like this was meant to be. She added, Honestly, 74 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: I'm surprised I'm not crying right now because it just 75 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: means so much. 76 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 2: End quote. There's nothing like winning at home to hockey. 77 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: The pwatails Minnesota Frost has announced the hiring of Brienna 78 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: Decker as an assistant coach to ken Clee. Decker a 79 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: three time Olympic medalist for Team USA, officially retired in 80 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three following a devastating leg injury at the 81 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two Beijing Winter Games. Earlier this summer, she 82 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: was named the Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of twenty 83 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: twenty five and will be officially. 84 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 2: Inducted in November. 85 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: She spent the last few years as an assistant coach 86 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: with both Team USA's U eighteen team and at famed 87 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 1: hockey prep school shatt At Saint Mary's. In a statement, 88 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 1: Decker said, quote, it's inspiring to be part of a 89 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: league that sets the standard for women's hockey and a 90 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: team that has been at the top of the league 91 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: two years in a row. I'm excited for what's ahead 92 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 1: and proud to contribute to a culture of excellence. 93 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: End quote. 94 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: Finally, some NWSL news, Sophia Fuerta is now the all 95 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: time assists leader in the NWSL, moving into first with 96 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: her thirty second career assist, a dish to Jordan Heidema 97 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: in the Seattle Rains won one draw with the Houston 98 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 1: Dash on Sunday. 99 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 2: And some more soccer. 100 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 1: The Orlando Pride announced Monday that the team is loaning 101 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: two time World Cup winner Morgan Gatraw to Newcastle United 102 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 1: through the end of twenty twenty five. As part of 103 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: the same release, Gatraw, a key member of the Pride 104 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: Shield and Championship wins last season, announced her retirement from 105 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: the NWSL. In an interview with The Athletic, which we'll 106 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: link to in the show notes, Gatra said she's excited 107 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: for the challenge that will come with joining a new 108 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: team as Newcastle looks to get promoted from the second 109 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:10,239 Speaker 1: tier of the Women's Super League. 110 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:10,679 Speaker 2: Quote. 111 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: I've always loved joining places that I could help make 112 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 1: better and where I could leave a lasting impact, and 113 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 1: this is going to be no different hopefully end quote. 114 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,679 Speaker 1: All right, Selica's it's time to introduce a new segment called. 115 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 2: God, Damn It, freaking Shit Mother for Blind. 116 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: You may recall that in yesterday's episode, I started daydreaming 117 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 1: about how easy Fud might end up with the Dallas 118 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: Wings given their brutal record this year, or maybe the 119 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 1: Wings might select Lauren Betts, leaving Asy available for my 120 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 1: Chicago Sky, also not doing great this year. 121 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 2: Well. 122 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 1: Shout out to Slice Alexa for bringing me back down 123 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 1: to earth hard. She wrote, quote, I regret to inform 124 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: you that the Links own Chicago's twenty twenty six first 125 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 1: round pick. I know it's absolutely ridiculous, but with an 126 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: absolutely stacked draft class, I'm sure there will be plenty 127 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: of depth in the first round. But no way Aisy 128 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: is dropping that big fan of the show so quick. 129 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: Thank you for all you do and for the great 130 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: lengths you go to ensuring the values of the show. 131 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: A favorite episode of mine is the Marina Maybrey interview. Sincerely, 132 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 1: a longtime Dallas Wings fan who is hoping for Lauren 133 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: Betts over Asy because our front court situation is dire. 134 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: I am loyal till death to our current shooting guard. 135 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 2: All up to. 136 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 1: Paisy, but not being an a Rique fan is homophobic, 137 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: and we all know love stories are better with a 138 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: little tension and angst. 139 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 2: Imagine a Paisy in the finals on different teams. End quote. 140 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 2: You know what, Alexa, I swear. 141 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: I am preventing my brain from acknowledging the truth about 142 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 1: that draft pick. 143 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 2: If y'all are blocking it out or never knew about it, 144 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 2: here's a refresher. 145 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: Last season, the Sky made a deal with the Links 146 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 1: to acquire the number seven overall pick in the twenty 147 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: twenty four draft in exchange for the number eight overall pick, 148 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: a second round pick in twenty twenty five, and a 149 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: first round pick swap in twenty twenty six. Then this 150 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 1: year they made a trade to acquire the number eleven 151 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: pick in the twenty twenty five draft, ceding the rights 152 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: to that twenty twenty six pickswap instead giving Minnesota outright 153 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: ownership of their first rounder next year. This guy used 154 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: all those moves to grab Angel Rees at seven in 155 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four and Hailey Benlitth at eleven in twenty 156 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: twenty five. Good moves, but despite talent on the roster, 157 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: they're still near the bottom of the standings, and now 158 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: the links are poised to benefit. No matter how many 159 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: times I reminded of this, I still let myself daydream 160 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: about this shitburger of a season paying off in the 161 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: form of an exciting young star joining my team at 162 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: fixing everything. 163 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 2: Instead the rich get richer. Damn, damn, damn. We got 164 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 2: to take a quick break. When we come back, it's 165 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 2: time for Big. 166 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: Citrus Welcome back slices. 167 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 2: It's time to reconvene. Big Citrus, get in here. 168 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: Alex and meish, what's up, Hey, y Let's talk some 169 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: WNBA MVP, and let's start with what the hell even 170 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: is at MVP? 171 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 2: Because I feel like this is. 172 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: The problem that we have in every sport anytime an 173 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: MVP conversation comes up. Is it the best player on 174 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: the best team. Is it the player that means the 175 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: most to their team? Is it the best player on 176 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: the best team who also wasn't recently named the MVP 177 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: because we like to switch the rules around and tell 178 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: you that you can't win it over and over to 179 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: even if you deserve it, Like, what the hell is 180 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: even an MVP? 181 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 3: Mache Oh well, that's t okay, Clockett. That's t For 182 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 3: me personally, I've gravitated towards a combination of, like what 183 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 3: you just said, a player that a team would absolutely 184 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 3: fall apart without and a player who's just got the 185 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 3: most unbelievable stats. I think if you try to do 186 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 3: it one way, you're always going to run into an 187 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 3: issue where two people are well qualified because of the 188 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 3: same things. 189 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 2: So for me, it's helpful to have two tiers. 190 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, think about the name of the award 191 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 3: most valuable player, literally the most valuable player to any 192 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 3: particular team, and the more stat heavy people. I'm not 193 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 3: one of those people, but they can do the stats 194 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 3: on what makes a player valuable, like plus minus and 195 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 3: offensive rating and defensive rating and all that, and that 196 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 3: stuff matters. But I hear a lot of like the 197 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 3: best player on the best team approach, and I hear 198 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 3: a lot of the person who would be most valuable 199 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 3: to any team you place them on, and those are 200 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 3: hard for me. Those are hard for me. I don't 201 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,599 Speaker 3: know if those agree with my logic. And at the 202 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 3: same time, it's really difficult because I feel like no 203 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 3: matter what approach you take, there's always going to be 204 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 3: some disagreement in discussion, Like we just have to concede 205 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:23,839 Speaker 3: that point at the beginning. 206 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: Alex, do you use a different tier or set of 207 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: tiers to decide? Well. 208 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 4: It's so funny because as I was preparing for this conversation, 209 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,440 Speaker 4: I was reminiscing back on high school and my field 210 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 4: hockey coach didn't believe in MVP awards, and so every year, 211 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 4: at like the annual False School Sports Assembly, when they 212 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 4: would award all the MVP trophies, it would go to 213 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 4: the field hockey team like literally just the team as 214 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:50,839 Speaker 4: a whole, and so like in the school auditorium there 215 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 4: were just all these plaques where a year after year 216 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 4: the field hockey MVP was just the team and. 217 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,559 Speaker 1: As a multi time field hockey MVP, that would have 218 00:09:57,600 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 1: pissed me the. 219 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 3: Hell off exactly because if you did the work, if 220 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 3: you did the work, you beout to give me my ward, 221 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 3: give me my war. 222 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 4: Was the most valuable as somebody that was never close 223 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 4: to being named MVPs like this seems right. 224 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean me, I agree with what you said. 225 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: I do think for me, m VP has lost its 226 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 1: semantical meaning. 227 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 2: Semantical a word. 228 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 1: It's a weird thing to ask, I know, semantics, but 229 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: semantical anyway, it has lost its meaning to me in 230 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:34,199 Speaker 1: the sense of like nitpicking word by word. I think 231 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: what it has come to mean across pretty much all 232 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 1: sports is the best player. That's how we seem to 233 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: talk about it, not who is the most valuable, because 234 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,959 Speaker 1: we've seen players on teams who have other great players 235 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 1: who probably would step up, but they're still the best player. 236 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: Asia Wilson last season was probably one of the least debated. 237 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 2: Us of the m v P s in the w 238 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 2: n B a of late. 239 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: Because she just dominated and it was of course valuable 240 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:04,679 Speaker 1: for her team, and also just the best player, who 241 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: had the best season, who scored the most points, who 242 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: did the best things. So yes, I think the tears 243 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: can help in moments where it feels real head to head, 244 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 1: where it's hard to decide. 245 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 2: But ultimately, to me, it's sort of a little bit 246 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 2: of vibes. I mean a thousand percent. 247 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, Vib's definitely factor in there. 248 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, And I think that's how I kind of want 249 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 4: it to be, too, Like when we look back at 250 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 4: a previous season, so often we're not talking with the 251 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 4: same in the moment context, and so I kind of 252 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 4: want to know, Hey, whoever got MVP in twenty fifteen, 253 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 4: they were the best player that year. Yes, I don't 254 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 4: want to have to kind of take into account, oh 255 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 4: well but their team did this and that. Like, I 256 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 4: just want to know who was considered the best player 257 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 4: that year. So I appreciate that definition of it. 258 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 1: And I think it's possible to win MVP on a 259 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: bad team, but you have to be so frickin' good. 260 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: I don't know why, but my brain goes to, like 261 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,079 Speaker 1: Ernie Banks, with the Cubs, who was like an MVP 262 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,439 Speaker 1: on a team that didn't even make the playoffs. Easier 263 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: in baseball, because your stats are so isolated and independent 264 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: of all the other things that are going on in basketball, 265 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: it's almost impossible. 266 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 2: Like Paige Beckers mm hmm. 267 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, is most valuable on her team because like Ari 268 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: k has been in and out, that team blows and 269 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: she's still doing amazing things every night. But she's not 270 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: the best player in the league. And it wouldn't tell 271 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: the story of this season for Page Beckers to be 272 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:22,959 Speaker 1: the MVP. 273 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 2: And that's that's what makes it so hard for me. 274 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 3: I'm not I'm not advocating. 275 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 2: For Paige to win MVP. Let me be clear. 276 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 3: Okay, she's having a she's having a great season, great 277 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 3: rookie season. I don't think she's the MVP. But I 278 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 3: think what you're pointing out here is why this is 279 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 3: so difficult for me, because I love to make space 280 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 3: for those quote unquote underdog MVPs because there will be 281 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 3: every once in a blue moon, somebody who statistically blows 282 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 3: it out of the water and who frankly, like Alex, 283 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 3: like you're saying, when you look back on the season, 284 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 3: they are the best player, even though their team might 285 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 3: have gone five and twenty five or whatever the case 286 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 3: may be. And so I guess my point in saying 287 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 3: that is whatever tier, whatever calculus people use, I just 288 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 3: want to make sure that we're doing due diligence for 289 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 3: folks who aren't on the Minnesota leagues or aren't on 290 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 3: you know what I mean, top two teams in the league. 291 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 2: It was interesting. 292 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 4: I was trying to look back at some of the 293 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,439 Speaker 4: coverage of Candice Parker's MVP season in two thousand and eight, 294 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 4: when she was named both Rookie of the Year and 295 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 4: MVP in her first year in the league, because I 296 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 4: really wanted to figure out, like, were people just saying like, 297 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 4: she's a really good rookie who's like good enough that 298 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 4: she deserves MVP. It speaks to maybe something of the 299 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 4: media coverage that I wasn't able to come across too 300 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 4: much that I don't want nuance and insight. So if 301 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 4: any slices out there have anything that you think could 302 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 4: shine a light on this for somebody that didn't pay 303 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 4: too much attention to the WNBA back in the day, 304 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 4: I'd love to see it, because, yeah, it was one 305 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 4: of those things where I was like, Okay, what would 306 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 4: Page have to do to be in the MVP conversation? 307 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 4: And part of me is like, I don't know how 308 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 4: much of it comes down to her and how much 309 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 4: of it just comes down to not having gotten drafted 310 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 4: to that team. 311 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, somebody who fell in love with the WNBA around 312 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 3: that time, range CP three was different. If anybody's got 313 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 3: any issues, come hit my DMS we could talk about it. 314 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 1: Please, Well, let's talk about who's a little different this year, 315 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: because we are finally and belatedly really introducing Alyssa Thomas 316 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:17,320 Speaker 1: into this conversation, and I'll fully admit that we're we're late. 317 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: Part of it is her style of play. 318 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: It is insanely efficient and she puts up crazy numbers, 319 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: but it's not really flashy in the same way or 320 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: maybe as graceful as some of the players that we 321 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: tend to lean towards when we're talking MVP. And also 322 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: new team, we took most of our time just being 323 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 1: surprised that the Mercury were playing so well after the 324 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: retirement of Ben Tarassi the departure of Britney Grinery, were like, wait. 325 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 2: What's happening? 326 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: And then to be frank, we were also just really 327 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: focused on her relationship status and her being separated from 328 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: Dewana Bonner and then reunited. And meanwhile she was like, Okay, 329 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: I'll just be over here just putting up crazy stats 330 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: every night. You let me know when you come around 331 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: to the basketball side of things, and sorry, Alyssa, but 332 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: we're here now. 333 00:14:58,520 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 2: So really, what it. 334 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: Feels like to me is Asia Wilson, Nafisa Kyllier, and 335 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: Alyssa Thomas. Is there anybody else that you think, within 336 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: the last stretch of the season can make a true 337 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: bid for this? 338 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 3: Oh truly no, But I do think there are some people. 339 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 3: There's always there's always benefits of being in that conversation, right, 340 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 3: whether it's talks for your next contract, whether you know 341 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 3: all that stuff, your own personal legacy. 342 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 2: I think that's important. 343 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: I do. Once again, you want to make space, yeah, 344 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: people in the converse, and I get that. I get that, 345 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: And you're right though, it is necessary to shout out 346 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: the people who are on the perimeter, because to your point, 347 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: if we don't sometimes put them in these articles, have 348 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: them in these conversations, people really miss I think Kelsey 349 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: Mitchell is a great example of that someone who is 350 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: not really in these conversations and always should be even 351 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: if she's not gonna win. 352 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I definitely have Kelsey Mitchell in that bucket. 353 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 2: Also have Kelsey Plumb in that bucket. Both of them 354 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 2: are among the. 355 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 3: League's top five scorers, both leading their team in scoring. 356 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 3: Both have carried their teams on their backs at different 357 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 3: points during this season. And again, why I don't think 358 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 3: this necessarily win. We got to give credit where credit 359 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 3: is due, man, because otherwise, what are folks on other teams? 360 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 3: I mean, you're obviously playing to win, but individually, in 361 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 3: terms of your legacy, what else are you fighting for? 362 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: Then? Ali Shagray, you could maybe argue Sabrina and Nascue 363 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: with a team that's had John Quell out now Brianna 364 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 1: out and keeping them in the mix. 365 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 2: But I do think it's it's a three women race 366 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 2: right now. 367 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure, And honestly, this is going to ruffle 368 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 3: some feathers following my logic, I got Asia and Alyssa 369 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 3: ahead of fee fian A, Lissa our neck and neck, 370 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 3: their neck and neck. 371 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 2: Okay, walk me through that. 372 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 3: But if we're talking about what Asia Wilson has done again. 373 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 2: This season, the. 374 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 3: Las Vegas Aces were bad. Okay, we don't need to 375 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 3: sugarcoat that they were bad until two weeks ago. Pretty much, 376 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 3: Asia Wilson has been doing her damn thing the whole time, regardless. 377 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 2: Of what anybody else has done. 378 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 3: If we talk again about my approach of a player 379 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 3: that a team would actually fall apart without, imagine the 380 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 3: Aces without Asia Wilson this season. Yeah, they're bottom five 381 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 3: in the league to me. And then for Alyssa the 382 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 3: reason why this is what you were alluding to earlier. 383 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 3: It's not flashy because she doesn't score a lot of points, 384 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 3: because she's not putting up twenty points to night. And 385 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 3: I've never been up a person or a player, frankly 386 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:20,040 Speaker 3: who has been point centric. Because I love to pass 387 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 3: the ball, I love to rebound the ball, I love 388 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 3: to do all other shit, every defense everything. Okay, I 389 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 3: took charges, all right, I took charges and I talked 390 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 3: a lot on Yeah. 391 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: Because you were too lazy to get out of the way, 392 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: and that counts for something. You didn't want to move 393 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 1: your feet on defense, either to get in position or 394 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:35,679 Speaker 1: out of it. 395 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 3: That's my key, okay, and it is what it is. 396 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 3: But I put Alissa a little bit ahead of Fee 397 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 3: because and this is this is also probably controversial. Fij 398 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 3: just missed however many games, right, and Minnesota did perfectly 399 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 3: fine without her. They secured a number one spot in 400 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 3: the playoffs. Imagine again the Phoenix Murky without Alyssa Thomas 401 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:00,119 Speaker 3: ooh a. 402 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: Right, And this is where the conversation comes down to 403 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 1: is it the best player or is it the most valuable? 404 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 1: Because to your point, so when Asia Wilson was not 405 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: putting her foot on the gas like she has been, 406 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 1: She's got eighteen straight games in double figures right now, 407 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 1: and she's hit at least thirty points eight times in 408 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: that stretch. She is going off and during that time 409 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: the team has gotten significantly better. Back on July tenth, 410 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: they were out of a playoff spot, sitting at nine 411 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: and eleven. We were all asking how you could have 412 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 1: that much talent on one team and not win. And 413 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:32,159 Speaker 1: then Asia sort of was like, all right, fine, let 414 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:34,640 Speaker 1: me throw you all my back again. And now fifteen 415 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 1: and three run ten game win streak, they would be 416 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: the three seed if the season ended right now, right 417 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: So she has basically figured out that she needs to 418 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: do more for them to win. Now, you could also 419 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: make an argument that she was on a team, she 420 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: was playing and they weren't good, and we're gonna take 421 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,239 Speaker 1: away credit for Nafisa Kalier being on a team and 422 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: then being good, Like we're gonna get her credit for 423 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: her not doing enough early and then turning it on later. 424 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 3: Now, that's not what I'm saying. I'm not saying he 425 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 3: hasn't had an MVP caliber season. I'm saying she's just missed, 426 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 3: however many games. And I think there's also something to 427 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:16,400 Speaker 3: be said stat wise for somebody who shows up every night, 428 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 3: every night, every night. Again, not a disrespect to Fee, 429 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 3: it's just been the situation. 430 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 4: But also in the game that Fee got injured, there 431 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:24,880 Speaker 4: were questions about whether Cheryl Reefs should have even kept 432 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 4: her in the game because that was what end of 433 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 4: the third It was like a fourth carter and they 434 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 4: were winning guy a lot. 435 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:29,719 Speaker 2: I remember. 436 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 4: I think it was a couple of years ago when 437 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 4: Asia didn't win MVP and Becky Hammond got mad being like, well, 438 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 4: I'm not keeping her in the game all the time, 439 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 4: Like I'm not patting her stats. If I was keeping 440 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 4: her in the game, then her stats would have been higher, 441 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 4: and so I think it leads to one of those conversations, 442 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 4: like the sport of basketball is at such a stats 443 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 4: heavy conversation right now that sometimes folks aren't watching the game, 444 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 4: you know, Like that's why you'll never hear me be 445 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:55,920 Speaker 4: like this is who deserves MVP. Like, I just don't 446 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 4: watch the game that way. I don't watch enough of 447 00:19:57,560 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 4: the teams that way to be so confident in who 448 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 4: I I'm gonna pick. And so I think though means 449 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 4: to your point, like, we see both sides of that, right, 450 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,360 Speaker 4: if she hadn't been playing those final minutes to maybe 451 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,360 Speaker 4: get those additional points, then who knows that she would 452 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 4: have even gotten injured. 453 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:13,399 Speaker 3: And that's tough because that's one of those things that 454 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,479 Speaker 3: is not in her control or any player's control ever, right, Like, 455 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:19,400 Speaker 3: there are certain elements to the MVP conversation. 456 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:21,679 Speaker 1: Well, I was gonna say, injuries in general, that's not 457 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 1: in their control. And yes, of course, if somebody is 458 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 1: out for the majority of a season, but it's seven games. 459 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 3: It's seven games, But it matters to me. It does 460 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 3: matter to me, And like you said earlier, there's also 461 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 3: a matter of vibes. I don't know what it is. 462 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 3: I just feel like AG's got a leg up. Okay now, 463 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 3: but again, there are still, however many games left in 464 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 3: this season. We're coming towards the end a couple of 465 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 3: weeks now, But I don't know. 466 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 2: Let me just give you some stats to counter the vibes, okay. 467 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 1: Nafisa Collier's leading the league in scoring twenty three and 468 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 1: a half points per game. She second in steals, fourth 469 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: and block seven and field goal percentage night than rebounding. 470 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 1: She's shooting almost thirty seven percent from beyond the arc 471 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 1: and making about four or three pointers a game, so 472 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: she is deadly from anywhere on the court. She is 473 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: a tremendous defensive player. She is insanely efficient. If she 474 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: is able to finish the season, which she'll have to 475 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: up her three points, but if she can finish the 476 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: season with fifty forty ninety, it would be unbelievable. There's 477 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 1: only three players in WNBA history to average at least 478 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,159 Speaker 1: twenty points while shooting at least fifty percent from the 479 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,879 Speaker 1: field and at least thirty five percent from three with 480 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: at least one attempt per game, and she would be 481 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 1: the fourth behind just Cheryl Swoopslow and Jackson and Brienna Stewart, 482 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 1: and each of those players won the MVB Trophy in 483 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 1: the season that. 484 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:39,919 Speaker 2: They did that. 485 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,880 Speaker 1: Again, it's a stat heavy argument because of the injury 486 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 1: stretch that makes it vibe bliss. Right now, she's one 487 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,360 Speaker 1: game back in, but she was thirty plus points, nine 488 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: rebounds in her first game back, and get the feeling 489 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,120 Speaker 1: she might go on a little tear here to try 490 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 1: to get the vibes back on her side. 491 00:21:56,359 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 4: I want to talk for a minute about how this 492 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 4: award is even determined. So for folks who don't know, 493 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:05,199 Speaker 4: there are basically a panel of sixty voters that are 494 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 4: selected from both regional and national media outlets that includes 495 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 4: writers and broadcasters. They rank five players, and then those 496 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 4: players are assigned values. And in the same way that 497 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:21,399 Speaker 4: I think folks should be having conversations about elections in 498 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 4: their hometowns, about jerrymandering, about how all of those things 499 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,719 Speaker 4: are happening, whether they're using mail in ballots or go 500 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:29,919 Speaker 4: into the polls, I want to have more of a 501 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 4: conversation about that in the WNBA. And I'm going to 502 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 4: point to the year twenty twenty three, and that was 503 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 4: a year that it was a super tight race between 504 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:41,880 Speaker 4: Brianna Stewart, Elisa Thomas, and Asia Wilson, and Stewie ended 505 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:44,360 Speaker 4: up winning it because she got the most total points, 506 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 4: but she didn't get the most first place votes. 507 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 2: That was At. 508 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:50,399 Speaker 4: She didn't even get the most second place votes, that 509 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 4: was Asia. She didn't get the most third place votes again, 510 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 4: that was At. But she just accumulated the largest total 511 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 4: number of points. In the way that the WNBA awards 512 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 4: these points is first place gets ten points, second place 513 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,880 Speaker 4: gets seven, third place gets five, fourth place gets third, 514 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 4: fifth place gets one. To me, I want to know 515 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 4: how they came up with those, Like those values are 516 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 4: kind of arbitrary and back in twenty twenty three, I 517 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:14,520 Speaker 4: actually ended up crunching the numbers to see, like if 518 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:17,159 Speaker 4: you were to award different points to those five ranks, 519 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:19,920 Speaker 4: would it alter the results? And I was shocked that 520 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 4: it didn't alter them more. But if you did award 521 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 4: first place more points, there did come a time where 522 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 4: At would have won it over Stewie that year. So 523 00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:30,680 Speaker 4: I don't know necessarily, like what's the cracked option here? 524 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 4: I'd also be curious to see it with Like I 525 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,160 Speaker 4: don't know a ranked choice option, like see how that 526 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,640 Speaker 4: weighs out, so if somebody can get a super majority. 527 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 4: Because it just seems weird to me that Stewie could 528 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 4: win in a year when she still wasn't necessarily getting 529 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 4: the most of any of those three categories, but not 530 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 4: saying she wasn't deserving. I just thought it was an 531 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 4: interesting little caveat on that win. 532 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 2: I think a lot of elections could use some choice moving. Yeah, 533 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 2: I mean, I agree, Alex. 534 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:01,439 Speaker 1: I'm sure that they have a pretty in depth system 535 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 1: for figuring out how to a lot each you know. 536 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 2: Are we sure? I know? Are we? Are we assuming there? 537 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:08,679 Speaker 2: You know what? I do? 538 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 1: Assume the best far too often. It's it's useful for life, 539 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 1: not always useful for business or otherwise. But yeah, I mean, 540 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: I do think it helps revenge voting and bias voting 541 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: and things like that, and helps make it so that 542 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 1: someone who is consistently considered among the best by everyone 543 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 1: is more likely to win, as opposed to like a 544 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 1: bunch of people think someone and then a bunch of 545 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 1: people don't have them anywhere on the list. It's complicated. 546 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 1: I think you're right, Alex. Maybe we should reach out 547 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: to a representative for the WNBA and ask exactly how 548 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: they came up with the point system. 549 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:44,640 Speaker 2: But yeah, I mean, I think. 550 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 1: We're in for a really, really fun final stretch of 551 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,720 Speaker 1: the season where we're going to see these players who 552 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: are battling it out for MVP, and also see a 553 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 1: bunch of teams battling it out for the playoff spots. 554 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 1: And how will coaches factor in how long to play 555 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,160 Speaker 1: their stars and blowout games if there's someone who might 556 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 1: be in the mix for MVP, or will they prioritize 557 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 1: being healthy for the playoffs and sit them And will 558 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 1: there be some tension between those top players and their 559 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,719 Speaker 1: coaches about playing time when it comes to that. So 560 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 1: always worth keeping an eye and you'll always hear the 561 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 1: players afterwards say the most important thing to me is 562 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 1: the title. You could keep your MVP. But deep down, 563 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:26,720 Speaker 1: I think we all know they want to be in there, 564 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 1: they want to be getting those stats up, So it'll 565 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: be fun to watch. If you want to read more 566 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 1: about the MVP Racelu Orlando wrote a good piece for 567 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,359 Speaker 1: SI dot Com about and if you Saka, you're needing 568 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:38,479 Speaker 1: to fend off Asia in the tight race and had 569 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 1: some really good stats in there, and Shane Jackson wrote 570 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 1: one for WNBA dot com that also has a bunch 571 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: of the statistics around the players that are contending and odds. 572 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 2: If any of y'all. 573 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:54,439 Speaker 1: Want to dabble or become a degenerate and put your 574 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 1: entire life savings on the WNBA MVP, we wouldn't recommend it, 575 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:01,880 Speaker 1: but go for it, all right. We got to take 576 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 1: another break, but we come back when a few turns 577 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:13,440 Speaker 1: into a good game in real life. 578 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 2: Welcome back slices. 579 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 1: We love that you're listening, but we want you to 580 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:18,160 Speaker 1: get in the game every day too. So here's our 581 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,680 Speaker 1: good game play of the day. You heard our MVP picks, 582 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 1: well at least betion mine. Now we want to hear yours. 583 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:27,280 Speaker 1: If you had to say which player would you vote for? 584 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,280 Speaker 1: Hit us up good game at wondermedianetwork dot com or 585 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:32,239 Speaker 1: leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two four 586 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: fifty seventy and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review, y'all. 587 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:36,679 Speaker 2: It's easy. 588 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 1: Watch Serena Williams inducting Maria Sharpova into the International Tennis 589 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:44,560 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame, rating ten out of ten Feel Good 590 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 1: Moments review Maria Sharpova's tennis career was sort of always 591 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:52,680 Speaker 1: linked to Serena Williams. In fact, Cheripova's first of five 592 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 1: Grand Slam victories was a Wimbledon win over Serena. But 593 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: she didn't enjoy being on the winging side of that 594 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: rivalry for very long, because Serena came out on top 595 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,920 Speaker 1: in their last eighteen meetings and twenty of twenty two 596 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:07,720 Speaker 1: meetings overall. They were pitted against each other for Shripova's 597 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 1: entire career, So it was sort of a shock and 598 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: a surprise to see Serena do the honors at the 599 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:15,879 Speaker 1: International Tennis Hall of Fame ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island 600 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 1: on Saturday, said Serena. 601 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:17,879 Speaker 2: Quote. 602 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 1: A few months ago, Maria texted me that she needed 603 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 1: to talk. When I called her, she asked if I 604 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: would introduce her into the Hall of Fame. Before she 605 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:27,719 Speaker 1: could even finish her question, I said yes loud, immediately, 606 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,640 Speaker 1: with my whole chest, because of course it's Maria. 607 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:32,960 Speaker 2: End quote. Serena continued quote. 608 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,119 Speaker 1: Marie and I were once the fiercest of rivals. We 609 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 1: had our differences to the world. We looked miles and 610 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 1: miles apart, but the truth is we weren't. We wanted 611 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 1: the exact same thing at the exact same time, to 612 00:27:43,359 --> 00:27:45,919 Speaker 1: be the very best. That's what made our rivalry so 613 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 1: electric and so iconic. 614 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 2: End quote. 615 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 1: On her Instagram on Sunday, alongside photos of the two 616 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 1: former rivals embracing, Serena wrote quote, I'm probably the last 617 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 1: person you expected to see standing here tonight. Honestly, a 618 00:27:58,240 --> 00:27:59,880 Speaker 1: few years ago I would have said the same thing, 619 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 1: But years after getting to know her better, we now 620 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:05,479 Speaker 1: call each other friends, and when a friend calls, you answer. 621 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:09,200 Speaker 1: This is women supporting each other and respecting each other's greatness. 622 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: Congratulations Maria Sharapova. It is my honor, as her former rival, 623 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 1: her forever fan, and now her forever friend, to welcome 624 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: Maria Sharapova into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. 625 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 2: End quote. Beautiful. We love that. 626 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:26,880 Speaker 1: Now it's your turn, y'all Rate and review, scroll down, 627 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 1: click five stars, tell us you love us, Thanks for listening. 628 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:33,400 Speaker 1: See you tomorrow. Good game, Maria and Serena. Good game, 629 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:36,119 Speaker 1: Mekka and the FISA you Semantakole? 630 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,480 Speaker 2: Are you a word? Talvey? 631 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports 632 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You 633 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 1: can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 634 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network. 635 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 1: Our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive 636 00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 1: producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutterer. 637 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch and 638 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: Gianna Palmer. 639 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 2: Our associate producer is Lucy Jones. 640 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:11,720 Speaker 1: Production assistance from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah 641 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 1: Spain