1
00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,080
Speaker 1: Full Circle is an iheartwoman's sports production and partnership with

2
00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,240
Speaker 1: Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on

3
00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:10,079
Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

4
00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:16,079
Speaker 2: Hi, everybody, Welcome to another episode of the Full Circle Podcast.

5
00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,640
Speaker 2: I am Lexi Brown here with my co host Mariah Rose.

6
00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,960
Speaker 2: We are in the official game.

7
00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:25,720
Speaker 3: Week of the WNBA season.

8
00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:29,840
Speaker 2: People, I can't wait, even though it does not come

9
00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:33,599
Speaker 2: with some tough times that we will talk about throughout

10
00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,760
Speaker 2: the show. Some of your faves, some of my faves,

11
00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:42,400
Speaker 2: some of everybody's faves were waived over the weekend. This afternoon,

12
00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,880
Speaker 2: actually it is Monday, May twelfth when we're recording, and

13
00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,240
Speaker 2: it's not an easy process. It's not an easy time,

14
00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,160
Speaker 2: but it's something that a lot of us have gone through.

15
00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,400
Speaker 2: So even though we can be very, very excited about

16
00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,720
Speaker 2: the start of the WNBA season, it definitely comes with

17
00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:01,160
Speaker 2: difficult conversations and moments and we're definitely gonna get into

18
00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:01,680
Speaker 2: that today.

19
00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:04,360
Speaker 3: But other than that, Mariah, how are you doing today?

20
00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:08,280
Speaker 1: I'm doing great, Lexi. I don't really have anything excited

21
00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,200
Speaker 1: going on other than just watching all of the sports

22
00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:15,160
Speaker 1: going on and working. But like Lexi said, we're going

23
00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,240
Speaker 1: to get into some of the preseason madness that has

24
00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,560
Speaker 1: gone on, the roster cuts, the heartbreaks, the emotional aces

25
00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,880
Speaker 1: cut that Lexi literally texted me about was like, we

26
00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:28,960
Speaker 1: have to talk this this episode because she has, you know,

27
00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,240
Speaker 1: a different perspective than some of the people on Twitter do,

28
00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,240
Speaker 1: and Lexi's gonna give us some of the real deal. So,

29
00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,240
Speaker 1: without further ado, LEXI, give me a preseason How was

30
00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:40,640
Speaker 1: it for you?

31
00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:41,160
Speaker 3: Yeah?

32
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,000
Speaker 2: I do, I do have Okay, I have a few.

33
00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:45,800
Speaker 2: I do have a few preseason thoughts. I do want

34
00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:51,120
Speaker 2: to preface this that it is preseason. Okay, a lot

35
00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:56,240
Speaker 2: of players are still chilling in these games. They are

36
00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,600
Speaker 2: still serving, coaches are still serving who's going to make

37
00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,960
Speaker 2: their teams, and it's in the midst of training camp.

38
00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,400
Speaker 2: So let's not take these games what we've seen, what

39
00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,560
Speaker 2: we haven't seen and think too much into it.

40
00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:10,880
Speaker 3: That's what preseason is about.

41
00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,639
Speaker 2: So I am excited that we were able to have

42
00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:18,079
Speaker 2: the preseason games televised because that's something that fans I've

43
00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:22,760
Speaker 2: never seen before, is the atmosphere and the energy that veterans,

44
00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,720
Speaker 2: tenured players have for rookies, younger players when they get

45
00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:30,160
Speaker 2: their opportunity play more minutes in the preseason and they

46
00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,320
Speaker 2: might be able to get to play in the regular season.

47
00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:36,600
Speaker 2: So I was really excited that fans and supporters.

48
00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,519
Speaker 3: Of the w got to see us in that light.

49
00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,480
Speaker 2: Because a lot of people's first impression of WNVA players

50
00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,840
Speaker 2: are the first game of the season or it's intense

51
00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,639
Speaker 2: and bodies is getting run over and the physicalities off

52
00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:49,400
Speaker 2: the charts, and that people are like, mind you, this

53
00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,160
Speaker 2: is the first my first impression of y'all.

54
00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:53,960
Speaker 3: Hey, y'all out here playing football on a basketball court.

55
00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:57,960
Speaker 2: So it was really nice that people got to see

56
00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,880
Speaker 2: like the lighthearted part of these preseason games that you

57
00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,440
Speaker 2: get to see with the NBA, starting with the Combine

58
00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,639
Speaker 2: Summer League preseason, you get to see all of that

59
00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,000
Speaker 2: leading up to the first NBA season or the NBA

60
00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:10,800
Speaker 2: game of the season.

61
00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:12,720
Speaker 3: So I was really happy about that.

62
00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,360
Speaker 2: You know, I have notes about all the teams that

63
00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,880
Speaker 2: I watched. I'm not really even going to get into

64
00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:22,240
Speaker 2: them because, like I said, preseason doesn't really matter. I

65
00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:26,639
Speaker 2: will touch on our scrimmage, closed scrimmage that now everybody

66
00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:29,239
Speaker 2: is chatting about, like why was it televised?

67
00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:30,880
Speaker 3: You will have to ask.

68
00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,200
Speaker 2: The home team about that why we didn't have a

69
00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:37,200
Speaker 2: televised preseason game in LA, but we did win. We

70
00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:39,760
Speaker 2: did beat the Sparks in LA, so that was a

71
00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,440
Speaker 2: nice little moment for me to be a part of that.

72
00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:43,560
Speaker 3: Even though it didn't count.

73
00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:47,320
Speaker 2: We looked good, the Sparks looked good. They still have

74
00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,280
Speaker 2: a lot into new pieces moving part. So I don't

75
00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:52,120
Speaker 2: want to reveal too much about that scrimmage. It was

76
00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:53,800
Speaker 2: closed for a reason, so I'm not gonna be the

77
00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,440
Speaker 2: op and into everybody's business, but I will just let

78
00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,040
Speaker 2: y'all know that we did win that game.

79
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:01,200
Speaker 3: So the Storm finished.

80
00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,200
Speaker 2: Preseason two and zero, which is a great way to

81
00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:04,240
Speaker 2: head into the season.

82
00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:06,360
Speaker 3: Unfortunately, we did make our.

83
00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:12,320
Speaker 2: Final roster cuts today, so we lost Kensie Holmes, Serena Sundell,

84
00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,640
Speaker 2: and Brianna Frasier. And for me personally, I was in

85
00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,440
Speaker 2: the locker room this morning with all three of them

86
00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:22,320
Speaker 2: when it happened. And those moments are very they're very hard,

87
00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,680
Speaker 2: and you build such a good relationship with these young

88
00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,520
Speaker 2: players so quickly, and you really just want them to

89
00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:34,080
Speaker 2: be successful and feel embraced and feel part of the team.

90
00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,200
Speaker 2: But in the back of your mind there's always that

91
00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,159
Speaker 2: thought of like, dang, like they might not be here

92
00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:38,760
Speaker 2: next week.

93
00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:40,760
Speaker 3: But you don't want them to feel that.

94
00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,039
Speaker 2: And that's the hard part about this process is I

95
00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,880
Speaker 2: knew my spot was secure. Thankfully, praise the Lords, I

96
00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,440
Speaker 2: had a secure spot. But you know, you have five, six,

97
00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,440
Speaker 2: seven players that are competing for this roster spot. But

98
00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,440
Speaker 2: you don't want anybody to feel like they don't have

99
00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,839
Speaker 2: a chance to make the team, because everybody does have

100
00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,240
Speaker 2: a chance to make the team, even though from the

101
00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,919
Speaker 2: outside looking in, some players had zero chance to know,

102
00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,080
Speaker 2: every person in that gym has an opportunity to make

103
00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,480
Speaker 2: a roster and it's our job as players that do

104
00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,159
Speaker 2: have spots to make them feel that way and to

105
00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,920
Speaker 2: make them feel important, to make them feel valuable. So

106
00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:18,640
Speaker 2: that's why these these cut days are so hard, and

107
00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:25,520
Speaker 2: they are extremely hard for fans, and I see every

108
00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:27,680
Speaker 2: year it's the same. It's it's like a cycle. This

109
00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:29,640
Speaker 2: is like the worst week for us in the WNBA.

110
00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,280
Speaker 2: It's it's like clockwork. You bring in these young players,

111
00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:38,240
Speaker 2: they do media day, they're with the team, they're on

112
00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:42,479
Speaker 2: the socials, and then boom waved and then everybody's like, well,

113
00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:44,839
Speaker 2: why did you guys do this, Why did you well,

114
00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,159
Speaker 2: as opposed to what act like that they're not there?

115
00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,719
Speaker 3: That's not gonna That's not the right way to go

116
00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:50,800
Speaker 3: about it either, right.

117
00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:55,239
Speaker 1: I feel like for those who are not quite understanding

118
00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,719
Speaker 1: the structure of the WNBA and why it feels like, oh,

119
00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:00,880
Speaker 1: this person's on the team, all of a sudden, they're not.

120
00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,080
Speaker 1: There's only about one hundred and fifty six roster spots

121
00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:04,680
Speaker 1: in the league.

122
00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,200
Speaker 3: About they Yeah, they just.

123
00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:11,479
Speaker 1: Added the Golden State Valkyries, but there's still only thirteen teams.

124
00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:12,000
Speaker 4: Uh.

125
00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:17,360
Speaker 1: Most rookies, especially second you know, later drafted players get

126
00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:21,160
Speaker 1: cut even if they play well, and you know, typically

127
00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,760
Speaker 1: the roster spots go to whoever the coach, front office,

128
00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,039
Speaker 1: whatever feels like deserves those spots, fits the best with

129
00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,440
Speaker 1: the team for that year. So getting drafted to the

130
00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:33,880
Speaker 1: WNBA doesn't mean that you one percent will get a

131
00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,159
Speaker 1: roster spot the day the season starts. While you're in

132
00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,760
Speaker 1: trading camp, you're kind of still trying.

133
00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:40,839
Speaker 3: To try out the team.

134
00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:45,479
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, exactly, Lexie. What's it like mentally as a

135
00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:49,039
Speaker 1: player to go through training camp with these players knowing

136
00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,560
Speaker 1: that they there's an opportunity for them not to make

137
00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:52,960
Speaker 1: the team.

138
00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,400
Speaker 3: It's like a mental battlefield.

139
00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:02,039
Speaker 2: And I say this this year, I sound like a

140
00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:02,800
Speaker 2: broken record.

141
00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:04,000
Speaker 3: Year eight.

142
00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,240
Speaker 2: This is the first season that I went into a

143
00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,800
Speaker 2: training camp not fighting for a spot. So every year

144
00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,800
Speaker 2: until this past year, I went into camp fighting for

145
00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:17,560
Speaker 2: a roster spot. So you come in, and I'll talk

146
00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,160
Speaker 2: it from a rookie perspective. You come in considered one

147
00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,000
Speaker 2: of the best players in college. You know, there's thousands

148
00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,840
Speaker 2: of college basketball players and you're one of the best.

149
00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:30,240
Speaker 2: You're all these we have All Americans, Players of the Year,

150
00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,000
Speaker 2: First Team All Conference, like, these are the players that

151
00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,760
Speaker 2: are getting drafted, super talented. You come into this environment

152
00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:42,920
Speaker 2: and now you're playing with Olympians, you're playing with WBA champions,

153
00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,320
Speaker 2: you're playing with MVPs, and now you're just kind of like,

154
00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,720
Speaker 2: where do I fit in and what do I need

155
00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,560
Speaker 2: to do to make the players that are already there

156
00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:54,080
Speaker 2: look good.

157
00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:55,600
Speaker 3: That's the first thing you gotta do.

158
00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,240
Speaker 2: If you come in and you make them look bad,

159
00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,760
Speaker 2: and you make the whole unit look bad, your chances

160
00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,880
Speaker 2: are zero. Like, so, as a young player, that's a

161
00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:07,000
Speaker 2: hard thing to navigate. You go from being everything about

162
00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:10,720
Speaker 2: you making mistakes, never coming out of the game, all

163
00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,440
Speaker 2: these things, and you come into a situation where, for

164
00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,000
Speaker 2: a lot of these players, this is the first time

165
00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,960
Speaker 2: that they've had a leash, a short leash, so you

166
00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,560
Speaker 2: just navigating that as a young player is very difficult

167
00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:27,000
Speaker 2: and it's hard, and you can do everything right. Ninety

168
00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,040
Speaker 2: percent of these rookies and these players that are getting

169
00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:30,240
Speaker 2: cut come into camp.

170
00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:31,520
Speaker 3: And do everything that they're supposed to do.

171
00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:33,520
Speaker 2: They make the right plays, they knock down their shots,

172
00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,360
Speaker 2: they stay extra for shooting, they get their lifts in,

173
00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,400
Speaker 2: and sometimes it just doesn't work out for them. And

174
00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:43,440
Speaker 2: that's a hard pill to swallow, and it's not easy.

175
00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:46,880
Speaker 2: And I don't and I don't want anybody to look

176
00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,640
Speaker 2: at these players and be like, oh, just bounce back,

177
00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:51,800
Speaker 2: like you'll get over it. Like it's okay to feel disappointed,

178
00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:55,120
Speaker 2: It's okay to feel hurt. It's okay to feel confused, like, oh,

179
00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:56,880
Speaker 2: I came, I did everything that they asked me to do,

180
00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,600
Speaker 2: Like I did not do one thing that they said,

181
00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:04,080
Speaker 2: Like I did everything, Like those are all very valid feelings.

182
00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,120
Speaker 2: But the best thing about this is like it's not

183
00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:09,679
Speaker 2: the end of the world, Like there's still so many opportunities.

184
00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:11,880
Speaker 3: It's a long season.

185
00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,080
Speaker 2: Hardship contracts, Like we're not even to get into that.

186
00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,160
Speaker 2: We probably will get into that later in the season

187
00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,960
Speaker 2: because I don't want to confuse people. But like you

188
00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:21,640
Speaker 2: get waved at the beginning of the year, you get

189
00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,360
Speaker 2: waved in the training camp, like your journey is still

190
00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,000
Speaker 2: just beginning, Like there's still opportunities for you, but you

191
00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:28,439
Speaker 2: still got to put your head.

192
00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:30,480
Speaker 3: Down to work, and it's not easy. I've been through it.

193
00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,480
Speaker 2: Anything I said, any y'all could throw out a random

194
00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:37,880
Speaker 2: situation to the WNBA, I've probably experienced it. So I mean,

195
00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:39,880
Speaker 2: that's what it was like for me when I got waved.

196
00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,199
Speaker 2: Like we'll get into my individual story later, but it happens,

197
00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:44,720
Speaker 2: and it happens to a lot of players.

198
00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:49,000
Speaker 1: Like Lexi said, keep in mind, there's only about one

199
00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:52,280
Speaker 1: hundred and fifty spots in the whole WNBA thousands of

200
00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:55,680
Speaker 1: college basketball players, and everyone who's even getting drafted to

201
00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,240
Speaker 1: the WNBA was likely the best player on their college team.

202
00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:01,520
Speaker 1: So they're going from a situation where the team is

203
00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:06,000
Speaker 1: built for them, they're playing all the time, to, like

204
00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,000
Speaker 1: Lexi said, being just a part of a system. With

205
00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:11,880
Speaker 1: Olympians and MVPs and with those one hundred and fifty spots.

206
00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:13,760
Speaker 1: I'm not saying there's one hundred and fifty spots for

207
00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:17,160
Speaker 1: people coming in. There's one hundred fifty spots that everybody

208
00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:21,520
Speaker 1: being occupied by WNBA players. So it's a hard fight

209
00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,520
Speaker 1: and it's hard for them to make those decisions. I

210
00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:26,760
Speaker 1: don't envy teams for that, because fans are gonna be

211
00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:29,160
Speaker 1: mad regardless, because you fall in love with the college players,

212
00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:30,800
Speaker 1: you fall in love with their game, you fall in

213
00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:32,480
Speaker 1: love with the story of them getting drafted to this

214
00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:35,120
Speaker 1: certain team, and a lot of fans still are learning

215
00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,560
Speaker 1: that that does not mean that she's going to be

216
00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:39,280
Speaker 1: on the team when the season starts.

217
00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,800
Speaker 2: Absolutely, And it's hard because the most common comment I

218
00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:45,120
Speaker 2: see under these these announcements is like.

219
00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,120
Speaker 3: Well, why did you post there so much? Or why

220
00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:48,480
Speaker 3: did you let her do media day?

221
00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,080
Speaker 2: Well, what you want her to You want them to

222
00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:55,200
Speaker 2: exclude them from being a part of a team, because

223
00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,560
Speaker 2: they are in fact part of the team while they're there.

224
00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,839
Speaker 1: Also, the social media team didn't waive them exactly.

225
00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:01,720
Speaker 3: I know this.

226
00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:04,319
Speaker 2: I talked to our social media girl in LA all

227
00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:06,760
Speaker 2: the time because I was like, like, she would get

228
00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,960
Speaker 2: her feelings hurt about the comments left and it's not

229
00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:10,560
Speaker 2: even her.

230
00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:12,199
Speaker 3: Page, it's the Sparks page.

231
00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:14,400
Speaker 2: And she would always be like those comments are like

232
00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,360
Speaker 2: they're nasty, and I'm like, well, don't let that bother you.

233
00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:19,520
Speaker 2: Like it's not like they're not talking to you. They're

234
00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:23,360
Speaker 2: talking to the Sparks like they're not attack you. But like, guys,

235
00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,600
Speaker 2: be nice to the admin, okay, Like they they are

236
00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:26,120
Speaker 2: just doing what.

237
00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:27,640
Speaker 3: They're told, Okay, Like it's not.

238
00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:31,640
Speaker 1: Right content right. They don't have a choice if it's

239
00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:33,120
Speaker 1: a rookie or they don't know.

240
00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:35,040
Speaker 2: They don't they don't know, they don't know any better.

241
00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,280
Speaker 2: So if like, it's you're damned if you do your

242
00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:38,160
Speaker 2: damned if you don't.

243
00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:42,040
Speaker 3: But I when I got waved from the sky, our

244
00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:43,880
Speaker 3: last day of cuts.

245
00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:47,880
Speaker 2: Was our media day, so I went through an entire practice,

246
00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:51,000
Speaker 2: got cut, and then they had media day, so I

247
00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,080
Speaker 2: didn't even get to do me today in Chicago. So

248
00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:55,760
Speaker 2: in hindsight, I was like, good, I'm glad I didn't

249
00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,719
Speaker 2: do me today because I don't like, why would you

250
00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:00,680
Speaker 2: make me do me today when I'm to get cut.

251
00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,880
Speaker 3: But in a moment, I was like, damn, y'all.

252
00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:05,640
Speaker 2: Don't even let me do media day, like y'all didn't

253
00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,440
Speaker 2: even let me like get my picks off or anything

254
00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,960
Speaker 2: like that. So it's like, in hindsight, I'm like, Okay,

255
00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:12,560
Speaker 2: I'm glad I didn't have to go through that and

256
00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:15,200
Speaker 2: get really excited about the season, But in that moment,

257
00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:19,280
Speaker 2: I was like really hurt by the fact that I

258
00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:23,559
Speaker 2: didn't even get to participate in that because at that moment, I.

259
00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:24,560
Speaker 3: Didn't feel valued.

260
00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,559
Speaker 2: So I'm hoping not saying that if you don't do

261
00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:29,760
Speaker 2: media day, because some teams do wait till after Like

262
00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,000
Speaker 2: that's just a choice. Again, that has nothing to do

263
00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:37,120
Speaker 2: with the players or anything. So I love when they

264
00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,280
Speaker 2: include everybody in the media days because you want to

265
00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:41,320
Speaker 2: feel like a pro. Media days are fun and it's

266
00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:42,920
Speaker 2: a good way to get to know your teammates and

267
00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,160
Speaker 2: you get to take cute pictures, and like, everybody deserves that.

268
00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,000
Speaker 2: You did get drafted, you get you got signed to

269
00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,160
Speaker 2: a training camp, You deserve to be treated like the

270
00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,280
Speaker 2: professional athlete that you are. So I don't I hate

271
00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:55,760
Speaker 2: when when fans get mad about that that kind of stuff.

272
00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:56,520
Speaker 3: I think it's dumb.

273
00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,720
Speaker 1: LEXI, what's the vibe like in training camp at least

274
00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:03,240
Speaker 1: this year with you being a vet not being concerned

275
00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:07,280
Speaker 1: about getting cut. But are people competing against each other

276
00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:08,800
Speaker 1: or trying to bond.

277
00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:11,200
Speaker 2: I think it's a mixture both. And I also think

278
00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,080
Speaker 2: it depends on what type of team you have. So

279
00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,440
Speaker 2: I'll use our team as an example. We have a

280
00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:20,280
Speaker 2: lot of veterans on our team, so going into camp,

281
00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,280
Speaker 2: there was kind of an idea of what our team

282
00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:26,120
Speaker 2: was going to look like, but there were still spots

283
00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,880
Speaker 2: to be earned. So yes, there's there are certain moments

284
00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:33,640
Speaker 2: where you need to set yourself apart from somebody that

285
00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:37,400
Speaker 2: you're potentially competing against, we're also all competing for minutes

286
00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,080
Speaker 2: and things like that. So like for example, I'll use

287
00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:44,960
Speaker 2: myself as an example. We have a shooting drill leaderboard thing.

288
00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,400
Speaker 2: My goal is I need to be on top of

289
00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,920
Speaker 2: that shooting drill leaderboard all summer, no matter what.

290
00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:51,640
Speaker 3: Like that's my personal goal.

291
00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:53,320
Speaker 2: One of my personal goals for the season is to

292
00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,600
Speaker 2: stay on top of the shooting leaderboard for the drills

293
00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:57,320
Speaker 2: because that's something that I can come in and do

294
00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,760
Speaker 2: and off days, I can do it after practice. That's

295
00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:02,000
Speaker 2: something then that I can keep tabs with myself that

296
00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:03,840
Speaker 2: I'm still locked in that I still want to be

297
00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:05,560
Speaker 2: considered one of the top shooters in the league.

298
00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:07,320
Speaker 3: And that's how I call myself accountable.

299
00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,920
Speaker 2: So for us, it's like little mini competitions like that

300
00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:12,320
Speaker 2: we scrimmage a lot.

301
00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:14,040
Speaker 3: Our scout guys have been amazing.

302
00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,160
Speaker 2: And then for us, like our vibes, like we've been

303
00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:21,120
Speaker 2: very like locked in, very about our shit from day one,

304
00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,240
Speaker 2: and I have loved every minute of it.

305
00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,480
Speaker 3: But that didn't make the roster cuts easier.

306
00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,320
Speaker 2: Like the rookies and the free agents that they brought

307
00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:36,480
Speaker 2: in like fit seamlessly into our culture, seamlessly into our environment.

308
00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,000
Speaker 3: And this this was like one of the first seasons.

309
00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:39,840
Speaker 3: But I'm like, damn, like I.

310
00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,840
Speaker 2: Wish we could keep everybody here. Like that's how fire

311
00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:46,480
Speaker 2: the vibes were during our camp. So today, getting the

312
00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:50,800
Speaker 2: last of those cuts like happening, like it was really sad,

313
00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:52,880
Speaker 2: Like I'm not gonna lie. I was like sitting in

314
00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,560
Speaker 2: my locker like I wanted to cry, Like I almost

315
00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,040
Speaker 2: started crying, Like I was like, this is really sad

316
00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:02,600
Speaker 2: because you see like just shattered. But like I said,

317
00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:05,040
Speaker 2: they're not shattered, but in that moment, it just feels

318
00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:07,520
Speaker 2: like everything is just like coming crashing down and it's.

319
00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,080
Speaker 3: Just like, oh, well, what do I do now?

320
00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:11,960
Speaker 2: But I told them, I said, y'all just stay ready,

321
00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,800
Speaker 2: but enjoy your summer, Like, don't get consumed by this.

322
00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:16,680
Speaker 3: There's twenty four hours in a day.

323
00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:18,680
Speaker 2: You can get your work in and still enjoy your

324
00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:20,880
Speaker 2: life and enjoy your summer. And if that call comes,

325
00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,080
Speaker 2: which it will for a lot of these players that

326
00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:25,320
Speaker 2: I've gotten waved because we see it every season that

327
00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:27,880
Speaker 2: they need to be ready. And if you have a

328
00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,280
Speaker 2: good showing at camp, you have a good attitude, you're

329
00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:30,960
Speaker 2: a good teammate.

330
00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:32,960
Speaker 3: That word travels, So you.

331
00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:34,840
Speaker 2: Might not get called back to the team that you

332
00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,600
Speaker 2: got waved from, but another team might.

333
00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:38,520
Speaker 3: Inquire about you.

334
00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:40,880
Speaker 2: And if you had a good showing at camp, then

335
00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:42,480
Speaker 2: that can work in your favor and you can end

336
00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:44,040
Speaker 2: up on another team in a few weeks.

337
00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:48,240
Speaker 1: What about your experience with you mentioned a little earlier.

338
00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:50,360
Speaker 1: You're like, later, I'll tell you about what I was waved.

339
00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:53,320
Speaker 1: Could you give us a little bit a little bit

340
00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:55,440
Speaker 1: more about what that was like for you and maybe

341
00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:57,840
Speaker 1: shed some light for those girls who might be like

342
00:15:58,160 --> 00:15:59,160
Speaker 1: feeling doomsday.

343
00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:01,760
Speaker 3: Yeah, okay, so we're.

344
00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,760
Speaker 2: Gonna I've talked about what happened the year I got

345
00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:07,160
Speaker 2: waived before, but that was a minute ago, so we'll

346
00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:12,360
Speaker 2: talk about it again. So this was in twenty twenty one.

347
00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,440
Speaker 2: So right after our Bubble season, I was playing with

348
00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,200
Speaker 2: the Minnesota Links. We had a twenty game season. It

349
00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,760
Speaker 2: was short. I got a concussion in the Bubble, so

350
00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:22,760
Speaker 2: I wasn't able to finish the season. I missed some

351
00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:26,359
Speaker 2: games and I left the Bubble. So we made the playoffs.

352
00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,160
Speaker 2: I had, you know, a handful of really solid games

353
00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:30,720
Speaker 2: down there.

354
00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,360
Speaker 3: Like I was feeling really good about the season.

355
00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:35,880
Speaker 2: I was feeling really good about the future with the Links,

356
00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,920
Speaker 2: and I was off season training. So this was the

357
00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,880
Speaker 2: first year that I decided to not go overseas, and

358
00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:46,160
Speaker 2: I had been overseas the last two seasons, and this

359
00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:47,520
Speaker 2: was season I was like, I don't want to go

360
00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:48,000
Speaker 2: there anymore.

361
00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:49,760
Speaker 3: And it was COVID. It was a lot going on.

362
00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:54,600
Speaker 2: So I was off season training and training camp starts

363
00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:58,040
Speaker 2: approaching and I'm not hearing any anything.

364
00:16:57,560 --> 00:16:59,800
Speaker 3: From the Links, and I'm like, what's going.

365
00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,880
Speaker 2: On, and like, why don't I have my flight information,

366
00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,560
Speaker 2: Why don't I have my apartment information, Why.

367
00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:06,400
Speaker 3: Don't I have anything?

368
00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:08,400
Speaker 2: So my agent at the time I had to reach

369
00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:11,240
Speaker 2: out to him and I was like, can you find out, like,

370
00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:14,600
Speaker 2: what's going on because I haven't heard anything in camps

371
00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:18,159
Speaker 2: about to start. And he reaches out comes back to

372
00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:19,720
Speaker 2: me and he's like, oh, they've been They was trying

373
00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:23,000
Speaker 2: to trade you, but they couldn't get it done, so

374
00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:24,480
Speaker 2: they're gonna wave you instead.

375
00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,520
Speaker 3: And I was like, what wave me for?

376
00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:28,639
Speaker 1: What?

377
00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:29,040
Speaker 4: Like?

378
00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,480
Speaker 2: I had a great two years there, Like, I'm confused.

379
00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:33,720
Speaker 2: We made the playoffs both years I was there, like

380
00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,320
Speaker 2: I was playing well, What the hell?

381
00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,359
Speaker 3: So he tells me, I.

382
00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:42,000
Speaker 2: Don't get a call, a text, and eat, I don't

383
00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:44,879
Speaker 2: get anything from the organization. Not a single person from

384
00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:46,439
Speaker 2: the organization said a word to me.

385
00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:47,600
Speaker 3: That is not normal.

386
00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,040
Speaker 2: Okay, I want to say that right now, that the

387
00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:53,320
Speaker 2: way that went down is not normal. So at this point,

388
00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:56,240
Speaker 2: I'm in like that frenzy mode. Now I got to

389
00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,040
Speaker 2: find a training camp. Like at this point, the training

390
00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:06,600
Speaker 2: camps are filmed, so Chicago wasn't my ideal destination, but

391
00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:10,159
Speaker 2: they had a spot open in camp. So I go

392
00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:13,680
Speaker 2: to Chicago and I have a pretty good trade camp. Again,

393
00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:17,240
Speaker 2: I do everything that they asked me to do. I

394
00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:21,840
Speaker 2: played well in the preseason games, But unfortunately, some things

395
00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:25,119
Speaker 2: were going on behind the scenes that were out of

396
00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,800
Speaker 2: my control. Some salary cap stuff, some trades went on,

397
00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:33,159
Speaker 2: Boom waved again, get brought into the office. You did

398
00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:35,439
Speaker 2: everything we asked you to do. You had a good camp.

399
00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,240
Speaker 2: Stay ready like, That's what coach Wade said to me.

400
00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:40,679
Speaker 2: He's like, stay ready like That's how I left it.

401
00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:42,960
Speaker 2: And I was back home that night. I was like,

402
00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:44,840
Speaker 2: can I get Can I go home tonight? I was

403
00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:47,480
Speaker 2: mad as shit, Maria. I was so mad. And then

404
00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:51,320
Speaker 2: I went home and I was like, I was really upset,

405
00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,320
Speaker 2: and the conversation was like I just got waved twice

406
00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:59,159
Speaker 2: in two weeks, three weeks, and now I'm at home

407
00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:01,919
Speaker 2: and this is only my third season in the league.

408
00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:03,840
Speaker 2: So at that point, I was like, you know what,

409
00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,919
Speaker 2: I'm just gonna go play overseas and get it together

410
00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,800
Speaker 2: over there, like maybe this league is not for me.

411
00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:13,119
Speaker 2: Only because I was only feeling that way because of

412
00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:15,240
Speaker 2: how things went down in Minnesota. I was like, is

413
00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:16,840
Speaker 2: this how like they do business? Like?

414
00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,199
Speaker 3: Is this how it works in this league?

415
00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:22,320
Speaker 2: Like you just get waived and nobody tells you why

416
00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:25,840
Speaker 2: or what you need to improve or what happened so

417
00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:27,639
Speaker 2: I was just had like a really bad taste in

418
00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,320
Speaker 2: my mouth. At that time, I had signed a contract

419
00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,040
Speaker 2: to go play in Puerto Rico at like the beginning

420
00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,159
Speaker 2: of the fall, I think, like I think the season

421
00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:38,280
Speaker 2: was like September ish maybe, So I had ended up

422
00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:40,159
Speaker 2: signing that because I was like, oh, I might as

423
00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:41,280
Speaker 2: well go play over there.

424
00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:43,000
Speaker 3: And then I told my agent, like, I'm.

425
00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,920
Speaker 2: Not doing any temporary hardship contracts either, like I'm either

426
00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,119
Speaker 2: going to go back to Chicago if they need me,

427
00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:51,480
Speaker 2: or I'm gonna try and make a team next year.

428
00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:53,160
Speaker 2: But like, I'm not going to get caught in that

429
00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,879
Speaker 2: cycle of the hardship contracts.

430
00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:57,919
Speaker 3: We're going to get into that at some point this season.

431
00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:03,000
Speaker 2: But so yeah, I went back to training, enjoyed my summer,

432
00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:07,160
Speaker 2: watched the Chicago Sky go on a little losing streak,

433
00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:10,000
Speaker 2: and then waited for them to collee and they did,

434
00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:14,280
Speaker 2: but I missed half the season pretty much, so they

435
00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,600
Speaker 2: had to wait for my salary number to go under

436
00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,399
Speaker 2: the cap before they could officially resign me for the

437
00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:22,280
Speaker 2: rest of the season. So yeah, there's a lot of

438
00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:25,719
Speaker 2: behind the scene things outside of just your play, Like

439
00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:28,919
Speaker 2: our salary caps are online, if you guys would like

440
00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:33,200
Speaker 2: to explore numbers, initiate your own trades. There's all types

441
00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:35,840
Speaker 2: of stuff you can do on the internet, but sometimes

442
00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:39,840
Speaker 2: it's quite literally out of your control. So you just

443
00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,919
Speaker 2: can't get super discouraged. And you just gotta be ready

444
00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,960
Speaker 2: because your phone will ring, and if you're not ready,

445
00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,160
Speaker 2: then that might be your your shot.

446
00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:50,919
Speaker 3: And then then you can panic.

447
00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:54,360
Speaker 2: If you get your second your second chance, and you're

448
00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,480
Speaker 2: not ready, you're not ready to go, and then that's

449
00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:58,160
Speaker 2: when you that's when you can be like, oh damn,

450
00:20:58,160 --> 00:20:59,080
Speaker 2: I'm out of.

451
00:20:59,000 --> 00:20:59,640
Speaker 3: Booe this one.

452
00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,119
Speaker 2: So it was a hard experience for me, more of

453
00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:08,800
Speaker 2: character developing. I'm glad I got to experience Chicago though

454
00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:10,720
Speaker 2: that team win a championship.

455
00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:11,840
Speaker 3: I learned a lot.

456
00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:14,640
Speaker 2: But then like the next year, the same thing happened,

457
00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:18,480
Speaker 2: salary cap weirdness, and I was like, I'm not doing

458
00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,080
Speaker 2: this again with y'all. So I held out on my

459
00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:24,200
Speaker 2: contract and then they finally traded me to the Sparks.

460
00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:26,720
Speaker 2: But it's a hard thing and it's hard to keep up,

461
00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:29,000
Speaker 2: and I know the fans are get frustrated and I

462
00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:29,439
Speaker 2: feel it.

463
00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:31,760
Speaker 3: I feel them, trust me, I feel y'all.

464
00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,480
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's not all about what you show in the

465
00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,520
Speaker 1: preseason games. It's about what you show in practice, who

466
00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:40,400
Speaker 1: you can guard, what the team needs, how much they're

467
00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:42,440
Speaker 1: paying the players that are already there. It's a lot

468
00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:45,840
Speaker 1: that goes into it. There was a lot of viral reactions,

469
00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:49,640
Speaker 1: like you said to Dajah Kelly being at media Day,

470
00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:52,320
Speaker 1: and I think that it's great that you shed light

471
00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:54,280
Speaker 1: on the fact that they might still invite you to

472
00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,000
Speaker 1: media day. I'm curious, Lexi, you already touch on this

473
00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:59,240
Speaker 1: a little bit, but I'm thinking, if it were me,

474
00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,959
Speaker 1: what I've rather go and get the pictures? And I'm

475
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,960
Speaker 1: also thinking, what if you got your hair done? Like

476
00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:07,680
Speaker 1: I was so tight media day.

477
00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,160
Speaker 2: Well, the funny thing about the media day even in Chicago,

478
00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,280
Speaker 2: like I knew I was about to get cut. I

479
00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,320
Speaker 2: didn't even like get my hair done or anything for

480
00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,080
Speaker 2: a media day. I already knew, like I knew it

481
00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,240
Speaker 2: was coming. Yeah, I already knew what was going on.

482
00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,440
Speaker 2: But again, like you have to you have to embrace

483
00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:31,080
Speaker 2: those moments and show that you are a good culture piece.

484
00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:37,520
Speaker 2: Like Deja is an incredible player. She went undrafted, so

485
00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:41,280
Speaker 2: we're already talking about second and third round picks. Having

486
00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:43,760
Speaker 2: a very slim to none shot of making the team.

487
00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:48,320
Speaker 2: An undrafted player, the chances are even slimmer, but for

488
00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,919
Speaker 2: her to have the showing that she had with the

489
00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:55,120
Speaker 2: time that she was given was game changing for her.

490
00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:57,720
Speaker 2: So people have been able to take note of what

491
00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,399
Speaker 2: she brings to a team, her talent level, which for me,

492
00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:03,359
Speaker 2: her going undrafted was.

493
00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:06,280
Speaker 3: Mind boggling to me, mind boggling.

494
00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:09,159
Speaker 2: And the fact that she took complete advantage of that

495
00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:14,000
Speaker 2: opportunity instead of getting her feelings or feeling slighted, she

496
00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,720
Speaker 2: let it motivate her and she came out and she

497
00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,120
Speaker 2: had a great showing like she's going to be.

498
00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:19,800
Speaker 3: In this league.

499
00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:23,879
Speaker 2: If it's not this season, next season, like Dajah Kelly

500
00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,879
Speaker 2: belongs in the WNBA. So for her to take that

501
00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:29,960
Speaker 2: hard moment, you know, on draft night and come into

502
00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,920
Speaker 2: the Aces camp, which is not an easy camp by

503
00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:35,640
Speaker 2: any means, and have the confidence to come out hit

504
00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:39,280
Speaker 2: a game winner, you know, Shine Bryant media Day, like

505
00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:40,800
Speaker 2: she didn't have to do any of that. She could have,

506
00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:43,000
Speaker 2: you know, went through media Day and BS died and

507
00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:46,719
Speaker 2: not you know, embraced the environment and the experience and

508
00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,160
Speaker 2: like that. That's a pro whether you make the team

509
00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,000
Speaker 2: or not. Like that's how you operate as a professional.

510
00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:55,520
Speaker 2: So I'm devastated for her. You have the list right here.

511
00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:58,679
Speaker 2: Shyan Seller's wave twice. You know, she going through the

512
00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,200
Speaker 2: same thing as me. You get waved twice, Like that's

513
00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:03,680
Speaker 2: a gut punch, Like I know how you feel, Shy

514
00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:07,280
Speaker 2: in bree Haul, South Carolina waved from the fever. She's

515
00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:10,359
Speaker 2: actually handling it very well. If any of you have

516
00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:10,920
Speaker 2: seen her.

517
00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,439
Speaker 1: Tiktoks, yes, I think we're gonna post it on our

518
00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:16,679
Speaker 1: Instagram just so everybody can see when this episode comes out.

519
00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:20,040
Speaker 2: The same with Harmony from Harvard. You know, she posted

520
00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,720
Speaker 2: a funny TikTok about it, Like, I think a lot

521
00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:26,879
Speaker 2: of these players understand the cutthroat nature of this, but

522
00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:29,200
Speaker 2: the fact that you still have to operate as a pro,

523
00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:32,760
Speaker 2: and that's important. You got to play the game, and

524
00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:35,399
Speaker 2: it's a game within a game. It's a business. But

525
00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,520
Speaker 2: your reputation means a lot, and it carries you a

526
00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,600
Speaker 2: lot until you find that environment and that opportunity that

527
00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,119
Speaker 2: allows you to be yourself, allows you to shine, allows

528
00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:46,800
Speaker 2: you to develop. So I'm actually proud of these young

529
00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:50,080
Speaker 2: this young group because they're handling it way better.

530
00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,600
Speaker 3: Than I handled my getting waved. I was mad as shit.

531
00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,000
Speaker 3: You were like, some long, what's the first flight out

532
00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,560
Speaker 3: of here? Like whatever.

533
00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:01,080
Speaker 2: But I did leave a good enough impression for when

534
00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,359
Speaker 2: they needed to bring me back. They were able to

535
00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,040
Speaker 2: because I could have made an ass of myself on

536
00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,520
Speaker 2: the way out and then you need me and they're like, eh, well,

537
00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,280
Speaker 2: LEXI acted like this. We're not bringing her in here

538
00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:15,680
Speaker 2: because she's still not gonna play. When we bring her here,

539
00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:18,639
Speaker 2: she's gonna be a culture piece, and she's gonna be

540
00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:20,840
Speaker 2: a practice player, and we need to make sure that

541
00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,560
Speaker 2: she's going to bring good energy and good effort and

542
00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:25,200
Speaker 2: she's going to work hard when we bring her here,

543
00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:28,000
Speaker 2: whether she plays five minutes or the whole game. And

544
00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:30,639
Speaker 2: that's kind of the impression you got to leave in

545
00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:33,000
Speaker 2: those situations, and it's not easy to do that. So

546
00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,560
Speaker 2: it's a tough week and I hate that. You know,

547
00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:38,400
Speaker 2: it's Monday right now. This episode will drop on a Wednesday.

548
00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:40,560
Speaker 2: We'll have a game on Friday, and people are still

549
00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:44,280
Speaker 2: going to be reeling from the players getting waived, and

550
00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:46,080
Speaker 2: it kind of puts it always puts like a damper

551
00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:48,840
Speaker 2: on opening week of the season, and I always hate that.

552
00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:50,680
Speaker 3: I hate the timing of it all.

553
00:25:51,119 --> 00:26:02,960
Speaker 4: It's hard, I will say, before we get into preseason

554
00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:06,399
Speaker 4: or things that to look forward to in the w season.

555
00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:10,120
Speaker 1: I'm curious as far as the players that were cut

556
00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:12,200
Speaker 1: or waived, are there any of the names that stuck

557
00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:14,560
Speaker 1: out to you that you think might get picked up

558
00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:19,080
Speaker 1: mid season, might do well overseas, deserve more time? Anybody

559
00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,280
Speaker 1: that stuck out to you, particularly.

560
00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:25,280
Speaker 2: You know, based on what I did peep in preseason,

561
00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:29,520
Speaker 2: I think that point guards, I'm not sure how many

562
00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:32,080
Speaker 2: point guards you know, got waved from their camps. There's

563
00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:34,200
Speaker 2: a lot of teams that probably will need a point

564
00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:36,399
Speaker 2: guard or a backup point guard as a season goes on.

565
00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:39,960
Speaker 2: Nobody's name in particular stuck out. But again, like it

566
00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:44,480
Speaker 2: really it's all situational. Like if your roster goes under

567
00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:47,600
Speaker 2: eight because of injuries or illness, like it doesn't have

568
00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:50,119
Speaker 2: to be season and ending injuries either. You just have

569
00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,919
Speaker 2: to be out for an extended amount of time and

570
00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:55,919
Speaker 2: then you get eligible for these hardship contracts. So it

571
00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:58,439
Speaker 2: really just depends on what happens throughout the season.

572
00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:00,480
Speaker 3: So like, yeah, I'm talking about some teams are going

573
00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:01,320
Speaker 3: to need point guards.

574
00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:03,879
Speaker 2: But you know this X player goes down, that's not

575
00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:06,480
Speaker 2: a point guard, and you got to go grab somebody

576
00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:10,359
Speaker 2: to fill that spot. So all these players got to

577
00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:13,160
Speaker 2: stay ready, honestly, and that's the reality of it.

578
00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:16,120
Speaker 3: And that's why for me, I.

579
00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:21,080
Speaker 2: Wish we would expand rosters before we expanded teams. Which

580
00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:23,600
Speaker 2: I'm so happy that we're expanding teams, but.

581
00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:25,000
Speaker 1: That's a good show.

582
00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:30,080
Speaker 2: But the roster spots. We're starting our season with ten players,

583
00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:32,840
Speaker 2: so yeah, that might seem like a lot of players,

584
00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:35,960
Speaker 2: but like over the forty four game season, that's not

585
00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:38,639
Speaker 2: a lot of players at all. I'm hoping that our

586
00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:42,159
Speaker 2: in our CBA negotiations, like yes, our salaries are going

587
00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:45,600
Speaker 2: to increase, god willing, salary cap is going to increase,

588
00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:49,920
Speaker 2: god willing, and hopefully it won't be a hard cap anymore.

589
00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:53,280
Speaker 2: I'm hoping that as a collective, the top, the one

590
00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:56,639
Speaker 2: percenters will be like, you know what, we don't need.

591
00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:58,000
Speaker 3: To make X amount.

592
00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:00,360
Speaker 2: We can make a little less than that still lot,

593
00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:02,960
Speaker 2: which what we all deserve, but maybe a little more

594
00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,080
Speaker 2: so we can give that money to two more roster

595
00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:06,960
Speaker 2: spots instead.

596
00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:08,760
Speaker 3: So that's on us.

597
00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:11,840
Speaker 1: That makes a lot of sense too, because right now

598
00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:13,120
Speaker 1: you said there's ten players.

599
00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,320
Speaker 3: Yes, that's only enough to scrimmage.

600
00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:19,440
Speaker 2: Exactly with nobody else exactly scrimmage with no subs.

601
00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:23,239
Speaker 3: Right right, I'm like, oh, thank the Lord, we have

602
00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:24,200
Speaker 3: practice players.

603
00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:28,560
Speaker 2: Like they're so amazing and so integral to a team's

604
00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:31,720
Speaker 2: successes because you do have teams carrying ten eleven players,

605
00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,120
Speaker 2: teams that there are some that carry twelve, but like, yeah,

606
00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:37,359
Speaker 2: you have three games in four days. You have three

607
00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,760
Speaker 2: players that play thirty thirty five minutes. They're not practicing

608
00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,560
Speaker 2: the next day, so now we have seven players, yeah,

609
00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:44,880
Speaker 2: in practice, So.

610
00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:47,400
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a good show. I never thought about that

611
00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:50,560
Speaker 1: because I was like, I've always felt like, obviously, adding

612
00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:52,520
Speaker 1: all the new teams exciting because I want more people

613
00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:55,040
Speaker 1: to have an opportunity. Like there's so many talented women's

614
00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:58,800
Speaker 1: basketball players in the world that want to play in

615
00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:02,040
Speaker 1: the WNBA and simply can't because there's not enough spots.

616
00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:07,040
Speaker 1: But adding teams doesn't really. I mean, it does benefit

617
00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:11,160
Speaker 1: adding roster spots for more players, but the teams that

618
00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:13,200
Speaker 1: are in the WBA right now I feel like would

619
00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:16,240
Speaker 1: benefit more from having more spots.

620
00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:18,200
Speaker 2: And you think about it, you look at the Valkyries

621
00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:20,960
Speaker 2: almost they add entire roster is full of players that

622
00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:24,400
Speaker 2: are already in this one forty four bucket. So that

623
00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,400
Speaker 2: team didn't create twelve new spots. It created like three

624
00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:33,040
Speaker 2: or four new spots really because you already have WNBA

625
00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:37,440
Speaker 2: players on the team. So yeah, again, don't get me wrong.

626
00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:40,000
Speaker 2: So excited for the expansion teams, like I can't wait

627
00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:42,120
Speaker 2: to go play in Golden State, Like it's it's an

628
00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,000
Speaker 2: exciting time for the w But I've heard it in

629
00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:47,240
Speaker 2: every locker room that I've been in, like we need

630
00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:49,720
Speaker 2: more roster spots, But I feel like that's going to

631
00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,600
Speaker 2: be on the players because we're going to be able

632
00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:56,480
Speaker 2: to decide how the money is going to be distributed

633
00:29:56,520 --> 00:30:01,040
Speaker 2: amongst a salary cap. So we'll rewind for y'all who

634
00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:03,560
Speaker 2: don't know what a salary cap is. In the most

635
00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:07,720
Speaker 2: simple terms, we'll say that the salary cap is a pie. Okay,

636
00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:12,640
Speaker 2: your favorite pie, and everybody's salaries is a slice of

637
00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:13,280
Speaker 2: the pie.

638
00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:16,040
Speaker 3: Okay, So your.

639
00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:19,680
Speaker 2: Top player might get like a fourth of the pie.

640
00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:21,760
Speaker 2: I'll say your top two or three players will get

641
00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:24,000
Speaker 2: twenty five percent of the pie goes to three people,

642
00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:25,440
Speaker 2: and then you got to split the rest of the

643
00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:29,080
Speaker 2: pie up amongst eight to ten people, depending on how

644
00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:31,560
Speaker 2: much of the how big the twenty five percent is.

645
00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:34,480
Speaker 2: So when you break it down simple like that, like, Okay,

646
00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:36,760
Speaker 2: do those three players really need twenty five percent? Maybe

647
00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:39,040
Speaker 2: they can get twenty two percent of the pie. Maybe

648
00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:40,960
Speaker 2: they can get twenty three percent of the pie. Because

649
00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,160
Speaker 2: when you break it down to percentages like that, like

650
00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:46,160
Speaker 2: because ten percent of one hundred thousand is still ten

651
00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:48,480
Speaker 2: ten thousand dollars, Like that's still a lot of money.

652
00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:50,920
Speaker 2: So you take a little bit from the top over here,

653
00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:52,320
Speaker 2: you take a little bit of the top over here,

654
00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:53,520
Speaker 2: you take a little bit of a top of here.

655
00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:55,800
Speaker 2: Oh boom, you have a minimum veteran contract.

656
00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:58,480
Speaker 3: Boom. So I'm hoping like those are the.

657
00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:01,640
Speaker 2: Conversations that are had, especially with this forty four game season.

658
00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:03,440
Speaker 2: I know a lot of teams are gonna feel it

659
00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:04,880
Speaker 2: about halfway through.

660
00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:09,280
Speaker 1: Before you get clipped, because I can feel it. Lexi

661
00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:13,040
Speaker 1: is not saying cut this fourth of the pie that

662
00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:15,720
Speaker 1: is going to the top three players to give to her.

663
00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:17,400
Speaker 3: Okay, don't give it to me.

664
00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:20,959
Speaker 1: Cut the She's saying, cut that part of the pie,

665
00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:23,360
Speaker 1: because that little slice of the pie that is taken

666
00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:26,240
Speaker 1: away from the top two players, and the roster could

667
00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:29,560
Speaker 1: be a piece of pie for another player to come in.

668
00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:32,680
Speaker 3: For another two players that are not on the team yet.

669
00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:35,600
Speaker 1: For these players that you guys are crying about getting gave, Yeah,

670
00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:37,720
Speaker 1: they could have a spot if that was exactly so.

671
00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:39,800
Speaker 1: I just wanted to make it clear that you're not

672
00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:41,880
Speaker 1: being selfish in that sense trying to take a piece

673
00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:42,200
Speaker 1: of pie.

674
00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:45,040
Speaker 3: Hey, I'm happy with my piece of the pie right now. Okay,

675
00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:45,800
Speaker 3: don't get me wrong.

676
00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:48,520
Speaker 2: I'm very happy with my piece of the pie. I

677
00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:50,360
Speaker 2: love my piece of the pie.

678
00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:50,800
Speaker 3: Okay.

679
00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:53,240
Speaker 2: I just want more people to be able to enjoy

680
00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:55,040
Speaker 2: this beautiful, delicious pie.

681
00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:55,800
Speaker 3: That's all.

682
00:31:56,040 --> 00:32:00,440
Speaker 1: And I will say going into that the top one

683
00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:02,840
Speaker 1: or two players, I would say I'm just about every

684
00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:05,880
Speaker 1: team in the w have a lot of opportunities as

685
00:32:05,920 --> 00:32:09,480
Speaker 1: far as being the face of the franchise and doing

686
00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:12,480
Speaker 1: other things that I feel like most of them would

687
00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:17,360
Speaker 1: be willing to sacrifice one percent of their WNBA salary

688
00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:21,560
Speaker 1: to allow for more backup spots and more help, especially

689
00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:23,440
Speaker 1: with more games being outed to the schedule.

690
00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:26,720
Speaker 2: And this is a completely different conversation than we had

691
00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:30,360
Speaker 2: of when we said players should never accept less money

692
00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:34,000
Speaker 2: to benefit the team, to want it to get a championship.

693
00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:37,720
Speaker 2: This is a completely different conversation. The money that we're

694
00:32:37,760 --> 00:32:39,600
Speaker 2: talking about doesn't exist yet.

695
00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:41,080
Speaker 3: We don't know how much it's going to be.

696
00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:43,600
Speaker 2: No one has had access to it, no one knows

697
00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:45,440
Speaker 2: what it looks like, no one knows what it feels like.

698
00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:49,640
Speaker 2: So this money that this hypothetical money that we're talking

699
00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:52,560
Speaker 2: about is money that none of us have ever even had.

700
00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:55,640
Speaker 2: This is not the money that you have earned already.

701
00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:57,760
Speaker 2: Like the top earners still are going to be the

702
00:32:57,760 --> 00:33:00,320
Speaker 2: top earners. But like again like we don't know what

703
00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:02,719
Speaker 2: this We don't know what the ceiling is for the

704
00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:07,040
Speaker 2: top earners. So this is a completely separate convererce Like

705
00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:08,920
Speaker 2: I do not want any player to ever be like, no,

706
00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:11,200
Speaker 2: I'm gonna take less money so you know we can

707
00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:13,480
Speaker 2: we can go get this player and stack up a team.

708
00:33:13,560 --> 00:33:15,560
Speaker 2: Like if a player wants to do that, shout out

709
00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:16,800
Speaker 2: to them, like that's amazing.

710
00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:19,120
Speaker 3: But if a player doesn't want to do that, I

711
00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:20,480
Speaker 3: completely understand that.

712
00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:24,280
Speaker 2: But for this hypothetical feeling that we're talking about that

713
00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:28,400
Speaker 2: could potentially expand these roster spots and give more players

714
00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:32,280
Speaker 2: opportunities on top of the expansion teams. I don't see

715
00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,000
Speaker 2: why that's not an idea that we would visit if

716
00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:37,680
Speaker 2: it doesn't pan out that way. Like cool, that is

717
00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:40,000
Speaker 2: what it is, but like it's definitely a conversation that

718
00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,680
Speaker 2: should be had because we do need roster expansion, like

719
00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:47,400
Speaker 2: because the waving of the players, the lack of development

720
00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:50,200
Speaker 2: of these of these young players. It's hard and it

721
00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:54,719
Speaker 2: doesn't make sense because you these players do need development,

722
00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:58,440
Speaker 2: and you can't depend on going overseas. You can't depend

723
00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:01,640
Speaker 2: on Unrivaled, you can't depend on Athletes Unlimited because that's

724
00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:04,680
Speaker 2: it's not the W. So yes, you can get great experience,

725
00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:07,400
Speaker 2: you can get confidence playing overseas. You can get confidence

726
00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:11,880
Speaker 2: playing Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited. But that confidence I'm from firsthand.

727
00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:15,160
Speaker 2: I've played overseas, I've played Athletes Unlimited. I haven't played Unrivaled.

728
00:34:15,640 --> 00:34:18,160
Speaker 2: But that confidence that you get and you come play

729
00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:20,279
Speaker 2: with the big dogs again in the W, you're like,

730
00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:23,120
Speaker 2: oh damn, okay, let me tie it up. And then

731
00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:26,239
Speaker 2: also you become you know, you could be a star here.

732
00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:29,000
Speaker 2: You come into the W, you fit a role, you're

733
00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:31,759
Speaker 2: a specialist, you are a Goop player like, there's just

734
00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,400
Speaker 2: different things that you have to experience in different ways

735
00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:36,239
Speaker 2: you help a team win when you're in a league

736
00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:38,799
Speaker 2: this talented. So it's very important for these players to

737
00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:41,839
Speaker 2: stay in proximity to it because if they still want

738
00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:43,160
Speaker 2: to be a part of it. You know, some players

739
00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:45,040
Speaker 2: be like, you know, that was cool, I'm cool off

740
00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:48,000
Speaker 2: of it, And that's completely understandable too. I get that,

741
00:34:48,200 --> 00:34:51,160
Speaker 2: but there is there is a level of proximity that

742
00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:53,200
Speaker 2: needs to be had for these players to be able

743
00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:55,319
Speaker 2: to continue to grow and learn and develop and be

744
00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:57,480
Speaker 2: able to earn a spot in the W Because it's

745
00:34:57,480 --> 00:34:58,680
Speaker 2: not I said it, it's not.

746
00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:01,480
Speaker 3: It's the hardest lead in the world to make. I

747
00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:03,080
Speaker 3: stand on that. It really is.

748
00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:07,879
Speaker 1: Yeah, I would agree with you speaking of this very

749
00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:13,160
Speaker 1: difficult league. Even though preseason doesn't define the teams as

750
00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:14,680
Speaker 1: far as what we're going to see throughout the new

751
00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:17,520
Speaker 1: forty four game schedule, we still need to talk about

752
00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:21,560
Speaker 1: it because going into the WNBA season, which ships off

753
00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:25,200
Speaker 1: on Friday, I want the fans of the w to

754
00:35:25,360 --> 00:35:28,880
Speaker 1: have your perspective and my perspective on what to expect,

755
00:35:29,160 --> 00:35:32,759
Speaker 1: what you're looking forward to the teams to watch the

756
00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:36,760
Speaker 1: teams that might have some improvement whatever. So the WNBA

757
00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:39,080
Speaker 1: released their power rankings today.

758
00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:40,640
Speaker 3: From pre season serio.

759
00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:43,759
Speaker 1: So in the first place the New York Liberty in

760
00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:47,680
Speaker 1: second place, the Minnesota Links, third place, the Las Vegas

761
00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:55,719
Speaker 1: Aces in fourth place, the Seattle Storm at top five

762
00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:59,399
Speaker 1: top five top five okay, and then in fifth place

763
00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:04,320
Speaker 1: the Indiana Fever. Sixth the Phoenix Mercury. The seventh team

764
00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:07,080
Speaker 1: is the Atlanta Dream. Oh that rhymes. The eighth team

765
00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:12,000
Speaker 1: is the Chicago Sky, ninth is the Dallas Wings, tenth

766
00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:16,520
Speaker 1: is the Los Angeles Sparks, eleventh is the Mystics, twelfth

767
00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:19,960
Speaker 1: is the Sun, and thirteenth is the Valkyries.

768
00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:26,759
Speaker 2: Okay, that's a pretty that's a pretty solid list, I think. Yeah,

769
00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:29,160
Speaker 2: you know, you don't have the two teams that were

770
00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:33,200
Speaker 2: in the finals as one and two. That makes sense

771
00:36:33,880 --> 00:36:35,920
Speaker 2: that they didn't have any changes, so like they were

772
00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:38,320
Speaker 2: at the top of the league last year, so obviously

773
00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:39,840
Speaker 2: you would assume that they're going to be at the

774
00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:43,080
Speaker 2: top this year. We said Vegas looked very ready to

775
00:36:43,400 --> 00:36:46,200
Speaker 2: run it back with the championship in their preseason game.

776
00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:48,960
Speaker 2: Very excited to see us at four. But I think

777
00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:51,280
Speaker 2: the Storm finished fifth last year, so like that sounds

778
00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:53,120
Speaker 2: about right. It kind of looks like they just looked

779
00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:55,600
Speaker 2: at last season's rankings from the end of the year

780
00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:56,040
Speaker 2: and just.

781
00:36:56,040 --> 00:36:56,680
Speaker 3: Put it.

782
00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:01,560
Speaker 2: And just redid it and put the Mystics and they

783
00:37:01,600 --> 00:37:04,600
Speaker 2: just put the Valkyries last. Yeah, okay, I'm okay with

784
00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:08,440
Speaker 2: that list. That's that's a very decent list. Like I said, preseason,

785
00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:10,160
Speaker 2: you can't really read too much into it.

786
00:37:10,320 --> 00:37:12,600
Speaker 3: Who did I want? I mean, I watched all the games.

787
00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:16,200
Speaker 2: I think that we'll start from the bottom and work

788
00:37:16,239 --> 00:37:19,759
Speaker 2: our way up. So Valkyrie's first preseason winning history, so

789
00:37:19,840 --> 00:37:21,200
Speaker 2: shout out to them.

790
00:37:21,719 --> 00:37:25,480
Speaker 3: They shot forty threes. So I'm laughing because it's there.

791
00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:28,480
Speaker 1: It's their first preseason history, I guess.

792
00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:29,319
Speaker 3: But they won.

793
00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:31,480
Speaker 2: They lost the last game, so it's their first win,

794
00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:34,160
Speaker 2: that's true, their first official preseason win.

795
00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:35,279
Speaker 3: They shot forty three.

796
00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:37,880
Speaker 2: So you know, we know what goes on in the

797
00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:40,320
Speaker 2: Bay with the Golden State Warriors, so it seems like

798
00:37:40,360 --> 00:37:44,319
Speaker 2: they're gonna take on that similar personality shooting a lot

799
00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:45,400
Speaker 2: of threes, which.

800
00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:47,880
Speaker 1: Makes sense because that's what the fans there want to see.

801
00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:49,160
Speaker 3: The fans are used to it.

802
00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:51,719
Speaker 2: Like, like I said, Natalie knows what she's doing up there,

803
00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:54,040
Speaker 2: Like there is a level of entertainment factor that you

804
00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:56,839
Speaker 2: got a factor in when you're building a team in

805
00:37:56,880 --> 00:37:58,080
Speaker 2: trying to win games.

806
00:37:58,239 --> 00:38:01,000
Speaker 3: Completely new roster, new code, new city.

807
00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:03,400
Speaker 2: I mean, I think, yeah, it's rude to be like

808
00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:06,280
Speaker 2: there's not really much expectation for them, but like that's

809
00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:09,000
Speaker 2: literally like there is no expectation because y'all, the team

810
00:38:09,080 --> 00:38:11,200
Speaker 2: didn't exist before. I think they're going to be better

811
00:38:11,239 --> 00:38:14,279
Speaker 2: than people think though. After watching them, I think Van

812
00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:17,799
Speaker 2: lou is going to be a very important piece to

813
00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:21,360
Speaker 2: that because her passing ability. There's a lot of offensive

814
00:38:21,360 --> 00:38:23,719
Speaker 2: weapons on that team, and the way she sets up

815
00:38:23,760 --> 00:38:28,920
Speaker 2: her teammates is really elite. So I was very impressed

816
00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:32,640
Speaker 2: with their second game and they have a they have

817
00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:35,520
Speaker 2: a rookie on I think she's thirty, So I'm sure

818
00:38:35,560 --> 00:38:38,239
Speaker 2: that that's going to be thrown in everybody's face the

819
00:38:38,360 --> 00:38:40,920
Speaker 2: entire season that we have another thirty year old rookie

820
00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:46,000
Speaker 2: from overseas. She was very impressive, So don't sleep on

821
00:38:46,040 --> 00:38:50,360
Speaker 2: the Valkyries. Like, and they got the home crowd advantage,

822
00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:52,840
Speaker 2: so their team, their games are will be packed out.

823
00:38:53,040 --> 00:38:56,000
Speaker 2: So just off that alone, like that gives them a

824
00:38:56,080 --> 00:38:58,520
Speaker 2: huge advantage, so I'm really excited to go play there.

825
00:38:58,880 --> 00:39:02,160
Speaker 2: The crowd is amazing, atmosphere was amazing. So don't sleep

826
00:39:02,160 --> 00:39:04,680
Speaker 2: on the Valkyries, even though they ranked them last, Like

827
00:39:04,719 --> 00:39:05,120
Speaker 2: I don't think.

828
00:39:05,160 --> 00:39:07,120
Speaker 3: I don't think they're going to finish dead last. I

829
00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:07,719
Speaker 3: really don't.

830
00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:11,320
Speaker 1: Well, the Valkyries have their first game on Friday against

831
00:39:11,320 --> 00:39:14,480
Speaker 1: the Sparks, who beat them by one point recent point,

832
00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:17,760
Speaker 1: so we've got a Cali battle happy.

833
00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:25,839
Speaker 3: Which is so cool. Two teams in Kelly.

834
00:39:28,640 --> 00:39:30,080
Speaker 1: What about the Connecticut Sun.

835
00:39:30,520 --> 00:39:34,959
Speaker 2: So they actually beat the Liberty in New York, which

836
00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:38,200
Speaker 2: again preseason, so don't don't get too high on that,

837
00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:40,400
Speaker 2: and don't get too low on the Liberty since we

838
00:39:40,440 --> 00:39:42,759
Speaker 2: played them in the preseason. They looked better in that

839
00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:45,560
Speaker 2: game than they did when they played US. Marina Maybrey

840
00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:48,040
Speaker 2: played and she's going to be obviously one of the

841
00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:52,160
Speaker 2: focal points of their offense. I think that the Sun

842
00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:56,200
Speaker 2: saw a need at their point guard position and they

843
00:39:56,239 --> 00:39:59,400
Speaker 2: signed Bria Hartley uh to a training camp contract, but

844
00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:01,600
Speaker 2: I can I can first see them signing her for

845
00:40:01,680 --> 00:40:05,160
Speaker 2: the entire season. She played in Athletes Unlimited, had a

846
00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:07,680
Speaker 2: great season, went to yukon a very elite point guard

847
00:40:07,719 --> 00:40:10,239
Speaker 2: out in New York dealing with some injuries, so it's

848
00:40:10,280 --> 00:40:13,200
Speaker 2: really exciting to see her back in the w That's

849
00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:14,799
Speaker 2: something that we talked about a lot while we were

850
00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:16,799
Speaker 2: in Nashville, like she really wanted to get back into

851
00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:18,320
Speaker 2: the league and prove herself.

852
00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:19,440
Speaker 3: So I'm really excited for that.

853
00:40:19,640 --> 00:40:21,720
Speaker 2: And she's a she's been in the league before, she

854
00:40:21,719 --> 00:40:24,000
Speaker 2: she's played at a high level. So I think that

855
00:40:24,040 --> 00:40:26,960
Speaker 2: addition changes a lot for the Sun. Another team that

856
00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:28,680
Speaker 2: I don't think are going to be as bad as

857
00:40:28,719 --> 00:40:29,279
Speaker 2: people think.

858
00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:30,400
Speaker 3: So I was impressed.

859
00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:34,320
Speaker 2: You know, you you preseason means different things for different teams,

860
00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:36,400
Speaker 2: and I think that was a really good win for

861
00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:38,480
Speaker 2: them to go into this into the first game of

862
00:40:38,520 --> 00:40:41,120
Speaker 2: the year with the win over the Liberty in New York,

863
00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:44,360
Speaker 2: So shout out to them. Also, there was news today

864
00:40:44,360 --> 00:40:49,000
Speaker 2: that they're looking to sell the team. Wow, which nobody

865
00:40:49,040 --> 00:40:51,800
Speaker 2: thought that they was gonna come up off the Sun,

866
00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:56,080
Speaker 2: So there was no comment from the team or anything,

867
00:40:56,280 --> 00:40:59,279
Speaker 2: but apparently that's the new rumor, is that the Sun

868
00:40:59,520 --> 00:41:02,520
Speaker 2: there trying to sell them, which to me, put them

869
00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:05,200
Speaker 2: to Boston. You know, I'm a Boston girl. I would

870
00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:09,120
Speaker 2: love to have a team in Boston. But we'll see

871
00:41:09,120 --> 00:41:10,920
Speaker 2: how that pans out. But that was the news that

872
00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:13,359
Speaker 2: drop right before we got onto record, was that they

873
00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:14,640
Speaker 2: were looking to sell the team.

874
00:41:14,880 --> 00:41:17,960
Speaker 3: So who's next? Who is eleven next?

875
00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:21,120
Speaker 1: We've got the Mystics, who we've talked about before, being

876
00:41:21,760 --> 00:41:26,160
Speaker 1: for rookies that are having their step up. Yeah, basically

877
00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:30,399
Speaker 1: shout out to Kiki Riyafin who had twelve points and

878
00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:34,920
Speaker 1: it was lost, but but she showed some promising moments,

879
00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:37,200
Speaker 1: so I wanted to give her a little shout out. Yeah,

880
00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:39,279
Speaker 1: not much as expected from the Mystics this year.

881
00:41:39,400 --> 00:41:42,680
Speaker 2: No, And it's hard for veterans on that team that

882
00:41:43,080 --> 00:41:46,320
Speaker 2: you know, you go there and the team looks one way.

883
00:41:46,960 --> 00:41:50,319
Speaker 2: Two years later it's a completely different situation. So you know,

884
00:41:50,440 --> 00:41:54,520
Speaker 2: you have that type of sympathy for those veterans. But again,

885
00:41:54,560 --> 00:41:57,600
Speaker 2: it's like, this is a perfect opportunity for you to

886
00:41:57,640 --> 00:42:02,040
Speaker 2: work on things to you know, get numbers, be a veteran,

887
00:42:02,120 --> 00:42:04,680
Speaker 2: be a leader, work on your leadership. I do see

888
00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:07,279
Speaker 2: a big year coming from Aliah Edwards, though I don't

889
00:42:07,320 --> 00:42:10,040
Speaker 2: know why. I don't know that just that one on

890
00:42:10,040 --> 00:42:12,480
Speaker 2: one match up with Stewiet kind of like it's something

891
00:42:12,520 --> 00:42:13,000
Speaker 2: in my brain.

892
00:42:13,080 --> 00:42:15,080
Speaker 3: I'm like oh Leah Edwards is one of them once,

893
00:42:15,640 --> 00:42:17,360
Speaker 3: so I'm really excited for her.

894
00:42:17,440 --> 00:42:19,719
Speaker 2: She did not play in that preseason game due to

895
00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:23,320
Speaker 2: an injury I want to say, or resting whatever.

896
00:42:23,360 --> 00:42:25,920
Speaker 3: She didn't play, but I can I'm sensing a big

897
00:42:25,960 --> 00:42:28,920
Speaker 3: year for her. She had a really great rookie rookie season.

898
00:42:29,120 --> 00:42:31,719
Speaker 2: And yeah, the Mystics, they held their own against the

899
00:42:31,800 --> 00:42:34,399
Speaker 2: Dream and they have the babies on the team. They're

900
00:42:34,400 --> 00:42:37,200
Speaker 2: a team full of rookies. But again, everybody is in

901
00:42:37,239 --> 00:42:40,759
Speaker 2: this league for a reason. You cannot sleep regardless of

902
00:42:40,760 --> 00:42:42,960
Speaker 2: what number they have next to their name, you cannot

903
00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:45,080
Speaker 2: sleep on a single team in this league. Everybody in

904
00:42:45,120 --> 00:42:46,640
Speaker 2: this league is good enough to win a game on

905
00:42:46,680 --> 00:42:49,719
Speaker 2: any given night. So shout out to the Mystics and

906
00:42:49,760 --> 00:42:52,440
Speaker 2: shout out to my vets on that team, because it's.

907
00:42:52,239 --> 00:42:55,520
Speaker 3: Not gonna be easy, but y'all could show a little song.

908
00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:03,839
Speaker 1: Next, let's talk about the La La land Sparks. They

909
00:43:04,600 --> 00:43:07,360
Speaker 1: I have them one to ero for the preseason. But

910
00:43:07,680 --> 00:43:08,959
Speaker 1: breaking news from Lexi Brown.

911
00:43:09,000 --> 00:43:11,680
Speaker 2: They are one and one and one.

912
00:43:13,120 --> 00:43:17,040
Speaker 1: Obviously, they have their first game against the Valkyrides on Friday. Lexi,

913
00:43:17,480 --> 00:43:20,560
Speaker 1: what have you seen from them? Obviously? Based on what

914
00:43:20,640 --> 00:43:25,239
Speaker 1: I've seen, the shining spot of their preseason was Rakia.

915
00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:28,319
Speaker 2: Draca and I can I will second that based on

916
00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:31,640
Speaker 2: our scrimmage and I won't say anything else, but baby

917
00:43:31,640 --> 00:43:34,399
Speaker 2: girl been in the gym, one of them ones. She's

918
00:43:34,440 --> 00:43:36,960
Speaker 2: expanded her game, so I'm really excited to see the

919
00:43:37,040 --> 00:43:38,040
Speaker 2: leap that she takes.

920
00:43:39,080 --> 00:43:39,360
Speaker 3: Again.

921
00:43:39,480 --> 00:43:42,400
Speaker 2: A lot of new faces on that team, new coaching staff,

922
00:43:42,440 --> 00:43:45,759
Speaker 2: new head coach, so they're gonna there gonna be some

923
00:43:45,840 --> 00:43:49,600
Speaker 2: growing pains, but it's nice to see them turning the page.

924
00:43:49,640 --> 00:43:51,240
Speaker 3: You know that the offense is completely different.

925
00:43:51,280 --> 00:43:53,239
Speaker 2: It was kind of weird, like watching your old team

926
00:43:53,400 --> 00:43:54,919
Speaker 2: and like nothing is the same.

927
00:43:55,040 --> 00:43:56,080
Speaker 3: Everything is different.

928
00:43:56,280 --> 00:43:59,440
Speaker 2: So they are really leaning into this new era of

929
00:43:59,840 --> 00:44:02,640
Speaker 2: LA basketball. So you know, I'm glad that we got

930
00:44:02,640 --> 00:44:05,320
Speaker 2: the win, but you know, they looked, they look solid.

931
00:44:05,440 --> 00:44:07,120
Speaker 3: But I see Rakia.

932
00:44:06,800 --> 00:44:10,360
Speaker 2: Having a really, really good season, so I'm really excited

933
00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:10,640
Speaker 2: for her.

934
00:44:10,840 --> 00:44:14,600
Speaker 1: Let's talk about Dallas. Obviously, they got the number one pick.

935
00:44:14,760 --> 00:44:18,839
Speaker 1: Everybody's been super excited and high on seeing them. They

936
00:44:18,920 --> 00:44:21,359
Speaker 1: open up their preseason with a thirty seven point loss

937
00:44:21,400 --> 00:44:25,120
Speaker 1: of the Aces and then swung around for a big

938
00:44:25,480 --> 00:44:29,440
Speaker 1: win a week later. All eyes have been on page

939
00:44:29,480 --> 00:44:32,200
Speaker 1: but what have you been seeing from Dallas.

940
00:44:32,560 --> 00:44:36,040
Speaker 2: I mean, we talked about the Page Arique synergy and

941
00:44:36,080 --> 00:44:39,200
Speaker 2: that's going to be so important. And you could kind

942
00:44:39,200 --> 00:44:41,560
Speaker 2: of see on Arigue's face like this is probably some

943
00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:44,040
Speaker 2: of the easiest scoring.

944
00:44:43,840 --> 00:44:44,560
Speaker 3: That she's had.

945
00:44:44,680 --> 00:44:46,279
Speaker 2: You know, she's so used to kind of doing it

946
00:44:46,320 --> 00:44:49,080
Speaker 2: all in herself, Like she's probably one of the best

947
00:44:49,160 --> 00:44:51,799
Speaker 2: one on one ISO players in the league, and she's

948
00:44:51,840 --> 00:44:54,520
Speaker 2: had to perfect that because she hasn't really had too

949
00:44:54,600 --> 00:44:57,440
Speaker 2: many people that are able to set the table for

950
00:44:57,520 --> 00:45:00,320
Speaker 2: her and score on their own. So watching them build

951
00:45:00,320 --> 00:45:02,720
Speaker 2: their chemistry over time is going to be really fun.

952
00:45:03,080 --> 00:45:05,799
Speaker 2: And they look like they I mean from what I

953
00:45:05,840 --> 00:45:07,640
Speaker 2: see from the outside looking and they look like they're

954
00:45:07,719 --> 00:45:10,360
Speaker 2: enjoying the process, and I think that's so important because

955
00:45:10,360 --> 00:45:12,520
Speaker 2: it is going to be a process. So just seeing

956
00:45:12,520 --> 00:45:16,440
Speaker 2: those two build their chemistry and then their accessory pieces

957
00:45:16,600 --> 00:45:18,759
Speaker 2: are going to be super important. And you know what

958
00:45:18,880 --> 00:45:20,319
Speaker 2: Djna is going to bring, you know what the list

959
00:45:20,400 --> 00:45:21,920
Speaker 2: is going to bring. So it's going to be an

960
00:45:21,920 --> 00:45:24,440
Speaker 2: exciting season. I think they're going to be fun to watch.

961
00:45:25,040 --> 00:45:27,200
Speaker 2: There are second game of the season, so we gonna

962
00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:29,720
Speaker 2: see them very early and see what they're talking about.

963
00:45:29,800 --> 00:45:33,000
Speaker 3: So again. Dallas another team that I'm.

964
00:45:32,880 --> 00:45:34,640
Speaker 2: Going to say this about every team, not every every

965
00:45:34,680 --> 00:45:36,640
Speaker 2: team is not going to be as bad as you think.

966
00:45:36,719 --> 00:45:39,920
Speaker 2: But like, that's funny because last year everyone thought we

967
00:45:39,920 --> 00:45:42,160
Speaker 2: were going to be bad, and we were just as

968
00:45:42,200 --> 00:45:45,279
Speaker 2: bad as every thought. But we went through a lot

969
00:45:45,360 --> 00:45:49,200
Speaker 2: of stuff that you know, made that a thing. But

970
00:45:49,640 --> 00:45:51,640
Speaker 2: you know, I'm not going to say anybody is going

971
00:45:51,719 --> 00:45:53,960
Speaker 2: to be bad, because who am I to say that

972
00:45:54,040 --> 00:45:56,520
Speaker 2: about any team? But a lot of changes in Dallas

973
00:45:56,640 --> 00:45:59,640
Speaker 2: and you can see their chemistry growing and growing, and

974
00:45:59,680 --> 00:46:01,920
Speaker 2: I think they're going to just enjoy the process and

975
00:46:02,320 --> 00:46:04,480
Speaker 2: kind of just roll with it. And that kind of

976
00:46:04,480 --> 00:46:06,879
Speaker 2: just seems to be the energy over there. So I'm

977
00:46:06,920 --> 00:46:09,560
Speaker 2: excited for Page's rookie campaign.

978
00:46:09,760 --> 00:46:11,040
Speaker 3: I think we all are me too.

979
00:46:15,000 --> 00:46:17,440
Speaker 1: Let's move on to somewhere you've been before, Shytown.

980
00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:19,880
Speaker 3: Shytown Angel visited.

981
00:46:19,760 --> 00:46:22,680
Speaker 1: Ls she again on May second for the Skies preseason

982
00:46:22,719 --> 00:46:25,120
Speaker 1: opener against the Brazilian national team. We shouted them out

983
00:46:25,160 --> 00:46:27,680
Speaker 1: because wow, to come from Brazil and to play all

984
00:46:27,680 --> 00:46:32,120
Speaker 1: these WNBA teams, very impressive for them. Angel played I

985
00:46:32,120 --> 00:46:36,640
Speaker 1: think like seventeen minutes and actually watched this but and

986
00:46:37,120 --> 00:46:39,480
Speaker 1: she had fifteen to ten a double double as we're

987
00:46:39,520 --> 00:46:42,960
Speaker 1: used to seeing so, and Angel has expressed that if

988
00:46:43,040 --> 00:46:46,000
Speaker 1: need be, she's willing to play point guard for the

989
00:46:46,040 --> 00:46:48,439
Speaker 1: Sky if that is what they are asking her to do.

990
00:46:48,680 --> 00:46:50,160
Speaker 1: So Angel seems really ready to win.

991
00:46:50,640 --> 00:46:54,000
Speaker 2: They are their last game, wow, bringing the ball for

992
00:46:54,320 --> 00:46:56,759
Speaker 2: point forward for There was a little bit of.

993
00:46:56,840 --> 00:46:59,720
Speaker 3: A misunderstanding.

994
00:47:00,080 --> 00:47:04,439
Speaker 2: Of our breakdown of the Chicago Sky as to their

995
00:47:04,480 --> 00:47:07,600
Speaker 2: limitations of their offense.

996
00:47:07,520 --> 00:47:09,480
Speaker 3: And or lack of limitations.

997
00:47:09,520 --> 00:47:12,439
Speaker 2: I should say, nobody's offense is limited because, like I said,

998
00:47:12,440 --> 00:47:15,920
Speaker 2: everybody is in this league for a reason. We expressed

999
00:47:15,960 --> 00:47:20,400
Speaker 2: that last season, the offense that they ran was not successful. Obviously,

1000
00:47:20,600 --> 00:47:23,799
Speaker 2: you didn't make the playoffs. That's the definition of not

1001
00:47:23,880 --> 00:47:27,000
Speaker 2: a successful season. We said that there was going to

1002
00:47:27,040 --> 00:47:31,120
Speaker 2: be a need for versatility at the post position, and

1003
00:47:31,160 --> 00:47:33,480
Speaker 2: we are seeing it happen in real time, and the

1004
00:47:33,520 --> 00:47:36,920
Speaker 2: player that they chose to become the versatile post is Angel.

1005
00:47:37,320 --> 00:47:40,960
Speaker 2: Like most of us probably expected, She's a great passer,

1006
00:47:41,280 --> 00:47:44,440
Speaker 2: she has pretty high i Q now her being on

1007
00:47:44,480 --> 00:47:47,600
Speaker 2: the perimeter that takes her away from the basket. So

1008
00:47:47,840 --> 00:47:50,200
Speaker 2: that comes with being a versatile player, like you're not

1009
00:47:50,239 --> 00:47:51,640
Speaker 2: going to be able to be in there crashing the

1010
00:47:51,680 --> 00:47:52,359
Speaker 2: boards all the time.

1011
00:47:52,400 --> 00:47:54,719
Speaker 3: Camilla is their center. They've made that known.

1012
00:47:54,880 --> 00:47:57,120
Speaker 1: So I said, Camilla, let us they have a six eight.

1013
00:47:57,040 --> 00:47:59,680
Speaker 2: You are six eighty' You're not going to waste six

1014
00:47:59,760 --> 00:48:02,719
Speaker 2: eight trying to make her the versatile one. So I

1015
00:48:02,719 --> 00:48:05,120
Speaker 2: think Angel is accepting that challenge. We saw clips to

1016
00:48:05,160 --> 00:48:07,840
Speaker 2: her bringing the ball of the court, all these other things.

1017
00:48:08,040 --> 00:48:11,279
Speaker 2: It's possible. I didn't say that it wasn't possible. It

1018
00:48:11,320 --> 00:48:12,320
Speaker 2: was a matter of are.

1019
00:48:12,200 --> 00:48:13,239
Speaker 3: They going to do it?

1020
00:48:13,680 --> 00:48:15,880
Speaker 2: Because of the season that she had last year playing

1021
00:48:15,920 --> 00:48:18,600
Speaker 2: back to the basket. So I think that we're gonna

1022
00:48:18,640 --> 00:48:21,840
Speaker 2: see a major leap in her game. It might not

1023
00:48:21,920 --> 00:48:25,399
Speaker 2: show on the stats initially. People are probably gonna be like, well,

1024
00:48:25,400 --> 00:48:28,239
Speaker 2: where are her rebounds at? Well, she busy facilitating at

1025
00:48:28,239 --> 00:48:31,120
Speaker 2: the top, So it's gonna be a pick and choose

1026
00:48:31,120 --> 00:48:33,600
Speaker 2: at times. Sometimes she gonna go get them rebounds. Sometimes

1027
00:48:33,640 --> 00:48:35,879
Speaker 2: she gonna get all the assists. Sometimes she gonna get both.

1028
00:48:36,040 --> 00:48:37,960
Speaker 2: I would not be surprised if she gets a triple

1029
00:48:38,000 --> 00:48:38,720
Speaker 2: double this season.

1030
00:48:38,920 --> 00:48:41,560
Speaker 3: That would not surprise me. That wouldn't surprise me.

1031
00:48:41,719 --> 00:48:44,319
Speaker 1: If Angel starts putting up triple doubles like she does

1032
00:48:44,360 --> 00:48:47,000
Speaker 1: double doubles, people to start putting a whole different type

1033
00:48:47,000 --> 00:48:47,719
Speaker 1: of respect.

1034
00:48:48,520 --> 00:48:50,839
Speaker 2: I'm not putting it past her because of the way

1035
00:48:50,880 --> 00:48:54,560
Speaker 2: I've seen that offense move and the scores that they

1036
00:48:54,640 --> 00:48:57,759
Speaker 2: have now, the scoring threats that they have everywhere. A

1037
00:48:57,880 --> 00:49:00,960
Speaker 2: very underrated player on that team is Rachel Bannam. If

1038
00:49:01,040 --> 00:49:05,480
Speaker 2: y'all didn't know, Rachel Bannam put up sixty points in college.

1039
00:49:05,560 --> 00:49:11,640
Speaker 2: Like Rachel Bannam is a problem. Okay, So you have

1040
00:49:11,680 --> 00:49:14,280
Speaker 2: a player like that, you have a player like Aerol Atkins,

1041
00:49:14,360 --> 00:49:16,960
Speaker 2: you have a floor general like Corney Vanderslout. This is

1042
00:49:16,960 --> 00:49:19,920
Speaker 2: a very dangerous team. So I don't want there to

1043
00:49:19,960 --> 00:49:23,520
Speaker 2: be any misconceptions of what we think that the ceiling

1044
00:49:23,600 --> 00:49:27,359
Speaker 2: is for the sky, especially after what we've seen in preseason,

1045
00:49:27,960 --> 00:49:29,920
Speaker 2: is that the offense is not going to look like

1046
00:49:29,960 --> 00:49:32,280
Speaker 2: how it looked last year. And that's all I was saying,

1047
00:49:32,400 --> 00:49:34,600
Speaker 2: is where are they gonna make the tweaks at And

1048
00:49:34,680 --> 00:49:37,960
Speaker 2: we're seeing the tweaks happening in real time. So again,

1049
00:49:38,440 --> 00:49:41,360
Speaker 2: my favorite thing about being a professional athlete is seeing

1050
00:49:41,400 --> 00:49:44,399
Speaker 2: the growth and development of players year to year to year,

1051
00:49:44,680 --> 00:49:46,960
Speaker 2: and that's what we're gonna see. I mean, even Camilla

1052
00:49:47,000 --> 00:49:49,880
Speaker 2: looks more comfortable. She had a great season overseas in China,

1053
00:49:50,360 --> 00:49:53,480
Speaker 2: So I'm excited for that team as well. Y'all can

1054
00:49:53,560 --> 00:49:55,840
Speaker 2: clip that since y'all want to clip everything else.

1055
00:49:56,560 --> 00:49:59,719
Speaker 1: So I know, I got a comment that was like,

1056
00:50:00,360 --> 00:50:02,319
Speaker 1: I used to like this. I used to like your

1057
00:50:02,360 --> 00:50:05,080
Speaker 1: podcast until I found out you guys were able retainers.

1058
00:50:05,200 --> 00:50:06,839
Speaker 1: I was like, y'all must have never watched a video

1059
00:50:06,880 --> 00:50:08,120
Speaker 1: of me your day and you're a day.

1060
00:50:07,960 --> 00:50:11,200
Speaker 3: And you're no. And I want to reiterate this over

1061
00:50:11,239 --> 00:50:12,080
Speaker 3: and over and over.

1062
00:50:12,320 --> 00:50:17,279
Speaker 2: This is not a lifestyle opinion show. This is a

1063
00:50:17,520 --> 00:50:21,759
Speaker 2: basketball show, and we're gonna talk about basketball things and

1064
00:50:21,880 --> 00:50:24,560
Speaker 2: things that we see in the game in stats and

1065
00:50:24,600 --> 00:50:28,040
Speaker 2: analytics and all things that have to do with things

1066
00:50:28,120 --> 00:50:30,480
Speaker 2: within the ninety four.

1067
00:50:30,280 --> 00:50:31,800
Speaker 3: Feet nothing else.

1068
00:50:32,239 --> 00:50:35,120
Speaker 2: So if y'all don't want to hear about real basketball talk,

1069
00:50:35,560 --> 00:50:38,279
Speaker 2: if I go five for five from three to one game,

1070
00:50:38,320 --> 00:50:40,279
Speaker 2: I'm coming on here saying if I go zero for

1071
00:50:40,400 --> 00:50:42,400
Speaker 2: five for one game, I'm coming out here and saying

1072
00:50:42,440 --> 00:50:44,840
Speaker 2: it like that's what we're doing here. These are the

1073
00:50:44,840 --> 00:50:48,200
Speaker 2: conversations that need to be had. If we're wrong about something,

1074
00:50:48,920 --> 00:50:50,759
Speaker 2: I'm gonna come on here and be like, damn, we

1075
00:50:50,800 --> 00:50:53,799
Speaker 2: was wrong. If and you better believe if I'm right,

1076
00:50:53,840 --> 00:50:56,160
Speaker 2: if we're right about something, I'm coming on here saying

1077
00:50:56,239 --> 00:50:57,200
Speaker 2: we were right, guys.

1078
00:50:57,640 --> 00:50:59,000
Speaker 3: But that's not what this is about.

1079
00:50:59,080 --> 00:51:01,400
Speaker 2: This is about growing the game and helping people understand

1080
00:51:01,400 --> 00:51:03,319
Speaker 2: the game and love the game for what it is.

1081
00:51:03,640 --> 00:51:06,280
Speaker 2: Basketball is a beautiful thing. It is a beautiful sport.

1082
00:51:06,320 --> 00:51:08,640
Speaker 2: And I love watching it and I love watching it

1083
00:51:08,719 --> 00:51:11,520
Speaker 2: being played well, and I love watching it develop and

1084
00:51:11,600 --> 00:51:15,759
Speaker 2: grow and mirror what the NBA is doing every year.

1085
00:51:15,800 --> 00:51:17,200
Speaker 3: The NBA. It's growing.

1086
00:51:17,440 --> 00:51:21,000
Speaker 2: Growth mindset people, That's what we're here for. Growth mindset and.

1087
00:51:21,000 --> 00:51:23,040
Speaker 3: Amen, the WNBA is growing.

1088
00:51:23,239 --> 00:51:26,160
Speaker 1: Speaking of growth and the Chicago skuy before we move

1089
00:51:26,239 --> 00:51:29,680
Speaker 1: on to the Atlanta Dream, do you see the sky

1090
00:51:29,880 --> 00:51:31,200
Speaker 1: and the playoffs this year?

1091
00:51:31,560 --> 00:51:34,080
Speaker 3: I do? I do see them. What is it? Eight

1092
00:51:34,080 --> 00:51:38,759
Speaker 3: teams out of thirteen? I do?

1093
00:51:38,960 --> 00:51:41,920
Speaker 1: They'ren eight in the preseason, in the preseason.

1094
00:51:41,719 --> 00:51:44,680
Speaker 2: Yeah, I see them. I absolutely see them in the playoffs.

1095
00:51:44,880 --> 00:51:48,280
Speaker 2: Like I said, you have Cordy Vander Slut and Aerol Atkins.

1096
00:51:48,440 --> 00:51:52,839
Speaker 2: Those are two WNBA champs right there. So playoffs is

1097
00:51:52,880 --> 00:51:53,719
Speaker 2: definitely a thing.

1098
00:51:54,000 --> 00:51:54,279
Speaker 3: I know.

1099
00:51:54,360 --> 00:51:56,920
Speaker 2: I think we called we didn't call them contenders, did we?

1100
00:51:57,040 --> 00:51:57,640
Speaker 3: I don't think so.

1101
00:51:57,920 --> 00:52:02,360
Speaker 2: But still making the playoffs is absolutely possible, for sure.

1102
00:52:02,480 --> 00:52:04,640
Speaker 1: And then a quick take on these next two teams

1103
00:52:04,680 --> 00:52:07,560
Speaker 1: before we get into the top five and kind of

1104
00:52:07,560 --> 00:52:10,680
Speaker 1: blow through them, because I think we've talked at length

1105
00:52:10,680 --> 00:52:12,759
Speaker 1: about most of the top five teams in our last

1106
00:52:12,760 --> 00:52:14,560
Speaker 1: couple episodes. If you haven't listened to those, go ahead

1107
00:52:14,560 --> 00:52:18,000
Speaker 1: and listen. But let's talk about the Atlanta Dream. It

1108
00:52:18,040 --> 00:52:20,440
Speaker 1: is a little weird seeing Brittany Griner even knows my

1109
00:52:20,480 --> 00:52:24,640
Speaker 1: city in a dream Jersey after spinning eleven seasons with Phoenix.

1110
00:52:24,719 --> 00:52:28,200
Speaker 1: But the Brittany that we saw is the same old

1111
00:52:28,239 --> 00:52:29,480
Speaker 1: Brittany that we're used to seeing.

1112
00:52:29,560 --> 00:52:31,720
Speaker 3: But she's shooting threes now, y'all saw.

1113
00:52:31,560 --> 00:52:34,960
Speaker 1: That, plus that, plus that plus threes.

1114
00:52:35,000 --> 00:52:38,680
Speaker 2: She's not hesitating. She actually shot fifty percent from three

1115
00:52:38,760 --> 00:52:41,279
Speaker 2: last year. I read it today, nine for eighteen all

1116
00:52:41,320 --> 00:52:44,560
Speaker 2: season last year, and I think she's already taken four

1117
00:52:44,960 --> 00:52:46,160
Speaker 2: in the preseason games.

1118
00:52:46,400 --> 00:52:47,279
Speaker 1: That's dangerous.

1119
00:52:47,440 --> 00:52:50,160
Speaker 3: So that is extremely dangerous.

1120
00:52:50,280 --> 00:52:55,000
Speaker 2: And they also shot forty threes in their game against

1121
00:52:55,040 --> 00:52:59,200
Speaker 2: the Fever, their last preseason game, which only was a

1122
00:52:59,280 --> 00:53:03,120
Speaker 2: shocking step because the Fever, who we have expected to

1123
00:53:03,160 --> 00:53:05,239
Speaker 2: shoot a ton of threes, only shot twenty three in

1124
00:53:05,280 --> 00:53:07,319
Speaker 2: that game. And I can all I probably will say

1125
00:53:07,320 --> 00:53:10,279
Speaker 2: that because they didn't play most of their starters a

1126
00:53:10,280 --> 00:53:12,160
Speaker 2: lot of the game, which is the bulk of their

1127
00:53:12,239 --> 00:53:15,000
Speaker 2: three point shooting. But the fact that the Dream got

1128
00:53:15,080 --> 00:53:18,080
Speaker 2: up forty threes is scary because we did talk about,

1129
00:53:18,160 --> 00:53:21,200
Speaker 2: you know, you have two all star bigs exact eg

1130
00:53:21,840 --> 00:53:25,160
Speaker 2: and Breonna Jones, and they're stepping out to taking threes.

1131
00:53:25,560 --> 00:53:28,320
Speaker 1: The theme here seems to be that we were curious

1132
00:53:28,320 --> 00:53:30,759
Speaker 1: about these teams that were bigger and what they were

1133
00:53:30,760 --> 00:53:32,640
Speaker 1: going to do with that size they had, and how

1134
00:53:32,640 --> 00:53:34,640
Speaker 1: they were going to find versatility, and it seems like

1135
00:53:34,760 --> 00:53:37,560
Speaker 1: with the Sky they found that an angel being willing

1136
00:53:37,640 --> 00:53:39,920
Speaker 1: to bend and play in a little bit of a

1137
00:53:39,920 --> 00:53:41,799
Speaker 1: different role than we're used to seeing her the double

1138
00:53:41,800 --> 00:53:45,400
Speaker 1: double princess. And then now with the Dream seeing Brittany

1139
00:53:45,400 --> 00:53:49,400
Speaker 1: Grinder shooting threes. She had sixteen and ten and nineteen minutes.

1140
00:53:49,680 --> 00:53:52,960
Speaker 1: So yeah, Brittany is Brittany's looking good?

1141
00:53:53,040 --> 00:53:54,439
Speaker 3: Yeah, all right, she's looking good.

1142
00:53:54,560 --> 00:53:58,400
Speaker 1: And Phoenix another team that we had some questions about

1143
00:53:59,080 --> 00:54:00,319
Speaker 1: no wins in the presets.

1144
00:54:00,040 --> 00:54:03,719
Speaker 2: You still have the same questions who is the point guard? Yeah,

1145
00:54:03,880 --> 00:54:05,480
Speaker 2: what do you think at is going to be their

1146
00:54:05,600 --> 00:54:08,800
Speaker 2: their floor general, but being a point forward is still

1147
00:54:08,920 --> 00:54:11,520
Speaker 2: a very hard thing to do. But it's still not

1148
00:54:11,600 --> 00:54:14,000
Speaker 2: a point guard. Like there's so many other things that

1149
00:54:14,080 --> 00:54:16,399
Speaker 2: go into being a point guard. And then the way

1150
00:54:16,440 --> 00:54:19,239
Speaker 2: this league is going, we have a lot of scoring

1151
00:54:19,360 --> 00:54:22,680
Speaker 2: point guards that can score at all three levels, threes, twos,

1152
00:54:22,719 --> 00:54:26,160
Speaker 2: and at the rim. So we all know that at

1153
00:54:26,360 --> 00:54:31,280
Speaker 2: as dynamic and incredible she is, her range is extremely limited.

1154
00:54:31,480 --> 00:54:33,399
Speaker 2: So I don't know what that means if that's your

1155
00:54:33,480 --> 00:54:36,919
Speaker 2: point guard, Like, I don't know what that means as

1156
00:54:36,960 --> 00:54:39,200
Speaker 2: far as spacing for the rest of your team. She

1157
00:54:39,360 --> 00:54:42,680
Speaker 2: looked great in their preseason games. SATU looked really good

1158
00:54:42,760 --> 00:54:45,280
Speaker 2: in their preseason game. She's shooting the ball great, didn't

1159
00:54:45,280 --> 00:54:49,000
Speaker 2: seek too much. She didn't play in their second preseason game.

1160
00:54:49,120 --> 00:54:51,239
Speaker 2: But again those were the question marks was how are

1161
00:54:51,280 --> 00:54:55,280
Speaker 2: their role players and their accessory piece is gonna mesh

1162
00:54:55,440 --> 00:54:57,840
Speaker 2: with the Big three? You know, it seems like Phoenix

1163
00:54:57,920 --> 00:55:01,120
Speaker 2: is like Big three Land, Like they're one of the

1164
00:55:01,239 --> 00:55:05,200
Speaker 2: franchises that have been really trying to get this Big

1165
00:55:05,239 --> 00:55:06,240
Speaker 2: three right.

1166
00:55:06,360 --> 00:55:07,879
Speaker 1: They doing that in the MNBADEA.

1167
00:55:07,960 --> 00:55:09,440
Speaker 3: Yeah, lord exactly.

1168
00:55:09,520 --> 00:55:12,080
Speaker 2: It seems like Phoenix is Big three Land. That's our

1169
00:55:12,080 --> 00:55:14,759
Speaker 2: home opener. So we're going to be watching a lot

1170
00:55:14,760 --> 00:55:16,920
Speaker 2: of film and stuff on them in the next few days.

1171
00:55:17,239 --> 00:55:20,279
Speaker 2: So again, Phoenix is always an amazing place to play in.

1172
00:55:20,360 --> 00:55:22,880
Speaker 2: They always have great fans, so like they're always going

1173
00:55:22,960 --> 00:55:25,279
Speaker 2: to be in a good position because they have a

1174
00:55:25,320 --> 00:55:28,359
Speaker 2: real home court advantage, and they're really excited for this

1175
00:55:28,400 --> 00:55:31,279
Speaker 2: new group that's playing, which that's really exciting to see

1176
00:55:31,280 --> 00:55:34,080
Speaker 2: in awesome to see. But again, like even on the telecast,

1177
00:55:34,120 --> 00:55:36,880
Speaker 2: they're like they don't have a true point guard, those

1178
00:55:37,760 --> 00:55:40,560
Speaker 2: waved players that I was talking about, you know, Phoenix

1179
00:55:40,640 --> 00:55:42,879
Speaker 2: is definitely a destination I could see being like, damn,

1180
00:55:42,880 --> 00:55:45,360
Speaker 2: we probably need to go get a point guard.

1181
00:55:45,560 --> 00:55:46,600
Speaker 3: Not saying that what.

1182
00:55:46,520 --> 00:55:50,480
Speaker 2: They have now is not going to work, it's impossible

1183
00:55:50,520 --> 00:55:53,879
Speaker 2: to work, but you need a point guard. The big

1184
00:55:53,880 --> 00:55:56,720
Speaker 2: three did look great. They looked very elite, very top tier.

1185
00:55:56,880 --> 00:56:00,200
Speaker 2: I was super impressed with my girl Natasjha mac great

1186
00:56:00,280 --> 00:56:03,879
Speaker 2: room protection, and we talked about how Phoenix probably will

1187
00:56:03,920 --> 00:56:06,200
Speaker 2: lock into their defense and the key to a great

1188
00:56:06,239 --> 00:56:09,200
Speaker 2: defense is a great room protector. So she's going to

1189
00:56:09,239 --> 00:56:12,080
Speaker 2: be a key piece to that defense blocking shots and

1190
00:56:12,080 --> 00:56:15,160
Speaker 2: getting rebounds. So still same question marks we had before,

1191
00:56:15,360 --> 00:56:18,440
Speaker 2: but yeah, that's our home opener on Saturday is in Phoenix,

1192
00:56:18,520 --> 00:56:21,000
Speaker 2: so we gonna see them firsthand what they're talking about

1193
00:56:21,040 --> 00:56:23,560
Speaker 2: and what they look like with the lights bright, So

1194
00:56:24,120 --> 00:56:33,919
Speaker 2: shout out to Phoenix. Let's get into these top five.

1195
00:56:34,000 --> 00:56:36,680
Speaker 1: These are teams we've talked about at length and really

1196
00:56:36,760 --> 00:56:39,400
Speaker 1: don't have as many flaws as the last few teams

1197
00:56:39,400 --> 00:56:42,400
Speaker 1: that we've talked about. But in the top five we

1198
00:56:42,520 --> 00:56:46,200
Speaker 1: have first the Indiana Fever, who we saw played the

1199
00:56:46,239 --> 00:56:50,600
Speaker 1: Brazilian national team. They swept their preseason. They're looking pretty good.

1200
00:56:50,640 --> 00:56:53,719
Speaker 1: We didn't see too too much, as Leslie mentioned of

1201
00:56:54,200 --> 00:56:57,840
Speaker 1: their starters to be making like an excellent assessment, but

1202
00:56:58,600 --> 00:57:00,080
Speaker 1: they still want all their preseason game.

1203
00:57:00,120 --> 00:57:03,000
Speaker 2: Mm hmm, yeah, I mean they look good. Kaitlyn Clark

1204
00:57:03,080 --> 00:57:06,600
Speaker 2: looks really good. The shots that she's making and taking

1205
00:57:06,800 --> 00:57:10,160
Speaker 2: are insane. As expected, she probably will lead the league

1206
00:57:10,160 --> 00:57:13,400
Speaker 2: in assists. Again, I think slut will be very close

1207
00:57:13,480 --> 00:57:15,520
Speaker 2: behind her, and then yeah, I think it's going to

1208
00:57:15,560 --> 00:57:17,280
Speaker 2: be the three way race like it has been the

1209
00:57:17,320 --> 00:57:20,800
Speaker 2: last few years of slut at and then Kaitlyn Clark,

1210
00:57:20,840 --> 00:57:22,360
Speaker 2: now that she's in the league, is going to be

1211
00:57:22,400 --> 00:57:24,920
Speaker 2: up there for sure. Shit, I'm gonna throw Skyler in there.

1212
00:57:24,960 --> 00:57:27,479
Speaker 2: As well with the weapons that we have on our team. Now,

1213
00:57:27,560 --> 00:57:30,400
Speaker 2: you know, she's always top five or six and assists

1214
00:57:30,400 --> 00:57:32,800
Speaker 2: per game. I think dB came off the bench in

1215
00:57:32,840 --> 00:57:34,040
Speaker 2: their second preseason game.

1216
00:57:34,080 --> 00:57:35,360
Speaker 3: I don't know why.

1217
00:57:35,840 --> 00:57:38,240
Speaker 2: I don't know if that's anything that anybody should keep

1218
00:57:38,280 --> 00:57:40,760
Speaker 2: an eye out on, but I did notice that. But

1219
00:57:40,800 --> 00:57:43,200
Speaker 2: they want to play with pace, they want to run.

1220
00:57:43,360 --> 00:57:44,560
Speaker 3: Their defense looks better.

1221
00:57:44,680 --> 00:57:47,480
Speaker 2: I think Sophie was a great addition to that team,

1222
00:57:47,560 --> 00:57:49,680
Speaker 2: and Lexi Hall comes off the bench and gives them

1223
00:57:49,720 --> 00:57:52,000
Speaker 2: great energy. So I think they have a very well

1224
00:57:52,080 --> 00:57:55,440
Speaker 2: rounded team. Now it's all about, you know, managing personalities

1225
00:57:55,520 --> 00:57:58,120
Speaker 2: and egos, which I don't think on that group is

1226
00:57:58,160 --> 00:58:00,680
Speaker 2: going to be a problem. So I think that they're

1227
00:58:00,680 --> 00:58:03,760
Speaker 2: going to have a really fun and exciting year. And again,

1228
00:58:03,920 --> 00:58:04,560
Speaker 2: like they have.

1229
00:58:04,840 --> 00:58:06,720
Speaker 3: I saw that they had like shirts that were like

1230
00:58:06,800 --> 00:58:07,200
Speaker 3: sold out.

1231
00:58:07,240 --> 00:58:09,360
Speaker 2: They like were going like on tour, which I think

1232
00:58:09,440 --> 00:58:12,000
Speaker 2: is so fire, even though I'm not supposed to say that,

1233
00:58:12,120 --> 00:58:14,680
Speaker 2: but like the fact that you're selling out road arenas

1234
00:58:14,760 --> 00:58:17,040
Speaker 2: is so crazy, and they're leaning into that. I think

1235
00:58:17,120 --> 00:58:19,160
Speaker 2: last year they're kind of like we're trying to like

1236
00:58:19,240 --> 00:58:20,000
Speaker 2: be like, you know.

1237
00:58:19,960 --> 00:58:21,280
Speaker 3: It's not that big of a deal. No, that is

1238
00:58:21,320 --> 00:58:21,760
Speaker 3: a big deal.

1239
00:58:21,760 --> 00:58:25,720
Speaker 2: It's a huge that you're making teams move arenas because

1240
00:58:25,800 --> 00:58:27,440
Speaker 2: there's too many fans.

1241
00:58:27,040 --> 00:58:29,600
Speaker 3: Like that's a big deal.

1242
00:58:29,720 --> 00:58:32,800
Speaker 2: So I really like that they're leaning into that mentality

1243
00:58:32,840 --> 00:58:33,480
Speaker 2: and mindset.

1244
00:58:33,560 --> 00:58:36,000
Speaker 1: But can I just say, as a WNBA fan, that's

1245
00:58:36,040 --> 00:58:43,200
Speaker 1: what we want exciting. I love that. I'm not of

1246
00:58:43,240 --> 00:58:46,160
Speaker 1: the mindset like, yeah, obviously, the whole purpose of the

1247
00:58:46,200 --> 00:58:49,000
Speaker 1: show is to bring attention to other players in the

1248
00:58:49,080 --> 00:58:52,240
Speaker 1: league and things that aren't being covered elsewhere. But I

1249
00:58:52,280 --> 00:58:54,880
Speaker 1: do want to give flowers where flowers are due. That

1250
00:58:54,920 --> 00:58:58,280
Speaker 1: shit is hard, Like that is so cool, And it's

1251
00:58:58,560 --> 00:59:01,080
Speaker 1: like Beyonce selling out arena all over the all over

1252
00:59:01,120 --> 00:59:02,600
Speaker 1: the country. It's not like I'm not going to go

1253
00:59:02,600 --> 00:59:05,160
Speaker 1: to concerts for other people and I'm not supporting other artists,

1254
00:59:05,200 --> 00:59:07,320
Speaker 1: but I'm still gonna look at that dominant to be

1255
00:59:07,440 --> 00:59:10,320
Speaker 1: like that. That's colt and so like to see this happening.

1256
00:59:10,640 --> 00:59:13,280
Speaker 2: And as a player, why would we not want to

1257
00:59:13,280 --> 00:59:16,640
Speaker 2: play in a packed out arena? Like what, That's what

1258
00:59:16,680 --> 00:59:18,640
Speaker 2: we worked our whole lives for. That's what we look

1259
00:59:18,680 --> 00:59:21,560
Speaker 2: forward to is playing and packed out arena. So as

1260
00:59:21,600 --> 00:59:24,240
Speaker 2: players like yeah, like you're kind of like you want

1261
00:59:24,240 --> 00:59:26,080
Speaker 2: to you know, shut them up, because like damn, like

1262
00:59:26,120 --> 00:59:27,880
Speaker 2: you you coming over to our trap, take it over

1263
00:59:27,920 --> 00:59:31,959
Speaker 2: our trap. Don't like that, but like the people are there,

1264
00:59:32,000 --> 00:59:33,200
Speaker 2: But that's fun, it's fun.

1265
00:59:33,600 --> 00:59:35,880
Speaker 1: Like that's fun, I guess if you're one of those

1266
00:59:35,880 --> 00:59:38,400
Speaker 1: players who likes to be a villain. And I was

1267
00:59:38,440 --> 00:59:40,760
Speaker 1: like literally in high school. But I was always that

1268
00:59:40,800 --> 00:59:43,680
Speaker 1: way as an athlete, Like I like when people like

1269
00:59:43,720 --> 00:59:46,080
Speaker 1: going into another arena and like shut.

1270
00:59:45,880 --> 00:59:49,080
Speaker 3: It, like that's so fun. It is so fun.

1271
00:59:49,160 --> 00:59:51,320
Speaker 2: Like it's just like certain like things that you feel

1272
00:59:51,360 --> 00:59:54,640
Speaker 2: as an athlete that it's very hard to explain unless

1273
00:59:55,040 --> 00:59:57,320
Speaker 2: you've experienced it yourself. And I think that's one of

1274
00:59:57,360 --> 01:00:00,040
Speaker 2: those things when you come on a home team's court

1275
01:00:00,360 --> 01:00:02,600
Speaker 2: and you just like suck the life out of it,

1276
01:00:02,760 --> 01:00:04,560
Speaker 2: like it's one of That's how I felt when I

1277
01:00:04,560 --> 01:00:06,880
Speaker 2: played in Phoenix. When I had a really good game

1278
01:00:06,920 --> 01:00:09,880
Speaker 2: in Phoenix and we want it overtime, like you the crowd,

1279
01:00:09,960 --> 01:00:12,800
Speaker 2: it was like silence, and you're just kind of like, yeah,

1280
01:00:12,960 --> 01:00:16,720
Speaker 2: we we did that, we did that time. Okay, let's

1281
01:00:16,760 --> 01:00:20,040
Speaker 2: go go before they start booing and throwing stuff.

1282
01:00:20,760 --> 01:00:23,560
Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, like the back of the bus, I gotta

1283
01:00:23,560 --> 01:00:25,800
Speaker 1: get out of here. Speaking of time to go, we

1284
01:00:25,800 --> 01:00:27,520
Speaker 1: gotta let these people get out of here, so we're

1285
01:00:27,520 --> 01:00:31,040
Speaker 1: going to speed through the top four. But first, yeah,

1286
01:00:31,080 --> 01:00:35,320
Speaker 1: the speed mode the Seattle Storm LEXI, yeah, yeah. Obviously

1287
01:00:35,320 --> 01:00:37,280
Speaker 1: we talked at length about your team. How deep you

1288
01:00:37,320 --> 01:00:40,840
Speaker 1: guys are you guys what preseason as well? It has

1289
01:00:40,880 --> 01:00:43,240
Speaker 1: you listed as one to know but based off of

1290
01:00:43,360 --> 01:00:45,520
Speaker 1: broken news here on full turble there too now. But

1291
01:00:45,720 --> 01:00:47,840
Speaker 1: I want to hear from you specifically because we know

1292
01:00:47,840 --> 01:00:49,520
Speaker 1: about what we have to look forward to from the

1293
01:00:49,560 --> 01:00:52,920
Speaker 1: Storm from listening to the show. What are your goals

1294
01:00:53,000 --> 01:00:56,200
Speaker 1: specifically for your team yourself for the season.

1295
01:00:56,680 --> 01:01:01,520
Speaker 2: Okay, my goals are to thrive in my role, which

1296
01:01:02,200 --> 01:01:04,440
Speaker 2: all of our roles were presented to us today in

1297
01:01:04,480 --> 01:01:08,440
Speaker 2: a very cute PowerPoint presentation which I have never experienced

1298
01:01:08,480 --> 01:01:12,200
Speaker 2: that before on a team. Is these are y'all's roles,

1299
01:01:12,560 --> 01:01:15,080
Speaker 2: and y'all are going to know everybody else's roles, so

1300
01:01:15,680 --> 01:01:19,120
Speaker 2: when you lack in, we all can hold that person accountable.

1301
01:01:19,160 --> 01:01:21,880
Speaker 2: When I'm lacking, everyone can hold me accountable because we

1302
01:01:21,960 --> 01:01:24,080
Speaker 2: all know what we all are supposed to bring to

1303
01:01:24,120 --> 01:01:24,600
Speaker 2: the table.

1304
01:01:24,800 --> 01:01:26,840
Speaker 1: Genius handling of such a deep team.

1305
01:01:26,920 --> 01:01:29,760
Speaker 2: For me as a player, I was like in AWE

1306
01:01:29,880 --> 01:01:33,480
Speaker 2: this morning, like we had a literal PowerPoint presentation of

1307
01:01:33,480 --> 01:01:36,200
Speaker 2: our roles, and I think that is so important, especially

1308
01:01:36,520 --> 01:01:39,480
Speaker 2: coming from a place where my role was changing every

1309
01:01:39,560 --> 01:01:42,600
Speaker 2: day and no one actually even knew their role, and

1310
01:01:42,960 --> 01:01:45,360
Speaker 2: that is a very hard group of players to coach

1311
01:01:45,520 --> 01:01:46,680
Speaker 2: and get, you.

1312
01:01:46,640 --> 01:01:47,400
Speaker 3: Know, aligned.

1313
01:01:47,920 --> 01:01:51,560
Speaker 2: So for me, we all know, shoot and make threes,

1314
01:01:52,000 --> 01:01:54,200
Speaker 2: like that is what I'm here to do. That is

1315
01:01:54,240 --> 01:01:56,080
Speaker 2: what I love to do. That's what I'm really good at.

1316
01:01:56,440 --> 01:01:59,040
Speaker 2: But I will not put myself in that box. I

1317
01:01:59,080 --> 01:02:00,880
Speaker 2: just want to do anything I can to help this

1318
01:02:01,040 --> 01:02:03,439
Speaker 2: team win. I want to get invited to the three

1319
01:02:03,480 --> 01:02:07,320
Speaker 2: point Contest, like I really want to, so in order

1320
01:02:07,320 --> 01:02:10,400
Speaker 2: for that to happen. First goal, so that's like one A,

1321
01:02:10,520 --> 01:02:12,960
Speaker 2: one B. If one A happens, one be should happen.

1322
01:02:13,200 --> 01:02:16,880
Speaker 2: Win a championship of course is a goal. And just

1323
01:02:16,960 --> 01:02:21,520
Speaker 2: stay right mentally like and physically, honestly, pray every day

1324
01:02:21,600 --> 01:02:24,200
Speaker 2: to stay healthy up here, which is I'm pointing to

1325
01:02:24,240 --> 01:02:27,400
Speaker 2: my brain for anybody listening. And then of course internally

1326
01:02:27,480 --> 01:02:30,520
Speaker 2: I feel great. I feel amazing mentally and physically right now,

1327
01:02:30,520 --> 01:02:33,120
Speaker 2: So just keeping that up. But yeah, like making the

1328
01:02:33,160 --> 01:02:36,120
Speaker 2: playoffs would be something that would be amazing. I've been

1329
01:02:36,120 --> 01:02:37,920
Speaker 2: in the playoffs in three years and this is just

1330
01:02:37,920 --> 01:02:40,360
Speaker 2: a really special This is a really special group.

1331
01:02:40,560 --> 01:02:41,680
Speaker 3: So we don't have to talk.

1332
01:02:41,720 --> 01:02:43,880
Speaker 2: I could talk about our team all freaking day, so

1333
01:02:44,040 --> 01:02:46,720
Speaker 2: we can move on from us. But you know, we

1334
01:02:46,640 --> 01:02:49,760
Speaker 2: we we're locked in, We're ready, and we're really excited

1335
01:02:49,840 --> 01:02:50,520
Speaker 2: to get started.

1336
01:02:50,880 --> 01:02:52,320
Speaker 3: So shout out to the Storm.

1337
01:02:52,480 --> 01:02:56,400
Speaker 1: I love it. Okay, speeding through the top three, the

1338
01:02:56,600 --> 01:02:58,480
Speaker 1: Las Vegas Aces.

1339
01:02:58,280 --> 01:03:01,200
Speaker 3: Who looked very good and their preseason game.

1340
01:03:01,480 --> 01:03:02,640
Speaker 1: Unbeat it in the preseason.

1341
01:03:02,720 --> 01:03:02,959
Speaker 3: Yeah.

1342
01:03:03,200 --> 01:03:05,760
Speaker 2: Again, I think it's going to be very hard for

1343
01:03:05,840 --> 01:03:07,880
Speaker 2: Asia the top the season that she had last year.

1344
01:03:07,880 --> 01:03:10,280
Speaker 2: I think the only way that this season will top

1345
01:03:10,360 --> 01:03:13,240
Speaker 2: last season is if they win a championship. She probably

1346
01:03:13,280 --> 01:03:15,440
Speaker 2: is the favorite to win MVP again and that's a

1347
01:03:15,560 --> 01:03:18,240
Speaker 2: very cool title to have. We are in the midst

1348
01:03:18,320 --> 01:03:21,680
Speaker 2: of her shoe release, which has been like the coolest

1349
01:03:21,720 --> 01:03:24,800
Speaker 2: shoe rollout I've ever seen in my life ever, and

1350
01:03:25,440 --> 01:03:28,880
Speaker 2: at my first thought was like, women are just so

1351
01:03:29,360 --> 01:03:34,880
Speaker 2: fire like the way our brains work, the way you know,

1352
01:03:35,280 --> 01:03:39,760
Speaker 2: we are able to sell ideas and dreams to people

1353
01:03:40,320 --> 01:03:44,880
Speaker 2: through a shoe. I've never seen an entire team where

1354
01:03:44,920 --> 01:03:47,520
Speaker 2: to shoe the day it comes out on a game

1355
01:03:47,600 --> 01:03:49,760
Speaker 2: day like in the tunnels.

1356
01:03:49,840 --> 01:03:50,440
Speaker 3: Like, I just have.

1357
01:03:50,480 --> 01:03:54,200
Speaker 2: Never seen that before. So this is we're supposed to

1358
01:03:54,200 --> 01:03:56,360
Speaker 2: be talking about them on the court. We've talked about

1359
01:03:56,360 --> 01:03:59,360
Speaker 2: them last week, how good they looked in their preseason.

1360
01:03:59,400 --> 01:04:01,120
Speaker 3: They do have a lot of new pieces that.

1361
01:04:01,000 --> 01:04:03,960
Speaker 2: They're gonna have their growing pains as well. Keep an

1362
01:04:03,960 --> 01:04:06,360
Speaker 2: eye out on Jackie Young. Like I said, Chelsea Gray

1363
01:04:06,920 --> 01:04:10,440
Speaker 2: is in prime Chelsea Gray form. But I don't want

1364
01:04:10,480 --> 01:04:14,200
Speaker 2: to ignore the fact that Asia Wilson's shoe release and

1365
01:04:14,280 --> 01:04:16,560
Speaker 2: drop has been one of the coolest things that I've

1366
01:04:16,640 --> 01:04:18,040
Speaker 2: seen in a long time.

1367
01:04:18,520 --> 01:04:22,000
Speaker 1: So I just want to say on the shoe release point.

1368
01:04:22,040 --> 01:04:25,240
Speaker 1: I know, again the show is about basketball and what's

1369
01:04:25,240 --> 01:04:28,560
Speaker 1: happening on the court, but what's happening with Asia and

1370
01:04:28,600 --> 01:04:34,360
Speaker 1: the shoe release is so impactful for the standard of

1371
01:04:35,320 --> 01:04:38,720
Speaker 1: what a shoe release for a women's basketball player should

1372
01:04:38,800 --> 01:04:42,440
Speaker 1: be like going forward, and all of that pageantry surrounding

1373
01:04:42,480 --> 01:04:45,000
Speaker 1: her shoe and all these other things that happen off

1374
01:04:45,040 --> 01:04:48,720
Speaker 1: the court does contribute to this pageantry. If people being

1375
01:04:48,880 --> 01:04:52,240
Speaker 1: so invested and spending money and putting their money where

1376
01:04:52,240 --> 01:04:54,800
Speaker 1: their mouth is and seeing the shoe on the court

1377
01:04:54,840 --> 01:04:56,880
Speaker 1: and all of these things. It just brings more fans

1378
01:04:56,920 --> 01:05:00,840
Speaker 1: in and I'm glad even though it took a long time.

1379
01:05:01,000 --> 01:05:03,200
Speaker 1: In my opinion, you're giving shoes to people straight out

1380
01:05:03,200 --> 01:05:05,920
Speaker 1: of college, and she has done all she has done

1381
01:05:06,000 --> 01:05:09,440
Speaker 1: and has deserved a shoe for a minute, but to

1382
01:05:09,520 --> 01:05:14,200
Speaker 1: see it delayed, but to happen so perfectly, like for

1383
01:05:14,240 --> 01:05:17,280
Speaker 1: everything to seem like it took time, and every little

1384
01:05:17,320 --> 01:05:21,240
Speaker 1: detail from the baretts and the commercial to having the

1385
01:05:21,280 --> 01:05:24,400
Speaker 1: team wearing everything was just done so well, and not

1386
01:05:24,440 --> 01:05:26,720
Speaker 1: only to just to address the elephant in the room,

1387
01:05:26,760 --> 01:05:29,960
Speaker 1: like to see a black woman get what she deserves

1388
01:05:30,000 --> 01:05:32,320
Speaker 1: as far as coverage and as far as Nike putting

1389
01:05:32,320 --> 01:05:35,160
Speaker 1: in that effort, because there is a gap in coverage

1390
01:05:35,360 --> 01:05:37,480
Speaker 1: for black players and white players in the WNBA. And

1391
01:05:37,520 --> 01:05:39,200
Speaker 1: I'm not saying that as like a fan and as

1392
01:05:39,200 --> 01:05:41,320
Speaker 1: a black woman, like having an opinion. It's a fact,

1393
01:05:41,440 --> 01:05:43,720
Speaker 1: like it is studied. It's a fact, it is true.

1394
01:05:43,760 --> 01:05:47,560
Speaker 1: Go google it yourself, googles free. But just to see

1395
01:05:47,600 --> 01:05:50,320
Speaker 1: all of the pageantry surrounding the shoe, it's bigger than

1396
01:05:50,360 --> 01:05:53,120
Speaker 1: a shoe. So we're excited for that reason, like this

1397
01:05:53,240 --> 01:05:53,840
Speaker 1: is yeah.

1398
01:05:53,800 --> 01:05:56,560
Speaker 2: It's been like I feel like the rollout has been

1399
01:05:56,640 --> 01:05:59,240
Speaker 2: like six months, but keep going.

1400
01:05:59,680 --> 01:06:01,960
Speaker 3: But I think the best moment.

1401
01:06:01,720 --> 01:06:05,240
Speaker 2: For me was seeing like Alicia Gray and it Tiffany

1402
01:06:05,240 --> 01:06:07,440
Speaker 2: Mitchell and in their media day pictures, Like just the

1403
01:06:07,520 --> 01:06:11,040
Speaker 2: genuine support and love and care for this moment is like,

1404
01:06:11,720 --> 01:06:14,800
Speaker 2: like you said, it's bigger than basketball this moment. So

1405
01:06:15,560 --> 01:06:17,680
Speaker 2: shout out to Asia for that, and then shout out

1406
01:06:17,720 --> 01:06:20,920
Speaker 2: to the Aces because you know they're coming for a

1407
01:06:20,960 --> 01:06:23,640
Speaker 2: lot this season, and then shout out to Jewel Lloyd

1408
01:06:23,720 --> 01:06:25,760
Speaker 2: of course. You know, I know she left Seattle on

1409
01:06:26,040 --> 01:06:29,480
Speaker 2: poor terms, but she wanted to change the scenery and

1410
01:06:29,520 --> 01:06:32,600
Speaker 2: that's absolutely understandable and fair. So I'm really excited to

1411
01:06:32,600 --> 01:06:35,240
Speaker 2: see what she does on a new team because we've

1412
01:06:35,240 --> 01:06:37,680
Speaker 2: only seen her in a Seattle Storm jersey. So it's

1413
01:06:37,720 --> 01:06:40,560
Speaker 2: going to be different for us guarding her. It's going

1414
01:06:40,640 --> 01:06:43,520
Speaker 2: to be different for us scouting for her. And that's

1415
01:06:43,560 --> 01:06:45,640
Speaker 2: the fun part too, is seeing new players in new

1416
01:06:45,720 --> 01:06:48,680
Speaker 2: environments and it's a new challenge. So I'm excited to

1417
01:06:48,720 --> 01:06:51,760
Speaker 2: play Vegas. I think we play them third or fourth game,

1418
01:06:52,160 --> 01:06:55,800
Speaker 2: so we're going to see them very soon. So yeah,

1419
01:06:56,080 --> 01:06:59,240
Speaker 2: in Seattle, I'm pretty sure. So that's going to be interesting.

1420
01:07:00,080 --> 01:07:02,960
Speaker 1: To close out. Before we get out a year, let's

1421
01:07:02,960 --> 01:07:05,760
Speaker 1: talk about the championship matchup from last year. We got

1422
01:07:05,800 --> 01:07:08,800
Speaker 1: the Liberty in first place in preseason at power rankings,

1423
01:07:09,080 --> 01:07:11,200
Speaker 1: and in second we have the Links, which is exactly

1424
01:07:11,200 --> 01:07:12,400
Speaker 1: how the season ended last year.

1425
01:07:12,480 --> 01:07:12,720
Speaker 3: Yeah.

1426
01:07:12,960 --> 01:07:14,760
Speaker 2: I mean, there's not really much to say about either

1427
01:07:14,840 --> 01:07:18,120
Speaker 2: one of their teams. They both look almost the exact same.

1428
01:07:18,640 --> 01:07:22,960
Speaker 2: We unfortunately haven't seen kmac in the preseason for the Links,

1429
01:07:23,000 --> 01:07:26,000
Speaker 2: but I'm really excited to see her season. After playing

1430
01:07:26,200 --> 01:07:29,200
Speaker 2: really really well and unrivaled and then going overseas, I'm

1431
01:07:29,240 --> 01:07:32,640
Speaker 2: sure she is exhausted, so I'm glad that she was

1432
01:07:32,680 --> 01:07:34,680
Speaker 2: able to take this time to rest a little bit

1433
01:07:35,920 --> 01:07:38,840
Speaker 2: and get right mentally and physically. Minnesota got a chip

1434
01:07:38,880 --> 01:07:43,800
Speaker 2: on their shoulder. Like we said MVF, she could absolutely

1435
01:07:43,840 --> 01:07:45,720
Speaker 2: win MVP as well. I don't know if they do

1436
01:07:45,800 --> 01:07:47,880
Speaker 2: odds and stuff for that yet, but I mean, if

1437
01:07:47,920 --> 01:07:51,760
Speaker 2: it's not Asia fee or Fee Asia one two, then

1438
01:07:51,760 --> 01:07:57,080
Speaker 2: there's something wrong. She got the rust off preseason Game one,

1439
01:07:57,280 --> 01:08:01,160
Speaker 2: preseason Game two looked like prime Collier that we're all,

1440
01:08:01,200 --> 01:08:04,040
Speaker 2: you know, used to seeing and enjoying to watch. They

1441
01:08:04,080 --> 01:08:07,160
Speaker 2: added Jess Shepherd, which a lot of these new fans

1442
01:08:07,160 --> 01:08:10,680
Speaker 2: probably have no idea who Jeff Shepherd is. She is

1443
01:08:11,040 --> 01:08:14,360
Speaker 2: a perfect accessory player to Nefisa, and I know that

1444
01:08:14,440 --> 01:08:18,080
Speaker 2: because I played with both of them Nefisa's rookie season

1445
01:08:18,760 --> 01:08:22,160
Speaker 2: and their chemistry on the court was something that was

1446
01:08:22,280 --> 01:08:24,479
Speaker 2: very special and I really enjoyed being on the court

1447
01:08:24,520 --> 01:08:28,280
Speaker 2: with both of them. So their chemistry is going to

1448
01:08:28,439 --> 01:08:31,720
Speaker 2: bring the Links to another level offensively, I think. And

1449
01:08:31,760 --> 01:08:34,559
Speaker 2: then you know, you can never count out show Reeve

1450
01:08:34,680 --> 01:08:37,280
Speaker 2: on that bench. You know she has four championships for

1451
01:08:37,320 --> 01:08:41,519
Speaker 2: a reason should have been five. But you know, here

1452
01:08:41,600 --> 01:08:44,479
Speaker 2: we are, they're trying to run it back. So this

1453
01:08:44,600 --> 01:08:47,719
Speaker 2: is a very dangerous link squad. Also shout out Courtney

1454
01:08:47,720 --> 01:08:49,960
Speaker 2: Williams getting into that mid range bag. I've never seen

1455
01:08:49,960 --> 01:08:53,360
Speaker 2: anything like it, and I'm very excited to guard her

1456
01:08:53,400 --> 01:08:55,519
Speaker 2: this season because it's always a fun matchup for me

1457
01:08:55,680 --> 01:08:57,320
Speaker 2: with Courtney and the Liberty.

1458
01:08:57,400 --> 01:08:58,599
Speaker 3: Let's see if they're playing yet.

1459
01:08:58,640 --> 01:09:00,800
Speaker 2: They have a game today in or shout out to

1460
01:09:01,000 --> 01:09:05,200
Speaker 2: Sabrina getting I think it's Sabrina Day. Yeah in Oregon,

1461
01:09:05,520 --> 01:09:09,479
Speaker 2: so that's yep, Sabrina Day. Literally Sabrina Day. So shout

1462
01:09:09,479 --> 01:09:11,880
Speaker 2: out to Sabrina for that page. Got a day shout

1463
01:09:11,920 --> 01:09:15,960
Speaker 2: out to everyone getting days, like what like, you get

1464
01:09:15,960 --> 01:09:17,479
Speaker 2: a day, you get a day, You get a day.

1465
01:09:18,240 --> 01:09:19,559
Speaker 3: So shout out to Sabrina for that.

1466
01:09:19,560 --> 01:09:23,439
Speaker 2: That's super dope, the fact that they went and made

1467
01:09:23,439 --> 01:09:26,800
Speaker 2: that happen for her at Oregon, at our university, and

1468
01:09:26,840 --> 01:09:30,479
Speaker 2: then play a game. Oh, they don't play till later today,

1469
01:09:30,600 --> 01:09:32,280
Speaker 2: so we'll be able to see the last of the

1470
01:09:32,320 --> 01:09:36,960
Speaker 2: Liberty two nights before the regular season starts again. They

1471
01:09:37,000 --> 01:09:42,040
Speaker 2: have John cul Jones, Bris Stewart, Sabrina Escu brought back Johannes.

1472
01:09:42,560 --> 01:09:43,679
Speaker 3: They're dangerous squad.

1473
01:09:43,880 --> 01:09:49,440
Speaker 2: They are deep, they're veteran Legosh, can't forget about Natasha

1474
01:09:49,680 --> 01:09:53,559
Speaker 2: Isabelle now. Now, if we're talking about a veteran squad,

1475
01:09:54,560 --> 01:09:57,240
Speaker 2: they might have us beat a little bit the storm.

1476
01:09:57,479 --> 01:10:00,439
Speaker 2: I don't see why they shouldn't be the favorite. It's

1477
01:10:00,680 --> 01:10:03,840
Speaker 2: obviously the defending champs, and I think everybody is They're

1478
01:10:03,840 --> 01:10:06,479
Speaker 2: gonna get everybody's best shot. But I'm really excited for

1479
01:10:06,479 --> 01:10:10,280
Speaker 2: their season. I'm excited to see what Shenanigan's Ellie the

1480
01:10:10,320 --> 01:10:11,280
Speaker 2: Elephant gets into.

1481
01:10:11,720 --> 01:10:14,880
Speaker 3: Most importantly, but this.

1482
01:10:14,920 --> 01:10:18,240
Speaker 2: Season is gonna be lit, y'all. I'm so excited for it.

1483
01:10:18,360 --> 01:10:20,960
Speaker 2: I'm so excited to be healthy for it. I'm so

1484
01:10:21,040 --> 01:10:23,559
Speaker 2: excited to be able to go out there and be

1485
01:10:23,680 --> 01:10:29,519
Speaker 2: my best self again, and whatever happens, I'm just grateful

1486
01:10:29,560 --> 01:10:32,320
Speaker 2: and blessed to be a part of this, this growth

1487
01:10:32,360 --> 01:10:35,880
Speaker 2: of the w And that's what I'm excited about this season.

1488
01:10:35,880 --> 01:10:38,320
Speaker 3: What is one thing that you're excited about for this season.

1489
01:10:38,640 --> 01:10:42,400
Speaker 1: I'm excited about the what is that word? I'm literally

1490
01:10:42,479 --> 01:10:44,760
Speaker 1: losing it, but they use it on ESPN every single

1491
01:10:44,800 --> 01:10:52,839
Speaker 1: day to describe sports. But it's like, is it parody? Basically, yes,

1492
01:10:52,960 --> 01:10:55,840
Speaker 1: there we go major. I should know that. That's literally

1493
01:10:55,840 --> 01:10:56,840
Speaker 1: my whole role on the show.

1494
01:10:57,360 --> 01:11:00,360
Speaker 2: I thought you're going to say something like magical, wonderful,

1495
01:11:00,560 --> 01:11:02,320
Speaker 2: You're like parody, everybody can win?

1496
01:11:02,720 --> 01:11:04,040
Speaker 3: Cool?

1497
01:11:04,880 --> 01:11:09,200
Speaker 1: I think as you as you have mentioned a few

1498
01:11:09,200 --> 01:11:12,400
Speaker 1: times throughout this episode, there are so many talented players

1499
01:11:12,439 --> 01:11:14,920
Speaker 1: in the WNBA. Everybody's there for a reason, and there

1500
01:11:14,920 --> 01:11:17,320
Speaker 1: are so many teams that I feel like, Okay, they're

1501
01:11:17,400 --> 01:11:21,400
Speaker 1: the bad team, but like are they and if they

1502
01:11:21,560 --> 01:11:25,120
Speaker 1: base them, this could happen. And another thing I'm really

1503
01:11:25,160 --> 01:11:27,760
Speaker 1: excited about is has to be spoken about a lot

1504
01:11:27,840 --> 01:11:31,360
Speaker 1: in this episode. I do like seeing players and roles

1505
01:11:31,560 --> 01:11:34,800
Speaker 1: that are unconventional for them, and I feel like this

1506
01:11:34,840 --> 01:11:37,439
Speaker 1: season we're going to see a lot of players playing

1507
01:11:37,479 --> 01:11:40,439
Speaker 1: roles like we spoke about Angel or Brittany. Obviously, I'm

1508
01:11:40,439 --> 01:11:42,799
Speaker 1: in Atlanta and I'm going to be attending the Dream Games.

1509
01:11:42,880 --> 01:11:44,479
Speaker 1: I will be showing you all the court side bits

1510
01:11:44,520 --> 01:11:48,479
Speaker 1: all over TikTok. But I am really excited about just

1511
01:11:48,520 --> 01:11:53,120
Speaker 1: seeing players adapt into different aspects of their game based

1512
01:11:53,160 --> 01:11:56,120
Speaker 1: on the new fits of their teams, the new coaching,

1513
01:11:56,320 --> 01:11:57,600
Speaker 1: Like I feel like there's gonna be a lot of

1514
01:11:57,680 --> 01:12:02,120
Speaker 1: newness and just seeing how the rookies from last season developed.

1515
01:12:02,360 --> 01:12:03,919
Speaker 1: Like I'm just really excited.

1516
01:12:04,080 --> 01:12:06,920
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's gonna be a great season, y'all. And by

1517
01:12:07,040 --> 01:12:10,120
Speaker 2: the time this episode drops, we're gonna be two nights

1518
01:12:10,200 --> 01:12:15,680
Speaker 2: out from the season openers on Friday, and by the

1519
01:12:15,720 --> 01:12:20,120
Speaker 2: next episode, I would have played in two games. So

1520
01:12:20,560 --> 01:12:24,719
Speaker 2: next week's episode is gonna be fun. Lots to talk about, good, bad, ugly,

1521
01:12:24,720 --> 01:12:27,240
Speaker 2: We're gonna talk about it all. So we are really

1522
01:12:27,280 --> 01:12:30,479
Speaker 2: excited to finally have the WNBA season to talk about.

1523
01:12:30,520 --> 01:12:32,639
Speaker 3: We're gonna get into it every single week.

1524
01:12:32,880 --> 01:12:35,600
Speaker 2: So thank y'all again for tuning in to another episode

1525
01:12:35,640 --> 01:12:36,960
Speaker 2: of Full Circle Podcasts.

1526
01:12:37,320 --> 01:12:38,840
Speaker 3: We will see y'all next week.

1527
01:12:39,200 --> 01:12:41,679
Speaker 1: And if you're gonna clip us and talk about us,

1528
01:12:42,040 --> 01:12:43,719
Speaker 1: make sure you're streaming the game period.

1529
01:12:44,240 --> 01:12:45,920
Speaker 3: Bie.

1530
01:12:47,160 --> 01:12:49,400
Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to Full Circle. We'll be back next

1531
01:12:49,400 --> 01:12:52,400
Speaker 1: week with more basketball for the Girls, By the girls.

1532
01:12:52,760 --> 01:12:54,800
Speaker 1: We want to hear from you. Leave us a review

1533
01:12:54,840 --> 01:12:57,240
Speaker 1: on Apple Podcasts and tell us what you want us

1534
01:12:57,280 --> 01:12:59,840
Speaker 1: to talk about. Full Circle is hosted by Lexi Brown

1535
01:12:59,840 --> 01:13:03,880
Speaker 1: and Rose. Our executive producer is Jesse Katz. Our supervising

1536
01:13:03,920 --> 01:13:08,439
Speaker 1: producer is Grace Fuse. Our producer is Zoe Danklab. Listen

1537
01:13:08,439 --> 01:13:11,800
Speaker 1: to Full Circle on America's number one podcast network, iHeart,

1538
01:13:12,080 --> 01:13:14,479
Speaker 1: open your free iHeart app and search Full Circle with

1539
01:13:14,560 --> 01:13:16,679
Speaker 1: Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose and start listening