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Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're not

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Speaker 1: not gonna stalk Alona mar in Phoenix this weekend. It's Friday,

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Speaker 1: April third, and on today's show, Big Citrus jumps on

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Speaker 1: to do a quick pre Final Four check in and bravely,

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Speaker 1: boldly put our final predictions on the record for all

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Speaker 1: to hear, no takebacks. Then we get extra fired up

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Speaker 1: for tonight's big games by taking a walk down memory

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Speaker 1: Lane with some friends of the show, all of whom

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Speaker 1: just happened to be competing this weekend in Phoenix, plus

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Speaker 1: Sabin Stewey Stay put, a strong showing pays off, and

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Speaker 1: a fan favorite must weather the storm once again. It's

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Speaker 1: all coming up right after this welcome back slices. Happy Friday.

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Speaker 1: Here's what you need to know today, starting with college

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Speaker 1: basketball and the Final Four in Phoenix. Start your night

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Speaker 1: with the NCAA Women's Final Four Special that's at six

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Speaker 1: pm Eastern on ESPN. Then semi final action begins at

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Speaker 1: seven pm Eastern with number one South Carolina and number

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Speaker 1: one Yukon face it off. Then at nine thirty pm Eastern,

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Speaker 1: number one Texas and number one UCLA go head to head.

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Speaker 1: You can catch both those games on ESPN, and for

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Speaker 1: those of you in Phoenix, just a reminder, I'll be

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Speaker 1: doing a live show tomorrow with Sue Bird and Diana Tarassi.

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Speaker 1: That's one pm Eastern at Tourneytown, presented by Capitol One,

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Speaker 1: and it's free, so check out the Tourneytown website for

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Speaker 1: all the details. On Sunday, It's the Championship game Coverage

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Speaker 1: starts at two thirty pm Eastern on ABC with the

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Speaker 1: NCAA Women's Championship Special, an hour long preview show to

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Speaker 1: get you ready for the game. Then at three thirty Eastern,

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Speaker 1: the National Championship tips off. In addition to the main

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Speaker 1: game broadcasts, ESPN will also offer court side at the

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Speaker 1: Women's Final Four altcasts both Friday on ESPN two and

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Speaker 1: Sunday on ESPN, featuring ESPN talent Jess Sims, rugby star

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Speaker 1: Alon Omar, The stud Buds, Natisha Heideman and Courtney Williams,

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Speaker 1: WNBA MVP Chelsea Gray, and ESPN content creator Katie Feeney.

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Speaker 1: There's plenty more coming from us on this weekend's matchups

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Speaker 1: later in the show. More college basketball news ahead of

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Speaker 1: the weekend's festivities. Yukon Sophomore and Friend of the Show.

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Speaker 1: Sarah Strong was named Naysmith College Player of the Year,

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Speaker 1: an award given annually to honor the best player in

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Speaker 1: the country, voted on by coaches, administrators, and members of

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Speaker 1: the media. Meanwhile, Notre Dame's Hanna Hidalgo was named the

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Speaker 1: Naysmith Defensive Player of the Year, making her the first

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Speaker 1: player in fighting Irish history to earn the honor. And

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Speaker 1: Friend of the Show Vanderbilt Shay Ralph was named Naysmith

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Speaker 1: Coach of the Year. Even more college hoops, on Thursday,

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Speaker 1: i Was State center Audie Crooks announced she does plan

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Speaker 1: to enter the transfer portal. In a post on Instagram,

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Speaker 1: Crooks thanked everyone who supported her journey with the Cyclones

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Speaker 1: before writing quote, I still believe the grass is greener

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Speaker 1: where you water it, and I've done that here. It's

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Speaker 1: why i want you to hear from me directly that

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Speaker 1: I've decided to enter the portal and explore what it

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Speaker 1: means to take root again in new ground. End quote.

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Speaker 1: Iowa State has seen a mass exodus of players since

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Speaker 1: their season ended in the first round of the Ncaatorney,

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Speaker 1: With nine players in addition to Crooks, that's ten total

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Speaker 1: on a team of thirteen announcing their plans to enter

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Speaker 1: the transfer portal. Personally, we kind of want to see

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Speaker 1: a documentary of what happened at Iowa State this year.

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Speaker 1: They started the season in the top fifteen when their

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Speaker 1: first fourteen games, and then lost five in a row,

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Speaker 1: finishing the regular season with a twenty two to ten record.

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Speaker 1: Crooks was a force throughout the season when healthy, averaging

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Speaker 1: twenty five point eight points per game, second in the

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Speaker 1: nation behind only michaelab Blakes of Vanderbilt and more hoops.

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Speaker 1: It's not just a wild weekend in college ball, it's

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Speaker 1: also going to be a busy weekend in the WNBA,

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Speaker 1: as the league's expansion draft is this afternoon, beginning at

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Speaker 1: three thirty pm Eastern on ESPN. The draft will kickstart

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Speaker 1: the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fires roster building processes, as

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Speaker 1: both expansion franchises will have the opportunity to select unprotected

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Speaker 1: players from the league's existing thirteen teams. Now, the concept

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Speaker 1: of an expansion draft is always confusing, but especially so

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Speaker 1: this season given that free agency hasn't yet started and

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Speaker 1: most veteran players in the w aren't currently signed to teams.

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Speaker 1: So here's how it'll work. Each of the league's thirteen

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Speaker 1: current teams were allowed to protect a maximum of five

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Speaker 1: players based on player lists on the final day of

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Speaker 1: the twenty twenty five season. They had to turn in

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Speaker 1: those lists of protective players by March twenty ninth, but

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Speaker 1: unfortunately they aren't expected to be made public. Ahead of

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Speaker 1: the Expansion Draft. Teams were able to make trades in

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Speaker 1: exchange for draft protection, and the Chicago Sky did just that,

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Speaker 1: receiving protection and the Expansion Draft from both the Tempo

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Speaker 1: and the Fire in exchange for picks in the college Draft.

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Speaker 1: This guy's number seventeen pick is headed to Portland, their

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Speaker 1: number twenty six pick will go to Toronto, and neither

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Speaker 1: team will select any of their players more WNBA. With

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Speaker 1: free agency set to get underway in the next few days,

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Speaker 1: Brianna Stewart and Sabrina and Escou have both declared their

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Speaker 1: loyalty to the New York Liberty. The thirty one year

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Speaker 1: old Stewart announced on her podcast game Recognized Game with

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Speaker 1: Stuwie and Miles quote, I'm not planning on taking any

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Speaker 1: free agency meetings even though I am an unrestricted free agent.

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Speaker 1: I'm going to be back in New York, and that's

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Speaker 1: all there is to it. End quote time, the twenty

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Speaker 1: eight year old Unescu told reporters at USA Basketball training

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Speaker 1: camp on Wednesday. Quote Obviously I'm where I'm supposed to be,

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Speaker 1: never thought anything different, and so excited to be able

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Speaker 1: to sign and get started. It's coming up really quickly.

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Speaker 1: So excited to get all this behind us and just

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Speaker 1: be able to start our season and get going in

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Speaker 1: New York. End quote. Both players were integral to the

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Speaker 1: Liberty winning its first title in twenty twenty four, So

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Speaker 1: no doubt fans and Big Ellie are breathing a sigh

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Speaker 1: of relief. They'll be back more WNBA And some heartbreaking

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Speaker 1: news for the Seattlestorms. Nico Mule. The twenty four year

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Speaker 1: old underwent surgery for a tornycl on Tuesday, and we'll

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Speaker 1: miss her second straight WNBA season because of a knee injury.

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Speaker 1: The former Yukon standout tore her right ACL playing for

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Speaker 1: Croatia in a March eleven EuroBasket qualifying game. Last year,

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Speaker 1: she tore her left ACL while playing for Turkish club

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Speaker 1: beseekd Us in the Poeba Super Cup. We're sending Nika

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Speaker 1: our best to the PWHL, where on Wednesday night, the

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Speaker 1: Montreal Victoire became the second team to clinch a postseason birth,

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Speaker 1: joined the already clinched Boston Fleet with three to zero

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Speaker 1: win over the Vancouver Goldeneyes. Victoire are in action again tonight,

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Speaker 1: a seven pm contest with the Ottawa Charge, who are

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Speaker 1: coming off a two to one loss to the Toronto

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Speaker 1: Scepters on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, Sarah Phillia's overtime taally

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Speaker 1: not only gave her New York Sirens a big four

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Speaker 1: to three win over the Minnesota Frost, it also finished

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Speaker 1: off a hat trick for the former Rookie of the Year.

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Speaker 1: Phillya and the Sirens will be part of the biggest

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Speaker 1: game of the weekend tomorrow, a Takeover Tour matchup with

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Speaker 1: the Seattle torrent at Madison Square Garden. That's an eight

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Speaker 1: pm Eastern puck drop. The sold out game is expected

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Speaker 1: to set a new US attendance record for a professional

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Speaker 1: women's hockey game, and the way those records are falling,

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Speaker 1: you might want to write it in pencil, not penn

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Speaker 1: to the NWSL. After back to back to back games

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Speaker 1: for a number of teams players got this week off

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Speaker 1: to rest and you know, practice, But it's time to

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Speaker 1: lace up those boots again, starting tonight with a matchup

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Speaker 1: between Boston Legacy FC and the San Diego Wave at

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Speaker 1: seven pm Eastern. Then it's Orlando Pride versus Angel City

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Speaker 1: FC at eight eastern LA, looking to extend their undefeated

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Speaker 1: three and zero start to the year. Any of y'all

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Speaker 1: get got by the Pride's April Fools post about Marta

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Speaker 1: playing in her final game tonight, by the way sheepishly

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Speaker 1: raises hand, but only for a quick second, and then

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Speaker 1: I remembered what day it was. Also tonight, we've got

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Speaker 1: the Houston Dash versus Racing Louisville at eight thirty Eastern,

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Speaker 1: and at nine eastern, Utah Royals FC played the Chicago

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Speaker 1: Color Neutral Stars. There are three more games on Saturday,

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Speaker 1: and on Sunday night, BFC plays the Washington Spirit at

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Speaker 1: five pm Eastern. We'll link to the full schedule in

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Speaker 1: the show notes, and we'll be keeping an extra close

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Speaker 1: eye on Racing Louisville, the Washington Spirit, and the Boston

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Speaker 1: Legacy as all three clubs are still looking for that

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Speaker 1: first win of the season. More soccer The rumor mill

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Speaker 1: was churning on Thursday as Australian National News reported that

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Speaker 1: Austin national Sam Kerr was leaving Chelsea for the NWSL

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Speaker 1: expansion team Denver Summitt FC at the end of the

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Speaker 1: Women's Super League season in England. Word of the reported

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Speaker 1: signings spread fast, but so did a screenshot allegedly from

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Speaker 1: kerr snapchat where she denies the move, writing quote, don't

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Speaker 1: don't believe everything you read in the media, man, They

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Speaker 1: know a decision before me end quote. That's not a no.

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Speaker 1: We're keeping this one in the rumor files for now,

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Speaker 1: but we'll follow up if more news comes out. We're

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Speaker 1: also thinking back a couple of years when Chelsea released

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Speaker 1: a video on social media suggesting Kerr was leaving the club,

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Speaker 1: only for it to be revealed as a prank twenty

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Speaker 1: minutes later. But also we already saw Chelsea's standouts Katerina

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Speaker 1: Macario leave for San Diego and Girl Writon depart for Gotham.

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Speaker 1: So sometimes where there's smoke, there is fire. We got

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Speaker 1: to take a quick break when we come back. Are

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Speaker 1: unanimous picks from Big Citrus about to jinx your favorite team,

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Speaker 1: Stick around and find out welcome back, Slices. It's been

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Speaker 1: a while since we had a little, big citrus hang,

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Speaker 1: and what better time than now as we're heading into

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Speaker 1: a massive weekend of college basketball and where we should

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Speaker 1: surely be putting our picks on the record in advance

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Speaker 1: so no one can equivocate come Monday claiming that what

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Speaker 1: they really meant, or what they thought they said or

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Speaker 1: what they had put down was something different. So Alex Bianca,

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Speaker 1: welcome in. Hey, Hello, I'm bummed y'all won't be with

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Speaker 1: me out in Phoenix, but I'm super excited for all

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Speaker 1: the different parties and activations and events and brunches and

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Speaker 1: lunches and my live show with Sue Bird and Dinah

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Speaker 1: Tarassi one pm at Tourney Town on Saturday for anyone

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Speaker 1: who's gonna be in the Phoenix area. And of course,

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Speaker 1: if you spot me wandering around in the desert, number one,

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Speaker 1: see if I've been drinking enough water. Number two, do

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Speaker 1: not comment and help pay aliam, I haven't seen the

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Speaker 1: sun in like eight months. And number three say hi,

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Speaker 1: maybe I have some good game pins left over from

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Speaker 1: the Olympics. Maybe I got some I'm a slice stickers.

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Speaker 1: You never know what I might have in my bag.

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Speaker 1: So if you are a Slice and you spot me,

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Speaker 1: please feel free to come say hey, all right, you

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Speaker 1: two will not be out there in Phoenix, but we

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Speaker 1: do need to get all three of our picks on

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Speaker 1: the record.

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Speaker 2: Now, Sarah, is this a one pick situation or do

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Speaker 2: we get two chances at it?

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Speaker 1: Like a bracket challenge? Well, this is not a bracket challenge.

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Speaker 1: This is you standing with integrity. Particularly since there's only

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Speaker 1: four teams left. The idea of like or or it

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Speaker 1: could go the other way is not going to fly.

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Speaker 1: So how you feel it heading into the games this weekend?

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Speaker 2: Okay, so first off, my bracket, my loan bracket is

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Speaker 2: completely busted. And I have to say I'm getting some

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Speaker 2: real bad flashbacks because I don't know if you guys

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Speaker 2: have seen, but on ESPN site where we did the

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Speaker 2: bracket challenge, there's like a setting where you can go

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Speaker 2: in and like see your brackets chance of winning, and

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Speaker 2: it reminds me of like the New York Times needle

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Speaker 2: from the presidential election, where it's like zero percent chance,

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Speaker 2: and I'm like, this is bad.

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Speaker 1: I've never seen that. I've never seen that little feature.

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Speaker 1: I've never really dug deep on it once, I like,

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Speaker 1: am out, I'm like, I'm that never happened. I'm not

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Speaker 1: participating anymore, but thankfully still in, still in.

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Speaker 2: You know what's interesting, though, is I picked Ukon to

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Speaker 2: win it. I also picked the four number one seats

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Speaker 2: to make it, But at this point, if I were

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Speaker 2: to fill it out, I think I would actually pick

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Speaker 2: Texas to win it. And so that's what I want

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Speaker 2: to put on the record here today. Well thing, Yeah,

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Speaker 2: my guess is that Yukon and Texas are going to

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Speaker 2: meet in the championship game with Texas winning it.

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Speaker 3: OOO spicy now, Okay, there's also part of me that

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Speaker 3: may be saying that because so many people picked Yukon

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Speaker 3: to win it, that my chances might be more than

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Speaker 3: zero percent if I had picked Texas, you know, like

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Speaker 3: having that.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, but like a rewritten bracket, it's not how you

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Speaker 1: make your picks, now, Alex, just stick with what your

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Speaker 1: gut's telling you and stand on two feet ten toes

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Speaker 1: down on that Texas pick. Okay, Bianka, how about you.

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Speaker 4: I'm going to sound like a broken record, but I

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Speaker 4: also would love to see a Texas Yukon final with

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Speaker 4: Texas winning and just thinking about Texas winning brings me

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Speaker 4: so much joy, Like if I can picture five SIGs

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Speaker 4: Roy Harmon hoisting that trophy, that would that would be

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Speaker 4: enough for me. I don't need any other stat to

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Speaker 4: go to plan. That would be the stat or the

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Speaker 4: image that was burned in my mind for this season.

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Speaker 4: So I would love to see that. But I also

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Speaker 4: really appreciated what Ryan Ruco said on our show earlier

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Speaker 4: this week talking about Don Staley and how her getting

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Speaker 4: to the final four this year with this team deserves

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Speaker 4: its flowers. That is an accomplishment that I think I

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Speaker 4: subconsciously and unfortunately was thinking, well, of course they're in.

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Speaker 1: The final four. S's Staley at South Carolina.

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Speaker 4: And I really appreciated him and other people, you know,

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Speaker 4: pointing out, No, this is an accomplishment, and I'm excited

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Speaker 4: to see what.

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Speaker 1: They can do. Do I think they're going to get

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Speaker 1: to the finals.

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Speaker 4: No, I'm happy to be proven wrong as long as

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Speaker 4: Texas is also there.

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Speaker 1: But yeah, I think it's going to be you con

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Speaker 1: Texas at the end. So what you're saying is just

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Speaker 1: do you hate Ucla?

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Speaker 4: Which, wow, which is tough because as a tall I

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Speaker 4: like Ucla.

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Speaker 1: I'm rooting for Ucla.

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Speaker 4: But as a basketball fan, who would I want to win?

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Speaker 1: Not this year? Not Ucla? Interesting so gosh, I am

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Speaker 1: also really wondering if UCLA can take out Texas. No,

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Speaker 1: this is I've got the final four in all the

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Speaker 1: number one seats. I've got Yukon winning it. I still

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Speaker 1: feel confident in that, but I am not so certain

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Speaker 1: about my pick of UCLA over Texas.

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Speaker 5: Now.

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Speaker 1: Ucla look like world beaters all season long. They are

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Speaker 1: so big, they are so tough to match up with.

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Speaker 1: And yet the way that texas Is defense has made

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Speaker 1: it almost impossible for teams to inbound the ball so

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Speaker 1: much as set up a half court offense. The way

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Speaker 1: Texas uses that defense to fuel their offense, I'm now

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Speaker 1: wondering if those matchups aren't quite as necessary. Like Madison

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Speaker 1: Booker can get big and also play the point. We've

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Speaker 1: seen that. She literally was their point guard when Roy

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Speaker 1: Harmon was at with the knee injury. So she is

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Speaker 1: a versatile player who can use her size when necessary,

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Speaker 1: which she will need to do against UCLA. You've got KYLEO.

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Speaker 1: Oldacre who gets big in there. You've got enough bigs

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Speaker 1: on Texas that it will not be dumping into Lauren

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Speaker 1: Betts or bring in Siena Bets as well and just

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Speaker 1: outbody them, out big them. And so because of that

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Speaker 1: difference of defensive intensity that we've seen from the Longhorns,

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Speaker 1: I am now picking Texas to get past Ucla, which

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Speaker 1: is wild. I just can't quite go far enough to

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Speaker 1: have them defeating Yukon. Now, both of these teams are deep,

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Speaker 1: and the big thing that separates I think this final

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Speaker 1: four set of teams compared to previous seasons is that

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Speaker 1: every single one of them is pretty deep. See a

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Speaker 1: little less so they need to rely on a couple

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Speaker 1: more people to really do well. But you can go

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Speaker 1: down the bench for a couple. But Yukon to me

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Speaker 1: is the one where Okay, we're gonna focus all of

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Speaker 1: our energy and keeping the ball out of Sarah's Strong's hands. Okay, fine,

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Speaker 1: easy fund, we'll shoot it from anywhere. Okay, fine, we'll

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Speaker 1: focus on easy fud tool make sure she can't get

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Speaker 1: the ball. Okay, fine, Well, then we'll just have like

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Speaker 1: some player that no one even recognized was going to

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Speaker 1: be a superstar yet, a freshman who's been playing pro

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Speaker 1: for years and years before she even arrived in stores, Connecticut. Yes,

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Speaker 1: Blanca Canona is the one that you all had written

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Speaker 1: down as leading this team heading into the final four weekend.

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Speaker 1: Like they are unfair. They are so fundamentally sound, And

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Speaker 1: I will tell you that, as excited as I am

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Speaker 1: for Texas and UCLA, and I feel bad that we're

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Speaker 1: all kind of like, yeah, Si, get out of here.

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Speaker 1: But I think that's kind of how we all feel

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Speaker 1: about I am very excited for Texas UCLA, and I

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Speaker 1: am extremely excited if it gets to be Texas Yukon

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Speaker 1: the defensive intensity, the senior situation of Rory Harmon trying

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Speaker 1: to win her first title, Asy Fudd trying to get

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Speaker 1: it without you know, Pagebeckers leading the way, all of

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Speaker 1: this coming together. I'm very torn. I'm such a huge

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Speaker 1: Asy fan. And by the way, fud around and find

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Speaker 1: out one of the wonderful many shows on this I

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Speaker 1: hurt Women's Sports Network, So we do want to shout

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Speaker 1: that out. But also Rory Harmon coming on the show,

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Speaker 1: just the relationship she has with their coach, the relationship

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Speaker 1: that whole team has with coach Vick Schaeffer. I'm just

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Speaker 1: picturing them winning and it's bringing me a lot of

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Speaker 1: Joy too, So now I'm torn.

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Speaker 2: Well, I think one of the takeaways ILE have looking

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Speaker 2: at these four teams is we've had all four of

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Speaker 2: these coaches on our show at some point, and they

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Speaker 2: seem like really great coaches, and they seem like coaches

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Speaker 2: that have so much respect for their players, which should

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Speaker 2: be a given. But I would be happy for any

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Speaker 2: of them to help lead their teams to this title too.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think it matters a lot to see

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Speaker 1: the kind of respect they have for each other. We even,

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Speaker 1: I think mentioned on this show that Vic Shaeffer called

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Speaker 1: out his team, said they were soft, and they responded

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Speaker 1: that wasn't a coach who had lost his players because

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Speaker 1: he publicly challenged them. That was a coach who knew

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Speaker 1: in that moment, this is what I'm going to need

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Speaker 1: to do for us to take that next step, for

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Speaker 1: us to get to the level that we need to be.

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Speaker 1: I'm going to need them to think of this as

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Speaker 1: a dire situation. What we heard happened after that was

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Speaker 1: Rory Harmon stepping even more into her senior leadership and

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Speaker 1: Madison Booker, despite her age, saying Okay, we're all going

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Speaker 1: to show up. We're holding each other accountable from here

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Speaker 1: on out. And I remember talking to Rory and you'll

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Speaker 1: hear it in today's show how excited she was heading

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Speaker 1: into this tournament because of how they're playing, And that

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Speaker 1: came from that Vic Schaeffer moment of like, I know,

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Speaker 1: I have a team who can handle this criticism.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, And you don't get that response to that kind

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Speaker 4: of criticism without hours and weeks and months and in

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Speaker 4: some cases years of support and a different kind of criticism.

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Speaker 4: A trust, Yeah, a trust that has been built over

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Speaker 4: a long time. So that's you know, we sometimes see

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Speaker 4: or we hear about these very specific cases of criticism.

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Speaker 4: Good to keep in mind that there are many seasons

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Speaker 4: worth of trust building that have happened that allow those

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Speaker 4: conversations to result in possibly championship winning teams.

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Speaker 6: Yeah.

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Speaker 1: And I think we also talk a lot about how

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Speaker 1: coaches are having to finesse the way they interact with

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Speaker 1: the younger generations of players, and some people simplify that as, oh,

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Speaker 1: they can't take the heat, they can't be criticized, they

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Speaker 1: don't like adversity, you know, that kind of thing. And

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Speaker 1: I think instead what it is is how do you

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Speaker 1: prove to players that the anger is warranted or in

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Speaker 1: service of something. How do you prove to players that

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Speaker 1: you're in control of your response and you're selecting an

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Speaker 1: intentional about the way that you show up for them

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Speaker 1: when you are angry or critical or tough on them,

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Speaker 1: as opposed to you're just out of control, right, And

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Speaker 1: for a long time it was just coaches out of

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Speaker 1: control being like, oh, you're not tough enough. And the

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Speaker 1: players are now saying, okay, like why are you saying this?

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Speaker 1: When are you saying this? How are you using this

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Speaker 1: to motivate me? And it's making the best coaches elevate?

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Speaker 1: And I want to remind people of that too, because

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Speaker 1: I do think sometimes especially with women's sports, people get

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Speaker 1: a little too in their field feels about a coach

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Speaker 1: yelling or about a coach being hard on the players.

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Speaker 1: And this is sports, and there are players who need

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Speaker 1: that motivation and they need it from someone that they trust,

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Speaker 1: from someone they know is invested in them and their success.

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Speaker 1: And so it's been really fun to watch different iterations

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Speaker 1: of that, you know, across this tournament for sure, right

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Speaker 1: y'all picks are in see if you can remember what

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Speaker 1: we said. We did a lot of maybe this, maybe that,

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Speaker 1: but I think Alex and Bianco went for Texas over

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Speaker 1: Yukon in the final, and I said, I believe it

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Speaker 1: will be Yukon over Texas in the final. So I

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Speaker 1: guess you, Ceil in South Carolina fans, get your dried

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Speaker 1: and moldy fruit ready to throw at us on Monday

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Speaker 1: if none of us respected your teams enough, which I mean,

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Speaker 1: you know, this is a big citrus conversation. So I

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Speaker 1: guess throwing dried and old fruit at us is the

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Speaker 1: appropriate response to our failings. Alex, biank anything else you're

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Speaker 1: we watching for this weekend.

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Speaker 2: Something that I'm excited about and hopeful about is what

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Speaker 2: changes we're going to see in the WNBA in a

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Speaker 2: few weeks, which will result in us getting to see

401
00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:39,840
Speaker 2: a lot of these players for even longer, because this

402
00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:44,000
Speaker 2: happens every single year, where these players are incredible in

403
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Speaker 2: the final four, all the way through the NCAA tournament,

404
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Speaker 2: they get drafted by a team, and then the rosters

405
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Speaker 2: are so small that they get cut. But with the

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Speaker 2: addition of two new teams this year, plus the three

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Speaker 2: developmental player spots, which are for athletes kind of in

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Speaker 2: their first three years out of college. I'm just really

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Speaker 2: excited to see some of these players for a lot longer.

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Speaker 4: And when you say that not gonna lie, I immediately

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Speaker 4: get excited to see the draft night outfits.

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Speaker 1: I'm like, what are they gonna wear? Because last year

413
00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,240
Speaker 1: was good? And you know what, Alex, that also made

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Speaker 1: me think of that I have not thought to look

415
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Speaker 1: up yet, and I need to get into. Is age

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Speaker 1: eligibility changes. It's something we talked about in advance of

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Speaker 1: this new CBA, and I haven't looked into whether or

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00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:32,000
Speaker 1: not they proposed it and it was rejected. I certainly

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Speaker 1: think we would have heard about it if it was

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Speaker 1: a part of the new CBA. If they had changed

421
00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:37,960
Speaker 1: the rules. You no longer have to be twenty two

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00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:41,320
Speaker 1: in order to play in the WNBA and announce yourself

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Speaker 1: for the draft. So I'm wondering whether at any point

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Speaker 1: the players pushed for that and it was rejected, or

425
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Speaker 1: if everyone agrees that this is still the best practice.

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Speaker 1: We'll dig into that in a future show. But I

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Speaker 1: love that Alex and I agree. I just feel like,

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Speaker 1: especially with some of these super seniors that are leaving

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Speaker 1: school now that we've been watching for four, five, five years,

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Speaker 1: it'll be fun to see more of them get to

431
00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:07,040
Speaker 1: stick around and play here in our domestic league. All right, y'all,

432
00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:08,680
Speaker 1: enjoy the cold and the wind. I'm going to go

433
00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:10,639
Speaker 1: outside and get back in the sun. I hate that

434
00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,920
Speaker 1: enjoy We got to take another break moment return. Maybe

435
00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:24,480
Speaker 1: the real championship is the friends we made along the way.

436
00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,960
Speaker 1: Welcome back Slices. While watching each of the number one

437
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,600
Speaker 1: seeds punch their ticket to this weekend's final four, we

438
00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:32,720
Speaker 1: started thinking about how many friends of the show we'll

439
00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,400
Speaker 1: be taking the court in Phoenix. In the last year

440
00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:39,160
Speaker 1: and a half, Yukon's Gina Oriema, Azy Fudd and most recently,

441
00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:42,080
Speaker 1: Sarah Strong and kk Arnold have all made appearances on

442
00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:45,760
Speaker 1: our show. UCLA coach Corey Close has joined me twice

443
00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,040
Speaker 1: last year with Keky Rice and then again this season

444
00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:51,879
Speaker 1: with Angela Dougalic. Texas coach Vick Schaeffer and stars Madison

445
00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:54,040
Speaker 1: Booker and Rory Harmon are all friends of the show,

446
00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:56,840
Speaker 1: and South Carolina coach Don Staley joined me last fall

447
00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:00,760
Speaker 1: for a fantastic, wide ranging conversation. We've been thinking back

448
00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:03,720
Speaker 1: on those conversations ahead of this weekend's final four and

449
00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,400
Speaker 1: thought we'd bring you a couple excerpts ahead of tonight's games.

450
00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:09,880
Speaker 1: First up, it's yukon Sarah Strong and KK Arnold from

451
00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,520
Speaker 1: just a few weeks ago. The dynamic duel hyped up

452
00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:17,520
Speaker 1: each other's defensive prowess. Take a listen. I want to

453
00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:21,200
Speaker 1: talk about defense because we've got two lockdown defenders here.

454
00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:24,200
Speaker 1: Sarah tell me about KK on that side of the ball.

455
00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:28,160
Speaker 7: Yeah, I mean I would hate to be guarded by KK.

456
00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:32,320
Speaker 7: She's just so like on you, like she's everywhere, like

457
00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:34,920
Speaker 7: she's he's in your grill, but she's not the same time,

458
00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:38,560
Speaker 7: Like it's like it's it's suffocating. Like that's like that's

459
00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:39,080
Speaker 7: a good word.

460
00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:39,600
Speaker 1: I don't know.

461
00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:41,040
Speaker 7: She's so good at it, Like I don't know how

462
00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,560
Speaker 7: she just guards me what She's always running around, She's

463
00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:46,040
Speaker 7: so quick. It's just really crazy to watch a lot

464
00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:47,280
Speaker 7: of fun watching her KK.

465
00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:50,560
Speaker 1: According to Defensive Writing Statistics, Sarah is having the best

466
00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:53,560
Speaker 1: defensive season of any player since at least two thousand

467
00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:55,840
Speaker 1: and nine. What do you see from her as a defender?

468
00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:59,560
Speaker 5: Sarah's like a sneaky defender, like you won't know, like

469
00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,320
Speaker 5: where she's coming from, are like what she's about to do,

470
00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:05,439
Speaker 5: Whether that's a black Shaw is still for coast to

471
00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:07,919
Speaker 5: coast layup, Like she's just so sneaky and she like

472
00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:10,040
Speaker 5: reads the ball really well, and that's something about like

473
00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:12,639
Speaker 5: nobody really knows, like she knows how the ball is

474
00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:15,199
Speaker 5: going next play and just goes close to coast like

475
00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,600
Speaker 5: I said, But yeah, she's a great defender. I learned

476
00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:19,639
Speaker 5: a lot from her as well, how to just anticipate

477
00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:20,960
Speaker 5: a pass or anything like that.

478
00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:27,359
Speaker 8: So thanks Sarah, Sarah KK and the rest of Yukon

479
00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,119
Speaker 8: are hoping to shut down tonight LATS and Joyce Edwards

480
00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,640
Speaker 8: and the game Cocks tonight speaking to South Carolina.

481
00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,120
Speaker 1: Let's flash back to my conversation with head coach John

482
00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,359
Speaker 1: Staley from September of last year, just before the season

483
00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:41,840
Speaker 1: tipped off. I was curious how she was preparing for

484
00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:44,320
Speaker 1: the season given the roster changes in the off season.

485
00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:49,399
Speaker 1: Take a listen, how similar or different does it feel

486
00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:51,800
Speaker 1: this year in terms of talent and style from last

487
00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,560
Speaker 1: year's team? Another great run, but a different look this year.

488
00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,880
Speaker 9: Different look I mean saying talently, Lego, I think we're

489
00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:02,639
Speaker 9: I think we're pretty talented. Think we also have a

490
00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,280
Speaker 9: team that we haven't been together, you know, as a

491
00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:10,640
Speaker 9: as a unit very long, meaning we got our entire

492
00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:15,560
Speaker 9: team together in August when we return to school. That

493
00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:19,080
Speaker 9: was the first time that we were together, like all

494
00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:23,680
Speaker 9: eleven of us. So because of that, we're probably a

495
00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:27,840
Speaker 9: little bit behind, but we more than make up for

496
00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:30,840
Speaker 9: it because there's a certain cohesion with this team.

497
00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:33,000
Speaker 1: There's a certain thirst for.

498
00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:38,120
Speaker 9: Actually coaching, which is really an anomaly in this day

499
00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:41,760
Speaker 9: and age where where everybody wants to be a star,

500
00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:45,760
Speaker 9: everybody wants where do I fit in? Everybody wants to ball,

501
00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:51,080
Speaker 9: everybody wants to be the focal point, and this particular

502
00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:53,320
Speaker 9: team just wants to win. They want they want to

503
00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:56,680
Speaker 9: get better individually and they want to win.

504
00:24:57,240 --> 00:24:58,800
Speaker 1: And when you have.

505
00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:02,920
Speaker 9: That kind of perspective, if it's a lot easier on coaches.

506
00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,960
Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure. You've got returning folks, Joy said words

507
00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:09,800
Speaker 1: Raven Johnson, Chloe Kats, Tessa Johnson, who are trying to

508
00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,200
Speaker 1: turn the page after that loss at the end of

509
00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:14,920
Speaker 1: last season, but coming off more success. And then you've

510
00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,199
Speaker 1: got Tanaya Latson who led all of Division One in

511
00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:20,920
Speaker 1: scoring last season, had over twenty five points per game.

512
00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,919
Speaker 1: How are you taking the new talent mixing it in

513
00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:26,119
Speaker 1: with the old talent and making sure everyone is equally

514
00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:27,399
Speaker 1: as hungry to get a title.

515
00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:31,879
Speaker 9: Everybody's coming really just wanting to win and wanting to

516
00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:35,159
Speaker 9: get better. Tanaya, Danaya just wants to get better. And

517
00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:37,440
Speaker 9: you know, I had to say this to our media

518
00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:41,359
Speaker 9: today and that it's it's Florida State did everything they

519
00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:45,520
Speaker 9: could do to put Tanaya in this position, and they

520
00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:48,440
Speaker 9: needed her to play that role of having to score

521
00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:51,520
Speaker 9: a lot of points and playmake for them, and we

522
00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:54,600
Speaker 9: need her to do the same things. But also just

523
00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:57,120
Speaker 9: watching her play over the years, and I you know,

524
00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:59,000
Speaker 9: I watched her play and when it got close to

525
00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:01,560
Speaker 9: tournament times, just a kid as we got matched up

526
00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:07,240
Speaker 9: with them. She's gifted. She can score the basketball. Tanaya

527
00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:11,080
Speaker 9: came here probably for a different look, for different probably

528
00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:14,479
Speaker 9: a responsibility, but also to put her in a position

529
00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:16,200
Speaker 9: where she can learn some things to be a better

530
00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:21,080
Speaker 9: pro and a change of just just a change of

531
00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:24,920
Speaker 9: environment will help to do that, you know. But I

532
00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:29,480
Speaker 9: feel a responsibility to help her become her better passer,

533
00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:33,080
Speaker 9: to counter the fact that she can score points and

534
00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:36,320
Speaker 9: score points and bunches to help her to be more

535
00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:40,440
Speaker 9: accurate from shooting outside the three. And then probably the

536
00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:43,720
Speaker 9: last part of it is we need her to continue

537
00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:45,959
Speaker 9: to do what she's doing with place of defense, like

538
00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:51,080
Speaker 9: really e locked in defense because because she's going to

539
00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,840
Speaker 9: a world where you, it has to exist. Both worlds

540
00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:58,320
Speaker 9: have to exist and when you go to the next level,

541
00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:02,680
Speaker 9: because you could be the greatest score, but if you're

542
00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:05,760
Speaker 9: giving up as many or more points than your scoring,

543
00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:09,240
Speaker 9: then you got a problem.

544
00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:11,240
Speaker 1: Latson has been a big part of the game Cock

545
00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:13,760
Speaker 1: success during this tournament run. We'll see what she can

546
00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:17,040
Speaker 1: do against Yukonton tonight. Next up, let's hear from Texas

547
00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:19,200
Speaker 1: point guard Rory Harmon, who joined us just a few

548
00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,520
Speaker 1: weeks ago. I asked how she was feeling about playing

549
00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:24,760
Speaker 1: in the final NCAA tournament of her storied college career.

550
00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:29,719
Speaker 1: You're a fifth year senior, You're about to embark on

551
00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:34,400
Speaker 1: one last tourney ride. What's the predominant emotion right now? Nervous? Excited?

552
00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:36,080
Speaker 1: Are you sad? It's almost over.

553
00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:37,920
Speaker 6: With the way that we played in our last game,

554
00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:41,760
Speaker 6: I'm excited, Like there's I can't really get too tied

555
00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:44,120
Speaker 6: up in like emotions of it being like the last ride,

556
00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:48,040
Speaker 6: because then you start making everything more than it needs

557
00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:50,200
Speaker 6: to be, so I'm really just being like it where

558
00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:53,000
Speaker 6: my feet are at, and I'm truly just excited to

559
00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:55,399
Speaker 6: see like what this team can do because I have

560
00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:57,879
Speaker 6: a really good feeling like our chemistry is like coming

561
00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:00,560
Speaker 6: together at a great moment right now, Like we're sharing

562
00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:03,320
Speaker 6: the ball, we're just playing hard, we're fighting for each other,

563
00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:07,280
Speaker 6: and I just can't wait to see like what comes

564
00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:10,680
Speaker 6: about of this. And I would say, I know, it's

565
00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:12,880
Speaker 6: it's good to like be on a good high right now,

566
00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:15,200
Speaker 6: but you can't like let the highs get too high.

567
00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:15,399
Speaker 10: You know.

568
00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:17,439
Speaker 6: It's like one of those things when it comes to

569
00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:19,639
Speaker 6: like practice, it comes to these next games coming up,

570
00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:22,120
Speaker 6: like you gotta lock back in, like we're still fighting

571
00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:23,080
Speaker 6: for for more.

572
00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:28,600
Speaker 1: Watching this Longhorns team decimate opponents all tournament long, it's

573
00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:31,359
Speaker 1: pretty easy to see why Rory was so excited. I

574
00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:33,159
Speaker 1: also asked for her take on the two teams that

575
00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:36,199
Speaker 1: were ahead of Texas and the rankings, undefeated Yukon and

576
00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:42,400
Speaker 1: tonight's opponent, UCLA. I want a three word scouting report

577
00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:46,080
Speaker 1: on the two teams above you, So three words on Ucla.

578
00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:52,959
Speaker 6: Experience tall you know I'm going with discipline, Okay?

579
00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:53,440
Speaker 10: Good?

580
00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:54,400
Speaker 1: What about Yukon?

581
00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:01,080
Speaker 6: Star power, like putting it dash in between. Yeah, we'll

582
00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:04,440
Speaker 6: let you have that as one. I'm going with pace

583
00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:07,160
Speaker 6: and I'm going with grit.

584
00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:10,680
Speaker 1: That's pretty good. Could also go as strong and it

585
00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:11,760
Speaker 1: would be two things.

586
00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,200
Speaker 6: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was gonna say that, but I

587
00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,080
Speaker 6: didn't want to, like, you know, make too many jokes

588
00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:17,480
Speaker 6: today and not just kidding.

589
00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,760
Speaker 1: Speaking of UCLA, Bruins coach Corey Close and super senior

590
00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:25,640
Speaker 1: Angela Dougalach joined me in late February and talked about

591
00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:28,480
Speaker 1: how this year's squad is building off of last year's success.

592
00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:33,520
Speaker 1: Take a listen. How different does this year feel having

593
00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:35,600
Speaker 1: that year and that experience under your belt, and maybe

594
00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:36,480
Speaker 1: how much is it the same.

595
00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:40,160
Speaker 10: I think it's mainly different. It's just obviously we have

596
00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:42,320
Speaker 10: a different team and a different mindset. But I think

597
00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:46,160
Speaker 10: it's also the fact that we have more experience. Last year,

598
00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,720
Speaker 10: when we got to the final four, it was all,

599
00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,239
Speaker 10: you know, bright lights and flashing cameras and we were

600
00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:54,880
Speaker 10: really wide eyed, and I felt like I've been in

601
00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:57,680
Speaker 10: that situation before because of the Olympics and because I

602
00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:00,240
Speaker 10: played with my national team at a professional level. But

603
00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:03,680
Speaker 10: I just remember like looking around me and saying like, oh,

604
00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:06,400
Speaker 10: this is very new, this is very you know, flashy,

605
00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:08,680
Speaker 10: and all this stuff, and this can deter us from

606
00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:10,840
Speaker 10: what the main goal is right now. And not that

607
00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:13,800
Speaker 10: that was the main thing that you know, turret us,

608
00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,480
Speaker 10: but I do think that it had a correlation with

609
00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:19,240
Speaker 10: why it went the way it did. But I think

610
00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:22,280
Speaker 10: this year, when we get to the final four, it's

611
00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:25,719
Speaker 10: going to be very much a business like mindset because

612
00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:28,160
Speaker 10: we know what we're here to do. As fun as

613
00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:30,440
Speaker 10: it will be to you know, be in that situation again,

614
00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:32,280
Speaker 10: this year it's gonna be Phoenix, that's gonna be closer

615
00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:34,320
Speaker 10: to La We're gonna have hopefully a lot more fans

616
00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:36,720
Speaker 10: and all this different stuff. We know that this is

617
00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:39,600
Speaker 10: a business trip. We have unfinished business and at the

618
00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:41,680
Speaker 10: end of the day, we want that win. We want

619
00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:44,960
Speaker 10: to be cutting down nets and you know, the confetti

620
00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,520
Speaker 10: and all that stuff. But right now, though, we all

621
00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:49,720
Speaker 10: have the mindset of this is one game at a time,

622
00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:53,200
Speaker 10: So I'm not thinking past USC. I'm thinking that's my

623
00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:55,600
Speaker 10: next game. And then you know, once big ten tournaments

624
00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,200
Speaker 10: starts and it's like, Okay, who's next, who's next, Who's next?

625
00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:00,400
Speaker 10: But right now it's sc and yeah, that's it.

626
00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:03,200
Speaker 1: Great attitude. I like how you keep saying business trip

627
00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:05,000
Speaker 1: In my mind. Of course, now I'm on the marketing

628
00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:07,600
Speaker 1: team and I'm like, we need suits. Everybody needs to

629
00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:10,200
Speaker 1: be suited and booted. Walking into the Final four looking

630
00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:13,000
Speaker 1: like they're about to rush a meeting. That idea just

631
00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:15,680
Speaker 1: a meeting, but a basketball game. I love that. Yes, Corey,

632
00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:17,120
Speaker 1: how about you? How different does it feel?

633
00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:20,120
Speaker 11: It really does feel a lot different. I think there's

634
00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:23,080
Speaker 11: just some things you have to experience to learn from.

635
00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:26,920
Speaker 11: You know, there are rare teams that are immediately successful

636
00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:29,320
Speaker 11: when they're in that environment. You know, we were fourteen

637
00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:31,680
Speaker 11: weeks is number one. We had never experienced that in

638
00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:34,280
Speaker 11: our program history. I do think there's a difference in

639
00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:37,800
Speaker 11: how people prepare. What that's like, the outside noise that

640
00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:39,880
Speaker 11: you have to learn to lead your team through. And

641
00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:42,680
Speaker 11: just like I expect them to grow from those experiences,

642
00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:45,000
Speaker 11: I expect that of me as well. And so we

643
00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:47,800
Speaker 11: just have to keep focused on getting better every day

644
00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:49,920
Speaker 11: and investing in each other. I showed them a video

645
00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:54,160
Speaker 11: at practice the other day, and it was teams from hockey, NFL,

646
00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:58,320
Speaker 11: the NBA finals, you know, national champions in college and

647
00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:02,200
Speaker 11: different sports, different landscape, and there were some very consistent

648
00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:05,479
Speaker 11: themes that strung through those and it really was about

649
00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:08,200
Speaker 11: your loyalty to each other. That there was just this

650
00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:11,880
Speaker 11: deep investment. There was a connection that bred great commitment,

651
00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:14,239
Speaker 11: and there was just a sense of that and they

652
00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:16,760
Speaker 11: all talked about it. We just need to focus on

653
00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:20,120
Speaker 11: getting better and stacking wins and investing in each other.

654
00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:22,240
Speaker 11: You know, we always say in our program that success

655
00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:25,160
Speaker 11: leaves clues, and the clues that they gave us in

656
00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,560
Speaker 11: that video was keep focused on those two things and

657
00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:32,120
Speaker 11: surrender the outcomes. Actually just let them go and they

658
00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:34,760
Speaker 11: will follow where they may if you stay focused on

659
00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:36,880
Speaker 11: the process of actually what it takes to get there.

660
00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:39,280
Speaker 11: But it does feel different, and I don't think it's

661
00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:41,959
Speaker 11: better or worse. I just think it's a stacking of

662
00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:46,320
Speaker 11: experiences and learning opportunities that we have going into this year.

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00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:51,240
Speaker 1: Each of these final four teams has experience on this stage.

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00:32:51,560 --> 00:32:54,080
Speaker 1: Three will look to avenge losses from last year, while

665
00:32:54,120 --> 00:32:57,440
Speaker 1: Yukon is seeking a second straight title. Tonight, we'll see

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00:32:57,440 --> 00:32:59,440
Speaker 1: which two earn a chance to battle it out in

667
00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:04,080
Speaker 1: Sunday's national title game. I cannot wait, and in honor

668
00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:06,720
Speaker 1: of these athletes, stepping into the spotlight and putting it

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00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:09,200
Speaker 1: all on the line. A message from Colgate and the

670
00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:13,560
Speaker 1: Colgate Women's Games about confidence, vulnerability, and digging deep when

671
00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:19,840
Speaker 1: the pressure's on. Sometimes, in the quiet moments before a

672
00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:22,440
Speaker 1: big game, it can feel like you're all alone, the

673
00:33:22,480 --> 00:33:26,600
Speaker 1: only person feeling doubt, feeling fear. But sharing those worries

674
00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:29,840
Speaker 1: with others opens up a world of support. The power

675
00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:33,360
Speaker 1: of knowing everyone else has doubts too, the strength you

676
00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:36,360
Speaker 1: can find together, strength that will push you further than

677
00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:40,240
Speaker 1: you could ever go alone. UCLA basketball superstar Lauren Betts

678
00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:44,120
Speaker 1: has talked openly about her struggles with mental health and insecurity.

679
00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:48,120
Speaker 1: Sharing her battle with depression and making herself vulnerable to

680
00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:52,080
Speaker 1: the public inspired an outpouring of support, including messages from

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00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:55,040
Speaker 1: many who dealt with the same issues. Having the courage

682
00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:58,040
Speaker 1: to name and share her self doubt and hearing that

683
00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:00,600
Speaker 1: she wasn't alone gave Betts a life witness and a

684
00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:03,880
Speaker 1: smile that her coach and teammates could see, a smile

685
00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:07,680
Speaker 1: powered by confidence. Colgate knows your smile is your strength,

686
00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:10,560
Speaker 1: So for over fifty years, Colgate has supported the Colgate

687
00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:13,680
Speaker 1: Women's Games, giving athletes a sense of personal achievement and

688
00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:16,360
Speaker 1: self esteem, and women and girls aren't just given a

689
00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:18,600
Speaker 1: chance to shine, they also get the chance to earn

690
00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:22,720
Speaker 1: scholarships that will help them to healthier, brighter futures. In total,

691
00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:25,919
Speaker 1: five thousand academic scholarships totally more than one point five

692
00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:29,200
Speaker 1: million dollars have been awarded through the Colgate Women's Games.

693
00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:32,719
Speaker 1: Now that's something to smile about. We love that you're

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00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:34,600
Speaker 1: listening slices, but we want you to get in the

695
00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:36,799
Speaker 1: game every day too, So here's our good game play

696
00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:39,560
Speaker 1: of the day. Don't forget. You can watch full interviews

697
00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:43,000
Speaker 1: from the show on the Iheartwomen's Sports YouTube channel. Subscribe

698
00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:46,000
Speaker 1: now so you don't miss a thing. We always love

699
00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:47,560
Speaker 1: to hear from you, so hit us up on email

700
00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:50,239
Speaker 1: Good game at wondermedianetwork dot com or leave us a

701
00:34:50,280 --> 00:34:53,440
Speaker 1: voicemail at eight seven two two o four fifty seventy

702
00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:56,879
Speaker 1: and don't forget to subscribe. Rate and review slices. It's

703
00:34:56,960 --> 00:35:00,960
Speaker 1: easy watch the women's tournaments. Still we'll not getting their

704
00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:04,880
Speaker 1: one shining moment review zero out of dozens of moments

705
00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:08,640
Speaker 1: you could be memorializing. Rating one of the best parts

706
00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:11,760
Speaker 1: of the men's NCAA basketball tournament comes after the final

707
00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:15,600
Speaker 1: buzzer has sounded, a montage of the most memorable tournament moments,

708
00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:20,200
Speaker 1: game winners, cheerleaders fishing out balls, wedged in the rim mascot,

709
00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:24,279
Speaker 1: high jinks, the reactions of happy or heartbroken fans. The

710
00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:27,440
Speaker 1: highlights are always set to One Shining Moment, a corny

711
00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:30,759
Speaker 1: but super catchy anthem that's been a cultural phenomenon ever

712
00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:33,080
Speaker 1: since CBS used it for their end of tournament video

713
00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:36,880
Speaker 1: in nineteen eighty seven. Now, the Women's Tournament also features

714
00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:39,080
Speaker 1: some highlights at the end, but the music is ever

715
00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:42,120
Speaker 1: changing and the video feels sort of ordinary and forgettable.

716
00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:45,360
Speaker 1: It's not a comprehensive look at the whole tournament's best moments,

717
00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:48,000
Speaker 1: and it's missing the cordy and catchy allure of a

718
00:35:48,040 --> 00:35:51,360
Speaker 1: schmaltzy go to tune like One Shining Moment. Now ABC

719
00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:53,360
Speaker 1: and ESPN have the rights to the Women's Tourney, so

720
00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:56,040
Speaker 1: we certainly wouldn't expect them to use the same tune

721
00:35:56,040 --> 00:35:59,040
Speaker 1: as CBS. But it's high time the women's game gets

722
00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:02,759
Speaker 1: some sort of signature. The Women's tournament deserves its own

723
00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:07,239
Speaker 1: one Shining Moment. In fact, it's long overdue. Now it's

724
00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:10,520
Speaker 1: your turn, y'all rate and review. Thanks for listening. See

725
00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:12,680
Speaker 1: you next week. Good game to the friends of the

726
00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:16,000
Speaker 1: show who end up lifting the trophy this weekend. Good

727
00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:18,080
Speaker 1: game to the friends of the show who don't. We're

728
00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:20,600
Speaker 1: still proud of you. Please don't cry. It makes us

729
00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:24,680
Speaker 1: so so sad you using Snapchat to debunk a rumor.

730
00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:29,400
Speaker 1: Put that shit on Maine. Good Game with Sarah Spain

731
00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:32,120
Speaker 1: is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep

732
00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:34,600
Speaker 1: Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the

733
00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:38,239
Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:41,800
Speaker 1: Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are Alex Azzi

735
00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:45,800
Speaker 1: and Bianca Hillier. Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz,

736
00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:48,959
Speaker 1: Jenny Kaplan, and Emily Rudder. Our editors are Emily Rudder,

737
00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:52,560
Speaker 1: Lucy Jones, Britney Martinez, and Gianna Palmer. Production assistants from

738
00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:55,160
Speaker 1: Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain