1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're staying 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 1: neutral for Game five of the Aces Fever series by 3 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: wearing both a pink wig. 4 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 2: And a red leather jacket. 5 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: It's Tuesday, September thirtieth, and on today's show, Big Citrus 6 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: is back to dissect Phoenix's semi final series triumph over 7 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 1: Minnesota Unpacked, Cheryl Reeves's suspension and preview tonight's Game five 8 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: binale between the Aces and Fever, plus confirmation of a 9 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: Juju list season winning in multiples of twenty five and 10 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: its volleyball's Double Trouble era. It's all coming up right 11 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: after this Welcome back slices. Here's what you need to 12 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: know today. Let's start with college hoops and the news 13 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 1: that USC star Juju Watkins will miss the twenty twenty 14 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: five to twenty sixth season as she continues to recover 15 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: from an ACL tear she suffered in the second round 16 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: of March Madness earlier this year. Watkins announced the news 17 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: on Instagram on Sunday, saying, in part quote, I wanted 18 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: to hear it from me directly that, following the advice 19 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: of my doctors and trainers, I will sit out this 20 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: season and fully focus on continuing to recover so I 21 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: can come back to the game I love. 22 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 2: End quote. 23 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: This isn't really a surprise considering the recovery time for 24 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: an ACL tear, but it's still a bummer to imagine 25 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: a college hoop season without Juju. She won both the 26 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: Nasmith Trophy and Wooden Awards last season as a sophomore 27 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: after helping USC earn a number one seed in the 28 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: NCAA Tournament for a second straight season. We're rooting for you, Juju, 29 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: and we can't wait to see you back when you're 30 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: fully recovered and ready more hoops. The WNBA playoffs continue 31 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,759 Speaker 1: tonight with the decisive Game five of the Las Vegas 32 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 1: Aces Indiana Fever semi final series. That game, which Vegas 33 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: is hosting, gets underwent nine thirty pm Eastern on ESPN 34 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: two now. As a reminder, the best of seven WNBA 35 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: Finals begin on Friday, featuring a two to two one 36 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: one one format, with the higher seed hosting games one, two, five, 37 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: and seven. 38 00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 2: If the Aces defeat. 39 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: Indiana, they'll at that honor, while Phoenix will be top 40 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: ranked if the Fever prevails. Lots more WNBA talk to 41 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: come when Big Citrus gets together later in the show. 42 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,119 Speaker 1: To volleyball, the Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball Championship, a five 43 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: week tournament that'll be split between Omaha, Nebraska and Madison, Wisconsin, 44 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: gets underway today with the week one draft and matches 45 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: get started this Friday. Forty four athletes are set to 46 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: compete in the AU Attorney, including US Olympic medallist Jordan Thompson, 47 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 1: Micah Hancock, and Justine Wangorantez, all of whom are making 48 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: their Athletes Unlimited debuts. We'll link to the full schedule 49 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: in the show notes, and if you're in Nebraska or Wisconsin, 50 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 1: go check out a game in person. More volleyball, the 51 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: college season is in full swing and two top programs 52 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: remain undefeated one month into the season. The number one 53 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: Nebraska Huskers are twelve and zero, while the number two 54 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: Texas Longhorns are ten and oh Meantime, number seven Wisconsin 55 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: is nine to one and winning the attendance game. Per 56 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:00,639 Speaker 1: the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, an average of eight zo six 57 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: hundred twenty fans are attending games at Wisconsin's Coal Center, 58 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: good for the best average attendants in the country, and 59 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: the Badgers just capped off their first weekend of conference 60 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: play by sweeping Iowa three sets to none, given coach 61 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: Kelly Sheffield the six hundredth win of his career to 62 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: tennis and the ongoing China Open. IGOs Fiontek defeated Kamila 63 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,519 Speaker 1: Ozorio in the round of thirty two on Monday, giving 64 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: her her four hundredth career win and making her the 65 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: first player to record twenty five or more wins at 66 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: WTA one thousand events for three consecutive seasons. Other round 67 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: of thirty two highlights include Jessica Pagoula defeating Almirotcanue, Coco 68 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: Goff triumphing over Layla Fernandez, and Amanda Anisimova defeating host 69 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: Nation player Jong Shwai. By the time y'all hear this, 70 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: the round of sixteen will already be underway, so we'll 71 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: link to the full China Open schedule and results in 72 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: the show notes and some soccer news, The NWSL announced 73 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: the lineup of events planned for Championship Weekend in San Jose, California, 74 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: at the end of November. This year's festivities will include 75 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: the first ever NWSL Awards presented by AT and T, 76 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: a new signature event that's set to be broadcast live 77 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: on ESPN two Wednesday, October nineteenth, where you'll see awards 78 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: like MVP, Rookie of the Year, Golden Boot, and Moore 79 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: handed out. Other highlights include the return of the NWSL 80 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: Skills Challenge, NWSL FanFest, and an official NWSL postgame party 81 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: at San Pedro Square Market in San Jose. Lots more 82 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 1: on NWSL Championship Weekend coming as we get closer to November. 83 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 1: One last thing, Slices. I wanted to send a quick 84 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 1: congrats to friend of the show repeat guest host of 85 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 1: The Women's Soup Show, Jordan Robinson, who recently revealed on 86 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: social that she's expecting a baby with her husband, which 87 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: means that when she was last on her show, she 88 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 1: was actually podcasting for two So you know, put good 89 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: game with Sarah Spain guest on that baby's resume. 90 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 2: We do in baby resumes these days. Anyway, We got to. 91 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 1: Take a quick break, but when we come back, Big Citrus 92 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: is back, Baby. 93 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 2: Welcome back, Slices. 94 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: Let's bring in Alex and Misha for a little Big 95 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:14,679 Speaker 1: Citrus chat. 96 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 2: Hi al Hi mish Yo. Hell. 97 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 1: Since we last gathered, a lot has happened. The top 98 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 1: seeded Minnesota Links are out and the last game they 99 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 1: played they did not have their superstar and Afisa Collier, 100 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 1: and they did not have their head coach, Cheryl Reeves. 101 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: So before we move on to tonight's fever Aces game 102 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 1: and some other WNBA topics, we didn't have a chance 103 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: to talk about that, and I just wanted your sort 104 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: of big takeaway, your response to the decision to suspend Cheryl. 105 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: How much you think that really changed everything or didn't 106 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: for the Links mish. 107 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 2: What do you think? 108 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 3: So, first of all, I think Cheryl Reeve was absolutely 109 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 3: justified in going off on behalf of FISA caller for 110 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,280 Speaker 3: everything that went down and how it went down, Because 111 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,679 Speaker 3: as a head coach of an organization like the Minnesota Lynx, 112 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 3: who has a franchise player so much hinges on the 113 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 3: VISA caller, like whether or not officials Alyssa Thomas, whoever 114 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 3: was at fault, I see all the reason in the 115 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 3: world for her to go up like that, because you 116 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 3: want to show not only your players that you want 117 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 3: to protect them, but you can't expect her to not 118 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 3: have an emotional vis or reaction to that. So I 119 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 3: completely understood that I did think she deserved to be 120 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 3: fined and suspended. It sucks timing wise, obviously, because they 121 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 3: have a clinching Game four coming up and they end 122 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:40,039 Speaker 3: up losing it. But when you take that big swing, 123 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 3: when you want to make a stand, when you want 124 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 3: to make a point, sometimes there are consequences that come 125 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 3: with that. And so I think, as a well tenured 126 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 3: coach in this league is somebody with plenty of experience 127 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 3: at the international and domestic level, she knew exactly what 128 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 3: she was doing and she knew how far she was 129 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 3: willing to take it. So I don't blame her for that, 130 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 3: and so I think, yeah, Urol was absolutely justified in 131 00:06:59,080 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 3: doing everything she did. 132 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 2: With that, I really do. 133 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, I agree with that to a point. I think 134 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 4: that a coach standing up for her players, a coach 135 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 4: in the postgame press conference, advocating on behalf of her 136 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 4: players and even calling out the officials, I get that. 137 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 4: I think for me, when it comes to physically right 138 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 4: engaging with the referees, that to me crosses the line. 139 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 4: And so I understand why she did it. But I 140 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 4: think the WNBA, like you said, Misha, I think they 141 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 4: were justified in suspending her because of how she pursued 142 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 4: the referees in that situation, and also because of the 143 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 4: reporting on how she was yelling at fans. That to 144 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 4: me goes beyond the like just advocating on behalf of 145 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 4: her player. 146 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm going to say I agree with both of you, 147 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: and I would just add on that there's a difference 148 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 1: between I understand why someone did something and I defend it. 149 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 1: I understand her anger seeing the FISA Collier get injured. 150 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: I understand her reaction and being in this sort of 151 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: rage filled, uncontrollable place where she needs to be held back, 152 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: where she's gonna yell at fans, Like as someone who 153 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: is problematically competitive and invested in things, I would never 154 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 1: begin to say, Oh, I would never do that. 155 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 2: You have to have more self control. 156 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: I get why she felt that way in that moment 157 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: and reacted that way, and there is no excuse for it. 158 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: She was rightfully suspended, and for all the respect I 159 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 1: have for Cheryl or even everything she stands for, she 160 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: hurt her team because she wasn't able to control her 161 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: reaction in that moment. And again her reaction was to 162 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 1: the result, not to the action. When she saw the foul, 163 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: which was the steal. Her reaction came only when she 164 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: saw that Nifisa Collier was injured, which again I understand. 165 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 1: But ultimately, then the anger about the lack of a 166 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 1: call is really about the outcome, which is the injury, 167 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: and less so about whether the call was that egregious. 168 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: And I've heard every argument on both sides about whether 169 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 1: it incidental contact if your body is in a position 170 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 1: where you can't keep it from hitting the other person, 171 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:08,359 Speaker 1: even if the steal was clean, should. 172 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 2: Still be called the foul. 173 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 1: But technically letter of the law in the WNBA, if 174 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: you steal the ball and then the contact happens after, 175 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: if the steel was clean, it's not a foul. 176 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:16,679 Speaker 2: Like I've heard plenty of. 177 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: People talk about this letter of the law and how 178 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: you should actually enforce it. I just think ultimately she 179 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 1: hurt her team by not being there, and it was 180 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: not an intentional foul. It was a bad luck situation 181 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: where incidental contact resulted in Nafisa being out, and I 182 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: think it massively impacted I'm I think the Phoenix Mercury 183 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 1: for me might have been a favorite going into Game four, 184 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: even with Nafisa in, because of the way they were 185 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: playing the way that they had shown up in that 186 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 1: series and the momentum that they had. I think if 187 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: not for the injury or the suspension of everything was even, 188 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: I still might have said, man, I might have the 189 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: mercury in this one. 190 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 2: I hard agree with that. I heard agree with that. 191 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 3: Where I am gonna disagree a little bit. I think 192 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 3: Cheryl not being there definitely had an effect. But I 193 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 3: also know that Eric Tebow has some experience being a 194 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 3: head coach, and so I think, you know, for everything 195 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 3: to be the way it was, I think he did 196 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 3: a pretty damn good job, and I think the team 197 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 3: stepped up obviously in a bunch of ways. Kaylea McBride 198 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 3: setting a playoff career high. Courtney Williams, she's a mid 199 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 3: range menace. 200 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 2: She was. 201 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 3: She was a maestro with the mid range. Disagree. 202 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: I agree she missed a lot of shots. She did 203 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:33,959 Speaker 1: miss a lot of shots. There were a lot of 204 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:40,119 Speaker 1: them off who were not missing as shot Jessica Shepherd, Nickbride, 205 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: you had players that were effective every time, and I 206 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: thought Corney was trying to shoot her way into feeling 207 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: it and never quite got there, and unfortunately time ran out. 208 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:50,319 Speaker 2: I think Corny did a great job. 209 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: I think the team rallied, but I think there were 210 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: moments where if they had tightened things up. I mean, 211 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: their game was all runs right, and the Mercury were consistent. 212 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 1: They had a twelve to one run to start the game, 213 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 1: they had a twenty to nine run to start the 214 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 1: second half. Once things settled down and they were less 215 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 1: in my opinion, disciplined, and it started to look a 216 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 1: little more like they were making it up on the 217 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: offensive end instead of running plays and setting up players. 218 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: That's when the Murky would get back into it. And 219 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:20,320 Speaker 1: a lot of that, to me was Courtney Williams taking 220 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 1: shots too early in possessions when there weren't defenders down 221 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: the floor, when people weren't set up to try to get. 222 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:27,199 Speaker 2: Rebounds and get second chances. 223 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: So not completely infallible, but they were in a really 224 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 1: tough position. 225 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, And that's the tough thing, right. 226 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 3: People don't understand when you have a star player, not 227 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 3: only do you have somebody that you can go to, 228 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 3: but everybody understands in that hierarchy kind of where they stand. 229 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 3: And when you have k Back and Courtney and Jess 230 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 3: Shepherd stepping into a role that she wasn't expecting to 231 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 3: have to play. 232 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 2: You really also have to battle through some of that. 233 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 3: And while you know, I do think the first quarter 234 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 3: Courtney Williams was nasty, but like you said, once the 235 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 3: game wears on, you have to figure out who's got 236 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,680 Speaker 3: the shot in what position and all that good stuff. 237 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 3: And so yeah, in Minnesota just kind of fell apart, 238 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 3: and Phoenix turned it up right when they needed to 239 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 3: talk about a team who takes on We talked about 240 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 3: it last time we all got on air. But Alyssa 241 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 3: Thomas and the way that team has taken on all 242 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 3: of her just gusto and indomitable spirit. I think it's 243 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 3: incredible and watching them run away with that in the 244 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 3: fourth quarter was something to see, something to see. 245 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, we just talked to Callie Finn about the Aces 246 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: needing to figure out how to get this particular group together, 247 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: gell find their roles, make it work, and maybe that 248 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: is a little tougher when you have an established, winning, championship, 249 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: winning team, the same way we talked about with the 250 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: Liberty right, when you have something that works and then 251 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: you lose pieces, sometimes it's actually harder to recover than 252 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: when you're a fever team who's been blown up by 253 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: injury and brand new to begin with, or in this case, 254 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 1: a Mercury team that has two returning players that we 255 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: all think, Wow, a lot of talent there, but it's 256 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 1: gonna take them some time to figure something out. They'll 257 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: they'll start to contend maybe next year, and instead they're 258 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:04,199 Speaker 1: un burdened what was the Kamal quote, underburdened by the 259 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: realities of the. 260 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 2: Past or something like that. 261 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: Right then, they didn't have a past, they didn't have 262 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: any expectation, they didn't have roles yet, and so they 263 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: were able to slide into and figure out what worked best. 264 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 2: And man, I mean, do. 265 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: Wanna Bonner like that game was like a microcosm macrocosm 266 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 1: for the season. It was like first half she basically 267 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,719 Speaker 1: wasn't there, and then when she showed up, things got 268 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 1: a lot better. Kind of was like pre and post 269 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: trade for that team too. Before we talk about the 270 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: Mercury moving on to the finals and what they looked 271 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 1: like last time versus this time, I do want to 272 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: circle back quickly on the officiating because there was an 273 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: interesting story on ESPN from Kendra Andrews and let me 274 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:44,439 Speaker 1: read a quick piece from it. 275 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 2: Quote. 276 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: League sources told the ESPN that their data does not 277 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: show any correlation between the rash of recent playoff injuries 278 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 1: and missed calls by officials end quote, and it later 279 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 1: says quote. WNBA Referee Operations reviews data throughout the season 280 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: to address what league sources referred to as legitimate criticism 281 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: and pinpoint areas officials need to improve on. Through that process, 282 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 1: the Referee Operations Committee found that allegations that officiating errors 283 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: have led to more injuries were unfounded. League sources told 284 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,719 Speaker 1: ESPN end quote. Now, I just want to say about this. 285 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: I think it's very hard to say this foul led 286 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 1: to this injury so much as it is to say 287 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: that calling a game in this way leads to the 288 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: style of play that makes it more likely for people 289 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: to get injured. So you can say that there isn't 290 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: a direct causation correlation between this thing and this thing, 291 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 1: But that ignores sort of the larger question of how 292 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 1: tight are you calling it, what are you allowing to happen? 293 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: What are you calling and what are you not and 294 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: what does that mean for the physicality of the game 295 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 1: and how that ends up resulting in not just direct injury, 296 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: but fatigue, bumps, bruises, muscle injuries, things that attendant and 297 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: stuff that make it more likely. 298 00:14:57,960 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 2: To suffer injuries later. 299 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 3: Like all that's part it decision making too, Risks that 300 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 3: will be taken when a game is called tightly versus risk. 301 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 2: That won't be taken. 302 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, like Alana Smith basically throwing her body around for 303 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: that entire Game four against the Mercury because she's like, 304 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: I'm probably not gonna call it and this is the 305 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: last game I got, so she was like, let the 306 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: bodies hit the floor, like the entire game. 307 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 4: I want to zoom out for a second too on 308 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 4: just like the officiating conversation as a whole, because it 309 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 4: has been a main topic for the entire WNBA season, 310 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 4: and honestly, bashing referees is like a favorite American pastime 311 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 4: of a lot of sports leagues in general. And it's 312 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 4: interesting because in a lot of ways, I think you 313 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 4: could argue that officiating has gotten better over time. The 314 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 4: difference is that we have video replay to look at 315 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 4: where they got things wrong, and so I think like 316 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 4: there are two distinctions here, right, the officiating style of 317 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 4: like the physicality that's allowed and then the officiating of 318 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 4: missed calls, like so many other things in women's sports. 319 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 4: I want to make sure that when we're having this conversation, 320 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 4: we are looking at the reason why the current officiating 321 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 4: system in the WNBA exists. And so Emma Bacalari wrote 322 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 4: a good piece for SI a couple of months ago. 323 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 4: We'll linked to it in the show notes, but she 324 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 4: talked about how in the NBA, referees are salaried employees. 325 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 4: WNBA officials, on the other hand, are paid by the 326 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 4: game and they work other games like NCAA or g 327 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 4: League during the rest of the year. The NBA also 328 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 4: has way more stats in reports that are issued to 329 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 4: teams and its officials post game of showing where they 330 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 4: went wrong. In the WNBA doesn't have an equivalent to that. 331 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 4: And then I even remember there was a really good 332 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 4: This American Life episode a few years ago where Michael 333 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 4: Lewis visited this NBA replay center in Secaucus, New Jersey, 334 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 4: and they have all of these screens and they're looking 335 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 4: through every single call in the episode title was called 336 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 4: no Fair, and I was listening to it the entire 337 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 4: time being like, no, this isn't fair, Like why does 338 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 4: the NBA have this in the WNBA, So like we're 339 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 4: always going to have conversations about is the officiating fair? 340 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,959 Speaker 4: But I want to have a conversation said about how 341 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 4: could the officiating be improved? 342 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:10,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think one thing that's come up over 343 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 1: and over this season is that there's way too much 344 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: referee turnover in the WNBA because the best refs move 345 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 1: quote unquote up to the NBA because to your point, 346 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 1: salaried appointments, more games, longer. 347 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:26,680 Speaker 2: Seas and all those benefits. 348 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 1: And it's gosh, it's the thing we've had conversations about 349 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: in a million different ways in the sports world. Well, 350 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:34,360 Speaker 1: if you love women's sports, why don't you just work 351 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: in women's sports. Well, because there's no pay, there's fewer games, 352 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: there's fewer league like right, It's the same across media, 353 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 1: it's the same across coaching. And like every time, the 354 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: accusation is if you love something enough, you'll do it, 355 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 1: and then it's like we shouldn't have to make sacrifices. 356 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 2: And same goes for the quality of officiating. 357 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: There will always be human error, but if the system 358 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: is set up for the very best to always move 359 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:00,919 Speaker 1: on and for there to be a constant stream of 360 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: new folks, it's gonna be inevitably of a poor equality. 361 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 4: And I think even a circle back on the suspension 362 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 4: of Cheryl Reeve, and this is I think an area 363 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 4: that my opinion has changed over time. The WNBA should 364 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:18,479 Speaker 4: be incentivized to have people want to be officials and 365 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 4: they can show officials that they care about them. By 366 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,159 Speaker 4: suspending Cheryl Reeve, right to not suspend her after she 367 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 4: went after them is to not protect their officials, and 368 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,640 Speaker 4: that sends a really bad message exactly well. 369 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: I don't think this is going to be the last 370 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: time we talk about officiating, but I hope it doesn't 371 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: become a massive point of contention during the WNBA Finals. 372 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 2: Here's hoping for a series. 373 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: That's mostly about the play on the court and not 374 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,679 Speaker 1: the calls on the court. Speaking of the finals, Phoenix 375 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 1: Mercury back in them for the first time since twenty 376 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: twenty one. I don't remember. Do you guys remember what 377 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 1: happened in twenty twenty one? Did they win or loser? 378 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 2: Who won? Or what happened? Does anyone remember? 379 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 4: Okay, Chicago, Okay, Oh that's right. 380 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 1: How did I totally I forget the Chicago Sky came 381 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 1: from a sixth seed all the way to beat the 382 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: Phoenix Mercury and win it all. 383 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:08,639 Speaker 2: What a time to be alive. 384 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,479 Speaker 1: Also wanted to point out quickly, while we're on the 385 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 1: topic of the Phoenix Mercury losing the twenty twenty one finals, 386 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 1: Dana Trossi after that game breaking a door, and that 387 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 1: leading to me giving her a retirement gift of a 388 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: bench Indoor County. That says for Detrosi, who always hated doors, 389 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 1: that bench is up and you can visit it, and 390 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: today I will be posting. Finally, it took me a 391 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:33,719 Speaker 1: little while because I was on vacation and some other 392 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:37,159 Speaker 1: stuff was going on. But the video of us unveiling 393 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,680 Speaker 1: the bench of the slices who came out to see it, 394 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: and I'll make sure I put the location in the 395 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 1: video too, So if you want to stroll by and 396 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 1: pay your regards to the Detrosie bench, you can do so. 397 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 2: But yes, this will be the first time the Mercury 398 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 2: back in. 399 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 1: The finals since that devastating loss to Candae Parker, then 400 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: Colia Copper and the Chicago Sky. 401 00:19:57,760 --> 00:19:59,200 Speaker 2: Well, speaking of. 402 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 4: The Phoenix Mark, I have a philosophical question for the 403 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:07,360 Speaker 4: two of you, which is is something the same if 404 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 4: every component of it has changed? 405 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: This is the ultimate sports question. We're just rooting for laundry, Alex. 406 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,640 Speaker 1: We're not really rooting for people. We're rooting for laundry 407 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: that gets put on different people every year. 408 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,399 Speaker 2: Laundry and nice colors. Yes, right. 409 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 4: They haven't rebranded their jersey since then. 410 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 2: I don't think wish they shouldn't. 411 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 4: But they have done everything else right. When the Mercury 412 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,240 Speaker 4: were in the finals in twenty twenty one, Sandy Brondello 413 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 4: was their head coach. They've since gotten a new controlling owner, 414 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 4: a new coach, and then another. Not a single player 415 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 4: from that twenty twenty one roster is still on that team. 416 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:41,919 Speaker 4: And there is this paradox. 417 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:43,400 Speaker 2: It's called the Ship of Theseus. 418 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 4: I don't know if you've heard of it, but it 419 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 4: is the philosophical question that says, is an object the 420 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 4: same object after having all of its original components replaced 421 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 4: over time and in some ways the only thing that's 422 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 4: constant is the fans that have stuck with this team. 423 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:01,439 Speaker 1: And there's an interesting angle of the Dowana Bond, she 424 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: who won titles with the Mercury but not that twenty 425 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:08,159 Speaker 1: one team is back. So I don't know if she 426 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: would be an original plank in the ship of theseus 427 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: that eventually became the twenty twenty one team that then 428 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: became the twenty twenty five team, or if that was 429 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:16,680 Speaker 1: a whole different ship. 430 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 2: But they won the ship, and. 431 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: So that part feels like it's a part of that 432 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 1: old Mercury squad that we imagine that had longer tenured 433 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 1: pieces and had more consistency. This new look team, to 434 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:34,640 Speaker 1: your point, it's a whole different world over there. And 435 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: I want to say that I don't know Nate Tibbets personally. 436 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 1: He got a lot of flack for being the highest 437 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 1: paid coach in the league as a man without the experience, 438 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,440 Speaker 1: while we watched women not be afforded the same salary, 439 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 1: and that sort of has been conflated with him being 440 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: a bad coach or undeserving, And I just want to 441 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:59,640 Speaker 1: say that he did a fantastic job with this team, 442 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,120 Speaker 1: and whether or not he was deserving when he took 443 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:05,440 Speaker 1: the job of getting paid that much, he has certainly 444 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 1: made an argument for himself as one of the best 445 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: coaches in the league putting together these pieces, making that 446 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 1: trade midway through. 447 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 2: That's obviously the GM two. But this has been a 448 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:15,400 Speaker 2: really impressive run. 449 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 1: And I again don't know him, but I kind of 450 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:21,679 Speaker 1: think he should stop being a punchline for something that 451 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: was more about a broken system than it was about 452 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 1: him taking the money he was offered. 453 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 2: Maybe it's time. 454 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 3: All I'm gonna say is shout out to Christy Tolliver, 455 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,880 Speaker 3: who is the associate head coach of the Phoenix Mercury, 456 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 3: because I know she's been doing work behind the scenes. 457 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 2: Maybe that's not shaye to Nate. 458 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:39,359 Speaker 3: That's just saying, while we're throwing shout outs to the 459 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 3: coaching staff, I gotta say shout out to her because 460 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 3: you know, I also think part of being a good 461 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 3: coach is knowing where your weaknesses lie, right, is knowing 462 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:50,200 Speaker 3: what help you need and having somebody like her and 463 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 3: the rest of that staff. You know, Christy has championship 464 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 3: experience for two completely different franchises, right in a completely 465 00:22:56,840 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 3: different era of the WNBA basketball. 466 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 2: So shout out to her. 467 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:03,880 Speaker 3: Shameless shameless shout out Christy. 468 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, And I think right it's one of those things 469 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 4: where you can both be critical about the higher and 470 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:11,200 Speaker 4: also the whole branding it of you know, the girl 471 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 4: dad coming in. 472 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, that didn't right. And again the question is was 473 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 2: that him? Was that them? 474 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 1: Was that someone in pr saying, oh, you know, it'll 475 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,479 Speaker 1: make this better talk about how you have daughters, and 476 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 1: we'll like, please stop doing that. 477 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:27,160 Speaker 4: Sure, but in the same way that so many other 478 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 4: people are questioned about their lack of experience when they 479 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 4: have far more experience than Nate did coming into this role, 480 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 4: you know, like you have to change with the times 481 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 4: and appreciate what he's got to do for this team. 482 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 2: Oh for sure. 483 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was all fair at the time, and now 484 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,119 Speaker 1: I think it's fair to not keep taking shots just 485 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: because it's fun. 486 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 4: Plus, who are we to critique the third longest tenured 487 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:48,880 Speaker 4: coach in. 488 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 2: The very true? That is very true. He's a staple. 489 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:54,960 Speaker 2: He's a staple, truly. 490 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:58,119 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk about the other series, because we 491 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,680 Speaker 1: got a decisive Game five tonight. The phrase in sports 492 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: is the two best words in sports game seven. But 493 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,439 Speaker 1: these semi final series only go to five, so we're 494 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:09,400 Speaker 1: gonna go the two best words in semi final series 495 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:14,119 Speaker 1: Game five fever aces. And before we get to our predictions, meche, 496 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,160 Speaker 1: I know you wanted to talk about a person who 497 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:19,120 Speaker 1: played a pretty big role in some stars from these 498 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 1: teams getting this far. 499 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, how could we not after we just had down 500 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 3: on the show. How could we not say shout out 501 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 3: to Don Staley and her South Carolina program producing two 502 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 3: of the best post players in the best post battle 503 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 3: that I think I've ever seen in the WNBA postseason. 504 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:41,600 Speaker 3: Talking about two pure, like genuine post players and not 505 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 3: giving you any flashy stuff. They might hit it three 506 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:46,200 Speaker 3: every once in a while, maybe, but it's really about 507 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 3: what's happening in the painted area. It's been a masterclass 508 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 3: in so many things in doing your work early and 509 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 3: getting in What I mean by that for folks who 510 00:24:55,880 --> 00:25:00,400 Speaker 3: aren't used to basketball terminology, it's getting in position as 511 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 3: early as possible on every single possession. 512 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 2: And a basketball game has hell of possessions, y'all. 513 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:07,680 Speaker 3: And this is a punch for punch battle, which we 514 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:11,479 Speaker 3: need to It's a masterclass and running the floor in 515 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 3: footwork in tight spaces. Because both these teams defenses are 516 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 3: now one is focused on Asia Wilson, one is focused 517 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:19,439 Speaker 3: on Aliah Boston, and both of them are having to 518 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:24,879 Speaker 3: figure out puzzles basically on every offensive possession, defensively dominant. 519 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 3: I mean, the next generation of post players who are 520 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 3: watching this matchup are going to be so much better 521 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:31,719 Speaker 3: for having witnessed it. 522 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:33,119 Speaker 2: I really truly believe that. 523 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:35,439 Speaker 3: So shout out to Don Staley in South Carolina for 524 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:37,919 Speaker 3: turning these two out. Shout out to the post coaches 525 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,119 Speaker 3: and everybody who worked with them during that time to 526 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 3: help get them to the WNBA, And then shout out 527 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 3: to Asia and Aliah for putting the work in from 528 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 3: that point forward, because we would not be getting a matchup. 529 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 2: Of this caliber without that work. 530 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:51,680 Speaker 3: And I think we would be remiss not to mention 531 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 3: it because the the game Cocks out to be loving this. 532 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: You think John Staley is messing with the beads on 533 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:01,600 Speaker 1: her necklace nervously or sitting back relax eating popcorn. 534 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:03,840 Speaker 2: How is she viewing this battle of two of her faves? 535 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:05,119 Speaker 2: You know it's funny. 536 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 3: I actually think I saw a tweet from her in 537 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:10,680 Speaker 3: response to like Holly Rowe or somebody else from ESPN saying, 538 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 3: I'm actually pretty calm because regardless of what happens, I 539 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 3: got a game Cock in the finals, So I get it. 540 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:20,240 Speaker 4: I get it, Mesh literally direct quote I am actually 541 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 4: pretty calm, is what she said. 542 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:23,880 Speaker 2: I can't lose you. 543 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:27,880 Speaker 3: Well, I remember something sometimes good for her. 544 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 2: I am not at all, and I have nothing in 545 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 2: the fight. 546 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: I am just stressed about it because a game bye 547 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:34,440 Speaker 1: is stressful. 548 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 2: Misha. I'm putting you on the spot based on what 549 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:37,160 Speaker 2: you just said. 550 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:39,920 Speaker 1: You got to pick one of those dominant post players 551 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: and their team who's winning this game. 552 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:46,239 Speaker 3: I've been putting off writing. I have notes. I have 553 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 3: notes every time we do Big Sisters, and I've been 554 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:51,120 Speaker 3: putting off writing in who I actually think is going 555 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 3: to win because I genuinely do not have a clue. 556 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 3: My gut is telling me Las Vegas. My gut is 557 00:26:57,880 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 3: telling me that they're gonna pull it out on their 558 00:26:59,560 --> 00:26:59,919 Speaker 3: home core. 559 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:01,879 Speaker 2: My gut is telling me they. 560 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:03,679 Speaker 3: Remember getting punched in the mouth in Game one. They 561 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 3: remember what it felt like, that sour taste in their mouth, 562 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 3: losing on the Indiana Fever's home court. And my gut 563 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:12,199 Speaker 3: tells me that when we shift back to Vegas, that 564 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 3: crowd is no longer going to be in Indiana's favor 565 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 3: and Vegas is gonna have the feed on that. But 566 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:22,399 Speaker 3: Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Melissa Smith they gonna have to 567 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:25,880 Speaker 3: pick up the slack and Asia Wilson can not struggle. 568 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:29,120 Speaker 3: Everybody has to be fired in all cylinders. But I'm 569 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 3: gonna go Aces. My gut is telling me Aces, Yes, 570 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:32,640 Speaker 3: that's it. 571 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:35,240 Speaker 4: Can we talk for a minute about Chelsea Gray because 572 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:37,680 Speaker 4: when they won their titles a couple of years ago, 573 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 4: Chelsea Gray point god just on top of everything. Last 574 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 4: season she ended up being injured playing through some stuff. 575 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:49,159 Speaker 4: What's going on with her this year though, because I 576 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 4: feel like she is still not back to that Chelsea 577 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 4: Gray that we know and love, and I'm not totally 578 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:57,200 Speaker 4: sure what's going on with her and just so curious 579 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 4: what you two are seeing. 580 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, one thing about this series and the 581 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 3: matchups is that Chelsea's what a six foot tall point 582 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:09,480 Speaker 3: guard or something like that. The Fever have got Odyssey Simms, 583 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,679 Speaker 3: who's tiny and quick. They've got you know, Shae Petty 584 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 3: coming off the bench. They've got Kelsey Mitchell, who gets 585 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 3: switched on to Chelsea Gray. So they've got all these 586 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,879 Speaker 3: little tiny guards that Chelsea could shoot over. But in 587 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 3: the course of a five game series where you're going 588 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:25,960 Speaker 3: up and down, you're being pushed to cover a whole 589 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:27,719 Speaker 3: lot of ground offensively and defensively. 590 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:30,120 Speaker 2: That's a lot. That is a whole lot to. 591 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:33,199 Speaker 3: Ask Chelsea Gray to do, especially when this is no 592 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 3: shade to Dan Evans whatsoever. 593 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 2: I love her game. 594 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 3: I love her as a point guard, but when she 595 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 3: comes in off the bench as a point guard, things 596 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 3: really shift for the Las Vegas Aces. And then if 597 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 3: you don't go to her as the backup, you go 598 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 3: to Jackie Young sometimes bringing the ball up the floor, 599 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 3: it just looks a lot different. So Chelsea has to 600 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 3: carry a lot when she is on the floor. And 601 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 3: I think it's just those matchups are really tough. They're 602 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 3: really tough to exploit. 603 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:58,360 Speaker 1: I think also it's about ball movement with this team. 604 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:02,840 Speaker 1: When Chelsea Gray is rhythm facilitating and the ball movement 605 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 1: is on for them, she'll get more shooting opportunities because 606 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: of where it opens her up. And she also plays 607 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 1: freer and with more swag. And to me that Chelsea 608 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 1: is a better player, not just looks better, but is 609 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 1: more effective. And when their ball movement isn't good and 610 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 1: when their offense as stagnant, she doesn't function as well 611 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 1: in it. None of them do, but more so than 612 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 1: anyone else. I think we see her numbers drop off 613 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 1: when that happens, because she doesn't really create shots for 614 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 1: herself the same way as she creates opportunities for others 615 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 1: and then works her offense out of the flow of 616 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,480 Speaker 1: what's going on. And at times, especially in that last game, 617 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 1: they stop flowing. There was very little flow, and I 618 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:51,280 Speaker 1: think she is a rhythm player in that way. That's 619 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 1: at least how I read it. 620 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,080 Speaker 3: I love the question, though, I think you're onto something, 621 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 3: and for them to win, she's got to bring that 622 00:29:57,640 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 3: twenty twenty two, twenty twenty three five back. 623 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 1: I think the team needs to come with some swag 624 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 1: because one thing that I've really respected out of the 625 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 1: Fever side, and there was a good story on the 626 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 1: nine newsletter by Tony East about it, who spoke to 627 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:13,440 Speaker 1: some of the Fever players after that last game. Shape 628 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 1: Petty said, nobody has us winning, so we've been doing 629 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 1: this whole series with no pressure, and that's a dangerous 630 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 1: team playing with no pressure, right, They're just coming out 631 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 1: there loose. Tony East wrote about how it was like 632 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 1: maybe two minutes before the half started when they started 633 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 1: to trickle in took a shot or too somebody's dancing, 634 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:32,400 Speaker 1: somebody's just chilling, not even taking shots before the half starts. 635 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:34,640 Speaker 1: That they just felt so at ease, and I feel 636 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 1: like it is sort of to steal a Vegas term. 637 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 1: They're playing with house money, they were counted out, and 638 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 1: because they're playing free and for each other and with 639 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 1: each other, beyond just that, we're all we got, where 640 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:48,880 Speaker 1: all we need. Thing that they've been rallying around, they're 641 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:53,640 Speaker 1: really playing like that, and that to me is clear 642 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 1: versus a Vegas team that when they get stanked and 643 00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 1: it feels like a piano drops on their back where 644 00:30:57,800 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 1: they're like, oh, go go, we should be winning this. 645 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:02,440 Speaker 2: And so that'll be really interesting to see. 646 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 1: My gut tells me Asia will not let them lose 647 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:08,080 Speaker 1: at home in a game five, and Becky Hammond will 648 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:10,720 Speaker 1: want to redeem herself for both the timeout that she 649 00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 1: called that they didn't have and maybe some roster decisions 650 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,680 Speaker 1: that weren't that effective. But I would not be surprised 651 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 1: in the slightest, so much so that I just said 652 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 1: suprised instead of surprised. I would not be surprised at 653 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:27,520 Speaker 1: all if the Fever won, which blows my mind. But 654 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 1: so what's your thick I said it's the Aces. My 655 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 1: gut is the Aces. But I'm saying it's not an 656 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: easy one. It is not a Aces should win this. 657 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 1: So they will because the way lea of Boston. If 658 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 1: they can't figure that out and if Asia struggles at all, Ova, Alex, 659 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 1: what your gut telling you other than probably you should 660 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:47,480 Speaker 1: eat breakfast and or lunch, which you probably have had neither. 661 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:51,360 Speaker 2: Of correct and correct that's a read. 662 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm going Aces. I have a hard time batting 663 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 4: against the Aces, so much so that I don't bet 664 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:02,320 Speaker 4: at all. 665 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:11,320 Speaker 1: Okay, while we've succeeded in jinxing the ass truly three 666 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 1: for theses knowne for the Fever, just bite everything they've 667 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: done in this series. 668 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:18,000 Speaker 2: They've really earned our respect, just not enough for us 669 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:20,280 Speaker 2: to choose them for the record. I would love to 670 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 2: see an underdog story. I wouldn't mind you, but just 671 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:26,720 Speaker 2: you got your two gay moms, the mercury I've advanced. 672 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:28,240 Speaker 2: Now we need the other half. 673 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 1: Of your earlier show prediction of what would best for 674 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 1: the league. Always great get in big such respect. Yeah, 675 00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 1: we got to take a break though, when we come 676 00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:38,880 Speaker 1: back vaulting into the upside down. 677 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:48,000 Speaker 2: Welcome back slices. Don't forget. 678 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:49,720 Speaker 1: We always love to hear from you, so hit us 679 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:52,400 Speaker 1: up on email, good game at Wondermedia network dot com 680 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:54,560 Speaker 1: or leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two 681 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:58,360 Speaker 1: four fifty seventy, and don't forget to subscribe. 682 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:01,000 Speaker 2: Rate and review. It's it's so easy. 683 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 1: Watch a new Netflix bio pick on Carrie's Strug rating 684 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 1: jury's still out till we see this one review. Netflix 685 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:13,720 Speaker 1: is developing a new biopick on Carrie Strug called Perfect, 686 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 1: starring Millie Bobby Brown, who you might remember from Stranger Things, 687 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 1: and Nola Holmes being the youngest person ever selected to 688 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 1: be a unise F Goodwill ambassador, or maybe her marriage 689 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 1: to John bon Jovi's son Jake bon Jovi and their 690 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:29,440 Speaker 1: adoption of a baby girl last month, which was all. 691 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:30,600 Speaker 2: The rage on the interwebs. 692 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 1: Anyway, the reason the jury's out on this one for 693 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:34,920 Speaker 1: me is because I have a lot of questions about 694 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,520 Speaker 1: the angle this movie's going to take. Will it be 695 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:40,440 Speaker 1: sort of a jingoistic puff piece? Remembering the glory of 696 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 1: Strug's viral moment clinching gold for the US and the 697 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 1: ninety six Olympics by completing a vault with a major 698 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:50,160 Speaker 1: ankle injury. Go USA, Or is it going to address 699 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:54,560 Speaker 1: the complicated nature of sports, particularly gymnastics and young athletes 700 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:57,560 Speaker 1: being forced to perform through injury despite the potential long 701 00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:01,720 Speaker 1: lasting effects. And what about now deceased coach Bella Coroli 702 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:04,520 Speaker 1: who famously carried Strug to the podium to. 703 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 2: Get her metal. We all remember that vision, right, Well, 704 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:08,879 Speaker 2: we now know that the coaching. 705 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,320 Speaker 1: Methods employed by Bella and his wife have been described 706 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 1: by some of his athletes as verbally and psychologically abusive, 707 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:18,280 Speaker 1: and that many instances of sexual abuse perpetrated by disgraced 708 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:21,719 Speaker 1: former USA gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar occurred at the 709 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:22,640 Speaker 1: Coroli ranch. 710 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:25,680 Speaker 2: Now also worth noting, athletes are. 711 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:29,160 Speaker 1: Notoriously hard to play by narps, non athletic regular people 712 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:33,239 Speaker 1: gymnasts especially such a specific body type. So Strug was 713 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:36,480 Speaker 1: a four foot eight powerhouse olympian. Brown is a five 714 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:40,600 Speaker 1: foot three artiste. But you know, there's always movie magic. 715 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:44,080 Speaker 1: This could be a super powerful examination of Strug's story 716 00:34:44,120 --> 00:34:46,840 Speaker 1: and its many layers, or just a made for streaming 717 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:49,239 Speaker 1: nostalgia hit that lets us all feel real good about 718 00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:50,919 Speaker 1: a potent sports memory from our youth. 719 00:34:51,719 --> 00:34:52,840 Speaker 2: We'll have to wait and see. 720 00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:56,400 Speaker 1: Now it's your turn, y'all, rate and review, Thanks for listening, 721 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:59,840 Speaker 1: See you tomorrow. Good Game Phoenix Mercury and finals of 722 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:04,520 Speaker 1: to be decided tonight, Good Game Wisconsin Volleyball and Kelly Sheffield. 723 00:35:05,239 --> 00:35:07,840 Speaker 1: You the fact that fever Aces has to end tonight 724 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 1: and then we'll only have one series left and then 725 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:14,120 Speaker 1: the WNBA season will be over. Good Game with Sarah 726 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:17,279 Speaker 1: Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with 727 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:19,840 Speaker 1: Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on 728 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:23,759 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 729 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:27,760 Speaker 1: Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are Alex Azzie 730 00:35:27,800 --> 00:35:28,680 Speaker 1: and Misha Jones. 731 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:33,080 Speaker 2: Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan 732 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:34,120 Speaker 2: and Emily Rudder. 733 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:37,920 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and 734 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:38,800 Speaker 1: Gianna Palmer. 735 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:40,920 Speaker 2: Our associate producer is Lucy Jones. 736 00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:44,920 Speaker 1: Production assistance from Avery Loftus and I'm your Host Sarah 737 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:45,240 Speaker 1: Spain