1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're downing 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: caffeine like our lives depend on it. I could use 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: about I don't know, eight extra hours to get some 4 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: things done today, but alas I checked, still only twenty 5 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: four hours. Maybe tomorrow. It's Friday, April eleventh, Happy Friday Slices. 6 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: On today's show, ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo will join us 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: to look back at another great season of college hoops 8 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: and take a little peek ahead to the WNBA Draft. 9 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: We talk about are getting to call a Yukon championship 10 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: win as an analyst for the first time this year, 11 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: whether Gino was actually crying over Pagebeckers in that viral 12 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: press conference clip, the positive vibe around this year's NCAA tournament, 13 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: and the influx of transfers changing the college hoops landscape 14 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: early in this offseason. Plus the Love Finals continue, the 15 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: Billy Jean Kingcup makes a move, and a goat gets 16 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: the dock treatment. It's all coming up. Right after this 17 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: welcome back, Sligh says, here's what you need to know 18 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: today in pro Vib's news. The Love Finals continue tonight 19 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: in Louisville at the KFCM Center, make sure you catch 20 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: the semi final action starting at six thirty pm Eastern 21 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: on ESPN two or ESPN Plus. And if you miss 22 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: the semis remember that a champ will be crowned on 23 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: Sunday at four pm Eastern. That contest will also be 24 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: on ESPN two and ESPN Plus. In tennis news, the 25 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: billyj and King Cup Finals, which we had the honor 26 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 1: of attending this past fall, will be held in September 27 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: instead of November this year. Quick refresher. This is the 28 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,479 Speaker 1: top international team tennis competition where each nation's best tennis 29 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: players team up to take on the rest of the 30 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: world stars. The Cup is had to take place in Shenjin, China, 31 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: and has been moved in the hopes of aligning better 32 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: with the players competition schedule. In the past, top athletes 33 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: like IGAs Fontec, Coco Goff, and Jessica Pagoula have skipped 34 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: the event because of the strenuous travel requirements. The WTA 35 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: Tour Finals, held around the same time in past years, 36 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: weren't located anywhere near the BJK Cup site, but this 37 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: year's BJK Cup Finals in China will run from September 38 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: sixteenth to September twenty first, the same time WTA Tour 39 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: events will be held across Asia. In hockey news, the 40 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,239 Speaker 1: PWHL's Montreal Victoire have activated goaltender and Renee Debn from 41 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: long term injured reserve. She leads all goaltenders and wins 42 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: goals against average and save percentage, but was placed on 43 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: long term injured reserve last week, retroactive to March eighteenth, 44 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 1: after suffering a lower body injury in a game against 45 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: the Boston Fleet. Debien is currently in Chechia with Team 46 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: Canada for the World Championships, and while she didn't dress 47 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 1: for the team's opening game against Finland, perhaps we'll see 48 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:34,239 Speaker 1: her later in the tournament. We'll link to the full 49 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: World Championship schedule in the show notes to the NWSL, 50 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: where we were so caught up with college hoops we 51 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: missed last week's announcement of the Best eleven for the 52 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: month of March, a list that included the Washington Spirits 53 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: Ashley Hatch, who scored three goals in March, including a 54 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: game winner against Houston and a brace in week three, 55 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,239 Speaker 1: and the Casey Currents ten with Shawana also named NWSL 56 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: Player of the Month. Shweinga's three goals in March extended 57 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: her scoring streak to eight straight regular season contests, tying 58 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 1: her own league records. In twenty twenty four, Houston Dash 59 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: midfielder Maggie Graham was also named Rookie of the Month 60 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: for March after scoring in each of her first two appearances, 61 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 1: becoming the fifth player in NWSL history and just the 62 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: third rookie to do so. Heading into Week four, three 63 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:15,519 Speaker 1: teams in the league looked to continue their season long 64 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: unbeaten streak. The three and O Orlando Pride taken out Seattle, 65 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 1: the three and O KC Current taken on San Diego, 66 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: and the two to one in oh Washington Spirit who 67 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: will face Louisville. You could check out the full NWSL 68 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: schedule in our show notes. Some more NWSL news, Denver's 69 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: expansion side has made its first big hire, naming Jen 70 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: Millett as the club's first president. The Colorado native was 71 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: the chief operating officer for BAYFC. We got to take 72 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: a quick break when we come back. We caught up 73 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: with Rebecca Lobo yesterday and she helped us put this 74 00:03:44,960 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: college hoop season in perspective. Keep it locked here, joining 75 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: us out for the second time. She's an Olympic gold medalist, 76 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: NCAA champion, inaugural player in the WNBA, and a w 77 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: All star in ninety nine, member of the Women's Basketball 78 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame and the Naysmith Hall of Fame. Now 79 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: a reporter and color analyst for ESPN with a focus 80 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: on women's college hoops and the WNBA. She's guest starred 81 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: on Martin Sister Sister, Matt, About You, and Girls five Eva, 82 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: And she's got her own street in South mlkmass where 83 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: she went to high school, Rebecca Lobo Way, It's Rebecca 84 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 1: Lobo High. Rebecca. 85 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 2: Hi. When do I get a jacket? Is that like 86 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: when I'm on for my fifth time? 87 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: Yeah? We need we have a five timers club. Okay, 88 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: so you're working your way toward it. 89 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 2: You're slowly, but Shirley, all right, you. 90 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 1: Have just finished a hell of a run covering women's 91 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: college hoops. How are you holding up? 92 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:48,720 Speaker 2: I'm tired. It's funny because everybody just assumed, like assumes 93 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 2: that when the Final four is over, oh, you take 94 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 2: a break. I'm like, no, We've got a week we're 95 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 2: preparing for the draft. But then when we have the draft. 96 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 2: That's a glorious three weeks that follow it because college 97 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 2: over WNBA training camps haven't even started. So it was like, 98 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 2: it's the three weeks of my year where I can 99 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 2: exhale and there's nothing that I should be prepping for. 100 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:11,359 Speaker 2: But right now we're still in the middle of the 101 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 2: work of it all. 102 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're still in the grind when that three weeks comes. 103 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: Are you more of a staycation, get stuff done around 104 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,280 Speaker 1: the house, doodle around, or are you like, I hit 105 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 1: a tropical spot immediately kind of person. 106 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 2: I'm a mom, so we never get to hit the 107 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 2: tropical spot and very rarely does it coincide with my 108 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 2: with my kids vacation at school. So usually it's just relax, decompress, 109 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 2: do some stuff around the house, and if it is 110 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 2: a year where it coincides with the kids stuff, we'll 111 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 2: try to get out and about, but it typically does not. 112 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: We're going to get to the draft because yeah, it's Monday, 113 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: which is insane. But let's talk about this run because 114 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,160 Speaker 1: this was one of my favorite college basketball seasons ever. 115 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: And I feel like, if you could try to get 116 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: back into your brain back when the season started, what 117 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: would you be most surprised to see happen this year, 118 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: like a certain player popping off or a team under 119 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: or overperforming. What what did you have a different mind 120 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:07,239 Speaker 1: about when things started. 121 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 2: I think we were all pretty open minded because, you know, 122 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 2: while South Carolina was the favorite coming in because they 123 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 2: had been undefeated and won the championship the year before, 124 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 2: you also knew, all right, but they don't have Camilla 125 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 2: Cardoso and she was such a huge part of what 126 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: they did last year. What is USC going to look 127 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 2: like this year? What is Yukon going to look like 128 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 2: this year? And then I certainly don't think any of 129 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 2: us anticipated, like in December and January, that Notre Dame 130 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 2: would be the best team in the country and that 131 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 2: hannahad all Go would be playing like the front runner 132 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 2: for National Player of the Year. And then sort of 133 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 2: the ebbs and flows that we saw from from that 134 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 2: point on in terms of you know, I think we 135 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 2: had for the first time three consecutive weeks, maybe at 136 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 2: some point in January or February, we had a new 137 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 2: number one team. You know, I don't think people would 138 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 2: have expected UCLA to, you know, grab hold of that 139 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 2: number one ranking in November December, and then ride it 140 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 2: for much of the season, So it's kind of fun. 141 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 2: We're in a place with women's basketball now are it's 142 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 2: a lot less predictable than it has been in previous years. 143 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: What do you think is the biggest driver of that parody? 144 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: Is that nil transfer portal, investment from schools into their 145 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: women's programs. 146 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 2: Probably a little bit of all of those things. I 147 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: think the transfer portal has played a really big part 148 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 2: in that because you can have a team like LSU, 149 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 2: who you know, Kim Molki's done a phenomenal job every 150 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: year kind of building a Final four caliber team out 151 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 2: of the transfer portal by bringing in seniors and experienced players, 152 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 2: and so there's a little bit less of you know, ooh, 153 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 2: they got a really good freshman class, We're going to 154 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: watch them grow, and that team's going to be really 155 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 2: good their junior and senior year. You can you know, 156 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 2: bring the pieces is and you see what Mark Campbell 157 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 2: did at TCU this year, you know, going, you know, 158 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 2: from a team two years ago with hardly any wins 159 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: to this year going to the Elite eight. So I 160 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 2: think that the transfer portal has probably played the biggest 161 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 2: role in all that, And of course NIL is combined 162 00:07:57,840 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: with the transfer portal as well. 163 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: You got to see your alma mater, Yukon get the 164 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: big win in Tampa, Pagebackers gets to ride off into 165 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: the sunset as a champion. It felt a little different 166 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: for me and I think a lot of people watching 167 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: this time. It's been since twenty sixteen since Yukon has won. 168 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 1: After all those years of kind of being like, oh, Gino, 169 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: Riam and company, here we go again. It was like 170 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: they were kind of an underdog almost. They were a 171 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: number two seed, which was weird but ended up, you know, 172 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: it all worked out for them. How did it feel 173 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: for you watching this year versus maybe some of the 174 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: runs they made when they were dominating. 175 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think there's a little bit of all of that. 176 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 2: You know, there's that cycle when Brianna Stewart was there 177 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 2: where they win four in a row and the expectation 178 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 2: is for them to always win, and I think this 179 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 2: year what was different was what happened the previous four 180 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 2: years where this team, season after season after season was 181 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 2: decimated by injury and even last year. I think last 182 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 2: year was one of the coach Oriama's greatest jobs as 183 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: a coach to get that group to the final four. 184 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,439 Speaker 2: They were a three seed a year ago when they 185 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 2: beat us in the regional final page and Juju going 186 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 2: going at it, and and so it just there was 187 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 2: a very different feel I think about the Yukon team 188 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 2: this year because it's the first time where I think 189 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 2: people are like, man, I really want this for this kid. 190 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,439 Speaker 2: She's you know, she's had all this bad luck going 191 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 2: poor coach Oriama and Yukon they've had all of this 192 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:24,559 Speaker 2: bad luck. And so it was a completely completely different vibe. 193 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,199 Speaker 2: And while they were in some ways the favorite going 194 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 2: into the final four because of how well they played, yeah, 195 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:32,679 Speaker 2: they were the only two seed in the in the 196 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 2: final four, just because of some of the ups and 197 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 2: downs that they'd had this season. So certainly a very 198 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 2: different journey than we're used to seeing from a Yukon 199 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 2: player and a Yukon team. 200 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: When you're around as long as you've been and you're 201 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: such a just legendary member of the women's basketball community, 202 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: how do you approach knowing that no matter how you 203 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: call the game, people will say you're being biased for Yukon. 204 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 2: You know what, I have somewhere on my phone a 205 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:01,959 Speaker 2: screenshot from you years ago when I was calling Minnesota 206 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 2: Links and the LA Sparks in the finals, and I 207 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 2: had back to back tweets. One of them said, you 208 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 2: know you can be any more biased for Minnesota, followed 209 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 2: by you know you couldn't be any more biased for 210 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 2: for the Sparks, And so, like, I feel confident in 211 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 2: how I call games, and I just sit down and 212 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 2: I'm going to say what I see. I'm going to 213 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 2: say what I see, and and that's what I you know, 214 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 2: that's what I did this year, and the best way 215 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 2: for me to handle it is what I've done since September. 216 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 2: And that's not look at any app replies because look, nobody, 217 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 2: nobody ever says to me to my face. You know, 218 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 2: you really sounded bias in that in that game, you 219 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 2: know so, But like you know, we're always hoping on 220 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 2: the TV side for close games. That's what's best for us. 221 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 2: It's it's you know, more enjoyable to watch. We know 222 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 2: it's gonna have a big impact on the ratings as well. 223 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 2: That's certainly not how it played out in any of 224 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 2: the games that our crew called in the tournament this year. 225 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 2: But yeah, like I I can't even about that, And 226 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 2: what's interesting, Sarah is like, I've done a ton of 227 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 2: Yukon's championships as a sideline reporter, a sideline analyst, and 228 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 2: as a studio analyst. This is the first time I've 229 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 2: ever called one of their national championships as the game analyst. 230 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,199 Speaker 2: You know, I've been doing it on the National championship 231 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 2: last five or six years, and so I've seen plenty 232 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 2: of their heartbreaking losses, but this is the first time 233 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 2: I got to call one of their wins. So that 234 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 2: was kind of a fun new experience for me. 235 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: Wait, so you've been out of the Menchi said September. 236 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,199 Speaker 1: When that three week pause hits, are you going to 237 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: go digging back in or are you trying to say 238 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 1: why would I? 239 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 2: Why would I? Like like I've hopped in and posted 240 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 2: some stuff and then I just get right back out, 241 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 2: like I don't you know? And this is and I 242 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 2: may have told you this story before, I'm not sure, 243 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 2: but you know this was back before when I was 244 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 2: still in my mensions and I was sitting in my 245 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 2: living room looking at him and saying something to my 246 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 2: husband like look at this, you know kind of a thing, 247 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 2: and he goes, would you invite that person into our 248 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 2: living room, and I said no. He said, then why 249 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 2: are you inviting that person into our living room? And 250 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 2: I was like, you know what, no one's allowed in 251 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 2: my living room. The living room is fine, and so 252 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna I'm not gonna worry about any of 253 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 2: that stuff. 254 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: I love that. You know, We've been talking to a 255 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: handful of Yukon folks. We even had Gino on the show, 256 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: but we had him on before the moment that everyone 257 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: was talking about at the press conference last regular season game. 258 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: Page gets up and walks away, and everyone says Gino's crying, 259 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: But Sue Byrd and if you said Collier, all these 260 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: former players say, no chance Gino was crying. To everyone else, 261 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,079 Speaker 1: it was very clear it looked like he was definitely crying. 262 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: And we think this is a new, older, softer Gino 263 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,199 Speaker 1: and that the old players just don't get it. You 264 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: don't You don't think he was crying. 265 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 2: No, And I'm I'm a little bit more informed on 266 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 2: this because that was the game where they played the 267 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 2: last her last game at Gamble. It was in the 268 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 2: second round of the tournament. That's that game. I called 269 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 2: that game. Right after the game, he came Page came 270 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 2: and sat down with us and talked to us first live, 271 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 2: and then coach came and we had an interview with him, 272 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 2: and he was very much in his upbeat spirits, kind 273 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 2: of given crap mode, and and so in that press conference, 274 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 2: what I saw, and what I believe is one hundred 275 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 2: percent true, is him kind of rolling his eyes like 276 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 2: you know, they're like just there she goes, or that 277 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 2: sort of a thing. 278 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: You know. 279 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 2: Here, there was nothing in that moment that should have 280 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,319 Speaker 2: made him cry, like he had more time with her, 281 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 2: and we all obviously saw what happened after the National 282 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 2: Championship game and the full emotion that he brought. I 283 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:34,959 Speaker 2: more saw him in like, you know, given her crap 284 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 2: kind of mode in the moment where people thought he 285 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 2: was crying. 286 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 1: All right, we'll take your word for it. 287 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 2: And I can tell this story because I heard him 288 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 2: tell a piece of it at their welcome reception back 289 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 2: at Gamble Pavilion. But after the game, you know, it's 290 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 2: it's late at night. I'm kind of hanging out with 291 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 2: Stuwie and Sue and Diana and Ryan and Holly, and 292 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 2: we've got some of our you know, former Yukon players 293 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 2: saying you should come by. You should come by and 294 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 2: say say hi to coach. Come buy the team hotel 295 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 2: and so so we did so so D and Sue 296 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 2: and Stuie and Megan and myself we get in a 297 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 2: in an uber and we go out to the team 298 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 2: hotel and we're not near the players. They're like on 299 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 2: the roof or wherever they're doing their thing. And like 300 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 2: we walk by where the parents are, we're not with them. Well, 301 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 2: we get like to the back of the area and 302 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 2: and coach or Aama is there and CD and Jamel 303 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 2: and Morgan and Tanya and all the coaching staff kind 304 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 2: of just sitting sitting in their separate places, and there's 305 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 2: some other former players back there, and so we're just 306 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 2: kind of sitting around and talking and and Coach Arima 307 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 2: told the story and uh in their welcome reception and 308 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 2: how you know, he started pointing at players, like, you know, 309 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 2: Jen has one, Rebecca has one, Stue has two, d 310 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 2: has three, and he's like counting around the part of 311 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 2: the story he didn't tell was right before he started 312 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 2: doing the counting. It's probably two in the morning and 313 00:14:57,880 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 2: Page comes down and you know, she's got the net 314 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 2: and her championship had on, and she comes over and 315 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 2: like it's all kind of the older players sitting around, 316 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 2: and Coach kind of looks at her and is like, oh, 317 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 2: what you know, you got one and you're done, so 318 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 2: you think you can be down here now and then 319 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 2: and remember this is just a couple hours after we 320 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 2: saw him crying and hugging her and telling her he 321 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 2: loves her. And he looks at Page and he points 322 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 2: at me and he said, go sit next to her. 323 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 2: You guys only have one. 324 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: Oh my god. 325 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 2: And then he started like pointing. He's like, I won, 326 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 2: and then he points to Stewie four, Jessic Moore three, 327 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 2: like the whole thing. So that's who he is. Never 328 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 2: so no, and so him sitting at the podium when 329 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 2: she was still his player, you know, after the second round, 330 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 2: he wasn't crying. And the thing that was interesting to 331 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 2: me was it was thirty years since our team won 332 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 2: the championship, and the night after we won, we all 333 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 2: ended up in coaches room and he's like, put the 334 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 2: VHS tape of our game on and he starts giving 335 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 2: all of us us shit after just winning him as 336 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 2: first national championship. And I was just like I felt 337 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 2: like I was in a time warp, like thirty years ago. 338 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: It was me. 339 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 2: He was, you know, giving crap to tonight. It's Paige. 340 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 2: She just won a championship. But he's already said to her, 341 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 2: go sit over by her, because you guys at leave. 342 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: That's amazing. That's what makes those people great. They're they're 343 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: they're crazy like that. That's literally what drives him already 344 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: ready to pop in the tape and tell you what 345 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 1: to do. That's such a great story. What are some 346 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 1: of the highlights for you from the tournament, regional games, 347 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: Final four? Anything besides the basketball. 348 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 2: I mean just the the energy and the excitement. You know, 349 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 2: my journey in the tournament was I did call the 350 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 2: first two games and stores all of them sold out, 351 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 2: incredible crowds. Go out to Spokane, we get to call 352 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 2: the games out in Spokane. That building was packed for 353 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 2: for all rounds. Going to the final four, same thing, 354 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 2: the energy and the vibe and the feeling of just 355 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 2: excitement about women's basketball. And you know, I've been at 356 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 2: the final covering the Final four for a lot of 357 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:04,440 Speaker 2: years and there is definitely a different feeling that we've 358 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 2: had in these last three or four. You know, not 359 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 2: only the games being sold out, there's just a different energy, excitement, 360 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 2: you know, people texting you or whatever excited for these games, 361 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 2: for these players, for the stories. There's a different juice. 362 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:20,919 Speaker 2: There's a different juice there and I felt it in 363 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,359 Speaker 2: stores and I felt it, and we felt it all 364 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 2: in the regular season too, because we got to call 365 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 2: some incredible games in the regular season. You know, Notre 366 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:30,960 Speaker 2: Dame at NC State and the students section is exploding, 367 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 2: LSU at South Carolina and you've got twenty five hundred 368 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 2: students there. Just like the building felt like it was pulsing. 369 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 2: There's a different energy about it, and it's been awesome. 370 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 1: And I will say this year, minus the juju injury, 371 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:48,399 Speaker 1: was a mostly positive season. You know, last year I 372 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: had almost forgotten about the Spokane region having some issues 373 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:55,639 Speaker 1: around you know, overscheduling with like I think it was 374 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 1: a volleyball tournament, and then players staying in a hotel 375 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: just outside of state, facing some racial epithets. There was 376 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 1: a lot more complaints about investment and resources and all 377 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,640 Speaker 1: those other things. It's not fixed, but between the economic 378 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 1: units finally getting applied to the women's game, to the 379 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: storylines around the teams and the players and the game itself. 380 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 1: It did feel like there was a leap this year 381 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:18,400 Speaker 1: and just talking about ball, which was awesome. 382 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, and there were still some of those issues and 383 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 2: coach o Aama brought them up. Kim Multky was talking 384 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:25,920 Speaker 2: about them and that that high school volleyball tournament was 385 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 2: still happening because many of those players and their parents 386 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,640 Speaker 2: were at the hotel we were in No Way Spokane, 387 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,160 Speaker 2: And yeah, I mean it's hard because how those super 388 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 2: regionals are set up, like they literally the teams the 389 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 2: day before they're going to play a Sweet sixteen, an 390 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 2: elite A game, they only get an hour on the court. 391 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 2: They get a half hour on game day for shoot 392 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:46,920 Speaker 2: around and this year one of the ones in Spokane, 393 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 2: their time was like five forty five am. There are 394 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 2: certain certainly things that need to get fixed and become better, 395 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:55,240 Speaker 2: But yeah, I think the basketball was so good. And 396 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 2: you brought up the Juju injury. I think that's the 397 00:18:57,119 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 2: one thing that did take a considerable amount of air 398 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 2: out of the bubble. And I think part of it 399 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 2: is because you know, last year it was like people 400 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 2: are on Team Angel or Team Caitlin. There wasn't that feeling. 401 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 2: This year, I think everybody was was hopeful for Pagebeckers, 402 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 2: everyone was hopeful for Juju, like they are players that 403 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 2: it didn't feel like, you know, that there was as 404 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 2: much of a love hate divide this season. It felt 405 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 2: just more like, Oh, I really love that player. My 406 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 2: heart breaks that she just hurt her knee. I really 407 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 2: love this kid. I hope she gets her championship or 408 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 2: you know, my lagel full Wiley so exciting to watch 409 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 2: what's going to happen there. So there was I think 410 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:39,159 Speaker 2: a better vibe about Possibi this year. Yeah, yeah, for sure. 411 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: Speaking of positivity, it seems like you and Ryan Ruco 412 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: and Holly Road genuinely enjoy each other. Can you give 413 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: us a little behind the scenes of your trio, like 414 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:48,880 Speaker 1: maybe when you have a couple hours off. 415 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 2: I mean, we spent so much time together, so we 416 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 2: better enjoy one another. I mean, when when we were 417 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 2: out in Spokane, for example, we're staying we were staying 418 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 2: outside of the city. We're at a hotel that was 419 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:03,479 Speaker 2: right near the airport. There really wasn't much around us, 420 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 2: so there was a highway that went by. But even 421 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 2: when it's like forty five degrees and cold, like we're 422 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 2: out there in the morning, we're going for a walk together, 423 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 2: we are eating our meals together, we're hanging out with 424 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 2: one another. You know, we're sitting watching the other games 425 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 2: happening in the different regions with one another. We just 426 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 2: enjoy each other's company. And and so that was kind 427 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,200 Speaker 2: of the rhythm of the Final four too. We spend 428 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:28,440 Speaker 2: so much time in the arena that by the end 429 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 2: of it, like you cannot be in the best mental space. 430 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 2: And so we've learned over the years, all right, there's 431 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 2: a break, let's get outside, let's get in the sun, 432 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 2: let's get outside, let's go for a walk. And but 433 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 2: you know, we're the only ones on our same schedule, 434 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 2: and we just spend spend a ton of time together. 435 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 2: We laugh a lot, we enjoy each other and and 436 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:49,880 Speaker 2: it would be really, really hard to do this job 437 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:50,880 Speaker 2: if that wasn't the case. 438 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, it makes for such a great watch, 439 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: such a great lesten. So okay, so this season's wrapped. 440 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:00,400 Speaker 1: We got the fairytale ending for page. Before we get 441 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,919 Speaker 1: to the draft, we've still got to close up the 442 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 1: college game, which means we're already seeing players in the 443 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: transfer portal making moves. What are your thoughts on Olivia 444 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: Miles to TCU. 445 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 2: That one surprised me a little bit. First, I was 446 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 2: surprised that she chose to not go in the draft. 447 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 2: I mean, typically if a player is projected to go 448 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 2: not only second, but second to a phenomenal franchise, like 449 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 2: you have the chance to be the one who sort 450 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 2: of follows Sue Byrd as the point guard of the 451 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 2: Seattle franchise. That surprised me. And then I did not 452 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 2: expect for her to go to TCU, of all places. 453 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:34,040 Speaker 2: I thought, you know, you could actually be a really 454 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 2: interesting fit for her because they run the same kind 455 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 2: of offense at Notre Dame. So that one was a 456 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 2: big surprise. Tadaia Latson when she came out South Carolina 457 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:45,320 Speaker 2: is the perfect fit for her. That makes all kind 458 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 2: of sense. So and wow, that's going to be really 459 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 2: interesting to see her in a back court with my 460 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 2: Lesia full Whiley next year. 461 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: And yeah, leading scorer in the nation goes to a 462 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: place that needs someone clutch. That's the go to. 463 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,959 Speaker 2: They needed a guard who could just go get a bucket, 464 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 2: and she is a guard who go just go get 465 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 2: a bucket. The one who's I'm at least as we're 466 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:06,920 Speaker 2: doing this podcast now, I don't know where Cody McMahon's 467 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,159 Speaker 2: going yet, especially this will be her last year. She 468 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 2: will be probably a lottery pick in next year's draft. 469 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 2: You know, she's in the port a lot of Ohio State. 470 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 2: That woman is the real deal as a as a 471 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 2: basketball player, as a score. I'm kind of fascinated to 472 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 2: see where she's gonna go. But yeah, like you can't 473 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 2: even like project what's gonna happen next year until all 474 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,959 Speaker 2: this stuff settles, you know, Keyomi mcmiller coming out of 475 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 2: Rutgers like, to me, the perfect fit for her is 476 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 2: if she ends up at LSU. If she ends up 477 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 2: at LSU and a backcourt with Flage Johnson, Holy cow, 478 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 2: this that kid can really really play. So so yeah, 479 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,360 Speaker 2: it's like, okay, we like we can't even Charlie cream 480 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 2: does is you know, way too early top twenty five, 481 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 2: And you know, once things kind of settle in in 482 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 2: the portal, I would imagine some of those projection projections 483 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:53,919 Speaker 2: are going to change a bit. 484 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:56,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, as Fred the Olivia Miles thing, I mean it 485 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: feels like, obviously TCU was a great spot for Haley 486 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 1: van Lit to redeem herself after a tough time at LSU. 487 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: It feels like from the rumors that they are certainly 488 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:07,919 Speaker 1: making it worth a student's while to go there in 489 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:11,439 Speaker 1: terms of nil deals and things like that. Obviously, the 490 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 1: relationship with the coach there feels like one that the 491 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: players really take to heart and feel like they're seen by. 492 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:21,640 Speaker 1: But she's not the only Notre Dame player on the move, 493 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 1: So I'm as intrigued by her wanting to go to 494 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:27,640 Speaker 1: TCU as I am by players leaving the Irish. Are 495 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: you hearing anything about why that's not a program that's 496 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:33,120 Speaker 1: able to hang on to players. 497 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:37,199 Speaker 2: No, No, that's not That's not a rumor mill that 498 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 2: I have, you know, any any insight on. But I 499 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 2: mean when you look at their uster right now, I 500 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 2: think they only have two or three players RFD. You 501 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 2: know Kate Kolevaals has on the move to LSU. Actually, 502 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:50,160 Speaker 2: that's I think a really really good fit for her too, 503 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,680 Speaker 2: because Kim Malki is so good about utilizing her big 504 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 2: back to the basket post players. But no, and when 505 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 2: we've covered Notre Dame, the players seem to have an 506 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 2: incredible relationship with the l Ivy, So I don't know 507 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:05,200 Speaker 2: if it's a situation where the NIL is just too 508 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 2: appealing at other places, So I'm not sure exactly what's 509 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 2: going on there. 510 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,360 Speaker 1: Someone of my Menchi's mentioned something about them under investing, 511 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 1: and I don't know if they meant overtly or if 512 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: they meant an nil or otherwise, And it wasn't a 513 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:23,159 Speaker 1: source that I knew knew anything, but they seem to 514 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: have a strong opinion about the team not putting enough 515 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 1: into the women's side of the program, So I don't 516 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 1: know if there's any truth to that. 517 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:32,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know either, but it's certainly from the outside. 518 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 2: I've never seen anything that looks like the players don't 519 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 2: completely respect and appreciate in the l But if that's 520 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:41,879 Speaker 2: the case, if you're getting offered a lot more money 521 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 2: from another place and you're a kid who doesn't have 522 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 2: much money, and how many kids do like you, know, 523 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 2: I would understand how that would be a hard thing 524 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 2: not to take. 525 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: So obviously South Carolina prime to compete again next year, 526 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:58,200 Speaker 1: returning so many stars and adding to Nai Lats and 527 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:01,280 Speaker 1: Yukon with superstar Fresh and Sarah Strong leading the way, 528 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:04,119 Speaker 1: who just already would be a lottery pick right now, 529 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:07,880 Speaker 1: Ucla bringing pretty much everybody back. Are those your early 530 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 1: favorites for next year's Final four? And who else is 531 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 1: on the list? 532 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:16,360 Speaker 2: Yeah? I think those would be my three favorites going in. 533 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:19,400 Speaker 2: You know, UCLA has got so much back, they now 534 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 2: have the experience of being there. You know, you bring 535 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:24,360 Speaker 2: up Sarah Strong, how about Azy Fudd. I'm watching her 536 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 2: playing like holy holy smokes. As she plays like this 537 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 2: next year, she could be the number one pick in 538 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 2: the draft. Next year they could have three numbers like 539 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 2: Sarah Strong to me, but when she's a senior, depending 540 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 2: on how everything you know is in the CBA, like, 541 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 2: she could be the number one or pick page Backers 542 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:41,399 Speaker 2: obviously the number one pick. Asy Food could be the 543 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:44,960 Speaker 2: number one pick next year. So I think you kind 544 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,399 Speaker 2: is certainly dangerous South Carolina, and they'll have a different 545 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 2: kind of a chip on their shoulder, of course, coming 546 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 2: off of losing Ucla. And then let's let's see what 547 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 2: Kim Bulk does. You know she always finds a way 548 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 2: in Texas. 549 00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 1: Texas course, Madison Booker just getting better. 550 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know who's an interesting one is going 551 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:05,480 Speaker 2: to be Oklahoma. You know they return most of their 552 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 2: pieces or many of their pieces, and they add Alias 553 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 2: Chavez the number one recruit, and you mentioned UCLA, they 554 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 2: get Sienna Betts, you know, Lauren's sisters. So uh yeah, 555 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:17,919 Speaker 2: there's there's going to be a lot of fun games 556 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 2: for us to watch and cover next year. 557 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:24,639 Speaker 1: Sienna Bets was in the ESPN W suite with me 558 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,359 Speaker 1: and everyone else for that UCLA game. It was a 559 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:30,960 Speaker 1: little awkward. A lot of us were cheering for Yukon 560 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 1: and Paige, and you know, it was kind of hard 561 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:35,160 Speaker 1: watching her watch her sister in that game where they struggled. 562 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:36,639 Speaker 1: But she was there. 563 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 2: Because they told us she wasn't coming because she was 564 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:40,479 Speaker 2: going to be going to her prom. 565 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: She was there. 566 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 2: Oh okay, Well hopefully her. 567 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,159 Speaker 1: Prom was like maybe a different day. Maybe she was 568 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 1: able to Yeah, let's hope. So uh okay, you mentioned it. 569 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 1: So I want to ask really quick, do you think 570 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 1: the CBA will end up allowing for players to make 571 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:57,400 Speaker 1: a decision about their future instead of having the same 572 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:00,480 Speaker 1: age in your eligibility rules for entering the double Draft. 573 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:03,159 Speaker 2: I don't know. I don't know that it will, and 574 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 2: even if it does, I don't know that it'll impact 575 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 2: the women's game all that much because the players right now, 576 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 2: the top players, the ones who might want to leave early, 577 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:16,439 Speaker 2: are because of NIL, you know, making such a nice living, 578 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:19,480 Speaker 2: you know. I mean you see Olivia Miles choosing to 579 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 2: go back for NIL instead of go to the w NBA. 580 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 2: I would think a player like Juju Watkins, you know, 581 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 2: and how she's beloved in the LA community. Unless LA 582 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 2: the Sparks got the number one pick, and you're like, 583 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:32,240 Speaker 2: all right, I gotta go out early to ensure that 584 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 2: I go here. So it's one thing that the league 585 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:39,359 Speaker 2: has protected for the last twenty eight years was sort 586 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 2: of understanding how important it is for these women to 587 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:45,159 Speaker 2: build their brand in college. So I would expect it 588 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 2: to go that route. But even if it doesn't, I 589 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:49,640 Speaker 2: can't imagine it would be as drastic as a one 590 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 2: and done. Yeah. Yeah, maybe they let them come out 591 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 2: after a junior year. 592 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 1: But their rookie contracts are going to change too. It 593 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:00,199 Speaker 1: is anticipated that they'll be coming into a lot more 594 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:02,239 Speaker 1: money in the w than they have been for that 595 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:04,159 Speaker 1: first three year deal with a four year option that 596 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,159 Speaker 1: they're going to want to, you know, maybe have a 597 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 1: little bit more of a consideration there. But yeah, I 598 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 1: think to a degree. 599 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 2: To a degree, seric is keep in mind, it's the 600 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 2: veterans that are negotiating, and the veterans protect the veterans 601 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 2: more than they protect the rookies. That's the way it's 602 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 2: always been. So even if some of the higher end 603 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 2: salaries are going to go way up, and of course 604 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:27,159 Speaker 2: the rookies will to a degree, it's not going to 605 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:28,639 Speaker 2: be like a rookie is going to be coming in. 606 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 2: I don't imagine making a million dollars if they're the 607 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 2: number one pick. 608 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:34,200 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk about the draft this upcoming Monday. 609 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: An incredibly fast turnaround for the players in the final four. 610 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 1: What's the biggest challenge you think, specifically for the pagebackers 611 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: and the Taina powepals who barely unpacked from Tampa at 612 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: this point. 613 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 2: Any sleep at all? I Mean, every time I look 614 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 2: on Instagram, I see you know, pages on, you know fallon, 615 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:54,440 Speaker 2: she's you know, good morning America. Like their life right 616 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 2: now is such an incredible whirlwind. And and what's hard 617 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 2: too is, you know, they want to experience the last 618 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 2: month of their college life. You know, there's a lot 619 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:06,000 Speaker 2: of fun things to do in the spring of your 620 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 2: last year in college, but at the same time being 621 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 2: pulled in a million directions. But I'm sure for all 622 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 2: of them, it's a huge relief to finally know where 623 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 2: you're going. You know, there's such I mean Page No, 624 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 2: it's Page nows. She's going to Dallas, Tahina. Probably has 625 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 2: no idea right now where she's going to end up. 626 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 2: And so it's the first time really in these young players' 627 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 2: lives where they do not choose where they go, you know, 628 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 2: and did you get to choose which AAU team you 629 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 2: play for, you get to choose which college you go to, 630 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 2: or multiple colleges that you go to, And this is 631 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 2: going to be the first time where that is completely 632 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 2: out of a player's control. So sure they're like, all right, 633 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:43,000 Speaker 2: let's get the draft here, let me know where I'm going, 634 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 2: and then like kind of figure out the next what 635 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:48,719 Speaker 2: four or five weeks before training camp starts. 636 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 1: Last year, Caitlin Clark's moved to the w prompted some 637 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 1: pretty uninformed conversations about being a rookie. As Dana Trossi said, 638 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 1: reality's coming for you, which was true and we saw 639 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:00,880 Speaker 1: it with our own eyes. The turnover, the timing with 640 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 1: teammates you just met that wasn't there yet. But obviously, 641 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:07,000 Speaker 1: with a little time and experience, Caitlin eventually excelled at 642 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 1: the next level. What parts of the game do you 643 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 1: think take the most time for these new players entering 644 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:12,720 Speaker 1: the league to figure out. 645 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,280 Speaker 2: I think it's a primary ball handler like Caitlin, where 646 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 2: you can get you know, you're getting blitzed or double 647 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 2: teamed on ball screens. And maybe you got that to 648 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,080 Speaker 2: a degree in college, but it wasn't from six to 649 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 2: Alissa Thomas as one of the people coming out at you. 650 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 2: So I think the primary ball handlers, that's one thing. 651 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:34,720 Speaker 2: For the bigger post players, it's the physicality of the league. 652 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:37,480 Speaker 2: I think the rhythm of the league as well. I 653 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:39,880 Speaker 2: mean they've added games. This is a forty four game 654 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,680 Speaker 2: regular season this year, but we haven't added time to it. 655 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:47,240 Speaker 2: So back to backs in different cities, you know, three 656 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 2: games in five days. Those are the sort of things 657 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 2: that are really hard on a player's body. So that's 658 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 2: a piece of it, the physicality and the speed of 659 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 2: the league, the rhythm of it. But what all players 660 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 2: do enjoy is they can they just have practice and 661 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:06,000 Speaker 2: rest and you know, appearances there they don't have to 662 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 2: go to class anymore. They don't have the stress of 663 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:10,719 Speaker 2: studying for exams and all that sort of thing. But 664 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:13,840 Speaker 2: it's the pace, the physicality, the rhythm of it is 665 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:16,760 Speaker 2: what takes an adjustment for all these young guys. 666 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:19,120 Speaker 1: And it feels like the professionalism is already there at 667 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,280 Speaker 1: the collegiate level at this point, whether that's the business 668 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 1: deals for nil to the expectations from coaches and teammates 669 00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:28,480 Speaker 1: for your schedule and everything else. But finally it's sort 670 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 1: of a reversal of things. The WNBA is catching up 671 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: to college in terms of like facilities and resources. For 672 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 1: such a long time, that was one thing that players 673 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 1: had to adjust to with sometimes being much better treated, 674 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: flying better, better resources, training facilities, everything at the college level. 675 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 1: But thankfully that's changing at the w Is there still 676 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:49,760 Speaker 1: a little bit of that that they have to adjust to, 677 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:52,720 Speaker 1: or maybe just being up an adult who's in charge 678 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 1: of themselves. 679 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:56,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think some of it is dependent on franchise. 680 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:59,480 Speaker 2: You know, some franchises are in the process of you know, 681 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:02,920 Speaker 2: we're seeing the renderings of the Dallas practice facility or 682 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:06,400 Speaker 2: New York's practice facility. But certainly the adjustment now with 683 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 2: the charter flights is much much easier than it was 684 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:12,000 Speaker 2: for you know, players who hadn't flown commercially, you know, 685 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:15,720 Speaker 2: their entire than their entire college career, you know. But 686 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:19,920 Speaker 2: like it's that's a big piece of it too, is 687 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 2: like you have a lot more time now and when 688 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:25,560 Speaker 2: you oftentimes, like when you're in college and you go 689 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:27,760 Speaker 2: on a road trip, you know you have they give 690 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 2: you your itinerary. You know, you where you're supposed to be. 691 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:33,120 Speaker 2: You're having team meals together, and you're with other people 692 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 2: who are about your age. And that was one of 693 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 2: the big things for me my early in my pro 694 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,680 Speaker 2: career is like you're on your own on the road, 695 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 2: you find your own meals and like this person's off 696 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:48,000 Speaker 2: with their husband or partner and this person's like, you know, 697 00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 2: talking to their child and I'm, you know, twenty three 698 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:53,800 Speaker 2: years old, Like wait a minute, what's going on here? 699 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:56,200 Speaker 2: So that piece of it is something to navigate too. 700 00:32:56,280 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 2: What you need is one you need one teammate who 701 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 2: you really get along with, who you go to meals with. 702 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 2: You you need what I have now with my Ryan 703 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 2: and Holland Yeah, like because it's so much time friends 704 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:09,760 Speaker 2: and family you need one road dog. And if you 705 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:12,560 Speaker 2: have that one person, and if you know you both 706 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:14,960 Speaker 2: like the same shows, you both like to read whatever 707 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 2: it is, you desperately need that one person to make 708 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:19,640 Speaker 2: it all easier. 709 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:22,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think sometimes teams certainly look to that. 710 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:26,000 Speaker 1: You know, Connor Bedard in the Blackhawks here in Chicago 711 00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:29,480 Speaker 1: was eighteen when he joined the team, and they were 712 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:31,080 Speaker 1: going to give him a roommate at first, and he 713 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:32,560 Speaker 1: was like, no, I'm all right, but like they ended 714 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:34,760 Speaker 1: up putting in a building with some vets that also 715 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 1: lived in the building. The building has like the kind 716 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:38,920 Speaker 1: of amenities that you don't have to leave to really 717 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 1: do anything, because it's tough to be a kid who's 718 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:45,280 Speaker 1: suddenly living in a new city alone. And so I 719 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:47,920 Speaker 1: think teams usually are pretty good about figuring out how 720 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:50,200 Speaker 1: to at least kind of put you around other people 721 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:52,400 Speaker 1: that will help you learn just how to be an adult. 722 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:55,320 Speaker 1: Do you being a dentist and. 723 00:33:55,880 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 2: You know, like and that's a piece of it too, 724 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:01,520 Speaker 2: Like you know, as the medities get better, that includes 725 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 2: like dentists and doctors, all those all those like insurance. 726 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:08,520 Speaker 2: They have to like you when you're in college, like 727 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:10,480 Speaker 2: all of your medical stuff is taken care of. 728 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:10,719 Speaker 1: Well. 729 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:12,440 Speaker 2: Now that you're a pro, like you you need an 730 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:14,359 Speaker 2: insurance card if you go to the doctor, you better 731 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,040 Speaker 2: have that a near on you, you know. So like it's 732 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:18,120 Speaker 2: just it's just different. 733 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:21,680 Speaker 1: Last couple here, How do you see pagebackers game translating 734 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:22,360 Speaker 1: to the pros. 735 00:34:22,719 --> 00:34:24,879 Speaker 2: I think it's going to translate beautifully. I think it's 736 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 2: going to translate beautifully. I thought Caitlyn's was going to 737 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:29,319 Speaker 2: translate beautifully as well, and it did. It just took 738 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:31,440 Speaker 2: some time for her to adjust to it all. But 739 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:34,960 Speaker 2: you know, Page can get to any spot on the floor. 740 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:38,120 Speaker 2: We've seen her navigate pick and roll so well she 741 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 2: you know, will she experience some of the defensive attention 742 00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:45,200 Speaker 2: that Caitlyn did. Yes, but she's going to have a 743 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:48,080 Speaker 2: rique alongside or so, you know, no double teams are 744 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:52,279 Speaker 2: coming off a RIQUE. So I think her game and 745 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:55,359 Speaker 2: I think the efficiency part of it will translate as well. 746 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:57,719 Speaker 2: I mean that that's the part that that was not 747 00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:00,480 Speaker 2: talked about nearly enough. If it wasn't for her, you know, 748 00:35:00,520 --> 00:35:03,480 Speaker 2: in the last three or four games missing some free throws, 749 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:05,640 Speaker 2: she would have been our first fifty to forty ninety 750 00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:08,840 Speaker 2: player who led the nation and assist the turnover ratio 751 00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:12,360 Speaker 2: like it's ridiculous, and I think her efficiency will translate. 752 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:14,719 Speaker 2: I think it'll actually be a good sign if her 753 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:18,240 Speaker 2: efficiency decreases a little bit, because that'll mean she's hunting 754 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:22,200 Speaker 2: shots more. But her personality, her teammates are going to 755 00:35:22,280 --> 00:35:24,359 Speaker 2: love her. She's going to fit in seamlessly to what 756 00:35:24,440 --> 00:35:27,680 Speaker 2: Dallas already has. And she has such a varied skill 757 00:35:27,719 --> 00:35:30,879 Speaker 2: set already a really good defender, has put on weight 758 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:33,919 Speaker 2: since she got to college, gotten stronger. I think she's 759 00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:37,040 Speaker 2: going to be at a high level really really quickly. 760 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 1: And it's just fund seeing the Dallas players so excited 761 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 1: for her to get there because they know she's covered, 762 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:46,359 Speaker 1: so they're Yeah. Among the projected top picks, we've got 763 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 1: French Unicorn, the six to six, Dominique Malongo, We've got 764 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:52,520 Speaker 1: Notre Dame, Guard, Sonya Citron usc Big Kiki Eria Fen 765 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:55,680 Speaker 1: Tcu guard, Hayley Van Liz, Let's use Anissa Moro. Those 766 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:58,040 Speaker 1: are some big names. Who are a few players that 767 00:35:58,080 --> 00:35:59,880 Speaker 1: you think will make an immediate impact in the w 768 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:02,279 Speaker 1: you see playing time right away. 769 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:05,400 Speaker 2: That really depends on where they go, right you know, 770 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:08,759 Speaker 2: So if you Connecticut as back to back picks in 771 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:10,640 Speaker 2: the middle of the first round that would be in 772 00:36:10,719 --> 00:36:13,680 Speaker 2: real players. No players, Yeah, I mean they lost their 773 00:36:13,719 --> 00:36:16,200 Speaker 2: starting five. And that's the put up part that can 774 00:36:16,239 --> 00:36:19,600 Speaker 2: be hard for kids on draft day. Do not worry 775 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:22,560 Speaker 2: about where you go. You know, you want to go 776 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:24,840 Speaker 2: somewhere where you're going to have an opportunity one to 777 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:28,040 Speaker 2: make the team and then to to to be able 778 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:30,920 Speaker 2: to play. And so players going and not only Dallas 779 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:32,920 Speaker 2: because obviously Page is going to play right away, but 780 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:36,000 Speaker 2: they have picks twelve and fourteen. Twelve and fourteen can 781 00:36:36,120 --> 00:36:39,080 Speaker 2: both make that Dallas roster and have an opportunity to 782 00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:42,680 Speaker 2: compete to be in the rotation. So that's the kind 783 00:36:42,680 --> 00:36:45,400 Speaker 2: of the piece that we're all watching too, not just 784 00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:48,680 Speaker 2: you know who goes where. And by the way, Malonga 785 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:52,879 Speaker 2: is an incredible talent. I encourage people to google her 786 00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:56,560 Speaker 2: and watch video of her because holy cow, she could 787 00:36:56,560 --> 00:37:00,560 Speaker 2: be pretty incredible in Seattle. So I think Page and 788 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:04,400 Speaker 2: Malonga are two. I think Citron again, you know, projected 789 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:06,480 Speaker 2: to Washington. Well, that's another place you want to go, 790 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:09,239 Speaker 2: because you want to go to a team that's rebuilding 791 00:37:09,320 --> 00:37:12,600 Speaker 2: and wants to invest playing time in their younger pieces, 792 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:16,080 Speaker 2: you know so, you would it be great for whoever 793 00:37:16,120 --> 00:37:19,399 Speaker 2: goes thirteen to Vegas because you're going to get to compete. Yes, 794 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:21,360 Speaker 2: Are you going to get much playing time? 795 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:22,080 Speaker 1: Probably not. 796 00:37:22,239 --> 00:37:24,560 Speaker 2: You're you're seen as a player for the future, which 797 00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:27,480 Speaker 2: will be great for you as long as you're ready 798 00:37:27,560 --> 00:37:30,719 Speaker 2: to assume that role, you know so, so we'll see, 799 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:32,360 Speaker 2: you know, those are the all of the pieces that 800 00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:34,720 Speaker 2: fall into place. That's that's pretty exciting. 801 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:37,439 Speaker 1: Well, I think it's going to be just so much 802 00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:41,040 Speaker 1: excitement heading into that season with the Valkyries getting started, 803 00:37:41,080 --> 00:37:43,839 Speaker 1: with the pagebackers and these young players we've been watching 804 00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:46,280 Speaker 1: all season long getting their first crack at the pro games. 805 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:48,719 Speaker 1: So we're just so pumped. Thanks so much for helping 806 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:50,319 Speaker 1: us get ready for it, and thanks so much for 807 00:37:50,360 --> 00:37:53,319 Speaker 1: looking back at what was an incredible college season. Thank you, 808 00:37:53,400 --> 00:37:57,720 Speaker 1: thank you, Thanks so much to Rebecca for joining us again. 809 00:37:57,920 --> 00:38:00,120 Speaker 1: We got to take another break when we return, but 810 00:38:00,239 --> 00:38:15,120 Speaker 1: the fact is back. Welcome back, Slices. It's time for 811 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:19,400 Speaker 1: another What the fact, Like we just talked about with Rebecca, 812 00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:22,000 Speaker 1: the college hoops season is over, which means the WNBA 813 00:38:22,080 --> 00:38:25,480 Speaker 1: season is rapidly approaching, and after a twenty twenty four 814 00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:27,600 Speaker 1: season that saw all but three of the league's twelve 815 00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:30,759 Speaker 1: teams led by women coaches, Twenty twenty five will start 816 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:33,600 Speaker 1: with six men at the head of the bench. Five 817 00:38:33,680 --> 00:38:36,800 Speaker 1: female coaches, including two of the three black women in charge, 818 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:39,719 Speaker 1: lost their head coaching gigs in twenty twenty four. Four 819 00:38:39,760 --> 00:38:42,920 Speaker 1: of those women were replaced by men. Indiana Stephanie White 820 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:45,080 Speaker 1: is the outlier. She parted ways with the Connecticut Sun 821 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:47,320 Speaker 1: and then was named the head coach of the Indiana Fever. 822 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:50,440 Speaker 1: For a league whose players have long champion diversity and 823 00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:53,880 Speaker 1: inclusion and where more than seventy percent identify as players 824 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:56,560 Speaker 1: of color per the latest TIDES report, and we're an 825 00:38:56,560 --> 00:38:59,840 Speaker 1: extreme majority of those folks identify as women. These coaching 826 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:03,400 Speaker 1: don't feel great. Throw in the fact that WNBA Legend 827 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:05,839 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer, eight time All Star and two time 828 00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:09,640 Speaker 1: Champ Lisa Leslie interviewed for two different head coaching vacancies 829 00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:12,840 Speaker 1: this offseason, and when she didn't get either, told Chicago's 830 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:15,160 Speaker 1: Guy Forward Angel Rees on her podcast quote, I will 831 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:17,360 Speaker 1: never make another attempt to go into coaching in the 832 00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:22,000 Speaker 1: WNBA end quote, Well, then the eyebrows really start raising. Now, 833 00:39:22,040 --> 00:39:24,719 Speaker 1: we of course don't know for certain why Leslie didn't 834 00:39:24,719 --> 00:39:27,160 Speaker 1: get the job or what the interview was like, and 835 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:29,399 Speaker 1: we certainly know that those men that got those jobs 836 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:33,200 Speaker 1: aren't immediately incompetent because of their gender. But these facts 837 00:39:33,239 --> 00:39:35,319 Speaker 1: do illuminate the truth that the league has a lot 838 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:37,160 Speaker 1: of work to do to ensure that the folks playing 839 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:40,440 Speaker 1: the game are represented by the folks leading them. Remember 840 00:39:40,480 --> 00:39:43,279 Speaker 1: those last two teams standing and unrivaled coach by the 841 00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:47,160 Speaker 1: two women coaches. I'm just saying there's also a precedent 842 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:49,399 Speaker 1: for more women leaders in the W two. In its 843 00:39:49,440 --> 00:39:51,719 Speaker 1: first season back in ninety seven, nine out of ten 844 00:39:51,760 --> 00:39:54,279 Speaker 1: head coaches were women. So it'd be nice to have 845 00:39:54,320 --> 00:39:56,520 Speaker 1: a return to that era because there are so many 846 00:39:56,520 --> 00:39:59,880 Speaker 1: talented women with big basketball brains that would love and 847 00:40:00,040 --> 00:40:03,359 Speaker 1: frankly deserve a shot. This is what the fact brought 848 00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:06,280 Speaker 1: to you by ELF Beauty. And here's another fact. Companies 849 00:40:06,280 --> 00:40:10,600 Speaker 1: with diverse leadership make more money. Elf Beauty credits part 850 00:40:10,640 --> 00:40:13,640 Speaker 1: of its success to its diverse board seventy eight percent 851 00:40:13,680 --> 00:40:17,239 Speaker 1: women and forty four percent diverse, and because of that diversity, 852 00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:21,160 Speaker 1: Elf has delivered twenty four consecutive quarters of sales growth, 853 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:25,520 Speaker 1: the only cosmetics brand to grow market share every single quarter. 854 00:40:26,040 --> 00:40:29,880 Speaker 1: ELF is about including everyone, because when you do, everyone wins. 855 00:40:30,239 --> 00:40:32,160 Speaker 1: Learn more about what Elf Beauty is doing to help 856 00:40:32,239 --> 00:40:37,759 Speaker 1: diversefy corporate boards. Visit changetheboard game dot com. We'd love 857 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:39,280 Speaker 1: to hear from us. To hit us up on email. 858 00:40:39,320 --> 00:40:42,680 Speaker 1: Good game at Wondermedia network dot com, and don't forget 859 00:40:42,680 --> 00:40:46,920 Speaker 1: to subscribe, rate and review slices. It's easy. Watch a 860 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:51,840 Speaker 1: Diana Tarasi documentary rating five out of five giant yetti 861 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:56,399 Speaker 1: cheers review. Amazon Prime Video has greenlit a three part 862 00:40:56,440 --> 00:40:59,600 Speaker 1: docuseriies about the life and career of Dina Tarassi called 863 00:40:59,640 --> 00:41:03,439 Speaker 1: Simply Tarassi. It's a Prime Video Sports and sky Dance 864 00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:06,080 Speaker 1: Sports production, and there are some familiar names in the 865 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:09,560 Speaker 1: mix as producers and contributors, which I'm psyched about, including 866 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:12,920 Speaker 1: Meadow Arc Media, my old friend Dan Lebottart's company, and 867 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:15,560 Speaker 1: my friend Kate Fagan is one of the executive producers. 868 00:41:16,040 --> 00:41:19,040 Speaker 1: Needless to say, this is gonna be good. Now it's 869 00:41:19,080 --> 00:41:21,480 Speaker 1: your turn. Go give us a rating and review us 870 00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:24,719 Speaker 1: five stars. Please say something nice, thanks for listening. To 871 00:41:24,719 --> 00:41:27,839 Speaker 1: see you next week. Good game, Rebecca, Good game. Three 872 00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:31,720 Speaker 1: weeks off. You kids and their schedules, and they're always 873 00:41:31,719 --> 00:41:34,480 Speaker 1: they need to be supervised and shit, Mama needs a break. 874 00:41:36,760 --> 00:41:39,440 Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports 875 00:41:39,440 --> 00:41:42,640 Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You 876 00:41:42,680 --> 00:41:45,560 Speaker 1: can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 877 00:41:45,560 --> 00:41:48,880 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, 878 00:41:49,080 --> 00:41:52,160 Speaker 1: our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive 879 00:41:52,160 --> 00:41:55,840 Speaker 1: producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan, and Emily Rudder. 880 00:41:56,040 --> 00:41:59,080 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rutterer, Britney Martinez, and Grace Lynch. 881 00:41:59,360 --> 00:42:02,360 Speaker 1: Our associate producer is Lucy Jones and I'm Your host 882 00:42:02,560 --> 00:42:03,240 Speaker 1: Sarah Spain