1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Before we get started, please rate and review our show. 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: It helps people find us. On this episode of Sports 3 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: Illustrated Weekly, the w NBA Playoffs are upon us and 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: we have everything you need to know to get ready. 5 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,280 Speaker 1: We are delighted to be joined by Jordan Legans from 6 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: The Spinsters podcast and Buckets for our postseason preview. I'm 7 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: your host, John Gonzalez from Sports Illustrated and I Heart Radio. 8 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: This is Sports Illustrated Weekly. Jordan Legans, Welcome back to 9 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:42,840 Speaker 1: Sports Illustrated Weekly. Thank you for having me. So happy 10 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: to be here again. Oh, it's delightful to have you 11 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,879 Speaker 1: on as always. The w NBA Playoffs are here and 12 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,279 Speaker 1: you're gonna help us set the table. Before we get 13 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,279 Speaker 1: I want to run through all of the different matchups 14 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: with you, because nobody's just plugged into the w n 15 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: b a as you are, so it's gonna be great 16 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: for all of us. But I want to talk about 17 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: the change to the format in the playoffs, which I 18 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: find very interesting. Jordan's so no more buys. Every team 19 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 1: plays in the first round, no receding after the first round. 20 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: This is the component that I find interesting after six 21 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: years of single elimination first and second round games. We 22 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:15,119 Speaker 1: have now moved to first round matchups as a best 23 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: of three, semifinal and finals best of five the first 24 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 1: round Jordan's this is the wrinkle. First two games at 25 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 1: the higher seed at home. If the lower seats somehow 26 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: pulls that off, they get the decisive game three on 27 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: their core. What do you make of all this? Do 28 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: we like it? I like it? I like it. It's 29 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: like the new old format because this is a format 30 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 1: that the W used to have back in the heyday. 31 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: The single elimination was just chaos and it was fun, 32 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: but it was like March madness at a pro level, 33 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: and some players hated it, like if you have an 34 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: off game and you're a top seed, you don't have 35 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: a chance to redeem yourself. So I like this series. 36 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: It gives us more games just in general, more playoff games, 37 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: which is what we want. But it's time it allows 38 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: for some bounce back games, because that's how the Chicago 39 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 1: skuy won last year. They had their best games in 40 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: those single elimination games and then they ended up winning 41 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: the finals. They came into the playoffs at five hundred 42 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: and they still won the finals, so it they kind 43 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: of stopped that right after Chicago did that you make 44 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: a compelling point. More basketball is always good. We love 45 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: basketball here. On the one hand, I am an agent 46 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: of chaos in my own life. I also embraced chaos 47 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: as a content creator. However, if you were a basketball 48 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: player and a basketball team, and you were a higher seed, 49 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: you certainly want more games because, as we know, the 50 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: statistics bear it out. If you have an actual series, 51 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,959 Speaker 1: the higher seeds, the more accomplished teams tend to get 52 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: through as opposed to Hey, on any given night, if 53 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: it's just one game, now, all of a sudden, there 54 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: might be an upset. So it is a little bit 55 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 1: fairer for the teams that are putting the work during 56 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: the regular season, which brings me Jordan's to these matchups. 57 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: We'll start with the one versus the eight. It's the 58 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: Las Vegas Aces versus the Phoenix Mercury. The race. The 59 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: number one Vegas barely held off the Chicago Sky, the 60 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: aforementioned defending champions by a half game. It lost any sass, 61 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: I'm the number one overall. See in the radio playoffs 62 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: Vegas one all three games versus the Mercury in the 63 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: regular season. Uh, what do you see? From Vegas. What 64 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: are their strengths to the Does Mercury have any shot here? 65 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: Vegas is going to win the championship, That is my statement. 66 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: I was gonna save that for the end, but all right, 67 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: let's do it up top. Let's do it up top, 68 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: because they are winning this series and they are beating everyone. 69 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: Asia Wilson is my m v P, so I don't 70 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: think the Mercury have a chance. Diana Trassi is is out. 71 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 1: She was out for the regular season. It's a question 72 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: mark if she's playing in the playoffs. Skylar Diggins didn't 73 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: finish the regular season for personal reasons. So this Mercury 74 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: team him is kind of stitched together barely. They don't 75 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: have their all stars Superstar and Britney Griner right now. 76 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 1: The Aces also have some injuries with Derick A. Hanby, 77 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: but they are rolling Kelsey Plum. If Asia wasn't the 78 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 1: m v P, Kelsey Plum might be the m v P. 79 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: Becky Hammond has his team moving like a machine and 80 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 1: they're gonna beat everybody. So the Mercury are first up 81 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: and they're gonna beat them too. I like it. I 82 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: like how declarative and definitive. This is as you mentioned, 83 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: that first round matchup for the Aces doesn't seem like 84 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 1: a tall order because of all the things that Phoenix 85 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: has had to go through this season. There were five 86 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: games under five hundred, they finished fifteen and twenty. As 87 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: you mentioned, Diana Tarassi has a quad strain. Who knows 88 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: if she'll be back. And then the entire Britney Grinder situation, 89 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 1: which has been just a really awful situation. Her lawyers, 90 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 1: we should mention, just appealed her sentence while the US 91 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: government tries to arrange a prisoners swap. There's no real 92 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 1: good transition here. It's just like a weight that's that's 93 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: over everybody. Uh and that that, obviously and rightly so, 94 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: is a massive distruction because there's more important things in basketball. 95 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: But because we're discussing basketball here, Jordan's just imagine you 96 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 1: made the case for the Aces rolling and they're gonna 97 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: win the championship, and they're they're playing so well, what 98 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: would a Mercury upset have to look like? What would 99 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: they have to pull off? They would have to score 100 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: a hundred and fifteen points each game. There's a lot 101 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 1: of points, especially in the debut. The Aces are scoring 102 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: so easily and so much, and they're going they're the 103 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: fastest team in the league pace wise, so it's like 104 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: you have to score more than them and you have 105 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 1: to be faster than them for three games or two games. 106 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,039 Speaker 1: I don't see that happening, especially for the Mercury team. 107 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: So if they would, if they were to win, they 108 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: don't have to take it to the whole series and 109 00:05:53,720 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 1: probably shoot from three breaks. As a basketball fan, I 110 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: feel like is a tall order, uh, from or from 111 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: anywhere on the court. So got speed to the Mercury. 112 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: You've got some nice parting gifts coming your way. Let's 113 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 1: go to number two Chicago Sky versus the number seven 114 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: New York Liberty. Chicago almost got the top slot. They're 115 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: the defending champs for the first time in franchise history, 116 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 1: the Chicago Sky champions. We know that their interior with 117 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: Candice Parker is excellent, and yet you're already saying that 118 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: this is a rap. It's gonna go to the Aces. 119 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 1: Tell me more though about the Sky before we get 120 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 1: to the Liberty and why the Sky could maybe up 121 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: end your Aces in your prediction. The Sky have that 122 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 1: championship experience, right like going back to back you know 123 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: what it takes to get there. The Aces have been 124 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: to the finals before, but this pretty much same unit 125 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: with the Sky. We're just there so they know what 126 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: it takes. They have great leadership in Canus Parker. They 127 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: have Courtney bandersup, they have Khalia Copper and they're they're 128 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: just have their mindset there, like we know what it 129 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: takes to get there. We're going to get back whoever 130 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: is in our way. We're gonna bulldoze them. But when 131 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: they meet the Aces again, that's where it stops. I 132 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: have Chicago going all the way up until but we 133 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 1: just had the Commissioner's Cup not too long ago, which 134 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: is basically they're in season tournament for the w n 135 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: b A and the Chicago Sky and the Aces met there. 136 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: The Aces were up by thirty in the first quarter, 137 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: Like it's a lot of points. They score a lot 138 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: of points. That's what I'm getting at. So if the 139 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 1: Sky can match them there and kind of prep each 140 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: series like Okay, this is what we need to work 141 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: on to beat the Aces, then that's what's going to 142 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 1: get them there. First up for the Liberty, they are 143 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: a tough team and they barely made it into the playoffs. 144 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: If you guys didn't know, the last regular season games 145 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: all decided the last three spots of the playoffs. So 146 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: the Liberty got that spot because they beat the Atlanta Dream. 147 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: So the Liberty got that spot two times in a row. 148 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: They've squeaked in. But you have Sabrina Esque, which you're 149 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: gonna bet money on. You're gonna bet money on that. 150 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: She's going to have a great game, She's gonna have 151 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:26,239 Speaker 1: a good series. But Nigel Laney, Um, so many players 152 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: on this Liberty team are going to fight till the end. 153 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: But I still don't think they make it past Chicago 154 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: and their experience. Yeah, as you mentioned, Liberty just snuck in. 155 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: They finished at sixteen and twenty. Uh. Doesn't look good 156 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: for them either, in the same way that it doesn't 157 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: look good for Phoenix. But now we get into some 158 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: of these matchups that could potentially be slightly more competitive. 159 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: You have number three Connecticut Sun versus the sixth seed 160 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: the Dallas Wings. The Son had a really good season 161 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: and eleven just a half game behind this guy in 162 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,679 Speaker 1: a game behind the Aces eleven and three. Since the 163 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: All Star break, they're playing their best basketball right now. 164 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: What do you think maybe a potential spoiler somewhere in here. Yeah, 165 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: the Connecticut Son. I always say this about them. They 166 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: are the bride'smaids, but never the bride. They have wonderful 167 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 1: regular seasons top top three for the past like four years, 168 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,319 Speaker 1: but they when it gets to the postseason, it gets 169 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:28,559 Speaker 1: a little shaky. So if I'm yes, and if you're 170 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:32,599 Speaker 1: the Wings, you want the Connecticut Son. I'm excited for 171 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 1: this series because the Wings are a team that will 172 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: blow up everyone's bracket. Like they are really good and 173 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: they're peeking at the right time. Without their superstar, Rique 174 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:47,680 Speaker 1: gomal A, one of the best players in the league, 175 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: is injured right now and she is expected to miss 176 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: the first round. I hate to see it for such 177 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: an awesome player. Plus, don't forget she's just came back 178 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:59,559 Speaker 1: from that ankle injury. But the Dallas Wings have actually 179 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: been playing better without her, which is very interesting. Usually 180 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: that doesn't happen. Well, so let me let me stop 181 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: you then, because there they were a game under five hundred. 182 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: They finished at seventeen and eighteen. As you mentioned, they 183 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: don't have their top score the best player Rique, She's 184 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 1: got an abdominal injury and yet You're excited for the 185 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: series and think that the Wings want the Sun. So 186 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: what are the Wings doing to the Sun or what 187 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: do you think the Wings can bring that could potentially 188 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 1: spell an upset. The Sun are really good inside in 189 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: the paint. Most of their points are right in the middle. 190 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,959 Speaker 1: They have Alyssa thomas Um, they have Bree Jones who 191 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 1: just clog it up. But the Dallas Wings have Tierra McCowen, 192 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: who is having a breakout season on this new team. 193 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: She was with the Fever before, now she's with Dallas 194 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: and we're really were able to see her blossom into 195 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: this dominant post player that we knew that she could be. 196 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 1: So they have that matchup in the in the paint, 197 00:10:57,720 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: it's it's not going to be so easy for them 198 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: where they have John Quo Jones typically you know feasted inside, 199 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:06,679 Speaker 1: but they have Tierra McCowan to at least be a 200 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: barrier and stop them. They also have Izzie Harrison, who 201 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: is a post player. So I think that matchup in 202 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 1: the paint is usually where Connecticut's son beats everybody else. 203 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 1: Dallas has that marked. And then on the outside, Dallas 204 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: has Marina Maybury who's having an incredible season, and it 205 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: is really stepping up while Rique is out and Connecticut 206 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:33,439 Speaker 1: is a little inconsistent on the outside with their guards. 207 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:36,839 Speaker 1: I think Heidelman is doing well. Courtney Williams is great, 208 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: but I think Marina Maybrey is gonna drop a thirty 209 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 1: point game on them, and they're not gonna see it 210 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,719 Speaker 1: coming because they're expecting a Rique to do that, and 211 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: since she's not here, maybe they fall back a little 212 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:51,839 Speaker 1: bit um and Dallas kind of strikes. That's what I'm 213 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 1: hoping for. Are you gonna do it? Are you going 214 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 1: to pick the upset? Oh? Yeah, let's do it. Let's 215 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: do it. Let's do it. Yeah, there we go. You're 216 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 1: gonna hear first on Sports Illustrator Weekly, Jordan's picking the upset? Alright? 217 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,599 Speaker 1: Last one for you, number four Seattle Storm versus the 218 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: number five Washington Mystics. Uh, they finished with the same record, 219 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 1: both were fourteen tiebreaker and home court go to the Storm. 220 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,959 Speaker 1: Super even what are we looking for here? Aside from 221 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: farewell to Supper who was like one of the great, 222 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 1: not just great all time basketball players, but one of 223 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 1: the great all time athletes. Ever. I can't believe she's retiring. 224 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: I can't believe it either. I'm so old. I'm so old. 225 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: It's it's bizarre. I don't know a w B A 226 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 1: without super like shea going to college. She has been 227 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: winning at every level for so long. But this has 228 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: been a wonderful farewell tour to her every game, her 229 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,959 Speaker 1: last home game, her last regular season game, like everything 230 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,559 Speaker 1: has really been this. We love you, Sue, we love you. 231 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: Now is the playoffs, and uh, I don't know if 232 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: the Washington Mystics are going to be so so nice 233 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: to you on her farewell tour. But it really helps 234 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: that Sue is on a Seattle Storm team with Brianna 235 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: Stewart and Jue Lloyd and all of these one Tina Charles, 236 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:17,199 Speaker 1: like all of these really great basketballers. I watched the 237 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: Seattle Storm the other day and I was like, they 238 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: could win it all. Like they're that good. They are 239 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: so good. And when we talk about experience in the postseason, 240 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: this is a core that has won multiple championships together, 241 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: have been to the playoffs almost every season, have been 242 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,839 Speaker 1: to the finals, so they know what it takes. They're like, 243 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,839 Speaker 1: you know, a regular season, Yeah, yeah, we're the fourth seed, 244 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: but we're going to turn up in the playoffs. This 245 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: Washington Mystic team is trying to figure that out. Atlanta 246 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: de Ladon was a part time player during the regular 247 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 1: season just to save her for this moment um. Natasha 248 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,079 Speaker 1: Cloud is a little bit of a question mark. I 249 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: know she got banged up in the last the last game, 250 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: Zone Philly Zone. Natasha contractually obligated to mention that anytime 251 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: anybody for Philadelphia appears, So yes, very excited for you. 252 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: Got Khalia Copper to North Philly. She's on the Chicago 253 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: skuy so you you'll love her too. But the Washington 254 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: Mystics are close. I don't think this is their year 255 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: to make it past Seattle, but they're close. They're like 256 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: a season or two from winning it again. So it 257 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 1: sounds to me like you're going with the storm though, 258 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: or are you wavering? I'm going with the storm. I'm 259 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: going with the storm here. Jula Lloyd had thirty eight 260 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: I think in the last game, and every time I 261 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: watched her play basketball, I'm just in awe and she 262 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: is wonderful at the sport, and I think this is 263 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: her time to shine. She wants People have kind of 264 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: only been talking about Sue's farewell tour and not really 265 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: about how good Seattle Storms team is. And I think 266 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: she wants to kind of prove like, yeah, we're good 267 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: and we're gonna we're gonna go far. And you've got 268 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: me excited for that series. You've got me excited for 269 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: these playoffs. You've already mentioned that the finals are gonna 270 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: be chalk, and then you've got the Aces winning. So 271 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: we've covered all that. Less exciting probably for them, maybe 272 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: not for us, are the teams that were eliminated. I 273 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: just want to rattle off a couple here with you 274 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: that did not make the playoffs. The Sparks, Jordan's, the 275 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: Sparks missing back to back postseasons for the first time 276 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: since the first two years as a team, traded away 277 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: their first round pick, Grimm, Grimm and l A. Yeah, 278 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: you know, I was at the last home game last night, 279 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: and um, how did that go? It did not go 280 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: well because you know that Dallas team that I was 281 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: telling you about, Yeah, they beat us by about forty 282 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 1: It was not good. A friend of mine Jordan's a 283 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: friend of mine went to a game recently and said 284 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: there was no energy in the building. It was kind 285 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: of dead. People are like only the hardcore Sparks fans 286 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: like you go, now, yeah, it's kind of rough. I 287 00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: think me and my fiance were there and we were 288 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 1: looking around and we were like, it isn't Sparks basketball. 289 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: Like it was actually bad basketball. They didn't know what 290 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: they're doing. I've interviewed so many Sparks players this season, 291 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: and it was turnover with coaches and players and egos. 292 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: And you can make all the shots on the court, 293 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: but if everything behind the scenes isn't working out and 294 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: isn't jelling together, then it kind of doesn't matter. And 295 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: that's what's going on with the Sparks right now. It 296 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 1: doesn't seem like anyone is like, hey, remember when we 297 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 1: were good. I panned up to the championship banners while 298 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: I was there, and I zoomed in to just remember 299 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: the good times that, like, we were good at one point, right, 300 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: so we got to get back there. We have to 301 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: get back there. I don't know what it's gonna take, 302 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: but this season was pretty awful, Like it was pretty bad. 303 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: How long I mean when you say you don't know 304 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: what it'll take, I mean ball park me Like, like, 305 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: how grim do you think it is? Like when do 306 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: you think they're back in the mix. Are we talking 307 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: about like a full hard reset? Your you know, this 308 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:04,880 Speaker 1: season was the reset. It was pretty much a whole 309 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,679 Speaker 1: new roster. And then I saw a tweet the other 310 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 1: day that said, like six players are free agents or 311 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 1: unrestricted free agents. So will they come back to this 312 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 1: fire storm? I don't know, are they going to go 313 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: somewhere else? I think we need a new coach. Derek 314 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 1: Fisher was fired and then we had an interim with 315 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:29,680 Speaker 1: Fred Williams, I believe, and no one really bought into 316 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 1: what he was doing because it just seemed like it 317 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: was temporary. So if we come in, have a coach 318 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: come in and say this is our identity, this is 319 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 1: what we're gonna stand for, this is what we're gonna 320 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: play for. Hey, let's watch some old game film of 321 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 1: the Lisa Leslie sparks and how packed it was in 322 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: Staples in the forum, Like let's get back to how 323 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: great we can be. Then I think they'll be buy 324 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,440 Speaker 1: in because the players want to play at a high level, 325 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: they want to win, and individually they're all great players. 326 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:02,680 Speaker 1: They just have to figure out how to jail them together. 327 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: Small small things. I mean, it's just so tiny count 328 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: the organization change. Yeah, one more team that I wanted 329 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: to mention to you that didn't make it. The links 330 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: were eliminated, which means we say goodbye to the great 331 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 1: Sylvia Fouls a lot of media attention, obviously and rightly so, 332 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,640 Speaker 1: as she's leaving. Highly recommend by the way Ben Pickman 333 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: story on her in s I, Sylvia is a legend. 334 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: She's got a very unique life story which I want 335 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: to touch on with you, but real quick. Uh as 336 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:39,680 Speaker 1: a basketball player, fifteen year career to w NBA titles, 337 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: two finals, MVPs for Olympic Golds, go on and on 338 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 1: about total rebounds and field goal percentage and double doubles. 339 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 1: Member of the WS Anniversary team, just dunked in the 340 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: most recent All Star Game. It put her career in perspective. 341 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 1: Explain her greatness to people, man Sweet Silk. First of all, 342 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:07,439 Speaker 1: she is the nicest person I've ever met. Like sweet 343 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:11,399 Speaker 1: Sill just is the perfect moniker for her because she 344 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 1: is so nice. But her career is really dominance, like 345 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: pure dominance for a really long time, like a fifteen 346 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,919 Speaker 1: year career. She's still the league leader in rebounding. Her 347 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 1: last season, she has the all time leader in rebounds. 348 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: And it's so interesting because when you see her play 349 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: even this season, you say, she's still dominant. Why is 350 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: she hanging it up? But she wanted to end on 351 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,159 Speaker 1: this note, and I think as basketball fans we can 352 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: always appreciate that. We didn't want her to go down 353 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 1: an injury or um she was going to retire in 354 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: when she had a hip surgery, but she don't want 355 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: to go out like that. She wanted to still go 356 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: out as this dominant, most decorated player, and for an 357 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 1: organization like The Links where she helped, you know, really 358 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:05,400 Speaker 1: create their dynasty and help with that. But the game 359 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: is going to miss her. I think a lot of 360 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 1: people are going to be able to get more layups 361 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 1: now that she's not in there blocking and uh, share 362 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: the rebounds somewhere else. But just as fans, you know, 363 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: she plays with such tenacity and energy, but it's also 364 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: super super kind and really nice. We're just gonna miss her. 365 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:30,399 Speaker 1: We love Sylvia. Foul's here right to the last, as 366 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 1: you said, still dominant on the boards, still cleaning the glass, 367 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: still burying people, which is appropriate because she's going to 368 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: spend her next phase of her life as a mortician. Yes, 369 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: I mean this is a wild component. Again, I recommend 370 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 1: people go read Ben Pickman's story, but it's all about 371 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 1: how she was like into death from an early age 372 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: and she like just decided to have a side hustle 373 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:55,359 Speaker 1: where she like showed up at a funeral home and 374 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 1: was like, I'll help you beautify these corpses, and that's 375 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 1: gonna be her life. It's wild. It's so wild. She 376 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 1: is probably the most interesting person ever because also she 377 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:11,160 Speaker 1: like knits, and she like knit everyone a homemade gift. 378 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: On her last home game, while she was receiving all 379 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 1: these flowers and gifts, she knitted everybody something personal, like 380 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 1: that's who she is. But also yes, she says that 381 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 1: people just aren't educated in the mortician area and that 382 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:30,439 Speaker 1: it's actually great and she loves it. So more about 383 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: to a great retirement plan. Honestly, Wow, I wish her 384 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 1: the best. She was a delight to watch. I'm excited 385 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: about the playoffs now because we've previewed them with you, 386 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: so we wish you the best as well. Listen to 387 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,639 Speaker 1: Jordan on the Spinsters with Haley, who is also a 388 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 1: friend of the program, and watch her at w NBA 389 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 1: commentary on buckets. She's our number one seed and a 390 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: sure fire Hall of Famer. Jordan leggands, thank you for this, 391 00:21:54,040 --> 00:22:01,119 Speaker 1: Thank you, thanks for listening everybody, and a reminder to 392 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:03,959 Speaker 1: please rate and review the show that helps people find us. 393 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: Sports Illustrated Weekly is a production of Sports Illustrated and 394 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio. For more podcasts from I Heart Radio, 395 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 1: visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 396 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: you get your favorite shows. And for more of Sports Illustrated, 397 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 1: its best stories and podcasts, visit SI dot com. This 398 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,720 Speaker 1: episode of Sports Illustrated Weekly was produced by Jordan Rosieri, 399 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:33,120 Speaker 1: Jessica Armoski, and Isaac Lee, who was also our sound engineer. 400 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 1: Our senior producers are Dan Bloom and Harry sward Out. 401 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:40,919 Speaker 1: Our executive producers are Scott Brody and me John Gonzaltz. 402 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:44,959 Speaker 1: Our theme song is by Nolan Schneider. And if you've 403 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:52,400 Speaker 1: stuck around this long, we leave you with this. I'm 404 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 1: I'm preparing for people to just show up and be like, oh, well, 405 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: this distant cousin was invited song. I'm invited right. That's 406 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: how me and Jordan are going to show up soon. 407 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:06,400 Speaker 1: We were invited come to Santa Clarita, come on down. 408 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: All Jordan's are invited for sure.