Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we've got
Speaker 1: our popcorn ready and a spot on the couch primed.
Speaker 1: It's almost WNBA Draft time. Baby. It's Monday, April fourteenth,
Speaker 1: and on today's show will be previewing tonight's draft with
Speaker 1: Jordan Robinson, host of The Women's Hoop Show. We talk
Speaker 1: about the importance of where a player goes versus when
Speaker 1: the top needs for teams drafting early, and the college
Speaker 1: players choosing to stay in school instead of entering the draft.
Speaker 1: Plus a game Cock on the Move, Love Crown's a Champion,
Speaker 1: and love in basketball in real life. That's all coming
Speaker 1: up right after this. Welcome Backslices, Happy Monday. Here's what
Speaker 1: you need to know today. Let's start with the WNBA.
Speaker 1: In tonight's draft, thirty eight players will hear their names
Speaker 1: called the Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City,
Speaker 1: though just sixteen were invited by the league to attend,
Speaker 1: including projected number one pick Page Beckers and National Championship
Speaker 1: runners up from South Carolina Sanaiah Fagan and Tahina Pow Pow,
Speaker 1: plus Notre Dame Sona citron USC's Kiki Eriefen TCUs Hailey
Speaker 1: van Lith and French phenom Dominique Maloga. Before any names
Speaker 1: are called, players will walk the Orange carpet with a
Speaker 1: live show hosted by Hannah O'Flynn and one of last
Speaker 1: year's most fashionable rookies, Los Angeles Sparks Rikia Jackson. You
Speaker 1: can catch that on the WNBA's YouTube channel and in
Speaker 1: the WNBA app starting at four thirty pm Eastern. Then
Speaker 1: a full slate of ESPN show is beginning with an L.
Speaker 1: Duncan hosted SportsCenter Live from Hudson Yards at sixth Eastern,
Speaker 1: followed by WNBA Countdown at seven and the Draft at
Speaker 1: seven thirty. Much more on the WNBA Draft with Jordan
Speaker 1: coming up later in the show. More WNBA news. The
Speaker 1: league is announced its inaugural Rivalry Week, presented by new
Speaker 1: partner Ally Financial. Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever will
Speaker 1: face Angel resind the Chicago Sky in prime time to
Speaker 1: tip off Rivalry Week in August, with other featured matchups
Speaker 1: including New York and Minnesota in a WNBA five Finals rematch,
Speaker 1: and Atlanta and their new acquisition Britney Griner facing her
Speaker 1: old Phoenix Mercury squad to college hoops, where another big
Speaker 1: name looks to be on the move. Flashy South Carolina
Speaker 1: guard Malaysia ful Wiley has entered the transfer portal. Ful
Speaker 1: Wiley helped Don Staley's Game Cox to the Final four
Speaker 1: this season and last year she was the SEC Tournament
Speaker 1: MVP as a freshman, helping the Game Cocks to a
Speaker 1: thirty eight no season in a national championship win. Meantime,
Speaker 1: this year's National Championship winners, Yukon, celebrated their victory with
Speaker 1: a parade in downtown Hartford yesterday. Thousands of people were
Speaker 1: on hand to watch the team, along with local businesses
Speaker 1: and media outlets, march down the streets of the capitol
Speaker 1: before speeches in front of the Excel Center, the huskies
Speaker 1: second home, gino Oriama Pagebeckers and Asy Fudd addressed the crowd,
Speaker 1: and Fudd returning next year to Yukon got the crowd
Speaker 1: fired up for more. Lastly, i's youma say, Yukon Nation,
Speaker 1: you guys are the best and let's run it back
Speaker 1: next year. If Azy plays anything next year like she
Speaker 1: did this year, they've got a real shot at it.
Speaker 1: To Hockey. Team USA defeated Canada two to one on
Speaker 1: Sunday the World Championships behind goals from Lee's deckline and
Speaker 1: Megan Keller. The US improved to three to zero in
Speaker 1: group play, with one final group play match tomorrow against
Speaker 1: Switzerland at one pm Eastern. Canada closes group play today
Speaker 1: at one pm Eastern against tournament host Chechia. Quarterfinal games
Speaker 1: are on Thursday. In the NWSL, the Orlando Pride in
Speaker 1: Kansas City Current ran their win streaks to four straight
Speaker 1: to start the season with wins this weekend, Orlando defeating
Speaker 1: the Seattle Rain one nil on Saturday behind a goal
Speaker 1: from Barbara Banda. Also on Saturday, Kansas City besting the
Speaker 1: San Diego Wave two nil with tallies from Debinia and
Speaker 1: Low Labanta. Also of note, Midge Purse back in action
Speaker 1: for the first time since her acl injury in March
Speaker 1: of last year. She was back on the field for
Speaker 1: Gotham FC on Sunday, entering in the seventy third minute
Speaker 1: and putting on the captain's armband. Gonzales had a brace
Speaker 1: and Gotham earned the three to one victory over the
Speaker 1: North Carolina Courage to Volleyball. Love Volleyball has its first
Speaker 1: ever champion crowned yesterday afternoon in Louisville. The title match
Speaker 1: was the culmination of a postseason that featured all six
Speaker 1: teams in the league, and a pair of underdogs made
Speaker 1: the most of that opportunity. Fifth seeded Love Austin and
Speaker 1: sixth seeded Love Omaha. Both teams finished the regular season
Speaker 1: with five and eleven records, well behind top seeded Atlanta
Speaker 1: and second seeded Houston, but no matter. In Friday semis,
Speaker 1: both underdogs fell behind but clawed back to come out
Speaker 1: on top, Austin upsetting Atlanta and Omaha upsetting Houston. Sunday's
Speaker 1: championship match saw Austin emerge victorious, beating Omaha in straight
Speaker 1: sets behind a dominant effort at the net with sixteen
Speaker 1: blocks and forty three combined points from former Texas Longhorns
Speaker 1: Madison Skinner and Logan Eggleston. Finally, Sports Illustrated has announced
Speaker 1: a new six spor competition, the SI Women's Games, set
Speaker 1: to take place this fall and air on SCRIPTS. The
Speaker 1: competition will take place in Oceanside, California, over the course
Speaker 1: of five days beginning October twenty eighth. It'll feature basketball, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics,
Speaker 1: flag football, and combat sports. Team Americas will take on
Speaker 1: Team World, with athletes facing off in individual and team competitions.
Speaker 1: All right slices. A quick note on the WNBA's current
Speaker 1: draft eligibility rules. This is info that should help you
Speaker 1: understand why college players you might have been watching all
Speaker 1: season are or aren't able to enter the draft process,
Speaker 1: why one and done's don't happen in the women's game,
Speaker 1: and the differences between domestic and international rules. So first,
Speaker 1: the rules for domestic prospects per the current CBA. A
Speaker 1: player is eligible if they graduate from a four year
Speaker 1: college within three months of the draft, or are four
Speaker 1: years removed from high school graduation, or turn at least
Speaker 1: twenty two years old during the year in which the
Speaker 1: draft takes place. The rules are much simpler for international prospects,
Speaker 1: which are defined as any person born and residing outside
Speaker 1: the United States who participates in the game of basketball
Speaker 1: as an amateur or a professional. Those players are eligible
Speaker 1: if they're at least twenty years old during the calendar
Speaker 1: year in which the draft is held. Worth noting, while
Speaker 1: international players become eligible at a younger age, they're impacted
Speaker 1: by the quote unquote prioritization rule added to the CBA
Speaker 1: ratified in twenty twenty. This is meant to keep players
Speaker 1: in the States and available for their WNBA teams, not
Speaker 1: missing long stretches to play with their national teams. To
Speaker 1: read more about that and why there are calls to
Speaker 1: adjust the prioritization rule in the next CBA, check out
Speaker 1: a recent Front Office Sports story done by friend of
Speaker 1: the show Annie Costable. We'll link to it in our
Speaker 1: show notes. All right, we're going to take a quick
Speaker 1: break when we come back. It's Jordan Robinson. We caught
Speaker 1: up with our last Thursday to chat all things WNBA
Speaker 1: Draft Us. Now a returning champ, she's hosted the newly
Speaker 1: renamed podcast, The Women's Hoops Show, formerly known as Queens
Speaker 1: of the Court. She also does biweekly WNBA chats as
Speaker 1: part of the new br Creator program, and she's a
Speaker 1: host for the Women's Sports Network. Oh and she's also
Speaker 1: co authoring a book on the history of women's hoops.
Speaker 1: I'm just tired reading it. It's Jordan Robinson, welcome back.
Speaker 2: Thanks for having me back. Yes, I am always tired.
Speaker 2: After my bio. That just means I got a lot
Speaker 2: of tax forms to fill out because it's tax season.
Speaker 2: That's all that means.
Speaker 1: And you're getting paid, and you get paid.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 1: We are both a little punch drunk as a result
Speaker 1: of our recent escapades at the Final Four, and no
Speaker 1: rest for the wicket because the WNBA Draft follows up
Speaker 1: right after everyone thinks we get a break, No, sir,
Speaker 1: we are still out here working and trying to get
Speaker 1: ready and keep up with all the news. So there's
Speaker 1: so much to talk about. There's so much intrigue this year,
Speaker 1: especially with players pulling out just weeks before the big
Speaker 1: event at Hudson Yards, Manhattan. So before we even get
Speaker 1: to the players who are eligible to be selected, let's
Speaker 1: have a brief chat about a couple of the women
Speaker 1: who will not be in New York City, starting with
Speaker 1: Olivia Miles. So, I want to get your take on
Speaker 1: this Notre Dame star for going the draft and instead
Speaker 1: entering the transfer portal and closing out her career at TCU.
Speaker 2: WHOA. I feel like shocked wasn't even the right word
Speaker 2: because it was a two punch. It was I'm not
Speaker 2: going into the draft, and especially with someone who was
Speaker 2: like for sure a number two pick, like we all
Speaker 2: know it's page And then it was going to be
Speaker 2: a Livia Miles, so you kind of already knew where
Speaker 2: you were going, what your future was going to look like.
Speaker 2: It was pretty solid. So then she says, nah, I
Speaker 2: don't want it, don't like it. Then I'm going to
Speaker 2: enter the transfer portal. And then that's when my eyebrows
Speaker 2: were like scathed off by the hot take of that.
Speaker 2: I am very curious as to why. I mean, I
Speaker 2: think she was just on TikTok Live the other day
Speaker 2: saying her and Hannah Hidalgo are good. I think those
Speaker 2: were a lot of rumors of maybe they just weren't
Speaker 2: getting along, maybe it wasn't enough shots, especially how we
Speaker 2: saw how that last game went against TCU, did not
Speaker 2: have their best game together or separately. But going to
Speaker 2: TCU where they make this historic run led by Haley Vanlyth,
Speaker 2: a lot of those seniors are gone. So I just
Speaker 2: don't see the picture, the full picture of why she
Speaker 2: chose that school. Mark Campbell has been recruiting his tailoff.
Speaker 2: Players have been saying high praise about him. Yeah, but
Speaker 2: I don't know what the other pieces are. If your
Speaker 2: goal is to be at the Final four and win
Speaker 2: a national championship, compete against a team like Yukon. So
Speaker 2: I just I don't see it. I don't see it.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I thought the same way you did.
Speaker 1: I wondered if it had anything to do with Hannah.
Speaker 1: You know, my brain always goes to, you know, whether
Speaker 1: there's tension in a locker room where you have a
Speaker 1: player who has said some pretty despicable things about queer people.
Speaker 1: I don't know anything about Olivia Miles sexuality or anybody
Speaker 1: else in that Notre Dame locker room, but I do
Speaker 1: wonder if there's anything there, because she's not the only
Speaker 1: Notre Dame player that is in the transfer portal and
Speaker 1: electing to go elsewhere. I figure with TCU, Hailey Vanlith
Speaker 1: sure put up a good advertisement for reinvigorating a career
Speaker 1: there and again very high praise from Mark Campbell. With
Speaker 1: Sedona and Haley and other folks leaving, it does feel
Speaker 1: like an interesting place. But maybe there's some other hunting
Speaker 1: being done in the transfer portal that we're unaware of
Speaker 1: that hasn't been announced yet. And it also does seem
Speaker 1: like a lot of people talked about the kind of
Speaker 1: financial backing that TCU has to try to lowar people.
Speaker 1: So maybe Olivia is just like, listen, I've got enough
Speaker 1: cachet that I can go where I want, get paid
Speaker 1: and then wait till that new CBA is in effect,
Speaker 1: see if the rookies are getting paid a little better,
Speaker 1: and make my way out. But yeah, that was the
Speaker 1: head scratcher for sure, Easy Fid. Coming back to Yukon,
Speaker 1: it was sort of a toss up. You weren't sure.
Speaker 1: But the way she's been playing, how high is her ceiling?
Speaker 1: If she plays a full year like she did down
Speaker 1: the stretch, especially in that title game.
Speaker 2: It is going to be such a fight for that
Speaker 2: number one draft pick next season. And I think that's
Speaker 2: what I'm so excited for November, so we can start
Speaker 2: having those conversations and see how it moves between her
Speaker 2: and Bets and maybe Flage. So many people fut around
Speaker 2: and found out that is like my favorite thing that
Speaker 2: I have learned over this past weekend. The sign I
Speaker 2: wanted on a shirt. She was balling out of control,
Speaker 2: and I think there were some wagms like dang, we
Speaker 2: gotta wait one more year, But then also we get
Speaker 2: to wait one more year so she can just sharpen
Speaker 2: those skills even more I saw that she was a
Speaker 2: part of the roster for the Kelsey plum Dog class,
Speaker 2: So there's even more things that she's going to be
Speaker 2: able to grow at. I don't know what else she
Speaker 2: needs to because the shot is looking great. She was
Speaker 2: out there crossing people over from South Carolina like these
Speaker 2: are really good defenders. So a full year it was.
Speaker 2: It was a tease in this championship game, in this
Speaker 2: March tournament for us as fans to be able to
Speaker 2: watch her do what she did at a high level
Speaker 2: for a full year. And she also deserves that. I
Speaker 2: think she kind of robbed for a lot of her
Speaker 2: college career, so it didn't surprise me that she just
Speaker 2: wanted one more year in college and to be able
Speaker 2: to be confident play with the you know, a Sarah
Speaker 2: Strong for one more year. Heck yeah, sign me up
Speaker 2: for that.
Speaker 1: I was gonna say, they have a really good shot
Speaker 1: of repeating with the kind of talent that they already
Speaker 1: have those youngsters. So uh, you mentioned Flage Flage Johnson,
Speaker 1: the Queen of Nil, the mayor of LSU. She was
Speaker 1: slowed down a little bit by injury late in this season.
Speaker 1: She'll be back for another year with the Tigers. What
Speaker 1: can she do for her draft stock if she stays
Speaker 1: healthy and has another year building on what was a
Speaker 1: good year for her when she was healthy.
Speaker 2: The thing about Flage is that she is nice. Like
Speaker 2: you know, there's not a lot of players that you
Speaker 2: can say is just nice. It's smooth her handle her shot,
Speaker 2: but sometimes it could be a little inconsistent. And I
Speaker 2: think she would say that about her game too. I
Speaker 2: think getting more consistent and also getting stronger. I think
Speaker 2: I want to see her in the weight room. I
Speaker 2: want to see her getting Anne one after Ann one
Speaker 2: to get ready for the w because we know that
Speaker 2: once you get to that level, you got to be
Speaker 2: able to hold your own, hold your weight and not
Speaker 2: get knocked around. So if she's going to be driving
Speaker 2: into the paint, I think that's something that she wants
Speaker 2: to work on. But I think Flage is so smart.
Speaker 2: She knows the business side. She's making over a million dollars,
Speaker 2: so it's not that part. She loves basketball. She respects
Speaker 2: the game. She respects the WNBA, and you've seen her
Speaker 2: talk about it. She's like, ah, I can go out,
Speaker 2: but I just don't think I'm ready yet. Like I
Speaker 2: think I'm really good, but I know that the WNA
Speaker 2: players are great, so to have that sipe of self
Speaker 2: awareness is really commendable. And I think that she is
Speaker 2: going to keep working hard in the off season to
Speaker 2: make sure that she just has all her eyes dotted
Speaker 2: her t's cross before she enters the draft next year.
Speaker 1: Lauren Bett's coming back to UCLA tonight LATS and staying
Speaker 1: in school, but going to South Carolina, which is to
Speaker 1: be fascinating a handful of others that we are not
Speaker 1: going to see till next year. So let's get to
Speaker 1: the draft and the players who are going to be
Speaker 1: up for selection on Monday now. Earlier in the show,
Speaker 1: I explained the rules around eligibility for domestic and international players,
Speaker 1: but I would love it if you'd give a little
Speaker 1: context around how the w draft might be a little
Speaker 1: different from other sports. So if we've got newer fans
Speaker 1: coming in, can you tell us a little about how
Speaker 1: it's different in terms of how the players selected actually
Speaker 1: might not always make a roster or see playing time,
Speaker 1: unlike a lot of other drafts where we expect the
Speaker 1: top picks to be stars or contributors right away.
Speaker 2: And with other sports it's all picks, Like it's not
Speaker 2: even topics. It's like when you get drafted rounded.
Speaker 1: Date in the NFL, you're like still going to start.
Speaker 2: Yeah, you're still there's still an ESPN camera, Like it's
Speaker 2: day three of the draft and somebody is still filming
Speaker 2: you after you're getting drafted. But once you get past,
Speaker 2: like especially a draft like this where it was gonna
Speaker 2: be loaded, but all those names that you mentioned, kind
Speaker 2: of going into next year, after probably eight in this
Speaker 2: first round, it's it's looking a little questionable. You don't
Speaker 2: even have a lot of the top contender teams even
Speaker 2: in the first round, barely even in the second round,
Speaker 2: because they're like, we got our crew, don't even bother
Speaker 2: don't even try to come to these training camps.
Speaker 1: Yeah, we're bringing everybody back. Good luck to every We're good.
Speaker 2: We're good. But last year, last year's draft, you know,
Speaker 2: I read somewhere that it was not even fifty percent
Speaker 2: of the players that got drafted made a roster. So
Speaker 2: when you think about your decisions and when you are
Speaker 2: a college player, you used up all your eligibility, you
Speaker 2: used up all your transfers, and you're like, Okay, this
Speaker 2: is kind of the next step because this is what
Speaker 2: I've worked for, Let's try. And that's what the draft
Speaker 2: kind of is. It is an audition. And what I
Speaker 2: say over and over about the WNBA Draft more than
Speaker 2: any other sport, is that it's not even about the order.
Speaker 2: It's about the fit. It is about the team that
Speaker 2: you go to. Because you could be seventh pick and
Speaker 2: someone could say, oh, well, there was six picks better. No,
Speaker 2: but you went to the perfect team that needed your
Speaker 2: position that you had the best chance to make a team.
Speaker 2: So it's not even about going top three. Yes, we
Speaker 2: know money is different in those top picks on your
Speaker 2: rookie contract, but it's about where can I go that
Speaker 2: they need my position, that I can be a backup
Speaker 2: to a superstar there that even if I don't make
Speaker 2: the team, if I go into training camp and the
Speaker 2: GM and the coaches know me and they know how
Speaker 2: I play, you go play overseas you might get called back.
Speaker 2: So it's this very much audition type of mentality that
Speaker 2: you want to make sure that your name is in
Speaker 2: those rooms when decisions are being made, when rosters are
Speaker 2: being discussed, no matter what order you fit into.
Speaker 1: Right, And I think thankfully there are a few more options.
Speaker 1: In addition to overseas, you could play athletes unlimited. I
Speaker 1: ran into Donna or under in the Final four area,
Speaker 1: and she's launching a new league that's supposed to be
Speaker 1: made a September kind of this upshot league is what
Speaker 1: I believe she said it was going to be called.
Speaker 1: That gives another opportunity. So we are seeing at least
Speaker 1: more places for Buible to continue to hone their craft
Speaker 1: and be available if there's an injury or if a
Speaker 1: roster spot opens up. But yeah, it's pretty wild. So
Speaker 1: if you're excited about some of your college faiths, they
Speaker 1: might not make the rosters. It might not make the rosters. Okay,
Speaker 1: a lot can change day of There could be some
Speaker 1: prize picks that shake things up. But let's talk about
Speaker 1: some of the projections. As of no pagebackers, no doubt
Speaker 1: number one pick, and also no real talk anymore about
Speaker 1: her wanting to avoid Dallas or force them to trade
Speaker 1: away the number one. How much of that do you
Speaker 1: think was media and how much might have actually been
Speaker 1: pages desired to think about going elsewhere.
Speaker 2: Gosh, I don't know. I don't blame the thought because
Speaker 2: Dallas the receipts. They're not looking good for the front
Speaker 2: office just as an organization. I love the city. I
Speaker 2: don't even know if it's really a city.
Speaker 1: It's in Texas though, yeah.
Speaker 2: It is in Texas unfortunately, but they are moving to
Speaker 2: a bigger arena. You have Arique there who's excited about
Speaker 2: you coming and has been tweeting and actively rooting for
Speaker 2: you in the final four as someone who went to
Speaker 2: Notre Dame. So this is there's excitement there. But I
Speaker 2: think it's more of the track record of what the
Speaker 2: organization of the Dallas Wings have done. When you look
Speaker 2: at the past of superstars wanting out, you think of
Speaker 2: a Skuyler, digg and Smith, you think of Eliz Cambage,
Speaker 2: you think of Alisha Gray was like, please get me
Speaker 2: out of here, Marina Mayby. So many stars have wanted
Speaker 2: out of that organization. And if it's my client, I'm like, Okay,
Speaker 2: what's going to change. What's going to change to make
Speaker 2: sure that my superstar is not disgruntled in a couple
Speaker 2: of years. So yes, if Los Angeles Sparks had that
Speaker 2: number one pick in the draft lottery, I don't think
Speaker 2: we would have been talking about this because it's La.
Speaker 1: It's La, though, but not necessarily a franchise that hasn't
Speaker 1: been full of its own issues.
Speaker 2: I also said that.
Speaker 1: I said that as well, but I think it's as
Speaker 1: much about the market. Yeah, yes, exactly, it's about the markets.
Speaker 1: I mean, if it was Seattle, we would have been
Speaker 1: like perfect. You know, this facility, the arena, the legacy,
Speaker 1: stepping into Sue's shoes, like it all seemed like a
Speaker 1: fit LA. We were like, well, it's La, good market
Speaker 1: for her, she's a superstar. We'll ignore some of the
Speaker 1: issues that they had. Dallas were like, it's.
Speaker 2: Exactly, it's a little too many, little too many red
Speaker 2: lives popping up.
Speaker 1: But let's let's talk about how do you see her
Speaker 1: fitting in with the likes of Ari Ga Goomwala, Alyssa Thomas,
Speaker 1: d jn A Carrington.
Speaker 2: Oh, I think it's a great fit. I think they have.
Speaker 2: You know, first of all, Kurt Miller in his first
Speaker 2: year as a GM with Dallas, I love the pettiness
Speaker 2: of getting the number one pick over his ex team,
Speaker 2: the Sparks, and said, how you like them apples? I
Speaker 2: love it, I love it. But he is also like
Speaker 2: building these hard nose group, like you have a Djna,
Speaker 2: you have an Alyssa Smith, but you still have a
Speaker 2: Tierra McCowan there who is put in work, taking up
Speaker 2: space in the in the post and Arique. You know,
Speaker 2: you had Asatu Sabli who was there, didn't not a
Speaker 2: lot of things happen, but she pieced and they're like,
Speaker 2: all right, we're gonna retool, We're gonna build things around this.
Speaker 2: Dallas last year needed a point guard. They needed someone
Speaker 2: to run the show. Arique is better off the ball.
Speaker 2: So Page coming in. She is a scoring point guard.
Speaker 2: She can get hers, she can go off. But remember
Speaker 2: as a freshman she was averaging almost six assists per game,
Speaker 2: and that's why she won Player of the Year, the
Speaker 2: first freshman to ever win that award. So I think
Speaker 2: she can come in and be this facilitator that Dallas needs.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I love I just heard the story. I hadn't
Speaker 1: seen it before that. When Azy was trying to figure
Speaker 1: out where to go, Page made a homemade mix of
Speaker 1: her assists to teammates and sent it to her and
Speaker 1: her family and said, this could be you if you
Speaker 1: come to Yukon. This is how I facilitate and make
Speaker 1: others great. Which is fantastic. I think that's why Arik
Speaker 1: is like, let me put aside my note of Dame
Speaker 1: jerseys for a bit. I'm gonna get fed over here. Also,
Speaker 1: you can't be doubling me if you're worried about Page
Speaker 1: creating her shots. So it's gonna be really fun to watch.
Speaker 1: And you have to hope that it's almost like the Fever.
Speaker 1: The Fever who were great with Tamika on the court,
Speaker 1: maybe not as much in the front office, and then
Speaker 1: had this lull to Meika catchings and then had this
Speaker 1: lull until Caitlin arrives and they know this is our moment.
Speaker 1: We have to capitalize. You have to hope that the
Speaker 1: Wings recognize the power page and they start figuring out
Speaker 1: how to make sure that they're taking advantage. All right, See,
Speaker 1: I'll get a number two. Pick. A lot of folks
Speaker 1: had Olivia Miles going to the Pacific Northwest. Who do
Speaker 1: you now see the storm taking.
Speaker 2: Well, I'm going international here. In my personal mock draft,
Speaker 2: Dominique Malonga from France is a problem six'. SIX i
Speaker 2: know that my dad has sent me the viral video
Speaker 2: of her dunking at seven and like four different times
Speaker 2: you know how parents do.
Speaker 1: That they're like off a, drop step off a drop, stuff, no,
Speaker 1: no no, momentum just. Standing, yeah.
Speaker 2: Incredible and she you, know she didn't even play that
Speaker 2: much on The france national team because they are stacked over.
Speaker 2: There but then she gets to go and potentially play
Speaker 2: With Gabby, williams who was Her french. TEAMMATE i just
Speaker 2: think that the idea Of Dominique, Malanga ezzie Magmagor Neca,
Speaker 2: gombique just long and just play a two three. Zone
Speaker 2: just have them at, wingspan arms, out nobody is getting in,
Speaker 2: there and then you Have Gabby williams And Skyler digg
Speaker 2: And smith pressuring the. Ball i'm just thinking of, defense of,
Speaker 2: length of. ATHLETICISM i think they should make this pick
Speaker 2: and that would be so much. Fun she's only, nineteen
Speaker 2: But essie was also only nineteen From australia when she
Speaker 2: came to The. Storm so seeing her develop and her
Speaker 2: just be the great player that she, IS i think
Speaker 2: the ceiling is really high For dominie.
Speaker 1: And playing, professionally playing around older, PEOPLE i think just
Speaker 1: changes that. Age it doesn't feel quite the same that would.
Speaker 1: BE i, mean that's a unicorn type. Player that even
Speaker 1: if you don't need, IT i think any team would
Speaker 1: feel like they have to take. Her, yeah The Washington
Speaker 1: mystics are going to play a huge role in this year's.
Speaker 1: Draft they Sent Eryl atkins to The Chicago sky that
Speaker 1: gave him the number three, picks so they've now got,
Speaker 1: three four and six In monday's. Draft NEW gm And
Speaker 1: Jamie Lea whidaman new head coach In Sydney. Johnson what's their,
Speaker 1: priority especially when they know they're dealing with those three
Speaker 1: picks right almost.
Speaker 2: In a row, there their priority is. Everything we are
Speaker 2: getting the best available because we need it. Desperately you
Speaker 2: do not have three picks in the first round if
Speaker 2: you don't need, bodies just anyone that you can get
Speaker 2: and building for the. FUTURE i think this is a
Speaker 2: very important draft for them because The Washington mystics started
Speaker 2: out terribly last, season as we, know what was it
Speaker 2: oh to, twelve oh and, Thirteen but then somehow we're
Speaker 2: still in conversations of potentially making the playoffs at the
Speaker 2: end of the. Season so you have good Pieces Aliah,
Speaker 2: Edwards Shakira, Austin Britney. Sykes they just injuries were really
Speaker 2: their biggest thing last year, healthy you add my picks
Speaker 2: number three A Sonya citron coming From Notre, dame who
Speaker 2: is going to be one of my favorite. ROOKIES i
Speaker 2: already know because she is so. Versatile she can guard
Speaker 2: the team's best, player she can spot up, shoot she
Speaker 2: can drive to the. BASKET i feel like she just
Speaker 2: has the pro body.
Speaker 1: Surprising size to write six to two at that guard, position, yeah.
Speaker 2: Exactly her size is really going to help her on
Speaker 2: the next. Level and then a little controversial app, FOUR
Speaker 2: i Have Kiki. RIAFIN i know that she has dropped
Speaker 2: and gotten as high as two from the start of the.
Speaker 1: Season she's after that first game With juju, out everyone
Speaker 1: was like her stock's never been high. Er she went,
Speaker 1: off and then the next two games you're, like you're
Speaker 1: like five for twenty eight or.
Speaker 2: Where, yeah back to where we were. Before but she
Speaker 2: can't go.
Speaker 1: Off it's a matter of trying to figure out what
Speaker 1: the difference was in those. Games was it the setup
Speaker 1: was which where she was getting the ball? Defender you
Speaker 1: know all that.
Speaker 2: To, me it's Potential. Kiki we've seen the greatness of,
Speaker 2: her especially At. Stanford you know she was playing with another.
Speaker 2: Star she doesn't have to be that number one, option
Speaker 2: especially when she goes to The, mystics especially as a,
Speaker 2: rookie she doesn't have to be that go to. Player
Speaker 2: if she can knock down that mid range at the free,
Speaker 2: throw if she can rip and blow by a slower,
Speaker 2: POST i think she will be a good. Pro AND
Speaker 2: i say call Edd Elena, deladon call her she, retired
Speaker 2: tell her to work With, kiki AND i think that
Speaker 2: could help her game and grow that a little.
Speaker 1: Bit. YEAH i think also it's really sort of unfair
Speaker 1: to take the last two games of a season where
Speaker 1: you have an entire game plan based around a superstar
Speaker 1: that goes down, injured and then all of a, sudden
Speaker 1: all the focuses on, you but you haven't really built
Speaker 1: a new game plan around the team that you have out.
Speaker 1: THERE i think that's a little bit. Unfair so certainly some.
Speaker 1: Potential then you Mentioned Aleah. Edwards that is someone WHO
Speaker 1: i think after watching her On, unrivaled they probably already
Speaker 1: know all this from seeing her in. Practice but if
Speaker 1: you're that, TEAM i think you find some ways to
Speaker 1: create space for her because what we saw on the
Speaker 1: ONE b one especially is that she can take anyone
Speaker 1: AND i, think you, know there's a lot of enthusiasm
Speaker 1: and excitement around her next season after what we saw In,
Speaker 1: unrivaled especially if she gets some. Help, okay so that's
Speaker 1: first two of those. Three she could get some backcourt
Speaker 1: help From Maryland's, sellers From Kentucky's, amore even From haley
Speaker 1: van lyth.
Speaker 2: Mm, hmmm, YEAH i like. That i'm trying to, think
Speaker 2: who DID i have for? Six, YEAH i Have. SELLERS
Speaker 2: i Have Shyanne sellers From. MARYLAND i think her draft
Speaker 2: stock has definitely been on the rise because we were
Speaker 2: able to see not only those fantastic games With Maryland March,
Speaker 2: madness but what she's been able to do Under Brenda
Speaker 2: freeze her whole. Career she stayed At, maryland she has
Speaker 2: played with, stars she's played With Angel, reyes she played
Speaker 2: With Diamond miller like she's been able to grow in her.
Speaker 2: Game AND i think she's just going to be that perfect.
Speaker 2: Piece and WHEN i think of The mystics they lost
Speaker 2: To Tory, walker kimbro To atlanta and free agency And
Speaker 2: Chyenne sellers could kind of fit that. Role i'm just
Speaker 2: going to come in off the, bench be a solid role.
Speaker 2: Player i'm not going to shoot high, volume But i'm
Speaker 2: going to be. Efficient i'm gonna get, Stops i'm gonna
Speaker 2: make little Mistakes like that type of player is someone
Speaker 2: you need in the, mix and especially with this rookie,
Speaker 2: CLASS i think she can be that for The.
Speaker 1: Mystics, yeah number five pick goes to The Golden State,
Speaker 1: valkyries who didn't make the SPLASH i expected or they
Speaker 1: hoped in free. Agency let's start there for a, second,
Speaker 1: LIKE i don't. Know i'm not a professional basketball player,
Speaker 1: barely BUT i feel LIKE i would want to go
Speaker 1: to a brand new franchise with incredible, facilities a lot of,
Speaker 1: enthusiasm incredible ambassadors on the men's, side and ownership that's
Speaker 1: willing to throw a ton of money and enthusiasm behind
Speaker 1: this new. Team get to set some records and expectations
Speaker 1: and be a part of this new. THING i was
Speaker 1: really surprised that they weren't able to draw some bigger
Speaker 1: names of free. AGENCY i was.
Speaker 2: SHOCKED i couldn't believe, it especially because of everything that you.
Speaker 2: Said but the basketball part that you forget or you're
Speaker 2: not thinking, about Because i'm also looking at all the
Speaker 2: shiny newness of a team One, historically expansion teams are
Speaker 2: not very. Great we just know. This they are building
Speaker 2: a team out of expansion drafts and they're kind of
Speaker 2: getting as much as they can, get so they usually
Speaker 2: finished towards the, bottom and maybe some of these stars were, like,
Speaker 2: Eh i'm tired of being at the. BOTTOM i want
Speaker 2: to win, now SO i want to go to a team.
Speaker 2: There the other part is a lot of these free
Speaker 2: agencies were, cored so they the. Teams if they were
Speaker 2: going to go to The, valkyrie The valkyries had to
Speaker 2: trade something in order to get. Them So i'm thinking
Speaker 2: of A Kelsey, plumb. Right she was definitely the name
Speaker 2: That i've thrown out. There Natalie nikasse is the head
Speaker 2: coach of The. Valkyrie she came from The. Aces i'm, like,
Speaker 2: okay they're gonna Get Kelsey. Plump but when The aces are, like,
Speaker 2: well who are you gonna give for? Them and it's
Speaker 2: a bunch of these great players but not enough to
Speaker 2: amount to a. Superstar so when you hear The valkyries
Speaker 2: talk about the disappointment and free, AGENCY i Think Kendrick
Speaker 2: andrews reported on. This they, said we just didn't have the.
Speaker 2: Capitol we didn't have the roster to trade for these
Speaker 2: superstar level, players and you gotta work with what you.
Speaker 2: GOT i think they have some. Dogs you Get Tiffany,
Speaker 2: hayes you Got Kate, Martin Moe, billings one of my.
Speaker 2: FAVORITES i love her a lot of effort. Players so with,
Speaker 2: THIS i Have anissamorrow going.
Speaker 1: Here, ooh what a fit because with those players that
Speaker 1: would be so fun're they're getting every loose ball.
Speaker 2: Rebound you will never question the effort of this, group
Speaker 2: AND i think she would fit. IN i Know Anis
Speaker 2: tomorrow is, undersize but what she showed us In March
Speaker 2: madness IS i can shoot the, THREE i have a mid,
Speaker 2: RANGE i have more to my. Game But i'm also
Speaker 2: going to give you a double double at the bare. Minimum.
Speaker 2: Yep so we saw that With Angel, rees the effort
Speaker 2: and the rebounding transfers to this. Level AND i think
Speaker 2: In tomorrow at five to The, VALKYRIES i like.
Speaker 1: IT i like that. Too, okay so after That mystic's third,
Speaker 1: pick we'll go to The Connecticut sun at seven and.
Speaker 1: Eight this team kind of needs. Everything they lost their
Speaker 1: entire starting. Five right, now it's Basically Marina maybry and
Speaker 1: the rack of spices that she got from Dje itt.
Speaker 1: Unrivaled there's some. Players no insult to the players that are.
Speaker 1: THERE i did look up their roster and like six
Speaker 1: of the players currently listed don't have a. Photo i'm,
Speaker 1: like are these made? Up did you make these people?
Speaker 1: Up what is the priority for the new head, Coach Rashid.
Speaker 1: Miziun that's a great.
Speaker 2: Question what DID i say for the? Mystics The sun
Speaker 2: will take anyone and. Everyone that's probably gonna be the
Speaker 2: most interesting training, Camp sarah, like, honestly because it's it's wide,
Speaker 2: Open like you can go into a training camp and be,
Speaker 2: like oh, Cool i'm the superstar of THIS wnba team
Speaker 2: THAT i was just on out of. Nowhere there is opportunity.
Speaker 2: THERE i Have Hailey bandlyth going to The sun here
Speaker 2: AND i think that one The sun need, Everything but
Speaker 2: she could be kind of this anchor person for a
Speaker 2: team and figure out HER wnba roots and what she
Speaker 2: wants to be and what type of player she wants
Speaker 2: to be on this is it also weird THAT.
Speaker 1: I like associate her with. CASINOS i don't know what it,
Speaker 1: is BUT i feel Like Hailey bandlth is like the
Speaker 1: perfect player to be on team that's in a.
Speaker 2: Casino maybe just, money maybe because she JUST i.
Speaker 1: Mean she's, money she's. CLUTCH i don't. Know there's a vibe,
Speaker 1: there there's a.
Speaker 2: Vibe it's a perfect. Match she likes. Casinos let me
Speaker 2: stand you to The connecticut. Side it's in a. Casino so,
Speaker 2: yeah nobody really who's been in the w wants to go.
Speaker 2: There so that's why they've been pulling some international players
Speaker 2: and they will build some rookies.
Speaker 1: To fill out this roster and remind, ME i think
Speaker 1: and believe and hope that they're one of the ones
Speaker 1: that's planning a new facility or AM i just wishing
Speaker 1: that into?
Speaker 2: Existence, yeah we are definitely wishing. THAT i think when
Speaker 2: there is such a mass exodus and everyone has all
Speaker 2: the players have just shit on your facilities and saying
Speaker 2: you're playing in a boys and girls. Club you need
Speaker 2: a break crown like yesterday if you want.
Speaker 1: ANYBODY i just made that up out of hope For
Speaker 1: marina and everyone. INVOLVED i just don't want them to
Speaker 1: be practicing next to a child's birthday party. Anymore but
Speaker 1: they will indeed be doing.
Speaker 2: That, Okay welcome To haley.
Speaker 1: Bends all, right what else do you have your eye
Speaker 1: on heading Into monday? Night anything else team wise or
Speaker 1: player wise that you'll be watching. For maybe A Kate
Speaker 1: martin moment where a player is ostensibly there to support
Speaker 1: other people and then randomly gets the.
Speaker 2: Call oh, man you, Know i'm just excited again when
Speaker 2: we talk about. Fit there could be some really fun
Speaker 2: fits that come out of, this you. Know one THAT
Speaker 2: i love Is Georgia amore potentially going to The la
Speaker 2: sparks her With Lynn.
Speaker 1: I've heard the sky, too Which i'm, like come, here
Speaker 1: give Us. Sundawalter, yeah that could be.
Speaker 2: FUN i can see that playing Behind Courtney vandersloot would
Speaker 2: be great for her. Career but then on the other,
Speaker 2: hand you could learn from A Elsea plumb Who she's
Speaker 2: also in that dog class With Kelsey, plum so maybe
Speaker 2: that chemistry kind of goes. There But Lynn roberts loves the,
Speaker 2: three loves to play, fast AND i Think Georgia amore
Speaker 2: could work really well. There but then on the other hand,
Speaker 2: too WHICH i think might be a little bit of a,
Speaker 2: sleeper Is Sanaia rivers FROM Nc. State not a lot
Speaker 2: of people have her HIGH i don't think she needs
Speaker 2: to be a high draft. PICK i think she is
Speaker 2: pro ready with her, body with her, athleticism she reminds,
Speaker 2: me and she could be something like A Rikiah. Jackson like,
Speaker 2: yeah going To minnesota at eleven Under Cheryl reeve and
Speaker 2: the development that we know that she Coach reeve, Does
Speaker 2: like that makes my basketball mind so happy at that
Speaker 2: potential for. Her SO i think there are some solid
Speaker 2: players that we were able to watch all college season.
Speaker 2: LONG i hope they get a. SHOT i hope they
Speaker 2: make a. Roster but it's just making me more excited
Speaker 2: about the debt you in, general because there's there's bucket
Speaker 2: getter's top to bottom on all these.
Speaker 1: Rests, well you also mentioned like good, fits as in
Speaker 1: fit for the team they're, On but what about other?
Speaker 1: Fits what about the fit check who's gonna win the
Speaker 1: game within the game on draft?
Speaker 2: Night oh my, gosh, WELL i mean page just last
Speaker 2: year she came with that all white, suit which is kind.
Speaker 1: Of like you're doing. Great yeah, yeah, camera it was.
Speaker 2: Like a number one. Fan but now she's gonna be on.
Speaker 2: Stage so we loved that fit last. Year she could
Speaker 2: go it has to top. That it's, oh it's gonna be.
Speaker 2: Great SO i Have paige winning winning that, award there's.
Speaker 1: Gonna Be it's gonna be. GOOD I i feel like.
Speaker 1: TOO i haven't really checked out her, fits BUT i
Speaker 1: feel like she is the kind of person THAT i
Speaker 1: could see all of a sudden going big on. Draft
Speaker 1: they were, like, okay, YEAH i, Was, YES i can
Speaker 1: see new.
Speaker 2: Hair, YEAH i love. This but also has always she's
Speaker 2: been coming to drafts like the past three.
Speaker 1: Years she might just show up in a swimsuit from
Speaker 1: That Sports illustrated. Shoot she might just roll in, rolling,
Speaker 1: rolling some, big fuzzy dim Awar why why is this
Speaker 1: my impression of what's going on and.
Speaker 2: What's her connection to? Casino somebody out think she has.
Speaker 1: One i'm just making it. Up. Uh producer said they're
Speaker 1: gonna have the best. Fit, Okay, Okay i'm just, saying
Speaker 1: you put it out there. Now So i'm gonna find
Speaker 1: a full body shot And i'm gonna be boop boop.
Speaker 1: Boop here's WHAT i. LIKE i don't like. This this
Speaker 1: is working tucking the. Food you're missing the jkl o.
Speaker 2: L there's a jk l okay too late safety, Bag,
Speaker 2: yeah too.
Speaker 1: Late you're getting the fit check you're getting the fit. Check,
Speaker 1: Jordan thank you so much for coming. On it's been
Speaker 1: a whild couple of, days but it's so fun to
Speaker 1: chat with you about this for so, long looking forward
Speaker 1: To monday.
Speaker 2: Night so thanks thanks for having.
Speaker 1: Me thanks so much To jordan for taking the. Time
Speaker 1: that was a. Blast we have to take another break
Speaker 1: when we come. Back hoops and gay, Shit welcome, Back.
Speaker 1: Slices we love that you're, listening but we want you
Speaker 1: to get in the game every day, Too so here's
Speaker 1: our good game play of the. Day watch all THE
Speaker 1: wnba draft, coverage starting with The Orange carpet at four
Speaker 1: thirty Pm, eastern going Through SportsCenter Wnba, countdown and leading
Speaker 1: up to the draft at seven thirty Pm eastern ON.
Speaker 1: Espn also before the, draft you can check out a
Speaker 1: really well done story about draft Prospects Sadona, prince written
Speaker 1: by friend of the, show ESPN's Katie. Barnes now you'll
Speaker 1: remember we've mentioned allegations of sexual and emotional abuse Against
Speaker 1: prince in previous. Episodes, Well barnes spoke to multiple wnbagms
Speaker 1: about their interest and or concern in drafting. Prints it's
Speaker 1: worth the. Read you can find the story via the
Speaker 1: link in our show. Notes we always love to hear from,
Speaker 1: you so hit us up on. Email Good game at
Speaker 1: wondermedianetwork dot. Com don't forget to, subscribe rate and review.
Speaker 1: Slices it's easy watch getting engaged a few days before
Speaker 1: THE wnba, draft rating ten out of ten the stuff
Speaker 1: hoops and gay shit dreams are made. Of Review Marilyn
Speaker 1: Star Shyenn sellers is one of the sixteen players invited
Speaker 1: To New York city for the draft, tonight and if
Speaker 1: she gets selected as, expected it could be one of
Speaker 1: the best weeks of her. Life just a few days,
Speaker 1: Ago sellers proposed to her girlfriend and former, Teammate Faith,
Speaker 1: missonis and she said, yes a whole fiance and a
Speaker 1: WHOLE wnba draft. Pick you're on top of the. World.
Speaker 1: Shi now it's your turn to rate and. Review thanks for.
Speaker 1: Listening see you. Tomorrow Good, Game, Jordan Good, Game love
Speaker 1: austink you seasonal. Allergies let me enjoy my spring blossoms in.
Speaker 1: Peace Good game With Sarah spain is an iheartwomen's sports
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