Speaker 1: In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
Speaker 1: iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
Speaker 1: and Entertainment. Welcome to another episode of In Case You
Speaker 1: missed It with Christina Williams here on iHeartRadio, and the
Speaker 1: Elite eight is over. There was lots of things that happened.
Speaker 1: Dukon came out on top, big game from Sarah Strong,
Speaker 1: and the stage is set now for the Final four.
Speaker 1: So I'm looking forward to this week's conversation. So I'm
Speaker 1: super excited about this week's guest to me in my eyes,
Speaker 1: to such a OG but legend in the game of media.
Speaker 1: So without further ado, let me introduce sports analyst and
Speaker 1: basketball reporter co founder of Rising Media Stars, Lachina Robinson
Speaker 1: to the show. La China, thank you for joining.
Speaker 2: Us, Thank you for having me, Christina, And let me
Speaker 2: just say what I've learned over time is OG stands
Speaker 2: for you old okay, been around a long time, but
Speaker 2: thank you so much for having me. I've enjoyed watching
Speaker 2: you blossom in this sports media world, especially around women's basketball,
Speaker 2: and I'm so happy you have your own platform.
Speaker 3: Yay yay, you know it's so crazy because I remember
Speaker 3: my one of my first times meeting you was the
Speaker 3: twenty nineteen WNBA Finals and that was the first time
Speaker 3: I met toa Rica as well.
Speaker 1: Shout out to t hey dude, and I just remember
Speaker 1: you gathering all of the reporters of color, like we
Speaker 1: have to capture this moment, we have to capture this moment.
Speaker 1: And we all took that picture together center Court in Connecticut.
Speaker 1: But yeah, that was a special moment. And to see
Speaker 1: where each and every person who was in that picture
Speaker 1: where they ended up today in the media space, I
Speaker 1: think it's super special that we can all reflect back
Speaker 1: on that moment. But thank you for seeing me back
Speaker 1: then and just always being someone that I could reach
Speaker 1: out to when I need advice in the game. But
Speaker 1: I want to start the convert with this a little
Speaker 1: icebreaker question. What is something that has brought you joy
Speaker 1: this week?
Speaker 2: Something that has brought me joy this week? You know,
Speaker 2: I had a spa day yesterday with one of my
Speaker 2: friends who had a baby about six months ago. And
Speaker 2: when I tell you I have not seen my homegirl
Speaker 2: in six months, I mean, obviously the transition into motherhood
Speaker 2: is her first child, can be rather challenging. And getting
Speaker 2: your bearings and feeling well mentally and physically and taking
Speaker 2: care of the baby and learning. So I hadn't touched
Speaker 2: base with her in a minute, and we just had
Speaker 2: such a rejuvenating time, Like, yes, the spa was amazing.
Speaker 2: I left and hopefully Muskin got a little extra glow
Speaker 2: on it right now, But I see it. We're just
Speaker 2: really spiritually aligned. And if anything, you know how it is, Christina,
Speaker 2: Like there's a people you associate with, there's people who
Speaker 2: you're connected to, maybe through your job, but there's like
Speaker 2: your inner inner circle. And I would consider this friend
Speaker 2: someone in my inner circle. And we really just shared
Speaker 2: things on a spiritual level that came as a point
Speaker 2: of like confirmation for my journey and just made me
Speaker 2: feel all warm and loved, and.
Speaker 4: Yeah, that was my joy.
Speaker 2: And it's interesting hearing you talk about the sisterhood and
Speaker 2: all of us meeting and taking that picture. It means
Speaker 2: so much to me to be surrounded by such incredible women.
Speaker 2: And not only is this friend someone that I've become
Speaker 2: very obviously fond of and love and rely on for support,
Speaker 2: but I would say that about you and into Rika
Speaker 2: and all of us that are kind of in this
Speaker 2: media circle together, especially around women's basketball, because we have
Speaker 2: had some amazing moments, but we've also had some challenging
Speaker 2: moments and they continue in this space. So it's a
Speaker 2: full circle to be talking to you today coming off
Speaker 2: of that moment of joy with my good friend.
Speaker 1: Absolutely love that, and I agree with you. I think
Speaker 1: that community is so important, especially in the women's basketball space.
Speaker 1: I'm glad that we could all lean on each other.
Speaker 1: But you talked a little bit about your journey and
Speaker 1: just finding that balance to self reflect when you think
Speaker 1: about your start in media, how did you transition from
Speaker 1: being a college athlete into becoming a member of the
Speaker 1: media in a basketball analyst?
Speaker 2: Getting lost several times, that's how I describe even my journey,
Speaker 2: and I stay getting lost.
Speaker 4: But I also believe that everything happens for a reason.
Speaker 2: When I finished playing college basketball, I got into college administration.
Speaker 2: I actually worked at Georgia Tech on the administrative side.
Speaker 2: I worked with women's basketball, but my trek was I
Speaker 2: wanted to be an athletics director one day and thanks
Speaker 2: to a quarter life crisis at like twenty six, twenty
Speaker 2: seven years old, where I was suddenly like I don't
Speaker 2: think I want to do this anymore. That opened the
Speaker 2: door for an exploration that I really needed to learn
Speaker 2: more about myself and what my most positive attributes were
Speaker 2: and what people think about me when I enter the room,
Speaker 2: and as I started to put all of the notes
Speaker 2: together that I was gathering, but also just really self reflection.
Speaker 2: What is it that I wake up every day thinking about?
Speaker 2: What is the thing I would do for free? All
Speaker 2: arrows from all of that research pointed back to women's basketball.
Speaker 2: Media always wanted to grow the game, loved what it
Speaker 2: did for me in my life as a woman and
Speaker 2: a young girl growing up. Remember Pat Summit looking into
Speaker 2: the television and saying, we need more coverage of women's basketball.
Speaker 2: And so all of those moments were pointing towards the
Speaker 2: career that I have now. But it wasn't an easy transition.
Speaker 2: I mean, you know that. And it feels like you
Speaker 2: had more of a handle on what.
Speaker 4: You wanted to do than I did when I was
Speaker 4: your age when you were getting into the business. But
Speaker 4: I just worked really hard. Quite honestly, I heard a
Speaker 4: lot of nose.
Speaker 2: I had no experience on television. I wasn't a gold medalist,
Speaker 2: I didn't play for a Hall of Fame coach. Like
Speaker 2: my resume did not scream, you know, sign her up
Speaker 2: right now as your next basketball analyst, but just became
Speaker 2: a student of the broadcast, had a lot of amazing
Speaker 2: guidance on the way and thank goodness, but maybe not
Speaker 2: at that time, it wasn't a long line to cover
Speaker 2: women's basketball. There weren't a lot of people knocking down
Speaker 2: the doors. So when I was like, I want to
Speaker 2: cover women's basketball, everyro was like, oh okay.
Speaker 4: You know, like we.
Speaker 2: Don't have space for you in the NBA or in
Speaker 2: men's basketball. We don't have space for you in football,
Speaker 2: but if you want to cover women's basketball, sure go ahead.
Speaker 4: Like it wasn't at high demand, so there were opportunities
Speaker 4: for me.
Speaker 2: And I always tell people I don't feel like I've
Speaker 2: worked a day in my life because I just love
Speaker 2: what I do so much. I love the game, and
Speaker 2: I'm so excited about the growth that we're seeing in
Speaker 2: a sport.
Speaker 1: I would have to agree with you. I honestly didn't
Speaker 1: think that I would be where I am today. I
Speaker 1: started Girls Talk Sports TV back seven years ago. Wow,
Speaker 1: there's something as a hobby as a passion because I
Speaker 1: loved women's basketball. As you mentioned, there weren't a lot
Speaker 1: of opportunities, so I had to pretty much create my
Speaker 1: own opportunity and then, you know, wait for it to
Speaker 1: pay off. But in that period of waiting, like what
Speaker 1: motivated you to keep going? Because the opportunities were slim
Speaker 1: to none when you were getting started in the business.
Speaker 2: The stories that needed to be told, Like I would
Speaker 2: wake up every day like why isn't someone talking about
Speaker 2: Tamika catchings? Like I want to know more about shamik
Speaker 2: Wi Hold's claw, Like there was never enough information for
Speaker 2: me about the players, about the coaches, about these teams.
Speaker 2: Like I would wake up and go to bed just
Speaker 2: thinking about things that I knew I wanted to know
Speaker 2: as a former player, as a fan of the game,
Speaker 2: as someone who worked in that space, And instead of
Speaker 2: passing the buck, I was like, someone else's got to
Speaker 2: do it.
Speaker 4: And even though that meant not.
Speaker 2: Getting paid very much for a while, even though that
Speaker 2: meant traveling to cities that most people in America haven't
Speaker 2: been to to cover the women's game, even though that
Speaker 2: meant that at that point I wasn't gonna get the
Speaker 2: spotlight of covering men's sports, like, these stories meant something
Speaker 2: to me, and I knew how inspirational they were, and
Speaker 2: I knew the impact of if you can see her,
Speaker 2: you can be heard. If we got these stories out
Speaker 2: about how much sport has meant to these amazing women
Speaker 2: and how they've built themselves and their character and their
Speaker 2: brand through the.
Speaker 4: Sport of basketball, that more young girls would follow.
Speaker 2: So it really I wouldn't say it was a burden,
Speaker 2: but it was something that motivated me every day, no
Speaker 2: matter the circumstance, no matter the hurdle was these athletes
Speaker 2: and coaches deserved it, and just because they're women and
Speaker 2: other people didn't value it, this is the big time
Speaker 2: to me, like women's basketball is the destination in my eyes.
Speaker 2: So whatever I had to do to push the needle
Speaker 2: into to get the sport growth and the media aspect,
Speaker 2: I was going to do that.
Speaker 1: And you have done that with your company Rising Media
Speaker 1: Stars being able to just give back to the next
Speaker 1: generation of storytellers, reporters and analysts. And also I don't
Speaker 1: know if I'm qualified to, you know, put in an application,
Speaker 1: but come on over, girl, talk about Rising Media Stars
Speaker 1: and what it means to you to be able to
Speaker 1: you know, give back to the next generation.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Rising Media Stars is a nonprofit that I started wow
Speaker 2: in theory back in like twenty eleven, right, because that's
Speaker 2: when I had first started to really become a mentor.
Speaker 2: I was getting so many emails from young girls that
Speaker 2: were saying, I want to cover women's basketball, or I
Speaker 2: want to sit in your seat one day.
Speaker 4: So whenever I could grab coffee or have.
Speaker 2: Someone come and shadow me, I wanted to do that
Speaker 2: because I knew the impact of actually being able to
Speaker 2: reach out and touch someone that is doing the job
Speaker 2: that you aspire to do, not just seeing them from afar,
Speaker 2: but asking them questions, getting guidance. And so I started
Speaker 2: taking those emails and those requests even though I didn't even.
Speaker 4: Really know what I was doing back then.
Speaker 2: But I would say Rising Media Stars became a formal
Speaker 2: program back in twenty eighteen where my co founder Kevin Nixon,
Speaker 2: and I accepted our first class, And basically it's a
Speaker 2: program where we take five women of color every year
Speaker 2: and we take them through what we feel like is
Speaker 2: preparation for a long, illustrious career. And in sports broadcasting,
Speaker 2: all of our women come from different backgrounds, different levels
Speaker 2: of experience.
Speaker 4: We have a selection committee that has a really.
Speaker 2: Hard job of narrowing it down to five, but they
Speaker 2: get in the field experience.
Speaker 4: They covered the final four, they cover the draft.
Speaker 2: We work with our local sports teams here in Atlanta
Speaker 2: where they get an opportunity to do stand ups and
Speaker 2: sit in the press box and go into the locker room.
Speaker 4: So we are giving them real.
Speaker 2: Life experience around how to grow as towards broadcasters, but
Speaker 2: also providing them a community, a sisterhood mentors, just lots
Speaker 2: of valuable experience which we hope will be the connector
Speaker 2: that they need to encourage them and to nourish them
Speaker 2: and to educate them on this journey. I mean, career
Speaker 2: transitions are the toughest and you never know how long
Speaker 2: you're going to be there until you get your moment,
Speaker 2: and so we just want to be there as a resource,
Speaker 2: as a point of encouragement of confidence. And honestly, it's
Speaker 2: the most rewarding work I've ever done. I mean, looking
Speaker 2: at the TV screen even last night and seeing Andrea Carter,
Speaker 2: who was in our first class, and what she's doing.
Speaker 2: We had nothing to do with who Andrea Carter is.
Speaker 2: She would have been the amazing broadcaster that she is
Speaker 2: without us, but to know she was a part of
Speaker 2: our program and we helped her, you know, get those
Speaker 2: first reps as a sideline reporter and things like that
Speaker 2: just make me feel so good because now everyone's getting
Speaker 2: to see her and her brilliance. And we hope all
Speaker 2: of our women, no matter where they are in that journey,
Speaker 2: will shine the way Andrea has, the way Stevenson hazar
Speaker 2: or isis young, you know, and all of them will
Speaker 2: get to where they want to be in their journey.
Speaker 1: I absolutely love that if you can see her, you
Speaker 1: can be here. As you said earlier, and also shout
Speaker 1: out to Misha Jones, producer on the Sarah Spain podcast,
Speaker 1: you came through your program as well. So I love
Speaker 1: that to get to you know, give an opportunity to
Speaker 1: the women to be able to have different opportunities in
Speaker 1: different career fields in sport. So now let's go down
Speaker 1: to the nitty gritty and reason my way here to
Speaker 1: break down this week's headlines and women's basketball in case
Speaker 1: you guys missed it. Breaking headlines this week, Notre Dames
Speaker 1: Olivia Mouse, the projected twenty twenty five number two pick
Speaker 1: is going to forego the WNBA draft and enter the
Speaker 1: transfer portal. Where were you when you heard this news
Speaker 1: break from Shams?
Speaker 2: I was sitting on my couch and quite honestly, Christina,
Speaker 2: I am on a break from social media right now,
Speaker 2: which is the worst time to be taking a bird
Speaker 2: because everything is happening with March madness. So I'll hit
Speaker 2: treek up and like what's going on and give me
Speaker 2: the juice so I don't see a lot of things
Speaker 2: firsthand in this stretch. I gave it up for LYNT
Speaker 2: just so everyone knows. I didn't pick this time a
Speaker 2: year for my social media fast But here we are.
Speaker 2: So my fiance, who was sitting on the couch next
Speaker 2: to me, turns to me and says, Babe, Olivia Miles.
Speaker 4: I was like what.
Speaker 2: He was like, she's not going to the WNBA, and
Speaker 2: I said what And he said and she's not going
Speaker 2: back to Notre Dame and I said, okay, hold on,
Speaker 2: hold on. So that's when I broke my phone out
Speaker 2: and had to start searching for the headlines because I
Speaker 2: was like what.
Speaker 4: And I don't know.
Speaker 2: Why it came as a shock, because we know that
Speaker 2: these options are open for these women and looking at
Speaker 2: how much the.
Speaker 4: College game has grown because of Nil, Like.
Speaker 2: Of course, duh, But it was still a moment of
Speaker 2: reflection to me, like, Wow, the freedom, the freedom that
Speaker 2: women's basketball players have now to prioritize whatever it is
Speaker 2: that's most important to them in their lives in that
Speaker 2: moment in their careers. They can do that, and I'm
Speaker 2: glad that they do have more options. But I was
Speaker 2: definitely taken back.
Speaker 1: I was as well. I think I was more shocked
Speaker 1: that she entered the transfer portal. But I think what
Speaker 1: stands out to me the most is, as you said,
Speaker 1: players have the freedom to make these choices now. And
Speaker 1: also I would be remiss if we didn't bring up
Speaker 1: the CBA that's supposed to be in process of negotiations
Speaker 1: currently and how that will have an impact on the
Speaker 1: rookie scale salaries. But when we look at the twenty
Speaker 1: twenty five draft, who do you think benefits from her absence?
Speaker 4: Yeah? Well, I want to go back for one moment
Speaker 4: when it comes to this decision by Olivia Miles, because
Speaker 4: I think you make a fantastic point, Christina about the CBA.
Speaker 2: The other thing to think about with Olivia Miles is
Speaker 2: her career probably didn't in the way she wanted, right,
Speaker 2: did not play well down the stretch. NCAA tournament numbers
Speaker 2: were down, and she now has a chance to come
Speaker 2: back and win a national championship depending on where she lands. Right.
Speaker 4: The other thing that's interesting and very intriguing for me
Speaker 4: when it comes to Olivia, and this is a conversation
Speaker 4: we're having with all possible WNBA draftees. Right, It's like you're.
Speaker 2: Making money within IL in school, and then there's the
Speaker 2: WNBA where you know your rookie salary is not great,
Speaker 2: but you get to play with the best in the
Speaker 2: league and those ANIL deals can.
Speaker 4: Come with you. But when I think about the superstars
Speaker 4: of this year in particular, whether it's Page Beckers or
Speaker 4: a flage A Johnson, when comparing to Olivia Miles, they
Speaker 4: all had that brand attraction and that marketability. But we
Speaker 4: didn't see Olivia Miles as much.
Speaker 2: We didn't see her on the commercials the way we
Speaker 2: saw Page and the way we saw flage And so
Speaker 2: there seems to be an opportunity now that she's come
Speaker 2: back from injury, that more people are watching her play
Speaker 2: seeing how dynamics she especially with.
Speaker 4: Her style, the highlights, the goggles like, there's so.
Speaker 2: Much marketing ability of there, and so she could probably
Speaker 2: looking at the potential for more NIL deals and.
Speaker 4: To just really possibly be the face of women's basketball
Speaker 4: next year.
Speaker 2: I mean, if obviously Juju is working her way back
Speaker 2: from injury, you have Lauren Betts there, but if la
Speaker 2: Je Johnson leaves, and there's definitely an opportunity there for
Speaker 2: Olivia Miles to take a step up from a marketing standpoint.
Speaker 1: All right, Chal, we gonna take a quick pause and
Speaker 1: we'll have more from this conversation with the China Robinson
Speaker 1: when you return. When you think about Notre Dame next year,
Speaker 1: where do you think that program stands without a player
Speaker 1: like Olivia Miles, And how do they replace a talent
Speaker 1: like that?
Speaker 4: You don't you can't replace a talent like.
Speaker 1: That, you know.
Speaker 2: Your your mind automatically goes to Hannah Hidalgo and her
Speaker 2: just taking on more of the lift with Notre Dame.
Speaker 2: They are losing a lot with Sony Ciditron, with Wes Beld,
Speaker 2: now possibly with the Olivia Miles if she doesn't make
Speaker 2: a decision to go back to Notre Dame. And so
Speaker 2: there's a lot of rebuilding that has to happen roster wise,
Speaker 2: and they have talent there, you know, I just think
Speaker 2: more from an experience standpoint, that's where they would be
Speaker 2: taking a step back. So will they be in position
Speaker 2: next year to possibly get to a Final four? Will
Speaker 2: that experience has to build? It depends on what they're
Speaker 2: able to do in the off season with you know,
Speaker 2: portal opportunities.
Speaker 4: Et cetera.
Speaker 2: But that's actually where my mind goes for Notre Dame
Speaker 2: more than anything. It's not about the coaching staff, not
Speaker 2: even as much about the roster as it stands any
Speaker 2: of that. It's like, what is the university's commitment to
Speaker 2: number one, like the portal, right, because we know, depending
Speaker 2: on your school, some of those nuances and dynamics of
Speaker 2: the portal system maybe not to your advantage. But then
Speaker 2: also you know what's going on with Nil right, like
Speaker 2: what does the pocket of money.
Speaker 4: Look like and what can they offer?
Speaker 2: But there's definitely some rebuilding that has to be done,
Speaker 2: and in my mind, you know, Notre Dame with the
Speaker 2: roster as is, takes a major step back as a
Speaker 2: as a championship contender with losing Olivia Miles.
Speaker 1: It's certainly interesting to see how the off season in
Speaker 1: college basketball is mirroring like a free agency. And even
Speaker 1: on the men's side, you're starting to see current active
Speaker 1: NBA players become gns general managers for their alma maters.
Speaker 1: Steph Curry's going back to Davidson to be an assistant GM.
Speaker 1: Trey Young was just named the assistant GM at Oklahoma.
Speaker 1: So I'm wondering if the women's basketball space, if they
Speaker 1: will sort of mirror's mirror that trend of having former
Speaker 1: players help in the recruitment of players and building rosters.
Speaker 1: It's just an interesting thing that I've been seeing.
Speaker 4: Yeah, it would.
Speaker 2: I'll say, though, is you know, with Steph Curry, I believe,
Speaker 2: and in this situation, he's also giving a big check, right,
Speaker 2: And so I don't know that w NBA players at
Speaker 2: this point, even though the money is getting there, the
Speaker 2: bag is getting there. Trey Young also cut a check
Speaker 2: so that it seems to be going along with this
Speaker 2: GM position and making sure that their schools are competitive
Speaker 2: when it comes to NIL. So yeah, not saying the
Speaker 2: w NBA bag is a deep, but position wide.
Speaker 4: Yeah, to do the job. Yeah, they can.
Speaker 2: They can help but I actually think this is more
Speaker 2: about the money is available to those schools absolutely well.
Speaker 1: Looking ahead to the Final four on Friday, the stage
Speaker 1: is set, Yukon, Texas, South Carolina and UCLA will play
Speaker 1: for you know, their chance of getting a championship. When
Speaker 1: you look at the four teams who have made it
Speaker 1: to the final four, what stands out to you the
Speaker 1: most about this group of teams?
Speaker 2: Man, Well, first of all, I love the longevity of
Speaker 2: these coaches, right, not that it is a downer if
Speaker 2: a new face or a young coach makes it to
Speaker 2: the final four, but it speaks volumes for what Gino
Speaker 2: has done for a very long time and we tend
Speaker 2: to take for granted, or what Don Staley has built
Speaker 2: in South Carolina, which I think this is like seventeen
Speaker 2: years for her. It's crazy how fast that has gone,
Speaker 2: but that's tremendous growth, and she's built it from the bottom.
Speaker 2: And Corey Close, who was an assistant at Florida State
Speaker 2: when I played basketball at Wake Forest. Corey has been
Speaker 2: doing this for a very long time. And of course
Speaker 2: Vic Schafer has as well, you know in his previous
Speaker 2: at Mississippi State and then at Texas A and m
Speaker 2: as an assistant for many years alongside Gary Blair. So
Speaker 2: I just love that these coaches are still getting to
Speaker 2: see the fruits of many years of labor with the
Speaker 2: success of their teams. But in terms of the identity
Speaker 2: of the teams, it's the defense. It's the ability of
Speaker 2: these teams to really lock you down and force you
Speaker 2: to be uncomfortable on the offensive end. I mean, they
Speaker 2: all can do that. Texas stands out the most because
Speaker 2: of the style in which they do it with the pressing,
Speaker 2: the aggressiveness, the denial, but every single one of these
Speaker 2: teams has the ability to lock you up, and whether
Speaker 2: it's Lauren Bets in the middle for UCLA as a
Speaker 2: shot blocker really changing what you can do at the rim,
Speaker 2: or South Carolina and how they can keep bodies coming
Speaker 2: in with their depth. Boy, I mean, the players keep
Speaker 2: coming right so they can stay fresh on the defensive end.
Speaker 2: And then Yukon having you know, Gino and Chris, who
Speaker 2: are some of the best game planners and scouters, are
Speaker 2: going to have a plan to shut down your defense.
Speaker 4: So I think that's something that I'm.
Speaker 2: Excited about, is to see how these offenses show up
Speaker 2: because every team in the final four, can lock you down.
Speaker 1: How it's gonna be. My next question about the key
Speaker 1: fact is that will determine who will come out on top.
Speaker 1: So you're saying it's gonna be the defense that will determine.
Speaker 2: It's the defense they have in common, but I would
Speaker 2: say the factor then in turn becomes the offense.
Speaker 4: Can you score a bucket against these defenses? Like do
Speaker 4: you have enough offensive variety and depth in which you
Speaker 4: can do offensively? But then also do you understand your
Speaker 4: offensive priority? Let me tell you about offensive priority and
Speaker 4: how I feel like we don't talk about that enough.
Speaker 4: In the game of basketball, you need to know who.
Speaker 2: Needs to be taking shots, when, where and why at
Speaker 2: all times because those possessions start to sh when you
Speaker 2: get to this level, when you get to championships rounds,
Speaker 2: when you get to the final four. So your ability
Speaker 2: to know and make those decisions under duress against a
Speaker 2: tough defense is important. And so while the defense is
Speaker 2: the one thing that these teams have in common, that
Speaker 2: in turn means that my key for these four teams
Speaker 2: is what can you do to score? How dynamic can
Speaker 2: you be on offense against a tough defense?
Speaker 4: And then how.
Speaker 2: Can you balance that variety in versatility and offense with
Speaker 2: knowing where your shots need to come from, because before
Speaker 2: you know it, it's a tight game. You know it's
Speaker 2: the end of the fourth quarter, and if you haven't
Speaker 2: spent those offensive possessions the way you want, you're gonna
Speaker 2: feel it down the stretch of the game. You're gonna
Speaker 2: want to get your best player going, You're gonna want
Speaker 2: to get the balls in the pay and get high
Speaker 2: percented shots.
Speaker 4: All of those things for every single one of these
Speaker 4: teams is going to be critical.
Speaker 1: We know that this time of the year is the
Speaker 1: time where you know stars are made. So are there
Speaker 1: any players who have been standing out to you in
Speaker 1: particular throughout the tournament?
Speaker 4: Oh?
Speaker 2: Man, yeah, I mean I you know, Christina, you probably
Speaker 2: know this, but I have started to cover more WNBA
Speaker 2: than college.
Speaker 4: I covered college.
Speaker 2: For fifteen seasons and so I don't do as much
Speaker 2: college coverage.
Speaker 4: But I still watch.
Speaker 2: Especially a lot of the superstars that I know will
Speaker 2: be playing in the WNBA. And Sarah Strong from Connecticut
Speaker 2: has me in a whole choke hold, like as six' to,
Speaker 2: two all the things she can do in the, poise
Speaker 2: And i'm grateful AND i still can't believe.
Speaker 4: IT i have to pinch.
Speaker 2: Myself AND i have a relationship with her, Mother Alison,
Speaker 2: feaster who was one of my heroes growing, Up SO
Speaker 2: i was texting her in That elite eight game, like
Speaker 2: are you serious right? Now just watching her go to
Speaker 2: work AGAINST usc and how calm she is and how
Speaker 2: confident she is in her skill. Set cannot believe that
Speaker 2: she's a. Freshman so definitely keeping my eyes on her.
Speaker 2: Page beckers is always. There Asy fudd to me as
Speaker 2: THE x factor for, them BUT i would say collectively
Speaker 2: For texas love their. Defense malaysia Full wilie is always
Speaker 2: someone WHO i hold my breath when she's getting ready
Speaker 2: to come down the floor because you know she's gonna
Speaker 2: go behind the, back she's gonna do something and make
Speaker 2: it look so.
Speaker 4: Easy And i'm just intrigued.
Speaker 2: By the impact and the steps forward that she will,
Speaker 2: take you, know in this final four and to see
Speaker 2: how she continues.
Speaker 4: To grow as a.
Speaker 2: Player and Then Lauren, Betts i'm, obsessed quite, honestly as
Speaker 2: a big girl that played the game in the. Post her,
Speaker 2: aggressiveness her relentlessness like sometimes with post players or bigs
Speaker 2: as they're, Developing like it's always a little bit later than. Guards,
Speaker 2: guards you, know they come out and they know they've
Speaker 2: got the. Ball they're small and small to meum six
Speaker 2: y four and they got big. Mouse they talk all the.
Speaker 2: Trash they want to take the big. Shots so we
Speaker 2: hear about the guards so often having that. Moxie but
Speaker 2: to see that From Lauren betts at six seven now
Speaker 2: she's not afraid to be that she's gonna post, strong
Speaker 2: that she embraces her size and her. ADVANTAGE i love,
Speaker 2: It LIKE i am about all Things Lauren betts right.
Speaker 2: Now LIKE i Know Asia wilson had posted something always
Speaker 2: back AND i had the chance to COVER ucla up
Speaker 2: close and, personal like the footwork is, complete the shot,
Speaker 2: blocking passing out of, traffic all those. Things Like ucla
Speaker 2: has something that no one else in this final four
Speaker 2: has and That's Lauren. Betts and you can't teach side
Speaker 2: and you can't teach that level of. Skills So i'm
Speaker 2: excited about all the. Stars but those are a few
Speaker 2: highlights for.
Speaker 1: Me, YEAH i agree with all three that you, said
Speaker 1: Especially Sarah. STRONG i, mean she's a, freshman but she
Speaker 1: cures herself like a senior and the maturity Of malaysia,
Speaker 1: folally just seeing her growth from last year to this,
Speaker 1: year just being able to be clutching the moment For
Speaker 1: South carolina has definitely been exciting. Basketball and as you
Speaker 1: Mentioned Lauren, BETTS i, mean she's just been phenomenal FOR.
Speaker 1: Ucla what's a prediction that you have for this final
Speaker 1: four that may surprise the audience listening right?
Speaker 4: Now you, KNOW i Can.
Speaker 2: I've been asked this, question AND i don't know THAT
Speaker 2: i can come up with something that's just, like, oh,
Speaker 2: like CAUSE i do think there's been consistency with these
Speaker 2: teams pretty much LIKE i was gonna, say someone other
Speaker 2: than the Big stars is going to be the most
Speaker 2: outstanding player right of the final, Four but that's not
Speaker 2: A bowld prediction like that.
Speaker 4: Can, happen, Right SO i don't know if that really.
Speaker 2: Counts you, Know i'm wanna say something crazy AND i
Speaker 2: don't really actually have any backing for this, Whatsoever but
Speaker 2: we could see a lineup change in the final, four
Speaker 2: AND i don't know who that could. Be BUT i
Speaker 2: am leaning into these coaches and they're years of knowledge
Speaker 2: and their ability to adjust to the, Moment so we
Speaker 2: could see a starting lineup, change.
Speaker 4: AND i will say it doesn't have to be the
Speaker 4: beginning of the.
Speaker 2: Game it could be a starting lineup change in the
Speaker 2: third quarter of a, game, Right but that is something
Speaker 2: That i'm not necessarily a fan, of BUT i think
Speaker 2: could be an interesting wrinkle or dynamic in this final
Speaker 2: four that we might.
Speaker 1: SEE i just want to point out To Chloe kids
Speaker 1: also came to. MIND i know that we talked about
Speaker 1: players that have been standing out the tournament, time but
Speaker 1: Also Chloe kits has been exciting to see in terms
Speaker 1: of her contributions To South.
Speaker 4: Carolina saying it is like my.
Speaker 2: Niece i've known her since she was five or six years,
Speaker 2: old and when she was taking those fade away one
Speaker 2: leg jump shots Against duke When South carolina needed, BUCKETS
Speaker 2: i was, like look at.
Speaker 1: HER i was super.
Speaker 2: Proud so, Yeah i'm with you in The gangcock inside.
Speaker 2: Game it's it's been it's been really.
Speaker 1: Good, hey y'all are going to take another. Break and
Speaker 1: when we get back more of this week's. HEADLINES i
Speaker 1: have a little bit of a bonus question for you,
Speaker 1: now a little fun bonus. Question if you could choose
Speaker 1: or pick your own starting five out of the players
Speaker 1: who are in the final four right, now who would
Speaker 1: you pick if you had to create your own little
Speaker 1: starting five using the players from the fourteens in the final.
Speaker 4: Four, WELL i think.
Speaker 2: It's gonna be definitely the players THAT i just, mentioned Right,
Speaker 2: SO i would say pagebackers in the backcourt, yep With
Speaker 2: malaysia Full. WILEY i would Say Madison booker for. Sure
Speaker 2: But i'm gonna put a little twist on this and
Speaker 2: Put Madison booker in the power forward.
Speaker 4: Position i'm gonna Put Lauren betts at my, center no.
Speaker 2: Surprise and my last backcourt member is maybe gonna surprise some,
Speaker 2: people BUT i am the the, biggest Biggest Tessa johnson Van.
Speaker 2: LIKE i Think tessa is so, smooth her defense is much.
Speaker 4: Improved she's like locked.
Speaker 2: In she gives you a little bit of size in
Speaker 2: the backcourd Like i'm.
Speaker 4: Going i'm Going. Tessa.
Speaker 2: Now there is honorable. MENTION i told You Sadaia Fagan
Speaker 2: i've known, forever SO i got to put her out.
Speaker 2: There But i'm also A dmv, girl so honorable mention
Speaker 2: would Be Asy fudd And Kiki. Rice anybody could be
Speaker 2: there in, there but those two for, sure so that
Speaker 2: would be my starting. Five it would Be, Page, Tessa, Malaysia,
Speaker 2: Madison Lauren.
Speaker 4: BETTS i like that.
Speaker 1: GROUP i like that group all. Right moving right along
Speaker 1: to the twenty twenty five to help YOU mbah. Draft
Speaker 1: you just Mentioned Paige becker's The Dallas wings hold the
Speaker 1: number one pick And page she has officially declared for the.
Speaker 1: DRAFT i don't think it was ever a question to.
Speaker 1: ME i don't think there was ever a question if she.
Speaker 1: Would you, know it's a clear for this year's. Draft
Speaker 1: but how do you see her fitting into The wings
Speaker 1: roster if they if they draft?
Speaker 4: Her, YEAH i see her fitting very.
Speaker 2: WELL i, mean playing alongside A Riquet goombawala that is
Speaker 2: going to be an amazing. Backcourt and What i'll say
Speaker 2: About page's game, is right, now she is reminding us
Speaker 2: that she can score the.
Speaker 4: Basketball we already knew that she's a great.
Speaker 2: Pastor she sees the floor so, well and we've seen
Speaker 2: that scoring in, spurts but nothing like we've seen with
Speaker 2: the pressure on her shoulders under duress post, injury in,
Speaker 2: particular as she's been getting her.
Speaker 4: BEARINGS i, Mean.
Speaker 2: I've been really impressed with her and showing that she
Speaker 2: has that other dimension just makes her that much more
Speaker 2: valuable in that. BACKCOURT i already really like the acquisition
Speaker 2: of DJ A. CARRINGTON i Think Ty harris is way
Speaker 2: underrated and doesn't get the credit that she deserves as
Speaker 2: WHAT i believe to be one of the best league
Speaker 2: guards in the.
Speaker 4: League SO i Think page will fit in very. Well
Speaker 4: AND i love that For.
Speaker 2: Dallas right they're getting ready to make a move to
Speaker 2: a bigger facility downtown In. Dallas they'll be able to
Speaker 2: fit you, know maybe three, thousand four thousand more, FANS i,
Speaker 2: believe and so that's got to be exciting for that
Speaker 2: community to think about the prospect of Getting paige and
Speaker 2: her resilience also is something THAT i think is going
Speaker 2: to make her a great Pro and.
Speaker 1: You mentioned her score and, ability BUT i think that
Speaker 1: the efficiency is what stands out to me the. Most
Speaker 1: like she can score at a high, level but she's
Speaker 1: really efficient at, it And i'm excited to see how
Speaker 1: she could potentially help The Dallas. Wings moving right along
Speaker 1: to The Golden State, valkyries who have already started to
Speaker 1: build their roster through the Expansion, draft and now they'll
Speaker 1: have a chance to add some pieces in this year's,
Speaker 1: draft having the fifth pick in each of the three
Speaker 1: rounds at the, draft what do you think they should
Speaker 1: prioritize in terms of getting players that will help compliment
Speaker 1: their roster to help them compete if if that's your.
Speaker 1: GOAL i know that ownership has come out publicly and
Speaker 1: said they want to they want them to win a
Speaker 1: championship in five. YEARS i know that this year is
Speaker 1: kind of a you, know jumble with just teams having
Speaker 1: different players and this being the debut season for The.
Speaker 1: Valkyries what do you think that they can do in
Speaker 1: this year's?
Speaker 2: Draft, yeah let ME i want to look at My
Speaker 2: valkyrie's roster because WHAT i would say is That i've
Speaker 2: been impressed with the way these pieces have come. TOGETHER
Speaker 2: i think they could be low key, contenders.
Speaker 4: Right and here's WHAT i.
Speaker 2: LIKE i really Love Tiffany hayes on this roster and
Speaker 2: giving her an. OPPORTUNITY i, mean she was the woman In,
Speaker 2: atlanta but there's been lots of different chapters Of Tiffany
Speaker 2: hayes since, then whether that Is connecticut or obviously With,
Speaker 2: vegas and we have just continued to see her, blossom
Speaker 2: aging like fine. Wine So i'm looking forward to how
Speaker 2: she will be featured now with more on her.
Speaker 4: Shoulders Julie Van lou love.
Speaker 2: Her Stephanie talbot has always been to me one of
Speaker 2: the better underrated versatile, players AND i think having another
Speaker 2: year under her belt post injury is gonna be.
Speaker 4: Great, timmy that was a huge Pickup Kaylen thorton From New.
Speaker 4: YORK i know we were all, like What kayla's gone
Speaker 4: because she was a.
Speaker 2: Dog, yes excited to see What Kate martin And Monique
Speaker 2: buildings will. Do BUT i just think reinforcing what they
Speaker 2: already have Right, LIKE i don't know THAT i guess
Speaker 2: in this draft at the five pick that they're going
Speaker 2: to get someone who's going to completely transform their. Roster
Speaker 2: but WHAT i do think is that they can reinforce
Speaker 2: what they already. Have one THING i am a big
Speaker 2: fan of THAT i don't believe they have on this
Speaker 2: roster right now is a power forward that can pick and,
Speaker 2: pop that is, versatile that can do all And christina
Speaker 2: as you know in THE, wnba that position is, critical
Speaker 2: like they have had leticism at that. Position they have.
Speaker 2: Rebounding but when you think about the likes Of Asia
Speaker 2: wilson And Brianna stewart and a feast Of collier who
Speaker 2: all line up at the fore spy and we can
Speaker 2: go back further than that To Elena deladon and all
Speaker 2: the players over the, years Or Kandas parker who have
Speaker 2: played kind of that versatile power. FORWARD a lot of
Speaker 2: THE wnba teams run their offense through that, position and
Speaker 2: you got to really be able to guard at that.
Speaker 4: Spot.
Speaker 2: NOW i don't know how they could possibly move some
Speaker 2: pieces around to get more reinforcement at that position BECAUSE
Speaker 2: i don't think it's going to be an immediate impact
Speaker 2: out of the, draft but that is something THAT i
Speaker 2: would be looking. At is that possibly a kiky area
Speaker 2: Of finn who has an opportunity to develop and expand
Speaker 2: her game over the next few years even more than
Speaker 2: we've seen her. Growth do they maybe want to do
Speaker 2: something at the point guard spot and have a dynamic
Speaker 2: lead come in like.
Speaker 4: A georgia A.
Speaker 2: Moore all of those things, work BUT i am absolutely
Speaker 2: looking at the power forward. Position however they can do,
Speaker 2: it whether the draft or, otherwise To goid to get
Speaker 2: some some girth and some more versatility at that.
Speaker 1: Spot and looking at some of the other teams on you,
Speaker 1: know the first round, board the mistakes in the. Sun
Speaker 1: they have multiple first round, picks how do you see
Speaker 1: them kind of leveraging those picks to you, know get.
Speaker 2: Better, yeah, again lots can, Happen AND i do want
Speaker 2: to preface this by Saying i'm using the rosters that
Speaker 2: are available to, us because you know how things, happen
Speaker 2: whether it's training camp or players that are overseas that
Speaker 2: might still slide in and make a. Difference so all
Speaker 2: of that is still totally up for. Discussion but you
Speaker 2: have to think with a team like The mystics that
Speaker 2: they really want to lean Into Shakira, Austin Britney, Sykes Aliah,
Speaker 2: edwards and that says to me, athleticism getting up and
Speaker 2: down the, floor even though we don't know what their
Speaker 2: playing style would be under new, leadership but supporting those
Speaker 2: kind of players in their second, UNIT i would think
Speaker 2: would be something that they would be looking to do
Speaker 2: through the, draft and that could be through a player
Speaker 2: like Dam Leigue malonga From.
Speaker 4: FRANCE i Hope i'm saying her name. RIGHT i was
Speaker 4: actually calling the games in The. Olympics she didn't play that,
Speaker 4: much BUT i watched her AND i am just impressed
Speaker 4: with her upside and six', six, size, athleticism length all of.
Speaker 2: THE things i could totally see her complimenting those. Players
Speaker 2: WELL but i would think that the profile of a
Speaker 2: Player like washington would look something like that and supporting
Speaker 2: what they already have in.
Speaker 1: Their core.
Speaker 2: In terms Of The connecticut son very intriguing to ME
Speaker 2: because i can't really pin down the style of play
Speaker 2: based on the roster and again new, head coach new. Playing,
Speaker 2: style yes You Have Diamond miss Deshields And marina Maybury And,
Speaker 2: tina charles AND so i think it really comes down
Speaker 2: to best. AVAILABLE talent i don't know for them it's
Speaker 2: going to be a lean into playing. Style, NECESSARILY again
Speaker 2: I know i keep bringing up the Likes OF. Georgia,
Speaker 2: a moore and THAT'S because i feel like we have
Speaker 2: so much depth at the point, guard positioned so much
Speaker 2: more than we had maybe in, previous years and that
Speaker 2: the true point guard is a. DYING breed i don't
Speaker 2: think she'll be on the board. Very long but maybe
Speaker 2: It's the Hailey van lyth who's had an uptick all of,
Speaker 2: a sudden Or An anissa morrow who's her stock.
Speaker 4: Went up maybe It's A sedonah prince who has six
Speaker 4: seven gives you.
Speaker 2: More Size so connecticut's a little bit harder to. Pin
Speaker 2: down but that's a lot of picks there in that.
Speaker 2: First round and gms on other teams, are watching right
Speaker 2: they're WATCHING the ncaa tournament, to, see well maybe we
Speaker 2: should put something or someone on the table to make
Speaker 2: them available for some possible Picks from Connecticut.
Speaker 4: OR washington i don't know that that will happen at.
Speaker 4: THIS point i think the draft is takes a step
Speaker 4: down in terms of Talent If olivia Miles And flaje
Speaker 4: johnson do not enter, the draft and so that's also
Speaker 4: something to potentially. Look, at yeah that.
Speaker 1: Was gonna be my next question to you in terms
Speaker 1: of the position group you think would be the strongest
Speaker 1: in this draft based off. Team NEEDS and i feel
Speaker 1: like just through free agency and, you know talking to,
Speaker 1: you know some some teams throughout, this offseason a lot
Speaker 1: of teams are prioritizing just continuity and more veteran players on.
Speaker 1: Their roster we saw how beneficial it was For The
Speaker 1: New york liberty last year to get players with. Overseas
Speaker 1: contracts my, only pee bitch was so crucial to them
Speaker 1: winning that championship. Last year so that's all like going
Speaker 1: through my HEAD as i think. About this but what
Speaker 1: position group do you think is the strongest in this
Speaker 1: draft class based off.
Speaker 2: Team, MEETS yeah, i Mean Before olivia miles decided to.
Speaker 4: PULL out i was like excited about the. Point guards
Speaker 4: to have pal Pal AND.
Speaker 2: Georgia a Moore and miles like players, you know page
Speaker 2: run the point like players that can really play that league.
Speaker 2: Guard spot, you know that was kind Of where i'm
Speaker 2: leaning TO and i still Feel like i'm leaning. There
Speaker 2: again in the w N, b a everyone has to
Speaker 2: be able. To Score so i'm not saying like a
Speaker 2: point guard who doesn't have any scoring ability would be
Speaker 2: at a premium at.
Speaker 4: This POINT but i do believe that there's still an.
Speaker 2: Eye for the past point point guard and how they
Speaker 2: run teams and their leadership and, their intangibles and that's
Speaker 2: obvious through all the PLAYERS that i, JUST named i
Speaker 2: would say the. Point guards but also there's been an
Speaker 2: uptakeing interest for me at the center slash power. Forward
Speaker 2: POSITION as i talked about with How Well. ANISSA morrow
Speaker 2: i think she's got a tremendous upside and, so like
Speaker 2: where can she possibly fit in undersize at, six' one
Speaker 2: but showing that she can, shoot the three could she
Speaker 2: be that that at that for a spot that gives
Speaker 2: you some versatility at some point in Her Career or
Speaker 2: snaia fagan, who's Played Well or raya marshall, who you
Speaker 2: know showed what she can do at the at the
Speaker 2: CENTER Position, for USC so But i think i'm gonna
Speaker 2: stick with the point guards even though you know the.
Speaker 1: Guards are, okay you know it's so interesting you, talk
Speaker 1: ABOUT versatility and i look at some of the coaching
Speaker 1: hires in the off season that the, seven new coaches
Speaker 1: and a lot of them are like coaches who thank
Speaker 1: their styles on spacing out the floor and having. Those,
Speaker 1: INTERCHANGEABLE players again i go back To The Champions new
Speaker 1: york liberty and how their, roster was constructed and you
Speaker 1: see that they have a roster where, players are interchangeable can,
Speaker 1: play multiple, positions are versatile and so it's going to
Speaker 1: be interesting to see how, the game evolves not only
Speaker 1: this season but years to come based off how you
Speaker 1: know the game. Is changing, ends so oh, that's so,
Speaker 1: Interesting all right so to, round us out if you
Speaker 1: could be a fly on the wall in any war room,
Speaker 1: during the draft which team would you want to be
Speaker 1: a fly on the?
Speaker 2: WALL and why i Would say probably seattle because life
Speaker 2: has probably changed quite a bit For Them since olivia miles,
Speaker 2: made her announcement not saying they said They, were TAKING
Speaker 2: miles but i would think with.
Speaker 4: Her, on the board that gives you so. Many more
Speaker 4: OPTIONS but when I look, at SEATTLE'S roster and i
Speaker 4: did that just in general, BEFORE our call i Really
Speaker 4: like where.
Speaker 2: Seattle's ROSTER is and i think despite The Injury, to
Speaker 2: jordan horsten which you, hate to see the Key Pickup
Speaker 2: of alicia, clark was HUGE right like I Think, her
Speaker 2: lexi brown The Fact That skyler diggen smith can play
Speaker 2: one or two that just gives you a little bit
Speaker 2: MORE than what i thought they would have Had in
Speaker 2: losing miles at this, number two pick and honestly gives
Speaker 2: them a little bit more freedom in my mind.
Speaker 4: Again with just being able to move.
Speaker 2: The Pieces around so i'm wondering with having options where?
Speaker 2: Do they go but not having the option that they
Speaker 2: thought that they were, going to, have right like where
Speaker 2: Does where does seattle? Go FROM here so i WOULD
Speaker 2: probably say i would definitely want to be in their
Speaker 2: war room and here kind of how they.
Speaker 4: MAKE this, decision i mean the decisions.
Speaker 2: Are always made before we get to, the war room
Speaker 2: but kind of how they talk through their options at.
Speaker 2: The two spots so maybe it's the PRE war room
Speaker 2: i would. Want to hear but, all, IN all yeah
Speaker 2: i think my Eyes are on seattle now with that.
Speaker 4: Number, two Pick.
Speaker 1: Yeah so i'm excited. For the draft for all, of
Speaker 1: YOU listening the wnbh draft Kicks off, on april fourteenth
Speaker 1: but before, all of that make sure you tune into
Speaker 1: the Final. FLOUR in tampa i just want To Thank
Speaker 1: with china robinson again for joining, us this week and
Speaker 1: in case, you Missed It, With christina williams it's been
Speaker 1: such a pleasure to. Chat with you it's always fun to.
Speaker 4: Chat with you thank you for having me, and don't
Speaker 4: listen pick up the phone and call ME back because
Speaker 4: i want to be ON during, The wnba season so don't.
Speaker 2: Be a stranger don't. Forget about, Me you know i'm
Speaker 2: one of, the Old heads but i'm still here if.
Speaker 4: You need me.
Speaker 1: Thank you with china and looking forward to having you.
Speaker 1: On the season look front of the show. Through and
Speaker 1: through thank you so much, For being here thank you,
Speaker 1: for having me and that's kin do it for this
Speaker 1: Special Edition Of In Case you Missed It. WITH christina
Speaker 1: williams i just want to Shout Out with china robinson
Speaker 1: again for joining us this week as a guest, on
Speaker 1: the show and We're. Heading to tampa we're taking The.
Speaker 1: Show to tampa if you Guys are in, tampa this
Speaker 1: weekend make sure you stop by and say hi if
Speaker 1: you see me. In the streets but also come through
Speaker 1: and listen to our Live show happening sunday at twelve Thirty.
Speaker 1: Pm at visitors we're going to do a crossover episode
Speaker 1: with The Hosts Of Full, Circle Seattle storms Lexi Brown.
Speaker 1: And mariah rose so, go miss that come out and
Speaker 1: pregame with us before the big Championship game On, Sunday.
Speaker 1: In tampa florida and also don't forget if you like,
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Speaker 1: podcast and hope to see y'all This. Week In Tampa
Speaker 1: In Case you Missed It with christina Williams is an
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