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Speaker 1: Levels to.

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Speaker 2: This is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with

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Speaker 2: Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on

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Speaker 2: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Speaker 3: Hey everybody, it's your girls. Henrica Foster Brasby what's.

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Speaker 2: Up, y'all?

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Speaker 3: It's your girl, Cheryl Swoops And this is the Levels

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Speaker 3: to this podcast. This is the show where we share

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Speaker 3: that it's levels to the shit that women go through.

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Speaker 3: And we certainly have an incredible guest lined up today

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Speaker 3: to really help talk us through and get us up

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Speaker 3: to speed with some great basketball that we're gonna witness

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Speaker 3: over the next few weeks. But first, Cheryl, I feel

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Speaker 3: like we have to take a moment to recognize and

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Speaker 3: acknowledge that we are really.

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Speaker 1: Going through some devastating time.

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Speaker 3: Specifically if you are living in the state of California.

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Speaker 3: The La fires have really ravaged through that area, the Palisades,

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Speaker 3: calabass Is eating fires. I mean, it's just been very

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Speaker 3: difficult to watch some of the photos and videos of

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Speaker 3: areas that don't even look the same.

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Speaker 2: I I've cried and cried and cried, and I'll cry

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Speaker 2: some more, you know, Tea even if you're not in

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Speaker 2: LA and you're not personally affected, like for me, I

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Speaker 2: am so like I'm hurt for the people, I'm devastated.

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Speaker 2: I've been praying NonStop and like there's just so much

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Speaker 2: to say, and you know, I think the part for

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Speaker 2: me that as if the people of LA aren't going

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Speaker 2: through enough, right, or if California aren't going through enough.

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Speaker 2: The part that just frustrates me is everybody wants to

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Speaker 2: point fingers right, like you're to blame, You're to blame,

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Speaker 2: You're the blame, You're the blame. And my thing is,

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Speaker 2: let's just try and come together as a country, as

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Speaker 2: a people to try and support all of these families

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Speaker 2: who some of them have.

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Speaker 4: Lost everything everything.

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Speaker 2: And I know people talk about, oh, well, it's just

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Speaker 2: materialistic things and you can rebuild and you can go.

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Speaker 2: It ain't even about that. I honestly can't. I can't

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Speaker 2: even wrap my mind around like just what's going on

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Speaker 2: and how they feel. I get on social media and

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Speaker 2: then I have to get off because it's a lot.

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Speaker 4: And it I don't know.

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Speaker 2: I'm just going through so many different waves of emotion

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Speaker 2: for them, and.

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Speaker 4: I feel helpless.

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Speaker 3: I feel so helpless and it's wild that people want

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Speaker 3: to place blame on anyone or anything, because it's like

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Speaker 3: some things can't be helped and some things can't write.

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Speaker 3: And part of this situation, a large part of this

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Speaker 3: situation has to do with earth and nature, climates and nature,

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Speaker 3: and it's unfortunate that we have lost lives. To my understanding,

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Speaker 3: twenty four have been killed.

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Speaker 4: It's the last number I heard.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, twenty four was the last number that I heard

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Speaker 3: the situation. I have a cousin who lives in LA,

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Speaker 3: some friends who lives in LA. I actually opened my

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Speaker 3: home to my cousin this weekend, and I thought she

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Speaker 3: was going to try to make it. But I think

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Speaker 3: that she's gone to a safe zone. But I say

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Speaker 3: all that to say I agree with you one hundred percent.

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Speaker 3: There are so many things that we focused our attention

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Speaker 3: on it really just don't matter. And this is one

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Speaker 3: of those situations where our attention and our focus needs

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Speaker 3: to be on helping those people who have quite literally

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Speaker 3: lost everything. And to the first responders, the firefighters, those

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Speaker 3: who have assisted, no matter what part you've played in

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Speaker 3: trying to make a difference, we thank you and we

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Speaker 3: appreciate you. It's not easy to deal with that situation.

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Speaker 3: So we will most certainly keep LA lifted, keep all

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Speaker 3: the families that been affected lifted in prayer and in

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Speaker 3: our thoughts, And with that, we certainly want to just

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Speaker 3: kind of talk about how important it is to be

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Speaker 3: in the moment because we never know when that moment

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Speaker 3: may change. I know those people in LA didn't wake

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Speaker 3: up thinking that this was a situation that was going

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Speaker 3: to escalate to where it's been, So being in the

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Speaker 3: moment is certainly important. And not to minimize that scenario

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Speaker 3: with the transition to this one, but we are certainly

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Speaker 3: in a moment in women's basketball that we have to

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Speaker 3: just kind of sit back and think and revel in

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Speaker 3: and say, wow, Like we've gotten to a place where

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Speaker 3: we can almost watch women's basketball all year long.

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Speaker 2: Right, and like, who would have ever thunk it would

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Speaker 2: have ever thunk it that we would be in this moment.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, in this moment. Yeah, you're long. You've got WNBA.

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Speaker 3: Immediately after WNBA, we got Unrivaled, which is going to

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Speaker 3: be kicking off this week, and we certainly can't wait

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Speaker 3: to talk more.

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Speaker 1: About that league.

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Speaker 3: And then after Unrivaled starts only a short couple of

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Speaker 3: weeks later, we are going to get Athletes.

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Speaker 1: Unlimited, which is going to be on its fourth season.

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Speaker 3: And I'm excited because I'm gonna be in Nashville, and

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Speaker 3: you gonna be in Nashville, and our guest today.

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Speaker 4: Is gonna be in Nashville.

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Speaker 2: Gonna be in Nashville, so she better bean in Nashville

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Speaker 2: for real, or we got some real problems.

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Speaker 3: But I'm excited about about chatting today with Megan Perry.

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Speaker 3: Meghan Perry is someone who is very near and dear

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Speaker 3: to both of us. She's been a leader in the

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Speaker 3: sports industry for many years, but she is currently, i

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Speaker 3: want to say, the executive operating an executive of a

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Speaker 3: head of basketball for Athletes Unlimited right now, and so

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Speaker 3: we are going to kick it with her on today's show.

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Speaker 3: I'm excited about it, You're excited about it. So let's

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Speaker 3: not waste any more time. Let's go ahead and into

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Speaker 3: the next level. Friends, we are incredibly excited about our

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Speaker 3: guests today. SHERL and I try to do our due diligence.

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Speaker 1: To talk to people who not.

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Speaker 3: Only interest and fascinate us, but also who just deserve

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Speaker 3: the recognition.

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Speaker 1: Right and this person.

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Speaker 3: Right here truly deserves the recognition for all that she's

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Speaker 3: been doing for women's basketball. Not only did she lead

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Speaker 3: her Cornell University team.

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Speaker 1: To Yes, I'm bringing it back.

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Speaker 3: Oh we going all the way back.

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Speaker 1: And spokes don't know Meg and kabol for real.

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Speaker 3: Yeay, yeah, that's an IVY League champion letter number one.

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Speaker 1: Let them know.

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Speaker 3: She has done so much off the court as well.

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Speaker 3: In the boardroom. She worked for NBA, she served in

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Speaker 3: the WNBA, and now she is currently the head of

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Speaker 3: Basketball for Athletes Unlimited Professional Basketball League affection known to

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Speaker 3: all of us as AU.

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Speaker 1: Please welcome Meghan Perry to the show.

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Speaker 4: Hey Megan girl.

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Speaker 5: Oh my goodness, thank you all the applause?

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Speaker 4: Did you hear all the applause?

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Speaker 6: That is the kindest introduction. I so appreciate you all.

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Speaker 6: And you took it.

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Speaker 5: All the way back to play days. Okay, Megan, you.

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Speaker 2: Gotta let folks know that not only do you talk basketball,

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Speaker 2: but you do basketball.

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Speaker 1: You do it.

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Speaker 3: When I first met Meghan, she was actually on broadcast

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Speaker 3: for the IVY League. We would do the China and

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Speaker 3: I would always do every year a final four or

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Speaker 3: like a tournament roundup, and we wanted everybody from every

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Speaker 3: league to come in and give us insight, and we

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Speaker 3: knew as it related to the IVY League, we needed

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Speaker 3: to get Megan on the show because she had all

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Speaker 3: the deets.

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Speaker 6: Oh my goodness, I so fondly remember those days and times.

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Speaker 6: But yes, we go way back to Rika as well.

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Speaker 5: Cheryl and I go way back.

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Speaker 6: But I've been around the game for a minute now,

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Speaker 6: so yes, I played college basketball, turned that into the

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Speaker 6: opportunities to work in the game professionally. Since two thousand

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Speaker 6: and eight, I've been around this game and tried to

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Speaker 6: dip my toes into the media space like you guys

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Speaker 6: and enjoyed it, and then said I think I have

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Speaker 6: more to give and want to be more in the

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Speaker 6: front office space, joined AU and have been working for

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Speaker 6: the past year and a half to give all I

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Speaker 6: can give to that space and grow the game.

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Speaker 5: So thank you for the kind recognition.

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Speaker 2: Absolutely so deserving, and we're excited to have you on

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Speaker 2: and let's just hop right into it. T and I

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Speaker 2: we're very familiar with athletes Unlimited or AU. But for

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Speaker 2: those who are listening who may not, I don't know

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Speaker 2: why they wouldn't know about it, But those who may

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Speaker 2: not know about AU.

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Speaker 4: Why don't you tell the people about AU. What's it

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Speaker 4: all about?

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Speaker 6: Yeah, I cannot wait to tell you all about AU.

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Speaker 6: So Athletes Unlimited Professional Basketball we call it AU for sure,

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Speaker 6: you'll finally hear it called that. But AU we're entering

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Speaker 6: our fourth season. Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball was founded by

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Speaker 6: Jonathan Soros and Jonathan Patrick Off back in twenty twenty,

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Speaker 6: and they really set out to provide a platform, in

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Speaker 6: a space for women to be able to compete here

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Speaker 6: domestically in the United States in the off season of

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Speaker 6: the WNBA.

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Speaker 5: So we really started.

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Speaker 6: Out with the opportunity to create more space for women

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Speaker 6: because we deserve that. And since twenty twenty, we have

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Speaker 6: been providing a space for now forty women in the

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Speaker 6: off season in the WNBA to be able to play

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Speaker 6: domestically here in the United States for four weeks in

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Speaker 6: one city at one time. So we're building a community,

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Speaker 6: we're building a sisterhood, and it's the only place where

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Speaker 6: you can still find five on five elite women's basketball

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Speaker 6: here in the United States.

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Speaker 5: We're excited about that.

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Speaker 4: Again, t and are very familiar. But what do you

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Speaker 4: say to people who.

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Speaker 2: Might look at AU or think of AU as like

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Speaker 2: a G league to the w I.

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Speaker 6: Would say, that's not it, that's not it. We are

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Speaker 6: so excited about the roster of talent that we put

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Speaker 6: together so as far as timing and space right, and

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Speaker 6: you came along and provided that time and space so

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Speaker 6: that if players choose not to go overseas, they do

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Speaker 6: not they have an option to stay here. We are

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Speaker 6: providing a space for some of the same faces that

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Speaker 6: you know well and have been following across the WNBA

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Speaker 6: landscape that have been playing overseas for quite some time,

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Speaker 6: and some players that you're familiar with across the collegiate

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Speaker 6: landscape and may have gone overseas, got an injury or something,

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Speaker 6: but are looking for a spot to come back. We

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Speaker 6: have embraced the entire women's basketball community and.

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Speaker 5: We have top talent. We have had names that you.

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Speaker 6: Will recognize as WNBA All Stars and champions, and this

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Speaker 6: season we are in the process. I will say I

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Speaker 6: won't announce anyone new of sharing our roster. If you

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Speaker 6: go to auprobasketball dot com, you can see who we're

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Speaker 6: bringing in this year, and it's an elite talent, group

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Speaker 6: of seasoned that's emerging talent and It's a quality that

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Speaker 6: you should know and recognize that you're already familiar with

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Speaker 6: across the landscape. So that's what I would tell people.

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Speaker 3: One thing that I love is you talk about being

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Speaker 3: in one city in one place, and I know that

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Speaker 3: when a if you first started in the first season,

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Speaker 3: you were in Vegas, last couple of seasons Dallas, this

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Speaker 3: year in Nashville.

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Speaker 1: Can you talk to.

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Speaker 3: Us a little bit about the process of selecting Nashville

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Speaker 3: and really what the thought process is in terms of

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Speaker 3: selecting any city in which you desire to host an AU.

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Speaker 6: I appreciate that question so much to you because the

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Speaker 6: first season of AU Pro Basketball was played in Las Vegas.

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Speaker 6: Season two and three were in Dallas, and I will say,

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Speaker 6: this is my second year with athletes and limited pro

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Speaker 6: basketball and having an opportunity to spend time in Dallas

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Speaker 6: last year.

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Speaker 5: We appreciated that time.

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Speaker 6: We thought it was a great time, but we also

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Speaker 6: recognized the growth and the opportunity that exists around women's

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Speaker 6: basketball and finding out that professional women's basketball has not

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Speaker 6: existed in the state of Tennessee since nineteen ninety eight

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Speaker 6: when the ABL was there, I felt that that was

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Speaker 6: specifically something that we had the power to change we

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Speaker 6: wanted to do so. We were looking for a place,

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Speaker 6: a place that wanted to partner with AU Pro Basketball,

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Speaker 6: that wanted to host us. In Nashville has been more

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Speaker 6: than warm and welcoming to U Pro Basketball. It is

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Speaker 6: a hot bit of talent for anyone that knows anything

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Speaker 6: about the history of women's basketball across the collegiate landscape.

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Speaker 6: But it is a space that is warm and ripe

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Speaker 6: and wanting professional women's basketball to find a home there.

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Speaker 6: It's also a space that we recognize that the WNBA

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Speaker 6: has named as a potential expansion city, and so we

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Speaker 6: wanted to be the first ones to bring professional women's

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Speaker 6: basketball back to that space. And we're excited about the

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Speaker 6: response that we've seen thus far.

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Speaker 5: People are excited.

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Speaker 3: I'm very excited and interested about this because I've been

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Speaker 3: one of the people who have been very critical of

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Speaker 3: the state of Tennessee as it relates to professional women's basketball.

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Speaker 3: And I want to tell you why, because I would

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Speaker 3: love your thoughts. One of the things that scares me

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Speaker 3: the most about Tennessee is when I think about women

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Speaker 3: who play professional basketball, specifically in the WNBA AU other places,

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Speaker 3: they have a specific or at least a large quantity

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Speaker 3: of them identify with a specific group. And Tennessee from

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Speaker 3: a state, local government kind of place. When you think

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Speaker 3: about players having to live there, having to reside there,

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Speaker 3: you think they we want to feel welcomed, and Tennessee

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Speaker 3: hasn't always been a state in my opinion, that has

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Speaker 3: made people of certain.

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Speaker 1: Groups feel welcome.

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Speaker 3: So I've always known of how important women's basketball has

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Speaker 3: been in Knoxville and how in certain areas because of

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Speaker 3: Pat Summits legacy, that Tennessee has been the epicenter. It's

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Speaker 3: where the Women's National Basketball Hall of Fame is like.

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Speaker 3: We understand that, but I've also been very scared about

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Speaker 3: bringing professional basketball to Tennessee for other reasons. Would you

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Speaker 3: say that this experience could possibly give a little bit

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Speaker 3: more insight into what a larger professional women's basketball presence

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Speaker 3: could look like in Tennessee.

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Speaker 5: I would say one thing that the state of our world.

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Speaker 6: I'll be real about the state of our world, and

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Speaker 6: is to be someone in a position that has the

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Speaker 6: opportunity to I'm a woman of color, I'm a black woman,

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Speaker 6: and I have the opportunity to lead a league that

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Speaker 6: has a large population of women of color for sure,

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Speaker 6: and people that identify as LGBTQ plus. I will say

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Speaker 6: this the state of the world that we live in

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Speaker 6: right now. There are unfortunate things that could happen everywhere,

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Speaker 6: and it.

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Speaker 5: Is very volatile.

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Speaker 6: However, and working with our Player Executive Committee, our PEC,

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Speaker 6: which is part of the governing body, I work with

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Speaker 6: a group of four players. We collectively work together to

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Speaker 6: figure out where we want to be, where we want

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Speaker 6: to play, what we want to do. Thinking about Nashville

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Speaker 6: and spending time there, it is a space that has

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Speaker 6: been nothing but warm and welcoming and it's something that

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Speaker 6: we do not take lightly. That we spend a lot

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Speaker 6: of time thinking about and a lot of time experiencing.

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Speaker 6: And I will say that within the spaces that we've

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Speaker 6: been in Nashville, we are excited about and I think

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Speaker 6: people that might have some of those questions and concerns

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Speaker 6: they may be dismissed because we have met a group

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Speaker 6: of people that are very engaging, very forward thinking. It's

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Speaker 6: a home to a number of I will add universities,

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Speaker 6: HBCUs and places that tend to have a more open

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Speaker 6: and very liberal mindset. That's not everyone, but it's most

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Speaker 6: and it feels like a place where we can grow

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Speaker 6: the game, that we can have impact in a community

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Speaker 6: in which is something au is really passionate about. And

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Speaker 6: a space quite honestly, is a tourist destination. It is

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Speaker 6: a hot spot. It is a space where we've hosted

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Speaker 6: the Final Four, they've hosted the SEC women's basketball Tournament,

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Speaker 6: they will have the men's basketball tournament. It is a

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Speaker 6: space that people come to and visit frequently, and it's continuing,

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Speaker 6: I think, to raise its profile.

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Speaker 5: It relates to not only.

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Speaker 6: Just women's basketball, but women's sports and the larger sports landscape.

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Speaker 6: So with all those factors that we put together and

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Speaker 6: we reflect on, we still think that it's a space

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Speaker 6: where we can grow and that's going to receive what

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Speaker 6: we have to offer really well. I would also say

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Speaker 6: to that, come join us, experience us, because I guarantee

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Speaker 6: once you come and you get that button the seat right,

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Speaker 6: you're gonna want to come back. You're gonna say, oh,

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Speaker 6: that was really dope. I would just say give it

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Speaker 6: a try. Give it a try.

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Speaker 2: First of all, TA great question, but I will vouch

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Speaker 2: for the excitement of the game. Right me being able

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Speaker 2: to be a part of AU all three seasons going

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Speaker 2: into the fourth. It's different, right, systems different, and if

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Speaker 2: you haven't been out, if you haven't come out to

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Speaker 2: a game, you gotta come.

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Speaker 4: I agree with you, Megan.

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Speaker 2: I keep saying it's different without taking up a lot

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Speaker 2: of time to go into all of that.

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Speaker 4: It's fun, it's exciting.

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Speaker 2: I don't know if you want to explain a little

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Speaker 2: bit about the scoring system and why it's different from

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Speaker 2: your typical five on five.

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Speaker 5: Yeah, I love that.

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Speaker 6: Let me also say, what can you expect when you

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Speaker 6: come to see AU Pro basketball game?

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Speaker 5: Right?

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Speaker 6: We have a unique environment. It's an intimate experience. You

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Speaker 6: are up close, right, Our athletes are accessible. We energize

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Speaker 6: our crowds our in game and entertainment.

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Speaker 5: It's hot.

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Speaker 6: You have familiar names and faces on the sidelines right,

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Speaker 6: not only on the floor, but around the sidelines.

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Speaker 5: It's a family atmosphere.

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Speaker 6: And so when you think about the product on the

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Speaker 6: floor and what makes AU Pro basketball difference, I always

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Speaker 6: say to people, at its core, we're five on five

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Speaker 6: basketball and what you've known, come to love for years

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Speaker 6: and years competing up and down that.

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Speaker 5: Floor that exists.

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Speaker 6: The cool part is that We've layered on an innovative

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Speaker 6: scoring system on top of the game, where in AU

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Speaker 6: we are competing to crown one individual champion at the

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Speaker 6: top of the AU leader board. So we have forty

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Speaker 6: players across four teams. Each team is headed up by

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Speaker 6: a captain. We are player led, and so every week,

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Speaker 6: our captains have the opportunity to participate in a draft

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Speaker 6: where they select their teams, and throughout the course of play,

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Speaker 6: the players will have the opportunity to ascend or descend

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Speaker 6: up and down that leader board to determine where they

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Speaker 6: land if they are going to be the captain the

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Speaker 6: next week, right over the course of the time that

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Speaker 6: they're there. It creates a really cool environment for playing

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Speaker 6: because it allows you to be able to follow your

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Speaker 6: favorite athletes or individual performances, but also how.

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Speaker 5: Their teams perform.

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Speaker 6: We reward individual performances as well as teams.

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Speaker 5: That's unique.

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Speaker 6: I think it's also an opportunity for fans to be

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Speaker 6: able to engage in a different way than they traditionally

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Speaker 6: would because in AU, every moment counts. Our players are

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Speaker 6: playing for the forty minutes, but they're playing not only

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Speaker 6: to win the game, they're playing to win a quarter,

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Speaker 6: our players get points and they get bonuses that are

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Speaker 6: tied to that leaderboard. So you're following a game within

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Speaker 6: a game, and you're trying to keep up with not

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Speaker 6: only who's on top of the leaderboard, but who has

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Speaker 6: the opportunity to ascend to that position. And it fluctuates

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Speaker 6: from week to week. So one week you could be

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Speaker 6: playing with one captain and the next week you could

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Speaker 6: be on defense against them. We mix it up and

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Speaker 6: over the course of the time on the ground being together,

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Speaker 6: that creates some really interesting dynamics. I will say, where

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Speaker 6: your teammates one day and the next week you are

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Speaker 6: not right. So it's fun, but it's five on five

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Speaker 6: in its core. Come enjoy five on five basketball. That's

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Speaker 6: what we have professionals playing at a high level, but

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Speaker 6: we also have layers of engagement for our fans that

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Speaker 6: will allow them to follow the game a little bit differently.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, the thing I love about it is everything that

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Speaker 2: Megan said, but from a former player. For me, I

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Speaker 2: love seeing the growth, right, I love seeing the growth

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Speaker 2: of the game. I love seeing more opportunity and AU

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Speaker 2: has given these women this opportunity, and not just basketball, right,

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Speaker 2: there's lacrosse, there's volleyball, there's softball. So AU has given

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Speaker 2: so many women opportunities to continue to play professionally. And

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Speaker 2: for a lot of players, it's their only time playing professional,

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Speaker 2: right They either tried out for the w and didn't

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Speaker 2: make it, or they tried overseas and it didn't work out.

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Speaker 2: But now they get a chance to stay in the

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Speaker 2: state and play professional basketball for four weeks. And to me,

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Speaker 2: it's just a great sign of the growth of the game.

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Speaker 3: You know, my favorite part so far of AU because

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Speaker 3: I've also had the opportunity to be a part of

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Speaker 3: this league from its inception, covering it from a reporter's perspective,

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Speaker 3: a content creator's perspective. I love the fact that players

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Speaker 3: get to be coaches. And I remember having a conversation

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Speaker 3: with Dja Carrington a couple of years ago, and she

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Speaker 3: was a captain for a couple of years.

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Speaker 1: As a matter of fact, there was this little secret tandem.

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Speaker 3: That she and Natasha Cloud had going on round I

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Speaker 3: was like, you two are trying to make something happen here.

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Speaker 3: But it was the conversation of I get an opportunity

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Speaker 3: to understand what my coaches in the WNBA have to

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Speaker 3: go through when we have to think about strategy, when

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Speaker 3: we have to think about substitutions, when we have to

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Speaker 3: think about selections and not about who may be my

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Speaker 3: friend or who I may like, but who works well

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Speaker 3: with what. And you can see that translate over when

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Speaker 3: they approach the WNBA season, and I credit a lot

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Speaker 3: of growth from certain players in their IQ. Not just

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Speaker 3: their physical ability, because I think they've always had that,

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Speaker 3: but just the growth of your basketball IQ tends to

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Speaker 3: increase when playing in this league because of.

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Speaker 1: All of the different things that you're asked to do.

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Speaker 3: So can you speak a little bit about the fact

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Speaker 3: that they don't necessarily have coaches, but they do have

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Speaker 3: like moderators who assists the coaches, the player coaches on

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Speaker 3: each team.

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Speaker 6: Let's nerd out a little bit. Let's talk about how

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Speaker 6: this all works for AU our format. One of the

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Speaker 6: differences is we say we're player led. We literally mean

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Speaker 6: that down to how we play on the court. In

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Speaker 6: our format, we have changed the model from the traditional model.

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Speaker 6: It's not top heavy, it's the other way around. So

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Speaker 6: traditionally the history of most leagues is where you have

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Speaker 6: your general managers and your head coaches, right you have

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Speaker 6: your executives that are the decision makers. With AU our PEC,

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Speaker 6: our player Executive Committee is formed as part of our

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Speaker 6: governing body. It extends onto the court with our captains

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Speaker 6: are the primary decision makers. We have empowered our captains

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Speaker 6: to be able to select their teams, to decide how

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Speaker 6: they want to prepare for the games. They're the ones

444
00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:38,560
Speaker 6: that are influencing game strategy. They have the power to substitute,

445
00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,280
Speaker 6: to call the time out, they have a larger game

446
00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:42,800
Speaker 6: management role if.

447
00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:44,080
Speaker 5: They choose to take that on.

448
00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:47,800
Speaker 6: Fully, we recognize every player is different. There's some point

449
00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:49,280
Speaker 6: guards that are like, I want to do all those

450
00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:51,240
Speaker 6: things right, I want to sub I want to be

451
00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:54,159
Speaker 6: in charge of practice, I want all the control. And

452
00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,320
Speaker 6: then there are some players that are like, I actually

453
00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:58,119
Speaker 6: just want to hoop. I love being a captain, but

454
00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:02,000
Speaker 6: I need some support. And so what we provided is facilitators,

455
00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:05,040
Speaker 6: which is the AU terminology for what would traditionally be

456
00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:08,840
Speaker 6: an assistant coach to support all the needs of the captain.

457
00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,560
Speaker 6: So the captains can lean on the facilitators to be

458
00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:13,720
Speaker 6: able to help them with their game prep strategy, to

459
00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,760
Speaker 6: help them with the substitutions, to manage the dynamics that

460
00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:19,400
Speaker 6: come with just managing a team, quite frankly, and.

461
00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:20,919
Speaker 5: So that's the cool part.

462
00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,760
Speaker 6: And our players are supported with facilitators that are top

463
00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:27,479
Speaker 6: line professionals. I will not spoil what we have on

464
00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,800
Speaker 6: the doc for this season, but amazing facilitators in the past,

465
00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:36,040
Speaker 6: names like Poke Chapman, Simone Augustus Freon, January Chastity Melvin Kareema,

466
00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:40,240
Speaker 6: Christmas Cality. We have very high level professionals supporting the game.

467
00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,240
Speaker 6: And I'll say our players love that because it gives

468
00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:45,240
Speaker 6: them the opportunity, like you said, to be able to

469
00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:47,679
Speaker 6: play the game with a little bit of a different

470
00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,560
Speaker 6: mentality in that captain's position, you're looking for different things

471
00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:53,359
Speaker 6: on the floor, but knowing that you have a Simone

472
00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:55,480
Speaker 6: Augustus like right next to you on the bench and

473
00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:57,879
Speaker 6: has your back, that allows a freedom of play that

474
00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:00,560
Speaker 6: they do not get in other spaces, and they keep

475
00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:02,359
Speaker 6: coming back for more. They love it.

476
00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:06,800
Speaker 2: It's not just a place for current players, it's also

477
00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,800
Speaker 2: a place for former players. And when you talk about

478
00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:12,919
Speaker 2: growth and you talk about opportunity, the names that she

479
00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:15,960
Speaker 2: named right, like so many players who played in the

480
00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:20,360
Speaker 2: league and now they're getting an opportunity to in a way,

481
00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:24,720
Speaker 2: they are coaching, right, they're the facilitators, but they're also coaching.

482
00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:28,000
Speaker 2: So what I love about it is it's not just

483
00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:31,359
Speaker 2: about the current players, but it's about the former players

484
00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:34,880
Speaker 2: as well. And so, Megan, that leads me to another

485
00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:37,960
Speaker 2: question that I'm sure people who are listening to this

486
00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,439
Speaker 2: are probably like, Okay, now you got the WNBA, you

487
00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:44,200
Speaker 2: got AU, you got this other league.

488
00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:48,280
Speaker 4: So when I look at AU and AU.

489
00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:52,320
Speaker 2: Has been around for four years now on the basketball side, right, this.

490
00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:53,160
Speaker 5: Will be our fourth season.

491
00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:54,680
Speaker 4: Yeah, this will be the fourth season.

492
00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:58,040
Speaker 2: And now you have unrival coming in who it's going

493
00:23:58,080 --> 00:23:59,080
Speaker 2: to be their first season.

494
00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:04,160
Speaker 4: When you see that, two questions. One do you look

495
00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:06,800
Speaker 4: at Unrivaled as a rival?

496
00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:11,600
Speaker 2: And what does this say about the growth of the

497
00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:12,320
Speaker 2: women's game.

498
00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:15,800
Speaker 6: Yeah, I'm going to step back for a second and

499
00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:18,919
Speaker 6: just bring you guys into where I'm coming from with

500
00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,399
Speaker 6: this and that. Okay, I have been you took a

501
00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,320
Speaker 6: way back to playing days college of basketball. But then

502
00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:27,240
Speaker 6: after I've put my sneakers up and decided I wanted

503
00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:29,840
Speaker 6: to work in the game. Still, since two thousand and eight,

504
00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:32,720
Speaker 6: I've been working in professional women's basketball, and I've seen

505
00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,000
Speaker 6: during my time at the WNBA when there were not

506
00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:39,560
Speaker 6: so many people paying attention the difficulties that our athletes

507
00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:43,280
Speaker 6: had in finding places and spaces and opportunities a platform.

508
00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,960
Speaker 6: When I think about how even this past season and

509
00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,640
Speaker 6: then the growth of women's sports and the women's basketball

510
00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:53,040
Speaker 6: landscape and how that has exploded, there's nothing but pure

511
00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:56,400
Speaker 6: joy as it relates to the opportunities that are available

512
00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:57,160
Speaker 6: for players.

513
00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:58,760
Speaker 5: So AU continues to be.

514
00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:02,560
Speaker 6: An opportunity platform, a space for our players to play.

515
00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:06,439
Speaker 6: The growth of other opportunities like Unrivaled and other leagues

516
00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:08,800
Speaker 6: that may pop up in the future is that as well,

517
00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,000
Speaker 6: and we welcome that. We think that is great, That

518
00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:14,000
Speaker 6: is great for women's basketball. But then when people say

519
00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:16,479
Speaker 6: is it arrival, absolutely not. What are we talking about here?

520
00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:17,480
Speaker 1: It is absolutely not.

521
00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:19,320
Speaker 5: The rising tide lifts all votes.

522
00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:23,639
Speaker 6: So also recognize that we have two distinct offerings. And

523
00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,480
Speaker 6: so the format of AU, it's five on five basketball.

524
00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,400
Speaker 6: What Unrivaled is preparing to offer is three on three

525
00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:31,360
Speaker 6: and one on one. So we're just a different format.

526
00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:31,840
Speaker 5: Right.

527
00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:34,560
Speaker 6: The game is the game, but different formats within the game,

528
00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,240
Speaker 6: and I think that's welcome. We look at how women's

529
00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:39,280
Speaker 6: basketball is growing in the Olympics and the growth of

530
00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:41,760
Speaker 6: three on three, Right, it is natural that if something

531
00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:44,719
Speaker 6: grows and involves, there are going to be different formats, right,

532
00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:47,520
Speaker 6: that come along with that. But I think what's different

533
00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:51,359
Speaker 6: about AU is the sisterhood, this community aspect that we

534
00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,560
Speaker 6: are forming and how we are connecting the veterans of

535
00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:57,000
Speaker 6: the space, the legends of the space to be able

536
00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,560
Speaker 6: to say that we have Cheryl Swoops.

537
00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,760
Speaker 5: And we have some Augustus Right and Poke Chapman.

538
00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:05,280
Speaker 6: These are people that have been long time contributors to

539
00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:08,240
Speaker 6: our game and connect that with the new and the

540
00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:11,800
Speaker 6: younger and the emerging talent to spend time together for

541
00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:14,720
Speaker 6: four weeks on the ground together, We're building a sisterhood.

542
00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:17,840
Speaker 6: We're building a community that is about basketball but embracest

543
00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:21,160
Speaker 6: so much more. And I think that's this like intangible

544
00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,879
Speaker 6: factor that exists within AU that you kind of have

545
00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:25,600
Speaker 6: to come and show up to know it and to

546
00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:26,080
Speaker 6: feel it.

547
00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:27,720
Speaker 5: But that's the difference.

548
00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,480
Speaker 6: I would say, we are excited about the growth of

549
00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,840
Speaker 6: the women's basketball landscape, but within the AU family, what

550
00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:36,560
Speaker 6: we're building is something unlike what we've seen.

551
00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:40,199
Speaker 3: Yeah, we are talking to Meghan Perry and when we

552
00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:40,760
Speaker 3: come back.

553
00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:43,840
Speaker 1: We are going to not only continue to talk about.

554
00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:47,080
Speaker 3: AU, but also to talk about Meghan and how she

555
00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:49,439
Speaker 3: got to this point and in this place, in what

556
00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,600
Speaker 3: she brings to AU as head of basketball. Stay tuned,

557
00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:03,639
Speaker 3: all right, friends, welcome back to the levels to this podcast.

558
00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:07,480
Speaker 3: Today we are joined by special guest Megan Perry, who

559
00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:10,760
Speaker 3: has given us all the deats on athletes unlimited. And

560
00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:15,040
Speaker 3: I think that this year we are going to see

561
00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:19,880
Speaker 3: some new faces playing in AU. My girl Isabelle Harrison,

562
00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:22,320
Speaker 3: who's played in AUS for a few years now, a

563
00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:26,160
Speaker 3: few seasons now. She is incredibly excited about going back

564
00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,159
Speaker 3: home a Tennessee. We know she's a volunteer, but honey,

565
00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:32,159
Speaker 3: she is not kept it a secret at all about

566
00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:35,320
Speaker 3: how excited she is about going back home and playing

567
00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:36,560
Speaker 3: in front of her home crowd.

568
00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:38,480
Speaker 1: And I know that's got to be exciting.

569
00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:41,640
Speaker 3: Her sister also plays in AU, so I know they're

570
00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:44,160
Speaker 3: going to be real excited about this. But just how

571
00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:48,399
Speaker 3: is this roster different how it's for me? What is

572
00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,880
Speaker 3: the process with building it the roster? Is it more

573
00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:56,240
Speaker 3: so executive driven or is it player driven? Like my homegirl,

574
00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:58,360
Speaker 3: I love you, come play with me in this league.

575
00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:00,399
Speaker 6: Yeah, I would love to dive in to this a

576
00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:03,000
Speaker 6: little bit. So when we think about AU Pro basketball

577
00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:04,439
Speaker 6: and we get this question like how do we come

578
00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:06,480
Speaker 6: up with our roster one, I want to say, we're

579
00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:09,000
Speaker 6: really excited about the roster that we're building. We haven't

580
00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:11,080
Speaker 6: announced every player yet, so I will be careful in

581
00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:13,679
Speaker 6: sharing who we do have. But as far as like

582
00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:17,159
Speaker 6: our process is an invitation only process, I work in

583
00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:20,199
Speaker 6: collaboration with our player Executive Committee, which I think is

584
00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:23,760
Speaker 6: really cool because in most spaces people talk about wanting

585
00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:26,440
Speaker 6: to have player input and consulting a player core. We

586
00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:29,880
Speaker 6: work together and our players are actually the ultimate decision

587
00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:32,399
Speaker 6: makers when it comes to who we bring in. But

588
00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:35,119
Speaker 6: as a collective process and thinking about who is the

589
00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:37,720
Speaker 6: best fit and the best available on court and who

590
00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:39,760
Speaker 6: is going to be the best community member, that is

591
00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:41,920
Speaker 6: a big part of our process, and when we're evaluating

592
00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:44,600
Speaker 6: talent and our roster needs. And then I'll say from there,

593
00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,200
Speaker 6: and thinking about our arrival to Nashville as being our

594
00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:50,120
Speaker 6: first time in the city, of course, we wanted to

595
00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:52,680
Speaker 6: make sure we had some players with some Nashville ties.

596
00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:57,160
Speaker 6: So Isabelle Harrison and Dori Harrison, sisters that are born

597
00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:00,080
Speaker 6: and raised in Nashville, and people know the profile that

598
00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:03,320
Speaker 6: Isabelle Harrison had probably continues with her legacy at the

599
00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:06,920
Speaker 6: University of Tennessee. So that was our first announcement, but

600
00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:08,840
Speaker 6: I will say that we have gone a little bit

601
00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:11,480
Speaker 6: deeper as it relates to our roster in our Tennessee ties.

602
00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:13,920
Speaker 6: Fans will be excited to see that we have Alicia

603
00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:17,480
Speaker 6: Clark of the Las Vegas Aces, who is very familiar

604
00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:21,800
Speaker 6: with the Nashville and Tennessee landscape right coming from Belmont

605
00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:23,600
Speaker 6: and Middle Tennessee State University.

606
00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:24,920
Speaker 5: We're excited about her.

607
00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:28,800
Speaker 6: Jordan Horston coming out of the Tennessee University as well.

608
00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,960
Speaker 5: We have Yeah, we have some Tennessee ties. Some of

609
00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:32,560
Speaker 5: their names.

610
00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:35,200
Speaker 6: New names to AU that we have announced will be

611
00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:38,600
Speaker 6: welcoming Keia Nurse to the Au family, Brea Heartley to

612
00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:41,840
Speaker 6: the Au family, Alyssa Peelee to our AU family. I

613
00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:43,760
Speaker 6: don't want to go too deep because I don't want

614
00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:45,880
Speaker 6: to announce something that has not been announced. But what

615
00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:49,240
Speaker 6: I can say is we have a healthy roster of

616
00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:53,400
Speaker 6: players that are currently on a WNBA roster, of large

617
00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:56,680
Speaker 6: majority of players with WNBA experience, meaning that they are

618
00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:59,760
Speaker 6: either on a w team most recently, and perhaps because

619
00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:02,960
Speaker 6: we know about how limited those roster spaces are. It's

620
00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:07,000
Speaker 6: not about their abilities, it's just about not enough space, right,

621
00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:09,720
Speaker 6: And so we welcomed them into our community as well.

622
00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:12,360
Speaker 6: And so we have a balanced roster of some new names,

623
00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:15,480
Speaker 6: some young talent, and I will say some returning vets.

624
00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:19,520
Speaker 6: So Sidney Coulson, We're excited. A welcome Sidney Coulson, Lexi

625
00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:22,680
Speaker 6: Brown back to the AU family, Kirstin Bell.

626
00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:24,360
Speaker 5: We have a lot.

627
00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:28,040
Speaker 6: Of names that people will know, Maddie Segrest, but stay

628
00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:30,120
Speaker 6: tuned for a couple new names. I think you got

629
00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:32,760
Speaker 6: to get excited about. The talent is locked and loaded,

630
00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:35,040
Speaker 6: and we are feeling excited. I think probably one of

631
00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:37,920
Speaker 6: the best rosters we've put together in our four years.

632
00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:40,600
Speaker 4: Just given the name that you just gave us.

633
00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:45,720
Speaker 2: From top to bottom, I will say, this will absolutely

634
00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:46,040
Speaker 2: be a.

635
00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:47,320
Speaker 4: Competitive season in AU.

636
00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:51,360
Speaker 2: Here's what I love, because I've seen it from season one,

637
00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:52,280
Speaker 2: two and three.

638
00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:54,960
Speaker 4: You have players like season.

639
00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:59,000
Speaker 2: One when Klinie Brown played Season one, Klannie was trying

640
00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:03,760
Speaker 2: to make a roster right. Calanie played in AU and

641
00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:07,440
Speaker 2: she wasn't in the best headspace as far as being

642
00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:10,640
Speaker 2: confident in herself. But she came, she played well, she

643
00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:13,440
Speaker 2: then got a chance to oversee she came back home.

644
00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:15,920
Speaker 2: Now to me, I feel like she has a home

645
00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:18,720
Speaker 2: in Dallas. Is that all because of AU. No, it's

646
00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:21,280
Speaker 2: because of the hard work she put in. But AU

647
00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:24,040
Speaker 2: gave her a home like it gave her a place

648
00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:27,440
Speaker 2: to work on her game and understand what she needed

649
00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:29,360
Speaker 2: to work on. I even look at a player like

650
00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:32,920
Speaker 2: Alexi Brown, Lexi Brown was the same way Lexi Brown

651
00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:37,400
Speaker 2: now being with the Sparks and getting a guaranteed contract

652
00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:40,040
Speaker 2: last year. I think that AU did have a lot

653
00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:41,680
Speaker 2: to do with that. And I only bring that up

654
00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:46,320
Speaker 2: to say a player like Elisa Peeley, I think Athletes

655
00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:51,160
Speaker 2: Unlimited AU is a perfect place for her right playing

656
00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:53,320
Speaker 2: for Minnesota, didn't get a lot of playing time.

657
00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:54,720
Speaker 4: Now she can.

658
00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:58,160
Speaker 2: Stay home in the States but get an opportunity for

659
00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:01,959
Speaker 2: four weeks to work on her game, to get better

660
00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:05,280
Speaker 2: and to gain some confidence getting ready to go into

661
00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:06,760
Speaker 2: the next to BNBA season.

662
00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:08,120
Speaker 5: I absolutely agree.

663
00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,479
Speaker 6: I think that's what's so special about AU and what

664
00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:12,080
Speaker 6: we provide is that opportunity.

665
00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:14,080
Speaker 5: It's that platform to become your best self.

666
00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:16,240
Speaker 6: That's what I always tell people, And yeah, ardly love

667
00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:19,480
Speaker 6: where you are in your playing career and on that spectrum,

668
00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:22,080
Speaker 6: this is the opportunity for you to become your best

669
00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:25,200
Speaker 6: self wherever that Isles of Paley and others will have

670
00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:27,400
Speaker 6: the opportunity to play with kind of like a renewed

671
00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:30,520
Speaker 6: sense of freedom. And we also support the games and

672
00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:33,880
Speaker 6: the practices and the shoot arounds with skill development. You know,

673
00:32:33,960 --> 00:32:37,120
Speaker 6: we bring in professional development coaches, and our players are

674
00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:40,640
Speaker 6: spending dedicated time right to grow their game and the

675
00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:43,080
Speaker 6: ways that they specifically find that they need to listen.

676
00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:45,120
Speaker 6: For the purpose of this conversation, we for sure will.

677
00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:53,360
Speaker 5: Credit AU it has pushed where they they continue to grow.

678
00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:55,400
Speaker 3: And you know what, just to put a cap on that,

679
00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:59,200
Speaker 3: I think it not only allows younger players to grow,

680
00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:02,360
Speaker 3: but it allows players who may have played several years

681
00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:05,160
Speaker 3: in the league an opportunity to still be active and

682
00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:08,600
Speaker 3: still increase their viability to make a roster to be

683
00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:10,520
Speaker 3: on the league as well. I think about the winner

684
00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:13,560
Speaker 3: of the first season, Siana Hawkins, right, Siana Hawkins is

685
00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:16,520
Speaker 3: a Vet, a true VET, and yet she still came

686
00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:19,920
Speaker 3: to AU and produced and excelled in a way that

687
00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:21,880
Speaker 3: I think maybe some people didn't realize she was still

688
00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:23,040
Speaker 3: capable of doing.

689
00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:25,960
Speaker 1: You look at Melissa Smith who won.

690
00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:29,600
Speaker 3: Season two and again you can see her coming in

691
00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:30,920
Speaker 3: as a number two overall pick.

692
00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:32,520
Speaker 1: And then now Alisha Gray.

693
00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:35,200
Speaker 3: Right, we know what kind of year she had this

694
00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:36,000
Speaker 3: past season.

695
00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:37,200
Speaker 1: She won at every level.

696
00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:40,400
Speaker 3: Right, So I just think it's an opportunity for people

697
00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:43,480
Speaker 3: to not only grow and learn, but for veteran players

698
00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:47,240
Speaker 3: to also maintain that fierceness in that standard and should

699
00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:49,880
Speaker 3: remind folks like I still got gas and no doubt,

700
00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:52,200
Speaker 3: don't come out and to your point, T.

701
00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:54,720
Speaker 2: Because this is a player that I talk about all

702
00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:58,160
Speaker 2: the time and I've yet to understand why a W

703
00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:01,560
Speaker 2: team will not sign her to a contract. So I'm

704
00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:07,240
Speaker 2: going to put it. I was, Yes, listen, honesty Sims.

705
00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:11,880
Speaker 2: Every year she's played in AU, like she dominates.

706
00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:14,960
Speaker 4: She's just the kid. She ain't a kid, but she's

707
00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:15,440
Speaker 4: a kid to me.

708
00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:17,480
Speaker 1: The kids is just good.

709
00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:20,719
Speaker 2: Like she can flat out play, and I feel like

710
00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:25,680
Speaker 2: AU gives her that platform for teams to see her,

711
00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:28,520
Speaker 2: and yes, they'll come get her after AU they sign

712
00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:32,320
Speaker 2: her seven day contract. Listen, anybody out there with a

713
00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:36,280
Speaker 2: W team that's listening, y'all need to go grab Odyssey.

714
00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:37,200
Speaker 1: Sims Golden State.

715
00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:40,960
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's yours, that's your PG.

716
00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:42,840
Speaker 5: Listen, I'm gonna add to that.

717
00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,279
Speaker 6: I'm gonna say I know appreciates that for sure, and

718
00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:47,120
Speaker 6: I think she is a great example of kind of

719
00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:49,759
Speaker 6: the visibility in the platform. Sure you does provide, but

720
00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:53,120
Speaker 6: I will say, listen, coaches, GMS, they come just smam

721
00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:57,320
Speaker 6: part of the experience, and we recognize this free agency

722
00:34:57,400 --> 00:35:00,840
Speaker 6: period is about to come up in how that landscape

723
00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:03,360
Speaker 6: is going to shift and mold itself. AU is a

724
00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:06,480
Speaker 6: space where people are watching closely because they recognize that

725
00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:08,200
Speaker 6: there are going to be some changes and they're looking

726
00:35:08,280 --> 00:35:10,880
Speaker 6: for some gems that people may not be paying attention

727
00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:13,399
Speaker 6: to but need to as well. So there's so many

728
00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:15,160
Speaker 6: layers to it. I think that's what makes it so

729
00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:16,240
Speaker 6: fun and so special.

730
00:35:16,719 --> 00:35:18,960
Speaker 4: Absolutely, I love that, Megan.

731
00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:22,080
Speaker 3: You gotta tell to people when can they expect the

732
00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:25,800
Speaker 3: first game? How can we get tickets? Is their merch

733
00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:28,520
Speaker 3: because really you got to have to merch, right.

734
00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:31,440
Speaker 6: Perfect, Oh, all very cool merch, all of that. So

735
00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:34,000
Speaker 6: first of all, games check us out. Games tip off

736
00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,920
Speaker 6: February fifth. Last game is on March second. We are

737
00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:40,920
Speaker 6: playing in downtown Nashville at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium a

738
00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:44,080
Speaker 6: really cool spot. We're bringing music, city and basketball together

739
00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:46,680
Speaker 6: to downtown Nashville. If you are looking for tickets, come

740
00:35:46,719 --> 00:35:47,520
Speaker 6: get them. They are hot.

741
00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:49,760
Speaker 5: They go to auprobasketball dot.

742
00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:52,280
Speaker 6: Com or you can check out any of our social

743
00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:55,719
Speaker 6: handles on IG. Ticket information is available there to any

744
00:35:55,719 --> 00:35:57,719
Speaker 6: fans that want to come and join us. I would

745
00:35:57,719 --> 00:36:00,319
Speaker 6: also say as far as march, AU Pro shop where

746
00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:02,359
Speaker 6: it is, and so we are excited to roll out

747
00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:05,560
Speaker 6: some special edition Nashville items and overall some cool and

748
00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:06,719
Speaker 6: different looking AU gear.

749
00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:08,520
Speaker 5: So yes, come get all of that.

750
00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:10,800
Speaker 1: Let me know if you need me.

751
00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:13,680
Speaker 5: I have some intel.

752
00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:18,440
Speaker 6: I believe we are already taking care of you.

753
00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:20,800
Speaker 4: She she has some intel.

754
00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:25,399
Speaker 5: Yes, I have some intel. I think we're taking care

755
00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:25,680
Speaker 5: of you.

756
00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:27,640
Speaker 4: But you know that's coming your way.

757
00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:30,680
Speaker 6: Honestly, I think what's so cool about AU is not

758
00:36:30,719 --> 00:36:33,200
Speaker 6: only with our merch yes, like we will have some

759
00:36:33,239 --> 00:36:35,359
Speaker 6: basketball teams, but a lot of the stuff that we

760
00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:38,600
Speaker 6: put out and our team works really hard on connecting

761
00:36:38,680 --> 00:36:40,720
Speaker 6: with our player group. What do they want to see?

762
00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:44,640
Speaker 6: What can we amplify? That's about them, right, It's about AU,

763
00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:47,279
Speaker 6: but it's also about our players and putting that on

764
00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:49,399
Speaker 6: the forefront, so we can expect to see some things

765
00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:52,000
Speaker 6: that are player centric as well this season when that

766
00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:52,720
Speaker 6: stuff drops.

767
00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:57,120
Speaker 2: Listen, I'm excited about the season. I'm looking forward to it.

768
00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:01,640
Speaker 2: Can't wait. Megant's and you know how I feel about you.

769
00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:03,840
Speaker 4: The love goes deep, we go deep.

770
00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:08,280
Speaker 2: We just truly appreciate you for stopping by and talking

771
00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:09,760
Speaker 2: up athletes unlimited.

772
00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:10,920
Speaker 4: Looking forward to the season.

773
00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:13,320
Speaker 3: I'm going to bring half of Tennessee State out to

774
00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:16,400
Speaker 3: My sister is a sophomore, and so I've been to

775
00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:20,600
Speaker 3: Nashville more in the last year than i have in

776
00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:23,479
Speaker 3: like forever. So I'm excited about the season for sure,

777
00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:27,000
Speaker 3: and thank you for coming by the show to share

778
00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:30,680
Speaker 3: with us. Congratulations on everything that you're doing. You speak

779
00:37:30,719 --> 00:37:33,640
Speaker 3: with so much passion about this league, and you can

780
00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:36,319
Speaker 3: tell that you are not only the perfect person, but

781
00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:39,280
Speaker 3: just to have utilized all of the things you've learned

782
00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:42,120
Speaker 3: over the many years that you're bringing to this position.

783
00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:44,120
Speaker 3: And we can feel it, and we can see it,

784
00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:46,680
Speaker 3: we can see it says so kudos to you.

785
00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:49,920
Speaker 5: Thank you. You guys are so kind. I really appreciate that.

786
00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:51,920
Speaker 6: And stick with us, Stick with us. We are building

787
00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:53,200
Speaker 6: something good and else.

788
00:37:53,080 --> 00:37:55,560
Speaker 4: Girl, we ain't going nowhere nowhere.

789
00:37:55,719 --> 00:37:57,120
Speaker 5: We love it, we love it.

790
00:37:57,280 --> 00:37:58,839
Speaker 6: Come on out and can I say it? Shout out

791
00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:01,040
Speaker 6: to Kandice, do pree it to you? Shoot her season?

792
00:38:01,120 --> 00:38:03,839
Speaker 6: So we were very much so we'll be making sure

793
00:38:03,880 --> 00:38:05,000
Speaker 6: that we're in supporting Candace.

794
00:38:05,239 --> 00:38:06,680
Speaker 1: Yes, let's go.

795
00:38:07,719 --> 00:38:09,480
Speaker 3: I tried to get my sister to play on the team.

796
00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:11,360
Speaker 3: Now she can't play basketball for real, but I was

797
00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:13,279
Speaker 3: just like, listen, just go try out so you can

798
00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:14,360
Speaker 3: meet Candace Stupree.

799
00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:15,120
Speaker 1: That's a legend.

800
00:38:16,520 --> 00:38:19,200
Speaker 6: Yes, yes, so good stuff, bru, and I can't wait

801
00:38:19,239 --> 00:38:20,440
Speaker 6: to see you guys in Nashville.

802
00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:23,040
Speaker 5: Thanks for having me on and listen, let's continue this conversation.

803
00:38:23,080 --> 00:38:24,879
Speaker 5: There might be for sure to talk about.

804
00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:25,800
Speaker 1: For sure.

805
00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:27,800
Speaker 4: Absolutely love you guys.

806
00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:45,560
Speaker 3: All right, sureyl So, we have basically given our fans

807
00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:48,440
Speaker 3: all the rundown on Athletes Unlimited, why they need to

808
00:38:48,480 --> 00:38:51,360
Speaker 3: be there when they need to tune in four weeks

809
00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:53,640
Speaker 3: of this, we're going strong until the end of March.

810
00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:56,480
Speaker 3: You're gonna be there on the call. I'm gonna be

811
00:38:56,520 --> 00:38:59,080
Speaker 3: there as the digital reporter. We're gonna have a lot

812
00:38:59,080 --> 00:39:01,600
Speaker 3: of fun with Athletes Unlimited. What's the one thing that

813
00:39:01,680 --> 00:39:03,440
Speaker 3: you can't wait, and that you're looking forward to when

814
00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:04,720
Speaker 3: you get to Nashville.

815
00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:07,040
Speaker 2: Besides kicking it and hanging with you and having a

816
00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:09,640
Speaker 2: few dreams we won't tell nobody about.

817
00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:12,319
Speaker 4: Listen, Megan laid it all out.

818
00:39:12,640 --> 00:39:14,920
Speaker 2: She told the people what they need to hear, what

819
00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:18,640
Speaker 2: AU is all about. I'm excited about this talent, right.

820
00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:22,839
Speaker 2: I know we're they're still adding pieces, but of the

821
00:39:22,920 --> 00:39:27,160
Speaker 2: players she has mentioned and named, I'm excited about this

822
00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:30,080
Speaker 2: talent level. I think from top to bottom, it's gonna

823
00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:33,480
Speaker 2: be probably more balanced than we've seen in the previous years.

824
00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:36,720
Speaker 2: And from what I hear, Nashville is a good place

825
00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:39,440
Speaker 2: to be. And I'm just excited. I'm excited to be

826
00:39:39,680 --> 00:39:42,400
Speaker 2: a part of some more women's professional basketball.

827
00:39:42,640 --> 00:39:43,480
Speaker 1: I know that's right.

828
00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:48,640
Speaker 3: I'm excited for those same exact things, especially the kicking

829
00:39:48,640 --> 00:39:50,200
Speaker 3: it with you part, the kicking it with Cindy.

830
00:39:51,160 --> 00:39:51,359
Speaker 1: Yeah.

831
00:39:51,360 --> 00:39:53,640
Speaker 3: I'm also really excited to see my baby sister. She's

832
00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:57,400
Speaker 3: a student at Tennessee State University who has a job

833
00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:01,080
Speaker 3: at AU working with their merchandising department.

834
00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:03,719
Speaker 1: I had nothing to do with this, by the way,

835
00:40:03,960 --> 00:40:04,560
Speaker 1: so bad.

836
00:40:06,840 --> 00:40:08,799
Speaker 3: It so I'm excited to see my baby sister once

837
00:40:08,840 --> 00:40:12,160
Speaker 3: I get there. But with that, UYL go ahead and

838
00:40:12,239 --> 00:40:14,680
Speaker 3: close us out and level us up for next week.

839
00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:18,239
Speaker 2: Listen, I am going to give y'all some good words today.

840
00:40:18,560 --> 00:40:21,400
Speaker 2: And yeah, let me just read this to y'all for

841
00:40:21,560 --> 00:40:25,000
Speaker 2: anybody that may be going through something and you're feeling

842
00:40:25,040 --> 00:40:29,480
Speaker 2: a little down, not really sure what's going on, what's

843
00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:33,319
Speaker 2: next for you? People talking about you behind your back,

844
00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:35,600
Speaker 2: more than likely not to your face. This is for

845
00:40:35,719 --> 00:40:40,400
Speaker 2: you and for me, and it says dirty water doesn't

846
00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:44,800
Speaker 2: stop plants from growing, so don't let negative words stop

847
00:40:44,840 --> 00:40:45,600
Speaker 2: your progress.

848
00:40:47,239 --> 00:40:50,840
Speaker 1: M hmm. I definitely needed to hear that. How about that.

849
00:40:50,920 --> 00:40:53,320
Speaker 1: I definitely needed to hear that. I don't cause I don't.

850
00:40:53,120 --> 00:40:55,120
Speaker 2: Care how dirty the water is. If you put it

851
00:40:55,160 --> 00:40:57,960
Speaker 2: on the plants, it's still gonna grow. It's still gonna grow.

852
00:40:58,400 --> 00:40:59,680
Speaker 2: That's a big yag.

853
00:41:00,120 --> 00:41:01,359
Speaker 1: Yeah, I love that.

854
00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:05,120
Speaker 3: Hopefully that helps somebody lift somebody up today. I needed

855
00:41:05,160 --> 00:41:08,600
Speaker 3: that to lift me up today for sure. Cause girl,

856
00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:11,279
Speaker 3: I beat a villain in some people's stories, y'all, but

857
00:41:11,360 --> 00:41:13,320
Speaker 3: it's all good. We don't make it work because they

858
00:41:13,360 --> 00:41:16,279
Speaker 3: do what it do. Okay, we beat a villain in

859
00:41:16,320 --> 00:41:21,240
Speaker 3: folks the story. But with that, as always, we absolutely

860
00:41:21,320 --> 00:41:23,279
Speaker 3: love kicking it with you guys here, and thank you

861
00:41:23,320 --> 00:41:25,680
Speaker 3: all so much, so very much for listening.

862
00:41:25,960 --> 00:41:26,560
Speaker 1: We will be.

863
00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:29,239
Speaker 3: Back next week with more next level conversations and we

864
00:41:29,320 --> 00:41:31,680
Speaker 3: have an incredible guest next week too, so you really

865
00:41:31,760 --> 00:41:34,360
Speaker 3: don't want to miss out. But we're all just talking

866
00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:36,480
Speaker 3: about the real shit that women go through. And remember

867
00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:39,359
Speaker 3: this is not just our show, it's our show, so

868
00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:41,520
Speaker 3: we want to hear from you. Please leave us a

869
00:41:41,560 --> 00:41:44,400
Speaker 3: review in Apple Podcasts, or you can email us at

870
00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:47,319
Speaker 3: Levels to This Podcast at gmail dot com and tell

871
00:41:47,400 --> 00:41:49,919
Speaker 3: us what you thought of this week's show or maybe

872
00:41:49,960 --> 00:41:51,879
Speaker 3: what you want to talk about in a future show.

873
00:41:51,920 --> 00:41:55,400
Speaker 3: You can also follow us on Instagram at lct pod.

874
00:41:55,719 --> 00:41:58,600
Speaker 3: But until next time, keep your mentals ground level and

875
00:41:58,640 --> 00:41:59,879
Speaker 3: we'll be back next week.

876
00:42:00,160 --> 00:42:00,480
Speaker 1: Peace.

877
00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:01,160
Speaker 4: Peace.

878
00:42:02,760 --> 00:42:07,320
Speaker 2: Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart.

879
00:42:07,640 --> 00:42:10,160
Speaker 2: Open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This

880
00:42:10,280 --> 00:42:13,480
Speaker 2: with Ryl Swoops and Tareka Foster Brasbee and start listening