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Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're obsessed

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Speaker 1: with the jersey launch for the USL's Portland Cherrybombs featuring

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Speaker 1: front of kit sponsor Planned Parenthood Take all of Our money.

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Speaker 1: It's Friday, April seventeenth, and on Today Show, Kansas City

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Speaker 1: current midfielder and captain Lolabata joins us to talk surviving

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Speaker 1: the uncertainty of the NWSL's early days, the shaky start

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Speaker 1: for the current this season, her viral Selly's and why

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Speaker 1: she wants air Abouda to get paid. Plus a prime

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Speaker 1: minister plants his flag and a commissioner digs a bigger hole.

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Speaker 1: It's all coming up right after this. Welcome Backslices. Here's

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Speaker 1: what you need to know today. Let's start with soccer.

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Speaker 1: The US women's national team plays the last of three

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Speaker 1: friendlies against Japan tonight, kicking off at nine pm Eastern

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Speaker 1: at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. Emma

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Speaker 1: Hayes made some pretty big changes to our starting lineup

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Speaker 1: between games one and two in order to give a

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Speaker 1: younger group of players more experience. So we're really curious

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Speaker 1: to see what starting eleven she puts on the Field

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Speaker 1: tonight to the WNBA, it's not just teams who are

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Speaker 1: busy signing players ahead of the season. Earlier this week,

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Speaker 1: NBC announced that Naysmith Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller will

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Speaker 1: join the network as an analyst, joining a studio team

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Speaker 1: that also features Maria Taylor and Sue Byrd. As a player,

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Speaker 1: Miller was a star for USC in the nineteen eighties,

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Speaker 1: leading the Trojans to back to back NCAA titles in

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Speaker 1: nineteen eighty three and eighty four. When the WNBA launched

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Speaker 1: in ninety six, she served as the Phoenix Mercury's first

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Speaker 1: ever head coach and general manager. Fun fact, Miller also

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Speaker 1: once scored one hundred and five points in a high

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Speaker 1: school game pre three point line baller. Miller isn't the

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Speaker 1: only big name joining a WNBA broadcast team. We've seen

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Speaker 1: lots of new commentators and analysts announced in recent weeks,

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Speaker 1: doing large part to the WNBA's new media rights deal

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Speaker 1: that's going to see games air on NBC USA Network, CBS,

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Speaker 1: Amazon Prime, in addition to games produced by returning broadcast

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Speaker 1: partners ESPN and Ion. Superslice Joey Maldonado's women's sports spreadsheet

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Speaker 1: with game times and channels is going to be our

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Speaker 1: most visited bookmark. We'll link to that again in the

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Speaker 1: show notes so you can save it if you haven't.

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Speaker 1: Speaking to WNBA broadcasts, ESPN announced that Monday's WNBA Draft

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Speaker 1: was the second most watched in league history, with an

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Speaker 1: average of one and a half million people tuned in

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Speaker 1: to see the Dallas Wings select Yukon's Azy Fud with

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Speaker 1: the number one pick. This year's broadcast trails only the

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Speaker 1: twenty twenty four WNBA Draft, when two point four to

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Speaker 1: five million folks watch the Indiana Fever select Caitlin Clark

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Speaker 1: more Azy News the Friend of the Show, was one

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Speaker 1: of several new players doing introductory pressers over the last

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Speaker 1: day or two. On Thursday, Dallas's newest resident appropriately rocked

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Speaker 1: cowboy boots and talked about her excitement for good Texas

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Speaker 1: barbecue and Texmex. Fudd was asked about how her time

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Speaker 1: in college prepared for the league. She said at Yukon quote,

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Speaker 1: you don't skip reps. She was also asked about her

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Speaker 1: relationship with former Yukon teammate Paige Beckers, but team com

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Speaker 1: stepped in before she could answer. Take a listen.

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Speaker 2: Page announced last year on TikTok that y'all were a couple,

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Speaker 2: and I'm wondering if that is still the case, and

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Speaker 2: if so, if y'all have talked to any other couples

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Speaker 2: in the league about how they negotiate that dynamic as

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Speaker 2: pro teammates.

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Speaker 3: I understand why you have to ask that question, but

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Speaker 3: we're going to respectfully decline from commenting on our players'

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Speaker 3: personal lives the next question.

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Speaker 1: Fud was also asked how she hopes to inspire the

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Speaker 1: next generation and said, quote, the game is at its

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Speaker 1: peak and when you bet on women, you give them

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Speaker 1: a chance. End quote bet on women, yes, ma'am. This week,

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Speaker 1: the newest Chicago Sky players also met the media, including

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Speaker 1: UCLA's Gabriella Hakez, trade acquisition for Kia Jackson, and free

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Speaker 1: agent signee Skyler Diggins. Speaking at Diggins SKYGM, Jeff Paglioca,

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Speaker 1: who's been getting his fair share of criticism for a

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Speaker 1: couple of years and especially in the days since the

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Speaker 1: team traded Angel Reese, shared that Diggins is one person

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Speaker 1: he's going to try to avoid hearing it from.

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Speaker 4: I think that when you get into conversations with an

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Speaker 4: Azarei Stevens or Skyler Diggins players that you know we

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Speaker 4: were able to initially engage with. You know, they need

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Speaker 4: to feel confident, you know that we're going to build

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Speaker 4: a team around them. You know, I don't want to

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Speaker 4: deal with Skyler Diggins every night, right if she doesn't

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Speaker 4: have players that she can go to war with.

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Speaker 1: Pagliocas seems more than aware of the commentary on social

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Speaker 1: media about Skyler whipping the front office and franchise into shape. Now.

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Speaker 1: Some folks have commented on the posts about Paglioca's comments

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Speaker 1: by saying that when Angel Reese demanded a bet a roster,

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Speaker 1: she was publicly reprimanded, and now he's saying he wants

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Speaker 1: to put stars around Skyler. Now. I do want to

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Speaker 1: gently push back on that, as the issue with Angel's

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Speaker 1: comments were that she publicly called out her teammates is

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Speaker 1: not good enough. The public call out was what caused

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Speaker 1: the tension with her teammates and the team, and what

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Speaker 1: was criticized not the fact that she wanted to be

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Speaker 1: surrounded by more talent to the PWHL, where four teams

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Speaker 1: are still in the running for the fourth and final

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Speaker 1: playoff spot at this point, Montreal, Boston, and Minnesotda have

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Speaker 1: all mathematically clinched, while Seattle has been eliminated. That leaves Ottawa, Toronto,

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Speaker 1: New York, and Vancouver in the mix for the final spot.

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Speaker 1: With the current point differential, it seems likely it's going

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Speaker 1: to come down to Ottawa and Toronto, with both teams

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Speaker 1: playing key games this weekend. Ottawa hosts New York on

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Speaker 1: Saturday at two pm Eastern, while Toronto travels to Minnesota

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Speaker 1: for a game at one thirty pm Eastern on Sunday. Now.

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Speaker 1: Earlier this week, Ottawa earned some pretty solid moral support

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Speaker 1: amid their playoff push, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

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Speaker 1: and Finland President Alexander Stubb joining Ottawa on the ice

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Speaker 1: for a practice. Carney and Stub, both of whom have

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Speaker 1: some hockey experience of their own, even joined the players

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Speaker 1: for a few drills and got pretty high marks. Charge

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Speaker 1: captain Brion Jenner told the Ottawa Citizen quote, they were

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Speaker 1: great sports and they did really well on the drills.

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Speaker 1: It was super special end quote. Now any chance Carney

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Speaker 1: just signs an executive order automatically advancing the Charge to

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Speaker 1: the postseason, or is Canada still a functioning country whose

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Speaker 1: leader isn't eoing whatever the he please is on a

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Speaker 1: daily basis asking for a friend. One final PWHL note

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Speaker 1: amid the playoff push, the two top teams in the league,

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Speaker 1: number one Montreal and number two Boston, face off tonight

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Speaker 1: for the second time in a week. Puck drops at

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Speaker 1: seven pm Eastern at Plos bell in Quebec. Boston will

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Speaker 1: be looking to avenge last weekends one nothing lost to

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Speaker 1: the victoire in front of more than seventeen thousand fans

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Speaker 1: at Boston's TD Garden, while Montreal will look to keep

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Speaker 1: control of the number one seed in the playoffs. Don't

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Speaker 1: forget that both the NCAA Gymnastics Championships and Love Volleyball

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Speaker 1: Championships conclude on Saturday, so be sure to grab the

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Speaker 1: links to the schedule and info from our show notes

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Speaker 1: and tuned into both all right slices. We need to

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Speaker 1: spend a couple of minutes talking about WNBA Commissioner Kathy

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Speaker 1: Engelbert ahead of Monday night's draft. She held a press conference,

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Speaker 1: her first open media availability since last year's WNBA finals,

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Speaker 1: and we were so busy talking about all the draft

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Speaker 1: picks and the parties and everything else. We haven't got

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Speaker 1: to it yet, but in that press so, she did

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Speaker 1: announce a couple news items, including that the WNBA is

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Speaker 1: aiming to play its first game outside of North America

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Speaker 1: in twenty twenty seven. She also raised a lot of

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Speaker 1: eyebrows with her answers to a couple questions during the presser.

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Speaker 1: We're going to play two clips for you, beginning with

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Speaker 1: the question Kathy received about the future of her job.

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Speaker 1: Take a listen, hi, Kathy.

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Speaker 5: Madeline Kenney with the New York Posts. Adam Silver was

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Speaker 5: as last month about just your future as the commissioner

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Speaker 5: of the WNBA, and he said he didn't know what

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Speaker 5: you wanted to do, So I guess I'm just curious, like,

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Speaker 5: what do you How much do you want to stay

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Speaker 5: the commissioner of the WNBA.

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Speaker 1: How much longer do you anticipate to be in this role? Well,

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Speaker 1: thank you, Maddie. I do crack up.

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Speaker 6: How everybody's focused on me and you should be focused

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Speaker 6: on the hundreds of amazing women and thousands of women

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Speaker 6: who run this league outside of myself, our women owners,

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Speaker 6: our women board of governors, our women gms and women

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Speaker 6: head coaches, and my whole team of you know, diverse

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Speaker 6: women and men who are working hard every day to

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Speaker 6: get the thirtieth season tipped off by May. But I

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Speaker 6: appreciate that you're focused on me as well. I wonder

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Speaker 6: whether you would ask that of a man, by the way,

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Speaker 6: but I realized as women, we we get asked different

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Speaker 6: questions than men do.

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Speaker 1: But look, I'm so.

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Speaker 6: Proud of this league and we're working out here, you know,

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Speaker 6: working really hard to make the thirtiest season our best

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Speaker 6: ever and to continue to to you know, build that

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Speaker 6: sustainable economic model we know we need for the future.

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Speaker 6: So nothing else to report, which is probably why Adam

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Speaker 6: didn't report anything.

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Speaker 1: There's there's no story here.

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Speaker 6: I'm thrilled with our trajectory. I'm filled with the growth,

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Speaker 6: thrilled with what we've done over the past couple of years,

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Speaker 6: and really looking forward to the next few years.

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Speaker 1: Okay, lots of thoughts on that, but first. Kathy was

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Speaker 1: also asked about some of what surprised her most during

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Speaker 1: CBA negotiations, and her response was interesting. Probably the main

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Speaker 1: moment was housing.

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Speaker 6: Quite frankly, I didn't know how important and emotional that

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Speaker 6: was for them because I just assume having two children

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Speaker 6: in their twenties, that you know, pay for their own housing,

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Speaker 6: that once they were making these much increased salaries, that

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Speaker 6: that wasn't something they would need or want, but they

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Speaker 6: made it very clear it was very important to them.

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Speaker 1: It was an emotional issue. So I'd say that was the.

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Speaker 6: Major issue everything else we wanted for the players.

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Speaker 1: All Right, I'm gonna need Bianca and Alex to get

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Speaker 1: in here, and we're gonna need you to give us

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Speaker 1: a minute. Alex Bianca, Hello, Hey, Hello, Okay, so let's

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Speaker 1: get into it. First things first. We love an assist

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Speaker 1: in the WNBA, but I don't think passing the ball

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Speaker 1: to every other woman in the organization was the correct

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Speaker 1: response to being asked about her own job. Like the

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Speaker 1: disconnect there between how long do you plan on staying

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Speaker 1: in this job and do you want to keep being

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Speaker 1: the commissioner to name a woman was like wild and

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Speaker 1: I think like where she ended up was where she

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Speaker 1: sort of started. There's no story here. If there is one,

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Speaker 1: you'll hear from me. I also don't think it made

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Speaker 1: any sense to say if there was something to say,

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Speaker 1: Adam would have said it, because what Adam Silver said

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Speaker 1: the quote she refers to there was this quote. We

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Speaker 1: haven't had those discussions with the WNBA board. This is

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Speaker 1: Adam Silver when he was asked if she would still

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Speaker 1: be the commissioner after this upcoming season. I would always

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Speaker 1: say Kathy's done a fantastic job since she's come to

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Speaker 1: the WNBA. Obviously you can see just in the results.

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Speaker 1: But I haven't had those discussions recently with Kathy, even

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Speaker 1: in terms of her future plans and how long she

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Speaker 1: wants to do this. She had a story career before

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Speaker 1: she came to the WNBA with Deloitte. But I want

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Speaker 1: to say the results speak for themselves. End quote. So

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Speaker 1: what he said, in fact was an alley oop. If

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Speaker 1: I want to continue the basketball references for the question

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Speaker 1: what have you decided? Adam Silver was noncommittal. He didn't

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Speaker 1: have an answer for us. He didn't say you were

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Speaker 1: sticking around. It actually is a story, So I already

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Speaker 1: take back. She shouldn't have said no story here. She

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Speaker 1: should have said I understand why there's a question there

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Speaker 1: and I'm not ready to speak on it yet, or

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Speaker 1: you know, some other answer. But what she did say, well,

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Speaker 1: and I'm letting you guys get to all of this

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Speaker 1: before we get to the real problem I had with

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Speaker 1: their statement. But let's discuss all that before we get

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Speaker 1: to the woman man part.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I definitely think she just by saying there's nothing

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Speaker 3: to report, there's no story here. I think that's classic

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Speaker 3: The Lady doth protest too much, methinks, to invoke Shakespeare.

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Speaker 3: I just think whenever you say something like that, it's

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Speaker 3: like whoa, whoa, whoa. We could have just stopped with

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Speaker 3: like you said, Sarah Kathy Engelbert, saying we're working really

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Speaker 3: hard to make the thirtieth season our best ever, and

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Speaker 3: we're continuing that process. And you know, she could even

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Speaker 3: have referred back to what Adam Silver says. You know,

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Speaker 3: we hadn't had those conversations yet, but she took this

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Speaker 3: somewhere where it did not need to go. And she

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Speaker 3: is way too media trained to have answered like this.

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Speaker 1: Yeah.

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Speaker 7: I'm going to even try making a basketball analogy here,

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Speaker 7: which folks know is rare for me. But I felt

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Speaker 7: like she was playing full court defense on like a

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Speaker 7: playground game.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm like, what is going on? She was picking

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Speaker 1: up the press on the inbounds.

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Speaker 7: Yes, at the airport, as you would say, But honestly,

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Speaker 7: her response was like a prime example of I think

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Speaker 7: the part of her job that she is the worst at,

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Speaker 7: which is the people connection part of it. And I

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Speaker 7: kind of feel bad because Kathy has in a lot

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Speaker 7: of ways accomplished a lot in her time as commissioner,

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Speaker 7: and when she says stuff like this, it almost makes

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Speaker 7: me wonder how she accomplished so much during her time

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Speaker 7: as commissioner. And then I start thinking about the diverse

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Speaker 7: group of men and women in her office that she's

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Speaker 7: referring to and wondering how much work they're putting in.

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Speaker 1: I think, also, what's kind of fascinating about it is

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Speaker 1: and we'll get to the man versus women is you

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Speaker 1: just made me think of, like, she doesn't have soft skills,

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Speaker 1: and we're used to women having soft skills and then

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Speaker 1: maybe not judging men for not having those. Were like,

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Speaker 1: he's a business guy, he got the business done right,

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Speaker 1: and then with women, we expect both the business to

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Speaker 1: be done and the soft skills to be there. But

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Speaker 1: I think that's why in the past we've talked about

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Speaker 1: thetent for having a commissioner that feels like they understand

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Speaker 1: and connect with the players, and then having a CFO

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Speaker 1: or a CEO or somebody who manages the business and

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Speaker 1: the finance side, because it just doesn't feel right in

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Speaker 1: this league to have someone standing up there representing this

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Speaker 1: diverse group of women and constantly stepping in it and

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Speaker 1: not feeling like someone that can respond to questions in

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Speaker 1: this way or in interact in a way, which I

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Speaker 1: think the second question is going to get us to

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Speaker 1: even more. But before that, y'all, would you ask a

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Speaker 1: man this question? I love that Madeline Kenny was like,

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Speaker 1: I would, yeah.

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Speaker 3: And for all of us who have been in those

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Speaker 3: press conferences, you know they sometimes rip the mic right

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Speaker 3: out of your hand, and she was like, I'm holding

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Speaker 3: this mic in case I need to respond, and it

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Speaker 3: made it so great.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, Madeline was like, no, no, no, no, let me make

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Speaker 1: sure I am still on the mic. When I say

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Speaker 1: I would ask this question. That was insane to me.

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Speaker 1: I yes, women get asked all sorts of questions. They

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Speaker 1: didn't ask, are you able to balance being a mom

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Speaker 1: and being WNBA commissioner? They didn't ask you feel like

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Speaker 1: you're emotionally stable during your period when you're the WNBA commissioner.

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Speaker 1: They didn't ask is your brain big enough for you

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Speaker 1: to be the WNBA commissioner. None of this was coded,

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Speaker 1: none of this was misogynist. This was a legitimate question

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Speaker 1: for a beleaguered leader who had been questioned throughout the

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Speaker 1: last year plus about her ability to lead, and after

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Speaker 1: Nafisa Collier's exit interview commentary, this is about the most

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Speaker 1: obvious question you can ask of someone, particularly since we

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Speaker 1: all sort of agreed they're not going to get rid

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Speaker 1: of her during negotiations, and most of us agree she

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Speaker 1: has done a lot of great things for this league

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Speaker 1: and seen it through a time of tremendous exponential growth.

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Speaker 1: So the question is a valid one. The question is

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Speaker 1: in no way gendered, and I can't stand when people

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Speaker 1: take the teeth out of those moments that are deserving

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Speaker 1: of that response by applying it in times.

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Speaker 3: When they're not exactly She's doing some harm here, one

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Speaker 3: hundred percent.

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Speaker 1: Speaking of doing harm, let's get to the second question

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Speaker 1: about housing now. The most gracious part of me wants

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Speaker 1: to say that as the commentary was coming out about

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Speaker 1: ongoing negotiations and they talked about housing still being a

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Speaker 1: big issue, I personally momentarily thought, yeah, if these players

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Speaker 1: are making a minimum of three hundred thousand dollars. That's

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Speaker 1: enough money to pay for your own housing, right. But

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Speaker 1: the difference between the average person, say, I don't know

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Speaker 1: Kathy's two twenty something year old children that she invokes,

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Speaker 1: and a WNBA player is the fact that their season

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Speaker 1: requires a short lease that might be broken, whether due

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Speaker 1: to trade, whether due to not sticking on a roster,

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Speaker 1: whether to this due to the season just ending. And

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Speaker 1: so it is a different financial situation than the average person.

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Speaker 1: And that doesn't mean that there aren't people out there

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Speaker 1: who make far less than what they're making, who are

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Speaker 1: struggling to find housing that won't feel some type of

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Speaker 1: way about this, But that's a larger conversation about being

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Speaker 1: a p ffasional athlete, and you know what's afforded to

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Speaker 1: those folks. And I do think it's really necessary to

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Speaker 1: remind people of the difficulty in acquiring a lease that's

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Speaker 1: shorter than a year, or breaking it even after a

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Speaker 1: year if you end up paying for a bunch of months,

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Speaker 1: you don't use it for when you live elsewhere. And

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Speaker 1: I think that being missing not only that context seeming

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Speaker 1: to be missing from her answer, but then the response

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Speaker 1: she gave whether or not she agrees with their decision

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Speaker 1: to keep fighting for it. To say it in that

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Speaker 1: way felt like absolutely zero connection to the folks that

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Speaker 1: she's communicating with and the way that they might have

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Speaker 1: grown up differently than someone who is the child of

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Speaker 1: a Deloitte exec turned professional league commissioner.

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Speaker 7: We've talked a lot on this show about how much

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Speaker 7: respect we have when people talk about how their minds

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Speaker 7: have been changed, and so at the very beginning of

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Speaker 7: that answer, Kathy's talking about something that her mind was

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Speaker 7: changed on. But the reaction to include her kids just

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Speaker 7: show such privilege and lack of awareness. The thing I

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Speaker 7: come back to is there's a difference between a big

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Speaker 7: contract and stability, and right now the league still lacks stability.

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Speaker 1: A lot of these.

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Speaker 7: Contracts aren't guaranteed, meaning that players could make only a

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Speaker 7: couple thousand dollars depending on how long they stick. And

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Speaker 7: then finally, the difference in markets, you know, trying to

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Speaker 7: get housing in Dallas versus New York, the Bay Area

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Speaker 7: versus Indiana, like major difference here, but the salary is

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Speaker 7: the same regardless.

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Speaker 3: And speaking of gendered questions and gendered language, I hate

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Speaker 3: that she called this an emotional issue. She could have

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Speaker 3: used a different word. She could have said, this was

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Speaker 3: an important issue. This was something that it became very clear,

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Speaker 3: was close to the player's hearts, if you want to

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Speaker 3: get at that emotional element. But to say that, you

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Speaker 3: know these women, this was a very emotional issue for them,

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Speaker 3: that word is not especially in light of the comment

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Speaker 3: that we just talked about. It just further a lack

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Speaker 3: of touch and an out of touch perspective that is

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Speaker 3: really harmful.

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Speaker 1: And I do want to also point out, because Alex

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Speaker 1: you made me think of this, it's not just the

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Speaker 1: stability within the moment and the season that you're in,

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Speaker 1: but long term, if you have an athlete that comes

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Speaker 1: from a family that doesn't have means, they get into

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Speaker 1: the league and they have a three or four year career,

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Speaker 1: that's the amount of time they're making this quote unquote

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Speaker 1: big bucks, which it is. This is big money, This

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Speaker 1: is good money, but for the rest of their lives.

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Speaker 1: They then have to pivot to something after having devoted

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Speaker 1: their time and energy and effort and skills to this

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Speaker 1: very short lived thing. So the fact that they might

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Speaker 1: not want to blow all that money on a contract,

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Speaker 1: including wasting months of a lease that they're not using

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Speaker 1: is financially smart for folks who also might be being

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Speaker 1: asked to support families or give money back to folks

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Speaker 1: back home. Like, there's a lot more to this, and again,

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Speaker 1: I think it just speaks to your point, to the privilege.

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Speaker 1: This is going to be fascinating to watch the reactions

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Speaker 1: to Kathy. I think she's very lucky that there's so

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Speaker 1: much focus being put on free agent moves. There's so

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Speaker 1: much excitement for the start of the season, the basketball starts.

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Speaker 1: We focus way more on that when we're not in

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Speaker 1: a CBA negotiation. So I don't think she did herself

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Speaker 1: any favors. Let's just say that we're gonna take a

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Speaker 1: break when we come back. It's the Sellly Queen herself.

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Speaker 1: Lolabanta joining US now. She's a midfielder and captain for

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Speaker 1: the Kansas City Current and has earned five caps for

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Speaker 1: the US women's national team. A Stanford grad, she helped

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Speaker 1: the Cardinal to the twenty eleven national title and earned

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Speaker 1: a degree in engineering. Okay Smarty pants a Calle native

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Speaker 1: with Hawaiian roots via her mom. She scuba, She golf,

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Speaker 1: She plays paddle. Emma Hayes called her a little gem.

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Speaker 1: She taught me how to do her famous fake hammy

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Speaker 1: injury turned twerk Selly at a wedding. It's lolabanta hi loo.

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Speaker 8: Hello gets me every time. All these good things that

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Speaker 8: are said about me.

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Speaker 1: Well they're all true. I'm so excited to chat with

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Speaker 1: you. You're technically supposed to be on a break international break

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Speaker 1: for the NWSL, but it's not been too much of

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Speaker 1: a break because your Casey current team was playing in

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Speaker 1: the Teal Rising Cup, which is a four team tournament.

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Speaker 1: You beat Brazil's SC Paul Mara six to one to

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Speaker 1: lift the shield. Do you like having a game in

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Speaker 1: the midst of all the practices or would you prefer

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Speaker 1: more rest during the break.

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Speaker 8: I obviously am one of the older players, so I

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Speaker 8: absolutely want a break, but we do get days off.

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Speaker 8: But one thing I have loved is having these games

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Speaker 8: against international teams. It's really good for the experience, especially

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Speaker 8: too because we're going to be playing Conka Calf Champions

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Speaker 8: League this year, so getting experience like that right now

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Speaker 8: for younger players as well is so fun. And then

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Speaker 8: obviously I'm saying it's great because we lifted the trophy

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Speaker 8: at the end of it.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, that's always fun to win stuff. Have you gotten

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Speaker 1: the chance to do any non soccer life stuff the

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Speaker 1: last week or so?

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Speaker 8: Uh? Well, now that the seasons are changing, I have

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Speaker 8: summarized my house a lot of like watering the plants,

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Speaker 8: getting the yard work going, getting seeds to garden. My

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Speaker 8: husband's family has stayed with us, which has been great

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Speaker 8: to get family time. So a lot of laundry, of

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Speaker 8: doing all the sheets and all that. But I am

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Speaker 8: definitely known for enjoying life off the field, just as

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Speaker 8: I do as much on the field, So I know

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Speaker 8: how to find that balance.

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Speaker 1: Lola Banta, she's just like us. The weather changes and

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Speaker 1: she gets all cute about her house and her garden

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Speaker 1: and her flowers. I love it. We also have really

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Speaker 1: loved watching you have such great success with the Kansas

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Speaker 1: City Current, captaining the team to the shield and record

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Speaker 1: time last season. But it's been a real journey for you,

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00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:54,199
Speaker 1: including being on three teams that folded Skyblue FC Kansas

434
00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,760
Speaker 1: City the first iteration of the Utah Royals. That's really tough.

435
00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,840
Speaker 1: I first have to ask, like, is it you're a curse?

436
00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:03,720
Speaker 8: I'm like, am, I'm the common denominator? Am I?

437
00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:10,520
Speaker 1: The problem might be might be no but for real, like,

438
00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:13,240
Speaker 1: how hard is it to stay committed to this career

439
00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:15,880
Speaker 1: when there's such instability? Oof?

440
00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:20,280
Speaker 8: What a great question. And I think you know because

441
00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:21,919
Speaker 8: I've been in the league for so long and have

442
00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,960
Speaker 8: so many of these highs and lows, people continue to

443
00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:29,800
Speaker 8: ask me a question along those lines. But it's because

444
00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:33,840
Speaker 8: this game is continuing to grow. Like just alone watching

445
00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,440
Speaker 8: Kansas City Current. When we came here, we didn't even

446
00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:38,480
Speaker 8: when we when they brought us back here, we didn't

447
00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,160
Speaker 8: even have a team name yet, we didn't have a facility,

448
00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:43,679
Speaker 8: we didn't have a stadium, and just in that little time,

449
00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,200
Speaker 8: we were able to accomplish all that. Win a Shield,

450
00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:51,639
Speaker 8: become one of the biggest organizations in the league known worldwide,

451
00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:57,159
Speaker 8: attracted these international players and myself too. I'm experiencing a

452
00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:00,280
Speaker 8: lot of success and still growing in the game. So

453
00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:03,320
Speaker 8: that's why I continue to do it. Believe me, it

454
00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:06,800
Speaker 8: ends a lot of days with headaches and sore muscles,

455
00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:09,080
Speaker 8: and that's why I got these bags under my eyes.

456
00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:14,359
Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, non interview Sarah here. We had some technical

457
00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:16,760
Speaker 1: difficulties with Low in her computer, but we have re

458
00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:20,119
Speaker 1: established connection with her on her phone. Audio video might

459
00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:24,000
Speaker 1: look a little bit different, but still good. Okay, I

460
00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:25,600
Speaker 1: want to go back to the beginning then, to one

461
00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:27,520
Speaker 1: of those teams that folded because you were drafted by

462
00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:30,440
Speaker 1: sky Blue in twenty fifteen. You played six games and

463
00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:32,879
Speaker 1: then you got cut, and I'm wondering, when you look back,

464
00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:35,760
Speaker 1: with the distance that you now have, what do you

465
00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:38,040
Speaker 1: think went wrong? Was it that you weren't ready? The

466
00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:40,360
Speaker 1: team was a mess, just wasn't a good fit.

467
00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:45,719
Speaker 8: I would say kind of all the above. That was

468
00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:50,320
Speaker 8: one of the organizations that struggled, honestly for a while

469
00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,520
Speaker 8: and until they kind of had their name change to Gotham.

470
00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:57,600
Speaker 8: Now they were struggling, and then they went in. You know,

471
00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:01,400
Speaker 8: they went in one two and these sold championships. I think,

472
00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,040
Speaker 8: I mean, they're balling out now. They're a team that

473
00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:08,200
Speaker 8: competes every single year. But also, don't get me wrong,

474
00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:11,000
Speaker 8: I didn't think I should be a starter getting all

475
00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,520
Speaker 8: these minutes. I knew going in that it was going

476
00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:18,919
Speaker 8: to be a very hard transition, and I think I

477
00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:23,280
Speaker 8: needed that set back in that reality check that it's

478
00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:25,440
Speaker 8: not going to be a walk in the park. It's

479
00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:30,720
Speaker 8: not college anymore. So I actually just went refocused, got

480
00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:34,359
Speaker 8: as fit as I could and have been with the

481
00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:37,320
Speaker 8: Kansas City organization since. Yeah.

482
00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:39,639
Speaker 1: I mean you battled through the starts and stops of

483
00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:42,440
Speaker 1: the teams that foolded and ended up on this team,

484
00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:45,359
Speaker 1: helping them become one of the preeminent teams in the league.

485
00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:47,240
Speaker 1: You've been there since twenty twenty one. You've gotten to

486
00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:50,080
Speaker 1: see success and do it on a team that has

487
00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:54,760
Speaker 1: a purpose built stadium, amazing facilities, great steady leadership. Like

488
00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:57,800
Speaker 1: how much does it mean to you specifically more so

489
00:24:57,840 --> 00:24:59,280
Speaker 1: than maybe some of the other players in the league

490
00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,520
Speaker 1: to see the both of the NWSL over the last

491
00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:02,200
Speaker 1: ten years.

492
00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:06,600
Speaker 8: Absolutely, I and don't get me wrong, I definitely remind

493
00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,920
Speaker 8: those young ones that they have no idea and they

494
00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:12,919
Speaker 8: got it so good, especially even just the players that

495
00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,720
Speaker 8: have been on this team for the last two years,

496
00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,480
Speaker 8: for example, like Alex Feiffer and Claire hut and two

497
00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:21,200
Speaker 8: of our youngest players we had in the last two years.

498
00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:25,520
Speaker 8: They came in and we were crushing the league, scoring,

499
00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:31,440
Speaker 8: breaking all these records, making the playoffs easily, And I

500
00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:33,439
Speaker 8: was like, you guys, it was not like this, Like

501
00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:35,560
Speaker 8: the year before we didn't even make playoffs. We were

502
00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:39,120
Speaker 8: all probably even like second to last place. Or even

503
00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:43,840
Speaker 8: last I don't know, but we struggled and I'm glad

504
00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:46,199
Speaker 8: they have that because that is what we continue to

505
00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:49,720
Speaker 8: show up for that next generation, and I hope they

506
00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:53,800
Speaker 8: continue to raise the bar as well. But yeah, I

507
00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:56,320
Speaker 8: definitely am telling them stories and they always are like,

508
00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:58,040
Speaker 8: oh the low lower.

509
00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:04,280
Speaker 1: Well interesting, like you're very open about struggles about finances,

510
00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:06,960
Speaker 1: about all the things and your journey throughout the league.

511
00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:08,960
Speaker 1: You were part of this very fun reality show the

512
00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:10,960
Speaker 1: off Season a couple of years ago, a bunch of

513
00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:14,080
Speaker 1: NWSL players training living together in Miami, getting stuck in

514
00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:17,000
Speaker 1: elevators and such, and in one episode you went on

515
00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:20,399
Speaker 1: a pretty lengthy sort of rant about being underpaid. And

516
00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:23,280
Speaker 1: I watched that and then later saw you get this

517
00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,520
Speaker 1: bag and I thought that monologue on the show probably

518
00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:28,280
Speaker 1: helped you get a better contract. Do you think that's

519
00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:29,080
Speaker 1: how it went down?

520
00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:32,840
Speaker 8: I think, well, I would hope so, because when I'm savings,

521
00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:36,919
Speaker 8: I hope someone's listening, because if not, I've just losing

522
00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:41,119
Speaker 8: my breath over nothing. But it I don't think it

523
00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:43,280
Speaker 8: just helped me. I think it helped a lot of

524
00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:46,000
Speaker 8: players in the league, because at that time I had

525
00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,840
Speaker 8: not been called into the national team, and when you're not,

526
00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,480
Speaker 8: you're almost disrespected in terms of pay. No matter the

527
00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:55,199
Speaker 8: years that you put in, they will never go above

528
00:26:55,240 --> 00:27:00,159
Speaker 8: a certain amount. And so I think me advocating, I

529
00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:03,600
Speaker 8: mean to the world, that thing was everywhere. It helped

530
00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:06,000
Speaker 8: start a conversation, I think for a lot of players,

531
00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:08,639
Speaker 8: and I'm glad that did because at the end of

532
00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:10,359
Speaker 8: the day, I don't care if the person next to

533
00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:12,919
Speaker 8: me is getting paid more than me. I want that.

534
00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,360
Speaker 8: I want everyone to get paid. I want the pay

535
00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:18,560
Speaker 8: to go up across the league. I would just also

536
00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:19,720
Speaker 8: like a cut of it as well.

537
00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:22,440
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean you've talked about that. You've said openly

538
00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:24,359
Speaker 1: like you want other people to get the best deal,

539
00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,080
Speaker 1: and you're not worried if money goes to someone else.

540
00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:31,800
Speaker 1: You're just committed to sharing contract information, spreading the well,

541
00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:35,360
Speaker 1: talking openly about financials. Where do you think that generosity,

542
00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:38,000
Speaker 1: that desire to sort of change the stigma about talking

543
00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:39,119
Speaker 1: about money comes from.

544
00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,320
Speaker 8: I think you know, in the very beginning of the league,

545
00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:48,080
Speaker 8: a lot of people were embarrassed in a shame like rightly,

546
00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:51,320
Speaker 8: so I know the first year I was not openly

547
00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:55,040
Speaker 8: telling people, but I would tell some people, and my

548
00:27:55,320 --> 00:28:00,320
Speaker 8: first full salary for the year was seven five hundred dollars,

549
00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:02,880
Speaker 8: and so when people would ask me that, I'm like, yeah,

550
00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:06,160
Speaker 8: I'm having oatmeal five times a day because that's all

551
00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:08,840
Speaker 8: I can afford right now. But this is a sport

552
00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:11,320
Speaker 8: I love, so I'm going to sacrifice and do that.

553
00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:15,160
Speaker 8: And people need to know and have these conversations because

554
00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:16,720
Speaker 8: they would never know that. They would never know that

555
00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:19,720
Speaker 8: we need to fight for a players association and all

556
00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:24,040
Speaker 8: these rights in a CBA, a collective bargaining agreement, and

557
00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:27,600
Speaker 8: people have to be vulnerable in order to change and

558
00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:28,800
Speaker 8: grow the sport well.

559
00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:32,040
Speaker 1: And I think especially early years of women's professional sports,

560
00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,800
Speaker 1: it felt like it delegitimized the work and the talent

561
00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:38,240
Speaker 1: to have such low salaries. And I know sometimes even

562
00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:41,000
Speaker 1: leagues wouldn't publish the amount that someone got fined because

563
00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:43,040
Speaker 1: if the fine was like two hundred dollars, it just

564
00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:46,440
Speaker 1: revealed how little you could find people you weren't paying.

565
00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:48,320
Speaker 1: I actually got fined within the first two weeks of

566
00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:50,400
Speaker 1: being an owner of the Chicago Red Stars, and my

567
00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:52,320
Speaker 1: fine was two hundred dollars, and I was like, well,

568
00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:55,440
Speaker 1: at least if I'm getting fined, they're not charging me much.

569
00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:57,200
Speaker 1: I don't know. I think the finds have gone up

570
00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:00,640
Speaker 1: since then, but yeah, I mean I think it's because

571
00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,440
Speaker 1: it feels like it's then some sort of value of

572
00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,320
Speaker 1: the quality and talent, and that was not the case,

573
00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,440
Speaker 1: and so it is hard to talk about when salaries

574
00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:11,600
Speaker 1: are so low now that they're going up, though, it's

575
00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:14,760
Speaker 1: just as important to make sure that everyone is moving

576
00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:17,680
Speaker 1: with the league and not being left behind because they're

577
00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:20,200
Speaker 1: too embarrassed to ask, like, am I getting paid what

578
00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:23,160
Speaker 1: I'm worth? Speaking of the reality show, I'm wondering it's

579
00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:26,440
Speaker 1: been a little while. I've been waiting for season two.

580
00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:28,920
Speaker 1: Is it happening? And if it came along, would you

581
00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:29,600
Speaker 1: want to do it again?

582
00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:34,440
Speaker 8: I'm saying absolutely, I would do it again another season.

583
00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,280
Speaker 8: I don't know. If it's happening, I would love for

584
00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:39,640
Speaker 8: it too. I had a great time Midge versus one

585
00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,400
Speaker 8: of my good friends. I love her. If you ever

586
00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:45,120
Speaker 8: wanted on on his conversation and go to that girl.

587
00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:48,520
Speaker 8: I've learned so much from her and I want to

588
00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:55,480
Speaker 8: follow her everywhere. She's a pioneer in this new realm

589
00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:59,720
Speaker 8: of reality TV and sports for women, and I can't

590
00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:01,320
Speaker 8: wait to see where she goes with it, but I

591
00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:03,320
Speaker 8: also want her to bring me along for all that

592
00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:05,440
Speaker 8: I have to be her plus one. I have so

593
00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:08,360
Speaker 8: much fun every time I do stuff like that with her.

594
00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:11,320
Speaker 1: Do you watch reality shows differently now that you've been

595
00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:14,120
Speaker 1: on it, Like, do you see people through a different lens?

596
00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:17,680
Speaker 8: I would say so. My husband and I mainly watch

597
00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:21,160
Speaker 8: like documentaries, so we're not the biggest reality TV. But

598
00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:25,200
Speaker 8: like the all the Netflix sports ones, for sure, I

599
00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:27,280
Speaker 8: can be like, they're in the heat of the moment

600
00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:29,360
Speaker 8: getting filmed and I'm like, I know why they were

601
00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,440
Speaker 8: reacting like that on Formula One. At least ours was

602
00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:33,560
Speaker 8: chill in Miami.

603
00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:36,800
Speaker 1: We got to take a break more with low right

604
00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:46,920
Speaker 1: after this. You know, last year was a dream regular

605
00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:49,400
Speaker 1: season for the Current, but a loss to got them

606
00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:51,680
Speaker 1: in the Semis and died the hopes for the double double,

607
00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:55,080
Speaker 1: the Shield Championship double. You know, looking back with a

608
00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:58,160
Speaker 1: little distance on it now, can you say what went

609
00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:01,680
Speaker 1: wrong in that game? And at the end of the season, Yeah.

610
00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:06,320
Speaker 8: I mean there's there's not just one answer to what happened, right,

611
00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:09,080
Speaker 8: There was a lot of things happening, But at the

612
00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:12,760
Speaker 8: end of the day, I would say GoF them has

613
00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:18,120
Speaker 8: a lot of players who have experience in gamesmanship and

614
00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:22,840
Speaker 8: know how to manage big moments like that. I think

615
00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:25,239
Speaker 8: a lot of them have been it like they like

616
00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:27,280
Speaker 8: I said, they want it before, they've gone from eight

617
00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:31,960
Speaker 8: to lift the trophy, and so they know how to

618
00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:34,200
Speaker 8: be in those moments. And I would say, maybe we

619
00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:38,840
Speaker 8: were just a little innocent in that aspect. And yeah,

620
00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:40,080
Speaker 8: at the end of the day, I think the more

621
00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:42,520
Speaker 8: experienced team one because it I don't think it had

622
00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:46,640
Speaker 8: anything to do with game plan or grit Like bull

623
00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:48,880
Speaker 8: teams were good. It was a pretty even game, so

624
00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:51,240
Speaker 8: I think at the end of the day, that's maybe

625
00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:53,360
Speaker 8: what helped them push it over the edge and win

626
00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:53,800
Speaker 8: that game.

627
00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:56,520
Speaker 1: Yeah, obviously would have helped if Tim Washewingo was there.

628
00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:58,960
Speaker 1: That's always tough to lose one of your best players.

629
00:31:58,960 --> 00:32:01,600
Speaker 8: But I'm all the big ballers.

630
00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:04,880
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, Cooper to Michelle Cooper, you know I am

631
00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:07,120
Speaker 1: cluing in though, And you said gamesmanship and you said

632
00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:08,960
Speaker 1: maybe your team was a little innocent, So that sounds

633
00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,240
Speaker 1: to me more like are you talking about and Katrick Berger,

634
00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:15,600
Speaker 1: are you talking about looking for penalties? Like what do

635
00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:16,400
Speaker 1: you mean by games?

636
00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:23,160
Speaker 8: No? No, no, I I think there's there's certain there's

637
00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:28,160
Speaker 8: certain things in soccer that you don't necessarily get taught.

638
00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:32,160
Speaker 8: It's you learn it by playing games. And usually a

639
00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:34,320
Speaker 8: lot of times it is like you mentioned Burger, she

640
00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:37,280
Speaker 8: is one of the best at it. She can know

641
00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:39,640
Speaker 8: when she needs to get the ball and put her

642
00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:42,440
Speaker 8: team on a counter attack. She also knows when to

643
00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:45,760
Speaker 8: put her foot on the ball and just you know.

644
00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:48,640
Speaker 1: Maybe her whole body exactly.

645
00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,920
Speaker 8: For maybe called the coach out and talk with her

646
00:32:50,960 --> 00:32:54,040
Speaker 8: out there. But those are certain things that's that's the

647
00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:57,440
Speaker 8: management of a game that some players they just have

648
00:32:57,680 --> 00:32:59,240
Speaker 8: that in them, and I think they have a few

649
00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:02,000
Speaker 8: you know on it as well. But then they also

650
00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:06,720
Speaker 8: have players that Jaden Shaw can make something out of nothing.

651
00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:10,200
Speaker 8: So that's where I say they they had all the

652
00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:14,720
Speaker 8: pieces that you kind of usually need for a championship team.

653
00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,400
Speaker 1: Well, now you have even more experience, so you'll go

654
00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:19,240
Speaker 1: in with some of those tricks in your book. When

655
00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:21,840
Speaker 1: this season started, how much did y'all talk about how

656
00:33:21,920 --> 00:33:25,200
Speaker 1: last season ended and you know, thinking about unfinished business?

657
00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:29,560
Speaker 8: Yeah, I think you know it was. There were a

658
00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:33,760
Speaker 8: lot of different conversations being had and there was a

659
00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:36,120
Speaker 8: lot of turnover in our club as well. So it

660
00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:38,920
Speaker 8: was almost like, all right, we have to have this

661
00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:41,280
Speaker 8: one conversation and then we have to put it behind

662
00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:44,080
Speaker 8: us because this is a new year. We can't change

663
00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:47,959
Speaker 8: anything about that moment. We hopefully learned from that and

664
00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:50,520
Speaker 8: now we got to start the new year fresh.

665
00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:53,120
Speaker 1: You have a new coach, Chris Armis. How's that transition been?

666
00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:56,880
Speaker 8: Oh, I mean, I think the guy wants to put

667
00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:59,080
Speaker 8: on a jersey and be out there with us like

668
00:33:59,160 --> 00:34:01,719
Speaker 8: he's he he's so excited, so it's hard not to

669
00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:03,280
Speaker 8: match that energy every day.

670
00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:05,640
Speaker 1: What kind of coaches he like? What vibes does he bring?

671
00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:11,480
Speaker 8: He brings the energy like this, and he and I play,

672
00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:14,240
Speaker 8: or he played. He's no longer playing, but he played

673
00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:17,520
Speaker 8: my position. And so I think he loves to come

674
00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:20,600
Speaker 8: and talk to me about how he sees things. And

675
00:34:20,640 --> 00:34:23,560
Speaker 8: I can feel that he literally wants to put his

676
00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:26,560
Speaker 8: boots on, pull up his socks and get out there,

677
00:34:26,640 --> 00:34:29,759
Speaker 8: and so I think it's easy for him to communicate

678
00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:34,840
Speaker 8: what he wants us to do. So yeah, he's very,

679
00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:38,120
Speaker 8: very involved, very high energy. You're a good guy.

680
00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:41,520
Speaker 1: You found so much success under vladco and Danovsky, and

681
00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:44,359
Speaker 1: he was a huge part of helping communicate with Emma

682
00:34:44,400 --> 00:34:47,440
Speaker 1: Hayes that you were deserving of those caps up at

683
00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:49,759
Speaker 1: the national team. He's still in the building. He's now

684
00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:51,840
Speaker 1: the sporting director for the club. Do you still go

685
00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:53,680
Speaker 1: to him for advice or for a coach up or

686
00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:55,120
Speaker 1: do you feel like you could if you wanted to?

687
00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:58,800
Speaker 8: Oh? Absolutely, And don't get me wrong, he's still around

688
00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:00,560
Speaker 8: so I don't even have to ask. He let me.

689
00:35:02,239 --> 00:35:03,160
Speaker 1: Solicited device.

690
00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:06,880
Speaker 8: Yes, And it's funny. I feel like I can answer

691
00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:08,840
Speaker 8: with him a little more now because he's not the

692
00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:11,320
Speaker 8: head coach and I'll make a comment to him and

693
00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:12,800
Speaker 8: I'll be like, you don't get to say that to me.

694
00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:14,840
Speaker 8: You're not controlling the starting lineup.

695
00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:15,840
Speaker 1: Video my dad anymore.

696
00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:20,600
Speaker 8: Coach exactly. I'm like, go go do whatever your title

697
00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:21,880
Speaker 8: your job is now.

698
00:35:23,160 --> 00:35:24,799
Speaker 1: Are we still going to get any bets between him

699
00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:27,120
Speaker 1: and Tema though, because I want some more bets. I

700
00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:30,120
Speaker 1: want her to be stepping up and almost immediately pulling

701
00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:32,120
Speaker 1: off whatever he challenged her too, because that's how it

702
00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:33,000
Speaker 1: happened last time.

703
00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:36,760
Speaker 8: It is and the that's the greatest thing I think

704
00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:39,080
Speaker 8: that I've seen out of black dudes, Like he just

705
00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:42,520
Speaker 8: knows how to get even more out of Temla because

706
00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:45,160
Speaker 8: it's hard to ask for more from her. Right She's

707
00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:48,120
Speaker 8: the fastest, she works the hardest, she scores the most goals. Like,

708
00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:52,120
Speaker 8: she's just the best person in the locker room. I

709
00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:54,400
Speaker 8: was even telling her today, I was like, Tilly, you

710
00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:56,600
Speaker 8: need to speak up a little more. You're funny. So

711
00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:00,239
Speaker 8: she does it all. And if there's one thing black

712
00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:01,799
Speaker 8: is going to do, it's going to raise the bar

713
00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:05,160
Speaker 8: on people's skill levels. And he truly has with her.

714
00:36:05,280 --> 00:36:07,439
Speaker 8: So I'm I don't even know what he's gonna ask

715
00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:09,520
Speaker 8: of her, but I know she would want to do

716
00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:10,120
Speaker 8: it for him.

717
00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:12,840
Speaker 1: Okay, Well, if the listeners have suggestions of things that

718
00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:15,480
Speaker 1: Timba has not yet accomplished, we can send him on

719
00:36:15,560 --> 00:36:18,440
Speaker 1: over to the current. Does it feel like sometimes it's

720
00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:20,719
Speaker 1: hard to replace someone who's had great success like black Go,

721
00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:23,120
Speaker 1: especially if they are still in the building. Does it

722
00:36:23,160 --> 00:36:25,160
Speaker 1: feel like they're working together. Does it feel like there's

723
00:36:25,160 --> 00:36:26,920
Speaker 1: a pretty clear line between what Chris is trying to

724
00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:28,319
Speaker 1: do and what black Co's role is.

725
00:36:29,239 --> 00:36:33,560
Speaker 8: Yeah? Absolutely, I think too. You know, they when Chris

726
00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:36,160
Speaker 8: was being hired, they were having conversations before and then

727
00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:38,520
Speaker 8: when Chris came in, he was like I'm here because

728
00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:41,000
Speaker 8: that guy brought me, and so they already had that

729
00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:44,880
Speaker 8: instant partnership and that's cool, right. You don't want to

730
00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:48,040
Speaker 8: divide in the facility at all. We can't be having

731
00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:51,799
Speaker 8: divides in our own homes. So they immediately wanted to

732
00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:55,239
Speaker 8: work together. And a lot of the processes we do

733
00:36:55,400 --> 00:36:57,799
Speaker 8: are black list processes he put in with the team

734
00:36:58,040 --> 00:37:00,759
Speaker 8: the last couple of years, and Chris is obviously put

735
00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:02,880
Speaker 8: his own twist on it, but he's there doing it

736
00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:05,960
Speaker 8: as well. So we're coming together for sure.

737
00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:08,600
Speaker 1: Kind Of a slow start to the season. Two wins,

738
00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:11,360
Speaker 1: three losses, plenty of time to move up the table.

739
00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:13,279
Speaker 1: What do you need to work on the most? What

740
00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:15,680
Speaker 1: needs to improve to put more wins on the board.

741
00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:20,520
Speaker 8: Yeah, I think my biggest win right now would be

742
00:37:20,600 --> 00:37:22,680
Speaker 8: getting a shut out. You know, even in this till

743
00:37:22,760 --> 00:37:26,319
Speaker 8: Rising Cup, we were still getting goals scored on us.

744
00:37:26,360 --> 00:37:29,680
Speaker 8: So that that's something we as a group have agreed

745
00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:32,680
Speaker 8: upon that we need to be better at. And one

746
00:37:32,719 --> 00:37:34,759
Speaker 8: thing Chris wants us to do is keep the ball

747
00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:37,759
Speaker 8: more and that is my favorite thing ever. I love

748
00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:42,040
Speaker 8: having the ball, I hate chasing the ball. So it's

749
00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:45,760
Speaker 8: been something we've been working on in this international break,

750
00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:49,480
Speaker 8: and I'm excited to see us actually implement it in

751
00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:50,360
Speaker 8: the season again.

752
00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:53,480
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's kind of like a bye in the NFL,

753
00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:56,120
Speaker 1: like it came at a good time for your team, Like, okay,

754
00:37:56,480 --> 00:37:58,799
Speaker 1: tough start, get our shit together, get back out there

755
00:37:58,800 --> 00:38:01,680
Speaker 1: after the international break. I saw I report this week

756
00:38:01,680 --> 00:38:04,279
Speaker 1: that the NWSL is working on a program for league

757
00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:08,880
Speaker 1: wide cleat and goalkeeper glove exposure agreements, basically forcing players

758
00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:12,040
Speaker 1: that are wearing non partner sponsorship deals to cover up

759
00:38:12,080 --> 00:38:14,600
Speaker 1: their brand logos and matches pay fines if they don't.

760
00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:16,480
Speaker 1: Do you think this is going to keep players from

761
00:38:16,520 --> 00:38:19,399
Speaker 1: signing with other brands or players probably just dutifully cover

762
00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:21,120
Speaker 1: the logos and wear what they feel good in.

763
00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:26,359
Speaker 8: I think players have to look good, feel good, and

764
00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:28,719
Speaker 8: they will then play good. I think one of the

765
00:38:28,719 --> 00:38:31,960
Speaker 8: biggest examples is Kayla Sharples. You know, she's started wearing

766
00:38:32,280 --> 00:38:35,759
Speaker 8: this new cleat that has she's been crushing in, Like

767
00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:38,520
Speaker 8: there's been no better advocate I think for that cleat

768
00:38:38,840 --> 00:38:42,560
Speaker 8: than Kayla right now. She's been so successful since she's

769
00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,759
Speaker 8: worn those so and there's a reason why she's wearing

770
00:38:45,840 --> 00:38:48,399
Speaker 8: She didn't just wear them because the style but now

771
00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:50,959
Speaker 8: that she's rocking them and there is a reason why

772
00:38:51,160 --> 00:38:55,120
Speaker 8: it's just so good that it's also teel. But yeah, players,

773
00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:58,960
Speaker 8: players should not have to just be in one that's

774
00:38:59,040 --> 00:39:01,480
Speaker 8: that's what the jerseys or right, that's the uniform. Then

775
00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:04,000
Speaker 8: you can wear your head bands, your cleats and all that,

776
00:39:04,040 --> 00:39:07,680
Speaker 8: but the league wants that. I'm just like, just just

777
00:39:07,719 --> 00:39:08,879
Speaker 8: pay us more than right.

778
00:39:09,120 --> 00:39:11,800
Speaker 1: I was gonna say so, shout out to Katock's cleats,

779
00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:13,960
Speaker 1: which I know Kayla is a sponsor for, and they're

780
00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:18,360
Speaker 1: specifically designed to reduce injuries and female athletes, particularly acl

781
00:39:18,360 --> 00:39:20,719
Speaker 1: and ankle and we're here for that as much as

782
00:39:20,840 --> 00:39:25,279
Speaker 1: possibly can help. But it does feel like a financial

783
00:39:25,719 --> 00:39:29,720
Speaker 1: stream to the league that might then prevent that same

784
00:39:29,800 --> 00:39:33,040
Speaker 1: stream to the players, either because they won't be getting

785
00:39:33,040 --> 00:39:35,520
Speaker 1: individual sponsorship deals if the money's going to the league

786
00:39:35,560 --> 00:39:37,719
Speaker 1: to ensure that that's what they're wearing, or they might

787
00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:40,560
Speaker 1: not be able to get that financial little boost from

788
00:39:40,680 --> 00:39:43,080
Speaker 1: a different company if they don't feel like their logos

789
00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:45,360
Speaker 1: will actually be out there. So that'll be interesting to

790
00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:49,440
Speaker 1: see what happens with that. Speaking of Kayla Sharples, it

791
00:39:49,560 --> 00:39:52,800
Speaker 1: was at her nuptials that you taught me your viral

792
00:39:52,840 --> 00:39:55,840
Speaker 1: sally m to work not as good as yours, not surprisingly,

793
00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:57,840
Speaker 1: but I'm not the only one who's copied it. Travis

794
00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:00,880
Speaker 1: Kelcey among the other famous pro athletes who saw your

795
00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:03,040
Speaker 1: celebration and decided to copy it. How did you come

796
00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:04,719
Speaker 1: up with that? And how many games did you have

797
00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:07,560
Speaker 1: to wait before scoring so that you could bust it out?

798
00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:12,319
Speaker 8: Oh my gosh, I think I came up with that

799
00:40:12,480 --> 00:40:16,120
Speaker 8: because I one, when I'm in the locker room, I'm absurd,

800
00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:18,919
Speaker 8: Like you guys think I'm absurd here in the locker room,

801
00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:22,480
Speaker 8: I'm another beef. And so I was just like, come on,

802
00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:25,520
Speaker 8: you guys, like we need to start celebrating our goals.

803
00:40:25,600 --> 00:40:29,040
Speaker 8: We we were not having the year before, we weren't

804
00:40:29,080 --> 00:40:30,719
Speaker 8: having the best of years, so it was like, how

805
00:40:30,760 --> 00:40:33,000
Speaker 8: can we you know, how can we really bring the

806
00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:37,440
Speaker 8: ner joy yet? And so other players were scoring, So

807
00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:40,320
Speaker 8: I initially started coming up with celebrations for other players.

808
00:40:40,320 --> 00:40:41,680
Speaker 8: I'm like, you got to do this, you got to

809
00:40:41,719 --> 00:40:43,600
Speaker 8: do this, and they're like, yeah, but what about you?

810
00:40:43,640 --> 00:40:47,120
Speaker 8: And I go, ugh, I as a six, like older

811
00:40:47,160 --> 00:40:49,239
Speaker 8: I've gotten the more I've dropped in the lineup, like

812
00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:52,439
Speaker 8: on the field, so I'm like a defensive player this year,

813
00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:55,960
Speaker 8: and I'm like, well, if I score, I'll do this,

814
00:40:56,080 --> 00:40:59,279
Speaker 8: and then like I'll tork and everybody was like, no way, no,

815
00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:02,200
Speaker 8: you won't, and I go, you guys don't know me then,

816
00:41:02,239 --> 00:41:07,120
Speaker 8: because I will absolutely. So the one game that I

817
00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:10,480
Speaker 8: actually said I was gonna do it, I it was

818
00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:13,879
Speaker 8: in San Diego and there's one only one PK I've

819
00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:17,600
Speaker 8: ever missed in the league, and I was I think

820
00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:21,560
Speaker 8: it was because I was already thinking about doing this celebration. Ye,

821
00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:25,799
Speaker 8: but keeper saves it and I was like, oh my god,

822
00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:29,600
Speaker 8: I have to focus next time. And so that next

823
00:41:29,640 --> 00:41:32,239
Speaker 8: game it happened again. I was like I'm not missing this.

824
00:41:32,320 --> 00:41:34,319
Speaker 8: I'm not missing this, and I made it. And I

825
00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:38,480
Speaker 8: think when you see that, I was truly just about

826
00:41:38,680 --> 00:41:40,960
Speaker 8: to be so hyped. And then I was like, oh my.

827
00:41:40,920 --> 00:41:45,200
Speaker 1: God, remember yes, Yeah, oh my god, definitely said it. Yeah,

828
00:41:47,400 --> 00:41:49,360
Speaker 1: what's the next selly in the chamber? What do we

829
00:41:49,400 --> 00:41:50,640
Speaker 1: got cook it up for? Next goal?

830
00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:54,160
Speaker 8: Oh? Well, speaking of Kayla Sharples, her and I came

831
00:41:54,239 --> 00:41:57,960
Speaker 8: up with one. And there's actually a USA woman's rugby

832
00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:02,000
Speaker 8: game in our stadium tomorrow, and so Kayla and I

833
00:42:02,120 --> 00:42:04,040
Speaker 8: when we went to visit the rugby team and see

834
00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:07,560
Speaker 8: them at practice. We gave them our so if they

835
00:42:07,680 --> 00:42:09,879
Speaker 8: do it, we'll have to come up with another one,

836
00:42:09,880 --> 00:42:14,399
Speaker 8: which I'll like you. But yes, that's that's the next one.

837
00:42:14,560 --> 00:42:17,120
Speaker 8: And then after that, I don't know, because our attack

838
00:42:17,239 --> 00:42:19,120
Speaker 8: right now and our team is so good, I don't

839
00:42:19,120 --> 00:42:20,799
Speaker 8: know if I'll be up there at all.

840
00:42:20,840 --> 00:42:23,160
Speaker 1: Anyway, Well, we saw you do the baby, the casey

841
00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:26,479
Speaker 1: Babay rocking the baby. Maybe we should give you. Maybe

842
00:42:26,480 --> 00:42:29,480
Speaker 1: instead of demanding the temwa chief even greater heights that

843
00:42:29,520 --> 00:42:31,440
Speaker 1: we can't even think of, we should just start giving

844
00:42:31,440 --> 00:42:32,680
Speaker 1: you seally ideas.

845
00:42:32,320 --> 00:42:36,080
Speaker 8: For her, please, I will, I will take them all. Something.

846
00:42:36,120 --> 00:42:38,560
Speaker 8: It's really hard to get her to do some seals.

847
00:42:38,719 --> 00:42:41,520
Speaker 8: I think there was two that I've gotten her to do,

848
00:42:41,560 --> 00:42:43,319
Speaker 8: and one it just happened to be where she blew

849
00:42:43,320 --> 00:42:47,360
Speaker 8: out the candles for her birthday. But again, she's so humble.

850
00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:50,280
Speaker 8: Her and Debina like the best players in the world

851
00:42:50,400 --> 00:42:52,000
Speaker 8: and so humble.

852
00:42:52,160 --> 00:42:56,439
Speaker 1: What's that like? Yeah, couldn't be me, It couldn't be TV.

853
00:42:56,560 --> 00:42:59,399
Speaker 1: After a peekg I mean, I would have so many

854
00:42:59,480 --> 00:43:02,000
Speaker 1: sellis in the chamber just ready, like way too many,

855
00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:04,640
Speaker 1: like an inordinate amount for the amount of goals I

856
00:43:04,680 --> 00:43:06,800
Speaker 1: would ever score, but they would be ready just in case.

857
00:43:08,080 --> 00:43:11,319
Speaker 1: You know, you are very funny, very outspoken. You like

858
00:43:11,360 --> 00:43:13,640
Speaker 1: to have fun. You and your hobby former sport in

859
00:43:13,719 --> 00:43:16,640
Speaker 1: Kansas City player Roger Spinoza. You teased a new addition

860
00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:19,200
Speaker 1: to the household last year. You posted a cute little

861
00:43:19,239 --> 00:43:20,640
Speaker 1: pick of the two of you with a one plus

862
00:43:20,719 --> 00:43:22,759
Speaker 1: one equals three. You posted a little bun in the

863
00:43:22,760 --> 00:43:26,560
Speaker 1: oven photo. Everyone got all excited, but psych it was

864
00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:30,440
Speaker 1: a dog. Uh, it was a mego. I love a pity.

865
00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:33,560
Speaker 1: I have pities, So tell me everything about Amigo.

866
00:43:34,719 --> 00:43:39,240
Speaker 8: Amigo. And so Amigo was a gift from my birthday

867
00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:42,160
Speaker 8: gift last year from my husband and it's because he

868
00:43:42,280 --> 00:43:45,680
Speaker 8: started coaching and he was never going to be around, Like,

869
00:43:45,960 --> 00:43:47,680
Speaker 8: I don't see that man anymore. I don't know where

870
00:43:47,680 --> 00:43:51,160
Speaker 8: he is coaching line could never be for me because

871
00:43:51,239 --> 00:43:55,239
Speaker 8: oh my god, those hours are insane. So he was like, hey,

872
00:43:55,400 --> 00:43:57,800
Speaker 8: just so you know, we're getting a dog today, and

873
00:43:57,840 --> 00:44:01,040
Speaker 8: I was like, you're lying, just dropped everything. I'm like,

874
00:44:01,520 --> 00:44:05,680
Speaker 8: I'm going and I'm I'm ready wherever it is him.

875
00:44:06,080 --> 00:44:11,000
Speaker 8: We're pulling up in this little chunky like when I'm

876
00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:15,399
Speaker 8: telling you this dog is so chunky. We pull up

877
00:44:15,480 --> 00:44:18,640
Speaker 8: and the lady's like, this is the last dog and

878
00:44:18,719 --> 00:44:21,680
Speaker 8: his name is Chunk. I was like, oh my god,

879
00:44:22,520 --> 00:44:24,440
Speaker 8: Like I was like, I have to keep is like

880
00:44:24,480 --> 00:44:26,680
Speaker 8: that has to be his name. But we had already

881
00:44:26,760 --> 00:44:28,200
Speaker 8: come up with the name on the way because we

882
00:44:28,280 --> 00:44:32,080
Speaker 8: used to have an English bulldog. His name was too low. Okay, yeah,

883
00:44:32,239 --> 00:44:35,000
Speaker 8: we like had to keep it along the Latino names,

884
00:44:35,040 --> 00:44:39,480
Speaker 8: and we came up with Amigo. And he's just a funny,

885
00:44:40,080 --> 00:44:43,560
Speaker 8: dorky now massive dog, Like he's a year old and

886
00:44:43,640 --> 00:44:47,520
Speaker 8: he's still just as floppy, just as happy. Oh it

887
00:44:47,600 --> 00:44:48,319
Speaker 8: makes me laugh.

888
00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:50,560
Speaker 1: I love it. I do. Like, I mean, we like

889
00:44:50,600 --> 00:44:52,640
Speaker 1: your husband, so we're not gonna shame him for being

890
00:44:52,680 --> 00:44:54,640
Speaker 1: gone all the time and being the one who surprised

891
00:44:54,680 --> 00:44:56,680
Speaker 1: you with the dog. Okay, we're getting a dog by

892
00:44:56,719 --> 00:44:59,440
Speaker 1: the way. Seeah, good luck with the potty training and

893
00:44:59,480 --> 00:45:02,080
Speaker 1: picking up the hoop and all the other things. You know,

894
00:45:02,280 --> 00:45:05,000
Speaker 1: you did get some sponsorship deals with Migo too, though,

895
00:45:05,080 --> 00:45:07,319
Speaker 1: so I guess you know, shout shouts of the dog

896
00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:11,160
Speaker 1: for getting that bag. So final question, since you just

897
00:45:11,200 --> 00:45:14,279
Speaker 1: mentioned the coaching thing, wouldn't be yours? Back to the

898
00:45:14,320 --> 00:45:18,240
Speaker 1: engineering degree Stanford Engineering no less. So when your soccer

899
00:45:18,280 --> 00:45:20,440
Speaker 1: career is over, do you see yourself like staying in

900
00:45:20,480 --> 00:45:22,319
Speaker 1: the sport with broadcasting or something, or do you want

901
00:45:22,320 --> 00:45:24,800
Speaker 1: to get back into whatever drew you to that engineering major.

902
00:45:25,960 --> 00:45:28,160
Speaker 8: I think both. I think that would be the best

903
00:45:28,280 --> 00:45:32,600
Speaker 8: balance for me. I absolutely want to remain in sports

904
00:45:32,640 --> 00:45:34,759
Speaker 8: like this has been my life. This is what has

905
00:45:34,800 --> 00:45:38,840
Speaker 8: always brought me joy. There's community in sport, and so

906
00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:41,480
Speaker 8: I will continue to do stuff with that. I mean

907
00:45:41,520 --> 00:45:43,719
Speaker 8: we actually, my husband and I also just in one

908
00:45:43,760 --> 00:45:47,160
Speaker 8: of our friends here open a little indoor facilities where

909
00:45:47,160 --> 00:45:51,160
Speaker 8: we can coach low income kids, and that I can coach.

910
00:45:51,280 --> 00:45:55,200
Speaker 8: I can't coach like top notch competitive sports because I

911
00:45:55,239 --> 00:45:56,960
Speaker 8: know I'm gonna be just like Chris. I'm gonna be

912
00:45:57,000 --> 00:45:59,680
Speaker 8: out on the field. I want to be tackling and

913
00:45:59,719 --> 00:46:02,000
Speaker 8: I I just can't do that, probably at that age,

914
00:46:02,040 --> 00:46:05,160
Speaker 8: whenever it gets to that. But I definitely want to

915
00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:08,040
Speaker 8: remain in sports. Broadcast is fine because I love highlighting

916
00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:13,359
Speaker 8: this league, I love highlighting the International League, so that

917
00:46:13,440 --> 00:46:16,000
Speaker 8: would definitely be ideal. But in engineering, I don't know

918
00:46:16,000 --> 00:46:18,239
Speaker 8: if I'll get back into engineering. That's a lot of

919
00:46:18,280 --> 00:46:18,960
Speaker 8: school again.

920
00:46:19,480 --> 00:46:23,640
Speaker 1: Yeah, Well, You are a natural at being on camera.

921
00:46:23,800 --> 00:46:26,160
Speaker 1: You are a light that really lights up every room.

922
00:46:26,239 --> 00:46:29,000
Speaker 1: So you got a bright future ahead of you after soccer,

923
00:46:29,080 --> 00:46:31,560
Speaker 1: but we want to enjoy watching you for a long

924
00:46:31,680 --> 00:46:33,920
Speaker 1: time before then and wishing you the best of success

925
00:46:33,920 --> 00:46:34,680
Speaker 1: the rest of the season.

926
00:46:35,360 --> 00:46:38,000
Speaker 8: Oh you just making me feel so good. Thank you.

927
00:46:40,560 --> 00:46:42,319
Speaker 1: Thanks again to Low for taking the time to hang

928
00:46:42,320 --> 00:46:44,680
Speaker 1: out with us, and don't forget you can now watch

929
00:46:44,840 --> 00:46:48,200
Speaker 1: full length Good Game interviews on the Iheartwomen's Sports YouTube channel,

930
00:46:48,440 --> 00:46:50,840
Speaker 1: so be sure to subscribe. We got to take another

931
00:46:50,880 --> 00:46:53,480
Speaker 1: break when we come back. There's hope in the numbers.

932
00:46:53,800 --> 00:47:04,640
Speaker 1: Stick around. Welcome back, Slices. We love that you're listening,

933
00:47:04,640 --> 00:47:05,879
Speaker 1: but we want you to get in the game every

934
00:47:05,920 --> 00:47:08,080
Speaker 1: day too, So here's our good game play of the day.

935
00:47:08,719 --> 00:47:12,040
Speaker 1: Keep sending us your takeaways from WNBA free agency and

936
00:47:12,080 --> 00:47:13,919
Speaker 1: the draft. We want to hear what you're thinking about

937
00:47:13,920 --> 00:47:17,720
Speaker 1: your team and other teams, like Super Slice and Good Games.

938
00:47:17,760 --> 00:47:21,279
Speaker 1: Chief Accessibility Officer Amanda Vallo, who's not sure what she's

939
00:47:21,320 --> 00:47:24,279
Speaker 1: seeing from the Portland fire so far, she wrote us

940
00:47:24,320 --> 00:47:28,360
Speaker 1: in part quote Iana Martin Carrion, who how am I

941
00:47:28,360 --> 00:47:31,040
Speaker 1: supposed to get up for a draft? In stash, They

942
00:47:31,080 --> 00:47:33,719
Speaker 1: also rostered a spot for injured Nika Mule, a lead

943
00:47:33,760 --> 00:47:35,920
Speaker 1: guard who will be sitting out a year, and hired

944
00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:39,160
Speaker 1: head coach Alex Samara, whose constraints let approach is heady

945
00:47:39,200 --> 00:47:41,840
Speaker 1: and takes time to learn. With the new CBA and

946
00:47:41,920 --> 00:47:45,120
Speaker 1: speed with which everything came together. I want to be

947
00:47:45,160 --> 00:47:47,840
Speaker 1: a firefan, but it feels like being handed a flaming

948
00:47:47,920 --> 00:47:50,880
Speaker 1: pile of poo. Please get someone on the squad with

949
00:47:50,920 --> 00:47:53,680
Speaker 1: a little name recognition. We can rally and get behind

950
00:47:54,200 --> 00:47:57,640
Speaker 1: end quote. All right, Amanda, I've got three words for you,

951
00:47:58,360 --> 00:48:02,839
Speaker 1: Golden State Valkyries. Go back and see what folks were

952
00:48:02,840 --> 00:48:05,719
Speaker 1: saying about the Bays expansion team around this time last year.

953
00:48:06,080 --> 00:48:08,839
Speaker 1: Who are these players? Why didn't more stars choose to come?

954
00:48:09,080 --> 00:48:13,120
Speaker 1: What's the plan? And the plan apparently was to become

955
00:48:13,160 --> 00:48:16,040
Speaker 1: the first WNBA expansion team to make the postseason in

956
00:48:16,080 --> 00:48:18,719
Speaker 1: their first year. Now, I'm not saying that that's going

957
00:48:18,800 --> 00:48:21,960
Speaker 1: to happen with Portland. I'm just saying, let's not invoke

958
00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:26,719
Speaker 1: flaming pooh until and unless the Portland Fires record demands it.

959
00:48:27,440 --> 00:48:30,359
Speaker 1: Thanks for writing in, though, everyone else, please write in

960
00:48:30,480 --> 00:48:32,759
Speaker 1: or call in and tell us what you're thinking about

961
00:48:32,800 --> 00:48:35,640
Speaker 1: the WNBA teams heading into the season. We always love

962
00:48:35,680 --> 00:48:37,080
Speaker 1: to hear from you. To hit us up on email,

963
00:48:37,160 --> 00:48:40,279
Speaker 1: good game at wondermediaetwork dot com or a voicemail at

964
00:48:40,280 --> 00:48:43,719
Speaker 1: eight seven two two oh four fifty seventy and don't

965
00:48:43,719 --> 00:48:47,960
Speaker 1: forget to subscribe, rate and review. It's easy watch hope

966
00:48:48,239 --> 00:48:51,480
Speaker 1: for fans of the Dallas Wings in Indiana Fever rating

967
00:48:51,840 --> 00:48:56,000
Speaker 1: three out of three successful case studies review. There's a

968
00:48:56,000 --> 00:48:59,080
Speaker 1: stat we've seen circulating on social media recently that has

969
00:48:59,239 --> 00:49:02,719
Speaker 1: lots of Dallas US and in Indiana fans pretty excited. Going

970
00:49:02,800 --> 00:49:05,439
Speaker 1: back in league history, anytime a team has had back

971
00:49:05,480 --> 00:49:08,360
Speaker 1: to back number one picks in the WNBA Draft, that

972
00:49:08,560 --> 00:49:11,720
Speaker 1: team has gone on to win a title within three years.

973
00:49:12,320 --> 00:49:14,560
Speaker 1: The Seattle Storm did it first, winning in two thousand

974
00:49:14,560 --> 00:49:17,279
Speaker 1: and four after drafting number one picks Lauren Jackson and

975
00:49:17,320 --> 00:49:19,280
Speaker 1: Sue Byrd in two thousand and one and two thousand

976
00:49:19,280 --> 00:49:22,279
Speaker 1: and two, respectively. The Storm then did it again in

977
00:49:22,320 --> 00:49:25,759
Speaker 1: twenty eighteen after drafting Jewel Lloyd and Ranna Stewart in

978
00:49:25,800 --> 00:49:29,319
Speaker 1: twenty fifteen and sixteen. Las Vegas entered the mix in

979
00:49:29,360 --> 00:49:32,560
Speaker 1: twenty twenty two after selecting three straight number one picks

980
00:49:32,719 --> 00:49:35,800
Speaker 1: Kelsey Plumb in twenty seventeen, Asia Wilson in twenty eighteen,

981
00:49:36,040 --> 00:49:39,600
Speaker 1: and Jackie Young in twenty nineteen. Now, Fever and Wings

982
00:49:39,600 --> 00:49:42,280
Speaker 1: fans are hoping their teams make good on this pattern,

983
00:49:42,640 --> 00:49:45,120
Speaker 1: with Indiana boasting back to back number ones in Eliah

984
00:49:45,120 --> 00:49:47,960
Speaker 1: Boston and Caitlin Clark, and Dallas putting its hopes on

985
00:49:48,000 --> 00:49:52,440
Speaker 1: Pagebeckers and Asy Fud. Only time will tell, But Fever,

986
00:49:53,000 --> 00:49:55,960
Speaker 1: you're on the clock. Now it's your turn. Y'all rate

987
00:49:56,000 --> 00:49:59,759
Speaker 1: and review. Thanks for listening, See you next week. Good game,

988
00:49:59,800 --> 00:50:02,880
Speaker 1: Low Oh, good game, Madeline Kenny. Not giving back that

989
00:50:03,080 --> 00:50:06,840
Speaker 1: Mike you pulling out the gender card at the wrong time.

990
00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:09,200
Speaker 1: You gotta save that for when we really need it.

991
00:50:10,840 --> 00:50:13,320
Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports

992
00:50:13,320 --> 00:50:16,480
Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You

993
00:50:16,520 --> 00:50:19,440
Speaker 1: can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or

994
00:50:19,480 --> 00:50:22,840
Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network,

995
00:50:23,040 --> 00:50:26,440
Speaker 1: our producers are Alex Azzi and Bianca Hillier. Our executive

996
00:50:26,440 --> 00:50:30,040
Speaker 1: producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan, and Emily Rudder.

997
00:50:30,320 --> 00:50:33,200
Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rudder Lucy Jones Britney Martinez and

998
00:50:33,200 --> 00:50:36,719
Speaker 1: Gianna Palmer. Production assistants from Avery LOFTUS and I'm Your

999
00:50:36,760 --> 00:50:37,840
Speaker 1: Host Sarah Spain