1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: Nothing really happens overnight, so it's just kind of working 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: at it little by little, not allowing people to really 3 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 1: define you in who you are and what you're capable of. 4 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: If it's something that you want, you can absolutely go 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: and get it. 6 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 2: What's going on, Emily Abadi? Here? 7 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 3: You are listening to episode three hundred and twenty four 8 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 3: of Hurdle, a wellness focused podcast where I talk to 9 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 3: inspirational people about everything from their highest hies and toughest 10 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 3: moments to essential tips on how to live a healthier, happier, 11 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 3: more motivated life. We all go through our fair share 12 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 3: of hurdles. My goal through these discussions is to empower 13 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 3: you to better navigate yours and move with intention so 14 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 3: that you can stride towards your own big potential and 15 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 3: of course have some fun along the way. For episode 16 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 3: three twenty four, I could not be more amped to 17 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 3: tell you this. I am sitting down with Banija Laney. 18 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 3: She's a forward for the WNBA team, the New York Liberty. 19 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 2: The national champs. 20 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 3: I am so so ammed on this conversation. I was 21 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 3: there for Game five, I was there for that epic win. 22 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 3: It has been an electric week here in New York City, 23 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 3: celebrating all that is the awesomeness of women's sports and 24 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 3: specifically the New York liberty. In today's episode, Benija gives 25 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 3: us the lowdown on how it feels, how it feels 26 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 3: to be a champ, what it was like to be 27 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 3: at the parade, what it was like to be at 28 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 3: Barclay's that night when the team took home the big win, 29 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 3: and she of course fills us in on all of 30 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 3: the backstory, all of the hurdles that led her to 31 00:01:55,960 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 3: this point, including multiple injuries, getting waived not once but twice, 32 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 3: and how she managed to pick herself back up when 33 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 3: life was really working hard to get her down. Benija 34 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 3: talked about the beauty and importance of self belief and 35 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 3: how the support of her friends and family has really 36 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 3: been monumental in her. 37 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 2: Pursuing her dreams. 38 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 3: She also shares what it's like to be an Adidas 39 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 3: athlete and how the support of the brand has been 40 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 3: transformational for her, as well as what she wants her 41 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 3: legacy to be, standing tall as a role model for 42 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 3: young women, knowing that not only is doing so an 43 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 3: opportunity but also a privilege. Again, I couldn't have been 44 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 3: more amped to get this interview, to have this conversation 45 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 3: with Benija, and I too feel like it is such 46 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 3: an opportunity to be a fan of women's sports right now. 47 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 3: Seeing the support in downtown Manhattan for the team during 48 00:02:55,840 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 3: the parade on Thursday was it was honestly emotion and 49 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,239 Speaker 3: all and so yeah, I'm amped, I'm geeked. I hope 50 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 3: you love this conversation. If you're not yet following along 51 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 3: with Hurdle over on social it's at Hurdle podcast. I 52 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 3: am over at Emily a body and one last little 53 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 3: bit of housekeeping. If you've never rated and reviewed the show, 54 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 3: do me a favor. 55 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 2: Try it now. Yeah, go on in, rate and review 56 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 2: the show. 57 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 3: Tell people why you love being a hurdler, what it 58 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 3: is about the podcast that you love, and while you're 59 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 3: at it, share it with a friend. 60 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: With that, let's get to it. Let's get to hurdling today. 61 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 2: I am sitting down with Benijah Laney. 62 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 3: She is a WNBA champion, a basketball player for the 63 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 3: New York Liberty. 64 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 2: How are we feeling today? 65 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 4: Grateful? 66 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: You know, today I finally kind of have a breath 67 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: to just take everything in. This has been a big 68 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: week for us for celebrations and everything, just having everybody around. 69 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: But you know, I woke up this morning and I 70 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: was just able to kind of reflect on just this 71 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: past week, in this journey, this experience, and it's really 72 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: just been nothing short of amazing. And I just woke 73 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: up and I'm like, you know, Lord, thank you, you know, 74 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: thank you for allowing me to be here and enjoy 75 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: this moment right now. 76 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 3: It's an amazing journey that you've been on. I was 77 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 3: watching one of the many moments where you were speaking 78 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 3: yesterday after the parade and you were thinking back to 79 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 3: when it was really the beginning and you and Sabrina right, 80 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 3: and so much has happened since then. I want to 81 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 3: bring us and start us in game five because I 82 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 3: was there and it was something in Barclays. Where was 83 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 3: your head at right when you guys went into overtime? 84 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 4: I'm like, okay, okay, come on, y'all, like we we 85 00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 4: got this. 86 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: You know. It was I was talking to Slewt on 87 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 1: the on the bench and I'm just like, like, my 88 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: stomach is hurting right now, Like. 89 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 4: Everything was just happening. 90 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: It was just so much back and forth and we're 91 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 1: just like, this is this is crazy, but you know, 92 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 1: there was there was never a doubt that we were 93 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: going to do it. It was just how it was 94 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: going to happen, you know. And with everything just happening, 95 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: all the turn of events, I just once, once we 96 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: got to like the the thirty second mark, I'm like, okay, 97 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: like we can, we can breathe, like we're we're good. 98 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:31,119 Speaker 2: We're good, We're good. 99 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 3: And I mean not the first time that you've had 100 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 3: to manage nerves and anxiety in a situation like that. 101 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: Do you have any tricks or tools that. 102 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 3: You use when you're breathing a high pressure situation to 103 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 3: come back down to earth a little bit. 104 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: I think when I'm in it, like I'm in the 105 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: flow of things, I don't feel too anxious or too 106 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,280 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's not I'm not too nervous or anything, 107 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: cause I just try and it as like it's a game, 108 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 1: you know, and like, yes, the stakes are higher, but 109 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: you've prepared for this, you know, like you're you're ready 110 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: for this, for this moment, and those are like, you know, 111 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: the things that I tell myself going into it, So 112 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: I'm not I wouldn't say that I'm like nervous or 113 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: anxious too much. When I'm out there is when you 114 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 1: have to kind of like watch and see what's going 115 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: on that you that I feel more of that because 116 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 1: it's just like none of this is in my control, 117 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: Like I have to, like, you know, just kind of 118 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: spectate as to what's going on in front of me. 119 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: And so that's when I feel, you know, the most 120 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: anxious or the most nervous. I'm just like okay, like 121 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: what's going to happen. But I think in the moment, 122 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: I try to just tell myself, you know, like this 123 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 1: is You've prepared for these moments, like you're you're built 124 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: for this kind of thing. 125 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 3: You're built for this, and that, to your point, is 126 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 3: a big part of playing on a team, right is 127 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 3: putting your trust and your faith in your teammates when 128 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 3: you might be on the sidelines and taking that step back. 129 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 3: What do you think has been the biggest let's call 130 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 3: it strength of the Liberty this year in terms of 131 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 3: being on this team. 132 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 2: What is it that makes this team great? 133 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: I think just the depth that we have. You know, 134 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: everybody brings something different to the table, but we all 135 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: bring great things, you know, from from one to twelve 136 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: and so just you know, knowing that seeing that every day, 137 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: all the work that everyone has put in, you know, 138 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: not having to question what someone is capable of or not. 139 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: For me, it just it makes it that much easier, 140 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: you know. I go to work with these ladies every day, 141 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: so you know, I know what they're doing. I see 142 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: what they're doing, I see what they're capable of. And 143 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 1: you know, we've all been preparing coming together for this moment, 144 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 1: and it took you know, each and every one of 145 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: us to be able to contribute so that we could 146 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: accomplish this goal of winning a championship. 147 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 3: I love hearing your unwavering support and faith in your teammates. 148 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 3: I know that the faith from both your husband and 149 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 3: past coaches at times has been the thing that's helped 150 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 3: you push forward, that's helped you unlock another gear. 151 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 2: Why do you think that is? Why do you think 152 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 2: it is? 153 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 3: When someone else comes to you and they say, Wow, 154 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 3: you are so good, You've got this, it feels a 155 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 3: little bit different than the conversation that we have on 156 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 3: our own. 157 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: Because for me, like I tried to, I try to 158 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: approach things with a lot of humility, you know, not 159 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: trying not to think more of myself than I ought to. 160 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: And so when you have you know, those those extra 161 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: people kind of telling you, you know, just validating what 162 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: you already know, it just it helps you know, like okay, yeah, 163 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: like you know, you're right, you know I know this, 164 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: but you know you telling me like it just it 165 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: helps push me a little bit forward and in terms 166 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: of what I'm thinking or you know, what I know 167 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: that I that I can go out there and do. 168 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 3: You've been fortunate to have some really great support from 169 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 3: a young age, starting early on within your family. Tell 170 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 3: us a little bit about what it feels like to 171 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 3: you to be supported. What does support look like in 172 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 3: your world? 173 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:14,439 Speaker 4: People showing up. 174 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: You know, my family from the day that I started 175 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: playing basketball, they've just they've always been there. You know, 176 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: my mom, she's traveled a lot just to just to 177 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: be there, just to be there to experience these moments 178 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: with me, you know, dedicating her resources and everything that 179 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 1: she has to make sure that I had an opportunity. 180 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 2: And that support is so valuable. 181 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:41,959 Speaker 3: Right like you said before, it's the thing that really 182 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 3: helps you push further, push harder, and keep going. Talk 183 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 3: to us a little bit about that beginning that you 184 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 3: mentioned about how for you basketball may have not always 185 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,839 Speaker 3: been the plan, but early on you knew that it 186 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 3: was going to be the thing that you really were 187 00:09:58,760 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 3: passionate about pursuing. 188 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean early on. 189 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: Like my mother, she played basketball and was, you know, 190 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: a big star in her own right. She played overseas, 191 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: was a you know, all American in college. They didn't 192 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: have the WNBA when she came out. But I've heard, 193 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 1: you know, just nothing but great things about about her career. 194 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,199 Speaker 1: And you know, as I was coming up, I never 195 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: got the opportunity to see her play, but I did 196 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 1: see her giving back to the community. You know. We 197 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,559 Speaker 1: spent every weekend in the gym with her, teaching skills 198 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 1: to young boys and girls. She coached AAU as well. 199 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: But she never pushed me into it. Coming up, I 200 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:37,959 Speaker 1: used to dance and I was going to be a 201 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: cheerleader when I grew up, like those were. I used 202 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 1: to do tap, jazz in ballet, and so that's what 203 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: I was into. But I was just around it so 204 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 1: much that I just ended up kind of falling in 205 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 1: love with it. And I was terrible at first. I 206 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: used to when I first started going out there, I 207 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 1: used to be in like my jeans and my ballet 208 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:59,719 Speaker 1: shoes or you know, anything other than basketball attire. And 209 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: then and once I kind of started to get there, 210 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: she's like, okay, like we need to get you some 211 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: basketball things, like if you're gonna be out. 212 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 4: Here, this is what we have to do. 213 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 1: And I've always just been naturally competitive and whatever it 214 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 1: is that I do, so I think that's kind of 215 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: what what drove me and pushed me to just become 216 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: the player that I that I am to today and 217 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: just you know, stick with stick with this journey. But 218 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: that's how it like that's how it started. And then 219 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 1: it's just been you know, support and everything from her 220 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: throughout my journey. Like I said, just making sure that 221 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: she gets me to any and everything that will give 222 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: me an opportunity to be the player that I that 223 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 1: I wanted to be. So whether that was you know, 224 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 1: her driving from state to state for for AAU games, 225 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: even you know, once I got into college, there wasn't 226 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:48,199 Speaker 1: a home game that she missed, you know, even making 227 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: it to some of the away games. And then as 228 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: I became a professional, you know, you you always see 229 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:55,719 Speaker 1: her around just because she just wants to be there 230 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 1: to support me and see me. 231 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 4: Live out my dreams. 232 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: That meant a lot for me, you know, throughout my 233 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 1: career alongside with her, just the my other family who 234 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: has been a part of the journey. 235 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:09,319 Speaker 3: What was it like for you to see your mom 236 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 3: after the wind? 237 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 1: It was like I was looking forward because her seats 238 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: are like normally across from me, a posing bench, and 239 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: I'm like, where is she? And then I found somebody 240 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 1: finally point her to my girl, come on, like, you know, 241 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 1: because this is this is her dream is as much 242 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 1: as it is mine, And so it was it was 243 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 1: really special for me to just be able to to 244 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: share that with her. I know, they weren't letting like 245 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,440 Speaker 1: family and friends past a certain point. I was like, look, 246 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 1: this is my mom. She's coming, you know, regardless, and 247 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: so just to you know, have her be able to 248 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: experience this with me. She's been at, you know, at 249 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: everything that I've been at since winning It just it's 250 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: been really special. 251 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 3: And tell me correct me if I'm wrong, But your 252 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 3: niece was certainly out there on the court after the 253 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 3: big w what's it like for you to be in 254 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 3: this position to give her this access and this front 255 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 3: row seat to seeing women excel in this way. 256 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 1: I want to be a role model for her. I 257 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: want to be an inspiration for her, just somebody that 258 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: she can look up to and know that, you know, 259 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,079 Speaker 1: regardless of anything that she goes through, regardless of you know, 260 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: where she is, and like, she has a grand opportunity, 261 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: and it's my mission to just provide her with any 262 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 1: and everything that I that I can to just help 263 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: her along the way. You know, this is I don't 264 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 1: have children of my own, but I know that if 265 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: I you know, if I did, this is this. 266 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:35,439 Speaker 4: Is what they would receive. 267 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: And she's you know, she's an extension of that being 268 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: that she's my my brother's daughter, and I just want 269 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:43,439 Speaker 1: her to you know, I want her to have the world. 270 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: You know, the same with my nephew. It's just she's 271 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: the first one, and you know, she's but she's the girl, 272 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:51,839 Speaker 1: and you know, all the things, I love them the same, 273 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: but you know, she's the one that kind of just 274 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 1: like latches to me, and so I just embrace it 275 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:58,680 Speaker 1: and just bring her along. 276 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 3: She is a little personality. I mean, between her and 277 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 3: Stewie's daughter, it's like they are the ones that are 278 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 3: really taking the prime time here. 279 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 4: Look they're the stars of the show and that look, 280 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 4: I'm okay with that. 281 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 2: Have ed it, have at it. 282 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: Well. 283 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 3: You did talk about your experience with dance, tap, jazz, ballet. 284 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 3: Would you draw any parallels between the dancing in your 285 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 3: life from when you were younger and the ball that 286 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 3: you're playing on the court. 287 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, I said it's helped with my footwork, you know, 288 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: just my movement and everything. It's been a long time 289 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: since I've done it now, but I think just being 290 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: that that's something that like I grew up doing, I 291 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: do think that it has helped attribute to my footwork 292 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: and everything on the court for sure. 293 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 3: Now, you mentioned your mom being along for the ride, 294 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 3: going with you to all of the games whatever was 295 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 3: within her bandwidth, and as you went pro in twenty fifteen, 296 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 3: you know, the journey maybe wasn't exactly what you envisioned. 297 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 2: To talk to us a little. 298 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 3: Bit about the early years of Benijah on the court. 299 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, the early years, I was just trying to make 300 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: my way. I remember when I first entered the league, 301 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: I had in college for four years, I had only 302 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: played the fore position, which is, you know, borderline like 303 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: a post player, and then having to transition with the 304 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: best of the best to be a guard, you know, 305 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: where I wasn't really comfortable handling the ball, I wasn't 306 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: comfortable coming off of a screen or you know, doing 307 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 1: certain things. But for me, it was kind of finding 308 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: something that I knew that I was really good at 309 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: and kind of Okay, I'm gonna do this and I'm 310 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: gonna do it to the best of my ability and 311 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 1: better than anyone else around me. So that way, it's 312 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 1: like if anything that makes me stand out there as 313 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: I you know, continue to work to figure you know, 314 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: other things out, because I know to be able to stick, 315 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: I would have I had to transition and I had 316 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: to you know, just become better and better. And that 317 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: was something that I focused on. But you know, I 318 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: just took it a step at a time. You know, 319 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 1: I would go into the off season, Okay, these are 320 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: the things that I want to focus on for this 321 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: next w NBA season and making sure that I did 322 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: that in the in the off season. And so, yeah, 323 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: my journey was definitely a little bit different. I started off, 324 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: you know, not playing as much or really being a 325 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: part of you know, the offense or anything like that. 326 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: And then I've dealt with injuries and injuries. I've dealt 327 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: with being waived twice, you know, in my career, but 328 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: you know, all of those moments they helped me lead 329 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: up to this one right here, you know. So regardless 330 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: of what it looked like in the beginning and what 331 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 1: it looks like now, you know, it's still a part 332 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: of my journey, and I wouldn't you know, I wouldn't 333 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: trade any of it. 334 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, talking about that experience, there's no arguing that you 335 00:16:54,480 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 3: are someone who works hard, period, and you also have 336 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:04,919 Speaker 3: this really beautiful level of confidence that, hey, like, I 337 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 3: might not have this skill or this thing right now, 338 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 3: but you better believe that I'm going to figure it 339 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 3: out and I'm going to work on that. Where does 340 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 3: that come from? That level of persistence dedication. Have you 341 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 3: always been like this or is this something that's been 342 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 3: a learned behavior over time. 343 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:24,919 Speaker 1: I've always been like this to a certain extent, but 344 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: it's it's definitely grown and. 345 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:29,239 Speaker 4: Elevated as I've as I've grown up. 346 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: I've always been kind of like a stubborn or like 347 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: person who like, well, you can't tell me I can't 348 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 1: do that kind of thing. Even if I can't do it, 349 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: you know, right right then and there, but always just 350 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 1: wanting to better myself and you know, not be the 351 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:44,919 Speaker 1: same person that I was before. And that's you know, 352 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: that's whether it's on the court, off the court, whether 353 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 1: it's like you know, emotionally, physically, like you know, all 354 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 1: the all the things, I always want to be better 355 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 1: and I always want to. 356 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 4: To find a way to grow. 357 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: And that helped me on the court, you know, Yeah, 358 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,400 Speaker 1: there were things that I you know, wasn't great at 359 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: and didn't really know what I didn't know. But you know, 360 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 1: with just the support of you know, my family, the 361 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: support of you know, the teams that I've been on, 362 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 1: the people that have been around me who who know me, 363 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: they've helped me, you know, kind of just realize some 364 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: of those things. Or like if there was somebody who 365 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 1: told me there was something that I couldn't do or 366 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: I wasn't good at, I was like, okay, well you'll 367 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 1: see this later, you know, and I'm going to work 368 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 1: on that and I'm going to be better. So I 369 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 1: think it's just come from a place of never wanting 370 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:33,719 Speaker 1: to be complacent or content with where I am always 371 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 1: wanting to just grow and elevate. But also like just 372 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 1: taking it a step at a time. 373 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 3: I love that, and I think that resiliency is so 374 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:46,120 Speaker 3: impressive for someone who hears that and they're like, Wow, 375 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 3: I want to have that tenacity. I want to have 376 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 3: that level of commitment For anyone aspiring toward their own 377 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 3: level up. 378 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 2: Do you have any advice that you can offer for them? 379 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,040 Speaker 1: I think to just continue to stick with it. I 380 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 1: think it's really important to have goals and aspirations and 381 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: then just you know, nothing really happens overnight, so it's 382 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: just kind of working at it little by little, not 383 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: allowing people to really define you and who you are 384 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: and what you're capable of, just knowing like if it's 385 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,479 Speaker 1: if it's something that you want, you can absolutely go 386 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: and get it. But you know, it takes a lot 387 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 1: of hard work, It takes resiliency, It takes failure and 388 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 1: success and maybe taking ten steps back to go five 389 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,199 Speaker 1: steps forward and all the things. But at the end 390 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: of the day, these are things that build you. You know, 391 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 1: if I hadn't gone through a lot of the things 392 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 1: that I've gone through, I don't I wouldn't know what 393 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: it really looks like to overcome something, or you know, 394 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 1: know just what it is that I'm capable of if 395 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: I hadn't had that, and so you know, like I said, 396 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 1: I'm grateful for it all. Like at this point, like 397 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: I know that there is nothing that I can't overcome. 398 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 1: There's nothing that I can't deal with, and at the 399 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 1: end of the day, make it and be okay and 400 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 1: be successful and all the things. 401 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 4: Regardless of what that looks like. 402 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 3: You have me hyped right now, like hard stop, I 403 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 3: am amped. You mentioned a couple of the challenges that 404 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 3: you went through injury being waived in either of those 405 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 3: instances or any of those instances. Was there a point 406 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 3: ever that you debated should I keep going with this? 407 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 4: Yeah? 408 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,679 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And I think, you know, I think that's the 409 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: natural like human response. Sometimes it's just like oh, like okay, 410 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:35,639 Speaker 1: like you know, I've been knocked down so many times 411 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: or I've dealt with this so many times. But then 412 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 1: there's also like that part where it's just like you've 413 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 1: done this before, like you've overcome this before, you can 414 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: do it again, Like there's there's nothing or no one 415 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: that can standing in your way if this is really 416 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: what you want right now. So yeah, when I when 417 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: I first tore my aco and you know, wasn't an 418 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: or didn't feel like I wasn't part of the team 419 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:02,920 Speaker 1: per se, Like I feel like, you know, I very 420 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: easily could be replaced, you know, I haven't done anything 421 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: in this league, and so like you have that, But 422 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 1: then I'm just like, but you work so hard to 423 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 1: get here, Like, don't give that up, you know, And 424 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 1: like I'm I'm a firm believer in the Lord, and 425 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,720 Speaker 1: I know that he said, you know, there is nothing 426 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: that I can't handle. You know, he won't give me 427 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: more than I can bear. And so with that, like 428 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:27,640 Speaker 1: I just got to continue to push, you know, keep 429 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: my faith in him and not in you know, what 430 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: I'm feeling or what's going on in front of me 431 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 1: right now, because he already told me he'll never leave 432 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 1: me nor forsake me, you know, and so like with that, 433 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 1: it just it it gives me hope in those moments 434 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: of maybe doubt or uncertainty and and all the things, 435 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 1: because yeah, in those moments, you know, it's hard. 436 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 4: You know, I'm a human. 437 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,679 Speaker 1: I'm dealing with my natural human emotions of you know, 438 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 1: disappointment and all the things. But you know, regardless of that, 439 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:01,639 Speaker 1: like I know that I can overcome this. I know 440 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: that you know, this isn't the end, and you know 441 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:08,879 Speaker 1: everybody isn't for everybody. So just because this person doesn't 442 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 1: like this or you know, one, that doesn't mean that 443 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 1: the next person won't. And so it's just it's also 444 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 1: just about you know, kind of just staying true to yourself, 445 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:20,399 Speaker 1: continuing to believe in yourself, you know, just finding a 446 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 1: way to kind of find that urge to. 447 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 4: Just to just keep going. 448 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:26,679 Speaker 1: Just know that it's that it's going to be okay, 449 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:28,159 Speaker 1: that you're going to make it, that you're going to 450 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 1: overcome it. Like at this point, like when I found 451 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:32,920 Speaker 1: out I had to have, you know, my sixth surgery 452 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 1: this season, I was just like, okay, you know what, well, 453 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:36,360 Speaker 1: what's the rehead plan? 454 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 4: Like what we're doing? 455 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:39,879 Speaker 1: Because I know I've been there, I've done it. I 456 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 1: know that I can overcome it, and so it's just 457 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:44,400 Speaker 1: a matter of you know, mindset and will. 458 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:48,199 Speaker 3: You know that thing I keep coming back to is 459 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 3: this notion that you've gotten through all the hard moments 460 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 3: that have happened up until this point. And in the 461 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:57,919 Speaker 3: midst of some of those difficult moments, there were certainly 462 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:01,160 Speaker 3: thoughts like how am I ever going to get through 463 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 3: this or this is my lowest lower. I am beside myself, right, 464 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 3: And so when then to your point you're faced with 465 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 3: adversity again, it's like, what's the worst that can happen? Oh, 466 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:15,239 Speaker 3: I'm exactly where I started in ninety nine point nine 467 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,359 Speaker 3: percent of the time where you started. Really wasn't that 468 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 3: bad at all. You mentioned that rough ACL tear. Would 469 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,440 Speaker 3: you say that's been the biggest hurdle that you faced 470 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:27,720 Speaker 3: in your professional career or where would you go with that? 471 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:33,160 Speaker 1: I think it was the second biggest. I'll I'll say, 472 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 1: I'll go to the first big I'll talk about this first, 473 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,439 Speaker 1: and then I'll go to the first This for me 474 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,119 Speaker 1: because it was it was my first major injury, Like 475 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: I had never been injured to the point where I 476 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 1: had to, you know, miss a. 477 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 4: Season, and like I said, I wasn't I just at 478 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:48,959 Speaker 4: that point. It was early on. 479 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 1: It was early enough to where like if the team 480 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 1: wanted to replace me, like they could have because we 481 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 1: were what five six games into that season, you know, 482 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: and it's WNBA. There limited spots, you know, they want 483 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 1: to be able to contend for a championship. And like 484 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 1: I said, I didn't feel like I had did enough 485 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:12,159 Speaker 1: in the league where I had like solidified myself, you know, 486 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: Poky and the team, they were gracious enough to keep 487 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: me on, allow for me to rehab and keep my 488 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:21,480 Speaker 1: keep my spot, and so I think like once I 489 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:24,439 Speaker 1: found that out that I would be fine for you know, 490 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 1: for the rest of the season. I was like, Okay, 491 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:30,720 Speaker 1: now I can just focus on getting better. But moving forward, 492 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: the I think the biggest hurdle that I had to 493 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 1: overcome in my professional career would be like the second 494 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 1: time that I was ways because it's like, Okay, you 495 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:42,639 Speaker 1: got through it the first time, and then it happens again. 496 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:45,920 Speaker 1: It's you know, later in your career, you think about 497 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 1: the lifespan of a w NBA player, it's not that 498 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:52,239 Speaker 1: it's not that long. And so I'm just like, man, like, 499 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:55,359 Speaker 1: what's going to happen. We're going into a bubble year 500 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: where it's not like, you know, people can see me 501 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:02,440 Speaker 1: and pick me up from from training camp or from 502 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,520 Speaker 1: seeing me play against other teams or anything like that. 503 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:09,119 Speaker 1: Like there's there's nothing showing what I you know, what 504 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: I've done, the work that I put in, you know, 505 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 1: as I'm like quarantine and everything, and you know, you're 506 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: kind of just waiting on people to make decisions as 507 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: to whether they're going to play or opt out of 508 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 1: the bubble and everything like that. So that I would 509 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:27,439 Speaker 1: say was like probably like my my lowest point in 510 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:29,720 Speaker 1: the league where I'm just like, okay, like what's next? 511 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: Like I work so hard for this, I don't know 512 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,359 Speaker 1: what's going to happen where you know, where my career 513 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 1: is going. And then you'll just like, you know, that's 514 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 1: when that little bit of like doubt starts to creep 515 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: in and you're thinking, like, am I, you know, is 516 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 1: this what I'm supposed to be doing? Am I being 517 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 1: pushed in a different direction to do something else? And 518 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: then I just had to you know, I just had 519 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 1: to be still. I just had to pray. I had 520 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: to like lean on the people who were supporting me. 521 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 1: And that's where my now husband came in. That's where 522 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 1: my mom came in, and just you know, the family 523 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: and who really rallied around me and just told me, 524 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:05,719 Speaker 1: you know what, like it's going to be okay, you know. 525 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:08,160 Speaker 1: And then that's when I had that conversation with Nikki 526 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 1: Collins and I was like, this is a new opportunity. 527 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 1: This is a moment for me to go out and 528 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:16,400 Speaker 1: you know, prove that I don't deserve to be way, 529 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 1: prove that you know I've put in, I've put in 530 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 1: the word, proved that I'm the player that I that 531 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:23,479 Speaker 1: I want to be. And then, you know, it was 532 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 1: like my lowest point, but then it was also my 533 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: highest to a certain extent, because just the turnaround, the 534 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 1: transition of that moment was so big. 535 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 3: So bag, there's a choice that has to be made 536 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 3: when you are in a moment like that, and you 537 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:44,360 Speaker 3: were very vulnerable in making it, which was to allow 538 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 3: your people to lift you up. I think that sometimes 539 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 3: in our darkest moments, we have this attitude that we 540 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 3: are supposed to figure. 541 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:55,880 Speaker 2: It out alone. 542 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:58,439 Speaker 3: Right that this is on me. I've got to move forward, 543 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 3: I've got to whatever the case may be. 544 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 2: And so to hear that you allowed. 545 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 3: Your community to show up for to show up for 546 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 3: you and then uplift you and help you get back 547 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 3: to being the badass that you are on the court, 548 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:13,160 Speaker 3: I think that's really beautiful. 549 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 4: I mean, it took me a few days to get there. 550 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:18,879 Speaker 1: I'm also that person that you know wants to figure 551 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 1: it out on their own kind of deal with the 552 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 1: emotions and all the things. So it did take me 553 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:25,919 Speaker 1: a few days, but like once I just kind of 554 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,480 Speaker 1: like I was able to take a breath and just reflect. 555 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: You know, I did allow you know, my people to. 556 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 4: Pour into me. 557 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,239 Speaker 3: Yeah, and it's so special to get there, and like 558 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 3: you said, then some really amazing things happen. The first 559 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 3: thing that I want to talk about is your relationship 560 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 3: with your now husband. I know, a relationship that really 561 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:53,119 Speaker 3: developed during the pandemic, arguably during a time that you 562 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 3: probably really didn't expect it. 563 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 2: Talk to us a little bit about that. 564 00:27:56,760 --> 00:27:57,879 Speaker 4: Yeah, I didn't. 565 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,719 Speaker 1: When we first started dating, like we were just casually dating. 566 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 1: There was no you know, boyfriend or girlfriend. We were 567 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:08,120 Speaker 1: just kind of figuring things out, not really looking for anything. 568 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: But then I think we just started to realize like 569 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:14,080 Speaker 1: the similarities that we have, the aspirations that we have, 570 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:18,399 Speaker 1: just how much we have in common, and you know, 571 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:18,880 Speaker 1: we just. 572 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 4: Fell in fell in love. 573 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,919 Speaker 1: It was it was definitely an experience just being that 574 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:29,679 Speaker 1: we were in quarantine and everything together and we were 575 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 1: able to push each other and be there to support 576 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: each other. 577 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 4: And then we just we both know what it takes. 578 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: We both played at the at the highest level, and 579 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 1: so it was just a comfortability. You know, we know 580 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: what each other needs and in certain moments and that 581 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 1: kind that really just pulled me in. 582 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:50,720 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. 583 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 3: And for those that don't know, your husband, Jordan also 584 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 3: plays basketball, something that couldn't be a bad thing when 585 00:28:57,120 --> 00:28:59,480 Speaker 3: you can't really socialize with that many other people to 586 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 3: be able to go out there and do that together. 587 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:06,000 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, heayed. He plays basketball in Taiwan right now. 588 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 1: He played professionally in the league for five years. And 589 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 1: we met in Israel overseas. We met in twenty twenty 590 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:19,800 Speaker 1: early January twenty twenty, and then we quarantined together once 591 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: we both left left Israel, and then we just we 592 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: just continue to build our bond and our relationship throughout 593 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 1: the years. 594 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 3: How is it doing what you do, winning a championship 595 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 3: and having that distance between you. 596 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 1: I mean it's hard in the sense of, like I 597 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 1: would love to have him to be able to be 598 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 1: here with me and celebrate with me this moment, because, 599 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: like I said, I feel like he's helped me. 600 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 4: Get here to this point. 601 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:52,840 Speaker 1: But I also understand, you know, we both have goals 602 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 1: and aspirations and that's also what makes us work. So 603 00:29:56,880 --> 00:30:01,600 Speaker 1: just knowing that he's there recording me from Afar. He'll 604 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 1: wake up no matter what time it is to make 605 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 1: sure that he could catch the games, even if it's 606 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:08,200 Speaker 1: a twelve hour difference. So if we played at three, 607 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:10,080 Speaker 1: he would be up at three in the morning to 608 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 1: make sure that he's you know, locked and watching and 609 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:14,480 Speaker 1: then trying to get like an hour net before he 610 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:17,400 Speaker 1: has to go to practice or lift or something. And 611 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 1: so just also just knowing that he's supporting me as 612 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:22,840 Speaker 1: much as he can from Afar. 613 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 4: I really it really goes a long way. 614 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:30,320 Speaker 3: Taking a break from today's episode to give some love 615 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 3: to my sponsor at ag one. 616 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,720 Speaker 2: As you know, morning routines are critical to me. 617 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 3: Truly, my morning is my favorite part of the day, 618 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:43,040 Speaker 3: and a majorly important part of that routine is drinking 619 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 3: my AG one. I drink it right after my morning workout, 620 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 3: and it makes me feel ready to take on the 621 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 3: day and like I'm doing something that's really. 622 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:54,480 Speaker 2: Great for my body, like supporting my recovery. 623 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 3: A foundational nutritional supplement that delivers daily nutrients and gut 624 00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:03,440 Speaker 3: health support. AG one's backed by multiple research studies so 625 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:06,480 Speaker 3: that you can really trust what you're putting into your body. 626 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:11,960 Speaker 3: In a single scoop of ag one, you'll get vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, 627 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:17,240 Speaker 3: greens and superfoods, antioxidants, stress adaptogens, digestive enzymes. 628 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:20,080 Speaker 2: The list goes on. I've been taking ag one for 629 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:20,720 Speaker 2: years now. 630 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:24,800 Speaker 3: They are one of the longest sponsors on Hurdle, and 631 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 3: for that, I am so grateful. If there's one product 632 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 3: I trust to support my whole body health, it's ag One, 633 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 3: and that is why I've partnered with them for so long. 634 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:38,080 Speaker 3: It's easy and satisfying to start your journey with ag one. 635 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:40,960 Speaker 3: Try it for yourself and get a free one year 636 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:44,960 Speaker 3: supply of vitamin D three, K two, and five free 637 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 3: ag one travel packs with your first purchase at drinkag 638 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 3: one dot com slash hurdle. That's d R I NK 639 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:57,000 Speaker 3: ag one dot com slash hurdle. 640 00:31:57,360 --> 00:31:59,200 Speaker 2: Check it out. 641 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:08,680 Speaker 3: And So you talked about coming back and after this 642 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:14,560 Speaker 3: huge hurdle of being waved, really rising to the occasion. 643 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:16,880 Speaker 2: Give us some insight into that arc. 644 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:20,040 Speaker 3: What was it like when you realize this is not 645 00:32:20,120 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 3: only going well, but it's really starting to click For me? 646 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:24,520 Speaker 4: When I realized that. 647 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 1: It was right before we entered the bubble and I 648 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:31,520 Speaker 1: was doing like my workouts and everything, and Nikki Collins 649 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:34,160 Speaker 1: walked up to me and she was just like, you know, 650 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:36,440 Speaker 1: I don't know who told you that you can't shoot, 651 00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:38,680 Speaker 1: but here I want you to shoot until you miss. 652 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 1: And so it just like sparked this confidence in me, 653 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:46,240 Speaker 1: like okay, like you know, whatever you want, whatever you need. 654 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:49,400 Speaker 1: And she's absolutely somebody that I would run through a 655 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: wall for, you know, just because she's somebody that believed 656 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:55,400 Speaker 1: in me, and not only believed in me, but she 657 00:32:56,120 --> 00:33:00,440 Speaker 1: helped push me towards being the player that I know 658 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:03,080 Speaker 1: that I am. And so I'm forever grateful for her 659 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:06,840 Speaker 1: for for that, for that season and everything, and wish 660 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:08,840 Speaker 1: her nothing but the best of luck. 661 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:13,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it irrefutable that when you walk into 662 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:16,920 Speaker 3: Barclays like you're a crowd favorite, like hands down Liberty 663 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:18,480 Speaker 3: fans love you. 664 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:21,280 Speaker 2: What does that feel like for you? 665 00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:24,360 Speaker 4: It feels it feels really good. 666 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:27,120 Speaker 1: It feels really good to know that you know, again, 667 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:29,520 Speaker 1: there are people that are that are supporting me, that 668 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:32,320 Speaker 1: are you know, looking up to me, that you know 669 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:33,240 Speaker 1: want to see me. 670 00:33:33,560 --> 00:33:34,320 Speaker 4: At my best. 671 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 1: And I mean I'm more of a reserved kind of person. 672 00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:42,000 Speaker 1: I do tend to like get overwhelmed with things at times, 673 00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:46,120 Speaker 1: but ultimately just knowing that, you know, when I when 674 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:48,680 Speaker 1: I'm there and they're screaming my name, or I'm looking 675 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:51,640 Speaker 1: around and seeing the people with my jerseys or people 676 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:54,080 Speaker 1: walking up to me on the street and saying things 677 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 1: of encouragement, it really it really means a lot. The 678 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 1: support and love that I get from our fans something 679 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:02,760 Speaker 1: that I couldn't have dreamed of, you know. So I'm 680 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:06,840 Speaker 1: just I'm really grateful for for everything from New York. 681 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:09,120 Speaker 2: Is it ever overwhelming? 682 00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it can be, because like I said, 683 00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:14,760 Speaker 1: I'm more of a like reserve person in a sense, 684 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:18,600 Speaker 1: I like to kind of lay low and just you know, 685 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:24,040 Speaker 1: do my thing. But I would I would much rather 686 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:28,239 Speaker 1: have this than nothing, you know. So it comes, it 687 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 1: comes with it, but I try and embrace it as 688 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:34,040 Speaker 1: much as I possibly can. But yeah, it's it can 689 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:37,400 Speaker 1: it can get a little overwhelming at times, but just 690 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:40,600 Speaker 1: due to my personality. But for the most part, I'm 691 00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:42,480 Speaker 1: you know, I'm grateful and I'm thankful for it. 692 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:46,759 Speaker 3: And on the heels of that question, there were probably 693 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:50,520 Speaker 3: moments when you were younger that you thought about both 694 00:34:50,600 --> 00:34:53,000 Speaker 3: where you're at now in terms of playing for the 695 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:55,399 Speaker 3: New York Liberty or a team like it, and then 696 00:34:55,440 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 3: of course dreaming to win the championship. Now that you've 697 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:03,120 Speaker 3: done it, is it what you thought it would be? 698 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 2: Is it better? Is it just different? What's it like? 699 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:10,759 Speaker 1: I think it's how I envisioned it. I think it's 700 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:13,960 Speaker 1: I think it's really how I how I envisioned it to. 701 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:18,080 Speaker 1: You know, going into Barclays like being in New York 702 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:20,960 Speaker 1: because I grew up coming to New York. My late aunt, 703 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:24,760 Speaker 1: she lived in Brooklyn, about ten minutes from from Barclays, 704 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:27,200 Speaker 1: and so I grew up here, you know, so I 705 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:30,439 Speaker 1: know like the kind of the feels of New York, 706 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:34,719 Speaker 1: and so to be in Barclays and have that that 707 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:38,560 Speaker 1: transition onto the onto the court and kind of just 708 00:35:39,560 --> 00:35:43,160 Speaker 1: almost like where it started in a sense, like I said, 709 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:45,000 Speaker 1: being somewhere that I that I grew up coming to. 710 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:48,000 Speaker 1: I spent a lot of summers and holidays all the 711 00:35:48,040 --> 00:35:52,719 Speaker 1: things here here in Brooklyn, and so to to be 712 00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:56,759 Speaker 1: here and then experience this experience a championship, like you 713 00:35:56,880 --> 00:35:58,640 Speaker 1: kind of got a glimpse of what it would be 714 00:35:58,680 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 1: like last year, even though we felt a little short 715 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:03,080 Speaker 1: and so it was just like it's just gonna be 716 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:05,920 Speaker 1: that much better. And so walking into those games in 717 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:10,680 Speaker 1: the playoffs, just how electric the atmosphere was, and then 718 00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:14,799 Speaker 1: to the to the parade and all the celebrations, I 719 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:16,520 Speaker 1: feel like it might be a little bit more than 720 00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:18,880 Speaker 1: I expected. But for the most part, like this is 721 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:20,800 Speaker 1: New York, Like you know, this is what it's about. 722 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:25,160 Speaker 1: Like we're we're loud, we're like out there, we're you know, supportive, 723 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:28,400 Speaker 1: and so it's it's been it's been a really amazing 724 00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:32,440 Speaker 1: like journey, a really amazing feeling to be here and 725 00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:35,360 Speaker 1: to win this championship so special. 726 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:38,400 Speaker 3: It sounds like you're exactly where you're supposed to be, 727 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:42,000 Speaker 3: right and in the same vein of that is this 728 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:44,320 Speaker 3: what you expected it to be? I mean, you're also 729 00:36:44,360 --> 00:36:48,080 Speaker 3: an Adidas sponsored athlete. Sometimes I talk to people and 730 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:54,960 Speaker 3: it's so special to have a company of that size 731 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:56,239 Speaker 3: standing behind you. 732 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:57,440 Speaker 2: What's that like for you? 733 00:36:58,640 --> 00:37:02,880 Speaker 1: I mean, it's amazing because when I first started, I 734 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:06,799 Speaker 1: didn't you know, I didn't know anything about being endorsed, 735 00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:10,680 Speaker 1: or having partnerships or or any of the things. I 736 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:13,040 Speaker 1: was just playing basketball. You know, I was just happy 737 00:37:13,120 --> 00:37:16,960 Speaker 1: to be there, and so you know, you fast forward 738 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:20,680 Speaker 1: two years later and then you know, I have this opportunity, 739 00:37:20,719 --> 00:37:23,600 Speaker 1: I have this partnership, I have this brand that's rallying 740 00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:26,760 Speaker 1: around me and you know, just making me feel special 741 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:29,600 Speaker 1: in all the right ways. You know, it really means 742 00:37:29,640 --> 00:37:31,919 Speaker 1: a lot to just be able to go out there 743 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:34,800 Speaker 1: and do what I do and have the support of Adidas, 744 00:37:34,840 --> 00:37:37,360 Speaker 1: and then to be able to support them in the 745 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:39,719 Speaker 1: same way by just trying to, you know, bring my 746 00:37:39,800 --> 00:37:43,400 Speaker 1: best self, you know, be a great representative of the 747 00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:46,040 Speaker 1: brand who who has given. 748 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:46,560 Speaker 4: Me a lot. 749 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:48,680 Speaker 1: You know it really it really means a lot, and 750 00:37:48,719 --> 00:37:51,080 Speaker 1: I'm just I'm happy for the support. 751 00:37:51,239 --> 00:37:51,839 Speaker 4: I love it. 752 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:55,800 Speaker 1: You know, this Adida's brand like where it's a family. 753 00:37:55,960 --> 00:37:59,200 Speaker 1: You know, it's not just them endorsing me. And then okay, 754 00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:01,520 Speaker 1: you know they know they really support me, Like they 755 00:38:01,840 --> 00:38:04,719 Speaker 1: show up you know my my ideas. You know, they 756 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:06,719 Speaker 1: they come to the games, they show up, they check 757 00:38:06,760 --> 00:38:09,560 Speaker 1: in on me. And so to to know that, to 758 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:11,319 Speaker 1: know that I had that support from them, because that 759 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:13,120 Speaker 1: you know that that goes a long way from me. 760 00:38:13,480 --> 00:38:16,600 Speaker 1: You know, I come from a supportive background and so 761 00:38:16,840 --> 00:38:20,360 Speaker 1: to to have to have this brand that you know 762 00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:23,719 Speaker 1: shows up the same way that you know my my other, 763 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:25,160 Speaker 1: my family, my supporters. 764 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:27,360 Speaker 4: Do you know it? Really it really means a lot. 765 00:38:27,760 --> 00:38:30,040 Speaker 3: I love that they rally around you and they also 766 00:38:30,239 --> 00:38:34,520 Speaker 3: amplify you, right, and that let's talk about the conversation 767 00:38:34,719 --> 00:38:38,080 Speaker 3: of women's basketball, women in sports right now. That's what 768 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:42,480 Speaker 3: it's all about, right, is these brands and media companies 769 00:38:42,560 --> 00:38:47,360 Speaker 3: really amplifying the message of women in sports and showcasing 770 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:51,120 Speaker 3: what it is that you all are capable of. You 771 00:38:51,239 --> 00:38:56,399 Speaker 3: talked earlier about knowing that, all right, I'm easily replaceable, right, 772 00:38:56,440 --> 00:39:00,200 Speaker 3: the W is only so big. Well, moving forward, it's 773 00:39:00,239 --> 00:39:06,080 Speaker 3: about to dramatically expand. So at this point being a 774 00:39:06,120 --> 00:39:09,319 Speaker 3: woman in basketball, how does that make you feel to 775 00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:13,359 Speaker 3: see that there's so much runway ahead for not only 776 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:16,879 Speaker 3: where basketball and women in basketball are going to go, 777 00:39:17,280 --> 00:39:22,120 Speaker 3: but broader than that, the growth and eyes on women's sports. 778 00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:25,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's grown so much from the time that I 779 00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:29,200 Speaker 1: entered the league in twenty fifteen to where we are 780 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:33,319 Speaker 1: here now in twenty twenty four. Just the amount of 781 00:39:33,440 --> 00:39:37,120 Speaker 1: viewership and support that we're receiving. As you know, I 782 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:39,800 Speaker 1: won't even say it's just women's basketball, but just women's 783 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:43,319 Speaker 1: sports in general, Like we've just grown so much, and 784 00:39:43,560 --> 00:39:46,239 Speaker 1: you know, rightfully, rightfully, so I think people I don't 785 00:39:46,239 --> 00:39:49,680 Speaker 1: think it's a matter of us changing so much, but 786 00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:54,880 Speaker 1: people really realizing in seeing, knowing what it is that 787 00:39:54,920 --> 00:39:57,920 Speaker 1: we're capable of as women and in this in this 788 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:02,000 Speaker 1: sports world. You know, we've been working hard for so long, 789 00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:04,680 Speaker 1: and you know, now is our moment and we're just 790 00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:08,160 Speaker 1: continuing to capitalize off of it, continuing to you know, 791 00:40:08,280 --> 00:40:09,600 Speaker 1: just get better and. 792 00:40:09,480 --> 00:40:12,520 Speaker 2: Grow, get better and grow. 793 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:17,720 Speaker 3: And to your point, you've been doing amazing things, right, 794 00:40:17,840 --> 00:40:21,640 Speaker 3: it's just now the platforms are in place, the eyes 795 00:40:21,680 --> 00:40:25,480 Speaker 3: are on you, and it's you're finally getting the attention. 796 00:40:25,640 --> 00:40:26,760 Speaker 2: That you deserve. 797 00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:27,759 Speaker 4: Mm hmm. 798 00:40:28,560 --> 00:40:29,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. 799 00:40:30,120 --> 00:40:33,640 Speaker 3: Now someone comes to your Instagram page and they see 800 00:40:33,680 --> 00:40:37,440 Speaker 3: the highlights that you're a player for the New York Liberty. 801 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:40,240 Speaker 2: You just won the Liberty's first ever title. 802 00:40:40,680 --> 00:40:44,279 Speaker 3: When you look in the mirror, Benija, what is it 803 00:40:44,320 --> 00:40:46,799 Speaker 3: that you see looking back at you. 804 00:40:48,239 --> 00:40:50,520 Speaker 1: When I look in the mirror and I see me, 805 00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:54,160 Speaker 1: I think the biggest I think I see somebody that's resilient, 806 00:40:54,800 --> 00:41:00,239 Speaker 1: you know, I see somebody that kind of do anything, 807 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:03,680 Speaker 1: you know, I don't like. I know, we talk about 808 00:41:03,680 --> 00:41:06,640 Speaker 1: social media, but I don't. Social media doesn't define me 809 00:41:06,920 --> 00:41:09,360 Speaker 1: in any type of way. I think that I'm just, 810 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:11,920 Speaker 1: you know, regardless of what it looks like on social 811 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:15,040 Speaker 1: media or anything like that. I'm a you know, I'm 812 00:41:15,040 --> 00:41:20,200 Speaker 1: a beautiful, genuine person, you know, who just wants to 813 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:25,239 Speaker 1: just enjoy, enjoy life and enjoy the things that are 814 00:41:25,480 --> 00:41:28,759 Speaker 1: that are happening around me, you know, love on my 815 00:41:28,840 --> 00:41:31,280 Speaker 1: loved ones and vice versa. 816 00:41:31,840 --> 00:41:34,280 Speaker 4: So that's I guess what I what I see. 817 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:38,000 Speaker 2: What does enjoying life look like for you in the 818 00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:38,640 Speaker 2: near future. 819 00:41:39,840 --> 00:41:42,600 Speaker 1: In the near future, I would say being able to 820 00:41:42,640 --> 00:41:47,680 Speaker 1: go celebrate with my husband, that's what That's what enjoying 821 00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:49,760 Speaker 1: it because I've you know, I've been able to enjoy 822 00:41:49,920 --> 00:41:53,719 Speaker 1: the championship. I've been able to to be home and 823 00:41:54,080 --> 00:41:56,720 Speaker 1: you know, experience my my family and friends. But that's 824 00:41:56,880 --> 00:41:59,840 Speaker 1: that's one piece right now for me that's that feels 825 00:41:59,880 --> 00:42:01,919 Speaker 1: like is missing a little bit. You know, the phone 826 00:42:01,960 --> 00:42:04,080 Speaker 1: can only do but so much, and so just to 827 00:42:04,239 --> 00:42:08,080 Speaker 1: kind of be in each other's presence and brace celebrate 828 00:42:08,200 --> 00:42:10,480 Speaker 1: all the things, that's what I'm really looking forward to. 829 00:42:11,239 --> 00:42:12,120 Speaker 2: I love that now. 830 00:42:12,160 --> 00:42:16,000 Speaker 3: I also know that whenever this happens, whenever you do 831 00:42:16,200 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 3: move on from basketball, that in your future you really 832 00:42:19,160 --> 00:42:21,440 Speaker 3: want to open daycare centers. 833 00:42:21,480 --> 00:42:23,160 Speaker 2: And I love that about you. So can you tell 834 00:42:23,239 --> 00:42:24,200 Speaker 2: us a little bit about that. 835 00:42:25,080 --> 00:42:27,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, one of my aunts she has daycare centers, So 836 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:32,560 Speaker 1: I kind of grew up around daycare centers and specifically 837 00:42:32,640 --> 00:42:35,480 Speaker 1: in urban areas, and just kind of stand the impact 838 00:42:36,120 --> 00:42:38,920 Speaker 1: that she's had on the community, given back to the 839 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:41,279 Speaker 1: to the children that come through her centers. You know, 840 00:42:41,520 --> 00:42:44,799 Speaker 1: community is something that my mother has always instilled in 841 00:42:44,880 --> 00:42:48,279 Speaker 1: her children, and so this is my way of doing that, 842 00:42:48,360 --> 00:42:51,399 Speaker 1: of giving back, and I do want it to specifically 843 00:42:51,400 --> 00:42:54,160 Speaker 1: to be in urban areas where children don't have as 844 00:42:54,160 --> 00:42:58,560 Speaker 1: many resources and all the things, just you know, show 845 00:42:58,640 --> 00:43:01,480 Speaker 1: them that they can they're more than where they come from. 846 00:43:01,520 --> 00:43:04,320 Speaker 1: To instilling them like there are a lot of possibilities 847 00:43:04,360 --> 00:43:07,000 Speaker 1: out there, regardless of what it looks like, and to 848 00:43:07,080 --> 00:43:09,040 Speaker 1: just give them, you know, a home away from home, 849 00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:13,960 Speaker 1: a safe a safe haven if you will, and just 850 00:43:13,960 --> 00:43:16,359 Speaker 1: just help foster them. You know that at that age, 851 00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:20,000 Speaker 1: children are very impressionable, and so if they can we 852 00:43:20,040 --> 00:43:23,400 Speaker 1: can start to build that foundation early, especially in those 853 00:43:23,480 --> 00:43:27,239 Speaker 1: in those areas that'll just That'll be my way of giving. 854 00:43:26,960 --> 00:43:31,279 Speaker 3: That your passion is so apparent, and it's also so 855 00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:36,120 Speaker 3: apparent that you have had some stellar female role models 856 00:43:36,120 --> 00:43:39,359 Speaker 3: to get you to this point. When I look at you, 857 00:43:39,719 --> 00:43:43,080 Speaker 3: I also see a stellar female role model, someone that 858 00:43:43,239 --> 00:43:48,280 Speaker 3: so many young women, impressionable young women look to and think, 859 00:43:48,600 --> 00:43:52,040 Speaker 3: all right, one day, I want to be just like her. 860 00:43:52,560 --> 00:43:54,120 Speaker 2: How does that feel When I say that to you? 861 00:43:55,440 --> 00:43:58,840 Speaker 1: I mean it, it feels good because that's I guess 862 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:01,799 Speaker 1: what I've out to do or to be. 863 00:44:02,160 --> 00:44:03,400 Speaker 4: I am like, I am more. 864 00:44:03,360 --> 00:44:06,240 Speaker 1: Quiet and all the things, but I want my impact 865 00:44:06,280 --> 00:44:09,279 Speaker 1: to be more about others than it is about me. 866 00:44:09,800 --> 00:44:12,279 Speaker 1: And so that's why, you know, I do the community 867 00:44:12,320 --> 00:44:15,920 Speaker 1: things that I do, and once I retire, I'll you know, 868 00:44:16,000 --> 00:44:18,400 Speaker 1: start to have my daycare center so that way I 869 00:44:18,400 --> 00:44:23,120 Speaker 1: can just give back and be able to have an 870 00:44:23,120 --> 00:44:27,440 Speaker 1: impact in the community. And So, to answer your question more, 871 00:44:27,480 --> 00:44:29,640 Speaker 1: it's just it's almost what we spoke about earlier, just 872 00:44:29,640 --> 00:44:33,040 Speaker 1: that kind of validation of what I already know and 873 00:44:33,080 --> 00:44:34,960 Speaker 1: like what I'm setting out to do, and so to 874 00:44:35,040 --> 00:44:37,879 Speaker 1: know that it's it's recognizable, it just makes me want 875 00:44:37,920 --> 00:44:40,560 Speaker 1: to just you know, continue to keep going and keep 876 00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:44,279 Speaker 1: pushing and just continue to be everything that I've set 877 00:44:44,280 --> 00:44:44,640 Speaker 1: out to be. 878 00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:46,680 Speaker 2: I love it. 879 00:44:46,760 --> 00:44:47,000 Speaker 1: Well. 880 00:44:47,080 --> 00:44:49,640 Speaker 3: You talked to us earlier about some of the biggest 881 00:44:49,719 --> 00:44:53,759 Speaker 3: hurdles that you faced within sport, both that acl tear 882 00:44:53,920 --> 00:44:57,879 Speaker 3: and then also getting waived. Right now, if you were 883 00:44:57,880 --> 00:45:01,080 Speaker 3: to offer yourself a piece of advice, right at that 884 00:45:01,239 --> 00:45:05,000 Speaker 3: massive hurl moment getting way for the second time, dealing 885 00:45:05,080 --> 00:45:08,239 Speaker 3: with so many of the emotions that come hand in 886 00:45:08,280 --> 00:45:11,240 Speaker 3: hand with that, knowing what you know, now. 887 00:45:11,200 --> 00:45:14,319 Speaker 2: What advice would you give your younger self. 888 00:45:14,680 --> 00:45:17,160 Speaker 1: I would literally just tell myself just keep going, you know, 889 00:45:17,280 --> 00:45:21,200 Speaker 1: keep working, keep doing all of the things that that 890 00:45:21,320 --> 00:45:24,120 Speaker 1: you've been doing. And then some you know, in those moments, 891 00:45:24,120 --> 00:45:26,759 Speaker 1: it's so easy to kind of like fall away from 892 00:45:26,760 --> 00:45:29,000 Speaker 1: the things that you've been doing because you might feel 893 00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:31,600 Speaker 1: like it's not working or it's not worth it. But 894 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:34,680 Speaker 1: just keep at it, you know, because you're gonna be 895 00:45:34,719 --> 00:45:38,120 Speaker 1: a champion, which is you know what we set out, 896 00:45:38,160 --> 00:45:40,120 Speaker 1: what we set out to do. You know. So I've 897 00:45:40,600 --> 00:45:43,000 Speaker 1: I've reached I've reached one of my biggest goals. 898 00:45:44,680 --> 00:45:45,960 Speaker 2: And how does it feel. 899 00:45:46,320 --> 00:45:48,960 Speaker 4: It feels amazing, It feels great. 900 00:45:49,360 --> 00:45:50,440 Speaker 2: I'm so happy for you. 901 00:45:50,600 --> 00:45:54,200 Speaker 3: I'm like truly giddy over here a Brooklyn, a Brooklyn 902 00:45:54,239 --> 00:45:57,840 Speaker 3: neighbor there for Game five, at games all season, so 903 00:45:58,280 --> 00:46:00,879 Speaker 3: I couldn't be more honor that you gave us. Send 904 00:46:00,880 --> 00:46:03,120 Speaker 3: of your time here today for Hurdle. For those that 905 00:46:03,239 --> 00:46:06,000 Speaker 3: may not follow along with you just yet that want 906 00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:08,200 Speaker 3: to keep up with you, give us your details. 907 00:46:08,200 --> 00:46:09,080 Speaker 2: How do they keep up with you? 908 00:46:09,120 --> 00:46:14,200 Speaker 1: On social My Instagram is noje Laney. That's kind of 909 00:46:14,239 --> 00:46:15,920 Speaker 1: the only one that I really know how to work. 910 00:46:15,960 --> 00:46:18,960 Speaker 1: I don't use Twitter because I don't really understand it. 911 00:46:19,560 --> 00:46:23,560 Speaker 1: But if Twitter, then Benaje Lani. But those are those 912 00:46:23,560 --> 00:46:24,759 Speaker 1: are my two socials. 913 00:46:25,239 --> 00:46:28,040 Speaker 3: Hey, if you use Twitter more, you too could have 914 00:46:28,080 --> 00:46:32,200 Speaker 3: been inundated with red Wine yesterday at the parade. 915 00:46:33,239 --> 00:46:34,760 Speaker 4: We had Quincy. 916 00:46:36,280 --> 00:46:39,239 Speaker 3: They're like Stewie tweated for all of us. It's all good, 917 00:46:39,360 --> 00:46:41,759 Speaker 3: it's all good. Well again, thank you so much for 918 00:46:41,800 --> 00:46:44,960 Speaker 3: your time. I'm over at Emily a Body and at 919 00:46:45,080 --> 00:46:49,160 Speaker 3: Hurdle Podcast. Another Hurdle conquered. Catch you guys next time.