1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're revved 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: up and ready for the start of the WNBA season. 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 1: We're using one of those like real physical calendars because 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: we remember the world before paper and pencils went out 5 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: of style, and we're actually crossing off the days till 6 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: opening night May sixteenth. It's Thursday, May eighth, and today's 7 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: episode is the first of our WNBA season preview shows. 8 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: We're calling this the shoot around, getting you prepped for 9 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty five WNBA season. Whether you're tuning in 10 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: for the very first time this summer or you've been 11 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: rocking W gear since ninety seven, We're going to give 12 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: you everything you need to know about every team before 13 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty five w campaign starts, starting today with 14 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: the New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun. 15 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,279 Speaker 2: We'll get you prepped with the star steaks, stats and. 16 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: Stories, a little history, a little lower, a little gossip, 17 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: and a little more. 18 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 2: It's all coming up right after this welcome back slices. 19 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: Here there's which you need to know about the WNBA 20 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: as it enters its twenty ninth season. The WNBA the 21 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: Women's National Basketball Association, the w for short, thirteen teams 22 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: are going to take the court this season thanks to 23 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: the addition of the Golden State Valkyries, the first expansion 24 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: franchise since the Atlanta Dream joined the league back in 25 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight. Now you're also likely hearing a 26 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: lot about the Toronto Tempo. They're another expansion team, but 27 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: they won't be tipping off until twenty twenty six. Same 28 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,320 Speaker 1: for the as yet unnamed Portland franchise, also set to 29 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: tip off next season. This year, each squad will play 30 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:41,759 Speaker 1: forty four regular season games starting May sixteenth and concluding 31 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: September eleventh. That's up from forty regular season games per 32 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: team the last two seasons. At the end of the 33 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: regular season, the eight teams with the best records in 34 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: the w earn a spot in the postseason. The first 35 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: playoff round is best of three, semi finals shift to 36 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: a best of five format, and the finals are best 37 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,919 Speaker 1: of seven. If you're an OG fan scratching your head, 38 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: some things have changed, let me explain. So first, going 39 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: back to the first round, Starting this season, the series 40 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 1: will be a one to one one structure instead of 41 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: two to one, So the new way means the higher 42 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 1: seed will host Game one the lower seed will host 43 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: Game two, back to the higher seeds home floor for 44 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 1: Game three if necessary. This ensures that each team gets 45 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: at least one home playoff game. I've been yelling about 46 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: this for years, but a lot more people started yelling 47 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: about it last year when the Indiana Fever didn't get 48 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 1: a home playoff game. 49 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 2: They lost in the first two. They were done all right. 50 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 1: Also, starting this season, the finals expand from a best 51 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: of five to a best of seven, and that'll be 52 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: a two to two one one one structure, So the 53 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: higher seed hosts games one, two, five, and seven, and 54 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: the opponent hosts games three, four, and six. While the 55 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 1: W is split into an Eastern and Western conference as 56 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: of twenty sixteen, playoff seeding is based solely on win 57 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 1: loss record. The top eight teams are seeded by record, 58 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: regardless of conference, So when we talk conferences, it's really 59 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: just for organizational purposes and for the Commissioner's Cup. Speaking 60 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 1: of the postseason, isn't the only time teams can win hardware, 61 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 1: because there's an in season tournament to look forward to 62 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: as well, called the Commissioner's Cup. Each season, a select 63 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: number of games count toward the Cup run. This year, 64 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: it's thirty six games running from June first to June seventeenth. 65 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: Conferences don't count when playoff time rolls around, but they 66 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: do apply here. Each team will play one game against 67 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 1: each of the other teams in its conference, and the 68 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: team from each conference with the best record in those 69 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: games face off for the Commissioner's Cup Championship on July first. 70 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: The team with the better winning percentage in Cup play 71 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: gets to host that game. The two squads are competing 72 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: for a five one hundred thousand dollars prize pool, including 73 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: five thousand in cryptocurrency for each player in the championship game. 74 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: That's thanks to a one hundred and twenty thousand dollars 75 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,119 Speaker 1: contribution from the tournament's presenting sponsor, coinbase Now. Last year, 76 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Links won the franchise's first Commissioners Cup and 77 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: star forward Nafisa Collier one Cup MVP, but come playoff time, 78 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: the Links lost the WNBA Finals to the New York Liberty, 79 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 1: with the Liberties jonqwell Jones winning Finals MVP after leading 80 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: the squad to its first ever title. Regular season MVP 81 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: last season went to the Las Vegas Aces. Asia Wilson, 82 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 1: her third time winning the honor. Other winners were the 83 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark, who nabbed Rookie of the Year, 84 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 1: the aforementioned Nafisa Collier, who earned Defensive Player of the Year, 85 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: and Links coach Cheryl Reeve, who was named Coach of 86 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:31,599 Speaker 1: the Year. 87 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 2: Okay, what else? What else? Oh? 88 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: This year's All Star Game is set to take place 89 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 1: in Indianapolis on July nineteenth at Gainbridge field House, home 90 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: of the Indiana Fever, and it's already sold out, so 91 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 1: hopefully you already got your tickets. WNBA season tips off 92 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: on Friday, May sixteenth with a trio of games, including 93 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: the Golden State Valkyrie's first ever regular season game, hosting 94 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: same states soon to be. 95 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 2: Rivaled the Los Angeles Sparks. 96 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: Lots more to come on opening night and the first 97 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 1: weekend of games, but for now, let's start digging into 98 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: the previews for each of the w's thirteen teams as 99 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: they get ready for tip off. That's right, it's the 100 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: shoot around getting you prep for the twenty twenty five 101 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: WNBA season, one team at a time. Let's start with 102 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,239 Speaker 1: the defending champs, the New York Liberty. This squad notched 103 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: a league best thirty two regular season wins in twenty 104 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: twenty four, and they stayed on top of the postseason 105 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: two defeating the Minnesota Links in the finals to win 106 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: it all. Let's start with your need to know team history. 107 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: Founded in nineteen ninety seven, the Liberty are one of 108 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: the eight original franchises of the WNBA. Past greats include 109 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: Teresa Weatherspoon, Rebecca Lobo, Becky Hammond, Cappie Pondexter, and Tina Charles. 110 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: They've qualified for the postseason in nineteen of their twenty 111 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: eight seasons, and after five trips to the finals that 112 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 1: all ended in losses, they won their first ever WNBA 113 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 1: title last season. Their twenty twenty five tagline kind of 114 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 1: like the ladies on Real Housewives, It's got to be 115 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: run it Now. Let's talk off season losses and additions 116 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: for the Liberty. Point Guard Courtney Vanderslute, who started all 117 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 1: thirty one games in which she played last year, said 118 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: goodbye to the Liberty after the championship, leaving in free 119 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: agency to go back to her former team, the Chicago Sky. 120 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: Kayla Thornton also gone. The forward who started eleven games 121 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: last season, was selected by the Valkyries. 122 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 2: In the expansion draft. 123 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: The team will also likely be without major contributor Benijah 124 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: Laney Hamilton. Liberty GM Jonathan Colbe said recently the team 125 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 1: will quote more likely than not be suspending Lady Hamilton's 126 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: contract for the twenty twenty five season. She said to 127 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: miss most if not all, of the season after undergoing 128 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: knee surgery in March for a tornmentiscus suffered while she 129 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: was playing and unrivaled. Meantime, the Liberty did add Natasha Cloud, 130 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,559 Speaker 1: who spent eight years with the Mystics and last season 131 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: with the Mercury, and Isabel Harrison, who last played with 132 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: the Sky. Former Liberty player Marine Johannes is also back 133 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: after taking a year off. 134 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 2: Plenty of stars on this squad. 135 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: Two time League MVP, three time Finals MVP and three 136 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: time champion Brianna Stewart leads the way. Twenty twenty one 137 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: League MVP and last year's Finals MVP jon Quell Jones 138 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 1: and three time All Star Sabrina Yanescu round things out. 139 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: Also keep an eye on twenty twenty one All Rookie 140 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: team member Leoni Phoebich, who came up big in last 141 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 1: season's finals game. Five and could break into the starting 142 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: lineup and another Game five standout Niara Sabeli, who's entering 143 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: her third season with the team. And of course, we 144 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 1: can't forget the real MVP, the Liberty's iconic mascot, Ellie 145 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: the Elephant. Head coach Sandy Bardello is also entering her 146 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: fourth season with the team. So what are the stakes 147 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: this season for New York After losing to the Aces 148 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty three and defeating the Links in twenty twenty. 149 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 2: Four, the Liberty will look to be the sixth. 150 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,679 Speaker 1: Team in WNBA history to make a third straight trip 151 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: to the WNBA Finals, and if they can repeat as champs, 152 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: they'll be just the fourth team in league history to 153 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: do so. Also, in addition to last year's title, head 154 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: coach Sandy Brondello let the twenty fourteen Mercury to a championship, 155 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: so she's trying to be the fourth head coach in 156 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: w history to win a third title. 157 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 2: Let's chalk stats. 158 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: Last year, the Liberty led the league in both three 159 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 1: point makes and three point attempts for the fourth straight season, 160 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: so they're clutched from outside, but they also had the 161 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: league's best field goal percentage in the restricted area, the 162 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: area right beneath the basket, and they finished third best 163 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: in the rest of the paint, where they took the 164 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: fourth most attempts. So basically, the inside outside game is 165 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 1: key to this team. The Liberty also came up big 166 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,319 Speaker 1: on the boards. They led the league last year in 167 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: total rebounding rate and finished second in defensive rebounding rate. 168 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: As for stories, the biggest story for the Liberty this 169 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: year is, of course, can they repeat. They'll start their 170 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: season with all the excitement of raising a title banner, 171 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: so can they stay hungry enough and not get lazy 172 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:51,439 Speaker 1: with those big, sparkly championship rings on their fingers. Also 173 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: worth noting they'll probably have to go without some stars 174 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: for a stretch. Germany's Niarasaboli and Leoni Phoebich and France's 175 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: Marin Johannis are all expected to be out for part 176 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: of June to play in this year's euro Basket. Fun 177 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 1: fact about the Liberty, we got some hoops and gay shit. 178 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,959 Speaker 1: New Liberty acquisitions Natasha Cloud and Isabel Harrison are an item. 179 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 1: Fellow WNBA player Satu Sabai. Nara's sister accidentally hard launched 180 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: them while doing an in game interview for Unrivaled, revealing 181 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 1: that Natasha Cloud was missing her girlfriend isbel Harrison's high 182 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: school jersey retirement ceremony for that day's game. Ever since 183 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: the leak, there's been some real cute shit on social 184 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 1: media posted by the couple, and now they're suiting up 185 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: for the same squad. Love all right, I think that's it. 186 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: But producer Mesh, keep me honest here, what did I miss? 187 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,439 Speaker 1: What's the biggest story you're watching for with the Liberty Sarah. 188 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:43,559 Speaker 3: I think he did a pretty damn good job, if 189 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 3: I do say so myself. But the one question mark 190 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 3: I have heading into the season for the Libs. Brianna 191 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 3: Stewart okay, three time WNBA Champs, six time All Star, 192 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 3: two time Finals MVP. The resume is long, okay, But 193 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 3: watching Unrivaled, the league start and founded by she and 194 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 3: the FISA Collier, it was a little a little rough 195 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 3: for her in my opinion. She was the league's sixth 196 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 3: best scorer, which you know, that's not bad, but it 197 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 3: looked like maybe she was tired or just maybe not 198 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 3: at full strength during the season. A lot of times 199 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,680 Speaker 3: there were things she did or frankly didn't do like 200 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 3: beat fellow husky Elia Edwards in the first game of 201 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 3: the one on one tournament that she played. Get knocked 202 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 3: out in the first round was crazy perplexed to me 203 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 3: for sure, But come to find out after Unrivaled, she 204 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 3: did have a scope done on her right meniscus, so 205 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 3: there was something going on. But I'm just curious as 206 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 3: to what the beginning of the season looks like for her, 207 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 3: like what type of play? 208 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 2: Be careful what you mean? I want you to know. 209 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 2: I want you to know. 210 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: A prominent writer mentioned her age ahead of last season, 211 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:50,199 Speaker 1: and she proceeded to make very clear that at thirty 212 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: years old, just because her resume is long, doesn't mean 213 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 1: she's long in the tooth, okay, And it sounds like 214 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 1: you might be hit to get her being passed her prime. 215 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 2: And I'm just saying, look out, So no, oh, that 216 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 2: has done it before. 217 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 3: That is not how I feel about her, because I 218 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 3: had a debate with a friend of mine who did 219 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 3: say those exact things. I'm saying, she's still got time 220 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 3: on the clock, and so I think this will be 221 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 3: a hiccup for her. I think it obviously affects the 222 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 3: way the rest of the team performs because she's one 223 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 3: of the heads of that monster, right, But yeah, I'm not. 224 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 2: Let's don't give me wrong. It's more about health than 225 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 2: age for you. Yes, okay, yeah, I'll give you that. 226 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: I do think she's probably benefited from this break, obviously 227 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: playing an entire season all the way through the finals, 228 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: and then the work that went into getting Unrivaled ready 229 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: behind the scenes and then playing in it. Hopefully this 230 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: little stretch has been beneficial to her any other storylines 231 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: you're watching for other than obviously the hoops engag shit, I. 232 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 2: Mean, duh hoops and gay shit. 233 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:48,839 Speaker 3: But one of the members that we discussed in the 234 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,679 Speaker 3: Hoops Engagshit Natasha Cloud at point guard, bringing a completely 235 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 3: different dynamic to that position for New York. She's longer, 236 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 3: has more height at five to ten, more attack minded offensively, 237 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 3: and frankly more versatile defensively than Courtney vander. 238 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 2: Slut was no t no shade to salute. 239 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 3: I love me some salute, but just also bolsters that 240 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 3: defense at the guard position, and a league that we 241 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 3: know is full of long, talented. 242 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:14,079 Speaker 2: Explosive, big guards. 243 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 3: So I think that's gonna be a big change. And 244 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 3: I'm frankly as a dmver not to make it about 245 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 3: the mystics, something I tend to say every time I 246 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 3: have to. Like these days, I'm looking for her to 247 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 3: return to the form she was in in twenty twenty three. 248 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 3: That was the highest scoring average she had in her career, 249 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 3: her last year with DC before she was traded to Phoenix. 250 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 3: So I just feel like she was coming into her own. 251 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:39,719 Speaker 3: Last season was maybe, you know, an outlier, not necessarily 252 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 3: crazy bad in terms of stats, but just felt a 253 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 3: little bit different vibe wise. And I think New York 254 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 3: is just a great place for her. So I got 255 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 3: my eyes on Tosh Cloud. 256 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think she's just a fan favorite and 257 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:51,680 Speaker 1: a show favorite. 258 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 2: So we want to see her doing well. 259 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 1: If you haven't seen her first video meeting Ellie and 260 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 1: having a little mini dance off with Ellie personality for days, 261 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: so fun to root for. 262 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 2: So we'll be watching for that. All right. 263 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: Well, now you're basically a liberty expert, So after the break, 264 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: we're going to move northeast and prep you for a 265 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:20,199 Speaker 1: season of Connecticut Sun hoops. Keep it here, Welcome back, slices. 266 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: Let's talk Connecticut Sun their twenty eight and twelve record 267 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: last season was third best in the league, but this 268 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: year's squad looks nothing like the team that suited up 269 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty four. Here's your quick Suns need to 270 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: know team history. So this team was established in nineteen 271 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: ninety nine as the Orlando Miracle, part of the WNBA's 272 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: expansion from ten to twelve teams, and they were originally 273 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: affiliated with the mnba's Orlando Magic. Now with the team 274 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: in financial dress, in two thousand and three, the Mohegan 275 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:52,439 Speaker 1: Indian Tribe bought it, renamed it, and moved it to Connecticut. 276 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 1: The team has qualified for the postseason in fifteen of 277 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: twenty one seasons, but they've never won it all. In fact, 278 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 1: they're the oldest remain team in the w without a title. 279 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:06,160 Speaker 1: Some great players in Sun history include Margodideck, Lindsay Whalen, 280 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: Katie Douglas, Nakisha Sales, Karl Lawson, and Tina Charles. And yes, 281 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 1: Tina Charles was also a great player in New York 282 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: liberty history. 283 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 2: She bent around the. 284 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: Twenty twenty five tagline for the Sun proved the doubters wrong. 285 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 1: Why are there so many doubters? Let's talk about it. 286 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 1: Additions and losses for this team. Buckle up because the 287 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: Sun became the first team in WNBA history to dismantle 288 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: their entire starting five after a playoff appearance. During this 289 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 1: pass offseason, six time All Star Dewana Bonner left in 290 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: free agency to sign with the Indiana Fever. The Phoenix 291 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 1: Mercury acquired five time All Star Alissa Thomas an assignment trade. 292 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: Three time All Star Breanna Jones left in free agency 293 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: to sign with the Atlanta Dream, and twenty twenty four 294 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 1: WNBA Most Improved Player and All Defensive First Team selection 295 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: djon A Carrington was traded to the Dallas Wings. The 296 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: team also lost their head coach, Stephanie White, who was 297 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty three WNBA Coach of the Year. She 298 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: went to the Indiana Fever. They hired coach Rashid Mezzain 299 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: in December. He previously coached the Belgian national team and 300 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 1: several pro teams in France. That's a lot of losses. 301 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 1: As for additions, the team is welcoming back. 302 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 2: Guess who. 303 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: Tina Charles, the eight time All Star and former League 304 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: MVP back in her first run with the Sun, is back. 305 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 1: Charles is the WNBA's all time leader in rebounds, and 306 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 1: she's second all time in points, behind only recently retired 307 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: Dinah Trossi. Charles spent her first four seasons of the 308 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 1: W in Connecticut, and she returns now as a fourteen 309 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: year vet. The Son also added Diamond Deshields and Lindsay Allen, 310 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: and they drafted LSU double double queen Anissa Morrow and 311 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: guard Sanaia Rivers, who won a title with South Carolina 312 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: before transferring to NC State, where she helped the Wolfpack 313 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: to the Final four in the twenty twenty three twenty 314 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: twenty four season. Did you keep up with all that? 315 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: I can't blame you if you did. The point is 316 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: this team looks nothing like it did last year, So 317 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: the stars mostly left. I mean, Tina Charles always going 318 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: to be a name. Despite having her lowest scoring seasons 319 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 1: the last two years she's played, she was still averaging 320 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: nearly fifteen points a game last season for the Atlanta Dream. 321 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: So Tina Charles always to be Tina Charles. She's getting 322 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: a little older. Marina Maybray was traded to the Sun 323 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: mid season last year, but after the team cleaned house, 324 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: she requested to be traded away again. 325 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 2: She was denied, so. 326 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 1: She might not be happy in Connecticut, but she's going 327 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: to be a big part of their success or failure. 328 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: All the same, the stakes for this team relatively low. 329 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: They've got really low expectations, but their history would demand 330 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: a lot from them. 331 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 2: The Sun have won at least twenty five. 332 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: Games for four straight seasons, and they've made six straight 333 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: appearances and at least the semi finals. But like I said, 334 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: expectations will need to be reset for this rebuilding season. 335 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: Getting a look at young players and figuring out who 336 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: they could build around is probably going to be the 337 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: biggest focus of this year. Not a lot of last 338 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: year's Sun's stats are going to be meaningful this year 339 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: because you got a whole new roster of players, but 340 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:09,959 Speaker 1: it is worth pointing out the stat line of one 341 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: of their newbies. I mentioned draft pick Anissa Moro. Now, 342 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: she finished her college career with one hundred and four 343 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:19,199 Speaker 1: double doubles. That's second all time in D one history, 344 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: and her seventeen hundred and fourteen career rebounds are third 345 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: all time. So if she can translate that game to 346 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 1: the pros, she could be a big piece for this 347 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 1: rebuilding team. Stories how about some Suns stories and lore, 348 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: like the one about the kid's birthday party. Okay, so, 349 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: the Sun's roster exodus and their struggle to draw free 350 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: agents is in part due to their small market, but 351 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 1: also their outdated facilities. 352 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 2: While the rest of the league. 353 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: Is having facility wars putting millions and millions of dollars 354 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: into amazing new spaces right now, the Sun split their 355 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: practice time between their arena and the Mohegan Tribe Community Center, 356 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:56,919 Speaker 1: where they sometimes have to share gym space with a 357 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 1: workout class where folks playing pickup, and at least once 358 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:02,200 Speaker 1: with a birthday party. 359 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 2: Yep. 360 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: In a particularly memorable incident, the team was prepping for 361 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: the playoffs right next to a two year old's birthday party. 362 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 2: Now listen. 363 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,239 Speaker 1: This is important because after a sold out game at 364 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:15,439 Speaker 1: ted Garden in Boston last season, fans started asking if 365 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: the team might move to Boston. They were relieved to 366 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 1: hear that the Sun are committed to Uncasville, Connecticut and 367 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 1: committed to the Mohegan Tribe. But it is well past 368 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 1: time for the Sun to step into the modern WNBA, 369 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: or their championship drought will no doubt continue. 370 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 2: Fun fact, by. 371 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 1: The way, the Connecticut Sun Arena that I mentioned, that's 372 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,199 Speaker 1: Mohegan Sun Arena and it's inside the Mohegan Sun Resort 373 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: in casino. 374 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 2: Playing games at a casino is wild to me. You 375 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 2: just like finish hooping and then put it all on black, your. 376 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:46,439 Speaker 1: Jump shots dropping all games, so you go see if 377 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:49,160 Speaker 1: your luck continues at the craps table. I'm just picturing 378 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: like showering after a game, thrown on some warm ups, 379 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 1: and just walking through a bunch of people letting it 380 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 1: all ride on twenty three. 381 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 2: Oh the Sun? Meish? What did I have forget about 382 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 2: the Sun? What's the biggest storyline for you? What are 383 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 2: you watching for? 384 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 3: Well, first of all, I have to say it is remote, 385 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 3: the Mohigan Sun Arena and resort and casino. I've been 386 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 3: there myself. It's a good time as a spectator, for sure. 387 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 3: But it's very remote, very very remote. So that part 388 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,880 Speaker 3: very much rings true, and it's part of what I'm 389 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 3: keeping an eye on. This season for me in Connecticut 390 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 3: has nothing to do with the X's and o's right. 391 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 3: Rebuilding is rebuilding is rebuilding. It's gonna be tough. They're 392 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 3: on their third different head coach and four seasons for 393 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:31,680 Speaker 3: this franchise. It just feels like they're kind of grasping 394 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:33,399 Speaker 3: at straws right now. But that's, like I said, to 395 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 3: be expected. But it's it's the extreme to which they've 396 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 3: taken it that stresses me out. You mentioned it the 397 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 3: first team in WNBA history to dismantle their entire starting five, 398 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 3: So you said, I don't even need ingredients. I'm just 399 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 3: gonna I'm just gonna vibe like that to me is terrifying. 400 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 3: I do not envy their new head coach. But that's 401 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 3: also a change, right, He's probably got an entire different systems. 402 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 3: Stephanie White well respected in the WNBA already, not to 403 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 3: say that you know Rashid isn't because he's done his 404 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 3: own thing. But steph White, you know, players know her, 405 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 3: and players are used to what she wants to do 406 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 3: and have a better expectation for what she comes with. 407 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:15,440 Speaker 3: So that's an adjustment. But I do think there are 408 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 3: some bright spots here. You mentioned Anissa Morrow, and you 409 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 3: mentioned Sanaia Rivers, two rookies, two draft picks that I 410 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 3: think have unbelievable upside in the WNBA, and on this 411 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,960 Speaker 3: roster specifically that lacks some proven veteran leadership outside of 412 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 3: Tina Charles, outside of Marina Maybury, outside of Lindsay Allen. 413 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 3: This could be an awesome opportunity for both of them 414 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 3: to make names for themselves, improved why they belong in 415 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:41,880 Speaker 3: the w and whether or not they stay with the son. 416 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 2: Who knows. 417 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,359 Speaker 3: But that foundation that you set your rookie year, the 418 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 3: things you learn, the things you overcome, can be really 419 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 3: really important and vital to the rest of your career. 420 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 3: So for me, it's not even x's and o's, it's 421 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 3: what's gonna happen off the court with this franchise, and 422 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 3: then keep my eyes on those two rookies. 423 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think off the court. For me, what stands 424 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: out is that history. I mentioned. They don't have the 425 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 1: titles and the banners, but they are one of the 426 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:09,199 Speaker 1: most successful teams in this league and have been for 427 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: quite some time. And it is going to be slip 428 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 1: sliding away if they don't fix the facilities issue and 429 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 1: the investment side, because they are not going to be 430 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:18,880 Speaker 1: able to keep up and draw players. 431 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 2: No one's going to want to play for them if 432 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 2: they don't. All right, you're caught up on the sun. 433 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 2: We got to take another break. When we come back, 434 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 2: why do you slices out of question? So we've got 435 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 2: an answer. Welcome back, slices. 436 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,120 Speaker 1: We asked you to tell us what WNBA related questions 437 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: you have prior to the start of the season, and 438 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 1: of course you all delivered. 439 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 2: So let's take a sec to talk through one slice. 440 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 1: Kaylee Beard emailed us asking, can you explain the difference 441 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: between a flagrant fowl and a technical foul in the WNBA? 442 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:52,200 Speaker 2: I'm so confused. 443 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 1: Well, Kaylee, when we crack open the WNBA's official rulebook 444 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 1: for twenty twenty five, we'll link to it in the 445 00:21:57,760 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: show notes because it's a little hard to find. The 446 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: league puts flagrant fouls into two tiers, flagrant one or 447 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 1: a flagrant two. So flagrant one is any contact committed 448 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: against a player with or without the ball that referees 449 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 1: interpret to be unnecessary and in that case, personal foul 450 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: charged to the offender and a team foul charged as well. 451 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 1: Player who took the contact shoots two free throws their 452 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: team gets to inbound the ball. If you commit two 453 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 1: flagrant ones in a game, you get ejected. Flagrant two 454 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 1: is a little more serious. These are called if refs 455 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 1: think contact against a player with or without the ball 456 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 1: is unnecessary and excessive. Just like a flagrant one, the 457 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 1: player who fouled earns a personal foul for themselves and 458 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 1: a team foul for their squad, and the player who 459 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 1: got fouled shoots two free throws and their team gets 460 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: the ball. The difference here is that a player who 461 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: commits a flagrant two is also ejected from the game, 462 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:50,679 Speaker 1: and because of this higher penalty, refs have to go 463 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 1: to the monitor to review cases where a flagrant two 464 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: might be called. So both of those, basically, you didn't 465 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: just foul some you fouled someone unnecessarily, or you fouled 466 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 1: them unknown necessarily and excessively, and you're out. 467 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 2: How do these differ from technical fouls? 468 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 1: Techs are basically, in a nutshell, more about procedure and behavior. 469 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 1: So coaches, teams, and individual players can be given tees 470 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,920 Speaker 1: for a range of things, including putting the wrong number 471 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: of players on the court, taking more timeouts than they're 472 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:22,200 Speaker 1: allowed with sub Chris Weber, delaying the game, or something 473 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 1: like hanging on the rim. But what I think you're 474 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 1: getting at is this kind of tech players can get 475 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 1: texts without any prior warning from refs when their conduct 476 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: on the court or on the bench is deemed detrimental 477 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,640 Speaker 1: to the game, and if the conduct is poor enough 478 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:38,439 Speaker 1: according to the refs. Individuals can be ejected after a 479 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 1: single technical, but if you get two in a contest, 480 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: you're automatically out of there. Conduct that falls under the 481 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: scope of a technical foul includes things typically considered unsportsmanlike, 482 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: like talking to a ref, disrespectfully, giving a ref physical contact, 483 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: taking overt actions in protest of a call, using profanity, 484 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:02,160 Speaker 1: throwing elbows deliberately, or taunting. See Diana Tarassi's entire catalog. 485 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:05,119 Speaker 1: There's more to all this, but we recommend taking to 486 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: spin through the rule book if you've still got questions. 487 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 2: Hopefully that helps. Thanks for hitting us up, Kaylee. 488 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 1: We love that you're listing, but we want all of 489 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 1: you to get in the game just like Kaylee did. 490 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: So here's our good gameplay of the day. If you're 491 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 1: rocking with the Liberty or the Sun this season, hit 492 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 1: us up and tell us why. What kind of year 493 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: are you predicting? Who are your favorite hoopers? All that 494 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:26,919 Speaker 1: good stuff? Send it to us Email good game at 495 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: wondermedianetwork dot com. 496 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 2: And don't forget to subscribe a rate and review, y'all. 497 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 1: It's easy watch Jonquell Jones singing like sing Singing, rating 498 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:42,159 Speaker 1: fifteen out of ten. Voice of an Angel review. I 499 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:44,920 Speaker 1: don't even think my words will do JJ justice here, 500 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,159 Speaker 1: so you just got to listen for yourself. Here's some 501 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:49,679 Speaker 1: audio from the New York Liberties instagram page where they 502 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: asked players to share a song that they love that 503 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 1: folks might not expect, and Johnqwell Jones didn't just say 504 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 1: on my Mind by Georgia Smith. 505 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:10,640 Speaker 2: She sang it fine, found the Father, So y'all check 506 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:10,879 Speaker 2: it out. 507 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,199 Speaker 1: I mean, come on, it is not fair to be 508 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,679 Speaker 1: that talented and that good at basketball. 509 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:20,680 Speaker 2: Speaking of can we get a JJ R and B 510 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 2: album maybe. 511 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:26,159 Speaker 1: After she retires. Now it's your turn, rate and review. 512 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, y'all. See you tomorrow when we dish 513 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:30,919 Speaker 1: everything you need to know about the Atlanta Dream and 514 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 1: the Indiana Fever. Good game, New York, Good game, Connecticut. 515 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:38,400 Speaker 1: You making my exes on my calendar and being reminded 516 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:40,639 Speaker 1: my schedule changes so much. I can't use a paper 517 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:44,199 Speaker 1: planner anymore. I miss my color pens and my stickers. 518 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 1: Google cows just Don't Hit the Same Good Game with 519 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 1: Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership 520 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 1: with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us 521 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 1: on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 522 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:00,879 Speaker 1: your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are 523 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 1: Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive producers are Christina Everett, 524 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,919 Speaker 1: Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutterer. Our editors are 525 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 1: Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, and Grace Lynch. Our associate producer 526 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:14,359 Speaker 1: is Lucy Jones and I'm Your host Sarah Spain.