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Speaker 1: Welcome to a good game with Sarah Spain, where we're

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Speaker 1: buying some peanuts and cracker jacks. It's opening day for

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Speaker 1: Major League Baseball and we're one hundred and twenty eight

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Speaker 1: days from the long awaited return of women's professional baseball.

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Speaker 2: It's Thursday, March twenty sixth. Then, on today's show, we'll

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Speaker 2: be speaking.

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Speaker 1: With global hooper Fatima A, the founder and CEO of

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Speaker 1: the Women's Premier Basketball Association and a point guard for

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Speaker 1: Team Jamakeup. We talk about how a Golden State Warriors

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Speaker 1: basketball camp changed her life at a young age, the

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Speaker 1: highs and lows of playing ball around the world, why

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Speaker 1: she wanted to create a league for aspiring pro hoopers,

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Speaker 1: and what to expect at the first ever WPBA combine

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Speaker 1: during NCAA Final four weekend. Plus winter sports in the spring,

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Speaker 1: a game of hot potato, and a town is getting ready.

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Speaker 2: It's all coming up right after this welcome back slices.

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Speaker 1: Here's what you need to know today, starting with some

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Speaker 1: wins her sports news.

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Speaker 2: For those of us.

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Speaker 1: Still going through some Olympic withdrawal, Mikhayla Schiffrin has done

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Speaker 1: it again. On Tuesday in Norway, Schiffrin snagged her one

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Speaker 1: hundred and tenth career World Cup victory in dominant fashion

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Speaker 1: in the women's slalom. The wind caps off an incredible

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Speaker 1: slalom season for her. Not only did she win Olympic

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Speaker 1: gold in the discipline, she also won nine of her

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Speaker 1: ten World Cup slalom races, setting a new record for

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Speaker 1: most slalom victories in a single season.

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Speaker 2: And on Wednesday, she took home the big trophy.

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Speaker 1: Schiffrin clinched her sixth overall World Cup title, tying the

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Speaker 1: record for most overall titles ever, originally set by Austrian

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Speaker 1: legend on Marie Moser prol in the seventies. Going into

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Speaker 1: the final race giant slalom, Schiffrin had an eighty five

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Speaker 1: point lead, meaning she only needed to finish fifteenth or

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Speaker 1: better to clinch the overall title. She ended up taking eleventh,

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Speaker 1: and in the emotional moment when she realized her victory,

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Speaker 1: she dropped to her knees, asking are you sure? Are

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Speaker 1: you positive all of this after two of the toughest

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Speaker 1: seasons of her life.

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Speaker 2: Way to go, Mikayla. We'll link to that video in

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Speaker 2: the show notes if you want to check it out.

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Speaker 1: To figure skating, the twenty twenty six World Figure Skating

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Speaker 1: Championships are happening right now in Prague, and Team USA

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Speaker 1: sent a full crew to represent, including Olympians Amber Glenn

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Speaker 1: and Isabelle Loveto. Glenn is the reigning US champ and

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Speaker 1: finished fifth overall in Italy. She's now looking to win

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Speaker 1: her first world medal in Prague. After Wednesday's short program,

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Speaker 1: she sits in third place, behind Team Japan's Cawri Sakamoto

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Speaker 1: and Mone Chiba in first and second respectively. Team USA

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Speaker 1: is Libdo sits just behind Glenn in fourth place after

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Speaker 1: the short program, and she's looking for some.

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Speaker 2: Redemption on the world stage.

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Speaker 1: In twenty twenty four, Leveto won silver at the championships,

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Speaker 1: and she finished just off the podium in fourth last year.

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Speaker 1: Olympic champion Alyssa lou is opting to sit out of

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Speaker 1: the Worlds this year, which is pretty common for gold

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Speaker 1: medal winners and Olympic years. Team USA's Sarah Everhart rounds

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Speaker 1: out the US women's team. She's in ninth going into

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Speaker 1: the free skate, which you can watch Friday at one

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Speaker 1: pm Eastern on Peacock.

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Speaker 2: We'll link to the full results and scale in the

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Speaker 2: show notes to hockey.

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Speaker 1: The business magazine Fast Company has named the PWHL the

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Speaker 1: number one most innovative company in Sports and number thirty

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Speaker 1: eight on their World's fifty Most Innovative Companies list. Nearing

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Speaker 1: the final month of the PWHL's third season, the league

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Speaker 1: is on the cusp of surpassing two million fans in

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Speaker 1: all time attendance. This season, average attendance across the league

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Speaker 1: is up twenty three percent over last year. Definitely own

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Speaker 1: a bit to the Olympic bump after that thrilling USA

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Speaker 1: Canada final. That's certainly part of the reason I could

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Speaker 1: get nineteen friends to join me at last night's Takeover

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Speaker 1: Tour game in Chicago.

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Speaker 2: Slices, are you doing.

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Speaker 1: Your part reaching out to friends to hit up women's

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Speaker 1: sporting events? Send that email invite organize those folks in

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Speaker 1: the group. Chat to running, and an update on the

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Speaker 1: controversy we first told you about earlier this month.

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Speaker 2: Quick reminder.

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Speaker 1: At the US Half Marathon Championships, the top three women

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Speaker 1: were accidentally led off the course by race officials with

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Speaker 1: just about a mile to go. By the time the

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Speaker 1: race organizers notified runners and they returned to the actual course,

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Speaker 1: it was too late. Other runners had passed them by,

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Speaker 1: and the previously top three athletes finished way off the podium.

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Speaker 1: They lost prize money, which they were later awarded in

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Speaker 1: a good faith move by race organizers, but they also

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Speaker 1: lost a ticket to the World Championships. Each year, the

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Speaker 1: top three finishers of the US Championships make up the team,

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Speaker 1: along with one other athlete selected based on world rankings.

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Speaker 1: While on Wednesday, track and field's global governing body, World Athletics,

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Speaker 1: announced a solution. In a historic move, they approved an

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Speaker 1: expanded seven women US team for Worlds, up from the

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Speaker 1: standard four person team. So at Worlds this year, the

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Speaker 1: athletes selected based on rankings, plus the three athletes who

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Speaker 1: were let off the course at the US Championships and

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Speaker 1: the three athletes who officially crossed the finish line first

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Speaker 1: at the US Championships, we'll all get to compete. If

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Speaker 1: you remember from a few episodes ago, this was my solution.

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Speaker 2: I love it. But wait, here's where things get tricky.

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Speaker 1: World Athletics says before the race, USA track and Field

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Speaker 1: needs to designate four of those athletes as the quote

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Speaker 1: unquote scoring athletes, and the other three will be non

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Speaker 1: scoring athletes. The non scoring trio will be official team members,

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Speaker 1: but they can't contribute to team scoring or win medals.

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Speaker 1: They'll also wear a distinct uniform, so they're officially part

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Speaker 1: of the team, but can't contribute in any meaningful way.

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Speaker 1: So what happens if a non scoring athlete ends up

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Speaker 1: crossing the line in first, second, or third.

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Speaker 2: They're just invisible. We pretend it didn't happen.

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Speaker 1: I get that this is an extraordinary circumstance, and I'm

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Speaker 1: glad that all the runners are at least able to

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Speaker 1: go to Worlds and get that experience on the global stage.

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Speaker 1: But it kind of feels like the USATF and World

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Speaker 1: Athletics are just hot potatoing who gets to be the

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Speaker 1: final bad guy. USATF passed the ball to World Athletics. No,

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Speaker 1: it's tossed back to USATF. We'll keep an eye out

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Speaker 1: to see if the athletes themselves comment on this outcome,

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Speaker 1: plus how other countries feel about a US team nearly

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Speaker 1: double the size of everyone else's. To the WNBA, we're

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Speaker 1: one step closer to tip off, y'all. Is Both the

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Speaker 1: WNBA Board of Governors and the league's players have unanimously

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Speaker 1: agreed to ratify the new CBA, a deal that's set

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Speaker 1: to run through twenty thirty two. Now the league just

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Speaker 1: has to take a look at the rest of its

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Speaker 1: to do list, including I don't know, tackling an expansion

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Speaker 1: draft for new teams Portland and Toronto, free agency for

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Speaker 1: more than eighty percent of the players in the league,

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Speaker 1: the college draft on April thirteenth, training camp all before

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Speaker 1: the season starts May eighth.

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Speaker 2: But we don't have to wait until May to get

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Speaker 2: some action on the court.

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Speaker 1: We've got the preseason, and this year a few of

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Speaker 1: the preseason friendlies will make history. Minnesota Links had already

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Speaker 1: announced its own history making friendly. They'll be the first

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Speaker 1: ever WNBA team to play an African national team when

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Speaker 1: they take on Nigeria on April twenty seventh, and the

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Speaker 1: Chicago Sky have now announced in April twenty fifth friendly

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Speaker 1: against the Phoenix Mercury in Sioux Falls, bringing WNBA action

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Speaker 1: to South Dakota for the first time to the NWSL.

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Speaker 1: The Atlanta expansion team, set to begin play in twenty

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Speaker 1: twenty eight, has announced plans for a thirty three acre

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Speaker 1: combination headquarters and training center City Leaders in the town

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Speaker 1: of Marietta, Georgia. Approved a twenty million dollar land deal

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Speaker 1: last week for a development that will include a thirty

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Speaker 1: eight thousand square foot facility and four full fields. You

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Speaker 1: remember we told you the club already announced a record

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Speaker 1: breaking Front of Jersey sponsor deal too, so the atl

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Speaker 1: ain't messing around. Speaking of expansion teams, fans of one

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Speaker 1: of the NWSL's newest clubs, the Boston Legacy, have another

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Speaker 1: women's sports bar pop up come into town. We mentioned

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Speaker 1: earlier this week the sports Bra was doing pop ups

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Speaker 1: for March Madness, while the Envoy Hotel is getting in

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Speaker 1: on the action, turning its on site bar Para Maria

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Speaker 1: into two sixty one Para Maria, a nod to the

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Speaker 1: BIB number of Boston Marathon hero Katherine Switzer. Now through

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Speaker 1: the end of April, you could stop by for a

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Speaker 1: Catherine Spritzer and an Aaron Caesar salad in honor a

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Speaker 1: friend of the show in Fleet goalie Aaron Frankel, A

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Speaker 1: spritz and a Caesar throwing some French fries and it

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Speaker 1: sounds like the perfect lunch to me. All right, slices,

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Speaker 1: we got to take a break when we come back.

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Speaker 1: Doorless rooms in El Salvador and libraries at Dartmouth.

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Speaker 2: We globe hop with Fatima A joining us now.

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Speaker 1: She's the founder and CEO of Women's Premier Basketball Association.

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Speaker 2: And the point guard for Team Jamaica.

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Speaker 1: She's played ball in Egypt, Greece, Norway, Australia, France, l Salvador, Mexico, Canada, Spain,

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Speaker 1: and Ireland. A twenty twenty five Bay Area Host Committee

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Speaker 1: Trailblazer Impact Award winner, she got pink hair, fast feet

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Speaker 1: and a nasty crossover.

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Speaker 2: It's Fatima A. Hi, Fatima, Hey Sarah.

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Speaker 3: So great to be here today.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm so excited to chat.

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Speaker 1: We've run into each other at so many events, and

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Speaker 1: I've had so much curiosity about the WPBA, but we

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Speaker 1: haven't had a chance to sit down and really talk

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Speaker 1: about it. So this is a perfect time ahead of

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Speaker 1: the combine that you're throwing.

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Speaker 2: But before we.

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Speaker 1: Get to that, and before we get to the WPBA,

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Speaker 1: I want to talk about your basketball routs. So tell

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Speaker 1: me when you first fell in love with the game.

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Speaker 4: I would have to say maybe fifth grade. I ended

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Speaker 4: up going to this park and wanted to to make

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Speaker 4: my basketball team at that time, and ended up meeting

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Speaker 4: this girl that had this amazing crossover, and I wanted

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Speaker 4: to be just like her because it was kind of

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Speaker 4: like she was at Allen Iverson, you know player that

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Speaker 4: I grew up like loving and watching and adoring. But

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Speaker 4: I started to fall in love with the game more

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Speaker 4: when I got to middle school, just because of you know,

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Speaker 4: basketball playing such an instrumental role in my life at

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Speaker 4: that time. It helped me to really put things into

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Speaker 4: perspective and to just see the game and just see

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Speaker 4: life through a different lens.

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Speaker 3: That's that's probably when it all happened for me.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, tell me about the role in particular that a

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Speaker 1: Golden State Warriors camp you went to played in giving

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Speaker 1: you just a safe, happy place to be a kid.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, I try not to think of this

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Speaker 4: as just like a moment of weakness. At a point

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Speaker 4: in my life, my family and I were living in

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Speaker 4: a homeless shelter and if you've been in that type

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Speaker 4: of situation, you know what it's like. And at that

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Speaker 4: point of my life, I really just needed some sort

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Speaker 4: of happiness.

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Speaker 3: I needed to win. And the Golden State Warrior as.

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Speaker 4: They ended up giving all of the kids in the

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Speaker 4: shelter that week scholarships to go to camp amazing.

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Speaker 3: I had no idea where I was going that week, but.

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Speaker 4: I just knew I wanted to get out of that place.

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Speaker 4: So I ended up pulling up to this camp. I

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Speaker 4: had jeans on, and I'm like, oh my god, we

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Speaker 4: are playing basketball right now right And it was just

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Speaker 4: so beautiful because no one knew what I was going through,

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Speaker 4: but they treated me like someone they cared about. And

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Speaker 4: I think, you know, those moments, that's why we play

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Speaker 4: sports like we get to be around community, we get

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Speaker 4: to have people pour into us, we get to have

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Speaker 4: people just reaffirm what our value was. So that was

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Speaker 4: that was that special moment for me that really helped

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Speaker 4: me to put things in a perspective.

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Speaker 2: And how old are you then, God eleven?

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Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a tough age that I mean, it is

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Speaker 1: fascinating to think about. And sometimes I have to be

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Speaker 1: reminded by someone that a lot of what athletes experience

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Speaker 1: throughout life, if you're playing sports your whole life, it's

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Speaker 1: a constant affirmation when you're doing great, it's a constant

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Speaker 1: adjustment to work on things and want to get better better.

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Speaker 1: It's an ability to take criticism in pursuit of greatness.

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Speaker 1: In pursuit of being better. And there's a lot of

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Speaker 1: people who kind of go through life without the good

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Speaker 1: and the bad. There they are not being affirmed repeatedly

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Speaker 1: by the fans or their coaches or their teammates. And

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Speaker 1: they're also not really great at taking feedback in the

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Speaker 1: goal of getting better at something because they're not used

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Speaker 1: to it.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, and like the game teaches us so many amazing

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Speaker 4: things just with character building. Like that week alone, I

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Speaker 4: was just like, oh my god, I can't get.

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Speaker 3: Enough of this.

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Speaker 4: So it got me to play and pick up after

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Speaker 4: school and I ended up getting like a job, you know,

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Speaker 4: working in a food truck just so that I can

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Speaker 4: have money to buy new basketball shoes because I was.

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Speaker 3: It just taught me to like invest in myself at

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Speaker 3: that point, you know.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, and look where it took you. I mean, it

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Speaker 1: really took you all over the world. I listed off

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Speaker 1: all those countries. I need a couple memorable stories from

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Speaker 1: your many stops, and I want you to start in

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Speaker 1: Al Salvador because the disconnect between oh my god, I'm

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Speaker 1: going to play professional basketball and then what you arrived

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Speaker 1: to find when you got there probably pretty shocking.

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Speaker 2: It was.

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Speaker 4: And I'm just like, excuse my language, but I busted

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Speaker 4: my ass that summer just so that someone could take

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Speaker 4: a chance on me. Right, I'm going to camps and

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Speaker 4: going to clinics, I'm trying to play on teams. I'm traveling,

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Speaker 4: you know, around the country, trying to see, you know,

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Speaker 4: what opportunity is going to help me lead me to

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Speaker 4: my next opportunity. And you know, when you're in it

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Speaker 4: and you kind of are figuring out what this new

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Speaker 4: space looks like, like there's a lot of anxiety around it.

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Speaker 3: But when I got that first call that someone.

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Speaker 4: Was willing to pay me to play basketball and that

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Speaker 4: they trusted me to like lead their team, it was

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Speaker 4: the best feeling. Like I can't explain the feeling, but

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Speaker 4: it was probably one of the best feelings I've ever

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Speaker 4: had in my life. And then I get there, mind you,

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Speaker 4: Like I tell every player, now, do research on where

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Speaker 4: you're going, because I had no idea where else Salberto was.

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Speaker 3: I just knew that I was about to go play basketball.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, and I'm doing my research. I'm like okay. And

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Speaker 4: then I get out there and I'm like okay, right,

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Speaker 4: Like the first place we played in, I don't even

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Speaker 4: think it had like a door, like an actual door

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Speaker 4: on the house, so like they had to move us

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Speaker 4: into a different location.

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Speaker 1: Well, and you were supposed to be alone, right, but

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Speaker 1: you had a roommate in a room without a door.

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Speaker 4: Like yes, Like I'm living with my teammate and it's

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Speaker 4: great that we both got along and we were just

283
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Speaker 4: like let's make it through, Like let's do it whatever

284
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Speaker 4: we need to do to make it through, because like

285
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Speaker 4: this is just one of those building blocks that going

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Speaker 4: to help us get to where we want to be.

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Speaker 4: So that season, like we really kept each other accountable.

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Speaker 4: But like it was tough, but I had kind of

289
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Speaker 4: been through similar situations like this. I was just like

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Speaker 4: I'm just going to get through this. Like we didn't

291
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Speaker 4: even have our hot water, like woa, yeah, but I'm

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Speaker 4: like I'm going to be able to get through this

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Speaker 4: because i know, like this isn't my destination, Like I'm

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Speaker 4: meant for bigger and better things. And I'd already gotten

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Speaker 4: prepped before even leaving from other pros that are like, hey,

296
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Speaker 4: you need to kill this league so that you can

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Speaker 4: make it into Europe.

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Speaker 3: And that's exactly what I did.

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Speaker 4: Like I was a second leading scorer in the conference,

300
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Speaker 4: and it's thing I was averaging like thirty points per game.

301
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Speaker 4: The team had never been with playoffs, Like helped the

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Speaker 4: team go to playoffs. But like I grinded it out

303
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Speaker 4: because I just I loved it so much and I

304
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Speaker 4: wanted it so much, and I could see the trajectory

305
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Speaker 4: of where I was going to be if I just

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Speaker 4: handled business.

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Speaker 1: At that time, I didn't read much about your college

308
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Speaker 1: hoops experience.

309
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Speaker 2: Can you tell me about that?

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Speaker 4: Yeah, I will say I played for a good amount

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Speaker 4: of championship type of teams, like maybe out of the

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Speaker 4: five schools I went to, four out of the five,

313
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Speaker 4: we always made it to tournament time, like only one conference.

314
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Speaker 4: So like I'd always been a part of like winning culture.

315
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Speaker 4: So I knew that like what was expected of me,

316
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Speaker 4: whether I was playing or not, I needed to give

317
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Speaker 4: one hundred and fifty percent because when my name was called,

318
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Speaker 4: like I was going to do my best to do

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Speaker 4: whatever I needed to do so that I could show

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Speaker 4: the coach that you know, they should keep me on

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Speaker 4: the floor.

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Speaker 2: Yeah. But five different colleges.

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Speaker 3: Five Yeah, So when did ju goo?

324
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Speaker 4: I went to City College of San Francisco. My first year,

325
00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:00,400
Speaker 4: we did well. We ended up being you know, state

326
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Speaker 4: running around one conference that year. Ended up going to

327
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Speaker 4: Santa Rose Junior College after that, then it got a

328
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Speaker 4: full ride to go play at Texas A and M International.

329
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Speaker 4: That one was tough because I'd never really been out

330
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Speaker 4: of like the state of California.

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Speaker 3: I mean, I'm from Toronto, but like we hadn't traveled.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, and you moved to the Bay Area pretty young, Yeah.

333
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Speaker 4: When I was like five, so kind of like the

334
00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:23,160
Speaker 4: Bay was just really like all I knew, and like

335
00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:26,480
Speaker 4: that year was really really tough for me. And I

336
00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,440
Speaker 4: feel like that's kind of when I started understanding like

337
00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:33,880
Speaker 4: what depression was. Okay, but I had some really amazing

338
00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,440
Speaker 4: teammates that just really helped me like stay in it.

339
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Speaker 4: But just the way that I am, I'm like, Okay,

340
00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:42,040
Speaker 4: I need to get this year back because I'm trying

341
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Speaker 4: to get somewhere. And I realized after doing my research

342
00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,760
Speaker 4: that in Canada they give you five years of eligibility

343
00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,360
Speaker 4: as opposed to four years of eligibility and c double a.

344
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Speaker 4: And I was just like, Okay, I'm gonna get my

345
00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:54,280
Speaker 4: year back. I'm going to transfer over. Ended up transferring

346
00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:56,560
Speaker 4: to a school over in New York. Ended up having

347
00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:59,520
Speaker 4: to red shirt that year because my credit's in a

348
00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,440
Speaker 4: transfer over from school. But ended up finding the school

349
00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,320
Speaker 4: that I really wanted to be at after just kind

350
00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:08,440
Speaker 4: of reintegrating myself into the Toronto area and I went

351
00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,960
Speaker 4: to a Ryerson University. My coach Cartly Clark, she is

352
00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,680
Speaker 4: the assistant coach for Canada basketball for the women's senior

353
00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:19,000
Speaker 4: national team. So, like, I was challenged a lot, right,

354
00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,400
Speaker 4: But I think essentially that's what's allowed me to have

355
00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,480
Speaker 4: the tough, like the thick skin that I have now

356
00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:26,920
Speaker 4: because I was able to get through all of it

357
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Speaker 4: and just keep pushing.

358
00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:31,440
Speaker 1: Yeah, well, you had a goal, which was to play,

359
00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:33,920
Speaker 1: and it took you to a number of stops before

360
00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,120
Speaker 1: even to all the countries that you went to. But

361
00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,640
Speaker 1: you ball out in El Salvador, which allows you to

362
00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:42,160
Speaker 1: get into some more professionalized leagues. Give me a good,

363
00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:46,960
Speaker 1: funny anecdote from Norway, Australia, Egypt, Greece, Mexico one of

364
00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:47,840
Speaker 1: those other places.

365
00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:50,920
Speaker 4: Oh my god, I was just talking about this earlier today.

366
00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,720
Speaker 4: Like I've been to some really beautiful countries, like Greece

367
00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:58,560
Speaker 4: is a beautiful place, Norway beautiful place, but does get

368
00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,320
Speaker 4: depressing during the time of like you, three months of darkness,

369
00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,400
Speaker 4: but like, I really love the food while I'm there.

370
00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,600
Speaker 4: I love being able to really immerse myself amongst the

371
00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,320
Speaker 4: people there and just learn about the culture. But yeah,

372
00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,560
Speaker 4: like every opportunity it just helped me learn a lot

373
00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:15,640
Speaker 4: more about myself, but just helped me to learn more

374
00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:19,560
Speaker 4: about the game from a global lens, which allowed me

375
00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:23,480
Speaker 4: to really like start putting into play, Like what do

376
00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:25,880
Speaker 4: I want to create that will be able to help

377
00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,080
Speaker 4: a lot of you know, these players that you might

378
00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:29,280
Speaker 4: have been in my same situation.

379
00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,280
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it's all building and growing towards creating

380
00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:35,679
Speaker 1: something for folks like you that maybe don't have a

381
00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,720
Speaker 1: straight shot to the WNBA but want to keep playing.

382
00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,280
Speaker 1: Speaking of keeping playing, you're thirty four now, thirty four

383
00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,320
Speaker 1: years young, Yeah, thirty four years young. You hooped for

384
00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,680
Speaker 1: a team Jamaica's three x three team last fall.

385
00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,160
Speaker 2: Is there more playing for you on the horizon?

386
00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:51,080
Speaker 3: Absolutely?

387
00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,639
Speaker 4: I Mean it's been tough, especially this last year with

388
00:17:54,720 --> 00:18:00,240
Speaker 4: really investing into being an entrepreneur, being a CEO, so

389
00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:02,480
Speaker 4: I've kind of have to like put my playing career

390
00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,600
Speaker 4: a little bit, you know, on the back burner. But

391
00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,439
Speaker 4: last year it felt really good to be able to

392
00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:12,119
Speaker 4: get back out there. And yeah, we've got Commonwealth Games

393
00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:14,720
Speaker 4: coming up again in Scotland this year and then I'll

394
00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,560
Speaker 4: be back be back out there playing professionally for the

395
00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:19,359
Speaker 4: upcoming season in the fall.

396
00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,040
Speaker 1: Don't know where yet, but okay, yeah, somewhere the world

397
00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:26,800
Speaker 1: knows Jamaican athletes. A lot for track stars, soccer players

398
00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:31,119
Speaker 1: now Bob's led, of course, but how big is the basketball.

399
00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:32,080
Speaker 2: There is there a lot of support for the team.

400
00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:33,000
Speaker 3: It's getting there.

401
00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:35,800
Speaker 4: I think with the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation stepping

402
00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:40,080
Speaker 4: in and really looking to pour into the federation, they're

403
00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,239
Speaker 4: now starting to see the value. And again just with

404
00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:46,800
Speaker 4: the amazing growth that's happening in women's sports, I'm hoping

405
00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,439
Speaker 4: that they're pouring more into that as well. I know that,

406
00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:52,080
Speaker 4: you know the men, they just hosted the Feeble qualify

407
00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:57,120
Speaker 4: over in Kingston, So I believe moving forward they're going

408
00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,800
Speaker 4: to put more time, energy and resources into the women's

409
00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,520
Speaker 4: back because we've bought some talented up and coming players

410
00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,560
Speaker 4: getting ready to graduate from university that are ready to

411
00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:06,720
Speaker 4: you know, start representing.

412
00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,879
Speaker 1: And you got connected with Team Jamaica because of your

413
00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:10,960
Speaker 1: mom's roots.

414
00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:12,399
Speaker 3: Yeah, so my mom from Jamaica.

415
00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:14,560
Speaker 4: Yeah, and that was a part of just like being

416
00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:17,399
Speaker 4: able to understand being a pro in this space, Like

417
00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,399
Speaker 4: there's certain loopholes. If you hold a European or just

418
00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,080
Speaker 4: any type of citizenship for a country, like you can

419
00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:27,040
Speaker 4: be considered a local or a Bosman player, and that

420
00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:29,720
Speaker 4: allows you to now instead of having a fight for

421
00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:31,960
Speaker 4: these import spots, because some of these teams only allow

422
00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:34,640
Speaker 4: like one of more imports depending on what country you're

423
00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,960
Speaker 4: playing in, Like Mexico, they can have I played Top League,

424
00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,359
Speaker 4: like they had around like six of us on the

425
00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,880
Speaker 4: team right that were considered import players. But if you're

426
00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:48,159
Speaker 4: an actual like like resident, not resident, but citizen of Mexico, like,

427
00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:50,040
Speaker 4: you don't have to fight four spots. If you're good,

428
00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:52,080
Speaker 4: you can play like they're going to pick you up.

429
00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:53,760
Speaker 4: And that's the same thing for every other country.

430
00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:55,680
Speaker 1: There's a lot of different leagues that have different rules

431
00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,440
Speaker 1: around that that people aren't aware of. Like you might

432
00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,240
Speaker 1: have a couple great Americans, but only two two of

433
00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,080
Speaker 1: them can be playing at a time, so if one's injured,

434
00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:03,800
Speaker 1: you can swap the other one in, but one might

435
00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:05,520
Speaker 1: be sitting on the bench and they're much better player

436
00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:07,920
Speaker 1: than someone else. But it's because of those rules about

437
00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,480
Speaker 1: how many important players can be like rostered at a time.

438
00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:11,760
Speaker 2: It's complicated.

439
00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:19,040
Speaker 1: So you have played in just about every situation set up, country, continent,

440
00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:22,720
Speaker 1: and it causes you to start to think about what's missing.

441
00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,199
Speaker 1: So tell me about the Women's Premier Basketball Association. And

442
00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:27,679
Speaker 1: before we even get to what it is, like, what

443
00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:29,920
Speaker 1: inspired you to say I want to create a whole

444
00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:30,760
Speaker 1: damn league.

445
00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:31,480
Speaker 3: Oh my god.

446
00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:33,879
Speaker 4: I was in Mexico playing at this time, but like

447
00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:37,560
Speaker 4: even before then, I had really started building up my

448
00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:41,719
Speaker 4: network and understanding just the landscape of women's basketball, especially

449
00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:46,320
Speaker 4: at like the international level. And I can't tell you

450
00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,560
Speaker 4: enough how many times I come back home during my

451
00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:51,560
Speaker 4: off season and there's no place for us really to

452
00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:53,240
Speaker 4: be able to play. Yes, there's a pro am, but

453
00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:58,000
Speaker 4: it's not helping you get to somewhere. And I have

454
00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:01,560
Speaker 4: players that are in college or you know, players that

455
00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:04,240
Speaker 4: were cut from a pro team reaching out to me

456
00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:06,600
Speaker 4: asking me like, how are you still getting a job

457
00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,639
Speaker 4: because it's just like one I wasn't highly recruited, Like

458
00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:13,040
Speaker 4: my path isn't the traditional pathway, but somehow I'm still

459
00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:16,800
Speaker 4: able to stay employed every single year since I've graduated.

460
00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:18,320
Speaker 3: But I understood that.

461
00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:20,440
Speaker 4: There were so many people in this space that were

462
00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:24,119
Speaker 4: misinformed about what it takes to be a pro, the

463
00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,760
Speaker 4: professionalism of being a pro, and just really understanding what

464
00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,200
Speaker 4: it takes to also just build that longevity within your career.

465
00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:33,000
Speaker 4: And at the time, it really just came to me,

466
00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:35,600
Speaker 4: like I was in Mexico. I looked up the name

467
00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:37,879
Speaker 4: first because I was I prayed on the name, dreampt

468
00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:40,200
Speaker 4: about it, came into mind, went on go Daddy.

469
00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:41,200
Speaker 3: I was like, oh, it's available.

470
00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:41,960
Speaker 2: Okay.

471
00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,479
Speaker 4: So I'm like going down this rabbit hole of just like, Okay,

472
00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:47,679
Speaker 4: this is something. Now, what do I envision the perfect

473
00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:50,480
Speaker 4: lead to be based on my experience with some of

474
00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:52,359
Speaker 4: the clubs I didn't have the best experience with in

475
00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,680
Speaker 4: comparison to the clubs that I've had the best experiences with.

476
00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,280
Speaker 4: So I started putting it together. I reached out to

477
00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:00,400
Speaker 4: the people in the Bay Area that really believe in

478
00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:02,199
Speaker 4: what I was doing, and I asked them to just

479
00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:04,919
Speaker 4: like help me, like help me bring this to life.

480
00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:07,840
Speaker 4: And I'm in Mexico at the time, so I'm away

481
00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:10,720
Speaker 4: for like the first five weeks, but I'm facilitating and

482
00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,399
Speaker 4: having people, you know, help me out with just putting

483
00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,200
Speaker 4: the stuff together, and I ended up receiving award from

484
00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:19,200
Speaker 4: the Women of Courage by Congressman and Jackie Spear, So

485
00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:21,320
Speaker 4: I had twenty five thousand.

486
00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:21,879
Speaker 3: Dollars to play with them.

487
00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:22,480
Speaker 2: Amazing.

488
00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:26,520
Speaker 4: Yeah, like the timing of it, it was so clutch,

489
00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:29,199
Speaker 4: and I appreciate them so much for just believing in

490
00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,320
Speaker 4: me because the year before I had applied for it

491
00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:33,480
Speaker 4: and I didn't get the grant, and then the next

492
00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:35,920
Speaker 4: year I applied for it and I got the grant,

493
00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,480
Speaker 4: and it just kind of was just like it made

494
00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:40,840
Speaker 4: me think about the power of the universe and sometimes

495
00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:42,480
Speaker 4: you're not ready for that blessing at that time, but

496
00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:43,960
Speaker 4: we keep working, You're going to be ready for the

497
00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:44,960
Speaker 4: blessing when it's ready.

498
00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:47,000
Speaker 3: And that was that sign for me.

499
00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,760
Speaker 4: So that first year we ended up helping you know,

500
00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:53,919
Speaker 4: ten athletes, especially the ones that have been off of

501
00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,200
Speaker 4: the RAIDAR for so long, be able to get pro

502
00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,080
Speaker 4: contracts for the first time and really.

503
00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:00,840
Speaker 3: Turn their dreams into reacit awesome.

504
00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:03,120
Speaker 4: So yeah, that that's kind of like the story about

505
00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:03,919
Speaker 4: how we guys started.

506
00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,400
Speaker 1: Yeah, so we started it in twenty twenty two as

507
00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:10,760
Speaker 1: a developmental league so exclusively devoted to advancing women's basketball,

508
00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,760
Speaker 1: creating a pipeline that allows players to either get to

509
00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:16,840
Speaker 1: the WNBA to athletes unlimited to other top tier pro

510
00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:19,879
Speaker 1: leagues around the world, kind of the gap between college

511
00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:23,159
Speaker 1: and those professional opportunities, so that those who are just

512
00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:25,960
Speaker 1: on the CUSP keep playing, keep getting their name out there,

513
00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,399
Speaker 1: and create like this little ecosystem for folks to see,

514
00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:33,080
Speaker 1: meet network, et cetera. Also for coaches and officials, which

515
00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,520
Speaker 1: is a great opportunity for folks like that too who

516
00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,200
Speaker 1: are trying to get those reps to move up as well.

517
00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:40,840
Speaker 2: So tell me who's eligible to play in the league.

518
00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,879
Speaker 4: So we take players that are graduating seniors, and then

519
00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:48,159
Speaker 4: we also have players in the league that are pro athletes,

520
00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,159
Speaker 4: whether they have WNBA overseas experience to come back. And

521
00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:52,719
Speaker 4: then we have a small chunk of players that are

522
00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:54,920
Speaker 4: working professionals. So we have players that are lawyers and

523
00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,800
Speaker 4: doctors that can still compete at a high level, but

524
00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:00,240
Speaker 4: they can't quit their day jobs. So they're here, you know,

525
00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:02,359
Speaker 4: showing their friends and family that they can still do both.

526
00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:03,520
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's awesome.

527
00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:08,160
Speaker 1: And so eight teams, twelve players per roster, and it's

528
00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:08,680
Speaker 1: pretty quick.

529
00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:11,160
Speaker 3: Just June to August, Yes, June August.

530
00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,639
Speaker 4: I put it at that time because if players are

531
00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:16,119
Speaker 4: away from the WNBA, gives them the opportunity to kind

532
00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:18,359
Speaker 4: of just get their mental right, but also figure out

533
00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:19,880
Speaker 4: what their next steps are going to be. That way,

534
00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:22,520
Speaker 4: they can stay close to the game as possible. If

535
00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:24,440
Speaker 4: they get a call up, amazing, they're in shape, they're

536
00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:25,679
Speaker 4: ready to go, and if not, we're going to help

537
00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,159
Speaker 4: them get ready for their next European or overseas season.

538
00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,119
Speaker 1: Okay, so you've had four seasons, have you had a

539
00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:33,520
Speaker 1: handful of players that have either gone to the w

540
00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:35,440
Speaker 1: Athletes Unlimited or other pro leagues?

541
00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:36,000
Speaker 3: Almost?

542
00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:38,439
Speaker 4: Actually, so we only had We have Rebecca Harris at

543
00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:41,480
Speaker 4: has played. She's a part of Athletes Unlimited. We almost

544
00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:44,879
Speaker 4: had a player go but they unfortunately got injured. They

545
00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:48,119
Speaker 4: were a training camp invite. But this year we're going

546
00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:50,600
Speaker 4: to make sure we have some of those players get

547
00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,160
Speaker 4: there this year. For sure, really excited about this year.

548
00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,840
Speaker 4: We're up leveling everything in terms of the talent, the

549
00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:59,200
Speaker 4: resources of venue that we're playing in. So this is

550
00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:02,719
Speaker 4: going to be a very tractive destination for anyone looking

551
00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,639
Speaker 4: to play this summer and really get better.

552
00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:08,240
Speaker 2: You've partnered with our friend Jenny Wynn too from the

553
00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:09,560
Speaker 2: Sports BRA. Tell me about that.

554
00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:10,600
Speaker 3: Oh my goodness.

555
00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,520
Speaker 4: Jenny and I met maybe a few years back during

556
00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:17,560
Speaker 4: WNBA All Star and I had been a fan and

557
00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:20,240
Speaker 4: admire of what she was able to build with the

558
00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:23,200
Speaker 4: Sports BRA because I'm just I'm looking at everybody that's

559
00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,399
Speaker 4: contributing to this ecosystem from AFAR and I tell her

560
00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:29,040
Speaker 4: every time, I'm just like, I'm so proud of the

561
00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:31,560
Speaker 4: cultural impact that you guys have been able to create

562
00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:35,360
Speaker 4: with the sports Bra and really being able to amplify stories.

563
00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:38,399
Speaker 4: But you know, the platform of these leagues and these athletes.

564
00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:42,240
Speaker 4: So like I saw her again at the NWSL Championship,

565
00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,120
Speaker 4: ran the idea by her right, and then I ran

566
00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,480
Speaker 4: the idea by her again maybe about a month ago,

567
00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:52,320
Speaker 4: and at that time it was alignment, Like I'm really

568
00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:55,359
Speaker 4: much in this space of alignment right now, like what's

569
00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:57,760
Speaker 4: for me is going to be for me? And who

570
00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:00,399
Speaker 4: is on the same page as me, like them on

571
00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:03,160
Speaker 4: my team, And it just clicked and it just worked

572
00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:07,359
Speaker 4: at that time, so really excited that the Sports Brawn,

573
00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:10,480
Speaker 4: Jenny felt that this is something of value for them

574
00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:12,080
Speaker 4: just as not as we feel that as something of

575
00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:12,840
Speaker 4: value for us.

576
00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:15,320
Speaker 3: So cool, we put it together.

577
00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:16,640
Speaker 2: Jersey logos and all that.

578
00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:20,040
Speaker 4: Yes, yea, yeah, it looks good. We got them on

579
00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:23,119
Speaker 4: our combine jerseys. So I can't wait to share that

580
00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:23,359
Speaker 4: with you.

581
00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:25,199
Speaker 2: Guys, how do you afford those trips?

582
00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,359
Speaker 1: I do see you at different conferences and end up

583
00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,680
Speaker 1: your cell championships, Like you're hustling trying to play ball.

584
00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:32,800
Speaker 1: You're trying to run a league and fund it, Like

585
00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:34,120
Speaker 1: where's your money coming from?

586
00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:35,679
Speaker 3: You want me to be honest?

587
00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:39,720
Speaker 4: Yeah, I I ref a lot.

588
00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:41,800
Speaker 2: Okay, I ref a lot.

589
00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:43,119
Speaker 4: And I know a lot of people don't get to

590
00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:45,960
Speaker 4: see like the behind the scenes, but like I'm reffing,

591
00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:50,560
Speaker 4: I'm coaching on the side, like wherever I can make

592
00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:53,359
Speaker 4: money so that I can keep this going, because this

593
00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:57,600
Speaker 4: is something that's like it's tough, especially if you don't

594
00:26:57,600 --> 00:26:59,840
Speaker 4: have the right backing. But like I'm doing all of

595
00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:02,600
Speaker 4: those things so that I can make sure that I

596
00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:04,600
Speaker 4: continue to build this in the right way, because this

597
00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,240
Speaker 4: is how much I believe and care about this. But

598
00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:09,760
Speaker 4: you know, playing overseas allows me to free up a

599
00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:11,560
Speaker 4: lot more of my time because I'm getting paid to play,

600
00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:13,960
Speaker 4: so I'm able to allocate more of my time into

601
00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:18,040
Speaker 4: building the league. But this year we've started raising for

602
00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:20,560
Speaker 4: pre seed to be able to you know, get to

603
00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:23,600
Speaker 4: meaningful capital behind this because up until this point it's

604
00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:24,400
Speaker 4: been bootstrapped.

605
00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:27,639
Speaker 1: Yeah, sponsors at all to help pay for salaries and stuff.

606
00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,720
Speaker 4: Yeah, so like even before then, like players haven't been

607
00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:33,320
Speaker 4: paid to play, Like they've come here based on the

608
00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:37,879
Speaker 4: opportunity because you know, one, it's a great environment, but

609
00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:41,840
Speaker 4: they believe in wanting to invest in themselves and they

610
00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:43,399
Speaker 4: know if they do what they need to do and

611
00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:44,920
Speaker 4: they're here, we're going to help them get to where

612
00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:45,439
Speaker 4: they want to be.

613
00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:48,440
Speaker 1: So right, so it's a pre pro situation that you're

614
00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:50,760
Speaker 1: not paying them, but they know that you're helping them

615
00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:51,760
Speaker 1: get to those paid gigs.

616
00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:55,080
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's the brand building, it's the professional development, Like

617
00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:57,240
Speaker 4: it's putting them in that networks now that they have

618
00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:00,359
Speaker 4: the tools so that they can you know, continue to built.

619
00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:02,240
Speaker 3: But this year we will be paying our athletes.

620
00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:03,440
Speaker 2: Oh great, awesome.

621
00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:03,800
Speaker 3: Yeah.

622
00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:06,399
Speaker 1: Do you aspire to have an official relationship with the

623
00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:08,560
Speaker 1: WNBA like the G League and the NBA.

624
00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:09,199
Speaker 3: Absolutely.

625
00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:12,359
Speaker 4: I think like whenever I talk to people about this,

626
00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:15,080
Speaker 4: and I'm a firm believer of speaking things into existence,

627
00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,000
Speaker 4: like that's something I want to come to fruition, But

628
00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:20,040
Speaker 4: I know that there's work that needs to be done.

629
00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:21,959
Speaker 4: Are we providing value to the ecosystem?

630
00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:22,600
Speaker 3: Absolutely?

631
00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:27,360
Speaker 4: Do I want this to you know, this partnership to happen, Yes,

632
00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:30,240
Speaker 4: because I want to create an even more linear pathway

633
00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,760
Speaker 4: to helping players achieve their goals and aspirations of being

634
00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:35,720
Speaker 4: you know, playing in the w or if not, like

635
00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:38,280
Speaker 4: playing in these other big time leagues like Unrivaled than Athletes,

636
00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:41,160
Speaker 4: Unlimited and Project B. That's getting started, I think, you know,

637
00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:43,800
Speaker 4: with us being you know, backed by FOBA as well,

638
00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:47,120
Speaker 4: and being able to compete in off season competition internationally,

639
00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:51,160
Speaker 4: like that is something that is incredibly valuable to this

640
00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,080
Speaker 4: space that I don't think anyone else is doing.

641
00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:56,960
Speaker 1: So your teams out of your league can play spun

642
00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:58,560
Speaker 1: out into international competitions.

643
00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:02,760
Speaker 4: Yeah, in FOBA, WBL, so FIBA, they're a huge supporter

644
00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:05,800
Speaker 4: of what we're doing because again it's about growing the

645
00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:10,880
Speaker 4: game and being able to be within being officially recognized

646
00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:15,080
Speaker 4: within that world, Like that's huge. You only see FEBA

647
00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:18,480
Speaker 4: anything whenever we see national team stuff, but now with

648
00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:20,880
Speaker 4: them wanting to pour into more of the club play

649
00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:23,880
Speaker 4: so that the teams are getting ready, the players are

650
00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:25,640
Speaker 4: going to be in a better position to get ready

651
00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:29,080
Speaker 4: for when actual national team play starts. Like that's huge

652
00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:30,280
Speaker 4: and we get to be a part of that with

653
00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:33,000
Speaker 4: the only league in the US that is able to

654
00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,640
Speaker 4: be a part of the FEBA WLA cool.

655
00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:38,120
Speaker 2: So have you had conversations with folks at the w

656
00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:39,280
Speaker 2: about partnership.

657
00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:43,040
Speaker 4: I've run it by them, but again, like I want

658
00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:44,640
Speaker 4: them to see that my heart's in the right place

659
00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:46,320
Speaker 4: when I'm building this because at the end of the day,

660
00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:48,800
Speaker 4: like alignment, the partnership is right, is going to happen.

661
00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:50,800
Speaker 4: I know there's more work for us to be done,

662
00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:52,280
Speaker 4: but I know that I'm going in the right direction

663
00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:55,880
Speaker 4: because you know, we we have people asking the questions

664
00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:59,920
Speaker 4: we have you know the players now more players look

665
00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:01,600
Speaker 4: at this as a destination.

666
00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:05,160
Speaker 1: Yeah, it feels like, of course the WNBA would want

667
00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:08,680
Speaker 1: like proprietary everything, would want ownership of everything, so it

668
00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,720
Speaker 1: probably would be like a purchasing of your league situation.

669
00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:14,960
Speaker 1: But there's also this new upshot league that's launching in May.

670
00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:16,960
Speaker 1: Feels like they're kind of going to be a direct

671
00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:18,640
Speaker 1: competitor of WPBA.

672
00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:19,640
Speaker 2: What do you know about them?

673
00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:24,720
Speaker 4: I know a little obviously, like they have their stuff

674
00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:26,960
Speaker 4: that's up on their website. But again, just like any

675
00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,360
Speaker 4: other emerging league that's coming into this space, they have

676
00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:30,960
Speaker 4: to prove out their model and have to prove that

677
00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:36,000
Speaker 4: they're generating more value for the women in this ecosystem.

678
00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:39,360
Speaker 4: So it's great, like there's always going to be competition.

679
00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:40,800
Speaker 3: It just makes us.

680
00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,480
Speaker 4: Work that much harder to make sure we're at the

681
00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:46,959
Speaker 4: top of the pack. So yeah, I'm excited for all

682
00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:48,760
Speaker 4: the opportunities coming for the women's game.

683
00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:51,600
Speaker 1: Well, and it feels like with multiple leagues now sort

684
00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:54,040
Speaker 1: of proving and pushing for the idea that there needs

685
00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:56,120
Speaker 1: to be a G League type situation, and with so

686
00:30:56,160 --> 00:31:00,960
Speaker 1: many conversations around the w's roster spots and players from

687
00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:03,920
Speaker 1: situations when they run short as opposed to having this

688
00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:06,239
Speaker 1: feeder system, it does need to be a little bit

689
00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:08,600
Speaker 1: more professionalized like it is on the men's side. So

690
00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:11,080
Speaker 1: the proof is in the leagues that are building, and

691
00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:13,320
Speaker 1: now it's just a matter of you know, the w

692
00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:16,880
Speaker 1: choosing one or working with or combining a few into

693
00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:19,960
Speaker 1: creating that thing that they need You've got this first

694
00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:23,640
Speaker 1: ever WPBA combine coming up during Final four weekend in Phoenix.

695
00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:24,520
Speaker 2: What's on the docket.

696
00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:26,640
Speaker 3: Oh my goodness, I'm so excited.

697
00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:29,800
Speaker 4: So we've invited the top ninety athletes in NCAA this

698
00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:30,560
Speaker 4: year to be able to.

699
00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:31,640
Speaker 2: Do that aren't in the Final four.

700
00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:35,040
Speaker 4: I presume that aren't in the Final four, but that

701
00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:38,280
Speaker 4: are still very high on the roster for potential training

702
00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:38,960
Speaker 4: camp invites.

703
00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:40,800
Speaker 3: Right, I'm super excited about this.

704
00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:43,000
Speaker 4: A lot of time and energy has been put into

705
00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:47,720
Speaker 4: putting on a very intentional production so that we can

706
00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:51,520
Speaker 4: get these players to the next phase of what their

707
00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:52,160
Speaker 4: careers are.

708
00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:52,560
Speaker 3: Right.

709
00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:56,000
Speaker 4: So we've got Bridget Pettis with us. That's a huge

710
00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:57,880
Speaker 4: pickup for us. I'd talked to her about the idea

711
00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:00,600
Speaker 4: back in August when she was down here on the

712
00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:04,120
Speaker 4: panel for my documentary screening, and she was like, let's

713
00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:05,840
Speaker 4: do it. And I just started putting it together and

714
00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:08,239
Speaker 4: we started working it all out. But we've got some

715
00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:13,000
Speaker 4: really good athletes connecting coming through. So I'm just I'm

716
00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:15,240
Speaker 4: excited to see who else is in the building. Reached

717
00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:17,680
Speaker 4: out to some of the WNBA teams for them to come,

718
00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:20,880
Speaker 4: and you know, Scout talent as well, but we're able

719
00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:24,040
Speaker 4: to put something together where we're trying to incorporate tech

720
00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:27,800
Speaker 4: and all of these health and wellness components so that

721
00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:32,000
Speaker 4: we're really helping to streamline the scouting that's being done

722
00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:34,640
Speaker 4: so that you know, teams can identify talent a lot

723
00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:35,560
Speaker 4: more efficiently at the W.

724
00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:38,600
Speaker 1: So Bridget pettis former WNBA player, she's coming on kind

725
00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:40,040
Speaker 1: of coaching and facilitating the.

726
00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:45,200
Speaker 4: Combine absolutely as well as scouting talent and evaluating talent

727
00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:45,560
Speaker 4: as well.

728
00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:45,880
Speaker 3: Cool.

729
00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:48,360
Speaker 1: So then you invited folks from w teams in the

730
00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:50,440
Speaker 1: hopes that some of these players that maybe aren't the

731
00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:53,680
Speaker 1: obvious lottery picks for the draft might get seen as

732
00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:56,800
Speaker 1: potential developmental players or folks to just be on the radar.

733
00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:59,760
Speaker 1: Maybe there's some diamonds in the rough there or some

734
00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:02,360
Speaker 1: talent that needs to be cultivated with a couple of years.

735
00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,640
Speaker 2: Work to get to that level. Absolutely, yeah, I mean

736
00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:05,120
Speaker 2: it makes sense.

737
00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:08,160
Speaker 1: There's such a quick turnaround from the college game to

738
00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:11,840
Speaker 1: the draft to training camp that it is the players

739
00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:14,840
Speaker 1: who obviously are going to be lottery picks that everyone

740
00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:16,280
Speaker 1: knows are some of the best in the world that

741
00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:18,160
Speaker 1: are going to make that leap but there is a

742
00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:20,720
Speaker 1: place for folks to fall through the cracks if they're

743
00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:24,000
Speaker 1: not in that group. And there's also, like a fascinating

744
00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:28,000
Speaker 1: thing about women is because of hormonal changes and the

745
00:33:28,040 --> 00:33:30,840
Speaker 1: so called second puberty, a lot of women actually peak

746
00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:34,000
Speaker 1: in their late twenties and early thirties physically, and yet

747
00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:36,600
Speaker 1: our college system is designed and set up as if

748
00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,560
Speaker 1: everyone is peaking at that twenty one twenty two, and

749
00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,360
Speaker 1: so that little gap in between might mean that a

750
00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:45,040
Speaker 1: player just a couple of years after graduating is actually

751
00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:48,240
Speaker 1: performing at her very best, and if she drops off

752
00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:50,400
Speaker 1: and doesn't have somewhere to play in the middle, you've

753
00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:53,920
Speaker 1: lost someone that has tremendous opportunity and talent to play

754
00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:57,680
Speaker 1: twenty seven, twenty eight through thirty eight. So this opportunity

755
00:33:57,680 --> 00:33:58,880
Speaker 1: for them to get in front of some of these

756
00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:01,280
Speaker 1: folks could be a really big to just keep them

757
00:34:01,280 --> 00:34:03,680
Speaker 1: in the game, give them the affirmation that they need

758
00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:05,640
Speaker 1: to believe that they're on the right path to go

759
00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:08,360
Speaker 1: playoffswhere and hopefully come back around, which is really cool.

760
00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:10,760
Speaker 1: Anything else you want to tell us about the league

761
00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:12,320
Speaker 1: and your future plans.

762
00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:16,960
Speaker 4: Definitely looking to expand into different markets in the future,

763
00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:20,600
Speaker 4: looking to be introduced to a cohold new different fan base,

764
00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:24,040
Speaker 4: but really excited for the players that we are going

765
00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:25,080
Speaker 4: to be working with this season.

766
00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:27,680
Speaker 1: Yeah, and you're in this very scholarly room right now

767
00:34:27,719 --> 00:34:30,040
Speaker 1: speaking at Dartmouth, so there might be some people there

768
00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:33,759
Speaker 1: with some funding, some connections at the very least some

769
00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:37,480
Speaker 1: very smart, good ideas for you. So hopefully it'll all

770
00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:40,000
Speaker 1: tie to this upcoming combine and the next season for

771
00:34:40,040 --> 00:34:41,080
Speaker 1: the WPBA.

772
00:34:41,120 --> 00:34:42,200
Speaker 2: Thanks so much for the time.

773
00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:43,840
Speaker 3: Thank you, Sarah, I appreciate you.

774
00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:48,160
Speaker 2: Thanks again to Fatima for the chat.

775
00:34:48,640 --> 00:34:50,960
Speaker 1: We have to take another break when we return, raise

776
00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:53,480
Speaker 1: your polls for one iconic victory lab.

777
00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:02,320
Speaker 2: Welcome back, slices.

778
00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:03,719
Speaker 1: We love that you're listening, but we want you to

779
00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:05,759
Speaker 1: get in the game every day too, So here's our

780
00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:07,960
Speaker 1: good game play of the day. We told you earlier

781
00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:10,919
Speaker 1: this week how legendary cross country skier Jesse Diggins ended

782
00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:14,080
Speaker 1: her career by winning her fourth World Cup overall season title.

783
00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:17,400
Speaker 1: But it's worth watching her last ever lap for yourself.

784
00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:20,239
Speaker 1: The US Ski team posted a video on Instagram showing

785
00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:22,560
Speaker 1: the ski community raising their ski poles in the air

786
00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:25,400
Speaker 1: as Diggins goes by. It's just a super fun and

787
00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:28,760
Speaker 1: touching sign of respect. Diggins got emotional in an interview

788
00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:31,760
Speaker 1: with NBC, sharing her big feelings as she said goodbye

789
00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:34,040
Speaker 1: to the sport and talking about the moment she was

790
00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:35,440
Speaker 1: honored by her fellow skiers.

791
00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:39,279
Speaker 2: We'll link to both videos in the show notes. Also Slices.

792
00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:42,080
Speaker 1: With the return of the W comes the return of

793
00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:47,239
Speaker 1: a particular brand of tea Who's Dating Who? And some

794
00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:51,920
Speaker 1: internet slooths spotted Dja Carrington and Jackie Young posting almost

795
00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:54,320
Speaker 1: the exact same photo from a high rise overlooking a

796
00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:56,160
Speaker 1: river with a sunset in the background.

797
00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:57,000
Speaker 2: Boat going by.

798
00:35:57,760 --> 00:35:59,719
Speaker 1: Slices, I'm gonna need you all that dive into those

799
00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:02,000
Speaker 1: mess boards and get us the deats.

800
00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:06,440
Speaker 2: Is Jackie really dating her teammate Melissa Smith's X the

801
00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:09,279
Speaker 2: drama God. I'm so glad the W's back.

802
00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:11,360
Speaker 1: We always love to hear from you, so hit us

803
00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:14,520
Speaker 1: up on email good game at wondermedianetwork dot com or

804
00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:16,799
Speaker 1: leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two oh

805
00:36:16,880 --> 00:36:20,920
Speaker 1: four fifty seventy and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review, y'all.

806
00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:25,320
Speaker 1: It's so easy. Watch the Women's Pro Baseball League linking

807
00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:28,680
Speaker 1: up with the Boston Red Sox rating seventy two out

808
00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:32,359
Speaker 1: of seventy two years in the making. Review players from

809
00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:34,440
Speaker 1: each of the four teams in the new Women's Pro

810
00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:37,000
Speaker 1: Baseball League spent a few days last week at Boston

811
00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:40,040
Speaker 1: Red Sox spring training camp in Fort Myers, Florida. They

812
00:36:40,080 --> 00:36:43,800
Speaker 1: trained alongside former MLB players, working on skills, building strength,

813
00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:46,320
Speaker 1: and getting to know each other head of the wpbl's

814
00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:51,600
Speaker 1: historic inaugural season, launching August first, the first Women's Professional

815
00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:55,760
Speaker 1: Baseball League play in seventy two years. Down in Florida,

816
00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:59,000
Speaker 1: there was practice, an inter squad scrimmage, and a WPBL

817
00:36:59,080 --> 00:37:01,759
Speaker 1: FanFest during theirsday night Socks game. It was all part

818
00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:05,120
Speaker 1: of the WPBL Countdown Tour event, and the league promises

819
00:37:05,160 --> 00:37:08,080
Speaker 1: several more cities and stops for the Countdown Tour leading

820
00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:11,160
Speaker 1: up to the season. Now it's your turn, y'all, Rate

821
00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:15,560
Speaker 1: and Review, Thanks for listening, See you tomorrow. Good game, Fatima,

822
00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:20,400
Speaker 1: good game, Mikayla Schiffrin, you, Jesse Diggins for making us cry.

823
00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:25,520
Speaker 1: But also you know, good game, good career, good life.

824
00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:29,960
Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports

825
00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:33,120
Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You

826
00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:36,080
Speaker 1: can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or

827
00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:37,560
Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts.

828
00:37:37,760 --> 00:37:41,080
Speaker 2: Production by Wonder Media Network. Our producers are alex Azzi

829
00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:42,120
Speaker 2: and Bianca Hillier.

830
00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:45,840
Speaker 1: Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan

831
00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:48,920
Speaker 1: and Emily Rudder. Our editors are Emily Rudder, Lucy Jones,

832
00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:52,759
Speaker 1: Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer. Production assistants from Avery Loftus

833
00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:54,480
Speaker 1: and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain