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Speaker 1: Welcome to Naked Sports, the podcast where we live at

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Speaker 1: the intersection of sports, politics, and culture. Our purpose reveal

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Speaker 1: the common threads that bind them all.

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Speaker 2: So what's happening in women's basketball right now is what

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Speaker 2: we've been trying.

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Speaker 3: To get to for almost thirty years.

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Speaker 1: From the stadiums where athletes break barriers and set records,

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Speaker 1: Kamen Quark broke the all time single game assists record.

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Speaker 3: This is crazy for rookies to be doing.

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Speaker 1: To the polls where history is written, and now we

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Speaker 1: have Kamala Harrison. It feels more like women are sort

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Speaker 1: of taking what they've always deserved, as opposed to waiting

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Speaker 1: on somebody to give them what they deserve. Our discussions

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Speaker 1: will uncover the vital connections between these realms and the

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Speaker 1: community we create. In each episode, we'll sit down with athletes,

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Speaker 1: political analysts, and culture critics because at the core of

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Speaker 1: it all, how we see one issue shines the light

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Speaker 1: on all others. Welcome to Naked Sports. I'm your home

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Speaker 1: host carry Champion.

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Speaker 2: My name is Nafisa Collier and I play in Unrivaled

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Speaker 2: and the DUBNBA for the Minnesota Leagues.

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Speaker 1: Listen carefully because Nafisa Collier just casually identified herself with history.

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Speaker 1: Not only is she a player in the WNBA, but

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Speaker 1: she's also part owner, founder, and player in Unrivaled. It's

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Speaker 1: a league built in collaboration with some of the biggest

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Speaker 1: stars in women's basketball Brittany Griner, Skyler Diggins, Angel Rees,

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Speaker 1: and Sabrina Unescue, just to name a few. Unrivaled will

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Speaker 1: start its inaugural season this new year, January twenty twenty five.

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Speaker 1: It's an innovative three on three professional women's basketball league

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Speaker 1: founded by US Olympians Nafisa Collier and Breonna Stewart. The

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Speaker 1: league will feature six teams with six players on each team.

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Speaker 1: It's also setting your record for the highest average salaries

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Speaker 1: in women's sports history. That according to all reports and

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Speaker 1: from Unrivaled as well. All thirty six initial players will

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Speaker 1: receive equity ownership. Well. According to a senior Administration official,

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Speaker 1: Britney Rener is free after two hundred and ninety four

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Speaker 1: days in Russian captivity. Britney Griner's captivity in Russia highlighted

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Speaker 1: the inequities and professional women's basketball, a few of the

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Speaker 1: main concerns since its inception in nineteen ninety seven. Women's salary,

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Speaker 1: women who must play overseas to make a better living

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Speaker 1: and create a solid future for after basketball. So Unrivaled

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Speaker 1: will attempt to be a solution for all of these problems.

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Speaker 1: I had an opportunity to catch up just before the

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Speaker 1: holidays and again a month away from the season start.

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Speaker 1: So Unrivaled three on three basketball starts in January. It's

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Speaker 1: inaugural season. Please talk to me about what three on

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Speaker 1: three basketball is, just the basics. We normally know what

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Speaker 1: we see in the WNBA. What is three on three basketball?

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Speaker 2: So for our three on three basketball, we actually have

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Speaker 2: two baskets, just like normal five on five, and we

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Speaker 2: wanted to like, it's going to be exactly like five

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Speaker 2: on five, the same rules as the WNBA, but we

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Speaker 2: wanted to give more space to the players because the

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Speaker 2: premise is we have the best players in the world here.

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Speaker 2: And so I've heard the WNBA a lot of times

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Speaker 2: be compared to like the NBA of the eighties just

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Speaker 2: really bogged down the paint, really physical, and so we

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Speaker 2: took two people from each team off, so it's three

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Speaker 2: on three and it just gives you more space to

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Speaker 2: create more space to see these amazing players' skills a

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Speaker 2: little bit faster paced. So I think it's gonna be

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Speaker 2: like highly entertaining for many reasons, because it's gonna be

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Speaker 2: really fast, and because you get to see all these

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Speaker 2: amazing players.

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Speaker 1: Now, when you say amazing players, it was almost as

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Speaker 1: if when you had announced that this league was coming unrivaled,

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Speaker 1: can you tell me the inception, Like where was this

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Speaker 1: idea born and how did it come to life?

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Speaker 2: I think just like being in the league for several

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Speaker 2: years at that point, you kind of just see what

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Speaker 2: is working really well and where the holes are. And

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Speaker 2: I think one of them was you know a lot

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Speaker 2: of players are having to go overseas and so you're

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Speaker 2: seeing like a lot of injuries through that, you see

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Speaker 2: people missing time at home for the holidays and with

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Speaker 2: their families.

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Speaker 3: And a huge one is we make most of our money.

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Speaker 2: A lot of people don't know this off the court,

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Speaker 2: like we make the least amount of money almost on

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Speaker 2: the court, and so brand building is the most important

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Speaker 2: aspect of our job. You have to be able to

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Speaker 2: build your brand in order to activate with you know,

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Speaker 2: if you want to get like a deal with Nike

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Speaker 2: or with you know, a drink or whatever, it is,

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Speaker 2: and when you go overseas, you kind of go dark

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Speaker 2: for six months, you're not able to activate with brands,

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Speaker 2: you're not able to grow your own brand, and so

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Speaker 2: kind of through all that we came up with unrivaled.

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Speaker 2: And then another huge thing is the sport is just

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Speaker 2: absolutely exploding. I think that was really apparent this year.

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Speaker 2: We have been in the works for two and a

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Speaker 2: half years now, so we just kind of came in

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Speaker 2: at the there's just perfect timing for.

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Speaker 3: Us, but you can see it exploding.

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Speaker 2: It feels like everyone except for the people who are

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Speaker 2: putting the products out there, are you know, capitalizing off

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Speaker 2: of that. And so we wanted to create generational wealth

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Speaker 2: for these athletes who are the ones like putting in

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Speaker 2: this work. And so we're super proud that every athlete

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Speaker 2: has equity in the league as well.

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Speaker 1: Everyone involved in this league should be proud. Each player,

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Speaker 1: according to reports, start somewhere between two hundred and two

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Speaker 1: hundred and fifty k, give or take a few thousand.

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Speaker 1: The concept was an idea she and her husband Alex,

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Speaker 1: an entrepreneur and also a well respected trainer in our sport,

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Speaker 1: talked about some time ago.

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Speaker 2: So originally it started with like Alex and I talking

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Speaker 2: at home about it, and then in the very very beginning,

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Speaker 2: we're like, Okay, if we're going to do this, we

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Speaker 2: needed to be the best players because you in order

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Speaker 2: to have a successful product, you have to have the

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Speaker 2: best players. I just really believe that you any league

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Speaker 2: that started, you have to have the best people.

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Speaker 3: So, like, Okay, who's one of the best players in

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Speaker 3: the world.

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Speaker 2: Obviously Stuwie is one of the best players in the world,

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Speaker 2: and so we went to her really early when it

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Speaker 2: was like just in its inception, We're like, we have

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Speaker 2: this idea.

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Speaker 3: Do you want to be a part of it with us?

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Speaker 2: And so, you know, she said yes, and then it

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Speaker 2: started to grow from there where we started to really

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Speaker 2: flush things out and so yeah, that's that's kind of

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Speaker 2: like the beginning of it.

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Speaker 1: That's amazing. That really truly is amazing. And here it is.

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Speaker 1: You have just about every single superstar. There's so many

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Speaker 1: superstars a the WNBA. First of all, let me just

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Speaker 1: not single out just the many that are playing for unrival.

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Speaker 1: You say every single player has equity, how much money

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Speaker 1: or how much equity they have? What is the percentage?

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Speaker 1: Does it vary depending on the player and their contract.

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Speaker 2: It does vary on the player, varies on if you've

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Speaker 2: signed for multiple years. Some people are on one year,

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Speaker 2: some people are on a two or three. So that's

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Speaker 2: kind of how that was based.

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Speaker 1: Okay, all right, So then I if you want to

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Speaker 1: if the concept is to raise generational wealth, can you

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Speaker 1: think of another league that's doing what you all are

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Speaker 1: doing giving the player the actual equity.

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Speaker 3: I don't any leaks.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know if any league that has equity

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Speaker 2: with players that are currently playing.

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Speaker 3: I think you're the only ones.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm i And I mean i'd have to do

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Speaker 1: the research on that, but I'm really cur I am

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Speaker 1: very confused because I'm thinking you all might.

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Speaker 3: Be live golf. Maybe I don't.

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Speaker 1: Know, Yes, yeah, maybe maybe. But you're in rare air

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Speaker 1: and this, this blueprint now has put you in a

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Speaker 1: position where not only are you a quote unquote employee

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Speaker 1: at the WNBA, but now you're a boss with unrivaled

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Speaker 1: How does that transition feel? What have you learned as

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Speaker 1: a player being a player now that you're a boss.

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Speaker 1: And then I'll ask the question in reverse, obviously.

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Speaker 2: I think just I mean, it's a whole different world

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Speaker 2: and you just you don't get it if you're a player.

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Speaker 2: Like the logistics bind everything, I mean, creating a whole

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Speaker 2: entire league, like just everything that goes into you don't

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Speaker 2: know what, you don't know until you get there. We're

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Speaker 2: really fortunate to have like the best of the best.

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Speaker 2: We really were really intentional about going out and getting

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Speaker 2: those people so that we are great in our lanes.

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Speaker 2: You know, we're gonna stay in our lanes. We need

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Speaker 2: to get people who are good in their lanes. We're

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Speaker 2: not trying to be the best everything. We're trying to

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Speaker 2: get people who are the best in their respective fields

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Speaker 2: so that we can make a whole, you know, united

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Speaker 2: best product. And so I think we did a really

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Speaker 2: great job of doing that. But I think what I

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Speaker 2: learned is just the business. You know, as players, you're

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Speaker 2: always asking for more money, and that is our number

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Speaker 2: one goal is to give players more money.

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Speaker 3: But I think just learning the logistics behind it was

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Speaker 3: a lot different.

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Speaker 1: When you say the goal as players is to give

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Speaker 1: more money, and that's all we ever hear, pay these

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Speaker 1: women more money. We want more money. The salary disparity

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Speaker 1: is huge now that you are on the receiving end,

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Speaker 1: of people saying want more money. Do you understand why

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Speaker 1: certain women are excuse me, why the women of the

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Speaker 1: WNBA aren't paid as much as that's still outrageous to you.

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Speaker 3: I think we have a really good business plan.

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Speaker 2: You know, we were able to create our own business

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Speaker 2: model which allows us to pay players as much money.

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Speaker 3: There's a lot of reasons why the w can't. I

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Speaker 3: think we do.

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Speaker 2: We still can get more money in the WNBA, but

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Speaker 2: they are handcuffed by a lot of things, Like you know,

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Speaker 2: the NBA owns a lart I think the majority of

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Speaker 2: the WNBA and just you know, it's been running for

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Speaker 2: a long time in a time where women's sports wasn't

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Speaker 2: as popular. We came in at a time where we

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Speaker 2: could capitalize off of that and we can play pay

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Speaker 2: the players accordingly to what you know, our market value is.

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Speaker 3: So I think our business plan is just really good.

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Speaker 2: And I mean, you know, and I don't have real

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Speaker 2: insight into W's business plan, but I feel really confident

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Speaker 2: in ours.

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Speaker 1: Well. Also, you saw what they did and you were

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Speaker 1: able to do things differently improve on where the lack is.

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Speaker 1: And that's not a disrespectful thing. That's why there's always

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Speaker 1: a first so that you can improve on the second

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Speaker 1: and the third and the fourth. I'm curious as to

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Speaker 1: what the average salary is for each player in unrival.

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Speaker 3: We are really proud of what we've been able to make.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean yeah, I think just really proud, like

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Speaker 2: this is what we wanted. We want to lift the game,

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Speaker 2: and I really think that, you know, high tide lifts

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Speaker 2: all boats. We are here to supplement the WNBA. We

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Speaker 2: by building these players up a build the WNBA and

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Speaker 2: vice versa. When they're built in the w it will

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Speaker 2: build us. Same with overseas. We're seeing people get a

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Speaker 2: lot higher contracts overseas and in other leagues, you know,

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Speaker 2: other off season leagues, the contracts are growing. So I

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Speaker 2: think just the entire market. That's what we're trying to

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Speaker 2: do is lift all, like all areas of our sport.

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Speaker 2: And so I think just that we're super proud to

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Speaker 2: able to have you accomplished that without even playing it.

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Speaker 1: That's a true team approach, that is true. We are

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Speaker 1: a team a response, you are all we all got

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Speaker 1: to we in this together. So it says average Unrivaled

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Speaker 1: salary to twenty two WNBA two fourteen and it's eight weeks. Okay,

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Speaker 1: we got it right here, thank you, all right, eight

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Speaker 1: weeks put it in. We got the researcher on the line. Okay.

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Speaker 1: So so in two months, in two months, because that's

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Speaker 1: eight weeks in two months. My math is amazing. You

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Speaker 1: all are going to be able to give these players

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Speaker 1: their max salary that they would make if they had

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Speaker 1: been a tenured player in the WNBA, according to this

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Speaker 1: new business plan. So what you're proving is that the

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Speaker 1: money is there and available if you create the actual

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Speaker 1: conduit the vehicle to do so. Moving forward, what would

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Speaker 1: you like Unrivaled to be in your greatest wildest dreams?

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Speaker 1: What does unrivaled become?

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Speaker 3: I honestly feel like the sky's a limit, you know.

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Speaker 2: I think when you have the best players behind you,

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Speaker 2: you can do anything. You know, I hope we do expanding,

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Speaker 2: you know, selling off to different cities for different teams.

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Speaker 2: You know, we're traveling, We're going on the road for

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Speaker 2: different tour stops in the next couple of years.

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Speaker 1: When we returned, Defisa talks about the good and the

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Speaker 1: bad growing pains of the WNBA back in a moment,

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Speaker 1: do you mind telling us a little bit about what

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Speaker 1: we are witnessing. I watched you on Sixty Minutes when

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Speaker 1: they were talking about the rise of the WNBA, and

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Speaker 1: you talked about a world that you have lived in

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Speaker 1: in real time when you first got to the league

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Speaker 1: and what it is like now. Tell me, tell me

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Speaker 1: the difference from when you graduated from Yukon and you

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Speaker 1: were a rookie in this league and then how it

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Speaker 1: feels now in terms of travel, respect, notoriety, et cetera.

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Speaker 3: It's way different.

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Speaker 2: And it's crazy to say that because I mean, I

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Speaker 2: came in six years ago. It's not like it's been

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Speaker 2: decades like change usually happened so slowly when.

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Speaker 3: I came in. I mean, of course the w's on

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Speaker 3: the rides every year is on the rise. But I

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Speaker 3: think just with.

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Speaker 2: The explosion of social media in the college game, I

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Speaker 2: really think, honestly, the catalyst was when you know, they

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Speaker 2: put those videos out of the weight room at the

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Speaker 2: Final four and everybody was outraged about how different it

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Speaker 2: was from the men's to the women's. For me, that

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Speaker 2: is when it feels like it exploded, like where everybody

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Speaker 2: started paying attention, not just like diehard fans of women's sports.

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Speaker 3: And then you had the bubble.

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Speaker 2: That happened, which added to that where we were on

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Speaker 2: the only sports on TV, so you had no choice

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Speaker 2: but to watch us. Something we've been saying for years

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Speaker 2: is if you just put us on TV, people will watch.

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Speaker 2: And so we were finally put on TV and we

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Speaker 2: gained a following there, and then you have again the

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Speaker 2: explosion of these people in college where they're bringing their

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Speaker 2: fan bases and it just compiles on and to see that.

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Speaker 3: Happening so so quickly, it's just been so fun.

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Speaker 2: And to be able to like have any part of

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Speaker 2: that at all, to be able to play in that time,

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Speaker 2: it was just like it's just been incredible to watch.

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Speaker 2: And I think it's just so it's so it's just

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Speaker 2: a really cool experience to see something growing that you

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Speaker 2: feel really passionate about, like coming to life and everything

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Speaker 2: that people who.

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Speaker 3: Are been in women's sports have been saying.

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Speaker 2: Finally can be like, see, we told you so, we

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Speaker 2: were right, and like that feeling is always great.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, it definitely isn't and I told you so feeling.

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Speaker 1: I was talking to one of the players and I

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Speaker 1: think they when they were playing the Liberty. She was

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Speaker 1: saying the difference between the hotel they would have had

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Speaker 1: two years ago versus the hotel they have now when

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Speaker 1: they come to New York is night and day, and

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Speaker 1: the theater.

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Speaker 3: We are playing in and now we're there at Barclays, Like.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, like you literally the beginning of what they had

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Speaker 1: for at the Liberty and here you are packed out

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Speaker 1: in Barclays arguably better games than the Nets, not even

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Speaker 1: arguably if I'm being honest with you, and you are,

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Speaker 1: you're seeing an entire new fan base. Now. I don't

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Speaker 1: think that this. I think that this has exactly what

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Speaker 1: it takes to last. I don't think some people critics

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Speaker 1: will say, I don't know how long this can last.

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Speaker 1: But I feel as if the maturation process the twenty

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Speaker 1: five plus years is right around when the now NBA

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Speaker 1: started to find its legs and you could see who

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Speaker 1: these players were. It's not necessarily par for part, but

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Speaker 1: it is very similar that it does need this transition period.

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Speaker 1: You need that one or two or you need that thing.

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Speaker 1: And you're absolutely right about that video because I think

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Speaker 1: everyone was like, is this what's happening? How unfair? How

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Speaker 1: blatantly unfair? And I always said this about women. When

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Speaker 1: you play basketball, you play it because you love it.

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Speaker 1: You don't do it for the money. You definitely don't

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Speaker 1: do it for the fame, And to see a time

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Speaker 1: now where you guys are doing getting it for those

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Speaker 1: reasons plus just the pure love. Do you still think

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Speaker 1: you'd still play this game until you couldn't play anymore

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Speaker 1: if you didn't have this type of access in terms

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Speaker 1: of new resources and new money.

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Speaker 3: Absolutely, I mean sports are just a part of me,

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Speaker 3: you know.

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Speaker 2: It's just like in my DNA and I honestly I

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Speaker 2: still don't play for those things. Like, yes, obviously it's

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Speaker 2: really nice that you don't have to play overseas or

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Speaker 2: do other things in order to be able to do

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Speaker 2: this thing that you love. But like, how how fortunate

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Speaker 2: are we that we do get to play something that

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Speaker 2: we love? And when I'm done playing, there are very

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Speaker 2: few games that I'll actually remember, but I'm always gonna

329
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Speaker 2: remember the bonds that I've made with these people that

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Speaker 2: I've played with. I mean, several girls that I went

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Speaker 2: to college with were bridesmaids in my wedding. You know,

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Speaker 2: people on my link seeing were bridesmaids in my wedding.

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Speaker 2: Just the relationships that you form with people, the experiences

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Speaker 2: that you get the different countries, have been able to

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Speaker 2: go to the different people from all different cultures and backgrounds,

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Speaker 2: and you know, everything that.

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Speaker 3: I've gotten through the sport. I didn't do that for

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Speaker 3: money or fame.

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Speaker 2: I did it for the experience and because I love

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Speaker 2: playing basketball, So I absolutely it'd still I would still

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Speaker 2: play even if you know it wasn't growing the way

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Speaker 2: it is now.

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Speaker 1: So of course with all the growing pains, there are adjustments.

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Speaker 1: Piece of shares what could be the next trend in

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Speaker 1: college sports, We'll be right back. So if you are

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Speaker 1: familiar with college sports, you know that NIL has changed

347
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Speaker 1: the game. Women specifically in college sports, make more money

348
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Speaker 1: than women in the pros and that could change the

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Speaker 1: dynamic of the league and years to come. Do you

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Speaker 1: ever fear that it will change? And by fear, I

351
00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,600
Speaker 1: mean not in a bad way, but like the motives

352
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Speaker 1: for why some of the women play the sport will change.

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Speaker 1: Do you feel like that's on the horizon.

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Speaker 2: No, I honestly fear more for college than I do

355
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Speaker 2: for professional sports, because like professional sports, I think that's

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Speaker 2: the nature of the game, like you are playing for money,

357
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Speaker 2: but in college I feel like NIL is taking that away,

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Speaker 2: Like I think college just takes one of the times

359
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Speaker 2: where you're supposed to, you know, find who you are

360
00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:57,280
Speaker 2: in experience life, and create that fond with.

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Speaker 3: People that you're playing for for four years.

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Speaker 2: I think turning that into a professional sport by having

363
00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,680
Speaker 2: people like sign one year contracts with NIL, I think

364
00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:08,080
Speaker 2: I'm a little bit sad about that for them, and

365
00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:09,120
Speaker 2: I also such a great thing.

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Speaker 3: I just think they need to hone it in. But

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Speaker 3: I'm not really worried about the professional game as much.

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Speaker 1: It's interesting you bring that up because we've been saying

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Speaker 1: that it's definitely the wild wild West. We're starting to

370
00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:22,200
Speaker 1: see players sue certain schools for not giving them the money,

371
00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:24,919
Speaker 1: or certain you know, entities that are not giving them

372
00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,560
Speaker 1: the money they promised, or just refusing to play it is.

373
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Speaker 1: It's becoming a different it's a different world. This is

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Speaker 1: why you see different coaches leaving. You come from royalty

375
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Speaker 1: when it comes to college basketball, more specifically women's college

376
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Speaker 1: basketball at Yukon. Do you feel it's interesting to me

377
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Speaker 1: because I don't hear so much about NIL and the

378
00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:49,399
Speaker 1: money at Yukon like I do at other programs. Is

379
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Speaker 1: it because of the respect that people have for Junium

380
00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,960
Speaker 1: and that program or is that not something you believe

381
00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:58,960
Speaker 1: he adheres too because he's still very much an old

382
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Speaker 1: school coach.

383
00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:02,040
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it's both.

384
00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:05,000
Speaker 2: I mean he they're in a position where they've built

385
00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:07,840
Speaker 2: up the name of Yukon for forty years. We're just

386
00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:13,280
Speaker 2: the forty year you know, anniversary, and so people you.

387
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Speaker 3: Don't go there for the money.

388
00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:16,760
Speaker 2: You go there because it's Yukon, you know, and you

389
00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,320
Speaker 2: go there to play for those coaches. So I think

390
00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,480
Speaker 2: that hasn't like maintained its integrity a little bit. And

391
00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,679
Speaker 2: I'm sure there's other programs like that too, but you know,

392
00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:27,880
Speaker 2: when you it's a new program and you got new

393
00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,760
Speaker 2: coaches and they haven't built that, like you have to

394
00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,639
Speaker 2: bring other things in, which now is money and whatever

395
00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:37,520
Speaker 2: else it is. So yeah, I think coaches, I think,

396
00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:39,760
Speaker 2: And he'sn't like you said, he's old school. You know,

397
00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,040
Speaker 2: we weren't allowed to like our fingernails or have colored

398
00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,000
Speaker 2: hair like that when I was there. Like, they do

399
00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:46,480
Speaker 2: things a certain way and it's worked for them for

400
00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:49,240
Speaker 2: a really long time. And they recruit a certain player. Also,

401
00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:50,800
Speaker 2: they're not going to try to get a player that's

402
00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,520
Speaker 2: asking them for all this money, because that's not the way.

403
00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:54,040
Speaker 3: They do it there.

404
00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:56,600
Speaker 1: Yeah, they want you to do it for the love

405
00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,520
Speaker 1: in IL is going to be really interesting. I do believe, though,

406
00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:02,560
Speaker 1: to your point earlier about the fan bases that are

407
00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:06,639
Speaker 1: following these players. We saw what happened with Kaitlyn Clark,

408
00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:08,840
Speaker 1: we saw what happened with Angel Reese. Their fan bases

409
00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:13,560
Speaker 1: followed them to the league. And I think that most recently,

410
00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,359
Speaker 1: and you were asked about this in that sixty minute special,

411
00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:19,720
Speaker 1: most recently, Kitlyn Clark had acknowledged her what she calls

412
00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,800
Speaker 1: her white privilege and how she wanted to make sure

413
00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:25,159
Speaker 1: that she acknowledged all of the players who built this

414
00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,280
Speaker 1: league before she came, and there was a lot of

415
00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,960
Speaker 1: pushback Caitlyn Clark. Do you feel is one of the

416
00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:35,199
Speaker 1: main reasons why people are paying attention to college mean,

417
00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:37,320
Speaker 1: excuse me, to women's basketball now?

418
00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,680
Speaker 2: Yeah, And I don't think that should be something that's debated.

419
00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,119
Speaker 2: Like she did bring in a really big fan base.

420
00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:47,160
Speaker 2: I think the argument comes in when people are saying,

421
00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:49,800
Speaker 2: like she is the WNBA or she built the DUBNBA.

422
00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:51,920
Speaker 3: Well, that's not true. We've had it for a really

423
00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:52,360
Speaker 3: long time.

424
00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,040
Speaker 2: You've had amazing like Hall of Fame players that have

425
00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:56,400
Speaker 2: built this every step of the way.

426
00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:58,359
Speaker 3: We've never had an explosion like this.

427
00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,480
Speaker 2: We've never had the exposure like this, like just the

428
00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:02,680
Speaker 2: access to the players.

429
00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:04,639
Speaker 3: It's never more than it is now.

430
00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:07,160
Speaker 2: And so you weren't able to see these amazing players

431
00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,159
Speaker 2: that are long retired, you know, who have built it

432
00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,480
Speaker 2: before then, and even starts in the league now who

433
00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,760
Speaker 2: were here before this rookie class came in, have built

434
00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:18,560
Speaker 2: this league. And so one hundred percent, they did bring

435
00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,720
Speaker 2: a lot of fans, but also we had a growing

436
00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:25,200
Speaker 2: fan base. But I think you no question they accelerated it.

437
00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,440
Speaker 2: But I think that they do, Like I don't think

438
00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:29,600
Speaker 2: that's something that should be debated. I think it's pretty

439
00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,760
Speaker 2: obvious if they did accelerated it. But the product was

440
00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:34,959
Speaker 2: already there. I think we already had amazing players, and

441
00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:36,959
Speaker 2: that's what you need to do to grow a business.

442
00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:39,000
Speaker 2: You need to add more amazing players, which is what

443
00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:39,400
Speaker 2: we did.

444
00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:44,280
Speaker 1: It's the yes and of it all. Yes, and this

445
00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:46,720
Speaker 1: league was already great. And the reason why she was

446
00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:48,760
Speaker 1: inspired to play in the league is because she saw

447
00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:52,919
Speaker 1: other women play in the league who also happened to

448
00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:55,280
Speaker 1: be black or black women who were killing it, and

449
00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:56,560
Speaker 1: she was like, I want to be able to do this.

450
00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,520
Speaker 1: This is the the issue that I think people have

451
00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,440
Speaker 1: is that the WNBA was such an exclusive club for

452
00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,679
Speaker 1: so long. You know, it felt like a very exclusive

453
00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,159
Speaker 1: group of people with an exclusive club, and you're not

454
00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:12,359
Speaker 1: invited to the party, and if you want to come, great,

455
00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:14,520
Speaker 1: we'll welcome you in. And then all of a sudden,

456
00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:16,920
Speaker 1: all these people got in line and a club got

457
00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:20,280
Speaker 1: real crowded, and then everybody was like, wait a second,

458
00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,359
Speaker 1: you are you in the club now? So I think

459
00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,560
Speaker 1: there's a growing and adjustment period that the league is

460
00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,679
Speaker 1: experiencing right now with its fan base. How would you

461
00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:34,360
Speaker 1: describe this growing and or adjustment period with this new

462
00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:37,720
Speaker 1: fan base and the existing WNBA fans.

463
00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,480
Speaker 2: I think there are definitely growing pains, just like with anything,

464
00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:45,600
Speaker 2: you know, but I think it's good and bad.

465
00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:47,520
Speaker 3: Like there's no room for hate.

466
00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,160
Speaker 2: In our league, no room for you know, like homophobia

467
00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:52,240
Speaker 2: or racism or any of those things.

468
00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:54,880
Speaker 3: But the ignorance. You can't be too mad at people.

469
00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:58,800
Speaker 2: They they're new, Like they're new people and to have

470
00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:00,840
Speaker 2: something grow this is what we been asking for. We

471
00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:02,480
Speaker 2: want more people to watch us. Well, they're not going

472
00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:04,720
Speaker 2: to know everything when they first come in. You know

473
00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:06,480
Speaker 2: they're going to come in for one player, sure, but

474
00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:08,520
Speaker 2: then they fall in love with other players are they

475
00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:10,879
Speaker 2: fall them with love with other teams, and they're learning more.

476
00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:13,399
Speaker 2: When you're new to something, you're not going to know

477
00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,159
Speaker 2: everything about it right away, and that might be frustrating

478
00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:17,919
Speaker 2: for the people who are already here who knew we

479
00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:21,080
Speaker 2: had something great. But we do have something great, and

480
00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:22,640
Speaker 2: we want it to grow. We don't want to keep

481
00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:24,679
Speaker 2: it to ourselves. And so I think that's kind of

482
00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:27,720
Speaker 2: been like the adjustment period. Again, it's a lot different

483
00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,440
Speaker 2: when you get into like the toxicity of some of

484
00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:32,879
Speaker 2: the things that were happening this year, but as far

485
00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,320
Speaker 2: as like the casual fan coming in, and I think

486
00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:37,360
Speaker 2: it's great for the game, the discourse around it. When

487
00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:40,280
Speaker 2: people are arguing, you're still talking about it. You know,

488
00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,200
Speaker 2: whether you love this player, hate this player, you're still

489
00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:46,120
Speaker 2: talking about it. Whoever you're cheering for, whatever it is.

490
00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:48,760
Speaker 2: So I actually think that the casual fan you need

491
00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:49,200
Speaker 2: that in.

492
00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:53,359
Speaker 1: A growing business, you there is nothing And I forgive me,

493
00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,879
Speaker 1: and I hope you understand when I say this rivalry

494
00:22:56,280 --> 00:23:00,199
Speaker 1: competition all the things sports are made of needed, so

495
00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:03,400
Speaker 1: you should be able to have that when people I

496
00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:06,200
Speaker 1: have when we did a series on Caitlin Clark versus

497
00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:09,280
Speaker 1: angel Rees, and it was just about the rivalry and

498
00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:13,080
Speaker 1: why it's so amazing. My hope is that women are

499
00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:18,240
Speaker 1: allowed to compete as athletes period, no gender assigned, but

500
00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:24,040
Speaker 1: just as athletes. I've noticed so much sensitivity around the idea,

501
00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:27,520
Speaker 1: especially coming from new fans, of how women should compete.

502
00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:30,280
Speaker 1: What do you think that expectation is? What do you

503
00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:33,720
Speaker 1: think they're coming to see when women play basketball?

504
00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:36,679
Speaker 2: The new fans who thinks that we are that are

505
00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:38,840
Speaker 2: too sensitive, Oh because they're so physical?

506
00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:40,240
Speaker 1: Correct? No?

507
00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:41,320
Speaker 3: I mean maybe it's.

508
00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,320
Speaker 2: Just like a social bias that women aren't physical and

509
00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:47,240
Speaker 2: we should be like danty and stuff. But it's hard

510
00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:49,760
Speaker 2: for me because I've been in sports my whole life,

511
00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:52,320
Speaker 2: so I've never seen that, you know, like I've only

512
00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,679
Speaker 2: ever been aggressive, but I've only ever been around aggressive people,

513
00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:58,280
Speaker 2: So it's kind of hard for me to like see

514
00:23:58,320 --> 00:23:59,399
Speaker 2: the side they're coming from.

515
00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,560
Speaker 3: But I hope they know now, like where about choke,

516
00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:05,960
Speaker 3: like find the death to win? We are competitors.

517
00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,000
Speaker 2: It doesn't matter our gender, like we want to win,

518
00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:10,639
Speaker 2: just like anybody who's competitive. We're out there too for

519
00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:12,399
Speaker 2: a common goal with our teammates and we're going to

520
00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:13,800
Speaker 2: do whatever canada or achieve it.

521
00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,119
Speaker 1: I think it's bizarre because they're like, wait, they're so

522
00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,240
Speaker 1: physical with how they're playing, and I'm like, wait, do

523
00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:22,440
Speaker 1: you say that when you watch the NBA?

524
00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:24,159
Speaker 3: I think you know what it is. The NBA is

525
00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:28,160
Speaker 3: not that physical. We are anymore. So, Yeah, you're only

526
00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:28,960
Speaker 3: used to watching that.

527
00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,240
Speaker 2: We I think our game is more physical, especially in

528
00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,159
Speaker 2: the first half of this WNBA season.

529
00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,040
Speaker 3: There's like a technical every game. We were throwing punches

530
00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:36,600
Speaker 3: every game.

531
00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:39,320
Speaker 1: Wait, so listen, do you you think women are more

532
00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:40,040
Speaker 1: physical than men?

533
00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:40,560
Speaker 3: Really?

534
00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:41,159
Speaker 2: Is it?

535
00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,560
Speaker 1: Because it is? And well is there any assignment to that?

536
00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,040
Speaker 1: Why is that? Why is the woman's game more physical

537
00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:47,720
Speaker 1: in the men's game?

538
00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,879
Speaker 3: In your opinion, I think they're refereeing. They were like

539
00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:51,720
Speaker 3: letting us.

540
00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:54,880
Speaker 2: And again, when you put like a bunch of competitive

541
00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:57,159
Speaker 2: people around, emotions are so high. When you're playing, you're

542
00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:00,240
Speaker 2: physically and mentally exhausted, you know, and people are push

543
00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,439
Speaker 2: you the whole time. You're gonna get testy. And if

544
00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,640
Speaker 2: you're allowed to be like that, it's going to escalate.

545
00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:07,800
Speaker 2: So it's the referees job to keep that under the control.

546
00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,359
Speaker 2: And that's why I was saying, we've been compared to

547
00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:12,280
Speaker 2: the NBA of the eighties a lot. Especially have you

548
00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:16,080
Speaker 2: seen the Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance where they're

549
00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:17,720
Speaker 2: just like tackling.

550
00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:18,360
Speaker 3: Him mad air.

551
00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:22,720
Speaker 2: You know, we're not doing that, but the referees allowed that,

552
00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:25,040
Speaker 2: and so it was that's what happened. And then they

553
00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:26,760
Speaker 2: cleaned up the game. And you know, now it's like

554
00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,320
Speaker 2: TIGGI Tech foules whole time in the NBA, but we're

555
00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:31,320
Speaker 2: still allowed to be more physical, and so that's what

556
00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:32,280
Speaker 2: that's what we are.

557
00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:36,000
Speaker 1: And and I do believe that makes the game more

558
00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:39,120
Speaker 1: exciting because people will tell you that the the NBA,

559
00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:41,280
Speaker 1: obviously the bad boy Pistons that you refer to when

560
00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:44,720
Speaker 1: they were beating up Michael Jordan, the NBA of yesteryear

561
00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:47,720
Speaker 1: is considered you know, let some let anybody tell you

562
00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:49,760
Speaker 1: those are the good times. Charles Barkley, you have many

563
00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:51,760
Speaker 1: fights that we've seen him in, and I mean literally

564
00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:55,320
Speaker 1: physical fights, like two piece in a biscuit fights, And

565
00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:57,760
Speaker 1: I just used to be like, that's not happening. You're

566
00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:00,520
Speaker 1: absolutely right. That's not happening in the NBA, are you.

567
00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,359
Speaker 1: I always reference when they talk about Caitlin Clark being

568
00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:05,719
Speaker 1: physically pushed around our reference. Do you remember the Do

569
00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:08,640
Speaker 1: you remember the canvas Parker her rookie years? You remember that? Yeah?

570
00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:10,200
Speaker 3: You remember people?

571
00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,600
Speaker 2: She was Pearson, she was my assistant coach when I

572
00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:15,840
Speaker 2: first came into the Links.

573
00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:19,560
Speaker 1: Oh do you know that? Like they there was no

574
00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:23,359
Speaker 1: love lost like and it was very clear and in

575
00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,400
Speaker 1: my mind, I think people appreciate that and want to

576
00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:29,480
Speaker 1: see that. So if you're telling me that the w

577
00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:31,800
Speaker 1: NBA is more physical, which I'm just blown away by

578
00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:33,639
Speaker 1: right now, because now that you think about it, that

579
00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,399
Speaker 1: makes it. It makes it so, It makes it so

580
00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:39,000
Speaker 1: clear why people are so sensitive. Do you think that

581
00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:42,240
Speaker 1: the referees will change in this coming season because of

582
00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:44,040
Speaker 1: all the new fans and all the attention that you

583
00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:46,800
Speaker 1: all received this past season. Do you think the officiating

584
00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:48,000
Speaker 1: will change.

585
00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:51,560
Speaker 3: Grassing the wrong person? I hope the entire officiating crew changes.

586
00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:56,840
Speaker 3: Grassing the wrong girl, Carrie. I hope yes.

587
00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:00,879
Speaker 1: Vote can tell me why I see the right person.

588
00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:02,440
Speaker 1: I'm glad. That's honest, that's fair.

589
00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:05,480
Speaker 2: I think everyone across the board, no matter which team

590
00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:07,480
Speaker 2: you played for in the WNBA, no matter who you

591
00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:11,640
Speaker 2: were a fan of. Like, the refereing was abysmal this year.

592
00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:16,520
Speaker 2: Like it's really bad. It's just really inconsistent. And whether

593
00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:18,560
Speaker 2: you let us play physically or not physically, I just

594
00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:20,240
Speaker 2: wanted to be consistent throughout the whole game.

595
00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:22,200
Speaker 3: Throughout the whole year would be awesome.

596
00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:24,120
Speaker 2: But if I could just get throughout the whole game,

597
00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,680
Speaker 2: I'll take it. And so you know, I think everybody

598
00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:30,280
Speaker 2: had a complain about that. And with again a growing

599
00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:32,919
Speaker 2: business and we are getting more money, more funding, we're

600
00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:35,120
Speaker 2: like becoming more and more of a top league.

601
00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:39,680
Speaker 3: Is what we want. We have to have consistent, reliable referering,

602
00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:41,679
Speaker 3: and so I hope that that is something that changes.

603
00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,040
Speaker 1: I think I'm asking the right person only because when

604
00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,600
Speaker 1: you played in the finals this year and it was

605
00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:50,080
Speaker 1: the Liberty taking on the Links, and I said this

606
00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:53,120
Speaker 1: to you in person and off camera. You were twenty

607
00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:56,240
Speaker 1: twenty four WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, You received

608
00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,600
Speaker 1: MVP honors after you guys won a Commissioner's Cup. I

609
00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:03,080
Speaker 1: will tell you this was your season, this was your year.

610
00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:06,000
Speaker 1: You and you'll have more. But for those who it

611
00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:08,280
Speaker 1: just came as new fans and people who maybe have

612
00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:11,800
Speaker 1: forgotten you, You has cemented your place as one of

613
00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:15,879
Speaker 1: the greats. And when you all played in that finals game,

614
00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:21,320
Speaker 1: many people afterwards criticize the officiating. Your coach did not

615
00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:23,800
Speaker 1: hold back and she was like, I'm taking this out.

616
00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:27,000
Speaker 1: I do not care. This was unfair and I'm and

617
00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:30,200
Speaker 1: you all were sitting there like yes, go and yeah

618
00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:34,280
Speaker 1: tell her, and I want I want to know how

619
00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:36,640
Speaker 1: does because I'm not a professional athlete, how does one

620
00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:40,440
Speaker 1: walk away from a loss like that without feeling How

621
00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:41,800
Speaker 1: long does it take to get over that? Or do

622
00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:42,840
Speaker 1: you ever get over that?

623
00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:45,920
Speaker 3: I think it's definitely something that will stay with me forever.

624
00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:49,479
Speaker 2: But I think just like not letting it, you know,

625
00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:52,480
Speaker 2: impact you for the next year as in a bad way,

626
00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:55,160
Speaker 2: I think I should use it as motivation where okay,

627
00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:57,680
Speaker 2: let's not put ourselves in that situation again where the

628
00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:00,160
Speaker 2: game is that close, where is decided by the referees,

629
00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:02,720
Speaker 2: like thanks yields one by twenty, you know, where there's

630
00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:05,200
Speaker 2: nothing that can happen with the referees. So I think

631
00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:07,360
Speaker 2: it just gives you motivation in that way to come

632
00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:09,640
Speaker 2: back even better. And so that you're not relying on

633
00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:12,240
Speaker 2: people outside of your team to decide the game.

634
00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:16,320
Speaker 1: That's by the way right at tattoo. Do you see

635
00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:18,200
Speaker 1: why she's good at what she does? Do you see

636
00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,480
Speaker 1: why she's the all around team player? Like she's like,

637
00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:23,120
Speaker 1: let's do this team last, but not least, and I'm

638
00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:25,080
Speaker 1: gonna let you guys you get ready to finish up

639
00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:28,600
Speaker 1: your holiday shopping and whatnot and your last minute deals.

640
00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:36,440
Speaker 1: Do you feel like the WNBA, more specifically, what you

641
00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:42,320
Speaker 1: are creating will be a place that will ultimately reach

642
00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:48,360
Speaker 1: the level of attention, the lucrativeness. I don't want to

643
00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:50,320
Speaker 1: make sure I get the right words where men and

644
00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:52,960
Speaker 1: women who play the same sport will have equal salaries.

645
00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:55,440
Speaker 1: You ever think there will be a time? I remember

646
00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,160
Speaker 1: Candice Parker tweeting this. She's like, I hope a time comes,

647
00:29:58,280 --> 00:29:59,960
Speaker 1: or I can say I'm turning down thirty four million

648
00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:01,840
Speaker 1: a year. It won't be for me, but maybe for

649
00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:04,360
Speaker 1: my daughter, hopefully when my daughter is playing like she was,

650
00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:06,880
Speaker 1: just like, I hope the time comes. Do you ever

651
00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:11,240
Speaker 1: believe that's that's in the future for the WNBA?

652
00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:11,720
Speaker 3: I do?

653
00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:14,680
Speaker 2: I mean, because I think the demand is there, you know,

654
00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:17,160
Speaker 2: and I think that the way that we play is

655
00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:19,680
Speaker 2: different than men's sports. I also don't really like the

656
00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:22,240
Speaker 2: comparison so much because I think we play a different

657
00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,760
Speaker 2: basketball game than the NBA. I think ours is a

658
00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:27,240
Speaker 2: lot more technical. I think Ours a lot more I

659
00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:29,760
Speaker 2: think just pure to the game of basketball. Their's just

660
00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:32,000
Speaker 2: really fun to watch. They're super athletic, they're dunky all

661
00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:33,640
Speaker 2: over the place. But I think ours is more of

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00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:37,160
Speaker 2: a pure, like just more pure of the sport. And

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00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,320
Speaker 2: so I think you can be a fan of both.

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00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:41,960
Speaker 2: And I think always trying to put us against each other,

665
00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,520
Speaker 2: like you love the NBA or you love the WNBA,

666
00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:47,280
Speaker 2: I think is the wrong approach because it's two different

667
00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:49,320
Speaker 2: forms of basketball. You can still have five on five

668
00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:52,560
Speaker 2: and three on three. It's two different forms of basketball.

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00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:55,200
Speaker 2: And so I do think we'll get there, just because

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00:30:55,240 --> 00:30:57,240
Speaker 2: I think when we start figuring that out, figuring out

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00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:00,680
Speaker 2: what we need to do to market, to write crowds

672
00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:02,760
Speaker 2: and to get people in, to give us the access

673
00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:05,400
Speaker 2: that people are wanting from us, you know, on TV

674
00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:08,880
Speaker 2: and all those things, I think we will get there, hopefully.

675
00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:11,400
Speaker 2: I don't know if it'll be in my lifetime either, playing,

676
00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:13,160
Speaker 2: but I think one day.

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00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:18,080
Speaker 1: We will rival picks off Friday, January seventeenth. Tune in

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00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,400
Speaker 1: on TNT to watch a game, or you can go

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00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:23,400
Speaker 1: check the ladies out. They play in Miami and the

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00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:27,880
Speaker 1: season ends in March. Tickets are available everywhere. Hope you

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00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:32,520
Speaker 1: enjoyed this edition of Naked Huge shout out Tonfisa Collier

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00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:36,720
Speaker 1: and Breonna Stewart for doing something that is quite literally

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00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:40,600
Speaker 1: history making and for the benefit of all the players

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00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:44,320
Speaker 1: and women's professional sports. Good luck with this new adventure

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00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:50,000
Speaker 1: and y'all make sure y'all support Naked Sports. Written and

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00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:53,800
Speaker 1: executive produced by me Carry Champion, produced by Jock VI's

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00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:57,920
Speaker 1: Thomas Sound Design, and mastered by Dwayne Crawford. Associate producer

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00:31:58,120 --> 00:32:01,120
Speaker 1: Olabusayo Shabby. Naked Sports is a part of the Black

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00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:03,200
Speaker 1: Effect podcast network in iHeartMedia