1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,239 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're cleaning 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: bird shit out of our eye and remembering well, life 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 1: comes at you fast. It's Monday, May twelfth, and truly 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: shout out to that bird yesterday that shipped directly into 5 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: my eyeball. That's got to be double the good luck. No. 6 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: On today's show, we'll be continuing with the shoot around 7 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 1: our team by team WNBA season preview, getting you slices 8 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: ready for tip off with all the stars, steaks, stats 9 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: and stories, a little history, a little lore, a little gossip, 10 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,639 Speaker 1: and a little more. Today we're info dumping on my 11 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,919 Speaker 1: Chicago Sky and producer Mish's Washington Mystics. So break out 12 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: your note, Pats. It's all coming up right after this 13 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: Welcome back, Happy Monday. Before we get to the Sky 14 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: and the Mystics, here's what you need to know today. 15 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: Let's start with the end and the game. I told 16 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: y'all I was out in La to attend last week 17 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: Angel City FC versus the Utah Royals, and let's talk 18 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: about the good stuff. First, legendary forward Kristin Press scored 19 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: less than thirty seconds after subbing into the second half, 20 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,919 Speaker 1: her first goal at home at Bemo Stadium since tearing 21 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: her ACL in June twenty twenty two, and it was 22 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: in absolute bete. She juked a defender in the box 23 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: and then put the perfect lefty touch on it to 24 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: curl it up and in over Royals keeper Mandy McGlynn. 25 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: Angel City went on to win the game two nothing 26 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: thanks to a goal by Alyssa Thompson in the ninety 27 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: seventh minute, her fourth on the season that ties are 28 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: for third most in the league. The game, like most 29 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: ACFC games, was an incredible game day experience full of celebs, 30 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: including New Los Angeles resident Kelsey Plumb and her La 31 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: Sparks teammate Deerica hamby John Lovett from the Crooked Media Pods, 32 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 1: one of my favors, in particular Pod Save America, Friend 33 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: of the Show, comedian Aaron Foley, team owner Lily Singh, 34 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: and Will Ferrell, who I got to chat with and 35 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: thank for the very meaningful and very powerful doc Will 36 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: and Harper. I also thanked him for as less meaningful 37 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: and less powerful but always entertaining Harry Carey impression. I'm 38 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: a Cubs fan, I couldn't resist. While ACFC got the win, 39 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: the final score was the last thing on most people's 40 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: minds by the end of the game, because fans and 41 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: players alike were waiting for an update on ACFC defender 42 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: Savvy King. She's a twenty year old defender second pick 43 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: in the twenty twenty four NWSL draft by BFC, but 44 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: she's been a starter all season after joining Angel City 45 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: in February. You may have seen this story, but in 46 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: the seventy fourth minute of the game, Savvy King collapsed 47 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 1: on the field. Medical staff raced out to a ten 48 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: tour and immediately I saw them frantically waving their arms 49 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: to the sideline, and then I was terrified as I 50 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: watched this one trainer sprint to the sideline to retrieve 51 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: what appeared to be an AED machine. This is the 52 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: defibrillator device that's used to revive someone who's experiencing sudden 53 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 1: cardiac arrest. Now, King was surrounded by trainers the whole time, 54 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: but at one point we could see one individual who 55 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: look like they were doing CPR and chess compressions on 56 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: her before she was ultimately taken off the field on 57 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: a cart. Now, for the entire ten minutes that she 58 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: was down, the crowd was completely silent, the players from 59 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 1: both teams were visibly emotional. It was really terrifying to 60 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: witness this in person, and it immediately reminded me of 61 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: those awful, awful minutes watching NFL player Damar Hamlin when 62 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: he was revived on the field in twenty twenty two. 63 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,079 Speaker 1: If you remember, he suffered a blow to the chest 64 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: that caused cardiac arrest, and my mind immediately went there. 65 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: I was so glad to see her get put on 66 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: the cart, so glad to hear her taken to the hospital, 67 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: and the NWSL confirmed after the game that she was 68 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: in stable condition at the hospital. Then they issued a 69 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: statement on Saturday saying in part that she'll be undergoing 70 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: more evaluation and that quote league protocols were followed from 71 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: both a medical and game operations perspective. We are grateful 72 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: to the Angel City medical staff as well as to 73 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: local paramedics, who handled this difficult situation seamlessly. As always, 74 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: the NWSL will review and de term and if changes 75 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: to that protocol need to be made end quote yeah, 76 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: I mean shout out to the medics and the trainers 77 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: who acted in that moment with incredible speed and bravery 78 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: and potentially saved her life. I don't know that, we 79 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: don't know exactly what happened, but it certainly seemed like 80 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 1: a very dire situation. After the game, some players and 81 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 1: coaches questioned why the match was allowed to continue, and 82 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: Utah coach Jimmy Kunratz, who has undergone multiple heart surgeries himself, 83 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: said in his postgame press conference quote, in those moments, 84 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: I'm not sure if we should have continued the game. 85 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: You're emotionally, not only them, but also our players were 86 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 1: just scared. That's not the right situation to be in. 87 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: But in the end we played on. That's the decision 88 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 1: other people have taken, which is fine. It was a 89 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 1: really tough moment. End quote. We'll link to a story 90 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: from the Athletic in our show notes that dives into 91 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: the decision to continue the game. In the meantime, we're 92 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: sending all of our best to Savvy King and her 93 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: recovery to hockey. Game three of Minnesota Frost Toronto scepters 94 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: a high scoring affair in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with the 95 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: Frost grabbing this set seven five win and taking a 96 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: two games to one lead in the five game series. 97 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: Two goals apiece for michaela Cova and Brooke mcquig in 98 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: the win for the defending Walter Cup champs. The Frost 99 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 1: had evened the series with the Scepters on Friday Night, 100 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 1: winning five to three behind a monster night from Lee's deckline, 101 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: who had two goals and an assist. Polarizing Frost player Brita. 102 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: Curl Selemi was suspended for that Game two after an 103 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: illegal head check on Toronto's were not a fast in 104 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: Game one. This was Carl Selem's third suspension of the season. 105 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: Interesting note, so one of Carl Selemi's Frost teammates, Taylor Heisei, 106 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: liked a Jackson Jill's Instagram post announcing curl Sleme's suspension 107 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 1: very intriguing. Plenty of others have had thoughts on curl 108 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: Slemi being a repeat offender this season, including Alyssa Turner 109 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: of the Icegarden dot Com, whose opinion column argues that 110 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 1: a one game suspension was not enough. We'll link to 111 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: that story in the show notes. We'll also link to 112 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 1: the league's official explanation video of the punishment. We do 113 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: really appreciate how transparent the PWHL are about these issues 114 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: to the other series, The Ottawa Charge up one game 115 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: to none on the Montreal Victoire heading into Sunday's Game two, 116 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: which turned out to be the longest game in PWHL history, 117 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: Catherine Dubois scoring at fifteen thirty three of the fourth 118 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 1: overtime to lift the Victoire to a three to two 119 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,919 Speaker 1: win and even the series at a game. Apiece and 120 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: Renee Deben made sixty two saves in the win for Montreal. 121 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 1: In fact, Roade Slice Dana Holtbert on Blue Sky quote 122 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: the epic in Quebec took over five and a half 123 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: hours with four overtimes at Sarah, Spain. Please give a 124 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 1: good game to both Debn and Phillips, the goalies in 125 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: this game. End quote done. Good game, Debn, Good game, 126 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 1: Gwyneth Phillips. The series shifts to Ottawa for the next 127 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: two games, with Game three tomorrow night at TD Place. 128 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: Speaking of hockey, Slice, Ava g reached out to ask 129 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 1: why the Athletic and the ESPN app don't have the 130 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:56,359 Speaker 1: PWHL on their scores tab. We've actually mentioned this before. 131 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: ESPN claims adding new leagues to the app is far 132 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: more complicated than one might think, but we are told 133 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: to ask is in so maybe hopefully they're working on 134 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 1: it behind the scenes for next season. Also, the great 135 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: Meg Linahan not just the host of the full Time podcast, 136 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: but also the women's sports lead at the Athletics, so 137 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: I reached out to her and she let me know 138 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: they're pushing for it there too, but she doesn't think 139 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: the site's stats provider currently supports them. In the meantime, 140 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: Alex says you could check out an app called flash Score, 141 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: which has scores for all of the leagues PWHL, WNBA, NWSL, PVF. 142 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: We'll link to it in our show notes. Thanks for 143 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: the question, Ava, and also shout out to your cute 144 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: pup Zuggie. To Volleyball News, the twenty twenty five Pro 145 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: Volleyball Federation season is over and the Orlando Valkyries are champions. 146 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: Orlando beat the India ig Nite three sets to one 147 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: to secure the title and the one million dollars in 148 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: bonus money that came with it. Opposite hitter Britney Abercrombie 149 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: led the way with thirty one of her team seventy 150 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 1: points in those four sets. Also got to give a 151 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: huge shout out to Abercrombie for being named opposite Hitter 152 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: of the Year and PVFMVP on Saturday before the final match, 153 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: both honors well deserved, as Abercrombie set league records with 154 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: four hundred and sixty two kills, forty three point six 155 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: kills per set, twelve hundred and eight attacks, and five 156 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: hundred three points Dominance to Hoops where the New York 157 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 1: Liberty playned the WNBA's last preseason game tonight at Matthew 158 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: Knight Arena on the University of Oregon campus. It'll be 159 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 1: a homecoming for former Ducks niar Aesabili and sabrinian Escu, 160 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: who never really got to say a proper goodbye as 161 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: Nunescu's senior year was interrupted by COVID, no senior night, 162 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: no ncaattorney. So when New York takes on the Toyota 163 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: Antelopes of the Women's Japan Basketball League tonight, it will 164 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: be a chance for the Oregon Faithful to finally give 165 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 1: Sabrina her flowers for an incredible career with the Ducks. 166 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: And she hooked them up too, because she brought her 167 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: Liberty squad to Rennie's Landing a bar on campus on 168 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 1: Saturday night, buying fans beer and hanging out in advance 169 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: of tonight's game. Pretty cool. You can catch that one 170 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 1: live at seven pm Eastern tonight on WNBA League Pass 171 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: for zero dollars and zero cents. More hoops and more 172 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 1: heartbreaking WNBA cuts Ole miss guard forward Madison Scott, drafted 173 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: number fourteen overall by the Dallas Wings, has been waved. 174 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: Also last week, the Indiana Fever waved the number twenty 175 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: overall pick Bree Haul out of South Carolina. Finally in 176 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: hoops more Chicago baby news A baby vander Quiggs. Chicago's 177 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: Sky supercuple Courtney vander Slute and Ali Quigley announced the 178 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: arrival of their little girl, Jana Christine vander Slute Quiggly, 179 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: born on April eighth. Vander Slute returned to the Sky 180 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: this season after two seasons with the Liberty, including winning 181 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: a title with them last year, and Quigley played for 182 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: the Sky from twenty thirteen to twenty twenty two. One 183 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:47,959 Speaker 1: of my favorite sports moments ever was watching vander Slute 184 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: absolutely lose her mind cheering for Quigley in her final 185 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: All Star three point contest in Chicago over All Star Week, 186 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 1: and a couple of years ago, it was her record 187 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: fourth three point contest win, and just watching Courtney go 188 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,559 Speaker 1: was so fun. The sweetest couple. We're so happy for them. 189 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 1: To the Diamond, where college softball conference championships took place 190 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 1: over the weekend, including an unprecedented double champ So bad 191 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: weather in Athens, Georgia resulted in the cancellation of Saturday's 192 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: SEC Softball Championship game between Oklahoma and Texas A and M. 193 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: And because it was deemed a no contest, the Sooners 194 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: and Aggies are co champions of the twenty twenty five 195 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: SEC Softball Tournament, first time they've been co champions since 196 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,839 Speaker 1: it began in nineteen ninety seven. Sunday night, the live 197 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 1: NCAA Tournament selection show took place on ESPN two, and 198 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: the sixty fourteen field is set for the first time 199 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: in program history. Texas A and M was named the 200 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: number one overall seed in the twenty twenty five NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma, 201 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: winners of the last four College World Series, are right 202 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: behind them at number two. In fact, the SEC bost 203 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,200 Speaker 1: seven of the top eight national seeds for the tournament. 204 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: Fourteen of the league's fifteen teams made the Ncuba tournament, 205 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,839 Speaker 1: with only Missouri getting left out. We'll share a link 206 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: to the sixty fourteen field and the schedule in our 207 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: show notes. Want to send out a quick shout out 208 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: to the boss Lady Laura Correnti, founder of Deep Blue 209 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: Sports and Entertainment, who announced she's expecting a baby with 210 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: her husband this November. Kingratz goes out to Laura, We're 211 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: gonna take a quick break when we come back. How's 212 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: my Chicago Sky looking entering the twenty twenty five WNBA season. 213 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: We'll discuss the deets you need to know stick around 214 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: Welcome back Splices. The first of today's pair of previews 215 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 1: is my hometown squad, the Chicago Sky, who finished with 216 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 1: a thirteen and twenty seven record last season, losing Angelries 217 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: to injury in early September and missing the playoffs for 218 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: the first time since twenty eighteen. Here's your need to 219 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 1: know Sky history. Founded in two thousand and five, the 220 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: team played its first season in two thousand and six. 221 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 1: They've made the finals twice, losing to the Phoenix Mercury 222 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,959 Speaker 1: in twenty fourteen and beating the Phoenix Mercury in twenty 223 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,079 Speaker 1: twenty one to capture their first and only title. Great 224 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 1: players in Sky history are plenty, including Candace Dupre, Sylvia Fowls, 225 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: Christy Tolliver, Epiphany Prince, Tischa Pennicero, Ruth Riley, Swin Cash, 226 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: Elena Deladon, and Candace Parker. Colia Copper, who's still active 227 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: in now playing with the Mercury, was Finals MVP when 228 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: the Sky won that title. Twenty twenty five tagline for 229 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: the team, the Sky's the Limit. Let's talk additions and 230 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: losses for this team. They lost Marina Maybury via trade 231 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: midway through last season, and she was responsible for forty 232 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,199 Speaker 1: six percent of their three point attempts before the trade. 233 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 1: They also sent another sharpshooter, Dana Evans, to the Las 234 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 1: Vegas Aces and assign and trade over the off season, 235 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 1: and they chose not to re sign last year's leading 236 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: scorer Kennedy Carter. They did add quite a few contributors, though, 237 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: including bringing back two time WNBA champion, five time All Star, 238 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 1: and seven time WNBA assists leader Courtney Van der Slut, 239 00:12:56,960 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 1: who spent the first twelve seasons of her career in Chicago. 240 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 1: They also added former All Star Kia Nurse and free 241 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: agency as well. Making the Sky Nurses fifth WNBA team. 242 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: She most recently played with the Sparks last season. The 243 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: Sky acquired WNBA champion and two time All Star Ariel Atkins, 244 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: the Washington Mystics leading scorer last season, via trade, same 245 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: with three point threat Rebecca Allen acquired from Connecticut. They 246 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 1: also made a change at coach, hiring new head coach 247 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: Tyler Marsh in November after beloved former Hall of Fame 248 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: player Teresa Weatherspoon effectually known as t Spoon, was fired 249 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: after just one season at the Helm. Marsh spent ten 250 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: years coaching on the men's side before joining the Las 251 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: Vegas Aces for the last three seasons as an assistant, 252 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: helping them to titles in twenty twenty two and twenty 253 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: twenty three. Marsh has also hired former Atlanta Dream head 254 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: coach Tanisha Wright as an assistant coach. Wright was let 255 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:48,320 Speaker 1: go by the Dream at the end of last season. 256 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,079 Speaker 1: Some notable draft picks for the Sky this year include 257 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 1: TCU standout Hayley van Litt at number eleven and Notre 258 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:58,319 Speaker 1: Dames Matty Westbelt at sixteen. The team also took Slovenian 259 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 1: player Aisha Sievka tenth overall, but the nineteen year old 260 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 1: doesn't look like she'll come to the WNBA this season. 261 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: As for the stars on this team, a few shining 262 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: stars alongside the quiet veteran Van der Slute, who's not 263 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: just a fan favorite but also a legendary dime dealer. 264 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: Only eight times has the player averaged at least eight 265 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: assists per game in WNBA history, and she accounts for 266 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: six of those eight. She's quiet, though she does her 267 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 1: work on the court. The biggest star not so quiet, 268 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 1: Angel Reese, the seventh overall pick in the twenty twenty 269 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: four draft. Reese is already a mini mogul after leading 270 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: LSU to its first ever national championship in twenty twenty 271 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: three and averaging the most rebounds per game in SEC 272 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 1: history her senior year. She entered the w with a 273 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: question mark next to her name. Would her game translate? 274 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: And she answered with a resounding yes. We'll get to 275 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: the records that she broke in a minute. She did 276 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: so in style, too, though, as one of the most 277 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: popular players in the league, attending met galas, hosting her 278 00:14:56,920 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: own podcast, and hawking a ton of products from Reese's 279 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 1: pieces to McDonald's Kamilla Cardoso, also a star. A highly 280 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: touted rookie in last year's draft, she was selected third 281 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: overall by the Sky out of South Carolina. She missed 282 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 1: the first six games of last season with the shoulder 283 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: injury and the last two games of the season as well, 284 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 1: but this year hoping for an injury free campaign. Her 285 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: game translated extremely well last season, in part thanks to 286 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: the preparation she did with the game Cocks in three 287 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: years of her college hoops under Don Staley and how 288 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: battle tested she was. She was a big reason the 289 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 1: game Cocks won NCAA titles in twenty twenty two and 290 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four. So what are the stakes for this 291 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: team after missing the postseason last year? Due to the 292 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: talent on this squad, I wouldn't be surprised if fans 293 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: think a championship is attainable this year. As for me, 294 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: I think a lot of things would have to go 295 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 1: right for them to compete with the likes of the 296 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: Liberty and the Lynx. This team's got new pieces that'll 297 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: need some time to mesh, and they need to adjust 298 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: to what expects to be a very different approach under 299 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: new head coach Marsh playoffs are a goal, but I 300 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 1: don't think they're ready to win it all. Let's talk stats, 301 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: because a couple of Sky players filled up the box 302 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 1: score last year, but the team has some pretty big 303 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: statistical holes to fill. First, the good Angel Rees set 304 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: a new WNBA record for consecutive double doubles, notching one 305 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: in fifteen straight games and finishing with twenty six on 306 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 1: the season, the most ever by a rookie. She also 307 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: averaged a league record thirteen point one rebounds per game 308 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 1: and broke the league's single season rebounding record with four 309 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 1: hundred and forty six rebounds before missing the end of 310 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: the season to injury and getting passed by the Aces 311 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: Asia Wilson. Despite missing early games to injury, Reese's classmate, 312 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: Cardoso still came close to averaging a double double in 313 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four. Her nine point eight points were third 314 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: most among rookies and seven point nine rebounds per game 315 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: were second among newcomers, behind only Reese. Also, per her Hoopstats, 316 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: Cardoso was one of just nine players in the league 317 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: last year who averaged at least nine points per game 318 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: and seven rebounds per game while shooting at least fifty 319 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: percent on field goal attempts. Now, remember that good shooting, 320 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 1: because here comes the bad. The Sky attempted a league 321 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: low fourteen point nine threes per game last season and 322 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 1: averaged only four point eight. Makes the next closest team, 323 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 1: the Connecticut Sun, took at least eighteen threes per game, 324 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:13,200 Speaker 1: and the league leading Liberty boasted twenty nine attempts per game, 325 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 1: draining ten plus per game. Now, the additions of Nurse 326 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: Alan and Atkins should help them improve beyond the arc, 327 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: where new coach Marsh has given them the green light 328 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 1: to quote let it fly. Their issues weren't just from 329 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: deep though the team ranked eleventh in field goal percentage, 330 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 1: twelfth in restricted area field goal percentage, and dead last 331 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 1: in free throw percentage. Their dominance on the offensive boards 332 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:39,439 Speaker 1: gave them second and third chances, but they need to 333 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 1: tighten things up when it comes to their shooting. Now. 334 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 1: I know what some of you are thinking, are all 335 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 1: those numbers due to Angel Reese struggling to finish inside? No, 336 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 1: but that's certainly part of it. Reese committed to working 337 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 1: on her layups over the offseason, working with Lisa Leslie 338 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: Wilett unrivaled, and she should also benefit from a much 339 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 1: better offense, hopefully less clogged, less predictable, less dependent on 340 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: her to make things happen inside since defenders will hopefully 341 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: need to respect the perimeter guards this year. Now, with 342 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: Angel Reese on your squad, you're never short of stories. 343 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:14,679 Speaker 1: Beyond the constant media battles debating Angel versus Caitlin, Beyond 344 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: the content creation and headline generating she did with her 345 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 1: podcast and her endorsements. Beyond the nearly five million followers 346 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 1: on Instagram alone, Angel also sold tickets and put butts 347 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: in seats. Last year, Producer Misch went to the Washington 348 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: Mystic Chicago Sky game. They got moved to Capitol One Arena, 349 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 1: a twenty thousand plus seat venue, and when Reese was 350 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 1: announced in the starting lineup, the screams were deafening. Cardoso 351 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: came off the bench in that game and during the 352 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,680 Speaker 1: dead ball she got more of the same. Both players 353 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: carried over huge fan bases from college, and that makes 354 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 1: sense considering the national championships they each brought to their schools. 355 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: You also got van der Slute returning not only to 356 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 1: a team that she won a championship with, but a 357 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: team that she used to plan with her wife, who 358 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: I mentioned earlier in the show, Ali Quigley, who was 359 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 1: a knocked down three point shooter. Now Quigley has sat 360 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: out the last two WNBA seasons, and as I mentioned, 361 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: they've got a new baby to care for. But for 362 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: my hoops and gay shit lovers, she's technically not officially retired, 363 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 1: so you'd never know. Fun fact about the Sky. They 364 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:20,360 Speaker 1: finally dumped their lay mass excuse for a mascot, Sky Guy, 365 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 1: near the end of last season, and introduced Sky the Lioness, 366 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: sort of an Ellie the Elephant disciple. She was built 367 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: by the same mascot designer now. Naming her Sky with 368 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: an E at the end, which makes it tough to 369 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: distinguish when you're talking whether you're talking about the team 370 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: or the mascot was a choice. Also, no one knows 371 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,159 Speaker 1: why her head is yellow and her body is blue. 372 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: But whatever, Literally, anything is better than Sky Guy, and 373 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 1: I'm going to give Sky the Lioness a year or 374 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: so to really get into her groove. All right, me, 375 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: I know you're sitting in the airport waiting to fly home, 376 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 1: But what did I miss? 377 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 2: I don't want to get you too excited, Okay, but 378 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 2: I think that the sky might be problem this year. 379 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 2: They've got just I know, yeah, I know it hurts 380 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 2: me to say this to you, but they've got an 381 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 2: excellent mix of that rookie sophomore fresh energy and vets 382 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 2: who've been there and done that in different situations. So 383 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 2: there's just no doubt in my mind that they're gonna 384 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 2: come out strong this season. I think angel Rees Camillacardos 385 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 2: so obviously are gonna step their game up on both ends. 386 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 2: But then you add Courtney Vanderslut's ability to orchestrate her 387 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:28,360 Speaker 2: championship experience to the mix. You've got Elizabeth Williams, She's 388 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 2: a steady interior presence, then Rebecca Allen who can shoot 389 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 2: that thing, defensive lockdown capabilities, and then Ariel Atkins the 390 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 2: same great perimeter defender, also a playmaker, also can shoot it. 391 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 2: Rachel Banham can shoot, Hayley Ben Like, there's just up 392 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 2: and down the roster. You got folks who can play 393 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:49,119 Speaker 2: the hell out of their roles. But I'm interested to 394 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 2: see who the go to is gonna be on this 395 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:53,439 Speaker 2: squad though, because there isn't a Kennedy Carter esque player 396 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 2: who can get them a bucket at will in my 397 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:59,400 Speaker 2: humble opinion, but on the flip, that might not matter 398 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 2: as much as it could on other squads because defensively, 399 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 2: long story short, for this guy, they're going to be 400 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 2: really really hard to score on. 401 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I think it almost is like instead of 402 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 3: the certified bucket getter, you have the certified setter upper 403 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 3: in slute where you can make an Angel Reese or 404 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 3: a Camiale or somebody like that be getting the buckets 405 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,440 Speaker 3: and points you need by just setting them up right. 406 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 3: And salute is the master the all time, right. Yeah, 407 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 3: I'm excited. 408 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: I do think I'm curious to see how they use 409 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: Camilla and Angel in a first full season with both healthy. 410 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 1: I think it looks like Camila has gotten in better 411 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:39,120 Speaker 1: shape in the offseason, and if she has a full 412 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 1: season playing, plus the experience from last year getting used 413 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: to the pro game, I think we really are going 414 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,640 Speaker 1: to see a lot more from her, and that inside 415 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 1: out game is going to be really necessary to take 416 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 1: advantage of those two bigs inside. If they don't hit 417 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: from three, which they have not in the past couple 418 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 1: of seasons, it really makes it easy to focus inside. 419 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:00,479 Speaker 1: And that's why I think to your point, those three 420 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: point shooters are going to be huge. All right, We 421 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: got to take another break when we come back. Time 422 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 1: to dive into Mesh's Mystics. All right, slices, let's talk 423 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 1: the Washington Mystics. Mish's team, who finished fourteen to twenty 424 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 1: six last season. Finishing ninth and missing the playoffs actually 425 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 1: a decent mark, considering they started the season oh to twelve, 426 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: the worst start in franchise history. Here's what you need 427 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:36,679 Speaker 1: to know about the Mystics history. The team was one 428 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:38,920 Speaker 1: of the first two expansion teams to join the league 429 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety eight, one year after the original eight 430 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 1: began play, and they share an owner with the MNBA 431 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 1: Washington Wizards. They've made the postseason in thirteen of twenty 432 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,199 Speaker 1: three seasons, reaching the finals for the first time in 433 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen, losing to the Seattle Storm, but winning their 434 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: first and only title the next year over the Connecticut Sun. 435 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:01,119 Speaker 1: Top players in Mystics team history include Shamiqua Holdshaw, Elena Beard, 436 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 1: Crystal Langhorne, Christy Tolliver, and Elena Deladon. The team's twenty 437 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 1: twenty five tag line, come for the Brunch, Suffer through 438 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:13,439 Speaker 1: the basketball. Sorry, Mesh. Let's talk additions and losses and 439 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:15,719 Speaker 1: why I think fans might be more excited about those 440 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 1: bottomless mimosas during the brunch and basketball promo than they 441 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: will be about the team's postseason chances. First, the goodbyes. 442 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: Elena Deladon announced her retirement this offseason after electing to 443 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 1: sit out last year, and the team can now officially 444 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: move on without wondering if she'll ever be able to return. 445 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,640 Speaker 1: The team also traded last year's leading scorer Ariel Atkins 446 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: to the Sky, sent Carly Samuelson to the Links, and 447 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,880 Speaker 1: let shatory Walker Kimberle leave for the Atlanta Dream. After 448 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 1: mutually agreed to part ways with both head coach Eric 449 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,199 Speaker 1: Tebow and general manager Mike Tebow, who had been with 450 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:50,120 Speaker 1: the team for over a decade, they hired longtime college 451 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 1: coach Sidney Johnson and named former WNBA player Jamila Wideman 452 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 1: as the team's new GM. Johnson's experience is mainly in 453 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: men's college basketball, though he was an assistant with Chicago 454 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,959 Speaker 1: last season. The Mystics added some major talent in the draft, 455 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,440 Speaker 1: and number three pick Sonya Citron out of Notre Dame 456 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: and number four pick Kiki Eriafen out of USC. Unfortunately, 457 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 1: number six pick Georgia Amore has already suffered an ACL 458 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,360 Speaker 1: injury in preseason camp and she'll be out for the season. 459 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: Let's talk the stars of this squad. Britney Sykes, the 460 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:23,440 Speaker 1: runner up for Rookie of the Year back in twenty seventeen, 461 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:26,439 Speaker 1: was second in scoring to the departed Atkins last season, 462 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: and in the offseason she helped roseby C win the 463 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: first Unrivaled championship, leading the team in scoring and sinking 464 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: the title winning free throw. Eliah Edwards, a Yukon product 465 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:38,960 Speaker 1: who was selected sixth and last year's draft, also turned 466 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,639 Speaker 1: heads and Unrivaled this offseason, making it to the finals 467 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 1: of the inaugural one v one competition, where she fell 468 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 1: to Champ No Fisa Collier. She could be primed for 469 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 1: a breakout year. The stakes for this team, To quote 470 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: producer mish Lo, this team just doesn't have the firepower 471 00:24:57,880 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: to compete with the best in the league, and they're 472 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 1: going to need time to get youngsters Citron and Eriafen 473 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:06,120 Speaker 1: up to speed. This season is all about growth, figuring 474 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:08,439 Speaker 1: out who to build around for the future, and finding 475 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,160 Speaker 1: their way back into the playoffs. Sooner rather than later. 476 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:14,880 Speaker 1: As for stats, the Mystics have finished seventh or worse 477 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: in offensive rating every season since they won the title 478 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 1: in twenty nineteen, and they slid on defense last year too. 479 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,359 Speaker 1: After leading the league in defensive rating in twenty twenty two, 480 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:27,160 Speaker 1: they dropped to fifth in twenty twenty three and fell 481 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 1: even further down to seventh last season. When they're healthy, 482 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: Psychs and Shakira Austin are effective defenders, so if they 483 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:35,679 Speaker 1: can stay in the game, they'll look to help the 484 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:39,640 Speaker 1: Mystics fix their defensive woes. As for stories and Laura, 485 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 1: on this team, Steph Dolson aka Big Mama Steph can 486 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: be counted on for solid social content, often showing off 487 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:50,000 Speaker 1: her fantastic fits and flaunting her unique fashion sense, and 488 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 1: rookies amor Ereafen and Citron also showed some stylish sides 489 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 1: at the draft, so we'll see if that keeps up 490 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: during the season. Fun fact about the Mystics, Misha's parents 491 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:01,199 Speaker 1: used to take them to Mystics games when she was 492 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: a wee babe, and at one game against the Houston Comets, 493 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: who else but WNBA legend RYL Swoops came over to 494 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: hold infant Mesh. There's a super cute picture of the 495 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 1: two of them on Misha's Insta. We'll link to it 496 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: in our show notes. All right back to airport, Mesh, 497 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:20,400 Speaker 1: What I forget about your squad? Oh? 498 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:22,959 Speaker 2: You didn't forget anything. You didn't forget anything. I am 499 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 2: just these rookies. I was at the WNBA Draft and 500 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 2: when I tell you, I was so free excited to 501 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 2: see them get Kiki Area fen In, Sonya Citron and 502 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 2: Georgia Amore. Of course we're sending our love to her 503 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:39,439 Speaker 2: with a knee injury, but those two, my eyes are 504 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 2: on them. I mean they It's gotta be iron sharpening 505 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 2: iron all over the place in that training camp. 506 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 1: But the two of them could. 507 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:50,240 Speaker 2: Develop into real, true solid pieces that fill in gaps 508 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 2: for DC for Sonia Citron. She's excellent without the ball, 509 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 2: moving off ball. She said as much herself during the preseason, 510 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:01,360 Speaker 2: and that bene fits her as a rookie big time, 511 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,359 Speaker 2: because chances are head coach Sidney Johnson won't be asking 512 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:06,120 Speaker 2: her to be a go to player, not at all. 513 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 2: He'll be asking her to capitalize on the opportunity she 514 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 2: gets off the ball when Britney Sykes or Elia Edwards 515 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:15,160 Speaker 2: or Shakira Austin gets shut down. 516 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 1: And then you add the fact that she can defend. 517 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:19,760 Speaker 2: Extremely well already, which is going to keep her on 518 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:21,119 Speaker 2: the floor and make her reliable. 519 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:23,400 Speaker 1: You could call me crazy. 520 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,159 Speaker 2: All y'all out there could call me crazy, but I 521 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 2: think she could have a sleeper Rookie of the Year campaign. 522 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: I'm saying it right now, and I'm saying it with 523 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: my whole chest. 524 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 2: As for Kiki iriafin with the combination she has of quickness, strength, 525 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 2: and explosiveness her size, she could be another weapon that 526 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 2: gives DC a different kind of dynamic in the post. 527 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 2: I'm curious to see how things shake out for the 528 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,120 Speaker 2: rest of preseason, though, because the Mystics have a lot 529 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 2: of bigs in camp right now. They've got her, Shakira Austin, 530 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 2: as I mentioned, Eliah Edwards, as I mentioned Stephanie Dolson, 531 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 2: and Sika Kone at the time we're recording this, and unfortunately, 532 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:00,760 Speaker 2: as we know, everybody can't make the team, or maybe 533 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 2: they can, you know, maybe they can. 534 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:05,480 Speaker 1: I'm not a GM. I love the enthusiasm that you have. 535 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 1: I'll be rooting for Sonya Stron She's on my fantasy team. 536 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: I'm for the first time playing WNBA fantasy auction draft 537 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 1: style and friend of the show claim Connikin and Aaron 538 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 1: Foley have a team, and then I teamed up with 539 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 1: my friend ty Duncan. Our team name is Skyler's Old Pussy. 540 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:24,800 Speaker 1: If you don't understand that. 541 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 3: Reference, we will link to it in our show notes. 542 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,719 Speaker 1: Good, but Sonya is on our team, so I'm hoping 543 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,960 Speaker 1: that she can go off. I also love that we 544 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 1: got two signature W moments from them. Already. Sonya had 545 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: her Welcome to the W moment getting absolutely flattened by 546 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 1: a screen from Gritney brutt Britney Griner Britney Grinder, although 547 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 1: I like calling her Gritney Briner when she's like extra 548 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 1: gritty Gritney Briner. And then also we already saw Kegy 549 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: like getting in a verbal altercation on the court, so 550 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 1: we know she's ready for the bros. Kiki, she don't 551 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 1: love you, She don't Kiky, don't you love me? We 552 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 1: love that you're listening, but we want you to get 553 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 1: in the game every day too. Like listener CJ, who 554 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: left us this voicemail. 555 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:14,200 Speaker 4: Hey, big Ciris, this is CJ from Atlanta. I appreciate 556 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,360 Speaker 4: y'all doing a spotlight on the Atlantic Dream and all 557 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 4: the WNBA teams right before the season starts. I just 558 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 4: want to say that one of the interesting things about 559 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 4: the Atlanta Dream y'all mentioned the lack of noise around 560 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:27,440 Speaker 4: the Dreams team. It could be because the Dreams play 561 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:30,040 Speaker 4: in one of the smallest arenas in all of professional sports, 562 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 4: with only about three thousand speeks, and that could be 563 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 4: an issue since they're playing outside of the city, and 564 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 4: that impact their revenue and everything else about the team. Honestly, 565 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 4: so we're very intrigued here in Atlanta, here at the 566 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:42,840 Speaker 4: Dream We're going to move to a big arena at 567 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 4: some point. Besides for the Kaling card games. Thanks for 568 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:47,080 Speaker 4: all of y'all do Sears. 569 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 1: You know that's a great point, CJ. And absolutely that 570 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 1: impacts the team's ability to draw revenue so that they 571 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 1: can break through the noise with big activations or marketing campaigns, 572 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: with the kind of things that fans like me might 573 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 1: notice amid the noise the rest of the league. They 574 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 1: are in fact on the hunt for a bigger arena. 575 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 1: So there was a recent interview with front office Sports 576 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:08,800 Speaker 1: and team president Morganshaw Parker said the team is looking 577 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 1: for a new home that would fit about twelve thousand 578 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:14,160 Speaker 1: to fourteen thousand fans, whether that's via a new build 579 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:16,720 Speaker 1: or by partnering with an existing stadium. So we'll link 580 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 1: to that story in our show notes if you want 581 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 1: to check it out. Also want to shout out our 582 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,440 Speaker 1: resident Connecticut Sun correspondent who was back with thoughts on 583 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: our preview of that team, including thoughts on Mish's comments 584 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 1: about the team's arena. Matt Douglass wrote, quote, I heard 585 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 1: what Mesh said about Mohegan being remote. That's a hard 586 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 1: hear and we don't use that word around here. We 587 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:41,520 Speaker 1: prefer scenic surroundings, bucolic and yeah, it's a casino, but 588 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:45,960 Speaker 1: it has great food options too. End quote, Ha, scenic surroundings. 589 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:49,080 Speaker 1: You should be a realtor, Matt. It's not small, it's cozy, 590 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 1: it's not dated, it's charming. Thanks for writing in. We 591 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 1: always love to hear from you. Also hit us up 592 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: on email good game at wondermedianetwork dot com or leave 593 00:30:57,800 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: us a voicemail at eight seven to two two oh 594 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:03,120 Speaker 1: four fifty seventy. Don't forget to subscribe. Rate and Review. 595 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 1: Y'all seriously, go now leave us five stars. Say something nice. 596 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:12,400 Speaker 1: It's easy watch calling Trump's bluff. Rating ten out of 597 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:17,200 Speaker 1: ten review. The Trump administration and the USDA has agreed 598 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 1: to restore federal funding for education programs in the state 599 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:23,200 Speaker 1: of Maine, ending a freeze that stemmed from the President's 600 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 1: stance on transgender athletes. Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins had frozen 601 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 1: funds for nutrition programs in Maine after Trump threatened the 602 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:34,560 Speaker 1: state over their refusal to ban trans athletes from participating 603 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:37,360 Speaker 1: in women's sports. Now, you might remember back in February 604 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:40,360 Speaker 1: when the President threatened main Governor Janet Mills at the 605 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:44,000 Speaker 1: White House, and she responded, quote, we'll see you in court. Well, 606 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:48,080 Speaker 1: after suing the USDA and getting the funds restored, Mills said, 607 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 1: quote I told them I'd see him in court. Well, 608 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 1: we did see him in court and we won. End quote. Yeah, 609 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,040 Speaker 1: Now it's your turn. Rate and Review slcenes. Thanks for listening. 610 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:00,960 Speaker 1: See you tomorrow when we up. You for the Minnesota 611 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:05,480 Speaker 1: Links and the Las Vegas Aces. Good game, Chicago, Good game, Washington, 612 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 1: you bullies, We'll punch back. Good game with Sarah Spain 613 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: is an iHeart Women's Sports production in partnership with Deep 614 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 1: Blue Sports and Entertainment. You could find us on the 615 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:21,840 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 616 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:25,680 Speaker 1: Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are Alex Azzie 617 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:29,880 Speaker 1: and Misha Jones. Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, 618 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:33,440 Speaker 1: Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Our editors are Emily Rutterer, 619 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: Brittany Martinez, Grace Lynch, and Gianna Palmer. Our associate producer 620 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 1: is Lucy Jones and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain