WEBVTT - WNBA Midseason Awards With Sabreena Merchant 0:00:04.760 --> 0:00:08.680 We start off with a classic whatso proby we have? 0:00:09.200 --> 0:00:14.200 I was gonna do more like proud lay Way. Hey, 0:00:15.800 --> 0:00:17.600 what about like the peak of the song. 0:00:17.560 --> 0:00:22.720 Spangle banda and. 0:00:27.600 --> 0:00:29.479 Okay, and were you planning on doing a big riff 0:00:29.520 --> 0:00:39.199 on the end? Okay? I mean we're out of time, 0:00:39.240 --> 0:00:39.879 so get out there. 0:00:44.840 --> 0:00:49.400 Hey, and welcome to No Dunks on Basketball Podcast on 0:00:49.440 --> 0:00:52.760 the Athletic Podcast Network. I'm your host for today, Trey Kirby, 0:00:53.159 --> 0:00:55.480 joined here by Tass Mellice in the classic Factory. We 0:00:55.520 --> 0:00:58.720 got JD behind the boards making the magic happen. No 0:00:58.920 --> 0:01:02.240 skeets today, but we do have a special guest. She's 0:01:02.240 --> 0:01:04.959 a women's basketball staff writer and co host of the 0:01:05.000 --> 0:01:09.640 Athletic Women's Basketball Show, Sabrina Merchant. Sabrina, thanks for coming 0:01:09.680 --> 0:01:11.560 back on No Dunks and talking to us about the w. 0:01:11.640 --> 0:01:12.360 For a little bit here. 0:01:12.920 --> 0:01:13.920 Yeah, thanks for having me. 0:01:13.959 --> 0:01:14.240 Guys. 0:01:14.520 --> 0:01:17.200 We'll get into the nitty gritty here in a little bit. 0:01:17.280 --> 0:01:20.199 But I mean we're halfway through the season. Good one 0:01:20.319 --> 0:01:22.840 so far. It feels like it to me, pretty good, 0:01:22.920 --> 0:01:25.200 pretty good. I think I think everyone's paying attention. We're 0:01:25.240 --> 0:01:28.520 just one. Yeah, yeah, definitely, everybody's paying to attention, paying attention. 0:01:28.520 --> 0:01:30.360 We'll get into that in a little bit as well. 0:01:30.400 --> 0:01:32.920 But there was a big, big time game in the 0:01:33.040 --> 0:01:36.280 w last night between the first place New York Liberty 0:01:36.280 --> 0:01:39.520 second place Connecticut Son tied going into the fourth quarter, 0:01:39.880 --> 0:01:41.920 but the Liberty were just a little bit too much. 0:01:41.959 --> 0:01:44.759 Really great defense, I thought from New York, even without 0:01:44.800 --> 0:01:48.640 reigning MVP Brianna Stewart, another starter bet Naija Laney Hamilton 0:01:48.680 --> 0:01:52.560 missing as well. Thirty points though from Sabrina Ynescut, do 0:01:52.560 --> 0:01:53.760 you have any takeaways from. 0:01:53.680 --> 0:01:56.279 The Liberty beating the Sun for the third time this season. 0:01:57.160 --> 0:01:59.280 I thought it was really strange that Elisa Thomas was 0:01:59.320 --> 0:02:02.080 on a minister restruction. I understand the Olympics are coming up, 0:02:02.120 --> 0:02:04.440 but this is a team that you have based in 0:02:04.480 --> 0:02:06.920 the playoffs before that you haven't managed to beat since 0:02:06.960 --> 0:02:09.840 facing in the playoffs, and to just give up a 0:02:09.919 --> 0:02:12.560 chance to potentially beat them when Brianda Stewart was out, 0:02:12.639 --> 0:02:16.040 when benigelni Hamilton was out, just super super strange that 0:02:16.040 --> 0:02:18.560 Alyssa Thomas wasn't in the game for the last thirteen 0:02:18.560 --> 0:02:21.200 minutes of the game and kind of just took the 0:02:21.680 --> 0:02:23.160 air out of that one by the end of it. 0:02:23.639 --> 0:02:25.760 Yeah, it's an odd time of year because we got 0:02:25.800 --> 0:02:28.400 the All Star break coming up, but like you're saying, 0:02:28.400 --> 0:02:31.520 it's also the Olympic break for all of the w players, 0:02:31.639 --> 0:02:34.560 So Stuart's out resting to be ready for the Olympics. 0:02:34.639 --> 0:02:37.240 Exact same for Alyssa Thomas. This isn't the kind of 0:02:37.280 --> 0:02:40.720 thing you encounter most years and the w having to 0:02:41.080 --> 0:02:44.120 actually rest up and load manage for a complete other 0:02:44.200 --> 0:02:44.840 tournament on. 0:02:44.760 --> 0:02:45.840 The other side of the world. 0:02:45.880 --> 0:02:48.440 But that's how it went down last night, and to me, 0:02:48.480 --> 0:02:51.280 it just kind of looked like the way things go 0:02:51.360 --> 0:02:53.200 for the Liberty and the Sun played out the exact 0:02:53.240 --> 0:02:55.600 same way. The Liberty they make a ton of three pointers. 0:02:55.680 --> 0:02:58.480 The Sun they're not a great three point shooting team, 0:02:58.520 --> 0:03:00.560 and when it comes down to it, you got to 0:03:00.560 --> 0:03:01.160 be able to shoot. 0:03:01.200 --> 0:03:02.079 In twenty twenty. 0:03:01.880 --> 0:03:07.640 Four, Yeah, yeah, I'm back to the threes. Sereno's hot 0:03:07.680 --> 0:03:10.000 six and eleven from three, Although she hinted this past 0:03:10.000 --> 0:03:12.000 weekend that she wasn't going to be in the WNBA 0:03:12.120 --> 0:03:15.240 Three Point Contest, which happens on Friday. We still don't 0:03:15.280 --> 0:03:18.720 have the names, Serena, but I wanted to have it. 0:03:19.160 --> 0:03:20.200 Ask you a two park question. 0:03:20.440 --> 0:03:24.359 Number one, do you think Sabrina will take part on 0:03:24.400 --> 0:03:27.160 Friday in the three point Contest. And two you mentioned 0:03:27.200 --> 0:03:30.519 on WNBA Show How watching her last year in the 0:03:30.520 --> 0:03:32.520 three point Contest, and that performance was one of the 0:03:32.520 --> 0:03:35.320 wildest things you've seen in person, So please give us 0:03:35.320 --> 0:03:37.760 a little taste, little memory of what happened there. 0:03:38.920 --> 0:03:41.080 Yeah, so I think, first of all, she has to 0:03:41.160 --> 0:03:43.040 be in this year's three points. She got she set 0:03:43.080 --> 0:03:46.160 a record last year at thirty seven points in that 0:03:46.200 --> 0:03:48.800 shootout out of a possible forty, and she obviously goes 0:03:48.800 --> 0:03:50.800 on to the NBA All Star Weekend where she has 0:03:50.840 --> 0:03:53.880 the shootout against Steph which is this massive event on 0:03:54.040 --> 0:03:56.440 NBA All Star Saturday night, and for her not to 0:03:56.480 --> 0:03:59.800 defend her title would just be a travesty, frankly, especially 0:03:59.840 --> 0:04:02.920 when and one rookie Kaylyn Clark is right there potentially 0:04:02.960 --> 0:04:05.680 waiting to take it from her. So I think it 0:04:05.680 --> 0:04:07.600 would just be a huge miss for Sabrina not to 0:04:07.640 --> 0:04:09.520 be in it. And it's you know, it's just like 0:04:09.600 --> 0:04:12.400 a minute of shooting, just didn't practice all that much. 0:04:12.480 --> 0:04:15.120 Like clearly, clearly things have been working for Sabrina in 0:04:15.120 --> 0:04:18.040 twenty twenty four. But yeah, going back to twenty twenty 0:04:18.040 --> 0:04:21.640 three was so funny because, uh, you know the michelob 0:04:21.680 --> 0:04:23.880 Alter Arena where the all starking was in Las Vegas 0:04:23.920 --> 0:04:26.640 last year. They were like practicing their graphics ahead of 0:04:26.640 --> 0:04:28.320 time just to make sure everything was ready to go 0:04:28.360 --> 0:04:31.320 for the skills challenge and the shootout, and they had 0:04:31.320 --> 0:04:34.960 Sabrina's name plastered as the winner ahead of time in 0:04:35.040 --> 0:04:37.680 case this happens, we want to be ready to go. 0:04:38.200 --> 0:04:44.800 And then not only does Sabrina you know, what did 0:04:44.839 --> 0:04:46.200 she do any because. 0:04:46.000 --> 0:04:49.119 There's sure you just you just saw it for a second, 0:04:49.120 --> 0:04:51.200 so I had to ask, so go ahead and keep 0:04:51.200 --> 0:04:51.640 on going. 0:04:52.080 --> 0:04:53.919 You kind of forgot how many she had made in 0:04:53.920 --> 0:04:55.880 a row because I think she missed her second shot, 0:04:56.120 --> 0:04:58.200 and so it wasn't like, oh, she like hasn't missed yet. 0:04:58.240 --> 0:04:59.880 But then like you get to the third rack and 0:05:00.040 --> 0:05:01.839 it's like, wait, she made all of those and she 0:05:01.920 --> 0:05:04.640 made the starry ball. Is that what it's called? I 0:05:04.640 --> 0:05:07.279 don't know. Oh yeah, it is the very bright colored 0:05:07.279 --> 0:05:09.280 green ball. You know, that's a little bit deeper, that's 0:05:09.400 --> 0:05:12.360 very much in Sabrina's range. But it's I mean, anytime 0:05:12.400 --> 0:05:15.240 you can get three point legend Ali quickly to say 0:05:15.279 --> 0:05:17.599 like you are the New three point Queen. I will 0:05:17.600 --> 0:05:19.479 not come back to try to challenge you, like, you know, 0:05:19.520 --> 0:05:21.080 you've done something very very cool. 0:05:21.480 --> 0:05:23.800 She has to, she has to this weekend. She said, 0:05:23.880 --> 0:05:26.200 I'm not shooting. Well, maybe it's just not going to 0:05:26.240 --> 0:05:27.560 be for me this year. But then she goes six 0:05:27.560 --> 0:05:29.120 of eleven from three. That's why I included that set 0:05:29.120 --> 0:05:30.880 because now she can't say no, she has to. 0:05:31.040 --> 0:05:32.839 Yeah, exactly, she's on a hot streak right now. But 0:05:32.920 --> 0:05:35.320 thirty seven for forty man, that was, Yeah, that was incredible. 0:05:35.400 --> 0:05:35.840 Last year. 0:05:35.960 --> 0:05:37.520 It was so special that they're like, we got to 0:05:37.520 --> 0:05:40.000 get you in the NBA Three Point Contest and then 0:05:40.040 --> 0:05:42.360 it was the best part of NBA All Star Weekend. 0:05:42.480 --> 0:05:45.800 So hopefully she says yes, Hopefully she defends her title, 0:05:45.839 --> 0:05:46.800 and hopefully. 0:05:46.520 --> 0:05:48.120 Caitlyn Clark goes in it as well, because I think 0:05:48.160 --> 0:05:49.800 everybody would be tuned in to see that. 0:05:49.880 --> 0:05:51.960 I don't know if you saw this from the game 0:05:52.080 --> 0:05:54.400 last night in New York, Sabrina. 0:05:54.480 --> 0:05:55.640 It's the New York Liberty. 0:05:55.720 --> 0:05:58.640 It's an in game, a little bit of entertainment they 0:05:58.640 --> 0:06:01.520 do on the JumboTron and they're talking about how they 0:06:01.680 --> 0:06:03.760 like to put their toilet paper on the whole. Let's 0:06:03.760 --> 0:06:04.359 take a look. 0:06:05.760 --> 0:06:06.960 Because it's driving me crazy. 0:06:07.440 --> 0:06:09.960 It definitely if anyone. 0:06:09.800 --> 0:06:15.880 Puts a favorite own a pray, oh my gosh, over 0:06:16.160 --> 0:06:18.240 come on anything you know under you need to. 0:06:19.920 --> 0:06:22.400 Check in with yourself and see what's going to stop right. 0:06:22.880 --> 0:06:28.640 Probably, Yeah, we're all at ask question because I'm like, hey, 0:06:28.800 --> 0:06:29.640 she's basic to me. 0:06:29.920 --> 0:06:34.479 So he's forty Oh I am me for sure? Yeah, 0:06:34.640 --> 0:06:36.840 and I have no reason for it, and it's oh 0:06:37.240 --> 0:06:42.040 be sure anybody that does it's like any because then 0:06:42.080 --> 0:06:47.160 we take it out play. Yeah, so you just got 0:06:47.200 --> 0:06:48.839 it down because why do you watch your hands on 0:06:48.880 --> 0:06:50.520 the toilet paper and they need why? 0:06:50.640 --> 0:06:50.680 Me? 0:06:51.200 --> 0:06:52.960 So you just pulled out what you need. 0:06:57.800 --> 0:07:00.920 Wow, I can't believe. I can't believe there's so many 0:07:00.920 --> 0:07:01.760 a's exactly. 0:07:01.760 --> 0:07:04.520 I couldn't believe this was so even actually, So two 0:07:04.600 --> 0:07:05.760 questions for you, Sabrina. 0:07:05.880 --> 0:07:07.280 Number one, obviously A or B. 0:07:07.680 --> 0:07:10.480 And number two, is this the kind of division that 0:07:10.520 --> 0:07:13.640 could tear apart the New York liberty? The infighting about 0:07:13.640 --> 0:07:15.280 how people are rolling their toilet paper? 0:07:15.920 --> 0:07:18.560 I think I find myself in the Courtney Vanderslute range 0:07:18.560 --> 0:07:20.400 of its B. But I'm not entirely sure why. It 0:07:20.520 --> 0:07:23.400 just sort of had that that's the way it goes. 0:07:24.760 --> 0:07:26.680 But no, oh my god, Team Chemistry or the New 0:07:26.720 --> 0:07:29.000 York Liberty is just fantastic. I'm surprised I didn't have 0:07:29.080 --> 0:07:31.800 La chime in and with her preferred choice of toilet 0:07:31.840 --> 0:07:34.400 paper arrangement like that seems like a Romsted opportunity to me. 0:07:34.600 --> 0:07:37.240 Okay, So that's a great question because there are some 0:07:37.360 --> 0:07:40.520 serious stars on the New York Liberty and Brianna Stewart, 0:07:40.880 --> 0:07:43.320 a two time MVP, Sabrina Ynescu, one of the biggest 0:07:43.360 --> 0:07:46.360 names in the WNBA, great player John Quell Jones has 0:07:46.400 --> 0:07:49.000 an MVP as well. She's been playing great. But is 0:07:49.040 --> 0:07:51.440 Ellie the biggest star on the team. This is like 0:07:51.480 --> 0:07:53.200 one of the top mascots in sports right now. 0:07:54.400 --> 0:07:57.239 Yeah, it's kind of incredible, right, I Mean, she comes 0:07:57.240 --> 0:07:59.920 out with the head sprung music and the fourth Core 0:08:00.320 --> 0:08:02.880 like does the Ellie Stomp. Everybody's talking about her, even 0:08:02.920 --> 0:08:04.720 people I know who are NBA fans who are only 0:08:04.760 --> 0:08:06.840 really familiar with the Nixon the Nets in New York. 0:08:06.880 --> 0:08:09.840 They know about Ellie. And if I were Stewie or 0:08:09.920 --> 0:08:12.080 sab I would be a little a little wary of 0:08:12.080 --> 0:08:15.080 how much tension now setting Apparently Ellie's doing some some 0:08:15.200 --> 0:08:18.040 clutch babysitting for Brandon Stewart while her kid is running 0:08:18.040 --> 0:08:20.480 out of the court during postgame interviews. So I guess 0:08:20.480 --> 0:08:24.080 that's enough to endear herself to the basketball superstars on 0:08:24.200 --> 0:08:25.239 the New York Liberty. 0:08:25.360 --> 0:08:28.120 Yeah, that's the real big three right there, Stewie, Sab 0:08:28.360 --> 0:08:31.960 and Ellie the elephant unbeatable combo. And it's working well 0:08:31.960 --> 0:08:33.720 for the Liberty right now. They're twenty one and four, 0:08:34.080 --> 0:08:36.840 first place in the WNBA. Like I said, Connecticut Sonner 0:08:36.920 --> 0:08:39.240 right behind them in the standings. Then go Seattle Storm, 0:08:39.480 --> 0:08:43.400 Las Vegas, Aces, and Minnesota Links. These are the top 0:08:43.400 --> 0:08:47.079 five teams in the league right now. Realistically, who has 0:08:47.080 --> 0:08:48.440 a chance at the title this year? 0:08:49.920 --> 0:08:52.880 I think there's an inner three. I would say New York, 0:08:53.200 --> 0:08:56.800 Las Vegas and Minnesota. And I say Minnesota because they're 0:08:56.840 --> 0:08:59.080 the only team to have actually beaten Vegas in New 0:08:59.160 --> 0:09:01.560 York this season. When the FISA Collier has played, they've 0:09:01.559 --> 0:09:04.520 been absolutely outstanding. Like we saw them in the Commissioner's Cup, 0:09:05.440 --> 0:09:08.120 you know, convincingly take down New York. They did it 0:09:08.160 --> 0:09:11.040 earlier in the season against the Liberty as well. Just 0:09:11.080 --> 0:09:14.000 the way Collier has been playing like very much MVP level. 0:09:14.000 --> 0:09:16.120 It's a real shame that she is yet another Olympian 0:09:16.160 --> 0:09:20.360 who has missed some games coming into this break. But yeah, 0:09:20.360 --> 0:09:21.880 I think I think it's those three obviously, you know, 0:09:21.920 --> 0:09:24.040 Liberty and Aces coming off of that epic finals meeting 0:09:24.040 --> 0:09:26.880 a year ago, and the other six times they met 0:09:26.960 --> 0:09:29.040 during the regular season and Commissioners Cup were all just 0:09:29.080 --> 0:09:31.200 great games and they were clearly a class of themselves 0:09:31.600 --> 0:09:32.960 ahead of the rest of the league. And I think 0:09:33.240 --> 0:09:35.360 I think Minnesota has entered that circle just with the 0:09:35.679 --> 0:09:39.680 way they've played defense this year, and Collier just you know, 0:09:39.720 --> 0:09:41.760 taking another step where I think she's formally on that 0:09:42.000 --> 0:09:43.040 Stewie level this year. 0:09:43.120 --> 0:09:45.640 Actually, you mentioned the finals from last year. The two 0:09:45.679 --> 0:09:48.360 powerhouses got there at the Liberty and the Aces and 0:09:48.640 --> 0:09:51.360 Trey went through some of the standings of the records 0:09:51.400 --> 0:09:55.160 because it's a little different this year. How yes, the 0:09:55.720 --> 0:09:58.680 Liberty are managing to run the East, but the center 0:09:58.800 --> 0:10:02.480 too far back, and then the Aces are right up there, right, 0:10:02.640 --> 0:10:04.840 very very close with the Storm and the Links. My 0:10:05.000 --> 0:10:07.880 question is we saw both powerhouses get there in the 0:10:08.000 --> 0:10:10.839 end last year, not really an issue. Both got there 0:10:10.920 --> 0:10:13.439 no problem. This year it feels a little different. You 0:10:13.480 --> 0:10:18.240 mentioned those Links and how good they are defensively defending 0:10:18.240 --> 0:10:20.960 the three point ball, one of the best ever. And 0:10:21.000 --> 0:10:23.240 then I heard you talk about Kaylin Clark being in 0:10:23.320 --> 0:10:26.640 Minnesota and it was almost a road game for the Fever, 0:10:26.679 --> 0:10:29.640 And I just mentioned that because I just am curious. 0:10:30.120 --> 0:10:32.480 All the eyeballs are on the WNBA this year. There's 0:10:32.480 --> 0:10:34.240 so many out there. I just wonder is it better 0:10:34.240 --> 0:10:36.720 for the league to go back to to feel like 0:10:36.800 --> 0:10:38.760 what it was last year with the powerhouses getting there, 0:10:38.840 --> 0:10:41.840 or is it the parody being better where the Minnesota 0:10:41.880 --> 0:10:43.839 Links are damn good and they should have more fans 0:10:43.880 --> 0:10:45.560 out there with all the eyeballs out there, is it 0:10:45.600 --> 0:10:48.480 better for the league to go a little parody or 0:10:48.520 --> 0:10:51.600 is it more of the powerhouses they get the eyeballs. Yeah. 0:10:51.640 --> 0:10:53.560 I go back and forth with this a lot because 0:10:53.600 --> 0:10:57.160 I think super teams make it really easy to zone 0:10:57.160 --> 0:10:59.120 in on a couple places, and then like that's a 0:10:59.200 --> 0:11:02.200 very natural entry point for everybody. So I think like 0:11:02.240 --> 0:11:04.280 casual fans find it a lot easier, just like find 0:11:04.280 --> 0:11:06.360 out Goliath and that's like the team I'm going to 0:11:06.480 --> 0:11:08.559 check in and root for the team that's playing against them. 0:11:08.640 --> 0:11:11.520 Or you know, whatever that happens to be. But this 0:11:11.640 --> 0:11:13.680 rookie class has kind of upended everything. Like it's not 0:11:13.720 --> 0:11:15.960 so much that parody has inserted itself into the w 0:11:16.080 --> 0:11:18.040 It's more like, oh, there's all these players like we 0:11:18.160 --> 0:11:20.160 know really really well, and we just want to check 0:11:20.200 --> 0:11:22.280 in on their teams. Like I think if Cameron Brink 0:11:22.280 --> 0:11:23.960 had been healthy, then people would be talking more about 0:11:23.960 --> 0:11:27.080 the Los Angeles Sparks and obviously Caitlin and Indiana and 0:11:27.120 --> 0:11:29.000 Angel in Chicago. We are drawing a lot of interest. 0:11:29.120 --> 0:11:31.880 And I don't know that they're lending like parody to 0:11:31.880 --> 0:11:33.720 the league so much because I still think those teams 0:11:33.760 --> 0:11:36.480 are very much like six seven eight, not really going 0:11:36.559 --> 0:11:40.120 to contend to win a playoff series. So I think 0:11:40.240 --> 0:11:42.080 I think super teams are still very good in terms 0:11:42.120 --> 0:11:46.520 of people like watching greatness and they like watching you know, 0:11:47.160 --> 0:11:50.960 David take down great teams. But yeah, I kind of like, 0:11:51.920 --> 0:11:53.599 I kind of like the concentration talent, especially in the 0:11:53.679 --> 0:11:55.120 league that it's the small with twelve teams, like you 0:11:55.120 --> 0:11:57.240 can get some just absurd collections of talent like we're 0:11:57.240 --> 0:11:58.760 seeing in New York, like we're seeing in Las Vegas, 0:11:58.800 --> 0:12:00.720 And I think that's really fun to check in on. 0:12:01.640 --> 0:12:04.600 Yeah, definitely, New York has been dominant all year. They 0:12:04.840 --> 0:12:09.120 had a chance last season. The Aces slow start for them, though, 0:12:09.160 --> 0:12:10.960 six and six, I think that was as many games. 0:12:11.000 --> 0:12:13.080 Six losses was as many as they lost the entirety 0:12:13.080 --> 0:12:16.560 of last regular season. They're ten and two since eight 0:12:16.600 --> 0:12:19.280 and two, I suppose with Chelsea Gray returning to the lineup. 0:12:19.520 --> 0:12:22.360 What did you make of the Aces slow start? Was 0:12:22.360 --> 0:12:26.600 it just kind of a complacency mixed with injury. 0:12:26.720 --> 0:12:29.240 We'll turn it on when it really matters sort of deal. 0:12:30.400 --> 0:12:33.080 Yeah, it's interesting because they didn't have any complacency coming 0:12:33.080 --> 0:12:37.319 off of the twenty two title. And you know, there's 0:12:37.320 --> 0:12:39.640 this thing with great teams that they constantly find ways 0:12:39.720 --> 0:12:42.400 that people are theoretically disrespecting them and using that as 0:12:42.440 --> 0:12:44.800 like chips on their shoulders to motivate them going forward. 0:12:45.120 --> 0:12:47.600 And I think there was a lot of that. Oh, 0:12:47.679 --> 0:12:49.680 nobody respected us in twenty twenty two. We're going to 0:12:49.679 --> 0:12:51.319 show you what we're actually made of in twenty twenty 0:12:51.320 --> 0:12:53.840 three for the Las Vegas Aces. But they can't really 0:12:53.960 --> 0:12:56.600 use that to rely on in twenty twenty four. It's like, Okay, well, 0:12:56.720 --> 0:12:58.880 you not only won the title, you set a regular 0:12:58.880 --> 0:13:01.960 season wins record and one game four without two of 0:13:01.960 --> 0:13:03.800 your starters. So like, clearly there's a lot of respect 0:13:03.800 --> 0:13:06.320 for what Las Vegas is doing. And the only person 0:13:06.400 --> 0:13:07.880 on that team that seems to have a giant ship 0:13:07.880 --> 0:13:09.600 on her shoulder is Asia Wilson because of the way 0:13:09.640 --> 0:13:12.080 the MVP vote transpired in twenty twenty three, where she 0:13:12.160 --> 0:13:15.840 finished third and obviously got the one anomalists fourth place 0:13:15.920 --> 0:13:18.240 vote that presumably that voter will take that vote to 0:13:18.280 --> 0:13:22.320 their grave before explaining what happened in that situation. So 0:13:22.400 --> 0:13:25.280 I think I think it's really just like kind of 0:13:25.280 --> 0:13:28.040 like a we did this, like we're not going to 0:13:28.120 --> 0:13:31.000 really year up again until October, you know, when it 0:13:31.040 --> 0:13:33.280 really counts. And I think, honestly, the Olympics will a 0:13:33.320 --> 0:13:37.160 big part of this, Like Chelsea and Jackie and Kelsey Plumb, 0:13:37.200 --> 0:13:39.560 you know, like they're all gearing up for Paris, and 0:13:39.840 --> 0:13:41.200 it takes a lot of effort, you know, to go 0:13:41.200 --> 0:13:42.439 win a GOO medal and they want to be big 0:13:42.480 --> 0:13:46.200 participants in Team USA, and it's kind of hard to balance, 0:13:46.600 --> 0:13:49.760 you know, going all out in a WNBA season while 0:13:49.840 --> 0:13:52.040 still trying to make sure that you're ready to go 0:13:52.080 --> 0:13:55.240 with this time of year for the Olympics, and obviously 0:13:55.280 --> 0:13:57.400 Chelsea Gray had the injury that she was coming back from, 0:13:57.440 --> 0:14:00.000 and frankly, I don't know that she would even even 0:14:00.120 --> 0:14:01.800 come back when she did were it not for the 0:14:01.800 --> 0:14:04.240 Ace's poor record in the fact that they kind of 0:14:04.280 --> 0:14:07.880 just needed to bank some wins. So I wouldn't be 0:14:07.880 --> 0:14:09.880 too concerned with the Aces, like I think, you get 0:14:09.880 --> 0:14:13.240 them into the postseason, they'll be just fine. But it 0:14:13.320 --> 0:14:15.160 is a little disappointing that we saw like such the 0:14:15.240 --> 0:14:17.400 sustained run from greatness from them last year and now 0:14:17.400 --> 0:14:19.200 it's like, all right, well, we know we can do it. 0:14:19.240 --> 0:14:20.960 We're going to become one of those like flip the 0:14:20.960 --> 0:14:23.800 switch teams which are just significantly less interesting to me. 0:14:24.920 --> 0:14:27.480 Yeah, it's never fun to wait and see when you 0:14:27.520 --> 0:14:29.680 know how great a team can be. But like you mentioned, 0:14:29.680 --> 0:14:33.120 one person who hasn't had any complacency so far, Asia Wilson, 0:14:33.200 --> 0:14:37.200 averaging twenty seven points a game twelve rebounds alongside two 0:14:37.240 --> 0:14:41.239 steals and three blocks. Last year, we had an incredible 0:14:42.080 --> 0:14:45.600 MVP race in the w Like you said, basically three 0:14:45.640 --> 0:14:48.520 players were coming down to it and Brianna Stewart, Alyssa 0:14:48.560 --> 0:14:52.160 Thomas and then Asia Wilson. Of course, from what I 0:14:52.200 --> 0:14:55.760 can tell at this point halfway through the season, Asia 0:14:55.800 --> 0:14:57.920 Wilson is your choice as MVP. 0:14:58.080 --> 0:14:59.280 She seems to be the front runner. 0:15:00.040 --> 0:15:02.640 Yeah, I think it's pretty clear that it's Asia Wolson. 0:15:03.280 --> 0:15:05.320 Just like you mentioned the numbers that she's putting up, 0:15:05.360 --> 0:15:09.160 and you know, I kind of think like it gets 0:15:09.240 --> 0:15:14.440 lost when you have a forty minute game that she's 0:15:14.480 --> 0:15:17.120 averaging twenty seven points in twelve rebounds per game, but 0:15:17.160 --> 0:15:22.200 that's also you know, if you've extrapolated to a forty 0:15:22.200 --> 0:15:24.440 minute game that's like thirty three and sixteen rebounds or 0:15:24.440 --> 0:15:27.280 something of that nature. So just the ridiculous numbers that 0:15:27.280 --> 0:15:32.400 she's putting up are absolutely insane. And the level of 0:15:32.400 --> 0:15:35.440 dominance that she's playing with, like defensively, offensively, there's so 0:15:35.440 --> 0:15:36.880 many things that she's doing on to the court, like 0:15:36.880 --> 0:15:39.520 the blocks, the way she's protecting the paint without kandas 0:15:39.520 --> 0:15:42.120 Parker this year, I mean, I've just really never seen 0:15:42.160 --> 0:15:43.680 a season like this. I mean, you can look into 0:15:43.720 --> 0:15:48.560 the advanced stats and all of that, but it's just 0:15:48.960 --> 0:15:50.920 unbelievable what's happening with Age Wolson this year. 0:15:51.320 --> 0:15:54.240 Is there anybody else you think who could maybe knock 0:15:54.240 --> 0:15:56.040 her out of the top spot or at least give 0:15:56.080 --> 0:15:58.240 us a close race down the stretch here this season. 0:15:58.880 --> 0:16:00.640 I think the problem with New York is that there's 0:16:00.680 --> 0:16:02.360 too many good players, Like I don't really know who 0:16:02.360 --> 0:16:05.200 their MVP even is, Like Stewie is the defending MVP, 0:16:05.480 --> 0:16:08.280 but John Quell Jones was really really good to start 0:16:08.280 --> 0:16:10.920 the season, and Sabrina has come on incredibly well in 0:16:10.920 --> 0:16:14.000 like the last fifteen games or show. So it'd be 0:16:14.000 --> 0:16:16.760 really hard for me to pin one of the Liberty 0:16:16.880 --> 0:16:20.280 as the potential MVP. And I think that like cannibalizing 0:16:20.280 --> 0:16:22.640 of votes is going to work against them. But you know, 0:16:22.640 --> 0:16:24.680 and if Fisa Collier I mentioned her earlier earlier had 0:16:24.680 --> 0:16:26.320 a really great stretch, and if she comes out of 0:16:26.320 --> 0:16:29.200 the Olympics similar to the way she was playing back 0:16:29.240 --> 0:16:31.480 in May and June, I think is a you know, 0:16:31.520 --> 0:16:33.640 at least a first team All WNBA candidate, if not 0:16:33.680 --> 0:16:37.120 an MVP candidate. Well it's Thomas. Like the numbers are 0:16:37.160 --> 0:16:39.200 down a little bit this year, and I think part 0:16:39.240 --> 0:16:42.120 of the magic of her case last year was that 0:16:42.560 --> 0:16:45.320 Connecticut loses a starter and they're still just as good 0:16:45.400 --> 0:16:47.640 during the regular season and having a fully healthy lineup 0:16:47.720 --> 0:16:51.960 kind of dims like the story with Elissa Thomas, So 0:16:52.000 --> 0:16:54.280 I think it would really just have to be Collier 0:16:54.400 --> 0:16:56.960 going on as super sick run for Minnesota coming out 0:16:56.960 --> 0:17:00.840 of the break to give Asia any competition. But like 0:17:01.560 --> 0:17:03.560 I mean, we're kind of heading towards like unanimous territory 0:17:03.560 --> 0:17:05.879 for asuals and which is absolutely insane. 0:17:06.280 --> 0:17:08.239 Yeah, that's the coolest thing that can happen in an 0:17:08.280 --> 0:17:11.720 MVP race outside of like a legendarily close MVP race 0:17:11.760 --> 0:17:15.439 as somebody being the unanimous choice. But the Sun are 0:17:15.480 --> 0:17:18.080 interesting to me because when we talked about teams who 0:17:18.080 --> 0:17:21.160 could realistically win the title, you left them out, even 0:17:21.200 --> 0:17:23.320 though they are second in the league right now. Played 0:17:23.320 --> 0:17:26.879 the Liberty pretty well last night. Connecticut has made the 0:17:26.920 --> 0:17:28.920 finals or the semi finals in each of the last 0:17:28.960 --> 0:17:30.919 five seasons. They've been one of the final four for 0:17:31.040 --> 0:17:34.400 five straight years. They've got an MVP candidate and Alyssa Thomas. 0:17:34.720 --> 0:17:36.480 But I'm kind of with you, it just feels like 0:17:36.520 --> 0:17:38.080 it's never going to happen for the Sun. 0:17:38.160 --> 0:17:39.760 How are they ever going to get over the hump? 0:17:41.119 --> 0:17:43.640 Yeah, I mean I mentioned like Minnesota being the team 0:17:43.640 --> 0:17:45.560 that has beaten Vegas in New York this year, Like, 0:17:45.800 --> 0:17:48.120 not only has Connecticut not beaten Vegas, they have also 0:17:48.200 --> 0:17:51.280 not beaten New York. So you had a breakthrough that 0:17:51.480 --> 0:17:53.560 duopoly at some point for me to take this team 0:17:53.600 --> 0:17:55.840 seriously as a title contender. And you know you mentioned 0:17:55.880 --> 0:17:57.240 the threes, Like they just don't get a lot of 0:17:57.320 --> 0:18:00.080 volume from their three point shooters. It's kind of what 0:18:00.080 --> 0:18:02.359 happens when you're starting DJ Carrington, who's like more of 0:18:02.400 --> 0:18:06.439 a defensive player at point guard. And Ty Harris's shooting 0:18:06.440 --> 0:18:08.960 percentage has gone down significantly from last year when she 0:18:09.040 --> 0:18:12.520 was admittedly the number one three point percentage in the WNBA. 0:18:12.720 --> 0:18:17.600 But there's just not enough spacing. I think, like you 0:18:17.640 --> 0:18:20.680 can kind of congest in on Alyssa Thomas and Bree 0:18:20.720 --> 0:18:22.720 Jones and unless to want of Bonner's having like a 0:18:22.720 --> 0:18:25.520 spectacular night, it's really hard for me to see Connecticut 0:18:25.520 --> 0:18:27.440 having the type of offense to really keep up with 0:18:27.920 --> 0:18:31.359 a Las Vegas or New York. Yeah, it's it's a 0:18:31.359 --> 0:18:33.800 bummer because, like there's such an interesting style of play, 0:18:33.800 --> 0:18:37.160 and like Aelissa Thomas is unlike almost anyone you will 0:18:37.160 --> 0:18:40.960 watch on the basketball court, you know, mainly because she 0:18:41.040 --> 0:18:45.160 has no working shoulders. But it's just like a unique 0:18:45.200 --> 0:18:47.239 specimen and I would really love for something like that 0:18:47.320 --> 0:18:50.199 to manifest itself in you know, ultimate glory. 0:18:50.240 --> 0:18:51.679 But I don't know. 0:18:51.720 --> 0:18:54.080 I just I don't see enough perimeter help in Connecticut. 0:18:54.160 --> 0:18:57.399 And it's it's just a bummer because like that's the 0:18:57.400 --> 0:18:59.280 Aces and the Liberty. You're just bursting with guards who 0:18:59.320 --> 0:19:01.399 can just diice you up, and Connecticut hasn't proven have 0:19:01.400 --> 0:19:02.359 an answer for that yet. 0:19:03.080 --> 0:19:04.720 Yeah, that seems to be the problem. 0:19:04.800 --> 0:19:08.119 Is that the Aces and the Liberty are great defensively 0:19:08.200 --> 0:19:10.600 just like Connecticut is. But then the Aces and Liberty 0:19:10.600 --> 0:19:14.280 are also great offensively, whereas Connecticut is a meager third 0:19:14.840 --> 0:19:18.840 on offense behind all of their offensive rebounding and physicality. 0:19:20.280 --> 0:19:22.000 I don't know, we made it twenty minutes without doing 0:19:22.000 --> 0:19:24.440 a big time Caitlin Clark discussion. But what's it been 0:19:24.560 --> 0:19:27.520 like covering the w this year with Caitlin Clark in 0:19:27.560 --> 0:19:29.720 the league. One of the biggest like indicators to me 0:19:29.880 --> 0:19:32.120 was the All Star voting. Asia Wilson went from ninety 0:19:32.160 --> 0:19:34.440 five thousand All Star votes leading the league last year 0:19:34.560 --> 0:19:37.439 to over six hundred thousand All Star votes this year, 0:19:37.480 --> 0:19:39.840 and I was like, what six times as many people 0:19:40.119 --> 0:19:41.439 are watching the w right now. 0:19:41.480 --> 0:19:42.480 It kind of feels like that. 0:19:43.600 --> 0:19:46.639 Yeah, it absolutely feels like that. I mean, you know 0:19:46.760 --> 0:19:49.199 this is like very inside basebally, but like when I 0:19:49.280 --> 0:19:53.160 go to cover practices for teams that are visiting Los Angeles, 0:19:53.200 --> 0:19:55.240 it's usually like just me going to hang out, you know, 0:19:55.240 --> 0:19:58.080 if there's not a lot of interest in road teams 0:19:58.119 --> 0:20:00.640 from the usual Sparks crew, And when like the Fever 0:20:00.720 --> 0:20:02.679 were in town, they were like the thirteen people just 0:20:02.680 --> 0:20:05.280 there ready to go. It's like, oh, yeah, like this 0:20:05.320 --> 0:20:06.919 this is the thing that happens now, Like people are 0:20:06.920 --> 0:20:10.120 interested in watching Caitlyn Clark even if that's a practice. 0:20:10.600 --> 0:20:13.080 And you know, you've seen the attended summers just rock 0:20:13.160 --> 0:20:16.360 it up across the country. I mean, they fit more 0:20:16.359 --> 0:20:18.480 people in Crypto dot com Arena to see the Indiana 0:20:18.520 --> 0:20:20.360 Fever play the Sparks than they do during a normal 0:20:20.440 --> 0:20:24.639 Lakers game, which is just astounding. And it's not just Caitlin. 0:20:24.680 --> 0:20:28.440 It's like Angel and Kate Martin gets louder cheers on 0:20:28.480 --> 0:20:30.600 the road for three pointers than just about anybody I've 0:20:30.600 --> 0:20:32.800 ever heard. You know, the Iowa effect is very real. 0:20:33.880 --> 0:20:36.360 It's been really really fun just seeing more people come 0:20:36.400 --> 0:20:39.720 in more people have like a vested interest in wanting 0:20:39.720 --> 0:20:41.800 to see Indiana do well or wanting to see Chicago 0:20:41.840 --> 0:20:44.600 do well, and making their way to games and having 0:20:44.640 --> 0:20:46.439 things to talk about. Like I've had so many of 0:20:46.520 --> 0:20:50.000 my NBA friends who just randomly text me with questions about, like, well, 0:20:50.000 --> 0:20:51.520 why is in Indiana running this? At the end of 0:20:51.560 --> 0:20:52.760 the game, I'm like, there's not even a game on 0:20:52.840 --> 0:20:54.679 right now, like are we watching a replay? Like what's happening? 0:20:55.560 --> 0:20:58.040 But it's it's been great, you know, just more people involve, 0:20:58.080 --> 0:21:00.880 more people interested, and it's been it's been really really fun. 0:21:01.160 --> 0:21:04.080 It was great because I always saw those votes as well, 0:21:04.119 --> 0:21:06.959 they increased by six times, and I wondered, is this 0:21:07.000 --> 0:21:09.680 a social media thing? Are we just increasing everything by 0:21:09.840 --> 0:21:12.440 four x now? Because that happened in the NBA All 0:21:12.440 --> 0:21:15.240 Star voting as well. But then you see the attendance 0:21:15.320 --> 0:21:18.199 numbers and those are real here being in Atlanta, the 0:21:18.280 --> 0:21:21.360 dream went from the Gateway Center Arena to State Farm 0:21:21.400 --> 0:21:25.240 Arena for both Indiana Fever games because people were coming 0:21:25.240 --> 0:21:28.160 out to washing them, so that is obviously what is happening, 0:21:28.240 --> 0:21:31.480 and just the conversations around I mentioned social media how 0:21:31.560 --> 0:21:35.360 much it is happening. It did suck to see can 0:21:35.440 --> 0:21:38.240 Brink get hurt, But there's because there are so many 0:21:38.680 --> 0:21:43.320 fans that are people are just behind these stars. 0:21:43.359 --> 0:21:46.040 Now, Yeah, a lot of stars came into the WNBA 0:21:46.119 --> 0:21:49.160 this year, Sabrina, are you has the rookie class been 0:21:49.200 --> 0:21:51.560 like as good as you expected? Because everybody was talking 0:21:51.840 --> 0:21:54.720 this class up. Obviously Caitlin Clark at the top. Cameron 0:21:54.760 --> 0:21:58.040 Brink came in as a great defensive prospect as well 0:21:58.080 --> 0:22:01.160 as playing great until she got hurt. Angel Reese uh 0:22:01.280 --> 0:22:03.879 had won of Angel Reese was a big time player. 0:22:04.200 --> 0:22:06.879 Kamila Cardozo big time player as well, a lot of 0:22:07.400 --> 0:22:09.920 known rookies were coming into the league gonna be stars. 0:22:09.960 --> 0:22:13.200 Have they been as impressive as you thought they would? Yeah, 0:22:13.240 --> 0:22:15.240 it's kind of wild that they've lived up to expectation. 0:22:15.320 --> 0:22:18.399 I mean, Caitlin, you know, obviously the tough start to 0:22:18.440 --> 0:22:21.040 the season with the schedule that the Indiana Fever were handed, 0:22:21.160 --> 0:22:23.520 like did them no favors. But you put a little 0:22:23.560 --> 0:22:25.520 practice time in, she gets to like learn a lea 0:22:25.560 --> 0:22:27.880 of Boston's middle Dane Like, good things have happened in 0:22:27.880 --> 0:22:31.880 Indiana since that toward like eleven game stretch to start 0:22:31.880 --> 0:22:34.399 the season, and I think people are seeing just what 0:22:34.480 --> 0:22:36.959 kind of playmaker she is and how exciting that can 0:22:37.000 --> 0:22:39.520 be at the professional level. Angel Rees has been honestly 0:22:39.560 --> 0:22:41.680 much better than I expected. I didn't really think that 0:22:41.760 --> 0:22:44.800 her her rebounding would translate to the WNBA because she 0:22:44.840 --> 0:22:46.320 is a bit smaller than most of the four she's 0:22:46.320 --> 0:22:49.399 gone up against, but like that motor is unbelievable. I 0:22:49.800 --> 0:22:51.760 rarely seen a player play as hard as angel Resa 0:22:51.880 --> 0:22:54.080 is on a possession of possession basis, and she's been 0:22:54.240 --> 0:22:56.199 really good for Chicago Sky team that I expected to 0:22:56.200 --> 0:22:58.600 be out of the playoffs and is probably going to 0:22:58.680 --> 0:23:01.480 end up at least in like a seven seed this season. 0:23:01.600 --> 0:23:05.360 So just really impressive from her. Eliah Edwards and Washington 0:23:05.359 --> 0:23:07.400 I think has been really good. Obviously. Injuries have kind 0:23:07.400 --> 0:23:09.000 of kept her in and out of the lineup, and 0:23:09.200 --> 0:23:10.960 pretty much everybody who's going to the Olympics has been 0:23:10.960 --> 0:23:12.840 in like some measure bubble wrap for the last two weeks, 0:23:12.920 --> 0:23:15.080 so I haven't seen a ton out of Edwards recently, 0:23:15.160 --> 0:23:18.280 but she was great during that month of June. Rakia 0:23:18.400 --> 0:23:21.639 Jackson in LA just like a boocket all the time. 0:23:22.560 --> 0:23:25.200 The Sparks are running their offense through Rakia Jackson down 0:23:25.240 --> 0:23:27.320 the stretch against the Las Vegas Aces, like not once 0:23:27.359 --> 0:23:30.600 but twice this regular season, which is just an astounding 0:23:30.600 --> 0:23:33.040 thing to think about. So, yeah, you're just seeing so 0:23:33.040 --> 0:23:36.200 many rookies who have the potential to be real franchise 0:23:36.280 --> 0:23:39.159 defining players down the line, like true all stars. And 0:23:39.520 --> 0:23:41.560 we've seen classes like this before. I think twenty nineteen 0:23:41.560 --> 0:23:43.280 really stands out. That was the year that and Ifisa 0:23:43.320 --> 0:23:47.720 Collie or Arique Goumbalwalle Jackie Young came out and they've 0:23:47.720 --> 0:23:49.960 obviously all been really great for their respective teams. But 0:23:50.680 --> 0:23:53.200 for these players to have the star power coming into 0:23:53.200 --> 0:23:56.040 the WNBA, to have all of the expectation and to 0:23:56.080 --> 0:23:58.119 live up to it, I think is just like remarkable 0:23:58.160 --> 0:24:00.560 and exactly what the league needed to take the next 0:24:00.560 --> 0:24:03.320 step forward and build finally, you know, carry that college 0:24:03.320 --> 0:24:04.440 momentum into the pro Sason. 0:24:05.160 --> 0:24:07.560 Yeah, it's hard not to be an Angel Rees fan. 0:24:07.680 --> 0:24:10.360 After watching her against Kaitlin Clark the last time they 0:24:10.400 --> 0:24:13.920 played the postgame interview and said, I've got some dog 0:24:13.960 --> 0:24:16.040 in me in this obvious like you just said, she 0:24:16.080 --> 0:24:17.960 may be a little undersized against fours, but she is 0:24:18.000 --> 0:24:23.040 out there working extremely hard against Kaitlin Clark's team, but 0:24:23.080 --> 0:24:27.960 they play far different positions, And everybody talking about this, 0:24:28.200 --> 0:24:30.800 these two teams being a rivalry. Do you see that 0:24:31.520 --> 0:24:34.399 happening in the future for the Sky and the Fever. 0:24:35.840 --> 0:24:38.240 I think the geography really helps, you know, anytime two 0:24:38.240 --> 0:24:40.879 teams are that close to each other, you know, it's 0:24:40.880 --> 0:24:43.119 easier to create a rivalry. Like conferences don't really mean 0:24:43.119 --> 0:24:45.960 anything in the WNBA other than Commissioner's Cup groups, And 0:24:46.680 --> 0:24:48.600 like that's a five game starts during a forty game 0:24:48.680 --> 0:24:50.439 regular season, So I can't imagine that's going to be 0:24:50.480 --> 0:24:53.080 like the main impetus for the rivalry. But like just 0:24:53.560 --> 0:24:55.560 the level of intensity in the three games thus far. 0:24:55.680 --> 0:24:59.600 You know, we've seen like just incredible crowds, a little 0:24:59.680 --> 0:25:03.200 extra intensity during the course of the game. Obviously the 0:25:03.240 --> 0:25:04.880 flag are files which I don't really want to get into, 0:25:04.960 --> 0:25:08.480 but like just a little you know, extra oomph in 0:25:08.480 --> 0:25:10.119 the matchup between the two of them, Like they clearly 0:25:10.119 --> 0:25:11.919 don't want to talk about each other, like at a 0:25:11.960 --> 0:25:14.359 really extended level, which is always a good sign that 0:25:14.400 --> 0:25:17.639 there's some animosity there. That great comeback that Chicago had 0:25:17.680 --> 0:25:20.639 against Indiana in the last game, I think you know, 0:25:20.680 --> 0:25:23.200 Angel and Caitlin have just been placed on stages where 0:25:23.240 --> 0:25:25.679 they had to compete for in really big stages before, 0:25:26.200 --> 0:25:28.240 and you know, for it to be a rivalry, I 0:25:28.280 --> 0:25:29.639 think they like have to meet in the playoffs at 0:25:29.640 --> 0:25:33.000 some point, or at the very least, Like I don't know, 0:25:33.000 --> 0:25:34.520 they'd have to bee in the playoffs, because there's the 0:25:34.520 --> 0:25:36.159 only way that you're going to really really build some 0:25:36.200 --> 0:25:38.840 stakes between the two of them. But I do think 0:25:38.840 --> 0:25:41.760 that just them coming in, like having such fastly different 0:25:41.760 --> 0:25:44.040 fan bases out of college. You know, the way they 0:25:44.080 --> 0:25:45.840 play is so different, it's very easy to latch onto 0:25:45.840 --> 0:25:48.040 one or the other. And the fact that both of 0:25:48.080 --> 0:25:49.960 the teams have like really good young talent that you 0:25:49.960 --> 0:25:51.639 can still grow along with, like the fact that Kennedy 0:25:51.640 --> 0:25:53.960 Carter is there and Aleah Boston is there and Kimilla Cardoso. 0:25:54.480 --> 0:25:57.399 I mean, there's just so much that could keep getting 0:25:57.440 --> 0:25:59.240 better with both of these teams, and I think as 0:26:00.119 --> 0:26:02.520 Indiana reaches its potential in Chicago becomes even better than 0:26:02.520 --> 0:26:04.960 they thought they could be. I really hope that this 0:26:05.040 --> 0:26:07.720 is a great robbery because you know, Indiana hasn't been 0:26:07.760 --> 0:26:11.000 the playoffs since twenty sixteen. Chicago obviously won the title 0:26:11.000 --> 0:26:14.040 in twenty twenty one, but like ownership group is a 0:26:14.040 --> 0:26:15.920 little weird and like we don't know if free agents 0:26:15.960 --> 0:26:17.159 want to go there, So for them to have like 0:26:17.200 --> 0:26:19.480 this built in core of Cardos so recent Carter is 0:26:19.560 --> 0:26:21.720 just it's great. And I do think that we're going 0:26:21.800 --> 0:26:25.119 to get like some real enmity between the two. And 0:26:25.280 --> 0:26:27.600 I'm just so pumped for their fourth regular season game 0:26:27.640 --> 0:26:30.760 because like that thing is just going to be a massive, massive. 0:26:30.480 --> 0:26:33.560 Viewership every Yeah, it's going to be awesome, and both 0:26:33.560 --> 0:26:35.120 teams are like playing a lot better. 0:26:35.400 --> 0:26:37.560 I'm with you. I'm surprised that the Sky are this good. 0:26:37.600 --> 0:26:40.399 I thought after James Wade left the team to go 0:26:40.480 --> 0:26:43.040 coach the Toronto Raptors that it was going to be 0:26:43.080 --> 0:26:47.200 a long time before Chicago was even sniffing the playoffs. 0:26:47.240 --> 0:26:48.439 But the fever. 0:26:48.600 --> 0:26:51.000 They started out zero and five, bottomed out at one 0:26:51.000 --> 0:26:54.440 and eight. They're ten and six since playing Caitlin Clark 0:26:54.520 --> 0:26:57.399 style basketball a little faster, I think, And then the 0:26:57.440 --> 0:27:00.400 Sky are like an Angel Rees team. They play hard, 0:27:00.400 --> 0:27:04.320 they're really physical, they rebound, they played defense. Maybe there'll 0:27:04.320 --> 0:27:07.400 be a kinetic Sun in a few years, but who cares. 0:27:07.400 --> 0:27:09.800 We'll worry about that later. It feels like both of 0:27:09.840 --> 0:27:14.480 these teams are made immediately in their franchise players' images. 0:27:15.760 --> 0:27:17.960 So who's the rookie of the year, I think is 0:27:17.960 --> 0:27:19.679 going to be the question a lot of people are 0:27:19.720 --> 0:27:21.719 asking during the second half of the season, because they 0:27:21.720 --> 0:27:24.360 both have really solid cases and are huge reasons why 0:27:24.359 --> 0:27:26.640 their teams are having these surprisingly good seasons. 0:27:28.240 --> 0:27:30.960 Yeah, it's gonna be quite the decision to have to 0:27:30.960 --> 0:27:32.840 make down the line, It's already been quite the decision 0:27:32.880 --> 0:27:35.200 to have to make this far. I mean Ben Pickman, 0:27:35.280 --> 0:27:37.320 our fellow WNBA writer at The Athletic and I have 0:27:37.320 --> 0:27:40.200 had this discussion so many times already if you want 0:27:40.200 --> 0:27:42.159 to listen to the podcast or readar debate like it's 0:27:42.160 --> 0:27:44.520 all there for you at the Athletics dot com. But 0:27:45.240 --> 0:27:47.840 I mean, I've kind of leaned Caitlin thus far, just 0:27:47.840 --> 0:27:49.840 because I think the degree of difficulty for being a 0:27:49.880 --> 0:27:52.320 point guard as a rookie and the WNBA is really challenging, 0:27:52.400 --> 0:27:56.320 and for every defense to be keened on her as 0:27:56.359 --> 0:27:58.080 the number one item want the scouting report, when like 0:27:58.080 --> 0:28:01.040 Elia Buston exists and Elissa Smith ex sas just shows 0:28:01.040 --> 0:28:03.960 how important she is to what Indiana is doing, and 0:28:05.080 --> 0:28:07.240 you know, the last ten games or so, she's been, 0:28:07.960 --> 0:28:10.040 you know, maybe the second best point guard in the WNBA, 0:28:10.480 --> 0:28:13.280 which is like a crazy thing to think as a 0:28:13.359 --> 0:28:15.960 rookie in this league when it's so veteran heavy. But 0:28:16.920 --> 0:28:19.119 I mean, I wouldn't be grudge anyone voting for Angel 0:28:19.240 --> 0:28:21.720 like the sky or just like you said, so much 0:28:21.720 --> 0:28:24.560 better than we expected heading into the season, and Angels 0:28:24.640 --> 0:28:26.640 on off numbers, like really paint that picture. She has 0:28:26.680 --> 0:28:29.840 been a genuine source of like positive impact for Chicago 0:28:29.880 --> 0:28:33.320 all season. It's just so hard to compare because stylistically 0:28:33.359 --> 0:28:35.520 they're so different, right, Like what Angel is doing versus 0:28:35.560 --> 0:28:39.080 what Caitlin's doing, the amount of responsibility that Caitlin has 0:28:39.120 --> 0:28:42.400 to direct the offense versus what Angel's doing defensively, they're 0:28:42.440 --> 0:28:47.160 just completely different cases. And honestly, like at this point, 0:28:47.160 --> 0:28:48.719 I wouldn't care who won. It's gonna be a good 0:28:48.720 --> 0:28:51.480 story either way. But I think it's so cool that 0:28:51.560 --> 0:28:54.200 we actually have this discussion because Rookie of the Year 0:28:54.200 --> 0:28:57.760 hasn't been contested like this since maybe twenty seventeen, and 0:28:57.800 --> 0:29:01.720 even then, like Alicia Gray versus Britney Sykes was not like, 0:29:02.040 --> 0:29:04.400 you know, everybody's talking about this kind of race. 0:29:04.960 --> 0:29:06.480 Yeah, that's a little bit different. 0:29:06.520 --> 0:29:08.520 It's exciting to have like two of the biggest names 0:29:08.560 --> 0:29:10.840 actually playing well and up against each other. 0:29:10.880 --> 0:29:12.560 It just feels like, with the way. 0:29:12.440 --> 0:29:15.160 Their careers ended in college, the way they came into 0:29:15.200 --> 0:29:17.880 the WNBA, the fact that they're in Illinois and Indiana, 0:29:17.960 --> 0:29:22.280 it's just perfect for them to continually smash into each other. So, Brina, 0:29:22.320 --> 0:29:25.160 what you think about Angel Reese chasing the double double 0:29:25.200 --> 0:29:29.560 streak set a WNBA record with fifteen consecutive double doubles, 0:29:29.560 --> 0:29:32.320 though it did end just recently against the New York 0:29:32.400 --> 0:29:35.320 Liberty when they were quadruple teaming her in the post 0:29:35.360 --> 0:29:36.960 to keep her to eight points. 0:29:37.760 --> 0:29:40.520 It got a bit much for me, honestly, I thought 0:29:40.520 --> 0:29:42.520 we were going in the stat patting direction, you know, 0:29:42.680 --> 0:29:45.840 like there was definitely some hey, one and a half 0:29:45.840 --> 0:29:48.400 minutes left, Angel still in single figures points or single 0:29:48.400 --> 0:29:51.160 fiegars rebounds, we need to address this. I think it 0:29:51.240 --> 0:29:52.840 really hit like a peak for me when they were 0:29:52.840 --> 0:29:57.840 playing Atlanta last week and they're up by seven points 0:29:57.880 --> 0:29:59.720 with like a position to go. I think there's like 0:29:59.720 --> 0:30:01.440 fifty seconds left on the clock, and like this is 0:30:01.440 --> 0:30:04.480 traditionally a dribble out the clock situation, and Angel calls 0:30:04.520 --> 0:30:06.040 for the ball on the post because she only has 0:30:06.120 --> 0:30:08.840 nine points, and that's why I lost it. I was like, no, 0:30:09.280 --> 0:30:12.400 I'm out on the streak. But we have jumped the 0:30:12.400 --> 0:30:15.080 shark here. And kudos to the New York Liberty for 0:30:15.240 --> 0:30:18.160 throwing the quadruple team at her and just ending this discussion, 0:30:18.200 --> 0:30:20.760 because it is very cool obviously that she had set 0:30:20.800 --> 0:30:23.760 a mark that was originally held by Candice Parker, probably 0:30:23.840 --> 0:30:26.560 one that no one's gonna chase for a little while now. 0:30:26.600 --> 0:30:28.720 So we have the record, we don't need to, you know, 0:30:29.280 --> 0:30:32.360 inflate it to any degree. And I'm glad that someone 0:30:32.400 --> 0:30:34.280 you know gave her a little taste for rown medicine 0:30:34.280 --> 0:30:36.520 at the stat adding because it's just not basketball. 0:30:36.560 --> 0:30:38.560 Come on, guys, no, not at all. 0:30:39.240 --> 0:30:41.920 Serena, I have an odd question for you, because you're 0:30:41.960 --> 0:30:45.840 so close to the WNBA. Is there a reason that 0:30:45.960 --> 0:30:49.360 players like Asia Wilson and Angel Reese wear just one 0:30:49.680 --> 0:30:53.600 like sleeve? Is it a medical issue? Is it something 0:30:53.680 --> 0:30:55.719 that they're doing just for style? I need to know 0:30:55.920 --> 0:30:59.720 the second part. Why do they call a like cover 0:31:00.080 --> 0:31:01.920 le like sleeve a sleep? I mean that's just a 0:31:01.960 --> 0:31:04.560 weird word. Don't you think will they change that. 0:31:05.000 --> 0:31:07.280 It is right sleeve? Anyways? 0:31:07.840 --> 0:31:12.120 Do they do call it like a pant? Like call it? 0:31:12.560 --> 0:31:14.920 Yeah, I was totally thinking that as soon as I said, 0:31:15.080 --> 0:31:18.040 as soon as I wondered that, what would you call 0:31:18.400 --> 0:31:19.960 something that covers one leg? 0:31:20.360 --> 0:31:21.840 Yeah, pant? I don't know. 0:31:22.880 --> 0:31:25.680 There isn't a really good one to rival sleeve. I 0:31:25.840 --> 0:31:28.720 was cover is what I say when I say it. 0:31:29.040 --> 0:31:33.280 But I don't know even even what an NBA player 0:31:33.280 --> 0:31:36.520 wears on just one arm. I guess it's called a sleeve, 0:31:36.560 --> 0:31:39.560 but what it's just like it's even that word. 0:31:41.560 --> 0:31:43.320 Well, I don't understand why you object to an arm 0:31:43.400 --> 0:31:47.880 sleeve when sleeps literally a sleep. I think a leg 0:31:47.960 --> 0:31:50.320 sleeve pretty adequately describes what we're talking about. Like you 0:31:50.360 --> 0:31:52.520 can just, you know, pick somebody out of a crowd 0:31:52.520 --> 0:31:54.120 who doesn't even know Jah Wilson and say that she 0:31:54.120 --> 0:31:55.840 wears a leg sleeve and they would be able to 0:31:55.960 --> 0:31:59.720 envision what it is you're referring to. Yes, yeah, but yeah, 0:31:59.720 --> 0:32:01.280 I think I think Asia is the first one to 0:32:01.320 --> 0:32:03.120 do it, and it is purely style related. Asia's got 0:32:03.120 --> 0:32:04.920 a lot of style quirks, like the shorts come up 0:32:04.960 --> 0:32:09.840 really high, the shoulders get a little twisted in, and 0:32:09.880 --> 0:32:12.840 the people who have worn leg sleaves have followed Asia, 0:32:12.960 --> 0:32:15.440 like Deja Kelly is one of the prominent ones in college. 0:32:15.440 --> 0:32:18.120 She's been playing Oregon next year. Angel Reese obviously one 0:32:18.120 --> 0:32:22.040 of them. Tea Cooper another SEC guard. So I think 0:32:22.080 --> 0:32:26.920 this is an Asia just like look situation, and because 0:32:26.960 --> 0:32:30.360 Asia is the greatness that is Asia Wilson, other people 0:32:30.400 --> 0:32:32.640 have followed in her her steady. 0:32:32.920 --> 0:32:34.720 Yeah, I think it's going to happen in the NBA 0:32:34.800 --> 0:32:35.160 as well. 0:32:35.280 --> 0:32:37.800 I saw Lebron in practice was wearing one one single 0:32:37.880 --> 0:32:39.880 leg sleeve like going through Lakers. 0:32:39.960 --> 0:32:41.400 Why isn't san Attabayo doing it? 0:32:41.480 --> 0:32:46.360 Yes, yeah, exactly. People need to get on this nothing man, 0:32:46.440 --> 0:32:48.720 Now that you mentioned it, I think we should call 0:32:48.880 --> 0:32:51.280 pant legs pant slaves because you don't call it. You 0:32:51.280 --> 0:32:53.400 don't call your shirt slaves. You don't call them shirt arms. 0:32:53.640 --> 0:32:56.840 Doesn't make sense. We got a standardized things here. I 0:32:56.880 --> 0:32:59.240 saw a report today I'm the Athletic from Mike vorkanoff 0:32:59.480 --> 0:33:03.320 Sabrina that to WNBA media rights deal is wrapped up 0:33:03.360 --> 0:33:05.640 in the NBA's media rights deal, so the league is 0:33:05.680 --> 0:33:08.040 going to be receiving up to two point two billion 0:33:08.080 --> 0:33:12.440 dollars over the next eleven years since their rights deal 0:33:12.520 --> 0:33:16.240 is done. Alongside the NBA's rights deal, they'll be partnering 0:33:16.280 --> 0:33:20.920 with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon. Still obviously waiting to see 0:33:20.960 --> 0:33:24.160 what Warner does in this whole thing, and I guess 0:33:24.640 --> 0:33:27.000 it's actually possible for the w to get some more 0:33:27.040 --> 0:33:30.400 partners as well, up to six they're eligible for. What 0:33:30.520 --> 0:33:32.600 kind of impact is all of this money coming into 0:33:32.640 --> 0:33:34.040 the w NBA going to have. 0:33:35.360 --> 0:33:37.960 Yeah, So just to set the table real quick, I 0:33:37.960 --> 0:33:40.840 think the baselines for this deal were the NWSL just 0:33:40.840 --> 0:33:43.080 signed a deal that was four years, two hundred and 0:33:43.120 --> 0:33:47.680 forty million, so that's about sixty million annually. So the 0:33:47.760 --> 0:33:50.640 WNBA deal is, you know, within three or four times that, 0:33:51.280 --> 0:33:53.560 And the MLS signed a deal a couple of years 0:33:53.560 --> 0:33:57.880 ago that was two point five billion over ten years 0:33:58.360 --> 0:34:01.400 and heading into this season, and the WNBA had very 0:34:01.400 --> 0:34:04.480 comparable levels of viewership, and you know, for the MLS 0:34:04.520 --> 0:34:08.000 to get that number and WNBA to still be living 0:34:08.040 --> 0:34:11.000 in it's like fifty million dollars total didn't make sense. 0:34:11.040 --> 0:34:13.040 So for them to get closer to that number is 0:34:13.600 --> 0:34:17.200 a lot better. Obviously for their financials. I think the 0:34:17.239 --> 0:34:20.680 big thing here is the WNBA has the opportunity to 0:34:21.080 --> 0:34:23.160 opt out of its current collective bargaining agreement at the 0:34:23.239 --> 0:34:25.000 end of this season and then write a new one 0:34:25.000 --> 0:34:27.160 that would go into effect starting in twenty twenty six. 0:34:27.840 --> 0:34:30.440 And you know, one of the main factors in terms 0:34:30.440 --> 0:34:32.759 of WNBA players not getting as much money is the 0:34:32.800 --> 0:34:34.640 revenue in the league hasn't been as high, and so 0:34:34.719 --> 0:34:38.560 for revenue on the TV deal to jump six times, 0:34:38.680 --> 0:34:40.359 you know, over the average life of this yal to 0:34:40.400 --> 0:34:42.439 what it currently is obviously puts a lot more money 0:34:42.440 --> 0:34:44.960 into the player's pockets. It gives them an opportunity to 0:34:44.960 --> 0:34:47.880 potentially ask for greater share of the basketball revenue. I 0:34:47.880 --> 0:34:50.000 think they get around like ten percent of the br 0:34:50.200 --> 0:34:52.520 at this point, which is you think about the NBA 0:34:52.600 --> 0:34:56.680 they get fifty percent, So it's a big difference, and 0:34:56.760 --> 0:35:00.080 I think this just gives the league the opportunity to 0:35:00.120 --> 0:35:03.839 improve player experience across the board. Like you know, there's 0:35:03.840 --> 0:35:05.840 been a big talk about charter flights in WNBA, and 0:35:05.840 --> 0:35:07.359 this is the first year that every team has had 0:35:07.440 --> 0:35:10.200 charters around the country. And part of the reason for 0:35:10.239 --> 0:35:11.680 that is that the league didn't have enough revenue to 0:35:11.680 --> 0:35:13.560 sustain it. And now you look at all of this 0:35:13.640 --> 0:35:17.000 money coming in from TV deals and if the price 0:35:17.000 --> 0:35:18.719 of charter flights is twenty five million dollars a year, 0:35:18.760 --> 0:35:21.799 that can easily be sustained by the extra money that's 0:35:21.840 --> 0:35:25.040 coming in from media rights. And just think about all 0:35:25.040 --> 0:35:27.960 the other levels of player experience like housing and practice 0:35:27.960 --> 0:35:30.879 facilities and all these things that could be augmented by 0:35:31.000 --> 0:35:33.920 extra revenue coming in. It. It's really exciting for what 0:35:34.080 --> 0:35:37.080 is possible for the players. It just gives them more options, 0:35:37.120 --> 0:35:39.120 like when you're talking about what you can ask for 0:35:39.160 --> 0:35:41.120 in the next CBA, because the league can't say that 0:35:41.160 --> 0:35:42.440 they're cash poor anymore. 0:35:43.239 --> 0:35:45.360 Yeah, it was pretty eye opening for a lot of people. 0:35:45.400 --> 0:35:48.200 I think when Caitlin Clark went from planned in college 0:35:48.239 --> 0:35:50.480 to join in the WNBA, you saw all the graphics 0:35:50.480 --> 0:35:52.480 about what her salary was going to be as a 0:35:52.480 --> 0:35:53.600 first year player. 0:35:53.719 --> 0:35:54.440 But all this. 0:35:54.480 --> 0:35:58.760 Money coming in expansion teams joining as well. The business 0:35:58.800 --> 0:36:02.359 side of the w seems to be going pretty well. 0:36:02.360 --> 0:36:04.800 We got a couple of teams coming into the league soon. 0:36:05.000 --> 0:36:08.719 Do you think that this additional this new media rights 0:36:08.760 --> 0:36:11.200 deal means that outside of the couple of teams. We 0:36:11.239 --> 0:36:14.279 already know that there will be more expansion coming to 0:36:14.320 --> 0:36:17.360 the WNBA, or is that still like five years. 0:36:17.160 --> 0:36:17.800 Down the line. 0:36:18.640 --> 0:36:20.960 I think Commissioner Kathy Ingelbert has said that she wants 0:36:21.040 --> 0:36:23.880 two more teams in place by twenty twenty eight. Okay, 0:36:24.000 --> 0:36:26.680 so we get up to sixteen teams by twenty twenty eight, 0:36:26.719 --> 0:36:29.319 and I think that's a good number just because there's 0:36:29.360 --> 0:36:32.080 only so much you can expand the league scheduling to 0:36:32.160 --> 0:36:34.480 keep it in that summer window, you know, between college 0:36:34.480 --> 0:36:38.240 basketball seasons. So I think sixteen is probably the right number. 0:36:38.560 --> 0:36:40.480 You know, any more expansion and you turn into like 0:36:40.960 --> 0:36:44.600 MLS territory for lack of better word. But I think 0:36:44.640 --> 0:36:46.640 that's probably a good place that they're going to stop, 0:36:46.680 --> 0:36:50.080 unless there's just like this insane demand for teams, you know, 0:36:50.360 --> 0:36:52.719 to want to get into the league, which you know, 0:36:52.880 --> 0:36:54.440 I'm still not sure is exactly the case. 0:36:55.440 --> 0:36:57.880 Wow, interesting to know one of the teams near the 0:36:57.920 --> 0:36:59.759 bottom of the standings. I got to ask because they're 0:37:00.160 --> 0:37:02.640 to my heart, close to my home here, the Atlanta Dream. 0:37:02.719 --> 0:37:04.680 Last year they made the playoffs for the first time 0:37:05.120 --> 0:37:07.800 in five seasons. They added a future Hall of Famer 0:37:08.040 --> 0:37:10.879 and Tina Charles. They started four and two, they beat 0:37:10.920 --> 0:37:14.480 the Aces. Since then three and fourteen, they've lost seven 0:37:14.560 --> 0:37:18.120 straight heading into a matchup with a great Minnesota team tonight. 0:37:18.239 --> 0:37:20.640 What is going on with the Atlanta Dream this season? 0:37:21.640 --> 0:37:23.600 Yeah, I'm the wrong person to ask that, because I 0:37:23.680 --> 0:37:27.360 just truly hate the style of basketball just does nothing 0:37:27.440 --> 0:37:30.919 for me. I'm I'm sorry to be the one. 0:37:31.160 --> 0:37:34.200 Okay, Okay, it hasn't been a great season to watch. 0:37:34.520 --> 0:37:36.239 You know. I mean a lot of it is Ryan 0:37:36.280 --> 0:37:38.600 Howard is out. She is like the primary source of 0:37:38.640 --> 0:37:41.240 spacing on this team in one on one shot creation, 0:37:41.360 --> 0:37:43.840 Like Alicia Grace had quite a good year. But I think, 0:37:44.080 --> 0:37:45.919 you know, Ryan is comfortably the best player on this team, 0:37:45.920 --> 0:37:47.480 and to be missing her for such a long stretch 0:37:47.920 --> 0:37:51.000 another Olympian going into Paris with some tough injury issues 0:37:51.040 --> 0:37:53.640 just really bums me out. You know, they tried to 0:37:53.680 --> 0:37:56.360 address the point guard issue from last season because this 0:37:56.480 --> 0:37:58.760 was a team that was just like always getting sped 0:37:58.840 --> 0:38:01.360 up and not being very disciplined when they had leads. 0:38:01.760 --> 0:38:04.319 And then of course Jordan Canada gets hurt immediately and 0:38:04.360 --> 0:38:06.480 has played like just a couple of games this season. 0:38:06.680 --> 0:38:09.359 Eryl Powers recently has been out. Hayley Jones not really 0:38:09.400 --> 0:38:12.240 a point guard despite what Atlanta's trying to pigeonhole her into. 0:38:12.360 --> 0:38:15.319 So it just is really hard to address any of 0:38:15.360 --> 0:38:17.520 the you know, the issues that they had last season 0:38:17.560 --> 0:38:20.560 in terms of, you know, their offense, and then defensively, 0:38:20.560 --> 0:38:22.080 they just they just give up so many threes. Like 0:38:22.120 --> 0:38:24.839 I don't understand why the system hasn't changed yet. It's 0:38:25.200 --> 0:38:28.239 it's a really weird theory, like we're just going to 0:38:28.280 --> 0:38:30.080 pack the pain as much as possible and let you shoot, 0:38:30.120 --> 0:38:33.719 and I guess against Connecticut. 0:38:33.200 --> 0:38:33.680 It could work. 0:38:33.719 --> 0:38:35.600 But like most teams in the W like that seems 0:38:35.600 --> 0:38:37.880 like an invitation to have a really good offensive night. So, 0:38:38.880 --> 0:38:41.520 uh yeah, a lot of a lot of weird things 0:38:41.520 --> 0:38:43.680 happening out. They don't even know their draft pick for 0:38:43.719 --> 0:38:47.080 this upcoming season, which is a real problem if you're 0:38:47.080 --> 0:38:48.600 the Atlanta dream Like, you really have to get into 0:38:48.640 --> 0:38:51.759 the playoffs. So you know, best of luck for Ryan 0:38:51.760 --> 0:38:54.080 Howard's health in Jordan Canada's health, because that's what you're 0:38:54.080 --> 0:38:55.440 going to need in the second part of the season. 0:38:55.719 --> 0:38:59.120 So you're saying to start prepping for the next season already, 0:38:59.120 --> 0:39:00.240 get healthy. 0:39:00.320 --> 0:39:01.640 You really got to get into the eight seed. You 0:39:01.640 --> 0:39:03.440 don't want to give up a lottery pick. That's just embarrassing. 0:39:03.520 --> 0:39:07.239 Yeah, that's a that's a great point. We got the 0:39:07.280 --> 0:39:09.560 w NBA All Star Game coming up this weekend. It's 0:39:09.600 --> 0:39:13.120 in Saturday, or it's on Saturday in Phoenix. We've got 0:39:13.760 --> 0:39:17.680 events prior to that this year because we've got the 0:39:17.680 --> 0:39:20.600 Olympics going. It's going to be Team USA versus the 0:39:20.680 --> 0:39:23.560 w NBA All Stars, led by Caitlyn Clark and Angel 0:39:23.640 --> 0:39:27.080 Race amongst many other players. What are you watching for 0:39:27.200 --> 0:39:28.840 on Saturday, Sabrina. 0:39:29.640 --> 0:39:33.919 So many things. I'm excited for dear Cahanby to get 0:39:33.920 --> 0:39:35.960 to play against fur members of the Las Vegas Aces, 0:39:36.160 --> 0:39:40.800 because dear Camby loves playing against Las Vegas. I'm excited 0:39:40.840 --> 0:39:42.960 for want of Honor and was Thomas fiance Is to 0:39:43.000 --> 0:39:44.680 have to guard one another in that game since they've 0:39:44.680 --> 0:39:46.920 been teammates for the last four years in the entirety 0:39:46.960 --> 0:39:50.799 of their relationship. I'm excited for Caitlin Reece and Angel Clark, 0:39:50.960 --> 0:39:53.000 sorry Kaitlynd Clark and Angel Reaes to share the court 0:39:53.040 --> 0:39:55.720 together and potentially Clark to throw some you know, assist 0:39:55.880 --> 0:39:58.759 Angel inside. But you know, I kind of just want 0:39:58.760 --> 0:40:01.400 to see like Team USA healthy. I feel like it's 0:40:01.440 --> 0:40:03.160 been a theme that I've brought up a lot over 0:40:03.200 --> 0:40:04.560 the last half an hour or so. It's just a 0:40:04.640 --> 0:40:07.440 lot of these Olympians have not been a great place physically, 0:40:07.640 --> 0:40:09.479 and I just want to see what that team looks 0:40:09.520 --> 0:40:11.879 like altogether as twelve players. And I worry that it's 0:40:11.880 --> 0:40:15.200 not going to happen by Saturday. But you know, I'm 0:40:15.239 --> 0:40:18.120 a huge homer when it comes to international basketball, and 0:40:18.160 --> 0:40:20.800 I just want them to look as overwhelming and dominating 0:40:20.800 --> 0:40:22.680 as possible. And it'd be nice if that started out 0:40:22.719 --> 0:40:24.440 with a win against the WNBA All Stars. 0:40:24.640 --> 0:40:27.759 Yeah, everybody says we when it comes to international basketball, 0:40:27.800 --> 0:40:29.239 and nobody has a problem with it. 0:40:29.280 --> 0:40:29.560 That's we. 0:40:31.680 --> 0:40:35.400 Yeah, going into Saturday, I mentioned the Olympians injuries and 0:40:35.480 --> 0:40:37.799 so many of them across the board, and wondering how 0:40:37.800 --> 0:40:41.200 they're going to go about it. Will they just kind 0:40:41.200 --> 0:40:43.759 of make sure that they're healthy through it, or are 0:40:43.760 --> 0:40:47.439 they going to take down Team WNBA the way they 0:40:47.560 --> 0:40:49.759 weren't able to do in twenty twenty one, the last 0:40:49.800 --> 0:40:55.080 time this happened the Team WNBA one. Obviously, I can 0:40:55.120 --> 0:40:59.200 say we now had no problem winning the. 0:40:59.120 --> 0:41:01.520 Olympics at the end of the day. 0:41:01.840 --> 0:41:04.759 But how do you see that playing out in terms 0:41:04.840 --> 0:41:08.160 of the Team WA versus the Olympic team. 0:41:08.920 --> 0:41:10.719 Yeah, I think there's just a lot more motivation on 0:41:10.760 --> 0:41:13.239 the WNBA side than there is on the Team USA side, because, 0:41:13.280 --> 0:41:15.759 as you mentioned in twenty twenty one, not only did 0:41:15.760 --> 0:41:18.480 the Olympic team lose to Team WNBA, they then lost 0:41:18.520 --> 0:41:22.120 an exhibition and the next came to Australia before going 0:41:22.120 --> 0:41:26.120 on to you know, win the gold medal in Tokyo. 0:41:26.560 --> 0:41:28.759 So it's not like they really need this tune up 0:41:28.800 --> 0:41:30.719 to prove that they're ready to go, you know, for 0:41:30.880 --> 0:41:34.120 Paris next in a couple of weeks. Whereas everybody on 0:41:34.160 --> 0:41:37.120 the WNBA, like you have somebody like Arique Goumbawale, who 0:41:37.160 --> 0:41:39.520 has talked about the politics of Team USA and her 0:41:39.520 --> 0:41:41.759 not being able to be on the Olympic team, and Nkokumaka, 0:41:41.840 --> 0:41:45.000 who is famously snubbed multiple times for the Olympic team 0:41:45.000 --> 0:41:46.839 and probably has a little bit of an extra grind 0:41:46.840 --> 0:41:49.799 with the Olympic committee. And then you have players like 0:41:50.040 --> 0:41:52.080 you know, Caitlin Clark and Angel Rees who would love 0:41:52.120 --> 0:41:53.400 to be on the Olympic team at some point. And 0:41:53.400 --> 0:41:56.200 this is sort of their like audition and also like 0:41:56.239 --> 0:41:58.919 why didn't you select me this year type of things. 0:41:59.040 --> 0:42:01.760 So I think the motivation is just so much higher 0:42:01.760 --> 0:42:04.080 on the WNBA side, and the fact that they can 0:42:04.120 --> 0:42:05.840 afford to play really hard and if they get a 0:42:05.840 --> 0:42:08.080 little nicked up, it's fine because they're off for four weeks, 0:42:08.120 --> 0:42:10.640 Whereas you get a little nicked up on Team USA 0:42:10.719 --> 0:42:13.400 that could, you know, be potentially problematic when you get 0:42:13.400 --> 0:42:16.160 to Paris. So I think just like the stakes are 0:42:16.239 --> 0:42:19.520 so much clearer for Team WNBA, other than like Diana's 0:42:19.600 --> 0:42:21.759 Rossi and Kalia Copper and Britney Griner who probably want 0:42:21.760 --> 0:42:23.360 to put on a good show for their home crowd 0:42:23.360 --> 0:42:26.000 in Phoenix. I just don't think the motivation is there 0:42:26.040 --> 0:42:30.160 for Team USA. So rather than try very hard and 0:42:30.200 --> 0:42:33.239 potentially get embarrassed store potentially get hurt, I think the 0:42:33.320 --> 0:42:35.640 key is just to take it easy, you know, try 0:42:35.640 --> 0:42:37.960 to put on a little show for the fans and 0:42:38.600 --> 0:42:41.040 get started with your meaningful prep on Sunday. 0:42:41.719 --> 0:42:45.680 Yeah, it's such a unique situation where you're named an 0:42:45.719 --> 0:42:48.120 All Star but you're somehow still a snub. So the 0:42:48.160 --> 0:42:52.160 motivation for the WNBA All Stars is just built. 0:42:51.840 --> 0:42:55.839 In right there. Here's a dumb take. 0:42:55.880 --> 0:42:58.360 I think that the WNBA All Stars will win every 0:42:58.400 --> 0:43:00.640 time they play versus tam Usa, just because they care 0:43:00.680 --> 0:43:03.240 a little bit more, and like you're saying, Sabrina, they can. 0:43:03.120 --> 0:43:04.960 Go all out because they got four weeks. 0:43:05.320 --> 0:43:09.239 Afterwards, you mentioned some of the Phoenix players wanting to 0:43:09.239 --> 0:43:11.200 put on a show. One guy who is going to 0:43:11.200 --> 0:43:15.680 be putting on a show, Pitbull, announces that halftime act 0:43:14.560 --> 0:43:20.200 for the WNBA All Star Game this weekend. In his tweet, 0:43:20.600 --> 0:43:22.400 Pitbull said, I was raised by a woman, and a 0:43:22.400 --> 0:43:25.800 woman made me a man. You excited for Pitbull, Sabrina. 0:43:26.800 --> 0:43:29.520 I was more excited before the tweet, but now generally 0:43:29.600 --> 0:43:30.720 very excited for pitball. 0:43:33.160 --> 0:43:36.560 Dalle should be fun. That is Saturday. But then the 0:43:36.600 --> 0:43:38.600 league has taken a big break. You said four weeks 0:43:38.600 --> 0:43:42.560 for the Olympics. The regular season will resume August fifteenth. 0:43:42.719 --> 0:43:45.239 What should we be watching for in the second half 0:43:45.280 --> 0:43:45.840 of this season? 0:43:48.120 --> 0:43:51.000 A few things. I think if Vegas finally decides it's 0:43:51.040 --> 0:43:53.400 time to play like a real basketball team, you know, 0:43:53.440 --> 0:43:56.600 they haven't played really good defense for the majority of 0:43:56.600 --> 0:43:59.360 this regular season, so I think if they recognized it, 0:43:59.400 --> 0:44:01.759 these last week team games are meaningful to them like, 0:44:02.440 --> 0:44:04.319 you know, you mentioned the top five teams I think 0:44:04.320 --> 0:44:07.160 are all realistic contenders. You don't want to be number 0:44:07.160 --> 0:44:09.120 five because then you don't get home court advantage in 0:44:09.120 --> 0:44:11.520 the first round of the playoffs, and you could potentially 0:44:12.000 --> 0:44:13.680 have to go to the number four seed and like 0:44:13.719 --> 0:44:15.360 play two home games there and not even get to 0:44:15.360 --> 0:44:17.920 come back to your own arena, you know, in that 0:44:17.960 --> 0:44:19.759 first round, which is the best of three. So I 0:44:19.760 --> 0:44:22.480 think seeding is gonna be really important for those top 0:44:22.520 --> 0:44:25.239 five teams. Can Vegas turn it on, Can Connecticut like 0:44:25.400 --> 0:44:29.000 get a good win against Las Vegas or New York 0:44:29.000 --> 0:44:31.680 in those upcoming games, and then you know, obviously I 0:44:31.680 --> 0:44:34.600 always have my own the lottery because Page Becker's coming 0:44:34.680 --> 0:44:38.040 out in the twenty twenty five draft. You've got Dallas 0:44:38.120 --> 0:44:40.320 who probably didn't want to be here at this point, 0:44:40.360 --> 0:44:43.680 but they're they've fallen pretty far back. And do they 0:44:43.719 --> 0:44:45.759 still try to pack it in with Sathusavali or do 0:44:45.800 --> 0:44:47.279 they try to win some games and maybe get an 0:44:47.320 --> 0:44:50.000 eight seed and realize, like is there that big of 0:44:50.040 --> 0:44:52.000 a difference between a lottery pick and the number five pick? 0:44:52.160 --> 0:44:55.560 Who knows? And then that race, you know, for the 0:44:55.600 --> 0:44:59.040 final playoff spots with Indiana and Chicago and Atlanta, I 0:44:59.040 --> 0:45:01.440 think it's going to be really good. So yeah, i'd 0:45:01.440 --> 0:45:02.880 say the number one thing I have an eye on 0:45:03.120 --> 0:45:05.440 is like, what do the Aces look like after the break? 0:45:05.520 --> 0:45:08.799 Just because on paper that's another championship team, but like 0:45:09.280 --> 0:45:12.400 the way they've looked against Chicago last night or you know, 0:45:12.480 --> 0:45:15.759 in some of their recent games doesn't exactly scream three 0:45:15.840 --> 0:45:19.000 pet So yeah, those are probably the top items on 0:45:19.040 --> 0:45:19.439 my list. 0:45:19.760 --> 0:45:21.400 Yeah, I'm looking forward to the ACE as it feels 0:45:22.120 --> 0:45:25.399 old school NBA ish where teams are just like, all right, 0:45:25.440 --> 0:45:26.280 flip that switch. 0:45:26.480 --> 0:45:28.440 We can do it. You know, we've seen it, We've 0:45:28.480 --> 0:45:29.000 done it before. 0:45:29.040 --> 0:45:31.759 Although I like, speaking of the NBA, the tray that 0:45:31.840 --> 0:45:34.920 you mentioned the WNBA team and how motivated they are, 0:45:34.920 --> 0:45:37.759 I'm very much looking forward to that because, yeah, you're 0:45:37.800 --> 0:45:40.280 totally right, going up against the Olympic team. 0:45:40.360 --> 0:45:42.520 That should be something that the NBA does at All 0:45:42.600 --> 0:45:43.160 Star weekend. 0:45:43.160 --> 0:45:46.680 We're trying to find some motivation for this as West 0:45:46.760 --> 0:45:50.279 it does not happen so some way, somehow. I mean, 0:45:50.600 --> 0:45:52.839 we've got we used to see Pitbull. I mean that's 0:45:53.040 --> 0:45:56.279 they're crossing over. We're seeing this crossover. Yeah, you're getting 0:45:56.320 --> 0:45:59.279 flow right of next year. I can already tell Yeah, 0:45:59.600 --> 0:46:03.680 I saw how excited you were for Pitbull Serena. It's 0:46:03.719 --> 0:46:05.200 got to be big for nothing. 0:46:04.960 --> 0:46:07.279 Screams high level basketball to me, like Pitbull. I hear 0:46:07.280 --> 0:46:10.359 his voice when I think NBA playoffs. Exactly, I'm here 0:46:10.400 --> 0:46:10.680 for it. 0:46:11.640 --> 0:46:12.840 What are you going to do this month? 0:46:13.080 --> 0:46:15.560 Four weeks until the w comes back, Like you mentioned 0:46:15.560 --> 0:46:18.080 that other stuff will be going on obviously with the Olympics, 0:46:18.120 --> 0:46:20.280 But how do you plan to spend these four weeks. 0:46:20.880 --> 0:46:23.440 Well, I'm really excited to watch the Olympics, first and foremost. 0:46:23.440 --> 0:46:26.960 I mean, I love handball and like canoeing and all 0:46:27.040 --> 0:46:29.040 these random things that come into my life once every 0:46:29.040 --> 0:46:31.239 four years that I will you put on the back 0:46:31.239 --> 0:46:34.160 burner again until Los Angeles in twenty twenty eight. But 0:46:34.480 --> 0:46:36.560 now I'm spending some time on the beach, you know, 0:46:36.760 --> 0:46:38.600 kind of check in with some college friends. It'll be 0:46:38.600 --> 0:46:39.080 a good time. 0:46:39.719 --> 0:46:41.479 Yeah, you want to talk about things that the NBA 0:46:41.520 --> 0:46:43.760 should steal four weeks off in the middle of the season. 0:46:43.880 --> 0:46:47.920 That's incredible, like the bubble all over. Yeah, exactly right. 0:46:47.920 --> 0:46:50.839 We'll just take a break here, everybody get healthy, come back, 0:46:50.880 --> 0:46:54.120 and we'll have an awesome stretch run. I can't wait 0:46:54.160 --> 0:46:56.560 to see what happens. We'll keep reading your work, Sabrina. 0:46:56.600 --> 0:46:58.799 Can you tell people where they can find you and 0:46:58.840 --> 0:47:01.120 what you got I'm an out or anything else you 0:47:01.120 --> 0:47:01.600 want to plug? 0:47:02.440 --> 0:47:04.520 Yeah. So at the Athletic dot Com is all of 0:47:04.520 --> 0:47:07.799 our women's basketball stuff during the WNBA season. I've got 0:47:07.840 --> 0:47:10.279 like a weekly wrap up power ranking thing that comes 0:47:10.280 --> 0:47:13.359 out every Monday, where, incidentally, I also talked about Angel 0:47:13.400 --> 0:47:16.120 Ray's stat padding this week, so that's a fun little 0:47:16.680 --> 0:47:18.920 way to get into every week of the season. And 0:47:19.280 --> 0:47:21.399 Ben and I have a debate that comes out every 0:47:21.480 --> 0:47:24.160 Thursday where we pick one topic and just get at 0:47:24.200 --> 0:47:26.439 each other about why the other one's wrong, so that's 0:47:26.480 --> 0:47:29.440 always really fun. And we have the Athletic Women's Basketball 0:47:29.440 --> 0:47:32.680 Show that releases every Tuesday, so that's I think the 0:47:32.680 --> 0:47:34.759 best women's basketball podcast out there, so you should listen 0:47:34.760 --> 0:47:34.960 to it. 0:47:35.480 --> 0:47:37.279 I think so too. I'd love the debate you and 0:47:37.320 --> 0:47:39.560 Ben had about the Rookie of the Year. We linked 0:47:39.600 --> 0:47:41.759 it in the chat here, so people go and check 0:47:41.760 --> 0:47:43.759 that one out. Sabrina, Thank you so much. We'll have 0:47:43.800 --> 0:47:47.000 to talk to you soon once we get the w 0:47:47.160 --> 0:47:49.120 back at our Lives and get a little bit closer 0:47:49.600 --> 0:47:50.440 to playoff times. 0:47:50.480 --> 0:47:53.319 Thank you so Marina, Yeah, thank you so much. I'll 0:47:53.320 --> 0:47:55.359 have to bring my own WNBA jersey to wear next time. 0:47:55.360 --> 0:47:57.320 That was an error on my part. O. 0:47:57.520 --> 0:48:00.560 There we go, Candice Parker the goat. I'm sure you agree. 0:48:01.280 --> 0:48:02.960 We're going to take a look at tweet of the night, 0:48:03.000 --> 0:48:03.719 real quick. 0:48:06.200 --> 0:48:07.200 Tweet o the night. 0:48:08.000 --> 0:48:15.359 Wow, this was making the way around tweeter yesterday. It's 0:48:15.480 --> 0:48:20.640 Jalen Brown and Kaiser Gonzerjig at the game a summer 0:48:20.719 --> 0:48:24.320 league where the best mouth reading, the best lip reading 0:48:24.719 --> 0:48:28.520 happened with Jalen Brown and Kaiser Because Jalen Brown, as 0:48:28.320 --> 0:48:32.920 it's being quoted everywhere, comments about Bronnie not being a pro, 0:48:33.360 --> 0:48:36.400 and then they have this discussion. So it is Jalen 0:48:36.440 --> 0:48:40.360 Brown saying, I don't think Bronnie is going to be 0:48:40.400 --> 0:48:43.520 a pro, and con Drick says, I think he'll be 0:48:43.600 --> 0:48:47.080 on the G League team for sure, and Jalen says, 0:48:47.120 --> 0:48:48.759 I don't think so, I think because of his name 0:48:48.800 --> 0:48:51.879 he'll be on the Lakers. So he literally doesn't think 0:48:51.880 --> 0:48:53.759 he'll be a pro, doesn't he can't be a pro. 0:48:53.800 --> 0:48:55.880 And you could see Angel Reese, who is also there, 0:48:56.080 --> 0:48:58.200 listening to Jalen Brown when he says I don't think 0:48:58.200 --> 0:48:59.040 Bronnie is a pro. 0:48:59.440 --> 0:48:59.759 She not. 0:49:00.120 --> 0:49:01.840 She gets a little not although she says, I'm not 0:49:02.040 --> 0:49:05.120 taking part of this. But the next part with Jalen 0:49:05.160 --> 0:49:08.759 Brown actually commenting on this suite was really interesting. He 0:49:08.840 --> 0:49:13.360 said on a retweet on a re x whatever you 0:49:13.440 --> 0:49:16.759 call it, it's a flex to have your son alongside 0:49:16.760 --> 0:49:20.040 you in the NBA. It reflects greatness and longevity. Bronni 0:49:20.080 --> 0:49:21.920 has all the tools around him to be successful. I 0:49:21.960 --> 0:49:24.880 look forward to watching his growth. So he did not 0:49:25.000 --> 0:49:28.040 take back his statement whatsoever, and I like that about him. 0:49:28.040 --> 0:49:30.359 He's basically saying this is how I feel, and I 0:49:30.360 --> 0:49:34.200 can say that because people watching Bronnie James definitely felt 0:49:34.239 --> 0:49:36.200 that way. I know we had this discussion in Vegas. 0:49:36.840 --> 0:49:38.360 I think it's good for him to go to the 0:49:38.360 --> 0:49:41.480 G League. That's where he belongs. He needs to get better. 0:49:41.600 --> 0:49:45.120 I think his defense is solid, but obviously his offensive 0:49:45.120 --> 0:49:47.520 skills can improve a lot, and so that's where he 0:49:47.520 --> 0:49:50.160 should play. As Kaiser said, I think he's going to 0:49:50.160 --> 0:49:52.640 be in the CHI League, although Jalen says, nah, I 0:49:52.640 --> 0:49:54.520 don't know about that. I think his name just makes 0:49:54.600 --> 0:49:56.640 him a Laker for life. That being said, he can 0:49:56.719 --> 0:49:59.160 do both. He can play for a few games or 0:49:59.400 --> 0:50:01.719 be on the band for the Lakers and basically not 0:50:01.800 --> 0:50:06.160 play and come out with Dad at times like rare situations. 0:50:06.200 --> 0:50:09.120 I think that's that's what should happen. Anyways. 0:50:09.120 --> 0:50:11.440 I like how Gellen's defending himself and not just. 0:50:11.360 --> 0:50:15.839 Saying that that saying yeah, yeah, yeah, I said that. 0:50:16.600 --> 0:50:17.960 Yeah I said that. 0:50:18.000 --> 0:50:20.400 And it's hard to argue when you can literally see 0:50:20.560 --> 0:50:22.959 my lips moving and people are able to read the lips. 0:50:23.000 --> 0:50:23.319 I don't know. 0:50:23.320 --> 0:50:26.000 You're a pretty good lip reader, actually, and much better 0:50:26.040 --> 0:50:28.360 than me. I'm always impressed when people are able to 0:50:28.480 --> 0:50:29.600 figure out what they're saying. 0:50:29.960 --> 0:50:30.800 But I think you nailed that. 0:50:31.239 --> 0:50:35.280 They're both right because I think that Bronni will probably 0:50:35.280 --> 0:50:37.839 start the season with the Lakers. There's already been talk 0:50:37.880 --> 0:50:41.080 about him playing alongside Lebron during the first week of 0:50:41.120 --> 0:50:43.080 the season, and then he goes down to the G 0:50:43.200 --> 0:50:48.320 League to work on his game and hopefully for the Lakers, 0:50:48.400 --> 0:50:53.040 become a piece that can actually stick around and maybe 0:50:53.040 --> 0:50:56.520 even get into the rotation in the next couple of years. 0:50:56.560 --> 0:50:58.880 Because the Lakers are still a team trying to win 0:50:58.880 --> 0:51:01.279 a championship, right. That means they don't want to rely 0:51:01.360 --> 0:51:03.200 on any second round pick. They don't want to rely 0:51:03.280 --> 0:51:06.839 on any fifty fifth pick, and clearly Bronni just isn't 0:51:06.880 --> 0:51:10.000 quite ready to be contributing to a team like the Lakers. So, 0:51:10.120 --> 0:51:12.400 like Kaiser Gondrachek said on Twitter, though I think she 0:51:12.440 --> 0:51:14.120 may have deleted it already, the G League is a 0:51:14.160 --> 0:51:16.720 great place to work on your game. You'll get more touches, 0:51:16.719 --> 0:51:19.840 you'll get more opportunity, You'll have to play defense because 0:51:19.840 --> 0:51:22.280 that's why coaches are going to put you on the floor. 0:51:22.760 --> 0:51:25.680 It's a chance for Bronnie to prove that he actually 0:51:25.760 --> 0:51:27.320 deserves to be in the NBA. 0:51:27.719 --> 0:51:30.040 So, I mean, nobody. 0:51:29.800 --> 0:51:32.160 Wants to get sent to the G League, I don't think, 0:51:32.200 --> 0:51:34.360 but a lot of second round draft picks do. 0:51:34.560 --> 0:51:36.839 And it's nothing that's a big deal. 0:51:37.000 --> 0:51:39.160 Just go down there, prove that you're good enough to play, 0:51:39.200 --> 0:51:40.759 then come up and be a part of the real team. 0:51:40.960 --> 0:51:43.520 It is great to go down there and try and 0:51:43.520 --> 0:51:47.880 make yourselves better. That's exactly what Kaiser Gondrizi was implying, 0:51:48.040 --> 0:51:51.520 for sure. But they don't have that luxury like NBA 0:51:51.560 --> 0:51:53.279 players do to be able to go down to a 0:51:53.280 --> 0:51:55.960 G League team. It is good for them. It was 0:51:56.080 --> 0:51:59.600 interesting just following along the Summer League in this conversation 0:51:59.640 --> 0:52:03.919 because it is automatically thought of as a four year 0:52:04.000 --> 0:52:05.759 contract and Brian James is going to be there for 0:52:05.800 --> 0:52:06.320 four years. 0:52:07.160 --> 0:52:10.120 It's not all guaranteed. I was surprised to see. 0:52:09.880 --> 0:52:12.320 That actually after a while that it is only a 0:52:12.360 --> 0:52:16.960 couple of years guaranteed, and so who knows what happens 0:52:16.960 --> 0:52:21.920 beyond that that it's basically matching. No, it isn't past matching. 0:52:21.920 --> 0:52:24.279 It it lines up with your senior a little bit. Yeah, 0:52:24.360 --> 0:52:28.520 not completely, but yeah, it's a good thing for Rich 0:52:28.560 --> 0:52:30.800 Paul to have him signed this type of contract. This 0:52:30.960 --> 0:52:34.680 is a second round number fifty five pick to get 0:52:34.760 --> 0:52:38.320 money number one and to get to get this type 0:52:38.360 --> 0:52:43.359 of G League reps. Beside me, that's that's the important thing. 0:52:43.800 --> 0:52:47.520 But as you said, late second round picks don't usually 0:52:47.560 --> 0:52:48.200 help teams. 0:52:48.320 --> 0:52:49.080 They just do not. 0:52:49.400 --> 0:52:52.640 Second round picks don't usually help teams. Now, they drafted 0:52:52.640 --> 0:52:55.280 an old connect in the first line in the first 0:52:55.320 --> 0:52:58.759 rounds as their pick, and he looked good and Summerly's 0:52:59.200 --> 0:53:02.839 he's just looked solid period. He just looks like he's 0:53:02.880 --> 0:53:05.640 going to be part of the rotation, so they went 0:53:05.680 --> 0:53:08.640 Old there to help him out. But it is an 0:53:08.719 --> 0:53:12.799 interesting team because you see guys like Gary Trent. I'm 0:53:12.800 --> 0:53:15.520 sure you'll talk about it on Friday's drop, but guys 0:53:15.600 --> 0:53:17.960 that could have helped the Lakers, yeah in some way, 0:53:18.040 --> 0:53:22.799 shape or form getting signed somewhere else. So all in all, yeah, 0:53:22.920 --> 0:53:24.960 I bet it's some sad times, But really I don't 0:53:24.960 --> 0:53:26.200 think Barnie James is gonna be. 0:53:26.239 --> 0:53:28.560 He ain't starting, he ain't playing a. 0:53:28.520 --> 0:53:30.560 Ton of minutes on this team. So really it's it's 0:53:30.560 --> 0:53:33.279 not all that bad anyways. When it all comes down to, 0:53:33.360 --> 0:53:36.040 is Jalen Brown just comfortable saying stuff like he said 0:53:36.040 --> 0:53:39.080 about not being on the Olympic team And he said, Nike, 0:53:39.200 --> 0:53:39.600 what do you do? 0:53:39.640 --> 0:53:40.960 And I deserve to be on the Olympic team. 0:53:40.960 --> 0:53:42.560 And he backed that up as well, saying I think 0:53:42.640 --> 0:53:45.480 Nikki has something to do with it. Anyways, Winning Finals 0:53:45.560 --> 0:53:48.600 MVP gives you lets you do whatever you want. 0:53:48.719 --> 0:53:49.919 Yeah, he's living his life. 0:53:50.120 --> 0:53:52.560 He just signed a three hundred million dollar contract in 0:53:52.640 --> 0:53:55.919 one Finals MVP. But my guess is that we don't 0:53:55.920 --> 0:53:58.440 see a lot of uncovered lips from Jalen Brown when 0:53:58.440 --> 0:54:01.320 he's sitting courtside anymore. After the way this sput down, 0:54:01.920 --> 0:54:03.839 I think if I'm the Lakers or a Lakers fan, 0:54:04.239 --> 0:54:07.200 the only thing I'm really feeling any type of way 0:54:07.320 --> 0:54:09.440 with Bronnie is that he does take up a roster spot. 0:54:09.600 --> 0:54:11.720 Gary Trent Junior just went for a veteran minimum. 0:54:11.800 --> 0:54:13.879 He would help a team like the Lakers a lot 0:54:13.920 --> 0:54:15.760 more than Bronnie is going to help them. 0:54:16.400 --> 0:54:18.520 Does take a roster spot. That is that is true. 0:54:18.560 --> 0:54:21.279 It's not a two way contract, which Rich Paula's agent 0:54:21.320 --> 0:54:23.439 said that ain't happen and we're not doing that. 0:54:23.800 --> 0:54:26.280 He got a contract, which which is true. 0:54:27.040 --> 0:54:29.640 Yeah, I wonder if Gary Trent would have been comfortable 0:54:29.719 --> 0:54:33.160 going to the Lakers or I mean it took for 0:54:33.239 --> 0:54:35.560 it took a long time here mid July for Gary 0:54:35.560 --> 0:54:37.920 Trent to be signed, So I wonder, ye what the 0:54:38.000 --> 0:54:38.920 situation was with the. 0:54:38.880 --> 0:54:40.200 Lakers there we shall see. 0:54:40.239 --> 0:54:41.719 I would go down to the Gateway Center arena to 0:54:41.800 --> 0:54:44.560 see Bronnie playing good point Bronni. 0:54:44.360 --> 0:54:46.200 Versus Kobe Buffkin. 0:54:46.560 --> 0:54:51.239 Yeah, exciting times in the A TuS yesterday you talked 0:54:51.280 --> 0:54:54.759 to Joel about the MLB season, Yeah, about the All 0:54:54.760 --> 0:54:55.239 Star Game? 0:54:55.480 --> 0:54:56.080 Yeah, who won? 0:54:56.160 --> 0:54:57.600 It the Golden Glizzies. 0:54:57.960 --> 0:55:00.960 That's the Golden Glizzies were absolutely fun to hand out 0:55:00.960 --> 0:55:05.000 for the first half of MLB because it was it was. 0:55:05.320 --> 0:55:08.799 It was a legitimately fun first half and it was 0:55:08.800 --> 0:55:10.960 great to see show I hit a dinger in the 0:55:11.000 --> 0:55:15.080 All Star Game. Totally fun, it was. It was a 0:55:15.120 --> 0:55:18.359 good one. The discussion actually after the All Star Game 0:55:18.600 --> 0:55:22.480 was who has the worst All Star Game? Because it 0:55:22.640 --> 0:55:25.840 just feels like every like, every every league. 0:55:25.640 --> 0:55:28.799 Which ta like, which league is the least interesting to 0:55:28.800 --> 0:55:29.200 watch them? 0:55:29.239 --> 0:55:33.680 I guess yeah, because league wide, just sports wide. Yeah, 0:55:33.719 --> 0:55:36.480 whether it's NFL the most popular or in North America 0:55:36.560 --> 0:55:39.359 for sure, or whether it's the NBA or whether it's 0:55:39.600 --> 0:55:43.680 MLB or NHL. I love the Skills Contest, but you know, 0:55:44.040 --> 0:55:47.200 it's the same goes for NBA. I love the Saturday 0:55:47.280 --> 0:55:50.439 Night not the skills Contest, but the Dunk contest, Dunk 0:55:50.480 --> 0:55:53.160 Contest and the three point Contest. I like the surrounding 0:55:53.160 --> 0:55:58.840 events the NFL. I mean, they play like dodgeball or something. 0:55:58.880 --> 0:56:01.080 They play some weird stuff, and those are those are 0:56:01.120 --> 0:56:04.040 the more fun things when it comes to these sports. 0:56:04.080 --> 0:56:06.719 But I still to think MLB is is running it 0:56:06.800 --> 0:56:10.040 just because you have to play similarly, they don't play 0:56:10.160 --> 0:56:14.080 I guess as hard like they're not stealing bases, but 0:56:14.160 --> 0:56:16.239 I don't know. I like I like the uniforms. There's 0:56:16.239 --> 0:56:18.160 also debate about that. People are saying, oh, you like 0:56:18.200 --> 0:56:18.600 those ones. 0:56:18.640 --> 0:56:19.239 Yeah, I like them. 0:56:19.320 --> 0:56:22.080 Loud, kind of old timey looking brownies. 0:56:22.320 --> 0:56:24.400 I think you throw the hat on. It's a combo. 0:56:24.520 --> 0:56:25.480 It's a combo of the hat. 0:56:25.560 --> 0:56:30.120 Hat looks fairly new, Jersey's fairly old. So it's like 0:56:30.280 --> 0:56:33.799 old guy, young guy, the old guy down low, young 0:56:33.800 --> 0:56:37.000 guy up top. That's what they should have called them. 0:56:37.760 --> 0:56:41.320 They would have sold. No, I'm not I'm not getting 0:56:41.320 --> 0:56:42.880 physical here. We're not talking. 0:56:42.600 --> 0:56:51.360 About just do it. Funny what you decided NFL worst 0:56:51.520 --> 0:56:53.880 All Star game. They don't even play their sport anymore. 0:56:54.480 --> 0:56:56.280 They play whatever they play flag football? 0:56:56.320 --> 0:56:56.719 Is that right? 0:56:56.960 --> 0:56:59.960 Yeah, they played flag football exactly. There's they don't want 0:56:59.960 --> 0:57:01.600 to get injured, is what it comes down to. The 0:57:01.719 --> 0:57:04.080 NFL says, hey, we're popular enough, we don't need to 0:57:04.120 --> 0:57:06.319 have an All Star game, an actual also game. 0:57:06.760 --> 0:57:07.880 It's after the season. 0:57:08.200 --> 0:57:09.000 Yeah, weird. 0:57:09.640 --> 0:57:12.160 I guess in between the end of the season. 0:57:12.080 --> 0:57:17.560 Right, it's in between the super Bowl and all the playoffs. Yeah, 0:57:17.080 --> 0:57:18.560 that's weird. 0:57:19.360 --> 0:57:21.320 Making me feel good about the NBA though we have 0:57:21.440 --> 0:57:24.360 it during the season, were so exciting. 0:57:24.120 --> 0:57:28.960 And we sure do. Yeah, we can all improve. I 0:57:29.000 --> 0:57:30.320 mean we brought it up here. 0:57:30.680 --> 0:57:34.200 We're talking about Sabrina with Sabrina about the team w 0:57:34.400 --> 0:57:37.800 NBA versus the Olympians. Now, it doesn't work for every season. 0:57:37.840 --> 0:57:40.480 They don't do that in a w NBA every season. 0:57:40.680 --> 0:57:43.880 They do it every four years. Now when it lines up, 0:57:44.720 --> 0:57:49.400 I wonder if the NBA can capitalize on that somehow, somehow. 0:57:49.800 --> 0:57:50.720 It just it's tough. 0:57:50.760 --> 0:57:55.360 But even the discussion we've had before about North America 0:57:55.440 --> 0:58:00.680 versus the world or US versus the world, Yeah, it's 0:58:00.760 --> 0:58:02.360 US versus the world because Canda would be on the 0:58:02.400 --> 0:58:04.520 opposing team and would be freaking awesome. 0:58:04.680 --> 0:58:04.919 Yeah. 0:58:05.040 --> 0:58:07.200 That seems to be the way we can make the 0:58:07.280 --> 0:58:09.360 NBA All Star Game good again. 0:58:10.160 --> 0:58:13.320 Yeah, maybe that would work. Paul Skenes, that guy's pretty good. 0:58:13.560 --> 0:58:14.040 He's awesome. 0:58:14.080 --> 0:58:17.600 Flame thrower. Flame thrower al won the All Star Game. Yeah, 0:58:17.760 --> 0:58:20.960 I saw so great stuff for the Chicago White Sox. 0:58:21.280 --> 0:58:25.400 They keep running Itales. The ale is good. Yeah, the 0:58:25.400 --> 0:58:26.960 White Sox don't. Well, have got a lot of good things. 0:58:27.040 --> 0:58:28.560 You don't think they're going to the World Series. Ill 0:58:28.600 --> 0:58:30.080 at home a little advantage. 0:58:30.120 --> 0:58:31.680 You never know what could happen in the second half. 0:58:32.080 --> 0:58:32.480 Turn it on. 0:58:32.680 --> 0:58:34.800 Yeah they're bad, They're very, very bad. But the AL 0:58:34.920 --> 0:58:38.840 is just running the show that keep winning. Although yeah, 0:58:38.880 --> 0:58:42.479 I think it is funny. Yeah, the All Star Game 0:58:42.520 --> 0:58:44.800 in every sport is just not like it's just name 0:58:44.880 --> 0:58:47.040 what it used to be. The show hay thing, show 0:58:47.080 --> 0:58:49.560 hay thing in from the National League, even though they 0:58:49.560 --> 0:58:51.520 didn't win, was the thing that stood out to me. 0:58:52.040 --> 0:58:52.720 Hitting a dinger. 0:58:52.800 --> 0:58:56.400 That's fun, hitting the ding dong. Yeah, so that's no 0:58:56.560 --> 0:59:00.360 bunch yesterday. Yes, talk with Sabrina today, great stuff. Thank 0:59:00.400 --> 0:59:02.919 you so much to her for coming on. We will 0:59:02.920 --> 0:59:06.080 be back on Friday with the drop to talk about 0:59:06.240 --> 0:59:09.520 some NBA stuff. Ain't a lot going on right now, 0:59:09.600 --> 0:59:12.160 Tess Matas Buzzellis is dominating Summer League. 0:59:12.160 --> 0:59:13.840 Love to see that, but otherwise it's. 0:59:13.640 --> 0:59:16.000 Like we might be doing forty five minutes on Gary 0:59:16.040 --> 0:59:17.840 Trent Junior going to the Bucks. 0:59:17.960 --> 0:59:19.240 Is he's the new Malik Beasley. 0:59:19.280 --> 0:59:24.240 People are saying tune in Friday to find out Brus 0:59:24.520 --> 0:59:25.480 you heard it here first. 0:59:25.680 --> 0:59:29.000 Have a great time, turn up, Love you guys, awesome. 0:59:28.960 --> 0:59:29.880 Thanks for joining us. 0:59:29.920 --> 0:59:34.280 And remember the thing that Asia Wilson and Angel Rees 0:59:34.360 --> 0:59:40.360 were on their legs. It's called a leg sleeve, but 0:59:40.600 --> 0:59:46.000 I like your suggestion a pant leg pant or what. 0:59:45.920 --> 0:59:47.520 Do you wear? What are you wear on your arm? 0:59:47.680 --> 0:59:49.760 I guess it's a sleep that's so so. That's weird 0:59:49.760 --> 0:59:52.680 too too, because it's like a tight It's like it 0:59:52.720 --> 0:59:55.760 goes back to Allan Iverson, like what does that think? 0:59:56.080 --> 0:59:57.560 It's just a guess. 0:59:57.600 --> 1:00:00.480 He's a fabric on your Yeah, the panel that doesn't 1:00:00.520 --> 1:00:03.160 scratch you. That's why Ray Allen said he wore one. 1:00:03.200 --> 1:00:03.640 At least. 1:00:05.560 --> 1:00:07.720 Embrace the leg sleeves. Embrace the w