1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where after two 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: days spent at the luxurious O High Valley in We've 3 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: decided to move permanently to OHI, raise some horses and 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: make olive oil. 5 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 2: Somebody ship my dogs and husband. 6 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: On today's show, we talked to Chicago Sky Center and 7 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: WNBA Players Association Executive Committee. 8 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 2: Member Elizabeth Williams about what's. 9 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: At stake in the next CBA, why the union decided 10 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: to opt out, and what players expect from journalists who 11 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: covered the league. We'll get you caught up on all 12 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: the latest headlines tomorrow, but today is all about our 13 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: Elizabeth interview. 14 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 2: It's coming up right after this joining us now. 15 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 1: She's a forward for the Chicago Sky of the WNBA. 16 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: After immigrating from England, she played college ball at Duke. 17 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 1: Was drafted by the Connecticut Sun fourth overall in twenty 18 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: fifteen and was traded to Atlanta the next year. She 19 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: played for the Dream from twenty sixteen to twenty twenty one, 20 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: spent a season with the Mystics, then joined the Sky 21 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty three. She was the twenty sixteen WNBA 22 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: Most Improved Player and an All start in twenty seventeen. 23 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: She's the secretary of the WNBA Players Association Executive Committee. 24 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 2: She's played in Turkey, China and Russia. 25 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 1: She helped kick Kelly Loaffler's butt to the curb, elect 26 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: Raphaele Warnock and flip the freak and said it it's 27 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Williams. 28 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 2: What's up, Elizabeth, what's up. 29 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 3: That's quite the intro, Thank you. 30 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: It's quite the resume, especially that last part. 31 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: I want to get to that later, but I want 32 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 1: to start with an impressive ten years in the w 33 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: Now you have seen it change dramatically from your rookie 34 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 1: season to this year, and I'm really excited to pick 35 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:32,320 Speaker 1: your brain about a whole bunch of stuff. But I 36 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: want to start with the biggest news of the week, 37 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,919 Speaker 1: besides the liberty winning at all, of course, the WNBA 38 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: electing to opt out of the current CBA. I want 39 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,119 Speaker 1: you to take us behind the scenes of the executive committee. 40 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 1: When did the conversations about opting out really get going 41 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: in earnest. 42 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, honestly, those conversations start pretty early. I mean, 43 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 4: coming into last season, we started having some of the 44 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 4: conversations because you know, you're saying, okay, at the end 45 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 4: of next season, a decision has to be made, and 46 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 4: then I would probably just say, you know, after All 47 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 4: Star break is when we really like rep the engine 48 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 4: as far as having more conversations and more phone calls. 49 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 4: We also met with advisors at All Stars, so also 50 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 4: was a good opportunity when all the players were around 51 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 4: for us to communicate about, you know, what an opt 52 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 4: out could look like, what our advisory team could look like. 53 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 4: And so, you know, after All Star Break, I think 54 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 4: that's when you know, the real conversations were at. 55 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 1: What are some of the priorities for the players when 56 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: you're heading into negotiations. 57 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 4: Salary is probably the biggest one, just because when you 58 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 4: think about the growth of our league, you know, the 59 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 4: viewership has grown, Jersey sales have grown, all of those things, 60 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 4: ticket sales, all that stuff, but the salaries haven't grown 61 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 4: as well. So that's probably the first, like big ticket item. 62 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 4: But in general, just you know, improving and having minimum 63 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 4: standards for practice facilities, game facilities, and charter flights is 64 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 4: another big one. I think a lot of people you know, 65 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 4: saw that we got charter flights this year, but you 66 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 4: know that's not currently in our CBA. It's nothing on paper. 67 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 4: It's really just Kathy saying, you know, we've allocated these 68 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,799 Speaker 4: funds to charters, and it's like, okay, well we need 69 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 4: to see that in writing if we're going to keep 70 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,119 Speaker 4: very smart forward. So, yeah, those are probably the top three, 71 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 4: but I mean there are so many others, and yeah, 72 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 4: so there's there's a lot of conversations we had. 73 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: I think for the most part, barring trolls and morons, 74 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: we've gotten past the idiotic conversation around WNBA players asking 75 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: for the same dollars as NBA players. Everybody understands that's 76 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: not a financial reality for the league. Yet we've gotten 77 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: to revenue share, which is usually what we're pointing to 78 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 1: now when the players are asking for a larger percentage 79 00:03:58,080 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: of what the league is making. 80 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: There's a cop iplication. 81 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: There, and that the WNBA controls forty two percent of 82 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: its cap table, the NBA controls forty two percent, and 83 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: then an investment group that was part of this capital 84 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: race a couple of years ago owns the remaining sixteen percent. 85 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: So less than half of the revenue of the league 86 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: doesn't flow directly back to the league itself. How does 87 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,799 Speaker 1: that impact the w's ability to increase the revenue percentage 88 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,280 Speaker 1: that goes to players even if they want to. Are 89 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: they limited in their ability to give the players what 90 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: they want sometimes as a result of that structure. 91 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 3: Oh slightly. 92 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:31,799 Speaker 4: But fortunately with negotiating a new CBA, you can also 93 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 4: change that structure. Like, we have a lot of flexibility 94 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 4: in negotiating what that structure looks like. Now you know 95 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:43,919 Speaker 4: we can model based on other cbas. So I think, 96 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 4: you know, we're cautiously optimistic in what that new revenue 97 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 4: model could look like. And I think it's important to, 98 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 4: you know, realize, for a league to be in existence 99 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 4: for almost thirty years, like everything can't be failing, right, 100 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 4: everything can't be gone I's wrong. So there are things 101 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 4: that are increasing and there are ways that we can 102 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 4: maximize that as players. 103 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I think it's hard that we're constantly 104 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: talking about WNBA teams losing money and we completely ignore 105 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: that NBA teams report losses regularly. The NETS loss fifty 106 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: to one hundred million dollars in twenty twenty two. And 107 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: the reason I have those generic numbers that are fifty 108 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: million dollars up or down is because there's not a 109 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: lot of transparency how difficult is it for y'all when 110 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: there isn't a lot of transparency, at least publicly for 111 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 1: us to really understand dollars in and out. 112 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 4: It is very difficult. It's hard for us, hard for 113 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:44,720 Speaker 4: the advisors, and we're obviously going to ask for transparency 114 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 4: for this negotiation process to go well. And I think 115 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 4: when it comes to like yearly losses, it's it's funny 116 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 4: that people consider it for us and not for you know, 117 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 4: the MBA teams because in reality, you know, these owners 118 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 4: of NBA teams are still owning those teams, which means, 119 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 4: you know, the franchise values are going up. Like those 120 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 4: are things that the millionaires and billionaires are considering that 121 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 4: I think a lot of like the layperson doesn't consider 122 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 4: when it comes to owning sports teams. And so we 123 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 4: have all of these things in our mind in you know, 124 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:22,799 Speaker 4: trying to make sure that we're negotiating on our behalf. 125 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 2: Yeah. 126 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: Part of the reason the current CBA is no longer 127 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 1: a fit and needs to be renegotiated a couple years 128 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: in advance is because of the tremendous growth in recent 129 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 1: years and especially this season, record attendance, viewership, merch sales. 130 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: Interest in the league is exploding, which is positive, but 131 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: with that comes from growing pains. How much of the 132 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: increase in toxicity, the unhinged comments and unhinged commentary did 133 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 1: you expect coming to this season, and how much of 134 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:50,239 Speaker 1: it came as a surprise. 135 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 4: I mean, it's like how I see it, Like we've 136 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 4: always kind of had the trolls, but I think it's 137 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 4: changed from like stay in the kitchen. Now you guys 138 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 4: are asking for too much, So it's like, Okay, well 139 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 4: now you're watching. I guess you know, like like the 140 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 4: trolls have always existed, but yeah, it's it's been way 141 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 4: more intense, way more misogynistic, racist, like all those things. 142 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 4: I mean, I think any player in this league could 143 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 4: show you their DMS and people would be very surprised 144 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 4: by the stuff they see. And I mean part of 145 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 4: it is like just you know, the narratives around the 146 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 4: rookie class. Part of it is the intense sports betting 147 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 4: and how people just like bet with no sense and 148 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 4: no regard for the humanity of players or. 149 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: Their own bank accounts or their own bank accounts, like 150 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: those are very problematic things. 151 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 4: So that entire combination was not ideal, but at the 152 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 4: end of the day, the numb like having you know, 153 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 4: an increase in viewership is important, and I mean, I 154 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 4: think there are some people that did consider the league 155 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 4: before that have become true fans, and so you know, 156 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 4: we try to focus on those people and not let 157 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 4: the negativity, you know, drive the narrative, because at the 158 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 4: end of the day, there's I mean, amazing players that 159 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 4: are in now, amazing players that are going to come in, 160 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 4: and you know, as someone who's part of the ec like, 161 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 4: that's what you anticipate in negotiating, you're negotiating for the 162 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 4: future as well. 163 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 2: We got to take a quick break. Don't move a muscle. 164 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 2: You know. 165 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,559 Speaker 1: It's interesting the beginning of the league, there were high 166 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: profiles men predominantly in sports that were used in the 167 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 1: WNBA as a punchline. Then the league settled in and 168 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: they started to just sort of ignore it, which wasn't good, 169 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: but at least didn't contribute. And then this year it's 170 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: like these high profile voices came back around to pay 171 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: attention but didn't do the work to understand the league, 172 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 1: didn't contribute to conversations a lot of meaningful ways, and 173 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: actually contributed to some of the toxicity. So you've got 174 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: what you said, which is like, we've always had trolls, 175 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: but now we've got these super high profile voices with 176 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: a big audience that were elevating and repeating narratives that 177 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 1: were created by the trolls because they weren't doing the 178 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: work and they weren't understanding the nuance. So they were 179 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: creating or building off of stories that weren't vetted or 180 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: coming from the right place. And I think that's what 181 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: made it really challenging. I wonder we talked about on 182 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 1: this show a couple different times how in the past, 183 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: when the league itself or society wasn't getting something right, 184 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: oftentimes the players of the W were the ones that 185 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 1: came together and said, let's put our heads together and 186 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 1: do something about it. I talked about kicking Kelly Loffler 187 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: to the curb and helping change the Senate. That was 188 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 1: like something that the W players came together, you included 189 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: to do. 190 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 2: I was a little bit surprised. 191 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: That this season the league or the player didn't have 192 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: more of a plan in advance, seeing the Caitlin Clark 193 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: Angelry stuff coming down the pike and anticipating how that 194 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: might continue to build and grow in snowball during the season. 195 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 1: Have the players spoken behind the scenes about changing this 196 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: season's environment or being able to change things going toward 197 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: next year. 198 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's tough. 199 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 4: I mean, I think we anticipated some of it, but 200 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 4: not all of it. And I think they're the media 201 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 4: has a duty, especially you know, the higher profile people 202 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 4: in the media that hadn't necessarily covered the league before. 203 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 4: I think they do have an obligation to report fairly. 204 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 4: Like that's part of, you know, the integrity of being 205 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 4: in the media space. And I don't think that always happened, 206 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 4: And so for us, I think as players, it's like 207 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 4: what can we do? I mean, we have to answer questions, 208 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 4: like we have to be available and we can be as. 209 00:10:58,040 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 3: Respectful as possible. 210 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:04,679 Speaker 4: I think there was definitely a disconnect in you know, 211 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 4: how we communicate that we're frustrated and bothered by some 212 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 4: of the things that are happening, but also, you know, 213 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 4: we still want to show who we are and be 214 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 4: you know. 215 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 3: Respectful athletes. But yeah, I also. 216 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 4: Think that things snowballed in a way that players didn't 217 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 4: really have a lot of control over. And I think 218 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 4: that that is where the league kind of had more 219 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 4: of the duty than us, Like, realistically, our duty is 220 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 4: to play and to put a good product out and 221 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:36,319 Speaker 4: other people write the stories. 222 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 3: You know. 223 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:39,679 Speaker 1: The reason we had that conversation was actually because we 224 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: were just so used to oftentimes players being failed by 225 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 1: the teams and leagues and having to step up. It 226 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: was really after Kathy Engelbert's sort of fumbling of the 227 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:54,439 Speaker 1: question about the increase in toxicity and sort of spinning 228 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: it into a positive around a rivalry, that we started 229 00:11:57,440 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: to think, if leadership isn't going to be able to 230 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: handle the enormity of this situation, it might come down 231 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: to the players. So absolutely, your job is to play 232 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: and not to have to deal with all that. You've 233 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 1: just got such a good resume of doing the big 234 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: things and handling the big things. 235 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 5: And I think that's why we were all like, the 236 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 5: players will fix it, they'll. 237 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 3: Bigure something out. 238 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 4: But I also think that's why we ended up with 239 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 4: that statement towards the end of the season that Terry 240 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 4: put out like that was absolutely backed by player leadership. 241 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 4: She was just, you know, the person who signed off 242 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 4: on it. But it was kind of like the Christine 243 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 4: Brennan situation was kind of the last straw. It wasn't 244 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 4: solely about her, but it just, you know, happened to 245 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 4: be her in this situation and how things had gone 246 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 4: on over the season, and that was I mean, but 247 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 4: as to what you're saying, it probably came too late, 248 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,319 Speaker 4: and so I think that's why that situation got the 249 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 4: feedback that it did, because it's like, why didn't this 250 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,199 Speaker 4: come sooner? But it's also like it shouldn't have had 251 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 4: to come period, but players still felt like something had 252 00:12:59,040 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 4: to be said. 253 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,599 Speaker 1: Yeah, the PA issued a statement about the work of 254 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: Christine Brennan, particularly the interview with Djna Carrington about the 255 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 1: incidental conduct she had with Kitlyn Clark in a playoff game. 256 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 1: I'm wondering, you know, when the PA decided to put 257 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,199 Speaker 1: out that statement specifically Abrett Brennan. Were there also other 258 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: outlets or journalists that contributed to these larger issues that 259 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: you felt you wanted to speak on and felt like 260 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: you couldn't before or My impression was that there was 261 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: an expectation of Christine that you wouldn't have for some 262 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: other outlets who will not be named on this show 263 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: because I don't want anyone giving them clicks or going 264 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: to look at them, but ones that you sort of 265 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: expect that are shit posting that it never respected women, 266 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: will never respect women, aren't attempting to do a good coverage, 267 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: and in my opinion, is always best to ignore them 268 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: and let them yell at the wall or the five 269 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 1: people that they have paying attention. Is that why Christine 270 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: was centered, because I imagine there's plenty of other outlets 271 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: or people that kind of didn't do right by the 272 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: work that was required to cover the team and the 273 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:56,719 Speaker 1: league this year too. 274 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, definitely, I think that was the bigger issue, you know, 275 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 4: like you have expectations for certain people in the media, 276 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 4: and I think just because of how everything was handled, 277 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 4: we were bothered that it came from her, because, like 278 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 4: we mentioned earlier in the show, there are people that 279 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 4: haven't necessarily watched or covered women's basketball extensively and use 280 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 4: us as punchlines before and are now trying to spin 281 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 4: the block, whereas she's someone who's kind of seen it 282 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 4: all and got caught up in narratives, you know, and 283 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 4: it's like, Okay, this is someone that we should be 284 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 4: trusting to cover as. 285 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: Properly right and there's a weight to what she says. 286 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: Because of her tenure speaking for women and fighting for women, 287 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: people will assume that it's coming from a place that's 288 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: educated and informed, and so when it furthers certain narratives, 289 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: it hits different than someone that you're sort of. 290 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 5: Like, Ah, he doesn't know what he's talking about. 291 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 2: He just got here. Yeah. 292 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: You know, you and I spoke a couple of weeks ago, 293 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: and you said that the players can handle tough journalism. 294 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: You can handle professional questions, you can handle being challenged. 295 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 1: You don't want reporters to be fans or sick of fans. 296 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: You understand that the growth of the league and growing 297 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: women's sports means covering them like sports and not just cheerleading. 298 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: Do you think that some folks have the wrong idea 299 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: about what players are asking for when it comes to coverage. 300 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, so I think that people do generally have the 301 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 4: wrong idea on how we respond to criticism and proper journalism. 302 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 3: I think for us in twenty twenty, to. 303 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 4: Literally wear vote warn oct shirts and influence an election, 304 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 4: we're pretty much built for anything. Because that's kind of 305 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 4: the highest level of influence and controls and of difficult conversations. 306 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 4: So yeah, I think we're open to all of it, 307 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 4: and you know, growth definitely comes with that. 308 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean at espnW, which I've been working on 309 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: for fourteen years, we understood that a pivot was necessary. 310 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: At the beginning of our work, it was really about supporting, spotlighting, 311 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: highlighting women athletes, and there was a moment where we said, Okay, 312 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: we got to really start to be covering these athletes 313 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: in these leagues and these teams with the same critical 314 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: eye that we do mends. 315 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 2: That's how you advance it. 316 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: And it feels like the w players understand that this 317 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 1: exponential growth is huge and with it will come more criticism, 318 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: more eyeballs, more people call in for someone to get 319 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 1: benched or fired or whatever it is. And that's fine 320 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 1: if it's done with an understanding and a nuanced respect 321 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: for the players in the league itself. And I would 322 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: assume that a lot of you, very very very smart, 323 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: multifaceted people would actually welcome that. I actually think it's 324 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: interesting to see the league covered in a way that 325 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:37,239 Speaker 1: feels more professional. 326 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, definitely, and I think the discourse would for the 327 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 4: most part reflect that. I think Briana Turner has the 328 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 4: funniest tweets, and she made a joke like because somebody 329 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 4: was talking about her minutes or something, and she's like, 330 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 4: at least this is the conversation I'd rather have, is 331 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 4: an he's talking about you know what I look at 332 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 4: like her, you know, So it's like we'll welcome those 333 00:16:58,520 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 4: for sure. 334 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: That's what I always I'm like, if someone disagrees with 335 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 1: my sports takes, bring it on. It's like, why does 336 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: it always come back to like you're ugly, you're fat 337 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,119 Speaker 1: or whatever, you shouldn't even be here, Like, let's just 338 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 1: argue about the shit I'm talking about. Yeah, have there 339 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: been you know, conversations about how over the years access 340 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: has changed and whether that's impacted the relationships you can 341 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 1: have with reporters to make those conversations more informed and better, 342 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,680 Speaker 1: because I know the w move journalists out of locker 343 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: rooms and into other spaces for interviews. 344 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 2: We had a long time baseball. 345 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: Journalist on the show, Melissa Lucky, helped fight for women 346 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: to actually get access to locker rooms, and we asked 347 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: her about some of that in the changing space, and 348 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,919 Speaker 1: she said she understands the desire to give athletes their 349 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 1: own space understands that there's you know, that sort of 350 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 1: special space just for the athletes, but she also said 351 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,639 Speaker 1: there's nowhere like a locker room to get the good stuff, 352 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 1: the relationships, the vibes, the honesty, and to truly tell 353 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: the story of a team. 354 00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 2: What's your response to that. 355 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, So I've been been in the league a while, 356 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 4: so I remember when the locker room was open, and 357 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:08,719 Speaker 4: I remember when it was closed, and I think just 358 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 4: the changing dynamic of players as well and what they're 359 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 4: comfortable with, you might not see the same results of 360 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:18,679 Speaker 4: opening the locker room as you did in the past. 361 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 4: And so I think we have done a good job of, 362 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 4: you know, making ourselves available to media. Just outside the 363 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 4: locker room, we're available, you know, pregame shoot around, Like 364 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:36,400 Speaker 4: there are more times that were available that weren't before. 365 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 4: So I could see how before it's like, oh yeah, 366 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 4: I definitely need to get in the locker room, whereas 367 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 4: now it's like I have so many different opportunities to 368 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 4: see the players on the court, you know, last fifteen 369 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 4: minutes to shoot around and then talk to them, not 370 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 4: necessarily in our space. So yeah, I'm definitely a fan 371 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 4: of keeping the locker room closed and still having a 372 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 4: good line of communication with with our reporters. 373 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it's it's slightly different when newspapers ruled the 374 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,440 Speaker 1: day and that's where you had to go to get information. 375 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,679 Speaker 1: It was so based on deadline and really you almost 376 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: had to hold players captive immediately after the game ended 377 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: and as quickly as possible get folks in. That still 378 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: exists and a lot of people want to turn their 379 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 1: nose about that, but newspapers still have a pretty big role. 380 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: And same with television. Television wanting to get in there 381 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 1: and then immediately be able to have an after show 382 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: or a post show where they're showing pressers, they're doing interviews, 383 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 1: they're turning around clips. So as someone who's been in 384 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: locker rooms, I totally get that. I also covered teams 385 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: like the Chicago Cubs when Milton Bradley was on the team, 386 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: and he would try to hide in the shower and 387 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 1: stay in there until the time had passed and not 388 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 1: talk to anyone. So like, it didn't fix all the problems, 389 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 1: but it did fix a little bit people who were 390 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 1: reticent to speak or would try to get around the. 391 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 5: Necessity of engaging with journalists. 392 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: And I know a lot of people who don't like 393 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:56,639 Speaker 1: the media will say that's their prerogative, but I always say, like, 394 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:58,400 Speaker 1: part of the reason that you get to be paid 395 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: a lot as a pro athlete is that your stuff 396 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: is covered by TV and TV rights deals and so 397 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,199 Speaker 1: like that's part of the game, is like, you know, 398 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: being in a relationship with journalists. So I'm torn on 399 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 1: this because there's also a lot of creepers in the 400 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,679 Speaker 1: WNBA and women's sports in general. There are people, and 401 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,479 Speaker 1: we learned this this season, even from the very beginning 402 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:17,959 Speaker 1: with Greg Doyle and Caitlin Clark and the dumb hearthands. 403 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 1: People do not know how to behave around women, and 404 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: so I respect that it is a very different thing 405 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:27,440 Speaker 1: to be in a woman's space as a male journalist, 406 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 1: particularly not all men or just men. I'm sure there 407 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,920 Speaker 1: are some creepy women too, but yeah, I mean, I 408 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: think it's going to be a continuing conversation, and the 409 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 1: w is a place that shows that that is a 410 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:40,679 Speaker 1: conversation between the league and its players. And now the 411 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: NFL is reaching out to the w to ask about 412 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 1: that practice and seeing whether they will embrace it. So 413 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: I think ultimately it ends up just being a mutual respect. 414 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: Do you find that you're able to get to know 415 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 1: newer media members despite them not being able to just 416 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: have that time and space to communicause that's one of 417 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: the things that reporters have said. If they can't just 418 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: have some side chat with you, that's not for a story, 419 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 1: it's hard for them to create a relationship so that 420 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 1: if something tough comes up, they can come to you 421 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: with it. 422 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. 423 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,159 Speaker 4: No, I mean they're they're definitely around enough that you 424 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 4: can have conversations with them. I think again, closing the 425 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:20,399 Speaker 4: locker room but still opening up the availability allowed for 426 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 4: extra time for them to just be around period. 427 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:25,440 Speaker 3: So that's also. 428 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 4: Why I'm like, we have to be available even if 429 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 4: we're not like quote unquote on the record, like they're around, 430 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 4: so you start to see familiar faces and get more 431 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:36,640 Speaker 4: comfortable with people, for sure. 432 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 1: Do you have a message to newbies to the league, 433 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: whether they've just been assigned and listen, there's I think 434 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,160 Speaker 1: some pretty broad strokes being used for people who are 435 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: new Some of them are people who just needed to 436 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 1: get paid in order to cover the team or the league, right, 437 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:54,640 Speaker 1: and like now that there are newspapers and outlets actually 438 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: paying for those jobs. Great, awesome, Welcome to the w 439 00:21:57,480 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: Do your research and show up and be great and 440 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 1: we'll be super welcome. Do you have any ideas or 441 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 1: tips for them on getting to know players in the 442 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,640 Speaker 1: league and contributing to the coverage in a good positive way. 443 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 3: Just don't be creepy a good start. 444 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 1: We have a show title with Elizabeth Williams. 445 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 4: Just just show that you're informed, Like, actually this is 446 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 4: because I was watching ear League. It made me think 447 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 4: of this, But like, have an awareness if you know 448 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,359 Speaker 4: players have played overseas or you know, asking about those seasons, 449 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:33,120 Speaker 4: like those little things show that you have a level 450 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 4: of interest in the woman's game. That might make us 451 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 4: relax a little bit and say, Okay, Like this person 452 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,959 Speaker 4: is doing their research, they care, they want to get 453 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:44,960 Speaker 4: to know more, and I'm more likely to disclose like, 454 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 4: oh yeah, I played for this team. I played Like 455 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 4: a lot of questions were about me playing with Marina 456 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 4: last year overseas and then bringing that into Chicago, right, So, 457 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 4: like having just an extra knowledge about where players are 458 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 4: coming from and what they want to bring. I think 459 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:02,640 Speaker 4: it brings our guard down a little bit. 460 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: I love that, Gosh, I look forward to the soliloquies 461 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 1: we're going to get from reporters now, dropping all of 462 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 1: your knowledge before they get to a like yes or 463 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: no question, just to prove that they've got their credentials. Elizabeth, 464 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:15,520 Speaker 1: so great to talk to you. Thank you for the time. 465 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: Enjoy overseas. You're in Spain. 466 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 4: Now, Yeah, but this is just for vacation, so oh fun, 467 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:23,720 Speaker 4: kind of a nice yeah, just chilling. 468 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 1: Thanks so much to Elizabeth for taking the time, especially 469 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 1: since she was chatting with us from out in Spain. 470 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 2: We got to take another quick break. 471 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: But when we come back, a feel good story. 472 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:41,120 Speaker 2: Welcome Backslices. We love that you're listening, but we want 473 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 2: you to get in the. 474 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 1: Game every day too. So here's our good game play 475 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 1: of the day. It's actually more of a gift from 476 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: us to you in the form of feel good progress 477 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: and inspiration. This is the thirteenth year of the Global 478 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:57,439 Speaker 1: Sports Mentoring Program the GSMP, a collaboration between espnW and 479 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 1: the US State Department that harnesses the pop positive power 480 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 1: of sport and mentorship to connect accomplished women leaders from 481 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:07,360 Speaker 1: around the world with female executives at leading organizations. 482 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 2: In the US. 483 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:10,120 Speaker 1: Over its thirteen years, the program has created a global 484 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 1: network of over one hundred and seventy five women from 485 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: seventy plus countries who support efforts to expand access to education, 486 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 1: economic equity, and societal opportunity and inclusion through sports now. 487 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:23,680 Speaker 1: I had the honor of hosting the tenth anniversary celebration 488 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:26,199 Speaker 1: of the GSMP in DC a few years ago with 489 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:28,879 Speaker 1: Billy Jean King and First Lady Jill Biden, plus a 490 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,919 Speaker 1: collection of GSMP alums from years past and every year 491 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:35,200 Speaker 1: at the espnW Summit, the current delegates arrived to kick 492 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 1: off their time in the States, start their mentorships, wear 493 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 1: the traditional garb of their country to get on stage 494 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 1: and share how they're using sports to make change back home. 495 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: These women are making a difference from advocating for social 496 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 1: welfare policy in Brazil to using boxing to teach life 497 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: skills and self defense to Kenyan women and girls. This 498 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 1: is a truly powerful and inspiring program and I promise 499 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 1: you will not be able to stop smiling watching them 500 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:00,119 Speaker 1: start their journey and talk about what they plann to 501 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 1: do with their time here in the States. You can 502 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: watch the video of the twenty twenty four delegates on 503 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 1: stage at this year's espnW Summit will put the link 504 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:09,320 Speaker 1: in our show notes. We always love to hear from you, 505 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: so to hit us up on email Good game at 506 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: wondermedianetwork dot com or leave us a voicemail at eight 507 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 1: seven two two o four fifty seventy and don't forget 508 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,400 Speaker 1: to subscribe, rate and review and tell your friends too too. 509 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,360 Speaker 2: Like producer Alex Alex review something. 510 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:26,719 Speaker 6: When this podcast becomes so intertwined with your life that 511 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:29,879 Speaker 6: you almost say you to people in real life. Rating 512 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 6: three out of five bleeps review. I recently joined a 513 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:36,399 Speaker 6: tennis league, meaning I played doubles on the regular. Now 514 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 6: it's a super fun, read non competitive league, but every 515 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 6: week I almost get myself in trouble. That's because at 516 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:45,919 Speaker 6: the end of every match, we all shake hands in 517 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:48,760 Speaker 6: tap rackets, and that's when what should be a nice 518 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 6: moment of sportsmanship becomes dangerous. Picture me turning to my 519 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 6: doubles partner, usually at RANDO that I met just one 520 00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 6: hour earlier, in saying good game, and then approaching the 521 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:04,360 Speaker 6: net to repeat the phrase good game to whichever opponent 522 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:07,159 Speaker 6: is closest to me. And that's when I feel the 523 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,640 Speaker 6: words forming in my mouth. A nice, hearty you right 524 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:12,879 Speaker 6: on the tip of my tongue, ready to land on 525 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 6: unlucky opponent number two, who did nothing except ace my 526 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:19,120 Speaker 6: beginner asked about half a dozen times. Don't say it, 527 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,359 Speaker 6: don't say it. I find myself thinking it's gotten to 528 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 6: the point where the post match handshake is way more 529 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:27,920 Speaker 6: stressful than the match itself. So if I get kicked 530 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:30,679 Speaker 6: out of my doubles, leak for cursing opponents. All you 531 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:32,400 Speaker 6: slices that are have my back. 532 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:34,120 Speaker 2: I love that. 533 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:35,879 Speaker 5: You know I got you, l I got you. I 534 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:37,119 Speaker 5: could take those tennis ladies. 535 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:40,919 Speaker 1: Now it's your turn. Slices, Rate and review. Thanks for listening. 536 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 1: See you tomorrow. Good Game, Elizabeth, Good Game. 537 00:26:43,359 --> 00:26:46,199 Speaker 2: Unions You Accidental Fuse. 538 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:51,440 Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports 539 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You 540 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:57,200 Speaker 1: can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 541 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Meat Network, 542 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 1: our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive 543 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 1: producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan, and Emily Rudder. 544 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rutterer, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and 545 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:11,879 Speaker 1: Lindsay Craterwell. 546 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:15,359 Speaker 2: Production assistants from Lucy Jones and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain.