WEBVTT - Reaching the Summit 0:00:01.040 --> 0:00:03.960 Welcome to Good Game of Sarah Spain on Tuesday, November fifth, 0:00:04.000 --> 0:00:06.880 where we're reminding you one more time to make your 0:00:06.960 --> 0:00:10.039 voice heard and vote. On today's show, we're bringing you 0:00:10.080 --> 0:00:13.560 an incredible panel I moderated at last week's espnW Summit, 0:00:13.720 --> 0:00:17.240 featuring some badass leaders from teams across multiple women's pro leagues, 0:00:17.480 --> 0:00:21.360 plus college hoops storylines to watch, some NWSL loose ends, 0:00:21.680 --> 0:00:23.000 and a final ode. 0:00:22.760 --> 0:00:25.439 To Spooky Season. It's all coming up right after this. 0:00:31.200 --> 0:00:33.879 Welcome back, my Lil Orange slices. Here's what you need 0:00:33.920 --> 0:00:34.520 to know today. 0:00:36.960 --> 0:00:40.960 The college basketball season is officially underway and it got 0:00:41.000 --> 0:00:43.000 off to a rock and start thanks to number three 0:00:43.080 --> 0:00:46.159 USC and number twenty ole Miss, who played in Paris 0:00:46.200 --> 0:00:49.159 at the AFLAC we Play event. USC fought off a 0:00:49.240 --> 0:00:51.479 late comeback from ole Miss to grab the sixty eight 0:00:51.520 --> 0:00:54.960 to sixty six win, with Juju Watkins contributing twenty seven 0:00:55.040 --> 0:00:58.520 points and ten boards in transfer Kiki eria Fen adding 0:00:58.560 --> 0:00:59.200 twenty two. 0:00:59.200 --> 0:01:00.600 Plus thirteen rebounds. 0:01:00.760 --> 0:01:02.680 We'll have more on the return of college hoops in 0:01:02.720 --> 0:01:05.560 a little bit to soccer, where we wanted to tie 0:01:05.640 --> 0:01:08.279 up a couple loose ends on the NWSL regular season 0:01:08.480 --> 0:01:10.880 ahead of the start of the playoffs this weekend. So first, 0:01:11.319 --> 0:01:15.400 let's talk parody, or, more accurately, the lack of parody. 0:01:15.680 --> 0:01:18.800 The regular season ended with a forty point gap in 0:01:18.840 --> 0:01:22.600 the table. Number one Orlando finished with sixty points, while 0:01:22.600 --> 0:01:26.720 the last place Houston Dash managed just twenty. Per ESPN's 0:01:26.760 --> 0:01:30.480 Jeff cassoof it's the second largest gap in NWSL history. 0:01:30.720 --> 0:01:32.840 Back in twenty eighteen, there was a forty eight point 0:01:32.840 --> 0:01:35.479 gap when the North Carolina team lost just one game 0:01:35.520 --> 0:01:37.360 and Gotham then called Sky. 0:01:37.160 --> 0:01:39.479 Blue, won just one game. 0:01:40.120 --> 0:01:42.720 There's also a huge gap dividing the top four teams 0:01:42.720 --> 0:01:45.240 in the league this year. Wheorlando Washington got them in, 0:01:45.319 --> 0:01:48.680 Kansas City are way ahead of everyone else. Number four 0:01:48.760 --> 0:01:51.160 Kansas City finished a full sixteen points ahead of the 0:01:51.240 --> 0:01:54.200 number five North Carolina courage to put that in perspective, 0:01:54.560 --> 0:01:58.080 last year, only thirteen points separated at the top ranked 0:01:58.240 --> 0:01:59.760 and last ranked teams. 0:01:59.480 --> 0:02:00.560 In the whole league. 0:02:00.720 --> 0:02:02.640 We'll see whether that gap in the table carries over 0:02:02.680 --> 0:02:06.360 to the playoffs during this weekend's quarter final matchups. Okay, 0:02:06.360 --> 0:02:08.400 moving on, We also got a shout out Kansas City's 0:02:08.440 --> 0:02:11.720 Temwa Chewinga for winning the Golden Boot in her first 0:02:11.800 --> 0:02:14.360 year in the league front of the Show, scored twenty 0:02:14.400 --> 0:02:17.240 goals in twenty five games to become the first African 0:02:17.240 --> 0:02:19.880 born player to earn the honor. Tewinga entered the Olympic 0:02:19.919 --> 0:02:22.359 Break even with the Orlando's Barber Banda in the Golden 0:02:22.360 --> 0:02:24.919 Boot race, but it was straight up Golabaloza for Chewinga 0:02:25.000 --> 0:02:27.400 during the back half of the season. Banda ended up 0:02:27.400 --> 0:02:30.360 finishing second in the Golden Boot standings with thirteen points 0:02:30.440 --> 0:02:33.799 and Portland Sophia Smith came in third with twelve. By 0:02:33.840 --> 0:02:35.920 the way, one of my favorite things on this show 0:02:35.960 --> 0:02:37.680 has been tem Will coming out and saying before the 0:02:37.680 --> 0:02:40.520 season started she thought she would score twenty twenty three, 0:02:40.639 --> 0:02:41.560 twenty four goals. 0:02:41.680 --> 0:02:44.560 Didn't even realize that that would set a record, and 0:02:45.160 --> 0:02:46.720 she called her shot. It worked out. 0:02:46.960 --> 0:02:50.120 Also, here's another wild stat. So Washington's Croubathune finished the 0:02:50.120 --> 0:02:53.320 season with the most assists in the league with ten, 0:02:53.600 --> 0:02:56.079 but she played her last game at the season in August. 0:02:56.560 --> 0:02:59.160 The Rookie of the Year candidate sustained a season ending 0:02:59.200 --> 0:03:01.320 knee injury in August while she was throwing out a 0:03:01.320 --> 0:03:04.760 ceremonial first pitch at the Washington Nationals game and yet 0:03:04.800 --> 0:03:06.640 still finish the season with the most assists. 0:03:06.919 --> 0:03:07.760 That's damn good. 0:03:08.720 --> 0:03:12.080 Finally, to golf American, Nelly Korda, clinched her first LPGA 0:03:12.200 --> 0:03:14.600 Player of the Year award on Sunday, given annually to 0:03:14.600 --> 0:03:17.160 the player who accumulates the most points over the course 0:03:17.160 --> 0:03:19.840 of the season. Yeah, the season is still going, but 0:03:19.880 --> 0:03:23.640 it is mathematically impossible for anyone to catch Korda, whose 0:03:23.680 --> 0:03:26.680 twenty twenty four season included six wins on the tour, 0:03:27.040 --> 0:03:30.160 including one major. It's Korda's first time winning the award. 0:03:32.639 --> 0:03:34.639 We got a great guest lined up to chat all 0:03:34.720 --> 0:03:37.000 things college hoops later this week and get you set 0:03:37.000 --> 0:03:39.360 for what should be an incredible season. But since we 0:03:39.360 --> 0:03:41.000 were watching the first few games, we did want to 0:03:41.040 --> 0:03:43.640 give you one storyline will each be watching as the 0:03:43.760 --> 0:03:47.640 action unfolds. I'm gonna start with mine, my first honorable mention. 0:03:47.680 --> 0:03:49.400 I know we're not supposed to do this, but the 0:03:49.520 --> 0:03:52.200 technical that Juju Watkins got in their game just reminded 0:03:52.200 --> 0:03:55.760 me of how stupid technical fouls are, especially at the 0:03:55.760 --> 0:03:56.480 collegiate level. 0:03:56.560 --> 0:03:57.920 Let these bitches talk shit. 0:03:58.560 --> 0:04:02.920 Okay, okay, My real actual storyline I will be watching 0:04:03.000 --> 0:04:06.520 actually does include Juju Watkins. So I'm looking for sophomore 0:04:06.520 --> 0:04:10.720 slumps and sophomore star. We saw incredible performances from last 0:04:10.760 --> 0:04:12.840 year's freshman class, and I'm wondering if any of those 0:04:12.840 --> 0:04:14.920 players are going to take a step back this season 0:04:15.240 --> 0:04:18.560 because expectations have ramped up for them, or opposing teams 0:04:18.600 --> 0:04:20.760 have watched a lot of tape on them, or maybe 0:04:20.800 --> 0:04:24.040 even just team dynamics and rosters shifting. And then secondly, 0:04:24.120 --> 0:04:26.760 on the opposite side of that, we have these sophomore 0:04:26.760 --> 0:04:30.320 superstars who will be the breakout star that separates themselves 0:04:30.360 --> 0:04:32.400 from the pack. My money is on Juju Watkins. That's 0:04:32.400 --> 0:04:34.880 what happened last year as a freshman. But Hannah Hidalgo 0:04:34.960 --> 0:04:38.240 will have something to say about that. Madison Booker, even 0:04:38.400 --> 0:04:41.760 Malaysia ful Wiley, simply due to her incredibly flashy play 0:04:41.760 --> 0:04:43.400 and some of the highlights we saw last year. She 0:04:43.400 --> 0:04:45.599 could really draw a lot of fans and eyeballs. So 0:04:45.640 --> 0:04:49.640 I'm looking for sophomore slump and sophomore star. Mesh, what's 0:04:49.680 --> 0:04:51.080 your storyline for me? 0:04:51.360 --> 0:04:56.600 I'm so excited about the resurgence of the southern California schools, Sarah. 0:04:56.920 --> 0:04:57.680 I want to take a. 0:04:57.640 --> 0:05:01.080 Trip out to so Cal because to me is one 0:05:01.080 --> 0:05:03.800 of the most dangerous teams in the field. We know 0:05:03.839 --> 0:05:06.320 they just be ole missing that nail bider yesterday. They've 0:05:06.320 --> 0:05:09.119 got arguably the best player they've had since Cheryl Miller 0:05:09.200 --> 0:05:11.960 on their team and Juju Watkins as you just mentioned. 0:05:11.800 --> 0:05:14.360 And last season was the first number. 0:05:14.120 --> 0:05:16.360 One seed that they had in the NCAA Tournament since 0:05:16.560 --> 0:05:18.120 nineteen eighty six. 0:05:18.160 --> 0:05:19.560 So they've got a lot of good things happening. 0:05:19.600 --> 0:05:22.280 And then UCLA Corey Close has been building them brick 0:05:22.320 --> 0:05:24.640 by brick since twenty eleven, and they've got I think 0:05:24.760 --> 0:05:27.640 enough talent between returners and transfers that they can make 0:05:27.640 --> 0:05:29.880 an even deeper run in this year's tournament. They made 0:05:29.920 --> 0:05:32.520 it to the Sweet sixteen last year, but watch out 0:05:32.520 --> 0:05:35.080 for them. And if you guys don't remember last season, 0:05:35.160 --> 0:05:39.880 the last Pack twelve championship game ever, twot crazy nail bider. 0:05:39.640 --> 0:05:40.520 Between those two teams. 0:05:40.560 --> 0:05:42.200 So I can't wait to watch them matchup again. 0:05:42.520 --> 0:05:45.080 That is a great one, such a fun rivalry. And 0:05:45.160 --> 0:05:48.000 I know people who live in Ohio who bought season 0:05:48.000 --> 0:05:50.560 tickets to UCLA Basketball to try to go as much 0:05:50.560 --> 0:05:53.720 as possible, especially when they're taking on USC bit of 0:05:53.760 --> 0:05:56.200 a hall but worth it? All right, Alex, what's your storyline? 0:05:56.320 --> 0:05:56.799 All right? 0:05:56.880 --> 0:06:00.680 I am super curious to see what Iowa's program looks 0:06:00.760 --> 0:06:05.240 like this year. So context, they finished last season ranked 0:06:05.320 --> 0:06:07.640 number two in the country. They've made it to the 0:06:07.720 --> 0:06:10.599 National Championship Game the last two years in a row. 0:06:11.080 --> 0:06:14.800 Obviously Caitlin Clark huge part of that. But they are 0:06:14.960 --> 0:06:18.920 entering this season outside of the top twenty five in 0:06:18.960 --> 0:06:21.800 the preseason rankings. Y'all know how much I love the 0:06:21.839 --> 0:06:23.920 record books. You know how much I love digging into 0:06:23.960 --> 0:06:25.840 the stats. I want to know, is that a record 0:06:25.880 --> 0:06:28.839 for a team to drop that far from the previous 0:06:28.880 --> 0:06:30.880 season to the start of the new season. It feels 0:06:30.920 --> 0:06:32.039 like it should be a record. 0:06:32.360 --> 0:06:32.919 I have yet to. 0:06:32.880 --> 0:06:34.840 Find the answer. If you know the answer, please hit 0:06:34.880 --> 0:06:37.159 me up. But of course it's a new team. You 0:06:37.160 --> 0:06:40.000 don't have Kitlin Clark. You also have Lisa Bluter, head 0:06:40.000 --> 0:06:43.560 coach who retired, Jan Jensen stepping up taking her place. 0:06:44.000 --> 0:06:46.799 You also have two other seniors that graduated no longer 0:06:46.800 --> 0:06:50.440 with the team, so lots of question marks. I'm super 0:06:50.520 --> 0:06:53.440 curious also to see how Iowa fans respond to this 0:06:53.560 --> 0:06:56.839 Caitlin Clark list team, Because they announced last month that 0:06:56.880 --> 0:06:59.000 they sold out season tickets for a second straight year. 0:06:59.040 --> 0:07:02.000 That is fifteenths of people going to every game. And 0:07:02.040 --> 0:07:04.080 that's what we want to see. That's what people always say, 0:07:04.160 --> 0:07:06.520 right with Kaitlyn Clark, rising tide lifts all ships. We 0:07:06.560 --> 0:07:09.880 want to see Kaitlyn Clark keep people engaged. And so 0:07:10.000 --> 0:07:12.600 what will that engagement look like if this team really 0:07:12.680 --> 0:07:15.280 isn't a top twenty five team. But also maybe they'll 0:07:15.280 --> 0:07:15.920 surprise us. 0:07:16.440 --> 0:07:18.760 Yeah, that's a good one too. That's a really interesting drop. 0:07:18.880 --> 0:07:21.960 And you bet that's bulletin board material for them or what. 0:07:21.920 --> 0:07:22.440 Do we call it? 0:07:22.560 --> 0:07:25.200 Pinterests eating good? Pinterests eating good. 0:07:25.760 --> 0:07:27.200 We're going to have so much more on this college 0:07:27.240 --> 0:07:30.400 basketball season to come, but coming up next. I got 0:07:30.400 --> 0:07:33.240 to be a part of yet another incredible espnW Women 0:07:33.240 --> 0:07:35.320 in Sports summit, and I wanted to share the panel 0:07:35.360 --> 0:07:38.160 that I moderated on expansion excellence. There was so much 0:07:38.160 --> 0:07:41.080 good stuff in this conversation, from the importance of building 0:07:41.120 --> 0:07:44.280 team specific facilities, what to learn from men's sports and 0:07:44.280 --> 0:07:49.320 what to leave behind, prioritizing culture, finding leadership, mentors and more, 0:07:49.520 --> 0:07:54.040 and similarly specific stuff about PWHL expansion, how AU softball 0:07:54.080 --> 0:07:57.000 it's going to pick at cities and really fascinating stuff 0:07:57.000 --> 0:07:59.400 from kim Ang learning from the unfortunate end to her 0:07:59.440 --> 0:08:02.840 time as a GM of the Marlins. So stay tuned 0:08:02.840 --> 0:08:04.480 for that. After the break, we're going to travel to 0:08:04.520 --> 0:08:06.600 beautiful Ohi, California together. 0:08:13.600 --> 0:08:14.560 Welcome back slices. 0:08:14.600 --> 0:08:16.679 Okay, I want to introduce you to the incredible women 0:08:16.760 --> 0:08:19.679 from my Expansion Excellence panel at the espnW summit. 0:08:19.720 --> 0:08:20.160 So here's whore. 0:08:20.160 --> 0:08:23.240 I sat down with President of the NWSL Kansas City 0:08:23.280 --> 0:08:26.040 current Raven Jemison, who joined the club in January after 0:08:26.080 --> 0:08:29.640 working in the NBA and the NHL previously, plus the 0:08:29.640 --> 0:08:32.679 first ever GM of the Golden State Valkyries Ohem and Nyanen, 0:08:32.960 --> 0:08:35.840 who joined the expansion team after spending five. 0:08:35.679 --> 0:08:38.320 Years with the New York Liberty. Next up Kim Eng. 0:08:38.440 --> 0:08:40.840 She's currently serving as a senior advisor of the Athletes 0:08:40.880 --> 0:08:44.240 Unlimited Softball League, which will begin play next spring. Also 0:08:44.240 --> 0:08:47.480 spent more than three decades in professional baseball, including serving 0:08:47.520 --> 0:08:49.800 as GM of the Miami Marlins, the first woman to 0:08:49.800 --> 0:08:52.520 be the GM of a major American men's professional sports team, 0:08:52.760 --> 0:08:56.400 and finally the PWHL Senior VP of Business ops Amy Sheer, 0:08:56.720 --> 0:08:59.480 who has a thirty five year sports career, including stops 0:08:59.480 --> 0:09:03.000 in the WNS, NFL and more, before joining that new 0:09:03.000 --> 0:09:05.920 women's hockey league last season. Okay, let's all head out 0:09:05.920 --> 0:09:11.880 to sunny California and listen to that conversation. Okay, so 0:09:12.240 --> 0:09:14.520 much to talk about, and I want to start with you, 0:09:14.600 --> 0:09:20.640 Raven the casey has gotten so much conversation about the facilities. Rightfully, 0:09:20.720 --> 0:09:24.079 so incredible centerpiece in the community, going to be hosting 0:09:24.080 --> 0:09:28.880 the NWSL championship this year. Those incredible commitments get great publicity, 0:09:29.000 --> 0:09:31.640 but they also then need a long term strategy and 0:09:31.679 --> 0:09:33.080 planning to make them pay off. 0:09:33.440 --> 0:09:35.439 I know that a lot happened before your arrival with 0:09:35.480 --> 0:09:35.720 the team. 0:09:35.760 --> 0:09:37.719 You got there pretty recently, but are there any big 0:09:37.800 --> 0:09:39.840 lessons or takeaways so far when it comes to this 0:09:39.920 --> 0:09:40.840 ongoing process? 0:09:41.360 --> 0:09:46.080 Big lessons? It is awesome to be the first. It 0:09:46.120 --> 0:09:48.400 is even better knowing that you're not going to be 0:09:48.440 --> 0:09:50.800 the last. So I'll start with the lessons that are 0:09:51.320 --> 0:09:55.600 running a stadium. Amy and I were talking about. Stadiums 0:09:55.640 --> 0:09:57.640 have been opened forever. I've been a part of other 0:09:57.800 --> 0:10:00.480 stadium openings, but there's never been one perpose. It's built 0:10:00.520 --> 0:10:03.480 for women in the world, So What comes with that 0:10:03.720 --> 0:10:06.000 is a lot of people asking you what you learned, 0:10:06.559 --> 0:10:10.760 And the big thing that we learned is that operational 0:10:10.800 --> 0:10:14.560 excellence is the same regardless if you have a stadium 0:10:14.559 --> 0:10:17.640 purpose built for women or a stadium that is. 0:10:17.520 --> 0:10:19.080 In a men's league. 0:10:19.240 --> 0:10:22.000 I think what we really want to get across with 0:10:22.080 --> 0:10:24.400 the Current is that we're running a business and at 0:10:24.440 --> 0:10:26.319 the end of the day, we have got to make 0:10:26.360 --> 0:10:29.400 sure that people come back match over match, regardless if 0:10:29.400 --> 0:10:31.520 we're sold out this season. We have to continue that 0:10:31.600 --> 0:10:34.240 going into the next season. We have to create an 0:10:34.360 --> 0:10:38.320 environment where people want to come to CPKC Stadium for 0:10:38.480 --> 0:10:41.440 non KC Current matches. We are hosting the Big Twelve 0:10:41.440 --> 0:10:46.600 Women's Soccer Championship starting tomorrow, and that isn't a division 0:10:46.600 --> 0:10:49.720 playing out in itself. So the lessons are how do 0:10:49.800 --> 0:10:54.040 we press press pause but make sure that we are 0:10:54.120 --> 0:10:57.560 learning match over match, but creating that environment so people 0:10:57.679 --> 0:11:00.480 want to come to something else that is not the 0:11:00.559 --> 0:11:02.960 Kansas City Current, because that's how the business thrives, that's 0:11:03.000 --> 0:11:06.280 how the business grows, and that's how we become again 0:11:06.880 --> 0:11:09.679 not just the first but the example of what is possible. 0:11:09.720 --> 0:11:12.480 So when that next team or next organization is looking 0:11:12.480 --> 0:11:12.840 to do this. 0:11:13.240 --> 0:11:14.080 They had the blueprint. 0:11:14.840 --> 0:11:18.679 Have we been to this stadium yet anybody? It's I'm 0:11:18.760 --> 0:11:20.400 dying to go. And when I love is seeing all 0:11:20.440 --> 0:11:22.199 the photos of the way it really takes over the 0:11:22.240 --> 0:11:25.760 community buildings, buses like wherever you are in case you 0:11:25.800 --> 0:11:27.240 know that that's where the current play which I love 0:11:27.280 --> 0:11:33.360 to see. Ohama nearly twenty thousand season ticket deposits for 0:11:33.440 --> 0:11:35.400 a team with no players. 0:11:36.720 --> 0:11:38.160 Go twenty thousand. 0:11:41.040 --> 0:11:43.120 I need to hear how the Valkyries have leveraged a 0:11:43.160 --> 0:11:45.960 city that already has great enthusiasm for hoops and a 0:11:46.000 --> 0:11:48.800 partnership with a great organization in the Golden State Warriors 0:11:48.840 --> 0:11:50.200 to come out the gates this strong. 0:11:50.640 --> 0:11:55.720 Yeah, the Bay has been hungry for women women's sports. 0:11:55.800 --> 0:11:59.920 There's a legacy that has already been created prior to 0:12:01.640 --> 0:12:04.760 our ownership group bringing this team over, and I think 0:12:05.000 --> 0:12:08.680 that they're just ready to rally behind what we've already 0:12:08.720 --> 0:12:12.280 put out our brand, the women that are leading the 0:12:12.360 --> 0:12:16.319 team and just really excited to be a part of it. 0:12:16.720 --> 0:12:16.880 Yeah. 0:12:16.880 --> 0:12:18.520 I mean you mentioned the brand, and I know you're 0:12:18.520 --> 0:12:23.160 not focused on brand creation, but it's impressive just to 0:12:23.240 --> 0:12:27.160 already have us recognize Valkyries violent and see the community 0:12:27.160 --> 0:12:29.480 events and see the pop ups with the different local 0:12:29.520 --> 0:12:32.319 folks that are bringing enthusiasm. There's a real intention there, 0:12:32.320 --> 0:12:34.840 which I think is quite clear. How do you see 0:12:34.840 --> 0:12:39.040 the balance of being an independent Valkyries team while also 0:12:39.080 --> 0:12:41.559 benefiting from how much you can gather and learn from 0:12:41.600 --> 0:12:42.160 the Warriors. 0:12:42.840 --> 0:12:47.719 Yeah, I think the benefit is it's abundant. Like, I 0:12:48.160 --> 0:12:51.040 don't know how else to say it. The sky is 0:12:51.080 --> 0:12:55.520 the limit. I think that the ownership group has done 0:12:55.520 --> 0:12:58.960 an amazing job of bringing us both together to know 0:12:59.040 --> 0:13:02.600 that we can strong in our own right and that 0:13:03.000 --> 0:13:06.599 whatever journey that we have, we can. 0:13:08.080 --> 0:13:14.280 Be strong in it. Like there's no I guess like 0:13:14.400 --> 0:13:15.760 comparison between the two. 0:13:16.000 --> 0:13:18.800 Like the legacy of the Warriors is the legacy of 0:13:18.840 --> 0:13:22.439 the Warriors and the legacy of the Valkyries is about 0:13:22.440 --> 0:13:23.040 to be written. 0:13:23.280 --> 0:13:23.640 Yeah. 0:13:23.679 --> 0:13:24.160 I love that. 0:13:24.240 --> 0:13:26.480 I'm just happy that a team like the Warriors that 0:13:26.520 --> 0:13:28.839 set so many standards in the NBA, and players like 0:13:28.880 --> 0:13:31.520 Steph Curry who've been such great advocates for women athletes 0:13:31.800 --> 0:13:34.280 have this opportunity because I think I think you're gonna 0:13:34.280 --> 0:13:35.480 crush it already. 0:13:35.480 --> 0:13:36.760 Are twenty thousand Gee's. 0:13:38.040 --> 0:13:40.760 Kim the AUSL was inaugural season in twenty twenty five, 0:13:40.800 --> 0:13:43.040 will be a touring league and then the games will 0:13:43.040 --> 0:13:44.959 be in six to eight different cities, and then in 0:13:45.000 --> 0:13:47.600 twenty twenty six it will transition to a city based league. 0:13:47.840 --> 0:13:49.480 Can you share how athletes. 0:13:49.160 --> 0:13:51.559 U Limited Topall league will be different from previous AU 0:13:51.600 --> 0:13:53.880 Softball and then why this iteration will start on tour 0:13:53.880 --> 0:13:54.560 for its first year. 0:13:55.200 --> 0:13:59.600 Sure in terms of how it's different, before we were 0:14:00.320 --> 0:14:04.160 we had a leader board points system, and now we're 0:14:04.160 --> 0:14:08.840 going to a more traditional format with teams, with head 0:14:08.880 --> 0:14:12.360 coaches and general managers. In terms of twenty twenty five 0:14:12.440 --> 0:14:15.440 and its touring model, we thought it would be a 0:14:15.559 --> 0:14:19.240 great idea to go out and basically test different markets. 0:14:19.720 --> 0:14:23.520 So during this process we've gone to dozens of different 0:14:23.520 --> 0:14:27.840 markets in nearly twenty states, talk to them about AUSL, 0:14:28.000 --> 0:14:31.000 talk to them about what's different, and really tried to, 0:14:31.040 --> 0:14:33.960 I think bring a more of a brand awareness out 0:14:33.960 --> 0:14:38.760 there and so, you know, auditioning a bit and we'll 0:14:38.800 --> 0:14:41.040 get to see live what it looks like, you know, 0:14:41.160 --> 0:14:44.080 in these eight different markets and then and then bring 0:14:44.120 --> 0:14:47.360 it to you know, toaching them to cities, touching the 0:14:47.400 --> 0:14:49.160 teams to cities for twenty twenty six. 0:14:49.400 --> 0:14:52.360 Are they tryouts then in these cities to see who responds? 0:14:52.440 --> 0:14:55.080 Right, Well, I think it's more. I wouldn't call it 0:14:55.120 --> 0:14:58.120 a tryout, but I think it's you know, making sure 0:14:58.160 --> 0:15:00.960 that the mechanics are correct and that the support from 0:15:00.960 --> 0:15:02.680 the local community is what we want. 0:15:02.920 --> 0:15:05.760 It's smart to learn the logistics in practice, as opposed 0:15:05.800 --> 0:15:10.640 to assumptions that, yeah, that's really smart. Amy, you joined 0:15:10.640 --> 0:15:14.280 the PWHL two months before puck drop of the inaugural season. 0:15:14.600 --> 0:15:17.480 There have been several pro women's hockey leagues before this one. 0:15:17.680 --> 0:15:19.640 What did you take from watching those leagues and how 0:15:19.640 --> 0:15:21.960 were you intentional about creating something that you think can 0:15:21.960 --> 0:15:23.360 be successful and sustainable. 0:15:23.840 --> 0:15:25.880 So I think what's different about us is both sides 0:15:25.880 --> 0:15:28.120 of the house. One from a hockey perspective, we have 0:15:28.160 --> 0:15:29.840 one hundred and fifty of the best hockey players in 0:15:29.840 --> 0:15:32.200 the world. This is the first time all the hockey 0:15:32.200 --> 0:15:35.520 players that lead in terms of skill are all in 0:15:35.520 --> 0:15:38.960 one place. So every night the game is great. We've 0:15:39.000 --> 0:15:41.160 had no blowouts in season one. Every game is close. 0:15:41.320 --> 0:15:44.440 The level of hockey is unbelievable, So that's number one. 0:15:44.560 --> 0:15:44.880 I think. 0:15:44.960 --> 0:15:47.920 On the other side is that we're single entity and 0:15:48.080 --> 0:15:50.040 that really have not been done in hockey before. So 0:15:50.600 --> 0:15:52.400 we come to work every day, whether you're with the 0:15:52.480 --> 0:15:55.400 league or with the team, you have a PWHL email address. 0:15:55.760 --> 0:15:57.680 So while the teams want to win on the ice, 0:15:57.800 --> 0:15:59.960 I think off the ice, were one big, happy family 0:16:00.400 --> 0:16:03.960 and we all help each other. So every day everybody 0:16:03.960 --> 0:16:05.760 goes to work with the same goals, and that's to 0:16:06.080 --> 0:16:08.640 move the sport of hockey forward. It is to bring 0:16:08.680 --> 0:16:11.160 fans into the games, engage them at the highest quality 0:16:11.160 --> 0:16:14.200 that we can, and get more kids into play hockey. 0:16:14.240 --> 0:16:17.040 So we moved together very intentional as a staff, with 0:16:17.080 --> 0:16:19.720 the same goals whether you're with the team or the league, 0:16:20.120 --> 0:16:22.480 and I think that's very different than how other leagues 0:16:22.520 --> 0:16:25.200 have approached their business. So it's nice that we're aligned 0:16:25.200 --> 0:16:26.800 and together we move forward. 0:16:26.720 --> 0:16:29.560 And an incredible job of getting to the people and 0:16:29.600 --> 0:16:31.760 making them aware that it was happening, because records of 0:16:31.800 --> 0:16:34.480 attendance were broken left and right. To do that an 0:16:34.520 --> 0:16:38.360 inaugural season and to have twenty plus thousand people want 0:16:38.400 --> 0:16:40.160 to go and support is really cool. 0:16:40.320 --> 0:16:42.200 Something that you mentioned on our. 0:16:42.080 --> 0:16:44.720 Call that I thought was fascinating is Dodgers co owner 0:16:44.800 --> 0:16:48.400 and PWHL financier Mike Mark Walker said that there had 0:16:48.400 --> 0:16:51.000 to be a CBA in place before he would commit 0:16:51.080 --> 0:16:52.360 to financing a league. 0:16:52.440 --> 0:16:53.640 Why was that so important? 0:16:53.880 --> 0:16:56.960 So Mark and kimber Walter are our owners. They've invested 0:16:57.040 --> 0:16:59.720 quite a lot of money in the single entity, and 0:17:00.160 --> 0:17:02.960 I think having the CBA was important because it provides stability. 0:17:03.320 --> 0:17:05.280 So we have an eight year CBA and that we 0:17:05.760 --> 0:17:08.000 know as a league and as our teams, we have 0:17:08.040 --> 0:17:10.320 an eight year runway to set this league up, stand 0:17:10.320 --> 0:17:12.679 it up to be successful, and make it sustainable and 0:17:12.720 --> 0:17:15.480 continue to grow under this model. So I think it 0:17:15.520 --> 0:17:17.920 was really important just to provide that stability. There's never 0:17:17.960 --> 0:17:20.400 going to be a walkout in these eight years. We're 0:17:20.440 --> 0:17:22.560 all going to come united, the players and the league 0:17:22.560 --> 0:17:25.080 to work together, So it's important to have that stability. 0:17:25.200 --> 0:17:27.440 Yeah, are there any opt outs for the players because 0:17:27.440 --> 0:17:29.720 eight years is a long time if it continues to 0:17:29.720 --> 0:17:32.320 grow and get massive, and do they have any leverage 0:17:32.320 --> 0:17:34.879 in making sure that it continues to be on a 0:17:34.920 --> 0:17:35.800 benefit to both sides. 0:17:35.880 --> 0:17:37.720 Yeah, that's a great question. I don't know the answer. 0:17:38.080 --> 0:17:39.320 I'll do some research on that. 0:17:39.400 --> 0:17:42.159 Yeah. I love the stability aspect, but we also know 0:17:42.240 --> 0:17:44.879 that the landscape changes so fast that making sure that 0:17:44.920 --> 0:17:47.920 you are indeed a big family working together allows the 0:17:47.960 --> 0:17:50.680 players to feel like they're advancing as the as the 0:17:50.760 --> 0:17:51.360 league advances. 0:17:51.440 --> 0:17:54.040 Yeah, I will say that, you know, in working with 0:17:54.119 --> 0:17:56.200 Jane to day to day in the hockey ops crew, 0:17:56.320 --> 0:17:58.119 we talk to the union while they talk to the 0:17:58.200 --> 0:18:01.200 union multiple times of days. So there's the relationship there 0:18:01.200 --> 0:18:03.680 and it's close and the communication is always open. 0:18:03.960 --> 0:18:07.920 Good Ohemma. Your first move as GM was hiring head coach. 0:18:07.960 --> 0:18:10.760 Now Ali Nakasse, take us through that process and how 0:18:10.800 --> 0:18:12.920 you lured her away from the Aces. 0:18:15.480 --> 0:18:21.040 Yeah, lured sounds interesting. I want to say my first 0:18:21.359 --> 0:18:26.520 real hire was Banya Chennevitz. She was the GM of 0:18:26.560 --> 0:18:29.960 the London Lions and is currently our VP of Bath Operations, 0:18:30.400 --> 0:18:33.760 and so along with her, we had an extensive conversation 0:18:33.880 --> 0:18:40.600 around coaches. We talked to too many coaches, but the 0:18:40.640 --> 0:18:47.640 idea was to leave no stone unturned. International College, NBA 0:18:48.040 --> 0:18:51.360 G League w n b A. We wanted to make 0:18:51.400 --> 0:18:55.040 sure that we found the right candidate for us to 0:18:55.119 --> 0:19:01.879 be the inaugural head coach for an expansion is really tough. 0:19:02.760 --> 0:19:06.480 There's gonna be a lot of pressure externally and so 0:19:06.560 --> 0:19:09.920 who is going to come in and bring a sense 0:19:09.920 --> 0:19:16.120 of calm, great competitiveness and also coach with their heart. 0:19:16.320 --> 0:19:22.800 I think for a long time athletes have been seeking 0:19:22.840 --> 0:19:27.320