August 28, 2024 • 56 mins
The 3-on-3 hosts dive deep into the WNBA playoff picture as the postseason approaches. Terrika Foster-Brasby leads the charge, breaking down the key matchups and teams to watch. Chris Williamson drops a hot take on his pick for Rookie of the Year, and it’s neither Caitlin Clark nor Angel Reese—tune in to find out who he’s backing.
The crew also dissects the New York Liberty's championship viability and debates whether the Las Vegas Aces can pull off a historic 3-peat, with teams like the Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings still in the hunt to dethrone them.
In the signature Jump Ball segment, the trio discusses the historic Connecticut Sun vs. Los Angeles Sparks game at the TD Garden and its significance for the league.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Before are you well? Welcome to the three on three pod. Shoot,
all we are.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Opening the show was breaking news clearly okay, I'm going
to unrival. Well, let's let's get into that. It's your girl,
Arrika Foster Brasby. I am here joined by my incredible
co hosts Cherin Nicole and Chris Williamson's goodie.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Hi Yeah, hi everybody, Hi Rika, Hi, Hello there?
Speaker 4 (00:38):
How are we?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
What? What?
Speaker 4 (00:42):
What was?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
What was that.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
That was? I don't know what that was.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
It was one of my characters that I go into
every day.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
You have multiple identities.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I do.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Will introduce us to one of them. Chris.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
Yeah, the one I think is from I don't know
if it's all be sure, I'm getting confused with another one,
but I do like right, and so that's something that
I do, you know, to warm up, vocalize, you know,
make sure I'm downing everything out, and then we go
about our business.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
We learned something new about each other every single episode.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
I have no idea.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
Well, I'm glad I was able to give you.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
I had no idea.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
You're a man of many talents, Chris.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
I just would say some would say you are. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
You see how she deflected right then, when she is
the one that was in Antigua on the island getting
a tan and turned up for her birthday, just move
over to you. What's t sis.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I'm pretty sure you guys saw all of my videos
and photos. I was very modest, very reserved. I didn't
do too much. I was, you know, very demus.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
The entire time.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Cab, I'm saying, I'm forty now, I'm way too old
for the Shenanigans.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
So okay, okay.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
If any if you believe her, if you're listening or watching,
you believe her, that means you did not see anything
on her social media.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
And that's what she showed you the public, right.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
You didn't have I honestly didn't have any like out
of ridiculous experiences Like I really didn't. I was on
my best behavior. I went and saw I got a
chance to swim with the steam rays, like not the
not the you know, crocodile hunter sting rays, because them
the crazy ones, like the nice little gentle ones.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I did like.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
I had a great time. I partied quite literally every
single day. The resort that I went to was really fun.
As soon as I got there, they gave me little drinks,
and I was and of course, because me, I have.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
To also see how the locals do it.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
I'm not one of those international travelers where I only
want to be on a.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Resort with the bougie people.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Like I am that person that wants to see how
the locals party. So I went to this one this
one spot right now, you see this is this is
a birthday right, Okay, yeah, because that's how we do it, right,
That's a birthday right. So I was like, this is cool,
but I still feel like this is very close to
(03:24):
the resort, Like, let me go into the city of
Saint John and see how y'all really getting down right.
Went to another party on my actual birthday, had an
incredible time.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
However, that's what I got.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
What is that a firework?
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I got a bottle with a firework? Yeah, on the remy.
That was it?
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Okay, So first of all, that looks like a fire hazard.
That was aggressive.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I just thought there was a stark difference in the cellar,
but the remy tastes the same, so it was all good.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Is this a little birdie was telling me about some
sparkler debacle that you had, So this.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Was this is this is the Sparkler debacle will We
were like yay, you know on Instagram we saw like
the big old thing was gonna come out. We were
like really excited. And then when we got there, like
there was another video that I have too where it
was literally like there was a bottle of Remy and
a bottle of Tito's and they literally just lit the
little sparkler right there at the table and was like
(04:31):
capy birthday. No, that's not how they have to bring
it forth to you, all of the sparkles and presented
to you like you are the royalty that you are.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
They said, now get somebody else to do it.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Somebody else absolutely had to do it. NFA to let
me know that my area was reserved.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
That was my r. Wow.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Is that a half of a church fan? I don't know,
but you know what it looks like half of a
church fan.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Incredible time. It was just as watch as I needed
it to be.
Speaker 5 (05:02):
Oh my goodness, you know what. We're so happy for you.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Are we? Because I'm concerned a little bit.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Very very very fun wretchet moment.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
That in that church, that church fan of an R
s v P and the sparkler that looked like a
fire hazard and the other sparklers that they did not
usher into her, but it was lit with a match
and said peace out.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Sis.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
I cannot I'm very happy for her, but those.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I'm just I cannot wait to go back.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
The hospitality was amazing, the even even with the sparkler
and the half fan sign, they were incredible in the club.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
So I love it. And your beach photos were incredible,
like it looked like you had great weather.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yes, the weather was incredible. It was really a wonderful time.
And I wanted to show off the melanin of American
women being in another country and.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
So come on, come on, well done, Sis.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
Let them know. Hey.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
You know what what's crazy, though, is there is so
much amazing melanin in the w NBA right now.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
I'm on and transition us. Come on and transition us.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Chris and these ladies right are showing how to get
it done in the second half of the season. I
mean the Liberty, They've already clenched a playoff spot. Tarika's
Connecticut son, they clinched one. They finally got one over
on New York in Barclays might have added you, okay,
(06:35):
and then the Minnesota links. They're probably playing the best
basketball out of everybody. And I'm curious from Tarika your perspective,
what has it been like to see the Connecticut son
adjust with Marina Maybury and really go to a different
level that they haven't had maybe in years prior or
even just you know, prior to the second half of
(06:57):
the season before the trade.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah, their three point shooting has absolutely increased since adding
Marina Maybury, which essentially was the point, right, Like, the
reason why they brought her there is because they wanted
to give their backcourt a boost as it relates to
being able to shoot deep threes, and they have done that,
and she like really shot the ball will against Chicago,
which is really a habit of hers. She has a
(07:20):
tendency of playing incredibly well against her former team. She
did the same point against.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Dallas last year. I tried to tell everybody.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I was like, Marina is gonna be the difference maker
in this matchup because since ain't trying to go out
like that against the team she used to play for.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
And sure enough, she was like four for five from three.
So there was that. But with all of that being.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Said, it's been fun, but it's it's a redundant right.
We have seen this show before from the Connecticut Sun.
We've seen them clinch before, We've seen them be in
a position to win before, and again, it always feels
like they are a bridesmaid and never a bribe. So
we're hoping that this year will be different. Right, Like
(08:01):
the window was obviously closing on this team, there are
some contracts that are going to be up very soon.
They're not oblivious to where they are, to their age,
to how long they've been in this organization.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Like, they're not stupid. They know what it is, right.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
So there's certainly an urgency that you can feel in
that locker room, and I think Marina has embraced that
right being on a team that truly has a legitimate
shot at winning a championship.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
I'm just tired of players leaving Chicago and going somewhere
else and doing well. I'm sick of it.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Are you surprised?
Speaker 3 (08:34):
I'm not. I feel like my city is cursed because
every time a player that has any level of impact
is traded from a Chicago team, and I'm talking about
men's or women's, they seem to go to the next
place and flourish. Mayby was bananas on defense when she
(08:54):
was in Chicago. She was actually fairly streaky when she
was in Chicago, and that ponytail of hers needed some work.
Now all of a sudden, she's with the sun and
she's turning up. I'm not surprised, but by golly, I'm
sick of it. And it also speaks to the system.
I mean, certain players thrive in certain systems, so you
have to give it up to you know, obviously the
(09:15):
Connecticut Son coaching staff and making sure that she got
into this system and got in well. But I'm a
little frustrated just on a personal side, because why couldn't
you do this for the scot job. Wait, we were
rooting for you, and she'm I'm just gonna be honest.
She was one of the most frustrating people for me
to watch in the first half of the season. Literally,
(09:37):
I needed like an antidepressant or something to help with
anxiety for her because she was taking me out of here.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Look, I'm with you on that. She was very hot
and cold and streaky as a shooter with Chicago, and
her role was different right where she had to facilitate
in addition to being a shooter. When she's on Connecticut
sign And Tarika know this better than anybody. She don't
have to do all that, you know, she does not
(10:06):
have to have a bigger responsibility. She's got to shoot,
you know what I'm saying, create spacing for at do
wanna Bonner Ty Harris and that's all you know. And
then again, she has improved her defense, Like She's never
been known to be a great defender, but I've seen
moments where she's really applied the pressure. And what I
thought was really key, I think it was in the
(10:28):
Chicago game where they had not just djon A Carrington
in the game at the end of the game, but
also Marina Maybrey. The fact that they can be on
the floor together at end up game situations when maybe
was coming off the bench. Lets me know that coach
Stephanie White has a lot of trust in Marina to
be at least serviceable on the defensive end when the
(10:49):
game is tied.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
So yeah, I understand your frustration, Sharib, but I'm.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Tired of it and good for her. I mean, just
from an athlete's perspective, you want to be somewhere where
you can not only be most useful, but you can
be happy, and you don't have to necessarily take on
added things that take away from what you really do well.
So happy for her that she's in a space where
she can do what she does well, like you are
are saying, without all the other ancillary responsibilities. But man
(11:15):
is disappointing, and Chicago has certainly taking a hit and
adjusting since she's been absent from that lineup. So this
is just me as a Chicago fan wanted the best
for them. But you know, you all are spot on.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Yeah I get that. I get that one hundred per century,
I really do.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
But you know that, Chris, just her role is different,
and you wasn't coming to Connecticut and not playing od right.
Let you walk up in there, you wing for the plane.
O d oh, you gonna play some defense.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
To bag like that? You playing some So yeah, that
was that was a given.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
And I really love how they embraced Marina, maybe right
when she first came to the Sun.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
I think that was key.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
Especially you know All Star weekend I really helped with
the transition. There's literally I think it was like the
day after their game against Vegas, Marina gets traded and
then yeah, you got All Star weekends.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
So a world win.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
But how about the listen New York Liberty. They clearly
took and I know people have been talking about it.
They clearly took Kelsey Plumb's words about how yeah, this
team doesn't care about each other to heart. And they
have turned the page in terms of their chemistry and
(12:30):
just their ability to step up when other players are absent,
whether it's Sabrini and Escu or Corney vanderslout when she
was out, but Naja Laney Hamilton, everybody understands their role
much better.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Okay, And what I'm.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
Thinking about is do we think this Liberty team is
going to be unstoppable when the playoffs come? Because it's
one thing to do it in the regular season. We
saw them give it to the Aces last year and
again more years together now this year. But do we
expect them to be unstoppable?
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Trika, No, I don't expect them to be unstoppable. I
mean I just watched them on Saturday against the other
team that clinched the Connecticut Son and you can still
see that they're still dealing with some injuries. We still
haven't seen Benigel Lanney Hamilton, who to me is one
of the best two way players in the game have
an impact.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Because she's still.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Been sidelined, she was dressed, so that's encouraging, but definitely
need to see her back out there. And I still
think that there are moments where Brianna Stewart and John
Quell Jones are not consistently engaged with each other.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
And you can't have.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
A successful New York Liberty team when it's dependent on
one or the other. You need them both to be
locked in. No matter how well you can see Stewie play,
she can win you some games when it turns to
winning championships. We saw that last season. You can't have
one without the other. When we saw John Quill and
Stewie locked in, they won game the game that they
(14:00):
should have been locked in step it was more John
Quill than it was Stewie and they ended up losing
a series. So I think that that's something that we
still need to see. But as and I know we're
going to get into this, but I think at this
exact moment, like today, as of this taping, the Minnesota
Links are the best team in the WNBA.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Right Yeah, yeah, so too.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
When you when and and let's look at the path
of New York. If if we were to say, hey, today,
this is where the playoffs are going to start, New
York would have to see Las Vegas, assuming that they
both win. If you know, Vegas were to win their
round and New York would win their round, which currently would.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Be against Chicago.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
If the playoffs started today, you would see a Vegas
New York matchup in the second in the second round
and the semi finals. That works perfect for Connecticut, assuming
they would win their matchup. But I'm saying, do you
feel confident in a series that New York or against
New York in Vegas, that New York would win or
that Vegas would win?
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Like, I don't feel confident about either.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
One either way.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Absolutely absolutely absolutely so to answer your question and Lo,
the long way of answering your question is no, like
there's no guarantee with this team.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
For me, there is.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
The only team I would feel comfortable guarantee guaranteeing a
spot in the finals today would be Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Totally agree to Rika. I don't have too much to
add behind what you said. And it's interesting like with
the New York even with an aces, I don't I
can't count them out. But in terms of expecting them
to dominate. Absolutely not. And it's interesting. You know, I
expected some corners to be turned in terms of dominance
from both of them, and that hasn't really happened, which
is interesting. We also seen some close games where I
(15:49):
was like, guys, you shouldn't just be winning by a
few points here there. Even the Aces game versus Chicago,
shout out to Chicago, but winning on a buzzer beater.
At this point in the season, I'm a little concerned,
So I don't I don't know who we're gonna get. Obviously,
veteran leadership always plays a role in terms of being
(16:09):
able to pull out games, but dominance from either team,
I don't see it. I do see, you know, a
Sabrina on the New York side, Sabrina and Nescu just
rising to the occasion. She seems to do that. But
like Terika said, I mean, there has to be some
consistency between John Coyll and Stewart for this for them
to make sense, you know, in a in a finals.
I just I don't see it happening. But I think
(16:31):
this also just speaks to the league itself getting better.
You know, some of these other teams are just getting better.
The links are and they have a history, you know,
for the most part of being a good solid team.
I love the way they play, they they their cohesion
has always been very impressive to me, this entire way,
and they haven't fallen off the wagon. So when we
think of a team that's consistently doing what they do
(16:51):
and winning basketball games, like Terreka said, you gotta shout
them out. So I think they're the team to fear,
just simply because they're consistent and they have bought into
their formula. Other teams, like I'll go for the Aces
for example, they bought into their legacy. They bought into
their history of winning. But in terms of currently where
we stand, who are you all? What have you bought
(17:13):
into besides Asia being the greatest player in the world.
And I'm just saying, like I have a I have
a little bit of disappointment around their guard play at times.
I think there's some mesconsistencies there. So I don't know.
I'm excited though, I'm the son, you know, Terrika, I've
been saying this from the beginning. It's a part of
me that just wants to see them get over the hump.
I like a over the hump story. I think they
(17:35):
put in so much work. They've made some good moves
in terms of their front office and getting the pieces
they need, and I think it would be good for
the league. I think the league needs a team like
the Connecticut Sun to rise to the occasion and go
all the way. We've seen the Links win it. We've
seen the Aces win it, We've seen the New York
win it. Like we need just for me as a fan,
but also somebody who wants to see this league continue
(17:55):
to grow. I think we need to see something like that.
So I'm praying for the Sun. They are in my prayers.
I'm not there always in my prayers.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
I know that's right.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
I do want to say though, that as it relates
to New York I have I will not stop saying
this that I have been so completely impressed with Sabrina
in her school, like always thought that she was a
star caliber player. Unfortunately, her career didn't begin like many
people thought because she was facing injuries in the beginning.
There was also the pandemic her rookie year. She had
(18:27):
a chance coach like there were other factors that played
a role. But I love the way Sabrina has really
taken charge of her career. She has really this offseason
put the time and the work in. You're seeing it.
She's in the MVP conversation, she's in the MIP conversation.
Like quite honestly, it has been refreshing. So when we
talk about New York and the things that they have
(18:50):
done and need to do to continue to be a
solid team ready for the playoffs, which I already believe
that they're ready for the playoffs. You know, the question
was whether or not, you know we are guaranteeing to
see them go all the way through, and that I'm
just not ready to say, because, as you mentioned, Shari,
the talent around the league right now was just so
heavy at it's crazy. But make no mistake, one of
(19:12):
the reasons that they were able to be the first
team to clinch is because of Sabrina and Neschool Chick
was my plan and I love that for her.
Speaker 5 (19:21):
Sabrina and to your point, Tarika, she has so much
of the pressure off of her because of Kaitlin Clark
and the combination of her getting a full offseason right
to just work on her game, improve her area inside
the perimeter because we already knew how good of a
shooter she was before the season, but now that floater,
(19:43):
she's got more of a package inside. That really opens
up things for everybody else. But there's one player that
I don't think is getting enough credit, and that's the
only phoebish right, the rookie. She might be Rookie of
the Year. You know she's on the best team. You
know what I'm saying. She's on the best team and
she has played.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah, don't do that. Don't you do that of the year,
Rookie of the Year with everything that Caitlyn and Angel
are doing right now, ye.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
Charia and Tarrika you you should know me better by now.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Bye Chris, Bye Chris. But we got to go to break.
On the other side of the break, me and Tarika
will get you all the way together on that argument
about Rookie of the Year because I'm disturbed in my
spirit will be right now, Chris.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
You really be tripping me out with some of the ship.
You'd be saying out your mom's.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Feel was good and he does it on purpose.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
You know about it.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
And here's the thing, right, I'm not at all disagreeing
with you about how well Leoni phoebitch has been for
this New York team.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
I think you're spot on. I like, she.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Has literally been probably the most impactful player that's, you know,
not a household name like a Stewie or a John
Quill or a Sabrina or like. So I get it,
you know what I mean, But we don't always have
to quantify how amazing body's planned by saying shit like
Rookie of the Year.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
You want to take it back to Chris. Do you
want to take it back? You can take it back
right now.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
I'm trying to save your mentions. Chris. I'm trying to
take it.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Back right now. You're gonna take it back right now.
We'll forget it all happened. We'll wash you're saying away.
It will be washed away right now.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
Men in black, just my god, never happened.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
It'll be like poof, and then we come back.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
You did not see listen.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
I cannot say how disappointed I am in both of
you for actually believing that I was actually fucking serious
about that.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Clearly I was trolling.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
There's no rational person who actually believes that only Foebish
should be the Rookie of the Year given the seasons
that Kaylyn Clark has had the season that Angel Reach
has had. And oh, by the way, Rickia Jackson, right,
if she got more playing time in the beginning, that's another.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
Story, she'd probably be right there.
Speaker 5 (22:16):
So yes, shame on you, both of you for actually
thinking more a second that I was serious.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Look at how you turned that on us. Don't gas,
this is are you Are you a closet narcissist?
Speaker 4 (22:32):
Chris, No way, ain't, no way.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
You never take y'all serious serious, group of this is crazy.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
This is ridiculous that the sarcasm was too too truthful
feeling for me.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
I feel.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
I feel Yeah, you feel bad.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
Because I wouldn't. I didn't expect y'all to have that
reaction at that. Oh yeah, y'all gonna laugh.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
And then.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
All right, Chris, we we just go act like that
never happens.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Okay, But we are going to talk about some teams
that are still looking to clinch a playoff spot.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Now, when I look at Seattle, Las.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Vegas, and Phoenix, it's definitely safe to say that three
three teams are going to be in the playoffs. So
I think that if again, if we were to start
the playoffs today, you have a Seattle Storm team versus
a Las Vegas Aces team, and I'm not so sure
that I could guarantee who I think would win or
not in that matchup, right. I Mean you kind of
(23:39):
talked about it, Sharia. As it relates to like guard play,
I still don't think that Chelsea Gray is one hundred
percent healthy, and so because that, you can see that
there's a little bit of a disconnect as it relates
to facilitation on the court.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
You can. You know, when I look at.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Phoenix, they are a team to me that is still
a bit too inconsistent. And so, yeah, the y'alls were
to start today, they would be facing up against a
Minnesota Lynks team that I feel very confident about.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Right, So, when I look at Seattle.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Las Vegas, and Phoenix, I have no doubt that either
of those teams can be semi finals or a finals team.
I'm just unsure of where they're land to know how
difficult that path is going to be.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Yeah, Yeah, for sure, Phoenix gets on my nerves. Sorry,
there's too much talent on that team. You look up,
one day they're getting blown out by twenty some points.
The next day they're beating somebody a great team by
ten points are more like who are you all? Seriously,
they are one of the most frustrating teams for me
to keep up with because I had such high expectations
(24:49):
just going into this year. And you know, I know
Diana Tarassi is obviously on the back end of her career,
but as a leader, and she's still very there's still
a level of dominance to her. At any point, she
can catch fire from three and kill everybody. But I
just want to see more from BG. To be quite
frank with you, Kalia Copper love her game. When she's on,
she's on. She's also one of the best two way
(25:09):
guards in the league easily, But I'm just not understanding,
just overall, with all the talent on that team in particular,
why they can't seem to put it together for a
consistent run. I don't understand it. So if they whoever
they play, I'm counting them out. I'm sorry, because I
just they're just not showing me that they can string
(25:30):
you know, two, three, four games together and do well.
For whatever reason it is. Seattle is one of my
little favorites over out West, and I know they've had
some inconsistencies as well, but when it comes to me
just being competitive, I just feel like they can and
I just believe they're well coached. I feel like they
can kind of turn a corner and just they're a
sleeper for me. You go into a game thinking you're
(25:51):
just gonna beat them, they will beat you. But Phoenix,
I'm sick of y'all. And Vegas, I love you all
because I love the swag of that team. Nobody's gonna
tell anything bad about Asia Wilson ever in your life,
like she is literally the greatest player in the world.
But to your point to Rika Chelsea, I don't think
she's that. I don't think she's hundre percent healthy as well.
And Kelsey Plump Sometimes I'm like, what are you doing?
(26:13):
What your just her decision making can be a little
strange to me at times too, so I don't know
what's going on. I don't know what's in the water.
But Phoenix, I'm I'm just going to stick with you.
You get on my nerves, do better. I'm tired of it.
You have too much talent on this team. I just
want you to do well because you have just an
incredible amount of talent on your roster. For whatever reason
(26:35):
it's not working on a consistent basis. And I know
you know you can be mad at me, but this
is my challenge to you because I don't get it. Sorry,
I just went on a Phoenix Mercury rent, but they
really do be getting on my nerves.
Speaker 5 (26:47):
Well, they live, they live and die, and buy they
live and die by the three right.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
That was the philosophy.
Speaker 5 (26:52):
That was the system that Nate Tibbets brought over from
the NBA where he's only coach right, men and boys.
And the other thing is when you have that philosophy
and you don't have people who are crashing the boards,
you're going to have moments if you're not hitting, you're
going to have moments where you look disengaged or you're
(27:15):
not urgent right with the ball and possessions. And the
other part was when the season began, I thought, Okay,
how are all these big personalities going to mess together?
And they started off great, right even without BG to start,
But now they've kind of come back down to I
guess reality, and there hasn't been that chemistry that we
(27:38):
need to see BG. And I think somebody pointed out
online that she should be averaging a double double at
her side.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Absolutely, absolutely, no excuse.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
You are the tallest person in the WNBA. Nobody can
compete with that, and yet you would. You would never
know or it doesn't make sense to me that angel
Reaes is able to produce the way she does. It
really comes down to what I'm trying to get at
is is effort. It's effort and heart. But when it
(28:13):
comes to the Seattle Storm, they're in a position right
now where I think this is a crucial part of
their season means because you've got head coach Noel Quinn
talking about effort and how the Mystics wanted more than
them and their loss. Right on Monday, Skylar Diggings Smith
(28:35):
is cursing in the press conference, talking about this is
fucking unacceptable, right, It should not just come down to
me making a boneheaded foul as a veteran.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
They what's really bothers.
Speaker 5 (28:49):
Him with the storm is Jewel Lloyd in particular has
been extremely inefficient this year from shooting as a shooter.
That cannot happen going forward, and then they just have
all these lapses. Why on earth are the Mystics out
hustling you when they don't have a chance. They have
(29:11):
a very slim chance to make the playoffs. They are
thinking about tanking, right or management, not the players of course,
and then with the so they have to figure that
out with the aces you brought up, Kelsey plumbing, her
decision making. Decision making has always been there often been
a little.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
What are we doing here?
Speaker 3 (29:34):
The head scratch, right, what are we doing here?
Speaker 5 (29:37):
But I think there's mental fatigue right of going for
the three p Of course the Olympics like for them
were there, Asia played the most minutes. Jackie Young has
not looked like herself. She had one game right against
the Links where she put up twenty seven, but I
think she only had three shot attempts in the game
against Chicago. You know, the divorce that Kelsey had, That
(29:59):
problem is waining on her. They just don't look like
a cohesive unit and it's a lot of hero ball
at times, and that that happens, right. Nobody said it
was going to be easy to three p but yeah,
there are things that they are controllable with all three teams.
But it's about will you actually get it done? And
(30:24):
that's my thing.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Well, I'm gonna tell you this because I just sat
here and listened to you shit on like three different
squads and I ain't here for it. Okay, Chris, I'm
gonna tell you that I'm here for it. Number one, Yes,
Phoenix does need to get better with Chris, we forgid
that Brittany Grinder just dropped twenty two and Diana Trozzi
has played incredibly well since the then go on Paris Olympics. Okay,
(30:48):
let them find the consistency. Consistency, but they ain't trash
all right. Number two, Jewel Lloyd just dropped sixteen in
that game. She was the leading scorer for THEMN Seattle.
So I mean, yeah, it was a boneheaded plays that
was made. But let's not act like Jewel Lloyd. It's
just chopped liver out here to what she needed to do.
You know you're gonna take this. I get this because
(31:10):
I sat here and I.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
Listened at all.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
I ain't got nothing.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
She sped from the field, Tarrika, that was my going.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
That was I understand.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
She shot twenty seven percent for the field, but still
where would they have been if Geweloyd hadn't even shot that?
So come at everybody else, don't come at Jewel, please
Jewel alone.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
That's why I was you right, You're right, Scott, gotta
be better, Nacka gotta be better, got to be better.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
You can maybe we just get some love to to
Washington because.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
As much as they are, as much as they are
at the bottom of the standards, Britney Sykes bought out.
And I love that Sykes, giving the fact that she
was somebody who quite literally struggled all year long with injuries, played,
didn't play, didn't get an opportunity this was supposed to
be her year to show out, didn't really get a
chance to show out. Injuries have really just killed Washington.
(32:00):
So shout out to you, Brittany.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
You want.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
This is how orange orange.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
I didn't do it like that.
Speaker 5 (32:11):
I'm just saying the Mystics already lost your kir Austin
in that game, right, and you're thinking, Okay, the Storm
is gonna pull away.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
No, So that that's all I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (32:20):
I've been on record saying the Mystics are the best
worst team right in all the.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
Sports rinkas old Patty today. I usually do this, but Chris,
I feel bad for you today.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Bro.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Sorry, listen, it is tough to three people.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Okay, there's not a team in any sport anywhere that's
gonna kill you. It is easy to three p and
that we have said on numerous occasions that the rest
of the league is continuing to get better. So obviously
there are now teams that are exploiting the hell out
of the things that Las Vegas done. We all agree
that there are mishaps that happen, that everybody doesn't necessarily
(33:04):
play the role, that there are times where it kind
of feels like a player is on an island.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
By herself trying to make it happen.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Last week, Jackie Young got an incredible game twenty six
points against Minnesota. Asia had nine points or something along
the lines at some point in time of the game,
and it didn't really feel like she had a characteristic
type game. The very next day, not the next day.
Day after they played Minnesota again, Asia goals off. Guess what,
they still lose, so's it happens right like they just
(33:31):
they just don't.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
Have that same omph that we are.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
And how spoiled are we, Like, how spoiled are we
as fans that we expect this Las Vegas team to
just blow out everybody because we're so used to what
we saw last season with the six losses and were
just we are spoiled. Can we get out of ourselves
and just embrace the fact that teams are just better.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Some of our favorite teams are gonna take als. It
just is what it is.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
I think beyond spoiled, I think people love into your
Puerto Rica. It is very difficult. It's very difficult to repeat,
let alone three p's, So I think beyond being spoilt,
I think people just want to see it happen, especially
people who love the league. And as I mentioned before,
having a team like a Connecticut Son get over the
hump and actually win a championship, I think that's a
great thing for the league. In addition to if they
(34:22):
don't do it a three p from the Aces, I
think anytime a dynasty is built in the league itself,
I think it helps the league. So at either point,
whatever happens, if either of those things happen, I think
it'll be good for the WNBA. I think people just
want to see it. Also, just because the Aces, in particular,
their personalities drive their fandom. People love to see them together,
(34:42):
They love to see them their chemistry on the court
and everything they bring just as individuals to this particular
team into the game, so people want to see them
at least, you know, and I could even say for me,
I'm not expecting them to dominate people Like you said,
people are going to catch win, teams are going to
get better. Even at the collegiate level. These girls are
getting better, so it's gonna get more competitive as we
(35:02):
move through. But to see them possibly go beyond that,
to fight through that and get a three peat, I
just want to see it. I actually don't expect them
to blow people out like that. I don't I expect
Asia to continue to be dominant like she is, but
I think people just want to see them do it.
And to your point, though, I think they do put
unrealistic expectations on them as a result, and so when
(35:26):
they don't win certain games or when they don't play so
well over here, it's a big deal. But if this happens,
then we look up and they've won three championships in
a row. No one's gonna care. No, he's gonna bring
it up.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Let's start over, Chris, Let's let's start.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
Let's you and I let's just start off.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
That's so nice, brands.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
I'm extending the Olive Rench we're going to start over.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
After the break, we're gonna talk about the teams that
are at the bottom of the standings, and we're gonna
have a fresh start.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
Cool, cool, We will have.
Speaker 5 (35:55):
A fresh start. By the way, I'm never counting out
the Ages. Just wanted to have that on record. Never
carry me out. Let's be clear, so we can try
and get y'all twisted. Okay, let's break.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Chris I said we were going to start over, and
so I am a woman of my word. So as
we look at the teams that are currently at the
bottom of the standings, do you think that there's a
team like Atlanta, Dallas, maybe even Washington or whoever that
could sneak in.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
I thought that the Dallas Wings. I said this before
the break or during the yeah, before the All Star Break,
that the Dallas Wings will make the playoffs because of
tATu Sovy coming back, Matty Secret, Jaylen Brown the rookie.
And it's not looking great for me right now. Okay,
so that's a swinging miss at the moment.
Speaker 4 (36:47):
But I do.
Speaker 5 (36:48):
Think Atlanta they have had moments in this post All
Star break where they have looked like they're turning a
corner and it also help that they're fully healthy. Right
Ryan Howard's back Jordan, Canada. I know, well they're not
fully healthy. Aerial power is still out. But I believe
(37:09):
that Atlanta could challenge Chicago for that a spot. Chicago's
been reeling as of late, and it sucks because they've
been losing such close games, whether it's to the Aces
the Connecticut Sun, right, so that that hurts you a
lot more compared to a blowout loss. But I do
(37:31):
think Atlanta, the way Tina Charles is playing, my Goodness
and that loss against the Fever, she was vintage Tina
Tina Charles. She could not miss Aleah Boston, Dimara Stantists
unless they had no answer for her. Right, So I
think Atlanta has a shot to take down Chicago for
(37:52):
that a spot. And even though the expectations were higher
going into the year for Atlanta than ac that would
be a blessing for their fan base because they desperately
need that after the way they started this season. But Cherie,
what about you, you you're willing to go out?
Speaker 4 (38:13):
Well, I think.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Correct me from I did? I did that Chicago was
gonna move up?
Speaker 4 (38:21):
And what and what was.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
It that was my faith speaking okay, because I'm a
woman of faith, so you know, faith does not always
is not viewed oftentimes as rational, and so both of
you viewed me as irrational. I think it's unfortunate because
now you know, with the loss of Maybury, even though,
(38:43):
as I shared earlier on this show, there was some
inconsistencies with her on both sides of basketball, her loss
is being felt. I think Chicago is now legitimately missing
a piece. Camilla Cardoso is playing better. I think that
break did really well for her. I think her confidence
is better, and I think she's more consistent, but she's
not as dominant. It's interesting you mentioned BG earlier, Chris,
(39:05):
because I feel like Camilla has the same potential when
it comes to dominance that we're just not seeing right now,
and it's probably gonna take her a little bit longer
to get her sea legs together. So although she.
Speaker 4 (39:15):
Did, she did hold her own against Angel Wilson.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
She did, she did, she did. I'm talking. I want
to I want to know and be assured of who
you will be every night. I can't say that about
her yet, definitely couldn't say it before the All Star break,
in the in the Paris Games, break, but Chicago is
missing a piece more so than an Atlanta dream. So
as much as I want them to be there, as
(39:39):
much as I thought they were going to be not
just somebody will say, well maybe, but like they're there,
what I'm seeing now is an indication that they are
just missing a piece they have. I believe that Teresa
Weatherspoon's the right coach. I think they have some great Obviously.
You've got Angel Reese. You know, You've got your Kennedy Carter.
(40:01):
You know, whatever was going on with her before when
she missed a game or two. You know. I don't
even want to get into that because I don't know
the particulars, but you have pieces there, and you have
women who are gonna go fight it out and tussle
and go hard every night. But they are missing a
piece or two in order for me to actually just
beyond my faith. But the numbers themselves say they should
(40:23):
be there. So yes, I said it. I also say
that to just be the devil's advocate and throw something
out there and see what you all were gonna say.
But yes, Chris, thank you for calling me out on that.
So I'm still pulling for Chicago. Anything's possible, but they
got to get a couple pieces together. To your point
about the dream, I think they got a legitimate shot.
Watching them turn the corner as they have in this
back half of the season is extremely impressive, and at
(40:46):
this point, if they stay in this in this space,
they could be there. Not so sure about the fever,
but also got a shout out just how they've turned
the corner. I think they're eleven and four something to
that effect, since right before they All Star break, which
I you know, I understand is a really big deal
right now, not just for their team, but just for
the history books. So got a shout out to them. Clearly,
Kaitlyn Clark is not only finding her way, she's found
(41:09):
her niche offensively in particular and as a facilitator. And also,
you know, we see her attack in the basket a
lot more, you know, using her body better to get
to the basket and finish, and then her three point shot.
You know, it is obviously falling more than it was
prior to the All Star Game in the Pairs games break,
So shout out to them. They just seem like a
more cohesive team just overall. Kelsey Mitchell to me, is
(41:30):
still the best guard on that team, and the way
that she's bawling out and the Leah Boston rising to
the occasion, I think the Fever. If they stay in
this way, we might we might be having a different
conversation about them. And so I have to I kind
of got to shout them out and say, hey, any
there might anything as possible team. And I can't believe
I'm saying that because they were really getting on my
(41:51):
nerves earlier in the season. But I just cannot completely
count them out considering how they have been playing these
last you know, fifteen games. So but the Sky, you
still have my heart. Anything's possible, but you're missing a
few pieces.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
Well, I'm going to say this, and I'll make this
really quick. I know that majority of us have just
completely counted out the Washington Mystics, but I want to
draw your attention to a couple things.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
Right, okay, Exhibit A.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
I want to draw your attention to the fact that
mathematically they are not yet eliminated. I want to draw
your attention to the fact that they still have two
games against the Atlanta Dream I'm sorry, against the Chicago Sky,
who was still sitting in the eighth spot. They have
a game against them on the twenty eighth, which is Wednesday,
(42:49):
the twenty eighth, and they also have a game against
Atlanta Dream against the Sky on the eleventh, and then
they have a back to back against Atlanta on the
thirteenth and the fifteenth. They are on a two game streak,
while Chicago, I believe, is on a two game losing streak,
and so we are struggling yep. And Atlanta is also
on a two game losing streak. So I say this
(43:11):
to say that when we think about teams sitting at
the bottom of the pack, we are really starting to
look at who you have matchups in the future and
what you have accomplished over the last week or so.
And I think, maybe just gonna be crazy, but maybe
we get a hold calls the breaks a bit. I
(43:35):
just said a moment ago in the last segment that
injuries have derailed and really failed the Washington Mystics this season.
But that don't mean that they are mathematically eliminated from
playoff contention, because they got four games against two teams
that very much have an opportunity to be in the
playoffs and wins against those games. Plus the fact that
(43:57):
this seven, eight, nine, and even ten. I have to
all see each other multiple times over the next two weeks.
Anything can happen. So let's not throw Washington under the
bus yet. You know who we are gonna throw under
the bus, though, the league as a whole the ball
a few times and we.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
Got them coming up all right, y'all.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
On this week's jump ball segment, we just got to
shout out the WNBA and how they can't get out
of their own way. Just the examples are countless. The
moments we can just throw a dart at a calendar
and pretty much land them wherever we land them and
(44:42):
can be accurate. But there are some particular things that
I'm sure that each of us have had most recently
that just lets us, you know, let's just remind us
of how the WNBA keeps dropping the damn ball. Just
this past week, the Connecticut Sun had an opportunity to
play at the TD Garden in Boston, and man, what
(45:02):
an incredible game it was. First of all, the atmosphere
was bananas. Nineteen thousand plus fans were in the building.
It was the first to ever happen in that building.
No WNBA team had ever played in the Boston in
TD Garden, excuse me, And there was nothing from the league, Like,
(45:23):
there was no additional promotion, the game wasn't nationally televised.
It just feels like and granted, this was the third
highest attending game this season and the highest attended game
and franchise history for the Connecticut Sun, So it just
feels like, once again, the WNBA just can't really seem
to get out of their own way as it relates
(45:44):
to exposing this game to.
Speaker 1 (45:46):
A larger audience. Just you know, Shri, what are some
of your thoughts on that.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
I just don't get it, Like there's enough resistance outside
of the league itself to account for shortening the league
or not giving it a certain level of exposure it deserves,
not you know, from a revenue standpoint, putting it in
a position to be as profitable as it not only
should be, but again as it deserves to be. So
(46:15):
I'm just unclear at this point. That's my word. I
have five million jobs. So my manager at one of
my jobs, she said, don't stay confused, say unclear. So
I'm very unclear as to even why we are in
a position where we have to have this conversation and
I think we've all given the commission of the WNBA
the side I more than once, especially this particular season,
(46:38):
and I'm not even certain, aside from her resignation or firing,
what the solution is. I'm just being honest. It's just
not logical. And you can't even say, oh, the pieces
weren't in place, Oh, people didn't know. No, these things
are happening, and there's a lot of information that's already
been given about what's going on. Even the situation with
(47:02):
Deerica Hanby was not properly managed. It wasn't dealt with properly.
So now the league is on notice about something that
could have been dealt with quite some time ago. For
whatever reason. Again, I'm not sure. Maybe she wasn't taken seriously,
I don't know. I'm not understanding why sold out games
are not nationally broadcast. That is unacceptable, especially from what
(47:25):
I understand, those ticket sales are already being taken care of,
and plenty of advanced time for you to make sure
that happened. So as much as we could try to
find someone else to blame, because that's the easiest route,
we actually can't even drive down that street because it
simply is the league. It's cannibalizing on itself. It's very
(47:45):
frustrating to see, especially as we're now in this era
where women's basketball a hole as a whole is blossoming.
You talk about the college game, even high school game,
college and all the way through. Please please don't cut
your nose to spite your face at this point in time, WNB, Please,
because there's going to be no one to blame when
this is over, I promise you, when we look back
(48:06):
at some of these instances of lacked growth because of
just very blatant errors and mismanagement, there will be no
one to blame, no one to blame but leadership in
the league itself. So it's disappointing, but I'm glad that
we are in a position, even with our platform, to
call these things out, and I know other platforms are
doing the same thing because you got to put pressure
(48:26):
on the powers that be. And I think at this
point in time, the WNBA has been in a position,
their commissioner has been in a position to be the victim,
and in many respects has been the victim. But at
this point a time, you're actually a victor who's victimizing yourself.
So I say, let's keep putting the pressure on leadership,
c suite, whatever we have to do, and call it
(48:49):
out and hopefully at some point some changes will be
made so that the league can continue to grow, because
it is we're at to pivotal of a point. Excuse
me to not ensure that that happens.
Speaker 1 (49:00):
Just might think very.
Speaker 5 (49:01):
Well said, And to that point, it isn't just the league,
but it's also the networks that have rights to these games,
because some of them, you know, proclaim, oh, yeah, we're
doing so much for the women's game, and then you
see moments like this where oh, we didn't want the
game right. There was an article that came out said, yeah,
(49:22):
es being an NBA TV passed up on it, and
I don't know if that's true. It may be, but
they could have worked together to make something happen. The
other thing that is awful is Maya Moore had her
jersey retirement ceremony man this Saturday. Who did they play
(49:44):
against the Indiana Fever in Kaitlyn Clark. Kaitlyn Clark's idol
growing up was Maya Moore. The game was on NBA TV,
The retirement ceremony was on League Pass.
Speaker 3 (50:01):
Unacceptable, fucking League pass.
Speaker 5 (50:04):
You telling me she deserves that type of coverage? Absolutely not, Nope.
There could have been a way to make it happen,
whether the Links decided to make or the whether the
Links may be pushed it back or move it ahead
right playing against the Aces and have it there when
that game was on ESPN or something else on one
(50:25):
of ESPN's platforms or maybe another network. May Moore is
one of the greatest players in basketball history, let alone
women's basketball history.
Speaker 3 (50:36):
Mm hm, and her he's the goat.
Speaker 5 (50:39):
Sorry, right, the woman went to six finals in eight seasons,
six finals and eight seasons, won four part of one
of the greatest dynasties in WNBA history, and it was
on League Pass.
Speaker 4 (50:54):
That right there, Tarika lets.
Speaker 5 (50:58):
Me know that the league, in a lot of ways,
it's still not serious about their growth for the women's game.
I'm sorry, I don't care if football was on. It
wasn't the gauntlet of football. We were in week zero
for crying out loud, and you can't give her a
national platform like we saw with Sue Bird and Supe
(51:18):
Bird deserved that, right, Let's be.
Speaker 2 (51:22):
Clear, YEP, I think it's this is the same argument
that we had last year when it came to sup
Boord in Sylvia Fouser's retirement, that we were wondering why
was one heavily promoted and the other was not the
same reason why I felt a way about our Boston
Garden game with Connecticut and LA not being nationally televised. Now,
(51:44):
let's be clear, I am one of those people who
did not want the game on ESPN. Absolutely did not
because I'm you know, let's be honest, if it was
an ESPN game, I would not have been able to
call it. ESPN has their own broadcast team, their own
sideline reporters, their own everything, and they have a game
it is their own staff, and I felt like that
game was a game in which it required those of
(52:06):
us who are part of the Connecticut broadcast team, those
of us who have been with the team the entire season,
who understood the gravity of the moment to have that moment.
So I didn't want ESPN's team to be broadcasting that
I wanted to work that game.
Speaker 1 (52:19):
So there's that.
Speaker 2 (52:20):
But that still meant Amazon Prime was an option, NBA
TOV was an option, CBS Sports Network was an option.
This game had been advertised since last summer. It was
officially put on the schedule in December. Tickets went on
sale in February and this game sold out and the
press release went out in July, So there was plenty
of time. They flex all the time, They switched games
(52:43):
all the time. And there was a game on NBA
TV that night. It was Dallas in New York. No
shade to either. But I'm also saying between the gravity
of the moment of what was happening in the Garden
versus Dallas and New York, where you're probably knew New
York was going to win, there could have been an
option to switch the games. And it makes no sense
(53:06):
to me that Again, the WNBA continues to get in
its own way, And it didn't matter, right because nineteen
thousand fans still showed up, people still tuned in to watch,
people still found a way.
Speaker 1 (53:17):
Yeah, it was on.
Speaker 2 (53:18):
Twitter, but for real, for real, like being on Twitter
is not the same as being on linear TV. So
there's that whatever. But at the end of the day,
the WNBA as a league has continually found ways to
shoot themselves in the foot.
Speaker 1 (53:34):
They take a few steps.
Speaker 2 (53:35):
Forward, and then they find ways to take a few
steps back, and it's disappointing because as much as we
love this league, as much as we love the players
in this league, we see the value in this league.
I do tons of work with the WNBA. I host
the WNBA Space every Monday. So it's not to say
that they're they're always getting it wrong. They aren't, but
(53:56):
the moments in the marks that they missed are just
sometimes more than you like, they just bite off more
than they can choose sometimes with the marks that they missed,
and it's just it's mind boggling, like how we all
get it and y'all still don't for whatever reason. But
all I can do is just hope you figure it
out and get it right the next time.
Speaker 5 (54:17):
Right.
Speaker 2 (54:17):
It just ain't no guaranteed that there's always gonna be
a next time, Like it ain't no guaranteed that there's
gonna be another Like there's never gonna be another.
Speaker 1 (54:24):
Mayor Moore retiring never. So that's the moment that's just missed.
Speaker 2 (54:29):
What makes you think that people would not want to
see that given how much Maya.
Speaker 1 (54:33):
Moras meant to this game, that's crazy.
Speaker 2 (54:37):
We have never seen a women's basketball game played in
TD Garden you didn't know what the La Spartsist record
would look like. It an't know what Connecticut's record would
look like, for that matter, before this game start. But
in December when it was originally put.
Speaker 1 (54:52):
On the schedule, you ain't know that.
Speaker 2 (54:53):
So how are you using record as a reason that
didn't nobody wont it?
Speaker 4 (54:56):
Come on now?
Speaker 1 (54:57):
Ain't nobody know what the record was gonna be in December?
Like that's nuts, right?
Speaker 2 (55:01):
So they just continue to get in their own way,
and all we can do is hope and pray that
they figure it out and figure it out sooner.
Speaker 1 (55:07):
Rather than later.
Speaker 5 (55:08):
Figure it out sooner than later. But also we hold
their feet to the fire. And when Kathy does her
media availabilities, and people within the league, the reporters, you know,
if it's you or other people or myself, you know,
take them the task like why are these things happening?
Because you're missing out on maximizing the growth of this
(55:31):
league and the momentum that this rookie class has really
you know, jump started.
Speaker 4 (55:36):
So yeah, I'm one hundred percent with you.
Speaker 2 (55:40):
Yeah, well, Chris Sharie s that's gonna do it for
this episode or three on three, y'all. I really appreciate
hanging out with y'all because we don't do it enough,
my god. Anyway, guys, y'all can catch us on all platforms,
all right, so make sure you're getting us on the iHeart,
on the iHeart Radio at wherever you listen to your podcast.
(56:02):
Next week we will be back with a guest or two,
or shall I say next episode we will be back
with a guest or two. You can definitely get up
with us on all social media platforms.
Speaker 1 (56:14):
Chris, tell the people where they can find us.
Speaker 5 (56:16):
They can find us Tarikat on x at the three
on three pod and then if you're on ig at
three on three pod, and then you can also check
out our YouTube channel, the Inflection Network, where we've got
all types of great content segments spliced up so you
can watch them an eleven twelve minute segments. That is
(56:37):
where you can find us. And we are so thankful
for everybody that listens to us. And make sure you
always give us five stars on the Review Buzz show.
Speaker 2 (56:46):
All right, guys, we love y'all, but we out of here.
See next episode here
Before are you well? Welcome to the three on three pod. Shoot,
all we are.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Opening the show was breaking news clearly okay, I'm going
to unrival. Well, let's let's get into that. It's your girl,
Arrika Foster Brasby. I am here joined by my incredible
co hosts Cherin Nicole and Chris Williamson's goodie.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Hi Yeah, hi everybody, Hi Rika, Hi, Hello there?
Speaker 4 (00:38):
How are we?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
What? What?
Speaker 4 (00:42):
What was?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
What was that.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
That was? I don't know what that was.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
It was one of my characters that I go into
every day.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
You have multiple identities.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I do.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Will introduce us to one of them. Chris.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
Yeah, the one I think is from I don't know
if it's all be sure, I'm getting confused with another one,
but I do like right, and so that's something that
I do, you know, to warm up, vocalize, you know,
make sure I'm downing everything out, and then we go
about our business.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
We learned something new about each other every single episode.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
I have no idea.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
Well, I'm glad I was able to give you.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
I had no idea.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
You're a man of many talents, Chris.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
I just would say some would say you are. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
You see how she deflected right then, when she is
the one that was in Antigua on the island getting
a tan and turned up for her birthday, just move
over to you. What's t sis.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I'm pretty sure you guys saw all of my videos
and photos. I was very modest, very reserved. I didn't
do too much. I was, you know, very demus.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
The entire time.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Cab, I'm saying, I'm forty now, I'm way too old
for the Shenanigans.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
So okay, okay.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
If any if you believe her, if you're listening or watching,
you believe her, that means you did not see anything
on her social media.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
And that's what she showed you the public, right.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
You didn't have I honestly didn't have any like out
of ridiculous experiences Like I really didn't. I was on
my best behavior. I went and saw I got a
chance to swim with the steam rays, like not the
not the you know, crocodile hunter sting rays, because them
the crazy ones, like the nice little gentle ones.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
I did like.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
I had a great time. I partied quite literally every
single day. The resort that I went to was really fun.
As soon as I got there, they gave me little drinks,
and I was and of course, because me, I have.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
To also see how the locals do it.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
I'm not one of those international travelers where I only
want to be on a.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Resort with the bougie people.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Like I am that person that wants to see how
the locals party. So I went to this one this
one spot right now, you see this is this is
a birthday right, Okay, yeah, because that's how we do it, right,
That's a birthday right. So I was like, this is cool,
but I still feel like this is very close to
(03:24):
the resort, Like, let me go into the city of
Saint John and see how y'all really getting down right.
Went to another party on my actual birthday, had an
incredible time.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
However, that's what I got.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
What is that a firework?
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I got a bottle with a firework? Yeah, on the remy.
That was it?
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Okay, So first of all, that looks like a fire hazard.
That was aggressive.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I just thought there was a stark difference in the cellar,
but the remy tastes the same, so it was all good.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Is this a little birdie was telling me about some
sparkler debacle that you had, So this.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Was this is this is the Sparkler debacle will We
were like yay, you know on Instagram we saw like
the big old thing was gonna come out. We were
like really excited. And then when we got there, like
there was another video that I have too where it
was literally like there was a bottle of Remy and
a bottle of Tito's and they literally just lit the
little sparkler right there at the table and was like
(04:31):
capy birthday. No, that's not how they have to bring
it forth to you, all of the sparkles and presented
to you like you are the royalty that you are.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
They said, now get somebody else to do it.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Somebody else absolutely had to do it. NFA to let
me know that my area was reserved.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
That was my r. Wow.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Is that a half of a church fan? I don't know,
but you know what it looks like half of a
church fan.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Incredible time. It was just as watch as I needed
it to be.
Speaker 5 (05:02):
Oh my goodness, you know what. We're so happy for you.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Are we? Because I'm concerned a little bit.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Very very very fun wretchet moment.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
That in that church, that church fan of an R
s v P and the sparkler that looked like a
fire hazard and the other sparklers that they did not
usher into her, but it was lit with a match
and said peace out.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Sis.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
I cannot I'm very happy for her, but those.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I'm just I cannot wait to go back.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
The hospitality was amazing, the even even with the sparkler
and the half fan sign, they were incredible in the club.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
So I love it. And your beach photos were incredible,
like it looked like you had great weather.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yes, the weather was incredible. It was really a wonderful time.
And I wanted to show off the melanin of American
women being in another country and.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
So come on, come on, well done, Sis.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
Let them know. Hey.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
You know what what's crazy, though, is there is so
much amazing melanin in the w NBA right now.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
I'm on and transition us. Come on and transition us.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Chris and these ladies right are showing how to get
it done in the second half of the season. I
mean the Liberty, They've already clenched a playoff spot. Tarika's
Connecticut son, they clinched one. They finally got one over
on New York in Barclays might have added you, okay,
(06:35):
and then the Minnesota links. They're probably playing the best
basketball out of everybody. And I'm curious from Tarika your perspective,
what has it been like to see the Connecticut son
adjust with Marina Maybury and really go to a different
level that they haven't had maybe in years prior or
even just you know, prior to the second half of
(06:57):
the season before the trade.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah, their three point shooting has absolutely increased since adding
Marina Maybury, which essentially was the point, right, Like, the
reason why they brought her there is because they wanted
to give their backcourt a boost as it relates to
being able to shoot deep threes, and they have done that,
and she like really shot the ball will against Chicago,
which is really a habit of hers. She has a
(07:20):
tendency of playing incredibly well against her former team. She
did the same point against.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Dallas last year. I tried to tell everybody.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I was like, Marina is gonna be the difference maker
in this matchup because since ain't trying to go out
like that against the team she used to play for.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
And sure enough, she was like four for five from three.
So there was that. But with all of that being.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Said, it's been fun, but it's it's a redundant right.
We have seen this show before from the Connecticut Sun.
We've seen them clinch before, We've seen them be in
a position to win before, and again, it always feels
like they are a bridesmaid and never a bribe. So
we're hoping that this year will be different. Right, Like
(08:01):
the window was obviously closing on this team, there are
some contracts that are going to be up very soon.
They're not oblivious to where they are, to their age,
to how long they've been in this organization.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Like, they're not stupid. They know what it is, right.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
So there's certainly an urgency that you can feel in
that locker room, and I think Marina has embraced that
right being on a team that truly has a legitimate
shot at winning a championship.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
I'm just tired of players leaving Chicago and going somewhere
else and doing well. I'm sick of it.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Are you surprised?
Speaker 3 (08:34):
I'm not. I feel like my city is cursed because
every time a player that has any level of impact
is traded from a Chicago team, and I'm talking about
men's or women's, they seem to go to the next
place and flourish. Mayby was bananas on defense when she
(08:54):
was in Chicago. She was actually fairly streaky when she
was in Chicago, and that ponytail of hers needed some work.
Now all of a sudden, she's with the sun and
she's turning up. I'm not surprised, but by golly, I'm
sick of it. And it also speaks to the system.
I mean, certain players thrive in certain systems, so you
have to give it up to you know, obviously the
(09:15):
Connecticut Son coaching staff and making sure that she got
into this system and got in well. But I'm a
little frustrated just on a personal side, because why couldn't
you do this for the scot job. Wait, we were
rooting for you, and she'm I'm just gonna be honest.
She was one of the most frustrating people for me
to watch in the first half of the season. Literally,
(09:37):
I needed like an antidepressant or something to help with
anxiety for her because she was taking me out of here.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Look, I'm with you on that. She was very hot
and cold and streaky as a shooter with Chicago, and
her role was different right where she had to facilitate
in addition to being a shooter. When she's on Connecticut
sign And Tarika know this better than anybody. She don't
have to do all that, you know, she does not
(10:06):
have to have a bigger responsibility. She's got to shoot,
you know what I'm saying, create spacing for at do
wanna Bonner Ty Harris and that's all you know. And
then again, she has improved her defense, Like She's never
been known to be a great defender, but I've seen
moments where she's really applied the pressure. And what I
thought was really key, I think it was in the
(10:28):
Chicago game where they had not just djon A Carrington
in the game at the end of the game, but
also Marina Maybrey. The fact that they can be on
the floor together at end up game situations when maybe
was coming off the bench. Lets me know that coach
Stephanie White has a lot of trust in Marina to
be at least serviceable on the defensive end when the
(10:49):
game is tied.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
So yeah, I understand your frustration, Sharib, but I'm.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Tired of it and good for her. I mean, just
from an athlete's perspective, you want to be somewhere where
you can not only be most useful, but you can
be happy, and you don't have to necessarily take on
added things that take away from what you really do well.
So happy for her that she's in a space where
she can do what she does well, like you are
are saying, without all the other ancillary responsibilities. But man
(11:15):
is disappointing, and Chicago has certainly taking a hit and
adjusting since she's been absent from that lineup. So this
is just me as a Chicago fan wanted the best
for them. But you know, you all are spot on.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Yeah I get that. I get that one hundred per century,
I really do.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
But you know that, Chris, just her role is different,
and you wasn't coming to Connecticut and not playing od right.
Let you walk up in there, you wing for the plane.
O d oh, you gonna play some defense.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
To bag like that? You playing some So yeah, that
was that was a given.
Speaker 5 (11:50):
And I really love how they embraced Marina, maybe right
when she first came to the Sun.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
I think that was key.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
Especially you know All Star weekend I really helped with
the transition. There's literally I think it was like the
day after their game against Vegas, Marina gets traded and
then yeah, you got All Star weekends.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
So a world win.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
But how about the listen New York Liberty. They clearly
took and I know people have been talking about it.
They clearly took Kelsey Plumb's words about how yeah, this
team doesn't care about each other to heart. And they
have turned the page in terms of their chemistry and
(12:30):
just their ability to step up when other players are absent,
whether it's Sabrini and Escu or Corney vanderslout when she
was out, but Naja Laney Hamilton, everybody understands their role
much better.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Okay, And what I'm.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
Thinking about is do we think this Liberty team is
going to be unstoppable when the playoffs come? Because it's
one thing to do it in the regular season. We
saw them give it to the Aces last year and
again more years together now this year. But do we
expect them to be unstoppable?
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Trika, No, I don't expect them to be unstoppable. I
mean I just watched them on Saturday against the other
team that clinched the Connecticut Son and you can still
see that they're still dealing with some injuries. We still
haven't seen Benigel Lanney Hamilton, who to me is one
of the best two way players in the game have
an impact.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Because she's still.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Been sidelined, she was dressed, so that's encouraging, but definitely
need to see her back out there. And I still
think that there are moments where Brianna Stewart and John
Quell Jones are not consistently engaged with each other.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
And you can't have.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
A successful New York Liberty team when it's dependent on
one or the other. You need them both to be
locked in. No matter how well you can see Stewie play,
she can win you some games when it turns to
winning championships. We saw that last season. You can't have
one without the other. When we saw John Quill and
Stewie locked in, they won game the game that they
(14:00):
should have been locked in step it was more John
Quill than it was Stewie and they ended up losing
a series. So I think that that's something that we
still need to see. But as and I know we're
going to get into this, but I think at this
exact moment, like today, as of this taping, the Minnesota
Links are the best team in the WNBA.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Right Yeah, yeah, so too.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
When you when and and let's look at the path
of New York. If if we were to say, hey, today,
this is where the playoffs are going to start, New
York would have to see Las Vegas, assuming that they
both win. If you know, Vegas were to win their
round and New York would win their round, which currently would.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Be against Chicago.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
If the playoffs started today, you would see a Vegas
New York matchup in the second in the second round
and the semi finals. That works perfect for Connecticut, assuming
they would win their matchup. But I'm saying, do you
feel confident in a series that New York or against
New York in Vegas, that New York would win or
that Vegas would win?
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Like, I don't feel confident about either.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
One either way.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Absolutely absolutely absolutely so to answer your question and Lo,
the long way of answering your question is no, like
there's no guarantee with this team.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
For me, there is.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
The only team I would feel comfortable guarantee guaranteeing a
spot in the finals today would be Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Totally agree to Rika. I don't have too much to
add behind what you said. And it's interesting like with
the New York even with an aces, I don't I
can't count them out. But in terms of expecting them
to dominate. Absolutely not. And it's interesting. You know, I
expected some corners to be turned in terms of dominance
from both of them, and that hasn't really happened, which
is interesting. We also seen some close games where I
(15:49):
was like, guys, you shouldn't just be winning by a
few points here there. Even the Aces game versus Chicago,
shout out to Chicago, but winning on a buzzer beater.
At this point in the season, I'm a little concerned,
So I don't I don't know who we're gonna get. Obviously,
veteran leadership always plays a role in terms of being
(16:09):
able to pull out games, but dominance from either team,
I don't see it. I do see, you know, a
Sabrina on the New York side, Sabrina and Nescu just
rising to the occasion. She seems to do that. But
like Terika said, I mean, there has to be some
consistency between John Coyll and Stewart for this for them
to make sense, you know, in a in a finals.
I just I don't see it happening. But I think
(16:31):
this also just speaks to the league itself getting better.
You know, some of these other teams are just getting better.
The links are and they have a history, you know,
for the most part of being a good solid team.
I love the way they play, they they their cohesion
has always been very impressive to me, this entire way,
and they haven't fallen off the wagon. So when we
think of a team that's consistently doing what they do
(16:51):
and winning basketball games, like Terreka said, you gotta shout
them out. So I think they're the team to fear,
just simply because they're consistent and they have bought into
their formula. Other teams, like I'll go for the Aces
for example, they bought into their legacy. They bought into
their history of winning. But in terms of currently where
we stand, who are you all? What have you bought
(17:13):
into besides Asia being the greatest player in the world.
And I'm just saying, like I have a I have
a little bit of disappointment around their guard play at times.
I think there's some mesconsistencies there. So I don't know.
I'm excited though, I'm the son, you know, Terrika, I've
been saying this from the beginning. It's a part of
me that just wants to see them get over the hump.
I like a over the hump story. I think they
(17:35):
put in so much work. They've made some good moves
in terms of their front office and getting the pieces
they need, and I think it would be good for
the league. I think the league needs a team like
the Connecticut Sun to rise to the occasion and go
all the way. We've seen the Links win it. We've
seen the Aces win it, We've seen the New York
win it. Like we need just for me as a fan,
but also somebody who wants to see this league continue
(17:55):
to grow. I think we need to see something like that.
So I'm praying for the Sun. They are in my prayers.
I'm not there always in my prayers.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
I know that's right.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
I do want to say though, that as it relates
to New York I have I will not stop saying
this that I have been so completely impressed with Sabrina
in her school, like always thought that she was a
star caliber player. Unfortunately, her career didn't begin like many
people thought because she was facing injuries in the beginning.
There was also the pandemic her rookie year. She had
(18:27):
a chance coach like there were other factors that played
a role. But I love the way Sabrina has really
taken charge of her career. She has really this offseason
put the time and the work in. You're seeing it.
She's in the MVP conversation, she's in the MIP conversation.
Like quite honestly, it has been refreshing. So when we
talk about New York and the things that they have
(18:50):
done and need to do to continue to be a
solid team ready for the playoffs, which I already believe
that they're ready for the playoffs. You know, the question
was whether or not, you know we are guaranteeing to
see them go all the way through, and that I'm
just not ready to say, because, as you mentioned, Shari,
the talent around the league right now was just so
heavy at it's crazy. But make no mistake, one of
(19:12):
the reasons that they were able to be the first
team to clinch is because of Sabrina and Neschool Chick
was my plan and I love that for her.
Speaker 5 (19:21):
Sabrina and to your point, Tarika, she has so much
of the pressure off of her because of Kaitlin Clark
and the combination of her getting a full offseason right
to just work on her game, improve her area inside
the perimeter because we already knew how good of a
shooter she was before the season, but now that floater,
(19:43):
she's got more of a package inside. That really opens
up things for everybody else. But there's one player that
I don't think is getting enough credit, and that's the
only phoebish right, the rookie. She might be Rookie of
the Year. You know she's on the best team. You
know what I'm saying. She's on the best team and
she has played.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah, don't do that. Don't you do that of the year,
Rookie of the Year with everything that Caitlyn and Angel
are doing right now, ye.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
Charia and Tarrika you you should know me better by now.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Bye Chris, Bye Chris. But we got to go to break.
On the other side of the break, me and Tarika
will get you all the way together on that argument
about Rookie of the Year because I'm disturbed in my
spirit will be right now, Chris.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
You really be tripping me out with some of the ship.
You'd be saying out your mom's.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Feel was good and he does it on purpose.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
You know about it.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
And here's the thing, right, I'm not at all disagreeing
with you about how well Leoni phoebitch has been for
this New York team.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
I think you're spot on. I like, she.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Has literally been probably the most impactful player that's, you know,
not a household name like a Stewie or a John
Quill or a Sabrina or like. So I get it,
you know what I mean, But we don't always have
to quantify how amazing body's planned by saying shit like
Rookie of the Year.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
You want to take it back to Chris. Do you
want to take it back? You can take it back
right now.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
I'm trying to save your mentions. Chris. I'm trying to
take it.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Back right now. You're gonna take it back right now.
We'll forget it all happened. We'll wash you're saying away.
It will be washed away right now.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
Men in black, just my god, never happened.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
It'll be like poof, and then we come back.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
You did not see listen.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
I cannot say how disappointed I am in both of
you for actually believing that I was actually fucking serious
about that.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Clearly I was trolling.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
There's no rational person who actually believes that only Foebish
should be the Rookie of the Year given the seasons
that Kaylyn Clark has had the season that Angel Reach
has had. And oh, by the way, Rickia Jackson, right,
if she got more playing time in the beginning, that's another.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
Story, she'd probably be right there.
Speaker 5 (22:16):
So yes, shame on you, both of you for actually
thinking more a second that I was serious.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Look at how you turned that on us. Don't gas,
this is are you Are you a closet narcissist?
Speaker 4 (22:32):
Chris, No way, ain't, no way.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
You never take y'all serious serious, group of this is crazy.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
This is ridiculous that the sarcasm was too too truthful
feeling for me.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
I feel.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
I feel Yeah, you feel bad.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
Because I wouldn't. I didn't expect y'all to have that
reaction at that. Oh yeah, y'all gonna laugh.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
And then.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
All right, Chris, we we just go act like that
never happens.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Okay, But we are going to talk about some teams
that are still looking to clinch a playoff spot.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Now, when I look at Seattle, Las.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Vegas, and Phoenix, it's definitely safe to say that three
three teams are going to be in the playoffs. So
I think that if again, if we were to start
the playoffs today, you have a Seattle Storm team versus
a Las Vegas Aces team, and I'm not so sure
that I could guarantee who I think would win or
not in that matchup, right. I Mean you kind of
(23:39):
talked about it, Sharia. As it relates to like guard play,
I still don't think that Chelsea Gray is one hundred
percent healthy, and so because that, you can see that
there's a little bit of a disconnect as it relates
to facilitation on the court.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
You can. You know, when I look at.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Phoenix, they are a team to me that is still
a bit too inconsistent. And so, yeah, the y'alls were
to start today, they would be facing up against a
Minnesota Lynks team that I feel very confident about.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Right, So, when I look at Seattle.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Las Vegas, and Phoenix, I have no doubt that either
of those teams can be semi finals or a finals team.
I'm just unsure of where they're land to know how
difficult that path is going to be.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Yeah, Yeah, for sure, Phoenix gets on my nerves. Sorry,
there's too much talent on that team. You look up,
one day they're getting blown out by twenty some points.
The next day they're beating somebody a great team by
ten points are more like who are you all? Seriously,
they are one of the most frustrating teams for me
to keep up with because I had such high expectations
(24:49):
just going into this year. And you know, I know
Diana Tarassi is obviously on the back end of her career,
but as a leader, and she's still very there's still
a level of dominance to her. At any point, she
can catch fire from three and kill everybody. But I
just want to see more from BG. To be quite
frank with you, Kalia Copper love her game. When she's on,
she's on. She's also one of the best two way
(25:09):
guards in the league easily, But I'm just not understanding,
just overall, with all the talent on that team in particular,
why they can't seem to put it together for a
consistent run. I don't understand it. So if they whoever
they play, I'm counting them out. I'm sorry, because I
just they're just not showing me that they can string
(25:30):
you know, two, three, four games together and do well.
For whatever reason it is. Seattle is one of my
little favorites over out West, and I know they've had
some inconsistencies as well, but when it comes to me
just being competitive, I just feel like they can and
I just believe they're well coached. I feel like they
can kind of turn a corner and just they're a
sleeper for me. You go into a game thinking you're
(25:51):
just gonna beat them, they will beat you. But Phoenix,
I'm sick of y'all. And Vegas, I love you all
because I love the swag of that team. Nobody's gonna
tell anything bad about Asia Wilson ever in your life,
like she is literally the greatest player in the world.
But to your point to Rika Chelsea, I don't think
she's that. I don't think she's hundre percent healthy as well.
And Kelsey Plump Sometimes I'm like, what are you doing?
(26:13):
What your just her decision making can be a little
strange to me at times too, so I don't know
what's going on. I don't know what's in the water.
But Phoenix, I'm I'm just going to stick with you.
You get on my nerves, do better. I'm tired of it.
You have too much talent on this team. I just
want you to do well because you have just an
incredible amount of talent on your roster. For whatever reason
(26:35):
it's not working on a consistent basis. And I know
you know you can be mad at me, but this
is my challenge to you because I don't get it. Sorry,
I just went on a Phoenix Mercury rent, but they
really do be getting on my nerves.
Speaker 5 (26:47):
Well, they live, they live and die, and buy they
live and die by the three right.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
That was the philosophy.
Speaker 5 (26:52):
That was the system that Nate Tibbets brought over from
the NBA where he's only coach right, men and boys.
And the other thing is when you have that philosophy
and you don't have people who are crashing the boards,
you're going to have moments if you're not hitting, you're
going to have moments where you look disengaged or you're
(27:15):
not urgent right with the ball and possessions. And the
other part was when the season began, I thought, Okay,
how are all these big personalities going to mess together?
And they started off great, right even without BG to start,
But now they've kind of come back down to I
guess reality, and there hasn't been that chemistry that we
(27:38):
need to see BG. And I think somebody pointed out
online that she should be averaging a double double at
her side.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Absolutely, absolutely, no excuse.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
You are the tallest person in the WNBA. Nobody can
compete with that, and yet you would. You would never
know or it doesn't make sense to me that angel
Reaes is able to produce the way she does. It
really comes down to what I'm trying to get at
is is effort. It's effort and heart. But when it
(28:13):
comes to the Seattle Storm, they're in a position right
now where I think this is a crucial part of
their season means because you've got head coach Noel Quinn
talking about effort and how the Mystics wanted more than
them and their loss. Right on Monday, Skylar Diggings Smith
(28:35):
is cursing in the press conference, talking about this is
fucking unacceptable, right, It should not just come down to
me making a boneheaded foul as a veteran.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
They what's really bothers.
Speaker 5 (28:49):
Him with the storm is Jewel Lloyd in particular has
been extremely inefficient this year from shooting as a shooter.
That cannot happen going forward, and then they just have
all these lapses. Why on earth are the Mystics out
hustling you when they don't have a chance. They have
(29:11):
a very slim chance to make the playoffs. They are
thinking about tanking, right or management, not the players of course,
and then with the so they have to figure that
out with the aces you brought up, Kelsey plumbing, her
decision making. Decision making has always been there often been
a little.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
What are we doing here?
Speaker 3 (29:34):
The head scratch, right, what are we doing here?
Speaker 5 (29:37):
But I think there's mental fatigue right of going for
the three p Of course the Olympics like for them
were there, Asia played the most minutes. Jackie Young has
not looked like herself. She had one game right against
the Links where she put up twenty seven, but I
think she only had three shot attempts in the game
against Chicago. You know, the divorce that Kelsey had, That
(29:59):
problem is waining on her. They just don't look like
a cohesive unit and it's a lot of hero ball
at times, and that that happens, right. Nobody said it
was going to be easy to three p but yeah,
there are things that they are controllable with all three teams.
But it's about will you actually get it done? And
(30:24):
that's my thing.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Well, I'm gonna tell you this because I just sat
here and listened to you shit on like three different
squads and I ain't here for it. Okay, Chris, I'm
gonna tell you that I'm here for it. Number one, Yes,
Phoenix does need to get better with Chris, we forgid
that Brittany Grinder just dropped twenty two and Diana Trozzi
has played incredibly well since the then go on Paris Olympics. Okay,
(30:48):
let them find the consistency. Consistency, but they ain't trash
all right. Number two, Jewel Lloyd just dropped sixteen in
that game. She was the leading scorer for THEMN Seattle.
So I mean, yeah, it was a boneheaded plays that
was made. But let's not act like Jewel Lloyd. It's
just chopped liver out here to what she needed to do.
You know you're gonna take this. I get this because
(31:10):
I sat here and I.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
Listened at all.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
I ain't got nothing.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
She sped from the field, Tarrika, that was my going.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
That was I understand.
Speaker 2 (31:19):
She shot twenty seven percent for the field, but still
where would they have been if Geweloyd hadn't even shot that?
So come at everybody else, don't come at Jewel, please
Jewel alone.
Speaker 5 (31:30):
That's why I was you right, You're right, Scott, gotta
be better, Nacka gotta be better, got to be better.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
You can maybe we just get some love to to
Washington because.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
As much as they are, as much as they are
at the bottom of the standards, Britney Sykes bought out.
And I love that Sykes, giving the fact that she
was somebody who quite literally struggled all year long with injuries, played,
didn't play, didn't get an opportunity this was supposed to
be her year to show out, didn't really get a
chance to show out. Injuries have really just killed Washington.
(32:00):
So shout out to you, Brittany.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
You want.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
This is how orange orange.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
I didn't do it like that.
Speaker 5 (32:11):
I'm just saying the Mystics already lost your kir Austin
in that game, right, and you're thinking, Okay, the Storm
is gonna pull away.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
No, So that that's all I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (32:20):
I've been on record saying the Mystics are the best
worst team right in all the.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
Sports rinkas old Patty today. I usually do this, but Chris,
I feel bad for you today.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Bro.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Sorry, listen, it is tough to three people.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Okay, there's not a team in any sport anywhere that's
gonna kill you. It is easy to three p and
that we have said on numerous occasions that the rest
of the league is continuing to get better. So obviously
there are now teams that are exploiting the hell out
of the things that Las Vegas done. We all agree
that there are mishaps that happen, that everybody doesn't necessarily
(33:04):
play the role, that there are times where it kind
of feels like a player is on an island.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
By herself trying to make it happen.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Last week, Jackie Young got an incredible game twenty six
points against Minnesota. Asia had nine points or something along
the lines at some point in time of the game,
and it didn't really feel like she had a characteristic
type game. The very next day, not the next day.
Day after they played Minnesota again, Asia goals off. Guess what,
they still lose, so's it happens right like they just
(33:31):
they just don't.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
Have that same omph that we are.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
And how spoiled are we, Like, how spoiled are we
as fans that we expect this Las Vegas team to
just blow out everybody because we're so used to what
we saw last season with the six losses and were
just we are spoiled. Can we get out of ourselves
and just embrace the fact that teams are just better.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Some of our favorite teams are gonna take als. It
just is what it is.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
I think beyond spoiled, I think people love into your
Puerto Rica. It is very difficult. It's very difficult to repeat,
let alone three p's, So I think beyond being spoilt,
I think people just want to see it happen, especially
people who love the league. And as I mentioned before,
having a team like a Connecticut Son get over the
hump and actually win a championship, I think that's a
great thing for the league. In addition to if they
(34:22):
don't do it a three p from the Aces, I
think anytime a dynasty is built in the league itself,
I think it helps the league. So at either point,
whatever happens, if either of those things happen, I think
it'll be good for the WNBA. I think people just
want to see it. Also, just because the Aces, in particular,
their personalities drive their fandom. People love to see them together,
(34:42):
They love to see them their chemistry on the court
and everything they bring just as individuals to this particular
team into the game, so people want to see them
at least, you know, and I could even say for me,
I'm not expecting them to dominate people Like you said,
people are going to catch win, teams are going to
get better. Even at the collegiate level. These girls are
getting better, so it's gonna get more competitive as we
(35:02):
move through. But to see them possibly go beyond that,
to fight through that and get a three peat, I
just want to see it. I actually don't expect them
to blow people out like that. I don't I expect
Asia to continue to be dominant like she is, but
I think people just want to see them do it.
And to your point, though, I think they do put
unrealistic expectations on them as a result, and so when
(35:26):
they don't win certain games or when they don't play so
well over here, it's a big deal. But if this happens,
then we look up and they've won three championships in
a row. No one's gonna care. No, he's gonna bring
it up.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Let's start over, Chris, Let's let's start.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
Let's you and I let's just start off.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
That's so nice, brands.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
I'm extending the Olive Rench we're going to start over.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
After the break, we're gonna talk about the teams that
are at the bottom of the standings, and we're gonna
have a fresh start.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
Cool, cool, We will have.
Speaker 5 (35:55):
A fresh start. By the way, I'm never counting out
the Ages. Just wanted to have that on record. Never
carry me out. Let's be clear, so we can try
and get y'all twisted. Okay, let's break.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Chris I said we were going to start over, and
so I am a woman of my word. So as
we look at the teams that are currently at the
bottom of the standings, do you think that there's a
team like Atlanta, Dallas, maybe even Washington or whoever that
could sneak in.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
I thought that the Dallas Wings. I said this before
the break or during the yeah, before the All Star Break,
that the Dallas Wings will make the playoffs because of
tATu Sovy coming back, Matty Secret, Jaylen Brown the rookie.
And it's not looking great for me right now. Okay,
so that's a swinging miss at the moment.
Speaker 4 (36:47):
But I do.
Speaker 5 (36:48):
Think Atlanta they have had moments in this post All
Star break where they have looked like they're turning a
corner and it also help that they're fully healthy. Right
Ryan Howard's back Jordan, Canada. I know, well they're not
fully healthy. Aerial power is still out. But I believe
(37:09):
that Atlanta could challenge Chicago for that a spot. Chicago's
been reeling as of late, and it sucks because they've
been losing such close games, whether it's to the Aces
the Connecticut Sun, right, so that that hurts you a
lot more compared to a blowout loss. But I do
(37:31):
think Atlanta, the way Tina Charles is playing, my Goodness
and that loss against the Fever, she was vintage Tina
Tina Charles. She could not miss Aleah Boston, Dimara Stantists
unless they had no answer for her. Right, So I
think Atlanta has a shot to take down Chicago for
(37:52):
that a spot. And even though the expectations were higher
going into the year for Atlanta than ac that would
be a blessing for their fan base because they desperately
need that after the way they started this season. But Cherie,
what about you, you you're willing to go out?
Speaker 4 (38:13):
Well, I think.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Correct me from I did? I did that Chicago was
gonna move up?
Speaker 4 (38:21):
And what and what was.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
It that was my faith speaking okay, because I'm a
woman of faith, so you know, faith does not always
is not viewed oftentimes as rational, and so both of
you viewed me as irrational. I think it's unfortunate because
now you know, with the loss of Maybury, even though,
(38:43):
as I shared earlier on this show, there was some
inconsistencies with her on both sides of basketball, her loss
is being felt. I think Chicago is now legitimately missing
a piece. Camilla Cardoso is playing better. I think that
break did really well for her. I think her confidence
is better, and I think she's more consistent, but she's
not as dominant. It's interesting you mentioned BG earlier, Chris,
(39:05):
because I feel like Camilla has the same potential when
it comes to dominance that we're just not seeing right now,
and it's probably gonna take her a little bit longer
to get her sea legs together. So although she.
Speaker 4 (39:15):
Did, she did hold her own against Angel Wilson.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
She did, she did, she did. I'm talking. I want
to I want to know and be assured of who
you will be every night. I can't say that about
her yet, definitely couldn't say it before the All Star break,
in the in the Paris Games, break, but Chicago is
missing a piece more so than an Atlanta dream. So
as much as I want them to be there, as
(39:39):
much as I thought they were going to be not
just somebody will say, well maybe, but like they're there,
what I'm seeing now is an indication that they are
just missing a piece they have. I believe that Teresa
Weatherspoon's the right coach. I think they have some great Obviously.
You've got Angel Reese. You know, You've got your Kennedy Carter.
(40:01):
You know, whatever was going on with her before when
she missed a game or two. You know. I don't
even want to get into that because I don't know
the particulars, but you have pieces there, and you have
women who are gonna go fight it out and tussle
and go hard every night. But they are missing a
piece or two in order for me to actually just
beyond my faith. But the numbers themselves say they should
(40:23):
be there. So yes, I said it. I also say
that to just be the devil's advocate and throw something
out there and see what you all were gonna say.
But yes, Chris, thank you for calling me out on that.
So I'm still pulling for Chicago. Anything's possible, but they
got to get a couple pieces together. To your point
about the dream, I think they got a legitimate shot.
Watching them turn the corner as they have in this
back half of the season is extremely impressive, and at
(40:46):
this point, if they stay in this in this space,
they could be there. Not so sure about the fever,
but also got a shout out just how they've turned
the corner. I think they're eleven and four something to
that effect, since right before they All Star break, which
I you know, I understand is a really big deal
right now, not just for their team, but just for
the history books. So got a shout out to them. Clearly,
Kaitlyn Clark is not only finding her way, she's found
(41:09):
her niche offensively in particular and as a facilitator. And also,
you know, we see her attack in the basket a
lot more, you know, using her body better to get
to the basket and finish, and then her three point shot.
You know, it is obviously falling more than it was
prior to the All Star Game in the Pairs games break,
So shout out to them. They just seem like a
more cohesive team just overall. Kelsey Mitchell to me, is
(41:30):
still the best guard on that team, and the way
that she's bawling out and the Leah Boston rising to
the occasion, I think the Fever. If they stay in
this way, we might we might be having a different
conversation about them. And so I have to I kind
of got to shout them out and say, hey, any
there might anything as possible team. And I can't believe
I'm saying that because they were really getting on my
(41:51):
nerves earlier in the season. But I just cannot completely
count them out considering how they have been playing these
last you know, fifteen games. So but the Sky, you
still have my heart. Anything's possible, but you're missing a
few pieces.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
Well, I'm going to say this, and I'll make this
really quick. I know that majority of us have just
completely counted out the Washington Mystics, but I want to
draw your attention to a couple things.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
Right, okay, Exhibit A.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
I want to draw your attention to the fact that
mathematically they are not yet eliminated. I want to draw
your attention to the fact that they still have two
games against the Atlanta Dream I'm sorry, against the Chicago Sky,
who was still sitting in the eighth spot. They have
a game against them on the twenty eighth, which is Wednesday,
(42:49):
the twenty eighth, and they also have a game against
Atlanta Dream against the Sky on the eleventh, and then
they have a back to back against Atlanta on the
thirteenth and the fifteenth. They are on a two game streak,
while Chicago, I believe, is on a two game losing streak,
and so we are struggling yep. And Atlanta is also
on a two game losing streak. So I say this
(43:11):
to say that when we think about teams sitting at
the bottom of the pack, we are really starting to
look at who you have matchups in the future and
what you have accomplished over the last week or so.
And I think, maybe just gonna be crazy, but maybe
we get a hold calls the breaks a bit. I
(43:35):
just said a moment ago in the last segment that
injuries have derailed and really failed the Washington Mystics this season.
But that don't mean that they are mathematically eliminated from
playoff contention, because they got four games against two teams
that very much have an opportunity to be in the
playoffs and wins against those games. Plus the fact that
(43:57):
this seven, eight, nine, and even ten. I have to
all see each other multiple times over the next two weeks.
Anything can happen. So let's not throw Washington under the
bus yet. You know who we are gonna throw under
the bus, though, the league as a whole the ball
a few times and we.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
Got them coming up all right, y'all.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
On this week's jump ball segment, we just got to
shout out the WNBA and how they can't get out
of their own way. Just the examples are countless. The
moments we can just throw a dart at a calendar
and pretty much land them wherever we land them and
(44:42):
can be accurate. But there are some particular things that
I'm sure that each of us have had most recently
that just lets us, you know, let's just remind us
of how the WNBA keeps dropping the damn ball. Just
this past week, the Connecticut Sun had an opportunity to
play at the TD Garden in Boston, and man, what
(45:02):
an incredible game it was. First of all, the atmosphere
was bananas. Nineteen thousand plus fans were in the building.
It was the first to ever happen in that building.
No WNBA team had ever played in the Boston in
TD Garden, excuse me, And there was nothing from the league, Like,
(45:23):
there was no additional promotion, the game wasn't nationally televised.
It just feels like and granted, this was the third
highest attending game this season and the highest attended game
and franchise history for the Connecticut Sun, So it just
feels like, once again, the WNBA just can't really seem
to get out of their own way as it relates
(45:44):
to exposing this game to.
Speaker 1 (45:46):
A larger audience. Just you know, Shri, what are some
of your thoughts on that.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
I just don't get it, Like there's enough resistance outside
of the league itself to account for shortening the league
or not giving it a certain level of exposure it deserves,
not you know, from a revenue standpoint, putting it in
a position to be as profitable as it not only
should be, but again as it deserves to be. So
(46:15):
I'm just unclear at this point. That's my word. I
have five million jobs. So my manager at one of
my jobs, she said, don't stay confused, say unclear. So
I'm very unclear as to even why we are in
a position where we have to have this conversation and
I think we've all given the commission of the WNBA
the side I more than once, especially this particular season,
(46:38):
and I'm not even certain, aside from her resignation or firing,
what the solution is. I'm just being honest. It's just
not logical. And you can't even say, oh, the pieces
weren't in place, Oh, people didn't know. No, these things
are happening, and there's a lot of information that's already
been given about what's going on. Even the situation with
(47:02):
Deerica Hanby was not properly managed. It wasn't dealt with properly.
So now the league is on notice about something that
could have been dealt with quite some time ago. For
whatever reason. Again, I'm not sure. Maybe she wasn't taken seriously,
I don't know. I'm not understanding why sold out games
are not nationally broadcast. That is unacceptable, especially from what
(47:25):
I understand, those ticket sales are already being taken care of,
and plenty of advanced time for you to make sure
that happened. So as much as we could try to
find someone else to blame, because that's the easiest route,
we actually can't even drive down that street because it
simply is the league. It's cannibalizing on itself. It's very
(47:45):
frustrating to see, especially as we're now in this era
where women's basketball a hole as a whole is blossoming.
You talk about the college game, even high school game,
college and all the way through. Please please don't cut
your nose to spite your face at this point in time, WNB, Please,
because there's going to be no one to blame when
this is over, I promise you, when we look back
(48:06):
at some of these instances of lacked growth because of
just very blatant errors and mismanagement, there will be no
one to blame, no one to blame but leadership in
the league itself. So it's disappointing, but I'm glad that
we are in a position, even with our platform, to
call these things out, and I know other platforms are
doing the same thing because you got to put pressure
(48:26):
on the powers that be. And I think at this
point in time, the WNBA has been in a position,
their commissioner has been in a position to be the victim,
and in many respects has been the victim. But at
this point a time, you're actually a victor who's victimizing yourself.
So I say, let's keep putting the pressure on leadership,
c suite, whatever we have to do, and call it
(48:49):
out and hopefully at some point some changes will be
made so that the league can continue to grow, because
it is we're at to pivotal of a point. Excuse
me to not ensure that that happens.
Speaker 1 (49:00):
Just might think very.
Speaker 5 (49:01):
Well said, And to that point, it isn't just the league,
but it's also the networks that have rights to these games,
because some of them, you know, proclaim, oh, yeah, we're
doing so much for the women's game, and then you
see moments like this where oh, we didn't want the
game right. There was an article that came out said, yeah,
(49:22):
es being an NBA TV passed up on it, and
I don't know if that's true. It may be, but
they could have worked together to make something happen. The
other thing that is awful is Maya Moore had her
jersey retirement ceremony man this Saturday. Who did they play
(49:44):
against the Indiana Fever in Kaitlyn Clark. Kaitlyn Clark's idol
growing up was Maya Moore. The game was on NBA TV,
The retirement ceremony was on League Pass.
Speaker 3 (50:01):
Unacceptable, fucking League pass.
Speaker 5 (50:04):
You telling me she deserves that type of coverage? Absolutely not, Nope.
There could have been a way to make it happen,
whether the Links decided to make or the whether the
Links may be pushed it back or move it ahead
right playing against the Aces and have it there when
that game was on ESPN or something else on one
(50:25):
of ESPN's platforms or maybe another network. May Moore is
one of the greatest players in basketball history, let alone
women's basketball history.
Speaker 3 (50:36):
Mm hm, and her he's the goat.
Speaker 5 (50:39):
Sorry, right, the woman went to six finals in eight seasons,
six finals and eight seasons, won four part of one
of the greatest dynasties in WNBA history, and it was
on League Pass.
Speaker 4 (50:54):
That right there, Tarika lets.
Speaker 5 (50:58):
Me know that the league, in a lot of ways,
it's still not serious about their growth for the women's game.
I'm sorry, I don't care if football was on. It
wasn't the gauntlet of football. We were in week zero
for crying out loud, and you can't give her a
national platform like we saw with Sue Bird and Supe
(51:18):
Bird deserved that, right, Let's be.
Speaker 2 (51:22):
Clear, YEP, I think it's this is the same argument
that we had last year when it came to sup
Boord in Sylvia Fouser's retirement, that we were wondering why
was one heavily promoted and the other was not the
same reason why I felt a way about our Boston
Garden game with Connecticut and LA not being nationally televised. Now,
(51:44):
let's be clear, I am one of those people who
did not want the game on ESPN. Absolutely did not
because I'm you know, let's be honest, if it was
an ESPN game, I would not have been able to
call it. ESPN has their own broadcast team, their own
sideline reporters, their own everything, and they have a game
it is their own staff, and I felt like that
game was a game in which it required those of
(52:06):
us who are part of the Connecticut broadcast team, those
of us who have been with the team the entire season,
who understood the gravity of the moment to have that moment.
So I didn't want ESPN's team to be broadcasting that
I wanted to work that game.
Speaker 1 (52:19):
So there's that.
Speaker 2 (52:20):
But that still meant Amazon Prime was an option, NBA
TOV was an option, CBS Sports Network was an option.
This game had been advertised since last summer. It was
officially put on the schedule in December. Tickets went on
sale in February and this game sold out and the
press release went out in July, So there was plenty
of time. They flex all the time, They switched games
(52:43):
all the time. And there was a game on NBA
TV that night. It was Dallas in New York. No
shade to either. But I'm also saying between the gravity
of the moment of what was happening in the Garden
versus Dallas and New York, where you're probably knew New
York was going to win, there could have been an
option to switch the games. And it makes no sense
(53:06):
to me that Again, the WNBA continues to get in
its own way, And it didn't matter, right because nineteen
thousand fans still showed up, people still tuned in to watch,
people still found a way.
Speaker 1 (53:17):
Yeah, it was on.
Speaker 2 (53:18):
Twitter, but for real, for real, like being on Twitter
is not the same as being on linear TV. So
there's that whatever. But at the end of the day,
the WNBA as a league has continually found ways to
shoot themselves in the foot.
Speaker 1 (53:34):
They take a few steps.
Speaker 2 (53:35):
Forward, and then they find ways to take a few
steps back, and it's disappointing because as much as we
love this league, as much as we love the players
in this league, we see the value in this league.
I do tons of work with the WNBA. I host
the WNBA Space every Monday. So it's not to say
that they're they're always getting it wrong. They aren't, but
(53:56):
the moments in the marks that they missed are just
sometimes more than you like, they just bite off more
than they can choose sometimes with the marks that they missed,
and it's just it's mind boggling, like how we all
get it and y'all still don't for whatever reason. But
all I can do is just hope you figure it
out and get it right the next time.
Speaker 5 (54:17):
Right.
Speaker 2 (54:17):
It just ain't no guaranteed that there's always gonna be
a next time, Like it ain't no guaranteed that there's
gonna be another Like there's never gonna be another.
Speaker 1 (54:24):
Mayor Moore retiring never. So that's the moment that's just missed.
Speaker 2 (54:29):
What makes you think that people would not want to
see that given how much Maya.
Speaker 1 (54:33):
Moras meant to this game, that's crazy.
Speaker 2 (54:37):
We have never seen a women's basketball game played in
TD Garden you didn't know what the La Spartsist record
would look like. It an't know what Connecticut's record would
look like, for that matter, before this game start. But
in December when it was originally put.
Speaker 1 (54:52):
On the schedule, you ain't know that.
Speaker 2 (54:53):
So how are you using record as a reason that
didn't nobody wont it?
Speaker 4 (54:56):
Come on now?
Speaker 1 (54:57):
Ain't nobody know what the record was gonna be in December?
Like that's nuts, right?
Speaker 2 (55:01):
So they just continue to get in their own way,
and all we can do is hope and pray that
they figure it out and figure it out sooner.
Speaker 1 (55:07):
Rather than later.
Speaker 5 (55:08):
Figure it out sooner than later. But also we hold
their feet to the fire. And when Kathy does her
media availabilities, and people within the league, the reporters, you know,
if it's you or other people or myself, you know,
take them the task like why are these things happening?
Because you're missing out on maximizing the growth of this
(55:31):
league and the momentum that this rookie class has really
you know, jump started.
Speaker 4 (55:36):
So yeah, I'm one hundred percent with you.
Speaker 2 (55:40):
Yeah, well, Chris Sharie s that's gonna do it for
this episode or three on three, y'all. I really appreciate
hanging out with y'all because we don't do it enough,
my god. Anyway, guys, y'all can catch us on all platforms,
all right, so make sure you're getting us on the iHeart,
on the iHeart Radio at wherever you listen to your podcast.
(56:02):
Next week we will be back with a guest or two,
or shall I say next episode we will be back
with a guest or two. You can definitely get up
with us on all social media platforms.
Speaker 1 (56:14):
Chris, tell the people where they can find us.
Speaker 5 (56:16):
They can find us Tarikat on x at the three
on three pod and then if you're on ig at
three on three pod, and then you can also check
out our YouTube channel, the Inflection Network, where we've got
all types of great content segments spliced up so you
can watch them an eleven twelve minute segments. That is
(56:37):
where you can find us. And we are so thankful
for everybody that listens to us. And make sure you
always give us five stars on the Review Buzz show.
Speaker 2 (56:46):
All right, guys, we love y'all, but we out of here.
See next episode here
Hosts And Creators
Shari Nycole
Terrika Foster-Brasby
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