October 2, 2024 • 53 mins
On this episode of the 3 on 3 podcast, co-hosts Chris Williamson and Terrika Foster-Brasby are joined by special co-host Kevin Lewis, who covers the WNBA and hosts the 9450 podcast. The trio provides their insight into the second round of the WNBA playoffs. Terrika gives her take on why she believes this is the year for the Connecticut Sun to win it all. Chris analyzes the Liberty and Aces matchup.
Then, Kevin makes an impassioned case for Teresa Weatherspoon and talks about how unfair it was for her to be fired after nearly making the playoffs. The crew discusses coaching changes with the Sparks.
In the Jump Ball segment, the co-hosts go around the horn and pick out the best NBA Media Day moments, from LeBron and Bronny James to Josh Hart and KAT. Terrika and Chris reflect on the legacy of NBA giant Dikembe Mutombo. The conversation is filled with insights, humor, and a heartfelt tribute to a basketball legend.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Yo, yo, yo yo.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
What is good?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Everybody?
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Welcome back to another edition of the three on three podcasts.
I'm your host Chris Williamson, joined alongside by my girl,
Treika Foster Brasby, who always brings the entertainment and the insight,
and we are joined on this Tuesday by a special guest,
co host of the ninety four to fifty podcast, Kevin Lewis.
This man is incredibly knowledgeable and amazing what it takes
(00:34):
about the w NBA. Kevin, we appreciate you coming on.
Shout out to the Detroit Shock. Come on, we see it, cash,
let's go. Maybe one day we get them back, you.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Know, we not.
Speaker 5 (00:50):
They not coming back.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Just first of all, the franchise is a completely new
franchise now, so the Dallas Wings they got history. They're
not coming back. And apparently somebody in like this w
n B Al League has actually earned bought the rights
to the name Detroit Shock. So uh, somebody's trying to
(01:11):
buy the name from them. Thank d be something else.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I'm sorry, that's tough.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
I'm sorry, yeah, sorry.
Speaker 5 (01:23):
I ain't hurt.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
My feelings ain't hurt. I don't want to cry on
the inside. I'm not good, let it out, Let it out.
I'm not y'all take my time time with y'all. It's
all right, all right, every weapon, you see what it is.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
The engine, the engine, Alica Thomas. We're going to get
into her and the Sun. We're also going to talk about,
you know, NBA Media Day. But there have been so
many crazy storylines y'all in the w n b A
Playoffs and of course at the end, we are going
to pay tribute to a basketball legend, not just on
(02:03):
the court, but probably more so off the court and Tarika.
This the semi finals so far, between the Liberty and
the Aces and the Sun and the Lynx has kind
of has gone the way that I thought it would
(02:24):
go for New York in Vegas. But with the Lynx
and It's and the Son. The son steal in Game one.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
Is it really a steal? It's a really a steal.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
It's a steal because they're on the Lynks home court.
Ry you've stole it?
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Fine, I mean, I know, I know, I know. Technically
it's like a like an underdog because they're the threes
of the two.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
But okay, it's about it's about grabbing the momentum, right,
off the bat. Okay, that that's what I'm referring to.
They say, I'm not talking about being an underdog, and
I you know, I'm saying, hey, don help you out here,
bro Kelly up.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Listen, I'm I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say this because
I'm with Duve here to be honest with you, t
because first off, I'm with you on saying, you know,
the sun we knew this could happen, like we knew
this could happen. But at the same time, it's still
the two three matchup, right, and we know how good
(03:36):
the links are and we know how they've been close.
This actual this actual matchup has been close all season long.
I think what one point, almost like one and a
half by average between each win that each of the
teams had in the regular season. And we turn around
(03:57):
and we look in into the into the semi five
matchup that occurred on Sunday, and it was a It
was still a close game, you know, from that point,
so I definitely see where where Dove is coming from.
Though they took it. They literally came into Minnesota and
they took that game. And to be honest with you,
(04:17):
we did have conversations offline, and we did say, hey,
Connecticut can take this like for real, for real, you know, so.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Hands down, I know we're gonna have a full fledged
conversation about Connecticut and the Links in their Game one matchup.
So I'm just going, you know, it ain't no secret
where I stand or where I have stood the entire
time as it relates to that team in that matchup.
But I want to go back to the Aces in
the Liberty because I think it's quite interesting. Number one,
(04:51):
for those who have been living under a rock, it
is the official rematch of last year's w NBA Finals.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
It is not, and I I think we can.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
All agree that while the team and the team name
and even majority of the corps is the same from
last year to this year, these are two totally different teams, right.
I have been one who have felt that the mindset
and basketball is just as much mental as it is physical, right,
(05:21):
and sometimes even more mental than it is physical. And
I think that coming into this particular matchup for Game one,
I was most certainly expecting to see this Aces team
play very similar to what we had witnessed in that
final matchup between the Aces and the Liberty when they
did not have Asia Wilson on the court right, So
(05:43):
that was the Aces team I was expecting to show up. Instead,
the Liberty came out to make a statement, quite literally
punched the Aces in the mouth. And one thing that
I thought was a very interesting is that is that
over the three times that they played this team over
the regular season, New York had at least a sixteen
point lead in each of those matchups. So at some
(06:05):
point New York had continually been the dominant team in
each of these matchups throughout the course of the season.
That should have been, to me, something that would have
been expected. However, it just was not an opportunity for
Las Vegas to adjust in this matchup at all. The
big three for New York played sensationally. I hate to
(06:31):
talk about mcgirl Kia, Butikia Stokes was an offensive liability
for me for this Las Vegas team. There was no
one who could counter John Quill and Stewie. You really
had to choose one or the other. There was no
offensive help from anyone on Las Vegas's team other than
Kelsey Plumb, who had a sensational twenty four point game.
(06:52):
In Asia Wilson, who although had twenty one points in
that matchup. It was still relatively quiet. When she averages
twenty seven points a game. She had a difficult time
with all of her shots. She was nine to sixteen. However,
fourteen of those sixteen shots were contested because Johnquo Jones
was in her face.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
It was not an easy day for Las Vegas. It
just was not an easy day for Las Vegas.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
It wasn't an easy day.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
And the other thing that you have to realize, if
you're a Vegas fan, you're going to need Chelsea Gray
to be the point god right that we saw in
the Seattle series. Because Chelsea Gray her stat line was
(07:38):
four points, one assist, the three rebounds. That that's not
acceptable in this setting. And I know she's, you know,
still coming back from emergy. It looked like she was
rounding form game back, you know, went into a hundred percent.
Of course, New York's length, you know, probably bothered her.
But Nigel Lady Hamilton looks really good coming off that injury.
(08:00):
But Chelsea Gray has to be more of a playmaker
in this series. And they also need to hit their
open shots. Like Alicia Clark, she missed some open threes.
Jackie Young wasn't particularly efficient, so still need her to
tap into that level. And they have to do a
better job with switching or not switching because they don't
(08:21):
have the length to go up against John quol Jones.
You got you put agent on her. She can bang
with her, but then maybe gets in foul trouble and
Kia Stokes. You have to she has to knock down
some threes. That is herm O.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Right.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
If she's not gonna take you up the dribble whatever,
that's not her game. That's down a strong suit. She
has to be able to rebound, defend, and if some threes,
at least to make the liberty contest her and not
treat her like Draymond Green right or other people or
Russell Westbrook when it's like, go ahead, shoot that three.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
We'll let you.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Shoot it all day and if you make it, we're
fine with it. But right now she is not entering
the call right through game one and then Katea, I
need Becky Hammond to tap into her bench a little
bit more. I know she knows the players much better
than we do, but I have a hard time believing
(09:15):
why would you pick up Megan Gusterson who has shown
ability to be productive, knock down threes, defend as well
as she can, and she doesn't get any minutes that
that truly doesn't I can't wrap my head around that.
Same with Queen egbow Right a little bit out of
(09:37):
lesser extent. You brought her for depth in front corp position,
so I need Becky to make some lineup changes in
their rotations. But for the Liberty, you have to be
very confident because you got thirty four from Brianna Stewart.
Stew like the MVP everything going down. She said, I
ain't gonna be shooting tour dates. You know this this
(09:58):
semi finals. You know what I'm saying, and you saw
it after the game how mentally sharp she is and
knows that, Yes, she left a lot in the tank
last year in the WNBA finals.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
But kay Dot, what do you think.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Will be the key for the Liberty to go up
to nothing and for the Aces, you know, make this
a one to one series.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah. So I'm glad that you mentioned what you mentioned
on because one thing that stuck out to me in
this game on Sunday was the pace. Right When the
Aces navigate through the pace of the game, sometimes it's
a little more difficult for the Liberty to withstand that pace.
I've mentioned throughout the season that the New York Liberty
(10:43):
has been able to recognize that they can slow a
pace down without speeding themselves up. So they've ranked ninth
and pace all season long, and they've put that idea
into it coming into the playoffs. So one thing about
the New York Liberty is they have immense length like
they are probably one of the lengthiest teams, if not
(11:06):
the lengthiest team in the WNBA, and that is more
often the credit to Leoni Fhoebish coming in as a starter.
So one thing that the New York Liberty are going
to have to do for sure is nothing. They need
to just keep doing the same thing that they've been
doing that has given them that advantage against the Las
(11:29):
Vegas Aations all season long. And for the Aces again,
they have to speed New York up. They have to
get New York uncomfortable with certain sets in the half court,
setting with certain sets in not allowing them to set
their defense up. So it's very very funny that you
(11:51):
mentioned Megan Gufstasen, Right, Queen Egbo right, I'm thinking that
you need to utilize these players, especially Megan Gufstisen because
us she can stretch the floor a little more. And
I know that she isn't known for her defense compared
to Kia Stokes, but I think she is serviceable enough
(12:12):
to maintain switches, to call out certain high pick and
roll areas and where you have to switch or you
have to stay home or hit the nail. For my
basketball enthusiasts out there, I think she can communicate well enough.
I say that because we saw it in that very
(12:34):
last game against the Dallas Wings. They were incredible in
communicating their defenses. They were incredible and making sure that
when it was time to switch, they switched. When it
was time to stay home, they they stay home. So
I think that's the biggest key for the Las Vegas
Aces to get that one to one tie. But like
I said, for from a New York standpoint, they're doing
(12:57):
everything that they need to do in order to maintain
the league going back to Vegas. So I honestly, I mean,
I can't say any anything more about how well the
New York Liberty have been playing, so they just need
to keep it up.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
I think at this point we just need to look
forward to a game two, right, and talk about like
what those what needs to happen in order for the
Aces to tie it up, What needs to happen for
them to have a chance to make this an even
kill series. Again, for me, it's to your point utilizing well,
your point, Chris, utilizing that bench. You've got the death there.
(13:36):
You've got to do that. But and I also feel
like I'm oversimplifying it by saying you have to score
more points, because obviously that's the point of basketball, is
that you got to score more points. But it's just
that simple, Like you cannot win against this Liberty team
with only scoring seventy seven points, So you have to
have more from Chelsea Gray. When I see one assists,
(13:57):
that means the ball is not moving. To me, something
not moving, Something's not right.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
Right.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
I was talking to my friend Natalie yesterday. You guys
all know Natalie, and Natalie said something that was so
like spot on is that this Asis team has to
play damn near perfect, whereas the Liberty can afford to
make mistakes. And that's a scary place to be in. Right.
You can have you can have a player, or you
(14:25):
can have a situation where the Liberty can create a
mismatch where there can be, you know, an off night
from a Stewie or an off night from a JJ.
You can afford to have that and still find success
because you have two three other players that have consistently
over the last few games shown up and stepped up
(14:46):
in a big way, including Leoni Phoebish giving you twenty one.
You still got Kayla Thornton who can provide you some
offense we have any like Benijia hasn't even scrashed the
surface how she's capable as a two way player, whereas
from the Libert's perspective, there has been too inconsistent from
people who you have come to expect consistency from. Jackie
(15:08):
Young is someone who comes to mind who hasn't truly
like we've seen glimpse pieces heage, but she just hasn't
played confidently. She hasn't played like to the level that
we've known her to be, and we still don't know
how truly healthy Chelsea Gray is, right, like, how healthy
is she really? So when I look ahead to game two,
and I look ahead to what is expected or what
(15:29):
we should expect, and to be fair, we're recording this
ahead of game two so we'll we'll know what happens
when it happens. But you have to have your You
have to find if I'm Becky, you have to figure
out and I don't know how you do this, but
you've got to figure out a way to balance the
minutes between Kia and Megan because you need the defense
(15:50):
for JJ, but the offense is what's important. You Like,
at this point in the game, you've got to figure
out how you can increase the volume of your offense
productivity because that is what's gonna win you this game.
You got to figure out how to outscore De Liberty.
You have to defend, but you ain't gonna stop everybody,
So you gotta figure out how our score. And that's
essentially what I'm trying to say, And I just don't
(16:12):
know at this moment. Now.
Speaker 5 (16:14):
I ain't at all about to.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
Say that the Ace is about to get swept or
the Aces can't do it, or that would be ridiculous
of me, because I feel like Asia gonna come out
and drop forty five just because she pissed off. I
have to do that, you know what I'm saying, Like,
just because she pissed off, they lost. You need to
come out and drop forty five on somebody head and
we're gonna be like, well, dy am. However, I cannot
get over that. There cannot be There cannot be a
(16:40):
situation where her and Kelsey are the only two putting
up offensive production. It cannot be that way. You need
one other person to at least give you nineteen twenty
points in this game. At least it has.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
To be it is.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
It is time for them to step up to the play.
Whether that's Alicia Clark because she missed some bunnies at
the rim are early in that game.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
Well, they did a good job of putting her in
foul trouble early too.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
They did too.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Yeah, it was great because she's a really good defender
and having her off the floor definitely brings down the aces.
But Tiffany Hayes, you know, as great as she's been
all year, you know, six Player of the Year candidate,
she needs to yah tap into her greatness and that
you know that happens in the series.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Right.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Not everybody's gonna play well, but this is just something
that they have to improve now with Connecticut and the links.
I forget who said this. I think it might have
been delorced talking about how Connecticut looked like a team
that has been there and done that against the Links.
The Links they don't have that same type of experience
(17:45):
all around. Of course, you have different player, you know,
Cody Williams, she's been there, but it's it's a different
challenge when you're in the semi finals and you're one
of the hottest teams in the league, and you're taking
on a Sun team that knows what it takes to
get to a championship, right, and perhaps this is.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
The year they get it done.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
But we're gonna take a little short break and on
the other side of it, we'll talk more about the
Lynx and the Sun.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
I we're back here on the three on.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Three pod, and y'all, what really stood out to me
about the Lynx Sun Game one was one the amount
of bricks we saw after a great pace, you know,
to start the game, in that fourth quarter where nobody
seemed the one to hit a shot was like, oh
Lan's coming down. Cordywallia is miss you know, the Wanta Bonnor.
(18:40):
Oh Lord Jesus. She did not have her best night.
She made a huge three though late, but it was
the way that the Sun never seemed rattled, and you
saw that on the offensive end, even when the shot
clock went the fact that Alyssa Thomas and somebody mentioned
how you gonna let somebody, somebody with boneless shoulders hit
(19:04):
a game winner a mid range, I said, y'all are
going to going to at l L.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Way too far?
Speaker 4 (19:13):
Now? Why they gotta go there? Girl? That girl out
there could freaking run circles around whoever.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Said that even even with shoulders, even with shoulder here
what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Yet, she had two huge buckets, one right on the hesitation,
got Atlanta Smith caught, caught her off guard, who's a
great defender. And then with the shot clock winding down,
so you know what, it goes to push you out.
I think though for me it's just more demoralizing as
a Links fan because you're not expecting listen to the
engine at almost a triple double. But yeah, I just
(19:50):
thought that the way they were locked in really stood
out to me. And then also the addition to Marina Babery,
this woman was passion threes left and right. Talk about
logo bombs and Tariki. You know this more than anybody
else here on this show. That is what they've been
(20:11):
missing for a little bit. Okay, yeah, when she yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
Go ahead, No you finished, I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
When she is operating at that efficient level from the
three point, Land has no hesitation about taking a big shot.
That just gives you so much more confidence and it
allows everybody else to be a little bit freer when
it comes.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
To the spacing.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
And now they have a chance to go up two
oh on the Minnesota Links, who have looked like the
best team for I'm majority a lot of a lot
of the year, right and they've had the Liberty's number.
If we get that matchup, we'll see. But you have
to be pleased as a Sun fan to Rika Well,
I mean as.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
A Sun plan, as their reporter, as a basketball fan,
I'm just not at all surprised.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
And you know, Kevin, we talk about this all the time, is.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
That when you look at what it means to be
a team that defends, there are no two teams better
to study than the Connecticut Center of the Minnesota Wings.
So to me, it makes sense that these two teams
battle like this when they see each other because they're
not going to see another team that provides the type
(21:25):
of defensive schemes and mechanisms that they get when they
face each other. It doesn't surprise me at all to
see a seventy point game, seventy five point game, sixty
something point game between these two teams. They're making it
their business to make sure you don't score. And this
is an a Feasta Collier who averages forty points in
the first two games of this pitoff twenty plus points
(21:46):
per game on the season, and Connecticut kept her to
three to eleven from the field in nineteen points in scoring.
That lets you know already. I love the way Stephanie
White put her coaching head on because this wasn't just
a battle of what two teams are going to bring
the most defense or which two teams was gonna do
what in the late minutes of the game. These were
(22:07):
coaches at work. Stephanie White in some ways out coach
ryl Reeve, which is very interesting but also unsurprising because again,
just like you have the one and two team and
defense on the floor, you also have the twenty twenty
three and twenty twenty four.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
Coach of the year.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
So they understand what it means to meet this moment.
They understand what it means to be in these kinds
of situations and Stephanie White just did a bit more.
It was brilliant to me the way that she switched
on that last possession from at pretty much already clamping
down Collier to the brief switch with Veronica Burton, who
then switches off with Dewana Bonner and Fijis didn't know
(22:44):
what to do. The play was gone before it even began, right,
and that to me was brilliant. One of the criticisms
that I've had about Connecticut for majority of the season,
outside the obvious that they haven't been able to shoot
the three ball well, is that there needs to be
a consistent roster or can not roster, excuse me, a
consistent lineup to close the game. If you're starting Tie
(23:07):
in that position, and then that's fine, start Tie, But
when you're when you're ending the game, who's your closing like,
your closing lineup? Who is that? Right now that Tie
is injured, you have no choice at this moment but
to play Marina Maybry And to me, she should have
been in that closing role in the first place since
(23:27):
she's been on the team.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
Shall I say, because she does that, she gives.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
You an additional ball handler. She gives you an additional
shooter if necessary from deep. And that's not saying Tie doesn't.
But her defense is a little different as well. I
ain't never seen Marina defend like she defended not. I
don't know if Atenne got in her ear. I don't
know if the team has said we're not putting up
with that bullshit over here, you gonna have to defend
over here. I don't know what it is, but Ta
(23:50):
is not. I mean, Marina has girl. The defense is
on a new level and I love it. It's everything
that Connecticut has needed. And so the minutes of that
game just really show why this is a veteran team.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
Let's keep these couple of things in mind too.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
Minnesota. This Minnesota team has never been to the semi finals.
Speaker 5 (24:10):
The Feast.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
The Collier has never been to the semifinals. This is
a new territory for them, but this is not new
territory for everybody on that team. Courtney Williams has played
in the finals. Ketch McBride has played in some finals
before when she was in San Antonio. You know what
I'm saying. Mayishahines Allen is a WNBA champion So this
(24:31):
isn't a brand new team as it relates to being
in these situations, but they are brand new collectively, right, Exactly,
there are some there are absolutely there are brand new collectively.
Connecticut collectively has been here before. Ye collectively has been
here before. So the way that they approach this is
(24:53):
from a veteran's perspective, and you need that if you
want to get to the finals, you're going to need that.
And that's exactly what they did. Connecticut, to me, won
this game doing exactly what Minnesota has done all year long.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
Play good defense and shoot well from the three.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Absolutely, And to add on to what you're saying, like
when we're talking like, I don't think we talk about
coach Stephanie White enough from a trust standpoint, because she
trusted her team to play one on one. It wasn't
a lot of delayed doubles, it wasn't a lot of
different schemes to confuse Fee. The only confusion Fee had
(25:29):
was she just saw multiple one on one actions and
she did not know how to utilize her offensive abilities
to you know, to get the to gain the advantage.
So that was the important thing and the second thing
for me in Minnesota is I think from a one
(25:50):
on one standpoint, I don't think the ball popped enough,
especially in Game one, and that's what Connecticut makes you do.
Connecticut turned you into a one on one team, and
that's the beauty of what the Connecticut Sun can do.
They turn you into a one on one team. And
I don't think the ball popped enough. And I don't
think the people like a Kayla like a Bridget. You
(26:12):
saw some open shots from them every once in a while,
but it's been consistent throughout the throughout the regular season,
but we didn't see it in this game in particular.
And I think the game plan is definitely working, you know,
in the Sun favor. So it's it's very very interesting
to see what the adjustments coach Sheryl Reeve is going
(26:34):
to make. Are we going to see more forces in
making the ball move, making the ball pop, not necessarily
focusing on the one on one mismatches and cross matches
from the Feasta Collier and getting heard to make the
decision as opposed to just playing team basketball. So it
was just great to see Marina Maybury in that closing
(26:56):
spot as well, because I think it was a one
point game and the shot clock was going down, and yeah,
you know we know logo Maybury. We we know Logo Maybury.
And and for her to hit that shot at the
end of the shot clock at that point I said, oh,
it's over.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Like yeah, yeah, come on, you know you know.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
It there that was it. And it's funny. Before we
started recording, I was actually rewatching the game just to
see what I what I missed live. And one thing
that I would say and Dub I want I want
you to elaborate on when I say this is for
Connecticut in for Veronica Burton to come in and expel
(27:40):
those minutes for a Ty Harris, who in my opinion,
was also most improved this year. For her to come
in and spell those minutes and not necessarily score but
have positive, have a positive on the floor as opposed
to a negative like that was that was amazing.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
It is incredible what can happen when you go to
a new environment, right, and you have the infrastructure there
to see your best self. And here's the thing that
kind of I would say disturbs me, but it just
(28:16):
makes me feel like we never get the full story. Okay,
plus minus right, Rodica Burton was a minus five she
had five points two for seven. But if you watch
the game, you see how crucial she was to this
team's success with her defense, setting up players, maybe getting
(28:37):
a hockey assist, not getting in the way of things.
Of course, she had a couple, you know, couple of
miscues in my opinion, but for the most part, she
was a positive and you need that from your players,
your young stars or your young players who have to
rise to the occasion when other people get injured and
(28:59):
you know, Deepney White is over there just beaming with
pride because this is why they added her. Okay, shout
out Darius Taylor. Darius Taylor been making some amazing moves.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
Okay, I'm real surprised he didn't get Executive of the Year, right,
me too, or at least at least second.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Yeah. Wow, that was a little That was a little shocking.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
That was very shocking to me because.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
They're not in this position right, well, they would be.
I think they would still be probably three seeds, right,
but they're not constructed the same way and they don't
have the same potential.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
It's when you add in.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
No, I was gonna say, you're right, it's an interest,
it's an interesting dynamic. But this is just Darius's second
year with this team. It's just like it's still Sephanie
White's second year with this team, and they they nothing,
nothing stops. Like That's what I think is so dope
about Connecticut is that let's keep it honest, right, Don't nobody.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
Want to come in Connecticut. Not the team, Connecticut.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
The state.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
Nobody want to come here.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
Should have been wanted for ESPN. I wouldn't even be here.
I came here to years ago. You know what I'm saying, Like,
don't nobody want to come to Connecticut. There's nothing there's
This isn't beachy area of l A or you know,
the beauty of Florida. We don't got the black culture
of Atlanta. There's no historical you know, monuments of DC.
(30:32):
We don't have the gl we don't you know New York,
we don't have that. We don't have that. It's okay
to say we ain't got that ship in Connecticut. I
you ain't getting that here, right. What you're gonna get
is some mountains. You know what I'm saying. You get
a pretty a pretty fall, the leaves are beautiful. You'll
get all of that.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
You know, what I mean, you can goul.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
You get the fall is beautiful, pumpkin patch, apple cider
meals you all.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
All that is beautiful here, okay.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
But but the black culture in Connecticut is full blocks long.
That's it like, and that's cold. I'll be hitting them
faux blocks, do you hear me? I'm all up in
through them box. But that's all we got here, all right.
So I get that people don't want to play in
Connecticut because there is nothing to do here, and in
(31:20):
relation to every other team that's in a major city
that has a very different buddy buddying, you know, atmosphere.
So it continues to amaze me how this team has
literally been in the finals or semi finals since twenty nineteen. Fact,
(31:40):
like every single year. There is like every single year
this team continues to be a contender, And every single
year it continues to be a contender, not always with
the same personnel. There was a moment where a major
player was injured. Then there was a coaching change, then
there was a front office change where Jennifer Rizzotti became president.
(32:00):
There have been so many different things that could have
derailed this team and none of it ever did. So
there is something about the mindset of the core of
this team that they still continue to be who they
are and play this style of basketball. I have not
been able to say anything about Connecticut being a non
(32:21):
defensive team in the six years that I've been actively
covering this team. They've always this is who they are
and it doesn't change. It doesn't change with the personnel,
it doesn't change with the coaching, doesn't change with the
executive This.
Speaker 5 (32:35):
Is who they are. It will be.
Speaker 4 (32:37):
I will be happy, not forget being a fan, forget
covering the team. I just would be happy for this
team to win a championship because, damn it, they finally
have earned it, Like they have worked hard enough for
it that they deserve it, you know what I mean.
And we are most likely not going to see this
team after this year. There's free agency, there's new contracts
(33:01):
to be signed, there is an expansion draft happening on
December sixth. That part, we are most likely not gonna
see this team look like this. So are you really
surprised that they know where they are? Are you really
surprised that Darius Taylor was able to construct this team
this way? And are you really surprised that they are
(33:22):
up one and zero in a semi final series with
a potential to go to the finals. The answer should absolutely.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
Be no, no, not at all.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Yeah, you knew it was gonna be a drag, it
was gonna be a fight down low, you know, scrambling
for the ball, all those things, and that's what I
love to see from these two squads. So Game two
that it should be really exciting. I'm looking forward to
how the Links adjust and what the Sun do to
try to get this two oh lead. But one thing
for the Links, I think you just got to hit
(33:53):
open shots. They had a lot of open threes that
they did not knock down and maybe that changes things.
But cherl reeves she's some work to do. Cause Stephanie White, yeah,
she she out coaster her in game one. And speaking
of coaching, uh, we've had some shocking coaching developments from
(34:14):
the Sky and the LA Sparks and will dive into
those matters after the break. Well, not everybody has the
privilege of playing in the postseason, because some teams they
whether for injuries or lack of chemistry coaching, they're looking
on the outside end. And two of those teams, for
(34:35):
the Sparks and the Sky and guess what the Sparks
decided to mutually part ways for Kurt Miller after just
two years when they they pretty much had a CBS
PROCEI of people injured this year from the very beginning,
and we'll get into t Spoon and Sky in a
(34:58):
little bit. But that to me was a development that
I didn't really expect because he did sure there you know,
you talk about Rikia Jackson and maybe he held her
back a little bit in the beginning, but it's two years,
you have all these injuries. What did you expect they
(35:23):
were going to be able to do? And again, it's
a little bit more nuanced because they said mutually agreed
to part ways. So maybe there's something that Kurt Miller
decided he wanted to explore something else.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Yeah, I one hundred percent agree with you, doub and
you actually said everything that I was thinking that I
was just getting ready to regurgitate. So it's very funny
that in two years Kurt Miller, who didn't necessarily have
all the cards, you know, I mean, it is what
it is at that point. But we know that Kurt
(35:55):
Miller is a really good coach. Yeah, and I know
that there were some there were some criticisms right regarding
line up, but again we're talking about different lineups, different
injuries that that have occurred. Obviously, we know Rakia Jackson
has been amazing in her rookie year. We know that
Cameron Brink went down with the ACL injury. But again,
(36:19):
what can Kurt Miller do? You know, he has to
play the cards that he's been dealt. And I want
to give props to Derek A. Hanby because I know that,
you know, within the situation that she had, you know,
she really felt that Kurt Miller was the coach that
brought her in and said, listen, you can do anything
(36:40):
that you want to do under the under the sun
to help get this franchise in a successful in a
successful way. But I know it didn't go that way,
and I was just expecting maybe another year or two
more from Kurt to get it turned around. But here
we are, and that was kind of honestly, it was
kind of just one. But we know how front offices
(37:02):
are and if we want to treat the WNBA front
offices like any other front office in any other league,
we know that they want results and they want results immediately.
And I think this was one of those moves where
they felt like they needed more results in the time
that they have. However, you know, we can all agree
they probably didn't give Kurt Miller the exact formula, you know,
(37:26):
for his philosophy that would ultimately have them succeed. But Tarika,
what you think.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Yeah, I was pulling up something that I thought was
interesting because I too thought that Rakia Jackson, as we
talk about like rookies and rosters and things, right, I
thought Rakia Jackson also should have.
Speaker 5 (37:50):
Should have had a bit.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
More time at the beginning of the season, or at
least I thought her role would be bigger at the
beginning of the season. But I also want to be fair. Right,
is Rikia Jackson actually started the most games in franchise
history as a rookie. Fear is she played the most
total minutes as a rookie in the franchise history. Fair
(38:13):
is she started thirty five games and the five games
that she didn't start were in the first twelve days
of the season. So to me, as much as I
would have loved to see her in those first five
games or to see her play more minutes early on,
the truth of the matter is even that wouldn't enough
to fire Kurt.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
Oh no, no, yeah, Like.
Speaker 4 (38:36):
Even that wasn't enough to fire Kurt. So I am
confused by this move. But also, you know, I understand
this is a franchise that don't have the most continuity
in their front office. So I don't know what it
was that they were expecting, Like, there were so many
things in this situation that could have been.
Speaker 5 (39:00):
That really like the vision.
Speaker 4 (39:02):
I guess that's what I'm trying to say is I
could have seen the vision with a healthy Cameron Bring
if there had been a consistent point guard Lexi Brown
had not necessarily been injured, you know, if they did
need an additional point guard, and maybe they would have
had a chance to bring in Odyssey seems earlier. Like
any of all of these different scenarios could have happened,
(39:25):
and it may have changed the trajectory of the Sparks,
But I don't think any of that essentially falls on coaching. Nevertheless,
your record is what it is, and if that's what
they were looking at, then okay, that's what they were
looking at. But I think that Kurt Miller is a
really good coach. I've seen him coach at nine years
in Connecticut, I've seen him make something out of nothing
and defy the odds. As I just talked about how
(39:48):
Connecticut had been consistent, part of that consistency was Kirk
Miller being a film So maybe he goes to one
of the newer teams, maybe he selects a front office role,
maybe he he decides to sit this one out. Who knows,
but I think it would be a very It would
be a disservice to me for the league for Kurt
Miller to just not be anywhere this year. He certainly
(40:10):
is someone who I think. There aren't many men head
coaches in the WNBA, and not many that I would
advocate for anyway, But at the end of the day,
I would advocate for Kirk actly said.
Speaker 1 (40:21):
Yeah, his resume speaks for itself.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
I know he hasn't, you know, gotten a big one yet,
but it's it's extremely hard to win a championship, you know,
at any level, let alone the pro level. So you
got to give him his props. And I can't give
any props to the Chicago Sky front office management. They
(40:43):
are it's really I don't know.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
If despicable.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
It is despicable what we've seen from the Chicago, Chicago
Sky franchise for so many years, not just the last
few years. But we can go all the way back
to Atlanta, Dela don you know, Sylvia Foules, how they
don't value you the players right, with the facilities, the resources,
but then the coaching. They fired Teresa Weatherspoon just a
(41:11):
day or two after they were posting clips of assistant
coaches reflecting on Tea Spoons, you know, greatness of what
they mean to her, what she means to them. You
are a professional organization, You know that t Spoon had
(41:32):
the cards stacked against her from day one. The expectation
was not to win a championship with this team when
you look at the roster construction, it was to rebuild.
If they didn't have all the injuries they had, they
probably would have been in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (41:50):
But that wasn't good enough.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
Like we could talk about Tea spoons deficiency, deficiencies as
a first year head coach, and that's totally within bounds.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
But to fire her after one season when.
Speaker 3 (42:04):
Your franchise player decided to get asked for a trade
and go to Phoenix, and then Camila Cardosa, you know,
gets injured, shoulder injury, Elizabeth Williams goes down Kennedy Carr.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
They exceeded expectations.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
So for this guy ownership, Michael Alter, who is the
principal owner, you should be ashamed of yourself because I
was listening to the Queens of Court podcast with Jordan
and Cheryl Swoops and I find out we find out
Michael wasn't even the room when they find Naddi Rolinson,
(42:40):
who is.
Speaker 4 (42:40):
A black Womanward.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
Yes, coward, not exactly the word a coward, some other
words that I'm not gonna use on here because I
like my job, but it just speaks to the dysfunction
and the lack of vision from this organization.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
K Don Yeah, Yeah, And I was highly upset. There's
no other words that can explain me saying I'm highly
upset because for a coach like Coach Spoon to have
the team in position to still be in the A seed.
I know they didn't make the playoffs, but a lot
(43:19):
of experts, experts had the Chicago Sky as a bottom
feeder this year, a lot, a lot, And for coach
Spoon again to have this team in a position at
the very last day, with scenarios all over the place,
(43:39):
to still potentially make the playoffs and you still get fired.
That's asinine. In my opinion, that is just completely asinine.
I tweeted how upset I was. I tweeted in explanation,
why would you fire a first year head coach who
had that team in position to make the playoffs, whether
they were successful or not in the playof else. We
(44:00):
know in professional leagues playoffs matter. We know this now.
If you want to give me a reasonable explanation, okay,
but you can't give me a reasonable explanation. You can't.
You can't, So why that's my question? Why? So I'll
(44:23):
leave it at that.
Speaker 4 (44:24):
I don't even got that much to say because honestly,
it's nothing that I could say on this show that
won't get me in trouble. So at the end of
the day, it was wrong. It was dirty, and if
the expectation was to either win a championship or not
take this job or get fired, Spoon shouldn't have never
take the job. It wasn't herd decision to have that
(44:44):
roster constructed the way it was, and quite literally for
you to steal, even without Angel, to be the very
to be in the conversation for the eighth seed on
the last day of the season, bro like, I'll have that.
So it was wrong. It was cowardice and I to
(45:05):
treat a legend of the game that way is nuts
to me. But also it continues to speak volumes to
the Chicago front office trash.
Speaker 3 (45:15):
And one more thing before we go to break. Angel
Reeves has spoken numerous times about how much she values
Teaspoons knowledge, but just her ability to understand her as
a person. There's so much that they can relate to.
And she's the reason why. You know, she felt so
comfortable going to the sky because she believed in her
(45:35):
when a lot of people doubted her.
Speaker 1 (45:38):
And then you made this move.
Speaker 3 (45:40):
If you thought the locker room had issues before, it
is ten times worse. And that's all I'm going to say.
You do not leave your franchise. You know, Rookie Cornerstone
out of that decision. I know she's just rookie, but
what she means to that team, You're not looking good Chicago,
Kai run office.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
And that's all gonna say.
Speaker 3 (46:01):
But before we in the show, we have a jump
ball to get into NBA Media Day was interesting, so
we're gonna tap into that in just a second.
Speaker 2 (46:10):
Hell are y'all.
Speaker 3 (46:11):
It's one of the favorite parts of our show, the
jump Ball, where we bring a topic and we go
kind of bounce everything around and around with our co host.
And NBA Media Day took place on Monday. You always
know there's so much hype and curiosity slash drama around
these media days because there's so many storylines, and for me,
(46:33):
the favorite one it's probably cliche. A lot of people
had Lebron James and Brownie James Jr. Having those photos
together joking around on set about playing together talking trash
during a previous practice, talking about now you was out
of bounds, you found me and Lebron said, well, you're
(46:53):
a rookie man, So that wasn't no fact did they
call it. To have that happen gave me so much
joy as a black man because we know Lebron didn't
have his father in his life. So fast forward to
playing twenty two years in the NBA and having the
ability to have your son playing not just in the
(47:16):
NBA while you're still there, but with you. It's one
of his best accomplishments in his amazing career. So that
really warm my heart and I'll never I don't care
what happens after. I'll never get over that image of
those two with the Lakers Jersey purple and gold playing together.
(47:38):
What about you k dot?
Speaker 2 (47:39):
Yeah, So I'm gonna go three thousand miles back east
and talk about or not talk about this whole trade
that happened with the New York Knickson, the Minnesota Timberwolves
and Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart just playing dumb saying Okay,
who's called who's cat? Oh? We traded for cat?
Speaker 4 (47:58):
Like.
Speaker 2 (47:58):
I think that that was I think that was the
funniest thing ever because we know that these guys are too.
Speaker 4 (48:07):
So the funniest thing for me was actually the Lebron situation.
But I'm gonna tell you what else is funny, right
because I'm petty.
Speaker 1 (48:14):
Okay, here you go.
Speaker 4 (48:15):
I know how folks be out here coming for us
and wnb A media, not me specifically because I asked
great questions, but just in general, how they talk about
folks coming for us in w b A media. Well,
I want you to take a look at all the
ridiculous questions that were asked of folks during.
Speaker 5 (48:33):
The NBA Media Day. Diane Williamson just walked off because
he was like, I ain't gonna deal with it.
Speaker 4 (48:39):
Draymond going back and forth with a with a reporter.
You know what I'm saying. Steven Adams is like what what?
Speaker 2 (48:47):
What?
Speaker 4 (48:48):
Like, don't you talk come for us in w n
B A media more that we don't want to hear nobody.
Speaker 5 (48:52):
Talking about Miami and.
Speaker 2 (48:56):
Hold no, don't forget it, don't don't don't don't forget
about that Glowilla Bird.
Speaker 1 (49:01):
I knew it. I was like, I knew it. I
was like, if you don't bring name about glow.
Speaker 4 (49:06):
Rilla, Like he, don't you say another word about w
n B A media. You point the finger at yourselves
and say, y'all just asking stupid ask questions all the
way around. That's just all it is.
Speaker 5 (49:20):
That's just it's just everyone.
Speaker 4 (49:22):
So that was my takeaway, y'all get off our back
because clearly the NBA ain't got it together neither.
Speaker 1 (49:29):
Oh my goodness, it was gosh.
Speaker 3 (49:31):
It wasn't even the fact that he asked her or
asked him about glow and.
Speaker 1 (49:38):
He started singing the song.
Speaker 5 (49:40):
He did for nobody.
Speaker 3 (49:46):
In w n B A media, nobody or like or
we just handed our credentials do these?
Speaker 2 (49:53):
Yeah, you get one, you get one, you get one?
Speaker 4 (49:56):
You like? I said, what are they for real? Are
they for real?
Speaker 2 (50:00):
Girl?
Speaker 4 (50:02):
I could see All Star Media Day. You're supposed to
ask crazy stuff, you know, be funny or whatever.
Speaker 5 (50:06):
But like, anyway, that.
Speaker 1 (50:08):
Was well, I guess, you know, to be fair. Media
day can also be fun.
Speaker 2 (50:14):
Right.
Speaker 3 (50:15):
It's the first day of the year that you see
these players. They come in, you know, photo shoots all that,
so they're in a good mood you would expect. But yeah,
some of them questions, Nah, bro, get out of here
with that nonsense. Get out of here with that nonsense.
You know who said, get out of here for that nonsense.
(50:37):
On the court, the Kim Bae matumbo the finger wag
is his signature, and unfortunately we lost him on Monday
as he died at the age of fifty eight do
the brain cancer that he was diagnosed with in October
(50:58):
of twenty twenty two. And for me, every there's so
many players that you see and you wonder if they're
actually that nice or genuine, or does their play match
their humanity and or does the humanity match or play.
Speaker 1 (51:18):
For the kimbe Every story I've.
Speaker 3 (51:21):
Heard about him highlights just how incredible of a human
being he was and wanting to leave the place better
than when he founded. And forget all the accolades, all
the Defensive Player of the Year awards, right the all
defensive NBA teams, the upset against the Sonics when he's
(51:43):
with the Nuggets. He just made you want to be
a better person and you felt joy when he came
around or when you saw him. For me, at least
from Afar, that he was going to make you you
smile and inspire you. So it's very sad that we
lost somebody who was a humanitarian and incredible basketball player
(52:09):
that did so much, not just for people around the world,
but also for his country, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Speaker 1 (52:16):
So yeah, Tarika, you you.
Speaker 4 (52:20):
Actually summed it up beautifully. I saw a tribute from
Schene Aumacka. Chene and I are very good friends, and
I saw a tribute from Cheney and it just spoke
to how much he's done in his country, how much
he's done and for the continent of Africa, how much
he's just done as a humanitarian around the world. And
so the world certainly lost, as as Africans say, a
(52:43):
giant in the world and his impact is felt, was felt,
and will continue to be felt way past his physical presence.
Speaker 3 (52:53):
On her Well, it's been quite a show for the
three of us and we really thank you Kati for
come and on to the show your expertise.
Speaker 1 (53:03):
It's special and.
Speaker 3 (53:06):
We would love to have you on the show once again.
And make sure if you're listening watching this to subscribe
to the three on three podcast wherever you get your podcasts,
and follow us on x at the three on three
pod and also at three on three pod on Instagram.
Make sure to check us out on YouTube the Inflection
Network and give us five stars because we are bringing
(53:29):
the best in the brightest information here about the w
n B A, n B A and all things basketball
for Ritriika Foster brasby Kevin Lewis.
Speaker 1 (53:39):
I'm Chris Williamson. See you later.
Yo, yo, yo yo.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
What is good?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Everybody?
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Welcome back to another edition of the three on three podcasts.
I'm your host Chris Williamson, joined alongside by my girl,
Treika Foster Brasby, who always brings the entertainment and the insight,
and we are joined on this Tuesday by a special guest,
co host of the ninety four to fifty podcast, Kevin Lewis.
This man is incredibly knowledgeable and amazing what it takes
(00:34):
about the w NBA. Kevin, we appreciate you coming on.
Shout out to the Detroit Shock. Come on, we see it, cash,
let's go. Maybe one day we get them back, you.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Know, we not.
Speaker 5 (00:50):
They not coming back.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Just first of all, the franchise is a completely new
franchise now, so the Dallas Wings they got history. They're
not coming back. And apparently somebody in like this w
n B Al League has actually earned bought the rights
to the name Detroit Shock. So uh, somebody's trying to
(01:11):
buy the name from them. Thank d be something else.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I'm sorry, that's tough.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
I'm sorry, yeah, sorry.
Speaker 5 (01:23):
I ain't hurt.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
My feelings ain't hurt. I don't want to cry on
the inside. I'm not good, let it out, Let it out.
I'm not y'all take my time time with y'all. It's
all right, all right, every weapon, you see what it is.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
The engine, the engine, Alica Thomas. We're going to get
into her and the Sun. We're also going to talk about,
you know, NBA Media Day. But there have been so
many crazy storylines y'all in the w n b A
Playoffs and of course at the end, we are going
to pay tribute to a basketball legend, not just on
(02:03):
the court, but probably more so off the court and Tarika.
This the semi finals so far, between the Liberty and
the Aces and the Sun and the Lynx has kind
of has gone the way that I thought it would
(02:24):
go for New York in Vegas. But with the Lynx
and It's and the Son. The son steal in Game one.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
Is it really a steal? It's a really a steal.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
It's a steal because they're on the Lynks home court.
Ry you've stole it?
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Fine, I mean, I know, I know, I know. Technically
it's like a like an underdog because they're the threes
of the two.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
But okay, it's about it's about grabbing the momentum, right,
off the bat. Okay, that that's what I'm referring to.
They say, I'm not talking about being an underdog, and
I you know, I'm saying, hey, don help you out here,
bro Kelly up.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Listen, I'm I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say this because
I'm with Duve here to be honest with you, t
because first off, I'm with you on saying, you know,
the sun we knew this could happen, like we knew
this could happen. But at the same time, it's still
the two three matchup, right, and we know how good
(03:36):
the links are and we know how they've been close.
This actual this actual matchup has been close all season long.
I think what one point, almost like one and a
half by average between each win that each of the
teams had in the regular season. And we turn around
(03:57):
and we look in into the into the semi five
matchup that occurred on Sunday, and it was a It
was still a close game, you know, from that point,
so I definitely see where where Dove is coming from.
Though they took it. They literally came into Minnesota and
they took that game. And to be honest with you,
(04:17):
we did have conversations offline, and we did say, hey,
Connecticut can take this like for real, for real, you know, so.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Hands down, I know we're gonna have a full fledged
conversation about Connecticut and the Links in their Game one matchup.
So I'm just going, you know, it ain't no secret
where I stand or where I have stood the entire
time as it relates to that team in that matchup.
But I want to go back to the Aces in
the Liberty because I think it's quite interesting. Number one,
(04:51):
for those who have been living under a rock, it
is the official rematch of last year's w NBA Finals.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
It is not, and I I think we can.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
All agree that while the team and the team name
and even majority of the corps is the same from
last year to this year, these are two totally different teams, right.
I have been one who have felt that the mindset
and basketball is just as much mental as it is physical, right,
(05:21):
and sometimes even more mental than it is physical. And
I think that coming into this particular matchup for Game one,
I was most certainly expecting to see this Aces team
play very similar to what we had witnessed in that
final matchup between the Aces and the Liberty when they
did not have Asia Wilson on the court right, So
(05:43):
that was the Aces team I was expecting to show up. Instead,
the Liberty came out to make a statement, quite literally
punched the Aces in the mouth. And one thing that
I thought was a very interesting is that is that
over the three times that they played this team over
the regular season, New York had at least a sixteen
point lead in each of those matchups. So at some
(06:05):
point New York had continually been the dominant team in
each of these matchups throughout the course of the season.
That should have been, to me, something that would have
been expected. However, it just was not an opportunity for
Las Vegas to adjust in this matchup at all. The
big three for New York played sensationally. I hate to
(06:31):
talk about mcgirl Kia, Butikia Stokes was an offensive liability
for me for this Las Vegas team. There was no
one who could counter John Quill and Stewie. You really
had to choose one or the other. There was no
offensive help from anyone on Las Vegas's team other than
Kelsey Plumb, who had a sensational twenty four point game.
(06:52):
In Asia Wilson, who although had twenty one points in
that matchup. It was still relatively quiet. When she averages
twenty seven points a game. She had a difficult time
with all of her shots. She was nine to sixteen. However,
fourteen of those sixteen shots were contested because Johnquo Jones
was in her face.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
It was not an easy day for Las Vegas. It
just was not an easy day for Las Vegas.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
It wasn't an easy day.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
And the other thing that you have to realize, if
you're a Vegas fan, you're going to need Chelsea Gray
to be the point god right that we saw in
the Seattle series. Because Chelsea Gray her stat line was
(07:38):
four points, one assist, the three rebounds. That that's not
acceptable in this setting. And I know she's, you know,
still coming back from emergy. It looked like she was
rounding form game back, you know, went into a hundred percent.
Of course, New York's length, you know, probably bothered her.
But Nigel Lady Hamilton looks really good coming off that injury.
(08:00):
But Chelsea Gray has to be more of a playmaker
in this series. And they also need to hit their
open shots. Like Alicia Clark, she missed some open threes.
Jackie Young wasn't particularly efficient, so still need her to
tap into that level. And they have to do a
better job with switching or not switching because they don't
(08:21):
have the length to go up against John quol Jones.
You got you put agent on her. She can bang
with her, but then maybe gets in foul trouble and
Kia Stokes. You have to she has to knock down
some threes. That is herm O.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Right.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
If she's not gonna take you up the dribble whatever,
that's not her game. That's down a strong suit. She
has to be able to rebound, defend, and if some threes,
at least to make the liberty contest her and not
treat her like Draymond Green right or other people or
Russell Westbrook when it's like, go ahead, shoot that three.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
We'll let you.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Shoot it all day and if you make it, we're
fine with it. But right now she is not entering
the call right through game one and then Katea, I
need Becky Hammond to tap into her bench a little
bit more. I know she knows the players much better
than we do, but I have a hard time believing
(09:15):
why would you pick up Megan Gusterson who has shown
ability to be productive, knock down threes, defend as well
as she can, and she doesn't get any minutes that
that truly doesn't I can't wrap my head around that.
Same with Queen egbow Right a little bit out of
(09:37):
lesser extent. You brought her for depth in front corp position,
so I need Becky to make some lineup changes in
their rotations. But for the Liberty, you have to be
very confident because you got thirty four from Brianna Stewart.
Stew like the MVP everything going down. She said, I
ain't gonna be shooting tour dates. You know this this
(09:58):
semi finals. You know what I'm saying, and you saw
it after the game how mentally sharp she is and
knows that, Yes, she left a lot in the tank
last year in the WNBA finals.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
But kay Dot, what do you think.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Will be the key for the Liberty to go up
to nothing and for the Aces, you know, make this
a one to one series.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah. So I'm glad that you mentioned what you mentioned
on because one thing that stuck out to me in
this game on Sunday was the pace. Right When the
Aces navigate through the pace of the game, sometimes it's
a little more difficult for the Liberty to withstand that pace.
I've mentioned throughout the season that the New York Liberty
(10:43):
has been able to recognize that they can slow a
pace down without speeding themselves up. So they've ranked ninth
and pace all season long, and they've put that idea
into it coming into the playoffs. So one thing about
the New York Liberty is they have immense length like
they are probably one of the lengthiest teams, if not
(11:06):
the lengthiest team in the WNBA, and that is more
often the credit to Leoni Fhoebish coming in as a starter.
So one thing that the New York Liberty are going
to have to do for sure is nothing. They need
to just keep doing the same thing that they've been
doing that has given them that advantage against the Las
(11:29):
Vegas Aations all season long. And for the Aces again,
they have to speed New York up. They have to
get New York uncomfortable with certain sets in the half court,
setting with certain sets in not allowing them to set
their defense up. So it's very very funny that you
(11:51):
mentioned Megan Gufstasen, Right, Queen Egbo right, I'm thinking that
you need to utilize these players, especially Megan Gufstisen because
us she can stretch the floor a little more. And
I know that she isn't known for her defense compared
to Kia Stokes, but I think she is serviceable enough
(12:12):
to maintain switches, to call out certain high pick and
roll areas and where you have to switch or you
have to stay home or hit the nail. For my
basketball enthusiasts out there, I think she can communicate well enough.
I say that because we saw it in that very
(12:34):
last game against the Dallas Wings. They were incredible in
communicating their defenses. They were incredible and making sure that
when it was time to switch, they switched. When it
was time to stay home, they they stay home. So
I think that's the biggest key for the Las Vegas
Aces to get that one to one tie. But like
I said, for from a New York standpoint, they're doing
(12:57):
everything that they need to do in order to maintain
the league going back to Vegas. So I honestly, I mean,
I can't say any anything more about how well the
New York Liberty have been playing, so they just need
to keep it up.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
I think at this point we just need to look
forward to a game two, right, and talk about like
what those what needs to happen in order for the
Aces to tie it up, What needs to happen for
them to have a chance to make this an even
kill series. Again, for me, it's to your point utilizing well,
your point, Chris, utilizing that bench. You've got the death there.
(13:36):
You've got to do that. But and I also feel
like I'm oversimplifying it by saying you have to score
more points, because obviously that's the point of basketball, is
that you got to score more points. But it's just
that simple, Like you cannot win against this Liberty team
with only scoring seventy seven points, So you have to
have more from Chelsea Gray. When I see one assists,
(13:57):
that means the ball is not moving. To me, something
not moving, Something's not right.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
Right.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
I was talking to my friend Natalie yesterday. You guys
all know Natalie, and Natalie said something that was so
like spot on is that this Asis team has to
play damn near perfect, whereas the Liberty can afford to
make mistakes. And that's a scary place to be in. Right.
You can have you can have a player, or you
(14:25):
can have a situation where the Liberty can create a
mismatch where there can be, you know, an off night
from a Stewie or an off night from a JJ.
You can afford to have that and still find success
because you have two three other players that have consistently
over the last few games shown up and stepped up
(14:46):
in a big way, including Leoni Phoebish giving you twenty one.
You still got Kayla Thornton who can provide you some
offense we have any like Benijia hasn't even scrashed the
surface how she's capable as a two way player, whereas
from the Libert's perspective, there has been too inconsistent from
people who you have come to expect consistency from. Jackie
(15:08):
Young is someone who comes to mind who hasn't truly
like we've seen glimpse pieces heage, but she just hasn't
played confidently. She hasn't played like to the level that
we've known her to be, and we still don't know
how truly healthy Chelsea Gray is, right, like, how healthy
is she really? So when I look ahead to game two,
and I look ahead to what is expected or what
(15:29):
we should expect, and to be fair, we're recording this
ahead of game two so we'll we'll know what happens
when it happens. But you have to have your You
have to find if I'm Becky, you have to figure
out and I don't know how you do this, but
you've got to figure out a way to balance the
minutes between Kia and Megan because you need the defense
(15:50):
for JJ, but the offense is what's important. You Like,
at this point in the game, you've got to figure
out how you can increase the volume of your offense
productivity because that is what's gonna win you this game.
You got to figure out how to outscore De Liberty.
You have to defend, but you ain't gonna stop everybody,
So you gotta figure out how our score. And that's
essentially what I'm trying to say, And I just don't
(16:12):
know at this moment. Now.
Speaker 5 (16:14):
I ain't at all about to.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
Say that the Ace is about to get swept or
the Aces can't do it, or that would be ridiculous
of me, because I feel like Asia gonna come out
and drop forty five just because she pissed off. I
have to do that, you know what I'm saying, Like,
just because she pissed off, they lost. You need to
come out and drop forty five on somebody head and
we're gonna be like, well, dy am. However, I cannot
get over that. There cannot be There cannot be a
(16:40):
situation where her and Kelsey are the only two putting
up offensive production. It cannot be that way. You need
one other person to at least give you nineteen twenty
points in this game. At least it has.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
To be it is.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
It is time for them to step up to the play.
Whether that's Alicia Clark because she missed some bunnies at
the rim are early in that game.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
Well, they did a good job of putting her in
foul trouble early too.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
They did too.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Yeah, it was great because she's a really good defender
and having her off the floor definitely brings down the aces.
But Tiffany Hayes, you know, as great as she's been
all year, you know, six Player of the Year candidate,
she needs to yah tap into her greatness and that
you know that happens in the series.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Right.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Not everybody's gonna play well, but this is just something
that they have to improve now with Connecticut and the links.
I forget who said this. I think it might have
been delorced talking about how Connecticut looked like a team
that has been there and done that against the Links.
The Links they don't have that same type of experience
(17:45):
all around. Of course, you have different player, you know,
Cody Williams, she's been there, but it's it's a different
challenge when you're in the semi finals and you're one
of the hottest teams in the league, and you're taking
on a Sun team that knows what it takes to
get to a championship, right, and perhaps this is.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
The year they get it done.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
But we're gonna take a little short break and on
the other side of it, we'll talk more about the
Lynx and the Sun.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
I we're back here on the three on.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Three pod, and y'all, what really stood out to me
about the Lynx Sun Game one was one the amount
of bricks we saw after a great pace, you know,
to start the game, in that fourth quarter where nobody
seemed the one to hit a shot was like, oh
Lan's coming down. Cordywallia is miss you know, the Wanta Bonnor.
(18:40):
Oh Lord Jesus. She did not have her best night.
She made a huge three though late, but it was
the way that the Sun never seemed rattled, and you
saw that on the offensive end, even when the shot
clock went the fact that Alyssa Thomas and somebody mentioned
how you gonna let somebody, somebody with boneless shoulders hit
(19:04):
a game winner a mid range, I said, y'all are
going to going to at l L.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Way too far?
Speaker 4 (19:13):
Now? Why they gotta go there? Girl? That girl out
there could freaking run circles around whoever.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Said that even even with shoulders, even with shoulder here
what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Yet, she had two huge buckets, one right on the hesitation,
got Atlanta Smith caught, caught her off guard, who's a
great defender. And then with the shot clock winding down,
so you know what, it goes to push you out.
I think though for me it's just more demoralizing as
a Links fan because you're not expecting listen to the
engine at almost a triple double. But yeah, I just
(19:50):
thought that the way they were locked in really stood
out to me. And then also the addition to Marina Babery,
this woman was passion threes left and right. Talk about
logo bombs and Tariki. You know this more than anybody
else here on this show. That is what they've been
(20:11):
missing for a little bit. Okay, yeah, when she yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
Go ahead, No you finished, I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
When she is operating at that efficient level from the
three point, Land has no hesitation about taking a big shot.
That just gives you so much more confidence and it
allows everybody else to be a little bit freer when
it comes.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
To the spacing.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
And now they have a chance to go up two
oh on the Minnesota Links, who have looked like the
best team for I'm majority a lot of a lot
of the year, right and they've had the Liberty's number.
If we get that matchup, we'll see. But you have
to be pleased as a Sun fan to Rika Well,
I mean as.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
A Sun plan, as their reporter, as a basketball fan,
I'm just not at all surprised.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
And you know, Kevin, we talk about this all the time, is.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
That when you look at what it means to be
a team that defends, there are no two teams better
to study than the Connecticut Center of the Minnesota Wings.
So to me, it makes sense that these two teams
battle like this when they see each other because they're
not going to see another team that provides the type
(21:25):
of defensive schemes and mechanisms that they get when they
face each other. It doesn't surprise me at all to
see a seventy point game, seventy five point game, sixty
something point game between these two teams. They're making it
their business to make sure you don't score. And this
is an a Feasta Collier who averages forty points in
the first two games of this pitoff twenty plus points
(21:46):
per game on the season, and Connecticut kept her to
three to eleven from the field in nineteen points in scoring.
That lets you know already. I love the way Stephanie
White put her coaching head on because this wasn't just
a battle of what two teams are going to bring
the most defense or which two teams was gonna do
what in the late minutes of the game. These were
(22:07):
coaches at work. Stephanie White in some ways out coach
ryl Reeve, which is very interesting but also unsurprising because again,
just like you have the one and two team and
defense on the floor, you also have the twenty twenty
three and twenty twenty four.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
Coach of the year.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
So they understand what it means to meet this moment.
They understand what it means to be in these kinds
of situations and Stephanie White just did a bit more.
It was brilliant to me the way that she switched
on that last possession from at pretty much already clamping
down Collier to the brief switch with Veronica Burton, who
then switches off with Dewana Bonner and Fijis didn't know
(22:44):
what to do. The play was gone before it even began, right,
and that to me was brilliant. One of the criticisms
that I've had about Connecticut for majority of the season,
outside the obvious that they haven't been able to shoot
the three ball well, is that there needs to be
a consistent roster or can not roster, excuse me, a
consistent lineup to close the game. If you're starting Tie
(23:07):
in that position, and then that's fine, start Tie, But
when you're when you're ending the game, who's your closing like,
your closing lineup? Who is that? Right now that Tie
is injured, you have no choice at this moment but
to play Marina Maybry And to me, she should have
been in that closing role in the first place since
(23:27):
she's been on the team.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
Shall I say, because she does that, she gives.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
You an additional ball handler. She gives you an additional
shooter if necessary from deep. And that's not saying Tie doesn't.
But her defense is a little different as well. I
ain't never seen Marina defend like she defended not. I
don't know if Atenne got in her ear. I don't
know if the team has said we're not putting up
with that bullshit over here, you gonna have to defend
over here. I don't know what it is, but Ta
(23:50):
is not. I mean, Marina has girl. The defense is
on a new level and I love it. It's everything
that Connecticut has needed. And so the minutes of that
game just really show why this is a veteran team.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
Let's keep these couple of things in mind too.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
Minnesota. This Minnesota team has never been to the semi finals.
Speaker 5 (24:10):
The Feast.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
The Collier has never been to the semifinals. This is
a new territory for them, but this is not new
territory for everybody on that team. Courtney Williams has played
in the finals. Ketch McBride has played in some finals
before when she was in San Antonio. You know what
I'm saying. Mayishahines Allen is a WNBA champion So this
(24:31):
isn't a brand new team as it relates to being
in these situations, but they are brand new collectively, right, Exactly,
there are some there are absolutely there are brand new collectively.
Connecticut collectively has been here before. Ye collectively has been
here before. So the way that they approach this is
(24:53):
from a veteran's perspective, and you need that if you
want to get to the finals, you're going to need that.
And that's exactly what they did. Connecticut, to me, won
this game doing exactly what Minnesota has done all year long.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
Play good defense and shoot well from the three.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Absolutely, And to add on to what you're saying, like
when we're talking like, I don't think we talk about
coach Stephanie White enough from a trust standpoint, because she
trusted her team to play one on one. It wasn't
a lot of delayed doubles, it wasn't a lot of
different schemes to confuse Fee. The only confusion Fee had
(25:29):
was she just saw multiple one on one actions and
she did not know how to utilize her offensive abilities
to you know, to get the to gain the advantage.
So that was the important thing and the second thing
for me in Minnesota is I think from a one
(25:50):
on one standpoint, I don't think the ball popped enough,
especially in Game one, and that's what Connecticut makes you do.
Connecticut turned you into a one on one team, and
that's the beauty of what the Connecticut Sun can do.
They turn you into a one on one team. And
I don't think the ball popped enough. And I don't
think the people like a Kayla like a Bridget. You
(26:12):
saw some open shots from them every once in a while,
but it's been consistent throughout the throughout the regular season,
but we didn't see it in this game in particular.
And I think the game plan is definitely working, you know,
in the Sun favor. So it's it's very very interesting
to see what the adjustments coach Sheryl Reeve is going
(26:34):
to make. Are we going to see more forces in
making the ball move, making the ball pop, not necessarily
focusing on the one on one mismatches and cross matches
from the Feasta Collier and getting heard to make the
decision as opposed to just playing team basketball. So it
was just great to see Marina Maybury in that closing
(26:56):
spot as well, because I think it was a one
point game and the shot clock was going down, and yeah,
you know we know logo Maybury. We we know Logo Maybury.
And and for her to hit that shot at the
end of the shot clock at that point I said, oh,
it's over.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Like yeah, yeah, come on, you know you know.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
It there that was it. And it's funny. Before we
started recording, I was actually rewatching the game just to
see what I what I missed live. And one thing
that I would say and Dub I want I want
you to elaborate on when I say this is for
Connecticut in for Veronica Burton to come in and expel
(27:40):
those minutes for a Ty Harris, who in my opinion,
was also most improved this year. For her to come
in and spell those minutes and not necessarily score but
have positive, have a positive on the floor as opposed
to a negative like that was that was amazing.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
It is incredible what can happen when you go to
a new environment, right, and you have the infrastructure there
to see your best self. And here's the thing that
kind of I would say disturbs me, but it just
(28:16):
makes me feel like we never get the full story. Okay,
plus minus right, Rodica Burton was a minus five she
had five points two for seven. But if you watch
the game, you see how crucial she was to this
team's success with her defense, setting up players, maybe getting
(28:37):
a hockey assist, not getting in the way of things.
Of course, she had a couple, you know, couple of
miscues in my opinion, but for the most part, she
was a positive and you need that from your players,
your young stars or your young players who have to
rise to the occasion when other people get injured and
(28:59):
you know, Deepney White is over there just beaming with
pride because this is why they added her. Okay, shout
out Darius Taylor. Darius Taylor been making some amazing moves.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
Okay, I'm real surprised he didn't get Executive of the Year, right,
me too, or at least at least second.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Yeah. Wow, that was a little That was a little shocking.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
That was very shocking to me because.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
They're not in this position right, well, they would be.
I think they would still be probably three seeds, right,
but they're not constructed the same way and they don't
have the same potential.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
It's when you add in.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
No, I was gonna say, you're right, it's an interest,
it's an interesting dynamic. But this is just Darius's second
year with this team. It's just like it's still Sephanie
White's second year with this team, and they they nothing,
nothing stops. Like That's what I think is so dope
about Connecticut is that let's keep it honest, right, Don't nobody.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
Want to come in Connecticut. Not the team, Connecticut.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
The state.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
Nobody want to come here.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
Should have been wanted for ESPN. I wouldn't even be here.
I came here to years ago. You know what I'm saying, Like,
don't nobody want to come to Connecticut. There's nothing there's
This isn't beachy area of l A or you know,
the beauty of Florida. We don't got the black culture
of Atlanta. There's no historical you know, monuments of DC.
(30:32):
We don't have the gl we don't you know New York,
we don't have that. We don't have that. It's okay
to say we ain't got that ship in Connecticut. I
you ain't getting that here, right. What you're gonna get
is some mountains. You know what I'm saying. You get
a pretty a pretty fall, the leaves are beautiful. You'll
get all of that.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
You know, what I mean, you can goul.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
You get the fall is beautiful, pumpkin patch, apple cider
meals you all.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
All that is beautiful here, okay.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
But but the black culture in Connecticut is full blocks long.
That's it like, and that's cold. I'll be hitting them
faux blocks, do you hear me? I'm all up in
through them box. But that's all we got here, all right.
So I get that people don't want to play in
Connecticut because there is nothing to do here, and in
(31:20):
relation to every other team that's in a major city
that has a very different buddy buddying, you know, atmosphere.
So it continues to amaze me how this team has
literally been in the finals or semi finals since twenty nineteen. Fact,
(31:40):
like every single year. There is like every single year
this team continues to be a contender, And every single
year it continues to be a contender, not always with
the same personnel. There was a moment where a major
player was injured. Then there was a coaching change, then
there was a front office change where Jennifer Rizzotti became president.
(32:00):
There have been so many different things that could have
derailed this team and none of it ever did. So
there is something about the mindset of the core of
this team that they still continue to be who they
are and play this style of basketball. I have not
been able to say anything about Connecticut being a non
(32:21):
defensive team in the six years that I've been actively
covering this team. They've always this is who they are
and it doesn't change. It doesn't change with the personnel,
it doesn't change with the coaching, doesn't change with the
executive This.
Speaker 5 (32:35):
Is who they are. It will be.
Speaker 4 (32:37):
I will be happy, not forget being a fan, forget
covering the team. I just would be happy for this
team to win a championship because, damn it, they finally
have earned it, Like they have worked hard enough for
it that they deserve it, you know what I mean.
And we are most likely not going to see this
team after this year. There's free agency, there's new contracts
(33:01):
to be signed, there is an expansion draft happening on
December sixth. That part, we are most likely not gonna
see this team look like this. So are you really
surprised that they know where they are? Are you really
surprised that Darius Taylor was able to construct this team
this way? And are you really surprised that they are
(33:22):
up one and zero in a semi final series with
a potential to go to the finals. The answer should absolutely.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
Be no, no, not at all.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Yeah, you knew it was gonna be a drag, it
was gonna be a fight down low, you know, scrambling
for the ball, all those things, and that's what I
love to see from these two squads. So Game two
that it should be really exciting. I'm looking forward to
how the Links adjust and what the Sun do to
try to get this two oh lead. But one thing
for the Links, I think you just got to hit
(33:53):
open shots. They had a lot of open threes that
they did not knock down and maybe that changes things.
But cherl reeves she's some work to do. Cause Stephanie White, yeah,
she she out coaster her in game one. And speaking
of coaching, uh, we've had some shocking coaching developments from
(34:14):
the Sky and the LA Sparks and will dive into
those matters after the break. Well, not everybody has the
privilege of playing in the postseason, because some teams they
whether for injuries or lack of chemistry coaching, they're looking
on the outside end. And two of those teams, for
(34:35):
the Sparks and the Sky and guess what the Sparks
decided to mutually part ways for Kurt Miller after just
two years when they they pretty much had a CBS
PROCEI of people injured this year from the very beginning,
and we'll get into t Spoon and Sky in a
(34:58):
little bit. But that to me was a development that
I didn't really expect because he did sure there you know,
you talk about Rikia Jackson and maybe he held her
back a little bit in the beginning, but it's two years,
you have all these injuries. What did you expect they
(35:23):
were going to be able to do? And again, it's
a little bit more nuanced because they said mutually agreed
to part ways. So maybe there's something that Kurt Miller
decided he wanted to explore something else.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Yeah, I one hundred percent agree with you, doub and
you actually said everything that I was thinking that I
was just getting ready to regurgitate. So it's very funny
that in two years Kurt Miller, who didn't necessarily have
all the cards, you know, I mean, it is what
it is at that point. But we know that Kurt
(35:55):
Miller is a really good coach. Yeah, and I know
that there were some there were some criticisms right regarding
line up, but again we're talking about different lineups, different
injuries that that have occurred. Obviously, we know Rakia Jackson
has been amazing in her rookie year. We know that
Cameron Brink went down with the ACL injury. But again,
(36:19):
what can Kurt Miller do? You know, he has to
play the cards that he's been dealt. And I want
to give props to Derek A. Hanby because I know that,
you know, within the situation that she had, you know,
she really felt that Kurt Miller was the coach that
brought her in and said, listen, you can do anything
(36:40):
that you want to do under the under the sun
to help get this franchise in a successful in a
successful way. But I know it didn't go that way,
and I was just expecting maybe another year or two
more from Kurt to get it turned around. But here
we are, and that was kind of honestly, it was
kind of just one. But we know how front offices
(37:02):
are and if we want to treat the WNBA front
offices like any other front office in any other league,
we know that they want results and they want results immediately.
And I think this was one of those moves where
they felt like they needed more results in the time
that they have. However, you know, we can all agree
they probably didn't give Kurt Miller the exact formula, you know,
(37:26):
for his philosophy that would ultimately have them succeed. But Tarika,
what you think.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Yeah, I was pulling up something that I thought was
interesting because I too thought that Rakia Jackson, as we
talk about like rookies and rosters and things, right, I
thought Rakia Jackson also should have.
Speaker 5 (37:50):
Should have had a bit.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
More time at the beginning of the season, or at
least I thought her role would be bigger at the
beginning of the season. But I also want to be fair. Right,
is Rikia Jackson actually started the most games in franchise
history as a rookie. Fear is she played the most
total minutes as a rookie in the franchise history. Fair
(38:13):
is she started thirty five games and the five games
that she didn't start were in the first twelve days
of the season. So to me, as much as I
would have loved to see her in those first five
games or to see her play more minutes early on,
the truth of the matter is even that wouldn't enough
to fire Kurt.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
Oh no, no, yeah, Like.
Speaker 4 (38:36):
Even that wasn't enough to fire Kurt. So I am
confused by this move. But also, you know, I understand
this is a franchise that don't have the most continuity
in their front office. So I don't know what it
was that they were expecting, Like, there were so many
things in this situation that could have been.
Speaker 5 (39:00):
That really like the vision.
Speaker 4 (39:02):
I guess that's what I'm trying to say is I
could have seen the vision with a healthy Cameron Bring
if there had been a consistent point guard Lexi Brown
had not necessarily been injured, you know, if they did
need an additional point guard, and maybe they would have
had a chance to bring in Odyssey seems earlier. Like
any of all of these different scenarios could have happened,
(39:25):
and it may have changed the trajectory of the Sparks,
But I don't think any of that essentially falls on coaching. Nevertheless,
your record is what it is, and if that's what
they were looking at, then okay, that's what they were
looking at. But I think that Kurt Miller is a
really good coach. I've seen him coach at nine years
in Connecticut, I've seen him make something out of nothing
and defy the odds. As I just talked about how
(39:48):
Connecticut had been consistent, part of that consistency was Kirk
Miller being a film So maybe he goes to one
of the newer teams, maybe he selects a front office role,
maybe he he decides to sit this one out. Who knows,
but I think it would be a very It would
be a disservice to me for the league for Kurt
Miller to just not be anywhere this year. He certainly
(40:10):
is someone who I think. There aren't many men head
coaches in the WNBA, and not many that I would
advocate for anyway, But at the end of the day,
I would advocate for Kirk actly said.
Speaker 1 (40:21):
Yeah, his resume speaks for itself.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
I know he hasn't, you know, gotten a big one yet,
but it's it's extremely hard to win a championship, you know,
at any level, let alone the pro level. So you
got to give him his props. And I can't give
any props to the Chicago Sky front office management. They
(40:43):
are it's really I don't know.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
If despicable.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
It is despicable what we've seen from the Chicago, Chicago
Sky franchise for so many years, not just the last
few years. But we can go all the way back
to Atlanta, Dela don you know, Sylvia Foules, how they
don't value you the players right, with the facilities, the resources,
but then the coaching. They fired Teresa Weatherspoon just a
(41:11):
day or two after they were posting clips of assistant
coaches reflecting on Tea Spoons, you know, greatness of what
they mean to her, what she means to them. You
are a professional organization, You know that t Spoon had
(41:32):
the cards stacked against her from day one. The expectation
was not to win a championship with this team when
you look at the roster construction, it was to rebuild.
If they didn't have all the injuries they had, they
probably would have been in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (41:50):
But that wasn't good enough.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
Like we could talk about Tea spoons deficiency, deficiencies as
a first year head coach, and that's totally within bounds.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
But to fire her after one season when.
Speaker 3 (42:04):
Your franchise player decided to get asked for a trade
and go to Phoenix, and then Camila Cardosa, you know,
gets injured, shoulder injury, Elizabeth Williams goes down Kennedy Carr.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
They exceeded expectations.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
So for this guy ownership, Michael Alter, who is the
principal owner, you should be ashamed of yourself because I
was listening to the Queens of Court podcast with Jordan
and Cheryl Swoops and I find out we find out
Michael wasn't even the room when they find Naddi Rolinson,
(42:40):
who is.
Speaker 4 (42:40):
A black Womanward.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
Yes, coward, not exactly the word a coward, some other
words that I'm not gonna use on here because I
like my job, but it just speaks to the dysfunction
and the lack of vision from this organization.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
K Don Yeah, Yeah, And I was highly upset. There's
no other words that can explain me saying I'm highly
upset because for a coach like Coach Spoon to have
the team in position to still be in the A seed.
I know they didn't make the playoffs, but a lot
(43:19):
of experts, experts had the Chicago Sky as a bottom
feeder this year, a lot, a lot, And for coach
Spoon again to have this team in a position at
the very last day, with scenarios all over the place,
(43:39):
to still potentially make the playoffs and you still get fired.
That's asinine. In my opinion, that is just completely asinine.
I tweeted how upset I was. I tweeted in explanation,
why would you fire a first year head coach who
had that team in position to make the playoffs, whether
they were successful or not in the playof else. We
(44:00):
know in professional leagues playoffs matter. We know this now.
If you want to give me a reasonable explanation, okay,
but you can't give me a reasonable explanation. You can't.
You can't, So why that's my question? Why? So I'll
(44:23):
leave it at that.
Speaker 4 (44:24):
I don't even got that much to say because honestly,
it's nothing that I could say on this show that
won't get me in trouble. So at the end of
the day, it was wrong. It was dirty, and if
the expectation was to either win a championship or not
take this job or get fired, Spoon shouldn't have never
take the job. It wasn't herd decision to have that
(44:44):
roster constructed the way it was, and quite literally for
you to steal, even without Angel, to be the very
to be in the conversation for the eighth seed on
the last day of the season, bro like, I'll have that.
So it was wrong. It was cowardice and I to
(45:05):
treat a legend of the game that way is nuts
to me. But also it continues to speak volumes to
the Chicago front office trash.
Speaker 3 (45:15):
And one more thing before we go to break. Angel
Reeves has spoken numerous times about how much she values
Teaspoons knowledge, but just her ability to understand her as
a person. There's so much that they can relate to.
And she's the reason why. You know, she felt so
comfortable going to the sky because she believed in her
(45:35):
when a lot of people doubted her.
Speaker 1 (45:38):
And then you made this move.
Speaker 3 (45:40):
If you thought the locker room had issues before, it
is ten times worse. And that's all I'm going to say.
You do not leave your franchise. You know, Rookie Cornerstone
out of that decision. I know she's just rookie, but
what she means to that team, You're not looking good Chicago,
Kai run office.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
And that's all gonna say.
Speaker 3 (46:01):
But before we in the show, we have a jump
ball to get into NBA Media Day was interesting, so
we're gonna tap into that in just a second.
Speaker 2 (46:10):
Hell are y'all.
Speaker 3 (46:11):
It's one of the favorite parts of our show, the
jump Ball, where we bring a topic and we go
kind of bounce everything around and around with our co host.
And NBA Media Day took place on Monday. You always
know there's so much hype and curiosity slash drama around
these media days because there's so many storylines, and for me,
(46:33):
the favorite one it's probably cliche. A lot of people
had Lebron James and Brownie James Jr. Having those photos
together joking around on set about playing together talking trash
during a previous practice, talking about now you was out
of bounds, you found me and Lebron said, well, you're
(46:53):
a rookie man, So that wasn't no fact did they
call it. To have that happen gave me so much
joy as a black man because we know Lebron didn't
have his father in his life. So fast forward to
playing twenty two years in the NBA and having the
ability to have your son playing not just in the
(47:16):
NBA while you're still there, but with you. It's one
of his best accomplishments in his amazing career. So that
really warm my heart and I'll never I don't care
what happens after. I'll never get over that image of
those two with the Lakers Jersey purple and gold playing together.
(47:38):
What about you k dot?
Speaker 2 (47:39):
Yeah, So I'm gonna go three thousand miles back east
and talk about or not talk about this whole trade
that happened with the New York Knickson, the Minnesota Timberwolves
and Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart just playing dumb saying Okay,
who's called who's cat? Oh? We traded for cat?
Speaker 4 (47:58):
Like.
Speaker 2 (47:58):
I think that that was I think that was the
funniest thing ever because we know that these guys are too.
Speaker 4 (48:07):
So the funniest thing for me was actually the Lebron situation.
But I'm gonna tell you what else is funny, right
because I'm petty.
Speaker 1 (48:14):
Okay, here you go.
Speaker 4 (48:15):
I know how folks be out here coming for us
and wnb A media, not me specifically because I asked
great questions, but just in general, how they talk about
folks coming for us in w b A media. Well,
I want you to take a look at all the
ridiculous questions that were asked of folks during.
Speaker 5 (48:33):
The NBA Media Day. Diane Williamson just walked off because
he was like, I ain't gonna deal with it.
Speaker 4 (48:39):
Draymond going back and forth with a with a reporter.
You know what I'm saying. Steven Adams is like what what?
Speaker 2 (48:47):
What?
Speaker 4 (48:48):
Like, don't you talk come for us in w n
B A media more that we don't want to hear nobody.
Speaker 5 (48:52):
Talking about Miami and.
Speaker 2 (48:56):
Hold no, don't forget it, don't don't don't don't forget
about that Glowilla Bird.
Speaker 1 (49:01):
I knew it. I was like, I knew it. I
was like, if you don't bring name about glow.
Speaker 4 (49:06):
Rilla, Like he, don't you say another word about w
n B A media. You point the finger at yourselves
and say, y'all just asking stupid ask questions all the
way around. That's just all it is.
Speaker 5 (49:20):
That's just it's just everyone.
Speaker 4 (49:22):
So that was my takeaway, y'all get off our back
because clearly the NBA ain't got it together neither.
Speaker 1 (49:29):
Oh my goodness, it was gosh.
Speaker 3 (49:31):
It wasn't even the fact that he asked her or
asked him about glow and.
Speaker 1 (49:38):
He started singing the song.
Speaker 5 (49:40):
He did for nobody.
Speaker 3 (49:46):
In w n B A media, nobody or like or
we just handed our credentials do these?
Speaker 2 (49:53):
Yeah, you get one, you get one, you get one?
Speaker 4 (49:56):
You like? I said, what are they for real? Are
they for real?
Speaker 2 (50:00):
Girl?
Speaker 4 (50:02):
I could see All Star Media Day. You're supposed to
ask crazy stuff, you know, be funny or whatever.
Speaker 5 (50:06):
But like, anyway, that.
Speaker 1 (50:08):
Was well, I guess, you know, to be fair. Media
day can also be fun.
Speaker 2 (50:14):
Right.
Speaker 3 (50:15):
It's the first day of the year that you see
these players. They come in, you know, photo shoots all that,
so they're in a good mood you would expect. But yeah,
some of them questions, Nah, bro, get out of here
with that nonsense. Get out of here with that nonsense.
You know who said, get out of here for that nonsense.
(50:37):
On the court, the Kim Bae matumbo the finger wag
is his signature, and unfortunately we lost him on Monday
as he died at the age of fifty eight do
the brain cancer that he was diagnosed with in October
(50:58):
of twenty twenty two. And for me, every there's so
many players that you see and you wonder if they're
actually that nice or genuine, or does their play match
their humanity and or does the humanity match or play.
Speaker 1 (51:18):
For the kimbe Every story I've.
Speaker 3 (51:21):
Heard about him highlights just how incredible of a human
being he was and wanting to leave the place better
than when he founded. And forget all the accolades, all
the Defensive Player of the Year awards, right the all
defensive NBA teams, the upset against the Sonics when he's
(51:43):
with the Nuggets. He just made you want to be
a better person and you felt joy when he came
around or when you saw him. For me, at least
from Afar, that he was going to make you you
smile and inspire you. So it's very sad that we
lost somebody who was a humanitarian and incredible basketball player
(52:09):
that did so much, not just for people around the world,
but also for his country, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Speaker 1 (52:16):
So yeah, Tarika, you you.
Speaker 4 (52:20):
Actually summed it up beautifully. I saw a tribute from
Schene Aumacka. Chene and I are very good friends, and
I saw a tribute from Cheney and it just spoke
to how much he's done in his country, how much
he's done and for the continent of Africa, how much
he's just done as a humanitarian around the world. And
so the world certainly lost, as as Africans say, a
(52:43):
giant in the world and his impact is felt, was felt,
and will continue to be felt way past his physical presence.
Speaker 3 (52:53):
On her Well, it's been quite a show for the
three of us and we really thank you Kati for
come and on to the show your expertise.
Speaker 1 (53:03):
It's special and.
Speaker 3 (53:06):
We would love to have you on the show once again.
And make sure if you're listening watching this to subscribe
to the three on three podcast wherever you get your podcasts,
and follow us on x at the three on three
pod and also at three on three pod on Instagram.
Make sure to check us out on YouTube the Inflection
Network and give us five stars because we are bringing
(53:29):
the best in the brightest information here about the w
n B A, n B A and all things basketball
for Ritriika Foster brasby Kevin Lewis.
Speaker 1 (53:39):
I'm Chris Williamson. See you later.
Hosts And Creators
Shari Nycole
Terrika Foster-Brasby
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