December 19, 2025 • 40 mins
Azzi and Ashanti are joined by Stefanie Dolson for a real conversation about basketball, growth, and everything that comes with a long career. Stef looks back on her time at UConn, what it was like being part of championship teams, and how those years shaped her confidence once she got to the pros.
She talks about adjusting to different roles in the WNBA, staying ready even when your name isn’t always called, and learning how to lead in ways that don’t always show up on the stat sheet. Along the way, she shares stories from her career, lessons she’s picked up over time, and the things she wishes she understood earlier.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hey, everyone, welcome back to another episode of phutt Around
and find Out. I'm here with my girl A Shanty, Hi,
A Shanty.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hey, how you doing. I'm good? How are you doing?
I am great.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I had been watching a lot of women's basketball lately,
well big yaan.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
And of course I was tuned into your game. My girl.
I'm so excited for you. You are playing out of
your mind. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Yes, did you know that you are currently fifty to
fifty one hundred right now?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
No? I think the exact numbers.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Is like fifty to fifty three point one one hundred.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
But I remember we talked about this last episode.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
We were like, you're a point four away from being
like either the first or second player ever to accomplish this.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
This is like a huge deal.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
I mean, like I haven't accomplished anything like That's what
it is right now.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Don't you like end the year with that?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
You know what, I'm gonna be excited for you, Thanks
A Shanty, I will be. I'm about to get that
on a shirt. Okay, that is a big deal. I
like you are killing it right now. I know the
focus is, you know, being with your team, winning games together,
taking a game by game so let me and the
(01:23):
fans be turned up for your fifty to fifty one hundred. Okay, yeah,
you've been playing really really well. It's been super fun
to watch you.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Thank you, Ashanti. What have you been up to? I
finally started my Christmas shopping started.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Listen, listen, girl, work and all these other things have
taken control.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
But yes, I've started my Christmas shopping. I have some time.
I have some time.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
It's only the technically the nineteenth today, I have a
little bit of time. Yes, I hit all. I have
a Nissan nephew, so I did get them some stuff.
My nephews into like trains and cars and dinosaurs. And
my niece she's like she's two, so she's into like
(02:09):
pink and loud noises. So I have gotten her some
like stuff, animal stuff, and so I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I'm still working on my gift for my mom. That's
the hard part. The girl likes the expensive things in.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Life, and so I'm just like, oh, what am I
going to get her?
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Break the bank this time? That's where you get your
bougen is from.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
And your mom only deserves the best, so you better
you better spend that money on her.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
I'd be like donations.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Yeah, because she I'm like, girl, I don't know what
you think this is?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You know when?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
So it's so funny me and my friends say that,
like you can't let your parents know, like when you're
getting paid, or like if you're doing something new or exciting,
because all of a sudden they're like, oh, I need this?
Did you get paid last week? And I'm like, girl,
don't be watching my bucket. But then next thing, you know,
it should be like this is what I get carried
(03:11):
you for nine months and I'm like, you're not wrong.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Oh my goodness. How about you? Did you finish your
Christmas shopping?
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Just about once? I'm just about done. I got a
couple of things I'll finish up before I go home.
And it's a chill Christmas from me this year at least,
so sorry family.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
As a budget budget cuts, yeah this year, Oh my goodness. Well,
I'm really looking forward to our guests today, are you
kinda lum?
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yes? I'm super excited.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
We have a two time national champ, a one time
WNBA champ, and a three on three gold medalist joining
us today. We have Stephanie Dolson Nay joining us on
the pod today. We have Stephanie Dolson. Is okay if
(04:11):
I call you stuff? Or should I?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Cool?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Of course that's okay, making sure, Steph. How are you?
What are you up to?
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Just off season stuff, training, getting healthy, being old?
Speaker 5 (04:22):
Just nothing. I literally just work out every day, so nothing.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Do you work out at home? Are you still like
in DMV area?
Speaker 4 (04:32):
I go back and forth, but right now I'm home
and I'm in New York. I live with my girlfriend
and queens.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
So okay, yes, big New York.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
Okay, yeah, it's lovely right now with the snow.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Oh my goodness, it's freezing out here. It is.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
It's getting ridiculous. That's the one thing I don't like
is New York in the winter. But I'm an experienced.
Well last year I was here, but it didn't snow
that much.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
So this year I heard there's supposed to be a
lot of snow, so that should be fun.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I mean, there's a lot to do, so I'm excited
for you to explore the city.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
But it's just freezing.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
I mean I was in Chicago for a winter that
was actually insane, so I think this should be okay.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yes, definitely not Chicago, but yeah, so tell us more
about your off season in DC, because before that, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Used to be with us the New York Liberty.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
How's that transition been over in the Asies area.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
It's good.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
I mean I was drafted to d C, so I
was there for a few years. My sisters live in Virginia,
so it's like close to home. We're close to their home.
I got to play with some really great girls. Changing
coaching staff was definitely a whirlwind, but it kept it interesting.
So it was a fun two years. I'm excited to
see what's next.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
We're excited to see as well.
Speaker 5 (05:51):
Yeah, same, Do you just wake up?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I could tell.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Not like this, but I just feel like, don't you
have classes?
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Like, I'm just no, it's right.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Finals week was last week, so we're done.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
I'm like, doesn't she have to be in class right now?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
No?
Speaker 1 (06:11):
No, no, I'm done and I'm in grad school. So
my classes were at night.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
Oh okay, that's nice.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Let's talk about your time and you can. So you
went back to back mm hmmm. Something easy is trying
to accomplish? Now, what changes mentally when you're chasing that
second one?
Speaker 4 (06:30):
I think just like the pressure and I feel like
that strives to be like perfect in every game, Like
there's gonna be some close games, and I think it's
gonna everyone's gonna try to rattle you. I think our
second season, after we won the first one, it was
like every game they give you your their best, right,
and coach talks about this stuff like every team's gonna
give you their best. Every crowd is going to be
(06:52):
extra rowdy when you play them because everyone wants to
be that team to like make you lose, right, wants
to push you down a pedal a pedestal. So I
think it's just about like staying connected and still having fun.
Like if you're not enjoying it, then it's going to
be hard to win every game. But yeah, I think
for me it was easier because I was a senior too,
so it was like the second year was really personal
(07:14):
to me, and I'm sure Asy feels the same. It's
like that's the year that's the most important, is like
your last season, and you want to go out with
a bang. So it's just a plus that was like
you won this season before, so you want to go
back to back.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
But yeah, I just enjoy that ride. You'll never experience
it a.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Yet so I feel like that's the most common thing
I've heard is to enjoy it. And I feel a
lot of people talk about how, I g it's so
easy just to get caught up in things when you're
at Yukon and like the pressure and winning and making
sure you're enjoying and still having fun.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
So yeah, there's like nothing else to do. I don't know,
you can't, like you're not gonna be scared. You're not
gonna like you wouldn't have gone to Yukon. If you're
going to be scared about the moment. You just have
to like embrace it.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, no other way, you just got acception.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Yeah, exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
So your senior season, you were undefeated.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
What felt different about that season compared to previous ones.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Probably the fact that Briton I were her seniors, so
we got to kind of be the obviously the leaders,
but like it started and ended with us. So if
a practice went poorly, you know, we had to take
it on the chin. If a practice went well, it
had nothing to do with us, and you just kind
of have to like deal with that.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Like that's just part of being a leader, part of
being the oldest being seniors and stuff. So I think
it was just this like embrace of just we have
to do this, Like I'm a senior, I don't care
what happens. We're winning this season. And there's been there
was plenty of times that we lost. You know, they'd
had seasons before where they didn't lose at all, but
then lost the championship. We went through these seasons of
(08:46):
like losing more games than most Yukon's team do, but
we still want a champion, Like we knew at the
end of the day that last game was all that mattered,
and we just kind of stuck with it.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Wait, you said that, how many games did you guys lose?
I feel like I can relate to that.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
I feel like we, Yeah, We've broken a whole lot
of records since I've been there.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Yeah yeah, we lost eleven wow in my four years,
which like seems like, oh my god, that's no you.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Know, right, I.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
Know, but I'm telling you the years before they were like, well,
my my freshman year they were they had the streak.
So my first I think it was eleven games or
ten games. It was like every game was just this
added pressure of like, oh my god, don't be the
ones to lose the streak. Don't be the reason that
you lost the streak. And once we played Baylor and
(09:32):
we wanted like got the shriek, I think we lost
the next game to Stanford. It was like this pressure
everything just released. It was so nice, Like I was
like I could be a real freshman now. But like,
so losing eleven doesn't seem like a lot, but it was.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
It's a lot.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Like some people went almost undefeated for like two and
a half years.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
They lost like three games in their four season, So yeah,
for me, it felt like a lot. I'm like, how
embarrassing eleven but so definite?
Speaker 1 (09:58):
So oh wait, that's so like I don't know, it's
just unreal to say, like you live that, Like we
hear about that, we see it on the walls in
the gym, and we walk through Worth.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
But to hear like that was your reality? Wow?
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Yeah, how did you stay locked in when everyone kept
telling you how historic the season can be?
Speaker 5 (10:15):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
I'm kind of a hard person to ask those questions too,
because I I don't know if I want to say
I'm never locked in, but I'm kind of like I'm
a very free flowing person, so like I'm just so
realistic and like I take things for what they are,
and so I think that's just it.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
Like I was just very matter of fact.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
So it's like it was easy for me to stay
level headed, and I was nervous, Like I still get
nervous to this day in every game that I play.
But yeah, I don't know, it's kind of easy for
me to just stay grounded and like, I don't know,
so I can't say that there's like a specific way
that I did it. I just it's just who I am.
I h I just take things for what they are.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
I feel like that's your way of being locked in though, right,
a little bit lighthearted like that, that's your version of
showing up as you and keeping it, you know.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
The main thing, the main thing.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Yeah, yeah, that's true.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
What's one thing people don't understand about playing at Yukon
that only players can understand?
Speaker 5 (11:19):
I think just the level.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
It's kind of contradiction because it's like we had a
lot of fun at Yukon, but there was also this
level of like seriousness like the second you walked in.
Because I've seen some college practices and it's very just
easygoing right, Like, but then it's kind of like when
you go to USA basketball compared to like for me,
you know, a league practice, and then you go to USA.
(11:44):
It's like you clap every time you're stretching your everything
is very regiment and routine, and a lot of other
places are a little bit more free flowing, and I
think people don't understand that until they really see it
or experience it as a player at Yukon, So like
when I hear coaches go and they go watch their
practices and stuff, they come back and they're like, wow,
(12:05):
like it's so intense. It's so serious, but still a
little fun. But like you just feel that energy of
like we're in here to get shit done, to practice
to you know, perfect things. And yeah, it's just like
this level of intensity that I don't think people really
understand until they experience it.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Speaking of USA basketball, Steph, you won gold on a
three and three USA team in twenty twenty one.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Tell us about that.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
In that experience, that was fun. I mean I had
such a great time. Three out three is like just
a simple way to play basketball, which for me is
more fun and you know, it's a little bit more physical, a.
Speaker 5 (12:43):
Little bit more like kind of mental.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
It's kind of like a strategic game in a way too,
because it has to happen so fast that like you
have to make a read as quick as you can.
So it was just like a fun little change in
how to play basketball.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
And winning gold was like an incredible ride.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Like first to qualify, we were so excited, and then
to go to the Olympics, like that's been a dream
of mine my whole life. I was with USA basketball.
I mean, well I'm in my thirties now, maybe sixteen
seventeen years straight. I didn't miss a practice, Like I
was very dedicated to making something right, Like I was
determined to make the Olympics no matter what, because like
(13:20):
that's been my dream. So when I got that chance
with three on three, like I just I was so happy.
And the girls I played with were amazing, Like it
was just a great, great experience and like not something
I'll never forget.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
So I loved it. Obviously we went so was that
the winners.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
I want to know what the Olympic village was like,
Like did you did you get to meet other athletes?
Did you go to other games or were you so
busy with three and three that you were just locked in.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
A little bit of all like all of the aboves
kind of because one it was the Olympics. That's the
only thing like a little bit sad about the whole
situation or experience was that it was right after COVID.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Yeah, so things were still a.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Little bit more separate than like they have been in
previous years. But also USA basketball they usually stay separate
from the village, so then that was another part. So
we didn't really get to experience the village. And then
on top of that, three on three you play back
to back to back, so you you essentially go the
(14:20):
first I think the first week maybe is practicing, and
then the second week you you just play. And so
once we won, i think the next day or a
day after.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
We left, oh wow.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Yeah, so it was really fast, like we couldn't even
really experience much, which was sad, But at the same time,
it's like I'm not gonna, you know, complain about it
because i still got to win a gold and experience
it like opening ceremonies. It was just amazing and like
I'm just out here with my phone like just imposter syndrome.
(14:50):
So the whole experience was still amazing.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
I forgot COVID happened.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
I know, ag.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Yeah, when I was like, damn you said three, Uh,
you prefer three on three?
Speaker 5 (15:03):
I don't prefer.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
But it's just like like at Yukon, I think it
starts you you learned three on three and kind of
two on two, and then you put it together. It's like,
so I think I learned the game throughout three in
a way, and so it's just like there's two reads
to make, right, like where's my defense?
Speaker 5 (15:20):
Where's there?
Speaker 4 (15:20):
Like that's it, and that's it's just so simple. So yeah,
I think it's fun. I think it's really fun because
it's so.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Fast, so fast. Oh, I have a question. So you've
played Foba three on three and then you played Unrivaled
last season. What three on three did you like better,
because that's two very different kinds of three on three
or what's the difference.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
What's the difference for you.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
In the fact that you had to go well partially
it was like a smaller full court. Yeah, obviously for
me it was Foeba threeout three. I think the first
the first like little exhibition game for Unrivaled. I had
to switch on to a guard like three times. In
a row going full court, So I'm like back pedaling
against a guard full court?
Speaker 5 (16:00):
I'm like, what am I doing? Why am I here?
Speaker 4 (16:04):
It's just not granted, I found my footing a little bit,
you know, I still stuck to what I'm good at.
But it was definitely I'd much prefer just guarding someone
from the three point line if it's a guard, then
a full.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Court I mean me too, doesn't everyone?
Speaker 5 (16:20):
Yeah, I won't. Not if you're going on a postal
for it, that's easy. But just saying.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
So, you were a part of the inaugural season of Unrival.
I can't tell us about that experience.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
It was cool.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
I mean, I enjoyed it. You got to be obviously
in Miami, which is amazing. The basketball was up and down,
for sure.
Speaker 5 (16:50):
Our team was. We had we struggled.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
You know, it wasn't like the best season for us
because everyone got injured.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
At one point.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
It was literally me and Kmack from like our original
team that was healthy, Like the two of us were
the only ones that ended up staying healthy the entire season.
Speaker 5 (17:04):
So it was definitely a.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
Little bit of an up and down season for us there,
but it was still fun, Like it was it was
so cool to play with new players like me and
at we got drafted together, and from that day we've
been joking that we wanted to play together and like
we've just never gotten to play, and so finally we
got to be on the same team, and you know,
we enjoyed it. Obviously, she was injured most of it,
(17:26):
but it was fun to play with someone like that,
play with Kmac. Like the three of us all were
drafted together, so it was just like a really great team.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
We had all old heads, so.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
We all just were there to like we were just
there to play basketball, enjoy Miami, not getting to any
other crazy stuff.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
So it was fun.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
I do want to go back to your time at
Yukon because everyone that we bring on has these awesome
stories about CD or coach Gino.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
So yes, we want to know if you have any
CD stories.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
I mean, I don't know about stories as much as
they are moments, like they just were. CD and I
had a funny relationship because you know, it's like I
don't know who it is on your team this year
or maybe like Page last year, but there's always that
one who CD kind of not picks on. But you know,
you have that relationship where you kind of banter back
and forth, like I'll make fun of CD, She'll make
(18:21):
fun of me. You know, to this day, she still
tells everyone the story of how she made me cry
before I even picked a basketball up, Like she'd always
tell that. She was like, you never believe this. This
one time I walked to the gym and she's already crying.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
You know.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
I was like, because I cried a lot, like I
was very my first season. I for semester, like I
wanted to leave. I was almost done, like I was.
I didn't think I could do it. I was crying
all the time. I came home a lot during the
weekends like it was too hard for me. And then
you know, something switched during Christmas. I had a conversation
with Gino, but you know, and things got better. But
(18:56):
like before that, it was it was rough. Like I
was really crying a lot, and so Cedee her and
I just we always had that relationship where we just
kind of make fun of each other.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
I used to wear.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
Like like colored tights were very in back then, or
like a little headband with flowers, and she'd always be like.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
What are you wearing?
Speaker 4 (19:15):
Like what you look ridiculous, you know, just something like
that would just then the next time I'd wear an
even brighter color, you know, or even bigger head band. Like.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
So we just kind of had that relationship throughout my years,
which was fun.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
So there always has to be someone that does that
with her, that goes back and forth, that has that
fun relationship.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
But it's definitely not me. But it's not.
Speaker 5 (19:39):
That's not a bad thing.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
I don't know if I'm remembering this correctly, but it
was like right after you left UKHON you dyed your
hair like it was like purple or blue or pink,
something bright?
Speaker 5 (19:48):
Yeah, purple.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Had you been wanting to do that for a long
time and you just couldn't because or was it just like,
well I wanted.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
To do something.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
I actually during the season, I think it was my
junior year again, it was like a trendy thing to like,
you know what it was like to shave part of
your head.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
I wanted to do that, like really badly.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
And I went to CD one time and I was like, CD,
if I go and shave my head, like what, She's like,
You're not on the team, You're She's like, you will
have the team anymore, and I was like, all right, cool,
won't shave my head. So yeah, once I left, I
got a few tattoos. Yeah, dye my hair purple. It's
just kind of that, like, you know, I think everyone
has it, whether you go to Yukon or somewhere else.
(20:29):
It's like once you graduate from college, you feel like
this like reborn feeling of like I'm an adult. I
can make adult decisions. I can do whatever I want
and no one can tell me otherwise maybe your parents,
but my parents don't do that, so I just kind
of went with it.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Yeah, that's amazing. I do love your hair now, it
looks so good.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
I'm having a bit of a midlife crisis, so I
was really bored I word with my hair. I was like,
I need to do something, and I don't cut my hair,
so yeah, this is where it is right now.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Thanks, it looks I want to see some pictures of
these bright tights and these headbands.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
You can google it. They were.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Will blue tights.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
Casiti makes you wear tights, and it was like everything
was so standard, right, it was like normal tights, black skirt,
black shirts. So then I'd throw in awful things. I
don't know what I was thinking going back.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I definitely need to picture this.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
I need a dinner type of attire that you'd wear,
like blue tights with yeah, like we'd have a.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
Team dinner, but a different city with blue.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Maybe you should try that. This year it was bad, I.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
Betu she remembers. I can't imagine she doesn't remember it.
I was usually the one that did weird things like that.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
I would love to see it any of that.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
No, what tights, blue flower headbands or no?
Speaker 5 (21:53):
I don't think so. I mean, you guys do enough
to mess with them.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
You guys walk around with wigs on or like them,
do tiktoks exactly?
Speaker 5 (22:02):
Yeah, you guys get enough. Yeah, you get enough cringe
from them.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
But stuff, we did do a little searching.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
We have some old pictures from your Instagram back when
you and your team met Drake.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Look at your face.
Speaker 5 (22:16):
I'm so nervous.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Nothing too nothing too crazy.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
There's just a couple of times that you got to
meet Drake, and I'm assuming I mean, like.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
He called you his tall goddess. It doesn't get any better.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
I know, well maybe now, but back then, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Tell us what it was like meeting him.
Speaker 5 (22:36):
I don't know. It was fun. It was just I
don't even remember how it happened, to be honest with you.
It was something.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
I think Bria had an uncle who worked for security
for him or something.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
I think.
Speaker 4 (22:48):
Uh So we end up at the concert backstage and
I just got to meet him and he hugged me.
And then I saw him again at the SP's and
hugged me again, and I was like, did we just
become best friends?
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Wait? So this is real? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Me with him, yes, such At this point, armed the
wrapped down, I was like, no, yes, he loved me.
Speaker 5 (23:10):
He loved me.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Oh my gosh, that's incredible.
Speaker 5 (23:15):
Yeah. I was the tall guys before. There's all these
tall goddesses out there, you know, not.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
The og goddess.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Yeah, it's real.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Those are not a I that's so funny that you
guys went back and found Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Shout out to the team.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
One of my my final Yukon questions, we had a
little combo with miss Bria Hartley, one of your former teammates.
She shared that you guys kicked out of the locker
room freshman year.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Please let us know what happened there.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
It was so dumb, it was It was so dumb.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
Well, I'm sure our stories are right on, because how
could you either of us forget it? Well, essentially it
started with us getting kicked out of practice, which that
I'll never forget because there's five freshmen.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
I'm the good like I'm a goodie two shoes. Let me.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
I don't want to you know, yeah, like I'm let's
not beat her on the bush. I am a little
bit of a brown noser. I'm like, oh, what do
you need me to do? Like, I don't want to
get on anyone's bad side, especially as a freshman. So
we're all like practicing, and coaches like, you know, you freshmen,
you're awful, like you're not doing anything whatever.
Speaker 5 (24:30):
Meanwhile I'm like, what did I do? I didn't do anything.
So it is like, Maya, who do you think?
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (24:35):
Like who?
Speaker 4 (24:36):
Like someone needs to get kicked out of practice? Like
and so she's like looking around and I just happen
to make eye contact with her first and she she
calls on me first. I was like, Maya, we're like besties.
We were we were roommates on the road. I was heartbroken,
like I do everything for you, I love you. So
(24:57):
I was really it was really sad that I got
picked first in that moment. Uh, And then she went
on to just call on all the freshmen because apparently
we were the problem, which we probably were, don't get
me wrong, but not all of us were the problem.
So then right after we got kicked out of practice.
He I don't remember how it happened. I just remember
our jersey's getting taken away. The five of us were
(25:18):
in the like the wreck center, like the rec locker
and gamble.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
I don't even know what it's called, I guess, but
it was just it was so sad.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
We made our own little board before pregame, like we'd
draw up plays like just as a joke. So we
made it fun for us and it was a little
bit of a bonding thing for us freshmen. But we
were definitely happy when we got let back into the
locker room. Like it was a few I don't know
if it was a month or two or it was
kind of a long time. It felt like a long time,
(25:48):
so maybe only a month, but that's a lot.
Speaker 5 (25:51):
I know. It was really sad.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
We made you guys weren't in there for games like pregame.
You had to go to your own life.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
Well, so like shoot around stuff.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
Yeah, we were in our own locker and then I think
the games we'd have to I don't know if we
got dressed in the other locker room, but it was
definitely like you had. We had all our stuff in there,
so then we'd have to like bring it to our
actual locker room before the game. But it was and
then you'd go in there postgame and then bring everything
back to the other locker room for like practice the
next day or whatever.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
It was bad. It was really really bad.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Oh wait, did you get to keep like your practice
stuff practice here or did you have to wear like
the generic?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
No?
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Yeah, I think we had the generic.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
Yeah, And then it was like I think it was
a little by little, but I could be remembering wrong.
I think it was like as each person started doing better, Oh,
here's your jersey, Like here's this, it was like.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
Yes, please.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
It's really kind of funny when you think back to college,
Like when you're out of college in the next five
to six years, it's gonna be so funny when you
think about some of the things that you go through
in college, because it's like.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
A fever dream, like you're just like, did I really
live that?
Speaker 4 (27:02):
Did I actually do that in college and it was
so normal, Like at that time, I'm like, yeah, of
course I got kicked out, like it was terrible.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
You know, it's just so normal, and I was like,
what how do you do that?
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Normal but also feels like the end of the world,
like the biggest thing, like, oh no, we kicked out
of the locker room. And then looking back, well, that's
actually really funny.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
Yeah exactly, it made it more fun.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
That's so funny. Wow. Okay, So I'm gonna pivot a
little bit.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
You know, Asy is in her senior year, you were
a senior and a bet on your team. How do
you know when to speak up and then when to
let your teammates kind of figure it out? I know
that's something Aasy has mentioned that she's trying to figure
out on her own as well.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
I mean, I'm still trying to figure it out. To
be honest with you, I think it depends on your
relationship with everyone. It would be my first piece of
advice is like, what relationship do you have with everyone?
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Right?
Speaker 4 (27:56):
Like if if everyone sees you as the same type
of person, and it's like, I'd say, talk as much
as you can.
Speaker 5 (28:02):
That's how I did it. This year at least.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
I don't know if I talk too much, but I
always apologize before I started talking. I'm like, all right, guys,
I'm want to say something here. But I think it's
just like reading the room. Obviously, you get a sense
of your teammates and now that you're a grad student,
like you've been around them enough, right, I'm sure you
know in some aspects, like when the right time to
talk is, when is in I think it's like it's
always a funny line of if people seem really sad
(28:27):
or mad, I kind of let them feel those feelings
and then I might say something later, or sometimes like
if everyone plays really bad, I don't speak like I'm
just like this is the coach's job, like I want
them to say something and then to kind of like
I'll have individual conversations with people or whatever.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
But I don't know.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
It's just reading the room obviously, and it's just something
that you learn.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
It's not no one has that skill, I don't think,
but you just got to learn it because when I
was younger, I didn't speak up as much like I'm
a very lead by example, I lead by my joy,
whereas now I'm like, no, I have to say something like,
but I've experienced so much, so I feel like I
don't say I know it all because that's ridiculous, But
(29:10):
I do feel like I know a lot so and
I've experienced a lot of experienced good teams, I've experienced
bad teams. I've experienced a championship, I've experienced not making playoffs,
like I've really experienced I feel like everything and so
and I've experienced good vets, I've experienced bad vets. So
I feel like I've just learned with experience and like
(29:31):
what I've seen works and doesn't work, So you'll you'll
learn those skills and as your season keeps going, like
we're only in December, so you still have quite a
few months.
Speaker 5 (29:41):
To keep learning.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
Well, thank you. That was really good advice. Yeah, that
is mean that I do. I feel like I'm trying
to figure out the balance between. But I think I've
been airing more on the side of caution and like
letting them feel it out and figure it out. But
I think I need to air more on the say
something and if they want me to shut up, those
times to shut up, you know. Yeah, So, what's the
best advice you've ever gotten from a vet that's actually
(30:05):
stuck with you.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
I feel like the main advice, which is gonna sound
like obvious, but I do feel like in the league
sometimes people aren't this I had. I think I believe
it was Caro loss in it. And now she probably
won't remember doing this, but like as a rookie or
you know, second year young player, like it really stuck
with me. It was just like she basically told me
(30:26):
to be as honest as I possibly can. Like I
feel like people, really, like I said before, tiptoe round things. Right,
it's like, oh, I don't know if this works, and
I don't know if this is cool, and it's just
like no, like we're all adults in the league, right,
it's a job at the end of the day. And
I think her advice was just like see it as that,
(30:47):
like if something is going wrong, to say it and
to be honest about it. Like if if everyone's fake
on a team or is like beating around the bush,
nothing's gonna happen. And if you really want to be successful,
like you got to be straightforward, you gotta be honest,
And I think that leads to that respect and like
having each other's back. So I think that's what we did,
especially in Chicago the year that we won with each other,
(31:10):
like we were very upfront, we were very honest. There
was good days and there was bad days because of it.
Like there's gonna be days that people don't like each
other because of it. But that's what it took to
win a championship.
Speaker 5 (31:21):
So that's beautiful. No, truly, thanks, thanks care.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Now we're gonna do our what's the fud of the
week or what's the fun of the week? Is something
that happened this week or recently that made you go like,
what the fun? So Steph is our guest. I think
you should go first. What is your what the fud
of the week?
Speaker 4 (31:48):
Mine would be it was a good what the fun?
Because I was on the street in York City and
these teenage boys walk by and I was taking a
picture and they said smash.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
I was like, I still got it, smash.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Smash was crazy.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
I know.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
My girlfriend was taking a picture and.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
She's like.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Say that and I was like, listen, hot, mama, is
that good?
Speaker 5 (32:18):
It's good?
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Right?
Speaker 2 (32:18):
I know that's great. That's a very New York story.
Great with the fun, perfect.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
No notes, No one, you guys don't have one.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
That's it, girl, that one, because that's that's the What
the fuck? No, I think she's got it. That takes
it the crown.
Speaker 5 (32:40):
Okay, smash smash.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
Did they do the hand move it too?
Speaker 5 (32:45):
I don't know. I was taking a picture. I was
just poking for a picture.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
What were you wearing? Were you all dressed up? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (32:51):
Yeah, we were going to the rockets, So I was like,
I had a nice outfit on it for coat. But
I got cackled a few times that night. I'm not
gonna I was little feel myself. I know I was
not happy. An old man cat call any day.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Okay, that's a great one. The fun all right.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
So our next fudding game is called fudd or dud.
Fud means it's fire, it's lit, it's a yes. Dud
means it's no.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
All right. First situation, post players get the worst whistle
in basketball? Are doe? I guess it's like, yes, oh
so true?
Speaker 5 (33:34):
Easily? Do you want do I explain as well? If you
want to?
Speaker 4 (33:39):
If you want to, no, I mean we're whether we're
bigger than someone or slower than someone. If we just
touch a guard, like say, I get switched on to
a guard. I can touch on easy foul, right, But
a guard gets switched on to me and they're just
like punching me in the God forbid, I turned my
elbow and they fly. It's a foul on me too.
(34:00):
There's no posts get the most calls easy.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
I mean that, that's a great I'm gonna go with
her on this one.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
I feel like we get Yeah, I'm gonna go with
her on this one. That's true. Thank you. It's hard.
We've got a battery.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
Oh, don't don't even starting on guards to next switch.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
Yeah, next, If a guard switches on to you, you're
required to score.
Speaker 5 (34:31):
That's a tough one.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
I feel like I would say fudd But at the
same time, I'm it's gonna sound sad, but I'm more
of a dud just because I don't like when when
a guard switches onto a post and everyone's staring at it.
It's like everyone knows what's happening. If we don't pass
you the ball get out and someone else has a mismatch,
you know what I mean. Like, so, I'm a little
(34:55):
bit both on that. That's a tough one.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
I think it depends on your personal Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
I'm definitely that guard that's staring like you're the guard
on that guard.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Sorry, okay, okay, hitting one three makes you a stretch big.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
This is hilarious.
Speaker 5 (35:14):
Done, Doug.
Speaker 4 (35:17):
Don't ask my teammates that because they hit one three
and they're like, yeah, get back on defense.
Speaker 5 (35:24):
You made one three, Like get.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
Back yes for me, yeah, dud. Rookies should carry bags.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
In college or in the league, or I guess rookies
is in college. That's freshman, so you meant the league
either one? Okay, done?
Speaker 5 (35:39):
Not done? Either way. Done. I can care aunt bag.
I don't need to care about bags.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
You're sweet.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
I feel like coming from Yukon, I'm expecting, like a
fun I'm expecting. I don't know every time when I
was when I was a freshman, it was like freshman,
do this, freshman, juty that, get the bags, do this,
and so I'll be prepared either way.
Speaker 5 (35:56):
The league has changed a little bit.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
When I was a rookie, for sure, we had to
carry all the carry on bags because we used to
carry the shoes and the jerseys as carry ons. But
now it's like with charter flights, like it's just everything's
a little bit different. So it's a little bit, you know,
it's a little bit nicer, and every team has a
lot more staff, so when bags come in and out.
Speaker 5 (36:17):
There like some of them not much of a chance.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Okay, talking on defense should be mandatory, I mean fun fun. Yeah,
for sure, three on three basketball is harder than five
on five done.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
I think five on five is like there's just so
many more things going on. There's so much more congestion,
and the paint it's fast, Well it's not faster, but
it's like it's faster in a different way because of
the full court.
Speaker 5 (36:46):
So it's just for sure, I think it's harder.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
I think three on three is harder. Really, it's just
so tiring.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
Off that.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Yeah, yeah, there definitely is a lot more going on
in five on five.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Bigs who passed don't get enough credit. Fun.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
Yeah, I think it's a fun. But I think it's
becoming a little bit better lately. I do think us
bigs who pass are getting a little bit more credit
than it used to be because a few years ago
I felt like there was no there was no bigs
who could pass, And now all of a sudden, every
big is really good at passing.
Speaker 5 (37:24):
So I'm like there's you know, that's how it works.
Speaker 4 (37:27):
It's kind of like, you know, you make one through
your stretch post, you make one good pass, It doesn't
mean you're a good passing post.
Speaker 5 (37:35):
You know, call a spade a space.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
You did that one good pass. Yeah, now your point
guard exactly.
Speaker 5 (37:44):
Now this is everyone.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
Everyone, Okay, celebrating a wide open layup is acceptable.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
That's a dude for me. I mean, I'm.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Gonna all your layups if you were in a layup slump,
I understand, except I not anymore. But previously I was
in a layup slump.
Speaker 4 (38:09):
So I was gonna say, that's so funny because I
was just gonna say, who, if you're in a layup slump,
should you be playing?
Speaker 5 (38:21):
When was this slump? I've been watching you guys as games.
I don't remember seeing you take one layup into games
or two, you know one, I.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Mean the clunk it off the backboard, but hear me out.
I was like, it's a pass. Who was behind her?
Speaker 5 (38:37):
It's all right.
Speaker 4 (38:37):
I'm sure everyone forgot about it. I'm sure you made
four threes after it.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
So definitely forgot about it. Yeah, I hope they forgot
about it. Anyways, moving on.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Next one, if you don't set screens, you shouldn't shoot.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
That's probably a fun.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
Because everyone needs to set some type of screen, unless
you're like a point guard, but you might be setting
like a cross screen for a big and I love
a guard who sets a good screen for a post player.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
I love setting good screens like when you when you
get hit, like when you know you said a good one. Yeah,
that's probably one of the best things for me in basketball.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
Same same, So I'm also gonna go fud on this, Okay,
budds all around. Last one, every team needs one bet
who argues with refs.
Speaker 4 (39:22):
I'd say dud only because I would change the verbiage
and just say one player, because not every team needs
a vet to argue. Sometimes you need the vets to
not argue because you know all the young ones are
going to argue or someone's gonna.
Speaker 5 (39:34):
Argue, so you need a levelhead of the vet.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
Good.
Speaker 5 (39:38):
But if it was that, then I'd say fun, But
I'd still say done.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
I'm gonna go dud or I'll go fun because I'm
the teammate that is entertained by their teammates arguing with refs.
Speaker 2 (39:47):
I'm crying, I'm crying.
Speaker 1 (39:52):
All right, that is all we have today. Steph, thank
you so much for joining us. This was so much fun.
Speaker 5 (39:57):
Thanks for having me at.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
A blast Everyone's thank you so much for listening today,
and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to Futter
Around and find Out wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
We will see you guys next week.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
Futter Around and find Out is a production of iHeart
Women's Sports and Unanimous Media. Executive producers are Jesse Katz,
Eric Payton, Charla Sumter Brugette, and Stephan Curry. Co executive
producer is Kelena Maria Cutney. Producers are Mike Costcarelli, Grace
Hughs and Mackenzie Fitzpatrick, and co producers are Kurt Redmand,
Maya Howard and Jacqueline Schoeninger. This podcast is edited by
(40:31):
Mike Costcarelli and hosted by me Aizy Fudd and Ashaunty Plummer.
Hey, everyone, welcome back to another episode of phutt Around
and find Out. I'm here with my girl A Shanty, Hi,
A Shanty.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hey, how you doing. I'm good? How are you doing?
I am great.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I had been watching a lot of women's basketball lately,
well big yaan.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
And of course I was tuned into your game. My girl.
I'm so excited for you. You are playing out of
your mind. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Yes, did you know that you are currently fifty to
fifty one hundred right now?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
No? I think the exact numbers.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Is like fifty to fifty three point one one hundred.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
But I remember we talked about this last episode.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
We were like, you're a point four away from being
like either the first or second player ever to accomplish this.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
This is like a huge deal.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
I mean, like I haven't accomplished anything like That's what
it is right now.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Don't you like end the year with that?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
You know what, I'm gonna be excited for you, Thanks
A Shanty, I will be. I'm about to get that
on a shirt. Okay, that is a big deal. I
like you are killing it right now. I know the
focus is, you know, being with your team, winning games together,
taking a game by game so let me and the
(01:23):
fans be turned up for your fifty to fifty one hundred. Okay, yeah,
you've been playing really really well. It's been super fun
to watch you.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Thank you, Ashanti. What have you been up to? I
finally started my Christmas shopping started.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Listen, listen, girl, work and all these other things have
taken control.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
But yes, I've started my Christmas shopping. I have some time.
I have some time.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
It's only the technically the nineteenth today, I have a
little bit of time. Yes, I hit all. I have
a Nissan nephew, so I did get them some stuff.
My nephews into like trains and cars and dinosaurs. And
my niece she's like she's two, so she's into like
(02:09):
pink and loud noises. So I have gotten her some
like stuff, animal stuff, and so I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I'm still working on my gift for my mom. That's
the hard part. The girl likes the expensive things in.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Life, and so I'm just like, oh, what am I
going to get her?
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Break the bank this time? That's where you get your
bougen is from.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
And your mom only deserves the best, so you better
you better spend that money on her.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
I'd be like donations.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Yeah, because she I'm like, girl, I don't know what
you think this is?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You know when?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
So it's so funny me and my friends say that,
like you can't let your parents know, like when you're
getting paid, or like if you're doing something new or exciting,
because all of a sudden they're like, oh, I need this?
Did you get paid last week? And I'm like, girl,
don't be watching my bucket. But then next thing, you know,
it should be like this is what I get carried
(03:11):
you for nine months and I'm like, you're not wrong.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Oh my goodness. How about you? Did you finish your
Christmas shopping?
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Just about once? I'm just about done. I got a
couple of things I'll finish up before I go home.
And it's a chill Christmas from me this year at least,
so sorry family.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
As a budget budget cuts, yeah this year, Oh my goodness. Well,
I'm really looking forward to our guests today, are you
kinda lum?
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yes? I'm super excited.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
We have a two time national champ, a one time
WNBA champ, and a three on three gold medalist joining
us today. We have Stephanie Dolson Nay joining us on
the pod today. We have Stephanie Dolson. Is okay if
(04:11):
I call you stuff? Or should I?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Cool?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Of course that's okay, making sure, Steph. How are you?
What are you up to?
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Just off season stuff, training, getting healthy, being old?
Speaker 5 (04:22):
Just nothing. I literally just work out every day, so nothing.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Do you work out at home? Are you still like
in DMV area?
Speaker 4 (04:32):
I go back and forth, but right now I'm home
and I'm in New York. I live with my girlfriend
and queens.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
So okay, yes, big New York.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
Okay, yeah, it's lovely right now with the snow.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Oh my goodness, it's freezing out here. It is.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
It's getting ridiculous. That's the one thing I don't like
is New York in the winter. But I'm an experienced.
Well last year I was here, but it didn't snow
that much.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
So this year I heard there's supposed to be a
lot of snow, so that should be fun.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I mean, there's a lot to do, so I'm excited
for you to explore the city.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
But it's just freezing.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
I mean I was in Chicago for a winter that
was actually insane, so I think this should be okay.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yes, definitely not Chicago, but yeah, so tell us more
about your off season in DC, because before that, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Used to be with us the New York Liberty.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
How's that transition been over in the Asies area.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
It's good.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
I mean I was drafted to d C, so I
was there for a few years. My sisters live in Virginia,
so it's like close to home. We're close to their home.
I got to play with some really great girls. Changing
coaching staff was definitely a whirlwind, but it kept it interesting.
So it was a fun two years. I'm excited to
see what's next.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
We're excited to see as well.
Speaker 5 (05:51):
Yeah, same, Do you just wake up?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I could tell.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Not like this, but I just feel like, don't you
have classes?
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Like, I'm just no, it's right.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Finals week was last week, so we're done.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
I'm like, doesn't she have to be in class right now?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
No?
Speaker 1 (06:11):
No, no, I'm done and I'm in grad school. So
my classes were at night.
Speaker 5 (06:15):
Oh okay, that's nice.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Let's talk about your time and you can. So you
went back to back mm hmmm. Something easy is trying
to accomplish? Now, what changes mentally when you're chasing that
second one?
Speaker 4 (06:30):
I think just like the pressure and I feel like
that strives to be like perfect in every game, Like
there's gonna be some close games, and I think it's
gonna everyone's gonna try to rattle you. I think our
second season, after we won the first one, it was
like every game they give you your their best, right,
and coach talks about this stuff like every team's gonna
give you their best. Every crowd is going to be
(06:52):
extra rowdy when you play them because everyone wants to
be that team to like make you lose, right, wants
to push you down a pedal a pedestal. So I
think it's just about like staying connected and still having fun.
Like if you're not enjoying it, then it's going to
be hard to win every game. But yeah, I think
for me it was easier because I was a senior too,
so it was like the second year was really personal
(07:14):
to me, and I'm sure Asy feels the same. It's
like that's the year that's the most important, is like
your last season, and you want to go out with
a bang. So it's just a plus that was like
you won this season before, so you want to go
back to back.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
But yeah, I just enjoy that ride. You'll never experience
it a.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Yet so I feel like that's the most common thing
I've heard is to enjoy it. And I feel a
lot of people talk about how, I g it's so
easy just to get caught up in things when you're
at Yukon and like the pressure and winning and making
sure you're enjoying and still having fun.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
So yeah, there's like nothing else to do. I don't know,
you can't, like you're not gonna be scared. You're not
gonna like you wouldn't have gone to Yukon. If you're
going to be scared about the moment. You just have
to like embrace it.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, no other way, you just got acception.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Yeah, exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
So your senior season, you were undefeated.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
What felt different about that season compared to previous ones.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Probably the fact that Briton I were her seniors, so
we got to kind of be the obviously the leaders,
but like it started and ended with us. So if
a practice went poorly, you know, we had to take
it on the chin. If a practice went well, it
had nothing to do with us, and you just kind
of have to like deal with that.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Like that's just part of being a leader, part of
being the oldest being seniors and stuff. So I think
it was just this like embrace of just we have
to do this, Like I'm a senior, I don't care
what happens. We're winning this season. And there's been there
was plenty of times that we lost. You know, they'd
had seasons before where they didn't lose at all, but
then lost the championship. We went through these seasons of
(08:46):
like losing more games than most Yukon's team do, but
we still want a champion, Like we knew at the
end of the day that last game was all that mattered,
and we just kind of stuck with it.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Wait, you said that, how many games did you guys lose?
I feel like I can relate to that.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
I feel like we, Yeah, We've broken a whole lot
of records since I've been there.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Yeah yeah, we lost eleven wow in my four years,
which like seems like, oh my god, that's no you.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Know, right, I.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
Know, but I'm telling you the years before they were like, well,
my my freshman year they were they had the streak.
So my first I think it was eleven games or
ten games. It was like every game was just this
added pressure of like, oh my god, don't be the
ones to lose the streak. Don't be the reason that
you lost the streak. And once we played Baylor and
(09:32):
we wanted like got the shriek, I think we lost
the next game to Stanford. It was like this pressure
everything just released. It was so nice, Like I was
like I could be a real freshman now. But like,
so losing eleven doesn't seem like a lot, but it was.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
It's a lot.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Like some people went almost undefeated for like two and
a half years.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
They lost like three games in their four season, So yeah,
for me, it felt like a lot. I'm like, how
embarrassing eleven but so definite?
Speaker 1 (09:58):
So oh wait, that's so like I don't know, it's
just unreal to say, like you live that, Like we
hear about that, we see it on the walls in
the gym, and we walk through Worth.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
But to hear like that was your reality? Wow?
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Yeah, how did you stay locked in when everyone kept
telling you how historic the season can be?
Speaker 5 (10:15):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
I'm kind of a hard person to ask those questions too,
because I I don't know if I want to say
I'm never locked in, but I'm kind of like I'm
a very free flowing person, so like I'm just so
realistic and like I take things for what they are,
and so I think that's just it.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
Like I was just very matter of fact.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
So it's like it was easy for me to stay
level headed, and I was nervous, Like I still get
nervous to this day in every game that I play.
But yeah, I don't know, it's kind of easy for
me to just stay grounded and like, I don't know,
so I can't say that there's like a specific way
that I did it. I just it's just who I am.
I h I just take things for what they are.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
I feel like that's your way of being locked in though, right,
a little bit lighthearted like that, that's your version of
showing up as you and keeping it, you know.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
The main thing, the main thing.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Yeah, yeah, that's true.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
What's one thing people don't understand about playing at Yukon
that only players can understand?
Speaker 5 (11:19):
I think just the level.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
It's kind of contradiction because it's like we had a
lot of fun at Yukon, but there was also this
level of like seriousness like the second you walked in.
Because I've seen some college practices and it's very just
easygoing right, Like, but then it's kind of like when
you go to USA basketball compared to like for me,
you know, a league practice, and then you go to USA.
(11:44):
It's like you clap every time you're stretching your everything
is very regiment and routine, and a lot of other
places are a little bit more free flowing, and I
think people don't understand that until they really see it
or experience it as a player at Yukon, So like
when I hear coaches go and they go watch their
practices and stuff, they come back and they're like, wow,
(12:05):
like it's so intense. It's so serious, but still a
little fun. But like you just feel that energy of
like we're in here to get shit done, to practice
to you know, perfect things. And yeah, it's just like
this level of intensity that I don't think people really
understand until they experience it.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Speaking of USA basketball, Steph, you won gold on a
three and three USA team in twenty twenty one.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Tell us about that.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
In that experience, that was fun. I mean I had
such a great time. Three out three is like just
a simple way to play basketball, which for me is
more fun and you know, it's a little bit more physical, a.
Speaker 5 (12:43):
Little bit more like kind of mental.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
It's kind of like a strategic game in a way too,
because it has to happen so fast that like you
have to make a read as quick as you can.
So it was just like a fun little change in
how to play basketball.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
And winning gold was like an incredible ride.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Like first to qualify, we were so excited, and then
to go to the Olympics, like that's been a dream
of mine my whole life. I was with USA basketball.
I mean, well I'm in my thirties now, maybe sixteen
seventeen years straight. I didn't miss a practice, Like I
was very dedicated to making something right, Like I was
determined to make the Olympics no matter what, because like
(13:20):
that's been my dream. So when I got that chance
with three on three, like I just I was so happy.
And the girls I played with were amazing, Like it
was just a great, great experience and like not something
I'll never forget.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
So I loved it. Obviously we went so was that
the winners.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
I want to know what the Olympic village was like,
Like did you did you get to meet other athletes?
Did you go to other games or were you so
busy with three and three that you were just locked in.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
A little bit of all like all of the aboves
kind of because one it was the Olympics. That's the
only thing like a little bit sad about the whole
situation or experience was that it was right after COVID.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Yeah, so things were still a.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Little bit more separate than like they have been in
previous years. But also USA basketball they usually stay separate
from the village, so then that was another part. So
we didn't really get to experience the village. And then
on top of that, three on three you play back
to back to back, so you you essentially go the
(14:20):
first I think the first week maybe is practicing, and
then the second week you you just play. And so
once we won, i think the next day or a
day after.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
We left, oh wow.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Yeah, so it was really fast, like we couldn't even
really experience much, which was sad, But at the same time,
it's like I'm not gonna, you know, complain about it
because i still got to win a gold and experience
it like opening ceremonies. It was just amazing and like
I'm just out here with my phone like just imposter syndrome.
(14:50):
So the whole experience was still amazing.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
I forgot COVID happened.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
I know, ag.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Yeah, when I was like, damn you said three, Uh,
you prefer three on three?
Speaker 5 (15:03):
I don't prefer.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
But it's just like like at Yukon, I think it
starts you you learned three on three and kind of
two on two, and then you put it together. It's like,
so I think I learned the game throughout three in
a way, and so it's just like there's two reads
to make, right, like where's my defense?
Speaker 5 (15:20):
Where's there?
Speaker 4 (15:20):
Like that's it, and that's it's just so simple. So yeah,
I think it's fun. I think it's really fun because
it's so.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Fast, so fast. Oh, I have a question. So you've
played Foba three on three and then you played Unrivaled
last season. What three on three did you like better,
because that's two very different kinds of three on three
or what's the difference.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
What's the difference for you.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
In the fact that you had to go well partially
it was like a smaller full court. Yeah, obviously for
me it was Foeba threeout three. I think the first
the first like little exhibition game for Unrivaled. I had
to switch on to a guard like three times. In
a row going full court, So I'm like back pedaling
against a guard full court?
Speaker 5 (16:00):
I'm like, what am I doing? Why am I here?
Speaker 4 (16:04):
It's just not granted, I found my footing a little bit,
you know, I still stuck to what I'm good at.
But it was definitely I'd much prefer just guarding someone
from the three point line if it's a guard, then
a full.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Court I mean me too, doesn't everyone?
Speaker 5 (16:20):
Yeah, I won't. Not if you're going on a postal
for it, that's easy. But just saying.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
So, you were a part of the inaugural season of Unrival.
I can't tell us about that experience.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
It was cool.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
I mean, I enjoyed it. You got to be obviously
in Miami, which is amazing. The basketball was up and down,
for sure.
Speaker 5 (16:50):
Our team was. We had we struggled.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
You know, it wasn't like the best season for us
because everyone got injured.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
At one point.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
It was literally me and Kmack from like our original
team that was healthy, Like the two of us were
the only ones that ended up staying healthy the entire season.
Speaker 5 (17:04):
So it was definitely a.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
Little bit of an up and down season for us there,
but it was still fun, Like it was it was
so cool to play with new players like me and
at we got drafted together, and from that day we've
been joking that we wanted to play together and like
we've just never gotten to play, and so finally we
got to be on the same team, and you know,
we enjoyed it. Obviously, she was injured most of it,
(17:26):
but it was fun to play with someone like that,
play with Kmac. Like the three of us all were
drafted together, so it was just like a really great team.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
We had all old heads, so.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
We all just were there to like we were just
there to play basketball, enjoy Miami, not getting to any
other crazy stuff.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
So it was fun.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
I do want to go back to your time at
Yukon because everyone that we bring on has these awesome
stories about CD or coach Gino.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
So yes, we want to know if you have any
CD stories.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
I mean, I don't know about stories as much as
they are moments, like they just were. CD and I
had a funny relationship because you know, it's like I
don't know who it is on your team this year
or maybe like Page last year, but there's always that
one who CD kind of not picks on. But you know,
you have that relationship where you kind of banter back
and forth, like I'll make fun of CD, She'll make
(18:21):
fun of me. You know, to this day, she still
tells everyone the story of how she made me cry
before I even picked a basketball up, Like she'd always
tell that. She was like, you never believe this. This
one time I walked to the gym and she's already crying.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
You know.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
I was like, because I cried a lot, like I
was very my first season. I for semester, like I
wanted to leave. I was almost done, like I was.
I didn't think I could do it. I was crying
all the time. I came home a lot during the
weekends like it was too hard for me. And then
you know, something switched during Christmas. I had a conversation
with Gino, but you know, and things got better. But
(18:56):
like before that, it was it was rough. Like I
was really crying a lot, and so Cedee her and
I just we always had that relationship where we just
kind of make fun of each other.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
I used to wear.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
Like like colored tights were very in back then, or
like a little headband with flowers, and she'd always be like.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
What are you wearing?
Speaker 4 (19:15):
Like what you look ridiculous, you know, just something like
that would just then the next time I'd wear an
even brighter color, you know, or even bigger head band. Like.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
So we just kind of had that relationship throughout my years,
which was fun.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
So there always has to be someone that does that
with her, that goes back and forth, that has that
fun relationship.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
But it's definitely not me. But it's not.
Speaker 5 (19:39):
That's not a bad thing.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
I don't know if I'm remembering this correctly, but it
was like right after you left UKHON you dyed your
hair like it was like purple or blue or pink,
something bright?
Speaker 5 (19:48):
Yeah, purple.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Had you been wanting to do that for a long
time and you just couldn't because or was it just like,
well I wanted.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
To do something.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
I actually during the season, I think it was my
junior year again, it was like a trendy thing to like,
you know what it was like to shave part of
your head.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
I wanted to do that, like really badly.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
And I went to CD one time and I was like, CD,
if I go and shave my head, like what, She's like,
You're not on the team, You're She's like, you will
have the team anymore, and I was like, all right, cool,
won't shave my head. So yeah, once I left, I
got a few tattoos. Yeah, dye my hair purple. It's
just kind of that, like, you know, I think everyone
has it, whether you go to Yukon or somewhere else.
(20:29):
It's like once you graduate from college, you feel like
this like reborn feeling of like I'm an adult. I
can make adult decisions. I can do whatever I want
and no one can tell me otherwise maybe your parents,
but my parents don't do that, so I just kind
of went with it.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Yeah, that's amazing. I do love your hair now, it
looks so good.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
I'm having a bit of a midlife crisis, so I
was really bored I word with my hair. I was like,
I need to do something, and I don't cut my hair,
so yeah, this is where it is right now.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Thanks, it looks I want to see some pictures of
these bright tights and these headbands.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
You can google it. They were.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Will blue tights.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
Casiti makes you wear tights, and it was like everything
was so standard, right, it was like normal tights, black skirt,
black shirts. So then I'd throw in awful things. I
don't know what I was thinking going back.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I definitely need to picture this.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
I need a dinner type of attire that you'd wear,
like blue tights with yeah, like we'd have a.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
Team dinner, but a different city with blue.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Maybe you should try that. This year it was bad, I.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
Betu she remembers. I can't imagine she doesn't remember it.
I was usually the one that did weird things like that.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
I would love to see it any of that.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
No, what tights, blue flower headbands or no?
Speaker 5 (21:53):
I don't think so. I mean, you guys do enough
to mess with them.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
You guys walk around with wigs on or like them,
do tiktoks exactly?
Speaker 5 (22:02):
Yeah, you guys get enough. Yeah, you get enough cringe
from them.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
But stuff, we did do a little searching.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
We have some old pictures from your Instagram back when
you and your team met Drake.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Look at your face.
Speaker 5 (22:16):
I'm so nervous.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Nothing too nothing too crazy.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
There's just a couple of times that you got to
meet Drake, and I'm assuming I mean, like.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
He called you his tall goddess. It doesn't get any better.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
I know, well maybe now, but back then, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Tell us what it was like meeting him.
Speaker 5 (22:36):
I don't know. It was fun. It was just I
don't even remember how it happened, to be honest with you.
It was something.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
I think Bria had an uncle who worked for security
for him or something.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
I think.
Speaker 4 (22:48):
Uh So we end up at the concert backstage and
I just got to meet him and he hugged me.
And then I saw him again at the SP's and
hugged me again, and I was like, did we just
become best friends?
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Wait? So this is real? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Me with him, yes, such At this point, armed the
wrapped down, I was like, no, yes, he loved me.
Speaker 5 (23:10):
He loved me.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Oh my gosh, that's incredible.
Speaker 5 (23:15):
Yeah. I was the tall guys before. There's all these
tall goddesses out there, you know, not.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
The og goddess.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Yeah, it's real.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Those are not a I that's so funny that you
guys went back and found Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Shout out to the team.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
One of my my final Yukon questions, we had a
little combo with miss Bria Hartley, one of your former teammates.
She shared that you guys kicked out of the locker
room freshman year.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Please let us know what happened there.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
It was so dumb, it was It was so dumb.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
Well, I'm sure our stories are right on, because how
could you either of us forget it? Well, essentially it
started with us getting kicked out of practice, which that
I'll never forget because there's five freshmen.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
I'm the good like I'm a goodie two shoes. Let me.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
I don't want to you know, yeah, like I'm let's
not beat her on the bush. I am a little
bit of a brown noser. I'm like, oh, what do
you need me to do? Like, I don't want to
get on anyone's bad side, especially as a freshman. So
we're all like practicing, and coaches like, you know, you freshmen,
you're awful, like you're not doing anything whatever.
Speaker 5 (24:30):
Meanwhile I'm like, what did I do? I didn't do anything.
So it is like, Maya, who do you think?
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (24:35):
Like who?
Speaker 4 (24:36):
Like someone needs to get kicked out of practice? Like
and so she's like looking around and I just happen
to make eye contact with her first and she she
calls on me first. I was like, Maya, we're like besties.
We were we were roommates on the road. I was heartbroken,
like I do everything for you, I love you. So
(24:57):
I was really it was really sad that I got
picked first in that moment. Uh, And then she went
on to just call on all the freshmen because apparently
we were the problem, which we probably were, don't get
me wrong, but not all of us were the problem.
So then right after we got kicked out of practice.
He I don't remember how it happened. I just remember
our jersey's getting taken away. The five of us were
(25:18):
in the like the wreck center, like the rec locker
and gamble.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
I don't even know what it's called, I guess, but
it was just it was so sad.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
We made our own little board before pregame, like we'd
draw up plays like just as a joke. So we
made it fun for us and it was a little
bit of a bonding thing for us freshmen. But we
were definitely happy when we got let back into the
locker room. Like it was a few I don't know
if it was a month or two or it was
kind of a long time. It felt like a long time,
(25:48):
so maybe only a month, but that's a lot.
Speaker 5 (25:51):
I know. It was really sad.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
We made you guys weren't in there for games like pregame.
You had to go to your own life.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
Well, so like shoot around stuff.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
Yeah, we were in our own locker and then I think
the games we'd have to I don't know if we
got dressed in the other locker room, but it was
definitely like you had. We had all our stuff in there,
so then we'd have to like bring it to our
actual locker room before the game. But it was and
then you'd go in there postgame and then bring everything
back to the other locker room for like practice the
next day or whatever.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
It was bad. It was really really bad.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Oh wait, did you get to keep like your practice
stuff practice here or did you have to wear like
the generic?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
No?
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Yeah, I think we had the generic.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
Yeah, And then it was like I think it was
a little by little, but I could be remembering wrong.
I think it was like as each person started doing better, Oh,
here's your jersey, Like here's this, it was like.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
Yes, please.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
It's really kind of funny when you think back to college,
Like when you're out of college in the next five
to six years, it's gonna be so funny when you
think about some of the things that you go through
in college, because it's like.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
A fever dream, like you're just like, did I really
live that?
Speaker 4 (27:02):
Did I actually do that in college and it was
so normal, Like at that time, I'm like, yeah, of
course I got kicked out, like it was terrible.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
You know, it's just so normal, and I was like,
what how do you do that?
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Normal but also feels like the end of the world,
like the biggest thing, like, oh no, we kicked out
of the locker room. And then looking back, well, that's
actually really funny.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
Yeah exactly, it made it more fun.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
That's so funny. Wow. Okay, So I'm gonna pivot a
little bit.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
You know, Asy is in her senior year, you were
a senior and a bet on your team. How do
you know when to speak up and then when to
let your teammates kind of figure it out? I know
that's something Aasy has mentioned that she's trying to figure
out on her own as well.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
I mean, I'm still trying to figure it out. To
be honest with you, I think it depends on your
relationship with everyone. It would be my first piece of
advice is like, what relationship do you have with everyone?
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Right?
Speaker 4 (27:56):
Like if if everyone sees you as the same type
of person, and it's like, I'd say, talk as much
as you can.
Speaker 5 (28:02):
That's how I did it. This year at least.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
I don't know if I talk too much, but I
always apologize before I started talking. I'm like, all right, guys,
I'm want to say something here. But I think it's
just like reading the room. Obviously, you get a sense
of your teammates and now that you're a grad student,
like you've been around them enough, right, I'm sure you
know in some aspects, like when the right time to
talk is, when is in I think it's like it's
always a funny line of if people seem really sad
(28:27):
or mad, I kind of let them feel those feelings
and then I might say something later, or sometimes like
if everyone plays really bad, I don't speak like I'm
just like this is the coach's job, like I want
them to say something and then to kind of like
I'll have individual conversations with people or whatever.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
But I don't know.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
It's just reading the room obviously, and it's just something
that you learn.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
It's not no one has that skill, I don't think,
but you just got to learn it because when I
was younger, I didn't speak up as much like I'm
a very lead by example, I lead by my joy,
whereas now I'm like, no, I have to say something like,
but I've experienced so much, so I feel like I
don't say I know it all because that's ridiculous, But
(29:10):
I do feel like I know a lot so and
I've experienced a lot of experienced good teams, I've experienced
bad teams. I've experienced a championship, I've experienced not making playoffs,
like I've really experienced I feel like everything and so
and I've experienced good vets, I've experienced bad vets. So
I feel like I've just learned with experience and like
(29:31):
what I've seen works and doesn't work, So you'll you'll
learn those skills and as your season keeps going, like
we're only in December, so you still have quite a
few months.
Speaker 5 (29:41):
To keep learning.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
Well, thank you. That was really good advice. Yeah, that
is mean that I do. I feel like I'm trying
to figure out the balance between. But I think I've
been airing more on the side of caution and like
letting them feel it out and figure it out. But
I think I need to air more on the say
something and if they want me to shut up, those
times to shut up, you know. Yeah, So, what's the
best advice you've ever gotten from a vet that's actually
(30:05):
stuck with you.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
I feel like the main advice, which is gonna sound
like obvious, but I do feel like in the league
sometimes people aren't this I had. I think I believe
it was Caro loss in it. And now she probably
won't remember doing this, but like as a rookie or
you know, second year young player, like it really stuck
with me. It was just like she basically told me
(30:26):
to be as honest as I possibly can. Like I
feel like people, really, like I said before, tiptoe round things. Right,
it's like, oh, I don't know if this works, and
I don't know if this is cool, and it's just
like no, like we're all adults in the league, right,
it's a job at the end of the day. And
I think her advice was just like see it as that,
(30:47):
like if something is going wrong, to say it and
to be honest about it. Like if if everyone's fake
on a team or is like beating around the bush,
nothing's gonna happen. And if you really want to be successful,
like you got to be straightforward, you gotta be honest,
And I think that leads to that respect and like
having each other's back. So I think that's what we did,
especially in Chicago the year that we won with each other,
(31:10):
like we were very upfront, we were very honest. There
was good days and there was bad days because of it.
Like there's gonna be days that people don't like each
other because of it. But that's what it took to
win a championship.
Speaker 5 (31:21):
So that's beautiful. No, truly, thanks, thanks care.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Now we're gonna do our what's the fud of the
week or what's the fun of the week? Is something
that happened this week or recently that made you go like,
what the fun? So Steph is our guest. I think
you should go first. What is your what the fud
of the week?
Speaker 4 (31:48):
Mine would be it was a good what the fun?
Because I was on the street in York City and
these teenage boys walk by and I was taking a
picture and they said smash.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
I was like, I still got it, smash.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Smash was crazy.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
I know.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
My girlfriend was taking a picture and.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
She's like.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Say that and I was like, listen, hot, mama, is
that good?
Speaker 5 (32:18):
It's good?
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Right?
Speaker 2 (32:18):
I know that's great. That's a very New York story.
Great with the fun, perfect.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
No notes, No one, you guys don't have one.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
That's it, girl, that one, because that's that's the What
the fuck? No, I think she's got it. That takes
it the crown.
Speaker 5 (32:40):
Okay, smash smash.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
Did they do the hand move it too?
Speaker 5 (32:45):
I don't know. I was taking a picture. I was
just poking for a picture.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
What were you wearing? Were you all dressed up? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (32:51):
Yeah, we were going to the rockets, So I was like,
I had a nice outfit on it for coat. But
I got cackled a few times that night. I'm not
gonna I was little feel myself. I know I was
not happy. An old man cat call any day.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Okay, that's a great one. The fun all right.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
So our next fudding game is called fudd or dud.
Fud means it's fire, it's lit, it's a yes. Dud
means it's no.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
All right. First situation, post players get the worst whistle
in basketball? Are doe? I guess it's like, yes, oh
so true?
Speaker 5 (33:34):
Easily? Do you want do I explain as well? If you
want to?
Speaker 4 (33:39):
If you want to, no, I mean we're whether we're
bigger than someone or slower than someone. If we just
touch a guard, like say, I get switched on to
a guard. I can touch on easy foul, right, But
a guard gets switched on to me and they're just
like punching me in the God forbid, I turned my
elbow and they fly. It's a foul on me too.
(34:00):
There's no posts get the most calls easy.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
I mean that, that's a great I'm gonna go with
her on this one.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
I feel like we get Yeah, I'm gonna go with
her on this one. That's true. Thank you. It's hard.
We've got a battery.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
Oh, don't don't even starting on guards to next switch.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
Yeah, next, If a guard switches on to you, you're
required to score.
Speaker 5 (34:31):
That's a tough one.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
I feel like I would say fudd But at the
same time, I'm it's gonna sound sad, but I'm more
of a dud just because I don't like when when
a guard switches onto a post and everyone's staring at it.
It's like everyone knows what's happening. If we don't pass
you the ball get out and someone else has a mismatch,
you know what I mean. Like, so, I'm a little
(34:55):
bit both on that. That's a tough one.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
I think it depends on your personal Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
I'm definitely that guard that's staring like you're the guard
on that guard.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Sorry, okay, okay, hitting one three makes you a stretch big.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
This is hilarious.
Speaker 5 (35:14):
Done, Doug.
Speaker 4 (35:17):
Don't ask my teammates that because they hit one three
and they're like, yeah, get back on defense.
Speaker 5 (35:24):
You made one three, Like get.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
Back yes for me, yeah, dud. Rookies should carry bags.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
In college or in the league, or I guess rookies
is in college. That's freshman, so you meant the league
either one? Okay, done?
Speaker 5 (35:39):
Not done? Either way. Done. I can care aunt bag.
I don't need to care about bags.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
You're sweet.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
I feel like coming from Yukon, I'm expecting, like a
fun I'm expecting. I don't know every time when I
was when I was a freshman, it was like freshman,
do this, freshman, juty that, get the bags, do this,
and so I'll be prepared either way.
Speaker 5 (35:56):
The league has changed a little bit.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
When I was a rookie, for sure, we had to
carry all the carry on bags because we used to
carry the shoes and the jerseys as carry ons. But
now it's like with charter flights, like it's just everything's
a little bit different. So it's a little bit, you know,
it's a little bit nicer, and every team has a
lot more staff, so when bags come in and out.
Speaker 5 (36:17):
There like some of them not much of a chance.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Okay, talking on defense should be mandatory, I mean fun fun. Yeah,
for sure, three on three basketball is harder than five
on five done.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
I think five on five is like there's just so
many more things going on. There's so much more congestion,
and the paint it's fast, Well it's not faster, but
it's like it's faster in a different way because of
the full court.
Speaker 5 (36:46):
So it's just for sure, I think it's harder.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
I think three on three is harder. Really, it's just
so tiring.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
Off that.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Yeah, yeah, there definitely is a lot more going on
in five on five.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Bigs who passed don't get enough credit. Fun.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
Yeah, I think it's a fun. But I think it's
becoming a little bit better lately. I do think us
bigs who pass are getting a little bit more credit
than it used to be because a few years ago
I felt like there was no there was no bigs
who could pass, And now all of a sudden, every
big is really good at passing.
Speaker 5 (37:24):
So I'm like there's you know, that's how it works.
Speaker 4 (37:27):
It's kind of like, you know, you make one through
your stretch post, you make one good pass, It doesn't
mean you're a good passing post.
Speaker 5 (37:35):
You know, call a spade a space.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
You did that one good pass. Yeah, now your point
guard exactly.
Speaker 5 (37:44):
Now this is everyone.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
Everyone, Okay, celebrating a wide open layup is acceptable.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
That's a dude for me. I mean, I'm.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Gonna all your layups if you were in a layup slump,
I understand, except I not anymore. But previously I was
in a layup slump.
Speaker 4 (38:09):
So I was gonna say, that's so funny because I
was just gonna say, who, if you're in a layup slump,
should you be playing?
Speaker 5 (38:21):
When was this slump? I've been watching you guys as games.
I don't remember seeing you take one layup into games
or two, you know one, I.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Mean the clunk it off the backboard, but hear me out.
I was like, it's a pass. Who was behind her?
Speaker 5 (38:37):
It's all right.
Speaker 4 (38:37):
I'm sure everyone forgot about it. I'm sure you made
four threes after it.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
So definitely forgot about it. Yeah, I hope they forgot
about it. Anyways, moving on.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
Next one, if you don't set screens, you shouldn't shoot.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
That's probably a fun.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
Because everyone needs to set some type of screen, unless
you're like a point guard, but you might be setting
like a cross screen for a big and I love
a guard who sets a good screen for a post player.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
I love setting good screens like when you when you
get hit, like when you know you said a good one. Yeah,
that's probably one of the best things for me in basketball.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
Same same, So I'm also gonna go fud on this, Okay,
budds all around. Last one, every team needs one bet
who argues with refs.
Speaker 4 (39:22):
I'd say dud only because I would change the verbiage
and just say one player, because not every team needs
a vet to argue. Sometimes you need the vets to
not argue because you know all the young ones are
going to argue or someone's gonna.
Speaker 5 (39:34):
Argue, so you need a levelhead of the vet.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
Good.
Speaker 5 (39:38):
But if it was that, then I'd say fun, But
I'd still say done.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
I'm gonna go dud or I'll go fun because I'm
the teammate that is entertained by their teammates arguing with refs.
Speaker 2 (39:47):
I'm crying, I'm crying.
Speaker 1 (39:52):
All right, that is all we have today. Steph, thank
you so much for joining us. This was so much fun.
Speaker 5 (39:57):
Thanks for having me at.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
A blast Everyone's thank you so much for listening today,
and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to Futter
Around and find Out wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
We will see you guys next week.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
Futter Around and find Out is a production of iHeart
Women's Sports and Unanimous Media. Executive producers are Jesse Katz,
Eric Payton, Charla Sumter Brugette, and Stephan Curry. Co executive
producer is Kelena Maria Cutney. Producers are Mike Costcarelli, Grace
Hughs and Mackenzie Fitzpatrick, and co producers are Kurt Redmand,
Maya Howard and Jacqueline Schoeninger. This podcast is edited by
(40:31):
Mike Costcarelli and hosted by me Aizy Fudd and Ashaunty Plummer.
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