August 6, 2025 • 50 mins
On this episode of Full Circle, Lexie Brown and Mariah Rose are breaking down the latest league notifications blowing up your phone: the Fever is hot, Phee is out, and contenders are making moves (and probably aren’t done yet). They also check in on how their preseason predictions are panning out and address the elephant in the room for Lexie following the Sykes trade.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Full Circle is an Iheartwoman's sports production and partnership with
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome back to another episode of the Full Circle Podcast. Y'all,
(00:22):
I'm back back everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Hey girl, we missed you last week.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I missed you guys too. I've had so much to
yap about.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Yeah, because this, I mean last week and this week.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
What's today Tuesday?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
We're not even halfway through the week and it's already
been out of freaking control.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I get notifications for what's going on around the league,
and last night my phone's like ding ding ding ding,
like I was on vacation at ding ding ding.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I'm like, dang, girl, what's happening exactly? That woke up
this morning? What the hell is going on?
Speaker 1 (00:57):
But well, if you guys don't know what we're talking about,
I have a few trending topics that we're going to
go through and talk about, starting with the notification from
last night I got and a piece of call Year
is out for two weeks with a right ankle spring
the link star on MVP Contender will miss at least
two weeks, which is putting pressure on Minnesota to maintain
their top spot without her.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Well, you know, we hate seeing people getting insured. But
we play Minnesota tonight, So I'm like, you know what
time it could have been better for.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Us, Give us a break?
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Yeah, no, literally, considering you know, what we're dealing with
and going through as a team. You know, Minnesota, they're
a great team though, Like that's why they're number one,
because they have a great team as good as Fia
has been playing, you know, averaging twenty four to eight
and four shooting fifty four percent. Like the way that
team has been playing.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Has been out of control.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Like even watching film of them the last two days,
I'm just like the way they move the ball, the
way they find each other, the way they're all just
connect it offensively and defensively.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
It's they're a hard team to play. And Kmeack just
one player of the week.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
She's averaging like twenty seven points shooting over sixty percent
from three.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
So you know, just because fees out, that doesn't that
really doesn't mean anything.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
It's you know, these teams sometimes like you don't want
to say they're better without their star, but you really
see what their team is made of when they got
to make up for their star being out. So I mean,
it's going to be a great test for us, but
vice versa, it's going to be a great test for them, because, yeah,
our record is what it is.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
But you know, we got we have the pieces and
we just added more, which we'll get into. We'll get
into that later.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Speaking of adding more pieces, Soda Minnesota. Dj Carrington was
traded to the Links. Minnesota acquired Carrington from the Wings
in exchange for in exchange for Diamond Miller, Carly Samuelson
and a twenty twenty seven second round pick. They're clearly
in a win now type of mode in Minnesota, whereas
Dallas seems to be focusing on long term development. But
(03:05):
shout out Page, she lost both of her parents.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Gone Page is an orphan.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
But what was your reaction to this trade?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Well, great move for Minnie.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
As amazing as their bench is, they definitely could have
they could use a spark and that's exactly what Djna
is not saying that she couldn't handle.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Her role as a starting scoring.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Player, but we saw what she did in Connecticut, what
she did for that team almost helped them win a championship.
She's just like really good at coming off the bench
providing energy, especially on the defensive ends. She won Most
Improved last year, I mean the season. She wasn't having
a bad season by any means, avaging ten points, five
rebounds in two assists.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
So she was having a decent season in Dallas.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
But like you said, it looks like they're locking in
to the development and with the WNBA, it's like crazy,
It's like you either are all in with veterans to
win or you like throw your whole season away to
go young, like there's no in between. And that's not
a that's a WNBA league problem, it's a CBA problem.
Like there's a lot of things that go into that.
(04:08):
That's like a very layered issue that we have in
our league. It's that you either keep your young players
and you're not good, or you get rid of all
your young players to have an older veteran led team
to try and compete for a championship. And there has
to be a way where we find a happy medium
because there's too many young players losing their jobs, especially
this season. And you know, I've always been a bit
(04:31):
big advocate for not liking that, like I think, you know,
I was, I was one of those players at one point.
But thankfully, you know, things worked out the way that
they did. But I've been a victim of teams, you know,
going all in with their veterans and and you know,
thinking that the young player, oh they're young, they'll be fine,
like they'll be able to you know, find their footing later.
But that's like, that's not fair, and that's not a
(04:54):
it's not good business and it and these are still
people at the end of the day.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
So great move.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
I mean, Diamond Miller is not a bad addition to
Dallas either, and I'm sure that she's excited to go
to Dallas. She's definitely gonna get on the floor. They
waved Carly Samuelson she's dealing with an injury, and then
they also wave Tiera McCowan, which was shocking to me.
But I told y'all, just because your your contract is protected.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
That does not mean that you were gonna have a
job for the whole year.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
No, you meant that because I've been like, Wow, she's
gonna get her money, which is great, but she was
on a pretexted deal and got waived, So don't know,
what Dallas is doing. Uh, obviously youth movement, but Minnesota
is just got better. And again, like you're just gonna
give a piece like that to the number one team
(05:42):
in the league. Like again, what like what You're just
gonna help them?
Speaker 2 (05:47):
You're gonna help them like that.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
I don't know what they've got going on either. Let's
just say to keep things positive and not name names.
I'll be watching them like something. Somebody there's some confusion happening.
But who is not confused? His page backers who has
repeated asbroki of the Month the Dallas Wings. Brookie continues
to shine despite the team struggling, and she has earned
back to back Rookie the Month honors, which is impressive
(06:11):
with again what they got going on.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Yeah, she's she will be Rookie of the Year. It
was close for a little bit. It's not close at
all anymore. She's averaging nineteen four and six, which puts
her in top ten and scoring in the entire league,
which is so impressive. And despite them not winning a
lot of games, she has that youth movement on her
side as far as postseason awards and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
So Rookie of the Year is hers.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
I mean, last time we played Dallas, they built to
ask us, So you know, I can't have I don't
have anything crazy to say about the way they play.
Because they're young, They're going to be up and down,
up and down. A Rique's finding her footing. You know,
we say that oh Rique's having a down year. She's
averaging sixteen points. Like that's like top scores for almost
like half the team in the league right now.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
So I'll take it arik down year any day. But
I think she's.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
Figuring out how to play, especially with this young core,
and her leadership is about to go to another level
because she really is like the only veteran on that
team that's that's playing a lot. You know, Maddie Secrets
has been out, Ty Harris is out for the season. Lee,
I mean, Lee's age is what it is, but this
is only her second year in the w so she's
considered a young player as well.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
So I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
I've been saying it all year to see Arik's leadership
go to another level. And I think now that they
have the pieces out that obviously didn't want to be
there or they just needed a change, I think Arik
can like step into that leadership role one hundred percent.
So I do Predictalls could turn a corner, but who knows.
(07:46):
I don't know what their schedule looks like, what their
like difficulty straight the schedule is or not.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
That makes the difference.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
About how people's trajectories are.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
When you say turn a corner, what do you mean.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Win?
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Win some games?
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Okay, so you're not talking the big p right, we're
not talking playoffs, but making sure they are currently eleventh.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
Yeah, I mean I feel like a team right now
you have twenty plus losses, your playoff.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Hopes are kind of like not there.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
But again, because they're so young, you have to like
like you're not an old veteran team and you're just like,
all right, were thrown in the towel DA DA D
Like this is a time where they can you know,
develop and build for next year because technically, because they
have all these young players, they're going to be one
of the few teams that's not going to have a
lot of turnover next season with the new CBA because
(08:46):
all these young players are locked in. Still, So if
I'm Dallas, I'm just going all into this young group
that we have. They have one, two three, four, five, six, seven,
eight players technically can be under contract next year, so
I know if y'all ain't tapped in all the time,
and we talk about the CBA stuff with the new
(09:07):
CBA kick in next season. And because of that, almost
the entire league.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Signed one year.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Contracts last year in free agency, which makes them unrestricted
free agents next season. So like, for example, the Valkyries,
because they are an expansion team, I think that they
have zero players signed for next year.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
They have oh no, they have like five or six.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
But you have a reserved Okay, we're not gonna get
to this, but you have reserve contracts, you have people
every under contract, and you have restricted free agents unrestricted
free agents, so everybody's going to be able to move
next year anyway. And there's a few teams that will
have a good amount of their players still under contract
or that can only negotiate with their current.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Teams, and Dallas is one of them.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
So if I'm Dallas, I'm throwing the season away as
far as championship obviously, but I'm gonna try and build
some type of foundation for next year because they got
to they got solid pieces and then make it an
attractive place for free agents. That's like the next layer
of it, like make sure your team is good, and
then the next layer is make it a place that
(10:14):
other players want to like. Other players are like, oh,
Dallas looks kind of cool. I want to go try
and help them win, And a lot of teams don't
do that. So again, Dallas Youth Movement shout out to
Page that.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
It feels a little bit like what Indiana was going for.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Yeah, and we saw that worked out. But they actually
have figured it out.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
On a five game winning streak even without Caitlin Clark,
the Fever have caught fire thanks to a few new additions.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Lexi, what have you been seeing from the Fever?
Speaker 1 (10:49):
As you mentioned, you guys took a little l to
the thief?
Speaker 3 (10:53):
So what what what happened to that h.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
To the thief?
Speaker 4 (10:58):
You know, they just play they like fast as hell, like.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
On makes, on misses, they're running the ball down your throat.
So that's something that.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
We struggle with a little bit. We're second to last
in pace. If we're not second to last, we're like
bottom three or four teams in pace. So we play
teams that like to push the ball. You know, we
struggle a little bit Ari McDonald has come in, has
just taken advantage of this opportunity, this moment.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I've always been so high on it. On Ari.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
I loved playing with her in LA, so I'm glad
that she's getting a new opportunity. They switched up their
starting lineup a little bit, they put Sophie cunning Him
in the starting lineup, but she's been playing extremely well
for them as of late. And Kelsey Mitchell, of course,
you already know how I feel about about Kelsey Mitchell.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Most underrated player in the entire league.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
She's definitely having a first team All WNBA type season,
if not first team, absolutely second team. And she's really
just carried a lot of the scoring load ever since
Caitlyn got hurt. And we're watching a Leah boss to
turn into a very multifacet post player. Like she can pass,
she can defense, she can guard. She's shooting threes now,
(12:07):
so she's becoming a problem. And yeah, they beat us,
and it was a close game. It was a good game,
but you know, the Fever are trending upwards and that
Commissioner's Cup kind of has oosted them in the right direction,
and now they are definitely absolutely in playoff contention despite
their record, so you know they're going they're going the
right way, they're going in the right direction, they're going
(12:28):
up going.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
It's very dangerous when a team that has a start
that talented can perform even when they're not around, because
it says something about the team and the balanced team
effort that they're able to play with. And so I think,
just like this Fever were scary. We talked about them
in our preseason episode, the moves that they made in
the offseason, all the things that they did to put
themselves in playoff contention this year.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Caitlin being out and.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Them still holding down the fort makes all of those
moves and all of those things that have happened to
the Fever so far even scarier because we have them
in playoff contention with her, but then performing without her.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
That makes them terrifying.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
No, absolutely, you just have you have a player like
Kaitlyn Clark chillin on the bench, like and I didn't
even talk about Natasha Howard when she's added to the
team defensively and you know, you'll look up she'll have
like twenty points. You're like, when does she score twenty points?
But that's like just the type of player she is.
She impacts the game in so many ways, and she
doesn't really get, you know, the accolades or the attention
(13:30):
that you know, some of her other players get that
play in the same position as her. But I don't
think Natasha Howard has even gotten enough credit for what
she's brought to that team. So, I mean, we all
love when Caitlyn is healthy when she's playing, but there's
no timetable for.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Her return, So as long as.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
They're in playoff contention, I think that she's going to
probably continue to take her time getting back so she
will be available being healthy during playoffs and whoever is
matched up to the fear of first round with the
healthy Kaitlyn Clark and our arrest one at that she's
not evenna be healthy. She's gonna be healthy and rested dangerous.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
You mentioned the Valkyries when we were talking a couple
points ago, but I wanted to mention that Kyla Thornton
is out of the season with an injury. The Valkyries
are losing one of their key vats just as they
were gaining momentum and eyeing a potential playoff run as
a expansion team.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Lexi, what is your reaction to this news.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
I was really bummed out because she was having an
All Star season.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
She was an All Star, which was amazing.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
And the Valkyries were absolutely overachieving at the moment. I
think they're still overachieving now. I think this is a
great opportunity for tiff Hayes to step up. Xanda Lessini
is a very underrated score in this league as well,
And I think that their strength has just been how
deep they are and how many different players can contribute
to their games. Like they don't have anybody now at KYLEA.
(14:56):
Thornton out, they don't have anybody that's averaging more than
twelve points a game.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
But they have a bunch of they have someone average.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
They have like three players averaging eight. They got like
three players averaging nine. They got like four players averaging
ten plus. So like they have a very like this
is literally the definition of a balanced team. But then
you look at their I'm about to show y'all if
y'all are watching on video, like this is all the
players that they've had this season. So they've gone through
a lot of changes. It's like twenty something names on
(15:25):
here on their roster, for the year, so they've gone
through a lot of ups and downs. They're dealing with
injuries right now, and I think this is a great
opportunity for tiff Face to step up. She's healthy. Veronica
Burtons had a very solid season. I got her as
my most Improved Player, which we'll also get into later
about you know, other postseason awards.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
But I think they still can surprise a lot of teams.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
And I think whatever however the season ends for them,
up to this point, the.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Season for them has been an absolute success.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
So if they get to the playoffs, that will just
be a cherry on top in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Also, they spent the whole season channeling the sixth woman.
Mantra Kayla said herself, we're a team full of sixth women,
and that is a really interesting mentality for a team
to have because it takes the ego out of everything,
especially with them being new and as we've been talking
about all season, they don't really have any expectations because
they've never existed before and it's a whole new system
(16:19):
and a whole new team. But with them all having
this mentality, we're going in here, we're all six women.
Nobody's the head of the snake kind of thing, as
they say, you know that there's always ahead of the snake,
but they're going in with that kind of sort of mentality.
So with her being out, maybe they'll adopt that and
everybody will pitch in where they can.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
Yeah, I mean, just the way Caleb plays like, there's
not a person on that roster that plays like her,
and so not one person is going to come in
and feel in what she does, you know, what she
does defensively, how she rebounds the ball, her energy.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Not one person is going to come in and be like, Okay,
I'm Kayla's replacement, Like let's go. It's going to be
a group effort. I think.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
You know, they have Monique Billings who's out right now
battling ankle injury, and that's that's a big loss for
them too. Her energy that comes off the bench. So
if they can stay above five hundred, which they're rate
of five hundred right now fourteen and fourteen, I think
they're going to be in great position to make the playoffs.
So they're right behind Vegas who's fifteen and fourteen, and
(17:20):
rate above Washington who's thirteen and fifteen, So they're in.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Four five sixty seven.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
They're in eighth place right now, ninth seventh place one
two three four five seven eighth eighth place, eighth place
right now, so just right on the cuzzle of playoffs.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
So again, they've had a successful year for.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Sure, of successful teams, but a little bit of confusion
(18:03):
I might need you to clear up for me.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
The New York Liberty. Okay, so obviously.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
They have some missing pieces, but they have been dropping
some games to lower ranked teams after losses to both
the Sun and the Wings, they've been showing some cracks
with injuries and fatigues, seeming to take their toll. LEXI
what are you noticing from the Liberty?
Speaker 4 (18:24):
I think you just you said it, the injuries. Stewie
is such a huge piece of this team, and her
being out is killer to them, honestly. And then even
Kennedy Burke, the way she had been playing this entire
season prior to getting injured, like she was like their
X factor, the way she could post up, shoot threes,
defend multiple positions.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
I think they actually might. I mean, obviously they're.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
Missing what Stewe brings because she's Stewie, But I think
what they're really missing is what Kennedy burg brought to
the table, Like just she's just a very versatile player.
And the more versatile players you have in this league,
the better. And I think the Liberty is probably one
of the most versatile teams in the league. Between JJ now,
Emma Steph Talbot, Breonna Stewart and Kennedy Burke, Like those
(19:13):
are players that can shoot the ball, guard multiple positions, pass, defend,
Like when you take that away, there's gonna be some
cracks and all, and you're seeing that. But again, Connecticut
is like one of those teams that sneaks up on
you because you look at their record and you're like, okay, whatever.
(19:35):
But when you play a team that literally has nothing
to lose and you still have a Hall of Famer
in Tina Charles on your team and a potential All
Star in Marina Maybrey, like they always have a chance
to win games and they can score it the ball.
The vishue has been their defense, like we all know
that their defense has been their achilles heel, but they.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Can score the ball.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
So they've been catching some teams slipping only five of them,
they only have five wins. But the Liberty, they they'll
be fine. They just need to get healthy. You know,
they're still eighteen and ten sitting comfortably in second place.
So I think again, they're another team that just needs
to make it to playoffs and get healthy, and I
(20:17):
think they'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Let's talk about the dream. So Alicia Gray, oh no,
you're back.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
You're back.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Happy about this dream now?
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Welcome back everybody. Alijah Gray and Nas Helman have led
the Dreams surge. Atlanta has won five of their last
six without Brian Howard, and Alisha has been playing at
an all WNBA level, and Nas is entering the sixth
Player of the Year conversation Lexie, I feel like there
(20:51):
keeps being a moment where I need to be humbled
when it comes to Atlanta or be like, Okay, this
is where the team.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Is supposed to be supposed to sit. But it seems
like this is becoming the So what do you.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Think it is?
Speaker 3 (21:04):
It is?
Speaker 4 (21:04):
I mean, last week I talked about them briefly. How
great Nas has been playing. I think that she's gonna
win sixth Player of the Year.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
I don't. I look through all of the other.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
Teams and there's not really any other player that is
doing what she's doing off the bench right now, So
I think right now that's her award to lose. She's
a great spark for them off the bench, their style
of play. It's been interesting to see the ebbs and
flows of their offense and their season with how many
outside shots they want to take. And then you have
(21:37):
Bree Jones and Brittany Grinder in the paint. Brian Howard
is a great player, all Star level player, but her
injury has given more shots to Bree and Brittany Griner.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
She despite having not a great shooting.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
Three point shooting percentage for the season, she was still
getting up like almost eleven per game, which was a lot.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
That's a lot of threes per game.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
So you take that away and those shots have gone
to pretty Grinder and pre Jones and they found like
a nice balance between outside playing.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
And side play.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
Leisha is averaging nineteen six and four. You know, I'm
throwing her an MVP conversation. You know, like we said,
it's Fees MVP award to lose at the moment, but
if I had to put more players into that, which
we'll also talk about later, Leisha's absolutely in that conversation,
and they're playing well and Jordan Canada being healthy and
(22:31):
back has definitely helped them. She's a great point guard,
she's a great floor general, making sure everybody gets their
shots where they need them. So, yeah, they're another team
trending absolutely in the right direction. And I don't know
what do we know what Ryan's timetable for I feel
like everybody's out and there's no timetable for return.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Everyone's just kind of like, you know what, we'll just see.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
All we know is that the FISA Collier is going
to be out for two weeks. Well that's what they're
saying with the Spring, but I mean, I guess it
could be longer.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
But right now they're saying.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Two weeks, but it feels like a lot everybody else
is kind of up in the air.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Everyone's like, we'll let y'all know when we feel like it.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
And these are big, big pieces that are hurt, like
the FISA Collier, Brianna Store, Caitlin Clark, Ryan.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Howard, these are these are really impactful players.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
To these teams, right exactly. So everyone's just being like, okay,
we'll let y'all know. I'm like, okay, Like that's not
what we want to hear.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Kayla Thorton, Sorry I forgot about her.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Yeah, Kayla Thorn, statu I think is out Like I
don't know, like what's going on, And it's as long
as everybody.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Everyone just needs to get healthy for playoffs.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
So we got five more weeks left of the season,
so everyone just needs to make sure that they're healthy.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
It is that doomsday part of the season, you know,
post All Star break, things are taking a toll the
lotusing a toll deadline.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Yes, everybody having.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Which is saying people saying I need to stop buying
my favorite players jersey. I have a friend that has
that's same different.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
To buy jerseys.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
Don't say that. Don't say that.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
The fact the fact I don't buy I don't buy jerseys.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
And if I do buy a jersey, it's like a.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
Throwback, just timeless jersey, Like that's gonna be whoever, whatever
team this person's on, it doesn't matter because this jersey
was like one of them one. But like as far
as like, oh I like this player, I will get
to jersey never because you never know.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
What happens in sports.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
You know, it's funny what a jersey a jersey that
I feel like you.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
You would like to, you know, purchase at some point
in the future or whatever. A jersey I feel like
you will have some respect for. Is the possible new
Boston teams jersey.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
I don't know. The Connecticut Sun were.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Sold and possibly relocating to Boston, and Lexi loves the Celtics.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
So I love the Celtics, and I wonder, even though
the sale hasn't officially gone through yet, man if I
could play in Boston, that would I mean, that would
be like the craziest thing ever. And then last year
when the Sparks played in Boston, I didn't get to
go because I wasn't traveling, so I was sick about that,
Like I had that game circled on the calendar, and
(25:17):
the fact that I didn't even get to go, Like whatever,
I didn't play, but I didn't even get to go
and experience it. So that was a bummer for me.
But having a team in Boston would be so fire.
That they had a game last year, like I just said,
with the Sparks. This year, the Connecticut Son had a
game there as well, and the vibes were high though
the arena was full. I think Boston really wants a
(25:39):
WNBA team and Boston has such a rich basketball culture,
and I think, I mean, I think it's time. I
think it's time. Connecticut has been there for a while.
They weren't able to win the championships when they were
supposed to quote unquote, so it's like sometimes you just
need to like rip the band aid off.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
And the speculation is that if the sale does go
through to the Boston Celtics minority owner, that the Sun
will be moving to Boston after the season, so they're
moving very quickly.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
So I'm looking forward.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Very quickly.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
Me too, because that would be so fire And respectfully,
traveling to Connecticut is horrible.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
No real.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
I hate Connecticut, no shade, And I'm talking about the
team with Connecticut the place. Hey, Connecticut, I ain't none there.
Speaker 4 (26:34):
It's tough and being there's nothing there when you play
in Mohegan like you're stuck in the casino. Like at
least in Vegas there's still like you can leave the
casino and there's a bunch of stuff to do, you
can leave the strip and go do stuff. In Connecticut
like you're stuck in there, in that dark.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Casino, and it's hard to make that a free agency destination.
You talked about when a team goes younger teams in
a rebuilding phase.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
You start with that.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
And then you start trying to accumulate some wins here
and there where you can, and then you start trying
to make it more of a free agency destination.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
So people will want to come, more.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Stars will want to come, and it's going to be
really hard for them to do that in Connecticut, especially
now with these new expansion teams as well, Like, they
don't always stand a chance. In my opinion, I don't
care how much money you guys have.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Times is different. Times are different now.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
I think when I said that front offices were being
more intentional about putting teams together, I did think that.
I did not think that about all of the teams.
As we're seeing now, a lot of front offices are
like undoing things that they did in free agency that
they thought maybe were going to work. I think players
now are more intentional with where they want to go
(27:48):
play because of the opportunities off the court, because of
the brands people are building. You can't you're not going
to bring a star to Connecticut, like You're just not.
So I feel like the more like the more they
look at it, in that perspective, like I think Connecticut
they're historic, They've been there for a while. You know,
(28:08):
they had that really great window of time of getting
to the playoffs, getting to the finals, and all this
other amazing things that they accomplished.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
But sometimes you just have to pivot.
Speaker 4 (28:18):
And just the way sports and women's sports is going,
like you have to have attractive cities, you have to
have attractive facilities, you have to have attractive social media,
all that stuff. It's like so many layers to everything now.
So I think them going to Boston would be such
a good move.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
So we're going to keep our eye on that.
Speaker 4 (28:39):
Because it's not official yet, so we're going to keep
our eye on it.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
Staying on the East Coast, the New York Liberty have
signed twenty nineteen Finals MVP Emma and Wave second year
guard jaylencher Rod to create a roster spot.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
LEXI, I know you had thoughts about this.
Speaker 4 (28:57):
So upset me that Emma's back in the league. Don't
get me wrong, Emma me some men. But like when
Emma mesa men is playing, that's good. But for a
player like Jalen helped them win the championship last year,
great person.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
She played in AU.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
She was incredible, was getting better, was actually getting a
little bit of burn this season with the Liberty for
her to just have to get waived because of a
roster spot being needed over halfway through the season.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Like I hate that, Like I don't.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
You can't point your fingers at anybody because you don't
know what goes on in these front offices and the conversations.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
That are had.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
But the fact that you can do everything that a
team asked you to do, show up as a professional,
do your job, and they can just be like, you
know what, we want this player instead.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
Bye hate that.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
And I just read a quote from the coach from
the Liberty and she didn't like she was hurt that
she had to waive Jalen. But again she's like, we
just don't have the spots to focus on player development
for young players, and that's something that will I feel
like every every episode we circle back to the CBA
some way shape.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
It's important. It's the guiding force to the entire league.
Speaker 4 (30:18):
It's like these young players like you either have like
I said, you're either all into the youth or you're
all out, Like there's no one between, and we don't
have enough spots to prioritize player development because also we
don't even have enough time, and then in the off
season you're not even around your team or your coaches.
So really it's like there really is no point to
(30:39):
keep young players around to develop them because outside of
our training camp to the season, that's the only time
you see them.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
So again, like I said last.
Speaker 4 (30:47):
Week, when the CBA negotiations, they're if they're like, if
you guys pay you more money, you're not able to
play in the other leagues anymore, because then we want
you to.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Prioritize the w.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
But if I don't have a gym or facility or
staff to work with, he's three sixty five, why would.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
I do that.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
I also want to add job security, because yes, if
you don't have the facility and all of those things,
it's impossible for you to commit to the WNBA full time.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
However, it does seem like there's.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
A job security sort of issue as well, with people
having these contracts that are seemingly locked in. And when
the New York Liberty have an opportunity to go get
a former Finals MVP and a player that they really.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
Want an mm's men and they.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
Have a player that does really contribute and is doing
her job, they have to let her go, and so
it puts you in a position where they can't really
take away that right from all of the players to
participate in out of the season leagues and different things
off the core and commit solely to the w when
there's still this job security issue, they have to something.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Has to change with that.
Speaker 4 (31:57):
It's so crazy because it's like you have the deadline
kind of being able to wave players, and we have
now seen multiple players get waives that have protected contracts
because these teams have cap space to do it. So
instead of building a team or making a trade that
makes sense because the money matches up, which is very.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Hard to do by the way, they just bring in.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
A player and then they're like, oh, we have cap space,
so we're just gonna wave that player because we can
afford it.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Like, yes, they're.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Getting their money, good for them, but now you're out
of the league, you're out of a job, maybe missed
out on an opportunity elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Like it's bad.
Speaker 4 (32:33):
And yeah you're like, hey, like the liberty got better,
they got me some it, But really that happened because
she ain't pick Minnesota. She ain't pick Phoenix. So you
have a bunch of players whose careers are in the
balance of one person's decision of where they want to
go play for half the year. And again, this is
no shade to anybody, but this, Like I said, I've
(32:54):
been the victim of this type of business practices in
the WNBA. So Emma was between Minnesota, Phoenix and the Liberty,
and she picked the Liberty. So now you have a
domino effect. So okay, oh Dan, we ain't gonna get Emma,
We're gonna get Djna. Then okay, Now now Carly and
(33:14):
Diamond get traded.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
Now Carly's waived like domino effect.
Speaker 4 (33:21):
And I feel like I just have empathy for these situations.
One because that's how I was raised. I'm a very
empathetic person. Unfortunately, I feel like I'm in the wrong
career sometimes met with how deeply I feel, how deeply
I feel for other people's situations, even though sometimes they
don't have anything to do with me. I just don't
like seeing people dealing with shitty situations because I've been
(33:44):
in a plethora of shitty situations, but a bandage to
make my way out of them. Despite what's going on
around me. But I mean, I hate it for Jalen.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
I really do. And I think a lot of people felt.
Speaker 4 (33:59):
The same way, honestly, even her own coaches in front
office like her. She didn't just get a thank you post.
She got a few posts like her being a champion.
She got a little highlight like.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Oh my god, I hate those thank you posts, Mariah.
I know I hate them. I know I hate them.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
I don't think I've ever reposted one either.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
I thought about athletes must feel about those, like they
are horrible.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Don't thank me bro And being on the Atlanta Hawk
social team, I've had to make those a few times.
And it's funny because it's a it's a template in
photoshop that they have that said, just say thanks Tom
and you insert and I don't even have to go
pick the picture of you. I have the whole roster
right here, and I click, Oh, let's get rid of
(34:51):
this person.
Speaker 4 (34:52):
Like.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
Yeah, it's like Survivor.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
It's horrible, and World Office, Oh do you Carrington's gone
to Jake Carrington's gone, get to thank you graphic up a.
Speaker 3 (35:02):
App as app.
Speaker 5 (35:03):
It's ridiculous.
Speaker 4 (35:23):
Okay, I mean we're on the subject of trades, right, now,
So we're just going to address the elephant in the
room of Lexi Brown's life right now that we just
traded Alicia Clark and Ziah for Britney Sykes.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
Which.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Let me tread lightley here. Very excited that Sykes is coming.
She's a great player.
Speaker 4 (35:42):
I play with her in LA All Star averaging fifteen
three and four right now.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Great defender, but.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Doesn't shoot a lot of threes, which I mean, if
y'all been watching us, that tracks with the way we
play basketball. For a player like me in the situation
I'm currently in, I'm I just have like more question
marks about what I need to bring.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
To the team as a player.
Speaker 4 (36:09):
I know what I need to bring as a teammate,
Like that's that's the easy part. They've now brought in
two more guards on our team, so me being a
guard that really hasn't gotten much opportunity, I'm just kind
of like, Okay, well.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
What now, Like what do y'all want me to do?
Speaker 4 (36:29):
So as excited as I am always excited to add
like a veteran piece, especially someone that I know and
care about a lot, that's great, but like from a
personnel point of view, like I've now been like leap
frogged by now two players that they've brought in late.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
So for me, I'm like, okay.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
Well, I'm just going to show up and be a professional,
and I'm going to show up and and produce when
I get the opportunities. I mean, y'all have seen, like
my opportunities are all over the place. But I just
come in and do my job and don't fuck up.
That's really what I That's really all I can do
at the moment. Really sad about ac leaving, like that
(37:10):
was someone I was really close with. She played an
AU last year, she's gonna play again this year, so
we built a relationship then.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
And I'm super sad about Zaia.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
I felt like she was finally finding her footing, getting comfortable,
and unfortunately she got waived by the mystics. So this
is another example of collateral damage in this league of
someone that does everything you ask, you know, shows up,
does their job, and some things don't work out and
(37:43):
you kind of just get thrown into the mix. And
now she doesn't have a job, so I don't I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
It's it's been it's.
Speaker 4 (37:53):
Been an interesting few days, honestly, and for me, I
just I just want to show up and be the
best team that I can be.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
But it's been like a lot going on.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
Honestly, Yeah, I treading lightly with this topic. I do
want to say that I feel as though a professional sports,
not just in your situation, but generally, especially in the WNBA,
As I grow more in covering the league and talking
to players and being around these situations, I feel like
(38:28):
there can be this aspect of which when you first
got to Seattle, I feel like that was.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
Very much there. You spoke about your very specific role.
Everyone had a very specific role that they were told.
But it feels like, especially this WNBA season, that across.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
The board that has been kind of all over players
who fought their role was secure on their team getting
waved or traded and then waved and room being made
for pieces that they When the season started and we
were making our plan for the season, how we're going
to go about things weren't even a thought for our
roster and things becoming very okay, it's the middle of
(39:04):
the season, but it feels very like frazzled.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
I don't know if.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
There's some way that players could be protected in that
way during in the CBA or if it's a coaching thing,
like coaches taking the time to make sure every player
knows what their role is when they come into work
every day, putting y'all in a position to succeed so
that those things don't happen, or you could do what
you can to avoid those situations where you're out of
a job or confused or like unhappy in your situation.
(39:29):
But it's just it feels like number one, that there's
a lack of opportunity because.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
Of roster spots.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
Hopefully that improves with the added teams expansion teams, but
I don't know. In high school sports, you know, or
college sports, it feels like, at least back in the
day when they couldn't just like trade college players and
players can just leave, they kind of had to foster
and develop you because they're stuck with you for a while.
But I've got professional sports could use a little more
(39:56):
of that.
Speaker 4 (39:58):
So on that note, when you say there's with you
for a little while, the last like two or three years,
players have been signing like one year contracts, So once
that gets out of the way, like we're not going
to see that.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
Again for a while.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
Hopefully.
Speaker 4 (40:12):
The only reason why all this random movement is happening
is because players are not locked in for the following season,
which is why I always am saying these teams, y'all
think this is crazy. Your favorite team is going to
be broken up next year, probably too new CBA. So
we got to bring back these two three four year
contracts because that's going to prevent a lot of this
(40:35):
random moving around and last minute moving around kind of stuff,
because yeah, you're going to be locked in with this
player for multiple years. Like me, for example, I'm stuck
with a two year contract on a team that I
didn't sign the two year contract for, so I'm probably
not considered a movable piece.
Speaker 2 (40:51):
Even on the back of my mind.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
Ever since you know, things have gotten a little shaky here,
I've always am I getting moved. That's something that I
constant we think about, just because of my past experiences
in the league. So even when all this started going
down with AC, I'm just like, okay, Acs, like GM me,
I know what AC's contract is. They gonna have to
(41:16):
ask someone else in that is it gonna be me.
That's why us where my mind was at the last
two days. So I'm just like, like you said, it's
a lack of job security. And how can you come
into your job every day and you do what they
ask you to do and they're still like, Okay, you
can go. How do you expect people to want to
show up and govern to work there, I'm saying, I'm
(41:39):
not doing that. I'm coming to work every day and
doing what I need to do. But yeah, I think
that it's going to be a lot easier to protect
players with these multi year contracts that hopefully will be
coming with the next CBA. But like I said, like
you technically can't wave players after a certain date, but
if teams have cap space and they want to waste
the money, they can no one can stop them from
(42:01):
doing that. So some teams have the power to do
that and some teams don't. But you just have to
figure it out unfortunately. But I mean, like I said,
new CBA a lot of work to do that is
so beyond salaries, Like salaries is like the most obvious,
glaring issue, but there's so many other things that I
(42:22):
hope that we're able to address with these negotiations because
this season has been ridiculous in my opinion, I know
our fans, all the fans are like, what is going on?
And I understand. I understand y'all because what is going on.
Speaker 1 (42:36):
It has been has been a lot, and the off
season is going to be even more so, y'all better
get ready, get ready, buckle up. Oh yeah, speaking a
buckling up, Let's talk playoff picture. This is our final
segment of the day, but we have to talk about.
Speaker 3 (42:49):
A little playoff update.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
How are the current standings comparing to your preseason expectations, Lexi,
I know the Valkyries have a shot at being the
first expansion team to ever make the playoffs. Lots of
things are awry, but.
Speaker 3 (43:02):
What are your thoughts?
Speaker 4 (43:03):
I mean, I think outside of Golden State overachieving in Vegas,
underachieving to most people's expectations. This is basically what I
thought the playoff picture would look like. Minnesota, New York
on the top. Atlanta has kind of been a pleasant surprise.
We said Phoenix was gonna be really good when we
did our preseason show. Our team has a question mark
(43:26):
next to it, but we still are sixteen and thirteen
and have a lot of games to play, and we're
only a few games away from second place, but we're
also a.
Speaker 2 (43:34):
Few games away from out the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (43:36):
So it's like I keep saying that we're having pivotal
moments of our season, and it's like, because so many
other teams are slowly like crashing out, it seems like
we're not there yet.
Speaker 2 (43:51):
I hope we never get there. I don't think we're
gonna get there.
Speaker 4 (43:53):
But again, like tonight against Many is a huge opportunity
for us. We have Phoenix, I think I think we
have Phoenix next. I think they said we have the
hardest schedule from now to the end of the season,
So it's going to a great time for us to
get prepared for the playoffs, and it's a great time
for us to finally solidify our identity, which for us
(44:17):
right now, our identity is inconsistency. Unfortunately, Like we're number
two in defense, but we're last and rebounding, so like
that's like kind of counterintuitive to how you play, Like
you're getting stops, well, you don't get rebounds.
Speaker 2 (44:32):
You're getting stops, you don't finish plays.
Speaker 4 (44:34):
We're also like at the bottom of offensive rebounds, so
we don't provide extra possessions for our team, So that
puts a lot of pressure on our half court offense.
And when we have a pace that we have, which
I said is at the bottom of the league, which
is a lot of pressure on scoring the ball at
a high level, and some nights that's not going to happen.
So we have been able to hang our hat on defense.
(44:56):
But we have to like marry the two together. You know,
We'll have sixty points one game, then we'll have one hundred,
and we'll have fifty five, then we'll have ninety five.
Speaker 2 (45:07):
Like it doesn't make.
Speaker 1 (45:08):
Sense, which is really interesting because I feel like offensively,
you hear about that a lot with as we talk
about all the time, to live by the three died
by the three teams, and y'all aren't that No.
Speaker 4 (45:20):
I'm like, yah, know me upset. I'm sitting on a bench,
like what is going on? Like yesterday, two days ago,
we scored ninety five points. I look up, we have
fifteen points in the second quarter. I'm like, Okay, we
need to figure that out because we have enough scoring
and talent on our team for us to not consistently
be scoring under seventy points per game. But I will
(45:42):
say like Neca has played out of her freaking mind.
Speaker 2 (45:46):
Since thirty points.
Speaker 3 (45:48):
She doublet game yeah.
Speaker 4 (45:51):
Yeah, so she's just been our everything and honestly, you know,
Skyler is going to do her thing. She's our you know,
emotion a leader, but we all collectively got to pick
it up and match their energy because like the time
to win is now. And I think even adding Psykes,
like if y'all have watched Psychs at all, like she
(46:13):
is passionate, she plays hardest shit like she's someone who's
absolutely gonna match that energy. So, you know, despite of
what her coming to the team does for my role,
I'm still excited for her to be here because I
want to go to the playoffs. So whatever that, whatever
we gotta do to get to the playoffs, I'm for it.
And I'm just gonna show up in whatever way they
(46:33):
need me to.
Speaker 3 (46:34):
You're a professional, and you want to win.
Speaker 2 (46:35):
I want to win.
Speaker 4 (46:36):
I want to win another championship because winning one was
so much fun.
Speaker 2 (46:40):
It was great.
Speaker 4 (46:41):
And yeah, so I think the standings are not really
a shock to anybody that has been paying close attention
to the league.
Speaker 2 (46:48):
I will say, like, la, I feel like.
Speaker 4 (46:51):
Could sneak in and get that eighth seven or eight spot,
And I feel like whoever matches.
Speaker 2 (46:57):
Up with Vegas or LA first round. That's going to
be a tough series.
Speaker 3 (47:02):
That's sant dress.
Speaker 1 (47:03):
I also feel like, as far as I'm looking at
when it comes to the playoff picture, I just want
to note the fact that a lot of the best
teams are without their best player right now. That is,
I mean, to the top two teams that we were
talking about being contenders before the season even started are
both without their best player.
Speaker 4 (47:24):
That is, almost every team is without their best players
except for us well, I mean we're not considered a
top team right now. Yeah, So like Mini's out, New
York got the one of the top players out, the
dream got the one of their best players out Phoenix.
I think I don't know what Satu's status is. And
(47:44):
then the fever because you never.
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Know how injuries I got so grown. Injuries are very strange. Sprains,
ankle sprains very strange. You never know how those things
are gonna heal when you're in a playoff sort of situation.
I'm just saying that that's something to be paying attention
to because we might think we know exactly what the
playoffs are gonna look like. We might know what the
playoffs like, who's gonna be in them. But when we're
(48:06):
actually in them, I feel like it's gonna be you're gonna.
Speaker 3 (48:10):
Have to watch every night to know what's going on.
Speaker 2 (48:13):
You're gonna have to watch every night.
Speaker 4 (48:14):
I think this is gonna be such a good playoffs. Again,
we stive five weeks left of our regular season. I
think y'all gotta look, we gotta we gotta keep it
out on everybody. I think there's ten teams that can
make the playoffs. Like you have Dallas, Chicago, and Connecticut
who are pretty much like out of the picture for
the most part. But everybody else is like has a three.
Speaker 2 (48:37):
Four games within each other.
Speaker 4 (48:39):
Yeah, so it's like Minnesota everybody else for the most part.
So it's gonna be an exciting last month. There's some
change of a season. So y'all stay tapped.
Speaker 2 (48:51):
In with us. Oh my gosh, wait, one more thing
to say.
Speaker 4 (48:55):
Yeah, yeah, I got one more thing to say before
we go.
Speaker 2 (48:58):
Guys. I'm eleven points away from a thousand in career.
Speaker 3 (49:01):
Oh my god.
Speaker 4 (49:02):
So if I have if I have anything to try
and strive for for this season, it's to get these
last eleven points.
Speaker 3 (49:11):
Brouh coach.
Speaker 4 (49:12):
All I want is eleven more coach, I just need eleven.
Speaker 3 (49:16):
Give my girl a shot so.
Speaker 4 (49:18):
I could be like, hey, guys, I scored a thousand
points to the w n B A like cool.
Speaker 3 (49:21):
You're gonna get a graphic.
Speaker 2 (49:22):
All I need is eleven. At the beginning, I might
because fun, thank you graft. That is like what do
y'all want us to say? You're welcome? Like what?
Speaker 3 (49:36):
No?
Speaker 2 (49:37):
I hate Oh? I hate them.
Speaker 4 (49:38):
I hate them, especially after like they did some bullshit
and for them to be like I know it's not
Admin's fault, but like when I got away from Minnesota,
like and they said thank you, I wanted.
Speaker 2 (49:50):
To be like, bright, stop it, y'all could have y'all
could have kept that.
Speaker 3 (49:55):
What am I supposed to do?
Speaker 1 (49:56):
Repost this to my story, keep it right and be
like you're welcome, guys.
Speaker 2 (50:02):
Please goodbye.
Speaker 4 (50:04):
Okay, sorry I had to get that off, but okay,
everybody pray for me to get to my eleven points.
We have for five weeks left for me to get
eleven points. So thank you guys for tuning in for
another episode of Full Circle Podcast.
Speaker 2 (50:15):
We will see y'all next week.
Speaker 4 (50:17):
Bye.
Speaker 3 (50:18):
Thanks for listening to Full Circle.
Speaker 1 (50:20):
We'll be back next week with more Basketball for the.
Speaker 3 (50:22):
Girls by the girls. We want to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (50:25):
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, and tell us
what you want us to talk about. Full Circle is
hosted by Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose. Our executive producer
is Jesse Katz. Our supervising producer is Grace Fuse. Our
producer is Zoe Danklab. Listen to Full Circle on America's
number one podcast network, iHeart open your free iHeart app
and search full Circle with Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose
(50:47):
and start listening
Full Circle is an Iheartwoman's sports production and partnership with
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome back to another episode of the Full Circle Podcast. Y'all,
(00:22):
I'm back back everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Hey girl, we missed you last week.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I missed you guys too. I've had so much to
yap about.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Yeah, because this, I mean last week and this week.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
What's today Tuesday?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
We're not even halfway through the week and it's already
been out of freaking control.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I get notifications for what's going on around the league,
and last night my phone's like ding ding ding ding,
like I was on vacation at ding ding ding.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I'm like, dang, girl, what's happening exactly? That woke up
this morning? What the hell is going on?
Speaker 1 (00:57):
But well, if you guys don't know what we're talking about,
I have a few trending topics that we're going to
go through and talk about, starting with the notification from
last night I got and a piece of call Year
is out for two weeks with a right ankle spring
the link star on MVP Contender will miss at least
two weeks, which is putting pressure on Minnesota to maintain
their top spot without her.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Well, you know, we hate seeing people getting insured. But
we play Minnesota tonight, So I'm like, you know what
time it could have been better for.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Us, Give us a break?
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Yeah, no, literally, considering you know, what we're dealing with
and going through as a team. You know, Minnesota, they're
a great team though, Like that's why they're number one,
because they have a great team as good as Fia
has been playing, you know, averaging twenty four to eight
and four shooting fifty four percent. Like the way that
team has been playing.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Has been out of control.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Like even watching film of them the last two days,
I'm just like the way they move the ball, the
way they find each other, the way they're all just
connect it offensively and defensively.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
It's they're a hard team to play. And Kmeack just
one player of the week.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
She's averaging like twenty seven points shooting over sixty percent
from three.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
So you know, just because fees out, that doesn't that
really doesn't mean anything.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
It's you know, these teams sometimes like you don't want
to say they're better without their star, but you really
see what their team is made of when they got
to make up for their star being out. So I mean,
it's going to be a great test for us, but
vice versa, it's going to be a great test for them, because, yeah,
our record is what it is.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
But you know, we got we have the pieces and
we just added more, which we'll get into. We'll get
into that later.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Speaking of adding more pieces, Soda Minnesota. Dj Carrington was
traded to the Links. Minnesota acquired Carrington from the Wings
in exchange for in exchange for Diamond Miller, Carly Samuelson
and a twenty twenty seven second round pick. They're clearly
in a win now type of mode in Minnesota, whereas
Dallas seems to be focusing on long term development. But
(03:05):
shout out Page, she lost both of her parents.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Gone Page is an orphan.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
But what was your reaction to this trade?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Well, great move for Minnie.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
As amazing as their bench is, they definitely could have
they could use a spark and that's exactly what Djna
is not saying that she couldn't handle.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Her role as a starting scoring.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Player, but we saw what she did in Connecticut, what
she did for that team almost helped them win a championship.
She's just like really good at coming off the bench
providing energy, especially on the defensive ends. She won Most
Improved last year, I mean the season. She wasn't having
a bad season by any means, avaging ten points, five
rebounds in two assists.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
So she was having a decent season in Dallas.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
But like you said, it looks like they're locking in
to the development and with the WNBA, it's like crazy,
It's like you either are all in with veterans to
win or you like throw your whole season away to
go young, like there's no in between. And that's not
a that's a WNBA league problem, it's a CBA problem.
Like there's a lot of things that go into that.
(04:08):
That's like a very layered issue that we have in
our league. It's that you either keep your young players
and you're not good, or you get rid of all
your young players to have an older veteran led team
to try and compete for a championship. And there has
to be a way where we find a happy medium
because there's too many young players losing their jobs, especially
this season. And you know, I've always been a bit
(04:31):
big advocate for not liking that, like I think, you know,
I was, I was one of those players at one point.
But thankfully, you know, things worked out the way that
they did. But I've been a victim of teams, you know,
going all in with their veterans and and you know,
thinking that the young player, oh they're young, they'll be fine,
like they'll be able to you know, find their footing later.
But that's like, that's not fair, and that's not a
(04:54):
it's not good business and it and these are still
people at the end of the day.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
So great move.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
I mean, Diamond Miller is not a bad addition to
Dallas either, and I'm sure that she's excited to go
to Dallas. She's definitely gonna get on the floor. They
waved Carly Samuelson she's dealing with an injury, and then
they also wave Tiera McCowan, which was shocking to me.
But I told y'all, just because your your contract is protected.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
That does not mean that you were gonna have a
job for the whole year.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
No, you meant that because I've been like, Wow, she's
gonna get her money, which is great, but she was
on a pretexted deal and got waived, So don't know,
what Dallas is doing. Uh, obviously youth movement, but Minnesota
is just got better. And again, like you're just gonna
give a piece like that to the number one team
(05:42):
in the league. Like again, what like what You're just
gonna help them?
Speaker 2 (05:47):
You're gonna help them like that.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
I don't know what they've got going on either. Let's
just say to keep things positive and not name names.
I'll be watching them like something. Somebody there's some confusion happening.
But who is not confused? His page backers who has
repeated asbroki of the Month the Dallas Wings. Brookie continues
to shine despite the team struggling, and she has earned
back to back Rookie the Month honors, which is impressive
(06:11):
with again what they got going on.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Yeah, she's she will be Rookie of the Year. It
was close for a little bit. It's not close at
all anymore. She's averaging nineteen four and six, which puts
her in top ten and scoring in the entire league,
which is so impressive. And despite them not winning a
lot of games, she has that youth movement on her
side as far as postseason awards and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
So Rookie of the Year is hers.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
I mean, last time we played Dallas, they built to
ask us, So you know, I can't have I don't
have anything crazy to say about the way they play.
Because they're young, They're going to be up and down,
up and down. A Rique's finding her footing. You know,
we say that oh Rique's having a down year. She's
averaging sixteen points. Like that's like top scores for almost
like half the team in the league right now.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
So I'll take it arik down year any day. But
I think she's.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
Figuring out how to play, especially with this young core,
and her leadership is about to go to another level
because she really is like the only veteran on that
team that's that's playing a lot. You know, Maddie Secrets
has been out, Ty Harris is out for the season. Lee,
I mean, Lee's age is what it is, but this
is only her second year in the w so she's
considered a young player as well.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
So I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
I've been saying it all year to see Arik's leadership
go to another level. And I think now that they
have the pieces out that obviously didn't want to be
there or they just needed a change, I think Arik
can like step into that leadership role one hundred percent.
So I do Predictalls could turn a corner, but who knows.
(07:46):
I don't know what their schedule looks like, what their
like difficulty straight the schedule is or not.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
That makes the difference.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
About how people's trajectories are.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
When you say turn a corner, what do you mean.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Win?
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Win some games?
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Okay, so you're not talking the big p right, we're
not talking playoffs, but making sure they are currently eleventh.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
Yeah, I mean I feel like a team right now
you have twenty plus losses, your playoff.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Hopes are kind of like not there.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
But again, because they're so young, you have to like
like you're not an old veteran team and you're just like,
all right, were thrown in the towel DA DA D
Like this is a time where they can you know,
develop and build for next year because technically, because they
have all these young players, they're going to be one
of the few teams that's not going to have a
lot of turnover next season with the new CBA because
(08:46):
all these young players are locked in. Still, So if
I'm Dallas, I'm just going all into this young group
that we have. They have one, two three, four, five, six, seven,
eight players technically can be under contract next year, so
I know if y'all ain't tapped in all the time,
and we talk about the CBA stuff with the new
(09:07):
CBA kick in next season. And because of that, almost
the entire league.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Signed one year.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Contracts last year in free agency, which makes them unrestricted
free agents next season. So like, for example, the Valkyries,
because they are an expansion team, I think that they
have zero players signed for next year.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
They have oh no, they have like five or six.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
But you have a reserved Okay, we're not gonna get
to this, but you have reserve contracts, you have people
every under contract, and you have restricted free agents unrestricted
free agents, so everybody's going to be able to move
next year anyway. And there's a few teams that will
have a good amount of their players still under contract
or that can only negotiate with their current.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Teams, and Dallas is one of them.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
So if I'm Dallas, I'm throwing the season away as
far as championship obviously, but I'm gonna try and build
some type of foundation for next year because they got
to they got solid pieces and then make it an
attractive place for free agents. That's like the next layer
of it, like make sure your team is good, and
then the next layer is make it a place that
(10:14):
other players want to like. Other players are like, oh,
Dallas looks kind of cool. I want to go try
and help them win, And a lot of teams don't
do that. So again, Dallas Youth Movement shout out to
Page that.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
It feels a little bit like what Indiana was going for.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Yeah, and we saw that worked out. But they actually
have figured it out.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
On a five game winning streak even without Caitlin Clark,
the Fever have caught fire thanks to a few new additions.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Lexi, what have you been seeing from the Fever?
Speaker 1 (10:49):
As you mentioned, you guys took a little l to
the thief?
Speaker 3 (10:53):
So what what what happened to that h.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
To the thief?
Speaker 4 (10:58):
You know, they just play they like fast as hell, like.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
On makes, on misses, they're running the ball down your throat.
So that's something that.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
We struggle with a little bit. We're second to last
in pace. If we're not second to last, we're like
bottom three or four teams in pace. So we play
teams that like to push the ball. You know, we
struggle a little bit Ari McDonald has come in, has
just taken advantage of this opportunity, this moment.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I've always been so high on it. On Ari.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
I loved playing with her in LA, so I'm glad
that she's getting a new opportunity. They switched up their
starting lineup a little bit, they put Sophie cunning Him
in the starting lineup, but she's been playing extremely well
for them as of late. And Kelsey Mitchell, of course,
you already know how I feel about about Kelsey Mitchell.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Most underrated player in the entire league.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
She's definitely having a first team All WNBA type season,
if not first team, absolutely second team. And she's really
just carried a lot of the scoring load ever since
Caitlyn got hurt. And we're watching a Leah boss to
turn into a very multifacet post player. Like she can pass,
she can defense, she can guard. She's shooting threes now,
(12:07):
so she's becoming a problem. And yeah, they beat us,
and it was a close game. It was a good game,
but you know, the Fever are trending upwards and that
Commissioner's Cup kind of has oosted them in the right direction,
and now they are definitely absolutely in playoff contention despite
their record, so you know they're going they're going the
right way, they're going in the right direction, they're going
(12:28):
up going.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
It's very dangerous when a team that has a start
that talented can perform even when they're not around, because
it says something about the team and the balanced team
effort that they're able to play with. And so I think,
just like this Fever were scary. We talked about them
in our preseason episode, the moves that they made in
the offseason, all the things that they did to put
themselves in playoff contention this year.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Caitlin being out and.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Them still holding down the fort makes all of those
moves and all of those things that have happened to
the Fever so far even scarier because we have them
in playoff contention with her, but then performing without her.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
That makes them terrifying.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
No, absolutely, you just have you have a player like
Kaitlyn Clark chillin on the bench, like and I didn't
even talk about Natasha Howard when she's added to the
team defensively and you know, you'll look up she'll have
like twenty points. You're like, when does she score twenty points?
But that's like just the type of player she is.
She impacts the game in so many ways, and she
doesn't really get, you know, the accolades or the attention
(13:30):
that you know, some of her other players get that
play in the same position as her. But I don't
think Natasha Howard has even gotten enough credit for what
she's brought to that team. So, I mean, we all
love when Caitlyn is healthy when she's playing, but there's
no timetable for.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Her return, So as long as.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
They're in playoff contention, I think that she's going to
probably continue to take her time getting back so she
will be available being healthy during playoffs and whoever is
matched up to the fear of first round with the
healthy Kaitlyn Clark and our arrest one at that she's
not evenna be healthy. She's gonna be healthy and rested dangerous.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
You mentioned the Valkyries when we were talking a couple
points ago, but I wanted to mention that Kyla Thornton
is out of the season with an injury. The Valkyries
are losing one of their key vats just as they
were gaining momentum and eyeing a potential playoff run as
a expansion team.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Lexi, what is your reaction to this news.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
I was really bummed out because she was having an
All Star season.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
She was an All Star, which was amazing.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
And the Valkyries were absolutely overachieving at the moment. I
think they're still overachieving now. I think this is a
great opportunity for tiff Hayes to step up. Xanda Lessini
is a very underrated score in this league as well,
And I think that their strength has just been how
deep they are and how many different players can contribute
to their games. Like they don't have anybody now at KYLEA.
(14:56):
Thornton out, they don't have anybody that's averaging more than
twelve points a game.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
But they have a bunch of they have someone average.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
They have like three players averaging eight. They got like
three players averaging nine. They got like four players averaging
ten plus. So like they have a very like this
is literally the definition of a balanced team. But then
you look at their I'm about to show y'all if
y'all are watching on video, like this is all the
players that they've had this season. So they've gone through
a lot of changes. It's like twenty something names on
(15:25):
here on their roster, for the year, so they've gone
through a lot of ups and downs. They're dealing with
injuries right now, and I think this is a great
opportunity for tiff Face to step up. She's healthy. Veronica
Burtons had a very solid season. I got her as
my most Improved Player, which we'll also get into later
about you know, other postseason awards.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
But I think they still can surprise a lot of teams.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
And I think whatever however the season ends for them,
up to this point, the.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Season for them has been an absolute success.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
So if they get to the playoffs, that will just
be a cherry on top in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Also, they spent the whole season channeling the sixth woman.
Mantra Kayla said herself, we're a team full of sixth women,
and that is a really interesting mentality for a team
to have because it takes the ego out of everything,
especially with them being new and as we've been talking
about all season, they don't really have any expectations because
they've never existed before and it's a whole new system
(16:19):
and a whole new team. But with them all having
this mentality, we're going in here, we're all six women.
Nobody's the head of the snake kind of thing, as
they say, you know that there's always ahead of the snake,
but they're going in with that kind of sort of mentality.
So with her being out, maybe they'll adopt that and
everybody will pitch in where they can.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
Yeah, I mean, just the way Caleb plays like, there's
not a person on that roster that plays like her,
and so not one person is going to come in
and feel in what she does, you know, what she
does defensively, how she rebounds the ball, her energy.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Not one person is going to come in and be like, Okay,
I'm Kayla's replacement, Like let's go. It's going to be
a group effort. I think.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
You know, they have Monique Billings who's out right now
battling ankle injury, and that's that's a big loss for
them too. Her energy that comes off the bench. So
if they can stay above five hundred, which they're rate
of five hundred right now fourteen and fourteen, I think
they're going to be in great position to make the playoffs.
So they're right behind Vegas who's fifteen and fourteen, and
(17:20):
rate above Washington who's thirteen and fifteen, So they're in.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Four five sixty seven.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
They're in eighth place right now, ninth seventh place one
two three four five seven eighth eighth place, eighth place
right now, so just right on the cuzzle of playoffs.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
So again, they've had a successful year for.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Sure, of successful teams, but a little bit of confusion
(18:03):
I might need you to clear up for me.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
The New York Liberty. Okay, so obviously.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
They have some missing pieces, but they have been dropping
some games to lower ranked teams after losses to both
the Sun and the Wings, they've been showing some cracks
with injuries and fatigues, seeming to take their toll. LEXI
what are you noticing from the Liberty?
Speaker 4 (18:24):
I think you just you said it, the injuries. Stewie
is such a huge piece of this team, and her
being out is killer to them, honestly. And then even
Kennedy Burke, the way she had been playing this entire
season prior to getting injured, like she was like their
X factor, the way she could post up, shoot threes,
defend multiple positions.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
I think they actually might. I mean, obviously they're.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
Missing what Stewe brings because she's Stewie, But I think
what they're really missing is what Kennedy burg brought to
the table, Like just she's just a very versatile player.
And the more versatile players you have in this league,
the better. And I think the Liberty is probably one
of the most versatile teams in the league. Between JJ now,
Emma Steph Talbot, Breonna Stewart and Kennedy Burke, Like those
(19:13):
are players that can shoot the ball, guard multiple positions, pass, defend,
Like when you take that away, there's gonna be some
cracks and all, and you're seeing that. But again, Connecticut
is like one of those teams that sneaks up on
you because you look at their record and you're like, okay, whatever.
(19:35):
But when you play a team that literally has nothing
to lose and you still have a Hall of Famer
in Tina Charles on your team and a potential All
Star in Marina Maybrey, like they always have a chance
to win games and they can score it the ball.
The vishue has been their defense, like we all know
that their defense has been their achilles heel, but they.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Can score the ball.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
So they've been catching some teams slipping only five of them,
they only have five wins. But the Liberty, they they'll
be fine. They just need to get healthy. You know,
they're still eighteen and ten sitting comfortably in second place.
So I think again, they're another team that just needs
to make it to playoffs and get healthy, and I
(20:17):
think they'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Let's talk about the dream. So Alicia Gray, oh no,
you're back.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
You're back.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Happy about this dream now?
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Welcome back everybody. Alijah Gray and Nas Helman have led
the Dreams surge. Atlanta has won five of their last
six without Brian Howard, and Alisha has been playing at
an all WNBA level, and Nas is entering the sixth
Player of the Year conversation Lexie, I feel like there
(20:51):
keeps being a moment where I need to be humbled
when it comes to Atlanta or be like, Okay, this
is where the team.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Is supposed to be supposed to sit. But it seems
like this is becoming the So what do you.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Think it is?
Speaker 3 (21:04):
It is?
Speaker 4 (21:04):
I mean, last week I talked about them briefly. How
great Nas has been playing. I think that she's gonna
win sixth Player of the Year.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
I don't. I look through all of the other.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
Teams and there's not really any other player that is
doing what she's doing off the bench right now, So
I think right now that's her award to lose. She's
a great spark for them off the bench, their style
of play. It's been interesting to see the ebbs and
flows of their offense and their season with how many
outside shots they want to take. And then you have
(21:37):
Bree Jones and Brittany Grinder in the paint. Brian Howard
is a great player, all Star level player, but her
injury has given more shots to Bree and Brittany Griner.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
She despite having not a great shooting.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
Three point shooting percentage for the season, she was still
getting up like almost eleven per game, which was a lot.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
That's a lot of threes per game.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
So you take that away and those shots have gone
to pretty Grinder and pre Jones and they found like
a nice balance between outside playing.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
And side play.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
Leisha is averaging nineteen six and four. You know, I'm
throwing her an MVP conversation. You know, like we said,
it's Fees MVP award to lose at the moment, but
if I had to put more players into that, which
we'll also talk about later, Leisha's absolutely in that conversation,
and they're playing well and Jordan Canada being healthy and
(22:31):
back has definitely helped them. She's a great point guard,
she's a great floor general, making sure everybody gets their
shots where they need them. So, yeah, they're another team
trending absolutely in the right direction. And I don't know
what do we know what Ryan's timetable for I feel
like everybody's out and there's no timetable for return.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Everyone's just kind of like, you know what, we'll just see.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
All we know is that the FISA Collier is going
to be out for two weeks. Well that's what they're
saying with the Spring, but I mean, I guess it
could be longer.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
But right now they're saying.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Two weeks, but it feels like a lot everybody else
is kind of up in the air.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Everyone's like, we'll let y'all know when we feel like it.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
And these are big, big pieces that are hurt, like
the FISA Collier, Brianna Store, Caitlin Clark, Ryan.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Howard, these are these are really impactful players.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
To these teams, right exactly. So everyone's just being like, okay,
we'll let y'all know. I'm like, okay, Like that's not
what we want to hear.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Kayla Thorton, Sorry I forgot about her.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Yeah, Kayla Thorn, statu I think is out Like I
don't know, like what's going on, And it's as long
as everybody.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Everyone just needs to get healthy for playoffs.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
So we got five more weeks left of the season,
so everyone just needs to make sure that they're healthy.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
It is that doomsday part of the season, you know,
post All Star break, things are taking a toll the
lotusing a toll deadline.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Yes, everybody having.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Which is saying people saying I need to stop buying
my favorite players jersey. I have a friend that has
that's same different.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
To buy jerseys.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
Don't say that. Don't say that.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
The fact the fact I don't buy I don't buy jerseys.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
And if I do buy a jersey, it's like a.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
Throwback, just timeless jersey, Like that's gonna be whoever, whatever
team this person's on, it doesn't matter because this jersey
was like one of them one. But like as far
as like, oh I like this player, I will get
to jersey never because you never know.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
What happens in sports.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
You know, it's funny what a jersey a jersey that
I feel like you.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
You would like to, you know, purchase at some point
in the future or whatever. A jersey I feel like
you will have some respect for. Is the possible new
Boston teams jersey.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
I don't know. The Connecticut Sun were.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Sold and possibly relocating to Boston, and Lexi loves the Celtics.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
So I love the Celtics, and I wonder, even though
the sale hasn't officially gone through yet, man if I
could play in Boston, that would I mean, that would
be like the craziest thing ever. And then last year
when the Sparks played in Boston, I didn't get to
go because I wasn't traveling, so I was sick about that,
Like I had that game circled on the calendar, and
(25:17):
the fact that I didn't even get to go, Like whatever,
I didn't play, but I didn't even get to go
and experience it. So that was a bummer for me.
But having a team in Boston would be so fire.
That they had a game last year, like I just said,
with the Sparks. This year, the Connecticut Son had a
game there as well, and the vibes were high though
the arena was full. I think Boston really wants a
(25:39):
WNBA team and Boston has such a rich basketball culture,
and I think, I mean, I think it's time. I
think it's time. Connecticut has been there for a while.
They weren't able to win the championships when they were
supposed to quote unquote, so it's like sometimes you just
need to like rip the band aid off.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
And the speculation is that if the sale does go
through to the Boston Celtics minority owner, that the Sun
will be moving to Boston after the season, so they're
moving very quickly.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
So I'm looking forward.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Very quickly.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
Me too, because that would be so fire And respectfully,
traveling to Connecticut is horrible.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
No real.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
I hate Connecticut, no shade, And I'm talking about the
team with Connecticut the place. Hey, Connecticut, I ain't none there.
Speaker 4 (26:34):
It's tough and being there's nothing there when you play
in Mohegan like you're stuck in the casino. Like at
least in Vegas there's still like you can leave the
casino and there's a bunch of stuff to do, you
can leave the strip and go do stuff. In Connecticut
like you're stuck in there, in that dark.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Casino, and it's hard to make that a free agency destination.
You talked about when a team goes younger teams in
a rebuilding phase.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
You start with that.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
And then you start trying to accumulate some wins here
and there where you can, and then you start trying
to make it more of a free agency destination.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
So people will want to come, more.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Stars will want to come, and it's going to be
really hard for them to do that in Connecticut, especially
now with these new expansion teams as well, Like, they
don't always stand a chance. In my opinion, I don't
care how much money you guys have.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Times is different. Times are different now.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
I think when I said that front offices were being
more intentional about putting teams together, I did think that.
I did not think that about all of the teams.
As we're seeing now, a lot of front offices are
like undoing things that they did in free agency that
they thought maybe were going to work. I think players
now are more intentional with where they want to go
(27:48):
play because of the opportunities off the court, because of
the brands people are building. You can't you're not going
to bring a star to Connecticut, like You're just not.
So I feel like the more like the more they
look at it, in that perspective, like I think Connecticut
they're historic, They've been there for a while. You know,
(28:08):
they had that really great window of time of getting
to the playoffs, getting to the finals, and all this
other amazing things that they accomplished.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
But sometimes you just have to pivot.
Speaker 4 (28:18):
And just the way sports and women's sports is going,
like you have to have attractive cities, you have to
have attractive facilities, you have to have attractive social media,
all that stuff. It's like so many layers to everything now.
So I think them going to Boston would be such
a good move.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
So we're going to keep our eye on that.
Speaker 4 (28:39):
Because it's not official yet, so we're going to keep
our eye on it.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
Staying on the East Coast, the New York Liberty have
signed twenty nineteen Finals MVP Emma and Wave second year
guard jaylencher Rod to create a roster spot.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
LEXI, I know you had thoughts about this.
Speaker 4 (28:57):
So upset me that Emma's back in the league. Don't
get me wrong, Emma me some men. But like when
Emma mesa men is playing, that's good. But for a
player like Jalen helped them win the championship last year,
great person.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
She played in AU.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
She was incredible, was getting better, was actually getting a
little bit of burn this season with the Liberty for
her to just have to get waived because of a
roster spot being needed over halfway through the season.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Like I hate that, Like I don't.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
You can't point your fingers at anybody because you don't
know what goes on in these front offices and the conversations.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
That are had.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
But the fact that you can do everything that a
team asked you to do, show up as a professional,
do your job, and they can just be like, you
know what, we want this player instead.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
Bye hate that.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
And I just read a quote from the coach from
the Liberty and she didn't like she was hurt that
she had to waive Jalen. But again she's like, we
just don't have the spots to focus on player development
for young players, and that's something that will I feel
like every every episode we circle back to the CBA
some way shape.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
It's important. It's the guiding force to the entire league.
Speaker 4 (30:18):
It's like these young players like you either have like
I said, you're either all into the youth or you're
all out, Like there's no one between, and we don't
have enough spots to prioritize player development because also we
don't even have enough time, and then in the off
season you're not even around your team or your coaches.
So really it's like there really is no point to
(30:39):
keep young players around to develop them because outside of
our training camp to the season, that's the only time
you see them.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
So again, like I said last.
Speaker 4 (30:47):
Week, when the CBA negotiations, they're if they're like, if
you guys pay you more money, you're not able to
play in the other leagues anymore, because then we want
you to.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Prioritize the w.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
But if I don't have a gym or facility or
staff to work with, he's three sixty five, why would.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
I do that.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
I also want to add job security, because yes, if
you don't have the facility and all of those things,
it's impossible for you to commit to the WNBA full time.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
However, it does seem like there's.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
A job security sort of issue as well, with people
having these contracts that are seemingly locked in. And when
the New York Liberty have an opportunity to go get
a former Finals MVP and a player that they really.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
Want an mm's men and they.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
Have a player that does really contribute and is doing
her job, they have to let her go, and so
it puts you in a position where they can't really
take away that right from all of the players to
participate in out of the season leagues and different things
off the core and commit solely to the w when
there's still this job security issue, they have to something.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Has to change with that.
Speaker 4 (31:57):
It's so crazy because it's like you have the deadline
kind of being able to wave players, and we have
now seen multiple players get waives that have protected contracts
because these teams have cap space to do it. So
instead of building a team or making a trade that
makes sense because the money matches up, which is very.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Hard to do by the way, they just bring in.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
A player and then they're like, oh, we have cap space,
so we're just gonna wave that player because we can
afford it.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Like, yes, they're.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Getting their money, good for them, but now you're out
of the league, you're out of a job, maybe missed
out on an opportunity elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Like it's bad.
Speaker 4 (32:33):
And yeah you're like, hey, like the liberty got better,
they got me some it, But really that happened because
she ain't pick Minnesota. She ain't pick Phoenix. So you
have a bunch of players whose careers are in the
balance of one person's decision of where they want to
go play for half the year. And again, this is
no shade to anybody, but this, Like I said, I've
(32:54):
been the victim of this type of business practices in
the WNBA. So Emma was between Minnesota, Phoenix and the Liberty,
and she picked the Liberty. So now you have a
domino effect. So okay, oh Dan, we ain't gonna get Emma,
We're gonna get Djna. Then okay, Now now Carly and
(33:14):
Diamond get traded.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
Now Carly's waived like domino effect.
Speaker 4 (33:21):
And I feel like I just have empathy for these situations.
One because that's how I was raised. I'm a very
empathetic person. Unfortunately, I feel like I'm in the wrong
career sometimes met with how deeply I feel, how deeply
I feel for other people's situations, even though sometimes they
don't have anything to do with me. I just don't
like seeing people dealing with shitty situations because I've been
(33:44):
in a plethora of shitty situations, but a bandage to
make my way out of them. Despite what's going on
around me. But I mean, I hate it for Jalen.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
I really do. And I think a lot of people felt.
Speaker 4 (33:59):
The same way, honestly, even her own coaches in front
office like her. She didn't just get a thank you post.
She got a few posts like her being a champion.
She got a little highlight like.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Oh my god, I hate those thank you posts, Mariah.
I know I hate them. I know I hate them.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
I don't think I've ever reposted one either.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
I thought about athletes must feel about those, like they
are horrible.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Don't thank me bro And being on the Atlanta Hawk
social team, I've had to make those a few times.
And it's funny because it's a it's a template in
photoshop that they have that said, just say thanks Tom
and you insert and I don't even have to go
pick the picture of you. I have the whole roster
right here, and I click, Oh, let's get rid of
(34:51):
this person.
Speaker 4 (34:52):
Like.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
Yeah, it's like Survivor.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
It's horrible, and World Office, Oh do you Carrington's gone
to Jake Carrington's gone, get to thank you graphic up a.
Speaker 3 (35:02):
App as app.
Speaker 5 (35:03):
It's ridiculous.
Speaker 4 (35:23):
Okay, I mean we're on the subject of trades, right, now,
So we're just going to address the elephant in the
room of Lexi Brown's life right now that we just
traded Alicia Clark and Ziah for Britney Sykes.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
Which.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Let me tread lightley here. Very excited that Sykes is coming.
She's a great player.
Speaker 4 (35:42):
I play with her in LA All Star averaging fifteen
three and four right now.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Great defender, but.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Doesn't shoot a lot of threes, which I mean, if
y'all been watching us, that tracks with the way we
play basketball. For a player like me in the situation
I'm currently in, I'm I just have like more question
marks about what I need to bring.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
To the team as a player.
Speaker 4 (36:09):
I know what I need to bring as a teammate,
Like that's that's the easy part. They've now brought in
two more guards on our team, so me being a
guard that really hasn't gotten much opportunity, I'm just kind
of like, Okay, well.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
What now, Like what do y'all want me to do?
Speaker 4 (36:29):
So as excited as I am always excited to add
like a veteran piece, especially someone that I know and
care about a lot, that's great, but like from a
personnel point of view, like I've now been like leap
frogged by now two players that they've brought in late.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
So for me, I'm like, okay.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
Well, I'm just going to show up and be a professional,
and I'm going to show up and and produce when
I get the opportunities. I mean, y'all have seen, like
my opportunities are all over the place. But I just
come in and do my job and don't fuck up.
That's really what I That's really all I can do
at the moment. Really sad about ac leaving, like that
(37:10):
was someone I was really close with. She played an
AU last year, she's gonna play again this year, so
we built a relationship then.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
And I'm super sad about Zaia.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
I felt like she was finally finding her footing, getting comfortable,
and unfortunately she got waived by the mystics. So this
is another example of collateral damage in this league of
someone that does everything you ask, you know, shows up,
does their job, and some things don't work out and
(37:43):
you kind of just get thrown into the mix. And
now she doesn't have a job, so I don't I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
It's it's been it's.
Speaker 4 (37:53):
Been an interesting few days, honestly, and for me, I
just I just want to show up and be the
best team that I can be.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
But it's been like a lot going on.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
Honestly, Yeah, I treading lightly with this topic. I do
want to say that I feel as though a professional sports,
not just in your situation, but generally, especially in the WNBA,
As I grow more in covering the league and talking
to players and being around these situations, I feel like
(38:28):
there can be this aspect of which when you first
got to Seattle, I feel like that was.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
Very much there. You spoke about your very specific role.
Everyone had a very specific role that they were told.
But it feels like, especially this WNBA season, that across.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
The board that has been kind of all over players
who fought their role was secure on their team getting
waved or traded and then waved and room being made
for pieces that they When the season started and we
were making our plan for the season, how we're going
to go about things weren't even a thought for our
roster and things becoming very okay, it's the middle of
(39:04):
the season, but it feels very like frazzled.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
I don't know if.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
There's some way that players could be protected in that
way during in the CBA or if it's a coaching thing,
like coaches taking the time to make sure every player
knows what their role is when they come into work
every day, putting y'all in a position to succeed so
that those things don't happen, or you could do what
you can to avoid those situations where you're out of
a job or confused or like unhappy in your situation.
(39:29):
But it's just it feels like number one, that there's
a lack of opportunity because.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
Of roster spots.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
Hopefully that improves with the added teams expansion teams, but
I don't know. In high school sports, you know, or
college sports, it feels like, at least back in the
day when they couldn't just like trade college players and
players can just leave, they kind of had to foster
and develop you because they're stuck with you for a while.
But I've got professional sports could use a little more
(39:56):
of that.
Speaker 4 (39:58):
So on that note, when you say there's with you
for a little while, the last like two or three years,
players have been signing like one year contracts, So once
that gets out of the way, like we're not going
to see that.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
Again for a while.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
Hopefully.
Speaker 4 (40:12):
The only reason why all this random movement is happening
is because players are not locked in for the following season,
which is why I always am saying these teams, y'all
think this is crazy. Your favorite team is going to
be broken up next year, probably too new CBA. So
we got to bring back these two three four year
contracts because that's going to prevent a lot of this
(40:35):
random moving around and last minute moving around kind of stuff,
because yeah, you're going to be locked in with this
player for multiple years. Like me, for example, I'm stuck
with a two year contract on a team that I
didn't sign the two year contract for, so I'm probably
not considered a movable piece.
Speaker 2 (40:51):
Even on the back of my mind.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
Ever since you know, things have gotten a little shaky here,
I've always am I getting moved. That's something that I
constant we think about, just because of my past experiences
in the league. So even when all this started going
down with AC, I'm just like, okay, Acs, like GM me,
I know what AC's contract is. They gonna have to
(41:16):
ask someone else in that is it gonna be me.
That's why us where my mind was at the last
two days. So I'm just like, like you said, it's
a lack of job security. And how can you come
into your job every day and you do what they
ask you to do and they're still like, Okay, you
can go. How do you expect people to want to
show up and govern to work there, I'm saying, I'm
(41:39):
not doing that. I'm coming to work every day and
doing what I need to do. But yeah, I think
that it's going to be a lot easier to protect
players with these multi year contracts that hopefully will be
coming with the next CBA. But like I said, like
you technically can't wave players after a certain date, but
if teams have cap space and they want to waste
the money, they can no one can stop them from
(42:01):
doing that. So some teams have the power to do
that and some teams don't. But you just have to
figure it out unfortunately. But I mean, like I said,
new CBA a lot of work to do that is
so beyond salaries, Like salaries is like the most obvious,
glaring issue, but there's so many other things that I
(42:22):
hope that we're able to address with these negotiations because
this season has been ridiculous in my opinion, I know
our fans, all the fans are like, what is going on?
And I understand. I understand y'all because what is going on.
Speaker 1 (42:36):
It has been has been a lot, and the off
season is going to be even more so, y'all better
get ready, get ready, buckle up. Oh yeah, speaking a
buckling up, Let's talk playoff picture. This is our final
segment of the day, but we have to talk about.
Speaker 3 (42:49):
A little playoff update.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
How are the current standings comparing to your preseason expectations, Lexi,
I know the Valkyries have a shot at being the
first expansion team to ever make the playoffs. Lots of
things are awry, but.
Speaker 3 (43:02):
What are your thoughts?
Speaker 4 (43:03):
I mean, I think outside of Golden State overachieving in Vegas,
underachieving to most people's expectations. This is basically what I
thought the playoff picture would look like. Minnesota, New York
on the top. Atlanta has kind of been a pleasant surprise.
We said Phoenix was gonna be really good when we
did our preseason show. Our team has a question mark
(43:26):
next to it, but we still are sixteen and thirteen
and have a lot of games to play, and we're
only a few games away from second place, but we're
also a.
Speaker 2 (43:34):
Few games away from out the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (43:36):
So it's like I keep saying that we're having pivotal
moments of our season, and it's like, because so many
other teams are slowly like crashing out, it seems like
we're not there yet.
Speaker 2 (43:51):
I hope we never get there. I don't think we're
gonna get there.
Speaker 4 (43:53):
But again, like tonight against Many is a huge opportunity
for us. We have Phoenix, I think I think we
have Phoenix next. I think they said we have the
hardest schedule from now to the end of the season,
So it's going to a great time for us to
get prepared for the playoffs, and it's a great time
for us to finally solidify our identity, which for us
(44:17):
right now, our identity is inconsistency. Unfortunately, Like we're number
two in defense, but we're last and rebounding, so like
that's like kind of counterintuitive to how you play, Like
you're getting stops, well, you don't get rebounds.
Speaker 2 (44:32):
You're getting stops, you don't finish plays.
Speaker 4 (44:34):
We're also like at the bottom of offensive rebounds, so
we don't provide extra possessions for our team, So that
puts a lot of pressure on our half court offense.
And when we have a pace that we have, which
I said is at the bottom of the league, which
is a lot of pressure on scoring the ball at
a high level, and some nights that's not going to happen.
So we have been able to hang our hat on defense.
(44:56):
But we have to like marry the two together. You know,
We'll have sixty points one game, then we'll have one hundred,
and we'll have fifty five, then we'll have ninety five.
Speaker 2 (45:07):
Like it doesn't make.
Speaker 1 (45:08):
Sense, which is really interesting because I feel like offensively,
you hear about that a lot with as we talk
about all the time, to live by the three died
by the three teams, and y'all aren't that No.
Speaker 4 (45:20):
I'm like, yah, know me upset. I'm sitting on a bench,
like what is going on? Like yesterday, two days ago,
we scored ninety five points. I look up, we have
fifteen points in the second quarter. I'm like, Okay, we
need to figure that out because we have enough scoring
and talent on our team for us to not consistently
be scoring under seventy points per game. But I will
(45:42):
say like Neca has played out of her freaking mind.
Speaker 2 (45:46):
Since thirty points.
Speaker 3 (45:48):
She doublet game yeah.
Speaker 4 (45:51):
Yeah, so she's just been our everything and honestly, you know,
Skyler is going to do her thing. She's our you know,
emotion a leader, but we all collectively got to pick
it up and match their energy because like the time
to win is now. And I think even adding Psykes,
like if y'all have watched Psychs at all, like she
(46:13):
is passionate, she plays hardest shit like she's someone who's
absolutely gonna match that energy. So, you know, despite of
what her coming to the team does for my role,
I'm still excited for her to be here because I
want to go to the playoffs. So whatever that, whatever
we gotta do to get to the playoffs, I'm for it.
And I'm just gonna show up in whatever way they
(46:33):
need me to.
Speaker 3 (46:34):
You're a professional, and you want to win.
Speaker 2 (46:35):
I want to win.
Speaker 4 (46:36):
I want to win another championship because winning one was
so much fun.
Speaker 2 (46:40):
It was great.
Speaker 4 (46:41):
And yeah, so I think the standings are not really
a shock to anybody that has been paying close attention
to the league.
Speaker 2 (46:48):
I will say, like, la, I feel like.
Speaker 4 (46:51):
Could sneak in and get that eighth seven or eight spot,
And I feel like whoever matches.
Speaker 2 (46:57):
Up with Vegas or LA first round. That's going to
be a tough series.
Speaker 3 (47:02):
That's sant dress.
Speaker 1 (47:03):
I also feel like, as far as I'm looking at
when it comes to the playoff picture, I just want
to note the fact that a lot of the best
teams are without their best player right now. That is,
I mean, to the top two teams that we were
talking about being contenders before the season even started are
both without their best player.
Speaker 4 (47:24):
That is, almost every team is without their best players
except for us well, I mean we're not considered a
top team right now. Yeah, So like Mini's out, New
York got the one of the top players out, the
dream got the one of their best players out Phoenix.
I think I don't know what Satu's status is. And
(47:44):
then the fever because you never.
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Know how injuries I got so grown. Injuries are very strange. Sprains,
ankle sprains very strange. You never know how those things
are gonna heal when you're in a playoff sort of situation.
I'm just saying that that's something to be paying attention
to because we might think we know exactly what the
playoffs are gonna look like. We might know what the
playoffs like, who's gonna be in them. But when we're
(48:06):
actually in them, I feel like it's gonna be you're gonna.
Speaker 3 (48:10):
Have to watch every night to know what's going on.
Speaker 2 (48:13):
You're gonna have to watch every night.
Speaker 4 (48:14):
I think this is gonna be such a good playoffs. Again,
we stive five weeks left of our regular season. I
think y'all gotta look, we gotta we gotta keep it
out on everybody. I think there's ten teams that can
make the playoffs. Like you have Dallas, Chicago, and Connecticut
who are pretty much like out of the picture for
the most part. But everybody else is like has a three.
Speaker 2 (48:37):
Four games within each other.
Speaker 4 (48:39):
Yeah, so it's like Minnesota everybody else for the most part.
So it's gonna be an exciting last month. There's some
change of a season. So y'all stay tapped.
Speaker 2 (48:51):
In with us. Oh my gosh, wait, one more thing
to say.
Speaker 4 (48:55):
Yeah, yeah, I got one more thing to say before
we go.
Speaker 2 (48:58):
Guys. I'm eleven points away from a thousand in career.
Speaker 3 (49:01):
Oh my god.
Speaker 4 (49:02):
So if I have if I have anything to try
and strive for for this season, it's to get these
last eleven points.
Speaker 3 (49:11):
Brouh coach.
Speaker 4 (49:12):
All I want is eleven more coach, I just need eleven.
Speaker 3 (49:16):
Give my girl a shot so.
Speaker 4 (49:18):
I could be like, hey, guys, I scored a thousand
points to the w n B A like cool.
Speaker 3 (49:21):
You're gonna get a graphic.
Speaker 2 (49:22):
All I need is eleven. At the beginning, I might
because fun, thank you graft. That is like what do
y'all want us to say? You're welcome? Like what?
Speaker 3 (49:36):
No?
Speaker 2 (49:37):
I hate Oh? I hate them.
Speaker 4 (49:38):
I hate them, especially after like they did some bullshit
and for them to be like I know it's not
Admin's fault, but like when I got away from Minnesota,
like and they said thank you, I wanted.
Speaker 2 (49:50):
To be like, bright, stop it, y'all could have y'all
could have kept that.
Speaker 3 (49:55):
What am I supposed to do?
Speaker 1 (49:56):
Repost this to my story, keep it right and be
like you're welcome, guys.
Speaker 2 (50:02):
Please goodbye.
Speaker 4 (50:04):
Okay, sorry I had to get that off, but okay,
everybody pray for me to get to my eleven points.
We have for five weeks left for me to get
eleven points. So thank you guys for tuning in for
another episode of Full Circle Podcast.
Speaker 2 (50:15):
We will see y'all next week.
Speaker 4 (50:17):
Bye.
Speaker 3 (50:18):
Thanks for listening to Full Circle.
Speaker 1 (50:20):
We'll be back next week with more Basketball for the.
Speaker 3 (50:22):
Girls by the girls. We want to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (50:25):
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, and tell us
what you want us to talk about. Full Circle is
hosted by Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose. Our executive producer
is Jesse Katz. Our supervising producer is Grace Fuse. Our
producer is Zoe Danklab. Listen to Full Circle on America's
number one podcast network, iHeart open your free iHeart app
and search full Circle with Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose
(50:47):
and start listening
Hosts And Creators
Lexie Brown
Mariah Rose
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