January 29, 2025 • 47 mins
On this episode of Full Circle, Lexie and Mariah have all the Late January Women’s basketball updates, and things are heating up! The two talk about Unrivaled, how uptempo the games are, how good it looks on TV and we even get Lexie’s power rankings. Players have arrived in Nashville and are preparing for AU, which begins February. 5th
The two talk through WNBA Free Agency and help walk us through how it all works and who we might expect to see moving as February approaches… And finally, Lexie gives a shout out to some of her must watch players in college. Tune in next week to hear more basketball by the girls, for the girls.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Full Circle is an Iheartwoman's sports production in partnership with
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hello, everybody, welcome back toose Full Circle.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I am Lexi Brown and I'm.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Mariah Rose, and we have so much to talk about today,
so much.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
First and foremost, though, we wee miss Paris, France.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Girl. How was your trip? Oh my gosh, it looked amazing.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Yes, okay, for those who don't know, I just got
back from a brand trip with Nike in Paris and
it was absolutely sick. I feel like I was running
around the whole time. We went to a football game,
not American football, the real football, and then we went
to the NBA game that was happening in Paris.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
So it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
And I went a little viral for starting a whole debate.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
I guess slash.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Twitter, Mariah little miss viral over here.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
I rest of all, okay, I had never been to
anything like that before.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
The fans in the US are not like they.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Live and breathe their sport, and I think part of
the reason is because I feel.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Like in the us.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
We've kind of priced out some of the real die
hard fans with how expensive it is to go to
these games, you know, so experiencing real fans that live
and die by this team and say, yeah, but I
don't know, everybody's like mad because they're like, no, football
is the same.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
I saw that.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
You know what's funny though about what's funny about viral
moments is that I saw that video on your account
and it was like doing this little one two like
nothing crazy, And I saw it on Twitter or on
x and it was like millions and millions of views,
and I was like, oh no, I don't know. What
you understand is videos go on TikTok for a reason
(01:50):
and videos go other places for a reason.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
So it's like.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
When I saw it on X, I was like, oh,
they're gonna be mad about nothing.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Nothing.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
I knew something negative somehow was gonna come from it.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
But it's cool, I mean. And then I went back
to my page and the video has like six million views,
and I'm like, what are y'all doing here? But most
people have been nice to me for the first This
is my.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
First battle moment where most people were nice to me.
But everybody's been debating which is the better sport? What
sport in the US do you think have the best fans?
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Like, see the best fans, I might have to go
college football fans and then college basketball immediately after, only
because they go sit outside in the cold, Like that's
a different level of dedication, and they paint their bodies
and they have the chance.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
I would say college.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Football fans might be the closest thing to the overseas fans.
I went to one overseas basketball game, men's basketball game
when I played in Israel, and they had flags. There
was little flamethrower things. They're doing the cheers like when
you said your video, what did they rehearse this? Like
it's crazy, But yeah, I would say college football fans
(03:02):
they got it, y'all got it.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
I would say going into women's basketball. I feel like
college fandom just in general is so much bigger than
professional fandom because I'm a huge Georgia football fan because
I went to Georgia. So while I may never be
a I don't know, Atlanta Hawk or Atlanta Dream, I
couldn't be a Georgia Bulldog because I went to school there.
(03:26):
And I feel like that's part of this resurgence that
women's basketball is having that we get to see you
guys in college for longer and follow your stories and
follow these rivalries and storylines, and so when you get
to the W, I already know who I'm going for.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
And I think that was also the most amazing thing
about this past season was seeing that rookie class not
only get drafted be successful at their respective.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Schools, but coming into the W.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
You know, whether they had good games, bad games, they
were in the games and people were able to follow
them for them and follow their rookie seasons. And I've
always preached like that was the bridge that was missing
between the W and college. As players would get drafted,
be at the top of the world, be at the
final four, and three weeks later they're at the end
of someone's bench and then they're like, oh, Everyone's like,
(04:16):
where did so and so go? I just saw her
at the final four. I just saw in a national championship.
Why is she not playing? And then five weeks later
they're like, oh, Okay, onto the next and you know,
I think that's one of the best things that came
out of this past season is seeing.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Not just like the top picks.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
But like across the board, all the teams were utilizing
their rookies and their fans and their fandom, and it
just kept growing and growing and growing.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
So it was really special to see.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Well, It's also like, if you're not playing when you
first get to the w how are you supposed to
catch up?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Well, I could tell you because I happen to be well.
For one, going overseas. Prior to a few years ago,
that was liter really the only way you would keep
yourself ready to come back to WNBA, get to a
training camp and try and fight for your spot on
the team. But gratefully, now we have all these other
(05:12):
options stateside that allow players to get ready, whether they're rookies,
whether they're in year nine, ten, across the board, like
we have opportunities here, which is a great segue into
Unrivaled A little bit of Unrivaled talk.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Were able to watch any of the games?
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I know you were gone this past weekend, but did
you get to catch opening weekend?
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (05:32):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I didn't think I thought three v three would be
a little more confusing for me, just you know, because
I don't play, so I didn't know if I was
going to enjoy it as much, but it's so much
faster paced. And I see how you always say that
you can see someone's skill more. Yeah, and they're playing
yes three v three because there's only it's really a
lot of one on more and so.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
That was a lot of fun for me.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
But before we get into Unrivaled, I do want to
ask about your time in Nashville because you're there. I mean,
there's other options to say side too, and you're experiencing
one of them.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
So I just want to know how it's going.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
So I just got to Nashville a few days ago
to start Athletes Unlimited. We don't start playing until first
week of February, so we have a little bit of time.
By the time this episode drops, we will be done
with our media day, so the content will be on
the way and coming. We are definitely stepping it up.
I'm really excited. So we have scrimmages this week. We
(06:27):
have a loaded roster. I'm a captain this week, guys,
so it doesn't count, but I get to be I
get to be in my little captain coaching bag GM
bag this week. So I was looking at the roster
today trying to figure out who I'm drafting, and this
roster is insane. I was like, I would be like, oh,
I want to pick this person. I'd go through the
roster and be like, oh wait, we have heard too,
(06:49):
like what like?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
So, I'm so excited to build this team this week.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Obviously it's going to be suitable to how I want
to play, which is fast and shooting a lot of threes.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
But I get to do that because I'm in charge.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
So I'm really excited, and I'm really excited for everybody
to be able to watch us in two weeks.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
I think, so, yeah, it's going to be fun.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
I'm so excited. I'm excited to see the media.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I mean I've already they've already put it someone out
today and it's already better than last year. I'm just
really happy. And I think that's one of the best
things about AU is that they really listen to our feedback.
They listen to the players feedback, and this year we
really made it priority to have a very amazing media
date with great content.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
We have makeup artists.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
This year, we got content in our jerseys for the
first time, so we're really excited. I'm really excited for
you to come see and experience this in person and
do all of the things in Nashville.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
No, I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
I feel like with these off season domestic leagues, one
thing we've seen is players get so excited about having
the opportunity to not only do what they want to
do and get to play how they want.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
To play, but also be heard more.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Because with players having so much power in these off
season leagues, I feel like it's like, Okay, we know
what we've been needing, what we've been wanting for so long.
We get to kind of experience that with Unrivaled with AU,
and everybody's.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Like, yes, I'm so happy.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Yes, we get all the things, everything that we've always wanted,
asked for. Players before us wanted ask for work so
hard to get and now we're here and we're able
to do it for ourselves and not have to depend
on this larger organization that we quite literally have no
control over to give us the things we want, the
(08:33):
platform that we want, give us the things we need,
tell our stories the way we want to tell them.
It's like a women's sports renaissance we're going through right now,
and Unrivaled AU.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Is in the middle of it. WNBA is also the
middle of it.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
I don't want to shit on the WNBA because at
the end of the day, that's the league that we
all play in. We love the biggest league, longest running
women's basketball league.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
So I want.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
To say this about WA is we got to stop
comparing and just be happy that all of these things
are existing simultaneously. Because Unrivaled isn't the W. The W
is in AUA using unrivaled. We're all separate, but we're
all collectively trying to grow the game and leave it
(09:21):
in a better place than we found it. So I
think the comparing and stuff like, the more we do that,
the worst off everyone's gonna be. So I think we
all can just be happy and exist where we are
right now, not look ahead.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
To the W season.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
They got to do this, We got to do that, like,
just enjoy what we're doing now and be excited for
what's coming. And I think that's going to be the
way everything grows more rapidly.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
I think I think I've definitely fallen into that too,
because it's like you see you guys saying, oh, we're
getting like makeup artists, and we love our content so
much for but Also, you got to remember that it's
like the W is your professional league, the one that
people are seeing all over the world, the one that
is like at the highest of pedestals. They have like sponsors,
(10:10):
they got to answer to they have. It's completely different,
so completely separate.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah, not saying the W don't got work to do,
because they do. Don't get me wrong.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
We're gonna get off there. We're gonna get off the
w's neck.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
For Yeah, they don't get it wrong. There is work
to be done. But let's appreciate everything that's going on.
And I think that will elevate the women's game even
more than it already has been elevated.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
But also I think it does benefit hearing what you
guys are enjoying about your off seasons and what you're
doing for the W because it does allow them to
see that and get ideas.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
I hope they and they're taking notes.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
I hope they have a notebook full of notes because
it's only been what two weeks of Unrivaled and we
haven't even started yet. And it's just the things I'm
seeing people tweet about say on air, players like you
say said, I'm just glad more players are more comfortable
coming out and saying these things. Sometimes you might not
(11:06):
get the outcome that you want, but if you feel
strong and you feel powerful in those statements, that's really
all that matters. And whatever happens afterwards. You know, sometimes
you just feel like it's above me. Now I said
what I have to say, and you know, hopefully it
works out for the best.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Speaking of Unrivaled though, what have been your takeaways?
Speaker 2 (11:24):
It's very fast, everybody is on an island. It looks
amazing on TV. I love the jerseys. I love how
everybody looks. Everyone looks great aesthetically, and I think that's
important to put a good product out. I actually have
some rankings if y'all care of my unrivals, because tapped
(11:45):
in like, even though I'm not participating, like, I think
it's an amazing thing. So after two weeks, this is
my Unrivaled list ranking. Okay at number one, we have
the Lunar Owls at two, we have the Laces at
three rows, four Vinyl, five Phantom, and six Missed.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
And I will give.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Missed a little grace because they've been dealing with some
major injuries. But that is my week two ranking. If
anybody cares I've watched almost every single game, and it's
been very fun to see all the other players playing
on different teams together, like it's been like a mind
game kind of like that is fun because it's not
(12:25):
All star, but it's like, okay, but like y'all are
not on the same team or been the W but
you go on the same team now, and what y'all
talking about down there? Because it's free agency time?
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Right, that's a good point. So I'm like, what shall
say too much before.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
We get people investigated for Tampa?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Right, No, it's if people are not already putting in
complaints about tampering after what happened yesterday, then I don't.
I don't know what's going to happen. I personally have
never experienced free agency. I've only been a spectator, but
it's always been a very exciting time in.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
The W.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
For those who don't know, can you walk us through?
I think you had some interesting things that happened that
will affect you yesterday, So could you walk us through yesterday?
Speaker 2 (13:20):
So yesterday we did a little thing, we meaning the
Los Angeles Sparks. We traded our number two pickaway for
Miss Kelsey plum Let's clap it up.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Everybody, clap it up.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Yes, Okay, for those who don't know who Kelsey Plum is,
she is probably one of the best combo guards in
the w She is a two time champion, top three
or two in college scoring.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
An amazing human being.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
So when I heard the news, I found out, like
everybody else on Twitter, there was like conversations, you know,
the league, that she was going to be up out
of Vegas. So those rumblings turned out to be very true,
and I'm very excited. I think it's a good move
for us. I think got bogged down in this rebuild mentality,
(14:15):
and I think the only issue with saying you're in
a rebuild is you don't like have very high expectations
for yourselves or your team, and I think our team
is better than that. So I'm just really excited that
we brought a vet that's won championships, that's been an
all Star.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
An Olympian.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
And for anybody who is concerned about my health, all
of a sudden, I am very much healthy. I've been
healthy for the last year plus. Crohn's disease is something
that is very hard to manage and control, and that
is simply what I've been doing the last year. But
I'm very much healthy, very much going to play this season.
(14:56):
I appreciate everybody's concern all of a sudden when they
posted the potential starting lineup and I was in it,
and everyone.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Was like, hey, take that any healthy, Yes.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
I will be healthy. Okay, thank you everybody. But autoimmune
disease ain't nothing to play with. It's not like an injury.
So I just wanted to clear that up.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Mariah. Are the La Sparks your new favorite team?
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Well, I've been on your vandwagon for a minute now. LEXI.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Ladies, that don't because when I first spoke to you
and we talked about you, you're like, oh, we're rebuilding
and blah blah blah blah. I said, y'all were the baddies,
La Batties, the La Batties. I love y'all, but I
will say I am glad that this happened, because, like
you said, if you get stuck in this were rebuilding,
were rebuilding what we're building, It's like, how do you
(15:42):
build culture like that? And I feel like this move
allows y'all to get into your back like building a
real winning culture.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Yes, and culture, you hit it right on the head
because culture starts with a foundation, and no disrespect to
anybody that has been on the team the last two seasons,
but there just hasn't really been like a solid foundation,
and that there's no one person or group of people
to blame for that. That's like a collective struggle of
figuring out what your identity is going to be as
(16:11):
a team and what your culture is going to be.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
And when you have players.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Coming in and out injured, dealing with illnesses, it's very
hard to do that. So I think they just wanted
to bring in somebody that is reliable, somebody that will
have a veteran presence in the locker room, and then
someone who could just go who like Kelsey's a dog,
So I'm really excited to play next to someone like that.
(16:35):
She's been a pain in the ass to guard for years,
so now I'm glad that I only will have to
guard her in practice. So yeah, snaps with the Sparks.
You know, I had some words for them last episode,
so they could get a flower today.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Things have really things have really turned around since our
last episode. Also, speaking of free agency, what are some
other predictions that you have things that you are looking
at as a player who it will actually affect.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
I know, I'm looking just for like tea.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Yeah, of course you are. Well, if anybody doesn't know
what free agency is, let me just say like just
a quick rundown. So free agency is when players can
go sign to another team in the off season.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
So you have.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Two main buckets, which is an unrestricted free agent and
a restricted free agent. So unrestricted free agent can go
sign to whoever team she pleases. She wants to leave,
nobody can tell her no, no one can stop her.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
She's gone.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
A restricted free agent essentially has to ask her current
team for permission to sign to another team, and that
team can tell her no, you stay right here, and
they do that by matching the money that the next
team is offering. So if they choose to not match
that money, then she's free to go. If they want
to match it, then she must stay. So that is
(17:58):
the gist of free agency.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
And compare it to.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
In dating, you've got the times where you're single and
you can date whoever you want, like you're truly single.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
You're ready to mangle and.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
Get this guy, this guy.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
But restricted free agents are more like girls in situationships
like you kind of want to be there, you kind
of don't want to be there. You're doing your options,
but you still have this like weight that might decide
to commit to you. Yeah, and also might let you
go to somebody else.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Yeah. No, that's like a perfect example.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Okay, wait now okay, now that you've made that analogy,
I want you to compare when a team core is
a player, what would you think that would be in dating? So,
when a team core is a player, they are an
unrestricted or restricted free agent, but they're basically like no,
like you can't do anything, but if we.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Don't, we're going to give you the world.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
We're going to give you all the money that you want,
but if you don't want to stay, we get to
decide where you go.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
How would you describe that in a relationship and.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
A real relationship. I would describe that as purgatory.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
But thank you, that's exactly what I needed you to say.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Purgatory.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
That is awful.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
That is purgatory that you said doesn't want you but
also doesn't want anyone else.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
To have the riot.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Please, this is why we got the show together. Like
that is guys, we did not even discuss this beforehand,
Like I just knew that she was gonna say it's jail. Okay,
So coring players guys, right, I know we're trying to
get into the tea, but I gotta break down these
terms for y'all. When you core a player, you are
(19:36):
basically telling them you're stuck here. Okay, I am going
to give you all the money, but you're stuck here.
And yeah, you would think, oh, I get a Supermax
one year, like that's amazing, that sounds great. But since
I've been in the league, nine times out of ten
that player does.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Not want to be on that team anymore.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
And also, nine times out of ten, that player is
also an unrestricted free agent. So not only is the
team putting them in purgatory, they are also taking all
of their decision making away. And for me, what I've
always had a problem with this core designation. I'm all
of the girls get into the bag. So I'm always
(20:17):
excited when I see a player get cored for that
aspect because that means she's gonna get paid. But when
you core a player on your team that doesn't want
to be there, you must now sign and trade her,
And unfortunately, for other players in the league, you are
now caught in the drama of this situation of a
player not wanting to be on that team anymore, and
(20:39):
now you get thrown into a trade that maybe you
didn't want to be involved in, but the way the
money aligns, you had to go.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
And that is my.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Only beef with the core designations because I think they're
being misused by organizations. But at the end of the day,
it is a business, so I understand why they do it.
Like it's literally the definitions of you not I'm leaving
here with something like you're not gonna leave me with
nothing Like. I get it from their perspective, but I
hate it for you know, players like me, you know,
(21:11):
these mid level, mid tier, super talented, super valuable, but
just the way the money is, they sometimes get thrown
into these core signing trades. Yeah, purgatory. I'm glad you
said that. And let's see, Plumb was in purgatory. Allegedly, Satu,
who was publicly stated that she wants to be out
(21:33):
of Dallas, is also in purgatory being cored.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Didn't know that, but this makes sense.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Who else did they put in there.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
I'm not sure about Gabby Williams if she's in purgatory
because she hasn't been super vocal. If she wants to
stay or go, she's in purgatory. These are the people
that I know for sure. So I'm not gonna put
that purgatory stamp on any other unrestricted free agents because
I don't want to get in their business. But so
for those people who think that Plumb was like shipped off,
(22:03):
that was not the case.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
I think she wants She was ready to move on.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
I think she did her time in Vegas, won championships,
had an amazing career there, and sometimes it's just time
for a change. I don't know why people are so
like up in arms about that, like it's like any
other job.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
No, it makes sense. She did what she would have
went there to do. Right, it's like a new chapter
of her career exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
She won.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
It's it's fine, it's time to go do something new,
get to build something kind of on her own, you know,
like she gets to out of the shadow of the
whole Vegas Super Team narrative. She gets to go build
something that is in a rebuilding stage.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
So it's nice.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
I think I don't think aout anybody want to want.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Well, that's what I'm saying, it's so funny because you know,
we see everybody complaining about all the NBA guys, like
they're all trying to team up and win and win
now and da da da da, and like the girls
in our league are doing the opposite. They're like, no, no,
I want my own team. I want to go build
something special. I want to do this, And I think
that's just like.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Women in a nutshell. I want to go do this myself.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
I want to go build something amazing, and I don't
want anybody to be able to take that accomplishment from me.
So I think it's so interesting how like that move.
Even with Jewel that's the other side of the trade,
Jewel going to the Aces, new fans calling her a
ring chaser if y'all didn't know she already has to.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
You can't chase.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Something you already have, Okay, So, just like Blum, a
change of scenery is sometimes necessary. And I love that
players now are empowered to be like, get me out
of here, because you should be empowered to do that.
If you're not happy in a situation, you should be
able to leave it, like we're seeing it right now
(23:45):
with Jimmy Butler, like get me out of here, and everyone.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
And the team also shouldn't want you there if you
don't want to be there.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Exactly, it's just a stain in the locker room.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
I mean you could see it happening with the heat.
It's a stay in the locker room. People are miserable.
I couldn't imagine showing up to the locker room with somebody.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
Who literally said yesterday on Twitter they don't want to
be here. I'd be like him out.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
That's what I was just saying, Like, I wish people more
people would like just be like if I was at
a job that I hated, but there was a job
opening over there that is better for me, that wants me,
You're just gonna stay in that job, Which that's trucky
for people with the jobs that are not in professional sports,
you could quit whatever you want.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
We don't have that luxury of just being like, you
know what, I want to go somewhere.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
I want to go somewhere that feels better for me,
so I'm just gonna go there.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Also, isn't the complications and regular employment of salary cap
positions be draft picks being in the right position to
win a championship, Like you cannot want to be in
your job, but you can't really speak to Okay, is
the salary cap right?
Speaker 4 (24:53):
What picks do they have to offer?
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Like that makes What does the ownership look like? Do
they have Do they have an office for me to
work in? Are they gonna give.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
Me a computer? Exactly?
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Get back bar all these things.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
It's still like it's complicated. I understand that from the
business perspective that they have a lot to work out,
but with star players you can figure it out.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
No, exactly, And I think we haven't really seen this.
I mean people are calling this a blockbuster trade and
it really is.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
We've never really seen two.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Stars at the same time ready to go after having
so much success where they are, And I don't think
that's necessarily a bad thing. I think it's a great thing.
And I think that needs to happen more. There needs
to be more seismic movements in the w to make excitement.
But on the flip side, I do love seeing teams
that are able to stay together and build something and win,
(25:48):
which is why I did even though as a competitor
I was like, Vegas, please get off of our necks.
But as a fan and someone who loves the WA.
You like seeing that process because I remember my second
year we were beating Vegas like we were not even
like we were beating the crap out of Vegas in
(26:10):
twenty eighteen, nineteen ish.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
So to see that organization grow and be.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Able to keep that team together and be so successful,
it was nice to see and it kind of lit
a fire under the rest of the league, I think.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
So I think Kelsey did what she needed to do there.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
She's been there since they were in the San Antonio
Silver Stars guys, and if you didn't know that was
a team before it was, my dad actually used to
coach it.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Wow. So she's been in the trenches with them.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
So I want everybody to just be happy for her
that she's able to go start something new and fresh
and be in LA.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
With that was a w like that the Stars are
getting to that point where they can be like, all right,
I don't want to be here and up and move.
And then also the fact that it's spreading the love
a little bit. Okay, we've seen Vegas go out and
do it and be like that Dynasty team in the W.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
Who's next, what could be next? What could be built next?
Speaker 1 (27:07):
It's important for fan base in those cities to have that.
It's important for the players to have that.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
For the viewers, have a little diversity, have a little diversity.
Even after these WNBA finals, Like I remember when Vegas
won their first one, everyone was like, Oh, they're finna
win again. I don't feel that way about the Liberty respectfully,
and I do feel that I the Link should have
won that series.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
Don't they started?
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Oh no, get started?
Speaker 4 (27:34):
We started? I really that really upset me.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
I really felt like, but I don't know, I feel
like in all sports I've been like a hater recently,
Like I don't want the Chiefs to win. I just
haven't been wanting like I've been wanting underdog moments.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
Okay, I really wanted.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
That's how okay, guys, that's how we need a phrase
certain things. Sometimes we're cheering for the underdogs.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Okay. There is hay.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Yeah, and then there's I want someone else to I
want someone else to win, Okay, And it's okay.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
And I'm a super team hater, like big super team
even in the NBA, and regardless superteam hater.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
I just feel like, I mean, it's cool, it's cute.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
I don't know, why I'm saying that because actually rude
for the loot, but like in a sense after.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
But they're not a super team though, And I think
even when because when people say when they dropped Candice
in there, they're like, oh, super team, they're like the Warriors,
they built that team through the draft. But yeah, to
people like a fan, like a new fan, that is
just oh my gosh, like this team is killing everybody, Like, yeah,
they do look like a super team.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
Okay, but the Warriors were a super team.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
For the two years.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Yeah, they're like they all go super ti here we
go run up through the league for two But.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Here's what's interesting using that Warriors comparison. Let's talk about this.
What does this do for Asia's legacy if she goes
out and wins it without Kelsey? Yeah, is that a
stamp for her? I mean obviously Jewels one too.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Yeah, But honestly, the thing about Asia is like I
just don't what more did she need to do to
be stamped, like for someone this early in their career, Like,
I just she's won all of the things and she's
done it like very gracefully. So at this point, she's
(29:13):
just like adding more to her legacy. I think she's stamped.
I do think that there is going to be a
level of expectation that they as a whole organization never
had before because you know, they have had the same
core group for so many years. But then on the
flip side, I think they're going to get a little
bit of grace for that because it's something new. But
(29:34):
I think Jewel is a great piece for them. She's
a completely different player than Plumb, so it's going to
be very interesting to see how she navigates that new system.
But yeah, for Asia, like I saw her Google commercial
when they're like, oh, what's what's a goat or something
like that, Like she already not like she already walked
in the walk talking the talk. So I mean, I
(29:55):
think that's amazing. And I think the fact that the
best player in our league has that confidence, I think
that's super important for us. So if they win a championship,
which you know, again as a competitor, no, we want
to win a championship.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
But I think it's going to be interesting.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
And I think there's a lot of players now in
the spotlight that have legacies that they're building and defending
and adding to. And I think more of them are
getting attention now, which I'm very excited about because they
all deserve those things.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
So it's going to be fun summer. I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (30:34):
I am too, I am tail. I wonder as a
player in the W.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
I don't know if I'm overstepping by asking you this,
but this is I'm just curious when you see things
like like the Fever building, that crazy practice facility. Is
that something that empower free agents and where they want
to go?
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Okay, And like I said, I've personally never been a
free agent, but if I was a free agent today,
I probably would not go to a team that doesn't
have a facility. Let me add this if I already
was on a team with one. So the fact that
Plum wanted to come here either means she doesn't care
(31:25):
that much about it and she's gonna be straight like
I'm managing to be straight without a facility, or a
facility is on the way. So I'm gonna think half
full and hope that a facility is.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
Very much on the way.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
But yeah, that practice facility and amenities has like leapfrogged
in the checklist for free agents. I'm pretty sure I
see the KA and Tosh always tweeting and posting on
Instagram when they're in practice, like, hey, free agents at
all the free agents because they're they have a brand
new spot. So I'm like, see, like we what are
(32:00):
we gonna do with that? We can't compete with that,
So it's.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
You will be able to because, like you said, I
truly believe and not just because I'm on my first
day as a full time Sparks fan, that a practice
facility is on the way, not only for y'all, but
for all the teams that don't have one, because they're
gonna have to do that to compete and.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Get good pieces, Like.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
That's gonna be a trademark to getting free agents. And
obviously in the future, like you said, you wouldn't go
to a team that doesn't have one if you were
already on a team that does well. Once a majority
of the team have one and there's like three that don't,
you're like, yeah, those three gotta have exact So it's gonna.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Don't thought it be in a city that no one
wants to be in either, Like, don't let it be
a double whammy like that.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
I don't want to.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Believe Indianapolis needed ain't nothing else there.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
There's nothing there but hoop and that's all that matters. Well,
but I.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
Will say I don't know.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
I just feel like a practice facility is in fact coming.
I'm gonna manifest it for us. I do think we
have interested free agents, though from what I've been hearing,
we have facility.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
No facility. You're in LA.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
We're in LA. It's okay. This is my pitch to
the free agents. Okay, free agents.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
If you like good weather, if you like a lot
of fans at our games, if you like the beach,
if you like to maybe see celebrities from time to
time at our games, if you like to win, okay,
because I'm going to add that in there, because we're
going to win this season. Then you need to come
to LA and build something. If you want to build something,
help something, build something beautiful, you should come to LA.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
But anything else we should be looking out for. As
far as free agency is concerned.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
Let's see. Let me let me bring up my free
agent list right here.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I think the streets are saying that one of the
most interesting free agents right now is Djna Carrington from
the Connecticut Sun. She is restricted though right and to
piggyback off of her. Her teammates do Wanna Bonner and
(34:09):
Alissa Thomas are unrestricted free agents, so I think that
they are both. Y'all can correct me if I'm wrong.
I don't think I will be, though. I think they're
both out of there. So I'm interested to see if Connecticut.
You know, they're superstars Alyssa, Dewanna, Bree Jones, their core
(34:33):
JJ John Quell Jones already had left to the Liberty Coach,
Gone cor gone, no championship.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
Are they gonna run it back? Maybe try to.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Win this championship in this window that they might think
that they still have or are they going to be like,
you know what, Djone, it's gonna be your show now,
which I would love that for her. I think she's
ready for it. I think it would be cool for her.
But she might go somewhere else and want to win now.
So she's definitely an intriguing one.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
So whatever happens with her is basically contingent on what
the two bigger stars decide to do with their unrestricted
free agency.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
I would think so, but she's restricted, so it's like
she's gonna be there and there is a pecking order. Unfortunately,
for these free agency signings, you know, you have to
wait for one domino to fall. The plumb duwel thing
didn't really help anybody as far as.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
The domino falling.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
They just took the domino out and there's still all
these dominoes waiting to fall. So free agency starts February first,
and I'm very excited to see where else. You know
who's on this list is freaking Diana Tarassi, which means
she hasn't officially retired yet.
Speaker 5 (35:55):
Girl, Like, right, do your announcement, queen, she doesn't retire
this year, though, I wouldn't even blame her because they
the way they sent her out.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Was disrespectful for one of the greatest players to ever
play in the NBA. It was just like a ky
by like thinks like, no, I will give her a
little bit of blame because she didn't flat out and
say like, this is my last season.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
So it wasn't like it wasn't.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
That's what that was my rebuttal, how are they supposed
to give a farewell to someone.
Speaker 4 (36:28):
Who didn't retire? Yeah, like, what are they supposed to do?
Speaker 1 (36:31):
It has to be a little awkward because they have
to kind of just in case she does decide.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
To retire in the off season, do something.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
But at the same time, if she doesn't, what they're
going to do a whole parade.
Speaker 3 (36:40):
And she's like, Okay, just kidding, let's do it again.
Speaker 4 (36:44):
No, I think.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Yeah, but like she was just in the Olympics, like
she was just playing still, like she was still getting buckets.
Speaker 4 (36:54):
But I'm very pro retiring while you're still doing that. Facts,
I'm anti retire.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
I don't want to see people just as a fan,
I don't want to see you out your worst when
you leave. Yeah, I don't want to like the shock thing,
Like I don't want to see you struggling.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
I'm like, dad, he needs to get Yeah. Hell no,
I'm with you on that. I'm with you retire. I
don't want me either.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
That's literally been me, like I want to retire on
my terms when I'm playing well, which it's crazy. We
were just talking with Cheryl Swoops yesterday because she's one
of our analysts for Athletes Unlimited, and we had like
a little peaky session with her and they were asking
her about like how the transition from w NBA to
(37:41):
not playing anymore was, and she was just talking about
how hard it was, because she says it like sneaks
up on you, like.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
Oh, I'll get ready next year. I'll be ready next year.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
And then she's like and one day you wake up
and someone is just better than you, and then they're like, all.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
Right, you gotta go bye. And that's Cheryl Swoops saying
that famebreaking.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
So it's like, if Cheryl Swoops went through that, we're
definitely going through.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
We're gonna go through that.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
You know, she's Trailblazer, greatest of all time in women's basketball.
Dealing with the transition of being ready to retire and
not being ready to retire, I think dinatrolites, yeah, and
I think she gonna be fine, Like she gonna be
just fine, But I still don't really like how if
that was her last season, I was like, that wasn't
(38:30):
really the victory lap that she deserves. So if she
doesn't retire, I would completely understand and support it, so
she could do a real farewell tour, but hopefully not
at a max salary because then that would be a
little problematic, not.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
For us because that's none of my business because that's
not my team.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
But by that good point, we'll do one more intriguing
unrestricted free agents. I'm gonna say, duh, because we don't
know where she's going. And she's been playing in unrival
like she's auditioning for the entire league.
Speaker 1 (39:10):
Which is sick about Unrivaled because it's also against.
Speaker 4 (39:15):
The people she could be playing against and or with.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
So it's like, yeah, and I've been seeing like where
people think she would fit. And you know, there's like
a lot of factors that go into where someone goes
via trade because a lot of things have to be
in place for that to happen, like the salary caps
and stuff. But like if salary caps didn't exist, I
actually would love to see her in Seattle. And in
(39:43):
the case that Gabby Williams does leave Seattle, I think
Satu would be like a very good replacement at that position,
playing with Skyler next Sineka. She's been showing that she's
been a consistent three point shooter in the last she seasons.
A lot of people have been saying New York is
(40:03):
a good fit so she can be reunited with Sabrina,
who she played at Orgon with. Wouldn't be mad at
that either, but I don't want to disagree with everybody else.
So I'm going to say she would be cool in
Seattle and we'll see. And then I think if Gabby's coughed,
she's court I wouldn't see why that wouldn't work. But
(40:27):
they already have two MAX level players in Mecca and Skyler.
So again, a lot of salary cap gymnastics goes on
in the WNBA. Guys, I don't think you guys really
even understand. I could go on for hours about salary
cap gymnastics.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
I'm just hoping everybody.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
Ends up where they want to end up and we
have a great w season because of it. Because at
the end of the day, we want everybody to be
in a situation that is suitable for them. And I
think that's not always going to happen, but if it
can happen more time than.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
It doesn't happen, I think that's for the best.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Honestly, I'm really excited to see all of this play out,
and I'm really excited for the season. I'm excited to
see how people fit in their new spots. I'm excited
to see the chemistry changes, the coaching.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
There's so many changes, how.
Speaker 4 (41:16):
That impacts everything.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
I'm just excited yeah, And honestly, I'm excited too about
the mystics. They brought in a coach from Europe, which
I don't think we've ever had that happened before. So
I'm very interested to see if one that'll lead to
more European coaches coming over here, and in turn, if
that will lead to more European players coming to play
(41:40):
over here, because unlike the NBA, we do not have
a lot of euro players, and if we do, they're
not like super dominating the league. They're very good, don't
get me wrong, super good, super talented, super intelligent.
Speaker 3 (41:54):
Well's good.
Speaker 2 (41:55):
Yeah, but like I'm not trying to be like they're
not as good as the men. You know, they are credible,
but they don't always come over here because they don't
want to. So maybe more European coaches, more money will
give them more of a reason to come over here,
which for me, like I'm not duck in smoke, but
that's gonna be more competition for us.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
But I think more and more and more teams.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
So I love the influx of newness, of boldness, of spiciness.
I love it all because I think everything is just
gonna grow and everything's gonna grow.
Speaker 3 (42:32):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Oh, speaking of growing, we have to do our flowers yday. Yes,
today's today's who gets a Flower? We're gonna pivot to
the college girlies because one they've been killing it hooping,
and two they just have not been getting shown the
love that I think they deserve top to bottom.
Speaker 3 (42:56):
Like you already know how they.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
Be doing in South Carolina, like they know how they
be doing them and now it's even worse. But I
don't have time to get into that right now. But
my flowers for today are going to go to five
players right now that deserve a little shout out.
Speaker 3 (43:19):
They're not gonna be your.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Typical five that you guys are probably seeing on ESPN
and on bleacher reporting stuff. These are some not even
I don't even want to call them under the radar
because they are killing it and I think that you
guys need to start paying attention to them. So one
we're gonna do tonight Latson from Florida State. She's currently
(43:41):
leading the nation and scoring, so you get a flower, Girly.
Number two Lauren Bett's from UCLA. They are number two
in the country right now. She just had a monster
game against Maryland, which makes me happy and she's.
Speaker 3 (43:56):
Six seven, y'all.
Speaker 2 (43:58):
Okay, insane, so she's killing Since I'm in Nashville right now,
I got to show some love to my Vanderbilt girls,
who I actually got to watch practice back in October
and I was super impressed by them. So to see
them playing super well this season makes me really happy
because I saw the work that they put in before
the season even started. Camille Pierre, who is a sophomore,
(44:18):
and michaelab Blakes who is a freshman who just had
thirty three points over the weekend.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
I believe they're.
Speaker 2 (44:26):
Killing it at Vanderbilt, So keep your eyes out for Vanderbilt, okay, everybody.
And then last but not least for a Flower is
miss Harmony Turner at Harvard.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
So we got an IVY League babe.
Speaker 2 (44:40):
She is top ten in the country and scoring, I
believe right now. She had forty one points on Boston
College and she led her team to a win against
Indiana at Indiana, which I've played at Indiana that is
not an easy place to win in. So those are
my five Flower girls for today. Y'all tap in with them.
They been doing amazing things for their teams for themselves.
(45:03):
Tapping with them before they get to the next level.
I've been tapping in with them clearly, so yeah, I'm
just I'm excited for the game is in great hands,
and I love tapping with the college girls and checking
in on them and seeing what they're doing because the
landscape is so different now and the fact that they're
able to still show up and do their job, which
is play basketball, is very impressive. I don't know if
(45:26):
I'd be able to focus on all of everything they
focused on. Could you imagine doing what we were doing
and then going to school.
Speaker 1 (45:35):
No. When I look at Flage, I'm like, how many
hours in a day do you have?
Speaker 2 (45:39):
Girl?
Speaker 4 (45:40):
I don't you had practice, you rapping on the stage?
Speaker 3 (45:42):
You doing.
Speaker 4 (45:43):
But the thing is, I don't want that.
Speaker 1 (45:44):
To sound like I'm saying, oh, like she's doing too much,
like how people be saying Angel be doing too much.
Speaker 4 (45:51):
I'm saying that because.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
It's it's very impressive.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
She's doing everything well and she's showing out on the court.
She didn't she wasn't in my five. But Flager's having
a hell of a season right now, and I think
more people need to acknowledge that amongst all of the
other amazing things that she's doing at the same time
because impressive, never doing too much.
Speaker 4 (46:13):
We've talked about this privately and we will.
Speaker 1 (46:15):
We probably get that into this in our next episode,
but I will say I hate to see a girl
get hate for being good at things off the court.
That takes away from the fact that she's still doing
good on the court, Like.
Speaker 3 (46:27):
It just doesn't make sense.
Speaker 2 (46:29):
And whether she has like a good game or a
bad game, like she's still getting up and putting the
work in.
Speaker 3 (46:36):
You can't always control the outcome of games.
Speaker 2 (46:38):
Yes, it gets to a point where you can tell, Okay,
you might be doing a little bit too much, and
there's ways to adjust. But like the fact that people
it's giving shut up and dribble, and I don't like that.
Speaker 4 (46:49):
Let alone professional athletes.
Speaker 2 (46:52):
Girl by it's giving shut up and drible and I
don't like that. And I think, like you said, all
the hours in the day, you utilize them how you want.
Don't get mad at how someone else is utilizing theirs.
Me and you both know we can do a lot
in twenty four hours. Mariah was literally in Paris a
few hours ago, and now she's it with me, and
(47:12):
I'm grateful and I love this and we will see
y'all next week.
Speaker 4 (47:20):
Thanks for listening to Full Circle.
Speaker 1 (47:21):
We'll be back next week with more basketball.
Speaker 4 (47:23):
For the Girls, by the girls. We want to hear
from you.
Speaker 1 (47:27):
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 Danglab. 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
(47:48):
and start listening
Full Circle is an Iheartwoman's sports production in partnership with
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hello, everybody, welcome back toose Full Circle.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I am Lexi Brown and I'm.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Mariah Rose, and we have so much to talk about today,
so much.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
First and foremost, though, we wee miss Paris, France.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Girl. How was your trip? Oh my gosh, it looked amazing.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Yes, okay, for those who don't know, I just got
back from a brand trip with Nike in Paris and
it was absolutely sick. I feel like I was running
around the whole time. We went to a football game,
not American football, the real football, and then we went
to the NBA game that was happening in Paris.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
So it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
And I went a little viral for starting a whole debate.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
I guess slash.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Twitter, Mariah little miss viral over here.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
I rest of all, okay, I had never been to
anything like that before.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
The fans in the US are not like they.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Live and breathe their sport, and I think part of
the reason is because I feel.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Like in the us.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
We've kind of priced out some of the real die
hard fans with how expensive it is to go to
these games, you know, so experiencing real fans that live
and die by this team and say, yeah, but I
don't know, everybody's like mad because they're like, no, football
is the same.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
I saw that.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
You know what's funny though about what's funny about viral
moments is that I saw that video on your account
and it was like doing this little one two like
nothing crazy, And I saw it on Twitter or on
x and it was like millions and millions of views,
and I was like, oh no, I don't know. What
you understand is videos go on TikTok for a reason
(01:50):
and videos go other places for a reason.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
So it's like.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
When I saw it on X, I was like, oh,
they're gonna be mad about nothing.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Nothing.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
I knew something negative somehow was gonna come from it.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
But it's cool, I mean. And then I went back
to my page and the video has like six million views,
and I'm like, what are y'all doing here? But most
people have been nice to me for the first This
is my.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
First battle moment where most people were nice to me.
But everybody's been debating which is the better sport? What
sport in the US do you think have the best fans?
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Like, see the best fans, I might have to go
college football fans and then college basketball immediately after, only
because they go sit outside in the cold, Like that's
a different level of dedication, and they paint their bodies
and they have the chance.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
I would say college.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Football fans might be the closest thing to the overseas fans.
I went to one overseas basketball game, men's basketball game
when I played in Israel, and they had flags. There
was little flamethrower things. They're doing the cheers like when
you said your video, what did they rehearse this? Like
it's crazy, But yeah, I would say college football fans
(03:02):
they got it, y'all got it.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
I would say going into women's basketball. I feel like
college fandom just in general is so much bigger than
professional fandom because I'm a huge Georgia football fan because
I went to Georgia. So while I may never be
a I don't know, Atlanta Hawk or Atlanta Dream, I
couldn't be a Georgia Bulldog because I went to school there.
(03:26):
And I feel like that's part of this resurgence that
women's basketball is having that we get to see you
guys in college for longer and follow your stories and
follow these rivalries and storylines, and so when you get
to the W, I already know who I'm going for.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
And I think that was also the most amazing thing
about this past season was seeing that rookie class not
only get drafted be successful at their respective.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Schools, but coming into the W.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
You know, whether they had good games, bad games, they
were in the games and people were able to follow
them for them and follow their rookie seasons. And I've
always preached like that was the bridge that was missing
between the W and college. As players would get drafted,
be at the top of the world, be at the
final four, and three weeks later they're at the end
of someone's bench and then they're like, oh, Everyone's like,
(04:16):
where did so and so go? I just saw her
at the final four. I just saw in a national championship.
Why is she not playing? And then five weeks later
they're like, oh, Okay, onto the next and you know,
I think that's one of the best things that came
out of this past season is seeing.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Not just like the top picks.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
But like across the board, all the teams were utilizing
their rookies and their fans and their fandom, and it
just kept growing and growing and growing.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
So it was really special to see.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Well, It's also like, if you're not playing when you
first get to the w how are you supposed to
catch up?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Well, I could tell you because I happen to be well.
For one, going overseas. Prior to a few years ago,
that was liter really the only way you would keep
yourself ready to come back to WNBA, get to a
training camp and try and fight for your spot on
the team. But gratefully, now we have all these other
(05:12):
options stateside that allow players to get ready, whether they're rookies,
whether they're in year nine, ten, across the board, like
we have opportunities here, which is a great segue into
Unrivaled A little bit of Unrivaled talk.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Were able to watch any of the games?
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I know you were gone this past weekend, but did
you get to catch opening weekend?
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (05:32):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I didn't think I thought three v three would be
a little more confusing for me, just you know, because
I don't play, so I didn't know if I was
going to enjoy it as much, but it's so much
faster paced. And I see how you always say that
you can see someone's skill more. Yeah, and they're playing
yes three v three because there's only it's really a
lot of one on more and so.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
That was a lot of fun for me.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
But before we get into Unrivaled, I do want to
ask about your time in Nashville because you're there. I mean,
there's other options to say side too, and you're experiencing
one of them.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
So I just want to know how it's going.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
So I just got to Nashville a few days ago
to start Athletes Unlimited. We don't start playing until first
week of February, so we have a little bit of time.
By the time this episode drops, we will be done
with our media day, so the content will be on
the way and coming. We are definitely stepping it up.
I'm really excited. So we have scrimmages this week. We
(06:27):
have a loaded roster. I'm a captain this week, guys,
so it doesn't count, but I get to be I
get to be in my little captain coaching bag GM
bag this week. So I was looking at the roster
today trying to figure out who I'm drafting, and this
roster is insane. I was like, I would be like, oh,
I want to pick this person. I'd go through the
roster and be like, oh wait, we have heard too,
(06:49):
like what like?
Speaker 3 (06:50):
So, I'm so excited to build this team this week.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Obviously it's going to be suitable to how I want
to play, which is fast and shooting a lot of threes.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
But I get to do that because I'm in charge.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
So I'm really excited, and I'm really excited for everybody
to be able to watch us in two weeks.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
I think, so, yeah, it's going to be fun.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
I'm so excited. I'm excited to see the media.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
I mean I've already they've already put it someone out
today and it's already better than last year. I'm just
really happy. And I think that's one of the best
things about AU is that they really listen to our feedback.
They listen to the players feedback, and this year we
really made it priority to have a very amazing media
date with great content.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
We have makeup artists.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
This year, we got content in our jerseys for the
first time, so we're really excited. I'm really excited for
you to come see and experience this in person and
do all of the things in Nashville.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
No, I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
I feel like with these off season domestic leagues, one
thing we've seen is players get so excited about having
the opportunity to not only do what they want to
do and get to play how they want.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
To play, but also be heard more.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Because with players having so much power in these off
season leagues, I feel like it's like, Okay, we know
what we've been needing, what we've been wanting for so long.
We get to kind of experience that with Unrivaled with AU,
and everybody's.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Like, yes, I'm so happy.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Yes, we get all the things, everything that we've always wanted,
asked for. Players before us wanted ask for work so
hard to get and now we're here and we're able
to do it for ourselves and not have to depend
on this larger organization that we quite literally have no
control over to give us the things we want, the
(08:33):
platform that we want, give us the things we need,
tell our stories the way we want to tell them.
It's like a women's sports renaissance we're going through right now,
and Unrivaled AU.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Is in the middle of it. WNBA is also the
middle of it.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
I don't want to shit on the WNBA because at
the end of the day, that's the league that we
all play in. We love the biggest league, longest running
women's basketball league.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
So I want.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
To say this about WA is we got to stop
comparing and just be happy that all of these things
are existing simultaneously. Because Unrivaled isn't the W. The W
is in AUA using unrivaled. We're all separate, but we're
all collectively trying to grow the game and leave it
(09:21):
in a better place than we found it. So I
think the comparing and stuff like, the more we do that,
the worst off everyone's gonna be. So I think we
all can just be happy and exist where we are
right now, not look ahead.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
To the W season.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
They got to do this, We got to do that, like,
just enjoy what we're doing now and be excited for
what's coming. And I think that's going to be the
way everything grows more rapidly.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
I think I think I've definitely fallen into that too,
because it's like you see you guys saying, oh, we're
getting like makeup artists, and we love our content so
much for but Also, you got to remember that it's
like the W is your professional league, the one that
people are seeing all over the world, the one that
is like at the highest of pedestals. They have like sponsors,
(10:10):
they got to answer to they have. It's completely different,
so completely separate.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah, not saying the W don't got work to do,
because they do. Don't get me wrong.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
We're gonna get off there. We're gonna get off the
w's neck.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
For Yeah, they don't get it wrong. There is work
to be done. But let's appreciate everything that's going on.
And I think that will elevate the women's game even
more than it already has been elevated.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
But also I think it does benefit hearing what you
guys are enjoying about your off seasons and what you're
doing for the W because it does allow them to
see that and get ideas.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
I hope they and they're taking notes.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
I hope they have a notebook full of notes because
it's only been what two weeks of Unrivaled and we
haven't even started yet. And it's just the things I'm
seeing people tweet about say on air, players like you
say said, I'm just glad more players are more comfortable
coming out and saying these things. Sometimes you might not
(11:06):
get the outcome that you want, but if you feel
strong and you feel powerful in those statements, that's really
all that matters. And whatever happens afterwards. You know, sometimes
you just feel like it's above me. Now I said
what I have to say, and you know, hopefully it
works out for the best.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Speaking of Unrivaled though, what have been your takeaways?
Speaker 2 (11:24):
It's very fast, everybody is on an island. It looks
amazing on TV. I love the jerseys. I love how
everybody looks. Everyone looks great aesthetically, and I think that's
important to put a good product out. I actually have
some rankings if y'all care of my unrivals, because tapped
(11:45):
in like, even though I'm not participating, like, I think
it's an amazing thing. So after two weeks, this is
my Unrivaled list ranking. Okay at number one, we have
the Lunar Owls at two, we have the Laces at
three rows, four Vinyl, five Phantom, and six Missed.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
And I will give.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Missed a little grace because they've been dealing with some
major injuries. But that is my week two ranking. If
anybody cares I've watched almost every single game, and it's
been very fun to see all the other players playing
on different teams together, like it's been like a mind
game kind of like that is fun because it's not
(12:25):
All star, but it's like, okay, but like y'all are
not on the same team or been the W but
you go on the same team now, and what y'all
talking about down there? Because it's free agency time?
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Right, that's a good point. So I'm like, what shall
say too much before.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
We get people investigated for Tampa?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Right, No, it's if people are not already putting in
complaints about tampering after what happened yesterday, then I don't.
I don't know what's going to happen. I personally have
never experienced free agency. I've only been a spectator, but
it's always been a very exciting time in.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
The W.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
For those who don't know, can you walk us through?
I think you had some interesting things that happened that
will affect you yesterday, So could you walk us through yesterday?
Speaker 2 (13:20):
So yesterday we did a little thing, we meaning the
Los Angeles Sparks. We traded our number two pickaway for
Miss Kelsey plum Let's clap it up.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Everybody, clap it up.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Yes, Okay, for those who don't know who Kelsey Plum is,
she is probably one of the best combo guards in
the w She is a two time champion, top three
or two in college scoring.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
An amazing human being.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
So when I heard the news, I found out, like
everybody else on Twitter, there was like conversations, you know,
the league, that she was going to be up out
of Vegas. So those rumblings turned out to be very true,
and I'm very excited. I think it's a good move
for us. I think got bogged down in this rebuild mentality,
(14:15):
and I think the only issue with saying you're in
a rebuild is you don't like have very high expectations
for yourselves or your team, and I think our team
is better than that. So I'm just really excited that
we brought a vet that's won championships, that's been an
all Star.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
An Olympian.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
And for anybody who is concerned about my health, all
of a sudden, I am very much healthy. I've been
healthy for the last year plus. Crohn's disease is something
that is very hard to manage and control, and that
is simply what I've been doing the last year. But
I'm very much healthy, very much going to play this season.
(14:56):
I appreciate everybody's concern all of a sudden when they
posted the potential starting lineup and I was in it,
and everyone.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Was like, hey, take that any healthy, Yes.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
I will be healthy. Okay, thank you everybody. But autoimmune
disease ain't nothing to play with. It's not like an injury.
So I just wanted to clear that up.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Mariah. Are the La Sparks your new favorite team?
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Well, I've been on your vandwagon for a minute now. LEXI.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Ladies, that don't because when I first spoke to you
and we talked about you, you're like, oh, we're rebuilding
and blah blah blah blah. I said, y'all were the baddies,
La Batties, the La Batties. I love y'all, but I
will say I am glad that this happened, because, like
you said, if you get stuck in this were rebuilding,
were rebuilding what we're building, It's like, how do you
(15:42):
build culture like that? And I feel like this move
allows y'all to get into your back like building a
real winning culture.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Yes, and culture, you hit it right on the head
because culture starts with a foundation, and no disrespect to
anybody that has been on the team the last two seasons,
but there just hasn't really been like a solid foundation,
and that there's no one person or group of people
to blame for that. That's like a collective struggle of
figuring out what your identity is going to be as
(16:11):
a team and what your culture is going to be.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
And when you have players.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Coming in and out injured, dealing with illnesses, it's very
hard to do that. So I think they just wanted
to bring in somebody that is reliable, somebody that will
have a veteran presence in the locker room, and then
someone who could just go who like Kelsey's a dog,
So I'm really excited to play next to someone like that.
(16:35):
She's been a pain in the ass to guard for years,
so now I'm glad that I only will have to
guard her in practice. So yeah, snaps with the Sparks.
You know, I had some words for them last episode,
so they could get a flower today.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Things have really things have really turned around since our
last episode. Also, speaking of free agency, what are some
other predictions that you have things that you are looking
at as a player who it will actually affect.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
I know, I'm looking just for like tea.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Yeah, of course you are. Well, if anybody doesn't know
what free agency is, let me just say like just
a quick rundown. So free agency is when players can
go sign to another team in the off season.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
So you have.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Two main buckets, which is an unrestricted free agent and
a restricted free agent. So unrestricted free agent can go
sign to whoever team she pleases. She wants to leave,
nobody can tell her no, no one can stop her.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
She's gone.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
A restricted free agent essentially has to ask her current
team for permission to sign to another team, and that
team can tell her no, you stay right here, and
they do that by matching the money that the next
team is offering. So if they choose to not match
that money, then she's free to go. If they want
to match it, then she must stay. So that is
(17:58):
the gist of free agency.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
And compare it to.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
In dating, you've got the times where you're single and
you can date whoever you want, like you're truly single.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
You're ready to mangle and.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
Get this guy, this guy.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
But restricted free agents are more like girls in situationships
like you kind of want to be there, you kind
of don't want to be there. You're doing your options,
but you still have this like weight that might decide
to commit to you. Yeah, and also might let you
go to somebody else.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Yeah. No, that's like a perfect example.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Okay, wait now okay, now that you've made that analogy,
I want you to compare when a team core is
a player, what would you think that would be in dating? So,
when a team core is a player, they are an
unrestricted or restricted free agent, but they're basically like no,
like you can't do anything, but if we.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Don't, we're going to give you the world.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
We're going to give you all the money that you want,
but if you don't want to stay, we get to
decide where you go.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
How would you describe that in a relationship and.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
A real relationship. I would describe that as purgatory.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
But thank you, that's exactly what I needed you to say.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Purgatory.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
That is awful.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
That is purgatory that you said doesn't want you but
also doesn't want anyone else.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
To have the riot.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Please, this is why we got the show together. Like
that is guys, we did not even discuss this beforehand,
Like I just knew that she was gonna say it's jail. Okay,
So coring players guys, right, I know we're trying to
get into the tea, but I gotta break down these
terms for y'all. When you core a player, you are
(19:36):
basically telling them you're stuck here. Okay, I am going
to give you all the money, but you're stuck here.
And yeah, you would think, oh, I get a Supermax
one year, like that's amazing, that sounds great. But since
I've been in the league, nine times out of ten
that player does.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Not want to be on that team anymore.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
And also, nine times out of ten, that player is
also an unrestricted free agent. So not only is the
team putting them in purgatory, they are also taking all
of their decision making away. And for me, what I've
always had a problem with this core designation. I'm all
of the girls get into the bag. So I'm always
(20:17):
excited when I see a player get cored for that
aspect because that means she's gonna get paid. But when
you core a player on your team that doesn't want
to be there, you must now sign and trade her,
And unfortunately, for other players in the league, you are
now caught in the drama of this situation of a
player not wanting to be on that team anymore, and
(20:39):
now you get thrown into a trade that maybe you
didn't want to be involved in, but the way the
money aligns, you had to go.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
And that is my.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Only beef with the core designations because I think they're
being misused by organizations. But at the end of the day,
it is a business, so I understand why they do it.
Like it's literally the definitions of you not I'm leaving
here with something like you're not gonna leave me with
nothing Like. I get it from their perspective, but I
hate it for you know, players like me, you know,
(21:11):
these mid level, mid tier, super talented, super valuable, but
just the way the money is, they sometimes get thrown
into these core signing trades. Yeah, purgatory. I'm glad you
said that. And let's see, Plumb was in purgatory. Allegedly, Satu,
who was publicly stated that she wants to be out
(21:33):
of Dallas, is also in purgatory being cored.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Didn't know that, but this makes sense.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Who else did they put in there.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
I'm not sure about Gabby Williams if she's in purgatory
because she hasn't been super vocal. If she wants to
stay or go, she's in purgatory. These are the people
that I know for sure. So I'm not gonna put
that purgatory stamp on any other unrestricted free agents because
I don't want to get in their business. But so
for those people who think that Plumb was like shipped off,
(22:03):
that was not the case.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
I think she wants She was ready to move on.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
I think she did her time in Vegas, won championships,
had an amazing career there, and sometimes it's just time
for a change. I don't know why people are so
like up in arms about that, like it's like any
other job.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
No, it makes sense. She did what she would have
went there to do. Right, it's like a new chapter
of her career exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
She won.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
It's it's fine, it's time to go do something new,
get to build something kind of on her own, you know,
like she gets to out of the shadow of the
whole Vegas Super Team narrative. She gets to go build
something that is in a rebuilding stage.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
So it's nice.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
I think I don't think aout anybody want to want.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Well, that's what I'm saying, it's so funny because you know,
we see everybody complaining about all the NBA guys, like
they're all trying to team up and win and win
now and da da da da, and like the girls
in our league are doing the opposite. They're like, no, no,
I want my own team. I want to go build
something special. I want to do this, And I think
that's just like.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
Women in a nutshell. I want to go do this myself.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
I want to go build something amazing, and I don't
want anybody to be able to take that accomplishment from me.
So I think it's so interesting how like that move.
Even with Jewel that's the other side of the trade,
Jewel going to the Aces, new fans calling her a
ring chaser if y'all didn't know she already has to.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
You can't chase.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Something you already have, Okay, So, just like Blum, a
change of scenery is sometimes necessary. And I love that
players now are empowered to be like, get me out
of here, because you should be empowered to do that.
If you're not happy in a situation, you should be
able to leave it, like we're seeing it right now
(23:45):
with Jimmy Butler, like get me out of here, and everyone.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
And the team also shouldn't want you there if you
don't want to be there.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Exactly, it's just a stain in the locker room.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
I mean you could see it happening with the heat.
It's a stay in the locker room. People are miserable.
I couldn't imagine showing up to the locker room with somebody.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
Who literally said yesterday on Twitter they don't want to
be here. I'd be like him out.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
That's what I was just saying, Like, I wish people more
people would like just be like if I was at
a job that I hated, but there was a job
opening over there that is better for me, that wants me,
You're just gonna stay in that job, Which that's trucky
for people with the jobs that are not in professional sports,
you could quit whatever you want.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
We don't have that luxury of just being like, you
know what, I want to go somewhere.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
I want to go somewhere that feels better for me,
so I'm just gonna go there.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Also, isn't the complications and regular employment of salary cap
positions be draft picks being in the right position to
win a championship, Like you cannot want to be in
your job, but you can't really speak to Okay, is
the salary cap right?
Speaker 4 (24:53):
What picks do they have to offer?
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Like that makes What does the ownership look like? Do
they have Do they have an office for me to
work in? Are they gonna give.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
Me a computer? Exactly?
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Get back bar all these things.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
It's still like it's complicated. I understand that from the
business perspective that they have a lot to work out,
but with star players you can figure it out.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
No, exactly, And I think we haven't really seen this.
I mean people are calling this a blockbuster trade and
it really is.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
We've never really seen two.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Stars at the same time ready to go after having
so much success where they are, And I don't think
that's necessarily a bad thing. I think it's a great thing.
And I think that needs to happen more. There needs
to be more seismic movements in the w to make excitement.
But on the flip side, I do love seeing teams
that are able to stay together and build something and win,
(25:48):
which is why I did even though as a competitor
I was like, Vegas, please get off of our necks.
But as a fan and someone who loves the WA.
You like seeing that process because I remember my second
year we were beating Vegas like we were not even
like we were beating the crap out of Vegas in
(26:10):
twenty eighteen, nineteen ish.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
So to see that organization grow and be.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Able to keep that team together and be so successful,
it was nice to see and it kind of lit
a fire under the rest of the league, I think.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
So I think Kelsey did what she needed to do there.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
She's been there since they were in the San Antonio
Silver Stars guys, and if you didn't know that was
a team before it was, my dad actually used to
coach it.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Wow. So she's been in the trenches with them.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
So I want everybody to just be happy for her
that she's able to go start something new and fresh
and be in LA.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
With that was a w like that the Stars are
getting to that point where they can be like, all right,
I don't want to be here and up and move.
And then also the fact that it's spreading the love
a little bit. Okay, we've seen Vegas go out and
do it and be like that Dynasty team in the W.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
Who's next, what could be next? What could be built next?
Speaker 1 (27:07):
It's important for fan base in those cities to have that.
It's important for the players to have that.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
For the viewers, have a little diversity, have a little diversity.
Even after these WNBA finals, Like I remember when Vegas
won their first one, everyone was like, Oh, they're finna
win again. I don't feel that way about the Liberty respectfully,
and I do feel that I the Link should have
won that series.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
Don't they started?
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Oh no, get started?
Speaker 4 (27:34):
We started? I really that really upset me.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
I really felt like, but I don't know, I feel
like in all sports I've been like a hater recently,
Like I don't want the Chiefs to win. I just
haven't been wanting like I've been wanting underdog moments.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
Okay, I really wanted.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
That's how okay, guys, that's how we need a phrase
certain things. Sometimes we're cheering for the underdogs.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Okay. There is hay.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Yeah, and then there's I want someone else to I
want someone else to win, Okay, And it's okay.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
And I'm a super team hater, like big super team
even in the NBA, and regardless superteam hater.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
I just feel like, I mean, it's cool, it's cute.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
I don't know, why I'm saying that because actually rude
for the loot, but like in a sense after.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
But they're not a super team though, And I think
even when because when people say when they dropped Candice
in there, they're like, oh, super team, they're like the Warriors,
they built that team through the draft. But yeah, to
people like a fan, like a new fan, that is
just oh my gosh, like this team is killing everybody, Like, yeah,
they do look like a super team.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
Okay, but the Warriors were a super team.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
For the two years.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Yeah, they're like they all go super ti here we
go run up through the league for two But.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Here's what's interesting using that Warriors comparison. Let's talk about this.
What does this do for Asia's legacy if she goes
out and wins it without Kelsey? Yeah, is that a
stamp for her? I mean obviously Jewels one too.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Yeah, But honestly, the thing about Asia is like I
just don't what more did she need to do to
be stamped, like for someone this early in their career, Like,
I just she's won all of the things and she's
done it like very gracefully. So at this point, she's
(29:13):
just like adding more to her legacy. I think she's stamped.
I do think that there is going to be a
level of expectation that they as a whole organization never
had before because you know, they have had the same
core group for so many years. But then on the
flip side, I think they're going to get a little
bit of grace for that because it's something new. But
(29:34):
I think Jewel is a great piece for them. She's
a completely different player than Plumb, so it's going to
be very interesting to see how she navigates that new system.
But yeah, for Asia, like I saw her Google commercial
when they're like, oh, what's what's a goat or something
like that, Like she already not like she already walked
in the walk talking the talk. So I mean, I
(29:55):
think that's amazing. And I think the fact that the
best player in our league has that confidence, I think
that's super important for us. So if they win a championship,
which you know, again as a competitor, no, we want
to win a championship.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
But I think it's going to be interesting.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
And I think there's a lot of players now in
the spotlight that have legacies that they're building and defending
and adding to. And I think more of them are
getting attention now, which I'm very excited about because they
all deserve those things.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
So it's going to be fun summer. I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (30:34):
I am too, I am tail. I wonder as a
player in the W.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
I don't know if I'm overstepping by asking you this,
but this is I'm just curious when you see things
like like the Fever building, that crazy practice facility. Is
that something that empower free agents and where they want
to go?
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Okay, And like I said, I've personally never been a
free agent, but if I was a free agent today,
I probably would not go to a team that doesn't
have a facility. Let me add this if I already
was on a team with one. So the fact that
Plum wanted to come here either means she doesn't care
(31:25):
that much about it and she's gonna be straight like
I'm managing to be straight without a facility, or a
facility is on the way. So I'm gonna think half
full and hope that a facility is.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
Very much on the way.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
But yeah, that practice facility and amenities has like leapfrogged
in the checklist for free agents. I'm pretty sure I
see the KA and Tosh always tweeting and posting on
Instagram when they're in practice, like, hey, free agents at
all the free agents because they're they have a brand
new spot. So I'm like, see, like we what are
(32:00):
we gonna do with that? We can't compete with that,
So it's.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
You will be able to because, like you said, I
truly believe and not just because I'm on my first
day as a full time Sparks fan, that a practice
facility is on the way, not only for y'all, but
for all the teams that don't have one, because they're
gonna have to do that to compete and.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Get good pieces, Like.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
That's gonna be a trademark to getting free agents. And
obviously in the future, like you said, you wouldn't go
to a team that doesn't have one if you were
already on a team that does well. Once a majority
of the team have one and there's like three that don't,
you're like, yeah, those three gotta have exact So it's gonna.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Don't thought it be in a city that no one
wants to be in either, Like, don't let it be
a double whammy like that.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
I don't want to.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Believe Indianapolis needed ain't nothing else there.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
There's nothing there but hoop and that's all that matters. Well,
but I.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
Will say I don't know.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
I just feel like a practice facility is in fact coming.
I'm gonna manifest it for us. I do think we
have interested free agents, though from what I've been hearing,
we have facility.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
No facility. You're in LA.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
We're in LA. It's okay. This is my pitch to
the free agents. Okay, free agents.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
If you like good weather, if you like a lot
of fans at our games, if you like the beach,
if you like to maybe see celebrities from time to
time at our games, if you like to win, okay,
because I'm going to add that in there, because we're
going to win this season. Then you need to come
to LA and build something. If you want to build something,
help something, build something beautiful, you should come to LA.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
But anything else we should be looking out for. As
far as free agency is concerned.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
Let's see. Let me let me bring up my free
agent list right here.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I think the streets are saying that one of the
most interesting free agents right now is Djna Carrington from
the Connecticut Sun. She is restricted though right and to
piggyback off of her. Her teammates do Wanna Bonner and
(34:09):
Alissa Thomas are unrestricted free agents, so I think that
they are both. Y'all can correct me if I'm wrong.
I don't think I will be, though. I think they're
both out of there. So I'm interested to see if Connecticut.
You know, they're superstars Alyssa, Dewanna, Bree Jones, their core
(34:33):
JJ John Quell Jones already had left to the Liberty Coach,
Gone cor gone, no championship.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
Are they gonna run it back? Maybe try to.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Win this championship in this window that they might think
that they still have or are they going to be like,
you know what, Djone, it's gonna be your show now,
which I would love that for her. I think she's
ready for it. I think it would be cool for her.
But she might go somewhere else and want to win now.
So she's definitely an intriguing one.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
So whatever happens with her is basically contingent on what
the two bigger stars decide to do with their unrestricted
free agency.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
I would think so, but she's restricted, so it's like
she's gonna be there and there is a pecking order. Unfortunately,
for these free agency signings, you know, you have to
wait for one domino to fall. The plumb duwel thing
didn't really help anybody as far as.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
The domino falling.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
They just took the domino out and there's still all
these dominoes waiting to fall. So free agency starts February first,
and I'm very excited to see where else. You know
who's on this list is freaking Diana Tarassi, which means
she hasn't officially retired yet.
Speaker 5 (35:55):
Girl, Like, right, do your announcement, queen, she doesn't retire
this year, though, I wouldn't even blame her because they
the way they sent her out.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Was disrespectful for one of the greatest players to ever
play in the NBA. It was just like a ky
by like thinks like, no, I will give her a
little bit of blame because she didn't flat out and
say like, this is my last season.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
So it wasn't like it wasn't.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
That's what that was my rebuttal, how are they supposed
to give a farewell to someone.
Speaker 4 (36:28):
Who didn't retire? Yeah, like, what are they supposed to do?
Speaker 1 (36:31):
It has to be a little awkward because they have
to kind of just in case she does decide.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
To retire in the off season, do something.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
But at the same time, if she doesn't, what they're
going to do a whole parade.
Speaker 3 (36:40):
And she's like, Okay, just kidding, let's do it again.
Speaker 4 (36:44):
No, I think.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Yeah, but like she was just in the Olympics, like
she was just playing still, like she was still getting buckets.
Speaker 4 (36:54):
But I'm very pro retiring while you're still doing that. Facts,
I'm anti retire.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
I don't want to see people just as a fan,
I don't want to see you out your worst when
you leave. Yeah, I don't want to like the shock thing,
Like I don't want to see you struggling.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
I'm like, dad, he needs to get Yeah. Hell no,
I'm with you on that. I'm with you retire. I
don't want me either.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
That's literally been me, like I want to retire on
my terms when I'm playing well, which it's crazy. We
were just talking with Cheryl Swoops yesterday because she's one
of our analysts for Athletes Unlimited, and we had like
a little peaky session with her and they were asking
her about like how the transition from w NBA to
(37:41):
not playing anymore was, and she was just talking about
how hard it was, because she says it like sneaks
up on you, like.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
Oh, I'll get ready next year. I'll be ready next year.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
And then she's like and one day you wake up
and someone is just better than you, and then they're like, all.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
Right, you gotta go bye. And that's Cheryl Swoops saying
that famebreaking.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
So it's like, if Cheryl Swoops went through that, we're
definitely going through.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
We're gonna go through that.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
You know, she's Trailblazer, greatest of all time in women's basketball.
Dealing with the transition of being ready to retire and
not being ready to retire, I think dinatrolites, yeah, and
I think she gonna be fine, Like she gonna be
just fine, But I still don't really like how if
that was her last season, I was like, that wasn't
(38:30):
really the victory lap that she deserves. So if she
doesn't retire, I would completely understand and support it, so
she could do a real farewell tour, but hopefully not
at a max salary because then that would be a
little problematic, not.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
For us because that's none of my business because that's
not my team.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
But by that good point, we'll do one more intriguing
unrestricted free agents. I'm gonna say, duh, because we don't
know where she's going. And she's been playing in unrival
like she's auditioning for the entire league.
Speaker 1 (39:10):
Which is sick about Unrivaled because it's also against.
Speaker 4 (39:15):
The people she could be playing against and or with.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
So it's like, yeah, and I've been seeing like where
people think she would fit. And you know, there's like
a lot of factors that go into where someone goes
via trade because a lot of things have to be
in place for that to happen, like the salary caps
and stuff. But like if salary caps didn't exist, I
actually would love to see her in Seattle. And in
(39:43):
the case that Gabby Williams does leave Seattle, I think
Satu would be like a very good replacement at that position,
playing with Skyler next Sineka. She's been showing that she's
been a consistent three point shooter in the last she seasons.
A lot of people have been saying New York is
(40:03):
a good fit so she can be reunited with Sabrina,
who she played at Orgon with. Wouldn't be mad at
that either, but I don't want to disagree with everybody else.
So I'm going to say she would be cool in
Seattle and we'll see. And then I think if Gabby's coughed,
she's court I wouldn't see why that wouldn't work. But
(40:27):
they already have two MAX level players in Mecca and Skyler.
So again, a lot of salary cap gymnastics goes on
in the WNBA. Guys, I don't think you guys really
even understand. I could go on for hours about salary
cap gymnastics.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
I'm just hoping everybody.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
Ends up where they want to end up and we
have a great w season because of it. Because at
the end of the day, we want everybody to be
in a situation that is suitable for them. And I
think that's not always going to happen, but if it
can happen more time than.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
It doesn't happen, I think that's for the best.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Honestly, I'm really excited to see all of this play out,
and I'm really excited for the season. I'm excited to
see how people fit in their new spots. I'm excited
to see the chemistry changes, the coaching.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
There's so many changes, how.
Speaker 4 (41:16):
That impacts everything.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
I'm just excited yeah, And honestly, I'm excited too about
the mystics. They brought in a coach from Europe, which
I don't think we've ever had that happened before. So
I'm very interested to see if one that'll lead to
more European coaches coming over here, and in turn, if
that will lead to more European players coming to play
(41:40):
over here, because unlike the NBA, we do not have
a lot of euro players, and if we do, they're
not like super dominating the league. They're very good, don't
get me wrong, super good, super talented, super intelligent.
Speaker 3 (41:54):
Well's good.
Speaker 2 (41:55):
Yeah, but like I'm not trying to be like they're
not as good as the men. You know, they are credible,
but they don't always come over here because they don't
want to. So maybe more European coaches, more money will
give them more of a reason to come over here,
which for me, like I'm not duck in smoke, but
that's gonna be more competition for us.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
But I think more and more and more teams.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
So I love the influx of newness, of boldness, of spiciness.
I love it all because I think everything is just
gonna grow and everything's gonna grow.
Speaker 3 (42:32):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Oh, speaking of growing, we have to do our flowers yday. Yes,
today's today's who gets a Flower? We're gonna pivot to
the college girlies because one they've been killing it hooping,
and two they just have not been getting shown the
love that I think they deserve top to bottom.
Speaker 3 (42:56):
Like you already know how they.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
Be doing in South Carolina, like they know how they
be doing them and now it's even worse. But I
don't have time to get into that right now. But
my flowers for today are going to go to five
players right now that deserve a little shout out.
Speaker 3 (43:19):
They're not gonna be your.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Typical five that you guys are probably seeing on ESPN
and on bleacher reporting stuff. These are some not even
I don't even want to call them under the radar
because they are killing it and I think that you
guys need to start paying attention to them. So one
we're gonna do tonight Latson from Florida State. She's currently
(43:41):
leading the nation and scoring, so you get a flower, Girly.
Number two Lauren Bett's from UCLA. They are number two
in the country right now. She just had a monster
game against Maryland, which makes me happy and she's.
Speaker 3 (43:56):
Six seven, y'all.
Speaker 2 (43:58):
Okay, insane, so she's killing Since I'm in Nashville right now,
I got to show some love to my Vanderbilt girls,
who I actually got to watch practice back in October
and I was super impressed by them. So to see
them playing super well this season makes me really happy
because I saw the work that they put in before
the season even started. Camille Pierre, who is a sophomore,
(44:18):
and michaelab Blakes who is a freshman who just had
thirty three points over the weekend.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
I believe they're.
Speaker 2 (44:26):
Killing it at Vanderbilt, So keep your eyes out for Vanderbilt, okay, everybody.
And then last but not least for a Flower is
miss Harmony Turner at Harvard.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
So we got an IVY League babe.
Speaker 2 (44:40):
She is top ten in the country and scoring, I
believe right now. She had forty one points on Boston
College and she led her team to a win against
Indiana at Indiana, which I've played at Indiana that is
not an easy place to win in. So those are
my five Flower girls for today. Y'all tap in with them.
They been doing amazing things for their teams for themselves.
(45:03):
Tapping with them before they get to the next level.
I've been tapping in with them clearly, so yeah, I'm
just I'm excited for the game is in great hands,
and I love tapping with the college girls and checking
in on them and seeing what they're doing because the
landscape is so different now and the fact that they're
able to still show up and do their job, which
is play basketball, is very impressive. I don't know if
(45:26):
I'd be able to focus on all of everything they
focused on. Could you imagine doing what we were doing
and then going to school.
Speaker 1 (45:35):
No. When I look at Flage, I'm like, how many
hours in a day do you have?
Speaker 2 (45:39):
Girl?
Speaker 4 (45:40):
I don't you had practice, you rapping on the stage?
Speaker 3 (45:42):
You doing.
Speaker 4 (45:43):
But the thing is, I don't want that.
Speaker 1 (45:44):
To sound like I'm saying, oh, like she's doing too much,
like how people be saying Angel be doing too much.
Speaker 4 (45:51):
I'm saying that because.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
It's it's very impressive.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
She's doing everything well and she's showing out on the court.
She didn't she wasn't in my five. But Flager's having
a hell of a season right now, and I think
more people need to acknowledge that amongst all of the
other amazing things that she's doing at the same time
because impressive, never doing too much.
Speaker 4 (46:13):
We've talked about this privately and we will.
Speaker 1 (46:15):
We probably get that into this in our next episode,
but I will say I hate to see a girl
get hate for being good at things off the court.
That takes away from the fact that she's still doing
good on the court, Like.
Speaker 3 (46:27):
It just doesn't make sense.
Speaker 2 (46:29):
And whether she has like a good game or a
bad game, like she's still getting up and putting the
work in.
Speaker 3 (46:36):
You can't always control the outcome of games.
Speaker 2 (46:38):
Yes, it gets to a point where you can tell, Okay,
you might be doing a little bit too much, and
there's ways to adjust. But like the fact that people
it's giving shut up and dribble, and I don't like that.
Speaker 4 (46:49):
Let alone professional athletes.
Speaker 2 (46:52):
Girl by it's giving shut up and drible and I
don't like that. And I think, like you said, all
the hours in the day, you utilize them how you want.
Don't get mad at how someone else is utilizing theirs.
Me and you both know we can do a lot
in twenty four hours. Mariah was literally in Paris a
few hours ago, and now she's it with me, and
(47:12):
I'm grateful and I love this and we will see
y'all next week.
Speaker 4 (47:20):
Thanks for listening to Full Circle.
Speaker 1 (47:21):
We'll be back next week with more basketball.
Speaker 4 (47:23):
For the Girls, by the girls. We want to hear
from you.
Speaker 1 (47:27):
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 Danglab. 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
(47:48):
and start listening
Hosts And Creators
Lexie Brown
Mariah Rose
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com