May 21, 2025 • 48 mins
On this episode of Full Circle, Lexie and Mariah dive into all the basketball buzz from the opening week of the WNBA season. From game-changing performances to early team chemistry check-ins, they’re breaking it all down. The two talk through Napheesa Collier's ever evolving game, Kelsey Plum’s impressive debut with the Los Angeles Sparks and Paige Buecker's poise and performance so far on the Dallas Wings. Plus, Lexie and Mariah give flowers to the Athletes Unlimited crew and spotlight the Black women making major moves in sports media. It's full of insider takes, real talk, and plenty of laughs—WNBA season is officially here.
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Episode Transcript
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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.
Hello everyone, welcome back to another episode of Full Circle. Lexi,
how you doing good?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I'm good?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
You know I'm good.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:22):
I'm good. Let's just get right into it, because y'all,
me and Lexi are and are trying to get straight
to the point era. So obviously there's been drama on
and off the court already this WBA season, but today
we're keeping it cute and focused on the actual basketball
being played on the court. The games have been good,
and I have a lot of people asking for some
of the storylines around the league, So I'll get to
(00:43):
those and let Lexi give her expert analysis and bts.
As always, Lexi, as someone who just came off the
court last night, how does it feel being back and
what is the energy around the league?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Well, first, I'll adjust the elephant in the room that
I did not actually get on the.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Court last night, and you know what it'd be like that.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Sometimes this is a veteran team. I'm on I got
added to the mix a little bit late when I
got traded and I can only show up and do
my job, which is what I've been doing every day.
So we go get that out the way, acknowledge it,
and guys, I'm healthy, i feel amazing, I'm in high spirits,
and I'm really still excited about being a part of
(01:24):
the Seattle Storm team. So yeah, I just wanted to
get that out the way. As far as the energy
of this season, it's been insane. Two road games to
start the year, two pretty much sold out crowds in
Phoenix and in Dallas, so the atmosphere's have been great.
Playing on a team's home opening night is always tough.
It's a lot of energy, it's a lot of jitters.
(01:47):
Their warm up and announcement and player intros took thirty minutes.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
They got all hyped up about that.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
And then we're just sitting there watching like, dang, when
the game gonna start thirty minutes?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
It took forever.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
I don't even know if it's delivered a long ring
ceremonial that.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
It was so long, But shout out to Phoenix because
their player intros were fired.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
They did a really good job.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
But that was a rough game for us, but we
bounced back got the win in Dallas, which we'll talk
about later. But from watching on TV and being in
the arenas, like this season is already turned top like
first weekend and I'm like, oh, yeah, this season about
to be.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Special for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Definitely, definitely. I want to get into kind of team
by team, not necessarily team, but like category of teams
by team, because there were some teams that performed the
way that we expected, some teams that performed better than expected,
all the things. But let's first talk about the teams
(02:44):
that did what they were supposed to do. Okay, the
Minnesota Links are looking real dangerous. So you got an
a Fisa Collier who had an MVP level start. She
led the league with fifty seven combined points, which we'll
get into their little trio that they have going on
because they had a lot of their team this week.
But I want to know Lexi, in your opinion, what
makes her so good and what sets her game apart.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Yeah, the thing about Fee is every year she adds
something to her game, and for someone that is so talented,
the fact that every year they can add something more
is always so impressive.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
She was a rookie.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
My second year, she got drafted to the Link, so
I was able to play with her her rookie season
and immediately knew that she was going to be special.
She's super high Q, as we saw during unrivaled.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Her one on one skill is unmatched.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
She's probably one of the best two way players in
our league. One defensive Player of the Year last year
is in the conversation for MVP. Already came in second
place I think last year or third behind Angel Wilson.
So just watching her steady improvement season to season is
something that I've always respected and loved about her game.
She's in Minnesota, and if anybody knows anything about the Links,
(03:55):
like that's championship central for the WNBA. They know how
to build championship teams, and they decided to make Fee
the cornerstone of that. And we're finally seeing that come
to fruition. Y'all know how we feel about last year's finals.
So they coming back with a vengeance, and yeah, they
looked really good in their first two games.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Yeah, you mentioned her teammates and the Links knowing how
to build a championship roster and keep them because obviously
they kept their team together this year, but Jessica Shepherd
returning added some depth that they didn't have last year.
She led with eighteen rebounds, and then Courtney william Courtney
Williams led with nineteen assists. So we can expect to
see this trio leading in these categories a lot this season. LEXI,
(04:38):
as a team, what is so hard about guarding a
team that's this deep and shares the ball like that?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Yeah, I mean we watched them a little bit in
our film sessions when we were scouting for Dallas, and
we were able to watch their offense move and the
pace at which they play.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
And I've talked about this when we went through our
preseason stuff.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
They were not too high and act ual pace because
they take a lot of the shot clock to score,
but the way that they cut to the ball away
from the ball, the way they run to set screens,
the way they run to use screens, how they get
to the next action, it's something that is very hard
to defend. And this is like leading right into my
conversation that I've been having with the positionless basketball finally
(05:21):
making it to the WNBA. And if you guys don't
understand what positionless basketball means. It just means not confining
a player to their standard position. So like if you
are a six to six player, you're typically just going
to be labeled a center, But now you can step
out and play the three, the wing. We got point forwards,
power forwards, shooting guards, scoring point guards. Like there's not
(05:42):
really just five positions on the court anymore. And I
think the Links are one of the teams that are
utilizing that really well. Right now you have the four
players not only just bringing the ball up, their initiating offense.
That's something that we haven't seen in our league yet
and I think it's really impressive. And I want to
shout out Courtney Williams too, because in college and her
(06:03):
first few years in the season, like she was a
bucket getter and she still very much is a bucket getter,
but her transition from just worrying about buckets to now
assisting the ball as well, and how as efficiently as
she's doing it, it's something that people are not really
talking about that much because she makes it look so
easy and she's made the transition so seamlessly. So I
(06:24):
want to give a shout out to Courtney Williams because
the way that she took that role that she probably
didn't want at first because she's like, I'm a bucket getter.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
But the way that.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
She's made it her own and still is able to
get buckets and distribute the ball, the Links are a
dangerous team and they're not even they don't even have
Caleb McBride yet.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
She hasn't even played yet.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
I want to know how difficult this is. I was
going to get this later in the episode, but what
you just said made me think of it. Being able
to move the ball like that and taking up the
shot clock in the WNBA is so hard because it
is so physical. Yeah, I know a lot of people
who are you to watching are shocked by the physicality.
But watching, I mean, the refs really let y'all out.
(07:07):
To be honest, they do, and y'all play defense. Lexi
talks about it all the time. So being able to
move the ball like that in the WNBA, it's not
no walk in the park because they're for real trying
to stop you.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
There's a beauty in being able to execute. And some
people might think it's boring or they like to see
fast offense, but yeah, there's a time and place for that,
and I think that at the end of the day,
the teams that know how to execute down the stretch are.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
The most successful.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
And it's just so heartbreaking when you have a you
have a really good defensive possession and it gets to
like the last three seconds and like they just run
at action.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
You're like, damn it, and then they score.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Like that's like more demoralizing than someone dribbling down and
throwing up like a random three in transition, Like you're like, damn, okay, she.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Got that one.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
But when they like out execute your defensive scheme, that
shit is so frustrating to the team, to a bench,
to the coaching stuff. It's like, damn, we did everything
right and they still out executed our plans. So I
think that's something that sets the Links apart. It sets
Celeberty apart Vegas when they're at their best. I think
(08:13):
we can get to that point as well. But there's
a lot of teams, you know, with a lot of
change going on, and I think at some point it
gets to like the out execution. We're seeing that in
the NBA playoffs. It turns into a chess match, But
our entire season is a chess match, Like we don't
just wait till the playoffs to turn games into two
chess matches. So that's something that I've always really appreciated
(08:34):
about the women's game.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah, the urgency is obvious throughout the whole league. I
watched y'alls game last night, you know that, and like
even like the way that Skyler was playing. I'm like
the urgency, y'all. But yeah, well we'll talk about that
a little later. You mentioned the Liberty. Okay, let's talk
about this because I was actually at the Liberty's home opener.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
What outfit did you wear?
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Okay? So I was gonna wear I can tell y'all
this on full circle. This is I didn't talk about
this takes, but I was gonna wear the Liberty jersey
that everyone in the comments told me told me to wear.
But I actually was on the trip with a brand,
y'all all gotta see. I was there for night and
they told me that there was like issues and I
couldn't wear the jersey.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Any of the jerseys, or just the Liberty jersey.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
The jersey period. Okay, Okay, So I wore the same
outfit that I was gonna wear with the jersey, just
with a black tank top, but I was very sad
about it. But at least you guys got to see
the outfit.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah, my vote was for the Liberty jersey. If you care.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
People offended in the comments, they're like, don't try to
play villain like it's their ringing ceremony. I was like, I.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Just I just want to look cute at the game. Goddamn.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
I just like the jersey, like the I liked how
the Asia jersey had the little like v neck. I
thought that was cute, but.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
It is not that deep.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
But I do want to say that Men's Woman's draw
whatever was one of the most like positive and fun
basketball environments I've ever been in my life. When I
say it was so loud. Their fans do not play
about the liberty at all. And this isn't a new
(10:08):
thing for them either, not an empty seat in the house.
Nobody is like trying to be cute and like quiet,
like everybody's yelling, everybody's excited. Granted it was their ring nights,
so spirits were very high, but that environment was insane.
And you would think with a powerhouse like celebrity wise
like Asia, when like Steph Curry goes to a game
it's like half the people are there to see staff
(10:29):
and then half the people are there to see the
actual team. Oh no, no, no no, this is liberty, like
thank god.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
No. Fans are very they're very loyal to the home team.
Oh loyal except for the La fans, but everywhere else right,
very loyal. But yeah, La they were fans very finicky
out there, but everywhere else like that. But that's for
every Yeah, La fans. Sports fans are just so like
(10:55):
la la la la la whatever.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Atlanta sports fans can be like that too, but here
to get.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Off dream games. Beat times on Thursday, who do they
play the Fever? Oh yeah, that's gonna be tard to. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Oh is that the big arena? Oh yeah, that's that's
maybe lit in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I'm so excited. Yeah, and then I'm I'm working on
going to I need to get my tickets. But going
on Saturday when they play the Wings too.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Make sure y'all if y'all are in a WNBA city,
make sure y'all pull up to a game. Like they're
really fun and everything. A new person to go to
a game, they always have a great time.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
They're so fun. Their energy is unlike anything else and
the Liberty Game. Would I say Ellie the Elephant did
a thirteen minute halftime performance to Nicki minaj Pe.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
I need to find out who was inside of that
mascot outfit.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
All of the creators were debating if we think that
it's actually a girl or if it's a gay man.
And I think that it's a gay man because it's
giving like cheerlead.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
I feel like there's not there's just not one person
in there. Oh, I feel like there's like an Ellie
the Elephant group And they wrote that's too many. She
could be on the move too much. There's no way
one person could do all of this or they can.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
I mean, y'all do the players do?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Yeah, but no, we don't. I couldn't do what Ellie
Elephant does. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
She's an influencer, a dancer, one of the cheerleaders. But anyways,
besides that, let's talk about how they absolutely dominated the
aces in their season open air.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Again.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
The atmosphere was incredible, but the champs were doing champ things.
I do want to note that their championship rings LEXI
first WNBA championship rings or I guess championship rings. Ever,
that open up and become that. I saw they were
designed by black sisters from Brettfire.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Yeah, I saw it on TikTok, the Jason of Beverly Hills.
TikTok I said, oh wow, I looked at my championship
ring and said, oh.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I looked at my championship ring flaky and shine. I
don't want that lex about us.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Those rings were gorgeous and looks something about that sea
foam color like it just makes everything just seems so
like elite. I don't know, that's like such a like
a cute different color that you don't ever really see anywhere.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Really, Yeah, it's and it was all up and through
the arena, it was beautiful. But on the court, I
want to talk about Natasha Cloud because she really stuck
out to me. My manager actually called her what she
call her like a pit bowl or like that kind
of energy, like you could tell that she really has
a chip on her shoulder from she was upset that
she wasn't on the ballot for Defensive Failure of the
(13:37):
Year last year, and she obviously was upset by her
trade situation, but to be in New York with that
fan base that was totally behind her and to have
a little bit of her hand on everything on both
sides of the floor. She definitely made an impact in
her first game.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
I think the thing about Tash that is very underrated
is her adaptability to different situations. I have never seen
her on a team where she doesn't immediately become the
vocal leader, the presence, and the commander in chief of
that team. And she doesn't do it in like a star.
(14:13):
This my shit now, like I'm here, I'm taking it.
It's like she plays a certain way and she demands
a certain type of energy from everybody around her, and
everyone just like gravitates towards her. So I feel like
she like took the Liberty, who are always already an
excellent team, and brought them up to a whole new level.
(14:34):
Tash is going to be a Hall of Famer. I'm
pretty sure she will be. She's a WNBA champion. I
got to play with her and athletes unlimited. I love
being on the court with her. This whole moment this
season for her, I think is so special because she
deserves it and she earns it. And I can't remember
what year it was, but when she played the Liberty
and the playoffs and almost willed her team to beating
(14:57):
the Liberty by herself.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
She gain the respect from that organization.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
So for her, and I'll be part of that organization,
I know that has given her like a whole extra
ounce of energy that she didn't even really need. But
Natasha Cloud with a battery in her back is a terrifying,
scary Natasha Cloud. But I'm so happy for her that
she's in that situation and she played well and she
fit right in, and I think that's something that everybody
(15:22):
obviously had questions about. It is like, how is she
going to fit in with this group that's already won
a championship very easily clearly, So shout out to the Liberty.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Steuwie had a great game. JJ had a great.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Stewie dropped twenty five on ten or fourteen sears.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
All three of them, I think two of them had
almost double doubles, and then someone.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Actually had a double double.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
So I don't know what.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
The stat is on that when the last time three
players on a team had double doubles. But if that's
the type of energy the Liberty are playing with, then
everyone else needs to tighten up and get ready. To
rebound and get ready to defend, because that's also something
that we talked about with the Liberty was, you know,
defensively they kind of like, we're just gonna outscore you.
But now they have that edge on defense now, so
(16:04):
this is a dangerous team as well.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
But we knew that already.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Yeah, and it was a lot of obviously I believe
it was Stewie. Was it Stuwie or Sabrina that came
out and said that they would consider their rivals to
be the Aces.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
I don't know who said that, but that's about somebody
said that today.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
That sounds about right.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Yeah, that somebody said that today. They were asked who
do you think your rivals are in league and they
said the Aces. It was either Stuwiet or Sabrina. But
my point in saying that is.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Great because Minnesota over there like day what about.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Thank you for ye Anyway, there was obviously people take
I don't know if it's because y'all are women or
whatever it is, but take that sort of fire between
two teams as almost oh they don't like each other.
But being there, it just felt it was so competitive.
It was like on the court. It was something that
we criticize the men's side a little bit for now, like,
(16:55):
oh okay, we don't want to see all on podcasts
and kumbaya and everything when you're on the court. Y'all
can do that later. And it was so funny because
it was like as soon as the game tipped off,
it was like, I'm ready to rip your head off,
Like the physicality is insane. I've never watched that close
besides like All Star the All Star Game, and you
don't get to see the true physicality in an All
(17:17):
Star game. But I was sitting right behind the Aces
bench and to just see the way, like it gets
so physical, the way that they're talking to each other.
I don't think Tosh stopped chirping at the Aces from
the time the game began to win the Fat Lady second.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
That sounds about the entire time.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
But it's crazy because people are being super critical about
the physicality and the super competitiveness of our game. But
like being a part of this league for eight years,
like there's so much love and respect between players inside
those lines, and I think that's why we're able to
(17:55):
compete and be physical at such a high level because
there is that respect level. I have to give you
my best are you gonna whoop my ass?
Speaker 2 (18:02):
And vice versa.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
So I think that's something that's so special that that
needs to be celebrated more and it doesn't need to
result in multiple think pieces or oh, she doesn't like
this one, she doesn't like that one. No, not everybody
is besties, but this is a competition at the end
of the day, like everyone's trying to win at the
end of the day. Like I said, the energy from
this season, and I think people I need people to
(18:24):
be reminded that almost the entire league are free agents
next year, so almost everybody playing for a new contract.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Wow, that's a great point.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
So this season is something different.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
You're not only trying to rip the hat off of
your opponent, but you're also low key trying to impress their.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Your front office, their front office, the team over an
air in office.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Like I will say, I am not one of those players.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
I am under a contract for next year, so this
that doesn't apply to me. That doesn't mean I'm going
to play any less harder than everybody else. But right
that's like the reality of the situation is like a
lot of these players, you know, you got.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
To say that, because otherwise all the comments going to
be like, oh.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Yeah, I want to have a big I want to
see that new money too, but I won't be able
to see it until after next year.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Right, Yeah, it is what it is. Let's move on
to the game.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
As far as people watching, I believe it was what
it was the most watched w NBA game on ESPN
platforms ever, which is crazy. There was like two point
two million people watching it.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Shout out to that game though. That's an amazing that's
an amazing viewership number. So let's keep that in mind too.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
How as far as the positive things from this.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Oh yeah, obviously we've already discussed that. We're now Yeah,
but that is incredible, and I mean they play each
other four more times, so I'm sure the next one
will beat it. But anyway, yeah, I'm sure the next
one will be that. But the Indiana Fever played the
Chicago Sky and their season opener, Caitlyn Clark had at
triple double twenty ten to ten. LEXI I'm curious. We
(20:08):
talked a little bit about this in our season preview episode.
Will Caitlyn Clark lead the league and assists again?
Speaker 3 (20:14):
I think so, And I think The next person that
could probably catch her or be close is surprisingly Alyssa Thomas.
Not surprisingly, she was third last year, but her being
on a new team and getting used to new teammates
might make that number be a little bit lower or
it can be a lot higher. I think if we're
talking about who can lead the league and assists, it's
(20:34):
Caitlin Clark is at the top of that list for sure.
Her vision, I don't think it could get any better
from last season, and now she has players that are
like excellent cutters, movers are always in the right spot.
She even said it, I think they said it on
the telecast, like she'll be playing with Natasha Howard and
then all of a sudden, she gonna look up and
(20:56):
she's like, dang, when does she get fourteen points? Once
does she get fifteen points? And that's how to toacha
how it is always played. She's like a silent assassin.
She could definitely lead the league and assists. You probably
can even average more assists this year than last year,
which would be incredible, But it is definitely possible with
this team.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
I want to talk about their defense. I have a
question for you, because you know better than I do.
Looking based on the eye test, their defense held Chicago
to twenty nine percent shooting. Right me, watching, I felt
like the Chicago Sky's offense really didn't look great at
any point. But I don't know if that's due to
(21:31):
the Indiana fever and they have players now that are
all impacting both ends of the floor, or if this
is more of an issue with the Chicago skuy Obviously
they're adjusting to a new coaching staff and everything, but
if that's more of an issue with something that the
Chicago Sky need to address going forward, I.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Think that Indiana added more defensive pieces to their team.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Team defense is key.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
You can have really good individual one on one defenders,
but if your team isn't synchronized as far as playing
team defense, and it doesn't matter how good of your
individual defenders are. With Chicago, it's just one game. I
don't think anybody needs to overreact. This is a completely
new roster, new coaching staff, and again, home openers on
(22:18):
the road are so hard to play in and I
can't even like the environment, and an Indiana fever home
opener is probably it was insane.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
We saw it.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
I don't even want to say anything about the Chicago
offense or anything like that because it's one game, right
and a relatively young team. Yeah, and it's just like
a lot of new pieces. I mean, I'll bring our
game up. We lost by thirty two in our first game,
and then the next game it was like a completely
(22:49):
different team emerged. So it just sometimes happens that way.
You got to get the kings out. You don't really
know how everyone is going to respond or react, and
like when the lights are on, not saying that anybody
responded in a bad way, but it's like a just
a different energy to different environment. The stakes are high now,
so I wouldn't overreact to the Chicago offense of woes.
(23:11):
We had a very similar issue in our whole our first.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Game of the year, and came back and bounced back
just fine.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
I think it's more of a credit to the Indiana
Fever and the team that they put together, because they
put together a contending team and I think everybody saw that.
But again, first game of the year, so it's just
like you can have, you know, think what you want,
feel what you want, but nothing to really even formulate
a true opinion on because it's so early in the year.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Like you said perfectly. The Indiana Fever ar championship contender
now with two back to back number one picks, which
I want to get into a Leah Boston's impact in
a second, but I just feel like going into a champion,
a new league championship contending rosters arena on opening night,
especially with a player like Caitlin Clark with the select
(24:00):
that she has and all the buzz surrounding her, it
would be hard for any team, especially a team that's
in more of a rebuilding sort of mode with the
new coaching staff and trying out new things. Like we
talked about this in our preseason video, like talking about
what to look forward to for every single team. So
they're just adjusting. Lexi said, let's not overreact. I do
(24:22):
want to ask, because obviously Caitlyn is that girl and
triple double probably will lead the league in a sayes
as you said, but Aliah Boston, they had a number
one pick the year before Caitlyn. If y'all don't know,
which is crazy. Aliah Boston, if you could explain to
our audience, what is a Leah Boston's impact on the
(24:43):
Indiana Fever.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
I think she just brings just an energy in the paint,
but she's not super paint dominant anymore. We saw her
picking and popping, we saw her hitting threes. She's catching
those passes that she was getting used to from last season.
Her growth from last year this year already has been
super impressive, and she looks like she's having a lot
(25:05):
of fun out there, and I think that's also really important.
They brought some veterans in to probably take a little
bit of that load off of her leadership wise, because
she is absolutely a leader of that team. But when
you bring in veterans like Dewanna Bonner and Natasha Howard
and Sophie Cunningham who know what it's like to be
on winning teams and make deep playoff runs, I think
it makes Eliah's job a lot easier. This team is
(25:28):
like following the trajectory of the Vegas team that was
able to get a few number one picks back to back,
add some pieces in free agency, and then decide to
whoop up on the entire league for a few years.
So some being fun exactly, and it just seems like
that might be the formula.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
I think you can't.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
Yes, you can buy super teams, you can buy talented teams,
but sometimes they can in fact be built, and I
think that's what the Aces showed us. The Fever are
showing this right now. And then also we have to
shout out de Wanna Bonner now that we've mentioned her
on becoming third all time leading score in WNBA history,
which is amazing, just just third behind Tina Charles and
(26:12):
Diana Tarassi. So we want to give dB her flowers
because that is not an easy feat. That's a lot
of buckets, that's a lot of points, and she's a
two time champion, six time All Star, three times six woman,
multiple All wnbas and almost had seventy five.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Hundred career points.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
So shout out to Dewanna Bonner because that's something that
shouldn't be glazed over at all.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
That's such an amazing achievement.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
And the way the Fever went out of their way
to make sure she got that number on opening night.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
That's people. Oh they was stat chasing that. No, that's
a team.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Having a player like that on your roster, That impact
goes far beyond the stat sheet and to have that
for your two number one picks. Back and back, you
mentioned Ali Kit taking on that role of a leader,
that could have been a little harder for her last year.
Anybody going from being the leader in college and being
(27:08):
like top dog to coming into the w where it's
already new for you and your number one pick and
you're the rookie beer also expected to lead. I remember
Earlia talking about last year she had to get off
social media and she had to refocus. And so to
see her smiling and laughing even about something it's funny,
is like getting that tech in the post game, like
is so incredible. So to see her shining and to
(27:29):
see like this team chemistry, I feel like it's going
to be really fun.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Also, yeah, it's starting early, but again long season, but
the Fever look good.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
They look good and dangerous.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Let's talk about some early overachievers because I already know
that people are gonna come for us as the season goes.
Like Lexie said, it's still early, so let's not overreact
to the first couple of games. But we got to
give credit where credited. Stack the Washington Mistick. Yep, they
were projected to be at the bottom of the league
and are starting off undefeated two and zero at the
time of us filming this on Tuesday, Brittany sykeses in
(28:03):
her bag combined forty two points and twelve assists. In
shout at Kiki Eria Fenn and Sonya starting and producing.
That's two rookies on their starting line out that are
not only just starting in the WNBA for the first
time I've heard, which is crazy.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
Yeah, I want to shout out to a lot of
the rookies in this league right now because a lot
of them are coming into these teams and playing very
important parts in their teams, winning their team's offenses, their defenses.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
So I want to.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Shout out to this rookie class because they're doing their thing.
And yes, Sonya and Kiki the way they've come out,
but like we said, like they came out like sometimes
the best way to start a season is like with
no expectations and you get to play more free and
lean on each other. And we said that the veterans
are going to have to step up and show what
they can do. And I'm not surprised Brittany Sykes came
(28:55):
out hooping like she's been hooping. She's been a hooper
since I've known her, and I've known her for a
long time time, so I'm not surprised by Sykes coming
out playing the way she's playing. I think Sonya was
one of the most underrated players in college basketball the
last few seasons. She's so smart, she's so efficient, she's
deceivingly athletic as hell. And then Kiki, I think, you know,
(29:19):
sometimes you play in college and sometimes your game is
pro ready, and you can't really see that in the
college atmosphere.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
You know, the spacing's different.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
You know, you have a lot more stars, like she's
playing next to Juju Watkins like you probably. And then
every time Juju was having an off game or after
even she got injured, Keke picked up all that slack,
so she showed glimpses of her ability to score the
ball and rebound the ball throughout her college career. So, yes,
it's they are overachieving, for sure, but we always say
(29:48):
everybody's in this league for a reason. Those are two
first round picks, so I'm not completely surprised at their start, but.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
They'll see if they can keep it going.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
But now you get these first two games are kind
of like a fake thing because no one has your offense,
no one knows your defenses. You're like, not no one
has scouted you, really yet so when we get into
like the ten fifteen game mark, that's.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
When everybody's gonna have multiple games played.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Offensive calls are going to be scouted, you know, And
that's when teams start to separate themselves, when it becomes
the chess match that we was talking about. But shout
out to the mystics. It's always nice to prove people
wrong and that's always fun. So I know that they're
having a good time doing that.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Let's talk about the Los Angeles sparks. Okay, Kelsey Plumb,
Now I do want to mention when I saw her
roll up in that suit, I should have known something
was about to go down. But thirty seven points, granted,
I just want to set the scene for y'all for
one second, because Lexi, you know I'm dramatic and I
love storyline. This is the Valkyrie's first game ever. Ever,
(30:54):
this was supposed to be about very much about that,
and that's already history in and of itself inaugural game.
But for Kelsey Plum to walk in first game with
a new team, put up thirty seven points in her debut,
and it'd be the most points scored ever in a
WNBA opener is in.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
Shout out Kelsey Plum.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
If y'all watched her in college at all, this version
of her is what you're used to seeing.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
I think that credit to her.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
For stepping into a role to win championships, and sometimes
you're like, okay, like that was fun. I won championships.
You know, I built my resume, I learned a lot.
But now I want to go maybe win some championships
over here a different way.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
So, you know, shout out to her for standing on business.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
Essentially, first game of the year, she coming in saying
this is a new Sparks era starring me Kelsey Plum.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
But again, like you saw glimpses of this scoring in
Vegas when she had the opportunity. She's someone that likes
to have the ball in her hands. She's such a
really good she's a really good ball handler, she's a
great finisher, and she's lefty. So there's always like some
special about them lefties. I wish I was left handed
because the way they play basketball is like a little unorthodox,
and it's always like it just looks sexier to me
(32:12):
left handed player.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
Really, Yeah, like I always love.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Watching lefties play basketball because it's like it's just so
different and because usually they're probably being taught by a
right handed person. But yeah, if you ask anybody about
left handed players, like one of the first things people say,
it's always like always a little unorthodox looking, but like
that's like one of my favorite parts about left handed
players is that it's just different and they're different from them, Like, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
I'm like right and watching anybody do anything with their
left handed like.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
So like even when they do things, like even when
I'm like watching Skyler do some stuff left handed, it
still looks even though that's her dominant hand, it still
looks cooler because it's her left hand, even though that's
her dominant hand. So like I'm like, damn, I wish
I was left handed, and maybe everything.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
I would do look cooler.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
But the sparks they you can tell that Kelsey's gonn
be the focal point of that team. Just two games
one and one, So that's a great way to start
the season, especially stealing one on the road.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
That's always a positive.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
So I'm looking forward to seeing if maybe she gonna
leave the league is scoring, Like I think that's something that's.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Very doable for her.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
But I know that winning is everything to her, so
she's gonna do everything she can help that team win.
So shoutout Kelsey Plumb because thirty seven and your wnbadab
what a new team is super impressive.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
And going from being somewhere that's that's Asia Wilson's team.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Period. If somebody asked me, I got interviewed before the
opener for the Liberty and they asked me, what's another
team that I could see Ajeon and I said that
they need to change the name to the a Apostrophe
ce Yes because that's her team.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
Yeah, like that's she that's stamped, Like why would she
go somewhere else? But shit, we thought that about Lebron
and Cleveland and we saw happen there.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
So yeah, but that's Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
You never know, I don't see different. That's not just
her team, that's her city, like right.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
But my point in bringing that up is like Kelsey,
like you said, fit into a certain role that she
needed to win. But it feels like her reminding everybody.
It felt like her conditioning her energy. Everything felt different,
and it felt like her stepping into this new era
and being like this is my ship, you know what
I mean? Like this is me. Let's get into the
(34:27):
Dallas Wings because you had a close and personal look
at them. I'm sure you guys were scouting them, as
you said, and got to know this team a lot
better than any of our listeners probably know. So it's
going to be really interesting to hear your perspective pagebackers.
First of all, I do want to say, yeah, she
had a great game. Listening to the broadcast, though, it's
so funny because the whole broadcast is like page, Oh
(34:49):
my god, Page passes, Oh my god, Page, Oh my god,
Page is running to the left. The whole thing. They're
watching her the whole time.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
At baby, like everybody Auntie. Everybody is Auntie and she's
Auntie's baby.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
That's literally. Sure, she had a really good game, but
I love this for her.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
She had a really good game nineteen and eight in
her second game. She had some growing pains in her
first game, but there's a clear upside to her that
we got to see against Seattle, whether or not it
ended in a win. She's a rookie getting out the kinks,
learning a new system, getting used to the physicality of
the w especially as a focal point of any offense.
(35:31):
As being paigebackers. What did you see from Page when
you played them again?
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Rookie?
Speaker 3 (35:36):
She doing some rookie things as expected, but she has
really good poise. For the most part, we had Gabby
defending her. Gabby is probably considered one of the better
defenders in the league. So to even have that as
your matchup your first season in the league speaks volumes
to what we all think of Page as a player.
(35:56):
I think that she plays basketball the right way and
she's going to be very special in this league. The
one thing about Dallas is their chemistry, and I think
that's the only thing. They have three returners from last season,
I want to say, and then an entire new, entire
new coaching stuff adding to this chemistry piece. I counted,
(36:20):
and if I counted correctly, I counted multiple times, but
I might be off by a few. There are almost
one hundred players that are either new to the w
this season or on a new team this season, and
the Holy Yes, So that's including players that are signed
that weren't on a team last year, rookies, and then
(36:42):
people who moved around.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Over one hundred and there's like almost players.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Yes, So if y'all are thinking about how crazy that is.
As far as building chemistry, almost every team except for
the Liberty and the Links are feeling that chemistry building piece.
So Dallas is one of the teams that is feeling
it the most. You have new coaches, new team, number
(37:10):
one pick, there's a lot of moving parts there. And
in their defense, like they they kept it a very
respectable game, Like we got a pretty decent lead and
they cut it to single digits multiple times, so.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
They were not going on though, like they Yeah.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
They're oning too, but like that squad could be super
successful this season once they get their chemistry right, once
they get the rotations right. But both of their games
Minnesota and Seattle is not an easy first two game
start to a seasal, and they stayed in both of
the games with a rookie leading the way. So that's
(37:50):
like a really positive sign for them. Yeah, like I said,
I was watching just like y'all, so I had a
great time.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
I did want to mention, but I will say during
the broadcast they did mention that there is obviously in
that game. Seattle was incredible, but I could see some
three point shooting from my girl Lexi being utilized. That's
all I'm going to say I'm not, and when they need.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Me to be there to do that, I will be ready.
Speaker 3 (38:21):
You know why because I have a facility to go
practice in whenever I want.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
Amen. Sister, Amen, So you gonna be getting buckets up
that Lexi stay ready.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
That's what they're gonna be saying about you, to stay ready, Alexi,
stay ready. Brown.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
That really should be my name.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
But I mean, I will say the team did look good.
It was a good win, and I was entertained. It
was great, probably because Dallas when was clawing their way
trying to get back in the game.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
Yeah, I mean I think for our team, very veteran
heavy Nekka, like, we don't win that game without Nika's performance.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
Twenty three points and eighteen boards.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
Some of the re she was grabbing, I was like,
how does she go get that? Where does she come from?
So she was not playing around, like you do not
want to start a season zero and two, And I
felt that in our team, like we have to get
this win because even like at the beginning of a season,
whether you have championship aspirations or not, that first win
(39:19):
is so important and it like gets like a weight
off your shoulder, no matter what your expectation for the
season is, like getting that first win like means everything.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
And I think that's how we was feeling.
Speaker 3 (39:32):
And then we don't want to come back to the
crib for our home opener feeling like trash because we
went on the road and came back ohing too. That
was definitely the energy in our locker room was we
need to tighten up and get this shit done. And
I felt that from the people on the court to
the people on the bench. It's great energy, and we're
all very connected and we're all very locked in. A
lot of communication goes on amongst each other with the
(39:55):
coaching staff during the game, like everyone is super engaged,
and that's something that I really enjoy, especially for somebody
trying to figure out their role on their team, where
the minutes are going to come from. It's very important
to stay engaged while these games are going on because
you really never know what's going to happen. And then
that's also another reason why I love having this show
is I was going to be locked into these games,
(40:16):
everybody's games and our games anyway, but like now I'm
like I'm at like another level.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Of locked into what's going on.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
So not only am I going to be prepared for
our games, like I might be able to help with
some scattering reports in the future because I would be
watching everybody's games. But I love watching basketball, so like
that's not even a problem for me. But coming back
one and one, stealing one on the road always very important.
And yeah, I'm excited. This season is going to be
really fun for us. Whether I play a lot a
(40:45):
little bit, like, I don't care, Like I'm just really
still very happy being in Seattle and most really.
Speaker 2 (40:51):
My health is good.
Speaker 3 (40:53):
So before anybody starts asking questions about oh she not, well, no,
I'm fine.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
It's a long season. We got forty two games left.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
Nah, stay ready, Likexi that there is never going to
be a basketball game in which or a basketball team
or whatever in which shooting is not necessary, and that
is something that you always add. So just know, y'all,
stay ready ready Blexi Brown.
Speaker 3 (41:18):
I'll be on the court soon, hopefully, guys. I promise.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
No, I'm not worried about that, Likexi, I'm not worried
about it all. Skyler actually was saying that she feels
like the Seattle team is the best team she's been Yeah,
and you spoke about this when you guys were in
training camp that the team is so deep and there's
so many ways that you can play with that roster
and what the roles are, and as long as the
communication is there with the coaching staff, with your teammates,
I feel like everything works.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
Out and we all know what our expectations are of
each other, of ourselves, and you just have to be
a professional.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
At the end of the day.
Speaker 3 (41:50):
This is our job and you got to show up
and just do what they ask you to do. And
that's all I can do, and I'm happy to do
it because this is my dream and I'm doing what
I love for living. So that's enough of that before
we go.
Speaker 1 (42:04):
Yes, let's talk about a team to watch the people
might be sleeping on, or maybe a game that you Lexi,
because now we're keeping up, y'all. I have net like
this is my first year really, Like obviously I kept
up last year because I covered it with Hoops for Hotties,
But with this I happened to keep up with Lexi
and her analysis has been so different. So what is
a game that you're circling for next week?
Speaker 3 (42:23):
Our rematch against Phoenix because they beat our ass, so
rematch for the home opener for us, I'm looking forward
to that game and then definitely just wanting to see
how the Sky bounced back from their game. I always
like seeing teams, you know, if they have a disappointing
loss or something, how they respond. That shows a lot
(42:46):
about a team, even though it's early. So I'm looking
at our home opener on Friday and then the Sky's
next game just to see how they bounce back from
the game they had over the weekend.
Speaker 1 (42:59):
For sure, I'm definitely interested to keep my eyes on Dallas,
just because we did this last year with Caitlin, like
in her first few games in the W getting use
to the physicality, defenses being focused on her, that sort
of thing, and everybody's like, she she's not going to
be able to do the things she did in college
and the W which ducked like, it's not gonna be
(43:21):
the exact same.
Speaker 2 (43:22):
But I'm curious.
Speaker 1 (43:23):
I'm ready for page to have one of those pagebackers
games for the first time in the W and so
I'm really excited about that.
Speaker 3 (43:30):
I mean, low key last night was one of the
it was it was for low Key.
Speaker 1 (43:34):
It wasn't a win.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
It wasn't a win, and so that kind of spoils it.
Speaker 3 (43:37):
Yeah, I think, yeah, when she has one of them games, like,
that's gonna be a very exciting moment for women's basketball
and for her. Did you see her dad like crying
during they like were they were like interviewing him during
their first game and he was like he was like
I already cried when she was warming up, and he
(43:58):
almost cried on camera.
Speaker 2 (44:00):
It was like the cutest thing I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (44:02):
Well, they're about to change her they're her hometown's name
to Page Wreckers.
Speaker 3 (44:06):
When she plays it, like yeah, like when they go
play mini, like, that's gonna be probably a super special
moment for her too.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
Yeah, but I don't see I don't foresee it being
the best game.
Speaker 3 (44:15):
Okay, you never know when is that game even? Oh
it's the next one. Oh it's their next game.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
Yeah oh yeah yeah.
Speaker 3 (44:24):
If Page goes for thirty, I want to be surprised.
But again, this is another they're they're a team that
needs to get that monkey off.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
They back a win.
Speaker 1 (44:32):
So it's against the thinks thirty everybody?
Speaker 2 (44:35):
Is it a pro for a reason Forriyah?
Speaker 1 (44:38):
You never know how that's true, but not.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
Playing though they're not, but they're not absolutely not.
Speaker 1 (44:44):
Obviously, you guys, we're getting away. We've been getting away
from doing this a little bit throughout training camp in
the preseason just because we've been talking for hours about
every single team. So if you haven't seen those episodes,
go watch them because they're still relevant obviously going into
the early part of the w BA. But I want
to get into giving away our flowers for this week,
whether that's to your player of the week, Lexi, a coach,
(45:07):
a person in your life, whatever the case may be,
who do you want to give your flowers to this week?
Speaker 3 (45:12):
I'm giving my flowers this week to all of our
athletes unlimited people that are on rosters this season. Currently,
there are fifteen athletes unlimited players that played in this
past season that are on rosters right now and thirty
total former and current AU players in the WNBA right now.
(45:34):
So I want to give my AU girls, former and
current their flowers because this is not an easy league
to make, and you spending a whole month with us
in Athletes Unlimited is super special. You don't have to
do it, and you're helping us build this organization and
this brand. So I'm very appreciative to all of you.
Whether you played one year or you've been here since
(45:56):
the beginning, you are greatly appreciated and very happy for
everybody that is on a roster this summer because it's not.
Speaker 1 (46:03):
Easy and I want to give my flowers to I
feel like last season we had a lot of conversations
that's why we started the show about the coverage of
the league, and while it's not perfect and there are
definitely people out there covering it still a bit irresponsibly
in my opinion, there's a lot of people, specifically black women.
I was at the Liberty's home opener that I saw
(46:25):
there covering it, and last night there was a black
woman doing the sideline reporting at your game. And just
so many people, new voices in the space, or voices
that have been around that have been covering the game
forever before it was necessarily cool or the hot button
thing to do that are really getting their flowers and
their TV time, and they have podcasts where they speak
(46:46):
about it in a positive way. I just wanted to
shout out that because I do want you guys to know,
don't get bogged down if you see any sort of
quote unquote negative coverage of the WU because there are
places like this, or there are shows that are covering it,
or they are broadcast and watch that don't feel like that,
that do want to push the game board and are
very positive, and so they're out there. I want you
to tune into them so that we can get them
(47:08):
to those high places, so they are the voices that
we're paying more attention to and talking about them.
Speaker 2 (47:12):
Absolutely, Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1 (47:15):
A lot of beautiful black women female faces covering the
league this year, and so I wanted to shout.
Speaker 2 (47:19):
Shout out to y'all.
Speaker 3 (47:20):
We appreciate y'all, and continuing to uplifting this league and
having mature basketball conversations is what we need to focus
on and not get, like you said, bocked down and
all the other negativity that seems to be the most
prevalent things on earth. Because we promise y'all, there are
people out there that are covering women's basketball the way
(47:42):
it's supposed to be covered. So we're going to try
our best to keep this place as positive and uplifting
as we can and then shed light on other platforms
that are doing the same. So I'm really excited for
this season. Week one down. Even though it felt like
it was a month long, it's only been a few days.
Speaker 1 (48:03):
Listen, y'all, it's week one of the WNBA season.
Speaker 3 (48:06):
Keep it cute, cute Okay, THANEP going here?
Speaker 2 (48:09):
Okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (48:11):
Thank you guys for tuning in to another episode of
Full Circle. Make sure you tune into Lexi's home opener.
Speaker 2 (48:18):
On I on Friday night. See y'all there, Bye.
Speaker 1 (48:22):
Y'all, thanks for listening to Full Circle. We'll be back
next week with more basketball for the girls. Bye the girls.
Speaker 2 (48:29):
We want to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (48:30):
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and tell us
what you want us to talk about. Full Circle is
hosted by Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose. Our executive producer
is Jesse Katz. Our supervising producer is Grace Fuse. Our
producer is Zoe Danklab. Listen to Full Circle on America's
number one podcast network, iHeart, open your free iHeart app
and search Full Circle with Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose
(48:52):
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.
Hello everyone, welcome back to another episode of Full Circle. Lexi,
how you doing good?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I'm good?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
You know I'm good.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:22):
I'm good. Let's just get right into it, because y'all,
me and Lexi are and are trying to get straight
to the point era. So obviously there's been drama on
and off the court already this WBA season, but today
we're keeping it cute and focused on the actual basketball
being played on the court. The games have been good,
and I have a lot of people asking for some
of the storylines around the league, So I'll get to
(00:43):
those and let Lexi give her expert analysis and bts.
As always, Lexi, as someone who just came off the
court last night, how does it feel being back and
what is the energy around the league?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Well, first, I'll adjust the elephant in the room that
I did not actually get on the.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Court last night, and you know what it'd be like that.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Sometimes this is a veteran team. I'm on I got
added to the mix a little bit late when I
got traded and I can only show up and do
my job, which is what I've been doing every day.
So we go get that out the way, acknowledge it,
and guys, I'm healthy, i feel amazing, I'm in high spirits,
and I'm really still excited about being a part of
(01:24):
the Seattle Storm team. So yeah, I just wanted to
get that out the way. As far as the energy
of this season, it's been insane. Two road games to
start the year, two pretty much sold out crowds in
Phoenix and in Dallas, so the atmosphere's have been great.
Playing on a team's home opening night is always tough.
It's a lot of energy, it's a lot of jitters.
(01:47):
Their warm up and announcement and player intros took thirty minutes.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
They got all hyped up about that.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
And then we're just sitting there watching like, dang, when
the game gonna start thirty minutes?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
It took forever.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
I don't even know if it's delivered a long ring
ceremonial that.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
It was so long, But shout out to Phoenix because
their player intros were fired.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
They did a really good job.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
But that was a rough game for us, but we
bounced back got the win in Dallas, which we'll talk
about later. But from watching on TV and being in
the arenas, like this season is already turned top like
first weekend and I'm like, oh, yeah, this season about
to be.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Special for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Definitely, definitely. I want to get into kind of team
by team, not necessarily team, but like category of teams
by team, because there were some teams that performed the
way that we expected, some teams that performed better than expected,
all the things. But let's first talk about the teams
(02:44):
that did what they were supposed to do. Okay, the
Minnesota Links are looking real dangerous. So you got an
a Fisa Collier who had an MVP level start. She
led the league with fifty seven combined points, which we'll
get into their little trio that they have going on
because they had a lot of their team this week.
But I want to know Lexi, in your opinion, what
makes her so good and what sets her game apart.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Yeah, the thing about Fee is every year she adds
something to her game, and for someone that is so talented,
the fact that every year they can add something more
is always so impressive.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
She was a rookie.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
My second year, she got drafted to the Link, so
I was able to play with her her rookie season
and immediately knew that she was going to be special.
She's super high Q, as we saw during unrivaled.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Her one on one skill is unmatched.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
She's probably one of the best two way players in
our league. One defensive Player of the Year last year
is in the conversation for MVP. Already came in second
place I think last year or third behind Angel Wilson.
So just watching her steady improvement season to season is
something that I've always respected and loved about her game.
She's in Minnesota, and if anybody knows anything about the Links,
(03:55):
like that's championship central for the WNBA. They know how
to build championship teams, and they decided to make Fee
the cornerstone of that. And we're finally seeing that come
to fruition. Y'all know how we feel about last year's finals.
So they coming back with a vengeance, and yeah, they
looked really good in their first two games.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Yeah, you mentioned her teammates and the Links knowing how
to build a championship roster and keep them because obviously
they kept their team together this year, but Jessica Shepherd
returning added some depth that they didn't have last year.
She led with eighteen rebounds, and then Courtney william Courtney
Williams led with nineteen assists. So we can expect to
see this trio leading in these categories a lot this season. LEXI,
(04:38):
as a team, what is so hard about guarding a
team that's this deep and shares the ball like that?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Yeah, I mean we watched them a little bit in
our film sessions when we were scouting for Dallas, and
we were able to watch their offense move and the
pace at which they play.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
And I've talked about this when we went through our
preseason stuff.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
They were not too high and act ual pace because
they take a lot of the shot clock to score,
but the way that they cut to the ball away
from the ball, the way they run to set screens,
the way they run to use screens, how they get
to the next action, it's something that is very hard
to defend. And this is like leading right into my
conversation that I've been having with the positionless basketball finally
(05:21):
making it to the WNBA. And if you guys don't
understand what positionless basketball means. It just means not confining
a player to their standard position. So like if you
are a six to six player, you're typically just going
to be labeled a center, But now you can step
out and play the three, the wing. We got point forwards,
power forwards, shooting guards, scoring point guards. Like there's not
(05:42):
really just five positions on the court anymore. And I
think the Links are one of the teams that are
utilizing that really well. Right now you have the four
players not only just bringing the ball up, their initiating offense.
That's something that we haven't seen in our league yet
and I think it's really impressive. And I want to
shout out Courtney Williams too, because in college and her
(06:03):
first few years in the season, like she was a
bucket getter and she still very much is a bucket getter,
but her transition from just worrying about buckets to now
assisting the ball as well, and how as efficiently as
she's doing it, it's something that people are not really
talking about that much because she makes it look so
easy and she's made the transition so seamlessly. So I
(06:24):
want to give a shout out to Courtney Williams because
the way that she took that role that she probably
didn't want at first because she's like, I'm a bucket getter.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
But the way that.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
She's made it her own and still is able to
get buckets and distribute the ball, the Links are a
dangerous team and they're not even they don't even have
Caleb McBride yet.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
She hasn't even played yet.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
I want to know how difficult this is. I was
going to get this later in the episode, but what
you just said made me think of it. Being able
to move the ball like that and taking up the
shot clock in the WNBA is so hard because it
is so physical. Yeah, I know a lot of people
who are you to watching are shocked by the physicality.
But watching, I mean, the refs really let y'all out.
(07:07):
To be honest, they do, and y'all play defense. Lexi
talks about it all the time. So being able to
move the ball like that in the WNBA, it's not
no walk in the park because they're for real trying
to stop you.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
There's a beauty in being able to execute. And some
people might think it's boring or they like to see
fast offense, but yeah, there's a time and place for that,
and I think that at the end of the day,
the teams that know how to execute down the stretch are.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
The most successful.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
And it's just so heartbreaking when you have a you
have a really good defensive possession and it gets to
like the last three seconds and like they just run
at action.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
You're like, damn it, and then they score.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Like that's like more demoralizing than someone dribbling down and
throwing up like a random three in transition, Like you're like, damn, okay, she.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Got that one.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
But when they like out execute your defensive scheme, that
shit is so frustrating to the team, to a bench,
to the coaching stuff. It's like, damn, we did everything
right and they still out executed our plans. So I
think that's something that sets the Links apart. It sets
Celeberty apart Vegas when they're at their best. I think
(08:13):
we can get to that point as well. But there's
a lot of teams, you know, with a lot of
change going on, and I think at some point it
gets to like the out execution. We're seeing that in
the NBA playoffs. It turns into a chess match, But
our entire season is a chess match, Like we don't
just wait till the playoffs to turn games into two
chess matches. So that's something that I've always really appreciated
(08:34):
about the women's game.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah, the urgency is obvious throughout the whole league. I
watched y'alls game last night, you know that, and like
even like the way that Skyler was playing. I'm like
the urgency, y'all. But yeah, well we'll talk about that
a little later. You mentioned the Liberty. Okay, let's talk
about this because I was actually at the Liberty's home opener.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
What outfit did you wear?
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Okay? So I was gonna wear I can tell y'all
this on full circle. This is I didn't talk about
this takes, but I was gonna wear the Liberty jersey
that everyone in the comments told me told me to wear.
But I actually was on the trip with a brand,
y'all all gotta see. I was there for night and
they told me that there was like issues and I
couldn't wear the jersey.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Any of the jerseys, or just the Liberty jersey.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
The jersey period. Okay, Okay, So I wore the same
outfit that I was gonna wear with the jersey, just
with a black tank top, but I was very sad
about it. But at least you guys got to see
the outfit.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah, my vote was for the Liberty jersey. If you care.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
People offended in the comments, they're like, don't try to
play villain like it's their ringing ceremony. I was like, I.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Just I just want to look cute at the game. Goddamn.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
I just like the jersey, like the I liked how
the Asia jersey had the little like v neck. I
thought that was cute, but.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
It is not that deep.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
But I do want to say that Men's Woman's draw
whatever was one of the most like positive and fun
basketball environments I've ever been in my life. When I
say it was so loud. Their fans do not play
about the liberty at all. And this isn't a new
(10:08):
thing for them either, not an empty seat in the house.
Nobody is like trying to be cute and like quiet,
like everybody's yelling, everybody's excited. Granted it was their ring nights,
so spirits were very high, but that environment was insane.
And you would think with a powerhouse like celebrity wise
like Asia, when like Steph Curry goes to a game
it's like half the people are there to see staff
(10:29):
and then half the people are there to see the
actual team. Oh no, no, no no, this is liberty, like
thank god.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
No. Fans are very they're very loyal to the home team.
Oh loyal except for the La fans, but everywhere else right,
very loyal. But yeah, La they were fans very finicky
out there, but everywhere else like that. But that's for
every Yeah, La fans. Sports fans are just so like
(10:55):
la la la la la whatever.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Atlanta sports fans can be like that too, but here
to get.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Off dream games. Beat times on Thursday, who do they
play the Fever? Oh yeah, that's gonna be tard to. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Oh is that the big arena? Oh yeah, that's that's
maybe lit in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I'm so excited. Yeah, and then I'm I'm working on
going to I need to get my tickets. But going
on Saturday when they play the Wings too.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Make sure y'all if y'all are in a WNBA city,
make sure y'all pull up to a game. Like they're
really fun and everything. A new person to go to
a game, they always have a great time.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
They're so fun. Their energy is unlike anything else and
the Liberty Game. Would I say Ellie the Elephant did
a thirteen minute halftime performance to Nicki minaj Pe.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
I need to find out who was inside of that
mascot outfit.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
All of the creators were debating if we think that
it's actually a girl or if it's a gay man.
And I think that it's a gay man because it's
giving like cheerlead.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
I feel like there's not there's just not one person
in there. Oh, I feel like there's like an Ellie
the Elephant group And they wrote that's too many. She
could be on the move too much. There's no way
one person could do all of this or they can.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
I mean, y'all do the players do?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Yeah, but no, we don't. I couldn't do what Ellie
Elephant does. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
She's an influencer, a dancer, one of the cheerleaders. But anyways,
besides that, let's talk about how they absolutely dominated the
aces in their season open air.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Again.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
The atmosphere was incredible, but the champs were doing champ things.
I do want to note that their championship rings LEXI
first WNBA championship rings or I guess championship rings. Ever,
that open up and become that. I saw they were
designed by black sisters from Brettfire.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Yeah, I saw it on TikTok, the Jason of Beverly Hills.
TikTok I said, oh wow, I looked at my championship
ring and said, oh.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I looked at my championship ring flaky and shine. I
don't want that lex about us.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Those rings were gorgeous and looks something about that sea
foam color like it just makes everything just seems so
like elite. I don't know, that's like such a like
a cute different color that you don't ever really see anywhere.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Really, Yeah, it's and it was all up and through
the arena, it was beautiful. But on the court, I
want to talk about Natasha Cloud because she really stuck
out to me. My manager actually called her what she
call her like a pit bowl or like that kind
of energy, like you could tell that she really has
a chip on her shoulder from she was upset that
she wasn't on the ballot for Defensive Failure of the
(13:37):
Year last year, and she obviously was upset by her
trade situation, but to be in New York with that
fan base that was totally behind her and to have
a little bit of her hand on everything on both
sides of the floor. She definitely made an impact in
her first game.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
I think the thing about Tash that is very underrated
is her adaptability to different situations. I have never seen
her on a team where she doesn't immediately become the
vocal leader, the presence, and the commander in chief of
that team. And she doesn't do it in like a star.
(14:13):
This my shit now, like I'm here, I'm taking it.
It's like she plays a certain way and she demands
a certain type of energy from everybody around her, and
everyone just like gravitates towards her. So I feel like
she like took the Liberty, who are always already an
excellent team, and brought them up to a whole new level.
(14:34):
Tash is going to be a Hall of Famer. I'm
pretty sure she will be. She's a WNBA champion. I
got to play with her and athletes unlimited. I love
being on the court with her. This whole moment this
season for her, I think is so special because she
deserves it and she earns it. And I can't remember
what year it was, but when she played the Liberty
and the playoffs and almost willed her team to beating
(14:57):
the Liberty by herself.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
She gain the respect from that organization.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
So for her, and I'll be part of that organization,
I know that has given her like a whole extra
ounce of energy that she didn't even really need. But
Natasha Cloud with a battery in her back is a terrifying,
scary Natasha Cloud. But I'm so happy for her that
she's in that situation and she played well and she
fit right in, and I think that's something that everybody
(15:22):
obviously had questions about. It is like, how is she
going to fit in with this group that's already won
a championship very easily clearly, So shout out to the Liberty.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Steuwie had a great game. JJ had a great.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Stewie dropped twenty five on ten or fourteen sears.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
All three of them, I think two of them had
almost double doubles, and then someone.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Actually had a double double.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
So I don't know what.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
The stat is on that when the last time three
players on a team had double doubles. But if that's
the type of energy the Liberty are playing with, then
everyone else needs to tighten up and get ready. To
rebound and get ready to defend, because that's also something
that we talked about with the Liberty was, you know,
defensively they kind of like, we're just gonna outscore you.
But now they have that edge on defense now, so
(16:04):
this is a dangerous team as well.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
But we knew that already.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Yeah, and it was a lot of obviously I believe
it was Stewie. Was it Stuwie or Sabrina that came
out and said that they would consider their rivals to
be the Aces.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
I don't know who said that, but that's about somebody
said that today.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
That sounds about right.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Yeah, that somebody said that today. They were asked who
do you think your rivals are in league and they
said the Aces. It was either Stuwiet or Sabrina. But
my point in saying that is.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Great because Minnesota over there like day what about.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Thank you for ye Anyway, there was obviously people take
I don't know if it's because y'all are women or
whatever it is, but take that sort of fire between
two teams as almost oh they don't like each other.
But being there, it just felt it was so competitive.
It was like on the court. It was something that
we criticize the men's side a little bit for now, like,
(16:55):
oh okay, we don't want to see all on podcasts
and kumbaya and everything when you're on the court. Y'all
can do that later. And it was so funny because
it was like as soon as the game tipped off,
it was like, I'm ready to rip your head off,
Like the physicality is insane. I've never watched that close
besides like All Star the All Star Game, and you
don't get to see the true physicality in an All
(17:17):
Star game. But I was sitting right behind the Aces
bench and to just see the way, like it gets
so physical, the way that they're talking to each other.
I don't think Tosh stopped chirping at the Aces from
the time the game began to win the Fat Lady second.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
That sounds about the entire time.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
But it's crazy because people are being super critical about
the physicality and the super competitiveness of our game. But
like being a part of this league for eight years,
like there's so much love and respect between players inside
those lines, and I think that's why we're able to
(17:55):
compete and be physical at such a high level because
there is that respect level. I have to give you
my best are you gonna whoop my ass?
Speaker 2 (18:02):
And vice versa.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
So I think that's something that's so special that that
needs to be celebrated more and it doesn't need to
result in multiple think pieces or oh, she doesn't like
this one, she doesn't like that one. No, not everybody
is besties, but this is a competition at the end
of the day, like everyone's trying to win at the
end of the day. Like I said, the energy from
this season, and I think people I need people to
(18:24):
be reminded that almost the entire league are free agents
next year, so almost everybody playing for a new contract.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Wow, that's a great point.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
So this season is something different.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
You're not only trying to rip the hat off of
your opponent, but you're also low key trying to impress their.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Your front office, their front office, the team over an
air in office.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Like I will say, I am not one of those players.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
I am under a contract for next year, so this
that doesn't apply to me. That doesn't mean I'm going
to play any less harder than everybody else. But right
that's like the reality of the situation is like a
lot of these players, you know, you got.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
To say that, because otherwise all the comments going to
be like, oh.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Yeah, I want to have a big I want to
see that new money too, but I won't be able
to see it until after next year.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Right, Yeah, it is what it is. Let's move on
to the game.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
As far as people watching, I believe it was what
it was the most watched w NBA game on ESPN
platforms ever, which is crazy. There was like two point
two million people watching it.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Shout out to that game though. That's an amazing that's
an amazing viewership number. So let's keep that in mind too.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
How as far as the positive things from this.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Oh yeah, obviously we've already discussed that. We're now Yeah,
but that is incredible, and I mean they play each
other four more times, so I'm sure the next one
will beat it. But anyway, yeah, I'm sure the next
one will be that. But the Indiana Fever played the
Chicago Sky and their season opener, Caitlyn Clark had at
triple double twenty ten to ten. LEXI I'm curious. We
(20:08):
talked a little bit about this in our season preview episode.
Will Caitlyn Clark lead the league and assists again?
Speaker 3 (20:14):
I think so, And I think The next person that
could probably catch her or be close is surprisingly Alyssa Thomas.
Not surprisingly, she was third last year, but her being
on a new team and getting used to new teammates
might make that number be a little bit lower or
it can be a lot higher. I think if we're
talking about who can lead the league and assists, it's
(20:34):
Caitlin Clark is at the top of that list for sure.
Her vision, I don't think it could get any better
from last season, and now she has players that are
like excellent cutters, movers are always in the right spot.
She even said it, I think they said it on
the telecast, like she'll be playing with Natasha Howard and
then all of a sudden, she gonna look up and
(20:56):
she's like, dang, when does she get fourteen points? Once
does she get fifteen points? And that's how to toacha
how it is always played. She's like a silent assassin.
She could definitely lead the league and assists. You probably
can even average more assists this year than last year,
which would be incredible, But it is definitely possible with
this team.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
I want to talk about their defense. I have a
question for you, because you know better than I do.
Looking based on the eye test, their defense held Chicago
to twenty nine percent shooting. Right me, watching, I felt
like the Chicago Sky's offense really didn't look great at
any point. But I don't know if that's due to
(21:31):
the Indiana fever and they have players now that are
all impacting both ends of the floor, or if this
is more of an issue with the Chicago skuy Obviously
they're adjusting to a new coaching staff and everything, but
if that's more of an issue with something that the
Chicago Sky need to address going forward, I.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Think that Indiana added more defensive pieces to their team.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Team defense is key.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
You can have really good individual one on one defenders,
but if your team isn't synchronized as far as playing
team defense, and it doesn't matter how good of your
individual defenders are. With Chicago, it's just one game. I
don't think anybody needs to overreact. This is a completely
new roster, new coaching staff, and again, home openers on
(22:18):
the road are so hard to play in and I
can't even like the environment, and an Indiana fever home
opener is probably it was insane.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
We saw it.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
I don't even want to say anything about the Chicago
offense or anything like that because it's one game, right
and a relatively young team. Yeah, and it's just like
a lot of new pieces. I mean, I'll bring our
game up. We lost by thirty two in our first game,
and then the next game it was like a completely
(22:49):
different team emerged. So it just sometimes happens that way.
You got to get the kings out. You don't really
know how everyone is going to respond or react, and
like when the lights are on, not saying that anybody
responded in a bad way, but it's like a just
a different energy to different environment. The stakes are high now,
so I wouldn't overreact to the Chicago offense of woes.
(23:11):
We had a very similar issue in our whole our first.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Game of the year, and came back and bounced back
just fine.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
I think it's more of a credit to the Indiana
Fever and the team that they put together, because they
put together a contending team and I think everybody saw that.
But again, first game of the year, so it's just
like you can have, you know, think what you want,
feel what you want, but nothing to really even formulate
a true opinion on because it's so early in the year.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Like you said perfectly. The Indiana Fever ar championship contender
now with two back to back number one picks, which
I want to get into a Leah Boston's impact in
a second, but I just feel like going into a champion,
a new league championship contending rosters arena on opening night,
especially with a player like Caitlin Clark with the select
(24:00):
that she has and all the buzz surrounding her, it
would be hard for any team, especially a team that's
in more of a rebuilding sort of mode with the
new coaching staff and trying out new things. Like we
talked about this in our preseason video, like talking about
what to look forward to for every single team. So
they're just adjusting. Lexi said, let's not overreact. I do
(24:22):
want to ask, because obviously Caitlyn is that girl and
triple double probably will lead the league in a sayes
as you said, but Aliah Boston, they had a number
one pick the year before Caitlyn. If y'all don't know,
which is crazy. Aliah Boston, if you could explain to
our audience, what is a Leah Boston's impact on the
(24:43):
Indiana Fever.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
I think she just brings just an energy in the paint,
but she's not super paint dominant anymore. We saw her
picking and popping, we saw her hitting threes. She's catching
those passes that she was getting used to from last season.
Her growth from last year this year already has been
super impressive, and she looks like she's having a lot
(25:05):
of fun out there, and I think that's also really important.
They brought some veterans in to probably take a little
bit of that load off of her leadership wise, because
she is absolutely a leader of that team. But when
you bring in veterans like Dewanna Bonner and Natasha Howard
and Sophie Cunningham who know what it's like to be
on winning teams and make deep playoff runs, I think
it makes Eliah's job a lot easier. This team is
(25:28):
like following the trajectory of the Vegas team that was
able to get a few number one picks back to back,
add some pieces in free agency, and then decide to
whoop up on the entire league for a few years.
So some being fun exactly, and it just seems like
that might be the formula.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
I think you can't.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
Yes, you can buy super teams, you can buy talented teams,
but sometimes they can in fact be built, and I
think that's what the Aces showed us. The Fever are
showing this right now. And then also we have to
shout out de Wanna Bonner now that we've mentioned her
on becoming third all time leading score in WNBA history,
which is amazing, just just third behind Tina Charles and
(26:12):
Diana Tarassi. So we want to give dB her flowers
because that is not an easy feat. That's a lot
of buckets, that's a lot of points, and she's a
two time champion, six time All Star, three times six woman,
multiple All wnbas and almost had seventy five.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Hundred career points.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
So shout out to Dewanna Bonner because that's something that
shouldn't be glazed over at all.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
That's such an amazing achievement.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
And the way the Fever went out of their way
to make sure she got that number on opening night.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
That's people. Oh they was stat chasing that. No, that's
a team.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Having a player like that on your roster, That impact
goes far beyond the stat sheet and to have that
for your two number one picks. Back and back, you
mentioned Ali Kit taking on that role of a leader,
that could have been a little harder for her last year.
Anybody going from being the leader in college and being
(27:08):
like top dog to coming into the w where it's
already new for you and your number one pick and
you're the rookie beer also expected to lead. I remember
Earlia talking about last year she had to get off
social media and she had to refocus. And so to
see her smiling and laughing even about something it's funny,
is like getting that tech in the post game, like
is so incredible. So to see her shining and to
(27:29):
see like this team chemistry, I feel like it's going
to be really fun.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Also, yeah, it's starting early, but again long season, but
the Fever look good.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
They look good and dangerous.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Let's talk about some early overachievers because I already know
that people are gonna come for us as the season goes.
Like Lexie said, it's still early, so let's not overreact
to the first couple of games. But we got to
give credit where credited. Stack the Washington Mistick. Yep, they
were projected to be at the bottom of the league
and are starting off undefeated two and zero at the
time of us filming this on Tuesday, Brittany sykeses in
(28:03):
her bag combined forty two points and twelve assists. In
shout at Kiki Eria Fenn and Sonya starting and producing.
That's two rookies on their starting line out that are
not only just starting in the WNBA for the first
time I've heard, which is crazy.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
Yeah, I want to shout out to a lot of
the rookies in this league right now because a lot
of them are coming into these teams and playing very
important parts in their teams, winning their team's offenses, their defenses.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
So I want to.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Shout out to this rookie class because they're doing their thing.
And yes, Sonya and Kiki the way they've come out,
but like we said, like they came out like sometimes
the best way to start a season is like with
no expectations and you get to play more free and
lean on each other. And we said that the veterans
are going to have to step up and show what
they can do. And I'm not surprised Brittany Sykes came
(28:55):
out hooping like she's been hooping. She's been a hooper
since I've known her, and I've known her for a
long time time, so I'm not surprised by Sykes coming
out playing the way she's playing. I think Sonya was
one of the most underrated players in college basketball the
last few seasons. She's so smart, she's so efficient, she's
deceivingly athletic as hell. And then Kiki, I think, you know,
(29:19):
sometimes you play in college and sometimes your game is
pro ready, and you can't really see that in the
college atmosphere.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
You know, the spacing's different.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
You know, you have a lot more stars, like she's
playing next to Juju Watkins like you probably. And then
every time Juju was having an off game or after
even she got injured, Keke picked up all that slack,
so she showed glimpses of her ability to score the
ball and rebound the ball throughout her college career. So, yes,
it's they are overachieving, for sure, but we always say
(29:48):
everybody's in this league for a reason. Those are two
first round picks, so I'm not completely surprised at their start, but.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
They'll see if they can keep it going.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
But now you get these first two games are kind
of like a fake thing because no one has your offense,
no one knows your defenses. You're like, not no one
has scouted you, really yet so when we get into
like the ten fifteen game mark, that's.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
When everybody's gonna have multiple games played.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Offensive calls are going to be scouted, you know, And
that's when teams start to separate themselves, when it becomes
the chess match that we was talking about. But shout
out to the mystics. It's always nice to prove people
wrong and that's always fun. So I know that they're
having a good time doing that.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Let's talk about the Los Angeles sparks. Okay, Kelsey Plumb,
Now I do want to mention when I saw her
roll up in that suit, I should have known something
was about to go down. But thirty seven points, granted,
I just want to set the scene for y'all for
one second, because Lexi, you know I'm dramatic and I
love storyline. This is the Valkyrie's first game ever. Ever,
(30:54):
this was supposed to be about very much about that,
and that's already history in and of itself inaugural game.
But for Kelsey Plum to walk in first game with
a new team, put up thirty seven points in her debut,
and it'd be the most points scored ever in a
WNBA opener is in.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
Shout out Kelsey Plum.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
If y'all watched her in college at all, this version
of her is what you're used to seeing.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
I think that credit to her.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
For stepping into a role to win championships, and sometimes
you're like, okay, like that was fun. I won championships.
You know, I built my resume, I learned a lot.
But now I want to go maybe win some championships
over here a different way.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
So, you know, shout out to her for standing on business.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
Essentially, first game of the year, she coming in saying
this is a new Sparks era starring me Kelsey Plum.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
But again, like you saw glimpses of this scoring in
Vegas when she had the opportunity. She's someone that likes
to have the ball in her hands. She's such a
really good she's a really good ball handler, she's a
great finisher, and she's lefty. So there's always like some
special about them lefties. I wish I was left handed
because the way they play basketball is like a little unorthodox,
and it's always like it just looks sexier to me
(32:12):
left handed player.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
Really, Yeah, like I always love.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Watching lefties play basketball because it's like it's just so
different and because usually they're probably being taught by a
right handed person. But yeah, if you ask anybody about
left handed players, like one of the first things people say,
it's always like always a little unorthodox looking, but like
that's like one of my favorite parts about left handed
players is that it's just different and they're different from them, Like, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
I'm like right and watching anybody do anything with their
left handed like.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
So like even when they do things, like even when
I'm like watching Skyler do some stuff left handed, it
still looks even though that's her dominant hand, it still
looks cooler because it's her left hand, even though that's
her dominant hand. So like I'm like, damn, I wish
I was left handed, and maybe everything.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
I would do look cooler.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
But the sparks they you can tell that Kelsey's gonn
be the focal point of that team. Just two games
one and one, So that's a great way to start
the season, especially stealing one on the road.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
That's always a positive.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
So I'm looking forward to seeing if maybe she gonna
leave the league is scoring, Like I think that's something that's.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Very doable for her.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
But I know that winning is everything to her, so
she's gonna do everything she can help that team win.
So shoutout Kelsey Plumb because thirty seven and your wnbadab
what a new team is super impressive.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
And going from being somewhere that's that's Asia Wilson's team.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Period. If somebody asked me, I got interviewed before the
opener for the Liberty and they asked me, what's another
team that I could see Ajeon and I said that
they need to change the name to the a Apostrophe
ce Yes because that's her team.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
Yeah, like that's she that's stamped, Like why would she
go somewhere else? But shit, we thought that about Lebron
and Cleveland and we saw happen there.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
So yeah, but that's Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
You never know, I don't see different. That's not just
her team, that's her city, like right.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
But my point in bringing that up is like Kelsey,
like you said, fit into a certain role that she
needed to win. But it feels like her reminding everybody.
It felt like her conditioning her energy. Everything felt different,
and it felt like her stepping into this new era
and being like this is my ship, you know what
I mean? Like this is me. Let's get into the
(34:27):
Dallas Wings because you had a close and personal look
at them. I'm sure you guys were scouting them, as
you said, and got to know this team a lot
better than any of our listeners probably know. So it's
going to be really interesting to hear your perspective pagebackers.
First of all, I do want to say, yeah, she
had a great game. Listening to the broadcast, though, it's
so funny because the whole broadcast is like page, Oh
(34:49):
my god, Page passes, Oh my god, Page, Oh my god,
Page is running to the left. The whole thing. They're
watching her the whole time.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
At baby, like everybody Auntie. Everybody is Auntie and she's
Auntie's baby.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
That's literally. Sure, she had a really good game, but
I love this for her.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
She had a really good game nineteen and eight in
her second game. She had some growing pains in her
first game, but there's a clear upside to her that
we got to see against Seattle, whether or not it
ended in a win. She's a rookie getting out the kinks,
learning a new system, getting used to the physicality of
the w especially as a focal point of any offense.
(35:31):
As being paigebackers. What did you see from Page when
you played them again?
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Rookie?
Speaker 3 (35:36):
She doing some rookie things as expected, but she has
really good poise. For the most part, we had Gabby
defending her. Gabby is probably considered one of the better
defenders in the league. So to even have that as
your matchup your first season in the league speaks volumes
to what we all think of Page as a player.
(35:56):
I think that she plays basketball the right way and
she's going to be very special in this league. The
one thing about Dallas is their chemistry, and I think
that's the only thing. They have three returners from last season,
I want to say, and then an entire new, entire
new coaching stuff adding to this chemistry piece. I counted,
(36:20):
and if I counted correctly, I counted multiple times, but
I might be off by a few. There are almost
one hundred players that are either new to the w
this season or on a new team this season, and
the Holy Yes, So that's including players that are signed
that weren't on a team last year, rookies, and then
(36:42):
people who moved around.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Over one hundred and there's like almost players.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Yes, So if y'all are thinking about how crazy that is.
As far as building chemistry, almost every team except for
the Liberty and the Links are feeling that chemistry building piece.
So Dallas is one of the teams that is feeling
it the most. You have new coaches, new team, number
(37:10):
one pick, there's a lot of moving parts there. And
in their defense, like they they kept it a very
respectable game, Like we got a pretty decent lead and
they cut it to single digits multiple times, so.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
They were not going on though, like they Yeah.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
They're oning too, but like that squad could be super
successful this season once they get their chemistry right, once
they get the rotations right. But both of their games
Minnesota and Seattle is not an easy first two game
start to a seasal, and they stayed in both of
the games with a rookie leading the way. So that's
(37:50):
like a really positive sign for them. Yeah, like I said,
I was watching just like y'all, so I had a
great time.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
I did want to mention, but I will say during
the broadcast they did mention that there is obviously in
that game. Seattle was incredible, but I could see some
three point shooting from my girl Lexi being utilized. That's
all I'm going to say I'm not, and when they need.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Me to be there to do that, I will be ready.
Speaker 3 (38:21):
You know why because I have a facility to go
practice in whenever I want.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
Amen. Sister, Amen, So you gonna be getting buckets up
that Lexi stay ready.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
That's what they're gonna be saying about you, to stay ready, Alexi,
stay ready. Brown.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
That really should be my name.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
But I mean, I will say the team did look good.
It was a good win, and I was entertained. It
was great, probably because Dallas when was clawing their way
trying to get back in the game.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
Yeah, I mean I think for our team, very veteran
heavy Nekka, like, we don't win that game without Nika's performance.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
Twenty three points and eighteen boards.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
Some of the re she was grabbing, I was like,
how does she go get that? Where does she come from?
So she was not playing around, like you do not
want to start a season zero and two, And I
felt that in our team, like we have to get
this win because even like at the beginning of a season,
whether you have championship aspirations or not, that first win
(39:19):
is so important and it like gets like a weight
off your shoulder, no matter what your expectation for the
season is, like getting that first win like means everything.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
And I think that's how we was feeling.
Speaker 3 (39:32):
And then we don't want to come back to the
crib for our home opener feeling like trash because we
went on the road and came back ohing too. That
was definitely the energy in our locker room was we
need to tighten up and get this shit done. And
I felt that from the people on the court to
the people on the bench. It's great energy, and we're
all very connected and we're all very locked in. A
lot of communication goes on amongst each other with the
(39:55):
coaching staff during the game, like everyone is super engaged,
and that's something that I really enjoy, especially for somebody
trying to figure out their role on their team, where
the minutes are going to come from. It's very important
to stay engaged while these games are going on because
you really never know what's going to happen. And then
that's also another reason why I love having this show
is I was going to be locked into these games,
(40:16):
everybody's games and our games anyway, but like now I'm
like I'm at like another level.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Of locked into what's going on.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
So not only am I going to be prepared for
our games, like I might be able to help with
some scattering reports in the future because I would be
watching everybody's games. But I love watching basketball, so like
that's not even a problem for me. But coming back
one and one, stealing one on the road always very important.
And yeah, I'm excited. This season is going to be
really fun for us. Whether I play a lot a
(40:45):
little bit, like, I don't care, Like I'm just really
still very happy being in Seattle and most really.
Speaker 2 (40:51):
My health is good.
Speaker 3 (40:53):
So before anybody starts asking questions about oh she not, well, no,
I'm fine.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
It's a long season. We got forty two games left.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
Nah, stay ready, Likexi that there is never going to
be a basketball game in which or a basketball team
or whatever in which shooting is not necessary, and that
is something that you always add. So just know, y'all,
stay ready ready Blexi Brown.
Speaker 3 (41:18):
I'll be on the court soon, hopefully, guys. I promise.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
No, I'm not worried about that, Likexi, I'm not worried
about it all. Skyler actually was saying that she feels
like the Seattle team is the best team she's been Yeah,
and you spoke about this when you guys were in
training camp that the team is so deep and there's
so many ways that you can play with that roster
and what the roles are, and as long as the
communication is there with the coaching staff, with your teammates,
I feel like everything works.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
Out and we all know what our expectations are of
each other, of ourselves, and you just have to be
a professional.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
At the end of the day.
Speaker 3 (41:50):
This is our job and you got to show up
and just do what they ask you to do. And
that's all I can do, and I'm happy to do
it because this is my dream and I'm doing what
I love for living. So that's enough of that before
we go.
Speaker 1 (42:04):
Yes, let's talk about a team to watch the people
might be sleeping on, or maybe a game that you Lexi,
because now we're keeping up, y'all. I have net like
this is my first year really, Like obviously I kept
up last year because I covered it with Hoops for Hotties,
But with this I happened to keep up with Lexi
and her analysis has been so different. So what is
a game that you're circling for next week?
Speaker 3 (42:23):
Our rematch against Phoenix because they beat our ass, so
rematch for the home opener for us, I'm looking forward
to that game and then definitely just wanting to see
how the Sky bounced back from their game. I always
like seeing teams, you know, if they have a disappointing
loss or something, how they respond. That shows a lot
(42:46):
about a team, even though it's early. So I'm looking
at our home opener on Friday and then the Sky's
next game just to see how they bounce back from
the game they had over the weekend.
Speaker 1 (42:59):
For sure, I'm definitely interested to keep my eyes on Dallas,
just because we did this last year with Caitlin, like
in her first few games in the W getting use
to the physicality, defenses being focused on her, that sort
of thing, and everybody's like, she she's not going to
be able to do the things she did in college
and the W which ducked like, it's not gonna be
(43:21):
the exact same.
Speaker 2 (43:22):
But I'm curious.
Speaker 1 (43:23):
I'm ready for page to have one of those pagebackers
games for the first time in the W and so
I'm really excited about that.
Speaker 3 (43:30):
I mean, low key last night was one of the
it was it was for low Key.
Speaker 1 (43:34):
It wasn't a win.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
It wasn't a win, and so that kind of spoils it.
Speaker 3 (43:37):
Yeah, I think, yeah, when she has one of them games, like,
that's gonna be a very exciting moment for women's basketball
and for her. Did you see her dad like crying
during they like were they were like interviewing him during
their first game and he was like he was like
I already cried when she was warming up, and he
(43:58):
almost cried on camera.
Speaker 2 (44:00):
It was like the cutest thing I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (44:02):
Well, they're about to change her they're her hometown's name
to Page Wreckers.
Speaker 3 (44:06):
When she plays it, like yeah, like when they go
play mini, like, that's gonna be probably a super special
moment for her too.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
Yeah, but I don't see I don't foresee it being
the best game.
Speaker 3 (44:15):
Okay, you never know when is that game even? Oh
it's the next one. Oh it's their next game.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
Yeah oh yeah yeah.
Speaker 3 (44:24):
If Page goes for thirty, I want to be surprised.
But again, this is another they're they're a team that
needs to get that monkey off.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
They back a win.
Speaker 1 (44:32):
So it's against the thinks thirty everybody?
Speaker 2 (44:35):
Is it a pro for a reason Forriyah?
Speaker 1 (44:38):
You never know how that's true, but not.
Speaker 2 (44:41):
Playing though they're not, but they're not absolutely not.
Speaker 1 (44:44):
Obviously, you guys, we're getting away. We've been getting away
from doing this a little bit throughout training camp in
the preseason just because we've been talking for hours about
every single team. So if you haven't seen those episodes,
go watch them because they're still relevant obviously going into
the early part of the w BA. But I want
to get into giving away our flowers for this week,
whether that's to your player of the week, Lexi, a coach,
(45:07):
a person in your life, whatever the case may be,
who do you want to give your flowers to this week?
Speaker 3 (45:12):
I'm giving my flowers this week to all of our
athletes unlimited people that are on rosters this season. Currently,
there are fifteen athletes unlimited players that played in this
past season that are on rosters right now and thirty
total former and current AU players in the WNBA right now.
(45:34):
So I want to give my AU girls, former and
current their flowers because this is not an easy league
to make, and you spending a whole month with us
in Athletes Unlimited is super special. You don't have to
do it, and you're helping us build this organization and
this brand. So I'm very appreciative to all of you.
Whether you played one year or you've been here since
(45:56):
the beginning, you are greatly appreciated and very happy for
everybody that is on a roster this summer because it's not.
Speaker 1 (46:03):
Easy and I want to give my flowers to I
feel like last season we had a lot of conversations
that's why we started the show about the coverage of
the league, and while it's not perfect and there are
definitely people out there covering it still a bit irresponsibly
in my opinion, there's a lot of people, specifically black women.
I was at the Liberty's home opener that I saw
(46:25):
there covering it, and last night there was a black
woman doing the sideline reporting at your game. And just
so many people, new voices in the space, or voices
that have been around that have been covering the game
forever before it was necessarily cool or the hot button
thing to do that are really getting their flowers and
their TV time, and they have podcasts where they speak
(46:46):
about it in a positive way. I just wanted to
shout out that because I do want you guys to know,
don't get bogged down if you see any sort of
quote unquote negative coverage of the WU because there are
places like this, or there are shows that are covering it,
or they are broadcast and watch that don't feel like that,
that do want to push the game board and are
very positive, and so they're out there. I want you
to tune into them so that we can get them
(47:08):
to those high places, so they are the voices that
we're paying more attention to and talking about them.
Speaker 2 (47:12):
Absolutely, Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1 (47:15):
A lot of beautiful black women female faces covering the
league this year, and so I wanted to shout.
Speaker 2 (47:19):
Shout out to y'all.
Speaker 3 (47:20):
We appreciate y'all, and continuing to uplifting this league and
having mature basketball conversations is what we need to focus
on and not get, like you said, bocked down and
all the other negativity that seems to be the most
prevalent things on earth. Because we promise y'all, there are
people out there that are covering women's basketball the way
(47:42):
it's supposed to be covered. So we're going to try
our best to keep this place as positive and uplifting
as we can and then shed light on other platforms
that are doing the same. So I'm really excited for
this season. Week one down. Even though it felt like
it was a month long, it's only been a few days.
Speaker 1 (48:03):
Listen, y'all, it's week one of the WNBA season.
Speaker 3 (48:06):
Keep it cute, cute Okay, THANEP going here?
Speaker 2 (48:09):
Okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (48:11):
Thank you guys for tuning in to another episode of
Full Circle. Make sure you tune into Lexi's home opener.
Speaker 2 (48:18):
On I on Friday night. See y'all there, Bye.
Speaker 1 (48:22):
Y'all, thanks for listening to Full Circle. We'll be back
next week with more basketball for the girls. Bye the girls.
Speaker 2 (48:29):
We want to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (48:30):
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and tell us
what you want us to talk about. Full Circle is
hosted by Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose. Our executive producer
is Jesse Katz. Our supervising producer is Grace Fuse. Our
producer is Zoe Danklab. Listen to Full Circle on America's
number one podcast network, iHeart, open your free iHeart app
and search Full Circle with Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose
(48:52):
and start listening.
Hosts And Creators
Lexie Brown
Mariah Rose
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