February 5, 2025 • 45 mins
On this episode of Full Circle, Lexie and Mariah have LOTS to talk about. They discuss trades, team strategy and outstanding question marks as WNBA Free Agency comes to a close. There’s the promise of LA getting a practice facility, the hype around building a championship team in Indiana and what the future looks like for the Connecticut Sun. Plus, Lexie and Mariah's thoughts on the Luka trade... Tune in next week to hear more basketball by the girls, for the girls.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Full Circle is an Iheartwoman's sports production and partnership with
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Hey yo, welcome back to another episode of Full Circle.
Today we got to get into some crazy free agency stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Lexi emergency pod, emergency pod. Literally two weeks into the show,
we already have to have an emergency pod. That's crazy.
I first see some more emergency pods once the w
season actually starts, So this is like a good practice
run for us.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
I think exactly exactly. I've been seeing all of the
crazy moves being made in free agency in the WNBA,
and I have to get your thoughts tell some of
my thoughts. Like first, we like before we get into
any of the other teams, we'd less to get straight
into it because there's so many Let's talk about your team,
the Sparks, the Sparks adding Kelsey plum Odyssey Sims. What
(00:57):
are your thoughts about what you lost, what you've gotten
new coach, apparently a new facility.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
On the way allegedly. You know. I feel like for me,
when I found out that Kelsey was coming, I was
like they have to be. There has to be something
in the works for us to get plumb Dog into
LA for her to sign here. She's not going to
just be showing up to twenty four hour fitness trying
to get some shots up. She needs only the best,
So I'll asked around. You know, there's some WAA players
(01:25):
in here in Nashville, and apparently there is a facility
on the way of some sort. So I'm really excited
about that if that is true. I love the additions
of Kelsey and Odyssey. It means that we're going to
play fast. It means we're going to shoot a lot.
We are missing the center position. We do have quite
a gaping hole in that position. So hopefully as free
(01:46):
agency continues, we bring in some big girls because we
need a few, because as you've seen, some of the
other teams are loading up on their big girls. So
their new head coach Lynn, she put up to Nashville
to come watch a scrimmage and our gas So that
was amazing me and Honesty got to see them talk
to them for a little bit. So things are going good.
They're going good for the Sparks. I think we're heading
(02:07):
in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Do you feel like there's gonna be a little bit
of a culture shift because going from rebuild mode, I know,
like just adding Kelsey Plumb obviously doesn't change everything, and
you do still need some size, but I feel like
it's a different type.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Of culture absolutely, and bringing in veterans, you know, that's
making a statement right there, like we are not in
rebuilding mode anymore. We're in win now mode. And I
think also, oh odesty, she was on a temporary contract
to finish the year last year with the Sparks and
she played exceptionally well. So I'm very happy for her
(02:44):
that she was able to get on a real contract
because she is a good enough player to deserve one
of those, and I'm glad that we got to snatch
her up. I thought that maybe Chicago was going to
go after because they need, you know, another point guard
on that team, but they just add a salute and
then they have Dana Evans there, so I feel like
LA was a good fit for her. She's played for
(03:06):
the Sparks before in the Candice Parker era, I'm pretty sure,
so she's familiar and I'm just really excited for her
to have that opportunity again.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
And I'm excited for you to be in win now mode.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Oh yeah, girl, you know it's crazy, Like the amount
of turnover I personally had year to year is actually insane.
I'm hoping that this group that we're putting together right
now sticks because literally every year of my career, I've
had like four or five six new teammates, a new coach,
sometimes a new city. So I'm hoping that like this
(03:40):
is the beginning of some sort of stability for me personally,
because I think that would make like everything basketball wistou
meet a lot easier.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
That seems to be the goal that leadership over at
the Sparks has is establishing a culture that can last,
at least for the next few years. I wanted to
ask you as far as turnover concerned. One thing I've
noticed as a fan is how many one year contracts
are getting signed. I assume the CBA can renegotiated. What
do you feel about that.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I think I'm gonna give everybody the benefit of the
doubt and assume that they are where they are planning
to be long term or at least for a few
more years. But because of the CBA, they're waiting to
sign those bigger contracts that are hopefully coming in the
next year or two. Me I'm signed through twenty twenty six,
so I was like, you know what, let me just
(04:32):
I'm cool, Like I'm comfortable, cozy here in LA. I'm
really grateful for that CBA. But I signed all the
way through past the new CBA, so I'm gonna be
watching everybody get their money while I'm still locked in
the old CVA. But I think it's an amazing thing.
But yeah, from a fans perspective, it probably can provide
some uncertainty because you're like, oh, are they're only staying
for a year, or like are they gonna stay? Are
(04:54):
they gonna go? But honestly, you don't know. But I'm
hoping that these teams are. It looks like they're putting
the pieces together to build powerhouses and put together players
that will play well together instead of just grabbing the
best available, because I typically that's how they the WNBA drafts,
that's how they operate free agency. Oh that's the best player,
(05:14):
so let's just bring it over here and make it work.
But it seems like everybody has been very intentional with
how they're constructing these teams moving forward.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
I feel like that's the thing that a lot of
fans don't recognize is that when it comes to free
agency and making these moves and deciding to go somewhere
like Plum deciding to come to LA, they're uprooting their
lives and moving there. So I don't think anybody would
do that with the intention of only being somewhere for
one year. But it depends on what happen.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, I mean, that's the thing about the one year.
I mean, I feel like now the teams are going
to be on their best behavior because they're going to
be like, we need y'all to stay, so we're going
to make sure y'all have a great time and your
comfortable year. I've read that Kelsey plans on staying in
LA more than one year, which I would love and
hopefully ot to see the same. So I'm excited. But
I think we need to talk about some of these
other teams and the moves that they have been making.
(06:04):
Who do you think made the best off season move
so far?
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Ooh, let me think, Well, I'm a little biased. Beiji
coming to Atlanta. I'm really excited about. I can't wait
to go see her play in person. I saw her
at the All Star Game. But as far as with
the Dream, full time, very excited about. I'm really excited
about the Dream making changes. I want us to eat.
But I think there was a few I was really
(06:29):
excited about. Let's see, let's see, let's see Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Phoenix made crazy changes. Honestly, I'm still not over how
they did Natasha Cloud over it.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
The one that gagged me. The one that gagged me
was Phoenix and obviously not having really a true point
guard right now. I think they sacrifice that with Gettings too,
but getting rid of Tosh Cloud. I was so surprised
about that.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
And the way they do.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
I know that was coming.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
No, nothing, not a word. They had Tash out there
promoting the practice facility from like trying to get free
agents to come. She really loved Phoenix. She really loved
it there. She really tired about that organization and the
fan base. I mean, I remember when we would play there.
They loved her. Shit, they loved her at LA. I
remember when she came to LA and dropped thirty on us.
(07:23):
I thought we was in Phoenix like it was.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
She's I'm saying it was as if she's still huge
and she's still in the w but like as far
as Phoenix, she was like the face to me, and
even when she would go to concerts in Phoenix or
like other games, she's telling these people. She told megana stylee,
I'm pretty sure to her face, when are we going
to see you at a Mercury game? Like she was
not playing, So I didn't understand that at all. And
(07:49):
she's talented, and like I don't as far as on
the court, because I'm still trying to understand it. What
kind of sense does that make?
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Honestly to me, it didn't make any Again, what we
talked about last episode with the core designation, sometimes you
just got to find the money, and Tash was the money.
And unfortunately she was just some collateral damage from them
getting Alissa Thomas to Phoenix and satusab Leada Phoenix, and
I guess she was just the collateral damage. I don't
(08:22):
understand how they did not see the value in Natasha Cloud,
especially with those players that they brought in. But I
think now they have lit quite the fire under Natasha Cloud.
Now that not that she ever needs one to play
hard or you know, prove her point, but she's always
had a chip on her shoulder, and that's one of
my favorite things about her as a player. I was
(08:43):
able to play with her and Athletes Unlimited a bunch
of times the last few years. And she's a great leader,
she's a great point guard, and she's a great person.
So that, you know, from a friend friend perspective, like
that really hurt my heart for her because she did
not deserve that, especially a veteran that has a championship,
(09:04):
who has playoff experience getting shipped off like that, like
that was not cool. But business is business, and you know,
sometimes it happens that way. But she definitely could become
the face of the Connecticut son. I wouldn't be surprised
if if she ends up staying there that they just
try to build that organization around her.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
I mean they should, because they basically clean house. I
was just about to ask clean a house. What is
going on in Connecticut? It seems like what we knew
that franchise to be has completely changed.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Yeah, flipped on its head. I've always said that that's
like the best team that has never won a championship.
I think they have the most playoff wins with no championship,
which I think is.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Going to say statistically they are the best team.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, champion. So I was there one year twenty eighteen,
that's where I got drafted to and it was not
It was just not a good fit for me personally.
Obviously it wasn't a good fit for them because they
shipped me off. But looking back, I do think I
could have helped them win a championship because you know,
you get to the finals, you get to the playoffs.
They were always missing that like outside shooting presence, and
(10:14):
I'm always watching them like, eh, I feel like I
could have filled that void. You know, maybe not immediately,
but if they gave me some time to develop, and.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Which is probably why they drafted you, right, they need that.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yeah, So I mean that's why I thought they drafted me.
And then I got there and I was like, why
did y'all draft me here? Like, clearly y'all do not
want me here. Y'all don't think I fit in on
this team. So that summer was just really hard for
me personally. But I've seen players go in and out
of the Connecticut organization and be very close to winning
(10:47):
championships and just weren't able to get it done. So
first Kurt Miller was out, then John Quell Jones was out,
and then the rest of them probably were like, this
is going to be our last try. They added to
want to Bonner for a few seasons, still weren't able
to get it done. I was on the Chicago Sky
team that beat them in the playoffs, so that was
a nice little moment for me. But yeah, and I
(11:10):
know last episode I said that the Mystics hired the
European coach, it was actually the Connecticut son that hired
the European coach. So they're doing things completely different over there.
A lot of people said that they might even consider
relocating the team or selling it, but I don't think. Wow,
I don't know if they're coming up off that team, Like,
(11:32):
they really have a lot of pride in having that
WBA team there, So I wouldn't be surprised if we
see them relocated again. They've already been a relocated team.
They were the Orlando Miracle. I want to say, if
y'all didn't know that was a team, that was a team.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Speaking of the new teams moving, let's talk about the Valkyries.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
The Valkyries, Yeah, what are you thinking about it over there?
They didn't get any free agents.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
They didn't get I don't think they can.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I'm just like, yeah, they could have got anybody. Oh
when I saw the players that they drafted, they drafted
like some very good players. Don't get me wrong, but
they drafted. Everyone was like, Eh, these kind of look like,
you know, tradable pieces like to try and build the
team that they want. Considering that the teams only were
(12:25):
able to not protect like half of their rosters, so
I'm assuming that most teams protected their core players so
definitely gave the Valkyries a very limited selection of players,
which is that's how it works. But apparently they weren't
able to attract any big name free agents, which was
shocking to me because from the looks of it, they
(12:47):
got the facility, they got the fan base, they got
the investment, and Natalie is like a great coach, so
I was a little confused as to why they weren't
able to get a single free agent. But now they
get to build from scratch, which I think that is
going to be difficult, but I think it could be
(13:08):
something like really fun for them. But I was I
was definitely surprised that they weren't able to get any
like big unrestricted free agents over there.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
I was just about to ask, like, why do you
think that is? I mean, I would imagine with being
such a basketball championship pedigree city. I mean even in football,
their team was in the Super Bowl last year. It's
a sports town. It's San Francisco. You know what I'm saying.
It's the day like, it's the nice weather facilities. I
(13:38):
don't but maybe, I mean, it is hard to start
something round.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Up, especially right now. I feel like maybe a lot
of players don't want to be on that side of
the WNBA right now, the rebuild side, the maybe not
winning so many games because of so many eyes and
so many opportunities, And those eyes and opportunities always grow
when you're winning and you're being successful. So I'm just
(14:03):
gonna assume that a lot of these players were making
business moves like not I don't really want to have
part in this. But maybe next year when everybody's a
free agent all over again. Maybe though, because I feel
like the Valkyries are going to have a good amount
of money, they might have the highest salary cap, honestly,
But then I foresee some free agents going over there.
(14:26):
Maybe next season when this new CBA hopefully get signed.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
I'll be like, listen, I'm gonna be in San France.
I'm gonna be the face of the franchise that Curry's DMS.
I'm gonna ask him to give me an under armor shoe.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
I'm doing everything, the whole thing. I got it. I
was confused by that, like and yeah, I was like,
no one. Maybe it was the colors. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, I prefer their colors to the other new team.
The Tempo.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
I liked.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
The purple was cool to me.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
The Tempo, I actually hate that name. Say I hate it.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
I am so anti. I really wanted it to be
like something something bad ass or something that was like
I like the Valkyries and the Warriors. You know what
I'm saying, Like they're both warriors. It's like bad ass. Yeah,
Tempo Raptors.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
The Tempo it was just giving like eighties, like I
don't know it is.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
It's giving like dancer girls. Let's let's shut out before you.
You will be a tempo.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
LEXI Ron, you are a Toronto Tempo.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
But I also love the Raptors old school jerseys with
like the dinosaur on them, and I feel like a
women's version of that, What would of the Toronto Rex
like t rex uh Toronto.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Pterodactyls Toronto the pterodactyls is gracie I liked, I like
t Rexrono Rex. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Well, somebody also said, uh Toronto talents because owls have talents,
and it's like, that's how you they killed their preyer
or whatever. And the mascot could have been an owl,
or it could have been any animal with claws.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Because why they went to the tt Like a lot
of these a lot of w NBA teams don't follow that.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
I read that the Tempo chose that name because it
translates and sounds cool in French and in English, and
obviously a lot of people in Canada speak French, and
so they wanted it to be a bilingual sort of name.
So that's probably why.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Now that I'm looking at all the teams, the Seattle
Storm are the only ones that have a double name,
the double letter name interesting. Interesting set. Yes, they say
we cool over here, well, which is interesting. Well, no,
because they jewel.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
But that also was a point of contention in the
off season.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Well, she demanded the trade well before a free agency
even started. So and the fact that that wasn't like
news everywhere was crazy because she I thought it was.
It was like for like five seconds, I feel.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Because I covered it, and it went crazy because everybody
wanted to know what was going on because obviously the
harassment and bullying allegations against the coaching staff, the Skylar
Digg and Smith stories on Instagram. Do you remember all that?
It was a whole Yeah, and the former Storm player
coming out and defending the coach. It was like it
(17:49):
was it was. It was a bit of a disaster.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Oh yeah. When she decided to file that harassment thing,
like she had to go whether they found something or not,
which they didn't like. Now you got to like, you
must leave. So I'm happy that they were able to
make some work for her. They re signed Neka, which
that was no surprise. Gabby Williams is still not officially
signed yet. I wonder what she's gonna do. They gave
(18:14):
her a core designation which means one year signs sign
which I'm like, why are you not? What are you doing?
What are you waiting on?
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Maybe exploring her options. I love that Mekka announced that
she was staying by I don't know if you saw
this her texting Cheney yes while she was on TV
and is.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Like, oh, they're so cute. I love them. They're so cute.
But yeah, we're like, all right, Nika, we knew you
was a go nowhere.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Yeah, they have a good from the outside looking a
leadership situation going on there.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Yeah, outside of the believe hutside of that.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
I meant the team. I meant the girls, the women
on the team. I was not referring to the coach exactly.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I don't and I don't. They haven't signed anybody either.
Them in New York and Minnesota were like we cool
over here, like we got what we need. They didn't
sign a single person and free agency.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Well Minnesota shouldn't have because I hate when a team
does that when they go to the finals and lose.
Especially don't get me started on the finals because Minnesota
lowkey should want But when you lose and then you
start making all these changes, I don't like that.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Exactly. I didn't foresee them making any changes, and I
think they're doing it the right way because they have
players on that team that they're going to have to pay,
so then bringing in another player that they would potentially
have to pay could mess up their schedule of paying
the people that deserve it. That I've been there, it's
from the beginning now that they're a championship caliber team,
(19:54):
so I wasn't expecting them to resign anybody, or they
resign a Tisha Heideman, which I think was great, great
piece for them. And then my only question with New
York is if Johannes comes back. You know, she's over
there in France and sometimes she's like, I want to
come play, and then sometimes she's like, Eh, I'm going
to stay in France this summer. I'll see you all
(20:14):
next year. So from a front office perspective, that's probably
extremely frustrating.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Definitely, But right after winning a finals I could see
her doing that. Why not.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I'm like, she changes the whole dynamic of that team
like completely, and then they just lost Courtney Vanderslout, So
it seems like Sabrina is going to be taking on
more of the one priority, the point guard priority, which
she's capable, but I think she's way better playing at
the two, especially in this league. So it's interesting to
(20:48):
see what they could potentially do to bring Sabrina a
point guard because I think she plays at her best
when she has a high level point guard on her team,
like right now she's playing with Natasha. I think a
lot of people might be trying to get an Atasha
Cloud to New York because.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
They're, oh, that could be interesting.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Even though they're not necessarily winning a lot and unrivaled
their team they are, they have pretty good chemistry and
Sabena just have like thirty four the other day.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
So do you think that that's something Connecticut might be doing,
like trying to use you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Yeah, to keep moving. Like I just I just don't
see the vision in Connecticut, Like I just don't know
what they're doing, what type of team they're trying to build,
if they're trying if this is just like a one
year we need twelve people. Do they have a draft pick?
Not sure if they even have a draft pick. I'm
sure they do, but yeah, I just for some reason,
I just don't see Tash staying there, Like something in
(21:42):
my soul is telling me that she's going somewhere else.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
But we'll have to see another blockbuster interesting. I want
to ask you about obviously, Angel Reese Caitlyn. Everybody talks
about two young rookies their teams made some moves. Indiana,
(22:08):
some people were saying might have had the best offseason
of any teams. What are your thoughts.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
They gave Caitlyn some dogs around her and they're now
in and around. They gave her some more shooters. Natasha
Howard I think was their best signing. I think people
forgot what type of player she was while she's been
in Dallas. She's a great defensive player. She can go
out and give you thirty. She's a great screener, which
is going to be very beneficial to Caitlyn. For Kate
(22:36):
Iwana Bonner, just having that veteran presence and energy like
she can go make big time buckets for you. Sophie Cunningham,
just her energy alone. I'm excited to see her back
at her natural position, which is the three. She's actually
been playing the four for quite some time in Phoenix,
but she's been doing a good job considering that's not
(22:56):
her natural position. And then of course resigning Kelsey Mitchell.
I remember saying last year before the season even started
that they're going to go as Kelsey Mitchell goes. You know,
she started the season hurt and came back and after
all Star break her and Caitlyn found this balance and
this cadence that made them very hard to guard, which
is why they were able to make the playoffs. So
I'm excited to watch them. I'm actually also excited to
(23:19):
play against them. I think all the noise from last year,
obviously it's going to be there, but you add a
ton of veterans that supposedly were hating on the rookies,
but all wanted to go play with her like they
wasn't hating. They was pissed that we have to chase
her around all the time. But when you get the
opportunity to play next to a player like that, you're
(23:39):
gonna go. So I'm excited for them. I'm really excited
for Kelsey Mitchell. She has been with that Fever organization
since twenty eighteen when we got drafted together, and she's
been through the good and the bad and the ugly.
So I'm happy that the way they welcomed her in
with her resigning, with the like little parade inside the arena,
the announce spence, the Pacers showed love like that's what
(24:03):
Kelsey Mitchell deserves, and I'm really glad that they were
able to do that for her. Too.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Yeah, I'm excited to watch them. I and Caitlin. I
think people under rate because of all of the noise
about everything else, how good her rookie year was, like
it was incredible, So for them, I think Indiana, but
it's not only people are also forgetting Aliyah, Like they
have put a lot into drafting really good young talent,
(24:27):
and so it's like for them to be like, Okay,
we got our girl building what she needs around her
building this practice facility like making moves, I think is exactly.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Absolutely and like I said before, it's like so much
intention that I've never seen before and so much embracing
players just the way they are. You know, come here
and be exactly who you are, because that's the player
that we need you to be. That's the person we
need you to be. And I think that's going to
be such a big difference This WNBA season is also
(24:59):
because so many of us have been around each other
year round, Like usually we don't see each other until
the season starts again. So people being in Miami at
U rival, people being in Nashville with Au, Like, You're
going to see a different type of bond and camaraderie
and competitive energy because we're not like complete strangers anymore
to each other. And I think that's something that I mean,
(25:21):
you see the guys all off season, they playing pickup,
They in La they and Mi Yami, They at the club,
they at the gym, like they doing all this stuff.
And as much as people complain about, oh, the NBA
is too friendly, now, like no, they like that because
they're all making each other better and they're all eating
off of that. And I think we're about to get
(25:44):
to that level. And you're going to see the WNBA
go to a different level because of that.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
And it'll allow for less of this narrative, this caddie
drama everyone hates each other narrative because people are seeing
you interrocked in the off season. I also want to know,
as far as Kaitlyn rookies, you mentioning franchises allowing their
players to be who they are. One thing that me
and you have talked about a bunch of times is
rookies coming in and teams allowing them to play and
(26:09):
allowing them to struggle. Caitlyn had that rookie struggle at
the very beginning. If people were like, this is exactly
what everyone was talking about, this is what Diana Toroszi
was talking about. She's going to struggle and they just
let her play it out and she did eat So
that's like it's really important to let them have that.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
There is an adjustment period and there's nothing wrong with
having an adjustment period. And because y'all didn't see our
adjustment periods, they were happening just at practice. We was
get our ass beat in practice. Like it's the same
for everybody. So even for her going through that struggle
front and center, like she handled it great. Same with Angel,
same with camp Rikia, all the rookies. I think they
(26:49):
all hit that wall briefly, some longer than others, and
they came out better on the other side because for
the first time they were able to just you know,
play through it, played through it. This year's Rocky class,
I don't know, because it is giving. Teams are trying
to like win right now, and it's I would say
(27:11):
like five or six teams in the w are trying
to win like right now. And the way they thought,
they've traded these picks around, like you here, you take
my pick, you take my good point.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
I was about to say, though, some teams don't well
usually the team that has the number one pick is
a team that isn't in win now mode, but Dallas,
it is the lottery.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
What kind of Dallas. They've made some moves to put
them in really good contention. They got Arique some help defensively,
they got players that are that know each other very well,
so that chemistry could definitely be beneficial. And then they're
going to get the number one pick. So you get
a little bit of energy and hype with getting the
number one pick, which I still can't believe. Yeah, yeah,
(28:00):
And they have the eighth pick and the twelfth pick. Wow.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Which is interesting for them to have made moves or
all of these great pieces that they have all of
these high draft picks and would have all of these
high quality young players. I'm surprised that they're not using those.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
I mean, if you look at the Wings roster, they're
extremely young. So this might be let's grow together type energy.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
It's giving like Okac and the NBA is like drafting
very well, allowing them to grow, and then in a.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Few years he'll be like, don't get me wrong, this
draft class is extremely talented as well. They might not
have the hype like last year's draft class, but they
definitely have the talent. So again, this might be another
draft that we see a lot more intention behind, Like
you might think that this player is the best available,
(28:56):
but I think now they're probably going to start picking
best fit, which is which I don't like. On the
draft on the board they put best available, Like what
does that even mean? But I do like when now
they've now changed it, like depending on what position they need,
they have the best available for that position. For us,
it was just like the best available that team, Like
(29:17):
this team needs a center, but the players a point guard,
so so they would draft the point guard. Like what
that doesn't make sense?
Speaker 1 (29:23):
But you gotta think if you have the opportunity, like
even if Indiana needed a center, they're not overlooking absolutely,
you know what I'm saying, Like, you gotta if it
depends on if it's a generational type of talent or
if it's like if you can sacrifice that for something
that can help you right now, I think.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
It makes sense to satifize that it depends on the
needs of the team and just moving forward.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
But there are some players who surpassed.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
They need to and she was one of them, and
I think that they made the right call on that,
because they knew her play would attract better players to Indiana,
Like it's been hard for them to get players to
sign to Indiana because they're in Indiana, and because those
games typically were very empty. There was no energy behind
the fever since they won their championships when Tamika Catching's
(30:12):
was there. So Caitlin has basically come in and rejuvenated
the entire franchise and now it's an attractive place for
free agents to come. And I think that long term
they were thinking about that. I don't know what other
people were thinking of. You know, no one was gonna
go there with her and they're not gonna want to
play with someone like that, But like, why would you
not want to play with somebody like that? Like let's
(30:33):
let's not eat down here, like we're all basketball players
at the end.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Of the those are going to win. Those are people
on the WBA saying that those who didn't make the
JV basketball team, but.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
They don't even be the manager for the JV basketball team. Okay,
we have one more team to hit on real quick
and Washington Mystics who have done nothing. Okay, Yeah, I
don't think Elena Deladon is ever returning? Can we hold on?
(31:05):
Can we stop for a second. The fact that Elena
Deladon just stopped playing. She was just like, I'm dead
and everyone was like, okay bye, Like she wasn't one
of the best players to ever play in the WBA.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
Do you have any.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
I don't go on what happened there, And the fact
that people, oh, absolutely, the fact that people are just like, man,
it's just Lena Deladon, It's all right. Like the organization
has been in shambles since she's done that, and I
don't even know, because if.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
You have a talent like that, you build around it,
and like she brought them a championship and then it
was just like downhill from there.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
She didn't play in the bubble season because she struggles
with lime disease, so that was like a health concern
for her. But ever since she made that decision, it
seems like they kind of had like weird energy towards her,
the organization, not the team, the organization, like the higher ups.
And then I think she was just like I'm done
with this, like I'm out of here.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Which makes sense. You want if you want to be respected,
I brought y'all a championship.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
I'm huge.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
The bubbles should be exactly. That was an unprecedented situation.
So especially since she had personal health issues. If you're
at an organization that's not taking that seriously and you're
doing that much for them, I'm going to make you
think you good without me.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Watch and now we see that they are not good
without her. I don't know, but not knowing anything about
it about it, like I don't know what the situation
is with like her rights if she's a free agent,
not like I don't know anything.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Wait, so are they still paying her?
Speaker 2 (32:48):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
I don't know, because that could be that could be
part of the problem that they might have that salary
check and can't get rid of it because what team
would want to trade for somebody.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Because I'm not sure if you don't play a season,
if it counts against your years of service. So she
might've had like one year or two left on her contract,
but if she's not playing, then I don't think those
years get knocked off. But then I think if they
suspend her contract, it doesn't count on the salary cap.
(33:21):
They're not doing anything over there. I have friends that
play on that team. I hope that they are able
to do something. They lost their starting point guard, Julie
van Lou. Oh yeah, she went to the Valkyries. Van
Lou very important piece to that Miss six team last year.
So it seems like they also don't have a plan
(33:42):
in place. So I'm hoping that they're able to get
something because I have friends that I care deeply about
that play on that team and I want them to
be successful. And they have things there. They have a facility,
they have chefs, they have all the things, So I
need DC to get it together. Well.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Of all of these moves that we've discussed, who do
you think made the most WNBA landscape changing move?
Speaker 2 (34:09):
The landscape changing I would have to say.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
Like, who do you think it shifts the power dynamic?
Speaker 2 (34:15):
Honestly, I might have to say Phoenix, And they were
like the catalyst of all this other movement and it
started with Phoenix, So I think they made the most
landscape changing move. I think they said like that was
like the most assets traded ever in w BA history
between them, what was it them, Dallas and Indiana. I
(34:38):
don't know. There was like so many teams. Again, we
were waiting for the domino to fall and I think
that the Phoenix, Marky, they were the domino that made
everything kind of start rolling in place. So yeah, as
far as landscape changing, I would say Phoenix. But as
far as like championship building contention, I would say Indiana. Wow, yeah, they.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Won a championship anytime soon?
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Oh my god, would be nuts? What? Nuts? What? Honestly,
I don't know, and I hate that. I'm like, not
like Sparks are gonna win, like, but I'm being serious,
I'm being for real. We are not going to finish
the last I know that, Like as I said after
last year, there's no way we can go. We can
(35:20):
only go higher. It can't be worse than last playoffs.
I haven't been a playoffs since twenty twenty two. Like see,
like in the last playoffs we won. So at least
I have a.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
As I say, what you're to do become a w
twenty two right.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
So at least I have like a good taste in
my mouth about it. Like at least I wasn't like
a loser in the playoffs, like we made it all
the way, but you know what that's like. And now
I want to be part of a team, like I
want to actually contribute for real, for real to if
I ever get in it and LA needs that, we
do need that. I mean, now we got we got
Luca magic now, so maybe they'll sprinkles. That's sure's the
(36:01):
magic on us.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
Before we get out of here. You're an LA person.
We are not here to talk, Oh we must, but
you are. Yeah, you are a LA star and I
got to hear what you're hearing in La your reaction
to that tride.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
I went to sleep that night at nine pm, right,
so that was seven pm Pacific time, so I missed
all of this. I woke up the next morning at
like seven am and the first thing I saw on
my phone was Luca is on the Lakers. And I
closed my phone because I was like, why are they
(36:47):
playing on my phone right now? Like what is this?
So I went back to sleep and I woke up
and it was everywhere and I was like, yo, they
traded Anthony Davis and we got Luca. I don't know
why I'm saying we. I'm a Celtics girl. Okay, let
me take that back. This is not we. You know this, Maria,
You're playing it on a Celtics girl. I can't say
(37:09):
we the Lakers got Luca. He's still very much injured though,
so I'm.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Like, apparently he'll be back Saturday.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
I'm sure he will be back Saturday.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
I would be back yesterday. You believe that you stopped
me forgetting that super Max and the movie, I would
be oh no, the MAVs would have no peace every
time they played me.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
It'd be over that whole logic. And I mean, we
can circle this back to wn B A two is
like the conversations I saw surrounding, like, oh, players should
take less money to build these these teams and win
championships and and win games. And no, Luca got them
to the finals last year on like one, damn leg
(37:53):
by himself, damn near And.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
I was always as far as player empowerment is concerned,
I always felt like the w NBA needed more and
the NBA needed a little less. Honestly, I was on
the side with the whole Jimmy Butler situation, thinking that
it was a little bit extra, that he was doing
a little bit too much. He's done this to too
many teams. And then after that Luca thing happened, it
completely changed my mind because even hearing you talk about
(38:18):
all of the turnover you've experienced about your career and everything,
and how hard that is for a player, For somebody
like Luca to do everything he could have possibly done.
I understand that he might be out of shape or
and that's his job, but for him to give that
franchise everything he possibly he did, he went above their
sailing last year, and for them to get rid of
him like the middle of thing, that showed me. That
(38:38):
showed me that if a player wants to leave and
they want to get their their good one on the team.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
Do you because they do not care. They do not care.
And I know Jimmy Butler is sitting in his coffee
shop in Miami mad as shit that he's.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
Still how the hell looka dog was before me. But
no one's untouchable.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
No one is untouchable. And I think, like what Jimmy
Butler is doing, it's going to create a shift in
the NBA. We don't really have these issues in the
w and as like just we've I wouldn't say we've struggled,
but we've been in this fight so long in the
public eye, Like when the NBA guys were in this
(39:25):
fight for bigger salaries and better treatment and all that,
Like there was no social media, there was no internet,
Like we didn't really see that struggle and people didn't
really get to appreciate what those guys in the past
did for us. Like we're front and center, everybody watching us.
So I don't foresee us getting the things that we
(39:46):
are fighting for and working hard for and then just changing,
like turning into these like pre madonnas, like I don't
like to call the guys prima donnas, but like they
are some of them are they are. I don't foresee
us turn into that. I think that we're going to
continue to operate the same, but now just with better
stuff and more money. And I think there's something instilled
(40:09):
in us as women athletes in general, that we're just
going to keep fighting for more and more and more
and still move with grace and still move with respect
that sometimes I think gets lost on the other side.
But that's not just in sports, that's in every everything.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
I think I was about to say, even with you
saying that that might be the case for you and
people with character like yours, you never know what's going
to happen with everybody else. And I'm glad you brought
up the fact that the NBA having that, like the
WNBA is still very young as a league, and so
to come into fruision in the nineties and go through
(40:45):
the growing process in front of the world as things progress,
it's hard to grow in front of the world of
having access to your salaries and everything that's going on
and discounting it, not even realizing that this is the
exact same thing that happened on the other side. We
just see it and it took a couple players, and
it took a surgeence of viewers, and it took some
(41:08):
continue and they say the level lockouts.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
So that's something, yes, we've never experienced, which I hope
that we don't have to experience because that means that
we can't come to an agreement, which for right now,
the things that we're asking for don't seem far fetched
in my opinion. But again, business is business. But like
(41:32):
we could be preparing for a lockout and that's like
very much a reality for something monumental to happen, that
might have to be the case, which I hope not.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
I would argue though I don't foresee a WNBA lockout
happening because of social media, because of the empowerment of
having access to the public all the time, because even
I don't think people remember, like you have a ton
of followers, like Dujasha Cloud has a ton of followers,
like y'all are popular public figures, and if you tweet
something like about your situation, I can't remember who it
(42:04):
was who became a mother and she tweeted about her
team was a skeleton. But anyways, when those issues happen,
you have direct access to the public to explain what's
going on in your situation, and the public heres and
there becomes outrage.
Speaker 2 (42:18):
I just hope that everything just goes smoothly, like that's
the best that you can I think it will ask for.
And I just feel like the eyes on the W
the eyes on AU, the eyes on unrivaled, it would
be unwise to lock out. You're basically just stopping the
momentum in its tracks completely, and I just I just
(42:38):
don't think that's the right thing to do.
Speaker 1 (42:40):
I will say I've done my research on the fact
that the WNBA and the MLS both were born around
the same time, and the MLS just had their profit
changes and their salary changes and that stuff I think
last year, but it was because the teams started in
the owner started investing in number one high profile like
(43:00):
Messi and David Beckham and stuff like that. But also
because they started investing in soccer specific stadiums and that
was like the catalyst for it, and then that helped
them get different TV deals and then that changed salaries.
And that's like all happening kind of at the same time,
and that's what the WNBA is doing right now, having
to step up with the facilities and stuff.
Speaker 2 (43:17):
Investment is key. Investment is key. Before we go, we
gotta give our flowers. I have a flower today, Well
I have two flowers. Okay, So first flower goes to
Asia Wilson and Kaylyn Clark getting their jerseys retired flowers
for y'all congratulating, and then Asia will get an additional
(43:39):
flower because her signature sneaker drop today. I saw it's sick,
it's fire. I love it's soil, Kaitlin, Asia, flowers for y'all.
Don't know if you'll even hear this, but we love
what you're doing. We appreciate what you're doing for the
women's game. And this has been another episode of Full
Circle Emergency Pod.
Speaker 1 (43:58):
Wait can I give a flower?
Speaker 2 (44:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
I want to give a flower to miss Big Angel Reese,
the Biggest, the Queen, that girl for retiring oh far.
That is everyone's dream And I literally bawled my eyes
out when I saw that video. You are making big moves.
You are that girl. Don't ever listen to what people
have to say because that I that inspired Michelle.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
I look at our Queen's doing big things. I love
this for us. Women's sports is still on the rise,
on the come up, catch up, hop on the train.
We're still accepting new members, don't miss out, and this
has been another episode a Full Circle. We will see
y'all next week.
Speaker 1 (44:38):
Thanks for listening to Full Circle. We'll be back next
week with more basketball for the girls, by the girls.
We want to hear from you. 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.
(44:59):
Listen a full ser on America's number one podcast network, iHeart,
Open your Free iHeart app and search. Full Circle with
Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose and start listening
Full Circle is an Iheartwoman's sports production and partnership with
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Hey yo, welcome back to another episode of Full Circle.
Today we got to get into some crazy free agency stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Lexi emergency pod, emergency pod. Literally two weeks into the show,
we already have to have an emergency pod. That's crazy.
I first see some more emergency pods once the w
season actually starts, So this is like a good practice
run for us.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
I think exactly exactly. I've been seeing all of the
crazy moves being made in free agency in the WNBA,
and I have to get your thoughts tell some of
my thoughts. Like first, we like before we get into
any of the other teams, we'd less to get straight
into it because there's so many Let's talk about your team,
the Sparks, the Sparks adding Kelsey plum Odyssey Sims. What
(00:57):
are your thoughts about what you lost, what you've gotten
new coach, apparently a new facility.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
On the way allegedly. You know. I feel like for me,
when I found out that Kelsey was coming, I was
like they have to be. There has to be something
in the works for us to get plumb Dog into
LA for her to sign here. She's not going to
just be showing up to twenty four hour fitness trying
to get some shots up. She needs only the best,
So I'll asked around. You know, there's some WAA players
(01:25):
in here in Nashville, and apparently there is a facility
on the way of some sort. So I'm really excited
about that if that is true. I love the additions
of Kelsey and Odyssey. It means that we're going to
play fast. It means we're going to shoot a lot.
We are missing the center position. We do have quite
a gaping hole in that position. So hopefully as free
(01:46):
agency continues, we bring in some big girls because we
need a few, because as you've seen, some of the
other teams are loading up on their big girls. So
their new head coach Lynn, she put up to Nashville
to come watch a scrimmage and our gas So that
was amazing me and Honesty got to see them talk
to them for a little bit. So things are going good.
They're going good for the Sparks. I think we're heading
(02:07):
in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Do you feel like there's gonna be a little bit
of a culture shift because going from rebuild mode, I know,
like just adding Kelsey Plumb obviously doesn't change everything, and
you do still need some size, but I feel like
it's a different type.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Of culture absolutely, and bringing in veterans, you know, that's
making a statement right there, like we are not in
rebuilding mode anymore. We're in win now mode. And I
think also, oh odesty, she was on a temporary contract
to finish the year last year with the Sparks and
she played exceptionally well. So I'm very happy for her
(02:44):
that she was able to get on a real contract
because she is a good enough player to deserve one
of those, and I'm glad that we got to snatch
her up. I thought that maybe Chicago was going to
go after because they need, you know, another point guard
on that team, but they just add a salute and
then they have Dana Evans there, so I feel like
LA was a good fit for her. She's played for
(03:06):
the Sparks before in the Candice Parker era, I'm pretty sure,
so she's familiar and I'm just really excited for her
to have that opportunity again.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
And I'm excited for you to be in win now mode.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Oh yeah, girl, you know it's crazy, Like the amount
of turnover I personally had year to year is actually insane.
I'm hoping that this group that we're putting together right
now sticks because literally every year of my career, I've
had like four or five six new teammates, a new coach,
sometimes a new city. So I'm hoping that like this
(03:40):
is the beginning of some sort of stability for me personally,
because I think that would make like everything basketball wistou
meet a lot easier.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
That seems to be the goal that leadership over at
the Sparks has is establishing a culture that can last,
at least for the next few years. I wanted to
ask you as far as turnover concerned. One thing I've
noticed as a fan is how many one year contracts
are getting signed. I assume the CBA can renegotiated. What
do you feel about that.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I think I'm gonna give everybody the benefit of the
doubt and assume that they are where they are planning
to be long term or at least for a few
more years. But because of the CBA, they're waiting to
sign those bigger contracts that are hopefully coming in the
next year or two. Me I'm signed through twenty twenty six,
so I was like, you know what, let me just
(04:32):
I'm cool, Like I'm comfortable, cozy here in LA. I'm
really grateful for that CBA. But I signed all the
way through past the new CBA, so I'm gonna be
watching everybody get their money while I'm still locked in
the old CVA. But I think it's an amazing thing.
But yeah, from a fans perspective, it probably can provide
some uncertainty because you're like, oh, are they're only staying
for a year, or like are they gonna stay? Are
(04:54):
they gonna go? But honestly, you don't know. But I'm
hoping that these teams are. It looks like they're putting
the pieces together to build powerhouses and put together players
that will play well together instead of just grabbing the
best available, because I typically that's how they the WNBA drafts,
that's how they operate free agency. Oh that's the best player,
(05:14):
so let's just bring it over here and make it work.
But it seems like everybody has been very intentional with
how they're constructing these teams moving forward.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
I feel like that's the thing that a lot of
fans don't recognize is that when it comes to free
agency and making these moves and deciding to go somewhere
like Plum deciding to come to LA, they're uprooting their
lives and moving there. So I don't think anybody would
do that with the intention of only being somewhere for
one year. But it depends on what happen.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, I mean, that's the thing about the one year.
I mean, I feel like now the teams are going
to be on their best behavior because they're going to
be like, we need y'all to stay, so we're going
to make sure y'all have a great time and your
comfortable year. I've read that Kelsey plans on staying in
LA more than one year, which I would love and
hopefully ot to see the same. So I'm excited. But
I think we need to talk about some of these
other teams and the moves that they have been making.
(06:04):
Who do you think made the best off season move
so far?
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Ooh, let me think, Well, I'm a little biased. Beiji
coming to Atlanta. I'm really excited about. I can't wait
to go see her play in person. I saw her
at the All Star Game. But as far as with
the Dream, full time, very excited about. I'm really excited
about the Dream making changes. I want us to eat.
But I think there was a few I was really
(06:29):
excited about. Let's see, let's see, let's see Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Phoenix made crazy changes. Honestly, I'm still not over how
they did Natasha Cloud over it.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
The one that gagged me. The one that gagged me
was Phoenix and obviously not having really a true point
guard right now. I think they sacrifice that with Gettings too,
but getting rid of Tosh Cloud. I was so surprised
about that.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
And the way they do.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
I know that was coming.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
No, nothing, not a word. They had Tash out there
promoting the practice facility from like trying to get free
agents to come. She really loved Phoenix. She really loved
it there. She really tired about that organization and the
fan base. I mean, I remember when we would play there.
They loved her. Shit, they loved her at LA. I
remember when she came to LA and dropped thirty on us.
(07:23):
I thought we was in Phoenix like it was.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
She's I'm saying it was as if she's still huge
and she's still in the w but like as far
as Phoenix, she was like the face to me, and
even when she would go to concerts in Phoenix or
like other games, she's telling these people. She told megana stylee,
I'm pretty sure to her face, when are we going
to see you at a Mercury game? Like she was
not playing, So I didn't understand that at all. And
(07:49):
she's talented, and like I don't as far as on
the court, because I'm still trying to understand it. What
kind of sense does that make?
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Honestly to me, it didn't make any Again, what we
talked about last episode with the core designation, sometimes you
just got to find the money, and Tash was the money.
And unfortunately she was just some collateral damage from them
getting Alissa Thomas to Phoenix and satusab Leada Phoenix, and
I guess she was just the collateral damage. I don't
(08:22):
understand how they did not see the value in Natasha Cloud,
especially with those players that they brought in. But I
think now they have lit quite the fire under Natasha Cloud.
Now that not that she ever needs one to play
hard or you know, prove her point, but she's always
had a chip on her shoulder, and that's one of
my favorite things about her as a player. I was
(08:43):
able to play with her and Athletes Unlimited a bunch
of times the last few years. And she's a great leader,
she's a great point guard, and she's a great person.
So that, you know, from a friend friend perspective, like
that really hurt my heart for her because she did
not deserve that, especially a veteran that has a championship,
(09:04):
who has playoff experience getting shipped off like that, like
that was not cool. But business is business, and you know,
sometimes it happens that way. But she definitely could become
the face of the Connecticut son. I wouldn't be surprised
if if she ends up staying there that they just
try to build that organization around her.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
I mean they should, because they basically clean house. I
was just about to ask clean a house. What is
going on in Connecticut? It seems like what we knew
that franchise to be has completely changed.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Yeah, flipped on its head. I've always said that that's
like the best team that has never won a championship.
I think they have the most playoff wins with no championship,
which I think is.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Going to say statistically they are the best team.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, champion. So I was there one year twenty eighteen,
that's where I got drafted to and it was not
It was just not a good fit for me personally.
Obviously it wasn't a good fit for them because they
shipped me off. But looking back, I do think I
could have helped them win a championship because you know,
you get to the finals, you get to the playoffs.
They were always missing that like outside shooting presence, and
(10:14):
I'm always watching them like, eh, I feel like I
could have filled that void. You know, maybe not immediately,
but if they gave me some time to develop, and.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Which is probably why they drafted you, right, they need that.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yeah, So I mean that's why I thought they drafted me.
And then I got there and I was like, why
did y'all draft me here? Like, clearly y'all do not
want me here. Y'all don't think I fit in on
this team. So that summer was just really hard for
me personally. But I've seen players go in and out
of the Connecticut organization and be very close to winning
(10:47):
championships and just weren't able to get it done. So
first Kurt Miller was out, then John Quell Jones was out,
and then the rest of them probably were like, this
is going to be our last try. They added to
want to Bonner for a few seasons, still weren't able
to get it done. I was on the Chicago Sky
team that beat them in the playoffs, so that was
a nice little moment for me. But yeah, and I
(11:10):
know last episode I said that the Mystics hired the
European coach, it was actually the Connecticut son that hired
the European coach. So they're doing things completely different over there.
A lot of people said that they might even consider
relocating the team or selling it, but I don't think. Wow,
I don't know if they're coming up off that team, Like,
(11:32):
they really have a lot of pride in having that
WBA team there, So I wouldn't be surprised if we
see them relocated again. They've already been a relocated team.
They were the Orlando Miracle. I want to say, if
y'all didn't know that was a team, that was a team.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Speaking of the new teams moving, let's talk about the Valkyries.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
The Valkyries, Yeah, what are you thinking about it over there?
They didn't get any free agents.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
They didn't get I don't think they can.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I'm just like, yeah, they could have got anybody. Oh
when I saw the players that they drafted, they drafted
like some very good players. Don't get me wrong, but
they drafted. Everyone was like, Eh, these kind of look like,
you know, tradable pieces like to try and build the
team that they want. Considering that the teams only were
(12:25):
able to not protect like half of their rosters, so
I'm assuming that most teams protected their core players so
definitely gave the Valkyries a very limited selection of players,
which is that's how it works. But apparently they weren't
able to attract any big name free agents, which was
shocking to me because from the looks of it, they
(12:47):
got the facility, they got the fan base, they got
the investment, and Natalie is like a great coach, so
I was a little confused as to why they weren't
able to get a single free agent. But now they
get to build from scratch, which I think that is
going to be difficult, but I think it could be
(13:08):
something like really fun for them. But I was I
was definitely surprised that they weren't able to get any
like big unrestricted free agents over there.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
I was just about to ask, like, why do you
think that is? I mean, I would imagine with being
such a basketball championship pedigree city. I mean even in football,
their team was in the Super Bowl last year. It's
a sports town. It's San Francisco. You know what I'm saying.
It's the day like, it's the nice weather facilities. I
(13:38):
don't but maybe, I mean, it is hard to start
something round.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Up, especially right now. I feel like maybe a lot
of players don't want to be on that side of
the WNBA right now, the rebuild side, the maybe not
winning so many games because of so many eyes and
so many opportunities, And those eyes and opportunities always grow
when you're winning and you're being successful. So I'm just
(14:03):
gonna assume that a lot of these players were making
business moves like not I don't really want to have
part in this. But maybe next year when everybody's a
free agent all over again. Maybe though, because I feel
like the Valkyries are going to have a good amount
of money, they might have the highest salary cap, honestly,
But then I foresee some free agents going over there.
(14:26):
Maybe next season when this new CBA hopefully get signed.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
I'll be like, listen, I'm gonna be in San France.
I'm gonna be the face of the franchise that Curry's DMS.
I'm gonna ask him to give me an under armor shoe.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
I'm doing everything, the whole thing. I got it. I
was confused by that, like and yeah, I was like,
no one. Maybe it was the colors. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, I prefer their colors to the other new team.
The Tempo.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
I liked.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
The purple was cool to me.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
The Tempo, I actually hate that name. Say I hate it.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
I am so anti. I really wanted it to be
like something something bad ass or something that was like
I like the Valkyries and the Warriors. You know what
I'm saying, Like they're both warriors. It's like bad ass. Yeah,
Tempo Raptors.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
The Tempo it was just giving like eighties, like I
don't know it is.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
It's giving like dancer girls. Let's let's shut out before you.
You will be a tempo.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
LEXI Ron, you are a Toronto Tempo.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
But I also love the Raptors old school jerseys with
like the dinosaur on them, and I feel like a
women's version of that, What would of the Toronto Rex
like t rex uh Toronto.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Pterodactyls Toronto the pterodactyls is gracie I liked, I like
t Rexrono Rex. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Well, somebody also said, uh Toronto talents because owls have talents,
and it's like, that's how you they killed their preyer
or whatever. And the mascot could have been an owl,
or it could have been any animal with claws.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Because why they went to the tt Like a lot
of these a lot of w NBA teams don't follow that.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
I read that the Tempo chose that name because it
translates and sounds cool in French and in English, and
obviously a lot of people in Canada speak French, and
so they wanted it to be a bilingual sort of name.
So that's probably why.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Now that I'm looking at all the teams, the Seattle
Storm are the only ones that have a double name,
the double letter name interesting. Interesting set. Yes, they say
we cool over here, well, which is interesting. Well, no,
because they jewel.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
But that also was a point of contention in the
off season.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Well, she demanded the trade well before a free agency
even started. So and the fact that that wasn't like
news everywhere was crazy because she I thought it was.
It was like for like five seconds, I feel.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Because I covered it, and it went crazy because everybody
wanted to know what was going on because obviously the
harassment and bullying allegations against the coaching staff, the Skylar
Digg and Smith stories on Instagram. Do you remember all that?
It was a whole Yeah, and the former Storm player
coming out and defending the coach. It was like it
(17:49):
was it was. It was a bit of a disaster.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Oh yeah. When she decided to file that harassment thing,
like she had to go whether they found something or not,
which they didn't like. Now you got to like, you
must leave. So I'm happy that they were able to
make some work for her. They re signed Neka, which
that was no surprise. Gabby Williams is still not officially
signed yet. I wonder what she's gonna do. They gave
(18:14):
her a core designation which means one year signs sign
which I'm like, why are you not? What are you doing?
What are you waiting on?
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Maybe exploring her options. I love that Mekka announced that
she was staying by I don't know if you saw
this her texting Cheney yes while she was on TV
and is.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Like, oh, they're so cute. I love them. They're so cute.
But yeah, we're like, all right, Nika, we knew you
was a go nowhere.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Yeah, they have a good from the outside looking a
leadership situation going on there.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Yeah, outside of the believe hutside of that.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
I meant the team. I meant the girls, the women
on the team. I was not referring to the coach exactly.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I don't and I don't. They haven't signed anybody either.
Them in New York and Minnesota were like we cool
over here, like we got what we need. They didn't
sign a single person and free agency.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Well Minnesota shouldn't have because I hate when a team
does that when they go to the finals and lose.
Especially don't get me started on the finals because Minnesota
lowkey should want But when you lose and then you
start making all these changes, I don't like that.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Exactly. I didn't foresee them making any changes, and I
think they're doing it the right way because they have
players on that team that they're going to have to pay,
so then bringing in another player that they would potentially
have to pay could mess up their schedule of paying
the people that deserve it. That I've been there, it's
from the beginning now that they're a championship caliber team,
(19:54):
so I wasn't expecting them to resign anybody, or they
resign a Tisha Heideman, which I think was great, great
piece for them. And then my only question with New
York is if Johannes comes back. You know, she's over
there in France and sometimes she's like, I want to
come play, and then sometimes she's like, Eh, I'm going
to stay in France this summer. I'll see you all
(20:14):
next year. So from a front office perspective, that's probably
extremely frustrating.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Definitely, But right after winning a finals I could see
her doing that. Why not.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I'm like, she changes the whole dynamic of that team
like completely, and then they just lost Courtney Vanderslout, So
it seems like Sabrina is going to be taking on
more of the one priority, the point guard priority, which
she's capable, but I think she's way better playing at
the two, especially in this league. So it's interesting to
(20:48):
see what they could potentially do to bring Sabrina a
point guard because I think she plays at her best
when she has a high level point guard on her team,
like right now she's playing with Natasha. I think a
lot of people might be trying to get an Atasha
Cloud to New York because.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
They're, oh, that could be interesting.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Even though they're not necessarily winning a lot and unrivaled
their team they are, they have pretty good chemistry and
Sabena just have like thirty four the other day.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
So do you think that that's something Connecticut might be doing,
like trying to use you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Yeah, to keep moving. Like I just I just don't
see the vision in Connecticut, Like I just don't know
what they're doing, what type of team they're trying to build,
if they're trying if this is just like a one
year we need twelve people. Do they have a draft pick?
Not sure if they even have a draft pick. I'm
sure they do, but yeah, I just for some reason,
I just don't see Tash staying there, Like something in
(21:42):
my soul is telling me that she's going somewhere else.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
But we'll have to see another blockbuster interesting. I want
to ask you about obviously, Angel Reese Caitlyn. Everybody talks
about two young rookies their teams made some moves. Indiana,
(22:08):
some people were saying might have had the best offseason
of any teams. What are your thoughts.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
They gave Caitlyn some dogs around her and they're now
in and around. They gave her some more shooters. Natasha
Howard I think was their best signing. I think people
forgot what type of player she was while she's been
in Dallas. She's a great defensive player. She can go
out and give you thirty. She's a great screener, which
is going to be very beneficial to Caitlyn. For Kate
(22:36):
Iwana Bonner, just having that veteran presence and energy like
she can go make big time buckets for you. Sophie Cunningham,
just her energy alone. I'm excited to see her back
at her natural position, which is the three. She's actually
been playing the four for quite some time in Phoenix,
but she's been doing a good job considering that's not
(22:56):
her natural position. And then of course resigning Kelsey Mitchell.
I remember saying last year before the season even started
that they're going to go as Kelsey Mitchell goes. You know,
she started the season hurt and came back and after
all Star break her and Caitlyn found this balance and
this cadence that made them very hard to guard, which
is why they were able to make the playoffs. So
I'm excited to watch them. I'm actually also excited to
(23:19):
play against them. I think all the noise from last year,
obviously it's going to be there, but you add a
ton of veterans that supposedly were hating on the rookies,
but all wanted to go play with her like they
wasn't hating. They was pissed that we have to chase
her around all the time. But when you get the
opportunity to play next to a player like that, you're
(23:39):
gonna go. So I'm excited for them. I'm really excited
for Kelsey Mitchell. She has been with that Fever organization
since twenty eighteen when we got drafted together, and she's
been through the good and the bad and the ugly.
So I'm happy that the way they welcomed her in
with her resigning, with the like little parade inside the arena,
the announce spence, the Pacers showed love like that's what
(24:03):
Kelsey Mitchell deserves, and I'm really glad that they were
able to do that for her. Too.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Yeah, I'm excited to watch them. I and Caitlin. I
think people under rate because of all of the noise
about everything else, how good her rookie year was, like
it was incredible, So for them, I think Indiana, but
it's not only people are also forgetting Aliyah, Like they
have put a lot into drafting really good young talent,
(24:27):
and so it's like for them to be like, Okay,
we got our girl building what she needs around her
building this practice facility like making moves, I think is exactly.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Absolutely and like I said before, it's like so much
intention that I've never seen before and so much embracing
players just the way they are. You know, come here
and be exactly who you are, because that's the player
that we need you to be. That's the person we
need you to be. And I think that's going to
be such a big difference This WNBA season is also
(24:59):
because so many of us have been around each other
year round, Like usually we don't see each other until
the season starts again. So people being in Miami at
U rival, people being in Nashville with Au, Like, You're
going to see a different type of bond and camaraderie
and competitive energy because we're not like complete strangers anymore
to each other. And I think that's something that I mean,
(25:21):
you see the guys all off season, they playing pickup,
They in La they and Mi Yami, They at the club,
they at the gym, like they doing all this stuff.
And as much as people complain about, oh, the NBA
is too friendly, now, like no, they like that because
they're all making each other better and they're all eating
off of that. And I think we're about to get
(25:44):
to that level. And you're going to see the WNBA
go to a different level because of that.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
And it'll allow for less of this narrative, this caddie
drama everyone hates each other narrative because people are seeing
you interrocked in the off season. I also want to know,
as far as Kaitlyn rookies, you mentioning franchises allowing their
players to be who they are. One thing that me
and you have talked about a bunch of times is
rookies coming in and teams allowing them to play and
(26:09):
allowing them to struggle. Caitlyn had that rookie struggle at
the very beginning. If people were like, this is exactly
what everyone was talking about, this is what Diana Toroszi
was talking about. She's going to struggle and they just
let her play it out and she did eat So
that's like it's really important to let them have that.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
There is an adjustment period and there's nothing wrong with
having an adjustment period. And because y'all didn't see our
adjustment periods, they were happening just at practice. We was
get our ass beat in practice. Like it's the same
for everybody. So even for her going through that struggle
front and center, like she handled it great. Same with Angel,
same with camp Rikia, all the rookies. I think they
(26:49):
all hit that wall briefly, some longer than others, and
they came out better on the other side because for
the first time they were able to just you know,
play through it, played through it. This year's Rocky class,
I don't know, because it is giving. Teams are trying
to like win right now, and it's I would say
(27:11):
like five or six teams in the w are trying
to win like right now. And the way they thought,
they've traded these picks around, like you here, you take
my pick, you take my good point.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
I was about to say, though, some teams don't well
usually the team that has the number one pick is
a team that isn't in win now mode, but Dallas,
it is the lottery.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
What kind of Dallas. They've made some moves to put
them in really good contention. They got Arique some help defensively,
they got players that are that know each other very well,
so that chemistry could definitely be beneficial. And then they're
going to get the number one pick. So you get
a little bit of energy and hype with getting the
number one pick, which I still can't believe. Yeah, yeah,
(28:00):
And they have the eighth pick and the twelfth pick. Wow.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Which is interesting for them to have made moves or
all of these great pieces that they have all of
these high draft picks and would have all of these
high quality young players. I'm surprised that they're not using those.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
I mean, if you look at the Wings roster, they're
extremely young. So this might be let's grow together type energy.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
It's giving like Okac and the NBA is like drafting
very well, allowing them to grow, and then in a.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Few years he'll be like, don't get me wrong, this
draft class is extremely talented as well. They might not
have the hype like last year's draft class, but they
definitely have the talent. So again, this might be another
draft that we see a lot more intention behind, Like
you might think that this player is the best available,
(28:56):
but I think now they're probably going to start picking
best fit, which is which I don't like. On the
draft on the board they put best available, Like what
does that even mean? But I do like when now
they've now changed it, like depending on what position they need,
they have the best available for that position. For us,
it was just like the best available that team, Like
(29:17):
this team needs a center, but the players a point guard,
so so they would draft the point guard. Like what
that doesn't make sense?
Speaker 1 (29:23):
But you gotta think if you have the opportunity, like
even if Indiana needed a center, they're not overlooking absolutely,
you know what I'm saying, Like, you gotta if it
depends on if it's a generational type of talent or
if it's like if you can sacrifice that for something
that can help you right now, I think.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
It makes sense to satifize that it depends on the
needs of the team and just moving forward.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
But there are some players who surpassed.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
They need to and she was one of them, and
I think that they made the right call on that,
because they knew her play would attract better players to Indiana,
Like it's been hard for them to get players to
sign to Indiana because they're in Indiana, and because those
games typically were very empty. There was no energy behind
the fever since they won their championships when Tamika Catching's
(30:12):
was there. So Caitlin has basically come in and rejuvenated
the entire franchise and now it's an attractive place for
free agents to come. And I think that long term
they were thinking about that. I don't know what other
people were thinking of. You know, no one was gonna
go there with her and they're not gonna want to
play with someone like that, But like, why would you
not want to play with somebody like that? Like let's
(30:33):
let's not eat down here, like we're all basketball players
at the end.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Of the those are going to win. Those are people
on the WBA saying that those who didn't make the
JV basketball team, but.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
They don't even be the manager for the JV basketball team. Okay,
we have one more team to hit on real quick
and Washington Mystics who have done nothing. Okay, Yeah, I
don't think Elena Deladon is ever returning? Can we hold on?
(31:05):
Can we stop for a second. The fact that Elena
Deladon just stopped playing. She was just like, I'm dead
and everyone was like, okay bye, Like she wasn't one
of the best players to ever play in the WBA.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
Do you have any.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
I don't go on what happened there, And the fact
that people, oh, absolutely, the fact that people are just like, man,
it's just Lena Deladon, It's all right. Like the organization
has been in shambles since she's done that, and I
don't even know, because if.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
You have a talent like that, you build around it,
and like she brought them a championship and then it
was just like downhill from there.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
She didn't play in the bubble season because she struggles
with lime disease, so that was like a health concern
for her. But ever since she made that decision, it
seems like they kind of had like weird energy towards her,
the organization, not the team, the organization, like the higher ups.
And then I think she was just like I'm done
with this, like I'm out of here.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Which makes sense. You want if you want to be respected,
I brought y'all a championship.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
I'm huge.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
The bubbles should be exactly. That was an unprecedented situation.
So especially since she had personal health issues. If you're
at an organization that's not taking that seriously and you're
doing that much for them, I'm going to make you
think you good without me.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Watch and now we see that they are not good
without her. I don't know, but not knowing anything about
it about it, like I don't know what the situation
is with like her rights if she's a free agent,
not like I don't know anything.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Wait, so are they still paying her?
Speaker 2 (32:48):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
I don't know, because that could be that could be
part of the problem that they might have that salary
check and can't get rid of it because what team
would want to trade for somebody.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Because I'm not sure if you don't play a season,
if it counts against your years of service. So she
might've had like one year or two left on her contract,
but if she's not playing, then I don't think those
years get knocked off. But then I think if they
suspend her contract, it doesn't count on the salary cap.
(33:21):
They're not doing anything over there. I have friends that
play on that team. I hope that they are able
to do something. They lost their starting point guard, Julie
van Lou. Oh yeah, she went to the Valkyries. Van
Lou very important piece to that Miss six team last year.
So it seems like they also don't have a plan
(33:42):
in place. So I'm hoping that they're able to get
something because I have friends that I care deeply about
that play on that team and I want them to
be successful. And they have things there. They have a facility,
they have chefs, they have all the things, So I
need DC to get it together. Well.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Of all of these moves that we've discussed, who do
you think made the most WNBA landscape changing move?
Speaker 2 (34:09):
The landscape changing I would have to say.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
Like, who do you think it shifts the power dynamic?
Speaker 2 (34:15):
Honestly, I might have to say Phoenix, And they were
like the catalyst of all this other movement and it
started with Phoenix, So I think they made the most
landscape changing move. I think they said like that was
like the most assets traded ever in w BA history
between them, what was it them, Dallas and Indiana. I
(34:38):
don't know. There was like so many teams. Again, we
were waiting for the domino to fall and I think
that the Phoenix, Marky, they were the domino that made
everything kind of start rolling in place. So yeah, as
far as landscape changing, I would say Phoenix. But as
far as like championship building contention, I would say Indiana. Wow, yeah, they.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Won a championship anytime soon?
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Oh my god, would be nuts? What? Nuts? What? Honestly,
I don't know, and I hate that. I'm like, not
like Sparks are gonna win, like, but I'm being serious,
I'm being for real. We are not going to finish
the last I know that, Like as I said after
last year, there's no way we can go. We can
(35:20):
only go higher. It can't be worse than last playoffs.
I haven't been a playoffs since twenty twenty two. Like see,
like in the last playoffs we won. So at least
I have a.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
As I say, what you're to do become a w
twenty two right.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
So at least I have like a good taste in
my mouth about it. Like at least I wasn't like
a loser in the playoffs, like we made it all
the way, but you know what that's like. And now
I want to be part of a team, like I
want to actually contribute for real, for real to if
I ever get in it and LA needs that, we
do need that. I mean, now we got we got
Luca magic now, so maybe they'll sprinkles. That's sure's the
(36:01):
magic on us.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
Before we get out of here. You're an LA person.
We are not here to talk, Oh we must, but
you are. Yeah, you are a LA star and I
got to hear what you're hearing in La your reaction
to that tride.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
I went to sleep that night at nine pm, right,
so that was seven pm Pacific time, so I missed
all of this. I woke up the next morning at
like seven am and the first thing I saw on
my phone was Luca is on the Lakers. And I
closed my phone because I was like, why are they
(36:47):
playing on my phone right now? Like what is this?
So I went back to sleep and I woke up
and it was everywhere and I was like, yo, they
traded Anthony Davis and we got Luca. I don't know
why I'm saying we. I'm a Celtics girl. Okay, let
me take that back. This is not we. You know this, Maria,
You're playing it on a Celtics girl. I can't say
(37:09):
we the Lakers got Luca. He's still very much injured though,
so I'm.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Like, apparently he'll be back Saturday.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
I'm sure he will be back Saturday.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
I would be back yesterday. You believe that you stopped
me forgetting that super Max and the movie, I would
be oh no, the MAVs would have no peace every
time they played me.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
It'd be over that whole logic. And I mean, we
can circle this back to wn B A two is
like the conversations I saw surrounding, like, oh, players should
take less money to build these these teams and win
championships and and win games. And no, Luca got them
to the finals last year on like one, damn leg
(37:53):
by himself, damn near And.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
I was always as far as player empowerment is concerned,
I always felt like the w NBA needed more and
the NBA needed a little less. Honestly, I was on
the side with the whole Jimmy Butler situation, thinking that
it was a little bit extra, that he was doing
a little bit too much. He's done this to too
many teams. And then after that Luca thing happened, it
completely changed my mind because even hearing you talk about
(38:18):
all of the turnover you've experienced about your career and everything,
and how hard that is for a player, For somebody
like Luca to do everything he could have possibly done.
I understand that he might be out of shape or
and that's his job, but for him to give that
franchise everything he possibly he did, he went above their
sailing last year, and for them to get rid of
him like the middle of thing, that showed me. That
(38:38):
showed me that if a player wants to leave and
they want to get their their good one on the team.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
Do you because they do not care. They do not care.
And I know Jimmy Butler is sitting in his coffee
shop in Miami mad as shit that he's.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
Still how the hell looka dog was before me. But
no one's untouchable.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
No one is untouchable. And I think, like what Jimmy
Butler is doing, it's going to create a shift in
the NBA. We don't really have these issues in the
w and as like just we've I wouldn't say we've struggled,
but we've been in this fight so long in the
public eye, Like when the NBA guys were in this
(39:25):
fight for bigger salaries and better treatment and all that,
Like there was no social media, there was no internet,
Like we didn't really see that struggle and people didn't
really get to appreciate what those guys in the past
did for us. Like we're front and center, everybody watching us.
So I don't foresee us getting the things that we
(39:46):
are fighting for and working hard for and then just changing,
like turning into these like pre madonnas, like I don't
like to call the guys prima donnas, but like they
are some of them are they are. I don't foresee
us turn into that. I think that we're going to
continue to operate the same, but now just with better
stuff and more money. And I think there's something instilled
(40:09):
in us as women athletes in general, that we're just
going to keep fighting for more and more and more
and still move with grace and still move with respect
that sometimes I think gets lost on the other side.
But that's not just in sports, that's in every everything.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
I think I was about to say, even with you
saying that that might be the case for you and
people with character like yours, you never know what's going
to happen with everybody else. And I'm glad you brought
up the fact that the NBA having that, like the
WNBA is still very young as a league, and so
to come into fruision in the nineties and go through
(40:45):
the growing process in front of the world as things progress,
it's hard to grow in front of the world of
having access to your salaries and everything that's going on
and discounting it, not even realizing that this is the
exact same thing that happened on the other side. We
just see it and it took a couple players, and
it took a surgeence of viewers, and it took some
(41:08):
continue and they say the level lockouts.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
So that's something, yes, we've never experienced, which I hope
that we don't have to experience because that means that
we can't come to an agreement, which for right now,
the things that we're asking for don't seem far fetched
in my opinion. But again, business is business. But like
(41:32):
we could be preparing for a lockout and that's like
very much a reality for something monumental to happen, that
might have to be the case, which I hope not.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
I would argue though I don't foresee a WNBA lockout
happening because of social media, because of the empowerment of
having access to the public all the time, because even
I don't think people remember, like you have a ton
of followers, like Dujasha Cloud has a ton of followers,
like y'all are popular public figures, and if you tweet
something like about your situation, I can't remember who it
(42:04):
was who became a mother and she tweeted about her
team was a skeleton. But anyways, when those issues happen,
you have direct access to the public to explain what's
going on in your situation, and the public heres and
there becomes outrage.
Speaker 2 (42:18):
I just hope that everything just goes smoothly, like that's
the best that you can I think it will ask for.
And I just feel like the eyes on the W
the eyes on AU, the eyes on unrivaled, it would
be unwise to lock out. You're basically just stopping the
momentum in its tracks completely, and I just I just
(42:38):
don't think that's the right thing to do.
Speaker 1 (42:40):
I will say I've done my research on the fact
that the WNBA and the MLS both were born around
the same time, and the MLS just had their profit
changes and their salary changes and that stuff I think
last year, but it was because the teams started in
the owner started investing in number one high profile like
(43:00):
Messi and David Beckham and stuff like that. But also
because they started investing in soccer specific stadiums and that
was like the catalyst for it, and then that helped
them get different TV deals and then that changed salaries.
And that's like all happening kind of at the same time,
and that's what the WNBA is doing right now, having
to step up with the facilities and stuff.
Speaker 2 (43:17):
Investment is key. Investment is key. Before we go, we
gotta give our flowers. I have a flower today, Well
I have two flowers. Okay, So first flower goes to
Asia Wilson and Kaylyn Clark getting their jerseys retired flowers
for y'all congratulating, and then Asia will get an additional
(43:39):
flower because her signature sneaker drop today. I saw it's sick,
it's fire. I love it's soil, Kaitlin, Asia, flowers for y'all.
Don't know if you'll even hear this, but we love
what you're doing. We appreciate what you're doing for the
women's game. And this has been another episode of Full
Circle Emergency Pod.
Speaker 1 (43:58):
Wait can I give a flower?
Speaker 2 (44:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
I want to give a flower to miss Big Angel Reese,
the Biggest, the Queen, that girl for retiring oh far.
That is everyone's dream And I literally bawled my eyes
out when I saw that video. You are making big moves.
You are that girl. Don't ever listen to what people
have to say because that I that inspired Michelle.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
I look at our Queen's doing big things. I love
this for us. Women's sports is still on the rise,
on the come up, catch up, hop on the train.
We're still accepting new members, don't miss out, and this
has been another episode a Full Circle. We will see
y'all next week.
Speaker 1 (44:38):
Thanks for listening to Full Circle. We'll be back next
week with more basketball for the girls, by the girls.
We want to hear from you. 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.
(44:59):
Listen a full ser on America's number one podcast network, iHeart,
Open your Free iHeart app and search. Full Circle with
Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose and start listening
Hosts And Creators
Lexie Brown
Mariah Rose
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