March 30, 2026 • 38 mins
Jay Parry, the CEO of the Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing Committee and former president of the Phoenix Mercury, joins Sarah to talk welcoming the country’s best college basketball players to the desert this weekend. Jay also shares her thoughts on the monumental WNBA CBA agreement and what it was like to lead a WNBA team in the early aughts, winning titles with the great Diana Taurasi. Plus, big Duke energy, the Sun finds a new place to shine, and karma takes all our friends to the Summit.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we saw
Blanca Kenyonez, Aubrey Galvin, and Ashland Jackson play their way
into highlight reels, blue sky posts, and barrum chats this weekend,
right alongside the Hannah's ass, Sarah's and Madison's of the world.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
If you didn't know, now you know.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
It's Monday, March thirtieth, and halfway through the Elite eight
round of the NCAA Tournament, we've been spoiled by buzzer
beaters and star performances. On today's show, you'll get lots
of attorney talk and a look ahead to the weekend
as Jay Perry, the CEO of the Phoenix Final Four
Local Organizing Committee and former Phoenix Mercury President, joins me
to share how the Desert is preparing to welcome the
(00:38):
country's best college basketball players for Final Four weekend. We
also talk about the monumental WNBACBA agreement and what it
was like to lead a WNBA team in the aughts
winning titles with the great Diana Tarassi plus Big Duke energy,
the sun finds a new place to shine, and Karma
takes all of our friends to the summit. It's all
(00:59):
coming up right after this. Welcome back Slaice's Happy Monday.
Here's what you need to know today, starting with what
else college hoops? We were absolutely spoiled by the amount
and the quality of basketball we got to watch this weekend,
(01:22):
starting with Sweet sixteen action on Friday and Saturday.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Now, most of the country's best teams took.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Care business to advance, especially the number one seeds, all
of them winning their matchups by at least twenty points.
Now Texas, especially from the jump, looked like world beaters.
Their game against Kentucky saw another great line inspired by
their stifling defense. Remember earlier in the tourney it was
Rory Harmon doesn't pick you up at the baseline, she
picks you up at the airport. Well, this game of
(01:49):
fans sign read defense tighter than my jeans after Keeso
so relatable. That game also provided bands across the country
another chance to cheer on their favorite human victory cigar
Sarah Graves. Now, if you're not caught up on Graves
and her sister who plays for Louisville and their parents
wearing the mixed match jerseys, you got to check out
The New York Times story about her in our show notes.
(02:11):
The final game on Saturday, which was a seventy nine
to sixty nine win for number three TCU over number
ten Virginia, also.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Worth a mention for two standout stats.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
First, Olivia Miles near triple double twenty eight points, ten rebounds,
eight assists. Second, the fact that the duo of Miles
and Marta Suarez, who had thirty three points in that one,
either scored or assisted on every single one of the
Horned Frogs seventy nine points in that game. There were
also two upsets in the Sweet sixteen that deserve a
(02:41):
lot of love. Duke used a little March Madness magic
to upset number two LSU eighty seven eighty five and
vault themselves into the Elite eight for the first time
since twenty twelve. Twenty thirteen, LSU was up one with
two point six seconds to go when senior Ashland Jackson
got the inbounds beyond the arc. Pump faked, took a drip,
and shot her three pointer, swirling around and around and
(03:04):
around on the rim before dropping in for the win.
If you didn't watch that, please google it right now.
I have never seen a ball do that and then
end up in the basket. The other upset might have
been the game of the weekend, as Notre Dame's Hanna
Hidalgo posted just the second triple double with steals in
NC Double eight tournament history, leading the number six Fighting
(03:25):
Irish to a sixty seven to sixty four upset of
number two Vanderbilt. Now, Hidalgo put up thirty one points,
eleven rebounds, and ten steals in that one. She's the
only player in the last thirty seasons of college hoops
men's and women's to post an NC double a tournament
game stat line of at least twenty points, eight rebounds,
and eight assists. And she's done it three times. Like
(03:49):
I said, zero other players have done it even once.
Hidalgo was impressive once again on Sunday and Notre Dame's
Elite eight matchup with number one Yukon, putting up twenty
two points and eleven rebounds, but it wasn't enough as
the Huskies pulled away for the seventy to fifty two win. Now,
despite the final score, the Irish made him work for it.
They held Gina Oriam and company to the fewest points
(04:10):
after three quarters of any game during their fifty four
game win streak, but Yukon stepped on the gas in
the fourth to advance to their record twenty fifth Final four.
It was a huge night for freshman Blanca Kegnonez, who
had twenty points and eight boards to lead the Huskies.
Sunday's second Elite Eight game was a meeting between two
white hot teams, Duke, who entered having won twenty four
(04:32):
of their last twenty six games, and UCLA, who came
in riding a twenty eight game win streak. The Devil's
Tyana Mayor came out hot and Duke led it the half.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
It was just the second.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Time the Bruins trailed at the half all season long,
but a strong second half helped UCLA to a seventy
to fifty eight win, earning them a return trip to
the Final Four. The second pair of Elite Eight contests
are tonight, with number one Texas taken on number two
Michigan at seven pm Eastern and number one South Carolina
facing number three three TCU at nine pm Eastern. Now,
(05:02):
after Tonight's games, all remaining teams get a little break
before the Final Four and NCAA title game in Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
This weekend.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
We'll have a full preview of the four remaining teams
later this week, and we'll talk to j Perry later
in the show about all the exciting activations and events
that await us in.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
The desert this weekend. More college shops news.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
As Gino Rima used his time at the mic during
this tournament to talk about more than just his team's wins.
On Thursday, orem A criticized Title nine enforcement, saying, in practice.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
The law is quote pretty much out the window.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I think most of the NCAA laws have gone out
the window end quote. His complaints mirror those of many
women's sports stakeholders after the NCAA versus House ruling has
allowed schools to directly pay players a portion of revenue
payments that don't need to abide by Title nine. After
the Trump administration rescinded guidance from the Biden era Department
of Education that stated that schools must equitably distribute funds
(05:56):
to male and female athletes now Orima also sounded off
yet again on the women's tournament using two regional sites
instead of four, blaming bad shooting percentages in part on
teams having trouble getting court time to practice and having
to come to the arena early and late on the same.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Day for media availability games and practices.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
The NCAA released a statement to the Associated Press that's said,
in part that attendance and ticket sales are up since
the move to two regional sites, and that the Women's
Basketball Committee determined that a returned to four sites likely
would mean fewer bids and smaller markets. The Women's NCAA
tournament is committed to having two sites for its four
regionals for at least five more seasons. One more college
(06:35):
basketball story to keep an eye on. Iowa State's first
round tournament exit has resulted in a mass exodus. Eight
players have already entered the transfer portal, with superstar Audie
Crooks quote unquote undecided as of now about staying or going.
Will keep you updated on player movement for Iowa State
and elsewhere as more teams see their season's end to
(06:55):
the WNBA, where it's official the Connecticut's Sun are headed
to Houston. Paper City Magazine out of Houston the first
to report that the Sun is being sold to the
Fertida family, the owners of the NBA's Houston Rockets. Sources
tel Front at the show Alexa Philippou of ESPN that
the sale is closing at a WNBA record three hundred
million dollars and did not include a relocation fee. Founded
(07:19):
in two thousand and three, the sun are owned by
the Mohegan Tribe, the league's first non NBA owners and
the first Native American tribe to own a professional sports team.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Now.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Newsbroke last summer that the tribe had initially reached a
deal to sell the team to a group led by
former Boston Celtics minority owner Steve and Paliuca that would
have moved the franchise to Boston, but the WNBA effectively
blocked that deal from progressing, releasing a statement that set
in part quote, relocation decisions are made by the WNBA
Board of Governors and not by individual teams. As part
(07:48):
of our most recent expansion process, in which three new
franchises were awarded to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, nine additional
cities also applied for WNBA teams and remain.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Under active consideration.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
No groups from Boston applied for a team at that time,
and those other cities remain under consideration based on the
extensive work they did as part of the expansion process
and currently have priority over Boston end quote. The Sun
will reportedly play one final season in Connecticut before relocating
in twenty twenty seven, and when they get to Houston,
they'll reportedly take on the name of the Houston Comets,
(08:20):
a nod to the city's original w team, a dynasty
that won four straight titles from ninety seven to two thousand.
An official announcement about the team's sale is expected today.
A lot of folks are excited about the return of
the Houston comments, and.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I totally get that.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
For me, it's sort of hard to celebrate considering the circumstances.
I'm looking forward to, hopefully some more in depth reporting
on how this deal got done and on the league's
interference in Connecticut's previous attempts to sell. You might remember
last fall, Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to
the league warning them to stay out of negotiations between
the Mohegan Tribe and prospective buyers, writing that quote, any
(08:58):
attempts by the WNBA to block our efforts to keep
the Sun in Connecticut could violate federal antitrust.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Laws end quote.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Certainly seems like something worth following up on in light
of this sale more WNBA, The Toronto Tempo won a
coin toss Friday and elected to pick sixth in the
first round of the upcoming college draft on April thirteenth,
so the other expansion squad, the Portland Fire, will pick
first in the expansion draft on April third and take
the number seven spot in that college draft. To the
(09:26):
NWSL and the record setting mind blowing crowd in Denver
for the game between Denver Summit FC and the Washington
Spirit on Saturday at in Power Field, sixty three thousand
and four people pack the stands for the Summits home opener,
surpassing the previous record of forty thousand, ninety one set
by BFC in Washington last year by more than twenty
thousand people. This weekend's game also set an attendance record
(09:49):
for any standalone women's soccer game in the United States. Now,
if you didn't watch the game, I highly recommend you
check out the Summit and NWSL social handles for photos
and videos to to get a real.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Sense of the crowd size. It was unreal. Gave me goosebumps.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
As for the game itself, maybe a little bit of
a disappointment. The Summit and the Spirit played to a
nil nil draw for Colorado native and Summit forward Janie
and Sonis, though it was a day to remember. Here's
what she said at a press conference after the match.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
I'm sad it's over, to be honest, I truly didn't
believe that this was something that was going to happen
in my career, and I'm just so grateful to be here.
I feel incredibly honored that the team believes in me
as a leader. To represent this community and give back
to a community that gave me everything that I have
really does mean the world to me, and to do
it in front of sixty three thousand people is incredible.
(10:38):
So it was a tough balance to manage the emotions
and putting in a performance. I will never forget walking
out of that tunnel today and hearing the crowd screaming
for us, and there's so much excitement in this group,
and I think that the rest of the league is
definitely on notice that we're here to compete and we're
here to be the first expansion team to win a championship.
So I'm proud of the way that we managed the
(10:59):
emotion around this day. I think it could have very
easily gone the other way with all the pressure and
all that kind of thing. So I think it's it
was a very mature performance from us, and for that,
I'm proud and I hope that all the girls really
took in what this day was because it was very.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Special, truly, Yes, a very special day. In the crowd
on Saturday, Julie Foudy, Brandy Chastain, gymnast Ali Raisman, NFLQB,
Bryce Young, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala use of
PSI not in.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
The crowd me and I'm kicking myself.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Absolutely epic scenes to figure skating and the World Championships
in Prague. For the first time in three years, no
American women medled at the World Figure Skating Championships. It
was a fairy tale finish for winter Cowie Sakamoto, though,
as the Japanese skater won her fourth World Championship and
not the best total program score of her career in
her final World Championship skate.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Pretty cool way to go out, taveibs.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
We're down to the final few weeks of the Love
Pro Volleyball season, so let's check in on the standings
ahead of playoffs at the top with twelve wins. Love Houston,
led by opposite hitter Jordan Thompson, who last week became
the first player in Love history to reach four hundred.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Points in a season.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Love Atlanta is in second with ten wins and a
dominant performance against Love Madison over the weekend clinched Atlanta's
spot in the playoffs. Love Nebraska and Love Salt Lake
have nine wins each. At the bottom of the standings,
Love Austin with eight and Love Madison with six.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
All six teams take the court twice this week, with
games on Wednesday.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Thursday, and Saturday, all leading up to the playoffs next
week and the championships the week after. That will link
to the full schedule in the show notes. Meantime, over
in Major League Volleyball MLV, Saturday saw the Team Meski
All Stars defeat the Team Lanier All Stars two to
one in the league's All Star Game. Over five thousand
were in attendance at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, and
(12:47):
the game aired nationally on CBS. To Tennis twenty twenty
six continues to be a great year for Bela Russian
Pro Arena Sablenka. First she got engaged then she made
it to the finals of the Aussie Open, then she
won Indian Wells, and this weekend she took the title
at the Miami Open. Sabalanca bested American Coco Golf in
Saturday's finals six' two four six sixty. Three sabalanka is
(13:10):
just the fifth woman to complete what's called The Sunshine
double that's winning at Both Indian wells And miami in
the same. Season goff's trip to the finals bumps the
twenty two year old to third in the world when
the rankings are next, updated Above poland's Egos Yon. Tech
after the, Match GoF said she played with joy inspired
by figure Skater Alyssa lou at The Winter. Olympics, quote
(13:30):
although it sucks to not come out with the bigger trophy,
TODAY i had a lot of joy this. Week that's
Something i'm taking away from this the. MOST i was
getting a little emotional on the, bench but not sad.
Tears i'm just having two weeks of gratitude end. Quote
sounds like a win in my. Book speaking Of Alissa,
lou did you guys catch her Giving Taylor swift one
of her many many awards at The iHeart Music.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Awards oh so much.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Fun we love a crossover to lacrosse, where in terrifying,
news a swarm of bees Delayed saturday's game.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Between a z Outa state In, florida not The, Bees,
yes The.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Bees the matchup In tempe was set to kick Off
big twelve lacrosse, play but a b infestation at the
field pushed the game To. Sunday, thankfully the game went
off without a, hitch and some of The Sun devils
players even had some fun with it On, sunday showing
up to the stadium in bee costumes before falling too
The gators fourteen to. Eight All, Right slaicy's we got
lots OF pwhl, news including the return Of Captain, america
(14:27):
plus AN nwsl wrap up and expansion on the brain
In Foggy London. Town we're going to get to all
of that tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Though right, now we're going to take a break when
we come.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Back we spoke to J perry last week about Turning
phoenix Into.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Tourney town stick around joining us.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Now she's THE ceo of The Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing,
committee helping bring the First Women's Final four To. Phoenix
the former president AND coo of The Phoenix mercury and
FORMER coo of THE. Wnba she spent the first seventeen
years of her career With bank Of, america A university
Of Colorado.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Bouldergrad the first time she ever went To, detroit she
went home with A wnba. Trophy It's Jay. Perry Hij, Hi.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Sarah i'm so excited to be with you. Today this is.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Exciting, Yeah i'm excited about this extremely busy time leading
up to a final four weekend that is right on the.
Horizon but before we get to your current role and
excitement over that, WEEKEND i want to go back to
your time with The mercury because it's fascinating to talk
to someone at THE helm back in the early two.
Thousands so what were some of the biggest challenges for
(15:35):
w franchises.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
And for The mercury when you joined the team in
two thousand and.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Four, yeah you, KNOW i didn't realize WHEN i joined
The Phoenix mercury in the two thousand and four that
it was such early. Days AND i know that sounds,
silly BUT i felt like it was really an established
League and of, course looking back on it now twenty years,
later we've come so far and so it was just
a magical time with The. MERCURY i will tell you it,
(15:58):
was you, know it was bootst. RIGHT i, mean it
was really hard. Work it was grinding on the commercialization
of the team and the. League but there was a
real camaraderie among the teams at that, point among the
team presidents who are still some of my best friends
just from those. Days AND i got drafted quote unquote
the same year As Diana tarazzi in two thousand and,
(16:20):
four so we were rookies, Together. SARAH i, mean that's
a cling.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
To, fame, Right, YEAH i was gonna. SAY i, mean
the very first season you're, there the goat of all goats.
Arrives so that's a hell of a ride you get
to take. Together give me a GOOD dt story or.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Two there are still so many memories about D g
and most of them are. POSITIVE i, mean at some
POINT i FIND i got a couple of gray, hairs
But i've gotten over it And i'm a full blonde,
now you, know literally from day. One you, know WHAT
i will say About diana is she has been, consistent
and she came in and she was all about her work,
ethic and she was all about being the very, best
(16:56):
and she is still that way to this, day and
SO i love her for but so many memories around
her commitment on the, court her, practice coming in, early leaving,
late and Literally i've taken those for it to my business.
Career So i've learned so much from. Her you, know
she joined the team in two thousand and. Four our
first championship was in two thousand and, seven you, know
(17:17):
as you, said In, detroit and that was an amazing
ride and so unexpected from me coming from my corporate,
career but it was really a learning lesson also for
me around that.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Time, YEAH i, mean it's pretty cool to have the
legacy of leading the team to its first ever title
IN o, seven another title in nine for a franchise's
first ever, championship and to have your name etched Alongside
Dinah trozzi and everybody else who helped the team get.
There what did that feel, like especially being on the
road for that first. One weird, FEELING i think probably
(17:50):
because at the time the, league you, know the confetti
falls and, whatever but you're not front page of a
newspaper the next, Day you're not going live On Sports
center to talk about.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
It necessarily.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
Right you know, what it was a really unique. EXPERIENCE
i mean it was we were the FIRST wnba team
to win on the, road so that, was as you,
said a major. Accomplishment AND i will tell, you you,
know playing In detroit Against Bill lambert as the head,
coach you, know that's a special. Experience but Between Diana
terrazzi And Kathy pondexter And Penny taylor And Tangela, smith
(18:22):
like you think of this all star, roster and they
really were ahead of their, time right with this run
and gun offense against Obviously Bill lamber in a super
defensively minded. Team so that was an exciting run game
five In, detroit and it was so so. Fun BUT
i will tell you and this would not happen. Today
we've come so. Far when it was time to receive the, Trophy,
(18:45):
sarah we were not greeted at center court because what
we were told is they were concerned for our security and,
safety and so we literally were in the back of
the zero level and you, know it felt like a bruin,
closet but literally it was probably a room that was
like ten by twenty with the television. Cameras the team
(19:06):
jammed in there at the, trophy you, Know Donna orner
handing it over To Diana Trazzi and so that is
a memory that is etched in my mind of something
that we've come so.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Far, yeah started from the bottom and now we're in
the basement after.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Winning that's.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Weird you did get to Leave detroit with a nice,
souvenir while most people leave, with you, know gambling debt
and a mysterious. RASH i have to say that Because
i'm From, chicago so we have a little nice. Rivalry but,
okay so a few years later you end up spending
two seasons AS coo of THE. Wnba it must be
wild to see the league, now and especially this NEW
cba when compared to your time there from twenty sixteen
(19:41):
to twenty. Eighteen what's the biggest thing that stands out to?
Speaker 4 (19:44):
You the players and the league continue to work together
to elevate, women, right and these women that stand for
such important members of our, communities right and making kind
of societal. CHANGES i, mean it just continues to impress
me With it takes a lot of, fortitude and it's
because they believe in what they're. Doing they believe in the,
(20:05):
game and you, know the league works hand in hand with,
them and it's great to see it from the team.
Side it's great to see it from the league. Side
i've had this really special, experience but with the NEW,
cba like you, know yiffee yah, Yiffe but a lot
of work went into getting us, there and we can't
forget that. Either it's not as though last year was
(20:26):
the first year of THE, wnba and SO i just, appreciate,
right all of those, folks, right the Val, ackerman's The
animisers are, like all of them played a role in
this AND i think everyone is so excited to see
it at this, level and there's still more work to.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Do, YEAH i really appreciated the payments going to tenured,
players whether retired or, current to sort of offset the
fact that they weren't paid.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Appropriately for so many.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Years i'm sure there's coaches and gms and presidents like
you mentioned the Val ackermans and The Ann, Meyers, tritesdale they're,
like wait a, MINUTE i would like one hundred thousand dollars.
PLEASE i had a lengthy role in helping build this league.
Too you went to The Phoenix suns for a couple
of years, too AND i wonder were there things that struck?
You there is obviously a tremendous financial, difference length of
time for the league's, existence, history all the other, Things
(21:12):
but were there things that stood out to you going
to The suns where you were, like it's wild to
me that this is the same sport in the same
city with the same. Ownership really in terms of THE
nbawnba co ownership and the experience for the athletes is so.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
Different it was, different you. KNOW i, MEAN i will,
say just working with The mercer for seven seasons and
then The suns for about two, seasons there was so
much interplay and the resources were shared to a degree
between the w team and THE nba. Team and it
was interesting because my, years the couple of years with
The suns was during the potential, lockout and so that
(21:46):
was just this other leg layer of, craziness, right and
thirteen different contingency plans of what could. Happen but WHAT
i will say is just the staff on the ground
was really just committed to The mercury and even WHEN
i was with The, suns it was, like, hey you,
know we want to make sure that we're really connecting
with THE wnba, Team but also you, know it was
(22:09):
like fifty x in revenue per, season and you have
to be realistic about, that, RIGHT i mean you have
to make those trade off decisions and, consider you, know
the investments versus the immediate. Payoff BUT i think we
really set the standard in two thousand and nine when
at The Phoenix mercury we had the first jersey, sponsorship,
RIGHT i mean those were kind of early commercialization days
(22:31):
of THE.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Wnba this was like, LifeLock is that?
Speaker 4 (22:34):
Right it was LifeLock exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
RIGHT i remember those Jes, yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
Yeah, yeah, Good i'm going to tell them. That and,
so you, know having the players involved in that and
still the support of The, suns, right leaders like the
President Rick, WELTS i, mean who was just a phenomenal
influence on The. Mercury and so there was a lot
of interplay between the cents and the markery that really.
Worked but it was a, grind let's be. Honest it
(22:58):
was a lot of. Work.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
YEAH i mean that growth that we've seen on the
w side has been mirrored on the college side with. Investment,
right there's so many more programs that can contend and
really compete in THE ncaa tournament because there are more
schools now investing in their women's, side and the party
that is college women's basketball is coming to your. Town
SO i want to know what we can expect From
phoenix as a first time host of The Women's Final.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
Four our community is all in on making this the
very best Women's Final. Four, yet like we take this
responsibility it sounds, silly like very. Seriously it's an important.
Platform it's the pinnacle of college women's, basketball and we
want every detail to feel like they've been curated at
that elite, level right for, players for, fans for, media
(23:45):
for the. Partners and so we've got you, know a
week long, activities you know, planned because this will, be
as you just, sat the ficenter of. Basketball and it
really starts with creating super compact footprint down To. Phoenix
and for all the major events we've posted, here we've
never had the competition venue and all the primary fan
(24:07):
events in Downtown. Phoenix so it's a five block walkable.
Campus all the events are, free which is really important
to THE ncaa and so important to growing the fandom
and the. Engagement and you can expect, warm sunny. Weather thank, Goodness,
sarah you're going to be with, us, Right you're, coming.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Yes and this is the Longest i've gone without sun
in at least eighteen, years BECAUSE i was at The
olympics instead Of cubs spring. TRAINING i wasn't at the Super,
bowl which is usually warm. Weather So i've just been
grinding it out without any sun for months and. Months
i'm pale as a. GHOST i need, You, PHOENIX i
need you bad.
Speaker 4 (24:43):
Just to look forward. To you, know you don't have
to bring your furry whatever with. You, yeah but we
are focused, on AS i, said really this kind of
journey when you get on the, ground and so it
starts At Sky Harbor. Airport when you touch, down we
want you to be like enveloped by the women's final
board and Think i'm at a major. Event and that
then you, know billboards along the way from the airport to,
(25:06):
downtown signage, building, wraps you, know supersized. Everything and then
we'll have volunteers really at every turn because one of
the things That phoenix And arizona and you've been.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Here lots of. Times, yeah right here very.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Hospitable, right we've kind of roll out the red. Carpet
we're very tourism oriented and so volunteers at every corner
that can help with, wayfinding that make you feel welcome
and can really introduce you to kind of Their, phoenix
right and Their, arizona and so you can see it
through a locals', eyes and that's. Amazing that's something that
we're excited. About and you, KNOW i, mean we've hosted
(25:41):
more major events here In arizona in the past ten
years than any other market in THE, Us so we
know how to, host, right two Super, bowls two men's final,
fours a college football, playoff and so having this Women's final,
four you, know on that list of highlights is super
exciting to.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Up. Yeah in, fact a lot of the folks that
are going to be there for The Final four were
just there for the twenty twenty FOUR Wnba All Star.
GAME i know that you weren't part of that committee
the same, way but any surprises or insights that you
learned from hosting a kind of similar, Crowd.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
What we saw with THE Wnba All star is that
there's still an opportunity and there is still an appetite
for that elevated. Experience from the feedback we, received you,
know it was a phenomenal time in Downtown. Phoenix they crushed.
It they crushed it. Right The mercury took it to
the next. Level the city took it to the next,
level and there was a lot of care given to
(26:36):
kind of WHAT i talked about it is how it
felt when you got on the, ground the experience you
had when you were. Here and also fans showed up in, droves.
RIGHT i MEAN i got a picture from my friend
at the airport the day After All star with all
the orange, hoodies you, know At Sky Harbor, airport and
you know you don't need a hoodie here In. July
(26:56):
let me just, say.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Everyone just wanted it was like one hundred and seven
degree that.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Week it was But Mortgage Matchup, Center, Right it's in
state of the art basketball venue and really really excited
to have our event, there and they have all the
bells and whistles and there's just a ton of investment
on keeping it at that really high.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Level, Yeah i'm not surprised you get the opportunity to.
Host it's built, forward it's a great place for. It
and you, know you've been on the host committee for
The Men's Final four for The Super, bowl AND i
wonder as you're working with the city on a major women's.
Event how has it felt, Different whether that's because you're
working with folks who aren't as familiar with women's, sports
or maybe you're trying to get them to buy in
on the scale and the size and the really the
(27:35):
value and the luxury of what the women's game now,
demands because to your, point people want elevated experience in
the space in a way that they couldn't really ask for,
before but now they.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
Expect the valley and the city really does have a
long history of supporting right The Phoenix mercury and the three.
Championships there's renewed interest WITH asu and Coach Malli miller
in her pert season and really having that be you,
know a, standout and so we actually have the great
benefit of fantastic support around women's, events and we want
(28:06):
to continue to build on that. RESUME i was at a,
city A Phoenix City council meeting just yesterday and we
were talking about you, Know Women's final four white can
Expect AND i have to tell, you on a nine
person city, council we've got a female mayor and we've
got six female council. Members amazing and literally and you
know we've got a female. GOVERNOR i, mean there's just
(28:27):
so much female leadership in our. State and literally after the,
meeting those six council members, said we are so excited
to host this major women's. Event it really is the
first major women's event we've had In. Arizona we hosted
the She Beliefs cup a year or so, ago and
that was.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
Important, YES i went to one of those games.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
Too oh you, Did you're a Regular, okay.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
Yes, Yes i've been going To arizona for sixteen straight
years For cup spring. Training SO i have hiked at you,
Know Sigurro National park and seeing The Salt river. Horses
i've drank at every single. Bar i've tried to ride
the horses in Old Town scottsdale well past midnight that
you're not allowed to ride those.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Statues i've done it. All i've seen it.
Speaker 4 (29:09):
ALL i meet The sarah spain. Itinerary this sounds. Exciting,
okay what's your favorite?
Speaker 1 (29:13):
Margarita So i'm not a margarita girl because tequila AND
i aren't, friends BUT i used to love going to
The Salty senorita and getting a big old.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Dakery, okay all, right that works, Too Rip Salty, senorita
that was my.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
Spot phoenix is always a great time and All tempi
And scottsdale and all the surrounding areas always make for
such a good. Time AND i think one of the
Things i'm looking forward to is having gone to these
major ten pool women's events for years running now to
see how it steps up with every, year with the,
investment with the, sponsors with the, activations with the fans,
Expectations AND i wonder for, you how do you embrace
(29:48):
the fact that with the leagues and teams and college
hoops and everything getting, bigger the desire to innovate in this,
space there's so much.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Growth how do you keep up with that?
Speaker 4 (29:56):
Growth we literally go in with the mindset of how
can we elevate? It and we employed that WHEN i
was with The Phoenix, mercury WHEN i was at The,
league and now we're doing that with all of our
major events here and so in working with THE, NCAA i,
mean they are so invested right in growing this game
and growing the, platform and making sure that we're really
involving the younger, generation right the college students and the
(30:18):
kids in everything we're doing and so we do have
some exciting first here In phoenix in downtown and you've
been At Mortgage Matchup, center literally right outside the venue
for the first time For Women's Final, four there is
a super sized. Bracket it's on the side of a
six story. Building it's one hundred and fifty feet. Long
it's getting updated with each one of the.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Matches that's going to be triggering for some. People it's
all their brackets posted on like day.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
ONE i mean they do go and they do point
to their. Teams i've seen several celfings happening out, there
but it just shows like the bigness of this, event
right and the importance of this. Event so that's. One
we also have a new outdoor it's called four And Al,
fest and that will be really tailgate sized kind of
event where it'll be, free they'll be, entertainment they'll be
(31:06):
super sized screens so that the men's And Women's final
four games For, Thursday, Friday saturday And sunday can be.
Watched and so that'll be really great local, food, trucks.
Entertainment so that's going to be a fun. One and
then the other one just in terms of investment in
The future is our high School. Symposium THE ncaa is
(31:26):
hosting it here for the first time associated With Women's Final.
Four so we're going to have over one hundred high
school student athletes their families come and hear from THE
ncaa how they can navigate their journey right as a
potential student, athlete for their mental health, resources all those
sorts of. Things and SO i think it's really kind
(31:47):
of going deep in the community and making sure that
we're telling the story of why college, athletics why being
active is so. IMPORTANT i, mean and that's SOMETHING i
really believe.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
It that's, great, YEAH i, mean and it's such an
opportunity to speak to that next generation and for them
to start making it a habit as families to go
to these women's, events to watch these women's, games and
to be as invested in them as the sort of
long term things we've all got on our calendars because
of the men's leagues being around for you, know one hundred.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Years So i'm just really.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Excited take me To, Thursday april, First final four weekend
is about to get.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Underway what are you most excited for of the.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
WEEKEND i am most excited first to welcome the four
teams To arizona because we meet them at the airport
there literally is it's not a red, carpet but it's
like a kind of orange carpet that gets rolled, out you,
know they come down off the plane and they get
to start their championship. Experience and so just seeing their
reactions and talking to the, coaches you, know they all
(32:47):
have their different. Personalities when it was the men's final,
Four yukon was delayed until you, know four, am but
we still met them at the. Airport and so just
really starting with that student athlete experience is exciting to
me Because i've heard from talking to some of the
participants is like this is a life changing. Moment it's
something they'll take with, them and it is their first
introduction for many of them To, arizona and we want
(33:10):
them to feel LIKE i can't wait to come, back
right AND i want to come back and. VISIT i
want to live, HERE i want to go into business.
Here so first starting with the student athlete and then
literally LIKE i love all the events with the, kids
and so we've got The bounce event On saturday morning
where three thousand kids are bouncing their basketballs through the
streets Of. Phoenix the streets are shut.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Down oh you'll have to tell me where that, is
SO i can't avoid. It sounds, amazing sounds amazing for
maybe other. FOLKS i don't THINK i want three thousand
kids anywhere near.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Me but good, note good, note you got.
Speaker 4 (33:42):
To be up for. IT i, mean you, know we've
got our Grand. Marshall Mollie miller's going to bring a
couple of her kids. Down Mayor diego is going to
bring her son, down so it'll be. Fun and then
heading into On friday. Morning you're gonna want to miss
this one. Too we have our final four, schools our
third graders that have been reading around the, state thank
(34:02):
you for months and months and. Months it's the top four.
Schools we're going To crown A Champion reading school because
reading at the third grade level is really important a
future success in their. Studies and so they've been. Reading
we've got over twenty million minutes read and we're going
To crown A.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Championship if there's books, INVOLVED i might show up to that, One.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
Okay, okay good, yeah either online books or real. Books
So i'm just excited, to you, know Put phoenix on
the map for this amazing women's.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
Event, well it sounds like you've got everything ready to.
Go i'm so excited to get out, there AND i
hopefully will run into you somewhere along the weekend at
one of the events going.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
On i'm really looking forward to. It thanks so much
for joining.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
Us, yeah we can't wait to have you, Out. Sarah
thanks for your.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
Time thanks again To jay for taking the. Time we're
so excited for this. Weekend we got to take another
break when we, Return dukes still got a reason to.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
Celebrate welcome, Back. Slices we love.
Speaker 1 (35:02):
That you're, listening but we want you to get in
the game every day, Too so here's our good game
play of the. Day minnesota's exit in The sweet sixteen
means we had to say goodbye To Blanket lady Aka Pep.
Newman vanderbilt's loss means we got our last look at
the nation's leading scorer and friend of the, show Michaeleb
blake's until next.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
Season lsu is.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Out so whatever show stopping sartorial Statement Kim maulky had
planned For phoenix will stay in her closet till next.
Year and just as we were all learning how to
say Alff, east don bulolou, Correctly louisville got. Bounced which,
player fan or storyline from a losing team will you miss.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
The most after this weekend's game slices let us. Know,
also don't.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Forget to check out my heir at The cheers charity
campaign that's still going on Helping chicago area kids get
the hearing aids and audiology equipment they need to stay in.
Sports as they might have, mentioned hearing aids are usually
not covered by insurance and can be up to four
thousand dollars an. Ear we've got some great prizes and
every fifteen dollars you donate earned you another entry into the.
Raffle we've got An Athlete's Unlimited Prize, Pack Women's Sports Prize,
(36:06):
PACK Pwhl Merch cubs And bulls tickets for my Local chicago,
folks Assigned Jenny. Finchball lots of good, stuff so check it.
Out we'll put the link in the show. Notes we
always love to hear from, you so hit us up
on email good game at wondermedianetwork dot com or leave
us a voicemail at eight seven two two four fifty
seventy and don't forget to, subscribe rate and Review it's
(36:28):
so easy. Watch Nina king is The queen In, durham
rating three for three conference titles. Review Duke athletic Director
Nina king led The Blue devils to a historic first
this school, year sweeping THE acc championships in, football men's,
basketball and women's. Basketball friend of The, Show, king who
(36:48):
was hired By duke in twenty twenty, one is the
school's first woman athletic director and only the third black
woman ever to be an ad in A power five.
Conference there's progress being made when it comes to. Women
at the top hundred and seventy nine women athletic directors
in twenty twenty, five we're a twenty four percent increase
over the past, decade and the sixty two female athletic
directors In division one marks an eighty two percent increase
(37:10):
over the last ten. Years but women are still the
minority at the, position representing just fifteen percent Of division
one athletic. Directors Perhaps king's reign At duke.
Speaker 2 (37:19):
Will inspire a few more schools to embrace the power
of a. Matriarchy we'd like to see it. Now it's
your journ. Y'all rate and. Review thanks for. Listening see you.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
Tomorrow Good, Game, Jay Good, GAME ucla and yukon you
just one more weekend of college.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
HOOPS I want. More Good game.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
With Sarah spain is an iheartwomen's sports production in partnership
With Deep Blue sports And. Entertainment you can find us
on The iHeartRadio, App Apple, podcasts or wherever you get your.
Podcasts production By Wonder Media, network our producers Are Alex
azi And Bianca. Hillier our executive producers Are Christina, Everett Jesse,
Cats Jenny kaplan And Emily. Rudder our editors Are Emily,
Rutterer Lucy, Jones Britney martinez And Gianna. Palmer production assistant
(38:07):
From Avery loftus And I'm Your Host Sarah spain
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we saw
Blanca Kenyonez, Aubrey Galvin, and Ashland Jackson play their way
into highlight reels, blue sky posts, and barrum chats this weekend,
right alongside the Hannah's ass, Sarah's and Madison's of the world.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
If you didn't know, now you know.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
It's Monday, March thirtieth, and halfway through the Elite eight
round of the NCAA Tournament, we've been spoiled by buzzer
beaters and star performances. On today's show, you'll get lots
of attorney talk and a look ahead to the weekend
as Jay Perry, the CEO of the Phoenix Final Four
Local Organizing Committee and former Phoenix Mercury President, joins me
to share how the Desert is preparing to welcome the
(00:38):
country's best college basketball players for Final Four weekend. We
also talk about the monumental WNBACBA agreement and what it
was like to lead a WNBA team in the aughts
winning titles with the great Diana Tarassi plus Big Duke energy,
the sun finds a new place to shine, and Karma
takes all of our friends to the summit. It's all
(00:59):
coming up right after this. Welcome back Slaice's Happy Monday.
Here's what you need to know today, starting with what
else college hoops? We were absolutely spoiled by the amount
and the quality of basketball we got to watch this weekend,
(01:22):
starting with Sweet sixteen action on Friday and Saturday.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Now, most of the country's best teams took.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Care business to advance, especially the number one seeds, all
of them winning their matchups by at least twenty points.
Now Texas, especially from the jump, looked like world beaters.
Their game against Kentucky saw another great line inspired by
their stifling defense. Remember earlier in the tourney it was
Rory Harmon doesn't pick you up at the baseline, she
picks you up at the airport. Well, this game of
(01:49):
fans sign read defense tighter than my jeans after Keeso
so relatable. That game also provided bands across the country
another chance to cheer on their favorite human victory cigar
Sarah Graves. Now, if you're not caught up on Graves
and her sister who plays for Louisville and their parents
wearing the mixed match jerseys, you got to check out
The New York Times story about her in our show notes.
(02:11):
The final game on Saturday, which was a seventy nine
to sixty nine win for number three TCU over number
ten Virginia, also.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Worth a mention for two standout stats.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
First, Olivia Miles near triple double twenty eight points, ten rebounds,
eight assists. Second, the fact that the duo of Miles
and Marta Suarez, who had thirty three points in that one,
either scored or assisted on every single one of the
Horned Frogs seventy nine points in that game. There were
also two upsets in the Sweet sixteen that deserve a
(02:41):
lot of love. Duke used a little March Madness magic
to upset number two LSU eighty seven eighty five and
vault themselves into the Elite eight for the first time
since twenty twelve. Twenty thirteen, LSU was up one with
two point six seconds to go when senior Ashland Jackson
got the inbounds beyond the arc. Pump faked, took a drip,
and shot her three pointer, swirling around and around and
(03:04):
around on the rim before dropping in for the win.
If you didn't watch that, please google it right now.
I have never seen a ball do that and then
end up in the basket. The other upset might have
been the game of the weekend, as Notre Dame's Hanna
Hidalgo posted just the second triple double with steals in
NC Double eight tournament history, leading the number six Fighting
(03:25):
Irish to a sixty seven to sixty four upset of
number two Vanderbilt. Now, Hidalgo put up thirty one points,
eleven rebounds, and ten steals in that one. She's the
only player in the last thirty seasons of college hoops
men's and women's to post an NC double a tournament
game stat line of at least twenty points, eight rebounds,
and eight assists. And she's done it three times. Like
(03:49):
I said, zero other players have done it even once.
Hidalgo was impressive once again on Sunday and Notre Dame's
Elite eight matchup with number one Yukon, putting up twenty
two points and eleven rebounds, but it wasn't enough as
the Huskies pulled away for the seventy to fifty two win. Now,
despite the final score, the Irish made him work for it.
They held Gina Oriam and company to the fewest points
(04:10):
after three quarters of any game during their fifty four
game win streak, but Yukon stepped on the gas in
the fourth to advance to their record twenty fifth Final four.
It was a huge night for freshman Blanca Kegnonez, who
had twenty points and eight boards to lead the Huskies.
Sunday's second Elite Eight game was a meeting between two
white hot teams, Duke, who entered having won twenty four
(04:32):
of their last twenty six games, and UCLA, who came
in riding a twenty eight game win streak. The Devil's
Tyana Mayor came out hot and Duke led it the half.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
It was just the second.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Time the Bruins trailed at the half all season long,
but a strong second half helped UCLA to a seventy
to fifty eight win, earning them a return trip to
the Final Four. The second pair of Elite Eight contests
are tonight, with number one Texas taken on number two
Michigan at seven pm Eastern and number one South Carolina
facing number three three TCU at nine pm Eastern. Now,
(05:02):
after Tonight's games, all remaining teams get a little break
before the Final Four and NCAA title game in Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
This weekend.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
We'll have a full preview of the four remaining teams
later this week, and we'll talk to j Perry later
in the show about all the exciting activations and events
that await us in.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
The desert this weekend. More college shops news.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
As Gino Rima used his time at the mic during
this tournament to talk about more than just his team's wins.
On Thursday, orem A criticized Title nine enforcement, saying, in practice.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
The law is quote pretty much out the window.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I think most of the NCAA laws have gone out
the window end quote. His complaints mirror those of many
women's sports stakeholders after the NCAA versus House ruling has
allowed schools to directly pay players a portion of revenue
payments that don't need to abide by Title nine. After
the Trump administration rescinded guidance from the Biden era Department
of Education that stated that schools must equitably distribute funds
(05:56):
to male and female athletes now Orima also sounded off
yet again on the women's tournament using two regional sites
instead of four, blaming bad shooting percentages in part on
teams having trouble getting court time to practice and having
to come to the arena early and late on the same.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Day for media availability games and practices.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
The NCAA released a statement to the Associated Press that's said,
in part that attendance and ticket sales are up since
the move to two regional sites, and that the Women's
Basketball Committee determined that a returned to four sites likely
would mean fewer bids and smaller markets. The Women's NCAA
tournament is committed to having two sites for its four
regionals for at least five more seasons. One more college
(06:35):
basketball story to keep an eye on. Iowa State's first
round tournament exit has resulted in a mass exodus. Eight
players have already entered the transfer portal, with superstar Audie
Crooks quote unquote undecided as of now about staying or going.
Will keep you updated on player movement for Iowa State
and elsewhere as more teams see their season's end to
(06:55):
the WNBA, where it's official the Connecticut's Sun are headed
to Houston. Paper City Magazine out of Houston the first
to report that the Sun is being sold to the
Fertida family, the owners of the NBA's Houston Rockets. Sources
tel Front at the show Alexa Philippou of ESPN that
the sale is closing at a WNBA record three hundred
million dollars and did not include a relocation fee. Founded
(07:19):
in two thousand and three, the sun are owned by
the Mohegan Tribe, the league's first non NBA owners and
the first Native American tribe to own a professional sports team.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Now.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Newsbroke last summer that the tribe had initially reached a
deal to sell the team to a group led by
former Boston Celtics minority owner Steve and Paliuca that would
have moved the franchise to Boston, but the WNBA effectively
blocked that deal from progressing, releasing a statement that set
in part quote, relocation decisions are made by the WNBA
Board of Governors and not by individual teams. As part
(07:48):
of our most recent expansion process, in which three new
franchises were awarded to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, nine additional
cities also applied for WNBA teams and remain.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Under active consideration.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
No groups from Boston applied for a team at that time,
and those other cities remain under consideration based on the
extensive work they did as part of the expansion process
and currently have priority over Boston end quote. The Sun
will reportedly play one final season in Connecticut before relocating
in twenty twenty seven, and when they get to Houston,
they'll reportedly take on the name of the Houston Comets,
(08:20):
a nod to the city's original w team, a dynasty
that won four straight titles from ninety seven to two thousand.
An official announcement about the team's sale is expected today.
A lot of folks are excited about the return of
the Houston comments, and.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I totally get that.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
For me, it's sort of hard to celebrate considering the circumstances.
I'm looking forward to, hopefully some more in depth reporting
on how this deal got done and on the league's
interference in Connecticut's previous attempts to sell. You might remember
last fall, Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to
the league warning them to stay out of negotiations between
the Mohegan Tribe and prospective buyers, writing that quote, any
(08:58):
attempts by the WNBA to block our efforts to keep
the Sun in Connecticut could violate federal antitrust.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Laws end quote.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Certainly seems like something worth following up on in light
of this sale more WNBA, The Toronto Tempo won a
coin toss Friday and elected to pick sixth in the
first round of the upcoming college draft on April thirteenth,
so the other expansion squad, the Portland Fire, will pick
first in the expansion draft on April third and take
the number seven spot in that college draft. To the
(09:26):
NWSL and the record setting mind blowing crowd in Denver
for the game between Denver Summit FC and the Washington
Spirit on Saturday at in Power Field, sixty three thousand
and four people pack the stands for the Summits home opener,
surpassing the previous record of forty thousand, ninety one set
by BFC in Washington last year by more than twenty
thousand people. This weekend's game also set an attendance record
(09:49):
for any standalone women's soccer game in the United States. Now,
if you didn't watch the game, I highly recommend you
check out the Summit and NWSL social handles for photos
and videos to to get a real.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Sense of the crowd size. It was unreal. Gave me goosebumps.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
As for the game itself, maybe a little bit of
a disappointment. The Summit and the Spirit played to a
nil nil draw for Colorado native and Summit forward Janie
and Sonis, though it was a day to remember. Here's
what she said at a press conference after the match.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
I'm sad it's over, to be honest, I truly didn't
believe that this was something that was going to happen
in my career, and I'm just so grateful to be here.
I feel incredibly honored that the team believes in me
as a leader. To represent this community and give back
to a community that gave me everything that I have
really does mean the world to me, and to do
it in front of sixty three thousand people is incredible.
(10:38):
So it was a tough balance to manage the emotions
and putting in a performance. I will never forget walking
out of that tunnel today and hearing the crowd screaming
for us, and there's so much excitement in this group,
and I think that the rest of the league is
definitely on notice that we're here to compete and we're
here to be the first expansion team to win a championship.
So I'm proud of the way that we managed the
(10:59):
emotion around this day. I think it could have very
easily gone the other way with all the pressure and
all that kind of thing. So I think it's it
was a very mature performance from us, and for that,
I'm proud and I hope that all the girls really
took in what this day was because it was very.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Special, truly, Yes, a very special day. In the crowd
on Saturday, Julie Foudy, Brandy Chastain, gymnast Ali Raisman, NFLQB,
Bryce Young, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala use of
PSI not in.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
The crowd me and I'm kicking myself.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Absolutely epic scenes to figure skating and the World Championships
in Prague. For the first time in three years, no
American women medled at the World Figure Skating Championships. It
was a fairy tale finish for winter Cowie Sakamoto, though,
as the Japanese skater won her fourth World Championship and
not the best total program score of her career in
her final World Championship skate.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Pretty cool way to go out, taveibs.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
We're down to the final few weeks of the Love
Pro Volleyball season, so let's check in on the standings
ahead of playoffs at the top with twelve wins. Love Houston,
led by opposite hitter Jordan Thompson, who last week became
the first player in Love history to reach four hundred.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Points in a season.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Love Atlanta is in second with ten wins and a
dominant performance against Love Madison over the weekend clinched Atlanta's
spot in the playoffs. Love Nebraska and Love Salt Lake
have nine wins each. At the bottom of the standings,
Love Austin with eight and Love Madison with six.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
All six teams take the court twice this week, with
games on Wednesday.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Thursday, and Saturday, all leading up to the playoffs next
week and the championships the week after. That will link
to the full schedule in the show notes. Meantime, over
in Major League Volleyball MLV, Saturday saw the Team Meski
All Stars defeat the Team Lanier All Stars two to
one in the league's All Star Game. Over five thousand
were in attendance at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, and
(12:47):
the game aired nationally on CBS. To Tennis twenty twenty
six continues to be a great year for Bela Russian
Pro Arena Sablenka. First she got engaged then she made
it to the finals of the Aussie Open, then she
won Indian Wells, and this weekend she took the title
at the Miami Open. Sabalanca bested American Coco Golf in
Saturday's finals six' two four six sixty. Three sabalanka is
(13:10):
just the fifth woman to complete what's called The Sunshine
double that's winning at Both Indian wells And miami in
the same. Season goff's trip to the finals bumps the
twenty two year old to third in the world when
the rankings are next, updated Above poland's Egos Yon. Tech
after the, Match GoF said she played with joy inspired
by figure Skater Alyssa lou at The Winter. Olympics, quote
(13:30):
although it sucks to not come out with the bigger trophy,
TODAY i had a lot of joy this. Week that's
Something i'm taking away from this the. MOST i was
getting a little emotional on the, bench but not sad.
Tears i'm just having two weeks of gratitude end. Quote
sounds like a win in my. Book speaking Of Alissa,
lou did you guys catch her Giving Taylor swift one
of her many many awards at The iHeart Music.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Awards oh so much.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Fun we love a crossover to lacrosse, where in terrifying,
news a swarm of bees Delayed saturday's game.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Between a z Outa state In, florida not The, Bees,
yes The.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Bees the matchup In tempe was set to kick Off
big twelve lacrosse, play but a b infestation at the
field pushed the game To. Sunday, thankfully the game went
off without a, hitch and some of The Sun devils
players even had some fun with it On, sunday showing
up to the stadium in bee costumes before falling too
The gators fourteen to. Eight All, Right slaicy's we got
lots OF pwhl, news including the return Of Captain, america
(14:27):
plus AN nwsl wrap up and expansion on the brain
In Foggy London. Town we're going to get to all
of that tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Though right, now we're going to take a break when
we come.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Back we spoke to J perry last week about Turning
phoenix Into.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Tourney town stick around joining us.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Now she's THE ceo of The Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing,
committee helping bring the First Women's Final four To. Phoenix
the former president AND coo of The Phoenix mercury and
FORMER coo of THE. Wnba she spent the first seventeen
years of her career With bank Of, america A university
Of Colorado.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Bouldergrad the first time she ever went To, detroit she
went home with A wnba. Trophy It's Jay. Perry Hij, Hi.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
Sarah i'm so excited to be with you. Today this is.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Exciting, Yeah i'm excited about this extremely busy time leading
up to a final four weekend that is right on the.
Horizon but before we get to your current role and
excitement over that, WEEKEND i want to go back to
your time with The mercury because it's fascinating to talk
to someone at THE helm back in the early two.
Thousands so what were some of the biggest challenges for
(15:35):
w franchises.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
And for The mercury when you joined the team in
two thousand and.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Four, yeah you, KNOW i didn't realize WHEN i joined
The Phoenix mercury in the two thousand and four that
it was such early. Days AND i know that sounds,
silly BUT i felt like it was really an established
League and of, course looking back on it now twenty years,
later we've come so far and so it was just
a magical time with The. MERCURY i will tell you it,
(15:58):
was you, know it was bootst. RIGHT i, mean it
was really hard. Work it was grinding on the commercialization
of the team and the. League but there was a
real camaraderie among the teams at that, point among the
team presidents who are still some of my best friends
just from those. Days AND i got drafted quote unquote
the same year As Diana tarazzi in two thousand and,
(16:20):
four so we were rookies, Together. SARAH i, mean that's
a cling.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
To, fame, Right, YEAH i was gonna. SAY i, mean
the very first season you're, there the goat of all goats.
Arrives so that's a hell of a ride you get
to take. Together give me a GOOD dt story or.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Two there are still so many memories about D g
and most of them are. POSITIVE i, mean at some
POINT i FIND i got a couple of gray, hairs
But i've gotten over it And i'm a full blonde,
now you, know literally from day. One you, know WHAT
i will say About diana is she has been, consistent
and she came in and she was all about her work,
ethic and she was all about being the very, best
(16:56):
and she is still that way to this, day and
SO i love her for but so many memories around
her commitment on the, court her, practice coming in, early leaving,
late and Literally i've taken those for it to my business.
Career So i've learned so much from. Her you, know
she joined the team in two thousand and. Four our
first championship was in two thousand and, seven you, know
(17:17):
as you, said In, detroit and that was an amazing
ride and so unexpected from me coming from my corporate,
career but it was really a learning lesson also for
me around that.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Time, YEAH i, mean it's pretty cool to have the
legacy of leading the team to its first ever title
IN o, seven another title in nine for a franchise's
first ever, championship and to have your name etched Alongside
Dinah trozzi and everybody else who helped the team get.
There what did that feel, like especially being on the
road for that first. One weird, FEELING i think probably
(17:50):
because at the time the, league you, know the confetti
falls and, whatever but you're not front page of a
newspaper the next, Day you're not going live On Sports
center to talk about.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
It necessarily.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
Right you know, what it was a really unique. EXPERIENCE
i mean it was we were the FIRST wnba team
to win on the, road so that, was as you,
said a major. Accomplishment AND i will tell, you you,
know playing In detroit Against Bill lambert as the head,
coach you, know that's a special. Experience but Between Diana
terrazzi And Kathy pondexter And Penny taylor And Tangela, smith
(18:22):
like you think of this all star, roster and they
really were ahead of their, time right with this run
and gun offense against Obviously Bill lamber in a super
defensively minded. Team so that was an exciting run game
five In, detroit and it was so so. Fun BUT
i will tell you and this would not happen. Today
we've come so. Far when it was time to receive the, Trophy,
(18:45):
sarah we were not greeted at center court because what
we were told is they were concerned for our security and,
safety and so we literally were in the back of
the zero level and you, know it felt like a bruin,
closet but literally it was probably a room that was
like ten by twenty with the television. Cameras the team
(19:06):
jammed in there at the, trophy you, Know Donna orner
handing it over To Diana Trazzi and so that is
a memory that is etched in my mind of something
that we've come so.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Far, yeah started from the bottom and now we're in
the basement after.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Winning that's.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Weird you did get to Leave detroit with a nice,
souvenir while most people leave, with you, know gambling debt
and a mysterious. RASH i have to say that Because
i'm From, chicago so we have a little nice. Rivalry but,
okay so a few years later you end up spending
two seasons AS coo of THE. Wnba it must be
wild to see the league, now and especially this NEW
cba when compared to your time there from twenty sixteen
(19:41):
to twenty. Eighteen what's the biggest thing that stands out to?
Speaker 4 (19:44):
You the players and the league continue to work together
to elevate, women, right and these women that stand for
such important members of our, communities right and making kind
of societal. CHANGES i, mean it just continues to impress
me With it takes a lot of, fortitude and it's
because they believe in what they're. Doing they believe in the,
(20:05):
game and you, know the league works hand in hand with,
them and it's great to see it from the team.
Side it's great to see it from the league. Side
i've had this really special, experience but with the NEW,
cba like you, know yiffee yah, Yiffe but a lot
of work went into getting us, there and we can't
forget that. Either it's not as though last year was
(20:26):
the first year of THE, wnba and SO i just, appreciate,
right all of those, folks, right the Val, ackerman's The
animisers are, like all of them played a role in
this AND i think everyone is so excited to see
it at this, level and there's still more work to.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Do, YEAH i really appreciated the payments going to tenured,
players whether retired or, current to sort of offset the
fact that they weren't paid.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Appropriately for so many.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Years i'm sure there's coaches and gms and presidents like
you mentioned the Val ackermans and The Ann, Meyers, tritesdale they're,
like wait a, MINUTE i would like one hundred thousand dollars.
PLEASE i had a lengthy role in helping build this league.
Too you went to The Phoenix suns for a couple
of years, too AND i wonder were there things that struck?
You there is obviously a tremendous financial, difference length of
time for the league's, existence, history all the other, Things
(21:12):
but were there things that stood out to you going
to The suns where you were, like it's wild to
me that this is the same sport in the same
city with the same. Ownership really in terms of THE
nbawnba co ownership and the experience for the athletes is so.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
Different it was, different you. KNOW i, MEAN i will,
say just working with The mercer for seven seasons and
then The suns for about two, seasons there was so
much interplay and the resources were shared to a degree
between the w team and THE nba. Team and it
was interesting because my, years the couple of years with
The suns was during the potential, lockout and so that
(21:46):
was just this other leg layer of, craziness, right and
thirteen different contingency plans of what could. Happen but WHAT
i will say is just the staff on the ground
was really just committed to The mercury and even WHEN
i was with The, suns it was, like, hey you,
know we want to make sure that we're really connecting
with THE wnba, Team but also you, know it was
(22:09):
like fifty x in revenue per, season and you have
to be realistic about, that, RIGHT i mean you have
to make those trade off decisions and, consider you, know
the investments versus the immediate. Payoff BUT i think we
really set the standard in two thousand and nine when
at The Phoenix mercury we had the first jersey, sponsorship,
RIGHT i mean those were kind of early commercialization days
(22:31):
of THE.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Wnba this was like, LifeLock is that?
Speaker 4 (22:34):
Right it was LifeLock exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
RIGHT i remember those Jes, yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
Yeah, yeah, Good i'm going to tell them. That and,
so you, know having the players involved in that and
still the support of The, suns, right leaders like the
President Rick, WELTS i, mean who was just a phenomenal
influence on The. Mercury and so there was a lot
of interplay between the cents and the markery that really.
Worked but it was a, grind let's be. Honest it
(22:58):
was a lot of. Work.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
YEAH i mean that growth that we've seen on the
w side has been mirrored on the college side with. Investment,
right there's so many more programs that can contend and
really compete in THE ncaa tournament because there are more
schools now investing in their women's, side and the party
that is college women's basketball is coming to your. Town
SO i want to know what we can expect From
phoenix as a first time host of The Women's Final.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
Four our community is all in on making this the
very best Women's Final. Four, yet like we take this
responsibility it sounds, silly like very. Seriously it's an important.
Platform it's the pinnacle of college women's, basketball and we
want every detail to feel like they've been curated at
that elite, level right for, players for, fans for, media
(23:45):
for the. Partners and so we've got you, know a
week long, activities you know, planned because this will, be
as you just, sat the ficenter of. Basketball and it
really starts with creating super compact footprint down To. Phoenix
and for all the major events we've posted, here we've
never had the competition venue and all the primary fan
(24:07):
events in Downtown. Phoenix so it's a five block walkable.
Campus all the events are, free which is really important
to THE ncaa and so important to growing the fandom
and the. Engagement and you can expect, warm sunny. Weather thank, Goodness,
sarah you're going to be with, us, Right you're, coming.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Yes and this is the Longest i've gone without sun
in at least eighteen, years BECAUSE i was at The
olympics instead Of cubs spring. TRAINING i wasn't at the Super,
bowl which is usually warm. Weather So i've just been
grinding it out without any sun for months and. Months
i'm pale as a. GHOST i need, You, PHOENIX i
need you bad.
Speaker 4 (24:43):
Just to look forward. To you, know you don't have
to bring your furry whatever with. You, yeah but we
are focused, on AS i, said really this kind of
journey when you get on the, ground and so it
starts At Sky Harbor. Airport when you touch, down we
want you to be like enveloped by the women's final
board and Think i'm at a major. Event and that
then you, know billboards along the way from the airport to,
(25:06):
downtown signage, building, wraps you, know supersized. Everything and then
we'll have volunteers really at every turn because one of
the things That phoenix And arizona and you've been.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Here lots of. Times, yeah right here very.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Hospitable, right we've kind of roll out the red. Carpet
we're very tourism oriented and so volunteers at every corner
that can help with, wayfinding that make you feel welcome
and can really introduce you to kind of Their, phoenix
right and Their, arizona and so you can see it
through a locals', eyes and that's. Amazing that's something that
we're excited. About and you, KNOW i, mean we've hosted
(25:41):
more major events here In arizona in the past ten
years than any other market in THE, Us so we
know how to, host, right two Super, bowls two men's final,
fours a college football, playoff and so having this Women's final,
four you, know on that list of highlights is super
exciting to.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Up. Yeah in, fact a lot of the folks that
are going to be there for The Final four were
just there for the twenty twenty FOUR Wnba All Star.
GAME i know that you weren't part of that committee
the same, way but any surprises or insights that you
learned from hosting a kind of similar, Crowd.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
What we saw with THE Wnba All star is that
there's still an opportunity and there is still an appetite
for that elevated. Experience from the feedback we, received you,
know it was a phenomenal time in Downtown. Phoenix they crushed.
It they crushed it. Right The mercury took it to
the next. Level the city took it to the next,
level and there was a lot of care given to
(26:36):
kind of WHAT i talked about it is how it
felt when you got on the, ground the experience you
had when you were. Here and also fans showed up in, droves.
RIGHT i MEAN i got a picture from my friend
at the airport the day After All star with all
the orange, hoodies you, know At Sky Harbor, airport and
you know you don't need a hoodie here In. July
(26:56):
let me just, say.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Everyone just wanted it was like one hundred and seven
degree that.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Week it was But Mortgage Matchup, Center, Right it's in
state of the art basketball venue and really really excited
to have our event, there and they have all the
bells and whistles and there's just a ton of investment
on keeping it at that really high.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Level, Yeah i'm not surprised you get the opportunity to.
Host it's built, forward it's a great place for. It
and you, know you've been on the host committee for
The Men's Final four for The Super, bowl AND i
wonder as you're working with the city on a major women's.
Event how has it felt, Different whether that's because you're
working with folks who aren't as familiar with women's, sports
or maybe you're trying to get them to buy in
on the scale and the size and the really the
(27:35):
value and the luxury of what the women's game now,
demands because to your, point people want elevated experience in
the space in a way that they couldn't really ask for,
before but now they.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
Expect the valley and the city really does have a
long history of supporting right The Phoenix mercury and the three.
Championships there's renewed interest WITH asu and Coach Malli miller
in her pert season and really having that be you,
know a, standout and so we actually have the great
benefit of fantastic support around women's, events and we want
(28:06):
to continue to build on that. RESUME i was at a,
city A Phoenix City council meeting just yesterday and we
were talking about you, Know Women's final four white can
Expect AND i have to tell, you on a nine
person city, council we've got a female mayor and we've
got six female council. Members amazing and literally and you
know we've got a female. GOVERNOR i, mean there's just
(28:27):
so much female leadership in our. State and literally after the,
meeting those six council members, said we are so excited
to host this major women's. Event it really is the
first major women's event we've had In. Arizona we hosted
the She Beliefs cup a year or so, ago and
that was.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
Important, YES i went to one of those games.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
Too oh you, Did you're a Regular, okay.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
Yes, Yes i've been going To arizona for sixteen straight
years For cup spring. Training SO i have hiked at you,
Know Sigurro National park and seeing The Salt river. Horses
i've drank at every single. Bar i've tried to ride
the horses in Old Town scottsdale well past midnight that
you're not allowed to ride those.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Statues i've done it. All i've seen it.
Speaker 4 (29:09):
ALL i meet The sarah spain. Itinerary this sounds. Exciting,
okay what's your favorite?
Speaker 1 (29:13):
Margarita So i'm not a margarita girl because tequila AND
i aren't, friends BUT i used to love going to
The Salty senorita and getting a big old.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Dakery, okay all, right that works, Too Rip Salty, senorita
that was my.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
Spot phoenix is always a great time and All tempi
And scottsdale and all the surrounding areas always make for
such a good. Time AND i think one of the
Things i'm looking forward to is having gone to these
major ten pool women's events for years running now to
see how it steps up with every, year with the,
investment with the, sponsors with the, activations with the fans,
Expectations AND i wonder for, you how do you embrace
(29:48):
the fact that with the leagues and teams and college
hoops and everything getting, bigger the desire to innovate in this,
space there's so much.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Growth how do you keep up with that?
Speaker 4 (29:56):
Growth we literally go in with the mindset of how
can we elevate? It and we employed that WHEN i
was with The Phoenix, mercury WHEN i was at The,
league and now we're doing that with all of our
major events here and so in working with THE, NCAA i,
mean they are so invested right in growing this game
and growing the, platform and making sure that we're really
involving the younger, generation right the college students and the
(30:18):
kids in everything we're doing and so we do have
some exciting first here In phoenix in downtown and you've
been At Mortgage Matchup, center literally right outside the venue
for the first time For Women's Final, four there is
a super sized. Bracket it's on the side of a
six story. Building it's one hundred and fifty feet. Long
it's getting updated with each one of the.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Matches that's going to be triggering for some. People it's
all their brackets posted on like day.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
ONE i mean they do go and they do point
to their. Teams i've seen several celfings happening out, there
but it just shows like the bigness of this, event
right and the importance of this. Event so that's. One
we also have a new outdoor it's called four And Al,
fest and that will be really tailgate sized kind of
event where it'll be, free they'll be, entertainment they'll be
(31:06):
super sized screens so that the men's And Women's final
four games For, Thursday, Friday saturday And sunday can be.
Watched and so that'll be really great local, food, trucks.
Entertainment so that's going to be a fun. One and
then the other one just in terms of investment in
The future is our high School. Symposium THE ncaa is
(31:26):
hosting it here for the first time associated With Women's Final.
Four so we're going to have over one hundred high
school student athletes their families come and hear from THE
ncaa how they can navigate their journey right as a
potential student, athlete for their mental health, resources all those
sorts of. Things and SO i think it's really kind
(31:47):
of going deep in the community and making sure that
we're telling the story of why college, athletics why being
active is so. IMPORTANT i, mean and that's SOMETHING i
really believe.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
It that's, great, YEAH i, mean and it's such an
opportunity to speak to that next generation and for them
to start making it a habit as families to go
to these women's, events to watch these women's, games and
to be as invested in them as the sort of
long term things we've all got on our calendars because
of the men's leagues being around for you, know one hundred.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Years So i'm just really.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Excited take me To, Thursday april, First final four weekend
is about to get.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Underway what are you most excited for of the.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
WEEKEND i am most excited first to welcome the four
teams To arizona because we meet them at the airport
there literally is it's not a red, carpet but it's
like a kind of orange carpet that gets rolled, out you,
know they come down off the plane and they get
to start their championship. Experience and so just seeing their
reactions and talking to the, coaches you, know they all
(32:47):
have their different. Personalities when it was the men's final,
Four yukon was delayed until you, know four, am but
we still met them at the. Airport and so just
really starting with that student athlete experience is exciting to
me Because i've heard from talking to some of the
participants is like this is a life changing. Moment it's
something they'll take with, them and it is their first
introduction for many of them To, arizona and we want
(33:10):
them to feel LIKE i can't wait to come, back
right AND i want to come back and. VISIT i
want to live, HERE i want to go into business.
Here so first starting with the student athlete and then
literally LIKE i love all the events with the, kids
and so we've got The bounce event On saturday morning
where three thousand kids are bouncing their basketballs through the
streets Of. Phoenix the streets are shut.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Down oh you'll have to tell me where that, is
SO i can't avoid. It sounds, amazing sounds amazing for
maybe other. FOLKS i don't THINK i want three thousand
kids anywhere near.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Me but good, note good, note you got.
Speaker 4 (33:42):
To be up for. IT i, mean you, know we've
got our Grand. Marshall Mollie miller's going to bring a
couple of her kids. Down Mayor diego is going to
bring her son, down so it'll be. Fun and then
heading into On friday. Morning you're gonna want to miss
this one. Too we have our final four, schools our
third graders that have been reading around the, state thank
(34:02):
you for months and months and. Months it's the top four.
Schools we're going To crown A Champion reading school because
reading at the third grade level is really important a
future success in their. Studies and so they've been. Reading
we've got over twenty million minutes read and we're going
To crown A.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Championship if there's books, INVOLVED i might show up to that, One.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
Okay, okay good, yeah either online books or real. Books
So i'm just excited, to you, know Put phoenix on
the map for this amazing women's.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
Event, well it sounds like you've got everything ready to.
Go i'm so excited to get out, there AND i
hopefully will run into you somewhere along the weekend at
one of the events going.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
On i'm really looking forward to. It thanks so much
for joining.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
Us, yeah we can't wait to have you, Out. Sarah
thanks for your.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
Time thanks again To jay for taking the. Time we're
so excited for this. Weekend we got to take another
break when we, Return dukes still got a reason to.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
Celebrate welcome, Back. Slices we love.
Speaker 1 (35:02):
That you're, listening but we want you to get in
the game every day, Too so here's our good game
play of the. Day minnesota's exit in The sweet sixteen
means we had to say goodbye To Blanket lady Aka Pep.
Newman vanderbilt's loss means we got our last look at
the nation's leading scorer and friend of the, show Michaeleb
blake's until next.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
Season lsu is.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Out so whatever show stopping sartorial Statement Kim maulky had
planned For phoenix will stay in her closet till next.
Year and just as we were all learning how to
say Alff, east don bulolou, Correctly louisville got. Bounced which,
player fan or storyline from a losing team will you miss.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
The most after this weekend's game slices let us. Know,
also don't.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Forget to check out my heir at The cheers charity
campaign that's still going on Helping chicago area kids get
the hearing aids and audiology equipment they need to stay in.
Sports as they might have, mentioned hearing aids are usually
not covered by insurance and can be up to four
thousand dollars an. Ear we've got some great prizes and
every fifteen dollars you donate earned you another entry into the.
Raffle we've got An Athlete's Unlimited Prize, Pack Women's Sports Prize,
(36:06):
PACK Pwhl Merch cubs And bulls tickets for my Local chicago,
folks Assigned Jenny. Finchball lots of good, stuff so check it.
Out we'll put the link in the show. Notes we
always love to hear from, you so hit us up
on email good game at wondermedianetwork dot com or leave
us a voicemail at eight seven two two four fifty
seventy and don't forget to, subscribe rate and Review it's
(36:28):
so easy. Watch Nina king is The queen In, durham
rating three for three conference titles. Review Duke athletic Director
Nina king led The Blue devils to a historic first
this school, year sweeping THE acc championships in, football men's,
basketball and women's. Basketball friend of The, Show, king who
(36:48):
was hired By duke in twenty twenty, one is the
school's first woman athletic director and only the third black
woman ever to be an ad in A power five.
Conference there's progress being made when it comes to. Women
at the top hundred and seventy nine women athletic directors
in twenty twenty, five we're a twenty four percent increase
over the past, decade and the sixty two female athletic
directors In division one marks an eighty two percent increase
(37:10):
over the last ten. Years but women are still the
minority at the, position representing just fifteen percent Of division
one athletic. Directors Perhaps king's reign At duke.
Speaker 2 (37:19):
Will inspire a few more schools to embrace the power
of a. Matriarchy we'd like to see it. Now it's
your journ. Y'all rate and. Review thanks for. Listening see you.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
Tomorrow Good, Game, Jay Good, GAME ucla and yukon you
just one more weekend of college.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
HOOPS I want. More Good game.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
With Sarah spain is an iheartwomen's sports production in partnership
With Deep Blue sports And. Entertainment you can find us
on The iHeartRadio, App Apple, podcasts or wherever you get your.
Podcasts production By Wonder Media, network our producers Are Alex
azi And Bianca. Hillier our executive producers Are Christina, Everett Jesse,
Cats Jenny kaplan And Emily. Rudder our editors Are Emily,
Rutterer Lucy, Jones Britney martinez And Gianna. Palmer production assistant
(38:07):
From Avery loftus And I'm Your Host Sarah spain
Host
Sarah Spain
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