July 18, 2025 • 30 mins
Women’s hoops journalist Greydy Diaz joins Sarah to discuss being the only lady in her “mildly washed” pickup basketball club, why she quit her job at ESPN to pursue her passion, her mid-season picks for WNBA MVP, and what she’s hoping to see at this year’s All-Star Weekend. Plus, one WNBA star moves up a list while another is honored with a mural, and we say goodbye to poet Andrea Gibson.
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Follow Greydy Diaz on Instagram here
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Pick up a copy of one of Andrea Gibson’s books here
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The AUSL schedule is here
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The announcement of the Diana Taurasi docuseries can be found here
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Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com
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Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323
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Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're willing
to donate a groin to Caitlin Clark for this weekend,
or two groins, however it works, really because why is
it a growing but you got a left and a right?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I digress.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
It's Friday, July eighteenth, and on today's show, we'll be
talking with journalist, host, producer, and consultant great ideas about
making your passion your full time job, her mid season
picks for WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year, what
she's hoping to see from this year's All Star activations
and events, and more. Plus a w star moves up,
a list of illustrious Hoopers, the Athlete's Unlimited Softball League
(00:35):
regular season is winding down, and a Canadian tennis star
says blah blah blah, it's all coming up right after
this welcome back slices, Here's what you need to know
(00:59):
today in hoops news. The twenty twenty five WNBA All
Star Weekend is upon us, but it's getting going with
some truly sad news. Caitlin Clark announced on Thursday via
The Fever that she won't be participating in either the
three Point Contest or the All Star Game after sustaining
(01:19):
a right groin injury in the Fevers win over the
Connecticut Sun in Boston on Tuesday. Clark, who led the
league in All Star voting, was slated to be a
captain and starter and also participate in her first three
Point Contest during this weekend's festivities in Indy. The WNBA
sophomore has only checked into thirteen of the Fever's twenty
three games this season, dealing with multiple injuries, including two
(01:40):
left quad injuries and a left groin injury in addition
to this new right groin injury. In a statement, Clark said, quote,
I'm incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can't participate
in the Three Point Contest or the All Star Game.
I have to rest my body. I will still be
at Gambridge Field House for all the action, and I'm
looking forward to helping Sandy Brondelo coach our team to
a win.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
End quote.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
I am super super bummed for her, knowing how much
it meant to her to have this game in her
city and truly be the face of this All Star weekend.
And I'm bummed for the fans because neither the three
point contest, nor the game itself is going to be
the same without seeing her launch those long balls, talk,
smack and hype up the crowd who would have been
absolutely losing it for their hometown girl.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
We know how disappointed this is for her.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
And the fans, but also she's got to get healthy
for the rest of the season. As I mentioned, she
has struggled and been in and out of the lineup,
so we're sending her good vibes for a thorough recovery
and hopefully she can find a way to still have
a little bit of fun this weekend despite not being
able to suit up.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
More w News.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Phoenix Mercury star Satusaboli, who was drafted to play with
Team Clark in the WNBA All Star Game, has also
announced that she won't be suiting up this weekend. She
gave the news via a statement on her Instagram on Wednesday.
The player known as the Unicorn hasn't hit the floor
for Phoenix since July third due to an ankle injury,
and will stay sidelined until at least July twenty third.
(03:01):
In her statement, Saboly, a team union rep, did say
that she'll be in Indianapolis to quote take part in
the most important part of the weekend, which is fighting
for a fair and equitable CBA end quote. With both
Sably and Clark out, Washington Mystics Guard Britney Sykes and
Atlanta Dreamford Brianna Jones have been named by WNBA Commissioner
Kathy Engelbert to replace the pair on Team Clark. I'm
(03:23):
excited for Sikes and Jones to get the opportunity, but
obviously bummed for Clark and Sabbily. There are lots of
other great players to get hype four, though, and so
we're going to turn our focus to them as we
dive into the weekend's activities. The festivities begin tonight with
the New York Liberties Natasha Cloud, the Atlanta Dreams Alisha Gray,
the Minnesota lynx Is Courtney Williams and Skyler Diggins and
(03:44):
Eric Wheeler of the Seattle Storm all competing in this
skills challenge. That's an eight pm Eastern start on ESPN.
Once that concludes, it's the three point Contest. As I mentioned,
Clark is out, so it'll be Gray, the Liberties, Sabrini
and Escut, the La Sparks, Kelsey Plum, and the Washington
Mystics rookie Sonya Citron competing. Grace swept both the Skills
(04:04):
and the three point contest last year, becoming the first
player in WNBA history to win both at the same
All Star weekend. On Saturday night, it'll be Team Clark
and Team Collier squaring off in the All Star Games,
slated to start at eight thirty pm Eastern on ESPN,
And this year, the game's got four new rules. First,
the league is bringing back the four point shot, which
(04:25):
was previously instituted in both the twenty twenty two and
twenty twenty three All Star Games. There will be two
circles twenty eight feet from the ram on each end
of the court, and if a player makes contact with
one of the circles while shooting, they'll earn four points.
Very MTV Rock and Jack Basketball, My fellow oldheads know
what I'm talking about. The other rules, while the shot
(04:47):
clock will be set to twenty seconds instead of the
twenty four seconds allotted for regulation contests, live player substitutions
will also be in effect, and one player can check
in per possession as long as they enter from the
back court between the twenty eight foot mark the half
court line.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
They can't touch the ball till they cross half court.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Last, but not least, players will not shoot free throws
except for in the final two minutes of the fourth
quarter and throughout any overtime periods. Otherwise, players who are
fouled will just get the maximum amount of points for
the number of free throws they'd normally attempt, So if
they get fouled on a two pointer, they'll get two points.
Fouled on a three pointer, they'll get three. I'm excited
to see what all these rules look like in action.
(05:23):
Really hoping for a close game. Elsewhere in w News,
Seattle Storms star forward Deca Ogumakay is moving on up
the WNBA's all time scoring list. In the storm sixty
seven to fifty eight win over the Valkyries on Wednesday,
she scored twenty two points to move into sixth place,
passing Candice to Pre by one point. Neca's got six
eight ninety six in counting and now sits behind Tamika Ketchings,
(05:45):
who scored seven three hundred and eighty points in her career.
Off the court, Diana Tarasi, the WNBA's all time leading scorer,
is getting a docu series on Amazon Prime The series
simply named Tarasi, was announce to be a post from
The Phoenix Mercury on Instagram, and it's set to premiere
on August seventh. Tarasi will dive into DT's historic twenty
(06:07):
year career as a member of the one that officially
ended when she retired back in February. We'll link to
the show art and the announcement in our show notes.
To softball, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League regular season is
nearly complete. Next Wednesday marks the final regular season games,
and the top two teams in the standings will earn
a spot in the best of three finals series. Heading
(06:27):
into this weekend's games, the top ranked talents have already
locked up a playoff berth, while the number two Bandits
have nearly secured the other spot. We'll link to the
full AUSL schedule in the show notes, which includes a
bunch of games this weekend from Round Rock, Texas and
Salt Lake City, Utah. In tennis news, Canadian player Jeanie
Bouchard announced her plans to retire from tennis on Wednesday.
(06:48):
The Montreal native did so in a simple post on
x which included four photos of her at different stages
of her career and the caption quote You'll know when
it's time for me. It's now ending where it all started,
Montreal end quote. Montreal refers not just to her hometown,
but to the National Bank Open WTA one thousand tournament
later this month, Bouchard will enter on a wild card
(07:11):
and hit.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
The courts for the last time as a pro.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
The thirty one year old turned pro back in two
thousand and nine at just fifteen years old, and soared
as high as number five in the WTA rankings.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
In her career.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
She won a singles title at the twenty fourteen Nuremberg Open,
a doubles title at the twenty nineteen Auckland Open, and
helped Canada win the Billy Jean King Cup title in
twenty twenty three. Finally, in soccer, per ESPN's Jeff Casoof,
the NWSL's Denver expansion team is finalizing the hire of
Nick Cushing as the club's first head coach. Cushing previously
held the same position for Manchester City Women and for
(07:44):
the MLS side New York City FC. He helped Manchester
City win their first Women's Super League title in twenty
sixteen and an FA Women's Cup title in twenty seventeen.
Denver is set to start playing under Cushing's direction next season.
All Right, slices. Something else we're keeping an eye on
this weekend down at WNBA All Star is safety. I
(08:05):
caught up with an old friend at the US Women's
National Teampa players ball on Tuesday, and she happened to
mention that she's working All Star weekend and said she's
been really dismayed at the need for majorly increased security
for a handful of w players. While it's understandable that
big name athletes are going to need security, the calls
for increased protection stem from threats and fears about player safety,
(08:26):
not concerns about people like aggressive autograph hounds. It's such
a shame that so much of the increased attendance, higher ratings,
elevated valuations, and just general excitement and enthusiasm for the
W has come with such toxicity for so many of
the league's players. Like just this week at the Indiana
Fever Connecticut Sun game in Boston, a fan was ejected
after making a comment to Sun guard Sanaia Rivers. Rivers
(08:50):
immediately alerted the refs and the fan was escorted out
by security. You have to assume they said something pretty bad. Look,
there's no room anywhere for that nonsense. And here's hoping
we don't see any of it this weekend. We just
have a safe, fun weekend for everyone involved, and hoping
media and fans will actually start to take accountability for
the atmosphere and the climate that they create with their
(09:12):
stories and posts and comments. Let's keep the WNBA and
women's sports the good place, y'all. All right, we got
to take a quick break.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
When we come back.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
It's the mid Range Mommy Grady Das and Jessa heads Up.
We caught up with her on Wednesday before the Caitlin
Clark news was official.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
That's coming up next joining us now.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
She's a journalist, host, producer and consultan whose work you've
seen on ESPN, Boardroom and Escape, just Women's Sports, sp Nation,
The Guardian and more Proudly Dominican and Bouriqua, proudly washed
but still hoopin'. It's the Midrange Mommy herself aka Grady Das.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
What's up? Grady?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Hi, Sarah? How are you? Thank you for having me?
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I want to get to that first. Mid range Mommy
is the MIDI really unstoppable.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Absolutely. People literally call me mid range Mommy. I played
basketball my entire life. I still play, and I always
tell folks like, once you have a shot, it's hard
to lose. So for me, that's just the best part
of my game. And it's a lost art. Although we
do have some mid range mommies in the league, which
I love, But that's just the best part of my game.
(10:23):
So that's what I love to show.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Also, mid range is so good for pickup because everybody's
trying to jack up threes or start a drive, not
know how to finish, and then dick around in the paint,
Whereas if you can just make a quick move on
somebody and pull up, you're in the money. Tell us
about the Sunday Washed Club, which is where you do
most of your damage on the court.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Now, what is it and how did it get started?
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Yeah, so a few years ago, actually, I think about
three years ago now, two folks, Tony and Jirell, decided
to put together a run of media folks or folks
who work in sports, and yeah, we put together like
a really awesome group of folks. It's good vibes, you know,
not a lot of fighting, which is great, not a
(11:05):
lot of arguing. I mean, there are moments I won't lie,
but we usually try to keep that to a minimum.
And they're very selective of who plays, so they want
to make sure there's a curated, really nice community. And
I was the first woman to play with them, So
I'm the first lady of Sunday Wash Club and I take,
you know, real pride in that because women can play
(11:26):
with men. I mean, I grew up hooping against guys
in practices, so it was just part of my life.
So even now it's still a part of my life.
So it's it's been fun with them. That's in New York, Yeah,
in New York.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Yeah, yeah, Yeah. I love the name.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
I take a mild offense to it because if you're
really washed, you can't even hoop anymore, like me, so
you're only mildly washed.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Congrats, congrats, sounds still getting out there.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
So you describe yourself as a storyteller, host and producer.
I know you're at ESPN for a really long time.
You are a very multifaceted talent doing a lot of
different stuff in the space. So tell us how your
journey in media started and how you ended up getting
to kind of focus on women tubes.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Yeah, so folks don't really know that. I actually started
off on the business side at ESPN back in twenty fourteen.
So I was in Bristol at the headquarters. And then
after a few years, I was just like, you know,
I feel like I can do my job with my
eyes closed and not really challenged. I was meeting with
folks on my own time throughout the whole company, just
wanted to learn the ecosystem. And from there I told somebody, Hey,
(12:24):
I think I want to write. So I actually started
writing for espnW while doing my business job.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Not a lot of.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
People know that either, and just writing really short, buzzworthy pieces.
And then I decided that I was going to bet
on myself and quit my job. But I went to
The Undefeated at the time and I said, Hey, I'm
about to quit my job. Can you guys still hire
me if I do some stuff? So they said, of course, Grady,
we love you.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
So that's a relocation, not a quitty.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
As for those who don't know, The Undefeated was part
of ESPN that's now known as Antscape.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
But you were just like moving and around the block.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Yeah, But I mean I wasn't with them full time,
so yeah, I mean, and then so I moved to
the DC area from there and was doing a lot
of freelance work for ESPN and other companies, and I
was doing sports at night. So I was covering the
Mystics and the Wizards for basically no money. But that's
(13:17):
what I knew I wanted to do and where I
wanted to be. So just making that sacrifice, and I'm
so happy that I did it because that was about
what eight years ago and here I am now and
I've been able to build my own reputation, build my
own brand, storytell interviews so many athletes, and there's so
much more that I want to do. I feel like
I haven't done my best work yet.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
I mean, it seems like a natural fit based only
on your voice. It is like so soothing, and it's
a voice that we want to hear content from. So
to get from business to writing to finally figuring out
like okay, the people want to hear me.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
That's really cool.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
And I also I love that organic discovery of I
have time off and this is what I want to
do with it. I think that so often can lead
people to really understanding what they want to do, but
it's hard to make it work. You know, a lot
of people can find a passion that doesn't mean they
can make a living doing it. So props to you
(14:12):
for figuring out how to be hosting events, talking to folks,
creating content, working with different spaces, because that's the dream
for a lot of people and it can be tough
to do. Your dream has taken you to being in
the women's hoop space, including you were at the Sun
Fever game at TD Garden on Tuesday. This was the
second time the Sun have played in Boston. There was
(14:32):
a block party beforehand, this time a little bit more
of an event. Tell us about the vibe from the
fans there. What was the split for Sun and Fever
fans and did it I don't know if you went
to the first iteration as well, if it felt any different.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
I didn't go to the first iteration last year because
I believe there might have been a Liberty game of
the same day. So it was, oh my goodness. I mean,
it was my first time ever watching a WNBA game
in Boston, and growing up in Massachusetts, that was my dream.
I actually my first WNBA game was at Mohegan Sun
to watch the Connecticut Sun. So this was really a
full circle moment for me. So I took it all in.
(15:05):
I mean from seeing all the fans. Yes, there were
a lot of Indiana Fever fans, Caitlin Clark fans obviously
with the growth of the game, which is amazing, but
there weren't a lot of Sun fans too, and just
a lot of great energy, a lot of people that
are so supportive of women's sports. And credit to the
Sun for putting together an incredible block party with food,
with DJ with the Double Dutch. There were so many
(15:29):
things to do and it really felt like it represented
the city and the city is diverse, so you saw
a lot of different people, which.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I loved last time they were there.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
It felt from AFAR and our producer Alex has been
to both of these games and so she sort of
gave us some dispatches from the games as well. But
it felt like Afar like, this is awesome. You get
to borrow our team for this huge stadium and bring
the Connecticut Sun love to Boston. And this time I'm
wondering if there were any mentions of the team potentially
(16:01):
getting moved to Boston. Because at the beginning of the
season we heard the president of the Sun acknowledge that
the owners are looking to potentially sell. Whether that means
moving them to another city, whether that means them going
somewhere else on an expansion team coming into Boston.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
We're not sure. There's still a lot yet to be discussed.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
But did it feel like the fans and those in
attendance were wary this time of Boston borrowing the team again.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Honestly, it didn't seem like there was too much of
a concern. There were a lot of folks who took
the ride from Connecticut to Boston. There was a woman
who sat courtside who told me that she took a
bus and then an hour and a half car drive.
I was just like, what, So these folks are dedicated,
These fans, you know, are really showing up, and I
(16:50):
really feel for them because I don't know what's going
to happen, of course, and you know, selfishly, I do
want a team in Boston someday in my lifetime, and
I know what's going to happen because there is a need,
there's an interest. It's a great opportunity, but I'm not
quite sure.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
You know, yeah, and it feels like, even if you
do have that worry, you're still going to show up
for that game and enjoy it and have fun and
be a part of everything and probably not spend too
much time stressing about what's to come, just focusing on
getting the Sun some wins this season while they're still
in Connecticut with the roster change, I saw there were
only two players I think it was from the last
(17:26):
year team that hosted a game at TD Garden that
we're still on the Sun this season. I were heading
into the All Star break, which means we're sort of
at the mid season point. So you got a prediction
for our WNBA finals matchup.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
At the start of the season, I did, But right
now I'm having a tough time because the Liberty, who
I thought, you know, would have a clear path given
their injuries, I'm not really seeing that clear path at
this moment because there's so many other strong teams right now,
such as the Phoenix Mercury. I think Seattle has shown
great promise, the links are obviously great. I think that
(18:02):
I think that they're going to be in the finals,
but I just don't know who that other team is
going to be yet. And I think it really depends
on who locks in, you know, from here on out.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Yeah, like the people outside your window, the Liberty feel
a little bit under construction.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
They are struggling without John.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Qwell Jones and potentially having a little bit of a
title hangover as far as the effort goes.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
So we'll see if they can pull it together. What
about MVP?
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Right now? To me, it looks like Fee. It looks
like Fee, you know, at the start of the season,
I said Asia Wilson. Of course, I mean, she has
an incredible history but also is having a good season.
But it's just the Aces haven't looked as great this season,
you know, let's be honest, they haven't. But I think
Fee came in with a vengeance, you know, and she
(18:50):
wants that MVP title, She wants everything. She wants that finals.
So she's coming for everything this season, especially after Unrivaled.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Yeah, alright, let's talk all Star weekend. So much on
the books for this, I've talked to so many people
who are not sure how they're going to squeeze in
all the parties, all the activations, all the events, all.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
The live shows. What are you getting up to this weekend?
Speaker 3 (19:12):
Well, You're gonna probably have to clone me three times
to attend everything because the amount of invitations is just unreal.
I think this is really going to be the biggest
All Star ever in terms of fans, brands, audience, entertainers
that are going to pull up. I mean, for the
first time, Sidney Colson is doing a comedy special. Yea,
(19:36):
There's other comedians that are going to be There are
two big names like Leslie Jones, I believe, Cedric Dion Cole.
There's so many others, and I'm just like, this has
never happened, Like this is really a movement, not just
a moment. But I'm getting into a lot, hosting some
panels for Jordan Brand, doing some content for Lacedema, which
(19:58):
is the official wine partner of the WNBA, and then
I got invited to a billion things. I don't know
that's in them all, but you know, I'm going to
have to figure it out. But I'm excited for the weekend.
But just this is going to be the biggest one yet.
Are you going to be there?
Speaker 2 (20:12):
It is? I'm going to be there. I'm the same way.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
I've got so many things to try to pack in,
including a couple of live shows and interviews I'm doing,
but then a lot of fun stuff. Is there anything
you're hoping to see this weekend? Is there anything in
the past you've said, Oh, they really dropped the ball
on this, so this could be better. I'd like to
see more of this as they continue to grow.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
I just want to make sure players and fans feel
safe in Indiana, you know, especially as a woman of color,
as a league that is majority black. I want to
I really hope that we haven't we run into no issues.
You know, we saw an issue at the Sun game
last night with a fan. That's happening at a regular
season game, right What's going to be happening at All
(20:51):
Star in Indiana where you know players have said, hey,
I don't really feel the most comfortable, you know. So
I just I really hope that everybody can really get
along this weekend, and you know, we're there to celebrate
women's sports.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
I mentioned earlier in the show that I did speak
to someone who is on the production organizing side of
the weekend and whose job has been made much more
difficult by the amount of security that's now being required,
the threats coming in, the concerns for player safety the
amount of work they're having to do to make sure
that players stay protected, and that is so disappointing and
(21:29):
really frustrating that that has to come along with the
increase in popularity. You've done a lot of work with brands,
any collabse or activations that you've wanted to see the
league capitalize on that maybe they haven't yet.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
I mean, right now we're seeing so many brands that
maybe I wouldn't have even guessed or thought of that are,
you know, working with the league now, from you know,
beauty brands to feminine product, high team product brands, Like
it's quite amazing. You know, everybody wants a piece of
women's sports of the WNBA. I mean, these are the
(22:03):
best athletes in the world. They're multifaceted. But I really
want to see more players have signature seekers. I feel
like there's opportunities for brands to invest in. One brand
that I really love right now that has invested in
a player is Holo Footwear. They I believe they were
announced as the official footwear of the Connecticut Sun recently
(22:25):
and J. C. Sheldon is their athlete and she has
a signature shoot with them. But also she is equity
in the company and that word equity is important, is
important when you think of generational wealth, when you think
of longevity, when you think of business. So I want
to see more of that.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Yeah, if there was a celebrity All Star Game at
the WNBA weekend, First of all, do you think we
should have one?
Speaker 2 (22:53):
And if there was one, who would You're starting five?
B what celebs do you know that can?
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Who?
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Who can? Who? I want to say, in the past,
like five years, I did see Gabrielle Union getting some
basketball training or practices, So I hope she's kept up
with that because she would be, you know, a player
I would I would definitely draft Oh my goodness, who else?
Who else? Hoops?
Speaker 1 (23:18):
I feel like usually in the NBA Celebrity Game, the
women are w players, just absolutely patiently schooling male celebs
who are trying to, you know, show off.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
The skills that they had twenty five thirty years ago.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
But every once in a while there's a couple like
I think Messi Russell, the track athlete, hooped it up
in the NBA Celeb Game. Mickey Geitton, I remember, the
country music singer. I was surprised to see her out there.
I always like the I always like the musicians that
have a secret, you know, baller pasted.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
I believe that there should be a celebrity game at
the WNBA. It'd be fun All Star Weekend, Like, that's
what's missing.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Yeah, which player you think is bringing the best fits
to All Star Weekend?
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Oh my, I mean Skyler Diggens. Probably, She's one of
my favorites. Oh my gosh. Her style is amazing.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Kelsey Plumb too.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
When she gets after it, usually in a vengeful way,
trying to send messages to her ex or others. She
can look like a stone cold assassin, which I love.
One thing I'm looking at and really crossing my fingers on.
We're recording this on Wednesday, and after that fever Sun game,
Caitlin Clark looked like she had retweaked her growing injury.
(24:37):
She was really emotional on the bench. This is a
huge weekend for her, All Star in her city, supposed
to be competing in you know three point in the game,
she's a captain. There's so many giant murals all over
the sea. There's so many expectations for her to put
on a show. What did you see in person and
what would it mean if she god forbid, couldn't go
(24:58):
at all or even was restrained. Did that feels I
think that's so much of where the emotion was coming
from for her.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Absolutely, I mean, Cayan's a bucket. She is fun to watch,
she is passionate, she's competitive. But the All Star Game
meets her, Indiana, this upcoming week meets her. We need
to see her in the three point contest. You know,
it would be a huge loss if she's you know,
(25:26):
not participating, but obviously she'll still be there. But yeah,
we just need to see her, even if it's unrestricted minutes.
I don't know, right, but we don't want her to
also get you know, even more injured than she is,
right right.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
And it's hard for the team because they don't want
to be without her for regular season games that matter.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
But this is obviously such a huge deal.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Yeah, well, plasma, cryo, massage, drugs, whatever, whatever.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
It takes, get her out there. We want to see it. Grady,
thanks so much for the time. We'll see an Indy.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
All right, sounds good. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
We got to take another break when we come back.
A tribute to one of the most prominent poets of
our time. Welcome back slices. We love 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.
(26:25):
Read and listen to one of America's greatest poets, gone
way too soon. Andrea Gibson, the State Poet Laureate of Colorado,
a master of spoken word poetry, explorer of gender identity, love,
life and death. Gibson died this week after a very
public four year battle with ovarian cancer. Their death was
(26:46):
announced by their wife, Megan Falley, in a statement that read,
in part quote, Andrea Gibson died in their homes, surrounded
by their wife, Meg, four ex girlfriends, their mother and father,
dozens of friends, and their three beloved.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Dogs end quote.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Sundance Festival Favorite award winning documentary about Faly and Gibson,
Come See Me in the Good Light, will be available
on Apple TV Plus this fall. I imagine it's going
to hit a lot harder now that we've lost them.
Losing poets and musicians I think hurts the most. No
more new gifts, no more new revelations. It feels like
their work ends when they're gone, But we can revisit
(27:22):
it over the many years of our lives and marvel
as the words and the songs begin to sound different,
as the words and the songs somehow change with us,
Gibson's words will continue to resonate and change and hum
and sing with all of us, especially as we age
and feel the fear and uncertainty that they had about
their terminal diagnosis, wrote Gibson in love letter from the Afterlife, quote,
(27:47):
Dying is the opposite of leaving.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
When I left my body, I did not go away.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
That portal of light was not a portal to elsewhere,
but a portal to hear. I am more here than
I ever was before, more with you than I ever
could have imagined. Why did no one tell us that
to die is to be reincarnated in those we love
while they are still alive.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
One day you will understand end quote.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
So grab one of their seven books, like You Better
Be Lightning, Take Me with You, or Lord of the Butterflies,
listen to one of their seven albums, or read the
gorgeous tributes that are popping up all over social media,
written by friends, admirers, and those Gibson touched, moved, inspired,
or in some cases, truly saved with their words they
(28:36):
will be so missed. If you've got a favorite work
of Gibson's, I'd love to hear it, so send it
my way. We do 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 o four fifty seventy and don't forget to subscribe,
Rate and review, y'all.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
It's real easy.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
Watch a building size tribute to a larger than life
legend of the game, rating one out of ten stories
high review. Congrats to WNBA legend Tamika Ketchings on the
unveiling of a new mural honoring her in downtown Indianapolis.
The legendary Hooper spent her entire fifteen year career in
a Fever uniform, leading Indiana to thirteen playoff appearances and
(29:17):
their only WNBA title in twenty twelve. A ten time
All Star and five time Defensive Player of the Year,
Catchings is the only player in franchise history to win MVP,
and her number twenty four jersey is hanging in the
rafters at Gamebridge Fieldhouse. The mural honors not just Catching's
time with the fever, but her years playing for Pat
Summit at Tennessee, representing the US in the Olympics, and
(29:39):
her efforts in the community, which include her three ts
Me cafes and her Catch the Stars Foundation, which helps
local kids with literacy, fitness, and more. The mural is
a great honor for an all time great hooper and
great person. And I'm so impressed that I managed to
talk about Tamika catchings without mentioning the time I blocked
her at the free throw line in then took the
(30:00):
ball down for a layup.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Oh my god, I did it again. I did it again.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Now it's your turn, rate and review. Thanks for listening, y'all.
See you next week. Good game, Grady, Good game, Tamika,
you ovarian cancer. Good Game with Sarah Spain is an
iHeart women'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
(30:27):
Wonder Media Network, our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones.
Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan,
and Emily Rudder. Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez,
Grace Lynch, and Gianna Palmer.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
Our associate producer is Lucy Jones.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Production assistance from Avery Loftis and I'm Your Host Sarah
Spain
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're willing
to donate a groin to Caitlin Clark for this weekend,
or two groins, however it works, really because why is
it a growing but you got a left and a right?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I digress.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
It's Friday, July eighteenth, and on today's show, we'll be
talking with journalist, host, producer, and consultant great ideas about
making your passion your full time job, her mid season
picks for WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year, what
she's hoping to see from this year's All Star activations
and events, and more. Plus a w star moves up,
a list of illustrious Hoopers, the Athlete's Unlimited Softball League
(00:35):
regular season is winding down, and a Canadian tennis star
says blah blah blah, it's all coming up right after
this welcome back slices, Here's what you need to know
(00:59):
today in hoops news. The twenty twenty five WNBA All
Star Weekend is upon us, but it's getting going with
some truly sad news. Caitlin Clark announced on Thursday via
The Fever that she won't be participating in either the
three Point Contest or the All Star Game after sustaining
(01:19):
a right groin injury in the Fevers win over the
Connecticut Sun in Boston on Tuesday. Clark, who led the
league in All Star voting, was slated to be a
captain and starter and also participate in her first three
Point Contest during this weekend's festivities in Indy. The WNBA
sophomore has only checked into thirteen of the Fever's twenty
three games this season, dealing with multiple injuries, including two
(01:40):
left quad injuries and a left groin injury in addition
to this new right groin injury. In a statement, Clark said, quote,
I'm incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can't participate
in the Three Point Contest or the All Star Game.
I have to rest my body. I will still be
at Gambridge Field House for all the action, and I'm
looking forward to helping Sandy Brondelo coach our team to
a win.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
End quote.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
I am super super bummed for her, knowing how much
it meant to her to have this game in her
city and truly be the face of this All Star weekend.
And I'm bummed for the fans because neither the three
point contest, nor the game itself is going to be
the same without seeing her launch those long balls, talk,
smack and hype up the crowd who would have been
absolutely losing it for their hometown girl.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
We know how disappointed this is for her.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
And the fans, but also she's got to get healthy
for the rest of the season. As I mentioned, she
has struggled and been in and out of the lineup,
so we're sending her good vibes for a thorough recovery
and hopefully she can find a way to still have
a little bit of fun this weekend despite not being
able to suit up.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
More w News.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Phoenix Mercury star Satusaboli, who was drafted to play with
Team Clark in the WNBA All Star Game, has also
announced that she won't be suiting up this weekend. She
gave the news via a statement on her Instagram on Wednesday.
The player known as the Unicorn hasn't hit the floor
for Phoenix since July third due to an ankle injury,
and will stay sidelined until at least July twenty third.
(03:01):
In her statement, Saboly, a team union rep, did say
that she'll be in Indianapolis to quote take part in
the most important part of the weekend, which is fighting
for a fair and equitable CBA end quote. With both
Sably and Clark out, Washington Mystics Guard Britney Sykes and
Atlanta Dreamford Brianna Jones have been named by WNBA Commissioner
Kathy Engelbert to replace the pair on Team Clark. I'm
(03:23):
excited for Sikes and Jones to get the opportunity, but
obviously bummed for Clark and Sabbily. There are lots of
other great players to get hype four, though, and so
we're going to turn our focus to them as we
dive into the weekend's activities. The festivities begin tonight with
the New York Liberties Natasha Cloud, the Atlanta Dreams Alisha Gray,
the Minnesota lynx Is Courtney Williams and Skyler Diggins and
(03:44):
Eric Wheeler of the Seattle Storm all competing in this
skills challenge. That's an eight pm Eastern start on ESPN.
Once that concludes, it's the three point Contest. As I mentioned,
Clark is out, so it'll be Gray, the Liberties, Sabrini
and Escut, the La Sparks, Kelsey Plum, and the Washington
Mystics rookie Sonya Citron competing. Grace swept both the Skills
(04:04):
and the three point contest last year, becoming the first
player in WNBA history to win both at the same
All Star weekend. On Saturday night, it'll be Team Clark
and Team Collier squaring off in the All Star Games,
slated to start at eight thirty pm Eastern on ESPN,
And this year, the game's got four new rules. First,
the league is bringing back the four point shot, which
(04:25):
was previously instituted in both the twenty twenty two and
twenty twenty three All Star Games. There will be two
circles twenty eight feet from the ram on each end
of the court, and if a player makes contact with
one of the circles while shooting, they'll earn four points.
Very MTV Rock and Jack Basketball, My fellow oldheads know
what I'm talking about. The other rules, while the shot
(04:47):
clock will be set to twenty seconds instead of the
twenty four seconds allotted for regulation contests, live player substitutions
will also be in effect, and one player can check
in per possession as long as they enter from the
back court between the twenty eight foot mark the half
court line.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
They can't touch the ball till they cross half court.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Last, but not least, players will not shoot free throws
except for in the final two minutes of the fourth
quarter and throughout any overtime periods. Otherwise, players who are
fouled will just get the maximum amount of points for
the number of free throws they'd normally attempt, So if
they get fouled on a two pointer, they'll get two points.
Fouled on a three pointer, they'll get three. I'm excited
to see what all these rules look like in action.
(05:23):
Really hoping for a close game. Elsewhere in w News,
Seattle Storms star forward Deca Ogumakay is moving on up
the WNBA's all time scoring list. In the storm sixty
seven to fifty eight win over the Valkyries on Wednesday,
she scored twenty two points to move into sixth place,
passing Candice to Pre by one point. Neca's got six
eight ninety six in counting and now sits behind Tamika Ketchings,
(05:45):
who scored seven three hundred and eighty points in her career.
Off the court, Diana Tarasi, the WNBA's all time leading scorer,
is getting a docu series on Amazon Prime The series
simply named Tarasi, was announce to be a post from
The Phoenix Mercury on Instagram, and it's set to premiere
on August seventh. Tarasi will dive into DT's historic twenty
(06:07):
year career as a member of the one that officially
ended when she retired back in February. We'll link to
the show art and the announcement in our show notes.
To softball, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League regular season is
nearly complete. Next Wednesday marks the final regular season games,
and the top two teams in the standings will earn
a spot in the best of three finals series. Heading
(06:27):
into this weekend's games, the top ranked talents have already
locked up a playoff berth, while the number two Bandits
have nearly secured the other spot. We'll link to the
full AUSL schedule in the show notes, which includes a
bunch of games this weekend from Round Rock, Texas and
Salt Lake City, Utah. In tennis news, Canadian player Jeanie
Bouchard announced her plans to retire from tennis on Wednesday.
(06:48):
The Montreal native did so in a simple post on
x which included four photos of her at different stages
of her career and the caption quote You'll know when
it's time for me. It's now ending where it all started,
Montreal end quote. Montreal refers not just to her hometown,
but to the National Bank Open WTA one thousand tournament
later this month, Bouchard will enter on a wild card
(07:11):
and hit.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
The courts for the last time as a pro.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
The thirty one year old turned pro back in two
thousand and nine at just fifteen years old, and soared
as high as number five in the WTA rankings.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
In her career.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
She won a singles title at the twenty fourteen Nuremberg Open,
a doubles title at the twenty nineteen Auckland Open, and
helped Canada win the Billy Jean King Cup title in
twenty twenty three. Finally, in soccer, per ESPN's Jeff Casoof,
the NWSL's Denver expansion team is finalizing the hire of
Nick Cushing as the club's first head coach. Cushing previously
held the same position for Manchester City Women and for
(07:44):
the MLS side New York City FC. He helped Manchester
City win their first Women's Super League title in twenty
sixteen and an FA Women's Cup title in twenty seventeen.
Denver is set to start playing under Cushing's direction next season.
All Right, slices. Something else we're keeping an eye on
this weekend down at WNBA All Star is safety. I
(08:05):
caught up with an old friend at the US Women's
National Teampa players ball on Tuesday, and she happened to
mention that she's working All Star weekend and said she's
been really dismayed at the need for majorly increased security
for a handful of w players. While it's understandable that
big name athletes are going to need security, the calls
for increased protection stem from threats and fears about player safety,
(08:26):
not concerns about people like aggressive autograph hounds. It's such
a shame that so much of the increased attendance, higher ratings,
elevated valuations, and just general excitement and enthusiasm for the
W has come with such toxicity for so many of
the league's players. Like just this week at the Indiana
Fever Connecticut Sun game in Boston, a fan was ejected
after making a comment to Sun guard Sanaia Rivers. Rivers
(08:50):
immediately alerted the refs and the fan was escorted out
by security. You have to assume they said something pretty bad. Look,
there's no room anywhere for that nonsense. And here's hoping
we don't see any of it this weekend. We just
have a safe, fun weekend for everyone involved, and hoping
media and fans will actually start to take accountability for
the atmosphere and the climate that they create with their
(09:12):
stories and posts and comments. Let's keep the WNBA and
women's sports the good place, y'all. All right, we got
to take a quick break.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
When we come back.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
It's the mid Range Mommy Grady Das and Jessa heads Up.
We caught up with her on Wednesday before the Caitlin
Clark news was official.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
That's coming up next joining us now.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
She's a journalist, host, producer and consultan whose work you've
seen on ESPN, Boardroom and Escape, just Women's Sports, sp Nation,
The Guardian and more Proudly Dominican and Bouriqua, proudly washed
but still hoopin'. It's the Midrange Mommy herself aka Grady Das.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
What's up? Grady?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Hi, Sarah? How are you? Thank you for having me?
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I want to get to that first. Mid range Mommy
is the MIDI really unstoppable.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Absolutely. People literally call me mid range Mommy. I played
basketball my entire life. I still play, and I always
tell folks like, once you have a shot, it's hard
to lose. So for me, that's just the best part
of my game. And it's a lost art. Although we
do have some mid range mommies in the league, which
I love, But that's just the best part of my game.
(10:23):
So that's what I love to show.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Also, mid range is so good for pickup because everybody's
trying to jack up threes or start a drive, not
know how to finish, and then dick around in the paint,
Whereas if you can just make a quick move on
somebody and pull up, you're in the money. Tell us
about the Sunday Washed Club, which is where you do
most of your damage on the court.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Now, what is it and how did it get started?
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Yeah, so a few years ago, actually, I think about
three years ago now, two folks, Tony and Jirell, decided
to put together a run of media folks or folks
who work in sports, and yeah, we put together like
a really awesome group of folks. It's good vibes, you know,
not a lot of fighting, which is great, not a
(11:05):
lot of arguing. I mean, there are moments I won't lie,
but we usually try to keep that to a minimum.
And they're very selective of who plays, so they want
to make sure there's a curated, really nice community. And
I was the first woman to play with them, So
I'm the first lady of Sunday Wash Club and I take,
you know, real pride in that because women can play
(11:26):
with men. I mean, I grew up hooping against guys
in practices, so it was just part of my life.
So even now it's still a part of my life.
So it's it's been fun with them. That's in New York, Yeah,
in New York.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Yeah, yeah, Yeah. I love the name.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
I take a mild offense to it because if you're
really washed, you can't even hoop anymore, like me, so
you're only mildly washed.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Congrats, congrats, sounds still getting out there.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
So you describe yourself as a storyteller, host and producer.
I know you're at ESPN for a really long time.
You are a very multifaceted talent doing a lot of
different stuff in the space. So tell us how your
journey in media started and how you ended up getting
to kind of focus on women tubes.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Yeah, so folks don't really know that. I actually started
off on the business side at ESPN back in twenty fourteen.
So I was in Bristol at the headquarters. And then
after a few years, I was just like, you know,
I feel like I can do my job with my
eyes closed and not really challenged. I was meeting with
folks on my own time throughout the whole company, just
wanted to learn the ecosystem. And from there I told somebody, Hey,
(12:24):
I think I want to write. So I actually started
writing for espnW while doing my business job.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
Not a lot of.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
People know that either, and just writing really short, buzzworthy pieces.
And then I decided that I was going to bet
on myself and quit my job. But I went to
The Undefeated at the time and I said, Hey, I'm
about to quit my job. Can you guys still hire
me if I do some stuff? So they said, of course, Grady,
we love you.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
So that's a relocation, not a quitty.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
As for those who don't know, The Undefeated was part
of ESPN that's now known as Antscape.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
But you were just like moving and around the block.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Yeah, But I mean I wasn't with them full time,
so yeah, I mean, and then so I moved to
the DC area from there and was doing a lot
of freelance work for ESPN and other companies, and I
was doing sports at night. So I was covering the
Mystics and the Wizards for basically no money. But that's
(13:17):
what I knew I wanted to do and where I
wanted to be. So just making that sacrifice, and I'm
so happy that I did it because that was about
what eight years ago and here I am now and
I've been able to build my own reputation, build my
own brand, storytell interviews so many athletes, and there's so
much more that I want to do. I feel like
I haven't done my best work yet.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
I mean, it seems like a natural fit based only
on your voice. It is like so soothing, and it's
a voice that we want to hear content from. So
to get from business to writing to finally figuring out
like okay, the people want to hear me.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
That's really cool.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
And I also I love that organic discovery of I
have time off and this is what I want to
do with it. I think that so often can lead
people to really understanding what they want to do, but
it's hard to make it work. You know, a lot
of people can find a passion that doesn't mean they
can make a living doing it. So props to you
(14:12):
for figuring out how to be hosting events, talking to folks,
creating content, working with different spaces, because that's the dream
for a lot of people and it can be tough
to do. Your dream has taken you to being in
the women's hoop space, including you were at the Sun
Fever game at TD Garden on Tuesday. This was the
second time the Sun have played in Boston. There was
(14:32):
a block party beforehand, this time a little bit more
of an event. Tell us about the vibe from the
fans there. What was the split for Sun and Fever
fans and did it I don't know if you went
to the first iteration as well, if it felt any different.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
I didn't go to the first iteration last year because
I believe there might have been a Liberty game of
the same day. So it was, oh my goodness. I mean,
it was my first time ever watching a WNBA game
in Boston, and growing up in Massachusetts, that was my dream.
I actually my first WNBA game was at Mohegan Sun
to watch the Connecticut Sun. So this was really a
full circle moment for me. So I took it all in.
(15:05):
I mean from seeing all the fans. Yes, there were
a lot of Indiana Fever fans, Caitlin Clark fans obviously
with the growth of the game, which is amazing, but
there weren't a lot of Sun fans too, and just
a lot of great energy, a lot of people that
are so supportive of women's sports. And credit to the
Sun for putting together an incredible block party with food,
with DJ with the Double Dutch. There were so many
(15:29):
things to do and it really felt like it represented
the city and the city is diverse, so you saw
a lot of different people, which.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I loved last time they were there.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
It felt from AFAR and our producer Alex has been
to both of these games and so she sort of
gave us some dispatches from the games as well. But
it felt like Afar like, this is awesome. You get
to borrow our team for this huge stadium and bring
the Connecticut Sun love to Boston. And this time I'm
wondering if there were any mentions of the team potentially
(16:01):
getting moved to Boston. Because at the beginning of the
season we heard the president of the Sun acknowledge that
the owners are looking to potentially sell. Whether that means
moving them to another city, whether that means them going
somewhere else on an expansion team coming into Boston.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
We're not sure. There's still a lot yet to be discussed.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
But did it feel like the fans and those in
attendance were wary this time of Boston borrowing the team again.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Honestly, it didn't seem like there was too much of
a concern. There were a lot of folks who took
the ride from Connecticut to Boston. There was a woman
who sat courtside who told me that she took a
bus and then an hour and a half car drive.
I was just like, what, So these folks are dedicated,
These fans, you know, are really showing up, and I
(16:50):
really feel for them because I don't know what's going
to happen, of course, and you know, selfishly, I do
want a team in Boston someday in my lifetime, and
I know what's going to happen because there is a need,
there's an interest. It's a great opportunity, but I'm not
quite sure.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
You know, yeah, and it feels like, even if you
do have that worry, you're still going to show up
for that game and enjoy it and have fun and
be a part of everything and probably not spend too
much time stressing about what's to come, just focusing on
getting the Sun some wins this season while they're still
in Connecticut with the roster change, I saw there were
only two players I think it was from the last
(17:26):
year team that hosted a game at TD Garden that
we're still on the Sun this season. I were heading
into the All Star break, which means we're sort of
at the mid season point. So you got a prediction
for our WNBA finals matchup.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
At the start of the season, I did, But right
now I'm having a tough time because the Liberty, who
I thought, you know, would have a clear path given
their injuries, I'm not really seeing that clear path at
this moment because there's so many other strong teams right now,
such as the Phoenix Mercury. I think Seattle has shown
great promise, the links are obviously great. I think that
(18:02):
I think that they're going to be in the finals,
but I just don't know who that other team is
going to be yet. And I think it really depends
on who locks in, you know, from here on out.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Yeah, like the people outside your window, the Liberty feel
a little bit under construction.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
They are struggling without John.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Qwell Jones and potentially having a little bit of a
title hangover as far as the effort goes.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
So we'll see if they can pull it together. What
about MVP?
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Right now? To me, it looks like Fee. It looks
like Fee, you know, at the start of the season,
I said Asia Wilson. Of course, I mean, she has
an incredible history but also is having a good season.
But it's just the Aces haven't looked as great this season,
you know, let's be honest, they haven't. But I think
Fee came in with a vengeance, you know, and she
(18:50):
wants that MVP title, She wants everything. She wants that finals.
So she's coming for everything this season, especially after Unrivaled.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Yeah, alright, let's talk all Star weekend. So much on
the books for this, I've talked to so many people
who are not sure how they're going to squeeze in
all the parties, all the activations, all the events, all.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
The live shows. What are you getting up to this weekend?
Speaker 3 (19:12):
Well, You're gonna probably have to clone me three times
to attend everything because the amount of invitations is just unreal.
I think this is really going to be the biggest
All Star ever in terms of fans, brands, audience, entertainers
that are going to pull up. I mean, for the
first time, Sidney Colson is doing a comedy special. Yea,
(19:36):
There's other comedians that are going to be There are
two big names like Leslie Jones, I believe, Cedric Dion Cole.
There's so many others, and I'm just like, this has
never happened, Like this is really a movement, not just
a moment. But I'm getting into a lot, hosting some
panels for Jordan Brand, doing some content for Lacedema, which
(19:58):
is the official wine partner of the WNBA, and then
I got invited to a billion things. I don't know
that's in them all, but you know, I'm going to
have to figure it out. But I'm excited for the weekend.
But just this is going to be the biggest one yet.
Are you going to be there?
Speaker 2 (20:12):
It is? I'm going to be there. I'm the same way.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
I've got so many things to try to pack in,
including a couple of live shows and interviews I'm doing,
but then a lot of fun stuff. Is there anything
you're hoping to see this weekend? Is there anything in
the past you've said, Oh, they really dropped the ball
on this, so this could be better. I'd like to
see more of this as they continue to grow.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
I just want to make sure players and fans feel
safe in Indiana, you know, especially as a woman of color,
as a league that is majority black. I want to
I really hope that we haven't we run into no issues.
You know, we saw an issue at the Sun game
last night with a fan. That's happening at a regular
season game, right What's going to be happening at All
(20:51):
Star in Indiana where you know players have said, hey,
I don't really feel the most comfortable, you know. So
I just I really hope that everybody can really get
along this weekend, and you know, we're there to celebrate
women's sports.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
I mentioned earlier in the show that I did speak
to someone who is on the production organizing side of
the weekend and whose job has been made much more
difficult by the amount of security that's now being required,
the threats coming in, the concerns for player safety the
amount of work they're having to do to make sure
that players stay protected, and that is so disappointing and
(21:29):
really frustrating that that has to come along with the
increase in popularity. You've done a lot of work with brands,
any collabse or activations that you've wanted to see the
league capitalize on that maybe they haven't yet.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
I mean, right now we're seeing so many brands that
maybe I wouldn't have even guessed or thought of that are,
you know, working with the league now, from you know,
beauty brands to feminine product, high team product brands, Like
it's quite amazing. You know, everybody wants a piece of
women's sports of the WNBA. I mean, these are the
(22:03):
best athletes in the world. They're multifaceted. But I really
want to see more players have signature seekers. I feel
like there's opportunities for brands to invest in. One brand
that I really love right now that has invested in
a player is Holo Footwear. They I believe they were
announced as the official footwear of the Connecticut Sun recently
(22:25):
and J. C. Sheldon is their athlete and she has
a signature shoot with them. But also she is equity
in the company and that word equity is important, is
important when you think of generational wealth, when you think
of longevity, when you think of business. So I want
to see more of that.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Yeah, if there was a celebrity All Star Game at
the WNBA weekend, First of all, do you think we
should have one?
Speaker 2 (22:53):
And if there was one, who would You're starting five?
B what celebs do you know that can?
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Who?
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Who can? Who? I want to say, in the past,
like five years, I did see Gabrielle Union getting some
basketball training or practices, So I hope she's kept up
with that because she would be, you know, a player
I would I would definitely draft Oh my goodness, who else?
Who else? Hoops?
Speaker 1 (23:18):
I feel like usually in the NBA Celebrity Game, the
women are w players, just absolutely patiently schooling male celebs
who are trying to, you know, show off.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
The skills that they had twenty five thirty years ago.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
But every once in a while there's a couple like
I think Messi Russell, the track athlete, hooped it up
in the NBA Celeb Game. Mickey Geitton, I remember, the
country music singer. I was surprised to see her out there.
I always like the I always like the musicians that
have a secret, you know, baller pasted.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
I believe that there should be a celebrity game at
the WNBA. It'd be fun All Star Weekend, Like, that's
what's missing.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Yeah, which player you think is bringing the best fits
to All Star Weekend?
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Oh my, I mean Skyler Diggens. Probably, She's one of
my favorites. Oh my gosh. Her style is amazing.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Kelsey Plumb too.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
When she gets after it, usually in a vengeful way,
trying to send messages to her ex or others. She
can look like a stone cold assassin, which I love.
One thing I'm looking at and really crossing my fingers on.
We're recording this on Wednesday, and after that fever Sun game,
Caitlin Clark looked like she had retweaked her growing injury.
(24:37):
She was really emotional on the bench. This is a
huge weekend for her, All Star in her city, supposed
to be competing in you know three point in the game,
she's a captain. There's so many giant murals all over
the sea. There's so many expectations for her to put
on a show. What did you see in person and
what would it mean if she god forbid, couldn't go
(24:58):
at all or even was restrained. Did that feels I
think that's so much of where the emotion was coming
from for her.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Absolutely, I mean, Cayan's a bucket. She is fun to watch,
she is passionate, she's competitive. But the All Star Game
meets her, Indiana, this upcoming week meets her. We need
to see her in the three point contest. You know,
it would be a huge loss if she's you know,
(25:26):
not participating, but obviously she'll still be there. But yeah,
we just need to see her, even if it's unrestricted minutes.
I don't know, right, but we don't want her to
also get you know, even more injured than she is,
right right.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
And it's hard for the team because they don't want
to be without her for regular season games that matter.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
But this is obviously such a huge deal.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Yeah, well, plasma, cryo, massage, drugs, whatever, whatever.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
It takes, get her out there. We want to see it. Grady,
thanks so much for the time. We'll see an Indy.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
All right, sounds good. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
We got to take another break when we come back.
A tribute to one of the most prominent poets of
our time. Welcome back slices. We love 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.
(26:25):
Read and listen to one of America's greatest poets, gone
way too soon. Andrea Gibson, the State Poet Laureate of Colorado,
a master of spoken word poetry, explorer of gender identity, love,
life and death. Gibson died this week after a very
public four year battle with ovarian cancer. Their death was
(26:46):
announced by their wife, Megan Falley, in a statement that read,
in part quote, Andrea Gibson died in their homes, surrounded
by their wife, Meg, four ex girlfriends, their mother and father,
dozens of friends, and their three beloved.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Dogs end quote.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Sundance Festival Favorite award winning documentary about Faly and Gibson,
Come See Me in the Good Light, will be available
on Apple TV Plus this fall. I imagine it's going
to hit a lot harder now that we've lost them.
Losing poets and musicians I think hurts the most. No
more new gifts, no more new revelations. It feels like
their work ends when they're gone, But we can revisit
(27:22):
it over the many years of our lives and marvel
as the words and the songs begin to sound different,
as the words and the songs somehow change with us,
Gibson's words will continue to resonate and change and hum
and sing with all of us, especially as we age
and feel the fear and uncertainty that they had about
their terminal diagnosis, wrote Gibson in love letter from the Afterlife, quote,
(27:47):
Dying is the opposite of leaving.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
When I left my body, I did not go away.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
That portal of light was not a portal to elsewhere,
but a portal to hear. I am more here than
I ever was before, more with you than I ever
could have imagined. Why did no one tell us that
to die is to be reincarnated in those we love
while they are still alive.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
One day you will understand end quote.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
So grab one of their seven books, like You Better
Be Lightning, Take Me with You, or Lord of the Butterflies,
listen to one of their seven albums, or read the
gorgeous tributes that are popping up all over social media,
written by friends, admirers, and those Gibson touched, moved, inspired,
or in some cases, truly saved with their words they
(28:36):
will be so missed. If you've got a favorite work
of Gibson's, I'd love to hear it, so send it
my way. We do 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 o four fifty seventy and don't forget to subscribe,
Rate and review, y'all.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
It's real easy.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
Watch a building size tribute to a larger than life
legend of the game, rating one out of ten stories
high review. Congrats to WNBA legend Tamika Ketchings on the
unveiling of a new mural honoring her in downtown Indianapolis.
The legendary Hooper spent her entire fifteen year career in
a Fever uniform, leading Indiana to thirteen playoff appearances and
(29:17):
their only WNBA title in twenty twelve. A ten time
All Star and five time Defensive Player of the Year,
Catchings is the only player in franchise history to win MVP,
and her number twenty four jersey is hanging in the
rafters at Gamebridge Fieldhouse. The mural honors not just Catching's
time with the fever, but her years playing for Pat
Summit at Tennessee, representing the US in the Olympics, and
(29:39):
her efforts in the community, which include her three ts
Me cafes and her Catch the Stars Foundation, which helps
local kids with literacy, fitness, and more. The mural is
a great honor for an all time great hooper and
great person. And I'm so impressed that I managed to
talk about Tamika catchings without mentioning the time I blocked
her at the free throw line in then took the
(30:00):
ball down for a layup.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Oh my god, I did it again. I did it again.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Now it's your turn, rate and review. Thanks for listening, y'all.
See you next week. Good game, Grady, Good game, Tamika,
you ovarian cancer. Good Game with Sarah Spain is an
iHeart women'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
(30:27):
Wonder Media Network, our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones.
Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan,
and Emily Rudder. Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez,
Grace Lynch, and Gianna Palmer.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
Our associate producer is Lucy Jones.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Production assistance from Avery Loftis and I'm Your Host Sarah
Spain
Host
Sarah Spain
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