Not Everything Has To Be An Acronym (NEHTBAA) with Chantel Jennings

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're hoping
for chafe, free teas, light as air shoes, bomb ass playlists,
loose and springy legs, and spirit lifting cheers for all
our Boston marathoners. Today it's Monday, April twentieth, and on
today's show, senior writer for The Athletic Chantel Jennings joins
me to talk about the biggest WNBA storylines as training

(00:21):
camps get underway, how new CBA provisions like epic contracts
and developmental player spots will change the league, Which draft
picks seem best set up for success in their new cities,
and which rookies might have trouble sticking. Plus back to back,
back to back chips not winning fast enough, and if
there's snow on the pitch playball It's all coming up

(00:42):
right after this welcome back slices, here's what you need
to know today. Let's start with volleyball. Love Austin claimed
its second straight Love Championship Saturday night, defeating Love Salt Lake.
Salt Lake won match one on Friday, a five set thriller,

(01:05):
but Austin came back to take match two on Saturday
and went on to win the fifteen point golden set tiebreaker.
Austin has now won back to back championships in the
first two seasons of the league. Madison Skinner was named
Love Championship MVP for the second year in a row,
scoring twenty one points during the second match on Saturday.
Skinner has won five championships in six years, now three

(01:26):
in the NC DOUBLEA twenty twenty with Kentucky, twenty twenty
two and twenty three with Texas, and now back to
back titles with Love to Gymnastics. Oklahoma won its second
straight NC DOUBLEA team title on Saturday and fourth in
five years. It all came down to the final routine,
with the Sooners ultimately defeating LSU by just zero point
eight seven five. Florida took third place, while Minnesota finished fourth.

(01:50):
Two days earlier, individual titles were handed out, with Oklahoma's
Faith Torres winning the all around despite not competing in
a previous all around. All season long, Torres Senior had
focused mostly on bars and beam throughout the year due
to injury, but she added floor and vault back into
her repertoire during the last two weeks. Meanwhile, Sooner's teammate
Kierra Wells won vault, Florida's Riley McCusker won bars, Minnesota's

(02:13):
Brooklyn Railray one beam, and UCLA's Jordan Chiles one floor.
It was the second NCUBA floor exercise title for Chiles
in her college career in what ended up being her
final routine as UCLA failed to make the championships. On Saturday,
Chiles also won the AAI Award, given to the NCAA's
top senior gymnast to soccer. The US national team's friendly

(02:34):
series against Japan came to a close on Friday night,
with the US winning the final of three matches three nil.
Snow blanketed the pitch in Commerce City, Colorado, just hours
before game time, and the match was played in near
freezing temperatures, but thankfully the US heated up in the
second half. After entering the game as a sub at halftime,
Kennedy Wesley assisted the first goal of the game, a

(02:54):
header from Naomi Germa to make it one nil in
the forty seventh minute. Rose Leavel tallied in the fifty
sixth minute, before Wesley closed out the scoring in the
sixty fourth with her first international goal. To the WNBA
training camp started on Sunday, with all fifteen teams looking
to solidify their rosters and get to know each other
a little before the season officially kicks off on May eighth.

(03:14):
Each team can have up to eighteen players at training camp,
and most but not all do. Shout out to front
of the show Richard Cohen, whose Blue Sky post alerted
us to the fact that the Las Vegas Aces are
starting training camp with thirteen players on the roster, including
Dana Evans, who's injured and out indefinitely, so they're five
players short of what's allowed for camp, and they're even
a player short of what they can carry on their

(03:35):
regular season roster. Teams must have twelve players and can
have up to fourteen thanks to the addition of the
two developmental player spots. Now it's certainly possible that the
Aces are going to add another few names in the
coming weeks, especially as other teams start shutting extra bodies
as the start of the season nears. It's been really
fun to see cities get hyped for tip off with
crossovers like the Seattle Storm draftees including Flage Johnson reading

(03:59):
the lineups in Seattle. Torrent locker room also Lauren Bett's
throwing out the first pitch for the Washington Nationals alongside
fellow Mystics drafts Angela Dougalleach and Cody McMahon, and second
year Chicago Sky player Hailey van lit throwing out the
first pitch at the Chicago Cubs game. Seems everybody's got
w fever. Plenty more to say about the WNBA later

(04:19):
in the show, with Chantel speaking of the WNBA shout
out to friend of the show and the co host
of the iHeart Women's Sports show levels to this, Tarika
Foster Brasby, who's joining USA Network for its twenty twenty
six WNBA coverage. Congrats Torika onto the Boston Marathon, which
gets under way this morning with a few big last
minute changes to the start list. Now. Initially the entire

(04:41):
US team from the Paris Olympics and last year's World
Championships was expected to toe the line, but in the
last few days both Erica Kemp and Fiona O'Keefe announced
they wouldn't be starting due to injury. Still, the US
boasts a strong contingent including national record holder Emily Sisson
and Jess McClain, who was the top American in last
year Boston Marathon. As for the overall favorite to win

(05:03):
the race, that's Kenya's Sharon Lokeetty, who smashed the course
record last year when she won the race in her
Boston debut. The pro women get going at nine forty
seven am Eastern this morning. You can watch on ESPN two.
We also previewed this race with the Boston Athletic Association's
Mary Kate Shay two weeks ago, so we'll put a
link to that episode in the show notes if you
want to check it out. Also shout out to all

(05:25):
the slices who are running, and to friends of the
show Kalain Connigan and Josh Bard. You could search for
their names and follow along with them online as they race.
Oh and if you're there in person, keep an eye
out for producer Bianca in the final few miles of
the race with a good game inspired sign to rugby,
where Quinnipiac University announced last week that the school will
be downgrading its women's rugby team from varsity to club

(05:47):
status and replacing it with a men's indoor and outdoor
track team, but just distance events. The move drew immediate
outcry online, including from Quinnipiac rugby alum Alona mar who
posted on her Instagram store quote shame on you, tagging
the university. In its statement, Quinnipiac cited Title nine compliance
is one of the reasons for the change, in addition

(06:08):
to fiscal sustainability and long term competitive priorities. Now producer
Alex did a quick crunch of the numbers using online
rosters and found that women at Quinnipiac currently seem to
have more participation opportunities than men, about sixty four percent
of all roster spots while making up about sixty percent
of the student body. Now it's worth noting Quinnipiac has
a shady history when it comes to Title nine. Back

(06:30):
in twenty ten, as part of a landmark Title nine case,
a federal judge ruled that the university had violated the
civil rights law by failing to provide equal treatment after
it attempted to cut its women's volleyball team. The resulting
settlement essentially required Quinnipiac to make good by creating a
variety of new programs and scholarship opportunities, including the creation
of the women's rugby team that is now being cut.

(06:52):
We'll keep you posted on this story as we learn
more meantime, we're definitely taking note that a school is
so adamant about writing a small imbalance in favor of
women's sports, even citing Title nine compliance to support their decision,
while the majority of colleges are still woefully non compliant
with Title nine when it comes to a quality of
opportunities for women. Finally to the PWHL, Jen Gardner scored

(07:17):
four goals in Vancouver's six' five overtime win against The
Seattle torrent On, saturday but it still wasn't enough to
keep the team's playoff hopes. Alive vancouver needed a win
in regulation to earn the three points necessary to avoid,
elimination but they fell just. Short The goldeneys are now
in competition with the torrent who were eliminated earlier this
month in the PWHL's Gold Plan, race which forces teams

(07:39):
to earn points to get the number one pick in
the upcoming college draft. Slices it was a tough weekend
for lesbians and the culturally gay like yours. Truly, first
our favorite sports ball Couple Sue berd And Megan rapino
announced they're splitting up and phasing out their PODCAST a touch.
More we're sending both of the show and friends in

(08:01):
real life big. Hugs tough to live and love and separate,
publicly BUT i think they've handled all of it so.
Well we also heard word From The Indigo girls That
Emily sailiors has been diagnosed with two incurable conditions that
have been impacting her. Voice fans who have seen the
duo and concert in recent years have likely noticed the change.
Well sailors revealed that she has cervical dystonia with torta

(08:23):
colis and an essential. Tremor the good news is they're
continuing with the planned nationwide, tour kicking off On april twenty.
Fourth The Indigo girls have gotten a lot of us
through a lot of, shit so we're sending them love
and the peace of knowing that every little bit more
that they give us and share with us is more than.
Enough All, Right we're going to take a. Break when

(08:44):
we come. Back It's Chantel jennings joining us. Now she's
The athletics senior writer for THE wnba And Women's College
basketball and co host of the Letex Fantastic Women's basketball
Pod no Off. Season she previously covered college sports AT

(09:05):
espn dot. Com is a Former Night Wallace fellow at
The university Of michigan and used to volunteer At Portland Animal,
Rescue The Pixie. Project mom of three kids under, four
thrower of epic costume, parties and a you, misshgrat just
Studied english And. Spanish once a group Of Justin bieber
fans harassed her On, twitter mistaking her For Chantel jeffries
after The beabes And jeffries broke, up and when, responding

(09:25):
she Misspelled believerer and caused national. Incident needless to, say
she was not At biebchella this weekend At Chantel. Jennings,
Hi Chantelle, hi.

Speaker 2 (09:35):
That was such an. INTRODUCTION i feel, like, wow thank
you for all of. That The Pixie project shutout was.
Deep that's a deep. Cut that's my LinkedIn. Page anyone
who works with. Animals i'm going to dip into that.

Speaker 1 (09:51):
Also as someone who used to occasionally get messages For
Sarah palin On, TWITTER i understand the pain of getting
messages for someone, else AND i imagine now you'll never
miss spell.

Speaker 2 (10:01):
BELIEVER i, MEAN i was like VERY i was like
pretty agnostic on The, bebes you, KNOW i was, Like
i'm he's not my generation of, MUSIC i don't think and,
YEAH i was, unaware and then the hate. Started and
part of the, problem we can get into the, story
was that the messages were In, portuguese and SO i
was also like Using Google translate because this was part

(10:24):
of the.

Speaker 1 (10:25):
Problem was, like.

Speaker 2 (10:26):
Anyways so, YEAH i was once mistaken For Justin bieber's
x online only online related On, twitter, relatable super.

Speaker 1 (10:35):
Relatable, well we're here to talk, basketball not The, bebes
which is good BECAUSE i don't know much about him
either other than the mole pulling up YouTube clips during
His coachella set and get absolutely outshined By Sabrina carpenter
who brought Up. Madonna SO i think we know who's winning.
Here let's talk basketball. Instead we're talking On, sunday the
day THAT wnba training camp. Start what a whirlwind this has,

(10:57):
been FROM cba to dry to free agency and everything.
Else it's wild that teams are actually starting to come
together on a court and play. Basketball when do rosters
actually need to be? Finalized so the.

Speaker 2 (11:10):
Eve of the season so early may so at least
in terms of like this specific timeline of THE wnba,
universe like that actually feels like they've got two. Weeks
they've got they've got eons here to figure all this,
out like when they did THE cba and all of
this and figuring out the, draft and in like five.
Seconds the fact that they've got you, know like a

(11:32):
little more than two weeks here feels probably like they
can take a, breath maybe sort of a little. Bit but,
yeah so eve of the. Season the developmental spots are
also available to teams this year.

Speaker 1 (11:42):
Too, yeah so talk about. That the NEW cba is
impacting roster, size mainly in how players will be able
to stick and practice with teams instead of having to
float elsewhere and then wait if their name gets called
for injury or.

Speaker 2 (11:55):
Otherwise, YEAH i think this is one of the best
sort of provisions of THE cba this, year is this
developmental roster. Spot there is no developmental league in THE,
wnba and rosters have always been. Smaller under the PREVIOUS,
cba you could carry up to twelve or. Eleven so
eleven to TWELVE i guess players on your, roster and

(12:16):
but what that really meant was that most teams were
carrying eleven because you were paying your top, players you,
know as much money as you, could and so that
basically cut out the twelfth roster. Spot and SO i
think we spent a lot of time talking about like
the one forty four of THE, wnba and it was really,
like you, know one thirty, six but now you have
to carry. Twelve uh so you have that across fifteen,

(12:37):
teams and then you can carry two developmental spots that
doesn't count against the salary. Cap they're players that can
be in training camp with, you sort of taking advantage
of all the benefits you have working out in the,
gym with you being with the team and. Film they
get a seven hundred and fifty dollars weekly, stipend team,
housing all of, that and then any game they appear
in up to twelve, games they get six thousand dollars

(12:57):
about and so it's a really great. Opportunity AND i,
think you, know we've seen so much in THE wnba
because of players wanting to or being forced to play year,
round you have sort of higher incidents of injuries or
you have players that you know are getting pulled out
for different international competitions and. Whatnot and you, know usually
when it's an, injury it's like last, minute you're trying

(13:18):
to get someone into camp and like they're flying across the,
country they've never met the team before putting on the,
jersey they're, like, hey nice to meet. You but now
it's a situation where they had these players who have
been in camp with them the whole, time and coaches
can kind of think about how coaches and gms can
think about like how they want to utilize these spots
and whether you, know it has to be players with

(13:39):
zero to three years of, service so it'll be less
EXPERIENCED wnba players not necessarily young if they're international or.
Older BUT i think this just feels to me like
such a wonderful provision in this NEW. Cba you think
about someone Like Rebecca gardner who came over when she
was like thirty into THE, wnba had such a wonderful

(13:59):
sort of.

Speaker 1 (13:59):
Day you but like if.

Speaker 2 (14:01):
She could have been in camps and had been developed
in the w system, earlier some of These european. Players so,
Yeah i'm really excited to see. That you already saw
some teams signing their developmental players, already and SO i
Think portland Signed Frieda, Booner Indiana justine sat out Of,
Vanderbilt mystic signed Darry on a little Page bugs out Of.

(14:23):
Baylor so it's like you're already seeing sort of what
these teams are looking to do at least with one
of their, spots AND i think it'll be really good
for the growth in the depth of the.

Speaker 1 (14:33):
League correct me ifive the details, wrong but basically there's
some really smart rules around that, too where if a
team wants to elevate a player from their developmental, squad
they can do that without anyone. Interfering but if they
want to drop a player from their roster down to developmental,
first that player will become available to other teams and
they'll have to match any contract from those other. Teams that,
way you can't constantly be moving someone back and forth

(14:56):
and also prevent them from having the opportunity to be
on a roster if you're going to stash, them.

Speaker 2 (15:00):
Right, yeah so, Exactly so you can't just like stash
a player because you're like trying to keep them away
from other. Teams it really truly is going to be
developmental and you, KNOW i, HOPE i imagine because of
these rules we'll see it used in good faith.

Speaker 1 (15:14):
Hopefully, yeah how are we seeing some of the intricacies
of THE cba already come into play when it comes
to the big contracts for, stars Because i'm looking, at for,
Instance Aliah Austen's max record, contract biggest, dollars bigger than,
anyone bigger Than Asia. Wilson But Asia wilson's actually has
a very interesting sort of twist to it because of
the way that max will be decided by salary. Caps

(15:37):
so can you kind of explain.

Speaker 2 (15:38):
That, yeah, well we can't talk About aliyah's contract extension
without using THE wnba sanctioned, acronym can we THE?

Speaker 1 (15:45):
Epic?

Speaker 2 (15:46):
Oh, YES i just want to say not everything has
to be an. Acronym you don't have to make everything an.
Acronym but, yeah it's basically.

Speaker 1 (15:53):
We tell us the. Acronym it's so.

Speaker 2 (15:54):
It's exceptional performance on initial CONTRACT. Epic it's a very
good thing BECAUSE i think what it does is it
fixes a problem from the LAST, cba which, was you,
know you had a huge. Jump you know when we
think back to twenty twenty in the LAST, cba where
you had players who were starting to make two twenty
as their super. Max but like twenty twenty, one you

(16:16):
had all stars Like Nafisa collier And Rique gunbowallee who
are still on their rookie scale, contracts making like fifty
eight thousand dollars while some of their teammates are making
four times. That and so it was like THIS, CBA
i really think looked at a lot of the problems
and lessons from the last, one AND i think that
was a lesson, like how can you make sure that these,
players especially when we talk about you know a lot

(16:37):
of the players who've helped in these recent seasons grow THE,
wnba Like, aleah Like, angel Like. Caitlin how do we
make sure that this group of rookies and their classmates
aren't left behind just because they happened to come into
college at a different. Time AND i think it's interesting
because we've actually been talking about this at the college
level for so long when it was like you had
someone Like Olivia miles who was, like is she going

(16:59):
to use her last year of? Eligibility is she? Not
because you, know if she waits another, year if she,
plays then maybe she can like get the new. Contract
if she goes, now then you know she won't get the,
contract and this could be such a big difference of. Money,
well it doesn't. Matter, now the rookie scale contracts from
the PREVIOUS cba have been like auto corrected, essentially and so,
right all of that to, say With Aliah's epic, contract

(17:22):
she would have made like five hundred and eighty this,
year but she's able to renegotiate her fourth year of
her rookie scale. Contract under THE epic, provision you have
to have been a first or second Team ALL wnba
player to do, This so it's not like every Rookie
willy nilly can go out and do, this but she's been,
that so she's able to do. It you can go
up to the max if you've been first your second,
team super max if you're AN. Mvp so you, know

(17:44):
in a world Like Candice parker back when she was you,
know rookie AND, mvp she could have gone for the
super max and her fourth year of the contract type
of a. Thing but then so her contract then will
roll over into a three year extension with the fever
similar actually to fellow Gamecock Asia, wilson's which is actually
the floating, max and so it's twenty percent of the

(18:08):
total salary. CAP i really feel LIKE i should have
gotten an economics degree at this, point like based on
THE cba recording that we've, done but we're seeing more
of these sort of that floating max. Salary Brianna Stewart
Sabrini yanescu signed seventeen percent floating maxes With New york
and so it's it could be a really great, decision

(18:31):
like if you know they're going to have seventeen or
twenty percent of the total salary, cap and the salary
cap can go up by as much as thirteen percent next,
year can also go down by as much as thirteen
percent next. Year and SO i think it's a lot
of players, saying like we believe in this, league like we,
are you, know literally signing our names on this bet

(18:52):
of like this is growing and we are putting our
money down on, that like this is going to, happen
and so love. It, YEAH i think it's those floating
max's are an interesting intricate part of this NEW, cba
as is THE epic. Provision are there others available to
get the epic this? Year, no next, Year Caitlin clark
will be available to get. It and then obviously things

(19:14):
could happen this year with different players on the rookie
scale contracts that could impact that.

Speaker 1 (19:18):
Too speaking of players coming in and players that might
do something great this, year every year we've sort of
get shocked by one or two drafted players that we
loved watching at the college level that don't make a w. Roster,
thankfully more spots. Now thankfully every team ass to carry.
Twelve but are there players that you're looking at that
you think might be most susceptible to that this year
because of maybe fit on the team they were drafted,

(19:40):
to or just a crowded.

Speaker 2 (19:41):
Roster, YEAH i think the teams THAT i look at
the most are the ones that drafted the most number of.
Players so maybe that's kind of like a cup out.
Here BUT i think The mystics have five, Draftees Connecticut
sun has for draft, D's they're still signing other, players
they're still signing training camp, contracts and SO i think
that's one where maybe we'll see the developmental roster spots

(20:01):
used more often for some of these. Players, Perhaps but,
YEAH i MEAN i look at like The mystics five
AND i, wonder, like is there a spot For Rory
harmon on that? Roster she was drafted by The, mystics
but you, know she's like a beloved fan favorite of
college basketball over the last five, Years but is there
truly a spot for her on that roster given the
sort of crowded backcourt that you've got There, connecticut same,

(20:23):
Thing Taylor, Bigbee Charlie Sledger, Walker, like where do all
these players fit when they're all fighting for? Minutes and
again you sort of have THE wnba training camp is so.
Short are these players who, can maybe if they don't
make the final, roster be put into a developmental spot
and work their way onto that full roster at some
point in the season or maybe next.

Speaker 1 (20:44):
Year, yeah AND i think, too it's a matter of
sort of what style A gm wants for some of
those young. Teams you, know you look at both of those.
Teams Obviously Brittany grinder a long time, vent but most
Of connecticut is young, mystics a very young. Team will
they want to look across agency see someone who hasn't signed,
yet A Natasha, cloud A Tina charles and pay more

(21:05):
to have that veteran presence to help build up a young,
team or would they rather stay young and cheap and
sign those drafted players that are going to come at
a lower. Cost that's going to be maybe just a
matter of. Preference we'll get to those two players that admit,
It but what about players that you think were drafted
into the best, situation either because of skill and ability
and fit or just the chance to get some run

(21:27):
in a space that has.

Speaker 2 (21:28):
ROOM i think with the expanded rosters like this and the, pay,
like it's a great time to be drafted into THE
wnba right. Now BUT i think of someone Like Kiki
rice going To toronto working With Sandy. Browndello sandy was
a shooting, guard not a point guard, specifically but like,
one you, know ONE wnba titles with two different, franchises
has international, experience like has experience in this league and

(21:51):
you go there as a rookie in this new, environment
new level of, play and to have someone Like sandy
as your coach feels like just such a Great, fitkiky
and sort of Similarly Olivia miles In minnesota WHERE i
think there are minutes to be, had but it's like
you're working With Lindsay, whalen who brought four titles to this,
city you, know between twenty eleven and, Seventeen, like is

(22:14):
there a better position for a rookie to be. IN
i was At olivia's introductory press conference and there are
multiple instances where she's, Like, lindsay you're gonna get sick of.
Me we're going to be in the film room so.
Much AND i was like watching your old highlights and,
stuff and it was, like you, KNOW i would love
to sit in on one of those film sessions to
sort of hear them go back and forth about what
they're seeing in different. Situations but you think Of olivia

(22:35):
making the jump to this level and like to have
not Just Cheryl, reeve but to Have Lindsay.

Speaker 1 (22:41):
WHALEN i was gonna, say because mostly we're talking About
cheryl and her working On olivia's defense and really getting
her to dig in, there but hadn't thought as much
About Lindsay whalen's ability all the best out of. Her,
yeah that is a great, situation to be. Sure you.
Know we got a great question about international draftees from a.
Listener ti g, asked why declare for THE wnba draft

(23:04):
and then sit out a? Year why not just wait
until next year to declare for the? Draft is there
an advantage to this on the fan, side it's a
big letdown to see someone get drafted high and then
told they're not playing this year at, all AND i
didn't have a good.

Speaker 2 (23:15):
Answer so you don't really declare as an international. Player
you just once you turn twenty year eligible and you,
KNOW gms can draft. You and so it's more of
a situation of and that behind the scenes and before
the draft, happens there are conversations that are. ONGOING i
don't think you, know these international players are just waking
up one morning being, like, oh THE wnba draft happened last.

(23:35):
Night like there are conversations happening between their representation and,
gms because if a team is taking an international, player
like they want to make sure that CITY x is
a place of this person would actually want to. Go
AND i do, think you, know increased, salaries better, facilities
these are two things that international prospects are going to

(23:55):
find a lot more attractive about THE wnba now rather
than LIKE i could make sixty five thousand dollars OR
i could have my summer, off you, know like when
they're Making european. Money that's that wasn't always you, know
what they wanted to, do but now it's, like, OH
i could you, know even the minimums to seventy AND
i can go and have this really professional experience and so,
yeah so it's just that teams can like pick up

(24:16):
their rights, Essentially and so you have players Like awa
fam who were at the draft right those are players
you expect to see right away in THE, wnba but
like further down the draft board in previous years as.
Well you, know it's more that these teams maybe don't
need that player right, now but believe in their, potential
someone like A Leoni phoebich or someone like A Juliet,

(24:37):
alman like you draft them and then maybe three four
years later is sort of when it's the right time
for both you and them as A gm or as
a franchise to come over and sort of try to
make this. Work, also with international play and sort of you,
know national teams and all of, that there are, those you,
know parts of their schedules as well as international players

(24:59):
that can affect their availability for a, season and not
EVERY gm wants to deal with.

Speaker 1 (25:02):
That some.

Speaker 2 (25:03):
Do we saw that with a lot of teams last year,
obviously but like not EVERY gm wants to deal with
that or sort of be piecing together. Things and, again
maybe this is a place where the developmental roster spots
where you can pull those players in during international player
or something if someone has a national team, commitment easier
to backfill those spots now than it was even a year.

Speaker 1 (25:23):
Ago, yeah it's. INTERESTING i guess you take a risk
with anyone you, draft but if you have a collegiate
player declaring for the draft and then you draft, them
the expectation is that they're going to play for you right.
Away with the international it does feel like the idea
of drafting someone knowing that they're going to be a
stash for even just a, year leaves a lot that
can happen in that year and also prevents you from

(25:43):
taking another instant immediate. Player so it's a strategy, choice
to be. Sure and you, know perhaps that strategy will
change a little bit now that teams can carry those
developmental players and there's more roster, spots so that maybe
they don't feel like there is strapped to only have
players that can contribute immediately sitting on their. Bench, okay

(26:06):
SO i know that rosters are still coming. Together before
we even get to, THIS i have to ask if
you have any strong opinions On Natasha cloud And Tina
charles or anyone else that's floating out there that hasn't
hit a roster.

Speaker 2 (26:16):
Yet it's hard to, like look at everything is happening so, fast,
Right like that is what we've been talking about with
like this ENTIRE cba. PROCESS i feel like my head
has just been like on a swivel trying to catch
up all the. Time and it's like you're, Wondering, okay
here's all these different moving, pieces and then you See
phoenix signing like forty seven thousand players to training camp,

(26:38):
contracts and then you're like trying to get inside their,
head like what are you? Doing what does it?

Speaker 1 (26:41):
Mean what's the plan?

Speaker 2 (26:42):
HERE i it's one of those things Where i'm not
really sure what's going to. HAPPEN i think all these
teams are still sort of coming into. Focus you were still,
like up until this past, weekend we were waiting to
see what those contracts looked like for some of the
biggest names in the, league whether that Was stewie Or.
FEE i think a lot of people assumed coming into
it like that those would be the first pieces to

(27:03):
settle within the new salary, conversation Like asia was going
to be the first one to sign even though we
sort of had reporting of her contract before like everything,
opened or like you, Know stewie Fee, Asia LIKE i
think a lot of people thought those would be the
first people to, sign because it's like they're what who
you're building, around, right and then you'll fill in all
the other. Pieces but it was kind of Like we're

(27:25):
seeing it different, everywhere and So i'm not really sure
how things are going to shake out for all of those,
players and frankly for some of these teams in the,
league where you, KNOW i think like we have a
good idea of who the aces, are we have a
good idea of who the dream are because of like
how their rosters have come, together who they, retained and
how the money has already been. Allotted but like there's
other places where it's like there's a little more wiggle,

(27:46):
room and you wonder sort of the direction of what
those franchises are going to do.

Speaker 1 (27:51):
Well AND i haven't seen any reporting on, this BUT
i wonder If Natasha cloud thought she'd be going back
To New york as they were trying to figure out
all the other, contracts she expected certain amount that wasn't,
there decided to go looking and teams hadn't accounted for
her or made space for. Her maybe what she's asking
is and what other teams see for. Her i've seen
Some i'm not going to say reporting it's on websites

(28:13):
that aren't straight up women's sports, websites or journalists alleging
to the idea that her very progressive politics have impacted
where she. Lands and to, me that feels like a
pretty big stretch in the w where there are any
number of players who are very outspoken about social, issues
and where it doesn't feel like ownership in most markets

(28:34):
would have an issue with her speaking out About gaza
or anything. Else it feels like there's something more to,
it and not talent and scale or what she brings
to a team, either like potentially just got caught up
in the rush of everything in terms of what she
thought she might get and what other teams thought she
might be. Worth that's been a fascinating one to, Me
Tina charles as, well of. Course but we'll be keeping

(28:57):
an eye out because there's still. Time as you, mentioned still.
Time don't have to have these finalized until the eve
Of may, eighth which is when the season tips. Off
when you're looking at the teams that have started to
come together so, far and it's. Early we haven't watched
a single second of them actually playing basketball, yet we've
only seen their faces next to each other on a.
Graphic but any teams that you're expecting to have a

(29:18):
better season than last, YEAR.

Speaker 2 (29:20):
I, MEAN i Think atlanta is the team that just
like jumps out right, away LIKE i don't see how
you resign all of those players and bring An Angel
reese and, not like you, know there's obviously going to
be a way that you need to configure all of this.
Together BUT i think the amount of talent there makes
me really really excited for what they can. Do AND

(29:40):
i was happy to see those resignings for. SURE i,
mean Like vegas being able to keep their top group,
Together like it's hard to, say, like, oh they're going
to be, better but it's like they're all a year,
older they're all a year, better and they're all year
like together. Again SO i Think vegas is LIKE i
think everyone's chasing them and like what a deep and

(30:01):
surprising thought in THE, wnba. RIGHT i Think dallas is
going to be really really interesting to me for the
pieces they added on the. Inside they to take the
front court From minnesota basically and Bring Lawn smith down,
there Co Defensive player of The year last. Year, LIKE
i think that's a team that if we're just looking
at it as, like you, know they haven't made the

(30:21):
playoffs the last two. Years DO i expect them to
be a playoff team this? Year, yes like step forward
and sort of the same standard For, Atlanta like they've
WON i think in the last seven season one playoff,
Game LIKE i think they can win more than one
playoff game this, Year and obviously the playoff structure has
changed over the last seven years in THE, wnba but,
LIKE i think those are probably outside of the obvious

(30:42):
choice Of, LIKE i think The aces will be just as,
good if not, better as they were a year. Ago
atlanta And dallas to me seem really really poised to
take a step forward just looking at like postseason. Performances
but it'll be interesting because it's still there's the postseasons not,
Expanding like there are two more teams in THE, wnba
but it's two fewer teams now will make the postseason as,

(31:03):
well and so it'll be even.

Speaker 1 (31:05):
Harder, right you can get significantly better and still not make.
IT i do think it would be wild to have
a team With Paige arika, As Alena, Smith Lee rue
and others and not make. It but that's the it's
going to teams feel more stacked than ever before, somehow
even though there's more of them this. SEASON i ALSO

(31:25):
i think The La sparks should take another step with
a fully Healthy cam Adding. Naka like all the pieces
that they, Have i'm very interested to see how those go.
Together AND i know we're not talking necessarily about a,
contender but The Chicago sky to, me they've got to be,
better like looking at the talent that they have. Now
that team was dismal last, year and if you got
to fit all the pieces. Together AND i have some

(31:48):
questions about SOMETHING i heard about Dj carrington potentially getting
another surgery and not being. Available that's not Something i've seen.
REPORTED i did get it from a, source So i'm
looking to investigate that a little more BECAUSE i haven't
heard that from the team at. All but even Without,
djina you've still got a lot of talent there that
you didn't have. Before and someone tells Me Skyler diggins
is going to have an expectation of a bit more

(32:10):
than what we saw last. Year what about teams you
expect to take a step.

Speaker 2 (32:14):
Back, WELL i feel like two of the teams that
you just mentioned as their new The sparks in The,
Sky like where did they get some of their players From?

Speaker 1 (32:22):
SEATTLE i Think.

Speaker 2 (32:24):
Seattle it's a team THAT i think they've missed the
playoffs five times in their, existence and SO i feel
like that's a group that to, me you, KNOW i
also feel like there's a like you've got to be
honest about where you're at right now as a, franchise
and like this is a team that maybe has more
runway to build than, others and like that's. Okay, also

(32:46):
if there's a time IN wnba history to maybe not
be great and go for the, lottery like the next
two years aren't terrible times to do that because of
the amount of talent in the twenty seven and twenty
eight draft. Classes LIKE i think for some of these,
teams the idea of you, know quote unquote tanking or
like not having the kinds of seasons they wanted, to you,

(33:08):
know whether or not The valkyriees performance last year's changed
the way that expansion franchises see themselves or, Whatever but
like there is so much talent coming down the. Pike
and also like when teams are thinking about marketing and
like they've got to you, know make more money and
bring more, money and like you have these really famous
stars coming up through the college game right now that
you could add to your. Franchise like there are those

(33:30):
players coming, up and so it's like there is sort
of that light at the end of the tunnel. There
SO i think the storm are there for. ME i
Think phoenix is, Interesting, LIKE i think they have pieces
THERE i, like but to lose someone like Saw, too
that they had worked so hard to get To, phoenix
and for Saw too to go To New, york, LIKE
i JUST i wonder What phoenix looks. Like and again

(33:52):
they have so many players on their training camp, rosters
LIKE i genuinely don't know what they're going to look.

Speaker 1 (33:56):
Like, yeah who's gonna? Stick, yeah for those who don't
remember a three team trade that Brought satu there In
january Or february of last year or so for all
of that finagling to be, done and then she did
say best year yet and then. Left but not much
For phoenix to do with the moral standing of best year.

Speaker 2 (34:19):
Yet but, Gobye, hey you can have a you can
have a great year and close the. BOOK i GUESS
i don't know that's. Right she's going to go play
with her best, friends so from best year to best
Friend maybe that's what it is that's her this.

Speaker 1 (34:32):
Chapter, yeah and we're also trying to figure out how
The liberty are paying all those. Players it's just wild
to imagine the talent that they. Have AND i was
listening to a touch More rip And sue was just
talking about the height on that team and when you
really think about the starting, lineup could be the smallest

(34:54):
player would Be Leoni. Phoebich that's that's. Terrifying truly going
to be a tear Buying liberty teams some length. Length, Yeah,
yeah what do you think we can expect from The
Connecticut sun in what they're calling their quote Unquote sunset
season before the team heads To texas and become The
Houston comets next. YEAR i thought The Brittany grinder signing was.

(35:15):
INTERESTING i think it's so hard to be the team
that has to wrap up all of that history and
also know that they're not building toward anything in the
city that they're playing.

Speaker 2 (35:26):
In it's a really, weird like single season For connecticut
and like for a state that has meant so much
to women's basketball and a franchise that you, KNOW i
they're going to be bringing back sort of the legends
and you, know their most famous players and they have
a special court this, year and it's like it sort
of feels like when you, know Like Sue bird had
her retirement year and it was like all of these

(35:48):
different arenas that she went, to like places where like
giving her things and having these like ceremonies for her and,
stuff and it was like sort of this, like, well
she's like she's still, playing she's still. Here it's like
you are, Retiring and so it sort of has a
flavor of, THAT i, think and just that it's like
the franchise, itself like, yeah it's just it's it's sort

(36:10):
of a weird feeling and what they're building. TOWARDS i don't,
know like it'll be really it'll be really weird not
to have the sun as a part of THE, WNBA i,
Think and you know the new, logo the like sunset.
THING i guess that's kind of. Clever you, know people
who Are day one ticket holders are getting a special

(36:31):
commemorative gift and stuff as a thank.

Speaker 1 (36:33):
You but, yeah it's, uh it'll be. Different. YEAH i
was talking To Jennifer, rozzotti president of The, sun earlier this.
WEEK i don't know what day it, is, ever but,
yeah and just thinking about how the new expansion teams
have years of runway to get. Going The comets have
to start now to start playing next, year but they'll

(36:55):
be starting their work on what that team's going to
look like well simultaneously closing out the book On connecticut
and how much there will be of people who go
from one franchise to the, other how much they want
to start, fresh depending on how much they want to
rely on sort of the institutional knowledge that comes from
folks that have been in it versus people who are
arriving with the mindset of the CURRENT, wnba which is
a different financial proposition in a different. Space SO i

(37:17):
think a little bit of both will probably end up.
Happening but, yeah it's. Complicated, Okay BEFORE i let you,
GO i want to just do a big picture look
at THE wnb because there's so much enthusiasm for this,
season this historic thirtieth, season BUT i also anticipate some
growing pains because players and fans and media are going
to be reacting to different, stakes different financial, realities multiple broadcast,

(37:39):
partners lots of stuff is, changing and in, GENERAL i
wonder what kind of growing pains you expect this year
between players and media or players and fans because of
those salary increases and maybe because of new eyeballs on the.

Speaker 2 (37:51):
League, YEAH i haven't looked exactly like ticket prices and.
STUFF i don't know how much ticket prices have increased
this year from, last BUT i assume over the next
few years that's a place where you, know these these
franchises need to make more, money and that's a place
you can make money is in ticket. Sales AND i
think how that impacts how fans feel about their, Teams
like how accessible are these things to go to for,

(38:14):
families for for, fans how like what do ticket prices look?

Speaker 1 (38:17):
Like what do court site?

Speaker 2 (38:18):
LIKE i think that's one of the things that AS
i speak with people AROUND wnba, fandom like how sort
of you, know close you can be to the game
and like accessible and sort of real and authentic a
lot of these environments have felt over the, years and
like does that change it? ALL i don't, Know LIKE
i think we're gonna have to see how these arenas feel,
Different like do they need to finagle pricing of like

(38:40):
soft drinks and like stuff like, that even like little
things where you don't think about it quite as much
as you, would but like it does affect the fan.
EXPERIENCE i do wonder how those sort of things come into.
Effect and, yeah in terms of like you were asking
about the media player, experience, YEAH i don't, Know like
there's there are going to there's going to be more,

(39:00):
interests there's going to be more. EYEBALLS i think the
the eternal problem with sports is like how can you watch?
Everything and like this isn't a new problem for THE,
Wnba like this is a league that's had like, oh
tonight's game is streaming On twitter and it's like a
really good matchup and you're like why AM i watching
this game On? Twitter and like the not too recent
history of it and so like how accessible are the

(39:23):
games going to be to? Watch LIKE i think that's you,
know the LIKE i have issues with how like THE
ncaa tournament, happens but like the fact that all of
the games are ON espn like makes it very easy
to find things, Right like it's all on THE espn,
network and so it's like if people want to buy
one month OF Espn plus or whatever it, was that
would get you all the, Games like that's what you

(39:44):
have to. Do now that's not the. Case BUT i
think that's also the experience for like every sports fan
everywhere is like you're constantly trying to figure, Out, oh
tonight's game is on this broadcast, channel tonight's tomorrow's it's on,
This tomorrow's is on? This what exactly you know what
channels actually have? It and like you, know do they
HAVE espn but NOT espn ON? Abc like those sort

(40:05):
of like nuances literally where you have to get into
the minutia of figuring out how to watch the. Teams you,
know that's not inherently AN wnba, problem that's just like
a sports. Problem, yeah, YEAH i think a lot of.

Speaker 1 (40:19):
THAT i think also like we saw the bump With
Caitlin clark, arriving and we saw a lot of new
fans and new media enter the, space and there was
a lot of. Dramas So i'm interested in seeing if
because of more broadcast, rights then more coverage because more
media spaces feel like they want shoulder programming to support
the rights packages that they've. Bought and then will those

(40:40):
media folks you, know contribute in meaningful and helpful, ways
or will we see some of the talking heads that
are not really watching the games weighing in on the
biggest dramatic moments because it drives, clicks but adding, yes,
Discourse the answer is. Yes i'm like putting it out
there in the hopes of, like maybe it, won't oh
it will it for? Sure it. Will, Okay, WELL i
wanted to ask you one last thing BECAUSE i feel

(41:02):
like this is the first of what could be a
series of conversations that have resulted from the interaction between
the media and a sport that at times felt, like
by necessity it was a little cheerleadery or, sycophantic because
there was so much toxicity that the people covering it
and supporting it didn't want to add to, that so
they kept the coverage in the interactions with players often

(41:23):
a little bit lighter than what we might see on
the men's. Side and now the expectation is are you?
Injured how long are you? Out should this person be,
bench should this person be? Fired all these other things
are going to be a lot more debatable and covered
than they ever were, before and that includes things like.
Relationships So i'm wondering if you made anything of easy
fud getting asked about her relationship with pagebackers and the

(41:44):
decision by either her or THE wingspr to not address
it and to have someone step.

Speaker 2 (41:49):
In, YEAH i, MEAN i, thought you, know the question,
itself AND i think it Was Cassandra nigley who pointed
this out On twitter was the first PERSON i, Saw
but it was WHEN i heard the, question and one
of the first THINGS i thought, was like the second
part of the question was have you reached out to
OTHER wnba couples to ask how they navigated it.

Speaker 1 (42:08):
Or something like.

Speaker 2 (42:08):
That i'm, paraphrasing but sort of like the fact that
this isn't, like you, KNOW i think maybe some of
these people that haven't followed THE wnba as much as we're, like,
wow what like an interesting new, situation and like those
of us who've covered THE wnba, before, like, well you know,
this it's not totally. New it's not totally, new and

(42:28):
SO i think like that part AND i am interested in,
that AND i think that is an interesting question in
terms of like how People And i'm always thinking about
the human side of, sports and like what we can
learn about ourselves is people through, Sports and you, know
my normal like tendency as a feature writer is to go,
there like what can we learn about ourselves as human
beings in our existence and using sports as sort of

(42:49):
the medium through which we do, that and like having those.
Conversations and SO i, think you, know it's a question
you can, ask and it's also a question that you
can decline like that is totally. Fine AND i think
that the fact that like it felt as though she
was expecting, It it felt as though she was also
expecting the response of pr like she didn't asy didn't

(43:10):
appear like surprised by any of. IT i would hope
that means that that was coordinated with all parties involved
on the wing, side that that was like how they
had decided to handle, it and she was okay with.
It but, YEAH i, MEAN i think it's like there
there is more, attention there are more eyes. Here and
my hope is that you, know everyone is as you

(43:34):
go into every, interview like every INTERVIEW i ever, do
every interview you ever do, right like you're doing your
homework and your background and so that you can ask
the best questions and then you can you, know discover something,
new and that you can ask the questions that people are,
asking and you can provide scrutiny where it's where it's,
necessary and that you can provide sort of illumination where it's,
necessary and all of those sort of things that come

(43:55):
into sports that make our jobs really really, cool AND
i think the most important part of our.

Speaker 1 (44:01):
Job, YEAH i think there's a fair criticism for media
at times for the kind of questions that could ask
or the way they handle. Things and ALSO i think
there's often from the fan base not enough appreciation for
what it means to have paid respected professional journalists in
a space unearthing things that eventually benefit fans and players

(44:21):
and the folks that you're rooting for a lot of,
times when teams or leagues get away with, things it's
because there isn't enough proper professional coverage to hold them.
Accountable and SO i think people will notice when the
media steps up in a way that they don't like
a lot less often than they'll notice when that work
is going to create a more equitable and positive environment

(44:42):
for everyone. Involved this is going to be probably a
sticky topic specifically and just at, large BECAUSE i think
some people say it feels like hiding an obvious issue
in the league to not talk about, it and other
people say it feels like an invasion of privacy to
talk about and finding that balance point in a league
that does have a lot of folks dating and in
relationships and understanding that of course they can be professional

(45:03):
in play and also they're human is a, reality and
so how those athletes specifically decide to talk about it
will be probably the cue for how deep you? Go
BUT i think the questions will be. Fair as part
of a massive billion dollar business that is going to
mean a lot of people are putting a lot of
faith and money into the players and the teams and

(45:25):
the league as a. Whole it's just gonna operate maybe
a little bit differently now because of. That i've kept
you too. LONG i love talking about this. Stuff i'm
so excited about this. Season i'm so excited for this
last bit of a couple of weeks where everything's going
to come together before the play actually. Begins so thanks
for helping illuminate a lot of it for.

Speaker 2 (45:40):
Us, yeah this is like the part where everyone's putting
the puzzle. Together it's like speed, puzzling, Right so the
next two.

Speaker 1 (45:47):
Weeks thanks again To chantal for taking the time to
hang out with, us and don't. Forget you can now
watch full length Good game interviews on The Iheartwomen's sports YouTube,
channel so be sure to. Subscribe we have to take
another break when we return The singing Defense. Woman welcome, Back.

(46:10):
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 a couple athletes
are revealing some off the court skills worth checking. Out
first Watch Skyler diggins's beautiful tribute to the state Of
indiana and the game of. Basketball then listen to the
anthem she shoots she scores by The Minnesota frost gen C.
Rose we'll link to both of them in the show.

(46:31):
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
oh four fifty seventy and don't forget to, subscribe rate
and review just Like. Slice MICHELLE. L, hawkstetler who wrote
in with the following email quote five out of five memorable.
Moments even though it was a cold and Wet tuesday,

(46:52):
night and even though they lost one, nothing THE us
women's national team game Versus japan On, Tuesday april fourteenth
was still a high energy. Event there was much excitement
about the team coming to The Pacific. Northwest plenty of
girls and young women came decked out in their own
club gear to watch their heroes on the. Pitch but
it was also cool to see fans walking in With
Seattle torrent jackets and. Hats or the couple who were

(47:13):
talking in the concourse About Flage johnson being drafted so
high by The valkyries only to be traded to The Seattle,
Storm or the older woman sitting in the row behind
me who asked the young gentleman sitting next to her
why the team kept passing the ball back to the. Keeper,
OH i only know, basketball so it's like bringing the
ball back to the top of the. Key everywhere you,
turned there was a buzz about the good things happening

(47:35):
in women's sports and a desire to consume and talk
about it. All so when the world gets, Tough i'm
going to think back to this game and marvel at
just how far women's sports has. Come what a time
to be alive end. Quote we've been saying what a
time to be alive a lot, lately but in this,
case in a good, way there has truly been a.

(47:55):
Shift michelle AND i am so pumped that more people
are educated, about, interested and invested in women's. Sports so
thanks for writing. In now it's your, turn, y'all rate and,
Review thanks for. Listening see you. Tomorrow good, Game, chantelle good, Game,
lesbians hang in there you no more are you A
megan or A? Sue and no more bickers of the.

(48:17):
Week 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 Wonder Media,
network our producers Are Alex azzi And Bianca. Hillier our
executive producers Are Christina, Everett Jesse, Katz Jenny kaplan And Emily.

(48:38):
Rudder our editors Are Emily, Rudder Lucy, Jones Britney, martinez
And Gianna. Palmer production assistants From AVERY loftus And i'm your,
Host Sarah spain

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