September 15, 2025 • 25 mins
Sarah is back from vacation just in time for the start of the WNBA Playoffs! She sprints through the biggest stories from the last two weeks, gives kudos to ballers past and present, and breaks down the first round WNBA match-ups, African safari-style. Plus, Angel vs. the Sky, Unrivaled expands, and we cry over unspilt milk.
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The WNBA Playoffs schedule can be found here
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The World Track & Field Championships U.S. broadcast schedule can be found here
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Watch Sue Bird’s speech here
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Check out the Jordan Brand post for Maya Moore here
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Read The Athletic’s story on Alyssa Thompson’s move to Chelsea 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
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Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
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 back
from Africa and we've taken up residents on the couch,
WNBA Playoffs, Track and Field Worlds, the Emmy Awards, and
some delicious takeout the perfect Welcome Back Sunday. It's Monday,
September fifteenth, and on today's show, we'll recap Sunday's WNBA
Playoff game ones and break down the first round matchups.
(00:22):
We'll cry over unspilt milk and sprint through the biggest
stories from the last two weeks. It's all coming up
right after this welcome backslices.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I missed you.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I hope you missed us too. We know we missed
a lot while we were gone, but don't worry. Here's
a little recap of what happened during the last two weeks.
Arena Sabalanca won the women's singles title at the US Open.
Three on three League Unrivaled unveiled two new expansion teams
ahead of next season, the Breeze and the Hive, and
they announce they've been valued at three hundred and forty
million dollars after closing another investment round that included buy
(00:59):
in from the likes of Warner Brothers, Discovery, Serena Williams
venture capital Company, and MNBA player Trey Young. Gotham FC
snacked Jadenshaw from the North Carolina Courage in a record
one point two to five million dollar deal, the largest
intra league transfer fee in NWSL history, and then she
scored in her first game with the squad. BFC announced
that its head coach, Alberton Montoya is stepping down at
(01:19):
the end of the season, a disappointing one in terms
of wins and losses, but also a turbulent one due
to an investigation into Montoya. The league ultimately cleared him
of misconduct, but announced findings of quote unquote shortcomings in
his communications style and also after a fourteen and fourteen
start to the season, Las Vegas Aces finished on a
sixteen game win streak, the longest win streak ever to
end a WNBA regular season, with star Asia Wilson becoming
(01:42):
the first player to average at least twenty points and
ten rebounds per game in multiple seasons. Angel Rees expressed
frustrations with the Chicago Sky front office and commented on
teammates and roster changes in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.
Sparking locker room discontent that led to an apology to
her teammates and a half game suspension for Reese from
the team. She sat at the fire a few games
of the season, officially with a back injury. But it's
(02:02):
hard not to wonder whether it was less about the
injury than those insults, said head coach Tyler marsh when
asked if Reese has a future in Chicago.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Quote. Sure, plenty more to say on that story in
the future.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
All right, Way too much happened to cover it all,
so let's just get to what you need to know today.
The WNBA playoffs got underway on Sunday with four first
round games. As a reminder, the playoffs this year feature
a best of three first round, followed by a best
of five semi final round, and then, for the first
time ever, a best of seven finals. All that to say,
(02:36):
still a lot of basketball left this season. Round one
got underway with the number one Minnesota Links hosting the
number eight Golden State Valkyries and winning one oh one
to seventy two. After the games, coach Natalie Nicasse criticized
the officiating. She said it was tough to get and
sustain momentum, saying she wants quote a fair fight. In
the second game, the number three Atlanta Dream defeated the
number six Indiana Fever eighty to sixty eight, and overtime
(03:00):
was required to decide Game one between the number four
Phoenix Mercury and the number five New York Liberty, with
the Libs pulling out the seventy six to sixty nine win,
but Brianna Stewart sustaining a scary looking knee injury in
the extra period. She managed to stay in the game,
but it was clear she was very much in pain,
so we'll keep you posted once we know more.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
About her status.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Finally, we're recording this before the number two Las Vegas
Aces tip off against the number seven Seattle Storm late
Sunday night, so we'll update you on that one tomorrow.
For now, just based on Seattle season, we're going to
guess another single digit loss for a Storm team that struggles.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
To close out games.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
I'll have plenty more to say about those game ones
later in the show, but a quick note here on
a side story. As these playoffs begin, you remember the
WNBA collective bargaining agreement looms as the end of the
season nears and at several of Sunday's games, fans were
holding up pay the Players signs. The NWSL got into
the action too, as some players rocked pay them What
You Owe Them t shirts into their Sunday games. You
(03:54):
love to see that show of solidarity, and the players
love to see their leverage increased. With report whor it's
that the league continues to grow in popularity, ESPN announced
that this WNBA season was their most watched in league history,
even with Caitlin Clark out since July. Round one of
the w playoffs continues Tuesday, with two game twos, followed
by another two game twos on Wednesday. We'll link to
(04:16):
the full WNBA playoff schedule in the show notes. To
track and field, the twenty twenty five World Championships got
underway on Saturday in Tokyo, and Team USA got off
to a strong start, with Melissa Jefferson Wooden winning the
one hundred meter world title, Tara Davis Woodhall winning the
long jump, and Valerie Allman winning the discus throw. In
the one hundred meter, Jefferson Wooden's time of ten sixty
(04:38):
one makes for the fourth fastest woman in history. Meantime,
defending World Championship carry Richardson finished fifth, posting her best
time of the season in the process, while Jamaica Shelley
and Fraser Price, competing in the final individual race of
her career, was sixth. The nine day World Championship competition
continues through next Sunday. We'll link to the broadcast schedule
(04:58):
in the show notes to the NWSL. Where there's just
over a month left in the regular season. The top
two teams in the standings, the Kansas City Current and
Washington Spirit, met on Saturday, playing to a scoreless draw
at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City. Even without scoring a goal,
the Current still set a few records, becoming the fastest
team to reach fifty points in a season, accomplishing the
(05:20):
feat in.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Just twenty games.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Finally, some breaking soccer news that we're happy to be
the first to share. Carrie Fleishauer will be named the
new chief operating Officer of Gotham FC. She previously worked
as the head of Strategy and chief of staff for
Angel City FC.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Slices.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
As I mentioned, a lot happened while we were gone,
and there were a few things in particular that I
just wanted to spend a couple more minutes on first,
some congrats are in order for a few WNBA players
who set new marks in the final games of the
regular season.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Let's start with the.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Minnesota Lynks's Nafisa Collier, who became just the second player
in WNBA history to finish a regular season with a
fifty to forty ninety s shooting split. That's at least
fifty percent from the field, at least forty percent from three,
and at least ninety percent from the free throw line.
Fee joins former Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics standout Elena
Deladon as the only WNBA players to have such a season.
(06:14):
Deladon did in twenty nineteen and was named the league's MVP.
Collier did Deladon one better this season, not only hitting
fifty forty ninety but also averaging over twenty points a game,
first time anyone's done that. But will it be enough
to hold off Asia Wilson for MVP. We also got
a shout out the Connecticut Suns Tina Charles, who passed
the legendary Dina Tarassi to become the WNBA's all time
(06:37):
leader in made field goals. Charles did so in the
Suns September third game against the Chicago Sky with her
three thousand, three hundred and forty second field goal and
ended up finishing the season sitting at three thousand and
three sixty four. Now, because she scores predominantly inside, Charles
still trails Tarassi in points scored by more than two thousand.
Charles is at eight thousand, three ninety six, while Tarasi
(06:59):
finished her career with ten thousand and four to sixty four,
and it's not likely we're going to see the thirty
six year old Charles surpassed DT. She already took a
season off back in twenty twenty three, and earlier this season,
she told brand of the Show Sue Byrd on her
Bird's Eye View podcast that she thinks about retirement quote
every day. Charles also hit three other big milestones late
this season, recording her two hundredth career double double to
(07:21):
become the first player in league history to record two
hundred double doubles for a career. She also set a
new mark for the most points scored in a season
in Sun franchise history with six hundred ninety nine, besting
Dwana Bonders six ninety seven. She also moved into tenth
all time in games played in the WNBA, and she
capped it all off by winning the prestigious Don Staley
Community Leadership Award, which recognizes a player who's an inspiration
(07:44):
in her community and who reflects Day's leadership, spirit, charitable efforts,
and love for the game. Now, Charles didn't get much
pub this year, mainly because she was playing on a
Sun team that struggled. But she's one of the all
time greats and she's still performing at a very high level,
so I thought it was worth mentioning all those incredible accomplishments.
I also mentioned Sue Byrd there, and of course Bird,
(08:05):
Sylvia Fowls and Maya Moore were all inducted into the
Nasmith Basketball Hall.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Of Fame during our break.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Now, if you didn't see Sue's speech, it was peppered
with barbes aimed at Yukon coach Gino Riema and there
was a sweet, funny nod to fiance Megan Rappino.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
So you gotta check it out. We'll link to it
in the show notes.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Also, be sure to check out the Jordan Brand celebration
of Maya Moore, which included a recreation of the iconic
Michael Jordan rings photo with the caption need we say More.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
We'll link to that one as well.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Also some big soccer news while we were gone, US
women's national team player at Angel City standout Alyssa Thompson
has joined the ranks of American players across the Pond.
Despite signing a three year contract extension with Angel City
just this January, Thompson chose to depart her hometown team
and her sister Giselle, to join Chelsea of the Women's
Super League, where she's suiting up alongside fellow national team
(08:55):
players Naomi Germa and Katerina Macario. She made her debut
on Sunday, coming on as a halftime substitute in chelsea
three to one win over Aston Villa. Per a lengthy
detailed story about the move from The Athletic which we'll
link to in the show notes. The transfer fee from
Chelsea to Angel City for Thompson near's one point four
to five million dollars, setting a new outgoing transfer record,
(09:16):
surpassing the one million dollar fee paid by Chelsea for Germa.
Thompson's deal with her new club is a five year,
fully guaranteed contract speaking of that Chelsea team, I want
to welcome back Sam Kerr, one of my all time
favorite players. After a six hundred and thirty four day
absence due to a twenty twenty four ACL tear and
setbacks during her recovery, the Australian star returned and scored
(09:40):
in her first game back with Chelsea. It was her
one hundredth goal for the club. Back in the States,
the Chicago Stars claimed a big five to win over
the defending champion Orlando Pride a week ago Sunday in
front of a season high attendance at Northwestern's Martin Stadium. Now,
it was just a regular season game, but it turned
out it was a preview of what's to come. The
Stars announced they'll play next season at the lake Front
(10:01):
Venue as well. The stadium is home to Northwestern lacrosse
and soccer teams and is far more convenient and accessible
for fans coming from the city. Plus, at a capacity
of twelve thousand seats, it's a good size for a
team that has struggled to pack the stands at their
current home, the twenty.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Eight thousand seat seat Geek Stadium.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Finally in soccer, sending a big congratulations to a third
of Triple Espresso. Sophia Wilson, formerly known as soph Smith,
who welcomed her first baby with NFL player husband Michael Wilson.
Welcome to the world, baby girl, Gianna Capri Wilson.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
All right, slices, we got to take a quick break
when we come back.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Kudoo versus Leopard, Elephant versus Hippo, the WNBA Playoffs meet
the African Bush stick around.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Welcome back slices. Now.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
I mentioned before our break that I was heading off
to Africa. So I just got back from two weeks
out there with my mom and husband, starting with about
a week in Cape Town, which was an incredible city,
fascinating history, beautiful landscapes, restaurants, wineries everywhere, and then we
went and spent a week on an unbelievable safari in Botswana,
took a little day trip to Zimbabwe to to see
Victoria Falls.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
It was pretty much the trip of a lifetime.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
There were so many highlights, but just a couple include
this heaven of a place called Babylon Storin which is
this farm and winery and I would like to literally
live there. We also saw endangered African wild dogs and
their new pups. We saw a lion devouring a freshly
killed buffalo under a blood moon full lunar eclipse, which
was pretty metal. And I was hanging out by the
(11:39):
swimming pool at one of the camps and an elephant
wandered up to take a drink and share the.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Pool with me, which was pretty wild.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
It's an incredible place, incredible people. Just feeling very very
lucky to have experienced it all, and very lucky to
not have too bad a jet lag at least right now.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
We'll see what happens tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
But while I was gone, Super Maple Bacon, Canada's lice
Marcus Sisson was keeping track of my travels on Instagram,
which is at Spain two three two three if you
want to go see some incredible shots of animals. But
Margas suggested that I do a quote w Playoff teams
as animals I saw on my trip, And you know what,
I'm always here for a slice, So let's do this,
(12:15):
presenting the WNBA Playoff first round matchups as African animals.
First series number eight Golden State Valkyries versus number one
Minnesota Links. All right, the Links have been the queens
of the w all season long, pretty much dominated every turn,
afraid of no one, feared by all. So the Links
are quite clearly the lion led by MVP candidate and
(12:37):
Ifisa Collier who plays with the power and elegance of
a lioness, supported by spunky cubs the stud buds, and
led by a head coach and Cheryl Reeve who will
tear into her enemies like a four inch canine tooth
ripping through buffalo flesh. Minnesota went four to oh against
the Alex in the regular season and took Game one
of the series on Sunday very handily one oh one
seventy two. Collier put up twenty and Natisha Heideman had
(12:59):
eighteen off the bench. The Links entered the postseason with
the league's best offense one hundred and eight point one
points per one hundred persessions and the league's best defense
ninety five point two opponent points per one hundred possessions.
So it'll take a herculean effort from the Valkyries to
win the next two and pull off an upset in
this one. While they may not come out on top,
there will be flashes of brilliance and beauty along the way.
(13:21):
Some dazzling moves made in those unmistakable Valkyrie violet unis,
which makes this team the gorgeous African bird. The lilac
breasted ruler a purple chest, turquoise and royal blue.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Body and wings.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
This acrobatic beauty spins, rolls, and dives in the air,
and luckily, after birdwatchers' night, Valkx fans all have binoculars
to get a better view of their flock. Likely head
Coach of the Year, Natalie Nicasse and her squad will
never admit to being pleased with a first round exit,
but I think everyone else in and around the league
would say even if they suffer a two and out
performance in the postseason, it won't dull the shine of
(13:54):
their debut season. The first expansion team to make the
playoffs in league history, these pretty Birds perched atop the
league all season, with their impressive fan turnout, setting the
all time WNBA attendance record for average attendants at eighteen
thousand and sixty four per game and the record for
total fans at three hundred and ninety seven thousand and
four a wight. They sold out all twenty two regular
(14:15):
season games at the Chase Center and established a brand,
a story, and a presence from day one.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Truly a delight to bird watch all season long. Ps.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
If you think Violet the Raven is cute, google a
lilac breasted roller. Second series Number six Indiana Fever versus
the number three Atlanta Dream Now. The Dream took a
solid core in Ali Chagray, Ryan Howard and Jordan Canada,
and added to their herd in this past offseason, snagging
Britney Griner from Phoenix and Brianna Jones from the Sun.
(14:48):
Nos Hillman, the AP six Player of the Year this year,
came up big as well, leading the team in net
rating swing and finishing number two in the league in
plus minus. An imposing group, these dream are the African
Cape Buffalo of the playoffs. Their depth provides safety in
numbers and helps them thrive against treacherous opponents. Cape Buffalo
are one of the most dangerous animals in the bush,
(15:09):
ready to charge at any moment, and they're all gas,
no breaks. Once they're coming at you, they don't stop.
They trample several hundred people every year, earning them the
nickname the Black Death. Kind of like that Black Home
Court in Atlanta, a place that teams went to die
in sixteen of twenty two Dream Home games this year.
Rookie head coach Carl Smesco said it himself quote, I
(15:31):
want it to be an intimidating environment. Under Smesco, this
Dream Team finished the regular season thirty and fourteen for
a best enfranchise history sixty eight point two percent win percentage.
They migrated into the number three spot in the playoffs
with a run of eight wins in their last ten games.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
A two horned approach.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
They boast the league's second best offense and defense, behind
only the Links in both categories. Facing the Dream a
team that's been trampled more than any other this season,
the Indiana Fever somehow some way. With Caitlin Clark out
for most of the year and not coming back for
the postseason. With season ending injuries to Sid Colson, Erry McDonald,
(16:10):
Sophie Cunningham, and Chloe Bibbi, the Fever still made the playoffs,
hanging on like hyenas, an animal with incredible resilience and
a very high tolerance for injury. Terrifyingly, hyenas are born
with their eyes open and a full set of teeth,
prepared to fight immediately and They're armed with an immune
system and a tough hide that make it extremely hard
(16:32):
to kill them off, and so like a pack of
battered hyenas heading out for another hunt, this Fever team
has persevered, posting their first winning season in a decade.
They've got a productive and persistent offense, finishing near fourth
and three point percentage and effective field goal percentage and
fourth in offensive rebounds, and they've got a consistent defense
that allowed the second fewest three pointers and finished top
(16:54):
four and assists allowed. Kelsey Mitchell is the clear leader
of the Hyena pack. She's the first Guarden League history
to record at least eight hundred and fifty points and
one hundred and fifty assists in a season. Her eight
hundred ninety points this year were good for sixth the
best all time in a single season, and her one
hundred and eleven made three pointers led the league. These
two teams met in three straight postseasons back in twenty eleven,
(17:16):
twenty twelve, and twenty thirteen, so there's a history of
playoff Fever dreams. The Dream took two of those three series,
and they took Game one on Sunday eighty sixty eight
behind twenty points apiece from Ali Shagray and Ryan Howard,
and sixteen points and nine rebounds from Nos Hillman. Third
Series number five, New York Liberty versus Number four Phoenix Mercury. Now,
(17:37):
after watching the Phoenix Mercury lose Dinah Tarassi to retirement
and Britney Grinder to Atlanta, you might have mistaken them
for a less dangerous squad this season, But like the
African hippo, they're far more deadly than imagined, aggressive and
unfriendly neighbors to other animals in their habitat. They're also
responsible for more human deaths than any other animal in Africa.
(17:58):
Quiet killer Alissa Thomas hovers below the surface, scoring, passing,
rebounding and leading her team, putting up triple doubles and
initiating the offense from the forward position. Hippos are loud
and brash, grunting, growling, and bellowing all the time, kind
of like the X Factor fan base in Phoenix, and
they assert their dominance and mark their territory by spinning
(18:20):
their tails while defecating, spraying their poop around like a
sprinkler to let everyone know whose boss and anyone who
follows the Phoenix Mercury Social media knows that admin can
hurl shit better than anyone. Just look at those ruthless
game recaps their opponent, the defending champs, and don't be
fooled by that number five seed next to the Liberty.
(18:41):
This team is stacked deeper than anyone. Bunch of trees
that can hit threes, big bodies with length and reach
that can sometimes feel like they've got an extra limb.
This team obviously shout out Ellie are the Elephants of
the Playoffs, a herd of talent that includes three former
WN Finals MVPs in John Qwell Jones, Brianna Stewart and
(19:03):
Emma Mesiman. Elephants can feed up to three fourths of
their day, and you know whether it's beyond the arc
or in the shop making kicks. Sabrinian Escu always eats.
Also Elephants never forget, and former Mercury head coach current
Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello certainly remembers that the Mercury
haven't won a playoff series since she was at the Helm,
(19:24):
and the Liberties certainly won't forget Game one of this series,
which saw them pull off the upside over the Mercury
as far as seeds go seventy six sixty nine in
overtime final series Number seven Seattle Storm versus the number
two Las Vegas Aces. Now the Las Vegas Aces were
all but left for dead after a slow start to
the season and a fifty three point beat down at
(19:46):
the hands of the Links last month, but they ripped
off sixteen straight wins to finish the season and snag
the number two seed. In a recent ESPN interview with
Malik Andrews, Asia Wilson shared an analogy oft used by
Ace's head coach Becky Hammon. Quote Lions wake up every
morning and they know that they have to be faster
than the gazelle just to eat. And the gazelle wakes
(20:07):
up and knows that they've got to be faster than
the lion just to survive. It's every single morning you
have to wake up and say, I want to be
better just to survive and eat.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
End quote.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Well, last week, after Wilson's thirteenth thirty point game of
the season, Hammon evoked those animals again, saying Wilson has
a rare combination of agility and strength. Quote She's the
only person in the gym in the world that is
both lion and gazelle.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
She can dance around you or she can eat you.
Up end quote.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
So as Asia Wilson goes, so go the Aces. And
if she's the most striking example of strength and agility
in the African bush, then she and her team are
the leopard. Leopards can thrive in diverse habitats. They can
leap across the plains or up into the trees to hunt.
They're strong climbers that feast up high, like Wilson, who
(20:55):
led the league in blocks and finished second in rebounding.
Leopards are also excellent camouflaging themselves, kind of like the Aces,
looking like a trash team for half the season before
showing their spots down the stretch. On the other side
of this matchup, the seven seeded Seattle Storm, the kudo
of the postseason. Now Kudos are bovids. They're cloven hooved
(21:16):
animals with permanent horns that they don't shed, kind of
like the Storm not being able to shed their reputation
for inconsistency. A team that can be great and just
as often leave you scratching your head.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Now on the.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Heads of the kudu giant, beautiful, spiraling horns, and they've
got grayish brown bodies that are painted by beautiful white bands,
almost like tattoos see Gabby Williams. Their lack of social
structure and rejection of hierarchy gets them labeled as anarchists,
which is an attitude the feisty shits during Skyler Diggins
can certainly get behind.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Kudu are elusive.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Like a complete game from the Storm, The Storm also struggled.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
To close in tight games.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
Seattle went just eleven and fourteen in games decided by
single digit margins. But while the team was in consulit,
its star was reliable as ever. In her fourteenth season,
veteran neck Ogumkay averaged eighteen point three points and seven
rebounds while hitting nearly thirty seven percent from beyond the
arc and nearly fifty two percent from the field. She's
(22:13):
shot at least fifty percent from the field in all
fourteen of her WNBA seasons. Insane Now. Game one of
this series wrapped up after we finished recording, so we'll
update you on who wins in the Battle of Kudu
versus Leopard Oh and one of the teams that didn't
make the playoffs would best be described as a marabou
stork with a face and a dangling throat sack only
(22:37):
a mother could love.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
I'll let you decide which team I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
And if you're looking for the maraboo, by the way,
it's usually in the sky. We got to take another
break when we come back.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
You are what you drink. Welcome back slices.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
We always love that your list, but we want you
to get in the game every day too, So here's
our good game play of the day. Let us know
your favorite of my WNBA team to animal comparisons, and
if you want to expand beyond the African bush because
you think an animal a little closer to home actually
does your favorite team justice, we want to hear.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
About that too.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Or if there's an individual player who strikes you as
a particular creature, let us know in my book pagebackers
looks exactly like a jackrabbit and you can't tell me otherwise.
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 It's easy. Watch Skyler Diggin's milk jacket rating four
(23:41):
hundred twenty two out of four hundred and twenty two
grams of protein review Earlier this month, ahead of the
Seattle Storms playoff clinching game against the Golden State Valkyries,
Skyler Diggins arrived wearing a whole lot of protein four
hundred twenty two grams, or at least that's what Diggins
said when she was asked who she was wearing for
her tunnel fit. She wore a puff coat filled with milk,
(24:02):
part of a paid partnership with Gunna need Milk. Now,
you know, we like to see athletes get paid, and
somehow it's not even the worst tunnel fit we've seen
this year.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
But what happens after the game?
Speaker 1 (24:14):
You know, to this jacket made of actual perishable milk
feels like real fast fashion, if you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Putrescible if you will.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Now, the best part of the stunt had to be
arikeay A Gunbowalle's contribution, because she replied to Diggins's post
on Instagram quote, I want to poke a needle in
it so bad. Same girl now it's your turn, rate
and review. Thanks for listening. See you tomorrow. Good Game
World Champs Melissa, Tara and Valerie Good Game Botswana and
(24:45):
South Africa. You have my heart you Lyon, who ate
two of the six endangered wild dog pups before we
could see them. But also, I know you have to
eat stuff to stay alive. But also you weren't even
killing it to stay alive. You were just killing it
to assert your dominance. And it made me really and
I don't like the circle of life. Good Game with
Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership
(25:07):
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 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. Our
(25:29):
associate producer is Lucy Jones. Production assistance from Avery Loftus
and I'm your Host Sarah Spain
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're back
from Africa and we've taken up residents on the couch,
WNBA Playoffs, Track and Field Worlds, the Emmy Awards, and
some delicious takeout the perfect Welcome Back Sunday. It's Monday,
September fifteenth, and on today's show, we'll recap Sunday's WNBA
Playoff game ones and break down the first round matchups.
(00:22):
We'll cry over unspilt milk and sprint through the biggest
stories from the last two weeks. It's all coming up
right after this welcome backslices.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I missed you.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I hope you missed us too. We know we missed
a lot while we were gone, but don't worry. Here's
a little recap of what happened during the last two weeks.
Arena Sabalanca won the women's singles title at the US Open.
Three on three League Unrivaled unveiled two new expansion teams
ahead of next season, the Breeze and the Hive, and
they announce they've been valued at three hundred and forty
million dollars after closing another investment round that included buy
(00:59):
in from the likes of Warner Brothers, Discovery, Serena Williams
venture capital Company, and MNBA player Trey Young. Gotham FC
snacked Jadenshaw from the North Carolina Courage in a record
one point two to five million dollar deal, the largest
intra league transfer fee in NWSL history, and then she
scored in her first game with the squad. BFC announced
that its head coach, Alberton Montoya is stepping down at
(01:19):
the end of the season, a disappointing one in terms
of wins and losses, but also a turbulent one due
to an investigation into Montoya. The league ultimately cleared him
of misconduct, but announced findings of quote unquote shortcomings in
his communications style and also after a fourteen and fourteen
start to the season, Las Vegas Aces finished on a
sixteen game win streak, the longest win streak ever to
end a WNBA regular season, with star Asia Wilson becoming
(01:42):
the first player to average at least twenty points and
ten rebounds per game in multiple seasons. Angel Rees expressed
frustrations with the Chicago Sky front office and commented on
teammates and roster changes in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.
Sparking locker room discontent that led to an apology to
her teammates and a half game suspension for Reese from
the team. She sat at the fire a few games
of the season, officially with a back injury. But it's
(02:02):
hard not to wonder whether it was less about the
injury than those insults, said head coach Tyler marsh when
asked if Reese has a future in Chicago.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Quote. Sure, plenty more to say on that story in
the future.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
All right, Way too much happened to cover it all,
so let's just get to what you need to know today.
The WNBA playoffs got underway on Sunday with four first
round games. As a reminder, the playoffs this year feature
a best of three first round, followed by a best
of five semi final round, and then, for the first
time ever, a best of seven finals. All that to say,
(02:36):
still a lot of basketball left this season. Round one
got underway with the number one Minnesota Links hosting the
number eight Golden State Valkyries and winning one oh one
to seventy two. After the games, coach Natalie Nicasse criticized
the officiating. She said it was tough to get and
sustain momentum, saying she wants quote a fair fight. In
the second game, the number three Atlanta Dream defeated the
number six Indiana Fever eighty to sixty eight, and overtime
(03:00):
was required to decide Game one between the number four
Phoenix Mercury and the number five New York Liberty, with
the Libs pulling out the seventy six to sixty nine win,
but Brianna Stewart sustaining a scary looking knee injury in
the extra period. She managed to stay in the game,
but it was clear she was very much in pain,
so we'll keep you posted once we know more.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
About her status.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Finally, we're recording this before the number two Las Vegas
Aces tip off against the number seven Seattle Storm late
Sunday night, so we'll update you on that one tomorrow.
For now, just based on Seattle season, we're going to
guess another single digit loss for a Storm team that struggles.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
To close out games.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
I'll have plenty more to say about those game ones
later in the show, but a quick note here on
a side story. As these playoffs begin, you remember the
WNBA collective bargaining agreement looms as the end of the
season nears and at several of Sunday's games, fans were
holding up pay the Players signs. The NWSL got into
the action too, as some players rocked pay them What
You Owe Them t shirts into their Sunday games. You
(03:54):
love to see that show of solidarity, and the players
love to see their leverage increased. With report whor it's
that the league continues to grow in popularity, ESPN announced
that this WNBA season was their most watched in league history,
even with Caitlin Clark out since July. Round one of
the w playoffs continues Tuesday, with two game twos, followed
by another two game twos on Wednesday. We'll link to
(04:16):
the full WNBA playoff schedule in the show notes. To
track and field, the twenty twenty five World Championships got
underway on Saturday in Tokyo, and Team USA got off
to a strong start, with Melissa Jefferson Wooden winning the
one hundred meter world title, Tara Davis Woodhall winning the
long jump, and Valerie Allman winning the discus throw. In
the one hundred meter, Jefferson Wooden's time of ten sixty
(04:38):
one makes for the fourth fastest woman in history. Meantime,
defending World Championship carry Richardson finished fifth, posting her best
time of the season in the process, while Jamaica Shelley
and Fraser Price, competing in the final individual race of
her career, was sixth. The nine day World Championship competition
continues through next Sunday. We'll link to the broadcast schedule
(04:58):
in the show notes to the NWSL. Where there's just
over a month left in the regular season. The top
two teams in the standings, the Kansas City Current and
Washington Spirit, met on Saturday, playing to a scoreless draw
at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City. Even without scoring a goal,
the Current still set a few records, becoming the fastest
team to reach fifty points in a season, accomplishing the
(05:20):
feat in.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Just twenty games.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Finally, some breaking soccer news that we're happy to be
the first to share. Carrie Fleishauer will be named the
new chief operating Officer of Gotham FC. She previously worked
as the head of Strategy and chief of staff for
Angel City FC.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Slices.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
As I mentioned, a lot happened while we were gone,
and there were a few things in particular that I
just wanted to spend a couple more minutes on first,
some congrats are in order for a few WNBA players
who set new marks in the final games of the
regular season.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Let's start with the.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Minnesota Lynks's Nafisa Collier, who became just the second player
in WNBA history to finish a regular season with a
fifty to forty ninety s shooting split. That's at least
fifty percent from the field, at least forty percent from three,
and at least ninety percent from the free throw line.
Fee joins former Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics standout Elena
Deladon as the only WNBA players to have such a season.
(06:14):
Deladon did in twenty nineteen and was named the league's MVP.
Collier did Deladon one better this season, not only hitting
fifty forty ninety but also averaging over twenty points a game,
first time anyone's done that. But will it be enough
to hold off Asia Wilson for MVP. We also got
a shout out the Connecticut Suns Tina Charles, who passed
the legendary Dina Tarassi to become the WNBA's all time
(06:37):
leader in made field goals. Charles did so in the
Suns September third game against the Chicago Sky with her
three thousand, three hundred and forty second field goal and
ended up finishing the season sitting at three thousand and
three sixty four. Now, because she scores predominantly inside, Charles
still trails Tarassi in points scored by more than two thousand.
Charles is at eight thousand, three ninety six, while Tarasi
(06:59):
finished her career with ten thousand and four to sixty four,
and it's not likely we're going to see the thirty
six year old Charles surpassed DT. She already took a
season off back in twenty twenty three, and earlier this season,
she told brand of the Show Sue Byrd on her
Bird's Eye View podcast that she thinks about retirement quote
every day. Charles also hit three other big milestones late
this season, recording her two hundredth career double double to
(07:21):
become the first player in league history to record two
hundred double doubles for a career. She also set a
new mark for the most points scored in a season
in Sun franchise history with six hundred ninety nine, besting
Dwana Bonders six ninety seven. She also moved into tenth
all time in games played in the WNBA, and she
capped it all off by winning the prestigious Don Staley
Community Leadership Award, which recognizes a player who's an inspiration
(07:44):
in her community and who reflects Day's leadership, spirit, charitable efforts,
and love for the game. Now, Charles didn't get much
pub this year, mainly because she was playing on a
Sun team that struggled. But she's one of the all
time greats and she's still performing at a very high level,
so I thought it was worth mentioning all those incredible accomplishments.
I also mentioned Sue Byrd there, and of course Bird,
(08:05):
Sylvia Fowls and Maya Moore were all inducted into the
Nasmith Basketball Hall.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Of Fame during our break.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Now, if you didn't see Sue's speech, it was peppered
with barbes aimed at Yukon coach Gino Riema and there
was a sweet, funny nod to fiance Megan Rappino.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
So you gotta check it out. We'll link to it
in the show notes.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Also, be sure to check out the Jordan Brand celebration
of Maya Moore, which included a recreation of the iconic
Michael Jordan rings photo with the caption need we say More.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
We'll link to that one as well.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Also some big soccer news while we were gone, US
women's national team player at Angel City standout Alyssa Thompson
has joined the ranks of American players across the Pond.
Despite signing a three year contract extension with Angel City
just this January, Thompson chose to depart her hometown team
and her sister Giselle, to join Chelsea of the Women's
Super League, where she's suiting up alongside fellow national team
(08:55):
players Naomi Germa and Katerina Macario. She made her debut
on Sunday, coming on as a halftime substitute in chelsea
three to one win over Aston Villa. Per a lengthy
detailed story about the move from The Athletic which we'll
link to in the show notes. The transfer fee from
Chelsea to Angel City for Thompson near's one point four
to five million dollars, setting a new outgoing transfer record,
(09:16):
surpassing the one million dollar fee paid by Chelsea for Germa.
Thompson's deal with her new club is a five year,
fully guaranteed contract speaking of that Chelsea team, I want
to welcome back Sam Kerr, one of my all time
favorite players. After a six hundred and thirty four day
absence due to a twenty twenty four ACL tear and
setbacks during her recovery, the Australian star returned and scored
(09:40):
in her first game back with Chelsea. It was her
one hundredth goal for the club. Back in the States,
the Chicago Stars claimed a big five to win over
the defending champion Orlando Pride a week ago Sunday in
front of a season high attendance at Northwestern's Martin Stadium. Now,
it was just a regular season game, but it turned
out it was a preview of what's to come. The
Stars announced they'll play next season at the lake Front
(10:01):
Venue as well. The stadium is home to Northwestern lacrosse
and soccer teams and is far more convenient and accessible
for fans coming from the city. Plus, at a capacity
of twelve thousand seats, it's a good size for a
team that has struggled to pack the stands at their
current home, the twenty.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Eight thousand seat seat Geek Stadium.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Finally in soccer, sending a big congratulations to a third
of Triple Espresso. Sophia Wilson, formerly known as soph Smith,
who welcomed her first baby with NFL player husband Michael Wilson.
Welcome to the world, baby girl, Gianna Capri Wilson.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
All right, slices, we got to take a quick break
when we come back.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Kudoo versus Leopard, Elephant versus Hippo, the WNBA Playoffs meet
the African Bush stick around.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Welcome back slices. Now.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
I mentioned before our break that I was heading off
to Africa. So I just got back from two weeks
out there with my mom and husband, starting with about
a week in Cape Town, which was an incredible city,
fascinating history, beautiful landscapes, restaurants, wineries everywhere, and then we
went and spent a week on an unbelievable safari in Botswana,
took a little day trip to Zimbabwe to to see
Victoria Falls.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
It was pretty much the trip of a lifetime.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
There were so many highlights, but just a couple include
this heaven of a place called Babylon Storin which is
this farm and winery and I would like to literally
live there. We also saw endangered African wild dogs and
their new pups. We saw a lion devouring a freshly
killed buffalo under a blood moon full lunar eclipse, which
was pretty metal. And I was hanging out by the
(11:39):
swimming pool at one of the camps and an elephant
wandered up to take a drink and share the.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Pool with me, which was pretty wild.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
It's an incredible place, incredible people. Just feeling very very
lucky to have experienced it all, and very lucky to
not have too bad a jet lag at least right now.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
We'll see what happens tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
But while I was gone, Super Maple Bacon, Canada's lice
Marcus Sisson was keeping track of my travels on Instagram,
which is at Spain two three two three if you
want to go see some incredible shots of animals. But
Margas suggested that I do a quote w Playoff teams
as animals I saw on my trip, And you know what,
I'm always here for a slice, So let's do this,
(12:15):
presenting the WNBA Playoff first round matchups as African animals.
First series number eight Golden State Valkyries versus number one
Minnesota Links. All right, the Links have been the queens
of the w all season long, pretty much dominated every turn,
afraid of no one, feared by all. So the Links
are quite clearly the lion led by MVP candidate and
(12:37):
Ifisa Collier who plays with the power and elegance of
a lioness, supported by spunky cubs the stud buds, and
led by a head coach and Cheryl Reeve who will
tear into her enemies like a four inch canine tooth
ripping through buffalo flesh. Minnesota went four to oh against
the Alex in the regular season and took Game one
of the series on Sunday very handily one oh one
seventy two. Collier put up twenty and Natisha Heideman had
(12:59):
eighteen off the bench. The Links entered the postseason with
the league's best offense one hundred and eight point one
points per one hundred persessions and the league's best defense
ninety five point two opponent points per one hundred possessions.
So it'll take a herculean effort from the Valkyries to
win the next two and pull off an upset in
this one. While they may not come out on top,
there will be flashes of brilliance and beauty along the way.
(13:21):
Some dazzling moves made in those unmistakable Valkyrie violet unis,
which makes this team the gorgeous African bird. The lilac
breasted ruler a purple chest, turquoise and royal blue.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Body and wings.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
This acrobatic beauty spins, rolls, and dives in the air,
and luckily, after birdwatchers' night, Valkx fans all have binoculars
to get a better view of their flock. Likely head
Coach of the Year, Natalie Nicasse and her squad will
never admit to being pleased with a first round exit,
but I think everyone else in and around the league
would say even if they suffer a two and out
performance in the postseason, it won't dull the shine of
(13:54):
their debut season. The first expansion team to make the
playoffs in league history, these pretty Birds perched atop the
league all season, with their impressive fan turnout, setting the
all time WNBA attendance record for average attendants at eighteen
thousand and sixty four per game and the record for
total fans at three hundred and ninety seven thousand and
four a wight. They sold out all twenty two regular
(14:15):
season games at the Chase Center and established a brand,
a story, and a presence from day one.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Truly a delight to bird watch all season long. Ps.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
If you think Violet the Raven is cute, google a
lilac breasted roller. Second series Number six Indiana Fever versus
the number three Atlanta Dream Now. The Dream took a
solid core in Ali Chagray, Ryan Howard and Jordan Canada,
and added to their herd in this past offseason, snagging
Britney Griner from Phoenix and Brianna Jones from the Sun.
(14:48):
Nos Hillman, the AP six Player of the Year this year,
came up big as well, leading the team in net
rating swing and finishing number two in the league in
plus minus. An imposing group, these dream are the African
Cape Buffalo of the playoffs. Their depth provides safety in
numbers and helps them thrive against treacherous opponents. Cape Buffalo
are one of the most dangerous animals in the bush,
(15:09):
ready to charge at any moment, and they're all gas,
no breaks. Once they're coming at you, they don't stop.
They trample several hundred people every year, earning them the
nickname the Black Death. Kind of like that Black Home
Court in Atlanta, a place that teams went to die
in sixteen of twenty two Dream Home games this year.
Rookie head coach Carl Smesco said it himself quote, I
(15:31):
want it to be an intimidating environment. Under Smesco, this
Dream Team finished the regular season thirty and fourteen for
a best enfranchise history sixty eight point two percent win percentage.
They migrated into the number three spot in the playoffs
with a run of eight wins in their last ten games.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
A two horned approach.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
They boast the league's second best offense and defense, behind
only the Links in both categories. Facing the Dream a
team that's been trampled more than any other this season,
the Indiana Fever somehow some way. With Caitlin Clark out
for most of the year and not coming back for
the postseason. With season ending injuries to Sid Colson, Erry McDonald,
(16:10):
Sophie Cunningham, and Chloe Bibbi, the Fever still made the playoffs,
hanging on like hyenas, an animal with incredible resilience and
a very high tolerance for injury. Terrifyingly, hyenas are born
with their eyes open and a full set of teeth,
prepared to fight immediately and They're armed with an immune
system and a tough hide that make it extremely hard
(16:32):
to kill them off, and so like a pack of
battered hyenas heading out for another hunt, this Fever team
has persevered, posting their first winning season in a decade.
They've got a productive and persistent offense, finishing near fourth
and three point percentage and effective field goal percentage and
fourth in offensive rebounds, and they've got a consistent defense
that allowed the second fewest three pointers and finished top
(16:54):
four and assists allowed. Kelsey Mitchell is the clear leader
of the Hyena pack. She's the first Guarden League history
to record at least eight hundred and fifty points and
one hundred and fifty assists in a season. Her eight
hundred ninety points this year were good for sixth the
best all time in a single season, and her one
hundred and eleven made three pointers led the league. These
two teams met in three straight postseasons back in twenty eleven,
(17:16):
twenty twelve, and twenty thirteen, so there's a history of
playoff Fever dreams. The Dream took two of those three series,
and they took Game one on Sunday eighty sixty eight
behind twenty points apiece from Ali Shagray and Ryan Howard,
and sixteen points and nine rebounds from Nos Hillman. Third
Series number five, New York Liberty versus Number four Phoenix Mercury. Now,
(17:37):
after watching the Phoenix Mercury lose Dinah Tarassi to retirement
and Britney Grinder to Atlanta, you might have mistaken them
for a less dangerous squad this season, But like the
African hippo, they're far more deadly than imagined, aggressive and
unfriendly neighbors to other animals in their habitat. They're also
responsible for more human deaths than any other animal in Africa.
(17:58):
Quiet killer Alissa Thomas hovers below the surface, scoring, passing,
rebounding and leading her team, putting up triple doubles and
initiating the offense from the forward position. Hippos are loud
and brash, grunting, growling, and bellowing all the time, kind
of like the X Factor fan base in Phoenix, and
they assert their dominance and mark their territory by spinning
(18:20):
their tails while defecating, spraying their poop around like a
sprinkler to let everyone know whose boss and anyone who
follows the Phoenix Mercury Social media knows that admin can
hurl shit better than anyone. Just look at those ruthless
game recaps their opponent, the defending champs, and don't be
fooled by that number five seed next to the Liberty.
(18:41):
This team is stacked deeper than anyone. Bunch of trees
that can hit threes, big bodies with length and reach
that can sometimes feel like they've got an extra limb.
This team obviously shout out Ellie are the Elephants of
the Playoffs, a herd of talent that includes three former
WN Finals MVPs in John Qwell Jones, Brianna Stewart and
(19:03):
Emma Mesiman. Elephants can feed up to three fourths of
their day, and you know whether it's beyond the arc
or in the shop making kicks. Sabrinian Escu always eats.
Also Elephants never forget, and former Mercury head coach current
Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello certainly remembers that the Mercury
haven't won a playoff series since she was at the Helm,
(19:24):
and the Liberties certainly won't forget Game one of this series,
which saw them pull off the upside over the Mercury
as far as seeds go seventy six sixty nine in
overtime final series Number seven Seattle Storm versus the number
two Las Vegas Aces. Now the Las Vegas Aces were
all but left for dead after a slow start to
the season and a fifty three point beat down at
(19:46):
the hands of the Links last month, but they ripped
off sixteen straight wins to finish the season and snag
the number two seed. In a recent ESPN interview with
Malik Andrews, Asia Wilson shared an analogy oft used by
Ace's head coach Becky Hammon. Quote Lions wake up every
morning and they know that they have to be faster
than the gazelle just to eat. And the gazelle wakes
(20:07):
up and knows that they've got to be faster than
the lion just to survive. It's every single morning you
have to wake up and say, I want to be
better just to survive and eat.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
End quote.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Well, last week, after Wilson's thirteenth thirty point game of
the season, Hammon evoked those animals again, saying Wilson has
a rare combination of agility and strength. Quote She's the
only person in the gym in the world that is
both lion and gazelle.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
She can dance around you or she can eat you.
Up end quote.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
So as Asia Wilson goes, so go the Aces. And
if she's the most striking example of strength and agility
in the African bush, then she and her team are
the leopard. Leopards can thrive in diverse habitats. They can
leap across the plains or up into the trees to hunt.
They're strong climbers that feast up high, like Wilson, who
(20:55):
led the league in blocks and finished second in rebounding.
Leopards are also excellent camouflaging themselves, kind of like the Aces,
looking like a trash team for half the season before
showing their spots down the stretch. On the other side
of this matchup, the seven seeded Seattle Storm, the kudo
of the postseason. Now Kudos are bovids. They're cloven hooved
(21:16):
animals with permanent horns that they don't shed, kind of
like the Storm not being able to shed their reputation
for inconsistency. A team that can be great and just
as often leave you scratching your head.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Now on the.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Heads of the kudu giant, beautiful, spiraling horns, and they've
got grayish brown bodies that are painted by beautiful white bands,
almost like tattoos see Gabby Williams. Their lack of social
structure and rejection of hierarchy gets them labeled as anarchists,
which is an attitude the feisty shits during Skyler Diggins
can certainly get behind.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Kudu are elusive.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Like a complete game from the Storm, The Storm also struggled.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
To close in tight games.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
Seattle went just eleven and fourteen in games decided by
single digit margins. But while the team was in consulit,
its star was reliable as ever. In her fourteenth season,
veteran neck Ogumkay averaged eighteen point three points and seven
rebounds while hitting nearly thirty seven percent from beyond the
arc and nearly fifty two percent from the field. She's
(22:13):
shot at least fifty percent from the field in all
fourteen of her WNBA seasons. Insane Now. Game one of
this series wrapped up after we finished recording, so we'll
update you on who wins in the Battle of Kudu
versus Leopard Oh and one of the teams that didn't
make the playoffs would best be described as a marabou
stork with a face and a dangling throat sack only
(22:37):
a mother could love.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
I'll let you decide which team I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
And if you're looking for the maraboo, by the way,
it's usually in the sky. We got to take another
break when we come back.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
You are what you drink. Welcome back slices.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
We always love that your list, but we want you
to get in the game every day too, So here's
our good game play of the day. Let us know
your favorite of my WNBA team to animal comparisons, and
if you want to expand beyond the African bush because
you think an animal a little closer to home actually
does your favorite team justice, we want to hear.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
About that too.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Or if there's an individual player who strikes you as
a particular creature, let us know in my book pagebackers
looks exactly like a jackrabbit and you can't tell me otherwise.
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 It's easy. Watch Skyler Diggin's milk jacket rating four
(23:41):
hundred twenty two out of four hundred and twenty two
grams of protein review Earlier this month, ahead of the
Seattle Storms playoff clinching game against the Golden State Valkyries,
Skyler Diggins arrived wearing a whole lot of protein four
hundred twenty two grams, or at least that's what Diggins
said when she was asked who she was wearing for
her tunnel fit. She wore a puff coat filled with milk,
(24:02):
part of a paid partnership with Gunna need Milk. Now,
you know, we like to see athletes get paid, and
somehow it's not even the worst tunnel fit we've seen
this year.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
But what happens after the game?
Speaker 1 (24:14):
You know, to this jacket made of actual perishable milk
feels like real fast fashion, if you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Putrescible if you will.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Now, the best part of the stunt had to be
arikeay A Gunbowalle's contribution, because she replied to Diggins's post
on Instagram quote, I want to poke a needle in
it so bad. Same girl now it's your turn, rate
and review. Thanks for listening. See you tomorrow. Good Game
World Champs Melissa, Tara and Valerie Good Game Botswana and
(24:45):
South Africa. You have my heart you Lyon, who ate
two of the six endangered wild dog pups before we
could see them. But also, I know you have to
eat stuff to stay alive. But also you weren't even
killing it to stay alive. You were just killing it
to assert your dominance. And it made me really and
I don't like the circle of life. Good Game with
Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership
(25:07):
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 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. Our
(25:29):
associate producer is Lucy Jones. Production assistance from Avery Loftus
and I'm your Host Sarah Spain
Host
Sarah Spain
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