May 8, 2026 • 28 mins
Happy WNBA Season 30 Opening Day! To celebrate, here's part 2 of Good Game's WNBA season preview – aka The Shootaround – this time focusing on the Western Conference teams. From the Las Vegas Aces’ dynasty to the Seattle Storm’s new-look roster, Sarah gets you caught up on the stories, stakes, stats, stars and sounds you need to know. Plus, the road to Oklahoma City, simultaneous streaks, and you’re gonna need a few more screens.
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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 lighting
a Cheryl Swoops prayer candle, rocking a throwback Lisa Leslie's
Barks jersey, and wearing our shorts three sizes too big.
Gotta salute the ones who started it all. As the
WNBA's historic thirtieth season tips off tonight, It's Friday, May eighth,
and just like yesterday, I'm in the green room, just
(00:21):
outside where the magic of the espnW Summit will take place.
So audio might sound a little different at certain moments
of the show.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I request, nay, I demand that you pretend you don't notice.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
On today's show, it's part two of our WNBA season preview,
aka the shoot Around, this time tackling the Western Conference
teams from the Las Vegas Aces Dynasty to the Seattle
Storms New Lowcrosster. I'll get you caught up in all
the story steaks, stats, stars and sounds you need to know,
plus the road to Oklahoma City simultaneous streaks, and you're
gonna need a few more screens. It's all coming up
(00:56):
right after this Happy for Ia slics. Here's what you
need to know today. Let's start with the WNBA, where
the league's thirtieth season tips off tonight. There are three
games on the schedule, including the Toronto Tempo's home opener,
(01:18):
and I'll be there when the expansion franchise tips off
for the very first time against the Washington Mystics at
seven thirty pm Eastern tonight. Honestly, if the vibe is
as good as I expect it to be, go on
and ship up the Hubby and the Dogs.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
I'm not coming back down.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Other highlights from the first weekend of action include Saturday's
matchup featuring the WNBA's four most recent number one draft
picks pagebackers, an easy fut of the Dallas Wings taken
on Caitlin Clark and Eliah Boston of the Indiana Fever.
Saturday slate also features a rematch of last year's WNBA Finals,
with the Phoenix Mercury traveling to Las Vegas hoping to
spoil the defending WNBA Champs Ring ceremony celebration. We'll also
(01:57):
get our first look at this season's other expansion team,
the Portland Fire, as they host my very new look
Chicago Sky. In total, there are eleven games on the
slate this weekend. Will link to the full WNBA schedule
in the show notes to the PWHL where both semi
final series continue tonight.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
We're recording this ahead of Game three.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Thursday night between Minnesota and Montreal, but since the winner
of that one will take a two to one lead
either way, the series could be decided as early as
Game four tonight, beginning at eight thirty pm Eastern if necessary.
The two teams will meet again on Monday for Game five. Meantime,
Game three of Boston Ottawa is also tonight, a seven
pm Eastern start for that semi final series game, with
(02:38):
the two teams tied up at a game apiece. Both
tonight's contest and Game four on Sunday will be played
at Ottawa's Canadian Tire Center, which, with the NHL's Ottawa
Senators eliminated from the playoffs, features the Charge logo at
Center Ice. It was pretty awesome watching the time lapse
video of them erasing the Senator's logo and replacing it
with the Charges to the NWSL. This weekend's Act and
(03:00):
Get started tonight with Racing Louisville hosting the Portland Thorns
at six thirty pm Eastern. Portland's riding A five game
unbeaten streak, while Racing hasn't lost at home in five matches,
a run that began last September. Also, for those of
you keep in track at home, yes, there are games
in the WNBA, NWSL and pwhl overlapping.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Tonight for multiple hours.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Other NWSL highlights this weekend include a Southern California rivalry
game between Angel City and San Diego on Saturday night.
Then on Sunday, my Chicago Color Neutral Stars traveled to
the Kansas City current Kansas City hasn't lost a regular
season home games since July of twenty twenty four, a
streak that dates back to before this show even began,
(03:42):
and Chicago hasn't won a road game since April fourteenth
of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
What are the chances both streaks end on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Probably close to zero, but there's a reason games are
played instead of deciding winners based on stats.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
To Volleyball, a.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Reminder that the Major League Volleyball Championship game is on Saturday. Now,
we're recording this ahead of Thursday night's MLV semi finals,
so we're not sure who's playing in the championship yet,
but we'll link to the MLV website in the show
Notes to Softball. Monday night, the Athletes Unlimited Softball Draft
aired on ESPN two and players learned where they'll be
playing pro this summer. Tennessee pitcher Carlin Pickens went number
(04:20):
one overall to the Carolina Blaze, and fellow Ace Nijerie
Cannedy out of Texas Tech went number two to the
Texas volt We'll link to the full draft results in
the show notes to College softball across the Country. Conference
tournaments continue through Saturday ahead of the NCAA's Big sixty
four team bracket reveal on Sunday night. Thirty one teams
will receive automatic bids to the nc Double Attorney by
(04:42):
winning their conference, while the other thirty three will receive
at large bids. We'll link to the full NCAA College
Softball schedule in the show notes so you can follow along.
All right, So I says we have to take a break.
When we return, it's part two of the shoot around.
If you miss part one yesterday, go go back and
listen to our breakdown of all the Eastern Conference squads.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Today, it's all about the West. It's coming up right
after this.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Welcome back slices and welcome to the shoot Around Part two.
Today we're doing WNBA Western Conference teams presented an order
based on their regular season finished last year, from best
to worst. The Minnesota Lynx the story of last season well.
A thirty four to ten regular season earned the Links
the number one overall seed in the playoffs and title aspirations,
but it ended with a loss to the Mercury in
(05:36):
the semi finals, with MVP candidate and Ifisa Callier sideline
to injury and head coach Cheryl Reeve watching from home suspended.
The story of this season is this perennial contender going
to have a rare off season or should we know
better than to underestimate a Cheryl Reeve led squad. What
looks different this year for the Links A whole lot.
(05:56):
The Links saw a surprising exodus of free agents in
the off season, including year's co Defensive Player of the
Year Alana Smith and fellow forward Jessica Shepherd, both to
the Dallas Wings. Half of the stud Buds, Natisha hide
him In left for the Storm, and Dja Carrington, who
was with the Links for part of last season, left
Minnesota to sign with the Sky. The team also said
goodbye to Bridget Carlton, who was lost to the Fire
(06:17):
in the expansion draft. Now, they did bring back Natasha Howard,
who played with the team in twenty sixteen and seventeen,
and EuroLeague MVP Dorka Uhas, who's back after taking the
twenty twenty five season off. Top draft pick Olivia Miles,
who has taken number two overall out of TCU, should
be an immediate contributor the Stars well. The team returns
to Fisa Collier, Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams, who accounted
(06:41):
for just under fifty nine percent of their league leading
eighty six point one points per game last year, but
Collier will likely be out through at least June recovering
from angle surgeries, so it's a question of whether her
return could power a playoff run if the team can
stay in the mix without her. The stats, while last
season the Links led the league in points, assists, field
goal percentage, and three point percentage, and they were top
(07:03):
three in steals and blocks as well, they were second
worst in the league in free throw percentage, though, and
they were just middle of the pack in rebounding and
boards might be an issue again. As they lost two
of their top three rebounders in Smith and Sheppard, and
will be without Callier for the first half of the
season as well. The final number to know for the
Links seventeen. This will be head coach Cheryl Reeves' seventeenth
(07:24):
season at the Helm in Minnesota, the longest tenured coach
in the league by a good margin. Sounds well, you
can expect swaggy rookie Miles to bring more than just
sick handles and dimes on the court. She's also great
for a good SoundBite too. Here she is on the
orange carpet at the draft talking to queer media outlet
them and spotting a sticker on their camera.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I love that sticker.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Rooting for the lesbians.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
I just have to always the gays the days.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
All of them.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Can't wait to see more of Olivia Miles. The stakes
for this team. While the Links have only missed the
playoffs twice in cheryl reb seventeen years at the Helm,
and just once since twenty eleven, they won four titles
between twenty eleven and twenty seventeen, and they made the
finals as recently as twenty twenty four, so falling out
of contention would be disappointing for any reef squad, but
(08:14):
Collier's injury would be an easy scapegoat for an off year,
so the pressure is actually relatively low. Despite this team's pedigree,
the Las Vegas aces well. The story of last season is,
of course, they did it again. After a slow start
to the season and a fifty three point loss to
the Links, they woke up, rattled off sixteen straight dubs
to finish the regular season, and won their third WNBA
(08:36):
title in four years. The story of this season run
it back, win again. But they aren't going to fool
anyone this year. They could be the last team to
sneak into the playoffs and they'd still be the scariest.
So what looks different this year? While Las Vegas was
able to hold on to most of their talent, but
they did see a Leah and I go to Toronto
in the expansion draft, and they're taking a calculated risk.
(08:59):
Adding known score and known locker room problem Kennedy Carter
to the mix. She averaged over seventeen points a game
for the Sky in twenty twenty four, but as with
every other stop in the w there were conduct and
culture issues, so she ended up unsigned last season going
to play abroad. She'll join other newbies Branda Turner, who
is last with the Indiana Fever, and number fourteen draft
pick Jeniah Barker out of Tennessee. The Aces also get
(09:22):
back Cheyenne Parker Tias, who missed most of last year
to pregnancy. The Stars well, only the New York Liberty
can make an argument for a better starting five than
the Aces. Vegas has got four time MVP Asia Wilson
at the center of the corps, joined by six time
All Star Chelsea Gray, four time All Star Jackie Young,
and six time All Star Jewel Lloyd. Plus Melissa Smith,
(09:42):
who joined Vegas mid season last year and helped them
make their third title run. And of course, don't forget
Becky Hammond, the Aces head coach and her Blazer hoodies
are as much a household name as her players at
this point. The stats for this team well like their
five hundred record. For most of last season, the Aces
were sort of middle of the pack for most of
the major statistical categories, but they did take care of
(10:03):
the ball, and they shot well from the charity stripe
and were top three and three point shooting percentage number
to No. One as in Asia Wilson is the one
player who has won a Championship Finals, MVP, League MVP
and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
She's also the one player who has won four WNBA MVPs.
(10:24):
Some sound from this team, Well, in case you missed it,
Joel Lloyd joined me for an interview here on Good
Game earlier this week, and we love what she had
to say about how she handled the free agency signing period.
Speaker 6 (10:33):
I always like the key options open, right. I never
want to just you know, show off any door. But
at the same time, I felt a different kind of
connection here in Vegas, but also realizing, you know what
we able to do, and when you win and you
have a chance to kind of run you back, you
kind of want to keep that same core and I
think that was the mindset of the players here as
well as the organization. But it's hard to walk away
(10:55):
from Becky and.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Asia, right, I mean they're the best in the game.
It's like, yeah, well, would you know, like, will'd you
leave that?
Speaker 1 (11:02):
I know the fans are happy to have juell Lloyd
back to the stakes For this team, it's winn or
bust for the Aces with this roster, under this coach,
they expect nothing less.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
The Phoenix Mercury.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
The story of last season, a twenty seven to seventeen
season was good for the four seed and a shocking
upset of the favored Links earned them a spot in
the finals, where they came up just short to the Aces.
The story of this season, well, despite that finals run,
the Mercury lost a star and saw to Sabili, didn't
bring a single new free agent to Phoenix in the offseason,
and didn't make any noise in the draft. They grabbed
(11:36):
two late picks, draft and stash players were not going
to see play this year.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Is their title window closed already? What looks different for
this year?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
While the aforementioned Saboli, who averaged more than sixteen points
in five boards a game for Phoenix, left to sign
with the Liberty and free agency, Lexi Held and Katialaksa
were snagged by Toronto and the expansion draft and additions, eh,
the Mercury didn't add any no notable play and free
agency or the draft stars.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Well.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
The good news is the Mercury still boast a solid
core of Alissa Thomas, Kalia Copper and Dewana Bonner. Bonner
joined the team midway through last season. Monique Aca maccane,
Sammy Witcombe, and Natasha mac return, but Cat Westbelt, who
started twenty four games for the Mercury last season, will
miss the year to a tour. In ACL stats, Phoenix's
forty three point three percent shooting from the field last
(12:24):
season was second worst among playoff teams, and their eighty
two point eight points a game were just middle of
the pack for the league. Some good numbers nineteen and six.
Alissa Thomas has a record nineteen career triple doubles, six
of them in the postseason. She's put up a triple
double against ten different franchises in the regular season.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
How about one more? Three point fifty seven. Thomas, a six.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Two forward, broke the WNBA single season assists record last
year with three fifty seven, topping Caitlin Clark's mark from
twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Some sound well.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Thomas is notorious for letting her play speak for her.
There are full compilation videos of her running past the
Mercury admin to avoid interviews or being part of social clips.
In fact, I think we have admin's latest attempt right here. YEP,
footsteps is about all you're going to get most of
the time footsteps and triple doubles the stakes for this team.
(13:21):
While with perennial MVP candidate Thomas and superstar Copper on
the roster, any season not in contention kind of feels
like a waste and they want to use this year
to lure some more big names to the desert the
Seattle Storm. The story of last season for the Storm.
After a twenty three to twenty one regular season, the
seven seed Storm pushed the eventual champs, the Las Vegas Aces,
(13:42):
to three games in the first round of the playoffs,
but they couldn't.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Pull off the upset. The story of this season.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
A massive roster overhaul has the Storm in full on
rebuild mode, look into the future and to the continued
development of their young stars under new head coach Sonya Rahmen.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
What looks different this year almost everything.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
All of the Storm's top five scorers departed in free agency.
Neco Ogumakay Skyler Diggins, Britney Sykes, Gabby Williams, and Erica
Wheeler all left. Veteran Alsha Clark also left in free agency,
while the injured Nico Mule, fresh off another acl tair,
got snagged by the Portland Fire and the expansion Draft.
As for acquisitions, Natisha Heideman won half of the Stud
Buds left Minnesota to join Seattle, and Stephanie Dolson left
(14:23):
the Mystics to head West as well. Seattle also got
young Spanish star Awa Fam in the draft, as well
as LSU's Flage Johnson the Stars. This team's got a young,
promising corn. It's centered around the two Unicorns, second year
big Dominique Maloga and newly drafted Fam and Studbud Natisha
and rapper Slash Uperflage.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Are definitely going to be fan favorites.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
The team's top returning scorer from last year, Remember the
top five scorers all left. The top returning scorer as
E mag Bagoor is back, but she's starting the season
nursing a foot injury. The stats for this team, well,
most of last year's stats are irrelevant now with a
brand new roster. But remember the number sixty seven point five.
That's the number of combined points per game scored by
(15:04):
the Big five that the team lost to free agency.
They'll need to find new ways to score this season. Also,
the number three, as in three dunks thrown down by
Milonga and unrivaled this season time for her first W
Slam some sound well. Speaking of those dunks, the Seattle
Storm admin tried to get Malanga to declare who her
first dunk victim in the W might be, to no avail.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
The world wants to know who you bother. Not want
to see them?
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Nobody, No, nobody, but no, I'm just starting.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Anything right here.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
No, are you going to be done this season? I'm
grieving to know this season for sure. That's a for
sure on somebody that's a for sure too.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
But who I don't know.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
I don't care who she's dunking on.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
I just want to see it the stakes While the
Seattle team is built for tomorrow, not today, so all
eyes will really be on getting young players minutes to
improve and getting a look at coach Ramen in her
first opportunity as a head coach in the game. The
Golden State Valkyries the story of last season, while media
fans and various onlookers went from wondering what the heck
the Valkyries were doing to marveling at their instant success
(16:10):
both on the court, with a twenty three to twenty
one record and a postseason Berth and off it, setting
both attendance records and a new bar for franchise valuations.
The story of this season for Golden State all being
the first ever W expansion team to make the postseason
in their inaugural year makes for high expectations in year two.
But I would not dare doubt this squad after last
(16:31):
year shut me and a whole lot of other folks up.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
What looks different this year?
Speaker 1 (16:36):
While the Valks lost Temi fag Ben Lean and Monique
Billings in free agency, but they grabbed All Star and
defensive stopper Gabby Williams from the Storm and added three
time WNBA champ Kia.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Stokes from the Aces.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
The stars of this team head coach Natalie Nikasse is
a star in her own right, earning Coach of the
Year honors in her first season, and Veronica Burton was
the team's breakout star earning the w's Most Improved Player award.
Kayla Thornton and All Star in the Bailee last year,
is back alongside fan Faes, Tip Hays and Caitlin Chen.
The stats well, The Valkyries led the league in scoring defense,
allowing just seventy six point three points per game, and
(17:09):
they should only get better with the addition of Gabby Williams,
who finished third in Defensive Player the Year voting last
year and led the league with two point three steals
per game and over one hundred deflections. Another number to
know eight fifty, as in eight hundred and fifty million dollars.
The Valks current valuation, just two years into existence, tops
in the WNBA. Sounds from this team, well, it's the
(17:32):
sound inside ball Halla, the nickname given to the Valkyrie's
crowd and the Chase Center, which is packed to the
gills every night, and after seeing their preseason game sellout,
the players, including Tip Hays, are all pretty pumped to
get back in front of eighteen thousand plus every game.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
To take a listen, just the energy man by Holly.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Y'all know how we rock and we went were ready
to see y'all coming in there giving us all the energy.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Y'all know how we do with any of doves this year.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
You already know the stakes for this Valks team all
after last year's expectations defying start. Anything short of another
playoff berth would be disappointing, but the Valks won't yet
be expected to contend with.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
The league's best, the LA Sparks.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
The story of the Sparks last season, well, a twenty
one to twenty three record kept him out of the
playoffs for the fifth straight season, but Kelsey Plum shined
in her first year in LA and the team at
least got out of the gutter, avoiding a repeat of
the previous season's dead last finish. The story of this season.
Major free agency acquisitions and some swaps to embrace vets
means this team believes it's in win now mode. But
(18:34):
do they have enough talent to keep up with the
best in the league. What looks different this year? While
major additions to the team include ten time All Star
and former league MVP Neca Ogumakay, who's returning to LA,
where she spent twelve seasons earlier in her career and
won a championship in twenty sixteen. Erica Wheeler is another
big free agent pickup, also leaving the Storm to join
the Sparks. Eryl Atkins arrivia trade that sent Rakia Jackson
(18:57):
to the Sky and the team added score and I
Lats and via the draft, the number twenty overall pick
out of South Carolina the Stars. While those new names
join a returning corps of Kelsey Plumb, Derek Hamby, Ray Burrell,
and Cameron Brink.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Stats Well.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Last season, the Sparks did finish second in the league
in field goal percentage and points per game, but they
had the third worst defensive rating in the league and
they allowed the second most second chance points.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
So they'll have plenty of scores again this season, but
they got to.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Hope ogum Kay and Atkins helped change the story on
the defensive end. Two more numbers to know, eighteen point
three and seven point five. That's the point in rebound
averages for Neck Ogumakay last year with the Storm. She
may be heading into her fifteenth season, and she may
be heading back to la but this is no farewell tour.
She still got it some sound from the Sparks. While
(19:45):
speaking of ogum Makay during her first press conference of
the season, she was asked what sparked her return after
two seasons away from the franchise, and she began by
referencing the general manager, Reagan Pebbley.
Speaker 5 (19:57):
Take a listen, Yeah, I mean when when Reagan was
hired just before I decided to leave, I told her,
you know, like I didn't actually want to leave, but
I felt like I needed to considering, you know, the
growth that we wanted to see further in the organization,
and I really wanted, you know, to come back, and
(20:19):
I'm seeing just that. You know, I think going into
this free agency, I was kind of all doors wide open,
including returning to Seattle. And you know, I think the
timeline of.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
A lot of things accelerated me narrowing down certain organizations.
But LA was in the mix, not because not just
because of the time that I've had here, but because
of the amazing progress that I've seen in just the
two years in my absence.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Excited to see what Naka can do back in that
Sparks Jersey. The stakes for this team all with veteran
talent hungry to be on a team that matters. It's
playoffs or boss for the Sparks, who haven't made the
postseason since twenty The Dallas Wings story of last season, well,
the Wings were the doormat of the league with a
dismal ten and thirty four record, tied for last. The
(21:10):
biggest positive of their season was a standout rookie campaign
from number one overall pick Page Beckers, who earned Rookie
of the Year honors a story of this season, while
head coach Chris ko Klanis got ousted after just one
year and was replaced by longtime University of South Florida
coach Jose Fernandez, who, along with number one overall pick
Asy Fudd, will try to breathe some new life into
(21:31):
the franchise. At the very least, fan should get a
show with Beckers and Fudd reunited alongside sharpshooter Ari ka
Agunbowalle what looks different this year? While Dallas added a
lot of talent in the front court, grabbing co Defensive
Player of the Year Atlanta Smith and forward Jessica Sheppard
from Minnesota and free agency, Wi Levett's Odyssey Simms and
Alicia Clark joined in free agency as well, and the
(21:52):
team drafted Yukon star Azy Fudd number one overall, reuniting
her with Beckers.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
With whom she won a title two seasons ago.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
The Stars obviously Becker's at goombwalle Lee Yaru returning for
the Wings as well, and then Fudd aka the People's
Princess will be a draw.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
For fans stats.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
While the Wings finished second to last in defensive rating
last season, but the addition of Smith and Shepherd should
help a ton. Their perimeter d might still be a problem, though.
The team was eleventh in the league in both three
point percentage and three pointers made per game, and a
goombwalle led the team in three pointers, but that's not
saying much because after back to back seasons of at
least one hundred twelve made threes on over three hundred
(22:31):
twenty attempts, she dropped down to forty eight made triples
on just one hundred and fifty eight attempts last year. Now,
Gooonbowallee put up career lows in a lot of other things,
points per game, field goal percentage, three point percentage, but
she'll hopefully benefit from a new coach, new system, and
new roster this year.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Some sound from the Wings.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
We know we played it earlier this week, but we
just really loved Azy Fudd's reaction to the officiating after
a preseason game, so we got to play it again.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
I feel more confused. I thought you could be physic,
and anytime you touch someone it's a foul. So I'm
not really sure.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Whether to be physical, whether to you.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Know, Nike, I don't know so I'm still figuring that out.
We're excited to see how the number one draft pick
adapts and if she gets another wake up call with
a fine thanks to those comments. We also love the
clip of Azy walking around saying hi with a huge
smile to every single one of her opponents during the preseason.
We'll see if she gets a little more feisty once
the regular season starts. The stakes for this team well,
(23:29):
after a two year drought, the Wings should be a
playoff team again, and if the piece is fit just
right and new coach Fernandez is a fit, this team
could surprise the Portland Fire. The story of last season,
there was no last season the Fire and expansion team,
so they were in planning mode for their debut season.
But years ago, the team's first iteration played in Portland
(23:50):
from two thousand to two thousand and two before dissolving.
The story of this season, while trying to equal the
success of the Golden State Valkyries in their first season
isn't really a realistic goal for this expansion squad, but
bettering relatively low expectations is a solid goal. What looks
different this year, Well, the team's got a head coach
and a roster for starters. Brett Alex Sarama, who's known
(24:11):
for his constraints led approach to basketball, takes the Reins
after years spent with the mnba's Cavaliers. The team used
the first pick in the expansion draft to grab Bridget
Carlton from the Lynx, and they also added the Valx
Carla Late, the Mystics Emily Engsler, the Dreams Maya Caledwell,
the Wings Haley Jones, and the Storms Nika Mule, who
will sadly be sidelined for a second straight season with
an ACL tear. Carlton's old teammate Carly Samuelson joined the
(24:34):
team via free agency. The Stars no true stars on
this squad to start the season, but folks who were
role players on other teams, like Carlton, may seize the
opportunity to step into a starring role for the first time.
Engstler will be a go to for Giggles on the socials,
and of course, Megan Gustafson's Corgi Pancake.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Will be a breakout star by week two.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Stats well, no stats to analyze just yet, but keep
it eye on the box scores from fire to see
who might emerge as their go to score. Carlton should
be the leader despite averaging just six and a half
points per game last year, but it's anyone's guest who
might take the lead on this unproven team. Sounds from Portland,
while We're excited to see how Carlton's game continues to evolve,
(25:15):
something she addressed during the team's media day take a listen.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
I'm ready to take that next step in my career,
and that was a really exciting opportunity I'm going to
have in Portland and the coaching staff here, Banya, they
all believe in me, and they see that in me.
They've watched me play a variety of roles internationally and
obviously in the WNBA, so they see that I'm ready
to take that next step in the w And yeah,
I'm just being more aggressive, being more of a playmaker
(25:39):
than I have been in the past, obviously playing defense
like I always do, but just being relied upon a
little bit more. And I'm ready for that and I'm
excited for it, and hopefully that translates to winning.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Games stakes well.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
Sarama's constraints let approach will likely take some time to
get used to, making the job of winning as an
expansion team even tougher. The best you can ask of
this team is to re establish a good culture and
fan base in Portland, with the city getting a second
chance to support a wteam.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
We made it.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
We made it through all fifteen teams. I'm ready, I
feel ready, You feel ready? All right, we got to
take another break when we return. Watching dreams come true
never gets old. Welcome Max Slices. We love that you're listening,
but we want you to get in the game every
(26:27):
day too, So here's our good game play of the day.
Send us photos of your game watching setup from the weekend.
We want to see those extra screens, those sharcouterie boards,
those packed women's sports bars or sold out arenas. And
if you do make it out to a game in person,
we want to hear about it too. Send us a
voicemail from your pregame tailgate or your seat in the stands.
(26:48):
We want to be able to hear the vibes. Hit
us up on email good game at wondermedianetwork dot com
or leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two
o four fifty seventy and don't forget to subscribe, rate
and review slates. It helps the show and it's real
easy watch seeing someone's dream come true in real time.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Rating five out of five.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Screams of surprise and delight review. The video of pitcher
Carlin Pickens learning she'd gone number one in the AUSL
draft is so delightful. Pickens, surrounded by family, friends and teammates,
looked absolutely shocked to hear her name called first as
she was selected by the Carolina Blaze. The joy is
frankly contagious. We'll link to the video in the show notes.
(27:30):
Now it's your turn, y'all, Rate and review, Thanks for listening,
See you next week.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
Good Game, WNBA on your thirtieth birthday.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Good game anyone who manages to watch a little bit
of all seven NWSL, PWHL and WNBA games tonight. You
the anticipatory anxiety we feel knowing we can't watch everything
this weekend. Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iheartwomen's
sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
(28:01):
or wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network,
our producers are.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Alex Azzi and Bianca Hillier. Our executive producers are.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Our
editors are Emily Rutter, Lucy Jones, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer.
Production assistants from Avery LOFTUS and I'm Your Host Sarah
Spain
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're lighting
a Cheryl Swoops prayer candle, rocking a throwback Lisa Leslie's
Barks jersey, and wearing our shorts three sizes too big.
Gotta salute the ones who started it all. As the
WNBA's historic thirtieth season tips off tonight, It's Friday, May eighth,
and just like yesterday, I'm in the green room, just
(00:21):
outside where the magic of the espnW Summit will take place.
So audio might sound a little different at certain moments
of the show.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I request, nay, I demand that you pretend you don't notice.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
On today's show, it's part two of our WNBA season preview,
aka the shoot Around, this time tackling the Western Conference
teams from the Las Vegas Aces Dynasty to the Seattle
Storms New Lowcrosster. I'll get you caught up in all
the story steaks, stats, stars and sounds you need to know,
plus the road to Oklahoma City simultaneous streaks, and you're
gonna need a few more screens. It's all coming up
(00:56):
right after this Happy for Ia slics. Here's what you
need to know today. Let's start with the WNBA, where
the league's thirtieth season tips off tonight. There are three
games on the schedule, including the Toronto Tempo's home opener,
(01:18):
and I'll be there when the expansion franchise tips off
for the very first time against the Washington Mystics at
seven thirty pm Eastern tonight. Honestly, if the vibe is
as good as I expect it to be, go on
and ship up the Hubby and the Dogs.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
I'm not coming back down.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Other highlights from the first weekend of action include Saturday's
matchup featuring the WNBA's four most recent number one draft
picks pagebackers, an easy fut of the Dallas Wings taken
on Caitlin Clark and Eliah Boston of the Indiana Fever.
Saturday slate also features a rematch of last year's WNBA Finals,
with the Phoenix Mercury traveling to Las Vegas hoping to
spoil the defending WNBA Champs Ring ceremony celebration. We'll also
(01:57):
get our first look at this season's other expansion team,
the Portland Fire, as they host my very new look
Chicago Sky. In total, there are eleven games on the
slate this weekend. Will link to the full WNBA schedule
in the show notes to the PWHL where both semi
final series continue tonight.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
We're recording this ahead of Game three.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Thursday night between Minnesota and Montreal, but since the winner
of that one will take a two to one lead
either way, the series could be decided as early as
Game four tonight, beginning at eight thirty pm Eastern if necessary.
The two teams will meet again on Monday for Game five. Meantime,
Game three of Boston Ottawa is also tonight, a seven
pm Eastern start for that semi final series game, with
(02:38):
the two teams tied up at a game apiece. Both
tonight's contest and Game four on Sunday will be played
at Ottawa's Canadian Tire Center, which, with the NHL's Ottawa
Senators eliminated from the playoffs, features the Charge logo at
Center Ice. It was pretty awesome watching the time lapse
video of them erasing the Senator's logo and replacing it
with the Charges to the NWSL. This weekend's Act and
(03:00):
Get started tonight with Racing Louisville hosting the Portland Thorns
at six thirty pm Eastern. Portland's riding A five game
unbeaten streak, while Racing hasn't lost at home in five matches,
a run that began last September. Also, for those of
you keep in track at home, yes, there are games
in the WNBA, NWSL and pwhl overlapping.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Tonight for multiple hours.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Other NWSL highlights this weekend include a Southern California rivalry
game between Angel City and San Diego on Saturday night.
Then on Sunday, my Chicago Color Neutral Stars traveled to
the Kansas City current Kansas City hasn't lost a regular
season home games since July of twenty twenty four, a
streak that dates back to before this show even began,
(03:42):
and Chicago hasn't won a road game since April fourteenth
of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
What are the chances both streaks end on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Probably close to zero, but there's a reason games are
played instead of deciding winners based on stats.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
To Volleyball, a.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Reminder that the Major League Volleyball Championship game is on Saturday. Now,
we're recording this ahead of Thursday night's MLV semi finals,
so we're not sure who's playing in the championship yet,
but we'll link to the MLV website in the show
Notes to Softball. Monday night, the Athletes Unlimited Softball Draft
aired on ESPN two and players learned where they'll be
playing pro this summer. Tennessee pitcher Carlin Pickens went number
(04:20):
one overall to the Carolina Blaze, and fellow Ace Nijerie
Cannedy out of Texas Tech went number two to the
Texas volt We'll link to the full draft results in
the show notes to College softball across the Country. Conference
tournaments continue through Saturday ahead of the NCAA's Big sixty
four team bracket reveal on Sunday night. Thirty one teams
will receive automatic bids to the nc Double Attorney by
(04:42):
winning their conference, while the other thirty three will receive
at large bids. We'll link to the full NCAA College
Softball schedule in the show notes so you can follow along.
All right, So I says we have to take a break.
When we return, it's part two of the shoot around.
If you miss part one yesterday, go go back and
listen to our breakdown of all the Eastern Conference squads.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Today, it's all about the West. It's coming up right
after this.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Welcome back slices and welcome to the shoot Around Part two.
Today we're doing WNBA Western Conference teams presented an order
based on their regular season finished last year, from best
to worst. The Minnesota Lynx the story of last season well.
A thirty four to ten regular season earned the Links
the number one overall seed in the playoffs and title aspirations,
but it ended with a loss to the Mercury in
(05:36):
the semi finals, with MVP candidate and Ifisa Callier sideline
to injury and head coach Cheryl Reeve watching from home suspended.
The story of this season is this perennial contender going
to have a rare off season or should we know
better than to underestimate a Cheryl Reeve led squad. What
looks different this year for the Links A whole lot.
(05:56):
The Links saw a surprising exodus of free agents in
the off season, including year's co Defensive Player of the
Year Alana Smith and fellow forward Jessica Shepherd, both to
the Dallas Wings. Half of the stud Buds, Natisha hide
him In left for the Storm, and Dja Carrington, who
was with the Links for part of last season, left
Minnesota to sign with the Sky. The team also said
goodbye to Bridget Carlton, who was lost to the Fire
(06:17):
in the expansion draft. Now, they did bring back Natasha Howard,
who played with the team in twenty sixteen and seventeen,
and EuroLeague MVP Dorka Uhas, who's back after taking the
twenty twenty five season off. Top draft pick Olivia Miles,
who has taken number two overall out of TCU, should
be an immediate contributor the Stars well. The team returns
to Fisa Collier, Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams, who accounted
(06:41):
for just under fifty nine percent of their league leading
eighty six point one points per game last year, but
Collier will likely be out through at least June recovering
from angle surgeries, so it's a question of whether her
return could power a playoff run if the team can
stay in the mix without her. The stats, while last
season the Links led the league in points, assists, field
goal percentage, and three point percentage, and they were top
(07:03):
three in steals and blocks as well, they were second
worst in the league in free throw percentage, though, and
they were just middle of the pack in rebounding and
boards might be an issue again. As they lost two
of their top three rebounders in Smith and Sheppard, and
will be without Callier for the first half of the
season as well. The final number to know for the
Links seventeen. This will be head coach Cheryl Reeves' seventeenth
(07:24):
season at the Helm in Minnesota, the longest tenured coach
in the league by a good margin. Sounds well, you
can expect swaggy rookie Miles to bring more than just
sick handles and dimes on the court. She's also great
for a good SoundBite too. Here she is on the
orange carpet at the draft talking to queer media outlet
them and spotting a sticker on their camera.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I love that sticker.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Rooting for the lesbians.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
I just have to always the gays the days.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
All of them.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Can't wait to see more of Olivia Miles. The stakes
for this team. While the Links have only missed the
playoffs twice in cheryl reb seventeen years at the Helm,
and just once since twenty eleven, they won four titles
between twenty eleven and twenty seventeen, and they made the
finals as recently as twenty twenty four, so falling out
of contention would be disappointing for any reef squad, but
(08:14):
Collier's injury would be an easy scapegoat for an off year,
so the pressure is actually relatively low. Despite this team's pedigree,
the Las Vegas aces well. The story of last season is,
of course, they did it again. After a slow start
to the season and a fifty three point loss to
the Links, they woke up, rattled off sixteen straight dubs
to finish the regular season, and won their third WNBA
(08:36):
title in four years. The story of this season run
it back, win again. But they aren't going to fool
anyone this year. They could be the last team to
sneak into the playoffs and they'd still be the scariest.
So what looks different this year? While Las Vegas was
able to hold on to most of their talent, but
they did see a Leah and I go to Toronto
in the expansion draft, and they're taking a calculated risk.
(08:59):
Adding known score and known locker room problem Kennedy Carter
to the mix. She averaged over seventeen points a game
for the Sky in twenty twenty four, but as with
every other stop in the w there were conduct and
culture issues, so she ended up unsigned last season going
to play abroad. She'll join other newbies Branda Turner, who
is last with the Indiana Fever, and number fourteen draft
pick Jeniah Barker out of Tennessee. The Aces also get
(09:22):
back Cheyenne Parker Tias, who missed most of last year
to pregnancy. The Stars well, only the New York Liberty
can make an argument for a better starting five than
the Aces. Vegas has got four time MVP Asia Wilson
at the center of the corps, joined by six time
All Star Chelsea Gray, four time All Star Jackie Young,
and six time All Star Jewel Lloyd. Plus Melissa Smith,
(09:42):
who joined Vegas mid season last year and helped them
make their third title run. And of course, don't forget
Becky Hammond, the Aces head coach and her Blazer hoodies
are as much a household name as her players at
this point. The stats for this team well like their
five hundred record. For most of last season, the Aces
were sort of middle of the pack for most of
the major statistical categories, but they did take care of
(10:03):
the ball, and they shot well from the charity stripe
and were top three and three point shooting percentage number
to No. One as in Asia Wilson is the one
player who has won a Championship Finals, MVP, League MVP
and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
She's also the one player who has won four WNBA MVPs.
(10:24):
Some sound from this team, Well, in case you missed it,
Joel Lloyd joined me for an interview here on Good
Game earlier this week, and we love what she had
to say about how she handled the free agency signing period.
Speaker 6 (10:33):
I always like the key options open, right. I never
want to just you know, show off any door. But
at the same time, I felt a different kind of
connection here in Vegas, but also realizing, you know what
we able to do, and when you win and you
have a chance to kind of run you back, you
kind of want to keep that same core and I
think that was the mindset of the players here as
well as the organization. But it's hard to walk away
(10:55):
from Becky and.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Asia, right, I mean they're the best in the game.
It's like, yeah, well, would you know, like, will'd you
leave that?
Speaker 1 (11:02):
I know the fans are happy to have juell Lloyd
back to the stakes For this team, it's winn or
bust for the Aces with this roster, under this coach,
they expect nothing less.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
The Phoenix Mercury.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
The story of last season, a twenty seven to seventeen
season was good for the four seed and a shocking
upset of the favored Links earned them a spot in
the finals, where they came up just short to the Aces.
The story of this season, well, despite that finals run,
the Mercury lost a star and saw to Sabili, didn't
bring a single new free agent to Phoenix in the offseason,
and didn't make any noise in the draft. They grabbed
(11:36):
two late picks, draft and stash players were not going
to see play this year.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Is their title window closed already? What looks different for
this year?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
While the aforementioned Saboli, who averaged more than sixteen points
in five boards a game for Phoenix, left to sign
with the Liberty and free agency, Lexi Held and Katialaksa
were snagged by Toronto and the expansion draft and additions, eh,
the Mercury didn't add any no notable play and free
agency or the draft stars.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Well.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
The good news is the Mercury still boast a solid
core of Alissa Thomas, Kalia Copper and Dewana Bonner. Bonner
joined the team midway through last season. Monique Aca maccane,
Sammy Witcombe, and Natasha mac return, but Cat Westbelt, who
started twenty four games for the Mercury last season, will
miss the year to a tour. In ACL stats, Phoenix's
forty three point three percent shooting from the field last
(12:24):
season was second worst among playoff teams, and their eighty
two point eight points a game were just middle of
the pack for the league. Some good numbers nineteen and six.
Alissa Thomas has a record nineteen career triple doubles, six
of them in the postseason. She's put up a triple
double against ten different franchises in the regular season.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
How about one more? Three point fifty seven. Thomas, a six.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Two forward, broke the WNBA single season assists record last
year with three fifty seven, topping Caitlin Clark's mark from
twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Some sound well.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Thomas is notorious for letting her play speak for her.
There are full compilation videos of her running past the
Mercury admin to avoid interviews or being part of social clips.
In fact, I think we have admin's latest attempt right here. YEP,
footsteps is about all you're going to get most of
the time footsteps and triple doubles the stakes for this team.
(13:21):
While with perennial MVP candidate Thomas and superstar Copper on
the roster, any season not in contention kind of feels
like a waste and they want to use this year
to lure some more big names to the desert the
Seattle Storm. The story of last season for the Storm.
After a twenty three to twenty one regular season, the
seven seed Storm pushed the eventual champs, the Las Vegas Aces,
(13:42):
to three games in the first round of the playoffs,
but they couldn't.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Pull off the upset. The story of this season.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
A massive roster overhaul has the Storm in full on
rebuild mode, look into the future and to the continued
development of their young stars under new head coach Sonya Rahmen.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
What looks different this year almost everything.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
All of the Storm's top five scorers departed in free agency.
Neco Ogumakay Skyler Diggins, Britney Sykes, Gabby Williams, and Erica
Wheeler all left. Veteran Alsha Clark also left in free agency,
while the injured Nico Mule, fresh off another acl tair,
got snagged by the Portland Fire and the expansion Draft.
As for acquisitions, Natisha Heideman won half of the Stud
Buds left Minnesota to join Seattle, and Stephanie Dolson left
(14:23):
the Mystics to head West as well. Seattle also got
young Spanish star Awa Fam in the draft, as well
as LSU's Flage Johnson the Stars. This team's got a young,
promising corn. It's centered around the two Unicorns, second year
big Dominique Maloga and newly drafted Fam and Studbud Natisha
and rapper Slash Uperflage.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Are definitely going to be fan favorites.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
The team's top returning scorer from last year, Remember the
top five scorers all left. The top returning scorer as
E mag Bagoor is back, but she's starting the season
nursing a foot injury. The stats for this team, well,
most of last year's stats are irrelevant now with a
brand new roster. But remember the number sixty seven point five.
That's the number of combined points per game scored by
(15:04):
the Big five that the team lost to free agency.
They'll need to find new ways to score this season. Also,
the number three, as in three dunks thrown down by
Milonga and unrivaled this season time for her first W
Slam some sound well. Speaking of those dunks, the Seattle
Storm admin tried to get Malanga to declare who her
first dunk victim in the W might be, to no avail.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
The world wants to know who you bother. Not want
to see them?
Speaker 4 (15:33):
Nobody, No, nobody, but no, I'm just starting.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Anything right here.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
No, are you going to be done this season? I'm
grieving to know this season for sure. That's a for
sure on somebody that's a for sure too.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
But who I don't know.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
I don't care who she's dunking on.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
I just want to see it the stakes While the
Seattle team is built for tomorrow, not today, so all
eyes will really be on getting young players minutes to
improve and getting a look at coach Ramen in her
first opportunity as a head coach in the game. The
Golden State Valkyries the story of last season, while media
fans and various onlookers went from wondering what the heck
the Valkyries were doing to marveling at their instant success
(16:10):
both on the court, with a twenty three to twenty
one record and a postseason Berth and off it, setting
both attendance records and a new bar for franchise valuations.
The story of this season for Golden State all being
the first ever W expansion team to make the postseason
in their inaugural year makes for high expectations in year two.
But I would not dare doubt this squad after last
(16:31):
year shut me and a whole lot of other folks up.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
What looks different this year?
Speaker 1 (16:36):
While the Valks lost Temi fag Ben Lean and Monique
Billings in free agency, but they grabbed All Star and
defensive stopper Gabby Williams from the Storm and added three
time WNBA champ Kia.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Stokes from the Aces.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
The stars of this team head coach Natalie Nikasse is
a star in her own right, earning Coach of the
Year honors in her first season, and Veronica Burton was
the team's breakout star earning the w's Most Improved Player award.
Kayla Thornton and All Star in the Bailee last year,
is back alongside fan Faes, Tip Hays and Caitlin Chen.
The stats well, The Valkyries led the league in scoring defense,
allowing just seventy six point three points per game, and
(17:09):
they should only get better with the addition of Gabby Williams,
who finished third in Defensive Player the Year voting last
year and led the league with two point three steals
per game and over one hundred deflections. Another number to
know eight fifty, as in eight hundred and fifty million dollars.
The Valks current valuation, just two years into existence, tops
in the WNBA. Sounds from this team, well, it's the
(17:32):
sound inside ball Halla, the nickname given to the Valkyrie's
crowd and the Chase Center, which is packed to the
gills every night, and after seeing their preseason game sellout,
the players, including Tip Hays, are all pretty pumped to
get back in front of eighteen thousand plus every game.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
To take a listen, just the energy man by Holly.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Y'all know how we rock and we went were ready
to see y'all coming in there giving us all the energy.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Y'all know how we do with any of doves this year.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
You already know the stakes for this Valks team all
after last year's expectations defying start. Anything short of another
playoff berth would be disappointing, but the Valks won't yet
be expected to contend with.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
The league's best, the LA Sparks.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
The story of the Sparks last season, well, a twenty
one to twenty three record kept him out of the
playoffs for the fifth straight season, but Kelsey Plum shined
in her first year in LA and the team at
least got out of the gutter, avoiding a repeat of
the previous season's dead last finish. The story of this season.
Major free agency acquisitions and some swaps to embrace vets
means this team believes it's in win now mode. But
(18:34):
do they have enough talent to keep up with the
best in the league. What looks different this year? While
major additions to the team include ten time All Star
and former league MVP Neca Ogumakay, who's returning to LA,
where she spent twelve seasons earlier in her career and
won a championship in twenty sixteen. Erica Wheeler is another
big free agent pickup, also leaving the Storm to join
the Sparks. Eryl Atkins arrivia trade that sent Rakia Jackson
(18:57):
to the Sky and the team added score and I
Lats and via the draft, the number twenty overall pick
out of South Carolina the Stars. While those new names
join a returning corps of Kelsey Plumb, Derek Hamby, Ray Burrell,
and Cameron Brink.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Stats Well.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Last season, the Sparks did finish second in the league
in field goal percentage and points per game, but they
had the third worst defensive rating in the league and
they allowed the second most second chance points.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
So they'll have plenty of scores again this season, but
they got to.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Hope ogum Kay and Atkins helped change the story on
the defensive end. Two more numbers to know, eighteen point
three and seven point five. That's the point in rebound
averages for Neck Ogumakay last year with the Storm. She
may be heading into her fifteenth season, and she may
be heading back to la but this is no farewell tour.
She still got it some sound from the Sparks. While
(19:45):
speaking of ogum Makay during her first press conference of
the season, she was asked what sparked her return after
two seasons away from the franchise, and she began by
referencing the general manager, Reagan Pebbley.
Speaker 5 (19:57):
Take a listen, Yeah, I mean when when Reagan was
hired just before I decided to leave, I told her,
you know, like I didn't actually want to leave, but
I felt like I needed to considering, you know, the
growth that we wanted to see further in the organization,
and I really wanted, you know, to come back, and
(20:19):
I'm seeing just that. You know, I think going into
this free agency, I was kind of all doors wide open,
including returning to Seattle. And you know, I think the
timeline of.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
A lot of things accelerated me narrowing down certain organizations.
But LA was in the mix, not because not just
because of the time that I've had here, but because
of the amazing progress that I've seen in just the
two years in my absence.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Excited to see what Naka can do back in that
Sparks Jersey. The stakes for this team all with veteran
talent hungry to be on a team that matters. It's
playoffs or boss for the Sparks, who haven't made the
postseason since twenty The Dallas Wings story of last season, well,
the Wings were the doormat of the league with a
dismal ten and thirty four record, tied for last. The
(21:10):
biggest positive of their season was a standout rookie campaign
from number one overall pick Page Beckers, who earned Rookie
of the Year honors a story of this season, while
head coach Chris ko Klanis got ousted after just one
year and was replaced by longtime University of South Florida
coach Jose Fernandez, who, along with number one overall pick
Asy Fudd, will try to breathe some new life into
(21:31):
the franchise. At the very least, fan should get a
show with Beckers and Fudd reunited alongside sharpshooter Ari ka
Agunbowalle what looks different this year? While Dallas added a
lot of talent in the front court, grabbing co Defensive
Player of the Year Atlanta Smith and forward Jessica Sheppard
from Minnesota and free agency, Wi Levett's Odyssey Simms and
Alicia Clark joined in free agency as well, and the
(21:52):
team drafted Yukon star Azy Fudd number one overall, reuniting
her with Beckers.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
With whom she won a title two seasons ago.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
The Stars obviously Becker's at goombwalle Lee Yaru returning for
the Wings as well, and then Fudd aka the People's
Princess will be a draw.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
For fans stats.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
While the Wings finished second to last in defensive rating
last season, but the addition of Smith and Shepherd should
help a ton. Their perimeter d might still be a problem, though.
The team was eleventh in the league in both three
point percentage and three pointers made per game, and a
goombwalle led the team in three pointers, but that's not
saying much because after back to back seasons of at
least one hundred twelve made threes on over three hundred
(22:31):
twenty attempts, she dropped down to forty eight made triples
on just one hundred and fifty eight attempts last year. Now,
Gooonbowallee put up career lows in a lot of other things,
points per game, field goal percentage, three point percentage, but
she'll hopefully benefit from a new coach, new system, and
new roster this year.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Some sound from the Wings.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
We know we played it earlier this week, but we
just really loved Azy Fudd's reaction to the officiating after
a preseason game, so we got to play it again.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
I feel more confused. I thought you could be physic,
and anytime you touch someone it's a foul. So I'm
not really sure.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Whether to be physical, whether to you.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Know, Nike, I don't know so I'm still figuring that out.
We're excited to see how the number one draft pick
adapts and if she gets another wake up call with
a fine thanks to those comments. We also love the
clip of Azy walking around saying hi with a huge
smile to every single one of her opponents during the preseason.
We'll see if she gets a little more feisty once
the regular season starts. The stakes for this team well,
(23:29):
after a two year drought, the Wings should be a
playoff team again, and if the piece is fit just
right and new coach Fernandez is a fit, this team
could surprise the Portland Fire. The story of last season,
there was no last season the Fire and expansion team,
so they were in planning mode for their debut season.
But years ago, the team's first iteration played in Portland
(23:50):
from two thousand to two thousand and two before dissolving.
The story of this season, while trying to equal the
success of the Golden State Valkyries in their first season
isn't really a realistic goal for this expansion squad, but
bettering relatively low expectations is a solid goal. What looks
different this year, Well, the team's got a head coach
and a roster for starters. Brett Alex Sarama, who's known
(24:11):
for his constraints led approach to basketball, takes the Reins
after years spent with the mnba's Cavaliers. The team used
the first pick in the expansion draft to grab Bridget
Carlton from the Lynx, and they also added the Valx
Carla Late, the Mystics Emily Engsler, the Dreams Maya Caledwell,
the Wings Haley Jones, and the Storms Nika Mule, who
will sadly be sidelined for a second straight season with
an ACL tear. Carlton's old teammate Carly Samuelson joined the
(24:34):
team via free agency. The Stars no true stars on
this squad to start the season, but folks who were
role players on other teams, like Carlton, may seize the
opportunity to step into a starring role for the first time.
Engstler will be a go to for Giggles on the socials,
and of course, Megan Gustafson's Corgi Pancake.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Will be a breakout star by week two.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Stats well, no stats to analyze just yet, but keep
it eye on the box scores from fire to see
who might emerge as their go to score. Carlton should
be the leader despite averaging just six and a half
points per game last year, but it's anyone's guest who
might take the lead on this unproven team. Sounds from Portland,
while We're excited to see how Carlton's game continues to evolve,
(25:15):
something she addressed during the team's media day take a listen.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
I'm ready to take that next step in my career,
and that was a really exciting opportunity I'm going to
have in Portland and the coaching staff here, Banya, they
all believe in me, and they see that in me.
They've watched me play a variety of roles internationally and
obviously in the WNBA, so they see that I'm ready
to take that next step in the w And yeah,
I'm just being more aggressive, being more of a playmaker
(25:39):
than I have been in the past, obviously playing defense
like I always do, but just being relied upon a
little bit more. And I'm ready for that and I'm
excited for it, and hopefully that translates to winning.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Games stakes well.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
Sarama's constraints let approach will likely take some time to
get used to, making the job of winning as an
expansion team even tougher. The best you can ask of
this team is to re establish a good culture and
fan base in Portland, with the city getting a second
chance to support a wteam.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
We made it.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
We made it through all fifteen teams. I'm ready, I
feel ready, You feel ready? All right, we got to
take another break when we return. Watching dreams come true
never gets old. Welcome Max Slices. We love that you're listening,
but we want you to get in the game every
(26:27):
day too, So here's our good game play of the day.
Send us photos of your game watching setup from the weekend.
We want to see those extra screens, those sharcouterie boards,
those packed women's sports bars or sold out arenas. And
if you do make it out to a game in person,
we want to hear about it too. Send us a
voicemail from your pregame tailgate or your seat in the stands.
(26:48):
We want to be able to hear the vibes. Hit
us up on email good game at wondermedianetwork dot com
or leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two
o four fifty seventy and don't forget to subscribe, rate
and review slates. It helps the show and it's real
easy watch seeing someone's dream come true in real time.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Rating five out of five.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Screams of surprise and delight review. The video of pitcher
Carlin Pickens learning she'd gone number one in the AUSL
draft is so delightful. Pickens, surrounded by family, friends and teammates,
looked absolutely shocked to hear her name called first as
she was selected by the Carolina Blaze. The joy is
frankly contagious. We'll link to the video in the show notes.
(27:30):
Now it's your turn, y'all, Rate and review, Thanks for listening,
See you next week.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
Good Game, WNBA on your thirtieth birthday.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Good game anyone who manages to watch a little bit
of all seven NWSL, PWHL and WNBA games tonight. You
the anticipatory anxiety we feel knowing we can't watch everything
this weekend. Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iheartwomen's
sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
(28:01):
or wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network,
our producers are.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Alex Azzi and Bianca Hillier. Our executive producers are.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Our
editors are Emily Rutter, Lucy Jones, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer.
Production assistants from Avery LOFTUS and I'm Your Host Sarah
Spain
Host
Sarah Spain
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