May 14, 2025 • 20 mins
We’re staying out west for today’s installment of The Shootaround, our team-by-team previews getting you ready for the start of the 2025 WNBA season, and it’s alllll about the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury. How are things looking up in the Pacific Northwest and down in the desert? We’ve got you covered with the stars, stakes, stats and stories, a little history, a little lore, a little gossip and a little more.
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Watch Dominique Malonga throw it down here
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Pre-order Sarah’s book Runs in the Family here
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're taking
bets on who number two WNBA draft pick, Dominique Malonga
will dunk on first. It's Wednesday, May fourteenth, and on
today show, we'll be skipping the need to know and
digging straight into the shoot around, previewing our next two
WNBA teams, the Seattle Storm and the Phoenix Mercury.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Ready for the starstak stats and stories.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
A little bit of history, a little bit of lore,
a little bit of gossip, and a little bit more
well good because it's all coming up right after this,
all right sliceas let's start by talking Seattle Storm, who
(00:41):
bounced back from a losing season in twenty twenty three
to finish twenty five and fifteen last season, their best
regular season record since twenty eighteen. They went on to
get swept by the Aces in the first round of
the playoffs. Here's your need to know history of the
Seattle Storm. The team was founded in two thousand as
a sister team to the Seattle SuperSonics the eight in
Seattle when the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in two
(01:03):
thousand and eight, as they were sold to Force ten
Hoops LLC, a collection of Seattle businesswomen.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Sue Byrd, who.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Spent her whole w career with the team, joined the
ownership group after retiring. The Storm had been consistently competitive,
qualifying for the postseason in nineteen of twenty five seasons,
and they've won the WNBA title in each of the
four seasons that they went to the finals four twenty ten,
twenty eighteen, and twenty twenty. All time Storm grates include
the aforementioned Bird, Lauren Jackson, Swin Cash, and Brianna Stewart,
(01:32):
still playing but now with the New York Liberty, the
twenty twenty five tag line for this team in their
rebuild era. Now, the Storm should probably be a playoff
team this season, but I wouldn't expect a deep run
as they're dealing with a new look roster, young players
to develop, and a bad string of injuries. The team's
offseason additions and losses, including trading away one of their
(01:52):
biggest stars to get the number two draft pick, reveal
a clear eye toward the future and point to a
reset and rebuild starting this U season. So let's talk
about losses. The biggest one that aforementioned star, Jewel Lloyd
who went to the Aces in a three team deal
that brought the Storm the number two draft pick to
use on French national fenom Dominique Belonga, who could be
(02:13):
the team's next franchise player. At six', six this dunking
teenager started her pro career at the ripe old.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Age of, fifteen now.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Nineteen this, year she made The all Euro Cup First
team and Won European player of The year And center
of The year for the tournament as. Well what about, Additions,
well The storm acquired vet and friend of The Show
Lexi brown via trade and were active in free, agencies
Signing Katie Lou samuelson And Erica, wheeler both of whom
spent last year with the. Fever, Unfortunately samuelson is set
(02:42):
to miss the season with AN acl, tear joining Teammates Jordan,
horston injured In Athletes unlimited And Nika, mule who tour
HER acl playing In. Turkey horston and mules contracts are,
suspended But samuelson's deal is on the, books so The
storm will likely carry less than the twelve allowed active
players to start the season while they worked to create
enough cap from the stand of the league's hard salary.
(03:03):
Cap the team also brought back three TIME wnba Champion Alisia,
clark recently of The, aces who spent her first nine
seasons In, seattle winning two of her titles with the.
Team as For, Stars Neca ogumaka is entering just her
second season on this, team but she's the Elder stateswoman
and face of the franchise all the. SAME A wnba,
champ Former LEAGUE, mvp Former rookie of The, year nine
(03:26):
Time All, star seven Time All Defensive team, selection member
of THE wnba twenty Fifth Anniversary, team And president of
The Players. Association she's been a star since she came
into the league in twenty, twelve spending her first twelve
seasons with THE La. Sparks Skyler diggins No, smith she's
dropped her married name entering this, season is back for
her second season with The storm as. WELL a six
(03:47):
Time All star And olympic gold, medalist she's been one
of the league's best known players since her stellar career
At Notre, dame helping The irish to back to BACK
Ncaa championship. Appearances and then There's, malonga The french teenager
who dunk in her very First storm practice and should
be a big draw for fans this, season as she
projects to be a future superstar for the. Franchise we'll
be keeping an eye on how head Coach Noel, quinn
(04:09):
who's back for her fifth season at The, helm Rotates
malanga and fellow Center ezzie Mag, bagore who was the
third highest scorer returning from last year's team and is
the last remaining player from The storm's twenty twenty, title
but is expected to get fewer minutes With malanga in the.
Mix to be, frank the stakes for The storm team
are relatively. Low they'll aim for the, postseason but they
don't look prime to compete with the league's best this.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Season like a.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Lot of other, teams several of The storm's top names
will be free agents next season in time for the NEW,
cba Including Oguomakay, Diggins, clark And Gabby. Williams the focus
will be on Developing maloga this. Season let's talk. Stats last,
season The storm finished eighth and field goal percentage and
had the worst three point percentage in the, league so
they'll look to improve on the offensive. End they took
(04:51):
care of the ball last, year, though posting the second
lowest turnover, rate the lowest opponent steel, rate and the
lowest opponent block. Rate as for individual, stats we'll be
watching Sky diggins for a bit of a bounce back,
season especially since last year was her first back from maternity.
Leave her fifteen point one points per game were her
fewests since twenty, sixteen and her twenty nine point one
percent shooting from three was her worst since twenty, fourteen
(05:13):
but she did finish fourth in the, league averaging a
career high six point four. Assists the thirty four year
Old Uguma kay may be a long time, vet but
her sixteen point seven points and seven point six rebounds
per game last season were still slightly better than her career,
averages and last year marked a third Straight All star.
Season we'll see if she can keep those numbers up
in year. Fourteen while there's a lot of storm lore
(05:34):
around the many, championships the big story that stands out
to me is just their relationship with the city Of,
seattle a basketball crazed place that still dearly misses the
Mnba's SuperSonics and is very dedicated to its very successful w.
Team From afar to, me it feels like the team
and Especially Sue, bird have been recognized and embraced across
the city along with all the men's, teams in a
(05:55):
way that other cities are only now more recently. Doing
The storm also built the first dedicated training facility for
A wnba, team helping inspire the facility wars across the.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
League fun fact for The.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Storm one of The seattle business women who owns the
team Is Jinny, gilder a former collegiate And olympic, rower
and while she was rowing At, yale the conditions for
the women's team were so unsatisfactory that she was part
of a noteworthy nineteen seventy six protest in which nineteen
members of her team Wrote title nine on their naked
bodies and went into the athletic director's office demanding better
(06:28):
treatment and a locker room for their. Team pretty, badass,
Meish what DID i forget About?
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Seattle?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Oh you mentioned two pieces of WHAT i want to talk, About,
sarah but you didn't quite put them.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Together And i'm gonna put them together for.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
You Dominique belonga entering THE wnba with a veteran point
guard Like Skylar, diggins the rest of the, league y'all messed,
up y'all and messed up, now because who better to
teach you from a guard's perspective how to read defenses
in THE wnba than some who has been in all
(07:01):
kinds of different positions with some of the best post
players in the. League that is going to be a
stupid good pick and roll connection first and. Foremost and
then you add to the mix that she's coming into
a situation with Her french national team Teammate Gabby, williams
so there's some familiarity there.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
ALREADY i.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Understand it completely makes sense why this was the pick
And Dominique mlungo was so excited to come To.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
SEATTLE i just.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Worry if you're an, opponent worry you should be having,
nightmares should be staying up all night already game planning
for how you're gonna deal with.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
THAT i get, It, LISTEN i get. It but, like
we can't say this about every team in the. League every.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Team we. Can't every team can't be terrifying and a.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Contender AND i get what you say they can though
there are pieces of, this and absolutely they should have
nightmares about gettingdug.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Done we already saw some folks being, like ain't gonna be.
Me i'm not gonna be the.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
First player IN wnba history to get absolutely post. Terrized
gonna be, someone gonna be. SOMEONE i get what you're,
saying AND i agree with. You And i'm not saying
that The storm are going to.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Be a bad.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Team i'm just trying to figure out to reconcile that every,
team on, paper not every.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
TEAM a lot of the teams that felt. Shady, sorry,
Well i'm.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Looking right at your face and that jersey behind you
for The washington but not every team seems like a.
Contender BUT i agree with, you there are a lot
of aspects about This storm team to be terrified.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
About, YEAH i think that you're right in saying that
maybe we expect the playoff, birth but past, that it
just there's not enough. There there's not going to be enough.
Cohesion and yet again a situation WHERE i.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
WISH i don't wish that we weren't getting a NEW.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Cba i'm glad we're getting a NEW, cba BUT i
do wish there was just more time to see this
group come together and have a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Chemistry All, right gotta take a quick.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Break when we come, back we'll chat about a new
Look Phoenix mercury squad hoping to make its mark catch
you on the other.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Side.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Welcome back.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Slices let's Talk Phoenix, mercury who finished nineteen and twenty
one last year in their first season under head Coach
Nate tibbets and their last with one of the goats
of the, Game Diana. Trossi it was a third straight
losing season for the, squad but they doubled their wins
from the previous season and made it back to the,
playoffs where they were swept by The Minnesota links in
the first. Round here's The Phoenix mercury history you need to.
(09:23):
Know one of the w's eight original, teams The mercury
began competing in nineteen ninety, seven operating as a sister
squad to the Mnba's Phoenix, suns founded by Former sons
Owner Jerry.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Clangelo Robert sarver purchased the.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Team alongside The suns in two thousand and, four and
in twenty twenty, three both teams were bought, again this
time by Businessman Matt. Eshbia this is one of the
most successful franchises in the, league making it to five,
finals losing to the now Defunct Houston comets in ninety
eight and losing to The Chicago sky in twenty twenty,
one but hanging three championship banners and The rafters in,
between winning titles in two thousand and, seven two thousand and,
(09:58):
nine and twenty fourteen over the now Defunct Detroit, shock
The Indiana, fever and The, sky. Respectively phoenix has made
it to the playoffs in eighteen of its twenty nine,
seasons and all time legends who have helped him get
there Include, tarasi her wife and former Teammate Penny, Taylor
candice To, prix And Cappie, pondexter as well as active
Players Britney, Griner Dwana, bonner And Skyler diggins who are
(10:20):
all on other rosters. Now The mercury's twenty twenty five
tag line is a new. Start, listen you might not
recognize The mercury team that takes the court in twenty twenty,
five and WHEN i tell you about this team's offseason
additions and, losses you'll understand. Why, first AS i, mentioned
the team finally had to say goodbye to retiring Legend Diana,
tarassi the league's all time leading scorer with ten, thy
(10:42):
six hundred and forty six points in five hundred and
sixty five regular season. GAMES dt hung them up In,
february after twenty seasons of hoops with the franchise that
took her number one in two thousand and four out Of.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yukon goes without.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Saying that those are big shoes to, Fill but it's
not just the loss of D t that has This
mercury squad looking brand. New this will also be the
first season since twenty twelve without eleven year VETERAN Wnba,
champ ten Time All, star two Time league Scoring, champ
two Time Defensive player of The, year seven Time All
Defensive team, member eight Time league.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Blocks later AND wnba twenty Fifth.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Anniversary team Member Britney, griner who The mercury drafted first
overall out Of baylor in twenty. Thirteen all those stats
Ann griner wears a men's size seventeen, shoe so, yeah,
again big shoes to. Fill Point Guard Natasha cloud went
to the reigning Champion New York liberty in a four
team trade that also Sent Rebecca allen to The Chicago
sky And Sophie cunningham to The, Fever but the franchise
(11:40):
did do some work with. Acquisitions that four team trade
also brought five Time All star and six Time All
Defensive team Member Alyssa, thomas Two phoenix from The Connecticut,
sun The unicorn two Time All Star Sawtu, sobolei Plus
Kalanie brown and Sevgae, uzen all of whom spent last
season with The Dallas. Wings they also signed two time
W Nba Champ Sammy, whitcombe who spent the last two
(12:02):
seasons In. Seattle despite the big name, departures this team
still boasts a couple bona fide, stars INCLUDING Wnba, CHAMP
Wnba FINALS, mvp four Time All, star and recent unrivaled
Champ Kalia, copper plus the NEWBIES i Mentioned Alyssa, thomas
one of the most consistent triple double threats in the
league with a league record fifteen all, time and The
(12:23):
Unicorn satusable who can do it all when she stays.
Healthy the stakes for this, team, Well we've mentioned during
these previews that several teams carry a number of soon
to be free, agents all of them trying to time
their deals to the NEW cba next.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Year phoenix takes the.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Cake this team has just one contract that goes beyond
twenty twenty Five Colonie. Brown she's going to be standing
in an empty locker room day one of the, offseason
looking like The Fresh prince.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Meme the good news, is, though they do have one.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Of the best recruiting tools in the, league a brand
new one hundred million dollar practice, Facility so this year's
stakes might be as much about winning as they are
about sending a message to the league That phoenix is
the place to be and a great team to work.
For as for the, stats the team looks so different this.
YEAR i think the thing that's most worth mentioning is
what this team loses with dt And grinder. Gone the
(13:12):
pair are The mercury's top two all time in scoring and.
Rebounding tarasi is the franchise leader and, Assists grinder's fourth
on that, list And griner is the all time blocks,
leader With taras's second in that. Category that's a lot of, points,
boards dimes and blocks to try to. Replace they'll try
to do it Playing Nate tibbet's style of high volume
three point. Shooting the team averaged the fourth most attempts
(13:33):
in the league last, year though they were middle of
the pack in percentage shooting just thirty two point six.
Percent for all that, shooting the squad didn't corral a
lot of boards on. Offense they were next to last
in offensive, boards so a lot of one and done,
possessions and they weren't great at rebounding, overall finishing eleventh
in total Rebounds. Individually satusabli's one of just four players
(13:54):
IN wnba history averaging at least fifteen, points seven, rebounds
and three assists per, Game but she's also only played
more than twenty games in a season. Once in twenty twenty,
Three we'll see if she can stay healthy and put
up those numbers across an entire forty four game. Season
the stories and lore for This Phoenix mercury.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Team where do we?
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Begin maybe with that fancy practice FACILITY i mentioned taking
the acl of Actress Aubrey plaz as a sacrifice during
last Year's All star. Weekend how about Coach Nate timbitt's
coming into the league with no head coaching experience and
no women's basketball experience and immediately being made the highest.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Paid coach in the, league all while.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
The team proudly called him a girl dad in the
social media post announcing is. Higher what About Diana tarassi's
infamous episode with the door in The chicago skylocker room
after The mercury lost in the finals in twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
One speaking, up by the, way.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
More info soon to come on the unveiling of Our
Diana tarassi commemorative bench In Door.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
COUNTY i promise.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Fun fact about The. Mercury, ah you gotta go with
some hoops and gay shit. Here So Alyssa thomas and
Fiance Duana bonner spent the last five seasons together on
The Connecticut sun the perfect love and basketball. Situation but
Now i'll have to see how time a part affects
the power. Couple With thomas on The mercury And bonner
on The Indiana, fever can their love go the?
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Distance, also who follows who?
Speaker 1 (15:15):
First when their teams meet for the first time On july.
Thirtieth my money's On. Bonner all, right that's most of,
IT i think for The, mercury what DID i?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Forget, Sarah phoenix is.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Tough phoenix is tough for, Me i've got some question
marks around this. Squad they got a little, better but
they also got a little. Worse so WHAT i mean
by that Is Nate tibbetts in his first year at
the home in twenty twenty, four said that one of
his main points of emphasis was for his team to
get up a lot of, shots specifically a lot of three.
Pointers and they did that.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Right they did.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
That they didn't hit it at the clip that they wanted.
To but With Alyssa, thomas now somebody who is you,
know a four, traditionally but she can assist one of
the best of sisters in the. League like she's gonna
be able to help out in drawing attention defensively because
she can score the basketball as. Well but she's an excellent,
(16:08):
pastor has great court vision in the, half in the full,
court so she'll be able to feed the Cock coppers
and The Satu sabilis who are out on the wing
open for. Threes but they also got a little worse
Than mercury did because bench, WISE i just don't know
that there's enough of a spark. THERE i don't know
if there's enough role players who come in and you
(16:30):
know what you're gonna. Get SO i don't first see
this team going very. FAR i think they're gonna have
some tight games with some of the top teams in
the in the. League for, sure but will it be?
Sustainable will it be? Consistent THAT i don't.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Know couldn't agree more.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Mash this is definitely a wait and see team for,
me WHERE i just, LIKE i want to see how
all the pieces fit, together because no doubt they've got,
talent but how quickly does that talent mesh? Together how
quickly do they find whatever their new identity? Is and
not to, mention there's just so little experience on this
team once you get beyond the starting, lineup so it's
gonna be a lot of wait and see for me
(17:06):
on This Phoenix mercury.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Squad all, right we got to take another break when
we come. Back did you hear the News i'm an.
Author welcome, Back.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Slices we love that you're, listening but we want you
to get in the game every day. Too so here's
our good game play of the. DAY i come before
you once More, slices humbly requesting that you pre order
my Book runs in The.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Family.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Y'all official release date keeps getting closer and. Closer june.
Third it's almost, here AND i just can't wait for
you to dig into this incredible. Story i'd hate for
you to miss out on. It in, Fact i'm doing
you a favor by telling you about, it And i'm
doing you another favor by putting the link to preorder
the book right in our show. Note you can read,
it you can listen to the audiobook, version whatever you.
(18:04):
Want just order. It we'd love to hear from. You
hit us up on Email Good game at wondermedianetwork dot,
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two oh four fifty. Seventy don't forget to, subscribe rate
and review.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Slices it's.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Easy Watch Dominique malonga arriving with a bang or SHOULD
i say, stuff rating tens across the.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Board Review.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Now i'm a little, late BUT i finally watched the
Video The Seattle storm posted last week of number two
draft Pick malonga throwing one down in her very first
practice with her new. Squad we'll link to it in
our show notes if you haven't seen.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
It because. LISTEN i just have to say.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
THIS i do not think the women's game is missing
anything without. Dunks at the end of the, day whether
you shoot it or slam, it you get two points
for finishing around the. Rim but damn, IT i would
be lying IF i, said it isn't incredible to see
HOW w players continue to evolve and become more explosive
and dynamic. Athletes we are seeing teenagers now that are
(19:02):
dunking with, ease teenagers Like, milonga WHO i can't wait
to see do.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
This in a.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Game AND i also can't help but think about what
would have been possible if we'd started studying women athletes
and women's bodies a long time, Ago like let me
find out we got springs during our, cycle and we've
just been standing on the ground not even trying to
dunk like soup a.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Period we don't. Know we just don't. KNOW i could
have been reverse slamming it all this. Time now it's
your jurd, Y'all rate and.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Review thanks for, listening see you tomorrow when we Talk
Dallas wings And Los Angeles sparks. Basketball Good, Game, Seattle Good, Game.
Phoenix you to the fact we still have to wait
Until friday to watch our first regular SEASON w.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Game all these previews have got me itching for some.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Hoops Good game With Sarah spain is An iHeart women's
sports production in partnership With Deep Blue sports And. Entertainment
you could find us on The, iHeartRadio, App Apple podcasts
or wherever you get your.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Podcasts production By Wonder Media. Network our producers Are Alex
azzie And Misha.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Jones our executive producers Are Christina, Everett Jesse, Katz Jenny
kaplan And Emily. Rutterer our editors Are Emily, Rutterer Britney,
Martinez Grace, lynch And Gianna. Palmer our associate Producers Lucy
jones And I'm Your Host Sarah spain
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're taking
bets on who number two WNBA draft pick, Dominique Malonga
will dunk on first. It's Wednesday, May fourteenth, and on
today show, we'll be skipping the need to know and
digging straight into the shoot around, previewing our next two
WNBA teams, the Seattle Storm and the Phoenix Mercury.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Ready for the starstak stats and stories.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
A little bit of history, a little bit of lore,
a little bit of gossip, and a little bit more
well good because it's all coming up right after this,
all right sliceas let's start by talking Seattle Storm, who
(00:41):
bounced back from a losing season in twenty twenty three
to finish twenty five and fifteen last season, their best
regular season record since twenty eighteen. They went on to
get swept by the Aces in the first round of
the playoffs. Here's your need to know history of the
Seattle Storm. The team was founded in two thousand as
a sister team to the Seattle SuperSonics the eight in
Seattle when the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in two
(01:03):
thousand and eight, as they were sold to Force ten
Hoops LLC, a collection of Seattle businesswomen.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Sue Byrd, who.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Spent her whole w career with the team, joined the
ownership group after retiring. The Storm had been consistently competitive,
qualifying for the postseason in nineteen of twenty five seasons,
and they've won the WNBA title in each of the
four seasons that they went to the finals four twenty ten,
twenty eighteen, and twenty twenty. All time Storm grates include
the aforementioned Bird, Lauren Jackson, Swin Cash, and Brianna Stewart,
(01:32):
still playing but now with the New York Liberty, the
twenty twenty five tag line for this team in their
rebuild era. Now, the Storm should probably be a playoff
team this season, but I wouldn't expect a deep run
as they're dealing with a new look roster, young players
to develop, and a bad string of injuries. The team's
offseason additions and losses, including trading away one of their
(01:52):
biggest stars to get the number two draft pick, reveal
a clear eye toward the future and point to a
reset and rebuild starting this U season. So let's talk
about losses. The biggest one that aforementioned star, Jewel Lloyd
who went to the Aces in a three team deal
that brought the Storm the number two draft pick to
use on French national fenom Dominique Belonga, who could be
(02:13):
the team's next franchise player. At six', six this dunking
teenager started her pro career at the ripe old.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Age of, fifteen now.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Nineteen this, year she made The all Euro Cup First
team and Won European player of The year And center
of The year for the tournament as. Well what about, Additions,
well The storm acquired vet and friend of The Show
Lexi brown via trade and were active in free, agencies
Signing Katie Lou samuelson And Erica, wheeler both of whom
spent last year with the. Fever, Unfortunately samuelson is set
(02:42):
to miss the season with AN acl, tear joining Teammates Jordan,
horston injured In Athletes unlimited And Nika, mule who tour
HER acl playing In. Turkey horston and mules contracts are,
suspended But samuelson's deal is on the, books so The
storm will likely carry less than the twelve allowed active
players to start the season while they worked to create
enough cap from the stand of the league's hard salary.
(03:03):
Cap the team also brought back three TIME wnba Champion Alisia,
clark recently of The, aces who spent her first nine
seasons In, seattle winning two of her titles with the.
Team as For, Stars Neca ogumaka is entering just her
second season on this, team but she's the Elder stateswoman
and face of the franchise all the. SAME A wnba,
champ Former LEAGUE, mvp Former rookie of The, year nine
(03:26):
Time All, star seven Time All Defensive team, selection member
of THE wnba twenty Fifth Anniversary, team And president of
The Players. Association she's been a star since she came
into the league in twenty, twelve spending her first twelve
seasons with THE La. Sparks Skyler diggins No, smith she's
dropped her married name entering this, season is back for
her second season with The storm as. WELL a six
(03:47):
Time All star And olympic gold, medalist she's been one
of the league's best known players since her stellar career
At Notre, dame helping The irish to back to BACK
Ncaa championship. Appearances and then There's, malonga The french teenager
who dunk in her very First storm practice and should
be a big draw for fans this, season as she
projects to be a future superstar for the. Franchise we'll
be keeping an eye on how head Coach Noel, quinn
(04:09):
who's back for her fifth season at The, helm Rotates
malanga and fellow Center ezzie Mag, bagore who was the
third highest scorer returning from last year's team and is
the last remaining player from The storm's twenty twenty, title
but is expected to get fewer minutes With malanga in the.
Mix to be, frank the stakes for The storm team
are relatively. Low they'll aim for the, postseason but they
don't look prime to compete with the league's best this.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Season like a.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Lot of other, teams several of The storm's top names
will be free agents next season in time for the NEW,
cba Including Oguomakay, Diggins, clark And Gabby. Williams the focus
will be on Developing maloga this. Season let's talk. Stats last,
season The storm finished eighth and field goal percentage and
had the worst three point percentage in the, league so
they'll look to improve on the offensive. End they took
(04:51):
care of the ball last, year, though posting the second
lowest turnover, rate the lowest opponent steel, rate and the
lowest opponent block. Rate as for individual, stats we'll be
watching Sky diggins for a bit of a bounce back,
season especially since last year was her first back from maternity.
Leave her fifteen point one points per game were her
fewests since twenty, sixteen and her twenty nine point one
percent shooting from three was her worst since twenty, fourteen
(05:13):
but she did finish fourth in the, league averaging a
career high six point four. Assists the thirty four year
Old Uguma kay may be a long time, vet but
her sixteen point seven points and seven point six rebounds
per game last season were still slightly better than her career,
averages and last year marked a third Straight All star.
Season we'll see if she can keep those numbers up
in year. Fourteen while there's a lot of storm lore
(05:34):
around the many, championships the big story that stands out
to me is just their relationship with the city Of,
seattle a basketball crazed place that still dearly misses the
Mnba's SuperSonics and is very dedicated to its very successful w.
Team From afar to, me it feels like the team
and Especially Sue, bird have been recognized and embraced across
the city along with all the men's, teams in a
(05:55):
way that other cities are only now more recently. Doing
The storm also built the first dedicated training facility for
A wnba, team helping inspire the facility wars across the.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
League fun fact for The.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Storm one of The seattle business women who owns the
team Is Jinny, gilder a former collegiate And olympic, rower
and while she was rowing At, yale the conditions for
the women's team were so unsatisfactory that she was part
of a noteworthy nineteen seventy six protest in which nineteen
members of her team Wrote title nine on their naked
bodies and went into the athletic director's office demanding better
(06:28):
treatment and a locker room for their. Team pretty, badass,
Meish what DID i forget About?
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Seattle?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Oh you mentioned two pieces of WHAT i want to talk, About,
sarah but you didn't quite put them.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Together And i'm gonna put them together for.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
You Dominique belonga entering THE wnba with a veteran point
guard Like Skylar, diggins the rest of the, league y'all messed,
up y'all and messed up, now because who better to
teach you from a guard's perspective how to read defenses
in THE wnba than some who has been in all
(07:01):
kinds of different positions with some of the best post
players in the. League that is going to be a
stupid good pick and roll connection first and. Foremost and
then you add to the mix that she's coming into
a situation with Her french national team Teammate Gabby, williams
so there's some familiarity there.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
ALREADY i.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Understand it completely makes sense why this was the pick
And Dominique mlungo was so excited to come To.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
SEATTLE i just.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Worry if you're an, opponent worry you should be having,
nightmares should be staying up all night already game planning
for how you're gonna deal with.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
THAT i get, It, LISTEN i get. It but, like
we can't say this about every team in the. League every.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Team we. Can't every team can't be terrifying and a.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Contender AND i get what you say they can though
there are pieces of, this and absolutely they should have
nightmares about gettingdug.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Done we already saw some folks being, like ain't gonna be.
Me i'm not gonna be the.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
First player IN wnba history to get absolutely post. Terrized
gonna be, someone gonna be. SOMEONE i get what you're,
saying AND i agree with. You And i'm not saying
that The storm are going to.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Be a bad.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Team i'm just trying to figure out to reconcile that every,
team on, paper not every.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
TEAM a lot of the teams that felt. Shady, sorry,
Well i'm.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Looking right at your face and that jersey behind you
for The washington but not every team seems like a.
Contender BUT i agree with, you there are a lot
of aspects about This storm team to be terrified.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
About, YEAH i think that you're right in saying that
maybe we expect the playoff, birth but past, that it
just there's not enough. There there's not going to be enough.
Cohesion and yet again a situation WHERE i.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
WISH i don't wish that we weren't getting a NEW.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Cba i'm glad we're getting a NEW, cba BUT i
do wish there was just more time to see this
group come together and have a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Chemistry All, right gotta take a quick.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Break when we come, back we'll chat about a new
Look Phoenix mercury squad hoping to make its mark catch
you on the other.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Side.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Welcome back.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Slices let's Talk Phoenix, mercury who finished nineteen and twenty
one last year in their first season under head Coach
Nate tibbets and their last with one of the goats
of the, Game Diana. Trossi it was a third straight
losing season for the, squad but they doubled their wins
from the previous season and made it back to the,
playoffs where they were swept by The Minnesota links in
the first. Round here's The Phoenix mercury history you need to.
(09:23):
Know one of the w's eight original, teams The mercury
began competing in nineteen ninety, seven operating as a sister
squad to the Mnba's Phoenix, suns founded by Former sons
Owner Jerry.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Clangelo Robert sarver purchased the.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Team alongside The suns in two thousand and, four and
in twenty twenty, three both teams were bought, again this
time by Businessman Matt. Eshbia this is one of the
most successful franchises in the, league making it to five,
finals losing to the now Defunct Houston comets in ninety
eight and losing to The Chicago sky in twenty twenty,
one but hanging three championship banners and The rafters in,
between winning titles in two thousand and, seven two thousand and,
(09:58):
nine and twenty fourteen over the now Defunct Detroit, shock
The Indiana, fever and The, sky. Respectively phoenix has made
it to the playoffs in eighteen of its twenty nine,
seasons and all time legends who have helped him get
there Include, tarasi her wife and former Teammate Penny, Taylor
candice To, prix And Cappie, pondexter as well as active
Players Britney, Griner Dwana, bonner And Skyler diggins who are
(10:20):
all on other rosters. Now The mercury's twenty twenty five
tag line is a new. Start, listen you might not
recognize The mercury team that takes the court in twenty twenty,
five and WHEN i tell you about this team's offseason
additions and, losses you'll understand. Why, first AS i, mentioned
the team finally had to say goodbye to retiring Legend Diana,
tarassi the league's all time leading scorer with ten, thy
(10:42):
six hundred and forty six points in five hundred and
sixty five regular season. GAMES dt hung them up In,
february after twenty seasons of hoops with the franchise that
took her number one in two thousand and four out Of.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yukon goes without.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Saying that those are big shoes to, Fill but it's
not just the loss of D t that has This
mercury squad looking brand. New this will also be the
first season since twenty twelve without eleven year VETERAN Wnba,
champ ten Time All, star two Time league Scoring, champ
two Time Defensive player of The, year seven Time All
Defensive team, member eight Time league.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Blocks later AND wnba twenty Fifth.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Anniversary team Member Britney, griner who The mercury drafted first
overall out Of baylor in twenty. Thirteen all those stats
Ann griner wears a men's size seventeen, shoe so, yeah,
again big shoes to. Fill Point Guard Natasha cloud went
to the reigning Champion New York liberty in a four
team trade that also Sent Rebecca allen to The Chicago
sky And Sophie cunningham to The, Fever but the franchise
(11:40):
did do some work with. Acquisitions that four team trade
also brought five Time All star and six Time All
Defensive team Member Alyssa, thomas Two phoenix from The Connecticut,
sun The unicorn two Time All Star Sawtu, sobolei Plus
Kalanie brown and Sevgae, uzen all of whom spent last
season with The Dallas. Wings they also signed two time
W Nba Champ Sammy, whitcombe who spent the last two
(12:02):
seasons In. Seattle despite the big name, departures this team
still boasts a couple bona fide, stars INCLUDING Wnba, CHAMP
Wnba FINALS, mvp four Time All, star and recent unrivaled
Champ Kalia, copper plus the NEWBIES i Mentioned Alyssa, thomas
one of the most consistent triple double threats in the
league with a league record fifteen all, time and The
(12:23):
Unicorn satusable who can do it all when she stays.
Healthy the stakes for this, team, Well we've mentioned during
these previews that several teams carry a number of soon
to be free, agents all of them trying to time
their deals to the NEW cba next.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Year phoenix takes the.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Cake this team has just one contract that goes beyond
twenty twenty Five Colonie. Brown she's going to be standing
in an empty locker room day one of the, offseason
looking like The Fresh prince.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Meme the good news, is, though they do have one.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Of the best recruiting tools in the, league a brand
new one hundred million dollar practice, Facility so this year's
stakes might be as much about winning as they are
about sending a message to the league That phoenix is
the place to be and a great team to work.
For as for the, stats the team looks so different this.
YEAR i think the thing that's most worth mentioning is
what this team loses with dt And grinder. Gone the
(13:12):
pair are The mercury's top two all time in scoring and.
Rebounding tarasi is the franchise leader and, Assists grinder's fourth
on that, list And griner is the all time blocks,
leader With taras's second in that. Category that's a lot of, points,
boards dimes and blocks to try to. Replace they'll try
to do it Playing Nate tibbet's style of high volume
three point. Shooting the team averaged the fourth most attempts
(13:33):
in the league last, year though they were middle of
the pack in percentage shooting just thirty two point six.
Percent for all that, shooting the squad didn't corral a
lot of boards on. Offense they were next to last
in offensive, boards so a lot of one and done,
possessions and they weren't great at rebounding, overall finishing eleventh
in total Rebounds. Individually satusabli's one of just four players
(13:54):
IN wnba history averaging at least fifteen, points seven, rebounds
and three assists per, Game but she's also only played
more than twenty games in a season. Once in twenty twenty,
Three we'll see if she can stay healthy and put
up those numbers across an entire forty four game. Season
the stories and lore for This Phoenix mercury.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Team where do we?
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Begin maybe with that fancy practice FACILITY i mentioned taking
the acl of Actress Aubrey plaz as a sacrifice during
last Year's All star. Weekend how about Coach Nate timbitt's
coming into the league with no head coaching experience and
no women's basketball experience and immediately being made the highest.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Paid coach in the, league all while.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
The team proudly called him a girl dad in the
social media post announcing is. Higher what About Diana tarassi's
infamous episode with the door in The chicago skylocker room
after The mercury lost in the finals in twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
One speaking, up by the, way.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
More info soon to come on the unveiling of Our
Diana tarassi commemorative bench In Door.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
COUNTY i promise.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Fun fact about The. Mercury, ah you gotta go with
some hoops and gay shit. Here So Alyssa thomas and
Fiance Duana bonner spent the last five seasons together on
The Connecticut sun the perfect love and basketball. Situation but
Now i'll have to see how time a part affects
the power. Couple With thomas on The mercury And bonner
on The Indiana, fever can their love go the?
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Distance, also who follows who?
Speaker 1 (15:15):
First when their teams meet for the first time On july.
Thirtieth my money's On. Bonner all, right that's most of,
IT i think for The, mercury what DID i?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Forget, Sarah phoenix is.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Tough phoenix is tough for, Me i've got some question
marks around this. Squad they got a little, better but
they also got a little. Worse so WHAT i mean
by that Is Nate tibbetts in his first year at
the home in twenty twenty, four said that one of
his main points of emphasis was for his team to
get up a lot of, shots specifically a lot of three.
Pointers and they did that.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Right they did.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
That they didn't hit it at the clip that they wanted.
To but With Alyssa, thomas now somebody who is you,
know a four, traditionally but she can assist one of
the best of sisters in the. League like she's gonna
be able to help out in drawing attention defensively because
she can score the basketball as. Well but she's an excellent,
(16:08):
pastor has great court vision in the, half in the full,
court so she'll be able to feed the Cock coppers
and The Satu sabilis who are out on the wing
open for. Threes but they also got a little worse
Than mercury did because bench, WISE i just don't know
that there's enough of a spark. THERE i don't know
if there's enough role players who come in and you
(16:30):
know what you're gonna. Get SO i don't first see
this team going very. FAR i think they're gonna have
some tight games with some of the top teams in
the in the. League for, sure but will it be?
Sustainable will it be? Consistent THAT i don't.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Know couldn't agree more.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Mash this is definitely a wait and see team for,
me WHERE i just, LIKE i want to see how
all the pieces fit, together because no doubt they've got,
talent but how quickly does that talent mesh? Together how
quickly do they find whatever their new identity? Is and
not to, mention there's just so little experience on this
team once you get beyond the starting, lineup so it's
gonna be a lot of wait and see for me
(17:06):
on This Phoenix mercury.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Squad all, right we got to take another break when
we come. Back did you hear the News i'm an.
Author welcome, Back.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Slices we love that you're, listening but we want you
to get in the game every day. Too so here's
our good game play of the. DAY i come before
you once More, slices humbly requesting that you pre order
my Book runs in The.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Family.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Y'all official release date keeps getting closer and. Closer june.
Third it's almost, here AND i just can't wait for
you to dig into this incredible. Story i'd hate for
you to miss out on. It in, Fact i'm doing
you a favor by telling you about, it And i'm
doing you another favor by putting the link to preorder
the book right in our show. Note you can read,
it you can listen to the audiobook, version whatever you.
(18:04):
Want just order. It we'd love to hear from. You
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 don't forget to, subscribe rate
and review.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Slices it's.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Easy Watch Dominique malonga arriving with a bang or SHOULD
i say, stuff rating tens across the.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Board Review.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Now i'm a little, late BUT i finally watched the
Video The Seattle storm posted last week of number two
draft Pick malonga throwing one down in her very first
practice with her new. Squad we'll link to it in
our show notes if you haven't seen.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
It because. LISTEN i just have to say.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
THIS i do not think the women's game is missing
anything without. Dunks at the end of the, day whether
you shoot it or slam, it you get two points
for finishing around the. Rim but damn, IT i would
be lying IF i, said it isn't incredible to see
HOW w players continue to evolve and become more explosive
and dynamic. Athletes we are seeing teenagers now that are
(19:02):
dunking with, ease teenagers Like, milonga WHO i can't wait
to see do.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
This in a.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Game AND i also can't help but think about what
would have been possible if we'd started studying women athletes
and women's bodies a long time, Ago like let me
find out we got springs during our, cycle and we've
just been standing on the ground not even trying to
dunk like soup a.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Period we don't. Know we just don't. KNOW i could
have been reverse slamming it all this. Time now it's
your jurd, Y'all rate and.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Review thanks for, listening see you tomorrow when we Talk
Dallas wings And Los Angeles sparks. Basketball Good, Game, Seattle Good, Game.
Phoenix you to the fact we still have to wait
Until friday to watch our first regular SEASON w.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Game all these previews have got me itching for some.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Hoops Good game With Sarah spain is An iHeart women's
sports production in partnership With Deep Blue sports And. Entertainment
you could find us on The, iHeartRadio, App Apple podcasts
or wherever you get your.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Podcasts production By Wonder Media. Network our producers Are Alex
azzie And Misha.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Jones our executive producers Are Christina, Everett Jesse, Katz Jenny
kaplan And Emily. Rutterer our editors Are Emily, Rutterer Britney,
Martinez Grace, lynch And Gianna. Palmer our associate Producers Lucy
jones And I'm Your Host Sarah spain
Host
Sarah Spain
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