2024 Top 15 Moments: Women’s Basketball pt. 2

In part two of the Top 15 Moments in Women’s Basketball for 2024, Khristina and the Brunch Crew run it back. Terrika Foster-Brasby, B. Terrell, Myles Ehrlich, and Owen Pence all return to the show to cap off the most important moments from the biggest year in women's basketball. 

Want more women’s basketball scoop? Follow the show on Instagram @ICYMIwithKW and X @ICYMIwithKW and for more on Khristina follow her on Instagram @khristinawilliams 

 

Let us know what you think of the show by leaving a rating and a review! 

 

CREDITS

Executive Producers:

Nikki Ettore 

Jessie Katz

Tyler Klang

Jonathan Strickland

Producer:

Mike Coscarelli

Producer & Editor:

Tari Harrison

Host:

Khristina Williams

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. Welcome to the final episode of the year
of In Case You missed It with Christina Williams, and
we are continuing our top fifteen countdown of the most

(00:24):
awesome moments in women's basketball this year. But firstly, Happy
New Year everyone. I hope that you know you're enjoying
the last day of twenty twenty four and joining me
this week to continue the countdown are my friends from
the Brunch Crew minus one. We have Tarika Foster, Brisby,

(00:47):
Miles erlick, Owen Pence and my boy b Terrell back
here again this week to help continue the countdown of
the top moment. So without further ado, here's of the countdown.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
Number eight. Angel Reese breaks double double record in rookie season.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
Angel Reese made an immediate historic impact in her rookie season,
breaking the WNBA's double double record and establishing herself as
one of the most dominant young players in the league.
The former LSU star, known for her relentless rebounding and
scoring powers, finished her debut season with an impressive fourteen

(01:28):
double doubles, surpassing the previous rookie record and cementing her
place as of course to be reckoned with. Reese's all
around game, highlighted by her ability to control both ends
of the floor, quickly made her a key player for
her team, earning her recognition as one of the brightest
talents in women's basketball. All Right, So, Angel Reese had

(01:51):
had a phenomenal rookie season. She was a WNBA All Star,
she made All WNBA Rookie Team, and she was the
WNBA rebounding leader this past season. I think that for
the expectations of what a lot of people thought her
season would be, she kind of silenced all of her

(02:13):
haters both on and off the court.

Speaker 3 (02:15):
With everything that she was able to do.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
Obviously, her rookie season was cut short due to injury,
but she was very close to helping the Chicago's Guy
clinch a playoff berth in her rookie season.

Speaker 4 (02:27):
She was really shooting past my expectations for her as
a rookie, because I thought that she would have some
trouble adjusting to the next level. But she is an
elite second jump and rebounder and she's so good at
tracking the ball down and yes, some of the finishing
is not at the level that it will be as
she continues to develop. But for her to be able

(02:48):
to land in a spot where that opportunity was there,
which that's the biggest difficulty for a lot of rookies
coming into the WNBA is there just are not enough spots.
So for her to land in Chicago and really have
that runway to develop and to get those reps and
then to succeed as much as she did, it was

(03:08):
an undeniable success for Angel in her first year.

Speaker 5 (03:11):
Yeah, she does not get enough credit for what happened
in twenty twenty three when women's basketball went to a
whole other level. Like, if my memory serves correctly, correct
me if I'm wrong, LSU won that championship, not Iowa,
and it wasn't even close. Let's be very honest. So
Angel's Angel's impact is so felt. And then as it
pertains to the basketball, she was picked seventh overall, like

(03:34):
she gets graded on an extremely unfair scale because of
her fame and her popularity. Angel had one of the
most prolific rebounding seasons in league history, not just among rookies. Ever,
her impact was huge on winning and making Chicago better
than we thought they were going to be. So all
of this like, oh, this hate on Angel is very

(03:56):
tiresome and it comes from so many different places. Ultimately,
she deserves an A plus for her rookie season because
no one thought she was gonna be this good except
maybe herself, which says a lot.

Speaker 6 (04:08):
Shout out to Angel.

Speaker 7 (04:10):
You know, as a Gamecock fan, she was held to
play against in college. Like we all said, no one
knew exactly what to expect from her as a pro right,
because we always say offensively is not gonna translate whatever.
But as you mentioned, you know one thing about Angel,
She's always had that grit. She's always had that dog.
Whether it was you know, talking trash to kind of

(04:34):
like get in your head, whether it's you know, hustling
on the rebounds or whatever. It was, like, she always
brought the fight. She never backed down from a competition.
And I could give her that. I always felt like
that was going to translate, but I didn't know at
what clip it would translate. Like granted, if it wasn't
for her injury, she would have what I think she missed.

Speaker 6 (04:54):
What the last four or five games.

Speaker 7 (04:56):
Yeah, she would have added another fifty to one hundred
rebounds to her total.

Speaker 6 (05:01):
For the season.

Speaker 7 (05:02):
And you know, she she's up there already with the
likes of the Yolanda Griffiths and and the Rebecca Brunson's
and you know the Todd with Williams. Franklin's Like, so
she's already etched her name and just her rookie year,
and so I'm excited for her.

Speaker 6 (05:17):
The fame is another thing, like the the.

Speaker 7 (05:19):
Girl is a star, whether you hate it, love it,
like it, indifferent everything, like, the girl is a star.
And so I'm excited that she is. And this is
no pun intended. You know the name of her podcast,
unapologetically herself, because she's gonna give you what she feels
like once again, whether you like it or hate it.

Speaker 6 (05:35):
So shouts out to you, Angel.

Speaker 7 (05:37):
I'm glad she's no longer an LSU though now I
can root for her in peace.

Speaker 6 (05:40):
Ah.

Speaker 3 (05:42):
I also feel like going back to like the off
the court stuff.

Speaker 1 (05:45):
I feel like this is the star that we've been
waiting for for a long time because when we look
at the early w NBA where the league was embedded
into pop culture, you saw all the commercials the Olympic
team being on the episode of Martin that we all
and so now I feel like we're getting back to
that type of marketing where we see w NBA players,

(06:06):
not only Angel Reese, but the Asian Wilsons, the Sabrinas,
the Stewie's all embedded back into the culture.

Speaker 3 (06:13):
And I think that that is also helping.

Speaker 1 (06:15):
With the growth of the w NBA and making it
part of the everyday conversation.

Speaker 4 (06:19):
They might have to put an acting class into the
next CBA though, That's all I'm gonna say, because we're
about to see them everywhere, but we got to work
on this a little bit.

Speaker 7 (06:26):
Yeah, there are a lot of players who are have
been a lot of places that really don't do the best.
Like I've been listening to a lot of these reads
and this is coming from someone I was a theater
major all that stuff. You know, everybody knows me, No,
I'm a theater right, Like, listening to some of these
raids on like these branded polls and these campaigns, I'm like,

(06:48):
oh my god, that was terrible. So hopefully we cover
some ground there because a lot of them need the work.

Speaker 2 (06:56):
Number seven w NBA expansion.

Speaker 1 (07:00):
The WNBA is set for an exciting era of growth,
with three new teams, Golden State Valkyries, Toronto Tempo and
WNBA Portland slated to join the league by twenty twenty six,
signaling the league's continue commitment to expanding its footprint and
talent pool. The Golden State Valkyries kicked off their entry
with a strategic expansion draft, selecting eleven players, including a

(07:24):
mix of established stars and emerging talents. Seven of the
eleven picks bring valuable international experience to the roster, which
features notable names like Timmy bac Menley, WNBA Champion kayleb Thornton,
and of course standout role player Kate Martin and unrestricted
pre agent Monique Billins. As the league continues to prepare

(07:45):
for its biggest expansion in decades, the new teams are
poised to elevate the competition, adding fresh energy in depth
to an already dynamic WNBA. Through twenty twenty six, we
have three new teams coming into the w NBA, the
Golden State Valkyries, the Toronto Tempo and the WNBA Portland

(08:07):
expansion team. There have been a couple groups proposing bids
to bring teams to cities like Cleveland. But I'm excited
for the growth of the w NBA fronts to the
show Golden State Valkyries. They came onto the show recently
and talked about their five year plan to wanting to

(08:27):
win a championship. So what excites you the most about
the expansion and these new teams.

Speaker 7 (08:33):
We all get new places to hang out and party.

Speaker 6 (08:42):
Kids, cover your ears.

Speaker 7 (08:43):
Imagine this group having sidecars in Toronto. A.

Speaker 3 (08:48):
I don't drink side cars. You gotta know my drink
of choice.

Speaker 6 (08:51):
You should?

Speaker 8 (08:52):
You should come over.

Speaker 7 (08:52):
To milesand Owen can get there. What is it the
Blue Moon or whatever? It had me try a really
good beer before the draft, and I'm chopped because I'm
not a beer drinker. But like, I'm excited that we
get to go new places like Boom go to the
Bay next year and.

Speaker 1 (09:09):
Then twenty cities. We need new places to hang out.

Speaker 7 (09:12):
Exactly, Like imagine what's going to the six Yeah, Like,
we gotta watch our.

Speaker 3 (09:18):
Persons in the Bay Area a little bit. We gotta
watch our purses.

Speaker 9 (09:22):
It's it's oh, we already know somebody on this podcast
has had a very bad experience in the Bay and
that's why they walking.

Speaker 6 (09:28):
Away right now.

Speaker 9 (09:29):
But no, on a serious note, I'm just overall excited
about expansion. I'm gonna be the first to say I
was one who always obviously wanted expansion, but I also
thought it would make sense to expand rosters, right. I
wanted us to go from a twelve man roster to
a fifteen man roster to give some extra people an

(09:50):
opportunity to play. And I've always wanted to ensure that
wherever we decided, and I'm saying we like I'm part
of the WNBA, but wherever the WNBA decided to expand,
that it was a place that was going to be viable,
in a place that was going to be sustainable. Because
I remember, and I know again i'm older than all
of you, but I'm sure you all know that as

(10:11):
much as we were excited when the league started, we
also and I specifically had to go through watching people fold,
watching teams fold, watching my ever so beloved Detroit Shock
become the Tulsa Shock, which now becomes the Dallas Wings, right,
and so and so with barbecue, sauce and ranch. But

(10:33):
at the end of the day, those were things that
I thought were important and I think that those were
things that the WNBA actually got right, like the franchises,
the ownership, the investment. It seems as if the people
who they are working with on these expansions understand the
task at hand and know how important it is to
provide that sustainability. We've already seen what Golden State is

(10:56):
preparing to do with their team. They've already sold out
and ticket holders, they're already delivering incredible merch. You've already,
as Miles is wearing right now, Like we've already seen
the tone being set from them, right and now we
have already started to experience what playing basketball would be
like in Canada. We saw it in Toronto in twenty

(11:18):
twenty three, we saw it earlier this year, and now
we're getting to experience that again in twenty twenty five
in Vancouver. So I like the way that this league
is being very at least from the outside looking in
it it appears to be very strategic about where and
how it is moving in its expansion efforts. And so

(11:40):
I would love to see this continue with another team
and what I would consider deep South Carolina's Louisiana.

Speaker 6 (11:49):
Yeah baby, right.

Speaker 1 (11:51):
Right, So looking forward to it. I think that the
Toronto Tempo is a very interesting team name. I think
that they could have done a little bit better, but
I like it. Love the bread behind it is giving nostalgia,
is giving nineties.

Speaker 4 (12:05):
Eighties by like yeah, colors too.

Speaker 8 (12:08):
I think that we got spoilers.

Speaker 4 (12:10):
It's like a Maroon and a sky blue that they
showed together, and I like that that combo. They are
trying to be Canada's basketball team, and they've already talked
about how they're going to travel and not have all
their home games in one spot, but that they are
going to travel around Canada. And I think we saw
that with the WNBA making this effort where they have
these exhibition games up there, these preseason games, that there

(12:32):
is a desire to watch women's hoops. But if there's
just one team, having it become the entire country's squad
is really exciting for me, and it's innovative.

Speaker 9 (12:41):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (12:41):
I think that that's going to lie heavily on if
the WNBA CBA can put in writing, as Terry Jackson
said on a previous show, the travel situation, because right now,
the current travel situation is something that isn't permanent when
it comes to these private charter flies, but that's going
to have to be something in writing for just the
traveling of the different teams.

Speaker 3 (13:02):
I feel like.

Speaker 1 (13:03):
When the new CBA comes and hopefully they get it
done within the year time frame and negotiations, that that's
going to be the number one thing I'm thinking about
for teams when it comes to traveling to some of
these places. But the Valkyries seemed promising. They selected eleven players.
Seven of those eleven players have international playing experience. I
think for me, I mean no surprise they chose Kayle Thornton,

(13:25):
a three and D player who was very instrumental in
helping the New York Liberty win their championship. Timmy pac
Manlay was a surpriser for me only because I know
we all miss Called thought that she would be protected
by the Fever. But I'm excited to see how they
use some of these assets for a free agency. I

(13:45):
feel like they still are a couple pieces away, a
star away from really solidifying this roster, but I do
think that they have really good, solid pieces right now
of players who are considered underdogs, who can definitely produce
and who so I'm excited.

Speaker 9 (14:03):
Anybody listening, please do not pronounce the last tea in Toronto.
If I hear y'all out here any streets talking about Toronto,
I'm just I'm going to stick a fork in you immediately.

Speaker 8 (14:15):
Just do not pronounce that tea. It does not exist.

Speaker 1 (14:18):
Detroit girl, and you are BSA over all, right, y'all,
We're gonna take a quick break, and when we get
back more Top moments from women's basketball in twenty twenty four.

Speaker 2 (14:38):
Number six, Team USA Women's Basketball dominate Paris Olympics.

Speaker 1 (14:44):
Team USA Women's Basketball further solidified its legacy as the
greatest dynasty in Olympic team history, dominating Paris twenty twenty
four Olympics under head coach CHERRYL Lee to capture an
eighth straight gold medal. Achievement marked another chapter in a
story of unrivaled excellence, with Team USA continuing to set

(15:07):
the standard for global basketball supremacy. Diana Tarazzi, playing in
her final Olympics, capped off her illustrious career with a
remarkable sixth gold medal, solidifying her place.

Speaker 3 (15:19):
Among all time greats.

Speaker 1 (15:20):
Meanwhile, Asia Wilson was named the tournament's MVP, delivering a
dominant performance with twenty one points, thirteen rebounds, and five
blocks in that final game.

Speaker 3 (15:30):
While the women's team.

Speaker 1 (15:32):
Soared to the top of the podium, Team USA's three
x three squad also earned a bronze medal, adding another
accomplishment to the country's basketball dominance in Paris. With a
blend of season leadership and emerging talent, Team USA's dominance
in Paris only reinforces place as the gold standard and
Olympic basketball. So this past summer, I don't think any

(15:56):
team has had a better outcome and Team USA women's basketball,
I think that with their eighth straight gold medal win,
obviously they solidified themselves and submitted themselves in history as
the best dynasty in team sports at the Olympics, and
so you know they the road to getting the gold

(16:18):
medal was definitely troublesome, and I said when the Olympics
started that the guard play was going to be something
that I was worried about, and we saw it play out.
But for what it's worth, congratulations to Cheryl Reeve, to
Diana to Rozzi for getting a sixth gold medal, to
Asia Wilson, who was the MVP and you know that
Olympic game. Congratulations to Team USA for doing something great.

Speaker 4 (16:42):
They did a really good job getting that championship. But yeah,
when I saw on this on the sheet that it
was like tam Usa dominates, I was like, I don't
know about dominates. That was not how I remember sitting
on like the floor watching this game this fourth quarter
and being terrified to move from my spot. It was
really good competitive basketball, and I think that that is

(17:02):
I wanted to highlight just the parody that we're seeing
and the growth that we're seeing in terms of international play,
and that's women's basketball becoming a global game, and that
for me was one of the most exciting takeaways, along
with obviously us just knowing so many of these players
and being able to see them celebrate their accomplishment while
also being pushed to the very very edge.

Speaker 7 (17:23):
I'm just excited that Gabby wore those big shoes that day.
I'm so excited because right, yeah, she had her KDB.
I did not want her to. I did not want
that game to go to overtime. So I'm so, so,
so so excited. So yeah, I mean, they had some
games that were a lot easier than others. They had

(17:44):
some that was like, all right, we got we had
to play.

Speaker 6 (17:47):
And I think.

Speaker 7 (17:48):
Towards the end of their route to the gold medal,
we got a chance to really see like jack moments
from Jackie and Ka, like who may not have been
get in a lot of the minutes at the start
of their their cycle, but towards the end when it
in those possessions that matter, you know, when they needed
defensive stops or even offense, like those were two big players,

(18:12):
and of course Agent was phenomenal.

Speaker 6 (18:13):
And then we all know that mimable moment at the end,
she's that what that bitch? Okay, I didn't want to
say it, but you said it, so yeah.

Speaker 9 (18:22):
Because I got your mad, because I got the authority
because I could say it, that bitch and she was
period put a period on it.

Speaker 5 (18:30):
But we gotta we gotta be clear about who she
was talking about. She was talking about Ka.

Speaker 8 (18:34):
She sure was, Yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure.

Speaker 6 (18:38):
You know, I want to use it for her and
I will too.

Speaker 5 (18:41):
This was a glorious Olympics for me because all my
three favorite players became friends. It was it couldn't have
been better. And Ka in that fourth quarter of the
gold medal game, come on, she she turned it to
another level.

Speaker 6 (18:54):
It was beautiful.

Speaker 9 (18:55):
Yeah, I think it also this Olympics gave us an
opportunity to really get some love and show some love
and respect to the growth of the international game as well.
I think we've all known and seen for many years
that the international game has been a phenomenal one to watch.
Is why outside of the fact that they pay our
players a lot of money, but they do come back different,
They come back better after playing with that much physicality

(19:17):
when they come back to the WNBA, and so it
was great to see them on another stage. And I
just want to throw one more shout out. I was
so excited to see Gabby Williams just be a beast
for teen France, like she was somebody who It was
just like, we know that the girl can ball, we
know that the skills. But at the end of the day,
if people have to come down and choose what's going

(19:38):
to work for them, you know, playing in the WNBA
or doing what I think is going to best provide
for me and my family. There aren't a lot of
people who will always choose the WNBA. Some people will
choose what they feel is best for them and their family,
and Gabby did that this year. She decided to forego
playing in the w this year so that she can
continue to play in France, and it worked out anyway

(20:01):
because she still ended up playing in the WNBA this year,
So either way it goes. You know, make the best
decision for you. It always works out in the end.
But yeah, go team. I actually didn't worry so much
about our five on five team. It was our three
on three team that I was more concerned about once
Cameron Brink went down, and so they did walk away
with the bronze medal this year, so kudos and congratulations

(20:21):
to them. But I never concerned myself with our five
on five squad. I truly believe we have the best
team in the world, and so it was great to
see them feel some pressure.

Speaker 8 (20:29):
But I know we was going win and go. I
want to worry about.

Speaker 4 (20:32):
Them getting that bronze medal, that three x three bronze medal.
That was a journey. That team lost its first few games,
and like you said, when Cam went down, Deerica came
in at the last minute and we saw some giant
moments from Ryan Howard, from Sierra Verdick, from Hanley van
Lit and from Deerka Hampy They all had huge moments
because them getting onto the metal stand was a huge

(20:54):
accomplishment and really an upset for how they started that tournament.

Speaker 3 (20:58):
Don't ever count Team USA.

Speaker 1 (21:00):
That's that's what we learned through seeing both the five
on five and three x three team. I also think
that it just speaks to just how great the USA
basketball is overall, in the standard that's been set from
the players that come before and the players who are
just setting the new standard now. I had a lot
of time to talk to some of the members of

(21:22):
Team USA, Asia Wilson, Alyssa Thomas, who was a tabauting
for the first time, the FISA, Collier klea coopper, and
you know, they talked about just what that moment meant
for them to be able to get on one of
the biggest stages and how they earned that. I know
that a lot of the conversations surrounded the Olympics this year,
particularly in women's basketball, was who may have been left

(21:44):
off the roster Erke Caitlyn Clark's. But I think that,
you know, these players showed why they deserve to be
on that stage in the biggest moment, and twenty twenty
eight will present a new moment for a new group
of players. There's no doubt in my mind that Caitlyn
Clark will be in that place of the Diana Tarazzi's.
But it also showed how big choose it was to

(22:05):
feel where players like SUPERD and Sylvia Vowles and the
teenage halls Is were no longer on Team USA, right, Like,
you can't replace a player like super Like. You just
saw how big of a hole that was in the
roster coming into this Olympics. Just the guard the needs
for the guards to play at the top top of
their position.

Speaker 6 (22:24):
The next few draft classes are like guard heavy.

Speaker 7 (22:27):
I think we do have with the exception of maybe
a Lauren Betts, all of the post players that I
can see that will be on Team USA are already
in the W because you have your Leah Boston's, your Shakira's,
your Breed Jones. So I think all the post players
are already there. They could probably consider like Lauren Betts,
who should be and maybe her second year if I'm

(22:48):
not mistaken by the time the next Olympic cycle comes,
or maybe even her third year because she Yeah, either way,
the guards is where I'm like, yo, that's gonna be
a dogfight because you already have your season events like
your Kelsey Plumbs, your Jackie Young's and your cause. But
then what will it look like for the Jujus and
Pages and Caitlin's etc. Who comes in Malaysiam Hannah if

(23:12):
you know?

Speaker 1 (23:12):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (23:12):
And also a lot of these people have dual citizenship too,
so where you know, will they even play for team?
Say so, I'm excited to see what those battles look
like going forward, going to the next Olympic cycle. Bitch,
hopefully I am there because they not like us.

Speaker 2 (23:27):
Number five Brianna Stewart and the FISA Collier launch Unrivaled.

Speaker 1 (23:33):
Brianna Stewart and the Visa Collier are leading a groundbreaking
new chapter in women's basketball with a launch of Unrival League,
a revolutionary professional basketball league that promises to lead shake
the landscape of the sport. Featuring thirty six of the
top w NBA players, The league has already secured a
media rights deal with T and T Sports, signaling a

(23:54):
major step forward invisibility and growth. Unrival will be coached
by a powerhouse lineup of six star head coaches, including
basketball legend Teresa Weatherspoon and Phil Handy. The league has
also raised an impressive thirty five million dollars, with notable
investors like Juji Watkins joining the ranks. Despite the excitement

(24:16):
that the league experienced a shift when Kelsey Plump dropped out,
but the show must go on, with rising stars like
Paige Beckers and paj Johnson signing lucrative NIL deals to
further amplify the league's brand. With this combination of top
tier talent, strategic investment, and high profile partnerships, the unrival
League is poised to be a game changer for women's

(24:37):
professional basketball. All right, Now, it's time for the top
five moments of the year, and coming in at number five,
we have Brianna Stewart and the FISA Collier launching the
Unrivaled three x three Basketball League, And I think that
this put a lot of people on notice. Obviously the WNBA,

(24:58):
I think in just how much they were able to
get done in a short timeframe. It was recently announced
that they raised twenty eight million dollars thirty five million
dollars overall for this league and that every player will
touch six figures that is playing in this league. They
have thirty six top WNBA players I think that the

(25:22):
media rights deal with T ANDT and True Sports, it
was definitely eye opening of the possibilities of how women's
sports leagues can start to negotiate with different networks and
streaming platforms. And then you add in the six head
coaches headlined by Teresa Weatherspoon and Phil Handy, who's at

(25:42):
a hand in you know, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers,
and that sort of lineage coming in to coach in
this league. I like the structure of Unrivaled. I love
that it's player led and that they're able to create
more opportunities they have nil opportunities for athletes like Paige
Becker's and front of the show laje A Johnson, and

(26:05):
so I think that this is definitely living up to
its hype and its name of being unrivaled, one of
one and just creating something new. I don't think that
it's competing with the WNBA, obviously, because it's in a
different season and just a different style of basketball. But
I like that it's complimentary to what we already have

(26:26):
out there and making basketball a year round sport. When
we look at it, we know that AU kind of
set the tone when it came to, you know, creating
options that was domestic for women's basketball players, so they
don't have to go overseas to try to make ends
meet or to make more money. And so I love
that there are more options for these athletes.

Speaker 5 (26:48):
I'm so excited for Unrivaled. I think my favorite element
is that the players are getting equity. It's just everything
that Unrivaled is doing seems intentional and focused on prioritizing
the players, their experience, their ability to stay stateside in
the off season and make very competitive amounts of money,
have a stake in the company, and as you said,

(27:09):
you know, get extra dollars through NIL.

Speaker 9 (27:11):
I don't think that the WNBA should be threatened by
this league. I've said that on multiple podcasts, because again,
it's just more basketball. It's a three on three format,
it's not the w But what I do think that
the WNBA should be maybe not use the word threatened,
but should be looking into in terms of mimicking, is
how they were able in such a short time to

(27:32):
be able to accumulate things like a Miller Lite sponsor,
having people provide these sponsorships and give and invest into
this league and get a partnership like T and T
sports to do in such a short time. And by
short time, I'm like, I know that this league was
actually scheduled to be in existence. I believed last year, right,

(27:54):
or with this year being the first year, so I understand,
like it's not short as in like it did take
a year or two, but short as in like the
amount of time that the WNBA has been in existence
versus the amount of time that this league has been
in existence in the amount of support that they have
been able to garner within that time. I just feel like,

(28:15):
if it's me and I'm working for the W, I'm like, hey,
let me talk to some of these people to see
what y'all were saying in these rooms that we haven't
been saying, or let me see where your connections were
with this particular brand or company that maybe we missed
the mark on. Because clearly whatever it is that you're
pitching is working. Let's collaborate, right, The spirit of collaboration
is how women's basketball is going to continue to grow.

(28:37):
So I don't think the W at all should be
threatened by this league, but they certainly should be looking
to figure out how do we do what y'all did
to maybe help our league grow in this way.

Speaker 4 (28:45):
What I'm most excited about, outside of everything we're going
to see on the court, is the timing, because this
is going to happen prime free agency with some of
the biggest names in women's basketball. So it's almost going
to be like around All Star where teams or where
player or trying to chat with each other and think
about what they're going to be doing in the next season.
So it's going to create some rivalries, but it's also

(29:05):
going to create some friendships. And that was one of
the big takeaways from the Olympics this past summer is
seeing those pairings that you hadn't otherwise noticed before and
watching how players could build that chemistry on the court.
And if we can have something come out of this
where there's a couple of lunar owls together, or a
couple of players on another team something like that that

(29:27):
all of a sudden find themselves as teammates next year,
that's going to be something that's going to change the
trajectory I think of free agency.

Speaker 7 (29:35):
I just want to party on the beach in Miami
with my favorite linen outfit in my cookout sandals and
be laying on a yacht thipping some brown liquor.

Speaker 6 (29:44):
I don't care what it is.

Speaker 7 (29:45):
I just want the brown brown Lika in hoops is
a match made in heaven. And then you add in
a yacht in Miami. I just found out that Miami's
nickname Yams. Can I get to the Yams? Yeah, I'm
trying to beat it. Cong ads to them for taking
ownership and you know, being another opportunity to create additional

(30:06):
income for their peers.

Speaker 6 (30:07):
So that's dope. That's dope.

Speaker 1 (30:09):
Miami and the winter. It doesn't get better than that.
And look, I love me a good yacht day. So
you know, I know we're gonna We're gonna get there the.

Speaker 6 (30:17):
Same we see the picks.

Speaker 3 (30:21):
But I can't wait to get up with y'all in Miami.

Speaker 2 (30:24):
Number four South Carolina finishes perfect season with NCAA title.

Speaker 1 (30:30):
The University of South Carolina is twenty twenty four NCAA
title victory was a crowning achievement in the program's stored history,
as the game Cops capped off a perfect season with
a dominant win over Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes
and the championship game, Camello Cardoso delivered a standout performance
with fifteen points seventeen rebounds, helping to propel South Carolina

(30:54):
to their third national title in the last eight years.
What made the triumph even more impressive was that the
Gamecocks had to rebuild after losing all five starters in
the previous season, Yet under the leadership of head coach
Don Staley, South Carolina not only bounced back, but became
just the tenth Division one team in history to go

(31:15):
through an entire season undefeated. This victory also cemented Stately's legacy,
making her the fifth coach in NCAA history to win
at least three national titles, joining the ranks of Gino Arima,
Pat Summit, Kim Moki, and tar Van Derverer. South Carolina's
perfect season and historic championship run showcased the program's remarkable

(31:37):
resilience and dominance, further solidifying his place as one of
the elite teams in women's basketball. So South Carolina absolutely
dominated their twenty twenty three season and finished it off
with a national title. B I see you flexing the

(31:57):
game Cock gear. Oh, and I see you flex the
Don staycare T shirts. I mean, what a phenomenal season
about South Carolina spearheaded by coach Day, who's the fifth
coach to win at least.

Speaker 3 (32:10):
Three national titles.

Speaker 1 (32:11):
So she's up there now with the Vaginos, the Paths,
the Keim Molky's, the t Bon Devere. But also congrats
to this program on such an amazing season.

Speaker 6 (32:21):
From their very first game in Paris, friends, we wee
p we we Parrie, I was like they had us
in the first half. It was a little like whoa man,
Hannah is a dog?

Speaker 7 (32:34):
But baby, we showed the South Carolina showed their mother
like that was such a fun team because nobody knew
what to expect, and you know, down called it oncoming
favor everything. If you're a fan of the team, you
follow the team they were talking about, you know it
was going to be some growing pains, possibly because this
was a team that was much different.

Speaker 6 (32:53):
Everyone was going to have new.

Speaker 7 (32:54):
Roles and the year was nicknamed the Revenged or the
Ravenge Tour, and I was just so excited to see them.
I did not expect they were gonna go thirty eight
and no, like an undefeated season that hadn't happened in years,
and for it to be a team that I am
a fan of like I'm just so I was so

(33:16):
so so so so so so excited, like everyone was
a start in their moment, like I mean, you had
the seniors who led, they we had an amazing transfer
in pow pow like Camilla and the shot was amazing,
Like I mean, that's when I knew it was meant

(33:36):
to be for us to be undefeated. I was in
Bonstercurs Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, hot because I
was drinking, I was sweating, and I was like, oh,
we about to lose, and I said, it's gonna be funny.

Speaker 6 (33:49):
Camilla gonna hit the three.

Speaker 7 (33:50):
I was just joking that girl ain't take a three
or ain't made a three yet, whatever, and she made it.

Speaker 6 (33:57):
I remember what I was wearing. I was so excited.

Speaker 7 (34:02):
And I'm sorry if I'm busting out your speakers if
you're listening to this, because I'm excited just thinking about it.

Speaker 6 (34:07):
And then on the road to the National championship, Oh
we got sweet ravenge. Maybe sweet ravenge.

Speaker 7 (34:14):
Shout out to Raven Johnson because she put on a
defensive clinic and my game costed me at thirty eight
and oh and down got up there in Haguchi in
that aluminufoil jacket, and she said, uncommon favor, baby a
common favor. I'm good. I'm good. I don't care what
happens this year. I'm good we went undefeated. Baby a ah,

(34:37):
thank you.

Speaker 4 (34:37):
I do think that this contributes to the growth of
women's college basketball we've seen the last few years because
the narratives that you could not have scripted this better.
There's the revenge element there. I mean the final four
matchups that we saw, the fact that South Carolina won
thirty eight no, but had those moments where they would
start games slow and then bounce back and they were

(34:58):
so resilient, and and then even going back the year
before where we saw Caitlin and Angel playing each other
in the title game and everything that had led up
to that with South Carolina in the final four game
before that, everything led to that moment and they just
kept on just showcasing time and time again how they
were a team that was separated from the rest of

(35:21):
the league, from the rest of the country in a
sport that has so much parody. At the end of
the day, Don Staley and her teams are standing alone.

Speaker 5 (35:30):
This was such a special team. This was by far
my favorite sports moment of the year, and it struck me.
I wrote about this after they won. It all stems
from Don and it's the love that she coaches with
and the way that she actually treats her players like
people and like family, and that you really saw that

(35:52):
on the court, Like this team just loved one another.
They played for one another. They lost one of the
great players in college basketball history, Aliah Boston, who had
a ring of her own. They lost her to the draft.
No one thought they were gonna even be number one,
win it all, never mind undefeated, Like this team just
had a really special element and it all stems from

(36:12):
Don's greatness, and it was. It was profound and really special.

Speaker 6 (36:16):
We are the champions. I need them to play every.

Speaker 7 (36:24):
Nook if you book that is unofficially officially a game
Cock anthem. I need them to play Sweet Caroline. I
know a lot of people don't like it.

Speaker 6 (36:33):
I don't care. Whatever Hoody in the Blowfish and Darius
Rutgers songs is. I don't know.

Speaker 7 (36:39):
I'm gonna be with you whatever it is, play all
of that. Because the game Cocks were on top every.

Speaker 6 (36:45):
Still, we just there. We lost one game already.

Speaker 7 (36:47):
But you know, I haven't experienced many losses in the
past few years, so it's cool. I didn't know how
to react, but it don't matter, so man uncommon favor
once again.

Speaker 1 (36:58):
All Right, y'all, we're gonna take a quick break, and
when we get back. More from the top moments of
twenty twenty four.

Speaker 2 (37:16):
Number three Ajia Wilson's dominate WNBA season.

Speaker 1 (37:20):
Asia Wilson's twenty twenty four WNBA season was nothing short
of historic, as she etched her name into the league's
record books with the performance that left no doubt about
her place among the all time greats. Earning her third
MVP award, Wilson became just the fourth player in WNBA
history to accomplish the beat, joining the ranks of Sheryl Swoops,

(37:42):
Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson. Her unanimous MVP selection, the
first since Cynthia Cooper in nineteen ninety seven, underscored the
shield dominance she displayed throughout the season. She ranked first
in points and blocks, second in rebounds, fifth and stills,
and fourth in minutes, proving herself as an all around force.

(38:03):
Wilson also set the single season record with one twenty
one points and four hundred and fifty one totally bounce
furthersonmons in her status as one of the most dominant
players in the league and in season defined by statistical excellence,
Asia Wilson not only captured her third MVP but set
a new standard to the greatness of the WNBA. So

(38:26):
Asia Wilson single handedly had one of the best WNBA
seasons in league history. This year, she won her third
MVP award, and she won it unanimously. The last player
to do that was Cynthia Cooper back in the augural season.

Speaker 3 (38:42):
Of the w NBA.

Speaker 1 (38:44):
And I feel like Asia was playing with a chip
on her shoulder a little bit this season because one
she's held to a different standard than other players, and
that just happens when you have greatness thrust upon you.
Like there's just so much pressure and expectation, and you know,
like she just went on the floor and did what
needed to be done. Obviously, the Las Vegas Ages season

(39:07):
didn't end the way that they may have won it,
but I feel like Asia can, you know, holds her
chest out, hold her head up and be proud of
the season that she's had. She's in her prime right
now and she's single handedly doing things that has never
been done before, and might I say she is the
best player in women's basketball right now.

Speaker 8 (39:28):
So I felt like she came in with a chip
on her shoulder.

Speaker 9 (39:32):
Asia said, how dare you give me a fourth place vote? Like,
I feel like it wouldn't have hit so bad just
simply losing MVP, right because anybody that you asked who
truly followed last season and I've been staying ten toes
down on this and I'm still stay in tent toes
down on this.

Speaker 8 (39:50):
I personally, I personally thought.

Speaker 9 (39:52):
It was Alyssa Thomas and I said, Alyssa has a
season that we ain't never seen before for its time.
And I like Alyssa was the MVP last year. That
she literally had all of the first place votes, So
I was like my dog clearly, clearly everybody else.

Speaker 8 (40:09):
She didn't have yours, but she had majority.

Speaker 9 (40:12):
Alisa fir for fact, had majority of the first place votes.

Speaker 8 (40:18):
She need she had to have yours.

Speaker 6 (40:20):
She ain't need yours? Did what she she didn't?

Speaker 8 (40:23):
No, she didn't.

Speaker 9 (40:24):
She clearly didn't need the first place votes. It was
the second place votes that overturned every damn thing, and
that's all that'st we got. She got majority of the
second place votes. But my thing is, I feel like
Asia could have lived. Would she have been cool? Maybe not,
but she could have lived losing to Alyssa Thomas placing first,

(40:44):
second or third, But your disrespectful asses gave her a
fourth place. You mean to tell me you genuinely and
your mind thought that there were four other players in
the w NBA that were better than Asia Wilson And
don't matter. At the point is Asia Wilson said, y'all
got me fed up out here in these streets, and

(41:05):
I wish y'all would ever disrespect me in this manner
ever again. And to me, that's what's set off this
season and every single time Asia rises to the occasion,
I don't know when y'all gonna stop playing in her face.
She's gonna get it done every single time. And to me,
that's what this MVP season truly embodied. Stopped playing in
my face, that's all I got.

Speaker 1 (41:26):
Almost felt, it almost felt like a spiritual experience just
seeing her get her third MVP award. Definitely motivating for
me and my regular ass life. But like, really, when
people try to play in your face. You gotta show them,
you can show them better than you can tell them.
And I feel like that's what she did on the court.

Speaker 7 (41:45):
I remember back in the bubble when Asia got her
first MVP and I was like, man, this is just
her third year. I was like, I won't be surprised
if when it's all said and done, she has the
most MVPs. Like I was, you know, saying it jokingly, right,
you know, because I'm just so excited coming off the high,
like she took an undermanned team kind of sort of
to the finals. You know that that was an unprecedented year,

(42:09):
you know, in regards to the bubble and the pandemica,
et cetera. And I'm just like, this is just the start,
and she wasn't She was nowhere near where she is now.

Speaker 6 (42:17):
And so three inn what just her seventh year?

Speaker 7 (42:21):
If I'm not mistaken, give or take, you know, if
trends continue how they are, she got bout another eight
to ten more years in the league. I'm not going
to sit here and lie and say that my guess
of her getting five could very well be possible. Like,
who knows, maybe she comes back bitter next year because
they didn't get it done.

Speaker 6 (42:41):
This year, maybe she.

Speaker 7 (42:42):
Comes back and adds something else. She's added something else
to her game every year. We've seen ball handling, we've
seen over the past two years the three that she's
really added. And this year she was pulling up in
crossover threes, like what step back threes? So what is
that going to look like? Going for Asia Rion Wilson?
And I'm just excited. So at the end of the day,

(43:04):
they might have to name this MVP trophy after Agia Wilson,
the Asia Wilson WNBA MVP Trophy.

Speaker 4 (43:11):
Please, I've been saying for a while now, how lucky
the league is, how many other professional sports leagues would
love to trade their face, their superstar for Asia Wilson.
Because it's not just what she does on the court,
it's everything that she does off it. It's the charisma
that she brings, it's the passion that she brings. It's

(43:33):
just how accessible she is as a star. And then
she goes out there and averages the most points per
game in WNBA history, totals the most rebounds, is doing
it on the defensive end, and it's just everything that
she's bringing to this sport is part of this growth,
and I think that that's gotten lost in the conversation
in a way that is really upsetting, because Asia should
be on the face of everything, she should be on

(43:55):
the center of everything, and there's still time. Next year
is going to somehow be bigger for her, Bigger than
the year that she led Team USA to a gold medal,
Bigger than the year that she was a unanimous MVP,
Bigger than the year that she was a best selling
New York Times author. Next year is going to be
even bigger for Asia, and I'm excited for it.

Speaker 5 (44:16):
It's just the goat, like they're never gonna let me
vote for MVP, because I'd vote for her number one
even if she played one game, Like, let's be real.
You see the jersey, all right? He really showed a
very vulnerable side of herself this year off the court
that I really appreciated, Like she was just laying a
groundwork for athletes to say, hey, we're not okay and
it's not easy being me. The crown is heavy, and

(44:39):
I thought that was really beautiful. Amid a season in
which she was absolutely dominating in every way on the court,
he was also being extremely real and vulnerable off it
and I thought that was amazing.

Speaker 2 (44:51):
Number two New York Liberty win first championship in franchise history.

Speaker 1 (44:56):
The New York Liberties WMA championship victory was a s
defined by resilience, controversy, and unforgettable moments, culminating in a
hard Ford Finals win. John cuaul Jones was named Finals MVP,
delivering a pivotal seventeen points six remound performance and the
series clinching Game five against the Minnesota Links. Her dominance

(45:18):
Alma Court was complimented by Sabranda Nast's clutch shot in
Game three. The emergence of Leoni Peevich added depth to
the Liberties lineup, but the championship journey wasn't without drama.
Game five saw a controversial call that left many wondering
if the Links had been robbed of a chance at
the title. Through it all, the Liberty's grit and determination

(45:39):
led them to their first WNBA championship, making history and
a season that had it all. The New York Liberty
brought New York its first basketball championship in fifty years
to the city. John claul Jones front to the show
was the Finals MVP. The Liberty took down the Minnesota

(46:01):
Links and a five game series which was very controversial,
but we were all in the building for that double
overtime game. Lots happened during that season. I think that
one of the things that excited me the most outside
of everything was just seeing the emergence of Leoni Phoebitch.

(46:21):
One of the shocking things that came out of this
was learning that sabrineo Escu suffered a high grade UCL
tar and her right thumb during Game four, which impacted
her play in Games four and five. She hit that
Game three winner. It was very exciting basketball between both teams.
But you know, finally a basketball championship is here in

(46:45):
New York City.

Speaker 3 (46:47):
And I'm gonna be a little biased.

Speaker 1 (46:48):
I'm a native New Yorker, so I would love to
see the women setting the standard in the city, whether
it was Gotham FC last year or the New York
Liberty this year, getting it done.

Speaker 3 (46:59):
The women's team dollar standards here in New York City.

Speaker 7 (47:02):
I just want to say that injury, the report of
that injury was released as a buffer to make sure
that no one had anything to say in regards to
the performance that we saw. Are the terrible performance that
we saw in that clinching game, what one for sixteen,
one for thirty, one for one hundred, whatever it was,

(47:22):
because I want to say my goat. Asia Wilson the
year prior had a bummed hand too, but guess what,
she single handedly put that team on her back en
route to the w NBA Finals MVP, and then she
let us know afterwards. They let me go ahead and
wrap this hand up right quick because it's a little dinged.

Speaker 6 (47:42):
I don't care.

Speaker 7 (47:43):
Excuses are not what I want to hear right now,
but I will say congratulations to John Coyl Jones and Benajalainy,
two of my favorite people on and you know what
in Dallas Wings graduate Kayler Thornton as well, because I
always said it seemed like everybody who left the Dallas
Wings went to Green of Pastors and won championships. So
shout out to her. So Ty and Alicia, your turn

(48:05):
is coming up soon. I can feel it. I can
feel it. I don't know which team you're gonna win
it on, but I can feel it.

Speaker 6 (48:11):
And another thing, I'm.

Speaker 7 (48:13):
Pissed at the refs for ruining and snatching from us.
We were five point two seconds away from having one
of the greatest nights on Twitter. Ever, the slander that
was in the drafts was about to be immaculate, so
the refs took that from us, and I am up set.

Speaker 6 (48:35):
I've had it.

Speaker 1 (48:36):
And I don't think that New York Liberty have a
bigger hater than Beterrell. He's the biggest and that is fine,
pretty hater on the planet. But we you didn't play
a lick of basketball in that five game series, so
I don't think you were robbed of anything. Basketball is
a game of runs, and the Liberty ultimately won that
basketball game.

Speaker 4 (48:57):
I do think we were robbed of this the most
competitive series that we saw, and for the narrative to
be about refs, because yeah, you can look at the
twenty to nine free throw disparity that favored the Links
and their two point win in Game four, as well
to the point where Samy Brondelo came out postgame and said,
do I have to complain about refereeing in order to

(49:17):
get calls? And then we see that pendulum swing back
in Game five the other way, and that it becomes
this conversation and not the fact that games one and
Game three we're two of the best basketball games I've
ever seen, so for us to be a couple of
months removed, and I know that this is through the
lens of Bee, who's just a hater anyway, But for
the conversation be more about the refs and not about

(49:40):
what a competitive back and forth series that was and
just how important this was for this franchise and to
go to that parade and see a float with all
the Liberty legends on it, the people that for twenty
eight years have been building towards this moment and building
brick by brick everything that got us to this point.

(50:01):
For Leoni Phoebish to come in as a rookie and
finish up in the starting lineup and put up these
ridiculous plus minus numbers because she was a mismatch for
everybody in this league. She was the reason why in
the semi finals, Becky Hammond was saying, they are better
than they were last year because they are a different

(50:21):
team because what Lao brought to that team. It was
really one through ten or eleven on that roster that
we're showing out and that's why Kat going to Golden State.
The Liberty were left off worse off because of this
expansion draft because of how deep their team was, they
had too many talented players to be able to protect.

(50:43):
This was a masterclass by Jonathan Coleb and building this roster,
in getting all these stars together, and by Sandy Brondelo
in getting them to all work together for them to
be there for one another. And that's everything it takes
to win a title, especially in the league this competitive.

Speaker 9 (50:58):
You know, I'm just happy to see New York finally
on the championship podium. Okay, I know folks know me
mostly now as a Connecticut Sun fan, but keep in mind.

Speaker 4 (51:08):
For you it's coming.

Speaker 8 (51:08):
I'm from Detroit.

Speaker 9 (51:10):
I saw a championship in two thousand and three with
My Shock, in two thousand and six with my Shock,
in two thousand and eight with My Shock, So I
understand what it feels.

Speaker 8 (51:18):
To be a champion.

Speaker 9 (51:19):
And I'm just happy that my friends, all of you
in New York minus B, have finally understood and got
the feeling of being a champion. And honestly, all jokes aside,
it needed and had to happen for this New York team,
just given the conversations that was leading into this season,
the way that we didn't see quote unquote super teams

(51:42):
in the WNBA until the conversation and the way that
the conversation is driven last year, because I would argue
we've been seeing super teams in a WNBA for years
upon years upon years.

Speaker 1 (51:53):
It's been an overall season because what's not the Houston
comments super teams?

Speaker 8 (51:57):
Okay, four in a row.

Speaker 9 (51:58):
Would I not argue that Minnesota was absolutely a super team?
Hell yeah, So we've seen super teams forever, but in
the way that we have come to see them constructed
by NBA standards, which is, you know, getting free agents
and getting big signings and getting big names to build
a team to win a championship. There was a lot

(52:18):
of conversation around New York in the twenty twenty three
season and how it just didn't seem to fit, how
the players didn't seem to really know each other or
go to bat for each other or play for each other.
And I think twenty twenty four you kind of had
an opportunity to step back, but it just even felt
like the players took a step back to say, like
we truly should be and need to be on one accord.

(52:39):
And you saw that, and you felt that, and it
felt like from the beginning of this season, this New
York team knew that they had a job to do
and was going to go out of their way to
make sure they did it. And the only team who
had seemed to present an issue for them and standing
in their way throughout the entirety of the season was Minnesota.

(53:00):
Really felt like we got the championship that ultimately we deserved,
whether we knew it or not, with seeing Minnesota in
New York. So congratulations New York, it was your moment.
Welcome to the championship circle. I hope to be joining
you again as a Connecticut Sun fan.

Speaker 3 (53:14):
Great a little bit of shade with that answer, but
we'll take it. We'll take it.

Speaker 8 (53:19):
Say it's an oreo cookie. I gave you something good.

Speaker 9 (53:23):
I filled in some bullshit and then I gave you
something good on the end.

Speaker 1 (53:26):
There you go, looking Grays to the New York Liberty
and winning their first championship Enfranchise history. John qaul Jones
was recently on the show and she just talked about
the importance of building that team chemistry and how prior
to her getting to New York, Sabrinda Nscer said, Wow,
I never had that before, and how they were all
intentional this season about just building that team chemistry and

(53:51):
getting to know one another, and you saw that translate
to the product that was on the court in my opinion,
So I'm excited to see, you know, this team next season,
what they will look like and what they lose in
Caleb Thornton, the game and Rebecca Gardner, who knows what
pieces they will offload and free agency and etc. But

(54:13):
I'm excited to see them try to run it back. Okay, y'all,
The excitement continues after this break, So stay with us
and when we get back, we'll have more from this countdown,
but also the Brunch Crew gets into some of their
new Year's resolutions for twenty twenty five.

Speaker 3 (54:30):
Stay with Us.

Speaker 2 (54:38):
Number one Caitlin Clark Effect.

Speaker 1 (54:42):
Caitlyn Clark's rise in the WNBA has captivated fans and
reshaped the landscape of women's basketball. Drafted number one overall,
the former Iowa star has already made an undeniable mark
in her rookie season, shattering records, setting new benchmarks for viewership,
and garnering accurate does speak to her extraordinary talent, from

(55:03):
being named Rookie of the Year to securing spots on
the All WNBA First Team, All Star roster and even
leading the league in assists, Clark's impact is undeniable. With
her selection as Times Athlete of the Year. Caitlyn Clark
isn't just changing the game, She's defining it.

Speaker 3 (55:21):
What do we love about Kitlyn Clark?

Speaker 1 (55:25):
Twenty twenty four has been such a huge year for
women's basketball, with a lot of factors contributing to its success.
But there's a player who many think that has had
a huge hand in just helping to bring everything all together,
and that player is Caitlyn Clark. She's broken a lot

(55:46):
of records in college and in the WNBA in her
rookie season. She's helped to improve the overall viewership as well,
and so this has been a huge year for Kitlyn.

Speaker 3 (56:00):
And for women's college basketball and the WMPA.

Speaker 4 (56:04):
Caitlyn came in with some of the highest expectations that
we've ever seen for an athlete across sports, and I
think that she exceeded all of them, especially on the
court where she was the Rookie of the Year, and
that she had a franchise that had not made the
playoffs since twenty sixteen make their way into playing basketball,

(56:25):
meaningful basketball in September. So I think that Caitlyn really
showed her growth in terms of on the ball. She
even said in that time interview that looking back to college,
what are they doing out there? Like they were not
guarding me? Because that's what we talked about back in May.
We said, if Caitlyn goes right, she's going to the rim.
If she goes left, she's shooting a step back three.

(56:47):
That was the scout. And we saw her development throughout
the season. We saw her build chemistry with teammates, and
we saw Indiana become a better basketball team throughout the season.
And I think that but all in all, this was
just such a successful campaign. And then you talk about
what her impact is on the growth of women's basketball

(57:09):
coverage as a whole, and we already have talked about
in Part one some of the detrimental parts of that.
But I think that we've come to a place where, like, oh,
so we can talk about the w like this, We
are capable of talking about the WNBA as it is
a sport that can combat any basketball league in the world.
And I think that that's the energy, that positive energy

(57:32):
is that we can continue to put that forth going forward.

Speaker 9 (57:36):
I have been one who has been labeled as someone
who's been a Caitlin Clark hater, when truthfully, I've actually
not been a Caitlyn Clark hater. There's no actual evidence
of me being a Citlin Clark hater. I don't tweet
mean things about Caitlyn Clark. I don't write things about

(57:57):
Caitlyn Clark. I have often said and will continue to
say that I do not care what brings you here.
I care about that you're finally here and what makes
you stay. And I have often said that it has
absolutely been Caitlin Clark that has brought a lot of
people to the WNBA this year. One thing that we

(58:20):
have done for so many years is talk about how
do we bridge the gap between college fans and WNBA fans.
Right We've seen so many people packing out these auditoriums
and stadiums and buildings for their favorite college team. I
live in Connecticut, Yukon ain't never empty, the EXL Center
ain't never empty. I've seen South Carolina show up and

(58:41):
show out for their alum. We've seen how Tennessee reacts
to their alum. We've seen Notre Dame aka point Guard
universities show out for their alum even UCLA has a
huge alumni base, Stanford another one. Cheney and Nekka always
putting on and the Stanford folks show up. We've seen
these schools support their own, but why doesn't that translate

(59:03):
over into the WNBA. We start to see that more
and more over the last few years. This year, all
time high Iowa fans and those who supported Caitlin Clark
transferred and translated over to the WNBA. Did that come
with its share of growing pains? Absolutely? Where there are
those who didn't understand the game and where the game

(59:23):
had come from. Absolutely there are Iowa fans who didn't
even understand Iowa's growth, because this wasn't the first time
that we've seen Iowa this excited and this elated about
women's basketball.

Speaker 8 (59:34):
There was a time where someone by the name of c.

Speaker 9 (59:38):
Vivian Shrinker who took a ninety three team and also
packed out a gym in Iowa. We've seen this before, right,
But that's neither here nor there. The point is, in
twenty twenty four, the game of basketball was revolutionized to
a new level by younger and a different demographic because
they enjoyed watching Caitlin Clark, and that's totally okay. The

(01:00:00):
only thing we've ever said and continue to say, is
that while we appreciate that Caitlyn Clark brought you here,
look at all the other phenomenal and amazing people that
play in this league that has helped sustain in this
league for nearly thirty years, good or bad, the increases,
the money, all of this stuff came through the effects
of Kitlyn Clark coming into this league. And nobody is

(01:00:21):
going to drop to their knees and grovel and thank you.
But I think we all acknowledge that Caitlyn Clark definitely
did in some ways, in many ways, revolutionize the WNBA
as we see it in twenty twenty four because of
everyone who wanted to see her, who flocked to see her,
And you have to love that. We have the kind

(01:00:43):
of people who produce the kind of product that once
you come, you'll stay. And that's what I love about it.
So I don't care if Caitlyn is why you're here, awesome,
I'm glad she's why you're here. Irique is going to
make you stay. Asia Wilson is going to make you stay.
Angel Reese is going to make you stay. All of
these people are going to make you stay once you're here,
and that's what's dope about it.

Speaker 1 (01:01:03):
And on that note, I want to thank the Brunch
crew for hanging out with me on this week's episode
of In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams. And
that's gonna do it for this year. Happy New Year
to all of the amazing listeners, Thank you for your support.
Before I'll let the crew get out of here, I

(01:01:24):
gotta ask y'all new year resolutions.

Speaker 5 (01:01:28):
My new year's resolution is to cross every single other
member of the media up in the media game that
supposedly is gonna happen before the season. So I'm gonna
be in the gym and you guys better watch out
because it's gonna get serious.

Speaker 3 (01:01:41):
I'm looking forward to that.

Speaker 7 (01:01:43):
My new year's resolution is basically to tell more compelling
stories in ways that's authentic to the players and me,
and to have a sidecar in every WNBA city love that.

Speaker 4 (01:01:55):
My new year's resolution is to help beat Terreel find
an apartment in New York City and then month by
month just sneak in a little bit of sea foam
into that apartment and hide it around as apartment until
one day he just shows up the Barclays and he
doesn't even realize it. But he's a Liberty fan.

Speaker 6 (01:02:11):
You don't got worry about that. I'm a kiddnap Ellie though.

Speaker 1 (01:02:13):
Are you gonna put Ellie right right?

Speaker 6 (01:02:18):
And Ellie get missing?

Speaker 8 (01:02:19):
Y'all know who to go look at.

Speaker 9 (01:02:21):
First. My new year's resolution is too, It's a two parter. One,
continue to make people hate me on social media because
it's hilarious.

Speaker 8 (01:02:38):
Actually, people don't hate me, they love me.

Speaker 9 (01:02:39):
But two, just to keep killing it in the broadcast
space right and making sure that my friends has an
opportunity to kill it in the broadcast space too.

Speaker 8 (01:02:47):
Okay, it's your turn, Christina.

Speaker 1 (01:02:48):
My new year's resolution is gonna be to answer my
d ms to be a little bit more open that
everybody when it goes when you might.

Speaker 6 (01:02:59):
Be say it, just say it.

Speaker 8 (01:03:02):
Say it.

Speaker 6 (01:03:02):
No, no, we're not saying, we're not saying who with.

Speaker 8 (01:03:05):
Who, but say it yeah but yeah, but yes.

Speaker 1 (01:03:13):
By the year's resolution is maybe into my d ms
or just scroll through them a little bit.

Speaker 3 (01:03:20):
To be open to dating.

Speaker 1 (01:03:24):
And then and then my my second one is to
continue to be a disruptor in this space. To all
my haters, high haters, I'm just going to continue to
make you guys upset with continue to be great at
what I do. But I seriously love this crew that's
been on this journey with me and very supportive of
my shenanigans.

Speaker 6 (01:03:45):
I want to be missing.

Speaker 7 (01:03:47):
Read I stop it, baby, stop it.

Speaker 9 (01:03:51):
I'd stop being so happy. She said it, allow, y'all.
I just want her to say dating. I just want
her to say that.

Speaker 1 (01:04:00):
Because your girl is very it's very strict around here,
so you know, they get on me a lot about
ignoring people in my DMS because I just feel like
if they are really my friends, they would do what
Megan Markle did her friends did.

Speaker 3 (01:04:16):
They would just post me.

Speaker 6 (01:04:17):
I'm sorry, Christina, I don't know. I don't know what anything.

Speaker 9 (01:04:21):
I don't know any I know, I don't I don't
have any princes, don't have any princess Oh my.

Speaker 4 (01:04:26):
You know, all right, I'll start sending people to your ms.
Don't worry.

Speaker 8 (01:04:30):
Because we know you're because we know you're gonna respond.

Speaker 1 (01:04:32):
Now scroll I will scroll through and feel the requests.

Speaker 8 (01:04:39):
I will be loving that I love.

Speaker 3 (01:04:42):
But yeah, that's gonna be my New Year's resolution.

Speaker 1 (01:04:45):
And on that note, don't forget to rate, review, and
subscribe to the podcast, and we'll see you back here
in twenty twenty five. In case you missed it with
Christina william is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership
with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us

(01:05:05):
on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get
your podcasts.