July 23, 2025 • 28 mins
WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis has wrapped up, and AP writer Doug Feinberg joins Khristina to recap the highlights. They discuss the New York Liberty's strong showing in the three-point competition and skills challenge, plus the blowout between Team Collier and Team Clark. They also go over the ongoing CBA negotiations, including the recent meeting in Indianapolis between players, the union, and the league, where a historic number of players were in attendance. The episode wraps with a look at the Liberty’s latest roster moves, including the signing of Stephanie Talbot and a commitment from 2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman.
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
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CREDITS
Executive Producers:
Nikki Ettore
Jessie Katz
Tyler Klang
Jonathan Strickland
Producer:
Buffy Gorrilla
Producer & Editor:
Tari Harrison
Host:
Khristina Williams
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
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. What's up, y'all, Welcome to another episode of
In Case You Miss It with Christina Williams and All
Star Weekend has wrapped and I'm back in New York
(00:24):
City and super excited for the second half of the
WNBA season. But most importantly, we have to talk about
WNBA All Star because that weekend was epic and Indianapolis
and joining us to break it all down is right
to this show. AP staff writer Doug Feinbert. Doug, welcome
(00:45):
back to In Case You missed It.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
We're seeing great to be here again. What a fun
weekend that was. We just came off with Indianapolis to
a really good job hosting. I thought, a really nice
All Star weekend.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah, I saw you had a bit of a travel issue,
so I'm happy that you were able to make it
back home.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
I think Indy loved me so much they wanted me
to stay another day because the flight decided to not
cooperate and get me back to New York and the
time I was supposed to so at another lovely night
in Indiana.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yeah, well, Doug, let's talk about All Star weekend. I
know it's finally starting to catch up with me. But
lots of exciting things happening. On Friday Night. The New
York Liberty swept the three point Competition and Skills Challenge.
No surprise, they are right for the differending champions. But
what was exciting about Friday night for you?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Well, it just came out. It was the most watched
ever All Star Friday Night or whatever you want to
call it. It's really cool that fans tune in. I
think Sabrina winning was not really a surprise, and once
Kitlyn Clark couldn't do it because her injury, she was
the heavy favorite and she didn't disappoint, putting it the
second highest hole ever, equaling Aley Quailey's mark of thirty points.
(01:59):
Natasha Cloud's little bit of a surprise. I my money,
so to speak, was on Erica Wheeler accordeing Williams other
Erica Wheeler is the hometown favorite, so to speak. I
thought a good chance to win it, but not Toasha Cloud,
that first chance to be in an All Star anything,
and she did not disappoint. To give the it's called
the Liberty Liberty Sweep for the Friday night. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
I think first of all, I was surprised that it
was the first time in her ten year career she
was invited to participate in this skills challenge. But you know,
Tasha has that dog in her and so she definitely
brought her a game. But I think that the competition
within this skills challenge was just some elite talent overall.
You mentioned Erica Wheeler, Alisha Gray, Skyler Diggins was in
(02:43):
the mix as well, So lots of exciting players competing
and no surprise that you know it was the most
watched the arena. Definitely felt like the fans love what
they saw. And I remember Kathy saying in her media
press conference on Saturday, they are considering making a three
day weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I would love.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
It for it to be a three day weekend. What
about you?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
I mean, listen, I'm a rules follower. I know you're
a rules follower. I think the first thing I fix
is the rules and the skills competition, because let's be honest,
the misshot.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
To kind of threw me off. I was like, oh,
does she still win? And she missed the shot that
really confused me, I would have to say.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, and I think so I missed the pass the
chest pass. Also, like there's gotta be some kind of
penalty or just chuck up shots real quick. It doesn't
matter if it goes in or not. Just the time thing.
So before we extend it to a three day weekend
or at a third thing for Friday night, let's fix
what we have now and put some kind of penalty
in for missing at one of the skills skills. I
(03:46):
guess we're missing a skill like two second penalties something
so that you like incentive to actually make a shot
or make a pass. That's if I was commissioner for
a day. That's probably not the first hand fix, but
if there's something for all start fixed, that would be
something in that Friday night to have it be a
penalty for any missed skill in the skills competition.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
No, I agree, because I was. I was really confused
because Erica, I mean toosh beater by like what less
than a second? Yeah, but also, yeah, you bring up
an interesting point about fixing the rules or making them
a little bit more clear about misshots, chess passes, et cetera.
So yeah, that's really interesting hopefully they listen to this
(04:26):
podcast and take heed to your advice. And on Saturday
nighteteenth Callier, it was a blowout win. I leaned towards
the met heavy favors due to team injuries on Team Clark,
but Saturday was just as exciting as Friday night. I
know that Sabrina talked about making also our break a
(04:47):
little bit longer so that it could be more of
a competition. Last year it was Team USA versus All Stars,
and we saw more of a competitive game last year.
But I think because it was a longer break in
between the period of going back to the regular season,
because teams play on Tuesday, so it's not much of
a break.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Yeah, I think there's ten teams playing Tuesday night, which
is crazy when they just had the sort of All
Star weekend they're recovering from. Well, here's the every four years,
you can have a competitive All Star Game because its
gonna be the USA national team versus basically the WNBA snobs,
the ones that didn't make the team that aren't foreigners,
international players. So we had one of the best games
(05:29):
ever last year, and this one listens for the fans.
Fans are entertained. They like seeing shots, they seeing their
stars make plays. Obviously, if Caitlin Clark have been healthy,
it probably would be even to a whole new level
as far as interest goes. So I'm not I'm disappointed
that it was a blowout because I think if it
had been close in the fourth quarter, they actually played
some defense and made it an exciting end to it.
(05:50):
But it was I think a twenty point game, and
by that point they're not going to try to come back.
You have to waste energy trying to come back in
an All Star Game down twenty. But it was fun.
Fans enjoyed it. A nice crowd. Fans were into it.
They cheered everybody, which I thought was nice that it
was not a partisan to Indiana players. I mean, they're
down twenty so the only chair for your Indiana players
can be really silent crowd on the All Star Game
(06:12):
because as you said, injuries heard them and that team
Team Clark had a rough showing.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Yeah, and also during All Star stud Buds Courtney Williams,
nay Teacha Heidelman, they definitely sold the show for All
Star weekend. Literally everyone was talking about them. I heard
people in the airport talking about stut Buds. I actually
was able to make a small appearance during the media circuit,
but also pregame Kareem and I was like finding our
(06:39):
media seats and we were in the background of Stubbus.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Awesome. I mean, here's where they did Courtney and Tease
did a great job with it. I think it gave
fans who were so clamoring for information so sort of
inside the look of the w players when they're not
on the court, and the big thing I took out
of it, and you and I already kind of knew this.
You see them what they want to show you on
the court and on social media, but they're sort of
(07:04):
being more honest here and that they do get along.
People think there's robberies, hatred. There's robberies in every sport.
On the court, that's why we love sports. Because they
play as hard as they can between those lines. That
doesn't mean that they don't like each other off the
outside those lines. And yeah, I'm not saying everyone's best friends,
not Kumbayao, everyone's friendly, but you saw people who thought
were rivals having a great time together at parties, at
(07:27):
hangouts wherever it was, which I think gave sort of
maybe some fans who may think that there's hatred that
there really isn't. It's they're all, as naturally goes, competitors
inside of those lines and then friendly outside the lines.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Yeah. I think one of my favorite, well, I got
a few couple new ones from the weekend Kathy Abelbert
dancing at the Coach party with Courtney and a Tsha Heideman.
That was like top tier because you only get to
see her in that commissioner's role, very serious. I think
that that kind of humanized Kathy to see her on
the dance floor dancing with the players although they're in
(08:02):
the middle of a very tense CBA negotiations. You saw
the like kind of be friends and hang out. And
then also the Diplo clip that's circling around social media.
I was actually at that party and he was playing
country music and a lot of people came in. They
were like, Okay, we're gonna just leave because we're not
(08:24):
feeling the music. So incomes the stud butts and Courtney
says to everyone, I'm going to the DJ booth. He
has to change the music. We gotta get the vibes
turned up. I don't think she had any idea who
Diplo was. She just walked in there with authority and
told him to be better and play hip hop and
then the entire mood of the party change. That was
(08:45):
my top two favorite fund moment of the weekend. It
was absolutely hilarious. As you said, they were just being
their true, authentic selves and we were able to see
them in that light.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
And that's money that.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Marketing money can't buy. Right, Like just that unhanged, unfiltered,
seventy two hours stream. It's definitely one on one. So
shout out to Court and atshahidamand for being able to
let fans and media and everyone be a part of
your stream. That's totally jope.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
I hope they get a deal of this. I don't
know if they made any money off they had deals beforehand,
but they should. They as you said, killed it and
sort of that behind the scenes thing. Everyone loved and
it was must watch stream, I guess, instead of must
watch TV, and people loved it, and you're right, I
think that's something that is going to be going forward.
Expected now at every All Star game, people joking online
(09:38):
and again you don't trust social media, but like that,
they're gonna start voting for them just to get in
there for the All Star To have the stud Buds
come back next year. I would love to.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
See like an alternate stream daring the playoffs of like
you know how they do this, Sue and Diana, Let's
get the stud Buds on an alternate stream along with
sit In TP who was also there throughout the weekend.
I feel like, let's get three different alternate broadcasts of
WNBA games with those three groups, those duos, and I
(10:07):
think fans would absolutely love it.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
The only one who might not love it would be
Cheryl Reeves because I know they're hoping to be in
the finals and win it this year. If she would
let the two of them do a stream during the
finals of the playoffs unless they're winning. I mean she
said the other day, then they close it out saying
like they asked. Shaw was like we better win Tuesday,
Ralph Swood, this is done so to speak yep.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
And I think that song Pink Cody by or the
Chapel Roone. I don't know if I'm saying the name right,
but like that song is suck in my head. It's
everyone's team song, all right.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Doug.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Also during All Star weekend or week rather, there was
a huge meeting between the WNBA players, the league and
the PA. Now, when I was able to speak to Nekko, Gumika,
s Kyler, Diagan and some of the players who attended
that meeting, they told me or they described it rather
as them leaving the meeting feeling a little disrespected with
(11:15):
what the league had to offer. Kathy addressed the media
members on Saturday, and she had a different outlook and
take on how that meeting went. You know, we obviously
know that negotiations will be some intense conversations, but I
feel like what I heard from the players versus what
I heard from the commissioner was two different things. What
(11:37):
was your take on how Kafy addressed us on Saturday
and some of the issues within those discussions for the CPA.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
It's funny. It's I was at the hotel waiting for them,
and none of the players would talk to the group
of the gaggle of us as we like to call it,
that was there reporters. Then Terry came out, the head
of the union can talk to us for a few minutes,
and she seemed neutral is probably the right word I
would use for that. With how the meeting went. There
(12:08):
was the union statement after that a few minutes later
that I thought was more negative from the meeting. I
took some players on the orange carpet and they I
asked us, what word do you use to describe this meeting?
I mean positive, negative, neutral, and neutral seemed the word
of the day. I think, listen, we've all been involved
(12:28):
in the negotiations in some form. I apply for a
job or whoever it may be, and nothing gets done. The
first time you meet with people, and it was awesome.
They were touting how there are forty players there. Over
forty players, the most representations ever had. You had young
players like Clark and Reese and Becker's. You had older
players like Neckah obviously the president of the union, and Satusabi,
(12:48):
so you had variety of veterans and youngsters. And I
think that was good. But also, if you have forty
people in a room on one side, and they're probably
fifty overall in the room, I'm not sure how much
you get done. They're clearly far apart the salary, the
revenue sharing, they're not close right now. But I'm gonna optimistic. Guy,
(13:09):
you've known me for a while, I'm glass half full.
Something will get done before. We're not going to have
a walkout. We're not gona have a lockout. I don't
think that's happening. I think this was the first meeting
in person for this whole group since December. I think
things will start heating up a little bit now. It's tough,
you and I both know. I mean, they're playing games
right now, so like Mekka can't just fly to New
York for a meeting, She's got a player games in Seattle.
(13:30):
So I think the stuff will heat up over the
next few months. I think they'll get closer. As I said,
I think a deal will get done, but neutrals to
where I'll go with. I think that I don't know
what people expected going into this, but there was zero
chance they were gonna have a CVA done off this
one meeting at All Star, So I'll go with the
neutral for now. For both sides. Kathy seem a little
(13:50):
more positive. But I have faith we'll get a CBA
done at some point in the next six months.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
And if I remember correctly back in twenty twenty, that
CBA didn't get done until about January during those negotiations,
So I think that We're still pretty early on in
the discussions, and as you said, we're in the middle
of the season. But you know, these things take time,
and so the players from the jump they said that,
(14:16):
you know, it's about business. They came in with their proposal.
I do think that in twenty twenty it was all
about laying the foundations of getting the basic things that
the athletest needed. Now that they have the basics, they
can jump start and use that as a starting point
for this next bound CBA negotiation, especially as the new
media right still kicks in, expansion is happening, all these
(14:40):
different things. They now have something to work with. I
feel like obviously they had to compromise the last CBA,
but moving forward, I feel like the players have the
upper hand a little bit. And this especially with the
momentum and the viewership, selling out arenas, all those things,
I think that that's going to get them leverage coming
into this round of negotiations.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
I think your hunder percent right. I think the players
have a good foundation and more levers than they had
in twenty twenty. Unless we all over the world was
very different five years ago. COVID other things, they were
in the bubble for a season. I think the players
definitely have things trending their way right now, and both
sides want transformational numbers here. They want to transform their
(15:22):
last CBA to something that was going to last for
the next decade or beyond that. So I think we
saw it. I think the players are in a good position,
but you also have to have some really realistic expectations
of what you're going to get versus what you may
want to get in a lot of areas, and I
think I've heard a number it'll be nice to have
a million dollar player, just had the opotits of saying it,
players are earning a million dollars playing the WNBA would
(15:46):
be huge. I think that will happen. Every player make
a million dollars. I don't think that's realistic, but if
you get one or two million dollar players in each team,
then you feel your worth is more and you're saying, hey,
we're getting to seven digits now for salaries, not just
six digits. And again, the optics of a million dollar
player would be huge for this league and for the players.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Yeah, no, I agree, but I do think that when
we talk about salaries, right in the last CBA, we
saw you know, like a top one percent of athletes
get the super max deals, et cetera, and those middle
tier players sort of get left out. And because of
the hard salary cap that teams have, it was like
rookie skills and then paying the players and then no
(16:27):
in between, and then you had players like Odyssey sins
backfan it was like candistry pre those type of players
kind of get stuck or left out because of the
past CBA. So I hope that, Yes, I would love
to see the first million dollar player in a w NBA,
but I do also hope that with that those middle
(16:47):
tier players don't get left out and this next round
of negotiations and the salary because teams were hard caps,
so hopefully they address that and the next one.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Yeah, I mean, listen, Unfortunately, it's the way the world works, right,
I mean, there's the elite and then there's the bottom tier,
and then the middle kind of gets left out in
a lot of things. But it'll be good to see
those players get some relief. And listen, the most popular
players right now in the league in no shade to
some of the veterans. I mean, Asian Wilson is one
of the most probably five most popular players in the league,
or Clark, Reese and Becker's who are all in their
(17:20):
first and second years, and you've got to feel there's
got to be a way to get them a little
more than rookies scale because if they're gonna make seventy
five or seventy eight or eighty thousand next year or
two years from now, that's going to draw more attention
to it like this wage gap. So I don't know
how they can fix it right now. Usually rookies aren't
the top concern for CBA negotiations, but I think you're
(17:40):
making a big mistake if you don't figure a way
to get those players some more money somehow, because they
are a big reason why you're seeing that at tenants boom,
seeing the ratings boom, because people know them and want
to see them play.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Yeah, certainly. And another thing that so Cherry Ke was
on this show a couple of months ago, last November,
I believe, and she also talked about how a travel
situation isn't written in stone right now, so that's something
that they want to get in lighting come. The next
CVA is to keep these players on chartered flights, because
(18:12):
right now, the charter flight program is kind of like
a two year deal as they negotiate, So that's something
that they are also trying to get written in stone
in its next roundup negotiations as well, which I think
is super interesting. We saw that some teams, even during
All Star was able to charter their teams to All
Star in Indianapolis, whereas other teams didn't have that luxury.
(18:36):
So hopefully the players are able to get that continued,
because when it comes to rest recovery, those back to
back games, the intended schedules, that's the bare minimum that
the league can do. I Okathy address this on Saturday
as well in terms of the schedule, and she talked
about the different components that have to come together in
or refer to happen. And also I think someone also
(18:56):
asked her a question about the games, we'll you go
beyond forty four games, and she said that's certainly something
that they will look at, but all these things have
to be considered when you talk about what's gonna come
next year where you have two expansion teams and eighteen
by twenty thirty.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
And also I mean usually CBA's last six to eight years,
I think for the most part, for eight you op
that after six in six years from now, we're going
to have eighteen teams you just mentioned, so to play
forty four games eighteen teams might be tough to do
and not see everyone twice at least. So my guess
is to put some clause in there saying they could
expand to a certain amount. And you're right, you reference
(19:34):
Kathy's comments the other night, they can't start earlier that
there's a window there, Like you can't start earlier than
when they do right now because you have fial four
is the usually the first weekend in April, and then
maybe sometimes bumps back a little bit and you have
to have those college players. You cannot have college players
that not have a college draft, so they can maybe
move the season up a week ish maybe, but it's
(19:56):
got to be the tail end where you have November,
maybe late November Thanksgiving. I mean the windows for the playoffs,
Like ESPN has the rights to things in college football. Saturday,
they're not going to bump it to play a WNBA
playoff game, and then you're going against the NFL on
Sunday and Monday and Thursday. So like it's finding in
the right window that the networks that the NBC's of
this world, the ESPNS, the Amazons, they're gonna put the
(20:18):
games on, can show them. And that's part of it.
As you said, it's a giant puzzle that I hate
to say to the fans out there, Kathy does not
actually make the schedule. She's not in her kitchen table
filling out okay, where okay, put teams? You know what's
going on here, like she I'm sure she okays it.
But there is actually a group that puts the schedules
there every the year. It's arena availability things like that.
(20:38):
And she said it going against the NBA. Usually they
the tail in the NBA the playoffs, less teams are
still playing when they have arena availabilities. If you go
into November and early December, potentially the NBA is going
start of their season, so there's less availabilities there. And yes,
the WNBA is drawing immense fan popularity right now in house.
I don't know if an arena is going to hold
(21:01):
a date for WMA playoff game in December when the
NBA teams are playing. And that's a good test of it.
But it's going to be interesting in the next CBA
how they figure out how many games there are, how
long the season goes. We'll see. We'll see what they
decided to come up with.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
And then you have to consider like the Phoeba schedule,
euro Basket, all those different factors that come into play
when you think about this summer WNBA schedule, and hopefully
the league can work together with FEBA to work something out.
We're starting to see more international players this season, especially
not go over to your basket, Gappie Williams, Johannes Dominique Malonga,
(21:37):
those types of players are saying, well, I want to
prioritize the WNBA, So how can we get the WNBA
to the standard where it is being prioritized over some
of the other leagues around the world?
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Air point and next year is a Fever World Cup
and it's in the middle of the season in September,
and it's going to cause some havoc on the scheduling
how they're handling it. So we'll see. I mean, I
thinkathy is a twenty percent of the league is from
international players, which is up, and the more that grows
and we see it on the NBA side, that the
prioritization will be a problem on the women's side, and
you're right, players decide you stay here rather than go
(22:10):
and play in those euro leagues, and I'm guessing that's
something that the owners are gonna want in their side
of the negotiation. CBA is an exclusivity and more of
a commitment from players that hey, this is the league,
your top league, you want to play, and we're going
to pay you money to be here. You better be here.
(22:36):
Huge news coming.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Out of New York right now, and we talked about
international players and MMBC men was the biggest question mark
for as to whether she come over from the second
half of the season. According to multiple reports, she has
agreed to commit to the New York Liberty. They also
signed Septie Talbot this week as well, who adds some
size and three point shooting to an already deep roster.
(22:59):
I think that Jonathan Cole pulled a robbery when we
talk about executives of the year. Just the star power
that he's been able to pull in New York is commendable.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
Yeah, I mean, listen, they also get jj back this week,
so yeah, adding John Collin Jones has been out for
a month with the ankle injury, so huge I mean
Stephanie Talbot's played obviously for Sandy Bardella on the Australian
Olympic team and the World Cup team, so she knows
her game well. She Stephanie said to us that she's
talked to Sandy a lot over the course of the season,
and of course when she was unfortunately waved by Golden State,
(23:35):
Sandy picked up the phone so to speak, and said, hey,
we'd love to have you here. And then Emma, I
mean John Cole said to us today that got the commitment.
She's not signed a contract yet. There's has the Visa
stuff taken care of. Visa's game. The US are not
as simple as there were, shall we say that a
year or two years ago, But that's a tremendous pickup.
I mean, you could have a front line of Emma Meatman,
(23:57):
Brianna Stewart and John Could Jones, all who were six
four and bigger, all who can shoot threes, all who
can handle the basketball, all who have an incredible IQ.
Oh and by the way, you also throwing the only
Phoebish who may lose their starting spot potentially when Emma
comes in or if Emma comes off the bench. Who's
also like six to four, So you have like a
front line who can play defense, can guard, can shoot threes.
It might be the most dynamic front line that I've
(24:19):
seen in the WNBA that I can remember in recent times.
So huge, huge additions to this team that was looking
to repeat as champions, and they didn't just stan pat.
They may move to make themselves better than they were
last year, more dynamic they were last year, and I
think are probably now the favorite to win titlely a
no shade to Minnesota, but you get healthy and you
(24:40):
add an mmeaseman who's already won a championship in Washington
twenty nineteen. That's a really, really good team they've assembled
here in John the Cole Selbert's birthday yesterday a birthday
to sign Stephanie Talbot and also bring in m measeman.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Yeah. Absolutely, It makes the New York Liberties second lineup
incredibly strong, whether mmmesman is in the star lineup or
she's coming off the bench. I think that you know,
this is a team with depth completely and I think
that when you look at how they won the championship
last year, it was because the players were interchangeable. You
were able to rest Stewie. You were able to play
job quol last minutes because you had players that can
(25:16):
come in and they wouldn't escape a beat. And I
think that Emma Misiman is the perfect edition. We had
her rumors early in the season that she was considered
in Phoenix and Minnesota because of the relationship with Eric Hebrow,
but ultimately New York Whipperty is the team who got
the commitment. And I know fans who are all social
media a little confused and saying, how can the New
Yoriquipperty sign her? The Richard Well bernage Leannie Hamilton's contract
(25:40):
was suspended at the start of the season because of
her injury, and because she got injured at Unrivaled, their
insurance was able to pay out her full salary and
it did not teut against the Liberties cap space. So
they had about one hundred and I want to say
you thirteen thousand dollars somewhere in that ballpark already in
the tank. Then they cut Mark Ruisia Davis. That adds
(26:02):
a little bit more to their availability and adds a
roster spot, so they were able to make these two signings.
So nothing illegal, just a very smart executive. GM in
the front off is to pull it off.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
I mean, shrewd moves by him to get this group here.
I don't know what Talbot's making, but I'm guessing it
might be a vetter minimum, so to speak. The league
for many years a really good job adding more depth
of this team that was already really really good. I mean,
you're second year of Marine Johannes. You have Foebisher, Misiman,
whoever's going to be there. You have Kennedy Burke, who's
we've been fantastic this year. You are sobly. I mean,
(26:38):
there's a really good second five that could do pretty
well in this league. If they were starting five, they'd
be competitive. Shall we say?
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Yeah? All right, Doug, one last thing before we let
you get out of here. As we look into the
second half of the season, what are some keys that
you're going to be looking forward to league wide?
Speaker 2 (26:56):
I guess the number one thing, which you always have
to wear out his health. Who can be help healthy for
this run that everyone's going to have for the next
month and a half where the schedule is very compact
and we've already seen I mean a lot of injuries
caused players to miss the All Star Game this past weekend.
The biggest name obviously is Caitlin Clark. I mean she
for the fourth time is miss games this year, had
an injury. Her growing right now is the biggest question.
(27:17):
I think she'll be out for at least a little
bit of time minimum to let it recover and heal.
You don't want to rush her back so that people
can say the team that stays healthy will probably be
the one that's going to be in the best position
to win a championship this year. And everyone's gone through
some kind of injuries so far, so I think to
see what's happened. So that's the mainstare line of me
is who's the healthiest team for the next month and
(27:38):
a half, And I think just gelling. I mean Phoenix
added Dewana Bonner, who's a tremendous pick up. Again, she
played a great career there before going to Connecticut. You
have her analyst house back together SA too. If she
gets healthy, Kullia Copper gets healthy. I mean those are
four that's pretty good in that Phoenix area. So health
and how those teams gel. Obviously we mentioned New York
how that Misamian I think will fit in pretty well well.
(28:00):
But take some time to understand how to play other players.
So I think that's what I'm looking forward to for
the rest of this sort of regular season we have
for the next month and a half two months.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Yeah, And also, like one thing that we didn't mention
was the trade deadline that goes down in August. Will
teams try to make moves to make that Vinyl push
to make a playoff burn. So we'll be certainly keeping
our eyes on the trade deadline as time takes away.
Doug Feinberg from the AP, thank you again for joining
(28:31):
us on In case you missed it here on iHeart
Women's Sports Network.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Always players at Chat with the Christina in case you
missed it with Christina Williams is an iHeart Women's sports
production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. What's up, y'all, Welcome to another episode of
In Case You Miss It with Christina Williams and All
Star Weekend has wrapped and I'm back in New York
(00:24):
City and super excited for the second half of the
WNBA season. But most importantly, we have to talk about
WNBA All Star because that weekend was epic and Indianapolis
and joining us to break it all down is right
to this show. AP staff writer Doug Feinbert. Doug, welcome
(00:45):
back to In Case You missed It.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
We're seeing great to be here again. What a fun
weekend that was. We just came off with Indianapolis to
a really good job hosting. I thought, a really nice
All Star weekend.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah, I saw you had a bit of a travel issue,
so I'm happy that you were able to make it
back home.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
I think Indy loved me so much they wanted me
to stay another day because the flight decided to not
cooperate and get me back to New York and the
time I was supposed to so at another lovely night
in Indiana.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yeah, well, Doug, let's talk about All Star weekend. I
know it's finally starting to catch up with me. But
lots of exciting things happening. On Friday Night. The New
York Liberty swept the three point Competition and Skills Challenge.
No surprise, they are right for the differending champions. But
what was exciting about Friday night for you?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Well, it just came out. It was the most watched
ever All Star Friday Night or whatever you want to
call it. It's really cool that fans tune in. I
think Sabrina winning was not really a surprise, and once
Kitlyn Clark couldn't do it because her injury, she was
the heavy favorite and she didn't disappoint, putting it the
second highest hole ever, equaling Aley Quailey's mark of thirty points.
(01:59):
Natasha Cloud's little bit of a surprise. I my money,
so to speak, was on Erica Wheeler accordeing Williams other
Erica Wheeler is the hometown favorite, so to speak. I
thought a good chance to win it, but not Toasha Cloud,
that first chance to be in an All Star anything,
and she did not disappoint. To give the it's called
the Liberty Liberty Sweep for the Friday night. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
I think first of all, I was surprised that it
was the first time in her ten year career she
was invited to participate in this skills challenge. But you know,
Tasha has that dog in her and so she definitely
brought her a game. But I think that the competition
within this skills challenge was just some elite talent overall.
You mentioned Erica Wheeler, Alisha Gray, Skyler Diggins was in
(02:43):
the mix as well, So lots of exciting players competing
and no surprise that you know it was the most
watched the arena. Definitely felt like the fans love what
they saw. And I remember Kathy saying in her media
press conference on Saturday, they are considering making a three
day weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I would love.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
It for it to be a three day weekend. What
about you?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
I mean, listen, I'm a rules follower. I know you're
a rules follower. I think the first thing I fix
is the rules and the skills competition, because let's be honest,
the misshot.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
To kind of threw me off. I was like, oh,
does she still win? And she missed the shot that
really confused me, I would have to say.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, and I think so I missed the pass the
chest pass. Also, like there's gotta be some kind of
penalty or just chuck up shots real quick. It doesn't
matter if it goes in or not. Just the time thing.
So before we extend it to a three day weekend
or at a third thing for Friday night, let's fix
what we have now and put some kind of penalty
in for missing at one of the skills skills. I
(03:46):
guess we're missing a skill like two second penalties something
so that you like incentive to actually make a shot
or make a pass. That's if I was commissioner for
a day. That's probably not the first hand fix, but
if there's something for all start fixed, that would be
something in that Friday night to have it be a
penalty for any missed skill in the skills competition.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
No, I agree, because I was. I was really confused
because Erica, I mean toosh beater by like what less
than a second? Yeah, but also, yeah, you bring up
an interesting point about fixing the rules or making them
a little bit more clear about misshots, chess passes, et cetera.
So yeah, that's really interesting hopefully they listen to this
(04:26):
podcast and take heed to your advice. And on Saturday
nighteteenth Callier, it was a blowout win. I leaned towards
the met heavy favors due to team injuries on Team Clark,
but Saturday was just as exciting as Friday night. I
know that Sabrina talked about making also our break a
(04:47):
little bit longer so that it could be more of
a competition. Last year it was Team USA versus All Stars,
and we saw more of a competitive game last year.
But I think because it was a longer break in
between the period of going back to the regular season,
because teams play on Tuesday, so it's not much of
a break.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Yeah, I think there's ten teams playing Tuesday night, which
is crazy when they just had the sort of All
Star weekend they're recovering from. Well, here's the every four years,
you can have a competitive All Star Game because its
gonna be the USA national team versus basically the WNBA snobs,
the ones that didn't make the team that aren't foreigners,
international players. So we had one of the best games
(05:29):
ever last year, and this one listens for the fans.
Fans are entertained. They like seeing shots, they seeing their
stars make plays. Obviously, if Caitlin Clark have been healthy,
it probably would be even to a whole new level
as far as interest goes. So I'm not I'm disappointed
that it was a blowout because I think if it
had been close in the fourth quarter, they actually played
some defense and made it an exciting end to it.
(05:50):
But it was I think a twenty point game, and
by that point they're not going to try to come back.
You have to waste energy trying to come back in
an All Star Game down twenty. But it was fun.
Fans enjoyed it. A nice crowd. Fans were into it.
They cheered everybody, which I thought was nice that it
was not a partisan to Indiana players. I mean, they're
down twenty so the only chair for your Indiana players
can be really silent crowd on the All Star Game
(06:12):
because as you said, injuries heard them and that team
Team Clark had a rough showing.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Yeah, and also during All Star stud Buds Courtney Williams,
nay Teacha Heidelman, they definitely sold the show for All
Star weekend. Literally everyone was talking about them. I heard
people in the airport talking about stut Buds. I actually
was able to make a small appearance during the media circuit,
but also pregame Kareem and I was like finding our
(06:39):
media seats and we were in the background of Stubbus.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Awesome. I mean, here's where they did Courtney and Tease
did a great job with it. I think it gave
fans who were so clamoring for information so sort of
inside the look of the w players when they're not
on the court, and the big thing I took out
of it, and you and I already kind of knew this.
You see them what they want to show you on
the court and on social media, but they're sort of
(07:04):
being more honest here and that they do get along.
People think there's robberies, hatred. There's robberies in every sport.
On the court, that's why we love sports. Because they
play as hard as they can between those lines. That
doesn't mean that they don't like each other off the
outside those lines. And yeah, I'm not saying everyone's best friends,
not Kumbayao, everyone's friendly, but you saw people who thought
were rivals having a great time together at parties, at
(07:27):
hangouts wherever it was, which I think gave sort of
maybe some fans who may think that there's hatred that
there really isn't. It's they're all, as naturally goes, competitors
inside of those lines and then friendly outside the lines.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Yeah. I think one of my favorite, well, I got
a few couple new ones from the weekend Kathy Abelbert
dancing at the Coach party with Courtney and a Tsha Heideman.
That was like top tier because you only get to
see her in that commissioner's role, very serious. I think
that that kind of humanized Kathy to see her on
the dance floor dancing with the players although they're in
(08:02):
the middle of a very tense CBA negotiations. You saw
the like kind of be friends and hang out. And
then also the Diplo clip that's circling around social media.
I was actually at that party and he was playing
country music and a lot of people came in. They
were like, Okay, we're gonna just leave because we're not
(08:24):
feeling the music. So incomes the stud butts and Courtney
says to everyone, I'm going to the DJ booth. He
has to change the music. We gotta get the vibes
turned up. I don't think she had any idea who
Diplo was. She just walked in there with authority and
told him to be better and play hip hop and
then the entire mood of the party change. That was
(08:45):
my top two favorite fund moment of the weekend. It
was absolutely hilarious. As you said, they were just being
their true, authentic selves and we were able to see
them in that light.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
And that's money that.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Marketing money can't buy. Right, Like just that unhanged, unfiltered,
seventy two hours stream. It's definitely one on one. So
shout out to Court and atshahidamand for being able to
let fans and media and everyone be a part of
your stream. That's totally jope.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
I hope they get a deal of this. I don't
know if they made any money off they had deals beforehand,
but they should. They as you said, killed it and
sort of that behind the scenes thing. Everyone loved and
it was must watch stream, I guess, instead of must
watch TV, and people loved it, and you're right, I
think that's something that is going to be going forward.
Expected now at every All Star game, people joking online
(09:38):
and again you don't trust social media, but like that,
they're gonna start voting for them just to get in
there for the All Star To have the stud Buds
come back next year. I would love to.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
See like an alternate stream daring the playoffs of like
you know how they do this, Sue and Diana, Let's
get the stud Buds on an alternate stream along with
sit In TP who was also there throughout the weekend.
I feel like, let's get three different alternate broadcasts of
WNBA games with those three groups, those duos, and I
(10:07):
think fans would absolutely love it.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
The only one who might not love it would be
Cheryl Reeves because I know they're hoping to be in
the finals and win it this year. If she would
let the two of them do a stream during the
finals of the playoffs unless they're winning. I mean she
said the other day, then they close it out saying
like they asked. Shaw was like we better win Tuesday,
Ralph Swood, this is done so to speak yep.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
And I think that song Pink Cody by or the
Chapel Roone. I don't know if I'm saying the name right,
but like that song is suck in my head. It's
everyone's team song, all right.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Doug.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Also during All Star weekend or week rather, there was
a huge meeting between the WNBA players, the league and
the PA. Now, when I was able to speak to Nekko, Gumika,
s Kyler, Diagan and some of the players who attended
that meeting, they told me or they described it rather
as them leaving the meeting feeling a little disrespected with
(11:15):
what the league had to offer. Kathy addressed the media
members on Saturday, and she had a different outlook and
take on how that meeting went. You know, we obviously
know that negotiations will be some intense conversations, but I
feel like what I heard from the players versus what
I heard from the commissioner was two different things. What
(11:37):
was your take on how Kafy addressed us on Saturday
and some of the issues within those discussions for the CPA.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
It's funny. It's I was at the hotel waiting for them,
and none of the players would talk to the group
of the gaggle of us as we like to call it,
that was there reporters. Then Terry came out, the head
of the union can talk to us for a few minutes,
and she seemed neutral is probably the right word I
would use for that. With how the meeting went. There
(12:08):
was the union statement after that a few minutes later
that I thought was more negative from the meeting. I
took some players on the orange carpet and they I
asked us, what word do you use to describe this meeting?
I mean positive, negative, neutral, and neutral seemed the word
of the day. I think, listen, we've all been involved
(12:28):
in the negotiations in some form. I apply for a
job or whoever it may be, and nothing gets done. The
first time you meet with people, and it was awesome.
They were touting how there are forty players there. Over
forty players, the most representations ever had. You had young
players like Clark and Reese and Becker's. You had older
players like Neckah obviously the president of the union, and Satusabi,
(12:48):
so you had variety of veterans and youngsters. And I
think that was good. But also, if you have forty
people in a room on one side, and they're probably
fifty overall in the room, I'm not sure how much
you get done. They're clearly far apart the salary, the
revenue sharing, they're not close right now. But I'm gonna optimistic. Guy,
(13:09):
you've known me for a while, I'm glass half full.
Something will get done before. We're not going to have
a walkout. We're not gona have a lockout. I don't
think that's happening. I think this was the first meeting
in person for this whole group since December. I think
things will start heating up a little bit now. It's tough,
you and I both know. I mean, they're playing games
right now, so like Mekka can't just fly to New
York for a meeting, She's got a player games in Seattle.
(13:30):
So I think the stuff will heat up over the
next few months. I think they'll get closer. As I said,
I think a deal will get done, but neutrals to
where I'll go with. I think that I don't know
what people expected going into this, but there was zero
chance they were gonna have a CVA done off this
one meeting at All Star, So I'll go with the
neutral for now. For both sides. Kathy seem a little
(13:50):
more positive. But I have faith we'll get a CBA
done at some point in the next six months.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
And if I remember correctly back in twenty twenty, that
CBA didn't get done until about January during those negotiations,
So I think that We're still pretty early on in
the discussions, and as you said, we're in the middle
of the season. But you know, these things take time,
and so the players from the jump they said that,
(14:16):
you know, it's about business. They came in with their proposal.
I do think that in twenty twenty it was all
about laying the foundations of getting the basic things that
the athletest needed. Now that they have the basics, they
can jump start and use that as a starting point
for this next bound CBA negotiation, especially as the new
media right still kicks in, expansion is happening, all these
(14:40):
different things. They now have something to work with. I
feel like obviously they had to compromise the last CBA,
but moving forward, I feel like the players have the
upper hand a little bit. And this especially with the
momentum and the viewership, selling out arenas, all those things,
I think that that's going to get them leverage coming
into this round of negotiations.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
I think your hunder percent right. I think the players
have a good foundation and more levers than they had
in twenty twenty. Unless we all over the world was
very different five years ago. COVID other things, they were
in the bubble for a season. I think the players
definitely have things trending their way right now, and both
sides want transformational numbers here. They want to transform their
(15:22):
last CBA to something that was going to last for
the next decade or beyond that. So I think we
saw it. I think the players are in a good position,
but you also have to have some really realistic expectations
of what you're going to get versus what you may
want to get in a lot of areas, and I
think I've heard a number it'll be nice to have
a million dollar player, just had the opotits of saying it,
players are earning a million dollars playing the WNBA would
(15:46):
be huge. I think that will happen. Every player make
a million dollars. I don't think that's realistic, but if
you get one or two million dollar players in each team,
then you feel your worth is more and you're saying, hey,
we're getting to seven digits now for salaries, not just
six digits. And again, the optics of a million dollar
player would be huge for this league and for the players.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Yeah, no, I agree, but I do think that when
we talk about salaries, right in the last CBA, we
saw you know, like a top one percent of athletes
get the super max deals, et cetera, and those middle
tier players sort of get left out. And because of
the hard salary cap that teams have, it was like
rookie skills and then paying the players and then no
(16:27):
in between, and then you had players like Odyssey sins
backfan it was like candistry pre those type of players
kind of get stuck or left out because of the
past CBA. So I hope that, Yes, I would love
to see the first million dollar player in a w NBA,
but I do also hope that with that those middle
(16:47):
tier players don't get left out and this next round
of negotiations and the salary because teams were hard caps,
so hopefully they address that and the next one.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Yeah, I mean, listen, Unfortunately, it's the way the world works, right,
I mean, there's the elite and then there's the bottom tier,
and then the middle kind of gets left out in
a lot of things. But it'll be good to see
those players get some relief. And listen, the most popular
players right now in the league in no shade to
some of the veterans. I mean, Asian Wilson is one
of the most probably five most popular players in the league,
or Clark, Reese and Becker's who are all in their
(17:20):
first and second years, and you've got to feel there's
got to be a way to get them a little
more than rookies scale because if they're gonna make seventy
five or seventy eight or eighty thousand next year or
two years from now, that's going to draw more attention
to it like this wage gap. So I don't know
how they can fix it right now. Usually rookies aren't
the top concern for CBA negotiations, but I think you're
(17:40):
making a big mistake if you don't figure a way
to get those players some more money somehow, because they
are a big reason why you're seeing that at tenants boom,
seeing the ratings boom, because people know them and want
to see them play.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Yeah, certainly. And another thing that so Cherry Ke was
on this show a couple of months ago, last November,
I believe, and she also talked about how a travel
situation isn't written in stone right now, so that's something
that they want to get in lighting come. The next
CVA is to keep these players on chartered flights, because
(18:12):
right now, the charter flight program is kind of like
a two year deal as they negotiate, So that's something
that they are also trying to get written in stone
in its next roundup negotiations as well, which I think
is super interesting. We saw that some teams, even during
All Star was able to charter their teams to All
Star in Indianapolis, whereas other teams didn't have that luxury.
(18:36):
So hopefully the players are able to get that continued,
because when it comes to rest recovery, those back to
back games, the intended schedules, that's the bare minimum that
the league can do. I Okathy address this on Saturday
as well in terms of the schedule, and she talked
about the different components that have to come together in
or refer to happen. And also I think someone also
(18:56):
asked her a question about the games, we'll you go
beyond forty four games, and she said that's certainly something
that they will look at, but all these things have
to be considered when you talk about what's gonna come
next year where you have two expansion teams and eighteen
by twenty thirty.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
And also I mean usually CBA's last six to eight years,
I think for the most part, for eight you op
that after six in six years from now, we're going
to have eighteen teams you just mentioned, so to play
forty four games eighteen teams might be tough to do
and not see everyone twice at least. So my guess
is to put some clause in there saying they could
expand to a certain amount. And you're right, you reference
(19:34):
Kathy's comments the other night, they can't start earlier that
there's a window there, Like you can't start earlier than
when they do right now because you have fial four
is the usually the first weekend in April, and then
maybe sometimes bumps back a little bit and you have
to have those college players. You cannot have college players
that not have a college draft, so they can maybe
move the season up a week ish maybe, but it's
(19:56):
got to be the tail end where you have November,
maybe late November Thanksgiving. I mean the windows for the playoffs,
Like ESPN has the rights to things in college football. Saturday,
they're not going to bump it to play a WNBA
playoff game, and then you're going against the NFL on
Sunday and Monday and Thursday. So like it's finding in
the right window that the networks that the NBC's of
this world, the ESPNS, the Amazons, they're gonna put the
(20:18):
games on, can show them. And that's part of it.
As you said, it's a giant puzzle that I hate
to say to the fans out there, Kathy does not
actually make the schedule. She's not in her kitchen table
filling out okay, where okay, put teams? You know what's
going on here, like she I'm sure she okays it.
But there is actually a group that puts the schedules
there every the year. It's arena availability things like that.
(20:38):
And she said it going against the NBA. Usually they
the tail in the NBA the playoffs, less teams are
still playing when they have arena availabilities. If you go
into November and early December, potentially the NBA is going
start of their season, so there's less availabilities there. And yes,
the WNBA is drawing immense fan popularity right now in house.
I don't know if an arena is going to hold
(21:01):
a date for WMA playoff game in December when the
NBA teams are playing. And that's a good test of it.
But it's going to be interesting in the next CBA
how they figure out how many games there are, how
long the season goes. We'll see. We'll see what they
decided to come up with.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
And then you have to consider like the Phoeba schedule,
euro Basket, all those different factors that come into play
when you think about this summer WNBA schedule, and hopefully
the league can work together with FEBA to work something out.
We're starting to see more international players this season, especially
not go over to your basket, Gappie Williams, Johannes Dominique Malonga,
(21:37):
those types of players are saying, well, I want to
prioritize the WNBA, So how can we get the WNBA
to the standard where it is being prioritized over some
of the other leagues around the world?
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Air point and next year is a Fever World Cup
and it's in the middle of the season in September,
and it's going to cause some havoc on the scheduling
how they're handling it. So we'll see. I mean, I
thinkathy is a twenty percent of the league is from
international players, which is up, and the more that grows
and we see it on the NBA side, that the
prioritization will be a problem on the women's side, and
you're right, players decide you stay here rather than go
(22:10):
and play in those euro leagues, and I'm guessing that's
something that the owners are gonna want in their side
of the negotiation. CBA is an exclusivity and more of
a commitment from players that hey, this is the league,
your top league, you want to play, and we're going
to pay you money to be here. You better be here.
(22:36):
Huge news coming.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Out of New York right now, and we talked about
international players and MMBC men was the biggest question mark
for as to whether she come over from the second
half of the season. According to multiple reports, she has
agreed to commit to the New York Liberty. They also
signed Septie Talbot this week as well, who adds some
size and three point shooting to an already deep roster.
(22:59):
I think that Jonathan Cole pulled a robbery when we
talk about executives of the year. Just the star power
that he's been able to pull in New York is commendable.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
Yeah, I mean, listen, they also get jj back this week,
so yeah, adding John Collin Jones has been out for
a month with the ankle injury, so huge I mean
Stephanie Talbot's played obviously for Sandy Bardella on the Australian
Olympic team and the World Cup team, so she knows
her game well. She Stephanie said to us that she's
talked to Sandy a lot over the course of the season,
and of course when she was unfortunately waved by Golden State,
(23:35):
Sandy picked up the phone so to speak, and said, hey,
we'd love to have you here. And then Emma, I
mean John Cole said to us today that got the commitment.
She's not signed a contract yet. There's has the Visa
stuff taken care of. Visa's game. The US are not
as simple as there were, shall we say that a
year or two years ago, But that's a tremendous pickup.
I mean, you could have a front line of Emma Meatman,
(23:57):
Brianna Stewart and John Could Jones, all who were six
four and bigger, all who can shoot threes, all who
can handle the basketball, all who have an incredible IQ.
Oh and by the way, you also throwing the only
Phoebish who may lose their starting spot potentially when Emma
comes in or if Emma comes off the bench. Who's
also like six to four, So you have like a
front line who can play defense, can guard, can shoot threes.
It might be the most dynamic front line that I've
(24:19):
seen in the WNBA that I can remember in recent times.
So huge, huge additions to this team that was looking
to repeat as champions, and they didn't just stan pat.
They may move to make themselves better than they were
last year, more dynamic they were last year, and I
think are probably now the favorite to win titlely a
no shade to Minnesota, but you get healthy and you
(24:40):
add an mmeaseman who's already won a championship in Washington
twenty nineteen. That's a really, really good team they've assembled
here in John the Cole Selbert's birthday yesterday a birthday
to sign Stephanie Talbot and also bring in m measeman.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Yeah. Absolutely, It makes the New York Liberties second lineup
incredibly strong, whether mmmesman is in the star lineup or
she's coming off the bench. I think that you know,
this is a team with depth completely and I think
that when you look at how they won the championship
last year, it was because the players were interchangeable. You
were able to rest Stewie. You were able to play
job quol last minutes because you had players that can
(25:16):
come in and they wouldn't escape a beat. And I
think that Emma Misiman is the perfect edition. We had
her rumors early in the season that she was considered
in Phoenix and Minnesota because of the relationship with Eric Hebrow,
but ultimately New York Whipperty is the team who got
the commitment. And I know fans who are all social
media a little confused and saying, how can the New
Yoriquipperty sign her? The Richard Well bernage Leannie Hamilton's contract
(25:40):
was suspended at the start of the season because of
her injury, and because she got injured at Unrivaled, their
insurance was able to pay out her full salary and
it did not teut against the Liberties cap space. So
they had about one hundred and I want to say
you thirteen thousand dollars somewhere in that ballpark already in
the tank. Then they cut Mark Ruisia Davis. That adds
(26:02):
a little bit more to their availability and adds a
roster spot, so they were able to make these two signings.
So nothing illegal, just a very smart executive. GM in
the front off is to pull it off.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
I mean, shrewd moves by him to get this group here.
I don't know what Talbot's making, but I'm guessing it
might be a vetter minimum, so to speak. The league
for many years a really good job adding more depth
of this team that was already really really good. I mean,
you're second year of Marine Johannes. You have Foebisher, Misiman,
whoever's going to be there. You have Kennedy Burke, who's
we've been fantastic this year. You are sobly. I mean,
(26:38):
there's a really good second five that could do pretty
well in this league. If they were starting five, they'd
be competitive. Shall we say?
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Yeah? All right, Doug, one last thing before we let
you get out of here. As we look into the
second half of the season, what are some keys that
you're going to be looking forward to league wide?
Speaker 2 (26:56):
I guess the number one thing, which you always have
to wear out his health. Who can be help healthy for
this run that everyone's going to have for the next
month and a half where the schedule is very compact
and we've already seen I mean a lot of injuries
caused players to miss the All Star Game this past weekend.
The biggest name obviously is Caitlin Clark. I mean she
for the fourth time is miss games this year, had
an injury. Her growing right now is the biggest question.
(27:17):
I think she'll be out for at least a little
bit of time minimum to let it recover and heal.
You don't want to rush her back so that people
can say the team that stays healthy will probably be
the one that's going to be in the best position
to win a championship this year. And everyone's gone through
some kind of injuries so far, so I think to
see what's happened. So that's the mainstare line of me
is who's the healthiest team for the next month and
(27:38):
a half, And I think just gelling. I mean Phoenix
added Dewana Bonner, who's a tremendous pick up. Again, she
played a great career there before going to Connecticut. You
have her analyst house back together SA too. If she
gets healthy, Kullia Copper gets healthy. I mean those are
four that's pretty good in that Phoenix area. So health
and how those teams gel. Obviously we mentioned New York
how that Misamian I think will fit in pretty well well.
(28:00):
But take some time to understand how to play other players.
So I think that's what I'm looking forward to for
the rest of this sort of regular season we have
for the next month and a half two months.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Yeah, And also, like one thing that we didn't mention
was the trade deadline that goes down in August. Will
teams try to make moves to make that Vinyl push
to make a playoff burn. So we'll be certainly keeping
our eyes on the trade deadline as time takes away.
Doug Feinberg from the AP, thank you again for joining
(28:31):
us on In case you missed it here on iHeart
Women's Sports Network.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Always players at Chat with the Christina in case you
missed it with Christina Williams is an iHeart Women's sports
production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
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