CBS Sports Analyst and the co-host of The Levels to This podcast, Terrika Foster-Brasby, returns to discuss this week's headlines with Khristina. They cover WNBA All-Star fan voting trends, the impact of Jonquel Jones' injury on the New York Liberty, and potential shifts in player roles for the Indiana Fever, notably Dewanna Bonner's absence. They also touch on the ongoing CBA negotiations and their implications for player salaries and league growth.
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. Welcome to another edition of In Case You
Missed It with Christina Williams. Here on iHeart Women's Sports,
and you guys know, it's Wednesday, so we are going
(00:24):
to talk about the.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Latest and greatest in and around the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
And I'm always excited for every guest that comes on
this show. But of course my girl who's joining the
show this week to help break down the headlines.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
I'm always excited to have her on.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
She's now I love let La China Robinson. For example,
she said family to the show, so she's bammed to
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
We actually spent a lot of time this weekend together
in New York City. So without further ado, let me
tell y'all who's joining the show this week. She is
a sports analyst for CBS Sports and the co hosts
to the levels of this podcast with Cheryl Swoops.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Please welcome back to the show, my homegirl, Cherika Thosser Brasby. Hey,
I need that kind of intro like every time. I'm
just gonna be like Christina intro me, I'm here listen.
I love the red hair. It's giving sexy red. It
is sexy.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Okay, the adult a little hot girl summer so tee.
To kick off our pregame segment, we always like to
start the show with guests sharing their win of the week.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
So what was your win this week? My win this
week is very obvious. We had an opportunity myself and
Chrol Swoops to perform our podcast live at Fanatics Fest
in New York at the Javit Center this past weekend
on the Dig Sporting Good stage and it.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Was such a fun show.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
We were joined by Cynthia Cooper and it's just me
a surreal moment, right. You got two people who you
grew up watching, two of my favorite players in the world.
I get to say I share a podcast with one
and to have the other as a guest, and just
all of the fun and excitement that comes along with that.
Never in my wildest dreams that I think I would
be sitting on a stage at fanatics Fest doing a show.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
So definitely my winn of the week. Listen.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I was near support and as though as the friend
in the audience. So it's always good when I get
to link up with the girls. But you know, I
love the podcast conversation. I always tell you guys that
I'm so so proud of you. And for me it
was like the behind the season almost because Cynthia Cooper
is so fin funny, funny, unfiltered just for Bobby of
(02:44):
like an old Auntie in my head. And then Cheryl's
always Cheryl yep. So I had a great time with
you all this weekend. Shout out to Great Ideas as well.
Another yeah into the show who was able to do
her podcast at Fanatics Fest. But yeah, I did my
Podcas has a lot of Fanatics Best last year and
it was a good time. And I'm glad that you
(03:04):
got to pop your Fanatics Best charity.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So I did. I did? Hey, all right, tee.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
So let's move right along to our fast news break
In this week in the headlines, the first return of
w NBA All Star fan voting was revealed and no
surprise that Caitlyn Clark and a piece of Collier was
leading the way in the first return.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Of fan votes. So you saw the results of the
first wave of votes.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
And I want to know what do you think about
the star power shifting in the WNBA in terms of
fans now coming out and voting for some of their
favorite players to make All Star.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Yeah, well, I mean I feel like this is what
this is for, right, Like, there is a lot of
stop that's put into who receives All Star votes and
who doesn't from a player's perspective, which makes sense. There's
money on the line, there's you know, cloud credibility. All
that is great, But at the end of the day,
this truly is an event for the fans. It's about
the fans having an opportunity to see their favorites. And
(04:11):
no surprise, Caitlyn Clark is the fan favorite for tons
of people across the WNBA spectrum, So it makes so
much sense that fans of hers, as well as of
the Indiana Fever, which arguably is the most popular team,
it makes sense that fans would turn out to really
get behind them and support them and vote for them
for these particular for these particular roles and positions. So
(04:34):
I'm not surprised at all. And it's not as if,
you know, Kaitlyn isn't deserving. It's not as if Eliah
Boston isn't deserving. It's not as if Kelsey Mitchell isn't
deserving right, So the fans get it right, like they're
voting for their favorites, but their favorites are also playing
really good basketball.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Right now, so it does make sense.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And one of the things that the fan results kind
of indicated to me is that the league is growing. Yes,
the number of votes that or poured into in the
first return, we saw like quarter million.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Half a million votes, so more eyes than ever right
now is on the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
And just to see fans engaging like that, I thought
it was like kind of a surreal moment. And it's
just said, no surprise that the Indiana Fevera fans are
going to show up to show.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Out for their favorite team.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
And we saw that because four Fever players made it
to the top ten and the first return of fan
voting and six Fever players made it to the top twenty.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Five when we looked at the top forty in the voting.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Is that more of a reflection of their play this
season because the fever A comma in the middle, or
about how much this fan base is invested in to
how their favorite players become All Stars.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
I truly and genuinely believe it is a combination of both. Right,
Caitlyn Clark is the number one fan favorite, she's the
number one vote getter, and it makes sense.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Caitlyn's played phenomenal this year.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
She's already been in MVP conversations and rightfully so again
Aliah Boston, the front court is going to be tough
no matter who you are and where you're voting this year,
but Aliah Boston again has done very well. Kelsey Mitchell,
this would be her third straight All Star appearance if
she continues to be in the top ten, and again
well deserved. So no, it's not to me. You know,
(06:18):
those players are not necessarily undeserving of being voted as
All Stars, whether they end up being starters or whether
they end up being some being starters and some having
an opportunity to be put in later.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
At the end of the day, they are all deserving.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
But I also think at the same time, it shows
that the fans are invested in ensuring that their favorites
make this particular accolade, because I remember reading something recently
where you know, the last few years, well I won't
even say last year, but maybe like from twenty twenty
three and beyond, the fans were only voting like one
(06:52):
hundred semi thousand, people were getting fifty sixty thousand votes,
and those were high numbers. To see now people are
getting four hundred and four thirteen thousand votes, five hundred
and fifteen thousand votes. It continues to show that the
league is growing. It continues to show that fans are
truly invested in this.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
All Star And this is exactly what it is for.
It's for the fans.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
It is for them to have an opportunity to see
their favorites play in a capacity that they don't get
an opportunity to on a regular basis.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
And I love it. But I also love seeing that.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Page Beckers made the top six, and I also love
seeing that, you know, Kiki eria Fin, these are rookies.
Rookies are coming in impacting the game, and they're also
making an impact on the people that are watching, and
the fans aren't responding to it.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, I absolutely love that.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
But on the same scale of things, there are some
players who have the skill set right to be an
All Star and may not necessarily see that reflected and
the first return of fan voting, But that's why the
WNBA implemented a system where fan votes is accounted for
fifty percent of the votes, media is twenty.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Five player areas. Players also account for twenty five.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
So when you look at some of the names that
are missing from some of the top first returns of
the fan votes, who stands out to you as someone
that deserves to be getting way more attention right now? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Well, I think Alicia Gray absolutely should be higher up
in the voting than she currently is. But I think
you also just nailed exactly what my rebuttal to that
will be. The fans don't have to care about how
well you're actually playing.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
The fans are going to vote for their favorites.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
I remember on the NBA side, people were voting for
Carmelo Anthony and Carmelo Anthony wedding plan. The man was
injured for like a months, and I was like, what
are y'all doing? But he was a fan favorite and
people voted for him, and that's just kind of what
it is.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
I do think the.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Onus on ensuring that the proper votes for play goes
to the media. Media votes are what matters to me
in that regard, because while we may be fans of
the game and I have a media vote, I know
you have a media vote, and you and I are
two of the people who consistently reveal our vote every
year because we believe in transparency. But I do think
(09:03):
like it is our responsibility to ensure that we're voting
for the best people who deserve it based on their
play and not necessarily based on who we like or
don't like. It's the fans responsibility to vote who they like.
They don't care about what the numbers actually say, and
so I don't think it's fair to kind of put
that onus on the fans.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
But I do agree with you that there are some
players like.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Again and Alisha Gray is one who instantly comes to
mind that would to me be higher up in the standings.
Alyssa Thomas is another one to me who should absolutely
be cracking the top ten based off play sac too Sobbly,
no way is she anywhere past the top ten.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Like these are players that absolutely should be higher.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Up, and I do believe that they most likely will
receive more votes. You know, the second round of votes
has not yet been distributed yet, and then you know
medium votes have not yet been submitted, so there is
still time for us to see a difference in standings
between now the time that this initial release was made.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
But yeah, there are a few people who I'm like,
are y'all watching the same basketball And on Friday, you know,
our votes.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
We have to submit our ballots for media, And I
started filling out some of my ballot earlier today and
I was like, nah, I need a couple more days
to think about it, because I take my vote so
serious and I am so honored to have the privilege
to be a media voter. And so for me, it's
the front court because my backcourt, I'm already knowing who
I'm putting on my ballot.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
I'm gonna say it right now. I have Caitlin Clark,
Sabrinneo and.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Escu Alsha Gray and Skyler Diggins as my backcourt. But
those front court positions, I think some people are a lock.
I think Asia Wilson is a lock, and the FISA Collier
Brinanna Stewart is a lock.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
John Cuaul Jones is a lock.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
And you know, for me right now, it's like she's
gonna be out four to six weeks.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
All Star is July nineteen.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
That can impact a media voter to say, oh, she's
not gonna be ready let me just scratch someone else,
or do you say she's been playing phenomenally, let her
get the honors and let the league choose a replacement.
So media voters may be a little stuck on that.
I think that so Belie, Lissa Thomas, Gabby.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Williams, Nika. They all deserve.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
But we can only choose six front core players and
four back court players as media voters on our ballot.
So I'm gonna sleep on it for a couple more
days and then get my finalized ballot in. But you guys,
I just revealed who I have in my back court,
and I think those are four solid players that deserve
to be named All Stars.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Now you know that's just the stars, right, like right?
Speaker 1 (11:39):
There will be reserves right that are also selected, And
so you know, we'll find out the teams and rosters
in and around the first week of July. And we
know that the two players with the most fan returned
votes will be named captain, and previously it's always been
Asia Wilson and Brandis Stewart, so it'll be interesting.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
To see things getting shaken up a little bit.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I think that is a lot you can say right now,
Caitlin Clark is going to be All Star captain and
starter like.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
And I think the FISA will stay at the number
two spot. I don't think one and two is gonna change.
I don't I don't see it. I don't see one
into changing.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
So yeah, and the thesis playing on her her mind.
All right, Well, we'll keep our eyes on. You know,
the second return of fan votes coming out this week,
and we got to crate our issue together ourselves to
send our ballets later on this week as well. Sticking
(12:43):
with the Indiana Fever, Dewana Bonner has been out for
a few games now and there are questions surrounding just
where she's.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Been and what it means for the team. Now. The
team is issued.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
You know, not even a statement, but they've said, you know,
she's out for personal reasons.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
I know that.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Last week Steph White also kind of reiterated that same
sentiment that she's out for personal reasons as well. But
before that, how did you see her adjusting to her
role with the Fever and impact in the young roster.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Well, truth be told, I had no idea how she
was going to fit into this Fever lineup. To be
completely honest, love wanna loved do Wanna's game, lover as
a person, love as a player, but I was I
was very shocked when I saw that she was choosing
to go to Indiana, just because it felt as if
(13:40):
the skill set that she have would work well in
a Stephanie White system, given that we had seen a
Stephanie White system in Connecticut. But I was questioning whether
or not Stephanie White system would work with the personnel
that they had in in Indiana. So I was like, well,
you know, I know that she wants to play faster.
I know that she you know, wants to be more outside.
(14:02):
I know defense is something that's important to steph But
how does that fit in Indiana given who they have
on their roster currently, they don't have a slew of
like super quick up and down the court type players.
You know, do Wanna's getting older, like don't. I don't
know how that fit from a from a standpoint of
how does how does she impact her teammates? Well, Dowana
(14:24):
Bono's a true vet right Like, she's a winner, She's
a champion. You know, she understands what it means to
play tough. She understands what it means to grind, and
so I feel like anytime you get an opportunity to
be that type of leader for your locker room, for
the younger players that are coming into the league, that's
important and you want that. But I was not surprised
(14:44):
at the first start of the season to see that
do Wanna was a little quiet. Again, this offense centers
so much around Caitlin Clark and Clark's ability to draw
the double team, her ability to create space. It's why
she's such an offish pass her because she draws so
much of the attention. But I wasn't quite sure how
(15:06):
or where the Wana would fit given the personnel, and
it's safe to assume again we don't know for sure.
There hasn't been any specific details around why she's not
being why she's not been with the team. We don't
know for sure what personal reasons actually mean, so it's
really all speculations at this point. But it's not far
(15:29):
fetched to think that maybe do Wanna is unhappy with
her role, that maybe she wants to see things a
little differently, that maybe what she was told coming to
the Indiana Fever is a little different than what's actually
being implemented, and maybe she's just not happy about it
and has decided to take time away.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
We don't know.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
It's just not far fetched to think that because I
do know that two of the best games that do
Wanna Bonner had this season where the games in which
Caitlyn Clark was out, and that meant that the team
had to play differently, they had to structure themselves differ friendly,
and she took advantage of that. So, I mean, again,
we don't know what the exact situation is, so we
(16:07):
can't really be critical of why she's away, but it
isn't far fetched to think that, given you know, seeing
her Instagram, seeing some other things, that maybe there is
some riff between you know, what she was expected to
do and what she's actually doing now that she's there.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
And you brought up her Instagram and I just want
to debunk one thing because you know, I'm friends with
dv On on Instagram and X and she follows me back.
One thing, Her EX account was always private, like since
the start of the season, so fans, I'm sorry to
kind of debunk some of your fan fiction. Her X
account was already private. Yeah, And in terms of her
(16:47):
Instagram account, she didn't change anything from her Instagram account.
She hasn't scrubbed anything away from her Instagram. She has
always had her fashion tunnel fits leaning more into that
on her page.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
For the entire season, she.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Hasn't added anything or taken anything away and her time
away from the team. Now back to the basketball part
of things now, should she be unhappy with her role
with the Fever, the trade deadline is in August, but
teams can also package together deals before that deadline. Should
(17:23):
she want out if she's unhappy with her role. But
then also we've seen in the past players get their
contract buyout, and we see something called a contract divorce
where a team will my out her contract and you're
a free agent to sign elsewhere. We don't know what
the personal reasons are right now. The team has said
she's out for personal reasons. You know, we support her
(17:46):
in that decision, and so we just have to wait
and see. But the game is definitely missing dB, I
think right.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Now, and especially for how she can impact her team.
All right, So yeah, moving right along.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Also this past week, Indiana Fever players Sophie Cunningham and
Sid Coulson, prior to a media availability, they read a
prepared statement from the w MBPA about current CBA negotiations,
and I thought it was pretty interesting that they, you know,
decided to address that because I think in the news
(18:23):
cycle currently, we know that the players opted out last November,
but it's kind of been lost in the sauce and
we're almost in the mid season point and haven't heard
any new developments about where you know, the players and
the union and the league standing with these negotiations. So
I thought it was really interesting that the players have
opened up their media availability and starting with their statement,
(18:47):
and we can hear a little bit about that right now.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
On the alp of my teammates and.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
Every member of argument, I want to be clear and
remain committed to negotiating the next CBA with the league
and the scenes in your place.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
And Flive, please, we.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Know that our league is growing and we believe that
it is an invariatives that our CBA reflects the growth
that we've experienced in the league, and that players should
be seen part of those earnings.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
So, Tee, what does this moment say about how players
are approaching these CBA negotiations.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
I loved it right because you know, nekka agumkay as
the WNBA Players Association president has said, we are going
to approach this aggressively, right, Like, We're not going to
We're not going to take any moment away from the
(19:40):
leverage that we believe we have. We're not going to
back down from what we believe that we deserve, and
we're going to be very aggressive in our negotiations.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
And I feel that this.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Is part of that, right like, not running away from it,
making it very clear that regardless of what we're doing
and what's going on, we're still very much committed to
the goal at hand, which is the very the list
of items that they feel is important to them in
order to address. And so I loved the fact that
(20:11):
Sidney Colston, of all people, was the one to really
make this statement for several reasons, right, Like, you know,
I know Sidney. I know Sidney personally, and a lot
of times people really only know about her being a
comedian or her being kind of the fun and the
life of the party. But Sidney is also very business minded, right,
(20:32):
and she takes her role and responsibilities within the w
NBA very seriously. And I thought it was a great
moment for her to kind of say, hey, listen, I
love being back here in Las Vegas. This is a
great opportunity, but more importantly, there's something bigger than at
play right now, and it kind of serves as a
reminder that these negotiations are still going on, because to
(20:53):
your point, we haven't really heard a lot of behind
the scenes and a lot of updates, and maybe no
news is good news, right because there are also some
articles that insist that mega Agou Mackay has said that
negotiations are going smoothly, that things are going in the
direction and on the path that they're supposed.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
To go on.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
So no news could very well be good news that
things are going in the way that the WNBA is hoping.
But I love the fact that this was a moment unexpectedly,
so it doesn't necessarily feel like it's forced because there's
some type of, you know, behind the scenes scandal or
something that's going on in which people had to make
a public statement. It just felt like, hey, by the way,
(21:32):
we're still very committed to this thing here that we're
doing outside of what we're playing on the court, and
I love that they were able to address that.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
I think one of the things with WNBA absolutely cannot
afford to get wrong this time around is the revenue sharing.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
This is something that cannot these women have been.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Fighting for, and especially at the height and momentum in
which the league is at right now, I think.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
That with all eyes on the league and.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
The growth, you don't want to force the players to
implement a lockout like there has to be some compromise
going into these negotiations. And you know, from what I
heard in terms of how the players prepared this time around,
is they came in with a business plan versus last
time around it was more so, Okay, let's do this.
We don't really know what we're doing. But this time around,
(22:17):
they've learned so much in the last five years since
the last CBA negotiations that they came in prepared.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
And so we'll keep our eyes.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
On how these negotiations are turning out, and we'll keep
you guys posted.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Finals MVP and w NBA champion John Craael Jones will
be out four to six weeks due to an ankle
spring sustained against the game against the Phoenix Mercury.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
I think this is a huge blow for the New
York Liberty because I think that New York Liberty success
starts and ends with John Quelt Jones. I mean she
is single handedly, I think, the most important player on
the New York Liberty team.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
And they're already down Leoni Phoebitch, who has overseas commitments.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
They were down Sobernean High School last game due to
a neck injury, so you can't afford to be down
three starters.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
At a four to six week stretch.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
I think Sabrina will return a little bit quicker, and
obviously Leo's return has depending on how her team is
doing in neural basket. But John Cuel Jones is missing
from the team four to six weeks, I think it'll
have a huge blow for this New York Liberty team.
What are your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Yeah, same, I did see something that Leo might be
returning by July third, so it's possible that if she's
able to come back by that timeframe, that gives.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Them a little bit more leverage to work with.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
But this team is heavily dependent upon the success of
John Quilt Jones, right, and you can you can see
that unless Sandy Brownell was looking to play a smaller
lineup where she puts Stewie at the five, the inside
presidence is.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
A bit weaker for the Liberty when John Quilt isn't there.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
She just commands so much presidence, the ability to dominate
on the board, John quote, running this offense, running everything
through John Quiot Jones truly makes a difference.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Now what does that mean for everyone else?
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Well, it gives Kennedy Burke an opportunity to continue to
play stronger. She's been someone who has got an opportunity
to kind of fill in Niarasabii. You know, she was
to me very critical to winning a championship. When I
think about pieces that came off the bench Niara at
the time, Kayler Thornton like, they were pieces that really
helped to propel this Liberty team next year. And so
(24:40):
her experience last year, excuse me, so her experience this year,
She's gotten the majority of the opportunities to fill in
for John Quill when John Quill was out earlier this
year with an ankle injury. So I think that there
is hope, right Like, no one's expecting this Liberty team
to just completely sink the ship now that John Quoll
is out. But I do think it is going to
(25:02):
test the strength of this bench. It is going to
test the strength of how resilient this team truly is.
And again it goes back to what this team has
said the entirety of the time that is not about
being perfect. It's not about how many games you win
or lose. It's necessarily about getting back to the championship.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Will they're going to have to put that to the test.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Right now without JJ Yeah, and the team has embarked
on a West coast trip, which they already were handed
a loss by the Seattle Storm. So we'll be keeping
our eyes on the New York Liberty end. Look, it's
so hard to defend a title because you are the hunted.
Every game, every team is gonna want to bring their
best because they want to beat you.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
And so we'll use this as a measuring stick.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
All right, Moving right along, before you get out of here,
tea WNBA expansion, we have to talk about trademarks tied
to the Portland Fire name surfacing ahead of twenty twenty
six expansion.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Now, Portland team.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
Across their socials have pinted at a announcement coming in July.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
But how do you feel about the league possibly bringing
back that brand?
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Love it, love it, love it, love it. Right, So
there's a couple of things.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Right.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Number one, I'm always gonna be about the history of
the league. Right, I'm Anyone who knows me knows I'm
a history girl.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
I'm a history buff. It's what I love, It's what
I do.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
I love to see how things tend to repeat themselves,
how tend things to go around. And I just don't
think the Portland Fire received the respect that they deserve
the first time around.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
Right.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
I also think it's a great opportunity for the WNBA
to capitalize on a brand that they already have. It
doesn't take much to you know, tweak things like maybe
a word mark, maybe a color, maybe you know, all
of that stuff if you want to add a new
element to the team. B and that is considered an expansion,
But there's just something about bringing the element of the
(26:58):
original name back to this city. It rejuvenizes I think.
I think it rejuvenates the feeling of women's basketball in
the city of Portland to have the team with a
significant name. And it also gives you an opportunity to
bring back some former players from the Portland Fire, so
for them to be able to feel like they are
(27:19):
a part of the new franchise and that's not to
say that the you know, ownership in Portland would not
have done that anyway, But just having that name back,
just truly to me, would bring about an excitement in
Oregon that I think kind of is already there.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
But just would take it to the next level.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
And can you imagine all the march that is just
going to be on point bringing back the original name,
all the throwback Portland Fire jerseys that people can break out,
the throwback fitted like this is a This is a
no brainer to me.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Yeah, And I feel like we can't appreciate where we
are without paying homage to the ones that came before.
So I am four for the Portland fireback te I'm
so for and you have the you have the red here.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Okay, it's a celebration. Now fire the fiery here.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
We got you gotta bring the Portland Fire back. Okay,
before you get out of here. One last fun thing.
Gatorade has announced a new special edition Shirley Temple flavor
drink for Page Beckers, who was one of the first
college nil players to sign.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Obviously, that endorsement deal carried over to the w n
B A.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
I love this collaboration one because I love Shirley Temple
because I am.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Because Curly Temple.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
So I think that is so great to have a
brand tied and invested into a player like Paige Beckers.
How weird is it for a WNB and Ricky to
land something like this that's culturally visible? And also, if
you could choose a flavor for any w NBA player,
who would you pick and what.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
Flavor would it be? That's a great question.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
So I do have someone who I talk to at
Gatorade who is incredibly awesome and usually does a great
job of talking about why they are very intentional with
the brands, with the brand athletes who they work with.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
And I think that Gatorade is smart right.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
They know the star power that Paige Beckers brings, they
know the kind of person that she is and why
it's good for the brand. They know that she works hard,
and so it makes sense for this collaboration, and I
absolutely love it for her. She's just really been taking
this league by storm since she's been here and taking
advantage of all of the opportunities to kind of put
(29:33):
something unnoticed right, whether it's her, whether it's her brand.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Just something.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
She's always elevating something and I absolutely love that, so
I'm here for it. I don't know how much I'm
gonna be drinking because I need you all to add
a little vodka.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
To that Shirley temple. But no, it should be fun.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
Honestly though, If Gatorade could give someone their own flavor,
I definitely would want to see Marina Maybray with a
and I would love it to be like some type
of This is going to sound crazy, but if you
are a drinker, you know that there's the Jalapeno Margarita.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
I forgot what the.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
Actual name is, but it's like a spicy margarita. Could
you imagine like a spicy flavored Gatoray, like a like
a hint of like a hint of something spicy and
a margarita just to give you, I mean to end
the Gatoray to just give you that little ool when
it's going down. Definitely for Marina, because Marina stay spicy,
and to me, it just fits her.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
I would love to see that. I would buy that, like,
I would buy that personally. I like that. I like
that too. It's Marina Babery and then she has her
cooking with baby thing going on, and.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
You're drinking a spicy She's from New Jersey, so she
brings the spiciness.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
You can feel that East Coast spiciness when she's on
that order.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
I love it all right, T that's gonna do it
for this episode. I appreciate you for coming on and
joining us this week to discuss the headlines on In
Case you missed It with Christina Williams here on Iheartwomen's
Sports Network.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
I appreciate you girl, of course.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Anytimes we'll forget to listen to Tea on levels to
this podcast with Ryl Swoops every week right here on
the iHeart Women's Sports Network.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
We'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
In Case you missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart Women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
You can find us on
Speaker 1 (31:25):
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. Welcome to another edition of In Case You
Missed It with Christina Williams. Here on iHeart Women's Sports,
and you guys know, it's Wednesday, so we are going
(00:24):
to talk about the.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Latest and greatest in and around the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
And I'm always excited for every guest that comes on
this show. But of course my girl who's joining the
show this week to help break down the headlines.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
I'm always excited to have her on.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
She's now I love let La China Robinson. For example,
she said family to the show, so she's bammed to
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
We actually spent a lot of time this weekend together
in New York City. So without further ado, let me
tell y'all who's joining the show this week. She is
a sports analyst for CBS Sports and the co hosts
to the levels of this podcast with Cheryl Swoops.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Please welcome back to the show, my homegirl, Cherika Thosser Brasby. Hey,
I need that kind of intro like every time. I'm
just gonna be like Christina intro me, I'm here listen.
I love the red hair. It's giving sexy red. It
is sexy.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Okay, the adult a little hot girl summer so tee.
To kick off our pregame segment, we always like to
start the show with guests sharing their win of the week.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
So what was your win this week? My win this
week is very obvious. We had an opportunity myself and
Chrol Swoops to perform our podcast live at Fanatics Fest
in New York at the Javit Center this past weekend
on the Dig Sporting Good stage and it.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Was such a fun show.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
We were joined by Cynthia Cooper and it's just me
a surreal moment, right. You got two people who you
grew up watching, two of my favorite players in the world.
I get to say I share a podcast with one
and to have the other as a guest, and just
all of the fun and excitement that comes along with that.
Never in my wildest dreams that I think I would
be sitting on a stage at fanatics Fest doing a show.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
So definitely my winn of the week. Listen.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I was near support and as though as the friend
in the audience. So it's always good when I get
to link up with the girls. But you know, I
love the podcast conversation. I always tell you guys that
I'm so so proud of you. And for me it
was like the behind the season almost because Cynthia Cooper
is so fin funny, funny, unfiltered just for Bobby of
(02:44):
like an old Auntie in my head. And then Cheryl's
always Cheryl yep. So I had a great time with
you all this weekend. Shout out to Great Ideas as well.
Another yeah into the show who was able to do
her podcast at Fanatics Fest. But yeah, I did my
Podcas has a lot of Fanatics Best last year and
it was a good time. And I'm glad that you
(03:04):
got to pop your Fanatics Best charity.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So I did. I did? Hey, all right, tee.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
So let's move right along to our fast news break
In this week in the headlines, the first return of
w NBA All Star fan voting was revealed and no
surprise that Caitlyn Clark and a piece of Collier was
leading the way in the first return.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Of fan votes. So you saw the results of the
first wave of votes.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
And I want to know what do you think about
the star power shifting in the WNBA in terms of
fans now coming out and voting for some of their
favorite players to make All Star.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Yeah, well, I mean I feel like this is what
this is for, right, Like, there is a lot of
stop that's put into who receives All Star votes and
who doesn't from a player's perspective, which makes sense. There's
money on the line, there's you know, cloud credibility. All
that is great, But at the end of the day,
this truly is an event for the fans. It's about
the fans having an opportunity to see their favorites. And
(04:11):
no surprise, Caitlyn Clark is the fan favorite for tons
of people across the WNBA spectrum, So it makes so
much sense that fans of hers, as well as of
the Indiana Fever, which arguably is the most popular team,
it makes sense that fans would turn out to really
get behind them and support them and vote for them
for these particular for these particular roles and positions. So
(04:34):
I'm not surprised at all. And it's not as if,
you know, Kaitlyn isn't deserving. It's not as if Eliah
Boston isn't deserving. It's not as if Kelsey Mitchell isn't
deserving right, So the fans get it right, like they're
voting for their favorites, but their favorites are also playing
really good basketball.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Right now, so it does make sense.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And one of the things that the fan results kind
of indicated to me is that the league is growing. Yes,
the number of votes that or poured into in the
first return, we saw like quarter million.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Half a million votes, so more eyes than ever right
now is on the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
And just to see fans engaging like that, I thought
it was like kind of a surreal moment. And it's
just said, no surprise that the Indiana Fevera fans are
going to show up to show.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Out for their favorite team.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
And we saw that because four Fever players made it
to the top ten and the first return of fan
voting and six Fever players made it to the top twenty.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Five when we looked at the top forty in the voting.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Is that more of a reflection of their play this
season because the fever A comma in the middle, or
about how much this fan base is invested in to
how their favorite players become All Stars.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
I truly and genuinely believe it is a combination of both. Right,
Caitlyn Clark is the number one fan favorite, she's the
number one vote getter, and it makes sense.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Caitlyn's played phenomenal this year.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
She's already been in MVP conversations and rightfully so again
Aliah Boston, the front court is going to be tough
no matter who you are and where you're voting this year,
but Aliah Boston again has done very well. Kelsey Mitchell,
this would be her third straight All Star appearance if
she continues to be in the top ten, and again
well deserved. So no, it's not to me. You know,
(06:18):
those players are not necessarily undeserving of being voted as
All Stars, whether they end up being starters or whether
they end up being some being starters and some having
an opportunity to be put in later.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
At the end of the day, they are all deserving.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
But I also think at the same time, it shows
that the fans are invested in ensuring that their favorites
make this particular accolade, because I remember reading something recently
where you know, the last few years, well I won't
even say last year, but maybe like from twenty twenty
three and beyond, the fans were only voting like one
(06:52):
hundred semi thousand, people were getting fifty sixty thousand votes,
and those were high numbers. To see now people are
getting four hundred and four thirteen thousand votes, five hundred
and fifteen thousand votes. It continues to show that the
league is growing. It continues to show that fans are
truly invested in this.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
All Star And this is exactly what it is for.
It's for the fans.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
It is for them to have an opportunity to see
their favorites play in a capacity that they don't get
an opportunity to on a regular basis.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
And I love it. But I also love seeing that.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Page Beckers made the top six, and I also love
seeing that, you know, Kiki eria Fin, these are rookies.
Rookies are coming in impacting the game, and they're also
making an impact on the people that are watching, and
the fans aren't responding to it.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, I absolutely love that.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
But on the same scale of things, there are some
players who have the skill set right to be an
All Star and may not necessarily see that reflected and
the first return of fan voting, But that's why the
WNBA implemented a system where fan votes is accounted for
fifty percent of the votes, media is twenty.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Five player areas. Players also account for twenty five.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
So when you look at some of the names that
are missing from some of the top first returns of
the fan votes, who stands out to you as someone
that deserves to be getting way more attention right now? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Well, I think Alicia Gray absolutely should be higher up
in the voting than she currently is. But I think
you also just nailed exactly what my rebuttal to that
will be. The fans don't have to care about how
well you're actually playing.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
The fans are going to vote for their favorites.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
I remember on the NBA side, people were voting for
Carmelo Anthony and Carmelo Anthony wedding plan. The man was
injured for like a months, and I was like, what
are y'all doing? But he was a fan favorite and
people voted for him, and that's just kind of what
it is.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
I do think the.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Onus on ensuring that the proper votes for play goes
to the media. Media votes are what matters to me
in that regard, because while we may be fans of
the game and I have a media vote, I know
you have a media vote, and you and I are
two of the people who consistently reveal our vote every
year because we believe in transparency. But I do think
(09:03):
like it is our responsibility to ensure that we're voting
for the best people who deserve it based on their
play and not necessarily based on who we like or
don't like. It's the fans responsibility to vote who they like.
They don't care about what the numbers actually say, and
so I don't think it's fair to kind of put
that onus on the fans.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
But I do agree with you that there are some
players like.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Again and Alisha Gray is one who instantly comes to
mind that would to me be higher up in the standings.
Alyssa Thomas is another one to me who should absolutely
be cracking the top ten based off play sac too Sobbly,
no way is she anywhere past the top ten.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Like these are players that absolutely should be higher.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Up, and I do believe that they most likely will
receive more votes. You know, the second round of votes
has not yet been distributed yet, and then you know
medium votes have not yet been submitted, so there is
still time for us to see a difference in standings
between now the time that this initial release was made.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
But yeah, there are a few people who I'm like,
are y'all watching the same basketball And on Friday, you know,
our votes.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
We have to submit our ballots for media, And I
started filling out some of my ballot earlier today and
I was like, nah, I need a couple more days
to think about it, because I take my vote so
serious and I am so honored to have the privilege
to be a media voter. And so for me, it's
the front court because my backcourt, I'm already knowing who
I'm putting on my ballot.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
I'm gonna say it right now. I have Caitlin Clark,
Sabrinneo and.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Escu Alsha Gray and Skyler Diggins as my backcourt. But
those front court positions, I think some people are a lock.
I think Asia Wilson is a lock, and the FISA Collier
Brinanna Stewart is a lock.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
John Cuaul Jones is a lock.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
And you know, for me right now, it's like she's
gonna be out four to six weeks.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
All Star is July nineteen.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
That can impact a media voter to say, oh, she's
not gonna be ready let me just scratch someone else,
or do you say she's been playing phenomenally, let her
get the honors and let the league choose a replacement.
So media voters may be a little stuck on that.
I think that so Belie, Lissa Thomas, Gabby.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Williams, Nika. They all deserve.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
But we can only choose six front core players and
four back court players as media voters on our ballot.
So I'm gonna sleep on it for a couple more
days and then get my finalized ballot in. But you guys,
I just revealed who I have in my back court,
and I think those are four solid players that deserve
to be named All Stars.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Now you know that's just the stars, right, like right?
Speaker 1 (11:39):
There will be reserves right that are also selected, And
so you know, we'll find out the teams and rosters
in and around the first week of July. And we
know that the two players with the most fan returned
votes will be named captain, and previously it's always been
Asia Wilson and Brandis Stewart, so it'll be interesting.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
To see things getting shaken up a little bit.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I think that is a lot you can say right now,
Caitlin Clark is going to be All Star captain and
starter like.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
And I think the FISA will stay at the number
two spot. I don't think one and two is gonna change.
I don't I don't see it. I don't see one
into changing.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
So yeah, and the thesis playing on her her mind.
All right, Well, we'll keep our eyes on. You know,
the second return of fan votes coming out this week,
and we got to crate our issue together ourselves to
send our ballets later on this week as well. Sticking
(12:43):
with the Indiana Fever, Dewana Bonner has been out for
a few games now and there are questions surrounding just
where she's.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Been and what it means for the team. Now. The
team is issued.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
You know, not even a statement, but they've said, you know,
she's out for personal reasons.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
I know that.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Last week Steph White also kind of reiterated that same
sentiment that she's out for personal reasons as well. But
before that, how did you see her adjusting to her
role with the Fever and impact in the young roster.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Well, truth be told, I had no idea how she
was going to fit into this Fever lineup. To be
completely honest, love wanna loved do Wanna's game, lover as
a person, love as a player, but I was I
was very shocked when I saw that she was choosing
to go to Indiana, just because it felt as if
(13:40):
the skill set that she have would work well in
a Stephanie White system, given that we had seen a
Stephanie White system in Connecticut. But I was questioning whether
or not Stephanie White system would work with the personnel
that they had in in Indiana. So I was like, well,
you know, I know that she wants to play faster.
I know that she you know, wants to be more outside.
(14:02):
I know defense is something that's important to steph But
how does that fit in Indiana given who they have
on their roster currently, they don't have a slew of
like super quick up and down the court type players.
You know, do Wanna's getting older, like don't. I don't
know how that fit from a from a standpoint of
how does how does she impact her teammates? Well, Dowana
(14:24):
Bono's a true vet right Like, she's a winner, She's
a champion. You know, she understands what it means to
play tough. She understands what it means to grind, and
so I feel like anytime you get an opportunity to
be that type of leader for your locker room, for
the younger players that are coming into the league, that's
important and you want that. But I was not surprised
(14:44):
at the first start of the season to see that
do Wanna was a little quiet. Again, this offense centers
so much around Caitlin Clark and Clark's ability to draw
the double team, her ability to create space. It's why
she's such an offish pass her because she draws so
much of the attention. But I wasn't quite sure how
(15:06):
or where the Wana would fit given the personnel, and
it's safe to assume again we don't know for sure.
There hasn't been any specific details around why she's not
being why she's not been with the team. We don't
know for sure what personal reasons actually mean, so it's
really all speculations at this point. But it's not far
(15:29):
fetched to think that maybe do Wanna is unhappy with
her role, that maybe she wants to see things a
little differently, that maybe what she was told coming to
the Indiana Fever is a little different than what's actually
being implemented, and maybe she's just not happy about it
and has decided to take time away.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
We don't know.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
It's just not far fetched to think that because I
do know that two of the best games that do
Wanna Bonner had this season where the games in which
Caitlyn Clark was out, and that meant that the team
had to play differently, they had to structure themselves differ friendly,
and she took advantage of that. So, I mean, again,
we don't know what the exact situation is, so we
(16:07):
can't really be critical of why she's away, but it
isn't far fetched to think that, given you know, seeing
her Instagram, seeing some other things, that maybe there is
some riff between you know, what she was expected to
do and what she's actually doing now that she's there.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
And you brought up her Instagram and I just want
to debunk one thing because you know, I'm friends with
dv On on Instagram and X and she follows me back.
One thing, Her EX account was always private, like since
the start of the season, so fans, I'm sorry to
kind of debunk some of your fan fiction. Her X
account was already private. Yeah, And in terms of her
(16:47):
Instagram account, she didn't change anything from her Instagram account.
She hasn't scrubbed anything away from her Instagram. She has
always had her fashion tunnel fits leaning more into that
on her page.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
For the entire season, she.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Hasn't added anything or taken anything away and her time
away from the team. Now back to the basketball part
of things now, should she be unhappy with her role
with the Fever, the trade deadline is in August, but
teams can also package together deals before that deadline. Should
(17:23):
she want out if she's unhappy with her role. But
then also we've seen in the past players get their
contract buyout, and we see something called a contract divorce
where a team will my out her contract and you're
a free agent to sign elsewhere. We don't know what
the personal reasons are right now. The team has said
she's out for personal reasons. You know, we support her
(17:46):
in that decision, and so we just have to wait
and see. But the game is definitely missing dB, I
think right.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Now, and especially for how she can impact her team.
All right, So yeah, moving right along.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Also this past week, Indiana Fever players Sophie Cunningham and
Sid Coulson, prior to a media availability, they read a
prepared statement from the w MBPA about current CBA negotiations,
and I thought it was pretty interesting that they, you know,
decided to address that because I think in the news
(18:23):
cycle currently, we know that the players opted out last November,
but it's kind of been lost in the sauce and
we're almost in the mid season point and haven't heard
any new developments about where you know, the players and
the union and the league standing with these negotiations. So
I thought it was really interesting that the players have
opened up their media availability and starting with their statement,
(18:47):
and we can hear a little bit about that right now.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
On the alp of my teammates and.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
Every member of argument, I want to be clear and
remain committed to negotiating the next CBA with the league
and the scenes in your place.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
And Flive, please, we.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Know that our league is growing and we believe that
it is an invariatives that our CBA reflects the growth
that we've experienced in the league, and that players should
be seen part of those earnings.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
So, Tee, what does this moment say about how players
are approaching these CBA negotiations.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
I loved it right because you know, nekka agumkay as
the WNBA Players Association president has said, we are going
to approach this aggressively, right, Like, We're not going to
We're not going to take any moment away from the
(19:40):
leverage that we believe we have. We're not going to
back down from what we believe that we deserve, and
we're going to be very aggressive in our negotiations.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
And I feel that this.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Is part of that, right like, not running away from it,
making it very clear that regardless of what we're doing
and what's going on, we're still very much committed to
the goal at hand, which is the very the list
of items that they feel is important to them in
order to address. And so I loved the fact that
(20:11):
Sidney Colston, of all people, was the one to really
make this statement for several reasons, right, Like, you know,
I know Sidney. I know Sidney personally, and a lot
of times people really only know about her being a
comedian or her being kind of the fun and the
life of the party. But Sidney is also very business minded, right,
(20:32):
and she takes her role and responsibilities within the w
NBA very seriously. And I thought it was a great
moment for her to kind of say, hey, listen, I
love being back here in Las Vegas. This is a
great opportunity, but more importantly, there's something bigger than at
play right now, and it kind of serves as a
reminder that these negotiations are still going on, because to
(20:53):
your point, we haven't really heard a lot of behind
the scenes and a lot of updates, and maybe no
news is good news, right because there are also some
articles that insist that mega Agou Mackay has said that
negotiations are going smoothly, that things are going in the
direction and on the path that they're supposed.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
To go on.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
So no news could very well be good news that
things are going in the way that the WNBA is hoping.
But I love the fact that this was a moment unexpectedly,
so it doesn't necessarily feel like it's forced because there's
some type of, you know, behind the scenes scandal or
something that's going on in which people had to make
a public statement. It just felt like, hey, by the way,
(21:32):
we're still very committed to this thing here that we're
doing outside of what we're playing on the court, and
I love that they were able to address that.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
I think one of the things with WNBA absolutely cannot
afford to get wrong this time around is the revenue sharing.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
This is something that cannot these women have been.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Fighting for, and especially at the height and momentum in
which the league is at right now, I think.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
That with all eyes on the league and.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
The growth, you don't want to force the players to
implement a lockout like there has to be some compromise
going into these negotiations. And you know, from what I
heard in terms of how the players prepared this time around,
is they came in with a business plan versus last
time around it was more so, Okay, let's do this.
We don't really know what we're doing. But this time around,
(22:17):
they've learned so much in the last five years since
the last CBA negotiations that they came in prepared.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
And so we'll keep our eyes.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
On how these negotiations are turning out, and we'll keep
you guys posted.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Finals MVP and w NBA champion John Craael Jones will
be out four to six weeks due to an ankle
spring sustained against the game against the Phoenix Mercury.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
I think this is a huge blow for the New
York Liberty because I think that New York Liberty success
starts and ends with John Quelt Jones. I mean she
is single handedly, I think, the most important player on
the New York Liberty team.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
And they're already down Leoni Phoebitch, who has overseas commitments.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
They were down Sobernean High School last game due to
a neck injury, so you can't afford to be down
three starters.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
At a four to six week stretch.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
I think Sabrina will return a little bit quicker, and
obviously Leo's return has depending on how her team is
doing in neural basket. But John Cuel Jones is missing
from the team four to six weeks, I think it'll
have a huge blow for this New York Liberty team.
What are your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Yeah, same, I did see something that Leo might be
returning by July third, so it's possible that if she's
able to come back by that timeframe, that gives.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Them a little bit more leverage to work with.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
But this team is heavily dependent upon the success of
John Quilt Jones, right, and you can you can see
that unless Sandy Brownell was looking to play a smaller
lineup where she puts Stewie at the five, the inside
presidence is.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
A bit weaker for the Liberty when John Quilt isn't there.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
She just commands so much presidence, the ability to dominate
on the board, John quote, running this offense, running everything
through John Quiot Jones truly makes a difference.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Now what does that mean for everyone else?
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Well, it gives Kennedy Burke an opportunity to continue to
play stronger. She's been someone who has got an opportunity
to kind of fill in Niarasabii. You know, she was
to me very critical to winning a championship. When I
think about pieces that came off the bench Niara at
the time, Kayler Thornton like, they were pieces that really
helped to propel this Liberty team next year. And so
(24:40):
her experience last year, excuse me, so her experience this year,
She's gotten the majority of the opportunities to fill in
for John Quill when John Quill was out earlier this
year with an ankle injury. So I think that there
is hope, right Like, no one's expecting this Liberty team
to just completely sink the ship now that John Quoll
is out. But I do think it is going to
(25:02):
test the strength of this bench. It is going to
test the strength of how resilient this team truly is.
And again it goes back to what this team has
said the entirety of the time that is not about
being perfect. It's not about how many games you win
or lose. It's necessarily about getting back to the championship.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Will they're going to have to put that to the test.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Right now without JJ Yeah, and the team has embarked
on a West coast trip, which they already were handed
a loss by the Seattle Storm. So we'll be keeping
our eyes on the New York Liberty end. Look, it's
so hard to defend a title because you are the hunted.
Every game, every team is gonna want to bring their
best because they want to beat you.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
And so we'll use this as a measuring stick.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
All right, Moving right along, before you get out of here,
tea WNBA expansion, we have to talk about trademarks tied
to the Portland Fire name surfacing ahead of twenty twenty
six expansion.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Now, Portland team.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
Across their socials have pinted at a announcement coming in July.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
But how do you feel about the league possibly bringing
back that brand?
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Love it, love it, love it, love it. Right, So
there's a couple of things.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Right.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Number one, I'm always gonna be about the history of
the league. Right, I'm Anyone who knows me knows I'm
a history girl.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
I'm a history buff. It's what I love, It's what
I do.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
I love to see how things tend to repeat themselves,
how tend things to go around. And I just don't
think the Portland Fire received the respect that they deserve
the first time around.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
Right.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
I also think it's a great opportunity for the WNBA
to capitalize on a brand that they already have. It
doesn't take much to you know, tweak things like maybe
a word mark, maybe a color, maybe you know, all
of that stuff if you want to add a new
element to the team. B and that is considered an expansion,
But there's just something about bringing the element of the
(26:58):
original name back to this city. It rejuvenizes I think.
I think it rejuvenates the feeling of women's basketball in
the city of Portland to have the team with a
significant name. And it also gives you an opportunity to
bring back some former players from the Portland Fire, so
for them to be able to feel like they are
(27:19):
a part of the new franchise and that's not to
say that the you know, ownership in Portland would not
have done that anyway, But just having that name back,
just truly to me, would bring about an excitement in
Oregon that I think kind of is already there.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
But just would take it to the next level.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
And can you imagine all the march that is just
going to be on point bringing back the original name,
all the throwback Portland Fire jerseys that people can break out,
the throwback fitted like this is a This is a
no brainer to me.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Yeah, And I feel like we can't appreciate where we
are without paying homage to the ones that came before.
So I am four for the Portland fireback te I'm
so for and you have the you have the red here.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Okay, it's a celebration. Now fire the fiery here.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
We got you gotta bring the Portland Fire back. Okay,
before you get out of here. One last fun thing.
Gatorade has announced a new special edition Shirley Temple flavor
drink for Page Beckers, who was one of the first
college nil players to sign.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Obviously, that endorsement deal carried over to the w n
B A.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
I love this collaboration one because I love Shirley Temple
because I am.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Because Curly Temple.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
So I think that is so great to have a
brand tied and invested into a player like Paige Beckers.
How weird is it for a WNB and Ricky to
land something like this that's culturally visible? And also, if
you could choose a flavor for any w NBA player,
who would you pick and what.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
Flavor would it be? That's a great question.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
So I do have someone who I talk to at
Gatorade who is incredibly awesome and usually does a great
job of talking about why they are very intentional with
the brands, with the brand athletes who they work with.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
And I think that Gatorade is smart right.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
They know the star power that Paige Beckers brings, they
know the kind of person that she is and why
it's good for the brand. They know that she works hard,
and so it makes sense for this collaboration, and I
absolutely love it for her. She's just really been taking
this league by storm since she's been here and taking
advantage of all of the opportunities to kind of put
(29:33):
something unnoticed right, whether it's her, whether it's her brand.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Just something.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
She's always elevating something and I absolutely love that, so
I'm here for it. I don't know how much I'm
gonna be drinking because I need you all to add
a little vodka.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
To that Shirley temple. But no, it should be fun.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
Honestly though, If Gatorade could give someone their own flavor,
I definitely would want to see Marina Maybray with a
and I would love it to be like some type
of This is going to sound crazy, but if you
are a drinker, you know that there's the Jalapeno Margarita.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
I forgot what the.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
Actual name is, but it's like a spicy margarita. Could
you imagine like a spicy flavored Gatoray, like a like
a hint of like a hint of something spicy and
a margarita just to give you, I mean to end
the Gatoray to just give you that little ool when
it's going down. Definitely for Marina, because Marina stay spicy,
and to me, it just fits her.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
I would love to see that. I would buy that, like,
I would buy that personally. I like that. I like
that too. It's Marina Babery and then she has her
cooking with baby thing going on, and.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
You're drinking a spicy She's from New Jersey, so she
brings the spiciness.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
You can feel that East Coast spiciness when she's on
that order.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
I love it all right, T that's gonna do it
for this episode. I appreciate you for coming on and
joining us this week to discuss the headlines on In
Case you missed It with Christina Williams here on Iheartwomen's
Sports Network.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
I appreciate you girl, of course.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Anytimes we'll forget to listen to Tea on levels to
this podcast with Ryl Swoops every week right here on
the iHeart Women's Sports Network.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
We'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
In Case you missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart Women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
You can find us on
Speaker 1 (31:25):
The iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Host
Khristina Williams
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