May 2, 2025 • 25 mins
In this special crossover episode, Khristina and co-host of the Levels to this podcast, Terrika Foster-Brasby, are joined by the legendary Sue Bird and President of Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment, Laura Correnti. They discuss the importance and challenges of women's sports, growth opportunities, investments, and being the change you want to see.
Later, UConn guard and national champion Azzi Fudd joins the show to discuss winning the championship game, the special bond with her teammates, and her passion for makeup and fashion.
Want more women’s basketball scoop? Follow the show on Instagram @ICYMIwithKW and X @ICYMIwithKW and for more on Khristina, follow her on Instagram @khristinawilliams
Let us know what you think of the show by leaving a rating and a review!
CREDITS
Executive Producers:
Nikki Ettore
Jessie Katz
Tyler Klang
Jonathan Strickland
Producers:
Mike Coscarelli
Buffy Gorrilla
Producer & Editor:
Tari Harrison
Host:
Khristina Williams
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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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 a bonus episode of In Case
You Missed It with Christina Williams. And I'm super excited
about this special episode because it is a crossover episode
(00:24):
with levels to this podcast. Co host Tarika fossil brasby
the homie. You guys know her because she's a friend
to the show. I'm super excited for you all to
hear this conversation. We were at the Business of Women's
Sports Summit in New York City last week, and so
this conversation I know all women's basketball fans would appreciate,
(00:45):
but especially those Yukon basketball fans. This bonus episode featuring
Deep Blue founder CEO lor Correnti and superb.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
You guys may know her.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
She is a four time WNBA champion, a Yukon alum.
And then later on in the show, we're going to
be joined by newly named national champion Easy Budd. So,
without further ado, because I know you guys want to
hear the conversation and get to it, here is this
bonus episode of In Case you missed it with Christina Williams.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
All right, well, we are here at the Business of
Women's Sports Summit and we've been having an incredible time
talking to a bunch of different guests. So myself, Trika
FOSTERI brasby Christina Williams. We are excited to welcome in
today Laurence Sprinty, who was the president of Deep Blue
Sports Entertainment. And I don't know if you guys have
heard of her or not, but super she's kind of
a huge deal.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Her pictures hanging up on.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Kind of a huge deal.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Hall of Famer like this thing is going on. Okay,
So first of all, thank you guys so much for
joining us.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Welcome, thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
This is my first time being at this summit. And
I can tell you that leading up to today, all
I kept hearing was the panels are going to be phenomenal.
People in the room are going to be people that
you're gonna network with. It's just been so much excitement
around the investment in women's sports and so to finally
be here, to be a part of it and to
(02:10):
see it, I just want to say, first of all,
thank you, But secondly, you know, what was the vision
and how has what we've seen and what has occurred
throughout all of today really lived up to the vision
that you set for this summit.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
I mean, if you could have seen the initial draft
of the Business of Women's Sports Summit that I made
in a notebook in twenty twenty two, I would say
this looks a bit more premium, a bit more elevated,
because if we go back to that point in time,
first of all, deep Blue was just the thought and
ultimately why we created.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
The first one before deep Blue was.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
Even official, was really a litmus test.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You know.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
There was so much hype and enthusiasm and excitement from
the fan and consumer side. But as somebody who's grown
up in the ad business, having been on the agency
side representing some of the biggest brands of the world
for the twenty years, I wasn't seeing that same enthusiasm
excitement reciprocated, let alone through investment.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
And so you start to ask yourself what is the
issue here?
Speaker 5 (03:11):
And as somebody who's represented brand dollars as a buyer,
you start to recognize that women's sports has long been
a bonus. It says, you put together a media plan
and you're buying you know, the NFL, the NBA, you know,
Major League Baseball, and you might get some bonus inventory
rolled in there as a freebie for women's sports. And
(03:32):
I saw it as not necessarily a product issue. You know,
I'm sitting next to one of the greatest to ever
do it, who has been a generational talent, who has
won over and over and over again, five Gold medals
to her name. We don't have a product issue in
the United States. We definitely don't have a storytelling issue.
I think some of the greatest stories in women's sports
have yet to be told.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
But we didn't have a story show.
Speaker 5 (03:54):
We had was a system's issue, and so much of
the challenge that we saw was that the way women's
sports was being bought and sold was being bought and
sold on the same This is going to get nerdy
with it for a minute, but I think it's important
was on the same currency and the same level of
measurement that men's were, and that's based on reach and scale.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
And guess what women's sports hasn't had historically, reach and scale.
Speaker 5 (04:15):
So how can you present to an advertiser, Well, you
can buy you know, Monday Night Football, or you can
buy the WNBA Playoffs, same currency, same metric.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
You get a dollar to spend. I don't have to
justify this decision.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
So, you know, building up to the business plan of
Deep Blue, we said, let's put on a summit where
we can put together programming to really.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
See like will people care?
Speaker 5 (04:36):
Yeah, and the Jersey I means like, well people give
a shit, like like honestly. And so I was fortunate
enough to have partners in NBC at the time. I said,
I want an epic space that have epic conversations zone put
me in the basement of some chain hotel in the
middle of Times Square. We're fortunate enough to have it
at Studio AH, which is SNL Studio. I want an
epic but I don't know if anybody would come. Not
only do people come, we sold out the room. And
(04:58):
what really was the give was when you see cmos
from State Farm, from Hyundai flying in on their own dime,
spending an entire day.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
You know you're onto something.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
Because these are executives that you're not putting that kind
of investment in a type of program.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
And so fast forward, you know.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
You walk off the stage and it was like a
literally I remember walking through the SNL. It was like
a moment for me, Cheryl Swoops is standing back there.
I would love Cheryl Swoops.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
As a kid, I.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Know, I love Swoops. Swoops is sorry. Sue is my
favorite growing up and it was a moment I was like.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
We're going for it, Like what's the worst that could happen?
Speaker 5 (05:36):
I have to go back to doing advertising at a
at a mass level. And so fortunately along the way
I got connected with Sue and I think one of
the things we locked in very quickly on was the
business side is one thing, but to have the female voice,
female athlete voice represented, we would say, like from the onset,
not when you're actually on set right, like the strategic
lens in point of view, when many people behind the camera.
(05:57):
For example, I've never even been to a women sports game.
How are you going to make an ad campaign? You
never even sat in the arena? And so we teamed
up and fast forward two years later, we're here another
soul out of event.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
I think we're busting at the seams.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
But I think what's so incredible about it is what
you exactly said.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
We put on premium programming.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
We wanted to be a mini MBA, if you will
range of topics across the landscape, focus on business and
giving people the opportunity to network.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
So yeah, that was a long way. They didn't ask
for that whole.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Story all that.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
My first conference was last year, and had I not come,
I probably wouldn't have a show on Iheartwomen's Sports because
you guys definitely move.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
But Sue my question for you, how.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Is being an athlete prepared you for your business ventures
and building your portfolio?
Speaker 6 (06:42):
Yeah, I think anyone who's played sports knows the skills
you learn, the mental fortitude you have to have, the discipline.
I mean literally all the cliche things, but all the
cliche things are real. Everything I learned, like from being
an athlete, I think from being in team sports is
showing up now and then specific to me, We've talked
about this a lot. It's like being a point guard,
(07:05):
having to lead at times, having to understand when to
lead when to take a back seat. The ways in
which I played those are really showing up. So kind
of who I always was as an athlete is now
just showing up in a different room.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
So I'm just trying to lean into.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
The skills that I already had, that that I learned
from being an athlete.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Pretty simple question, but I feel like it's one that
just genuinely matters, and that's like being the thing that
you want to see. We often talk about people needing
to be the change that they want to see, right,
But I think that it's sometimes for some people a
bit more difficult to actually be the catalyst for the
change that they want. But Sue, you are someone who
has literally been able to be the change, be the investor,
(07:46):
be the person to stand up and advocate. Just how
important do you think it's been in your position or
to have the platform, to be able to lead the
way to say, yes, I want people to invest more.
But also by doing that, I'm going to show you
how Yeah, I mean.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
I'll actually, you know what, I'll start kind of sort
of at the end, which was one of the best
parts about connecting with Laura and hearing and listening and
understanding and learning what was happening on the business side
of women's sports. Was so validating. In that moment, I
was like, Oh, I feel like we all felt that
the system was broken, Yeah, but I didn't have.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
The words for it.
Speaker 6 (08:21):
I didn't have the understanding of it, And so this
was such a validating experience to be like I knew it,
like I knew we had a great product. I knew
people watched, I knew people cared, but something was broken
and that was just really validating. I bring that up
to say, I take a lot of pride, and I
took a lot of pride. We'll go past tense as
an athlete of once I learned something, and once I
(08:41):
understood how to be a better player, how to take
care of my body better, I wanted to pass that
knowledge on.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
I really I don't know what that is.
Speaker 6 (08:48):
Is it like something that happened to me as a kid.
I don't know, But here we are. I really yeah,
I really take a lot of pride in that. It
reminds me of a conversation I had with Brandon Stewart.
She's twenty two, She's just joined the storm and she's like,
if there's one thing you could do different, and that moment,
I just I take a lot of pride in that
and being able to share that knowledge. And now that
I'm on the other side of it, I'm retired, I'm
(09:09):
learning more about the business. I'm seeing the ways in
which I can impact things and be a catalyst I
just want to continue to spread the knowledge. I just
want to continue to be like, yo, look at this
have you looked at it this way? And that's where
my years of playing, my experience, my understanding of the
nuance of being a woman's athlete really comes into play
because I can kind of just paint a picture to
(09:30):
people that they might not have seen it.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
That way without that nuanced explanation.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Yeah, no gate keeping around here, Absolutely not.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
And Laura, my question for you is, as women's sports
continues to grow and the momentum continues to soar, what
kind of trends do you see happening on the business side.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
We've done a really good job of engaging.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
Those who are hand raisers that want to be here
right so, and we could all name them, probably sitting
here in thirty seconds. The brands who have and continue
to show up in ways that aren't short term ism.
They're really looking to impact this long tail where I
think we need to move in order for this thing
to grow. Because again you have to remember, there were
(10:09):
only a handful of options from a professional sports perspective
for get nil, right, so the w NWSL. Now we've
got League one volleyball We've got the PWHL. You know,
you can go on and on with all of the
new league Baseball baseball. We have new softball coming online.
I mean, it's incredible. We need to start talking to
brands that are outside of what I would say are
(10:31):
the endemics, right, So we need to get outside of
financial services. We need to get outside of sports apparel,
start talking to beauty. I mean, one of the things
that has blown my mind is that from a let's
just talk about auto for a second. I'm not talking
about Carmacks has shown up and continues to show up
and put the money in. There is not one auto
manufacturer that is an official partner of a women's professional
(10:54):
sports league.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Soccer mom is the most cliche shit in America.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yep, there's a lot of ore something. There's gotta be
some van out there that come on.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
I mean right, so.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
You start like why and.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
So I think you know what we're hell ben and
really focus on in twenty twenty five, and there are
a ton of great brands here today that that checked
that box, that are outside.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
We're talking more and more to luxury brands.
Speaker 5 (11:17):
I mean, last night we had an incredible moment, you know,
working with Automatic p K, the watch brand. They're getting
more invested in the space. Gucci is here today, So
it's nice to see that the dimensionalization of athletes thanks
to the athletes themselves, by the way, who are walking
in I mean buy in large creative tunnel fits on
their own out of necessity, right, shooting it on like
(11:37):
literally literally, But it wasn't because a broadcast partner or
a digital media company or a blogger was like, hey,
we athletes did it to show their creative self expression
tunnel fits. Still to this day, like we haven't even
begun to tap into the level of impact and influence
that has off the court, especially for brands to be involved.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
So we are.
Speaker 5 (11:59):
Constant looking at ways paying attention to athletes. You talk
about the trends, I don't care what's happening on the
business side, because the business side is going to move
based on what the athletes are doing in the influence
that they're driving. I'm a big believer in an individual
over institution. Athletes told the influence. Now, brand's equal important
on the investment, but the athletes are driving the culture
and for that I think it's really important what matters
(12:20):
to them and you're seeing the expansion.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
I mean, look at angel Rees, I mean the diversification.
I mean how many.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
Times I wanted to go through the McDonald's drive to
just to get the big because because it's emblematic and
symbolic of where things are moving.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
So hopefully that answers the question.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
But now parthek well, last one for me because I
know it's a busy day. You both have a lot
going on today. But as we talk about women's sports
continuing to grow, what do we look forward to seeing
in this summit growing? Is it adding more panels? Is
there a conversation that maybe we haven't heard or you
haven't had a chance to have that it's something you
look forward to having. It's getting a bigger space, Like
(12:56):
what does growth of this summit look like for you?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
For either of you?
Speaker 6 (13:00):
So I've actually been going to the Sloan Analytic Conference
for ten plus years and my favorite thing about that
conference is yes, the panels and you learn things and
just like we're seeing here, the conversations are wonderful. But
the more people that start to come, it does validate
certain things like in our world, and I think a
summit like this could not to like compare it to Sloan.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (13:24):
It's not Apple Saples in that way, but having a conference,
having a summit that year after year you know you
can count on for yes, interesting conversations that you know
you can count on.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
To grow the business.
Speaker 6 (13:34):
That to me is like what I would feel like
pie in the sky would be that this could become
year after year, it could become a one word thing
the way slowness.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
You know what I'm saying. Now.
Speaker 6 (13:43):
You know Laura is the one that's kind of behind
all this, so I don't know if that's really what
you want to do.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
We're together.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
It feels like volentead. It feels like you're being volentead
to do that.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
I will I will tell you.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Walking off the stage here last year, I called it
my CFO and I said, how much do you think.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
It would quest to put this on in Barclays?
Speaker 5 (14:05):
And she was like Laura, and I'm like no, I said,
the business of women's sports on. It will fill the
lower bowl of Barclays, and then it'll go to the
next level, and then it'll go to the next level
because what you're seeing. Initially this started really focused on
The goal was to bring more commercial investment predominantly through brand,
but we had more inbound this year from media, investors,
(14:28):
policy makers. Sue is going to be going on shortly
with Chelsea Clinton when you start thinking about the diversification
of leadership. So yes, this started with a very focused goal,
but the reality is business is layered and nuanced and
completely dimensional. So I see a world where we will
make business the full swath more than one day.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
I'll get back to you on that, but I do believe.
I mean every year, I mean, we're busting here.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
So I truly believe the inbound has been very indicative
that we're only at the beginning stages.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
I'm certainly looking forward to seeing what's next with this conference.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
And before you both get out.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Of here, we're in the middle of the NBA playoffs,
So you don't got to bring it, you know, I
have to bring it because we we were just talking
about it a little bit before we start.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
What do you want to talk about?
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Who do you have winning the twenty twenty five NBA champions.
Speaker 6 (15:17):
Winning it obviously the next but oh gosh, but.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
I can step outside of my fandom.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
Man, Okac looks good. I don't think I had them
heading into the playoffs just because I was like, oh, young,
they have been running the table a little bit, but
you know, it's kind of like their first time having
those expectations. But then watching, especially that first game, I
was like, man, they look good.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
They look really good. Crazy.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Honestly, I know you didn't ask me, but I got
a troll sue for like two seconds.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
This is so you know in the beginning, we're up too.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Oh, I'd be like, you know, we have not okay,
clearly I'm a Detroiter. We have not won a playoff
game since two thousand and eight. I don't care even
remember it's.
Speaker 6 (16:01):
Been any better as an expect I mean, we want
to playoff games and to playoff series.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Won some series. It's been a struggle the last sixteen years.
So right now I have to take all the wins
where I can find them.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
I don't know when I'm gonna.
Speaker 6 (16:15):
See Sleeping Giant.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Oh my god. So yeah, go pisses.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
But you don't have anybody else outside it.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
I do.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
I I had Originally before I even thought Detroit would
even make the playoffs, I thought it would be okay
see in Boston. And I still feel like, okay, see
in Boston is a good matchup, but I just cannot
get over how incredible Shake kills Alexandre Is. I mean, okay,
see feels like the team that should win it.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
What about Golden State. That's a sleeper, right, I mean.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Jimmy Jimmy, but playoff Playoff Jimmy.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
B kind of like a new version of themselves.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
I knows old.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
So it's it's interesting we should see And Cleveland looks
I mean, Spider is that people forget about people really
do forget about Cleveland and adds a Detroit that is
all the Cleveland love.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I'm ever gonna show.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
And that's it for our show, for our show.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Everyone, Thank you so much, Laura, thank you, Sue, thanks
for talking to you.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
I want to thank both Laura and Sue for stopping by.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
And when we returned, we're gonna be joined by national
champion Yukon Guard Easy Fud, so stay with us. So
we're here at the Business of Women's Sports Summit and
we have Yukon Guard and national champion Azy Fudd here
(17:37):
with us.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
How are you doing today?
Speaker 7 (17:39):
I am incredible, even better now that I'm sitting here.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
With you guys, because you know, it's the lip place.
It's the lip place.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
It has probably been a world win for you over
the last let's say two and a half weeks. I
mean probably longer than that when you include tournament time,
but just going from championship to paray to being stunning
at the w NBA Draft because we wasn't gonna let
that go you at the draft. Tell me about your
(18:08):
look first of all, like what went into that look?
Speaker 7 (18:11):
So I actually worked with a stylist, Britney Hampton, and
I honestly I told her, I trust you. I don't
know what I want to wear. I trust you, like
do your thing, pay out some options, and she was like, okay,
we're going dress this year. And I'm like, okay, it's
a little different. And she was like, yeah, we're gonna
You're gonna love it, and so she had some options.
I tried them on this one. It spoke to me.
I mean when I tried it, I was like, I
really liked this. It's different, it shows a little skin.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
I liked it.
Speaker 7 (18:34):
And then I haven't straightened my hair since my senior
prom in high school, so that was it was just
a lot of fun. Like I felt like a doll.
Like the makeup artist, the person who did my hair,
like they were incredible.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
Everyone was so sweet and they.
Speaker 7 (18:46):
Maybe it wasn't my draft, but like I just felt
so loved and I felt so good too and confident.
So that was it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
You literally broke the internet with that look. It was
one of my favorites, and I can't wait to see
what you're gonna do when it's time for you to
get drafted. But fresh off winning a national championship, what
is the victory Torben like for you?
Speaker 7 (19:05):
I mean, like you said, it's been a whirlwind. I
mean I was gonna ask because it's been two weeks.
It's been so fast and also so slow, Like I
feel like it's just one day leads into the next,
Like I'm barely stuff but I can sleep later.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
Who needs sleep?
Speaker 7 (19:18):
But really, I'm just trying to make the most of it,
trying to soak in. I mean, I'm here right now,
I'm going back to campus right after. It's my last
couple of days with no whole team being there, all
the people who got drafted or about to leave, So
just trying to soak up every last second I can
with this team because we're so close and we love
each other so much. So it's been this season was
it was so much fun.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
I was teasing Azy and I said, you know, I
live in Connecticut, so I know like you have really
And I said the same thing to Page at the draft.
I was like, listen, you got to really love your
teammates to go back to stores because literally it is
cows in Yukon and that's it, and a good pizzas
and a good pizza.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Spot, like that's it.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
I can't even remember the name of it, but it's
like a like the Jordan pizza spot, like that's around
the corner from campus. Like that's Other than that, you've
really got to love your teammates, but you can tell
that there's a bond between all of you.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Like that really shows.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
I think sometimes we look at teams and we're like
they play well together, but it doesn't really feel like
there's a connection.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
But I didn't get that.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Like this entire year, it just felt like you all
have really jailed and that your personalities matched and that
you were all genuinely happy. Just kind of talk about
what it means to play on such a close knit
team and how that kind of makes each of you better.
Speaker 7 (20:32):
Yes, I think what we have up at Yukon is
definitely very it's rare and it's valuable. I don't think
any of us take it for granted. But we get
along so well. And I mean, like you said, it's
literally cows and basketball up there. There's not much else
to do but hang out with these girls. And they
do get on my nerves, but that's like we're so close,
like we're like siblings. I'd be like, okay, like kk,
I need a break, like Page, I need a break,
(20:53):
like go I hire them to do my own thing.
But we literally found every second in the on the court,
we go to class, like on the court, back home,
movie night, it's game night, like we're gonna do whatever.
We got Korean barbecaul the day, we went to a
church other day together, so we do everything together. But
how much we care for each other, and I agree,
I think it showed when we played and just how
selfless we were, and it didn't matter who who got success,
(21:13):
who was scoring, who got attention that day, it was
like we were all just so happy for each other
and proud of each other, like we're all in the
trenches in practice, grind and grind it out, getting yelled at,
you know, doing all that so just to be able
to share success during games together. I think like we
all had that same mindset and that's really what made
them so special, is just our love for each other.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
In addition to like the team chemistry.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
I thoroughly enjoyed watching you all this group kind of
messed with Gino throughout the season and like break him
down because on the outside looking in, he's like a
tough cookie, but you guys have been able to get
him on tiktoks and they him be fun impressors. Just
talk about what has been like to be coached under
him and how you all were able to kind of
break him.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Down a little bit.
Speaker 7 (21:54):
I mean, coach is incredible. He's the best at what
he does. It's why I went to Yukon learn from him.
And you know, he is super strike, super hard, but
he also is like that cute little grandpa. I know,
he hates to say that he is that little grandpa
from up and he hates that. But we have such
big personalities on our team, like Page and Caked. I
get him out of a shell, make him do tiktoks
(22:15):
and like he'll roll his eyes at first act all
chough and hard, but then like, you know, he loves it.
You know he loves it.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
I think one thing that people may think is that
you all eat in sleep basketball and that's it. But
you guys have so much other things going on outside
of just basketball. So I want to take a second
to give people the chance to know easy outside of
what you do on the court, Like, what are some
things that you are passionate about that maybe not have
(22:45):
anything to do with basketball. So here's your moment to shine.
This is what as he does outside.
Speaker 7 (22:50):
Of who Okay, let's see. Well, I'm also a student.
I'm currently getting my master's in business. Am I passionate
about that? Well, I'd be grateful for it a few years. Yes,
right now, it's like it's cool what it is exactly.
I'm super passionate about my family and friends. I have
two dogs, so I love Stuie and Curry named after
basketball players. Obviously, Other than that, I feel like, you know,
(23:13):
this year has been over the last couple of years
has been really eye opening for me. I went to
my first US Open, my first New York Fashion Week,
so I've been kind of like testing the waters in
different areas. I kind of want to get in. I
want to learn how to do makeup, like your makeup
looks incredible, by the way, but just things that I
never like. I was so focused on only basketball growing up.
(23:33):
I didn't I had time, but I didn't find the
time or prioritize doing other things. So I feel like
doing all these new things I've just like been super cool,
super eye opening, like just testing testing the waters a little,
and so I definitely want to get more into fashion,
more into beauty and make up. One of Sarah Strong
knows how to play the piano. She's a keyboard in
her apartment, so I'm like in there trying to learn,
trying to get her to teach me. Just little things
(23:54):
like that.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
I absolutely love that. And I can't wait to see
what you do next.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
But before you get out of very easy, just tell
us what's next for you? What can we expect from you?
Connon twenty twenty five to twenty twenty six.
Speaker 7 (24:04):
Yeah, I mean, we have some pieces leaving going to
the draft and they're gonna be amazing there. But we
have a lot of pieces saying so next year our
goal is gonna be the same, and I think you know,
we've already started doing some workouts, but that starts in June,
and we started a summer session. Yeah, log right back in,
and I think you know we're gonna have another great team,
another great season. So yeah, stay tuned.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
All right.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
I missed the parade this year because I had to
get ready for the draft.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
So, oh wait, you live in Harford.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
I know I was in New York and preparing for
the draft, So that means I'm gonna need another parade
so I don't have to miss the next one.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
You already here. First, thank you so much for being
here with us.
Speaker 7 (24:43):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Well that's gonna do it. For this special episode of
In Case you missed it with Christina Williams, I really
hope you all enjoyed this crossover episode with the Levels
to this podcast co host Dreeka Fossa Brasby. We certainly
had a real, really great time at the summit. Shout
out to Laura, Corinthi Suberd and Ac Fud for joining
us for that special conversation, and we have more in store.
(25:10):
We have more conversations from the summit coming up, so
if you like, book to her don't forget to rate, review,
and subscribe to the podcast so that you don't miss
the latest. All right, that's gonna do it for this episode.
I'll see you next time in case you missed it
with Christina Williams is an iHeart women's sports production in
partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find
(25:33):
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. Welcome to a bonus episode of In Case
You Missed It with Christina Williams. And I'm super excited
about this special episode because it is a crossover episode
(00:24):
with levels to this podcast. Co host Tarika fossil brasby
the homie. You guys know her because she's a friend
to the show. I'm super excited for you all to
hear this conversation. We were at the Business of Women's
Sports Summit in New York City last week, and so
this conversation I know all women's basketball fans would appreciate,
(00:45):
but especially those Yukon basketball fans. This bonus episode featuring
Deep Blue founder CEO lor Correnti and superb.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
You guys may know her.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
She is a four time WNBA champion, a Yukon alum.
And then later on in the show, we're going to
be joined by newly named national champion Easy Budd. So,
without further ado, because I know you guys want to
hear the conversation and get to it, here is this
bonus episode of In Case you missed it with Christina Williams.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
All right, well, we are here at the Business of
Women's Sports Summit and we've been having an incredible time
talking to a bunch of different guests. So myself, Trika
FOSTERI brasby Christina Williams. We are excited to welcome in
today Laurence Sprinty, who was the president of Deep Blue
Sports Entertainment. And I don't know if you guys have
heard of her or not, but super she's kind of
a huge deal.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Her pictures hanging up on.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Kind of a huge deal.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Hall of Famer like this thing is going on. Okay,
So first of all, thank you guys so much for
joining us.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Welcome, thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
This is my first time being at this summit. And
I can tell you that leading up to today, all
I kept hearing was the panels are going to be phenomenal.
People in the room are going to be people that
you're gonna network with. It's just been so much excitement
around the investment in women's sports and so to finally
be here, to be a part of it and to
(02:10):
see it, I just want to say, first of all,
thank you, But secondly, you know, what was the vision
and how has what we've seen and what has occurred
throughout all of today really lived up to the vision
that you set for this summit.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
I mean, if you could have seen the initial draft
of the Business of Women's Sports Summit that I made
in a notebook in twenty twenty two, I would say
this looks a bit more premium, a bit more elevated,
because if we go back to that point in time,
first of all, deep Blue was just the thought and
ultimately why we created.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
The first one before deep Blue was.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
Even official, was really a litmus test.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You know.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
There was so much hype and enthusiasm and excitement from
the fan and consumer side. But as somebody who's grown
up in the ad business, having been on the agency
side representing some of the biggest brands of the world
for the twenty years, I wasn't seeing that same enthusiasm
excitement reciprocated, let alone through investment.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
And so you start to ask yourself what is the
issue here?
Speaker 5 (03:11):
And as somebody who's represented brand dollars as a buyer,
you start to recognize that women's sports has long been
a bonus. It says, you put together a media plan
and you're buying you know, the NFL, the NBA, you know,
Major League Baseball, and you might get some bonus inventory
rolled in there as a freebie for women's sports. And
(03:32):
I saw it as not necessarily a product issue. You know,
I'm sitting next to one of the greatest to ever
do it, who has been a generational talent, who has
won over and over and over again, five Gold medals
to her name. We don't have a product issue in
the United States. We definitely don't have a storytelling issue.
I think some of the greatest stories in women's sports
have yet to be told.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
But we didn't have a story show.
Speaker 5 (03:54):
We had was a system's issue, and so much of
the challenge that we saw was that the way women's
sports was being bought and sold was being bought and
sold on the same This is going to get nerdy
with it for a minute, but I think it's important
was on the same currency and the same level of
measurement that men's were, and that's based on reach and scale.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
And guess what women's sports hasn't had historically, reach and scale.
Speaker 5 (04:15):
So how can you present to an advertiser, Well, you
can buy you know, Monday Night Football, or you can
buy the WNBA Playoffs, same currency, same metric.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
You get a dollar to spend. I don't have to
justify this decision.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
So, you know, building up to the business plan of
Deep Blue, we said, let's put on a summit where
we can put together programming to really.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
See like will people care?
Speaker 5 (04:36):
Yeah, and the Jersey I means like, well people give
a shit, like like honestly. And so I was fortunate
enough to have partners in NBC at the time. I said,
I want an epic space that have epic conversations zone put
me in the basement of some chain hotel in the
middle of Times Square. We're fortunate enough to have it
at Studio AH, which is SNL Studio. I want an
epic but I don't know if anybody would come. Not
only do people come, we sold out the room. And
(04:58):
what really was the give was when you see cmos
from State Farm, from Hyundai flying in on their own dime,
spending an entire day.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
You know you're onto something.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
Because these are executives that you're not putting that kind
of investment in a type of program.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
And so fast forward, you know.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
You walk off the stage and it was like a
literally I remember walking through the SNL. It was like
a moment for me, Cheryl Swoops is standing back there.
I would love Cheryl Swoops.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
As a kid, I.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Know, I love Swoops. Swoops is sorry. Sue is my
favorite growing up and it was a moment I was like.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
We're going for it, Like what's the worst that could happen?
Speaker 5 (05:36):
I have to go back to doing advertising at a
at a mass level. And so fortunately along the way
I got connected with Sue and I think one of
the things we locked in very quickly on was the
business side is one thing, but to have the female voice,
female athlete voice represented, we would say, like from the onset,
not when you're actually on set right, like the strategic
lens in point of view, when many people behind the camera.
(05:57):
For example, I've never even been to a women sports game.
How are you going to make an ad campaign? You
never even sat in the arena? And so we teamed
up and fast forward two years later, we're here another
soul out of event.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
I think we're busting at the seams.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
But I think what's so incredible about it is what
you exactly said.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
We put on premium programming.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
We wanted to be a mini MBA, if you will
range of topics across the landscape, focus on business and
giving people the opportunity to network.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
So yeah, that was a long way. They didn't ask
for that whole.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Story all that.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
My first conference was last year, and had I not come,
I probably wouldn't have a show on Iheartwomen's Sports because
you guys definitely move.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
But Sue my question for you, how.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Is being an athlete prepared you for your business ventures
and building your portfolio?
Speaker 6 (06:42):
Yeah, I think anyone who's played sports knows the skills
you learn, the mental fortitude you have to have, the discipline.
I mean literally all the cliche things, but all the
cliche things are real. Everything I learned, like from being
an athlete, I think from being in team sports is
showing up now and then specific to me, We've talked
about this a lot. It's like being a point guard,
(07:05):
having to lead at times, having to understand when to
lead when to take a back seat. The ways in
which I played those are really showing up. So kind
of who I always was as an athlete is now
just showing up in a different room.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
So I'm just trying to lean into.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
The skills that I already had, that that I learned
from being an athlete.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Pretty simple question, but I feel like it's one that
just genuinely matters, and that's like being the thing that
you want to see. We often talk about people needing
to be the change that they want to see, right,
But I think that it's sometimes for some people a
bit more difficult to actually be the catalyst for the
change that they want. But Sue, you are someone who
has literally been able to be the change, be the investor,
(07:46):
be the person to stand up and advocate. Just how
important do you think it's been in your position or
to have the platform, to be able to lead the
way to say, yes, I want people to invest more.
But also by doing that, I'm going to show you
how Yeah, I mean.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
I'll actually, you know what, I'll start kind of sort
of at the end, which was one of the best
parts about connecting with Laura and hearing and listening and
understanding and learning what was happening on the business side
of women's sports. Was so validating. In that moment, I
was like, Oh, I feel like we all felt that
the system was broken, Yeah, but I didn't have.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
The words for it.
Speaker 6 (08:21):
I didn't have the understanding of it, And so this
was such a validating experience to be like I knew it,
like I knew we had a great product. I knew
people watched, I knew people cared, but something was broken
and that was just really validating. I bring that up
to say, I take a lot of pride, and I
took a lot of pride. We'll go past tense as
an athlete of once I learned something, and once I
(08:41):
understood how to be a better player, how to take
care of my body better, I wanted to pass that
knowledge on.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
I really I don't know what that is.
Speaker 6 (08:48):
Is it like something that happened to me as a kid.
I don't know, But here we are. I really yeah,
I really take a lot of pride in that. It
reminds me of a conversation I had with Brandon Stewart.
She's twenty two, She's just joined the storm and she's like,
if there's one thing you could do different, and that moment,
I just I take a lot of pride in that
and being able to share that knowledge. And now that
I'm on the other side of it, I'm retired, I'm
(09:09):
learning more about the business. I'm seeing the ways in
which I can impact things and be a catalyst I
just want to continue to spread the knowledge. I just
want to continue to be like, yo, look at this
have you looked at it this way? And that's where
my years of playing, my experience, my understanding of the
nuance of being a woman's athlete really comes into play
because I can kind of just paint a picture to
(09:30):
people that they might not have seen it.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
That way without that nuanced explanation.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Yeah, no gate keeping around here, Absolutely not.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
And Laura, my question for you is, as women's sports
continues to grow and the momentum continues to soar, what
kind of trends do you see happening on the business side.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
We've done a really good job of engaging.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
Those who are hand raisers that want to be here
right so, and we could all name them, probably sitting
here in thirty seconds. The brands who have and continue
to show up in ways that aren't short term ism.
They're really looking to impact this long tail where I
think we need to move in order for this thing
to grow. Because again you have to remember, there were
(10:09):
only a handful of options from a professional sports perspective
for get nil, right, so the w NWSL. Now we've
got League one volleyball We've got the PWHL. You know,
you can go on and on with all of the
new league Baseball baseball. We have new softball coming online.
I mean, it's incredible. We need to start talking to
brands that are outside of what I would say are
(10:31):
the endemics, right, So we need to get outside of
financial services. We need to get outside of sports apparel,
start talking to beauty. I mean, one of the things
that has blown my mind is that from a let's
just talk about auto for a second. I'm not talking
about Carmacks has shown up and continues to show up
and put the money in. There is not one auto
manufacturer that is an official partner of a women's professional
(10:54):
sports league.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Soccer mom is the most cliche shit in America.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yep, there's a lot of ore something. There's gotta be
some van out there that come on.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
I mean right, so.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
You start like why and.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
So I think you know what we're hell ben and
really focus on in twenty twenty five, and there are
a ton of great brands here today that that checked
that box, that are outside.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
We're talking more and more to luxury brands.
Speaker 5 (11:17):
I mean, last night we had an incredible moment, you know,
working with Automatic p K, the watch brand. They're getting
more invested in the space. Gucci is here today, So
it's nice to see that the dimensionalization of athletes thanks
to the athletes themselves, by the way, who are walking
in I mean buy in large creative tunnel fits on
their own out of necessity, right, shooting it on like
(11:37):
literally literally, But it wasn't because a broadcast partner or
a digital media company or a blogger was like, hey,
we athletes did it to show their creative self expression
tunnel fits. Still to this day, like we haven't even
begun to tap into the level of impact and influence
that has off the court, especially for brands to be involved.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
So we are.
Speaker 5 (11:59):
Constant looking at ways paying attention to athletes. You talk
about the trends, I don't care what's happening on the
business side, because the business side is going to move
based on what the athletes are doing in the influence
that they're driving. I'm a big believer in an individual
over institution. Athletes told the influence. Now, brand's equal important
on the investment, but the athletes are driving the culture
and for that I think it's really important what matters
(12:20):
to them and you're seeing the expansion.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
I mean, look at angel Rees, I mean the diversification.
I mean how many.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
Times I wanted to go through the McDonald's drive to
just to get the big because because it's emblematic and
symbolic of where things are moving.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
So hopefully that answers the question.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
But now parthek well, last one for me because I
know it's a busy day. You both have a lot
going on today. But as we talk about women's sports
continuing to grow, what do we look forward to seeing
in this summit growing? Is it adding more panels? Is
there a conversation that maybe we haven't heard or you
haven't had a chance to have that it's something you
look forward to having. It's getting a bigger space, Like
(12:56):
what does growth of this summit look like for you?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
For either of you?
Speaker 6 (13:00):
So I've actually been going to the Sloan Analytic Conference
for ten plus years and my favorite thing about that
conference is yes, the panels and you learn things and
just like we're seeing here, the conversations are wonderful. But
the more people that start to come, it does validate
certain things like in our world, and I think a
summit like this could not to like compare it to Sloan.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (13:24):
It's not Apple Saples in that way, but having a conference,
having a summit that year after year you know you
can count on for yes, interesting conversations that you know
you can count on.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
To grow the business.
Speaker 6 (13:34):
That to me is like what I would feel like
pie in the sky would be that this could become
year after year, it could become a one word thing
the way slowness.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
You know what I'm saying. Now.
Speaker 6 (13:43):
You know Laura is the one that's kind of behind
all this, so I don't know if that's really what
you want to do.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
We're together.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
It feels like volentead. It feels like you're being volentead
to do that.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
I will I will tell you.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Walking off the stage here last year, I called it
my CFO and I said, how much do you think.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
It would quest to put this on in Barclays?
Speaker 5 (14:05):
And she was like Laura, and I'm like no, I said,
the business of women's sports on. It will fill the
lower bowl of Barclays, and then it'll go to the
next level, and then it'll go to the next level
because what you're seeing. Initially this started really focused on
The goal was to bring more commercial investment predominantly through brand,
but we had more inbound this year from media, investors,
(14:28):
policy makers. Sue is going to be going on shortly
with Chelsea Clinton when you start thinking about the diversification
of leadership. So yes, this started with a very focused goal,
but the reality is business is layered and nuanced and
completely dimensional. So I see a world where we will
make business the full swath more than one day.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
I'll get back to you on that, but I do believe.
I mean every year, I mean, we're busting here.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
So I truly believe the inbound has been very indicative
that we're only at the beginning stages.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
I'm certainly looking forward to seeing what's next with this conference.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
And before you both get out.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Of here, we're in the middle of the NBA playoffs,
So you don't got to bring it, you know, I
have to bring it because we we were just talking
about it a little bit before we start.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
What do you want to talk about?
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Who do you have winning the twenty twenty five NBA champions.
Speaker 6 (15:17):
Winning it obviously the next but oh gosh, but.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
I can step outside of my fandom.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
Man, Okac looks good. I don't think I had them
heading into the playoffs just because I was like, oh, young,
they have been running the table a little bit, but
you know, it's kind of like their first time having
those expectations. But then watching, especially that first game, I
was like, man, they look good.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
They look really good. Crazy.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Honestly, I know you didn't ask me, but I got
a troll sue for like two seconds.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
This is so you know in the beginning, we're up too.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Oh, I'd be like, you know, we have not okay,
clearly I'm a Detroiter. We have not won a playoff
game since two thousand and eight. I don't care even
remember it's.
Speaker 6 (16:01):
Been any better as an expect I mean, we want
to playoff games and to playoff series.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Won some series. It's been a struggle the last sixteen years.
So right now I have to take all the wins
where I can find them.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
I don't know when I'm gonna.
Speaker 6 (16:15):
See Sleeping Giant.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Oh my god. So yeah, go pisses.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
But you don't have anybody else outside it.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
I do.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
I I had Originally before I even thought Detroit would
even make the playoffs, I thought it would be okay
see in Boston. And I still feel like, okay, see
in Boston is a good matchup, but I just cannot
get over how incredible Shake kills Alexandre Is. I mean, okay,
see feels like the team that should win it.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
What about Golden State. That's a sleeper, right, I mean.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Jimmy Jimmy, but playoff Playoff Jimmy.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
B kind of like a new version of themselves.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
I knows old.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
So it's it's interesting we should see And Cleveland looks
I mean, Spider is that people forget about people really
do forget about Cleveland and adds a Detroit that is
all the Cleveland love.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
I'm ever gonna show.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
And that's it for our show, for our show.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Everyone, Thank you so much, Laura, thank you, Sue, thanks
for talking to you.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
I want to thank both Laura and Sue for stopping by.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
And when we returned, we're gonna be joined by national
champion Yukon Guard Easy Fud, so stay with us. So
we're here at the Business of Women's Sports Summit and
we have Yukon Guard and national champion Azy Fudd here
(17:37):
with us.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
How are you doing today?
Speaker 7 (17:39):
I am incredible, even better now that I'm sitting here.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
With you guys, because you know, it's the lip place.
It's the lip place.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
It has probably been a world win for you over
the last let's say two and a half weeks. I
mean probably longer than that when you include tournament time,
but just going from championship to paray to being stunning
at the w NBA Draft because we wasn't gonna let
that go you at the draft. Tell me about your
(18:08):
look first of all, like what went into that look?
Speaker 7 (18:11):
So I actually worked with a stylist, Britney Hampton, and
I honestly I told her, I trust you. I don't
know what I want to wear. I trust you, like
do your thing, pay out some options, and she was like, okay,
we're going dress this year. And I'm like, okay, it's
a little different. And she was like, yeah, we're gonna
You're gonna love it, and so she had some options.
I tried them on this one. It spoke to me.
I mean when I tried it, I was like, I
really liked this. It's different, it shows a little skin.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
I liked it.
Speaker 7 (18:34):
And then I haven't straightened my hair since my senior
prom in high school, so that was it was just
a lot of fun. Like I felt like a doll.
Like the makeup artist, the person who did my hair,
like they were incredible.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
Everyone was so sweet and they.
Speaker 7 (18:46):
Maybe it wasn't my draft, but like I just felt
so loved and I felt so good too and confident.
So that was it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
You literally broke the internet with that look. It was
one of my favorites, and I can't wait to see
what you're gonna do when it's time for you to
get drafted. But fresh off winning a national championship, what
is the victory Torben like for you?
Speaker 7 (19:05):
I mean, like you said, it's been a whirlwind. I
mean I was gonna ask because it's been two weeks.
It's been so fast and also so slow, Like I
feel like it's just one day leads into the next,
Like I'm barely stuff but I can sleep later.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
Who needs sleep?
Speaker 7 (19:18):
But really, I'm just trying to make the most of it,
trying to soak in. I mean, I'm here right now,
I'm going back to campus right after. It's my last
couple of days with no whole team being there, all
the people who got drafted or about to leave, So
just trying to soak up every last second I can
with this team because we're so close and we love
each other so much. So it's been this season was
it was so much fun.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
I was teasing Azy and I said, you know, I
live in Connecticut, so I know like you have really
And I said the same thing to Page at the draft.
I was like, listen, you got to really love your
teammates to go back to stores because literally it is
cows in Yukon and that's it, and a good pizzas
and a good pizza.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Spot, like that's it.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
I can't even remember the name of it, but it's
like a like the Jordan pizza spot, like that's around
the corner from campus. Like that's Other than that, you've
really got to love your teammates, but you can tell
that there's a bond between all of you.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Like that really shows.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
I think sometimes we look at teams and we're like
they play well together, but it doesn't really feel like
there's a connection.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
But I didn't get that.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Like this entire year, it just felt like you all
have really jailed and that your personalities matched and that
you were all genuinely happy. Just kind of talk about
what it means to play on such a close knit
team and how that kind of makes each of you better.
Speaker 7 (20:32):
Yes, I think what we have up at Yukon is
definitely very it's rare and it's valuable. I don't think
any of us take it for granted. But we get
along so well. And I mean, like you said, it's
literally cows and basketball up there. There's not much else
to do but hang out with these girls. And they
do get on my nerves, but that's like we're so close,
like we're like siblings. I'd be like, okay, like kk,
I need a break, like Page, I need a break,
(20:53):
like go I hire them to do my own thing.
But we literally found every second in the on the court,
we go to class, like on the court, back home,
movie night, it's game night, like we're gonna do whatever.
We got Korean barbecaul the day, we went to a
church other day together, so we do everything together. But
how much we care for each other, and I agree,
I think it showed when we played and just how
selfless we were, and it didn't matter who who got success,
(21:13):
who was scoring, who got attention that day, it was
like we were all just so happy for each other
and proud of each other, like we're all in the
trenches in practice, grind and grind it out, getting yelled at,
you know, doing all that so just to be able
to share success during games together. I think like we
all had that same mindset and that's really what made
them so special, is just our love for each other.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
In addition to like the team chemistry.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
I thoroughly enjoyed watching you all this group kind of
messed with Gino throughout the season and like break him
down because on the outside looking in, he's like a
tough cookie, but you guys have been able to get
him on tiktoks and they him be fun impressors. Just
talk about what has been like to be coached under
him and how you all were able to kind of
break him.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Down a little bit.
Speaker 7 (21:54):
I mean, coach is incredible. He's the best at what
he does. It's why I went to Yukon learn from him.
And you know, he is super strike, super hard, but
he also is like that cute little grandpa. I know,
he hates to say that he is that little grandpa
from up and he hates that. But we have such
big personalities on our team, like Page and Caked. I
get him out of a shell, make him do tiktoks
(22:15):
and like he'll roll his eyes at first act all
chough and hard, but then like, you know, he loves it.
You know he loves it.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
I think one thing that people may think is that
you all eat in sleep basketball and that's it. But
you guys have so much other things going on outside
of just basketball. So I want to take a second
to give people the chance to know easy outside of
what you do on the court, Like, what are some
things that you are passionate about that maybe not have
(22:45):
anything to do with basketball. So here's your moment to shine.
This is what as he does outside.
Speaker 7 (22:50):
Of who Okay, let's see. Well, I'm also a student.
I'm currently getting my master's in business. Am I passionate
about that? Well, I'd be grateful for it a few years. Yes,
right now, it's like it's cool what it is exactly.
I'm super passionate about my family and friends. I have
two dogs, so I love Stuie and Curry named after
basketball players. Obviously, Other than that, I feel like, you know,
(23:13):
this year has been over the last couple of years
has been really eye opening for me. I went to
my first US Open, my first New York Fashion Week,
so I've been kind of like testing the waters in
different areas. I kind of want to get in. I
want to learn how to do makeup, like your makeup
looks incredible, by the way, but just things that I
never like. I was so focused on only basketball growing up.
(23:33):
I didn't I had time, but I didn't find the
time or prioritize doing other things. So I feel like
doing all these new things I've just like been super cool,
super eye opening, like just testing testing the waters a little,
and so I definitely want to get more into fashion,
more into beauty and make up. One of Sarah Strong
knows how to play the piano. She's a keyboard in
her apartment, so I'm like in there trying to learn,
trying to get her to teach me. Just little things
(23:54):
like that.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
I absolutely love that. And I can't wait to see
what you do next.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
But before you get out of very easy, just tell
us what's next for you? What can we expect from you?
Connon twenty twenty five to twenty twenty six.
Speaker 7 (24:04):
Yeah, I mean, we have some pieces leaving going to
the draft and they're gonna be amazing there. But we
have a lot of pieces saying so next year our
goal is gonna be the same, and I think you know,
we've already started doing some workouts, but that starts in June,
and we started a summer session. Yeah, log right back in,
and I think you know we're gonna have another great team,
another great season. So yeah, stay tuned.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
All right.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
I missed the parade this year because I had to
get ready for the draft.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
So, oh wait, you live in Harford.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
I know I was in New York and preparing for
the draft, So that means I'm gonna need another parade
so I don't have to miss the next one.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
You already here. First, thank you so much for being
here with us.
Speaker 7 (24:43):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Well that's gonna do it. For this special episode of
In Case you missed it with Christina Williams, I really
hope you all enjoyed this crossover episode with the Levels
to this podcast co host Dreeka Fossa Brasby. We certainly
had a real, really great time at the summit. Shout
out to Laura, Corinthi Suberd and Ac Fud for joining
us for that special conversation, and we have more in store.
(25:10):
We have more conversations from the summit coming up, so
if you like, book to her don't forget to rate, review,
and subscribe to the podcast so that you don't miss
the latest. All right, that's gonna do it for this episode.
I'll see you next time in case you missed it
with Christina Williams is an iHeart women's sports production in
partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find
(25:33):
us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
get your podcasts.
Host
Khristina Williams
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