WNBA expert and sports journalist Jordan Robinson returned to ICYMI with host Khristina Williams to break down the latest league buzz ahead of the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis. The duo reacted to the Portland expansion franchise unveiling its official name and brand identity, celebrated Angel Reese landing the cover of NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition, and gave flowers to a recently retired jersey honoring a WNBA legend. With the All-Star festivities on the horizon, Jordan and Khristina shared what they’re most excited for this weekend, highlighting that the WNBA’s momentum is stronger than ever!
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CREDITS
Executive Producers:
Nikki Ettore
Jessie Katz
Tyler Klang
Jonathan Strickland
Producer:
Buffy Gorrilla
Producer & Editor:
Noa Avior
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 episode of In Case You
missed It with Christina Williams. Here on Iheartwomen's Sports Network
and guys, it is WNBA All Star Week, so you know,
(00:25):
we had to bring in a very special guest to
help us break down all that's going to happen in
Indianapolis and some of the headlines across the WNBA this week.
She is now considered fam to the show because she
was a guest previously, so please welcome back host of
the Women's Hoops Show, Sports reporter WNBA Sports creator Jordan Robinson.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Welcome to the show. Welcome back to the show. Jordan.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
I was gonna say thanks for having me again. Thanks
for having me back, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
It's always fun when we can have you on in
chat hoop. But Jordan, lots of exciting news coming out
of the WNBA world this week. The WNBA Portland Expansion
franchise team announced their new name and brand identity, and
so we learned that they are bringing back the Portland
Fire name, which I absolutely love with a new twist
(01:22):
in terms of the brand, identity, the logo. What was
your reaction to the news of the Portland Fire coming
back to the W Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
I was excited.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
I think that, you know, the Portland Fire, their original
run was one of the shortest run in WNBA history,
so they didn't really get to expand on that Portland
Fire branding.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Or really do much with it.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
So I'm happy that they brought it back, and they
have this whole Reborn tagline to go with it, so
it's like we are the same.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
But we're new, we have fresh color.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
We don't want to be tied to our past, but
we want to be reborn, and I think that is
super exciting.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
I love the colors.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
It took me a second to figure out that it
was a rose on fire, but once I did, I
liked it. And all I care about is if they
bring back their mascot, which was a Dalmatian with a
firetruck red hat, and I thought that was genius and
they need to bring that back.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
That's really all I care about at this WHINT listen, I.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Think I feel like at w they have some of
the best mascots in the league. Shout out to Big Ellie,
not the little one. I think she's become a cultural icon,
but yeah, I would love to see them bring back
a mascot.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
I absolutely love the.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Whole Reborn campaign and paying homage to, you know, just
the franchise that was before. And so I'm excited for
this expansion team and later this year we'll get to
see a couple expansion.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Rafts in the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
But moving right along, also huge news coming out this week,
Angel Reese.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
She's had one of the best weeks ever.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
She is the WNBA cover athlete for NBA two K
twenty six's WNBA edition. She joins the likes of Asia Wilson,
Candice Parker, Super Diana Tbrozzi, Suprinano Nescu as WNBA athletes
to cover NBA two K. She also announced she is
going to have a signature shoe, the Diamond Dust. Angel
(03:28):
Reese ones, I love it.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I love that. I think that she's an.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Absolute star and she deserves all good things, especially with
how she's been playing as of late. She is going
to be a twenty twenty five w NBA All Star,
second straight year as a WNBA All Star, So kudos
to Angel Reese.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
But yeah, she's having the best week ever. I would say,
what about you.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
I would agree with that.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
I think she would agree with that, especially with having
a T shirt with her cover of NBA two K
in the stands for everybody to take home on a
Chicago Sky game. I love what you said, though it's
now the play is backing up for it this season.
I know the start of this season, Angel didn't look
(04:12):
like herself. She didn't look like she was having fun.
They were losing a ton, and she wasn't performing like
we know that she can last year and we saw
what she can do and unrivaled. Now this last stretch
of games, they have been winning and she has been
playing incredibly well Double double machine, and she looks like
(04:32):
she's having fun out there. She looks like she's enjoying herself.
So why not release your cover, release your new shoe
on the exact same day. That's how you do it.
It was perfectly marketed, which are we surprised? This is
what she does. She is a walking brand. This is
how she moves throughout the world. And I just love
(04:52):
how the execution was done and got everybody really excited.
I don't believe we can purchase the shoes until twenty
twenty six, but it got this excitement of Okay, I
love this colorway.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
What other colourways are they going to be? What do
they look like on court? What do they look like
on an NBA two K cover?
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Like it was everything that I know she could have
dreamed of, and to get some wins behind her, to
get some more double doubles, to get Camilla Cardo so back.
It was just everything was adding up to having a
great week for Angelies.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Jould and what are the kids to do today?
Speaker 4 (05:26):
They go she ate?
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Yes, yes, she hates the cover.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
She's she has her signature shoe on the cover of
two K twenty six. And as you mentioned, she's been
playing really well. I think one thing that stands out
particular to me about her plays the way she's been
able to finish at the rim, which was a point
of emphasis at the start of the season. As you said,
she wasn't able to finish at the rim a lot,
(05:51):
and so I feel like we are seeing growth and
improvement game over game with angel reason. I mean, she
is someone who just puts her head down and let
the work speaks for itself. So I love that she's
having such a great week. Shout out to Angel Reese.
She deservess all good things staying with Chicago now Allie Quigley,
(06:12):
who has won the WNBA All Star three Point Contests
four times, three times All Star WNBA Champion with the
Chicago Sky a huge game in twenty twenty one over
the Phoenix Firkury to secure the first championship in Chicago's
Sky franchise history. They retired her jersey earlier last week,
(06:34):
and you know, I think that it's well deserved. She
has given so much to that franchise. Selfishly, I wanted
her to come back and play. It's kind of a
thing where you're like, is she gonna come back this year? Year?
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Come back this year?
Speaker 1 (06:47):
But she's a new mom and she's just enjoying the
wag life, and I love it for her. I remember
when she played for the New York Liberty, just seeing
her in the hallways and sharing Courty vanderston On who
was with the Liberty at the time. And now Chicago
gets to enjoy her in the stands, and I love
that she's closing this chapter of her life, and the
(07:09):
Chicago Sky did very.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Well in honoring her.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
I feel like the chapter in terms of All Star
being a four time three point champion, she never had
a chance.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
To run it back.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
But I do remember being in Chicago at All Star
when she won that three point competition, that the very
last one, and just the energy that was in the gym.
She had her teammates cheering her on at the time
and just went crazy.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
It went crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
I don't ever, I could never imagine a three point
contest without Ali Quigley. But I'm excited to see the
next generation of Hooper's kind of own that part of
WNBA All Star.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
M hm, well, I think Christina.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
I don't know how we make a petition for this,
but it needs to be named after her somehow. Someway
the trophy the Ali Quickly three point Contest, because no
one is going to win it.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Four times, like I just see. I mean, Sabrina could.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I think that she's on her way to just having
that longevity, but she was the first.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
No one has done that that many times.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
So I hope that somehow, Kathy, we're talking to you,
hope that somehow we can can get that in the mix.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Because of what she was able to do.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
One of the best shooters to ever get on a
basketball court, and especially in the WVa, and it did
feel I feel like a lot of these retirements recently
it feels not completed, like we didn't get to give
them their flowers one more season, or just honor them
one more time. It's a lot of these Irish exits,
I would like to call it. But Ali Quickly is
(08:47):
one of those people who has kind of always been
a little under the radar, just does her job, shoots
it makes her shots, was able to win a championship
with her wife, all these things that put her in history.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
But I wish we got one more season.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
I thought, honestly, when it was announced that her jersey
was going to be retired, I thought that meant that
she was going to come back. I was like, Oh,
is that what this graphic means? She's coming back to
replace her wife? Dug, we just get another advan right.
I know it was perfect, perfect for the scatter report,
but alas that was not the case. I'm so happy
(09:24):
that she just got her moment in Chicago to get
her jersey retired. And I mean, I don't know who
didn't cry when Courtney Vanderslut said her speech and just
talking about how they're going to raise their daughter as
knowing that her mom is one of the best shooters
of all time and there was no one like her.
So I chaished Ali Quickly and the memories of watching
(09:46):
her compete.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Listen, they have to give you ten percent when named
rening that trophy to Ali Quickly three point competition trophy,
because that is.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
A really good idea.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
That is a really solid idea. All right, Sticking with
a three point contest, there are multiple reports that Alisha
Gray will return to defend her three point title and
(10:15):
then also Sobrina Escue. She sort of hinted that she's
going to make a return this year to the three
point competition. Run to the show, karein Copeland had confirmed
that Sonya Sichron Washington Mystics rookie will also be participating
in the three point competition. I'm excited to see Sabrina
versus Alisha Gray. There's nothing like the person who won
(10:38):
the year before being able to defend the title.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
But also Sabrina, she won.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
She made history shooting thirty seven points in the three
point competition and so I am ready for an all
out shootout for this three point competition challenge and more
names will be revealed. At the time of this still publishing,
so excited about seeing who else will participate.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
I mean I was there in Vegas when Sabrina did that,
and I just remember recording, not even recording Sabrina, just
my face reacting to the shock of what did I
just witness And all of us around in the media
were just like, what is going on? This girl is
a shoot to the utmost and I was sad.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
I think I was.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Really sad last year when she didn't compete and Caitlyn
Clark didn't compete last year, and I think this is
my theory, this is no merit to this. But Sabrina
kind of putting it out a little early that she
will compete, I think was a little bit of a
nod to Caitlyn, like, Hey, I don't know if you're.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
Gonna compete or not. It's on your home floor.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
But we have been talked about as some of the
best shooters in the game.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Right now I'm competing, are you going to compete?
Speaker 3 (11:58):
And that's the type of competition that I want because
that's what pushes shooters, competitors to be their best. So
I hope that Caitlyn Clark in Indianapolis as a three
point specialist, even though we know she's not shooting amazing
this season, can still come out and give us a
show in that aspect, because.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
I think we want that. But also Alicia Grave being like, hey,
don't count me out. I want it.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Last year I got two checks and I want to
keep stacking these checks from a flax. So I just
selfishly want a full blown shootout. And then the rookie
in there, Sonya Citron can really shake things up. She's
been doing that all season long, so I would not
be surprised if we have all eyes on Sabrina, Caitlyn, Alicia,
(12:46):
and then Sonya Citron just sneak in there and steal
it from.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
All of them.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
And now that all the Kennedy Burke in there, yes,
even Kelsey Plumb competing, I feel like she has to
Kelsey fool that hast to redeem herself with her last
round wasn't that good. But to your point, Kaitlyn Clark,
you have to do it. It's in Indianapolis, your team city.
(13:11):
And it also goes to the comments she said earlier
in the year when the NBA All Star Competition happened
and they were like, oh, Caitlyn do it, and she said, no,
just bring it to Indianapolis, you know when we do
WNBA All Stars. So I think I would love to
see Kitlyn go head to head with Sabrina and Alisha.
It's what the fans want, right and the w NBA
(13:33):
All Star is for the fans. So what better way
to do it than have the biggest star and the
w participate. And I feel like, you know, the w
All Star Games, year over year, they just get better
and better. The competition. Obviously the pay the award money
could be a lot better in terms of the prize finding.
(13:54):
To give an incentive for these women to participate on
their break, they have to match the money. And I
love what the w NBPA has been able to do
last year and this year again and both the three
Point Competition and the Skills Challenge along with applack and
raising that prize money and getting it to where it
(14:14):
needs to be so that you don't have to wait
to find out who's going to be in the competition
players are signing up for rather than pushing away. So
all right, going back to All Star because this is
our preview Team Clark versus Team Collier will go down
on Saturday night, and we were able to witness on
(14:34):
July eighth the w NBA draft for the All Star
Game and Kitlyn Clark chose her teammate Eli Boston first
and then Nathsa I think she chose who did she
choose first? Brianna Stewart chose. She chose her unrivaled co founder,
Branni Stewart. So lots of roster shakeups, but I feel
(14:55):
like none of the choices really surprised me. And they like
shook things up with swapping coaches, which also didn't surprise
me at all. But the WNBA plan to announce a
little bit later today as we're publishing this episode, they
will announce Ryan Howard's replacement because she will be out
(15:19):
at least for the rest of July per her team,
and so they have to figure out who will replace her.
I think Britney Sykes, because of the position, should replace
Ryan Howard.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Who do you think would be a good replacement for
Team Clock?
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Yes, absolutely, I think Slim not only.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Deserves it, but has shown a lot of grace for
just missing out. She has been playing like an All
Star all season and she, you know, especially a team
who is working their way back up in the standings,
but she has been the best player on that team
(15:59):
from multiple pull games.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
And you have two other teammates.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Who are rookies who are also doing super well, who
are maybe more popular.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
In the fanfare. But I mean, I don't know why.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
Britney Sykes is amazing, hilarious and such a fan favorite
and a favorite of mine, but she has played like
an all star, and I think that is something that
we really have to consider here. I joke all the
time when it comes to replacements, it's up to Kathy Engelbert.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
For some reason. And I hope that people.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Are sending her flowers, muff and baskets, edible arrangements to
make sure that their names are in the hat for
this replacement. But someone like a Britney Sykes should deserves
to be on this spot, and especially when we're talking
about an alternate, like it's a little bit of a
gift for this It's another opportunity for her to make
this team, and she was supposed to be on it
(16:53):
the first time, and you have to do her right
by putting.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
Her on it this time. Yeah, you ate that, Jordan,
This is like.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
You know, I absolutely think that, you know, it was
a huge miss for Slim to be omitted from the reserves.
And you know, the coaches are the ones who vote
for the WNBA All Star reserves. And I know some
(17:21):
people said, oh, but she missed games. There are a
couple of players who miss games. Two are starting dots.
To make that clear. Oh yeah, so I think that,
you know, that shouldn't even be a factor.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
I mean it should be, but it shouldn't be.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
And and we know there are two rookies made in
Deer Cahany was very vocal on social media about how
a team below five hundred has two rookies and not
even their best player, which.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
Is very subjective.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
But yeah, I think that Slim definitely should have been
able to make it the first time around. And so
hopefully the league gets a write with the replacement. And
I want to wish Ryan Howard, you know, a very
great recover. The game needs you, so please don't rust back,
take your time. Yeah, there's been so many different injuries
happening throughout this season. I was at the New York
(18:09):
Liberty game when Asha Wilson went down and kind.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Of hurt her wrist. But now she's good. She's playing.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
She's just a freaking all out dominic player, unbelievably like
could she was practicing with a freaking em brace on
her arm, like I'm.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
This point, she is out of this world.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Like the best player in the world and out of
it is Agia Wilson. And she came back in a
very dominant fashion just to remind everybody to be like, oh, nope,
thirty four points in thirty three minutes, that's me. That's
what I do, and I am still the MVP until
someone takes it away from me. She constantly goes out
(18:49):
there and proves that. But just to echo what you said,
I hope Ryan Howard can get back get healthy because
this Atlanta Dream team needs her and needs her more
in the postseason or that last stretch to get to
the postseason, They're going to really really want her healthy
and one hundred percent. Alisha Gray is an All Star
(19:10):
and has been holding it down Jordan Canada, has been
scoring Jordan Canada thirty piece JC which we have never
seen before, but being able to fill in those gaps
when Ryan Howard and her scoring is out. So that
is something that I'm going to be looking at for
the rest of this month for Ryan Howard to be out,
(19:31):
but definitely going to miss her in the All Star
Game because she loves to turn up and take incredible shots,
so we're going to miss that.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Okay, Jordan, Now that we kind of previewed the All
Star Game, I want to know, personally, what is some
of your favorite things about WNBA at All Star.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
Oh my gosh, there's so many things. I think.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Well, I think in the women's basketball community, it's really small,
especially with media members and people who really show up
for women's hoops.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
It's a group of.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
People and there's only a couple times a year that
we all get together and we all get to be
in the same city, and I think that is the
final four in WNBA All Star is one of those touchstones.
Like I just remember when we were in Tampa, Everybody's like, Okay,
see a WNBA All.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
Star, Like that's just kind of what we do.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
So that's my favorite part is just this little reunion
where we come from all the corners of the country
to be in one place to celebrate women's basketball and
women's hoops.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
So I love that.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
I also love just being able to interact with the
players more up close and personal. This year, I'm going
to be co hosting the Orange Carpet with the WNBA,
and I'm just going to be able to get to
see all the players that I maybe have interviewed during
through a screen, but be able to see them in person,
see their outfits, see them walk a runway. It's gonna
(21:01):
be so much fun and I know that that's going
to be great. And then thirdly, I was gonna say
the Christina Williams Party if that was gonna make a return,
because I still have my favorite beauty products that I
got from your party last year that are just now
running out, and I was hoping to get a refeel
(21:21):
this time at the party.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
But that's okay.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Maybe in a future year, I would love to bring
back the party because that was fun.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
That was actually my first time ever doing my own
thing for.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
W All Star and we got really great feedback.
Speaker 4 (21:45):
So all of you don't know.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Last year, the WNBA All Star Game was in Phoenix
and I got together with my friend Mishan Lambert, who
was the former SUP at Forbes, and we collaborated on
a day at STK and Scottsdale and invited some of
you know, my friends in media, and I was able
to honor Cheryl Swoops, who is obviously a friend to
(22:09):
the show, and appear on the iHeart Women's Sports Network
because at that time, well one, I feel like we
should always, you know, gave legends their flowers while they
are still alive, breathing.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
Can receive them.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
But it was just a really hard year for Cheryl
in terms of all of the things that she was
going through, and I wanted her to know that she
was loved in the community.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
And so we had the dinner and it was really
great see at the table everyone got about to go
around and just talk about their contributions to the women's
sports space and.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
It was it was so much fun me to take
a toast.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
And then it was on rain Day. I think I
could safely say this. I think I was like the
first person to do a game day beauty suite at
WNBA All Star.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
I've never really seen like this year.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
There's a lot of you know, brands doing game day suites,
which is perfec think I love it. Shout out to
the brands and sponsors, but I feel like Christina Williams,
I feel like me I was the first.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
Year I have to do it. But yeah, we had
a really.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Cool game day sweet where you know, some of my
friends in media, some of the players were able to
come and get clammed up and we get really good
gift bags.
Speaker 5 (23:16):
Last year, I feel really good gift bags people like
a wig. I got a curling wand I got all
my Danessa, myrigs, makeup, all my skincare.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
I loved it, probably.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
The beast, that's honestly, I can say, one of the
best giftbags I've ever received.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Okay, so I was doing it this year because of
just how crazy my work schedule is right now.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
But I hope to bring back you know, the events
next year.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
So sponsors, if you're listening to this, I would like
to continue on with you know, the dinner, the All
Star dinner, and the game day Sweet. But Maya as you,
I'm going to echo you my favorite things about w
NBA All Stars just meeting up with everyone, being able
to balance that work life and that party life because
(24:08):
some of the most epic parties happened during w All
Star and just over the last several years, being able
to see it grow, like I remember when w Allstar
was not it like it was it was just like
you just go, you just work, you go back to
the hotel. And then over the last several years, teams
and brands started to invest into the weekend, having parties
(24:30):
and activations.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
WNBA Live became a.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Thing, so really just making it an all around experience
for fans and media members. And so I'm excited about
all of the different events. I know that iHeart will
have a day event, Jam Sessions on Friday and jam
Sessions after dark. So if you guys are in town,
make sure you come out and support some of my
(24:55):
peers on the iHeart Omened Sports Network.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
I know, tweak up Boston Brides being Cheryl Swoops.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
We'll be doing doing a live podcast heaping Sarah Spain
and Easy Bud. They have something special to announce, so
definitely check that out as well. But yeah, I was
super excited for Indianapolis and I'm was like, eh, Indy,
like what, I don't know about that, But let me
tell you I spent a lot of time in Indy
(25:20):
in twenty twenty through like twenty twenty two.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
Then I actually like it.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Like Indie summers are top notch Okay, it's the Midwest, Hey,
sports city. I feel like people, I feel like their
expectations will be exceeded.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
I'm just gonna put that energy out there. I did
look at the weather. I saw rain and the projective forecast.
I'm gonna need the weather gods to like.
Speaker 4 (25:46):
Rain and hot like it is just gonna be humid.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
It was like thunderstorms in eighty seven degrees and my
California girl self was like.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
What we don't do that? We don't do that on
the West Coast is what is that?
Speaker 2 (26:01):
But yeah, all that aside, I'm looking forward to a
great all Star game grade three point and skills competition
and just hanging out with all of the amazing people
who have poured their time and energy into covering the
w because we deserve to have fun too, so so
hopefully in between all of you know, the work stuff
(26:21):
and the busy calendars, you guys get to sit back,
have a.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
Drink and enjoy also.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
And then also Feverfest that is a new thing. Shout
out to Sick Hulsen.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
She's supposed to be doing a comedy, a comedy special,
a stand up comedy special to open up Feverfest on Saturday.
So I'm gonna tell you I actually tweeted I think
two years ago that Sid should have her own comedy
show at All Star because I remember growing up seeing
like Shack had some sort of comedy show at NBIA
(26:51):
All Star.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
I was like a staple thing.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
And I'm like, Sick Coulson is the funniest WNBA player ever,
Like she is the skills on care, she has, the
repsin as a comedian.
Speaker 4 (27:03):
Her tweets are hilarious.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
We need to put her on the stage and let
her just let her do her thing.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
So it's exciting that the Fever organization they kind of
listen not to me, but maybe they do see my tweet.
Speaker 4 (27:16):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
NBA I'm sure blasted that tweet I think two years
ago on one of their broadcasts, so.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
I feel like they did see.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
All right whatever, I'm so proud of Sid.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
I am going to try to sneak over because there's
gonna be a million things happen on Saturday. I only
try to sneak over to Fever Fast and to support
Sid and her comedy stand up show. I'm looking forward
to seeing that. I think that is outside of the box,
but now I feel like it just goes to the
investment and the standard being set in terms of WNBA
(27:51):
also should be just as entertaining as NBA All Star.
The events should be high level, which I think they happened.
I went to NBA All Star this past year. The
game wasn't entertaining, but the events outside of the actual
games very very good. So right, I feel like in
(28:11):
W it's typically reversed.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
The game is always really good and the events have
picked up to match the game level, where the NBA
is like, no, nobody's really here for the game, not
even the players.
Speaker 6 (28:24):
Are they almost pellous sleep watching the game. Oh my god,
but we were literally like snooze fest about to fall asleep.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
But yeah, the W is just evenly keel like the
game and the events are popping. I have a good
I have a question for you, what event would you
like to see at w ALSAR. Because we know that
they have the three point, the skills and the actual game,
I feel like they could add one or two more
events up in there.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Oh man, you know, someone said kind of a rookie
all rookie sophomore game.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
I think that would be really fun.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
I think in the NBA standpoint, why that's so fun
is because a lot of them aren't All Stars, but
in our case, a lot of them.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Are All Stars.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
So I don't know if that would technically work, but
I know that they brought three x three to WNBA
All Star last year because it was the Olympics and
they were kind of showing off that, you know, three
x three is going to be in the Olympics. I
think that if it's a rookie sophomore but three x
three style, that could be really fun and maybe that
(29:39):
could be interesting. But if you think of it, like
if that happened this year, Kaylen Clark would be in
the three point competition, the rookie sophomore three x three
and a captain of the All Star Game. So that's
a lot. But if there is other players, I think
they're you know, JJ Quinnerley is having an amazing season.
Aziah James are rookies who aren't All Stars but could
(30:04):
still show off their skills during an All Star weekend
because they're having such a great season. So it's a
way to kind of cultivate more people and more people
who are having great seasons into a weekend where maybe
if you're not watching every single game during the regular season,
you might tune into All Star because a lot of
(30:25):
people are going to be talking about it on social media,
and it's a way to kind of introduce the world
to some of these players. And I think having those
be more of the younger players could be really interesting.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
I have a couple ideas.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
I think that there should be a celebrity game at
the WNBA All Star weekend because there are so many
of them that support the W. And then you can
add some of the creators, and there's maybe some of
the journalists that cover it because a lot of the
journalists and creators are covered the W.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
A lot of the women they can hoop. We can hoop.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
I can hoop a little bit, y'all. Yeah, Yeah, I'm like,
I could come out of retirement start like I ain't
got it no more. I know my limits.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
But a fun game, A fun game, like a celebrity
game at the W All Star.
Speaker 7 (31:13):
Like her, she's always court side, shoot the.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Ball a couple of times, chase the sutekas like. There
are so many celebrities who support the W. I would
love to see maybe Drewski participate. I know him and
Sabrina did the Nike commercial together, and it would just
cross open to like culture and like the mainstream. I
also would like to see, so I said, the celebrity game,
(31:38):
maybe something where they incorporate some of the legends, like
I know in the NBA they used to have that.
She was the Shooting Stars competition, where like I loves
that one or two legends, there.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Are legends who can still shoot, hoop support. And I
feel like the w.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Has always had kind of like well, I don't say
I want to say, I don't want to say issue,
but there's always been.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
It doesn't connect a disconnect between honoring the legends.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
There are some.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Freshly retired WNBA players who can still hoop.
Speaker 7 (32:10):
Sewer Diana Simone, Augustus, Maya Moore, the lists Ali Quigley
like with some of the retired players incorporated into WNB
All Star Weekend.
Speaker 4 (32:23):
Lisa Leslie.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
I saw her hooping with Angel Rees helping her during
the Unrival season.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
She looks great, Like, let's.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Do something where we honor them at the w Allstar Game,
something that's more than just them sitting courtside. Incorporate them
into like the weekend, into an event, and so this
is how people learn the history of the game. And
I know you wrote a book about the history of
women's basketball. This is how people will This is how
you connect the past and present and people will be
(32:49):
able to learn about the players of the past. Tisha
Pinnachier like, let's get some of the legends involved. So
that's my two cents. I know I'll have a dog
in a fight. But if any league execs our listening.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
That is my about Sid Colson, they listen to you, Christina.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
There's nothing new under the sun.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Obviously, the NBA has done things like this, but I
feel like the WUNBA can adapt some of some of
this and to WNB All Star.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
We can make it more.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Than just the three point the skills and then the game, yeah,
and then one more thing maybe because there are so
many international players. Do you have international versus USA or
something like that, like love that I don't know, Like, yeah,
that's all that's all I have.
Speaker 4 (33:36):
That's all I have.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Just rework everything, and here's a whole new weekend.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Make it a little longer, make it through a three
day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Yes, But AnyWho, Jordan, I
want to thank you so much for joining me this
week on In case you visited it to preview the
w NBA All Star Game and talking about some of
the latest headlines around the w Thanks.
Speaker 4 (33:59):
So much, thanks for having me appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
Okay, that's going to do it For this episode of
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams, Listen. I
am super excited to be down to Indianapolis or WMA
All Star this week. So if you see me around
or in the streets, come up and say hi. Don't
DM me later and saying I thought I saw you,
come say hi.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
I want to say hi. I want to meet you all.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
Don't forget if you really love what you're here to subscribe,
rate and review this podcast and see you and Indy.
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 us on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple podcast, 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 episode of In Case You
missed It with Christina Williams. Here on Iheartwomen's Sports Network
and guys, it is WNBA All Star Week, so you know,
(00:25):
we had to bring in a very special guest to
help us break down all that's going to happen in
Indianapolis and some of the headlines across the WNBA this week.
She is now considered fam to the show because she
was a guest previously, so please welcome back host of
the Women's Hoops Show, Sports reporter WNBA Sports creator Jordan Robinson.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Welcome to the show. Welcome back to the show. Jordan.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
I was gonna say thanks for having me again. Thanks
for having me back, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
It's always fun when we can have you on in
chat hoop. But Jordan, lots of exciting news coming out
of the WNBA world this week. The WNBA Portland Expansion
franchise team announced their new name and brand identity, and
so we learned that they are bringing back the Portland
Fire name, which I absolutely love with a new twist
(01:22):
in terms of the brand, identity, the logo. What was
your reaction to the news of the Portland Fire coming
back to the W Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
I was excited.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
I think that, you know, the Portland Fire, their original
run was one of the shortest run in WNBA history,
so they didn't really get to expand on that Portland
Fire branding.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Or really do much with it.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
So I'm happy that they brought it back, and they
have this whole Reborn tagline to go with it, so
it's like we are the same.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
But we're new, we have fresh color.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
We don't want to be tied to our past, but
we want to be reborn, and I think that is
super exciting.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
I love the colors.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
It took me a second to figure out that it
was a rose on fire, but once I did, I
liked it. And all I care about is if they
bring back their mascot, which was a Dalmatian with a
firetruck red hat, and I thought that was genius and
they need to bring that back.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
That's really all I care about at this WHINT listen, I.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Think I feel like at w they have some of
the best mascots in the league. Shout out to Big Ellie,
not the little one. I think she's become a cultural icon,
but yeah, I would love to see them bring back
a mascot.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
I absolutely love the.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Whole Reborn campaign and paying homage to, you know, just
the franchise that was before. And so I'm excited for
this expansion team and later this year we'll get to
see a couple expansion.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Rafts in the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
But moving right along, also huge news coming out this week,
Angel Reese.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
She's had one of the best weeks ever.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
She is the WNBA cover athlete for NBA two K
twenty six's WNBA edition. She joins the likes of Asia Wilson,
Candice Parker, Super Diana Tbrozzi, Suprinano Nescu as WNBA athletes
to cover NBA two K. She also announced she is
going to have a signature shoe, the Diamond Dust. Angel
(03:28):
Reese ones, I love it.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I love that. I think that she's an.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Absolute star and she deserves all good things, especially with
how she's been playing as of late. She is going
to be a twenty twenty five w NBA All Star,
second straight year as a WNBA All Star, So kudos
to Angel Reese.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
But yeah, she's having the best week ever. I would say,
what about you.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
I would agree with that.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
I think she would agree with that, especially with having
a T shirt with her cover of NBA two K
in the stands for everybody to take home on a
Chicago Sky game. I love what you said, though it's
now the play is backing up for it this season.
I know the start of this season, Angel didn't look
(04:12):
like herself. She didn't look like she was having fun.
They were losing a ton, and she wasn't performing like
we know that she can last year and we saw
what she can do and unrivaled. Now this last stretch
of games, they have been winning and she has been
playing incredibly well Double double machine, and she looks like
(04:32):
she's having fun out there. She looks like she's enjoying herself.
So why not release your cover, release your new shoe
on the exact same day. That's how you do it.
It was perfectly marketed, which are we surprised? This is
what she does. She is a walking brand. This is
how she moves throughout the world. And I just love
(04:52):
how the execution was done and got everybody really excited.
I don't believe we can purchase the shoes until twenty
twenty six, but it got this excitement of Okay, I
love this colorway.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
What other colourways are they going to be? What do
they look like on court? What do they look like
on an NBA two K cover?
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Like it was everything that I know she could have
dreamed of, and to get some wins behind her, to
get some more double doubles, to get Camilla Cardo so back.
It was just everything was adding up to having a
great week for Angelies.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Jould and what are the kids to do today?
Speaker 4 (05:26):
They go she ate?
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Yes, yes, she hates the cover.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
She's she has her signature shoe on the cover of
two K twenty six. And as you mentioned, she's been
playing really well. I think one thing that stands out
particular to me about her plays the way she's been
able to finish at the rim, which was a point
of emphasis at the start of the season. As you said,
she wasn't able to finish at the rim a lot,
(05:51):
and so I feel like we are seeing growth and
improvement game over game with angel reason. I mean, she
is someone who just puts her head down and let
the work speaks for itself. So I love that she's
having such a great week. Shout out to Angel Reese.
She deservess all good things staying with Chicago now Allie Quigley,
(06:12):
who has won the WNBA All Star three Point Contests
four times, three times All Star WNBA Champion with the
Chicago Sky a huge game in twenty twenty one over
the Phoenix Firkury to secure the first championship in Chicago's
Sky franchise history. They retired her jersey earlier last week,
(06:34):
and you know, I think that it's well deserved. She
has given so much to that franchise. Selfishly, I wanted
her to come back and play. It's kind of a
thing where you're like, is she gonna come back this year? Year?
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Come back this year?
Speaker 1 (06:47):
But she's a new mom and she's just enjoying the
wag life, and I love it for her. I remember
when she played for the New York Liberty, just seeing
her in the hallways and sharing Courty vanderston On who
was with the Liberty at the time. And now Chicago
gets to enjoy her in the stands, and I love
that she's closing this chapter of her life, and the
(07:09):
Chicago Sky did very.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Well in honoring her.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
I feel like the chapter in terms of All Star
being a four time three point champion, she never had
a chance.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
To run it back.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
But I do remember being in Chicago at All Star
when she won that three point competition, that the very
last one, and just the energy that was in the gym.
She had her teammates cheering her on at the time
and just went crazy.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
It went crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
I don't ever, I could never imagine a three point
contest without Ali Quigley. But I'm excited to see the
next generation of Hooper's kind of own that part of
WNBA All Star.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
M hm, well, I think Christina.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
I don't know how we make a petition for this,
but it needs to be named after her somehow. Someway
the trophy the Ali Quickly three point Contest, because no
one is going to win it.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Four times, like I just see. I mean, Sabrina could.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I think that she's on her way to just having
that longevity, but she was the first.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
No one has done that that many times.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
So I hope that somehow, Kathy, we're talking to you,
hope that somehow we can can get that in the mix.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Because of what she was able to do.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
One of the best shooters to ever get on a
basketball court, and especially in the WVa, and it did
feel I feel like a lot of these retirements recently
it feels not completed, like we didn't get to give
them their flowers one more season, or just honor them
one more time. It's a lot of these Irish exits,
I would like to call it. But Ali Quickly is
(08:47):
one of those people who has kind of always been
a little under the radar, just does her job, shoots
it makes her shots, was able to win a championship
with her wife, all these things that put her in history.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
But I wish we got one more season.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
I thought, honestly, when it was announced that her jersey
was going to be retired, I thought that meant that
she was going to come back. I was like, Oh,
is that what this graphic means? She's coming back to
replace her wife? Dug, we just get another advan right.
I know it was perfect, perfect for the scatter report,
but alas that was not the case. I'm so happy
(09:24):
that she just got her moment in Chicago to get
her jersey retired. And I mean, I don't know who
didn't cry when Courtney Vanderslut said her speech and just
talking about how they're going to raise their daughter as
knowing that her mom is one of the best shooters
of all time and there was no one like her.
So I chaished Ali Quickly and the memories of watching
(09:46):
her compete.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Listen, they have to give you ten percent when named
rening that trophy to Ali Quickly three point competition trophy,
because that is.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
A really good idea.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
That is a really solid idea. All right, Sticking with
a three point contest, there are multiple reports that Alisha
Gray will return to defend her three point title and
(10:15):
then also Sobrina Escue. She sort of hinted that she's
going to make a return this year to the three
point competition. Run to the show, karein Copeland had confirmed
that Sonya Sichron Washington Mystics rookie will also be participating
in the three point competition. I'm excited to see Sabrina
versus Alisha Gray. There's nothing like the person who won
(10:38):
the year before being able to defend the title.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
But also Sabrina, she won.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
She made history shooting thirty seven points in the three
point competition and so I am ready for an all
out shootout for this three point competition challenge and more
names will be revealed. At the time of this still publishing,
so excited about seeing who else will participate.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
I mean I was there in Vegas when Sabrina did that,
and I just remember recording, not even recording Sabrina, just
my face reacting to the shock of what did I
just witness And all of us around in the media
were just like, what is going on? This girl is
a shoot to the utmost and I was sad.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
I think I was.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Really sad last year when she didn't compete and Caitlyn
Clark didn't compete last year, and I think this is
my theory, this is no merit to this. But Sabrina
kind of putting it out a little early that she
will compete, I think was a little bit of a
nod to Caitlyn, like, Hey, I don't know if you're.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
Gonna compete or not. It's on your home floor.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
But we have been talked about as some of the
best shooters in the game.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Right now I'm competing, are you going to compete?
Speaker 3 (11:58):
And that's the type of competition that I want because
that's what pushes shooters, competitors to be their best. So
I hope that Caitlyn Clark in Indianapolis as a three
point specialist, even though we know she's not shooting amazing
this season, can still come out and give us a
show in that aspect, because.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
I think we want that. But also Alicia Grave being like, hey,
don't count me out. I want it.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Last year I got two checks and I want to
keep stacking these checks from a flax. So I just
selfishly want a full blown shootout. And then the rookie
in there, Sonya Citron can really shake things up. She's
been doing that all season long, so I would not
be surprised if we have all eyes on Sabrina, Caitlyn, Alicia,
(12:46):
and then Sonya Citron just sneak in there and steal
it from.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
All of them.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
And now that all the Kennedy Burke in there, yes,
even Kelsey Plumb competing, I feel like she has to
Kelsey fool that hast to redeem herself with her last
round wasn't that good. But to your point, Kaitlyn Clark,
you have to do it. It's in Indianapolis, your team city.
(13:11):
And it also goes to the comments she said earlier
in the year when the NBA All Star Competition happened
and they were like, oh, Caitlyn do it, and she said, no,
just bring it to Indianapolis, you know when we do
WNBA All Stars. So I think I would love to
see Kitlyn go head to head with Sabrina and Alisha.
It's what the fans want, right and the w NBA
(13:33):
All Star is for the fans. So what better way
to do it than have the biggest star and the
w participate. And I feel like, you know, the w
All Star Games, year over year, they just get better
and better. The competition. Obviously the pay the award money
could be a lot better in terms of the prize finding.
(13:54):
To give an incentive for these women to participate on
their break, they have to match the money. And I
love what the w NBPA has been able to do
last year and this year again and both the three
Point Competition and the Skills Challenge along with applack and
raising that prize money and getting it to where it
(14:14):
needs to be so that you don't have to wait
to find out who's going to be in the competition
players are signing up for rather than pushing away. So
all right, going back to All Star because this is
our preview Team Clark versus Team Collier will go down
on Saturday night, and we were able to witness on
(14:34):
July eighth the w NBA draft for the All Star
Game and Kitlyn Clark chose her teammate Eli Boston first
and then Nathsa I think she chose who did she
choose first? Brianna Stewart chose. She chose her unrivaled co founder,
Branni Stewart. So lots of roster shakeups, but I feel
(14:55):
like none of the choices really surprised me. And they like
shook things up with swapping coaches, which also didn't surprise
me at all. But the WNBA plan to announce a
little bit later today as we're publishing this episode, they
will announce Ryan Howard's replacement because she will be out
(15:19):
at least for the rest of July per her team,
and so they have to figure out who will replace her.
I think Britney Sykes, because of the position, should replace
Ryan Howard.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Who do you think would be a good replacement for
Team Clock?
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Yes, absolutely, I think Slim not only.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Deserves it, but has shown a lot of grace for
just missing out. She has been playing like an All
Star all season and she, you know, especially a team
who is working their way back up in the standings,
but she has been the best player on that team
(15:59):
from multiple pull games.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
And you have two other teammates.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Who are rookies who are also doing super well, who
are maybe more popular.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
In the fanfare. But I mean, I don't know why.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
Britney Sykes is amazing, hilarious and such a fan favorite
and a favorite of mine, but she has played like
an all star, and I think that is something that
we really have to consider here. I joke all the
time when it comes to replacements, it's up to Kathy Engelbert.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
For some reason. And I hope that people.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Are sending her flowers, muff and baskets, edible arrangements to
make sure that their names are in the hat for
this replacement. But someone like a Britney Sykes should deserves
to be on this spot, and especially when we're talking
about an alternate, like it's a little bit of a
gift for this It's another opportunity for her to make
this team, and she was supposed to be on it
(16:53):
the first time, and you have to do her right
by putting.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
Her on it this time. Yeah, you ate that, Jordan,
This is like.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
You know, I absolutely think that, you know, it was
a huge miss for Slim to be omitted from the reserves.
And you know, the coaches are the ones who vote
for the WNBA All Star reserves. And I know some
(17:21):
people said, oh, but she missed games. There are a
couple of players who miss games. Two are starting dots.
To make that clear. Oh yeah, so I think that,
you know, that shouldn't even be a factor.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
I mean it should be, but it shouldn't be.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
And and we know there are two rookies made in
Deer Cahany was very vocal on social media about how
a team below five hundred has two rookies and not
even their best player, which.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
Is very subjective.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
But yeah, I think that Slim definitely should have been
able to make it the first time around. And so
hopefully the league gets a write with the replacement. And
I want to wish Ryan Howard, you know, a very
great recover. The game needs you, so please don't rust back,
take your time. Yeah, there's been so many different injuries
happening throughout this season. I was at the New York
(18:09):
Liberty game when Asha Wilson went down and kind.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Of hurt her wrist. But now she's good. She's playing.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
She's just a freaking all out dominic player, unbelievably like
could she was practicing with a freaking em brace on
her arm, like I'm.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
This point, she is out of this world.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Like the best player in the world and out of
it is Agia Wilson. And she came back in a
very dominant fashion just to remind everybody to be like, oh, nope,
thirty four points in thirty three minutes, that's me. That's
what I do, and I am still the MVP until
someone takes it away from me. She constantly goes out
(18:49):
there and proves that. But just to echo what you said,
I hope Ryan Howard can get back get healthy because
this Atlanta Dream team needs her and needs her more
in the postseason or that last stretch to get to
the postseason, They're going to really really want her healthy
and one hundred percent. Alisha Gray is an All Star
(19:10):
and has been holding it down Jordan Canada, has been
scoring Jordan Canada thirty piece JC which we have never
seen before, but being able to fill in those gaps
when Ryan Howard and her scoring is out. So that
is something that I'm going to be looking at for
the rest of this month for Ryan Howard to be out,
(19:31):
but definitely going to miss her in the All Star
Game because she loves to turn up and take incredible shots,
so we're going to miss that.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Okay, Jordan, Now that we kind of previewed the All
Star Game, I want to know, personally, what is some
of your favorite things about WNBA at All Star.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
Oh my gosh, there's so many things. I think.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Well, I think in the women's basketball community, it's really small,
especially with media members and people who really show up
for women's hoops.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
It's a group of.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
People and there's only a couple times a year that
we all get together and we all get to be
in the same city, and I think that is the
final four in WNBA All Star is one of those touchstones.
Like I just remember when we were in Tampa, Everybody's like, Okay,
see a WNBA All.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
Star, Like that's just kind of what we do.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
So that's my favorite part is just this little reunion
where we come from all the corners of the country
to be in one place to celebrate women's basketball and
women's hoops.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
So I love that.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
I also love just being able to interact with the
players more up close and personal. This year, I'm going
to be co hosting the Orange Carpet with the WNBA,
and I'm just going to be able to get to
see all the players that I maybe have interviewed during
through a screen, but be able to see them in person,
see their outfits, see them walk a runway. It's gonna
(21:01):
be so much fun and I know that that's going
to be great. And then thirdly, I was gonna say
the Christina Williams Party if that was gonna make a return,
because I still have my favorite beauty products that I
got from your party last year that are just now
running out, and I was hoping to get a refeel
(21:21):
this time at the party.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
But that's okay.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Maybe in a future year, I would love to bring
back the party because that was fun.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
That was actually my first time ever doing my own
thing for.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
W All Star and we got really great feedback.
Speaker 4 (21:45):
So all of you don't know.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Last year, the WNBA All Star Game was in Phoenix
and I got together with my friend Mishan Lambert, who
was the former SUP at Forbes, and we collaborated on
a day at STK and Scottsdale and invited some of
you know, my friends in media, and I was able
to honor Cheryl Swoops, who is obviously a friend to
(22:09):
the show, and appear on the iHeart Women's Sports Network
because at that time, well one, I feel like we
should always, you know, gave legends their flowers while they
are still alive, breathing.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
Can receive them.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
But it was just a really hard year for Cheryl
in terms of all of the things that she was
going through, and I wanted her to know that she
was loved in the community.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
And so we had the dinner and it was really
great see at the table everyone got about to go
around and just talk about their contributions to the women's
sports space and.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
It was it was so much fun me to take
a toast.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
And then it was on rain Day. I think I
could safely say this. I think I was like the
first person to do a game day beauty suite at
WNBA All Star.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
I've never really seen like this year.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
There's a lot of you know, brands doing game day suites,
which is perfec think I love it. Shout out to
the brands and sponsors, but I feel like Christina Williams,
I feel like me I was the first.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
Year I have to do it. But yeah, we had
a really.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Cool game day sweet where you know, some of my
friends in media, some of the players were able to
come and get clammed up and we get really good
gift bags.
Speaker 5 (23:16):
Last year, I feel really good gift bags people like
a wig. I got a curling wand I got all
my Danessa, myrigs, makeup, all my skincare.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
I loved it, probably.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
The beast, that's honestly, I can say, one of the
best giftbags I've ever received.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Okay, so I was doing it this year because of
just how crazy my work schedule is right now.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
But I hope to bring back you know, the events
next year.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
So sponsors, if you're listening to this, I would like
to continue on with you know, the dinner, the All
Star dinner, and the game day Sweet. But Maya as you,
I'm going to echo you my favorite things about w
NBA All Stars just meeting up with everyone, being able
to balance that work life and that party life because
(24:08):
some of the most epic parties happened during w All
Star and just over the last several years, being able
to see it grow, like I remember when w Allstar
was not it like it was it was just like
you just go, you just work, you go back to
the hotel. And then over the last several years, teams
and brands started to invest into the weekend, having parties
(24:30):
and activations.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
WNBA Live became a.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Thing, so really just making it an all around experience
for fans and media members. And so I'm excited about
all of the different events. I know that iHeart will
have a day event, Jam Sessions on Friday and jam
Sessions after dark. So if you guys are in town,
make sure you come out and support some of my
(24:55):
peers on the iHeart Omened Sports Network.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
I know, tweak up Boston Brides being Cheryl Swoops.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
We'll be doing doing a live podcast heaping Sarah Spain
and Easy Bud. They have something special to announce, so
definitely check that out as well. But yeah, I was
super excited for Indianapolis and I'm was like, eh, Indy,
like what, I don't know about that, But let me
tell you I spent a lot of time in Indy
(25:20):
in twenty twenty through like twenty twenty two.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
Then I actually like it.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Like Indie summers are top notch Okay, it's the Midwest, Hey,
sports city. I feel like people, I feel like their
expectations will be exceeded.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
I'm just gonna put that energy out there. I did
look at the weather. I saw rain and the projective forecast.
I'm gonna need the weather gods to like.
Speaker 4 (25:46):
Rain and hot like it is just gonna be humid.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
It was like thunderstorms in eighty seven degrees and my
California girl self was like.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
What we don't do that? We don't do that on
the West Coast is what is that?
Speaker 2 (26:01):
But yeah, all that aside, I'm looking forward to a
great all Star game grade three point and skills competition
and just hanging out with all of the amazing people
who have poured their time and energy into covering the
w because we deserve to have fun too, so so
hopefully in between all of you know, the work stuff
(26:21):
and the busy calendars, you guys get to sit back,
have a.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
Drink and enjoy also.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
And then also Feverfest that is a new thing. Shout
out to Sick Hulsen.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
She's supposed to be doing a comedy, a comedy special,
a stand up comedy special to open up Feverfest on Saturday.
So I'm gonna tell you I actually tweeted I think
two years ago that Sid should have her own comedy
show at All Star because I remember growing up seeing
like Shack had some sort of comedy show at NBIA
(26:51):
All Star.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
I was like a staple thing.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
And I'm like, Sick Coulson is the funniest WNBA player ever,
Like she is the skills on care, she has, the
repsin as a comedian.
Speaker 4 (27:03):
Her tweets are hilarious.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
We need to put her on the stage and let
her just let her do her thing.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
So it's exciting that the Fever organization they kind of
listen not to me, but maybe they do see my tweet.
Speaker 4 (27:16):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
NBA I'm sure blasted that tweet I think two years
ago on one of their broadcasts, so.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
I feel like they did see.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
All right whatever, I'm so proud of Sid.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
I am going to try to sneak over because there's
gonna be a million things happen on Saturday. I only
try to sneak over to Fever Fast and to support
Sid and her comedy stand up show. I'm looking forward
to seeing that. I think that is outside of the box,
but now I feel like it just goes to the
investment and the standard being set in terms of WNBA
(27:51):
also should be just as entertaining as NBA All Star.
The events should be high level, which I think they happened.
I went to NBA All Star this past year. The
game wasn't entertaining, but the events outside of the actual
games very very good. So right, I feel like in
(28:11):
W it's typically reversed.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
The game is always really good and the events have
picked up to match the game level, where the NBA
is like, no, nobody's really here for the game, not
even the players.
Speaker 6 (28:24):
Are they almost pellous sleep watching the game. Oh my god,
but we were literally like snooze fest about to fall asleep.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
But yeah, the W is just evenly keel like the
game and the events are popping. I have a good
I have a question for you, what event would you
like to see at w ALSAR. Because we know that
they have the three point, the skills and the actual game,
I feel like they could add one or two more
events up in there.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Oh man, you know, someone said kind of a rookie
all rookie sophomore game.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
I think that would be really fun.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
I think in the NBA standpoint, why that's so fun
is because a lot of them aren't All Stars, but
in our case, a lot of them.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Are All Stars.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
So I don't know if that would technically work, but
I know that they brought three x three to WNBA
All Star last year because it was the Olympics and
they were kind of showing off that, you know, three
x three is going to be in the Olympics. I
think that if it's a rookie sophomore but three x
three style, that could be really fun and maybe that
(29:39):
could be interesting. But if you think of it, like
if that happened this year, Kaylen Clark would be in
the three point competition, the rookie sophomore three x three
and a captain of the All Star Game. So that's
a lot. But if there is other players, I think
they're you know, JJ Quinnerley is having an amazing season.
Aziah James are rookies who aren't All Stars but could
(30:04):
still show off their skills during an All Star weekend
because they're having such a great season. So it's a
way to kind of cultivate more people and more people
who are having great seasons into a weekend where maybe
if you're not watching every single game during the regular season,
you might tune into All Star because a lot of
(30:25):
people are going to be talking about it on social media,
and it's a way to kind of introduce the world
to some of these players. And I think having those
be more of the younger players could be really interesting.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
I have a couple ideas.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
I think that there should be a celebrity game at
the WNBA All Star weekend because there are so many
of them that support the W. And then you can
add some of the creators, and there's maybe some of
the journalists that cover it because a lot of the
journalists and creators are covered the W.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
A lot of the women they can hoop. We can hoop.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
I can hoop a little bit, y'all. Yeah, Yeah, I'm like,
I could come out of retirement start like I ain't
got it no more. I know my limits.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
But a fun game, A fun game, like a celebrity
game at the W All Star.
Speaker 7 (31:13):
Like her, she's always court side, shoot the.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Ball a couple of times, chase the sutekas like. There
are so many celebrities who support the W. I would
love to see maybe Drewski participate. I know him and
Sabrina did the Nike commercial together, and it would just
cross open to like culture and like the mainstream. I
also would like to see, so I said, the celebrity game,
(31:38):
maybe something where they incorporate some of the legends, like
I know in the NBA they used to have that.
She was the Shooting Stars competition, where like I loves
that one or two legends, there.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Are legends who can still shoot, hoop support. And I
feel like the w.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Has always had kind of like well, I don't say
I want to say, I don't want to say issue,
but there's always been.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
It doesn't connect a disconnect between honoring the legends.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
There are some.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Freshly retired WNBA players who can still hoop.
Speaker 7 (32:10):
Sewer Diana Simone, Augustus, Maya Moore, the lists Ali Quigley
like with some of the retired players incorporated into WNB
All Star Weekend.
Speaker 4 (32:23):
Lisa Leslie.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
I saw her hooping with Angel Rees helping her during
the Unrival season.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
She looks great, Like, let's.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Do something where we honor them at the w Allstar Game,
something that's more than just them sitting courtside. Incorporate them
into like the weekend, into an event, and so this
is how people learn the history of the game. And
I know you wrote a book about the history of
women's basketball. This is how people will This is how
you connect the past and present and people will be
(32:49):
able to learn about the players of the past. Tisha
Pinnachier like, let's get some of the legends involved. So
that's my two cents. I know I'll have a dog
in a fight. But if any league execs our listening.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
That is my about Sid Colson, they listen to you, Christina.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
There's nothing new under the sun.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Obviously, the NBA has done things like this, but I
feel like the WUNBA can adapt some of some of
this and to WNB All Star.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
We can make it more.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Than just the three point the skills and then the game, yeah,
and then one more thing maybe because there are so
many international players. Do you have international versus USA or
something like that, like love that I don't know, Like, yeah,
that's all that's all I have.
Speaker 4 (33:36):
That's all I have.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Just rework everything, and here's a whole new weekend.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Make it a little longer, make it through a three
day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Yes, But AnyWho, Jordan, I
want to thank you so much for joining me this
week on In case you visited it to preview the
w NBA All Star Game and talking about some of
the latest headlines around the w Thanks.
Speaker 4 (33:59):
So much, thanks for having me appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
Okay, that's going to do it For this episode of
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams, Listen. I
am super excited to be down to Indianapolis or WMA
All Star this week. So if you see me around
or in the streets, come up and say hi. Don't
DM me later and saying I thought I saw you,
come say hi.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
I want to say hi. I want to meet you all.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
Don't forget if you really love what you're here to subscribe,
rate and review this podcast and see you and Indy.
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 us on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Host
Khristina Williams
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