January 15, 2025 • 24 mins
This week Khristina kicks off the show by breaking down everything happening in the offseason including the latest WNBA coaching hires, recent free agency transactions, and more.
Later Khristina is joined by South Carolina superstar, Tessa Johnson. Khristina and Tessa discuss how hard the road to repeat as champions is, preparing for those huge "pinch me" moments and what it's like to play for the legendary Dawn Staley.
Want more women’s basketball scoop? Follow the show on Instagram @ICYMIwithKW and X @ICYMIwithKW and for more on Khristina follow her on Instagram @khristinawilliams
Let us know what you think of the show by leaving a rating and a review!
CREDITS
Executive Producers:
Nikki Ettore
Jessie Katz
Tyler Klang
Jonathan Strickland
Producer:
Mike Coscarelli
Producer & Editor:
Tari Harrison
Host:
Khristina Williams
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. Welcome to another edition of In Case You
missed It with Christina Williams, and we're going to get
into some headlines in and around women's basketball BNIK news
(00:25):
for the New York Liberty. This week, the team has
hired Sonya Rahman as an assistant coach. Raman joins the
Liberty after four seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies as an
assistant in twelve years leading the MIT women's basketball program.
Here's what the Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins had to
say about the Liberty's latest hire.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I know she's bringing so much to the Liberty.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I mean her passion for player development, x's and o's analytics,
the way she studied the game, you know, back in
her college days. You know, MIT is having so much success.
They're bringing success with us in the last couple of
years with the Grizzlies.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
I'm fired up for her.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I know she's gonna mesh really well with the players
coaching staff there.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
I know she's fired up.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Obviously, they're going to be getting their season up and
rolling in the next couple of months there. I think
she's still been in Memphis, you know, and joining her
time there, all the relationships she's still got, you know,
with our group, but I know she's fired for the.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Soon opportunity of the w.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Speaking of the Liberty's coaching staff, Ernika Hodges is heading
to the Connecticut Son where she'll also be serving as
an assistant coach and to round out the coaching staff news,
the Dallas Wings are bringing in former WNBA champion Camille Little,
who played thirteen seasons in the league, along with veteran
assistant Nola Henry, who's also serving as a head coach
(01:42):
for unrival this season. Bill join head coach Chris cochlanis
our very own friend to the show. Now, let's dive
into some WNBA free agency news. As you guys know,
free agency takes place this month, and this week was
the final week for teams to make qualifying offers to
(02:02):
players or designate core players. First up, the New York
Liberty are extending a core qualifying offer to three times
WNBA champion Briandon Stewart. She is a break name free
agent in the offseason so I think that this is
a good sign for the Liberty, who are the defending
champions and looking to run it back next season. Now
(02:23):
let's shift over to Dallas. The Dallas Wings have also
extended a core qualifying offer to unrestricted free agent Sattoo Saboli.
But before we get into that, I want to explain
to y'all what a core offer is. A core offer
is basically a fully guaranteed one year contract that usually
offers the player the SuperMac salary that locks in the
player with their current team. So it's a way for
(02:45):
teams to be able to secure their top talent and
retain the right to match any offers from any other teams.
Now remember that piece as we get into the sabole
kind of discourse. In Dallas. Last week, during a media
session for Unrivaled Basketball, Sabi made it clear that she
has played her final game in Dallas. Here's what she
(03:08):
had to say.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
I've already communicated with Dallas how grateful I am because
They've made this a home for me for the past years,
and I'm working with them together and finding a next
home for me because I will like I've already played
my last game in Dallas, and I'm just excited. I'm
excited for free agency. I'm able to talk to a
lot of players outside the league because I have not
(03:35):
played on a different team yet, and I'm excited to
get to know them more on a personable level, but
also knowing how how they approach the game. And I
just love having basketball conversations and high level i Q
conversations about the game to know where I will fit
best in the future.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
With Dallas core designating Saboli, it's clear the Wings are
ready to make sure they get value for her in
free agency, likely through a sign and trade deal. Now
let's move west to Las Vegas. The Aces have extended
a core qualifying offer to two time champion Kelsey Plum
as one of the top free agents this offseason. All
eyes will be on whether Plump stays in Vegas or
(04:15):
heads elsewhere in twenty twenty five. And finally with the
headlines this week, a Texas man has been arrested in
charge with stalking after allegedly sending WNBA star Caitlin Clark
threatening and explicit messages on social media. Fifty five year
old Michael Lewis was arrested in Indianapolis after investigators trace
(04:37):
the messages to a hotel. Clark, who doesn't know Lewis,
said she's been fearful for her safety and change her
routine because of the threats. Lewis faces felony charges, which
could mean up to six years in prison. All right, y'all,
that's going to conclude the headlines for this week. I
also want to shout out the Unrivaled League, which kicks
off on Friday. Make sure you guys head down to
(04:59):
Miami me attend some games during the season, or watch
on T and T Sports. All right, we're gonna take
a quick little break, and when we get back, a
very special guest joins the show. Stay with us. Welcome
(05:29):
back to in case you missed it with Christina Williams
here on the iHeartRadio app. And I'm super excited for
our guest this week. She led the South Carolina and
Gangcox to a national championship in her freshman year, and
her ceiling to where she's going to go in women's basketball,
it's just so high. I'm super excited about this one, y'all.
(05:50):
Please welcome to the show, Tessa Johnson. Tessa, thank you
so much for being here. Thank you so I want
to dive right into the conversation. So I found out
that you were from Minnesota, So I want to know
how does someone from the land of ice and snow
get hooked on basketball? Like, what is your basketball origin story?
Speaker 4 (06:13):
Well, yes, I'm from Minnesota, and the reason I grew
up playing basketball my dad taught me everything I knew
about basketball.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
But I also have an older sister.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
I have two older sisters, but one of them played
for Iowa State and she was a big.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Role model of mine.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
And I'm competitive, so that made me want to keep
playing basketball. And I was like, and she was really good,
at least in my eyes, she was really good, and
so I was like, Okay, I don't want to be
known as Ray's little sister. I want to like make
my own name for myself. And so growing up, I
always just not compared myself to her in a bad way,
but challenged myself in a way to be better than
(06:48):
her and be better than myself.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Yeah, how did watching your sister Ray and that experience
help to shape your journey in basketball? Seeing her play
in Iowa State, but just growing up in that competitive household.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
I think it helped me to be where I am
today and to be able to play at the level
I am playing at right now, and being away from
my family also because I'm very family oriented, so I
grew up very close to my family and being so
far away was kind of scary. But the fact that
in South Carolina, like my coaching staff and my teammates,
they feel like a home away from home, Like people
(07:22):
say that and that's actually true. And going off of
her experience, she told me, like, I need a value
relationships a lot, like picking a college and just being
there because at the end of the day, you're a person,
even whether that's basketball or not, Like you need to
have relationships outside of basketball. And I've got blessed to
have the relationships I do with my teammates and coaches
(07:44):
as well as the people just in South Carolina.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Made that lead from high school to one of the
most dominant programs in women's a basketball. What was that
factor about South Carolina that was like, Okay, I'm definitely
committing here.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
Well other than the fact that they win, like I'm competitive,
so I want to win, Like I talked about the
relationships like Coach Daly, Well, the first time I was
on the phone with her.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
It felt like I knew her for my whole life.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
So the fact that I felt like I could trust
her with myself and with my future, that was really
like the it factor for.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Me playing for Coach Day. I mean, you said it yourself,
she's one of the best college coaches. How did playing
for her compare to being with your high school coach?
Because you had a really decent, I'm being humble, really
decent high school experience. You led your team to the
state championship. What was that difference that you saw?
Speaker 4 (08:36):
The really big difference is the fact I was playing
for a female coach. I've never played for a female
coach my whole basketball career. But I got lucky enough
where my AAU coaches when I played for North Tartan
or my high school coaches when I played.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
For Coach Hamry and Stma.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
I value relationships a lot, So I got very lucky
and blessed at the fact that I had good relationships
with all my coaches, Like I can get yelled at,
but I know that it's out of tough love and
they're trying to make me better.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
And then Coach Staley, oh.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
My wert, I can talk so much about her, but
just the fact she does not see you as just
a basketball player out there, Like she's always trying to
build you for your future, whether that's in basketball or not.
Like she'll ask us our personal goals and our basketball goals,
and then she'll push us to whatever our goals are,
and she sees potential in us, and she'll never ever
(09:25):
let us settle.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I love how you talk about how she's prepared you
for those big mooments. And then obviously, last season South
Carolina went undefeated. You helped lead the team to a
national championship title your freshman year, being a key piece
off the bench in that national title game, how did
you prepare for that moment?
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Preparing for the moment was, well, a lot of the
game is mental. So there was practices where I would
be missing and turning it over and they were like
hard practices, but I knew that I was going to
be in a position like that, and the fact that
I had to over come them in practice helped me
prepare for the games. And then I always had someone
(10:04):
in my ear, whether that was my teammates or my coaches.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
They were always.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Telling me, like you need to keep going, like turn
the page because I've always been hard on myself. It's
hard for me to turn the page so quickly, but
just growing and maturing and mainly in practice and having
to practice against my teammates, and you know they're good,
so having to practice against them makes me better every
day and that helps me prepare for games and moments
like that.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
And it must have been surreal right to be playing
in such a big arena, a big moment, Caitlin Clark
getting a lot of attention, but also you guys proved
that you were worth the attention as well. Did you
have any pinch me moments during that process leading up
to the journey of finally winning a championship.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
When we came into the final four, Jim and I
really like just took a breath, and because everything kind
of happened so fast, Like people say that your four
years go by fast, and I'm like no, like I'm
still fresh and this is not going by fast at all.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
But when when I was there, I.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Was just like, wow, like these are actually our last
two games. No matter if we would or not, these
are last two games. But then like I just took
a breath.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Then I looked.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
Around and I was like, wow, I cannot believe we're
in the final four, Like forget the undefeated season, Like
I can't believe we're in the final four. Like I've
always dreamed of this as a little kid, and I've
just like I watched South Carolina in the Final four
when I was still in high school and I was
just like, wow, I want to be there.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
And then the fact that I was there, it was
really cool in inspiring.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Speaking of surreal moments, I mean, the reactions online was
just insane. I saw that Lebron James shouted you out
in a post on X What was that like for
you to have like one of the greatest players of
this generation shout you out? Day Tessa Johnson is hooping
right now.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
I had to keep I had to keep looking back,
like I refreshed it and I kept looking back. I
was like, I was like wow, because again, growing up,
like me and my brother, my younger brother, we would
watch him play. We would watch a bunch of NBA
or WNBA players and just little bits and pieces of
their game. And the fact that he was able to
see me play, like that's really cool.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
So can you just dive more into what that experience
was like In the championship game at such a heightened
moment in women's basketball, so many eyes on you. What
was that feeling when you stepped on the court and
you knew what the goal was.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Well, actually, after I watched the national championship game, I
was confused, and I think I was watching film, and
I think my dad was next to me, and I
turned to him and I was like, when I went in.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
We were down, like we were down by ten or so,
Like in the moment of the game, I wasn't really
thinking about anything besides like we need to win, Like
I'm gonna do everything I can to win, whether that's defense, offense,
getting a rebound, which I'm working on this year also,
but whatever that, whatever I had to do, I'm gonna
try and win for my for my team. And but
(12:59):
after and being on the court, like I was like
like the time went off and I was just like
I had no words, and I just hugged Pal and
I was hugging everyone and we were all in shock.
And then in the locker room after the game, we
were all like this is not real, Like we just
won a national championship.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
And it was the feeling you cannot get, like you can.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
I can't even express the feeling because you can only
get it after winning other championship.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
But the feeling was so good that we're planning on
doing it again.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
South Carolina right now is on the repeat tour and
you guys are off to a great start so far.
Do you feel like it's harder to try to repeat
in winning a championship or getting your first one? Was
the hardest thing to.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Do last year, Before the season even started, everything was
so unexpected, kind of like you didn't know what to
expect with the team that we had because we had
new transfers and just new people and the people that
were here last year, like we had a new starting
five and stuff, so we didn't really know what to expect.
And then after our first game where we were like, wow,
we could actually be pretty good, and then we just
(14:05):
built from there. But Coach Staley is always talking about
our standard, whether like, no matter the opponent we're playing,
we have a standard for ourselves and we need to
play up to that standard, and then eventually when we
get there, we'll make a new standard. So I don't
think it's like harder this year. I mean, we have
a target on our back, but that's basketball, and that's expected,
(14:25):
and the target on our back like makes us want
to play even more because we're expecting everyone's best game.
But at the end of the day, like that's gonna
make us better for the end.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Anyway, He's had a career high twenty two points against Mississippi.
What was that night like for you? And how have
you seen your game jump from freshman year now that
you're a sophomore.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
I would say my biggest jump from freshman to sophomore year. Actually,
I would say two biggest jumps my mindset and my mentality,
like turning to the next page right away. Like usually,
going into my game, like coming off the bench, I
would miss like a couple shots and then I would
be I don't want to shoot anymore because so and
(15:08):
so on and sof But this year, I've had to
turn the next page because that's what I need in
order to keep playing in general, And so that's what
would be my biggest one. And then also my defense,
because I was always told to I need to play defense,
but it was never I needed to play defense in
order to play like more minutes. So being able to
play defense also is a huge role.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
And then obviously this season. I mean there's been some
highs and lows. The forty three game winning streak everyone's
talking about, the overall winning streak was snapped with UCLA.
With the loss to UCLA. How does a team like
yours stay motivated? We know that it's still early, right,
it's only January. I still early, So how does this
(15:51):
team continue to stay motivated and ready?
Speaker 4 (15:55):
I think the loss it was sad to say that
the loss had to do it, but the loss like
changed our whole mindset, Like we kind of not necessarily
we're bragging and stuff, but we were We never really
thought about losing, So when we lost, we kind of
snapped back into reality and it was like we actually,
like we need to lock in, like what are we doing?
(16:15):
Kind of and you can either take an l and
go backwards with it or go forward with it. And
our team decided to take it and learn a lot
from it and just lock back in as a team
and regroup and then go from there.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
She walk into ruled out for the remainder of the season.
How do you see that impact in the team and
what a trustments will have to be made going forward.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
She was a big piece on our team, and she
had a presence, but not a lot of people realized
that she also has a presence like her energy. So
I mean, we're going to be supportive of her because
that's our teammate and we love her and we're going
to have her back. But we're gonna have to step
up on the court because she was such a big presence.
But she's also going to be a presence and that's
not going to change her presence and energy on the
(16:58):
bench because we still need that.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
One of the things that I absolutely love about this
South Carolina team is the togetherness and how you all
just support one another through the ups and downs, and
I think that that shows and the production to get
the depth of the team and just how you guys
are motivated to work together to win. Is there anyone
on the team that you're particularly close to and he
vets on the team that kind of mentor you and
(17:22):
take you under their wing.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
I think our team is like actually very close, and
like we clicked in a second and it was kind
of crazy, and it's really cool to be in the
kind of environment that I'm in. But I would say
to Hina pow Powe, she took me under her wing
because she went through, however, many years of college and
I was just a freshman last year, and I was
(17:46):
kind of not necessarily in the same position as her,
but I was like a shooter and she is a
shooter too, and I was adjusting my shot because I
needed to make it quicker for college and stuff, and
I was not as consistent as I'm used to. So
back when I was saying like it was hard for
me to turn the page, she just kind of walked
me through and talked me through all that, like as
(18:08):
well as my coaches, but she really just like was
patient with me and actually talked me through everything. And
then she would text me after games sometimes.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
And just help me out.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Okay, we're gonna pause right there, and when we get
back more from this conversation with national champion Tessa Johnson.
Wo men's basketball's have in such a major moment right now,
(18:40):
and obviously South Carolina the program has a huge part
in that shift of bringing more eyes and visibility to
the game of women's basketball. When you think about that,
and not just even yourself as a student athlete being
a part of that shift, how does that make you
feel and what would you like to see in the
future of women's basketball.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Well, it makes me I don't even have words to
express it, because I was once that young girl who
was looking up to like my sister and the women's
basketball in general. And the fact that now I can
be a part of the inspiration for younger girls in
the position that I was like that, that's amazing to me.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
We all know that basketball is very demanding, so I'm
curious on like your downtime because obviously, like while you're
in school, you're playing at the highest level, but then
also the demands of being excellent in your academics. How
do you unwind and what are your favorite things to
do outside of basketball.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Well, sometimes I go paint a paint with one of
my friends or my boyfriend, and that's really relaxing. I
used when I was younger, I used to paint and
just draw, and I was really.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Like, I really liked the art. But I kindly got
away from.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
That because I started focusing more on basketball, and then
I didn't really balance my time, I guess. But so
outside of basketball, if I'm not sleeping, because I'll be tired.
But if I'm not sleeping, I'll I'll read the Bible.
I'll spend time with God and then yeah, I'll usually
paint or just watch Netflix or something.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Listen. We actually have something in common because I grew
up drawing and painting. The high school I went to
was like an arts high school, so I was like
a visual arts major. So that's kind of my thing
to unwind to you. And all the sports we have
something in common, like I love drawing, painting, ceramics, all
of that cool stuff.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Yeah, it's actually very relaxing.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
It's very relaxing. Oh my goodness. Have you had a
chance to explore Columbia or is that still on your
to do list?
Speaker 2 (20:46):
That's still to do list?
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Yes, I know that's so much to do list because
I have like my sisters will come down or someone
in my family will come down.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
And visit me and they're like, where should we go
to eat? Or where should we go? Like what's there
to do in Columbia?
Speaker 4 (21:04):
And I'm like, I'm not gonna lie, I have no idea,
but I'm sure you will find something to do. But
I need to get out. I need to get out
there more because I just do. But I know that's definitely.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
On my to do list.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
We're known on a team to have such a big personality,
at least that's what I get from watching all the
team like social media clips and stuff like that. Where
do you pull that energy from?
Speaker 4 (21:28):
I would say A big part is my faith, like
my family. I grew up in a church and I'm
always trying to build my faith. And when I got
injured when in my sophomore year of high school, I
took that and rebuilt my relationship with God just made
it stronger, and I think that is a big part
of who I am today.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
And also my dad because he's talking.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
He's always talking to me about just life lessons that
I need to learn, and just my family because my
grandpa is always talking to me about my faith that
I was talking about. And I genuinely like to see
people happy. So if I can play any role in that,
I would I do it.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Working ahead, what are some of your personal goals and
what can we expect from this South Carolina team for
the rest of the season.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
Well, you can expect from the South Carolina team another
Natty because that is our goal. And a personal goal
for me is probably getting back to the leader that
I was like in high school.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
I was a big leader vocally and.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
I kind of got away from that, and I think
that that's probably my personal goal.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Why do you think you drew away from being more vocal.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
I think because not necessarily that I was a freshman,
but I just didn't I didn't know what to expect
exactly when I got here, so I didn't really know
what to say, and I was making all these mistakes
and I was thinking of just my mistakes and stuff,
so kind of not knowing exactly and being fully comfortable
with where I was, but growing up and going further,
(23:06):
I think I can be a leader.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Have you learned to use your voice even with the
freshman now on this South Carolina team?
Speaker 4 (23:13):
Oh yeah, I talked to them because I mean I
went through that my freshman year, and I'll be in
their ear when I think they need it, and I
go off of like personnel kind of, so like whatever
I think they need, I'll try and help them.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Well, Tessa, I appreciate you for joining us this week
on in case you missed it with Christina Williams, best
of luck the rest of the season with the South
Carolina game Cocks. And you guys heard it here first.
She said they're gonna win a Natty this year. We're
gonna be tuned in to the game Cox all season long.
Thank you so much, thank you. Shout out again to
(23:50):
Tessa Johnson for coming through to the show this week.
And that's going to conclude this week's episode. And don't
forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. Coming
up next week, WNBA free agency negotiations start and you
know that I have got you covered for all things
free agency, So make sure you follow us on social
(24:13):
media at icymi with kW and follow me on x
at Christina for all of the latest in the WNBA
in women's basketball. We'll see you back here next week
in case you missed it. With Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
(24:34):
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 edition of In Case You
missed It with Christina Williams, and we're going to get
into some headlines in and around women's basketball BNIK news
(00:25):
for the New York Liberty. This week, the team has
hired Sonya Rahman as an assistant coach. Raman joins the
Liberty after four seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies as an
assistant in twelve years leading the MIT women's basketball program.
Here's what the Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins had to
say about the Liberty's latest hire.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I know she's bringing so much to the Liberty.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I mean her passion for player development, x's and o's analytics,
the way she studied the game, you know, back in
her college days. You know, MIT is having so much success.
They're bringing success with us in the last couple of
years with the Grizzlies.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
I'm fired up for her.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I know she's gonna mesh really well with the players
coaching staff there.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
I know she's fired up.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Obviously, they're going to be getting their season up and
rolling in the next couple of months there. I think
she's still been in Memphis, you know, and joining her
time there, all the relationships she's still got, you know,
with our group, but I know she's fired for the.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Soon opportunity of the w.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Speaking of the Liberty's coaching staff, Ernika Hodges is heading
to the Connecticut Son where she'll also be serving as
an assistant coach and to round out the coaching staff news,
the Dallas Wings are bringing in former WNBA champion Camille Little,
who played thirteen seasons in the league, along with veteran
assistant Nola Henry, who's also serving as a head coach
(01:42):
for unrival this season. Bill join head coach Chris cochlanis
our very own friend to the show. Now, let's dive
into some WNBA free agency news. As you guys know,
free agency takes place this month, and this week was
the final week for teams to make qualifying offers to
(02:02):
players or designate core players. First up, the New York
Liberty are extending a core qualifying offer to three times
WNBA champion Briandon Stewart. She is a break name free
agent in the offseason so I think that this is
a good sign for the Liberty, who are the defending
champions and looking to run it back next season. Now
(02:23):
let's shift over to Dallas. The Dallas Wings have also
extended a core qualifying offer to unrestricted free agent Sattoo Saboli.
But before we get into that, I want to explain
to y'all what a core offer is. A core offer
is basically a fully guaranteed one year contract that usually
offers the player the SuperMac salary that locks in the
player with their current team. So it's a way for
(02:45):
teams to be able to secure their top talent and
retain the right to match any offers from any other teams.
Now remember that piece as we get into the sabole
kind of discourse. In Dallas. Last week, during a media
session for Unrivaled Basketball, Sabi made it clear that she
has played her final game in Dallas. Here's what she
(03:08):
had to say.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
I've already communicated with Dallas how grateful I am because
They've made this a home for me for the past years,
and I'm working with them together and finding a next
home for me because I will like I've already played
my last game in Dallas, and I'm just excited. I'm
excited for free agency. I'm able to talk to a
lot of players outside the league because I have not
(03:35):
played on a different team yet, and I'm excited to
get to know them more on a personable level, but
also knowing how how they approach the game. And I
just love having basketball conversations and high level i Q
conversations about the game to know where I will fit
best in the future.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
With Dallas core designating Saboli, it's clear the Wings are
ready to make sure they get value for her in
free agency, likely through a sign and trade deal. Now
let's move west to Las Vegas. The Aces have extended
a core qualifying offer to two time champion Kelsey Plum
as one of the top free agents this offseason. All
eyes will be on whether Plump stays in Vegas or
(04:15):
heads elsewhere in twenty twenty five. And finally with the
headlines this week, a Texas man has been arrested in
charge with stalking after allegedly sending WNBA star Caitlin Clark
threatening and explicit messages on social media. Fifty five year
old Michael Lewis was arrested in Indianapolis after investigators trace
(04:37):
the messages to a hotel. Clark, who doesn't know Lewis,
said she's been fearful for her safety and change her
routine because of the threats. Lewis faces felony charges, which
could mean up to six years in prison. All right, y'all,
that's going to conclude the headlines for this week. I
also want to shout out the Unrivaled League, which kicks
off on Friday. Make sure you guys head down to
(04:59):
Miami me attend some games during the season, or watch
on T and T Sports. All right, we're gonna take
a quick little break, and when we get back, a
very special guest joins the show. Stay with us. Welcome
(05:29):
back to in case you missed it with Christina Williams
here on the iHeartRadio app. And I'm super excited for
our guest this week. She led the South Carolina and
Gangcox to a national championship in her freshman year, and
her ceiling to where she's going to go in women's basketball,
it's just so high. I'm super excited about this one, y'all.
(05:50):
Please welcome to the show, Tessa Johnson. Tessa, thank you
so much for being here. Thank you so I want
to dive right into the conversation. So I found out
that you were from Minnesota, So I want to know
how does someone from the land of ice and snow
get hooked on basketball? Like, what is your basketball origin story?
Speaker 4 (06:13):
Well, yes, I'm from Minnesota, and the reason I grew
up playing basketball my dad taught me everything I knew
about basketball.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
But I also have an older sister.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
I have two older sisters, but one of them played
for Iowa State and she was a big.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Role model of mine.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
And I'm competitive, so that made me want to keep
playing basketball. And I was like, and she was really good,
at least in my eyes, she was really good, and
so I was like, Okay, I don't want to be
known as Ray's little sister. I want to like make
my own name for myself. And so growing up, I
always just not compared myself to her in a bad way,
but challenged myself in a way to be better than
(06:48):
her and be better than myself.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Yeah, how did watching your sister Ray and that experience
help to shape your journey in basketball? Seeing her play
in Iowa State, but just growing up in that competitive household.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
I think it helped me to be where I am
today and to be able to play at the level
I am playing at right now, and being away from
my family also because I'm very family oriented, so I
grew up very close to my family and being so
far away was kind of scary. But the fact that
in South Carolina, like my coaching staff and my teammates,
they feel like a home away from home, Like people
(07:22):
say that and that's actually true. And going off of
her experience, she told me, like, I need a value
relationships a lot, like picking a college and just being
there because at the end of the day, you're a person,
even whether that's basketball or not, Like you need to
have relationships outside of basketball. And I've got blessed to
have the relationships I do with my teammates and coaches
(07:44):
as well as the people just in South Carolina.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Made that lead from high school to one of the
most dominant programs in women's a basketball. What was that
factor about South Carolina that was like, Okay, I'm definitely
committing here.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
Well other than the fact that they win, like I'm competitive,
so I want to win, Like I talked about the
relationships like Coach Daly, Well, the first time I was
on the phone with her.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
It felt like I knew her for my whole life.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
So the fact that I felt like I could trust
her with myself and with my future, that was really
like the it factor for.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Me playing for Coach Day. I mean, you said it yourself,
she's one of the best college coaches. How did playing
for her compare to being with your high school coach?
Because you had a really decent, I'm being humble, really
decent high school experience. You led your team to the
state championship. What was that difference that you saw?
Speaker 4 (08:36):
The really big difference is the fact I was playing
for a female coach. I've never played for a female
coach my whole basketball career. But I got lucky enough
where my AAU coaches when I played for North Tartan
or my high school coaches when I played.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
For Coach Hamry and Stma.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
I value relationships a lot, So I got very lucky
and blessed at the fact that I had good relationships
with all my coaches, Like I can get yelled at,
but I know that it's out of tough love and
they're trying to make me better.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
And then Coach Staley, oh.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
My wert, I can talk so much about her, but
just the fact she does not see you as just
a basketball player out there, Like she's always trying to
build you for your future, whether that's in basketball or not.
Like she'll ask us our personal goals and our basketball goals,
and then she'll push us to whatever our goals are,
and she sees potential in us, and she'll never ever
(09:25):
let us settle.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I love how you talk about how she's prepared you
for those big mooments. And then obviously, last season South
Carolina went undefeated. You helped lead the team to a
national championship title your freshman year, being a key piece
off the bench in that national title game, how did
you prepare for that moment?
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Preparing for the moment was, well, a lot of the
game is mental. So there was practices where I would
be missing and turning it over and they were like
hard practices, but I knew that I was going to
be in a position like that, and the fact that
I had to over come them in practice helped me
prepare for the games. And then I always had someone
(10:04):
in my ear, whether that was my teammates or my coaches.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
They were always.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Telling me, like you need to keep going, like turn
the page because I've always been hard on myself. It's
hard for me to turn the page so quickly, but
just growing and maturing and mainly in practice and having
to practice against my teammates, and you know they're good,
so having to practice against them makes me better every
day and that helps me prepare for games and moments
like that.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
And it must have been surreal right to be playing
in such a big arena, a big moment, Caitlin Clark
getting a lot of attention, but also you guys proved
that you were worth the attention as well. Did you
have any pinch me moments during that process leading up
to the journey of finally winning a championship.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
When we came into the final four, Jim and I
really like just took a breath, and because everything kind
of happened so fast, Like people say that your four
years go by fast, and I'm like no, like I'm
still fresh and this is not going by fast at all.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
But when when I was there, I.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Was just like, wow, like these are actually our last
two games. No matter if we would or not, these
are last two games. But then like I just took
a breath.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Then I looked.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
Around and I was like, wow, I cannot believe we're
in the final four, Like forget the undefeated season, Like
I can't believe we're in the final four. Like I've
always dreamed of this as a little kid, and I've
just like I watched South Carolina in the Final four
when I was still in high school and I was
just like, wow, I want to be there.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
And then the fact that I was there, it was
really cool in inspiring.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Speaking of surreal moments, I mean, the reactions online was
just insane. I saw that Lebron James shouted you out
in a post on X What was that like for
you to have like one of the greatest players of
this generation shout you out? Day Tessa Johnson is hooping
right now.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
I had to keep I had to keep looking back,
like I refreshed it and I kept looking back. I
was like, I was like wow, because again, growing up,
like me and my brother, my younger brother, we would
watch him play. We would watch a bunch of NBA
or WNBA players and just little bits and pieces of
their game. And the fact that he was able to
see me play, like that's really cool.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
So can you just dive more into what that experience
was like In the championship game at such a heightened
moment in women's basketball, so many eyes on you. What
was that feeling when you stepped on the court and
you knew what the goal was.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Well, actually, after I watched the national championship game, I
was confused, and I think I was watching film, and
I think my dad was next to me, and I
turned to him and I was like, when I went in.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
We were down, like we were down by ten or so,
Like in the moment of the game, I wasn't really
thinking about anything besides like we need to win, Like
I'm gonna do everything I can to win, whether that's defense, offense,
getting a rebound, which I'm working on this year also,
but whatever that, whatever I had to do, I'm gonna
try and win for my for my team. And but
(12:59):
after and being on the court, like I was like
like the time went off and I was just like
I had no words, and I just hugged Pal and
I was hugging everyone and we were all in shock.
And then in the locker room after the game, we
were all like this is not real, Like we just
won a national championship.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
And it was the feeling you cannot get, like you can.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
I can't even express the feeling because you can only
get it after winning other championship.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
But the feeling was so good that we're planning on
doing it again.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
South Carolina right now is on the repeat tour and
you guys are off to a great start so far.
Do you feel like it's harder to try to repeat
in winning a championship or getting your first one? Was
the hardest thing to.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Do last year, Before the season even started, everything was
so unexpected, kind of like you didn't know what to
expect with the team that we had because we had
new transfers and just new people and the people that
were here last year, like we had a new starting
five and stuff, so we didn't really know what to expect.
And then after our first game where we were like, wow,
we could actually be pretty good, and then we just
(14:05):
built from there. But Coach Staley is always talking about
our standard, whether like, no matter the opponent we're playing,
we have a standard for ourselves and we need to
play up to that standard, and then eventually when we
get there, we'll make a new standard. So I don't
think it's like harder this year. I mean, we have
a target on our back, but that's basketball, and that's expected,
(14:25):
and the target on our back like makes us want
to play even more because we're expecting everyone's best game.
But at the end of the day, like that's gonna
make us better for the end.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Anyway, He's had a career high twenty two points against Mississippi.
What was that night like for you? And how have
you seen your game jump from freshman year now that
you're a sophomore.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
I would say my biggest jump from freshman to sophomore year. Actually,
I would say two biggest jumps my mindset and my mentality,
like turning to the next page right away. Like usually,
going into my game, like coming off the bench, I
would miss like a couple shots and then I would
be I don't want to shoot anymore because so and
(15:08):
so on and sof But this year, I've had to
turn the next page because that's what I need in
order to keep playing in general, And so that's what
would be my biggest one. And then also my defense,
because I was always told to I need to play defense,
but it was never I needed to play defense in
order to play like more minutes. So being able to
play defense also is a huge role.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
And then obviously this season. I mean there's been some
highs and lows. The forty three game winning streak everyone's
talking about, the overall winning streak was snapped with UCLA.
With the loss to UCLA. How does a team like
yours stay motivated? We know that it's still early, right,
it's only January. I still early, So how does this
(15:51):
team continue to stay motivated and ready?
Speaker 4 (15:55):
I think the loss it was sad to say that
the loss had to do it, but the loss like
changed our whole mindset, Like we kind of not necessarily
we're bragging and stuff, but we were We never really
thought about losing, So when we lost, we kind of
snapped back into reality and it was like we actually,
like we need to lock in, like what are we doing?
(16:15):
Kind of and you can either take an l and
go backwards with it or go forward with it. And
our team decided to take it and learn a lot
from it and just lock back in as a team
and regroup and then go from there.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
She walk into ruled out for the remainder of the season.
How do you see that impact in the team and
what a trustments will have to be made going forward.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
She was a big piece on our team, and she
had a presence, but not a lot of people realized
that she also has a presence like her energy. So
I mean, we're going to be supportive of her because
that's our teammate and we love her and we're going
to have her back. But we're gonna have to step
up on the court because she was such a big presence.
But she's also going to be a presence and that's
not going to change her presence and energy on the
(16:58):
bench because we still need that.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
One of the things that I absolutely love about this
South Carolina team is the togetherness and how you all
just support one another through the ups and downs, and
I think that that shows and the production to get
the depth of the team and just how you guys
are motivated to work together to win. Is there anyone
on the team that you're particularly close to and he
vets on the team that kind of mentor you and
(17:22):
take you under their wing.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
I think our team is like actually very close, and
like we clicked in a second and it was kind
of crazy, and it's really cool to be in the
kind of environment that I'm in. But I would say
to Hina pow Powe, she took me under her wing
because she went through, however, many years of college and
I was just a freshman last year, and I was
(17:46):
kind of not necessarily in the same position as her,
but I was like a shooter and she is a
shooter too, and I was adjusting my shot because I
needed to make it quicker for college and stuff, and
I was not as consistent as I'm used to. So
back when I was saying like it was hard for
me to turn the page, she just kind of walked
me through and talked me through all that, like as
(18:08):
well as my coaches, but she really just like was
patient with me and actually talked me through everything. And
then she would text me after games sometimes.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
And just help me out.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Okay, we're gonna pause right there, and when we get
back more from this conversation with national champion Tessa Johnson.
Wo men's basketball's have in such a major moment right now,
(18:40):
and obviously South Carolina the program has a huge part
in that shift of bringing more eyes and visibility to
the game of women's basketball. When you think about that,
and not just even yourself as a student athlete being
a part of that shift, how does that make you
feel and what would you like to see in the
future of women's basketball.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Well, it makes me I don't even have words to
express it, because I was once that young girl who
was looking up to like my sister and the women's
basketball in general. And the fact that now I can
be a part of the inspiration for younger girls in
the position that I was like that, that's amazing to me.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
We all know that basketball is very demanding, so I'm
curious on like your downtime because obviously, like while you're
in school, you're playing at the highest level, but then
also the demands of being excellent in your academics. How
do you unwind and what are your favorite things to
do outside of basketball.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Well, sometimes I go paint a paint with one of
my friends or my boyfriend, and that's really relaxing. I
used when I was younger, I used to paint and
just draw, and I was really.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Like, I really liked the art. But I kindly got
away from.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
That because I started focusing more on basketball, and then
I didn't really balance my time, I guess. But so
outside of basketball, if I'm not sleeping, because I'll be tired.
But if I'm not sleeping, I'll I'll read the Bible.
I'll spend time with God and then yeah, I'll usually
paint or just watch Netflix or something.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Listen. We actually have something in common because I grew
up drawing and painting. The high school I went to
was like an arts high school, so I was like
a visual arts major. So that's kind of my thing
to unwind to you. And all the sports we have
something in common, like I love drawing, painting, ceramics, all
of that cool stuff.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Yeah, it's actually very relaxing.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
It's very relaxing. Oh my goodness. Have you had a
chance to explore Columbia or is that still on your
to do list?
Speaker 2 (20:46):
That's still to do list?
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Yes, I know that's so much to do list because
I have like my sisters will come down or someone
in my family will come down.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
And visit me and they're like, where should we go
to eat? Or where should we go? Like what's there
to do in Columbia?
Speaker 4 (21:04):
And I'm like, I'm not gonna lie, I have no idea,
but I'm sure you will find something to do. But
I need to get out. I need to get out
there more because I just do. But I know that's definitely.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
On my to do list.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
We're known on a team to have such a big personality,
at least that's what I get from watching all the
team like social media clips and stuff like that. Where
do you pull that energy from?
Speaker 4 (21:28):
I would say A big part is my faith, like
my family. I grew up in a church and I'm
always trying to build my faith. And when I got
injured when in my sophomore year of high school, I
took that and rebuilt my relationship with God just made
it stronger, and I think that is a big part
of who I am today.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
And also my dad because he's talking.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
He's always talking to me about just life lessons that
I need to learn, and just my family because my
grandpa is always talking to me about my faith that
I was talking about. And I genuinely like to see
people happy. So if I can play any role in that,
I would I do it.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Working ahead, what are some of your personal goals and
what can we expect from this South Carolina team for
the rest of the season.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
Well, you can expect from the South Carolina team another
Natty because that is our goal. And a personal goal
for me is probably getting back to the leader that
I was like in high school.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
I was a big leader vocally and.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
I kind of got away from that, and I think
that that's probably my personal goal.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Why do you think you drew away from being more vocal.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
I think because not necessarily that I was a freshman,
but I just didn't I didn't know what to expect
exactly when I got here, so I didn't really know
what to say, and I was making all these mistakes
and I was thinking of just my mistakes and stuff,
so kind of not knowing exactly and being fully comfortable
with where I was, but growing up and going further,
(23:06):
I think I can be a leader.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Have you learned to use your voice even with the
freshman now on this South Carolina team?
Speaker 4 (23:13):
Oh yeah, I talked to them because I mean I
went through that my freshman year, and I'll be in
their ear when I think they need it, and I
go off of like personnel kind of, so like whatever
I think they need, I'll try and help them.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Well, Tessa, I appreciate you for joining us this week
on in case you missed it with Christina Williams, best
of luck the rest of the season with the South
Carolina game Cocks. And you guys heard it here first.
She said they're gonna win a Natty this year. We're
gonna be tuned in to the game Cox all season long.
Thank you so much, thank you. Shout out again to
(23:50):
Tessa Johnson for coming through to the show this week.
And that's going to conclude this week's episode. And don't
forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. Coming
up next week, WNBA free agency negotiations start and you
know that I have got you covered for all things
free agency, So make sure you follow us on social
(24:13):
media at icymi with kW and follow me on x
at Christina for all of the latest in the WNBA
in women's basketball. We'll see you back here next week
in case you missed it. With Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
(24:34):
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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