Women’s Basketball Roundup

Khristina is joined by NY Post Sports anchor Dexter Henry and Winsidr journalist Myles Ehrlich plus Angel Reese, Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Allisha Gray to discuss All-Star weekend, the Olympics, and this season’s predictions. 

 

Want more women’s basketball scoop? 

Follow the show on Instagram @ICYMIwithKW and X @ICYMIwithKW and for more on Khristina follow her on Instagram @khristinawilliams

 

 

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CREDITS

 

Executive Producers:

Nikki Ettore

Jessie Katz

Tyler Klang

Jonathan Strickland

Producer & Editor:

Tari Harrison

 

Sound Engineers: 

Baheed Frazier

Nick Shoots

Host:

Khristina Williams

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

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 In Case You missed It with
Christina Williams. I really cannot believe that this is my
first episode here on the iHeartRadio app. I'm super excited

(00:24):
for today. I have two special guests joining the show,
two people who are very special to me in the
women's basketball space. But we're gonna be talking about a
lot of great things. First, we're gonna recap the WNBA
All Star Weekend. Then we're gonna chat about the Olympics
Team USA heading to Paris for their eighth Street Gold Medal,

(00:46):
looking to make history. And then we're gonna take a
look at the first half of the WNBA season and
look at what's ahead for the second half of the
season and later. Here from Brittany Grinder, Diana Tarrazzi, and
more WNBA All Stars I caught up with recently while
in Phoenix. Here to help me with today's headlines are

(01:07):
Miles Erlik, women's basketball writer at Windsider and the host
of Pull Up with Miles and Owen and my homie Dexter,
Henry New York Post Sports anchor.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Thank you for being.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
Here, guys, thanks for having us.

Speaker 4 (01:21):
This is awesome. Yeah, so excited to be part of
your first episode.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
I thought it was so fitting to invite the both
of you to join me here on in case you
missed it with Christina Williams, because we've been doing this
together for a while now, so no other duo I
would want to be.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
On this show with me today.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
So let's dive into the headlines. So, Miles, obviously we
just got back from Phoenix at WNBA All Star was
an action packed weekend. What was your favorite part about
being in Phoenix.

Speaker 3 (01:54):
I always say that All Star is my favorite time
of the WNBA calendar because there's just so much happening. Yes,
but there's the fan engagement, there's the player engagement, there's
the media networking, like all of it just comes to
one part. And seeing the growth I think from twenty
twenty two when they introduced WNBA Live to how it's

(02:16):
really expanded and expanded, and it feels like this little
women's basketball utopia where all of a sudden you're in
a convention hall where everybody's wearing jerseys from every team
or there are pop up shops and you can get
merch frommember. We couldn't get merged forever. There are all
these activations and seeing the investment from these brands, that's

(02:37):
where I always take a step back and just say
I need to embrace this because this was not always here.
But also in the spirit of just my own personal experiences.
This weekend, I have to shout you out because you
co host an event I did, and it was honoring
Cheryl Swoops, who is the legend, but I think even

(03:00):
outside of that, it was with change makers, and it
was just a reminder of what I know that you
do for me all the time and literally are doing
right now, is that you are always looking to connect people,
to put people onto new opportunities, and that was the
perfect way. That was the first event I went to
all weekend, and I think it was the perfect way
to really embrace just everything that we've done because I

(03:26):
felt inspired by hearing the conversations that you facilitated and
all of the people that you brought together. So that
from a media perspective is really what my highlight was.
But yeah, it's just all of it is awesome.

Speaker 2 (03:39):
Do not make me crime in the first episode of
my show, I Try.

Speaker 4 (03:44):
No.

Speaker 1 (03:44):
But to your point, one of my favorite things about
the week obviously was getting everyone together and to celebrate
because I feel like all of the people in the room,
they do such amazing work in women's sports and specifically
women's basketball, but sometimes they're overlooked or not recognized, and
so for me, I know how that felt coming up,
and I just wanted to, you know, just show love
to everyone. And then also, of course Ryl Swoops, who

(04:07):
is a legend in the game and everything that she's
been through these last few months. I feel like, you know,
we need to give people their flowers while they're still here,
while they can still smell them. But also one thing
that really like wowed me being in Phoenix was seeing
fans wrapped around the lines to get into that convention
center at eight am when it opened.

Speaker 2 (04:27):
At like eleven.

Speaker 1 (04:29):
I was like, Wow, these fans are dedicated, standing in
one hundred degree weather early in the morning, wrap them
around lines just to get in, to see a glimpse
of the activations and just to be.

Speaker 2 (04:39):
A part of it.

Speaker 1 (04:40):
So that says a lot to where the women's game
is right now. But Dex I'm gonna throw it to you.
Obviously you were not in Phoenix, Yeah.

Speaker 4 (04:48):
That couldn't make it. Was in Vegas and had to
come back here, so yeah, couldn't make it.

Speaker 1 (04:50):
Yeah, but what was some of your favorite moments? I
guess that you've watched.

Speaker 4 (04:55):
For me, it's great to hear Miles talk about how
he's watched cover multiple All Star Games. The energy shift,
and I feel like it was something you could also
see on TV. Not the same as obviously being there,
but you could see it the energy and the crowd,
the excitement for the game, the where it is now
when you look at Friday Night, the skills competition, a
three point shootout, it was just seeing the excitement for it.

(05:16):
It made me think about, Okay, what's to come because
we didn't get sad we didn't get Caitlin in a
three point shootout this year, but you still get a
great performance.

Speaker 5 (05:24):
Right.

Speaker 4 (05:25):
Everything was entertaining, the fans are really into it and
in the game. I mean, I think that for me,
there's been so much conversation about All Star Games guys,
and I am somebody who generally thinks in men's sports,
it's time for us to just get rid of it.
It doesn't really matter in any sports anymore. But I
think in the league like the w that's growing, that

(05:47):
is developing its relationship with players and fans, it still
really matters. And these women clearly care about it, and
you can understand why. So I think that was it
for me if I would say my favorite home was
just watching how much people cared about it, the format,
team USA versus WNBA All Stars, seeing the rookies, and
we'll get into this, I know, I'm sure with Caitlin

(06:07):
and Angel and just seeing how it mattered to those
women to just be there, I get it a sense
of and I'm sure you guys could talk about it
more having been there and covered it. Just there's a
sense of appreciation, gratitude for where the game has come,
where it is going, and I sensed that even in
the media coverage watching from Afar, So that was kind
of the highlight for me, is just taking in that

(06:28):
gratitude and somebody who covers the sport too, just I
appreciate where the game's going. I just appreciate it so.

Speaker 1 (06:33):
Much, absolutely, and sometimes I just have to remind myself,
as Mel said, that we get to.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
Do this like we are in the middle of history.

Speaker 1 (06:40):
Just so many different touch points throughout the weekend that
just reminds you that we're doing the work. Let's get
into some of these topics you brought up. Three Point
Competition and Skills Challenge debts their well. Ali Sha Gray
became the first WNBA player to sweep both of those
competitions in the same year. She's only the third player
to win both overall. She joins Becky Hammond and Saprinio Nescue.

(07:01):
And that's such an elite group to join into a
three point contests that came down between Alisha Gray. She
had twenty two points in New York Liberty's John cwelt
Jones and I thought JJ was gonna hit that shot.

Speaker 2 (07:13):
I was on the edge of my seat. But let's
talk about Alisha Gray.

Speaker 1 (07:19):
She went home with over one hundred and ten thousand
dollars courtesy of a flack and the WNBA, who paid
her out over five thousand dollars as well. She made
a little bit under her current salary. But I feel
like Alisha's just coming into her own since being traded
to Atlanta last year. Were starting to see her become
that two way player that no one can't f it

(07:42):
like she is the real deal. And I had a
chance to speak to her actually before the competition earlier day,
and I was like, you just so humble. I'm like
a quiet assassin, almost like Jackie Young in a way,
but she just lets her production on the court speak
for herself, and I love that about her. Can you
talk about just the success that you've been seeing in
your personal game and the success you've been seeing to

(08:04):
be named a two time All Star?

Speaker 5 (08:06):
For me, first, I think just just my consistency helps
me elevate my game each year. Each year, my numbers
growing different areas. So I mean, I just continue to
work on my overall part of my game. I don't
want to have any slacks, so just continue like being consistent.

Speaker 1 (08:23):
I love how humble of you're being right now, as
if I don't know you, like you're one of the
best two way players that this league has, but I
love that you're being humble about it. Just to wrap
this thing up, I mean, obviously the Atlanta Dream new look,
new pieces going in. What's so special about this team
and how would you assess this first half of the
season and what can we expect going into the second half.

Speaker 5 (08:45):
I feel like people haven't really seen like the true
Atlanta Dream teams. I mean, we've been dealing with a
lot of injuries, so I think once Olympic breaks over
and everybody's healthy, then you can actually see like the
real Atlanta Dream Team or what we're capable of doing.
That's what I'm most excited about.

Speaker 1 (09:02):
What were your overall thoughts about the competition in Gray
walking home with the trophy for both competitions.

Speaker 3 (09:08):
Yeah, well, first to speak to just her temperament and
everyone was just playing with her for her Southern accent
all weekend too. But looking at how close she is
with Asia Wilson, and you bring the comp to Jackie
and it's the same kind of thing where they have
that dynamic because Asia is so outgoing and loud and

(09:28):
just always talking up. And then she also makes players
that are people that might be quiet or feel comfortable,
and that might say just as much about Asia too.
But like you said, she really has flourished as Unfortunately
we've seen a lot of people leave Dallas. This is
sometimes what happens, but she has flourished in Atlanta and
she is an all star in this league. She's one

(09:50):
of the best two way players, So it's the fact
that she's constantly putting in that work. That's my favorite
type of basketball to watch is that guard that could
do you up all the way up the court, then
pull down a rebound, then go the other way, be
a slasher, get into the paint, pick anybody up. And
Alisha has been phenomenal And I'm just hoping that when

(10:12):
we get back from this break. There's so many players
that I want to see healthy and right. But seeing
Ryan come back right before the All Star break and
go to she'll be going to the three on three
tournament Atlanta, I think can make a push to get
back into that playoff positioning because before Ryan went down,
they were around five hundred and that's where they stumbled

(10:32):
a bit. But her and Alisha together are really good,
complimentary pairing.

Speaker 4 (10:37):
I think, Yeah, I love her game and the growth
of it. And you know, it's funny, I'd forgott until
you had said it months forgot about her playing an
AU right, and it's a testament time which she's worked
on a game. But she's so business like. There's never
like a super high or super low with her. There's
this humbleness, but also gratitude right that I think she
has for the game, and you see how her game

(10:58):
is developed in I'm with Miles on this that I
think her and Ryan in Atlanta could make a push,
especially with the trade that Chicago just made. I don't
know how competitive they'll be with Marina Maybury now going
to Connecticut, so it's going to be very interesting to
see if they can push and play better in that
second half. But no, I loved it for her. I
love seeing that kind of player win the competition.

Speaker 3 (11:19):
We did find out that the goggles are just cosmetic, Yes,
that we did find out.

Speaker 1 (11:23):
I didn't, but I think she put the whole league
on notice, like, yeah, some skills I can shoot, I
can do it all.

Speaker 2 (11:29):
I'm here.

Speaker 1 (11:30):
And then you brought something up interesting earlier where it
was a little bit controversial about sobrinian Ascu not defending
that three point competition title at WNBA All Star Weekend
and even Caitlyn Clark, one of the best shooters coming
out of college, not participating. I thought that it would
have made for a great event if Sabrina versus Caitlin happened,

(11:52):
especially when we talk about the momentum and growth of
women's basketball. But I do get that Sabrina is a
part of Team USA and they are preparing for the Olympics,
and she may have wanted to get a little bit
of rest in between participating in the All Star Game.

Speaker 4 (12:10):
Caitlyn talked about it, and she made a good point
about if you haven't I think people don't think about
this sometimes if you have not done a three point
contest where you're getting balls off the rack and then shooting,
that is not the same as shooting off the dribble,
off the bounce. It's not the same thing, so it
is a different thing if you ever practiced it. I
think Caitlyn will practice it. I think it's very likely
these women do it next year. I think they know

(12:30):
I keep talking about this with the ladies. They understand
what's good for the game, and I think it'll be
there and it'll be opportunities for them to do it
next year. But yeah, I think seeing those two ladies
against each other will be amazing. I think it'll happen.
Disappointing this year, I understand why people are disappointed, but
I also understand why said was like, look I got arrest,
or why Caitlyn's like this is something I need to
practice and eventually get comfortable doing it.

Speaker 3 (12:52):
I agree with both of you because I was initially
a little disappointed, but then these athletes have legitimate reasons.
Whether it's Caitlyn who has played NonStop basketball. There is
no rest between college and the pros, and the Indiana
had no favors given to them with that schedule early on.
So if you don't have time to practice with the
RAQ all of it, and if you want to just

(13:13):
make sure that next year you get into get into
a schedule and like really get your full form together.
And for Sab she's a first time Olympian, so she
is always about keeping her primary focus on whatever's directly
in front of her, and I think that that's what
makes her so competitive, so resilient, is that she can

(13:34):
compartmentalize like that and say, this is what I'm working on,
this is what I got to look at, And for her,
that's the Olympics and that's going for eight straight goals
and you can't falter that.

Speaker 2 (13:45):
I agree well.

Speaker 1 (13:47):
Teams WNBA eighteen USA one hundred and seventeen to one
hundred and nine. Arika Kumbalale had thirty four points twenty
one of those points came in that third quarter she
went off and it was almost a dashavvou moment. I
think I tweeted that and felt like deja voo of
Ari Kate going home with that MVP award because back

(14:08):
in twenty twenty one when it was Team WNBA versus
Team USA Team.

Speaker 2 (14:13):
WNBA one and she was that MVP.

Speaker 1 (14:16):
Had a chance to speak to Kelsey Mitchell and Angel
Reese a little bit before the game on Saturday, and
she said that they walked into practice thinking it would
be fun.

Speaker 2 (14:28):
Oh, this is just an entertaining game.

Speaker 1 (14:30):
We're gonna come and have fun and blah blah blah blah,
and they said no. Cheryl Miller was like, We're gonna
practice hard today, like do you want to win? We
have to beat them, And she just drilled them from
the moment that they went into practice that day and
they were like, Okay, we gotta flip the switch.

Speaker 2 (14:47):
Like I love that.

Speaker 1 (14:47):
Cheryl Miller kind of amped them up to take it serious.
Even postgame, Ari k spoke about how Cheryl in the
locker room looked at her stats, is that you have
zero points in the first half, where do you to do?
And just fired her up to have her best performance
on the court, and so I think it was amazing
that Team w AA beat Team USA. I think it

(15:11):
goes to show you just how great these players and
athletes are in the league that you can have a
high competition in an All Star game. I think that
both teams could equally be an Olympic team. I know
that some people are like, oh, Team WNBA loss, so
that means that someone will know a Rik should be
on this team and there should be concerns about Team USA.

(15:34):
And I don't think that there should be any worries
for concerns about Team USA.

Speaker 4 (15:40):
The way I look at it like this, right is
a Rique is probably as talented as a guard as
Team USA is going to face in the Olympics. And
in fact, the Team WNA might be as talented as
a team as right would we all agree with that
they're more talented than any So I'm not worried about
Team WNBA. If you look at the game, I thought

(16:01):
they defended fine in the first half. Is just they
went hot. Team WNBA got hot in the second half,
particularly a Rique, which you have eight three pointers in
the game. So yeah, concerns like nah, I didn't come
out of that and said, Man, I'm concerned about Team USA.
They'll be fine. They'll be fine. If anything, I was like,
I'm glad they played some competition like that because they
only have what one game before actual competition. This is

(16:24):
good for them to face that level of competition. To
your point, Christina, it shows how talented the women are
in this league, the depth of talent that's only going
to grow even more in the coming years. It just
shows the level of talent. It was a fun All
Star game. Man, I seen Arique Cook like that in
the second half. Like, think about this, she had the
most points ever in an All Star game and they
all came the second and a half. That's crazy, Like

(16:46):
that is a crazy performance. So I loved it. I
thought it was dope, and I think most fans enjoyed it.
I know you guys did being there covering it.

Speaker 3 (16:54):
Yeah, this was different than All Star games that I've
been to before because the intensity from opening tip was
there in a way that it normally isn't for any
sport that you're watching. And yeah, the defense was not
the defense you're going to get in a playoff game, right,
there was there was very little help defense if you
blew by your initial defender. But you could tell that

(17:14):
these players wanted it. The fact, I don't know the
last time we saw a W game without a W
All Star game without a dunk in it, right, because
there was there were no open lanes.

Speaker 1 (17:22):
And I had asked, will we see a dunk for
you and she was I'll try to get one up,
but you didn't see that because they were so focused
on trying to win. And yeah, she said this game
was in preparation for the Paris Olympics, and that's what
Team USA walked in there with that mentality. We're just
preparing and using this game as a test for the Olympics.

Speaker 2 (17:40):
But I mean other players.

Speaker 1 (17:42):
Angel rees had a double double, the first rookie in
WNBA history to have a double double. And I just
want to say to everyone who how did Angel Reefs?
Look at what she's doing right now? How can you
not appreciate what she's doing. Obviously there is room for improvement,
but man, as a rookie, she's doing her thing.

Speaker 3 (18:01):
For her to be right there with Asia for the
rebounding not just top rebounder in the league, but for
the rebounding record all time. WNBA at the All Star
break in a year with such a condensed schedule and
just yeah, with the expectations with a new coach, a

(18:21):
new system, a whole bunch of new players in there
in Chicago and building a culture. But simultaneously they've dealt
with some injuries to the front court too. But Angel
did not have She did not have an on ramp.
She was just thrown right into the fire. And to
see her excel just been tremendous to see.

Speaker 4 (18:39):
Yeah, it's you know, coming out of LSU, you knew
she was, especially on the offensive glass. You knew she
was tremendous, and the lade at that you wondered how
that would translate against other grown women, other professionals. I
did wonder about that. To see her still rebound that
an elite level is absolutely amazing to me talking about
her being right up there with the rebounding lead Asia,

(19:00):
which is just tremendous. And then just the joy she
brings to the game. I think that's the thing I
love too about her. She plays with such a joy
that's amazing. She's just she's continued to do what she's
a lead at in the w and I think she'll
continue to be that, and you're seeing the same thing
with Caitlyn. You know, I always said to people, I
thought her most elite skill coming into the w was

(19:21):
actually her passing. People love the shooting, it's the most
exciting skills she has, But I would say the most
elite skills she had was her passing. And I remember
somebody asked me at the beginning of the year, the said, hey,
well do you think Caitlyn Clark would you put a
bebt on her to be MVP? And I was like, no,
that's ridiculous, because it was. But I said what I
would look at is, don't be surprised if she leads
the league and assists. What she's doing right now, so
there's a lot of turnovers, needs to cut that down,

(19:43):
but she's an elite pastor. And then you see what
she does in this game ten assist. She had a
chance to break the record of eleven, and I was
rooting for her to do that. And so yeah, it's
just tremendous to see these young women come in the
league and make the mark and also look like they
belong right right out there with these other established All
Stars and MVPs, and they look like they belong, And
that's kind of the point Miles is making there with

(20:05):
Angel being right up there in terms of rebounding lead
with Asia, these women look like they belong and it's
been great for the game.

Speaker 1 (20:12):
What has exceeded your expectations kind of of just being
a rookie in the w NBA.

Speaker 6 (20:17):
I mean, obviously I don't feel like a rookie. I've
been named with some amazing players, some greats, So I
try to get myself some grace that I still am
a rookie, but also I'm still name with the I'm
still named with some of the best of the best
that have played the game. So it's been kind of
up and down for me, but I'm I'm just happy
and continue to look forward to growing more.

Speaker 1 (20:39):
One of the things that I admire about you is
that you don't have to say much. You just let
the production on the court speak for itself, and you
had an amazing double double streak. Talk about what just
pushes you to be your best self on the court
every single night.

Speaker 6 (20:54):
I think I just have that drive mentality to block
out the noise and just focus on with it what's in.

Speaker 1 (20:59):
I know my teammates.

Speaker 6 (21:01):
There could be so much on the outside that could
just be distractions, but I never want that to come
between anything. So I know my teammates need a lot
out of me, and I just try to live up
to what I what I'm supposed to do every night,
and the expectations.

Speaker 4 (21:12):
Are high for me.

Speaker 1 (21:13):
I just love your leadership on the court, just the
way you're able to pour into your teammates. But I
wonder who's pouring into angel Rees. How are you finding
that balance with all this new success, all this new fame,
all these eyes on you who are pouring into you.
How are you finding that balance?

Speaker 6 (21:27):
Yeah? I mean, obviously my teammates and my coaches do
a good job. Me and Tea Spoon are like literally
like this. I tell my personal visits that's going on,
anything going on on social media, on and off the court,
and I luckily got blessed to have somebody that really
understands me on and off the court. The bets of
would have been amazing to me, not just on my team,
but other teams too.

Speaker 2 (21:46):
They text me, chuckle me, congratulate me hopefully.

Speaker 6 (21:49):
They say, I wish I could play with you, play
with you one day. I wish we drafted you like
they don't even text me some of that stuff too.
So it's cool to be loved like in the league.
I didn't expect this. I didn't expect coming into lead
that to be so love because obviously from the outside
looking and they might think.

Speaker 1 (22:03):
That I didn't want that or didn't need that.

Speaker 6 (22:05):
Or whatever the perspective could have been on the outside.
But it's been great.

Speaker 2 (22:08):
I like, I'm so I love Let's see it.

Speaker 1 (22:11):
But I'm happy that I can't sit the WNBA. There
was one play I think in the first quarter we're
into Caul rebound and then she finished at the rim
over Brittany Griner, Alyssa Thomas and so Breneodascue, and I
was like, oh my goodness, Like she is not afraid.
She plays so confidently and I'm just excited to see

(22:35):
her ceiling in this league and how much she's going
to the road. We got to see Caitlin Clark and

(22:57):
Into Rees on the same team. All of the fans
lsu Iowa fans, Chicago Scott Indiana Fever fans. They had
a link arms one day and get along. Obviously, these
two rookies, they get so much credit for their contributions
in terms of the growth of women's basketball. But what

(23:19):
were your thoughts about that I'm playing on the same team.

Speaker 3 (23:21):
I'm glad we got that viral moment where they there
was the assist from from Caitlin to Angel and then
they came back and they high fived, because I also
think that both of them are very even though they're rookies,
they're both pretty media trained, and they both know where
to push buttons right. They both know how much I guess,

(23:44):
like leash they should give to the other one, how
much they should mention them. They must be exhausted and
tired of just being asked about this competition, this inherent
competition they've been put into for the last two or
three years at this point. So to see them share
a court, have that moment and then very quickly pivot
to postgame and say, what's important to us is that

(24:06):
we want to be on that other team in four years.
We want to be on that Olympic team playing against
the challenge.

Speaker 1 (24:11):
Alie specifically said, you know, we're gonna be All Stars
for years to come, Caitlyn and I, but I want
to focus on twenty twenty eight. She told me that
was her goal. She's manifesting to be on the Olympic
team in twenty twenty eight. Obviously, when we look at
the bigs on Team USA, some huge shoes to feel.
I feel like all the bigs on the team right now,
they still have a lot of years to go, and

(24:33):
we know that the best twelve in the world make
that team. So I believe if Angel says she wants
to be there, she can be there.

Speaker 2 (24:40):
In four years.

Speaker 3 (24:41):
Yeah, I'm not doubting her.

Speaker 1 (24:42):
I'm not doubting anjuries. I think that she can get there.

Speaker 4 (24:45):
That moment was so great, And the talk has been
quieted about around Caitlyn, around Angel, and I think it's
been more of a focus on basketball, which I think
is good for the game, and just focus on what
these young ladies could do. So I think that moment
showed like, look, we're together, we love grown the game,
we love playing the game. We hooked up. You know,
Caitlin hits Angel with a dime when she scores in

(25:06):
the fourth quarter. It's great. Let's keep talking about us
being great in basketball and that that's good for the game.

Speaker 3 (25:12):
The talk is not quieter enough for me, but I'll
just say that fair yes, but hopefully we research it,
take it, We'll take better energy in the second half
of the season.

Speaker 4 (25:19):
I'm hoping for their better energy in the second half,
all right.

Speaker 1 (25:22):
Moving right along. Ahead of Saturday's All Star Game, WNBA
Commissioner Kathy Engelbert hot hinted that next season, the WNBA
might expand to forty four games in twenty twenty five.
The current regular season is at forty games, and we
know what the growth of woman's sports is, more demands.

(25:43):
We're seeing record viewership, we're seeing arenas sellout game over game.
So in my opinion, I think that moving to forty
four games is okay, but it is all depending on
what happens in November of this year in terms of
the CBA and renegotiating that CBA, because the current CBA

(26:03):
as it stand says that they can play forty four games,
but they don't make more money. It's at the same salary, right,
So they're playing more games for making the same amount
of money as you were when you played thirty six games.
So going up to forty four games it should be interesting.
But we know that if they renegotiate that CBA, it
doesn't kick in until the following season. So I get

(26:25):
that Kathy wants to take advantage of the growth and
the time that we're in right now, but maybe hold
off until twenty twenty six to expand to forty four games.

Speaker 3 (26:36):
So the forty four games, like you said, is what's
maximum allowable in the current CBA, and they were at
what thirty two when we started this CBA, so it's
been gradually going up. One reason why I would be
okay with it from a scheduling standpoint is because there
are no international competitions next year. I think forty games

(26:57):
this year was pushing it more than forty four would
for next calendar year. But like you said, they're about
to sit back at that negotiating table. Does the league
really want to push as far as possible within the
current CBA before they sit down to negotiate. Is that
are they trying to create the baseline saying we've done

(27:17):
forty four and it worked, so now we can do
forty four or more going forward, especially in non Olympic years,
non FOEBA years. But the league has repeated a lot
that they were under no obligation to provide charters this year,
and that was a good faith move, So I think
that could be brought to the table as well, saying yes,

(27:38):
we'll do forty four, but travel is going to be
easier than when we did thirty two, and there are
no other competitions, Scheduling will be stretched out. So in
that way, I think it works. But yeah, when you
think about the players not seeing more, that's where I worry.

Speaker 1 (27:53):
But I also think about the rest and recovery aspect
of the off season we're outside of Well, let's look
at it this way. Next year, Banas Stewart and the
FISA Collier are starting to unrival basketball league, so players
will have a domestic option to stay stateside and being
able to play basketball as opposed to go in overseas.
And then also you have athletes unlimited, So maybe that

(28:14):
could be the change needed for the forty four games,
where players have enough time to have an offseason before
training camp to rest and recover their bodies. When we
talk about the longevity or shelf life of a WNBA player,
it's really not that long. We see players like Diana
Tarazzi's the Supers, Lauren Jackson who's.

Speaker 2 (28:33):
Still playing right now for the national selling team.

Speaker 1 (28:36):
That's very rare in women's basketball, right, So I just
think about the longevity aspect the players health, for rest
and recovery.

Speaker 3 (28:45):
And the college kids coming in that don't get that
rest and just go right into the season.

Speaker 4 (28:49):
It's like, I'm conflicted about this because forty four games.
You're right, it's the most that you could have with
this CBA and obviously the CBA is coming up as
major this is huge for the sport. You also have
a new team coming next year in the Valkyries, and
then the Toronto franchise coming the year after that, so
expanding the more games makes a ton of sense. My

(29:11):
concern is to pay because I'm always for the athletes
and if you're gonna have them do more work, they
should earn more money. And I believe that in anything.

Speaker 2 (29:20):
But this is what you negotiated in twenty two.

Speaker 4 (29:23):
Yeah right, and that's and that's what they're gonna say.
And to that point, players and they're gonna they are
gonna counter with that because the league's gonna try to
get the most they can. This is how business works, right,
that the companies are going to try to get the
most they can out of you for the least amount
they could pay you. What I think the ladies and
have to learn going forward from this is they have
to start looking at the growth of the game, how
it's been growing, how it's been trending, and making sure

(29:45):
they get the most out of it. Because this isn't
gonna stop at forty four. We know this. I think
there will be some point and some talks getting into
forty eight or fifty games, and I think maybe that's
where we cap out of the W season. But I
do think there'll be some talk about that. Do we
want to see it? I I'm gonna speak for just myself,
but do we want to see a W season where
these ladies are playing three games in a week? That's

(30:06):
not good for basketball? The best product is when these
women have good rest and recovery and practice in between.
I kind of like where the league is right now.
You mostly see about two games a week, obviously taking
this year out of it where it's been really condensed.
So I say all that to say expansion is inevitable. Right,
It's going to happen. But I think going forward, sitting

(30:26):
at the CBA table, they got to think about what
they want as this league grows and expand. Because I
know we all sitting here we believe the growth is
only going to continue to go upward, which is going
to be more eyeballs, more money. People are going to
want to see these players more about how far do
you want to push that?

Speaker 3 (30:42):
There's also something to be said, I think for the
regular season fatigue that other sports deal with when they've
got eighty two games in the NBA, when these baseball
games have one hundred and sixty two games, and then
we're seeing that in the NBA, players are stealing rest
because they're exhausted, and then they're going into cities and
fans are not seeing what they paid for because they

(31:04):
can punt a game. In the w with forty games,
you really can't because of how tight that competition is,
and because every game matters more. I think that's where
the NFL wins over a lot of people, is that
the stakes are just so much higher when you have
that scarcity of products. So there's some power in that
as well. So just because you can go bigger, I
don't know that you always should because you can be

(31:25):
diluting that regular season product.

Speaker 4 (31:27):
Do you agree more?

Speaker 1 (31:28):
Same?

Speaker 2 (31:28):
I can't agree with you more.

Speaker 1 (31:48):
Now I want to dive into the Olympics. Obviously, Team
USA is on the way to Paris right now and
they're on a mission to win their eighth straight gold medal.
Razi is the longest tenured player on Team USA and
she's gone for her sixth Street Gold.

Speaker 2 (32:06):
Medal, which will be a huge feat. So what do
we think about this roster?

Speaker 1 (32:14):
We have newcomers and Sabrini and ASCU, Alyssa Thomas, Kalia Copper,
all who have rightfully earned their spot on this team.

Speaker 2 (32:23):
What sets Team USA apart?

Speaker 3 (32:24):
In your opinion, it's the fact that Team USA has
been the standard for women's basketball in the last Like
you said, they're going for their eighth straight title. But
there's just so much talent on this roster and it's
really up and down, and I think it's there's so
much complimentary talent too. There are players that you might

(32:44):
see as on your favorite WNBA teams that are taking
that load, but you also see that there are a
lot of players that have been added to this roster
and those those three first timers that you just mentioned
in Sabrini and Escue, Khalia Copper and Alyssa Thomas are
all playlayers that know how to play complimentary basketball. They
can go out there at does not need to get

(33:06):
up ten, twelve, fifteen shots a game. Sabrina is very
happy to make that extra pass and to knock down
the open shot. Ka is going to mix it up,
grab a rebound, do whatever you need to make sure
you get that win. So these are players that are
coming in that are already bought into that team identity,
and I think that that's what's really going to help

(33:26):
them in Paris.

Speaker 4 (33:28):
Yeah. I think that also feel like just the experience.
They're so experienced heavy In terms of team, we're talking
about only three women as first timers to two the
Olympic Games with five and five competition, So I think
that bodes very well from them. And I think going
into this team, everybody knows their roles, you know, even
ladies who can score a lot, Asia and Rihanna. But

(33:50):
look at those two women fantastic two way players, which
this team is full of fantastic, fantastic two way players.
It can get it dump for you on the defensive end,
the can get it dump for you on the offensive
d and listen, there's expectations for this team. You can
talk about that they are expected to win h straight.
They have been dominant they are the best team in
the world. They probably won't see anybody's good a team

(34:13):
as good as they saw in the WNBA All Star Game.
So what makes this team special, I think is a constinuity.
The way these women know how to play together. As
Miles said, ladies knowing their roles, comfortable even if their
stars on their team or superstars, Confident with just being
able to play off the ball, and just compliment other
players on this team. So I'm excited to see what

(34:33):
this team could do, but I think they'll be pushed
at certain points in quarters and times. I don't think
they're going to just demolish everybody. But this team, I
think should be very confident about winning the gold and
bringing it home.

Speaker 1 (34:45):
When you look at the previous team, right, there's huge
rules to fill with Tina Charles Sylvia falle super no
longer on that team, and I think that this roster, Yes,
they are a great roster, the best twelve players in
the world. But when I look at this roster, I
see a very great front court, but the back court
a little inconsistent. That would be my only criticism of

(35:07):
the roster in terms of the consistency in scoring and
even facilitating the offense. Subert is one of the best
point guards to ever do it, who has been on
that stage with Tween USA all this long, and now
this is the first Olympics without her. I'm interested to
see how that goes for this squad.

Speaker 2 (35:28):
In particular.

Speaker 3 (35:29):
I think that that's a really great point. And I
was surprised to see actually Aaron Atkins as a player
who didn't make the cut just as a perimeter defender
because it's on the offensive side of the ball, maybe,
but for me, it's more the defense. Who are they
checking at the perimeter. That being said, when you talk
about who can just go get a bucket and you're
looking at Jackie Young's efficiency or that Jewel Lloyd can

(35:52):
score from anywhere on the court, anywhere over half court,
Kelsey Plumb and her first step, and this team is
different from that last one because your bigs can also
get involved. I think a little bit more in that
perimeter action and Stewie and Asia who's now stepping out
more consistently. It's not just a back to the basket

(36:12):
fee I think could be the full crumb of this team.
But this team is relentless. They have the speed because
they're not all you know, bg is obviously is obviously huge,
but a lot of their front court players are just athletic.
In a way, this might be the most athletic team
that we've ever seen Tosa put together, and I think

(36:33):
that that could maybe counter missing some of the just
the stability that somebody like a Sill or a Tina
or obviously on the outside Sue was.

Speaker 4 (36:44):
Yeah, I think most athletic and definitely the most defensively
versatile team we've probably seen, even especially when you just
look at the front court. We talk about the bigs,
we talk about the front court. The play there is
just it's so versatile. Got Fee who could handle and
create a little bit. Stewie can do that as well too.

(37:06):
So when you look at and this is just the
way basketball's evolving, When you look at all that there's
not as much pressure on the guards, it allows more
of these ladies to play off the ball. Who can
do that, whether it be Jackie Young, whether it be
Kelsey Plumb, whether it be Sad they can do that.
I think because of the versatility they have at the
front court spot that makes them so dangerous and so yeah,
I do think this is the most athletic team and

(37:28):
the most defensively versatile team that we've seen with Team
USA basketball for the women, and I'm really excited to
see how all this comes together.

Speaker 1 (37:37):
So I had an opportunity to speak to Brittany Greiner
and here's what she had to say about experiencing this
Olympics in Paris with her teammate, Diana's Rossie. Team USA
is headed to Powers looking to win their eighth straight
gold medal. What does it mean to you to just
have this moment one with your teammate, Diana Tarrozzie, who's
one of the oldest tenured players on Team USA.

Speaker 7 (38:00):
Yeah, I've been with my whole career, honestly, literally everywhere
overseas here in USA. It's gonna be emotional because we
all know. But I mean, Diaz, she's a legend, that's
the goat. I mean, I'm still in all of her.
That's my homie, that's my teammate, best friend. But like,
I'm still in such all of her. And you know

(38:21):
how she's still able to compete at this level. You know, Yeah,
she's gonna be missed big time.

Speaker 1 (38:27):
And here's what Diana had to say about how she
envisions her legacy with Team USA. What do you want
your legacy to be on Team USA? But throughout your career.

Speaker 8 (38:37):
You know, I just always enjoyed the game. I never
short changed it. I've evolved as the game has evolved.
I've always try to make sure that I was always
present for every team I've been on, you know, And
I think that's what sets people apart. Yeah, you're on
the court, being off the court, being in the locker room,

(38:59):
being a great, great teammate, that's just as important to
make sure you have success in your team does too?

Speaker 1 (39:04):
Five gold medals, longest tenured player on Team USA. What
do you attribute that longevity to you?

Speaker 8 (39:10):
You know, if you have to keep showing up, people
always ask me what do you do? And there's no
secret formula.

Speaker 1 (39:18):
You show up and you do the work.

Speaker 8 (39:20):
That is the most gratifying thing you can do. And
then you know, if you're lucky enough to be on
Olympic teams, on All Star teams, you know, that's just
the cherry on top.

Speaker 1 (39:29):
Four years ago, we said we'll see in Paris. Will
we see DT in twenty twenty eight?

Speaker 8 (39:33):
Yes, you'll see me in LA because that's where I'm from.

Speaker 2 (39:36):
But I'll be watching from the stands.

Speaker 1 (39:39):
So let's talk about the end of the first half
the season. The New York Liberty are at number one
right now in the standings twenty one and four. The
defending champions, the Aces are sixteen and eight at number five,
and the Links, who have surprised all of us, are
at number three, seventeen and eight. What do you see
happening in the second half of the season for some

(40:01):
of these top heavy teams?

Speaker 2 (40:03):
And who do you have because.

Speaker 1 (40:05):
Dexter wife's predictions, so we're gonna who do you have
just stepping up in the second half of the season
and potentially winning the championship.

Speaker 3 (40:13):
So I noticed that as soon as you take the
wheel and start driving and don't have to be accountable,
all of a sudden, can.

Speaker 1 (40:20):
I tell you daring w NBA All Star On the
media circuit, I was doing my interviews and I had
Kelsey Plumb and we were talking about the championship last year.

Speaker 2 (40:29):
She said to me, you picked us to lose, right,
you picked the Liberty And I was like, oh, seats.
She kept the receipts.

Speaker 1 (40:36):
She watched our segment and I was like, you can
hope the account why do you take the Liberty?

Speaker 2 (40:40):
We're gonna win? I thought that they had it before.

Speaker 4 (40:42):
Before Miles starts. I just want to say that I
realized that I'm the person that always asks you guys,
and now I'm on the other side. I'm not sure I.

Speaker 3 (40:52):
Like it, but I need a show, is what I'm
what I'm hearing, so that I can You don't do
this on the podcast. No, no, we got to bring
you on just for an hour of prediction.

Speaker 1 (41:03):
But she helped me accountable and I was like, you
know what I did say, you guys were going to
lose in five games.

Speaker 2 (41:07):
She proved me wrong and won in four.

Speaker 1 (41:09):
So yeah, I.

Speaker 2 (41:10):
Mean, I take the heat.

Speaker 3 (41:11):
And did she ask you who's the favorite?

Speaker 4 (41:14):
Right now?

Speaker 2 (41:15):
She I have to run his heat back because I.

Speaker 3 (41:19):
Feel like I feel like she would. She would The
Fire still.

Speaker 1 (41:22):
Have a chance to win. But the Liberty, my goodness.
Jonathan Cole he orchestrated such an amazing team. At first,
in the first few games, I was like, wait, I
do I see the vision? I don't know, but this
team is shaping really well, and we see how great
they're playing in spurts without some star players like Benaja Waney,
Hamilton who just had a surgery.

Speaker 2 (41:44):
It's out of four to six weeks.

Speaker 1 (41:47):
Brianna Stewart, who's been out a couple of games Courty
vandalslut when she was out during that stretch, Sabrina Unescu
was able to step up and shout out to Sabrina
for just getting better in the off season, just producing.
She's a three level scorer now, she finishes very the rim.
She's getting better at defense, so we're seeing her be
more of a two way player.

Speaker 4 (42:07):
I know where you're going.

Speaker 2 (42:08):
I I have said.

Speaker 1 (42:09):
That Sabrina should be in the most Improved Conversation, and
so many people gave you flak because they said, oh,
she was a number one draft pick, that's expected of her.

Speaker 3 (42:20):
Is it?

Speaker 2 (42:21):
Really?

Speaker 1 (42:21):
She's struggled in the first few years of her career
with injury and battling through that. But I also I
think that she should be in that conversation because she's
added more to her bag.

Speaker 2 (42:32):
Yes, she takes less threes or.

Speaker 1 (42:34):
Less efficient from three than the last season, but the
rules are when you're voting, did this player get better
over the last season or sees it? And I think
that if that is the criteria, she should be in
the most improved conversations. Obviously, I do think that Dja
Carton is a front runner for that as of now,
but Sabrina should be in those conversations.

Speaker 4 (42:56):
It's funny. I generally used to be on if you're
drafted high that you probably shouldn't be in that, but
I like the points that you made, and I actually
think Sabrina might be the front runner now. I think
Dja was most of the season. Miles is shaking his head.
I think she's made such a leap in her game
that I think the hardest leap is to go from

(43:18):
star to superstar. And I'm not saying she's quite there yet,
so I might pump the brakes on that, but she's
trending like right there. I do think that's the hardest
jump to make in sports. I think she's making it
because of how efficient she's been to Miles, and I've
talked about this before too, just in the mid range
and then finishing at the rim. I've just liked the
way she's played. If I had to vote, and I

(43:40):
do not, I do tend to generally want to vote
for the person like Djona though who Yeah, now has
come to a clear starter, fantastic two way player. I
also like that kind of player mold, but I do
have a lot of respect. I just wonder what SAB's getting.
What she's too Eastern Conference players a month awards this

(44:01):
this season already. I wonder if she's just trending to that.
I want to know what you think about that, Miles.
Is she trending towards that where she could be the
favorite for this award?

Speaker 3 (44:09):
Well, so, first of all, is Kennedy. Is Kennedy eligible?

Speaker 4 (44:13):
You know what? What? You know what? Sometimes you got
to say, my dad.

Speaker 2 (44:19):
In the league last season.

Speaker 3 (44:20):
Yeah, so I don't know, yeah, or.

Speaker 2 (44:23):
They get better over what us.

Speaker 1 (44:26):
So the league is not very specific on whether or
not Kennedy qualifies. But that goes to your point when
the second year where she only played a few games
and they said, well, she should be eligible for Rookie
of the Year.

Speaker 4 (44:38):
But if this is what Miles, everybody, if.

Speaker 2 (44:41):
This is what Miles, I didn't say that right.

Speaker 4 (44:44):
If Miles, if this is what you're hitting on and
I think this is what you were doing, then I
have to say, I'll say my dad and I agree
with you. Somebody who was not in the league last
year and is playing as good as Kennedy Carter is
right now.

Speaker 2 (44:57):
She played a season before. It's all about the league.

Speaker 4 (45:00):
There's no there's no comeback Player of the Awards.

Speaker 2 (45:03):
So very specific about specific about that.

Speaker 4 (45:05):
Right, it's not that, but that is most improved. You
were not in the league like, and she is. She
was not in the league like. If that's Miles's point,
I don't really have.

Speaker 2 (45:16):
I don't think qualify. I don't think she would qualify.

Speaker 3 (45:18):
I would say that was only the tip of my
point because I'm not with you guys on Sabrina. And
this is because I think it's gonna sound like, oh,
you don't think that she should be in the running
for this award. That sounds like a knock. I think
it's the opposite. I think that we're forgetting how good
she was last year where she broke the all time

(45:38):
three point record, where she was second team?

Speaker 2 (45:41):
Are using that against her this year because because she's
going inside.

Speaker 3 (45:46):
But she was second team WNBA.

Speaker 1 (45:49):
When you look at her overall impacts on the Liberty
this season, especially in those parts where you didn't have
Laney Hamilton, when you didn't have Courtney Vanderslout, Liberty are
number one right.

Speaker 4 (46:01):
Now hears that she was a top ten player.

Speaker 3 (46:04):
We're forgetting how good she was, Like how high can
you go?

Speaker 1 (46:07):
And was the biggest criticism about her game. She couldn't
play defense, and she wasn't a three level scorer, And
what did she improve on?

Speaker 4 (46:17):
Yeah, she's become a three level score, no doubt. Yeah,
and defensively, but even without that, she was a top
ten player, which is Miles's point.

Speaker 3 (46:23):
Yeah, So if we're talking about a player going from
let's say, I don't know, arbitrarily, you know, eight to five,
or a player that's going from one hundred to twenty,
that's where that most improved. But we've talked about this.
I remember Christina when we were when we were sweating
over our ballots, we talked about it being the hardest

(46:47):
award to vote for because the definition is so loose.
Are you thinking, here's someone who in the same amount
of minutes sees a leap, or someone who gets an
opportunity and didn't get one before, or is returning from injury.

Speaker 1 (47:00):
And Canada exactly.

Speaker 3 (47:04):
So part of it is a philosophy thing. But this
is the most diplomatic way I can say it is.
I think that I am being pro Sab by saying
she is she should not be eligible for this because
she's already been this good.

Speaker 4 (47:19):
That doesn't make you a hater. We're not going miles.
Miles has actually changed my opinion by what he said,
because he makes a fair point. I think about, Yeah,
we're forgetting how good she was despite your points, what
you're right about? What's she good at the three level
score last year?

Speaker 1 (47:33):
No?

Speaker 4 (47:34):
Did she suck on defense last year? Yeah, sucks harsh,
I think particularly next event.

Speaker 3 (47:46):
I think that it was it was more of a
personnel grouping. But Sab, I think has been a pretty
solid one on one perimeter defender. Where they get her
is when they run her through actions, run her through screens,
But when she's got someone in front of her, she's
she's not a turnstile out there. And I think that
like that narrative kind of took off in a way.

(48:07):
She has improved on that even more.

Speaker 4 (48:09):
I agree.

Speaker 3 (48:09):
But there were a few times last year where because
she because she's a point guard, because she's a guard,
she's so aware of where all of her help is
and she would be like, I got to stay in
this matchup for two more seconds, then I know Stewie's
right here and I can switch off and she's strong.
She's not the she and she will be the first
to tell you she doesn't have the fastest foot speed.

(48:30):
But I think that that reputation is hard to shake
when you are someone who's working on that side of
the ball. But you came in and people were blowing
past you. It's been a steady growth. I don't think
it's like this off season she was finally like, you
know what I should try to do is play a
little bit of defense. I think we've been seeing this quickness.

(48:51):
You can see, you can see the growth.

Speaker 2 (48:53):
It took another year for us to actually.

Speaker 4 (48:55):
She has improved.

Speaker 3 (48:56):
We're not arguing about she most improved.

Speaker 4 (48:59):
Is the question?

Speaker 1 (49:00):
Way back to what I was asking conversation, predictions.

Speaker 4 (49:06):
I tried to get away from those predictions. Still I tried. Actually,
so the predictions you were asking about.

Speaker 1 (49:12):
Predicts who's going to make the biggest leap in the
second half of the season, and who do you have
potentially making a run for the playoffs and championships.

Speaker 4 (49:26):
I mean, I think we've seen the team who's already
made the biggest leap in the aces. But I think
all of us who watched this league and knew that
was going to happen. Once Chelsea Garay got back and
you saw Jackie Young and you saw Kelsey Plumb get
back to their roles playing more off the ball. Anytime
you get the point guard back and she's healthy, that's it.
I think the ass especially now what you told me

(49:49):
that Kelsey Plum is out here keeping the receiver she is,
I think that they are going to still have a
very strong run. Now, are they going to catch the Liberty?
I'm not sure about that because I think the Liberty
are motivated to get the number one overall seed to
make sure that if they get to the W Finals
then they see the Aces. They've got that home court advantage.

(50:10):
The team I think to watch is a team we
talked about in terms of who they could trade for.
I think the team to watch is the Storm. How
does your chemistry develop through this second half of the
of the season. Are they a serious contender? I'm going
to put them in the Links as well too, because
the Links we saw some flashes early on. I like
the Links. I was not surprised by their start as
some other people are. I thought they'd be really good defensively.

(50:32):
The three point shootings actually been better than I thought
it would would be. They've fallen off a little bit
and they've had some losses, but they've also been battling
some injuries, and Skylin's been battling some injuries. So I'm
gonna entreat see how they rebound from this adversity. It's
their how they handle aversity, how this storm handles some
of the success they've had leading up to the break.
And then the liberty is a lot I'm saying here,

(50:54):
but the liberty also are they going to keep their
foot on the gas the way they have because as
you mentioned Christina, they have done such a good job
with whoever's been out. But I do think there's one
concern but Nagelini Hamilton. We know how great she is
and how tremendous she is to this team. You want
to call it the glue of this team. How does
she adjust when she's coming back from the knee injury.

(51:15):
Is it going to still take.

Speaker 1 (51:19):
During the Olympic break where you have that four week
stretch and then she's probably only out two weeks, but
then you have the condition and that's that's the thing.

Speaker 4 (51:26):
Is the conditioning, coming back in time, and then getting
her reacclimated with this team. Deliberty have been fantastic about
other women stepping up and doing well, and I just
think it's them getting back to how exactly they want
to play. Is John Cuaul getting the touches that she needs?
The Stewie shot, who's been Stewey played a lot of
minutes last year, she's playing the Olympics this year. Her

(51:47):
shot from downtown has not been the same, but she's
been fantastic defensively. Do they have their foot on the gas?
I think that's I think it's a very interesting second
half in the WNBA. Look the question you're really asking everybody.
I've been asking it to a lot of people, So
now I have to answer it myself. Who's the favorite
right now? And it still has to be the Asis
in my In my opinion, I love what the Liberty

(52:08):
has done. But for Liberty is gonna come down to
the playoffs when you and the games they play against
the ass in the second half, that's going to be
my CTV. What are they going to do? And then
those games are big for the Liberty, I think, even
more so than the aces. They have to show with
Chelsea Gray and the floor Kenn you beat this team,
that's a big question in the second half for me.
So I'm saying the Aces is still the favorite, but

(52:28):
I think the Liberty hungry to push them. That's not
really a prediction, but I danced around their things.

Speaker 3 (52:33):
I was gonna say, you are new to being on
this side of the I am. I mean so according
to des about half the league.

Speaker 4 (52:43):
That's Miles Dex didn't say anything. No, I think it's
still Liberty and Ass's best teams. I'm gonna say that
Liberty and Ass best teams. All right, I'm gonna make
a prediction. I'm gonna since Miles called me out for it,
I am going to say I think the Liberty get
it done this year. I think the Liberty find a
way and get it done. They'll get a home court.
I think they'll see the Ace that think they figure
out a way and get it done. Kelsey plump. If

(53:04):
this doesn't happen, please do not comfort me.

Speaker 3 (53:05):
That's fingers are crossed that these teams can get and
stay healthy in the second half. And that's all teams.
But that was that was always the concern for Vegas
and they overcame it a in one game, right, if
that was a seven game series, I don't know if
they can deal with being down two starters. But they

(53:27):
came through and they needed one game and they got
it last year. But last year, the Liberty's second unit
in the postseason gave them almost nothing and there were
there were tiny little flashes from Marine and it was
mostly in one game of the playoffs. So I think
this year, and that's the advantage sometimes of that's making

(53:51):
the most of a moment when somebody goes down with
an injury, when an opportunity presents itself. We saw kt
step up, we saw Kennedy Burke step up the last
couple of games. We've seen Evana Deutkitch closed games. Yeah,
Laoni Phoebish stepping into the starting lineup, and I think
at the end of the year she'll be on that

(54:12):
all rookie team. And being that she was, you know,
trying to find minutes at the beginning of the year,
that just shows how important she's been. New York has
I think the most complete roster right now in the league.
The Aces will be the team to beat until they
are beat. But Jonathan coleb entered this offseason saying, what

(54:32):
do we need to get better at and.

Speaker 1 (54:35):
Glean size production off the bench, especially defensively, and he
addressed that by getting rid of those top heavy bags
and getting more versatile players who can stretch the floor.

Speaker 3 (54:48):
Look at how switchable this team is.

Speaker 1 (54:50):
Yes, one thing st We told me at the beginning
of the season in training camp is that what makes
this roster different from the last season was that the
fact that they're interchangeable. That yeah, it's it's a fluid
offense because of the versatility of the talent of this team.
And so I think that we see this especially and
that they're starting to gee and that Stuwie can be
out a game and they can still win and run

(55:11):
up the score and play really really well. So I'm
excited for this New York Liberty team in the second
half of the season.

Speaker 3 (55:18):
Yeah, that's they're there right now. The Aces are going
for an unprecedented three peat and we are in unprecedented
times in this world.

Speaker 2 (55:28):
Yes, so that's a.

Speaker 4 (55:31):
I want precedent.

Speaker 3 (55:32):
But the Liberty through this point of the season have
been the best team in the w n b A
and they have positioned themselves and gone through some adversity,
which I think will help them later. And right now,
I think they're the team to beat right now. I
have them finishing the season. I said that last year,
and it came from me. I'm not afraid of it anymore.

Speaker 1 (55:54):
Going with the Liberty or the team to beat in
the second half of the season and decks choosing Aces
and Christina.

Speaker 4 (56:01):
But I'm ticking the Liberty to win. I'm ticking Liberty
to win.

Speaker 2 (56:04):
Overall though, Oh, you just changed your mind.

Speaker 4 (56:07):
So I no. I said the Aces and that I
said when I said.

Speaker 2 (56:11):
He said a lot of things.

Speaker 4 (56:14):
I said a lot of things. What I said is
I can't wait for our predictions, what we do our
playoff free If you can't wait for that, I.

Speaker 2 (56:19):
Still I still think that.

Speaker 1 (56:20):
You know, regular season wins absolutely do not matter in
the postseason. We've seen this happen with the Connecticut Sun
time and time again, obviously the New York.

Speaker 2 (56:29):
Liberty last season.

Speaker 1 (56:30):
It's all about the how you can continue that continuity
in the postseason, and I think that that's where the
Liberty fell off. And I think even in the series
between the Aces and Liberty, Sandy just got out coached
and that game four. But this team is better, the
second unit is better, and so regular seasons don't necessarily
translate into postseason wins and championship wins because we know

(56:53):
that Becky Hammond is just such an intelligent coach.

Speaker 4 (56:58):
I do think she's great. What I do think matters
is and we talked about this Spagheigan season. I do
think the Liberty on a mission. I think they're focused.
I think they learned a lot from last year. I
think the front office learned, they adjusted, they made the tweaks,
and I think this team where Miles and I agree
is I think they have the deepest roster and that
depth has benefited them this season thus far.

Speaker 9 (57:18):
Consistent consistency is just being interchangeable and just still seeing
that success.

Speaker 2 (57:29):
No matter who's on the floor.

Speaker 1 (57:31):
Yeah, all right, def ster, Henry Miles Early, thank you
so much for joining me for today's headlines on in
case you missed it with Christina Williams.

Speaker 4 (57:40):
Thank you, appreciate you so.

Speaker 3 (57:41):
Much, so much fun and congratulations. This is this is incredible, this, sir.

Speaker 4 (57:46):
This is great. Congratulations Christina. We appreciate you, We love you.
In this space and you either say this, somebody said
the other day to you on Twitter and I saw this.
They said, oh I heard you are I heard you
the Loge of the and Christina was like, nope, I'm
the Christina Williams of the w oh yeah. And I
like that.

Speaker 2 (58:04):
No disrespect to wild Nah, but I loved.

Speaker 4 (58:06):
It because that's who you are. You're great, and Miles
gave you flowers at the beginning. I just want to
give you a flowers. You're great. This podcast is going
to be great. Keep it up, sirs. Appreciate you, thank you,
thank you.

Speaker 1 (58:14):
Appreciate y'all, and before we go, I just want to
give someone their flowers for just making an impact on
me so early on in my career. I literally feel
like I would not be where I am today if
it were not for this person kind of stepping in

(58:35):
and just giving me my first chance. And that person
is Renee Montgomery, who is currently one of the co
owners and presidents of The Atlantic Dream. We met back
in twenty eighteen when I first started covering women's basketball,
and I remember in twenty nineteen, I had this funny
idea to do a sit down interview with the WNBA athlete.

(58:56):
It would be my first WNBA sit down and I
reached out to Renee. I think it had to be
on Instagram and I was like, Hey, I have this
idea I really want to interview you.

Speaker 2 (59:06):
Do you think it can happen?

Speaker 1 (59:07):
She said yes, but I really didn't think that she
would actually show up. You know, people say yes and
then sometimes you know, things just don't fall through. No,
she kept her word, and she showed up to my
friend's apartment where we shot the video in the living room,
but made her look all fancy, and she sat down
with me and gave me my first ever w NBA

(59:29):
sit down interview. And I saw her this past weekend
in Phoenix at the Footprints Arena after the All Star Game,
and she walked up to me with her wife's Serena,
who is so amazing. They walked up to me and
congratulated me on this new show in Case you missed
it with Christina Williams, And it was really a full

(59:49):
circle moment because I really feel like if she didn't
give me my first chance, that it probably would have
just turned the events around for me. So I want
to say, Renee Montgomery, here are your flowers. Thank you
so much for just opening up your space to me
all those years ago and giving me my first shot,
because I think that you know, as sports media hosts

(01:00:11):
and people and creatives in this industry, it's all about
getting that first chance, and just her doing that for
me helped me to do that for so many other people.
And again, I just want to get it for Nay Montgomery,
for Flowers, and thank you so much for just making
that impact on me in my career. Thank you so

(01:00:32):
much for rocking with me this week on In Case
You Missed It with Christina Williams. And that's going to
be all for now. We'll see you here at the
same time next week on In Case You Missed It
with Christina Williams. In Case You Missed It with Christina
Williams is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with

(01:00:52):
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Speaker 4 (01:01:00):
FI