March 30, 2026 • 31 mins
Connecticut team president Jen Rizzotti joins Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby to break down how the move happened, what's coming up for fans in this emotional season, and what this means for the league more broadly.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Levels To.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
This is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
What's up, everybody, it's your girl. To Rika Foster Brasby.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
What's up, y'all, it's your girls, Cheryl swooped.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
So we have Salma breaking news, and that is that
the Connecticut Sun franchise.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
Is being sold to the Houston Rockets.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
That's right, the Connecticut Son will be moving and relocating
to Houston.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
And now I'm going to be out of a job.
I did not deep straight pase. Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
I didn't know to laugh or I didn't know what
to do there, Tea, It's just please laugh, please laugh,
please laugh. It's okay, it's all right. No, you know
what's funny. I see you got that jersey on. I
literally almost put all my comments jersey. But in a way,
in a way, it would have worked.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Too soon. I was like, too soon, too soon.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
This is a very very special edition of Levels To
this podcast because we have a very special guest that
is going to take us through some news that was
just recently released from the Connecticut Sun and the Mohegan Tribe,
and so joining us today is none other than Connecticut
Son team president, former w NBA player, two time WNBA
(01:45):
champion Jen Rossotti.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
So, hijen, thank you for joining us.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Good morning everybody, Hi Jen Hawhi Cheryl. Yeah, I'm doing
all right, hanging in there.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Gen. Last time you were on.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Here, Tarka asked you for some dirt on me, and
so I'm gonna say, Tea, there's still no dirt on me.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
I was like, there's still I beat you to it.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
I beat you to it in my head.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
In my head, I was like, for confessing stuff today,
it's still time.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
Oh no, it's there's no dirt that I can say
publicly on Sheryl. So but you know, maybe you know
some some other time over cocktail, Tarrico, we can talk about.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
As long as I'm having a cocktail with me.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Okay, fair, Fair, you remember and did talk about us
going shopping, talking about.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
And I've never forgotten and now I can't see.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
Bags and bags, bags.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
So on brand, so on brand.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Well, those memories took place when both of you were
members of the Houston Comments, and here it is today
that we've learned that the Connecticut Sun has been sold
to the Houston Rockets and we'll be relocating.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
To Houston after this season. And so.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Let's just you know, first, I know there are some
who will be incredibly excited, but I know there will
also be some who are incredibly heartbroken, and so I
just want to start, you know, with from your seed
as team president, what was your initial reaction when this
deal came together and were you at all involved in
the process.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
You know, this didn't start yesterday. This is something that
started a long time ago. The catalyst of it was
just the idea that everybody's building practice facilities and investing
in teams at a higher level. And you know, the
Mohegan leadership deciding that they needed to investigate some pass
forward and explore all opportunities for investment in the team,
and that included keeping the team in Connecticut. I think
(03:46):
ultimately they made this strategic decision to sell the team,
and this is the path that they chose to sell
to Houston. And so I was involved at certain points
along the way, and I have mixed emotions about it,
but I think ultimately it's a test to where the
WNBA is right now, and this period of growth that
we're seeing that there's a lot of people interested in
(04:06):
investing in WNBA franchises and on the heels of a
transformational collective bargaining agreement. You know, we're in a whole,
entirely different error than we've ever been before, and especially
a different error than when Cheryl and I.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Played a long time ago. All good, all good things. Yes, yes,
of course, so listen.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Yes, there is a part of me that is ecstatic
that this is happening because you played here, we played together.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
You know, Houston's a great sports city.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
The Comets fans back in the day were, in opinions,
some of the best, the best around the league. And
then there's a part of me that's sad for Connecticut,
for you guys, right, for staff, for players, and in
thinking about the players in your staff. As leader of
the organization, how are you communicating this transition to the
(05:02):
players and staff.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
My goal through all of this has just been to
be as honest and transparent as I can at the
appropriate times.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
Right.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
I think there's a lot of news that had been
swirling throughout even the middle of last summer about the
team getting potentially sold and a lot of rumors around
what was going on, and I feel like just being
able to tell my staff and team like, this is
what I do know, right, and you'll be the first
to know as soon as I can share more with you,
and then ultimately feeling very responsible for the transition, right,
(05:34):
we want this season to mean something in twenty twenty six.
There's a lot of people that want to stay and
be a part of this unique opportunity and special opportunity.
But at the same time, you know, there's a lot
of people whose lives are going to be affected by
this transition and this decision. And so I've been honest
that I will do what I can to make sure
that conversations are being had that are fair and will
(05:55):
ease some of that anxiety and stress so that our
team and our players and our staff can focus on
this last season in Connecticut, because we do want to
make it memorable. We do want to showcase and highlight
everything that the Connecticut Sun has meant to the WNBA
while still in the same breath, you know, being excited,
because as you said, Cheryl, I think we were spoiled
right in those early days of the WNBA. When I
(06:19):
think about even some of the crowds that I saw
five years ago when I started this job. I think
back to the Houston comments and I'm like, we sold
out that place even on the road, Like we sold
out arenas when we traveled because people wanted to see
you play and see Tina and Cynthia play and see
this WNBA championship level team. So we were spoiled and
(06:40):
so I know what that market will do to embrace
this franchise.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
But yeah, there's some sadness, and I know it's hard for.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
A lot of people here in New England to know
that they're going to be losing a team that they've
loved for so long.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Yeah, I it's it's interesting because you want to be
happy for the growth of the WA. I want to
see more teams expand I'd love for you to expand
more if you could. About what do you think this
means for the WA or what does this say about
the WNBA going forward? There are a lot of NBA
teams now that it feels like has interest in either
(07:15):
acquiring or starting to expand your WNBA presence.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Yeah, it's funny.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
It's like we've come full circle, right the league started
with all NBA what I want to make sure I
highlight is that the Mohegan Tribe was the first independently
owned WNBA teams. So when the franchise in Orlando was fledgling, floundering,
the WNBA called the Tribe and asked them to purchase it.
And so this league owes a lot to individuals who
(07:44):
decided to purchase teams like Michael Alter in Chicago and
Jenny Gilder in Seattle and the Tribe here in Connecticut.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
They're the reason that the WNBA has continued to.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
Exist for thirty years going on our thirtieth anniversary here,
and they deserve a lot of credit because they were
at the forefront of making sure that they invested in
these teams for the right reasons. Right they did that
twenty five to thirty years ago because it was important
to them to have a professional women's basketball league in
the United States. And so I would be remiss if
(08:14):
I didn't highlight the fact that the Tribe was at
They were at the forefront of investing, They were at
the forefront of building facilities and having a professional arena
for these women to play in and building a fan
base that became a model for WNBA franchises across the country,
so we owe a lot to these individuals that have
invested over decades for the team. At the same time,
(08:37):
I think there's more alignment now to going back to
a model where we're potentially sharing those resources again and
those facilities and those investment opportunities with NBA owners, and
I think that's only can be a positive thing. So again,
you can highlight the importance of these individual owned teams
while at the same time understanding that this can be
a positive sign moving forward. And what it means is
(08:58):
that we are in a growth period at the WNBA
and that we are We're seeing more and more not
just NBA owners, but owners in general that want to invest,
that want to be a part of this, that want
to take advantage of this momentum. And that's why we're
able to move into this period where players can get
paid more, where there's minimum standards for facilities, and we
(09:19):
can start talking about players getting what they deserve. And
that's a good thing, right, So you can look at
both of those things in parallel ways and say this
is good for the league, while it's also sad, but
let's celebrate. Let's celebrate the tribe and make sure that
they get their due when it comes to the fact
that they were there when nobody else wanted a team
and it wasn't popular. It wasn't popular, and teams were
(09:40):
folding like the Comets and like the Cleveland Rockers when
I was playing for them, and there was the Tribe
picking up a franchise, lifting it up and making sure
that it was here for this moment thirty years later
to be able to be sold back to an NBA franchise.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
I think that is so important, Jim, that you mentioned that.
I will say this as a former player who got
an opportunity to play in Connecticut.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Like just to be there in the facility.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
I loved everything about Mohegan Sun, and I think it's
important that people hear that from you and understand that
the Tribe did a phenomenal job of just supporting not
only the team, but supporting the league and to your point,
stepping up when nobody else thought it was right when
(10:34):
people didn't want anything to do with the WNBA because
it was women's basketball, and the Tribe was like, oh, no,
we see it, we get it. So I want to
say thank you, and I know it's a bittersweet moment,
but I also think it does just credit far we've
come and where this league is right now and where
(10:55):
we're headed. So when you think about the transition of
the sun come into Houston in free agency? Right, yeah,
how does this move impact like your approach to free
agency in.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Is there any conversation.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Or talk at all with Houston whoever that person when
it comes to free agency?
Speaker 5 (11:26):
I mean, this obviously is super fresh, so we'll know
a lot more as these weeks go by, and as
you all both know, like free agency, it's going to
be like speed dating this year right onto the next.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Right.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
You know what I will say is I do think
that this news it was important to have happened before
free agency because no matter what Morgan Tuck my GM
decides to do, that being able to communicate to anybody
that signs multi year contracts that this would be the
last year they play in Connecticut before moving to a
new city, that's important, Right.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
We don't want to start.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
This new chapter with any without the ability to be honest.
And I think that like for any player, like location
could move the needle. We've had players that have wanted
to come to Connecticut for particular reasons. We've had players
not want to come to Connecticut because it's a small market.
So we've seen both sides of that, Like we've built
MVPs here, you know, we've built Olympians here in Connecticut.
(12:19):
So there's a lot of players that have appreciated being
in this market and being able to build their career
at Connecticut. At the same time, there's players that want
to be in bigger markets or players that want to
be in a market that's associated with an NBA team.
So I think we'll see like the gamut of that, right,
we'll see that there'll be more interest in some ways
and maybe less interest in other ways, but it will
(12:41):
be a factor, is my guess. I think most importantly
what Morgan has done is just built a really solid foundation.
She's hired the right people, She's drafted the right people
in prior years. We've built a strong foundation and a
young core to build off of, and so we just
want we just more importantly want people who will will
fit around that core right and be able to build
(13:02):
for the future. You know, like championship teams aren't built
overnight unless you're the Houston Comments and you get to
like you know, get Cheryl swoops the center team and
then Thompson drafted. You know, they're built overnight in that case,
but nowadays it takes some time, and I think we're building.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Yeah, we're building the right way.
Speaker 5 (13:22):
And I'm proud that Morgan's had a lot of adversity
in her time as the gym here with our entire
roster you know, overturned last year, and now she's got
to deal with this move, and there's no better person
to handle it than her. So I have full confidence
that she's going to have a great couple of weeks
and and we'll make the right moves to set us
up to be successful here in the last year.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
But also in the future.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Yeah. Yeah, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
The CBA be announced earlier this month, does that play
a role or did that play a role in when
this announcement of the team sale would happen?
Speaker 5 (13:53):
You know, those are a little bit above my pay,
great kind of question, you know, like, I'm sure there
was some consideration to the fact that there was a
lot going on at the league level. These transactions don't
happen in a silo. Obviously, there needs to be bored
approval on terms and whatnot, and lawyer and involvement, and
there's obviously been a lot of busyness at the league
(14:15):
level for obvious reasons. I'm sure that the conversations have
been going on for a while. I don't know what
prompted the timing of this, other than that they knew
it had to happen prior to the start of the season.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
As big a news as.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
This is, it allows us to turn our attention to
what I think is most important, and that is the
twenty twenty sixth season. And we've been told now for
a while that we will be playing our season here,
and so we didn't know what was happening, but we
knew that we had to make the season special, whether
we were staying or we were going to be leaving.
And so for us, the focus is how do we
(14:48):
make sure we celebrate our fans, how do we honor
our history, how do we create a legacy so that
when this final chapter closes, nobody will forget the impact
that the Connecticut Sun has made in this community.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Connecticut fans are some of the most loyal fans in sports,
and again I know that some of them are going
to be incredibly heartbroken. I come across season ticket holders
in Walmart that want to stop and talk to me
about sun Basketball in the middle of the aisle. But
as now you mentioned being the faith, Like, how do
you acknowledge to the fans this loss, because that's what
(15:23):
it feels like to them.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
What should the message be to them?
Speaker 5 (15:28):
The message is just about gratitude more than anything, and
that this season does matter. I think that's where, like
I tend to get emotional, right when you ask about
my staff, right, and how both the behind the scenes
staff and the fans have poured into it, and not just
my current staff, but staff's for twenty three years, right,
the people who built this organization behind the scenes. When
(15:51):
you think about the fact that for them it is
a loss, right, that's where the emotions come in, that
mixed emotions where you can still be excited for the
future of the WNBA well having empathy for the people
who have poured into this. And I want our fans
to know that they matter. I want the fans to
know that the season matters, that they're the reason they
have lifted up this franchise for twenty three years, and
(16:12):
we're going to make sure we honor that in our
twenty fourth season. We'll have to accelerate maybe some of
our celebrations when it comes to honoring legends of the
Connecticut Sun because we won't have this arena to do
that in in years to come. We will be making
sure we're inviting all Connecticut samalum back to be a
part of this and culminating into a homecoming game at
the end of the season. We're going to have special
(16:34):
season ticket member events and fan activations so that our
fans can make sure that they get to celebrate the
way that they deserve while also feeling emotional about the
team leaving after the season. So I just want again,
I just want to say thank you. I want to
say thank you to the people who have made the
special organization that it is that have I think people
don't realize the level of excellence when I start to
(16:57):
go back and look at these teams that competed back
in two thousand and five and six in the NWNBA Championship,
I don't think people realize this sustained level of excellence
that this team has brought to not just on the court,
but off the court endeavors throughout the history of this league.
And we're going to make sure that we don't forget
to honor all of that in our last season here
(17:19):
in Connecticut.
Speaker 4 (17:20):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
I didn't play for the Sun, but I play against
the Sun.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
I need an invitation to a game this season.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
I'm coming.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Don't be wearing your don't be wearing your Houston jersey
up here. I'm going to go get all my shit
ready right now.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
No better be buying a Connecticut Sun jersey and making
sure you represent us here. Okay, then you can bring
then you can bring all that other stuff.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
I am.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
You know, there's a part of me again that's like, damn,
I really hate this for the community.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
But I'm going to be very honest with you.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
I am ecstatic.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
I'm like, if any team deserves an their WNBA team,
it's Houston. And I couldn't be more excited about the move.
I mean, you played here wan a championship here, You
understand the city, the community, You were a foundational player
(18:17):
in building the league in the history here with the comments.
When you think about the move, right the team moving
to Houston and understanding like the standards and everything that
we did here, how does this move resonate with you?
And if you had to sit with the players and say, listen,
(18:42):
let me tell you what Houston's about. Like, what would
you say to the players.
Speaker 5 (18:48):
Well, I would tell them that they're really lucky that
they got to play in a state that adores women's basketball.
For some of them, they started their career in Connecticut,
who has a fan base that is knowledgeable and passionate
and pours into their players right, and that they're also
lucky that they get to move to a market where
(19:09):
they're going to experience the same thing. I think that
that's important for them to again appreciate and have gratitude
for their present and past situation while also having excitement
for their future situation. I think our players have enough
emotional intelligence to know that our fans are going to
be heartbroken, and they're they're going to give back to
(19:31):
them every day they step on that court with how
they play and how they engage and the product that
they put on the floor. And I think they're also
going to be excited for a new chapter. I mean,
these women have earned the honor of being on a roster,
which is hard. You know how hard it is to
make a WNBA team, So the fact that they get
to do it in a special market here in Connecticut
(19:52):
and get to move to an additional special market in Houston.
I think not everybody gets a chance to experience that.
You know, also say that I would hope the Houston
fans would be a little patient, right. They're also used
to a level at the beginning of the Commets tenure
there of WNBA championships, and it's hard to win a
WNBA championship.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I don't think they.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
Realize how hard it is to do what you did,
shayl Right, to win four in a row.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
But I will.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
I know, but I think that exactly.
Speaker 5 (20:21):
But the expectation, you know, of the Rockets franchise and
my expectation of what will be for the new Houston
WNBA franchise is, Hey, we're building for a championship. This
is a championship level city and this is the expectation,
just like it is here. And maybe we never hung
that banner in Connecticut, but the expectation was always to
be the best. When we measure our level of success,
(20:42):
I would say, you know what, we checked off all
the boxes. We played the right way, we appreciated our fans,
we gave back to our community, and not winning a
WNBA championship does not define this era of basketball because
it was a sixths by every definition of the word.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Well absolutely well said, very well said the way that
we're seeing the league row.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Do you think at some point New England fans will
once again have women's basketball professionally?
Speaker 4 (21:13):
And I don't mean you because they play Afion.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
It's hard because I don't know if I can answer
like whether it will, but I can tell you they
deserve it, right. If there's any fan base that deserves
a WNBA team, it's the New England fan base. And
we prove that by selling out TD Garden two consecutive
years and hopefully again this year. We prove that that
this region, that the state, this New England region, can
(21:38):
stand up a WNBA franchise. And there's a lot of
markets that deserve WNBA teams, and so it's exciting to
know that we're expanding from twelve back in twenty twenty
three to now and by twenty thirty we're gonna have
eighteen teams. And I hope that what that's proving is
that we can continue to expand in the future and
that one day there will be a franchise back here
in the New England region right to think, to think
(22:01):
that we started with eight I know, I know here
we are.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
It's crazy grown. Yeah, well, thank you so much for
sharing this with this ship.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Also, if y'all got jobs for your girl LinkedIn because
believing me, I'm an unflement lad is well not till
after a October though she's under contract until October.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Girls, so don't even try to be sailing you put
that in that I'm under contract.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
Thank you, Thank you, jam you share the story and
show my appreciation for everybody that's been involved in this franchise.
It means a lot that that we get to make
sure we celebrate and do this the right way for sure.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Thank you for sharing.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
And I am coming to a game all right, all right,
anytime you got it?
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Thank you Jay, thank you.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Well, guys, it's been fun. It's been real.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I don't know, like a part of me is very
happy that the wa continues to move and expand, but
the other part of me is like, wow, you know,
I grew up a Detroit Shock fan, but being in Connecticut,
I really came to love this Connecticut Son team, the players,
the staff, the people who work in Mohican Sun arena,
just the front office.
Speaker 4 (23:27):
I mean the Connecticut son was.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Where I got my first sideline Wow, Like I have
been wanting, wanting, wanting me to be a sideline reporter
forever and doing little things here and there. And Amy
Sheer was the vice president at the time, and she said, Tarika,
you do so much for us.
Speaker 4 (23:46):
You in arena, host for us, You show up for
us when we need you to.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
We have a sideline reporter position, and I want to
elevate young women who want to be in this business.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
Would you be open to be an our sideline reporter?
And that was like wow, wow, what? So this really
does mean a lot to me.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
To this season is really going to mean a lot
to me because I too have been a part of
this Connecticut family and it does feel like we're losing
a really, really.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
Good thing here. And you know, people hate Connecticut.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
They think it's boring, they think it's small, and I
say all the time, it's cause y'all be out there
in the boonie y'all, not here like in the city.
But I'm excited that there will be some WNBA games
played in the city of Hartford this year, just to
show appreciation to the fans that are here and maybe
never get an opportunity or had an opportunity to get
out to Mohegan because of the distance.
Speaker 4 (24:41):
So oh, for sure, it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
But you know, my hopes are that people will come
out and support and more than that, like I really
want the players to just leave everything out there, right
every time you step on the floor, just think about,
this is my last time play in front of these
fans here in Connecticut, and it should be a special season.
(25:05):
And like Jen said, they're gonna celebrate, They're gonna make
sure it's special. It's bittersweet any time you have to
say we're no longer existing here, right, like the Connecticut Son,
because I remember I was retired, and I remember when
I heard the news that the comments were folding. I
was devastated, Like of all the franchises, right, I was devastated.
(25:30):
So it is bittersweet for me from that standpoint. But
I gotta be honest with you when I say, I
don't know how I would have felt if if the
Connecticut Sun was moving somewhere else, Because I really do
believe Houston deserves.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Another WNBA team.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
The city is ready for it, the fans are ready
for it. I'm ready for it. I just I think
it's going to bring just more energy excitement to the city.
And I couldn't be happier right now. I hate it
for you, for a lot of people who've been attached
and involved with the Connecticut Son from day one, Like
I understand that.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
So I definitely don't want you to be like this bitch, you.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Yeah, why you gotta come and take ours, don't get y'all, Oh.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I am about the mass around and make a right look, Connecticut.
When this happens in twenty twenty seven, New England fans
are going.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
To hate Houston.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
They are going to be You're going to be like, damn,
why y'all don't want to play to hate.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
This is the making of a rivalry. This is the
making of a rivalry. I know it. I know it.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
I could see it didn't though, Okay.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
Not really, not really, not really, It's all right, It's
all right.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Look the Lord gibbth he taken away, right, he took
away my shot, gave me the son and now I'm
getting the shock back.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
So there we go.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
I can't have say, just one dang greedy, greedy, just
one anyway, I need you to make me feel better, chiryls.
So what type of positive affirmation do you have for
us today?
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Because clearly I need it all right, So, Sis, I
don't know. This one just kind of popped up. And
this can apply to so many things. And you've had
you and I have had a lot of conversations about
friends and different categories that we put them in now
and checking on your strong friends and all the things.
(27:45):
But changes is hard, Transitioning is hard, the unknown is hard.
And sometimes we tend to go quiet at times when
we're going through things. Okay, And so this is what.
Speaker 4 (27:59):
I got for you.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Only the people who truly care about you can hear
you when you're quiet.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Do you know what's so funny?
Speaker 3 (28:13):
No, never mind, I can't say it on here, but
you know why that is a very very interesting I
do know that right there is the word.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
I do know. I do know that's a word. That
is a word. And also I felt it.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Anyway, this will be a whole different conversation, but I'm
gonna say I felt it because, as you know, my
birthday was a few weeks ago, right, and there were
a couple of people I thought I would have.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
Heard from just a simple.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Happy birthday text that I didn't hear from.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
I ain't getting mad. I just said thank you for
showing me who you really are and where and where
we really and where.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
We really stand. So yeah, yeah, it'd be like that.
That'd beat That's how it That's how it is. That's
how it is.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
But to everybody, I'm sorry because I got off track
for a minute, but I do want to take this
opportunity to say this. For everybody else that did hit
me on Facebook, ig, Twitter, DMS wherever and wished me
a happy birthday, please know how much that really truly
means to me because you did not have to take
the time to do it. I have not gotten around
(29:33):
to thanking everybody, because y'all, it's about a million folks
that reached out to me. But I do want to
say thank you from the bottom of my heart to
all of you.
Speaker 3 (29:42):
Including you Sissy, and you know there I was gonna say,
she ain't talking about me because.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
I hit her right, Oh you did.
Speaker 4 (29:51):
You did a whole lot. You did. You almost did
too much.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
I did.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
I did.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
I did the most that I could do because I
couldn't be in person doing the most, so I gotta
do the most birth Truly, I gotta do the most
of the social media.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
You know you did. I'll tag Sharland every platform you did.
Freem this bitch, y'all, my dog everybody.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
I love you, bag, and I love all of you,
and thank you all for listening. Please please please keep listening,
keep showing us love, and keep supporting Levels to This podcast.
Please follow us on Instagram at ltt pod. Please follow
us on Apple Podcast, where you can leave us a review.
(30:35):
We'd love to know what you guys think about the
latest episodes, including this very special. We didn't know we
was recording it, but we did record an episode because
when breaking news happened. Levels to This needs to be
the place where you can come and share your thoughts,
So shoot us an email at Levels to This Podcast
at gmail dot com. We definitely love to read those emails,
but in the meantime, keep your mentals ground level and
(30:57):
we'll be back next week.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Please, y'all,
Levels To.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
This is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
What's up, everybody, it's your girl. To Rika Foster Brasby.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
What's up, y'all, it's your girls, Cheryl swooped.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
So we have Salma breaking news, and that is that
the Connecticut Sun franchise.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
Is being sold to the Houston Rockets.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
That's right, the Connecticut Son will be moving and relocating
to Houston.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
And now I'm going to be out of a job.
I did not deep straight pase. Oh my god.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
I didn't know to laugh or I didn't know what
to do there, Tea, It's just please laugh, please laugh,
please laugh. It's okay, it's all right. No, you know
what's funny. I see you got that jersey on. I
literally almost put all my comments jersey. But in a way,
in a way, it would have worked.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Too soon. I was like, too soon, too soon.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
This is a very very special edition of Levels To
this podcast because we have a very special guest that
is going to take us through some news that was
just recently released from the Connecticut Sun and the Mohegan Tribe,
and so joining us today is none other than Connecticut
Son team president, former w NBA player, two time WNBA
(01:45):
champion Jen Rossotti.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
So, hijen, thank you for joining us.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
Good morning everybody, Hi Jen Hawhi Cheryl. Yeah, I'm doing
all right, hanging in there.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Gen. Last time you were on.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Here, Tarka asked you for some dirt on me, and
so I'm gonna say, Tea, there's still no dirt on me.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
I was like, there's still I beat you to it.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
I beat you to it in my head.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
In my head, I was like, for confessing stuff today,
it's still time.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
Oh no, it's there's no dirt that I can say
publicly on Sheryl. So but you know, maybe you know
some some other time over cocktail, Tarrico, we can talk about.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
As long as I'm having a cocktail with me.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Okay, fair, Fair, you remember and did talk about us
going shopping, talking about.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
And I've never forgotten and now I can't see.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
Bags and bags, bags.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
So on brand, so on brand.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Well, those memories took place when both of you were
members of the Houston Comments, and here it is today
that we've learned that the Connecticut Sun has been sold
to the Houston Rockets and we'll be relocating.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
To Houston after this season. And so.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Let's just you know, first, I know there are some
who will be incredibly excited, but I know there will
also be some who are incredibly heartbroken, and so I
just want to start, you know, with from your seed
as team president, what was your initial reaction when this
deal came together and were you at all involved in
the process.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
You know, this didn't start yesterday. This is something that
started a long time ago. The catalyst of it was
just the idea that everybody's building practice facilities and investing
in teams at a higher level. And you know, the
Mohegan leadership deciding that they needed to investigate some pass
forward and explore all opportunities for investment in the team,
and that included keeping the team in Connecticut. I think
(03:46):
ultimately they made this strategic decision to sell the team,
and this is the path that they chose to sell
to Houston. And so I was involved at certain points
along the way, and I have mixed emotions about it,
but I think ultimately it's a test to where the
WNBA is right now, and this period of growth that
we're seeing that there's a lot of people interested in
(04:06):
investing in WNBA franchises and on the heels of a
transformational collective bargaining agreement. You know, we're in a whole,
entirely different error than we've ever been before, and especially
a different error than when Cheryl and I.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Played a long time ago. All good, all good things. Yes, yes,
of course, so listen.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Yes, there is a part of me that is ecstatic
that this is happening because you played here, we played together.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
You know, Houston's a great sports city.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
The Comets fans back in the day were, in opinions,
some of the best, the best around the league. And
then there's a part of me that's sad for Connecticut,
for you guys, right, for staff, for players, and in
thinking about the players in your staff. As leader of
the organization, how are you communicating this transition to the
(05:02):
players and staff.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
My goal through all of this has just been to
be as honest and transparent as I can at the
appropriate times.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
Right.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
I think there's a lot of news that had been
swirling throughout even the middle of last summer about the
team getting potentially sold and a lot of rumors around
what was going on, and I feel like just being
able to tell my staff and team like, this is
what I do know, right, and you'll be the first
to know as soon as I can share more with you,
and then ultimately feeling very responsible for the transition, right,
(05:34):
we want this season to mean something in twenty twenty six.
There's a lot of people that want to stay and
be a part of this unique opportunity and special opportunity.
But at the same time, you know, there's a lot
of people whose lives are going to be affected by
this transition and this decision. And so I've been honest
that I will do what I can to make sure
that conversations are being had that are fair and will
(05:55):
ease some of that anxiety and stress so that our
team and our players and our staff can focus on
this last season in Connecticut, because we do want to
make it memorable. We do want to showcase and highlight
everything that the Connecticut Sun has meant to the WNBA
while still in the same breath, you know, being excited,
because as you said, Cheryl, I think we were spoiled
right in those early days of the WNBA. When I
(06:19):
think about even some of the crowds that I saw
five years ago when I started this job. I think
back to the Houston comments and I'm like, we sold
out that place even on the road, Like we sold
out arenas when we traveled because people wanted to see
you play and see Tina and Cynthia play and see
this WNBA championship level team. So we were spoiled and
(06:40):
so I know what that market will do to embrace
this franchise.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
But yeah, there's some sadness, and I know it's hard for.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
A lot of people here in New England to know
that they're going to be losing a team that they've
loved for so long.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Yeah, I it's it's interesting because you want to be
happy for the growth of the WA. I want to
see more teams expand I'd love for you to expand
more if you could. About what do you think this
means for the WA or what does this say about
the WNBA going forward? There are a lot of NBA
teams now that it feels like has interest in either
(07:15):
acquiring or starting to expand your WNBA presence.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Yeah, it's funny.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
It's like we've come full circle, right the league started
with all NBA what I want to make sure I
highlight is that the Mohegan Tribe was the first independently
owned WNBA teams. So when the franchise in Orlando was fledgling, floundering,
the WNBA called the Tribe and asked them to purchase it.
And so this league owes a lot to individuals who
(07:44):
decided to purchase teams like Michael Alter in Chicago and
Jenny Gilder in Seattle and the Tribe here in Connecticut.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
They're the reason that the WNBA has continued to.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
Exist for thirty years going on our thirtieth anniversary here,
and they deserve a lot of credit because they were
at the forefront of making sure that they invested in
these teams for the right reasons. Right they did that
twenty five to thirty years ago because it was important
to them to have a professional women's basketball league in
the United States. And so I would be remiss if
(08:14):
I didn't highlight the fact that the Tribe was at
They were at the forefront of investing, They were at
the forefront of building facilities and having a professional arena
for these women to play in and building a fan
base that became a model for WNBA franchises across the country,
so we owe a lot to these individuals that have
invested over decades for the team. At the same time,
(08:37):
I think there's more alignment now to going back to
a model where we're potentially sharing those resources again and
those facilities and those investment opportunities with NBA owners, and
I think that's only can be a positive thing. So again,
you can highlight the importance of these individual owned teams
while at the same time understanding that this can be
a positive sign moving forward. And what it means is
(08:58):
that we are in a growth period at the WNBA
and that we are We're seeing more and more not
just NBA owners, but owners in general that want to invest,
that want to be a part of this, that want
to take advantage of this momentum. And that's why we're
able to move into this period where players can get
paid more, where there's minimum standards for facilities, and we
(09:19):
can start talking about players getting what they deserve. And
that's a good thing, right, So you can look at
both of those things in parallel ways and say this
is good for the league, while it's also sad, but
let's celebrate. Let's celebrate the tribe and make sure that
they get their due when it comes to the fact
that they were there when nobody else wanted a team
and it wasn't popular. It wasn't popular, and teams were
(09:40):
folding like the Comets and like the Cleveland Rockers when
I was playing for them, and there was the Tribe
picking up a franchise, lifting it up and making sure
that it was here for this moment thirty years later
to be able to be sold back to an NBA franchise.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
I think that is so important, Jim, that you mentioned that.
I will say this as a former player who got
an opportunity to play in Connecticut.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Like just to be there in the facility.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
I loved everything about Mohegan Sun, and I think it's
important that people hear that from you and understand that
the Tribe did a phenomenal job of just supporting not
only the team, but supporting the league and to your point,
stepping up when nobody else thought it was right when
(10:34):
people didn't want anything to do with the WNBA because
it was women's basketball, and the Tribe was like, oh, no,
we see it, we get it. So I want to
say thank you, and I know it's a bittersweet moment,
but I also think it does just credit far we've
come and where this league is right now and where
(10:55):
we're headed. So when you think about the transition of
the sun come into Houston in free agency? Right, yeah,
how does this move impact like your approach to free
agency in.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Is there any conversation.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Or talk at all with Houston whoever that person when
it comes to free agency?
Speaker 5 (11:26):
I mean, this obviously is super fresh, so we'll know
a lot more as these weeks go by, and as
you all both know, like free agency, it's going to
be like speed dating this year right onto the next.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Right.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
You know what I will say is I do think
that this news it was important to have happened before
free agency because no matter what Morgan Tuck my GM
decides to do, that being able to communicate to anybody
that signs multi year contracts that this would be the
last year they play in Connecticut before moving to a
new city, that's important, Right.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
We don't want to start.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
This new chapter with any without the ability to be honest.
And I think that like for any player, like location
could move the needle. We've had players that have wanted
to come to Connecticut for particular reasons. We've had players
not want to come to Connecticut because it's a small market.
So we've seen both sides of that, Like we've built
MVPs here, you know, we've built Olympians here in Connecticut.
(12:19):
So there's a lot of players that have appreciated being
in this market and being able to build their career
at Connecticut. At the same time, there's players that want
to be in bigger markets or players that want to
be in a market that's associated with an NBA team.
So I think we'll see like the gamut of that, right,
we'll see that there'll be more interest in some ways
and maybe less interest in other ways, but it will
(12:41):
be a factor, is my guess. I think most importantly
what Morgan has done is just built a really solid foundation.
She's hired the right people, She's drafted the right people
in prior years. We've built a strong foundation and a
young core to build off of, and so we just
want we just more importantly want people who will will
fit around that core right and be able to build
(13:02):
for the future. You know, like championship teams aren't built
overnight unless you're the Houston Comments and you get to
like you know, get Cheryl swoops the center team and
then Thompson drafted. You know, they're built overnight in that case,
but nowadays it takes some time, and I think we're building.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Yeah, we're building the right way.
Speaker 5 (13:22):
And I'm proud that Morgan's had a lot of adversity
in her time as the gym here with our entire
roster you know, overturned last year, and now she's got
to deal with this move, and there's no better person
to handle it than her. So I have full confidence
that she's going to have a great couple of weeks
and and we'll make the right moves to set us
up to be successful here in the last year.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
But also in the future.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Yeah. Yeah, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
The CBA be announced earlier this month, does that play
a role or did that play a role in when
this announcement of the team sale would happen?
Speaker 5 (13:53):
You know, those are a little bit above my pay,
great kind of question, you know, like, I'm sure there
was some consideration to the fact that there was a
lot going on at the league level. These transactions don't
happen in a silo. Obviously, there needs to be bored
approval on terms and whatnot, and lawyer and involvement, and
there's obviously been a lot of busyness at the league
(14:15):
level for obvious reasons. I'm sure that the conversations have
been going on for a while. I don't know what
prompted the timing of this, other than that they knew
it had to happen prior to the start of the season.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
As big a news as.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
This is, it allows us to turn our attention to
what I think is most important, and that is the
twenty twenty sixth season. And we've been told now for
a while that we will be playing our season here,
and so we didn't know what was happening, but we
knew that we had to make the season special, whether
we were staying or we were going to be leaving.
And so for us, the focus is how do we
(14:48):
make sure we celebrate our fans, how do we honor
our history, how do we create a legacy so that
when this final chapter closes, nobody will forget the impact
that the Connecticut Sun has made in this community.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Connecticut fans are some of the most loyal fans in sports,
and again I know that some of them are going
to be incredibly heartbroken. I come across season ticket holders
in Walmart that want to stop and talk to me
about sun Basketball in the middle of the aisle. But
as now you mentioned being the faith, Like, how do
you acknowledge to the fans this loss, because that's what
(15:23):
it feels like to them.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
What should the message be to them?
Speaker 5 (15:28):
The message is just about gratitude more than anything, and
that this season does matter. I think that's where, like
I tend to get emotional, right when you ask about
my staff, right, and how both the behind the scenes
staff and the fans have poured into it, and not just
my current staff, but staff's for twenty three years, right,
the people who built this organization behind the scenes. When
(15:51):
you think about the fact that for them it is
a loss, right, that's where the emotions come in, that
mixed emotions where you can still be excited for the
future of the WNBA well having empathy for the people
who have poured into this. And I want our fans
to know that they matter. I want the fans to
know that the season matters, that they're the reason they
have lifted up this franchise for twenty three years, and
(16:12):
we're going to make sure we honor that in our
twenty fourth season. We'll have to accelerate maybe some of
our celebrations when it comes to honoring legends of the
Connecticut Sun because we won't have this arena to do
that in in years to come. We will be making
sure we're inviting all Connecticut samalum back to be a
part of this and culminating into a homecoming game at
the end of the season. We're going to have special
(16:34):
season ticket member events and fan activations so that our
fans can make sure that they get to celebrate the
way that they deserve while also feeling emotional about the
team leaving after the season. So I just want again,
I just want to say thank you. I want to
say thank you to the people who have made the
special organization that it is that have I think people
don't realize the level of excellence when I start to
(16:57):
go back and look at these teams that competed back
in two thousand and five and six in the NWNBA Championship,
I don't think people realize this sustained level of excellence
that this team has brought to not just on the court,
but off the court endeavors throughout the history of this league.
And we're going to make sure that we don't forget
to honor all of that in our last season here
(17:19):
in Connecticut.
Speaker 4 (17:20):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
I didn't play for the Sun, but I play against
the Sun.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
I need an invitation to a game this season.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
I'm coming.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Don't be wearing your don't be wearing your Houston jersey
up here. I'm going to go get all my shit
ready right now.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
No better be buying a Connecticut Sun jersey and making
sure you represent us here. Okay, then you can bring
then you can bring all that other stuff.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
I am.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
You know, there's a part of me again that's like, damn,
I really hate this for the community.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
But I'm going to be very honest with you.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
I am ecstatic.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
I'm like, if any team deserves an their WNBA team,
it's Houston. And I couldn't be more excited about the move.
I mean, you played here wan a championship here, You
understand the city, the community, You were a foundational player
(18:17):
in building the league in the history here with the comments.
When you think about the move, right the team moving
to Houston and understanding like the standards and everything that
we did here, how does this move resonate with you?
And if you had to sit with the players and say, listen,
(18:42):
let me tell you what Houston's about. Like, what would
you say to the players.
Speaker 5 (18:48):
Well, I would tell them that they're really lucky that
they got to play in a state that adores women's basketball.
For some of them, they started their career in Connecticut,
who has a fan base that is knowledgeable and passionate
and pours into their players right, and that they're also
lucky that they get to move to a market where
(19:09):
they're going to experience the same thing. I think that
that's important for them to again appreciate and have gratitude
for their present and past situation while also having excitement
for their future situation. I think our players have enough
emotional intelligence to know that our fans are going to
be heartbroken, and they're they're going to give back to
(19:31):
them every day they step on that court with how
they play and how they engage and the product that
they put on the floor. And I think they're also
going to be excited for a new chapter. I mean,
these women have earned the honor of being on a roster,
which is hard. You know how hard it is to
make a WNBA team, So the fact that they get
to do it in a special market here in Connecticut
(19:52):
and get to move to an additional special market in Houston.
I think not everybody gets a chance to experience that.
You know, also say that I would hope the Houston
fans would be a little patient, right. They're also used
to a level at the beginning of the Commets tenure
there of WNBA championships, and it's hard to win a
WNBA championship.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I don't think they.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
Realize how hard it is to do what you did,
shayl Right, to win four in a row.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
But I will.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
I know, but I think that exactly.
Speaker 5 (20:21):
But the expectation, you know, of the Rockets franchise and
my expectation of what will be for the new Houston
WNBA franchise is, Hey, we're building for a championship. This
is a championship level city and this is the expectation,
just like it is here. And maybe we never hung
that banner in Connecticut, but the expectation was always to
be the best. When we measure our level of success,
(20:42):
I would say, you know what, we checked off all
the boxes. We played the right way, we appreciated our fans,
we gave back to our community, and not winning a
WNBA championship does not define this era of basketball because
it was a sixths by every definition of the word.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Well absolutely well said, very well said the way that
we're seeing the league row.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Do you think at some point New England fans will
once again have women's basketball professionally?
Speaker 4 (21:13):
And I don't mean you because they play Afion.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
It's hard because I don't know if I can answer
like whether it will, but I can tell you they
deserve it, right. If there's any fan base that deserves
a WNBA team, it's the New England fan base. And
we prove that by selling out TD Garden two consecutive
years and hopefully again this year. We prove that that
this region, that the state, this New England region, can
(21:38):
stand up a WNBA franchise. And there's a lot of
markets that deserve WNBA teams, and so it's exciting to
know that we're expanding from twelve back in twenty twenty
three to now and by twenty thirty we're gonna have
eighteen teams. And I hope that what that's proving is
that we can continue to expand in the future and
that one day there will be a franchise back here
in the New England region right to think, to think
(22:01):
that we started with eight I know, I know here
we are.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
It's crazy grown. Yeah, well, thank you so much for
sharing this with this ship.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Also, if y'all got jobs for your girl LinkedIn because
believing me, I'm an unflement lad is well not till
after a October though she's under contract until October.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Girls, so don't even try to be sailing you put
that in that I'm under contract.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
Thank you, Thank you, jam you share the story and
show my appreciation for everybody that's been involved in this franchise.
It means a lot that that we get to make
sure we celebrate and do this the right way for sure.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Thank you for sharing.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
And I am coming to a game all right, all right,
anytime you got it?
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Thank you Jay, thank you.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Well, guys, it's been fun. It's been real.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I don't know, like a part of me is very
happy that the wa continues to move and expand, but
the other part of me is like, wow, you know,
I grew up a Detroit Shock fan, but being in Connecticut,
I really came to love this Connecticut Son team, the players,
the staff, the people who work in Mohican Sun arena,
just the front office.
Speaker 4 (23:27):
I mean the Connecticut son was.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Where I got my first sideline Wow, Like I have
been wanting, wanting, wanting me to be a sideline reporter
forever and doing little things here and there. And Amy
Sheer was the vice president at the time, and she said, Tarika,
you do so much for us.
Speaker 4 (23:46):
You in arena, host for us, You show up for
us when we need you to.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
We have a sideline reporter position, and I want to
elevate young women who want to be in this business.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
Would you be open to be an our sideline reporter?
And that was like wow, wow, what? So this really
does mean a lot to me.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
To this season is really going to mean a lot
to me because I too have been a part of
this Connecticut family and it does feel like we're losing
a really, really.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
Good thing here. And you know, people hate Connecticut.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
They think it's boring, they think it's small, and I
say all the time, it's cause y'all be out there
in the boonie y'all, not here like in the city.
But I'm excited that there will be some WNBA games
played in the city of Hartford this year, just to
show appreciation to the fans that are here and maybe
never get an opportunity or had an opportunity to get
out to Mohegan because of the distance.
Speaker 4 (24:41):
So oh, for sure, it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
But you know, my hopes are that people will come
out and support and more than that, like I really
want the players to just leave everything out there, right
every time you step on the floor, just think about,
this is my last time play in front of these
fans here in Connecticut, and it should be a special season.
(25:05):
And like Jen said, they're gonna celebrate, They're gonna make
sure it's special. It's bittersweet any time you have to
say we're no longer existing here, right, like the Connecticut Son,
because I remember I was retired, and I remember when
I heard the news that the comments were folding. I
was devastated, Like of all the franchises, right, I was devastated.
(25:30):
So it is bittersweet for me from that standpoint. But
I gotta be honest with you when I say, I
don't know how I would have felt if if the
Connecticut Sun was moving somewhere else, Because I really do
believe Houston deserves.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Another WNBA team.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
The city is ready for it, the fans are ready
for it. I'm ready for it. I just I think
it's going to bring just more energy excitement to the city.
And I couldn't be happier right now. I hate it
for you, for a lot of people who've been attached
and involved with the Connecticut Son from day one, Like
I understand that.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
So I definitely don't want you to be like this bitch, you.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Yeah, why you gotta come and take ours, don't get y'all, Oh.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I am about the mass around and make a right look, Connecticut.
When this happens in twenty twenty seven, New England fans
are going.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
To hate Houston.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
They are going to be You're going to be like, damn,
why y'all don't want to play to hate.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
This is the making of a rivalry. This is the
making of a rivalry. I know it. I know it.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
I could see it didn't though, Okay.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
Not really, not really, not really, It's all right, It's
all right.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Look the Lord gibbth he taken away, right, he took
away my shot, gave me the son and now I'm
getting the shock back.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
So there we go.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
I can't have say, just one dang greedy, greedy, just
one anyway, I need you to make me feel better, chiryls.
So what type of positive affirmation do you have for
us today?
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Because clearly I need it all right, So, Sis, I
don't know. This one just kind of popped up. And
this can apply to so many things. And you've had
you and I have had a lot of conversations about
friends and different categories that we put them in now
and checking on your strong friends and all the things.
(27:45):
But changes is hard, Transitioning is hard, the unknown is hard.
And sometimes we tend to go quiet at times when
we're going through things. Okay, And so this is what.
Speaker 4 (27:59):
I got for you.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Only the people who truly care about you can hear
you when you're quiet.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Do you know what's so funny?
Speaker 3 (28:13):
No, never mind, I can't say it on here, but
you know why that is a very very interesting I
do know that right there is the word.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
I do know. I do know that's a word. That
is a word. And also I felt it.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Anyway, this will be a whole different conversation, but I'm
gonna say I felt it because, as you know, my
birthday was a few weeks ago, right, and there were
a couple of people I thought I would have.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
Heard from just a simple.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Happy birthday text that I didn't hear from.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
I ain't getting mad. I just said thank you for
showing me who you really are and where and where
we really and where.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
We really stand. So yeah, yeah, it'd be like that.
That'd beat That's how it That's how it is. That's
how it is.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
But to everybody, I'm sorry because I got off track
for a minute, but I do want to take this
opportunity to say this. For everybody else that did hit
me on Facebook, ig, Twitter, DMS wherever and wished me
a happy birthday, please know how much that really truly
means to me because you did not have to take
the time to do it. I have not gotten around
(29:33):
to thanking everybody, because y'all, it's about a million folks
that reached out to me. But I do want to
say thank you from the bottom of my heart to
all of you.
Speaker 3 (29:42):
Including you Sissy, and you know there I was gonna say,
she ain't talking about me because.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
I hit her right, Oh you did.
Speaker 4 (29:51):
You did a whole lot. You did. You almost did
too much.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
I did.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
I did.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
I did the most that I could do because I
couldn't be in person doing the most, so I gotta
do the most birth Truly, I gotta do the most
of the social media.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
You know you did. I'll tag Sharland every platform you did.
Freem this bitch, y'all, my dog everybody.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
I love you, bag, and I love all of you,
and thank you all for listening. Please please please keep listening,
keep showing us love, and keep supporting Levels to This podcast.
Please follow us on Instagram at ltt pod. Please follow
us on Apple Podcast, where you can leave us a review.
(30:35):
We'd love to know what you guys think about the
latest episodes, including this very special. We didn't know we
was recording it, but we did record an episode because
when breaking news happened. Levels to This needs to be
the place where you can come and share your thoughts,
So shoot us an email at Levels to This Podcast
at gmail dot com. We definitely love to read those emails,
but in the meantime, keep your mentals ground level and
(30:57):
we'll be back next week.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Please, y'all,
Hosts And Creators
Terrika Foster-Brasby
Sheryl Swoopes
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