March 13, 2025 • 36 mins
On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl and Tee chat with Maddy “Made For The Moment” Siegrist, the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Champion, about her groundbreaking return to AU. Maddy delves into her goals this season, her experiences as a player and captain, and the importance of high basketball IQ to her game. She talks off-season plans, including wedding preparations, her role in player development at Villanova, and her excitement for the upcoming W season with the Dallas Wings. The three discuss the rapid growth of women’s basketball and her evolution from rookie to an inspiring role model.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Levels to 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 2 (00:15):
Hey, everybody, it's your girl, Tarrica Fosster Brassby.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
What's up, y'all?
Speaker 1 (00:19):
It's your girl Cheryl Swoops Hey now.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
And this is the levels to this podcast. This is
the show where we share that there is levels to the.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Ship that women go through.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
And so we've got a great show lined up for
you today. We have a special guest that we cannot
wait to chat with.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
But first, Suyl, I know that.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
We both just kind of got back from Nashville like
we were having a well, li A'm gonna speak for you,
but I had a ball.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
In the street.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I had a ball. But you know why, I.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Really, I really had a ball in Tennessee because my
baby's lives in Nashville. Okay, she's a student at Tennessee
State University. She's a junior, and I don't get a
chance to kick it with babysys as often as I
would like because she's in Tennessee. And when I'm not traveling,
(01:16):
I live in Connecticut, so neither one of us live
in Detroit anymore.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
So I really enjoyed the two weeks that I was there.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
I was there that I got a chance to kick
it with babysys, to introduce her to some folks.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
The women at AU.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
When they found out that my sister was working in
the pro shop, they was going up there buying stuff
from her.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
I said, y'all better brot her commission up.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
They was getting that good discount.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Getting that okay, cause you know, you know how, you
know how.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
We are okay going to give to that little discount,
go and get that.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Little shirt, that little shirt right there, put it on her.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
So yeah, we will do something like that.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
We should, we all, but you should, like I get it,
like anytime I have time. So like when AU was
in Dallas last year, right my brother lives there, so
it was an opportunity for me to hang out with him,
kick it with him.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
So I totally get it.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
But not to mention the fact T that, like I
go to Instagram X whatever the hell we calling it nowadays,
and lo and behold, I know almost see myself out
in the streets somewhere out Listen.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Sad and T t you just.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Gave them a whole.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Different side of Tarika Foster, Brasbee and Nashville.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
I saw that the country karaoke and going a y.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Okay, she she wor a why she were a why,
I'm going.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Gap to any environment okay, and then environment.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I would have my boots on the ground. I had
my country girl lying dance going on there. Come tell
me nothing out here with these birds, tore a broad
Broadway all the way up and I had such a
good time. Shout out to my homeboy, miles of my
homeboy owing. They came out with me and they was
like tea, we are going out every single day. And
(03:16):
I said, I'm forty, but I'm gonna catch I'm gonna
keep it up.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
And I sure and I sure did.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
We experienced We experienced Nashville, Okay, slows your ass down,
so don't be putting.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
I acted up.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Then my home girl Christina came out the weekend and
I said, well, let's keep the party going then, So
you know, we went from we went from the white
side of Nashville to the black side of Nashville because
we at the hook A Lounge at this.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Point, so we we doing we threw it everything. That's
what I said, Like, it doesn't matter you you were
gonna fit in wherever you are. You're gonna have a
good time wherever you are. That's that's why I love
you for real. Oudam blame, but let me just say,
you know, the first year of AYU and I was
looking to be a part, was in Vegas. And you
(04:06):
know it's Vegas, So you're always gonna have a good
time in Vegas if you want to.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Yeah, outside of basketball, yeah, year two.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Year three in Dallas, year four in Nashville, and I
don't know about you, but Nashville to me felt like home,
felt like AU home. This is where it's supposed to be.
This is where it needs to be. The city showed
up and showed out. The fans were They're like, I
(04:34):
absolutely loved the four weeks that I spent with AU
in Nashville.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Great city.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
One hundred percent agree it was. It felt inviting from
you and I both being at the kickoffs breakfast that
was held on National Women and Growling Sports Day, all
the way through to the finals closing ceremony, and then
the excitement around the announcement that AU will be returning
(05:01):
to Nashville in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
They have great ambassadors.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
I know, I know that's good.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Isabelle Harrison was amazing. Alicia Clark to you know, Dory Harrison.
Some hometown folks loved it, and so I'm gonna call
you know, we called Isabelle Harrison, that's the mayor in
Nashville now, because we messed around and went out to
dinner and they told us it.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Was let me tell you this story real quick.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
So we went out to dinner, right, It was me,
Christina and Kadok and we end up we at the
little restaurant and it's the night of the fight. We
didn't realize that it was the night of the of
the Tank Davis fight. So we was like, oh lord.
So they got a thirty quote unquote, a thirty minute
wait on a table. I said, lord, we're finna be
in here. Thirty Ain't nobody finna lead because the fight
(05:47):
ain't nobody what a fight is on. But I'm like,
thirty minutes is crazy.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
But we're hungry. We hungry, We ain't gotta know where
to go. We like, forget it, right, So.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
What time was it?
Speaker 2 (05:58):
This? No, this was like maybe ten Okay, that's late
for me. I mean, that's late for you. You're right,
that's late for you.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
But it wasn't lately. It wasn't lately.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
I got it wasn't late enough.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
So it's been forty minutes at this point, right, I'd
have been to the bar, I got a drink, came back.
At this point, I'm about to order some food at
the stand because i can't believe it's been like forty minutes.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Who do we see walk in the door. It's a
bell and Dorry Harrison.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
And we say, hey, is he what's going on? And
if he says hey, what you're doing? And we said
we waiting on the table. They told us it was
a forty minute wait is he looks at the hostess
and says, oh my god, you making my friends wait
for a table. The check looked at the screen and
within thirty seconds was like, oh, no problem.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
We can put them at.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Table one on nine. So you don't have us waiting
up here for forty damn minutes. If he comes in
here and within thirty seconds.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
We got a table, Oh my god, you Liza, she
is the Mary and Ashfield.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
You know what?
Speaker 6 (07:05):
You know? What is?
Speaker 4 (07:06):
He said?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Do you know who I am? Do you know who
I am? And let me tell you who else asked
us if we know who they was?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Who might maybe somebody by the name of Madison's Secrets
not made for the moment, Honey, don't play no games.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Maddie, the made for the moment.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
The big Maddie's Secrets.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Do you know who I am? Yes, Maddie, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You need to know who she is, and we're excited
to have her on the show today. So if you
don't know who she is, you're gonna find out more
about who she is today. So on that note, let's
take it to the next level.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Joining us this week.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I am so thrilled and so is Cheryl to have
the twenty twenty five athletes unlimited champion Mattie.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Road.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
The crowd goes wild.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Listen, Maddie, I am so glad you could make time
for little old us cause I know your schedule is full.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Okay, so let's start with the obvious elephant in the room.
You are officially the first AU champion to be a
returning player, because for some odd reason, all the other
champions have decided they wasn't coming back the next year.
You killed the game last year. This year, you came
(08:47):
into AU part from the start. And I know we've
talked about this before, but for the people who've never
heard us discuss this before, we'll make it brand new.
You know, obviously the goal coming into AU this year
is to win a championship.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
But what was different come into AU this year then
maybe in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 7 (09:04):
Well, I think for me last year, honestly it was great.
I didn't get to play a ton as a rookie
at Dallas, So just to be able to play five
on five, play a lot of minutes, get a lot
of reps in it was great. And then coming into
this year, I obviously had a little more experience in
the league and I knew what to expect. So I
was like, okay, like, my goal is to finish top ten.
You say that you really probably want top five, but
you say top ten in your head now.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
You really want the top really want to ward.
Speaker 7 (09:28):
But it was cool, of course, but my mindset was like,
I just want to be the best basketball player I
could be. Why I'm here, and I want to leave
after the five weeks and be like I gave it
everything I had. Also, seeing last year a little bit
like the strategy behind it, I didn't really have a
chance to be a captain's but like you're thinking, oh
what would I do? And you really see how important
winning the quarters are, even like you could be up
(09:49):
and win the game by twenty, but if you only
win two quarters, like you got to try to win
all four every time. So I think that mindset definitely
helped me in terms of trying to finish top of
the leader board.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
So listen, what you're saying is you can't just be
a basketball player.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
You also got to be good at math.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
A little bit, yeah, a lot.
Speaker 7 (10:09):
They're always like, oh, do you look at the leaderboard
the plus minus? I personally don't because I would lose
my mind if I'm like, is this minus ten plus?
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Yes, yes, they do look at the leaderboard.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Okay, maybe you don't look at it like week one,
but as the weeks go on, by the way, then
you know, coming into week four, you.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Know where you're at.
Speaker 7 (10:30):
Yeah, and then like going into the last game, I
definitely look before that because I'm like, I just want
to see where I'm at.
Speaker 5 (10:36):
Obviously you're trying to win the game.
Speaker 7 (10:37):
But at the same time, if like maybe some players
didn't get to play as many minutes and the whole week,
and if you're in a good spot, I have a
lot of teammates who were in between five and ten,
and you know they're playing for money too, So then
I'm like, all right, we're gonna try to win this game,
because you know, if I was in that spot, I
would want whoever's I want to, you know, play hard and.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Compete for me.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yeah, Maddie, you made me nervous when the game started.
I said, come back, and this is about to be
a big.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
But you said she had a nice lead.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Sorry she did, And I was like, and all I
kept thinking was I was like, if Maddy puts out
of sea back in, I'm cool with that too, So
like it's a win win situation.
Speaker 6 (11:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
What you mentioned a moment ago that you didn't get
a chance to be captain last year, but this year
you were captain three weeks in a row. How does
that really up your IQ as it relates to basketball,
Because for those who don't know, when you're in the
captain spot, you are literally everything. You're the coach, you're
the you're the everything, So like, how does that help you?
Speaker 5 (11:37):
I mean, you definitely have to think.
Speaker 7 (11:39):
So if you're a player who just likes to go
out there and play like, it's probably not the best
spot to be in. But for me, I tried to
just pick people who are like high IQ players because
I like to play in space and fast, so yeah,
I like reads, So I tried to pick people who
were high i Q players who can make reads, Cause like,
you have a day or two of practition, not putting
in ten plays, you're putting in stand here, this is
(11:59):
what we're doing.
Speaker 5 (11:59):
If I dribble, you backcut if you do this.
Speaker 7 (12:02):
So I tried to pick high a Q players, a
lot of experience, especially the first few weeks. I tried
to surround myself with you know, like Izzy, oh Maya,
we're all my team. That second week, which helped a
ton because obviously not only great players, but a lot
of experience. And then the facilitators were great too, because
the subbing was I was like, I'm not going to
be able to know when somebody else is tired. You
got to do that and you got to use your
(12:23):
best judgment there. Because I'm as a player, I never
want to come out. So it's like sometimes you got
to know, like all right, you need to blow here,
this person can go in for this person for you know,
a few minutes, or we need a lift here.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
So I think the facilitators were great for that.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
For the record, before you go cher, oh yeah, Maddi's
team was undefeated in week two, which is why she
mentioned two.
Speaker 7 (12:44):
It was a super team. Me izy oh Maya. I
think everyone finished.
Speaker 5 (12:48):
In the.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Remember like space jam I was like, oh, this is
the month stars right here.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
So here's the thing that like blows my mind to
you when you say that, because if I'm a captain,
there is no way I'm passing up on some of
those players that my mind was saying. How in the
world were these players available for Maddie to be able
to draft down?
Speaker 5 (13:13):
Yeah, it was definitely wild.
Speaker 7 (13:15):
I had my list. You always had your list. Okay,
if I had two of these top five, I'll be good.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
You know. I'm like, wow, I'm getting I got all
three of my top three.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Free, Like, how was I able to do that?
Speaker 5 (13:27):
This work?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
So Maddie, you know, I don't know if you know
this or not. I know I heard Ari say it
and so then I started calling you Maddie. Made for
the moment secret because so Cindy and I call in
the game and we're talking and I said to Cindy
to tease point the last game when you like had
zero points in the first half, I said to Cindy,
(13:51):
I was like, first of all, it's crazy, right that
she has zero points, I said, but it's just a
matter of time before she makes up hers shot and
then here we are third quarter. You have your double double,
because that's what you do. But coming into this season,
was there a certain part of your game that you
really wanted to focus on working on in preparation for
(14:11):
the w season.
Speaker 7 (14:13):
Yeah, definitely just being more aggressive as a whole. I
always I'm gonna run hard and get offensive rebounds, but
being able to create a little bit more off the dribble.
And definitely just more confidence shooting threes with a hand
in your face, because like you know, in college you
do that and then sometimes you get, you know, to
that next level and maybe you know your minutes are
a little up and down, so you're like, yeah, like
you're a little tent and like for me, that was
(14:34):
something I was really conscious about going in and I'm like, nope,
I want to just let it fly and just be
able to get those reps in and play against some
top players. And I think it really did help, and
it helped from a confidence standpoint. Obviously, you continue to
grow as a player. Once you see the ball going,
you're like, oh yeah, all right, here we go.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
I mean, besides your obviously physical ability and talent and
everything you did on the court, that was one area
for me. Like watching you play last season and this season,
I was like, her confidence is at a whole nother level.
And to me, I'm just saying this really isn't a question,
it's more of a statement or comment. I think if
(15:12):
you take that aggressiveness along with the confidence you're playing
with into your w season, like you're going to completely
change the look of this Dallas Wings team.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
I'm a fan of Maddie.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (15:29):
I appreciate it, and I think you know, as obviously
we know like mindset can make all the difference. I
think like obviously from year one in Dallas he or two,
like my mindset shifted instead of like okay, like taking
a back seat, like I'm just happy to be here,
to be you know I'm supposed to be here. It's
a matter of time before things start clicking. And I
feel like that really helped me, and then I was
able to try to help any rookies that we had
(15:50):
and players that were coming for a few days at
a time and be like, hey, you have to shoot
that ball because if you don't shoot it, then you're
never going to make that shot. Yes, especially when you're limited.
It's like, I'd rather go zero for three, but I
took three good shots and my taps worked really hard
to get me instead of being like, you know what,
let me just throw out to someone who's covered like that.
That doesn't help anybody.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
For you to say, Owen three as efficient as you
have been is hilarious to me.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Just when I look at the numbers. I'm a numbers girl.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I looked at the stats and I'm just like, honestly,
one of the most efficient, if not the efficient player
in athletes unlimited this year. So just how do you
you know when you have to switch week per week
and there are so many different players who bring such
a competitive edge defensively, how do you maneuver yourself to
find the looks in which you are able to be
(16:41):
efficient with your selection.
Speaker 7 (16:43):
I think knowing like what you're good at, being like, okay,
that's a great shot for me, Like maybe this is
a tough shot, and you have to take tough shots. Obviously,
the better you are, one of the more tough shots
you have to take. So practicing those, you know, I
practice bad shots because sometimes three two one, you're gonna
have the ball in your hands and you gotta practice that. Yeah,
but having that mindset like it's a matter of when
and not if, because you know, sometimes you get off
(17:03):
in e ro for six and you're like all right,
but you have to like really believe in your head
like hey, I'm a fifty percent shooter, like the next
six are probably gonna go in or at least going
six for eight. And I think that mentality is really
just helped me and knowing like okay, maybe if I'm struggling,
like let me run the floor really hard and try
to get a lay up.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Because once you see the ball going or you know,
you get to the mind thing you get to put back. Yeah,
everyone feels better. The next show always feels like it's
going in once you see it go in.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
The cool thing about AU is that because you get
to switch so often, you get to play with people
who you've never played with before. You kind of get
to bond with people, to meet people. Is there somebody
this year who maybe you didn't really know that will
or didn't have a real relationship with before and now
you're like, that's my girl.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
Yeah, definitely Shay.
Speaker 7 (17:58):
I didn't get to play with her until we and
I wish I had played with so many She did
such a good yeah, Shaye Peddy such a good like person.
The vibe like so encouraging. I got to play with TP.
I didn't get to play with Tie or Alicia Clark.
Those are two people I wanted to play with because
I'm like, they just seem like awesome teammates. But obviously
I get to play with Tie. You know, maybe I
(18:18):
get to play with ay See one day. But it's
cool because like you just you play against these people,
but then you get to all of a sudden you're
in an open gym with them and you're working out
like and you're like, oh, okay, no, wonder you hit
that shot all the time like this, you know, shooting
with Key and Nurse, Like okay, this is what you
practice like you're great at Yeah, take stuff away from them,
like you know, it's just my finish my second year,
gonna go in my third. So I just tried to
(18:40):
ask many questions as I could, like seeing, okay, this
has literally worked for you and this worked out, Like
how do you how are you able.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
To do it?
Speaker 4 (18:46):
Maddie four?
Speaker 1 (18:47):
And you mentioned if this is your second season. For
any one out there listening right who they've been like, eh,
what does it say? You think maybe I want to
do it, Maybe I don't. Why would you tell them
they should play in AU.
Speaker 7 (19:01):
I think that it's a great opportunity to play five
and five basketball here in the States. I think the
fact that it's five weeks and you get to play
twelve games in five weeks and then two more scrimmages,
Like in terms of getting to play basketball, like real, real,
live basketball, it's great. You're also getting to play with
different teammates, Like you only have a team for three games,
so you hate your team, it's only three games.
Speaker 5 (19:22):
You love your team. It's three games. So your role
each week changes too.
Speaker 7 (19:26):
There's sometimes, like we've seen a million times, like players
they don't play one week all of a sudden, The
Star on the team the next week, and then they're
the best defensive player of.
Speaker 5 (19:34):
The next week.
Speaker 7 (19:34):
So it's like, yeah, you get to see so many
different you know, and be so many different roles, and
throughout a w season, or if you're trying to make
a season.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
You're bouncing around teams like your role is going to
be different.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
So this is a great opportunity to just be able.
Speaker 7 (19:46):
To do different things and show like, Okay, you know what,
we have a lot of scores this week, I'm gonna
rebound the ball. I'm gonna be the best defender, or
I'm gonna try to guard this player because you know,
she's the best player I ever guarded. And I think
that's really cool to be able to play with and
against so many different players in such a short amount
of time.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Yeah, I know one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
So now that AU is over, where is our focus?
Speaker 3 (20:10):
What are we doing to pass the time between.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Now that AU's done and training camp for the Dallas Wings.
Speaker 7 (20:18):
Yesterday, I actually have been pushing it off. But I'm
getting married next fall.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
A w C.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
I knew that, you know what.
Speaker 5 (20:24):
I knew that.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
I didn't know when, but I saw the engagement congratulations,
So her hands are full, basically tail.
Speaker 7 (20:34):
So I went to Clinklin Feled yesterday to get my
wedding dress. I've been pushing it off because I knew
the dress I wanted, and I just I was like, okay,
and I kept telling my mom. I was like, as
soon as they used done, I promise we'll do wedding stuff.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
So, yes, you know what she said.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
I'm sorry, Maddie, she said, as soon as I get
this bag from au We're gonna go.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Shopping for definitely.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
I'm like, okay, now.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, So that was that's.
Speaker 7 (21:00):
For the immediate and then I'm doing player development at Lenova,
so we're going right to the biggiest tournament tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
Shift into that.
Speaker 7 (21:07):
Player development role a little bit, and then you know,
just keep training. Hopefully you're going on vacation maybe in
the end of the month and Villanova season's over. Go
somewhere warm for a few days, but just train, just
get ready. I'm excited, obviously a lot of new teammates
in Dallas. I can't wait to get there, but just
trying to enjoy the time in between.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
So I'm going back to this wedding, honey, because I
love the wedding okay, But more important than a good
wedding is a hell of a good bachelorette party.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
So I'm just throwing my name out there that if
you need.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Some No, no, we're not calling it.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Complete bachelorette party planner, but no, that's incredibly exciting. I
can't imagine how difficult it is trying to plan a
wedding in between a basketball season, in between coaching, Like
mom and family has the hands full? Have you guys
picked the date? You got the date?
Speaker 5 (22:02):
Yes?
Speaker 7 (22:03):
So it's like the first week in November of right
after like our season. And he's a basketball coach. He
coached at Drexel in Philly, so right before his season,
right after my season.
Speaker 5 (22:13):
Because I'm like, we had a small window.
Speaker 7 (22:16):
Yeah. So I'm like, I'd rather come off the season,
get married and enjoy it.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
I'm like, i can't get married and then go right
to training camp.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
I'm like no, So listen.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
So we were fortunate enough to meet your mom, your dad,
and your sister at AU this past week. And my
question for you is, because dad's a big man, Dad
did approve, I'm.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
Assuming, oh, yeah, for sure?
Speaker 4 (22:44):
Ye want to cross daddy? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Daddy about six seven we're not playing with.
Speaker 5 (22:50):
That playing games. But no, they all love Steve. Luckily,
I'm one of four.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
So he got we're giving shout out.
Speaker 7 (22:59):
Yeah, yeah, shout out out.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
He's I love that.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
No.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
But so, Maddy, I got a chance to talk to
your to your mom and your dad. Your dad was
a baller himself.
Speaker 5 (23:09):
Yes, he was all right.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
And is that who you learned your your basketball skills from?
Speaker 5 (23:15):
Yeah, definitely. So he played at Marist.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
In back in the day.
Speaker 5 (23:19):
Yeah, back back in the day.
Speaker 7 (23:21):
Back then, and he was he just says he was
a grip player, charges, rebounder, defender. So he was like
when I was little, he was like, Nope, you're going
to be a skill player.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
You're gonna be like a shooter.
Speaker 7 (23:34):
I want you to have like all the skills, like
so you don't have to take a million charges, which
is hilarious that that was his mindset. But he was like,
you're gonna be tall because my mom's like, she's not.
Speaker 5 (23:43):
Sure, but she's not.
Speaker 7 (23:44):
She was a cheer leader, so yeah, basketball in her,
but she would. He was like, no, we need you
to have guard skills because they're just gonna throw you in,
you know as a center, like growing up. Obviously you're
gonna be the tallest in Pepsie, New York, c YO.
So he's like, no, we're gonna make sure that you
can be a guard. And luck, you know it was
good because then you know it's translated pretty good because
of the center. I'm not sure how good I would
(24:06):
have been.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
That makes tons of sense.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
I absolutely love that.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
So now that you are getting into some player development
at Villanova, I'm very excited about this because there are
a lot of players now who are starting to touch
their roots a little bit into the coaching space. Right,
do you think that in your career is very early,
so we not at all talking about post basketball, but
just a little bit. Do you think that, you know,
(24:34):
coaching may be something that you could consider yourself getting
into twenty years down the line when when you're done
playing basketball.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
I think so.
Speaker 7 (24:42):
I definitely know that when I stopped playing basketball, I
won't be able to walk away, Like you know, I
love it too much. Scheme has given me too much
that I'm gonna, of course, always want to be in
it somehow. Yeah, So I think, you know, coaching has
been really fun. Last year I did a little more
like administrative stuff at Villanova, like similar, but like more
like how everything works, which was crazy because I never
realized that as a player how much goes into it.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
But actually being.
Speaker 7 (25:06):
Able to work with the players and be like, wow,
we practice that and you just did it like okay,
Like and I totally get when coaches lose their mine
now and they're like.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
I did that one hundred times.
Speaker 7 (25:15):
And now I'm like I was at I was at
use my left hand.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Yeah, but it does give you a different appreciation for coaches.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
Right, oh definitely, And like, yeah, do my own workout.
Speaker 7 (25:27):
It's like quality over quantity definitely, like seeing like, Okay,
if you're only going to shoot the ball correctly twenty times,
then you should just do it twenty times and just
go downstairs and lift because that's not the next one
hundred reps that are going to be terrible are not
going to help you. And like seeing that with my
own workouts, like I feel like I'm able to adjust
and be like okay, like you're gonna stop, you better
either get a water break or like go back to
(25:48):
form shooting for a second, which is like a funny
like perspective that I didn't have before. Like actually being
able to work with the players.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
I really feel like that perception is coupled with what
you do at Athletes Unlimited. And I have heard, like,
you know, last year or year before last. Actually I
talked to Kurt Miller and he would tell me about
how Djna Quarantine, for example, is a player who just
completely changed their mindset and being coachable once they were
(26:16):
done playing with AU. Same thing with someone like Nas
Hillman for example. And so you having been a captain
three times in AU, having to put on your coach's
hat and so many terms, and then going over to Villanova,
it just feels like those things couple together to kind
of make things a bit more easier for you to
see the coach's perspective as a player.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
But now you're getting ready to go into a.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Season with Dallas where you will have a new coach
and Chris coklanis Chris is my guy.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
What excites you about working with Chris?
Speaker 7 (26:45):
Yeah, I mean I'm super excited. Obviously got to meet
him for the first time. Wheney came out to AU
because the day had the press conference in Dallas, there
was a snowstorm, so yeah, no no flights from Philly
no flights anywhere, we're getting to Dallas. So being able
to meet him and actually like, you know, talk to
him after the game, grabbed dinner, grab lunch was great
and he seems like a super cool guy but like
(27:05):
a super high IQ basketball guy as well, which is great. Like,
obviously that's something I've prided myself in, so being able
to like talk the game a little bit and be
like we want told players and seeing that, like I'm
so excited about new teammates, like to get there and
like see the pieces.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
Because obviously it was a crazy free agency I.
Speaker 7 (27:22):
Think, oh, yeah, understatement, Yeah, I'm just super excited to
get there. I think, you know, he brings a great
new perspective to Dallas obviously, along with some great players.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Yeah, Maddie, you talked about free agency the Dallas Wings.
You guys will pretty much have a completely new team, right.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
I think that's it, right?
Speaker 5 (27:48):
I think so?
Speaker 4 (27:49):
Yeah, I think so too.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
But in looking at free agency, I'm not going to
ask you to say which player you're most excited about
playing with because.
Speaker 4 (27:56):
Y'all got some good pieces.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
But what without practicing, right, what do you think the
identity of this Dallas Wings team will.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
Be and how far can you guys go.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
I'm saying the playoffs because I am saying you guys
are gonna make the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
How far did you guys go?
Speaker 5 (28:16):
As well?
Speaker 7 (28:16):
That's always a goal. I think playoffs you gotta you know,
if you're not believing that on day one, then you
know you got bigger problems. So that's definitely going with
that mentality for sure. But I mean definitely versatile. I'm excited.
It's all players I played against. But I think like
we got some tough players, like tough mentally, tough physically,
and I think gritty and I think that's the word
(28:36):
I think I would use, is like gritty and a leader,
like a rique. I think you know, the sky's the limit,
I really know.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Yeah, not only excited about this team, Tam, I'm saying
we talked about it in a previous episode about how
high we are on Dallas and that not only do
you guys have a great core that you brought in
from free agency, but y'all got some draft picks. So
the potential there to bring in or possibly play alongside
(29:04):
of Paige Becker's or Olivia Mouse or whoever. We don't
know obviously, but there's just so much opportunity there. I'm
just incredibly excited about the future for you all. And
Dallas is gonna get a new stadium soon, like you
guys are gonna be.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Moving right yay.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
I know.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
So there's a lot to be excited about.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
But Maddie, before we let you go or get you
out of here, because we know you've got a business schedule,
just one want to take a moment to just continue
to say thank you for being not only a personable individual,
but you really have been I feel like one of
the players that people can really look to to say, hey,
like she does things the right way, she practices hard,
she works hard, she gives great interviews, like she's just
(29:49):
someone who I think that people can really look up to.
And so I appreciate you continuing to be that kind
of player. And also I want to stay here on
the record that when Chris koklan Is came to AU,
I pulled Chris to the thigh because I know Chris
from Connecticut, and I said, put my girl Maddie in
a game with playing.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
I appreciate you, guys, so.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
We saw a record. I'll be advocating.
Speaker 5 (30:10):
Girl, thank you. I appreciate, no.
Speaker 4 (30:15):
Doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
And I just have one last question before we wrap
it up and get out of here. Maddie, I don't
know how old you were when you started playing basketball.
Speaker 5 (30:24):
How old were you like six? Six?
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Yeah, but you have been around the game, You've watched
the game. What are your thoughts on the growth of
women's basketball right now and where we are?
Speaker 5 (30:38):
Oh, I mean so like incredible.
Speaker 7 (30:41):
I think of growing up in New York, Like we
went to a Liberty game Westchester County Center. Wasn't that
far from, you know, the small town I grew up there.
Just seeing like now being able to play in barkleys
in like a sould out crowd, It's like wow, Like
you know, I.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
Was a little kid. It was like yeah, yes, yes,
you know, and I.
Speaker 7 (30:59):
Was in you know, there's only a few players I recognized,
and it was like to be able to see how
much it's growing. I think it's great, and there's so
many good players that have really obviously paved the way,
and there's so many players that have paved the way,
and it's going to continue to grow. I think, like
I always say, like I'm so blessed to have gotten
to be playing when the time I am because like
just watching even March Madness grow through my time at
(31:22):
Villanova to now to enter the NBA and everyone's talking
about the WNBA now, which is great. It's like five
six years ago, maybe that wasn't always the case. There's
players point out and you'd be like, okay, like but
now it's like people are arguing about who's winning this game,
who's a better player, Like that's great for our game. Yeah,
it's been going on, you know, the NBA like forever,
the NFL every weekend. So now to be able to
(31:43):
have this and like the finals everybody's tuned in or
who's the number one pick going to be like that's great,
that's what we want.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
So it's just so excited to be a part of it.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
I love that Maddy was one of the five people
who was at the Westchester Center because wasn't nobody out there.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
I was there. The popcorn was great.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Maddie.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
It's a pleasure to have you join us today. Thank
you so much for taking the time.
Speaker 5 (32:06):
Of course, thank you guys for absolutely.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Congratulating your championship.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Thank you keep doing it, keep doing you.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
We will be watching you this summer and stay healthy
and have a great season.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
I cannot wait to see Maddie ball this season in
the Wing.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
To bring it, Cheryl, But can I say this about
Maddie as if we didn't give her enough flowers and
talk about her enough, Mattie. You know, people always talking
about swag, you know, like he she got swag. Maddie
has a silent swag if that makes it, Yes.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
It does, you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Like she moves with intention all the time, and that
swag she plays is silent but deadly. And I too,
like you cannot wait to see what not only the
Dallas Wings You're gonna do this season. But I think
this is gonna be Maddie's breakout season.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
I really would agree with that.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
She just gives me all of the vibes that which
and I feel like it's the natural progression, right, Like, yeah,
rookie year, you know, rookie year, And I mean the
Wings were a fourth place team her rookie year, so
it wasn't like her first season was a season of
scrubs like they did. They were a playoff team that
first year, and then last season was a year of growth.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
There were injuries.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
She dealt with injuries, but you could see that she
was growing developing. Third year, You've got a full off season,
you got a chance to play five on five strongly Like,
it just feels like the natural progression from Maddie is
for this season.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
New coach, new structure, new.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
Gym, knew everything fresh, start to really go out there
and kill it. So I'm excited to see what Maddie
is gonna do. I'm also very happy for her and
her upcoming nuptials. Mattie, I must still send you my
address this because the Bachelor red party.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
Let me let me own that down for you girl,
I stay.
Speaker 4 (34:14):
Away, Maddie. Yeah, but for congrats again to Maddie.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
One hell of a season that au, and stay healthy
and best of luck this season.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
Absolutely and so on that note. What's you got for
us today?
Speaker 4 (34:30):
You know I got you.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
You know people always saying check on your strong friends
at times, right, because your strong friends are the ones
that always check on you, and no one checks on
the strong friends. I feel like I'm a strong friend
and sometimes I just need somebody to check on.
Speaker 4 (34:45):
Me, right.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
But also I think people think that by being strong,
like strength is showing you're strong all the time. So
this quote, I don't know what's from, it's anonymous. It
says strength isn't about never breaking, it's about always rebuilding.
Speaker 3 (35:05):
That is a very good one.
Speaker 6 (35:07):
Yeah, yes, yes, because we don't break at times, and
that doesn't mean we're not strong right when we break,
but it's always about picking yourself up and rebuilding and rebuilding.
Speaker 3 (35:21):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
I hope that brings something to somebody on this lovely day.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
We gotta these folks gotta stop saying these things anonymously.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
We want to give y'all.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
Credit for the us in things that y'all are putting out.
So yes, thank you for helping to level us up today, Cheryl.
Speaker 3 (35:38):
And on that note, we will be back.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Next week for more next level conversation just about the
real shit that we go through as women. And when
I tell you the episode coming up is quite literally
about the real shit that we go through as women,
you absolutely will not want to miss it. But understand,
it's not just our show. This this our show. So
(36:01):
we want to hear from you. Leave us a review
in Apple Podcasts. You can email us that levels to
this podcast at gmail dot com. Tell us what you
thought of this week's episode or what you may want
to hear us talk about next, And you can definitely
still follow us on Instagram at lctpod. So until then,
keep your mental's ground level and we'll be back next week.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Base Listen to Levels to This on America's number one
podcast network, iHeart. Open your free iHeart app and search
Levels to This with Cheryl Swoops and Treka Foster Brasbee
and start listening
Levels to 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 2 (00:15):
Hey, everybody, it's your girl, Tarrica Fosster Brassby.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
What's up, y'all?
Speaker 1 (00:19):
It's your girl Cheryl Swoops Hey now.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
And this is the levels to this podcast. This is
the show where we share that there is levels to the.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Ship that women go through.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
And so we've got a great show lined up for
you today. We have a special guest that we cannot
wait to chat with.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
But first, Suyl, I know that.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
We both just kind of got back from Nashville like
we were having a well, li A'm gonna speak for you,
but I had a ball.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
In the street.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I had a ball. But you know why, I.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Really, I really had a ball in Tennessee because my
baby's lives in Nashville. Okay, she's a student at Tennessee
State University. She's a junior, and I don't get a
chance to kick it with babysys as often as I
would like because she's in Tennessee. And when I'm not traveling,
(01:16):
I live in Connecticut, so neither one of us live
in Detroit anymore.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
So I really enjoyed the two weeks that I was there.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
I was there that I got a chance to kick
it with babysys, to introduce her to some folks.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
The women at AU.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
When they found out that my sister was working in
the pro shop, they was going up there buying stuff
from her.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
I said, y'all better brot her commission up.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
They was getting that good discount.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Getting that okay, cause you know, you know how, you
know how.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
We are okay going to give to that little discount,
go and get that.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Little shirt, that little shirt right there, put it on her.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
So yeah, we will do something like that.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
We should, we all, but you should, like I get it,
like anytime I have time. So like when AU was
in Dallas last year, right my brother lives there, so
it was an opportunity for me to hang out with him,
kick it with him.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
So I totally get it.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
But not to mention the fact T that, like I
go to Instagram X whatever the hell we calling it nowadays,
and lo and behold, I know almost see myself out
in the streets somewhere out Listen.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Sad and T t you just.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Gave them a whole.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Different side of Tarika Foster, Brasbee and Nashville.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
I saw that the country karaoke and going a y.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Okay, she she wor a why she were a why,
I'm going.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Gap to any environment okay, and then environment.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I would have my boots on the ground. I had
my country girl lying dance going on there. Come tell
me nothing out here with these birds, tore a broad
Broadway all the way up and I had such a
good time. Shout out to my homeboy, miles of my
homeboy owing. They came out with me and they was
like tea, we are going out every single day. And
(03:16):
I said, I'm forty, but I'm gonna catch I'm gonna
keep it up.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
And I sure and I sure did.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
We experienced We experienced Nashville, Okay, slows your ass down,
so don't be putting.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
I acted up.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Then my home girl Christina came out the weekend and
I said, well, let's keep the party going then, So
you know, we went from we went from the white
side of Nashville to the black side of Nashville because
we at the hook A Lounge at this.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Point, so we we doing we threw it everything. That's
what I said, Like, it doesn't matter you you were
gonna fit in wherever you are. You're gonna have a
good time wherever you are. That's that's why I love
you for real. Oudam blame, but let me just say,
you know, the first year of AYU and I was
looking to be a part, was in Vegas. And you
(04:06):
know it's Vegas, So you're always gonna have a good
time in Vegas if you want to.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Yeah, outside of basketball, yeah, year two.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Year three in Dallas, year four in Nashville, and I
don't know about you, but Nashville to me felt like home,
felt like AU home. This is where it's supposed to be.
This is where it needs to be. The city showed
up and showed out. The fans were They're like, I
(04:34):
absolutely loved the four weeks that I spent with AU
in Nashville.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Great city.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
One hundred percent agree it was. It felt inviting from
you and I both being at the kickoffs breakfast that
was held on National Women and Growling Sports Day, all
the way through to the finals closing ceremony, and then
the excitement around the announcement that AU will be returning
(05:01):
to Nashville in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
They have great ambassadors.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
I know, I know that's good.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Isabelle Harrison was amazing. Alicia Clark to you know, Dory Harrison.
Some hometown folks loved it, and so I'm gonna call
you know, we called Isabelle Harrison, that's the mayor in
Nashville now, because we messed around and went out to
dinner and they told us it.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Was let me tell you this story real quick.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
So we went out to dinner, right, It was me,
Christina and Kadok and we end up we at the
little restaurant and it's the night of the fight. We
didn't realize that it was the night of the of
the Tank Davis fight. So we was like, oh lord.
So they got a thirty quote unquote, a thirty minute
wait on a table. I said, lord, we're finna be
in here. Thirty Ain't nobody finna lead because the fight
(05:47):
ain't nobody what a fight is on. But I'm like,
thirty minutes is crazy.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
But we're hungry. We hungry, We ain't gotta know where
to go. We like, forget it, right, So.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
What time was it?
Speaker 2 (05:58):
This? No, this was like maybe ten Okay, that's late
for me. I mean, that's late for you. You're right,
that's late for you.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
But it wasn't lately. It wasn't lately.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
I got it wasn't late enough.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
So it's been forty minutes at this point, right, I'd
have been to the bar, I got a drink, came back.
At this point, I'm about to order some food at
the stand because i can't believe it's been like forty minutes.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Who do we see walk in the door. It's a
bell and Dorry Harrison.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
And we say, hey, is he what's going on? And
if he says hey, what you're doing? And we said
we waiting on the table. They told us it was
a forty minute wait is he looks at the hostess
and says, oh my god, you making my friends wait
for a table. The check looked at the screen and
within thirty seconds was like, oh, no problem.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
We can put them at.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Table one on nine. So you don't have us waiting
up here for forty damn minutes. If he comes in
here and within thirty seconds.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
We got a table, Oh my god, you Liza, she
is the Mary and Ashfield.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
You know what?
Speaker 6 (07:05):
You know? What is?
Speaker 4 (07:06):
He said?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Do you know who I am? Do you know who
I am? And let me tell you who else asked
us if we know who they was?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Who might maybe somebody by the name of Madison's Secrets
not made for the moment, Honey, don't play no games.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Maddie, the made for the moment.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
The big Maddie's Secrets.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Do you know who I am? Yes, Maddie, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You need to know who she is, and we're excited
to have her on the show today. So if you
don't know who she is, you're gonna find out more
about who she is today. So on that note, let's
take it to the next level.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Joining us this week.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I am so thrilled and so is Cheryl to have
the twenty twenty five athletes unlimited champion Mattie.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Road.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
The crowd goes wild.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Listen, Maddie, I am so glad you could make time
for little old us cause I know your schedule is full.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Okay, so let's start with the obvious elephant in the room.
You are officially the first AU champion to be a
returning player, because for some odd reason, all the other
champions have decided they wasn't coming back the next year.
You killed the game last year. This year, you came
(08:47):
into AU part from the start. And I know we've
talked about this before, but for the people who've never
heard us discuss this before, we'll make it brand new.
You know, obviously the goal coming into AU this year
is to win a championship.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
But what was different come into AU this year then
maybe in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 7 (09:04):
Well, I think for me last year, honestly it was great.
I didn't get to play a ton as a rookie
at Dallas, So just to be able to play five
on five, play a lot of minutes, get a lot
of reps in it was great. And then coming into
this year, I obviously had a little more experience in
the league and I knew what to expect. So I
was like, okay, like, my goal is to finish top ten.
You say that you really probably want top five, but
you say top ten in your head now.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
You really want the top really want to ward.
Speaker 7 (09:28):
But it was cool, of course, but my mindset was like,
I just want to be the best basketball player I
could be. Why I'm here, and I want to leave
after the five weeks and be like I gave it
everything I had. Also, seeing last year a little bit
like the strategy behind it, I didn't really have a
chance to be a captain's but like you're thinking, oh
what would I do? And you really see how important
winning the quarters are, even like you could be up
(09:49):
and win the game by twenty, but if you only
win two quarters, like you got to try to win
all four every time. So I think that mindset definitely
helped me in terms of trying to finish top of
the leader board.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
So listen, what you're saying is you can't just be
a basketball player.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
You also got to be good at math.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
A little bit, yeah, a lot.
Speaker 7 (10:09):
They're always like, oh, do you look at the leaderboard
the plus minus? I personally don't because I would lose
my mind if I'm like, is this minus ten plus?
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Yes, yes, they do look at the leaderboard.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Okay, maybe you don't look at it like week one,
but as the weeks go on, by the way, then
you know, coming into week four, you.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Know where you're at.
Speaker 7 (10:30):
Yeah, and then like going into the last game, I
definitely look before that because I'm like, I just want
to see where I'm at.
Speaker 5 (10:36):
Obviously you're trying to win the game.
Speaker 7 (10:37):
But at the same time, if like maybe some players
didn't get to play as many minutes and the whole week,
and if you're in a good spot, I have a
lot of teammates who were in between five and ten,
and you know they're playing for money too, So then
I'm like, all right, we're gonna try to win this game,
because you know, if I was in that spot, I
would want whoever's I want to, you know, play hard and.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Compete for me.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yeah, Maddie, you made me nervous when the game started.
I said, come back, and this is about to be
a big.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
But you said she had a nice lead.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Sorry she did, And I was like, and all I
kept thinking was I was like, if Maddy puts out
of sea back in, I'm cool with that too, So
like it's a win win situation.
Speaker 6 (11:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
What you mentioned a moment ago that you didn't get
a chance to be captain last year, but this year
you were captain three weeks in a row. How does
that really up your IQ as it relates to basketball,
Because for those who don't know, when you're in the
captain spot, you are literally everything. You're the coach, you're
the you're the everything, So like, how does that help you?
Speaker 5 (11:37):
I mean, you definitely have to think.
Speaker 7 (11:39):
So if you're a player who just likes to go
out there and play like, it's probably not the best
spot to be in. But for me, I tried to
just pick people who are like high IQ players because
I like to play in space and fast, so yeah,
I like reads, So I tried to pick people who
were high i Q players who can make reads, Cause like,
you have a day or two of practition, not putting
in ten plays, you're putting in stand here, this is
(11:59):
what we're doing.
Speaker 5 (11:59):
If I dribble, you backcut if you do this.
Speaker 7 (12:02):
So I tried to pick high a Q players, a
lot of experience, especially the first few weeks. I tried
to surround myself with you know, like Izzy, oh Maya,
we're all my team. That second week, which helped a
ton because obviously not only great players, but a lot
of experience. And then the facilitators were great too, because
the subbing was I was like, I'm not going to
be able to know when somebody else is tired. You
got to do that and you got to use your
(12:23):
best judgment there. Because I'm as a player, I never
want to come out. So it's like sometimes you got
to know, like all right, you need to blow here,
this person can go in for this person for you know,
a few minutes, or we need a lift here.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
So I think the facilitators were great for that.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
For the record, before you go cher, oh yeah, Maddi's
team was undefeated in week two, which is why she
mentioned two.
Speaker 7 (12:44):
It was a super team. Me izy oh Maya. I
think everyone finished.
Speaker 5 (12:48):
In the.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
Remember like space jam I was like, oh, this is
the month stars right here.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
So here's the thing that like blows my mind to
you when you say that, because if I'm a captain,
there is no way I'm passing up on some of
those players that my mind was saying. How in the
world were these players available for Maddie to be able
to draft down?
Speaker 5 (13:13):
Yeah, it was definitely wild.
Speaker 7 (13:15):
I had my list. You always had your list. Okay,
if I had two of these top five, I'll be good.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
You know. I'm like, wow, I'm getting I got all
three of my top three.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Free, Like, how was I able to do that?
Speaker 5 (13:27):
This work?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
So Maddie, you know, I don't know if you know
this or not. I know I heard Ari say it
and so then I started calling you Maddie. Made for
the moment secret because so Cindy and I call in
the game and we're talking and I said to Cindy
to tease point the last game when you like had
zero points in the first half, I said to Cindy,
(13:51):
I was like, first of all, it's crazy, right that
she has zero points, I said, but it's just a
matter of time before she makes up hers shot and
then here we are third quarter. You have your double double,
because that's what you do. But coming into this season,
was there a certain part of your game that you
really wanted to focus on working on in preparation for
(14:11):
the w season.
Speaker 7 (14:13):
Yeah, definitely just being more aggressive as a whole. I
always I'm gonna run hard and get offensive rebounds, but
being able to create a little bit more off the dribble.
And definitely just more confidence shooting threes with a hand
in your face, because like you know, in college you
do that and then sometimes you get, you know, to
that next level and maybe you know your minutes are
a little up and down, so you're like, yeah, like
you're a little tent and like for me, that was
(14:34):
something I was really conscious about going in and I'm like, nope,
I want to just let it fly and just be
able to get those reps in and play against some
top players. And I think it really did help, and
it helped from a confidence standpoint. Obviously, you continue to
grow as a player. Once you see the ball going,
you're like, oh yeah, all right, here we go.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
I mean, besides your obviously physical ability and talent and
everything you did on the court, that was one area
for me. Like watching you play last season and this season,
I was like, her confidence is at a whole nother level.
And to me, I'm just saying this really isn't a question,
it's more of a statement or comment. I think if
(15:12):
you take that aggressiveness along with the confidence you're playing
with into your w season, like you're going to completely
change the look of this Dallas Wings team.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
I'm a fan of Maddie.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (15:29):
I appreciate it, and I think you know, as obviously
we know like mindset can make all the difference. I
think like obviously from year one in Dallas he or two,
like my mindset shifted instead of like okay, like taking
a back seat, like I'm just happy to be here,
to be you know I'm supposed to be here. It's
a matter of time before things start clicking. And I
feel like that really helped me, and then I was
able to try to help any rookies that we had
(15:50):
and players that were coming for a few days at
a time and be like, hey, you have to shoot
that ball because if you don't shoot it, then you're
never going to make that shot. Yes, especially when you're limited.
It's like, I'd rather go zero for three, but I
took three good shots and my taps worked really hard
to get me instead of being like, you know what,
let me just throw out to someone who's covered like that.
That doesn't help anybody.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
For you to say, Owen three as efficient as you
have been is hilarious to me.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Just when I look at the numbers. I'm a numbers girl.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I looked at the stats and I'm just like, honestly,
one of the most efficient, if not the efficient player
in athletes unlimited this year. So just how do you
you know when you have to switch week per week
and there are so many different players who bring such
a competitive edge defensively, how do you maneuver yourself to
find the looks in which you are able to be
(16:41):
efficient with your selection.
Speaker 7 (16:43):
I think knowing like what you're good at, being like, okay,
that's a great shot for me, Like maybe this is
a tough shot, and you have to take tough shots. Obviously,
the better you are, one of the more tough shots
you have to take. So practicing those, you know, I
practice bad shots because sometimes three two one, you're gonna
have the ball in your hands and you gotta practice that. Yeah,
but having that mindset like it's a matter of when
and not if, because you know, sometimes you get off
(17:03):
in e ro for six and you're like all right,
but you have to like really believe in your head
like hey, I'm a fifty percent shooter, like the next
six are probably gonna go in or at least going
six for eight. And I think that mentality is really
just helped me and knowing like okay, maybe if I'm struggling,
like let me run the floor really hard and try
to get a lay up.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Because once you see the ball going or you know,
you get to the mind thing you get to put back. Yeah,
everyone feels better. The next show always feels like it's
going in once you see it go in.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
The cool thing about AU is that because you get
to switch so often, you get to play with people
who you've never played with before. You kind of get
to bond with people, to meet people. Is there somebody
this year who maybe you didn't really know that will
or didn't have a real relationship with before and now
you're like, that's my girl.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
Yeah, definitely Shay.
Speaker 7 (17:58):
I didn't get to play with her until we and
I wish I had played with so many She did
such a good yeah, Shaye Peddy such a good like person.
The vibe like so encouraging. I got to play with TP.
I didn't get to play with Tie or Alicia Clark.
Those are two people I wanted to play with because
I'm like, they just seem like awesome teammates. But obviously
I get to play with Tie. You know, maybe I
(18:18):
get to play with ay See one day. But it's
cool because like you just you play against these people,
but then you get to all of a sudden you're
in an open gym with them and you're working out
like and you're like, oh, okay, no, wonder you hit
that shot all the time like this, you know, shooting
with Key and Nurse, Like okay, this is what you
practice like you're great at Yeah, take stuff away from them,
like you know, it's just my finish my second year,
gonna go in my third. So I just tried to
(18:40):
ask many questions as I could, like seeing, okay, this
has literally worked for you and this worked out, Like
how do you how are you able.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
To do it?
Speaker 4 (18:46):
Maddie four?
Speaker 1 (18:47):
And you mentioned if this is your second season. For
any one out there listening right who they've been like, eh,
what does it say? You think maybe I want to
do it, Maybe I don't. Why would you tell them
they should play in AU.
Speaker 7 (19:01):
I think that it's a great opportunity to play five
and five basketball here in the States. I think the
fact that it's five weeks and you get to play
twelve games in five weeks and then two more scrimmages,
Like in terms of getting to play basketball, like real, real,
live basketball, it's great. You're also getting to play with
different teammates, Like you only have a team for three games,
so you hate your team, it's only three games.
Speaker 5 (19:22):
You love your team. It's three games. So your role
each week changes too.
Speaker 7 (19:26):
There's sometimes, like we've seen a million times, like players
they don't play one week all of a sudden, The
Star on the team the next week, and then they're
the best defensive player of.
Speaker 5 (19:34):
The next week.
Speaker 7 (19:34):
So it's like, yeah, you get to see so many
different you know, and be so many different roles, and
throughout a w season, or if you're trying to make
a season.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
You're bouncing around teams like your role is going to
be different.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
So this is a great opportunity to just be able.
Speaker 7 (19:46):
To do different things and show like, Okay, you know what,
we have a lot of scores this week, I'm gonna
rebound the ball. I'm gonna be the best defender, or
I'm gonna try to guard this player because you know,
she's the best player I ever guarded. And I think
that's really cool to be able to play with and
against so many different players in such a short amount
of time.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Yeah, I know one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
So now that AU is over, where is our focus?
Speaker 3 (20:10):
What are we doing to pass the time between.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Now that AU's done and training camp for the Dallas Wings.
Speaker 7 (20:18):
Yesterday, I actually have been pushing it off. But I'm
getting married next fall.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
A w C.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
I knew that, you know what.
Speaker 5 (20:24):
I knew that.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
I didn't know when, but I saw the engagement congratulations,
So her hands are full, basically tail.
Speaker 7 (20:34):
So I went to Clinklin Feled yesterday to get my
wedding dress. I've been pushing it off because I knew
the dress I wanted, and I just I was like, okay,
and I kept telling my mom. I was like, as
soon as they used done, I promise we'll do wedding stuff.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
So, yes, you know what she said.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
I'm sorry, Maddie, she said, as soon as I get
this bag from au We're gonna go.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Shopping for definitely.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
I'm like, okay, now.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, So that was that's.
Speaker 7 (21:00):
For the immediate and then I'm doing player development at Lenova,
so we're going right to the biggiest tournament tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
Shift into that.
Speaker 7 (21:07):
Player development role a little bit, and then you know,
just keep training. Hopefully you're going on vacation maybe in
the end of the month and Villanova season's over. Go
somewhere warm for a few days, but just train, just
get ready. I'm excited, obviously a lot of new teammates
in Dallas. I can't wait to get there, but just
trying to enjoy the time in between.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
So I'm going back to this wedding, honey, because I
love the wedding okay, But more important than a good
wedding is a hell of a good bachelorette party.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
So I'm just throwing my name out there that if
you need.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Some No, no, we're not calling it.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Complete bachelorette party planner, but no, that's incredibly exciting. I
can't imagine how difficult it is trying to plan a
wedding in between a basketball season, in between coaching, Like
mom and family has the hands full? Have you guys
picked the date? You got the date?
Speaker 5 (22:02):
Yes?
Speaker 7 (22:03):
So it's like the first week in November of right
after like our season. And he's a basketball coach. He
coached at Drexel in Philly, so right before his season,
right after my season.
Speaker 5 (22:13):
Because I'm like, we had a small window.
Speaker 7 (22:16):
Yeah. So I'm like, I'd rather come off the season,
get married and enjoy it.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
I'm like, i can't get married and then go right
to training camp.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
I'm like no, So listen.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
So we were fortunate enough to meet your mom, your dad,
and your sister at AU this past week. And my
question for you is, because dad's a big man, Dad
did approve, I'm.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
Assuming, oh, yeah, for sure?
Speaker 4 (22:44):
Ye want to cross daddy? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Daddy about six seven we're not playing with.
Speaker 5 (22:50):
That playing games. But no, they all love Steve. Luckily,
I'm one of four.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
So he got we're giving shout out.
Speaker 7 (22:59):
Yeah, yeah, shout out out.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
He's I love that.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
No.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
But so, Maddy, I got a chance to talk to
your to your mom and your dad. Your dad was
a baller himself.
Speaker 5 (23:09):
Yes, he was all right.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
And is that who you learned your your basketball skills from?
Speaker 5 (23:15):
Yeah, definitely. So he played at Marist.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
In back in the day.
Speaker 5 (23:19):
Yeah, back back in the day.
Speaker 7 (23:21):
Back then, and he was he just says he was
a grip player, charges, rebounder, defender. So he was like
when I was little, he was like, Nope, you're going
to be a skill player.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
You're gonna be like a shooter.
Speaker 7 (23:34):
I want you to have like all the skills, like
so you don't have to take a million charges, which
is hilarious that that was his mindset. But he was like,
you're gonna be tall because my mom's like, she's not.
Speaker 5 (23:43):
Sure, but she's not.
Speaker 7 (23:44):
She was a cheer leader, so yeah, basketball in her,
but she would. He was like, no, we need you
to have guard skills because they're just gonna throw you in,
you know as a center, like growing up. Obviously you're
gonna be the tallest in Pepsie, New York, c YO.
So he's like, no, we're gonna make sure that you
can be a guard. And luck, you know it was
good because then you know it's translated pretty good because
of the center. I'm not sure how good I would
(24:06):
have been.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
That makes tons of sense.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
I absolutely love that.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
So now that you are getting into some player development
at Villanova, I'm very excited about this because there are
a lot of players now who are starting to touch
their roots a little bit into the coaching space. Right,
do you think that in your career is very early,
so we not at all talking about post basketball, but
just a little bit. Do you think that, you know,
(24:34):
coaching may be something that you could consider yourself getting
into twenty years down the line when when you're done
playing basketball.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
I think so.
Speaker 7 (24:42):
I definitely know that when I stopped playing basketball, I
won't be able to walk away, Like you know, I
love it too much. Scheme has given me too much
that I'm gonna, of course, always want to be in
it somehow. Yeah, So I think, you know, coaching has
been really fun. Last year I did a little more
like administrative stuff at Villanova, like similar, but like more
like how everything works, which was crazy because I never
realized that as a player how much goes into it.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
But actually being.
Speaker 7 (25:06):
Able to work with the players and be like, wow,
we practice that and you just did it like okay,
Like and I totally get when coaches lose their mine
now and they're like.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
I did that one hundred times.
Speaker 7 (25:15):
And now I'm like I was at I was at
use my left hand.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Yeah, but it does give you a different appreciation for coaches.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
Right, oh definitely, And like, yeah, do my own workout.
Speaker 7 (25:27):
It's like quality over quantity definitely, like seeing like, Okay,
if you're only going to shoot the ball correctly twenty times,
then you should just do it twenty times and just
go downstairs and lift because that's not the next one
hundred reps that are going to be terrible are not
going to help you. And like seeing that with my
own workouts, like I feel like I'm able to adjust
and be like okay, like you're gonna stop, you better
either get a water break or like go back to
(25:48):
form shooting for a second, which is like a funny
like perspective that I didn't have before. Like actually being
able to work with the players.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
I really feel like that perception is coupled with what
you do at Athletes Unlimited. And I have heard, like,
you know, last year or year before last. Actually I
talked to Kurt Miller and he would tell me about
how Djna Quarantine, for example, is a player who just
completely changed their mindset and being coachable once they were
(26:16):
done playing with AU. Same thing with someone like Nas
Hillman for example. And so you having been a captain
three times in AU, having to put on your coach's
hat and so many terms, and then going over to Villanova,
it just feels like those things couple together to kind
of make things a bit more easier for you to
see the coach's perspective as a player.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
But now you're getting ready to go into a.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Season with Dallas where you will have a new coach
and Chris coklanis Chris is my guy.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
What excites you about working with Chris?
Speaker 7 (26:45):
Yeah, I mean I'm super excited. Obviously got to meet
him for the first time. Wheney came out to AU
because the day had the press conference in Dallas, there
was a snowstorm, so yeah, no no flights from Philly
no flights anywhere, we're getting to Dallas. So being able
to meet him and actually like, you know, talk to
him after the game, grabbed dinner, grab lunch was great
and he seems like a super cool guy but like
(27:05):
a super high IQ basketball guy as well, which is great. Like,
obviously that's something I've prided myself in, so being able
to like talk the game a little bit and be
like we want told players and seeing that, like I'm
so excited about new teammates, like to get there and
like see the pieces.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
Because obviously it was a crazy free agency I.
Speaker 7 (27:22):
Think, oh, yeah, understatement, Yeah, I'm just super excited to
get there. I think, you know, he brings a great
new perspective to Dallas obviously, along with some great players.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Yeah, Maddie, you talked about free agency the Dallas Wings.
You guys will pretty much have a completely new team, right.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
I think that's it, right?
Speaker 5 (27:48):
I think so?
Speaker 4 (27:49):
Yeah, I think so too.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
But in looking at free agency, I'm not going to
ask you to say which player you're most excited about
playing with because.
Speaker 4 (27:56):
Y'all got some good pieces.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
But what without practicing, right, what do you think the
identity of this Dallas Wings team will.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
Be and how far can you guys go.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
I'm saying the playoffs because I am saying you guys
are gonna make the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
How far did you guys go?
Speaker 5 (28:16):
As well?
Speaker 7 (28:16):
That's always a goal. I think playoffs you gotta you know,
if you're not believing that on day one, then you
know you got bigger problems. So that's definitely going with
that mentality for sure. But I mean definitely versatile. I'm excited.
It's all players I played against. But I think like
we got some tough players, like tough mentally, tough physically,
and I think gritty and I think that's the word
(28:36):
I think I would use, is like gritty and a leader,
like a rique. I think you know, the sky's the limit,
I really know.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Yeah, not only excited about this team, Tam, I'm saying
we talked about it in a previous episode about how
high we are on Dallas and that not only do
you guys have a great core that you brought in
from free agency, but y'all got some draft picks. So
the potential there to bring in or possibly play alongside
(29:04):
of Paige Becker's or Olivia Mouse or whoever. We don't
know obviously, but there's just so much opportunity there. I'm
just incredibly excited about the future for you all. And
Dallas is gonna get a new stadium soon, like you
guys are gonna be.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Moving right yay.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
I know.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
So there's a lot to be excited about.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
But Maddie, before we let you go or get you
out of here, because we know you've got a business schedule,
just one want to take a moment to just continue
to say thank you for being not only a personable individual,
but you really have been I feel like one of
the players that people can really look to to say, hey,
like she does things the right way, she practices hard,
she works hard, she gives great interviews, like she's just
(29:49):
someone who I think that people can really look up to.
And so I appreciate you continuing to be that kind
of player. And also I want to stay here on
the record that when Chris koklan Is came to AU,
I pulled Chris to the thigh because I know Chris
from Connecticut, and I said, put my girl Maddie in
a game with playing.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
I appreciate you, guys, so.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
We saw a record. I'll be advocating.
Speaker 5 (30:10):
Girl, thank you. I appreciate, no.
Speaker 4 (30:15):
Doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
And I just have one last question before we wrap
it up and get out of here. Maddie, I don't
know how old you were when you started playing basketball.
Speaker 5 (30:24):
How old were you like six? Six?
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Yeah, but you have been around the game, You've watched
the game. What are your thoughts on the growth of
women's basketball right now and where we are?
Speaker 5 (30:38):
Oh, I mean so like incredible.
Speaker 7 (30:41):
I think of growing up in New York, Like we
went to a Liberty game Westchester County Center. Wasn't that
far from, you know, the small town I grew up there.
Just seeing like now being able to play in barkleys
in like a sould out crowd, It's like wow, Like
you know, I.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
Was a little kid. It was like yeah, yes, yes,
you know, and I.
Speaker 7 (30:59):
Was in you know, there's only a few players I recognized,
and it was like to be able to see how
much it's growing. I think it's great, and there's so
many good players that have really obviously paved the way,
and there's so many players that have paved the way,
and it's going to continue to grow. I think, like
I always say, like I'm so blessed to have gotten
to be playing when the time I am because like
just watching even March Madness grow through my time at
(31:22):
Villanova to now to enter the NBA and everyone's talking
about the WNBA now, which is great. It's like five
six years ago, maybe that wasn't always the case. There's
players point out and you'd be like, okay, like but
now it's like people are arguing about who's winning this game,
who's a better player, Like that's great for our game. Yeah,
it's been going on, you know, the NBA like forever,
the NFL every weekend. So now to be able to
(31:43):
have this and like the finals everybody's tuned in or
who's the number one pick going to be like that's great,
that's what we want.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
So it's just so excited to be a part of it.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
I love that Maddy was one of the five people
who was at the Westchester Center because wasn't nobody out there.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
I was there. The popcorn was great.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Maddie.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
It's a pleasure to have you join us today. Thank
you so much for taking the time.
Speaker 5 (32:06):
Of course, thank you guys for absolutely.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Congratulating your championship.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Thank you keep doing it, keep doing you.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
We will be watching you this summer and stay healthy
and have a great season.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
I cannot wait to see Maddie ball this season in
the Wing.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
To bring it, Cheryl, But can I say this about
Maddie as if we didn't give her enough flowers and
talk about her enough, Mattie. You know, people always talking
about swag, you know, like he she got swag. Maddie
has a silent swag if that makes it, Yes.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
It does, you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Like she moves with intention all the time, and that
swag she plays is silent but deadly. And I too,
like you cannot wait to see what not only the
Dallas Wings You're gonna do this season. But I think
this is gonna be Maddie's breakout season.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
I really would agree with that.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
She just gives me all of the vibes that which
and I feel like it's the natural progression, right, Like, yeah,
rookie year, you know, rookie year, And I mean the
Wings were a fourth place team her rookie year, so
it wasn't like her first season was a season of
scrubs like they did. They were a playoff team that
first year, and then last season was a year of growth.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
There were injuries.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
She dealt with injuries, but you could see that she
was growing developing. Third year, You've got a full off season,
you got a chance to play five on five strongly Like,
it just feels like the natural progression from Maddie is
for this season.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
New coach, new structure, new.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
Gym, knew everything fresh, start to really go out there
and kill it. So I'm excited to see what Maddie
is gonna do. I'm also very happy for her and
her upcoming nuptials. Mattie, I must still send you my
address this because the Bachelor red party.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
Let me let me own that down for you girl,
I stay.
Speaker 4 (34:14):
Away, Maddie. Yeah, but for congrats again to Maddie.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
One hell of a season that au, and stay healthy
and best of luck this season.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
Absolutely and so on that note. What's you got for
us today?
Speaker 4 (34:30):
You know I got you.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
You know people always saying check on your strong friends
at times, right, because your strong friends are the ones
that always check on you, and no one checks on
the strong friends. I feel like I'm a strong friend
and sometimes I just need somebody to check on.
Speaker 4 (34:45):
Me, right.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
But also I think people think that by being strong,
like strength is showing you're strong all the time. So
this quote, I don't know what's from, it's anonymous. It
says strength isn't about never breaking, it's about always rebuilding.
Speaker 3 (35:05):
That is a very good one.
Speaker 6 (35:07):
Yeah, yes, yes, because we don't break at times, and
that doesn't mean we're not strong right when we break,
but it's always about picking yourself up and rebuilding and rebuilding.
Speaker 3 (35:21):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
I hope that brings something to somebody on this lovely day.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
We gotta these folks gotta stop saying these things anonymously.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
We want to give y'all.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
Credit for the us in things that y'all are putting out.
So yes, thank you for helping to level us up today, Cheryl.
Speaker 3 (35:38):
And on that note, we will be back.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Next week for more next level conversation just about the
real shit that we go through as women. And when
I tell you the episode coming up is quite literally
about the real shit that we go through as women,
you absolutely will not want to miss it. But understand,
it's not just our show. This this our show. So
(36:01):
we want to hear from you. Leave us a review
in Apple Podcasts. You can email us that levels to
this podcast at gmail dot com. Tell us what you
thought of this week's episode or what you may want
to hear us talk about next, And you can definitely
still follow us on Instagram at lctpod. So until then,
keep your mental's ground level and we'll be back next week.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Base Listen to Levels to This on America's number one
podcast network, iHeart. Open your free iHeart app and search
Levels to This with Cheryl Swoops and Treka Foster Brasbee
and start listening
Hosts And Creators
Terrika Foster-Brasby
Sheryl Swoopes
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com