March 6, 2025 • 55 mins
On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl and Tee break down the continued chaos of WNBA free agency — analyzing key moves, major team shakeups, and what it might mean for the upcoming season. From standout players in AU to shifting team dynamics going into training camp, they’ve got all the insights. Plus, they celebrate Women’s History Month with a powerful quote you won’t want to miss.
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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 1 (00:15):
Hey, everybody, what's going on? Is your girl? Serrika Foster
Brassby and I'm your girl, Cheryl Swoops. What's up y'all? Hey?
And this is the Levels to this podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
This is the show where we share that it is
levels to the shit that women go through.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
We have such a fun show lined up for you today.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
But Cheryl, I feel like this is the first time
in a few weeks that we've been like on a
regular show.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Oh my god, I know.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I'm like, can we get back to our show? But
it's been real though, So listen, I'm.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Gonna hop right into it.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
So I'm gonna keep a long story short because we
got some way more important exciting things to talk about
than my personal shit. So, for people who don't know,
my mom and dad split up when I was three
months old. Okay, so I don't know my dad. I
actually met my dad for the very first time when
(01:10):
I was like.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Forty years old. Okay, didn't really feel anything.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
I was just for me, I was like, I need
to at least know who he is, just to have
some closure.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Okay. Ye.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
So that was that, and it was a very short
conversation of I'm your daddy.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Oh hi, right, okay.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, I get
a message on Facebook from someone saying they're my cousin
on my dad's side. Now, mind you, I don't know
anybody on my dad's side, So I respond Hi. So
they basically said, Hey, cheryl A, your cousin just wanted
to let you know that Billy Ray that's my dad's name,
(01:51):
that he's not doing very well, so hoping you'll respond.
So I responded, I said, Hi, how, what's wrong? Blah
blah blah. So I get this whole rundown and then
and they said, but your sister, Patricia is with him
at the hospital. And I responded and said, I don't
have a sister because to my knowledge, Tea, I don't
have a sister, right, because I don't know anybody on
(02:13):
my dad's side. So I go to the hospital to
see him, visit him. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer
a couple of years ago. Doctors are saying he doesn't
have long to live, so I needed some closure in
for me right before he passes on and all those
good things, because I had a gazillion question. Now, am
I wrong to just be like, I don't really know
(02:35):
you anyway?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
So I'm going to step back, do you.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Because there's a whole lot of stuff in between there.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Okay, So there is some stuff that I feel like
I can fill in the blank just by common sense.
And I also think like there's this natural guilty feeling
in some ways because it's.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Your dad right in your mind, You're like, you want
to be.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Rude because as you my daddy, Yes, but realistically I
don't like know you liked that. Yes, So like the
way that you probably feel is the way you would
feel if you found out someone you knew passed away,
where you'd be like, oh, my condolences.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yes, But at the end of the day, this is
the man that I've been told right, right, because is
my dad.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Now, I'm a journalist, and so I listen to words.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
You keep saying the man I've been told, the man
that people say this is my saddy here, Okay, but
like you don't sound sure, is this your daddy. Are
you unsure your daddy?
Speaker 1 (03:42):
So I don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
And that's not coming from me, that's coming from my
supposedly half sister, who I also don't know.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
I don't know, y'all.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Okay, So to me, I was like, this could be
a whole episode.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
It really could be about I feel in some type
of way right now.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Okay, So I think your feelings are entirely valid, right,
Like entirely valid, Like you, you don't get to just
come back in my life randomly, and then at a
time that you do come back in my life, it's
because of some emergency situation, like if you were able
to contact me to tell.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Me Billy ray One doing well? Come both to nobody
contact me home or not?
Speaker 3 (04:24):
So why couldn't your contact me two years ago when
he was diagnosed with when he was diagnosed exactly you
want to contact me now that he's on his deathbed
right right?
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Right?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
So I already got issues, like you clearly knew how
to reach me. Yeah yeah, and I did not know
how to reach y'all clearly, Like what's up with that?
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I don't even know. I don't even know you.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I don't know anybody on his side of the family.
So even if I wanted to find you, I wouldn't.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Know where to begin. I wouldn't know where to start.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah, And so now I'm getting all these text messages
every day about what the doctor's just saying.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Blah blah blah, you know what.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I mean, and it's overwhelmed me, girl, Like y'all telling
me about this man.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
I don't know for.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Real, you know what I'm saying, And I'm not getting
to be like like, I don't give it damn right.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
But again, in a way, he's a stranger to me.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
So I will say the one way that you can
if you wanted to get additional closure, have you gone
to see him?
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Have you talked to him? I did, Okay, I went
last week.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
To me, if he's up to it, like and I
don't mean up to it like I mean like physically.
If I mean if he's going through something physically, is
physically up to it, because mentally, you ain't got no
choice but to be up to it, because I feel
like you owe me this information. But if he's physically
up to it, then I think this is probably a
great time for you to get those answers of questions
that you have because what other time.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
I mean, first of all, I didn't going nowhere.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
I did, but I did so some of the things
she told me, I then asked him when I was there,
and what he says very different from what she said,
see what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
And that's why I'm like, I don't really know what
somebody lying.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
But then ask us off this, what's the reason for
him to lie at this point?
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Because that's what I said.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
I mean, if it's a dire as y'all say, what's
the point of you lying at this point?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
And so I debated on if I was even going
to like bring it up and ask you. But there's
a part of me that does feel guilty, Like even
though I don't know him, right, there's a part of
me that's like, yeah, but that's shit, daddy.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
You know why I told me. You know why because
of how we were raised.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Because we were raised with this idea of you honor
and respect still your mother and father even when and
that's something that these kids today don't like they feel
I'm not I'm actually not even criticizing when I say this,
but like these kids today they're feel like, I really
got to put up with you just because you're my family.
I ain't really got to put up with you just
(07:01):
because you're my mama or my daddy. And there are
some cases where I'm like, I feel that, But then
there are other cases where it's like I physically would
not be here in this earth and on this space,
yes if you didn't Yeah, and I would not be
doing our levels to this podcast. Yeah, he didn't bring
me into this world. You plan it to seed, bro,
you plan it to seed. And so because of that,
(07:23):
there's some level of appreciation isn't the word, but there
is some level of care that I have to have
because in that.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
I'm supposed to have this because regardless of.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
What we did or didn't do, or what you did
or didn't do, you still played a role in me
physically being on this earth. And so for that, I
can understand you being like I kind of care, but like, really,
I just don't know you. That's it. That's exactly where
I am. Yeah, those are valid. This is definitely a
(07:56):
conversation for another day, Okay, Like.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Because I needed that, I needed I needed that, so
that you've got it right now, got my mind is.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
On a whole lot of different levels right now. There
is levels two familial relationships. We definitely got to have
a conversation later on in the year about this because.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Because I may have some updated info for you.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Right right right, you might, but you definitely deserve to
get whatever closure you need.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And I don't think Daddy got a reason to laugh
he on his death bed.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
I agree, But you know what I do want to
talk about.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
I hope that that will that will get me out
of this whatever I'm feeling right now, Yes.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Exactly what it is. Some time out some hoops, some hoops.
We're gonna have a hoops conversation, y'all.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
And the cool thing about it is we get to
have a hoops conversation after having spent the last couple
of weeks watching some incredible hoops.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
We've been at AU, We've been at the NBA.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Well we're gon put NBA all staring in their honey
because it wasn' no incredible w hoop's going on on air?
But anyway, in the streets stop, we was in the
streets stop. We was surrounded by basketball players. So it's
been a good it's been a good time for basketball,
and we are not but a few days away from
getting into conference, tournament time across the NC double a landscape,
(09:17):
so it's gonna be some great conversations to be held.
But honey, free agency took everybody for a choke hold.
And the moment that we thought everything was everything.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
The moment we.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Thought at leaving and dB leaving and all these people
leaving and moving and Kelsey plummeu, the moment we thought
we was like, Okay, the biggest splash is over. Diana
Tarazzi says, hold my beer, let me let y'all have
let me let y'all have this for the rest or whatever,
because I'm out. I'm sticking this out. She pulled on
(09:50):
Magic Johnson. I ain't gonna be here.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
That's it at point blank period. Y'all don't getting no
farewell tour, none of that.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
None of that.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
So let's just go ahead and move into this conversation
and take it to the next level.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
So last week we.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Were doing whatever we were doing, minding our business, drinking
our water, and there was a tweet that came out
from the view that said that Diana Tarazi was going
to be appearing on the show the next day.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Now, you had to be either confused.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Or having a gift of foresight to think this means
one of two things. Either she's going to announce that
she's retiring, or she's going to announce that she's going
to stay another year. But at the end of the day,
she's got to announce something if she's going on the
view and to no surprise, maybe some shock, but not
really surprised. The very next day, Diana Tarazi announced this
(10:47):
through Time magazine, who's been doing a great job of
kimelining women's sports most recently, but she highlighted that she's
hanging up the sneakers.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
She is done.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
She is officially retired, hiring after twenty years in the WNBA.
And you guys can all google or not Diana's career
accolades because she has so many. But she's a champion,
she's an Olympian, She's won quite literally at every level.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
There is so many people who I hear on a regular.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Basis as it relates to mid two thousands or early
two thousand basketball, that she's one of the reasons that
they started to watch and tune in. There's just such
a level of excellence that she brought on the court
that so many people admired and were inspired by. So
it certainly is going to be different to see the
WNBA without Diana Tarazzi in it.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Yeah, gosh, where do you begin.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
We absolutely need to give Diana Tarassi her flowers. Te
This woman has accomplished and achieved a lot, probably more
than she even thought she would when she started playing bass.
But I want to say this because I personally want
to give Diana Tarassi some flowers, because she is by
(12:05):
far one of the best toughest competitors that I ever
played against, and also one of the best I ever
played with in the Olympics. And she said it when
she said, just mentally and physically, I'm full. I've done
everything that I could ever do on the basketball court.
(12:26):
It's time for me to step away. And I do
know as someone who's been in her shoes, you know
when the time is right. For a lot of athletes, though,
it's like I'm a hold on because I'm not ready.
And when I retired, I never wanted to retire on
someone else's terms, meaning you cut me, you waive me,
or even an injury. Felt the same way as Diana
(12:48):
in a sense of I've won every possible award a
person can win.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
In basketball or in their sport.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
And so for Diana to step away, now, who to
her for doing it on her terms?
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Because I know we the public we've been retiring Diana.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Tarrossi for the past three years, and she's just like, nope,
and she didn't want all of the hooflaw.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
She just said, I'm gonna do it on my time.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
And I am so happy that I got an opportunity
to play against her, to play alongside her, to be
a witness to her career.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
And I know we use the term goat like way
too loosely.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
I think a lot of people don't really understand what
that means, what that stands for. And I'm not gonna
call Diana to Rossi a goat the goat, and I
won't call her the goat. I'll call her a goat
because there have been so many incredible players that I've
been fortunate enough to play with and again, but she is,
without question, one of the goats of this game, and
(13:54):
her presence will be missed. Diana Tarassi has done so
much for this game. She's uplifted it in so many ways.
She uplifted her teammates, and I hate to see her go,
but I'm really excited about what the future holds for Diana.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
I could not agree more like, it is just so
interesting to me to see how many people can really
change the game. When people say change the game, like
can really change the game? You were one of those
people who changed the game. Diana was one of those
people who changed the game. I think of a Kansas
Parker and a Maya Moore, and now looking at in
(14:30):
Asia Wilson and even a Caitlin Clark in some aspects
like these are game changing people, and I just think
they are generational. So to your point, when people say
the goat, they use that a whole lot, and they
need to scale it down because there are very few
who truly have the resume as well as the game
(14:51):
changing impact to be considered the goat of their sport.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
And I'm gonna let y'all know something too.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Sheryl thinks she slicked with this little flex that she
threw out there, right, Ain't nobody called it?
Speaker 1 (15:01):
I don't know what did I do?
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Ilex, she said, like Diana, I we have won at
every level.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Let me tell you how a little.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Okay, let me tell you because I know my basketball history.
You know what I'm saying, I know my history.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
And what people made her care.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Is that there are only eleven people who have ever
won an n C double, a championship, a gold medal,
a fever gold medal, and a w n B A title.
And I thought in DT did one all of them
multiple times. That's what I'm what I meant, That's all
I'm saying. The flex is serious. The flex is serious.
(15:46):
Make sure y'all click that, because the serious.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
I love you, but I can't stand you sometimes.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
I know I did not mean that, but if I wanted.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Okay, listen, do you know who you are saying? Oh, okay,
it's a different podcast. They don't know, but they know now.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
So kudos to you, Kudos to Diana because y'all out
here doing it real big.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
But absolutely, man, I.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Am going to miss DT. She's too funny. To me,
she's one of the biggest shiit talkers I've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Listen, I say, and miss her talking her ship because
she don't he shit and.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Back it up, back it up every single time. I
know why people can't stand her on the court.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
I get it. I probably wouldn't either, But.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
To me, she has literally been one of the sweetest
people who I've ever met and spoken to off the course,
and I ever had to face her, so different relationship
on my end.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
But you know, and I said that earlier.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
I said, one of the meanest, toughest competitors you'll ever
come up against, but one of the sweetest people you'll
ever meet in this world will give you the shirt
off her back.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
And DT, we love you over here at levels.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
To this, and we do got no reason to not
come on the show because you ain't known shit, none
of it.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Come on ondep you free now.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
But what that did, though, was that really opened up
the door for what Phoenix is gonna look like. We
all can say that majority of the teams in the
league this year are going to look a bit different,
but there's just some teams that will look way more
different than others, and I think Phoenix is one of them,
because not only do they not have Diana Tarazzi anymore,
(17:28):
but they also do not have Britney Griner, and they
also do not have Natasha Cloud, who was a newcomer
to the team last year, and.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
So Sophie Cunningham.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Sophie Cunningham is also gone from Phoenix, and so I'm
looking at this team now with Soli, with Kalia Kopper,
with a Lissa Thomas, like this is a new day
in Phoenix, and I'm not sure how I feel about it,
not like neither good or bad. I just think, Wow,
(17:59):
this is going to be interesting, especially if this corps
stays together past twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
I know a lot of people were taking one year.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Deals, rightfully so because there's a new CBA coming in
twenty six and they't want to get their money and
get paid. But I don't know how to feel with
this new core in Phoenix.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Is this cost seem now? Like? Is that what we
is this costem? I mean it has to be.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
But I'm with you, like I like the moves that
they made, but I'm still not really sure how.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
I feel like I'm coming about this team.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
First of all, I just knew Natasha Cloud was gonna
be there next year or this year.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
I should say, was shocked with some of the moves.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Did not see dB going to Atlanta. I just didn't
have that in the Bengo cards.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
I didn't. I did not. I did not.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
And when at announced she was going to Phoenix, I
just knew dB was following.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
But what do. I know.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I love Sato going to Phoenix. Listen the pieces they're
putting together, though, I like you have call I'll say
this and you can witness this. What Shae Petty did
at AU Phoenix, you might want to think about bringing
Shape Petty.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
Back because she could absolutely help you.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
There are some other players of AU we can talk
about that could be signed somewhere, but I don't know
what this Phoenix team.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Like.
Speaker 4 (19:27):
How far this Phoenix team will go this season?
Speaker 3 (19:29):
Yeah, yeah, it's going to be interesting to see how
they play together. I also want to make mention that
Phoenix brought in Colonie Brown, so they did bring in
a big to supplement what they were getting from BG
in some way. And then they also brought in Sammy Wickham.
Because you talk about Duanna Bonnard thinking, I also thought
that would be a place for her.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
She won a championship with them in twenty fourteen.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Yeah, so I was thinking maybe as someone who could
potentially And I'm not trying to I ain't kicking you
out the league, dB. I think you still got plenty
left and I know you in real life, and I
don't want.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
To smoke, so I'm not but I'm just saying I thought, if.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
This was going to be nearing the end of her career,
it may be an opportunity for her to start to
end where she started.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
So I thought Phoenix would be a great place for her.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
But they instead picked up Sammy Wickham, who can also
give them some a sharp shooting presence. So it's going
to be interesting to see what's going on in Phoenix.
But dB who did not go to Phoenix, did however,
make her way to Indiana. And you talk about a
team that looked different, that team looks together different.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Okay, outside of.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Kelsey Mitchell, who we definitely need to talk about her
for a second because I love that she stayed and.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Renewed her contracts with the Fever.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
They added in Dwana Bonner, they added in Natasha Howard,
they brought over Sophie Cunningham.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
I was like in Time Out, one player that I love.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Jaylen Brown from Dallas and Jalen played a little bit
with Dallas, but the potential that she has, I think
that was a little sneaky get by Indiana with Jaylen Brown.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Breonna Turner, her vet leadership.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Said Coleson, who I think will be a really good
leader for this team, a good vet, she'll be really
good in the locker room. And then you got Caitlin obviously,
and Saliah Boston and like see Hall listen, Tet, You
and I talked about this a little bit. This Indiana
Fever team, to me, immediately went from what they did
(21:31):
last year, which was really good for that team. But
I think they immediately become contenders this season with the
moves they made.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Serious serious contenders were real yeah, serious contenders.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
And one thing that sticks.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Out to me when I look at the moves that
they made is how they got a coach who comes
from coaching a defensive team. And the one thing that
we talked about as it relates to Indiana last year
was needing to pick up their defense. I have said
multiple times that if you can get Caitlin to play
(22:10):
as hard on defense as she does offensively, that is
a dangerous situation for a point guard to have. Then
you bring in Natasha Howard and Dwana Bonner, who are
both former defensive Player of the Year.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Listen, I was just getting ready to say, Lexi Hall
is the reason why we started.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
To see the change in their defensive prison last season.
It just feels like adding this additional element is really
what's gonna take Indiana to the next level. So yeah,
like they were a playoff team already, but they just
became a serious confender for real.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
Like this, this Indiana favorite team is gonna be scary.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
They're gonna be scared scar Yeah, yeah, I'm.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Excited about it. I'm excited to see it.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
So let's move down to the South a little bit
and talk about because you started to mention how surprised
you were to see Brittany Grinder moved to Atlanta. I
was surprised to see Brianna Jones go to Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Facts back too.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
So here's my question. Will they play Brianna and Brittany together?
Speaker 1 (23:17):
And that's my question.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
As well, Like, I don't know how this lineup is
gonna work because they brought in Vittry Walker, kimbro as
well too, and Seyenne Parker who was with their other
larger post players. She's now in Las Vegas. But but
I like that, by the way, but go ahead, I
do like that. I just I'm curious to see what
carl s Mesko's what his vision is for this team,
(23:42):
because to me, he has always been a coach, especially
in his years well, we only know him really for
his years at Florida Golf Coast, but he really didn't
do a lot of mid range. He was a three
pointer in layups kind of person. That was it three
pointers in layups. We're shooting a three or we're driving inside,
and Bree Jones isn't necessarily a three point shooter.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
So that's Brittany, I know, But that ain't what I.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Was just getting ready to say the same thing.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Like, Brittany can shoot the three, and she can make
some threes, but that's not her game. So I'm very
curious to see how you're gonna have two traditional bigs
play together. I just I don't know what the goal.
I don't know what the goal is as it relates
to that. But I do like the addition because with
(24:31):
Jordan Canada, with Ryan Howard, with Ali sha Gray, and
I got to even show some nuts to Na's heil
me because she came to AU last year and then
this past season in the WNBA you could see her
improvement as a player. So there's certainly a Cordier I
think that looks good and can play good and can
really elevate. They did make the playoffs this last year,
(24:53):
but they could maybe move up and seeding a little
bit this year.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
But I just don't know what we're finna do with Brie.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
And yeah, not really sure, but a player I am
sure about that.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
We just saw to you.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Who will be in Atlanta. Is Maya Calledwell?
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Yes? Oh, I love me some Maya Callwell, talk about it?
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Love me Somehow long athletic defense runs the floor can
score three level score like Maya Callwell is going to
be a great addition to this team depending on how
he plays. Right, going back to your point, because when
I look at the rest of this roster with Jordan Canada,
(25:35):
Alisha Gray, Ryan Howard, throw Maya Callwell in there, like
this is a team that should be getting up and
down the floor.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
This team definitely should be running. And he got some shooters.
He got some shoulders now.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
So yeah yeah, yeah, like he got some shooters.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
So this is it's gonna be interesting to see how
this comes together. I can't wait for training camp, Like
I I think I'm going to be paying a little
bit more attention this year in some training camps than
I have in the past, just to even see how
they're going to position players and interesting. So I missed
Seanne Parker who has gone to Las Vegas.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
She will be joining a Jewel Lloyd. How about that?
She will be joining a Tiffany Mitchell. How about that?
She'll be joining a Dana Evans. How about that? And
she will also be joining D one and only AGEA Wilson.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
How about that? And let's not forget Liz Kittley.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
Liz Kittley.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Yes, now, she was drafted but was out last season
because of an injury that she's stayed in college and
so this is so smart of Las Vegas, Like we knew,
like Liz was gonna sit for a year, but like
how lucky are you to.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Get to sit behind Age Wilson and just learn and.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Just just learn and you get it the year that
she's like better than best than the best itself like
incredible seasons to learn behind her from.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
But I'm interested because I don't think Las Vegas got
a GM yet.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
So word on the street is, I don't think they're
going to have a GM.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Drop some tea from Dshare, That's all I'm saying. Damn.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
So I guess it's just Becky and Nicky maybe the
ones that's putting this squad together that's interesting.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
But here is.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
What I still think Vegas is missing a piece. I
love Cheyenne Parker going to Vegas. I love that move.
Got Cheyenne, you got Asia, you have Liz Kittley. Yeah,
I'm still looking for and I'm talking about coming off
the bench because the starters Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Juel Lloyd,
(27:51):
Asia Wilson, and who is at Cheyenne or Liz, I
don't know. Probably I'm still thinking there's another, like really
good scoring guard that they need to bring off the bench.
I know you got Dana Evans, not really sure who
am I missing, but Tiffany Mitchell.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
Tiffany Mitchell. If Tiffany's back and she's healthy, I still
feel like they're missing one more piece.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
See.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
I think the piece that they're missing is someone is
a true score to come off the bench that can
play the post.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
Like that's there were Matt too.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Yeah, because there were moments last season where I felt
that Vegas started to get gassed because Asia was doing everything.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
And Asia was having to play a lot of minutes.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
Yeah, and then like even when you think about who
else they lost, you lost not only your six Women
of the Year last year in Tiffany Hayes to Golden
Stand but you also lost Alicia Clark, who was your
sixth Woman of the Year the year before.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
So like as it relates the players coming off the
bench that give you that spark, Sidney Colson, Sidney Colston
could come in.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
The game and really give you that energy, give you
that defense.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
So it is I agree with you that I like
the moves that they made, but it does feel like
there is one thing that they need to add steal.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
It feels like.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
There's that one that one thing, and I don't know
for sure what that one thing is, but I agree
with you. We're gonna take a quick break, but when
we come back, we're gonna talk more WABA free agency.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
So stick with us now. I'm gonna come down.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
To where you are, Cheryl, because if there's anybody who
knows this Dallas Wings team, and when I'm thinking about
free agency and I'm thinking about a team, I'm.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Excited about this team. I can't even let you finish.
But well, I like this.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
I just feel like Kurt Miller came in and was like, Okay,
guess what I'm finna do.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Shake some ship up.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
Yeah, Like I'm about to do. I'm about to shake
some ship up.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
And he brought in Dje Carring and did he brought
in Ty Harris, he brought in Melissa Smith.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
He has the rights to Key.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
Herb Kekey Herbert Harring. Yeah, and he has the twelfth
pick Andes Allen Myshahines Allen, and they have future draft
swaps and the fact that they got the number one.
Number one probably gonna be Paige Beckers.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Okay, but time out real quick because I love me
some Page Beckers.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
But here's where I am right.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
You can't go wrong my opinion with Paige Beckers or
Olivia Miles.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
You know what, you not wrong? Okay, I'm gonna throw
one more out there for you. Huh.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
You could also go Kecky Aries and not be wrong
because Fierra I think Tierra mcowan could use a little
bit of.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Assistance in She can't. She can't hold it down.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
She can't.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
So you can't go wrong. But Dallas got it going
on right now.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Yeah, because here's here's my thing, right you you really
can't pass on one of those two when you have
the number one pick.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
You can't.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
But two players that we just saw at a U.
T Ty Harris and Maddie Secrets. Yes, so we don't
even bring those two up. We didn't even talk about
the v he says, they just brought in Irique. Listen,
this Dallas Wings team, like we said about Indiana, This
(31:33):
Dallas Wings team, if they can stay healthy, they don't
be scary dog dog.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
We ain't even bring up the vents. I didn't even
bring up.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
I did't even bring up how Irique about to eat?
I didn't even bring up. I didn't even bring up
Maddie actually won athlete? Yeah, who was eating every day?
She ain't every now athletes every day, didn't didn't miss
a meal. What makes it so exciting is because of
all of the free agency new that was being broken,
the one thing that everybody wanted to see was what
(32:04):
would happened with Satchu Savoli because she was such a
critical piece to the Dallas.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Wings and what they've done.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
But if there is a team that I will give
a high grading mark to who has tried to fill
that gap and bring in what I think is probably
going to be one of the toughest teams. And they
now have Chris Koklanis, who is the new head coach.
Chris is such a nice guy, and I think he's
also someone who knows how to bring the best offensively
(32:31):
out of players. I just think that this Dallas Wings
team could really be a top three team in this league.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Ida too, t I absolutely do. They could be tough
if they can stay healthy and list that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
Health has got to be the thing for them, because
they were a fancy. They were a top four in
twenty twenty three and fell off last year only because
Howard wasn't healthy the whole time. Satu wasn't healthy the
whole time, like Irique I had Miss La Layer two
like it was it was too bad her.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Forehands, so she Jayleen Brown did something with her nose.
She was out for Like, they just couldn't stay healthy.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
It was crazy, And you know, it's team. And here's
the other thing that I'm going to bring up to.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
There's a lot of conversation that I feel and has
been had about whether or not Iveryqua and Page could
play together and all that stuff. And in my hand,
I'm like, y'all, like two strong guards can play.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
We're seeing it. We're seeing it in the.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
NCAA right now between Hannah ha Dog going a house.
But We saw it already, because I'm not saying these
two are the same players, but I am saying, do
y'all remember when Odyssey Sims was playing for Dallas. They
were playing some of their best basketball when Odyssey was there.
So two strong guards who have a similar style but
can impact the games in different ways can't work. We've
(33:51):
already seen it. So yeah, I think people need to
relax on that, like t percent happened. But I brought
up out of Sea.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
Yeah, as you should in l A the LA as
she should be with a contract, not a seven days,
not a ten day, seven day.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
It's a contract, not a hardship. See is a baller
and I love her in LA.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
In LLL, just adding her alone changes the look of
that team. Yeah, because of the things that she can
do with the basketball in her hands. Yeah, I'm sorry.
Can can we rewind for one second and go back
to Vegas?
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (34:37):
God, I totally forgot and this could be that player
Crystal Bradford.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
I forgot. They signed her to a training camp contract.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
Crystal Bradford Phoebe Yeah, ye shout out CB No that
she could be that one player that I was thinking about.
You're right, you are so right, Crystal Bradford definitely has
(35:09):
the ability to chase the game and she just needs
like she just needs to shot, like she was a
baller in the WS and and one thing put up.
Just she just needs to shot. Shout out to c B.
That's a hold it down. I love this, I love it.
She could definitely be that player.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Sorry, I just I had to. I had to do that.
So nobody makes all.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah. So we have so out of
season LA. Mercedes Russells had is now in LA. We
know Kelsey Plumb who was traded, and they already have
such a strong piece and Deerica Handy. There are things
that I think this LA team could utilize, one of
(35:50):
which being an actual facility.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Don't make no sense that y'all are one of the
marquee franchises in the w NBA.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
Y'all got the Lakers looking a hot ass mess at times,
but I got a dad facility.
Speaker 4 (36:01):
But that's there or there, Okay.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
I don't know how much this team becomes. I don't
know where to place LA just yet.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
Right.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
I feel like LA had the injuries that happened to
Los Angeles really was their detriment in twenty twenty four.
But you got you know d is gonna come back
where Kia Jackson is going to ball out like he
is a ball to gl rival. Three ain't three three
(36:34):
on three ain't for everybody, but it's for Rikia.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
She looks and she looks good doing it.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
But I'll tell you another player that I feel like
is benefiting from unrival is Ray Barell.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
So if ray.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
Can bring that same confidence, she gets opportunity. Ray Barell
should get minutes and how healthy we cam brinkbe coming back? Yeah,
I'm there with you. I like the piece right out
to see Deerica. I like the pieces. The way I
feel about Phoenix is how I feel about the Sparks,
not really sure.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
It's like you're not right, Like you're just not really sure.
But the pieces are absolutely there. You know, Lynn Roberts
is the new head coach, so it's gonna be interesting
to see how what she implements and what she brings
over from Utaw. But at the end of the day,
I do like the pieces you mentioned can bring. They
still you know, they also re signed Asaray Stevens, so
(37:29):
you've got, you know, a couple of of well sized
bigs underneath. Erry McDonald is also somebody I believe that's
coming back. So from a guard perspective, you have a
solid guard, you also have some solid pieces that can
come off the bench.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
I like the core look of this team.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
I just think it's too new for me to just
really say, Okay, this is where I think they're gonna be.
But I was shocked to see Lexi Brown sent to
the Seattle Storm Yep.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
That shocked me.
Speaker 4 (38:00):
It shocked me too. But it's a good look for Seattle.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
It is. It's a really good look for Seattle because
Lexi has playing Lexi.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Played really well at AU, not just shooting the ball,
but also like putting the ball on the deck, attacking
the pain. See, Seattle could be nice, they could.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
Seattle definitely can't be nice. And I really want this
for Skuyler, like I want this for Skyler so much so.
Sky's coming back, Necka's coming back. They've got Zaya Cook
at the guard positions. Gabby Williams is coming back. Gabby
Williams yeap, Gabby Williams is coming back. They added Alicia
(38:41):
Clark coming back. Oh honey, I love Ezsie. I love her.
And they've added Katie Lou Samuelson as well.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (38:55):
They got lea rue over from that from the trade
with La And honestly, I'll was thinking in my head
the reason that you know Seattle went for Lexi Brown
is because of the injury that happened to Jordan Horston.
Because I had high hopes for Jordan. She was starting
to play well in AU. She ended last season very
(39:15):
well for Seattle, so I had high hopes on what
she could potentially bring as a third year player to
this team.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
So it was very unfortunate to see her out.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
But I think the replacement with Lexi Brown, I want
them to go as far as they could possibly go.
Speaker 1 (39:28):
For Skyler.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
You know, Skyler in a way reminds me of like
a Chris Paul just can't find the right team.
Speaker 4 (39:37):
To get that championship with Yep, yep, do.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
You know what I mean? And I did too. I
wanted for Skyler. I want it for Necker.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
I know Nicka got her championship, but I just I
like this Seattle team. I do, and let's just keep
it one hundred. I would love to see Noie being
the only black female head coach.
Speaker 4 (39:56):
I'd love to see no It hit her championship.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I would as a coach, that would
be I would Yeah, that would definitely be what's up?
I could, I could definitely see that Seattle is going
to be and to stay out West. I think the
other team that made some very interesting moves was the
Chicago's guy. Let's talk about it, the Chicago's guy.
Speaker 1 (40:21):
Uh huh.
Speaker 3 (40:22):
They added, well, they brought back Courtney Vandersloot, which I
think we all knew Courtney Vanderslut was gonna leave New York.
I'm not sure that I saw her going to Chicago,
but I get it, and I and I and I
and I respect it.
Speaker 1 (40:35):
I love the move for aerol Atkins.
Speaker 3 (40:38):
You got you got a champion, you got a good
ball handler, you got a player, a true competitor.
Speaker 1 (40:44):
I love the addition of Key and Nurse.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Key and Nurse I think as again, another skill guard,
another person who can bring that competitive fire. And honestly,
I feel like she hasn't been given a true chance
to show herself healthy. Like even when she was playing
in Phoenix, I never believed that she was one hundred
percent healthy.
Speaker 4 (41:05):
I felt like there was I don't think she was there.
I don't think she would think.
Speaker 1 (41:08):
There were still some things lingering.
Speaker 3 (41:09):
And what makes me so high on the Chicago team
is and obviously there's Angel Rees returning, Kayla on your
wedder is returning, Camilla Cardoso's returning. But what makes me
so excited about the Chicago team or am very interested
in the Chicago team is everything that they lost and
all the conversation around this team after losing everything for
(41:32):
a second straight year, because they lost it the first.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Time and that was last year.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
You know, nobody expected them to do anything that they
did and they were literally a couple games away from
being a playoff team with no expectations other than the
fact that Angel Reese ended up hurting her wrists.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
Thank you? Okay, yeah, But.
Speaker 3 (41:50):
Then they lose Diamond Shields, they lose Lindsay Allen, they
lose Dana Evans, they lose Ree Turner. Like here we
are once again, and then we bring in a new
head coach with Tyler Marsh. So here we are once
again looking at Chicago with who on your roster? What
y'all doing, y'all ain't got no coach, first year coach?
What's y'all gonna look like?
Speaker 1 (42:11):
It's like it's the same thing this year.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
But I'm just like excited because I feel like this
time it's like y'all said the same shit about us
last year, and we showed you that we could really
still be a competitive team and really be a way
a playoff team if not for one or two things.
Speaker 1 (42:27):
So I feel that same energy this year.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
Listen, I love me some Rebecca Allen. I think Rebecca
Allen is going to be a really good piece for Chicago.
The other player they got that I that I've always
liked and couldn't quite understand why she can't stay on
a roster, Arella Garantes.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
Yeah, I love Brella. She's a big.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Guard, she plays hard, so hopefully she can land a
spot on this team. But I want to have a
quick conversation about a player we didn't talk about, Kennedy
car I get what everybody says and attitude, yeah, all
of that, I hear it. And a lot of this
is on Kennedy because you know, people had conversations with
her and Kennedy Carter's two damn good not to be
(43:12):
playing in this league.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
Yeah yeah, yeah, And she's bawling right down, she playing
over seats, I know.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
So like it's Chicago not bringing her backs, you know,
like I just want to know I don't hear anything
about her and I need to.
Speaker 3 (43:28):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I completely agree Kennedy.
Speaker 1 (43:32):
Boy.
Speaker 3 (43:33):
First, I kept saying to myself the whole time I
was in Nashville. I was like, Kennedy would eat athletes unlimited.
See if this would be.
Speaker 1 (43:42):
So good, I would love to see her playing this league.
Speaker 3 (43:44):
But no, you're right, like somebody needs to be working
on putting Kennedy on their roster. I don't know who,
I don't know what. Look Connecticut, what you're doing? Do
you need some I mean, come on, somebody, somebody got
to be doing something to put Kennedy on a roster
because she after the year that she had, and honestly,
she really ain't had a bad year since she been
(44:05):
in a WNBA. I think people have that out of sight,
out of mind situation just because she didn't play for
a couple of years. But she ain't really had no
bad years she's ever played in the w So she
deserves to certainly be on a roster. And yeah, I
was just gonna mention that it's going to be great
for Chicago to also have Elizabeth Williams back who although
she played on restricted minutes, she.
Speaker 1 (44:26):
Really did a great job.
Speaker 3 (44:27):
She landed in like the top six for athletes on
limited leader board, like she you know, was giving them
twenty some ad minutes a game. Still knows how to
drive and protect the basket, still can defend blocking skills
is ridiculous. Like that's going to be very very helpful
for Chicago from a defensive standpoint. So I love to
see that. I am full transparency. Wasn't really going to
(44:49):
talk much about Connecticut and Washington because honestly, I just
really don't even know what to say about them.
Speaker 1 (44:55):
I just don't even know what to say.
Speaker 2 (44:57):
Sometimes ain't none Tuesday, listen, I am the same way.
I was just like, what are y'all doing?
Speaker 1 (45:04):
What are you doing? But Ti, here is a bigger
what is Lena Delladon doing?
Speaker 3 (45:09):
She need to do something because we could, we could
use you, we could use you, add and use you.
Speaker 2 (45:16):
I think Connecticut just said we're gonna start all over.
Connecticut said we quit this year, We're gonna start all over.
Speaker 3 (45:22):
Because I'm not even gonna play them like that though,
because it's not like I mean, and I'm joking, I'm
joking Obviously I cover the team, so I'm not talking
about the team I cover. I'm saying though in a
joking fashion, but seriously, I just want to see how
they put these pieces together, because they don't have scrubs.
Tina Charles is not a scrub. Natasha Cloud is not
(45:44):
a shrub. Jacy Sheldon not a scrub. Diamond the Shields
not a scrub. Like like, it's not like this is
a team of nobody's right, So that's not what I'm
getting at.
Speaker 1 (45:54):
What I do.
Speaker 3 (45:55):
Feel, though, is that these players all have so different
planes styles that I'm finding it difficult to see how
they will play together. And so I will certainly be
interested to see what new coach Rashid Mezzin brings together.
Just Rashid Messin's kinds his name.
Speaker 1 (46:19):
I know, I've been practicing my French get my friends together.
I'm not.
Speaker 3 (46:30):
Oh, it's funny, but yeah. And then Washington same way,
like I, I don't know what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (46:38):
I don't know, I don't know what your plan is.
I'm putting it in the Lord's hands.
Speaker 2 (46:43):
I'm trusting because Washington's the one team like, at least
for me, that I haven't really heard much about like,
I don't know what moves they're making.
Speaker 1 (46:52):
I know nothing. I don't know. They didn't sign sign up.
Speaker 3 (46:54):
They got Shakira. Shakira's a bomb, you know what I mean.
Aliah Edwards obviously is some one who held it down.
I love Britney Sikes, Slim Slim gonna do her.
Speaker 1 (47:05):
I saw.
Speaker 3 (47:06):
I remember Emily Angsler stepping up her game last year
when injuries came about me as a team that could
certainly make some noise if they, you know, added a
piece or two. But I just don't know if they
even feel like that's something that they want to do.
They've got some draft picks, for sure, they definitely wrecked
up on some draft picks. They got a new head
coach in Sidney Johnson, so it shall be interesting to
(47:28):
see what they do next year. But some other like
notable moves for some teams that we didn't really get
a chance to get into. Is He Harrison is now
going to the New York Liberty. That's a really good
move I believe for New York, an even better move
for Izzy. The championship culture there. It's just I feel
like she'll fit right in Minnesota. Links they didn't really add.
(47:51):
I mean they did add like Grace Berger off Waivers,
but they didn't like add like a big name.
Speaker 1 (47:56):
They did resign Missisha Heidemann.
Speaker 4 (47:58):
Well, I like them picking up Kristin Williams bringing her
to training camp.
Speaker 1 (48:03):
Yeah, and I'm.
Speaker 2 (48:04):
Hoping that Alissa Peeley will get a little bit more
playing time this year. Yeah, because I liked I liked
her work. I liked what she did at AUS as
well as Kristin Williams. I just I thought AU was
really good for a lot of these players who are
trying to be seen and get an opportunity for some w.
Speaker 1 (48:26):
Training camp invites. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (48:28):
Kiera Leslie got an invite to a training cam contract
too with Minnesota. Cheryl Reef was out in AU during
the first week, so she got a good chance to
look at some of these players. And Kayla McBride and
Courtney Williams are down balling out in Miami and.
Speaker 1 (48:45):
Fief he's probably gonna be the m v P. Yeah,
I think he's probably probably gonna be the m v P.
Speaker 2 (48:51):
So he said, I'm bringing all the money home. Yeah,
she won the one on one. She's a founder, like
Fea said. I'm also she can't come into the house.
Speaker 1 (49:01):
She eating all that, she eating all of it.
Speaker 3 (49:03):
So it's definitely a fun situation that they got going
on in Minnesota.
Speaker 1 (49:09):
I don't really see, you know.
Speaker 3 (49:11):
The reason why I ain't really talking about them is because,
like we already know, they'll be a top team.
Speaker 1 (49:15):
New York will be a top team. You know.
Speaker 3 (49:17):
Vegas, I think will still be a top team. But
they did make some off season additions, which is why
we brought it up. And then there's the Golden State Valkyries.
Speaker 2 (49:24):
Right.
Speaker 3 (49:24):
The Valkyries didn't really have any huge, huge, like mind
blowing free agency signings, but I'd love them bringing on
the six Women of the Year in Tiffany Hayes. I
love them also picking up Laciitia and me here off waivers.
I'm excited, Like, I think they have the best position
right now. No expectations whatsoever, none whatsoever. You just got here, No,
(49:44):
no expectations.
Speaker 2 (49:46):
But with the pieces they got in free agency and
then the players that they added, I think they'll compete.
Speaker 1 (49:53):
Right.
Speaker 2 (49:54):
Are they gonna like win the whole thing, No, but
they have some pieces that will compete and they might
surprise a few teams.
Speaker 3 (50:06):
True, indeed, true, indeed, I have no doubt whatsoever that
this team will be competitive. I loved I think I
said this when we did the expansion Draft episode that
I loved their pickup of Veronica Burton.
Speaker 1 (50:18):
I thought that was huge.
Speaker 3 (50:20):
Davey Adic, Caleb Thornton, that's gonna be huge, Kate Martin,
Martin point to eat. And I was shocked when they
added Timmy Fame Ballet Dan did what I was shocked. Yes,
show I feel good about what this Golden State team
(50:43):
is gonna bring. I like the idea of playing with
no expectations because that means you can shock and surprise people.
You can set what you want your standard to be
because nobody has already said that for you. So I
really love that for this team. But yeah, man, free
agency was a trip, a lot of fun. But boy,
this twenty twenty five season about to be coreat it is.
Speaker 1 (51:06):
Yes, it is, yes, it is.
Speaker 2 (51:08):
Cannot Before we get out of here, can I just
say something real quick, because listen, when you talk about
the growth of the game and WNBA expansion and all
of the things, it only gets better to have a
Serena Williams as an.
Speaker 1 (51:25):
Investor for the Toronto Tempo. Yes, let's go I love
this so much. It is going to be an incordible,
so excited about that.
Speaker 3 (51:39):
She's going to be an incredible asset just to have
her and continuing to be in women's sports. And of
course the petty and me was like, oh, you really
gonna be the owner of a team in drake hometown.
Speaker 1 (51:53):
Yeah, that's probably why she did it. Ah, I love her, Petty, but.
Speaker 3 (51:58):
Yeah, we were gonna go ahead and repast up to
stay with us. Guys will be back to uh level off.
Speaker 1 (52:12):
All right, Cheryl.
Speaker 3 (52:14):
We talked a lot today free agency basketball. Just excitement
for my life of this season.
Speaker 1 (52:21):
I know, I know.
Speaker 3 (52:27):
If there's one team that I can just ask before
we head out of here, just the one team that
you are most excited to.
Speaker 1 (52:34):
Watch this year? And you can't say Dallas Indiana mm
hmm okay, and what about you? For me? I think it's.
Speaker 2 (52:58):
I said Indiana because you said I couldn't say Dallas
because I was.
Speaker 1 (53:00):
Gonna to Dallas. I know you was gonna say Dallas.
See and I and I won't.
Speaker 3 (53:04):
Say connect it so and you can't say New York either.
I won't say New York. I'm actually torn between Seattle
and Indiana. Yeah, I think those are the two. I'm
really torn between those. I like Seattle in Indiana. But anyway,
time for us to go ahead and level this thing
on out. So what you got for a nation, let's
do it.
Speaker 1 (53:23):
I got for y'all.
Speaker 4 (53:24):
Listen, happy Women's History Months.
Speaker 2 (53:29):
So because it is Women's History Month, I'm going to
leave y'all with something.
Speaker 1 (53:36):
But I think it's very important.
Speaker 2 (53:37):
Okay, I raise up my voice, not so that I
can shout, but so that those with out a voice
can be heard.
Speaker 1 (53:47):
We cannot all.
Speaker 2 (53:48):
Succeed when half of us are held back. M I'm
not really sure who that's from. I just I found
it and I thought it was really appropriate for Women's
History Month, but honestly for any day of the month,
any day of the year, because that's pretty powerful.
Speaker 3 (54:07):
Yeah, yep, yep, yeah, Well, I love that we are
in Women's History Months. I don't know, are you gonna
do something cool like, you know, every every day, every
show a quote from a different woman like you did
for Black History Months?
Speaker 1 (54:22):
Hey, how about that? I'll be telling everybody my secret.
Speaker 3 (54:27):
My bad.
Speaker 1 (54:28):
I gotta find out.
Speaker 2 (54:29):
I gotta find out who this one's from, because it
doesn't have a name, but I like it.
Speaker 1 (54:34):
But yes, I'm gonna bring you on something from a.
Speaker 2 (54:36):
Different, powerful, inspiring woman every day this week.
Speaker 4 (54:44):
And I love it month that we record.
Speaker 1 (54:46):
I love it one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (54:48):
Love it well fans, Thank you guys so much for
continuing to listen to Levels to This. We will be
back next week with more next Level conversation. It's just
about the real shit that women go through. And when
I tell you we have some incredible guests for the
month of March, you absolutely do not want to miss it.
Speaker 1 (55:04):
But remember this is not just our show.
Speaker 3 (55:07):
It's our show and we want to hear from you,
so leave us a review and Apple Podcasts. You can
email us at Levels to This Podcast at gmail dot
com tell us what you thought of this week's show
and maybe what you want us to talk about next.
You can also follow us on Instagram at lccpod, but
until then, keep your.
Speaker 1 (55:24):
Mentals ground level and we will be back next week.
Kee peace.
Speaker 3 (55:30):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network.
Open your free iHeart apps and search Levels to This
with Cheryl Swoops and Tarica Foster Brasby and start listening.
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 1 (00:15):
Hey, everybody, what's going on? Is your girl? Serrika Foster
Brassby and I'm your girl, Cheryl Swoops. What's up y'all? Hey?
And this is the Levels to this podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
This is the show where we share that it is
levels to the shit that women go through.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
We have such a fun show lined up for you today.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
But Cheryl, I feel like this is the first time
in a few weeks that we've been like on a
regular show.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Oh my god, I know.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I'm like, can we get back to our show? But
it's been real though, So listen, I'm.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Gonna hop right into it.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
So I'm gonna keep a long story short because we
got some way more important exciting things to talk about
than my personal shit. So, for people who don't know,
my mom and dad split up when I was three
months old. Okay, so I don't know my dad. I
actually met my dad for the very first time when
(01:10):
I was like.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Forty years old. Okay, didn't really feel anything.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
I was just for me, I was like, I need
to at least know who he is, just to have
some closure.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Okay. Ye.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
So that was that, and it was a very short
conversation of I'm your daddy.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Oh hi, right, okay.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, I get
a message on Facebook from someone saying they're my cousin
on my dad's side. Now, mind you, I don't know
anybody on my dad's side, So I respond Hi. So
they basically said, Hey, cheryl A, your cousin just wanted
to let you know that Billy Ray that's my dad's name,
(01:51):
that he's not doing very well, so hoping you'll respond.
So I responded, I said, Hi, how, what's wrong? Blah
blah blah. So I get this whole rundown and then
and they said, but your sister, Patricia is with him
at the hospital. And I responded and said, I don't
have a sister because to my knowledge, Tea, I don't
have a sister, right, because I don't know anybody on
(02:13):
my dad's side. So I go to the hospital to
see him, visit him. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer
a couple of years ago. Doctors are saying he doesn't
have long to live, so I needed some closure in
for me right before he passes on and all those
good things, because I had a gazillion question. Now, am
I wrong to just be like, I don't really know
(02:35):
you anyway?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
So I'm going to step back, do you.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Because there's a whole lot of stuff in between there.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Okay, So there is some stuff that I feel like
I can fill in the blank just by common sense.
And I also think like there's this natural guilty feeling
in some ways because it's.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Your dad right in your mind, You're like, you want
to be.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Rude because as you my daddy, Yes, but realistically I
don't like know you liked that. Yes, So like the
way that you probably feel is the way you would
feel if you found out someone you knew passed away,
where you'd be like, oh, my condolences.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yes, But at the end of the day, this is
the man that I've been told right, right, because is
my dad.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Now, I'm a journalist, and so I listen to words.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
You keep saying the man I've been told, the man
that people say this is my saddy here, Okay, but
like you don't sound sure, is this your daddy. Are
you unsure your daddy?
Speaker 1 (03:42):
So I don't know.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
And that's not coming from me, that's coming from my
supposedly half sister, who I also don't know.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
I don't know, y'all.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Okay, So to me, I was like, this could be
a whole episode.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
It really could be about I feel in some type
of way right now.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Okay, So I think your feelings are entirely valid, right,
Like entirely valid, Like you, you don't get to just
come back in my life randomly, and then at a
time that you do come back in my life, it's
because of some emergency situation, like if you were able
to contact me to tell.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Me Billy ray One doing well? Come both to nobody
contact me home or not?
Speaker 3 (04:24):
So why couldn't your contact me two years ago when
he was diagnosed with when he was diagnosed exactly you
want to contact me now that he's on his deathbed
right right?
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Right?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
So I already got issues, like you clearly knew how
to reach me. Yeah yeah, and I did not know
how to reach y'all clearly, Like what's up with that?
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I don't even know. I don't even know you.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I don't know anybody on his side of the family.
So even if I wanted to find you, I wouldn't.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Know where to begin. I wouldn't know where to start.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah, And so now I'm getting all these text messages
every day about what the doctor's just saying.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Blah blah blah, you know what.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I mean, and it's overwhelmed me, girl, Like y'all telling
me about this man.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
I don't know for.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Real, you know what I'm saying, And I'm not getting
to be like like, I don't give it damn right.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
But again, in a way, he's a stranger to me.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
So I will say the one way that you can
if you wanted to get additional closure, have you gone
to see him?
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Have you talked to him? I did, Okay, I went
last week.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
To me, if he's up to it, like and I
don't mean up to it like I mean like physically.
If I mean if he's going through something physically, is
physically up to it, because mentally, you ain't got no
choice but to be up to it, because I feel
like you owe me this information. But if he's physically
up to it, then I think this is probably a
great time for you to get those answers of questions
that you have because what other time.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
I mean, first of all, I didn't going nowhere.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
I did, but I did so some of the things
she told me, I then asked him when I was there,
and what he says very different from what she said,
see what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
And that's why I'm like, I don't really know what
somebody lying.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
But then ask us off this, what's the reason for
him to lie at this point?
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Because that's what I said.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
I mean, if it's a dire as y'all say, what's
the point of you lying at this point?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
And so I debated on if I was even going
to like bring it up and ask you. But there's
a part of me that does feel guilty, Like even
though I don't know him, right, there's a part of
me that's like, yeah, but that's shit, daddy.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
You know why I told me. You know why because
of how we were raised.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Because we were raised with this idea of you honor
and respect still your mother and father even when and
that's something that these kids today don't like they feel
I'm not I'm actually not even criticizing when I say this,
but like these kids today they're feel like, I really
got to put up with you just because you're my family.
I ain't really got to put up with you just
(07:01):
because you're my mama or my daddy. And there are
some cases where I'm like, I feel that, But then
there are other cases where it's like I physically would
not be here in this earth and on this space,
yes if you didn't Yeah, and I would not be
doing our levels to this podcast. Yeah, he didn't bring
me into this world. You plan it to seed, bro,
you plan it to seed. And so because of that,
(07:23):
there's some level of appreciation isn't the word, but there
is some level of care that I have to have
because in that.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
I'm supposed to have this because regardless of.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
What we did or didn't do, or what you did
or didn't do, you still played a role in me
physically being on this earth. And so for that, I
can understand you being like I kind of care, but like, really,
I just don't know you. That's it. That's exactly where
I am. Yeah, those are valid. This is definitely a
(07:56):
conversation for another day, Okay, Like.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Because I needed that, I needed I needed that, so
that you've got it right now, got my mind is.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
On a whole lot of different levels right now. There
is levels two familial relationships. We definitely got to have
a conversation later on in the year about this because.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Because I may have some updated info for you.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Right right right, you might, but you definitely deserve to
get whatever closure you need.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And I don't think Daddy got a reason to laugh
he on his death bed.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
I agree, But you know what I do want to
talk about.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
I hope that that will that will get me out
of this whatever I'm feeling right now, Yes.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Exactly what it is. Some time out some hoops, some hoops.
We're gonna have a hoops conversation, y'all.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
And the cool thing about it is we get to
have a hoops conversation after having spent the last couple
of weeks watching some incredible hoops.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
We've been at AU, We've been at the NBA.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Well we're gon put NBA all staring in their honey
because it wasn' no incredible w hoop's going on on air?
But anyway, in the streets stop, we was in the
streets stop. We was surrounded by basketball players. So it's
been a good it's been a good time for basketball,
and we are not but a few days away from
getting into conference, tournament time across the NC double a landscape,
(09:17):
so it's gonna be some great conversations to be held.
But honey, free agency took everybody for a choke hold.
And the moment that we thought everything was everything.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
The moment we.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Thought at leaving and dB leaving and all these people
leaving and moving and Kelsey plummeu, the moment we thought
we was like, Okay, the biggest splash is over. Diana
Tarazzi says, hold my beer, let me let y'all have
let me let y'all have this for the rest or whatever,
because I'm out. I'm sticking this out. She pulled on
(09:50):
Magic Johnson. I ain't gonna be here.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
That's it at point blank period. Y'all don't getting no
farewell tour, none of that.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
None of that.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
So let's just go ahead and move into this conversation
and take it to the next level.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
So last week we.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Were doing whatever we were doing, minding our business, drinking
our water, and there was a tweet that came out
from the view that said that Diana Tarazi was going
to be appearing on the show the next day.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Now, you had to be either confused.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Or having a gift of foresight to think this means
one of two things. Either she's going to announce that
she's retiring, or she's going to announce that she's going
to stay another year. But at the end of the day,
she's got to announce something if she's going on the
view and to no surprise, maybe some shock, but not
really surprised. The very next day, Diana Tarazi announced this
(10:47):
through Time magazine, who's been doing a great job of
kimelining women's sports most recently, but she highlighted that she's
hanging up the sneakers.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
She is done.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
She is officially retired, hiring after twenty years in the WNBA.
And you guys can all google or not Diana's career
accolades because she has so many. But she's a champion,
she's an Olympian, She's won quite literally at every level.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
There is so many people who I hear on a regular.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Basis as it relates to mid two thousands or early
two thousand basketball, that she's one of the reasons that
they started to watch and tune in. There's just such
a level of excellence that she brought on the court
that so many people admired and were inspired by. So
it certainly is going to be different to see the
WNBA without Diana Tarazzi in it.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Yeah, gosh, where do you begin.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
We absolutely need to give Diana Tarassi her flowers. Te
This woman has accomplished and achieved a lot, probably more
than she even thought she would when she started playing bass.
But I want to say this because I personally want
to give Diana Tarassi some flowers, because she is by
(12:05):
far one of the best toughest competitors that I ever
played against, and also one of the best I ever
played with in the Olympics. And she said it when
she said, just mentally and physically, I'm full. I've done
everything that I could ever do on the basketball court.
(12:26):
It's time for me to step away. And I do
know as someone who's been in her shoes, you know
when the time is right. For a lot of athletes, though,
it's like I'm a hold on because I'm not ready.
And when I retired, I never wanted to retire on
someone else's terms, meaning you cut me, you waive me,
or even an injury. Felt the same way as Diana
(12:48):
in a sense of I've won every possible award a
person can win.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
In basketball or in their sport.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
And so for Diana to step away, now, who to
her for doing it on her terms?
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Because I know we the public we've been retiring Diana.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Tarrossi for the past three years, and she's just like, nope,
and she didn't want all of the hooflaw.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
She just said, I'm gonna do it on my time.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
And I am so happy that I got an opportunity
to play against her, to play alongside her, to be
a witness to her career.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
And I know we use the term goat like way
too loosely.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
I think a lot of people don't really understand what
that means, what that stands for. And I'm not gonna
call Diana to Rossi a goat the goat, and I
won't call her the goat. I'll call her a goat
because there have been so many incredible players that I've
been fortunate enough to play with and again, but she is,
without question, one of the goats of this game, and
(13:54):
her presence will be missed. Diana Tarassi has done so
much for this game. She's uplifted it in so many ways.
She uplifted her teammates, and I hate to see her go,
but I'm really excited about what the future holds for Diana.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
I could not agree more like, it is just so
interesting to me to see how many people can really
change the game. When people say change the game, like
can really change the game? You were one of those
people who changed the game. Diana was one of those
people who changed the game. I think of a Kansas
Parker and a Maya Moore, and now looking at in
(14:30):
Asia Wilson and even a Caitlin Clark in some aspects
like these are game changing people, and I just think
they are generational. So to your point, when people say
the goat, they use that a whole lot, and they
need to scale it down because there are very few
who truly have the resume as well as the game
(14:51):
changing impact to be considered the goat of their sport.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
And I'm gonna let y'all know something too.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Sheryl thinks she slicked with this little flex that she
threw out there, right, Ain't nobody called it?
Speaker 1 (15:01):
I don't know what did I do?
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Ilex, she said, like Diana, I we have won at
every level.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Let me tell you how a little.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Okay, let me tell you because I know my basketball history.
You know what I'm saying, I know my history.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
And what people made her care.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Is that there are only eleven people who have ever
won an n C double, a championship, a gold medal,
a fever gold medal, and a w n B A title.
And I thought in DT did one all of them
multiple times. That's what I'm what I meant, That's all
I'm saying. The flex is serious. The flex is serious.
(15:46):
Make sure y'all click that, because the serious.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
I love you, but I can't stand you sometimes.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
I know I did not mean that, but if I wanted.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Okay, listen, do you know who you are saying? Oh, okay,
it's a different podcast. They don't know, but they know now.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
So kudos to you, Kudos to Diana because y'all out
here doing it real big.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
But absolutely, man, I.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Am going to miss DT. She's too funny. To me,
she's one of the biggest shiit talkers I've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Listen, I say, and miss her talking her ship because
she don't he shit and.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Back it up, back it up every single time. I
know why people can't stand her on the court.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
I get it. I probably wouldn't either, But.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
To me, she has literally been one of the sweetest
people who I've ever met and spoken to off the course,
and I ever had to face her, so different relationship
on my end.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
But you know, and I said that earlier.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
I said, one of the meanest, toughest competitors you'll ever
come up against, but one of the sweetest people you'll
ever meet in this world will give you the shirt
off her back.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
And DT, we love you over here at levels.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
To this, and we do got no reason to not
come on the show because you ain't known shit, none
of it.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Come on ondep you free now.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
But what that did, though, was that really opened up
the door for what Phoenix is gonna look like. We
all can say that majority of the teams in the
league this year are going to look a bit different,
but there's just some teams that will look way more
different than others, and I think Phoenix is one of them,
because not only do they not have Diana Tarazzi anymore,
(17:28):
but they also do not have Britney Griner, and they
also do not have Natasha Cloud, who was a newcomer
to the team last year, and.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
So Sophie Cunningham.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Sophie Cunningham is also gone from Phoenix, and so I'm
looking at this team now with Soli, with Kalia Kopper,
with a Lissa Thomas, like this is a new day
in Phoenix, and I'm not sure how I feel about it,
not like neither good or bad. I just think, Wow,
(17:59):
this is going to be interesting, especially if this corps
stays together past twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
I know a lot of people were taking one year.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Deals, rightfully so because there's a new CBA coming in
twenty six and they't want to get their money and
get paid. But I don't know how to feel with
this new core in Phoenix.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Is this cost seem now? Like? Is that what we
is this costem? I mean it has to be.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
But I'm with you, like I like the moves that
they made, but I'm still not really sure how.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
I feel like I'm coming about this team.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
First of all, I just knew Natasha Cloud was gonna
be there next year or this year.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
I should say, was shocked with some of the moves.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Did not see dB going to Atlanta. I just didn't
have that in the Bengo cards.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
I didn't. I did not. I did not.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
And when at announced she was going to Phoenix, I
just knew dB was following.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
But what do. I know.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I love Sato going to Phoenix. Listen the pieces they're
putting together, though, I like you have call I'll say
this and you can witness this. What Shae Petty did
at AU Phoenix, you might want to think about bringing
Shape Petty.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
Back because she could absolutely help you.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
There are some other players of AU we can talk
about that could be signed somewhere, but I don't know
what this Phoenix team.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Like.
Speaker 4 (19:27):
How far this Phoenix team will go this season?
Speaker 3 (19:29):
Yeah, yeah, it's going to be interesting to see how
they play together. I also want to make mention that
Phoenix brought in Colonie Brown, so they did bring in
a big to supplement what they were getting from BG
in some way. And then they also brought in Sammy Wickham.
Because you talk about Duanna Bonnard thinking, I also thought
that would be a place for her.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
She won a championship with them in twenty fourteen.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Yeah, so I was thinking maybe as someone who could
potentially And I'm not trying to I ain't kicking you
out the league, dB. I think you still got plenty
left and I know you in real life, and I
don't want.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
To smoke, so I'm not but I'm just saying I thought, if.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
This was going to be nearing the end of her career,
it may be an opportunity for her to start to
end where she started.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
So I thought Phoenix would be a great place for her.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
But they instead picked up Sammy Wickham, who can also
give them some a sharp shooting presence. So it's going
to be interesting to see what's going on in Phoenix.
But dB who did not go to Phoenix, did however,
make her way to Indiana. And you talk about a
team that looked different, that team looks together different.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Okay, outside of.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Kelsey Mitchell, who we definitely need to talk about her
for a second because I love that she stayed and.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Renewed her contracts with the Fever.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
They added in Dwana Bonner, they added in Natasha Howard,
they brought over Sophie Cunningham.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
I was like in Time Out, one player that I love.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Jaylen Brown from Dallas and Jalen played a little bit
with Dallas, but the potential that she has, I think
that was a little sneaky get by Indiana with Jaylen Brown.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Breonna Turner, her vet leadership.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Said Coleson, who I think will be a really good
leader for this team, a good vet, she'll be really
good in the locker room. And then you got Caitlin obviously,
and Saliah Boston and like see Hall listen, Tet, You
and I talked about this a little bit. This Indiana
Fever team, to me, immediately went from what they did
(21:31):
last year, which was really good for that team. But
I think they immediately become contenders this season with the
moves they made.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Serious serious contenders were real yeah, serious contenders.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
And one thing that sticks.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Out to me when I look at the moves that
they made is how they got a coach who comes
from coaching a defensive team. And the one thing that
we talked about as it relates to Indiana last year
was needing to pick up their defense. I have said
multiple times that if you can get Caitlin to play
(22:10):
as hard on defense as she does offensively, that is
a dangerous situation for a point guard to have. Then
you bring in Natasha Howard and Dwana Bonner, who are
both former defensive Player of the Year.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Listen, I was just getting ready to say, Lexi Hall
is the reason why we started.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
To see the change in their defensive prison last season.
It just feels like adding this additional element is really
what's gonna take Indiana to the next level. So yeah,
like they were a playoff team already, but they just
became a serious confender for real.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
Like this, this Indiana favorite team is gonna be scary.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
They're gonna be scared scar Yeah, yeah, I'm.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Excited about it. I'm excited to see it.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
So let's move down to the South a little bit
and talk about because you started to mention how surprised
you were to see Brittany Grinder moved to Atlanta. I
was surprised to see Brianna Jones go to Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Facts back too.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
So here's my question. Will they play Brianna and Brittany together?
Speaker 1 (23:17):
And that's my question.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
As well, Like, I don't know how this lineup is
gonna work because they brought in Vittry Walker, kimbro as
well too, and Seyenne Parker who was with their other
larger post players. She's now in Las Vegas. But but
I like that, by the way, but go ahead, I
do like that. I just I'm curious to see what
carl s Mesko's what his vision is for this team,
(23:42):
because to me, he has always been a coach, especially
in his years well, we only know him really for
his years at Florida Golf Coast, but he really didn't
do a lot of mid range. He was a three
pointer in layups kind of person. That was it three
pointers in layups. We're shooting a three or we're driving inside,
and Bree Jones isn't necessarily a three point shooter.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
So that's Brittany, I know, But that ain't what I.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Was just getting ready to say the same thing.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Like, Brittany can shoot the three, and she can make
some threes, but that's not her game. So I'm very
curious to see how you're gonna have two traditional bigs
play together. I just I don't know what the goal.
I don't know what the goal is as it relates
to that. But I do like the addition because with
(24:31):
Jordan Canada, with Ryan Howard, with Ali sha Gray, and
I got to even show some nuts to Na's heil
me because she came to AU last year and then
this past season in the WNBA you could see her
improvement as a player. So there's certainly a Cordier I
think that looks good and can play good and can
really elevate. They did make the playoffs this last year,
(24:53):
but they could maybe move up and seeding a little
bit this year.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
But I just don't know what we're finna do with Brie.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
And yeah, not really sure, but a player I am
sure about that.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
We just saw to you.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Who will be in Atlanta. Is Maya Calledwell?
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Yes? Oh, I love me some Maya Callwell, talk about it?
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Love me Somehow long athletic defense runs the floor can
score three level score like Maya Callwell is going to
be a great addition to this team depending on how
he plays. Right, going back to your point, because when
I look at the rest of this roster with Jordan Canada,
(25:35):
Alisha Gray, Ryan Howard, throw Maya Callwell in there, like
this is a team that should be getting up and
down the floor.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
This team definitely should be running. And he got some shooters.
He got some shoulders now.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
So yeah yeah, yeah, like he got some shooters.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
So this is it's gonna be interesting to see how
this comes together. I can't wait for training camp, Like
I I think I'm going to be paying a little
bit more attention this year in some training camps than
I have in the past, just to even see how
they're going to position players and interesting. So I missed
Seanne Parker who has gone to Las Vegas.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
She will be joining a Jewel Lloyd. How about that?
She will be joining a Tiffany Mitchell. How about that?
She'll be joining a Dana Evans. How about that? And
she will also be joining D one and only AGEA Wilson.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
How about that? And let's not forget Liz Kittley.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
Liz Kittley.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Yes, now, she was drafted but was out last season
because of an injury that she's stayed in college and
so this is so smart of Las Vegas, Like we knew,
like Liz was gonna sit for a year, but like
how lucky are you to.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Get to sit behind Age Wilson and just learn and.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Just just learn and you get it the year that
she's like better than best than the best itself like
incredible seasons to learn behind her from.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
But I'm interested because I don't think Las Vegas got
a GM yet.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
So word on the street is, I don't think they're
going to have a GM.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Drop some tea from Dshare, That's all I'm saying. Damn.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
So I guess it's just Becky and Nicky maybe the
ones that's putting this squad together that's interesting.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
But here is.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
What I still think Vegas is missing a piece. I
love Cheyenne Parker going to Vegas. I love that move.
Got Cheyenne, you got Asia, you have Liz Kittley. Yeah,
I'm still looking for and I'm talking about coming off
the bench because the starters Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Juel Lloyd,
(27:51):
Asia Wilson, and who is at Cheyenne or Liz, I
don't know. Probably I'm still thinking there's another, like really
good scoring guard that they need to bring off the bench.
I know you got Dana Evans, not really sure who
am I missing, but Tiffany Mitchell.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
Tiffany Mitchell. If Tiffany's back and she's healthy, I still
feel like they're missing one more piece.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
See.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
I think the piece that they're missing is someone is
a true score to come off the bench that can
play the post.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
Like that's there were Matt too.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Yeah, because there were moments last season where I felt
that Vegas started to get gassed because Asia was doing everything.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
And Asia was having to play a lot of minutes.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
Yeah, and then like even when you think about who
else they lost, you lost not only your six Women
of the Year last year in Tiffany Hayes to Golden
Stand but you also lost Alicia Clark, who was your
sixth Woman of the Year the year before.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
So like as it relates the players coming off the
bench that give you that spark, Sidney Colson, Sidney Colston
could come in.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
The game and really give you that energy, give you
that defense.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
So it is I agree with you that I like
the moves that they made, but it does feel like
there is one thing that they need to add steal.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
It feels like.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
There's that one that one thing, and I don't know
for sure what that one thing is, but I agree
with you. We're gonna take a quick break, but when
we come back, we're gonna talk more WABA free agency.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
So stick with us now. I'm gonna come down.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
To where you are, Cheryl, because if there's anybody who
knows this Dallas Wings team, and when I'm thinking about
free agency and I'm thinking about a team, I'm.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Excited about this team. I can't even let you finish.
But well, I like this.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
I just feel like Kurt Miller came in and was like, Okay,
guess what I'm finna do.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Shake some ship up.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
Yeah, Like I'm about to do. I'm about to shake
some ship up.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
And he brought in Dje Carring and did he brought
in Ty Harris, he brought in Melissa Smith.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
He has the rights to Key.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
Herb Kekey Herbert Harring. Yeah, and he has the twelfth
pick Andes Allen Myshahines Allen, and they have future draft
swaps and the fact that they got the number one.
Number one probably gonna be Paige Beckers.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Okay, but time out real quick because I love me
some Page Beckers.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
But here's where I am right.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
You can't go wrong my opinion with Paige Beckers or
Olivia Miles.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
You know what, you not wrong? Okay, I'm gonna throw
one more out there for you. Huh.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
You could also go Kecky Aries and not be wrong
because Fierra I think Tierra mcowan could use a little
bit of.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Assistance in She can't. She can't hold it down.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
She can't.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
So you can't go wrong. But Dallas got it going
on right now.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Yeah, because here's here's my thing, right you you really
can't pass on one of those two when you have
the number one pick.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
You can't.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
But two players that we just saw at a U.
T Ty Harris and Maddie Secrets. Yes, so we don't
even bring those two up. We didn't even talk about
the v he says, they just brought in Irique. Listen,
this Dallas Wings team, like we said about Indiana, This
(31:33):
Dallas Wings team, if they can stay healthy, they don't
be scary dog dog.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
We ain't even bring up the vents. I didn't even
bring up.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
I did't even bring up how Irique about to eat?
I didn't even bring up. I didn't even bring up
Maddie actually won athlete? Yeah, who was eating every day?
She ain't every now athletes every day, didn't didn't miss
a meal. What makes it so exciting is because of
all of the free agency new that was being broken,
the one thing that everybody wanted to see was what
(32:04):
would happened with Satchu Savoli because she was such a
critical piece to the Dallas.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Wings and what they've done.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
But if there is a team that I will give
a high grading mark to who has tried to fill
that gap and bring in what I think is probably
going to be one of the toughest teams. And they
now have Chris Koklanis, who is the new head coach.
Chris is such a nice guy, and I think he's
also someone who knows how to bring the best offensively
(32:31):
out of players. I just think that this Dallas Wings
team could really be a top three team in this league.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Ida too, t I absolutely do. They could be tough
if they can stay healthy and list that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
Health has got to be the thing for them, because
they were a fancy. They were a top four in
twenty twenty three and fell off last year only because
Howard wasn't healthy the whole time. Satu wasn't healthy the
whole time, like Irique I had Miss La Layer two
like it was it was too bad her.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Forehands, so she Jayleen Brown did something with her nose.
She was out for Like, they just couldn't stay healthy.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
It was crazy, And you know, it's team. And here's
the other thing that I'm going to bring up to.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
There's a lot of conversation that I feel and has
been had about whether or not Iveryqua and Page could
play together and all that stuff. And in my hand,
I'm like, y'all, like two strong guards can play.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
We're seeing it. We're seeing it in the.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
NCAA right now between Hannah ha Dog going a house.
But We saw it already, because I'm not saying these
two are the same players, but I am saying, do
y'all remember when Odyssey Sims was playing for Dallas. They
were playing some of their best basketball when Odyssey was there.
So two strong guards who have a similar style but
can impact the games in different ways can't work. We've
(33:51):
already seen it. So yeah, I think people need to
relax on that, like t percent happened. But I brought
up out of Sea.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
Yeah, as you should in l A the LA as
she should be with a contract, not a seven days,
not a ten day, seven day.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
It's a contract, not a hardship. See is a baller
and I love her in LA.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
In LLL, just adding her alone changes the look of
that team. Yeah, because of the things that she can
do with the basketball in her hands. Yeah, I'm sorry.
Can can we rewind for one second and go back
to Vegas?
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (34:37):
God, I totally forgot and this could be that player
Crystal Bradford.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
I forgot. They signed her to a training camp contract.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
Crystal Bradford Phoebe Yeah, ye shout out CB No that
she could be that one player that I was thinking about.
You're right, you are so right, Crystal Bradford definitely has
(35:09):
the ability to chase the game and she just needs
like she just needs to shot, like she was a
baller in the WS and and one thing put up.
Just she just needs to shot. Shout out to c B.
That's a hold it down. I love this, I love it.
She could definitely be that player.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Sorry, I just I had to. I had to do that.
So nobody makes all.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah. So we have so out of
season LA. Mercedes Russells had is now in LA. We
know Kelsey Plumb who was traded, and they already have
such a strong piece and Deerica Handy. There are things
that I think this LA team could utilize, one of
(35:50):
which being an actual facility.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Don't make no sense that y'all are one of the
marquee franchises in the w NBA.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
Y'all got the Lakers looking a hot ass mess at times,
but I got a dad facility.
Speaker 4 (36:01):
But that's there or there, Okay.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
I don't know how much this team becomes. I don't
know where to place LA just yet.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
Right.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
I feel like LA had the injuries that happened to
Los Angeles really was their detriment in twenty twenty four.
But you got you know d is gonna come back
where Kia Jackson is going to ball out like he
is a ball to gl rival. Three ain't three three
(36:34):
on three ain't for everybody, but it's for Rikia.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
She looks and she looks good doing it.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
But I'll tell you another player that I feel like
is benefiting from unrival is Ray Barell.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
So if ray.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
Can bring that same confidence, she gets opportunity. Ray Barell
should get minutes and how healthy we cam brinkbe coming back? Yeah,
I'm there with you. I like the piece right out
to see Deerica. I like the pieces. The way I
feel about Phoenix is how I feel about the Sparks,
not really sure.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
It's like you're not right, Like you're just not really sure.
But the pieces are absolutely there. You know, Lynn Roberts
is the new head coach, so it's gonna be interesting
to see how what she implements and what she brings
over from Utaw. But at the end of the day,
I do like the pieces you mentioned can bring. They
still you know, they also re signed Asaray Stevens, so
(37:29):
you've got, you know, a couple of of well sized
bigs underneath. Erry McDonald is also somebody I believe that's
coming back. So from a guard perspective, you have a
solid guard, you also have some solid pieces that can
come off the bench.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
I like the core look of this team.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
I just think it's too new for me to just
really say, Okay, this is where I think they're gonna be.
But I was shocked to see Lexi Brown sent to
the Seattle Storm Yep.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
That shocked me.
Speaker 4 (38:00):
It shocked me too. But it's a good look for Seattle.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
It is. It's a really good look for Seattle because
Lexi has playing Lexi.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Played really well at AU, not just shooting the ball,
but also like putting the ball on the deck, attacking
the pain. See, Seattle could be nice, they could.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
Seattle definitely can't be nice. And I really want this
for Skuyler, like I want this for Skyler so much so.
Sky's coming back, Necka's coming back. They've got Zaya Cook
at the guard positions. Gabby Williams is coming back. Gabby
Williams yeap, Gabby Williams is coming back. They added Alicia
(38:41):
Clark coming back. Oh honey, I love Ezsie. I love her.
And they've added Katie Lou Samuelson as well.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (38:55):
They got lea rue over from that from the trade
with La And honestly, I'll was thinking in my head
the reason that you know Seattle went for Lexi Brown
is because of the injury that happened to Jordan Horston.
Because I had high hopes for Jordan. She was starting
to play well in AU. She ended last season very
(39:15):
well for Seattle, so I had high hopes on what
she could potentially bring as a third year player to
this team.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
So it was very unfortunate to see her out.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
But I think the replacement with Lexi Brown, I want
them to go as far as they could possibly go.
Speaker 1 (39:28):
For Skyler.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
You know, Skyler in a way reminds me of like
a Chris Paul just can't find the right team.
Speaker 4 (39:37):
To get that championship with Yep, yep, do.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
You know what I mean? And I did too. I
wanted for Skyler. I want it for Necker.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
I know Nicka got her championship, but I just I
like this Seattle team. I do, and let's just keep
it one hundred. I would love to see Noie being
the only black female head coach.
Speaker 4 (39:56):
I'd love to see no It hit her championship.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I would as a coach, that would
be I would Yeah, that would definitely be what's up?
I could, I could definitely see that Seattle is going
to be and to stay out West. I think the
other team that made some very interesting moves was the
Chicago's guy. Let's talk about it, the Chicago's guy.
Speaker 1 (40:21):
Uh huh.
Speaker 3 (40:22):
They added, well, they brought back Courtney Vandersloot, which I
think we all knew Courtney Vanderslut was gonna leave New York.
I'm not sure that I saw her going to Chicago,
but I get it, and I and I and I
and I respect it.
Speaker 1 (40:35):
I love the move for aerol Atkins.
Speaker 3 (40:38):
You got you got a champion, you got a good
ball handler, you got a player, a true competitor.
Speaker 1 (40:44):
I love the addition of Key and Nurse.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Key and Nurse I think as again, another skill guard,
another person who can bring that competitive fire. And honestly,
I feel like she hasn't been given a true chance
to show herself healthy. Like even when she was playing
in Phoenix, I never believed that she was one hundred
percent healthy.
Speaker 4 (41:05):
I felt like there was I don't think she was there.
I don't think she would think.
Speaker 1 (41:08):
There were still some things lingering.
Speaker 3 (41:09):
And what makes me so high on the Chicago team
is and obviously there's Angel Rees returning, Kayla on your
wedder is returning, Camilla Cardoso's returning. But what makes me
so excited about the Chicago team or am very interested
in the Chicago team is everything that they lost and
all the conversation around this team after losing everything for
(41:32):
a second straight year, because they lost it the first.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Time and that was last year.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
You know, nobody expected them to do anything that they
did and they were literally a couple games away from
being a playoff team with no expectations other than the
fact that Angel Reese ended up hurting her wrists.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
Thank you? Okay, yeah, But.
Speaker 3 (41:50):
Then they lose Diamond Shields, they lose Lindsay Allen, they
lose Dana Evans, they lose Ree Turner. Like here we
are once again, and then we bring in a new
head coach with Tyler Marsh. So here we are once
again looking at Chicago with who on your roster? What
y'all doing, y'all ain't got no coach, first year coach?
What's y'all gonna look like?
Speaker 1 (42:11):
It's like it's the same thing this year.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
But I'm just like excited because I feel like this
time it's like y'all said the same shit about us
last year, and we showed you that we could really
still be a competitive team and really be a way
a playoff team if not for one or two things.
Speaker 1 (42:27):
So I feel that same energy this year.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
Listen, I love me some Rebecca Allen. I think Rebecca
Allen is going to be a really good piece for Chicago.
The other player they got that I that I've always
liked and couldn't quite understand why she can't stay on
a roster, Arella Garantes.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
Yeah, I love Brella. She's a big.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Guard, she plays hard, so hopefully she can land a
spot on this team. But I want to have a
quick conversation about a player we didn't talk about, Kennedy
car I get what everybody says and attitude, yeah, all
of that, I hear it. And a lot of this
is on Kennedy because you know, people had conversations with
her and Kennedy Carter's two damn good not to be
(43:12):
playing in this league.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
Yeah yeah, yeah, And she's bawling right down, she playing
over seats, I know.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
So like it's Chicago not bringing her backs, you know,
like I just want to know I don't hear anything
about her and I need to.
Speaker 3 (43:28):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I completely agree Kennedy.
Speaker 1 (43:32):
Boy.
Speaker 3 (43:33):
First, I kept saying to myself the whole time I
was in Nashville. I was like, Kennedy would eat athletes unlimited.
See if this would be.
Speaker 1 (43:42):
So good, I would love to see her playing this league.
Speaker 3 (43:44):
But no, you're right, like somebody needs to be working
on putting Kennedy on their roster. I don't know who,
I don't know what. Look Connecticut, what you're doing? Do
you need some I mean, come on, somebody, somebody got
to be doing something to put Kennedy on a roster
because she after the year that she had, and honestly,
she really ain't had a bad year since she been
(44:05):
in a WNBA. I think people have that out of sight,
out of mind situation just because she didn't play for
a couple of years. But she ain't really had no
bad years she's ever played in the w So she
deserves to certainly be on a roster. And yeah, I
was just gonna mention that it's going to be great
for Chicago to also have Elizabeth Williams back who although
she played on restricted minutes, she.
Speaker 1 (44:26):
Really did a great job.
Speaker 3 (44:27):
She landed in like the top six for athletes on
limited leader board, like she you know, was giving them
twenty some ad minutes a game. Still knows how to
drive and protect the basket, still can defend blocking skills
is ridiculous. Like that's going to be very very helpful
for Chicago from a defensive standpoint. So I love to
see that. I am full transparency. Wasn't really going to
(44:49):
talk much about Connecticut and Washington because honestly, I just
really don't even know what to say about them.
Speaker 1 (44:55):
I just don't even know what to say.
Speaker 2 (44:57):
Sometimes ain't none Tuesday, listen, I am the same way.
I was just like, what are y'all doing?
Speaker 1 (45:04):
What are you doing? But Ti, here is a bigger
what is Lena Delladon doing?
Speaker 3 (45:09):
She need to do something because we could, we could
use you, we could use you, add and use you.
Speaker 2 (45:16):
I think Connecticut just said we're gonna start all over.
Connecticut said we quit this year, We're gonna start all over.
Speaker 3 (45:22):
Because I'm not even gonna play them like that though,
because it's not like I mean, and I'm joking, I'm
joking Obviously I cover the team, so I'm not talking
about the team I cover. I'm saying though in a
joking fashion, but seriously, I just want to see how
they put these pieces together, because they don't have scrubs.
Tina Charles is not a scrub. Natasha Cloud is not
(45:44):
a shrub. Jacy Sheldon not a scrub. Diamond the Shields
not a scrub. Like like, it's not like this is
a team of nobody's right, So that's not what I'm
getting at.
Speaker 1 (45:54):
What I do.
Speaker 3 (45:55):
Feel, though, is that these players all have so different
planes styles that I'm finding it difficult to see how
they will play together. And so I will certainly be
interested to see what new coach Rashid Mezzin brings together.
Just Rashid Messin's kinds his name.
Speaker 1 (46:19):
I know, I've been practicing my French get my friends together.
I'm not.
Speaker 3 (46:30):
Oh, it's funny, but yeah. And then Washington same way,
like I, I don't know what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (46:38):
I don't know, I don't know what your plan is.
I'm putting it in the Lord's hands.
Speaker 2 (46:43):
I'm trusting because Washington's the one team like, at least
for me, that I haven't really heard much about like,
I don't know what moves they're making.
Speaker 1 (46:52):
I know nothing. I don't know. They didn't sign sign up.
Speaker 3 (46:54):
They got Shakira. Shakira's a bomb, you know what I mean.
Aliah Edwards obviously is some one who held it down.
I love Britney Sikes, Slim Slim gonna do her.
Speaker 1 (47:05):
I saw.
Speaker 3 (47:06):
I remember Emily Angsler stepping up her game last year
when injuries came about me as a team that could
certainly make some noise if they, you know, added a
piece or two. But I just don't know if they
even feel like that's something that they want to do.
They've got some draft picks, for sure, they definitely wrecked
up on some draft picks. They got a new head
coach in Sidney Johnson, so it shall be interesting to
(47:28):
see what they do next year. But some other like
notable moves for some teams that we didn't really get
a chance to get into. Is He Harrison is now
going to the New York Liberty. That's a really good
move I believe for New York, an even better move
for Izzy. The championship culture there. It's just I feel
like she'll fit right in Minnesota. Links they didn't really add.
(47:51):
I mean they did add like Grace Berger off Waivers,
but they didn't like add like a big name.
Speaker 1 (47:56):
They did resign Missisha Heidemann.
Speaker 4 (47:58):
Well, I like them picking up Kristin Williams bringing her
to training camp.
Speaker 1 (48:03):
Yeah, and I'm.
Speaker 2 (48:04):
Hoping that Alissa Peeley will get a little bit more
playing time this year. Yeah, because I liked I liked
her work. I liked what she did at AUS as
well as Kristin Williams. I just I thought AU was
really good for a lot of these players who are
trying to be seen and get an opportunity for some w.
Speaker 1 (48:26):
Training camp invites. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (48:28):
Kiera Leslie got an invite to a training cam contract
too with Minnesota. Cheryl Reef was out in AU during
the first week, so she got a good chance to
look at some of these players. And Kayla McBride and
Courtney Williams are down balling out in Miami and.
Speaker 1 (48:45):
Fief he's probably gonna be the m v P. Yeah,
I think he's probably probably gonna be the m v P.
Speaker 2 (48:51):
So he said, I'm bringing all the money home. Yeah,
she won the one on one. She's a founder, like
Fea said. I'm also she can't come into the house.
Speaker 1 (49:01):
She eating all that, she eating all of it.
Speaker 3 (49:03):
So it's definitely a fun situation that they got going
on in Minnesota.
Speaker 1 (49:09):
I don't really see, you know.
Speaker 3 (49:11):
The reason why I ain't really talking about them is because,
like we already know, they'll be a top team.
Speaker 1 (49:15):
New York will be a top team. You know.
Speaker 3 (49:17):
Vegas, I think will still be a top team. But
they did make some off season additions, which is why
we brought it up. And then there's the Golden State Valkyries.
Speaker 2 (49:24):
Right.
Speaker 3 (49:24):
The Valkyries didn't really have any huge, huge, like mind
blowing free agency signings, but I'd love them bringing on
the six Women of the Year in Tiffany Hayes. I
love them also picking up Laciitia and me here off waivers.
I'm excited, Like, I think they have the best position
right now. No expectations whatsoever, none whatsoever. You just got here, No,
(49:44):
no expectations.
Speaker 2 (49:46):
But with the pieces they got in free agency and
then the players that they added, I think they'll compete.
Speaker 1 (49:53):
Right.
Speaker 2 (49:54):
Are they gonna like win the whole thing, No, but
they have some pieces that will compete and they might
surprise a few teams.
Speaker 3 (50:06):
True, indeed, true, indeed, I have no doubt whatsoever that
this team will be competitive. I loved I think I
said this when we did the expansion Draft episode that
I loved their pickup of Veronica Burton.
Speaker 1 (50:18):
I thought that was huge.
Speaker 3 (50:20):
Davey Adic, Caleb Thornton, that's gonna be huge, Kate Martin,
Martin point to eat. And I was shocked when they
added Timmy Fame Ballet Dan did what I was shocked. Yes,
show I feel good about what this Golden State team
(50:43):
is gonna bring. I like the idea of playing with
no expectations because that means you can shock and surprise people.
You can set what you want your standard to be
because nobody has already said that for you. So I
really love that for this team. But yeah, man, free
agency was a trip, a lot of fun. But boy,
this twenty twenty five season about to be coreat it is.
Speaker 1 (51:06):
Yes, it is, yes, it is.
Speaker 2 (51:08):
Cannot Before we get out of here, can I just
say something real quick, because listen, when you talk about
the growth of the game and WNBA expansion and all
of the things, it only gets better to have a
Serena Williams as an.
Speaker 1 (51:25):
Investor for the Toronto Tempo. Yes, let's go I love
this so much. It is going to be an incordible,
so excited about that.
Speaker 3 (51:39):
She's going to be an incredible asset just to have
her and continuing to be in women's sports. And of
course the petty and me was like, oh, you really
gonna be the owner of a team in drake hometown.
Speaker 1 (51:53):
Yeah, that's probably why she did it. Ah, I love her, Petty, but.
Speaker 3 (51:58):
Yeah, we were gonna go ahead and repast up to
stay with us. Guys will be back to uh level off.
Speaker 1 (52:12):
All right, Cheryl.
Speaker 3 (52:14):
We talked a lot today free agency basketball. Just excitement
for my life of this season.
Speaker 1 (52:21):
I know, I know.
Speaker 3 (52:27):
If there's one team that I can just ask before
we head out of here, just the one team that
you are most excited to.
Speaker 1 (52:34):
Watch this year? And you can't say Dallas Indiana mm
hmm okay, and what about you? For me? I think it's.
Speaker 2 (52:58):
I said Indiana because you said I couldn't say Dallas
because I was.
Speaker 1 (53:00):
Gonna to Dallas. I know you was gonna say Dallas.
See and I and I won't.
Speaker 3 (53:04):
Say connect it so and you can't say New York either.
I won't say New York. I'm actually torn between Seattle
and Indiana. Yeah, I think those are the two. I'm
really torn between those. I like Seattle in Indiana. But anyway,
time for us to go ahead and level this thing
on out. So what you got for a nation, let's
do it.
Speaker 1 (53:23):
I got for y'all.
Speaker 4 (53:24):
Listen, happy Women's History Months.
Speaker 2 (53:29):
So because it is Women's History Month, I'm going to
leave y'all with something.
Speaker 1 (53:36):
But I think it's very important.
Speaker 2 (53:37):
Okay, I raise up my voice, not so that I
can shout, but so that those with out a voice
can be heard.
Speaker 1 (53:47):
We cannot all.
Speaker 2 (53:48):
Succeed when half of us are held back. M I'm
not really sure who that's from. I just I found
it and I thought it was really appropriate for Women's
History Month, but honestly for any day of the month,
any day of the year, because that's pretty powerful.
Speaker 3 (54:07):
Yeah, yep, yep, yeah, Well, I love that we are
in Women's History Months. I don't know, are you gonna
do something cool like, you know, every every day, every
show a quote from a different woman like you did
for Black History Months?
Speaker 1 (54:22):
Hey, how about that? I'll be telling everybody my secret.
Speaker 3 (54:27):
My bad.
Speaker 1 (54:28):
I gotta find out.
Speaker 2 (54:29):
I gotta find out who this one's from, because it
doesn't have a name, but I like it.
Speaker 1 (54:34):
But yes, I'm gonna bring you on something from a.
Speaker 2 (54:36):
Different, powerful, inspiring woman every day this week.
Speaker 4 (54:44):
And I love it month that we record.
Speaker 1 (54:46):
I love it one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (54:48):
Love it well fans, Thank you guys so much for
continuing to listen to Levels to This. We will be
back next week with more next Level conversation. It's just
about the real shit that women go through. And when
I tell you we have some incredible guests for the
month of March, you absolutely do not want to miss it.
Speaker 1 (55:04):
But remember this is not just our show.
Speaker 3 (55:07):
It's our show and we want to hear from you,
so leave us a review and Apple Podcasts. You can
email us at Levels to This Podcast at gmail dot
com tell us what you thought of this week's show
and maybe what you want us to talk about next.
You can also follow us on Instagram at lccpod, but
until then, keep your.
Speaker 1 (55:24):
Mentals ground level and we will be back next week.
Kee peace.
Speaker 3 (55:30):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network.
Open your free iHeart apps and search Levels to This
with Cheryl Swoops and Tarica Foster Brasby and start listening.
Hosts And Creators
Terrika Foster-Brasby
Sheryl Swoopes
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