August 14, 2025 • 39 mins
On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby dive into the recent WNBA trades and the immediate and future impacts on the various teams, from Dijonia Carrington’s trade to the Lynx and Aaliyah Edwards’ trade to the Sun, to Brittney Sykes heading to the Storm. They also discuss team challenges, coaching strategy and playoff prospects, highlighting the Dallas Wings and the LA Sparks.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Levels to This is an iHeart women's sports production in
partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
You can find us on the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Hey, everybody, what's going on. It's your girl, Trerika Foster Brasby.
What's up, y'all? It's your girl Cheryl swoop Hey. And
this is the levels to this podcast. This is the
show where we share that it's levels to the ship
that women go through. And we have got a great
show lined up for you today. My girls, Cheryl and
(00:37):
I we gonna kick it, talk about you know, a
lot of WNBA movement. But first before we go there,
I need y'all to know that Cheryl is rocking the
hell out this blonde clay that she got going on.
And I need everybody to get I need a photo.
I'm gonna need a video to hit up on social
(00:58):
or something because y'all got to see this is I
love this like this is you. This is your style.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Okay, So thank you first of all. And I love
it because it's simple, right. I tied it up, I
wake up, take it off, run my fingers through, and
keep it moving.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
But I want to share real briefly with you, because
this is the show that we talk about all the
shit that women go through. And you know, we've also
had our episodes where we had our health episodes where
we talked about everything from menopause to alopecia, I don't know, diabetes.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Just shit that we go through as women.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
And the interesting thing is, so I got my hair
cut a couple of days ago, and I knew I
wanted to do it because one menopause, the hot flash
is the heat, the one hundred degree weather in Houston.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
It's just way too hot for all of that hair.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And so I went, I did it. My hair had
been shedding. I just wasn't liking it. Well, went to
the doctor the other day and t I found out
that I have three different types of alopecia.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
I cried, one traction.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Yes, one is traction. I'm going to tell you because
I put it in my phone because I said, I
need to share this with my sister and I know
you can appreciate it. So I probably can't pronounce one
of them. So one is traction alopecia, the other one
is scarring alopecia, and the other one is CCCA and
(02:40):
that's central centrifical. The other C I couldn't spell, and
it's all something alopecia, central centrifuical, something alopecia.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Okay, now that one is new to me.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah, but I was like the first one she said traction,
I was like, yeah, makes sense right, from all of
my years of wearing braids and playing ball and all
the different side, all the things right. And then she
went to the scarring and explained that, and then she
went to the CCCA, and girl, my mind was blown.
And then I cried for a minute. And at the end,
(03:19):
I said, you know what, it's just hair.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
There are so many.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
People in this world going through way more than having alopecia.
Even I got tears in my eyes right now, but
thank you. I needed to hear that because I'm still
getting used to, not necessarily the shortcut, but the color.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
I was like, eh, I don't know, but I do
like it. I like it. No, the color is the
color is eating sists. And let me tell you, as
somebody who has to deal with alopecia, to I understand
that initial diagnosis, your mind is just like because we're conditioned, right,
we are conditioned for so long to think about how
(04:00):
much our hair matters to us, and how society has
conditioned us to think about how our hair matters to us.
And it's not to say that it doesn't. You look good,
you feel good, right, but when you hear that you
have alopecia, you just kind of have to reprogram your
mind to say, Okay, my hair not gonna be like
(04:20):
everybody else's, but I'm still a bad bitch. You feel
me like like like this doesn't define me. So I'm
here for you, sis, And there are so many things
that you can do but rock the hell out that
shortcut girl. Wish this is what I will be doing
for a while.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
But I know, I knew you come relate And I
was like, listen, I got me a great support system,
and I know I'm gonna call just my sist, but
my sorrow period period.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Don't think I ain't see that water bottle you drinking
out of too. I was like, oh look, wait, I've
seen it. I sure did, I sure did. I said,
you see this, this is my backscratcher, but you see
the color I have to do. I needed that last though.
(05:18):
I needed this laugh.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I was like, like, my my heart my soul, my
everything was feeling some type of way the other day
when I left the doctor because I was like, oh
my gosh, what what am I going to do with
my hair when I don't want to do this, you know?
But then I said, you know what, it's just hair.
I can always fear it out here.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
It's just here, like, and there's so many things that
you can do when you don't want to grow up.
Throw a hat on, you don't want to do it today,
throw a head on like it is just so many
things it is. It's like fee feel being your feelings
and feel how you feel because you have to feel.
And then once you're done, it is what it is.
(06:03):
It's just here. It's just here. That's it. That's it, honey.
We will walk, we will we will walk a ball
do and be a battie out here. Do you hear me? Like,
don't play with us. That's that's how dope we are.
But anyway, we have a really really fun show lined
up today because there has been so much movement in
(06:26):
the w n b A. And at the time of
this recording, I have a game Connecticut is going to
be playing against Chicago later this evening in Connecticut and
I get to see Aliah Edwards again because Aliah Edwards
is now playing for the Sun. She got traded to
washing from Washington to Connecticut. And I'm like, it ain't
(06:48):
even like I'm dope, Like I'm geeked to see a
Leah per Se because Alia is awesome and I see
her often. But these these fans are about to get on
my nerves today because all of this Yukon that's going
on up here all this day. I'd be right about that. Okay,
we got up. We got Olivia Nelson a Doda on
the team. We got Bria Hartley on the team, and
(07:11):
she coming back. Now Aliah Edwards is going to tea.
If you wanted to build a Husky squad, just say that.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
So well, you know the fans are gonna show up
because the Connecticut Huskies they love their team, their players.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
They love it, love it. It don't matter who team
or what team you play for, if you played for Connecticut,
when you show up. Not not to mention, the general
manager of the Sun, mor Kentuck, went to Yukon. The
team president Jen Rizzotti went to Yukhan and all I
keep thinking, and I just keep thinking like, and Gino
ass is too out here coaching. That is so true. Wow,
(07:55):
I did.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
I mean, I knew that, but when you put it
like that, I'm like, that is yukon the whole.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That the whole Connecticut bro. And then let's I'm gonna
take it a step further. The Playboy. One of the analysts,
Ashley Battle, went, you guess, yes you did, Yes, you did,
Yes you did. Yes, ma'am. I'm sick of it. I'm
sick of it much damn. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
They said, take it, take it, take all of it.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Hey, y'all trying to move a team. Y'all tripping, girl,
Oh my goodness, y'all are ripping. But with all that
being said, you know, Alea wasn't the only movement that
happened over this last past week or two. It's been
a lot of movements. So let's just go ahead and
take this thing to the next level. They spent a
(09:00):
lot going on in the w NBA over the last
couple of weeks, and last week was the trade deadline,
which concluded on Thursday, August seventh. And you know, it's
always difficult for there to be much movement during the
season just because of the hard salary cap. And you know,
(09:22):
by that time, certain teams kind of have already found
their groove and not really wanting to disrupt it. So
it's always tough to really see anything that shocks and
surprises you during the season by the trade deadline. But
I think this year there were certainly some moves that
were made that some teams we are already starting to
(09:43):
see benefit from other teams. I think in the future
they will benefit from. But I like what I saw
this year, right, And so first gotta show some love
to Djna Carrington, who has traded from to the Minnesota Links.
(10:04):
My girl, Djna Cheryl. I love Djna, adore Djna, And
I was so pissed, for lack of better terms, at
her utilization in Dallas. And I say this knowing that
I have a good relationship with Kurt Miller, I have
a great relationship with Chris Cloklannis, I have a great
(10:25):
relationship with pr and all those folks down there in Dallas.
But honey, what were y'all doing? Like? What were y'all doing?
This is the former most improved player of twenty twenty four.
This girl was a candidate, a high candidate for defensive
Player of the Year, one of the best rebounding guards
(10:46):
in the business, can play both sides and can really
be an asset to you on the wing. And she
was just down there, just just existing. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Well, I don't have kind of relationships with them that
you do, so so yeah, you go.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Ahead, and you go ahead and do it for me, dog,
because because I'm trying to remain professional, my.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Gosh, I'm not even gonna I'm not even gonna beat
him across the head.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
But I will say this, tee.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
People may not realize and understand there is a difference
in wearing the head coach hat and the assistant coach hat. Yeah,
and I'm saying that about Chris right when when you're
sitting in that that big seat where you're making the
big bucks, you you gotta really truly know and understand
(11:44):
what you're getting paid the big bucks for, right, And
and to your point in the off season, I was like, Okay, great,
these are great moves for Dallas with dj Na, with Alyssa.
You know, obviously with Page, here's the difference d Janey.
(12:05):
She is a two way player.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
But d Jana is.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Going to really get herself going off of her defense
right when she was at Connecticut. I kind of felt like,
that's like last season, that's what she showed, like I'm
a defender and I don't have to have plays run
for me because I can score off of my defense.
(12:30):
I felt like her role in Dallas. I don't think
they really knew what they wanted her to do or
to be. But you're going to a team where she
really not saying she got away from being the defender,
but it was more about scoring, right. So there were
(12:51):
situations for me that I saw Djona in where it
was like I got to score.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
I got a score.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I got a score because if I don't score, we're
not going to have enough scoring. And I felt like
that kind of changed her game a little bit. But
I'm gonna go on on the other side because you
brought it up with with Kurt and with with Chris
uh since it just wasn't pretty and not even not
(13:19):
only with d Jna. There are so many times when
I look at this team in a timeout, like in
a huddle, they all look confused, like what did you
just say or what are you trying to tell us?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Or what do you want us to do?
Speaker 1 (13:34):
And that's just not a good look. I can't tell
you how many times I looked. I watched the game
and I looked in the huddle and the look on
Page Becker's face was like, I ain't really sure what
that is. So I'm gonna go out on the court
and do my own thing.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Listen, I ain't even got to watch the huddle on TV.
When I'm covering the game, I just walk my ass
right over there in the huddle, and I'll be confused too,
like what are we doing? I don't even know how
to I just go in my ear and say, sir,
I don't have a report. I don't have because I
can't help you because I don't have a report. I
don't have a huddle report on the side. And it's interesting. Now,
(14:13):
they did get Diamond Miller and Karlie lu Samuelson and
that trade back, and I like Diamond Miller right like.
I feel like Diamond could be an asset to a team.
She was starting to develop more. She got injured early on,
so we didn't really get to see her be like
the number two pick that we kind of expected her
(14:33):
to be. But I think that Diamond has something. It
could be a really good asset to a team. I
do wonder whether or not her development will take the
leap that it needs to within the Dallas organization and
that and that is just I just don't I just
don't know. I don't know. Like I'm not saying that
(14:56):
there aren't other people on that coaching staff, Like I
love Nola, I think Nola Henry is amazing, and so
I'm not saying that it ain't other people that can
help her get where she needs to be. So I'm
just saying personally, I feel like, and here's the other
thing too, to keep in mind, this off season is
an off season. So just because you there right now
(15:18):
don't necessarily mean you gonna be there come twenty twenty six.
Like there's a lot of movement that's gonna happen in
twenty twenty six. That we can see somebody somewhere some
right now and they might not necessarily be there next year.
Could be a part of another situational trade, could be
you know anything, Right, So there is some possibility of
(15:38):
her being on another team, But just as of today,
she's a member of the Dallas Wings. And I was
so excited about Dallas at the beginning of this season.
I saw, my gosh that pieces that they were getting.
I was like, yo, I am high on this and
y'all about to get paid. Nothing worked out a way
(16:00):
that I anticipated that it would.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
And Okay, here's here's my question. I'm just gonna ask
the question, Dallas, what are we doing?
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Okay, what do we do?
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Melissa leaving going to Vegas I think was a great
move for Vegas, not not so good for Dallas. Dejanee
leaving going to Minnesota, great move for Minnesota, not so
good for Dallas.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
I am there with you, huge fan of Diamond Miller.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
I think she has so much talent, so much potential
to be a really good pro in this league. But
you got to be in the right situation, the right organization,
the right team, under the right coaches to develop to
the type of pro that you can develop into.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Is that with Dallas? To your point, I don't, I don't.
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Then you waive Tierra McGowan. I will say that does.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Not me at all.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
I said at the beginning of the season, I didn't
know if she would last. And it's not because she
doesn't have the talent or the ability like we've seen
Tiera mcowan. When she is balling, she's she's very difficult
to defend, right, Yeah, So I bring all that up,
and there's a player that I haven't brought up that
I'm about to. I'm confused because even even o Rique
(17:27):
to me, is not the Arique that we've seen that
we know her to be. She's just not playing that way.
A Rique is not playing like Arique. Tierra wasn't playing
like Tierra. So what what is it? Maybe Dallas is saying,
all right, got rid of Melissa, who's an older player, Djine,
she's a vet wave Tierra who she's a vet. You
(17:51):
you can't really move our Rique. So maybe they're saying,
you know what, we're just gonna start all over. We're
gonna go young, and we're gonna try to around Page.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
To me, that's what it's looking like. And that might
be the case. But that also concerns me too, because
this was a team that literally just supposedly was in
a rebuilding phase, like that was the point of the
Irique and then having Sa too and then you know
the possibility of adding Page, but then Satu leaves and
(18:24):
then like it just felt like how many opportunities or
how many times are we going to say that Dallas
is rebuilding? Like at what point? Where is the build? Like?
Where is the build? You know what I mean? Like
it reminds me and I don't always like to do
NBA comparisons, but it reminds me of the Sixers. Like
for years we were like, damn, where's you're building in
(18:49):
your building? And you and you and there's a process
and there's a process. Then it got Joel and Beid
and then his nickname became the process and now we like, damn,
we still have we still haven't gotten what the promised
land was supposed to be. I says, I feel you.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
I am there with you. I was one of the
people in the very beginning. I didn't have Dallas winning
a championship. But I'll tell you this, I had Dallas
making the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Yeah, me too, I did. I did. I did not see.
I did not see Dallas being this Dallas me either.
I just didn't and I didn't either. And because of that,
I have a lot of questions. I'm not gonna put
it all on the.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Coach, because the the GM is the one pulling the streets.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
It's all I'll say. But that's all I'm gonna say,
mm hmm, Okay, I'm gonna let that Lae. I'm gonna
let that rocket comment.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
I'm not you ain't gotta come not.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
But players also have to take accountability too, so you
can't put it all on on the coach or the GM.
But I do believe Dallas is better than an eight
and twenty two record or they were.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
I agree with you one hundred percent. And at the
same time, I will note that there is a connection
between Dallas and what I see going on in LA
because Dallas's head coach used to be Letricia Tramil. Electricia
Tramil is now on staff in LA special assistant to
the head coach in LA than one. Several games in
(20:31):
a row have positioned themselves to be a playoff team,
and Rakia Jackson looks unstoppable. Say it again, as a
Ray Stevens better be in somebody's in myp conversation. Say
it again, Dereka Hanby been her, said again, And at
(20:53):
the end of the day, cam Brink being on the court,
even though she's still getting her bearing and getting her footy,
her being on the court creates so much space and
makes this a completely different team that if y'all ain't
putting in respect on LA and it is not lost
on me that this turnaround shift started to happen and
(21:15):
my eyes when Letricia Trimmell got on that staff. And
so all I'm saying is sometimes if it ain't broke,
don't fix it. And I'll let that go in that order.
But if y'all ain't paying attention to the Sparks out here,
I don't know what you're doing. You might need to
(21:37):
open your eyes and pay attention to the Sparks out
here because they are going to be a dangerous team
to face in the first round.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
I wouldn't want to see them. I don't want to
see them in the first round. I don't want to
see them.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
And if I'm Indiana, I definitely don't want to see
them because they have been your achilles heel the entire season.
I don't want to see them. I don't want to
see them. That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
The last few games that I've watched the Sparks play, Oh,
they they bad about it, and they are like, okay,
count us out if you want to. And and you
I'm gonna bring up the one player whose name you
didn't mention Kelsey Plum.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Kelsey Plump, but Kelsey Plum is like.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Not saying this is my team, but she's running it
like it's her team. And Kelsey Plum is playing free,
she's playing.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
She's having fun.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Yeah, this this Sparks squad to me, and you said
her girl, Rakia Jackson, I'm gonna just call her my
mini meet.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Rakia Jackson is for real and I hate that she
got her.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
There's so much that we could talk about this Sparks team,
but I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
The Sparks are for real. They making some noise.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
And if I'm any team right now, I don't want
to see the Sparks in the first round.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
I don't want to see them. I don't want to
see them. Yeah. Definitely a team that we don't have
to keep our eye on as this season continues. No
trades per se happened with LA, but they did pick
up Alisa Peelee and sign her to a seven eight contract.
She was released earlier this year from the Minnesota Lynx,
and that doesn't surprise me at all. Considering that Lynn
Roberts was in Utah, Alisa played in Utah, it makes
(23:19):
sense to me. Another piece I love that for her
too as well. We're gonna take a quick break and
when we come back, we will talk about this other
player who I am so excited has just moved herself
to a contender team. We'll be back in one second.
(23:45):
My girl Slim is now a member of the Seattle Storm. Okay.
And I could not love this more for Britney sits
because as much as I believe that she deserves to
be an All Star while playing in Washington and did that,
she finally got her moment be in Seattle, playing alongside
(24:10):
Skyler Diggins and Gabby Williams and Ezie Matd Magore and
Mekka Agooma Cake Babe be Erica Wheeler. Site's about to
eat on y'all out here, and I love it. I
love it. She is such a defensive guard like Slim
is about to be so good in Seattle, and I
love that for them. Seattle's good for her and she's
(24:32):
good for them.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
One piece that I've been like with Seattle that I've
been like, God, they need they need another guard coming
off the bench, and Slim could so be that guard
right he got right now with their starting Erica Wheeler, Skyler,
Gaddy but you can, you can even move Eweezy to
(24:57):
the bench, starts Skyler at the point and have have
Gabby and Slim on the wing with Essie and Necka.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
At the hell of a lineup. That's a problem. That's
a problem. That's a whole problem. And when you look
at the Seattle defense, they already got the second best
defensive rated in the league. Right now you have now
added a Britney Sits, who have for many years been
somebody who even me as a voter, I have placed
her on my All defensive team many times. Like she
(25:30):
the girl can ball, and even though she's probably gonna
come off the bench, she could even start, like I
would not be surprised if Noh was like, let's just
give her a couple of chances in the start and
line up and see what happens. But again, I think
she will absolutely be coming off the bench. But if
she was to start ahead of Erica Wheeler, I couldn't
(25:51):
be mad of it. I couldn't be mad about it.
I just I love this for her. She literally and
instantly went to a contender team. Which is something that
I love for both her Andie is that they had
the talent, their talent wasn't fully showing the way that
it could with the teams that they were currently on. Well, actually,
in a let me take that back, let me walk
that back, because I think Britney's talent is still going
(26:14):
to be shown, but will be shown in a different
way because she's not going to be a starter, whereas
Djane going to Minnesota, she's playing around players that see
the floor differently. Their offensive rating is higher and the
Feasta calli eras out when she made her debut, so
her usage was different. Like it's just so, it's just
these were great moves, Like I really enjoy the movement.
(26:36):
I think these were great moves, and so I love
what Britney Sites can bring to to Seattle. In return,
Washington got Alisha Clark. Alisha Clark is very familiar with
the Washington Mystics. She won a championship with the Washington Mystics,
so it's not like this is a new place in
(26:58):
a new experience for her. However, the Mystics is a
very different team now than it was when she was
there previously, but to her credit, she does get to
play alongside Sonya and Kiki and some great rookies who
can help bolster. I think just her presence and her
mentorship to those players are going to be incredible. And
(27:19):
Washington is still going to be a team that can
really disrupt. I believe can really disrupt some people's playoffs
hopes and playoffs potentials. And I would love being that team. Like,
if I know that my team may not be guaranteed
to be a playoff team, I want to be the
team to make sure your ass don't get in. If
I can't get in, can't nobody, Yeah, no doubt. Let
(27:41):
me be the spoiler. Let me be the spoiler.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
Let y'all come in here thinking because we ain't in
the playoffs, then we ain't about to play, like period,
I meet the girl, I oh yes, yes, I'd be like, Okay, well,
if we ain't in it, y'all ain't gonna be in it.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
If we got something to do, and then it ain't
nobody finna be in. Ain't nobody gonna play. But they
got a Leasha Clark, they got Zia Cook, and they
got a twenty twenty six first round pick. So I
feel like that was a good move for Washington. It
Washington didn't they wave Zia. They did wave Zia but
I guess what I'm saying is excuse me speaking futuristically
(28:21):
crazy to me, but which I mean you could use. Yeah,
But speaking futuristically, I think it was a good move
for Washington because you got some pretty good value for
Britney Sykes, sites gets to play for a contender. You
get a twenty twenty six first round pick, and that
twenty twenty six first round draft. Twenty twenty six draft
is gonna be nice and you probably won't be like
(28:46):
you probably won't be a lottery pick, but you I mean,
it could be a lottery pick. It depends on how
the balls fall. But at the end of the day,
I think you got very good value to help build
around the young pieces that you got. It's conversations about
them possibly moving Aliyah Edwards. I have seen the valkyries.
I have seen Chicago. I've seen quite a few names.
(29:10):
I mean, Connecticut need to be a been there. They
need to be looking at trying to get Aliyah. But
according to Washington, they're still talking about they not They're
not looking to do any trades. They don't know anybody.
You know. Sidney Johnson is like, that's above me. I
don't have any thing to say about that. Blah blah
blah blah blah. But with all of that being said,
I just think that this is a good position for
(29:33):
Washington to be in to literally use you talk about
building for the future, This is a good position for
them to be in to build for the future, and
a great position for Brittany to go to a team
where she can actually win now. So yeah, it's been
a very very interesting few days as it relates to
the trade deadline, as it relates to moves that were made.
Can't forget Emma Mesa men going bast Re signing with
(29:57):
New y Love that for her for New York. How
about Cheryl Reeves comment she made the wrong decision, She
made the wrong decision. I ain't mad as Cheryl, though
I love Let's say I'm not.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
I was trying to think, like what peace New York
needed in addition to you know, uh, when they picked
up Tosh Cloud, I was like, what what position do
they need or what player could they use that could
almost guarantee them another championship? And Amisaman could be that
(30:37):
player For people who don't remember her or know her game, Oh.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
She is the truth and she she's like a silent assassin.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
And and right now the way they're playing with Stewie.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Out, who they need New.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
York, New York, Uh, New York just they just not
better better with her.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Yeah, one percent. She is someone who is so versatile,
so great around the rim. I mean, she's a three
time MVP in euro League for a reason, back to back.
And it's funny because John Quoe Jones said in a
statement yesterday I want to say, or recently she said,
Emma Messa Men and Natasha Cloud are now my teammates.
My biggest heartbreak have now become like my biggest joy,
(31:26):
my biggest it because John Quell was on that Connecticut
team that lost to Emma and Natasha Cloud in twenty
nineteen in the WNBA finals and so and Emma Mesa
Men was finals MVP. So just you know, she's still
getting the hang of it. You I don't got to
tell you, but everybody knows who follows the league that
practice time and things like that is not something that
(31:48):
is a luxury that you are not afforded in the
WNBA on a regular basis. So you kind of sometimes
have to learn on the fly when you are traded
or when you are like an n season transaction, and
that's what Emma is kind of having to do, Like
she kind of had to just sign and get thrown
in and kind of learn on the fly. But she's
such a smart player that it makes so much sense
that she'ld be able to fit right into that New
(32:10):
York Liberty schematic and really make a difference, especially with
Stewie being out. So you know, New York has done
the right thing with getting themselves a player that can
keep them afloat until Stuie is back off that bone bruise.
But there is so much that we have coming up
in the W and so much more that we're gonna
(32:32):
have to have an opportunity to discuss. The playoff picture
is something that I know you and I will definitely
talk about. But with all that being said.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
Is.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
We're just gonna have to come back next week or
week after or whenever and kind of like break down
what this playoff picture is really gonna look like, because
I got a feeling that the way these standings look
right now, somebody is gonna shift, And I'm gonna tell
you who I think somebody is. Las Vegas Aces Wait
shift as in shift as in fallout.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Yeah, and I listen, you know, I'm I'm that person
that says I never count out an Asia Wilson team.
But I'm also that person that's realistic in saying Asia
Wilson needs some help, and I don't know, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Where that is.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
I totally agree with you on the on the playoff picture,
I could see the Golden Saate Valkyrie is trying to,
you know, ease up in that that that a spot.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
I just I like this.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Team, but the Sparks too.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I just I don't know.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
We absolutely have to come back and have another conversation
around playoffs and where teams are and who we think
will make it, because I think it's gonna be some surprises,
and you're right, Vegas could be the biggest one that
we're talking about not being in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Yeah. If LA continues to play the way that they play,
that is my sadly, that is my bold prediction is
that if Lah's playing the way that they're playing, Golden
State is going to stay a playoff team and move up.
Las Vegas might fall out and the Sparks might slide
in and be that team to to get into the playoffs.
(34:30):
So we will see, but we're gonna go ahead and
close this thing out, so we will be back to
level on off right after this. So yeah, sure, a
(34:52):
lot of movement going on, a lot of people in
a lot of different places, and I want to take
this as an opportunity just kind of update our fans
really quick on where everybody is currently. So you know,
when you talk about team movement and player movement, like
where is everybody fighting for? And so as of now,
(35:13):
as of today, you know, Minnesota is still sitting firmly
number one. They have officially clinched a spot in the playoffs.
The New York Liberty is two, the Dream of three,
Phoenix is four, Vegas is five, Indiana is six. In
the standings, The Golden State Valkyries are sitting number seven.
(35:34):
They are on their way to being the first expansion
team to clinch a playoff birth and then at number
eight is the Seattle Storm So nine, ten, eleven, twelve,
and thirteen, while thirteen and twelve in eleven, Dallas, Chicago,
Connecticut are pretty much out of it. The Sparks and
the Mystics have a case. So definitely keep your eye
(35:57):
on seven through eight.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
Yeah, but I want to say this real quick. The
Sparks are playing really well right now. I could see
the Sparks moving into.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Eight or seven.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
So yep, excited that the Valkyries are doing what they're doing,
but they better keep playing because the.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
Sparks are now. I can see them.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Getting into the playoffs and I would not want to
be the team to play them in the first round
because the Sparks are playing really, really, really well right now.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
They are.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Last thing I want to say, Tea, because we didn't
mention it. Just want to send a shout out and
good vibes to Sid Colson and to Aery McDonald man.
I hate that for both of them. Yes we're playing
really well, but want to send good thoughts and vibes
and get well soon, healthy, rehab, all those things to the.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
Two of them. Absolutely hate to see players go down,
but especially players like them who play really hard, great energy,
great vibe. Yeah, definitely sending our love to them. So
I'm sure how you're gonna level us out today? Well,
I got a good one.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
I got a good one, and it kind of applies
to me right now because I, as I shared before,
was just feeling sorry for myself a little bit after
my doctor's visit. But it says, and this is by
forgive me if I pronounce the name wrong, but it's
Sancheta Pandy.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
Do you know that name?
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Nope, And it says, never let the things you want
make you forget the things you have.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Mm m m hmmm mm hmmm. Perspective.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
Yeah, yeah, And I needed that for my soul today.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
Yep, yep. Very good perspective on lose sight of what
you have for things that you want. Love that great perspective.
Thank you for that, Thank you for that word and
for that message, and thank to all of you for
continuing to listen to Levels to This. We will be
back next week with more Next Level conversations just about
(38:16):
the real shit that women go through. And I want
to share in this moment that I always tell you
guys to send us your emails at Levels to this
Podcast at gmail dot com, and y'all have been doing that.
We have gotten some emails or some really great suggestions
for show topics and just compliments on things that you
(38:36):
guys love about what we're doing. So please keep doing that,
keep sharing your thoughts at Levels to This Podcast at
gmail dot com. Leave us a review. In Apple Podcasts
and make sure you're following us on Instagram at lttpod so.
Until then, keep your mentals ground level and we will
be back next week. Thanks.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart,
open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This
with Sheryl Swoops and Treka Foster Brasbee and start listening
Levels to This is an iHeart women's sports production in
partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
You can find us on the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Hey, everybody, what's going on. It's your girl, Trerika Foster Brasby.
What's up, y'all? It's your girl Cheryl swoop Hey. And
this is the levels to this podcast. This is the
show where we share that it's levels to the ship
that women go through. And we have got a great
show lined up for you today. My girls, Cheryl and
(00:37):
I we gonna kick it, talk about you know, a
lot of WNBA movement. But first before we go there,
I need y'all to know that Cheryl is rocking the
hell out this blonde clay that she got going on.
And I need everybody to get I need a photo.
I'm gonna need a video to hit up on social
(00:58):
or something because y'all got to see this is I
love this like this is you. This is your style.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Okay, So thank you first of all. And I love
it because it's simple, right. I tied it up, I
wake up, take it off, run my fingers through, and
keep it moving.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
But I want to share real briefly with you, because
this is the show that we talk about all the
shit that women go through. And you know, we've also
had our episodes where we had our health episodes where
we talked about everything from menopause to alopecia, I don't know, diabetes.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Just shit that we go through as women.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
And the interesting thing is, so I got my hair
cut a couple of days ago, and I knew I
wanted to do it because one menopause, the hot flash
is the heat, the one hundred degree weather in Houston.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
It's just way too hot for all of that hair.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
And so I went, I did it. My hair had
been shedding. I just wasn't liking it. Well, went to
the doctor the other day and t I found out
that I have three different types of alopecia.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
I cried, one traction.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Yes, one is traction. I'm going to tell you because
I put it in my phone because I said, I
need to share this with my sister and I know
you can appreciate it. So I probably can't pronounce one
of them. So one is traction alopecia, the other one
is scarring alopecia, and the other one is CCCA and
(02:40):
that's central centrifical. The other C I couldn't spell, and
it's all something alopecia, central centrifuical, something alopecia.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Okay, now that one is new to me.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah, but I was like the first one she said traction,
I was like, yeah, makes sense right, from all of
my years of wearing braids and playing ball and all
the different side, all the things right. And then she
went to the scarring and explained that, and then she
went to the CCCA, and girl, my mind was blown.
And then I cried for a minute. And at the end,
(03:19):
I said, you know what, it's just hair.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
There are so many.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
People in this world going through way more than having alopecia.
Even I got tears in my eyes right now, but
thank you. I needed to hear that because I'm still
getting used to, not necessarily the shortcut, but the color.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
I was like, eh, I don't know, but I do
like it. I like it. No, the color is the
color is eating sists. And let me tell you, as
somebody who has to deal with alopecia, to I understand
that initial diagnosis, your mind is just like because we're conditioned, right,
we are conditioned for so long to think about how
(04:00):
much our hair matters to us, and how society has
conditioned us to think about how our hair matters to us.
And it's not to say that it doesn't. You look good,
you feel good, right, but when you hear that you
have alopecia, you just kind of have to reprogram your
mind to say, Okay, my hair not gonna be like
(04:20):
everybody else's, but I'm still a bad bitch. You feel
me like like like this doesn't define me. So I'm
here for you, sis, And there are so many things
that you can do but rock the hell out that
shortcut girl. Wish this is what I will be doing
for a while.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
But I know, I knew you come relate And I
was like, listen, I got me a great support system,
and I know I'm gonna call just my sist, but
my sorrow period period.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Don't think I ain't see that water bottle you drinking
out of too. I was like, oh look, wait, I've
seen it. I sure did, I sure did. I said,
you see this, this is my backscratcher, but you see
the color I have to do. I needed that last though.
(05:18):
I needed this laugh.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I was like, like, my my heart my soul, my
everything was feeling some type of way the other day
when I left the doctor because I was like, oh
my gosh, what what am I going to do with
my hair when I don't want to do this, you know?
But then I said, you know what, it's just hair.
I can always fear it out here.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
It's just here, like, and there's so many things that
you can do when you don't want to grow up.
Throw a hat on, you don't want to do it today,
throw a head on like it is just so many
things it is. It's like fee feel being your feelings
and feel how you feel because you have to feel.
And then once you're done, it is what it is.
(06:03):
It's just here. It's just here. That's it. That's it, honey.
We will walk, we will we will walk a ball
do and be a battie out here. Do you hear me? Like,
don't play with us. That's that's how dope we are.
But anyway, we have a really really fun show lined
up today because there has been so much movement in
(06:26):
the w n b A. And at the time of
this recording, I have a game Connecticut is going to
be playing against Chicago later this evening in Connecticut and
I get to see Aliah Edwards again because Aliah Edwards
is now playing for the Sun. She got traded to
washing from Washington to Connecticut. And I'm like, it ain't
(06:48):
even like I'm dope, Like I'm geeked to see a
Leah per Se because Alia is awesome and I see
her often. But these these fans are about to get on
my nerves today because all of this Yukon that's going
on up here all this day. I'd be right about that. Okay,
we got up. We got Olivia Nelson a Doda on
the team. We got Bria Hartley on the team, and
(07:11):
she coming back. Now Aliah Edwards is going to tea.
If you wanted to build a Husky squad, just say that.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
So well, you know the fans are gonna show up
because the Connecticut Huskies they love their team, their players.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
They love it, love it. It don't matter who team
or what team you play for, if you played for Connecticut,
when you show up. Not not to mention, the general
manager of the Sun, mor Kentuck, went to Yukon. The
team president Jen Rizzotti went to Yukhan and all I
keep thinking, and I just keep thinking like, and Gino
ass is too out here coaching. That is so true. Wow,
(07:55):
I did.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
I mean, I knew that, but when you put it
like that, I'm like, that is yukon the whole.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That the whole Connecticut bro. And then let's I'm gonna
take it a step further. The Playboy. One of the analysts,
Ashley Battle, went, you guess, yes you did, Yes, you did,
Yes you did. Yes, ma'am. I'm sick of it. I'm
sick of it much damn. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
They said, take it, take it, take all of it.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Hey, y'all trying to move a team. Y'all tripping, girl,
Oh my goodness, y'all are ripping. But with all that
being said, you know, Alea wasn't the only movement that
happened over this last past week or two. It's been
a lot of movements. So let's just go ahead and
take this thing to the next level. They spent a
(09:00):
lot going on in the w NBA over the last
couple of weeks, and last week was the trade deadline,
which concluded on Thursday, August seventh. And you know, it's
always difficult for there to be much movement during the
season just because of the hard salary cap. And you know,
(09:22):
by that time, certain teams kind of have already found
their groove and not really wanting to disrupt it. So
it's always tough to really see anything that shocks and
surprises you during the season by the trade deadline. But
I think this year there were certainly some moves that
were made that some teams we are already starting to
(09:43):
see benefit from other teams. I think in the future
they will benefit from. But I like what I saw
this year, right, And so first gotta show some love
to Djna Carrington, who has traded from to the Minnesota Links.
(10:04):
My girl, Djna Cheryl. I love Djna, adore Djna, And
I was so pissed, for lack of better terms, at
her utilization in Dallas. And I say this knowing that
I have a good relationship with Kurt Miller, I have
a great relationship with Chris Cloklannis, I have a great
(10:25):
relationship with pr and all those folks down there in Dallas.
But honey, what were y'all doing? Like? What were y'all doing?
This is the former most improved player of twenty twenty four.
This girl was a candidate, a high candidate for defensive
Player of the Year, one of the best rebounding guards
(10:46):
in the business, can play both sides and can really
be an asset to you on the wing. And she
was just down there, just just existing. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Well, I don't have kind of relationships with them that
you do, so so yeah, you go.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Ahead, and you go ahead and do it for me, dog,
because because I'm trying to remain professional, my.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Gosh, I'm not even gonna I'm not even gonna beat
him across the head.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
But I will say this, tee.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
People may not realize and understand there is a difference
in wearing the head coach hat and the assistant coach hat. Yeah,
and I'm saying that about Chris right when when you're
sitting in that that big seat where you're making the
big bucks, you you gotta really truly know and understand
(11:44):
what you're getting paid the big bucks for, right, And
and to your point in the off season, I was like, Okay, great,
these are great moves for Dallas with dj Na, with Alyssa.
You know, obviously with Page, here's the difference d Janey.
(12:05):
She is a two way player.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
But d Jana is.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Going to really get herself going off of her defense
right when she was at Connecticut. I kind of felt like,
that's like last season, that's what she showed, like I'm
a defender and I don't have to have plays run
for me because I can score off of my defense.
(12:30):
I felt like her role in Dallas. I don't think
they really knew what they wanted her to do or
to be. But you're going to a team where she
really not saying she got away from being the defender,
but it was more about scoring, right. So there were
(12:51):
situations for me that I saw Djona in where it
was like I got to score.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
I got a score.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I got a score because if I don't score, we're
not going to have enough scoring. And I felt like
that kind of changed her game a little bit. But
I'm gonna go on on the other side because you
brought it up with with Kurt and with with Chris
uh since it just wasn't pretty and not even not
(13:19):
only with d Jna. There are so many times when
I look at this team in a timeout, like in
a huddle, they all look confused, like what did you
just say or what are you trying to tell us?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Or what do you want us to do?
Speaker 1 (13:34):
And that's just not a good look. I can't tell
you how many times I looked. I watched the game
and I looked in the huddle and the look on
Page Becker's face was like, I ain't really sure what
that is. So I'm gonna go out on the court
and do my own thing.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Listen, I ain't even got to watch the huddle on TV.
When I'm covering the game, I just walk my ass
right over there in the huddle, and I'll be confused too,
like what are we doing? I don't even know how
to I just go in my ear and say, sir,
I don't have a report. I don't have because I
can't help you because I don't have a report. I
don't have a huddle report on the side. And it's interesting. Now,
(14:13):
they did get Diamond Miller and Karlie lu Samuelson and
that trade back, and I like Diamond Miller right like.
I feel like Diamond could be an asset to a team.
She was starting to develop more. She got injured early on,
so we didn't really get to see her be like
the number two pick that we kind of expected her
(14:33):
to be. But I think that Diamond has something. It
could be a really good asset to a team. I
do wonder whether or not her development will take the
leap that it needs to within the Dallas organization and
that and that is just I just don't I just
don't know. I don't know. Like I'm not saying that
(14:56):
there aren't other people on that coaching staff, Like I
love Nola, I think Nola Henry is amazing, and so
I'm not saying that it ain't other people that can
help her get where she needs to be. So I'm
just saying personally, I feel like, and here's the other
thing too, to keep in mind, this off season is
an off season. So just because you there right now
(15:18):
don't necessarily mean you gonna be there come twenty twenty six.
Like there's a lot of movement that's gonna happen in
twenty twenty six. That we can see somebody somewhere some
right now and they might not necessarily be there next year.
Could be a part of another situational trade, could be
you know anything, Right, So there is some possibility of
(15:38):
her being on another team, But just as of today,
she's a member of the Dallas Wings. And I was
so excited about Dallas at the beginning of this season.
I saw, my gosh that pieces that they were getting.
I was like, yo, I am high on this and
y'all about to get paid. Nothing worked out a way
(16:00):
that I anticipated that it would.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
And Okay, here's here's my question. I'm just gonna ask
the question, Dallas, what are we doing?
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Okay, what do we do?
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Melissa leaving going to Vegas I think was a great
move for Vegas, not not so good for Dallas. Dejanee
leaving going to Minnesota, great move for Minnesota, not so
good for Dallas.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
I am there with you, huge fan of Diamond Miller.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
I think she has so much talent, so much potential
to be a really good pro in this league. But
you got to be in the right situation, the right organization,
the right team, under the right coaches to develop to
the type of pro that you can develop into.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Is that with Dallas? To your point, I don't, I don't.
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Then you waive Tierra McGowan. I will say that does.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Not me at all.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
I said at the beginning of the season, I didn't
know if she would last. And it's not because she
doesn't have the talent or the ability like we've seen
Tiera mcowan. When she is balling, she's she's very difficult
to defend, right, Yeah, So I bring all that up,
and there's a player that I haven't brought up that
I'm about to. I'm confused because even even o Rique
(17:27):
to me, is not the Arique that we've seen that
we know her to be. She's just not playing that way.
A Rique is not playing like Arique. Tierra wasn't playing
like Tierra. So what what is it? Maybe Dallas is saying,
all right, got rid of Melissa, who's an older player, Djine,
she's a vet wave Tierra who she's a vet. You
(17:51):
you can't really move our Rique. So maybe they're saying,
you know what, we're just gonna start all over. We're
gonna go young, and we're gonna try to around Page.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
To me, that's what it's looking like. And that might
be the case. But that also concerns me too, because
this was a team that literally just supposedly was in
a rebuilding phase, like that was the point of the
Irique and then having Sa too and then you know
the possibility of adding Page, but then Satu leaves and
(18:24):
then like it just felt like how many opportunities or
how many times are we going to say that Dallas
is rebuilding? Like at what point? Where is the build? Like?
Where is the build? You know what I mean? Like
it reminds me and I don't always like to do
NBA comparisons, but it reminds me of the Sixers. Like
for years we were like, damn, where's you're building in
(18:49):
your building? And you and you and there's a process
and there's a process. Then it got Joel and Beid
and then his nickname became the process and now we like, damn,
we still have we still haven't gotten what the promised
land was supposed to be. I says, I feel you.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
I am there with you. I was one of the
people in the very beginning. I didn't have Dallas winning
a championship. But I'll tell you this, I had Dallas
making the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Yeah, me too, I did. I did. I did not see.
I did not see Dallas being this Dallas me either.
I just didn't and I didn't either. And because of that,
I have a lot of questions. I'm not gonna put
it all on the.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Coach, because the the GM is the one pulling the streets.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
It's all I'll say. But that's all I'm gonna say,
mm hmm, Okay, I'm gonna let that Lae. I'm gonna
let that rocket comment.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
I'm not you ain't gotta come not.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
But players also have to take accountability too, so you
can't put it all on on the coach or the GM.
But I do believe Dallas is better than an eight
and twenty two record or they were.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
I agree with you one hundred percent. And at the
same time, I will note that there is a connection
between Dallas and what I see going on in LA
because Dallas's head coach used to be Letricia Tramil. Electricia
Tramil is now on staff in LA special assistant to
the head coach in LA than one. Several games in
(20:31):
a row have positioned themselves to be a playoff team,
and Rakia Jackson looks unstoppable. Say it again, as a
Ray Stevens better be in somebody's in myp conversation. Say
it again, Dereka Hanby been her, said again, And at
(20:53):
the end of the day, cam Brink being on the court,
even though she's still getting her bearing and getting her footy,
her being on the court creates so much space and
makes this a completely different team that if y'all ain't
putting in respect on LA and it is not lost
on me that this turnaround shift started to happen and
(21:15):
my eyes when Letricia Trimmell got on that staff. And
so all I'm saying is sometimes if it ain't broke,
don't fix it. And I'll let that go in that order.
But if y'all ain't paying attention to the Sparks out here,
I don't know what you're doing. You might need to
(21:37):
open your eyes and pay attention to the Sparks out
here because they are going to be a dangerous team
to face in the first round.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
I wouldn't want to see them. I don't want to
see them in the first round. I don't want to
see them.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
And if I'm Indiana, I definitely don't want to see
them because they have been your achilles heel the entire season.
I don't want to see them. I don't want to
see them. That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
The last few games that I've watched the Sparks play, Oh,
they they bad about it, and they are like, okay,
count us out if you want to. And and you
I'm gonna bring up the one player whose name you
didn't mention Kelsey Plum.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Kelsey Plump, but Kelsey Plum is like.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Not saying this is my team, but she's running it
like it's her team. And Kelsey Plum is playing free,
she's playing.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
She's having fun.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Yeah, this this Sparks squad to me, and you said
her girl, Rakia Jackson, I'm gonna just call her my
mini meet.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Rakia Jackson is for real and I hate that she
got her.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
There's so much that we could talk about this Sparks team,
but I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
The Sparks are for real. They making some noise.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
And if I'm any team right now, I don't want
to see the Sparks in the first round.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
I don't want to see them. I don't want to
see them. Yeah. Definitely a team that we don't have
to keep our eye on as this season continues. No
trades per se happened with LA, but they did pick
up Alisa Peelee and sign her to a seven eight contract.
She was released earlier this year from the Minnesota Lynx,
and that doesn't surprise me at all. Considering that Lynn
Roberts was in Utah, Alisa played in Utah, it makes
(23:19):
sense to me. Another piece I love that for her
too as well. We're gonna take a quick break and
when we come back, we will talk about this other
player who I am so excited has just moved herself
to a contender team. We'll be back in one second.
(23:45):
My girl Slim is now a member of the Seattle Storm. Okay.
And I could not love this more for Britney sits
because as much as I believe that she deserves to
be an All Star while playing in Washington and did that,
she finally got her moment be in Seattle, playing alongside
(24:10):
Skyler Diggins and Gabby Williams and Ezie Matd Magore and
Mekka Agooma Cake Babe be Erica Wheeler. Site's about to
eat on y'all out here, and I love it. I
love it. She is such a defensive guard like Slim
is about to be so good in Seattle, and I
love that for them. Seattle's good for her and she's
(24:32):
good for them.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
One piece that I've been like with Seattle that I've
been like, God, they need they need another guard coming
off the bench, and Slim could so be that guard
right he got right now with their starting Erica Wheeler, Skyler,
Gaddy but you can, you can even move Eweezy to
(24:57):
the bench, starts Skyler at the point and have have
Gabby and Slim on the wing with Essie and Necka.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
At the hell of a lineup. That's a problem. That's
a problem. That's a whole problem. And when you look
at the Seattle defense, they already got the second best
defensive rated in the league. Right now you have now
added a Britney Sits, who have for many years been
somebody who even me as a voter, I have placed
her on my All defensive team many times. Like she
(25:30):
the girl can ball, and even though she's probably gonna
come off the bench, she could even start, like I
would not be surprised if Noh was like, let's just
give her a couple of chances in the start and
line up and see what happens. But again, I think
she will absolutely be coming off the bench. But if
she was to start ahead of Erica Wheeler, I couldn't
(25:51):
be mad of it. I couldn't be mad about it.
I just I love this for her. She literally and
instantly went to a contender team. Which is something that
I love for both her Andie is that they had
the talent, their talent wasn't fully showing the way that
it could with the teams that they were currently on. Well, actually,
in a let me take that back, let me walk
that back, because I think Britney's talent is still going
(26:14):
to be shown, but will be shown in a different
way because she's not going to be a starter, whereas
Djane going to Minnesota, she's playing around players that see
the floor differently. Their offensive rating is higher and the
Feasta calli eras out when she made her debut, so
her usage was different. Like it's just so, it's just
these were great moves, Like I really enjoy the movement.
(26:36):
I think these were great moves, and so I love
what Britney Sites can bring to to Seattle. In return,
Washington got Alisha Clark. Alisha Clark is very familiar with
the Washington Mystics. She won a championship with the Washington Mystics,
so it's not like this is a new place in
(26:58):
a new experience for her. However, the Mystics is a
very different team now than it was when she was
there previously, but to her credit, she does get to
play alongside Sonya and Kiki and some great rookies who
can help bolster. I think just her presence and her
mentorship to those players are going to be incredible. And
(27:19):
Washington is still going to be a team that can
really disrupt. I believe can really disrupt some people's playoffs
hopes and playoffs potentials. And I would love being that team. Like,
if I know that my team may not be guaranteed
to be a playoff team, I want to be the
team to make sure your ass don't get in. If
I can't get in, can't nobody, Yeah, no doubt. Let
(27:41):
me be the spoiler. Let me be the spoiler.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
Let y'all come in here thinking because we ain't in
the playoffs, then we ain't about to play, like period,
I meet the girl, I oh yes, yes, I'd be like, Okay, well,
if we ain't in it, y'all ain't gonna be in it.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
If we got something to do, and then it ain't
nobody finna be in. Ain't nobody gonna play. But they
got a Leasha Clark, they got Zia Cook, and they
got a twenty twenty six first round pick. So I
feel like that was a good move for Washington. It
Washington didn't they wave Zia. They did wave Zia but
I guess what I'm saying is excuse me speaking futuristically
(28:21):
crazy to me, but which I mean you could use. Yeah,
But speaking futuristically, I think it was a good move
for Washington because you got some pretty good value for
Britney Sykes, sites gets to play for a contender. You
get a twenty twenty six first round pick, and that
twenty twenty six first round draft. Twenty twenty six draft
is gonna be nice and you probably won't be like
(28:46):
you probably won't be a lottery pick, but you I mean,
it could be a lottery pick. It depends on how
the balls fall. But at the end of the day,
I think you got very good value to help build
around the young pieces that you got. It's conversations about
them possibly moving Aliyah Edwards. I have seen the valkyries.
I have seen Chicago. I've seen quite a few names.
(29:10):
I mean, Connecticut need to be a been there. They
need to be looking at trying to get Aliyah. But
according to Washington, they're still talking about they not They're
not looking to do any trades. They don't know anybody.
You know. Sidney Johnson is like, that's above me. I
don't have any thing to say about that. Blah blah
blah blah blah. But with all of that being said,
I just think that this is a good position for
(29:33):
Washington to be in to literally use you talk about
building for the future, This is a good position for
them to be in to build for the future, and
a great position for Brittany to go to a team
where she can actually win now. So yeah, it's been
a very very interesting few days as it relates to
the trade deadline, as it relates to moves that were made.
Can't forget Emma Mesa men going bast Re signing with
(29:57):
New y Love that for her for New York. How
about Cheryl Reeves comment she made the wrong decision, She
made the wrong decision. I ain't mad as Cheryl, though
I love Let's say I'm not.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
I was trying to think, like what peace New York
needed in addition to you know, uh, when they picked
up Tosh Cloud, I was like, what what position do
they need or what player could they use that could
almost guarantee them another championship? And Amisaman could be that
(30:37):
player For people who don't remember her or know her game, Oh.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
She is the truth and she she's like a silent assassin.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
And and right now the way they're playing with Stewie.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Out, who they need New.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
York, New York, Uh, New York just they just not
better better with her.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Yeah, one percent. She is someone who is so versatile,
so great around the rim. I mean, she's a three
time MVP in euro League for a reason, back to back.
And it's funny because John Quoe Jones said in a
statement yesterday I want to say, or recently she said,
Emma Messa Men and Natasha Cloud are now my teammates.
My biggest heartbreak have now become like my biggest joy,
(31:26):
my biggest it because John Quell was on that Connecticut
team that lost to Emma and Natasha Cloud in twenty
nineteen in the WNBA finals and so and Emma Mesa
Men was finals MVP. So just you know, she's still
getting the hang of it. You I don't got to
tell you, but everybody knows who follows the league that
practice time and things like that is not something that
(31:48):
is a luxury that you are not afforded in the
WNBA on a regular basis. So you kind of sometimes
have to learn on the fly when you are traded
or when you are like an n season transaction, and
that's what Emma is kind of having to do, Like
she kind of had to just sign and get thrown
in and kind of learn on the fly. But she's
such a smart player that it makes so much sense
that she'ld be able to fit right into that New
(32:10):
York Liberty schematic and really make a difference, especially with
Stewie being out. So you know, New York has done
the right thing with getting themselves a player that can
keep them afloat until Stuie is back off that bone bruise.
But there is so much that we have coming up
in the W and so much more that we're gonna
(32:32):
have to have an opportunity to discuss. The playoff picture
is something that I know you and I will definitely
talk about. But with all that being said.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
Is.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
We're just gonna have to come back next week or
week after or whenever and kind of like break down
what this playoff picture is really gonna look like, because
I got a feeling that the way these standings look
right now, somebody is gonna shift, And I'm gonna tell
you who I think somebody is. Las Vegas Aces Wait
shift as in shift as in fallout.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Yeah, and I listen, you know, I'm I'm that person
that says I never count out an Asia Wilson team.
But I'm also that person that's realistic in saying Asia
Wilson needs some help, and I don't know, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Where that is.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
I totally agree with you on the on the playoff picture,
I could see the Golden Saate Valkyrie is trying to,
you know, ease up in that that that a spot.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
I just I like this.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Team, but the Sparks too.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I just I don't know.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
We absolutely have to come back and have another conversation
around playoffs and where teams are and who we think
will make it, because I think it's gonna be some surprises,
and you're right, Vegas could be the biggest one that
we're talking about not being in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Yeah. If LA continues to play the way that they play,
that is my sadly, that is my bold prediction is
that if Lah's playing the way that they're playing, Golden
State is going to stay a playoff team and move up.
Las Vegas might fall out and the Sparks might slide
in and be that team to to get into the playoffs.
(34:30):
So we will see, but we're gonna go ahead and
close this thing out, so we will be back to
level on off right after this. So yeah, sure, a
(34:52):
lot of movement going on, a lot of people in
a lot of different places, and I want to take
this as an opportunity just kind of update our fans
really quick on where everybody is currently. So you know,
when you talk about team movement and player movement, like
where is everybody fighting for? And so as of now,
(35:13):
as of today, you know, Minnesota is still sitting firmly
number one. They have officially clinched a spot in the playoffs.
The New York Liberty is two, the Dream of three,
Phoenix is four, Vegas is five, Indiana is six. In
the standings, The Golden State Valkyries are sitting number seven.
(35:34):
They are on their way to being the first expansion
team to clinch a playoff birth and then at number
eight is the Seattle Storm So nine, ten, eleven, twelve,
and thirteen, while thirteen and twelve in eleven, Dallas, Chicago,
Connecticut are pretty much out of it. The Sparks and
the Mystics have a case. So definitely keep your eye
(35:57):
on seven through eight.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
Yeah, but I want to say this real quick. The
Sparks are playing really well right now. I could see
the Sparks moving into.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Eight or seven.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
So yep, excited that the Valkyries are doing what they're doing,
but they better keep playing because the.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
Sparks are now. I can see them.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Getting into the playoffs and I would not want to
be the team to play them in the first round
because the Sparks are playing really, really, really well right now.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
They are.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Last thing I want to say, Tea, because we didn't
mention it. Just want to send a shout out and
good vibes to Sid Colson and to Aery McDonald man.
I hate that for both of them. Yes we're playing
really well, but want to send good thoughts and vibes
and get well soon, healthy, rehab, all those things to the.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
Two of them. Absolutely hate to see players go down,
but especially players like them who play really hard, great energy,
great vibe. Yeah, definitely sending our love to them. So
I'm sure how you're gonna level us out today? Well,
I got a good one.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
I got a good one, and it kind of applies
to me right now because I, as I shared before,
was just feeling sorry for myself a little bit after
my doctor's visit. But it says, and this is by
forgive me if I pronounce the name wrong, but it's
Sancheta Pandy.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
Do you know that name?
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Nope, And it says, never let the things you want
make you forget the things you have.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Mm m m hmmm mm hmmm. Perspective.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
Yeah, yeah, And I needed that for my soul today.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
Yep, yep. Very good perspective on lose sight of what
you have for things that you want. Love that great perspective.
Thank you for that, Thank you for that word and
for that message, and thank to all of you for
continuing to listen to Levels to This. We will be
back next week with more Next Level conversations just about
(38:16):
the real shit that women go through. And I want
to share in this moment that I always tell you
guys to send us your emails at Levels to this
Podcast at gmail dot com, and y'all have been doing that.
We have gotten some emails or some really great suggestions
for show topics and just compliments on things that you
(38:36):
guys love about what we're doing. So please keep doing that,
keep sharing your thoughts at Levels to This Podcast at
gmail dot com. Leave us a review. In Apple Podcasts
and make sure you're following us on Instagram at lttpod so.
Until then, keep your mentals ground level and we will
be back next week. Thanks.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart,
open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This
with Sheryl Swoops and Treka Foster Brasbee and start listening
Hosts And Creators
Terrika Foster-Brasby
Sheryl Swoopes
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.