December 18, 2025 • 50 mins
On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby kick things off with some holiday spirit as they announce the winner of the show’s $1,000 Christmas giveaway and reflect on the power of giving back. Then it’s back to basketball: from A’ja Wilson’s continued dominance on and off the court, to the ongoing frustrations around WNBA coaching hires and who gets overlooked. They also break down the buzz around the new Project B league, what it could mean for the WNBA offseason, and what they’re most excited about heading into another season of Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited.
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Episode Transcript
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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 (00:17):
Hey, what's going on, everybody? It's your girl. Trerika Foster Brasby.
What's up, y'all? It's your girl, Cheryl swoops a. I'm excited.
This is Levels to this, y'all.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
This is the podcast where we talk about the levels
to the ship that women go through and honey, we
are going through some shit right now, but we have
a really good fun show today. We're going to talk
a little basketball later on in the show.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Today.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
We haven't had a basketball episode in a few weeks,
so it was definitely time for us to kind.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Of bring that back.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
We got a lot to talk about because it's a
lot of shit going on, is it is, Well, it's
a little while because life has been lifing and there's
so much other shit going on that, honestly, to me,
it was a little bit more important than basketball.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
It was at the moment, I agree, but then sometimes
life be life and so much that.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
You're like, you know what, let me go focus back
on basketball because I'm getting on my nerves over here
on this set, and.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
For me, basketball always gives me a sense of calm.
I don't care what's going on in the basketball world,
but it always, you know, it's like home.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
So yes, I'm excited for us.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
I love that basketball on this episode in a little bit.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
But since first of all, y'all can't see, but I can.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Okay, So I got Christmas nails, and I think you
got Christmas nails.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
You got Christmas news.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
I do Christmas now.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Yes, I liked cake.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Cute and I'm not really a red really a red girl,
but I figured out. Let me ask you this ask
is your reasoning for not really being written?
Speaker 4 (02:08):
When you say you're not a red girl, you mean
like on your nails?
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, on my nails? Or am I lottastick? I don't
do red lipstick?
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Well, I know, Okay, let me ask you.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
This is the reason why you don't red because because
I feel like I feel like we grew up in
the same house. If you it's the reason that you
don't have red lipstick or wear red nails because your
mama told you that red was for Jesseabels.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Oh, I don't know. I don't know, I really don't.
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Nils, so I ain't gonna put that on.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
I used to be like, if you come in here
with them red nails on, you know, like you're one
of them ladies up the evening.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
I won't tell you this much.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
It wasn't even red, Like I remember my mom telling
me stuff about that I should that you shouldn't wear
any kind of color on your nails. It should always
be dude, like, Okay, somewhere in the Bible or somewhere,
it was like, you shouldn't paint your nails.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
So it wasn't really about red. It was just any color.
But now I don't know. I never heard that one girl.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
My mama would be like, you better not come in
here with them red nails.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Or I had on red lipsticks. She'd be like, what
you looking like one of these?
Speaker 3 (03:34):
One of these Jezebel, the woman in the night, one
of the ladies of.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
The I just and for the lipstick. I don't know.
Maybe I just haven't found the right red. I just
never felt like red really looked good on me.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Well, we know that's not true, because how many times
have I told you that. One of my favorite pictures
of you is the one when we were wearing the
red dress.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Maybe that's because I had the right person to do
my makeup, who picked the right rent. But girl, give
me a liner and some gloss and keep it moving.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
I'm screaming.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Well, no, okay, my mom might have called me a
Jezebel for other reasons, but yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Yeah, I'm telling you, they are so funny. They are
so funny.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
But speaking of though us being in the Christmas spirit,
you and I have been pining through so many incredible
emails with people who have been entering into ours thousand
dollars giveaway to the holiday, and.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Let me tell you it.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Was I don't get to tell you, but still, the
folks that are listening, this was probably one of the
harder giveaways that I've had to look through because there
were so many deserving stories and people and it was
really hard to decide like one person, Like it was
really hard.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Well listen, yes, and I and and we said this,
like I love the fact that we're doing this along
with iHeart just to be able to bless somebody, right,
Like it's not a lot, but for some people, it
is a lot, and it is Christmas. It's the holidays,
it's the giving spirit and all the things. So I
(05:30):
love that we're able to do it, but I also
hate that we can't bless everybody, right right. I do
think before we announced who you know who has been
chosen as the winner, I think we should remind everybody
what the rules and qualifications were, because, as you said,
(05:51):
we got quite a few emails and some really really
really good ones, but some of the ones that we
really liked, we found out that they are not following
us on Instagram.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yes, so part of the stipulations for being considered was
not only did you need to send us an email
of why you felt you were deserving, but you needed
to also be following us on Instagram. And so there
(06:24):
were quite a few emails that had some really compelling stories,
but unfortunately they were not following us on Instagram, and
unfortunately that disqualified them. There were a few people who
were following us on Instagram but didn't really follow through
on all the instructions in the email. It was like, yeah,
(06:48):
like really posted it on Instagram or told us how
much they loved the show and how much they loved
women's basketball, but didn't really give us a reason why
they thought that they should win the thousand dollars and
we're like, hey, okay, thank you for the comment that
we love, but like, why do you need the money?
So there was just there were a few that, you know,
(07:08):
we had to discard because of just not being able
to follow the rules. But for those who did follow
the rules, it was tough. It was really tough, and
we really and truly do wish that we would have
you know, that we could have more and would have
been able to bless more people around the holidays. However,
(07:29):
Huryl and I and so everyone is aware, it was
indeed Sheryl and I who read every email, so there
wasn't a random person reading on our behalf or somebody
else that was, you know, making the decision. We read
every email and every single one and we have picked
(07:51):
a winner.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Yeah, and right here is where we need a drum
roll and all the things.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Right right, we want to give a big congratulations.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Do you want to say the name?
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Sure, you say the name, You say the name, Okay,
I'll say the name. You said everything except the name.
Because again to those who did follow the instructions and
submit your reason why via email and you were following
us on Instagram, like, we just absolutely hate we couldn't
(08:27):
pick all of you.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
But the one person that we.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Unanimously or should say both decided on had a very
very very compelling story and it really touched both myself
and Tea because we've been there, we've been there where
this person is currently. And so, with no further ado,
the winner of the very first levels to this podcast
(09:00):
Christmas one thousand dollars giveaway.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
I just kind of made that up.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
I like, it is.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Derek A.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
This is the Little clapperd do you can ask our
producer to go find some audience applause?
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah, we get all of that, all of that, all
of that. But Derek, we appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Following us, and we know that you've been following for
a while, appreciate you sending in your email, and we
really really really were touched by your story. And we
hope that this thousand dollars comes in handy.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
For you your.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Family, and we're happy that we're able to bless you
this Christmas holiday season.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
APPS Absolutely so thank you guys to everyone who's sent
in a story, who sent in an email, keep following us.
I love the way that Cheryl introduced this because it
makes me feel like it's something that we'll do again
in the future.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
And we definitely want to be able to.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Yeah, we want to be able to continue to bless
people as long as we can continue to be blessed.
Giving back as all is what it's all about. So
thank you, Derek.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
And on that.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Note, we're just gonna go ahead and move into our
next level conversation, Churel. We haven't really dug into all
(10:54):
the things that's going on into basketball space in the
basketball world, so we're gonna do like a little bit
of a I hate to say a round table, but
kind of like a round robin where we'll just touched
a little bit on as much as we can, as
you know, as quickly as we can, because we know
there's still so many things that are unfolding. And so
(11:15):
the first thing that I want to bring to your
attention is recently, our girl, Asia Wilson was announced as
the Time magazine Athlete of the Year.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Like, give me one.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Moment, te give me one moment, Okay, because I don't
know if Asia herself listens to this, I'm hoping she does.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
I'm gonna say she do.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Are her people, Jade.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
I know we've tried to get Jade on the show,
so we're still working on that. Yeah, but let me
just take this moment to say this, Asia Wilson. You
know the love we have for you over here.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
You know we love you.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
We need you, sis, We need you to come on
this show and listen, have a conversation because we rock
with you. We hold it down for you, all the things.
But yeah, we need you, We need you to come on,
come on, come on, come on go.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
You gotta make this hap We gotta make this happen,
like we this is a season two go. We're going
to have Asia Wilson on the show because Asia is
continuing to do the damn thing. Okay, Like at the Barrier,
Ridiculous was announced as one of the co committee hosts or.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Mcgalla the Matt Gala. I just saw Seph Curry uh
warming her shoe.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Yes, Like there is literally nothing that she can do
that doesn't turn into greatness, and so I'm just so
excited for her. I'm happy for her. I know that
you know, next season is gonna be bombed, but I
just like, what else what else can she do?
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Like what else? What else is out there?
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Like I don't know.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Listen, don't either, but there we know if it can
be done, Asia Wilson's gonna do.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
It, She's gonna do it. I love it.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
I'm gonna switch directions for one second, but it's still
it still has to do with Asia m So I
want to say I kind of knew before it was
out there that she and Bam were a couple.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
Right, Well, that wasn't hard to figure out. Well, but
here's here's why I say this.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Here's why I say this.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
I loved when they were It wasn't that they were
trying to hide it from the world, but it was
first of all, they can do what they want to do, right.
If they don't want to put it on social media
or whatever, they don't have to, right. But then now
that they're so open with it, first of all, I
think they're like the cutest couple. But what really just
(13:52):
annoys me is all the nosey ass people that are like,
when are when Bam? When are you gonna propose? When
he gets good and they am ready? Right, when are
they going to have a child? When are they gonna
get married? Like, go get you some go get some
business and stay out of grown folks, business, Go get
(14:13):
some business. It just like it baffles me sometimes as
to why people feel that they can put a time
frame on other people's lives.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
You know what, it's been dating.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
For a minute. Why haven't you proposed what what.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
It's these people with these parasocial relationships, Like because you
follow me on social media and you see everything, because
you're a public figure and you're always exposed to information,
you'll start to think that you have a relationship in
real life with these.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
That's true when you don't and you don't even know them,
So you.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Think you're entitled to information that you are simply not
entitled to. Like, Yes, now that you know that Beam
and Asia are a couple, let's just be happy for
them and be excited about whatever it is they choose
to share. But they will get married when they're good
and God dog on ready. They will have children whenever
(15:24):
they are good and God dog on ready. And if
they choose to do neither, that is also their business. Relax, Yeah,
to relax, boo, Relax, relax.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
I just needed to put that out there. I love
that she just keeps I don't know, she just.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
Keeps sending the standard, raising the bar all the things
and looks good while she's doing it.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
This woman is getting finer with time.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Gone ahead, Asia, gone ahead, as I am gonna say this,
don't be slipping up, Bam. Don't hey, Asia, looking good
at these strat here.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Don't funk around, Bam. We love you over here too.
So you'm sitting on the show telling you like I'm.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Telling you like a sister.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Bam. Listen here, Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah yeah. Asha out
here turned a head. You better be on your gay boys.
Just love it, love it, love it now shame.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Congrats to Asia.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Now.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Speaking of one of the things that Asia did in
the Time magazine, a little video shoot that they did,
was they asked her who was one of the toughest competitors,
and she said Brianna.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Stewart, which leads me to think, I wonder.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
If Brianna Stewart is gonna be suited up in a
New York Liberty Jersey this coming up spring, because you know,
everybody in the Mama is a free agent, y'all. And
I bet you that the new head coach is also
wondering these things, because they just hired Chris DeMarco as
the new head coach of the New York Liberty, and
so Chris DeMarco comes from the NBA. He was an
(17:15):
assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors. He was with
them when they won their for A championship, so he's
no stranger to winning. But once again we are in
this situation where we have a coach who's never coached
women's basketball. And we always say basketball is basketball, but
(17:35):
I tend to believe that there are some minor differences
in coaching women than coaching men, and also just coaching
in the WNBA in general. And excuse me to add
to add on to this new hire, this is once
again another opportunity that has been overlooked for maybe some
(17:56):
other people who have been within the WNBA rank, who
have been within the coaching system, who probably deserved a
head coaching job. Not to say Chris didn't, but just
it feels like once again, as happy as some may
be for the New York Liberty and for Chris, there
are also those who kind of feel like, wow, we
(18:18):
are continually seeing women in the WNBA get overlooked for
positions that they've earned. And so I know you and
I have had this conversation before, but definitely curious on
your thoughts about the Chris DeMarco higher and maybe what
it says for those who did not get the opportunity
to this head coaching cycle.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Yeah, that's a I'm I'm frustrated and I'm tired of
this conversation, right, but I also know it's a conversation
that we need to continue to have.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Yeah. Unfortunately, so let me start off by saying this.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
I know of Chris de Marco, I do not know
him personally, right, So what I'm about to say, like
my comments on this topic has nothing to do with him,
zero to do with him, and everything to do with
the w itself.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
So when the league.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
First started back in nineteen ninety seven, to me, it
was kind of like, one, Yeah, it's a new league,
so didn't really know what to expect, Like what were
the coaches going to be like all the things?
Speaker 2 (19:34):
But I did feel like there were. It was kind
of like, well, let's see if we.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Can get some NBA x NBA players or coaches to
validate the league right by coming to coaching the league.
Because listen, right or wrong, when even now, when when
NBA guys talk about the WNBA, it validates to people it's.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Like, well, the NBA guys are watching and talking about it.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
It must be good, it must be right, it must
be real, so let me take it out. So it
was the same thing with let's get some NBA coaches,
then people will take us seriously. So I remember you,
you remember so you had Derek Fisher was a coach
for the Sparks, Michael Schuper right, Michael Cooper was a
coach for the Sparks. Bill and Beerr was a coach
(20:26):
for Detroit. Rick Mahorn was an assistant coach, right, And
I'm probably missing a couple, but my point is this,
So we had some of the NBA guys in the beginning,
and then we kind of got away from it where
it was like, listen, let's just go hire good coaches,
whether they were in the NBA or not. Let's go
(20:48):
hire good coaches and tea. Now I feel like we're
back to and I don't understand it, but we're back
to we need some more NBA blood in the WNBA.
And the other thing is they really weren't trying to
(21:11):
come and coach because the money wasn't there. And now
that the money is up, the money is better. Listen,
people are finally watching or paying attention. Brands are supporting,
there's money behind it. It's like the NBA guys are
now like, oh, well, yeah, I do want to go
and be a part of the WNBA. And to you,
(21:35):
I've said this, Listen, if you're qualified and you're a
good coach and all those things, yes you should be
given an opportunity.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
But I mean that for everybody, including black women. Yes.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
And I set this on another podcast, and I'm going
to say it on our podcast because this is how
I really truly feel, right or.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Wrong, like it, love it, hate it. It's my opinion
and it's how I.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Feel in a league predominantly full of black women. I'm
not even going to put a percentage on it because
somebody'd be like, well it eighty eight percent, it's eighty
seven whatever, But it's predominantly black women. We don't have
one single black female head coach, and we only have
(22:27):
two black men that are head coaches. We have black
women as assistants. So when I see things like that,
my initial thought is this, we're.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Good enough to play.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Yeah, you respect us as players, and we're good enough
to play and win championships. We're good enough to be
your assistant, to do the scouting, to be the go
between with the coach and the players, or whatever that
assistant's role is. But for some reason, you either don't
respect us enough, or appreciate us enough, or even think
(23:09):
that we're good enough to run the team and sit
in that head coaches seat. Because I don't care who
you are, you cannot tell me that there are not
qualified black females that deserve an opportunity. Teresa Weatherspoon got
(23:30):
one shot, and she might not get another one, and
she might not get another one. Right, she got one shot,
and for whatever happened in Chicago, I wasn't there wasn't
in the locker room. But my thing is this, whatever
mistakes she made, you can't tell me that other coaches
haven't made mistakes with their teams NBA, WNBA, college, high school,
(23:54):
But they're given other shots, they're given more opportunities.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
She has not been given another one.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
And garnered the respect of one of the most popular
players one.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Hundred and so when I go down the list and
I and I look at and I don't know if
they were interviewed, what happened, why they didn't get it?
Christy Tolliver Bon January, Lindsey Harding. There are just I'm
gonna bring up Lisa Leslie only because Lisa talked about
(24:26):
she interviewed two years ago for a job and didn't
get it, and you know she's got over it.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
I keep trying to understand it and figure it out.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
But I can't. But I can't.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
And so when I say I'm tired of the conversation,
it's because I feel like we say the same thing
year after year after year and nothing changes.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Yeah, and I'm going to go so far to say,
not only do I agree one hundred percent with everything
that you just said, so there is no need for
me to repeat it, but also if the coaching opportunities
are going to literally be like this, then I need
to see the NBA reach into the w NBA coaching pool.
Speaker 4 (25:07):
And start bringing some folks over to their laying too.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Simple as that, And I know they won't and I
know they won't, but I'm saying, but I'm saying, like,
if that's what we're doing, if we sharing and were swapping,
then I'm gonna need y'all. I'm gonna need to see
some of I'm gonna need to see some of them
on your bench.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
What's up with that? And we know they won't. And
that's the product that what we're doing is swapping, and
that's the problem.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
So we're only swapping one way, not the other.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
We're only swapping one way and not the other, because
only one league apparently needs the validation you speak of
and not the other. And if truth, it is exactly
what it feels like, and it has always felt that
way when it comes to men's sports of a women's sports,
it's not just basketball, it's just in any in any occasion,
you need men to validate whatever it is that women
(25:57):
are doing in order to make.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
It whatever like.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
I will give probably one of the most relatable examples
that any woman has ever had to deal with who
likes sports. You ever walk in a bar, sit down,
maybe you're watching a football game, maybe watching a basketball game,
and you might make a comment you know that wasn't
passing aference, I don't know what the referee was seeing,
or you know that ball was out of bounds, I
(26:22):
don't know what the officials doing, blah blah blah blah blah.
And a man says to you, you don't know about
this sport, and you might say to them, actually, yeah,
I do. And then they say to you, well, tell
me who's the quarterback of the Differ Broncos. Tell me
who's the coach of the Chicago Bulls. How many championships
that Michael Jordan's me?
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Like?
Speaker 3 (26:42):
So in order for you to believe that I know
what I'm talking about as a sports fan and as
a female, I got to answer this fucking multiple choice
quiz that.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
You're giving me on who are you and what made you?
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Oh my gosh, Alpus Dumbledore out here to be the
wizard of all things sports?
Speaker 2 (26:59):
What the fuck? Because there are too many men who
think women need to be.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Validated by their standards in order to be acceptable to
do what they do. And that is the way that
it is, unfortunately. So yes, and I look at them
like they stupid and tell them to google me. And
then you tell me who the hell got six championship
one hundred like whatever?
Speaker 5 (27:22):
When?
Speaker 1 (27:24):
And I'm pulling it up because I want to make
sure I get them right. And I know it's not
as many teams, but how unrival has what for black
female coaches?
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Am I right? Athletes?
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Yeah, athletes, Unlimited has black female moderators or what do
you call them. I'm not saying I'm said moderators, but
that's not what I be. Facilitators. Yeah, like, what do
we help you?
Speaker 2 (27:49):
You can't tell me that that we're not ready or
we're not good enough. Tell me the real reason.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, and it is. It's so, it's so, it's frustrating,
so frustrating Tea. Yeah, And especially when I when I
go all the way back to ninety seven and I
look at where the league started and the people who
helped build this thing, and it just feels so disrespectful
(28:26):
when I look on the sideline and I don't really
see anybody that looks like me.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
As a head coach.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Nope, it's definitely disappointing. It's definitely disappointing. But you know what,
I'm glad you brought up Unrivaled because Unrivaled is starting.
Athletes Unlimited, it's going to be starting. And there is
also a new basketball league that will be starting in
twenty twenty six, Project B. So this what Ambitions is.
(29:01):
This ambitious new women's basketball league is supposed to launch
in the fall of twenty twenty six, or at least
late in twenty twenty six. It is reportedly going to
really disrupt the sports model by offering high salaries, reportedly
in the millions. There are supposed to be equity stakes
(29:23):
for players. They're supposed to be playing like in this
circuit type of format from November to April, but where
they will be playing will be global, So there's like
this global tournament that they're supposed to be playing. The
point of it is to kind of overlap with the
WNBA off season. But I mean, according to the website
(29:44):
and the players that have signed on, Mekka Goom Mackay
has signed on, Alissa Thomas has signed on.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
You know two people that I know have signed on.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
It's like this significant financial incentive and tech inspired model
and it is a xabolished by some former tech executives
and so you know how it is when you get
tech people involved in sports. There it is, but it's
supposed to feature six eleven player teams. They're going to
be playing five on five and again it is seven
(30:14):
different international tournaments, so they'll be moving across the globe. Now,
I am, for one, always in favor of globalizing the game.
I feel like the game is kind of globalized. Already
in some aspects, because it ain't like women just started
playing overseas.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
They've been playing overseas for a long ast time.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Because may I would even go so far as to
say that women are more appreciated in this sport globally
than they are here in the United States. But that's
neither here nor there. So we've seen the global game.
I love the idea of it expanding. I do love that.
I love the idea of playing in the off season, right,
I love that, But I don't know how much I
(31:00):
still have questions, like how is this going to affect
the WNBA roster, How is this going to affect the
prioritization rules, How is the talent going to be affected
by this as it relates to any other league? And
more importantly, this is Saudi Arabia, Saudy owned entities already
within themselves like draw questions as it relates to investments
(31:23):
and deposits in our relationship just from a political climate standpoint,
I don't I mean John Quote Jones is in this,
gewlel Lloyd is in this Sophie Cunningham.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
That radio already draws me questions.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
So what are your thoughts on Project b like, where
do you stand on this right now?
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Okay, okay, okay. So that was the same thing. I
was like, I do I have questions?
Speaker 6 (31:56):
Right?
Speaker 2 (31:56):
So I will say this because I know a lot
of people.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
The first thought was people had questions about Saudi Arabia
backing this. But Elena Beard went on Sarah Spain's podcast
she did and said that Saudi is like that the
money's not coming from Saudi Arabia.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
But I won't even get in all that.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
If y'all want to hear it, you can go listen
to Sarah Spain's A Good Game with Sarah Spain's.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
Podcasts Yes, Alena Bear.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
So Elena Beard talked about that, right, But I'm there
with you as far as listen if if it's true
what they say about the money right, A million dollars,
two million dollars. I'm like, listen, if I can come
out of retirement and go play, I'm there.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
I don't care, I don't care. I'm there right, But
I just have a lot of questions.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
And when I look at the players who've signed so far,
and you named some of them, but then you have
Lea Meng, Janell Salon, Kelsey Mitchell you said, John Quell,
and I'm assuming there are other players that will sign.
I'm just still trying to figure out what this will
(33:18):
look like. Mela Cardoso. Yeah, I want to back up
for one second and go back to the w only
because the CBA negotiations, right are still going on.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
They've done another extension.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
But I bring this up because some of the stuff
that the league is proposing in this new CBA could
affect Project B or Project B could affect the league right.
One thing the league is debating or talking about. They're
(33:58):
wanting to start earlier, start the season earlier. And if
the season starts earlier and Project B doesn't end until
I think April, some sign in April. Yeah, but the
league wants to start in like March. How does that work?
Not only Project B, the Women's Final Four isn't until April.
Speaker 4 (34:24):
I don't. I don't foresee that happening at all.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
So like those players in college already don't have time
to like rest. If you make it to the final
four and you play the championship game, you play, you
might have a couple days off, you go to the draft,
you go to trading camp, season starts.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
So that part alone I'm like, go ahead, Well.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
To that point, I think you remember that I may
have told you that a couple in July, when I
went to New York for the announcement of the expansion
teams in Detroit, Philly and Cleveland, that I actually had
a quick conversation, maybe about a ten minute conversation with Kathy,
(35:09):
and she told me explicitly that one of the things
that they are considering looking at, especially in the upcoming year,
is not necessarily starting earlier, but ending later. So I
thought it was interesting that one of the negotiation pieces
was starting the season earlier, because she seemed to at
that time when we spoke, have a very clear understanding
of why starting earlier wasn't going to be possible for
(35:32):
the things you mentioned that the NCAA Tournament is still
going on, that you still got to have a draft,
you still got to have an opportunity for these girls
to go to some type of training camp. But she
mentioned to me the possibility and the idea of wanting
to provide a combine.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
You can't start earlier.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
If you don't you know what I'm saying, If you
want to think about a combine for which I agree,
I think a combine would be great for women's basketball,
but you can't start earlier with doing that. Told she
told me straight up that there is a consideration of
the season ending in November versus ending in like early
mid October, as it currently does. And I could see
(36:11):
a season ending in November. But if this is gonna
start in November, how that's gonna work.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Well, here's what I have to say to that. First
of all, do you do you believe what comes out
of Cathy's mouth?
Speaker 2 (36:24):
See, ma'am, I don't.
Speaker 1 (36:27):
I'm sorry, I couldn't. I couldn't.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
We know what.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
And then she said, I ain't say that. I couldn't
help it. You are me too, but I couldn't help it.
I'm sorry, I couldn't help it.
Speaker 4 (36:41):
I swear.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
You know. You know I'm petty. You know I'm petty.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
But here's the thing, right to your point, if if
she had that conversation with you in July and then
to look at some of the things that they're proposing
in this new.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
It just doesn't make sense. It don't make sense. It
don't make sense, and I'm wondering, I don't. I'm not
a Kathy apologist, so I'm not trying to be like
but maybe she didn't. But I'm a realist at what
her role is and what she does, and she ain't
always the person that is. She's the she's the liaison
like decisions that are made ain't always her decisions. And
(37:23):
I have often said that I think sometimes Kathy do
get flack for shit that she really ain't got no
choice because she's the face, and that's what comes along
with being the commissioner, be in the face. So I
will not one hundred percent say it was Kathy's idea
to propose starting earlier, because I just don't think that
she's stupid enough to think.
Speaker 4 (37:41):
That that's a good idea.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
But if she's outvoted and this is what they have
to present, then that's what she has to present. But
I just am really hoping, on all things spiritual that
this woman ain't that dumb to think that it's starting
earlier is a good idea when you had a whole
conversation with me to tell them about how you know
it's impossible to start earlier and that ending the season
(38:04):
later makes the most sense.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
I don't know, but here we are. We will see.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
I'm very curious to see the other players that will
sign with Project B. You got Mecca, you got John Quail.
When I look at like some of the bigger names
you got at geul Loyd.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
And this is just me saying this.
Speaker 1 (38:33):
I don't see an Asia Wilson saying, yeah, let me
sign to play with Project B. I think Asia really
enjoys her off season, and I don't blame her.
Speaker 2 (38:45):
Asia works on her game all this stuff.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
And plus Asia got bags today, you know, Asian Joyce
spinning her off season with family, with Haboo, all the things.
Another player that I know they talking about with Caitlyn
and Caitlyn.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
I think there are reports whor Kaitlyn was just like, no,
she should take her off season to be off too, and.
Speaker 1 (39:13):
She's another player Like when I when I look at
current w NBA players, just from a financial standpoint, Asia,
not that I know anything about what these people, these
women are making, but it's.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
Out there right.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
Kaitlyn's good, yeah, financially, Angels good financially, you know. So
I don't see those players saying, let me play in
Project B.
Speaker 2 (39:40):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
I love I love the fact that there are more
opportunities for women to play professional basketball and make money, right,
it's more jobs, more opportunity. This is one that I
got to wait to see it, right yea, to really
truly understand it's going to either help or hurt the WNBA.
(40:04):
I will say I love the fact that Alena Beard
is kind of overseeing this baby and running this thing.
Speaker 4 (40:11):
I do absolutely love that.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
Yeah, she's a trust this source, a very credible an
incredible player, incredible person. And she was also part of
the Oakland expansion, so it's not like she didn't try
or wasn't a part of bringing a w NBA team
to a city that she you.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
Know, loves dearly.
Speaker 4 (40:31):
It just didn't work out. So I agree with you
that I.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
Think Elena's participation in this kind of makes you feel
a bit more comfortable about about it.
Speaker 4 (40:40):
But yeah, we just got to wait and see.
Speaker 3 (40:42):
Kudos to all of them, though, and I really do
hope it works out, because, as you mentioned, more opportunities
for women to play ball and make money.
Speaker 4 (40:50):
We need that, we want.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
That, and we're always going to support whatever can make
that come into fruition in the best way for the
players and for the brand that these women are trying
to build for themselves. With that being said, our very
last topic and we will just kind of be very
quick on this is we still get another season Unrivaled
and another season in Tennessee of athletes unlimited. And so
(41:17):
what do you look forward to for you know, one
in one, one thing you're looking forward to for Unrivaled.
I didn't get a chance to go out to Miami
last year, So for me, for sure hoping this year
I'll get a chance to go out to Miami to
a game and actually like see the facilities and see
a game in person. So that's one thing I'm looking
(41:37):
forward to for AU is to actually physically be present.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
But I still follow it.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
I'm still one of the media partners or not partners,
but one of the media members for Unrivaled, so you know,
I cast a vote, I do all that, so I
pay attention. Yeah, but I want to actually go out
there this year. And then for AU, I truly hope
to be covering AU as I have always covered AU
since its inception.
Speaker 4 (42:00):
So Nashville was.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
So good to the city to a last year it was,
oh god, it was so good and so fun. So
that's what I'm looking forward to. What about you, I
think for me, unrival same, I did not I wasn't
able to get out last year. So two things for me,
I'm looking forward to actually going to unrival catching some
(42:23):
games in person, even if I don't get to Miami.
Speaker 2 (42:27):
I know they're playing a game or two in Philly.
One game in Philly.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
Yeah, So I just I want to go and experience
it because like, people had so much good stuff to
say about it last year, So I want to catch
a game in person.
Speaker 2 (42:40):
But also.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
I'm curious to see how season two will go, right,
because it's always different when you come back for the
second year you went through the first, you know you
learned some things, and and the talent because there are
players who played in it last year that was like
no good this year, thank you.
Speaker 2 (43:02):
So I'm I'm.
Speaker 1 (43:03):
Curious to see just what it will look like this
year in comparison to last year. Yeah, and for athletes unlimited,
I will be doing the games again, so I'm excited
about that.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
But I'm I'm excited about the talent.
Speaker 1 (43:22):
Like if you haven't seen the roster, yes, Megan has
been doing her thing and putting this this this roster together.
Speaker 2 (43:31):
There will be more.
Speaker 1 (43:34):
Current w n b A players playing this season than
in any other season. And you know, just excited to
see what players like Kaiserra will do. I know Kaisra
is doing her thing modeling. Yeah, she's still hooping. Tina
Charles is playing, and you got the og that's coming
(43:55):
to play, you know, and then you got your vets
that have been a with A from the beginning. Lexi
kb Yeah, Ariel Atkins is coming, Yes, Aerol Atkins, h
Dejah Kelly Yeah, yeah. I just I think this season
of AU is going to be very competitive, and I'm
(44:16):
just excited about it and looking.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
Forward to the competition.
Speaker 3 (44:20):
Can I add one to that really quick, because I
do think that a lot of that, a lot of
that rookie sensation that we got last year in the
W can translate over this year because Anissa Morrow is
going to be playing, and so is Tahina pau Pal
and Sarah Ashley Barker froms did just see the video
(44:43):
where this dude was talking about he could he could
post up against a WNBA player and Sarah Ashley Barker
took his ass to school. I said, listen, I ain't
being funny, but this was Sarah. Sarah gave you that work.
Sarah is still developing as a player.
Speaker 4 (45:01):
Small.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
If Sarah again sets your hands down and don't get
back up no more unless it's to cheer, please and
thank you, sit down.
Speaker 4 (45:11):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (45:12):
So yeah, very excited about AU and athletes, athletes unlimited
and unrivaled. And we'll definitely be looking to see where
we're gonna be looking to see who's gonna beat us
stand out.
Speaker 4 (45:25):
You know who's gonna be that standout.
Speaker 2 (45:27):
This It's gonna be a good season. So I'm looking
forward to it.
Speaker 4 (45:32):
I love that. I love that.
Speaker 3 (45:34):
So stay tuned, guys, will be right back to closest
thing on out.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
Well.
Speaker 4 (45:52):
The next time that you.
Speaker 3 (45:54):
And I meet, it will be after Christmas. And so
I served want to say Merry Christmas to you, Cheryl,
and Merry Christmas to all of our friends who are
out here listening or happy Holidays, because I don't want
to offend nobody.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
Listen.
Speaker 4 (46:12):
I don't want to offend nobody.
Speaker 3 (46:13):
Okay, Happy Hanukkah, happy Kwanza, all the very Christmas, all
the things. I don't need nobody coming to me saying
I'm not whatever you celebrate in December happy, I'm saying,
I hope you do that.
Speaker 6 (46:29):
Happy that happy, happy that Yeah, yeah, gosh, well, happy
Kwanza to you.
Speaker 2 (46:40):
Sis. I was about to say Happy Christmas, Merry Christmas
to you.
Speaker 1 (46:46):
All the things I agree with you, because you know,
I never want to offend anybody, but I feel like
every time I open my mouth, I'm offending somebody with.
Speaker 4 (46:54):
Oh you fish off somebody every day.
Speaker 1 (46:55):
But that's OK, it's not intentional. But listen, great show,
and I know we had a lot of laughs. But
I instead of giving you guys my quote like I
typically do, I just want to take a moment and
I'm going to try to get through this. We're talking
about the holidays and celebrating with family, and you know,
(47:17):
for the last few days, if you've paid attention to
the news, there's just been so much tragedy in the world.
So I want to take this moment right now on
behalf of levels to this, you myself, iHeart, and just
say to everyone affected Brown University, You're in our thoughts
(47:42):
and our prayers. In Australia, You're in our thoughts and
our prayers. To the Ryan Or family, you're in our
thoughts and our prayers. There's just so much just ugliness
and evilness going on in this world right now. At
any time it is a bad time, but especially during
(48:03):
the holidays when you're supposed to be getting ready to
spend the time with friends and family and loved ones.
It is not lost on me that there will be
people who.
Speaker 2 (48:18):
Will never like the holidays, will never mean the same thing.
Speaker 1 (48:23):
To them because of everything they've just gone through in
the past few days. So just know you're in our
thoughts and our prayers, and we're wrapping our arms around
you and lifting you up and just man just sending good,
positive thoughts and vibes to all of.
Speaker 3 (48:41):
You, one hundred person And with that, we will just
continue to to try to be and live our best
selves as we possibly can be, and that includes just
being kind to our neighbors, being kind to each other,
and celebrating moving into twenty twenty six with a little
(49:04):
bit more love and kindness in our hearts hopefully. So
with that, thank you guys so much for listening to
levels to this. We will be back next week with
more next level conversations. I'm just about the real shit
that we go through as women, and maybe about what
I got for Christmas, because I better had got some
good shit. Okay, but this isn't just our show. It
(49:25):
is our show, so we want to continue to hear
from you. Leave us a review at Apple Podcasts. You
can certainly email us and let us know what you
thought of this week's show at Levels to This Podcast
at gmail dot com. And please please please keep following
us on Instagram at lttpod but until then, keep your
mentals ground level and we will be back next week.
Speaker 2 (49:46):
Peace.
Speaker 1 (49:49):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network,
I Heart. Open your free iHeart app and search Levels
to This with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster Brassby 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 (00:17):
Hey, what's going on, everybody? It's your girl. Trerika Foster Brasby.
What's up, y'all? It's your girl, Cheryl swoops a. I'm excited.
This is Levels to this, y'all.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
This is the podcast where we talk about the levels
to the ship that women go through and honey, we
are going through some shit right now, but we have
a really good fun show today. We're going to talk
a little basketball later on in the show.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Today.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
We haven't had a basketball episode in a few weeks,
so it was definitely time for us to kind.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Of bring that back.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
We got a lot to talk about because it's a
lot of shit going on, is it is, Well, it's
a little while because life has been lifing and there's
so much other shit going on that, honestly, to me,
it was a little bit more important than basketball.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
It was at the moment, I agree, but then sometimes
life be life and so much that.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
You're like, you know what, let me go focus back
on basketball because I'm getting on my nerves over here
on this set, and.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
For me, basketball always gives me a sense of calm.
I don't care what's going on in the basketball world,
but it always, you know, it's like home.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
So yes, I'm excited for us.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
I love that basketball on this episode in a little bit.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
But since first of all, y'all can't see, but I can.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Okay, So I got Christmas nails, and I think you
got Christmas nails.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
You got Christmas news.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
I do Christmas now.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Yes, I liked cake.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Cute and I'm not really a red really a red girl,
but I figured out. Let me ask you this ask
is your reasoning for not really being written?
Speaker 4 (02:08):
When you say you're not a red girl, you mean
like on your nails?
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, on my nails? Or am I lottastick? I don't
do red lipstick?
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Well, I know, Okay, let me ask you.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
This is the reason why you don't red because because
I feel like I feel like we grew up in
the same house. If you it's the reason that you
don't have red lipstick or wear red nails because your
mama told you that red was for Jesseabels.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Oh, I don't know. I don't know, I really don't.
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Nils, so I ain't gonna put that on.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
I used to be like, if you come in here
with them red nails on, you know, like you're one
of them ladies up the evening.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
I won't tell you this much.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
It wasn't even red, Like I remember my mom telling
me stuff about that I should that you shouldn't wear
any kind of color on your nails. It should always
be dude, like, Okay, somewhere in the Bible or somewhere,
it was like, you shouldn't paint your nails.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
So it wasn't really about red. It was just any color.
But now I don't know. I never heard that one girl.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
My mama would be like, you better not come in
here with them red nails.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Or I had on red lipsticks. She'd be like, what
you looking like one of these?
Speaker 3 (03:34):
One of these Jezebel, the woman in the night, one
of the ladies of.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
The I just and for the lipstick. I don't know.
Maybe I just haven't found the right red. I just
never felt like red really looked good on me.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Well, we know that's not true, because how many times
have I told you that. One of my favorite pictures
of you is the one when we were wearing the
red dress.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Maybe that's because I had the right person to do
my makeup, who picked the right rent. But girl, give
me a liner and some gloss and keep it moving.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
I'm screaming.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Well, no, okay, my mom might have called me a
Jezebel for other reasons, but yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Yeah, I'm telling you, they are so funny. They are
so funny.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
But speaking of though us being in the Christmas spirit,
you and I have been pining through so many incredible
emails with people who have been entering into ours thousand
dollars giveaway to the holiday, and.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Let me tell you it.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Was I don't get to tell you, but still, the
folks that are listening, this was probably one of the
harder giveaways that I've had to look through because there
were so many deserving stories and people and it was
really hard to decide like one person, Like it was
really hard.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Well listen, yes, and I and and we said this,
like I love the fact that we're doing this along
with iHeart just to be able to bless somebody, right,
Like it's not a lot, but for some people, it
is a lot, and it is Christmas. It's the holidays,
it's the giving spirit and all the things. So I
(05:30):
love that we're able to do it, but I also
hate that we can't bless everybody, right right. I do
think before we announced who you know who has been
chosen as the winner, I think we should remind everybody
what the rules and qualifications were, because, as you said,
(05:51):
we got quite a few emails and some really really
really good ones, but some of the ones that we
really liked, we found out that they are not following
us on Instagram.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yes, so part of the stipulations for being considered was
not only did you need to send us an email
of why you felt you were deserving, but you needed
to also be following us on Instagram. And so there
(06:24):
were quite a few emails that had some really compelling stories,
but unfortunately they were not following us on Instagram, and
unfortunately that disqualified them. There were a few people who
were following us on Instagram but didn't really follow through
on all the instructions in the email. It was like, yeah,
(06:48):
like really posted it on Instagram or told us how
much they loved the show and how much they loved
women's basketball, but didn't really give us a reason why
they thought that they should win the thousand dollars and
we're like, hey, okay, thank you for the comment that
we love, but like, why do you need the money?
So there was just there were a few that, you know,
(07:08):
we had to discard because of just not being able
to follow the rules. But for those who did follow
the rules, it was tough. It was really tough, and
we really and truly do wish that we would have
you know, that we could have more and would have
been able to bless more people around the holidays. However,
(07:29):
Huryl and I and so everyone is aware, it was
indeed Sheryl and I who read every email, so there
wasn't a random person reading on our behalf or somebody
else that was, you know, making the decision. We read
every email and every single one and we have picked
(07:51):
a winner.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Yeah, and right here is where we need a drum
roll and all the things.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Right right, we want to give a big congratulations.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Do you want to say the name?
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Sure, you say the name, You say the name, Okay,
I'll say the name. You said everything except the name.
Because again to those who did follow the instructions and
submit your reason why via email and you were following
us on Instagram, like, we just absolutely hate we couldn't
(08:27):
pick all of you.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
But the one person that we.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Unanimously or should say both decided on had a very
very very compelling story and it really touched both myself
and Tea because we've been there, we've been there where
this person is currently. And so, with no further ado,
the winner of the very first levels to this podcast
(09:00):
Christmas one thousand dollars giveaway.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
I just kind of made that up.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
I like, it is.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Derek A.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
This is the Little clapperd do you can ask our
producer to go find some audience applause?
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah, we get all of that, all of that, all
of that. But Derek, we appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Following us, and we know that you've been following for
a while, appreciate you sending in your email, and we
really really really were touched by your story. And we
hope that this thousand dollars comes in handy.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
For you your.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Family, and we're happy that we're able to bless you
this Christmas holiday season.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
APPS Absolutely so thank you guys to everyone who's sent
in a story, who sent in an email, keep following us.
I love the way that Cheryl introduced this because it
makes me feel like it's something that we'll do again
in the future.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
And we definitely want to be able to.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Yeah, we want to be able to continue to bless
people as long as we can continue to be blessed.
Giving back as all is what it's all about. So
thank you, Derek.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
And on that.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Note, we're just gonna go ahead and move into our
next level conversation, Churel. We haven't really dug into all
(10:54):
the things that's going on into basketball space in the
basketball world, so we're gonna do like a little bit
of a I hate to say a round table, but
kind of like a round robin where we'll just touched
a little bit on as much as we can, as
you know, as quickly as we can, because we know
there's still so many things that are unfolding. And so
(11:15):
the first thing that I want to bring to your
attention is recently, our girl, Asia Wilson was announced as
the Time magazine Athlete of the Year.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Like, give me one.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Moment, te give me one moment, Okay, because I don't
know if Asia herself listens to this, I'm hoping she does.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
I'm gonna say she do.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Are her people, Jade.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
I know we've tried to get Jade on the show,
so we're still working on that. Yeah, but let me
just take this moment to say this, Asia Wilson. You
know the love we have for you over here.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
You know we love you.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
We need you, sis, We need you to come on
this show and listen, have a conversation because we rock
with you. We hold it down for you, all the things.
But yeah, we need you, We need you to come on,
come on, come on, come on go.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
You gotta make this hap We gotta make this happen,
like we this is a season two go. We're going
to have Asia Wilson on the show because Asia is
continuing to do the damn thing. Okay, Like at the Barrier,
Ridiculous was announced as one of the co committee hosts or.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Mcgalla the Matt Gala. I just saw Seph Curry uh
warming her shoe.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Yes, Like there is literally nothing that she can do
that doesn't turn into greatness, and so I'm just so
excited for her. I'm happy for her. I know that
you know, next season is gonna be bombed, but I
just like, what else what else can she do?
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Like what else? What else is out there?
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Like I don't know.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Listen, don't either, but there we know if it can
be done, Asia Wilson's gonna do.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
It, She's gonna do it. I love it.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
I'm gonna switch directions for one second, but it's still
it still has to do with Asia m So I
want to say I kind of knew before it was
out there that she and Bam were a couple.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
Right, Well, that wasn't hard to figure out. Well, but
here's here's why I say this.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Here's why I say this.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
I loved when they were It wasn't that they were
trying to hide it from the world, but it was
first of all, they can do what they want to do, right.
If they don't want to put it on social media
or whatever, they don't have to, right. But then now
that they're so open with it, first of all, I
think they're like the cutest couple. But what really just
(13:52):
annoys me is all the nosey ass people that are like,
when are when Bam? When are you gonna propose? When
he gets good and they am ready? Right, when are
they going to have a child? When are they gonna
get married? Like, go get you some go get some
business and stay out of grown folks, business, Go get
(14:13):
some business. It just like it baffles me sometimes as
to why people feel that they can put a time
frame on other people's lives.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
You know what, it's been dating.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
For a minute. Why haven't you proposed what what.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
It's these people with these parasocial relationships, Like because you
follow me on social media and you see everything, because
you're a public figure and you're always exposed to information,
you'll start to think that you have a relationship in
real life with these.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
That's true when you don't and you don't even know them,
So you.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Think you're entitled to information that you are simply not
entitled to. Like, Yes, now that you know that Beam
and Asia are a couple, let's just be happy for
them and be excited about whatever it is they choose
to share. But they will get married when they're good
and God dog on ready. They will have children whenever
(15:24):
they are good and God dog on ready. And if
they choose to do neither, that is also their business. Relax, Yeah,
to relax, boo, Relax, relax.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
I just needed to put that out there. I love
that she just keeps I don't know, she just.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
Keeps sending the standard, raising the bar all the things
and looks good while she's doing it.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
This woman is getting finer with time.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Gone ahead, Asia, gone ahead, as I am gonna say this,
don't be slipping up, Bam. Don't hey, Asia, looking good
at these strat here.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Don't funk around, Bam. We love you over here too.
So you'm sitting on the show telling you like I'm.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Telling you like a sister.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Bam. Listen here, Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah yeah. Asha out
here turned a head. You better be on your gay boys.
Just love it, love it, love it now shame.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Congrats to Asia.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Now.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Speaking of one of the things that Asia did in
the Time magazine, a little video shoot that they did,
was they asked her who was one of the toughest competitors,
and she said Brianna.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Stewart, which leads me to think, I wonder.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
If Brianna Stewart is gonna be suited up in a
New York Liberty Jersey this coming up spring, because you know,
everybody in the Mama is a free agent, y'all. And
I bet you that the new head coach is also
wondering these things, because they just hired Chris DeMarco as
the new head coach of the New York Liberty, and
so Chris DeMarco comes from the NBA. He was an
(17:15):
assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors. He was with
them when they won their for A championship, so he's
no stranger to winning. But once again we are in
this situation where we have a coach who's never coached
women's basketball. And we always say basketball is basketball, but
(17:35):
I tend to believe that there are some minor differences
in coaching women than coaching men, and also just coaching
in the WNBA in general. And excuse me to add
to add on to this new hire, this is once
again another opportunity that has been overlooked for maybe some
(17:56):
other people who have been within the WNBA rank, who
have been within the coaching system, who probably deserved a
head coaching job. Not to say Chris didn't, but just
it feels like once again, as happy as some may
be for the New York Liberty and for Chris, there
are also those who kind of feel like, wow, we
(18:18):
are continually seeing women in the WNBA get overlooked for
positions that they've earned. And so I know you and
I have had this conversation before, but definitely curious on
your thoughts about the Chris DeMarco higher and maybe what
it says for those who did not get the opportunity
to this head coaching cycle.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Yeah, that's a I'm I'm frustrated and I'm tired of
this conversation, right, but I also know it's a conversation
that we need to continue to have.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Yeah. Unfortunately, so let me start off by saying this.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
I know of Chris de Marco, I do not know
him personally, right, So what I'm about to say, like
my comments on this topic has nothing to do with him,
zero to do with him, and everything to do with
the w itself.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
So when the league.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
First started back in nineteen ninety seven, to me, it
was kind of like, one, Yeah, it's a new league,
so didn't really know what to expect, Like what were
the coaches going to be like all the things?
Speaker 2 (19:34):
But I did feel like there were. It was kind
of like, well, let's see if we.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Can get some NBA x NBA players or coaches to
validate the league right by coming to coaching the league.
Because listen, right or wrong, when even now, when when
NBA guys talk about the WNBA, it validates to people it's.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Like, well, the NBA guys are watching and talking about it.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
It must be good, it must be right, it must
be real, so let me take it out. So it
was the same thing with let's get some NBA coaches,
then people will take us seriously. So I remember you,
you remember so you had Derek Fisher was a coach
for the Sparks, Michael Schuper right, Michael Cooper was a
coach for the Sparks. Bill and Beerr was a coach
(20:26):
for Detroit. Rick Mahorn was an assistant coach, right, And
I'm probably missing a couple, but my point is this,
So we had some of the NBA guys in the beginning,
and then we kind of got away from it where
it was like, listen, let's just go hire good coaches,
whether they were in the NBA or not. Let's go
(20:48):
hire good coaches and tea. Now I feel like we're
back to and I don't understand it, but we're back
to we need some more NBA blood in the WNBA.
And the other thing is they really weren't trying to
(21:11):
come and coach because the money wasn't there. And now
that the money is up, the money is better. Listen,
people are finally watching or paying attention. Brands are supporting,
there's money behind it. It's like the NBA guys are
now like, oh, well, yeah, I do want to go
and be a part of the WNBA. And to you,
(21:35):
I've said this, Listen, if you're qualified and you're a
good coach and all those things, yes you should be
given an opportunity.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
But I mean that for everybody, including black women. Yes.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
And I set this on another podcast, and I'm going
to say it on our podcast because this is how
I really truly feel, right or.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Wrong, like it, love it, hate it. It's my opinion
and it's how I.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Feel in a league predominantly full of black women. I'm
not even going to put a percentage on it because
somebody'd be like, well it eighty eight percent, it's eighty
seven whatever, But it's predominantly black women. We don't have
one single black female head coach, and we only have
(22:27):
two black men that are head coaches. We have black
women as assistants. So when I see things like that,
my initial thought is this, we're.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Good enough to play.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Yeah, you respect us as players, and we're good enough
to play and win championships. We're good enough to be
your assistant, to do the scouting, to be the go
between with the coach and the players, or whatever that
assistant's role is. But for some reason, you either don't
respect us enough, or appreciate us enough, or even think
(23:09):
that we're good enough to run the team and sit
in that head coaches seat. Because I don't care who
you are, you cannot tell me that there are not
qualified black females that deserve an opportunity. Teresa Weatherspoon got
(23:30):
one shot, and she might not get another one, and
she might not get another one. Right, she got one shot,
and for whatever happened in Chicago, I wasn't there wasn't
in the locker room. But my thing is this, whatever
mistakes she made, you can't tell me that other coaches
haven't made mistakes with their teams NBA, WNBA, college, high school,
(23:54):
But they're given other shots, they're given more opportunities.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
She has not been given another one.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
And garnered the respect of one of the most popular
players one.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Hundred and so when I go down the list and
I and I look at and I don't know if
they were interviewed, what happened, why they didn't get it?
Christy Tolliver Bon January, Lindsey Harding. There are just I'm
gonna bring up Lisa Leslie only because Lisa talked about
(24:26):
she interviewed two years ago for a job and didn't
get it, and you know she's got over it.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
I keep trying to understand it and figure it out.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
But I can't. But I can't.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
And so when I say I'm tired of the conversation,
it's because I feel like we say the same thing
year after year after year and nothing changes.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Yeah, and I'm going to go so far to say,
not only do I agree one hundred percent with everything
that you just said, so there is no need for
me to repeat it, but also if the coaching opportunities
are going to literally be like this, then I need
to see the NBA reach into the w NBA coaching pool.
Speaker 4 (25:07):
And start bringing some folks over to their laying too.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Simple as that, And I know they won't and I
know they won't, but I'm saying, but I'm saying, like,
if that's what we're doing, if we sharing and were swapping,
then I'm gonna need y'all. I'm gonna need to see
some of I'm gonna need to see some of them
on your bench.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
What's up with that? And we know they won't. And
that's the product that what we're doing is swapping, and
that's the problem.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
So we're only swapping one way, not the other.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
We're only swapping one way and not the other, because
only one league apparently needs the validation you speak of
and not the other. And if truth, it is exactly
what it feels like, and it has always felt that
way when it comes to men's sports of a women's sports,
it's not just basketball, it's just in any in any occasion,
you need men to validate whatever it is that women
(25:57):
are doing in order to make.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
It whatever like.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
I will give probably one of the most relatable examples
that any woman has ever had to deal with who
likes sports. You ever walk in a bar, sit down,
maybe you're watching a football game, maybe watching a basketball game,
and you might make a comment you know that wasn't
passing aference, I don't know what the referee was seeing,
or you know that ball was out of bounds, I
(26:22):
don't know what the officials doing, blah blah blah blah blah.
And a man says to you, you don't know about
this sport, and you might say to them, actually, yeah,
I do. And then they say to you, well, tell
me who's the quarterback of the Differ Broncos. Tell me
who's the coach of the Chicago Bulls. How many championships
that Michael Jordan's me?
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Like?
Speaker 3 (26:42):
So in order for you to believe that I know
what I'm talking about as a sports fan and as
a female, I got to answer this fucking multiple choice
quiz that.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
You're giving me on who are you and what made you?
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Oh my gosh, Alpus Dumbledore out here to be the
wizard of all things sports?
Speaker 2 (26:59):
What the fuck? Because there are too many men who
think women need to be.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Validated by their standards in order to be acceptable to
do what they do. And that is the way that
it is, unfortunately. So yes, and I look at them
like they stupid and tell them to google me. And
then you tell me who the hell got six championship
one hundred like whatever?
Speaker 5 (27:22):
When?
Speaker 1 (27:24):
And I'm pulling it up because I want to make
sure I get them right. And I know it's not
as many teams, but how unrival has what for black
female coaches?
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Am I right? Athletes?
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Yeah, athletes, Unlimited has black female moderators or what do
you call them. I'm not saying I'm said moderators, but
that's not what I be. Facilitators. Yeah, like, what do
we help you?
Speaker 2 (27:49):
You can't tell me that that we're not ready or
we're not good enough. Tell me the real reason.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, and it is. It's so, it's so, it's frustrating,
so frustrating Tea. Yeah, And especially when I when I
go all the way back to ninety seven and I
look at where the league started and the people who
helped build this thing, and it just feels so disrespectful
(28:26):
when I look on the sideline and I don't really
see anybody that looks like me.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
As a head coach.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Nope, it's definitely disappointing. It's definitely disappointing. But you know what,
I'm glad you brought up Unrivaled because Unrivaled is starting.
Athletes Unlimited, it's going to be starting. And there is
also a new basketball league that will be starting in
twenty twenty six, Project B. So this what Ambitions is.
(29:01):
This ambitious new women's basketball league is supposed to launch
in the fall of twenty twenty six, or at least
late in twenty twenty six. It is reportedly going to
really disrupt the sports model by offering high salaries, reportedly
in the millions. There are supposed to be equity stakes
(29:23):
for players. They're supposed to be playing like in this
circuit type of format from November to April, but where
they will be playing will be global, So there's like
this global tournament that they're supposed to be playing. The
point of it is to kind of overlap with the
WNBA off season. But I mean, according to the website
(29:44):
and the players that have signed on, Mekka Goom Mackay
has signed on, Alissa Thomas has signed on.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
You know two people that I know have signed on.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
It's like this significant financial incentive and tech inspired model
and it is a xabolished by some former tech executives
and so you know how it is when you get
tech people involved in sports. There it is, but it's
supposed to feature six eleven player teams. They're going to
be playing five on five and again it is seven
(30:14):
different international tournaments, so they'll be moving across the globe. Now,
I am, for one, always in favor of globalizing the game.
I feel like the game is kind of globalized. Already
in some aspects, because it ain't like women just started
playing overseas.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
They've been playing overseas for a long ast time.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Because may I would even go so far as to
say that women are more appreciated in this sport globally
than they are here in the United States. But that's
neither here nor there. So we've seen the global game.
I love the idea of it expanding. I do love that.
I love the idea of playing in the off season, right,
I love that, But I don't know how much I
(31:00):
still have questions, like how is this going to affect
the WNBA roster, How is this going to affect the
prioritization rules, How is the talent going to be affected
by this as it relates to any other league? And
more importantly, this is Saudi Arabia, Saudy owned entities already
within themselves like draw questions as it relates to investments
(31:23):
and deposits in our relationship just from a political climate standpoint,
I don't I mean John Quote Jones is in this,
gewlel Lloyd is in this Sophie Cunningham.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
That radio already draws me questions.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
So what are your thoughts on Project b like, where
do you stand on this right now?
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Okay, okay, okay. So that was the same thing. I
was like, I do I have questions?
Speaker 6 (31:56):
Right?
Speaker 2 (31:56):
So I will say this because I know a lot
of people.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
The first thought was people had questions about Saudi Arabia
backing this. But Elena Beard went on Sarah Spain's podcast
she did and said that Saudi is like that the
money's not coming from Saudi Arabia.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
But I won't even get in all that.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
If y'all want to hear it, you can go listen
to Sarah Spain's A Good Game with Sarah Spain's.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
Podcasts Yes, Alena Bear.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
So Elena Beard talked about that, right, But I'm there
with you as far as listen if if it's true
what they say about the money right, A million dollars,
two million dollars. I'm like, listen, if I can come
out of retirement and go play, I'm there.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
I don't care, I don't care. I'm there right, But
I just have a lot of questions.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
And when I look at the players who've signed so far,
and you named some of them, but then you have
Lea Meng, Janell Salon, Kelsey Mitchell you said, John Quell,
and I'm assuming there are other players that will sign.
I'm just still trying to figure out what this will
(33:18):
look like. Mela Cardoso. Yeah, I want to back up
for one second and go back to the w only
because the CBA negotiations, right are still going on.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
They've done another extension.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
But I bring this up because some of the stuff
that the league is proposing in this new CBA could
affect Project B or Project B could affect the league right.
One thing the league is debating or talking about. They're
(33:58):
wanting to start earlier, start the season earlier. And if
the season starts earlier and Project B doesn't end until
I think April, some sign in April. Yeah, but the
league wants to start in like March. How does that work?
Not only Project B, the Women's Final Four isn't until April.
Speaker 4 (34:24):
I don't. I don't foresee that happening at all.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
So like those players in college already don't have time
to like rest. If you make it to the final
four and you play the championship game, you play, you
might have a couple days off, you go to the draft,
you go to trading camp, season starts.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
So that part alone I'm like, go ahead, Well.
Speaker 3 (34:47):
To that point, I think you remember that I may
have told you that a couple in July, when I
went to New York for the announcement of the expansion
teams in Detroit, Philly and Cleveland, that I actually had
a quick conversation, maybe about a ten minute conversation with Kathy,
(35:09):
and she told me explicitly that one of the things
that they are considering looking at, especially in the upcoming year,
is not necessarily starting earlier, but ending later. So I
thought it was interesting that one of the negotiation pieces
was starting the season earlier, because she seemed to at
that time when we spoke, have a very clear understanding
of why starting earlier wasn't going to be possible for
(35:32):
the things you mentioned that the NCAA Tournament is still
going on, that you still got to have a draft,
you still got to have an opportunity for these girls
to go to some type of training camp. But she
mentioned to me the possibility and the idea of wanting
to provide a combine.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
You can't start earlier.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
If you don't you know what I'm saying, If you
want to think about a combine for which I agree,
I think a combine would be great for women's basketball,
but you can't start earlier with doing that. Told she
told me straight up that there is a consideration of
the season ending in November versus ending in like early
mid October, as it currently does. And I could see
(36:11):
a season ending in November. But if this is gonna
start in November, how that's gonna work.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Well, here's what I have to say to that. First
of all, do you do you believe what comes out
of Cathy's mouth?
Speaker 2 (36:24):
See, ma'am, I don't.
Speaker 1 (36:27):
I'm sorry, I couldn't. I couldn't.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
We know what.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
And then she said, I ain't say that. I couldn't
help it. You are me too, but I couldn't help it.
I'm sorry, I couldn't help it.
Speaker 4 (36:41):
I swear.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
You know. You know I'm petty. You know I'm petty.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
But here's the thing, right to your point, if if
she had that conversation with you in July and then
to look at some of the things that they're proposing
in this new.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
It just doesn't make sense. It don't make sense. It
don't make sense, and I'm wondering, I don't. I'm not
a Kathy apologist, so I'm not trying to be like
but maybe she didn't. But I'm a realist at what
her role is and what she does, and she ain't
always the person that is. She's the she's the liaison
like decisions that are made ain't always her decisions. And
(37:23):
I have often said that I think sometimes Kathy do
get flack for shit that she really ain't got no
choice because she's the face, and that's what comes along
with being the commissioner, be in the face. So I
will not one hundred percent say it was Kathy's idea
to propose starting earlier, because I just don't think that
she's stupid enough to think.
Speaker 4 (37:41):
That that's a good idea.
Speaker 3 (37:43):
But if she's outvoted and this is what they have
to present, then that's what she has to present. But
I just am really hoping, on all things spiritual that
this woman ain't that dumb to think that it's starting
earlier is a good idea when you had a whole
conversation with me to tell them about how you know
it's impossible to start earlier and that ending the season
(38:04):
later makes the most sense.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
I don't know, but here we are. We will see.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
I'm very curious to see the other players that will
sign with Project B. You got Mecca, you got John Quail.
When I look at like some of the bigger names
you got at geul Loyd.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
And this is just me saying this.
Speaker 1 (38:33):
I don't see an Asia Wilson saying, yeah, let me
sign to play with Project B. I think Asia really
enjoys her off season, and I don't blame her.
Speaker 2 (38:45):
Asia works on her game all this stuff.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
And plus Asia got bags today, you know, Asian Joyce
spinning her off season with family, with Haboo, all the things.
Another player that I know they talking about with Caitlyn
and Caitlyn.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
I think there are reports whor Kaitlyn was just like, no,
she should take her off season to be off too, and.
Speaker 1 (39:13):
She's another player Like when I when I look at
current w NBA players, just from a financial standpoint, Asia,
not that I know anything about what these people, these
women are making, but it's.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
Out there right.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
Kaitlyn's good, yeah, financially, Angels good financially, you know. So
I don't see those players saying, let me play in
Project B.
Speaker 2 (39:40):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
I love I love the fact that there are more
opportunities for women to play professional basketball and make money, right,
it's more jobs, more opportunity. This is one that I
got to wait to see it, right yea, to really
truly understand it's going to either help or hurt the WNBA.
(40:04):
I will say I love the fact that Alena Beard
is kind of overseeing this baby and running this thing.
Speaker 4 (40:11):
I do absolutely love that.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
Yeah, she's a trust this source, a very credible an
incredible player, incredible person. And she was also part of
the Oakland expansion, so it's not like she didn't try
or wasn't a part of bringing a w NBA team
to a city that she you.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
Know, loves dearly.
Speaker 4 (40:31):
It just didn't work out. So I agree with you
that I.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
Think Elena's participation in this kind of makes you feel
a bit more comfortable about about it.
Speaker 4 (40:40):
But yeah, we just got to wait and see.
Speaker 3 (40:42):
Kudos to all of them, though, and I really do
hope it works out, because, as you mentioned, more opportunities
for women to play ball and make money.
Speaker 4 (40:50):
We need that, we want.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
That, and we're always going to support whatever can make
that come into fruition in the best way for the
players and for the brand that these women are trying
to build for themselves. With that being said, our very
last topic and we will just kind of be very
quick on this is we still get another season Unrivaled
and another season in Tennessee of athletes unlimited. And so
(41:17):
what do you look forward to for you know, one
in one, one thing you're looking forward to for Unrivaled.
I didn't get a chance to go out to Miami
last year, So for me, for sure hoping this year
I'll get a chance to go out to Miami to
a game and actually like see the facilities and see
a game in person. So that's one thing I'm looking
(41:37):
forward to for AU is to actually physically be present.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
But I still follow it.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
I'm still one of the media partners or not partners,
but one of the media members for Unrivaled, so you know,
I cast a vote, I do all that, so I
pay attention. Yeah, but I want to actually go out
there this year. And then for AU, I truly hope
to be covering AU as I have always covered AU
since its inception.
Speaker 4 (42:00):
So Nashville was.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
So good to the city to a last year it was,
oh god, it was so good and so fun. So
that's what I'm looking forward to. What about you, I
think for me, unrival same, I did not I wasn't
able to get out last year. So two things for me,
I'm looking forward to actually going to unrival catching some
(42:23):
games in person, even if I don't get to Miami.
Speaker 2 (42:27):
I know they're playing a game or two in Philly.
One game in Philly.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
Yeah, So I just I want to go and experience
it because like, people had so much good stuff to
say about it last year, So I want to catch
a game in person.
Speaker 2 (42:40):
But also.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
I'm curious to see how season two will go, right,
because it's always different when you come back for the
second year you went through the first, you know you
learned some things, and and the talent because there are
players who played in it last year that was like
no good this year, thank you.
Speaker 2 (43:02):
So I'm I'm.
Speaker 1 (43:03):
Curious to see just what it will look like this
year in comparison to last year. Yeah, and for athletes unlimited,
I will be doing the games again, so I'm excited
about that.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
But I'm I'm excited about the talent.
Speaker 1 (43:22):
Like if you haven't seen the roster, yes, Megan has
been doing her thing and putting this this this roster together.
Speaker 2 (43:31):
There will be more.
Speaker 1 (43:34):
Current w n b A players playing this season than
in any other season. And you know, just excited to
see what players like Kaiserra will do. I know Kaisra
is doing her thing modeling. Yeah, she's still hooping. Tina
Charles is playing, and you got the og that's coming
(43:55):
to play, you know, and then you got your vets
that have been a with A from the beginning. Lexi
kb Yeah, Ariel Atkins is coming, Yes, Aerol Atkins, h
Dejah Kelly Yeah, yeah. I just I think this season
of AU is going to be very competitive, and I'm
(44:16):
just excited about it and looking.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
Forward to the competition.
Speaker 3 (44:20):
Can I add one to that really quick, because I
do think that a lot of that, a lot of
that rookie sensation that we got last year in the
W can translate over this year because Anissa Morrow is
going to be playing, and so is Tahina pau Pal
and Sarah Ashley Barker froms did just see the video
(44:43):
where this dude was talking about he could he could
post up against a WNBA player and Sarah Ashley Barker
took his ass to school. I said, listen, I ain't
being funny, but this was Sarah. Sarah gave you that work.
Sarah is still developing as a player.
Speaker 4 (45:01):
Small.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
If Sarah again sets your hands down and don't get
back up no more unless it's to cheer, please and
thank you, sit down.
Speaker 4 (45:11):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (45:12):
So yeah, very excited about AU and athletes, athletes unlimited
and unrivaled. And we'll definitely be looking to see where
we're gonna be looking to see who's gonna beat us
stand out.
Speaker 4 (45:25):
You know who's gonna be that standout.
Speaker 2 (45:27):
This It's gonna be a good season. So I'm looking
forward to it.
Speaker 4 (45:32):
I love that. I love that.
Speaker 3 (45:34):
So stay tuned, guys, will be right back to closest
thing on out.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
Well.
Speaker 4 (45:52):
The next time that you.
Speaker 3 (45:54):
And I meet, it will be after Christmas. And so
I served want to say Merry Christmas to you, Cheryl,
and Merry Christmas to all of our friends who are
out here listening or happy Holidays, because I don't want
to offend nobody.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
Listen.
Speaker 4 (46:12):
I don't want to offend nobody.
Speaker 3 (46:13):
Okay, Happy Hanukkah, happy Kwanza, all the very Christmas, all
the things. I don't need nobody coming to me saying
I'm not whatever you celebrate in December happy, I'm saying,
I hope you do that.
Speaker 6 (46:29):
Happy that happy, happy that Yeah, yeah, gosh, well, happy
Kwanza to you.
Speaker 2 (46:40):
Sis. I was about to say Happy Christmas, Merry Christmas
to you.
Speaker 1 (46:46):
All the things I agree with you, because you know,
I never want to offend anybody, but I feel like
every time I open my mouth, I'm offending somebody with.
Speaker 4 (46:54):
Oh you fish off somebody every day.
Speaker 1 (46:55):
But that's OK, it's not intentional. But listen, great show,
and I know we had a lot of laughs. But
I instead of giving you guys my quote like I
typically do, I just want to take a moment and
I'm going to try to get through this. We're talking
about the holidays and celebrating with family, and you know,
(47:17):
for the last few days, if you've paid attention to
the news, there's just been so much tragedy in the world.
So I want to take this moment right now on
behalf of levels to this, you myself, iHeart, and just
say to everyone affected Brown University, You're in our thoughts
(47:42):
and our prayers. In Australia, You're in our thoughts and
our prayers. To the Ryan Or family, you're in our
thoughts and our prayers. There's just so much just ugliness
and evilness going on in this world right now. At
any time it is a bad time, but especially during
(48:03):
the holidays when you're supposed to be getting ready to
spend the time with friends and family and loved ones.
It is not lost on me that there will be
people who.
Speaker 2 (48:18):
Will never like the holidays, will never mean the same thing.
Speaker 1 (48:23):
To them because of everything they've just gone through in
the past few days. So just know you're in our
thoughts and our prayers, and we're wrapping our arms around
you and lifting you up and just man just sending good,
positive thoughts and vibes to all of.
Speaker 3 (48:41):
You, one hundred person And with that, we will just
continue to to try to be and live our best
selves as we possibly can be, and that includes just
being kind to our neighbors, being kind to each other,
and celebrating moving into twenty twenty six with a little
(49:04):
bit more love and kindness in our hearts hopefully. So
with that, thank you guys so much for listening to
levels to this. We will be back next week with
more next level conversations. I'm just about the real shit
that we go through as women, and maybe about what
I got for Christmas, because I better had got some
good shit. Okay, but this isn't just our show. It
(49:25):
is our show, so we want to continue to hear
from you. Leave us a review at Apple Podcasts. You
can certainly email us and let us know what you
thought of this week's show at Levels to This Podcast
at gmail dot com. And please please please keep following
us on Instagram at lttpod but until then, keep your
mentals ground level and we will be back next week.
Speaker 2 (49:46):
Peace.
Speaker 1 (49:49):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network,
I Heart. Open your free iHeart app and search Levels
to This with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster Brassby and
start listening
Hosts And Creators
Terrika Foster-Brasby
Sheryl Swoopes
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