October 9, 2025 • 33 mins
On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby break down A’ja Wilson’s historic fourth MVP win and what it means for the league, as well as digging into who would've gotten their votes for All-Defensive Teams. The duo also spotlight other award winners, including Veronica Burton and Natalie Nakase, before diving into the shocking coaching shakeups across the WNBA. From the Liberty’s decision to part ways with Sandy Brondello to the bigger question of why there are no Black women currently serving as head coaches, Sheryl and Terrika don’t hold back.
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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. You can find
us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Hey, what's going on? Everybody is your Girlsca Costa brassby Well, some.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Of y'all is shagirl Cheryl.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Hey, and this is levels to this. This is the
show where we talk about the shit that women go through.
And Honey, it's been a bunch of shit that we've
been going through these last couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Honey.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
The government then shut down.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
It's been it's been a mess out here in these streets.
Like it's been a mess air traffic control now, you know,
we all on the road for the WNBA Finals, and
air traffic control some people calling in because they trying
not to pay them and now folks are stuck in
different airports and it is just it is crazy out
(00:57):
here right now, Cheryl.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
So I'm going to change it from us talking about
the ship that women go through to us talking about
the ship that we as Americans are going through right now,
right because through it, that's what this is gonna be. Everywhere,
literally every day everywhere every day.
Speaker 5 (01:22):
Yeah, you know, the only thing right now I feel
that is.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Kind of sort of keeping me sane, kind of sorder,
not all the way, but cond ofsorder is that we
still have some WNBA finals going on and we got
awards like that I feel is it's keeping me kind
(01:49):
of sort of saying and not just taking my mind
off of all.
Speaker 6 (01:54):
The bullshit for just a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Too much.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
It's so much going on, but the w NBA Finals
is definitely the thing that can keep our sanity. And
after what feels like a million years, we finally have
the all defensive team first and second team that have
been announced.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
And so finally.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Because you know, I feel like we've been supposed to
get these awards announced a couple of weeks ago, but
shitty at the fan between fee and the commissioner and
they push these awards announcements back, and so now they said,
we got to handle this first. But now we finally
(02:36):
got an announcement for awards and so on our first team,
we have all defensive first team. There's Nathisa Collier, there's
Alana Smith, there's a lista Thomas, there is Gabby Williams,
and there's Asia Wilson. The second team, however, has caused
a little bit of controversy. So the second team is
(02:59):
a Leah Boston, Assie mag mcgore, Brianna Stewart, Veronica Burton,
and there's one person I'm missing when I missing and
Ryan Howard. So that is the first in the second team.
But I feel like folks have been questioning the second
team a little bit. So Cheryl, your initial thoughts and
then I'll share what my actual ballot said for second team,
(03:22):
because my first team ballot is exactly the way the
first team was announced, but my second team was a
little different. So what were your initial thoughts when you
saw the all defensive scenes?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Again, let me preface this by saying, I do not
get votes. Okay, okay, did you say Tasha Cloud?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
No? Her name?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I did not say her name.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
That's that's kind of sort of My first thought is
where is Tash?
Speaker 5 (03:50):
I just I think Tash.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Deserves to be on one of the teams.
Speaker 5 (03:55):
If you're not gonna put on the first, she should
absolutely be on the second.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Here's my other off are there?
Speaker 1 (04:02):
And I'm really not being funny, I just this is
a real question.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
Are they're not.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Guards?
Speaker 5 (04:14):
Who are good defensively.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well, I mean you have Veronica Burton on the team,
so uh huh, I know, and who else? Yeah, I
mean v B, I think is the only guard?
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Who is Gabby?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Gabby's a guard, right, Are they the only two that
made it? I think they may be the only.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah, Gabby's a guard, but I even consider Gabby more
like a three four plays the one at times.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
But Gabby's Gabby's big and Ryan's big.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
It's just a question.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Like even when I.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Think of defensive player of the year, it's always your
forwards or your centers that that win defensive player of
the year, And so it's really just a question. And
maybe I should be talking to the players, talking to
the guard specifically, saying, y'all need to do a little
bit more defensively so I can come on here and
talk about these guards making these defensive teams.
Speaker 6 (05:06):
That's all.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
I think you are onto something because I think you're
on a sumb show, because I don't think that enough
guards get love defensively, and they be playing a hell
out of some defense. I just don't know what these
what my peers see. So on my all defensive team
for second team I actually.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Had, Yeah, who was your second team?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I had Angel Reese, I had Sanaia Rivers, I had
Aliah Boston, Natasha Mac and Ryan Howard.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
To tell me.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
That that's very different from very different, but also yeah,
I looked at.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Players like actual defensive I looked at their defensive efforts.
I looked at more than just block steels, rebounds. I
also looked at like yes, should right. I looked at
what was the defensive differential when you were on the
court versus when you were not. And I think a
player like a Sanaia Rivers and an Angel Rey specifically
(06:09):
because they played on teams that had bad records or
did not overaw have a very high defensive teams that
Snaya from the from the gate was one of the
best defensive guards in the league from the.
Speaker 6 (06:23):
Gate as a rookie, How did you not consider her?
Speaker 1 (06:28):
And I think people look at that though, But I
think people look at that as again to your point,
and say, well, she's a rookie, so she like they
I don't know. My question, just like with MVP and
every other award, like who are.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
The people that are getting to.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Vote on these awards? Like I know it's who they are.
But my question is.
Speaker 5 (06:55):
You got I just think you should know something about
the game.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
I just well, Damn, Cheryl, No, I just I do
because I feel like a lot of players are left
off of teams because of the people that are voting.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Okay, so this is I would say this. I don't
want to I don't want to installt all seventy people
who got to vote and say they don't know basketball.
But what I will say is that because there are
some all.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Of them, some of all all life.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
But I will say I don't think. What I believe
would help is that the WNBA has to do better
with putting a criteria on what it means to hold
some of these accolades. Like it's like you not, we're
just letting people just just go off the strength and
everybody's definition of something is so different that it don't
(07:55):
always make no sense of some of the players that
get selected for some of the awards, not that they
shouldn't be in consideration for some of them, but sometimes
you just need a criteria and they don't. They don't
have a criteria own nothing. So I think that they
just need to put some criteria on awards. And I
don't think there was any award that needed more of
(08:17):
a criteria than the MVP Award. Now, don't get me wrong.
I know that we discussed, or at least I know
that the MVP was announced a few weeks ago, but
you would I never really got an opportunity to kind
of talk about MVP in the way that I think
you and I wanted to. And so today I feel
(08:38):
like it's a great time sense awards are being announced
deal for us to really get into that conversation. Cheryl,
you have gone down in the history books for so
(09:00):
many things, and I know it's not often that people
get to surpass you at anything, but.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
Asia Wilson, finally we have to start with that Asia
guy that I started just like that because.
Speaker 6 (09:21):
We don't keep it a book, Like damn, damn, damn, Asia.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
No, I'm not because I said it too.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
I was like, damn, Like for real, you couldn't let
fee here.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Oh man.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
There was a graphic that ESP had made that had you,
Lisa and Lauren on it, and it had Asia in
front and not like in front, but like.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
She was sitting in her like her queen her throat.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yes, yes, she was sitting in a throng like in
her queendom. Yes, and and I loved picture of you
that they used. And this is not to be messy,
but you have just always been such a champion for
these players, specifically Asia among others and angels like you've
been a champion, and so they've used the picture of
(10:14):
you like cheering, like your arms are up, and it's
like I could feel the joy in that photos that
photo of you, because I'm like, like.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
That's what I mean.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
But I love that because you do. You have championed
so hard for these women to just be in their greatness,
and I thought that that was a great depiction of that.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
And so to see her get that fourth MVP.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Just you know, and considering that, you know, you were
at the game last week, you got a chance to
kind of see her and talk to her, like what
was what was that emotion for you?
Speaker 5 (10:51):
And you see, you got me emotional right now.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
I know. You know.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Let me say this because you know people will listen
to things we say and they only hear what they
want to hear, because you know, you and I talked
about this in a jokingly manner when I was like,
I ain't gonna be mad if Asia don't win. I
don't want her to get four. I need her to
stay at I need her to stay at three right
where we are. But I will, I will tell you this,
stay at three. Even if she wouldn't have won it
(11:18):
this year, to me, it was only a matter of
time before she got that fourth one.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
Like Asia is still very much in her prime. And
it's like Asia quiet as.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
It's cap she could honestly already have five. The year well,
I'm just saying, not to take anything away from Stewie,
but the year Stewie won, like it was Stewey in
Asia and Stewie wanted. But I you know, for me,
the reason why I get emotional or especially with that,
(11:52):
I got emotional because, like I tell people this all
the time, people only see like the finished product, right
when the players come out to play.
Speaker 5 (12:04):
That's what you see, the entertainment, right.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
The players are here to entertain you, to compete, to win,
to play hard, all those things.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
That's with the fancy.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
They don't see all the shit behind closed doors that
the players go through. You know that these athletes are
going through, and how all the people are coming for them,
talking crazy all the things. And so for me I
just really want to be that person that is going
to always be there and always hold it down for
(12:34):
the players when when people just just doing ignorant shit,
you know what I mean, Because we've seen it with Asia,
we've seen it with Angel.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
And it's hard, like it's hard being.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
A professional athlete, and especially in today's world with social
media and all the things. But that particular picture you're
talking about, Tea, when I saw it, I got goosebumps,
right because I know how how great Lisa was, how
great Lauren was, Like we competed and we went at
(13:10):
each other, and to have that photo with the three
of us, it's almost like all of us passing the
torch onto Asia, to all the women, but Asia in particular, Yes,
like we're talking about four MVPs. That's never ever, ever, ever,
ever been done in the w NBA before, Like that's crazy,
(13:34):
That's that's crazy, right, And in her I still say
her short period of time in the w NBA, but
just I don't know, I just I felt a great sense.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Of joy, just just happy.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
And you know I said this before, I really I
really want wanted and want to see at get an
MVP because I think she's put the work in and
for all the things that she's done right same and
you can say that, you.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Can say that about Fee.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Without degrading Asia or without coming for Asia.
Speaker 6 (14:10):
Like all these women.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
They work their asses off, they put the time in,
they put the work in. All very deserving. But yeah, Asia,
Asia Wilson is she's just she's on a different level.
She's on a different planet right now.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
She is. That's it, she's she is not of this world.
She's been in this league for eight years, and half
the time that she's been in this league, she's been
an MVP. Half the time that you've been in this league,
you've been an MVP. Like that is that's special. That
is unfathomable to many people. And it's it's it's so special,
(14:49):
and we can't normalize it because it's not normal.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Like it's not it's not it's not normal.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
We're not gonna same thing that we say about at like,
we're not going to normalize the I think this woman
be dropping eight triple doubles in a season, because that's
not normal. Normal people don't do that. It's not normal. Like, no,
people don't do that. Fifty forty ninety seasons are not normal, Like,
we're not gonna do.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
That, right, So if you're not gonna give it to At,
and I'm not putting Fee in it because people talk
about Fee. I just feel like At continues to be
disrespected when when you're having the conversation of who should
win the MVP, it's always this year and even last
year it's.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
Fee or Asia.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Rightfully so, but can we start making sure we're including
At in those conversations, because she absolutely deserves to be
in those conversations with respect.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Have to.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Absolutely she is someone who continues to be a superstar
level player in an unconventional way. And that is in
my eyes, between the fact that she won, played in
Connecticut for a long time, and Connecticut as a team
was disrespected. People didn't know. I want to give Connecticut
their due because it's Connecticut, because it's boring and you
(16:04):
up in the sticks, and but all those things to
do with the fact that these people busted, they ass
ain't got to h with you.
Speaker 6 (16:12):
All those you start, all those things, it can be.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
True, but it is.
Speaker 6 (16:18):
And first of all, you know what's crazy.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
What's crazy is what's crazy is you don't I remember
I am from here, from Michigan. I don't really give
a damn about the state. I don't really give a
damn about the state of Connecticut. I just don't want
people to group Mohigan into what the whole.
Speaker 6 (16:40):
State it is.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
That's my only argument.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Like that'int y'all are right, it's boring and ship up there.
Speaker 6 (16:47):
But where I live, I live with the black people.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Live.
Speaker 6 (16:53):
We just had to put Rican Day parade. You see
what I'm saying, This type of ship we all down.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Here at Harford. I don't know what what they what
up there. So with that being said, though, I just
think that's where a lot of the eighteen disrespect comes from,
because she's doing this in an unconventional way and they
can't wrap their mind around the fact that maybe someone
who doesn't shoot threes or someone that doesn't you know,
ain't dunking or whatever like they're doing. They're doing this
(17:19):
in a different way, and it's like you need to
respect that. Like, to me, that makes it harder and
even more impressive that you're doing this in a way
that's very different than how every other superstar has gained
their name. So that's you know, that's.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
Neither here nor there.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
But I just want to also say, you know, I'm
a voter.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
I voted for Asia.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
I did release my ballot and I had Asia, Fee
at Alisha, and then Kelsey Mitchell.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
That was my Those are my five in that order.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And it was struggling, Like I was struggling throughout the
entirety of the season. I started this season. Fee was
my preseason pick, but the time the season got underway,
Fee was still my pick. By the time we got
to half to the All Star All Star Game, she
was still my pick. She was still balling and Minnesota
was winning. And so it wasn't that we ignored Asia
(18:13):
because you and I talked about it all the time, Age,
but her team didn't help her out. Her team didn't
help her out. They weren't winning. So it came down
to me to the last two months, right, Fee missing time.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Definitely played a role.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Vegas going on a seventeen game win streak, Asia just
completely turning up in every category. Defense started to get crazy.
I was just like, it's hard to deny. And then
I'm looking at the numbers. You're leading the league in
certain statistical categories that an MVP should lead them in.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
So to me, it made sense.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I'm and I vote, and I ended up voting for Asia,
and so you know, the script didn't go the way
that some people like to claim us voters do like, oh,
I already know what they know.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Some of us like pay attention and do our jobs,
and it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
So congratulations to Asia. I agree with you that she's
probably gonna win a couple more before her career is over.
It will happen for at and it will happen for
a fee and The've been some other award winners that
have been great. Nas Hellmant won six Player of the Year,
so congratulations to her. She definitely stepped up her game
(19:25):
this year. Veronica Burton won Most Improved. I think that
was probably a foegone conclusion, just the way that she
showed people like y'all ain't have to believe in me.
I believe in me, and I showed out and I
think that that was well earned. Natalie Nikasse won Coach
of the Year, and I think that was another one
that was kind of close because Carl Simesco was in
(19:46):
that conversation too. But yes, there are still a couple
of more awards that still need to come out to
be announced. And we hope they will be very soon.
But at this point, there are a couple other things
that we got to get into really quickly, and that
is did you know that the New York Liberty and
don't got no coach?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Didn't see that coming. I'm like, I did not see
that coming. News to me, I'm like, huh, make that
make sense? Like are you are you mad? Because they
didn't repeat like that. Shit's hard to do.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
Everybody, everybody, everybody.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
Can be the comments and win for in a row.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
It's hard to repeat.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
I did say that, I did say that.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
I did.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
I did.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
I did.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Say that we need to switch names because see my
name at the bottom, say that petty bitch.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
But clearly put that clearly the petty bitch, just.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
That because because clearly.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
The petty one is over here.
Speaker 6 (20:50):
But You're right, everybody can't win for in a row.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
There are so few coaches in the w n b
A that give you championship caliber that I always immediately
go to, Okay, if somebody who we replacing them with,
like that's my instant, Sandy Brondelo is the coach that
you go get to replace somebody with. That's not the
(21:16):
coach at fire, you know, but there are rumors that,
you know, maybe she lost control of the locker room.
There are rumors that there was beef with her and
Jonathan Cole. There's rumors that they just didn't want to
extend the contract.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
Nothing confirmed.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
I'm just telling you what the streets is saying, right,
and so if any of those things are true, sure, I.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Get it, right, I guess I get it.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
But at the end of the day, there are two
teams right now that are gonna be looking for three
technically because Seattle didn't resign their coach either, So there
are three teams right now that's gonna be looking for
a head coach, and Sandy Brondelo is probably the best
coach you're gonna get on the market that has head
(21:59):
coaching in the WNBA.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
Yes, yes, can we First of all, shame on New York.
Speaker 5 (22:06):
You know.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
To me, there definitely has to be more to this story.
Like I just don't I don't know. What I do
know is that Sandy will land somewhere like wherever she
wants to be. I'm sure I want to have a
different conversation that I think you and I talked about,
(22:29):
knowing not coming back with all the stuff that happened
in Seattle last year this year, I don't think that
one was a surprise to anybody. Like I never want
to see anybody lose their job. I want to have
a bigger conversation on where are all the black female
(22:50):
head coaches that and why aren't any of them coaching
in the w You know, it almost when I when
I look at it, it almost makes me feel like
we're as as black women, we're good enough to to
be your assistant, we're good enough to be your you're
(23:15):
in your dobo or your manager, however you want to
put it, But we're not good enough to run the
team right to be the head coach. That's almost what
it feels like to me. And with all of well
right now, Seattle, New York, Portland coming up then you know, yeah,
(23:37):
we got Detroit, Cleveland, Philly, all the Toronto. Can can
we get some some black women in the in the
in the head coach seat.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
It's a it's a question, it's an ask, it's.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
A plea pretty much.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
I I just and and let me also say this
because I said all the other things, and we're also
as black women, we're good enough to play and win
championships for you, but we're not good enough to.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (24:11):
I just I need I need an explanation.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
The other thing I'm gonna add to that because I
don't I don't want anybody to take this the wrong way.
I am all for the best person that that's the
best qualified, the best coach. Yes she, I'm not even
saying he she should be given an opportunity. But in
saying that, I do know that there are some black
(24:38):
women out there that fits all of those things. So
let's just let's just give them an opportunity.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Mm hmm. Yeah. One hundred percent agreed. One hundred percent agreed.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
There is no excuse, for no reason why we do
not have any.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
Black women who are head coaching.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
And if your desire is to say, hey, you know,
we have utilized a lot of these coaches that are
currently in the league, are currently serving as assistants and
that have been coaches, and we just want some new blood.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
New faces go to the college level.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
There are some incredible women who are coaching at the
collegiate level finding success and could find that success in
the WNBA. I'm a be biased. I'm gonna say coach,
She'll let McPhee McEwan. She's been doing the damn thing
at Ole Miss. She's turned that program around. Yes, she
is our sore, but she is an amazing woman, an
(25:39):
amazing coach. She has the trust of her players. People
buy into what she's doing. If you want to give
somebody an opportunity, she's someone I think has earned one.
So I mean, like, there is no reason, in no way,
and there are plenty, There are plenty others.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
There are many others that has done it.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
I look at Neil Ivy, She's played in the W,
she has experience coaching with some of the best.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
She has helped.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Continue the legacy at Notre Dame that was established there
by Muffett MacGrath. So I mean, it's not like they
don't exist. You don't have to go to the NBA
and find these men and bring them over to the
W because at the end of the day, they ain't
just straight opening their doors giving women in the W
head coaching positions in the NBA. I'm just keeping it
a buck, you know what I mean? Great great like
(26:26):
it can happen. It can happen. No shade, Natibbitts, You've
done a great job. I'm not mad at that. I'm
not saying that that doesn't work and can't work. I'm
just also saying this league was made for women on
many levels, from the coaching to the front office to
the players on the court. This league was made to
showcase the incredible things that women can do when given
(26:49):
the opportunity, and so to kind of shrift that away
feels feels weird, feels feels.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
Out of pocket.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Like I agree with you, the best, the best should
have it, the best people should do it, the best people,
the most qualified. But it's very disappointing knowing that we
have qualified people who meet that criteria and for whatever reason,
they're not given that opportunity.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
So, yeah, is what it is on that.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
But last, but not least, though, as I look around
this league right now and I see the coaches that
did not yet let go, I'm actually not mad about it.
I feel like there was going to be a bit
of a ruckus about specifically Chicago and.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
Dallas and Connecticut because I'm gonna throw our sheet in
her two.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
But I'm also one that thinks that it is difficult
for people to find chemistry in just one year.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
It was wrong for them to let Spoon go after
one year.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
I'm glad you said that because I was about to.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Be it was wrong.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
It was wrong for them to let her go after
one year, And I think it would be wrong to
let these current coaches go after one year because they
at least need an opportunity to have that year, like
they should have a chance to now that you've got
it under your belt. Now that you've done it, you know,
what do you do from here?
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Now?
Speaker 2 (28:18):
If the pattern continues, that's a different conversation you have
to But I do think you should give a coach
more than a year to build before you instantly say, Okay,
one year you suck, You're out, like te you have.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
To I just ask for consistency with that, like I'm
still you know, and there's lots of speculation and people
want to talk, well, this is why Spoon was let go,
Like unless you were to me, unless you were actually
in the locker room and there every day, you have
no idea what the dynamics was like, right, But my
(28:49):
thing is, just like you said, I agree, I don't
think any coach should be let go of after the
first year because you're not winning as many games as
people think you haven't had time to build your team,
the chemistry, learn your team, all the things.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
I just ask for consistency.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Just like we're showing these other coaches grace. Yeah, well
we should have shown They should have shown Spoon grace,
like give her time. If there's one thing I know
about her is that she's a champion. She knows how
to win, she knows how to compete, she knows how
to get the players to play for all of those things.
So you know, if that's what we're gonna do, just
(29:30):
be consistent with it.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
That's it.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Yep, completely agree. Consistency is everything. So yeah, I think
it's gonna be interesting to see how we move forward
from here with the open vacancies in the coaching space.
And I'm gonna be looking forward to see you who're
gonna end it with a job and who ain't, especially
given that it's gonna be some expansion drafts that's gonna
(29:53):
need to happen. Management gonna have to do some things.
It's gonna be it's gonna be a wild ride. But
with that, yeah, it's been we will see, so stay
with us. We will be right back to level this
thing off, all right, Everybody well, congrats on all the
(30:26):
award winners. There are still I believe the All w
n b A First and Second Team awards that still
need to be announced and have not been announced at
the time of this recording, So we will look forward
to see who is sitting on those and as usual,
I will always share who I actually voted for, and
SUREL will always give you the disclaimer that she can't vote,
(30:47):
because even though we say it fifty.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
Times, y'all still be coming at her neck like she like.
Speaker 5 (30:52):
She voted, and you'd be like they'd be coming for me.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
And I'm like, how many times you gotta tell y'all
she is not about her, Like why y'all coming out neck?
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Zero?
Speaker 2 (31:04):
I get nothing anyway, any yes, girl, anyway, congrats on
all the award winners so far, and that it was
time for us to be leveled on up, and so
sure I'm going to turn it over to you.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
I tried to find something that was more along our
conversation today talking about awards and all the things, but
instead I found something that for those of you who
may have caught our episode on setting boundaries and sticking
to the boundaries and all the things. I just came
across this and it felt very fitting. So it says,
(31:43):
never apologized for disappearing. You needed yourself more than they
needed you. And the reason why I think I like
that is because I think so many times we talked
about the episode boundary reason all of that. So many
times we always feel bad or question ourselves when we
(32:08):
need to take some time for ourselves, right, And a
lot of times we'll be like, well, yeah, but I
need to be there for her, I need to be
there for him.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
So never apologize for disappearing. You needed yourself more than
they needed you.
Speaker 6 (32:21):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
I love that. I want love and endure that because
it's so accurate and that right there is exactly how
we will in the show and drop the mic. So
thank you guys so much for tuning in to another
episode of Levels to this. And yes, that was Schiryl
dropping the mic. That was her dropping the bike. Oh
(32:45):
oh my god, that's that. That just completely took my
whole shit off. Well, thank you guys so much for
continue to love us and listen to us. I just
I love Shirl so much it's crazy. But guys, listen, y'all,
keep downloading the show. Y'all keep showing us love. Remember
this isn't just our show, it is our show, so
you need to connect with us. Hit us up on
(33:06):
Instagram at lttpod on. Also, you can send us an
email at Levels of This Podcast at gmail dot com
let us know what you think of this week's show.
Or you can also send us some topics if you
want to hear something that we want to talk about
in the future. We love it, but just keep being
a part of our Levels to this family. So until
next time, keep your mentor's ground level and we will be.
Speaker 3 (33:27):
Back next week.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
Please listen to Levels to This on America's number one
podcast network, iHeart. Open your free iHeart app and search
Levels to This with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster Brasby
and start listening
Levels to This is an iHeart women's sports production in
partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find
us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Hey, what's going on? Everybody is your Girlsca Costa brassby Well, some.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Of y'all is shagirl Cheryl.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Hey, and this is levels to this. This is the
show where we talk about the shit that women go through.
And Honey, it's been a bunch of shit that we've
been going through these last couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Honey.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
The government then shut down.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
It's been it's been a mess out here in these streets.
Like it's been a mess air traffic control now, you know,
we all on the road for the WNBA Finals, and
air traffic control some people calling in because they trying
not to pay them and now folks are stuck in
different airports and it is just it is crazy out
(00:57):
here right now, Cheryl.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
So I'm going to change it from us talking about
the ship that women go through to us talking about
the ship that we as Americans are going through right now,
right because through it, that's what this is gonna be. Everywhere,
literally every day everywhere every day.
Speaker 5 (01:22):
Yeah, you know, the only thing right now I feel
that is.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Kind of sort of keeping me sane, kind of sorder,
not all the way, but cond ofsorder is that we
still have some WNBA finals going on and we got
awards like that I feel is it's keeping me kind
(01:49):
of sort of saying and not just taking my mind
off of all.
Speaker 6 (01:54):
The bullshit for just a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Too much.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
It's so much going on, but the w NBA Finals
is definitely the thing that can keep our sanity. And
after what feels like a million years, we finally have
the all defensive team first and second team that have
been announced.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
And so finally.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Because you know, I feel like we've been supposed to
get these awards announced a couple of weeks ago, but
shitty at the fan between fee and the commissioner and
they push these awards announcements back, and so now they said,
we got to handle this first. But now we finally
(02:36):
got an announcement for awards and so on our first team,
we have all defensive first team. There's Nathisa Collier, there's
Alana Smith, there's a lista Thomas, there is Gabby Williams,
and there's Asia Wilson. The second team, however, has caused
a little bit of controversy. So the second team is
(02:59):
a Leah Boston, Assie mag mcgore, Brianna Stewart, Veronica Burton,
and there's one person I'm missing when I missing and
Ryan Howard. So that is the first in the second team.
But I feel like folks have been questioning the second
team a little bit. So Cheryl, your initial thoughts and
then I'll share what my actual ballot said for second team,
(03:22):
because my first team ballot is exactly the way the
first team was announced, but my second team was a
little different. So what were your initial thoughts when you
saw the all defensive scenes?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Again, let me preface this by saying, I do not
get votes. Okay, okay, did you say Tasha Cloud?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
No? Her name?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I did not say her name.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
That's that's kind of sort of My first thought is
where is Tash?
Speaker 5 (03:50):
I just I think Tash.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Deserves to be on one of the teams.
Speaker 5 (03:55):
If you're not gonna put on the first, she should
absolutely be on the second.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Here's my other off are there?
Speaker 1 (04:02):
And I'm really not being funny, I just this is
a real question.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
Are they're not.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Guards?
Speaker 5 (04:14):
Who are good defensively.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well, I mean you have Veronica Burton on the team,
so uh huh, I know, and who else? Yeah, I
mean v B, I think is the only guard?
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Who is Gabby?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Gabby's a guard, right, Are they the only two that
made it? I think they may be the only.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah, Gabby's a guard, but I even consider Gabby more
like a three four plays the one at times.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
But Gabby's Gabby's big and Ryan's big.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
It's just a question.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Like even when I.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Think of defensive player of the year, it's always your
forwards or your centers that that win defensive player of
the year, And so it's really just a question. And
maybe I should be talking to the players, talking to
the guard specifically, saying, y'all need to do a little
bit more defensively so I can come on here and
talk about these guards making these defensive teams.
Speaker 6 (05:06):
That's all.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
I think you are onto something because I think you're
on a sumb show, because I don't think that enough
guards get love defensively, and they be playing a hell
out of some defense. I just don't know what these
what my peers see. So on my all defensive team
for second team I actually.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Had, Yeah, who was your second team?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I had Angel Reese, I had Sanaia Rivers, I had
Aliah Boston, Natasha Mac and Ryan Howard.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
To tell me.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
That that's very different from very different, but also yeah,
I looked at.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Players like actual defensive I looked at their defensive efforts.
I looked at more than just block steels, rebounds. I
also looked at like yes, should right. I looked at
what was the defensive differential when you were on the
court versus when you were not. And I think a
player like a Sanaia Rivers and an Angel Rey specifically
(06:09):
because they played on teams that had bad records or
did not overaw have a very high defensive teams that
Snaya from the from the gate was one of the
best defensive guards in the league from the.
Speaker 6 (06:23):
Gate as a rookie, How did you not consider her?
Speaker 1 (06:28):
And I think people look at that though, But I
think people look at that as again to your point,
and say, well, she's a rookie, so she like they
I don't know. My question, just like with MVP and
every other award, like who are.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
The people that are getting to.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Vote on these awards? Like I know it's who they are.
But my question is.
Speaker 5 (06:55):
You got I just think you should know something about
the game.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
I just well, Damn, Cheryl, No, I just I do
because I feel like a lot of players are left
off of teams because of the people that are voting.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Okay, so this is I would say this. I don't
want to I don't want to installt all seventy people
who got to vote and say they don't know basketball.
But what I will say is that because there are
some all.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Of them, some of all all life.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
But I will say I don't think. What I believe
would help is that the WNBA has to do better
with putting a criteria on what it means to hold
some of these accolades. Like it's like you not, we're
just letting people just just go off the strength and
everybody's definition of something is so different that it don't
(07:55):
always make no sense of some of the players that
get selected for some of the awards, not that they
shouldn't be in consideration for some of them, but sometimes
you just need a criteria and they don't. They don't
have a criteria own nothing. So I think that they
just need to put some criteria on awards. And I
don't think there was any award that needed more of
(08:17):
a criteria than the MVP Award. Now, don't get me wrong.
I know that we discussed, or at least I know
that the MVP was announced a few weeks ago, but
you would I never really got an opportunity to kind
of talk about MVP in the way that I think
you and I wanted to. And so today I feel
(08:38):
like it's a great time sense awards are being announced
deal for us to really get into that conversation. Cheryl,
you have gone down in the history books for so
(09:00):
many things, and I know it's not often that people
get to surpass you at anything, but.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
Asia Wilson, finally we have to start with that Asia
guy that I started just like that because.
Speaker 6 (09:21):
We don't keep it a book, Like damn, damn, damn, Asia.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
No, I'm not because I said it too.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
I was like, damn, Like for real, you couldn't let
fee here.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Oh man.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
There was a graphic that ESP had made that had you,
Lisa and Lauren on it, and it had Asia in
front and not like in front, but like.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
She was sitting in her like her queen her throat.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yes, yes, she was sitting in a throng like in
her queendom. Yes, and and I loved picture of you
that they used. And this is not to be messy,
but you have just always been such a champion for
these players, specifically Asia among others and angels like you've
been a champion, and so they've used the picture of
(10:14):
you like cheering, like your arms are up, and it's
like I could feel the joy in that photos that
photo of you, because I'm like, like.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
That's what I mean.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
But I love that because you do. You have championed
so hard for these women to just be in their greatness,
and I thought that that was a great depiction of that.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
And so to see her get that fourth MVP.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Just you know, and considering that, you know, you were
at the game last week, you got a chance to
kind of see her and talk to her, like what
was what was that emotion for you?
Speaker 5 (10:51):
And you see, you got me emotional right now.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
I know. You know.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Let me say this because you know people will listen
to things we say and they only hear what they
want to hear, because you know, you and I talked
about this in a jokingly manner when I was like,
I ain't gonna be mad if Asia don't win. I
don't want her to get four. I need her to
stay at I need her to stay at three right
where we are. But I will, I will tell you this,
stay at three. Even if she wouldn't have won it
(11:18):
this year, to me, it was only a matter of
time before she got that fourth one.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
Like Asia is still very much in her prime. And
it's like Asia quiet as.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
It's cap she could honestly already have five. The year well,
I'm just saying, not to take anything away from Stewie,
but the year Stewie won, like it was Stewey in
Asia and Stewie wanted. But I you know, for me,
the reason why I get emotional or especially with that,
(11:52):
I got emotional because, like I tell people this all
the time, people only see like the finished product, right
when the players come out to play.
Speaker 5 (12:04):
That's what you see, the entertainment, right.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
The players are here to entertain you, to compete, to win,
to play hard, all those things.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
That's with the fancy.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
They don't see all the shit behind closed doors that
the players go through. You know that these athletes are
going through, and how all the people are coming for them,
talking crazy all the things. And so for me I
just really want to be that person that is going
to always be there and always hold it down for
(12:34):
the players when when people just just doing ignorant shit,
you know what I mean, Because we've seen it with Asia,
we've seen it with Angel.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
And it's hard, like it's hard being.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
A professional athlete, and especially in today's world with social
media and all the things. But that particular picture you're
talking about, Tea, when I saw it, I got goosebumps,
right because I know how how great Lisa was, how
great Lauren was, Like we competed and we went at
(13:10):
each other, and to have that photo with the three
of us, it's almost like all of us passing the
torch onto Asia, to all the women, but Asia in particular, Yes,
like we're talking about four MVPs. That's never ever, ever, ever,
ever been done in the w NBA before, Like that's crazy,
(13:34):
That's that's crazy, right, And in her I still say
her short period of time in the w NBA, but
just I don't know, I just I felt a great sense.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Of joy, just just happy.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
And you know I said this before, I really I
really want wanted and want to see at get an
MVP because I think she's put the work in and
for all the things that she's done right same and
you can say that, you.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Can say that about Fee.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Without degrading Asia or without coming for Asia.
Speaker 6 (14:10):
Like all these women.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
They work their asses off, they put the time in,
they put the work in. All very deserving. But yeah, Asia,
Asia Wilson is she's just she's on a different level.
She's on a different planet right now.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
She is. That's it, she's she is not of this world.
She's been in this league for eight years, and half
the time that she's been in this league, she's been
an MVP. Half the time that you've been in this league,
you've been an MVP. Like that is that's special. That
is unfathomable to many people. And it's it's it's so special,
(14:49):
and we can't normalize it because it's not normal.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Like it's not it's not it's not normal.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
We're not gonna same thing that we say about at like,
we're not going to normalize the I think this woman
be dropping eight triple doubles in a season, because that's
not normal. Normal people don't do that. It's not normal. Like, no,
people don't do that. Fifty forty ninety seasons are not normal, Like,
we're not gonna do.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
That, right, So if you're not gonna give it to At,
and I'm not putting Fee in it because people talk
about Fee. I just feel like At continues to be
disrespected when when you're having the conversation of who should
win the MVP, it's always this year and even last
year it's.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
Fee or Asia.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Rightfully so, but can we start making sure we're including
At in those conversations, because she absolutely deserves to be
in those conversations with respect.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Have to.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Absolutely she is someone who continues to be a superstar
level player in an unconventional way. And that is in
my eyes, between the fact that she won, played in
Connecticut for a long time, and Connecticut as a team
was disrespected. People didn't know. I want to give Connecticut
their due because it's Connecticut, because it's boring and you
(16:04):
up in the sticks, and but all those things to
do with the fact that these people busted, they ass
ain't got to h with you.
Speaker 6 (16:12):
All those you start, all those things, it can be.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
True, but it is.
Speaker 6 (16:18):
And first of all, you know what's crazy.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
What's crazy is what's crazy is you don't I remember
I am from here, from Michigan. I don't really give
a damn about the state. I don't really give a
damn about the state of Connecticut. I just don't want
people to group Mohigan into what the whole.
Speaker 6 (16:40):
State it is.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
That's my only argument.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Like that'int y'all are right, it's boring and ship up there.
Speaker 6 (16:47):
But where I live, I live with the black people.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Live.
Speaker 6 (16:53):
We just had to put Rican Day parade. You see
what I'm saying, This type of ship we all down.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Here at Harford. I don't know what what they what
up there. So with that being said, though, I just
think that's where a lot of the eighteen disrespect comes from,
because she's doing this in an unconventional way and they
can't wrap their mind around the fact that maybe someone
who doesn't shoot threes or someone that doesn't you know,
ain't dunking or whatever like they're doing. They're doing this
(17:19):
in a different way, and it's like you need to
respect that. Like, to me, that makes it harder and
even more impressive that you're doing this in a way
that's very different than how every other superstar has gained
their name. So that's you know, that's.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
Neither here nor there.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
But I just want to also say, you know, I'm
a voter.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
I voted for Asia.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
I did release my ballot and I had Asia, Fee
at Alisha, and then Kelsey Mitchell.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
That was my Those are my five in that order.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And it was struggling, Like I was struggling throughout the
entirety of the season. I started this season. Fee was
my preseason pick, but the time the season got underway,
Fee was still my pick. By the time we got
to half to the All Star All Star Game, she
was still my pick. She was still balling and Minnesota
was winning. And so it wasn't that we ignored Asia
(18:13):
because you and I talked about it all the time, Age,
but her team didn't help her out. Her team didn't
help her out. They weren't winning. So it came down
to me to the last two months, right, Fee missing time.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Definitely played a role.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Vegas going on a seventeen game win streak, Asia just
completely turning up in every category. Defense started to get crazy.
I was just like, it's hard to deny. And then
I'm looking at the numbers. You're leading the league in
certain statistical categories that an MVP should lead them in.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
So to me, it made sense.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I'm and I vote, and I ended up voting for Asia,
and so you know, the script didn't go the way
that some people like to claim us voters do like, oh,
I already know what they know.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Some of us like pay attention and do our jobs,
and it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
So congratulations to Asia. I agree with you that she's
probably gonna win a couple more before her career is over.
It will happen for at and it will happen for
a fee and The've been some other award winners that
have been great. Nas Hellmant won six Player of the Year,
so congratulations to her. She definitely stepped up her game
(19:25):
this year. Veronica Burton won Most Improved. I think that
was probably a foegone conclusion, just the way that she
showed people like y'all ain't have to believe in me.
I believe in me, and I showed out and I
think that that was well earned. Natalie Nikasse won Coach
of the Year, and I think that was another one
that was kind of close because Carl Simesco was in
(19:46):
that conversation too. But yes, there are still a couple
of more awards that still need to come out to
be announced. And we hope they will be very soon.
But at this point, there are a couple other things
that we got to get into really quickly, and that
is did you know that the New York Liberty and
don't got no coach?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Didn't see that coming. I'm like, I did not see
that coming. News to me, I'm like, huh, make that
make sense? Like are you are you mad? Because they
didn't repeat like that. Shit's hard to do.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
Everybody, everybody, everybody.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
Can be the comments and win for in a row.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
It's hard to repeat.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
I did say that, I did say that.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
I did.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
I did.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
I did.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Say that we need to switch names because see my
name at the bottom, say that petty bitch.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
But clearly put that clearly the petty bitch, just.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
That because because clearly.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
The petty one is over here.
Speaker 6 (20:50):
But You're right, everybody can't win for in a row.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
There are so few coaches in the w n b
A that give you championship caliber that I always immediately
go to, Okay, if somebody who we replacing them with,
like that's my instant, Sandy Brondelo is the coach that
you go get to replace somebody with. That's not the
(21:16):
coach at fire, you know, but there are rumors that,
you know, maybe she lost control of the locker room.
There are rumors that there was beef with her and
Jonathan Cole. There's rumors that they just didn't want to
extend the contract.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
Nothing confirmed.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
I'm just telling you what the streets is saying, right,
and so if any of those things are true, sure, I.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Get it, right, I guess I get it.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
But at the end of the day, there are two
teams right now that are gonna be looking for three
technically because Seattle didn't resign their coach either, So there
are three teams right now that's gonna be looking for
a head coach, and Sandy Brondelo is probably the best
coach you're gonna get on the market that has head
(21:59):
coaching in the WNBA.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
Yes, yes, can we First of all, shame on New York.
Speaker 5 (22:06):
You know.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
To me, there definitely has to be more to this story.
Like I just don't I don't know. What I do
know is that Sandy will land somewhere like wherever she
wants to be. I'm sure I want to have a
different conversation that I think you and I talked about,
(22:29):
knowing not coming back with all the stuff that happened
in Seattle last year this year, I don't think that
one was a surprise to anybody. Like I never want
to see anybody lose their job. I want to have
a bigger conversation on where are all the black female
(22:50):
head coaches that and why aren't any of them coaching
in the w You know, it almost when I when
I look at it, it almost makes me feel like
we're as as black women, we're good enough to to
be your assistant, we're good enough to be your you're
(23:15):
in your dobo or your manager, however you want to
put it, But we're not good enough to run the
team right to be the head coach. That's almost what
it feels like to me. And with all of well
right now, Seattle, New York, Portland coming up then you know, yeah,
(23:37):
we got Detroit, Cleveland, Philly, all the Toronto. Can can
we get some some black women in the in the
in the head coach seat.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
It's a it's a question, it's an ask, it's.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
A plea pretty much.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
I I just and and let me also say this
because I said all the other things, and we're also
as black women, we're good enough to play and win
championships for you, but we're not good enough to.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (24:11):
I just I need I need an explanation.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
The other thing I'm gonna add to that because I
don't I don't want anybody to take this the wrong way.
I am all for the best person that that's the
best qualified, the best coach. Yes she, I'm not even
saying he she should be given an opportunity. But in
saying that, I do know that there are some black
(24:38):
women out there that fits all of those things. So
let's just let's just give them an opportunity.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Mm hmm. Yeah. One hundred percent agreed. One hundred percent agreed.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
There is no excuse, for no reason why we do
not have any.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
Black women who are head coaching.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
And if your desire is to say, hey, you know,
we have utilized a lot of these coaches that are
currently in the league, are currently serving as assistants and
that have been coaches, and we just want some new blood.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
New faces go to the college level.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
There are some incredible women who are coaching at the
collegiate level finding success and could find that success in
the WNBA. I'm a be biased. I'm gonna say coach,
She'll let McPhee McEwan. She's been doing the damn thing
at Ole Miss. She's turned that program around. Yes, she
is our sore, but she is an amazing woman, an
(25:39):
amazing coach. She has the trust of her players. People
buy into what she's doing. If you want to give
somebody an opportunity, she's someone I think has earned one.
So I mean, like, there is no reason, in no way,
and there are plenty, There are plenty others.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
There are many others that has done it.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
I look at Neil Ivy, She's played in the W,
she has experience coaching with some of the best.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
She has helped.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Continue the legacy at Notre Dame that was established there
by Muffett MacGrath. So I mean, it's not like they
don't exist. You don't have to go to the NBA
and find these men and bring them over to the
W because at the end of the day, they ain't
just straight opening their doors giving women in the W
head coaching positions in the NBA. I'm just keeping it
a buck, you know what I mean? Great great like
(26:26):
it can happen. It can happen. No shade, Natibbitts, You've
done a great job. I'm not mad at that. I'm
not saying that that doesn't work and can't work. I'm
just also saying this league was made for women on
many levels, from the coaching to the front office to
the players on the court. This league was made to
showcase the incredible things that women can do when given
(26:49):
the opportunity, and so to kind of shrift that away
feels feels weird, feels feels.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
Out of pocket.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Like I agree with you, the best, the best should
have it, the best people should do it, the best people,
the most qualified. But it's very disappointing knowing that we
have qualified people who meet that criteria and for whatever reason,
they're not given that opportunity.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
So, yeah, is what it is on that.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
But last, but not least, though, as I look around
this league right now and I see the coaches that
did not yet let go, I'm actually not mad about it.
I feel like there was going to be a bit
of a ruckus about specifically Chicago and.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
Dallas and Connecticut because I'm gonna throw our sheet in
her two.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
But I'm also one that thinks that it is difficult
for people to find chemistry in just one year.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
It was wrong for them to let Spoon go after
one year.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
I'm glad you said that because I was about to.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Be it was wrong.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
It was wrong for them to let her go after
one year, And I think it would be wrong to
let these current coaches go after one year because they
at least need an opportunity to have that year, like
they should have a chance to now that you've got
it under your belt. Now that you've done it, you know,
what do you do from here?
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Now?
Speaker 2 (28:18):
If the pattern continues, that's a different conversation you have
to But I do think you should give a coach
more than a year to build before you instantly say, Okay,
one year you suck, You're out, like te you have.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
To I just ask for consistency with that, like I'm
still you know, and there's lots of speculation and people
want to talk, well, this is why Spoon was let go,
Like unless you were to me, unless you were actually
in the locker room and there every day, you have
no idea what the dynamics was like, right, But my
(28:49):
thing is, just like you said, I agree, I don't
think any coach should be let go of after the
first year because you're not winning as many games as
people think you haven't had time to build your team,
the chemistry, learn your team, all the things.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
I just ask for consistency.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Just like we're showing these other coaches grace. Yeah, well
we should have shown They should have shown Spoon grace,
like give her time. If there's one thing I know
about her is that she's a champion. She knows how
to win, she knows how to compete, she knows how
to get the players to play for all of those things.
So you know, if that's what we're gonna do, just
(29:30):
be consistent with it.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
That's it.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Yep, completely agree. Consistency is everything. So yeah, I think
it's gonna be interesting to see how we move forward
from here with the open vacancies in the coaching space.
And I'm gonna be looking forward to see you who're
gonna end it with a job and who ain't, especially
given that it's gonna be some expansion drafts that's gonna
(29:53):
need to happen. Management gonna have to do some things.
It's gonna be it's gonna be a wild ride. But
with that, yeah, it's been we will see, so stay
with us. We will be right back to level this
thing off, all right, Everybody well, congrats on all the
(30:26):
award winners. There are still I believe the All w
n b A First and Second Team awards that still
need to be announced and have not been announced at
the time of this recording, So we will look forward
to see who is sitting on those and as usual,
I will always share who I actually voted for, and
SUREL will always give you the disclaimer that she can't vote,
(30:47):
because even though we say it fifty.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
Times, y'all still be coming at her neck like she like.
Speaker 5 (30:52):
She voted, and you'd be like they'd be coming for me.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
And I'm like, how many times you gotta tell y'all
she is not about her, Like why y'all coming out neck?
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Zero?
Speaker 2 (31:04):
I get nothing anyway, any yes, girl, anyway, congrats on
all the award winners so far, and that it was
time for us to be leveled on up, and so
sure I'm going to turn it over to you.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
I tried to find something that was more along our
conversation today talking about awards and all the things, but
instead I found something that for those of you who
may have caught our episode on setting boundaries and sticking
to the boundaries and all the things. I just came
across this and it felt very fitting. So it says,
(31:43):
never apologized for disappearing. You needed yourself more than they
needed you. And the reason why I think I like
that is because I think so many times we talked
about the episode boundary reason all of that. So many
times we always feel bad or question ourselves when we
(32:08):
need to take some time for ourselves, right, And a
lot of times we'll be like, well, yeah, but I
need to be there for her, I need to be
there for him.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
So never apologize for disappearing. You needed yourself more than
they needed you.
Speaker 6 (32:21):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
I love that. I want love and endure that because
it's so accurate and that right there is exactly how
we will in the show and drop the mic. So
thank you guys so much for tuning in to another
episode of Levels to this. And yes, that was Schiryl
dropping the mic. That was her dropping the bike. Oh
(32:45):
oh my god, that's that. That just completely took my
whole shit off. Well, thank you guys so much for
continue to love us and listen to us. I just
I love Shirl so much it's crazy. But guys, listen, y'all,
keep downloading the show. Y'all keep showing us love. Remember
this isn't just our show, it is our show, so
you need to connect with us. Hit us up on
(33:06):
Instagram at lttpod on. Also, you can send us an
email at Levels of This Podcast at gmail dot com
let us know what you think of this week's show.
Or you can also send us some topics if you
want to hear something that we want to talk about
in the future. We love it, but just keep being
a part of our Levels to this family. So until
next time, keep your mentor's ground level and we will be.
Speaker 3 (33:27):
Back next week.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
Please listen to Levels to This on America's number one
podcast network, iHeart. Open your free iHeart app and search
Levels to This with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster Brasby
and start listening
Hosts And Creators
Terrika Foster-Brasby
Sheryl Swoopes
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