November 7, 2024 • 42 mins
On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl and Tee discuss the multiple WNBA coaching vacancies as the 2024 season comes to a close. The two talk about the expansion draft, free agents and what it means to be a good coaching fit.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hey, everybody, I'm your girl Treka Foster Brasby.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
And I'm your girl Cheryl Swoops.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Hey.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
And this is the levels to this podcast. This is
the show where we share all the levels to the
shit that women go through. And we have got a
great show lined up today. But first of course, I
got to catch up with my girl, Cheryl Man.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
It's been a week you.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
First of all, let me tell you about yourself, okay,
because you have been on the go huh.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
And I noticed that you were on the.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Jennifer Hudson Show and so I need to know if
you got the Jay hood entroly.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Oh my goodness, I did? I did? I did? What happened?
Speaker 4 (00:47):
There's like so much shit that we need to catch
up on, like on so many different levels. How about
that you see what I did there? Yes, well, since
you ask.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
About Jay hud we'll just start with Jay hud.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
So.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Yeah, with it being Breast Cancer Awareness months and me
being a spokesperson for Radnet, I did a whole media
circuit tour two weeks ago now in La. So it
was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, NonStop. First of all, I love her,
I love her to pieces.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I've always been a big.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Jahod fan all the way back to American Idol days.
And I love her talk show and not because I
was on it, Like I religiously watch her talk show
because she's like, she's just real, she ain't perfect, Like
she's the girl next door where you can just sit
down and just shoot the shit with her. Right, So
(01:37):
I had no idea. So they call it the spirit tunnel.
You know how in the W they have their tunnel fits, right, Yeah,
they call this the spirit Tunnel. I don't know if
she kind of took that from the W or not,
because she is a big W fan.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
She is. Yeah, So, and I.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Didn't know how the song works, right because most of
the people that I've seen, like like they're singers or
rappers like Gwen's the fun and Sweedy. So I was like,
of course you're gonna play their song. Well, I got
a lot tea but I ain't got my own song.
So they ask right, like, well what song do you want?
(02:14):
So me, being from Texas, big Beyonce fan, I was like,
give me some Texas holder. It's ain't Texas, Yeah, ain't no.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Hold yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
But anyway, so I'm thinking that's gonna be my walkout song, right,
So I practiced a whole little all right, this is
what I'm gonna do.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Got a little step girl. So I come out the
green room.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I turned the corner and I'm waiting for the beat, right,
and all of a sudden, because you know, the people
that work there, they sing. So I turned the corner
and I'm waiting, and the next thing I hear is
swoops thirdies. So you know, I wasn't even mad. I
(02:58):
wasn't even mad. I was like, okay, this this might
even better than Texas Home.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Right.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
So I had a basketball, a pink basketball that I
signed and wrote something on it that I was going
to present to her. But I had the ball. I
was walking out with the ball, so I had little
dribbling action. I was passing back and forth to the
people working there, like it was.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
So much fun.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
It was I really need them to give me this
video because this video.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
I got some behind the scenes stuff.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
I need you to share that because the whole time
I was thinking, like, I know, she got a jay
hood intro.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
I got to down with this shit. Yeah, yeah, it
was so much fun.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
And then the interview, like, I honestly feel like we
have been like girls from way back when, because it
was just so smooth and it was just great. It
was a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I love that. Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
I saw you doing your little media tour and I
was like, oh, that's why, sure ain't got no time
for your girl, because she's busy.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
She had.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
No, we're not doing that. We're not doing that. We're
not doing that, ma'am. Because you talk about my schedule.
Let's talk about your schedule.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
That's not important conversation. It is miss Halloween party, sure did.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
I had a Halloween housewarming, y'all, and it was by
far like I've already got people telling me tee, so
the Halloween party is at your crib next year.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
I'm like, come on now, let's not go. Let's not
go over.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
I need to hear about it though, because I already no,
you go all out.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
I know. I did. I did. I had a big
tent outside in the backyard. I had all the lights
going on.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
I had little amputated feet in arms on chains, just
looking real crazy, right. I had yello shots that I'd
made in little syringes and they were red. So it
was supposed to give like the blood thing, but I
had so much stuff going on. I did a Halloween
contest for costumes where I gave out awards for cutest costume,
(04:57):
most original costume.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Okay, let me ask for Okay, So this is an
adult Halloween party.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
It is not foriot baby.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Don't bring your cheerre in my house because your chearren.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Stars. Yeah, okay, don't bring your chir in.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
A my house, and I will not be held accountable.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I cannot be.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Held accountable for what happens to your babies and what
they are exposed to coming to my house as well.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I'm trying to say, but it was great.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
I had the basement decked out, so if you wanted
to watch the football game, I had the games going downstairs.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
There was a DJ like I want playing no games.
I like that. We was good.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Okay, so you had Halloween housewarming? So what do you
do on actual Halloween? So on actual Halloween, I do
two things. I give out candy to the kids if
any kids come by, because you know, kids be It's
different now kids don't come by like they used to.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
So I gave out candy to the kids.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
But also I'm a Halloween part so bring your kids
between five and eight because at nine o'clock I'm on
my way to the club and I will holler at you.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
That's it. Five and eight is the only time that
light is on.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
But if I remember correctly, so the kids get the
candy and the adults get their.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Adult adults get little mini shots.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Yeah, girl, I would hop on a plane and fly
to your house just calling.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Next year, I gotta go out.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
I told you, like, I don't do Halloween anymore, but
I will come to your house.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
You have got it is legitimately a good ass time.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Like your Halloween stuff is on a completely different level.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
It's levels to Halloween parties, y'all, it's levels. I did, however,
have a couple friends come from out of town, so
shout out to my guy Miles.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
He came from New York. Het up, Miles. Miles came
from New York.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
He brought his wife Ali Alli, dressed like Ellie the Elephant.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
It was the kidding what's it you dress? Ass? I
was Trinity from the Matrix that mom.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I was Trinity and my husband was Neo. Yeah we
were the ma Yes how about that? And then on
actual Halloween, I was Janet Jackson from Rhythm Nation. So
from the Rhythm Nation album cover, read the Nation. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
it's been a time, It's been a time. But you
(07:24):
know who ain't been having a good time since I'm
gonna tell you who ain't been having a good time.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
All these coaches thatdn damn lost their job.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
I know. With that, I think it's time for us
to take us to the next level. All right, friends,
So before we take a deep dive into the next
level conversation, just want to be completely transparent because you know,
Sheryl and I are very busy and so sometimes we
(07:51):
record episodes in advance. This was one of them, and
so you're gonna hear such an incredible conversation about the
coaching vacancies. But we wanted to be clear that we
know Steph White is now the coach of the Indiana
Fever and Tyler marsh is now the coach of the
Chicago Sky. We're very excited and we can't wait to
really talk about how incredible they are going to be
in those positions. But we ain't want you to listen
(08:12):
to the episode and be like, what are they talking about?
So that's my quick disclaimer. Now let's get into it.
I have been looking over the WNBA rosters over the
last five six days, and as I'm looking at these rosters,
(08:34):
I realize that all of these things are gonna look
real different come twenty twenty five. And the first thing
that's gonna look different for seven teams are going to
be the head coach. Because seven teams have parted ways
with their head coaches over the last week. So if
you haven't been keeping up, La parted ways with Kurt Miller,
(08:57):
Indiana Fever, parted ways Christy Sides, Chicago Sky As we discussed,
parted ways with Teresa Weatherspoon.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Atlanta let go of Tanisha.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Wright, Dallas let go of le Tricia Trammel, and Washington
let go of Eric Tebow. Now Connecticut also parted ways
from head coach Stephanie White, but she wasn't fired.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
It was a mutual agreement for the two to part.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Ways, which was just as much as a personal decision
as it was a business one for her and her family.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
But nevertheless, that's seven teams.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
And oh, by the way, we still are going to
be needing a head coach for Portland because that's a
new expansion team, and a head coach for Toronto so
technically that's nine head coaching openings. I don't think I've
ever seen anything like this in the WNBA before.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
And mind you, not just the coaches.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
We also need gms yep, so the mystics, the aces,
the wings. And I know Kelly Cross Cooff is coming
back to the Fever, but is she coming back as
the GM.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Amber Cox is the COO, so she's the chief Operating
Officer and GM, and they moved Lynn Dunn over to
be an advisor for the Fever and GM.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Okay, And I know Amber very Will.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
I worked with her in Connecticut when she was here,
and she worked in Dallas as well. You know Amber
two as you worked in Dallas too, So yeah, Amber
is amazing.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I love She's Amber Will be really really good for
the Fever. Yes, yes, really good. Love Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
And so the only reason why I bring up the
gms is, you know, team because typically teams like to
hire their gms before they hire their coaches because the
GM and the coaches they're going to be working side
by side. And I personally think that was one of
the big issues in Chicago because Chicago hired Spoon before
(10:50):
they hired the GM.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Yeah, and I.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
Think most GMS like to be the ones to hire
their coaches so they can say my coach and then
that suits you. He wasn't able to say that. But
I can't remember when we've had so many coaching vacancies.
Besides when the league first.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Start, I too have not seen this many coaching vacancies,
and it leaves me with a bunch of different questions, right, Like,
you know, I know when I look at other sports,
I look at like the NBA and the NFL when
they have all these coaching vacancies, and it just kind
of feels like they just recycle coaches over and over
and over.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
And sometimes it's that way in the W two.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
But see, I'm.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Wondering if this is an opportunity for us to give
some new voices an opportunity to be a head coach.
I hope this is a chance for us to bring
in some college coaches, which might be a little bit
difficult given that, you know, the NC Double A season
is getting ready to start and you kind of want
to have time to get acclimated to a team, and
it's difficult to do that at the beginning of the
(11:53):
NC Double A season.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
But I look at people like Brion.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
January or one hundred percent March, and I'm like, these
would be some amazing assistant coaches to give a head
coaching opportunity. I still don't know what happened to Nicki Blue. Yeah,
I'm like, where did Nicki go? It just feels like
this is a good time to do that.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
It's felt like that for me for a while now
that there are some very good qualified coaches, whether that's
assistant coaches in the w whether that's some assistant coaches
in college, it's time right, Like I personally, I'm tired.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Of seeing the same old let's.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Just recycle, recycle, recycle. And it's not to say that
those coaches aren't good coaches. There's a reason why they're
not where they were before, with the exception of Spoon, Right,
you gave Spoon one season. So she's one for me
that I'm like, when I look at all these coaching vacancies,
(12:54):
you got to find a place for her somewhere as
a head coach.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Totally agree with you on Breon January.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
But I just read the other day where she's actually
a G League assistant. Yeah, here's the thing that frustrates me.
It's a great opportunity right for women who played in
the league, or women in general to get opportunities to
coach in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
But why do we.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Have to lose all of our great ambassadors are great
coaches to the NBA or the G League when we
could use them in the w Breon January. To me,
deserves a shot. And there's nothing wrong with coaching in
the G League. And maybe she doesn't want to be
(13:36):
a head coach in the w I don't know, but
I'm just saying if she does, she absolutely deserves that opportunity.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Spoon deserves out opportunity.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
I look at Cheryl Reeves's staff, right, she has three
former players on her staff that are assistants. Katie Smith
with the longest tenure with the links. Katie deserves a shot.
She had one in New York.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I was just gonna say that, right.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
I'm just like, there's so many openings and so many opportunities.
I just I hope, I hope that this means teams
are really starting to take it more seriously and say,
you know what, the time has arrived.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
People are paying attention. We need coaches who.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
Can one draw in the fans, who can also help
with marketing with TV and coaches play.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
A big part of that. I know.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
I read where someone was like Don Staley, don ain't
coming to coach in the w y'all ain't to coach.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Y'all alone told me straight up to her her mouth,
I'm good where I am.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
We know, we know I would be too. But you know,
when I look at the coaches who got fired or
agreed to part ways, do I think Kurt Miller will
end up in one of these coaching positions. I do,
just because he's Kurt Miller. Some people think he's a
good coach. Some people don't. I personally don't. I don't
really care one way or the other. But the one
(15:02):
that is interesting to me and I want to get
your thoughts on it is Christie's sides. Does Christie end
up somewhere this year or not? And before you answer
and respond, I want to say this. If I'm Christy,
I feel some type of way I do. You had
the beginning of the season. Yeah, they started out late
like shit. You had people saying fire Christie, fire Christie.
(15:27):
Then you get the Olympic grade they come back Indiana Fever's.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
A completely different team and.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
A lot of people are like, well, that wasn't CHRISTI
that was the player's Well, yeah, the players played, But
as a coach you also have to find a way
to put players in positions to be successful. Right, The
coach does play a part, whether people want to give
them credit or not. But to do what she did
this year with that team, with all the fans coming forward,
it just was ugly, right, it was just ugly. But
(15:54):
for her to be able to do what she did
with that team get them to the playoffs since twenty sixteen,
believe was the last time they were in the playoffs.
And then the season's over and you wait until a
few days ago to say thank you, but no thank you.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
So it is not lost on me.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but it's not lost on
me that the day after Christie Sides is let go
is the day that Stephanie White, yes, step down from
coaching in Connecticut.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Now.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
I do know that there was a family issue that
was going on. She you know, was clearly upset during
her coach's exit interview. We haven't seen Lisa Salters on
the sideline from Monday Night Football.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
For anyone who's living under a rock, there are a couple.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
So something is going on, right, And in the conversation,
it was I needed to make a business decision, but
this decision was also very personal, right, So respect for
whatever it is that they got going on and whatever
they're going through, and I hope that they all in
their family will be fine.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
But yeah, common sense leads me.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
To believe that whatever the reasoning was that would lead
her to leave Connecticut could very well mean she's headed
back to Indiana. And if you are Indiana in your mind,
I'm sure you're thinking a little bit more of a
proven coach versus a new coach, right, But I will
also say, and I'm gonna play devil's advocate. And this
(17:27):
isn't personal because I love Stephanie sus But if I'm
playing devil's advocate, I'm also thinking, all right, when you
coached in Indiana, you had a team that was already
kind of put together. When you came to Connecticut, you
had a team that was already put together. This, right
here is an opportunity for you to kind of flex
your chops a little bit if you can, because while
(17:49):
Indiana is in a better place, assuming that she goes
to Indiana.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
It's still not a fully put together team. You still have.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Some chemistry issues that you got to figure out. You
still gotta figure out what's going on in terms of
your free agents, because Kelsey Mitchell is an unrestricted free agent,
Erica Wheeler is an under restricted free agent, Timmy fink
Binlay is an unrestricted free agent, and we still don't
know if Melissa Smith is gonna stay.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Or try to leave.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
So you still got some things that you've got to
figure out with this Indiana roster. So I think it's
an interesting position to be in because it's an opportunity
for her to kind of shut the naysayers up that
may exist to say, well, Stephanie, you ain't really coached
your own team just yet.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Right at the same time, I feel you.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
If I'm Christie's sides, I too would feel away, because
if you wanted to let me go, you should have
did that shit weeks ago and not when the season
was over.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
When that season was over, that's number one. Number two.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Let's we forget Christy's only been at this team two years.
Oh too, this is only her second season as a
head coach, and who in the hell knew that she
was going to deal with all of the stuff she
had to deal with a team that has Caitlyn Clark
on it, because let's be honest, there is an additional
set of challenges that comes along with coaching a player
with that level of stardom. You gotta manage the distractions,
(19:11):
just man to manage the team.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
You can manage the media. You gotta manage.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
All of that. Like, that's a lot. You put that
on a brand new coach.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
You gotta manage the fans, you gotta manage everything. But
you can't. You gotta manage everything.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
So to answer your question, do I think she should
get another opportunity, Absolutely, I mean she deserves another opportunity
somewhere because I didn't think Christy was a horrible coach.
I just think she got dealt a very challenging hand
and as a new head coach you may not have
known how to deal with that early on in the season.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
But she wasn't a new head coach.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Well, I mean new to this team, is what I
mean to this team, not new to like coaching.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Yeah, that's a lot to take on a lot and
the expecttions of well, you got Caitlyn at the number
one pick, so you guys, because there are people who
were saying they should win the championship.
Speaker 4 (20:09):
Now, y'all be real, be realistic. I was very realistic. Yeah,
they should make the playoffs, which they did, And for
the most part, I totally agree with you. I think
Christy did as good of a job as she could
have managing all of the craziness, all of the Caitlyn mania,
(20:30):
all of the hype, all of the media.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
It was just so much that came with that. Yeah.
And then personally, here's where.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
I think they didn't do a very good job, and
that was with Kelsey Mitchell, who's an unrestricted free agent.
Because Kelsey Mitchell had a hell of a season this season,
and I don't think she got the credit that she deserved.
But you said it, there was so much she had
to deal with and manage, not just Kaitlin, but Kelsey
and Melissa and Erica Wheeler, just everybody. Yeah, So I
(21:01):
think that's going to be very interesting. I want to
just send positive thoughts and prayers and everything to steph
White and her family whatever it is she's going through.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
But I thought it.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
Was very interesting the timing of it, right, And you
said it with Christy and then Stephanie.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Because here was my thing.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Maybe the reason why they didn't announce the firing of
Christie Side sooner is because they were waiting to get
an answer from Stephanie White.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
I not only agree with that, but I was a
bit confused and the beginning, because this all started to
break when Annie Constable brought it out first and she
writes for the Chicago Sun time, so a part of
me was like, well, wait, is Chicago trump Because what
I thought, another thing that we have to discuss as
(21:59):
it relates to coach and feeling vacancies, is not only
your ability to coach, your record, all that good stuff,
but it's got to be a good fit, Like you
don't just bring in anybody, because I would think as
a GM, I'm thinking of not only how do you coach,
not only what's your record, not only what's your personality?
(22:19):
How do you fit with the players that we have here?
How do you fit with the culture that we have
at this particular team. You can't just bring anybody into Chicago.
And again that's nothing against Steph because I've had to
cover her for the last couple of years. I've worked
with her at ESPN as a colleague. I think Steph
is great, but I just don't know if she is
the kind of coach that would mesh well with the culture.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
I agree with you.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
I was confused at first. I was like, wow, Chicago
would be interested. I heard the same thing about Kurt Miller.
I was like, Kurt Miller, Kurt Miller, that is interesting.
Indiana feels a lot better. It's where she's from, it's
where she played, she has a history there. She has
a relationship with all of them in Indiana already, So
(23:04):
it makes the most sense. So I agree with you
that it could have absolutely been a if we're going
to do this, We're only going to do this if
our replacement is stephanis stuff.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Yeah, so that makes sense. Here's a question I have,
and then we can move on from Indiana.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
So with Connecticut, Steph she had a veteran team, Yeah,
Indiana is a very young team. Yeah, and I don't
know this. You've been around Steph way more than I have.
It's Steph more of a veteran led team coach or
a young team.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
I think she has something that not many coaches have,
and that's versatility.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Right.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
She has the ability to reach younger players and I
think they respect her because she's a former player and
they know that, you know, she knows what it means
to play in this league, and she relates to them
in ways that I don't think some other coaches do.
I think of players like Djna Carrington, Tyan here Is
and younger players who adapted to her style, adapted to
(24:01):
what she was asking of them, how she helped them
to elevate. But I also think it benefited her to
have players like Alyssa and dB and Brianna Jones and
players who had been there, done that on a team
that had also been there and done that, for sure,
So I think there was a mutual benefit for both
in that scenario. So I don't want to say that
(24:22):
she can't, you know what I mean, I think that
she can. One thing that I know I talked to
Stuff about was just the difference in coming from a
college program coming back to the w And one thing
that she had mentioned in our conversation was I don't
have to deal with recruitment, and that's not something that
I wanted.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
To deal with.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
And I know you know this, you've coached at the
college level, but recruiting players versus having a GM handle
all that and all I need to do is just coach.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Yes, right, So I think that.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
The big difference, and I think that some of the
people who may criticize Steph based off the performance at
Vanderbilt don't factor in how recruitment plays a role in
your roster. You can only coach the talent that you have, right,
So I believe that she will do fine in Indiana.
I totally believe she'll do fine in Indiana. But I'm
(25:10):
also very concerned about what Connecticut gonna look like because
they need to find a coach. And let us also
not forget that this is around the time, like those
four teams that don't have GMS, there's an expansion draft
that's about to happen, so you gotta think about player protections.
You might want to try to get you a coach
up in here quick that can help with these decisions
(25:32):
that made before December six. No doubt, as we move on,
we do know that again, there are other head coaching vacancies,
and we kind of touched on it a little bit
as it relates to finding a good fit. I think
one of the sexier jobs that people may not be
talking about is la.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
La is what makes that a sexy job. I feel
like La has all of the because it's La. Oh.
I'm looking at who you potentially could have. You have
a roster who should be good to go.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
You have a Rakia Jackson who RecA showed JMF.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
Jackson sorry beast waiting to be unleashed.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Yeah, need to be unleased, like he's going to be
a hell of a pro.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
I'm sorry, I don't hear you off. But that kid
right there, or that young lady, excuse me, can go?
Speaker 2 (26:33):
She could ball? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (26:35):
Ball. You know, I got a special love for Rikia
because that's a Detroit girl. So you feel me, you
know how we roll. But anyway, Rikia is good. You
got a veteran that can lead MVP caliber player in
Dierka Hanby, and you could potentially have the first round
draft pick that could also potentially.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Pay I get you, okay, So yeah that's real sexy.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
So what I'm saying sexy, I'm saying you have the
potential roster that could make some noise. I think the
only reason I won't say the only, but I think
a large reason Kurt wasn't able to get it done
with injuries. You can't help that, right, injuries are injuries.
It ain't his first time having to deal with a
roster full of injuries, but it may be the first
(27:21):
time as a pro that he had to deal with
a roster full of injuries and not enough on his
bench to overcome it. He had enough on his bench
to overcome it in Connecticut. You couldn't overcome that in LA,
not last season or this season. And so I thought
it was a little wild to dismiss him. But again,
your record is what your record is, right, But coming in,
(27:42):
come on, now, that's a sexy job.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
No, it is, it is, Yeah, it is.
Speaker 4 (27:47):
And so when you mentioned sexy, and I don't know
if I would you sexy.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
For this team.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
But help me understand why isn't Atlanta any better than
they are because they ain't got some talent?
Speaker 1 (27:59):
Ty A very good question. I think Atlanta is one
of those teams. And you tell me if you've ever
experienced this, But I think that sometimes you have a
team that just needs a different voice, right, Like, sometimes
you have a team that it's not the talent. It's
not even that the person coaching can't coach, it's just
(28:21):
maybe these two need to go separate ways. And we
give this team a different voice. We give this voice
a different team and widout. You get what I'm saying, Like,
just simply missing Cheyenne Parker shouldn't have been enough to
make I mean, when you've got a Jordan Canada at
Leisha Gray was balling Ryan Howard out of control with
(28:45):
the way that she's able to control to rock, facilitate, shoot,
like she's everything on the court, and you had Tina
Charles and granted Tina was you know, Tina was Tina,
but it just felt like that roster should have been
better at least the seven or succeed, Like I felt
like that roster should.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Have been better than Phoenix. I agree one hundred percent. Yeah,
I just think they needed a new voice, right, they
just needed a new voice. I'll take that. We've talked
about Chicago.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
I want to go to Dallas real quick because well,
at the beginning of the season, I thought Dallas would
be better than they were, but then they had all
the injuries they dealt with. Right, you didn't have Satu
for the first half of the season. Natasha Howard got hurt.
Jalen Brown, who was the hell of a rookie, she
got hurt. Yeah, so they were never really healthy, and
(29:32):
then after the Olympics they come back and I thought.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
They played well.
Speaker 4 (29:36):
There are a lot of really good unrestricted free agents,
but I think one of the better ones is Satu Sobly,
and I think it will be real interesting to see
if she leaves or, depending on who they hire as
a coach, if she makes the decision to stay.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
That is a very good observation.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
I was so overjoyed watching the excitement from Satu Sabili
at her sister winning the WNBA finals, right, But it
was that excitement, that happiness for your sister, that oh,
you know, anybody who loves.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Their family members seeing them in that moment was great.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
But I also felt like I saw a make some
space for your girl, because maybe we can pull a
Cheney and Nekka and team up and be on the
same squad. So to answer your question, I not only
think that Satu could leave Dallas, but I think they
could make room for Satu in New York and that
(30:42):
nast And I'm saying, if you want to run it back,
because New York got some free agency questions, they got
an answer to if you want to run it back,
you got a good chance of doing that adding a
unicuarantine your roster. Now, I don't know money, I haven't
really taken a deep dive into salary cap and who
can afford what right now. I probably do that kind
of stuff as we get closer to the expansion draft
(31:03):
or whatever. But just theoretically, if you could add a
Sa tou sobly to your roster New York, you got
a shot to win it back. And so I don't
know if Dallas can count on having that piece moving forward,
because she seemed like she was real too quick to
put on that New York Championship hat. Is what I'm
saying for you to be playing on an opposite squad.
(31:23):
You was really quick to put that liberty hat on.
Speaker 4 (31:26):
Your Listen, sister or not, I ain't rocking with you
like sister. You you did what I haven't been able
to do. Yeo before me babysit for real.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
And let's be honest, if.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
We're looking at from a talent perspective, if you gave
me between Niara and Satu, I would have been like,
oh well, Sa Touo would probably win a ship first.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, thank you for proving us wrong.
But see here.
Speaker 4 (31:53):
Here's the other thing, because I think, at least for me,
sometimes I keep forgetting about the expansion Draft. Yeah, right, Like,
there are so many great players, and again, what is
it I think each team can protect six six?
Speaker 1 (32:09):
I mean, Alyssa is unrestricted, Bree Jones is unrestricted, Tory
Walker kimbro is unrestricted, Aerial Power is Tina Charles, there
are so many unrestricted returner. Diamond Deshields is unrestricted. There's
so many unrestricted free agents this year. Kandice Parker set
the standard back in twenty twenty one when she left
(32:29):
LA and went to Chicago. So I can't even say,
like now that people won't make major moves like we've
seen over the last three years. Now, major moves can
and will be made in the w A.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Yes, here's what I love about the Expansion Draft. I
love about the new teams. There are going to be
players who got waived, who got cut that will now
hopefully find a spot.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
But I almost say it, I'm.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
Gonna put it out there like her lover hater. I
don't know how y'all feel about it, but I'm a
big Odyssey Sims fan. Odyssey Sims needs to be the
Valkyrie's point guard.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Can you tell me why Odyssey Simms is not?
Speaker 4 (33:05):
I can't on a rock here, Seriously, I've been trying
to figure this out all season. When Dallas had her,
and I understood they had her because it was a hardship.
They had to let her go. Players came back, but
you didn't. It could have let somebody else go because
Odyssey Sims, to me, is one of the best pgs
in the league.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Yes she is.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
You can see how LA turned themselves around when they
added Odyssey Sims to that roster. I don't understand why
Odyssey Sims is always a seven day contract player or
hardship player.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
Serves to be on as roster without question.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Let me ask you this, then, Cheryl, is there a
specific place or a specific coach who you like to
see because I think the one I'll say this before
you answer that. Washington to me is a very interesting
situation because that team started off oh one to eleven
or on twelve and ended up being in the fight
(34:03):
for a playoff spot at.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
The end of the season.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
I think Washington again was another team that was just
plagued by injuries. There was no Shakira for a minute,
there was no Britney Sykes, who I love, one of
the best defending guards in the league if you ask me,
could be in defensive player conversation every.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Year if she's healthy. So there was no Sykes.
Speaker 1 (34:24):
Ariel Atkins kind of had to step up into a
new role this year. Then they lose my Easha heinz
Allen midway through the season to Minnesota. Just feels like
that was a team that had the potential to still
be in it and for whatever reasons, injury to take
them out of it.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
And I don't know if.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
That's Eric Tebow or if that's just the way the
roster was constructed. Alia Edwards coming to that team doing
everything she could do as a rookie just amazing. But
you expect that from Yukon players. They know how to adapt,
they know how to transition into the WNBA.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
So is there a coach?
Speaker 1 (35:00):
Is there a team that you like to see someone
in Like would you like to see Eric Tibow somewhere else?
Or is there a coach that you'd like to see
on Washington? Is there either or that stands out to you.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
I thought the Mystic situation was interesting from day one
when Elena was like, trade me or I ain't playing,
but I know coach Tibo like oh Man Tebo. Yeah,
and I love coach Tibo. I don't know Eric well
enough one way or the other, but I agree with you.
They too dealt with a lot of injuries early on
(35:34):
and you still made the playoffs. So to me, I
don't put the start of the season on Eric. I
put it on just luck, injuries, all of that. But
we mentioned one earlier. I watched Breon January coach in
the playoffs. I watched what she did on the sideline.
(35:57):
I would love to see Breed January be in Atlanta.
I think she could be really good in Atlanta. And
I hate to do this to Becky because Charity lost
one assistant, but Tyler Marsh is one hell of a coach.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
Same.
Speaker 4 (36:12):
I hate doing that to Becky since Charity lost Natalie,
but Tyler Marsh should be somebody's head coach. And I
already said Spoon. I think Spoon deserves another shot somewhere.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (36:21):
I wouldn't mind seeing Spoon in Dallas. I'm gonna put
this out there and I have no idea.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
If she's interested what she wants to do. I'd love
to see Cheryl Miller coaching back in the league. That
would be so amazing to see Cheryl back in the league.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
That would say so amazing because it looked like she
was having a good old fun time out there for
All Star.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
Right. Yeah, and remember she coached Phoenix see autumn years
at Phoenix. Yeah. I just believe she's the one who
gave them the nickname Expector.
Speaker 4 (36:50):
She's one on the voice when you hear it, myighty Mercury.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
Uh huh, that's her.
Speaker 4 (36:54):
That is her.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (36:56):
But I will also say, and maybe it's just because
you kind of put me on the spot, I think
there are enough qualified coaches out there that we don't
have to go back to recycling the same ones. Although
I wouldn't be mad if Kurt Miller got one of
these coaching jobs.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (37:14):
Again, we have seven and we haven't even talked about
who could potentially be GMS.
Speaker 1 (37:19):
That's even a whole different conversation.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
It's interesting.
Speaker 1 (37:24):
And again we can't forget that there are two other
teams that are part of expansion that are going to
need head coaches and are going to need general managers.
And we've already heard the rumors that a fourth expansion
team could be on the horizon by twenty twenty six,
So there are opportunities and we need to make sure
that we are looking.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
And by we I just mean the WABS we used
to make sure that they are looking at all avenues.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
Because it's not saying that some of these people aren't
good coaches or deserving of another job, like I don't
think Literacia Tremble should be without a job. I just
also think placement culture, understanding the fit is going to matter.
A coaching fit is just as important to me as
a player fit.
Speaker 4 (38:08):
It is, but you know what else is important And
this isn't about any particular head coach, but I also
feel like as a head coach, you have the responsibility
of coaching your team, running your team, making sure you
have the right people around your team, but also on
your staff. I think a lot of these head coaches
(38:29):
or some not a lot higher their friends and they're
not the ones that can really help you get your
team to the next level. And that's not calling out
any particular coach. I just think as a head coach,
when you start hiring, you need to look at the
strengths that your assistants bring. And I have been very
(38:52):
vocal about former players being given more opportunity in the league.
And that's not saying coaching. It could be from office,
it could be any of that, because I think there
are a lot of former players who have coached in
high school, I've coached in college, have been doing this
for a while that are really good. They just haven't
been given opportunity. But I also believe that all great
(39:14):
players don't necessarily make great coaches. But there are so
many other things you can do with the team besides coach,
And with at least these three teams who are needing GMS,
maybe there's a place where some of the former players.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
Can go there. But I'm going to raise my hand.
I'm going to put this out there and say.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
There are a couple of vacancies that if they were
looking for an assistant coach, I would raise my hand.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Oh you heard it here first, y'all. Not a head coach.
I don't want to make a head coach. Charlotte here
dropping breaking news on her own damn.
Speaker 4 (39:53):
Show, breaking news news show. But let me just rep
eat that. I don't want to get a hand coach.
I would love to be in a system, and it
ain't all.
Speaker 2 (40:05):
The teams with vacasies.
Speaker 4 (40:06):
It's only a couple, and I will tell you one
being the Dallas Wings. Yes, it's Texas, it's Texas. It
excites me to see what's gonna happen. I have no
idea who's gonna be hired where, but I'm excited to
see what happens.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
I am also very excited.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
I think this is the kind of thing that comes
along with the growth of the game. And Dallas, y'all
need to hit up your girl, shir y'all here in
these streets.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
And she's trying to tell y'all, I ain't in the
streets like that though.
Speaker 4 (40:35):
Listen, she says, she outside, good, good, I'll put me
in the street.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
Oh man, all right, y'all.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
When we come back, we're gonna level off just a
little bit. We're back with more levels to this. It's
your girl, Tarrika Foster Bradsby, I got my girls. Cheryl's
(41:09):
swoops here and yeah, we've just kind of been talking
about all of the coaching vacancies and what the WNBA
could look like in twenty twenty five, and I really
just think to put a bow on this conversation that
this is just a part of growth. Right, I've seen
a lot of comments on social media as it relates to, oh,
the WNBA is looking like the NFL, or the WNBA
(41:33):
is looking like the NBA. I mean, we've seen this
shift happen for players and players on rosters over the
last several years, so it only makes sense that this
kind of change would start to happen. But as we
get on out of here, we need to make sure
that we are leveling up with my girl, Cheryl.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
So, Cheryl, what do you have for us today? All right, y'all?
Speaker 4 (41:53):
So today what I want to leave you with. It's
very short, sweet and simple, but I also feel like
it's pretty deep because all of us have things that
are challenging at times and things that we go through
every single day. So this quote is for all of us,
and it says challenges are what make life interesting, and
(42:17):
overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. So I hope
that resonates with somebody, that it.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
Hits you right where you need it. It gives you
just what you need, and everybody have a blessed week.
Hey, everybody, I'm your girl Treka Foster Brasby.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
And I'm your girl Cheryl Swoops.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Hey.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
And this is the levels to this podcast. This is
the show where we share all the levels to the
shit that women go through. And we have got a
great show lined up today. But first of course, I
got to catch up with my girl, Cheryl Man.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
It's been a week you.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
First of all, let me tell you about yourself, okay,
because you have been on the go huh.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
And I noticed that you were on the.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Jennifer Hudson Show and so I need to know if
you got the Jay hood entroly.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Oh my goodness, I did? I did? I did? What happened?
Speaker 4 (00:47):
There's like so much shit that we need to catch
up on, like on so many different levels. How about
that you see what I did there? Yes, well, since
you ask.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
About Jay hud we'll just start with Jay hud.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
So.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Yeah, with it being Breast Cancer Awareness months and me
being a spokesperson for Radnet, I did a whole media
circuit tour two weeks ago now in La. So it
was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, NonStop. First of all, I love her,
I love her to pieces.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I've always been a big.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Jahod fan all the way back to American Idol days.
And I love her talk show and not because I
was on it, Like I religiously watch her talk show
because she's like, she's just real, she ain't perfect, Like
she's the girl next door where you can just sit
down and just shoot the shit with her. Right, So
(01:37):
I had no idea. So they call it the spirit tunnel.
You know how in the W they have their tunnel fits, right, Yeah,
they call this the spirit Tunnel. I don't know if
she kind of took that from the W or not,
because she is a big W fan.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
She is. Yeah, So, and I.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Didn't know how the song works, right because most of
the people that I've seen, like like they're singers or
rappers like Gwen's the fun and Sweedy. So I was like,
of course you're gonna play their song. Well, I got
a lot tea but I ain't got my own song.
So they ask right, like, well what song do you want?
(02:14):
So me, being from Texas, big Beyonce fan, I was like,
give me some Texas holder. It's ain't Texas, Yeah, ain't no.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Hold yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
But anyway, so I'm thinking that's gonna be my walkout song, right,
So I practiced a whole little all right, this is
what I'm gonna do.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Got a little step girl. So I come out the
green room.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I turned the corner and I'm waiting for the beat, right,
and all of a sudden, because you know, the people
that work there, they sing. So I turned the corner
and I'm waiting, and the next thing I hear is
swoops thirdies. So you know, I wasn't even mad. I
(02:58):
wasn't even mad. I was like, okay, this this might
even better than Texas Home.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Right.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
So I had a basketball, a pink basketball that I
signed and wrote something on it that I was going
to present to her. But I had the ball. I
was walking out with the ball, so I had little
dribbling action. I was passing back and forth to the
people working there, like it was.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
So much fun.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
It was I really need them to give me this
video because this video.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
I got some behind the scenes stuff.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
I need you to share that because the whole time
I was thinking, like, I know, she got a jay
hood intro.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
I got to down with this shit. Yeah, yeah, it
was so much fun.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
And then the interview, like, I honestly feel like we
have been like girls from way back when, because it
was just so smooth and it was just great. It
was a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I love that. Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
I saw you doing your little media tour and I
was like, oh, that's why, sure ain't got no time
for your girl, because she's busy.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
She had.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
No, we're not doing that. We're not doing that. We're
not doing that, ma'am. Because you talk about my schedule.
Let's talk about your schedule.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
That's not important conversation. It is miss Halloween party, sure did.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
I had a Halloween housewarming, y'all, and it was by
far like I've already got people telling me tee, so
the Halloween party is at your crib next year.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
I'm like, come on now, let's not go. Let's not
go over.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
I need to hear about it though, because I already no,
you go all out.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
I know. I did. I did. I had a big
tent outside in the backyard. I had all the lights
going on.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
I had little amputated feet in arms on chains, just
looking real crazy, right. I had yello shots that I'd
made in little syringes and they were red. So it
was supposed to give like the blood thing, but I
had so much stuff going on. I did a Halloween
contest for costumes where I gave out awards for cutest costume,
(04:57):
most original costume.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Okay, let me ask for Okay, So this is an
adult Halloween party.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
It is not foriot baby.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Don't bring your cheerre in my house because your chearren.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Stars. Yeah, okay, don't bring your chir in.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
A my house, and I will not be held accountable.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I cannot be.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Held accountable for what happens to your babies and what
they are exposed to coming to my house as well.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I'm trying to say, but it was great.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
I had the basement decked out, so if you wanted
to watch the football game, I had the games going downstairs.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
There was a DJ like I want playing no games.
I like that. We was good.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Okay, so you had Halloween housewarming? So what do you
do on actual Halloween? So on actual Halloween, I do
two things. I give out candy to the kids if
any kids come by, because you know, kids be It's
different now kids don't come by like they used to.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
So I gave out candy to the kids.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
But also I'm a Halloween part so bring your kids
between five and eight because at nine o'clock I'm on
my way to the club and I will holler at you.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
That's it. Five and eight is the only time that
light is on.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
But if I remember correctly, so the kids get the
candy and the adults get their.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Adult adults get little mini shots.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Yeah, girl, I would hop on a plane and fly
to your house just calling.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Next year, I gotta go out.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
I told you, like, I don't do Halloween anymore, but
I will come to your house.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
You have got it is legitimately a good ass time.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Like your Halloween stuff is on a completely different level.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
It's levels to Halloween parties, y'all, it's levels. I did, however,
have a couple friends come from out of town, so
shout out to my guy Miles.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
He came from New York. Het up, Miles. Miles came
from New York.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
He brought his wife Ali Alli, dressed like Ellie the Elephant.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
It was the kidding what's it you dress? Ass? I
was Trinity from the Matrix that mom.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I was Trinity and my husband was Neo. Yeah we
were the ma Yes how about that? And then on
actual Halloween, I was Janet Jackson from Rhythm Nation. So
from the Rhythm Nation album cover, read the Nation. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
it's been a time, It's been a time. But you
(07:24):
know who ain't been having a good time since I'm
gonna tell you who ain't been having a good time.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
All these coaches thatdn damn lost their job.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
I know. With that, I think it's time for us
to take us to the next level. All right, friends,
So before we take a deep dive into the next
level conversation, just want to be completely transparent because you know,
Sheryl and I are very busy and so sometimes we
(07:51):
record episodes in advance. This was one of them, and
so you're gonna hear such an incredible conversation about the
coaching vacancies. But we wanted to be clear that we
know Steph White is now the coach of the Indiana
Fever and Tyler marsh is now the coach of the
Chicago Sky. We're very excited and we can't wait to
really talk about how incredible they are going to be
in those positions. But we ain't want you to listen
(08:12):
to the episode and be like, what are they talking about?
So that's my quick disclaimer. Now let's get into it.
I have been looking over the WNBA rosters over the
last five six days, and as I'm looking at these rosters,
(08:34):
I realize that all of these things are gonna look
real different come twenty twenty five. And the first thing
that's gonna look different for seven teams are going to
be the head coach. Because seven teams have parted ways
with their head coaches over the last week. So if
you haven't been keeping up, La parted ways with Kurt Miller,
(08:57):
Indiana Fever, parted ways Christy Sides, Chicago Sky As we discussed,
parted ways with Teresa Weatherspoon.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Atlanta let go of Tanisha.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Wright, Dallas let go of le Tricia Trammel, and Washington
let go of Eric Tebow. Now Connecticut also parted ways
from head coach Stephanie White, but she wasn't fired.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
It was a mutual agreement for the two to part.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Ways, which was just as much as a personal decision
as it was a business one for her and her family.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
But nevertheless, that's seven teams.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
And oh, by the way, we still are going to
be needing a head coach for Portland because that's a
new expansion team, and a head coach for Toronto so
technically that's nine head coaching openings. I don't think I've
ever seen anything like this in the WNBA before.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
And mind you, not just the coaches.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
We also need gms yep, so the mystics, the aces,
the wings. And I know Kelly Cross Cooff is coming
back to the Fever, but is she coming back as
the GM.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Amber Cox is the COO, so she's the chief Operating
Officer and GM, and they moved Lynn Dunn over to
be an advisor for the Fever and GM.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Okay, And I know Amber very Will.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
I worked with her in Connecticut when she was here,
and she worked in Dallas as well. You know Amber
two as you worked in Dallas too, So yeah, Amber
is amazing.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I love She's Amber Will be really really good for
the Fever. Yes, yes, really good. Love Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
And so the only reason why I bring up the
gms is, you know, team because typically teams like to
hire their gms before they hire their coaches because the
GM and the coaches they're going to be working side
by side. And I personally think that was one of
the big issues in Chicago because Chicago hired Spoon before
(10:50):
they hired the GM.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Yeah, and I.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
Think most GMS like to be the ones to hire
their coaches so they can say my coach and then
that suits you. He wasn't able to say that. But
I can't remember when we've had so many coaching vacancies.
Besides when the league first.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Start, I too have not seen this many coaching vacancies,
and it leaves me with a bunch of different questions, right, Like,
you know, I know when I look at other sports,
I look at like the NBA and the NFL when
they have all these coaching vacancies, and it just kind
of feels like they just recycle coaches over and over
and over.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
And sometimes it's that way in the W two.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
But see, I'm.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Wondering if this is an opportunity for us to give
some new voices an opportunity to be a head coach.
I hope this is a chance for us to bring
in some college coaches, which might be a little bit
difficult given that, you know, the NC Double A season
is getting ready to start and you kind of want
to have time to get acclimated to a team, and
it's difficult to do that at the beginning of the
(11:53):
NC Double A season.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
But I look at people like Brion.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
January or one hundred percent March, and I'm like, these
would be some amazing assistant coaches to give a head
coaching opportunity. I still don't know what happened to Nicki Blue. Yeah,
I'm like, where did Nicki go? It just feels like
this is a good time to do that.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
It's felt like that for me for a while now
that there are some very good qualified coaches, whether that's
assistant coaches in the w whether that's some assistant coaches
in college, it's time right, Like I personally, I'm tired.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Of seeing the same old let's.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Just recycle, recycle, recycle. And it's not to say that
those coaches aren't good coaches. There's a reason why they're
not where they were before, with the exception of Spoon, Right,
you gave Spoon one season. So she's one for me
that I'm like, when I look at all these coaching vacancies,
(12:54):
you got to find a place for her somewhere as
a head coach.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Totally agree with you on Breon January.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
But I just read the other day where she's actually
a G League assistant. Yeah, here's the thing that frustrates me.
It's a great opportunity right for women who played in
the league, or women in general to get opportunities to
coach in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
But why do we.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Have to lose all of our great ambassadors are great
coaches to the NBA or the G League when we
could use them in the w Breon January. To me,
deserves a shot. And there's nothing wrong with coaching in
the G League. And maybe she doesn't want to be
(13:36):
a head coach in the w I don't know, but
I'm just saying if she does, she absolutely deserves that opportunity.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Spoon deserves out opportunity.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
I look at Cheryl Reeves's staff, right, she has three
former players on her staff that are assistants. Katie Smith
with the longest tenure with the links. Katie deserves a shot.
She had one in New York.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I was just gonna say that, right.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
I'm just like, there's so many openings and so many opportunities.
I just I hope, I hope that this means teams
are really starting to take it more seriously and say,
you know what, the time has arrived.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
People are paying attention. We need coaches who.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
Can one draw in the fans, who can also help
with marketing with TV and coaches play.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
A big part of that. I know.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
I read where someone was like Don Staley, don ain't
coming to coach in the w y'all ain't to coach.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Y'all alone told me straight up to her her mouth,
I'm good where I am.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
We know, we know I would be too. But you know,
when I look at the coaches who got fired or
agreed to part ways, do I think Kurt Miller will
end up in one of these coaching positions. I do,
just because he's Kurt Miller. Some people think he's a
good coach. Some people don't. I personally don't. I don't
really care one way or the other. But the one
(15:02):
that is interesting to me and I want to get
your thoughts on it is Christie's sides. Does Christie end
up somewhere this year or not? And before you answer
and respond, I want to say this. If I'm Christy,
I feel some type of way I do. You had
the beginning of the season. Yeah, they started out late
like shit. You had people saying fire Christie, fire Christie.
(15:27):
Then you get the Olympic grade they come back Indiana Fever's.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
A completely different team and.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
A lot of people are like, well, that wasn't CHRISTI
that was the player's Well, yeah, the players played, But
as a coach you also have to find a way
to put players in positions to be successful. Right, The
coach does play a part, whether people want to give
them credit or not. But to do what she did
this year with that team, with all the fans coming forward,
it just was ugly, right, it was just ugly. But
(15:54):
for her to be able to do what she did
with that team get them to the playoffs since twenty sixteen,
believe was the last time they were in the playoffs.
And then the season's over and you wait until a
few days ago to say thank you, but no thank you.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
So it is not lost on me.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but it's not lost on
me that the day after Christie Sides is let go
is the day that Stephanie White, yes, step down from
coaching in Connecticut.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Now.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
I do know that there was a family issue that
was going on. She you know, was clearly upset during
her coach's exit interview. We haven't seen Lisa Salters on
the sideline from Monday Night Football.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
For anyone who's living under a rock, there are a couple.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
So something is going on, right, And in the conversation,
it was I needed to make a business decision, but
this decision was also very personal, right, So respect for
whatever it is that they got going on and whatever
they're going through, and I hope that they all in
their family will be fine.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
But yeah, common sense leads me.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
To believe that whatever the reasoning was that would lead
her to leave Connecticut could very well mean she's headed
back to Indiana. And if you are Indiana in your mind,
I'm sure you're thinking a little bit more of a
proven coach versus a new coach, right, But I will
also say, and I'm gonna play devil's advocate. And this
(17:27):
isn't personal because I love Stephanie sus But if I'm
playing devil's advocate, I'm also thinking, all right, when you
coached in Indiana, you had a team that was already
kind of put together. When you came to Connecticut, you
had a team that was already put together. This, right
here is an opportunity for you to kind of flex
your chops a little bit if you can, because while
(17:49):
Indiana is in a better place, assuming that she goes
to Indiana.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
It's still not a fully put together team. You still have.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Some chemistry issues that you got to figure out. You
still gotta figure out what's going on in terms of
your free agents, because Kelsey Mitchell is an unrestricted free agent,
Erica Wheeler is an under restricted free agent, Timmy fink
Binlay is an unrestricted free agent, and we still don't
know if Melissa Smith is gonna stay.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Or try to leave.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
So you still got some things that you've got to
figure out with this Indiana roster. So I think it's
an interesting position to be in because it's an opportunity
for her to kind of shut the naysayers up that
may exist to say, well, Stephanie, you ain't really coached
your own team just yet.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Right at the same time, I feel you.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
If I'm Christie's sides, I too would feel away, because
if you wanted to let me go, you should have
did that shit weeks ago and not when the season
was over.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
When that season was over, that's number one. Number two.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Let's we forget Christy's only been at this team two years.
Oh too, this is only her second season as a
head coach, and who in the hell knew that she
was going to deal with all of the stuff she
had to deal with a team that has Caitlyn Clark
on it, because let's be honest, there is an additional
set of challenges that comes along with coaching a player
with that level of stardom. You gotta manage the distractions,
(19:11):
just man to manage the team.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
You can manage the media. You gotta manage.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
All of that. Like, that's a lot. You put that
on a brand new coach.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
You gotta manage the fans, you gotta manage everything. But
you can't. You gotta manage everything.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
So to answer your question, do I think she should
get another opportunity, Absolutely, I mean she deserves another opportunity
somewhere because I didn't think Christy was a horrible coach.
I just think she got dealt a very challenging hand
and as a new head coach you may not have
known how to deal with that early on in the season.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
But she wasn't a new head coach.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Well, I mean new to this team, is what I
mean to this team, not new to like coaching.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Yeah, that's a lot to take on a lot and
the expecttions of well, you got Caitlyn at the number
one pick, so you guys, because there are people who
were saying they should win the championship.
Speaker 4 (20:09):
Now, y'all be real, be realistic. I was very realistic. Yeah,
they should make the playoffs, which they did, And for
the most part, I totally agree with you. I think
Christy did as good of a job as she could
have managing all of the craziness, all of the Caitlyn mania,
(20:30):
all of the hype, all of the media.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
It was just so much that came with that. Yeah.
And then personally, here's where.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
I think they didn't do a very good job, and
that was with Kelsey Mitchell, who's an unrestricted free agent.
Because Kelsey Mitchell had a hell of a season this season,
and I don't think she got the credit that she deserved.
But you said it, there was so much she had
to deal with and manage, not just Kaitlin, but Kelsey
and Melissa and Erica Wheeler, just everybody. Yeah, So I
(21:01):
think that's going to be very interesting. I want to
just send positive thoughts and prayers and everything to steph
White and her family whatever it is she's going through.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
But I thought it.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
Was very interesting the timing of it, right, And you
said it with Christy and then Stephanie.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Because here was my thing.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Maybe the reason why they didn't announce the firing of
Christie Side sooner is because they were waiting to get
an answer from Stephanie White.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
I not only agree with that, but I was a
bit confused and the beginning, because this all started to
break when Annie Constable brought it out first and she
writes for the Chicago Sun time, so a part of
me was like, well, wait, is Chicago trump Because what
I thought, another thing that we have to discuss as
(21:59):
it relates to coach and feeling vacancies, is not only
your ability to coach, your record, all that good stuff,
but it's got to be a good fit, Like you
don't just bring in anybody, because I would think as
a GM, I'm thinking of not only how do you coach,
not only what's your record, not only what's your personality?
(22:19):
How do you fit with the players that we have here?
How do you fit with the culture that we have
at this particular team. You can't just bring anybody into Chicago.
And again that's nothing against Steph because I've had to
cover her for the last couple of years. I've worked
with her at ESPN as a colleague. I think Steph
is great, but I just don't know if she is
the kind of coach that would mesh well with the culture.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
I agree with you.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
I was confused at first. I was like, wow, Chicago
would be interested. I heard the same thing about Kurt Miller.
I was like, Kurt Miller, Kurt Miller, that is interesting.
Indiana feels a lot better. It's where she's from, it's
where she played, she has a history there. She has
a relationship with all of them in Indiana already, So
(23:04):
it makes the most sense. So I agree with you
that it could have absolutely been a if we're going
to do this, We're only going to do this if
our replacement is stephanis stuff.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Yeah, so that makes sense. Here's a question I have,
and then we can move on from Indiana.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
So with Connecticut, Steph she had a veteran team, Yeah,
Indiana is a very young team. Yeah, and I don't
know this. You've been around Steph way more than I have.
It's Steph more of a veteran led team coach or
a young team.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
I think she has something that not many coaches have,
and that's versatility.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Right.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
She has the ability to reach younger players and I
think they respect her because she's a former player and
they know that, you know, she knows what it means
to play in this league, and she relates to them
in ways that I don't think some other coaches do.
I think of players like Djna Carrington, Tyan here Is
and younger players who adapted to her style, adapted to
(24:01):
what she was asking of them, how she helped them
to elevate. But I also think it benefited her to
have players like Alyssa and dB and Brianna Jones and
players who had been there, done that on a team
that had also been there and done that, for sure,
So I think there was a mutual benefit for both
in that scenario. So I don't want to say that
(24:22):
she can't, you know what I mean, I think that
she can. One thing that I know I talked to
Stuff about was just the difference in coming from a
college program coming back to the w And one thing
that she had mentioned in our conversation was I don't
have to deal with recruitment, and that's not something that
I wanted.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
To deal with.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
And I know you know this, you've coached at the
college level, but recruiting players versus having a GM handle
all that and all I need to do is just coach.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Yes, right, So I think that.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
The big difference, and I think that some of the
people who may criticize Steph based off the performance at
Vanderbilt don't factor in how recruitment plays a role in
your roster. You can only coach the talent that you have, right,
So I believe that she will do fine in Indiana.
I totally believe she'll do fine in Indiana. But I'm
(25:10):
also very concerned about what Connecticut gonna look like because
they need to find a coach. And let us also
not forget that this is around the time, like those
four teams that don't have GMS, there's an expansion draft
that's about to happen, so you gotta think about player protections.
You might want to try to get you a coach
up in here quick that can help with these decisions
(25:32):
that made before December six. No doubt, as we move on,
we do know that again, there are other head coaching vacancies,
and we kind of touched on it a little bit
as it relates to finding a good fit. I think
one of the sexier jobs that people may not be
talking about is la.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
La is what makes that a sexy job. I feel
like La has all of the because it's La. Oh.
I'm looking at who you potentially could have. You have
a roster who should be good to go.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
You have a Rakia Jackson who RecA showed JMF.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
Jackson sorry beast waiting to be unleashed.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Yeah, need to be unleased, like he's going to be
a hell of a pro.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
I'm sorry, I don't hear you off. But that kid
right there, or that young lady, excuse me, can go?
Speaker 2 (26:33):
She could ball? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (26:35):
Ball. You know, I got a special love for Rikia
because that's a Detroit girl. So you feel me, you
know how we roll. But anyway, Rikia is good. You
got a veteran that can lead MVP caliber player in
Dierka Hanby, and you could potentially have the first round
draft pick that could also potentially.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Pay I get you, okay, So yeah that's real sexy.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
So what I'm saying sexy, I'm saying you have the
potential roster that could make some noise. I think the
only reason I won't say the only, but I think
a large reason Kurt wasn't able to get it done
with injuries. You can't help that, right, injuries are injuries.
It ain't his first time having to deal with a
roster full of injuries, but it may be the first
(27:21):
time as a pro that he had to deal with
a roster full of injuries and not enough on his
bench to overcome it. He had enough on his bench
to overcome it in Connecticut. You couldn't overcome that in LA,
not last season or this season. And so I thought
it was a little wild to dismiss him. But again,
your record is what your record is, right, But coming in,
(27:42):
come on, now, that's a sexy job.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
No, it is, it is, Yeah, it is.
Speaker 4 (27:47):
And so when you mentioned sexy, and I don't know
if I would you sexy.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
For this team.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
But help me understand why isn't Atlanta any better than
they are because they ain't got some talent?
Speaker 1 (27:59):
Ty A very good question. I think Atlanta is one
of those teams. And you tell me if you've ever
experienced this, But I think that sometimes you have a
team that just needs a different voice, right, Like, sometimes
you have a team that it's not the talent. It's
not even that the person coaching can't coach, it's just
(28:21):
maybe these two need to go separate ways. And we
give this team a different voice. We give this voice
a different team and widout. You get what I'm saying, Like,
just simply missing Cheyenne Parker shouldn't have been enough to
make I mean, when you've got a Jordan Canada at
Leisha Gray was balling Ryan Howard out of control with
(28:45):
the way that she's able to control to rock, facilitate, shoot,
like she's everything on the court, and you had Tina
Charles and granted Tina was you know, Tina was Tina,
but it just felt like that roster should have been
better at least the seven or succeed, Like I felt
like that roster should.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Have been better than Phoenix. I agree one hundred percent. Yeah,
I just think they needed a new voice, right, they
just needed a new voice. I'll take that. We've talked
about Chicago.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
I want to go to Dallas real quick because well,
at the beginning of the season, I thought Dallas would
be better than they were, but then they had all
the injuries they dealt with. Right, you didn't have Satu
for the first half of the season. Natasha Howard got hurt.
Jalen Brown, who was the hell of a rookie, she
got hurt. Yeah, so they were never really healthy, and
(29:32):
then after the Olympics they come back and I thought.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
They played well.
Speaker 4 (29:36):
There are a lot of really good unrestricted free agents,
but I think one of the better ones is Satu Sobly,
and I think it will be real interesting to see
if she leaves or, depending on who they hire as
a coach, if she makes the decision to stay.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
That is a very good observation.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
I was so overjoyed watching the excitement from Satu Sabili
at her sister winning the WNBA finals, right, But it
was that excitement, that happiness for your sister, that oh,
you know, anybody who loves.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Their family members seeing them in that moment was great.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
But I also felt like I saw a make some
space for your girl, because maybe we can pull a
Cheney and Nekka and team up and be on the
same squad. So to answer your question, I not only
think that Satu could leave Dallas, but I think they
could make room for Satu in New York and that
(30:42):
nast And I'm saying, if you want to run it back,
because New York got some free agency questions, they got
an answer to if you want to run it back,
you got a good chance of doing that adding a
unicuarantine your roster. Now, I don't know money, I haven't
really taken a deep dive into salary cap and who
can afford what right now. I probably do that kind
of stuff as we get closer to the expansion draft
(31:03):
or whatever. But just theoretically, if you could add a
Sa tou sobly to your roster New York, you got
a shot to win it back. And so I don't
know if Dallas can count on having that piece moving forward,
because she seemed like she was real too quick to
put on that New York Championship hat. Is what I'm
saying for you to be playing on an opposite squad.
(31:23):
You was really quick to put that liberty hat on.
Speaker 4 (31:26):
Your Listen, sister or not, I ain't rocking with you
like sister. You you did what I haven't been able
to do. Yeo before me babysit for real.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
And let's be honest, if.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
We're looking at from a talent perspective, if you gave
me between Niara and Satu, I would have been like,
oh well, Sa Touo would probably win a ship first.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, thank you for proving us wrong.
But see here.
Speaker 4 (31:53):
Here's the other thing, because I think, at least for me,
sometimes I keep forgetting about the expansion Draft. Yeah, right, Like,
there are so many great players, and again, what is
it I think each team can protect six six?
Speaker 1 (32:09):
I mean, Alyssa is unrestricted, Bree Jones is unrestricted, Tory
Walker kimbro is unrestricted, Aerial Power is Tina Charles, there
are so many unrestricted returner. Diamond Deshields is unrestricted. There's
so many unrestricted free agents this year. Kandice Parker set
the standard back in twenty twenty one when she left
(32:29):
LA and went to Chicago. So I can't even say,
like now that people won't make major moves like we've
seen over the last three years. Now, major moves can
and will be made in the w A.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Yes, here's what I love about the Expansion Draft. I
love about the new teams. There are going to be
players who got waived, who got cut that will now
hopefully find a spot.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
But I almost say it, I'm.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
Gonna put it out there like her lover hater. I
don't know how y'all feel about it, but I'm a
big Odyssey Sims fan. Odyssey Sims needs to be the
Valkyrie's point guard.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Can you tell me why Odyssey Simms is not?
Speaker 4 (33:05):
I can't on a rock here, Seriously, I've been trying
to figure this out all season. When Dallas had her,
and I understood they had her because it was a hardship.
They had to let her go. Players came back, but
you didn't. It could have let somebody else go because
Odyssey Sims, to me, is one of the best pgs
in the league.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Yes she is.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
You can see how LA turned themselves around when they
added Odyssey Sims to that roster. I don't understand why
Odyssey Sims is always a seven day contract player or
hardship player.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
Serves to be on as roster without question.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Let me ask you this, then, Cheryl, is there a
specific place or a specific coach who you like to
see because I think the one I'll say this before
you answer that. Washington to me is a very interesting
situation because that team started off oh one to eleven
or on twelve and ended up being in the fight
(34:03):
for a playoff spot at.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
The end of the season.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
I think Washington again was another team that was just
plagued by injuries. There was no Shakira for a minute,
there was no Britney Sykes, who I love, one of
the best defending guards in the league if you ask me,
could be in defensive player conversation every.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Year if she's healthy. So there was no Sykes.
Speaker 1 (34:24):
Ariel Atkins kind of had to step up into a
new role this year. Then they lose my Easha heinz
Allen midway through the season to Minnesota. Just feels like
that was a team that had the potential to still
be in it and for whatever reasons, injury to take
them out of it.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
And I don't know if.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
That's Eric Tebow or if that's just the way the
roster was constructed. Alia Edwards coming to that team doing
everything she could do as a rookie just amazing. But
you expect that from Yukon players. They know how to adapt,
they know how to transition into the WNBA.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
So is there a coach?
Speaker 1 (35:00):
Is there a team that you like to see someone
in Like would you like to see Eric Tibow somewhere else?
Or is there a coach that you'd like to see
on Washington? Is there either or that stands out to you.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
I thought the Mystic situation was interesting from day one
when Elena was like, trade me or I ain't playing,
but I know coach Tibo like oh Man Tebo. Yeah,
and I love coach Tibo. I don't know Eric well
enough one way or the other, but I agree with you.
They too dealt with a lot of injuries early on
(35:34):
and you still made the playoffs. So to me, I
don't put the start of the season on Eric. I
put it on just luck, injuries, all of that. But
we mentioned one earlier. I watched Breon January coach in
the playoffs. I watched what she did on the sideline.
(35:57):
I would love to see Breed January be in Atlanta.
I think she could be really good in Atlanta. And
I hate to do this to Becky because Charity lost
one assistant, but Tyler Marsh is one hell of a coach.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
Same.
Speaker 4 (36:12):
I hate doing that to Becky since Charity lost Natalie,
but Tyler Marsh should be somebody's head coach. And I
already said Spoon. I think Spoon deserves another shot somewhere.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (36:21):
I wouldn't mind seeing Spoon in Dallas. I'm gonna put
this out there and I have no idea.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
If she's interested what she wants to do. I'd love
to see Cheryl Miller coaching back in the league. That
would be so amazing to see Cheryl back in the league.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
That would say so amazing because it looked like she
was having a good old fun time out there for
All Star.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
Right. Yeah, and remember she coached Phoenix see autumn years
at Phoenix. Yeah. I just believe she's the one who
gave them the nickname Expector.
Speaker 4 (36:50):
She's one on the voice when you hear it, myighty Mercury.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
Uh huh, that's her.
Speaker 4 (36:54):
That is her.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (36:56):
But I will also say, and maybe it's just because
you kind of put me on the spot, I think
there are enough qualified coaches out there that we don't
have to go back to recycling the same ones. Although
I wouldn't be mad if Kurt Miller got one of
these coaching jobs.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (37:14):
Again, we have seven and we haven't even talked about
who could potentially be GMS.
Speaker 1 (37:19):
That's even a whole different conversation.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
It's interesting.
Speaker 1 (37:24):
And again we can't forget that there are two other
teams that are part of expansion that are going to
need head coaches and are going to need general managers.
And we've already heard the rumors that a fourth expansion
team could be on the horizon by twenty twenty six,
So there are opportunities and we need to make sure
that we are looking.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
And by we I just mean the WABS we used
to make sure that they are looking at all avenues.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
Because it's not saying that some of these people aren't
good coaches or deserving of another job, like I don't
think Literacia Tremble should be without a job. I just
also think placement culture, understanding the fit is going to matter.
A coaching fit is just as important to me as
a player fit.
Speaker 4 (38:08):
It is, but you know what else is important And
this isn't about any particular head coach, but I also
feel like as a head coach, you have the responsibility
of coaching your team, running your team, making sure you
have the right people around your team, but also on
your staff. I think a lot of these head coaches
(38:29):
or some not a lot higher their friends and they're
not the ones that can really help you get your
team to the next level. And that's not calling out
any particular coach. I just think as a head coach,
when you start hiring, you need to look at the
strengths that your assistants bring. And I have been very
(38:52):
vocal about former players being given more opportunity in the league.
And that's not saying coaching. It could be from office,
it could be any of that, because I think there
are a lot of former players who have coached in
high school, I've coached in college, have been doing this
for a while that are really good. They just haven't
been given opportunity. But I also believe that all great
(39:14):
players don't necessarily make great coaches. But there are so
many other things you can do with the team besides coach,
And with at least these three teams who are needing GMS,
maybe there's a place where some of the former players.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
Can go there. But I'm going to raise my hand.
I'm going to put this out there and say.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
There are a couple of vacancies that if they were
looking for an assistant coach, I would raise my hand.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Oh you heard it here first, y'all. Not a head coach.
I don't want to make a head coach. Charlotte here
dropping breaking news on her own damn.
Speaker 4 (39:53):
Show, breaking news news show. But let me just rep
eat that. I don't want to get a hand coach.
I would love to be in a system, and it
ain't all.
Speaker 2 (40:05):
The teams with vacasies.
Speaker 4 (40:06):
It's only a couple, and I will tell you one
being the Dallas Wings. Yes, it's Texas, it's Texas. It
excites me to see what's gonna happen. I have no
idea who's gonna be hired where, but I'm excited to
see what happens.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
I am also very excited.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
I think this is the kind of thing that comes
along with the growth of the game. And Dallas, y'all
need to hit up your girl, shir y'all here in
these streets.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
And she's trying to tell y'all, I ain't in the
streets like that though.
Speaker 4 (40:35):
Listen, she says, she outside, good, good, I'll put me
in the street.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
Oh man, all right, y'all.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
When we come back, we're gonna level off just a
little bit. We're back with more levels to this. It's
your girl, Tarrika Foster Bradsby, I got my girls. Cheryl's
(41:09):
swoops here and yeah, we've just kind of been talking
about all of the coaching vacancies and what the WNBA
could look like in twenty twenty five, and I really
just think to put a bow on this conversation that
this is just a part of growth. Right, I've seen
a lot of comments on social media as it relates to, oh,
the WNBA is looking like the NFL, or the WNBA
(41:33):
is looking like the NBA. I mean, we've seen this
shift happen for players and players on rosters over the
last several years, so it only makes sense that this
kind of change would start to happen. But as we
get on out of here, we need to make sure
that we are leveling up with my girl, Cheryl.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
So, Cheryl, what do you have for us today? All right, y'all?
Speaker 4 (41:53):
So today what I want to leave you with. It's
very short, sweet and simple, but I also feel like
it's pretty deep because all of us have things that
are challenging at times and things that we go through
every single day. So this quote is for all of us,
and it says challenges are what make life interesting, and
(42:17):
overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. So I hope
that resonates with somebody, that it.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
Hits you right where you need it. It gives you
just what you need, and everybody have a blessed week.
Hosts And Creators
Terrika Foster-Brasby
Sheryl Swoopes
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!