Izzy Harrison: More Than the Game

Isabelle 'Izzy' Harrison Talks Career, WNBA Challenges, and Powerful Journeys 

On this episode of Naked Sports, Cari sits down with one of the real ones — Isabelle Harrison of the New York Liberty.

Izzy opens up about the journey that shaped her; from playing under the legendary Pat Summitt at Tennessee, to making waves in the W with talent, heart, and a whole lot of voice. She gets real about her relationship with Tasha Cloud (yes, that Tasha), and shares what it means to show up authentically on and off the court.

We talk CBA negotiations, league politics, officiating, and why players need more than just a seat at the table.  They need a say.

But Izzy’s story goes deeper. She gives us a glimpse into what it was like growing up in a big family of 12, and her powerful work raising awareness for Lupus, a cause close to her heart.

This one’s about more than sports. It’s about the humanity of athletes, the hustle it takes to thrive, and the courage to use your platform for purpose.

Connect @CariChampion @OMG_ItsIzzyB

Subscribe Cari Champion's YOUTUBE Channel

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Naked Sports, the podcast where we live at
the intersection of sports, politics, and culture. Our purpose reveal
the common threads that bind them all.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
So what's happening in women's basketball right now is what
we've been trying to get to for almost thirty years.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
From the stadiums where athlete break barriers and set records.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Caitlin Quark broke the all time single game assists record.
This is crazy for rookies to be doing.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
Our discussions will uncover the vital connections between these realms
and the community we create. And each episode we'll sit
down with athletes, political analysts, and culture critics because at
the core of it all, how we see one issue
shines the light on all others. Welcome to Naked Sports.
I'm your host, Carrie Champion. Isabelle Harrison is a VET

(00:54):
in this league at least by all things considered, And
when I tell you, she has the sweetest spirit, the
sweetest soul. Her playing career for me became of note
when she was at Tennessee and she played under the
Great Pat Summit, and she will talk about that today.
She will also talk about her relationship with the Liberty,
a new team that she's been in for one season,

(01:16):
her relationship with another VET in this league, Tea Cloud,
and we get into obviously the news of the week,
what in fact will happen with the WNBA as they
deal with these CBA negotiations, and also what many believe
is a commissioner that doesn't hear them or see them.
This episode of Naked Sports, at least for me, is

(01:38):
one of my favorites because we really got into just
about everything. It's authentic, it's true, and it's about how,
in fact women's sports needs to be elevated and amplified,
and these athletes are more than just faces. They are people,
and they are asking folks to see their humanity and
who they are and why they care so much about
this sport.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
What's up, Y'all's Isy Harrison from the New York Liberty.
I'm here with Carrie and let's get into it. A.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
Let's get into it, Okay, So is he I have
a confession, my confessional. I have stalked your your Instagram.
I have had a crush on you for a long
time in the sense of I just love how you
carry yourself. You're always smiling, You're always light or appearing
light off the court, right, and then when you're about

(02:27):
your business, you're about your business, and I think that
it it. And so many people, we have a lot
of mutual friends with so many people I know respect you.
So I was like, I'm very curious about you. I
want you, And that was one of the main reasons.
I was like, I'm curious about the human that you are. Yea, yeah,
So do you hear that a lot do people tell
you they love yourselma? How kind a lot of people.

Speaker 2 (02:46):
Do say they love my light? And I'm just I've
prided myself into just carrying myself like that. And I
come from a big family. I'm one to twelve, so.

Speaker 1 (02:56):
Like one of twelve children.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
Children, Yes, how does that dad? My mom and dad
are just doing their things.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
Oh yeah, No one has twelve kids anymore.

Speaker 2 (03:07):
No one does that anymore. It's very like an old
school thing to do. But yeah, that's how I grew up.
And again say, mom, same dad, and seven sisters, five brothers,
and they're like my built and best friends. So I
just think I can get so much of my personality
and like my likeness from them.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
Where do you? Where are you in the twelve.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
I'm number ten. Damn I'm number ten. Yeah, so I'm
on the younger side.

Speaker 1 (03:29):
So they just decided they were done at ten.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
I guess not. No, well yeah, but then obviously I
wouldn't have my godson, Hughes from my little brother Ian
and then Dority. She's also playing professional basketball right now,
so yeah, she's doing her thing.

Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah, okay, so I'm really I'm curious growing up in
a house of so at the time, when did you
realize you had a lot? How old were you when
you realize this is not normal? We got a lot
of brothers and.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
Yeah, so when you grow up, it doesn't feel like
anything not normal. I'm assuming everybody just has like really
big families. I didn't get to go to people's houses
growing up. My dad, they didn't let us do that.
When it's like, that makes so much sense now why
they did that. But when I would go to school
and people would say they don't have any siblings or
they were an only child, I was like, this is crazy. Yeah,

(04:21):
like I can't imagine not having like my sisters, Like
my brothers are like my bestrid. They taught me how
to play basketball, so really yeah, absolutely, and that's where
I feel like I'm the perfect mix of like my mom,
who was a cheerleader, she went to Vainderbilt to be
a nurse, and my dad he played professionally in the
NFL for like ten years. So I really feel like
I'm like the perfect blend between the two.

Speaker 1 (04:43):
Now, when you grew up, was there ever a time
clearly did you share a room? I hope you didn't.

Speaker 2 (04:49):
Oh yeah, I didn't have my own room until I
was in high school. That's sick as a growing girl.
That's actually insane. Oh wow, yeah, what was that?

Speaker 1 (04:59):
Like? Why I tell you this, I'm a little envious.
I'm an only child, meaning I have half brothers and sisters. Yeah,
I just grew up just with me and my mother,
and I'm very much a loner. I kind of do
my own thing, and I think I think that makes
people feel a way about me. But it's just like
I just I've just been on my own since.

Speaker 2 (05:19):
You don't give me only child Really.

Speaker 1 (05:21):
What does only child give? What does the other child give?

Speaker 2 (05:23):
Very just like it's all about me, like no care
for like what's going around others or there's like no sharing.
Clearly you like helped me out somewhere, so yeah, you
never gave Can we.

Speaker 1 (05:35):
Tell that story? Oh lord? Can we tell that story?
Or should we die?

Speaker 2 (05:40):
I think we can tell it because it's funny now,
But at the time I was stressed.

Speaker 1 (05:44):
Okay, so so so I have been planning this and
I've been stalking her. I've been an inner DNS. I'm like,
when can we go? Give me your phone number? I
want you to come on the show. And she called me.
She was like, I'll be here in ten minutes, and
I'm like, great, ten minutes because I like to be
on time. You are you were before on time? Yeah?
I like to, yeah, and I like to I like

(06:10):
to play the game where I'm like just on dime.
And then she go back and shr after your schedule.
I'm like why and she's like, my driver dropped me
off at a different location, so you take it from there,
you know.

Speaker 2 (06:27):
In New York, like, I've kind of adopted this mindset
of like multitasking, so sets being here, it's like once
basketball is out the way, like early in the day,
I have time to do like all my other things.
So it was in that moment like I'm planning a
loopis walker I have on Saturday, Like on another zoom.
We have a CBA call actually happening today too, so
kind of like getting that information out to the team

(06:48):
and whatnot. I'm just multitasking. So I look up and
I'm like, okay, ten minutes away. That's when I text you,
and I'm like, we're not anywhere close to the city,
Like what what actually going on? But I was actually
telling someone earlier today like I've never been in like
Times Square like that, So I'm like, is this a
different route? Like I don't know, I'm trusting the process.
I end up being at the Newark Airport, oh and

(07:12):
New Jersey.

Speaker 1 (07:13):
And so she called me and said, I'm gonna have
to reschedule. I'm like, yay, not, I've been working on
this forever. I love you so much.

Speaker 2 (07:20):
Oh yeah, you got to work.

Speaker 1 (07:21):
I was like no, I'll get you a new work
oh now. And then you're like are you sure? Yes? Back,
I'll see you in a second, because it's actually even closer.

Speaker 2 (07:29):
It was also telling where my apartment was, so I
was like, wow, like I got here in like what
less than thirty.

Speaker 1 (07:35):
Less than thirty and I was so happy and I
was like, okay, great. So it was funny because I
have done that as well.

Speaker 2 (07:43):
I've been on my phone multitasking, so you know, it's like, yo, yeah, we're.

Speaker 1 (07:48):
So And then that's another part of like like women
who are in the world, like we're working, we're trying
to be there, we're trying to make good friends, good partners,
good wives, whatever, and you're just like, I'm so busy,
what is going on? I totally understood and did not
judge you.

Speaker 2 (08:02):
Thank you so much.

Speaker 1 (08:03):
I was like, no, you're coming.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
I didn't care. I had a call Tosh and she
was like, we just pivot because we've been practicing that,
like pivoting.

Speaker 1 (08:09):
She's like, what does that mean when you guys have
been practicing pivot? First time out Tasha Cloud?

Speaker 2 (08:16):
Everybody's boom, Yeah, but everybody everybody's boom but your boo, Yes,
a real boo.

Speaker 1 (08:23):
Everybody has a question. We have a crush on her.
About how Tasha Cloud carries herself on and off the court. Yeah,
makes people just respect her because it's come about business,
and I feel like that's why, like that's an attractive thing,
but I also disrespect her just as a professional. So
you called her and said she.

Speaker 2 (08:41):
Just was like, we just pivot. We're big ones and
like not letting things just like throw us off completely
off the track, and you know, control the controllables. And
as we're like getting older into our career, you can't
get riled up about things like this anymore because it happens.
It's not life or death.

Speaker 1 (08:57):
It's not a real thing.

Speaker 2 (08:58):
You will be okay, yeah, and we're here, and we're here.
So you told her were happened, and she was like
this chill yeah, And I sometimes have to have that
role with her too. It's like it's just the best balance, honestly.

Speaker 1 (09:09):
Yeah, how do you guys meet?

Speaker 2 (09:11):
Obviously we have like debated telling the story like so
many times because you know how the internet can be,
like they can just like the Internet, hate the Internet.
It's a very unseerious place. It's a very.

Speaker 1 (09:23):
Serious place and no one cares about actual humanity or
who you know.

Speaker 2 (09:27):
And I love that about Oh, I love that you
said that because that is me in toash to our core.
We talk about this stuff like all the time, so
we really own the perfect partners. But we met during
AU the first season of AU, and it was really
my first time like getting to know any of the
players like before AU and unrival. There was never really

(09:47):
a space for women's basketball like players to compete against
each other, whether it was overseas, and it only happened
in the W and usually the W you only hang
out with your teammates. You don't usually go to other
people's know houses from other teams. So we just kind
of like had that experience to really get to know everyone,
like players I played against for forever and never really

(10:07):
spoke to, Like, we're the closest now because of these environments.
So Tash was one of those people. And when I
first met her, I didn't know anything about Tosh. When
I met at all, I just knew she was crazy,
like everybody loved the craziness about her, but we just
never spoke. So when we first got into AU, I
really got to know her as like a person and

(10:28):
as a human. And after that I was just like,
this is like my best friend. Yeah, my best best friend.
Yeah she understood me without me having the same words. Wow.

Speaker 1 (10:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (10:38):
When you feel those type of connections, it's like wow.

Speaker 1 (10:41):
You can't there are no words to describe when someone
just gets you and you're like, it's just our thing.
It's yeah, how we vibe, it's a feeling, so you
can and you can't. You can't literally put it in
a word, but you can try. And then so you
were like, Okay, we're about to be together forever. How
did go? How did she?

Speaker 2 (10:59):
How did not even that? That's the crazy thing. I
just was like, as a person, I really like fuck
with her. Sorry, but like she was, I don't know, yeah,
the rules, but she just as a human is just
like amazing. I think anybody that comes into contact her
with her for like one seconds like automatically taken in.

(11:21):
And she said the same thing about me. So it
was kind of crazy that we met at this like
capacity and at that time. So no, it definitely started
off as friends and then it just kind of grew
from there. Yeah, she was a very new experience for me,
so you know, but it's.

Speaker 1 (11:36):
The human it's the hardest. The other it's all that
other stuff doesn't matter. I really am. I'm going to
tell you when Tasha started posting you and talking about you,
and she didn't know because I don't follow her, but
I try to not overstalk everybody. I love the way
she talks about you. And she was like from the
moment I met you, you know, what I mean. And

(11:59):
I think that's so special because I believed it. I
know sometimes Instagram and Internet is not real, but I
was like, oh, I see that. It's like a warm
smile eyes and then you're like, Okay, I feel relaxed.
I feel safe. I think when anybody dates, myself included,
I want to be with someone who makes me feel
safe absolutely, like I don't feel like you're going to

(12:19):
betray me and make me feel safe. And she to me,
the way she spoke about you was like she was like,
it's a safe land.

Speaker 2 (12:25):
That's literally it like how we feel about each other.
We never are like awkward or weird with anything, and
like we can like just take our mask off and
be ourselves and like to have that really from like
day one, I always say like it was the crazy experience.
And that's why I think I just kind of like
open my mind to it because I've never felt that
before any any person I've ever.

Speaker 1 (12:45):
Been any person. So how did it feel going public?
Were you nervous about it in terms of what the fans,
the team, your family would feel, you have any reservations.

Speaker 2 (12:58):
I think my biggest thing was to make sure like
me and Tosh were at a place that we could
share and that we felt comfortable with whatever that was
going to come along with it. And even though I
met tsh whatever at that time, it was it was
still like I still have to get to know you,
Like what is your family like? Like what are your
friends like? And like, I think those things take time.

(13:19):
And a lot of people say, like lesbian couples, like
they rush so fast. That was like something I like
heard about my friends.

Speaker 1 (13:27):
Sure, my friends, like y'all moving together right away?

Speaker 2 (13:29):
Yeah, Like I don't understand that, like for anybody. I've
never done that in my past. I'm not going to
start now. So like I kind of had to put
the breaks on us for a while to like really
see how we are as like humans, like what are
we like on the day to day. And I think
that was a little bit difficult for Tosh because you know,
Tash is like one thousand hour Yeah I'm right here, yeah,

(13:50):
and she she like gives that. But I just knew,
like I want to see the longevity of us and
the potential of us actually be lived out. So yeah,
I definitely made sure we took our time. So yeah,
I was a little bit nervous, like when my when
that came out with like, my family, really my family,
because like I said earlier, they're.

Speaker 1 (14:07):
Like, yeah, you well, and first of all, you got
to try. You have an entire school system. Yeah. So
so when you were they nervous or how you how
did you tell your family? Oh wait, wait, okay, so
let's get back. Had you been in a relationship with
a woman before?

Speaker 2 (14:25):
Never?

Speaker 1 (14:26):
Oh okay, so you had to tell them that.

Speaker 2 (14:28):
I had to tell them that.

Speaker 1 (14:29):
Is your family strict conservative?

Speaker 2 (14:32):
So yeah, we're all My dad's a pastor, we grew
up in the church for Christians, and already saying that
and having this situation happened, I just was like just
kind of conflicted with obviously for obvious reasons. And I
just had to believe, like God brings me to places
of peace because I deserve it, and no matter how
it's wrapped up, that's what I'm going to take. So

(14:55):
and I don't believe God would bring me someone like
Toash just for it to be like bad or sinful, Like,
I just don't believe that because how I feel and
like my real life experiences with her. So I just
kind of went with that. Yeah, it was a battle
for sure, but I told my parents. I told my

(15:16):
parents and my dad was like, we know, well, he
said he knew. He had a conversation like maybe a
couple months before I told him. He was like, you know,
I just want to make sure you're happy. He has
like a worry list out of all the kids, like
who he worries about, so like obviously siblings jump on
and off as like time goes, and he said I
was always the last one on the list. But I

(15:37):
was always on the list. And I was like why
is that. He was like, you always travel and you're
always by yourself, and you have Prince, he's my little Yorkie.
But I want you to find somebody who like just
loves you. And I was like, mind you, Like all
my siblings are married have kids, like I'm a super auntie.
At this point, I just never thought it was gonna
happen for me. Like I just was like, I'm just
going to be single, and he was like, I just
want you to be happy and like loved. Oh I'm

(15:59):
getting emotions talking about this. I love your dad.

Speaker 1 (16:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (16:03):
It was very like he's a great man. Amazing for
him to just support me because I was really scared
because this could this changes families, and you hear horror
stories and I just didn't want to be a part
of that. So the people that I thought were going
to be the worst with it was my family, and
they weren't. And the people that I thought were going
to be the most supportive were like kind of weird

(16:24):
when we came out about it. Just kind of like
the community and like the internet, you know, but it's
like what's understood doesn't have to be explained, and.

Speaker 1 (16:33):
Like doesn't have to be explained at all.

Speaker 2 (16:36):
You don't have to explain it. So just being at
peace with that and knowing like what me and Toash
have to at the end of the day when we
come home to each other, like that's all that matters.

Speaker 1 (16:45):
Can I say that your dad is amazing?

Speaker 2 (16:48):
Yeah?

Speaker 1 (16:49):
And so were you afraid to tell them, like how
did it go? You were like, let me tell you before. Yeah,
I gets a hold of it.

Speaker 2 (16:57):
I think I was just again, I didn't want to
rush it. So I'm like me and Tasha are figuring
things out behind the scenes, and I just didn't feel
like I owed that to anybody either, because it's like
my process, it's like my heart, my love, my relationship,
and I just don't feel like I owe that to
anyone to have to explain. So that's something that me

(17:17):
and Tasha had to talk to as well, because she's
very open, you know, she's like she puts it all
out there. But I'm a little bit more conservative than her.
So yeah, I just basically told him like, I'm with
Tosh and she makes me happy, and I know it's
not I never thought it would come in this form ever.
Like I was like, when I pray for happiness, God,

(17:38):
I don't know if you got all the words right,
but he got it right because he gave me someone
like her, So yeah, it was I told my dad.
He was like, we know, very supportive about it. Told
my mom she was like, well, she said something funny like,
so you guys can just be like really good friends.
I was like, Mama, this is past being friend.

Speaker 1 (17:58):
We're in a relationship. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (18:00):
She's so sweet. So and she loves toash love. They
my whole family loves.

Speaker 1 (18:04):
I don't know if anybody does not. Yeah, and I
don't know if anybody does not exactly, I don't.

Speaker 2 (18:10):
And I think that made me more comforted because again,
anybody that meets her it's just like they love her
so like I just felt like really really supportive. I
think I'm the You're the first person I told that too. Yeah,
the first person.

Speaker 1 (18:21):
I appreciate that. I hope you feel safe with me.
I don't. I do, I don't, I have. I genuinely
I see people and I see you together. And I
saw how she talked about you, and I was like,
I was more intrigued about the soul that made her
feel this way. You see what I'm saying, Like your
spirit made her feel this way. So that's why I
was like, of course, like we have I'm not going

(18:43):
to go down the list, but just also because you're
just so beautiful, so I think that people are. Tasha
has the same thing, but it's in a different way
for me anyway. And it's just like I think people
are really intrigued by your beauty, Like, and you don't,
you don't carry that, you don't leave it.

Speaker 2 (18:59):
I really, why is that?

Speaker 1 (19:02):
You know?

Speaker 2 (19:02):
For I had to tell this to Tash. By the way,
I love being in New York. You guys show me
so much love. I love the fans. Yeah, And a
lot of the times we will meet somebody and they're like,
oh my gosh, Tasha Cloud and they're like, and this
is easy. She's so beautiful and it's kind of like
I had a whole season here, like I had so
many like big moments in basketball, Like that is what

(19:25):
I want to leave with because that's my heart. You know.
Think I'm grateful for the outside or whatever, but I
do want to be known for like what I do.
And oftentimes I think people kind of just see me
as like arm candy. And it's not just with Tash.
This has been even in the past with my past relationships. Yeah,
and it's been like a little frustrating. So when I

(19:47):
had those like big moments at Barclays of like the
crowd cheering for me after a huge game like that,
that made my life, Like that was like everything, That's
all I've ever wanted.

Speaker 1 (19:58):
Isn't that interesting? I think that when you have something
happened to you all of the time, like people or
are astounded by what you look like. But I think
your beauty is more than just like physical.

Speaker 2 (20:12):
I think it's inside for everybody.

Speaker 1 (20:15):
And I think, but I think that's what people are
just like they feel that you know you just like
so I get you don't want to you don't want
to be like I get that, but I think also
it's so rare to feel that when you meet someone,
so that's also a compliment. How do you feel about
the season? How do you feel about the Liberty season?
Speaking of being in Barclays the best And I've said

(20:36):
this to Claire, I've said this, I've interviewed her a
few times, her channels with her, she's great, she gets it.
I've been in environments with her. Very few owners are
that accessible, and that's what I think that sets her
apart from everyone else. I have been in spots and
I'm like, oh my god, hey how are you? And
and she's chatty and yeah, she is a tie, So

(21:00):
I think that also helps. So what what has it
been like for you first season?

Speaker 2 (21:04):
Yeah? Do you feel first season? I mean one, stepping
into just the facilities day one that blew me away
because I've never had that in my career ten year
career now in the W. So obviously the resources helped tremendously,
which is why it was another big reason for me

(21:24):
to come to a team like New York. And obviously
they won the year prior, but I'm like, I still
want to be treated like a great basketball player. I'll
still want to be treated in value like I know
that we all should be treated. So yeah, being with
the Liberty was really like a dream come true. I
keep saying that, but like it truly is so special
to be here in New York play at Barclays Is.

(21:44):
He has fans like ever.

Speaker 1 (21:47):
You arguably have the best best at w NBA organization
that there is for sure.

Speaker 2 (21:53):
No doubt about it, Like there's no arguments there and
I could be biased, but I'm telling you, Even playing
against New York when I was on other teams, it
just felt like such a moment. So I knew I
wanted to carry that passion and that care into this season.
So whenever I got the opportunity to play this year,
like I gave it my awe like I do every year,
but this was just a very different situation for me,

(22:14):
and I was really happy that JK took the you know,
the chance to sign me and be here and prove
everybody that I still have it. And because I was
dealing with injuries in the past too, so that was
kind of frustrating for me. But yeah, being in New York,
it was It's a dream.

Speaker 1 (22:35):
So they fire Sandy. Yeah, And first of all, I
felt like the question that was asked in that presser
and the presser, I was like, whoa, it was a
little much. But then I'm all, like they in front
of her, That's what I felt like. I was like,
have I seen that in other leagues? Maybe I have,

(22:57):
and I haven't paid attention to it, but it felt
like a lot. Yeah, but I understood it was a
question that needed to be asked because as a journalist,
I understand that, Yeah, did you think what did you
think about how that all played out? Did you think
she would lose one year after winning it all? Did
you think that she would not be your head coach
the following year?

Speaker 2 (23:14):
Not at all. And I was coached by Sandy my
rookie year in Phoenix, so like, I've seen her be
so successful. So I don't know what happened prior to
me being in New York and obviously following up from
the championship year going to this year, and we definitely
fell short of our goal this year obviously, So I

(23:35):
don't know what prior history and conversations that happened. But
I don't know if it was just like that time
like this is when it's going to happen. So it
was unfortunate for Sanny because, like I said, great person,
great coach, great energy. But you know, I was kind
of hearing some comments Jka had in this press are
just kind of saying like we just want the best here.
We want people to know how important winning is here

(23:59):
and that's the number one goal. So yeah, it was
It was frustrating. It sucks, but I could see like
they want to make sure they continue that winning track
and just getting people here that can do that.

Speaker 1 (24:10):
Yeah, this is how ask those are things that those
are tough questions. You got to ask them. It's so hard.

Speaker 2 (24:15):
I just think after the last game, I don't think
that should have been asked.

Speaker 1 (24:18):
Yeah, you know, like let's let's settle, let's battle Sandy as.

Speaker 2 (24:23):
A coach, Like even if those have been conversations like
you don't do it after the last game of the season.
And I'm sure it was one of our liberty like journalists.
So to me, that's kind of like, just put some
ice on it for right now. I'm sure you're going
to ask in the future, so maybe just wait. But
I think they could have gave more respect to Sandy,
just to not do it right then and there.

Speaker 1 (24:44):
When I think about what they have asked or things
that you've you know, just throughout your career, even going
back to your college career, you've been in these these
moments where they've they've taken your coaches and a lot
of the especially a lot with women's sports, they highlight
the coaches a lot in a lot of ways that
that's starting change. But like when you were at Tennessee, yeah,
and under the Great Pat Summit, he said that we

(25:05):
would talk about her, Yes, exactly, and she obviously is
a legend in her own right right now when you
were I remember one time interview in Candas Parker, she
was like, whenever I would mess up, I could feel
Pat staring.

Speaker 2 (25:20):
Absolutely absolutely.

Speaker 1 (25:24):
She was like, I'm not looking that way because I
feel her.

Speaker 2 (25:27):
Okay, eyes, like those blue eyes on you, like it
was nothing to play.

Speaker 1 (25:33):
Was it a death stair?

Speaker 2 (25:34):
It was a death stair for like a thousand miles away,
like you could feel it. So yeah, Cannis is right,
how did she recruit you? It's funny because Tennessee was
always my number one because I'm from Nashville, so of course,
why not play for a great coach and be two
hours from home, have my family there. But that was

(25:54):
at the time I wasn't really getting a lot of
notice from like any colleges. So I was like, you
know what, well, let's find it back. What can you
do to get in front of pat? Essentially? And I
had like three more years of AU left, so I
just made sure I did my best at the biggest
like AAU tournaments like the Boo Williams Nike Nationals. Those
are really things I just had on like my board,

(26:16):
just to do like my best, and before you know it,
like I had offers from everywhere. So honestly, there was
a point where I was going to pull Tennessee off
the table just because I'm like, I'm getting letters from
I got letters from Yukon, North Carolina like everywhere that
I wanted, like really big name schools. But I was like,
what's important to me? What's my why? And I said,
I want my family to be able to come. My

(26:38):
parents don't travel that much because they have other kids
to care for. What will be the easiest, Tennessee, What
would my coach be like? You will never be able
to replicate a coach like past summer that's too. My
sister at the time was playing volleyball for Tennessee, so
I would have a sister maybe ten minutes from my
dorm room, and I shared a room with her. That
was my last roommate before going to college with my sister.

(27:00):
So I was like, it's going to be like home
all over again. So honestly, Tennessee made the most sense,
and I was like, you know what, it's just time
to just pull the trigger. So I was in my
sixth period class and I get a call for my coach,
like past summit's here at the gym. I was working
on like an ape paper at the time, and my
best friend was next to me. I was like, can
you come to the gym with me? And she was
like sure. She had no idea Pat was going to

(27:21):
be there. So we're like walking to the gym. I
walk in. Mind you, my high school team we weren't
that good by my senior year. My sophomore year, we're
going to stay championship. Senior year, we were not good.
I walk in. The girls are going like a million
miles per hour. Pat is in the middle of like
half court of the chair, just watching everybody run up
and down. I've never seen my team play like this before.

(27:42):
We're like, what team this? Yeah, like like y'all are
putting on for a Pat and I like, I actually
love it. I get it. Yeah, we're putting on a show.
So she we walked to my coach's office and she's like, well,
you mind if I go in there with you? And
my coach grew up going to like Pat summer camps
and she was if was a huge hooper at the time,
so I was like yeah. So we all go into

(28:03):
the office and Pat kind of just like sits down
and was like, is he just telling me you're coming
to Tennessee. I was like, I'm coming to Yeah, I'm
coming to Tennessee like gangster. Yeah, very.

Speaker 1 (28:18):
Like, yeah, you're coming to Tennessee. Right.

Speaker 2 (28:20):
That is how Pat is, Like she just talks her
talk and very confident in it. And I had so
many lessons like that going through Tennessee. But yeah, at
that time, she was just like, let me know what
you want to do, like we would love to have you.
And I remember asking her, like what do I tell
the other coaches? She was like they'll understand, Yeah, they'll understand.
I'll let you know if you need to say anything

(28:42):
on these calls. You're going to be there, that's fine,
but you know, just let everybody know you're coming to
ut And that was the start of my career. I'm
so happy I made that choice.

Speaker 1 (28:52):
When you get there and you and you and she's
your coach, uh, does it feel intimate? Does it feel connected?
Does it like let me just put you through to
hange the hell out of you until you figure it out.

Speaker 2 (29:04):
The pat that I got during recruitment was not the
same path that I got when I got to Tennessee.
Let me tell you, like, of course, And that's just
a common thing that I want athletes to know, Like
the coach that you get during recruitment, they're going to
be And I won't say fake because Pat isn't fake,
Like she's very real with you, but she's still very
a Southern woman that I've grew up around. So they're

(29:25):
gonna tell you all the things that they have and
love you. But once you get there, it's time to
get in line and get with the program. And nobody
was above the program at Tennessee, not Candice, nobody like
it did not matter. And that's why I respect Pat
like that and because sometimes I feel like coaches have
a hard time really in big star players and they

(29:45):
don't know how much that messes with the dynamic. But
when you keep everybody accountable across the board, you get
so much out of players and you know what to
expect out of them every day. When you don't hold
players to the same accountability level, it's just it crazs
like a power dynamic, and it just makes it weird.
So I've always respected Pat for that. So yeah, I

(30:07):
got there. She whipped us in the shape. I didn't
play much my freshman year. I was playing behind like
four all Americans. It was never gonna happen. But I
think that taught me. Like going into the W Actually,
my first year I didn't play that much either. I
was with Phoenix, with Sandy, We had BG Yeah, Diana,
we had Cannons, du Pree Penny.

Speaker 1 (30:27):
It just was chill, yeah, chill.

Speaker 2 (30:30):
Yeah. Like my first year. Obviously you're a freshman in college,
you know, like I want to play every minute and
then like it kind of humbles you. So going into
the W I was like, I've been here before. I'm
gonna let them kind of do their thing and I'll
show up and do my job when I'm ready.

Speaker 1 (30:42):
I explained this to people who don't really understand the
w There are so few spots, so for you to
be able to consistently show up even if you don't
get playing time, then they value you, and so for
you to be able to and then also some stuff
is unfair. I get it, But there is this thing
of like, I've been in the W four however many
years that I've been able to stay consistent in spite
of injuries, in spite of whatever is happening to me.

(31:04):
That speaks to the talent level. And also how you
how you move because a lot of it's political.

Speaker 2 (31:12):
It's very political.

Speaker 1 (31:13):
How do you deal with the political aspect of the NBA.

Speaker 2 (31:18):
I think I'm numb to it at this point. I've
had politics in my basketball journey since high school, which
is so weird because I'm like, I'm only here to hoop.
That's all I want to do. But I wish I
would have paid more attention to the politics because they
actually make huge, huge changes and decisions in your journey
with basketball, So I wish I would have paid more

(31:39):
attention to that. But I think just kind of dealing
with the politics I just let my game show for itself.
And there's even times where that's not enough, and I
hate that. So I just I try to do the
dirty work. I do the things that people don't necessarily
want to do or add to their game, whether that's
defending or rebounding or just playing gritty like, those are
my things that try to outweigh the politics. But there's

(32:02):
honestly times where I just ignore it. I love proving
people wrong.

Speaker 1 (32:06):
Yeah, I love.

Speaker 2 (32:07):
Hearing something about me and being able to do the
exact opposite, you know. So there's a lot of haters
in this game and so many Yeah, and you can
just either let it take you or just thrive on it.
So I've just I found a good way.

Speaker 1 (32:21):
Of just a good balance of how to deal with it. Yeah,
I was at where was this this week? I don't know, Monday, Tuesday,
maybe Monday or tuesdas, I can't remember. But when I
watched the Physicality Ors exit interview. By way of background,
I've had her on the pody. Yes, I had her
on the pod to talk about Unrivaled in the beginning

(32:43):
of the year, and I also had her on after
she lost to the Liberty and it was the unrivaled
of it all, losing to Liberty, her relationship with Stewey, Olympics.
It was just a lot of things that were happening,
and we talked about all of those things. And I've
always we've had a lot of interaction. I've always thought, like,
I respect how she carries herself. She's very professional on

(33:04):
and off the course. She just is, and so it
requires you to step up and be a little more professional.
You have the same And she was talking about officiating,
you know, two years ago, like complaining about it, how
unfortunate it is as a player in the in the
w y I And I will say this. I know

(33:26):
people who work in the league office who say their
argument will be these these referees are doing the best
that they can, and they have a ninety percent accuracy rating,
but when they and that's just the human eye. So

(33:48):
I don't know if you can actually test that or not.
I don't know how well then I don't know, like somebody,
yeah exactly, somebody will tell me that's their response to
the media. But I look at it, I'm like, this
is crazy. I got my eye test. I see you,
like Cardi B's like, you know, so I think it's

(34:09):
uncomfortable when when I see things that are just unfair.
But I wonder if how did you feel and I
saw that you said I stand with fee. I was
very happy that you said that, so did I. I'm
just keeping it bout.

Speaker 2 (34:23):
Because that's not easy to come out and say what
she said, and like not only say it, but like
I got.

Speaker 1 (34:28):
Receipts and I'm reading from a prepared statement. I'm giving
you quotes. So I dare you to say I didn't
say that. I dare you to say I didn't say that,
because the quote of it all, like for me as
a journalist, I'm like, the quote of it all says,
I dare you just say, to your point, I didn't
say that. So I was so proud of her in

(34:49):
that moment because it always takes one to change the game.
And it reminded me just of the history of sports
in general. There's always on a player, whether it's Babe Ruth,
whether it's Jackie Robinson, whether it's I'm thinking and people
who really Muhammad a lad and I'm not I'm not
liking her to those like in terms of greatness, but
in terms of what she did, it is up that level. Yeah,
when you saw her give her four minutes and seventeen

(35:11):
second speech, I don't know if it's seventeen.

Speaker 2 (35:12):
Seconds, it was seventeen Yeah, exactly, I saw, Yeah, I
was good for you.

Speaker 1 (35:18):
What did you think? I just.

Speaker 2 (35:23):
I think when you're a professional, you can still get
to your breaking point of like I'm tired of being that.
I'm tired of taking like the political route, the nice route,
the formal route. Now we actually need to push the
needle and get things to work. I'm going to tell
you exactly how I feel. I'm not going to sugarcoat it,
and these are the facts. And I think the is

(35:45):
at that point, and we're all at that point. We're
tired of having to go back and forth with the
CBA because it's it. To me, it just shows like
clearly there's not a want to see the players and
value the players and to invest in the players when
you are the product, how else do you make this
go without us? So to not not even to the

(36:08):
proposal at the beginning was ludicrous. But now we're asking
you just to what's the compromise here? And there's no
togetherness that to me, it's like now it's giving that
you're just trying to have a protection of what y'all
have instead of knowing like you, we're the reason why
you have what you have. And I know we address Kathy,

(36:28):
but it's along with all these owners for these teams
like you guys have to invest. We showed you this
is a very valuable product, and we've taken so so
much less for so long. We're not at that point anymore,
and we're definitely not gonna let this happen with this
CBA because it's gonna be so transformative. And the fact
that we're even like discussing a lockout is it's ridiculous

(36:50):
to me. We know what we deserve, and I just
think the lack of cooperation has been frustrating from all parts.

Speaker 1 (36:56):
Do you think her statements came from one the officiating
but to also how the CBA negotiations are going.

Speaker 2 (37:04):
Yeah, I mean, I mean with her injury one, you
saw show crash out when your star player goes out
like that, and we all know eighties a very physical
players too, So I don't think it was anything you
tell it was exactly. It was a play for the ball,
but just I think it's not about that play, but
probably the plays before that led up to that frustration

(37:25):
that oftentimes I think players and coaches can get to,
like again their breaking point with referees, and I think
more players and coaches will be okay with what's being
called if there was more of a relationship between these
refs and the players.

Speaker 1 (37:40):
And is there no relationship.

Speaker 2 (37:42):
I mean, you have some that's been in the game
for a couple of years, so you know, just naturally
you start to know each other. But a lot of
these refs come into the league and they don't know
anything about us. Who knows what league they're coming from
from the training? Is it G League, college, we don't know.
But they don't know us as players, So I think
that kind of helps them be able to understand who
we are. And sometimes the calls that they make is

(38:03):
just like you don't know how this player plays, or
you don't know who this is. I don't know how
to explain it better than that, but I just I
wish there was more of like a relationship that will
be built with the coaches and the players to the referees.

Speaker 1 (38:15):
Do you think the referees, from my understanding, they're part time,
They're not full time referees. Because of the truncated season,
ye or they can't be full time, they have go.

Speaker 2 (38:24):
To other leagues. I've see these referees in AU as well,
and I've had a rough that was I've had her
for years and she almost fouled me out of the
game in AU. I was like, this is and say,
you know who I am. You know the type of
player that I am, so to call these fouls on me?
And I do this in the league and I never
get called. And I think that's also the issue too,
the inconsistency of the type of calls that are being played.

(38:47):
And I'm going to also touch on the idea of
why is playoff officiating different than regular season officiating, because
it's just I don't know what to expect going into
every game, and sometimes you know players and see a
certain ref calling a game and it's like, oh God,
it's gonna be a long night to night. It shouldn't
be that way. If there's like a set of rules

(39:08):
and how things should be called. Why are players so
frustrated when certain refs get certain games?

Speaker 1 (39:12):
And that's in the NBA, that's across the they understand
who those players are. Chris Paul had an infamous back
and forth with So let me ask you this. I
and I hate comparing the NBA to the WNBA, so
I try not to do that. But what you just said,
I have a few questions. I'll hear somebody say these
these referees are part time because of the truncated season,

(39:33):
but these referees have a good percentage on getting most
of the calls right. According to FI, Kathy England Bird
said the only people who complain about the refs are
the losers. That's just not true, right, That's not a
fair statement.

Speaker 2 (39:45):
No, I think I'm not gonna speak for Kathy, but
I think her point could have been like, you don't
want to point the finger. We don't want to point
the fingers, say it's the referee's fault because we know
they're doing their best. What's going on. I think the
wording and the verbiage of that is crazy to say
anybody that has a thought or comment about are losers,
Like I don't understand that. So I'm understanding why Fee

(40:09):
was so frustrated with that comment. But I think it's
it's about it's about hearing the players. If this has
been a constant.

Speaker 1 (40:17):
Or at least pretending because because at least like you care,
because I feel like I feel like the commissioner of
the w n b A. Her responses are so.

Speaker 2 (40:28):
Tone deaf, they're very yeah, I could see that.

Speaker 1 (40:31):
Like she went on the CNBC and I and they're
asking her about racism and what's going on with Kaitlin
versus Angel and she's like, we have a good business.

Speaker 2 (40:37):
We're like we saw that, we saw that.

Speaker 1 (40:40):
And it just and I can say that because I'm like, wait,
that's not you didn't answer the question. And the same
thing with her response to what.

Speaker 2 (40:45):
Feasts I said, is it?

Speaker 1 (40:48):
Is it? Is it that you all don't feel seen
and heard?

Speaker 2 (40:53):
I mean, I could say that's probably a consistent comment
made towards her, and I hate that because we are
our league of women and women that actually uplift each
other and like really encourage each other. And she's the
head of the ship. And I know that Kathy has
came in probably into the w looking at it in
a business aspect, like how do I continue to build this?

(41:14):
And she's bringing in you know, X y Z. But
you have star players, players in general, but star players
wanting that relationship from you and feeling like that's not
a priority for me, and I would hope that she
sees that and kind of reflects her own while also
I know there's a lot of jobs to have to
do this every day and to be the w commissioner.
So I'm not saying her job is easy either. I

(41:35):
just think if you hear your players kind of wanting
that relationship and wanting to hear and that care and concern,
like pour into them and do.

Speaker 1 (41:43):
That, there is a there's a train of thought that,
because I have been there through the commissioners before, she's
to me has seemed the most impactful in terms of
the business aspect. She's very business savvy. Yes, right, she
is business savvy. I will say that about her. But

(42:05):
the is it? Is it the fact that she needs
to feel a little more relatable in a league that
is very diverse and she doesn't feel relatable?

Speaker 2 (42:16):
Is that? What is that?

Speaker 1 (42:17):
Is that the issue? White woman feels like she's all
about business? I'm saying that. She's not saying that. I'm
saying that, and it doesn't in a league where seventy
some percent of the women are black and or LGBTQI
A and yeah, you don't feel like you understand my
real humanity. That's what I'm talking about.

Speaker 2 (42:37):
I think I think she also. I think there's also
might be this separation from like the league to the
business side. I don't feel like I've ever felt like
super connected with her, and that's just not how I feel,
and that's not I'm not the only one that feels
that way, and I've never kind of felt that way
with our past commissioners. And I think that's what people

(42:58):
just want out of her, that connection. I think that's
a huge part of being a leader. It's you know,
establishing those relationships and cultivating those and like I said,
if you hear Fee speaking about it, you just have
to know how the last person on the team might feel,
right like, from top to bottom. This is a constant concern,
and I think that would be something that she should

(43:18):
look into because I think it would make a difference
into not only the CBA negotiations, but just her future
in the w Yeah.

Speaker 1 (43:24):
I think Fee was like no vasily hit them up
every song you can think of. She eat there literally
and it was like I got enough money to take
whatever fine this is, and in fact I've created something, Yeah,
that the players seem to enjoy. Y'all can do it too,
if I've been me and my husband.

Speaker 2 (43:42):
Listen to the players. It's a player led league, and
I think that's why I unrivaled in a you do
so well. We hear we other players making these changes
in day to day decisions on what should be added,
what do we need, and it does well and the
fan scene to respond. So again, you just hope that
it doesn't come from like arrogance that they don't see
these things happening and like not act on that. And

(44:04):
I think she has one of the easiest jobs. Just
listen to the players, just listen to what we're saying,
and then let's go from there. So from the referee standpoint,
I don't know what all can go into the Maybe
more training, maybe keeping the same refs in the league longer,
pulling different rests from I don't know what could go
with that. But I think with these new CBA negotiations,

(44:25):
I do believe that she just has to come to
a real conversation with us and these owners about how
can we mutually go forward together And it's not them
versus day. It's a we thing.

Speaker 1 (44:38):
Yeah, And do you feel like it's a we thing?
Or is it a me thing? Meaning I've heard players
say it feels like it's about her. It doesn't feel
like it's Yeah.

Speaker 2 (44:47):
I don't think this is a collaboration at all. Like
even just knowing the first deal that was offered to us,
it was like, there's no way you think we're going
to agree to this, So why do you value us
like that? Like why don't you think this is going
to grow? And it just seems like there's not going
to be understanding and a lockout is very a high

(45:10):
situation for a lockout to happen, And that's kind of
it's terrible because we're making so many, like good moves
in the w We're making so much progress and I
would hate for that to be halted because we can't
come on the same page. So it definitely doesn't feel
like a team thing right now at all.

Speaker 1 (45:27):
When if you submite those comments, I knew the CBA,
but you all were in negotiations, and in my mind,
I was like, she's like now or never?

Speaker 2 (45:35):
Now or never. I feel the exact same way because
there's so much change that we can have in the
CBA that we've never had before, and just the benefits
that we can have as players that we've seen other
leagues have for so long. And like you said, I
don't want to compare our league to other leagues. I
hate doing that as well. But you take notes. You
take notes, and we have advisors of other leagues helping
us with the CBA, and they're like, these are the

(45:56):
things you guys have to ask for. So we have
the knowledge now, and obviously we have the power as well,
because you can't. You can't get there without us. So like,
what are we going to do?

Speaker 1 (46:05):
You know, leverage? What do you say to the folks
who say you guys just started getting popular, which isn't true,
So why walk away now? It's not smart? Why what
do you say to people who say that the people
who have just started to watch the WAKA, who didn't
know that as your person, we always been popping.

Speaker 2 (46:24):
Yes, absolutely, I think to say that those people it's like,
like you said, they're new fans. You don't know the
history of this league and how fruitful it's been. We
might have been able to be covered by TVs, and
that's because of their lack of seeing how we're valued
in our purpose. But this product and the talent and
these players have been along for a long time before me,

(46:46):
and they're going to be here after me. So you
have to pour into this now. And I get it
that we've had players pop off, like in the past
two or three years, like a lot of these rookies
coming in just kind of changing the game, and we
love it. But they also know that they wouldn't be
here either with the players without the players that came
before them. So clearly they don't know their history. And

(47:08):
you guys think we're going to step away, but we
know our value. And if we have to step away
to show you guys that, then that's what's going to happen.

Speaker 1 (47:14):
All the things that I have been saying, I'm so glad. Yes,
I hope you know your value. I think it's really
interesting how women are socialized and how the world deals
with women. I think that's the biggest problem with the
w NBA. They don't value you as an athlete first,
they value as a woman, and so you have to
always battle that. I'm really curious today there were Kaitlyn

(47:39):
Clark on her exit interview so that she stood with Fee.
She understood with Fee was saying, she sides up the
question about I believe in my opinion about Kathy Engelbert.
But when you think about Kaitlyn Clark and people have
this and I'm constantly defending the women of the league
because I hate how they say they're jealous. I also

(48:00):
feel like, so what if we don't like you? No
one is questioning whether or not Michael Jordan likes Isaiah Thomas.
Nobody questioning whether magic food with Isaiah anymore, Like if
he didn't, he just didn't. Lebron maybe didn't like Steph
for hotman, and when Steph was the guy who cares.
That's a part of the game. It's just a part
of the game. And I and I respect you if

(48:22):
you say you don't like somebody. I don't like everybody
I work with quote unquote colleagues.

Speaker 2 (48:28):
It's hard.

Speaker 1 (48:28):
We just don't vibe. It's fine though, It's fine, and
I'm stay right here. And I think more and more,
and the media is that followed at this too, the
more and more that we tried to defend you all
and also defend Caitlyn. At the same time, I think
we realize that maybe we don't like certain aspects of
her game, and that too, is okay. Do you feel

(48:50):
like there is Caitlin versus the w NBA or the
players of the w NBA. Do you feel like there
is this commonation or is that starting to settle, especially
since she missed most of the season.

Speaker 2 (49:05):
I mean, I could take it back even to my
time in Chicago last year with Angel and Caitlin, and
it just was like, are we even here to play
basketball anymore? Because the narratives that I would see every
single day about those two it was draining. You couldn't
even focus on the game anymore. And again, I've never
seen anything like that during my time in the w

(49:27):
So I'm like, I get people do the drama and
the click big thing, but it was turning into like
having effects on like people in real time. So I
don't know much about Kaitlin, We've never really been in
the same room, but I just know Angel probably she
that was probably frustrating for her, of course, and it started,
you know, in college and I went to that national
championship game, and for the two of them to handle

(49:48):
that much pressure and insults every single day, it's like draining.
It's absolutely draining. But at the same time, there's going
to be Caitlin defenders and Angel defenders and they're going
at everybody when it's like it doesn't they're not even
in the same position, Like what do I mean, what
are we talking about? I think very great, just like

(50:10):
Angel can be great, and like, I'm just kind of
tired of the conversation. So unfortunately, like Caitlyn couldn't play
this year, and I don't know if it died down
because of that, but I know that conversation isn't going
anywhere at all. I just I kind of just let
it be because it happens in sports. It happens in sports,
and I think oftentimes and women's sports, we are usually
closer to each other. So when it happens, it's like

(50:32):
this isn't like our league. But we're also growing in viewership,
so people are going to make little fan bases like that,
and it is what it is now. I feel like
a part of that came along with cyberbullying. Bullying, and
you know, I know if it's affected me at a point,
you know, teammates in general, and I think that is

(50:53):
the conversation that should be had because it's it's like
we have nothing to do with this. It's rivalry, Like
that's not on us. I think there should be more
of a protection to protect players in those situations, and
there wasn't necessarily anything like that available, So I think
that's something that the league should continue to invest in.

(51:13):
But yeah, I just wish they would just let us
play and leave without the pettiness, because like, I'm over it.

Speaker 1 (51:18):
I think this year was interesting because she didn't play
to your point, at least not most of the year,
and I think that it showed a lot of different things.
And the NBA is still very successful and still thriving.
Whether they needed her an angel and the perceived rivalry
to bring the eyes, it's still as intense, it's still
as amazing watching, you know, watching Game five with the AH.

(51:44):
I can't go to bed now.

Speaker 2 (51:48):
The game and then I see players like Obnestly Sims
and like, oh my god, shape Petty and just you
get to see the Gretes, you get to see the greats,
and I think, oh, it's been struggling to get in
and out the league for a while. But she definitely
solidified herself. But I've seen this every single year, and
athletes unlimited like oh comes to compete. She can score.

(52:08):
It's hard to stuff that stopped that left handed drive, Like,
the girl's talented and I'm just so happy that she
had a huge platform like this to finally show it.
And just yeah, there's players out there that still know
how to play. They might be ducked off and tucked
away in the roster, but they could still play given
the opportunity.

Speaker 1 (52:24):
Yeah, that was special, actually really good for you. Do
you believe that that rivalry, or or the perceived rivalry,
even though they didn't have the same position, helped the
league grow?

Speaker 2 (52:37):
Absolutely, Like even in Chicago we didn't have the best facilities,
like that was very known. I think just the attention
in the eyes that Angel brought to Chicago was huge,
Like there were so many fans, so many people just
supporting Chicago and obviously it was a successful organization when
Cannis was there, she brought a championship. But just like

(52:59):
the and like the constant love from the fans, I
felt like I felt that a lot last year in
Chicago playing there, and just the partnerships we were having,
like deals thrown at the team left and right, because
obviously she was a part of it. So it was
pretty cool to see that investment into the team.

Speaker 1 (53:19):
Yeah, yeah, there's some benefit from from I have said this,
and I don't know if players agree. Look I don't
I have. I love a rivalry, a perceived rivalry, a
made of rivalry. I'm media. I love it. I love
the bat because it drives storylines and it brings in
characters that we haven't paid attention to before. But you

(53:40):
guys are one hundred percent humans. But to me, it
was all good at the end of the day because
I was like, good people are paying attention. I remember
interviewing Candice when I was on Sports Center and she
was like, she didn't want to tell the stories because
she felt like she couldn't. And now here we fast
forward to phoebing, like, so I have a prepared statement
and I'm all like, we've arrived. We've arrived, And by

(54:02):
that I mean I've been celebrating you all forever and
we've arrived. With that being said, I think that the
way in which you have handled yourself, you are an
example of more people across the board in terms of athletes,
like you have really handled yourself with so much grace
and classes. And I'm sure they had something to do

(54:24):
with being raised with several other a small little army
of brothers and sisters and a really good mom and
dad and who supported you. And you are the best
of what people should be like in terms of humans,
and I wish you nothing but the best. But I
appreciate your voice and how candid you've been and the
way in which you carry yourself isn't like I'm shitting

(54:45):
on anybody, but it's like, here's the story, here's the story,
and the fact oftentimes teams kind of silence your your
voice because it's a protection of themselves. But it's also like,
we don't need to let everybody know what's going on
with us.

Speaker 2 (54:58):
Yeah, and that's honestly the only time you can call
for change. So I understand why Canis didn't want to
speak about it. I get in why players in the
past didn't, because it's like, you want to protect the
people that you go to work with every day, but
at a certain point, you have to advocate for yourself
and what you deserve. So that's what feedd.

Speaker 1 (55:13):
And it takes a certain personality. You got to be
set up a certain way. All the things happen. It
has to everything, just the stars need to align for
it to happen. I understand that it's about it's been
a pleasure. You have a lupus walking on October fourth,
so by the time the stairs, which is on Monday,
the walk has already happened. Tell me about your dedication

(55:34):
that lupas.

Speaker 2 (55:35):
Yeah, my family has a long history with like autoimmune illnesses,
and my sister she actually passed away from Lupa's complications
excuse me in twenty seventeen, twenty seventeen, And you know,
I kind of wanted to partner with the organization that
really just saw me and poured into me. And I
also have two other siblings that deal with lupus, so

(55:57):
right now verset in the process of finding my brother
Kenny Donor. My old sister kind of has like her
ups and downs with it. So I just wanted to
like bring it to a platform that is like seen
and understood. And I didn't know how how much it
affected the African American community. I had no idea. I
thought it was just my family. But I've gotten so

(56:18):
many messages from just people from all over just giving
me their story and like what they've done to deal
with it, and their doctors and rheumatologists like donor like
donation sites that you know, I wasn't aware of, so
really giving Lupis this platform to kind of blossom into
what it is, the Lupis Foundation. They've just supported me
for like the past four years now. So we're gonna

(56:38):
do a walk together in New York. It's gonna be
early brought in early what time we started at nine
point thirty, okay, And we're gonna do the walk. We're
gonna bring all the doggies, so dogs are welcome, and
me and Tasha going to be there and we're gonna
have our shirts and kind of just to do something
for the city. And all the liberty fans know about it.
They've been talking about it like crazy. So I'm excited
for it.

Speaker 1 (56:58):
Good for you. So that's where you live, that's where
you're trying to just bring more attention and awareness. And
is there or is that for more to raise money
for more awareness, to raise money for a cure.

Speaker 2 (57:08):
Yeah. I think awareness is big for me, and I
think that's when it starts to drive into the dollars
for cures and finding out how many people are affected
by this. I think that drives the importance of finding
something to help these people. And I mean we can
go into the healthcare system I was in. I was
with my brother in Indiana for WNBA All Star because

(57:29):
it was there and I wanted to go and support
Tosh with our All Star appearance. And I was in
the hospital with him, and the amount of times that
we had to be on the doctor's assets about just
getting what he needed and like there was no answers
as to what was happening with him, and with autoimmune
it could be literally anything, so like sending him to
a hospital that has specialists that's very important, listening to

(57:51):
like his caregivers of what they can do, and like
just to help him. Like there was just that relationship
between doctor and patients very very limited, and it's only
until you advocate for your family and you just really
press hard on what you want in this healthcare system.
That's the only way that you get help. And I
just hate to see my brother's struggle like that. So yeah,

(58:14):
he loves me for that, Thank you. He's still having
like his complications, and I hate that for him because
he just wants to live like his best life. One
of the best athletes in the family because we're all athletes,
all my siblings. So I just always wanted him to
be able to live his hoop dreams. But I think
he just supports me in the meantime and because of that,

(58:35):
and yeah, I just want him to have a healthy life.
It's all I want.

Speaker 1 (58:40):
Amen. Well, here's to the Lupus Walk. I hope you
raise awareness. I hope you guys support even beyond the walk.
Thank you, Thank you for being here, thank you for
having me, thank you for being so open and honest.
I feel like this was superb. I was like, you
came to play, this is great. I loved it.

Speaker 2 (58:55):
I love being here and I love seeing you on
every platform. Then you come across my screen.

Speaker 1 (59:00):
I was like, she's such a bad I'm like, give
me all the beauty secret We're gonna get a drink
after this. I'm gonna get all the beauty secrets.

Speaker 2 (59:07):
I got it.

Speaker 1 (59:09):
Isabelle Harrison on Naked Sports. Thank you, Thank you. There
has been so much news this past week with the
w NBA, and I'm really excited about the idea that
women are speaking up for what they want in a
league that for so long, at least in my opinion,
has not valued them. We are at a very pivotal

(59:30):
point in women's sports, and what I mean by that is,
if these women are finding their voices, understanding their value,
things are bound to change. And it's not just for sports,
it's for a community, it's for collective worldwide. I think
that their shared experiences and frustrations can be talked about

(59:51):
with any particular industry. I don't care if you are
a hairstylist or a broadcast journalist or a dog walker.
There are things in which only women can talk about
it in a way that women can talk about it.
There's just shared understanding of wanting to be seen and heard.
And I'm so grateful that Isabelle Harrison y'all call her Izzy, y'all,
came on the podcast today to talk about her experience

(01:00:15):
in the W and life outside the W. I encourage
you to support the WNBA, the New York Liberty if
that's your team. I just happened to be in New
York or any team nearby. But pay attention to what's
going on because it really is going to set the
foundation for generations to come again. We appreciate y'all, but
listening to Naked Sports. We'll be back next week. Naked

(01:00:38):
Sports written and executive produced by me Carrie Champion, produced
by Jacques Thomas, sound designed and mastered by Dwayne Crawford.
Naked Sports is a part of the Black Effect podcast
network in iHeartMedia