March 3, 2025 • 46 mins
Jemele is joined by ESPN women’s basketball analyst LaChina Robinson to discuss the incredible career of basketball legend Diana Taurasi, who recently announced her retirement from the sport. Jemele and LaChina discuss Taurasi’s place in history, including whether she is the greatest women’s player ever. They also discuss who should be the favorite to win the national championship in the women’s college basketball and LeBron James admitting that being the face of the league is no longer appealing because of intense media criticism.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
I'm please rite now in this episode of Politics, which
is also being broadcast live over YouTube, to be joined
by my friend, by my sister, one of the foremost
basketball analysts in this world, not just the country, but
the world, Craig the World. Very pleased to be joined
by ms LA China, Robinson China.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
How are you doing.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I'm doing well. Wow, that was a great intro.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I had to put some sauce on it.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
I had to put some sauce on I feel the
energy coming from the West Coast, you know.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
I appreciate that. Thank you so much. As always a
joy to chop it up with you. So I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah, it's been way too long.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
I mean usually we're having a lot of these conversations
socially and not necessarily in public view.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
If you will.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
But given the news of the week, which is Diana Tarassi,
who many consider to be the greatest of all time,
with her deciding to retire, I felt like you were
the appropriate person to have one to discuss her legacy,
and not just her legacy, but also you know, talk
a little women's hoops in general and talk about like
where the league sort of goes from here, so like
(01:18):
There's a couple different kind of conversations that I want
to get to you on this particular live episode of politics,
but I'll just start at the beginning. How did you
feel about Diana Tarassi deciding to retire now?
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Was this the right timing?
Speaker 1 (01:35):
It was the right timing, Jammelle, It's actually it feels
like it's been bubbling for the last few years.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
And it's interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
I feel like we have all these pre records of
everyone's thoughts on Diana Tarassi's career over the last few
years because we never knew what was going to happen,
and she always said, you know, I'm just gonna up
and do it. There's not gonna be a lot of fanfare.
What you used to tell us for a while was
it depends on how she felt in the off season,
Like if she wasn't motivated to get up and work
out and to be the best, then she would know
(02:04):
it was time to quit. But she sounded at peace
with it, and in terms of the timing from a
league standpoint, it's a good time.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
She's passed the torch. The WNBA is in good standing.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
You know, Diana had been pushing through some injuries over
the last few years. Obviously the configuration of Phoenix is
a little bit different. Britney Grinder's gone, so that may
have played into it as well. I don't know if
DT at what forty forty one is up for rebuild.
So I think it was It was a good time
and definitely hated to see it, but we've been waiting.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
We knew what was coming.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Yeah, you said something that was interesting about like this being,
you know, her retiring without any fanfare. Some people, I
don't know, I got the feeling some people are a
little bit disappointed about that. I mean, do you think
she should have gone through the you know, the ceremony
we often see of like taking a whole year to
so call and so everything in you know, maybe this
(03:01):
last upcoming season, maybe that being her final season and
you know, allowing people in every city to celebrate her.
I mean, did she do the fans of disservice by
choosing to do it this way?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I think she did herself a disservice. Jamelle. I would
have loved to.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
See her have a farewell tour because I don't think
Diana really really understands or feels her impact the way
that she should.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
With us I don't think she does.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
You know, what do you think that is?
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I mean, well, quite honestly, you know, for a long time,
Diana to Rozsi was the spotlight, not just in it,
but she was it, right Like, she was the player
that was on top of everyone's list when you mentioned
women's basketball. I mean, quite honestly, her name is synonymous
with the game of women's basketball, synonymous with the WNBA,
always on everyone's mount Rushmore and so. But over the
(03:51):
last few years, right as Phoenix was not as competitive,
you know, as I mentioned, Diana was fighting through some injury,
so it wasn't at her best case consistently, other stars arising,
arriving and rising in the league took the spotlight off
of her a little bit.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
And then you add on top of that.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
That she wasn't a huge piece of the Olympics team
run to gold medal, at least not between the lines.
And so I think she was a little bit forgotten
about over the last few years. And many would say
for good reason, right like, if you're not on top
of her game, if they're not in the championship. I mean,
the last time they played was a few years back
(04:29):
against Chicago, But you.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Know, she kind of seemed to disappear from.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
The limelight a little bit, and I wish that we
would have been able to give her the proper goodbye
and that the fans could all share their sentiments with Diana,
because I think there was still people that have some
flowers to give her. And I want to say to
all the folks joining us right now on the stream
that if you have a question, you have a comment,
feel free to share. I'll be reading off some of
(04:55):
those and we'll be responding and reacting in real time
so that you guys feeling goat as and part of
the discussion. You know, that's interesting that you would say that,
because you know, it's kind of hard for me as
a basketball fan imagining a league or a basketball mosaic
without Diana Tarasi because she has just been so important
(05:16):
to the sport. You know, from the time she was
in college where she won what three ships there? You know,
she won what three in the WNBA, three or four,
six time Olympic gold medalists. I mean, her career accomplishments
are just insane.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
So the main question is.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
And I know that on the men's side of thing,
this debate can always go left. But I feel like
on the women's side, it's so hard to determine who
is the greatest of all time.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Now, naturally, her former coach, you know, Ariama.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
He told Time Magazine and he said it consistently. It's
not like it's the first time.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
But she's a goat.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Do you consider Diana Tarassi to be the goat of
women's basketball in China? Well, first and foremost, you know,
gets paid and graduated from Connecticut, So she would say that,
I do believe that she is in the conversation when
I share my goat list, She's not number one on
(06:16):
my list.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
She's not number one.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
She's not number one, but she is the greatest score
we've ever seen in the game of women's basketball, Okay.
And the reason why I use the word score, Jamel,
is because your girl, I lean a little bit more
into the defense end of the floor, right, not more
so than offense. But I do believe that there are
players that have had more of a ninety four foot impact,
(06:40):
like a Sheryl scoops, like a Tabika catchings and this
is splitting hairs, right, So Diana is right there in
the conversation. But I have to keep it real in
terms of how I see it, you know, my subjective
opinion as an analyst, and that Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
I feel like she's the greatest scorer we've ever seen.
Is she number one for me?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
No?
Speaker 1 (07:01):
But that does not diminish her impact on the game
could have Could she be the player that's had the
greatest impact on the growth of women's basketball. Absolutely, and
I think we should talk about that more often. But
in terms of like the analyst side, the X and os,
it's like a Cheryl Swoops to make a catchings competition
(07:23):
for me, it started to push her way in there
a little bit late, but okay, so that's what I
of course. Naturally this leads to the next question and
those again who are out there, and then the chat.
You please feel free to comment on who you think
the greatest women's basketball player of all time is.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
So who is your number one?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Ah?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
In this moment, I should.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Say, because you said, yeah, you know, I really really
lean Cheryl Swoops. I do you know as a player
that could match MVPs with Defensive Player of the Year awards,
four championships in the W Like, it's hard to dispute that,
(08:05):
But like I said, there's some really close second thirds
in there, and I would throw Timika Catchings in there.
I would throw Maya Moore in there. I mean, what
she did and what it's a lot of love for
my more in the chat by the oh, I would
have to throw Maya Moore in there as well. So yeah,
I would say my conversation is usually Ryl Top.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Tamika, Maya Candice.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yeah, that's just Tamika get lost.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
In this Tamika Catchings Because any anytime we have the
discussion about who is the greatest women's player ever, a
lot of the names you mentioned come up, and even
some people say Cynthia Cooper, right, they'd throw her in there,
But Tamika's name doesn't come up as often as it
probably should.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
It doesn't.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
She was a five time defensive Player of the Year.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
I mean, Jamelle, I loved watching Timika Catchings play the game.
Anybody's ever watched her. She exhausted herself on the court.
I mean there was not a play that happened on
either end of the floor that she didn't impact. Now,
the fact that she only won one championship in the WNBA, yes,
that weighs heavily. Like that is to me the single
factor as to why she's not higher on some people's list.
(09:16):
I would also throw out there Sylvia Fowls, who I
think has been also forgotten in these conversations as well.
But yeah, I think Tamika Ketching absolutely gets lost in that,
and I think it's because she only won one championship.
But and this is the eye test again. I think
we need to use the eye test more when we
have these conversations because championships, yes, they mean a lot,
(09:37):
but they're not everything.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
And she dominated the game in so many.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Facets and the both ends part is key. Here's a
comment from Troy Wilson. I'm a major fan of Jamail
Hill for years. That's not why I posted this, but
thank you lovey on this platform.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Thank you again.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
This is great and informative interview. But real talk, Maya
Moore is the one. How do you feel about where
Maya fits in this?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I think Maya's there.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
I mean, first of all, I don't know that there's
a player in such a short span of a career
that had as much as success as she did.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Once she played eight years, four championships.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
I mean, she was dominant, like literally changed the Minnesota
Lynks franchise.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
She did play with a lot of talent. So that's
the other thing.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
So when I start splitting hairs, Jamelle, I started looking
at rosters, trying to figure out what kind of support
you had, what kind of the all stars, things like that.
Tamika Ketchings did not have a lot of support of
her team. I mean, she was a number one pick,
but not a lot of lottery picks came after her.
Maya More obviously was surrounded by a lot of talent.
Diana Tarazzi was, Cheryl Swoops was, let's be honest, like
(10:44):
Cheryl Swoops had, Cynthia had, Tina had, Janette Arkane like,
we could go down the roster. So when you start
splitting hairs, there are other factors that couldn't come into
that conversation.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
But Maya Moore, Yeah, she's she's there, She's on my
Mount Rushmore. She's top four.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Now when you when you have this conversation about great,
it's funny again how different this is from having this
conversation on the men's side, because I think the women.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Their college career matters.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
In part of this discussion, in large part because you know,
we have some old time grades that did not have.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
The benefit of the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Like Cynthia Cooper, definitely a great player in college, but
she wasn't as great as some of the other people,
Like her college career wasn't as great as Diana Tarasi's
in my opinions, right, okay, or like some of the
or Tamika Ketchers or some of the other people you mentioned.
But as a pro she was ridiculous. You know what
I'm saying, so insane And that's why this conversation is
(11:39):
so fun to have and there's so much depth to
it because Cynthia Cooper didn't get a lot of the
years to play in the WNBA, Lisa Leslie didn't get
a ton of years to play like Diana played twenty years.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
So your chances to get the Something's done in a
twenty year career.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Are pretty good, right, And so Laura Jackson is another player, right,
feel like her career was short. She could be in this,
but like injuries forced her out earlier than we would
have liked.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
So no, you're absolutely right the way you're looking at that.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
And college does come into play, and that's where Diana,
I'm telling you. Look at the teams Diana one with
and I'm gonna I know this. People like to bring
us up all the time. So when you look at
where who Diana won with was, she was at Connecticut, right, Yeah,
they were McDonald's, all Americans. Yes, they were talented, but
keep in mind the class that was right before her.
(12:29):
Their starting lineup was Swim Cash, Tamika Williams, Sue Bird
like that, Asia Jones like that class was insane in
terms of their level of talent.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
And so they were all lottery picks in the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
And then Diana comes and she's kind of got to
go through this rebuild and she.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Was carrying them. She was carrying them Jamale.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
So again, just looking at the different layers of it
is a good conversation because she could be one of
the greatest college players if you start.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Looking at it like that of all time.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Quite honestly, in that regard, she stands apart from typical
Yukon players is because she inherited a different situation than
a lot of them come into where it's like, Okay,
I just got to get in where I fit in.
Then it's gonna be my turn, and then it's gonna
be other you know, other Avengers with me and it
was a little bit a little bit different, you know,
for her now, you know, with somebody who has accomplished
(13:22):
as much as she has and where she's leaving with
her place in the game, would you say that Diana
Tarassi that I know she was a face of the league,
but it feels like in some way she was, but
in some way she wasn't, you know what I mean?
I think it's what you were talking about in terms
of how to some degree she went under you know, appreciated,
(13:43):
like like it felt like her reign as face of
the league was not as significant as she as it
should have been. As am I reading this wrong, but
it just kind of felt that way. So I do
feel like her reign as the face of the league
was good, right. I do think she had a good
stretch of time where every media person that didn't know
(14:06):
anything about the WNBA, but I do know about Diana Tarrozzi.
So she was the lead story, even in some cases
where it should have been another player, right, because we
know that about the coverage of the WNBA that you know,
it's grown over time, but you've come a long way,
and so for many years, Diana was the only name
and she did enjoy a good stretch of time there.
(14:27):
But again I thought towards the end of her career
and maybe probably happened.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Maybe that's what I'm thinking about more.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Yeah, the end of her career, it just it felt
like that really kind of fizzled out. Yeah, And in
her time as the face of the league, what I
think was so just incredible is that she was not
just the face of the league here the WNBA, but
she was the face of international basketball as well.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
I mean, she played.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Overseas for twelve seasons where the game has been buzzing.
Like over here things are just starting to really get
jumping with the WNBA, but the game is been popular
overseas for a very long time. I called the game
for the Olympics this summer, and every time I was
scouting and looking at other countries, like their their feeds,
so listen to them talk about their players. Diana would
(15:12):
check in the game and these people went nuts. And
they're supposed to be the commentations for the for the
other country, and they're like, there she is.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
It's Diana Tarassi. She's checking into the game.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
And I'm like, Diana, nineteen years in the game and
y'all still but that is the reverence, like the respect
that she gets for the game of basketball. So it's
not just women's basketball, it's not just basketball, and it's
not just in this country. Again, her name is synonymous
with the sport and even on every playground, Like I
would say Jamel that Diana was one of those first
(15:46):
players that you know, on the playground, you know, people
would say, oh, it's women's basketball, you know, like it's
kind of okay, you know, little sister basketball. When Diana
stepped up and stepped through the line, the respect level
was insane. Like the way she played the game, the
swagger she would trash talk, and so people started to
(16:07):
really change and embrace what a female athlete could look
like and walk like and play like. And she opened
the doors for this game to be better and for
it to be more authentic. I think, yeah, I would
agree with that. She talked her shit like straight up,
she talked her shit and.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Did not care.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
And I kind of and in some ways I compare her,
Like I say this about past Summit, like Pat Summit
changed the way we see female leaders, right because Pat,
you knew Pat when she was mad, she was not
trying to appease people.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Wasn't warm, nice and fuzzy.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
She was coaching tough, and we knew that we could
see it in her face, and so people started to say, Wow,
this lady's scary.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
No, she's a she's a very good coach.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
And women have all of these different emotions and tactics
for which they use in coaching and all these things.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Just like men do. Well. Then same thing with Diana.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
She kind of broke the mold because it was like, oh,
you know, girls of women's basketball, that's cute.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Diana bustle up on the scene.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
It was a cold blooded killer, like I will beat
you and your little brother, right. So it kind of
changed the way we see the demeanor of women athletes,
and I thought Diana was a leader in that. I
know this will probably be difficult, and I'm not asking
you to rank it as their number one memory, but
what's your favorite or some of your favorite memories of Diana.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
They could be either on the court or off the court.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Oh man, some of my favorite memories of Diana. Number
one is really.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
The fact that she was the most physical offensive player
I have ever seen play the game, and she got
away with a lot like now that we can really
say what it was.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
She got more Jordan calls than Jordan. Like Diana was
out there pushing, shoving. She didn't care off the ball too.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
If you ever called a game with Diana's playing, if
you heard a whistle off the ball, it was dianauh
somebody down. She didn't kick somebody on the other team.
She she did something right. So that's number one. The
other was during the season where the WNBA was playing
in the Bubble. Diana, per usual, had had some misunderstanding
(18:16):
with some officials.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Oh, some misunderstanding understanding with.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Some officials, and so because everybody was staying on this
campus together, they would see the officials sometimes out walking
and you know, enjoying their lives, which you never see
in normal sports, right you only see the officials in
the game that you never see it again. You might
catch them on a flight. But because they were all
living in this space together. I don't know what the
official said to Diana, but she was upset, and she
(18:42):
basically looked at him and said, I'll see.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
You in the lobby.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Because they were saying they were staying at the same place.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Not i'll see you in the lobby.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
She did, she did, She did, she said, I'll see
you in the lobby. So that was always one of
my favorite dianas.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
And then there was like the famous Simonagusu's kids where
her moon were getting into it and she just kissed
her on the fla face. You just never knew what
to expect from her, like literally and off the court
she is so sweet. I mean, just the nicest person, kind,
thoughtful whoo. But when she touched the court boy, I mean,
(19:15):
she wasn't playing to lose. Yeah, no, she she definitely
wasn't winning all cass type of player. I'll uh, I
bring up another name here. Ellison Burley says, Cheryl Miller
has hands down as his goat and I had I
gotta be honest, and this is this is where I
struggle because Cheryl Miller is my number one. But it's
(19:38):
like I'm holding on to Cheryl just just like a little.
I'm like, I got to let to let Cheryl go, probably,
but I just can't because I.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Just love her so much. Where is Cheryl?
Speaker 1 (19:51):
She she kicked out the conversation just because the game
of alls, the game does evolve Jamel, and it doesn't
take away from how dominant she was. Like if she
would have had a longer career, we would be having
a very different conversation. Like people forget how short Cheryl's
careers was. I mean, she was basically retired in her
early twenties, right, And what a shame because she was
(20:16):
such a great player. I mean obviously the impact she
had at USC and what she did with the USA, but.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
We also didn't have the platform to really appreciate Cheryl
the way we can look back and do right now.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Right.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
But yeah, she in there, but Jay, I know.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Let her.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
I'm gonna let her go because I was struck because
Diana made me rethink it.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
I was.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
It's probably not. I just can't let her.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
God know, I can't know it, I know. But I'm
also glad you brought up the other Cheryl, as in
Cheryl Swoops, because I think a lot of people, and
especially living it in real time, it's hard to explain
to people what it was like to see her drop
that forty seven on Ohio State in the National title game.
The fact that she had a shoe commercial, the fact
(21:01):
that she had a shoe, It's like air swoops was
a thing, you know, I mean, you talk about doing
it on her own can you name anybody else from
her contest actional championship team took Texas Tech to a
national title? To me, love it, that's worth like three
Yukon titles. Yeah, we talk about Lubbock, Texas. Okay, dominant. No,
(21:25):
I'm with you, I mean I've I've again. I am
grateful to have lived during these times, been around.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
For a minute.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
I'm old.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Didn't watch Cheryl Miller live, right, so I will say
that in those early years, but I watched swoops and
what she did. Even you throw in there the fact
that she she missed time to become a mother and
still four championships, still MVPs, three MVPs, I believe three
Defensive Player of the Year. Like, that's dominant. So dominant
(21:56):
in the game has grown. So that's where you hear
a lot of other opinions when it comes to Diana
Torazzi in the Canpas Parkers is the game some people
feel like wasn't as good. Then that's not true. The
game was grown. Women basketball by then at that point
because they were twenty five. Cinthy Cooper was thirty by
the time she got into WNBA, thirty four years old.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
In her early thirties, So these women had.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Gone overseas and they had vast experience that they brought
to the game.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
So I would say it was different now.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
The game is faster, more athletic, we know all of that,
but it was great basketball even then, just different from
what we see now. So there is I don't know
if you've noticed this, there's some interesting conversations happening right
now about the NBA. After Anthony Edwards said that he
didn't want to be the face of the league and
Lebron James he piped in with some thoughts last night
(22:50):
after Dallas's win over min Minnesota, where Lebron essentially said,
I'm paraphrasing, but this was legiti just stuff it. He said,
why would anybody want to be the face of the
NBA when the media that covers the NBA is constantly
talking shit about the players down in the players? Why
(23:10):
why would anybody want to be the face of the league.
And he is the face of the league, you know,
and he has been for some years right now, even
at forty years old, Lebron James is the face of
the NBA. I jokingly call him the commissioner, the unofficial commissioner,
of the NBA because he is right and so, but
what do you think about this idea that a young
(23:32):
player like Anthony Edwards does not want to embrace being
considered or does not want to be a face of
the league, Like, does Lebron have a point that.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Because of the toxicity that.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Is sometimes around in NBA conversations, that it's making that
mantle a little less appealing. Heavy is the head that
wears the crown and at the point, right right, And
so I understand why Anthony Edwards feel that way because
you know that as the face of the league. I mean,
look at what all Lebron has had to go through.
(24:05):
I feel like he's more celebrated now. But all I
remember is every team he played on early on his career,
he always defers. He never wants to take the winning shot.
Jordan always wanted the winning moment. I'm like, this man
is putting up a triple double almost every night, Like
where's the respect? So I get why he would say that.
I do feel like this was an opportunity for him
(24:26):
to get another agenda out. You know, I don't know
that these two things would necessarily coincide on another day,
because it sounds like on that media side of thing,
that he's been hearing some things that he doesn't really appreciate,
and not that there's.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Not true to this, but I think Lebron would agree
that the level of responsibility, take the media out of it,
take all of that, but the level of responsibility, pressure
expectation that is put on the face of the league
is a lot. It's a lot, you know, even if
the media wasn't.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
I mean, Lebron has been carrying the popularity of the
game for a very long time. Fans even have things
to say, take me out of it. There's everyone's got
an opinion about Lebron, right, So that's how I feel,
I understand.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
So here I have a few thoughts on this one.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
I do think this generation of players, and this is
for anybody in sports, is that the criticisms are so
much louder to them because of social media, you know, frankly,
and it used to be a little bit of a
separation where certainly you would hear for the fans in
the arena and from the media, but now it's just
like Joe Shmo twenty two seven could just be like Lebron,
(25:41):
you ain't shit any people like immediately see this as
opposed to there being like a little bit of a
layer between. So I think the criticism for his generation
just feels that much more sharp, right because when he
says the media, I think he's lumping against social media too.
He's not just thinking about the people who come for
the game, you know what I'm saying. Yeah, So that
(26:02):
he did say, I think though the people that cover
our game. I think he did actually, But I agree,
I think social media is.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Looped in there as well. He's looked in there as well.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
And then I think it was his way of uh
sub tweeting, but in in commentary inside the NBA, because that's.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
It what he's really talking about, right, you know.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
And and there have I've heard this criticism about Chuck,
Kenny e J and Shack uh more recently that I
might say, but I think it's been said across the years,
is that you know, these guys are brutally honest.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
You know, they have very accomplished careers.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
We got championships, MVPs, you know, all of that in
that in that group, and they have the most popular
NBA show, so that most popular studio show. Rather and
so because of the way that they talk about today's players.
People love the honesty, but some people have a c
them of not necessarily always being the greatest ambassador because
(27:04):
they're so honest. And I think some of this of
what he's saying is really directed at them, because this
is the NBA's flagship show, you know, in terms of commentary,
it's them, and so they the players are you know,
every night they're getting somebody getting called out.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
Well, But you bring up an interesting point.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
I would ask you, how much of the responsibility of
the media do you think is to be an ambassador?
So I think the former players they're going to carry
that responsibibility more than I would. And because you know,
we don't work for the league, like that's not really
you know, and maybe it gets a little bit tricky
when you're working for a network like a TNT, the
(27:47):
or ESPN, because you know, I don't know, actually the
China I would ask you this. Now, I know you're
a former player, but you're largely associated with being in
the media, like when you're common on college and professional
games and hosting, like, do you consider that a part
of your job is to be an ambassador for the
(28:09):
women's game. That's a great question, Jamille, and I'll tell
you why. I feel like times have changed. When I
first started covering women's basketball almost two decades ago, everybody
was talking bad about women's basketball. No one had anything
good to say about women's basketball. In fact, for most
of the larger networks or media entities that didn't actually
(28:33):
care to cover the sport, they would wait for something
bad to happen and then jump in and try to
have commentary around women's basketball. So in that regard, I
did feel like it was my job not to be
an ambassador, but to ensure that I was pointing.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Out the positives of the sport, right that.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
You are providing the counter narrative correct, okay.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
And not like intentionally like, oh, I'm gonna get on
here and I'm gonna talk positive about women's basketball.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
But I did feel a tug on me to point.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Out the positives of the game because everybody else was
like crapping on women's basketball. Now what has happened over
time is we have more voices, more types of commentary,
whether it be criticism or you know, critique, or even
different aspects of the athlete's life.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
They're casual, like they're fashions, so there's more breadth of
coverage for women's basketball to get varying perspectives, so I
don't feel like since I'm only one of the few voices,
I need to ensure that we are pointing out the
positive the game. I now feel like there's more balance.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
I feel like, you know, because the coverage of women's
basketball has grown, we're getting different types of perspectives that
are drowning out the people somewhat that just want to
be negative about it because it's women's sports, because it's
women's basketball, because it's a predominantly black league, whatever your
reason is. I feel like those voices are starting to immer,
(30:00):
and so it allows people to then settle into just
being you know, active subjective if you will, like commentary, commentator,
and to not feel like they got a counterbalance to negativity.
I feel like you would appreciate this. Next timing, I'm
gonna have to throw up here. Bring the China's mom on.
(30:22):
She always has great sports takes. That's from LW.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
When I'm let me tell you this.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
My mom hit me up the other day, jamlle. This
was after South Carolina actually was at halftime. South Carolina
was losing the game. I know it wasn't. She is
a Dawn stay stand okay, not a fan. She texts
me and says, I cannot believe this. What I'm watching,
oh is when they play in Yukon, she said, I
cannot believe this what is happening. It's only halftime right,
(30:51):
more game to go. This is just terrible and losing
to gino Iu. I mean, she had a whole like
just dump all the way down and she said after
the game, she said, and I heard what Don said,
she said, this isn't about winning. So what that tells
me is there's some drama going on in the locker
room and Don is addressing it. And I was like, Okay,
anything else you want to share with us about what's.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Going on in South Carolina.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Jay, she's out of control, but I appreciate the love
for my mom.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
She's unfiltered and she gonna make it do what to do?
Speaker 2 (31:22):
I love it, Love your mom? All right? This from
Ellison Burley. Let's have any on this convo.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
People knocked the NBA truly because there's no American born
white player that's a three to four player in the
game itself. Bird is not walking through that door. Now
there is definitely some tension in basketball because what the
last six MVPs have been foreign born players in the NBA,
(31:47):
and it looks like it's headed for seven because you know,
SGA Shay Gilgis is gonna probably you know, somewhat run
away with the Saints. He's having a phenomenal season. Okay,
so he's got the top spot in the West. Like
they've been great pretty much all year. But you know,
and there's been a lot of conversations about what's happening
at the grassroots of American basketball because people have noticed, certainly,
(32:13):
and there's always been polarizing opinions about AAU, but now
the focus in youth basketball on specialized training, on all
these other things that are coming into it. I think
there's a lot of concern from fans from coaches that
American basketball is sort of losing its grip. I'd love
to hear your thoughts on that about whether or not
(32:34):
you feel like the game. It's a global game, and
on the women's side, it's a lot different, right. It's like,
you know, they're that pipeline looks looks a lot healthier,
I have to say, But what are your thoughts about
where American kind of basketball stands right now. Yeah, it's
tough for me to comment on where it is on
(32:55):
the men's side, just because I you know, IM not
as as close to the men's game. But I do
understand his comments, right, Like, one thing that has helped
the WNBA over time is that we are watching these
players literally grow up from college into the league. Women's
basketball players can't leave college early, so they're gonna be
(33:16):
there until they turn twenty two, the year the draft
or their eligibility is done. And so what happens then
is these fans have an opportunity to really fan their
college years into the WNBA, And so there's connection and
there's longevity, and that has helped the league. And I
think on the flip side of that, when it comes
to the NBA, it's very different. I mean, you even
(33:38):
look at men's college basketball right now with the one
and done's or you know, just their ability to go
pro or the transfer portal which is affecting both sports.
It kind of makes it hard to be a fan
a little bit, right, So I could understand if you
bring the international scene into that, like where's that fandom?
One thing I used to say, the Atlanta Dream when
(34:02):
they ran, they had like three they went to three
w NBA finals, and a majority of their starting lineups
for those final runs were international players. And so Atlanta
had a different fan base, not as large of a
fan base as some of the teams where their starting
lineups were predominantly of college players. Who's you know, fans
(34:24):
had followed them to the w NBA where there was
longevity with that connection, and so I guess there isn't
a sense something to say about that connection and that
it may be missing on the on the men's.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
Side of things.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
So, you know, we were talking a lot about this
this face of the league issue in the w NBA.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Who do you consider to be the face of the league?
Speaker 1 (34:45):
Now, this is not a hard question for me, Jamille,
because I'm a basketball analyst. It's Asia Wilson, it's Adrian Bluhman.
We don't need to take for granted what she is
doing right now between the lines. As Dinahs reminded us
of the other day, the main thing is still the
main thing, and that's the basketball.
Speaker 3 (35:04):
She's a three time MVP. Is she even twenty eight
years old?
Speaker 1 (35:08):
Right now, There's only been four players in the history
of the league to be three time MVP. She's the
first player to score over a thousand points in a season.
She also led the league in rebounding this year. She
just came off a back to back run with the
Las Vegas Aces. Like, it's not even it's not even
close right now, because she is History is always the mark,
(35:29):
and she is setting history not just with her team
but in her individual performance night in the night out.
Not to mention in Paris she was the Female Athlete
of the Year, the team won gold and these are
the best players of the world.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
So it always comes back to basketball for me. Now,
if you want to say.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
Who is the face of the popularity of the league
or the economics of the league, all those things, and
you start talking about the Angelses and the Caitlyn Clarks,
and that's with all due respect. I think Caitlyn Clark
is an MVP caliber player, Like she will win an
MVP in her career, maybe even in the next few years,
but as is proven and it's it's sustained success over
(36:09):
the course of her career that I think makes her
the face right now. Yeah, because I think what sometimes
people do is confused face of the league with popularity
and those are not necessarily the same things.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
I think it could be a combination of both.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
Yeah, and you know, because obviously Caitlin Clark her popularity,
we know what that is, Like, it's it's astronomical. She's
brought so much new attention, deserved attention to the w NBA.
But to your point, it's like, you know, she's just
one season in and even though she had a fantastic
college career, and like you, I expect her to definitely
(36:45):
win an MVP, to be honest, the way they build
this team in the off season, she might be winning
the MVP this year, like.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
She she in the conversation right now.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
You know what I'm saying, have Stephanie White, and they
got Stephanie White.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
Is a heck of a coach to take you this. Yeah,
there's a good chance to fever could win the championship
this year.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
Yeah chance like this might be that, that will be that,
that combination might happen.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
But if it does, feel a little premature. So I'm
with you.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
I think it's Asia because she's the gold standard of
the league, and Asia is coming back with something to
prove herself. Like I know, she's already won titles, MVPs
and all of that. But we know that last season
left a bad taste, uh you know, kind of in
her in her mouth. Before I get you out of
here the China, I'd be remiss if I didn't ask
you about college shops right now, women's college shops. Man,
(37:36):
it feels wide open, like, especially after we're recording this.
It's a Friday. What last night you had, LSU losing,
Notre Dame lost, Notre Dame, I lost, yep, yeah, Florida State. Yes,
I mean it feels like the most wide open this
thing has been a in a few years. What's your
take on who you considered be the quote? Is there
(37:59):
a favorite? As we head, you know, into March and
get ready for the tournament, man, Jamil, it's exciting, right
because to see teams like a Notre Dame vulnerable at
this point of the year, like you hit your stride
at the end of February like this you pushing into March,
like this is go time. So to see them lose
(38:19):
to Florida State, who's a very good team at this point,
like it's supposed to be all go systems check.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
So that kind of what it's said.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
To me, is that there's still vulnerability at the top,
Like these teams are still vulnerable to get plucked off,
you know, by anybody. I would say, right now, outside
of the inside the top thirty thirty five and maybe
beyond that. And I'll be honest with you, I have
watched at the very top level this year. The team
that I believe in myself. There's two teams that I
(38:49):
think are ahead of the game, and I'll tell you why.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
One is.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
I think UCLA has something special. They're center Lauren Bets
at six seven, no one can do what she does.
No one in the country right now, Okay, I think
she could go pro today. Now, don't get me wrong.
You know, w gonna she's gonna have a tough trends
and she's like everybody else. But at six seven, she's
so skilled and just plays extremely hard. Like as a
(39:16):
post player myself, it's rare that you see a post
player as physical as she is. She's learning to switch
out on the perimeter and contain like her footwork is phenomenal,
and when you have a player that is can be
unguardable like that with the support she has right like,
she also has veteran guards versatility, size on the perimeter,
(39:37):
and Corey Close is very good, is a great coach.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
So that team stands out in my mind.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
The other team that really stands out in my mind
is Notre Dame. Now, I know they just lost last night, Jamelle,
I know that, but I do believe that they have
the best backcourt in the country. I believe that Olivia
Miles and Hannah Hidalgo are exceptional where they need to
clean something on the defensive end, and no doubt Neil
Ivy will get them there. But those two teams, in
(40:04):
my mind feel like a lock. I would have said
this about South Carolina a few weeks back. I need
to see some more from the game box right, like
they are way too talented and it's just taking longer
than I expected for some of their younger players, which
(40:24):
is now their time to kind of step in and
step up to do so consistently. But again, no doubt
don will have them ready. Texas you can't sleep on.
But I would say Ucla and Notre Dame because of
those factors. The backcourt that you just can't do anything
with for Notre Dame and then six seven Loren Bets
(40:45):
for Ucla. Yeah, I am president of the Olivia Miles
fan Club for sure, and.
Speaker 2 (40:51):
I love it. I mean, you know, every now.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
And again, as they say, I like to bet the ponies,
and uh, a few months ago I put money on
Notre Dame to win it all. Jamel, you still you
are right?
Speaker 3 (41:07):
I was not.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
I was not at all discouraged by their loss to
Florida State. Yeah, they just lost NC State too, so
that says a lot that both of us are still
writing because adjustments do need to be made, and they
got a little exposed, to be quite honest, like they're
they're they're perimeter defense needed to be exposed, and I'm
(41:29):
sure Deale is gonna work on that asap. Yeah, and
as a as I mentioned with recording this on a
Friday and then tomorrow, I'm going to see u C
L a USC, So I'm really yeah, well you do
is Well, I was going to ask you about USC
because that was not a team that you mentioned necessarily,
(41:50):
as we think about who has an opportunity in it all,
what are they missing because it feels like they're missing something. Experience,
they're missing experience they really need and their freshmen are growing,
you know, they got Keiki Erie fin They've got Raa Marshall.
Of course they've got Juju, But that next kind of
tier of players that they would need to step up
(42:12):
and show up consistently is their freshmen.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
They have the number one freshman.
Speaker 1 (42:16):
Class in the in the nation, and I think two
words don't go together, consistent and freshmen. It just does
it like it's rare, especially when we talk about NCAA
tournament rounds. So I could be surprised in that way.
And I'm not counting out a USC run by any stretch.
Any Time you got a player like Juju could drop fifty,
you gonna be in some games, right, But I do
(42:39):
think that they need a wee bit more experience in
their depth to really take on some of the top
teams as we look and head towards April.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
You also didn't say you got.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
You know, I didn't and what Yukon by all means
they're very talented, you know, as a great coach, all
those things. You got Paige Beckers, you got Sarah Strong.
I don't want to put that type of pressure on
Azy Fud. I don't because she has had such a
tough time with her injuries, but she's it if she
(43:13):
plays the way that Aisy we know can play, no
doubt Yukon is in this conversation. I just don't feel
like it's that it's fair to put that kind of
pressure on her at this point because we all know
what her journey has looked like, right, so we're just
happy she out here playing. I'm not saying, you know,
we don't want Azy to do too much out here,
but we do. We need her to if you can
(43:33):
definitely run. Yeah, So I think when when so much
of your success really honestly hedges on one player, I
don't like to you know, Yukon could be there, but
they're not in my top two.
Speaker 2 (43:47):
Mm.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Okay, look at that China with the hot takes better.
Did you burn that past your mama? Because when she
found out you ain't pick in South Carolina, it's gonna
be some problems. She fobbly on my phone on right now,
she'll look for some stuff. Okay, she'll see my name
and just start clicking.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
So, oh my god, that is hilarious.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
Well, listen, China, thank you so much for taking some
time out to break down a little hoops with me.
Speaker 2 (44:13):
I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (44:14):
As the w NBA season progresses certainly as we see
how this what I think is going to be an
incredible march madness for the women.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
As we see how that plays out, I'll be I'll
be blowing up.
Speaker 1 (44:26):
Your phone again, like come in, come and talk, Yes,
come and talk some hoops with me.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
Tell mom I said hello, and I will.
Speaker 3 (44:34):
So we're having a drink. What time is it Friday?
Speaker 2 (44:37):
I know. I was like, yeah, I'm gonna put that
on my bucket list. I need to have a drink
with your mama.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
As Jamail, you have some folks that have talk to
Tarika already.
Speaker 2 (44:52):
Is that what you're telling me.
Speaker 1 (44:53):
I had to escort my mom out of the lobby
post game at a lot of hotels because she just
she's a mess.
Speaker 3 (45:01):
But yeah, yeah, I see with caution, you know how
that is.
Speaker 1 (45:06):
It's like everybody's mama is always cooler everybody else, everyone else.
But because you got to deal with it, Like why
you ain't bring your mom?
Speaker 3 (45:14):
I'm like, did you see what she did last night?
Did you did you hear what she said?
Speaker 1 (45:18):
And you just yeah, she's off the chain. Yes, if
y'all gonna babysit her, That's what I say. Now when
they say you bring your mom. I'm like you babysitting.
That's the question. So question j y'all gonna kick it.
Speaker 3 (45:31):
It's on me.
Speaker 2 (45:32):
The responsibilities on me.
Speaker 3 (45:33):
I accept that I will in charge of the girl,
charge her.
Speaker 2 (45:37):
All right, Well, thank you.
Speaker 1 (45:38):
The China will be watching for your expert analysis as always,
and thank you to all those who joined us live
here on YouTube. Thank you to my regular and consistent
politics listeners. Welcoming all the new listeners to Politics on Politics.
You know what the slogan is. It's for sports and
politics mix because they matter. All right, I'll catch y'all
(45:59):
on the flip side. Spolitics is the production of iHeart
Podcast and the Unbothered Network. I'm your host Jamel Hill.
Executive producer is Taylor Chicoigne. Lucas Hymen is head of
audio and executive producer. Original music for Spolitics provided by
(46:21):
Kyle VISs from wiz FX
I'm please rite now in this episode of Politics, which
is also being broadcast live over YouTube, to be joined
by my friend, by my sister, one of the foremost
basketball analysts in this world, not just the country, but
the world, Craig the World. Very pleased to be joined
by ms LA China, Robinson China.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
How are you doing.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I'm doing well. Wow, that was a great intro.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I had to put some sauce on it.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
I had to put some sauce on I feel the
energy coming from the West Coast, you know.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
I appreciate that. Thank you so much. As always a
joy to chop it up with you. So I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah, it's been way too long.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
I mean usually we're having a lot of these conversations
socially and not necessarily in public view.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
If you will.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
But given the news of the week, which is Diana Tarassi,
who many consider to be the greatest of all time,
with her deciding to retire, I felt like you were
the appropriate person to have one to discuss her legacy,
and not just her legacy, but also you know, talk
a little women's hoops in general and talk about like
where the league sort of goes from here, so like
(01:18):
There's a couple different kind of conversations that I want
to get to you on this particular live episode of politics,
but I'll just start at the beginning. How did you
feel about Diana Tarassi deciding to retire now?
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Was this the right timing?
Speaker 1 (01:35):
It was the right timing, Jammelle, It's actually it feels
like it's been bubbling for the last few years.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
And it's interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
I feel like we have all these pre records of
everyone's thoughts on Diana Tarassi's career over the last few
years because we never knew what was going to happen,
and she always said, you know, I'm just gonna up
and do it. There's not gonna be a lot of fanfare.
What you used to tell us for a while was
it depends on how she felt in the off season,
Like if she wasn't motivated to get up and work
out and to be the best, then she would know
(02:04):
it was time to quit. But she sounded at peace
with it, and in terms of the timing from a
league standpoint, it's a good time.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
She's passed the torch. The WNBA is in good standing.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
You know, Diana had been pushing through some injuries over
the last few years. Obviously the configuration of Phoenix is
a little bit different. Britney Grinder's gone, so that may
have played into it as well. I don't know if
DT at what forty forty one is up for rebuild.
So I think it was It was a good time
and definitely hated to see it, but we've been waiting.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
We knew what was coming.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Yeah, you said something that was interesting about like this being,
you know, her retiring without any fanfare. Some people, I
don't know, I got the feeling some people are a
little bit disappointed about that. I mean, do you think
she should have gone through the you know, the ceremony
we often see of like taking a whole year to
so call and so everything in you know, maybe this
(03:01):
last upcoming season, maybe that being her final season and
you know, allowing people in every city to celebrate her.
I mean, did she do the fans of disservice by
choosing to do it this way?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I think she did herself a disservice. Jamelle. I would
have loved to.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
See her have a farewell tour because I don't think
Diana really really understands or feels her impact the way
that she should.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
With us I don't think she does.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
You know, what do you think that is?
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I mean, well, quite honestly, you know, for a long time,
Diana to Rozsi was the spotlight, not just in it,
but she was it, right Like, she was the player
that was on top of everyone's list when you mentioned
women's basketball. I mean, quite honestly, her name is synonymous
with the game of women's basketball, synonymous with the WNBA,
always on everyone's mount Rushmore and so. But over the
(03:51):
last few years, right as Phoenix was not as competitive,
you know, as I mentioned, Diana was fighting through some injury,
so it wasn't at her best case consistently, other stars arising,
arriving and rising in the league took the spotlight off
of her a little bit.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
And then you add on top of that.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
That she wasn't a huge piece of the Olympics team
run to gold medal, at least not between the lines.
And so I think she was a little bit forgotten
about over the last few years. And many would say
for good reason, right like, if you're not on top
of her game, if they're not in the championship. I mean,
the last time they played was a few years back
(04:29):
against Chicago, But you.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Know, she kind of seemed to disappear from.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
The limelight a little bit, and I wish that we
would have been able to give her the proper goodbye
and that the fans could all share their sentiments with Diana,
because I think there was still people that have some
flowers to give her. And I want to say to
all the folks joining us right now on the stream
that if you have a question, you have a comment,
feel free to share. I'll be reading off some of
(04:55):
those and we'll be responding and reacting in real time
so that you guys feeling goat as and part of
the discussion. You know, that's interesting that you would say that,
because you know, it's kind of hard for me as
a basketball fan imagining a league or a basketball mosaic
without Diana Tarasi because she has just been so important
(05:16):
to the sport. You know, from the time she was
in college where she won what three ships there? You know,
she won what three in the WNBA, three or four,
six time Olympic gold medalists. I mean, her career accomplishments
are just insane.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
So the main question is.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
And I know that on the men's side of thing,
this debate can always go left. But I feel like
on the women's side, it's so hard to determine who
is the greatest of all time.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Now, naturally, her former coach, you know, Ariama.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
He told Time Magazine and he said it consistently. It's
not like it's the first time.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
But she's a goat.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Do you consider Diana Tarassi to be the goat of
women's basketball in China? Well, first and foremost, you know,
gets paid and graduated from Connecticut, So she would say that,
I do believe that she is in the conversation when
I share my goat list, She's not number one on
(06:16):
my list.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
She's not number one.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
She's not number one, but she is the greatest score
we've ever seen in the game of women's basketball, Okay.
And the reason why I use the word score, Jamel,
is because your girl, I lean a little bit more
into the defense end of the floor, right, not more
so than offense. But I do believe that there are
players that have had more of a ninety four foot impact,
(06:40):
like a Sheryl scoops, like a Tabika catchings and this
is splitting hairs, right, So Diana is right there in
the conversation. But I have to keep it real in
terms of how I see it, you know, my subjective
opinion as an analyst, and that Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
I feel like she's the greatest scorer we've ever seen.
Is she number one for me?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
No?
Speaker 1 (07:01):
But that does not diminish her impact on the game
could have Could she be the player that's had the
greatest impact on the growth of women's basketball. Absolutely, and
I think we should talk about that more often. But
in terms of like the analyst side, the X and os,
it's like a Cheryl Swoops to make a catchings competition
(07:23):
for me, it started to push her way in there
a little bit late, but okay, so that's what I
of course. Naturally this leads to the next question and
those again who are out there, and then the chat.
You please feel free to comment on who you think
the greatest women's basketball player of all time is.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
So who is your number one?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Ah?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
In this moment, I should.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Say, because you said, yeah, you know, I really really
lean Cheryl Swoops. I do you know as a player
that could match MVPs with Defensive Player of the Year awards,
four championships in the W Like, it's hard to dispute that,
(08:05):
But like I said, there's some really close second thirds
in there, and I would throw Timika Catchings in there.
I would throw Maya Moore in there. I mean, what
she did and what it's a lot of love for
my more in the chat by the oh, I would
have to throw Maya Moore in there as well. So yeah,
I would say my conversation is usually Ryl Top.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Tamika, Maya Candice.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yeah, that's just Tamika get lost.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
In this Tamika Catchings Because any anytime we have the
discussion about who is the greatest women's player ever, a
lot of the names you mentioned come up, and even
some people say Cynthia Cooper, right, they'd throw her in there,
But Tamika's name doesn't come up as often as it
probably should.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
It doesn't.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
She was a five time defensive Player of the Year.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
I mean, Jamelle, I loved watching Timika Catchings play the game.
Anybody's ever watched her. She exhausted herself on the court.
I mean there was not a play that happened on
either end of the floor that she didn't impact. Now,
the fact that she only won one championship in the WNBA, yes,
that weighs heavily. Like that is to me the single
factor as to why she's not higher on some people's list.
(09:16):
I would also throw out there Sylvia Fowls, who I
think has been also forgotten in these conversations as well.
But yeah, I think Tamika Ketching absolutely gets lost in that,
and I think it's because she only won one championship.
But and this is the eye test again. I think
we need to use the eye test more when we
have these conversations because championships, yes, they mean a lot,
(09:37):
but they're not everything.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
And she dominated the game in so many.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Facets and the both ends part is key. Here's a
comment from Troy Wilson. I'm a major fan of Jamail
Hill for years. That's not why I posted this, but
thank you lovey on this platform.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Thank you again.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
This is great and informative interview. But real talk, Maya
Moore is the one. How do you feel about where
Maya fits in this?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I think Maya's there.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
I mean, first of all, I don't know that there's
a player in such a short span of a career
that had as much as success as she did.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Once she played eight years, four championships.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
I mean, she was dominant, like literally changed the Minnesota
Lynks franchise.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
She did play with a lot of talent. So that's
the other thing.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
So when I start splitting hairs, Jamelle, I started looking
at rosters, trying to figure out what kind of support
you had, what kind of the all stars, things like that.
Tamika Ketchings did not have a lot of support of
her team. I mean, she was a number one pick,
but not a lot of lottery picks came after her.
Maya More obviously was surrounded by a lot of talent.
Diana Tarazzi was, Cheryl Swoops was, let's be honest, like
(10:44):
Cheryl Swoops had, Cynthia had, Tina had, Janette Arkane like,
we could go down the roster. So when you start
splitting hairs, there are other factors that couldn't come into
that conversation.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
But Maya Moore, Yeah, she's she's there, She's on my
Mount Rushmore. She's top four.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Now when you when you have this conversation about great,
it's funny again how different this is from having this
conversation on the men's side, because I think the women.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Their college career matters.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
In part of this discussion, in large part because you know,
we have some old time grades that did not have.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
The benefit of the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Like Cynthia Cooper, definitely a great player in college, but
she wasn't as great as some of the other people,
Like her college career wasn't as great as Diana Tarasi's
in my opinions, right, okay, or like some of the
or Tamika Ketchers or some of the other people you mentioned.
But as a pro she was ridiculous. You know what
I'm saying, so insane And that's why this conversation is
(11:39):
so fun to have and there's so much depth to
it because Cynthia Cooper didn't get a lot of the
years to play in the WNBA, Lisa Leslie didn't get
a ton of years to play like Diana played twenty years.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
So your chances to get the Something's done in a
twenty year career.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Are pretty good, right, And so Laura Jackson is another player, right,
feel like her career was short. She could be in this,
but like injuries forced her out earlier than we would
have liked.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
So no, you're absolutely right the way you're looking at that.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
And college does come into play, and that's where Diana,
I'm telling you. Look at the teams Diana one with
and I'm gonna I know this. People like to bring
us up all the time. So when you look at
where who Diana won with was, she was at Connecticut, right, Yeah,
they were McDonald's, all Americans. Yes, they were talented, but
keep in mind the class that was right before her.
(12:29):
Their starting lineup was Swim Cash, Tamika Williams, Sue Bird
like that, Asia Jones like that class was insane in
terms of their level of talent.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
And so they were all lottery picks in the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
And then Diana comes and she's kind of got to
go through this rebuild and she.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Was carrying them. She was carrying them Jamale.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
So again, just looking at the different layers of it
is a good conversation because she could be one of
the greatest college players if you start.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Looking at it like that of all time.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Quite honestly, in that regard, she stands apart from typical
Yukon players is because she inherited a different situation than
a lot of them come into where it's like, Okay,
I just got to get in where I fit in.
Then it's gonna be my turn, and then it's gonna
be other you know, other Avengers with me and it
was a little bit a little bit different, you know,
for her now, you know, with somebody who has accomplished
(13:22):
as much as she has and where she's leaving with
her place in the game, would you say that Diana
Tarassi that I know she was a face of the league,
but it feels like in some way she was, but
in some way she wasn't, you know what I mean?
I think it's what you were talking about in terms
of how to some degree she went under you know, appreciated,
(13:43):
like like it felt like her reign as face of
the league was not as significant as she as it
should have been. As am I reading this wrong, but
it just kind of felt that way. So I do
feel like her reign as the face of the league
was good, right. I do think she had a good
stretch of time where every media person that didn't know
(14:06):
anything about the WNBA, but I do know about Diana Tarrozzi.
So she was the lead story, even in some cases
where it should have been another player, right, because we
know that about the coverage of the WNBA that you know,
it's grown over time, but you've come a long way,
and so for many years, Diana was the only name
and she did enjoy a good stretch of time there.
(14:27):
But again I thought towards the end of her career
and maybe probably happened.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Maybe that's what I'm thinking about more.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Yeah, the end of her career, it just it felt
like that really kind of fizzled out. Yeah, And in
her time as the face of the league, what I
think was so just incredible is that she was not
just the face of the league here the WNBA, but
she was the face of international basketball as well.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
I mean, she played.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Overseas for twelve seasons where the game has been buzzing.
Like over here things are just starting to really get
jumping with the WNBA, but the game is been popular
overseas for a very long time. I called the game
for the Olympics this summer, and every time I was
scouting and looking at other countries, like their their feeds,
so listen to them talk about their players. Diana would
(15:12):
check in the game and these people went nuts. And
they're supposed to be the commentations for the for the
other country, and they're like, there she is.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
It's Diana Tarassi. She's checking into the game.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
And I'm like, Diana, nineteen years in the game and
y'all still but that is the reverence, like the respect
that she gets for the game of basketball. So it's
not just women's basketball, it's not just basketball, and it's
not just in this country. Again, her name is synonymous
with the sport and even on every playground, Like I
would say Jamel that Diana was one of those first
(15:46):
players that you know, on the playground, you know, people
would say, oh, it's women's basketball, you know, like it's
kind of okay, you know, little sister basketball. When Diana
stepped up and stepped through the line, the respect level
was insane. Like the way she played the game, the
swagger she would trash talk, and so people started to
(16:07):
really change and embrace what a female athlete could look
like and walk like and play like. And she opened
the doors for this game to be better and for
it to be more authentic. I think, yeah, I would
agree with that. She talked her shit like straight up,
she talked her shit and.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Did not care.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
And I kind of and in some ways I compare her,
Like I say this about past Summit, like Pat Summit
changed the way we see female leaders, right because Pat,
you knew Pat when she was mad, she was not
trying to appease people.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Wasn't warm, nice and fuzzy.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
She was coaching tough, and we knew that we could
see it in her face, and so people started to say, Wow,
this lady's scary.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
No, she's a she's a very good coach.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
And women have all of these different emotions and tactics
for which they use in coaching and all these things.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Just like men do. Well. Then same thing with Diana.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
She kind of broke the mold because it was like, oh,
you know, girls of women's basketball, that's cute.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Diana bustle up on the scene.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
It was a cold blooded killer, like I will beat
you and your little brother, right. So it kind of
changed the way we see the demeanor of women athletes,
and I thought Diana was a leader in that. I
know this will probably be difficult, and I'm not asking
you to rank it as their number one memory, but
what's your favorite or some of your favorite memories of Diana.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
They could be either on the court or off the court.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Oh man, some of my favorite memories of Diana. Number
one is really.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
The fact that she was the most physical offensive player
I have ever seen play the game, and she got
away with a lot like now that we can really
say what it was.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
She got more Jordan calls than Jordan. Like Diana was
out there pushing, shoving. She didn't care off the ball too.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
If you ever called a game with Diana's playing, if
you heard a whistle off the ball, it was dianauh
somebody down. She didn't kick somebody on the other team.
She she did something right. So that's number one. The
other was during the season where the WNBA was playing
in the Bubble. Diana, per usual, had had some misunderstanding
(18:16):
with some officials.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Oh, some misunderstanding understanding with.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Some officials, and so because everybody was staying on this
campus together, they would see the officials sometimes out walking
and you know, enjoying their lives, which you never see
in normal sports, right you only see the officials in
the game that you never see it again. You might
catch them on a flight. But because they were all
living in this space together. I don't know what the
official said to Diana, but she was upset, and she
(18:42):
basically looked at him and said, I'll see.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
You in the lobby.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Because they were saying they were staying at the same place.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Not i'll see you in the lobby.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
She did, she did, She did, she said, I'll see
you in the lobby. So that was always one of
my favorite dianas.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
And then there was like the famous Simonagusu's kids where
her moon were getting into it and she just kissed
her on the fla face. You just never knew what
to expect from her, like literally and off the court
she is so sweet. I mean, just the nicest person, kind,
thoughtful whoo. But when she touched the court boy, I mean,
(19:15):
she wasn't playing to lose. Yeah, no, she she definitely
wasn't winning all cass type of player. I'll uh, I
bring up another name here. Ellison Burley says, Cheryl Miller
has hands down as his goat and I had I
gotta be honest, and this is this is where I
struggle because Cheryl Miller is my number one. But it's
(19:38):
like I'm holding on to Cheryl just just like a little.
I'm like, I got to let to let Cheryl go, probably,
but I just can't because I.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Just love her so much. Where is Cheryl?
Speaker 1 (19:51):
She she kicked out the conversation just because the game
of alls, the game does evolve Jamel, and it doesn't
take away from how dominant she was. Like if she
would have had a longer career, we would be having
a very different conversation. Like people forget how short Cheryl's
careers was. I mean, she was basically retired in her
early twenties, right, And what a shame because she was
(20:16):
such a great player. I mean obviously the impact she
had at USC and what she did with the USA, but.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
We also didn't have the platform to really appreciate Cheryl
the way we can look back and do right now.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Right.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
But yeah, she in there, but Jay, I know.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Let her.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
I'm gonna let her go because I was struck because
Diana made me rethink it.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
I was.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
It's probably not. I just can't let her.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
God know, I can't know it, I know. But I'm
also glad you brought up the other Cheryl, as in
Cheryl Swoops, because I think a lot of people, and
especially living it in real time, it's hard to explain
to people what it was like to see her drop
that forty seven on Ohio State in the National title game.
The fact that she had a shoe commercial, the fact
(21:01):
that she had a shoe, It's like air swoops was
a thing, you know, I mean, you talk about doing
it on her own can you name anybody else from
her contest actional championship team took Texas Tech to a
national title? To me, love it, that's worth like three
Yukon titles. Yeah, we talk about Lubbock, Texas. Okay, dominant. No,
(21:25):
I'm with you, I mean I've I've again. I am
grateful to have lived during these times, been around.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
For a minute.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
I'm old.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Didn't watch Cheryl Miller live, right, so I will say
that in those early years, but I watched swoops and
what she did. Even you throw in there the fact
that she she missed time to become a mother and
still four championships, still MVPs, three MVPs, I believe three
Defensive Player of the Year. Like, that's dominant. So dominant
(21:56):
in the game has grown. So that's where you hear
a lot of other opinions when it comes to Diana
Torazzi in the Canpas Parkers is the game some people
feel like wasn't as good. Then that's not true. The
game was grown. Women basketball by then at that point
because they were twenty five. Cinthy Cooper was thirty by
the time she got into WNBA, thirty four years old.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
In her early thirties, So these women had.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Gone overseas and they had vast experience that they brought
to the game.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
So I would say it was different now.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
The game is faster, more athletic, we know all of that,
but it was great basketball even then, just different from
what we see now. So there is I don't know
if you've noticed this, there's some interesting conversations happening right
now about the NBA. After Anthony Edwards said that he
didn't want to be the face of the league and
Lebron James he piped in with some thoughts last night
(22:50):
after Dallas's win over min Minnesota, where Lebron essentially said,
I'm paraphrasing, but this was legiti just stuff it. He said,
why would anybody want to be the face of the
NBA when the media that covers the NBA is constantly
talking shit about the players down in the players? Why
(23:10):
why would anybody want to be the face of the league.
And he is the face of the league, you know,
and he has been for some years right now, even
at forty years old, Lebron James is the face of
the NBA. I jokingly call him the commissioner, the unofficial commissioner,
of the NBA because he is right and so, but
what do you think about this idea that a young
(23:32):
player like Anthony Edwards does not want to embrace being
considered or does not want to be a face of
the league, Like, does Lebron have a point that.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Because of the toxicity that.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Is sometimes around in NBA conversations, that it's making that
mantle a little less appealing. Heavy is the head that
wears the crown and at the point, right right, And
so I understand why Anthony Edwards feel that way because
you know that as the face of the league. I mean,
look at what all Lebron has had to go through.
(24:05):
I feel like he's more celebrated now. But all I
remember is every team he played on early on his career,
he always defers. He never wants to take the winning shot.
Jordan always wanted the winning moment. I'm like, this man
is putting up a triple double almost every night, Like
where's the respect? So I get why he would say that.
I do feel like this was an opportunity for him
(24:26):
to get another agenda out. You know, I don't know
that these two things would necessarily coincide on another day,
because it sounds like on that media side of thing,
that he's been hearing some things that he doesn't really appreciate,
and not that there's.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Not true to this, but I think Lebron would agree
that the level of responsibility, take the media out of it,
take all of that, but the level of responsibility, pressure
expectation that is put on the face of the league
is a lot. It's a lot, you know, even if
the media wasn't.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
I mean, Lebron has been carrying the popularity of the
game for a very long time. Fans even have things
to say, take me out of it. There's everyone's got
an opinion about Lebron, right, So that's how I feel,
I understand.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
So here I have a few thoughts on this one.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
I do think this generation of players, and this is
for anybody in sports, is that the criticisms are so
much louder to them because of social media, you know, frankly,
and it used to be a little bit of a
separation where certainly you would hear for the fans in
the arena and from the media, but now it's just
like Joe Shmo twenty two seven could just be like Lebron,
(25:41):
you ain't shit any people like immediately see this as
opposed to there being like a little bit of a
layer between. So I think the criticism for his generation
just feels that much more sharp, right because when he
says the media, I think he's lumping against social media too.
He's not just thinking about the people who come for
the game, you know what I'm saying. Yeah, So that
(26:02):
he did say, I think though the people that cover
our game. I think he did actually, But I agree,
I think social media is.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Looped in there as well. He's looked in there as well.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
And then I think it was his way of uh
sub tweeting, but in in commentary inside the NBA, because that's.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
It what he's really talking about, right, you know.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
And and there have I've heard this criticism about Chuck,
Kenny e J and Shack uh more recently that I
might say, but I think it's been said across the years,
is that you know, these guys are brutally honest.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
You know, they have very accomplished careers.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
We got championships, MVPs, you know, all of that in
that in that group, and they have the most popular
NBA show, so that most popular studio show. Rather and
so because of the way that they talk about today's players.
People love the honesty, but some people have a c
them of not necessarily always being the greatest ambassador because
(27:04):
they're so honest. And I think some of this of
what he's saying is really directed at them, because this
is the NBA's flagship show, you know, in terms of commentary,
it's them, and so they the players are you know,
every night they're getting somebody getting called out.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
Well, But you bring up an interesting point.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
I would ask you, how much of the responsibility of
the media do you think is to be an ambassador?
So I think the former players they're going to carry
that responsibibility more than I would. And because you know,
we don't work for the league, like that's not really
you know, and maybe it gets a little bit tricky
when you're working for a network like a TNT, the
(27:47):
or ESPN, because you know, I don't know, actually the
China I would ask you this. Now, I know you're
a former player, but you're largely associated with being in
the media, like when you're common on college and professional
games and hosting, like, do you consider that a part
of your job is to be an ambassador for the
(28:09):
women's game. That's a great question, Jamille, and I'll tell
you why. I feel like times have changed. When I
first started covering women's basketball almost two decades ago, everybody
was talking bad about women's basketball. No one had anything
good to say about women's basketball. In fact, for most
of the larger networks or media entities that didn't actually
(28:33):
care to cover the sport, they would wait for something
bad to happen and then jump in and try to
have commentary around women's basketball. So in that regard, I
did feel like it was my job not to be
an ambassador, but to ensure that I was pointing.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Out the positives of the sport, right that.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
You are providing the counter narrative correct, okay.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
And not like intentionally like, oh, I'm gonna get on
here and I'm gonna talk positive about women's basketball.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
But I did feel a tug on me to point.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Out the positives of the game because everybody else was
like crapping on women's basketball. Now what has happened over
time is we have more voices, more types of commentary,
whether it be criticism or you know, critique, or even
different aspects of the athlete's life.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
They're casual, like they're fashions, so there's more breadth of
coverage for women's basketball to get varying perspectives, so I
don't feel like since I'm only one of the few voices,
I need to ensure that we are pointing out the
positive the game. I now feel like there's more balance.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
I feel like, you know, because the coverage of women's
basketball has grown, we're getting different types of perspectives that
are drowning out the people somewhat that just want to
be negative about it because it's women's sports, because it's
women's basketball, because it's a predominantly black league, whatever your
reason is. I feel like those voices are starting to immer,
(30:00):
and so it allows people to then settle into just
being you know, active subjective if you will, like commentary, commentator,
and to not feel like they got a counterbalance to negativity.
I feel like you would appreciate this. Next timing, I'm
gonna have to throw up here. Bring the China's mom on.
(30:22):
She always has great sports takes. That's from LW.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
When I'm let me tell you this.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
My mom hit me up the other day, jamlle. This
was after South Carolina actually was at halftime. South Carolina
was losing the game. I know it wasn't. She is
a Dawn stay stand okay, not a fan. She texts
me and says, I cannot believe this. What I'm watching,
oh is when they play in Yukon, she said, I
cannot believe this what is happening. It's only halftime right,
(30:51):
more game to go. This is just terrible and losing
to gino Iu. I mean, she had a whole like
just dump all the way down and she said after
the game, she said, and I heard what Don said,
she said, this isn't about winning. So what that tells
me is there's some drama going on in the locker
room and Don is addressing it. And I was like, Okay,
anything else you want to share with us about what's.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Going on in South Carolina.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Jay, she's out of control, but I appreciate the love
for my mom.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
She's unfiltered and she gonna make it do what to do?
Speaker 2 (31:22):
I love it, Love your mom? All right? This from
Ellison Burley. Let's have any on this convo.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
People knocked the NBA truly because there's no American born
white player that's a three to four player in the
game itself. Bird is not walking through that door. Now
there is definitely some tension in basketball because what the
last six MVPs have been foreign born players in the NBA,
(31:47):
and it looks like it's headed for seven because you know,
SGA Shay Gilgis is gonna probably you know, somewhat run
away with the Saints. He's having a phenomenal season. Okay,
so he's got the top spot in the West. Like
they've been great pretty much all year. But you know,
and there's been a lot of conversations about what's happening
at the grassroots of American basketball because people have noticed, certainly,
(32:13):
and there's always been polarizing opinions about AAU, but now
the focus in youth basketball on specialized training, on all
these other things that are coming into it. I think
there's a lot of concern from fans from coaches that
American basketball is sort of losing its grip. I'd love
to hear your thoughts on that about whether or not
(32:34):
you feel like the game. It's a global game, and
on the women's side, it's a lot different, right. It's like,
you know, they're that pipeline looks looks a lot healthier,
I have to say, But what are your thoughts about
where American kind of basketball stands right now. Yeah, it's
tough for me to comment on where it is on
(32:55):
the men's side, just because I you know, IM not
as as close to the men's game. But I do
understand his comments, right, Like, one thing that has helped
the WNBA over time is that we are watching these
players literally grow up from college into the league. Women's
basketball players can't leave college early, so they're gonna be
(33:16):
there until they turn twenty two, the year the draft
or their eligibility is done. And so what happens then
is these fans have an opportunity to really fan their
college years into the WNBA, And so there's connection and
there's longevity, and that has helped the league. And I
think on the flip side of that, when it comes
to the NBA, it's very different. I mean, you even
(33:38):
look at men's college basketball right now with the one
and done's or you know, just their ability to go
pro or the transfer portal which is affecting both sports.
It kind of makes it hard to be a fan
a little bit, right, So I could understand if you
bring the international scene into that, like where's that fandom?
One thing I used to say, the Atlanta Dream when
(34:02):
they ran, they had like three they went to three
w NBA finals, and a majority of their starting lineups
for those final runs were international players. And so Atlanta
had a different fan base, not as large of a
fan base as some of the teams where their starting
lineups were predominantly of college players. Who's you know, fans
(34:24):
had followed them to the w NBA where there was
longevity with that connection, and so I guess there isn't
a sense something to say about that connection and that
it may be missing on the on the men's.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
Side of things.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
So, you know, we were talking a lot about this
this face of the league issue in the w NBA.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Who do you consider to be the face of the league?
Speaker 1 (34:45):
Now, this is not a hard question for me, Jamille,
because I'm a basketball analyst. It's Asia Wilson, it's Adrian Bluhman.
We don't need to take for granted what she is
doing right now between the lines. As Dinahs reminded us
of the other day, the main thing is still the
main thing, and that's the basketball.
Speaker 3 (35:04):
She's a three time MVP. Is she even twenty eight
years old?
Speaker 1 (35:08):
Right now, There's only been four players in the history
of the league to be three time MVP. She's the
first player to score over a thousand points in a season.
She also led the league in rebounding this year. She
just came off a back to back run with the
Las Vegas Aces. Like, it's not even it's not even
close right now, because she is History is always the mark,
(35:29):
and she is setting history not just with her team
but in her individual performance night in the night out.
Not to mention in Paris she was the Female Athlete
of the Year, the team won gold and these are
the best players of the world.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
So it always comes back to basketball for me. Now,
if you want to say.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
Who is the face of the popularity of the league
or the economics of the league, all those things, and
you start talking about the Angelses and the Caitlyn Clarks,
and that's with all due respect. I think Caitlyn Clark
is an MVP caliber player, Like she will win an
MVP in her career, maybe even in the next few years,
but as is proven and it's it's sustained success over
(36:09):
the course of her career that I think makes her
the face right now. Yeah, because I think what sometimes
people do is confused face of the league with popularity
and those are not necessarily the same things.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
I think it could be a combination of both.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
Yeah, and you know, because obviously Caitlin Clark her popularity,
we know what that is, Like, it's it's astronomical. She's
brought so much new attention, deserved attention to the w NBA.
But to your point, it's like, you know, she's just
one season in and even though she had a fantastic
college career, and like you, I expect her to definitely
(36:45):
win an MVP, to be honest, the way they build
this team in the off season, she might be winning
the MVP this year, like.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
She she in the conversation right now.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
You know what I'm saying, have Stephanie White, and they
got Stephanie White.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
Is a heck of a coach to take you this. Yeah,
there's a good chance to fever could win the championship
this year.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
Yeah chance like this might be that, that will be that,
that combination might happen.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
But if it does, feel a little premature. So I'm
with you.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
I think it's Asia because she's the gold standard of
the league, and Asia is coming back with something to
prove herself. Like I know, she's already won titles, MVPs
and all of that. But we know that last season
left a bad taste, uh you know, kind of in
her in her mouth. Before I get you out of
here the China, I'd be remiss if I didn't ask
you about college shops right now, women's college shops. Man,
(37:36):
it feels wide open, like, especially after we're recording this.
It's a Friday. What last night you had, LSU losing,
Notre Dame lost, Notre Dame, I lost, yep, yeah, Florida State. Yes,
I mean it feels like the most wide open this
thing has been a in a few years. What's your
take on who you considered be the quote? Is there
(37:59):
a favorite? As we head, you know, into March and
get ready for the tournament, man, Jamil, it's exciting, right
because to see teams like a Notre Dame vulnerable at
this point of the year, like you hit your stride
at the end of February like this you pushing into March,
like this is go time. So to see them lose
(38:19):
to Florida State, who's a very good team at this point,
like it's supposed to be all go systems check.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
So that kind of what it's said.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
To me, is that there's still vulnerability at the top,
Like these teams are still vulnerable to get plucked off,
you know, by anybody. I would say, right now, outside
of the inside the top thirty thirty five and maybe
beyond that. And I'll be honest with you, I have
watched at the very top level this year. The team
that I believe in myself. There's two teams that I
(38:49):
think are ahead of the game, and I'll tell you why.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
One is.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
I think UCLA has something special. They're center Lauren Bets
at six seven, no one can do what she does.
No one in the country right now, Okay, I think
she could go pro today. Now, don't get me wrong.
You know, w gonna she's gonna have a tough trends
and she's like everybody else. But at six seven, she's
so skilled and just plays extremely hard. Like as a
(39:16):
post player myself, it's rare that you see a post
player as physical as she is. She's learning to switch
out on the perimeter and contain like her footwork is phenomenal,
and when you have a player that is can be
unguardable like that with the support she has right like,
she also has veteran guards versatility, size on the perimeter,
(39:37):
and Corey Close is very good, is a great coach.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
So that team stands out in my mind.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
The other team that really stands out in my mind
is Notre Dame. Now, I know they just lost last night, Jamelle,
I know that, but I do believe that they have
the best backcourt in the country. I believe that Olivia
Miles and Hannah Hidalgo are exceptional where they need to
clean something on the defensive end, and no doubt Neil
Ivy will get them there. But those two teams, in
(40:04):
my mind feel like a lock. I would have said
this about South Carolina a few weeks back. I need
to see some more from the game box right, like
they are way too talented and it's just taking longer
than I expected for some of their younger players, which
(40:24):
is now their time to kind of step in and
step up to do so consistently. But again, no doubt
don will have them ready. Texas you can't sleep on.
But I would say Ucla and Notre Dame because of
those factors. The backcourt that you just can't do anything
with for Notre Dame and then six seven Loren Bets
(40:45):
for Ucla. Yeah, I am president of the Olivia Miles
fan Club for sure, and.
Speaker 2 (40:51):
I love it. I mean, you know, every now.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
And again, as they say, I like to bet the ponies,
and uh, a few months ago I put money on
Notre Dame to win it all. Jamel, you still you
are right?
Speaker 3 (41:07):
I was not.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
I was not at all discouraged by their loss to
Florida State. Yeah, they just lost NC State too, so
that says a lot that both of us are still
writing because adjustments do need to be made, and they
got a little exposed, to be quite honest, like they're
they're they're perimeter defense needed to be exposed, and I'm
(41:29):
sure Deale is gonna work on that asap. Yeah, and
as a as I mentioned with recording this on a
Friday and then tomorrow, I'm going to see u C
L a USC, So I'm really yeah, well you do
is Well, I was going to ask you about USC
because that was not a team that you mentioned necessarily,
(41:50):
as we think about who has an opportunity in it all,
what are they missing because it feels like they're missing something. Experience,
they're missing experience they really need and their freshmen are growing,
you know, they got Keiki Erie fin They've got Raa Marshall.
Of course they've got Juju, But that next kind of
tier of players that they would need to step up
(42:12):
and show up consistently is their freshmen.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
They have the number one freshman.
Speaker 1 (42:16):
Class in the in the nation, and I think two
words don't go together, consistent and freshmen. It just does
it like it's rare, especially when we talk about NCAA
tournament rounds. So I could be surprised in that way.
And I'm not counting out a USC run by any stretch.
Any Time you got a player like Juju could drop fifty,
you gonna be in some games, right, But I do
(42:39):
think that they need a wee bit more experience in
their depth to really take on some of the top
teams as we look and head towards April.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
You also didn't say you got.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
You know, I didn't and what Yukon by all means
they're very talented, you know, as a great coach, all
those things. You got Paige Beckers, you got Sarah Strong.
I don't want to put that type of pressure on
Azy Fud. I don't because she has had such a
tough time with her injuries, but she's it if she
(43:13):
plays the way that Aisy we know can play, no
doubt Yukon is in this conversation. I just don't feel
like it's that it's fair to put that kind of
pressure on her at this point because we all know
what her journey has looked like, right, so we're just
happy she out here playing. I'm not saying, you know,
we don't want Azy to do too much out here,
but we do. We need her to if you can
(43:33):
definitely run. Yeah, So I think when when so much
of your success really honestly hedges on one player, I
don't like to you know, Yukon could be there, but
they're not in my top two.
Speaker 2 (43:47):
Mm.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Okay, look at that China with the hot takes better.
Did you burn that past your mama? Because when she
found out you ain't pick in South Carolina, it's gonna
be some problems. She fobbly on my phone on right now,
she'll look for some stuff. Okay, she'll see my name
and just start clicking.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
So, oh my god, that is hilarious.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
Well, listen, China, thank you so much for taking some
time out to break down a little hoops with me.
Speaker 2 (44:13):
I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (44:14):
As the w NBA season progresses certainly as we see
how this what I think is going to be an
incredible march madness for the women.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
As we see how that plays out, I'll be I'll
be blowing up.
Speaker 1 (44:26):
Your phone again, like come in, come and talk, Yes,
come and talk some hoops with me.
Speaker 2 (44:30):
Tell mom I said hello, and I will.
Speaker 3 (44:34):
So we're having a drink. What time is it Friday?
Speaker 2 (44:37):
I know. I was like, yeah, I'm gonna put that
on my bucket list. I need to have a drink
with your mama.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
As Jamail, you have some folks that have talk to
Tarika already.
Speaker 2 (44:52):
Is that what you're telling me.
Speaker 1 (44:53):
I had to escort my mom out of the lobby
post game at a lot of hotels because she just
she's a mess.
Speaker 3 (45:01):
But yeah, yeah, I see with caution, you know how
that is.
Speaker 1 (45:06):
It's like everybody's mama is always cooler everybody else, everyone else.
But because you got to deal with it, Like why
you ain't bring your mom?
Speaker 3 (45:14):
I'm like, did you see what she did last night?
Did you did you hear what she said?
Speaker 1 (45:18):
And you just yeah, she's off the chain. Yes, if
y'all gonna babysit her, That's what I say. Now when
they say you bring your mom. I'm like you babysitting.
That's the question. So question j y'all gonna kick it.
Speaker 3 (45:31):
It's on me.
Speaker 2 (45:32):
The responsibilities on me.
Speaker 3 (45:33):
I accept that I will in charge of the girl,
charge her.
Speaker 2 (45:37):
All right, Well, thank you.
Speaker 1 (45:38):
The China will be watching for your expert analysis as always,
and thank you to all those who joined us live
here on YouTube. Thank you to my regular and consistent
politics listeners. Welcoming all the new listeners to Politics on Politics.
You know what the slogan is. It's for sports and
politics mix because they matter. All right, I'll catch y'all
(45:59):
on the flip side. Spolitics is the production of iHeart
Podcast and the Unbothered Network. I'm your host Jamel Hill.
Executive producer is Taylor Chicoigne. Lucas Hymen is head of
audio and executive producer. Original music for Spolitics provided by
(46:21):
Kyle VISs from wiz FX
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