July 9, 2025 • 31 mins
ESPN on-air analyst for both men and women's pro and collegiate hoops discusses the current state of NBA and WNBA as media properties, as well as her new Disney Plus show "Vibe Check" and her recent foray into scripted series production for Peacock.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome to another episode of Strictly Business, the podcast in
which we speak with some of the brightest minds working
in the media business today. This is Andrew Wallenstein with
Variety Intelligence Platform. The NBA season may have recently ended,
but you wouldn't know it from the fever pitch at
which this league continues to throw off headline making news.
(00:29):
There really is no off season for people like this
week's guest, Cheney Okumakay, a seasoned ESPN analyst for both
men's and women's pro and college hoops, and she knows
well the world of which she speaks. She's a former
WNBA All Star, not only well into a second career
anchoring shows like her new Disney Plus series Vibe Check,
(00:53):
but also recently announced she's embarking on a third producing
for scripted TV. More with Chaney after the.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Break to stick around, we are back.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
With ESPN basketball analyst Jeneogumkay.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Thanks for joining us, so glad to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Cool.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
So, before we get your thoughts on the NBA and
the WNBA as media phenomena, let's do some level setting
for us, because I want to know where you currently
are amidst all this madness. You know, what is your
summer itinerary in terms of basketball coverage? Where are you
going to be?
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Where are you now?
Speaker 4 (01:40):
First of all, thank you so much for this wellness check.
Very few people ask so when you were asking that question,
I'm like, I'm quite literally right now in Bristol, Connecticut
launching vibe Check, and a lot of my friends and
family have been checking on me lately because since March Madness,
I probably have no slept in my bed in Los
(02:02):
Angeles for two nights straight. It's been on the go
in Bristol for women's college basketball tournament, then we go
to Tampa for the final four. I'm a Basketball Africa
League ambassador. I went to Morocco for the start of
their playoffs, and I came back worked the WNBA draft,
worked the launch of the WNBA season, went to the
(02:22):
Western Conference Finals, during the NBA Playoffs, and then the
NBA Finals and then now leading to the NBA Draft
and then Vibe jack. So I've been to many different cities,
but it's the best time of the year. It's the
intersection of so much. You've got hoops all over the
WNBA season, you know, all star right around the corner.
(02:45):
You think about the NBA. No nights off with the news,
the conversation, and so I have been everywhere, but it's
been a good time, so I can't complain.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
That's great. So you mentioned the NBA, Let's start there.
We'll talk more WNBA a little later. It just is
so striking to me how I mean, of course every
summer is busy, but this one in particular, just is
it especially crazy to you given i'd say the volume,
(03:18):
particularly of the potential trades that are out there.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
So one of the most fun aspects of my job
as a broadcaster is the commercial breaks. That's when the
real te flows. At ESPN, We're all like, how are
you What are you hearing on this team? What do
you hear on that team? What do you hear on
that player? And then you get some of the backstories.
Our teammates are the best in the business. And I'll
never forget Scham's was like sane, it's going to be active.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
He's like talking about Shams, Tarania.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Them Tarania. Yes, the first year, first few months, can
you imagine the year that he's had the news He's broke, Yeah,
he was, he said a couple of times, and I
started hearing I was like, Okay, he's not lying. Like
these teams are going to really push for championships, and
so when I think of the NBA, I think about,
you know, it's it's unfortunate reality that, like my dad
(04:09):
has to saying, every disappointment is a blessing if you
allow it to be. He told me this, particularly when
I was coming back from injury, as when I was
a WNBA player and this last NBA playoffs, we saw
a lot of catastrophic, really you know, injuries that happened
to a number of players from Dame Lillard to Jason
Tatum and most recently Tyrese Haliburton.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
But now it's.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Created a frenzy where people feel like there's an opportunity
to compete. The East is wide open, the West has
consistently been wild, and now you're starting to see those
machinations come to reality. The Bucks want to preserve Janni
Santa to Coumpo, you know, the Texas teams want to
(04:50):
one up each other. Like it's really cool to be
at the intersection of ambition, but also the reality that
watching the in Dana Pacers, watching the Thunder, everyone's like,
if we play our best basketball at the right moment,
we have a shot, and now everyone is literally shooting
their shot to make a team, to assemble a team
(05:11):
to win.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
I think what you just said hits on what is
to me the key positive attribute propelling the NBA. But
I think you also hit on something that is a
big negative. So let's start with the positive, which is
I think what you're getting at here is the word parody.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
M M.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
I should say pa R I T Y, not pa
R O D Y. Any team see that? Well, I
shouldn't say any team. There are so many teams. There
are a few that aren't have a shot. And I think
is that more interesting to you? Do you think to
fans as a product than what the NBA maybe used
(05:53):
to be, where it was a little more dynastic, shall
we say, where one or two teams were dominant and
everyone else was catching up.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
It absolutely is more interesting to me when leagues have parity,
because now the stakes are higher for each team and
every move gets dissected.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Now.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
It also will hold myself as a media member accountable
because when we do have parity, it's on us to
tell the stories the best way so that when the
Indiana Pacers make it to the finals, everyone knows who
their star players. When Oklahoma City Thunder is having one
of the most dominant defensive runs and SBA is collecting
(06:31):
every Infinity stone when it comes to awards, we want
our viewers and our fans to know who these players
are and.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
How amazing they are.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
So I think it works hand in hand like bettering
our us as media, which is why I focus on
like the players, the breakdown, the essence of the game.
That's what gets me going, you know. But at the
same time, the teams are doing their jobs because I
believe there's a sense of urgency to win.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
You see the magic making moves.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
You also see the Celtics in the you know, in
the spirit of parody now dishealthling their roster because they
understand the implications of being at the second aprin you know,
similar to what the Phoenix Suns are doing. So I
do think it's a great thing and also like and
I'm sorry because I go on these roles because I
get so excited. But I also believe that fandom has
(07:26):
changed because of the influx of digital media and social media.
So maybe for you and for me, as we bridge
our generations. When we watched the basketball game. It was
one day, one or two games, and those were the
stars that you had access to, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant,
(07:47):
Lebron James, Steph Curry. Like it was a handful that
drove the interest. Now with social media, I talked to
a lot of kids because I do kids camps and
stuff like that. Their favorite player is LaMelo ball because
that's what they see a note. You go to an
AA tournament, they're all wearing LaMelo shoes. So the access
(08:08):
to what fans the next generation think superstars are, it's different.
It's very different, and I think it helps propel the game.
So there are many more superstars. And I know people
debate the use of the word superstars. I don't want
to get it to that. There are many more stars
into the mix, and I think now every team is
(08:28):
starting to build around them and try to see if
we can actually have a shot. And lastly, I'll say this,
seven different champions the last seven years, seven seasons in
the NBA. It's so much harder to have a dynasty.
And so I think that's all feeding the beast, the
engine of hoops.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
But when you talk about the power of social media
for the NBA, and I completely agree with it. I
do also wonder what that means for the Espns of.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
The world or the new right holders.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
That are coming in this season NBCUniversal, Amazon, do you
feel to some degree as a new generation comes to
embrace the league, but through maybe more so social media
than TV, what does that mean for the games? What
does that mean for the value of the kinds of
shows that you're anchoring on television?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
So I was a post player when I played, and
I love doing the dirty work. I love setting screens
and I loved winning right. So I may not be
the normal person to answer this, but I think of
it twofold one. I loved one the acquisition of inside
the NBA, finding a way for us to preserve what
(09:43):
I believe is the best product that is cuts through
generations in.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
That group, that Hall of Fame, iconic group.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
But I also love competition, and I believe with more
partners in with basketball, whether it's NBC or Amazon, it
forces us to be better at ESPN. So one at espn'
I'm grateful that we own sports in the sports fandom. Like,
(10:15):
if you love sports, you know ESPN, you know the
channel to Turn two, you know the events are going
to more often than not going to be there on
a daily basis. But I also do like bringing in
fresh voices, fresh perspectives so that we continue to level up,
you know, our game, and it's gonna be I think
it's going to be good.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I think it's.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Good, you know, to spread the wealth, to share the wealth,
but also make sure that we put out the product
that sports fans won.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
I mentioned earlier, you know, the positive of parity, But
I want to get back to the negative, which is
when you talk about those catastrophic injuries to Tatum, Haliburton, Lillard.
Is this becoming a problem for the NBA in terms
of when you've got star attractions that are going down
(11:09):
for like not just a few months, but entire seasons.
I got to wonder whether League Commissioner Adam Silver has
a problem on his hands.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
One thing I do appreciate. I was working in the
NBA draft.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Our fabulous hosts Malika Andrews was interviewing Adam Silver and
she asked him this question, and I really this is
one thing that I believe makes Adam great. He doesn't
duck from these issues. He actually goes and uses science
and information to help create solutions, and so that was
his response. We have a team of people that are
looking into the eight I believe they said there were
(11:43):
eight over the course of this season amongst all players
Achilles injuries and why this has happened. Now, I'm someone
who has dealt with achilles injury. That's one of my
achilles playing overseas in China, and so I know what
that rehab is. And that is really a tough blow
because you look at a team like Boston and you're like, Okay,
would they be making the moves they're making if Jason
(12:05):
Tatum we're healthy now I know that luxury taps the
new ownership, maybe the cases, they'd still be making different choices,
you know, these same choices. But from my vantage point,
and this is purely my opinion, I think those things
happen obviously with fatigue. And if there's a way to
(12:26):
build out pockets of the NBA schedule, and I'm gonna
just say, pro hoops, you can include it in the
WNBA as well. Because we've had a couple of acls
which are tied to anatomically the body of a woman
that people are researching more. Now, if we build out
a few more pockets of rest that is such a
game changer for an athlete, like having three. If we
(12:49):
know that there's you know, we love to Our goal
is to win Christmas Day, and I know that Fella's
coming for us, right, But from Christmas Day December or
is it Boxing Day the twenty six, I believe it.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
This is Boxing Day?
Speaker 4 (13:04):
Yeah, From Boxing Day through New Year's we're all gearing
up for college football playoffs, right, And to me, I
feel like that's a good opportunity to sort of build
out rest because everyone knows where the sports fans' attention
really is cool. We have the play in we have
(13:26):
the playoffs, and those are so sequential. Maybe if there's
an area where you can build out a little bit
of more pockets of rest. An athlete going into a
long stretch, getting three days four days in between, that
does wonders for their body, and I know that's what
the league is probably looking into. But there's so many components,
(13:48):
you know, that go into scheduling and just being able
to pull off a season that times out well with
other leagues. So this is just my personal perspective building
out and you know, I'm very tuned into the WNBA
as a former player, they've expanded that we're in a
forty four record number, forty four amount of games this year.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Obviously we add a new team in the Golden State Valkyries.
We're gonna add.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
Portland in Toronto. They just announced Cleveland Philly in Detroit,
So we'll go from twelve to eighteen by I believe
twenty thirty.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
Right.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
That means even within the current CBA, you're expanding the
number of games. You deal with Olympic years where you're
condensing the amount of time.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Like, there's some things that I think need to.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Be explored to protect players now again, like I was
on the Players Association, so like that's my brain. And
then as someone who has done the injury, I don't
know if this is all certified, but that was just
my gut.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Reaction to what I'm seeing.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Got it, Well, we will talk more WNBA with China.
Right after this break stick around, we are back with
Janey Agoomackay, the ESPN analyst for men's and women's pro
(15:10):
and college hoops. We just talked a ton about the NBA.
Let's now switch gears to the WNBA. You just mentioned
the recent news of Team expansion, three more teams coming
in the coming years. What does this mean for the WNBA?
How significant is it?
Speaker 4 (15:31):
We're where the money resides finally, like in my head
as a dot dot dot finally, finally it's the years
of investment partnership. Obviously with the NBA, it took the
superstardom of Caitlin Clark and the new young generation really
and also like bringing in fans, like all of these
(15:52):
things were the perfect storm. We stand on the shoulders
of those who came before us. This is coming off
of recently retiring kandas Parker's jersey like there, it's been
a long time coming, but now the expansion is here.
And one thing that I do like, especially with our
commissioner Kathy Engelbert, I think the key is having the
right ownership, you know, having people truly invested for the
(16:16):
long term, because ownership, the only way it pays off
is not these short term returns like in four or
five years. It's a generational asset. If you just look
at what the Bus family has accomplished with the Los
Angeles Lakers, like those are the blueprints for sports success.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
We're at that.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
Beginning moment where it's still I know it sounds crazy
for all of us, but like a decently affordable by
in for certain owners, but knowing that the upside is
growing exponentially quicker than we even imagined. You look at
the valuations of the Golden State Valkyries being you know,
half a billion, five hundred million. You know, so my
(16:54):
thoughts on expansion, I'm really excited. I believe the players,
the investment, the new eyes, the history allow us to
be at this moment where we can capitalize on it
in the best way possible.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
I'm so curious how you, as a player or former player,
did you always see this coming, this growth for the WNBA,
or does it has it taken you by surprise.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I didn't always see it coming.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
I am right now living and it sounds so corny,
but like living out my dreams. I always go back
to this story where I always go back to this
story where last year was Yes, last year, the w
mid season started deploying charters for the players, and I
called Mekka, my older sister who's president the players Association,
(17:53):
and Nika was like, Chaney, I really can't believe that
we're actually on private planes, Like this is something that
I had already mentally blocked out of my head, like
we won't benefit from this, The next generation will same
type of call I got from her Chaney. I walked
into the Seattle Storm practice facility dedicated exclusively to us,
and I can't believe I'm resting in a hyper bear
(18:15):
chamber right now and can go get meals from our shots.
It can go get shots anytime that I want. So
my answer to that is, I am completely astonished to
be in the present moment right now. Anybody that picked
up a ball, probably around my age or prior, did
not expect for it to happen the way it did currently,
(18:37):
and so it's been amazing.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
It's also been really difficult because.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
The passion for players, the passion for teams, the passion palpable.
But also it's it's a pressure cooker when it comes
to rhetoric because as women, we operate at the intersection
of gender race. Our league has been historically political, you know,
(19:04):
an advocacy of what we represent given the primary demographics
of what the WNBA is and so it and we
are unapologetically ourselves, and at times that puts us in
the line of fire, you know, and that at times
things that I say, or we say as broadcasters or
media is not perfect. But one thing I always go
(19:27):
back to is and it's something that Scottie Pippen told
me when I was early on ESPN. It was the
Jump Show with Rachel Nichols. He said, if they boot,
it's okay. It shows you that they care. And there
are more people that will celebrate the hard work you
approach with the game with than they will hate. And
I believe we're at the point where people are appreciating
(19:47):
women's basketball more than they are hating on what they
perceived it to be for a long time, and that's
why we have this amazing growth, this moment and all
the good.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
You mentioned Kaitlin Clark earlier early. She's a factor in
all this, but I think there's a healthy debate going
on about how much of a factor is she is
the star power spreading around beyond her. Where do you
sit on this?
Speaker 4 (20:14):
I always say that the rising tide lifts all boats,
and Caitlin the rise of women's basketball that she has
helped usher in. I remember seeing the statistic about a
professor who said that she has generated close to a
billion dollars for the WNBA, that rising tide helps advance
everyone else. I know this personally, and like, I don't
(20:36):
want to put too much tea out there, but I'll
just speak generally, but like endorsements for players, for myself
as a broadcaster. With this women's basketball boom has grown
a lot of people that work in the business of
the WNBA. I talked to a lot of brands, you
know here things, and they're like, this past few years
have been the best for my business, you know.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
So I believe you show.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
You know, just because you give flowers to one player
doesn't mean you can't give flowers to other players, you know, But.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Everything becomes a debate.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
I think that there are so many factors, but the
way that she drives appointment television is something that you
can't replicate often and it only happens once in a generation.
You know, the compass Larry Bird and Magic Johnson created
(21:33):
appointment television, you know, television views and the cinema of
her collegiate run going up against Angel Reese in LSU
and like that cinema also fueled you know.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
Like, so.
Speaker 4 (21:49):
There's so many factors that helped, but what she has
done is someone who works in TV and sees the
numbers that average like that changes the game for so
many But I do really think there's, like I could
list off so many other things that I think help
as well, but like, the moment is here and it's
(22:11):
and you have to give her flowers.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
And I think the moment has to some degree helped
your moment as you expand your footprint. First, you know,
obviously you do work on a bunch of ESPN shows,
but you just recently started a news series on Disney
Plus that you referenced earlier called Vibe Check Sports from
a female Perspective. What's that been, like? Just what You've
(22:38):
only been doing this now a week or two, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
It's been so much fun.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
And like you said, you know, the way that I've
seen it is women's basketball. We've always cared about it,
you know, real ones, okay, But it also takes visionaries
to pay the pathway for the success that we're experiencing today.
And that's why when we I mentioned like Cannis Perker's
(23:03):
jersey being retired, like you get to see the visionaries
that help pave the path for these players to get
paid and recognized and celebrated.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
I see it also on broadcasts.
Speaker 4 (23:13):
It took a number of ESPN execs that got put
on the assignment to like, hmm, women's basketball, we should
create a show, a pregame show, a WNBA countdown. We
should really prioritize our NCAA tournament, because the nca tournament
is amazing. We should really work to make sure as many,
(23:35):
you know, we could be as inclusive of talent, even
if China's on the West coast working NBA Today and
NBA Countdown, like can she come? And also service women's basketball,
which is something that I've been desperate to do. I
just needed a boss to be like, give it the kiddies,
give the schedule and all of these things. That vision
to fight for me to be on that desk, that
vision to take l Duncan off of Sports Center to
(23:57):
host that, that vision to Andrea Carter do both men's
and women's you know, college basketball and bring us together
alongside the amazing Monica mcnutts and Christine Williamson's and you know,
they're they're that choice being at the right place at
the right time through the work that we have built
credibility and then also have this natural chemistry and then
(24:18):
on top of it, have the cinema, as I said
of the NCAA Tournament, the Yukon's, the Pagebeckers, the Caitlin's, Iowa's,
the Lsus, the andle Reas like the Notre Dames to
be all there. That's why I say is it's a
perfect storm which highlighted the need to continue to invest
in women's sports, which propelled us to be on stage
(24:41):
with the amazing Bob Iger at Disney Upfronts, to be
the faces of what media can care about from what
everyone just witnessed, to create a platform that's called Vibe
Check that is taken from the segments that we used
to do during the NCAA Tournament and expand it now
to include all women at ESPN. That's the full circle nature.
(25:03):
But then the cool thing is that the studio is
shot with a woman's touch.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
What does that mean women?
Speaker 4 (25:10):
Like I was, So we got into studio and it's
like we looked at like, oh, we got oprah lighting,
like the beautiful talk show, feminine soft Oprah lighting. We
get to talk about culture, you know, things that women
might be interested in, but also bring in the topics
of the day. Lebron James ops into his fifty million
(25:32):
dollar deal, you know that is interesting to us so
and also being at like places that matter and like
being this is a creative show because it's technically under
the Disney umbrella, even though it's primarily ESPN talent, And
that's the flexibility of the show and the versatility being
(25:52):
a little bit more out of the box per Disney brand,
but also honing in on sports.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Being the intersection of so much.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
So it's truly a vibe and it is a product
of all the amazing things that we have been able
to experience recently. And it's just a wild ride pun
intended to mister Bob Bicker because that's his book.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Well, yet another way that you're capitalizing on this perfect
storm is you're getting into scripted television. You and your
business part are producing a show for Peacock based on
your own adventures in the WNBA. How did this even
(26:36):
come together?
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Speaking of investing in something before people see the vision,
so long, story short, even though you have you can
tell I'm.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Pretty long when it's so apologies.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
In twenty twenty, it was a very big year. That
was the first recent year where the WNBA women's basketball
got a huge spotlight because of the WNBA bubble and
people being stuck at home during COVID watching Live sports.
Very happy that it was back on TV. But also
we were at the point of an election year, an
election cycle, and you saw what the WNBA did for advocacy,
(27:09):
especially when it comes to social justice. Now, at that time,
I was at ESPN. I could not play in the
bubble because I was nursing an injury, and so I
started working all day every day and I had on
my phone line, my sister, my teammates, and I was
just checking in. And so we had this documentary called
One That Captured. It was Sports Emmy nominated that captured
(27:31):
the season and the story of the season. And then
after that there's actually a really funny story, but I'm
not going to spill my tea. But after that, because
of the success of that, we were able to meet
every group internally when it comes to Disney, FX, Hulu, ABC, Signature,
all those entertainment groups, because we accomplished something in the
(27:53):
unscripted space. I had an idea I pitched them that
had been like near and dear to my heart and
I still one day hope to accomplish. But in those
pitch in those meetings, in those pitches, people saw the
dynamic of myself and my agent and they said, hey,
you guys are interesting because I chose my agent when
I was drafted number one at the age of twenty two.
She was twenty four, fresh out of law school, studying
(28:16):
for the bar, with no major clients. And by that
I say, maybe she had one that was a friend
of hers. But she thought out of the box and
was like, snay, everyone goes overseas. I want to be
in charge of building you here in the US, you know.
And so I was like, I like your vision, I
like your hustle. So that is how we started working
together and that story became our pitch and it was
(28:38):
our authentic story. So we worked with great partners at Condye,
NASS and obviously Peacock through NBC, and now we went
and pitched and they loved our pitch and we got
a scripted show. And I guess the point and this
happened like twenty nineteen, twenty twenty. I guess the point
that I'm saying is that, like it when it comes
(28:59):
to women in sports, a lot of times people thought
that we fit in a certain you know, box. But
I realized through media that storytelling is truly powerful, from
one forty four to documentary. It's like, if we can
get something to the big screen to change people's perceptions
on the sport we care about, wouldn't that be the
ultimate win. That's what drives conversations outside of the phenomenal play.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
We need to be different.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
Uh. My business partner, Alison Gaylor, her agency is called
disrupt the Game.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
We need to do something disruptive.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
And we were able to, you know, a converse that
now I'm not gonna lie as an athlete who's used
to seeing immediate results. You practice, you shoot, you see
your free throw percentage go up. Like entertainment is a
different beast.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Oh yeah, no turner.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
It is a slow turner. But we have fabulous partners
and we have amazing showrunners, and it's it's so the
pitch met the moment, and that's you know, because we
everything happened within the last year or so year and
a half with.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
The rise of everything that we're experience.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
But we were ready because we had already done the legwork
and so by the time we came and pitched, I.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Was like, whoa, we love it. We love women's.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
Best, you know. So I'm trying my best. We're at
a very very critical, key awesome stage, and I'm excited
for this project. And we have a couple more that
hopefully we'll keep going and you guys will hear about soon.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
So you this is not just a one off.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
You've got a vision for doing a whole bunch of things.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
I have a vision, yes, And we have a prospective slate.
We have another concept that we're very excited about. We
have unscripted things in the cooker that hopefully people will
hear about soon. But I'm very much someone that doesn't
like I like to walk before I run, you know,
And I feel like we're very much in an exciting
(30:48):
let's put it out there. Let's put it out that
I'd rather know it's concrete and it's real and it's happening,
and then be like, all right, y'all, this is the
fruition of all the work. And so yeah, but we
have things coming which I'm very very excited about.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Well, looking forward to seeing that vision come together. Looking
forward to seeing your coverage of the NBA and the
WNBA in the coming weeks and months. Janey, thanks for
taking the time out to talk with me today.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Thank you for being a joy a part of my
day and I'll do it anytime.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
Appreciate you guys.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Thanks for listening. Be sure to leave us a review
at Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music. We love to hear
from listeners. Please go to Variety dot com and sign
up for the free weekly Strictly Business newsletter, and don't
forget to tune in next week for another episode of
Strictly Business.
Welcome to another episode of Strictly Business, the podcast in
which we speak with some of the brightest minds working
in the media business today. This is Andrew Wallenstein with
Variety Intelligence Platform. The NBA season may have recently ended,
but you wouldn't know it from the fever pitch at
which this league continues to throw off headline making news.
(00:29):
There really is no off season for people like this
week's guest, Cheney Okumakay, a seasoned ESPN analyst for both
men's and women's pro and college hoops, and she knows
well the world of which she speaks. She's a former
WNBA All Star, not only well into a second career
anchoring shows like her new Disney Plus series Vibe Check,
(00:53):
but also recently announced she's embarking on a third producing
for scripted TV. More with Chaney after the.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Break to stick around, we are back.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
With ESPN basketball analyst Jeneogumkay.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Thanks for joining us, so glad to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Cool.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
So, before we get your thoughts on the NBA and
the WNBA as media phenomena, let's do some level setting
for us, because I want to know where you currently
are amidst all this madness. You know, what is your
summer itinerary in terms of basketball coverage? Where are you
going to be?
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Where are you now?
Speaker 4 (01:40):
First of all, thank you so much for this wellness check.
Very few people ask so when you were asking that question,
I'm like, I'm quite literally right now in Bristol, Connecticut
launching vibe Check, and a lot of my friends and
family have been checking on me lately because since March Madness,
I probably have no slept in my bed in Los
(02:02):
Angeles for two nights straight. It's been on the go
in Bristol for women's college basketball tournament, then we go
to Tampa for the final four. I'm a Basketball Africa
League ambassador. I went to Morocco for the start of
their playoffs, and I came back worked the WNBA draft,
worked the launch of the WNBA season, went to the
(02:22):
Western Conference Finals, during the NBA Playoffs, and then the
NBA Finals and then now leading to the NBA Draft
and then Vibe jack. So I've been to many different cities,
but it's the best time of the year. It's the
intersection of so much. You've got hoops all over the
WNBA season, you know, all star right around the corner.
(02:45):
You think about the NBA. No nights off with the news,
the conversation, and so I have been everywhere, but it's
been a good time, so I can't complain.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
That's great. So you mentioned the NBA, Let's start there.
We'll talk more WNBA a little later. It just is
so striking to me how I mean, of course every
summer is busy, but this one in particular, just is
it especially crazy to you given i'd say the volume,
(03:18):
particularly of the potential trades that are out there.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
So one of the most fun aspects of my job
as a broadcaster is the commercial breaks. That's when the
real te flows. At ESPN, We're all like, how are
you What are you hearing on this team? What do
you hear on that team? What do you hear on
that player? And then you get some of the backstories.
Our teammates are the best in the business. And I'll
never forget Scham's was like sane, it's going to be active.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
He's like talking about Shams, Tarania.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Them Tarania. Yes, the first year, first few months, can
you imagine the year that he's had the news He's broke, Yeah,
he was, he said a couple of times, and I
started hearing I was like, Okay, he's not lying. Like
these teams are going to really push for championships, and
so when I think of the NBA, I think about,
you know, it's it's unfortunate reality that, like my dad
(04:09):
has to saying, every disappointment is a blessing if you
allow it to be. He told me this, particularly when
I was coming back from injury, as when I was
a WNBA player and this last NBA playoffs, we saw
a lot of catastrophic, really you know, injuries that happened
to a number of players from Dame Lillard to Jason
Tatum and most recently Tyrese Haliburton.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
But now it's.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Created a frenzy where people feel like there's an opportunity
to compete. The East is wide open, the West has
consistently been wild, and now you're starting to see those
machinations come to reality. The Bucks want to preserve Janni
Santa to Coumpo, you know, the Texas teams want to
(04:50):
one up each other. Like it's really cool to be
at the intersection of ambition, but also the reality that
watching the in Dana Pacers, watching the Thunder, everyone's like,
if we play our best basketball at the right moment,
we have a shot, and now everyone is literally shooting
their shot to make a team, to assemble a team
(05:11):
to win.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
I think what you just said hits on what is
to me the key positive attribute propelling the NBA. But
I think you also hit on something that is a
big negative. So let's start with the positive, which is
I think what you're getting at here is the word parody.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
M M.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
I should say pa R I T Y, not pa
R O D Y. Any team see that? Well, I
shouldn't say any team. There are so many teams. There
are a few that aren't have a shot. And I think
is that more interesting to you? Do you think to
fans as a product than what the NBA maybe used
(05:53):
to be, where it was a little more dynastic, shall
we say, where one or two teams were dominant and
everyone else was catching up.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
It absolutely is more interesting to me when leagues have parity,
because now the stakes are higher for each team and
every move gets dissected.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Now.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
It also will hold myself as a media member accountable
because when we do have parity, it's on us to
tell the stories the best way so that when the
Indiana Pacers make it to the finals, everyone knows who
their star players. When Oklahoma City Thunder is having one
of the most dominant defensive runs and SBA is collecting
(06:31):
every Infinity stone when it comes to awards, we want
our viewers and our fans to know who these players
are and.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
How amazing they are.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
So I think it works hand in hand like bettering
our us as media, which is why I focus on
like the players, the breakdown, the essence of the game.
That's what gets me going, you know. But at the
same time, the teams are doing their jobs because I
believe there's a sense of urgency to win.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
You see the magic making moves.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
You also see the Celtics in the you know, in
the spirit of parody now dishealthling their roster because they
understand the implications of being at the second aprin you know,
similar to what the Phoenix Suns are doing. So I
do think it's a great thing and also like and
I'm sorry because I go on these roles because I
get so excited. But I also believe that fandom has
(07:26):
changed because of the influx of digital media and social media.
So maybe for you and for me, as we bridge
our generations. When we watched the basketball game. It was
one day, one or two games, and those were the
stars that you had access to, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant,
(07:47):
Lebron James, Steph Curry. Like it was a handful that
drove the interest. Now with social media, I talked to
a lot of kids because I do kids camps and
stuff like that. Their favorite player is LaMelo ball because
that's what they see a note. You go to an
AA tournament, they're all wearing LaMelo shoes. So the access
(08:08):
to what fans the next generation think superstars are, it's different.
It's very different, and I think it helps propel the game.
So there are many more superstars. And I know people
debate the use of the word superstars. I don't want
to get it to that. There are many more stars
into the mix, and I think now every team is
(08:28):
starting to build around them and try to see if
we can actually have a shot. And lastly, I'll say this,
seven different champions the last seven years, seven seasons in
the NBA. It's so much harder to have a dynasty.
And so I think that's all feeding the beast, the
engine of hoops.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
But when you talk about the power of social media
for the NBA, and I completely agree with it. I
do also wonder what that means for the Espns of.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
The world or the new right holders.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
That are coming in this season NBCUniversal, Amazon, do you
feel to some degree as a new generation comes to
embrace the league, but through maybe more so social media
than TV, what does that mean for the games? What
does that mean for the value of the kinds of
shows that you're anchoring on television?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
So I was a post player when I played, and
I love doing the dirty work. I love setting screens
and I loved winning right. So I may not be
the normal person to answer this, but I think of
it twofold one. I loved one the acquisition of inside
the NBA, finding a way for us to preserve what
(09:43):
I believe is the best product that is cuts through
generations in.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
That group, that Hall of Fame, iconic group.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
But I also love competition, and I believe with more
partners in with basketball, whether it's NBC or Amazon, it
forces us to be better at ESPN. So one at espn'
I'm grateful that we own sports in the sports fandom. Like,
(10:15):
if you love sports, you know ESPN, you know the
channel to Turn two, you know the events are going
to more often than not going to be there on
a daily basis. But I also do like bringing in
fresh voices, fresh perspectives so that we continue to level up,
you know, our game, and it's gonna be I think
it's going to be good.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I think it's.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Good, you know, to spread the wealth, to share the wealth,
but also make sure that we put out the product
that sports fans won.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
I mentioned earlier, you know, the positive of parity, But
I want to get back to the negative, which is
when you talk about those catastrophic injuries to Tatum, Haliburton, Lillard.
Is this becoming a problem for the NBA in terms
of when you've got star attractions that are going down
(11:09):
for like not just a few months, but entire seasons.
I got to wonder whether League Commissioner Adam Silver has
a problem on his hands.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
One thing I do appreciate. I was working in the
NBA draft.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Our fabulous hosts Malika Andrews was interviewing Adam Silver and
she asked him this question, and I really this is
one thing that I believe makes Adam great. He doesn't
duck from these issues. He actually goes and uses science
and information to help create solutions, and so that was
his response. We have a team of people that are
looking into the eight I believe they said there were
(11:43):
eight over the course of this season amongst all players
Achilles injuries and why this has happened. Now, I'm someone
who has dealt with achilles injury. That's one of my
achilles playing overseas in China, and so I know what
that rehab is. And that is really a tough blow
because you look at a team like Boston and you're like, Okay,
would they be making the moves they're making if Jason
(12:05):
Tatum we're healthy now I know that luxury taps the
new ownership, maybe the cases, they'd still be making different choices,
you know, these same choices. But from my vantage point,
and this is purely my opinion, I think those things
happen obviously with fatigue. And if there's a way to
(12:26):
build out pockets of the NBA schedule, and I'm gonna
just say, pro hoops, you can include it in the
WNBA as well. Because we've had a couple of acls
which are tied to anatomically the body of a woman
that people are researching more. Now, if we build out
a few more pockets of rest that is such a
game changer for an athlete, like having three. If we
(12:49):
know that there's you know, we love to Our goal
is to win Christmas Day, and I know that Fella's
coming for us, right, But from Christmas Day December or
is it Boxing Day the twenty six, I believe it.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
This is Boxing Day?
Speaker 4 (13:04):
Yeah, From Boxing Day through New Year's we're all gearing
up for college football playoffs, right, And to me, I
feel like that's a good opportunity to sort of build
out rest because everyone knows where the sports fans' attention
really is cool. We have the play in we have
(13:26):
the playoffs, and those are so sequential. Maybe if there's
an area where you can build out a little bit
of more pockets of rest. An athlete going into a
long stretch, getting three days four days in between, that
does wonders for their body, and I know that's what
the league is probably looking into. But there's so many components,
(13:48):
you know, that go into scheduling and just being able
to pull off a season that times out well with
other leagues. So this is just my personal perspective building
out and you know, I'm very tuned into the WNBA
as a former player, they've expanded that we're in a
forty four record number, forty four amount of games this year.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Obviously we add a new team in the Golden State Valkyries.
We're gonna add.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
Portland in Toronto. They just announced Cleveland Philly in Detroit,
So we'll go from twelve to eighteen by I believe
twenty thirty.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
Right.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
That means even within the current CBA, you're expanding the
number of games. You deal with Olympic years where you're
condensing the amount of time.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Like, there's some things that I think need to.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Be explored to protect players now again, like I was
on the Players Association, so like that's my brain. And
then as someone who has done the injury, I don't
know if this is all certified, but that was just
my gut.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Reaction to what I'm seeing.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Got it, Well, we will talk more WNBA with China.
Right after this break stick around, we are back with
Janey Agoomackay, the ESPN analyst for men's and women's pro
(15:10):
and college hoops. We just talked a ton about the NBA.
Let's now switch gears to the WNBA. You just mentioned
the recent news of Team expansion, three more teams coming
in the coming years. What does this mean for the WNBA?
How significant is it?
Speaker 4 (15:31):
We're where the money resides finally, like in my head
as a dot dot dot finally, finally it's the years
of investment partnership. Obviously with the NBA, it took the
superstardom of Caitlin Clark and the new young generation really
and also like bringing in fans, like all of these
(15:52):
things were the perfect storm. We stand on the shoulders
of those who came before us. This is coming off
of recently retiring kandas Parker's jersey like there, it's been
a long time coming, but now the expansion is here.
And one thing that I do like, especially with our
commissioner Kathy Engelbert, I think the key is having the
right ownership, you know, having people truly invested for the
(16:16):
long term, because ownership, the only way it pays off
is not these short term returns like in four or
five years. It's a generational asset. If you just look
at what the Bus family has accomplished with the Los
Angeles Lakers, like those are the blueprints for sports success.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
We're at that.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
Beginning moment where it's still I know it sounds crazy
for all of us, but like a decently affordable by
in for certain owners, but knowing that the upside is
growing exponentially quicker than we even imagined. You look at
the valuations of the Golden State Valkyries being you know,
half a billion, five hundred million. You know, so my
(16:54):
thoughts on expansion, I'm really excited. I believe the players,
the investment, the new eyes, the history allow us to
be at this moment where we can capitalize on it
in the best way possible.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
I'm so curious how you, as a player or former player,
did you always see this coming, this growth for the WNBA,
or does it has it taken you by surprise.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I didn't always see it coming.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
I am right now living and it sounds so corny,
but like living out my dreams. I always go back
to this story where I always go back to this
story where last year was Yes, last year, the w
mid season started deploying charters for the players, and I
called Mekka, my older sister who's president the players Association,
(17:53):
and Nika was like, Chaney, I really can't believe that
we're actually on private planes, Like this is something that
I had already mentally blocked out of my head, like
we won't benefit from this, The next generation will same
type of call I got from her Chaney. I walked
into the Seattle Storm practice facility dedicated exclusively to us,
and I can't believe I'm resting in a hyper bear
(18:15):
chamber right now and can go get meals from our shots.
It can go get shots anytime that I want. So
my answer to that is, I am completely astonished to
be in the present moment right now. Anybody that picked
up a ball, probably around my age or prior, did
not expect for it to happen the way it did currently,
(18:37):
and so it's been amazing.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
It's also been really difficult because.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
The passion for players, the passion for teams, the passion palpable.
But also it's it's a pressure cooker when it comes
to rhetoric because as women, we operate at the intersection
of gender race. Our league has been historically political, you know,
(19:04):
an advocacy of what we represent given the primary demographics
of what the WNBA is and so it and we
are unapologetically ourselves, and at times that puts us in
the line of fire, you know, and that at times
things that I say, or we say as broadcasters or
media is not perfect. But one thing I always go
(19:27):
back to is and it's something that Scottie Pippen told
me when I was early on ESPN. It was the
Jump Show with Rachel Nichols. He said, if they boot,
it's okay. It shows you that they care. And there
are more people that will celebrate the hard work you
approach with the game with than they will hate. And
I believe we're at the point where people are appreciating
(19:47):
women's basketball more than they are hating on what they
perceived it to be for a long time, and that's
why we have this amazing growth, this moment and all
the good.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
You mentioned Kaitlin Clark earlier early. She's a factor in
all this, but I think there's a healthy debate going
on about how much of a factor is she is
the star power spreading around beyond her. Where do you
sit on this?
Speaker 4 (20:14):
I always say that the rising tide lifts all boats,
and Caitlin the rise of women's basketball that she has
helped usher in. I remember seeing the statistic about a
professor who said that she has generated close to a
billion dollars for the WNBA, that rising tide helps advance
everyone else. I know this personally, and like, I don't
(20:36):
want to put too much tea out there, but I'll
just speak generally, but like endorsements for players, for myself
as a broadcaster. With this women's basketball boom has grown
a lot of people that work in the business of
the WNBA. I talked to a lot of brands, you
know here things, and they're like, this past few years
have been the best for my business, you know.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
So I believe you show.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
You know, just because you give flowers to one player
doesn't mean you can't give flowers to other players, you know, But.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Everything becomes a debate.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
I think that there are so many factors, but the
way that she drives appointment television is something that you
can't replicate often and it only happens once in a generation.
You know, the compass Larry Bird and Magic Johnson created
(21:33):
appointment television, you know, television views and the cinema of
her collegiate run going up against Angel Reese in LSU
and like that cinema also fueled you know.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
Like, so.
Speaker 4 (21:49):
There's so many factors that helped, but what she has
done is someone who works in TV and sees the
numbers that average like that changes the game for so
many But I do really think there's, like I could
list off so many other things that I think help
as well, but like, the moment is here and it's
(22:11):
and you have to give her flowers.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
And I think the moment has to some degree helped
your moment as you expand your footprint. First, you know,
obviously you do work on a bunch of ESPN shows,
but you just recently started a news series on Disney
Plus that you referenced earlier called Vibe Check Sports from
a female Perspective. What's that been, like? Just what You've
(22:38):
only been doing this now a week or two, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
It's been so much fun.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
And like you said, you know, the way that I've
seen it is women's basketball. We've always cared about it,
you know, real ones, okay, But it also takes visionaries
to pay the pathway for the success that we're experiencing today.
And that's why when we I mentioned like Cannis Perker's
(23:03):
jersey being retired, like you get to see the visionaries
that help pave the path for these players to get
paid and recognized and celebrated.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
I see it also on broadcasts.
Speaker 4 (23:13):
It took a number of ESPN execs that got put
on the assignment to like, hmm, women's basketball, we should
create a show, a pregame show, a WNBA countdown. We
should really prioritize our NCAA tournament, because the nca tournament
is amazing. We should really work to make sure as many,
(23:35):
you know, we could be as inclusive of talent, even
if China's on the West coast working NBA Today and
NBA Countdown, like can she come? And also service women's basketball,
which is something that I've been desperate to do. I
just needed a boss to be like, give it the kiddies,
give the schedule and all of these things. That vision
to fight for me to be on that desk, that
vision to take l Duncan off of Sports Center to
(23:57):
host that, that vision to Andrea Carter do both men's
and women's you know, college basketball and bring us together
alongside the amazing Monica mcnutts and Christine Williamson's and you know,
they're they're that choice being at the right place at
the right time through the work that we have built
credibility and then also have this natural chemistry and then
(24:18):
on top of it, have the cinema, as I said
of the NCAA Tournament, the Yukon's, the Pagebeckers, the Caitlin's, Iowa's,
the Lsus, the andle Reas like the Notre Dames to
be all there. That's why I say is it's a
perfect storm which highlighted the need to continue to invest
in women's sports, which propelled us to be on stage
(24:41):
with the amazing Bob Iger at Disney Upfronts, to be
the faces of what media can care about from what
everyone just witnessed, to create a platform that's called Vibe
Check that is taken from the segments that we used
to do during the NCAA Tournament and expand it now
to include all women at ESPN. That's the full circle nature.
(25:03):
But then the cool thing is that the studio is
shot with a woman's touch.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
What does that mean women?
Speaker 4 (25:10):
Like I was, So we got into studio and it's
like we looked at like, oh, we got oprah lighting,
like the beautiful talk show, feminine soft Oprah lighting. We
get to talk about culture, you know, things that women
might be interested in, but also bring in the topics
of the day. Lebron James ops into his fifty million
(25:32):
dollar deal, you know that is interesting to us so
and also being at like places that matter and like
being this is a creative show because it's technically under
the Disney umbrella, even though it's primarily ESPN talent, And
that's the flexibility of the show and the versatility being
(25:52):
a little bit more out of the box per Disney brand,
but also honing in on sports.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Being the intersection of so much.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
So it's truly a vibe and it is a product
of all the amazing things that we have been able
to experience recently. And it's just a wild ride pun
intended to mister Bob Bicker because that's his book.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Well, yet another way that you're capitalizing on this perfect
storm is you're getting into scripted television. You and your
business part are producing a show for Peacock based on
your own adventures in the WNBA. How did this even
(26:36):
come together?
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Speaking of investing in something before people see the vision,
so long, story short, even though you have you can
tell I'm.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Pretty long when it's so apologies.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
In twenty twenty, it was a very big year. That
was the first recent year where the WNBA women's basketball
got a huge spotlight because of the WNBA bubble and
people being stuck at home during COVID watching Live sports.
Very happy that it was back on TV. But also
we were at the point of an election year, an
election cycle, and you saw what the WNBA did for advocacy,
(27:09):
especially when it comes to social justice. Now, at that time,
I was at ESPN. I could not play in the
bubble because I was nursing an injury, and so I
started working all day every day and I had on
my phone line, my sister, my teammates, and I was
just checking in. And so we had this documentary called
One That Captured. It was Sports Emmy nominated that captured
(27:31):
the season and the story of the season. And then
after that there's actually a really funny story, but I'm
not going to spill my tea. But after that, because
of the success of that, we were able to meet
every group internally when it comes to Disney, FX, Hulu, ABC, Signature,
all those entertainment groups, because we accomplished something in the
(27:53):
unscripted space. I had an idea I pitched them that
had been like near and dear to my heart and
I still one day hope to accomplish. But in those
pitch in those meetings, in those pitches, people saw the
dynamic of myself and my agent and they said, hey,
you guys are interesting because I chose my agent when
I was drafted number one at the age of twenty two.
She was twenty four, fresh out of law school, studying
(28:16):
for the bar, with no major clients. And by that
I say, maybe she had one that was a friend
of hers. But she thought out of the box and
was like, snay, everyone goes overseas. I want to be
in charge of building you here in the US, you know.
And so I was like, I like your vision, I
like your hustle. So that is how we started working
together and that story became our pitch and it was
(28:38):
our authentic story. So we worked with great partners at Condye,
NASS and obviously Peacock through NBC, and now we went
and pitched and they loved our pitch and we got
a scripted show. And I guess the point and this
happened like twenty nineteen, twenty twenty. I guess the point
that I'm saying is that, like it when it comes
(28:59):
to women in sports, a lot of times people thought
that we fit in a certain you know, box. But
I realized through media that storytelling is truly powerful, from
one forty four to documentary. It's like, if we can
get something to the big screen to change people's perceptions
on the sport we care about, wouldn't that be the
ultimate win. That's what drives conversations outside of the phenomenal play.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
We need to be different.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
Uh. My business partner, Alison Gaylor, her agency is called
disrupt the Game.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
We need to do something disruptive.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
And we were able to, you know, a converse that
now I'm not gonna lie as an athlete who's used
to seeing immediate results. You practice, you shoot, you see
your free throw percentage go up. Like entertainment is a
different beast.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Oh yeah, no turner.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
It is a slow turner. But we have fabulous partners
and we have amazing showrunners, and it's it's so the
pitch met the moment, and that's you know, because we
everything happened within the last year or so year and
a half with.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
The rise of everything that we're experience.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
But we were ready because we had already done the legwork
and so by the time we came and pitched, I.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Was like, whoa, we love it. We love women's.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
Best, you know. So I'm trying my best. We're at
a very very critical, key awesome stage, and I'm excited
for this project. And we have a couple more that
hopefully we'll keep going and you guys will hear about soon.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
So you this is not just a one off.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
You've got a vision for doing a whole bunch of things.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
I have a vision, yes, And we have a prospective slate.
We have another concept that we're very excited about. We
have unscripted things in the cooker that hopefully people will
hear about soon. But I'm very much someone that doesn't
like I like to walk before I run, you know,
And I feel like we're very much in an exciting
(30:48):
let's put it out there. Let's put it out that
I'd rather know it's concrete and it's real and it's happening,
and then be like, all right, y'all, this is the
fruition of all the work. And so yeah, but we
have things coming which I'm very very excited about.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Well, looking forward to seeing that vision come together. Looking
forward to seeing your coverage of the NBA and the
WNBA in the coming weeks and months. Janey, thanks for
taking the time out to talk with me today.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Thank you for being a joy a part of my
day and I'll do it anytime.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
Appreciate you guys.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Thanks for listening. Be sure to leave us a review
at Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music. We love to hear
from listeners. Please go to Variety dot com and sign
up for the free weekly Strictly Business newsletter, and don't
forget to tune in next week for another episode of
Strictly Business.
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