Jada Williams

Arizona’s gritty guard, Jada Williams, joins the show as she steps into her sophomore season with the Wildcats! From dominating as a teenager, to becoming one of the first high school athletes to sign an NIL deal, to sharing her passion for basketball on social media, Jada has always embraced the spotlight. Now, she’s focused on making her mark in college hoops – so tune in!

1. Team bonding UNO games, playing near KC this year, backcourt rankings 😱 (2:07)
2. USC / UCLA rivalry this year is fire, blowing up on social media at a young age, moving from Kansas City to San Diego 🔥 (8:00)
3. California HS basketball culture, choosing Arizona, breakout game vs. Stanford 🗣️ (15:45)
4. Off-season work, Helena Pueyo flowers, NIL, Vibe Check 💪🏽 (37:30)

About Our Host:

Atlanta Dream guard Haley Jones is an NCAA national champion, All-American, and No. 6 pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Listen as she welcomes top players to the mic to dissect basketball’s biggest storylines, celebrate top performances, and give flowers to the players growing the game. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We dealt with a lot last year, injury wise, adversity wise,
all that stuff, and so just overcoming that, I think
we've grown a lot. Like knowledge wise, I feel like
we jumped from freshman to junior year just because we
had to. We didn't have no choice.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
It was cool.

Speaker 1 (00:12):
I learned a lot freshman year about myself, about my fight,
all that stuff, and so coming in this year, I
knew my goal was to get big, get strong, get fast,
being the best shit of my life. So we got
a little joke here no undershirt. So I'm not wearing
no undershirt this year because I got lost now, but
I be Yeah, I've I've been in the weight room
heavy this season, so I'm excited to Yeah. Kind of
how that carries over.

Speaker 3 (00:35):
Welcome back to sometimes.

Speaker 4 (00:36):
I hope today we've got the future of college basketball
on the pod. Quit Humble Bragg McDonald's All American two
times fee A gold medalist, Pack twelve All Freshman team
none other than the Arizona superstar Jado Williams.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
Thanks for coming on the pod.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Thanks for having me man, Oh my gosh.

Speaker 3 (00:54):
Of course.

Speaker 4 (00:55):
Well, a quick icebreaker before we hop into things. What
was the first concert that you ever went to.

Speaker 1 (01:01):
Actually, I just went to my first concert two days ago.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
It was Soldier Boy.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
No way was Oh my god. I feel like I
would have been doing all the dances in the crowd.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
I think, yes, I was.

Speaker 3 (01:13):
I would have left that concert sweating make up.

Speaker 1 (01:16):
N We dressed up like Soldier Boy. We had the
big bag basically me and like all my teammates went.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
So we had a blast.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
That's the best. Just goofing up.

Speaker 4 (01:24):
I feel like that's what I would do at a
Pipull concert too, like go with the ball cap and
just keep it pushing.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yep.

Speaker 4 (01:29):
But yeah, let's talk about your off season. I know
you're an NIL superstar and it kept you busy. What
were some of the activations that you really enjoyed doing
in the off season.

Speaker 1 (01:38):
I did a thing with Overtime in Atlanta that was
super fun. I got to be with like all the
young Hoopers and like the environment they have. They're super cool,
Like they have an arena, like they go crazy women's basketball,
So I thought that was really cool. I think that
was definitely my favorite one. And then I did like
a beat shoot that was super cool as well. I
wasn't on No Page tour or nothing like that. So
I wasn't touring the world like Page was, but I

(01:58):
have fun.

Speaker 4 (01:59):
Yeah, No, overtime stuff is so cool the way that
arena set up and they sell out like every game
that they had, So that was sick. But it's still
pretty early in the season. Seven new players that went
from South Carolina, lots of other transfers Paulina Paris. So
what's the best team Bonnie activity that you guys have
done to really integrate everybody into the Arizona program and

(02:20):
culture to get ready for the season.

Speaker 1 (02:22):
Honestly, just like a little kickback you have, Like we
don't have a many off days obviously we're yeah, but
we do have off day. We just kind of have
little kickbacks. We play a lot of games, like we
play a lot of UNO, so we get competitive, but
we got to see everybody's competitive nature before sure practice.
So that Uno game brought the light out for everybody.

Speaker 4 (02:38):
Yeah, I was gonna say, I feel like UNO brings
out everyone's personalities. Like you try to play it cool
and then once somebody gets you the draw for it's
out the window yelling.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
And it's like draw ten and like splip cards and
all that. Like it's crazy. It gets wicked for sure.

Speaker 4 (02:51):
Oh no, yeah, that would definitely break some relationships. I'm
sure I have the leave table being flipped.

Speaker 3 (02:58):
I'm done.

Speaker 4 (02:59):
Nah, that's too much, but that's good. I feel like
it's always hard moving into a new season. Obviously seniors leave, transfers,
whatever it is, but bringing seven new players into a
program is hard. And on top of that all different
conference realignments. Pack twelve is over and you guys are
now on the Big twelve. So what were your first
impressions of the PAC twelve.

Speaker 3 (03:17):
You know, it's only a year.

Speaker 4 (03:19):
What do you feel like it was like and how
is it gonna get you ready for the Big twelve?

Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah?

Speaker 1 (03:23):
I think growing up PAC twelve was something I always
wanted to play in, like UCLA obviously, and then Arizona
moving to Arizona. So I think the PAC twelve was smart.
The teams are smart, the coaches are smart. You know
plans Stanford like they're smart. Like they're hitting us with
chin action, hitting us on split guards, cutting everywhere. So
I feel like the difference is gonna be they don't

(03:45):
do a.

Speaker 2 (03:45):
Lot of that.

Speaker 1 (03:45):
It's more like bully ball. They got bigger bigs they're
not as molt Like, we're not guarding Cameron Brink, like
the Bigs and Big twelve are not gonna be stepping
out besides maybe Audi, But other than that, the Pack
twelve was fun. We had a lot of adversity last year,
so we're playing with seven people. I got like freshman
leading older girls, having a bigger role than probably I
even thought I was gonna have. So I had a

(04:06):
lot of fun last year. We definitely didn't win as
many games as we'd like to, but we overcame adversity
and that was the biggest thing for us.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
It's just growth.

Speaker 1 (04:12):
And so now we're coming in. We got a whole
full roster. We we got bodies. You gotta know, like
we can actually practice Like last year practice like an hour.
So they was like, oh my god, Like we're actually
here for three hours like this.

Speaker 3 (04:24):
Now you're like, what is this?

Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah, I think everyone's super excited just to see the difference.

Speaker 2 (04:28):
For me, I'm excited. I get to go back home.

Speaker 1 (04:29):
I'm from Kansas City, so we get to play Ku,
which is like forty five minutes from home. K Stay
is like an hour away from home, So I get
to go back to the Midwest, and my film's gonna
get to see me a lot more.

Speaker 4 (04:39):
Yeah, that'll be so great. I didn't even think about that.
I forgot you from Kansas City, but that'll be so fun.
And I feel like you talked about, it's just completely
different styles of basketball from conference to conference.

Speaker 3 (04:48):
And I feel like the Pac twelve is very high Q.

Speaker 4 (04:51):
It's very set driven, and everybody is very skilled, and
so moving into the Big twelve a different playing style.
Are there certain teams or certain plays that you're really
looking forward to competing against.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
I wouldn't say a team in particular.

Speaker 1 (05:04):
Like I said, I'm excited to go back to Kansas City,
Like a lot of my friends are on those teams
just because that's where I'm from, so they stayed home
so I can see a lot of them.

Speaker 2 (05:11):
Honestly, it's heavy guard play.

Speaker 1 (05:12):
I think we're gonna play a lot of like one
on one, Ye're gonna have the guard off the mount.
So I'm super excited for that, just to compete against
new people. I think our fans are super excited because
they get to see different coaches, different styles, different players,
and so I think everyone's super excited, especially here in Tucson.

Speaker 4 (05:27):
Yeah, for sure, you guys already have a great crowd.
I remember playing there and it would be jumping no
matter what. I feel like it's very rowdy in that gym.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Oh yeah.

Speaker 1 (05:34):
Like last year when we played Stanford here, we got
clapped by forty and stay the whole game cheering us on,
and we out there seven people like please like.

Speaker 4 (05:45):
Oh my god, I always fear you guys, said seven people,
but y'all were a strong seven for real. I feel
like it really like backs against the Wall. You see
everybody's personalities and what the character is like. So for
y'all will do what you did last year with small
numbers is huge and be as young as you were,
Like yeah, I still thing for real.

Speaker 1 (06:01):
We started three freshmen and like one of the freshmen,
her name is Skyler Jones. She like she came in
and she was like nervous, like she didn't want to
get in the game, like she was scared to dribble.
And then like I don't know, when we played Cows
like one of the first games that we like, seven
came in and started going and we were like.

Speaker 2 (06:19):
This is what you can do and then just carry on.

Speaker 1 (06:21):
So like everyone really just came out of their comfort zone,
gave a little bit more hustle, and it was super fun.

Speaker 2 (06:26):
I think we were all best friends.

Speaker 1 (06:27):
Like you don't have the opportunity to have no dramma
or nothing like we literally had seven people.

Speaker 2 (06:30):
Our bus was empty.

Speaker 1 (06:32):
We literally keep everyone because it wasn't expensive like it.
Oh yeah, I think we had a blast last year.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
I'm not gonna lie.

Speaker 3 (06:38):
Yeah, no, that's great.

Speaker 4 (06:39):
And speaking of Skyler Jones, I feel like this is
the year of the backcourts in college basketball. There's a
lot of great guard deals. Obviously, you and Skyler are
a young deal. You bringing Paulina and some other great
guard play. But what we're gonna do is, I'm gonna
have you blind rank these next five college duos. You
know what I mean, like one through five, blind rank them, right,
I'm with you, Okay, first one, NC State Rivers and

(07:00):
Isaiah James.

Speaker 1 (07:02):
They were my dogs. I'm'na have to say. I'ma have
to say three.

Speaker 4 (07:05):
Okay, Yukon, we got Paige and then we can have
like kk or Azy as.

Speaker 3 (07:09):
A part of that duo.

Speaker 4 (07:11):
Two two all right, South Carolina Raven Johnson and my
Laisia ful Wiley one, Oh, Okay Texas Rory Harmon and
Madison Booker.

Speaker 1 (07:22):
They don't deserve to be at five, but like all
those are crazy, all like crazy.

Speaker 4 (07:29):
All right, So roll five and then last one at
the number four spot Notre Dame, Olivia Miles and Hannah
a Dog go.

Speaker 2 (07:34):
Oh yeah, that's they all need to be at number even.

Speaker 4 (07:39):
I would say, I feel like they're all like one,
one point five, like they're all right there. I feel
like even closer, it's really the year of the guards
in college basketball.

Speaker 3 (07:50):
I feel like, and specifically.

Speaker 4 (07:52):
A lot of the Pac twelve guards now going to
these new conferences, teams are gonna have to deal with people.
And so I want you to give me maybe a
little scouting without giving away too many of a Das secrets.
And we'll start with TVO. Now, what USC telea Vana Hoffin.
What are you excited to see from her moving to
USC and being in the Big ten.

Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, we played them last year at Oregon State. Been
triple overtime, I believe, and she hit a three to
go into the triple overtime. She's an amazing player. You
never see her like make bad decisions, like she's a
great player. She knows when to make the right decision.
I'm just super excited to see her play along. Juju
KEI key, Like that team is that's just that, like
they're going to be trouble. Yeah, I'm just sup excited

(08:32):
to see them all play together. I think everyone's talking
stuff like, oh, they're not going to be able to
get the ball around enough, but like they're smart players,
they know how to play great basketball, they know how
to win.

Speaker 2 (08:39):
So I'm just decided to see what they do.

Speaker 3 (08:41):
Yeah, I think I agree.

Speaker 4 (08:42):
A lot of people are talking about there's not gonna
be enough ball to go around, But I think all
of those people are such great people where they want
to put the team first and win. So if that
means getting less shots, getting less touches, they know they
have great players around them. And then I feel like
it's a similar problem on the other side of town
at UCLA. Kiki Rise, Lauren bats it's just the listen,
you have to me a Gardner. Now, it's all over
the place, And so how do you feel like Keiki

(09:04):
Rice is gonna adapt to the Big ten play again?

Speaker 1 (09:07):
All around players, she plays defense, she's a great point guard.
She scored and she has to me and Scott were
just talking about, like the in town rivalry is tough,
like crazy, that's one for the books, and they're gonna
sell out, I don't doubt it. Like they match up amazingly,
Like they got Janiah Barker, like they're both stacked. And
then like whoever starts, there's like five more people on
the bench. Where o that like was all Americans? Like

(09:30):
it's crazy. So they got some tough rivalries across town.
But I'm excited to watch the game. I'm just excited
for women's basketball, like I love watching I'm excited that
everyone plays on different days now and so like on
my off damn and be watching basketball.

Speaker 3 (09:40):
Yeah, you're so right.

Speaker 4 (09:41):
It's so hard watching the PAC twelve when you know
you played the exact same times.

Speaker 3 (09:44):
You never catch the other games.

Speaker 4 (09:46):
And I think even like Charlie's Ledger Walker from while
she said, how is she on UCLA too?

Speaker 3 (09:50):
Like everybody is on that team.

Speaker 1 (09:54):
In the same city, Like y'all, y'all, y'all ate down, y'all.

Speaker 3 (09:57):
Really, yeah, La is spoiled for real. Getty to go
watch those games. But jump me back into you in
your early hoops journey.

Speaker 4 (10:03):
I know, you finished up high school in San Diego
a La Joya country day. But back in the beginning,
Blue Springs, Missouri, how did you get into basketball?

Speaker 3 (10:10):
Who put the ball in your hands?

Speaker 1 (10:12):
Honestly, it was just like my parents would be like
or really my mom would be like, hey, like you
want to do this and this, or like they were
like when I was really young, they like soccer, balls,
football's all these things, and I just always picked up
the basketball like it was just I don't know, like
we had a click and like you know those little
tykes car with the red and yeah top, and I
would put my basketball in there, get in the car,
drive around the house, get out, play the basketball, put

(10:34):
it back in and like it just connected. So ever
since then, like I got put on a YMC eighteen
and I fell in love with it. But I was
so competitive and like the girls there were not they
didn't care. Yeah, so I would like steal the ball,
and you weren't supposed to steal the ball, like you
had to have your wristband.

Speaker 2 (10:47):
You match up with that same girl and you have
to guard that girl. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (10:50):
I ended up getting kicked out. They told me I
couldn't play anymore because I stole the ball too much.
I ended up going to play with boys, and then
from there on, I just got really dedicated and I
started working out with this girl named Betty Lyne. She
played in WNBA, so she actually played alongside the DA
So I started working out with her, and I just
like I wanted to go every single day, like I
did not want to do anything but play basketball, Like
Mom picked me up from school early and take me

(11:11):
to play basketball, and so ever since then, I just
fell in love with this. It's kind of been my
escape from family issues and anything like that. Is I
resolved to basketball because it's hard talk about just feeling
the stuff.

Speaker 2 (11:20):
So like I'm mad, I'm sad, I'm happy.

Speaker 1 (11:21):
I'm going to hoop like I'm just going to So
that's kind of what I resulted to, and it it
kind of just carried on throughout life.

Speaker 2 (11:26):
I guess I love that.

Speaker 4 (11:27):
I feel like I hated rec hoops growing up, because
why are you trying to limit me? I remember our thing.
It wasn't the wristbands, but you could only play like
half the game.

Speaker 2 (11:34):
I'll be this.

Speaker 4 (11:35):
I try to get us up twenty and now my
teammates want to start losing I can't do nothing about it.
I'm over here subing myself in I was hot and
so rec basketball. I feel like it really you really
start to understand how much you love it. In times
like that where you're so much more competitive than other people,
you understand that you love it more than them. And
so getting to be around Betty Lennox, I know you
started working out with Marcus.

Speaker 3 (11:55):
Williams really young.

Speaker 4 (11:56):
All of that led to you blowing up in social media,
which was crazy, and I feel you kind of became
an overnight celebrity for real. So do you feel like
there was a moment for you that kind of changed
everything when this social media fame hit you so young?

Speaker 1 (12:10):
For me, what I remember, I think I was like
eleven or twelve, and kk Arnold came to work out
with us in Kansas City because Marky's had like a
little camp or whatever. So she came to work out
and we was playing one on one and I threw
it through her legs and like I did a layup,
and like I just did it four times in the
same we was playing Queen of the Cork and like
I was cooking, and they had.

Speaker 2 (12:29):
Posted it in the Dude filet you remember the dude
he'sus to be like file a.

Speaker 1 (12:32):
Yes, he made like a video to it, and like
Drake commented on it and like it just blew up
and like I remember my sister, she's four years older
than me, and she was going through the comments.

Speaker 2 (12:42):
She's replying back.

Speaker 1 (12:43):
I'm like, Jordan, it's not that deep, Like I don't care,
like you don't need to be because they're.

Speaker 2 (12:48):
Like, oh, she's not that good whatever.

Speaker 1 (12:50):
I'm like my family hot, like they replying back to everybody,
and that's when it started, like we can't be doing that,
like y'all did not need to be replying to everybody.
And then from there on, like I was just a kid,
like I was doing between the legs layups after workouts
like me and Mark's is my godfather, So we was
in a gym, like my mom would come drop me
off and he would take me back.

Speaker 2 (13:07):
At like twelve, like I would be in here all day.

Speaker 1 (13:09):
So we just do crazy to like jumping over cones,
and like people are getting mad and like, oh, that's
not real, but I was just having fun.

Speaker 2 (13:14):
I was just being a kid. People kind of.

Speaker 1 (13:16):
Resulted to like gravitating towards my personality more and now
that's kind of what I did, and so then it
became natural, like I never was trying to portray somebody
that I wasn't.

Speaker 2 (13:25):
I was just having fun being a kid.

Speaker 1 (13:26):
Like a lot of level year olds don't go through that,
so I kind of went through it early. So now
like social media don't really bother me and affect me,
but it's like my job now for real.

Speaker 4 (13:36):
And I feel like it's hard when you first blow
up and your family wants to be those keyboard warriors
and get anybody that says anything negative about you. But
I feel like for you, with an IL, you're probably
able to take everything in stride, like it's not a
big deal. You have to deal with the hate and
especially with women's basketball blowing up more eyes on the game,
Like you're fine. You can handle the pressure all the
things that come with that. And so for you, you've

(13:57):
done a lot of cool nil deals and you were
the first high school girls basketball player to sign with Spalding.
So what was that like it maybe what was the
first thing you did after you signed the check? Did
we go buy something cool?

Speaker 3 (14:09):
Did we invest? What do we do?

Speaker 1 (14:11):
Honestly, I remember like Spalding reaching out before it like
wanted to do stuff. But that was before NIL passed.
But I remember like back in the day, like Mike
Flynn would be like it's gonna pass, You're gonna be
able to make money, Da da da, And I'm like,
it's not gonna happen, like it's college like whatever. I'm
just going on about my business. But like my mom
really helped me set it up to where when it
did pass, I was ten steps ahead of everybody just

(14:34):
because that's I already have my social media. Now everyone's
trying to do all day in the lights and trying
to get people to get their following, but I already
had that, so it was like straight up to jump.
Like the day that it passed, Spaulding sent the contract
sign like boom.

Speaker 2 (14:46):
And no, I didn't buy none.

Speaker 1 (14:47):
I my mom probably bought me a pair of shoes
or something.

Speaker 2 (14:49):
I don't really keep my money.

Speaker 1 (14:50):
My mom really has helped me, like investing in stuff.
I mean, I'm in college. I don't need nothing crazy
like yeah, pair of shoes here and now, like cool,
but I don't really I'm not out buying no cars.
And then I got to deal with Porscha, So I
don't gotta worry about that. So h yeah, subtle flextal flex,
that's my baby.

Speaker 2 (15:08):
But other than that, I invest. I'm not like I'm got.

Speaker 1 (15:11):
To take care of my family or none of that.
So yeah, Christmas presents. I go crazy on Christmas just
because I feel grown now, like I can buy everybody
at Christmas present.

Speaker 2 (15:17):
So that's kind of where I let loose at. But
other than that, nah, I spend most of my money
off food probably.

Speaker 4 (15:23):
Hey, I mean, I think that's a smart way to
go about it, thinking about building generational wealth, think about
your future, all the things. Like you said, you're in college.
You don't need all these extra things, so a lot
of that stuff is taken care of, so eating at
the dining hall, doing things like that Uber eats whatever,
and so I think that's great that you're already thinking
long term about all that. And you talked about handling

(15:43):
the pressure of social media.

Speaker 3 (15:45):
But in high school you move from Kansas City to Lahoil.

Speaker 4 (15:48):
What was the decision to do that and how did
that opportunity come up to transfer to there?

Speaker 1 (15:53):
Yeah, so my sophomore year I ended up going to
play a you auld Juju and Cali, so my dad
was in Phoenix, so it was like touching state so
I could go play in California. So I went to
play with Juju. I've known the coach there for a
really long time. He was like, come here, come here.
I was like, all right, whatever I'm going. So he
basically was out there the whole summer. That's when like
the talks in Nio is really coming, like only certain

(16:16):
states was doing it for high school and Missouri they
wasn't allowing it. So my choices was move. I knew
a lot of people like Bray and Autumn, so move
do in Iyal, stay not make money and play basketball,
or don't play high school basketball no more and make money.
And I was like that's not an option for me.
Like I'm trying to be a mcnole's on merese, like
I got other goals bigger than money. But at the

(16:37):
same time, like I'm a fool if I don't try
to capitalize off that because I know I'm at the
forefront of it. So long conversations, a lot of prayer,
sacrifice from all my family members, like picking up and moving.
It was hard and so my mom had to like
switch her she worked from home, so she had to
like switch her territories to San Diego, California area. My
sister ended up moving out there with us with her boyfriend.

(17:00):
I was looking at multiple schools. Some schools didn't work out,
and my AU coach's name was James, and he was like, oh,
what about Lloyd Country Day And I remember playing him
at Junior NBA because I've been doing BREA and I
remember listening like in the game, like that coach is
like she's a really good coach. Like playing against her,
she was telling them like, oh, guard her this way, even.

Speaker 2 (17:19):
Though they couldn't. I'm like, that's that's right, but they can't.

Speaker 1 (17:23):
But I remember going like we flew to San Diego,
got the hotel, we walked into the school and I'm.

Speaker 2 (17:27):
Like this is like I'm from Kansas.

Speaker 1 (17:30):
We don't have outdoor school, Like school is not outside. Yes,
I started elementary school in Phoenix, so like I was
kind of like, oh, yeah, this is how the West
Coast is.

Speaker 2 (17:37):
And I boogie boogie.

Speaker 1 (17:39):
It's g wagons in the parking lot, rolls Royces and
I'm like, oh my gosh, like I'm not really baud
to go here. Yeah, So we walk in I'm talking
to the coach and it was just like clicked. And
then me and Brea had just went to play in
Mexico for FIBA the first year you sixteen.

Speaker 2 (17:54):
So I'm there. My family's back.

Speaker 1 (17:55):
In Kansas City packing up all my stuff, Like I
didn't get to choose what I brought, so they just
brought everything.

Speaker 2 (18:00):
Act up all my stuff. I want to go.

Speaker 1 (18:02):
Metal flew back to San Diego straight off the plane.
We started school like two weeks late. I'm independence like
I've been driving to school whatever. So I'm driving to
school the first day. I get to school like two
hours early. I'm just scared. I'm looking around, like I
got the numbers of my new teammates, so I'm trying
to text them like hey, like when y'all get here whatever.
I'm sitting there and I'm looking around like, oh, my

(18:23):
Diamond and Crusted Rolls Royce over here. I'm like here,
I look at him, like, man, I'm like Alisia Keys.
I'm looking like that really looks like Alisia Keys, Like
I really think that's her. So I go into school.
I'm like walking with the little kids, me and my friend.
See my teammates are like oh, I'm cool.

Speaker 2 (18:38):
I'm cool.

Speaker 3 (18:39):
Yeah, I'm looking.

Speaker 1 (18:40):
I'm like, guys, I think I just saw Lisa Keys
and it's like, oh yeah, her kids go here.

Speaker 2 (18:43):
I'm like, huh haalight, Oh my god.

Speaker 1 (18:49):
I think once I started school I was cool. I
think God had me on the right path. I learned
so much, Like I became a better person being around
the people that I played against and with. My coach
was the best coach in the country. Hend I'm like,
she could coach anywhere any one right now.

Speaker 2 (19:02):
She wanted to.

Speaker 1 (19:02):
But but and now I grew a ton Maybe gone
was all American. We played on ESPN seven times my
senior year. We played against Juju, we played against Ediwana,
We played against all these super good teams, and it
was hard to leave my friends and stuff.

Speaker 2 (19:16):
But I don't regret it.

Speaker 1 (19:17):
I had to make that decision for myself, and my
family helped me a lot with that, and they made
a lot of sacrifices. So for them, I'm grateful. I'm
grateful for the whole opportunity that I had to go
play there.

Speaker 4 (19:25):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's a culture shock coming
to Cali for sure. Like you said, like, I'm a
Cali kid. So the open breezeways for high school, that
seems normal, and I didn't understand that other parts of
the country weren't like that. Just all the little nuances
and the expensive cars in the parking lot. I remember
pumping school in my Honda next to a gag And
or a Tesla and I'm like, oh, oh, yeah.

Speaker 2 (19:43):
I drove a red Jeep Wrangle at the time. I'm
like yeah. She seemed like I'm I pull up. I'm like,
oh no, yeah, like you think you're all that and
you're like yes, I'm like, what the heck.

Speaker 3 (19:53):
No, it's crazy.

Speaker 4 (19:53):
And I think also just the California basketball culture in
high school, Like you talked about you're playing Sierra Canyon
Edawanda from the north. So like with Midi and all
these other good schools, talk to me about the shift
of basketball culture playing high school in Missouri. Who played
the high school in basketball? Because it's different. You talk
about ESPN games. All the colleges are up intown come
to your games. What was that transition?

Speaker 1 (20:14):
Like playing for Blue Springs, Like my teachers loved me,
like they got to come to the games. My best
friends were on the team. But I realized, like a
lot of these people are not going D one and
that's okay, but like this is not how I'm going
to get there, And so I had to really sit
down and think about that. Like I was working my
butt off, but it's just the competition that you're playing
is just not up to that level. And so the

(20:36):
game would be packed out, like we played our rivals
and stuff, they be packed but like in Kansas City,
it was so much hate, like they did not like
me for real, Like they didn't because I was just
doing stuff on a bigger level, Like I was playing
and I was doing these things that like not everyone
has done, and like I was, it's like all she's
getting offers all because of social media, and I'm like
that's not how it works at all.

Speaker 2 (20:57):
Just do not care.

Speaker 1 (20:58):
Do not care, Like if you can hoop, you could hoop.
No one cares about studio. So it was like they
used to hate me. They say crazy things. I remember,
like the game I played after Kobe had passed away,
we were playing a really good team, Like they had
some girls that played like they played at Creating Now.
So we were playing this team and they were my
teammates on Missouri phenom so I knew them, but their
fans like they like gave a memorial thing like oh

(21:21):
Kobe something something, and the fan I started crying and
the fans.

Speaker 3 (21:25):
Like, man, you don't know him.

Speaker 2 (21:27):
No, no, no, that don't matter.

Speaker 1 (21:28):
I'm like, y'all crazy, I went stupid. I went crazy
forty five. I was like, y'all not pout to sit
here and just but like just to hate in general.
That was probably the biggest thing. Like CALLI used to
having like these top players like Sierra King and they
got Browny and all these other people.

Speaker 2 (21:41):
So it's not ain't nothing new.

Speaker 1 (21:42):
So going out there, we had Chris Brown in our
game the game two Chains, like we played the big teams.
It was just it was a whole different environment like
this would never have in the world. So coming to that,
and then the same playing against Tyr King got the
whole starting five is d one.

Speaker 2 (21:57):
They hold they don't Wanda Midi.

Speaker 1 (22:00):
These teams they are really freaking good, and so playing
against that competition, I think really my knowledge even playing
alongside Brail, like nobody gets to play with a big
like that.

Speaker 2 (22:09):
It's rare.

Speaker 1 (22:10):
So we don't get to college like you got to
learn how to do that. But I'm grateful because I
already know how to do that. I've been playing with
braand forever. I know where I do like this and
pass the bread.

Speaker 2 (22:18):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (22:18):
No, I think you're completely right talking about going from Missouri.
You want to play against all the other big dogs
because not only is that going to make you better,
but it shows that you can compete at the high
level against them with that best competition.

Speaker 3 (22:29):
So I think it makes.

Speaker 4 (22:30):
You better, it looks better to the college coaches, and
it's honestly going to prepare you for the next level,
which it did last year. And also going to a
place like the Hoya Country Day, Tina Popa went there,
Candice Wiggins, Kelsey Plumb coach knows what she's doing. And
so were there certain players that players like those are
in the WNBA that you maybe modeled your game after
or wanted to take bits and pieces and adapt them

(22:52):
into your own game.

Speaker 2 (22:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (22:53):
I think it's really ironic because Kelsey Plumb's on my
favorite players, So I didn't know she went there before.
So when I was talking to he when I on
my visit there, Oh yeah, Kelsey Plum, like we're really tight,
And I was like you like Plum.

Speaker 2 (23:05):
Would just come to the games.

Speaker 1 (23:06):
Kelsey want to be working out in the gym, And
for me, it's like I'm not super athletic. I've never
been the tallest, I've never been the fastest, and I
just had to use my my IQ for that and
like just my toughness being a dog. And so that's
really Kelsey Plumb, like she not the fashion at the strongest.
She just a dog. So I want her being able
to play like TBM will always tell stories like Keus
Pum did this, ketch one did this. You all get annoyed,

(23:28):
but like at the same time, like it really like
put a fire under our bus, like pick it up,
no one cares, just do it. So yeah, I think
you're able to do that doing the same girls like, oh,
Kelsey put me to do this all the time.

Speaker 2 (23:37):
I'm like and like we work out with her all
the time.

Speaker 1 (23:40):
And her dad great coat, like he's crazy, Like he
had me up at five am working out on the sand,
then seven am going to Lyft, eight am workout and
then going back to Lyft like it was crazy. I
was like, this is white.

Speaker 2 (23:51):
He is so freaking good.

Speaker 3 (23:52):
Yeah for real, because motor is insane. She never gets
tired out there. She plays at the same place, same
pace for all forty minutes. So Sam, workout back to
the gym please. That is crazy.

Speaker 2 (24:02):
I was like, this is what's here to do every day?

Speaker 4 (24:03):
Because no way, your class was insane. Coming out of
high school. You have Mikaela Williams, Handadogo Madison, Juju. The
list goes on and on and so what were some
of those matchups that you remember playing against in high
school that you're like, all right, like it's gonna be
me and you once, not only now, but once we

(24:24):
get to school, you're still competing against the same girls.
So what was that like to be able to play
against those other top level recruits to prepare you for
college basketball.

Speaker 1 (24:32):
We really do play against the same people, Like it
just goes up a different team you're at college now, Like,
but we played Juju so many times in high school
my junior or senior year. Right now, I probably wouldn't
be guarding Juju. But in high school you have to
guard the best player, no matter how thought they are. Like,
you guarded the best player. So I think that matchup
was super good. We went back and forth, back and forth,
win lost win lost with them, same with Edawanda, Like

(24:54):
we may just made little rivalries. I think just playing
against them those two and then definitely make I was
all American, like we compete it. This was not an
All Star game for us. We was out there hoping
like Malaysia hand like we got in the best guards
in the country.

Speaker 2 (25:09):
Like since I was young.

Speaker 1 (25:11):
Were in camp Blue Star, all these camps, Like we're
playing with Angel, Madison Scott, I've been playing against you
like the older player. It's weird for me now because
the people that I play with is in the league
like they going and so for me, like I'm like,
I don't know the young people, guys, I don't know,
like I'm at old time.

Speaker 2 (25:27):
I know like three people.

Speaker 1 (25:28):
Yeah, like these girls are tough, but like I was
always the youngest one in my group. So like me Juju, Malaysia,
Hannah and Madison, like we was all just the young
ones who was always like the seven or eight that
was go to Blue Star. We was seventh grade. Everybody
else is cooking. I think, I think we're just playing
the same people. It's the same thing for my school,
same thing from All Star games all that, it's the
same like we all cool, and that's the thing people

(25:50):
trying to make us like, oh, they hate each other.

Speaker 2 (25:52):
Oh, we are free because we compete and we talk
stuff on the court. That's not mean we are not
friends for sure. No.

Speaker 4 (25:58):
I think it's so funny people come up with all
these narratives and it's like, oh, Jada, this any and
it's like you, we.

Speaker 3 (26:04):
Have never held a conversation before.

Speaker 4 (26:06):
You don't know anything that I do off of what
you see during the forty minutes on the court, nothing else.
So I think it's so interesting when people create these
narratives online and all these things. And after the game,
I'm just chatting with my friends, like me and Aliah
in college.

Speaker 3 (26:18):
We're competing at the highest stages. After game, Hey girl,
we give you a hug. It's really no big deal.

Speaker 4 (26:25):
And I don't think that people fully understand that unless
you're in it, like you said, growing up with these
players doing Blue Star USA, all the things. So I
think it's it's always so cool to see all your
friends competing at the highest levels as well, and like
you can relate to them on a different level and
be there for them when they're going through the same
things that you are, and like you said, your class
was insane. You're the number twenty one recruit of your class,

(26:47):
very high five stars. Talk to me about your recruiting
process and what that was like, because I'm sure it
was crazy.

Speaker 1 (26:54):
It really started like when we couldn't call it coaches,
like they would hit me and like they would hit
my AU coach and I'd have to call them and
stuff like that. And I think it's funny because my mom,
she knew the schools that I really liked because she
didn't have to beg me to call the.

Speaker 2 (27:07):
School that I wasn't really feeling.

Speaker 1 (27:09):
I'd be like, oh, I don't want to call them,
like and then for me it was it was different
because I committed so early, so I committed freshman or
sophomore year to UCLA, So I didn't really I think
I committed before people could.

Speaker 2 (27:20):
Even call me. I had to call it in still.

Speaker 3 (27:22):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, before I never really.

Speaker 1 (27:24):
Had like the full recruiting nothing because I knew that
before I wanted to commit before people could call me
because I was not dealing with that, And so I
don't think I really had like the craziness of recruiting
because I was already committed and knowing everyone knew that
I was committed.

Speaker 4 (27:38):
So yeah, well I'm sure that probably made it a
lot easier for you, because, let me tell you, September
first junior year, it is a crazy day, phone blowing up,
declining calls in class, all the things. But so you
end up, like you said, you committed to UCLA very young,
and then you end up decommitting and going to Arizona.
I know that's a hard thing to do, being committed
when you're young. You have such a connection with the staff,

(28:00):
and so what led into that decision? Because I think also,
like you're making that decision, you're so young, you're like
fourteen fifteen, Like you don't really you don't know all
the things going on, and so what was that decision
like having to change it? And then also it's hard
to make that call. I know, it's already hard to
call and say no, and so d commit. Tell me
about that conversation and what led you ending up deciding

(28:21):
to go to Arizona.

Speaker 1 (28:23):
Yeah, it was really hard, Like even to this day.

Speaker 2 (28:25):
Those are my family, I think.

Speaker 3 (28:27):
Yeah, the staff is amazing, Oh yeah.

Speaker 1 (28:29):
They I remember coach Tosha was at my middle school
game in eighth grade sitting like everyone like UCLA's here,
like middle school basketball is crazy, like why are you here?

Speaker 2 (28:37):
But like before I love, like.

Speaker 1 (28:39):
That's still I considered a family that I was blowing
my eyes out on the call. It was a super
hard decision, but like it wasn't like oh on the
spot boom. I talked about my family. I prayed a lot,
and they understood that. I think they were really they
were really kind about it. Of course we were both hurt.
It was hard to make that decision, and then knowing
that I was going to have to play them was
really hard for me. But honestly just the reason, I

(29:02):
think personal reasons, maybe a little bit location as well.

Speaker 2 (29:05):
Moving to San Diego.

Speaker 1 (29:05):
I kind of got the touch of Cali before I
moved there, and it was really fast. Like I'm from
the Midwest. In the city, you get to drive your
car where you want, you don't have to sit in
hours of.

Speaker 2 (29:15):
Traffic together, I think cletly different.

Speaker 1 (29:18):
It was fast and I realized that and when I
moved to San Diego. I'm greatful that I moved to
San Diego because I don't think I would have realized
that til freshman year.

Speaker 2 (29:24):
It would hit me like a truck.

Speaker 1 (29:25):
So I think that was definitely a big reason. It
had nothing to do with the coaches. Honestly, they're amazing.
They run a great program. I think you had a
call was really really hard. Like I said, I was
blowing mins out. My mom was on the call with me, balling.
I was actually in hungry when I did with Yeah,
and I was in a hotel.

Speaker 2 (29:42):
And I was balling lives out, my mom's on a call,
They're crying. It was. It was really sad.

Speaker 1 (29:46):
And then we played them at UCLA and I got
really emotional, like I'm always the first one on the court,
just kind of like to get my vibe going whatever.
I started crying. I'm like, this is not my teammates,
are you good? But my teammates understood, like I had
a really deep connection with these people here. And I
warmed a and I remember Corey was behind me. Like
my heart started being fast. I'm like, I like, oh.

Speaker 2 (30:04):
They hate me, they hate me. She was like, Jada,
give me a hugged. I was like real, She's like yeah,
I gave her hug.

Speaker 1 (30:11):
It just felt cool to like know that there was
no beef there. They're a great team, and I'm losing
them twice.

Speaker 2 (30:16):
I love them to death.

Speaker 1 (30:17):
It was nothing personal, but yeah, yeah, it was just
personal decisions. I think my families are still cool, all
of that stuff. I'm cool, all the players they are
still so yeah.

Speaker 4 (30:26):
Yeah, I mean I think it's great to hear just
how great the staff is still. I think a lot
of coaches sometimes will not be that cordial. There's a
lot of different things to it, and so at the
end of the day, it's your decision. And I'm so
happy that seems like you found the place for you,
not only where you're going to flourish basketball wise as
a person, as a student. All the things and ideas amazing.
And so talk to me about did brey I get

(30:47):
you to get to Arizona?

Speaker 3 (30:48):
Did she convince you? What was that?

Speaker 4 (30:50):
Like? I know you said your dad is in Arizona,
So what made it Arizona for you?

Speaker 1 (30:55):
People probably think I came here addressed for Brea, but
my favorite coaches as well, like getting recruit by her
and stuff, and I trust me, I recruited like hell
to get Brad oft UCLA. Yeah, I think that it
was really personality for me. I'm a really passionate player,
like I talk stuff, I might get a TECH or
two here, and I think Adia understands that she's a player.

Speaker 2 (31:16):
She gets it. She was the same way.

Speaker 1 (31:17):
So I think playing for somebody that's just as passionate
as you are, it's really important and so we kind
of click on that. Being a point guard, I think
it's super important to kind of go hand in hand
with your coach because you're the coach on the floor.
You got to be in the same page, like you
can't can'tndle attitude stuff like that. So I think play
for somebody that understands, like I might get a TECH,
but trust me, it's just out of passion and it's
just because I love a game. So that was a

(31:39):
big thing for me. Tucson is definitely way hotter than Missouri,
but it's more.

Speaker 2 (31:43):
Slow life, like you drive around. It's cool.

Speaker 1 (31:46):
And then the thing that Solda was the fans. Like
the fans go crazy. We are not a team that
goes to the Funal Four every year, So to have
them come out every single game no matter who we
play and pack out the stands, it's something that you
can't find like South Carolina might pack out for these games,
but they are not, like it's not consistent, and our
fans are consistent, and like we are on a personal

(32:06):
level with the fans that we love to go have
like Meet the Fan days and all that stuff, just
because we would not win without them. And like they
call it Michael Magic because in here you can beat anybody,
like for real, this is somewhere that is probably one
of the hardest places to play. I can't say that
from somebody else's standpoint, but I've heard a lot of
people say, like it's hard to play here just because
the fans are crazy. It's so loud, Like I'm out

(32:28):
there screaming and play and I'm like, uh huh. I'm like,
why voice is gone? I don't we gonna have to
have hand signals or something because I cannot hear.

Speaker 4 (32:36):
I think it speaks to who Adea is because Arizona
wasn't always like that. You guys did not always get
the fans, but once she came around, rebuilding the culture,
obviously get them to a final four, doing all the
things it's a premiere program nowadays, but all the community
work that you guys do, that's why the fans are
so engaged, That's why they come because you guys go
talk to them, you have these relationships with them, probably

(32:57):
open practices, all the things, and so I think that's
it makes Arizona a hard place to play because it
is loud. No matter if you're playing the Stanfords of
the world or a mid major is coming to play
in the preseason, it's gonna be packed, which I think
is so fun because not every school gets to experience that.
So talk to me about getting to Arizona those first
few practices. Was it what you expected, because me, I know,

(33:18):
I was humbled that first day. I was exhausted after
an hour workout. How was that adjustment for you from
high school to college.

Speaker 1 (33:25):
Yeah, I was definitely dying. I'm come here and be
in shape. There's nothing that you can do to come
in here in shape, Like it's impossible, Like you just
gonna have to thug it out the first couple of weeks,
So come here. I got shocked a little bit, but
I adapted quickly. I think as a leader, I knew
I was gonna have to come in here and lead
older girls as a freshman, so using my voice at
not being afraid to use my voice, not like second

(33:47):
guessing myself because sometimes it'd be like, oh, I need
to say this, but.

Speaker 2 (33:50):
Maybe I'm not right.

Speaker 1 (33:51):
But I know I have good knowledge for the game
of basketball. I studied the game, I watched films, so
I know. Just being confident last year was a big thing.
My first like ten games was trash, like I was
I'm not gonna lie, like I was airballing like I don't.

Speaker 3 (34:03):
Know what it was.

Speaker 1 (34:04):
It was just getting adapt to the speed of the game. Probably,
but everyone's oh, Jada sucks. Jada sucks, and I was
nept working, kept working. I was dealing with achilles ten
and ightis in both my achilles last year. So I
was used to shooting every single day on my own,
like that's something I did in high school six am
every day. So not being able to do that, I
felt less prepared and so coming in the game like
I just got anxiety type thing. But then like when

(34:25):
it clicked, it clicked, I was rolling being the point guard.
I know, I am just stuff like that. But yes,
freshman year is hard. You're adapting a lot, especially with
adversity we had last year. We're getting thrown around in
different spots every game, Like Skyler had to play the
four some games last Helena Poyo was playing a five
against Gonzaga, like Oyl played the five against Gonzaga. And yeah,

(34:48):
we dealt with a lot last year, eavey wise, adversity wise,
drama wise, all that stuff, and so it's overcoming that.
I think we've grown a lot. Like knowledge wise, I
feel like we jumped from freshman to junior year just
because we had to. We didn't have no choice. So
I think that was a big jump for us. But
other than that, it was cool. I learned a lot
freshman year about myself, about my fight, all that stuff,
and so coming in this year, I knew my goal

(35:09):
was to get big, get strong, get fast, being the
best of my life. So we got a little joke
here no undershirt. So I'm not wearing no undershirt this
year because I got buck now.

Speaker 2 (35:18):
But I've been Yeah, I've been.

Speaker 1 (35:19):
In the weight room heavy this season, So I'm excited's
kind of how that carries over.

Speaker 3 (35:23):
I'm excited to see it. I feel like that's a
big thing, moving from high school to college. Being the
weight room is big.

Speaker 4 (35:28):
I remember putting on a compression shirt and it feel
like a T shirt. I was like, nah, nah, I
gotta feel this out.

Speaker 3 (35:32):
This can't be how it's going.

Speaker 4 (35:34):
And there's already a big adjustment from high school to
college playing wise, but specifically being a point guard is
hard at the next level coming in and starting like
you were, having the role that you did. You talked
about having a slow start. Did you feel like you
had a breakout game for you where you're like, all
right now I'm rolling, now have my confidence back. I
know Stanford was a big game, was it that? Was
it something before then that allowed you to perform the

(35:56):
way that you did.

Speaker 1 (35:57):
Yeah, I would say it was kind of like a
build up to stay because Stanford was like the game
right after we like cut our team like it was
that was our first game of seven. We had no
walk ons at the time, Like we was straight seven
straight on that plane, seven people.

Speaker 2 (36:11):
So I knew like we would have to come out
and camera Brink wasn't planning. But I don't care. We
still beat Stanford. I don't care. I don't care. But
I think we fought that game.

Speaker 1 (36:22):
We fought so like we were so freaking tired, Like
we're trying to celebrate in the locker room, everyone's throwing water.

Speaker 2 (36:27):
I'm tired.

Speaker 3 (36:29):
No time to celebrate.

Speaker 2 (36:30):
No, was so tired.

Speaker 1 (36:32):
But I think that was kind of a game confidence
builder for everybody. That was when we realized, like we
could do something with seven, Like just so you guys,
having people don't mean that we counted out. So I
think that was kind of the game that everybody was
confidence builder, everybody was on board. Like our staff is amazing,
Like our strength coach. Me and him are super close,
Like I really call him that because he's really a
father figure to me. He's helped me through a lot,

(36:53):
Like we're on a personal level, like I tell him,
like when I'm struggling stuff like that. So I think
having people like that in your corner that's outside of
your coaching staff because they're connected to basketball. So you
can't always say like, oh I feel this and this
to your head coach. You know, no matter how tight
you are, it's not stuck you talk about. So have
people like that in your corner is awesome. And then
our fans travel stuff like that. My mom came to
every single game away home, all that, and that's just

(37:15):
how she's always been. So having support, Yeah, it's really important.

Speaker 4 (37:18):
No, that I think you're completely right about on the
coaching staff. You need to have that one person because
you could be super close with the head coach, not
close at all. There's just things that you don't really
confide in them about. And so for you having that
be the player development person is amazing. And so talking
about your game, insanely talented, insanely fast, three level score,
pushing the pace you do, all the things, talking about

(37:39):
that relationship with him. What do you feel like is
the biggest thing you guys worked on an off season
that you're excited to see translate moving into sophomore year.

Speaker 1 (37:47):
Yeah, I think what it's our strength coach. So, I've
been in the gym weight room, and I told him
as soon as we lost the Sea we had like
four days and then was back to spring workouts. That
caught me way off guard. I'm thinking, we're finna.

Speaker 3 (37:56):
Have a cool month needle time.

Speaker 1 (37:57):
So lost the game in Connecticut, flew back long weekend,
basically boom.

Speaker 2 (38:02):
Spring workouts were like hum.

Speaker 1 (38:05):
So I told him like, well, if we're gonna be
in here, I'm like my goal this year, I'm gonna
get big. I'm gonna live heavier than anybody on the team.
Off days, I'm in there doing arm pump things like that.
I think that was the biggest thing for me, and
just feeling confident and feeling like I'm ready shot shots.

Speaker 2 (38:17):
Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot shoot.

Speaker 1 (38:19):
My percentage was trash last year, So just coming in
being confident from three mid range, all those things. Knowing
that this year we don't have Boyo, so we don't
have a go to like we down Floppy for Poilo,
we don't have.

Speaker 3 (38:32):
I died guarding that play. Oh my god.

Speaker 1 (38:35):
So just knowing that I gotta come in here, I'm
gonna pick up a different role this year. Probably got
to take some more shots. Yeah, looking to score more,
but same time being a leader. I think overall, I
think just coming in and knowing that I have a
year under my belt.

Speaker 2 (38:46):
I'm confident, I.

Speaker 1 (38:47):
Know what to expect, playing new teams like everything is new,
So just coming in and being comfortable in that aspect
and just going to get it.

Speaker 2 (38:55):
Not winning, like, oh, just going to get it.

Speaker 3 (38:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (38:58):
Well, you mentioned the tournament last year, losing first round
of Syracuse. Talk to me about the feelings in the
locker room after the game and how you feel like
that's going to motivate you guys. Pushing in this season,
Like you said, new opportunities, more than seven people, new conference,
a lot of new people. How did that loss motivate
you guys through summer workouts and now in der twenty
hour weeks.

Speaker 1 (39:17):
Yeah, I think it could have been easy for us
to say, well, we only had seven people, but we
were we were mad, like we were sad. I think
we were more sad than mad, just because we know
that we should have won that game. It could have
been any had expectations to win the national championship. We
knew we could have made it further than that. So
just knowing that we had potential to and knowing that
our figure seniors like they carried heavyweight and we respected

(39:40):
them a ton like Toyle was not the most vocal,
none of that, but she was an amazing teammate.

Speaker 2 (39:45):
She was.

Speaker 1 (39:45):
She taught me a lot last year without even saying nothing,
So having that respect from her being playing the point
guard position for her, it was like I thought I
had big shoes to feel but she was always the
first one to put her arm around me and said
you good, got to pick your head up anything, whatever
it may be. Like that was the kind of I
think that was the thing that hurt most was that
they're gone. They're gonna be gone. So that was kind

(40:07):
of the thing, like come back, work hard, pick up
a new role, stuff like that, and having the support
behind us was kind of the what we look forward to.
And so everyone has been working or buts off this
season knowing that last year we did what we did
with seven people, So now what can we do with
these awesome transfers, these new freshmen.

Speaker 2 (40:22):
And that's write history for for real.

Speaker 3 (40:24):
And I think it's what you said is so important.

Speaker 4 (40:27):
A lot of teams would be like, oh, we only
had seven, we didn't have any expectations. But y'all to
use that as any type of excuse you push through
beating Stanford, even though that broke my heart, beating them
with your first game with seven people, getting the tournament,
proving a lot of people wrong because I think a
lot of people counted you out as soon as you
went down to seven. And so now you're reloading this
next season. I'm excited for Before we can do that,

(40:48):
this next segment is brought to you by our sponsor,
so FI, the Ultimate Financial app. So we're gonna talk
about nil. It's changed the game forever, and we touched
on a little bit before. But what is the best
financial advice you received navigating through the NIL space and
who gave it to you?

Speaker 1 (41:04):
Probably my mom because I don't have I didn't really
sign with like a main agent like to handle all
my stuff. So my mom does a lot of that.
That's kind of what she does for work, kind of
like she has a degree in business and stuff like that.
I couldn't even tell you what she does because I'm confused,
but she does.

Speaker 2 (41:18):
And then I call my uncle. His name is Marcus.

Speaker 1 (41:20):
He runs the fam agency, which has a lot of
WBA players in it. So those two definitely are like family,
so I trust them and I trust their judgment. So
it really was I barely touched my money, like I
sort of got it up. It's invested because I know
I get a stipend every month that isn't enough, Like
I live in a donor's house basically NIO deal stuff
like that. It's like I am not finna buy no

(41:42):
Rolex and no nothing that that's just not me. I
like fashion and stuff, so I might spurge here and there,
but I just put it up like all these people
in the NBA, like they spend all their stuff on
lamb bows and stuff like that, and that's just not
something that was important to me. My goal, I want
to live on a lake house. I want to boat
like stuff like that is what I'm saving my money
for all.

Speaker 3 (42:02):
I like it.

Speaker 2 (42:03):
Yeah, I want to come out here.

Speaker 1 (42:04):
I want to have my lake house, my nice boat,
my wake boat like I love the lake. I grew
up on a lake, so I want to wake surf
and all that stuff.

Speaker 2 (42:10):
My family. I just got a dog. That was probably
my biggest work. I got a dog. His name is du.

Speaker 1 (42:16):
And that's my guys, that's my guy. So I think
stuff like that just personal stuff for me.

Speaker 2 (42:21):
But yeah, I think just saving it. I got other
goals than having I don't know, a Lambeau in college.

Speaker 4 (42:26):
So yeah, we got the lake house. That's that's my
big goal. That's more important than a Lambeau for sure.
Lake house, waterskiing, all that boat need that.

Speaker 3 (42:35):
I love that.

Speaker 4 (42:36):
And I think a lot of people struggle with the
time management piece having NIL school, athletics all the things,
and so how have you been able to balance all
of your NL opportunities with your obligations with basketball and
your academics.

Speaker 1 (42:50):
Yeah, I think for me, I had learned to say no.
For me, basketball is the main thing. Keep the main thing,
the main thing. So like my mom said, you might
have to miss this. I think I missed one practice
for it, and they move practice back for me so
that I could make it because I was not gonna
miss it. But it was a big deal. So like
I told it to be, like, I'm not gonna go
if we if you don't move practice, like that's just
not me. I'm a point guard. I don't miss practice.

(43:11):
That's there's not something that's innio is not that important,
Like it's important to me, but I think basketball is
my first thing. And I don't want my teammates to
not respect me because they think I focus in more
in IL. So I think I want to say no
or they're gonna have to move around their schedule or
come to me things like that. It is really having boundaries,
I think not saying yes to everything, or saying yes

(43:31):
to things that don't fit in my alignments or what
I believe in and stuff like that. So having boundaries
is a big one for me.

Speaker 3 (43:38):
Yeah, I think that's huge. Also, like you're the one
in control.

Speaker 4 (43:40):
They if they want to work with you, They're gonna
move around you. I think that's so important, just understanding
that at such a young age that you're in the
power here the company wwn's work with you, They're gonna
get there, and you can always find another way you
can work with somebody else. And then the last question
about Anil is we talked about the lake house, the boat,
all the things. Are there any other business interest you
have that you may want to invest your money into

(44:01):
one day we talk about fashion, choose all the things,
what's catching your eye.

Speaker 1 (44:07):
I don't really know, Like I have like dream companies
that I want to work with, like Richard Milly that
is like my dream, that's my dream collapse. But other
than that, I would just say, yeah, I want to
have my own clothing brain that's kind of investment for me.
So I'm working on that now, just putting into it
because I know that that's passive. You're gonna get that regardless,
and so that's a big one for me. But yeah,
I think I want to own like a sports team or.

Speaker 2 (44:28):
Something like that.

Speaker 3 (44:29):
Who do we have a league in mind?

Speaker 2 (44:32):
I don't know. I definitely wanted to be a women's team.
I don't know if it's okay. I'm here for this,
you know what I mean. I'm investing in women.

Speaker 3 (44:39):
Yeah, whatever, cause your name, you'll invest in it.

Speaker 2 (44:41):
I feel like I have.

Speaker 1 (44:42):
To be done playing at basketball before I like, I
own like that's weird.

Speaker 4 (44:46):
Yeah, while you're still playing, I feel like that's kind
of crazy.

Speaker 2 (44:50):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (44:52):
Well, so we talked about your reloading this year. You
guys have a lot of fun pieces coming together, and
the college landscape is overflowing with talent right now from
incoming freshman transfers, older players. Saying, so, what's gonna be
your team's identity that you think is going to be
a surprise to people? What's gonna make you guys stand
out have a deeper run in the tournament.

Speaker 1 (45:10):
We hang our hat on defense. I think that's been
Ada's identity from day one. We're gonna press the whole game.
We're gonna trap the ball, screens, all those things. It's
getting down and gritty because we don't ever have seven
all Americans, like South Carolina, nothing like that. So we
gotta hang our hat on being gritty, doing the things
that nobody else wants to do, flying around, being active,
having energy. I think that's kind of that's our way

(45:32):
to right of those really good teams be inner stuff.
The other team has have like twenty turnovers for us
to win a game, and that's we know that, we
chart that, we charge that in practice.

Speaker 2 (45:40):
All those things.

Speaker 3 (45:41):
Oh, I know, I've been on the other side of that.
It is not fine a dab scout. Let me tell you.

Speaker 4 (45:46):
Oh my god, Clay agast y'all is always hard. No
matter what talent all Americans that you have, you guys
are always going to be gritty. And so I'm really
excited to see how that plays out this year with
the seven from last year and all the new pieces,
so it'll be fun. But coming into our last section here,
it's called our vibe Check, it's gonna be rapid fire answers.
So I feel like you're gonna kill it. So our

(46:06):
first question is, what's the drill you never want to
see on the practice plan?

Speaker 1 (46:11):
Fifty passes or one hundred passes. You can't dribble and
you gotta pass. You gotta guard the people and they're
just running around. It's awful. It's worst thing ever in life.

Speaker 4 (46:20):
Oh my god, that sounds actually horrible. I feel like
I would rather walk out of the gym than do that?
Oh god, Okay, game winning shot or game winning steal
shot and one or three pointer and one group TikTok
or solo TikTok solo. Where's the toughest place to play
on the road.

Speaker 1 (46:39):
Well, I've only had one year or so I'll say
Oregon State was tough.

Speaker 3 (46:42):
It does get loud in there, up and Gill.

Speaker 2 (46:44):
It's not very b so I just, yeah, everybody's in
your face.

Speaker 4 (46:47):
Yet it's like everybody's on top of you the way
that's so vertical, exactly what you mean. Okay, hardest player to.

Speaker 2 (46:54):
Guard Malaysia or Hannah?

Speaker 3 (46:58):
M good picks you do? Yeah, a lot. You got
a lot of options. Who's the biggest trash talker that
you played against?

Speaker 2 (47:06):
Hannah?

Speaker 3 (47:07):
Hannah? All right? Biggest flopper?

Speaker 1 (47:11):
Mmm?

Speaker 2 (47:12):
What team did we play that had that girl that Gonzaga.

Speaker 1 (47:15):
I don't know what her name is. I forgot her name,
but she was one of the twins. No, it wasn't
a twin. I don't remember her name, but.

Speaker 4 (47:22):
Oh Maxwell Brenda looking her, she do kick her leg
out on that three ball.

Speaker 3 (47:29):
I know exactly what you're talking about. All right, what's
your biggest basketball ec.

Speaker 2 (47:34):
Long sleeves and long tights at the same time.

Speaker 4 (47:37):
Oh okay, so the no show skin that's not for you.
What's your favorite in game celebration Spider Man?

Speaker 3 (47:45):
Oh my god, I'm gonna need to look out for
that this year. I need that.

Speaker 4 (47:48):
Who is your basketball goat? Kobe, Okay, Sephora or Alta.

Speaker 2 (47:54):
I don't shop at either those places.

Speaker 3 (47:56):
What do you mean you don't try to give those places.

Speaker 2 (47:58):
I don't wear makeup, so I don't even know how
to do make up, none of that. So I don't
you know. I've only been in there with my mom.
I think I don't know.

Speaker 3 (48:05):
You know, whatever, good for you? If you had to
pick somebody to be your two on two teammate, but
you can't pick a current teammate, who would you pick Lebron?
That's a good pick.

Speaker 4 (48:15):
We haven't gotten Lebron. I like that answer, though. What's
your favorite pre game song?

Speaker 1 (48:20):
I'm go anything raw wave, and then I'm not gonna lie.
Before we beat Stanford, I was listening to Luke Holmbs
and I went off, So maybe country I love?

Speaker 3 (48:29):
Okay, so maybe some country?

Speaker 4 (48:30):
Then I like that, And then last one is what's
your best impression of coach Adia Barnes. Uh oh oh.

Speaker 2 (48:43):
Plus the defense defense get up.

Speaker 3 (48:47):
That I witnessed that from the other side of things.

Speaker 4 (48:50):
Yes, that's on point for real, because she like squats
in her heels. No matter what she's wearing, she's in
your face.

Speaker 2 (48:56):
Yes, yeah, that's amazing.

Speaker 3 (48:59):
Thank you so much, Data for coming on. This has
been such a pleasure. Good luck this season.

Speaker 2 (49:03):
Thank you so much. Thanks for having me of course.

Speaker 3 (49:05):
And thanks everyone for listening.

Speaker 4 (49:07):
Stay tuned for more episodes of Sometimes I Hope the
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