All Episodes

January 24, 2024 54 mins

That’s right … we’re BACK! And this week, the Lauren Betts joins the show to discuss everything from how tough the PAC-12 is looking this year to what transferring to UCLA did for her confidence on the court. Haley and Lauren talk about the Bruins’ early No. 2 ranking, how Alissa Pili has been that girl, Stanford memories and so much more. The future looks bright for the 6'7" sophomore who is stepping into her own this year! 

  1. Tough non-conference schedule, final year of the PAC-12 (2:05) 💪🏾💪🏾
  2. Alissa Pili, Jaylyn Sherrod, Quay Miller (13:45) 💐🌟 
  3. Basketball roots, being the No. 1 recruit of her class (17:20) 🏀🥇
  4. Choosing Stanford, Haley and Lauren stories, transferring to UCLA (24:10) 🌲➡️🐻
  5. USA Basketball this summer, Bruins team chemistry, her sister (Sienna Betts) committing to UCLA (35:05) 🇺🇸⛹🏾‍♀️
  6. One’s Gotta Go, NIL, Vibe Check (43:35) 💰✅

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I was very intimidated. At first. I was like, oh
my gosh, does she even like me? Like, oh my god,
that's what I remember.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
I remember you being like, Hailey doesn't like me.

Speaker 1 (00:08):
First off, you're the Hailey Jones, so I was very
intimate Haley, No, Hailey. I was intimidated. When I first
walked in the locker, I was like, Oh my gosh,
that's my teammate. I was like, oh my gosh, I'm
gonna play with her. I really didn't think you liked
me At first. I was like, oh my god, I'm
so annoying, Like shut up, Lauren, like stop talking. I
was so annoying. But then, like I think, over time,

(00:31):
once I came to you, like for advice and stuff
about like just being a freshman and like how to
get through it because it was like obviously freshman years
tough in general, it's hard, So I, like, you know,
kept coming to you for advice, and I think I
just I was like, this girl's amazing. Hailey's like literally
the most amazing person I've ever played with.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
We oh stop. My first impression of you was you
brighten up every room you come into because you're smiling
and you're laughing, and you're just doing all this fun stuff,
and I think you are one of the most hyped
up teammates I've ever played with. After every bucket, You're
life's come, You're doing the whole thing. So I just

(01:09):
had so much fun getting to know you and honestly
really watching you grow into who you are now. You're
so strong and so confident everything about you, and I mean,
you're just amazing. So shout out you. You're amazing.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
Thanks. Hey, oh, Betty, love you, I love you.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
Welcome back to Sometimes I Hoop. A new college basketball
season is off to a hot start, and we're back
talking to some of the top players in the game
about their careers and what this season may hold. Today,
we've got a walking bucket on the pod, quick Humble
Bragg number one recruit in the class of twenty twenty two.
McDonald's All American double double machine at UCLA leading the

(01:50):
country in field goal percentage none other than my dear
friend and former teammate, Miss Lauren Best. Thanks for hopping
on the pod.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
Thanks for having me.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
Hey yeah, hey, okay, So a little bit on your
non conference schedule. You guys had a tough schedule. It
was not. It was not a cakewalk. So what was
kind of that big test that you guys have had
that you feel has prepared you for the rest of
the PAC twelve season.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Well, first off, we started with Princeton first.

Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah, they're good.

Speaker 1 (02:20):
Princeton is so underrated. They're so good, They're so talented.
All their guards are so skilled and like their posts
are pretty much like they can play from anywhere, so
it's it was very difficult to guard them. But that
was a really tough first game to begin with. And
then we had Yukon, which obviously, like everyone knows their Yukon,
so that was just really tough, and they had like
all their fans, Like the entire gym was just all

(02:42):
Yukon fans. And then we had like a little cla
section of the middle blue and gold. It was so sad.
It was so sad. I'm so glad we won, but
I was like, oh my gosh, like this is embarrassing,
like like there's no one here. But yeah, so that
was like that was a big game for US. Ohio
State was tough because obviously, like it was pretty much

(03:04):
sold out. You know, we didn't play our best that game,
so we really had to step it up in the
third fourth quarter and get our acts together and think, God,
we won. But yeah, like, I think we had a
really good non conference schedule, and I think that's ultimately
prepared us for what's coming up next, because obviously, you know,
like going in to Pac twelve, every single game is
just so tough, like there's not an easy game whatsoever.

(03:24):
So yeah, I'm really happy with our non commerce schedule
and I think that will do really well because of it.

Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah, So I know USC was a big game for
you guys that you probably had circled on the calendar
for a minute. What's kind of that next big game
that we're pushing towards. Is it a February fourth? Is it?
Is it something else on your mind?

Speaker 1 (03:42):
I mean, obviously that game is going to be like
a really you know, that's going to be an intense game.
But other than that one, other than that game, I
would say that week playing Colorado, Utah, that's going to
be a pretty tough matchup. Listen, First off, we have
the elevation, like I'm not going to be able to breathe,
yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, like my chest is going to

(04:03):
be burning up, like you already know like it's tough
playing over there. But I mean those are two like
really good teams. I mean, you know, Sharad just went
off for what like thirty four against Utah, like she's tough,
and then you got Peelee on Utah, Like it's going
to be too back to back, like very tough game.
So I think that whole week will be really difficult,
but I'm excited. So that's what we prepare for.

Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, that Mountain Series is always tough because that's also
the place you got to hop on another plane to
get from place to Lakes Bro last year, that double tea.

Speaker 1 (04:34):
My well, and then the situation our flight situation back
was so bad and someone aport the entire time.

Speaker 2 (04:44):
We read that airport for like seven hours. It was horrible.

Speaker 1 (04:47):
Slept on the ground. I slept on the ground.

Speaker 2 (04:50):
Didn't they do as Taco Bell and nobody ate us.

Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yes, we had a whole buffet of Taco Bell on
the table that no one wanted to eat. So we
all and we got to the hotel at six am,
and we saw shoot around that day.

Speaker 2 (05:06):
We woke up and went to practice at noon. I
was like, first of all, so why are you giving
me a cold? Bean burrito at seven am. I don't
want this.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
Was so bad. That was such a bad experience. That's
like the worst travel situation I've ever been in.

Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, that was awful. But anyways, anyways, speaking of conference play,
I'm going to hit you with an unpopular opinion to
see if you agree here kind of a hot take.
So this is the last year of the pack, which
is crazy to think about it crazy, but as every
PAC twelve team disperses into all their different conferences, I

(05:43):
feel like the PAC twelve is so strong. The top
teens in the pack are going to go be the
top teams at these other conferences.

Speaker 1 (05:50):
So like, oh, like.

Speaker 2 (05:53):
You and USC in the Big ten, done, Colorado and
Utah in the Big twelve, Stanford and the ACC. Like
they're just going to be taking over these top spots.
And then these other teams aren't gonna know what to
do because, for one, they don't even watch PAC twelve
network because it's regional, so like they're not going to
know what to expect, just like what happens in the
tournament every year.

Speaker 1 (06:11):
First off, the PAC twelve is so underrated. Everyone knows
that the PAC twelve is the best. Everybody knows. I mean,
the real ones know, But I just don't think that
these people are ready. Like I one hundred percent agree.
I think that all the conferences that we join, we're
just gonna take over, like no doubt, no doubt. Yeah,
I mean I'm excited. It's you know, it's going to
be interesting. But like you know, especially with all the

(06:33):
travel and the school, I don't know how that's gonna work.
That's a whole nother situation at the time. I know
that's for another time. I'm not gonna worry about that
right now. But I'm really excited. I think that it'll
be really interesting just to like get a different taste
of like what that conference is. Like, I feel like
the PAC twelve, like the type of basketball we play
is just so different from everybody else's. Like I'm really
interested to see like we got a little taste of

(06:54):
Ohio State. But like, yeah, it'll be really fun. I'm excited.

Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, And I think just on the PAC twelve disbanding,
do you feel like this conference play this conference tournament
at the end of the season means that much more
that it's going to be the last PAC twelve titles?

Speaker 1 (07:08):
Oh? For sure. Ever, for sure, it's a huge deal.
It's a huge deal. Like we've been talking about that. Obviously,
it's like the Pac twelve tournament. Everybody wants to win,
but it's the last one, like it will go down
in all of PAC twelve history. Listen, Like, we have
to win. We have to win, so it means a lot.
It means a lot. But yeah, that's a topic that
we've been talking about a lot on our team.

Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yeah, well, you talked a little bit about Princeton kind
of being a sleeper team. Do you think, you know,
is there a team outside of the Pac twelve that
has really impressed you in this non conference season so far?

Speaker 1 (07:38):
You know, that's such a tough question because I literally
was just like the only I really don't like watch
anybody else.

Speaker 2 (07:48):
You just watched film.

Speaker 1 (07:49):
You know what. I just watched film.

Speaker 2 (07:51):
You're just watching the film.

Speaker 1 (07:52):
Listen, that's what I'm preparing for. Like I'm saying present,
I'm saying present. I'm worried about the teams I have
to play coming out, But about this that was really impressive, Lauren, Listen,
because it's bad, Like it's really bad. Because I felt
like that question was coming up and I was like
I really could not tell.

Speaker 2 (08:09):
You, you know what, that's okay, that's okay, we can
do a different question, you know, Okay, it's one of
the teams that the teams that you've played, the film
that you've watched. Is there a specific player that you
feel like is very underrated, Like they don't get the
hype that they deserve. Somebody that really impressed you?

Speaker 1 (08:24):
Well, I mean Peely just start, because she had that
big South Carolina game, which she should have been getting
that like we already knew, we already knew how good
Peely was. But it's like the world just like finally
figured it out. But everyone in the fact told knows
how good Peee is. And she's an amazing person like
off the court as well. So I'm just really happy
to see I know, she's so sweet. So I'm like

(08:46):
really happy that she's getting the recognition she deserves because
I'm like, like where has it been? Like everyone knew
she could have gone off for thirty like you know,
like everything that's just the player she is. She's just
so amazing, So big fan, big fan of Peelee. She's great.

Speaker 2 (08:58):
Shut out Peelee, We're fair. Do you feel like it
could be in the Pac twelve, or it could be
in other conferences. We've already seen a lot of upsets
happen this year, LSU losing their first game this season.
The list just really goes on with unraated team beating
top teams, just different sleeper teams coming around. Do you
feel like there may be some top teams that are

(09:22):
going to struggle in their conferences because we kind of
see it every year where teams drop some games this
and that. So do you feel like there's gonna be
some top teams that end up struggling?

Speaker 1 (09:30):
Hayley, this is so controversial, Lauren, Lauren, we got to
talk about it here.

Speaker 2 (09:37):
I can start, I can start. Okay, this is like shade.
This is just it happened to us last year. Like
you go into some games and you're not completely prepared
because you're like, oh, it's gonna be a mark, Oh
we beat them last time. I think last year when
we went to Utah, we didn't approach it the same
way we did the first time.

Speaker 1 (09:56):
Well yeah, had gone in with yeah, but like Washington, Washington,
that was crazy. I forgot, excuse I forgot that we
lost to them.

Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yes, they got us. So I feel like every every year,
no matter how good the team is, there's gonna be
some struggles in the season, and it's all about how
you bounce back. So, like the a CC, you think
about the top dogs there, right, But then you know,
you think about some of the teams that may not
always get the recognition. Team like Florida State. They could
come up and surprise somebody like a Virginia Tech, like

(10:28):
your Day the SEC like oh, miss they got us,
they could get somebody. You never know, Like you never know.
I feel like there's always I think there's always teams.

Speaker 1 (10:40):
Sorry, that was really bad bringing up trauma trauma. I
mean I'm trying to think of, like what other teams
in different conferences that could step up. I mean Florida State,
we could talk about them. I mean they're tough. Miss Latsons,
she's been on here before, right, She's no she has
Oh we need yeah, we need to get her. We

(11:01):
need to get her. She is insane. If you're listening,
please come on this show. She is insane. She's so good,
Like she just finishes in the most like no shade,
but she finishes in some awkward positions and like, there's
no way that this is going in and She'm not
gonna lie. She got one on me. She hit me

(11:22):
in the she hit me in the chin, and I'm like,
my I got a fat lip after the game. She had.
I had a fat lip after the game because I
was like, dang, Like I like she is tough, she's
really and she could finish over everybody. Like she's not scared.
She's like the most fearless guard I've ever played against.
Like I'll be standing there and I'm like, there's no
way she's gonna go up. She goes up and I'm

(11:43):
standing there six seven, like she does not care, Like, okay,
s pop off. So yes, Florida State, Florida State. I
think they're going to surprise some people.

Speaker 2 (11:51):
They're so too. I think so too. Last year, coming
off the hype of the tournament that we had just
the viewership and the final four, but not only Foual four,
but the regionals, the viewership was up, just all of
the nil deals that have come from it, the viewership,
the just kind of I feel like there's an added
level of expectations and maybe pressure about how the top

(12:14):
teams perform or really just how you perform on that
national stage. So do you feel like after the buzz
of last year's tournament, there's that added little thing to
it where it's like, Okay, there's more TV games, there's
more high pressure scenarios. How are you kind of dealing
with that?

Speaker 1 (12:28):
I mean, I think like for my team specifically, I mean,
Coach Corey does a really good job of like just
keeping us very like grounded, and like one of the
things she talks about most is like, we don't care
about the noise, Like we do not care, Like they
keep the expectations expectations, and they keep us very humbled.
And so I feel like sometimes like even if I
wanted to listen to what everybody else is saying and

(12:48):
feel that pressure, like it's very hard to because our
coaches do not care whatsoever. Coach Corey does not care,
Like she will block out all of that noise, none
of them like they do. We never talk about it,
Like the first things she talked about we got ring
number two, we talked about it for a day, and
she said, we're never talking about it after, like we
don't care, like we're going to stick to what we do,

(13:08):
like it's all about us. And so I think that's
like one of the things I like the most is
because it takes so much pressure off of us, Like
we just go into each game like all right, let's
just do what we have to do. But there's nothing like,
you know, we don't have to impress anybody, Like we're
just trying to do the best that we possibly can
for ourselves. So yeah, to answer that question, I think
our coaches do a really good job of just keeping
us grounded.

Speaker 2 (13:27):
And I mean I think that's great. You never get
too high too low, and you approach every game intact
same exactly, and so switching gears for a second a
little bit not enough. We talked a little bit about
Peeley gave her her flowers, and a little bit about Shimad,
but just kind of diving more into that. I feel
like not a lot of people recognize how talented some
of the teams are in the PAC twelve, specifically some

(13:47):
of the top players. So I know you watch the
film of your opponents. So we've seen Colado, you've seen Utah.
So I want you to give me a quick breakdown
of how good some of these players are, and you
don't have to. I'll he the top some names here,
So mss Kuay Miller a bucket, tell me about Quay.

Speaker 1 (14:06):
First off, shooter, shooter, you don't expect it and then boom,
just like every time. I'm just like, you know, and
people won't guard her from the three sometimes and I'm like,
what are you doing? Same as Frida, same as Freda.
They'll leave her and Freda open. I'm like, what are
you doing? Like like they're just like unexpected shooters, Like

(14:30):
they're just unbelievably talented, and they spread out the floor
so well, like and it's just very hard to guard
because like she can play from wherever on the floor,
like it doesn't matter. She'll post you up. She's strong.
She's strong, but she can shoot too. So it's just
like dang, like what are you supposed to do? So yeah,
great player, great player?

Speaker 2 (14:49):
Okay, shout out Quay. Our next person is a little
bit more about Peelee. I think one thing that makes
her so special is she's not the biggest, right but
somehow similar to to Miss Latson, she knows how to
finish around like the tallest players. Whether it's it's like
she it's like she practiced.

Speaker 1 (15:07):
She she I swear to God, she must just work
like that's all she does. In her workouts. I sw
I'm like, how do you well, her footwork is just
like chef's kiss, Like I yes, Like I was watching
I was there for the beginning of the South Carolina
game and I'm watching some of like the and I'm
just looking at her feet. I'm like, how does she
manage to like just move around like everybody? And she

(15:29):
gets them like so deep underneath. I swear she just
like shoves them and there's nothing you can do, like
when she's when she's got you, like in the war zone,
like there's nothing you can do. There's nothing you can do.
She's scoring on you. So like, yeah, she's tough and
she's strong, and she can shoot people again one of
those like little sharp shooters that you don't even think about.
She'll get at the top of the key and it's
over like she's making it.

Speaker 2 (15:50):
So it's just yeah, she's she's already down there, and
then all of a sudden, okay mas, she's gonna bring
up the floor and getting all all screen.

Speaker 1 (15:59):
It's like, yeah, whoa, you never know what she's gonna do.

Speaker 2 (16:02):
Yeah, it's very hard to guard. And then last player
we'll talk about is Jaylen Sharrod I feel like she's
really come into her own these last few seasons, which
is so impressive to watch because obviously we know her speed,
she can get to the rim, but I think her
adding that like mid range game and extending it out
to three. You can't go under anymore.

Speaker 1 (16:23):
That's what it used to be.

Speaker 2 (16:24):
Oh, go under and then get to a right hand.
Now she's like, okay, boom, I need the right left
ope behind the screen, pull up. There's so many different
ways she can beat you now.

Speaker 1 (16:33):
I'm just so happy I'm not a guard. Listen, if
I had to pick that girl up full court, oh
my gosh, it'd be over. Like I couldn't do it.
She's just like the fastest person I've ever seen ever
on the court, So props to her. But she's killing it. Like,
super happy for her. She's had a great game against Utah.

(16:53):
But yeah, like you said, like she can shoot really
well now, so it's like, I mean, she's been able
to shoot, but like she's just so efficient now it's
like you have to play over the top and she's
just Yeah, she's great. Super happy for her.

Speaker 2 (17:05):
Yeah, super fun scout to deal with all three.

Speaker 1 (17:07):
Of them, Yeah, super fun.

Speaker 2 (17:10):
Back to you back to you, we'll take it back
to your roots a little bit. So you were born
in Spain where your dad was playing professionally. Shout out
to my guy, love him. And do you remember going
to any of your dad's games when you were younger?
And yes, the overseas atmosphere is different from here, So
what was that like?

Speaker 1 (17:31):
Yeah, I mean it was definitely different. I think, like
European fans are so like the game in Europe is
so much different than here. Like the fans are crazier.
Like I remember there's one game that like went viral
on YouTube of my dad, like during jump ball he
got it and all the fans throw like confetti on
the court, and I guess it's like a thing in Europe,

(17:51):
like you throw confetti on the court, like but like
imagine having to clean all of that up, Like they
don't start the game for like half an hour later
because they do so much, like the entire court was
like covered. But it's just like it's crazy, like it's
a whole different environment. It's way more fun in my
opinion going to those type of games just because of
like you know, the fans and everything. But yeah, great
memories obviously, like I looked up to my dad growing up.

(18:13):
He's an amazing basketball player and he's taught me like
pretty much everything I know about being a post. So yeah,
it was just really fun and get great memories.

Speaker 2 (18:20):
It is crazy player over there. They allow like the
noisemakers and everything. You could be doing blowhorns in the
middle of the game. It's it's exactly, it's really crazy.

Speaker 1 (18:28):
It's really intense. It's a lot a lot.

Speaker 2 (18:31):
Yeah, so you moved to Colorado on the third grade.
Did your dad put the ball in your hands or
how did your relationship with basketball start.

Speaker 1 (18:40):
I didn't want to become a basketball player at the
very beginning. I was like, let me just like, you know,
separate myself from my dad for like a hot minute.
And so I started playing soccer and I was terrible.
First off, I was a little too tall to play soccer.
I was like, this is not my thing. Yeah, I
don't think.

Speaker 2 (18:59):
That for you.

Speaker 1 (19:02):
No, And my family like still makes fun of me
for it because they're like, you know, like you only
had one move, like you were awful, Like they keep it.
They still make fun of me to this day. And
so then I went to like competitive swimming and I
was just actually really good at it, like I really
loved it. And then at some point I was like
I need to choose like what I'm gonna do because
you can't do competitive swimming and competitive basketball, like it's

(19:23):
just way too hectic, and I was like it's time consuming,
like I can't do it. So yeah, then I just
wanted to start playing basketball and I was awful, but
it became one day where I was just like okay,
like I actually want to be like decent, Like I
don't like being bad. This isn't fun anymore. Like you know,
it's fun, it's fun up to a point. Up to
a point you're like, okay, I'm like done getting scored
on every time, like I'm exhausted. And just so you know,

(19:46):
I just started like working out with my dad and
then I just like came to love and I made
all my friends through basketball, Like all my closest friends
to this day are through basketball. So I think for me,
it was just about like building relationships, and I think
that's how I came to love basketball.

Speaker 2 (20:00):
Love that.

Speaker 1 (20:00):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (20:01):
I mean, at some point, you don't want to be
bad anymore.

Speaker 1 (20:03):
You know, it's not it's not fun.

Speaker 2 (20:06):
Yeah, I'm gonna do it like I may as well
do it so.

Speaker 1 (20:09):
Exactly exactly do it? Well, that makes sense. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (20:12):
Yeah, so growing up we weren't the best, but then
we got to be the best clearly.

Speaker 1 (20:18):
So, So.

Speaker 2 (20:20):
Who did you watch growing up that you wanted to
mold your game after or kind of gain inspiration from.

Speaker 1 (20:26):
Yeah, honestly, I didn't watch like college basketball until like
the longest time. But I really liked Asia growing up,
like watching her at South Carolina. Loved watching her. I
was like, great post, Branda Stewart obviously great posts. Yeah,
I don't know. And I also like loved watching Aliyah
growing up in high school. Like I remember my first
time playing three on three for USA. My first ever

(20:49):
three on three game was against Hailey van Lyth, Paige, Aliyah,
and Samantha.

Speaker 2 (20:54):
Oh that was quite a team.

Speaker 1 (20:55):
I remember, Oh my gosh, And so I want against
to Leah and I was like, who is this girl?
Like I know, I had no idea who she was
at first, I was like, who is this girl? I'm
coming into it like super confident. I was like, yeah,
like I got it, Like I'll be fine. Aliyah bodied
me like first play at the game, I was like
absolutely not. So yeah. And then ever, like since I
just like watched all of her clips on YouTube, I
was like, Okay, where's she going to college? Like that's

(21:17):
so cool. But like I'm a bigly a Boston fan,
so yeah, yeah, so I yeah, she's like I think,
just one of the most amazing posts I've ever seen
in women's basketball. And she's yeah, huge inspo. So love
her game.

Speaker 2 (21:32):
No, she's amazing. I feel like it's so cool for
me because I feel like I've watched your growth because
we played each other in high school. If you remember
at the tournament.

Speaker 1 (21:43):
Champions do you want to tell me? You want to
tell them where you where you were before the game?
You didn't even started in.

Speaker 2 (21:50):
The bathroom, Dan, you were in the er. Yeah, you
came from you are. I remember I got food and
so yeah, I was playing Lauren and every basically every
time out every few minutes, I would say about the game,
go sit with the garbage back on the end of
the bench, and then go back in there and try

(22:12):
to shoot it against the six seven girl. And I
remember being like Kate, Kate pay was at the game,
and I remember going up to her after the game
being like so we get in her or like, are
you recruiting her too? Because that's a tall woman. I
don't know how you want me to deal with this,
but I just know you were so good in high school.
But I feel like the way that you progressed from

(22:33):
your freshman year to your senior year was insane, Lauren.
The growth was wild. But so what was your high
school experience? Like kind of going from being molded by
your dad and not wanting to play and then you
end up being the number one recruit and then you
go through COVID. It's a lot going on, So what
what was your high school Like?

Speaker 1 (22:53):
I mean, it really just progressed in like a crazy way.
Like when I first realized that I had like kind
of made it was like making USA for the first
time the sixteens. I was like, oh my gosh. And
then we found out in Chile that I was ranked first,
and so we're all at dinner. We get a notification
and like we're all talking, they're all mumbling, and I'm like,
what happened? What happened? Like, oh, like they put the

(23:15):
rankings out. I'm like, oh, that's cool. They're like ranked first.
It's like, what's like me.

Speaker 2 (23:20):
And then I must have been kind of awkward.

Speaker 1 (23:22):
You're like, I was like cool, I was like no, no,
I like didn't know what to say. But I texted
my parents after and I was like, I think I'm
like ranked first, Like I don't know what that means,
but I guess like I'm first. I was like, that's
kind of cool, but yeah, and then like after that,
I think it just I think I slowly just got
better and better and yeah, I don't know. I think

(23:43):
it was just like lots of hours obviously, like it
wasn't easy, but it just came over time. And I
think I my confidence is like the biggest thing. Like
I wasn't really confident when I first started playing basketball,
and I think like as all these things started coming,
I just got a lot more confident and just ultimately
like showed in my game. Like I think the better
I've gotten, the more confident I've been in myself. So
I think that's been my biggest thing throughout high school

(24:05):
and then ended up going to Stanford.

Speaker 2 (24:07):
So we'll get into you know, your recruiting process. I
feel like it was really different because you were being
recruited during COVID, So how did that impact your recruiting process.
Did you take visits? Did you was everything kind of
virtual or how did that work?

Speaker 1 (24:20):
Girl? No, I didn't take a single or actually, okay,
secretly I took a visit to Stanford, but when every
you know, everything was shut down, there was not like
you know, you know, I like Stanford had like they
had like all the colored situations where like every like
part of the campus was like color coded it was.
But yeah, so you guys were like in the very
very private zone. So I couldn't get where you guys were.

(24:41):
But I just like kind of circled around. It was
like me and Sienna and my mom and we were
just like trying to see as much as we could.
So I made like a little visit over there. I
made a little visit to UCLA secretly during COVID, but
I really couldn't see anything. But yeah, like I really
didn't get it was like really through zoom, like that
was the only way I really could connect to like
the coaches and like see anything on campus. Like I

(25:02):
remember my mom would watch like hours of YouTube videos
on just Stanford campus because like there was nothing we
could do, Like there's no way we could visit, so
it was just like all through my phone, and it
was tough. It was really tough. It was really hard
to make connections. I'd say, just through.

Speaker 2 (25:21):
Zoom already sucked. So having to go through a recruiting
process on there must have been hard.

Speaker 1 (25:25):
It was awful.

Speaker 2 (25:26):
But so originally what drew you to Stanford? Why did
you pick Stanford at high school?

Speaker 1 (25:31):
It was my dream school growing up. I always wanted
to go to Stanford. I had like a giant wall
at my dad's house of like all the letters that
they had ever sent me, like every single one, all
of you know, Tara's letters that she ever sent me,
like all my happy birthdays. I had them all pinned
up on a wall, so like they were my favorite school.
It was in California. I was like, there's, you know,
nothing better than that, and like obviously academics. I was like,

(25:54):
who wouldn't want to go to Stanford? It was the best. Yeah,
So I just and obviously like you know you were there.
I had like all my Colorado girls, friend was there,
Jane was there at the time. Like it was great, Ash,
it was I just knew what I was getting into. Yeah, yeah,
So I was very that was very excited.

Speaker 2 (26:09):
So then you get to Stanford. You were my freshman.
So we're gonna what was your first impression of me?
And I'll give you mine of you.

Speaker 1 (26:16):
Oh my gosh, I remember we had a conversation about this,
like one season is over or something. You're talking about
this my first impression of first Off, you're the Hailey Jones.
So I was very intim Haley, No, Hailey. I was intimidated.
When I first walked in the locker girl. I was like,
oh my gosh. I was like, that's my teammate. I

(26:36):
was like, oh my gosh, I'm gonna play with her.
Oh this is crazy. But I was very intimidated. At first.
I was like, oh my gosh, does she even liked me? Like,
oh my god, that's what I remember.

Speaker 2 (26:46):
I remember you being like, Hailey doesn't like me.

Speaker 1 (26:49):
I really didn't think you liked me. At first. I
was like, oh my god, I'm so annoying, Like shut up, Lauren,
like stop talking. I was so annoying. But then, like
I think, over time, like I think once I came
to you for advice and stuff about like just being
a freshman, like how to get through it because it
was like obviously freshman years tough in general, it's hard,
so I, like, you know, kept coming to you for
advice and I think I just I was like, this

(27:11):
girl's amazing, like she's insane, and you're just like I
think you're just so well spoken and you always know
the right thing to say. It was just so easy
to like, you know, look up to you for anything,
and I was I was just I still talk about
you to this day. I'm like, Kayley's like literally the
most amazing person I've ever played with. Oh stop, I

(27:33):
was like no, but seriously, I'm like, she's an amazing person.
She's an amazing leader, Like she's just ten out of ten.

Speaker 2 (27:41):
So yeah, oh, Betty love you. I love you. My
first now talk about me. My first impression of you
was I was just really excited for you to come. Honestly, like,
we have a lot of great players at Stanford, but
I just felt like you had so much talent that

(28:02):
you had already tapped into, but your upside was like amazing.
And I didn't even know you personally, so I was like,
you know, my messig friend and friends are like, yeah,
Betty beat me my senior year, like da whatever. And
then Shanna's talking about it and so all this different stuff.
So I feel like I just wanted to meet you.
And so when we first met, I was just like,
oh my gosh, she is so nice, because like your

(28:24):
personality is just like you brighten up every room you
come into because you're smiling and you're laughing and you're
just doing all this fun stuff. And I think as
a teammate, you like are one of the most hyped
up teammates I've ever played with, which I love, Like
after every bucket, you're like you're doing the whole thing.

(28:45):
So I think I just had so much fun getting
to know you and honestly really watching you grow into
who you are now. Just like you're so strong and
so confident everything about you, and I mean, you're just amazing.
So shout out you. You're amazing. Okay, now I'm going
to share. You get to share your favorite story about

(29:06):
us playing together and then I'll share mine. Or do
you want me to go first? Do you want to
go first?

Speaker 1 (29:11):
I have like, well, this is just because I saw
this on your TikTok the other day, but wait, is
it the azon that or like I'm trying to think,
but like anytime you've fallen in practice, or please, anytime

(29:32):
anytime you've like fallen and you ate, you know, like
in practice, I was like, oh my gosh, Like she's
so clumsy, but like in the funniest possible way. Like
I was like, she's just like one of the greatest
basketball players of all time, but she can't stay on
her feet. She just falls over, like please falling down, yes,

(29:53):
but in like the Arizona game when I remember I
played a lot that game and I was like so hyped,
and you fell on the ground again and I was like,
oh gosh, Haley, And we rewatched it and you texted
me a screenshot of your face.

Speaker 2 (30:09):
Fun they were rolled back into my head. It was horrible.

Speaker 1 (30:14):
I was like, why does she look like that? It
was so funny. But I like, oh my gosh. When
that showed up on my for you page when you
posted it, it just gave me such funny memories. I
was like, oh my gosh, I remember that. It's so funny.

Speaker 2 (30:27):
That one was good. That's a top one I think
for me. I really think about just I guess this
isn't us playing together, but in the locker room whenever
I would play music, and I would get you hyped
up to start dancing, or I would play what's up
it was, It's me and you and we would wrap
flow Milly be Flow Miss. That's my favorite memories because

(30:48):
anytime anytime we were on ox at a party, we
need to get a jump in, I'm like, all right,
let's do it, and me and you duo and we
just start wrapping. I think that's a gossic.

Speaker 1 (31:00):
It is a classic Oh my god.

Speaker 2 (31:02):
Yes. Moving back into your college experience, we leave Stanford,
you enter the transfer portal. What led to that decision
to we don't have to get two into things? But
kind of what led to that a little bit to
go into the transfer portal.

Speaker 1 (31:19):
It was tough. It was a very hard decision to
make because I felt like I had gotten so close
to all of you guys, and like to this day,
I feel like that team were like so close and
we're bonded for life. But it was a very tough
decision to make. I think I just like, at the
end of the day, I just wanted to be happy.
And I think my biggest thing is that it was

(31:42):
I think my freshman year was so tough, but I
just wanted to make sure I was in a good
place for the rest of my four years, and I
wanted to be supported at the end of the day.
So I think that that, ultimately, when you know, was
the biggest thing for me.

Speaker 2 (31:56):
Leading. Yeah, but I think the transfer, I think there's
a lot of misconceptions about it because there's a lot
of different stories of you know, some people leaving for
playing time, some people just wanting to talk around schools
for different Yeah, I know, I know, but you know,
a big misconception is people don't take into account that

(32:17):
you're people as well, and so there's a lot of
different decisions. And I think also specific to Stanford, leaving
is really hard, not only because of you know, basketball
or whatnot, but you're giving up the degree, you're giving
up the people that you've been with, you're giving up
you're giving up a lot. And so I think just
to your own experience and talking to you about it

(32:38):
as you went through it, just it's a big decision
to make, and it's a lot, it's a lot more
into it. It's talking about, you know, being happy, just
a lot of different things. So I was really proud
of you for prioritizing you and what you needed, and
I know we talked about that a lot, so just
another thing to say how amazing and strong you are
to be able to do that.

Speaker 1 (32:57):
I appreciate that.

Speaker 2 (32:58):
But now we're at UCLA and I heard a story,
and please correct me, this is misinformation, but Corey jumped
into the pool after she heard you committed.

Speaker 1 (33:07):
She did.

Speaker 2 (33:08):
She did.

Speaker 1 (33:09):
So we're like all at her house and I'm like
with my parents and everything, and I'm like sitting with
the girls and they're like, hey, like, coach Cory said
that she jumped in the pool if you committed, and
I was like ha ha, like funny, like okay, like
I should commit, Like all right, okay. So my parents
have to leave because they have to get to Sienna's
tournament the next day. And so we're walking out and

(33:30):
I'm like no, like I'm committing, like I like I
want to do this, like I just it felt right.
So we're standing outside and Coach Tony's about to leave too,
and I was like, Coach Tony, like could you step
back in the house please, And it was so awkward.
He's standing there and he's like okay, like all right, yeah.
So he walks back into the house and then I'm like,
I'm like literally like tearing up. I'm like, oh god,
I'm so nervous, Like this is like the biggest decision ever,

(33:51):
Like all right, let's do it. So my parents start
videotaping and I, you know, I walk into the house
and I like quietly say, I'm like I'm committing, and
Coach Corey's just.

Speaker 2 (34:01):
Like no way, like are you serious.

Speaker 1 (34:03):
And all the girls like start coming up to me
and like hugging me, and we're all jumping up and
down and it was like the cutest thing ever. And
then immediately like Corey jump in the ball like you
have to get in the pool. It is so funny,
and she like, I still have the video. She's like,
I'm only doing this for Lauren Betts and she jumps
in her full pink two piece, her little her go
to with the visor, yes, the go to look classic,

(34:26):
the go to with the messy blend, like yeah, so
she jumps in. It was the funniest thing ever. But
it was such a good memory. It was so cute.

Speaker 2 (34:33):
I love that so much because Corey is amazing, and
I think she is. I think it's it's cool because
for me, somebody who didn't go to UCLA. She's always
been great to me, like, oh, do you need anything,
hit me up. Just like who she is as a person,
She's amazing, And so I'm not surprised at all that
she jumped in the pool, but I know that she
was up in there. I'm atually looking forward to doing it, Honestly, I.

Speaker 1 (34:54):
Probably wanted to.

Speaker 2 (34:56):
She's like stop, stop, and then like belly flapping or
so I'm crazy.

Speaker 1 (35:01):
My god, Yeah that sums her up. Yes, yes, it's
so cute. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (35:06):
But so after you commit to UCLA, you have a
pretty amazing summer where you end up trying out making
the America team, where you got to play with Charisma.

Speaker 1 (35:15):
So what was that like?

Speaker 2 (35:16):
Getting to play against kind of the senior competition rather
than the different youth USA teams you'd been on before.

Speaker 1 (35:22):
It was the biggest jump ever. And like I had
been warned before I joined, because even you were talking
about it and you were like, yeah, like those are
grown women, and I was like, no, like they're not
that grown. I'm playing against a forty something year old
woman All Star children, she's got a family to take
care of. W NBA All Star. I was like, there

(35:45):
is no way first little nuts she gave me, I
was like, oh God, like tap me out. I'm I
was like this is so that was my first like
oh shoot, like this is really happening. But yeah, it
was a really great experience. Like Charisma and I got
super close entire experience, like we're roommates the entire time,
Like we didn't have to switch up for anything, so
we got to like spend that entire time together, and

(36:06):
it was just really nice getting to know her and
like getting to know her on the court as well,
Like she's a really great, really great player, super vocal,
she's a great leader, like really easy to play with.
So I was just really grateful for that whole experience,
and I think it really like, you know, I didn't
want to do it, to be honest, Like I remember
my parents literally forced me to go to that trial

(36:27):
because I was like I just need a break. I
was like, you know, I just did a break. But
I'm really grateful that I went though, because I think
it prepared me for going into this preseason for UCLA.
And it old to me like gave me back my
confidence I think going into UCLA. So I'm just, yeah,
I'm glad that my parents forced me to do it,
even though at the time like I hated them. I
was like, why are you making this Like I don't

(36:48):
want to be here.

Speaker 2 (36:50):
Yeah, I think it's amazing that it added to your confidence,
because drawing to a new school is a lot And
so talking about that preseason, did you have a lot
of nerves going into your first backs at UCLA new team?
Jim knew everything, So what was that kind of anxiety
like leading up to me?

Speaker 1 (37:04):
Yes, well, I felt like I was doing my freshman
year all over again. I was like I have to
meet all these new people, new coaches, new teammates, like
new other athletes. I was like, oh my gosh, like
I have to do this all over again. But everyone
was so sweet and honestly, like I was nervous for
maybe like the first five minutes, and then I was
like making jokes with like Kiki and like Gabs and

(37:25):
all the girls, and I was like, I'm fine, this
is where I'm supposed to be. Like everyone's just so sweet.
And when I tell you, we have the most amazing
staff ever, the most support. Everyone's just so great. So
it just truly feels like you're walking into a family,
Like I just felt so comfortable with everybody from the
very beginning. So yeah, it was like the easiest transition
I've ever made.

Speaker 2 (37:45):
That makes my heart warm. So heading into this year,
I mean, you dropped twenty points in your first game, Lauren.
First of all, who does that? So what do you
feel like is the biggest difference for you, you know,
maybe in terms of your game, in terms of your
confidence that has led you into this season compared to
last season.

Speaker 1 (38:04):
I just feel like I get like a lot of
my confidence from my coaches, Like they truly they believe
in me so much, Like with everything. I mean, I'm
out here like guarding on the perimeter, which I was
not doing last year, and I'm like switching on to
guards and I'm you know, defending you know, all these
people and I'm like this is I just feel like
it's changed my game so much, and you know, just

(38:25):
my confidence and I feel like I'm able to do
whatever I want out there like I can, and I
just have so much support for my teammates and everything,
and I feel like, you know, I'm just able to
expand so much. Like now you know, I can you know,
shoot from the high post. But I feel like you
know I can, I can dribble the ball a little
bit more than I was before, and I'm switching on
to guard, like all this stuff I don't think I
was doing last year. But I think my coaches have

(38:46):
been pushing me so much in practice and like just
making sure that I know, I believe that I can
do it myself. And I think that it's just expanded
my game so much, just all the belief they have
in me.

Speaker 2 (38:55):
I mean, just having that belief and that confidence that
is being instilled in you, it makes the world exactly.

Speaker 1 (39:01):
It changes the game completely.

Speaker 2 (39:03):
And I mean, yeah, knowing you high school to last
year to now, I feel like I can even you
can see it. You're out there, you're just doing your thing,
You're playing free. There's like it's really it's really fun
to watch. So we can all see it. And so
heading into the season kind of from a team perspective,
you know, you have a lot of talent, and you
have a lot of different weapons and anybody can fire

(39:25):
off on any night, like you talked about, So what's
kind of the mindset been like in the locker room
having those conversations about expectations you as have for yourself.
How are you going to hold each other accountable? What
has that kind of been like heading into the season.

Speaker 1 (39:39):
Yeah, I mean I think the biggest thing for us
is just making sure that anybody's ready, like on any night.
I mean, our bench is also so deep, like you
have you know, Christina Walla, you have Gabs who's coming
off and you know, averaging almost a double double, like
it's crazy. So just making sure that everyone's like confident
and that everyone's ready to go because you never know
who's going to go off that day. But I also

(40:00):
thing in practice, like we push each other so much
and we're so competitive, you know, and so every single
practice like we're on each other. But we know at
the end of the day we love each other so
it doesn't matter. But like, you know, we hold each
other to the highest standard, and I think it just
makes us so much better. And we all believe in
each other so much, so you go into regame knowing
that like whatever you do, you're going to be supported,

(40:20):
and like, you know, your teammates have so much belief
in you. Like, I think it just changes everybody's game
so much. But yeah, I definitely think that our practices
just prepare us for the game so much that you know,
we just go out there and we dominate because that's
just what we're doing in practice. Like it's like coach
Corey's likes to say, it's the habits that we pick
up every single day in practice. Got to love me
for saying that, But I think it's the habits that

(40:43):
we work on every day that make us the team
that we are.

Speaker 2 (40:46):
I mean, you mentioned a little bit talking about London,
Kiki Gabby, but then you also throwing Christine into that
kind of class that you guys have, which is a
really strong sophomore class. So I feel like that's a
young core that you guys are just going to continue
to grow. So what is that Like? Obviously you have
the pieces with charisma and you know, the leadership from
Cameron and all those different pieces. But what excites you

(41:08):
about that core that you guys have that you guys
are gonna get to play together for another two three years? Really?

Speaker 1 (41:13):
Yeah, what excites me is that we're just going to
get better and better. Like, for how good we are,
we have so much room to improve. And that's like
the most exciting part is that we're just gonna get
closer and we're going to build that chemistry over time,
and I'm just so excited to see everybody excel because
we're so talented. But like, you know, if I see
what these girls do in practice every day and what
they're working on, and people don't know like we are coming,

(41:35):
Like I love my class so much. Like we're just
so like we're just so fun off the court as well,
and I'm like so close to all of them, so
it just I love talking about them. But they're so great.
We're all like very hard workers, Like our coaches love
to brag about like how hard we work, but we
truly do, like work our butts off, and you know,
just the I just can't wait to see everyone progress
because we're so capable of doing it so.

Speaker 2 (41:55):
And I mean, that's already tight en it. And then
not even to mention your sister coming in, and I
know how close the two of you are, So tell
me a little bit about Sienna committing to UCLA and
how just like hyped up you are to play with her.
That's gonna be your senior season, and so how is
that going to be?

Speaker 1 (42:13):
First off, I can't believe it still, like even you saying,
I'm like, oh my gosh, like I can't believe she's coming.

Speaker 2 (42:18):
Heah.

Speaker 1 (42:18):
It was so crazy, but I'm so excited. Like, i mean,
obviously you played against or with each other senior year
of high school wanna State championship, and I was like
one of the greatest memories I have with her swinging
that together. And it was a very long season, and
we obviously went through ups and downs, but like, I
think it made us so much closer just going through
all of that together. And I'm just really excited that

(42:39):
we're going to experience college together. I mean, there's so
much that goes into college. I mean, like we're growing up,
you're away from your parents, and I'm just like really
excited that I'll be able to like help her her
freshman year because it's tough, like freshman year's you know,
obviously very hard. So I'm just excited to get to
like kind of guide her through all of that, especially
being a senior. Like I'll be already like comfortable by
then hopefully, so you know, I'll just be able to

(42:59):
walk her through all of that and it'll be really great.
And like, there's so much that goes into college other
than basketball. I'm like, we're gonna be able to go
out together, like it's gonna be so fun, Like, hey,
you know, you know how I am. I'm so excited.
It's gonna be so fun.

Speaker 2 (43:14):
Oh my, can't imagine Senior Betty playing me last year.
Jesus Christ, Well, I love that for the two of you.
And I know your mom is just gonna be through
the roof when she gets to come and see the.

Speaker 1 (43:27):
Two of you play the gas here. It's gonna be
the waterworks are already. Oh my gosh.

Speaker 2 (43:34):
Okay, So now we're gonna do a quick, little, quick
little game. I suppose of one's gotta go. This is
my knowledge of you and things that you love. So
it's gonna be hard. Disney movies. One has got to go. Okay,
here we go. We got Lion King, Princess and the
Frog and Moana. One's gotta go.

Speaker 1 (43:56):
Okay. I was like, I love you, Tolana, but ma.

Speaker 2 (44:02):
Week please, ma Wana's gotta go.

Speaker 1 (44:09):
Okay, Yeah, Malana's gotta go.

Speaker 2 (44:12):
It's respectful. And now we're gonna go Disney Princesses.

Speaker 1 (44:15):
We got.

Speaker 2 (44:17):
Ariel and Jasmine.

Speaker 1 (44:19):
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh.

Speaker 2 (44:23):
These are the hard hitters of the whole interview so far.
These are the hard so hard.

Speaker 1 (44:29):
Oh my gosh, I'll have to say, Jasmine.

Speaker 2 (44:34):
That was that was gonna be mine? I agree, okay,
especially with the new Ariel like oh yeah, yeah, yeah,
you know, got okay, and then moving into our game
day routine real quick, we got pregame meal, shoot around
a warm up music. I feel like this is an
obvious answer which one's got to go shoot around.

Speaker 1 (44:54):
Yeah, bye around you go like, I mean, it's all right,
but like we aread dot music like what was practiced
for Like all right, yeah, okay.

Speaker 2 (45:06):
Now these are the hard hitters for you, specifically music ready, Sizza,
Brent Fires, and Victoria Lone.

Speaker 1 (45:17):
Oh okay, that's easy. I thought you were going to.

Speaker 2 (45:19):
Say this summer because I thought about summer.

Speaker 1 (45:22):
If you would have said summer, it would have been.
I can't choose, but I'm gonna have to say Victoria,
I don't really listen to her. I don't listen to
her music, but I love her news. I love her,
proud of her all the Grammy nominations, like she deserves,
she's killing it. But yeah, okay.

Speaker 2 (45:36):
Now moving into the NIO space, when did nil get
real for you? Because it came in at the end
of your high school, didn't it it did?

Speaker 1 (45:43):
I think like my senior year I was like first introduced.
I had that commercial, which is really cool. So I
did that, like that little ad that was really cool.
Like that was my first kind of experience in front
of like cameras and like you know, script I was like,
oh my gosh, like this is kind of crazy, like
all these cameras in my face, Like, oh my gosh.
But I think that was like my first kind of
like you know, a little intro to it. And then

(46:04):
I think once I got to UCLA, obviously, just being
in LA it's like absolutely crazy. There's just so many opportunities,
and like coach Corey is really good with like just
getting our names out there and like networking all of that.
Like she's great, Like she's the best at all of that.
So I think she's been really helping me through all
of that. And yeah, I think, you know, ever since
I started obviously like playing well this sophomore year, a

(46:27):
lot more opportunities have come obviously, so it's just you know,
I'm still like kind of new to all of this,
but it's been a really good experience and I feel
like I'm doing a really good job of balancing it,
Like it hasn't been overwhelming, but obviously just being in
La there's just so much to do out here, so
it's been really cool just like experiencing all of that.

Speaker 2 (46:44):
I mean, it's a lot to balance with school, socialize,
and basketball's a lot.

Speaker 1 (46:48):
So I don't know how you did it senior year
of college because that was that was a lot. Oh
my gosh, it was a lot.

Speaker 2 (46:53):
It was a lot. But what do you feel like
has been the best advice that you've gotten moving through
the ni elsepace?

Speaker 1 (47:00):
I don't know. Just staying where my feet are, Like
I just think that's just staying present and like, you know,
not comparing because obviously, like that's one thing, Like if
you compare your experience with nil to other people, I
think that's just like setting you up for failure. So
just being like appreciative for what I've received and like
my whole experience and journey through all of this has

(47:21):
just made me like a lot more just content with
where I am, Like I just don't have to compare
my experiences to anybody else's and so I think that
would be the best.

Speaker 2 (47:30):
Yeah, that's because, especially with social media, it can get
easy to do that.

Speaker 1 (47:33):
Yes, like you can easily compare yes, yes.

Speaker 2 (47:36):
Yeah, what's been your biggest non negotiable when you move
into working with brands like, oh I'm not into that.
Oh I don't want to work with this brand? How
do you kind of navigate who you want to work with?

Speaker 1 (47:47):
This is kind of funny, but I would say with
like photo shoots, right, you know, my mother, if the
photo shoot is if it's a little too you know,
a little too own for me, Yeah, it's not happening.
It's not happening. Oh my gosh, no, because I don't
want to No, no, Michelle Betts is not having it.

(48:10):
So that that's mine.

Speaker 2 (48:12):
That's okay, that's good. That's a good one. Okay. So
we're headed into our last section. It's going to be
rapid fire, rapid fire as best as you can. Okay,
Like I believe in you're gonna do great.

Speaker 1 (48:21):
I've seen this and Frand took forever with hers.

Speaker 2 (48:23):
Fran sucks, So do better than France. Yes, she's yeah, Okay, Frand,
if you're listening, you were horrible.

Speaker 1 (48:28):
Yeah, you're terrible. Okay, here we go.

Speaker 2 (48:34):
What's the drill you never want to see on the
practice plan.

Speaker 1 (48:36):
Oh my gosh. Full court close outs Oh that gosh.
Absolutely not the sprint to the slides, to the sprint
to the slides to the back pedal, none of that.

Speaker 2 (48:45):
I hate it. No, no, no, no, okay, game winning
shot or game winning block.

Speaker 1 (48:50):
Oh, game winning block.

Speaker 2 (48:53):
I was gonna say, you love a block?

Speaker 1 (48:54):
Yeah, I love a good block, Love a good block.

Speaker 2 (48:56):
Okay, lord? And one or three pointer?

Speaker 1 (49:00):
Three pointer? Think let's go. Let's a shooter, a shooter,
a pure shooter?

Speaker 2 (49:07):
Yeah, yes, yes, what's off the court? Your go to
sneaker or shoot? Because I know you like a heel
or a boot.

Speaker 1 (49:14):
I do love a good boot. Okay. So it depends
because if I'm like with my little like street where
love a good Jordan Ones Or if I'm feeling girly,
I'll wear like my little leather boots moment like you know,
it depends on the vine.

Speaker 2 (49:28):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, I love that. A group TikTok
or solo TikTok solo. Okay. Where's the toughest place to
play on the road?

Speaker 1 (49:40):
Oh okay, Well, Arizona was tough, even though we won.
It was that was like it was loud and those fans. Man,
there's something else that was that was tough. Yeah, that
was tough.

Speaker 2 (49:52):
Okay, who's the biggest trash talker.

Speaker 1 (49:57):
On my team?

Speaker 2 (49:58):
Eddie one you've ever played against?

Speaker 1 (50:00):
Girl? I would, honestly, I'm just gonna say, on my
team Angela douglic trash talker. Yes, listen, you do not
you do not want to get on her bad side.

Speaker 2 (50:18):
From all my interactions, she's so nice. But does she
flip a switch?

Speaker 1 (50:22):
Oh my gosh, that switch is scary? You do not mind?

Speaker 2 (50:26):
Okay, Angela Okay, hardest player to guard.

Speaker 1 (50:30):
Probably, I mean, probably pee leaf anything. I haven't really
I mean, obviously I didn't really get to play against her,
but from watching I can imagine she's tough.

Speaker 2 (50:41):
Yeah, okay, this was makeing me chuckle. Biggest flopper girl
you can say on your team?

Speaker 1 (50:50):
Oh okay, this is funny. Biggest flopper probably. I mean,
we don't really have any floppers because I think that's
personally like, come.

Speaker 2 (51:01):
On now, stop it, charisma charisma flop it?

Speaker 1 (51:06):
Did she actually especially I don't know, like I don't,
I don't know, I don't actually actually yeah.

Speaker 2 (51:13):
Maybe you could tell Hayley said you flop.

Speaker 1 (51:16):
Hayley said you flop? Got it? I'll tell you.

Speaker 2 (51:19):
Okay, who's your basketball?

Speaker 1 (51:21):
Goat Michael Jordan's.

Speaker 2 (51:23):
Okay, biggest basketball.

Speaker 1 (51:25):
Oh my gosh, Okay, this is like really random, but
posts that like pull your pants down or like pull
the jerseys all that. I've had it all. Someone tried
to pull my shorts down in the middle of the game,
Like what are you doing?

Speaker 2 (51:41):
What are you crazy? Yeah, okay, I already know your answer,
your celebrity look alike.

Speaker 1 (51:46):
I'm not doing this. Did you see I did not?

Speaker 2 (51:49):
I did not, but I didn't know.

Speaker 1 (51:52):
Haley, Haley, go ahead, Haley, go ahead, you can you
can answer this one. Oh z India, thank you, queen,
Thank you, queen. Yeah, no, check out check out check
out the TikTok talking about in the U c l A.
So yeah, and then you watch it.

Speaker 2 (52:05):
I'm text to you, Okay, Now this is a hard hitter.
Sephora or alta.

Speaker 1 (52:11):
Sophora.

Speaker 2 (52:12):
Okay, I think so too. I have more points at Sephora.

Speaker 1 (52:15):
Yeah. Same.

Speaker 2 (52:18):
So who would you want to be your two on
two teammate? And you can't pick one of your teammates?
M hm, who would anyone? Yeah? Who would be your
two on two teammate.

Speaker 1 (52:28):
Sorry, that's so tough.

Speaker 2 (52:30):
I don't know, like, I don't like we've talked about
so many.

Speaker 1 (52:34):
No, listen, listen, Hailey Jones up.

Speaker 2 (52:37):
I was gonna say, Brianna Stewart agent.

Speaker 1 (52:41):
Stop doing that. Haley, Listen, you're that girl, Me and
Hailey and Haley.

Speaker 2 (52:48):
What's your favorite pregame hype song? Oh?

Speaker 1 (52:52):
Oh no, I can't say that. Oh god, we have
my team and I we have like specific hype songs
and they know if you know, you know, but I
can't see it.

Speaker 2 (53:01):
Okay, okay, give us your best impersonation of coach Corey.

Speaker 1 (53:06):
Oh my gosh. Well, I know she's gonna watch this.
She's gonna kill me. But like she knows, like when
she walks around practice, Miss Corey Close, she's got a
little dump truck. Okay, so when she walks when she
wants practice, we all talk about it. She knows because

(53:27):
someone dressed up as her as Halloween. She already knows.
If you know, you know, it's the miss Corey Close
walk around practice, she knows.

Speaker 2 (53:35):
I don't know what I expected you to say, but
it was not the dump truck. Wow wow, wow wow, Okay, Lauren,
we'll wrap it up on that note. Okay, but thank
you everyone for listening to our first episode of the
College Hoop season. We'll be back next week with another

(53:55):
episode of Sometimes I Hope. Lauren, thank you so much
for being such a delight for this first episode of
the new season.

Speaker 1 (54:02):
Thank you so much for having me. Hey, appreciate you.

Speaker 2 (54:07):
Oh my god, Oh you really just said Corey has
a dump truck. I can't read the season.

Speaker 1 (54:13):
Everyone's gonna die when they hear that my coach does
have a dump truck. I can't even line if we
all talk about it all the time.

Speaker 2 (54:20):
Hey, everyone, thanks so much for listening to Sometimes I Hoop.
Please don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you
get your podcasts. Be sure to follow me on Instagram
at Haley dot Jones. That's no I and Hailey and
three s's and Jones to get all the Sometimes I
Hoop content. You can also watch the episodes on the
Players Tribune YouTube page. Thanks again for all your support.

(54:43):
The Players Tribute dot com
Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.