October 7, 2025 • 35 mins
All hoops, all the time.
The WNBA Finals are in full swing, which means The GIST of It co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz were ready to break down what to expect in Game 3, now that the Las Vegas Aces hold a two-game lead over the Phoenix Mercury…but then LeBron James tweeted. Is the King retiring? Or is he trolling with another clever marketing campaign? Hear the gals’ thoughts on all the above today.
A big thank you to our friends at DoorDash for sponsoring today’s pod. DoorDash is launching a brand new platform called BRING IT IN that’s dedicated to championing women’s sports. The goal is to showcase more women’s games to fans just like you, while providing local restaurants with access to opportunities usually reserved for big sponsors. To celebrate, DoorDash wants to give you up to 30% off during the WNBA Finals. Just head to the link in the shownotes, download the DoorDash app, and start thinking about your next game-day meal.
Show notes:
Enjoy 30% off your DoorDash order during the WNBA Finals
Salary of WNBA Refs Discussed Following Caitlin Clark, Marina Mabrey Incident
More on The GIST:
☎️ Leave us a voicemail! Call us at 1-437-564-5579 or hold down on this link
🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod
✉️ Email: pod@thegistsports.com
📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa
🐦 X: @thegistpod
The WNBA Finals are in full swing, which means The GIST of It co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz were ready to break down what to expect in Game 3, now that the Las Vegas Aces hold a two-game lead over the Phoenix Mercury…but then LeBron James tweeted. Is the King retiring? Or is he trolling with another clever marketing campaign? Hear the gals’ thoughts on all the above today.
A big thank you to our friends at DoorDash for sponsoring today’s pod. DoorDash is launching a brand new platform called BRING IT IN that’s dedicated to championing women’s sports. The goal is to showcase more women’s games to fans just like you, while providing local restaurants with access to opportunities usually reserved for big sponsors. To celebrate, DoorDash wants to give you up to 30% off during the WNBA Finals. Just head to the link in the shownotes, download the DoorDash app, and start thinking about your next game-day meal.
Show notes:
Enjoy 30% off your DoorDash order during the WNBA Finals
Salary of WNBA Refs Discussed Following Caitlin Clark, Marina Mabrey Incident
More on The GIST:
☎️ Leave us a voicemail! Call us at 1-437-564-5579 or hold down on this link
🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod
✉️ Email: pod@thegistsports.com
📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa
🐦 X: @thegistpod
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
What's up, y'all. Welcome or welcome back to another episode
of The Gist of It. Today is Tuesday, October seventh.
We're co hosts.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I'm Ellen Hisslap and I'm Steph Rotts, and I need
everybody to wish Ellen a happy birthday today on October seventh.
She actually shares a birthday with my dad too, so
happy birthday Dad.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Oh my gosh, happy birthday to your dad. We also
share a birthday with Vladimir Putin, which really sucks sick.
He's one of the most famous people who's born on
our birthday, you know, and it's.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
So fun to kind of do that, of course, to
look at it, but maybe people will start saying, Ellen
Hislap is also born on October seventh.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Y oh, thank you so much, chef. It's Libra season.
So many great libras born in this horoscope time or
this astrological era, including yourself, which I'm very excited about
celebrating you next week. Anyway, we have a busy POTO today.
There's so October is the best month of the year
for sports. Some people say April. I say October. There's
(01:07):
truly nothing like October baseball. We have the WNBA playoffs
and finals. We have the NHL starting today, we have
the NBA starting in a couple of weeks. NWSL is
going on. Like, there's so much sports to follow and
to cover. Wait.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
The PWHL they like November, okay, because their season came
out after we recorded our previous podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Right, Yes, did you see the news about the Women's
World Hockey Championship moving forward?
Speaker 2 (01:37):
I did, but I don't want to be wrong. Can
you maybe say it? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (01:41):
So generally the Women's World Hockey Championship takes place in April,
so that was in the middle of the PWHL season.
Now because of the PWHL, the league and the DOUBLEIHF,
which is the International Hockey Federation, got together and basically said,
how can we schedule this better so that there doesn't
have to be a break in the season in and
after this set this year because it's the Olympics next year.
(02:05):
Of course, next November is going to be the first
Doublechef Women's World Hockey Championship in November before the season starts.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Oh so twenty twenty six, Yeah, because the first game
this year is going to be on November twenty four,
So you're they're going to slot it in early November.
Then yeah, per right, that's great.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Thank you for adapting roll right in. If there's anything
women do, we negotiate totally. We make it work. We
make sure there's a balance. But any hoosers, today we
have to talk about the WNBA Finals. I feel bad
because I feel like on the pod stuff we haven't
really been able to get into it because there's the
timing has just been off. It almost feels like this
(02:46):
entire postseason. But finally the timing is right. We are
two games into the first ever best of seven WNBA
Finals series, with the Las Vegas Aces taking a commanding
two game lead over the Phoenix Mercury. That said, both
of those two games we're in Vegas and home court
advantage is a thing. So today we're going to recap
what you may have missed over the first two games
this weekend, what is standing out on both sides of
(03:09):
the court, because there's a lot we need to talk about,
and of course what to look for in Game three,
which airs tomorrow at a pm Eastern on ESPN and
the US and TSN three or four in Canada. And
then there's a few extra little WNBA drama bits that
we need to talk about because the whole player league
situation is not going anywhere, and we have continued thoughts.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
We have continued thoughts that's going to be sandwiched in
with our personal training sashon at the end, and just
a heads up, Game three is going to be happening
while we record the next episode, So the next episode,
we won't be able to speak on current events when
it comes to the WNBA Finals. So here it is.
This is the timing we're talking today.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Yeah, before we get started, I need to call an autimal.
So admittedly we record Mondays before Tuesday podcast and THEISS
Slack channel was going absolutely buck whild today because Lebron
James tweeted quote the Decision of All Decisions October seventh,
(04:15):
twelve pm Eastern, the second hashtag the Second Decision. And
for those of you who aren't as old as we are,
way back in twenty ten, Lebron James announced that he
was leaving the Cleveland Clavaliers, his hometown team, for the
Miami Heat, in a televised ESPN special called The Decision.
(04:35):
It was so drama, it was so camp. It was
the thing that everybody was watching in twenty ten, and
the way that he is announcing this ahead of his
twenty third WNBA season has a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Of telep You just said, w and I love it.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
God, I did, Oh my god, Sorry Lebron his twenty
third NBA season, I'm like, I only talk about the
WNBA had of his twenty third NBA season very interesting.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Do you think he's retiring? Do you think that's what
it is, or do you think he's just being drama.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
So a lot of people think that he could be
announcing and saying that this is going to be his
final year in the NBA, the m NBA. He is
forty years old. And what I also think too, Steph,
is that the La Lakers were kind of missing that
next person to come in behind Lebron James until they
(05:27):
traded for Luka Doncic. And now that Luca is in there,
he's in his mid twenties, He's a global sensation, he
is a superstar. He's got his revenge bod going on
after being traded from the Dallas Mavericks that I do
almost feel like Lebron James might be feeling like he
can pass the torch in some type of way onto
John chicic.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Some people might think it's marketing.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Yes, okay, we have to talk about the marketing because Okay,
you watched Starting five, right, that is the one recommendation
that you actually watch, correct, Jummy? Okay, So Starting five
is on Netflix. It's produced by spring Hill Productions, which
is Lebron James's production company. And I think one of
the biggest things I took away from Starting Five is
(06:13):
that Lebron James is a theater kid. Lebron James loves
the drama and we see that continually in the tweets.
I think over the years, some people think that this
might be an Amazon Prime Day announcement because he used
something last week that a lot of people thought was
(06:35):
like gonna be this big announcement whatever. It was an
indeed ad and like people are just wondering what this
guy's up.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
To and maybe a Taco Bell partnership.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Oh my god, do you actually think so, oh it's
Taco Tuesday, Because.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Didn't he try and trademark the term Taco Tuesday and failed?
And then he partnered with Taco Bell to free Taco
Tuesday for everybody?
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Wait if he is dropping Taco Tuesday on Tuesday October seventh.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Because that's National Taco Day, right.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
If Okay, I like, I get that he is marketing
and he's a little bit of as well. No, I
really hope that he's not devious because also the imagery
that he posted with this tweet was like him sitting
down with a pundon in this on this basketball court
with this moody lighting. That really makes you feel like
(07:28):
it was a Barbara Walters interview. For Heaven's sake, you
know what I mean, that's what I thought it was
our our producer's hot take stuff. Is that this is
not a retirement announcement, like this is an announcement of
something completely else.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I don't think he's done.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
You don't think so either, So it's so it's not
okay interesting? I okay, should we put some money on it? Sure?
How much? Let's do it. When I'm in, when I
see you in a couple of weeks, I shall be
paying for your hand We're gonna hug. We're going in
(08:04):
for the five dollar handshake. Anyway. Stay tuned for twelve
pm Eastern on October seventh. A big thank you to
our friends at DoorDash for sponsoring today's episode. DoorDash is
a longtime supporter of Canadian women's sports, whether it's keeping
our newsletter free or being an official partner of the
WNBA NSL, which is the Northern Super League and PWHL.
(08:26):
But now they're taking their women's sports fandom to a
whole new level and Seph, I don't know if you've
seen this, but I'm so obsessed with it. DoorDash is
launching a brand new platform called Bring It In that's
dedicated to championing women's sports. They're unifying the WNBA, NSL
and PWHL in one unofficial alliance to celebrate the powerhouse
(08:50):
trifecta of professional women's sports in Canada. The goal is
to change the face of the game and showcase more
women's games to fans just like you, while providing local
restaurants with access to opportunities usually reserved for big sponsors.
It is a win win to celebrate. And this might
(09:10):
be one of my favorite parts of all of this
is the perks that's in it for me, because at
the end of the day, I am a little selfish.
To celebrate, DoorDash wants to give all of our gisters
up to thirty percent off during the WNBA Finals. Just
head to the link in the show notes, download the
door dash app if you haven't already, and start thinking
about your next game day meal Again. Head to the
(09:32):
link in the show notes for all of the details
that you need to get thirty percent off during the
WNBA Finals. We're going to get to the WNBA Finals.
But real quick, we were just doing hot takes. So Seph,
I want your take on Life of a show Girl.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I love it, same say.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I listened to it through once because I'm earlier than you.
Ye in life, I'm I'm, I'm my time travel And
I listened to it and I was nervous, would I
like it, would I not like it? Whatever. The minute
I listened to it, I went.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Steph is going to love this yep, and I did.
Everyone messaged me You're gonna love this album and I
was just late to it. It was a busy morning.
I didn't get to listen to it until later in
the afternoon. And yeah, I just there are some wild
hot takes on the internet about it that I do
think people need to rein it in.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
I said, people, get over it. Stop taking yourself so seriously.
I would say, like some of my friends too, were like,
oh the lyrics, I can't believe this is the same
person who wrote folklore and evermore, I go, I don't know.
Women contain multitudes.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
She also wrote shake it Off.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Yeah, she wrote it feeling twenty two and like me
and oh god, okay, that's a song don't bring up
to me because I'm sorry you guys absolutely bananas.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
However, it's so fun. It's one of those albums, at
least to me. I went for a walk. I was
I was spitting while I was walking on the road
like I was dancing. I couldn't stop. I was in
such a great mood and the music and the beat
just got me. It just made me want to dance.
And you know, I love to dance and you love
to dance, which is why I knew that you would
(11:26):
love it because we both love a dance.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
How else do you get through washing the dishes at
that nine. It's really for a good pop song.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Toss on some music. I'm just dance anyway, I'm into it.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
I have so many thoughts on it, but yeah, those
are not for a sports podcast.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
No, So let's talk about the WNBA finals. And we
felt like we need to give an update because it's
been really hard watching all the sports. I definitely have
been watching obviously the WNBA, but sometimes more on the
highlights side because the Toronto Blue Jays are playing right
now the Alds and I'm locked the fuck in, and
(12:02):
so it's what.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
We're gonna know. What we did? So I went camping
this past weekend and the service was spotty, as it
often is. So you know what we did to quote
unquote watch the Blue Jays game. Tell me listen to
it on the radio.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Oh and that's so red, that's so perfect.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
But it was actually so calming. We had the fire going,
We're sitting there with our beer listening to a baseball game.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Doesn't that remind you of the nineties and early two
thousands though, when you're in the car driving somewhere and
you were just constantly listening to the Jays. I think
baseball is a great radio sport.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
It was. It really is, because it was it continues
to be so nice.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Yes, I do.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
I do agree. It's hard to catch everything right now.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Yeah, it's hard to catch everything. So that's why we
want to talk about it. So Steph, let's talk about
where things stand after the two games. In the WNBA Finals.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Okay, Las Vegas Aces are leading and this is now
a best of seven, which is new this year, and
they're leading two games to Phoenix Mercury's zero games, zero wins.
So we're going to talk about game one and we're
going to talk about game two. So let's start with
Friday's game, which was Game one. It was a nail bider.
This one of the two was much closer.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Yeah. Asia Wilson was incredible in this one. She had
twenty one points and ten rebounds. Dana Evans also had
twenty one points. The final score was eighty nine eighty six.
And so watching this one, you're like, Okay, this is
going to be a really electric series. Who knows what's
going to happen in game two? What actually ended up
(13:34):
happening in Game two, which was on Sunday, The ACE
is completely dominated. They asserted themselves in a way that
I did not expect them to, but I should have
because otherwise I'd be underestimating Becky Hammond.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
You mentioned two of the Big three in the previous game,
and in game two we now get to talk about
the third of the Big three being Jackie Young. Jackie
Young scored thirty two points in that ninety one to
seventy eight one in on Sunday. She's so good, twenty
one of those points in the third quarter alone, So
that makes the most points ever scored by an individual
in a single WNBA Finals quarter ever ever.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
So Jackie Young, if you don't know her, now you
know her, remember the name, go check her out and Steph.
A lot of pundits are saying like, if Jackie Young
keeps on playing the way that she's been playing this
postseason and also in this finals, that she could be
the WNBA Finals MVP, which would be shocking when you're
(14:34):
going up against someone like Alyssa Thomas or Asia Wilson,
who you feel like would be the shoe ins potentially
to be MVP for the finals.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
And it's really hard to outperform Asia Wilson. So Jackie
Young had thirty two points and Asia Wilson had twenty
eight points in that game. So phenomenal, just a phenomenal
squad in the Las Vegas cases.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Yeah, that's a dynamic duo, baby, And so let's zoom
out a little bit and then let's talk about the mercury,
because so far we've been like really talking about Vegas.
I'm really excited to have this conversation stuff because I
feel like we haven't really had the opportunity to have
it in women's sports for a while, and we haven't
(15:13):
had the opportunity at least in the WNBA for a while.
I think given Vegas's history and given where they are
right now and that they're on the brank, maybe close
to being on the brink to winning this WNBA championship,
is can we start talking about the Las Vegas Aces
as a dynasty.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
So, in case you missed it, the Aces are fighting
for their third title in four years, because of course
they didn't win last year in twenty twenty four, but
they won before in twenty twenty three and then before that,
and we've highlighted some of of course, they're offensive threats
in the stats that we mentioned in game one and
(15:55):
Game two, but also, and this is why I love
as well, is what's crucial titter game is their defensive powers.
They are so good on defense. The Aces recorded nine
seals and six blocks in Game two, and three of
those steals came from Chelsea Gray point God, and we
didn't even mention Gray in the first section of this
(16:18):
WNBI Finals chat, there's just such a deep, deep bench
and they are so good defensively, And.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
I would say, Stef, I don't think that Evans makes
up that big three maybe in your opinion, but I
do think that is Chelsea Gray, Asia Wilson and Joe
Ryan and that's kind of their big three. But when
I also, I want to talk about this dynasty conversation, Steph,
because you and I on this podcast before have really
(16:45):
talked about Kansas City Chiefs. Are they a dynasty? Are
they not a dynasty? Does Patrick Mahomes in the way
that he's performed or the way that he's continually brought
them to the super Bowl? And when all of these
conference championships make the Kansas City Chiefs a dynasty? And
when you look at the statistics, they're really similar, if
not the exact same. But for whatever reason, I think
sometimes we're less hesitant or maybe not a sertive in
(17:09):
our own dominance of talking about these women's teams like
their dynasties because there's not as much history to them.
I guess when you compare it to men's sports, and
when you compare the number of teams. But I feel
like this is We're ready and we should be having
this conversation, especially with the era that the WNBA is
(17:30):
in and the type of products that we're seeing put
on the court.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Do you think that this is going to be a
sweet No? Okay, I hope not.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
I really hope that it goes to seven. To me,
and talking about MLB playoffs, for example, stuff like home
field advantage or home court advantage means everything. And so
they could come in and win two games against Phoenix
in Vegas with the home crowd behind them. The Mercury
could go ahead and do that too because of home
(18:00):
court advantage and how big of a deal it is.
I really do think that they still have a fighting chance.
That said, no finals winner has ever bounced back from
an zero to two start. But but but this is
the first time that the WNBA Finals is going to
seven games, and that makes a huge difference in probabilities. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I would say it even resets the stats, don't you
think no, because there's a whole whole other two games.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Though, I wouldn't say it resets the stats, but I
think I think it gives a greater chance of comeback
of a comeback.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Okay, Yeah, And you talked about home court advantage. So
Phoenix calls their fan base the X factor.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Cute.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
It's so cute. I love that. And Phoenix have won
fifteen of twenty two home games this season, so it
could actually have a huge impact in the next two games.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
The X factor could be the X factor. And that's
what I mean, right, like, we don't know. I think
when when we're talking about Jackie Young potentially being the
Finals MVP, some of that has to Steff. Obviously, Asia
Wilson is performing really well, but Alyssa Thomas of the
Phoenix Mercury, who had just an incredible season, she's kind
of been struggling so far in this series. She only
(19:10):
scored ten points in Game two. She also in Game
two dealt with a lot of foul trouble, and I
think a part of that is, again, the Las Vegas
Aces have so much experience. Becky Hammond knows how to
manage her team and knows how to I think, really
guard the opposing team's top players and how to also
(19:33):
get them in foul trouble. Becky Hammond being the coach
for the Aces and so at is up up like
against a really really stiff competition that I don't think
she's fully seen necessarily before in these playoffs, especially as
Minnesota being a little injured at the end there too.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
And to add on top of that, her six time
All Star fiance and teammate Dwana Bonner only contributed eight
points in that loss, which I.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Wouldn't say, like Dowana Bonner is a big star like
on Phoenix, I think that there's some other stars that
we should be looking out for. For example, Cleia Copper,
I'm like obsessed with her. That would be my second
to really look out for here. But yeah, to me,
I'm like, okay, it makes sense that they're struggling when
(20:23):
the Aces have all of this experience, they have that
home court advantage, they have that big three that's been
playing together for a very long time. Phoenix is a
very new look team this year. They do not feel
the same as they have in years past. So it's
remarkable that they got here a but I think they
just need to get their feet underneath them and to
like get the jitters out to a certain extent before
(20:45):
they can really settle in into the desert for Game
three on Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
One more shout out to door Dash for sponsoring the
pod today. Their new platform, Bring It In, is going
to be big, like three groundbreaking leagues big. As we
all know all too well, it can be a challenge
to find women's sports on TV. Thankfully, that's slowly changing,
and it's because of companies like DoorDash who are helping
change the face of the game and finding more ways
(21:15):
to connect with fans. As I'm sure you know, it's
the best time of the year to be a women's
sports fan. The WNBA Finals are happening right now, then
there's the NSL Playoffs Before the puck quickly drops on
the PWHL so excited. With doordashes Bring it In platform,
there are even more reasons to watch all of these
thrilling moments in each season. DoorDash helps you celebrate women's
(21:36):
sports with everybodye Whether your game day faves are delivered
straight to your door with up to thirty percent off
during the WNBA Finals, go to the link in the
show notes, or you're watching live at your fave local spot.
Just head to the link in the show notes, download
door Dash and start salivating over your go to game
day meal. Sign for our personal training sash. This is
(22:04):
where we answer your heart hitting questions about anything, and
we mean anything in the sports world.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Yes, and today we have an amazing question and commentary
from SHEP, who DM on Instagram. So SHEP, thank you
so much for sending this in. This is what they
had to say, quote loving this week's Spicy WNBA podcast.
Two questions for your amazing monumental episodes. This is for
(22:29):
our five hundredth episode, but Shep, we just brought it
earlier to episode four nine to nine. We have our
five hundred episode later this week, which we're so excited about.
And also, thank pause here for a minute. Thank you
so much to everyone for all of your incredible ideas, suggestions, voicemails, everything.
It made our hearts so warm and we're so excited
for our five five hundredth episode. But Shep, we had
(22:50):
to talk about your sooner just because it was timely.
So anyway, here's Shep's questions. One. I totally get why
kicking out the WNBA commission takes time. But these very
dangerous refs who allow injuries to happen, why are they
not kicked out? What is keeping them from not being
let go with new refs being brought in? So that's
question number one. The question number two is who would
(23:10):
each of you like to see as the w NBA
commissioner and why tea? And then this one Let's comment
was so stuff coded. I love this so much, shef said. Lastly,
was I the only one who watched the Women's World
Rugby and thought, holy shit, their officiating is so tight
and steady? That is sexy question? Our question with two
(23:35):
like rawfel emojis grateful for you both, shep shep. We're
so grateful to you and thank you so much for
listening and for these amazing questions. We need to chat
through them.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Actually start with us.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Let's do you want to start with the referee?
Speaker 2 (23:52):
I really really do because like the Women's Worlds, wo's
the World's rugby ref in the gold medal game, the
final match was just so perfect. We did offline about this.
So in between recordings, Ellen and I will chat and
to her last week or two weeks ago whenever this was,
because what is time, I did say to her, oh
(24:12):
my god, did you see the ref?
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Did you see how firm she was? Did you see
how decisive she was?
Speaker 1 (24:17):
And then she was hot hot, so chef, you weren't
the only one such good reffing. Yes, they also said
literally during the match that that ref was the best
ref in all of rugby. I don't know if they
meant men's and women's I don't watch enough rugby to know,
(24:37):
but the fact that people say that about them being
the best ref, I have not heard that on a
broadcast beforehand, So that really means that she was on
her shit.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Yeah, and I actually don't even know all the rules
for rugby, so when I say great reffing, I was
coating on fibes. Yeah, she had me.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
No, she was firm, Yeah, she was assertive, she knew
was going on. Okay, so then shep let's get to
your first question. With the WNBA commissioner side of things,
we do have to give an update on just the
relationship between a FISA Collier and Kathy Engelbert right now.
If you haven't had a chance to listen yet, please
(25:14):
please please go back to listen to four ninety eight.
We really got into the context, what's happening, all of
that sort of stuff. In case you missed it. Kathy
Engelbert addressed the media before Game one of the WNBA
Finals on Friday. She said Callier's statement had quote a
lot of inaccuracies, and she denied saying that Caitlin Clark
(25:35):
should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for
the lee's exposure. She essentially with that, though Steph was
like they she was saying like they had a lot
of inaccuracies, and she was like, obviously, I didn't say
those things, and that's a part of what Kathy Engelbert said,
and in that moment, obviously she doesn't want to come
(25:57):
off as like saying those things. But at the same time,
what she is implying is that Nafisa Collier is a liar,
and implying that one of WNBA's Players Associations vice presidents,
one of the best players in your entire league, the
co founder of Unrivaled, is a liar and also one
(26:19):
of the most well loved players. That is not going
to sit well with anybody else in the WNBA. And
so after that, Nafisa Collier was supposed to a meeting
with Kathy and she canceled it.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
And she received a lot of support online for that cancelation,
because why would you want to meet with someone in
bad faith.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Who also just kind of called you a liar exactly.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Yeah, and Kathy did say she will not be resigning
from her post because she's want a quitter. Those were
the words use.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Yeah, and nothing against quitters. Sometimes you do just need
to quit stat or or you need to retire, you
need to retire. Stuff posted today on her Instagram that
she quit soccer, and I said, let's reframe this to retirement.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Girlfriend, you're retired. Yeah, so she could potentially step aside.
It's not time to retire, it's not time to step aside.
But yeah, she said she's not a quitter.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
Yeah. So it just really feels like they're in a
stalemate right now. I really don't think that the relationship
is in a good place. A lot of people are
saying the relationship has been pushed beyond repair, so this
is not good.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
So yeah, yeah, I don't know if it's easy to
identify who should be the NBA or the WNBA commissioner,
because we.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Have to go who's let's go back to this, who's
keeping what is keeping? Rest being brought in? Okay, So
that like doesn't really answer your question, ship, but I
feel like that was helpful context to this conversation too.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Yeah. So let's pivot and talk about the ref's part
of that all in terms of what's keeping new refs
from being brought in. UH, you might even want to
answer this question with a question and say why aren't
talented refs sticking around in the WNBA, the ones that
are good. You could say that the turnover is a
consequence of pay and going from the WNBA to the
(28:10):
NBA to receive more money, because when it comes to
per game, there was some reporting done by Yahoo that
did break down some inaccurate like Google AI responses, So
there was a number going around that WNBA res makes
something between like one hundred and eighty to four hundred
and twenty five dollars per game. That's actually incorrect, and
(28:34):
they make There's a chart on the Yahoo website that
we can link into the show notes if you want
to look at the exact breakdown in terms of what
WNBA refs make, but it's it's in and around like
a thousand ish per game, so they do make more
than there's previously reported. But with the WNBA there are
less games than the NBA, so an NBA ref can
(28:57):
make up to five hundred and fifty thousand a year
or seven thousand dollars a game if they are very senior,
but the low end of that is one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars a year, which is in one thousand
dollars close to just shy of two thousand dollars a game.
But they have more games. Yeah, you know what I mean,
So it kind of it does make this a harder conversation.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
The twenty twenty five game fee for the WNBA staff
range from fifteen hundred dollars to twenty one hundred dollars,
and that fifteen hundred dollars was with zero years of experience,
And so basically you're gonna go where you get paid
more and where you get paid better. And that is
life in this capitalistic society, especially when the actual fundamentals
(29:44):
of your of your job are very similar. The WNBA
and the NBA completely different games, I think, require completely
different officiating and relationships with the players, but they're close
enough where you could see why someone would want to
go from the WNBA that only employs them from May
to October to being gainfully employed by the NBA that
(30:04):
could employ them October all the way through June. You know,
so even just looking at that from a contract perspective,
you're thinking about moving up.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Yeah, it's a systemic issue for the refs. And the
NBA actually does own forty two percent of the WNBA,
so there's also that complication.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Factor which is always a part of this. But thank
you Chev for that question. And then who is our
choice for the WNBA commissioner? I am still stumped on
this one because what was really interesting in twenty nineteen,
So we've been doing this thing at the GIST for
a really long time, and when Kathy Engelbert came in
(30:42):
as the commissioner of the WNBA, she was the CEO
of Deloitte, which is a massive financial services company, accounting, consulting,
all of that sort of stuff, and she obviously was
doing a great job there, which is why the WNBA
and the NBA wanted her own over. And I think
they really brought her over as someone to write the
(31:04):
ship from a financial viability perspective and from a business
model perspective, and I think when you look at her tenure,
she has arguably done that. I think the hard part now, Steph,
is that the league doesn't necessarily need someone because Kathy
(31:25):
has put them on that right direction. On the business
model front, on the getting the books in order front,
I think that they're really looking for someone who's like
brand building, innovative, player centric growth. They've got those expansion
teams set up well and they feel good about the
money behind it, and so I think they at different
(31:47):
times and at different stages throughout your company leaders ebb
and flow and change, and you need different things from them,
and so I really do feel like there's an opportunity
here for someone to step in that does have that
kind of like, I don't know, a different type of
experience to Kathy.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Yeah, I'm not a recruiter. I'm not in the business role.
I have no idea who that person is or who
that person should be, and it would be really hard
for me to give you a concrete answership. So I'm
very sorry about that. There has been chatter online about
a former player as sending to commissioner, but that doesn't
necessarily feel super realistic because the commissioner is employed by
(32:26):
the team owners, because it requires a lot of business background,
not to say that former players don't have that, but
it would be cool if that is something that could
be attainable in the future. I don't know if that's
attainable right now, but that would be really sick if
in a couple years decades to come that that's a
reality that could come to fruition.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Maybe a really senior role or something within the WNBA.
I realized there's a reason why the majority of Pro
league commissioners are not athletes. Let's just put it that way.
A lot of them come from like a legal background.
I want to be surprised if that's where the WNBA
goes next. Potentially someone with media background as opposed to
(33:06):
someone with this like more financial services kind of background.
Potentially someone with more of a marketing background. I don't know, Steph,
but we're a technology background, especially with the NBA. The
NBA likes to say they're a tech company.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
So you never know, but great questions, Chab, Thank you
so much for providing the fodder for today's personal training session,
for taking the time to reach out. Really do appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Yes, and that marks the end of today's episode. Thank
y'all so much for tuning in we YAP today.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
We'll be back in your feed with our five hundredth
podcast on Thursday. So so happy, so grateful. Thank you
again for all of the suggestions in terms of what
we can do in that episode. So excited to see
what we come up with in the meantime. If you
enjoyed today's episode, we would love if you could rate, review,
and subscribe.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
This episode was edited by Savannah Howld and produced by
Lisa Manttilo, Aleixandra Puccio and Lauren Tuscala. Again, Mellian his
Lap
Speaker 2 (34:01):
And I'm Steph Rotson will be back in Your Feet
on Thursday.
What's up, y'all. Welcome or welcome back to another episode
of The Gist of It. Today is Tuesday, October seventh.
We're co hosts.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I'm Ellen Hisslap and I'm Steph Rotts, and I need
everybody to wish Ellen a happy birthday today on October seventh.
She actually shares a birthday with my dad too, so
happy birthday Dad.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Oh my gosh, happy birthday to your dad. We also
share a birthday with Vladimir Putin, which really sucks sick.
He's one of the most famous people who's born on
our birthday, you know, and it's.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
So fun to kind of do that, of course, to
look at it, but maybe people will start saying, Ellen
Hislap is also born on October seventh.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Y oh, thank you so much, chef. It's Libra season.
So many great libras born in this horoscope time or
this astrological era, including yourself, which I'm very excited about
celebrating you next week. Anyway, we have a busy POTO today.
There's so October is the best month of the year
for sports. Some people say April. I say October. There's
(01:07):
truly nothing like October baseball. We have the WNBA playoffs
and finals. We have the NHL starting today, we have
the NBA starting in a couple of weeks. NWSL is
going on. Like, there's so much sports to follow and
to cover. Wait.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
The PWHL they like November, okay, because their season came
out after we recorded our previous podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Right, Yes, did you see the news about the Women's
World Hockey Championship moving forward?
Speaker 2 (01:37):
I did, but I don't want to be wrong. Can
you maybe say it? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (01:41):
So generally the Women's World Hockey Championship takes place in April,
so that was in the middle of the PWHL season.
Now because of the PWHL, the league and the DOUBLEIHF,
which is the International Hockey Federation, got together and basically said,
how can we schedule this better so that there doesn't
have to be a break in the season in and
after this set this year because it's the Olympics next year.
(02:05):
Of course, next November is going to be the first
Doublechef Women's World Hockey Championship in November before the season starts.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Oh so twenty twenty six, Yeah, because the first game
this year is going to be on November twenty four,
So you're they're going to slot it in early November.
Then yeah, per right, that's great.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Thank you for adapting roll right in. If there's anything
women do, we negotiate totally. We make it work. We
make sure there's a balance. But any hoosers, today we
have to talk about the WNBA Finals. I feel bad
because I feel like on the pod stuff we haven't
really been able to get into it because there's the
timing has just been off. It almost feels like this
(02:46):
entire postseason. But finally the timing is right. We are
two games into the first ever best of seven WNBA
Finals series, with the Las Vegas Aces taking a commanding
two game lead over the Phoenix Mercury. That said, both
of those two games we're in Vegas and home court
advantage is a thing. So today we're going to recap
what you may have missed over the first two games
this weekend, what is standing out on both sides of
(03:09):
the court, because there's a lot we need to talk about,
and of course what to look for in Game three,
which airs tomorrow at a pm Eastern on ESPN and
the US and TSN three or four in Canada. And
then there's a few extra little WNBA drama bits that
we need to talk about because the whole player league
situation is not going anywhere, and we have continued thoughts.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
We have continued thoughts that's going to be sandwiched in
with our personal training sashon at the end, and just
a heads up, Game three is going to be happening
while we record the next episode, So the next episode,
we won't be able to speak on current events when
it comes to the WNBA Finals. So here it is.
This is the timing we're talking today.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Yeah, before we get started, I need to call an autimal.
So admittedly we record Mondays before Tuesday podcast and THEISS
Slack channel was going absolutely buck whild today because Lebron
James tweeted quote the Decision of All Decisions October seventh,
(04:15):
twelve pm Eastern, the second hashtag the Second Decision. And
for those of you who aren't as old as we are,
way back in twenty ten, Lebron James announced that he
was leaving the Cleveland Clavaliers, his hometown team, for the
Miami Heat, in a televised ESPN special called The Decision.
(04:35):
It was so drama, it was so camp. It was
the thing that everybody was watching in twenty ten, and
the way that he is announcing this ahead of his
twenty third WNBA season has a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Of telep You just said, w and I love it.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
God, I did, Oh my god, Sorry Lebron his twenty
third NBA season, I'm like, I only talk about the
WNBA had of his twenty third NBA season very interesting.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Do you think he's retiring? Do you think that's what
it is, or do you think he's just being drama.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
So a lot of people think that he could be
announcing and saying that this is going to be his
final year in the NBA, the m NBA. He is
forty years old. And what I also think too, Steph,
is that the La Lakers were kind of missing that
next person to come in behind Lebron James until they
(05:27):
traded for Luka Doncic. And now that Luca is in there,
he's in his mid twenties, He's a global sensation, he
is a superstar. He's got his revenge bod going on
after being traded from the Dallas Mavericks that I do
almost feel like Lebron James might be feeling like he
can pass the torch in some type of way onto
John chicic.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Some people might think it's marketing.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Yes, okay, we have to talk about the marketing because Okay,
you watched Starting five, right, that is the one recommendation
that you actually watch, correct, Jummy? Okay, So Starting five
is on Netflix. It's produced by spring Hill Productions, which
is Lebron James's production company. And I think one of
the biggest things I took away from Starting Five is
(06:13):
that Lebron James is a theater kid. Lebron James loves
the drama and we see that continually in the tweets.
I think over the years, some people think that this
might be an Amazon Prime Day announcement because he used
something last week that a lot of people thought was
(06:35):
like gonna be this big announcement whatever. It was an
indeed ad and like people are just wondering what this
guy's up.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
To and maybe a Taco Bell partnership.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Oh my god, do you actually think so, oh it's
Taco Tuesday, Because.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Didn't he try and trademark the term Taco Tuesday and failed?
And then he partnered with Taco Bell to free Taco
Tuesday for everybody?
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Wait if he is dropping Taco Tuesday on Tuesday October seventh.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Because that's National Taco Day, right.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
If Okay, I like, I get that he is marketing
and he's a little bit of as well. No, I
really hope that he's not devious because also the imagery
that he posted with this tweet was like him sitting
down with a pundon in this on this basketball court
with this moody lighting. That really makes you feel like
(07:28):
it was a Barbara Walters interview. For Heaven's sake, you
know what I mean, that's what I thought it was
our our producer's hot take stuff. Is that this is
not a retirement announcement, like this is an announcement of
something completely else.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I don't think he's done.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
You don't think so either, So it's so it's not
okay interesting? I okay, should we put some money on it? Sure?
How much? Let's do it. When I'm in, when I
see you in a couple of weeks, I shall be
paying for your hand We're gonna hug. We're going in
(08:04):
for the five dollar handshake. Anyway. Stay tuned for twelve
pm Eastern on October seventh. A big thank you to
our friends at DoorDash for sponsoring today's episode. DoorDash is
a longtime supporter of Canadian women's sports, whether it's keeping
our newsletter free or being an official partner of the
WNBA NSL, which is the Northern Super League and PWHL.
(08:26):
But now they're taking their women's sports fandom to a
whole new level and Seph, I don't know if you've
seen this, but I'm so obsessed with it. DoorDash is
launching a brand new platform called Bring It In that's
dedicated to championing women's sports. They're unifying the WNBA, NSL
and PWHL in one unofficial alliance to celebrate the powerhouse
(08:50):
trifecta of professional women's sports in Canada. The goal is
to change the face of the game and showcase more
women's games to fans just like you, while providing local
restaurants with access to opportunities usually reserved for big sponsors.
It is a win win to celebrate. And this might
(09:10):
be one of my favorite parts of all of this
is the perks that's in it for me, because at
the end of the day, I am a little selfish.
To celebrate, DoorDash wants to give all of our gisters
up to thirty percent off during the WNBA Finals. Just
head to the link in the show notes, download the
door dash app if you haven't already, and start thinking
about your next game day meal Again. Head to the
(09:32):
link in the show notes for all of the details
that you need to get thirty percent off during the
WNBA Finals. We're going to get to the WNBA Finals.
But real quick, we were just doing hot takes. So Seph,
I want your take on Life of a show Girl.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I love it, same say.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I listened to it through once because I'm earlier than you.
Ye in life, I'm I'm, I'm my time travel And
I listened to it and I was nervous, would I
like it, would I not like it? Whatever. The minute
I listened to it, I went.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Steph is going to love this yep, and I did.
Everyone messaged me You're gonna love this album and I
was just late to it. It was a busy morning.
I didn't get to listen to it until later in
the afternoon. And yeah, I just there are some wild
hot takes on the internet about it that I do
think people need to rein it in.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
I said, people, get over it. Stop taking yourself so seriously.
I would say, like some of my friends too, were like,
oh the lyrics, I can't believe this is the same
person who wrote folklore and evermore, I go, I don't know.
Women contain multitudes.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
She also wrote shake it Off.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Yeah, she wrote it feeling twenty two and like me
and oh god, okay, that's a song don't bring up
to me because I'm sorry you guys absolutely bananas.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
However, it's so fun. It's one of those albums, at
least to me. I went for a walk. I was
I was spitting while I was walking on the road
like I was dancing. I couldn't stop. I was in
such a great mood and the music and the beat
just got me. It just made me want to dance.
And you know, I love to dance and you love
to dance, which is why I knew that you would
(11:26):
love it because we both love a dance.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
How else do you get through washing the dishes at
that nine. It's really for a good pop song.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Toss on some music. I'm just dance anyway, I'm into it.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
I have so many thoughts on it, but yeah, those
are not for a sports podcast.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
No, So let's talk about the WNBA finals. And we
felt like we need to give an update because it's
been really hard watching all the sports. I definitely have
been watching obviously the WNBA, but sometimes more on the
highlights side because the Toronto Blue Jays are playing right
now the Alds and I'm locked the fuck in, and
(12:02):
so it's what.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
We're gonna know. What we did? So I went camping
this past weekend and the service was spotty, as it
often is. So you know what we did to quote
unquote watch the Blue Jays game. Tell me listen to
it on the radio.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Oh and that's so red, that's so perfect.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
But it was actually so calming. We had the fire going,
We're sitting there with our beer listening to a baseball game.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Doesn't that remind you of the nineties and early two
thousands though, when you're in the car driving somewhere and
you were just constantly listening to the Jays. I think
baseball is a great radio sport.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
It was. It really is, because it was it continues
to be so nice.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Yes, I do.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
I do agree. It's hard to catch everything right now.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Yeah, it's hard to catch everything. So that's why we
want to talk about it. So Steph, let's talk about
where things stand after the two games. In the WNBA Finals.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Okay, Las Vegas Aces are leading and this is now
a best of seven, which is new this year, and
they're leading two games to Phoenix Mercury's zero games, zero wins.
So we're going to talk about game one and we're
going to talk about game two. So let's start with
Friday's game, which was Game one. It was a nail bider.
This one of the two was much closer.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Yeah. Asia Wilson was incredible in this one. She had
twenty one points and ten rebounds. Dana Evans also had
twenty one points. The final score was eighty nine eighty six.
And so watching this one, you're like, Okay, this is
going to be a really electric series. Who knows what's
going to happen in game two? What actually ended up
(13:34):
happening in Game two, which was on Sunday, The ACE
is completely dominated. They asserted themselves in a way that
I did not expect them to, but I should have
because otherwise I'd be underestimating Becky Hammond.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
You mentioned two of the Big three in the previous game,
and in game two we now get to talk about
the third of the Big three being Jackie Young. Jackie
Young scored thirty two points in that ninety one to
seventy eight one in on Sunday. She's so good, twenty
one of those points in the third quarter alone, So
that makes the most points ever scored by an individual
in a single WNBA Finals quarter ever ever.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
So Jackie Young, if you don't know her, now you
know her, remember the name, go check her out and Steph.
A lot of pundits are saying like, if Jackie Young
keeps on playing the way that she's been playing this
postseason and also in this finals, that she could be
the WNBA Finals MVP, which would be shocking when you're
(14:34):
going up against someone like Alyssa Thomas or Asia Wilson,
who you feel like would be the shoe ins potentially
to be MVP for the finals.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
And it's really hard to outperform Asia Wilson. So Jackie
Young had thirty two points and Asia Wilson had twenty
eight points in that game. So phenomenal, just a phenomenal
squad in the Las Vegas cases.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Yeah, that's a dynamic duo, baby, And so let's zoom
out a little bit and then let's talk about the mercury,
because so far we've been like really talking about Vegas.
I'm really excited to have this conversation stuff because I
feel like we haven't really had the opportunity to have
it in women's sports for a while, and we haven't
(15:13):
had the opportunity at least in the WNBA for a while.
I think given Vegas's history and given where they are
right now and that they're on the brank, maybe close
to being on the brink to winning this WNBA championship,
is can we start talking about the Las Vegas Aces
as a dynasty.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
So, in case you missed it, the Aces are fighting
for their third title in four years, because of course
they didn't win last year in twenty twenty four, but
they won before in twenty twenty three and then before that,
and we've highlighted some of of course, they're offensive threats
in the stats that we mentioned in game one and
(15:55):
Game two, but also, and this is why I love
as well, is what's crucial titter game is their defensive powers.
They are so good on defense. The Aces recorded nine
seals and six blocks in Game two, and three of
those steals came from Chelsea Gray point God, and we
didn't even mention Gray in the first section of this
(16:18):
WNBI Finals chat, there's just such a deep, deep bench
and they are so good defensively, And.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
I would say, Stef, I don't think that Evans makes
up that big three maybe in your opinion, but I
do think that is Chelsea Gray, Asia Wilson and Joe
Ryan and that's kind of their big three. But when
I also, I want to talk about this dynasty conversation, Steph,
because you and I on this podcast before have really
(16:45):
talked about Kansas City Chiefs. Are they a dynasty? Are
they not a dynasty? Does Patrick Mahomes in the way
that he's performed or the way that he's continually brought
them to the super Bowl? And when all of these
conference championships make the Kansas City Chiefs a dynasty? And
when you look at the statistics, they're really similar, if
not the exact same. But for whatever reason, I think
sometimes we're less hesitant or maybe not a sertive in
(17:09):
our own dominance of talking about these women's teams like
their dynasties because there's not as much history to them.
I guess when you compare it to men's sports, and
when you compare the number of teams. But I feel
like this is We're ready and we should be having
this conversation, especially with the era that the WNBA is
(17:30):
in and the type of products that we're seeing put
on the court.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Do you think that this is going to be a
sweet No? Okay, I hope not.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
I really hope that it goes to seven. To me,
and talking about MLB playoffs, for example, stuff like home
field advantage or home court advantage means everything. And so
they could come in and win two games against Phoenix
in Vegas with the home crowd behind them. The Mercury
could go ahead and do that too because of home
(18:00):
court advantage and how big of a deal it is.
I really do think that they still have a fighting chance.
That said, no finals winner has ever bounced back from
an zero to two start. But but but this is
the first time that the WNBA Finals is going to
seven games, and that makes a huge difference in probabilities. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I would say it even resets the stats, don't you
think no, because there's a whole whole other two games.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Though, I wouldn't say it resets the stats, but I
think I think it gives a greater chance of comeback
of a comeback.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Okay, Yeah, And you talked about home court advantage. So
Phoenix calls their fan base the X factor.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Cute.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
It's so cute. I love that. And Phoenix have won
fifteen of twenty two home games this season, so it
could actually have a huge impact in the next two games.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
The X factor could be the X factor. And that's
what I mean, right, like, we don't know. I think
when when we're talking about Jackie Young potentially being the
Finals MVP, some of that has to Steff. Obviously, Asia
Wilson is performing really well, but Alyssa Thomas of the
Phoenix Mercury, who had just an incredible season, she's kind
of been struggling so far in this series. She only
(19:10):
scored ten points in Game two. She also in Game
two dealt with a lot of foul trouble, and I
think a part of that is, again, the Las Vegas
Aces have so much experience. Becky Hammond knows how to
manage her team and knows how to I think, really
guard the opposing team's top players and how to also
(19:33):
get them in foul trouble. Becky Hammond being the coach
for the Aces and so at is up up like
against a really really stiff competition that I don't think
she's fully seen necessarily before in these playoffs, especially as
Minnesota being a little injured at the end there too.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
And to add on top of that, her six time
All Star fiance and teammate Dwana Bonner only contributed eight
points in that loss, which I.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Wouldn't say, like Dowana Bonner is a big star like
on Phoenix, I think that there's some other stars that
we should be looking out for. For example, Cleia Copper,
I'm like obsessed with her. That would be my second
to really look out for here. But yeah, to me,
I'm like, okay, it makes sense that they're struggling when
(20:23):
the Aces have all of this experience, they have that
home court advantage, they have that big three that's been
playing together for a very long time. Phoenix is a
very new look team this year. They do not feel
the same as they have in years past. So it's
remarkable that they got here a but I think they
just need to get their feet underneath them and to
like get the jitters out to a certain extent before
(20:45):
they can really settle in into the desert for Game
three on Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
One more shout out to door Dash for sponsoring the
pod today. Their new platform, Bring It In, is going
to be big, like three groundbreaking leagues big. As we
all know all too well, it can be a challenge
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and it's because of companies like DoorDash who are helping
change the face of the game and finding more ways
(21:15):
to connect with fans. As I'm sure you know, it's
the best time of the year to be a women's
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there's the NSL Playoffs Before the puck quickly drops on
the PWHL so excited. With doordashes Bring it In platform,
there are even more reasons to watch all of these
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(21:36):
sports with everybodye Whether your game day faves are delivered
straight to your door with up to thirty percent off
during the WNBA Finals, go to the link in the
show notes, or you're watching live at your fave local spot.
Just head to the link in the show notes, download
door Dash and start salivating over your go to game
day meal. Sign for our personal training sash. This is
(22:04):
where we answer your heart hitting questions about anything, and
we mean anything in the sports world.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Yes, and today we have an amazing question and commentary
from SHEP, who DM on Instagram. So SHEP, thank you
so much for sending this in. This is what they
had to say, quote loving this week's Spicy WNBA podcast.
Two questions for your amazing monumental episodes. This is for
(22:29):
our five hundredth episode, but Shep, we just brought it
earlier to episode four nine to nine. We have our
five hundred episode later this week, which we're so excited about.
And also, thank pause here for a minute. Thank you
so much to everyone for all of your incredible ideas, suggestions, voicemails, everything.
It made our hearts so warm and we're so excited
for our five five hundredth episode. But Shep, we had
(22:50):
to talk about your sooner just because it was timely.
So anyway, here's Shep's questions. One. I totally get why
kicking out the WNBA commission takes time. But these very
dangerous refs who allow injuries to happen, why are they
not kicked out? What is keeping them from not being
let go with new refs being brought in? So that's
question number one. The question number two is who would
(23:10):
each of you like to see as the w NBA
commissioner and why tea? And then this one Let's comment
was so stuff coded. I love this so much, shef said. Lastly,
was I the only one who watched the Women's World
Rugby and thought, holy shit, their officiating is so tight
and steady? That is sexy question? Our question with two
(23:35):
like rawfel emojis grateful for you both, shep shep. We're
so grateful to you and thank you so much for
listening and for these amazing questions. We need to chat
through them.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Actually start with us.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Let's do you want to start with the referee?
Speaker 2 (23:52):
I really really do because like the Women's Worlds, wo's
the World's rugby ref in the gold medal game, the
final match was just so perfect. We did offline about this.
So in between recordings, Ellen and I will chat and
to her last week or two weeks ago whenever this was,
because what is time, I did say to her, oh
(24:12):
my god, did you see the ref?
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Did you see how firm she was? Did you see
how decisive she was?
Speaker 1 (24:17):
And then she was hot hot, so chef, you weren't
the only one such good reffing. Yes, they also said
literally during the match that that ref was the best
ref in all of rugby. I don't know if they
meant men's and women's I don't watch enough rugby to know,
(24:37):
but the fact that people say that about them being
the best ref, I have not heard that on a
broadcast beforehand, So that really means that she was on
her shit.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Yeah, and I actually don't even know all the rules
for rugby, so when I say great reffing, I was
coating on fibes. Yeah, she had me.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
No, she was firm, Yeah, she was assertive, she knew
was going on. Okay, so then shep let's get to
your first question. With the WNBA commissioner side of things,
we do have to give an update on just the
relationship between a FISA Collier and Kathy Engelbert right now.
If you haven't had a chance to listen yet, please
(25:14):
please please go back to listen to four ninety eight.
We really got into the context, what's happening, all of
that sort of stuff. In case you missed it. Kathy
Engelbert addressed the media before Game one of the WNBA
Finals on Friday. She said Callier's statement had quote a
lot of inaccuracies, and she denied saying that Caitlin Clark
(25:35):
should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for
the lee's exposure. She essentially with that, though Steph was
like they she was saying like they had a lot
of inaccuracies, and she was like, obviously, I didn't say
those things, and that's a part of what Kathy Engelbert said,
and in that moment, obviously she doesn't want to come
(25:57):
off as like saying those things. But at the same time,
what she is implying is that Nafisa Collier is a liar,
and implying that one of WNBA's Players Associations vice presidents,
one of the best players in your entire league, the
co founder of Unrivaled, is a liar and also one
(26:19):
of the most well loved players. That is not going
to sit well with anybody else in the WNBA. And
so after that, Nafisa Collier was supposed to a meeting
with Kathy and she canceled it.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
And she received a lot of support online for that cancelation,
because why would you want to meet with someone in
bad faith.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Who also just kind of called you a liar exactly.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Yeah, and Kathy did say she will not be resigning
from her post because she's want a quitter. Those were
the words use.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Yeah, and nothing against quitters. Sometimes you do just need
to quit stat or or you need to retire, you
need to retire. Stuff posted today on her Instagram that
she quit soccer, and I said, let's reframe this to retirement.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Girlfriend, you're retired. Yeah, so she could potentially step aside.
It's not time to retire, it's not time to step aside.
But yeah, she said she's not a quitter.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
Yeah. So it just really feels like they're in a
stalemate right now. I really don't think that the relationship
is in a good place. A lot of people are
saying the relationship has been pushed beyond repair, so this
is not good.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
So yeah, yeah, I don't know if it's easy to
identify who should be the NBA or the WNBA commissioner,
because we.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Have to go who's let's go back to this, who's
keeping what is keeping? Rest being brought in? Okay, So
that like doesn't really answer your question, ship, but I
feel like that was helpful context to this conversation too.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Yeah. So let's pivot and talk about the ref's part
of that all in terms of what's keeping new refs
from being brought in. UH, you might even want to
answer this question with a question and say why aren't
talented refs sticking around in the WNBA, the ones that
are good. You could say that the turnover is a
consequence of pay and going from the WNBA to the
(28:10):
NBA to receive more money, because when it comes to
per game, there was some reporting done by Yahoo that
did break down some inaccurate like Google AI responses, So
there was a number going around that WNBA res makes
something between like one hundred and eighty to four hundred
and twenty five dollars per game. That's actually incorrect, and
(28:34):
they make There's a chart on the Yahoo website that
we can link into the show notes if you want
to look at the exact breakdown in terms of what
WNBA refs make, but it's it's in and around like
a thousand ish per game, so they do make more
than there's previously reported. But with the WNBA there are
less games than the NBA, so an NBA ref can
(28:57):
make up to five hundred and fifty thousand a year
or seven thousand dollars a game if they are very senior,
but the low end of that is one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars a year, which is in one thousand
dollars close to just shy of two thousand dollars a game.
But they have more games. Yeah, you know what I mean,
So it kind of it does make this a harder conversation.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
The twenty twenty five game fee for the WNBA staff
range from fifteen hundred dollars to twenty one hundred dollars,
and that fifteen hundred dollars was with zero years of experience,
And so basically you're gonna go where you get paid
more and where you get paid better. And that is
life in this capitalistic society, especially when the actual fundamentals
(29:44):
of your of your job are very similar. The WNBA
and the NBA completely different games, I think, require completely
different officiating and relationships with the players, but they're close
enough where you could see why someone would want to
go from the WNBA that only employs them from May
to October to being gainfully employed by the NBA that
(30:04):
could employ them October all the way through June. You know,
so even just looking at that from a contract perspective,
you're thinking about moving up.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Yeah, it's a systemic issue for the refs. And the
NBA actually does own forty two percent of the WNBA,
so there's also that complication.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Factor which is always a part of this. But thank
you Chev for that question. And then who is our
choice for the WNBA commissioner? I am still stumped on
this one because what was really interesting in twenty nineteen,
So we've been doing this thing at the GIST for
a really long time, and when Kathy Engelbert came in
(30:42):
as the commissioner of the WNBA, she was the CEO
of Deloitte, which is a massive financial services company, accounting, consulting,
all of that sort of stuff, and she obviously was
doing a great job there, which is why the WNBA
and the NBA wanted her own over. And I think
they really brought her over as someone to write the
(31:04):
ship from a financial viability perspective and from a business
model perspective, and I think when you look at her tenure,
she has arguably done that. I think the hard part now, Steph,
is that the league doesn't necessarily need someone because Kathy
(31:25):
has put them on that right direction. On the business
model front, on the getting the books in order front,
I think that they're really looking for someone who's like
brand building, innovative, player centric growth. They've got those expansion
teams set up well and they feel good about the
money behind it, and so I think they at different
(31:47):
times and at different stages throughout your company leaders ebb
and flow and change, and you need different things from them,
and so I really do feel like there's an opportunity
here for someone to step in that does have that
kind of like, I don't know, a different type of
experience to Kathy.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Yeah, I'm not a recruiter. I'm not in the business role.
I have no idea who that person is or who
that person should be, and it would be really hard
for me to give you a concrete answership. So I'm
very sorry about that. There has been chatter online about
a former player as sending to commissioner, but that doesn't
necessarily feel super realistic because the commissioner is employed by
(32:26):
the team owners, because it requires a lot of business background,
not to say that former players don't have that, but
it would be cool if that is something that could
be attainable in the future. I don't know if that's
attainable right now, but that would be really sick if
in a couple years decades to come that that's a
reality that could come to fruition.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Maybe a really senior role or something within the WNBA.
I realized there's a reason why the majority of Pro
league commissioners are not athletes. Let's just put it that way.
A lot of them come from like a legal background.
I want to be surprised if that's where the WNBA
goes next. Potentially someone with media background as opposed to
(33:06):
someone with this like more financial services kind of background.
Potentially someone with more of a marketing background. I don't know, Steph,
but we're a technology background, especially with the NBA. The
NBA likes to say they're a tech company.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
So you never know, but great questions, Chab, Thank you
so much for providing the fodder for today's personal training session,
for taking the time to reach out. Really do appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Yes, and that marks the end of today's episode. Thank
y'all so much for tuning in we YAP today.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
We'll be back in your feed with our five hundredth
podcast on Thursday. So so happy, so grateful. Thank you
again for all of the suggestions in terms of what
we can do in that episode. So excited to see
what we come up with in the meantime. If you
enjoyed today's episode, we would love if you could rate, review,
and subscribe.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
This episode was edited by Savannah Howld and produced by
Lisa Manttilo, Aleixandra Puccio and Lauren Tuscala. Again, Mellian his
Lap
Speaker 2 (34:01):
And I'm Steph Rotson will be back in Your Feet
on Thursday.
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