Goodbye Round 1, hello SEMIS! Plus, the Kelsey Mitchell Question...

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The greatest like upset in the history of the universe of anything that's ever happened ever if the Valks beat the aces in the okay welcome back to the pre-rep.
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I'm Lucy Roberts.
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I'm with Katherine Silva and Sydney Meyer.
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Um we're back.
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Round one of the playoffs is officially over.
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Um, and it was pretty exciting.
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I mean, there were big upsets, there were bloody teeth, bloody elbows on the court, um, there was drama.
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Um, there was everything.
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So we have a lot to get cover there, and then we're gonna do a little bit of semis.
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It's only been game one, and then end with a little bit of off-court discourse, which I feel like is getting back to our roots.
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Like we were talking about like off-court, like cultural things around the league.
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And there's definitely been no shortage of those discussions uh this season.
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So we're gonna get into Kelsey Mitchell's exit interview and other off-court um troubles, you could say.
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Um, but anyway, let's kick it back off with basketball.
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Um, obviously, we all saw New York sweep Minnesota, which was a shocking way for the links to go out after the season they had, but we talked a little bit about this.
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I feel like maybe last week.
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Like New York's not a traditional eight seed.
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No, not at all.
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It's like having it's like I think I said last week, it's like okay, I'll play Vegas at any point in the regular season, but the second I get to the playoffs, I don't want to see them because they're just a playoff style team.
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I feel like you could say about the same thing about New York.
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Yeah, Liberty is a very seasoned uh playoff team, and you have to remember that they won just a mere like two years ago.
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So it's how a lot of those players like have those players still on the team.
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They're like core won them a championship.
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Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
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So they're they're right there.
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I think it's interesting the conversation about the idea that the Lynx are like a seasonal team and that they're not built for the playoffs, and even Cheryl Reeve made interesting comments, which is maybe more off court, but just being like, that's my fault, and like I clearly don't have the personnel to to compete in the playoffs, and so that I think is like a crazy way to say that as well.
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Yeah, I think it is too, especially when you have when you've had the success that you've had in the regular season.
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I honestly think that that's kind of an insane thing to say because what are you talking about?
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Like what's not what's missing, and yeah, yeah, yeah.
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And also maybe it I feel like that's like a backhanded way to put that.
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Like, it's my fault for not surrounding myself with like better people.
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It's like, well, maybe it's just if you think it's your fault, then like how is it, you know?
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I don't know.
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How is it actually your fault?
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She had a lot of like she also made a comment where she was like, Oh, like I have no stress going into this game too, because like what do I have to prove?
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Which in a way, like it I can see both sides of this.
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Like, you're it's like a freer thing, like there's no pressure, but also you have everything to prove after you were uh blown out by you lost by 16 points in both games, and you never looked like you had a chance, really.
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I'm like, there's nothing tour.
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Yeah, I also heard her say something about like how um like going into the playoffs, she doesn't go into it differently than the regular season or something like that.
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Like she's not going in thinking like we're gonna win a championship every year, which is totally different than what Becky Hammond and and the Aces the whole their whole team, everyone on their team talks about which the dog mentality, which is like when we're in the playoffs, we're here to win a championship.
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Like we don't care the rest, what's happened the rest of the season, we don't care who we're playing, like we're here to win a championship.
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So I've I'm finding like and obviously everybody has their own style.
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I'm just and and everybody has like a a mentality that works best for them.
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I just kind of am confused, it's just very different than like what we've heard everybody else say, and it hasn't you can't argue with results exactly the links in the playoffs.
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I know, so it's interesting.
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It is interesting.
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Yeah, they also had, I mean, the links, this was interesting.
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Olivia but also again, like not really surprising when you look back on it, but Olivia Miles was so kind of useless in the playoffs compared to her role in the regular season, which isn't like she's a rookie, and it's hard to go.
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I mean, she went her whole um college season straight through like the lot of games, a lot of games, and then it's also like everybody's activating and they're getting it's like so physical, especially Liberty.
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I feel like the Lynx and Olivia Miles had this problem against the Liberty in the regular season, like they're just so big, they're bigger, yeah, definitely, yeah, yeah.
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But it's a little bit like father time is undefeated type of vibe, like experience, especially in the playoffs.
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Like that's like what these players are boasting, especially the Liberty versus the Lynx, and like you just can't replicate that second gear until you've been there yourself.
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Um, and so that's kind of what the fever credited their ousting to experience, experience, experience.
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Everybody was saying experience, experience, experience.
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It's like totally true.
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One, it's the fever did.
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I mean, not to jump all back into the fever game, but like I saw Caitlin Clark made a statement being like we were just soft in game one, and like the reality is is that they were they like were soft, they were completely like manhandled.
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Yeah, um, but anyway, yeah, it's like Olivia Miles is like human and that's okay.
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Surprise, surprise.
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I'm sure she'll be back in the playoffs and have you know many more success.
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But right, yeah, it's her rookie year, so it's her year, and you know that's that's rookie of the year and coach of the year.
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So I know bye guys.
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Thanks for your season award season award.
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I know.
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Oof, that's so rough.
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Um yeah, should we go to the next game?
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Yeah, this game, it was a little bit less Atlanta and Washington was a little bit less exciting, maybe like when you look at the results.
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Like it was another sweep.
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And I felt like when I was watching it, I know that the Atlanta ultimately won by a lot.
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No games didn't feel like that watching the game though at all.
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I know.
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I feel like this is this is to me like a game where there's a team that has like nothing to lose.
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Like you have like a young team in the Mystics that I don't want to say is just happy to be there because obviously they want to win, but like you know, like thinking about where they were like a few seasons ago, like they were not good.
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And obviously they won a championship in what 2019, but the the mystics haven't been good for a minute, so like this is a big deal.
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They were in the playoffs was 2019, yeah.
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It's a huge deal for them to just like be here, and so I don't think all their players are so young that they're they're hungry, yeah, yeah, and they do have everything to prove, right?
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Also, when you're kind of like have like no expectations in a way, like I feel like those are kind of the most interesting teams, but I was looking when I was like, Yeah, they're like their stats, their turnovers were so bad compared to Atlanta, and that's where you're like you're just not gonna win the series.
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And it's also like you have like you're talking about like the young players, it is kind of like one of those things.
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I feel like maybe that's a side effect.
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I was gonna say, I feel like turnovers to me are such an experience thing, yeah, especially in the playoffs.
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It's like right.
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Or just like also they're defending against, I mean, they're trying to play against one of the Atlanta's defense was like you couldn't breathe in that series, like overall.
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So I think that like it's a combination of both those things.
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It's like it's it's it's totally a maybe maybe an experience thing, but also like when you have the inexperience, because Atlanta's pretty young too.
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Like they don't have like they have more, they have um playoff experience, but they don't have the kind of playoff experience that like we're talking about when it comes to like aces.
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The aces or the liberty or something like that.
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Like they've had early exits the last like what three years or something like that.
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So I think that like one their defense is like so it when I was watching it, I was like, don't give me the ball.
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Like I was like, don't give it to me.
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It was like around like I know it it just every time someone touched the ball, there were like two people there just trying to eat them alive.
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Like that's a player of the air, yes, it really and it showed.
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Um I thought that she's getting her teammates' names engraved on the trophy.
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Did you guys see that?
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Yeah, I saw that.
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That was really but I think that it encapsulates exactly what you're saying, Sydney.
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Yeah, um, yeah, that's a great point.
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So I I don't know.
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I think also I feel like the the the Atlanta plays kind of a like they're like the SEC of the the W, if I'm like equating it to college, and then like the Mystics is the ACC.
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Like, like the Mystics play like a quote quote unquote like cleaner, like they they run their plays, they get they make sure everyone's back, like they move the ball.
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Like the Atlanta's like, I'm getting the ball and I'm gonna be to the basket.
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I'm scoring.
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Yeah.
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Like that's that was the difference.
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And clearly, like it worked, and I'm really excited to see them play like later as as a series um as the playoffs go on, because I just think that they're gonna be tough.
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Like, I just don't think they're messing around this year.
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Yeah.
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You know who I want to see them play against?
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Yeah.
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I know.
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Well, I want to see them play against the Valkyries.
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The Valkyries.
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I feel like that's such because they are so they're both so defensive.
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I was gonna end like one.
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But in different ways, like yeah, like I'm just so curious to see how that would go.
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So I don't know.
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I'm not like it could happen.
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I'm not like predicting anything necessarily.
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I mean, maybe we will, I don't know.
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I'm not predicting anything necessarily, but that's just something I'm like thinking about.
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It'll be fun.
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Okay, well, speaking of the Valks, should we move on to the Valks?
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Yeah, let's get to the series, which was like unexpectedly very exciting, dude.
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I this was the ser this was the series for me.
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It was totally so I think Urike Bowale looked like her college self.
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How many times has she made that shot from the corner?
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Multiple.
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Like she just did it in unrivaled, she's done it this year.
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She loves that shot so much.
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I know, and like it's insane.
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I don't know.
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I just find it insane.
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Like, she did it in college for the Final Four and the National Championship, then she did it an unrivaled, then she did it in this playoff series.
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I'm like, your most I know there's more, I know there's more out there.
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I just don't know what they are.
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There's yeah, it was so exciting.
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Also, especially coming off the first game of the series, which is kind of like who are we just saying looked really soft.
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It was another one of those games.
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The wings, I was like, you guys are not even present.
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They have, I don't even obviously page was like not affect like effective in the last two games, but in the first game, I was like, there's no one else playing, right?
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And it's hard because you can't even really argue experience in this one because the Valks are like such a new team, too.
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Right.
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They just were I don't know, but they came back, which I honestly thought I thought they weren't gonna win the second game.
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That was like the best game to watch ever.
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It went to like that that game two.
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Oh my gosh, went to overtime.
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There was like last second shots, like we found out we were going to a game three.
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It was just like it was like the perfect storyline arc also for the arc, but 21 points and as I game 13 points.
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They're both.
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I know that was so it took like literally everybody, which is also the thing, because then you're kind of like, okay, well, that's what they have nothing left for game three.
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That's what they've needed literally all season.
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Is like have like I feel like they have kind of similar to the Liberty, I guess, like they have like this core, and a lot of it is Paige and Jessica Shepherd, and then whoever else steps up that night, and like they haven't really been able to like put all the pieces together and have everyone eat all at the same time.
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And I feel like even though there are new people who stepped up in this series, it was still the same case.
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Like they haven't just been able to like it's tough also because they have two starters down to have been down, yeah.
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Alana Smith, like I know she had like a rocky season because of all her like injuries, but um we use her in some defense.
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I was gonna say, like, I feel like she was supposed to be such an X factor for them this year, and it just like didn't happen.
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Yeah, but I also yeah, she like hurt her nose, and then what she got hurt again in FIBA, right?
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Yeah, she has another yeah, it was FIBA, yeah, yeah.
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It's just had a tough break.
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Yeah, I feel like as exciting as that game was, probably the game of the playoffs so far.
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I was just like, this just there's just no way you're gonna take game three.
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Like you just took it But it was so close.
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They had me believing, they had me believing at the end.
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I was like, they love to give a little hope and then yeah, yeah, take it away.
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But they were at my 16 in the like the third quarter.
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I know I was like, I was like, I was there and I I was like, you're making me but when you're making me a believer, like it happened.
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It kind of reminds me of the fever though, and like that young team in that sense, where I'm like, y'all love to just lose a lose a little lead, and like yeah, but I know I think they have the most one point losses of any team in the league, so they need to be.
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Yeah, it's right there.
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Is in next year, like who knows what could happen if you I'm my hope for them is that they like keep a lot of the players that they have and just like get AZ back, hopefully get Alana Smith back and like go keep going on this because clearly, like, you think they're gonna keep they have something good, they just need to like develop it a little bit.
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Even the strides that they made from last year to this year have been so impressive.
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They have huge.
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It's like also a historic, I think it's the best turnaround in league history, which like obviously they won 10 games last year and 27 this year, and they made it to the game to game three.
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Like, I feel like I know they're probably and they weren't the last plays spot in the playoffs either.
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I know.
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So they should there's like a lot to be like excited about.
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Yeah, I know that game will haunt Paige for a long time though.
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Oh, definitely, definitely.
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Because if she's like I mean, if she has like a normal her game, then they're in round, I mean they're in the semis.
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Yeah, yeah, which is tough, but it builds character, it does, it's important, it's that playoff experience.
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It's not like she hasn't had enough character building moments.
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I know the career reports.
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Which is injured fifth year championship.
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Yeah, much to be to be happy about in Dallas.
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I feel like I agree, I agree.
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Yeah, I'm I'm excited for them.
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Anyway, yeah.
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I mean, I feel like all of these games kind of speak to just like how competitive the league is right now, you know, like an eight-seed sweeping a one seed, like you have like two young teams in Atlanta and Washington going at it, and then you have like an expansion team with a team that won 10 games last year going to three games, so it's like the competition across the league is is really, really strong.
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So yeah, hopefully it carries into the semis, which we're gonna get to in our next block.
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Um, obviously there will be more to cover next week, but we're gonna um go over the first game, and that's coming up next on the pre-wrap.
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Welcome back to the pre-rap.
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Um we are game one into the semis.
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Um, obviously there will be a lot more to cover next week.
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Um, but we just wanted to go over those two games briefly before we get into some off-court exit interview madness, um, which will be very exciting.
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But let's start with New York versus Atlanta first.
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What are our initial thoughts?
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Hmm.
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I feel like when I looked at the box score, it was one quarter, it was the third quarter, they outscored New York by 17 points.
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Where I think every other quarter, they were either had the same amount of points or they had more.
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So it was like that one quarter that kind of haunted them.
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And then in the fourth quarter, they tried to come back, but like it was too much to, you know, make up.
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But I don't feel like it's that surprising that like the home game won both of these or the home team won both of these game ones.
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And what was surprising to me is that Alicia Gray went out in like the second quarter with a hand injury for the whole game, and Atlanta was still I thought like I was a little bit concerned for them, but they were still able to pull it out.
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Yeah, yeah.
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I think Alicia Gray is like this is this is kind of I feel like such a difference maker, especially when you add Delana Bonner to your which we've talked about.
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That's what I was gonna say.
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Are you too happy that you have that vet there in a time like this?
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She was huge also, I think in the second game.
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Wait, what's the one?
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That's what I'm saying.
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She had like 23 points.
00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:48.240
I think in the second game, she almost had a double double.
00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:52.559
Yeah, so I think um, I mean, that's what she's there for.
00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:54.079
That's what she moved for.
00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:58.799
So I think that um it is this game.
00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:01.119
No, I I feel you, I feel you.
00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:10.319
I feel like even though they have like that extra piece to kind of step up, it's still bad news.
00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:16.240
I think Alicia Gray is like one of those there's a she's like a core piece of this team.
00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:20.960
She's been on the team so long and has played with a lot of these people for so long.
00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:44.079
So I'm really, I really hope that she also I'm like and because of and for those reasons, I just can't imagine like them winning without her and her not getting to like be a part of this run, which is something you know, regardless of what happens, I think they'll all be really proud of because they made it farther than the first round.
00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:50.720
Yeah, so I hope for her sake and for all of their sakes that she comes back that that she gets to come back, yeah.
00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:54.319
Yeah, she was one of their leading scorers in the last series.
00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:57.119
Yeah, she's a huge piece for them, yeah.
00:20:57.279 --> 00:21:12.720
Yeah, she's like so big for I mean she's in their core three, I would say, players, and she is such a big part of like the backcourt, and I don't know, just like such a good perimeter player that I it's it's definitely a huge loss.
00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:24.079
But like now, I feel like whether you agree with the DB being there or not, like she's she's at least she's earning her place like in the playoff in their playoff run, right?
00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:31.599
Like um, but I mean I just don't know where this series is gonna go.
00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:39.839
I mean, like you said, if that Atlanta defense, I feel like is gonna give the Liberty like a run for their money, to be honest.
00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:43.039
I I I kind of feel like I could see Atlanta advancing.
00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.559
I think that's where I'm going.
00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:59.680
If I had to pick a I also I think I'm gonna pick a really I think they're I think that they are hungrier, which I know is like kind of what I'd say about.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:06.000
New York, but I do think Atlanta wants it more, they have more to prove.
00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:12.160
And I think that like I don't know.
00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:12.960
I don't know.
00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:14.319
I just think I just feel it.
00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:16.480
I'm a little bit like what's gonna win?
00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:19.759
Like experience or like defense?
00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:22.160
You know, what wins championships?
00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:22.720
Ooh.
00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:27.440
I just feel like the defense wins championships according to Pat Summit.
00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:27.920
Yeah.
00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:34.559
But I I I just think that like they they're not over, they're not above anything.
00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.559
Atlanta is not above anything.
00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:42.640
We'll bring a vet who hasn't been who hasn't played more than you know, who's never played with us before.
00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.359
We'll bring her.
00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:44.000
We want to win.
00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.640
Yeah.
00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:48.240
We don't care if you think our basketball looks pretty or not.
00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:51.839
We're gonna take the ball from you and we're gonna score and we're gonna win.
00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.359
Like we don't care.
00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.319
True.
00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:57.519
Like they just don't, they just teak after.
00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.079
They don't care.
00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:58.720
Yeah, they don't.
00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:02.000
Even bringing in DB, we don't care if it looks like we're chasing.
00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:03.839
We want to ring.
00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:04.640
We wanna win.
00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.039
Yeah.
00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:06.319
Like we don't care.
00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:08.720
So I think that I don't know.
00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.920
I just think that they're hungrier.
00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:13.279
I think they have nothing to prove or don't feel like they do.
00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:14.960
Like they're willing to do anything.
00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:20.960
And I just think it they also have like the the rest of the season to back up what they're doing.
00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:33.279
I think like I think New York is like one of those teams that can put together like a few really good games and great moments, and amazing moments, but you can't sit like they have a hard time sustaining it.
00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:35.680
I think that's been their problem all year almost.
00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:46.000
Like it's just flashes of the greatness championship team that won in 2024, but unable to maintain that consistency.
00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:59.200
And I think you know, in round one of the playoffs, you can you can maybe like get by doing that once again, like kicking into that second gear, but I don't know if you can get by in in the semis with that.
00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:05.519
Yeah, I feel like if Ali Chagray is not back, I would go New York.
00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.960
Maybe I'll go New York anyway.
00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:08.480
We need someone to be Nebraska.
00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:10.400
Nebraska hat Nebraska hat.
00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:20.640
Oh I just feel like Sabrina had 27 points, and I she was she had a rough regular season, but she's been so locked in.
00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:31.920
Yeah, and it's only been three games, but still, I feel like if she's firing on all cylinders, and Stewie had like 19 points, which I guess is like low for her.
00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:38.720
Yeah, but if she's like her normal Stewie self, which is like Stewie had a triple double, it's a bad day.
00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.960
Yeah, literally, right?
00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.640
No, but that's but that's the thing.
00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:52.880
It's like it is kind of she's like, God, I have and if you have three years before this, John Cole Jones, like JJ is locked in, like she was in game two of the last series.
00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:57.839
Like, I just if J is a playoff beast, if playoff beast.
00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.359
I love JJ.
00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:08.880
We're talking about the finals MVP, finals MVP, all-star MVP, and she's so nice, so that's how she deserves it.
00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:10.400
She just should win.
00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.079
Yeah, I'll go in New York.
00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:12.880
Okay.
00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.079
Wow, okay, okay.
00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:15.519
Especially there's no Alicia.
00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:25.759
Let's go to like what would be the greatest like upset in the history of the universe of anything that's ever happened ever.
00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:32.960
If the Balks beat the aces in the technically a higher Cavored.
00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.839
I don't care.
00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:37.200
No one's a higher C than the Aces in the playoffs, though.
00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:40.160
In their hearts, no, nobody's a higher seed.
00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.359
They won game one.
00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:43.039
What'd you say?
00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:45.920
They won by yes, they did take game one.
00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:47.839
They won by um 11 points.
00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:50.559
Unfortunately, that means absolutely nothing.
00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.200
I know.
00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:59.200
I know Becky Hammond's quote good news is we played like ass and only lost by 10, so dissect that however you want.
00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:00.720
It's true.
00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:03.119
Jackie Young had 11 points.
00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:10.319
All I have in my head is that video of Asia running over that staff member before the game.
00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:20.640
After they beat the fever, they posted it, and it was like the staff member was like had a fever logo on them, and it was Asia like barreling over the barreling.
00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:23.440
Pause, and then she just kind of keeps it moving.
00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.079
I know!
00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:26.559
I scrammed into that woman.
00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:28.720
When you're the goat, you kind of have to.
00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:29.200
All right.
00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:36.960
Also, the other players are just kind of like, oh, also kind of like everyone was like, Oh man, our bad, our bad.
00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:38.559
I know.
00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.839
I kind of I don't know.
00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:43.839
I I really hope they got that woman's approval before they posted that.
00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:46.960
Because if I was her, I'd be like, all right, guys.
00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:54.559
I would kind of be like it's an honor to be actually like trucked by you right now.
00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:56.559
I you know she was sore.
00:26:57.119 --> 00:27:00.799
Oh my god, you know she oh my god, I can't even imagine.
00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:04.400
And it's just like twice her height, also.
00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:08.079
It's like yeah, and straight muscle and just all muscle.
00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:09.200
Oh my god, yeah.
00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:09.599
Ugh.
00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.559
Anyway, yes.
00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:14.640
So the Balks did pull out an 11-point win in Valhalla.
00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:17.839
Only two players scored in double digits.
00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:20.319
I want to come with Caitlin Chen, so shout out.
00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:21.599
Caitlin Chen.
00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:22.400
Yeah.
00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:24.720
I feel like Caitlin Chen is one of those players.
00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:30.640
I watch her and I've like I don't think she really makes mistakes.
00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:38.960
No, she's so it's like she always makes the right play, and I don't it's like I don't know how that's possible.
00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:45.680
I think the Valks were just so like Natalie Nikase was so spot on with her this year.
00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:47.759
Like she's so bad.
00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.880
She's so good.
00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.960
I I I ride for Kaylin Chen.
00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:53.920
Um, but yeah, like Becky Hammond had it right.
00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:56.720
Like they did not play well.
00:27:57.039 --> 00:28:00.640
No, like, but it's I she didn't seem that concern to me.
00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:05.200
She's kind of like, no, I know you guys get one.
00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:12.799
It yeah, it's a it was a little bit like oh my god, one of those nights where like the shots also just weren't falling.
00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.839
Not falling, yeah.
00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:15.519
And that's not helpful.
00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:19.039
Um I have no idea how to predict this series at all.
00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:25.920
I would probably go with the aces, which means I'm kind of going a boring route of like Aces Liberty finals.
00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.359
I but that's the thing.
00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:35.440
Like, I can't, I don't want I'm I think I'm gonna go Valkyrie's because I I'm sorry, I don't want them both, love them both.
00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:38.960
I don't want another Ace's Liberty final.
00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:43.920
I think it's gonna be Aces Atlanta final.
00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:45.680
That's that's what I see.
00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:55.039
But I'm also kind of like, if they're gonna get to the finals, they need to Chelsea Gray's gonna have to be distributing more.
00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:59.599
Like three assists is not up to point god standards, you know.
00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:03.119
Like that's just not gonna you're like the playmaking has to be better.
00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:09.200
Obviously, their shots have to fall too, but like, you know, that's not like a usual playoff stat line for her.
00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:11.599
Yeah.
00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:14.720
I think I think I'm gonna go.
00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:16.640
I think I'm gonna go Valk's.
00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:17.680
That would be fun.
00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:19.200
Valk's dream.
00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:20.880
I do, I don't know.
00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:32.319
I feel like they I just watching them, it they just kind of feel Cindy's getting greatness fatigue.
00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:34.640
I know it's like his greatness, Cindy.
00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.920
Don't don't find it.
00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:37.440
I know, I know.
00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:42.240
I'm like, but I'm just I'm just ready for something new.
00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.680
And I'm not a hater.
00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:46.000
I'm not a hater, I'm not an aces hater.
00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:53.039
I just like it would be exciting to see variety is a spice of life, you know what I mean?
00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.720
Oh, that's what it is.
00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.519
That's true.
00:29:55.680 --> 00:30:00.079
No, it would be nice to see like new to get some fresh blood in there.
00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:05.039
Like, when was the last time we saw like a finals that wasn't the aces or the liberty?
00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:07.680
I know ever truly, I don't know.
00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:14.880
You know, now that I'm like thinking about it, I'm like, it probably is gonna be dream aces, but I'm going with dream valks anyway.
00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:19.119
I like a dominant champion, but I like the oh yeah, Kiko.
00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:20.160
There you go.
00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:25.920
The thing that would be, I think, exciting about a dream aces matchup to me would be like size-wise.
00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:31.519
I feel like that's like a really good matchup that the dream can handle, the aces physicality in that.
00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:46.480
Yeah, it would also be interesting, but also a Valks dream matchup would be really interesting because the dream, like their bread and butter is like defending the rim, and the Valks don't really play around the rim.
00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:46.960
Yeah.
00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:48.319
As much as other teams.
00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:50.079
They'd have to like adjust their game plan.
00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:50.559
Yeah, yeah.
00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:50.960
Yeah.
00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.160
That would be fun.
00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:56.240
No, wait, but Lucy, give us the greatness speech.
00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:58.559
I just Lucy is pro-greatness.
00:30:58.720 --> 00:31:00.799
I am pro-greatness, but you guys love Tom Brady's fancy.
00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:04.160
It's not boss in blood, baby.
00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:05.119
It's that boss in blood.
00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:07.279
I just love it.
00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:10.160
I love when someone's uh dominating and it's Asia Wilson.
00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:11.839
Love Asia Wilson.
00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:14.559
I just And she's just the best.
00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:15.519
She's just the best.
00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:19.200
She's not in the MVP again, I would assume.
00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:20.960
Who else would be?
00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:23.039
I don't exactly.
00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:33.759
And I just like her sacking trophies and being able to see her ski goggles, freaking drunk at the post-game.
00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:34.160
Yeah.
00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:37.119
With her like whatever those things are.
00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:39.359
What's that little like I don't know.
00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:41.200
Remember when she had those little like instruments?
00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:44.880
I don't know what like the the noisemakers.
00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:57.680
Yeah, and you know, since she had this, like, which maybe I guess like is this is an off-court trouble, but because she's been like, you know, on the receiving end of quote unquote like fever fan hate, like they're not even her fans.
00:31:57.759 --> 00:32:05.839
It's like the people that are trying to like fever to like, yeah, I just need her to come out with the trophy again.
00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:17.519
It also is gonna be like one of those moments where if she wins, like it's all gonna not it's all kind of gonna trace back to like when that man stepped to her.
00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:20.160
Yeah, like you don't step to Asia, she'll go and win.
00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:20.799
Exactly.
00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:22.079
This is what I this is what I need.
00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:23.839
I need to do that.
00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:26.319
I do and she's just such a good champion.
00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:32.000
Like, she's not like she's like humble, but not in a way that's like too humble.
00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:36.079
Like, she like knows who she is, and she like knows that she's the greatest ever.
00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:39.759
Yeah, and I like that I like that vibe, obviously.
00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:43.680
Yeah, so um I have nothing bad to say about Asia.
00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:46.160
I want Asia to win the MVP.
00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:48.079
She proved me wrong.
00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:50.640
Um, in the last two episodes.
00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:53.440
I would like to see a different letter, though.
00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:54.720
Yeah, no, of course.
00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:57.279
I'm giving her MVP.
00:32:57.359 --> 00:32:59.039
I just don't want to see a different.
00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:01.519
I didn't want I don't want to see a different team finals.
00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:05.680
Um, I'm gonna get so much hate for that.
00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:06.400
For what?
00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:07.920
Wanting a new finals.
00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.119
I think it's totally fair.
00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:11.200
I think a lot of people want that to be honest.
00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:15.119
I think I think a lot of people it's like the Yukon thing.
00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:18.960
It's like the aces need to bring everybody else up to their level, you know what I mean?
00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:22.559
Yeah, unless you can beat them, they're just gonna keep winning.
00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:25.200
Sorry, yeah, sorry, they're not gonna stop for you.
00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:26.000
Sorry.
00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.359
Um okay.
00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:42.000
Next up, we're gonna go to someone else in the MVP conversation, um, who has also been having, you know, had an interesting off-court moment recently, um, and talk about Kelsey Mitchell's exit interview.
00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:45.359
And I'm sure we all have a lot of thoughts on that, so I cannot wait to dive in.
00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:46.000
Yes.
00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:49.200
Um, okay, that's up next on the pre-wrap.
00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:55.599
All right, welcome back to the pre-wrap.
00:33:55.680 --> 00:34:01.759
We are gonna talk about some exit interviews today um for our last segment.
00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:19.440
This is something we haven't done in a bit, which is talk more about like the off-court cultural side of the W, which I'm glad that we're like getting back to this stuff because I it's kind of the thing that I think about the most when I think about a lot of what's going on with the W right now.
00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:24.239
So we're gonna talk about Kelsey Mitchell's exit interview.
00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:32.559
Um basically, she was asked about entering this upcoming off season as an unrestricted free agent.
00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:35.119
And she responded, I have to be selfish.
00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:36.880
I think that's where I am in my career.
00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:39.599
What I probably need and what's probably best for me.
00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:41.440
So I have to be selfish in that room.
00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:48.079
But I think ultimately being on the fever and being part of an organization that does come with a lot of ups and downs.
00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:53.519
What factors in and what is important for me is obviously having good chemistry on and off the floor.
00:34:53.679 --> 00:34:57.599
I've only been with one team my entire career, so it's all kind of figuring this out.
00:34:57.760 --> 00:34:59.119
It's hard, man.
00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:09.360
And she said showing up every day to compete for fans that may or may not like you is hard.
00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:18.559
Playing with her, Clark, and having eyes that she's got on her, we have we get a lot of flack just from being on her team.
00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:28.000
That is insane to me because no one in Feverland has ever acknowledged that to my knowledge before.
00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:30.000
No, a player?
00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:36.320
Not like not like call said Caitlin by name and been like it's hard being on her team.
00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:39.760
Yeah, which is also you go this.
00:35:40.639 --> 00:36:02.880
Well, I was just gonna say, like, she was asked about like all the news around the fever this season and like whether or not she's had harder days, so like she was asked kind of directly about it, which like maybe she wasn't asked about it directly before, like, and it's kind of all reaching this point where you know now she's being like, you know, directly asked about it.
00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:06.559
But it's still pretty I don't know.
00:36:06.719 --> 00:36:20.480
It's interesting because before the GM had I think the GM opened it and had a statement and had said that the attacks on their fan base have no basis in reality.
00:36:21.519 --> 00:36:27.119
I think that's just such a like that's just not true deaf thing to say.
00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:27.519
Right.
00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:30.639
And also, like, yeah, I don't know.
00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:48.239
I think you you're not also like on that court and like getting those DMs and like I just feel like you can't sit there and say that out of selfishness of wanting to look good when like you have no idea what these players are dealing with on a day-to-day basis because of these fans.
00:36:48.559 --> 00:37:02.960
And I also find that interesting because Amber Cox, who said that they have no basis in reality, and Stephanie White said that Kelsey was a top priority for the fever organization for next season.
00:37:03.199 --> 00:37:08.079
So I think this kind of seems like it comes down to the organization.
00:37:08.239 --> 00:37:08.400
Right.
00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:09.440
Like under your personality.
00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:15.119
How do you how do you balance this?
00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:19.199
Like, and how do you prioritize the experience of players?
00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:23.599
The player who is a part of the highest scoring duo in the in the league.
00:37:24.079 --> 00:37:30.800
I also think it's interesting because they gave Kelsey a super max contract.
00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:52.320
So I think when I hear her say that she needs to be selfish, like to me, like I totally get that that statement and and I agree with her, but I'm also like, you're saying that about a team that you know clearly loves you, and and and most likely from the way that they've spoken about her, like wants to probably give her another like super max contract.
00:37:52.480 --> 00:38:03.199
I I I have no reason to believe, based on the things that they've said, and based on the way that she played this year, and based on the previous contract that she had, that it's not going in that direction.
00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:18.880
So I think like if she were totally yeah, I think her coming out with these statements makes it feel more like on your side that it might be like an organizational thing, or maybe like the the hate from the fans is too much.
00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:26.639
Like, I think she's exploring her options in a way that definitely doesn't necessarily come down to money to me, or from those statements at least.
00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:27.599
I agree.
00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:32.480
I know it's kind of hard to because I feel like last season she was saying something similar, though.
00:38:32.559 --> 00:38:34.320
Like, I gotta be selfish, I gotta be selfish.
00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:38.079
Like that made more sense because it was like you didn't know what the CBA was gonna look like.
00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:50.239
You didn't know, like, I don't feel like the fever were being you didn't, I don't know if I heard necessarily I think they were kind of being like, we want to bring her back, but you didn't know like necessarily how much money she was gonna make.
00:38:50.320 --> 00:38:55.599
Now you have this like basis of a of a cute, huge cron contract that they've already given her before.
00:38:55.840 --> 00:38:58.000
Yeah, yeah.
00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:02.159
I just had a thought, but it escaped me.
00:39:02.320 --> 00:39:08.239
Um, I mean I feel like it's hard, and I don't even the organization.
00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:14.079
This is on them to figure this out, and I don't like necessarily have an answer for them.
00:39:14.559 --> 00:39:41.840
But when you have a team that's become this, I don't know, a tool caricature, yeah, and like tool brand, like actors or people who don't actually care about the league, but they're like, okay, here's an avenue for us to I don't know, enter this space and kind of corrupt it for our own gain and like our own politics and our own agenda.
00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:45.199
Like if your team is the one being used for that, yeah.
00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:51.280
Like, I maybe what Amber Cox is saying is like our real fans, like they shouldn't be attacked.
00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:57.440
But you at this point, because of how how far and out of hand this has gotten.
00:39:57.840 --> 00:40:06.079
If you don't stand against it, you absorb it, like you know, like as a part of your identity, like and organizational identity.
00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:12.400
Also, it's like now you have a player, not Caitlin, not even Caitlyn this season, really.
00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:21.039
I mean, her name is still used for it, but I mean, maybe the the right has a harder time because she hasn't out here like saying crazy things.
00:40:21.199 --> 00:40:40.000
It's like a player, Sophie Cunningham, who is like kind actively going out and making these inflammatory statements and inviting even more of that discourse and like the most like the worst, like most toxic kind.
00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:46.320
And now you have these like freak ex-NBA players coming in and like making on the game.
00:40:48.559 --> 00:41:06.079
And getting thrown out of opposing teams' arenas because of something that a feverite player said, and the Asia thing, I feel like their statement that came out so fast after the game, so fast, of being like, This case is closed, we're not looking into it any further.
00:41:06.159 --> 00:41:09.920
And it's like we can't look in the mirror any further.
00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:14.320
And like, let's just say, like, I mean, obviously, we don't, I wasn't there.
00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:16.559
I don't know what exactly what happened when well, yeah.
00:41:16.639 --> 00:41:23.840
I don't really, I don't really know if that I if I'm if I'm gonna be honest, I don't necessarily put I think that is something in and of itself.
00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:27.760
I don't even think that just because someone, this is like what I struggle with.
00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:40.960
I don't think that just because there's a person in a fever fan outfit and someone like who's on a team that isn't the fever, like having some sort of like altercation necessarily lends itself to the situation.
00:41:41.119 --> 00:42:02.880
But I think that being said, because so many of the people who are coming in and being inflammatory for the sake of being inflammatory are wearing fever stuff, it makes it all complicated and like puts people in a position where they like have to second guess what people's intentions are.
00:42:03.039 --> 00:42:03.280
Yeah.
00:42:03.599 --> 00:42:17.920
So I so that that being said, like I agree with you that they're they're like them jumping to make a statement about something that ultimately they probably didn't really have to talk about to that degree.
00:42:18.960 --> 00:42:25.119
Goes back to like what we've been talking about like for the whole this whole season, which is like what is their PR strategy?
00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:25.360
Yeah.
00:42:25.519 --> 00:42:27.039
Why is it so confrontational?
00:42:27.440 --> 00:43:06.400
It's just it's a moment for them to like look in the mirror uh of this bigger problem, and they're it just doesn't seem like they're doing that, and then you and then it follows up with like this you have uh arguably one of the best players on your team like saying this, like there's a there's a problem, you know, like and also I think it's worth saying that Brianna Turner, who she played for she now plays for the Aces, but she did play for she's been like this season saying things about she had a lot to say about the Sophie Cunningham thing, very supportive of the trans community, obviously, yeah.
00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:19.119
And she full of that she basically said about Amber Cox's statement that you know the attacks on the fan base have no basis in reality.
00:43:19.280 --> 00:43:22.000
Um this is an unequivocally false statement.
00:43:22.159 --> 00:43:26.639
Players inside and outside the organization have repeatedly issued complaints with the Fear fan base.
00:43:26.960 --> 00:43:32.559
While it's not all indie fans, it's certainly a trend to say the attacks have no basis in reality is disingenuous.
00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:47.360
So I think that I think what Cindy Colson was at the game and she got into it kind of and she was like, they're like, Well, I'm gonna like air out some tea on the pod, which is like coming out Thursday.
00:43:47.440 --> 00:43:50.559
I don't know if they're actually gonna say anything, but I was like, Oh yeah.
00:43:50.719 --> 00:43:59.679
I kind of feel like I feel like if if if Indiana keeps Sophie cunning.
00:44:00.719 --> 00:44:04.480
On the team, they're going to lose other players.
00:44:04.719 --> 00:44:05.039
Right.
00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:06.880
She all they also said that they were going to lose.
00:44:07.199 --> 00:44:09.119
I was their GM, that's how I would approach it.
00:44:09.199 --> 00:44:11.599
Like their GM said that they want to keep her.
00:44:11.760 --> 00:44:12.719
They're like, yeah, she's great.
00:44:12.800 --> 00:44:13.360
Like, whatever.
00:44:13.519 --> 00:44:15.440
She was like, which I don't know if she actually will.
00:44:15.519 --> 00:44:17.360
It's can't be worth it.
00:44:17.519 --> 00:44:19.280
It literally can't not be worth it.
00:44:19.519 --> 00:44:22.559
If you over Kelsey Mitchell.
00:44:22.800 --> 00:44:23.039
Right.
00:44:23.280 --> 00:44:23.599
Over Andy.
00:44:24.079 --> 00:44:25.119
And I look, I don't know.
00:44:25.199 --> 00:44:29.599
I don't know anything about I don't know anything about Kelsey and Sophie's relationship.
00:44:29.760 --> 00:44:33.760
That's not what that is not what I'm alluding to.
00:44:33.920 --> 00:44:34.159
No.
00:44:34.400 --> 00:44:39.760
I'm talking about the attention that Sophie brings to the team.
00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:40.239
Yes.
00:44:40.400 --> 00:44:42.239
That is affecting her teammates.
00:44:42.480 --> 00:44:49.599
And I don't think she sees it that way based on like how she goes about the media and talks about she clearly does not see it that way.
00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:51.360
I don't think she cares either.
00:44:51.519 --> 00:44:51.679
Yeah.
00:44:51.760 --> 00:44:52.159
I don't think so.
00:44:52.559 --> 00:44:55.599
But like that, that is what I'm seeing.
00:44:55.840 --> 00:45:05.199
It's like if you if you're bringing like freak ex NBA players, like loser ex NBA players to your games and it like it's causing a scene.
00:45:05.760 --> 00:45:07.760
And she's like, I didn't invite him.
00:45:07.920 --> 00:45:08.800
It doesn't matter.
00:45:08.960 --> 00:45:10.400
Yeah, it doesn't matter.
00:45:10.480 --> 00:45:23.440
If you if you decide that you're gonna be an avatar for one of the most like contentious political issues that like we have right now, then you are inviting you are bringing that attention.
00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:41.840
So it's like I think this organization needs to think really critically about like the messaging that they're sending out, whether it's who they have on the team, who's coming to their games, how they're speaking about non-issues, to be honest.
00:45:42.079 --> 00:45:55.599
Like how the way that they the way that they go through this offseason, I think is gonna tell us a lot about like how they think about who they who they are.
00:45:55.760 --> 00:46:02.800
Like but Amber Cross is clear, like she made the statement like Saturday where she was like, Yeah, we're gonna try to keep Sophie.
00:46:02.880 --> 00:46:04.800
Yeah, there's these have no basis in reality.
00:46:04.880 --> 00:46:08.239
It's like she said, like it's clear that they don't.
00:46:08.559 --> 00:46:09.360
Let's see what they do.
00:46:09.679 --> 00:46:17.599
I think I mean I think it reflects like a broader like issue in the league, too.
00:46:17.679 --> 00:46:36.320
Like, I this reminds me of like when the W was like not making like a proper statement or like not really acknowledging the attacks on the league when like all the stuff with these former NBA players were at was at its height, like and they were just kind of like we're just gonna be.
00:46:36.639 --> 00:46:38.000
You mean the sky game?
00:46:38.320 --> 00:47:07.440
Like the sky game, and even just like like Ennis Cantor being like you have to like respond to like the fact that I want to be drafted, like you don't have a response to this, like and they were just like we're just gonna like focus on our league and like I like which I understand to an extent, like I get that, but I also feel like it reflects this like well if we just don't engage with it, like then we then it's like it's it doesn't affect us, and like I'm but I just don't think that that is the way to be like handle it.
00:47:07.519 --> 00:47:12.079
And I kind of feel like I think sometimes it I think sometimes that works and sometimes that doesn't.
00:47:12.239 --> 00:47:17.360
It's like I mean I definitely don't think that like the MBW needs to be like Ennis Cantor, we're not gonna draft you.
00:47:17.440 --> 00:47:33.199
Obviously, we're not gonna draft Ennis Cantor, but I think that like taking a broader stance on the fact that like your league is being attacked and like how disrespectful it is to the women in the league and all of these things is not bad to do, you know.
00:47:33.599 --> 00:47:35.920
I definitely think they need to be more proactive.
00:47:36.239 --> 00:47:43.679
I mean, the sky owner, Michael Alter, like uh when he jerked, he immediately was like, You're like literally get a banned.
00:47:43.760 --> 00:47:45.519
Like he was like, You're you have to leave.
00:47:45.679 --> 00:47:49.440
Like, you're not welcome here if you're gonna like approach my players, like kind of like that.
00:47:49.599 --> 00:47:55.599
And I feel like he kind of had, I mean, he's an owner in the league, he's not a rep, he's not the league, right?
00:47:55.840 --> 00:48:03.920
But I mean, he was pretty proactive in that like instance, which I mean also just kind of shows your players, like things here.
00:48:04.559 --> 00:48:06.880
Obviously, Natasha Cloud is on the sky, yeah.
00:48:07.039 --> 00:48:21.199
Natasha Cloud is very outspoken and was getting into it with whatever they yeah, and I remember like this guy, like Tyler Marsh, she asked if she could say something to him, and he was like, Yeah, we're behind you.
00:48:21.360 --> 00:48:23.519
Yeah, like so.
00:48:23.679 --> 00:48:30.559
I think I think what what's tough is like I Catherine, correct me if I'm wrong.
00:48:30.639 --> 00:48:51.920
Do you is it is it that you want like a more unified from like all the teams, or that you just want like the office to be more just want like more transparency, and I think I I feel like I see that like the W maybe not all of the le the teams, but like I think it's more like yeah, the the the league office itself, and then definitely like the fever.
00:48:52.079 --> 00:49:04.559
Like, I just feel like we're not saying like we're not like being up front, like there's a weird, like it almost reminds me, and obviously this is so small scale, but it's like the AZ like press conference.
00:49:04.639 --> 00:49:08.000
Like, why are we like not just saying exactly what's going on?
00:49:08.159 --> 00:49:21.119
And I think I'll be curious to see as leadership turns over this year, how they approach all of these like issues that like are kind of trying to sort of like penetrate into the league.
00:49:21.280 --> 00:49:23.840
And I feel like you can't pretend that it's not happening.
00:49:24.000 --> 00:49:28.639
Like, I don't think it's good enough to just be like head down, like full speed ahead, focus on us.
00:49:28.800 --> 00:49:39.679
Like, I think it's a little bit like what we've been talking about, where it's like as the league grows and they're more there are more eyes on the league, like things are gonna be different.
00:49:39.840 --> 00:49:42.559
There aren't like five people in the stands anymore, you know?
00:49:42.719 --> 00:49:55.840
Yeah, it's hard because it is like a growing pain thing where like all major sports leagues, like the NFL, the NBA, they have insane people saying crazy things to fans, horrible, I mean to players, horrible things.
00:49:55.920 --> 00:50:04.960
Like it's a reality, like very dark reality of professional sports, like that you're going to experience like these horrible.
00:50:06.239 --> 00:50:07.440
It's different.
00:50:07.679 --> 00:50:28.400
Obviously, like these women are like their identities are at the you know, there's a obviously they're a predominantly black league, they are, I don't know, like the percentage, but a large percentage of them are members of the LGBTQ plus community, like they're in a very like I don't know cross-sectional vulnerable, right?
00:50:28.559 --> 00:50:45.840
Yeah, men in a way, but at the same time, like I don't you can't if you want your league to be as big as like the NBA and the NFL, like you I don't they haven't figured out how to stop it, so I don't see how I mean then it's not gonna stop, right?
00:50:46.079 --> 00:50:47.199
I guess it's not that it's gonna stop.
00:50:47.599 --> 00:50:49.360
Like, how can you handle it?
00:50:49.599 --> 00:51:00.400
I think it's it's a weird dichotomy because it's like sports, which is inherently in the mainstream, but it's also like a safe space of like, yeah, like you were saying, like vulnerable communities.
00:51:00.559 --> 00:51:03.599
So it's like how do you bridge plug our episode?
00:51:03.679 --> 00:51:13.199
But this is like what our entire episode that we worked on like uh during the last quarter of our master's project is about.
00:51:13.280 --> 00:51:18.480
It's like what what responsibility does the W actually have?
00:51:18.719 --> 00:51:22.400
What have they, what responsibility have they taken on in the past?
00:51:22.639 --> 00:51:29.360
And are they actually able to like continue holding that responsibility if they want to grow?
00:51:30.159 --> 00:51:44.719
I'm like it's not it like and it pains me to say it, but like the 2020 season of like dedicating the season to Brianna Taylor and like ousting an owner, those days are over.
00:51:44.960 --> 00:51:46.159
I was gonna say thought they're over.
00:51:47.840 --> 00:51:49.840
It's not it and it's not gonna happen again.
00:51:49.920 --> 00:52:00.400
It's just not like the and and it that is like the that's the price that this league has paid for expansion and mainstream attention.
00:52:00.639 --> 00:52:15.599
But I think you also look at like like what you were saying, Lucy, with these like big leagues, other leagues, men's sports leagues, NFL, NBA, and you're kind of like um, or at least for me, uh no other league is being used as a vehicle in like Congress.
00:52:15.920 --> 00:52:18.800
Like that's like you know, which is not normal.
00:52:19.199 --> 00:52:25.599
But they're which is like what they have to that's what comes like what Lucy was saying, like that comes with the territory too.
00:52:25.760 --> 00:52:32.880
So it's like okay, we can't be like an activist, we're we're choosing not to be a quote unquote activist league anymore.
00:52:33.119 --> 00:52:45.760
Yeah, like whether that was but with while we expand and as we bring in more mainstream attention, like but also how do you leave that identity behind if that's like an inherent part of who you are and who these players are, you know?
00:52:45.840 --> 00:52:51.920
I'm not saying you directly, Sunny, I'm just like no, I know I know that's what the whole that I mean, that's what we made a whole episode.
00:52:52.639 --> 00:53:15.679
That Adam Silver is like considering this, but it's like in a perfect right, you're gonna bring in maybe a commissioner or someone who can grapple with the different realities that this this league is extremely unique, and it has to be treated in a unique way, even though it is like you want to become like a major sports league, like it has to be treated.
00:53:15.840 --> 00:53:26.239
It's the balance of being like we're we want to be treated like everybody else, but also like we are different, and it should be acknowledged that we're different, you know.
00:53:26.400 --> 00:53:49.440
Like, and I I think like one thing that I keep thinking about and coming back to, it's like something we haven't talked about on this before, but like what Lucy and I have kind of thought have thought about a lot since or talked about a lot since making this episode, which is like so much of this comes down to like ownership, who gets to own these teams and why.
00:53:49.679 --> 00:54:04.079
And when you're basically grabbing a team away from a native tribe and handing it to like a billionaire owner in a different city, which is what's happening to Connecticut right now.
00:54:04.320 --> 00:54:04.880
Yeah, yeah.
00:54:05.199 --> 00:54:10.960
That's that's why I'm like, we're never gonna see the the the kind of things that we saw even six years ago.
00:54:11.119 --> 00:54:13.199
We're not I don't think we're ever gonna see them again.
00:54:13.360 --> 00:54:28.480
Unless it comes, unless the players themselves decide that they're going to like stand up on their own without probably the support of like the WNBA leadership.
00:54:28.960 --> 00:54:33.599
But then it also comes down to like, well, now these players.
00:54:33.840 --> 00:54:34.880
What do you say, Lucy?
00:54:35.039 --> 00:54:42.559
Well, I was gonna say one of our sources for the at the project we did was talking about how like now the players are entering like big players.
00:54:42.800 --> 00:54:43.440
That's what I'm saying.
00:54:43.599 --> 00:54:46.000
They're getting paid more than 15 million.
00:54:48.639 --> 00:55:04.960
Because of the attention, like the CBA came into play, all of these things, so it's like they have to think about what they have to lose now by um you know, either being more politically active and being the league that they've always been, or kind of adapting to that change.
00:55:05.039 --> 00:55:15.920
It's a trade-off, and it's like but there's a lot of things at stake too for the players, like generational wealth for their families, like like people that have never seen this type of money before.
00:55:16.239 --> 00:55:27.920
So ever like the the minimum salary is what the maximum salary was like the year before.
00:55:28.159 --> 00:55:28.880
It's unreal.
00:55:29.119 --> 00:55:54.079
And Courtney Williams when the CBO sign talked about how it's like life-changing for herself, family for her entire family, and they and everyone that comes after, like it's hard, even when like you're someone that's affected by like these bad faith actors who are coming in, even when you're negatively affected, to be like, Well, I'm willing to sacrifice like a million dollars.
00:55:55.360 --> 00:55:58.239
That is gonna help me and my family and everyone I love.
00:55:58.480 --> 00:56:12.480
I feel like this is a perfect sort of like segue back to the circle where it's like that's also I think what Kelsey Mitchell is exactly weighing like right now, in terms of like returning to the fever or going elsewhere.
00:56:12.639 --> 00:56:17.039
Um, because it's like there's good and bad eyes that come with playing there.
00:56:17.199 --> 00:56:20.400
There's probably gonna be a lot of money that comes with playing there.
00:56:20.559 --> 00:56:33.760
I mean, I'm sure she can get a supermax anywhere she goes as one of the top players in the league, but I think like she on a more like micro level is dealing with those things in in what will be her offseason of contract negotiations.
00:56:34.079 --> 00:56:35.440
Yeah, yeah, guess we'll see.
00:56:36.719 --> 00:56:44.400
Um I'm really I know, and this is just because I like know how communication works in these things.
00:56:44.480 --> 00:56:46.880
I'm like, I know everyone's saying these things.
00:56:47.039 --> 00:56:49.119
I'm really curious to see what they do.
00:56:49.360 --> 00:56:50.960
I know it's gonna be crazy.
00:56:51.440 --> 00:56:55.039
I feel like I think in the fever orc, I think with individual players.
00:56:56.639 --> 00:56:57.840
Like the GM came out hot.
00:56:57.920 --> 00:57:01.440
I wonder if she's like preparing, but that's what I'm saying.
00:57:01.519 --> 00:57:06.159
I I I don't I don't know, we we can cut this off.
00:57:06.239 --> 00:57:15.760
Like I know that like they come in so hot to the media, so I'm just like, what are you guys talking about amongst yourselves?
00:57:16.000 --> 00:57:23.039
Yeah, like what do these conversations sound like in behind closed doors when it's just the organization?
00:57:23.119 --> 00:57:30.480
Because the way they come out, sometimes the way they come out to the media, I'm like, whoa, like you guys are really mad.
00:57:30.719 --> 00:57:32.480
Like, you guys are really, really mad.
00:57:32.559 --> 00:57:34.639
Remember that Stephanie White press conference?
00:57:34.880 --> 00:57:37.519
Yes, that was crazy, but you know crazy.
00:57:37.840 --> 00:57:47.199
I she said before she was like, Oh, like this is it at you guys, but it's like when they say the media, it's very much like you guys are putting out these bad narratives.
00:57:47.280 --> 00:57:58.960
I'm like, no, it's not the people in the chairs, which she said, she was like you guys, like reporters, but it's like you kind of addressing the fans, like it's not saying media, but I'm like, you mean fans, like you're not just reported.
00:57:59.280 --> 00:58:00.719
You mean social media, social media?
00:58:00.960 --> 00:58:02.480
You mean like your comment section?
00:58:02.639 --> 00:58:05.599
Yeah, some of it's sometimes sometimes they mean the media.
00:58:05.760 --> 00:58:18.559
Like, I gotta say, that the Caitlin Clark one where they literally compared her to like the it didn't they compare it to the white woman who was like the reason Emmett Till got murdered.
00:58:18.800 --> 00:58:20.880
Yeah, that was yeah, it was that was out crazy.
00:58:21.119 --> 00:58:21.920
What are we doing about it?
00:58:22.000 --> 00:58:23.039
Yeah, sometimes, but yeah.
00:58:23.199 --> 00:58:31.920
So sometimes it is the media, but like quote unquote the media, but like most of the time they're just talking about their comment section.
00:58:32.159 --> 00:58:34.639
Yeah, they're yeah, social media.
00:58:35.039 --> 00:58:40.239
So I don't know, it's it's a hard line to walk.
00:58:40.480 --> 00:58:41.760
Yeah, I don't really see it.
00:58:42.719 --> 00:58:45.360
I don't know, like maybe next season will be better.
00:58:45.440 --> 00:58:48.079
I feel like every season it gets worse here.
00:58:49.039 --> 00:58:52.800
I mean, uh yeah, there's just and maybe that goes back to what Catherine's saying.
00:58:52.880 --> 00:58:55.840
Maybe it's because the league is just allowing this to get out of hand.
00:58:56.000 --> 00:59:15.760
That being said, I don't think that it's worth like responding to everything because then we just get into this back and forth, and it's like but I but I agree with you that they need to be proactive about like there needs to be a clear, they need to release some statement and acknowledge like that there is a broader issue.
00:59:16.159 --> 00:59:16.480
There's like this.
00:59:23.280 --> 00:59:28.639
There's at least perhaps for the foreseeable future, there might be like last year was the CBA.
00:59:28.719 --> 00:59:32.079
This year there's no commissioner like going into the off-season, like so.
00:59:32.159 --> 00:59:35.360
It's just like there's they're in flux right now.
00:59:35.599 --> 00:59:37.039
So I don't know.
00:59:37.199 --> 00:59:39.760
It'll be curious to see.
00:59:40.239 --> 00:59:47.920
But maybe we should dedicate our C Seg like maybe post-playoffs, but like I think the off-court stuff is I know there's so much meat.
00:59:48.000 --> 00:59:48.719
We'll have a lot of talk.
00:59:49.920 --> 00:59:51.760
Yeah, that's another off-season.
00:59:52.079 --> 00:59:53.920
Yeah, um, okay, cool.
00:59:54.000 --> 00:59:56.800
Well, we'll we'll get into some semi-talk next week.
00:59:56.960 --> 00:59:59.280
Um, thanks for listening to the show.
00:59:59.440 --> 01:00:03.760
If you like the show, subscribe to us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter.
01:00:03.840 --> 01:00:09.119
We're we're we we be posting all the stuff at the pre-rap.
01:00:09.519 --> 01:00:14.079
Um, yeah, okay, we'll see you guys next week.
01:00:14.559 --> 01:00:15.199
Bye.
01:00:15.760 --> 01:00:16.400
Bye.