Golden States Is Making The Wrong Kind of WNBA History

本站添加: 2026-05-06

[00:00:00]A devoted fan and a pluggedin reporter.

[00:00:04]There is no better way to talk about hoops than that. Mia O'Brien and Mitch Northam have you covered for the W, the NCAA, Unrivaled, and anything else that involves a ball and a backboard. This is the Women's Basketball Podcast.

[00:00:24]May the fourth be with you and may the W 30th anniversary season be with you.

[00:00:31]Welcome into this week's the women's basketball podcast. Your one-stop shop for all things women's hoops in the wide wide world of women's sports. At long last, Mitch Northam is back from an extended vacation. We are recording today's episode on Monday, May 4th. And so anything that happens in the next 24 to 48 hours in between when we record and when this podcast is released, uh, just humor us. Humor us for what it is worth. It should be noted that today is largely across the W roster cutdown day.

[00:01:01]And so what better way than this to preview the season ahead in the W.

[00:01:08]Couple ods to our friends in the college ranks as well. But before we get after it, Mitch, tell us, are you rested?

[00:01:16]Maybe not so rested after your two week stay in the Outer Banks.

[00:01:20]>> Uh, I'm good. I'm ready for uh for the WNBA season, ready for college softball to get started. I'm going to Charlottesville this weekend and then next week I'll I'll be with you down in sunny Florida for ACC spring meetings.

[00:01:34]So, yeah. Um, my it's it's weird. I call it my off seasonason because college is usually the thing I do, but it's just kind of like the next season is here.

[00:01:43]So, yeah, ready to get after it.

[00:01:45]>> As a wise man once said, or should I say woman, there is no offseason when it comes to women's basketball. And yes, key lime pie will be requested next week when we are both at the Ritz Carlton in Amelia Island for the AC. I'm >> not a huge key lime pie guy. Sorry.

[00:02:01]>> You got you got Wait till you try the key lime pie from Tide Water. I'm telling you, it changes lives. I have to go to the Ritz tomorrow anyways, Mitch.

[00:02:08]And so I will be requesting it for you next week when we will be doing another live show. We won't be live immediately to stream, but we will be recording together in person with plenty of interviews from around the ACC and, you know, maybe an interview or two from beyond. But that's next week's show.

[00:02:24]This week, looking ahead to the season that is in the W. First things first, our starting five, it's how we start each and every episode of the women's basketball podcast. our top five stories in the world of women's hoops, in particular the WNBA this episode. Mitch, I received texts from multiple sometimes co-hosts of this podcast, including one Rebecca Copelman, and they asked, "Well, I assume the starting five is beginning with the Marta Suarez debacle between Golden State and Seattle." And I said, "Is the Pope Catholic?" because yes, that is where Mitch Northam wants to begin today's preview episode of the WNBA season. The fallout from the latest roster move in the Bay Area.

[00:03:10]>> So, let's let's set up a Tik Tok you here. Not not a social media reel, but a a timeline sort of thing.

[00:03:17]>> So, we get to WNBA draft night.

[00:03:21]>> The Golden State Valkyries select Fl Johnson out of LSU with the number eight overall pick. The Seattle Storm select Marta Suarez forward from TCU with the number 16th overall pick. There's a trade. Fl Johnson goes to the Storm in exchange for Marta Suarez and a future second round draft pick. Now, in real time, we were all like, "What the hell are the Valkyries doing?" Um, and then there was a bizarre postdraft media availability with um, the Valkyy's GM um, where she said she was too tired to to explain exactly what ex what exactly was going on. Um, thought that was pretty weird and but kind of off we go, right? Like, all right, so you got Marta Suarez. It it later is reported that this trade was agreed upon before the draft and so they had already agreed to trade number eight overall for number 16 overall plus a future second and basically if that is the case then the other teams were basically choosing the players that they wanted here. The the Storm were choosing Faj Johnson at number eight even though she put on a Valkat and vice versa with Martis Suarez. Okay, so now we fast forward to Saturday where the Valkyries decided to cut or wave Martis Suarez. Um, and so if you even just take the Fl Johnson of it all out of it and you just say simply you traded the number eight overall pick for the number 16th overall pick in a future second. One of those assets that you received back for a top eight pick is not going to help your team whatsoever. Now she's gone. She will play for someone else. Maybe she will come back on a developmental roster spot. But I talked to a couple WNBA assistant coaches and they're like, there's no way that she clears waiverss and and comes back to Golden State on on a developmental spot. We'll see about that. Um, I think this is just incredibly poor form, just poor roster management from the Golden State Valkyries. I had an agent I was talking to was kind of trying to sell me on, oh well, you know, like they cut her. Um, but it means they don't have to sign her to the rookie scale and like you got to take the flag trade out of it and it gives them more cap space. Okay, cap space for what? Cuz most of the good players are signed now. So, who are you saving the cap space for? Um, I just think this is just a wild um roster management decision from from the Golden State Valkyries. It doesn't make any sense to me at all. um when you pile on just like and I think the optics of it are just really bad because no matter how Golden State frames this, right?

[00:06:21]Whether this was agreed upon before the draft or whatever, fans are always going to remember this trade as you traded Flaj Johnson for a player that didn't make it out of training camp and a future second round pick. If Fl Johnson ends up becoming what we think she can be in the WNBA, like an all-star level guard, this is going to haunt the Golden State Valkyries for a long time.

[00:06:46]>> Well, from the makers of one, I need to take a beat because I'm exhausted. I bring you uh this Mitch Northam, Valkyy's GM. Oh, um Oh, we're going to continue to butcher her name. Oh, he oima. Oh, am I but I'm still butchering it. Nanin. The Valkyy's GM. Going to continue to butcher it. Anyways, Valkyy's GM will not meet with reporters until Tuesday when media day is.

[00:07:10]Declined comment was not made available to reporters on Sunday after Marta Suarez was waved on Saturday. Head coach Natalina Cas talked about the decision to wave Marta Suarez and said in part, "We're still evaluating and every day can be something different." In some sense, she hinted at, well, Martya really wasn't connecting with her teammates off the court. If you parse through all the coach speak that Natalie Nass gave and she was asked kind of three different ways about Marta Suarez and each time just decided no instead of giving a straight answer I'm going to speak in cliches. Um and basically leave us wondering why exactly Marta Suarez was not a fit for this roster. she kind of got around to like, well, what I really value is is how the players connect with each other on and off the court, but specifically off the court.

[00:08:02]And she didn't directly say that about Mara Marta, but she said that a couple times during the span of this like 4minute media availability. And so, if you're trying to parse through all the BS coach speak, that's the thing that stands out. And so I guess we're left to believe that Marta Suarez was not connecting with the rest of the Valkyries off the court, >> which let me pair a couple things together. Since the last time we spoke, we have had an NFL draft. Uh shout out to your Pittsburgh Steelers. I loved the the hide and rank pick. It just warms my heart. Um sorry for another time.

[00:08:35]>> Jennings Dunker.

[00:08:36]>> Jennings Dunker as well. Go Hawks, baby.

[00:08:38]Can't wait for there to be Culver's in Western Pennsylvania very very soon if there's not already. So, here's the thing with the NFL draft. Of course, I cover the Jacksonville Jaguars. You know that by now if you've listened to this podcast a time or two before. Jaguars were crucified by many nationally in the draft community because it was viewed that they reached for players on the consensus board when the Jaguars argument was, "No, we just selected players who fit our needs and fit where we feel we need to elevate our floor and where we currently have holes on the roster. Even if there were players who nationally were viewed as a higher value pick, we said this is a guy who fits our culture and fits where our needs are.

[00:09:21]Natalie Nas, after guiding the Golden State Valkyries to the postseason in her first season as a head coach in their debut as an expansion franchise, has earned a little bit of cache and a little bit of grace because she arrived in Golden State last year, Mitch, and she had a clear vision of this is the type of team I want to be. You may not know the names on the back of the jersey, but trust me when I say these are the players who match what we are and we will not deviate from that plan.

[00:09:44]And so she has earned grace much like James Gladstone and Liam Cohen who went 13 and four. I will give both of those secondyear regimes grace because they did make the postseason in year one. Now if it doesn't go according to plan this year, that's where then maybe we have to have a conversation about both franchises. But I think a lot of this stems from Natalie wants to play a certain way and Marta Suarez was not fitting into that larger vision, which is where I have a question about the conversations with the general manager.

[00:10:13]But then again, the general manager doesn't want to talk to anyone evidently. Now again, we're recording this on Monday, May 4th. The Valkyries will have media day tomorrow and so the GM will be made available and maybe we'll have a better explanation at that time. But one way or another, this is still the most puzzling release, the most puzzling move of roster cut down.

[00:10:32]Yeah, the GM is Ohima Niadin is how we say that. Um, >> thank you.

[00:10:38]>> Uh, but yes, I mean, just super puzzling decision-m by her and by that organization. I think it's also worth noting, you know, if you go back to last year's draft, um, they take Joyce um, in the first round who who has still not joined this team, is still not a member of the Valkyries. Um, in the second round they take Cheyenne Sers who also did not make it out of training camp with them. And this year they have waved Marta Suarez and their other second round pick, Duke's Ashlin Jackson. So now you're talking about back-to back drafts where your top two picks are not helping your roster whatsoever. And so I think while they have done a good job in free agency and in the expansion draft where they initially built this team, um, at the college draft, the amateur draft, if you will, has been a miss for them these first two goarounds.

[00:11:33]>> There's a Travis Hunter joke there somewhere, but I will refrain. Also, shout out Cheyenne Sellers. Uh, doing great here with the Jacksonville Waves.

[00:11:40]The Upshot League is going to debut on May 15th.

[00:11:43]>> Oh, is she playing for the Jacksonville team? She is indeed. And uh I caught up with uh coach Jess Boji today on our Upshot League coaches show on Action News Jacks and she said the knee's great. Everything she is healthy and that's of course very exciting to hear for a player who we all rooted for when she was at Maryland in college ranks and unfortunately just did not pan out with the Valkyries. But I do remember kind of real quick just like when Cheyenne got waved, there was obviously an injury history to combat with, but also it it was a similar comment from Nas about like, "Oh, she didn't fit." Well, then why did you draft? I I digress. We have to keep it moving.

[00:12:17]>> And that's the thing. Just one more point. Like it you should know I feel like going into the draft if this player is a personality fit for you. like how like don't you guys spend all off season like researching the college players and and I mean and >> Natalie GM I know the GM picks the players but if there's not a conversation being had >> Yeah.

[00:12:41]>> I mean and Natalie Nass I mean I I don't know if this was quite the case with a with Ashlin Jackson but Natalie Nass has been around Duke as an assistant coach with Team USA under Carol and so I I just find it all weird. I find it very weird roster decision making.

[00:12:59]>> Well, speaking of weird roster moves on a Monday, um Haley Vanlith was released by the Chicago Sky today, folks, after being their first round pick in 2025. I want you to also remember this is number two in this week's starting five, by the way. Um I want you to remember that while there have been plenty of changes in Chicago, the head coach is still Tyler Marsh. And so when Tyler Marsh and sources around the Chicago sky hint at, well, she never really was going to be a scheme fit for what we want to do, what exactly is it that you want to do? Are you going to reinvent the wheel? Cuz when you drafted her last year, wasn't the intent. She was a building block for you, considering you spent, yes, I know it was the 12th overall pick, but you spent a first round pick on the former Louisville, LSU, and TCU guard. Now, where this gets very, very interesting is, of course, the fact that in her two preseason games, Haley Vanlith on April 29th, five points in 24 minutes against the Dream. Fine. Six assists, though.

[00:14:01]Good to see her being the facilitator she was throughout the course of her college career. But she dropped 20 points in 17 minutes against the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday the 25th. And so, it's not like she wasn't giving you scoring production. And I couple that with what a lot of folks in WNBA Twitter are currently dealing with, which is this idea of Courtney Vanderloot has come back from her ACL injury with a vengeance. And she has decided that she is basically the head coach of this team. And I've seen plenty of quotes that people have been floating around when she's talked about Angel Reese's departure and the decisions that she and the front office made. Also this idea of now you've got a 30 plus year old Corti Vand Derloot, a 30 plus year old Skyler Diggins. You sign a 30 plus year old Natasha Cloud for 500 plus K in lie of Haley Vanlith being waved. And this is arguably the oldest backcourt if not justifiably specifically the oldest backcourt in the W this season. And so that would suggest a team that's in win now mode, Mitch.

[00:15:09]And we don't know what the Chicago Sky are. that that's it's a long winded way of me taking a couple different bullet points and throwing it into this number two item in this week's starting five and saying when people ask me what are the sky post Angel Reese I have no idea >> I I still think this is despite everything I just said about the Valkyries this is still the worstrun organization in in the WNBA um I I mean on the surface like I don't necessarily disagree with the decision to cut bait with Haley Vanlith because going back into last year's draft, I did not think that she was a first round talent despite the really strong senior for fifthear senior season that she had at TCU. Um, I think if you just look at her makeup, like she is a small undersized guard who's not that good of a three-point shooter and has never really been that reliable of a three-point shooter. I think her best three-point shooting percentage in college was like 35% or something like that, which is fine, but you got to be a lot more better and a lot more consistent if you're going to be that size and play in the WNBA and play at the guard position. And so, um, I do think though with, you know, the expansion of rosters, um, more teams now, I do think she's gonna get a second look somewhere in the W. Like, I don't think this is it for Haley Banlith. Um, but yeah, I just I don't know what the Sky are doing. I don't if it's true that Courtney Vanderloot is like influencing front office decisions. I'm not sure why they're allowing that to happen. I I just I don't get it.

[00:16:47]>> Here's the quote, by the way. She was asked about playing the same position as Skyler Diggins. This is this past weekend. Uh she says, "Skyler's ability to score the basketball, I think, makes it so that we can really play together.

[00:16:57]She'll hold it down at the point until I get back and then when I get back we will share the position.

[00:17:02]>> Sure. How old is Courtney Vanderloot?

[00:17:04]>> Uh I have the numbers here as well. So she is Let me pull it on up. Stand by.

[00:17:09]>> Is she 40?

[00:17:10]>> She's 30 38. Hold on. This is why I need to pin tweets and not uh just have them all here. She is 35. Oh, 37. 37.

[00:17:19]>> Oh, okay. She's a little younger.

[00:17:20]>> Tyler Diggins is 35. Natasha Cloud is 34. Rachel Bam is 32. It is easily the oldest guard rotation in the W.

[00:17:28]>> Yeah. And I just like that's a collection of players that um I mean court all of their best years are behind them. I think we can agree. Um >> but this is the Chicago sky and so does it surprise anybody that they're putting together an all-star team from 2016 and being like here you go we can win now.

[00:17:44]>> Yeah. It's like the 26 backcourt Allstars plus Rakia Jackson and Camila Stevens when she gets back from injury.

[00:17:51]Yeah, took her on my fantasy >> team and injured Azer Stevens. Um I >> Camila Camila's still there. She's still hanging out.

[00:17:57]>> Yeah, Camila Cardoso. I I don't know. I don't get it. I I don't think the Sky are going to be very good this year. I don't I I don't know what if you're a fan of the Chicago Sky like I don't really know like what you latch on to for hope if I'm being honest.

[00:18:10]>> And so if you are the Valkyries, at least you can cling to this. At least you have not had as questionable an off season as the Chicago Sky who also, less we forget, traded away picks in the WNBA draft and expansion picks for what? No one really knows >> that. Well, that's the other thing about like waving Haley Vanlith is like that is a player perhaps that Toronto or Portland, especially Portland where she's she's from Washington State >> Y >> would have taken off your hands in the expansion draft >> and instead you decided to trade away draft capital to protect your roster a player like Haley Vanlith who you just decided to cut anyways. So like what what are we doing here? GM Slute is a new character on this podcast. I'm calling it now. Let's keep it moving.

[00:19:03]Number three in this week's starting five. Some breaking news this afternoon.

[00:19:06]Sabrina Yanesco will miss at least the first two weeks of the regular season after rolling her ankle in the preseason finale against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday night. Mitch, does this affect the trajectory of the New York Liberty and Christa Marco's first season at the helm at all?

[00:19:22]>> Um, I guess it depends on how long she's out for and like how much we see this linger. Um because I think fully healthy this New York Liberty squad should be competing for a title. Like when you talk about um you know they have Satu Sabali there now, Brianna Stewart's back, John Paul Jones is back, you have Sabrina Yianescu. So um I mean when we saw Sabrina at the Final Four when she was training at Team USA camp, she said she was fully healthy, ready to go. Boom, boom, boom.

[00:19:55]now you have this ankle injury. I guess we'll just have to see how long it lingers. Um, and if if it sets her back any further, um, certainly it's not the way that they want to start the season off. Um, and I would have to I mean, off the top of my head, I'm not even really sure like who the Liberty's backup guards are. I would have to >> Rebecca Gardner played okay in the preseason. I think, again, we're recording this on Monday night. I don't think she's been waved. Obviously, they still have Marine Johannes. Um, you know, once upon a time, Leon Feebach was, and I know she's more of a point guard. Well, no, she's more of a she and Sabrina play off each other, but Feebach was a all rookie selection once upon a time. So, I do think there is, it's obviously not as deep as their front court, but as we saw in the preseason game against the Fever when Caitlyn Clark was checking back in and so was John Paul Jones and she looked at her and she goes, "Man, you guys have such a big lineup." Like, I mean, they'll just go five forwards and call it a day, I think.

[00:20:53]>> Yeah. I mean, I I guess it's Feebich and um you know, Johannes. Um >> well, especially with how well like Hanzoo who's become like this cult hero in in New York, like has become like I think you're just literally like maybe you you trot her out, you play her at the five, even if that's in limited minutes, right? You got you you could play Stewie at the four >> or no, John Quell's at the four, then you put you put Stewie at the three, Sawu at the two, and I don't know. I'm just workshopping it here. like they are this this weird death star like let's have multiple players on the floor who are 6'4 or taller and we can do that because we're the Liberty.

[00:21:31]>> Yeah, I uh good luck. Uh I hope I I hope Sabrina gets back soon just, you know, for the sake of like she's a fun basketball player and the WNBA is better with her in it. Um so hopefully this doesn't linger for too much longer.

[00:21:44]>> Amen to that. And thankfully we did not have a ton of preseason injuries at the rate that we did last year in the WNBA preseason. A quick foray into the money and cents department. Number four in this week's starting five. Sportico has released the evalu or the valuations, excuse me, for everyone of the WNBA franchises that will be in action in 2026. The Golden State Valkyries. Oh, it all comes back to Golden State are currently the highest valued franchise in the W at $850 million. That is an increase of $350 million from 500 last year. As a whole, WNBA franchises went from an average of $269 million per year to $427 million per in terms of actual value. And so the Valkyries are one, the Liberty are two.

[00:22:37]I think you can certainly throw the idea of the New York and the San Francisco market and the value of a dollar in both of those markets into that conversation.

[00:22:45]The Indiana Favor are three, Seattle Storm four, Phoenix Mercury five, Las Vegas Aces six. To round out the top six, the Atlanta Dream, the lowest valued team in the W, going up from 165 million last year to a valuation of $280 million. What stood out to you, Mitch?

[00:23:06]>> Um, I think the dream being that low was one that stood out. I mean, um, but I think like if you look closely at it, like it makes sense. It's like despite being in the Atlanta market last year, they did not really have like a marquee player so to speak. That changes now with Angel Reese obviously. Um they also play in I think one of if not the smallest arenas, their regular home on a regular basis down there in College Park. Um maybe it seats 5,000 fans. I'm not entirely sure. And so that's a thing that's kind of, you know, gonna hold you back in terms of how much revenue you're generating, ticket sales. Um, so I think we're going to see them play in the Hawks Arena a lot more um this year, at least a few times anyways, and that should, you know, up that number. The other thing that stands out to me is uh Mark Davis um a big winner here because in 2021 he bought the Las Vegas Aces for $2 million and now they are worth $425 million and so uh that's a big win. Um, also I think the Seattle Storm when Klay Bennett sold them back in like 2008, they were sold for like a million or something like that and now they're worth, you know, you know, half a billion dollars or whatever. So, the people who invested early in the WNBA, like they're they're the big winners here. The people that kind of held on or, you know, whatever, uh, they're they're doing good.

[00:24:32]>> And the Valkyries the largest jumper in terms of total valuation year-over-year.

[00:24:37]again, $350 million increase from 2025 to 2026. Very fascinated to see how much of that is just the buzz that's been generated around an expansion team that then advanced to the postseason in year one versus the idea of so many people investing in the Bay Area's women's sports marquee. We'll call it marquee with all due respect to the soccer and other sports franchises out there in the San Francisco area. The marquee women's sports professional franchise in the San Francisco area. I also want to note the Dallas Wings real quick. Um, just because that's my sleeper pick. I know we're going to talk regular season a little bit later in the program. I don't think it was a fluke that they beat the Liberty by 18 in the preseason finale. I don't. Um, this is a team that they can hurt you in a variety of ways. It's also not just because their head coach is a friend of the program. Their valuation in 2025, they were worth $195 million.

[00:25:31]Now worth $325 million. I believe that's only going to continue to grow with back-to-back number one overall picks.

[00:25:37]Two of the most marketable faces in women's basketball. Paige Beckers, a FUD now in Dallas for the long term.

[00:25:46]>> Yeah, I think Dallas is going to be really good this year. I think I mean I think they're a playoff team and we'll see what happens.

[00:25:52]>> We'll we'll talk about that in a second.

[00:25:54]We have to round out this week's starting five. We gave Mitch the shout out last week on our abbreviated version of the pod for officially now full-time women's sports columnist columnist or reporter at USA Today.

[00:26:05]>> Oh, I'm just a reporter. Senior >> women's sports lead senior women's sports reporter at USA Today. And one of your fun stories out this week post vacation is with Plum Dog.

[00:26:17]>> That's right. Uh, so last week, um, I talked with Kelsey Plum and then I wrote a story about a bourbon that she has out with Makers Mark, which I thought was really fun. And I was sent a bottle.

[00:26:31]>> So, we're we're going to I'm going to open it here on the podcast.

[00:26:35]>> Next week, and we were going to live test it next week on the pod, but yes, you can test it here. I'm excited.

[00:26:39]>> Uh, well, yeah, I can bring you some next week.

[00:26:41]>> Okay, good.

[00:26:42]>> I won't drink all of it right now, but we're we're going to try. So this is called uh yam jam.

[00:26:50]>> Yam what's the inspiration behind that?

[00:26:53]>> So it is supposed to have notes of sweet potato.

[00:26:57]>> Um and so this is through Makers Mark's uh private selection program and um I believe you can buy it in Los Angeles where Kelsey Plum plays for the Sparks and just signed a contract that was $1 short of a million. Um, and uh, some of the proceeds for Yam Jam are going towards the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. Um, and you know, we know all about all the wildfires out in California, but also Kelsey Splum's brother is a firefighter, so there's the tie in there. So, we're just gonna >> Oh, just, you know, he's going to pour himself a little a little something something here live on the pod. And he's not tasted this yet, folks.

[00:27:40]>> I have not. This is the first one.

[00:27:42]>> He's going without ice.

[00:27:43]>> We got We got We're >> He's He's tossing it back. Okay. Not sipping. We're going for the full effect.

[00:27:52]>> Does it taste like yams?

[00:27:54]>> It's got It's got kind of that spice that like you would expect a little bit in the sweet potato. Um it's good. I approve. I I think now I have to go make sweet potatoes after we record today's episode because I was on the fence. But now knowing yam jam is actually inspired by the sweet potato. I feel like now I'm legally required.

[00:28:14]>> So she told me uh quote, "I wanted to do something that's more of a barbecue or holiday vibe, you know, like with the family. I love sweet potatoes, so it's kind of like a vanilla spicy almond note." I kind of I'm kind of getting some of that, especially the vanilla.

[00:28:28]Um, who doesn't love the sweet potato?

[00:28:31]Kelsey Plum said. Um, so yeah, that's Kelsey Plum's uh bourbon from Makers Mark. Shout out to Kelsey Plum. Um, and she also has a cigar out. Um, so I asked her if those pair together nicely.

[00:28:45]>> She uh, yeah, I don't know. She hasn't tried them together yet, so waiting to hear back on that.

[00:28:50]>> Plum Dog open invitation. You can try them together on the women's basketball podcast. More than happy to have you.

[00:28:56]>> We'll have you. There's another droplet.

[00:28:57]So, >> and some yam jam. We're here for it. We both will drink your bourbon with you. I promise.

[00:29:02]>> Um, she also is going to be signing a new shoe deal apparently soon because her her deal with Under Armour is up.

[00:29:09]Um, but she wouldn't tell me who. Um, she said she's not one to kiss and tell.

[00:29:14]So, uh, we'll see. We'll see what happens.

[00:29:18]>> I was going to say something, but I will refrain. Um, but hey, listen, uh, you know, whether it's Under Armour re-upping or if another brand swoops on in, uh, again, we're more than happy if you want to announce the shoe brand, too. We can make we could do all three.

[00:29:30]Everything but the kitchen sink. Plum dog. Just let me know when.

[00:29:33]>> TBD.

[00:29:34]>> We're here. We're here. That's this week's starting five. Let's keep it moving. Let's get to everyone's favorite segment.

[00:29:43]>> Pure beef.

[00:29:51]>> Not only was Mitch Northam texting me Saturday night outraged at Marta Suarez being waved. I said, "Mitch, that's obviously going to be in the starting five. That's WNBA news. I have a personal beef and we need to discuss it." And I was happy to see it. Maybe it's because our phones are listening to us and so the algorithm delivered, Mitch. Um, but I was not the only one who was struggling with the WNBA app or lack thereof this preseason weekend. And now, mind you, if you have a WNBA ID, even if you do not have League Pass, you were allowed to stream those preseason games that were not nationally televised for free. At the same time, I was trying to watch the Indiana Fever against Nigeria, doing exactly that, wma.com. But I would like to watch it on my TV. I don't want to have to I know it's old school. I know it's first world problems. I don't want to have to chcast. I don't want to have to plug an adapter into my smart TV from my laptop in order for me to stream a WNBA game. I want it to be as simple as, okay, you're not on YouTube TV, you're not on Peacock. That's fine. I just slip on over to the app store. I click WNBA app and away we go. I can click on that. It'll say Nigeria versus Indiana Fever. Click here to play. I can log in with the ID and we keep it moving. Instead, I had to use the internet browser on my Samsung smart TV to even attempt to watch this game on my television. Mitch, and I know it's first world problems, but then in looking online and seeing not only how many people were struggling with the mobile app of the WNBA app, but our friend Rebecca Copelman told me that Friday night, not only was the Minnesota Lynx game blacked out in the Midwest because of, wait for it, much like MLB TV, regional restrictions, but there was another preseason game that she and her husband were watching.

[00:31:47]and you could hear the Timberwolves Nuggets NBA playbyplay audio over this WNBA game on League Pass. And so my beef is with Kathy Angleberg again. Um, and my beef is with the league. It's 2026 and I understand we have just surpassed the threshold of having to have dedicated fans periscoping preseason games in order for us to watch them on Twitter. I understand we just got through that two years ago, if not a year ago. But I don't think it's much to ask, especially when this is a league that is owned and operated by the NBA that has an app. And I just don't understand why the WNBA can't just simply have someone create this on a smart TV. It's not asking that much.

[00:32:29]>> Yeah. Uh the lack of a smart TV app is is problematic. I >> Every local news station in America now has an app. I don't know if everyone knows that, but like every one of your local television stations has created an app where you can just watch their content.

[00:32:43]>> Yeah. I remember the NBA League pass app. It's been probably 10 years since I've even used it. Um, but it used to be pretty functional, I thought. Um, so I don't understand why the WNBA doesn't have its own thing. I will just say, um, I don't know.

[00:33:01]I know it's good for the WNBA to kind of diversify its media in terms of where it puts games. I don't know if this is maybe too much. I'll I'll just read you a paragraph um that that I wrote when I wrote about the national uh broadcasting schedule for the WNBA season. So, I I'll just read you the sentence. Games will appear on ABC and ESPN platforms, CBS and Paramount Plus, NBC and Peacock, the USA Network, NBA TV, Amazon Prime, and ION. So, that's nine TV and streaming partners. It's a lot.

[00:33:42]It's a lot to keep track of. I mean, you're you're basically asking your fans to before they turn on a game to Google where is that game being aired is essentially what you're doing. Um, and I it's kind it's kind of a problem for like two sports that I really like to watch. Um, the WNBA and NASCAR.

[00:34:04]NASCAR also has like, oh, for these couple months it's on TNT and then these couple months it's on Amazon and then it's on Fox and but the O'Reilly races are on the CW and the trucks are on FS1 and it's I it is nice. I I think like when you know we get the football season and like we know what channels the NFL are on for the most part. We have those couple oneoff you know >> and there are more coming. those one-off games in Europe are like this is streamed on Yahoo or this is on Netflix.

[00:34:34]Um, you know, but your Thursday nights are on Amazon, your Sunday nights are on ESPN, your Sunday afternoons are on CBS.

[00:34:41]>> Sunday nights are NBC, but yes, continue >> NBC. Um, and then your Monday Night Football is on ESPN. Um, and then when you get to college football, like you know, I know that SEC football games are either on the SEC network or ESPN platforms, right? the ACC is either on the ACC network or ESPN platforms or occasionally the CW. Um, so I just it's nice to kind of just know off top of your head where a game might be without having to look it up on your phone every time. Like, >> but even then all those like all those networks you just listed, if you have cable or YouTube TV or whatever TV streaming service you have, >> Yeah.

[00:35:20]>> they're all accessible. Yeah, I mean everything from ION to USA Network's on my YouTube TV and the dedication to League Pass I'm absolutely here for and the proliferation of it. But if we're going to lean into League Pass, >> then make it accessible on your television, folks. I don't like and I part of me feels like and this is the last thing I'll say on it before we get to our honorable mention for Beef of the Week. Um, the last thing I will say is that given that Adam Silver has made comments about our league is for the generation that just wants to watch highlights and they want to watch them on our phone, that is where I do look at this and I say, are they just so focused on the mobile app, which also craps out, that they are not thinking about the fact that those same highlight driven fans would rather just watch YouTube on their smart TV and not their laptop. top like maybe they did 10 years ago.

[00:36:15]>> Yeah, it's a shame. I think um you know I mean we say this all the time about women's college basketball, right? When we get to feast week and we have our complaints about flow and baller TV. If you want your product to be consumed, make it accessible and make the accessibility as easy as possible for fans to find it. Um, if you have to jump through all these hoops with League Pass or trying to chcast on your TV or, you know, college paying for some BS subscription service like Baller TV, you've you've lost the plot. You've you've lost the battle. It's It's a problem.

[00:36:53]>> Speaking of it's not too hard. Honorable mention this week and producer Dmitri, I almost feel like we need like some sort of music behind this. Mitch, did you see the Indiana Fever motivational speech?

[00:37:04]I'm going to read it aloud for those who haven't.

[00:37:07]>> It was absolutely written by Chat GPT.

[00:37:10]>> It's different now. You see it in the way we play. You feel it in how we rise because this team doesn't break. This team doesn't quit. And our people don't wait for permission to show up big.

[00:37:21]Resilience isn't a buzzword here. It's a reflex. The refusal to fold. And our fans, they're not a backdrop. They're a force. They show up early. They show up loud. They show up everywhere. This isn't a moment. It's a pattern. A team that refuses to be ordinary. A fan base that refuses to shrink and a state that does things its own way. So, if you're just noticing us, here's the truth. What you're seeing isn't a phrase. That is spelled correctly. I thought it wasn't.

[00:37:50]We're not going away. This is Fever Basketball. Now, you know.

[00:37:56]>> Um, yeah. I don't know if that was written to be like read on some hype video by like a Morgan Freeman or some other guy with like a super deep voice and like this is fever basketball.

[00:38:10]Resilience is a reflex. Like what does that mean? What are we doing here? They should have gotten Carol Lawson to to write their their motivational message.

[00:38:20]>> Yes. Do hard better. But also what's funny is this graphic came on the heels or maybe it was an inverse um of the Caitlyn Clark graphic where she literally called them out and she said that's not my hand. You used >> Yeah. Just a real fake hand. Okay. I >> I don't know what this fever like it's not that hard. You have pictures of Caitlyn. Like just >> there are so many >> there are millions of Fever fans who would write this for you and then you could have them presenting it. I don't know. It's just kind of weird to just slap it on a graphic and call it a day.

[00:38:47]There are also so many talented creatives working in the women's basketball space when you I mean from graphics to photography to even I mean just hire a writer to to write this for you. Like I just don't stop using AI slop people.

[00:39:07]Just the only thing that AI is good for is uh the thing well yes um there are some things AI is good for but jokingly um is me making a X-Men like comic book cover that has Asia Wilson is great as Jean Gray which I posted on my Twitter account um which put Becky Hammond in the Professor X wheelchair which I thought was a nice touch um that that was a good thing I used AI yeah real nice um yeah don't don't use it for things that like you're going to actually share as like a serious thing with your fans. Um, I I would advise against that.

[00:39:43]>> Who would have thought that Mitch and I had so much strife with the W and its various ancillary media wings. I don't even know how to describe it. But that is this week's beef of the week. Do better Kathy. Do better Indiana Fever admin. It is time to make money with Mitch. Opening weekend edition. And folks, well, we're going to run through the opening weekend slate in the W, this week's Making Money with Mitch, some futures bets. Let's see what we got today, Mitch.

[00:40:13]>> So, uh, yeah, I went on DraftKings ahead of the show and I was just kind of looking at futures for like, you know, League Awards. Um, and there was a couple picks I think that stood out to me as like if you're trying to find value and trying a way to make money.

[00:40:30]Um, these are some picks that I would maybe take a look at. So, um, you go to the rookie of the year ballot and obviously a FUD is your favorite at plus 280 >> despite the preseason she's had, but continue.

[00:40:44]>> So, there's that. Um, and then following her is Olivia Miles at plus 360. Awa Fam at plus425, Lauren Betts at plus 700, Fl Johnson at plus 750, and then Georgia Amore at plus a,000. Now, I didn't even realize I guess this this is NBA rules. This is, you know, like if you're hurt your rookie year, you're still eligible for rookie of the year the next year. Who won that? Was that John Wall or Blake Griffin one year who did that?

[00:41:13]>> I believe it would have been I forget which one, but yes, it was one of them.

[00:41:16]>> Um >> Joel Embiid, too.

[00:41:18]>> Yeah. So, and then next up behind them is Kiki Rice at plus,200. Kiki Rice is the pick that I like here because number one, I think she's playing for a really good head coach. Not that the others aren't, but she is the point guard of that team probably. Um, and so she's going to have the ball in her hands a whole lot. And I think a lot of times when we look at rookie of the year, we're looking at stats, we're looking at impact. um she is somebody who might have the resume by the end of the year to make a strong case for rookie of the year if some of these other players like Lauren Betts probably isn't going to start. Um I don't know if Johnson Johnson's going to start. Um Awa Fam the same thing. Olivia Miles, same thing. Um Ay Fud, I don't know if she's going to start either. I think out of those like you know uh Kiki Rice probably in best position I think to pile up the sort of numbers that you would want for rookie of the year.

[00:42:15]>> So do you think it's her and Britney Sykes in the back court together >> potentially? Yeah, I think I mean Sykes is is kind of more of a two guard combo guard anyways. Um so I think that could work.

[00:42:24]>> And Julie Alman obviously has a lot of love in the streets, the Belgian native um who played last year with LA and wellraveled as well. Uh, no, I agree.

[00:42:32]And I I said this on the Upshot League TV show today, too. I said like when I look at which of the two expansion teams has the blueprint has the framework to succeed.

[00:42:44]>> Oh, yeah. Toronto.

[00:42:45]>> It's Toronto undoubtedly. And I say that and of course this time a year ago, we thought the Valky's roster was malpractice. And you could say that about the Portland Buer right now. And look, the Valkyries made the postseason.

[00:42:57]So maybe I'm just dumb. But Sandy Brontel has won a WNBA title before.

[00:43:02]>> Yes.

[00:43:02]>> Has has won multiple awards, has put a staff together that has pedigree. And I think the fact that Kiki is not going to ask to be the face of that franchise early on. I know we've debunked the myth. She's no longer perhaps that not a main character, but thrust into a main character role like she was at UCLA. She has shed that layer. But I think that this is a really well- constructed roster from the perspective of not too much is going to be asked of her. She's not going to be the face of this franchise year one, even if we all know for the long term she really is.

[00:43:37]>> Yeah. I think like if you look at the Tempo's roster, like you have Kiki Rice, you have Marina Mabry. Marina Mabry is not a point guard. Um I mean I look at the rest of this roster and really like the only other player who really plays the point is Sykes and then a little bit of Julie Alamand. Um, so I I I just like Keith Rice to succeed in that situation and obviously she was a really good head coach.

[00:44:02]>> A lot of people are saying the same thing with Olivia Miles going to play for Cheryl Reev. Like >> Cheryl point guard, she develops players in general. It's part of why Bridget Carlton was the number one pick in the expansion draft this year because she was developed over the last what seven years now by Cheryl. And so I also respect people who view it through that lens. We've also joked a time or two on this program or at the very least I have joked away from this program about the memes about Olivia Miles and the fact that if someone sets a screen on like if Britney Grinder sets a screen on Olivia Miles like the glasses are going to go flying like there's been some very funny memes out there on the internet. I do think Olivia Miles has the heart of a champion and she's she's tough enough to to play in the W for a very long time, but I do think there will be a little bit more of a transition for her. And I think a lot of that also has to do with the style of basketball and again the framework of the roster in Toronto compared to Minnesota where we don't even know when Nisa Kalier is going to be available.

[00:44:56]>> Right. That's the other thing. You don't you don't know when your when your top dog is going to be available. I would say if you're looking at between A Flood and Olivia Miles, I would pick Olivia Miles to to take rookie of the year over A Flood at this moment in time. Um, on to the second pick that I liked. Um, you go look at the defensive player of the year odds. Asia Wilson obviously your favorite at plus 250. Aaliyah Boston at plus 850. Alana Smith who was co-defensive player of the year last year plus 900. And then we have Angel Reese at plus 1000. And I like Angel Reese here. I think if Angel Ree has another season where she's, you know, leading the WNBA in rebounds, um, and, you know, racking up some blocks and kind of becoming that defensive anchor for Carl Smemesco's team. If the Atlanta Dream are are contending again, I I like Angel to be in position to win that award. Um, I think that uh the people in Atlanta are going to kind of rally around her. I think she's going to bring a lot of juice and energy to that to that roster. Um, and so I she's a pick that I like there.

[00:46:05]>> Can we reflect upon Britney Grryer draining threes in the preseason for Connecticut and people were like, "Whoa, where'd that come from?" Well, last year she spent in Atlanta with Carlos. You're going to shoot threes.

[00:46:17]>> She can do that now.

[00:46:18]>> I I don't know if Angel Reese can do that, but maybe she's going to learn.

[00:46:21]Maybe she gonna learn. Now, I am interested. And we spent most of last year's season discussing on this very podcast, Mitch, that Angel Reese needed to go to a team where she's the third or fourth option. And that's what she is in Atlanta. And I believe that that will not only allow for her to have a runway to develop on the offensive end and not feel this pressure of you need to shoot every time you have the basketball, but also I do think that you can now bring her in specifically to be a lock down defender as opposed to saying you have to have the ball in your hands and you're the primary facilitator. Oh, and you also are a leading rebounder. Oh, and also no one else can shoot on this team. You have to try to create your own shot as well.

[00:47:03]>> Yeah. I mean, that might be kind of what her role is in Atlanta is like, "Hey, you're our top dog on defense. We need you to set the tone on that end." On the offensive end, grab our missed threes and put them suckers back in. Um, so I we'll see. I I was texting with when the trade happened, I was texting with a couple um WNBA coaches and just some other, you know, some other college coaches and stuff. And the consensus was all like, if anyone can turn Angel Reese into a three-point shooter, it's Carl Smeco. If he can't do it, nobody can.

[00:47:33]>> It's over. We'll see.

[00:47:34]>> It's over. Well, Kevin was still critiquing her her shooting form to me today. So, I mean, listen, everyone's going to be a critic, but a lot of people questioned BG. And now BG smooth as butter from beyond the arc yesterday.

[00:47:46]And the the folks in Connecticut, I don't think they were expecting that when they signed her. So, Carl worked another miracle. Maybe he can do it with Angel, too.

[00:47:52]>> Yeah. Um, on to most improved player.

[00:47:56]Um, we have Dominique Malanga at plus 180. Sonia Citron at plus 750. And then the pick I like here, Cameron Brink at plus 10,000. I think if Cameron Brink has a fully healthy season, um we and if the sparks are good, I think she wins this award going away. Um we haven't seen a full WNBA season from her yet because of the injuries. Um, and a lot of times this award kind of goes to, oh, you bounced back from an injury or, you know, you're a rookie who hasn't quite hit your ceiling yet. Um, so I I think she's in position to win this award. I also think it helps out a lot that she's now playing alongside like a seasoned veteran in the front court in Neo Gum.

[00:48:43]And so I think that's going to help a lot. Um, yeah, I think I think if Cameron Brink stays healthy, she she's in a good position to win this. What do you make of Lim Roberts's comments from over the weekend about if we were to roll the ball out today, Cam's coming off the bench?

[00:48:56]>> Oh, I missed that. I didn't see that.

[00:48:58]>> Yeah. So, I mean, but I still think I I agree. I still think it's good. It's there's value to be had because I don't think I think that she was saying that because of Naneka Aumake coming back to Los Angeles for one last ride. Um, here's the full quote. She says, "I think starting is a much bigger deal to fans than it is to winning as a coach.

[00:49:16]It's not just about who starts, it's about the rotation and how you can keep momentum going. I also think Neka and Diera have more minutes under their belt, more experience. Cam has only played 33 games in two seasons. She's finally fully healthy. She wasn't fully healthy last year.

[00:49:29]>> Great off season. She's going to play a ton. She's going to be a huge piece for us. But to me, starting is just not that big a deal. She's going to be in big moments and big games and a huge part of our season. I think the other side of that is her learning from someone like Naneka, as you alluded to, Mitch. Yeah, they had a relationship before just both being Stanford grads. The NECA's kind of taking on the big sister vibe with Cam.

[00:49:48]I think it's going to be a great dynamic.

[00:49:50]>> So, they're going to play a little small ball with NECA at the five and D'Arham at the four. Okay.

[00:49:56]>> Interesting. I still think like if Cameron Brink is playing 20s something minutes a game, I think I think that works. Oh, I do too.

[00:50:04]>> Um, now that you say that, I'm gonna go look at sixth player of the year is >> maybe that's where she ultimately lands.

[00:50:10]Cameron Brink even on here for odds.

[00:50:13]>> I do like I mean I like the Sparks lineup to your point of will they make you know a splash and potentially buy for a postseason bid. Like I mean obviously we we hit the you know we hammered the Kelsey Plum offensive player of the year WNBA scoring leader for 2025. It ultimately didn't hit but she was darn close.

[00:50:30]>> She was fourth.

[00:50:31]>> Yeah. But um >> Cameron Brink is second in six six player of the year odds at plus 900. Uh, your front runner for six player of the year is Kennedy Carter. Um, which >> we'll see about that. Um, >> that's a nice blast from the past.

[00:50:46]That's just re that's just biased because it's like well the aces rotation is so tight and then she's just like the first one off the bench.

[00:50:52]>> Sophie Cunningham plus 1600 is another one that's that's interesting.

[00:50:56]>> Um, but yeah, so uh just to run through those again real quick. Rookie of the year Kiki Rice plus,200. Defensive player of the year Angel Reese plus a,000. most improved Cameron Brink plus 1000.

[00:51:07]>> The full opening week schedule on Friday night. Hopefully you're listening to this podcast before then, but even if not, 7:30 p.m. a double dipper. The Connecticut Sun travel to the New York Liberty. The Washington Mystics travel to the Toronto Tempo for the Tempo's first ever regular season game. That is on ION. Both of those games as is the third game of the evening as Golden State travels to face Seattle Saturday.

[00:51:32]Double header ABC warms my heart. You bet. The Dallas Wings, the Indiana Fever at Cambridge Fieldhouse collision course. Four number one overall selections in a single game. The Phoenix Mercury at the Aces follows at 3:30 p.m.

[00:51:48]Of course, a rematch of last year's WNBA finals. The Sky at the Portland Fire for their first ever home game, 9:00 p.m.

[00:51:55]That one is on NBA TV. And finally, and Mitch, I I'm fascinated to get your take on this. two games on Sunday. The Aces will play in the first backto back of the 2026 season. They're home on Saturday. They travel to Los Angeles Sunday for a 6:00 tip on USA. The lone game of opening weekend that is not nationally televised. The Atlanta Dream at the Minnesota Links. Have not seen that game get picked up by a national outlet. Little surprise that that is the case, especially considering it's a 7 o'clock tip off on Sunday night. Yeah, I'm guessing that the national TV schedule was made before um Angel Reese was traded because if the WNBA could have that one back, I bet they would like to have that on national TV. Um yeah, that's a bummer.

[00:52:42]>> But you like the Wings. That's that's your your sleeper pick. I would agree.

[00:52:45]>> I do. I I think the Wings are a playoff team. I just think like they they have finally have an adult as a head coach number one. Um, and somebody who uh I I have a lot of respect for and Jose Fernandez and I I just think like that guy knows ball and he's going to figure it out. Um, and you have, you know, Alana Smith was a huge free agency pickup for them, plus Jess Shepard. You have a good draft. You have a FUD. I haven't even mentioned Paige Beckers yet. I haven't mentioned Enrique Ambawala yet. Um, they they have a good team. Um, and they also have Aziah James, who I'm always rooting for as a uh a player I covered here locally at NC State.

[00:53:28]>> Shout out to the Wolfpack forever. Um, my sneaky pick, and again, this could not age well, but I I want to believe because they made us believe for a brief portion of last summer, that's the Washington Mystics. They cleared the deck last year for that threeheaded first round draft class. Three, three first round pick draft class. And then obviously Georgia Amore goes down in training camp. Sonia Citron Kiki Arifen had as good a rookie campaign as any duo we've seen in recent history. And now you bring in three more first round picks. I don't know what Lauren Betts will be at the next level, but I do know that there are not many 6'7 women walking around playing basketball professionally. Certainly.

[00:54:08]>> And so I am excited to see what they can do. Especially when you consider again Sydney Johnson, the head coach, just like defies all logic because this is a man who had one season of experience as an assistant coach in the W. He somehow gets the mystics job and this guy just he knows ball evidently >> and now he's also basically the GM because uh Widleman's out. Um is that her name?

[00:54:31]>> Yeah, I believe so.

[00:54:33]>> Um yeah, I'm rooting for Georgia Amore to to be good and to have a healthy season. uh loved covering her when she was in the ACC at Virginia Tech. Um yeah, I I really like I like the roster makeup of the Mystics and I think um you know I'm curious to see how Lauren Betts develops and like if we reach a point where it's like is it better for Shakira Austin to come off the bench? I don't know. We'll see.

[00:54:59]>> I think we're going to reach that point.

[00:55:00]But Shakira is going to start. Jamila Weidman, yes, was the GM of the Mystics.

[00:55:04]I also would just cast a little vote as we're talking futures. I I I do like what the storm are are are brewing out there in the Pacific Northwest. Also because the early returns in listening just to folks around that franchise.

[00:55:17]Sonia Raman, not a surprise, nose ball.

[00:55:19]Yeah. Like and that's really exciting I think because we do need more female head coaches who know X's and O's. In the preseason game against the Valkyries that, you know, went to, you know, came down to the wire. A lot of people who you know were there in the arena said like you could tell was not afraid of the moment sees the moment X's and O's instilled confidence in her young squad.

[00:55:41]Also we're forgetting because of the weird trade with the Valkyries they have Awa Fam and they have Flow Johnson. Oh and they got Dominique Malanga like >> yeah you have I mean they have the makings of of something I mean they have a couple that if they work out that can be franchise cornerstones for them for years to come. And I Sonia Rman I think was a good hire. She's somebody who has a really good reputation in coaching circles.

[00:56:05]>> Hey, listen. We need some young blood, some new blood in the WNBA postseason picture. We will see if we get that in 2026. Of course, we will be here every step of the way on the women's basketball podcast. It's time for last call before we get out of here. Mitch, any other headlines, news, notes that we may have missed, beginning with some other surprising cuts that you may have seen across the WNBA landscape. Tyena Mayor from the aforementioned Seattle Storm was the one that came to my mind given that she was drafted 14th overall.

[00:56:35]>> Yeah, I think the only other one for me that I already mentioned was Ashen Jackson and you know both of those are Duke players that I covered here locally. I was a little surprised that um Ty Mayare was drafted that high even though like I I think really highly of her. Like I do think like she has what it takes to play at the next level.

[00:56:52]We'll see how things kind of work out for her from here. But um those were the two that that stuck out to me. the most >> now knowing that of course they then after selecting Tyena Mayer worked that postdraft day mid-draft day trade for Fl Johnson I don't want to say they burned the pick um but it almost kind of felt like all right we're going to draft a point guard just to like potentially have as a backup to FL but we're going to keep it moving otherwise um in the mid- major ranks >> I'm fascinated how much you followed this one while on vacation Mitch >> I read about it >> I love it let's let's hear about it Brooklyn Meer South Dakota State mid- major player of the here is now playing volleyball.

[00:57:31]>> Yeah. So, I actually when I was at the Final Four, they have this college all-star game every year now. Um the day between the final four and the championship um that I went to. Again, it's a good just kind of networking sort of event to go to because there's a lot of college and WNBA coaches there. Um Brooklyn Meyer was one of two mid- major players invited to play in this game.

[00:57:50]The other one was me and a Castro from Western Illinois. So, I wrote a thing before the draft about like, hey, here's the mid- major players you need to keep an eye on headed into the WNBA draft, plus Maggie Dukan. And then, as it turns out, none of them got drafted. The only mid- major player who was selected was Davidson's Chariss Dunn. Um, shout out to her. Um, however, >> still on the Tempo's roster as of now, by the way. Yeah, I think they're doing like a draft and stash thing with her because I think she's going to play professionally this year in her native Australia and then you know Sne Brown obviously from Australia. So we'll see what that looks like in the future. But so I was kind of wondering like, all right, are these guys going to get shots and W somewhere? And I think Brooklyn Meer was weighing some offers and then yeah, it comes on my radar. Um, I get this release from South Dakota State.

[00:58:43]Actually, Brooklyn Meer is going to play volleyball next year. Um, and so she is apparently pursuing a uh master's degree at South Dakota State um in nutrition and and um dietetics. Is that how you say that? Nutrition. We'll just say that. Um, anyways, so she's pursuing a master's degree, so she was kind of thinking about sticking around South Dakota State anyways if she didn't get drafted. Um, and kind of finishing up her studies, but the NCAA has this rule where if you play four years in one sport, you can play a fifth in another sport. Um, we've seen this used a couple times. Um, and so Brooklyn Meer is going to use that to play volleyball. She's 6'2. She's apparently going to play middle blocker. Um, she played volleyball in high school. She was a varsity athlete on in in high school, three seasons of volleyball. Um, and so, yeah, I think that's super interesting and, uh, something to keep an eye on.

[00:59:40]South Dakota State's a good volleyball program. They've been to the NCAA tournament the past two years. Um, so yeah, shout out to Brooklyn Meer.

[00:59:47]>> It sounds like it sounds like academics are a focus for her. So, she probably said, "All right, well, if I'm not going to have a WNBA career, I can always go play pro basketball overseas after I maybe try this volleyball thing one more time."

[00:59:58]>> Yeah, I think that's probably the thinking there. Like, when I talked to her at that All-Star game, you know, I was kind of like, "Hey, so if you don't get drafted, like what's next?" She's like, "Well, I'll, you know, look at overseas or whatever." So, I think that was part of the equation. And it was like, "Or I can just hang out in college for another year and study and play volleyball." And >> who doesn't want to take an extra victory lap? That's all I'm saying.

[01:00:17]Next, next four from me are news and notes. First and foremost, we mentioned it a little bit previously, but now we can officially talk about it. Mitch wrote a book and you can pre-order it today, folks. Mitch, remind the folks where they can pre-order your book.

[01:00:31]>> Yeah, so you can just go to my Twitter account, Prime Time Mitch. Um, and it's pinned to the top of my profile page there. But yeah, I have a book coming out. It's called Embrace the Hard. Um, it's about my season with the North Carolina Tar Hills women's basketball team. I spent the 23 24 season kind of quasi embedded with them. Um and so yeah, it's kind of a behind the scenes a season with book um about one of the sports kind of marquee programs. Um so yeah, it'll be out December 1st, but you can pre-order it now. There's a code um I believe it's 0130 that you can use at checkout on uncress uh.com. So yeah, go check that out.

[01:01:11]Embrace the hard with Courtney Bangghart, but of course you have to do hard better with Carol Lawson. Shout out to the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils who sounded the siren at the Canes game and was she the lucky charm that allowed for the Hurricanes to advance to the next round match.

[01:01:27]>> Uh maybe uh Frio went over the Flyers um and she was wearing she >> I should say forced a game four, but yes, continue.

[01:01:35]>> Yeah. Yeah. Um showed up wearing red in her Team USA gear instead of the Duke blue. So, I thought that was a nice touch. Um, yeah, she uh she cranked the siren and got the Canes going.

[01:01:45]>> And apparently Obvious and Jillio were so inspired by Carol Lawson and the Canes that they are in Philadelphia. Is as is are the rumors true that they flew up for the Flyers game? I saw that somewhere on social media.

[01:01:56]>> I believe they are planning on going to games uh three and four in Philly. Yeah.

[01:02:01]>> And speaking of the Joe's, want to shout them out. Of course, that is where you are listening to this podcast derived from OG Triangle Media as they celebrated their three-year anniversary earlier this week. So, shout out to the Joe's. If you don't listen to our sister podcast, you should. Obvious.

[01:02:16]>> Yeah. Shout out to the O to the Joe's uh to the OG's. I went to their birthday bash on Saturday. Uh won a bottle of bourbon in the raffle and ate some leaf swine and Yeah. Yeah. I'm kind of piling up. I don't have the collection that uh Jose Fernandez or Mike Neighbors has.

[01:02:32]Um, but >> and now they work together. So, I don't even want to know what that treasure trove of riches looks like in Dallas.

[01:02:38]>> Yeah, they're they're going to be building something special there off the court as well.

[01:02:41]>> Yay. I love to hear it. Final note, uh, just programming note, our producer Dimmitri and Bmani Jones in Atlanta May 15th. That is next Friday. Not this Friday, next Friday. You can get tickets right now at bmanijonelive.com.

[01:02:58]That is in the ATL. Uh, producer Dmitri of course. Maybe next week we have him just pop in to tell us a little bit more because I am very excited to hear what Omani has in store in Atlanta next Friday.

[01:03:09]>> Going to hang out with Angel Reese.

[01:03:11]>> Oh, I like the way you think, Mitch.

[01:03:13]Anything else before we get out of here?

[01:03:15]>> Um, yeah, I'm just at uh, you know, USA Today.com. Um, I'm actually about to uh, remotely cover the AW Aussl draft uh, the softball draft tonight. Um, we got some softball stuff winding down. I'm going to be at the ACC tournament this weekend. Um, I also wrote about last week I did kind of a profile of Destiny Spurlock who is going to be the first black woman to race in NASCAR when she races in the truck series on Friday. So, you can go check that out.

[01:03:47]>> Little bit of everything over at USA Today with Mitch Northam. And so until we speak with you next week, live recorded from the ACC meeting.

[01:03:59]Beautiful, >> beautiful Amelia. Live to tape. Live to tape. Beautiful Ritz Carlton. Amelia Island. He's Mitch. I'm Mia saying we'll catch you next week. Deuces.