Confessions & The Usher Story: A Full Career Deep Dive | 50 For 50

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[UNKNOWN]: Welcome back to POD HALA.

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[SPEAKER_01]: It is a last part, last stretch of the WMBA season before playoffs.

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[SPEAKER_01]: We are also post fever, so I can't wait.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I'm really excited, you know, this last week is the last week, but man, this weekend playoff starts.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So it is going to be a pretty fun time here.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Brian's here can rottles here.

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[SPEAKER_01]: We're going to talk about a bunch of things, but first and foremost, let's start off with the Valkyries.

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[SPEAKER_01]: their back to care business to home games to wins at the second game was a little sleepier than then the first half of the first game back was very impressive.

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[SPEAKER_01]: But can Roda, you've watched the team you've been at practice, you were at both games.

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[SPEAKER_01]: What are the vibes like as far as what this team is thinking about?

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[SPEAKER_01]: As we get towards the end of the season, are they confident,

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[SPEAKER_01]: Do they feel like they're rolling?

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[SPEAKER_01]: They're ready to go like what is the feeling?

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[SPEAKER_01]: Cause you know, I think people are just kind of wondering, like, are they, do they believe that they're going to make this, this run that we all kind of hope that is going to happen?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, they 100% believe they will.

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[SPEAKER_00]: They 100% believe they will.

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[SPEAKER_00]: That that isn't even just them trying to speak something into existence.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, like if you're a fan, you never want to like quote, quote, jinx things.

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[SPEAKER_00]: If you're like, you know, those who are kind of like superstitious or mildly superstitious, I know I have been at different points in my life with my favorite teams, you know, but when you look across the landscape of the entire league, even the teams that you fancy contenders, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: They're they're dealing with something, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe a late season slump, you know, maybe a injury to a key player, you know, here

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[SPEAKER_00]: But the balconies, they don't have any of that, you know, I mean, they basically have kind of like, let's be real.

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[SPEAKER_00]: They have the luxury of being able to rest three of their key rotation players.

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[SPEAKER_00]: That is actually consistent with everything Natalie Nicosia's done all season, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like, if you're away from the team for a while, especially if you're competing in some kind of capacity, she's always going to want to kind of slowly reintegrate them into the team.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But, you know, here while other teams have

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[SPEAKER_00]: you know, like whether it's Angel Reese with Atlanta or or Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray with Vegas, no, they have to come back and you know, hit the ground running again with their team or with their respective teams.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So all of that is to say is that the Velcro is their healthy, you know, and as we've seen these last couple of days, like they're bonded death,

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[SPEAKER_00]: they just kind of continue to prove that the death is truly ready, you know, for whatever kind of situation presents itself and more importantly,

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[SPEAKER_00]: it looks like they're all peaking at the right time, you know, and I saw I mean going into it yes, they are very aware of the situation that they're in.

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[SPEAKER_00]: They definitely don't take it for granted, but there is a lot of confidence.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously they acknowledge that they still have to prove themselves, like prove themselves to, you know, the rest of the basketball landscape because for everything

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[SPEAKER_00]: they haven't had their first playoff win, you know, so let alone obviously a playoff series victory.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So they're very much singularly focused while they do say it's, you know, one game in a time, which is true.

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[SPEAKER_00]: As Natalie said the other day, like all of this though is still with the bigger picture of, let's be ready and let's be peaking at the right time, which is the playoffs.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Brian, I'm going to come back to Colorado in a second, but the last two games, they were without three of their best players, they were all inactive, which allowed some of the players who, you know, the bench, the best bench in the league, those players were able to step out into the forefront.

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[SPEAKER_01]: and play a lot of basketball.

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[SPEAKER_01]: We saw Caitlyn Chen.

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[SPEAKER_01]: She looks so comfortable shooting that three pointer the other night.

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[SPEAKER_01]: The T.C.A.A.A.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Me here was just so athletic like a pogo stick blocking shots and her and Mela so uh uh just like flexing after a block.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And then the other game, and we'll talk about her a little bit more later, but Kyla Charles had an excellent game against Seattle.

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[SPEAKER_01]: What did you see, Brian, when it came to these two games, knowing that they were without their best players, two of their best players, at least three of their best players.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And still, the team just...

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[SPEAKER_02]: play Valkyrie's basketball through and through.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Well, I think like that's kind of like their identity, you know, they play for each other and it's like next woman up and you know, you can even extend those two games to what three or four when I think that last Portland game they were without those players as well.

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[SPEAKER_02]: And you know, I think

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[SPEAKER_02]: We're probably going to talk about her, but you stay, you know, having a couple good games here.

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[SPEAKER_02]: And yeah, like you stay.

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[SPEAKER_02]: It's yeah, it's it's like the least shocking thing ever that they, you know, beat these teams and the players who stepped up and got more minutes performed well like it's like not shocking at all.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Like I think that's just kind of like who they are and and also like the players themselves that stepped up are like very talented players.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Um, also, I mean, strength, the schedule, past couple games, probably, I'm pretty easy, you know, seeing seeing Portland twice that I've had my comments about Portland on this podcast.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Looks like we get him again.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Is that, is that, do we get him again?

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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, tomorrow.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Thank God, you know.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, yeah, final final matchup against the Portland fires tomorrow.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Thank God.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Well, you know what that means is that they just played a harder schedule, you know, and no, no, that's exactly what that is exactly what that means.

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[SPEAKER_02]: It all evens out and they play it a harder first half and you know, they get to close it out here with a relatively easy schedule, but obviously the Minnesota, right?

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[SPEAKER_01]: Minnesota has to close with

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[SPEAKER_02]: Yep to two Indiana games coming up a couple other teams.

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[SPEAKER_02]: I think New York has to close with two Atlanta games.

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[SPEAKER_02]: I guess it's just the way the schedule shakes out and they had to ease your start.

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[SPEAKER_02]: You know, that's like it all kind of balances out, but yeah, Lee shocking thing ever that the Velcro's those players stepped up and performed.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So can Rado, what do you think is going to happen these last two games when it comes to minutes for Gabby and Janelle and Chechi and also, by the way, Veronica Burton who plays seemingly every minute of every game, it seems like.

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[SPEAKER_01]: are they going to kind of make sure that you know they're not running these these ladies too hot heading into the playoffs like would you expect to see a very similar style as the last two games where it's a lot of the players who we saw do well.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, as long as the bench is, I mean, they don't have to be kind of having career nights like we've seen lately with like Laticia me here, having like two of her like best scoring nights, and back to back games, you stay obviously in her young career, but kind of having like these big explosive stretches.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I don't think they need to be like that.

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[SPEAKER_00]: That like kind of level of production, but definitely if the branch is bringing the same level of tenacity, you know, and aggression, then I think it will allow for Natalie to just kind of organically manage the starters minutes, specifically all those players you listed, the feeble players, and Veronica.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, obviously they want to win and

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I think some people kind of like laughed off the discussion that we had last episode about the pursuit of the number one seed by kind of laughed it off too.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I think we were trying to just, you know, kind of play devil's advocate.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, we're all kind of we're like, this is going to be really hard, but it's still out there.

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[SPEAKER_01]: The magic number has not been clinched yet for the for the links.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, you know, again, all right, I mean, I know like as the margin between Minnesota and Golden State began to shrunk like in part of that is yes, right.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think like Minnesota, I wouldn't necessarily say they're in a slump, but

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, they weren't playing their best basketball going into the fever break and they didn't play their best basketball coming out of the fever break.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So you kind of have to wonder if the valkyries really could, you know, close out, you know, and and I want to say steel, but, you know, claim that number one seed, but regardless, I think just, you know, mentally, they want.

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[SPEAKER_00]: to close out the season on a win streak.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I think they will do what's necessary to win.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Now having said that,

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[SPEAKER_00]: I got it.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I was looking at the month, my month defensive numbers for this team, it is ridiculous.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It is ridiculous.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And the fact that they could actually finish the season with a sub 100 defensive rating isn't saying.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And they know.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I mean, again, they're what six consecutive games have held opponents under 70 points.

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[SPEAKER_00]: That's the thing.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I mean, from top to bottom.

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[SPEAKER_00]: We've talked about this.

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[SPEAKER_00]: There are players who you may not think of them individually as defensive oriented players, but they're committed and they're locked in.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I think I wouldn't be surprised if I think, you know, even the feeble players, they'll return to the rotation as early as tomorrow, but I would imagine they'll kind of be like on a on a soft.

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[SPEAKER_00]: minute.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It's not even restriction.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Just kind of like a management.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think they're definitely going to want to keep them like kind of in the low 20s, maybe 25 tops if it even needs to get there.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But you know, we'll get into it.

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[SPEAKER_00]: The deeper reserves are just

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[SPEAKER_00]: thriving with these opportunities, you know, and kind of makes you wonder, like, does, you know, if the coaching staff feels like they have even more options than they had anticipated, you know, prior to the fever break.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So,

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I think they're going to be very judicious with the starters minutes now.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not going to use a warrior's comparison.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I know we do that sometimes where it's the NBA, but I'm going to use a different sport comparison.

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[SPEAKER_01]: The 49ers beat the Rams in Australia.

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[SPEAKER_01]: There was this big hub of about the travel and coming back to the US and dealing with your body clock and all that stuff.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And the thought was that maybe this Miami Dolphins game coming up, or it was yesterday.

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[SPEAKER_01]: would be a little tougher than normal just because of that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And my biggest takeaway from that game is that the 49ers were just a very business like team they prepared, they went out, they took care of business, they did what they were supposed to do.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And then they move on like that's how you want your team to handle those scenarios.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Now the comparison here is the Valkyrie's F2 games left.

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[SPEAKER_01]: they have Portland and then they have LA two of the bottom dwellers of the league.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Now there's a there's an entire possibility that the last game of the season is meaningless and then it really doesn't matter what they do.

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[SPEAKER_01]: But until that happens, you kind of want to see them in a very business like way, like they did these these last two games, just take care of business so that you put no doubt into what happens on that basketball court.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that could be

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[SPEAKER_01]: Except with what we just talked about which was this bench has thrived and so I want to I want to I was going to save this for later But I want to bring this up now because I think it fits in perfectly Kyle Charles I was watching the Seattle game and going like oh She's looking at who's on the court and she's looking at the other team and going like

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[SPEAKER_01]: I am going to kind of do my thing here.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to get to the cup.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to shoot the three.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to take this person off the dribble.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And there, I think she probably left a few labs on the rim.

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[SPEAKER_01]: She could have had 20, but she has

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[SPEAKER_01]: such a fantastic game she looks like the fastest player on the court like and by far like just an incredible like incredibly different speed she was playing then anybody else on the court and I think sometimes because she plays such a fantastic role we don't get to see this version of her so to see that version of her against Seattle was really kind of eye opening because it was like

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[SPEAKER_01]: Wait, she's actually better than I thought she was.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I already had held her in such high regard.

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[SPEAKER_01]: How much of that, and this for both of you in karate, you can go first.

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[SPEAKER_01]: how like watching some of the players like like Charles and like Caitlin and then we'll talk about you stay as well and a me here like their ability to understand what this situation is which is okay maybe the the two and three option or the the the one and three option are not there

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[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to go and take advantage of the matchup that I have, and how, like, did that surprise you?

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[SPEAKER_01]: Did you expect it to happen?

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[SPEAKER_01]: Like, what do you think that says kind of for the rest of this regular season, and maybe even into the playoffs, the source confidence is concerned.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, with with Kyla specifically doesn't surprise me, you know, I know, friend of the show, Kinza Fakuta, uh, he was on, um, a podcast recently with No Dellsel, and he had mentioned, right, that he that Kyla Charles is his pick for most underrated player, also, uh, X factor for the team.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I couldn't agree more.

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[SPEAKER_00]: you know, Kyla specifically, I think she is like a great representation of the Valkyries kind of like team ethos, you know, in the sense as you're saying WG, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: That like,

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[SPEAKER_00]: She understands that she has a specific role, you know, and it can be very, uh, like specific or streamlined at certain times, but don't get it twisted that just because she can excel at that given role, it's not like she is incapable of doing more.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I've had multiple conversations with her throughout the season about this and, you know, I think some people, it might feel very like kind of constricting very limiting, but for her, no, you know, I think she takes a lot of pride in being able to excel at any given thing on any given night and so yeah, that last game it was I kind of tweeted out like you don't see it often, but first option Kyla Charles.

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[SPEAKER_00]: This is pretty fun, you know, and, and Cisib Powell, you know, sometimes you think like coaches are just trying to gas up their own players, but he says it all the time, she really is one of the most athletic players in the league, you know, and sometimes maybe you don't see it enough, just because, right, like, she doesn't have the ball in her hands a lot, see you, you can't see like what she could do off the dribble, but yeah, as you were saying, right, yeah, she probably, she finally did, I think.

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[SPEAKER_00]: probably smoke too layups, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I think Natalie even talked about that.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think Natalie, the way she described it is, I think Carla was a little too surprised of how open, like that she really beat her defender, like so soundly.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Here's what I thought.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I thought she was so hyped.

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[SPEAKER_01]: She almost jumped too high on her lips.

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[SPEAKER_01]: She kind of slept with her eyes herself on how high she got up on the rim.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And then it was like, oh, I better lead and then just miss that one up.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I was just like, man, there's one.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, cooking.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, we're not going to see it anytime soon.

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[SPEAKER_00]: We're definitely not going to.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I would be shocked if we saw it in the playoffs, but they've talked about it.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like, our players can dunk like they can't.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I mean, dunked in college and she, she did, she did, Kyle has dunked before.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, on a break away, like some of them, they had like, they could.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, I'm saying, oh, I'm saying is right that level of athleticism isn't too.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Um, but, you know, and so going down as you're saying, um,

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, with a me here specifically, you saw just how aggressive she is lately, especially like, you know, attacking off the dribble and that is not just something that kind of happened in the sense that Natalie had actually said that these last couple weeks, she's given both

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, attack that close out, you know, attack the close that you're going to have right like either if you're switched up and there's a guard defending you you're going to have the size advantage over them or if they play you straight up you're probably going to have the speed advantage over them so you've even seen Kia right like attack the lane and then spray out to the perimeter.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And.

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[SPEAKER_00]: to me that that's made a big difference as made a huge difference you see kind of the manner in which like you know the team is creating spacing all of a sudden right those threes are even more wide open all of a sudden you see like a usage just coming down right down the lane right for an easy assisted layup

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[SPEAKER_00]: They just all seem to get it and it's crazy as you're saying that they're all picking it up in the moment, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like one of them's like, OK, no, I'm going to need to be a little bit more aggressive on the perimeter or I'm going to need to be more aggressive on the block.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that that's why I call what I was trying to say earlier is

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, Natalie the way she described it was now, the coaching staff has even more film.

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[SPEAKER_00]: They have more film of live game reps. You have to kind of wonder, like I know a coach like Natalie, she'll, she's going to love the opportunity to be able to, you know, look at different line-up combinations, look at different patterns of actions that they can run, but at the same time, like it's kind of crazy, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: whittled down their rotation and kind of single out specific plays that they can run whereas right now it's the opposite for the balconies right it seems like all of a sudden they have all so many more options you know and so much different directions that they can go to Brian any thoughts on just what you've seen these last two games from some of these players

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[SPEAKER_02]: was that did I know that she was capable of like that offensive performance like

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[SPEAKER_02]: Like yeah, but I think like for me, like I've always kind of said on this podcast specifically, like I think Kyla Charles is an all defense caliber defender.

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[SPEAKER_02]: She's just like not a starter.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So she's not going to like get on that team unless she plays more minutes and it's a starter, but I think in terms of like the point of attack, I think she might be their one of their best point of attack defenders for guards and they have Veronica and they have Gabby, but Kyla is just so strong.

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[SPEAKER_02]: She's able to fight over screens and just like use her like

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[SPEAKER_02]: flexibility and strength to kind of navigate over screens, which is like so impressive to watch is someone like myself who I really value defense that's what I like to put that's the side of the ball I like to place where I look at it harder and longer and that it is still to the state too, like literally in my co-ed directly goes thinking of navigating screens like pilot Charles.

21:15.361 --> 21:20.725
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, but, uh, anyway, yeah, I just think she's an incredible, incredible defensive player.

21:20.765 --> 21:40.300
[SPEAKER_02]: And so to see that on the offensive side, I think for her, like she just needs to be moving and be fast and get the ball and go, steal the ball from the guard at the top of the key and just go, or, you know, like, Canara was saying, like, I think for the most part, usually we've seen the Valkyries when the ball gets passed out on the perimeter and if you're open shoot it, but seeing Kyla, I think KT does it sometimes, but seeing Kyla,

21:40.960 --> 21:55.934
[SPEAKER_02]: attack the lane from that pass, you know, is a nice sight to see because I think that's like her best offensive capability is finishing even though she, you know, missed a couple at the rim, but just to like be strong and get there, I think that that's where she has like excelled and as well as she has that move where she.

21:56.735 --> 22:07.085
[SPEAKER_02]: It's done at many times the season where she like dribbles hard to the paint bumps her defender and kind of like does like a little bit of like a turn around in the key like push floater or or shot.

22:07.185 --> 22:13.832
[SPEAKER_02]: But yeah, no, Kyla is is someone who I think when she first signed the contract and it was like

22:14.953 --> 22:22.119
[SPEAKER_02]: two years for like 600,000 a year, I think some people were like, thanks, she's getting paid like fourth highest player on this team.

22:22.719 --> 22:31.746
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think, you know, some of that's with how long she's been in the league like that that comes into effect with how much she's getting paid, but I think she's, you know, been quite incredible.

22:33.142 --> 22:44.592
[SPEAKER_02]: basically for, you know, but she's been pretty steady through the whole year, you know, just being a starter and then, you know, showing like she's for sure in the play confrontation and and and someone who has been, yeah, pretty, pretty great.

22:45.332 --> 22:46.553
[SPEAKER_01]: She's also kind of mean.

22:47.975 --> 22:58.283
[SPEAKER_02]: I think she's, yeah, it's just like she's one of those defenders where it's like, you see it with with with some defenders where it's like, I, I'm going to stop you.

22:59.352 --> 23:13.388
[SPEAKER_02]: And then you're going to like get mad about it, and I'm just going to smile, like I feel like she has moments like that where it's like people are clearly frustrated that this pest is all over them and she's just like I'm I'm just being physical and playing great defense.

23:14.998 --> 23:18.179
[SPEAKER_01]: So we got to talk about, you stay, of course.

23:19.279 --> 23:21.360
[SPEAKER_01]: She got some minutes, man.

23:21.380 --> 23:23.620
[SPEAKER_01]: It was so fun to watch her play basketball.

23:24.480 --> 23:31.102
[SPEAKER_01]: There was a couple of moments where, I think she tried to cross somebody and she got the ball stolen.

23:31.182 --> 23:33.142
[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, there's like a bad pass.

23:33.363 --> 23:37.964
[SPEAKER_01]: Not even maybe a bad pass, but a pass that was a little riskier than you usually see.

23:38.524 --> 23:41.285
[SPEAKER_01]: But other than that, I really liked the way she played.

23:41.385 --> 23:42.745
[SPEAKER_01]: She looked so comfortable.

23:43.385 --> 23:44.846
[SPEAKER_01]: shooting that corner three.

23:44.946 --> 23:47.667
[SPEAKER_01]: It just came out of her hands ever so effortlessly.

23:48.348 --> 23:51.169
[SPEAKER_01]: She initiated some things.

23:51.830 --> 23:54.611
[SPEAKER_01]: She made some really smart passes that led to buckets.

23:55.232 --> 23:59.834
[SPEAKER_01]: What a, you know, what we, we've all really asked for more playing time.

24:00.495 --> 24:02.416
[SPEAKER_01]: And I just really appreciated seeing her.

24:02.496 --> 24:06.298
[SPEAKER_01]: At least, you know, hopefully she'll get a few more minutes in these next two games,

24:13.342 --> 24:25.088
[SPEAKER_01]: In a close game, if you're trying to put your five best shooters on the floor, I think she needs to be in that lineup, doesn't mean that she's going to be getting that shot, necessarily.

24:25.708 --> 24:32.372
[SPEAKER_01]: But when it comes to the threat of shooting the long shot, she's one of the better shooters that they have.

24:32.712 --> 24:36.654
[SPEAKER_01]: And it was just great to see, Brian, what did you think about the you stay minutes?

24:37.983 --> 24:39.704
[SPEAKER_02]: I they felt they were great.

24:39.724 --> 24:53.876
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, I know when we were talking on this podcast before the break, there was a potential of a couple of games where she'd get some playing time as well as some extended playing time with Gabby and Ceci and Janelle being out and you know, we first kind of got to see it.

24:53.936 --> 25:01.022
[SPEAKER_02]: I want to say the Connecticut game where she had those really nice passes and then they played the liberty and she didn't play, but then they played Portland again and it was like,

25:01.342 --> 25:08.949
[SPEAKER_02]: Dang, like that was the game where, you know, maybe there could have been some 10 point seven assists type of outing that just kind of didn't happen.

25:09.429 --> 25:21.499
[SPEAKER_02]: And so to see them come back from the break and to see her just kind of get to show like that outside shooting, which I think is, you know, best best looking stroke on the team, one of one of the best.

25:21.539 --> 25:22.220
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Chet just got a

25:26.103 --> 25:31.918
[SPEAKER_02]: is someone who, you know, last year, when it was just me and you on the show, we were like basically

25:33.010 --> 25:35.192
[SPEAKER_02]: like look at what Kate Martin's doing right now.

25:35.492 --> 25:37.353
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, she's getting all of these open looks.

25:37.553 --> 25:40.315
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, how exciting is that gonna be once you 16.

25:40.335 --> 25:46.740
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, how exciting is that gonna be once you stay, it's to kind of go into that spot.

25:47.321 --> 25:51.784
[SPEAKER_02]: And, you know, unfortunately for you stay, it's teams been the most healthy team in the league.

25:52.244 --> 25:56.548
[SPEAKER_02]: And so that her only opportunity to get these minutes has been when it's like a forced injury.

25:56.568 --> 25:58.729
[SPEAKER_02]: It's like they literally went to a different country.

25:58.749 --> 26:01.031
[SPEAKER_02]: They couldn't even play, and that's where she gets the opportunity.

26:01.351 --> 26:05.493
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and she she absolutely shows she belong.

26:05.513 --> 26:20.558
[SPEAKER_02]: She's 20 years old and shoots the ball like that and I feel like she hasn't even really got in those games I don't think she really got to show off her best skill, which is her playmaking in her vision She just kind of got to be a three-point shooter, which is why I've been saying that Checi is the one who's been blocking her minute It's not the guards.

26:20.718 --> 26:22.118
[SPEAKER_02]: It's she is she's a three.

26:22.198 --> 26:26.540
[SPEAKER_02]: She's she's the furthest team and so you know, I think it's it's

26:27.853 --> 26:30.295
[SPEAKER_02]: feels good to see because you know, we've been saying it.

26:30.335 --> 26:31.816
[SPEAKER_02]: We feel like she's good.

26:31.916 --> 26:36.639
[SPEAKER_02]: She's great and there's a potential future all start there as well as she played.

26:36.679 --> 26:38.020
[SPEAKER_02]: I still don't see playoff minutes.

26:38.220 --> 26:47.967
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, I think that maybe once they bring everyone back if they, I think Valkyrie's court side pod was saying it or is Kenzo Marisa Jane and Joseph were like,

26:49.007 --> 26:53.950
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, maybe some of the minutes can come from decreasing Chetchies minutes, but I just we're too late in the season.

26:53.970 --> 27:00.274
[SPEAKER_02]: I think to with already such a deep playoff rotation that they have, like I don't think they can play any less than eight.

27:00.374 --> 27:04.296
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, and you could even say nine that I don't think you stay.

27:04.356 --> 27:06.137
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, and that's not even including like a me here.

27:07.258 --> 27:08.158
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't see how you stay.

27:08.178 --> 27:14.742
[SPEAKER_02]: Get into that playoff rotation, but man, what a what a nice little preview for for next year and hopefully, you know,

27:15.930 --> 27:19.912
[SPEAKER_02]: with all the roster changes that can happen with all these free agents available in the off season.

27:19.932 --> 27:25.795
[SPEAKER_02]: I hope she's on this roster, because I think she is going to get to show so much more and hopefully have a such a bigger role.

27:28.456 --> 27:39.542
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no, I mean, I'm glad that you brought up that it's essentially catchy that kind of stands in her way, on the death chart.

27:40.462 --> 27:45.045
[SPEAKER_00]: And I want to be clear, because I was talking to Kenzo and Joseph about this,

27:47.873 --> 27:56.522
[SPEAKER_00]: For the 2026 VALX, you stay is best suited at playing Chetchee's role.

27:57.162 --> 28:04.669
[SPEAKER_00]: We even know Chetchee is capable of doing more than what she is asked to do specifically on this team on this team construct.

28:05.050 --> 28:07.172
[SPEAKER_01]: We just thought the last couple weeks.

28:07.452 --> 28:07.732
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

28:07.832 --> 28:08.373
[SPEAKER_00]: Exactly.

28:08.793 --> 28:11.614
[SPEAKER_00]: And so I'm saying it's the same thing with with you stay.

28:11.774 --> 28:12.094
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

28:12.175 --> 28:15.997
[SPEAKER_00]: Like if there is a role for her to step into, it would be Chatchee's role.

28:16.097 --> 28:17.017
[SPEAKER_00]: Now I agree.

28:17.437 --> 28:18.878
[SPEAKER_00]: We are pretty late in the season now.

28:18.898 --> 28:19.258
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.

28:19.498 --> 28:20.199
[SPEAKER_00]: Two games left.

28:20.359 --> 28:25.061
[SPEAKER_00]: And then we have a, you know, game one of the playoffs a week from tomorrow or from yesterday.

28:25.081 --> 28:27.022
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, but.

28:28.023 --> 28:28.303
[SPEAKER_00]: But.

28:29.784 --> 28:31.184
[SPEAKER_00]: Uh, what I will say though is.

28:33.673 --> 28:37.255
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, Joseph ran up to me literally in media row, right?

28:37.535 --> 28:38.656
[SPEAKER_00]: He, he sits in front of me.

28:38.716 --> 28:45.499
[SPEAKER_00]: So he ran into my row and, you know, he wanted to start talking about what we were seeing, right?

28:45.579 --> 28:49.201
[SPEAKER_00]: When L.A. was going off and I said, okay, let's stop.

28:49.221 --> 28:50.622
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's look at this lineup, right?

28:51.222 --> 28:56.585
[SPEAKER_00]: The lineup was Caitlin, tip, you stay L.A. at the four.

28:56.905 --> 28:57.606
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's it.

28:57.706 --> 28:58.086
[SPEAKER_00]: Five.

28:58.746 --> 29:05.676
[SPEAKER_00]: Now he loved it because he believes that we should there should be opportunities where we should play bigger And I'm like this has become it now.

29:05.756 --> 29:06.477
[SPEAKER_00]: I know again.

29:06.537 --> 29:10.823
[SPEAKER_00]: It was Seattle and they're they're realing but at the same time

29:12.495 --> 29:30.026
[SPEAKER_00]: you know, if you're getting that level of not as a shock creation, but at least not level of rim pressure from your front court players, that completely changes the way you can use the guards and the wing, which was you stay.

29:30.907 --> 29:33.008
[SPEAKER_00]: So if they're like actually like,

29:34.268 --> 29:41.056
[SPEAKER_00]: thinking that there are opportunities, say maybe against a Washington that likes to play double big almost all the time.

29:42.117 --> 29:49.646
[SPEAKER_00]: Could then that create the scenario where you would have, right, sliding, or you want that big wing position.

29:49.806 --> 29:52.529
[SPEAKER_00]: You want someone there for a big wing, could that be catchy?

29:52.629 --> 29:53.970
[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely, and all likely it will be.

29:54.551 --> 29:57.552
[SPEAKER_00]: could it also be used to in certain situations, right?

29:57.572 --> 30:08.377
[SPEAKER_00]: The element of the additional passing that she gives you, like, I don't know, like, it all like, no, maybe she's not in the rotation, but I wouldn't be surprised if she gets like some spot minutes.

30:09.397 --> 30:15.260
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, and again, I was talking to Kenzo and Joseph Dyke is about this, like,

30:17.981 --> 30:20.843
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, way, I don't know, like we all kind of felt the same way.

30:20.923 --> 30:22.524
[SPEAKER_00]: I was just the one who said it out loud.

30:22.644 --> 30:26.447
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe I'm just being like, my typical glass have full mindset.

30:26.947 --> 30:29.729
[SPEAKER_00]: I think this relationship with you stay can be salvaged.

30:30.289 --> 30:33.832
[SPEAKER_00]: Like I really do, I really do.

30:33.872 --> 30:40.296
[SPEAKER_00]: Because now like she can actually see, oh, there really is a path to a consistent role here.

30:40.316 --> 30:43.458
[SPEAKER_00]: And again, it might not materialize this year, you know,

30:44.639 --> 31:10.902
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, with Chechi being an unrestricted free agent, I know we're getting ahead of ourselves, but I'm just saying like, no, it really, it really does look like it and, you know, when you're going to the playoffs, if you really like you said it, not only is having your five best shooters out there, but in terms of injecting a little bit more unpredictability, when teams at this point are like committed to scouting just your team and only your team, I mean,

31:12.659 --> 31:14.381
[SPEAKER_00]: That's a guy's wild card to have.

31:14.501 --> 31:16.864
[SPEAKER_00]: Like I'm not going to completely roll her out.

31:16.904 --> 31:23.491
[SPEAKER_00]: And talking to Simpal and Landon Tatum before Natalie got back from Fibha.

31:24.232 --> 31:32.500
[SPEAKER_00]: They were saying, the fact that we've seen it now, we can't just disregard it.

31:33.783 --> 31:38.467
[SPEAKER_00]: you know, like it does have to be an option, whether they go to it or not.

31:39.167 --> 31:48.055
[SPEAKER_00]: And, you know, I mean, again, you could say that's just, you know, you're trying to keep your players confident or some of that, but I think there is something to it.

31:48.455 --> 31:58.985
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'll really, really curious to see, you know, again, if the matchup depend, you know, calls for it, I could see her getting some spot minutes, you know, because I think we know some players who probably

31:59.808 --> 32:10.415
[SPEAKER_01]: are not right, and I think, you know, young player, hydraf pick, their needs to be a plan, right?

32:10.475 --> 32:11.336
[SPEAKER_01]: You need to see it.

32:11.376 --> 32:22.683
[SPEAKER_01]: You need to see, oh, how do I fit in, what does the plan for me, you know, how can I help, how can I get on the court, like you need to see that stuff, historically in the Bay Area.

32:24.303 --> 32:39.905
[SPEAKER_01]: I can think of Chris Weber and Don Nelson like just did whatever reason just did not fit my hope is that as Natalie sees her and as she sees her own fit She's like oh like that like this is a great org I can fit in in this way.

32:39.965 --> 32:41.287
[SPEAKER_01]: This is going to be a good place for me

32:41.707 --> 32:46.750
[SPEAKER_01]: But it could also be something where maybe she doesn't enjoy the style that that they play.

32:46.790 --> 32:54.594
[SPEAKER_01]: And she would rather do it somewhere else like who knows like this is all, um, you know, future stuff that they will have to figure out.

32:55.034 --> 33:00.697
[SPEAKER_01]: But in the minutes that I saw, she does things from that position.

33:02.387 --> 33:21.255
[SPEAKER_01]: that nobody else does and it gives them a different layer offensively for a back cut here or an open person here for an easy, you know, mid-range shot that just doesn't exist because the other players don't see the floor in that same way.

33:22.075 --> 33:25.997
[SPEAKER_01]: I would love to see them figure out the usage for her next year.

33:26.837 --> 33:35.843
[SPEAKER_01]: even if there are things like, you know, maybe defensively she's not, you know, seeing the rotation early enough and she's getting out on the shooter late.

33:35.863 --> 33:44.809
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe there are things like that that she will need to improve on, but you have to imagine just with the reps and just with staying in the org and the practices.

33:45.009 --> 33:51.493
[SPEAKER_01]: She's just going to get better at that stuff as she gets older because again, we say this ad nauseam.

33:51.974 --> 33:53.475
[SPEAKER_01]: She's literally 20 years old.

33:54.538 --> 33:58.179
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, there's only going to get better consistently.

33:58.279 --> 34:00.360
[SPEAKER_01]: So that is something to think about.

34:01.880 --> 34:06.182
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, let's talk about the little bit of news that had come out.

34:06.222 --> 34:20.707
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm gonna let Konrado cook on this one because he tweeted, he had several tweets out there about this, but not if in Gaul was waived and they brought in Aminata and you tell me how to pronounce the last name.

34:21.601 --> 34:21.921
[SPEAKER_01]: Guy.

34:22.542 --> 34:32.991
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm a not a guy, a signed and has some experience playing with some of the, I guess, what, Janelle and Gabby, right?

34:34.011 --> 34:36.113
[SPEAKER_01]: So with the national team, yes, with the French national team.

34:36.473 --> 34:39.996
[SPEAKER_01]: So they bring her in and they say goodbye to Nadia.

34:40.377 --> 34:41.317
[SPEAKER_01]: What, what is the,

34:42.637 --> 34:43.698
[SPEAKER_01]: Reason behind that.

34:43.798 --> 34:45.980
[SPEAKER_01]: Why now all of those things like it.

34:46.180 --> 34:53.105
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean it kind of feels a little it felt a little odd for this to happen like right right now, but I'm sure there's a reason in an explanation.

34:54.766 --> 35:00.350
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I mean again, um, obviously, you know, that's kind of what I was saying.

35:00.570 --> 35:06.815
[SPEAKER_00]: I felt that even though not a thing all was in that 12th and final spot on the main roster.

35:08.227 --> 35:22.017
[SPEAKER_00]: It was still kind of that spot where there could still tweak it, right, just because as I think a lot of people in the comments are pointing out, the team already has a pretty deep play off rotation.

35:22.657 --> 35:27.961
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, so whoever is in that 11th 12 spot, it not likely you're not really contributing in the playoffs.

35:27.981 --> 35:29.362
[SPEAKER_00]: You're like emergency death.

35:29.962 --> 35:32.884
[SPEAKER_00]: So what emergency death then would you want?

35:33.345 --> 35:36.347
[SPEAKER_00]: And so if it's not, and you know, we'd kind of talked about this.

35:36.387 --> 35:48.376
[SPEAKER_00]: The fact that on multiple times Natalie had gone to Ashton, who was on the developmental contract, as opposed to Nadia, kind of made it feel like, you know, that they're probably isn't

35:56.047 --> 36:04.954
[SPEAKER_00]: by extension, probably not much of a long term, you know, partnership between the values and and finger all.

36:05.074 --> 36:12.500
[SPEAKER_00]: So I was like, okay, if that's the case, I guess then yes, they could tweak that last spot and turns out they did.

36:12.600 --> 36:19.666
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, I had kind of wondered if perhaps they would elevate if they were to release Nautia, they would elevate Ashden that

36:20.246 --> 36:21.287
[SPEAKER_00]: apparently is not the case.

36:22.128 --> 36:25.370
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not sure what those implications are, then for that.

36:25.891 --> 36:34.618
[SPEAKER_00]: But what I will say is for Gaia, I think, in my opinion, I think this is more of a move for next season, right?

36:34.958 --> 36:39.222
[SPEAKER_00]: It is important about who finishes the season on the active roster.

36:40.497 --> 36:58.383
[SPEAKER_00]: Because those players, especially if you have less than four years of WNB experience, and you are, you know, or you're a rookie, you know, an undrafted rookie, then by finishing the season on the team's roster, the team would have exclusive restricted free agent rights on that player.

36:59.343 --> 37:00.804
[SPEAKER_00]: So in other words, it's like,

37:01.895 --> 37:04.557
[SPEAKER_00]: They're kind of getting ahead start on free agency.

37:05.277 --> 37:13.782
[SPEAKER_00]: And again, I'm going back to what we're saying, if they didn't really believe that there was a future with Fingal, it made sense then to cut ties.

37:14.203 --> 37:21.147
[SPEAKER_00]: And identify a player who you might, at least someone that you feel comfortable bringing to training camp and seeing if they're capable of

37:23.268 --> 37:26.129
[SPEAKER_00]: you know, a competing for a roster spot.

37:26.189 --> 37:30.790
[SPEAKER_00]: So for the time being, they've identified that player to be Gaia, which is totally cool.

37:31.170 --> 37:34.331
[SPEAKER_00]: Ironically, she and Fengal actually were teammates in Saragosa.

37:34.351 --> 37:38.593
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's kind of, I won't say awkward, but, you know, that's something.

37:39.793 --> 37:45.075
[SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, I mean, she's a 6-3 center, plays extreme with physical, good passer.

37:46.080 --> 37:55.914
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, known Polymore for her defense played sparingly obviously in this last world cup, but again, really high IQ, very cerebral player, very physical.

37:56.996 --> 37:57.877
[SPEAKER_00]: So that can't hurt.

37:57.897 --> 37:59.099
[SPEAKER_00]: So again, emergency death.

37:59.159 --> 37:59.700
[SPEAKER_00]: That's cool.

38:01.602 --> 38:12.307
[SPEAKER_00]: As Brian was saying before we got on air, there's a lot of highlight compilations of her shooting, which is interesting, because I think she herself would not really consider herself a shooter.

38:12.727 --> 38:19.489
[SPEAKER_00]: But again, she's expanding, she's incorporating, obviously with the Valkyries, more often than not, you'll have the green light to shoot from deep.

38:20.030 --> 38:21.510
[SPEAKER_00]: So, doesn't hurt.

38:22.771 --> 38:24.912
[SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, I wouldn't say that's probably

38:26.172 --> 38:48.542
[SPEAKER_00]: the main driving force of that transit or of that move um yeah it'll be interesting obviously that that makes uh what she's now the sixth French woman uh that has put on a Valkyries jersey at one time or another uh you know shout out Karla Lake, Ming Natore, you know so

38:55.965 --> 38:59.967
[SPEAKER_00]: the morning of after a game when they hit the road.

39:00.327 --> 39:08.091
[SPEAKER_00]: So there will be basically no media availability wither until like, hey, on game one of the playoffs, hey, nice to meet you.

39:08.652 --> 39:11.593
[SPEAKER_00]: How does it feel to, you know, be competing for the bell crease and the playoffs.

39:12.234 --> 39:12.494
[SPEAKER_00]: So.

39:13.597 --> 39:24.824
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, like the event will probably never happen, like knock on wood, like, you know, where so many players get hurt, where this, you'd have to force playing that 12 person spot.

39:25.505 --> 39:33.950
[SPEAKER_02]: Just as interesting, like at this point in the season, I kind of understand the implications of like, okay, if she ends the year with us, then we have exclusive negotiating ability, but like.

39:35.804 --> 40:00.692
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I wonder how many other teams we're checking in on this on this player as well as like yeah, like if she has to, you know, in the, in the unlikely scenario that Kia goes down or something and you, you need some spot minutes that I mean here gets everyone gets pushed up in the rotation like you'd want if the two way players can't play right me so and and prectal cannot play in the playhouse so to have someone who has, you know, not.

40:01.873 --> 40:07.459
[SPEAKER_02]: Doesn't know your playbook, doesn't know what you do, doesn't, you know, just like as an active member on the roster is interesting.

40:07.559 --> 40:08.340
[SPEAKER_02]: It's an interesting choice.

40:08.721 --> 40:13.907
[SPEAKER_02]: What happens to the two way players, so they will not be able to play in the playoffs is my understanding, right?

40:14.267 --> 40:17.791
[SPEAKER_02]: So what happens to them from a contract perspective.

40:18.912 --> 40:21.135
[SPEAKER_00]: They are essentially free agents.

40:21.535 --> 40:22.356
[SPEAKER_00]: Unless

40:24.208 --> 40:38.359
[SPEAKER_00]: You guarantee them a spot, okay, I might have like the wording, the verbiage wrong, but essentially like they can kind of, I think they essentially can become restricted for agents.

40:38.699 --> 40:42.662
[SPEAKER_00]: If you have to guarantee them a spot at training camp.

40:44.738 --> 40:47.118
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I could imagine they would probably do that, right?

40:47.138 --> 40:48.199
[SPEAKER_02]: I think so.

40:48.219 --> 40:54.460
[SPEAKER_02]: I wouldn't prechtle and so I have a guaranteed training Kim's, you know, so it feels like they could have done something like that.

40:54.480 --> 41:02.222
[SPEAKER_02]: They could have elevated prechtle and then did the two way for, but I guess the other player guy I would have to agree to that, right?

41:02.242 --> 41:07.483
[SPEAKER_02]: I guess you'd have to be like, okay, I will sign to a two way, right, or not a two way.

41:07.703 --> 41:08.803
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, from the spot.

41:10.083 --> 41:15.591
[SPEAKER_00]: From my friends who are kind of like international scouts, you know, there has been a lot of buzz.

41:16.052 --> 41:18.275
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, for Gaia in the WNBA, right?

41:18.295 --> 41:22.441
[SPEAKER_00]: Like it could be like something that was, you know, depending on who you're asking, right?

41:22.461 --> 41:23.363
[SPEAKER_00]: For example, like.

41:24.742 --> 41:52.921
[SPEAKER_00]: Why didn't nobody sign a Lena Bonavita right until the links finally did right it's kind of I don't know I think a Lena Bonavita had a little bit more momentum, but I think in certain international scouting circles that's kind of the discussion with guy it's like okay it's it's more like a matter of time until she gets like the call from a WNB team so okay I guess that call comes from the Valkyries obviously you know with with Gabby and Janelle

41:53.561 --> 42:11.815
[SPEAKER_00]: to kind of you know go to bat for her or test you know for what she's capable of that definitely doesn't hurt but you know it it is interesting because I know right now the vibes are high I just I just personally think the roster is going to look

42:12.809 --> 42:30.837
[SPEAKER_00]: fairly different next year, you know, and a lot of that is just because of the nature of contracts expiring, you know, um, so I'm all I totally respect, you know, Oh, Hamma for, you know, being forward thinking, if this is part of the motivation, you know, for this move, like I, that's, that's what per job is.

42:31.237 --> 42:31.997
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, absolutely.

42:32.717 --> 42:35.619
[SPEAKER_01]: Could be even light years.

42:37.279 --> 42:38.400
[SPEAKER_01]: The rest, now I'm just kidding.

42:39.641 --> 42:49.328
[SPEAKER_01]: Alright, so we wanted to talk about Brian wanted to talk about this as there's been some conversation about and I pulled the odds for the defensive player the year.

42:50.757 --> 43:18.018
[SPEAKER_01]: uh... gabby is actually the bedding favorite by uh... a decent amount her and her and uh... asia are the two top have the two top odds for winning defense player the year now there's a angel reese discussion happening and i saw uh... there's a red thread and they're kind of ranking like where all of these players fit and all these like defensive categories and these defensive metrics and people are are talking about angel and you know angels

43:19.299 --> 43:27.143
[SPEAKER_01]: and angels fantastic but what do you guys think about this because uh so i'll give you the the top five here.

43:27.683 --> 43:28.483
[SPEAKER_01]: Gabby's is minus 125.

43:28.503 --> 43:29.083
[SPEAKER_01]: Asia's a plus 175.

43:29.103 --> 43:30.144
[SPEAKER_01]: Shakira Austin a plus 550.

43:30.224 --> 43:30.984
[SPEAKER_01]: Angel Reese plus 1000.

43:37.887 --> 43:51.052
[SPEAKER_01]: Kia Stokes plus 9,000 so Kia's fifth in the betting odds Veronica Burton's seventh in the betting odds What do you guys think like I don't really track Defensive player the year stuff.

43:51.132 --> 44:02.037
[SPEAKER_01]: I know in the NBA it can often lean heavy towards bigs Who block shots and or active on revounds?

44:02.057 --> 44:02.417
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah

44:03.437 --> 44:16.645
[SPEAKER_01]: But Gabby being, you know, Gabby's not a big Gabby's, you know, she's, she's playing in the back court, you see her Seeing passes come before I think sometimes even the offensive player thinks they're they're throwing the pass.

44:16.665 --> 44:22.928
[SPEAKER_01]: She reads the passing lanes well She's she's out there guarding sometimes the best player on the other team.

44:23.369 --> 44:30.373
[SPEAKER_01]: So you can see that, but what do you guys think about the this award and and do you think Gabby should be the front runner?

44:30.453 --> 44:30.713
[SPEAKER_01]: Brian

44:32.468 --> 44:35.970
[SPEAKER_02]: I, yeah, home or take, yeah, I think I think this is Gabby's award.

44:37.471 --> 44:54.783
[SPEAKER_02]: It's been, I feel like going viral, I guess, today, and maybe the past couple, I think the kiosk, the kiosk dunk and put something out on Twitter, and I think it's just, it's like a classic, like, pisses off all sides, piss off all parties, you know, everyone's fan base is upset at it, so like, good job, like I think that's when it's good.

44:57.357 --> 45:01.418
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I've been seeing some discussion specifically between Gabby and Angel.

45:01.478 --> 45:05.100
[SPEAKER_02]: So it's interesting, you know, to hear, I mean, it's probably because it's Angel's fans, right?

45:05.120 --> 45:12.162
[SPEAKER_02]: She has a huge fan base so that that probably props her up and, you know, puts her in these conversations, which she deserved, deservingly, you know, belongs in.

45:12.182 --> 45:23.826
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Angel Reese is one of the better players in the league and a big fan, but I think that this is, as much as, yeah, I mean, I wonder what trying to go for here.

45:23.846 --> 45:24.687
[SPEAKER_02]: So I was looking at,

45:25.780 --> 45:39.943
[SPEAKER_02]: WMBA basketball reference and I kind of wanted to see, you know, is this like the MBA where this is historically a big award and guards or wings never really win and I mean, from the MBA side like how many times has it happened before Marcus smart.

45:41.583 --> 45:49.165
[SPEAKER_02]: Do you remember as far as defense player the years being guards right being non power for its or centers Michael Jacob in 1987.

45:50.342 --> 45:52.726
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, like I can't really remember before Martin's March.

45:52.947 --> 45:53.668
[SPEAKER_02]: So it's a glove.

45:54.489 --> 45:55.251
[SPEAKER_02]: The Jeep.

45:55.411 --> 45:58.396
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, I think so I was looking at it from the Alvin Robertson.

45:58.656 --> 46:02.122
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if he made if he won it, but he was like first team all defense.

46:02.423 --> 46:03.305
[SPEAKER_01]: I remember in the mid 80s.

46:04.567 --> 46:18.698
[SPEAKER_02]: So I was kind of looking at, you know, I admittedly, I'm not as like versed in the historic history of the W outside of like player specific players names and like, you know, who's won the championship, but like a lot of beard, 511, one at twice, 2017, 2018.

46:18.758 --> 46:24.763
[SPEAKER_02]: I had a couple of other Debbie Black in 2001.

46:24.783 --> 46:26.004
[SPEAKER_02]: I believe she is 5-3.

46:26.064 --> 46:28.546
[SPEAKER_02]: Theresa Wooderspoon, one at twice.

46:28.967 --> 46:29.427
[SPEAKER_02]: She's 5-8.

46:29.447 --> 46:30.048
[SPEAKER_02]: So it's like,

46:30.957 --> 46:48.620
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, in the in the how many every year's the W's been, you know, go in, which is, you know, not nearly as much as the NBA, there have been a couple of of guards to win this thing, although it's still predominantly like very, uh, power forward center leaning and winter last year, right?

46:48.840 --> 46:51.681
[SPEAKER_02]: Right, double winner last year in Alana Smith and Asia.

46:51.701 --> 46:56.442
[SPEAKER_02]: So I kind of went and looked at, you know, who the best defenses were in the league and who won it that year.

46:56.562 --> 47:14.746
[SPEAKER_02]: And so to look at 2025, the best defense in the league was the Minnesota links and Alana Smith got the award shared it with Asia the year before in 2024, the best defense in the league was Connecticut at 96.4, but Minnesota was right behind them at 96.5, a 0.1 difference.

47:19.767 --> 47:29.689
[SPEAKER_02]: In 2023, the Las Vegas Aces had the best defense by almost a little more than a full point in terms of defense of rating.

47:30.169 --> 47:31.270
[SPEAKER_02]: Asia Wilson gets the award.

47:31.690 --> 47:40.412
[SPEAKER_02]: So I guess what I'm trying to say here is although this isn't individual award, it usually is the best defense in the league that the player gets the award for.

47:40.532 --> 47:41.332
[SPEAKER_02]: And the Valkyries.

47:42.272 --> 47:46.014
[SPEAKER_02]: are an insane margin ahead of the next best defense.

47:46.054 --> 47:55.537
[SPEAKER_02]: The Valkyries are at a hundred and season that over could like Konrad was saying at the top of the show could dip below a hundred, which is insane in this offensive driven league where everyone's going offense.

47:55.557 --> 47:56.458
[SPEAKER_02]: I've been hearing all year.

47:56.798 --> 48:08.763
[SPEAKER_02]: All the teams are going offense and the Valkyries are set are zagging going defense where, you know, the Indian of fever have like a 117 offensive rating, something crazy like that where that doesn't, you know, that that rating is

48:11.724 --> 48:28.947
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, and to see that the Valkyries are four points ahead of the Atlanta dream for the Valkyries at a hundred point for the Atlanta dream or at one o four point nine, it's just an insane like how I know and I know that's just how many all W or all defensive caliber players they have.

48:28.967 --> 48:29.587
[SPEAKER_02]: I said it earlier.

48:29.607 --> 48:35.728
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Kyla Charles if she's a starter on a different team is an all defensive caliber player, but I know we have Veronica.

48:35.748 --> 48:36.388
[SPEAKER_02]: I know we have Gabi.

48:36.408 --> 48:39.049
[SPEAKER_02]: I know we have Kia Kia, but I think that, you know,

48:40.089 --> 48:50.293
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Gabby has to get this award and this defense has to be recognized and this hat we have to look at this in a couple of years and be like oh yeah I remember that year when the Valkyrie's defense was insane and Gabby led the charge.

48:50.313 --> 49:03.038
[SPEAKER_02]: She's the best defense a player and the best defensive team and you know I'm not going to act like I'm a savant when it comes to defensive stats you know I don't know what stat it is that you know when Gabby isn't even the primary defender on someone and she kind of like

49:03.218 --> 49:07.961
[SPEAKER_02]: leans a little bit towards them, the players like, oh, Cred, like, I don't, I don't want anything to do with this anymore.

49:08.421 --> 49:14.764
[SPEAKER_02]: Or when Gabby is looked at from the Valkyries coaching staff, and they say, hey, we need you to shut down a guard one night.

49:14.944 --> 49:16.725
[SPEAKER_02]: Okay, you know, she's guarding Caitlin Clarke.

49:16.805 --> 49:18.946
[SPEAKER_02]: And by the way, we play the New York Liberty the next night.

49:18.986 --> 49:20.167
[SPEAKER_02]: You need to guard Brianna Stewart.

49:20.707 --> 49:21.708
[SPEAKER_02]: actually be the matchup.

49:21.728 --> 49:23.590
[SPEAKER_02]: It's not that you get switched on to this person.

49:23.910 --> 49:25.512
[SPEAKER_02]: You are the primary matchup.

49:25.953 --> 49:27.534
[SPEAKER_02]: One through four can do that.

49:28.015 --> 49:29.476
[SPEAKER_02]: I think she's so versatile.

49:29.797 --> 49:42.249
[SPEAKER_02]: I think she plays the passing lanes perfectly and I think, you know, again, like there's, I feel like I don't, I don't know the stats all that well, but I know that, you know, I know a defense and I know, you know, when you, when you take a jab at a player, you know, when you're on one,

49:43.310 --> 49:57.847
[SPEAKER_02]: a person and then you know you take a jab at another player to show like hey like I'm ready to to like kind of double you if my player gets beat and you know I think Gabby has helped you know with this infectious defensive effort to kind of

49:58.508 --> 50:02.810
[SPEAKER_02]: Although the Valkyrs were a great defensive team last year and they had the identity fourth and defensive rating.

50:02.830 --> 50:08.832
[SPEAKER_02]: I think, you know, Gabby being here, being the best defensive player, being the best player on the team and and showing that that's what she's about.

50:08.872 --> 50:10.033
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, it only strengthens that.

50:10.073 --> 50:16.636
[SPEAKER_02]: I think tip A's was saying on the Valkyrs Wednesday show, like, I think Mark has asked her, like, what makes you're guys a defensive, so great.

50:16.656 --> 50:20.677
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think tip said something along the lines of like, we don't want to see each other embarrassed.

50:20.997 --> 50:24.079
[SPEAKER_02]: So like, you know, if someone gets beat, say,

50:26.219 --> 50:43.544
[SPEAKER_02]: like say tip gets beat and you know Veronica leaves her defender to go help tip and then it's Gabby tagging Veronica's defender like I know that's that's that's it's like a lot of effort and a lot of you know paying attention and and and stuff like that but that's just what this defense is and and and I think that you know

50:44.924 --> 50:57.230
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm acting as if this is a team award, but I just think that someone from this team needs to be recognized for this award, because they're all damn near viable and should have the opportunity to be a part of this, but I think it's got to be Gabby.

50:59.660 --> 51:00.060
[SPEAKER_00]: I love it.

51:01.521 --> 51:03.442
[SPEAKER_00]: You're a flow, you're in a flow statement.

51:03.582 --> 51:06.103
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, you should clip what you just said.

51:06.443 --> 51:08.884
[SPEAKER_01]: And just put it on our Instagram and just let it go.

51:10.064 --> 51:20.409
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, it's tough to follow Ryan's campaign there for Gabby, but why we'll add, though, I've spoken to

51:24.149 --> 51:26.853
[SPEAKER_00]: quite a few voters, right?

51:26.933 --> 51:31.800
[SPEAKER_00]: So some media members who were given the honor of casting their vote, right?

51:31.840 --> 51:33.061
[SPEAKER_00]: They got an official ballot.

51:34.804 --> 51:37.047
[SPEAKER_00]: I know there's a lot of online discourse for Angel.

51:37.287 --> 51:38.349
[SPEAKER_00]: Angel may very well win it.

51:38.669 --> 51:39.570
[SPEAKER_00]: Having said that, I

51:40.331 --> 51:44.094
[SPEAKER_00]: know there's a lot of voters who are going with Gabby, right?

51:44.574 --> 51:57.083
[SPEAKER_00]: And for everything that you just said about all the other valves who should be recognized for the defense, I would not be surprised if Gabby, Veronica and Kia all end up on the all defensive team.

51:57.544 --> 51:58.684
[SPEAKER_00]: I think there's a lot of momentum.

51:59.145 --> 52:04.789
[SPEAKER_00]: I've even had certain voters come to me and ask my opinion about

52:06.693 --> 52:10.294
[SPEAKER_00]: them considering Kia for defense play of the year.

52:10.354 --> 52:13.615
[SPEAKER_00]: So these things are, these thoughts are real.

52:13.655 --> 52:26.380
[SPEAKER_00]: These are not just manufactured, you know, by Valkyries fans, but you know, I had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with Kia.

52:28.128 --> 52:35.417
[SPEAKER_00]: And what I love about interviewing Kia is when you show that you really want to talk ball, she will legitimately sit down and talk ball with you.

52:36.418 --> 52:45.869
[SPEAKER_00]: And we were talking about how she is having pretty much her best and arguably most dominant.

52:46.917 --> 52:47.557
[SPEAKER_00]: season, right?

52:47.577 --> 52:50.639
[SPEAKER_00]: Like a defensive performance, season long, defensive performance.

52:51.479 --> 53:10.310
[SPEAKER_00]: And she largely agrees, part of what makes her season so much more dominant is how even when the Vox defend, like in a drop, say like a high drop, she's still defending at the level, even beyond, right?

53:11.430 --> 53:14.212
[SPEAKER_00]: And they're not conceding any dribble penetration.

53:15.187 --> 53:39.647
[SPEAKER_00]: they're not conceding any open space right for like a clean like stepbacker and thing and then she actually pointed out not by my asking she goes why am I capable of doing that I said please enlighten me she goes because of Gabby right those gaps that would normally form and other teams they're not there because of Gabby

53:40.448 --> 53:50.435
[SPEAKER_00]: What Veronica is able to do in terms of like, you know, if she occasionally fight happens to have to fight under a screen, it's because Gabby's there, right?

53:51.075 --> 54:01.562
[SPEAKER_00]: And so I know that argument against Gabby is her counting stats or stocks aren't as gody as some of her peers.

54:02.727 --> 54:13.932
[SPEAKER_00]: but as Brian was saying, when you look at defense, within, if you look at individual players to contribution to a team defense, right?

54:14.752 --> 54:24.496
[SPEAKER_00]: The Valkyries turnover rate, their rate of forcing turnovers is significantly higher when Gabby is on the court.

54:25.721 --> 54:44.507
[SPEAKER_00]: So even if she's not the one being credited for that steel or that block, you know, whatever, it's still right, like her involvement in that is what is sparring, right, more active defense of playmaking.

54:45.347 --> 54:49.849
[SPEAKER_00]: So, you know, again, can you just set it out right?

54:50.958 --> 54:58.384
[SPEAKER_00]: Gabby says the fence player of the year, you know, Veronica said the exact same thing, Kyla said the exact same thing.

54:58.404 --> 55:12.334
[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously they're her teammates, but the way they've been able to describe again, right, what maybe isn't always captured by the box core, I think is exactly what makes her so special, Spill unique and again, so so deserving.

55:12.375 --> 55:13.195
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm with you.

55:13.876 --> 55:14.836
[SPEAKER_00]: If I did have

55:16.438 --> 55:23.084
[SPEAKER_00]: a ballot, which this time next year, maybe I'll be a little saltier if I don't get one, right?

55:24.185 --> 55:28.329
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll group Ken's one there too, like he should have gone one, but whatever, right?

55:29.970 --> 55:34.335
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I think I would definitely post a vote for Gabby for DPOI.

55:36.015 --> 55:38.817
[SPEAKER_01]: So Marksburg wanted to know where Ryan Howard was on that list.

55:38.837 --> 55:42.018
[SPEAKER_01]: I think she was eight on on the odds list now.

55:42.379 --> 55:43.579
[SPEAKER_01]: Those are just betting ons, right?

55:43.599 --> 55:52.945
[SPEAKER_01]: Like that that that is just where, you know, people are putting their money in such and that I think that list was is a few days old, but what's interesting is that.

55:53.525 --> 56:07.353
[SPEAKER_01]: The reason why I found that list is because the WNBA website posted something from a draft king's author who linked to a bit mgimposals like, huh, it's kind of interesting.

56:07.993 --> 56:08.474
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's right.

56:08.494 --> 56:09.214
[SPEAKER_01]: Got the information.

56:09.234 --> 56:20.761
[SPEAKER_01]: By the way, okay, let's end this with just a conversation we've been having for the last few shows, which is end of season is here.

56:21.959 --> 56:27.447
[SPEAKER_01]: Valks got two games Minnesota's got two games Minnesota plays Indiana.

56:28.228 --> 56:35.339
[SPEAKER_01]: I know that They may not be fully you know have their full lineup going

56:37.842 --> 56:51.422
[SPEAKER_01]: what are what are we thinking of as we get closer to kind of the positioning of the black like it can imagine like you know the the valkyries as they're preparing and I'm thinking about the coaches like they're looking at

56:52.603 --> 57:09.190
[SPEAKER_01]: who they might play and it could be a couple of different teams you can't really focus your eyes on One team you may yourself may move up if you know if you win out and Minnesota loses out now That's probably not likely, but that that option is there

57:09.890 --> 57:25.363
[SPEAKER_01]: So, as we kind of look ahead to the playoffs, is there, how do you think, if you were to guess Konrad, if you were a betting man, if you were reading draft kings in bed, MGM, what do you think?

57:26.184 --> 57:28.405
[SPEAKER_01]: The valkers are going to end up playing in the first round.

57:30.647 --> 57:30.988
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean,

57:32.951 --> 57:38.619
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't even want to say the most logical because we've seen a lot of things that have defied logic, right?

57:39.200 --> 57:47.171
[SPEAKER_00]: But I feel like Washington is still the likelyest outcome.

57:50.548 --> 58:09.941
[SPEAKER_00]: Just because again, all those other teams that you listed out, a lot of them are playing each other, right, fever plays Minnesota, right, Liberty play, Atlanta Atlanta, right, so I mean,

58:12.015 --> 58:21.923
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, if Indiana happens to lose both those to Minnesota, obviously Minnesota secures the number one seed Indiana could fall to as low as seven.

58:22.964 --> 58:24.665
[SPEAKER_02]: Eight from another tweet.

58:25.246 --> 58:27.207
[SPEAKER_02]: Is there can they fall as low as eight?

58:28.849 --> 58:30.150
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know they can.

58:30.190 --> 58:35.894
[SPEAKER_01]: They're only one game ahead of three teams who are tied for six.

58:37.080 --> 58:38.441
[SPEAKER_00]: Wow, there you go.

58:39.061 --> 58:44.044
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, see you so I mean, yeah, there's a bunch of options, but I don't know.

58:44.424 --> 58:55.230
[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like, you know, if we just kind of go like, you know, the higher seed wins or whatever, the team with the better record wins, then I feel like Minnesota or not.

59:02.998 --> 59:16.273
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the team rightfully feels confident about any of the potential first round opponents, you know, it's not arrogance, but, you know, I think they've definitely gone to where they are because of what they've been able to accomplish, right?

59:16.333 --> 59:19.196
[SPEAKER_00]: By kind of, again, as Natalie would say, control what you can control.

59:20.318 --> 59:22.340
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, but yeah, I don't know.

59:22.400 --> 59:24.363
[SPEAKER_00]: It's it's so crazy.

59:25.504 --> 59:35.117
[SPEAKER_01]: Even though the Valkyries have had absolutely no problems with the liberty, I still would prefer Dallas, but Dallas is one six games in a row.

59:35.137 --> 59:35.197
[SPEAKER_01]: So.

59:36.278 --> 59:39.960
[SPEAKER_01]: they have actually started to play a lot better at the end of the season.

59:40.300 --> 59:47.504
[SPEAKER_01]: But I mean, there's no, you know, think of the Valkyries and their record and making the playoffs last year.

59:47.544 --> 59:53.146
[SPEAKER_01]: And then look at the teams who are going to be fighting for that six, seventh and eight seed this year.

59:53.166 --> 59:54.687
[SPEAKER_01]: Like it's a vast difference.

59:54.727 --> 59:59.930
[SPEAKER_01]: I think the, I think the playoffs this year, the bracket is just going to be overall stronger.

01:00:01.030 --> 01:00:03.331
[SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, I think I would want to play Dallas.

01:00:03.911 --> 01:00:06.932
[SPEAKER_01]: It would be fun to play Dallas.

01:00:08.213 --> 01:00:17.416
[SPEAKER_01]: I would not I'd probably want to avoid the mystics and the liberty, but the values of absolutely taking care of the liberty all season long.

01:00:17.456 --> 01:00:21.718
[SPEAKER_01]: So maybe that's just me being a little bit worried about that championship DNA.

01:00:21.898 --> 01:00:22.478
[SPEAKER_01]: What do you think, bro?

01:00:23.970 --> 01:00:42.072
[SPEAKER_02]: I just think it's crazy how it feels like so much can change in the last two games like starting from, you know, the foreseed onward, like it feels like, you know, I think the Aces in the Valkyries are probably like at not moving from, if it's, if they're moving, it's moving up, not down, but I think it's likely that the 1, 2, 3 is the 1, 2, 3.

01:00:43.413 --> 01:00:46.656
[SPEAKER_02]: But yeah, it's like the New York Liberty I've been on a nice little win streak.

01:00:46.676 --> 01:01:06.571
[SPEAKER_02]: They beat Minnesota, you know, like they seem very motivated to not, you know, be the eighth seed and like I imagine if they just take out Atlanta twice in a row and, you know, they jump up and it just seems like a lot is still moving, although the logical choice is yes, the Liberty.

01:01:07.231 --> 01:01:15.357
[SPEAKER_02]: play at Lanna twice, they, you know, Lanna's the better team and then the Washington, I forget what their remaining schedules, but Dallas has the easiest remaining schedule.

01:01:15.377 --> 01:01:28.908
[SPEAKER_02]: Like it is the logical thing that we probably see Washington, but I, you know, I think there is still a lot of potential and, you know, moving parts that, you know, I think there could be a little bit of an upset.

01:01:28.928 --> 01:01:32.070
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think maybe, like, what if Indiana drops?

01:01:32.351 --> 01:01:33.551
[SPEAKER_02]: But again, like Minnesota,

01:01:34.412 --> 01:01:48.648
[SPEAKER_02]: saw a report that Olivia Miles is questionable and you know what is that what does that look like they've been on a little bit of a you know and not great stretch even the Connecticut game that didn't win by maybe as much as you think they should have had being on a three game losing streak and and just like

01:01:49.509 --> 01:01:55.472
[SPEAKER_02]: you know, sending a message and just being like, you know, we're still here like I then they only went by like 10 or something to Connecticut.

01:01:55.492 --> 01:01:56.892
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't I don't know who played.

01:01:56.912 --> 01:01:57.953
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if it was garbage time.

01:01:57.973 --> 01:02:13.840
[SPEAKER_02]: They got that back to that lead, but you know, there's a chance that they could drop one or, you know, it doesn't mean the soda want to do to Indiana what they did to us and they want to see Indiana and the first round and they want to beat them twice and then and everyone else wins and that's their matchup.

01:02:14.100 --> 01:02:14.421
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.

01:02:14.641 --> 01:02:14.881
[SPEAKER_02]: So,

01:02:15.521 --> 01:02:21.466
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that's what has made this last couple of games super exciting is that it feels like so much so many possibilities.

01:02:22.107 --> 01:02:28.453
[SPEAKER_02]: But I can't remember seeing, you know, in recent history, how much movement there still is and the like everyone.

01:02:28.653 --> 01:02:29.994
[SPEAKER_02]: The top eight is the top eight.

01:02:31.055 --> 01:02:34.258
[SPEAKER_02]: Those teams will be in the playoffs, but in terms of like who could be for.

01:02:34.659 --> 01:02:38.222
[SPEAKER_02]: That could be the eighth seed tomorrow, you know, in two days, you know, that's I think that's pretty crazy.

01:02:39.740 --> 01:02:49.137
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, so we'll be back at some point later this week where kind of unsure of our schedule, but we'll definitely chat once more before the playoffs begin and then.

01:02:50.354 --> 01:02:55.915
[SPEAKER_01]: When the playoffs start, like as far as content is concerned, you know, we're going to have to figure out a rhythm to that too.

01:02:56.555 --> 01:03:03.937
[SPEAKER_01]: I would hope to do more of the post game shows during the playoffs if we can do it, but that's kind of up to everybody's schedule.

01:03:04.457 --> 01:03:05.818
[SPEAKER_01]: So, but we're going to try.

01:03:05.838 --> 01:03:08.338
[SPEAKER_01]: We're going to try our best to do as much content during the playoffs.

01:03:09.018 --> 01:03:13.719
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's, I mean, I just have fun doing it, not even, you know, thinking like we have to do it.

01:03:13.760 --> 01:03:15.360
[SPEAKER_01]: I just have a blast doing these shows.

01:03:15.400 --> 01:03:15.580
[SPEAKER_01]: So,

01:03:16.582 --> 01:03:19.549
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, that's going to be it from here.

01:03:19.950 --> 01:03:24.320
[SPEAKER_01]: So for Brian and Conrado, I am WG.

01:03:24.500 --> 01:03:27.246
[SPEAKER_01]: We will see you when we see you piece out.