Golden State Valkyries 2026 Preview: Roster News & WNBA Predictions | Podhalla

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[SPEAKER_01]: This is our preseason edition of Pot Halla, Brian and I are here to talk about the opening week of WMEA.

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[SPEAKER_01]: opening game for the Valkyries who play the storm on Friday night.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And we're going to throw out some predictions.

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[SPEAKER_01]: We'll do some WMBA predictions.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I think we have to first start with Ohemma's press conference that she did her media hit from the other day where she had a

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[SPEAKER_01]: explanation, shed an explanation of the draft day trade with Flage and Martha Suarez.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I did a video, and we also uploaded the audio of it, where I kind of gave my thoughts, I tried to connect the dots on what I thought happened.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, some of it is based on some insights from some of the reporters that I've read and the idea that maybe they had a couple of players who they thought could make their 12th person roster.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And then if those three players or two players or whoever they thought could possibly be there were not there, they were just going to punt out of the round.

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[SPEAKER_01]: which is an interesting explanation because there's only like a 70,000 difference between the salary of those picks that had they drafted at eight less.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think it was 39,000.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And then even then, you know, who are you?

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[SPEAKER_01]: who are who are you looking for to add to a team where the difference in whether or not you can sign them is thirty nine thousand dollars that that that wasn't mentioning it shouldn't name names but she did say there was a she called up she said there was an athlete that was that they were looking at so whatever that means a very cryptic statement in a sense but

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[SPEAKER_01]: They didn't think Flagee, they didn't think Marta, they didn't think anybody was going to break their 12th first and roster.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So they were trying to figure out how to not create an expectation that whom they drafted was going to break camp with the team when it was all said and done.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And it is easier from a PR perspective to cut a second

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[SPEAKER_01]: instead of a first round pick and you you you see the response from a lot of the fans on on how everything is has fallen out I think I like I kind of understand it but it the the process of it was probably very poor but what did you think of her explanation.

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[SPEAKER_00]: This whole this whole saga has been so interesting and it's something we've been talking about a lot I'm still like.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I think she botched it, but I agree, I agree with your assessment that, you know, my expectation or my prediction was that, you know, the three players that got selected before the falcaries even drafted, those were the three that I thought that that and, you know, looking back at it, those were the ones they would have wanted, which were Gabby Hawke's, Kiki Rice, and Yana Martín.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, it makes sense why they'd want Martín, you know, they

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[SPEAKER_00]: do what Portland did and and she'd stay out for an extra season similar to what they did you stay and and with Kiki like we've talked about it on this show like we feel like she'd be a great fit and then and then Gabby Hawke as who I originally wanted for this team's just the plug and play like spark plug like just

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, does all the winning hustle things that the Falqueries do like it feels like those were the three and I and I also would agree with their assessment that they thought at least one of those would be available like not geeky.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It was a shock that Gabby went as early as she did it was a little bit of a shock that he honored to so I don't totally blame them if that was the three they probably thought they probably thought flage was going to go much earlier and would kick one of those other folks back to them right right so you know, I think my my

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[SPEAKER_00]: kind of the narrative that I've been running with or kind of my assessment that I've been running with that I said at the Nathan Cannell out pod, which was you will never be able to convince me that they got a good value trade out of this.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You will never be able to convince me that trading the number 8 pick for 16 and a 28 second is good value to get back from the number 8 pick that also is not the number 8 pick anymore the moment that flage Johnson drops in my opinion that is now the fifth overall pick and it just sounds like.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Sounds like there's still there may be a little new to this trading stuff that was their first ever trade and I don't know I I thought that that was a bad value trade you can convince me however of your logic that you said makes sense and that.

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[SPEAKER_00]: you know, flage is maybe not the best fit for this team, like make sense.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I can get behind all the logic stuff, but the fact of what they got back from the trade, I don't in 20 years come back to me.

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[SPEAKER_00]: There's no way I won't change my mind.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And what supports that is for two years in a row, they have waved both of their second round picks.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yep.

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[SPEAKER_01]: and Marta Suarez today signed with Phoenix for their developmental spots.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So Marta Suarez did not even come back to Golden State to sign for their developmental spot.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So now I'll say that was our expectation when Marta got cut.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I said immediately in our discord, I didn't want to like overreact because I was like, you have to cut in order to add to the developmental spot.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I was I expected her to get.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I expected her to get waived or I expected her to be on the developmental spot, which meant that you had to waive her.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I didn't overreact when she got waived, but it's just they're just willing to like do these very unpopular things and just face the noise.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I think historically, historically, with one year on the board, but they've been able to just show everything on the court to kind of hush the outside noise.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And the moment that they stop showing stuff on the court, like,

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[SPEAKER_00]: I pray for all him as mental health and I pray because it's just going to it's already mean right now and if you're not in if you're not performing then it's just going to get louder.

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[SPEAKER_01]: There is a heavy expectation for them to be as good or better than they were in the first season.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So it's almost like outperforming the expectation of the expansion team is going to bite them in the butt if they aren't as good.

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[SPEAKER_01]: This year, and the problem with it, we'll give our thoughts on kind of how the season and what teams might be better this year and what teams might be worse.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Team like Dallas, who very clearly improved their roster and obviously have to play, but I think you can believe in in page for every team like the Sparks who they have, they are going for it.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Kelsey Plum, this is her unrestricted free agent year, like she could bail on them.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So they need to show Kelsey if they want to keep her that they're putting together a play off roster.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So those are two teams that I think we expect to be better.

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[SPEAKER_01]: There are a couple of teams we expect to not be as good, but where does that fit with the Valkyrie's expectation?

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[SPEAKER_01]: You know, fans and a lot of folks in our discord are frustrated that they only got Gabby because they expected the possibility of bringing in, you know, more than one really good free agent.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And some of this is,

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[SPEAKER_01]: you can have the money, the players need to be willing to take your money and in this shortened off season with the CBA scenario, it may not have been the best way for Golden State to market themselves to free agents.

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[SPEAKER_01]: It may have just been like, you know, you saw a lot of like one-year deals, right?

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[SPEAKER_01]: So there's a lot of like this sign and weight.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Let me figure this out again next year when I have more time when I understand the CBA more

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[SPEAKER_01]: I don't want to lock in, you know, for multiple years, not really knowing all the nuts and bolts of what this means.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So maybe next year is the year where they can actually chase that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: But if you want to chase, you're going to go big game hunting.

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[SPEAKER_01]: You also then have to show improvement from the year before to be.

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[SPEAKER_01]: the kind of a sexy team that people want to play for.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So all of that stuff is fascinating to me because like we said last year when we started this podcast, one of the reasons why I really wanted to do this is because we as fans of the Bay Area sports, we were never at the origin story of all of our favorite teams because the origin stories are back in the day.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So to be at the forefront of

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[SPEAKER_01]: the Valkyries and to see it from the beginning, I think that is so interesting and to be able to look at them through this lens that we are today.

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[SPEAKER_01]: It is great.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Now, I am not one of those fans who's like, they need to be like a top five team or this entire offseason was terrible and, you know, I'm so disappointed.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I'm way more of like a wait and see with the Valkyries.

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[SPEAKER_01]: This is not the Warriors to me, right?

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[SPEAKER_01]: The Warriors is a different animal as far as expectation.

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[SPEAKER_01]: The Valkyries and a 15 team league is way different.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm much more along the lines of, I want to see how it goes.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And then I want to have some thoughts on how it goes.

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[SPEAKER_01]: But my expectations are kind of low for what I think this team needs to be.

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[SPEAKER_01]: raising ticket prices.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And when you're selling these jerseys and when you're selling out this arena, I think it is just for people to have expectations for them to be a good team, not a championship level team.

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[SPEAKER_01]: They are not that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: But should we expect them to compete for that eight spot?

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[SPEAKER_01]: Absolutely, they showed it last year.

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[SPEAKER_01]: They showed the brand of basketball that they're playing.

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[SPEAKER_01]: What are your thoughts on kind of just the expectation of where we are in year two?

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[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, hearing what you're saying is interesting.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's,

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, I like the wait and see approach, especially because I had a lot of opinions last year that I don't think we're off base.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It's just the idea that this is a team that's never played together and organization that's never done this, like everything was brand new.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I was just like, I don't see a world and where it works out and it completely worked out.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And so I jumped the gun there,

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[SPEAKER_00]: Um, and I was like basically no, no, no, no, no, yes, and so I think this time around I'm kind of flipping that and I'm just going to start off like it could because I think there's just a few teams that, you know, have in the past couple years MBA and WMBA that have just like not really made sense on paper and then just

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[SPEAKER_00]: perform.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I think the one that always comes in my head is that Miami heat team that just was the power of friendship and just kept going on from the eighth seed and the NBA playoffs and just like on paper it just did not make sense but they just had a culture and a guy and Jimmy Butler that just kept willing them and the team was just like you know elevating all of their their floors when when it mattered most and I felt a lot of that in the

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I think when you add someone like Gabby Williams, who is just a perfect fit in that regard, sure it doesn't address the fact that they're still missing a number one score, but just to basically have another Veronica Burton like player where they, you know, play styles are a little different, but just like that grit and just, you know, the defensive capability and just I just think they're going to be the best defensive back court in the WMBA,

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[SPEAKER_00]: by far.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I think when you add that and I'm just a little bit higher on this team than I feel like most are.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that's just because I believe in what I believe in the foundation that was laid in the culture that was built in season one.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm probably going with

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[SPEAKER_00]: wings, velkaries like six through nine or whatever, it's going to five seven through nine like that.

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[SPEAKER_00]: That's probably where I'm I'm looking for them.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I think we're going to be talking about some teams soon here.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So the other move is it looks like

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[SPEAKER_01]: Ashlyn Jackson is not signing to their death spot.

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[SPEAKER_01]: She put the, I think the Connecticut sun on her Instagram page, which makes us think that that's where she's going right they did sign one player to their death spot was Amila Soa and that was that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: that happened and then it kind of created this chain reaction for everyone to go, okay, what the heck is going on?

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[SPEAKER_01]: And then we saw that swarr as what was going to Phoenix.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So they have one dev spot left and they have three players seemingly on the bubble for two spots on their roster.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Now, we don't know a hundred percent, but based on what we know about last year and what we think,

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[SPEAKER_01]: It going to come down to Caitlin Chen, Kate Martin, Latisha Amir here for two spots.

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[SPEAKER_01]: What is your prediction?

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I hope that this announcement doesn't come out like right after we're done recording.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I probably won't happen until Friday as my guess, but it could.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, it has to be done by Thursday night, I think, at the very least.

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[SPEAKER_01]: It's Thursday night.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So we should be good.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Who do you think makes the two spots and who do you think is

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[SPEAKER_00]: If it were me, if it were me, it's Caitlin or it's Kate Martin that could's waived and I'm here and Chen make the team.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying that, but it's not like obvious decision for me, but I think that just positionally what they need, that's where I'd go, but I understand, you know, that Kate Martin started in the preseason game and and it seems like, you know, she's has a big voice in the locker room and and then everyone loves her and I mean, that doesn't take away from

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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm interested to see in everything she's been talking about like I wasn't just a 3D player in Iowa.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I did all these things.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I want to see it, but so I but I think the Valkyries are probably going to wave of me here and you know, they're going to add Chen and Martin to the final 12.

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[SPEAKER_01]: that would be my guess to.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And it's unfortunate because I think a me here is really is really good.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Now, I think the idea would be, well, if we do wave one of these players, would they be available on for the developmental spot?

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[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think either of the three will make it or, and even even if they do make it, they don't have to come back to Golden State, which is how that rule works.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And as we saw last year, there was so many injuries in the WMBA players went to Euro basket.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I know there's no Euro basket this year, but there was a lot of players who were just getting signed to like these 10 day contracts or what I forgot what they were called.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But, you know, just even if a me here clears waivers and she gets added to the Valkyrie's developmental spot, how the developmental spots work is that the Valkyrie's have rights of first refusal.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I think if another team offers a me here an actual spot on the 12,

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[SPEAKER_00]: the Valkyries get to, I think they get to assess for 24 hours if they want to first add a me here to their 12.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, wow.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And if they don't, then she goes to wherever the team that offered her if she chooses to accept what I don't see why she wouldn't.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I just think that that's where we're talking about the discord about the idea of the developmental spots just being able to get poached, even if they do clear waivers, like in they do sign a developmental

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so that is going to be some more giant news for our discord when that happens when they finally lock in that final 12 and we'll be able to talk more about this wacky off season for Ohema and Natalie Nicosi.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So let's move on to expectations.

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[SPEAKER_01]: You already said, your expectation is that they actually do improve and that they're in the mix for this playoff spot for this, you know, one of these last few playoff spots, who which teams is it just Dallas and the sparks that you believe

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[SPEAKER_01]: The Valkyries will have to compete with who were not in the playoffs last year or is there anybody else like Is there an expansion team that could do with the Valkyries did the last year.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think Toronto is the one people think could do something like that, but I still don't see it.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think Chicago is a team that

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, got better.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I guess over the offseason in a weird way, but I don't think that they'll be an issue.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think it is Dallas in the sparks, becoming the sparks really leveled up.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I know, you know, Rakea Jackson being on the sky is like, that's, that's a big loss.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But they got back aerial atkins and they also, you know, resigned

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[SPEAKER_00]: Or they signed Neco Guma K who had been on the team for forever and then did those two or three seasons and Seattle and came back like that's a legit these are legit upgrades.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think the Dallas one is a little different because like yeah, they got way better, but I think continuity does matter at least to start maybe it'll take a little bit to kind of get to the level that they want to be at which makes sense and and maybe the values can take advantage of some wins well Dallas is figuring it out.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But I mean, it all does, it also does rely on page taking that leap, which I think we think she'll eventually take, but is she going to be a top five player in year two, you know, that I think it was pretty cool up, you know, Sabrina predicted her for first team, I do know that and over in case me, yeah, over Caitlyn to yeah, I think Caitlyn, Caitlyn's got some, got to, got to remind people of how good she is, I have this season, yeah, I was thinking about Caitlyn too, because

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[SPEAKER_01]: She had so much attention on her that first season.

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[SPEAKER_01]: and everybody was watching her with like a magnifying glass.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And you know that they will still do that, but now you have page.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Now you have AZ and page on the same team.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So some of that microscope may go towards Dallas because of that of that reason.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And so this might be an opportunity for Caitlin to be like, okay.

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[SPEAKER_01]: this celebrity stuff is so wild, but there's going to be a few less eyeballs on me.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And then she can focus a little bit more like I can't imagine being a professional basketball player under that microscope like this is what makes LeBron James and Steph Curry.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So amazing, right?

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[SPEAKER_01]: Just to have that mental capability to zone everything out when you're on the court knowing

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[SPEAKER_01]: that there's just millions of people ready to criticize you at any point and not only criticized by the way.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, I agree with you with Caitlyn.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I think she's going to have a pretty good season.

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[SPEAKER_01]: She just has to stay healthy, though, because she already got dinged up slightly in the pre-season.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm not going to lie, though.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I kind of feel like the Valkyries figured out how to guard her.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that Veronica Burn might be the best Caitlyn defender out there, because Caitlyn likes to kind of drive with her arm out like this.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I think Veronica,

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[SPEAKER_00]: it's like sure her upper body is strong enough to like not get totally thrown off but like pushed off by that because she could stay in front of her.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It's not like Caitlyn's like insanely quick.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It's like that arm and as well as you got to play up because of the shooting ability.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think Veronica's probably the best person in the league that can guard her.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And then you have Gabby Williams who if there's a screen, I'll guess what Gabby's on her now.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I think nice little.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Huh, nice little trap right there.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, Kailin's kind of got to show Valkyries fans that that she's Katelyn Clark because she hasn't shown us yet.

21:00.654 --> 21:09.972
[SPEAKER_00]: Like we've kind of gotten the better of her Every single time I think they played twice or three times last year and I don't think the fever beat us And I know Katelyn didn't play every single game.

21:09.992 --> 21:13.759
[SPEAKER_00]: I know she was missing in one of them, but yeah, no, okay

21:14.161 --> 21:17.854
[SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, I'm going back to the Dallas and the sparks thing.

21:18.035 --> 21:21.688
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that the sparks, if I had to guess right now, I think we're better than Dallas.

21:21.729 --> 21:23.435
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that the sparks are better than us.

21:24.719 --> 21:25.723
[SPEAKER_00]: That would be my guess.

21:26.024 --> 21:31.509
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, what about teams that were good last year, playoff teams who may fall out?

21:31.609 --> 21:35.833
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure some people think the Valkyries will be one of those teams to fall out.

21:36.814 --> 21:45.081
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm looking at Phoenix, who lost Satu Sabali, but they still come back with a team that went to the finals.

21:45.301 --> 21:49.765
[SPEAKER_01]: Team that still has Alyssa Thomas and Clea Copper to want a boner.

21:50.626 --> 21:56.031
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm also looking at the Minnesota Lynx

21:56.011 --> 22:13.227
[SPEAKER_01]: You set first or second best player in an entire league, and the thing about the Nefisa one is ankle injuries are so tricky, and you can circle the date and go, well, she'll be back by this time, but

22:13.342 --> 22:17.771
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, there's going to be, she's going to come back and be really, really good.

22:18.031 --> 22:19.915
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm just wondering about the timeline.

22:19.935 --> 22:27.289
[SPEAKER_01]: And if that gets pushed back, if it gets pushed back, Minnesota's going to have to win a lot of basketball games without her.

22:27.570 --> 22:31.858
[SPEAKER_01]: So is there anybody else in that upper echelon who you think may fall out?

22:32.199 --> 22:35.265
[SPEAKER_01]: That will allow the Valkyries to kind of compete.

22:35.245 --> 22:42.830
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, not in the upper echelon, but the obvious team that's not going to make the playoffs this year that made him last year's Seattle, like they lost, you know, just about everyone.

22:43.371 --> 22:45.057
[SPEAKER_00]: Uh, and they're completely rebuilding.

22:45.157 --> 22:46.622
[SPEAKER_00]: So they're not going to play.

22:47.632 --> 22:49.714
[SPEAKER_00]: They're not going to be in the playoffs at all.

22:50.215 --> 22:52.116
[SPEAKER_00]: But I still believe in Phoenix.

22:52.176 --> 22:53.137
[SPEAKER_00]: I think a bigger loss.

22:53.177 --> 22:54.178
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, Sat is a big loss.

22:54.218 --> 22:55.820
[SPEAKER_00]: But I just saw that Sammy Wickham went down.

22:56.120 --> 23:00.304
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that that's someone who's going to, I think she's out for four to five weeks.

23:00.324 --> 23:01.586
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, that's kind of a big loss for them.

23:01.606 --> 23:05.430
[SPEAKER_00]: But I still think, like, in Alyssa Thomas, lead team just has a really high floor.

23:06.471 --> 23:12.376
[SPEAKER_00]: Since I've been really tapped into the W, I think she's always had a top three to four team in the league.

23:12.436 --> 23:14.078
[SPEAKER_00]: So I mean,

23:15.037 --> 23:15.879
[SPEAKER_00]: She's my MVP.

23:16.079 --> 23:17.322
[SPEAKER_00]: I know we haven't said MVP yet.

23:17.342 --> 23:21.911
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm picking Alyssa, but I think that Phoenix is still going to be in it.

23:21.931 --> 23:35.037
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the links is the one where it's like that's a sleeper team that could fall out of that upper echelon with the feast and not being there and then also trying to integrate

23:35.017 --> 23:49.583
[SPEAKER_00]: Olivia Miles as like their future star point guard like I think there might be some some road bumps some some speed bumps there In figuring that out and this could be the year that I mean it would make if there is a year for them to just like

23:49.647 --> 24:19.317
[SPEAKER_00]: kind of do what Boston did, but I guess Boston still ended up being good in the Boston Celtics, I mean, that it would be this year because, you know, you want, it feels like being as ball dominant as Olivia Miles is like that seems like kind of a hard adjustment, you know, that and like I think like centers are like a tough adjustment from college to the W and so, you know, with the Fisa we're wondering how long she'll be out for and then trying to integrate Olivia Miles into that system like this could be maybe a little bit of a

24:19.297 --> 24:22.804
[SPEAKER_00]: uh, a leap or a year where they're not as good.

24:23.285 --> 24:24.347
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, but I don't know.

24:24.427 --> 24:31.721
[SPEAKER_00]: I still think that they have, you know, that championship culture, they have, you know, that they just always seem like they get it done.

24:32.162 --> 24:34.386
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll know the conversation last year.

24:35.159 --> 24:38.984
[SPEAKER_00]: And what was the conversation last year when Nefisa and Asia were battling an out for MVP?

24:39.044 --> 24:43.030
[SPEAKER_00]: It was Nefisa missed like 13 games in the links were still like the one seed.

24:44.372 --> 24:47.396
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, whatever, whatever record it was, like they still figured it out without her.

24:47.456 --> 24:51.762
[SPEAKER_00]: And you know, they lost a lot of Smith, they lost a T-Shahitamin, but I don't know.

24:51.802 --> 24:55.768
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Cheryl Reeve kind of figures that stuff out and Caleb McBride still a very good basketball player.

24:55.808 --> 24:58.452
[SPEAKER_00]: Corny Williams, very good basketball player that getting back dork at you.

24:58.892 --> 25:01.556
[SPEAKER_00]: You have and I don't know what I'm pronouncing that last name correctly.

25:01.596 --> 25:02.297
[SPEAKER_00]: But

25:02.648 --> 25:05.451
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no, I think that it's, yeah, it's going to be tough.

25:05.471 --> 25:07.994
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, you start talking about that stuff.

25:08.014 --> 25:10.396
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't really see many teams from the upper echelon falling out.

25:10.456 --> 25:12.819
[SPEAKER_00]: So if Belkries really got to take a level, take a step.

25:13.420 --> 25:26.874
[SPEAKER_00]: And I don't know if we're, we're going to talk more about the Belkries just, you know, because I talked with Hunter Cruz and it was a conversation on this podcast, but they were the number one team and attempted three pointers with also the worst three point percentage in the league.

25:26.894 --> 25:30.698
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that kind of changes this season and I think that changing

25:30.982 --> 25:36.108
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know if the three point attempts will change, I think they'll probably still be like top three in the league, but I think that percentage goes up.

25:36.128 --> 25:38.070
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that that's a game changer if that happens.

25:39.752 --> 25:40.032
[SPEAKER_00]: So yeah.

25:40.452 --> 25:47.821
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, my next question was, what are some of the things that need to happen right for the Valkyries to be better?

25:48.001 --> 25:49.623
[SPEAKER_01]: You just mentioned three point shooting.

25:50.564 --> 25:54.528
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they need to be better taking care of the basketball, right?

25:55.849 --> 26:00.955
[SPEAKER_01]: And then I guess the other thing is

26:01.103 --> 26:22.487
[SPEAKER_01]: the clutch stat who's who's going to be the person that they can depend on for the tough to you know one one person we haven't even really mentioned all that much Chetchy like we always talked about that like that end of the season where she was the one who's like just so willing to take that final shot

26:24.003 --> 26:38.583
[SPEAKER_01]: She can be that person, but if you have more players who can do that, then maybe she's a little bit more open than she is taking that shot, you talked about you stay.

26:40.766 --> 26:43.029
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Veronica Burton takes a leap now.

26:43.590 --> 26:51.681
[SPEAKER_01]: Her traditional jumper is a little bit more of like a step back set shot the way that she

26:51.897 --> 26:54.822
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Kayle Thornton's health is going to be a big thing.

26:55.464 --> 26:59.712
[SPEAKER_01]: Early in the season last year, Kayle Thornton was taken to wild shots.

27:00.373 --> 27:03.178
[SPEAKER_01]: Just because she was the willing one to do it, right?

27:03.278 --> 27:04.621
[SPEAKER_01]: She was like, I'm shooting.

27:04.681 --> 27:06.364
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I don't care what anyone else is doing.

27:06.424 --> 27:07.726
[SPEAKER_01]: You all are passing so much.

27:07.747 --> 27:08.588
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I'm shooting.

27:08.708 --> 27:10.912
[SPEAKER_01]: And a lot of it is late in the shot clock as well.

27:11.333 --> 27:14.479
[SPEAKER_01]: So they need to fix those things offensively.

27:14.662 --> 27:42.525
[SPEAKER_01]: not so many Hail Mary shots late in the shot clock figuring out what who that person is or maybe there's multiple people that you can depend on calling plays for when you need a bucket taken care of the ball three point shooting I think all of those things and some of this is I think a lot of fans are a little frustrated at the lean into bringing back a lot of the same players from last year.

27:42.775 --> 27:58.641
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think we've been at a comment in the discord saying that, you know, continuity and having like bringing back your team does it mean successes it mean you improve I it probably doesn't but they are leaning on.

27:59.465 --> 28:12.631
[SPEAKER_01]: players knowing the offense, players knowing their their roles and thinking that that is going to help them get up to speed faster than a lot of these teams like you said who've changed out a lot of their personnel.

28:13.213 --> 28:15.938
[SPEAKER_01]: If Golden State just by the mere fact,

28:15.918 --> 28:32.087
[SPEAKER_01]: that their players know what to do, they know the rules, and they kind of understand how to play with each other, if they can get out to a strong start and they're three and two or four and one or five and oh after their first five games.

28:32.253 --> 28:38.279
[SPEAKER_01]: You kind of jump out ahead of some of these teams who may in more roster changes and have to sort of figure that out.

28:38.299 --> 28:40.061
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think there is something to that.

28:40.461 --> 28:41.622
[SPEAKER_01]: Now does it exist?

28:42.183 --> 28:44.105
[SPEAKER_01]: Does it help you throughout the entire season?

28:44.265 --> 28:45.306
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know.

28:45.346 --> 28:47.808
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think that they're betting on that.

28:47.848 --> 28:57.218
[SPEAKER_01]: They're betting on Natalie understanding her team and her team understanding her to help with the cohesion and everything.

28:57.598 --> 29:01.602
[SPEAKER_01]: It's not a sexy way to win games though, right?

29:02.290 --> 29:04.594
[SPEAKER_01]: guess what we're just overpaying.

29:04.975 --> 29:08.381
[SPEAKER_01]: We're giving the max to Brianna Stewart and she's coming over.

29:08.401 --> 29:09.383
[SPEAKER_01]: She's going to be our best player.

29:09.523 --> 29:12.308
[SPEAKER_01]: Of course, it's way more interesting to do it that way.

29:12.769 --> 29:17.397
[SPEAKER_01]: But in light of that, if nobody takes your money except for Gabby Williams,

29:17.528 --> 29:24.421
[SPEAKER_01]: then you have this fallback plan of, well, we expect our current team to level their game up a bit.

29:24.762 --> 29:26.325
[SPEAKER_01]: And I expect Veronica to do that.

29:26.505 --> 29:35.963
[SPEAKER_01]: I expect you stay to inject some of her use dayness into this team, the shooting, the ball handling, the smart passing, all of those things.

29:36.343 --> 29:40.431
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think there is something

29:40.613 --> 29:49.797
[SPEAKER_01]: that they can improve some of these things that maybe they weren't that good at last year, just by continuing to be a very similar team.

29:50.047 --> 30:13.540
[SPEAKER_00]: right and yeah so to you know add to your point yeah the shooting you know I mean you stay we've literally middle of last year it was like imagine if you stay was on this team there's so many wide open looks like she could just get wide open looks and she's a good three-point shooter um I mean even on the developmental spot like mela soa is it was I kind of feel like that ad was almost like a

30:13.520 --> 30:43.510
[SPEAKER_00]: a direct representation of like you do well and we reward you like she was you know one of the two best players in that preseason game and and she gets added and she's a that's like her best skill by far is just three point shooting um but you know that hopefully you look like Veronica's shot was was pretty solid by the end of the year you get to pay his back was probably one of

30:43.490 --> 31:12.433
[SPEAKER_00]: insane increase in three point shooting ability, but I do wonder if some of these pieces like a youth stay and and like having to back because she missed a lot of the last year and then also Burton just getting better like I wonder if that is going to be the difference maker in the three point shooting going from last in the league to hopefully middle of the pack, which I think it could also be like an insane like I know last the middle of the pack is not that big of a deal,

31:12.413 --> 31:17.117
[SPEAKER_01]: get it getting from 13 to nine will be a big deal, I think.

31:17.137 --> 31:17.798
[SPEAKER_01]: 16 now.

31:18.338 --> 31:22.942
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I know, but last year, they were the year to get up to to move up for spots.

31:24.244 --> 31:26.866
[SPEAKER_01]: The other thing, and this is not very analytical.

31:27.266 --> 31:34.113
[SPEAKER_01]: There's no real statistical analysis here that I'm saying, but injury health is real.

31:34.573 --> 31:40.558
[SPEAKER_01]: You lose Veronica Burton for any amount of time, and you're going to be a worse basketball team.

31:40.718 --> 31:42.420
[SPEAKER_01]: That is just the fact.

31:42.400 --> 31:50.612
[SPEAKER_01]: There are other players who may not be as valuable and you may be able to fill in spots, but think about Rupere.

31:51.674 --> 31:56.701
[SPEAKER_01]: They are putting all of their eggs in the Rupere basket this year.

31:57.402 --> 32:01.889
[SPEAKER_01]: They have a backup center who is more of a defensive-minded player.

32:01.929 --> 32:03.952
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's it.

32:04.012 --> 32:05.194
[SPEAKER_01]: Those are their two bigs.

32:05.995 --> 32:07.517
[SPEAKER_01]: They are, yeah, that's kind of crazy.

32:07.858 --> 32:09.420
[SPEAKER_01]: They are really

32:09.653 --> 32:36.758
[SPEAKER_01]: putting the pedal to the metal on this idea of like position the spascape all but I like when when when when Asia comes the town she's going to have she's going to look at it and go oh my gosh like I'm just going to eat like like the and maybe the Valkyries idea is like yeah but on the other side we're just pulling Asia out every time and so maybe that helps in that in that way so that whole thing is going to be interesting but

32:37.784 --> 32:48.781
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I wonder if they're waiting in this developmental spot, this last one, I wonder if they're looking to see if a big is actually let go that they can keep on the roster.

32:48.861 --> 32:58.155
[SPEAKER_00]: So that was going to be interesting to look at really interesting how that last spot is is used because yeah, a lot of teams are finalizing their 12 and maybe some of those, you know,

32:58.135 --> 33:13.579
[SPEAKER_00]: on the on the edge players that gets cut is like makes a lot of sense for the Valkyries you know there was this the SEVGY usune I believe is her name she played on on Fender with in overseas with Gabby and repair and me some in and all those players she was she was cut and there was

33:13.559 --> 33:17.991
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, someone during if she would be an ad for the Valkyries, I know Hayley Van Lith was cut.

33:18.072 --> 33:28.581
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think she'll be added to the Valkyries, but you just start a Maddie Westbeld was cut as well who maybe could have could be a good ad for them, but just a lot of players getting cut that.

33:28.561 --> 33:33.392
[SPEAKER_00]: you know, maybe some interesting ones and and we'll see how they approach that last developmental spot.

33:33.934 --> 33:41.852
[SPEAKER_00]: But another thing I was going to say is yeah, like a Veronica leap, but also like, I almost feel like you can almost write in pen that they're going to be a top three defense.

33:42.153 --> 33:42.634
[SPEAKER_00]: Like almost.

33:42.654 --> 33:42.975
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, yeah.

33:43.456 --> 33:47.245
[SPEAKER_01]: And again, as long as they're healthy, they have the.

33:47.225 --> 33:55.137
[SPEAKER_01]: they not only have the style, but when you add one of the best defensive players in the league, how do you get worse?

33:55.297 --> 33:55.557
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

33:55.958 --> 34:04.030
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they were five or six in defense last year and I want to say first in defense this year, but I feel like top three is like more of a realistic one.

34:04.190 --> 34:08.136
[SPEAKER_00]: And once the last time, like the first or second or third best defense was just like

34:08.116 --> 34:09.518
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know completely out of the playoffs.

34:09.538 --> 34:14.906
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know, but does that I know in the NBA that doesn't really happen right like those best defensive teams are usually in the playoffs.

34:14.926 --> 34:18.391
[SPEAKER_00]: So they're going to I got to imagine there's something something similar there in the W two.

34:18.471 --> 34:20.695
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that that means something as well.

34:21.055 --> 34:21.256
[SPEAKER_00]: All right.

34:21.276 --> 34:28.466
[SPEAKER_01]: We talked about the pessimistic side like here the things that they they, you know, we think that they could improve on that will help them now.

34:29.848 --> 34:31.010
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean the optimistic side now.

34:31.030 --> 34:34.275
[SPEAKER_01]: Here's the pessimistic side more of the.

34:34.255 --> 34:38.287
[SPEAKER_01]: Glass-half empty, we mention injuries, we mentioned the lack of bigs.

34:38.789 --> 34:44.265
[SPEAKER_01]: What else are you worried about with this team that could affect their improvement for year two?

34:46.388 --> 35:02.928
[SPEAKER_00]: Some of the stuff from last year that they just showed that didn't really matter, but just like not having a number one, you know, I know Veronica's going to be the one taking a good amount of shots and controlling the pace and controlling the offense, but, you know, not having someone who could just like, you can for sure say that person's getting us a bucket.

35:03.008 --> 35:05.151
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe Janelle kind of becomes that a little bit.

35:05.171 --> 35:11.839
[SPEAKER_00]: I do have a lot of stock in in Janelle salon, but that is something.

35:11.819 --> 35:21.030
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, just having that consistent offense, like I have no doubt about the defense, but I've always wondered about the offense and on paper on when they actually play it just looks like the defense rocks and the offense.

35:21.050 --> 35:32.144
[SPEAKER_00]: They just somehow muddled together and and and keep it keep the game keep it keep the game like with them like they don't because of how good of defense they play like the game never really gets out of hand.

35:33.165 --> 35:38.552
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think that yeah, just the offense is always going to be a question on this team until they land one of those potential superstars.

35:39.005 --> 35:54.516
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, from a kind of a team environment, culture perspective, I think the thing that will, that I might be slightly worried about is, if you just watch the handling of this draft, watch the handling of,

35:56.167 --> 35:59.730
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, him, I'm basically saying, I'm not going to give you guys an answer.

35:59.890 --> 36:01.712
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I'm tired.

36:01.972 --> 36:03.033
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm just not going to happen.

36:03.854 --> 36:10.420
[SPEAKER_01]: There is a, there is a hub, a slight hubris that exists in statements like that.

36:10.480 --> 36:12.682
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm not, I'm not saying it's just her, right?

36:12.862 --> 36:19.728
[SPEAKER_01]: It's this idea that the Joe Lake of, we're just light years ahead of everybody.

36:20.589 --> 36:21.750
[SPEAKER_01]: Trust the process.

36:23.392 --> 36:25.954
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, the idea that

36:26.221 --> 36:37.293
[SPEAKER_01]: we invest in these other things that teams are kind of catching up to us about the billion dollar number that came out as far as what their value is.

36:37.753 --> 36:47.063
[SPEAKER_01]: All of those things are less about what's on the court and more about what the management has been able to do.

36:47.303 --> 36:52.228
[SPEAKER_01]: Like you don't really hear over on a convertible is the reason why they made the playoffs last year.

36:52.288 --> 36:53.089
[SPEAKER_01]: You hear

36:53.947 --> 37:05.286
[SPEAKER_01]: Natalie Nicosiano, him or the great team Joe Lake is giving them resources, ball, ball, holla, and you know, like it's all about the culture and the surrounding rather than the on the court.

37:05.767 --> 37:16.545
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I worry a little bit in that when you believe that what you touch turns into gold, sometimes you can get a little bit,

37:16.525 --> 37:20.309
[SPEAKER_01]: a little bit too in love with with the way that you do think.

37:20.349 --> 37:26.756
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's not really a worry for this year as much as kind of where this franchise goes.

37:26.856 --> 37:32.723
[SPEAKER_01]: But if something fell off this year, that is one thing I would be worried about.

37:32.883 --> 37:33.143
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

37:33.163 --> 37:39.630
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, if this year just completely fails and this is like the first domino to that potential point that you're making.

37:40.167 --> 37:48.718
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, let's do a quick WNBA predictions here, a little bit of around the league.

37:49.879 --> 37:53.965
[SPEAKER_01]: So who is your finals pick and who do you think wins the whole thing this year?

37:54.766 --> 37:59.712
[SPEAKER_00]: Pretty sure I've been wrong like every single time this has happened, but I'm going to go with

38:01.177 --> 38:20.704
[SPEAKER_00]: a rematch of like three years ago, whereas Ace's versus Liberty, you know, Liberty, they just have so many players and, you know, they have, they have our guy actually don't know if he's our guy, but God, what's the coaches name again, off who came from the Warriors, um, Demarco, that's your guy.

38:20.684 --> 38:21.345
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, true.

38:21.465 --> 38:22.868
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't even know if I can claim it many more.

38:22.928 --> 38:35.932
[SPEAKER_00]: I for a little story is that during the Warriors parade in 2022, there was a fan you can imagine how parades go with the parade going and then fans on each side of the parade.

38:36.253 --> 38:38.457
[SPEAKER_00]: And there was a fan who had a little kids who

38:38.437 --> 38:41.383
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, he was right, he or she was raising it high in the crowd.

38:41.964 --> 38:54.150
[SPEAKER_00]: And as the floats were coming by or the buses were coming by players and coaches were just shooting like basketballs that that were thrown at them into that little tiny kids who and to Marco actually made it and he came and ran over to our area and it's like,

38:54.130 --> 38:55.772
[SPEAKER_00]: who got that on tape, who got that on tape?

38:56.373 --> 38:57.815
[SPEAKER_00]: And I said, I did.

38:57.975 --> 39:00.138
[SPEAKER_00]: And so he was like, here's my number, like send me that video.

39:00.698 --> 39:04.844
[SPEAKER_00]: And so as we were doing our warriors podcast at the time, I was like, oh, I might shoot my shot here.

39:05.364 --> 39:09.730
[SPEAKER_00]: And I was like, here you go, Coach, like here's the video, but is there any chance you could be on our warriors podcast as well?

39:09.870 --> 39:14.736
[SPEAKER_00]: And he was like, I'm doing, like, coaching, he was going overseas or something, right?

39:14.796 --> 39:15.217
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

39:15.237 --> 39:18.721
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, he was coaching like the Bahamas team for like World Cup or something at the time.

39:18.761 --> 39:19.702
[SPEAKER_00]: And he was like, maybe after.

39:20.223 --> 39:21.825
[SPEAKER_00]: And then you just look at like,

39:22.362 --> 39:28.591
[SPEAKER_00]: the eight months that came after that and it's just me like every two weeks being like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

39:29.592 --> 39:32.797
[SPEAKER_00]: He could really just, I mean, whatever.

39:32.877 --> 39:40.969
[SPEAKER_01]: So I, you know, you should have just, you should have texted him and then after like a month goes by and he doesn't get back to you every two weeks, just the poop emoji.

39:41.049 --> 39:43.172
[SPEAKER_01]: That's what you

39:43.152 --> 39:52.605
[SPEAKER_00]: If the liberty come to town and the Valks will open, I might say, I could say, I don't know if I want you my podcast.

39:52.625 --> 39:53.226
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm with you.

39:53.246 --> 39:59.294
[SPEAKER_01]: It feels like both teams, one team kind of just got the band back together.

39:59.334 --> 40:04.681
[SPEAKER_01]: The championship team and the other team kind of loaded up a little bit.

40:05.262 --> 40:08.806
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think they already loaded up the year before and the other loading up again.

40:08.826 --> 40:10.729
[SPEAKER_01]: I think the worry though,

40:11.755 --> 40:13.517
[SPEAKER_01]: is injuries for both teams.

40:13.897 --> 40:18.041
[SPEAKER_01]: Sabrina Yanesco is already out, right?

40:18.121 --> 40:19.442
[SPEAKER_01]: She already got her.

40:21.544 --> 40:25.128
[SPEAKER_01]: That team is a little bit older as far as their best players are concerned.

40:25.428 --> 40:26.629
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm with you.

40:26.890 --> 40:30.613
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they are the the two best teams.

40:32.455 --> 40:35.718
[SPEAKER_01]: But I do wonder about the injury stuff.

40:35.738 --> 40:39.602
[SPEAKER_01]: And if one or both

40:40.021 --> 40:50.856
[SPEAKER_01]: My next two teams, Indiana, and probably Atlanta, but maybe even the sparks at that point.

40:50.936 --> 41:09.943
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know, I'm just very interested in seeing if Kelsey Plum takes her game to the next level and is just like, you look at her as, okay, like she's just one of the best players in the league, like as a leader, as a go-to bucket, like I saw some stuff in unrivaled and I know the games are different

41:10.582 --> 41:13.968
[SPEAKER_01]: Are we sure she's just not going to have like a lights out season this year?

41:14.068 --> 41:17.214
[SPEAKER_01]: So those are really my two other teams that I'm keeping my eye on.

41:17.234 --> 41:23.144
[SPEAKER_01]: Like I think Indiana, just how well they did without Caitlin last year kind of gives you a little bit.

41:23.244 --> 41:25.208
[SPEAKER_01]: And Kelsey Mitchell is going to be a free agent.

41:25.248 --> 41:27.712
[SPEAKER_01]: They probably cannot afford to bring her back next year.

41:27.732 --> 41:29.355
[SPEAKER_01]: Just based on how the cap is going to work.

41:29.936 --> 41:33.101
[SPEAKER_01]: They paid a lay a Boston like there's some talent on that team too.

41:33.122 --> 41:34.564
[SPEAKER_01]: And if Caitlin

41:34.544 --> 41:36.927
[SPEAKER_01]: comes back with a vengeance.

41:37.027 --> 41:38.468
[SPEAKER_00]: I could see that team being really good.

41:38.849 --> 41:40.630
[SPEAKER_00]: I also think Monique Billings is a great ad.

41:40.811 --> 41:47.318
[SPEAKER_00]: I think people who watched, you know, the, uh, was it the, was it like the World Cup qualifying games?

41:47.338 --> 41:53.304
[SPEAKER_00]: Like there was a clear like Caitlyn Monique pick and roll that kind of was, it was, was working.

41:53.684 --> 41:56.067
[SPEAKER_00]: And so I think Monique's going to play well on that team.

41:56.107 --> 42:00.231
[SPEAKER_01]: But Monique has a great first step off of that pick and roll to the bucket.

42:00.271 --> 42:02.914
[SPEAKER_01]: She's so quick on that

42:02.894 --> 42:04.517
[SPEAKER_01]: I, I, she's starting for them.

42:04.557 --> 42:05.919
[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't see it projected starters.

42:06.280 --> 42:07.582
[SPEAKER_00]: She got to make some layups, though.

42:08.623 --> 42:09.625
[SPEAKER_00]: She got to make them layups.

42:09.645 --> 42:13.371
[SPEAKER_00]: She got to make, she was in, in the qualifying, feedback qualifying.

42:13.411 --> 42:21.444
[SPEAKER_00]: So, and I watched a little bit of their pre-season game with Dallas, and it wasn't totally working that big and roll, but we'll, we'll see how it goes.

42:21.484 --> 42:24.950
[SPEAKER_00]: And with, with the sparks, I do think they're going to be really good this year.

42:25.030 --> 42:27.674
[SPEAKER_00]: But the Valkyries completely figured them out after the first game.

42:27.734 --> 42:28.075
[SPEAKER_00]: It was like,

42:28.055 --> 42:46.047
[SPEAKER_00]: We're putting Veronica on KP and we're putting KT or Janelle on Hamby and just like we don't care about anything else like you guys beat us any other way and then the sparks couldn't but now you add aerial atkins and neco already to that too that we had to make sure to shut down and I have to tell the players healthy cambering

42:46.027 --> 42:58.122
[SPEAKER_00]: healthy can bring like they it's got it's a lot to there's just a lot of firepower that you know I think the values were able to handle last year but it might prove more difficult this year I think the sparks can be pretty damn good.

42:58.523 --> 43:06.853
[SPEAKER_01]: All right so New Yorker Vegas we take and I am taking boof

43:07.070 --> 43:09.136
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go with, I'm going to New York, why not?

43:09.156 --> 43:17.502
[SPEAKER_01]: I, I, I healthy health for health if they're both standing, I'm taking a poop emoji to Marco as well.

43:18.308 --> 43:40.705
[SPEAKER_00]: All right, MVP, who'd you say you said Alyssa Thomas, I think there's going to be a little bit of like, you know, in the media gets involved and it's like, if no one's ever been a five time MVP, no one's ever been a four time MVP, but are you about to make Asia a five time MVP, if Alyssa Thomas's stats are comparable and the records are somewhat comparable or do we just give it to a first time MVP and Alyssa Thomas.

43:40.685 --> 43:44.613
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think there's a chance that that, you know, is how the season progresses.

43:44.653 --> 43:50.024
[SPEAKER_00]: They both just have these amazing seasons that, you know, Asia didn't absolutely demolish a list of Thomas.

43:50.084 --> 43:57.580
[SPEAKER_00]: It's actually comparable and they just go a list as a way because we're not going to give Asia another one unless she absolutely like kills the competition.

43:57.560 --> 44:01.966
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's the argument is people will just get tired of Asia.

44:02.787 --> 44:11.619
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm going to say Asia just out of the fact that respect that she's the best hooper out there, she for sure is, and I'm not going to argue in that at all.

44:11.860 --> 44:17.307
[SPEAKER_01]: Dark horse, and it's not even really a dark horse, but I'm putting page number two.

44:17.405 --> 44:23.452
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, dang, there's no pages and pages number two in MVP.

44:23.492 --> 44:24.713
[SPEAKER_00]: This year, I'm sorry.

44:24.733 --> 44:26.335
[SPEAKER_00]: There's no way the Valkyries are better than Dallas.

44:26.555 --> 44:27.997
[SPEAKER_00]: But I mean, tell us this, Richard.

44:28.017 --> 44:32.662
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, you, that is the argument, right?

44:32.682 --> 44:40.231
[SPEAKER_01]: His page takes a leap and they are just really good because their best player is one of the best players in the league.

44:40.851 --> 44:42.553
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

44:42.573 --> 44:44.616
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, what about rookie of the year?

44:44.796 --> 44:46.838
[SPEAKER_01]: And he thoughts on rookie of the year and we'll close us out.

44:48.674 --> 44:59.582
[SPEAKER_00]: I kind of did something where, you know, I kind of feel like there could be some type of recovery or for the links, but at the same time, I think that Olivia Miles could win the rookie year.

44:59.602 --> 45:03.612
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I think she's just going to have the ball in her hands a lot.

45:04.908 --> 45:09.976
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it's just betting on her college game translating to the W at least in the first season.

45:11.118 --> 45:24.199
[SPEAKER_00]: But I don't know, there's also going to be, I think I could already expect the conversation where it's like, Olivia and Azie have relatively similar stats, but Azie played on a really good team and Olivia had to try and bring this,

45:24.179 --> 45:53.983
[SPEAKER_00]: you know injured Minnesota links to the playoff so like what do you value more like that stuff just I feel like those conversations are just always gonna happen or I will fam you know she could I don't see I will fam getting it just because she's coming back she's going to miss a little bit of the season just like you stay and then what happens when as he has magbook or comes back because I will come off the bench and then you know I can you win review you're coming off the bench consistently there's also Lauren bets but Lauren isn't going to start either she cure Austin's going to start so I think this really could be a Olivia

45:53.963 --> 45:54.826
[SPEAKER_00]: conversation.

45:55.047 --> 45:59.822
[SPEAKER_01]: I would make it a two person race as well.

46:00.444 --> 46:04.277
[SPEAKER_01]: And if you go Olivia, I'll go easy just because it's fun that way.

46:04.713 --> 46:12.627
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, I think we're going to try and be back this weekend to do a short show just to kind of see what's going on.

46:13.028 --> 46:17.335
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, the latest news as well as the the first game and then the second game is on Sunday.

46:17.415 --> 46:20.621
[SPEAKER_01]: So we are going to try and be back this weekend.

46:21.382 --> 46:22.184
[SPEAKER_01]: This was a lot of fun.

46:22.244 --> 46:23.346
[SPEAKER_01]: I had a blast doing this show.

46:24.067 --> 46:25.650
[SPEAKER_01]: So all right, for Brian.

46:26.171 --> 46:27.052
[SPEAKER_01]: I am WG.

46:27.153 --> 46:29.657
[SPEAKER_01]: We will see you when we see you piece out.