Kayla Thornton Injury Impact & Playoff Push, Conrado Pasqual joins the show | Valks Valley

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[UNKNOWN]: Thank you.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Welcome back to Valk's Valley as you can see if you're watching on video.

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[SPEAKER_02]: That is not Brian.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Brian is on vacation.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So I had to tap in to the great Valkyrie's community to find someone to step in and I did somebody who I've been following on X slash Twitter for a little while now and who's very smart about not only the WMBA and the Valkyrie's, but just about a lot of other sports.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Can Ronald Pasquale, what is going on my friend?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for having me.

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[SPEAKER_00]: No, I'm good.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm good.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I mean, we're recording this on Sunday, July, twenty seven.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So we just actually unfortunately saw the balks probably have their worst loss of the season.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Actually, I don't think probably definitely their worst loss.

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[SPEAKER_02]: I think so.

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[SPEAKER_00]: you know, in their early franchise history, but all things considered, I mean, the weather's been great here in the Bay Area, quote unquote, the coldest winter or not cold the coldest summer, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: In the Bay since nineteen eighty two, I mean, this is great dude, like high sixties and, you know, not having a crank off the AC or anything.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I know.

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[SPEAKER_02]: It's actually been great and it's actually been kind of weird at the same time because you're like,

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[SPEAKER_02]: It's supposed to be hotter by about five to ten degrees by now, and it's not really, which is great for my walks, but I don't know the global warming aspect of this and the weather change and such is kind of interesting.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Exactly.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Now I was saying the same thing, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Being able to play some pickup the other day, like on the black top as opposed to, you know, inside the gym, normally would it be doing that, you know, in the dead of summer?

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[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, for sure.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So before we get going, I just want to introduce you to my audience or our audience that may not be aware of the stuff that you do.

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[SPEAKER_02]: We were talking off air and you're pretty impressive, you know, person when it comes to to hoop.

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[SPEAKER_02]: uh... give a little bit of your background here uh... folks are watching on video can see the east meets west in indie basketball uh... titles there but uh... as far as you know uh... when you have credentials which which you do i think it's it's good to to let people know because uh... your takes especially online i find it very smart

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[SPEAKER_02]: and very seasoned and very thoughtful.

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[SPEAKER_02]: And there's some background to that.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So let the people know why.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Why are you pretty smart about this stuff?

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[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, you know, it's a accumulation, I guess, of just experience and knowledge.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I'm actually also in addition to these podcasts.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I am a member of the Center Hub and we're just like a group of, you know, basketball content creators specifically focused on both the NBA and the WNBA drafts.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm a little bit more primarily on the double.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I do both, but like I'm a lot more active on the WNBA draft side.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And yeah, you know, like years ago, I actually got into scouting kind of did it like in a professional capacity like for for contract, you know, as a consultant and then around.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

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[SPEAKER_00]: like early, twenty twenty twenty one, I guess, around the pandemic kind of got back into it, um, really started to focus on it.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And again, you know, just as I think a lot of people that follow me on social media, these last couple done be NBA draft cycles.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I've been pretty active.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And yeah, like I

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[SPEAKER_00]: uh, regularly put out like my draft boards, my big boards, um, you know, I went sixty deep, uh, last draft cycle to be honest, it could have been eighty deep, which is kind of like overkill for the WNBA, but, you know, yeah, I think I'm glad that there is just a lot of attention and enthusiasm, uh, that fans are becoming a lot more receptive and, uh, eager to learn more about these up and coming players.

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[SPEAKER_02]: No, it's awesome.

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[SPEAKER_02]: And, you know, Brian and I, Brian was really started to study this stuff a couple of years ago.

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[SPEAKER_02]: And when when I heard that we were going to get a team, which, you know, I had been sort of hearing about this for years.

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[SPEAKER_02]: And one of my colleagues, she had, she had told me she's like, you know, there's a

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[SPEAKER_02]: There's this rumor about the Bay Area getting a WMBA team and she was actually she played La Crosse at Harvard and was like a All-American freshman year.

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[SPEAKER_02]: They won, you know, just one of the top athletes back in the day at Harvard.

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[SPEAKER_02]: And so she's very interested in women sports and she was saying, you know, what do you think?

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[SPEAKER_02]: I would love to kind of get involved, but that was like ten years ago or even further back.

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[SPEAKER_02]: And so now, you know, here we have the Valkyries.

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[SPEAKER_02]: It seems like it's been a long time coming, but maybe the weight was worth it because it feels like this market specifically

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[SPEAKER_02]: was absolutely one hundred percent ready for this team as shown by all of the sell outs.

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[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know what the TV ratings are doing though I do think they need a better partner than KPIX plus because of the just the video quality of the broadcast streams have been pretty poor especially if you compare them to if you go back and watch the game on the WMBA app.

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[SPEAKER_02]: the the quality is just so different but other than that like you know I think I think it's been a giant success and you know I think what the fan base has seen because if you if you're a warriors fan you sort of see how the WMBA does it and then then you watch the WMBA you're like

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[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, like some of these schedules are kind of hard.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Like the, I think the Valkyries have like six games in ten days.

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[SPEAKER_02]: There was the one, the one road trip where I think they had like a night game in the Bay Area and then a day and a half later they were like really early in Indiana and you're like, oh my gosh, like that would never happen.

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[SPEAKER_02]: in the NBA.

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[SPEAKER_02]: But as we are watching this now, we're learning about the the labor stuff and you know, how the revenue works differently in the WMBA than the NBA.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So lots of stuff going on, even not even on the court, which makes it so interesting, especially for somebody who's really getting into it for the first time.

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[SPEAKER_02]: in a big way, like me, I'm just learning so many things, listening to so many people, following folks like you who have been doing this for a little while.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So just if you do want to follow, uh, conrado at CP-three underscore seven seven seven on X slash Twitter and the other thing about conrado is if you're, if you listen to this channel, more than likely you're a fan of more than just one of the Bay Area teams.

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[SPEAKER_02]: And conrado is a hardcore fan of all

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[SPEAKER_02]: barrier teams as well.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So that's a great follow on social media.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Okay, let's get into this Valkyrie stuff because coming out of the All Star game or the All Star Break.

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[SPEAKER_02]: all of a sudden out of the blue, we get the news that Kayla Thornton has injured her knee and is out for the rest of the season.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Like it was, there was, I didn't hear anything about this until that news came out that she was going to have surgery and that she was out.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Obviously, the Valkyrie's best player, they're all star kind of there.

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[SPEAKER_02]: the person that they look to in specific moments, offensively and defensively to kind of pull them out of stuff, which they were very much lacking today.

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[SPEAKER_02]: But what do you think about the team, post-kala, as far as the playoffs are concerned, because they are still in the mix.

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[SPEAKER_02]: It's natural for them to not be as high on on focuses list for for possible playoff teams without her then with her and also she was just such a energy for them and and just such a delight to watch.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So what are your thoughts about Kayla and her injury and sort of what the Valkyries are going to do post Kayla?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, obviously it's really devastating news.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I think Kayla Thorne, I think her loss will be felt both, you know, on and off the court.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously she has been a great leader again, you know, in games in the locker room.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I saw her at a number of community events.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I think she had really,

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[SPEAKER_00]: English it herself to the Bay Area, you know, I think and she fully embraced being out here.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I think there's definitely, you know, despite that win against Dallas, I think there's still going to be kind of like some ongoing

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[SPEAKER_00]: Um, you know, emotional pains for the players.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's understandable.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Um, I hope, you know, that she still has an opportunity to at least be around the team, you know, to maintain morale.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Um, but it's really unfortunate.

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[SPEAKER_00]: As you said, I mean, obviously I'm glad at the very least she was able her season, her great like career season was able to be honored and celebrated at the All Star Game.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Um,

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, as we go into next off season, where essentially like what, seventy five percent of the league are essentially free agents.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, you know, we don't know what's going to be a in store for her with regards to least being with the balconies.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I

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[SPEAKER_00]: If I even if I remove emotions, right, like an emotional attachment, I think there is a lot of merit to bring her back.

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[SPEAKER_00]: We'll see what she wants to do with the team wants to do again, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: That's all very fluid.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But as it pertains to this season, like even with Kayla, I've said this a number of times, even with Kayla.

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[SPEAKER_00]: The Valkyries just, they don't have the personnel to be a dynamic offense.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I know there has been some criticism about their style of play, shot selection and stuff like that.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Are they spamming threes?

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[SPEAKER_00]: I personally don't believe that.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm a big believer in shot quality.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, and the shot profile that like the open shots and open like, you know, driving lanes that not only in the cost, I system creates to me, it shows like, okay, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like easier than done, but if you were able to infuse the team,

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, with a little bit more positional upgrades, like, and you continue running that system.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Wow, look at all the open shots you're getting, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: So obviously, given that she was one of our best scorer and one of our better shooters, that kind of sucks.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But like I said, they were really good.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, you know, prior to her loss or to her, um, season ending injury.

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[SPEAKER_00]: uh... we weren't a particularly great offense we were like one of the league leaders in defense and i think that is where the valkyries they're gonna feel her loss on both ends but i think specifically defensively like that was their formula at least this iteration of the valkyries that was their formula to remain competitive in games right they needed to

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[SPEAKER_00]: slow down the opposition's pace, they needed to minimize the number of just possessions period, basically make it into like a street fight almost, I'm not sure that they have the ability to consistently do that on either end.

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[SPEAKER_00]: That's why, like, at least in my opinion, they've already, like, they exceeded all expectations.

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[SPEAKER_00]: What they've shown us this season is kind of what I had already envisioned, which is I didn't really put necessarily a win total, you know, in my preseason predictions.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I just said, okay, I don't think this is going to be the typical expansion team.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I think they actually will be

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[SPEAKER_00]: competitive night and night out, but again, specifically even with Kayla, this team lacks players that can create, you know, off the dribble, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: They lack shot creators and especially in close games.

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[SPEAKER_00]: When defenses get set in the half court, that's when you're going to see the values struggle, you know, because they really don't have anyone who can break defenses down off the dribble, you know, they don't generate enough pain touches.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So moving forward like.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not sure, like I'm with you.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think they will, like, I'm not advocating or suggesting that they quote, quote, tank.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think that's in their DNA.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know what I'm saying?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like, yeah, I think you can just organically, like, I think they may fall out of the playoff hunt, you know, as a spinal, what, twenty games.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I think, though, like I said, I think there's still a lot of benefit.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It's an opportunity for the young players, like Carla Lange, Nelson Lawn, Caitlyn Chen, Kate Martin, you know, even Veronica Burton, I kind of group her in like the younger category, you know, like I feel like

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[SPEAKER_00]: Several of those players will be back next season, so it's a good opportunity for them to get extended developmental reps.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But again, does that culminate in a playoff appearance this year?

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[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm just saying in general, I think player development should be the priority from here on out.

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[SPEAKER_02]: standing as of right now as over we're recording as we know the top eight teams make the playoffs the valkyries have fallen behind the aces who I believe they were previously tied with so they are ninth and just out of that that that last spot there but

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[SPEAKER_02]: you know there are a bunch of teams and you know the the fever are thirteen and twelve the mystics are twelve and twelve aces twelve and thirteen valkyries eleven and thirteen sparks eleven and fourteen so all of those teams are

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[SPEAKER_02]: between six and ten and the top eight teams remain.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So, you know, the values are going to have a competitive chance to continue to be in that mix unless they just go on a losing streak, which, you know, I think it's what the next, the schedule has them at what is it the next one, two, three, four.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Next four games are on the roads that they play Tuesday at the dream.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Thursday at the mystics Friday at the sky Sunday at the aces.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So that's a that's a lot of games in a small amount of time all are all on the road and what are they three and nine or something on the road this year.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So if they if they are to make a slide you would think that it could possibly happen here though like like what you said they've played competitively

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[SPEAKER_02]: Um, and even going into the Alstar break, they had two really competitive games that they lost late.

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[SPEAKER_02]: But, um, yeah, it's going to be tough.

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[SPEAKER_02]: And I think the thing that you said that was interesting is even before the season started, you saw the roster and you were like, no, I think they're going to be competitive.

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[SPEAKER_02]: They're not going to just be a door mat.

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[SPEAKER_02]: And did you think that because the league in of itself just has more talent and thus the seventh and eighth players on some of these teams who became the Valkyries expansion draft players were good enough to compete or did you see something in maybe the international side of their recruiting that that made you make that decision?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Um, a little bit of both, but definitely, yeah.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I wouldn't say that like I am an authority on international scouting and actually, in fact, some of my peers are far superior international scouts and I am, but I definitely do a lot.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I pay attention.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I do a lot of film breakdown of international players.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So of the ones that, you know, we drafted or signed, you know, Joss Lawn, acquiring the draft rights of Carl Lade, like a kind of an idea of what they could do.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, I actually had a good idea of what they could do.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But more so, um, and maybe this was a lot of assumption on my part, but just given what I knew about Natalie Nicole says coaching philosophy when she was coaching overseas in Japan.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I know Japan is not the WN Bay, but still what I saw there.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Some of the elements that she took when she was in assisting coach from the Clippers, um, my understanding of some of the things that she would draw up with the aces, I was like, okay.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I kind of get, I had an idea of what she wanted to do based on the players that they drafted from the expansion draft.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And then, of course, the players that they signed in free agency.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I saw a lot of, you know, I envisioned a lot of off-ball screen, like off-ball screen manipulation to kind of shift the defense using their bigs.

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[SPEAKER_00]: That's why I kind of figured, okay, Tammy,

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[SPEAKER_00]: Monique buildings like I could totally see them like being a little bit more perimeter oriented this year because they're they're going to use them as kind of like swing screeners to basically like shift the defense or push the defense to one side and clear out one side for someone to attack you know

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[SPEAKER_00]: I knew that like Natalie used a lot of like moving zone in Japan.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I was like on paper, this roster seems like they're capable of doing it, right?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like in the absence of traditional room protection, you got a lot of long, rangey athletes.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I was like, this could work.

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[SPEAKER_00]: This could work.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like it could work to be competitive.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Now what does that mean in terms of the win losses?

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[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't know.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But like I was like, I think

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[SPEAKER_00]: There is a definitive like identity or strategy, like, you know, a system that she was trying to implement.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And sure enough, that is exactly what happened.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, I kind of gave myself a little props kind of seeing that, but yeah, I mean, having said that.

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[SPEAKER_00]: The infrastructure has been laid.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like to me, it's reproducible.

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[SPEAKER_00]: They're not just like, oh, teams are giving up open shots because they don't respect our shooters.

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[SPEAKER_00]: No, you're getting open shots because we're springing shooters wide open.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, like they're basically like just one simple drift and boom, you know, you've got like a completely open three.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And when it's like in the short corner, you know you're doing something wrong.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like the defenses.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like you cannot keep it in.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So that's what I'm saying.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like I feel like the system is set up in such a way where it can be consistent.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And again, they continue building up this roster.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, over time, it can be more dynamic than what we've seen.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But again, because of the lack of, you know, shock creators, you know, I figured that

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[SPEAKER_00]: we would experience probably more offensive laws than defensive laws.

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[SPEAKER_02]: Right.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So yeah.

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[SPEAKER_02]: So here's a question that I was going to save for later, but I think it fits here, which is all of the things that you just said, and as we know, the free agency is going to be insane next year.

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[SPEAKER_02]: based on, you know, when when the labor stuff is over, we could absolutely see a strike as well, which I, I hope, are a positive way, which I hope doesn't happen, but it seems like it's on the table.

20:48.981 --> 20:58.668
[SPEAKER_02]: But if, uh, oh, Emma, or Joe Laker was like, hey, uh, Konrad, you know that we're, we're light years ahead of everyone, right?

20:59.649 --> 21:10.672
[SPEAKER_02]: Who is the person or who, who would you go after in that free agent market who would possibly be available to fit into this system based on the things that you've seen?

21:13.193 --> 21:19.075
[SPEAKER_00]: Are we like, are you, would you like me to answer that like a realistic?

21:20.829 --> 21:21.809
[SPEAKER_00]: Uh, yeah.

21:21.829 --> 21:24.712
[SPEAKER_02]: That's the one that's a little more stretch.

21:24.832 --> 21:25.633
[SPEAKER_02]: Let's do both.

21:25.733 --> 21:29.696
[SPEAKER_02]: Let's do realistic and then pie in the sky.

21:30.797 --> 21:32.979
[SPEAKER_00]: So this is partly going.

21:32.999 --> 21:36.522
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to answer this by kind of including some of my draft philosophy.

21:36.822 --> 21:37.062
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.

21:37.362 --> 21:37.602
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

21:37.763 --> 21:42.046
[SPEAKER_00]: Like I think often times, especially like a team like the Valkyries.

21:42.126 --> 21:45.249
[SPEAKER_00]: Again, I think we've exceeded most fans expectations.

21:45.849 --> 21:46.029
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

21:47.090 --> 21:53.856
[SPEAKER_00]: And so, um, I think people will need to remember that we are still an expansion team, right?

21:53.896 --> 22:10.009
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, in that Magnoma steak, I'm glad that the players that we brought in, several of whom have always been like, you know, like, sixth, seventh player, you know, on their former teams, I'm glad that they had an opportunity to expand their skillset and show that they're capable of more.

22:10.049 --> 22:14.372
[SPEAKER_00]: But having said that, I don't really believe anyone on our current roster,

22:15.433 --> 22:18.556
[SPEAKER_00]: is like a first or second option on a championship team.

22:18.777 --> 22:23.942
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe a couple like, you know, Janelle could eventually emerge as like a high-end second option.

22:24.302 --> 22:25.904
[SPEAKER_00]: What about what about youth day?

22:27.085 --> 22:27.566
[SPEAKER_00]: So I mean,

22:28.812 --> 22:30.393
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I actually do.

22:30.533 --> 22:32.975
[SPEAKER_00]: I think she, that's TBD.

22:33.075 --> 22:36.998
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I think, I have her as like a very high-end second option.

22:37.458 --> 22:43.182
[SPEAKER_00]: I think she could be first option calibrated, some people might disagree, but I don't know, man.

22:43.502 --> 22:49.726
[SPEAKER_00]: I think like she's just such a dynamic playmaker, and you know, has such a great all-around floor game.

22:50.166 --> 22:52.228
[SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, you know, I mean, I'm with you.

22:52.568 --> 22:57.531
[SPEAKER_00]: I think she can be, but what I'm, I guess my point is we don't have anyone who's established.

22:57.651 --> 22:57.852
[SPEAKER_00]: Sure.

22:58.532 --> 23:01.833
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, that you could say definitively is like, hey, right?

23:01.873 --> 23:05.255
[SPEAKER_00]: This is like someone you could go to in the crunch and obviously, right?

23:05.455 --> 23:09.736
[SPEAKER_00]: The season we're seeing the effects of not having that type of player.

23:10.176 --> 23:10.857
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

23:11.397 --> 23:21.981
[SPEAKER_00]: But the reason why I'm saying that is, you know, someone's like, you know, oh, Conrad and the draft should we be targeting a guard or wing or big.

23:22.001 --> 23:22.981
[SPEAKER_00]: And for me,

23:26.163 --> 23:52.964
[SPEAKER_00]: especially if you're drafting high let's say like we fall out of the playoffs and we're more towards the lottery or we're in the lottery right whether that's one through five like I my philosophy is always just best player available right but especially for a team like this like no one here has cemented themselves as like they are the you know preeminent option at that position you know like I don't like it when people say like oh well we have

23:53.544 --> 23:54.244
[SPEAKER_00]: We have guards.

23:54.264 --> 23:55.305
[SPEAKER_00]: We don't need to draft a guard.

23:55.805 --> 23:57.426
[SPEAKER_00]: No, we have guards.

23:57.486 --> 24:01.249
[SPEAKER_00]: We don't have a, you know, a locked in franchise guard.

24:01.269 --> 24:01.829
[SPEAKER_00]: At least not yet.

24:02.649 --> 24:16.978
[SPEAKER_00]: Magnum's like, I'm very high on Carl late in all them, but you know, I'm saying, like, so in the same kind of line of thinking when it comes to free agency, let's just say, for example, like we knew it was reported

24:18.488 --> 24:25.453
[SPEAKER_00]: that the Valkyries, you know, him and Ian and Joe Lake up, you know, Natalie, they had conversations with Kelsey Plum.

24:25.974 --> 24:27.455
[SPEAKER_00]: Last off season, right?

24:27.735 --> 24:32.679
[SPEAKER_00]: If for some reason Kelsey Plum does not want to go back to the sparks and said, you know, I would like to be a Valkyrie.

24:32.739 --> 24:35.601
[SPEAKER_00]: Like I'm not going to turn her down, you know what I'm saying?

24:36.582 --> 24:39.664
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, by the way, did you see her cameo and the happy Gilmore, too?

24:40.581 --> 24:43.226
[SPEAKER_00]: So yes, I just walked last night.

24:43.907 --> 24:51.360
[SPEAKER_00]: It's funny how it's like, you know, I mean, obviously we're double NBA fans, but like I wonder like how many people didn't know who that was like, oh, it's just a funny girl, right?

24:51.420 --> 24:53.744
[SPEAKER_02]: Like it was my favorite one because I was like, wait.

24:54.452 --> 24:55.333
[SPEAKER_02]: She's in the movie.

24:55.593 --> 25:07.422
[SPEAKER_02]: She and the, the, the, the, an answer, a Verne Lundquist who's like, even like, back before my day, like, the students and like, and they come in and like, you can tell, like, he's up there.

25:07.802 --> 25:11.665
[SPEAKER_02]: But because he was in the first movie, those were my two favorites was Verne and like, yeah.

25:12.986 --> 25:18.650
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, but yeah, going back to it, like, I mean, obviously that's the, unlike the NBA.

25:18.730 --> 25:20.311
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, no, actually, that's not right.

25:21.872 --> 25:22.513
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, like,

25:24.658 --> 25:28.808
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that I, I, I personally like.

25:29.830 --> 25:32.472
[SPEAKER_00]: the guards and wings in this upcoming draft class.

25:33.052 --> 25:40.998
[SPEAKER_00]: So I guess that's just, this has been a long way of saying that like I would probably first prioritize some big, some front court players.

25:42.780 --> 25:48.204
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I'd still want to bring back Iliana Rupert and you know, if Tammy and you know, they have interest.

25:48.524 --> 25:53.948
[SPEAKER_00]: Cool, but I think we can continue to build the death of the front court.

25:54.629 --> 25:58.071
[SPEAKER_00]: One who I think is going to be a target for a lot of teams is a lot of Smith.

25:59.658 --> 26:02.122
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, again, I know we have repair, but...

26:04.390 --> 26:11.795
[SPEAKER_00]: Rupert, I think, does have the ability to be a good defensive stretch five.

26:11.815 --> 26:19.080
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not going to completely make any big assessment of her after two games.

26:19.140 --> 26:20.921
[SPEAKER_00]: Having said that, I can just play fairly well.

26:21.041 --> 26:33.069
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think a lot of Smith, again, just a very true stretch five, highly efficient, even in lower usage, you kind of want that if you have

26:34.190 --> 26:59.117
[SPEAKER_00]: you know someone who's if you're like if your point of attack is primarily from the back court or the wing it's nice to have like a big who is just extremely efficient in those same lines again this is more for like a high end backup just a shepherd would be great too so yes I'm poaching from the links now okay given it's Joe Lake up here that we're talking about right

27:02.572 --> 27:10.656
[SPEAKER_00]: The more I'm thinking about it, and you look at kind of like how everyone's saying like, man, things are falling apart in Las Vegas.

27:13.477 --> 27:15.498
[SPEAKER_00]: Can he convince Asia Wilson?

27:17.719 --> 27:19.682
[SPEAKER_00]: Because he now, now, right?

27:19.902 --> 27:21.484
[SPEAKER_00]: All of those sets, right?

27:21.824 --> 27:25.689
[SPEAKER_00]: That you are drawing up makes a lot more sense now, right?

27:25.869 --> 27:27.251
[SPEAKER_00]: You have a close presence.

27:28.893 --> 27:33.159
[SPEAKER_00]: Because everyone's saying, like, oh, we need a post presence.

27:33.199 --> 27:34.300
[SPEAKER_00]: We need an inside thread.

27:34.360 --> 27:35.221
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't disagree.

27:35.682 --> 27:36.343
[SPEAKER_00]: But I mean, like,

27:37.820 --> 27:55.525
[SPEAKER_00]: There are only so, there's only a handful of players who actually really command like who actually bring in gravity inside, you know, by playing through the post, you know, you know, in no particular order, you know, Asia.

27:56.943 --> 28:10.096
[SPEAKER_00]: the piece of call here, you know, we're on a store, you know, I only bring up Asia lately, just because I don't think it's going to happen, but like you just really see the ambiguity with Las Vegas's direction.

28:10.156 --> 28:13.179
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, I don't know, can you at least take it?

28:13.359 --> 28:15.001
[SPEAKER_00]: I can take a meeting, right?

28:15.441 --> 28:17.904
[SPEAKER_00]: See if you could picture on that, but if not,

28:19.405 --> 28:35.467
[SPEAKER_00]: Again, I guess it really depends what they do on the draft probably wouldn't be like spending a lot of money on back court help if they end up like drafting another guard, you know, but in general, I really like players like

28:36.308 --> 28:44.630
[SPEAKER_00]: like Jackie Young, not to just again pillage from the aces, you know, but, you know, those are the types of players.

28:45.990 --> 28:54.412
[SPEAKER_00]: As you can see, right, similar to the warriors, right, Natalie likes to emphasize like connective passings, right?

28:54.592 --> 29:00.094
[SPEAKER_00]: Everyone is empowered to be, you know, a playmaker.

29:01.374 --> 29:11.742
[SPEAKER_00]: Uh, you know, not necessarily like on ball usage, but you know, when the ball gets to you, right, it's it's not just necessarily like shoot or, you know, or pass, you're empowered to be able to dribble past shoot.

29:12.543 --> 29:19.769
[SPEAKER_00]: So I mean, those are the types of players I'd like, um, you know, I see a lot of fans throughout like

29:21.095 --> 29:45.183
[SPEAKER_00]: point guard help but um yes just depends which point guard we're talking about you know but yeah I mean if you're really going like you're really shooting for the moon those are the players I would target you know especially like this is what's like really kind of bothered me uh I think I've voted a few times on social media like

29:47.058 --> 29:49.781
[SPEAKER_00]: I can understand that you're saying, hey, you're an expansion team.

29:49.821 --> 29:52.103
[SPEAKER_00]: You can't just automatically get the number one pick.

29:52.163 --> 29:53.464
[SPEAKER_00]: However, I don't know.

29:54.205 --> 30:05.575
[SPEAKER_00]: In other sports leagues, the expansion team gets the number one pick, but the fact that they didn't even get an opportunity at lottery odds in their inaugural year, like you could have just given us like the fifth best odds, right?

30:06.015 --> 30:07.476
[SPEAKER_00]: Give us a shot, right?

30:08.357 --> 30:13.601
[SPEAKER_00]: So, if you're telling me we make the playoffs this year, we didn't tank.

30:14.021 --> 30:15.242
[SPEAKER_00]: We did everything right.

30:15.322 --> 30:16.623
[SPEAKER_00]: We actually respected the game.

30:16.943 --> 30:20.506
[SPEAKER_00]: You're going to say that we don't get a lottery pick in two consecutive years.

30:20.626 --> 30:24.409
[SPEAKER_00]: In the first two years of our franchises existence, that makes no sense.

30:24.729 --> 30:25.730
[SPEAKER_00]: You know what I'm saying?

30:25.750 --> 30:32.595
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's why I'm like, man, if we don't get an opportunity at a player that we believe, or if we don't get the opportunity to draft

30:33.678 --> 30:37.520
[SPEAKER_00]: A player that we believe can be a franchise, like a franchise player.

30:37.540 --> 30:50.986
[SPEAKER_00]: That's why I, yes, I do believe Joe Lake up is going to really try to be aggressive to get one of these superstars to come to the Bay Area.

30:51.306 --> 30:53.267
[SPEAKER_00]: Because yeah, I mean, like it's just

30:54.752 --> 30:57.615
[SPEAKER_00]: You got to be able to work with the resources that we've been granted.

30:57.815 --> 31:00.537
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's just, it's an interesting situation.

31:00.557 --> 31:01.558
[SPEAKER_02]: All right.

31:01.598 --> 31:03.580
[SPEAKER_02]: Let's, let's change gears here.

31:03.760 --> 31:06.662
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, we talked about the Valkyries losing to the sun.

31:06.783 --> 31:10.126
[SPEAKER_02]: They beat the wings on Friday night.

31:10.166 --> 31:11.407
[SPEAKER_02]: They had to come from behind.

31:11.467 --> 31:14.189
[SPEAKER_02]: And, you know, actually, I did want to ask you this one thing about that game.

31:14.970 --> 31:19.133
[SPEAKER_02]: I felt that the game kind of switched.

31:19.974 --> 31:25.335
[SPEAKER_02]: when Dallas brought in the big center that they have the six seven woman.

31:25.955 --> 31:34.978
[SPEAKER_02]: And then Natalie immediately went with repair and repair hit like back to back threes or two threes in a in a short time timeframe.

31:35.318 --> 31:38.978
[SPEAKER_02]: And I was like, Oh, that was, you know, that's perfect basketball strategy.

31:39.579 --> 31:40.999
[SPEAKER_02]: The big is not able to get out.

31:41.059 --> 31:43.159
[SPEAKER_02]: You have your stretch five boom back in the game.

31:43.179 --> 31:45.660
[SPEAKER_02]: And then from there, they took advantage of that.

31:46.140 --> 31:48.501
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, as you've watched Natalie this season,

31:50.161 --> 32:14.847
[SPEAKER_02]: have you how would you grade sort of her strategic obviously she's from an energy standpoint and from a I actually think she's she's great with with media and I think she's kind of she has the possibility of becoming kind of like a Bay Area star just because of her personality but from a strategy standpoint how would you grade her so far this season?

32:19.116 --> 32:25.560
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I would probably give her like an A minus, you know, I mean, frankly, like, I don't know if that makes me biased.

32:25.600 --> 32:31.463
[SPEAKER_00]: I kind of want to give her an A, but okay, I can understand again, like all those offensive laws.

32:31.504 --> 32:41.530
[SPEAKER_00]: However, I like when people tell me that, like say, like, oh, come on, like look how mediocre, you know, or subpar at times, this offense is, but I mean, again, like,

32:42.450 --> 32:43.651
[SPEAKER_00]: make it make sense then, right?

32:43.671 --> 32:52.417
[SPEAKER_00]: You can just acknowledge that you think this is a very limited offensive personnel and then expected to make magic, you know, I don't know.

32:52.537 --> 32:59.222
[SPEAKER_00]: So I would give her an A minus in terms of like her overall coaching philosophy, like I said,

33:01.692 --> 33:08.055
[SPEAKER_00]: For me, from the start, I've always said, right, I want to see the types of looks that the values can create.

33:08.635 --> 33:20.480
[SPEAKER_00]: And overall, the ones that are actually generated, right, from, you know, actual plays, not just things like going off script, you know, like to me, they're impressive looks.

33:21.000 --> 33:28.028
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, a lot of, like I said, kind of, and even playing to the strengths of their players, right?

33:28.068 --> 33:35.816
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I mean, genel salon definitely continue to grow as a player, but they take advantage of her isolation skills, of tips isolation skills.

33:36.437 --> 33:37.698
[SPEAKER_00]: I like that she kind of, you know,

33:39.259 --> 33:41.200
[SPEAKER_00]: Some people say that horns is outdated.

33:41.320 --> 33:42.280
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think it is.

33:42.340 --> 33:45.020
[SPEAKER_00]: And she uses it really well.

33:45.881 --> 33:48.761
[SPEAKER_00]: I like the double isolation sets.

33:48.821 --> 34:01.464
[SPEAKER_00]: Again, that she creates for her players to kind of put them, you know, in a position to give one person, like, you know, two players, but in a position for one of them to pick who can actually attack.

34:02.124 --> 34:03.825
[SPEAKER_00]: the the more favorable mismatch.

34:04.946 --> 34:09.149
[SPEAKER_00]: That's kind of resulted in Janelle having a lot of cool hero hero shots.

34:09.609 --> 34:15.333
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, overall, you know, I think I don't think.

34:17.014 --> 34:23.999
[SPEAKER_00]: In my opinion, I don't really find now in the Cossays coaching decisions to necessarily be inconsistent.

34:24.559 --> 34:27.381
[SPEAKER_00]: I think earlier you referenced like kind of like, oh,

34:29.753 --> 34:52.660
[SPEAKER_00]: You'll keep Martin plays like twenty five thirty minutes one night she's a DNP the next like we were talking I understand there yeah yeah I understand like the optics of certain coaching decisions like that however like I'm not saying it's necessarily right I think though the rationale is what I'm trying to understand right and in my opinion the way I interpret it is okay so for example that game against the wings you know

34:54.065 --> 35:02.488
[SPEAKER_00]: I think she kind of thought like, okay, like yeah, we have twelve player rosters and we're already down like what, two players, right?

35:02.548 --> 35:18.594
[SPEAKER_00]: KT and Monique Billings, but I mean, if you look at it, even like the best of the best, and I'm not saying we're the best, but you know, like the links, the liberty, when it comes down to it, like if it's a must win game or like, you know, a game that they really want for like seating purposes,

35:20.232 --> 35:24.254
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, Sandy Brondello, Cheryl Reeve, they'll just go with a seven player rotation.

35:24.814 --> 35:25.355
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe eight.

35:25.975 --> 35:29.177
[SPEAKER_00]: You know what I'm saying is like, I can understand you're like, hey, we're short handed.

35:29.417 --> 35:32.839
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's play as like, you know, let's maximize the full extent of our roster.

35:32.859 --> 35:33.279
[SPEAKER_00]: I get that.

35:33.759 --> 35:34.520
[SPEAKER_00]: But the same time.

35:35.460 --> 35:40.942
[SPEAKER_00]: I think players, you know, you need more than like two-minute stints to actually build up a rhythm.

35:41.542 --> 35:47.264
[SPEAKER_00]: So I can understand Natalie saying, hey, let's just go with these seven or eight players.

35:47.864 --> 35:50.765
[SPEAKER_00]: Cause that way, like they actually play themselves into rhythm.

35:50.845 --> 35:55.086
[SPEAKER_00]: And those seven or eight players are picked on who has the more favorable matchup.

35:55.486 --> 36:01.368
[SPEAKER_00]: Cause I agree in the last one, I thought to tell you San Luisini had a more favorable matchup than say Kate Martin would.

36:01.888 --> 36:02.128
[SPEAKER_00]: You know,

36:02.648 --> 36:04.848
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's not to say, like, it was the right decision.

36:04.948 --> 36:06.249
[SPEAKER_00]: I just say, I understand it.

36:07.289 --> 36:13.950
[SPEAKER_00]: So we'll see, obviously, you know, it's a result, like anything, professional sports, it's a result oriented, you know, business.

36:14.190 --> 36:17.671
[SPEAKER_00]: But I can at least respect that thought process.

36:17.731 --> 36:20.531
[SPEAKER_00]: It's to be determined, like how effective it is.

36:20.651 --> 36:27.213
[SPEAKER_00]: But, you know, as you said, post game six things, or no, and you reiterated six games and ten nights.

36:27.473 --> 36:27.813
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

36:27.833 --> 36:28.113
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

36:29.653 --> 36:37.016
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, like I'm not sure that there was anything more beneficial to giving, like, you know, keep five minutes.

36:37.876 --> 36:45.398
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, at the expense of what taking minutes away from Carla and, you know, who had it going?

36:45.678 --> 36:46.479
[SPEAKER_00]: No, I don't know.

36:46.499 --> 36:48.119
[SPEAKER_02]: That might have been Carla's best game.

36:48.139 --> 36:49.680
[SPEAKER_02]: I thought you played very well.

36:50.740 --> 36:51.000
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

36:51.441 --> 36:51.701
[SPEAKER_02]: All right.

36:51.961 --> 36:56.485
[SPEAKER_02]: You have a ton of knowledge about the WMBA because you've been following it for a while.

36:56.525 --> 36:57.065
[SPEAKER_02]: So I want to.

36:58.026 --> 37:02.910
[SPEAKER_02]: We're going to hit our around the WMBA segment, but then I want to circle back and we'll do like a quick.

37:03.531 --> 37:08.875
[SPEAKER_02]: I want to get your like really quick questions on some Valkyrie stuff for we get you out of here.

37:08.995 --> 37:12.238
[SPEAKER_02]: You've been so generous with your time on this Sunday for us.

37:12.278 --> 37:15.160
[SPEAKER_02]: So let's hit the WMBA segment first here.

37:19.488 --> 37:32.077
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, so the liberty signed Emma Measeman and that is going to you mentioned they could go seven deep and just run people off the court.

37:32.097 --> 37:35.779
[SPEAKER_02]: This is only going to help them signing signing Emma.

37:36.680 --> 37:41.623
[SPEAKER_02]: Though I know a Brianna Stewart had to leave Saturday's game with a leg injury.

37:41.743 --> 37:43.705
[SPEAKER_02]: The last thing I saw that was

37:44.595 --> 37:51.018
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, as far as like a serious injury, they don't think the serious injury, though, they're going to definitely take their time with her.

37:51.098 --> 37:52.299
[SPEAKER_02]: They're not going to rush her back.

37:52.879 --> 37:59.963
[SPEAKER_02]: But do you still think it is a, a, a liberty and, and links sort of finals to lose here?

38:00.023 --> 38:02.164
[SPEAKER_02]: Are those the two best teams that you've seen this year?

38:03.865 --> 38:04.185
[SPEAKER_00]: They are.

38:05.006 --> 38:05.566
[SPEAKER_00]: They still are.

38:05.926 --> 38:06.826
[SPEAKER_00]: They definitely still are.

38:07.307 --> 38:13.590
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, obviously the liberty, like for example, here, as you just said with Emma Measeman, like,

38:15.091 --> 38:40.713
[SPEAKER_00]: It's a lot different when she's coming in to be like, you know, like an additional weapon, you know, a high-end complimentary piece, whereas potentially right now, she may actually have to step in and serve a definitive role, you know, off the jump, which is, I mean, she's more than capable, but I guess what I'm trying to say is, you know, the liberty

38:42.013 --> 38:48.840
[SPEAKER_00]: It says if like when one player comes back from injury and others gone down, it's kind of been the nature of their season.

38:48.900 --> 38:50.401
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, Johnville Jones.

38:50.682 --> 38:52.503
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, now we're on a steward.

38:52.523 --> 38:55.586
[SPEAKER_00]: You are sobly continues to be out.

38:56.127 --> 38:57.708
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, on paper, they're definitely.

38:58.922 --> 39:00.884
[SPEAKER_00]: One of the deepest, if not the deepest teams.

39:01.724 --> 39:05.207
[SPEAKER_00]: And I was kind of talking to this with my co-host the other day.

39:05.287 --> 39:09.111
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I think at this point, I mean, would they like the number one seed?

39:09.391 --> 39:16.937
[SPEAKER_00]: Sure, you know, of course, but at this point, especially now that we're well, we're, we're how we'll pass the halfway point.

39:18.118 --> 39:24.283
[SPEAKER_00]: I think just being as healthy as possible heading into the playoffs needs to be their priority.

39:24.603 --> 39:27.766
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they should be able to hold on at least to the number two seed.

39:28.527 --> 39:30.809
[SPEAKER_00]: But, you know, come play off time.

39:30.849 --> 39:38.435
[SPEAKER_00]: I would still definitely take them to be one of the teams likely to be back in the WNB finals as for the links.

39:39.095 --> 39:41.998
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, obviously they have the best record.

39:43.465 --> 39:59.191
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, when they lose, it always seems to be like the same thing comes up, which is their lack of a different true point card, which I guess is true, right?

39:59.272 --> 39:59.892
[SPEAKER_00]: They have a lot of

40:01.399 --> 40:03.821
[SPEAKER_00]: scoring cards like combo cards, right?

40:04.342 --> 40:10.367
[SPEAKER_00]: But again, when teams are capable of defending straight up, you know, they don't need to switch.

40:10.487 --> 40:13.730
[SPEAKER_00]: They don't need to trap, you know, don't have to go into the zone.

40:14.851 --> 40:25.040
[SPEAKER_00]: I think, you know, links fans are saying, like, okay, this is where like the lack of a true like playmaker or facilitator, even a game manager hurts, right?

40:25.060 --> 40:26.661
[SPEAKER_00]: Because now it's a lot different when feet

40:27.522 --> 40:35.407
[SPEAKER_00]: has to do that right as opposed to again right being like someone who can just make like the right pass out of the short roll or stuff like that.

40:36.108 --> 40:52.459
[SPEAKER_00]: So I mean as far as weaknesses go they don't neither team has many right it's just again can you stay healthy in terms you know because I think still there is a definitive gap between them and say like

40:54.374 --> 41:01.026
[SPEAKER_00]: the Atlanta dream, the Seattle storm, the Phoenix Mercury, you know, like they'll I suppose in a

41:03.146 --> 41:12.910
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, best of five, they could make you pull off an upset, you know, but, you know, I don't know.

41:13.210 --> 41:15.511
[SPEAKER_00]: I still think, yeah, they're a step above the rest.

41:15.911 --> 41:31.037
[SPEAKER_02]: Out of those teams that you mentioned, or maybe even another team who could pull up an upset, who, if there was a team to spoil that finals and knock one of those two teams out of the, out of the championship possibility, who do you think that is?

41:32.478 --> 41:32.718
[SPEAKER_02]: Phoenix.

41:34.415 --> 41:48.261
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I would go with Phoenix, especially, I mean, I don't want it to just completely hinge on Kalea copper, but that's just in if me saying that is just how much respect I have for as a player, you know, and I think that is the type of effect.

41:48.361 --> 41:56.225
[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, she's been battling injuries all year, but she's still playing well, but there are days where you can tell, okay, like she's not she's

41:57.165 --> 42:00.428
[SPEAKER_00]: except slow slower than her normal self.

42:02.229 --> 42:09.395
[SPEAKER_00]: But again, same thing, they got to get, you know, when Alyssa Thomas finally came back, so it went down with an injury.

42:09.976 --> 42:14.559
[SPEAKER_00]: So they need to get them back on all of them on the court together.

42:15.380 --> 42:18.723
[SPEAKER_00]: But again, I think between the three of them,

42:20.845 --> 42:28.590
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, in terms of like actual like three level, it's not even just three level scores.

42:29.231 --> 42:33.234
[SPEAKER_00]: You have like three three level playmakers, which I don't know.

42:33.254 --> 42:34.374
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like a little catchphrase.

42:34.474 --> 42:35.795
[SPEAKER_00]: I value more, right?

42:36.176 --> 42:40.539
[SPEAKER_00]: When you can actually like create for yourself and others at all three levels,

42:41.790 --> 42:43.871
[SPEAKER_00]: that just puts right defenses in the tizzy.

42:43.991 --> 42:55.034
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think when they're on top of their game, they do that, you know, and again, if you question like their death, which actually, I feel like Phoenix's death has won them a lot of games this year, right?

42:55.054 --> 43:02.676
[SPEAKER_00]: Look, that's Lexi Held or Monika Koamakani, even Katherine Westbeld has had, you know, some big games.

43:03.176 --> 43:05.956
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I think that

43:08.570 --> 43:14.613
[SPEAKER_00]: the playoff format where rotations tend to be more streamlined.

43:14.833 --> 43:17.154
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, like that favors them.

43:17.254 --> 43:20.056
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, okay, we're only willing to go seven deep.

43:20.136 --> 43:20.396
[SPEAKER_00]: Uh-huh.

43:20.576 --> 43:22.477
[SPEAKER_00]: Like our seven can match up with your seven.

43:22.497 --> 43:23.457
[SPEAKER_00]: So big out.

43:23.517 --> 43:25.818
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I think Phoenix Atlanta.

43:25.958 --> 43:30.381
[SPEAKER_00]: I like what they've done, but when they lose, you could tell it's always the same thing.

43:31.321 --> 43:32.041
[SPEAKER_00]: Again, right?

43:32.221 --> 43:35.003
[SPEAKER_00]: It's a lack of counters, which is kind of been

43:37.885 --> 43:48.975
[SPEAKER_00]: Like a common criticism of Carl Smesco, even when he was at Lake Florida Atlantic, is that like it's times, it can become a very all or nothing type of offense.

43:49.696 --> 43:59.765
[SPEAKER_00]: So we'll see how they, you know, how they continue to play out the rest of the season, you know, if they continue to add layers or this is just kind of fine tuning with there have already been doing.

44:01.093 --> 44:05.361
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, let's end this with some rapid fire question and answers.

44:05.862 --> 44:08.827
[SPEAKER_02]: You don't have to think about these too much.

44:10.150 --> 44:12.814
[SPEAKER_02]: Favorite Valkyries player to watch.

44:16.017 --> 44:16.557
[SPEAKER_02]: Janelle Sloan.

44:17.037 --> 44:17.598
[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, okay.

44:18.198 --> 44:18.638
[SPEAKER_02]: Interesting.

44:18.818 --> 44:29.042
[SPEAKER_02]: Brian and I did this couple weeks ago and he went with Carla and I went with Veronica Burton and then Veronica Burton had probably two of her poorer games of the year.

44:29.163 --> 44:29.503
[SPEAKER_02]: Just did.

44:29.703 --> 44:30.703
[SPEAKER_02]: Okay.

44:31.243 --> 44:31.544
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.

44:31.644 --> 44:34.185
[SPEAKER_00]: I hope I didn't just jinx Janelle Sloan.

44:34.205 --> 44:37.426
[SPEAKER_00]: She's actually had a nice little run here post post all-star Rick.

44:37.566 --> 44:39.027
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, yeah, sure.

44:39.227 --> 44:41.948
[SPEAKER_02]: Favorite Valkyrie's game this year?

44:44.197 --> 44:48.360
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, uh, probably over time versus the sparks.

44:49.060 --> 44:49.320
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

44:49.741 --> 44:57.306
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, because I was like the big comeback and again, just like a lot of, um, uh, you know, California.

44:57.686 --> 44:58.246
[SPEAKER_00]: No, right.

44:58.306 --> 45:00.107
[SPEAKER_00]: Like you could make it not even argue.

45:00.127 --> 45:02.789
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm pretty sure I was thinking about before we got on like KT.

45:04.130 --> 45:09.594
[SPEAKER_00]: probably want us at least three games with her fourth quarter heroic, right?

45:09.614 --> 45:11.776
[SPEAKER_00]: So are what, eleven wins, right?

45:11.876 --> 45:13.978
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, yeah, sad.

45:14.358 --> 45:19.682
[SPEAKER_02]: So that's the one game that I would circle if if someone had had said, you know,

45:21.225 --> 45:26.308
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not a WMBA fan, but I'm kind of interested what's the one game that I should go check out.

45:26.348 --> 45:27.709
[SPEAKER_02]: Like that's the game I would circle.

45:27.749 --> 45:33.232
[SPEAKER_02]: If I would say go watch that game because that game had just about everything you would want to see in a basketball game.

45:33.592 --> 45:38.595
[SPEAKER_02]: The defense not fantastic, but that enabled both teams to score a lot of points.

45:40.356 --> 45:40.656
[SPEAKER_02]: Okay.

45:41.597 --> 45:50.562
[SPEAKER_02]: Out of the players who were formerly Valkyries, but because of the small roster were waived, who were you the saddest to see go?

45:54.251 --> 45:57.513
[SPEAKER_00]: Um... Good.

45:57.533 --> 45:57.973
[SPEAKER_00]: So quick.

45:58.594 --> 46:00.335
[SPEAKER_00]: I have two.

46:00.695 --> 46:00.976
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.

46:01.056 --> 46:01.456
[SPEAKER_02]: Go for it.

46:01.616 --> 46:02.897
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.

46:02.977 --> 46:03.517
[SPEAKER_00]: Chloe, Bibi.

46:03.998 --> 46:04.178
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

46:04.778 --> 46:05.359
[SPEAKER_00]: Chloe, Bibi.

46:05.499 --> 46:07.560
[SPEAKER_02]: Again, I just signed the favor, right?

46:07.901 --> 46:08.321
[SPEAKER_00]: She did.

46:08.361 --> 46:12.964
[SPEAKER_00]: She actually just made her debut today and I saw that a little bit before we got on the pod.

46:12.984 --> 46:14.726
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, and who knows?

46:14.766 --> 46:16.127
[SPEAKER_00]: She signed a seven day contract.

46:17.148 --> 46:20.189
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe, maybe there could be a reunion down the line, right?

46:20.209 --> 46:22.529
[SPEAKER_00]: If she's so desires, she can change.

46:22.549 --> 46:24.330
[SPEAKER_00]: And Ming Natore.

46:25.230 --> 46:25.930
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, okay.

46:26.690 --> 46:31.571
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, who actually, I believe, I don't know if you played today, but she is with the sun.

46:31.951 --> 46:32.152
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

46:32.372 --> 46:33.532
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, so yeah.

46:34.452 --> 46:34.892
[SPEAKER_00]: There you go.

46:34.912 --> 46:38.913
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, obviously the French connection and everything like that.

46:38.973 --> 46:46.055
[SPEAKER_00]: But again, her style is, especially if you look up her three on three, like her Fiba, three on three highlights.

46:46.115 --> 46:46.555
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, she's

46:47.835 --> 46:48.916
[SPEAKER_00]: Just fun, right?

46:48.956 --> 46:49.996
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like an Anne one mixed tape.

46:51.037 --> 47:15.168
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, the thing you were never talking about fair and I was saying about how thoughtful the WMBA social media community has been compared to other sports, you know, that just like a craziness and the only thing that I think came close to any sort of real, maybe frustration that I've seen from the WMBA community and especially the Valkyries of Lynn.

47:15.668 --> 47:17.049
[SPEAKER_02]: Julie Van Lugat let go.

47:17.429 --> 47:22.170
[SPEAKER_02]: Like that was where I was like, oh, I want to see how the fan base reacts to this.

47:22.210 --> 47:30.033
[SPEAKER_02]: And it was, it wasn't, there was some like how dare you like the, you know, about the airplane and whether or not she, yeah, all that stuff.

47:30.573 --> 47:36.315
[SPEAKER_02]: But other than other than that, you know, I haven't seen, I haven't seen any of the, any of the claws out.

47:36.335 --> 47:40.837
[SPEAKER_02]: But that was the closest one that I've seen so far in this inaugural season.

47:40.917 --> 47:44.378
[SPEAKER_02]: And it's very happy to see Julie land on her feet as well.

47:46.653 --> 47:46.913
[SPEAKER_02]: Okay.

47:47.193 --> 47:48.514
[SPEAKER_02]: Last last couple here.

47:49.415 --> 47:49.695
[SPEAKER_02]: Okay.

47:50.195 --> 47:51.516
[SPEAKER_02]: Valks are down by one.

47:52.897 --> 47:53.598
[SPEAKER_02]: Need a bucket.

47:55.038 --> 47:55.559
[SPEAKER_02]: Not too many.

47:55.579 --> 47:56.900
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, ten seconds left.

47:57.620 --> 47:59.041
[SPEAKER_02]: Who are you drawing the play for?

48:01.003 --> 48:01.724
[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, there you go.

48:01.924 --> 48:04.125
[SPEAKER_02]: I thought you were going to say Janelle based on the last conversation.

48:04.565 --> 48:04.865
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

48:05.006 --> 48:10.749
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, because tip is, and I know, I get why some fans don't like her.

48:11.169 --> 48:12.350
[SPEAKER_00]: I admit, like she's a grifter.

48:12.971 --> 48:13.531
[SPEAKER_01]: She's a grifter.

48:13.711 --> 48:13.891
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

48:13.931 --> 48:14.932
[SPEAKER_00]: She's a professional grifter.

48:14.972 --> 48:15.592
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

48:15.692 --> 48:21.036
[SPEAKER_00]: So I feel like she's going to find a way to generate a good look or some contact, you know.

48:21.256 --> 48:21.456
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

48:21.636 --> 48:22.216
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

48:22.416 --> 48:22.797
[SPEAKER_02]: Totally.

48:22.857 --> 48:27.460
[SPEAKER_02]: No, it's a good one because she, yes, she can, you know, some, there have been some moments this year, though, where

48:28.300 --> 48:32.402
[SPEAKER_02]: I was like, man, she just got laid out and just did not get the whistle.

48:32.882 --> 48:43.966
[SPEAKER_02]: Like there were lots of moments where she's just going so hard to the whole, she's, you know, letting long arms get trying to get to, and then just gets blasted and nope, going the other way.

48:44.306 --> 48:47.267
[SPEAKER_02]: It's just like, okay, we're going four on five the other way.

48:48.828 --> 49:08.918
[SPEAKER_02]: as a Natalie Nicosio saying right for a number of post game press conferences winter loss right consistency she's begging for consistency from the rest that's that that sounds like you know if there is a sort of a casual fan take it has been a little bit on the officials like when you're kind of looking at the league and

49:09.398 --> 49:21.505
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, the the officiating seems more collegiate than it does professional in the WNBA and you know, I think even even the folks who haven't watched a ton like that definitely stands out.

49:23.366 --> 49:23.686
[SPEAKER_02]: All right.

49:23.866 --> 49:25.227
[SPEAKER_02]: There's a little kid in your family.

49:26.288 --> 49:27.849
[SPEAKER_02]: They're here in a little bit about the Valkyries.

49:27.869 --> 49:28.709
[SPEAKER_02]: Who are these Valkyries?

49:28.749 --> 49:29.610
[SPEAKER_02]: What is this team?

49:30.250 --> 49:31.731
[SPEAKER_02]: Their birthday is coming up.

49:32.652 --> 49:34.893
[SPEAKER_02]: Which jersey are you buying them?

49:38.522 --> 49:45.064
[SPEAKER_00]: I think my niece, whose eight years old, she would want a Carla Lake jersey.

49:45.844 --> 49:49.205
[SPEAKER_02]: That's probably the perfect, the perfect one.

49:49.825 --> 49:51.486
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, Carla's got something man.

49:51.526 --> 49:52.786
[SPEAKER_02]: She's got charisma.

49:53.246 --> 49:54.446
[SPEAKER_02]: You want to root for her.

49:55.007 --> 49:59.568
[SPEAKER_02]: She's got that little sister thing where she gets knocked to the floor and you know, you kind of wanted

50:00.488 --> 50:20.897
[SPEAKER_00]: stand up and go okay who who did that we got to go we got to get that get that person not Carla down she's got that I totally she's fearless like for better for like I was saying this again when I was like you know kind of tweeting out when we played the aces the last game the last time we played the aces the one where we lost by like two points yeah yeah and like

50:21.995 --> 50:35.467
[SPEAKER_00]: for better for worse she's fairly she will hit the whole you know or drive to the cup doesn't matter who's lurking back there and like I don't know how many I think it was at least three times she drove right into Asia Wilson and like okay

50:37.122 --> 50:38.383
[SPEAKER_00]: Does that say for better or for worse?

50:38.463 --> 50:38.843
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

50:39.223 --> 50:39.524
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

50:39.604 --> 50:42.666
[SPEAKER_02]: She could get that the three pointer.

50:43.206 --> 50:47.409
[SPEAKER_02]: I see that she's actually putting a little bit more arc on it lately.

50:47.429 --> 50:52.172
[SPEAKER_02]: That is the thing that is holding her back definitely is that outside shop right now.

50:53.008 --> 51:01.951
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and we saw that even today against Connecticut, like, okay, you know, that little hesitation gave them enough time to recover, right, and stop your drive.

51:02.331 --> 51:04.332
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, those things like that, but we'll see.

51:04.352 --> 51:12.915
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, and then you answered my last one already about, you know, who's the pie in the sky person to go after to fit this team?

51:13.755 --> 51:18.317
[SPEAKER_02]: So, hey, this has been a blast, you know, I will

51:19.577 --> 51:47.763
[SPEAKER_02]: never say that, you know, I am the expert in this stuff because I am, you know, my women's college basketball fandom goes back and the late eighty Stanford teams, Jennifer A. Z. was my favorite player back then, but because we didn't have a team, we had the sales a lasers and I was able to follow them a little bit, but they weren't around for very long because they were playing when I was actually at sales a state so they were on campus.

51:48.324 --> 51:50.743
[SPEAKER_02]: I actually saw a Jennifer AZ on campus a couple times.

51:51.453 --> 51:56.495
[SPEAKER_02]: But now that we have a team, like that's what I was like, okay, now I'm focusing in on the Valkyrie.

51:56.515 --> 52:05.918
[SPEAKER_02]: So I am so new to the WMBA and it's been awesome for us for Brian and I. We've been able to talk to Sabrina Merchant.

52:05.978 --> 52:08.079
[SPEAKER_02]: We've been able to talk to Michelle Smith.

52:08.139 --> 52:11.600
[SPEAKER_02]: We've been able to talk to Richard Cohen from her hoop stats.

52:12.380 --> 52:20.703
[SPEAKER_02]: And I appreciate you coming on because you absolutely have tremendous knowledge in somebody who, you know,

52:21.623 --> 52:27.108
[SPEAKER_02]: I was very interested in just kind of, you know, getting in your brain about women's basketball.

52:27.488 --> 52:31.171
[SPEAKER_02]: So very much appreciate you coming in and helping me out today.

52:32.003 --> 52:43.528
[SPEAKER_02]: Alright folks, go check out Konrado again at CP-III under score seven seven seven on X and Twitter and check out his content as well.

52:44.008 --> 52:49.630
[SPEAKER_02]: And hopefully at some point, you know, especially, I mean, I learned so much about you and the draft stuff.

52:49.751 --> 52:57.174
[SPEAKER_02]: I'd love to talk to you in our first real like Valkyries off season where we kind of know what's going on would be a blast.

52:58.074 --> 52:58.754
[SPEAKER_00]: I would love to.

52:59.034 --> 53:01.555
[SPEAKER_00]: I can talk draft for like hours on it.

53:02.456 --> 53:03.736
[SPEAKER_00]: There we go.

53:03.796 --> 53:04.857
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll have to tell me to shut up.

53:05.937 --> 53:06.337
[SPEAKER_02]: All right.

53:06.677 --> 53:07.698
[SPEAKER_02]: That is it from here.

53:08.038 --> 53:14.521
[SPEAKER_02]: So for Canrado, I am double G. We will see you when we see you piece out.