Valkyries Stand Pat at Deadline, Face Sparks in Critical Playoff Showdown | Valks Valley

WEBVTT

00:10.456 --> 00:11.897
[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome back to Valk's Valley.

00:11.917 --> 00:17.339
[SPEAKER_00]: We're live streaming here for this episode, Brian is back from his vacation.

00:17.859 --> 00:18.440
[SPEAKER_00]: Where were you again?

00:18.520 --> 00:19.080
[SPEAKER_00]: Wyoming?

00:20.281 --> 00:25.463
[SPEAKER_01]: It was in like Denver, Loveland, Colorado, and then ended up in Cody, Wyoming for a wedding.

00:26.343 --> 00:26.884
[SPEAKER_01]: How was the wedding?

00:27.944 --> 00:28.384
[SPEAKER_01]: Really cool.

00:28.564 --> 00:29.005
[SPEAKER_01]: Really cool.

00:29.105 --> 00:29.545
[SPEAKER_01]: Lots of

00:30.945 --> 00:39.570
[SPEAKER_01]: beautiful sights like the place they got married is just like so many like beautiful mountains and happy to be back.

00:40.070 --> 00:44.732
[SPEAKER_01]: It was cool to be everybody, you know, I just, mosquitoes love me.

00:45.012 --> 00:46.393
[SPEAKER_01]: They love me.

00:46.773 --> 00:51.716
[SPEAKER_01]: And so last time we went, I learned my lesson and had the mosquito spray up.

00:51.776 --> 00:53.437
[SPEAKER_01]: So this time around I'm a mosquito sprayed up.

00:54.077 --> 01:00.399
[SPEAKER_01]: But I forgot to do my head and then they just went nuts on on on my neck and I was like, oh my god, mosquitoes are the worst.

01:00.439 --> 01:04.500
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm happy to be away from mosquitoes and I'm happy to be in a place with, uh, can't lie.

01:04.520 --> 01:05.201
[SPEAKER_01]: I just like a city.

01:05.381 --> 01:05.981
[SPEAKER_01]: I like a city.

01:06.021 --> 01:13.343
[SPEAKER_01]: I like being able to have stuff near me and walk around, whereas having to go forty minutes to get to your nearest grocery store.

01:13.363 --> 01:14.204
[SPEAKER_01]: But I see the appeal.

01:14.244 --> 01:17.525
[SPEAKER_01]: I see the appeal of having just land and, you know,

01:18.225 --> 01:38.293
[SPEAKER_01]: just space and and you know not having to worry about really anything but but the people you're close with so I got I got respect for for I got new found respect for the area I guess but happy to be a wild animals also many I should show you some of the photos but we went to the Colorado Rocky

01:39.301 --> 01:59.595
[SPEAKER_01]: National Park is when we went last year we went to the Yellowstone and the T-Tons which are like two of the you know Yellowstone is like the second most popular probably behind you semity and you might even see you semities number I mean a Yellowstone's number one so we got to knock out Yellowstone and the Grand T-Tons last year and awesome photos saw a lot of wildlife but this year we hit the Colorado Rockies National Park

02:00.335 --> 02:10.105
[SPEAKER_01]: And saw like this big ol' elk on the way out like we saw nothing the whole time and then on the way out just big ol' elk that I got a really close photo of course without getting too close but in a car.

02:11.567 --> 02:12.307
[SPEAKER_01]: Man, it's really cool.

02:12.608 --> 02:13.469
[SPEAKER_01]: It's really cool stuff.

02:14.630 --> 02:21.377
[SPEAKER_00]: So did you see any giant eggs that look to be hatching sometime on August the eleventh?

02:22.243 --> 02:24.505
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, no, no big violet eggs.

02:24.585 --> 02:28.148
[SPEAKER_01]: I'd say nature that I was able to stay able to see.

02:29.770 --> 02:40.559
[SPEAKER_00]: So we'll we'll talk about that in a second, but yeah, is binoculars night or something at ball holla is in people think it's a mascot or mascot related.

02:41.020 --> 02:42.101
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's I think it's

02:42.561 --> 03:03.790
[SPEAKER_01]: damn you're confirmed that it's the mascot because I don't know if you remember like we said that link was getting shared around earlier in the season it was a LinkedIn job posting for a Valkyries mascot that I you know we haven't seen a mascot so I guess that job was never filled but they were paying pretty well that's why it was kind of like shared around is because like whoa you can make like on a grand for for doing this mascot thing um but

03:05.010 --> 03:09.675
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so so I'd say that this seems pretty likely that that's what the mascot's going to be.

03:09.855 --> 03:15.620
[SPEAKER_01]: I find it weird, you know, with the Valkyries and the Norse mythology or whatever, like that it's going to be a bird.

03:15.640 --> 03:21.286
[SPEAKER_01]: So I guess we'll have to see if like a human type of mascot version of this egg or it's an actual bird.

03:21.306 --> 03:27.772
[SPEAKER_00]: You're probably too young to remember this, but do you remember Golden State warriors as mascot thunder?

03:29.324 --> 03:32.785
[SPEAKER_00]: I wonder if they can just bring back thunder and put like some wings on them.

03:33.105 --> 03:35.326
[SPEAKER_00]: It's because they got rid of them because they okay see thunder, right?

03:35.446 --> 03:35.706
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

03:35.946 --> 03:36.166
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

03:36.306 --> 03:36.546
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

03:36.946 --> 03:39.387
[SPEAKER_00]: It has the mascot has to be female as well.

03:39.407 --> 03:41.587
[SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, it can actually be thunder, but okay.

03:41.607 --> 03:49.009
[SPEAKER_00]: But before we get to, I want to share some comments from from YouTube from our last show because you you missed two shows.

03:49.069 --> 03:53.231
[SPEAKER_00]: I did one show with a conrado who was awesome.

03:53.791 --> 03:57.572
[SPEAKER_00]: And then I did a solo show after the the dream game, but then

03:58.693 --> 04:02.838
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't like doing the solo stuff because it's just like recaps and I was gonna wait for you to get back.

04:02.938 --> 04:10.888
[SPEAKER_00]: But in that solo show, I asked for some feedback around if some folks think the Valkyries are going to make the playoffs.

04:10.928 --> 04:13.851
[SPEAKER_00]: By the way, shout out to Rob and Valkyhoops in the chat.

04:15.132 --> 04:19.874
[SPEAKER_00]: So there was a few comments and I wanted to read them really quickly.

04:19.934 --> 04:20.814
[SPEAKER_00]: I said it would read them.

04:21.655 --> 04:29.177
[SPEAKER_00]: So YouTube user at KURI-U for E said, I'd be happy if the Valks made the seventh or eighth spot.

04:29.697 --> 04:32.158
[SPEAKER_00]: Playoff home games at Ball Hallow would be insane.

04:33.659 --> 04:36.980
[SPEAKER_00]: And so wants them to make the playoffs there.

04:37.300 --> 04:42.382
[SPEAKER_00]: From Grandma Mo, we are getting in the playoffs, sixth or seventh.

04:42.962 --> 04:48.404
[SPEAKER_00]: which you know a week later doesn't seem as likely, but they're still in the mix.

04:48.464 --> 04:58.107
[SPEAKER_00]: If somehow Las Vegas can fall out a little bit and then from Costa says I was hoping the Valkyries drop out of the top eight to be honest.

04:58.227 --> 04:59.347
[SPEAKER_00]: They aren't winning around.

04:59.447 --> 05:00.727
[SPEAKER_00]: The team is deeply flawed.

05:00.747 --> 05:03.328
[SPEAKER_00]: The lack of crunch time scoring and three point shooting overall.

05:03.728 --> 05:10.590
[SPEAKER_00]: Get a top lottery pick and keep building for two to three years down the road and that should be the goal.

05:11.391 --> 05:12.151
[SPEAKER_00]: So okay.

05:13.052 --> 05:25.544
[SPEAKER_00]: We're going to circle back because I want to get your thoughts on that before we even talk about some of the stuff that has happened and we'll talk about the trade deadline or the lack of information around the trade deadline, nothing really too interesting.

05:27.853 --> 05:29.434
[SPEAKER_00]: What we're going to make one adjustment.

05:29.454 --> 05:32.095
[SPEAKER_00]: And this is mostly for the podcast feed folks.

05:32.135 --> 05:35.957
[SPEAKER_00]: If you're watching live on YouTube, this isn't really a fact our YouTube channel.

05:36.837 --> 05:56.567
[SPEAKER_00]: But one of the things that I think is kind of hard is when the warriors and the valkyries are kind of in season or near near each other or there's news related to both teams trying to record two separate episodes and post them separately isn't efficient and timely.

05:57.367 --> 06:10.320
[SPEAKER_00]: So on the podcast side only, we're going to combine the two shows together and we'll call it something like golden state hoops or golden state hoop.

06:11.041 --> 06:17.907
[SPEAKER_00]: And just for those for for that audio feed, we'll do a Valkyrie segment and a warrior segment for pretty much every show.

06:18.788 --> 06:22.612
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, thankfully for us right now, like there's literally no warriors news.

06:22.692 --> 06:24.613
[SPEAKER_00]: It's all based on Jonathan coming gun.

06:24.653 --> 06:25.874
[SPEAKER_00]: Everything is just conjecture.

06:25.894 --> 06:29.237
[SPEAKER_00]: So we haven't even had to record an episode of the death line up.

06:29.798 --> 06:34.262
[SPEAKER_00]: But let's say that the warriors, there's news around the warriors and there's news around the Valkyries.

06:34.562 --> 06:39.567
[SPEAKER_00]: We're going to combine that into one podcast specifically about Golden State basketball.

06:40.167 --> 06:42.770
[SPEAKER_00]: And we'll have the segments on YouTube.

06:42.890 --> 06:46.334
[SPEAKER_00]: We'll still split everything up as Vox Valley and the death line up.

06:46.734 --> 06:55.003
[SPEAKER_00]: If we live stream, it will live stream as Golden State hoop, but you know, so much like the podcast, but I'll still split up.

06:55.644 --> 07:00.165
[SPEAKER_00]: the segments in Valkyries and Warriors and post those after the fact.

07:00.505 --> 07:09.248
[SPEAKER_00]: So this is mostly just going to affect the podcast channel, but just it's just going to be a little bit of a branding thing, just for my own process of trying to get these up in a timely manner.

07:09.808 --> 07:11.409
[SPEAKER_00]: That is just going to be one adjustment.

07:11.769 --> 07:14.309
[SPEAKER_00]: And I don't even know that that's going to happen anytime soon.

07:14.389 --> 07:16.810
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm still looking for people to do designs and such.

07:16.890 --> 07:22.952
[SPEAKER_00]: So if you do graphics, hit me up GG at BSPN Media.com.

07:23.937 --> 07:27.759
[SPEAKER_00]: All right, that is, that is over and done with I just wanted to get that out there.

07:28.279 --> 07:31.541
[SPEAKER_00]: So Brian, let's talk about it.

07:32.261 --> 07:42.766
[SPEAKER_00]: Right now, the Valkyrie sit in the seven, sorry, in the eight slot in the playoff race, these sparks are right behind them and the sparks have been on fire.

07:42.806 --> 07:44.807
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they've won eight out of their last ten.

07:45.767 --> 07:50.850
[SPEAKER_00]: If you would have made a prediction today, right now, right this very moment with fifteen games left,

07:51.957 --> 07:59.604
[SPEAKER_00]: Do the Valkyries hang onto that spot or do the sparks leapfrog over them and get that eight spot?

08:01.105 --> 08:02.566
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd probably say that

08:04.307 --> 08:09.093
[SPEAKER_01]: LA takes it, um, you know, just they've kind of been going on.

08:09.153 --> 08:10.795
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they're eight and two in their last ten.

08:11.796 --> 08:13.498
[SPEAKER_01]: Cam Brink, of course, has come back.

08:13.579 --> 08:22.730
[SPEAKER_01]: So I feel like all things are pointing towards an upper trajectory from them, whereas, you know, the Valkyries are four and six in their last ten.

08:22.770 --> 08:23.150
[SPEAKER_01]: I've lost

08:23.971 --> 08:51.188
[SPEAKER_01]: Kayla Thornton who was our first half MVP, and I know this team isn't really like, you know, they kind of have like a next woman up mentality, where is, you know, losing Kayla Thornton who's your first half MVP isn't as detrimental as say the Vegas at ACE's losing Asia, even though it's the best player to best player comparison, but we all know that, you know, the Valkyries kind of have this everybody eats, whereas, right, you know, they're not really built around one player.

08:51.289 --> 08:51.829
[SPEAKER_01]: So I feel like

08:52.329 --> 09:05.818
[SPEAKER_01]: I was very worried about Kayla Thornton going down, and I think there is genuine worry about how the team is going to look, but you know, the team wasn't built around her, so they were kind of able to maybe still be solid while she's gone.

09:06.699 --> 09:08.520
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think that

09:09.277 --> 09:12.681
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, they kind of haven't really found a replacement for her.

09:12.781 --> 09:13.401
[SPEAKER_01]: I was talking.

09:13.482 --> 09:20.209
[SPEAKER_01]: I wasn't on the podcast, but I would have shared my thoughts when you and Conorado were doing your thing of like you think about Veronica Burton, right?

09:20.309 --> 09:26.776
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Veronica Burton is like like the unsung hero of the season, just being like available every single game.

09:26.796 --> 09:28.698
[SPEAKER_01]: So I don't mean to take any of his wafer because I'm not going to.

09:29.325 --> 09:45.650
[SPEAKER_01]: But you think of what they like in Caitlyn Chen kind of resembles a little bit of what they like in Veronica where it's like you kind of you kind of trust the ball in their hands that they're going to make the right decision maybe you know you don't expect a high points per game or you don't expect them to take over but like you just maybe don't expect them to do bad.

09:46.130 --> 09:58.354
[SPEAKER_01]: So like if you think of Veronica she's a starter okay well they kind of like Caitlyn Chen to replicate some of the Veronica stuff so Veronica went down you know you kind of have the Carla and and Caitlyn Chen to mix it up in there while she's gone and then from

09:59.074 --> 10:22.065
[SPEAKER_01]: you know the Temmy spot well now they have repair they had a monique before she went down they had leticia me here like you could see how the replacement can fit with Temmy and then um you know with Janelle like you have catchy right there even then now now is an elicini starting but with Kate uh they're not Kate I'm sorry with Kayla they're they don't have another wing who can defend like her

10:23.342 --> 10:48.989
[SPEAKER_01]: they have no real replacement for Kayla Thorne in my opinion when it comes to just the versatility on defense and I know that's kind of what I expected from Janelle and I just don't think Janelle is the level of perimeter defender that Kayla showed to be the season like it was like elite first team all w defense stuff from Kayla where it's just like you put Kayla on someone you feel good about it yeah you know

10:50.311 --> 10:54.593
[SPEAKER_01]: And the first game that she's gone, you have Chet, she's starting at the small Ford position and she has the guard page.

10:55.233 --> 10:56.734
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't remember what page a stats look like.

10:56.754 --> 10:59.855
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't, but you just don't feel good about that as you did with with Kayla.

11:00.535 --> 11:05.597
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I just, I just see this, even though, you know, it's not the team wasn't built around Kayla.

11:05.617 --> 11:11.820
[SPEAKER_01]: I just see her loss being of more importance than, you know, if some of any of those other starters went down,

11:12.700 --> 11:18.987
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, just because they don't really have a replacement of hers that they're maybe as comfortable as say of Chanel or was missing.

11:19.007 --> 11:21.229
[SPEAKER_01]: And we saw it, you know, what's your basket and then they were fine.

11:21.569 --> 11:25.533
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, I was Veronica went down, you know, they they've already said the replacement.

11:25.553 --> 11:31.799
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think it just with that and then with with Los Angeles kind of seemingly finding a groove.

11:31.839 --> 11:36.504
[SPEAKER_01]: And I know some of those games were against bat teams, but you know, you had the New York Liberty win off of the

11:37.104 --> 11:38.387
[SPEAKER_01]: Was it the buzzer reader game?

11:38.447 --> 11:38.788
[SPEAKER_01]: Where?

11:38.948 --> 11:39.229
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

11:39.489 --> 11:39.770
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

11:39.810 --> 11:40.391
[SPEAKER_00]: Hey, Jackson.

11:40.752 --> 11:42.596
[SPEAKER_01]: Rukio hit that circus shot.

11:44.389 --> 11:46.450
[SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, I would probably say that Los Angeles.

11:46.490 --> 11:52.973
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, and we said earlier in the season, when you don't have your first pick, when you don't have your pick in the draft, there's no reason to tank.

11:53.434 --> 11:54.414
[SPEAKER_01]: You kind of have to go all in.

11:54.434 --> 11:57.296
[SPEAKER_01]: So I was a little confused to start the season when they were doing so bad.

11:57.356 --> 12:01.598
[SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, now they're trying to find it because they, they start off so poorly.

12:02.438 --> 12:08.762
[SPEAKER_01]: And then, you know, they made the trade to bring in an all-star and Kelsey Plum, you know, they have to hear, Derek Hambi and they have a solid team on paper.

12:10.700 --> 12:21.090
[SPEAKER_01]: I would probably say that it seems like, and then above the Valkyries being Vegas, you know, the last time the last two times, I guess, before the blowout.

12:22.627 --> 12:24.889
[SPEAKER_01]: The last two times the Valkyries played the aces.

12:25.509 --> 12:31.113
[SPEAKER_01]: I thought the game plan was clear that they were just going to cook if Vegas had two bigs out there.

12:31.414 --> 12:35.196
[SPEAKER_01]: So another big out there with Asia, whether it was Kia Stokes or whether it was Megan Gustafson.

12:35.216 --> 12:43.743
[SPEAKER_01]: I bet you if you look at the numbers, any time Asia shared the court with either Kia or Megan against the Valkyries, I think we were eating, like I think we were playing well.

12:44.143 --> 12:50.568
[SPEAKER_01]: But now when they trade for an illicit Smith, and then they bring in Pearson Bell into the starting lineup,

12:51.068 --> 12:52.753
[SPEAKER_01]: Now you have kind of these bigs that

12:55.390 --> 13:05.138
[SPEAKER_01]: can like move and like kind of, you know, with, uh, Melissa, she kind of has an offensive game and just like they're not like stuck in the mud, kind of like a kio or, or Gustafsen was.

13:05.158 --> 13:21.993
[SPEAKER_01]: And I felt like that starting line-up change, moving jewel to the bench, moving no centers with Asia that are starting Asia's now the center, but you also brought in bigger players to surround her that aren't, you know, prototypical fives that are just going to be stuck in the mud, um, against like a fast team.

13:22.053 --> 13:22.994
[SPEAKER_01]: And then I feel like that.

13:23.674 --> 13:36.859
[SPEAKER_01]: has basically and now I feel like the Valkyries will never win and although this game was relatively close, I kind of feel like the ACEs in that lineup change have now found a way like that the Valkyries can't like counter them in a lineup change.

13:37.360 --> 13:45.303
[SPEAKER_01]: So I just I think I do think I side probably with the latter of and I know I've went through my changes this season where I wanted them to tank.

13:45.903 --> 13:48.044
[SPEAKER_01]: and get an Aua Fam or get an AziFud.

13:48.064 --> 14:03.368
[SPEAKER_01]: And then they showed this resilience of like, and then I felt like, hey, there was a chance, maybe they can get the six and avoid New York Minnesota and that first three game series, but you know, you asked Natalie, she just give me New York and Minnesota and why I want, I want to play anyone, right?

14:03.428 --> 14:06.509
[SPEAKER_01]: But, you know, I just think this Kayla thing is going to hurt a lot more.

14:06.529 --> 14:11.951
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think it's impacting a lot of players where, you know, you see like a Kate Martin, I feel like she's kind of hit a little bit of the downward

14:12.707 --> 14:31.622
[SPEAKER_01]: trajectory and recent games, and that maybe that could be in part to her having to, you know, play more and take more responsibility, maybe on defense, or she doesn't have as much of open looks on offense that she used to be getting when, you know, it's not like Kayla was an offensive threat per se, but she would get down the lane, which creates opportunity for an open player.

14:32.963 --> 14:38.447
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think everybody's been affected by her loss though, because she's not a true number one.

14:39.268 --> 15:04.060
[SPEAKER_00]: but she could get a shot like if they were at the end of the shot clock they would just give her the ball and she would try and create something and in many cases she would actually able to be able to make that shot but you look at Veronica Burton's offensive numbers post injury they're down uh... in you know even uh... chechie when chechie plays it's almost like she doesn't have she has to create her own space

15:05.182 --> 15:06.403
[SPEAKER_00]: to actually get a shot off.

15:06.463 --> 15:08.424
[SPEAKER_00]: And she's very skilled in that.

15:08.444 --> 15:14.546
[SPEAKER_00]: You'll see the step step back, but she doesn't just look tall, so she can actually create shots, maybe where they don't exist.

15:15.067 --> 15:25.912
[SPEAKER_00]: But it does seem like there's just less opportunity because the defense doesn't have to worry about Kayla and thus they can worry about other folks.

15:25.952 --> 15:27.132
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that's part of the problem.

15:27.532 --> 15:32.875
[SPEAKER_00]: So one thing that's interesting, he talked about Las Vegas and their changes.

15:34.122 --> 15:37.124
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they're the third worst team for the Valkyries to play now.

15:37.304 --> 15:41.526
[SPEAKER_00]: Like if you were to think about like who are the worst matchups, obviously Minnesota's number one.

15:42.047 --> 15:42.207
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

15:42.367 --> 15:46.609
[SPEAKER_00]: And then probably New York, especially with with Measmen.

15:47.850 --> 15:57.236
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Vegas is number three and and probably for everything you said, but I think Asia like licks her chops when she sees

15:57.976 --> 15:59.518
[SPEAKER_00]: Then she sees the Valkyries on the schedule.

15:59.538 --> 16:00.499
[SPEAKER_00]: She was so great.

16:01.641 --> 16:05.505
[SPEAKER_00]: Last game, you know, they lost back to back games against Vegas.

16:05.846 --> 16:07.348
[SPEAKER_00]: The first game they weren't really in it.

16:07.448 --> 16:09.410
[SPEAKER_00]: That was in Las Vegas, the second game.

16:09.791 --> 16:14.637
[SPEAKER_00]: They were in it, but there was a little bit of a distance in the second and second half, and there was some

16:15.796 --> 16:19.939
[SPEAKER_00]: Interesting, it's kind of foul calls.

16:20.140 --> 16:28.706
[SPEAKER_00]: So Valky Hoops said, we're going to talk about that flagrant on Veronica Burton and that push on Carla, the push at a bound.

16:28.766 --> 16:37.573
[SPEAKER_00]: So Veronica Burton gets called for a flagrant when she was like trying to Euro and like bring the ball through to the other side.

16:37.593 --> 16:41.256
[SPEAKER_00]: I guess the her elbow, who did she get in the face?

16:41.316 --> 16:43.318
[SPEAKER_00]: Was it, uh, China's Asia?

16:44.878 --> 16:45.499
[SPEAKER_00]: No, I think it was.

16:45.579 --> 16:46.320
[SPEAKER_00]: No, it was Chelsea.

16:46.340 --> 16:46.840
[SPEAKER_00]: It was Chelsea.

16:46.860 --> 16:47.581
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, Chelsea Gray.

16:48.242 --> 16:54.588
[SPEAKER_00]: And then Carla runs off of a screen that wasn't really a screen, which is probably part of the problem.

16:55.028 --> 16:57.491
[SPEAKER_00]: And she just gets blasted out of bounds.

16:58.191 --> 16:59.673
[SPEAKER_00]: And so they changed that one.

16:59.933 --> 17:03.317
[SPEAKER_00]: So there's that you could tell Natalie's frustrated in the fall calls.

17:03.357 --> 17:05.739
[SPEAKER_00]: She mentioned late in the game that

17:07.286 --> 17:09.487
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, it's like she's like, look, we played really good defense.

17:09.527 --> 17:14.110
[SPEAKER_00]: We held them to, I think it was like under twenty percent shooting or something in the fourth quarter.

17:14.170 --> 17:17.131
[SPEAKER_00]: But then she's like, then they get to the free throw line as much as they do.

17:17.472 --> 17:20.333
[SPEAKER_00]: And then you see us not get to the free throw line.

17:20.373 --> 17:23.815
[SPEAKER_00]: And there's some really hard fouls that don't get called.

17:23.875 --> 17:26.417
[SPEAKER_00]: So she seemed to be pretty frustrated about that.

17:26.777 --> 17:29.718
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think Vegas is one of the worst matchups for them now.

17:30.199 --> 17:31.840
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they would rather play

17:33.102 --> 17:41.782
[SPEAKER_00]: and we're not talking about playoffs obviously that if they're gonna play anybody in the playoffs gonna be one of those top two teams unless Phoenix can jump New York

17:42.929 --> 17:48.814
[SPEAKER_00]: that that, but the that then the valkers would have to jump into the seventh slot, which probably is less likely.

17:49.314 --> 17:53.778
[SPEAKER_00]: But if you look at it, you'd rather play Phoenix at Lanna in the end.

17:53.918 --> 17:59.042
[SPEAKER_01]: And yeah, the reason I stop you at Phoenix is just because we've only seen them twice and we've never seen them at full strength.

17:59.082 --> 18:02.645
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think we've ever played them when they've had Khalia Copper, who's their second best player.

18:02.665 --> 18:07.989
[SPEAKER_01]: I think the last time we played them, it was Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner that played really well.

18:08.069 --> 18:09.691
[SPEAKER_01]: No Satu Sabilee, no Khalia Copper.

18:11.011 --> 18:14.652
[SPEAKER_01]: I felt that in that first game, this felt feels forever ago now, though.

18:15.532 --> 18:25.995
[SPEAKER_01]: When Steph Talbot makes two terrible turnovers in the out-of-balance plays, I felt like that was a win-a-winable game, but I guess what I'm saying is, yeah, I'd side with you in theory of Phoenix, but I also would say we haven't seen them.

18:27.575 --> 18:37.857
[SPEAKER_01]: In full strength, like we have, I think every other team, like even the Lana game when we beat them, sure it was that Ryan Howard, yeah, we didn't have Kayla, but the first game, they had a full strength, and we still almost beat.

18:37.917 --> 18:40.278
[SPEAKER_01]: I still felt like that could have been a game, had a few things gone in different ways.

18:41.681 --> 18:43.825
[SPEAKER_00]: you know who they really want to play is Indiana.

18:44.086 --> 18:45.208
[SPEAKER_00]: We got Indiana's number.

18:45.228 --> 18:45.388
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

18:45.428 --> 18:47.272
[SPEAKER_00]: We would they have Indiana's number.

18:48.870 --> 18:50.892
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm going to get to a question here.

18:52.473 --> 18:55.755
[SPEAKER_00]: Rob asked, what is Mo Billings this timeline?

18:56.556 --> 19:01.159
[SPEAKER_00]: I read something this morning that said three weeks.

19:02.220 --> 19:03.881
[SPEAKER_00]: We read three weeks when she went down.

19:04.121 --> 19:11.006
[SPEAKER_00]: So tough because that's yeah, you're getting right to the end of the season about which then somebody also said,

19:12.767 --> 19:14.149
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, it is actually also rub.

19:14.809 --> 19:17.792
[SPEAKER_00]: He said he hopes that they keep Kayla Charles.

19:17.812 --> 19:25.200
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't imagine that that happens just because of the players that they will get coming in next year.

19:27.162 --> 19:31.006
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think she's she's coming and played very well.

19:31.667 --> 19:35.311
[SPEAKER_00]: And there was another piece that I read today about how

19:37.285 --> 19:41.248
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, it is really a WNBA thing because of the hardship contract.

19:41.308 --> 19:42.269
[SPEAKER_00]: She just comes in.

19:42.409 --> 19:50.335
[SPEAKER_00]: She immediately has to jump into the rotation and knowing that more than likely, she's not in their plan.

19:50.375 --> 19:55.439
[SPEAKER_00]: So she's literally playing for the opportunity to showcase herself for somebody else's roster.

19:55.539 --> 19:58.722
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe one of those expansion teams that are coming in.

19:59.262 --> 20:04.627
[SPEAKER_00]: So that is pretty, it's pretty interesting, but it is also like a WNBA thing.

20:04.687 --> 20:06.008
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, it's a, I will say.

20:07.382 --> 20:13.925
[SPEAKER_01]: I do just based off what we'd seen with these transactions where it feels like a shock, but then you think about it.

20:14.005 --> 20:15.605
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's like, OK, I guess that made sense.

20:16.206 --> 20:21.668
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, with the Cheyenne sellers thing in the beginning that was like, whoa, and then of course, the Julie Van Lue thing that we were like.

20:22.350 --> 20:23.650
[SPEAKER_01]: pretty shocked about as well.

20:23.690 --> 20:28.792
[SPEAKER_01]: And then we ended up looking at it and we're like, OK, maybe I wonder if there is a chance that she stays on this roster.

20:29.112 --> 20:34.413
[SPEAKER_01]: And you know, I felt like the obvious omission from yesterday's playing time was Laticia me here.

20:36.094 --> 20:40.535
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, not getting, I don't know if she logged any minutes, but I didn't see her out there.

20:41.195 --> 20:42.856
[SPEAKER_01]: And I felt like she probably could have helped.

20:44.760 --> 20:57.814
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, when you think about it, now that they brought in Rupair and cut Talbot because of it, you now have four centers on the roster in Temi, Rupair, Monique, and I mean here.

20:58.575 --> 21:06.023
[SPEAKER_01]: So I guess I wouldn't be that surprised if a me here was was cut for them to keep

21:07.272 --> 21:20.117
[SPEAKER_01]: Kylo or Kayla, I haven't sat down to figure out how her name's pronounced yet unfortunately, but or maybe it's Caitlin Chen, but I would say that the guard position kind of feels more of a necessity right now than the center position.

21:20.317 --> 21:22.238
[SPEAKER_01]: So here's the question.

21:23.158 --> 21:28.060
[SPEAKER_00]: We know we hope that you stay is on the roster next year.

21:29.068 --> 21:33.513
[SPEAKER_00]: They also have the person who tore their Achilles Condé.

21:33.713 --> 21:35.135
[SPEAKER_00]: Maria Condé.

21:36.336 --> 21:39.219
[SPEAKER_00]: She will possibly be on the roster next year.

21:40.060 --> 21:41.222
[SPEAKER_00]: Your number one pick.

21:42.166 --> 21:46.728
[SPEAKER_00]: will probably be on the roster next year, unless they are in international rounds.

21:46.748 --> 21:48.129
[SPEAKER_00]: Unless they go double you stay.

21:49.610 --> 22:04.337
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm thinking, you know, Kate Martin and some of these fringe players, a me here, Caitlin Chen, I think those players could be on the bubble for the roster.

22:04.357 --> 22:09.900
[SPEAKER_00]: So let alone Charles, you're talking about people who have logged real minutes for this team.

22:10.620 --> 22:25.645
[SPEAKER_00]: Because if you're adding three players next year, let's just say you are, you're going to lose a couple in the expansion draft more than likely, at least one, like unless there are added roster spots next year.

22:26.392 --> 22:39.078
[SPEAKER_00]: Because of collective bargaining and all that stuff, I'm kind of wondering if we're going to see three or four or five players who are on this year's team on next year's roster.

22:39.138 --> 22:49.684
[SPEAKER_00]: And as well as with all of the free agency in the league as well, because I think they only have the rights of Kate and Carla for next year at this moment.

22:51.264 --> 22:53.245
[SPEAKER_00]: Who are on the end in the roster right now?

22:54.086 --> 22:54.286
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

22:55.142 --> 23:03.384
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and I will probably do like a, I'm sure we'll do maybe try to get Richard Cohen on for some expansion draft stuff later in the year because year, I mean, December is the date.

23:03.444 --> 23:08.206
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm assuming or November, December is the date for two expansion teams to do their draft.

23:09.366 --> 23:15.128
[SPEAKER_01]: And like last year, we didn't have the rules that feels like until very close to leading up to the draft.

23:15.148 --> 23:16.088
[SPEAKER_01]: So last year, what was it?

23:16.268 --> 23:17.128
[SPEAKER_01]: You protect six.

23:17.608 --> 23:17.728
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

23:17.788 --> 23:23.490
[SPEAKER_01]: And then the Valkyries were only able to select one unprotected free agent and that ended up being Monique Billings.

23:24.873 --> 23:26.034
[SPEAKER_01]: what the hell is the rule this year?

23:26.154 --> 23:27.195
[SPEAKER_01]: Everyone's an unbristurbed.

23:27.315 --> 23:27.835
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

23:28.015 --> 23:28.215
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

23:28.616 --> 23:28.896
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

23:28.956 --> 23:32.799
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm wondering if maybe because it's two teams, they'll add another protection.

23:32.839 --> 23:33.759
[SPEAKER_01]: So you could do seven.

23:33.819 --> 23:35.661
[SPEAKER_01]: Like I'm really not sure what to expect.

23:35.761 --> 23:40.504
[SPEAKER_01]: But I will say that I feel like Natalie's just completely operating as if next year doesn't exist.

23:40.844 --> 23:41.705
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's just this year.

23:41.725 --> 23:44.307
[SPEAKER_01]: But I know that's how Emma's job to think in the future.

23:44.367 --> 23:53.133
[SPEAKER_01]: So you know, I do think that if I go down the list, like I would want to keep

23:55.450 --> 24:07.292
[SPEAKER_00]: Burton, Thorin, Janelle, Chachy, you're gonna keep Chachy for just not being able to guard anybody.

24:07.312 --> 24:11.553
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, she she she she she in terms of like priority who to keep.

24:11.673 --> 24:20.615
[SPEAKER_01]: I'd say Janelle number one, you stay number two, Carla number three, Kayla number four, repair number five, Veronica number six,

24:23.717 --> 24:24.278
[SPEAKER_01]: That's all right.

24:25.359 --> 24:30.684
[SPEAKER_01]: I think I'd go in that direction of prioritizing who to who to protect and in the draft.

24:31.124 --> 24:35.829
[SPEAKER_01]: And if it's seven, then I don't know, I'd maybe go chat to you over to me.

24:37.611 --> 24:41.715
[SPEAKER_01]: Just because I think I think we're going to see a lot of good jet you stuff to end the season.

24:41.795 --> 24:44.497
[SPEAKER_01]: Like I'm starting to be more in in Minnesota.

24:44.517 --> 24:45.138
[SPEAKER_01]: I was like, Oh, just

24:45.458 --> 24:46.518
[SPEAKER_01]: catching shoot through point shooter.

24:46.838 --> 25:02.062
[SPEAKER_01]: Then I watched you in Eurobasket and then I'm starting to see some of that stuff implemented to this season where there is a little bit of the self-creation, whether that's slow and whether the ball goes in, like I think there's going to be some stuff that we see, the game winner against Atlanta, like that was pretty much self-creation.

25:02.923 --> 25:05.703
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think that would be it right now.

25:05.743 --> 25:11.405
[SPEAKER_01]: I think, of course, the chat you spot is subject to change for me, but I'd say I'd be pretty confident in saying Janelle should be number one.

25:12.293 --> 25:14.996
[SPEAKER_01]: And then I'd say you stay over Carla for number two and then Carla number three.

25:15.657 --> 25:18.300
[SPEAKER_01]: Just in terms of prioritizing anyway, we don't have to worry about this for a while now.

25:18.740 --> 25:19.421
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

25:19.441 --> 25:19.841
[SPEAKER_01]: Think about.

25:20.262 --> 25:22.524
[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, I guess anything after that seven, you know, I'd

25:23.990 --> 25:31.495
[SPEAKER_01]: Valkyrie fans will be sad, but I don't think Kate Martin or I think Kate Martin's probably just going to be the greatest expansion draft selection of all time.

25:31.535 --> 25:32.556
[SPEAKER_01]: She might get selected again.

25:32.576 --> 25:34.977
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, because like, oh, we get that Kate Martin market.

25:35.017 --> 25:39.780
[SPEAKER_01]: The CC Iowa, like we get those fans and that'll be good to mark it around.

25:40.101 --> 25:40.341
[SPEAKER_01]: Start.

25:40.761 --> 25:43.903
[SPEAKER_01]: She could select it again to Toronto or Portland.

25:44.343 --> 25:44.964
[SPEAKER_01]: Wouldn't shock me.

25:45.424 --> 25:59.556
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I kind of feel bad a little bit because her her minutes are yo yo just about more than anybody's but again, there's a athleticism part of it that you know, she struggles with and a lot of her shots that that she does make.

25:59.636 --> 26:03.419
[SPEAKER_00]: They are really hard shots because she's contested on just about everything.

26:04.120 --> 26:09.825
[SPEAKER_00]: So I what you said about Kayla at the beginning of this show, I think was right on the money.

26:11.197 --> 26:23.661
[SPEAKER_00]: And it made you think that if the Valkyries were interested in, uh, really, really making the playoff run something would happen this day would have traded for someone at the deadline.

26:23.681 --> 26:25.702
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, what were the rumors?

26:25.782 --> 26:28.143
[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't, was there any rumors around the Valkyries?

26:28.203 --> 26:34.665
[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't see, you know, this is not like the NBA where there's so many rumors about everybody with agents leaking stuff all over the place.

26:35.305 --> 26:36.967
[SPEAKER_00]: But I didn't really hear a ton.

26:37.427 --> 26:42.292
[SPEAKER_00]: The deadline seemed pretty quiet to me, unless there was something happened that happened that I didn't see.

26:42.752 --> 26:49.719
[SPEAKER_00]: But it didn't even seem like there was any buzz as far as something around the Valkyries.

26:50.680 --> 26:56.725
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, I hope it changes in the CBA, but I hope we don't have a hard cap because that makes not fun deadline.

26:57.606 --> 26:57.947
[SPEAKER_01]: I hope

26:59.082 --> 27:09.306
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, they they changed that because we was three trades and and the only trade that was on deadline day was the Alia Edwards one and that was the only rumor that I saw the Valkyries in.

27:09.946 --> 27:16.328
[SPEAKER_01]: Think it was the Valkyries and the Connecticut sun that we're interested in Alia Edwards the Connecticut sun end up with her trade JC Sheldon to Washington.

27:17.538 --> 27:25.604
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, you know, and the other two was Washington trading Britney Sikes to Seattle for, um, that draft pick.

27:26.325 --> 27:29.688
[SPEAKER_00]: And then it was a little bit too Washington.

27:29.708 --> 27:31.009
[SPEAKER_00]: They fallen even behind the balcony.

27:31.109 --> 27:31.309
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

27:31.349 --> 27:34.091
[SPEAKER_01]: I wouldn't be worried about them in terms of if you're trying to compete for the playoffs.

27:34.131 --> 27:36.433
[SPEAKER_01]: I do think they've trading Britney Sikes was a clear.

27:36.473 --> 27:40.356
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, okay, we're just going to focus around Sonia and Kiki.

27:41.456 --> 27:44.938
[SPEAKER_01]: And what we got and, you know, you're gonna get a great address.

27:45.298 --> 27:46.378
[SPEAKER_01]: Sonya such a baller.

27:46.818 --> 27:47.679
[SPEAKER_01]: She's so good.

27:47.699 --> 27:50.020
[SPEAKER_01]: I was like very impressed watching that game.

27:51.340 --> 27:58.904
[SPEAKER_01]: But, and then it was Dallas, I think, making a great trade and getting diamond miller and for, and trading, Dijena Carrington.

28:00.304 --> 28:01.905
[SPEAKER_01]: So, that was it.

28:02.065 --> 28:02.945
[SPEAKER_01]: And those were the three.

28:02.965 --> 28:05.726
[SPEAKER_01]: And that that, that Dijena think felt like it already happened a week ago.

28:05.946 --> 28:06.167
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

28:08.120 --> 28:10.761
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it's just tough to try to make the the salaries work.

28:10.781 --> 28:17.583
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Ben Pickman was saying on the podcast that Seattle had like two hundred and thirty one dollars to work with in terms of like open cap space.

28:17.603 --> 28:20.623
[SPEAKER_01]: It's not two hundred thirty one thousand two hundred thirty one dollars.

28:21.364 --> 28:24.144
[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, the batteries had the cap space they could have made moves.

28:24.544 --> 28:31.606
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know their cap space figure anymore after repair came in, but I remember they had like a full salary spot, like a full max salary spots still open.

28:31.626 --> 28:32.627
[SPEAKER_01]: They could have gotten me some in.

28:34.692 --> 28:41.056
[SPEAKER_01]: So I have imagined they could have sent out like small salary and brought in big salary if they wanted to, maybe that it comes with adding the pick.

28:42.137 --> 28:50.122
[SPEAKER_01]: I wouldn't have been too high on adding the pick even though it might not be that great, but I just just don't know what's going to happen next year.

28:50.142 --> 28:51.222
[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like picks are valuable.

28:52.763 --> 28:53.584
[SPEAKER_01]: Everyone's a free agent.

28:54.384 --> 28:54.765
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

28:55.405 --> 28:58.347
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, so they have this big game.

28:59.882 --> 29:08.488
[SPEAKER_00]: it, you know, it's special fifteen games left, but big game in this picture of, you know, because if you look at the way that the standings are currently.

29:10.982 --> 29:21.308
[SPEAKER_00]: fever, seventeen and thirteen, storm sixteen and fourteen, aces sixteen and fourteen, valkyries fourteen and fifteen, sparks thirteen and fifteen, mystics thirteen and sixteen.

29:22.209 --> 29:33.795
[SPEAKER_00]: So there's a cluster there and the sparks seem like one of the scarier teams right now.

29:33.895 --> 29:36.877
[SPEAKER_00]: So like you said, you'd kind of expect them to make that leap.

29:38.018 --> 29:38.218
[SPEAKER_00]: But

29:39.653 --> 29:43.297
[SPEAKER_00]: As a valgars fan, I feel like we've played them really well.

29:45.839 --> 29:52.145
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I was kind of trying to figure out why they all of a sudden are playing better than they had in the past.

29:52.206 --> 29:58.672
[SPEAKER_00]: I think a lot of it is just kind of like this synergy and they've been playing together for a while.

29:59.433 --> 30:03.236
[SPEAKER_00]: Ricky Jackson has absolutely stepped up from a scoring standpoint.

30:04.077 --> 30:09.663
[SPEAKER_00]: Kelsey Plum is playing like the All-Star that she is and they just recently got Cam Brinkback.

30:10.143 --> 30:16.429
[SPEAKER_00]: Dear Kehambi is playing well, but it's almost like just this like idea of we put this team together on paper.

30:16.790 --> 30:18.351
[SPEAKER_00]: We hope that it was going to work out.

30:19.312 --> 30:23.193
[SPEAKER_00]: early returns on it weren't great, but now they're starting to play so well together.

30:23.894 --> 30:37.258
[SPEAKER_00]: Some of these wins have not been over the the best teams like they beat the sun and the mystics out of out of those last ten games four of those have been against the sun and the mystics and they won all four of them.

30:37.859 --> 30:39.579
[SPEAKER_00]: But you know, they also beat the storm.

30:39.619 --> 30:40.840
[SPEAKER_00]: They also beat the fever.

30:41.440 --> 30:45.201
[SPEAKER_00]: So they also beat the liberty again that you mentioned where she at the game winner.

30:45.241 --> 30:46.702
[SPEAKER_00]: So they are beating good teams as well.

30:48.833 --> 30:52.195
[SPEAKER_00]: We've seen, the opener was against the sparks.

30:52.235 --> 30:58.140
[SPEAKER_00]: And when we watched that game, we're like, oh, they got a chance to win this game, even though this sparks handled them decently in the second half.

30:58.500 --> 31:01.302
[SPEAKER_00]: But then they beat the sparks when the sparks were here.

31:02.022 --> 31:05.385
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think this is going to be a really competitive game.

31:05.465 --> 31:11.890
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I'm with you that the sparks are the better team more than likely, just because they've geled and we lost our best player.

31:11.910 --> 31:14.452
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the values are going to compete

31:15.230 --> 31:20.092
[SPEAKER_00]: Being at home is good as well, though they did lose to Vegas at home.

31:20.413 --> 31:25.895
[SPEAKER_00]: I thought that being at home maybe will kind of get them a little bit over the hump, but I don't know.

31:26.195 --> 31:27.476
[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like they're going to compete.

31:27.536 --> 31:28.676
[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like they're going to play those.

31:28.977 --> 31:35.340
[SPEAKER_00]: And if they win this game, and you can be, what would they be?

31:35.420 --> 31:39.942
[SPEAKER_00]: They would be sixteen and fifteen and fifteen and the sparks would be thirteen and sixteen.

31:40.502 --> 31:43.163
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, you've created a little bit of distance there.

31:43.284 --> 31:43.984
[SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, you have.

31:45.488 --> 31:52.136
[SPEAKER_00]: But just outlook wise, would it what have you seen from the sparks that have that has sort of enabled this run for them?

31:52.677 --> 31:59.667
[SPEAKER_01]: Before I get into that, I just did a quick look and this is all manual counting while you were talking, but the Valkyries I believe have fifteen games left.

32:00.858 --> 32:05.560
[SPEAKER_01]: And out of the fifteen games, they play current playoff teams eight times.

32:05.920 --> 32:07.261
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, tough.

32:07.341 --> 32:08.941
[SPEAKER_01]: And I looked at the spark schedule.

32:09.201 --> 32:11.002
[SPEAKER_01]: They have sixteen games left.

32:11.622 --> 32:17.645
[SPEAKER_01]: And out of the current playoff teams, not including the Valkyries, they have they played nine playoff teams.

32:18.605 --> 32:42.563
[SPEAKER_01]: out of the sixteen games so both tough both tough schedules coming up so this this game really does mean a lot in terms of you know play off seeding you get that we get that head head when that changes a lot um so i mean do they play together like they play together again after this i think this is the only this last meeting okay because this would be number four this would be number four

32:43.893 --> 33:10.163
[SPEAKER_01]: because they had that what OT game in Los Angeles for game three game one was they beat us in the home opener game two as we blew them out in LA right game three was the overtime game in LA that we won and then game four his this upcoming ones that's four times um but I mean I'm with you in terms of just kind of

33:12.168 --> 33:23.977
[SPEAKER_01]: I guess what the sparks have found with Kea and with Cam coming back like just to me it always made sense that they were like solid on paper with KP with Deerica as are a Stevens playing well.

33:24.537 --> 33:30.322
[SPEAKER_01]: Just like you bring Cam back and I feel like that team just makes a whole lot more sense than it already did, but I know that they weren't playing well.

33:32.175 --> 33:46.922
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I just think that it's probably just more time for the first year head coach to figure it out, you know, for a first year new iteration of the team to figure it out, you could basically say, can bring still a rookie, like, I don't know how much more to say on it, but that.

33:47.002 --> 33:49.183
[SPEAKER_01]: So I will be, you know, keeping an eye on that.

33:49.223 --> 33:52.504
[SPEAKER_01]: That's probably going to be the main thing that Valkyries fans are keeping an eye on.

33:52.524 --> 33:57.947
[SPEAKER_01]: I just don't see any other team below them passing them except for potentially Los Angeles.

33:58.987 --> 34:01.008
[SPEAKER_01]: And you know who they could to see again.

34:02.739 --> 34:03.499
[SPEAKER_00]: Julie Van Lue.

34:04.540 --> 34:05.280
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, yeah.

34:05.400 --> 34:09.202
[SPEAKER_00]: The revenge game, Julie.

34:09.482 --> 34:10.102
[SPEAKER_00]: I think she will.

34:10.122 --> 34:12.343
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the Valkyrie's fans really liked her.

34:12.363 --> 34:18.486
[SPEAKER_01]: I know she was only on this team for like three months, but first team, you know, first half.

34:18.526 --> 34:19.266
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, of course.

34:19.847 --> 34:21.487
[SPEAKER_01]: Fun game against the sparks in the first one.

34:22.228 --> 34:32.012
[SPEAKER_00]: So let's, let's do a little bit of a, let's do a little bit of an around the WNBA segment here.

34:36.205 --> 34:44.408
[SPEAKER_00]: I just like talking about the other teams because, you know, unlike the NBA, you don't have to pay attention to as many teams in the positioning.

34:44.428 --> 34:47.969
[SPEAKER_00]: It's actually more interesting when you don't have as many teams.

34:48.829 --> 34:52.511
[SPEAKER_00]: So I was looking at some of the injuries.

34:52.731 --> 35:02.354
[SPEAKER_00]: And now thankfully for Minnesota, because Nefisa Collier is out for a little bit, but they are so far ahead of everybody else that it's not even going to matter.

35:02.614 --> 35:04.215
[SPEAKER_00]: They're going to run away with this thing.

35:04.615 --> 35:07.155
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, they're going to be the number one team in the league.

35:07.175 --> 35:11.256
[SPEAKER_00]: They're going to have all of the things that you get by being having the top record.

35:11.936 --> 35:23.798
[SPEAKER_00]: But there's a nice little two, three, four, five mix there and depending on, you know, the other two teams below there, like they're still with fifteen games, there could be a lot of movement.

35:24.258 --> 35:30.019
[SPEAKER_00]: How do you think the rest of those standings are going to shake just from seeing the teams as you've seen them?

35:30.039 --> 35:33.960
[SPEAKER_00]: Because Indiana is playing so well, and Caitlyn does not even back yet.

35:34.651 --> 35:39.992
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, just echoing your what you say, like it feels like I think Zena said this too.

35:40.052 --> 35:46.954
[SPEAKER_01]: This kind of feels like the Western Conference in the NBA where everything separated within like five games from like three to like twelve or ten.

35:48.355 --> 35:51.076
[SPEAKER_01]: Because two through four is separated by one game.

35:52.336 --> 35:55.737
[SPEAKER_01]: New York Atlanta Phoenix separated by one game.

35:56.737 --> 36:03.239
[SPEAKER_01]: And then five through Golden State at eight is separated by.

36:04.840 --> 36:05.660
[SPEAKER_01]: you know, two and a half.

36:06.201 --> 36:11.083
[SPEAKER_01]: Like so it is like all still really close with about fifteen to sixteen games left.

36:12.863 --> 36:24.748
[SPEAKER_00]: Which is why I did line thing kind of sucked right because if you are trying to lock in that third spot and you make a big trade like in the NBA that's what that's what would happen.

36:24.788 --> 36:34.012
[SPEAKER_00]: Like the warriors get Jimmy Butler so that they can you know make sure that they that there's their secure in their positioning or other teams, you know,

36:34.852 --> 36:38.774
[SPEAKER_00]: grabbing a guy to try and cement their spot and to make a run.

36:39.235 --> 36:45.918
[SPEAKER_00]: That's why I think the trade deadline was kind of disappointing because I was like, oh, I want to see who really wants it.

36:45.958 --> 36:47.179
[SPEAKER_00]: Who's really going for it?

36:47.859 --> 36:57.625
[SPEAKER_00]: And the team, the two teams, the top two teams are the one that that added the, you know, the two top players New Yorkers lucky.

36:58.605 --> 37:01.507
[SPEAKER_00]: Is it luck or is that the only team she was going to play for?

37:02.460 --> 37:21.097
[SPEAKER_01]: probably the only team and maybe if we can't van loo that she would have then we didn't kill it and go down maybe maybe but yeah probably just them um how is she fit in so far have you seen any of that I haven't seen it just like I have had to I did I know the audience doesn't know this because I was just texting you about this but I got back from Wyoming on Sunday and within the past

37:22.231 --> 37:24.173
[SPEAKER_01]: four days have just been busy catching up with work.

37:24.213 --> 37:28.436
[SPEAKER_01]: So it was only yesterday that I was able to just binge watch.

37:28.476 --> 37:30.477
[SPEAKER_01]: I was like binge watching a season of television.

37:30.497 --> 37:32.018
[SPEAKER_01]: It was just like five Valkyries games.

37:32.939 --> 37:34.620
[SPEAKER_01]: Like that Chicago game was ugly.

37:34.680 --> 37:36.101
[SPEAKER_01]: It was tough to watch.

37:36.161 --> 37:37.382
[SPEAKER_01]: And then, of course, the ace is game.

37:37.642 --> 37:38.583
[SPEAKER_01]: I kind of knew the results.

37:38.623 --> 37:40.705
[SPEAKER_01]: So maybe skimming through a little quicker, but

37:41.325 --> 37:49.891
[SPEAKER_00]: So I don't know what's much of a race in that game, which was not not let me not great for her because she's she's a little bit banged up, but she is she out.

37:50.471 --> 37:57.936
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know how long she's up, but no, Ackens either is I don't know how long Ackens is out, but it was just like no no time table for Angel Reese as far as I know.

37:58.236 --> 38:02.519
[SPEAKER_01]: And of course, the Valkyries were missing a ton of players too, not just Kayla like Monique and and

38:05.908 --> 38:09.132
[SPEAKER_01]: There was one more, but anyways, tip, I tip my tip.

38:09.273 --> 38:10.795
[SPEAKER_00]: It was a tip without you game.

38:10.955 --> 38:11.636
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, tip was out.

38:11.896 --> 38:19.186
[SPEAKER_01]: So I've been able to watch as much, just so worried about catching up with our own team, I'm been able to see across the league as much, but

38:20.336 --> 38:27.500
[SPEAKER_01]: I just got to assume what I watched in Eurobasket and what I've heard about me some in is that she fits in perfectly, especially with Brianna Stewart going out.

38:27.540 --> 38:36.165
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe that would have been more difficult to fit in with Brianna there because you just had kind of redundancy and like size and position, but you do care.

38:36.205 --> 38:38.006
[SPEAKER_01]: That's apparently one of the best players.

38:38.066 --> 38:41.969
[SPEAKER_01]: So she's been able to just probably fit in pretty easily with Brianna out.

38:43.329 --> 38:47.412
[SPEAKER_00]: So if you were to make a prediction, how do you think that top five shakes out?

38:47.852 --> 38:49.133
[SPEAKER_01]: I think one and two stay the same.

38:51.058 --> 38:51.859
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, number three.

38:51.879 --> 38:53.080
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know what is Ryan Howard back.

38:53.421 --> 38:55.282
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know what her timetable is.

38:57.564 --> 38:58.585
[SPEAKER_01]: But I could see Phoenix.

38:58.926 --> 39:10.977
[SPEAKER_01]: I just feel like Elizabeth Thomas is going on like it just a crazy, like, run that maybe isn't getting talked about enough that she's playing like the third best player in the league and you know, arguably the second best player.

39:11.037 --> 39:13.960
[SPEAKER_01]: So I could see Phoenix maybe, you know, it's tied right now.

39:14.000 --> 39:16.062
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's not a crazy thing to say that Phoenix ends up as three.

39:17.195 --> 39:26.498
[SPEAKER_01]: But of course, you know, you're waiting for the sleeping giant and Caitlyn Clark to return from Indiana and see what that looks like because our McDonald has been awesome in her absence.

39:27.438 --> 39:32.379
[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, you just think that he had Caitlyn and everything goes, well, I know it doesn't always work like that.

39:32.419 --> 39:38.781
[SPEAKER_01]: I know you need, you know, they've been playing probably a different style of basketball without the per girl who shoots from forty five feet or whatever the hell she shoots from.

39:38.801 --> 39:40.762
[SPEAKER_01]: It's a different style that gets played without her.

39:42.482 --> 40:05.918
[SPEAKER_01]: you really hope that she puts it together because that would make for a very fun playoff run because you tell me Vegas is seven and they get to see New York at two for the third time they've seen each other in the playoff since I've been watching I've closely so you know of course I think New York would win that match up but I think Vegas is kind of found something with this five and maybe they jump Seattle but Seattle also added so I don't really have like a

40:07.647 --> 40:19.889
[SPEAKER_01]: I can't make any of these predictions and confidence just because everything's so tight and everything, everyone's adding and I haven't seen the new machinations with Britney Sykes and Seattle or a couple more games in this Vegas unit where the jewels off the bench.

40:21.690 --> 40:30.411
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think what I'm most interested in seeing is Caitlyn coming back to Indiana and how that affects the lineup and if they just look like what we thought they'd look like.

40:30.431 --> 40:34.252
[SPEAKER_01]: I think we all thought like, hey, they'll probably be top three and

40:35.485 --> 40:45.787
[SPEAKER_01]: you know, with her injury, and you should inconsistency and people being available and the whole DeWanabana thing, like that probably stunted some of that, but I just want to see what it looks like.

40:45.827 --> 40:50.148
[SPEAKER_01]: And I don't know, I think your time table, it's like the twelfth of August or something, there's a possibility she comes back.

40:50.948 --> 40:57.729
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's kind of what I'm most interested in in terms of, I'm pretty confident one and two state of the same.

40:57.969 --> 40:58.329
[SPEAKER_01]: I've got it.

40:58.769 --> 41:02.450
[SPEAKER_01]: I know two's closer than to three, but I think they'll be fine.

41:04.192 --> 41:13.388
[SPEAKER_00]: All right, let's end this and I'm interested in the folks in the chat as well, what they think as far as if the Valkyries are to make a late season run here.

41:13.809 --> 41:15.151
[SPEAKER_00]: I think somebody

41:16.244 --> 41:37.585
[SPEAKER_00]: is going to have to catch fire offensively like this kind of offense depending on who plays well every other game it's just so hard because they don't have a dependable person who they go like okay we need a bucket you go like there's nobody who kind of takes on that role

41:38.634 --> 41:46.707
[SPEAKER_00]: If you were to make a guess as to who is like the leading score down the stretch, who's their ace bucket getter, who do you think that would be?

41:48.630 --> 41:49.912
[SPEAKER_01]: Tip, like isn't it already?

41:50.997 --> 42:01.181
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, maybe, but she's like, twelve points, fourteen points, like, she's not, you know, I will say that three point shooting has felt like, it felt like she was a guaranteed two, three point, three pointers every game.

42:01.561 --> 42:04.822
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think in the past three or four games, it hasn't been that or hasn't felt that.

42:05.222 --> 42:06.203
[SPEAKER_01]: And I know she's also been injured.

42:06.243 --> 42:10.964
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think another one could shoot them very often, right?

42:11.084 --> 42:20.408
[SPEAKER_00]: Like she's more going to the hole than, and like she uses that as her, if she can't get to the hole and they give her space, then she shoots it.

42:20.957 --> 42:23.218
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think I think Chatchee's up there.

42:23.238 --> 42:25.059
[SPEAKER_01]: I think what about Rupair?

42:25.119 --> 42:27.100
[SPEAKER_01]: Like can she give back into the starting lineup?

42:27.120 --> 42:44.350
[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like her in the starting lineup was just like she's kind of like a weird like she's kind of has to go at five's but maybe she's not the best defender of five's like I think what's kind of stunting her or stopping her from from the minutes is probably on the defensive end because on the offensive end like she feels like a

42:45.543 --> 42:48.727
[SPEAKER_01]: Like she's like, like you feel so comfortable when she shoots a three point shot.

42:49.108 --> 42:52.152
[SPEAKER_01]: At least I do when when Iliana repairs she's a three point shot.

42:52.192 --> 42:59.181
[SPEAKER_01]: So maybe it's repair with some off the bench, whether it's off the bench or starting scoring output because she kind of came and firing.

43:00.139 --> 43:16.170
[SPEAKER_01]: offensively, but I would probably lean in the, because I probably end in the tip, Xandalasini direction for for scoring like there's something with Janelle we're like, I know she's talented and I know Konrado was talking about her in the last show.

43:17.190 --> 43:44.269
[SPEAKER_00]: of like he's hired her as well and but either just something with like sometimes she takes those shots and I like that was a really bad stinking shot that you just took it's interesting like when she sets up to shoot a jumper sometimes it seems like she's off balance to even shooting like a normal jumper like I don't know if her momentum is going one way or the other by the way robin the chat says a tip or Janelle and Valkyhoops also said tip I mean I think

43:45.530 --> 44:02.202
[SPEAKER_00]: if you're talking about veteran presence and maybe the ability to understand what it's what what it's like late in games this late in the season when everyone's tired everyone's hurt you know I think that is a that is a good person.

44:02.222 --> 44:07.246
[SPEAKER_00]: Sure energy can be very good.

44:08.861 --> 44:12.065
[SPEAKER_00]: And sometimes it can be very bad, especially if she doesn't get the call.

44:12.085 --> 44:16.270
[SPEAKER_00]: Because there will be moments when she goes for a layup, doesn't get the call.

44:16.711 --> 44:25.100
[SPEAKER_00]: And you can tell she's very mad and she's, you know, yelling at the rough and the other team's going down five, five on four, you know, for the for a layup.

44:28.184 --> 44:32.948
[SPEAKER_00]: I think there's got to be some sort of like leadership aspect to this.

44:33.008 --> 44:45.258
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, okay, like I understand how this thing works late in the season and I'm going to, you know, I'm going to change it up and I'm going to make sure that that balls in my hands and, you know, we're going to do something good.

44:46.319 --> 44:48.781
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, that person sometimes I feel like

44:50.263 --> 44:57.393
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think Natalie said this yesterday, which is why did Carla play over Veronica so much late in yesterday's game?

44:57.413 --> 44:59.235
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think Veronica played in the fourth quarter.

44:59.976 --> 45:04.803
[SPEAKER_00]: And it was because she was looking for the ability to drive

45:05.403 --> 45:24.546
[SPEAKER_00]: and to get two pointers and easier shots and layups rather than you know what Veronica kind of does which is she tries to create some space and she's running the play and then maybe she'll take a step back three but I don't know maybe Veronica was so frustrated with that call that she didn't she didn't play as much late but

45:25.427 --> 45:34.419
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, there are some interesting lineups and when people get hot, you go like, oh, that looks like it's working and let's keep it going.

45:35.060 --> 45:37.964
[SPEAKER_00]: And then somebody throws a ball away by making a one handed pass.

45:38.304 --> 45:39.946
[SPEAKER_00]: It's back to like, oh, man.

45:41.188 --> 45:49.554
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so that is that I think that was my main thought was who can who can we look to?

45:49.574 --> 45:52.717
[SPEAKER_00]: I like I like the tip call.

45:52.877 --> 45:57.981
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Janelle's jumpers a little bit to inconsistent to be that dependable score.

45:58.322 --> 46:05.808
[SPEAKER_00]: I wonder if she should play a little bit more in the post a little bit to take advantage of that, but she doesn't look super comfortable down there.

46:05.828 --> 46:07.449
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, here's a

46:09.082 --> 46:10.122
[SPEAKER_00]: Here's a wild card.

46:10.282 --> 46:11.422
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, I think a lot of garlic.

46:12.303 --> 46:14.523
[SPEAKER_00]: No, no, no, no.

46:14.923 --> 46:22.704
[SPEAKER_00]: This has to be a lot of things happening, which I think more so mean, the offense needs to be running very well.

46:24.105 --> 46:28.786
[SPEAKER_00]: If we could just get root pair, some open shots, her shot is money.

46:30.186 --> 46:35.807
[SPEAKER_00]: Like that stretch five, when that thing works, it really works.

46:36.849 --> 46:44.294
[SPEAKER_00]: when they get slowed down when they can't get stops when you know when the other team kind of takes him down low doesn't work as well.

46:44.934 --> 46:50.757
[SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, I feel like when she's able to take open shots and shoot them that the offense works really well.

46:50.777 --> 46:59.203
[SPEAKER_00]: So that'd be kind of that would be a little bit of a wild car, but she doesn't get the ball enough to really be that person or make that they're not used to the picking pop like.

46:59.943 --> 47:23.772
[SPEAKER_01]: like the guards are like not used to swing in the ball over their head and they do it they you know they do do it but you could tell like they come off the pick and you know they're just so used to the temy and me here moneke oh pick and roll i'm just gonna you're just gonna be right there on the on the roll but with iliana just like staying back in the three-point line like that there is opportunity to hit or more than they do um so i'm i mean i'm with you i feel confident when she's that ball

47:25.030 --> 47:26.412
[SPEAKER_00]: All right, so big week.

47:26.733 --> 47:30.719
[SPEAKER_00]: I think it's, um, it's the sparks and then it's Connecticut, right?

47:30.779 --> 47:31.740
[SPEAKER_00]: Those are the next two games.

47:32.221 --> 47:32.461
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

47:32.521 --> 47:34.484
[SPEAKER_01]: And I might try to go to that sparks game.

47:34.524 --> 47:35.005
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll see.

47:35.065 --> 47:36.587
[SPEAKER_01]: They're doing like a slam night.

47:36.668 --> 47:38.270
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if you've seen that kind of sounds.

47:38.290 --> 47:40.313
[SPEAKER_01]: I have, I actually don't really know to expect.

47:41.294 --> 47:50.497
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, but it sounds like, you know, some type of like activation stuff, which is reminiscent of what they do at the WMBA live during all-star weekend, where it sounds like a lot of brand activation stuff.

47:51.037 --> 47:54.938
[SPEAKER_01]: And it sounds like they have a slam-inspired t-shirt for every single player on the roster.

47:56.059 --> 47:58.039
[SPEAKER_01]: Probably except for Charles, because she's brand new.

47:58.940 --> 48:02.921
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, but yeah, I'm going to try to go because I would want to get like a genel t-shirt.

48:02.961 --> 48:06.802
[SPEAKER_01]: If they didn't add a little costly t-shirt, I would get that one, but I didn't see that one advertised.

48:07.642 --> 48:08.843
[SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, genel or cars.

48:10.795 --> 48:13.375
[SPEAKER_00]: All right, so glad to have you back.

48:13.455 --> 48:19.357
[SPEAKER_00]: Glad we're able to do this and we'll figure out what the next episode is going to be like.

48:19.557 --> 48:25.718
[SPEAKER_00]: We'll check schedules and such, but you know, I do hope that they are competitive and they're fighting for that eight spots.

48:25.738 --> 48:27.718
[SPEAKER_00]: I think it'll be really fun, especially for this show.

48:28.238 --> 48:37.880
[SPEAKER_00]: And you know what my dream is, and I'm not my dream, but what I would like to do is if they do make, if they do make the playoffs, is the first series still three games or is it five games?

48:38.460 --> 48:41.621
[SPEAKER_00]: three, but they do get a home game, but they will get a home game for sure.

48:42.081 --> 48:45.843
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's still in talks of I don't know if it's confirmed if they're going to play at Chase Oracle.

48:47.143 --> 48:47.623
[SPEAKER_00]: That's rough.

48:49.064 --> 48:55.726
[SPEAKER_00]: But what I would like to do is if if we are not at the game,

48:57.145 --> 49:04.208
[SPEAKER_00]: I would like to watch the game live and maybe just live stream like the last five minutes of the fourth quarter to lead into a podcast.

49:04.248 --> 49:05.288
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that would be really fun.

49:05.308 --> 49:14.632
[SPEAKER_00]: Like if people are watching on television and they just want to jump in the stream and we're just like all watching the end of the game together and then we lead into a show.

49:14.672 --> 49:16.893
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that would be really cool for the least.

49:16.913 --> 49:20.274
[SPEAKER_01]: So totally, but we should definitely try to go to the game.

49:20.434 --> 49:22.435
[SPEAKER_00]: If yeah, it would be awesome to go for sure.

49:23.492 --> 49:25.373
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe we can do it on the road game.

49:25.393 --> 49:27.253
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, yeah.

49:28.253 --> 49:28.614
[SPEAKER_01]: Totally.

49:29.014 --> 49:29.314
[SPEAKER_00]: All right.

49:29.434 --> 49:31.274
[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks to everybody who was in the chat.

49:32.074 --> 49:35.896
[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks everybody listening on the podcast feed, watching us on YouTube.

49:36.696 --> 49:37.556
[SPEAKER_00]: That is it from here.

49:37.856 --> 49:40.797
[SPEAKER_00]: So for Brian, I am WG.

49:40.857 --> 49:42.437
[SPEAKER_00]: We will see you when we see you.

49:42.617 --> 49:44.018
[SPEAKER_00]: Peace out.