Angel Reese Wins DPOY! Aces Shocked By Valkyries

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1:00Welcome to the Women's Hoop Show. The number one seed, Minnesota links, are already gone after making the wrong kind of history against New York. Indiana's record setting offense couldn't get past Las Vegas. And now the fever are left wondering if they can retain Kelsey Mitchell next season. Dallas came incredibly close to pulling off an upset of Golden State. While Jessica Shepherd capped her breakout season by winning most improved player, we've also got other awards to talk about. Angel Reese is officially the defensive player of the year after a historic first season in Atlanta. And Janelle Salon made some history of her own as the first unanimous six player of the year. And of course, we'll get into the semi finals. Atlanta already took game one from New York behind some suffocating defense. While Golden State absolutely dominated Las Vegas on the glass. And suddenly the defending jams have some real problems

2:00to solve. So we'll break that down how we got here, what we learned from gay one, and where we think these semi final series are headed. Also, I want to remind you, starting this week, we'll be dropping two episodes per week during these playoffs because it's just too much to discuss and wait an entire week to chat. So with all that said, let's get into it. Kendra. Hello. Jury playoffs. Happy playoffs. Nowhere I would rather be to talk these playoffs and with here with you. We have so much to talk about. I feel like months have passed since our last episode because that's how much things have happened. So we'll quickly go through the first round and what we learned in the post-mortem, as we like to say, with some of these teams, heading to Cancun. And then we'll talk about the semi finals because those matchups and those games are so good. So we have to start with the Minnesota links

3:03because I did not think that we'd be sitting here in early October, giving the Minnesota links a post-mortem because they are out. They are out. I thought they were going to win the finals. They did not get it out of the first round. What happened, Kendra? Oh my gosh. You know, it's so crazy, Jordan. I actually think the last time we sat here and talked, we were talking about how coming off with a recording that I did on Defesa and the links, their whole mentality was this, like we've been the best in the regular season, the past three years. How do we take it up a notch? And then we heard Caleb McBride double down on it towards the end of the regular season saying we don't have that FU factor, right? Of even when we're knocked down, we just get right back up and they didn't have it. I mean, not only did they lose in the first round, they were swept. And yes, it's a three game series. I have my feelings on a three game series besides the point, they got swept. They lost two in a row to the New York Liberty

4:04and there are so many questions. I guess first, looking back really fast, Olivia Miles did not look like herself. She did not look like the unanimous rookie of the year that she has been all season long maybe that is just a rookie on that stage. She did admit to the broadcast that she was feeling nervous. So maybe that was something to do with it. I don't know. She was also having that calf, I think, issue towards the end of the regular season. Was she 100% I don't know? And then, Nafisa Collier also didn't look like the, like MVP conversation caliber player that she has been for the past several years. And there was this hope that she would peak once the post season started because she didn't come back until right around all star. And it didn't happen. And I don't know if it's a run out of gas or what, but it was troubling to watch. It was troubling to watch again,

5:06them collapse in the playoffs after being so good during the right or a season. Collapse is the right word. And it was, you know, and you listen to Cheryl Reeve talk about it and she talked about expectations, right? Because just like from your reporting, you're saying that these expectations that we had that this is a championship team weren't there at the beginning of the season. It was really as Olivia Miles started showing who she is and what she can do and how she's driving this team. And then all of a sudden, you know, halfway through when they're going 16 and one in a stretch of the season, you're like, oh, this is a championship team. Now I have these expectations on this team. And Cheryl Reeve was essentially saying, we keep superseding expectations and then falling short. But for us internally, it's not championship or bus because we don't really feel like we have the roster that is a championship team. That is to say after the fact

6:09when you are outside looking in on the playoffs, but I think they do. And I think my question to you, Kendra, is are we going to see another iteration of this team? This core of Nefisa Collier, Olivia Miles, Courtney Williams and Caleb McBride, when you saw those three players, I don't think Olivia was a part of it, but when you saw the three players hug at the end of the game, it was a moment of like, well, we had a good run. Do they run it back? I think that's a lot of their questions in the off season. I mean, it's 100% the biggest question of do they run it back next year? You know, Nefisa Collier is going to be an unrestricted free agent. I, Arcala and Courtney free agents as well, are they? I have to look up their... I think they're on contracts. Yeah, I think the last time I looked it up, they have a couple of years, but they could be traded. They could be traded. Yeah. And Fee is obviously like the very big question.

7:10You know, she didn't really get to go through free agency. This past off season because she was injured and the free agency period was so condensed because of how late the CBA was agreed upon and you know, she feels like she didn't really get a fair... Like, get to go through the process in a fair way, which makes sense. So I think that that's going to be a really big question. It's so hard to tell what she would want to do or what the links would even want to do. I'm not going to lie to you, Jordan. My eyebrows went so scrunched when I heard Cheryl say those comments. Yeah, yeah. I was like, even now I'm thinking back to them. I'm like, I was actually so surprised because she didn't only just say that this year's team was overachieving, which I agree with. She was talking about the last three years, which I don't think is true.

8:11And so to say for the really the past three years, you never had a roster that was on paper, a title contending roster. When you made it to the finals, like she said, they overachieved in 2024 when they made it to the finals and lost. And they overachieved last year. And I, as a spectator and as a reporter, don't necessarily agree with that, but hearing it from not only the coach, but the general manager, because that's she wears both hats, was very shocking to me. And it made me think, okay, whether it's Nafisa, whether it's a trade with some of those other quarters, whether it's maybe some of the fringe players, something will change. If you haven't gotten it done in the past three years with the team that you allegedly don't feel is a championship caliber roster and you as a coach really wanna win that title. Because again, when I spoke with her in August,

9:15she kept saying she was, when is it my turn? Like when is it our turn? When can we finally get this title again? So she wants it. So yeah, I knew that these questions were gonna, unless the links won a championship, I knew that these questions were gonna be asked to your point, the fact that it's October 6th and we're asking them is different. It hits different, it really does. I do feel like when I heard that statement from Cheryl, it was very combative or opposite of what I know that you've reported on, it's what we've seen. So it's hard to kind of rewire our brain to say that this is overachieving when you really did feel like you had all the pieces and I will reiterate because I say it every year, but the WMBA playoffs and playoffs and postseason in general are about matchups and the New York Liberty, that was not the matchup that they wanted.

10:17When we were talking about the end of the regular season and all those possibilities and how everything changed, the links are the ones that really got hurt in that scenario. The Liberty are not a typical eight seed and we're gonna talk about them when we get to the semi-finals because I don't wanna take anything away from the New York Liberty, they beat the links. They played very well and Brianna Stewart is an MVP of this league and she showed everybody that. But it was a matchup issue. Olivia Miles and ASTA, they do not match up well. ASTA is allowed to stay in front of her and you can just blow by she wasn't getting those layups like she typically can. So when Olivia Miles is not on go, the team is not on go. And I've had these conversations over these past weeks since the links have lost and one thing is kind of become apparent that I have been saying and thinking

11:20that this is a iteration, this is the third season that the links have not been able to get there and I keep thinking about that even though they finished top two but someone else kind of reframe my mind that this is really the first season of Olivia Miles's links that this has not been able to go through. And she is that type of superstar player that this is her team now. And so this is the first iteration. She is going to get the links in the post season way more times. I think this was nerves. This is what she can learn from. This does not define her. She had an amazing season and she is going to be an amazing player. But how does that transition happen from being Fee's team to Olivia Miles team? Does Fee want that transition? Because she goes somewhere else. These are all the questions that we're going to be thinking about during this off season. And I am so fascinated to see how it all pans out. And I feel like we could talk about that in some links.

12:20Yeah. This whole episode because I'm still in shock. I'm still my best friend who I got into the WMBA this year. She lives in the Bay. She's a Valkyrie's fan. And then she, at the end of the Valkyrie's game, they showed the bracket and she just text me, wait, wait, wait, the number one C didn't make it to the semi finals. I was like, it's a long story. I don't want to talk about it. I don't like to talk about layers. I don't like layers today. So I'll make you a promise. We will continue to talk about this through the off season. I am almost guarantee you, we will. Yes, I'm so game. I think it is going to be a very interesting off season, which we'll talk a little bit more about later. Real quick, though, Atlanta swept the Washington Mystics and this conversation around a team probably couldn't be more opposite. This is a team that overachieved and is a bunch of rookies that played super well and is ahead of schedule. And I was thoroughly surprised that they made it

13:21to the postseason for the first time since 2023. I love watching this Washington team. Experience is a whole thing when it comes to the postseason. But what are some of your parting words for the Washington Mystics as they head to Cancun? Yeah, I'm one. Cancun's not that bad. It's faba. It's like I'm like a couple weeks. I'm excited. No, I mean to your point, experience is something that's huge at this stage. And when you're going up against players on that dream team, do you want to bonner? And I know we can get into more about the ins and outs of the dream when we talk about this summer. So I won't go too deep in that. But I think for the Mystics, like you said, they were so ahead of schedule. And I think back to last season, right, when the Valcreas made the playoffs for the first time and they got swept by the links. And of course, there's a level of disappointment if you were the Mystics or their fan base. However, like you said, they're so ahead of schedule.

14:23There's so many great building blocks. And I think you head into next year with these young pieces that are going to, they're all under contract. Like you have so much opportunity to build and grow. We have to give Shakira Austin her flowers for what she did. This season she didn't win most improved, but she had a such a such good strong argument to win that award. And if she can continue to just be on that upward trajectory, while also those younger players can grow, they have an opportunity to really be at like a name stay in this playoff picture. There's so much parity in the league. They skipped over maybe a couple teams that we thought heading into the season were going to be in the playoff picture, but there's no reason to believe that the Mystics should be out of it next year.

15:23And I think that that is a good position to be and that is a half-glass full approach. And I think that they should feel really good. Sydney Johnson was a tremendous coach. He also can't for coach of the year. I'm excited to see what the Mystics do next. Yeah, absolutely. He came in third place for coach of the year and it was because of the camaraderie and the team that they really built. I keep calling it a college all-star team because that's what it was. These are the youngest team in the league. One of the youngest teams in WMBA history and still made it to the postseason. When you look at their future though, the past two years, they've had three first round picks in each of those drafts. And next year, they also have a first round draft pick. Even though they made the playoffs, say thank you to Chicago, everyone. And that is how they are going to keep building

16:26and really fully dive into this young group. And it's like a rebuild, but you could just keep building from the postseason. That's not really a rebuild to me. They're already already in it. It really, it shows parallels of like, Oklahoma City Thunder did something very similar. And then they won championships and then they have MVPs and the Mystics can do the same thing just because you're young. If you get the right players and you put them in the right system with the right leadership, have those vets here and there, like it really can lead to something. And sometimes people like to give that kind of, like you said, Collegiate Energy a hard time because they're not doing it like the veteran teams. Or they serious enough or they locked it enough. Yeah, they are. It's working for them so, so well. And it's just fun to watch, honestly. But yeah, the fact that they have more first round picks is like, but then also when you think about it,

17:27okay, could you package all those first round picks to a trait, if you feel like you need another veteran, there are other teams out there that are looking for a young talent. And so it gives them a little bit of flexibility too to figure out what direction they wanna go in. Yeah, and I can overestimated enough. It just feels like a clear vision. It feels like these past couple years, I know it was rough for the Mystics fans, but at least you had a vision. I think of a team like the Sparks. We've already gone through them, but it's like, you're up, you're down. We're rebuilding, we're not. We're, we have a superstar, we don't. And that up in town is so hard to follow and trust in the process. But if you're looking at the Mystics front office, you're like, okay, I get it. You have all these first round picks, you traded away Britney Sikes. You traded away all these like now players for capital. And it's worked out. And I know it was tough.

18:29I think of, you know, Alia Edwards and all these young players that you thought were going to be a part of this program, but we're seeing the fruits of that. And it's only going to get better. So congratulations Mystics. You have a clear plan. A lot of teams cannot say that at all. It's true. It's true. Speaking of not having a clear plan, Indiana fever took it to three games. And it was stressful. Game two, the fever looked like the fever. We had talked about game one on the show and how Asia Wilson was, Asia Wilson and put up what, 36, 38, game one, 36 and game three. I warned everyone that I don't know why you would want to poke the four-time MVP bear going into a elimination game at home. That was a very interesting strategy, Masha Hindalin, didn't work out too well. Did not work out too well for you

19:30because the Aces were able to get through. But Indiana, the best offense in the WNBA that we've seen, they struggled in that game three from the field. And just not really able to get in their rhythm, it seemed like. What did you kind of see for the fever? And then we'll talk about what happened after the game. The Aces are such a hard team to, when talking about what went wrong for their opponents. It's hard to, because we're talking about before with the links and the Liberty 2. No one wants to face the Aces in the first round because they are that good. And so I do think in part it's that, but to your point, I think Indiana's offense didn't. It wasn't where it could have been and should have been on this stage. And then obviously defense, that's been the big question.

20:30All season long. And then again, you're going up against this team that you have the big three in the Aces, but as every coach, every player, you can't forget about Jule Lloyd. So they really have a big four. And I just think it was too much for the fever to handle. It was interesting, Jordan, after that series, we did a round table at ESPN on ESPN.com. And one of the questions was, was this season a disappointment for the fever. And I only like kind of sat there and was like, I really, I don't know, I don't think this is a call-out answer because it's genuinely how I feel. Yes and no. Because again, you lose in three games to the Aces in the first round. I don't think that that's necessarily like a huge disappointment because I have the Aces winning the title. However, the way that the fever got to match up against the Aces, when you look at the last stretch of the regular season, coming out of the fever break, they were in fourth.

21:32And the way that their season played out for that last two weeks, they dropped all the way down to sixth. And so you're heading into the playoffs then. You've lost all that momentum where, in my opinion, there was a stretch between June and July and August, where I was like, oh my gosh, the fever could win the title. They looked so unstoppable and then they lost all of that and it carried into the playoffs. And so I really think just that last four, three to four weeks stretch from coming out of the fever break to their last game of the season, the loss to the Aces, was just them having lost their offensive identity. And if you're gonna be built on offense, will your offense better show up? And it didn't to the level that it needed to. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I think that's a really interesting question. I, it's so hard because of that parody conversation. I loved going into these playoffs in the first round,

22:36looking at the matchups, even though they were very different from how I was dreaming of them to be since they got all moved around. This is a different conversation if we're talking about, when we say matchups and they match up with Atlanta and somehow they got past that Atlanta. And then it's like, whoa, that exceeded expectations. They're in the second round. But this idea that they just do not match up well with the Las Vegas Aces and you have a franchise record in wins, so you have that. So you can't even say automatically that the whole season is a throw away, but it definitely was more up and down than I think they would have wanted. The defense was the storyline at the beginning, then the offense and then it was all about the offense. And then it's like, don't talk about the defense. It's over there, it's off to the side. Well, when it comes to the postseason, that game won really exposed how you're, how are you gonna guard Asia? We'll see.

23:36Okay, you're gonna do single coverage. Good luck. And then you score so much in game two and you kind of limit because Asia Wilson was missing, that's what's gonna kind of help that. And you're frustrating her and you're going to, that's gonna be your game plan on defense. Okay, that's not gonna really work every time. So what is the game plan beyond that? And I think when the fever are looking at this roster, they can check the box for scoring. Now how can we combat some of these other players? And it's not just Asia, but over 500 teams, you just couldn't really beat who, why was that? What were the matchup issues there and what type of player do we need to kind of erase that? I don't know, I don't really think it's a Stephanie White issue. I think Stephanie White is all about defense. You've seen her Connecticut sun teams. So I think it is a roster adjustment that they're gonna need, they're gonna need to do. Now with the roster, their MVP,

24:41I know Caitlin Clark is also in the MVP conversation. Kelsey Mitchell had a career best season. She hooped all season long. And if you are the Indiana fever GM and my name is Amber Cox, first of all, I do not think her statement was a read the room statement. Talking about the fans, I love the show scandal and I love Olivia Pope. And I feel like she has rewired my brain to know what PR statements are right and wrong and when to say them. And that statement by the GM of the Indiana fever just didn't hit right. Her saying that the fever fans are an issue and there's no basis in reality that that is. And then so many people coming immediately and saying, hello, that's not true. And it's not just the Breonna Turner's who played their last year or the Sydney Colesons

25:42who was on the team. It's your current players saying, I had to deactivate my social media account at the beginning of the season, Alia Boston. It's Kelsey Mitchell, your star player saying, yeah, it's hard to play for this organization when you don't know if they're gonna cheer for you or not. That is an issue and I wish Amber Cox would have said it is an issue and we're working on it. Like that is all I would have wanted. That would have been so much better. Instead, now you have a superstar free agent saying, I have to be selfish because I have, I don't have that many years left to play and I have a lot to think about. And that is yikes. You do not want to hear that. What do you make of all this, Ketra? Oh, what do I, that's a great question. What do I make of all this, Jordan?

26:43It was an interesting thing to listen in on all of it was and I think Kelsey saying she has to be selfish is like, she is the most, I think you can agree. She's one of the most humble people, superstars in this league and she wants to win and I think that she's the type of player and person that, you know, Caitlin comes to this organization and becomes the face of it and becomes a superstar. I don't think that that bugs Kelsey Mitchell. When she's talking about being selfish, I don't think it's about like I want to be the star necessarily. I could be wrong, but I think she's like, if it, because she fits so well in this system. However, what I do think she's talking about is like, I do have to put myself first. I have to put, you know, whether it's a money,

27:44whether it's also a role, but also like you're saying protecting my peace and making sure that whatever situation I'm in is worth it. Things that I always talk about when it comes to, I don't even know what the right word is. Environments where there's a lot of outside noise, you always have to balance. What is worth putting up with versus what is actually now causing more harm, whether that's to like you, whether that's to the organization. And you have to like, there is a line somewhere where it's like all of the BS that comes with whatever this is, isn't worth it anymore or it is worth it, but you have to like figure out where that line is. And based on Kelsey's comments, is like she's reaching that line. It seems like she's reaching that line of is all of the extra stuff that comes with being a member of this team

28:47in the current iteration and era that it's in, that these fans are in, that the W's in, is it worth it? And the thing is is that because of the caliber player she is and because of how good of a character she is and what she brings to a locker room, there are going to be so many suitors for her. And she is going to have so much power, she's gonna have all the power in this kind of decision. But I do think it, you know, having the juxtaposition, if Amber Cox came to the microphone and said what she said and she's kind of going up against people on social media, that's one thing, if she's going against people who aren't in your locker room, that's one thing. And then I do think that, you know, hearing from two of your cornerstone players, what they have experienced with their own fan base, it should make you kind of, like you said, just like read the room a little bit, pulse checks, see what needs to happen.

29:48And again, to my point, see if the feedback that you're getting about issues, is it causing more harm than good? Are you going to lose one of your best players because of this? Is that worth it? I'm not in these offices, I'm not in these rooms, so I don't know what the answer they are going to come to is. I'm with Cheryl Miller, she said on the NBC broadcast after all this is going down. She said, the Indiana fever, if you somehow lose Kelsey Mitchell, it's a wrap for you because Kelsey Mitchell, alongside Caitlin Clark was the best offensive duo we've ever seen, it was poetry emotion, it was absolutely beautiful. But what I will say, Kendra, is when Kelsey was a free agent before, I think we were all surprised as she signed on again,

30:50because it was all of the immediate rush and attention right when Caitlin signed. And we knew she was going through things before. I just think back to Kelsey Mitchell's comments when it was all star gonna be an indie, and she was like, yeah, that's great for them. And everyone was like, oh, does that mean you ain't gonna be here? Like everyone was reading through those lines. So I don't think she's missed words before. But like you said, this isn't really her personality to just be saying things to say things. I trust what some, you know, some of these quotes, I don't think people really understand how much we endure. I just think people have to give us grace. I think this organization is unbelievable, but there's just so many nuances that she's talking about that it just seems like you said she's close to that edge and it is a big decision. And the fever are gonna have to come with the money,

31:50but I think they're also going to have to come with the solution. And I am predicting that I don't know if there's going to be another statement or a walk back statement or something that is more solution forward base that can put your superstars at ease. Because Alia Boston is saying these things, she's not a free agent, but when her contract is up, is that going to come up again? You have to decide what you're gonna be. And it's not always Indiana fever fans, but it has been a pattern. And when you have people coming out and saying, we're about to air everything out, I saw a screenshot of Breon January's wife saying, we have receipts like this is an issue within the organization and you're going to have to address it and discuss it, pretending like it's not there and being defensive about it and blaming the media,

32:50not the media that's actually been with the team, but the outside media, I don't think that's the right answer. And so I'm very curious, I'm with Cheryl Miller, if you somehow fumble Kelsey Mitchell, that will not bode well. But meanwhile, round the league, all the other GMs are like, hey, hey, you wanna come to ball hallet? Babe, we love our fans. It's gonna be a mat, I mean, it's gonna be to the death in the free agency for Kelsey Mitchell, if they can't lock her down. That's all I say. Period. Oh, okay, well, that was my sub-box. Let's take a break, because we always have to take a break after we talk about Indiana fever fans. Let's take a break. When we come back, we're gonna get into these semi-finals because game one was so good and game two is tomorrow, and I just cannot wait. So let's take a break. I almost fell for one of those crazy fake delivery text messages

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34:58from Visa USA Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton Bank Prepaid Cards Sutton debit flex card and Bancor debit flex card. Discounts and promotions provided by Cash app A-block Inc. brand. Visit cash.app slash legal slash podcasts for full disclosures. Crystal Geyser Alpine Springwater is now the official water partner of the Iron Man North America series. Together, we'll hydrate athletes from the first mile to the finish line with Alpine Springwater that's always bottled at the natural spring source. We're proud to partner with Iron Man and support a community defined by perseverance, determination and the pursuit of extraordinary goals. Crystal Geyser Alpine Springwater always bottled at the source. Welcome back to the Women's Houp Show and we're talking to my finals

35:59because game one of Atlanta over New York, woo, what? I have no words. Like Atlanta won 92, 82, but I was sitting there mouth a gate in awe of the defensive display that we got to witness in that game. Angelry said the defensive play of the year is in Atlanta and I don't even know if she was fully pumping herself up. It was more of like, it could be joined. Canada could be right now or it could be. We have a plethora of options because that is their identity and they were able to stay to that on a tough New York team who's coming in hot. Like this is not, like we said, a typical eight seed. Offensively, they are clicking at the right time even though they've had a roller coaster of a season. I like this matchup, but it's tough because they just played two times

37:02at the end of the regular season and we saw how that went. What did you see from the defensive side from Atlanta to just emphatically take over and win game one? The thing about Atlanta is like, they've done so far what everyone talks about needing to do during the playoffs, which is take your best game and then hike it up several notches. And I'm not gonna lie to you Jordan. I had to watch the game back through a lot of highlights. I was in the media room at Chase Center before the Golden State Vegas game and I was like, coming up some TVs on it. I love it. I love it. But it really is true of like they have so many amazing individual defenders that then you put them together and you obviously that equals a good team defense but they read each other so, so well and they just know exactly like what they need to be doing. They're all on a string together so well

38:03and do wanna bonner man. Like, Jordan Canada said, look, even at half time DB laid into us and we weren't bringing the right energy on defense and whatever I need to know what DB said in that locker room because the second half is when they just said, okay, shut down everything that New York could get to. That makes them so successful. I think Brianna Stewart is the best winner in women's basketball. Sabrina UNESCO is one of the best shooters in basketball. Jay, like Jay, the Liberty, like you said, they're such a good team. They're one of the hottest teams in the league right now. But the way that Atlanta has just doubled down on their identity is just so impressive. You say, I just started laughing because you said New York is the hottest team in the league and I just feel like Atlanta dream is a fire extinguisher.

39:03Like they just completely put out the flame coming that New York had coming from the first round. But let me tell you from watching it in real time, you know, do wanna bonner this trade at this moment of the season. If they go to the finals, might go down as one of the best trades, sign and trades, however you look at it in the history of the WNBA. Because it was exactly what the dream needed. Doana Bonner is the steady. She is that constant. She has over a hundred playoff games, more playoff games and some people have regular season games. She has been there. She is a champion, 23 points off the bench. And I know we're gonna talk about it too because Alicia Gray went down and she tried to go, her hand, she was back on the bench,

40:04she just looked like she was crying, but the whole team rallied around and said, we got you. Like don't worry about it. And Doana Bonner had to step up for more minutes. That wasn't typically her role. Her role is like, I'm gonna float in the background and score a couple times and bring excitement and calm everybody down. But she had to play more because Alicia Gray was out. 23 points, huge, nine rebounds, two stills. But I wanna focus on Jordan Canada because that third quarter was a master class. I, if I ever want to show young guards how to play defense, I'm just going to play that third quarter on a giant TV over and over. She scored 25 points, which is not typical JC and is super helpful and incredible. But it's the five steals, the four assists, a block. Jordan, JC is my height. She is five. And she gets after it.

41:06At one point in the broadcast, my guy, Ryan Rukos, I could just as I feel like Stewie has gotten a shot. It's because they're not getting the ball. They just couldn't even hold on to it. Atlanta was so disruptive. It's like, they scored 32 points off of turnovers at Lanna did. 16 in the third quarter, that third quarter that you're talking about, we're Jordan Canada. Like just really took it up to a whole new level. She, her and Duana Bonner, like when we were previewing these playoffs, one of the questions, and I had Atlanta as the team that I was previewing for our preview. And one of the questions was who could be the X factor? Who could be that game changer? Because it usually isn't, like each team has their, let's say two to three superstars, right? And on the dream, the superstars of this team are Angel Reese, Ryan Howard, Alicia Gray. Jordan Canada was going to be the X factor somewhere along these playoffs.

42:07And Duana Bonner as well, whether that was like, okay, yeah, she's the veteran, she's the, the steadiness, but what those two players did in game one game one is like, it's just, it makes Atlanta, it gives them a whole other dimension of danger and depth because benches go shorter in the playoffs. And so to your point, when you have a player like, Alicia Gray, go down and you're already playing a shorter rotation, it's like, okay, what's gonna happen? Could it be, could it just Ryan need to shoot more three as well as what does it have to be? But to see it be DB, enjoyed in Canada, I just think that those two players are so crucial, for this run, that Atlanta's making and hopes to continue to make. And when you're looking at this matchup against the Liberty and games two, three, and maybe, if it gets to four, five and even beyond of like what, they have so many weapons

43:10right now that one of their best players can go down and they have two incredible players saying, okay, no worries. They're just such a dangerous team right now. They look pretty unbeatable and my God, it's, it's for as good as Stewie was in the first round, for Atlanta to come out and just shut her down like that. No, like not even allowing the ball. And like, like you said, didn't make a comeback, they made a push towards that fourth quarter. And it was like, oh, this is what happens when you actually get shots on goal. Like that you just got to take care of the ball. And I think we talk about this all the time. Stewie pregame, she was talking to your sister, Malika, pregame, and she goes, you know, the key here is lie ball turnovers. They knew it. They knew it and it still happened. Like that is how good Atlanta is right now to be able

44:14to be like, yeah, you know what we're gonna do? We're still going to do it. We're gonna tie a WNBA record for those 32 points. Insane. Now, when you shift to the Liberty, good news. Sabrina at 27 points. And this is the Sabrina that you know and are excited to have in the post season. JJ got on the board. Stewie was scoring maybe not to the levels that you saw in the first round. But what are some things besides like, I'm gonna need every Liberty player to walk around with the ball in their hand. Yeah. Take it to their hand. I don't know what. Go back to elementary stuff. Yeah. Like triple threat. Like what are some things that New York is going to have to really tap into to try to get a win here? I mean, really the most, and again, they know it. The most obvious one is to take care of the ball. Because if you cut off those 32 points off of turnovers,

45:19not saying that the Liberty would have won the game, but maybe you have more of a chance if you don't have so many giveaways, I think that's, you know, I think that that's like the biggest thing. And it seems so obvious. And I wish that there was like some other, like, oh, there's this really niche thing that they have to do. But sometimes it is not obvious. And again, I'm not saying that if they take care of the ball, they're going to necessarily get a win. However, it gives yourself more of a chance. Like to me, it's interesting actually, like when you look at the two playoff series, there is one very obvious thing that both of the losing teams of game one have to change. And if they both change those one things for the Liberty, it's just taking care of the ball. Maybe you can find some sort of offense of flow to get Stewie Moore looks, to get her going, to just get into your offense a little bit more instead of always having to, you know,

46:20live ball turnovers then lead to transition offense. And the Dreamer team, that's really good in transition. They're so quick, Jordan Canada is so shifty. Ryan can pull up from any, like they can just weaponize everything in transition and you're not a set defense if you're the Liberty in that sense. So I think that like that has to be first and foremost. And then, listen, depending on what happens with Ali Shagre, I don't have any updates on her status and her finger. But if they are down a player, you have to take so much advantage of that. The thing that the Liberty have, that, you know, the Dream don't, even with how many games DB has played in these playoffs, this is a championship team, the Liberty. And that is what we saw in Round One. They tapped into this, we've won before. We know exactly what we have to do.

47:22And so I think that we need to just see a little bit more of that, like that championship experience because it is a real thing. It is a real mentality. And I just don't think that they had as much of that in Game One. Who? I, I think it is that. So I just feel like if I was the coach, I would have just right on the whiteboard, take care of the ball. Like have some pride. Like you are not gonna take the ball away from me. And also it's a little bit of like, I just, I just wanna get rid of it. And Jordan Canada was jumping those passing lanes. Like she was a superhero. And it was like, but it also wasn't that hard because these were cross court passes. And you know, like having that mentality of like, no, we are going to make chess passes. We are going to be strong. That's what it's gonna have to take.

48:24Or else, it's going to be a repeat of this. So I'm, I still really am intrigued by this matchup. I think New York could break through. I think it's really hard to be any team three times in a row. Especially this is a continuation from the regular season. So technically they have beat them three times in a row. But I'm intrigued. I'm intrigued how that championship DNA and that experience is gonna break through. I think they have fight. I think New York has fight in them. If they, I would be surprised if they got swept only because of like again, just the caliber of players and the kind of like team they have, you know, again, the regular season has been very up and down. But like, it's just the team with, again, with Brianna Store. And if it's that version of Sabrina, you know, Sco and you've JJ, it's hard for me to think that they won't get one. But that isn't a discredit to the dream. If the dream do sweep them,

49:25if they play like they played in game, what I go, yeah. Makes sense. I mean, you're looking at the team and you're like, yeah, this team could be in the finals. Like you start to imagine it. And this is an Atlanta dream team that, you know, did hold the top spot at the beginning of the year, but it still felt like something was missing. And already, I mean, just talking about them getting past Washington, they had to get that monkey off their back of like just getting out of the first round. Like now it feels like they can play a little more free knowing that that cloud isn't over them, that they just been stuck in that first getting to the playoffs, but not getting through the playoffs has always been their identity. So it's cool to be able to see them get to the semi-finals for the first time in a very, very long time since the first victory in the semi-finals since 2018. So it's been a minute and this is a team,

50:25but like I said, that addition of Dwanabana was just massive. It was just... I mean, listen, we could talk about the dream proper too. Dan Pat, what Dan Patover has done, this will be my last point on them, what he has done in the last six months is insane. Insane. It is phenomenal. You trade for Angel Reese. You don't give up any of your core, and not only Jordan, do you not give up any of your core? Oh, you resign every single one of them on multi-year deals, and then you bring in Dwanabana like... In... Yeah, it's plain to say. Insane. So Dan Patover, hear your flowers for the day. Absolutely, shout out to you, Dan. And one more flowers, because we're talking about awards throughout this episode too. Angel Reese getting a chance of core over the year. I mean, if you did not cry at the video of her mom

51:27bringing her the award, surprising her with flowers, I can't say enough how impressed I am by Angel Reese coming into this organization, and it just feels like, you know, outside of basketball, just in life, when you are in a situation where you can grow and thrive, and you are pushed to be your best, good things happen. And you get defensive player of the year. Feel like that is something that has always been there. We saw the little videos of her as a little girl still snatching things away with her goggles. It was so cute. But that was always there, but you're in the right environment to really bring that out of you. And what she went through in Chicago, how she was able to get out of there and come to a group of people like Ryan, Ali Shagre, Jordan, Canada, everyone just lifting her up and hugging her. You get the best. You get the semi-finals,

52:28and you get personal awards as well. You break rebounding records. You're blocking shots. She can switch one through five. Angel had an amazing season, and I'm so glad that we're able to see an award that really capped off that year. I spoke with her that morning before the announcement, and she told me like, look, when I got traded to the dream and I walked in those doors and I sat down with Carl, Dan, and the coaching staff, something she said is, I want to win defensive player of the year here. And maybe it's not this year. Maybe it's next year, but in the next, like under this contract, I am winning defensive player of the year. And when you talk about an environment that pours into each other, and she told them, I want you to push me to be that. Like, yeah, I'm a good rebounder, but there's a whole other level to my game, as she felt that she could get to. And there's something else I talked to her about, and I can't remember if you and I spoke about it here,

53:30is like, she has played under a different coach every year since mid-college seasons, really. She transferred to LSU and she played under Mokki, and then when her two seasons in Chicago, she had first teaspoon, and her first year, then Martian her second year, and then she gets to Smesco. And so I asked her, I was like, when you think of getting to build, not just with the same franchise and the same teammates, but with the same coach, and she was just talking about how much Carl has poured into her and he goes out, and each player is assigned a different coach during warm-ups, and she has Smesco, and Smesco goes during her warm-ups, and is out there with her, and she said, over this offseason, they're gonna be working a lot together on offense. She's like, you know, defense can always get better, but I want to improve that area of my game too. And so I'm really excited to see how she can continue to grow

54:32and just become an even better defender, but just a more, even more well-rounded player. This is a version of Angel that I think is just the starting point, and it's been so fun to get to see her play in the postseason. She has just taken it by the horns. So yes, many congrats to her. It's very well deserved. And yeah, the dreamer must watch basketball right now. There's no other way to put it. I love that she said she wanted to get the deep-way. Her first in her career, don't think it'll be her last, but the first in franchise history for the Atlanta Dream to get the award, such a good thing. The first time a player has switched teams and won it in that first season. Oh, that's a good nugget. There you go. Wow, I'm impressed. I think that is a great award, and it really shows effort, and that's how you really describe Angel Reese's play.

55:34Okay, we're gonna take another break. When we come back, we're gonna talk about those Valkyries, the team in your hood, see how they got their semi-final first win. I'll be back. [♪ OUTRO MUSIC PLAYING [♪ Welcome back to the Women's Food Show, and the Golden Save Valkyries got to the semi-finals in a very dramatic fashion. Kendra, can I say? I went into this month of October, and I was like, I'm gonna be less stressed. I'm like, I'm gonna meditate more mornings, and I don't want stress anymore. And I don't know what I was thinking, but to have that mindset and the WNBA playoffs at the same time, just thought. It was not worth. No, but it was a nice thought. Let me tell you, my aura rings since like three weeks ago. It just says, you've been in a continued state of stress.

56:36They're like, yeah, thank you. I did feel that, but thank you for telling me. I did notice the Valkyries came back from down 16 against a Dallas Wings team that would not go away. I was watching this game in a bar with my parents who you met at my mom is a Valkyries fan. But you know she loves her pagebeckers. So she was fully rooting for Dallas on one side of me. My dad fully rooting for the Valkyries on the other side of me. And it was a all-out battle. My mom was talking all type of mess when Dallas got up by 16. And all my dad said was still early. I was like, poppies, third quarters. It was kinda like, it got late. But he said, no, they've come back from worse. And that is exactly what happened. They weathered through the Arreca Hagoomboale final four flashback version of herself scoring 45 points in game two.

57:38Couldn't the rim was as big as the ocean. Couldn't miss. She was continuing that in game three. But the Valkyries were able to come back and I just feel like that gave them confidence going into the semi-finals against the aces. Both teams did look a little tired, I will say. They both went to game three. The first quarter was like, we out here. I mean, we run it up and down. So that's what I noticed. But how about those Valkyries? And how is this an only two-year-old franchise making a run like this? Yeah, I don't know. No, you know what? Something that the Valkyries have that they decided on day one and they have been so true to it is they have the, I think they have the clearest identity in the league. Like I think when you talk about knowing who you are

58:41and knowing what your pillars are and principles are, the Valkyries do it to a whole other level. And yeah, like, yes, they're deep. It's so easy to just be like, yeah, it's their defense. But no, it truly is the way that they, it's two things out. I think to me, it's their defense and it's their depth. The way that their defense can shut people down. And yes, Aureka went off for 45 and the first thing that they said after that game was like, we lost ourselves. That's what Gabi Williams said. She goes, I did not recognize who we were. And in the next game, again, yes, Aureka goes for 30. Here point, I think everyone's super tired. But when they went on that run in the third quarter to bring them back into it, it was all stops. It really, really was. It was them getting back to who they were and then the shots started to fall. Because when they went on that run to start the third,

59:43it was really quiet. It was like, try to get a layup here. It was, you know, get to the free throw line, but you're making so many stops. And then Veronica Burton hit a three pointer for like just around four or five minutes left in that third quarter. And then everything was over from there. But to get them back into the game, to get away from that 16 point deficit, it really was their defense. And then it fueled them and they made these massive shots down the line. Gabi Williams, like Tipei's called their big shot Gabi, Gabi F. Williams. Like really that is who she's, she's become. But yeah, I mean, the Valkyries, they, they, they looking, they're looking pretty scary right now. Coming out of that game. They're looking pretty good. And I think like getting game one, I know we'll talk about some finals too, but like getting game one in the fashion again

1:00:44that they did. Boy, oh boy. Well, and you talk about identity as I saw the, the scoring, as I saw the score of the game one and we're talking ACE's Valkyries. I'm like, oh no, this favors the Valkyries. The final score was 71 to 60. They held a Las Vegas ACE team to 60 points. The other night, Asia had over half of that by herself on another team. So that is a win, but that slow, I don't know, that slugfest, very much favors the Golden State Valkyries. And them staying to that identity is what has gotten them this far. And you talk about that depth. I just want to shout out. I knew it is no surprise that the six player of the year is coming from a team that their bench scores more than their starters. It could be Tiffany Hayes. She has a whole closet full of them, but then it being unanimously Janelle Salon

1:01:46is so perfect. And I think for them, throughout the season, Janelle Salon has been huge. That three point shot, she's a matchup nightmare, six two, I think she is a key to the success of this Golden State team. But we still haven't really seen a solid version of her so far in this postseason. Once they unlock that, that's a whole other level that they can get to. When you look at the, I'm just looking at the box score from that game. I really suck at math. So let me do some finger counting, 29, 3 plus 4, 20, 7, 28. Let's say like 30-ish points, something ballpark, because I can't do math. That's what the Valkyries bench scored, 30-something, compared to seven, Las Vegas bench points. And that's with Janelle Salon shooting or scoring two points. Two points. In game one. In 10. Wow. Heal and sh. Cool.

1:02:46And then Aminata Gay checking in, getting assigned Asia Wilson as her primary assignment and just making the biggest impact. Like I was sitting next to another reporter on both of us, like she didn't play at all in round one. And this goes on to her down. Literally said, where did she come from? No. I thought it was looking around like what? They team signed her on September 20th, and here she is. And this is the thing. Look, again, the depth. Not only in a Kase benched Veronica Burton, midway through the third quarter. She hit like front rim on one shot, air ball the second shot. We didn't see her again. But guess what? Caitlin Jen checks in. And she scores 11 points. The depth on this team, I think, you know, whether or not they can control the tempo of the game like they did in game one. Because it's hard for me to believe

1:03:47that the aces are going to, you know, let that happen. Five, like three games in a row at least, you know. The one thing that the Valkyries will always have over this team and the aces is their depth and their bench production and winning the bench points. You know, again, Joel, that's a question that they're having practice later today. She got injured. She was ruled out of the remainder of the game. If they don't like when Becky Hammond was asked about Joel's status after the game, she just looked so like flabbergasted as to where we got to play. She literally was just like, we have to play who's available. That's what she said because their depth is already so depleted that that can really be a series changing thing for the Valkyries. Yeah, a depth is everything. And for the Valkyries, it's strength and numbers. For the aces, it can't be a catastrophic drop off

1:04:51when your big three needs a breather. Like Jackie Young struggled in this game and she scored, or she played 40 minutes, I believe, and the last game came in and played 38 minutes of this one. You aren't going to be able to run them to the ground. You're not going to be able to run them ragged. So what are you going to get from your bench? When Joel went down, it was very much like, oh my goodness, Talbot was injured. Now, let's just Smith, you don't have. Now, Joel is out, Dana Evans is out. I saw a Post this morning that said, Talbot and Joel Lloyd were not listed on the injury reports. So we'll see how that bowed well for when they wake up tomorrow, but they just, they need bodies. They need more people. And especially when you talk about the rebounding, the aces got out rebounded 52 to 25. Maga! But in the words of our fine poet of Becky Hammond, we played like As, and we still only lost by 10.

1:05:55Just very, it could be written in feather pin. Yes, eloquent. So eloquently, but... It's true. It is. It is not played great at all. And it was an 11 point game. So that is something that they could maybe have confidence in going into game two. Like, all right, let's throw that away. This is what we do. We lose game ones when it gets down to it. Now, let's turn it around. But it's a lot of things that are going to have to change, including that bench production. Yeah, a lot of things going to change. You know, when we were talking about the Liberty series, and I said, you know, there's one thing for each of the losing teams that you can look at exactly on the stat sheet and say, if they change this, who knows if they win, but it would have been a different story. It was the rebounding for the aces. And similar to what Stewie said on Countdown, a knowing that taking care of the ball and live alternovers was going to be an issue.

1:06:58Becky told us off to the game, the last four days, they have been talking about rebounding, crash the boards, box out, grab and go. Like, they knew and they didn't do it. So you think, like, is it, is it an effort thing? I always have a hard time with that as a reason, just because I'm like, wait, you guys are in the playoffs and you guys are who you are and you didn't put an effort, like, what? But maybe that is the case. If they don't give up so many points off of rebound and second chance points, third chance points, frankly, maybe that is, is, is a automatic difference maker to Becky's point, 11 point loss. Okay, you don't give up, you know, 20, 30 something, second chance points. There you go. But with just so many bodies down, that, like, that is a concern.

1:08:01And it just puts even more, again, more pressure on Asia and Chelsea and Jackie and they're up for it. We've seen it so, so many times there is, there is no one who, like, during the game, it never, like, being in the building, it never fully felt like the Valcreas lost the momentum. Like, even when the ACEs kind of kept pushing and coming back, it never felt like the game was fully swinging away from the Valcreas. However, I was like, kind of, maybe, maybe not because, because Andrew also saw that floor. Because there is no one who could just decide it's over than Asia will say. And there's no more clutch player than Chelsea Gray. So I was, I was waiting for it to happen. It didn't. But lightning strike twice, usually with this ACEs team. In a bad way. Yeah. I feel that. Look, Asia still finished. We're talking as if she scored three points.

1:09:03She's still finished at 24 points. But she needed 21 fill goals to get there. She shot eight for 21. So that's kind of that defensive pressure that, um, and also a mix of fatigue. I think that was a mix of both. Chelsea Gray, 16 points, Jackie Young, only 11. And I feel like you saw those struggles from the field just from her kind of trying to shoot herself into it. But yeah, they're going to get in the gym and we're going to, we're going to tip the ball up for, for game two and it, and it could be a different result. Um, I'm just excited for this matchup because I think that both of these teams and specifically Gabby Williams, we are seeing her really carve out a name as an offensive star. This is what she was brought to this team to do. And, and this Valkyrie's team last year is a lot of the same pieces. But Gabby Williams is that different piece and it is really making a difference. And, and we are seeing that in the postseason more than ever before,

1:10:05which is just really cool. So I don't know. I am so stressed. I feel like I thought that I wanted to be all meditative. I guess I got a couple more weeks because these games, my brain hairs are growing. My heart rate is up. I'm also really happy that Coach Natalie Nicosse is okay because I saw her literally faint while the game was getting closer in the first round. Um, but yeah, whoa. I love yapping with you, Kendra. Oh, it's the best. Where there's so much to talk about and these playoffs are good. I'm so happy. They're good. It's, it's, it's, it's so good. I can't wait for the games tomorrow at this point. Yeah, on Wednesday. Listen, these are just, it's just, it's just so fun. It's so, so fun. It could go any much way and oh, it really can't. I'm looking at the bracket. I'm like, okay, would I mind an Atlanta Aces final?

1:11:08That would be fun. But a New York gold state final would also be great. And Atlanta, uh, gold state, like any iteration of New York Vegas, like any iteration of this is going to be great basketball, which is a good place to be. Um, so that's where we'll leave you. Go enjoy watching more posties and basketball and we'll come back on Friday because we, I couldn't be away from you guys for a whole week to chat things through. But thank you Kendra for being here. Of course. Wow. Thanks for tuning in. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to follow on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an update. Your support means the world. And if you're feeling generous, leaving a quick rating or review helps more hoops fans discover the show. And you can see us on our new YouTube channel. Also, our inbox is open for business. Shoot us an email at women's hoops at Odyssey.com to tell us what's on your mind.

1:12:10You want to hear your hottest takes, your burning questions and all your feelings about all things women's hoops. We might just feature your note on the show. That's women's hoops at Odyssey.com. The women's hoop show is an Odyssey original podcast hosted by me, Jordan Robinson. My guest today was Kendra Andrews. Our producer is Phil Sweetick. Our executive producers are Greg Holdsman, Asha Saluzia, Danny Freisinger and Leah Ries Dennis. And special thanks to Moira Carran and Josephina Francis.