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- [00:00]
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This sports spotlight is brought to you by Capital One. Capital One offers no fees or minimums on checking accounts. Did you know that the first modern Olympic Games to feature female athletes was the Paris Games in 1900? 22 women competed at those Games, just 2.2% of all the competitors in sailing, croquet, tennis and golf. Tennis and golf were the only sports in which women could compete in individual disciplines. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.combank for details. Capital One NA Member FDIC did you.
- [00:31]
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- [01:00]
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- [01:31]
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- [02:04]
Az Fudd
Hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Futaround and find out. I'm here with my girl Ashanti. Hey Ashanti.
- [02:12]
Ashanti Plummer
Hey, how are you? How you feeling?
- [02:15]
Az Fudd
I'm great. How are you feeling?
- [02:17]
Ashanti Plummer
I'm good. Very festive. As you know, the holidays are here and so I'm feeling really good. Christmas is my Favorite holiday. And yeah, it's the best time. That's why we're in these bright colors representing. I agree.
- [02:30]
Az Fudd
Look at us.
- [02:32]
Ashanti Plummer
Look at us. Red and green looking like some ornaments on a Christmas tree.
- [02:38]
Az Fudd
The best ornaments on your tree.
- [02:40]
Ashanti Plummer
You know what, let's talk about the fact that you have been off of school and. And it's just been straight basketball. What's that been like?
- [02:47]
Az Fudd
Freedom. It's been really nice, actually, to not have to worry about school and just, you know, go home after practice and get to hang out with everyone. Been having some really good movie nights. There's been a lot of discussions about, like, cooking. Like, I want to make things with KK and maybe Kelise and whoever else wants to join, but like holiday themed treats. But we'll see. But just having like the extra downtime to just chill and be. Be with everyone has been so nice. So that's been incredible.
- [03:15]
Ashanti Plummer
I remember during that time, for me, it was so much fun. And then like my seniors at that time would be like, this is as close as the experience you get to playing pro because it's like all you have to worry about is playing is being with. Well, you know, not everybody's gonna always hang with their teammates, but this is the time where all you have is basketball and. And it's like the best time ever. So I'm excited you are experiencing that.
- [03:42]
Az Fudd
Me too.
- [03:42]
Ashanti Plummer
So we got a fun guest coming on, girlie.
- [03:45]
Az Fudd
Yes, we do. And I'm so excited.
- [03:47]
Ashanti Plummer
Yes, we have a special guest, Emmy award winning host of NBA tv, NBA Countdown and WNBA Countdown on espn. Also the first woman to host the NBA draft, Malika Andrews, everybody.
- [04:05]
Az Fudd
That was so good, Ashanti. That was so perfect. Joining us on the pod today, we have Malika Andrews. Hi. Thank you for being here.
- [04:19]
Malika Andrews
Good morning. I'm so happy to be here. I'm so excited to chat with you all. It's the best way to start my day.
- [04:24]
Az Fudd
Aw.
- [04:26]
Ashanti Plummer
Well, it's a pleasure to have you.
- [04:27]
Malika Andrews
Thank you, Ashanti. I'm excited. I'm excited. Let's. I mean, I'm a fan of the podcast and so I'm like a little bit nervous, so I'm excited. I usually. Right. This is a little bit of a Turning things around for me. We're turning the tables.
- [04:43]
Az Fudd
Okay, well, let's get started. Our first little section. I want to. For me, I'm a book lover, so I want to get to know. I know that you're also a book lover. About your love of books. I read that in 2024. You had a goal to read 50 books in the year?
- [04:58]
Malika Andrews
Yes.
- [04:58]
Az Fudd
Did you have a goal for 2025.
- [05:03]
Malika Andrews
To just keep reading in 2020? I think 2024. I had sort of delusional ambition with our schedules and the way that things go of reading 50 books. And I wanted to be the turning the pages of 50 books. I have since ventured into the audiobook space and I found it much easier to tackle. To tackle 50 books a year. But for me, I was always not good at math and I always loved English. Right. So I was skipping math class. Don't tell my mom. And English I was forward to. Right. And when I. When I went to college and I was looking at what I wanted to do, one of the criteria was maybe not so many math classes. That was important to me just because I don't like things that I'm not good at. And reading is sort of always something I've devoured and stories is always something I'm looking forward to. So anything historical fiction, anything with a female protagonist that has sort of a maybe secret, dark, complicated past that she's looking to hide. And we are guessing through it through the middle. And then there's some twists that's becoming like, sign me up. I'm in for all of those. All of those sorts of books. That is my. That's it for me.
- [06:25]
Az Fudd
Okay. I feel like I'm gonna need some book recs because I think I'd be into this.
- [06:30]
Ashanti Plummer
Absolutely.
- [06:31]
Malika Andrews
Have we read. And I just recommended this. So Sinead started a book group and I take it as like a personal. My colleague Sinead Boom McKay and I take it as a personal challenge to. I recommended the first book of the book group. I'm not in the book group, by the way. I just was recommending the book to the book group and Neca, her sister has an incredibly high bar for books, Right. And so she and I had been texting. I was doing some recon on what Neca liked. And my favorite book, I wasn't sure if it was going to be exactly up Neca's alley, but it's my favorite book and so I decided to take a swing on it. Have you read the Women? Not Little Women, but the Women.
- [07:10]
Az Fudd
Is that by Kristin Hanna? No, it's on my list. I read the Nightingale. Is that. That's her by her, right?
- [07:19]
Malika Andrews
Did you love it?
- [07:20]
Az Fudd
Okay. I loved that book. Like, loved but sobbed, like most of the book. But that is such. That's one of the. My favorite, one of the best books I've ever read. So that's on my list. But I was like, I need some space between reading these two books, because if it's anything like the Nightingale, I am My heart and soul can't take this.
- [07:40]
Malika Andrews
The women will it. It's a beautiful, complicated portrait of women in world war. In the Vietnam War, rather, and how women were sort of the idea of that women didn't serve in Vietnam, which they did. But it's such a good book. It's such a beautiful book. I didn't cry quite as much as I cried in the Nightingale, but the Nightingale is definitely, definitely up there. But you have to should please read Women. It's one of my absolute favorite books. I reread it outside of the book club while the book club was going on. And by the way, Neca, who is the queen of. You know, she loves a good book, but she will tell you when it's not. She liked it. So I would say 10 out of 10. You have to read it. But how do you. You're on the road and you're in buses. Can you read on a bus? Can you read? Where do you get most of your reading done? Az.
- [08:40]
Az Fudd
Yeah, I can read. That's a skill that I learned from going to and from AAU tournaments. I can read, do homework, do whatever I need, and bus, car, plane, train. Any moving, a boat. Any moving, Any moving. No, I'm good.
- [08:56]
Malika Andrews
My bucket list. I really want to go, which I. I knew someone who went to Antarctica in the last couple of years, and now I think that that would be the coolest trip to go to Antarctica, but you have to be on a boat the entire time. And I'm a little bit worried because there's nowhere, you know, it's all ice that is morphing and shifting as the planet warms. And so there's nowhere to stay. Right. You stay on a boat. And I'm a little bit worried about the constant. Not that I get seasick, but I can't read in the car. That's not. No. Good for me. I'm a podcast girl in the car. But that's where the audiobook comes in. Are you a big reader like us, Ashanti? Are you just, like, tearing through books?
- [09:36]
Ashanti Plummer
I'm not tearing through books.
- [09:38]
Malika Andrews
But you'll tear through women. You will.
- [09:41]
Ashanti Plummer
Okay. I do enjoy reading, but. But I definitely have not been on my reading game, so I'm really excited to hear about this. And I know a lot of our listeners are readers, so we definitely need a top three recommendation.
- [09:55]
Malika Andrews
So you know what's interesting and I'll give you the Women is definitely up there. The Nightingale is a fantastic book. And I have a different book for different things that you want to read. So the only one left I read recently. I'm not sure it's a top three book of all time, but it's a top page turner of just wanting to get through and know what happens and the twists and turns and did she do it? No, she didn't. She's misunderstood. House on a cliff. Someone was killed. You want to know who did it? A young caretaker comes and learns, sort of the true story. That's fantastic. The Women is absolutely incredible. It's probably my favorite book right now. I have a list. I keep them on my phone because people ask me this, like when they're looking for book recommendations, favorite books. It's for different. Because for different people, it's for different. It's different things. So for me, though, I started reading that 50 books quest for me was because I felt like I was spending too much time online, too much time scrolling, too much time comparing myself. And I just wanted to immerse myself in characters and stories and people and ideas outside of my own head. And I found that that was a mental reset button for me when I wanted to just go down the rabbit hole. And there's parts of that that are required, I think, for the job of knowing what's happening of reading, you know, Katie's fantastic profile that she did on you recently az that sort of thing. I think that's important to be on my phone and to be online and to know what's going on and see what's happening in the zeitgeist. But I found that that became an excuse to keep going to places that didn't make me feel my best. And so my quest to read 50 books was also to get my screen time down. Because you know on Sundays when it says your screen time every week is 8 hours and 44 minutes? And I was thinking to myself, geez, is there not something else that I could be doing and learning and expanding in 8 hours and 44 minutes? And so that's where the quest of 50 books came out of, is wanting to find something a little bit richer and a little bit fuller and a little bit more interesting, to make myself a little bit mentally tougher? So that. That's where that came from. And then that's. That's kind of how that distilled down, at least for me.
- [12:13]
Ashanti Plummer
What are some other wrecks other than the women?
- [12:15]
Malika Andrews
All right. I think top three books and I'm reading on right now that I might make the list. But we're not gonna. We're not gonna give it to that yet. This is a very difficult question. This is like asking to pick children. But I think. Top three books that I've read recently in the last five years. Remarkably Bright Creatures, the Women, Giver of Stars. I think I'm gonna give the last one. Midnight Library is of honorable mention. Those are. Those are three. The Women. Remarkably Bright Creatures, the Giver of Stars. And then I will say that. Can I get her top five?
- [12:59]
Ashanti Plummer
Go ahead.
- [13:02]
Malika Andrews
All right. This is too hard. And then we will. We could be. All right, because I forgot the women. Remarkably Bright Creatures, the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, then Giver of Stars. And then. That's good. Top four. That's my four. Those are the best. Those are my favorite.
- [13:20]
Ashanti Plummer
Listen, the listeners have been asking, so I'm glad you got it right here. Hot from two heavy readers.
- [13:28]
Malika Andrews
Wait, Az. I gotta get yours, though.
- [13:30]
Az Fudd
Okay, so mine, definitely. The Nightingale. Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I love that book. And then my third one, I'm not sure. I love a good mystery, so I don't know what my third one would be.
- [13:45]
Malika Andrews
Well, we have two. An author that overlaps and a book that overlaps in the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. And if you're a girly looking to get back into reading Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is that is the book that you gotta start with. It's fantastic.
- [14:02]
Ashanti Plummer
Say last. I'm the girly. Girly. I am the girly. My top three is like Harry Potter of the Sorcerer.
- [14:14]
Malika Andrews
Thank you, Malika.
- [14:16]
Ashanti Plummer
Thank you.
- [14:18]
Az Fudd
I'm actually. I think I'm more shocked that even read that.
- [14:22]
Ashanti Plummer
Don't do me. I read all seven books. Really?
- [14:24]
Az Fudd
Eight.
- [14:25]
Ashanti Plummer
Okay, I'm impressed.
- [14:27]
Malika Andrews
The seventh book, that was a fic'. Em. I. I might have. I might have talked.
- [14:31]
Ashanti Plummer
Okay. That's why it was really. That's why I was made into two movies. That's why I was made into two movies. It was.
- [14:37]
Malika Andrews
There you go. Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is next. That's. You're gonna. Once you get that, it's got a little. It's got a little bit of the historical fiction. It's got a little bit of the spice that you want to read alone. It's got a little bit. It's got a little bit of everything.
- [14:51]
Ashanti Plummer
Well, I will definitely be following up with you both.
- [14:55]
Malika Andrews
And everyone. I mean, I'm curious if everyone. If people have book recommendations for me. I am all ears. Especially good audiobooks that's my new. That's my new thing. Someone asked me if audiobooks count. They absolutely count, 100% for sure.
- [15:08]
Az Fudd
Okay, Malik, I have a question about your audiobooks. When you listen to an audiobook, do you then tell people that you read that book or do you say, I listened to it.
- [15:18]
Malika Andrews
I listened to that book on audio is what I read. I did read it because there are. If you. I think that for me, I listen to it on audio. But if there's some people that the only way they're able to consume a book, maybe they can't see, maybe they have a learning disability. And so I don't think it's not up to me to say that that's not reading. I think that that absolutely is reading. But I will listen to that on audiobook. And there's some books that I think were better on audiobook. Listening to the narrator, like From Here to the Great Unknown. It was good to listen to that in an audiobook form.
- [15:53]
Az Fudd
I support both, but that was just a common disagreement in my household. My dad would listen to books and say that he was reading.
- [16:02]
Malika Andrews
Yeah, I think you need a level of transparency. I do. Do you listen to books? And if so, on what speed?
- [16:08]
Az Fudd
I, I. The only time I've listened to books was in high school when I had, like, mandatory English readings and they were just so boring, like, I couldn't read them. So I would list on the way to school and like, to practice. I wouldn't have time to read then. And I would read like two or listen in like two times speed that I couldn't. I was like, let's get through this.
- [16:26]
Malika Andrews
So I. I started as just a. Like a one speed girly. And then I went up 1.25. And then I went up to 1.35. And I think now I'm on like, 1.75. Anything else? Sounds like you get into the album and the chipmunks, but the 1.75, I am. I do think when I read books, I may consume them better. I think I'm more careful when I'm listening to an audiobook. Sometimes I realize for five minutes and I've lost the plot. Lost the plot. I gotta kind of circle back there. But I think it's when I can't read in the car. So I think that that's sort of the difference. And when I'm commuting to the show every day, I think that that's a good chunk of time to. When I'm commuting to the studio to make sure I'm listening to. First I have to get through the New York Times daily or the New York Times headlines, then the New York Times daily. Then I try to listen to something basketball. And then after I've gotten through all that, I'm like, okay, now I can get to my love, now I can get to the audiobooks. And that's sort of the realm on the drive to work on my 35 minute commute. So we're trying to pack a lot in. You got to get that 1.75.
- [17:32]
Az Fudd
Yeah. How do you remember all of that? You're consuming a lot of information.
- [17:42]
Capital One Announcer
This Sports Spotlight is brought to you by Capital One. Capital One offers no fees or minimums on checking accounts. Did you know that the first modern Olympic Games to feature female athletes was the Paris Games in 1900? 22 women competed at those Games, just 2.2% of all the competitors in sailing, croquet, tennis and golf. Tennis and golf were the only sports in which women could compete in individual disciplines. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.combank for details. Capital One NA member FDIC@tj maxx feel.
- [18:14]
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- [18:42]
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Did you know Microsoft has officially ended Support for Windows 10. Upgrade to Windows 11 with an LG Gram laptop, voted PCMag's reader's choice top laptop brand for 2025. Thin and ultra lightweight, the LG Gram keeps you productive any anywhere and Windows 11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades. Visit lgusa.com iheart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11. PCMag reader's choice used with permission. All rights reserved.
- [19:13]
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- [19:45]
Ashanti Plummer
Okay, so we have some fan questions that we're going to get into.
- [19:48]
Malika Andrews
I love.
- [19:49]
Ashanti Plummer
The first one is, when did you know you wanted to start working in the sports industry?
- [19:53]
Malika Andrews
That's a good question. Probably not until college. I loved sports my whole life. My dad was a personal trainer. I played them and so. But I didn't know what that. What form that looked like. I knew that I wasn't good enough at anything particular, and I'm too competitive to get into something that I'm not good at. So I didn't think. I didn't think that I was going to be a professional athlete. I didn't think that I was going to be a basketball player. And we talk about books and English and how much I loved all of that. That was always sort of a hobby for me. I didn't think that I could make a living doing it. And then when I got to college and my best friend worked for the school newspaper, I decided I wanted to try it and spend a little bit more time with her. And the only opening they had was in sports. And I thought to myself, wait a second. I think that I could blend these two things that I loved that I never really thought I saw intersecting. And I. I fell in love with it very, very quickly my sophomore year of college. It's been a heck of a ride. And it's funny, because I only ever wanted to be a writer. I really, really wanted to be a writer. And working at the New York Times was sort of my first dream job. And then Ramona Shelburne, the profiles that she wrote, the Taffy Ackner sort of celebrity profiles that she wrote, I thought that that was sort of the lane I wanted to go into. Mark Spears working for the Undefeated at the time and doing these really rich profiles of black athletes and what it means to be somebody who takes up space. And that's what I thought I wanted to do. And I felt good at it. Like I felt when I was writing and I could think about stories and take the time to go over every single word again and again and again. I thought that's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So I worked in newspapers to start my career. And then ESPN called and said, would you want to come work here as a writer first? I was like, you know, I really. Newspapers has been what I really wanted to do, but the newspaper industry was changing, and ESPN said, this is the offer we can make you. And I said, well, okay. And that's sort of where the Pivot happened for me was, it was, it was a quality of life pivot. I think working in papers, you know, the, it was hard, right? You're constantly downsizing and there's news about the papers, layoffs and all of these things and the media landscape changing. And that made me nervous as a 22 year old who just wanted to have a job. And so that's sort of how I made that pivot into writing for a digital platform. And then eventually in the bubble in 2020 that morphed into more of a full time television role. Wow.
- [22:35]
Ashanti Plummer
Do you still write? I know you said previously you used to journal all the time.
- [22:39]
Malika Andrews
I do journal, but I don't write professionally anymore. There was a story a couple of years ago that I did the TV interview for and I really wanted to do a written piece to go along with it and I couldn't find a way in that, you know, we need this done in a week period to make it work. I will say I love editing my sister, I love editing my husband. Not just because I like to, you know, in few, but I love getting their drafts and working through it with them. So I do, I do that not because they need me to, but because they let me because they know I enjoy it. And I, I kind of think that someday I'll go back to it. I, I, I think that someday whether it's, I really want to work on a book with an athlete, that's a goal of mine. And so I do think eventually I'll go back to it. But right now the daily I have to make myself get back to, to journaling, which I try to do every day. But sometimes, girl, it's hard. That's real. I need another hour, 25 hours in a day, 26 hours in a day because I like sleep. That's the other thing is sometimes I try to do it right before bed and sometimes just that's it that we don't, we don't get there.
- [23:53]
Az Fudd
What was it like hosting the WNBA draft lottery?
- [23:56]
Malika Andrews
That was fun. Oh, it was so much fun. The stud buds are great. I know you guys have had Courtney and the T shirt on the show before, but that was amazing. It was fun. I've hosted the NBA draft lottery before and this had a different vibe to it, which I really enjoyed. I liked having all of the reps in studio. The thing about the draft lottery is, you know that there's been a drawing in a room and everyone's been sequestered and those people in the room know the results and none of us do. And so when it got down to the links and the Dallas Wings, I was like, oh, my gosh, are the links really going to get this number one pick after being as dominant as they were? And it went, you know, the way that it should with, with Dallas's record this year. But how is watching the draft lottery for you, Az? Because I think that, like, you could be the number one pick. Were you hoping or watching it live or you just, like, I'll just wait until later. I've always curious what it's like for the. For the players, if they're like, oh, this is where my future could be, or if you can't put that kind of pressure on yourself.
- [25:02]
Az Fudd
I actually thought about not watching it because, like, I'm. I've been very intentional this year about not letting myself get wrapped in the future and what's next. Although that is coming, but I'm really working on staying present. And so we had just gotten back from a trip, so I did end up watching. I made KK stay. I was doing some recovery before I went home. We watched it together, and it was. I mean, it's weird watching knowing that, like, that is my future, that, you know, hopefully things go well and hopefully, like, one of those teams will draft me. But just knowing that that is coming in, like, a few months, really not that long like, that is. It was very insane to think, is.
- [25:41]
Malika Andrews
It kind of like, I imagine this is what it's like. I don't have children. But when you say, you know, oh, are you. You'll be happy if it's a boy or a girl with. As long as the child's healthy, it doesn't matter. But then in your mind, you're kind of like, I really want this or I really want that. Is it sort of like I'll be happy no matter what. But there's a small part of me I. Maybe you feel something you weren't necessarily expecting to feel.
- [26:03]
Az Fudd
When that comes up, that's actually funny. I feel like that's a really good comparison. But with that, like, it's just the same. You don't. I don't have a say in where I get to go. And so I feel like no matter what team where I'm drafted, there's going to be pros and cons each, and I'll make sure to find the pros in all of it.
- [26:23]
Ashanti Plummer
Come on.
- [26:24]
Malika Andrews
If it's Texas, you got some great barbecue. If it's Minnesota, get some cute jackets, because it is.
- [26:31]
Az Fudd
No, but it's in the Summer. It's in the summer, so it won't be that cute jackets.
- [26:37]
Malika Andrews
If you're spending any time outside of the season in Minnesota.
- [26:44]
Ashanti Plummer
I mean, they got lakes and stuff.
- [26:47]
Malika Andrews
You know, get that Canada goose if you got it. Like, I mean, you're probably on the can. Canada goose. Oh, my goodness. It was fun. I really enjoyed it. And I'm looking forward to doing more with the W, you know, coming up in the future. Because women's basketball, it's just. It's fun. It's. And I love all basketball, but there's a different. Whenever I go to when we were at the. When we took NBA today to the WNBA Finals for the first time ever this past year, there's just a different energy, a different frequency to it that I really enjoy being around. And, you know, I do fun things with my stylist. Like, we only wear female designers for the WMV coverage that we do. And so there's just a different. There's sort of an appreciation for the style that's a little bit different. There's a fundamentals to the game that's a little bit different and cleaner and, you know, so I really enjoyed it. And I'm hoping, you know, we didn't take NBA today to the WNBA draft last year just with the timing of everything. But I'm thinking in the future, that's something that we're going to. We're going to need to do.
- [27:51]
Ashanti Plummer
Oh, absolutely.
- [27:52]
Malika Andrews
Yeah.
- [27:52]
Ashanti Plummer
It's absolutely. So, Malika, we usually ask, you know, some of the players who come on, what's their welcome to the league moment for them. So, as a reporter, what's your welcome to the league moment?
- [28:06]
Malika Andrews
Oh, I've had a couple. I've had a couple. You can't. You can't. You know, if you don't play defense, you're not going to get dunked on and put on a poster if you don't play defense, Right? So that's.
- [28:21]
Ashanti Plummer
That's one way to put it.
- [28:23]
Malika Andrews
I'm going to view this glass half full. I think, you know, probably the biggest one that I've learned from, and I've gone to Giannis and I've told him how much I learned from this in the past was in. What year was that? 2018, maybe 2019. It was my first year as a beat reporter. I'd written about, like, right after the Bucks lost in the conference finals to the Toronto Raptors. I'd written that Giannis was evaluating his future and it may lie outside of Milwaukee now. This seems like, you know, in the face of the news in the last couple of weeks, this seems like old news, but at the time that was. Hadn't really been written, and I wrote that, and I'd asked my editors if we could wait to. At the time, they really liked to publish things like at the buzzer, because that's when it's going to get the most eyeballs. And I felt like that was a little bit sensitive maybe to run at the buzzer, but I was a first year reporter, I wasn't going to push back that hard. And so they ran it at the buzzer and I knew in the press conference afterwards that I wanted to make sure that I asked Giannis a question, because in that time, the locker room wasn't really open. They were trying to make sure that, you know, in the, in the face of losing, it's not exactly the time to want to chat with everybody. And so I knew I wanted to ask him a question because I wanted to make sure that he saw that I was there so that if he was upset, he could let me know, because I think that that's the right thing to do. I got the last question and those press conferences are on camera, so they turn the camera to me. And I asked some innocuous question because I literally was just trying to show up and just say, hey, I'm here. And I know that this thing just ran and you're probably not very happy with me, but I asked him something about, you know, they. I don't even remember. They'd said some things about the run and what the experience maybe doesn't matter and does it matter now that you're looking at. And I asked him the question and Giannis gets up and he walks out of the room and Chris Middleton, like, it became a meme and he's like, what just happened? And I was so. I felt so terrible. And, you know, of course that goes everywhere and, you know, people filling in the gaps of how he feels about or. And we've talked about it since, and I've told him I would. What I would have done differently. And he's told me what he would have done differently. We were both, you know, I was 22, he was 22. We were both just kind of trying to figure it out and figure out our jobs and. But at the time, it was like everywhere, viral, all the things, like, Giannis walked out, blah, blah, blah. And I definitely. He reached out to me later that night actually and told me and he apologized and I said what I like, I said I would have Done differently. But at the time, getting walked out on in a press conference, I was like, oh, my gosh. So, yeah, that was probably my first welcome to the league moment.
- [31:29]
Ashanti Plummer
Definitely a welcome.
- [31:31]
Az Fudd
Wow.
- [31:31]
Ashanti Plummer
Yeah.
- [31:32]
Malika Andrews
Yep. So if you want to look that up after.
- [31:35]
Az Fudd
I'm definitely going to.
- [31:40]
Malika Andrews
Felt like, you know, the walls are kind of closing in on you. I, like, went to the bathroom and had to, like, gather myself a little bit because I felt. I felt pretty bad. And again, like, it's a good. But it's a good. You get dunked on so you can learn how to, you know, be in better position and rotate better. Right? And so that's what. That's what I did.
- [31:59]
Ashanti Plummer
Oh, my goodness. But look at you now.
- [32:05]
Malika Andrews
And the lesson is, like, always go back and have the conversation. Always go back and say, close the loop. I could have done differently. Yep, Close the loop.
- [32:14]
Az Fudd
Malika, who is your starting five for current women's college players. And it doesn't have to be, like, the best players, just your favorites.
- [32:21]
Malika Andrews
Oh, that's a great. That are currently. Can I.
- [32:24]
Az Fudd
And it doesn't have to be me. I won't be offended.
- [32:27]
Malika Andrews
No, I was gonna say. Az, I'll put you in the next.
- [32:30]
Ashanti Plummer
I was saying I'd be offended for her.
- [32:32]
Malika Andrews
Can I put juju in there even if juju isn't playing right now? Because I think that she. When she is playing, it's one of those things where, like, I can't wait for her to come back. And living in Los Angeles and going to those games is absolutely electric. I'm going to say Lauren Betts. Amazing. Incredible. I am going to say that's three. Or that.
- [32:59]
Az Fudd
That's three.
- [33:00]
Ashanti Plummer
Yeah, that's three.
- [33:01]
Malika Andrews
I'm going to say Audi.
- [33:06]
Ashanti Plummer
Audi. Crooks.
- [33:06]
Malika Andrews
Yeah. We covered her on the show the other day, and her story was, I mean, with her. With her father and just absolutely incredible. And by the way, like, you don't want to get her on the post. Amazing. And then, you know what we're gonna go with. We're gonna go with kk. We're gonna show KK some love.
- [33:26]
Az Fudd
I love that.
- [33:29]
Malika Andrews
The first time we met. We Met was with AZ and I met. KK was there as well at the ESPYs. So we'll go with that. How's that for my. That's not great.
- [33:39]
Ashanti Plummer
5.
- [33:40]
Malika Andrews
I don't. I think we might have some redundancy, but we. We're gonna. We're gonna. We're gonna stack up some W's.
- [33:47]
Az Fudd
Oh, for sure.
- [33:51]
Ashanti Plummer
That team might. I don't know they got a little squad definitely scoring 100 plus points a.
- [33:57]
Malika Andrews
Game though, and no one's scoring. I mean, yeah, az's gonna light them up and then no one's scoring. No one's scoring on our, on our, on our, on our front court. There's there. That's a fact. Lockdown.
- [34:14]
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This sports Spotlight is brought to you by Capital One. Capital One offers no fees or minimums on checking accounts. Did you know that the first modern Olympic Games to feature female athletes was the Paris Games in 1900? 22 women competed at those Games, just 2.2% of all the competitors in sailing, croquet, tennis and golf. Tennis and golf were the only sports in which women could compete in individual disciplines. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.combank for details. Capital One NA member FDIC@tj maxx feel.
- [34:46]
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- [35:14]
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Did you know? Microsoft has officially ended Support for Windows 10 upgrade to Windows 11 with an LG Gram laptop, voted PCMag's reader's choice to top laptop brand for 2025. Thin and ultra lightweight, the LG Gram keeps you productive anywhere and Windows 11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades. Visit lgusa.com iheart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11. PCMag reader's choice used with permission. All rights reserved.
- [35:45]
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- [36:17]
Ashanti Plummer
So now we're going to get into our what the FUD of the Week. A what the FUD of the Week is something that happened this week that made you say what the fud.
- [36:25]
Malika Andrews
My what the FUD of the Week was the Oklahoma City Thunder getting beat by and the San Antonio spurs in their return in the NBA Cup. It was their only their second loss of the season and it was. I was on the edge of my seat for that game.
- [36:45]
Ashanti Plummer
I.
- [36:46]
Malika Andrews
There's few things that I enjoy more than watching a Goliath battle with a young, hungry up and coming. They got next type of squad. And that game, I mean that was. That was awesome. That was an awesome game. So that. That would be my. The Oklahoma City Thunder racking up their second loss of the season. Awesome win by the Spurs. That definitely some of the things. Anytime Vic is on the court. I don't know how you don't say what the FUD. I've never seen what he can do at 7 foot 5. That was. That's. That's probably. If we're sticking in the hoops world. That's my. That's my what the fud.
- [37:23]
Az Fudd
My what the fud is from last week. After the USC game, someone had me sign a Dallas Wings jersey. And I thought it was. I just always assume it's Paige jersey. I was just signing things fast, wasn't paying attention. I didn't realize till after my grandpa sent me a picture and it was someone with a FUD$35 swings jersey. And I was just shocked. I was like, what the fud? Like, how do they have this already?
- [37:48]
Malika Andrews
That's a good one.
- [37:49]
Az Fudd
So, yeah, I just thought that was crazy.
- [37:51]
Malika Andrews
That's wild. I love that I have a what.
- [37:54]
Az Fudd
The fud of the week.
- [37:55]
Ashanti Plummer
Okay. But honestly, this what the fud of the week is every week. Az's papa.
- [38:02]
Az Fudd
Oh, gosh.
- [38:04]
Ashanti Plummer
It's not crazy. It's not crazy. He's always taking these fun pictures, like during the games or like after the games. And I just want to say I finally made the Instagram. Okay. I finally made it.
- [38:18]
Malika Andrews
He's like a. He's big time.
- [38:20]
TJ Maxx Announcer
Okay.
- [38:20]
Ashanti Plummer
I remember I saw him, he was like 1.2 million views or something like that.
- [38:24]
Malika Andrews
I said, okay, Papa.
- [38:27]
Ashanti Plummer
No, I'm telling you, he's so fun. He's such a joy to be around. Like, that is definitely my what the fun. And sometimes his pictures are hilarious. Like.
- [38:38]
Malika Andrews
No, no, no, no.
- [38:39]
Ashanti Plummer
They're hilarious. Off guard sometimes. I understand why you don't love them, but it makes my day to see his post. So that's definitely my what the foot.
- [38:52]
Malika Andrews
I love that.
- [38:54]
Ashanti Plummer
We love.
- [38:54]
Malika Andrews
We love sweet, sweet parents. We love that. I do. Sweet, adorable parents.
- [39:00]
Az Fudd
All right, well, that is all we have today. Malika, thank you so much. This was so much fun. I enjoyed literally every second of this.
- [39:07]
Malika Andrews
I did too. Thank you so much for having me. And I feel like I was so into the books that this has to be a part one of a part two. We're going to answer more questions in part two, but I appreciate you ladies having me.
- [39:19]
Az Fudd
Yeah, no, seriously, I got to whip out my Goodreads and add all the books that you brought up.
- [39:23]
Malika Andrews
Let me put you on. Gotta get on Libby. L I B B Y okay, perfect. Thank you.
- [39:30]
Ashanti Plummer
Goodreads.
- [39:30]
Malika Andrews
And Libby, those are my jams.
- [39:33]
Ashanti Plummer
Thank you so much. Malika.
- [39:34]
Malika Andrews
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
- [39:36]
Az Fudd
And everyone, thank you guys so much for listening today. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to FUD around and find out wherever you get your podcast. We will see you guys next week. Fud around and Find out is a production of I Heart, Women's Sports and Unanimous Media. Executive producers are Jesse Katz, Eric Payton, Sharla Sumter, Brigitte and Stephen Curry. Co executive producer is Kalena Maria Kutney. Producers are Mike Coscarelli, Grace Fuze, and Mackenzie Fitzpatrick and co producers are Kurt Redmond, Maya Howard, and Jaclyn Schoeninger. This podcast is edited by Mike Coscarelli and hosted by me, Az Fudd and Ashanti Plummer.
- [40:14]
LG Gram Announcer
Did you know? Microsoft has officially ended Support for Windows 10 upgrade to Windows 11 with an LG Gram laptop. Voted PCMag's Reader's Choice top laptop brand for 2025. Thin and ultra lightweight. The LG grammar keeps you productive anywhere, and Windows 11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades. Visit lgusa.com iheart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11. PCMag reader's choice used with permission. All rights reserved.
- [40:44]
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- [41:15]
Az Fudd
I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltson.
- [41:17]
TJ Maxx Announcer
My new podcast, what Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded.
- [41:26]
Az Fudd
Together in the chaos that followed.
- [41:28]
Capital One Announcer
It doesn't matter how much I fight, doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this. It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant.
- [41:37]
Az Fudd
Listen to what happened in Nashville on.
- [41:39]
TJ Maxx Announcer
The iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [41:44]
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