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Ashanti Deep Plumber (3:16)

Hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Fut around and find out. I'm here with my girl Ashanti. Hey. Hey.

Az Fudd (3:23)

How you doing? I'm so excited for this episode. Let's get right into it. We have a very special guest. Do you want to do the honors

Ashanti Deep Plumber (3:29)

of introducing the most special guest we've had yet?

Az Fudd (3:32)

Oh, we've been waiting on this one. Oh yeah.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (3:36)

We have the one and only Alicia Clark.

Az Fudd (3:42)

Hey.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (3:43)

A.C. is a three time WNBA champion. She was the WNBA 6 player of the year in 2023. She was on the WNBA all defensive team in 2020 and 2019. She was on the all defensive second team. Wait, whoa.

Alicia Clark (3:58)

Okay.

Az Fudd (3:59)

Alicia, you're a superstar and we're really glad to have you on here.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (4:02)

Okay, wait. AC led the NCAA in scoring in 2009 and 2010. I did not know that.

Alicia Clark (4:11)

Long time ago. Long time ago.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (4:13)

You're the only player in the WNBA history with at least 2,700 points, 1400 rebounds, 600 assists, and 353 pointers while shooting 47% from the field. And I didn't know this, but you led the NCAA in scoring in 2009 and 2010 at Middle Tennessee State.

Az Fudd (4:31)

Okay, so I just want to jump into it. I do want to talk about how your time has been so far in training camp. Tell us some of the things, some highlights, and maybe a little bit of the challenges.

Alicia Clark (4:44)

Training camp's been good. It's been fun. You know, it's always weird when you're in a new environment and just like trying to find your place and where you fit in and just kind of go. But it's been super easy adjusting and just kind of falling into the flow of everything. And I think that just starts with how Jose showed up. And just like, I love when people are just like directing, like, hey, this is what I expect. This is where we are. Because then you know how to operate in that. But it's been super easy. It's been fun. Fun getting to know new teammates. Yeah. And then the challenges, Honestly, the other day we were going, we came in for like some film and what, you know, we. When you say walk through, you're literally walking, maybe a slight little jog through. And so in my mind, that's what I'm anticipating we're going to do. So they're like, all right, you guys need to stretch or anything? And I'm like, no, we're good. Like, we're just about to walk through these mopos get out there and they start going 100 miles an hour. And I'm standing on the side and I was like, oh, so we're not walking through. Like, we're going. It's like, got it. Okay. And I was like, maybe I should have activated and done a little stretching before.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (5:54)

I'm used to a Yukon walkthrough, which is like full speed, three man weave. Like we're full on practice. So he said, get to the basement.

Alicia Clark (6:01)

I'm like, y' all did. They started sprinting and I looked over at our. At our coach empress and I was like, this is a walkthrough. I was like, okay, I saw your face. Yeah. So that's probably the biggest adjustment is. Yes. Young group. I gotta remember, I'm like, they want to come out and start shooting from the three point line first. They want to sprint through everything. So just that's been the adjustment I'm

Az Fudd (6:26)

looking forward to what, what it ends up turning out to be. Because I mean like, yeah, walkthrough is definitely asterisks, but it'll pay off. It'll pay off.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (6:35)

We're gonna find that in between pace.

Alicia Clark (6:38)

Yeah, they're keeping me young. They're keeping me young.

Az Fudd (6:42)

Anyway, Alicia, so recently you posted on social media about a bet you had with Paige. So the fans wanted to know what that hundred dollar bet was about. If his podcast safe.

Alicia Clark (6:55)

Yeah, it is. It was like in between half court and like almost like volleyball line. And so I was like, you know, 100 bucks, one shot. And she was like, oh, bet. And I was like, okay. So she shot the first one, and she claims that someone hit her ball and it wasn't going to go in. And she. I was like, go ahead, one more. And so she shot the next one and missed. And so I won my hundred dollars. So I was like, thank you for my free money.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (7:22)

So she should owe you 200 is what I'm hearing.

Alicia Clark (7:25)

Thank you. That's what I thought, too. But, you know, I was like, let me. Let me tread carefully.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (7:30)

You have a whole season to get

Alicia Clark (7:31)

more money over facts. I will.

Az Fudd (7:34)

Az, what about you? Why don't you get in on the bets, girly?

Ashanti Deep Plumber (7:37)

I wasn't there. I don't want to take her money. I can't take AC's money.

Alicia Clark (7:42)

Listen, they got more money than me, okay? I worked hard so they can have all the monies, okay? I'm taking all of their money this year. Okay?

Ashanti Deep Plumber (7:49)

Thank you. Thank you.

Az Fudd (7:50)

Listen, I know that's right. Okay? We definitely get into that because you have put in a lot of work for this next generation, and we. We all appreciate you, but, ac, I do want to know a little bit more, like, about you. Okay. We know you're Miss Tennessee. You come with many nicknames that we're gonna get into as well, but you also have a love for cooking. And I'm hearing you piloted, like, or you came up with something for, like, a cooking show.

Alicia Clark (8:20)

Yeah, it's no longer up and going. We've kind of pivoted since then. But, yeah, I was doing just, like, cooking on my Instagram. Like, it was nothing crazy. And we were trying to conceptualize what that would look like in a TV show format. And started. I had recorded, like, three episodes with some of the guests that I got to hand pick that I wanted to be a part of it. And it was super special. It was dope. Doing the recordings showed me that, like, okay, yeah, no, this is. This is what I want to be doing. This kind of marries my love of people, of food, of, like, communion and just of, like, highlighting the goodness. Because I just think, you know, there's so much going on in the world anyway. And so I've always wanted to just be a light and, like, share goodness and put more goodness out there. The first guest that I had on there, it was just that. And I was like, yeah, no, this is something that I want to hopefully, like, redo and recreate in Another Avenue. But, yeah, that was something that I just. I loved being able to Teach people food, learn something together. You know, for me, that's what I love about cooking. It's just bringing people together and fellowshipping and just enjoying good food.

Az Fudd (9:29)

You ain't gotta tell us twice. We're all foodies on this show, and anytime you want to come and cook something, please bring that energy over here.

Alicia Clark (9:36)

Okay?

Az Fudd (9:37)

And we definitely would love to see you and Az cooking. Just prepare your palate, because my good sis loves some cottage cheese.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (9:46)

I've already told her I volunteer if she cooks, to be her taste tester if she needs one.

Alicia Clark (9:50)

Yeah, yeah. I love cottage cheese, too.

Az Fudd (9:54)

Oh, my goodness. Lord, y' all are meant to be.

Alicia Clark (9:59)

Wait, what' wrong with cottage cheese?

Ashanti Deep Plumber (10:03)

Exactly. Immature taste buds.

Az Fudd (10:05)

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (10:06)

We're going to work on that palette. We're going to work on the palette.

Az Fudd (10:08)

Wait a minute. I didn't say I disliked it. It just kind of gave. Okay. I've only had it in my eggs, so let's start. I didn't try it, like, plain or in anything else, and it just made my eggs a little bit, like, more milky.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (10:23)

Creamy, fluffy.

Az Fudd (10:24)

Creamy, fluffy. Yes. That was different. Yeah, that sounds amazing.

Alicia Clark (10:31)

See? But I love a soft scramble, so it's perfect. Ooh.

Az Fudd (10:35)

Okay. Okay.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (10:36)

AC have you always been a good cook?

Alicia Clark (10:39)

Not always. I've learned, like. I mean, I wasn't bad, but I think I've definitely refined my skills over the years. Just playing overseas so much. You have so much downtime. And so that's where I, like, started watching YouTube videos. And now when they had, you know, like, the master classes with different chefs, my TV stays on the Food Network and food channels, so, like, I'm always watching and just learning. So it was definitely a learned skill.

Az Fudd (11:05)

You've traveled a bunch of places, and you've lived a bunch of places. Where do you like the cuisine the best?

Alicia Clark (11:11)

Ooh. I mean, Italy and Spain off the top. Love, love, love. The food is like, I could eat it seven days a week. Like, I was in heaven. I just. Yeah, I love it all. Those are my top two, for sure. France had really good food. I was playing in Lyon, and, you know, that's like, the European gastro capital. And so there were so many different little mom and pop shops. A lot of the famous chefs that come, you know, European chefs started in Leon, and, like, so there's all these really great restaurants that were there, and you get all the different cuisines. So, yeah, I loved it, like, living there. I got. You got everything from Brazilian. I got Middle Eastern. We got Italian. That was There. So I was, like, eating everything when I was there. It was. It was amazing. Food wise.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (12:02)

That sounds incredible.

Az Fudd (12:04)

Definitely need to visit.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (12:05)

Okay, which WNBA city has your favorite food spots?

Alicia Clark (12:09)

Ooh, I think it's a toss up between Chicago and New York.

Az Fudd (12:15)

I love it.

Alicia Clark (12:16)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Their food scene is very diverse. You can get literally any cuisine. So those are my top for sure.

Az Fudd (12:23)

You have great taste.

Alicia Clark (12:24)

Thank you.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (12:25)

I'm going to be texting you all season for food recs everywhere we go.

Alicia Clark (12:28)

Listen, you wouldn't be the first teammate to do so. So I'm prepared.

Az Fudd (12:32)

But, like. Okay, so you're in Dallas now. Have you found your favorite Dallas restaurant?

Alicia Clark (12:37)

Not yet. I've only eaten out a couple of times since being here, just because I cook all the time. But I did go to a bomb Japanese and Izakaya restaurant the other night. That was really good. Yeah, it was good. And so, yeah, I mean, I've found some coffee shops, like two, but outside of that, I haven't really ventured yet. So I'm waiting for, like, I need, like, a big day where I can, like, gas myself up to drive into Dallas and go somewhere.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (13:06)

Yeah. The Dallas traffic will definitely scare you away.

Alicia Clark (13:09)

Yeah. And because the maps, you know, the mats don't work well, I can't wait

Ashanti Deep Plumber (13:14)

for you to start venturing out so I can then hear from you which spots I need to go to try.

Alicia Clark (13:18)

I'll drag you along, too. I'm like, get up. We're going. Let's go. Let's go.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (13:22)

Please do, Please do. I'll pay for dinner.

Alicia Clark (13:27)

There we go. Y' all heard it here.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (13:29)

As long as you drive, though, I

Alicia Clark (13:30)

don't want to try say less.

Az Fudd (13:33)

Let's pivot a little bit to the W. You know, you were. You were talking about, you know, they keep you young. So when you were a rookie.

Alicia Clark (13:42)

Yeah.

Az Fudd (13:43)

Who was your vet? Who are some people that you were able to look up to and guide you in the dub?

Alicia Clark (13:48)

I had some amazing vets my rookie year. They're the OGs, like, literally legends of this game. My vets, my rookie year. Looking back, I'm like, I had actually Coach Smith. Coach Camille Smith, formerly Camille Little. She was my vet. Tanisha Wright, Katie Smith, Tina Thompson. Lauren Jackson was there my rookie year. Tamika Johnson. I don't know if I said her. Sue, obviously, playing there. Like, those were. Those were my vets. And I just. I was so fortunate because they just, like, they laid the foundation of, like, everything from how you show up to practice, what it means to be a Pro how you look when you're not, when you're traveling. Because, you know, back then we traveled, you know, commercially what you're supposed to, you know, how you're presentable in, in public, how you treat your teammates just so much and just encouraging, challenging. I had a great group of vets. I'm really fortunate for the vets that I had.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (14:54)

That's so crazy.

Az Fudd (14:55)

Yeah, yeah, that's super dope. You literally had the legends as your vet.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (15:00)

That is so cool. Yeah, but that's going to be me talking in 10 years if I hopefully still playing and be like, yeah, my rookie year, I got to play with ac. I got to learn from her. And like, that's insane.

Alicia Clark (15:14)

It's insane. Like, it really is. And for me, just even like looking back and just remembering, like, I mean, at that time, like, LJ was not even 100% and what she was able to do. Just watching her, I was like, whoa. And everyone's like. She was like, what she's doing now? Like, this is her on, like, not even 100% yet. And I was like, are you kidding me? I was like, what is she if she looks like this at 80? I would have hated to be an opponent when she was at 100, because this is insane.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (15:45)

Wow.

Az Fudd (15:45)

Yeah, that's dope.

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Alicia Clark (16:36)

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Ashanti Deep Plumber (19:52)

Okay. I was doing some research on you earlier and I didn't, I don't want to like keep bringing up that you're seasoned, but I didn't realize that you were drafted to a team that no longer exists. Like that's definition of seasoned. You were drafted to the San Antonio Silver Stars. Sodas.

Alicia Clark (20:14)

The San Antonio Silver Stars AKA Las Vegas now. So the team, it's around ish? Yeah, it's crazy because Becky Hammond was my first vet. Like she was the vet on the team when I got drafted there.

Az Fudd (20:28)

That's insane. No, iconic, like how blessed you are, like, to be able to learn and gleam off of these hall of Famers. Is there anything that they said to you that like stayed with you, I mean, so much?

Alicia Clark (20:44)

I mean, I can go down the line of just like, you know, find a way to add value to the team that you're on. Don't forget what got you here. You belong here, like in terms of, in this league. Put in the work, like, control what you can put in the work, be if you're not playing in games, be the best practice player and best teammate you can be. Be ready for your opportunity. You never know when it's gonna come. If you're not ready for it, that's on you. And so like there were so many. Yeah, I know. Just so many nuggets that just like even now to this day that have carried me through because you know this, it's full of ups and downs, especially for players like me that, you know, are the intangible type of players. It can be a lot of up and down. You know, you do a lot of the thankless work and it's like sometimes, you know, you can, it can feel like you're not being appreciated or not being seen for what you're doing. And it's like, hey, as long as you show up and you're doing what you're supposed to do, and you're staying ready for opportunities, and you're adding value to the team. Like, you're fine. Um, and so. Yeah, and that. Those, for me, those nuggets just, I mean, year after year, have been my, like, foundation.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (21:53)

You are the definition of adding value to a team.

Alicia Clark (21:56)

Oh, thanks.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (21:57)

I've gotten to see that from watching you play growing up. But just even in the less than two weeks, I've gotten to see firsthand, like, you add value and everything. Like you said, all the intangibles, it's not stuff that you can replace.

Alicia Clark (22:08)

Yeah, thanks, bud. I appreciate you.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (22:10)

I'm learning from the best.

Alicia Clark (22:14)

Listen, I'm upset. Don't make me cry.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (22:17)

Okay, A.C. i want to know what was your welcome to the league moment?

Alicia Clark (22:20)

Honestly. So there's two. One, I was talking yesterday at media day, and I was like, you know what? Honestly, it was probably getting cut my first two years. Like, that, for me was like a reality check of, like, whoa, it doesn't matter what you did, what program you come from. Like, this is hard. And then once I finally got into, like, onto a team, we were playing LA for a preseason game, and Delicia Milton Jones was on the team at the time. And, you know, I'm like, this tweener. I played a post my entire career, so, like, I've been playing against bigger, stronger defenders the whole time. So, like, I did, you know, my move that I would always do and, like, get around them, and I had, like, gone around her to go, like, finish on the opposite, like, side of the rim. And she was behind me, so I was like, oh, okay, good. Like, you know, getting my feet wet, like, feeling confident. And she was like, blocks me out of bounds. And she was like, nice try, rook.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (23:18)

She actually said that?

Alicia Clark (23:19)

Yeah. And, like, kind of chuckled about it, you know, And I was just laughing and I was just like, oh, my God, they are. Not only are they, like, bigger, but, like, they're so much faster than, like, the players I played against in college. Cause I literally thought. I was like, oh, yeah. I went around and, you know, this is in her later years when she was about to be done, but she closed that school space so quick and blocked me out of bounds. I was like, oh, okay, so I gotta go a little faster.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (23:41)

That's really funny, the comment. That's crazy.

Alicia Clark (23:44)

Yeah, I was like, oh, I did try. It's okay.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (23:48)

Nice try.

Az Fudd (23:49)

Look where you are now.

Alicia Clark (23:50)

You need every moment. I know.

Az Fudd (23:53)

So, ac, over time, you've developed a couple nicknames. And I don't know if these nicknames come from the league or if they come from family friends. We have ac, which obvious. Alicia Clark. We have vamps.

Alicia Clark (24:07)

Vampy.

Az Fudd (24:09)

Where does that come from? I'm scared.

Alicia Clark (24:14)

I'm crying. Honestly. That literally started last year because media day in Seattle. I had posted my, like, one of the first pictures I had ever taken in Seattle, and I posted it with my media day picture from last year, just kind of side by side. I was like, these pictures are. I think it was, like, 10 years apart because one was in 2015, one was it last year. And so everyone was like, you haven't aged. You're a vampire. Like, what? And I was like, no, like, you can clearly see I've aged. Like, there's a difference. And so ever since then, it's just, like, taken off. I didn't help myself yesterday, apparently, because someone had put together, like, all my media day pictures from over the years. And I was hoping someone could find it because I was like, oh, I would love to just see, like, you know, they do it for everyone. I was like, I would love to just see that. And then everyone was like, yeah, you're not helping, like, the allegation. Like, you're not beating these allegations. You're not helping yourself. And I was like, you can see. Look at the eyebrows.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (25:16)

Like, yes, but no, I was just looking at that earlier in the tubs, and you can, like, see a difference, but it doesn't look like you really aged.

Alicia Clark (25:26)

I mean, good. But, like, also, I have. And you know what the eyebrows was like back then?

Ashanti Deep Plumber (25:32)

The eyebrows were thin.

Alicia Clark (25:33)

Yeah, they were, like, thick up front and skinny in the back.

Az Fudd (25:38)

It's okay, girl. You were staying with the times. You were staying with the times you were trending.

Alicia Clark (25:42)

You know, I do what I can.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (25:43)

Face card. Never declined, though. That's for sure.

Alicia Clark (25:45)

Thanks, bookie. But yeah, that's where it came from. Social media. It's hilarious. I love it. I engage with it. Cause it's just. It's fun. I'm nervous.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (25:55)

Why are you nervous?

Alicia Clark (25:55)

Because I'm like, was that all for the nicknames?

Az Fudd (25:58)

Like, you know, we gonna leave it at that? We gonna leave it.

Alicia Clark (26:02)

Yeah, yeah, we'll leave it there. Okay, great.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (26:04)

I feel like I need to come up with a better nickname for you. We'll work on that. Okay, we'll work on it. But I wanna know what year in the W has been your favorite.

Alicia Clark (26:12)

Ooh, what year? That's a good one. Honestly, probably, like, all of my championship years just because I had so much fun with the teams that I was a part of both on and off the court. And then just like in the year with what it all came out to be. I'd probably say that. Yeah. Because I'm trying to think was there any, like, another sneaky year that I was like, wow, I had so much fun. Yeah. No, probably those three years, like equally.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (26:37)

Yeah. You can't go wrong with a championship year.

Az Fudd (26:41)

Yeah. I think that it's pretty hard to beat.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (26:43)

Well, we're going to aim to beat it this year.

Az Fudd (26:47)

I know that's right. Az, I love it. What's been some of the craziest changes you've seen in the league? You know, you've been here for a while, you've seen and you've been part of a lot of the change.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (27:01)

And she's made a lot of that change happen.

Alicia Clark (27:04)

Thanks. Let me roll out my scroll. I mean, what used to be that was crazy was sharing rooms. On the road when we would travel, we'd have to share hotel rooms. If you weren't a sixth year basis because you had to have five years under your belt before you got your own hotel room.

Az Fudd (27:22)

Wow.

Alicia Clark (27:23)

Honestly, I think just like traveling commercially, like you had the professional athletes just like walking through the airport with like no security. We didn't have security back then either. So, like there was no security. If there was a delayed flight, you were sleeping at the airport, like on the ground, on the chairs, like, wherever. That was crazy. I think just like practice facilities, you know, I mean, even going back to San Antonio, not that it was bad, it was like one of the better ones. But like our practice court was inside of a, like a church gym. So like while we're in there practicing on the court, there's like a weight room upstairs for whoever wanted to be up there. And so like you had, you know, during the middle of the day, whoever's up there working out, you'd have like the grandmas and grandpas doing laps around the track as we're down there, like practicing. You had some gyms where you would go practice and you're at a rec center. So, you know, at the rec center there's like 50 million lines and it's like, no, not the red or blue line, it's. It's the green line that you shoot behind. Like, just insane. What else? Yeah, I mean, even to like, hotels, like when, when Tulsa had a team. I guarantee you, anybody watching this who was around back then, if I say strawberry field salad, everybody knows what it Was because we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and the only type of, like, healthy type of something you could get from the restaurant was the strawberry field salad.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (28:51)

Sounds kind of good, though.

Alicia Clark (28:52)

Yes. No, it was great. It was like a nice balsamic. You know, you had first love strawberries to almonds. Yeah, that was insane. And then obviously the money. The money, like, the money. Like we were having a conversation. I was talking on Sydney's podcast, and like, my first contract was $36,000, so.

Az Fudd (29:12)

Wow.

Alicia Clark (29:13)

Yeah, A lot different.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (29:15)

Wow. Yeah. No wonder you guys went overseas.

Alicia Clark (29:18)

Yeah. You had to, like, there was. If you wanted to be able to just sustain, like, you had to go overseas.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (29:25)

Yeah. That's not a lot of money. That is crazy.

Az Fudd (29:28)

Well, thank you. You paid the.

Alicia Clark (29:30)

You paid the dues.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (29:32)

No. Yeah. Seriously, thank you so much for everything, for making this possible, for changing the league.

Az Fudd (29:38)

How do you wind up being the vice president for the wnbpa?

Alicia Clark (29:42)

In our league, we have player leadership, which is like our highest governing body. So every team has two player representatives, a main one and an alternate. And then there's also an executive committee. So that's kind of like the liaison between the league and the player reps. And the executive committee, you have to be voted on by your player leadership, by the player reps. And so there's terms. It's like two year terms for the VPs. I think the President's like a four year term and you have to treasure all the things. And so when the nominations were up two years ago, they were like, you know, they come to player leadership because I've been a player rep for a little while now. And so it's like, hey, if you want to run for executive committee, submit your basically, like, application. It's like write one paragraph of why you want to be an EC member. And so I was like, you know what? I'm a run for it. And so in my paragraph that I was typing out, I was like, there's literally nobody in this league who has experience, literally every level, everything that you can, from being cut, not being on a roster, to being on a roster and never playing, to being a bench player, to being, you know, working into, like, a role player, becoming a starter, becoming, you know, a crucial part of teams winning at the highest level. Like, there's nobody else that has, like, literally started from the bottom like that and, like, has worked through everything. And so I was like, I know what it feels like at every twist and turn. I was like, I want to be able to offer, be a voice for players like me that, you know, these CBAs don't necessarily cater to. And also, I was like, by the time this term is up, I'm probably going to be on my way out in the next couple years or so after that. So I don't mind lighting a little fire on my way out to like, get what we deserve. And so, yeah, player leadership voted me in and that's how I became one of the VPs.

Az Fudd (31:26)

Yeah, that makes sense. Literally every point of view you have. That's awesome.

Alicia Clark (31:33)

But there's a reason for it.

Az Fudd (31:36)

I mean, hello.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (31:38)

I'm just like, I'm just in awe of you. In awe.

Alicia Clark (31:42)

Thanks.

Az Fudd (31:42)

I want to know more about the negotiations in New York and what that was like.

Alicia Clark (31:47)

Yeah, those were. That was a crazy eight days. I was so happy that I got to like, be there for it though. Just because the way that things change day to day had, you know, we not been there in the room to be able to, like, give feedback, this could have been a completely different outcome for the cba. And I think when you have players, yeah, we have, you know, some of the 1 percenters. When you look at Fee and Stewie and Neca, you know, those superstars, All Stars, MVP type caliber players, and then you had the rest of us that were, you know, have been again, like crucial, integral parts, but like, represent the majority, the makeup of the league are players that are in that middle tier. And you know, when we're sitting there having these conversations and just being able to bounce ideas off of each other and going through like the nuances of what the CBA was, you know, there's perspectives that those 1 percenters don't, they don't see just because they've never had to experience it, but when something came up that they didn't know, they were like, hey, how does this make you guys feel? What do you think? What should. What could be better? And so it allowed a voice, like, I think just to represent the majority of the league. This go around was something that we, all of us EC members were really, really locked in on because the last go around, the middle tier players kind of got like left out. It was like we got kind of pushed out because everything was about the rookies and the, and the supermaxes, you know, and so the rest of us were kind of just like in this weird place. We're like, well, we're going to take a cheaper player over an experienced player. And so we wanted to make sure that didn't happen again. And so there was a lot of going back and forth. It was a stark reminder that this is a business, you know, sitting there having to negotiate across the table from other owners and GMs and just the league itself of explaining why we're worth what we're fighting for. And that for me was just such an eye opener of like, this is, this is a business and don't forget it. Regardless of how much you love this league and how much you love the game and you know, you love your franchise and organization, et cetera, they're going to do whatever they need to do to make sure that their business does well. And so, you know, we wanted to make sure that that's where like a lot of our pushback came from. Was just like, there is no more next time. This is the next time. But it was great. I was like our team at the pa, like our staff that we had, our board of advisors were fricking rock stars. I mean, we had some of the most amazing advisors just leading us and guiding us through these negotiations. But yeah, it was, it was a fight till literally the very end. But like, we were like, listen, we were college athletes. We would go out drinking and party until 3 in the morning and get up for 6am workouts. We're about this life. So what are we? We're here, baby.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (34:28)

Such a real comparison.

Az Fudd (34:30)

True.

Alicia Clark (34:31)

Eight days.

Az Fudd (34:32)

What'd you say, 16 plus hours?

Alicia Clark (34:35)

Yeah, it was like over a hundred hours. Like it was, it was crazy. But we were there for the long haul.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (34:40)

The pictures and selfies that came out of that were also priceless facts.

Alicia Clark (34:45)

I was like, I need to make sure we're documenting this. Let me get, let me take some pictures.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (34:50)

So going off all this money talk should best be teaching rookies how to take care of their money so they don't go broke.

Alicia Clark (34:56)

Honestly. Yeah. Because we had little to work with and made it go a long way.

Az Fudd (35:03)

Now I made a dollar stretch and did.

Alicia Clark (35:05)

Do you hear me? No. But I definitely think there are things like nuance, but you guys are already, I think, a lot more money conscious because you guys had the nil, right? So you guys have teams and, and stuff that are already helping you invest and do things. But I think when it comes to maybe I don't know where to save a little, whether it's like, hey, is there really a difference between getting the name brand this and the off brand this? It's like, no, listen babes, if you can save some money, because I'm the queen of saving, okay? I want to save money wherever I work hard for my money. But no, I mean, I think there's tips and tricks obviously that we've learned over the years and along the way that yeah, we're open to helping and give suggestions where needed. But honestly, we need to be talking to y' all like how we make more money off the court. Like, what do I need to be doing, bud? What do I need to be doing on my social media?

Ashanti Deep Plumber (35:54)

Oh, please, you don't want to ask me that. Don't bring social media into this. I'm going to be saving this season and spending on our excursions, on dinner, on lunch, wherever we end up going.

Alicia Clark (36:06)

That's where I spend my money.

Az Fudd (36:08)

AC, you don't have to tell her twice. She don't like spending money. She done told me multiple times every time I bring up shopping she's like, no.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (36:18)

But if it's on a good time and food, then I could be persuaded

Az Fudd (36:21)

Experiences in food Valid. Valid.

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Sarah Spain (37:19)

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Az Fudd (40:30)

All right, you guys, it is time for us to move on to our fun and games. So for our first game, it's really just fan questions that we have. A lot of people had a. Billions. Billions and billions of questions, and we picked out. We picked out, like, six or seven.

Alicia Clark (40:48)

Ah.

Az Fudd (40:49)

Childish. Okay. All right.

Alicia Clark (40:54)

Are you ready? Yeah.

Az Fudd (40:55)

So the first one. A.C. what was your first impression of

Alicia Clark (40:59)

A.C. my first impression of her is that she's just so sweet. I was like, aw, she's just so sweet. Like, she came in and was just so, like, chill and quiet. Was just trying to, like, look around and was just so kind. I was like, oh, she's adorable.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (41:13)

The first time. Wait, are you talking about the first day in Dallas? Yeah, like, our first day in Dallas. We had a workout together. This is before training camp started. And she's parking her car, walking into the facility. My mom is dropping me off, and she's like, phone out of the window, taking a picture. She's like, smile. It's your first day at work. I'm like, mom, you're embarrassing me in front of one of my vets.

Alicia Clark (41:34)

It was so cute.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (41:37)

I was so embarrassed.

Alicia Clark (41:38)

I was like, oh, voice.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (41:43)

I'm, like, turning red just thinking about.

Alicia Clark (41:46)

And she just. She was just like. She smiled and was like,

Az Fudd (41:51)

we love Katie.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (41:52)

If you weren't there, I probably would have posed, but you were watching.

Alicia Clark (41:56)

So cute.

Az Fudd (41:58)

Second fan question is, what's your favorite thing to cook?

Alicia Clark (42:01)

Honestly, anything I love. I cook so many different things, but probably something that I cook on probably more often is, like, salmon. I love a good. Oh, no, you know what? I love scallops. I love making my scallops. My scallops are pretty good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll say my scallops.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (42:17)

I've never had good scallops before.

Alicia Clark (42:20)

Well, you will this summer.

Az Fudd (42:26)

Like, what's that? I never had that.

Alicia Clark (42:28)

You will this summer.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (42:30)

I'll be your sous chef. Just let me know what to do.

Alicia Clark (42:33)

Okay.

Az Fudd (42:33)

She gonna be your taste tester?

Alicia Clark (42:36)

Listen, I take people up on that, so I hope you're ready.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (42:39)

I'm ready. We're gonna run down those stairs.

Az Fudd (42:43)

Who is your funniest teammate?

Alicia Clark (42:46)

Currently.

Az Fudd (42:47)

You can do currently.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (42:47)

And then in the past, funniest Teammate of all time.

Alicia Clark (42:50)

Yeah, of all time is for sure. Sydney Coulson. Yeah, she's just, like, just naturally gifted at being funny. Like, she doesn't even try, and she's funny. And then on this year so far, probably Amy or Lance. Yeah.

Az Fudd (43:09)

Do you have any pre game rituals?

Alicia Clark (43:11)

Nothing crazy. The only thing that I have is, like, when it comes to my pregame meal, I always have to have, like, a baguette with, like, olive oil and balsamic. It's usually just like a half of, so a demi baguette with, like, whatever. I don't know, it's just. It became my thing. And because I'm such a, like, runner and mover on the court, I was like, oh, I need extra carbs. And I was like, oh, this is a quick way to get some extra carbs. And now it just becomes, like, a part of it.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (43:40)

I have more questions about your pregame routine. I'm gonna ask you that later.

Az Fudd (43:44)

Okay. Ask Az about hers.

Alicia Clark (43:47)

Oh, yeah, I need to. I'll find out. Probably. All these crazy superstitions.

Az Fudd (43:52)

Does pineapple belong on pizza? The fans want to know.

Alicia Clark (43:55)

Absolutely.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (43:57)

See?

Az Fudd (43:58)

Oh, my gosh, girl, we was locked in.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (44:01)

We have so much in common. I know.

Alicia Clark (44:03)

Like, are you okay over.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (44:05)

She's not okay. We're working on expanding her palette.

Az Fudd (44:07)

I like a lot of things, but pineapple.

Sarah Spain (44:10)

Why?

Az Fudd (44:10)

Why pineapple?

Alicia Clark (44:12)

The sweet and savory. Like, you don't get the like. And grilled pineapple's always bomb.

Az Fudd (44:16)

So, like, yeah, I like it separate, but okay. And then our last one is your all time WNBA starting five.

Alicia Clark (44:29)

You know, I never answer this question because I can't. I'm like, I played with so many different players over the years. How can I just narrow it down to five? Like, that's insane. That's insane to me. And I'm too much of an overthinker because I'm like, okay, I need somebody that can, like, be a defensive stopper that can do this and this. So I'm just like, I'm not good

Ashanti Deep Plumber (44:48)

at that game, so I like that answer.

Az Fudd (44:52)

I was gonna say, hey, listen, that's okay. That is okay. That wraps up our fan questions. LS Az you wanted to ask any?

Ashanti Deep Plumber (45:01)

No, mine will be asked later.

Alicia Clark (45:04)

Oh, no, I'm more nervous for those.

Az Fudd (45:07)

And just to clarify, because one of the fan questions was, do you like cottage cheese? But you mentioned already in the beginning that you. You love it. Yep.

Alicia Clark (45:16)

Yeah. I got two tubs in my fridge as we speak.

Az Fudd (45:20)

From where?

Alicia Clark (45:21)

Grocery store. I use the lactate cottage cheese lactate, baby. Half a cup is 13 grams of protein. Get your protein in.

Az Fudd (45:31)

That's a chef. That's Chef Az for y'.

Alicia Clark (45:33)

All. Okay.

Az Fudd (45:34)

The last thing we're going to do is our what the FUD of the week. What? The FUD of the week is something that happened this week that made you say, what the fud? So I'll start, because mine is very basic and easy. You have time to think. Az, you also have one.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (45:51)

I do.

Az Fudd (45:52)

Okay.

Alicia Clark (45:52)

All right.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (45:53)

I have two.

Az Fudd (45:54)

Oh.

Alicia Clark (45:54)

Period.

Az Fudd (45:56)

So mine. By the time this episode drops, it will pass. But my birthday's coming up, so that's my what the fun.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (46:02)

Happy birthday, Ashanti.

Alicia Clark (46:03)

Happy birthday.

Az Fudd (46:04)

Thank you, thank you. Thank you, birthday girl. Nothing too crazy, you know, Very calm. Gonna go to movie theaters. I rented out, like, a small theater. And then after, gonna go shake my tail feather. That's it.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (46:19)

As you should. What movie are you gonna see?

Az Fudd (46:21)

The Michael Jackson movie that just came out, which is crazy, because the Devil wears Prada 2 comes out on my birthday. And I'm kind of sick about it because I didn't know at the time when I chose, and it's too late, but it's okay.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (46:35)

Well, I feel like this one is like the, you know, setting up for shaking your tail feathers, because you'll be shaking your tail feather in the seat. Listen to all the good songs and thank you.

Az Fudd (46:43)

It's the warmup. It's the pre game.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (46:47)

Okay. My first what the FUD is that? I was with my mom. I have a rental car. We got a nail in the tire, so we got a flat tire. So then I had to get a new rental car. But this one, there was just a hailstorm, so they had, like, no options in the lot. So my car now is pretty bad, so that's unfortunate. And also, there's another hailstorm tonight. I didn't know that there were hailstorms in Texas like this. So, ac, if you didn't park in the garage, make sure you park in the garage.

Alicia Clark (47:14)

Wow. Okay. Yeah. I didn't know that was happening tonight. Cool, Cool.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (47:18)

My second with the FUD is Megan and Clay Child.

Az Fudd (47:23)

Cut the camera. Enough said. That's my what the fud, too.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (47:28)

That's all I have to say is what the fud.

Alicia Clark (47:30)

Yeah, that was wild. My what the fud. Honestly, kind of to, like, piggyback off of AZ about the storms. I was asleep, and it sounded like there was. It was, like, literally after midnight, and it sounded like someone had taken a boulder and, like, slammed it down right outside the window on the concrete and like hit like, I don't know and like threw a bunch of glass aside from it and it like I like jumped up out of my sleep and I was like, I was like, what is that? Are we. Is there a tornado on the ground? Like, what did I just hear? Scared the crap out of me. Scared the crap out of me.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (48:07)

Yeah, the weather alerts woke me up out of my dream. Like I woke up in a panic. Like, did I miss my alarm? Is it time for practice? And it was just like 1am with weather alerts going off for real.

Az Fudd (48:20)

Well, that's a wrap on our with the FUDs.

Ashanti Deep Plumber (48:22)

All right, well that is a wrap on today's episode. Ac, thank you so much for joining us. It was so much fun getting to know you. Everyone is gonna have to stay tuned for all of our adventures and cooking and for me, taste testing. But everyone, thank you so much for listening for watching. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to Put around and find out wherever you get your podcasts and we'll see you guys next week. Put 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 Fitzpatricher 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 Deep Plumber.

Gatorade Advertiser (49:11)

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Sarah Spain (49:40)

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Ashanti Deep Plumber (51:10)

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