← No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
Can the Fever Sustain Momentum? + Layshia Clarendon Interview
01:00:05
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- [00:00]
Ben Pickman
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- [00:39]
Sabrina Merchant
As you've probably heard by now, we've teamed up with BetMGM. This season we'll be using BetMGM lines to make all of our picks and we'll have special offers for our listeners each week. If you haven't signed up for BETMGM yet, use bonus code theathletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus a free to a 1500 dollars first bet offer on your first wager with BetMGM. Here's how it works. Download the BetMGM app and sign up using bonus code theathletic. Make your first deposit of at least ten dollars. Place your first bet on any game and claim your voucher for a one year subscription to the Athletic.
- [01:15]
Unknown
See betmgm.com for terms. U.S. promotional offers not available in D.C. mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario or Puerto Rico. Gambling problem call 1-800- gambler available in the U.S. call 877-8-HOPE NY or text hopeny4673 369 In New York, call 1-800-next step in Arizona, 1-800-327-5050 Massachusetts 1-800-bets off in Iowa, 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help in Michigan, 1-800-981-0023 in Puerto Rico first bet offer for new customers only in partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel.
- [01:40]
Sabrina Merchant
Don't forget, if you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code TheAthletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus up to a fifteen hundred dollar first bet offer on your first wager.
- [01:53]
Capital One Bank Guy
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- [02:35]
Zena Cata
Hello everyone, and welcome to no off season. I'm Zena Cata.
- [02:39]
Sabrina Merchant
I'm Sabrina Merchant.
- [02:40]
Ben Pickman
And I'm Ben Pickman.
- [02:42]
Zena Cata
And today on the show, we are joined by trailblazing former WNBA star Lajah Clarendon to talk all things W. And I love talking to Lajah because now my coworker out in the bay. And so we're going to chat about CBA negotiations, expansion thoughts and their take on what's made the Valkyrie franchise so successful so quickly. But first, of course, we got to check in on the association and the 2025 Commissioners Cup Final is officially in the books. Indiana did their big one okay defeating the Minnesota Lynx at home, by the way, on Tuesday night. And they did so dun dun dun without Caitlin Clark. A lot of weapons on that team, folks. And that's exciting because Ben, you were there. A lot of folks have been talking about this Indiana team without Caitlin Clark and what does that look like in practice? But before we dive into that, I think there's even a bigger story that you happen to be there for. And I feel like the entire sports world, whether you like women's basketball or not, was tuned in for this Red Panda. What is the latest on Red Panda? What happened first and foremost?
- [03:55]
Ben Pickman
Yeah, I basically became the Red Panda beat writer at the Athletic for the last two days after the Commissioner's Cup Red Panda. For those who are uninitiated, and if you are, I would stop this podcast right now, go to YouTube and Google her and you'll start to see some amazing acts, video acts. She is this famous halftime performer in both the NBA, the wnba, the college basketball space. She's been performing, at least in the NBA since the early 90s in which she has this custom built unicycle in which she flips bulls up and catches them with her feet with her head all over. It's an amazing thing to see. She's pretty universally beloved among fans, media players. Everybody in the basketball space knows who she is. Probably, you know, as big of a halftime act as you can get in the kind of non singer songwriter variety. All that is context to say that she was at the Commissioner's cup at Target center on Tuesday night and within 15 seconds of her act beginning, she fell off of her unicycle. And this was immediately A stunning sight because she is pretty near perfect in all of her performances in all the arena she performs in. And then she clearly was in a lot of pain and she struggled to get up and after a couple seconds they stopped the music and then people came out and took away the ladder, which she initially climbs up on before getting onto the unicyc. And then she needed some help standing up. She walked to the baseline in pain. She then had to get wheelchaired off the floor. I started at that point after writing some initial copy with our colleague Chantelle Jennings to just basically run the bowels of the arena to try and see what I could learn, who I could talk to. Allah. You would if you were a sideline reporter trying to get an injury update on a player like that was me for Red Panda. I talked to one arena employee that night that said she was taken off in an ambulance to a local hospital. We later learned that was in fact the case and we found out on Wednesday that she suffered a severe wrist fracture. Her manager told me in a statement that the left pedal of her unicycle had been damaged in transit and that was kind of the initial cause of the fall. Some interesting details, she is expected back by the start of the NBA season. So that's an important one for people out there. And if you want a slightly more fun one is that the Minnesota Timberwolves mascot actually drove Red Panda to the airport on Wednesday. She had already gone through a medical procedure on her wrist. The Timberwolves mascot drove her to the airport and helped her check in at, you know, I guess the check in counter. That would have been a sight to behold. You know, Red Panda, the Timberwolves mascot, a custom built unicycle. You know, everyone is obviously happy she's okay. She's going to need, I think, another second opinion for the second part of her wrist repair. But yeah, that was definitely the story for, I think a lot of people coming out of Tuesday.
- [06:48]
Zena Cata
Everyone loves Red Panda and for the record, I have never seen her have any mistakes at all. And so I can imagine just how scary it was to even see it. But happy to hear that she is on her road to recovery and wishing her all the best. From no off season to Red Panda and also shout out to the entertainment industry just having each other's backs, especially in the women's basketball and men's basketball space. But let's get back to the game because that was a crazy outcome if you're a Lynx fan. It could be a crazy outcome if you're A basketball fan, period. The Lynx got out to an early lead, but then all of a sudden things just started clicking for the Fever. They went on a run. They came back from a 13 point deficit. They held the links to almost scoreless for nearly eight minutes. This is crazy. I'm wondering, Sabrina, what do you think happened? Do you think that the Lynx had some things to change up or were just. Were the fever just too much to handle, especially in that second half? What kind of tweaks are we talking about here for the Lynx?
- [07:53]
Sabrina Merchant
Well, to me, this is the first time that the Lynx. I'm sorry, the Fever have really looked like a Steph White team. You know, you bring Stephanie White in after two years in Connecticut because of the defensive culture that she was able to sustain with the sun. And she's very familiar with this Lynx team. You know, the Connecticut sun played the Lynx in a five game semifinal series during last year's playoffs. It's basically the same Minnesota team. So she has a lot of experience on how to scheme for that particular roster. And you know, you saw they really limited Minnesota's three point attempts. They stayed high, you know, like prevented the ball from really breaking into the paint all that often, which is not something Minnesota does, but it is like to score necessarily, but it is something they do to swing the ball out for three pointers. And so I think just the defensive game plan was awesome from the Fever. And what Sidney Coulson in particular, I think brought to the game in terms of her ball pressure when she came in that second quarter. You mentioned that 180 run that Indiana ends the first half on the eight. I think it's like 8 minutes and 13 seconds that Minnesota doesn't score in that period. I thought Colson, you know, the only Commissioners cup champion coming into this game from Indiana and now they're all Commissioners cup champions, really changed the game with that particular brand of ball pressure. And you just saw all of the Fever really commit to that defensive effort. Like the way Sophie Cunningham was able to stay up high. I thought McDonald Colson, really excellent and Tasha Howard, so good on Nafeesa Collier in that one on one matchup. And then what she was able to provide offensively, honestly, offensively, I don't even think is a story. I think Minnesota would be perfectly happy with their defensive effort in this game. It was just they could not score. And I think we have questions all season about can Indiana bring the requisite defense to complement what is perhaps the most explosive offense in the wnba. And this game was a resounding answer of yes. On any given day, their defense can rise to this level. And it's something that we've just been waiting to see and it was an excellent showcase for that to happen.
- [09:40]
Zena Cata
Ben, this is the question now, can that defense sustain them? With Caitlyn out, Sabrina hit the nail on the head. It's an explosive offense and we've seen this particularly, I would say that Indiana, New York, Liberty, first time out, you saw just how much they can get up and down the floor, how many options they have, and you saw that on display as well against the Links. But is this is defense enough and can they be consistent with. While Caitlin Clark is still, you know, dealing with that groin injury and has missed a bit of games.
- [10:11]
Ben Pickman
I mean, history would say that no, the Indian Fever have not been consistent enough on the defensive end of the floor. But Tuesday night certainly, as Sabrina said, showed what they can do when they play their best, when they are as disciplined as they want to be, when they communicate the way they want to be, when, you know, their point of attack defense, their ball screen defense. Sabrina called it out. Colson played the most minutes she had played since June 14 against New York in their big win and I guess Commissioner's cup pool play area McDonald, you know, someone who provides a ton of energy, pushing pace on the offensive end, but also on defense. Like, watch how she fights over screens. Like, she was really impressive, just kind of guarding Indiana, Minnesota's leads, guard, lead guards, rather. We saw Courtney Williams struggle. We saw Kayla McBride struggle. I mean, it was an uncharacteristic shooting night for Minnesota. They did get some good looks. I mean, anecdotally, like one, I want to say they missed like four layups, point blank layups in the first quarter. So they already were not playing their best. Like, I don't think I've ever seen so many shots that just hit two or three parts of the rim and then bounced out. As I saw in that second half, like, there were so many looks that it was just like, ping, ping, ping and then off by the Minnesota Links. So, you know, one of those nights that is an off shooting night. But I think the Commissioner's cup really is this like it is what you make it kind of game, right? If you are the Indiana Fever, you're making it as a, you know, you're holding onto it as a potential turning point as an example of how you can play how, you know, we, the Indiana Fever can play defensively about like, what is our ceiling? If you're the Minnesota Links, I think you Just kind of throw it out a little bit. Like the Commissioner's cup doesn't really matter. You know, the stats get thrown out. They don't actually count for awards. And I think Minnesota, you know, it was just one of those nights for them. They were due for it. They said career, you know, season lows in all different kinds of categories. So to me, I agree with you both, like more about indie than it is about mini.
- [12:02]
Zena Cata
You know, I'll say this. I'm with you on throwing the stats out, throwing the game out. Those, you know, uncharacteristic night from Minnesota for sure. But you know what? You can't throw out $500,000, Ben. Okay. And that's some money for real for these WNBA players. Of course, there's a nice cash reward that comes with winning the Commissioner's Cup. 500k split evenly amongst the roster players. And in a post game celebration on Instagram Live, Clark spoke her mind about the prize money, saying, quote, you get more for this than you do if you're the WNBA Finals champion. It makes no sense. Someone tell Kathy to help us out now. This is the first time I've seen Ms. Clark be vocal and call Kathy out directly. So what do you guys think about that comment and does it make no sense?
- [12:52]
Sabrina Merchant
What's interesting about the Commissioners cup payout is the league is actually shorting the players based on what's written in the CBA. They're supposed to provide 750,000 for in season tournament payout and this is only 500,000 for the commissioners Cup. So you think about if they were actually paying out the 750k, that'd be astronomically more than what they get for winning the WNBA Finals, which is about 11,500. So on the one hand, get your money whenever you can. Like, that's why this game matters. That's why players are so excited to win. Like, you saw the way the Fever celebrated. That is the way you celebrate a championship.
- [13:22]
Zena Cata
They had the ski goggles in the locker room like they were having a good.
- [13:25]
Sabrina Merchant
They celebrated that harder than Oklahoma City did in game seven. Honestly, for the NBA Finals.
- [13:31]
Ben Pickman
The celebration even came outside of the locker room. A few of us were talking to Sidney Colson post game and right as she finished her scrum right outside the Indiana locker room, like Caitlin Clark Hull, a few other players came out and immediately started spraying her. And a few of us almost got soaked with champagne. I got out of there very quickly, thankfully.
- [13:49]
Zena Cata
There you go. There you go. I'm happy to hear that. But I Am also happy for the Indiana Fever. I think there was a interesting tweet I saw about Arie McDonald's contract for the year and what she's getting paid in this or her payout for for winning the Commissioner's cup is like just slightly more, I believe. And I thought that was really interesting. It's like, hey, this is why the CBA negotiations are happening, right?
- [14:14]
Ben Pickman
And these are all things that can be negotiated, right? When you think about what a player makes when they win the WNBA championship, like that is in the cba, that is an official, you know, thing that both the players and the league have agreed upon in their last deal. We have seen in recent sponsors, brand partners come in and try and come up with creative solutions to or I guess solutions not even that, creative solutions to try and incentivize players or pay them more. You know, when trophies and awards are on the line. I think about All Star Weekend, right? How AFLAC came in last year and you know, paid, you know, I want to say 55 and 60 thousand dollars for the three point shootout and Skills Challenge winner Alicia Gray won both of those. She won what, like 2/3 something of her year long salary in that one night just by winning both of those events. They're doing that again this year. Coinbase, you know, another corporate sponsor has come in and throwing 120k in for the Commissioner's Cup. In crypto that is split among players, like corporate sponsorship money comes in and suddenly like prize pools change, you know, do I think this is high on the list of priorities for players going forward? I don't really know. Like to level the payouts? I'm not really sure. I mean, and I think if you ask the player to the money is nice, but like what would you rather have, a WNBA championship or the 40K? You know, I think players on a certain team, the Minnesota Links I bet, would tell you that they'd rather have the championship in October. And you know, the stat going around also post Commissioner's cup was the last two years. The loser of the Commissioner's cup has went on to win the WNB championship that year. So if you're a Minnesota Lynx fan, that is another stat to hold on to.
- [15:53]
Zena Cata
Okay, well, let's keep going around the association because there's been a lot going on behind the scenes. Players being waved, players being traded and lots of talk about it all. Of course we got Nelissa Smith of the Dallas Wings being traded to the aces for 2027 first round draft pick. The league is also welcoming a Bunch of players back from Eurobasket. Leo Fibich in New York, Jessica shepherd came back from Slovenia for the Lynx. Of course, the Valkyries, Cecchi Zandalusini, Janelle Salon, Temifag, Benley, they make up the most of that cohort. But there's a lot of players here getting back onto their teams and getting ready for the next portion right before All Star break. But one of them, fresh off of winning the whole thing in Eurobasket with her native team, Belgium, has been waived by the Golden State Valkyries. And that is Julie Van Lew.
- [16:43]
Sabrina Merchant
Yeah, Zena. We've talked a lot to players and executives around the league about the Van Loo situation. It has obviously caused a lot of conversation around the league. So I'm wondering, you being based on with Valkyries, what do you know about that?
- [16:54]
Zena Cata
Yeah, I think also, like, on top of the league and players and coaches, et cetera, the fans are really the ones that are taking this hard. I mean, a lot of fans are saying, like, this was inhumane, this was not the right way to treat a player, et cetera. And so that was like, my instinct as someone that covers the team for the fans, like, wanting to understand what's true, what's not, what happened. So I kind of want to just like, lay out the things that I've heard fans talk about and other. Even I've heard other outlets talk about in terms of how this situation went down. So, of course. So Julie Van Lew wins Eurobasket. And the whole conversation is around the fact that she is flying back early from celebrating with her team in order to land in the bay to be prepared for her team with the Golden State Valkyries. And there's a conversation that she gets waived. Now there's speculation as to did she get waved while she was in the air? Why didn't the Valkyries reach out to her before she boarded? You know, they could have had a conversation on FaceTime or Zoom, et cetera. I've seen all of these things being discussed. So from what I understand, in talking to sources around the team and within the team, Julie Van Leeuw was boarding her flight around the time that the team, if you do the math backwards of 18 hours and where she landed and where the team was, it was right after they finished playing the Seattle Storm. And the time that the timeframe that they had to have been talking to talk to her on FaceTime, et cetera, was not going to be enough by the time she got on her flight. So they one allowed her to take this flight. I do not know who organized her flight. I don't know if the Valkyries had any control over telling her, let's cancel the flight or let's delay it or anything like that, but she gets on this flight and when she lands, they meet up and they communicate to her that she's been waived. So this rumor that she was told she found out while she was in the air is completely untrue. And also one thing that I noticed when I was looking@wnba.com transaction page. So every day, all the player transactions are updated by 5pm Eastern, 2pm Pacific. And if you notice, Janelle Salon and Chechy Zandelicini were reinstated on June 30 when Chloe Bibby and Brie hall were also waived. And that happened by 2pm Pacific on June 30, but Julie Van Leeuw was not announced until July 1 on that website. And so the indication that they knew or they had made the decision, I don't know when they made the decision, but they had absolutely not communicated it to the league until after that deadline. So when she landed and when she was told definitely wasn't before or when. Excuse me, when they communicated to the league and when they made that decision, then when they communicated to her wasn't in the timeline that I'm seeing. A lot of folks say that she knew. They knew before she got on the flight. They had communicated it to the league before she got on the flight, they had made that decision before she got on the flight or that any of that happened while she was on the flight. I completely understand, though, like, you know, the two aspects of this, like, all the fans are like, yo, you, this is crazy. You get this person to come out, etc, they get cut when they land. Like, how, how insensitive or, you know, whatever it is. When I got to practice yesterday, Natalie Nakase was being asked about this and she genuinely, from my perspective, was like, heartbroken. Like, you could see that she had not had a great day the day before. Like, she talked about feeling as if not only with Julie, but Chloe and Brie hall, that she felt like she lost, like, kids. Like, she felt she was like, I don't want to say I'm not a mom, but I felt like I lost my kids, like, in a way. And I know that's not going to resonate with some folks because the way that Julie, you know, was dismissed, in their minds, she could have been partying with Belgium and celebrating with her family and all the above. So I don't know how much that's going to change people's opinions. But I did want to make sure that it was clear that some of these rumors that are being made around when she got the information, et cetera, is not true. The other thing that also is not true is this conversation around the visa that also is not a thing that even I think Julie made clear herself and the team has made clear that this decision and her flying back had nothing to do with her needing to be active on a visa that would allow her to play for other teams.
- [21:28]
Ben Pickman
What I will say to all that, though, and I appreciate you clearing up some of what you understand on the situation, is I do think perception has sort of become reality for a lot of players around the league. Like, I've talked to players on three different teams about what happened and, you know, definitely raised some. Some eyebrows. Right. Golden State, I think, has earned a lot of positive points in the court of public opinion up to this point in the season. And this is the first moment, I think, during the year among players. That said, maybe not so fast, like, this is a business. Let's see how they treat players going forward. Do I think this is going to impact how they, you know, their ability to get free agents next off season? No, I don't. But I do think players certainly took note of it. I talked to Julie Aleman, Van Loo's Belgian teammate, at practice, Sparks practice on Thursday, and she was like, we understand that it is a. A business, but, like, she had given a lot to the fans of Golden State, to the team. She was upset. You know, Belgian's supposed to meet the king. Not only is it, you know, a big celebration, but they're going to meet the king of Belgium. So, you know, I do think, like, there's obviously a lot to this situation, but certainly not only was on the radar of fans, but players as well.
- [22:40]
Zena Cata
Yeah, I think.
- [22:41]
Sabrina Merchant
And maybe it doesn't affect every free agent who wants to sign with Golden State, but we're talking about, like, Emma Mieselmann coming from Belgium, potentially restarting her WNBA career. And that is a very specific player relationship that might matter more than some others when you're thinking about what organization to choose.
- [22:55]
Zena Cata
Yeah, yeah, it's tough. The whole purpose of, like, it's a business. I completely get that. I think you're right, Ben, though, in the way that it was perceived by everyone. And then it caught fire in, you know, the certain narrative around it and how especially Julie Van Lew being heartbroken and expressing that publicly. I think that also adds to it as well. Yeah, it's tough I'm just giving my perspective on what I saw, though it doesn't seem like they're taking this lightly and her being gone. But I will say this last part. I asked Natalie Nakase about what went into the decision and she was saying we went five and two while Julie was out. And we can't underestimate that. And we also can't underestimate that we have to put the most competitive group together because we need to win now. Not in a year or two like others expect us to as an expansion team, but we want to win now. And so that was another quote from Natalie Nkase, which I get. I get. All right, on the other side of this break, we got my teammate Lazia Claren in here. Don't go anywhere. We're talking a lot of stuff. Cba. We're talking Valkyries. Yeah, don't go anywhere.
- [24:08]
Ben Pickman
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- [25:08]
Unknown
This episode is sponsored by the San Diego State University Sports MBA Program, a full time, in person graduate program that trains students for sports business roles with team front offices, agencies, venues, brands and more. The program's MBA curriculum has all the numbers heavy content of a typical mba, but adds a sports focus by exploring themes such as growth of women's sports, labor relations, athletes rights and social responsibility. SDSU Sports MBA students study abroad for a week in the Dominican Republic to learn about the many ways in which MLB's presence impacts the country. Throughout their studies, students can gain experience as interns, consultants and part time employees with sports organizations throughout Southern California including San Diego Wave FC applications are currently being accepted through July 1st for an August 2025 start. Visit SDSU Edu Nooffseason to learn more and apply.
- [26:11]
Sabrina Merchant
As you've probably heard by now, we've teamed up with BetMGM. This season we'll be using BetMGM lines to make all of our picks and we'll have special offers for our listeners each week. If you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code TheAthletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus up to a fifteen hundred dollar first bet offer on your first wager with BetMGM. Here's how it works. Download the BetMGM app and sign up using bonus code TheAthletic. Make your first deposit of at least ten dollars. Place your first bet on any game and claim your voucher for a one year subscription to the Athletic.
- [26:47]
Unknown
See betmgm.com for terms. U.S. promotional offers not available in D.C. mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario or Puerto Rico. Gambling problem call 1-800- gambler available in the U.S. call 877-8-HOPE NY or text HOPE NY 467-369 In New York, call 1-800- NEXT STEP in Arizona, 1-800-327-5050 In Massachusetts, 1, 800, bets off in Iowa, 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help in Michigan, 1, 800-981-0023 in Puerto Rico. First bet offer for new customers only in partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel.
- [27:12]
Sabrina Merchant
Don't forget, if you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code TheAthletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus up to a fifteen hundred dollar first bet offer on your first wager.
- [27:31]
Zena Cata
All right, welcome back to no offseason and we are so excited to welcome the one and only Lajah Clarendon to the show. Lajah, how are you friend? Hello.
- [27:41]
Lajah Clarendon
I'm great. You know, now that we're on here, technology, we made it.
- [27:45]
Zena Cata
Yes.
- [27:45]
Lajah Clarendon
Doing it.
- [27:46]
Zena Cata
Yes. We had a little bit of technical difficulties to make sure, but I think it's just because we're having we're about to have such a great conversation. The computers could not quite handle it. So it is quite perfect timing that we have you because you're an expert on a lot of things, obviously basketball being one of them. But you played some roles as well within the world of women's basketball, particularly around the CBA and ensuring that players were well represented and, you know, things around player welfare were cared for so let's start with that big elephant that's in the room. The CBA negotiations. Players and the league hashing out a new union contract. Of course, CBA taking care of things such as benefits, revenue shares, salaries, everything in between that allows these pro athletes to show up to work and feel like pro athletes. Now, as the vice president of the players union, you were deeply involved in negotiations the last time around with the contract signed in 2020. I think this is one of the biggest misunderstandings right now. When people look at the 2025 CBA and are questioning, well, why didn't they just get it done in 2020? Why are they asking for this revenue share thing now? They could have. They agreed to their salaries back in 2020. They agreed to this rev share model. And a lot of times I want to be like, but do you actually got like, there's some other things that were really important that they also, you know, had to negotiate, meaning make some compromises around in order to get those. So take us behind the scenes. What was it like and what had you all learned from the last negotiations before that, which was in 2014 and it had low league involvement?
- [29:30]
Lajah Clarendon
Yes. Oh, great questions. So, I mean, in 2013, I was a rookie, so I remember 2014 was happening. I was, I think, a player alternative rep. On Indiana, Tamika Catchings was the president of the union. She had fought so hard to get player engagement. I think Jaina Pal, Marinelli, Tanisha Wright were all part of the union and players just weren't. There was like an apathy around the league for engagement, and Catch worked really hard to shift that. And then NECA took over as president. I ended up being a player rep and being vice president because Tamika Catchings was like, you need to get involved with the union. She literally straight up was like, you need to get. And I was like, okay. Like, she's like, nah, you're gonna be.
- [30:12]
Sabrina Merchant
A part of it if Catch tells you something.
- [30:14]
Lajah Clarendon
Yeah, exactly. Like, I was so fortunate to play with one of the greatest leaders and players and defensive, like just machines. We could talk about her basketball for so long, but what she did and impacted our league, I think isn't talked about as much now that she's retired years later. So, like, knowing our history and understanding the people who carried us for so long. So NECA goes on to become president on vp and the thing we really tried to shift was getting players to care and feel like they had a voice and to feel like, this is your union. And then Terry Jackson became our director too. And phenomenal. Amazing. She's like a mom to so many of us was just getting players to realize this affects you and to feel empowered. They're like, we have a union. Do you know how important that is for labor rights? Like. Like, this is your job, and you're effective, and you pay your labor dues no matter if you show up to the meeting or not. Like, you're giving your money for these dues, and this is affecting you. So we really had to shift, like, the engagement narrative for players to. To care. And I think NECA and the entire leadership team did a really good job of people feeling invested. And then in 2020, the really big shift that happened was that the league blew up because the world was paused. Right. We were doing the say her name campaign. We were finally playing where all eyes were looked on us. Baseball was paused in the summer, the NBA was paused, and the WNBA was on full display. And so we signed in 2019. And then 2020, the league blows up from a social justice perspective, from people caring and paying attention, and finally giving us the flowers that we so deserve. So if you look and you say, why did they sign this deal in 2020, 20 versus 2019. And when we signed that initial, that deal that I was a part of, we were fighting for people, for fans to pay attention and to realize that we share hotel rooms. So for most of my career, at least six of the years, I don't know, I was. We shared hotel rooms like this was. We were fighting for a basic level of dignity as a professional athlete. And so we fought for that. We fought for rookies to have a better scale. We fought for moms to be able to make their salaries 1 of their salary instead of 50% of their salary if they decided to have a child. And you've seen the explosion of parents in our league, which has been a beautiful direct correlation from what that last CBA negotiation that we. The last CBA that we signed.
- [32:43]
Sabrina Merchant
Yeah, I wanted to ask you about that, actually, because, you know, we've been talking to players this time around about what sort of things they want to see included in the new cba. And a lot of them have said just better accommodations for parents. You know, whether that's like. Like, child care or, you know, stipends for daycare and all. All sorts of things. So I guess just how is it that a women's professional league exists without those protections for so long? And then what do you sort of see as the next frontier for the WNBA in that regard?
- [33:11]
Lajah Clarendon
Yeah. So in the last cba, you do get a player stipend, so that was something. I think I got it for my last couple years while I was playing, which is great. It goes into your direct deposit. You get guaranteed two bedroom apartment for. Because some parents were to subsidize themselves and pay for their second bedroom for their kids. So automatically get two bedroom apartment now that they're chartering. I know children are a lot like more likely to be allowed on the airplane with you. That's a big difference from flying commercial, trying to book a seat for your child and now you can just take them on the plane. When I played at La De, had her two kids like Austin on the road with us. It was really beautiful to see that direct impact. But it's still not enough, right? It was revolutionary what the WNBA did for women's sports leagues. But it's still, there's still ways to go. So I think we're going to get in the salary conversation. It's like, yeah, a child care stipend. Is it enough to cover child care in America? No, not quite. Especially not with the rigorous WNBA schedule. It's a great start, but it needs to be more and eventually like people need to make more money so they can pay to have their full time nannies, pay to have the childcare that they deserve to have on the road.
- [34:24]
Zena Cata
And I think it's important, before we keep going, like to quickly summarize what changed after the 2020 CBA. So compensation went up 53%, which was great. Then the childcare stipend, as you mentioned, $5,000 childcare stipend annually. The mandate that any player that had children would be given a two bedroom housing. So if it was apartments, if it was suites, if it was whatever, it would be like two bedrooms at least. There's also fertility planning and family planning. Up to $60,000 covered, which I think is huge as well. And then the chartered planes for those that just heard Leija mention this. So back then you would be flying commercial to potentially back to back games, playoff games. And in those commercial flights, it's not first class all the time. It was coach as well. So you were subject to if a flight was canceled, if a flight was delayed, if your baggage was delayed, like you were in the ghetto too. So it was like, it was pretty rough in terms of that. But then this 2020 CBA changed, not the recent charter change that we've seen in 2024, the first charter change in 2020 was that you could the charter back to back games and then two playoff games and then in 2024. And we can see a lot of different things that could have been the impetus behind that, whether it was Brittney Griner and the experiences that she had in coming back to the states and from Russia and being accosted by folks in airports, or it was also just the fact that the league had blown up. Up. These women were celebrities, and so people were also just, like, following them in airports as well. And so that. That's when there was additional funding allocated for chartering flights in 2024. So all that to say, like, there has been growth, but to Sabrina's point, like, there's still a new level and a new frontier to be had. And as. As Leija's mentioning, too, to keep growing on that.
- [36:29]
Lajah Clarendon
Yeah.
- [36:29]
Sabrina Merchant
Like, what Zena was saying, you know, with WNBA players being celebrities now and just the level of popularity that the players have and how prominent the league is on, like, the national consciousness, I guess. How do you see the dynamics changing between, like, how much power the players have versus how much the league has when it comes to these, you know, new round of negotiations?
- [36:49]
Lajah Clarendon
We're seeing it shift dramatically. Like, in the 2020 CBA, the. One of the main things we fought for or the. One of our main tactics was like. Like, getting public opinion on our side to be, like. To know and care and be like, oh, if we. The only. The. The really big thing we had to stand on was trying to be, like, oh, does Adam Silver care about women? And that's why we had our bet on women's shirts. So it was like, we had to get people to make sure that they were going to invest in women and bet on women. And so we're, like, basically trying to do this public campaign, and now, like, people care, and all eyes are on us. So the power, to your point, Sabrina, has shifted dramatically where, like, I want to be a fly on the wall for those calls. Not really because of so many calls. Like, I've done my service for six years and through a pandemic, but committed. Yeah, I got my little plaque out there. I should have brought it. I was like, thank you for your service. I look at it all the time, and I'm like, I, like, bow at it. Like, you're welcome. Like, I should be able to board the plane first now.
- [37:51]
Zena Cata
Right, right, right. Now. You cover the Valkyries. You're like, let me get that first seat right behind the pilot. Yep. Thank you. Thank you.
- [38:03]
Lajah Clarendon
Exactly.
- [38:04]
Zena Cata
Yeah. It's kind of crazy to think, like, I think that the power dynamic question is a great one because it does feel like the public is on your side now. Right? All these people are like, pay them more. Look at all the things that they've done. And then yet you see Satsu Sable come out this week and say publicly that the first offering that the league offered was, quote, a slap in the face, which is like, how. How are we not even starting at a level that we understand what. What's at stake here and who the players are in this conversation. So I don't know if you ever experienced something like that when, you know, you guys were negotiating the 2019, 2020 CBA, but what can you tell us about Satu coming out with this sort of a statement, and what does that do in terms of the communication to the union, from the union to the league? Like, that is a very clear message, in my opinion. Like, how purposeful is that? What does that statement do? How can it help or impact at least the conversation?
- [39:12]
Lajah Clarendon
Yeah. SATU is like, the person who. ILU is, like, she's the torchbearer for me because of her fire, and she's so unapologetic, and she's willing to speak out, and she's gonna call it what it is. So I love that SATU said that. That out loud and letting people know, because people are paying attention. They're like, what's going on with the cba? Like, it's definitely. There's, like, a private aspect of it that needs to be kept, you know, between the players in the league, but there's updates that people want. So I think it's one players being unafraid to talk about it publicly and sending a message to the league that says, like, yeah, we're not settling for less. Like, we know our power now. We understand where we are. We see the numbers. They are clear as day. Right? We see what's happening. We. We know what's going on with the TV deal, with the media rights. We see the ticket and sales going up. So we're expecting, like. Like, you know, the league, it's a business. So. Right. They're gonna try and maximize their profits on one end. They're gonna try and focus on, oh, we already giving you guys charters. We're giving you so much, you know? Like, I'm not sure if the narrative is still, be grateful. Be grateful. Take time. Look, expansion is coming, but the players know their power now, and they know that it's time to pay up, like, the salaries. It's time There it is time. Players are fed up. And so I'm Very curious to see if they're. When February comes and free agency comes, which is going to come quick, we know the summer ends faster than we think and we're going to get through the holidays. And like, is there a deal agreed upon or are we looking at the first potential WNBA lockout this season and our right. Like, those are conversations that even internally you start to say, say, save your money, save them coins. Because if the hits the fan, we have to be prepared to do what's best for the entire league for the growth of what's next for women's sports.
- [41:03]
Sabrina Merchant
Yeah, that's something that we've, you know, internally talked a lot about. Just like my. Our colleagues here about. Does it make sense with all of this momentum for the league to even consider a lockout? Because, you know, do you worry about what that would mean in terms of, like, not being on screens for, you know, significant amount of time? Like, you mentioned 2020 being such a transformative season for the league because you had this presence while, you know, other sports weren't happening? I guess. And I know you're obviously not in the union conversations. No. But, like, how are you sort of reckoning with. This is our moment. We need to take a stand versus can we really afford to stop this train as it's like exploding right now?
- [41:41]
Lajah Clarendon
So in 2020, I think the players knew, like, we couldn't afford to not be a part of it. So that was a part of playing was like, oh, we have to play and we have to figure out how to play. Because us not being on tv, to your point, is not a. Is not good for the growth of the brand. But now the power has shifted and people are paying attention. So now the pressure, I think, is more on the league than on the players to say, oh, if you're not playing, why aren't we playing? Like, it's more like the league. Why aren't you paying the players? Look at the Valkyries. They're selling out. Look at Indiana. Look at the numbers across the league. Look at the media rights that you sold. Why wouldn't you be paying the players what they're owed? So I think that shift in narrative and in conversation now kind of puts more of the onus on the league than the players. And to see that cycle change is. I'm super proud of it. And it makes me, like, deeply appreciate all the work that the union has done and has earned the right to be in this moment. And so I know neca, especially having the continuity of having gone through it before is deeply Prepared to lead this, these players, to know their power and know their worth in this moment in time.
- [42:50]
Sabrina Merchant
I mean, speaking of people who have gotten plaques, you know, Neca deserves probably a few of those for what she's done for the union over the last decade.
- [42:57]
Lajah Clarendon
Just a few, you know, yeah, she'll probably get one.
- [43:01]
Zena Cata
I just respect and love just how much, you know, Neca, like, give her her flowers, especially as that leader. And as you mentioned, the continuity in her stance as a leader for the players, like, she has been unapologetic, very similarly, but also very fact based in the way that she is unapologetic about what the players deserve and how they should be incorporated in this. And I think it makes it a lot easier to be able to be fact based when the numbers are so undeniable. You can't ignore them. And Laysha, we get the opportunity every, every day that we work covering the Valkyries to see it firsthand. Right? Like, whether you're in the arena, whether we're in the studio, we feel it here in the Bay, just how much momentum there is behind this team, the dedication to this team from this fan base. And it's not just here in the Bay. People around the country are tuned in. They're excited. And it's again, not just the Valkyries either, but let's focus even just on the Valkyries because they're one of the teams that. That is a perfect example of why the league is growing, how the league is growing, how the personalities are driving this growth, the players are driving this growth. But I want to talk to you a little bit more from like a, you know, analyst perspective, as we are studio analysts for them. What. What do you think is so special about what they've built and as we think about expansion, because it's coming. Portland's coming, Toronto's coming, Cleveland's coming, Detroit's coming, Philadelphia's coming. Yes. Gotta say em all out. What do you think other franchises can look at the Valkyries and see and say, ooh, let's absolutely do that.
- [44:47]
Lajah Clarendon
Oh, my God. Besides hire coach Natalie Nikase.
- [44:50]
Sabrina Merchant
Other than that, if only everyone could do that. Right?
- [44:54]
Zena Cata
Right. Whoever. I believe Leaf.
- [44:57]
Lajah Clarendon
Yes.
- [44:57]
Zena Cata
Yes. Got to give her flowers for that. Congratulations.
- [45:00]
Lajah Clarendon
Absolutely. I think what other franchises can look at is one like the branding and the rollout. The intentionality from day one from the Valkyries has been excellent. It has been like chef's kiss. From the name of the Valkyries to understanding the mythology behind it, to the color scheme of no other pro team having the lavender color Scheme, come on to the way they rolled it out, before there was even a team, there was no basketball team. But they got people excited about the brand of the Valkyrie. So like they nailed it 100% from marketing perspective and then from a roster perspective. Ohema has done an excellent job building a team. From a GM perspective. I think the hiring process with getting the right GM in the role, someone who knows the wnba, who knows the players, who knows the overseas market, clearly has done an excellent job with the players she's brought in. And then overall, the investment that they've put in, the amount of money that this team has put in to make sure they are in Chase center, in the right arena where they're going to be treated like the professionals that they are. This never felt like a B list to the NBA, right? It never felt like, oh, this is the W. So it's like going to be in a second tier versus what the NBA is. From day one, the Valkyries have made this known that like, like one, we want to win. Like, we're putting money, we are in the sports game to win. And we're not only going to say we want to win, we're going to put our money behind the product to show that we want to win. So I think what's happening with the Valkyries is that when you invest in women's sports, shocker, right? Like when you put the blindfold on and say, is it men or women's basketball? It doesn't matter. We're going to put the same amount of energy, effort, intentionality and coins behind the team. Look what happens in a fan base that was so prepared and so ready to have a WNBA team. It's like I could cry. I actually cried the day that the team was announced, the morning I was watching on my phone with my partner. And because we've known for so long what this, like, the Bay is so special to me. I went to Cal. I live in the Bay. I live in Oakland, like, and you're.
- [47:11]
Zena Cata
A Hall of Famer, by the way. Let's just put space for that. Lazha went to Cal and she, like, they are a Hall of Famer. They are a Hall of Famer at Cal. So let's just put that out there. Thanks. Go ahead.
- [47:25]
Sabrina Merchant
So it's.
- [47:25]
Lajah Clarendon
It's special to see from a player who just retired too. Like, it's just to go from a player, you know, to a fan into a media member, an ex player. Like, I'm all of these hats that I get to wear at one time and A a member, a player who was a part of the union. To. To be. To be one of the people who stands on Tamika catching shoulders, right? And then to be the one that watching Kelsey Plum, watching Satu Sablee stand on my shoulders, like happily seeing where the growth of the league goes is such a beautiful thing to witness.
- [48:00]
Sabrina Merchant
You know, you see what's happening in Golden State and just what a remarkable story and situation that has been. I mean, you think about these five expansion teams that are coming down the pipeline and how exciting it must be for those cities to be able to experience this with their communities. I guess, you know, I'm just wondering, you know, Satu mentioned this, how she's excited to see the growth of the league, but could we get more roster spots first? Right. Like, what do you think, I guess about this pace of expansion that the WNBA is embarking on, even though we do have this phenomenal test case first in Golden State.
- [48:31]
Lajah Clarendon
I think the timing's right. I like the rollout of kind of scaling the years coming. I think I'd be curious to see the argument internally of, of are we expanding teams without giving roster spots? To Satu's point, because that has been the league's reasoning in the past is like we're expanding so we can't give roster spots. But look who the Valkyries just had to cut. We talked about this. Chloe Bibby, right? They just had to let go of Julie Van Leeuw. They just had to let go of players that could be impacting the team and knock on wood, right? Injuries happen every single season. So the Valkyries have showed us what it looks like to be next man up. But when. And they've done a great job of like implementing those players right back into the system. But the problem is when you don't have those extra roster spots and you get in the throes of a season and the Chloe Bibby's get picked up and the Van Loos get picked up and you need extra players. You're pulling people in and you're trying to. It affects your product because you're trying to get people to understand your system. You're trying to pull them in all at once and it ultimately becomes a player safe and safety and health issue, which we've talked about from day one. With the rigor of the schedule changing, with the 40 plus games that players are playing flying across the country, even with chartering, it's difficult to manage your health and to manage the overall quality and product of the game. So as the league expands, I Think it'll be really interesting to see. Do we get that two or three roster spots? Is there some kind of developmental league that happens? Is there somewhere to pull talent from? Do we get to 14? Right now we're at 11. You get the. Depending on your salary, how much you pay players.
- [50:11]
Ben Pickman
Right.
- [50:12]
Lajah Clarendon
Which I think next year will become an issue when the new CBA comes and everyone pays all their big time players a ton of money and you can't afford to keep extra roster spots. That's really going to be a pivotal result of this CBA is do we get extra roster spots, expansion or not, there still needs to be more roster spots, spots across the entire league.
- [50:36]
Zena Cata
What you're saying actually just made me think of something else that I learned. You know, we just spoke about before you joined Lejea. We talked about the Julie Van Lew situation out in the Bay. And something that I learned looking through the CBA is that these teams, this is how strict the, the roster spot situation is. It's like it's not only that you can only have 12 active members, you can only have 12 active members in your city at a certain period of time, which also fed into having to tell Julie Van Leeuw upon arrival. We're waving you at that time. Like the rules that, you know, implicate the way that teams also handle, players handle these waves. It's, it's all laid out there in the cba. And so there's, there's a lot there for the players to negotiate. We'll see where they land on that. But on your point of, there's still, there's levels to this. And I really love the way you close it out of like Kelsey and SATU now standing on your, your, your shoulders. Like, they now understand the levels to it not only from what they experienced coming into this league, but they now see the quality of play in this league right now and how elevated it is. And that's something I want to ask you about, you know, before we close this out. Like, what are your thoughts on how much better the play is, the quality of play, and also how integrated the league is with all of these international players coming in and bringing their flair of the game. What does the league feel like to you watching it now, analyzing it versus when you played?
- [52:11]
Lajah Clarendon
God, I watched these players the bulk.
- [52:14]
Zena Cata
Of when you played because you just stopped playing.
- [52:15]
Lajah Clarendon
Yeah, exactly, what, eight months ago or whatever last year. I think one of the biggest things I see, especially when I watch even the college game. Right, because that's the talent we're Getting coming into the pro game is I see these players like Paige doing moves that I'm like, I learned that in the last five years. Like what? Like y' all are right. Like that's the growth of the lever. I'm like, oh, y' all are already in college, right? Icing screens. There's teams that have been icing screens a little bit in college for years, right? Really good programs. But like the Stanford's, Atara Vandiver's have been doing high level scouting for years. But you're starting to see across the college game the level of talent just expand. So when I watch like a Paige Beckers come off a dribble handoff, read it, shoot right behind the screen, it's like boom. Like she her reads her timing, the finishes that players are doing, which excite me because I love player development. I love watching like what specific players do that makes them really good. And so things that players are doing like the stop and go to get someone to stop in their tracks, learning how to do the hand fight, throw someone off the Kayla McBride push someone into a screen, right to get off of the stagger. She literally pushes people on the screen. I played with her. It's finally like I get to be a benefit of the, of this pushing into the screen and so love that. To give credit, credit to the up and coming talent and the way it's like shifting and that's like feeding into our league and that talent shift that's happening and then the development that's happening in our league because you don't have to go overseas every year. So right. We saw Brianna Stewart Terror Achilles a few years ago playing overseas and I think that shift for players one, starting to make more money so you can stay home, you can rest your body and then you can develop so you're not in this year round cycle where you're constantly playing just to feed your family, make enough money to have your nanny, right to pay the bills, to have the quality of life that you should as a pro. You can develop your game. You get that off season to add to your repertoire. You get to watch film with your coach. Teams are investing in bringing players in the off season. You're starting to see this in swell of training camp is only what, 10 days to two weeks to three weeks is the longest possible amount that training camp is. So you're starting to see players come into market early. Coach Natalie DiCase talked about that. They had a ton of players in market early. So they're starting to get their chemistry. They're starting to develop. They're starting to learn the system with each other. All of these factors are feeding into, like, why the product is getting better on the court. And it's so, so, so exciting to watch. Or I can remember early in my years in the league, there were some players you could sag off of and be like, we're just not going to guard this player, right? Like, oh, this player can't necessarily dribble left. Like, I've played for a decade, so now over a decade. To say I've seen a decade of change in the WNBA is pretty remarkable across the board. And so to see it from a development standpoint is really fun and exciting. And there's just so much growth of where the league is gonna go, just from a talent and a skill perspective, straight X's and O's of, like, what the players are doing between the lines. Like, we talked about Chloe Bibby's release before and her flick of the wrist and how good of a shooter she is. Like, ah, I could just talk about this all day because it's just so exciting.
- [55:43]
Zena Cata
You guys see why I get excited to go to work. I love when I get to cover with Lajah. I am always learning something new. I'm seeing something new. Like, we'll be sitting there watching film and Leja will be like, oh, man, they gotta hit the nail. They gotta. Oh, man. And I'm like, wait, what happened? What was it? Did I miss something? And like, mind you, I play basketball too. But there's a way of seeing the game that Lajah has over 10 years of playing ball that is really special. But particularly seeing the difference between what is elite level talent versus, like, oh, you just play basketball. Like, that is, I think, is a very. It's hard to see as a fan. And so it's really cool to be able to talk to Lajah and be able to learn from you about the difference between someone being elite and special and doing something unique or doing something incredibly skilled versus, like, oh, they're just playing hoops. Cause it'd be crazy to think you can make the WNBA these days and someone just. Just sag off of you. Like, that's. That feels not normal. No, no, no, no. Go ahead, Sabrina. Sorry.
- [56:50]
Sabrina Merchant
No, I was just going to say, I mean, as much as I would love to keep talking about basketball for eons and eons and eons, I do think it's important that we close here. It's technically not Pride Month anymore. This episode is coming out on July 4th. But that doesn't matter. We can't have Leija on and not talk about this. I mean, you were the first Pride.
- [57:05]
Lajah Clarendon
Yeah.
- [57:05]
Sabrina Merchant
Openly non binary and transgender player in the wnba, and you've spoken about how you saw the league change in regards to the LGB and players. I guess I'm wondering how you would characterize that evolution and just where do we go from here, you know, with everything that's happening to transgender athletes in this country.
- [57:23]
Lajah Clarendon
Oh, y' all are the hard hitting questions I've seen. I mean, I've seen the league change.
- [57:31]
Zena Cata
Yes, it is always pride.
- [57:33]
Lajah Clarendon
Yes, it's always pride. So I love that I've seen the league change in ways of, like, you know, in 2013, I. The WNBA did the first marketing campaign with CoverGirl. The first time, like, a league specifically marketed to the LGBT community in 2014, actually. So it was my second year. And the first time we wore, like, we didn't actually end up wearing the Pride shirts because that's a long story. Because players weren't supportive internally. But I've seen from that evolution to players not necessarily feeling like, like they could be out. Right. That kind of era where we knew players were out, but we weren't really talking about it, and we. The league definitely wasn't marketing those players. I always talk about. Simone Augustus should have been such a bigger star in terms of marketability because her personality is amazing. She's one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Right. Like, but because the league was not and society was not ready to embrace a black woman with dreads. Right. But now look at Courtney Williams and what she's doing online and how Courtney has been embraced. Those are direct correlations between the decade of change and where the league has grown and where the league has started to market players authentically for who they are. And, like, look at the audience. Look at Courtney's podcast with her dad and what her and Natisha Heideman are doing as stud buds. Yes.
- [58:57]
Zena Cata
Like, yep, the stud buds are great.
- [58:59]
Lajah Clarendon
That's so unique to our. Our league in comparison to men's sports of, like, like, how gender fluid our league is, how we're willing to. What the friendships look like in our league, how we're talking about gender across the spectrum in our league of, like, even the term studs. Right. In the queer community and what that means for black women and that growth for the league has just been remarkable to see from me. Watching one of the greatest players, Simone Augustus, like, not get the flowers she truly, truly deserved in the star power. And she had A phenomenal career, won many championships. To seeing the marketability of what the league is doing and embracing Courtney Williams.
- [59:36]
Zena Cata
And.
- [59:38]
Lajah Clarendon
Marketing us how we deserve to be and really embracing the blackness of the players in the league and the queerness of the players in the league. Right. Not every player in the league is queer and black but, but not shying away from that fact of like we have these two intersecting factors in our league and look at how unique and special and creative like a player like Courtney is and how tapped in people are and want to hear what she has to say and are entertained by it. It.
- [60:04]
Zena Cata
Yeah. And I also think that the marketability of like the, their chosen families too. Right. Like that always has been a thing in the face of the league. Conversation across sports is having this person and whoever their partner is and their kids be a thing and it's always been very heterosexual, very, you know, one partner, two and a half kids like you know, kind of, kind of 1950s ish in the way that it's shown up in that world. And so I love when you see team social handles like shout out queer partners and congratulate players when their partners have children. Those are things that I think the league would have stayed away from a while ago and celebrating that and being able to let people know that these are their lives and these are who these players are beyond their basketball. So I would say, you know, Sabrina, I don't know if I speak for you but I think Lajah, we gotta give you an applause for helping, you know, change that narrative and helping that bring be brought about. I know a lot of players say very positive things about what you've done and what you've gone through in order to do it. For some of these players to be able to be themselves in all ways, not just the players that identify as queer and black or both, but for all players to be able to show up as their true selves. So shout out to you Lazha, Keep doing the work. Keep going to work because I love when you show up. It's really fun and we're gonna have you back. We definitely want to have you back. But before you go, we have one more segment. It's called Set yout Screen. So stay tuned.
- [61:51]
Ben Pickman
Foreign.
- [61:55]
Unknown
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- [62:59]
Sabrina Merchant
As you've probably heard by now, we've teamed up with BetMGM this season we'll be using BetMGM lines to make all of our picks and we'll have special offers for our listeners each week. If you haven't signed up for BEM BETMGM yet, use bonus code theathletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus up to a 1500 dollar first bet offer on your first wager with BetMGM. Here's how it works. Download the BetMGM app and sign up using bonus code theathletic. Make your first deposit of at least $10. Place your first bet on any game and claim your voucher for a one year subscription to the Athletic.
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- [63:59]
Sabrina Merchant
Don't forget, if you haven't signed up for BETMGM yet, use bonus code the Athletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus up to a fifteen hundred dollar first bet offer on your first wager.
- [64:13]
Capital One Bank Guy
Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One bank guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a Good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Ah, really? Thanks. Capital One bank guy. What's in your wallet? Term supply. See capital1.com bank capital1na member fdic.
- [64:46]
Zena Cata
All right, well it is Friday, so before we go, we got to tell you how to set your screen. Presented by BetMGM. Make a fast break for on court action with the WNBA Odds Boost token. Use your token to get a bigger payout on a winning WNBA Beta. Bam. I didn't mess that up. Bet mgm. How about that? All right, what are we watching guys? This weekend, of course Leisure and I will be watching a lot of Valkyries, but outside of that leisure, anything else that's on your your screen? What do you set your screen to?
- [65:14]
Lajah Clarendon
Outside of that? I'm definitely gonna say Seattle New York too. I probably stole someone's but yeah, ton of Valkyries. Seattle, New York. I'm curious to see how Seattle bounces back from that Valkyries loss the other day. That spanking action.
- [65:26]
Zena Cata
Spankin.
- [65:28]
Sabrina Merchant
Spankin is the correct terminology.
- [65:30]
Lajah Clarendon
Yes, it is.
- [65:31]
Zena Cata
That is correct. And particularly I just also wanna give a big shout out to Skylar Diggins for the transparency of her post game comments of what happened. I haven't seen a player that like outside of like maybe Anthony Edwards be that clear about how they got their butts whooped and how much better the Valkyries were at other things that they were not good at. And so I just love when players are like that because that's when you can show they know what they need to work on. They know what they need to get better at. And that's why I also am choosing the Seattle New York game. Because with those comments and that energy I'm like, ooh, what are they about to launch at 1pm Eastern against New York? Let's see. Sabrina, what are you thinking?
- [66:14]
Sabrina Merchant
So I know the sun have lost nine games in a row, but they did just bring in Layla Lacan after her stint with France at Eurobasket. She has not yet played in the WNBA and she was one of the players I was most excited about in the 2024 draft. So they just activated her. Hopefully she gets to play soon. And if you're looking for a reason to tune into Connecticut games, that's the one.
- [66:36]
Zena Cata
I am very excited about. Layla Lacan. I just love all team France, but Layla Lacan and Carla late. They have this spitfirey energy to their games. I am very I'm pumped to see what it looks like and translate into the W Plus I love when France is here. I mean, there are so many. Layla, I just need you to call up Ileana. Let us know what's going on with Ilyana Ripert. Where's she at? Let us know. All right, it's time to close this out. I appreciate you guys coming and listening with us. Talaysia breaking down the CBA experience. I'm so grateful for this. I think a lot of people don't know all of the details behind it and they also want, like, don't know who was in that conversation in 2020 and why it was so pivotal. So appreciate you breaking that down and all the other things. And you'll be back. I will make sure of it. Happy 4th to folks, and we'll see you back here on Tuesday. Always before you go, subscribe like it. Wherever you're at, leave us comments, talk to us. Let us know what you think. I haven't heard anybody say anything about our name, so at this point that means Philadelphia, Cleveland, Detroit. You know where to find us. We can help you with the marketing plan and then of course head on over to our partner Yahoo Sports Hub for more content. Sports.yahoo.com womensports on behalf of the Athletic, Ben Lea, Sabrina, I'm Zena Kada. Thank you for listening and we will see you next time. No Offseason is hosted by Zena Kada with Chantelle Jennings, Sabrina Merchant, and Ben Pickman. It's produced by Tanika Bar. Our executive producers are Andrea B. Scott and Cassius Fleming. Our theme music is by Marcus Bagala. Monica Compton is our video editor. Shannon Ryan is managing editor of women's basketball at the Athletic. Jessie Burton is our head of audio, and Tim McMaster is director of audio operations.
- [68:38]
Capital One Bank Guy
Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking account accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One bank guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Ah, really? Thanks. Capital One Bank Guy what's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capital1.com Bank Capital One NA Member FDIC.
- [69:05]
Unknown
This is Paige, the co host of Giggly Squad. I use Uber Eats for everything and and I feel like people forget that you can truly order anything, especially living in New York City. It's why I love it. You can get Chinese food at any time of night, but it's not just for food. I order from CVS all the time. I'm always ordering from the grocery store. If a friend stops over, I have to order champagne. I also have this thing that whenever I travel, if I'm ever in a hotel room, I never feel like I'm missing something because I'll just just Uber Eats it. The amount of times I've had to Uber eats hair items like hairspray, deodorant, you name it, I've ordered it on Uber Eats. You can get grocery alcohol, everyday essentials in addition to restaurants and food you love. So in other words, get almost anything with Ubereats. Order now for alcohol. You must be legal drinking age. Please enjoy responsibly. Product availability varies by region. See app for details.
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