← No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
"Here comes the Caitlin Clark WNBA Draft Lottery, with Fever GM Lin Dunn"
00:33:43
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- [00:00]
Ben Pickman
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- [01:33]
Sabrina Merchant
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- [03:35]
Lynn Dunn
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- [05:09]
Zena Keda
For.
- [05:09]
Lynn Dunn
The Athletic I'm Zena Keda and this is the Athletic Women's Basketball show presented by Michelob Ultra. Welcome back to the Athletic Women's Basketball show presented by our sponsor Michelob Ultra. Appreciate y'all tuning in. Let's do some quick housekeeping. If you haven't already subscribed anywhere, you get your podcast Go ahead and do that. We're going to have so much good content all throughout NCAA season going into WNBA season as well as the off season and all the things that are developing around the game. Remember, there's unrivaled. There's Athletes Unlimited. There's so much around the sport of women's basketball that's going to be going. So make sure that you guys subscribe to this pod. We got a special treat. Knowing that we've been talking about NCAA action, we're doing a little bit of a detour and that is because I don't know if you guys knew. The WNBA draft lottery is coming up. So Ben Pickman and Sabrina Merchant have teamed up because we have a special guest in the house. So with that, I'm going to let them take it away.
- [06:25]
Zena Keda
We are joined today by the former head coach at colleges such as Austin Peay, Purdue and Miami. In the wnba, she was the head coach with the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever. A Women's Basketball hall of Famer in some people's eyes, she is the star of WNBA Twitter. She is the GM of the Indiana Fever. It is Lynn Dunn. Lynn, welcome to the Athletic Women's Basketball Show.
- [06:49]
Lynn Dunn
Thank you, Ben, I think I need you as my agent.
- [06:51]
Zena Keda
I would like that. I would like that. We are recording this a few days before the 2024 WNBA Draft Lottery where the aforementioned Indiana Fever have a 44.2% chance of obtaining the number one pick for the second straight year and with it the possibility of drafting Caitlin Clark first overall. That is outwards, not Lynn Dunn's. Let the record show. So the place we wanted to start, last year's lottery, obviously things went very well for you, Lynn, and the franchise. The first number one pick in franchise history. The place we wanted to start though is did you have a good luck charm? Do you have any lottery superstitions we need to know about? How are you bringing more good luck to the Fever this time around?
- [07:32]
Lynn Dunn
I am very superstitious. I do have traditions when it comes to the lottery and to the draft and anything where it's a chance chancy or you have to be lucky. I was very lucky when we were in Seattle selecting back to back Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson. And then last year with our first pick, it was our turn. We didn't have as many balls last year as we have this year. So we're confident, we're optimistic. But I still will bring out the lucky charms, you know, because you want to make, make sure everything, every base is covered.
- [08:03]
Zena Keda
So it's A charm bracelet. What are the charms that you're bringing?
- [08:06]
Lynn Dunn
Well, some of them, I can't tell you because they're, you know, they're a little confident. But one of the charms or one of the things that I used, I still have from. From the Seattle days day. So it's weary and it's worn a little bit, but it will definitely be on my body somewhere because it's brought me pretty good luck. It brought me luck last year in a lot of instances. Then we need to think about this. We've earned the right to win the first pick. You know, it's hard to come up with 44% of the balls. It's tough. And so when you have that many balls, you know, you expect success.
- [08:43]
Ben Pickman
What do you remember about the day last year leading up to the, you know, we'll call it the Aaliyah Boston lottery. What were the emotions that day like for you?
- [08:50]
Lynn Dunn
I think that's a fair way to call it the Aaliyah Boston lottery. But of course, at the time, we did not know if Aaliyah would come out. You know, she didn't acknowledge to everyone. I don't think it was about 48 hours after the final four that she said she was coming out. We were confident. We were optimistic. You know, like I said, we've had a lot of chances in the lottery over the last five, six, seven years, and so it was our turn. But there's no reason why you can't have two turns. You know, I'm thinking just because you had one turn at the top pick doesn't mean you can't have two. So it's happened before, and it can happen again.
- [09:29]
Zena Keda
How do you deal, I mean, with that uncertainty heading into a lottery, heading into a draft? Obviously, the COVID year in women's college basketball has changed. Throwing a little bit of the calculus off. But how do you, as a general manager approach it all, knowing that a player can go back to school?
- [09:45]
Lynn Dunn
Well, Ben, just understand there are certain things you can control in life, and there are certain things that you can't. And the uncertainty of who will come out and who won't is something you can't control. So you don't. You don't waste any energy on it. You just be prepared. You're prepared if they all come out. You're prepared if none of them come out. You're prepared if half of them come out. And so you do your homework, and you're ready. You're ready for whatever happens when it comes to your draft pick, the difference in having the first pick and the third pick is major in any draft, but you're prepared for that.
- [10:21]
Ben Pickman
Do you guys have any plans for what Sunday is going to look like for the Fever as an organization or any, any parties or.
- [10:28]
Lynn Dunn
I mean, we're going to have a draft party. You know, we'd like to get to the point where we don't have draft parties, you know, that we're not in the lottery anymore, that we've accomplished our task, which is. Which is to get back in the playoffs, be building a team that's moving towards championship caliber. And I would love for this to be our last draft lottery for a while, but everybody's excited about it. College basketball around here is we're sitting in the heart of the Big Ten. And you know, you've got iu, that's great. You've got Iowa, that's great. Ohio State, sold out crowds, Purdue, you know, so there's a tremendous amount of interest in the college game and then the college players that are going into the draft and then we have, we have a great Bieber fan base, Bay fan base that's really excited about, you know, who are we going to get next? Who's going to play with Aaliyah? Boston?
- [11:16]
Zena Keda
You know, you mentioned it, Lynn, like, obviously the excitement around a college and I think we want to bring talk about that and talk about what's going on in college a little bit. But I want to go back in time to another thing you had just mentioned about winning the Sue Bird draft lottery. Can you just take us inside the room? Just what was it like to prepare for that lottery? What was it like to win that lottery? What do you remember about that time in 2002?
- [11:38]
Lynn Dunn
Well, I really remember about how much and how many teams wanted Zubert, you know what I'm saying? It was. It was relentless. I bet I got more free meals, more free, you know, cocktails and everything to try to induce me to trade our first pick for. For Super New York practically offered me their whole team. You know, first it was the starting point in the wing and it was three starters, and then it was, well, who do you want? You know, and I get it, but the more people offered me for sue, the more I knew I wasn't going to do it. It was just too much value, too valuable. And I knew I was going to put her with Lauren Jackson. That's the beginning of a dynasty.
- [12:21]
Zena Keda
Do you feel like this time around that if you get number one pick again, knock on wood, say whatever prayer, shake your charms that you Might get some of those similar offers people get buying your drinks and anything.
- [12:32]
Lynn Dunn
We get the first pick in the draft that there will be some real interesting offers. And it will be an exciting time for this franchise because whoever we pick with that first pick will now be playing with not only Aaliyah Boston, but Melissa Smith and Kelsey Mitchell. And so we'll be in a perfect position to move this franchise forward.
- [12:53]
Ben Pickman
It kind of resembles that Seattle situation where you have that franchise big already and you get to do, you know, some fun stuff around her.
- [12:59]
Lynn Dunn
I like that, I like the versatility of Boston. You know that that was the thing about Lauren Jackson. She, when you go back and look at it, she was really the first Big six five, you know, with guard skills. Lisa Leslie had some, but not, not anything like Lauren Jackson did. And so in a lot of ways, Lauren changed the game. And then when you put sue with her, you've got the best pick and pop pick and roll duo in the history of the wnba. Maybe challenge some of the pick and roll duos in the NBA. They were that good together.
- [13:34]
Ben Pickman
So you mentioned all of the great things that are happening in college basketball. You guys are right in the heartland of the Big Ten. I'm not trying to tip your hand by any measure, but anything that's really, anything that's really stood out to you at the start of the year just college wise that you didn't expect coming into this last month.
- [13:52]
Lynn Dunn
I knew there would be more parity, but it's even more than I expected. I think it's hard for teams to separate. I'm not surprised that there have been some upsets early. I think the people that do the rankings each week, they're struggling because of the parity, but I think that's good for our game, you know, to have someone as dominant as Connecticut has been in the past and they're struggling a little bit and Tennessee's not as strong as they were. So they're, they're, they're vulnerable. You know, I was already been upset. Stanford got upset the other night. So we got a lot of really good teams. And when you start to think about it, really, South Carolina so far has seemed to be the toughest as far as, you know, fighting off upsets, but they've still had to battle in some games. So I think it's an exciting time for our, for our women's college basketball.
- [14:42]
Zena Keda
You know, Lynn, Sabrina is one of those AP voters. She's one of those people who's struggling with those rankings that you mentioned every week.
- [14:50]
Lynn Dunn
It's obvious they're struggling.
- [14:52]
Zena Keda
What do you feel like? You know, obviously there have been a lot of talented freshmen in women's college basketball over the years, but it does feel like right now that there are a number of freshmen across various conferences who have come in and made an instant impact, maybe in a way that we haven't seen in a long time. Why do you feel like that is?
- [15:08]
Lynn Dunn
I'm glad you brought that up. It's true. Have you ever seen this many freshmen this strong, this early? I can't remember it. No. I tell you what, what I think may happen, one of these freshmen is going to file a lawsuit and say, hey, I'm ready to turn pro. Why can't I? The men can. Why can't I? Because they're that good enough. I watched juju Watkins the other night, and I'm like, wow. Her body, her skills, her mental toughness. I think she may be ready for the pros right now. So this can be an interesting time to see if some of these freshmen don't want to wait, especially if the salaries pick up and they can take their nil money with them. We'll see. But it's great. Title 9 is paying off for us. All those little girls that get to play when they're 3 and 4 and 5 years old. Well, look at them. Wow.
- [15:55]
Ben Pickman
I mean, even assuming that these freshmen don't get to file a lawsuit immediately, it seems like we have a pretty. Pretty deep draft class that's coming out. Just with the. The COVID year and all of the super seniors who have a chance to enter the wnba. Just in terms of the depth of this pool of talent, does it seem like it's more than other years or, you know, is this how drafts generally tend to work?
- [16:14]
Lynn Dunn
It does indeed. When I say deep, quality depth. Quality depth, you know, that there may not be a lot of difference in 4, 5, and 6 from 2, 3, 4, you know, or 7, 8, 9 may just be just as good as 3, 4, 5. You know, there's some quality depth there. And to be honest with you, I hope they all come out. They've all been in school at least four years. Some of them have been in school five years. Some of them have been in school for six years, and some of them have been there forever. So I think it's. I'm ready for them to come out, come on into the pros, move on with their life, let somebody else play, you know, let that sophomore that's been sitting on the bench for three years, you know, have a Chance to play. So I hope they all come out. Last year, we didn't know it was the last second when the whole South Carolina team came out and there was some discussion they might not come out at all. So you just don't know. But I'm encouraging all of them come on out.
- [17:04]
Zena Keda
Do you feel like, I mean, either with the depth and just the experienced players you mentioned this year, or with the freshmen, like, you know, so many more players might be WNBA ready? Maybe it's because they have private trainers that they use. Maybe it's because of college coaching and readiness, I guess. Can you just speak to. I don't know. From your time as a college coach to now at wnba. Gm, how you kind of view colleges and preparing a player for the next level, what is the. The obligation or the responsibility of a school, if they have any, to get a player ready for the WNBA in your mind?
- [17:37]
Lynn Dunn
Well, I think their responsibility is to develop their players, you know, for their players not only to be better as a team, but to be better individually. And so they're getting them from high school better, they're coming from the high schools better. They're bigger, they're stronger, they're faster, they're better skilled. And so they're getting training at an early age and they're developing better. And I really believe that the wnba, the pro game, how we play the game, the fast, the speed with the speed and the spreading the floor and, you know, we're going to more international with four out and five out. And I see colleges copying that. The same thing in the NBA. You know, the colleges tend to look at the next level and say, hey, I want to be like that. I want to play like that. And so you just see the growth. And so Title 9, like I said, I keep giving them credit, but I also give credit to the college coaches, the high school coaches, to the parents that have provided the resources, you know, for these players to develop and give the players credit. They're invested, you know, they're working on their skills. You know, they're fully invested in being as good as they can be.
- [18:42]
Ben Pickman
You mentioned this earlier, that you want to welcome every player who has the eligibility to come into the WNBA draft. I mean, we see this every year where, you know, players get drafted and then can't make a roster. Like, how can we still invite them to come to the WNBA when there isn't a guarantee that, you know, a lot of them will have space?
- [18:57]
Lynn Dunn
Well, I think what we need to do is have more teams. We need more roster Spots. Instead of having 12 roster spots, maybe we have 14. Instead of having 12 teams, we have 16 teams. We have opportunities overseas. Maybe we have a situation where it's time for a G league in the wnba, you know, so let's have a lot of talent, no place for them to go, and that pushes for us to expand and create opportunities for them.
- [19:20]
Zena Keda
Is there a way, you know, we know already that the Golden State team has been announced. What do you think about expansion drafts, the importance of them? How would you would like to see it structured? Yeah. Have you. Have you put any thought there?
- [19:32]
Lynn Dunn
When I was in Seattle, we went through an expansion draft. That's how we got our initial players. I'm very impressed with Golden State's commitment to pay $50 million for a team with no players, no coaches, no personnel. I mean, they're just paid for the opportunity. So it makes me wonder what's the value of some of these teams that are fully staffed and have a lot of great players. I think them coming in is going to push everybody to be better. I think the real question for all of us will be how many players can we protect? You know, can we protect five? Can we protect six? Can we maybe protect seven? We want to help Golden State grow, but we don't want to have them do fast. You know, they've got to go through the growing pains like we all did, you know, so they'll get a chance to build their team from. Let's say we can all protect six, then they'll pick the seventh best player, you know, from every team. But then that's where your scouting has to come in. And your. Whoever your general manager is has to really know how to evaluate talent, have to build a team. You can't have five point guards. You got to have, you know, points, wings, posts. You got to have people that are versatile. Players that can play three or four positions will be extremely valuable in that expansion drive.
- [20:42]
Ben Pickman
You've kind of already alluded to this, but how has your perspective on scouting evolved since you, you know, were a coach at, you know, Purdue all those years ago?
- [20:51]
Lynn Dunn
Well, that's a great question, too, because it has evolved. You know, I've learned that I learn a lot more about a player and who she is when I go to her practices versus going to a game. You know, everybody's up for the game. You know, it's game time. The lights come on. I want to know how you practice when the, you know, when the lights are off and it's tough. You know, your coach is chewing your Pass out and you know, how are you handling, how are you interacting with your teammates? And so I learned a lot more about players by watching them in a just a practice. I also do my research different. You know, I like to talk to people around the perimeter of a player. I want to know what the trainer thinks about them. I'd like to know what assistant coaches, head coaches, anybody that I can, can talk to that has involvement with that player. And then I don't go out as much because I can stay home and watch six games. Whereas if I go to the game I'm going to see one and I'm sitting in a seat that's not very good, you know. So I've kind of changed how I evaluate now down the stretch I'm going or my coach or my assistant coaches or maybe all of them are going onto the campus and going into the gym and as much as possible watch a shoot around, watch the practice day before, get a chance to see what the dynamics are like.
- [22:05]
Ben Pickman
Are there any specific skill sets or like personality characteristics that have become more important to you?
- [22:10]
Lynn Dunn
Well, I'm always looking for multi dimensional, you know, like I don't want one dimensional players. I want players. The more you can do, you can defend, you can rebound, you can run, you know, you can pick and roll, pick and pop on a sound. Let's draft a post player and all they can do is pick and roll because they don't have an outside shot to pop. Well, I've got a post player over here. We can do both, you know, so I'm looking for the one with the most skills. I'm also looking for an athlete. You know, this is, we play fast, we got a 24 second clock, you got to get up and down the floor. I'm looking for people with a tremendous work ethic. I'll take a little less talented player that's got a little bit more heart. It works and works and works. I mean we want a championship without the most talent because we've had the people that were all in and it just worked their butts off and they were relentless. Of course we had to make the catcher.
- [22:59]
Ben Pickman
It's a lot of talent.
- [23:01]
Zena Keda
Yeah. Certainly helps a lot.
- [23:03]
Lynn Dunn
Yeah.
- [23:03]
Zena Keda
On the scouting front, I mean, just sticking with that thread, you know, how has the increase in information around women's basketball maybe changed how you prepare for drafts or scout players? Obviously, you know, her hoop stats, CBB analytics, synergy, some of these technologies are new. Just can you speak to that change a little bit over time and kudos.
- [23:23]
Lynn Dunn
To Them, I love them. The more the better. Every time there's a new analytics site coming out, it's just more information and, and I think all of the, the data that we can get just gives us another perspective about that particular player. I mean, I'm not living and dying with statistics. I'm not living this type of analysis, that net rating or whatever, but it's a piece of information, you know, and so maybe I'm looking for one other way to kind of separate two players from each other. And so I may, I may count on that. But I've always believed that statistics matter. You know, it matters if you're shooting 20% from the three point line or 40%, that matters. So you use all those tools, you know, you use the eye, you use the film, you use the stats on the paper, you use the research of the information that you get from the people. You gather a lot of information, a lot of different ways to make decisions.
- [24:11]
Ben Pickman
I do think we should talk a little about the fever because we've talked a lot about non Indiana things. You know, we mentioned the Aaliyah Boston lottery last year. I think her rookie year probably even exceeded expectations considering how hyped she was coming into the wnba. Are there any, you know, stories you can share about Aaliyah that just shed some light onto how special she was for this organization?
- [24:31]
Lynn Dunn
I think we all knew that she was gifted, you know what I'm saying? There wasn't any doubt because of the outstanding career that she'd had at South Carolina, you know, led them to championship and her ability to make other people on the court better. We knew that. I don't think we realized what a great person she was. We knew she was a great player, but she is kind of these once in a lifetime people to, you know, she's kind, she's thoughtful, she's giving, she unselfish. You know, she's smart. There's just so many positives about her that we were surprised that they were that exceptional off the court. And then I was really surprised that she handled as a rookie the physicality of the league. You know, when she's going up against bigs that are 28, 29, 30, and her poise and composure as a rookie in that situation was very, very impressive.
- [25:31]
Zena Keda
Is there one. You know, you mentioned some of those off the court characteristics. Is there one conversation or one community event or. Yeah, one game, one fan exchange that sticks out in your mind in particular?
- [25:42]
Lynn Dunn
Well, you always knew that before the game and after the game, Aaliyah was going into the crowd. You know, she's going in to touch the fans, to give autographs. I think we were in Washington and a group from the Virgin Islands had come and they had signs and, you know, they were up in the second balcony. And I think when the game was over, she called them down to the court. You know, she's just so thoughtful like that with. With people.
- [26:07]
Ben Pickman
Was dawn at any of the games in Indiana or. Yeah.
- [26:10]
Lynn Dunn
Yes, dawn came. We had Aaliyah, Boston Knight and Dawn and Lisa Boyer came and we had fever caps with South Carolina on the side. We also had Grace Berger night with IU caps with fever on the side. So, yeah, dawn came. It was great to have her there. And I think she was happy with how Leah was adjusting. You know, you just never know what. It's tough to be a rookie in the pros.
- [26:34]
Zena Keda
I remember those nights and I remember, you know, being struck by them because it spoke to the synergy between a college program and a pro organization. You know, sometimes I feel like a lot of fans say that, you know, colleges, you know, gets a higher TV rating or is maybe more well followed by a lot of people than the wnba. And that was an effort that spoke to, you know, the link between the two, I guess. Just how important is that connection or how do you think big pictures you look across the league, you know, having franchises like yourselves not forget where these players came from, the fan bases they built in terms of growing a team, growing an organization's fan base, building the WNBA up as a whole.
- [27:12]
Lynn Dunn
I think it's a no brainer that we're all connect. We're all trying to achieve the same thing. We're all involved, fully invested in women's basketball, whether it's junior high, high school, college, wnba. We want it to be the best it can be. We want it to grow. We want. We want to be sold out. We want fans. Every time I see a college game that's sold out, I am clapping and cheering and posting on Twitter. Way to go. Way to do that. And now that I'm seeing the colleges, you know, kind of doing the same thing, I think the college programs are more connected to the WNBA now. They want their players to go to the wnba. They love the fact that there's that connection. And so we're at a time where I see the best connection I've seen in a long time. You know, there was a while there where I thought there was a little bit of a disconnect, but I don't feel that way now. And maybe it's because some of our college coaches actually played in the wnba. You know, Dawn's a great example of someone that had a great WNBA career.
- [28:10]
Ben Pickman
You mentioned that this is the last time you guys want to be having a draft lottery party. Just more, more specifically for the Fever. Like what, what next steps do you really want to take as a team this year?
- [28:20]
Lynn Dunn
We want to get in the playoffs. You know, there's no doubt in my mind that that's going to be our goal this year. Right at the end of this past season, we were actually in the hunt for a playoff spot. It was a legitimate race there at the end that we might, we might grab that, that last spot. I think when we went to the west coast to play L A in, Melissa was hurt and we didn't have her. Had we had her, we might have won those games over L A and might have put us in a position to squeak into to the playoffs. And so that was our goal last year. Challenge for a playoff spot. Our goal this year is to get into the playoffs. You know, I'm gonna raise the expectations a little bit more. You know, now list is a year older, lead is a year older. We've got another high draft pick. Whether it's one, two or three, one of those picks is ours. Kelsey Mitchell has gotten better. We brought in Erica Wheeler who was, became a real good leader for our team on and off the court. Grace Berger got better, Christy Wallace got better. So expectations will be higher.
- [29:19]
Ben Pickman
What do you sort of envision that Melissa, Aaliyah, Boston partnership looking like moving forward?
- [29:24]
Lynn Dunn
I thought it, it really started clicking there towards the end of the season. Melissa got hurt, then she was out, then she came back and I felt like they really grew as a combo there. And what I liked about them once again is the versatility inside outside. Both have the inside outside skills. Neither one of them are one dimensional players. Both of them can hit a three, both of them can post up back to the basket. Both of them can drive from the elbow. So as they continue to grow and learn to play off of each other, we'll continue to get better. Kelsey Mitchell got better at playing with Aaliyah Boston. She hadn't had a post player like that to play with. Learning how to play through the big, you know, and learn how to play with the bigs and take advantage of the fact that they make you better.
- [30:07]
Zena Keda
What can you say? I mean, you talk about some of the player development and obviously you had a first time head coach as well last year in Kristi Sides. I think what she was hired or you, you guys announced her, officially announced her as head coach on the lottery date last year to kind of mark two celebrations in the end, one juncture in time, I guess. You know, I remember talking with her last offseason about staying home during the winter and the importance of having a coach and players around in terms of a player development perspective. Just what can you kind of say about the importance of that in your mind? I see you nodding your head in affirmation and just how can she take the next step, I guess as a head coach? What conversations have you guys had as you reflected on this past year?
- [30:45]
Lynn Dunn
Well, even though Christie had an enormous amount of experience as an assistant coach and she had with Chicago, with Atlanta, with her experiences overseas coaching fouls and Taurasi and those great, great teams overseas, this was still her first year to be the head coach. And so I thought she grew as a head coach. The experiences that she had and I thought they were real positive. I think Christy, now in a leadership role has to decide, you know, what is our plan in the off season with the five or six players that didn't go overseas that are in and out of our city. What are we doing with them? We've got coaches that live in Indy and that are available to work these players out. We have access to our FAC facilities year round. Pacer Sports and Entertainment has given us a gorgeous area to practice and play in our locker room. And so there's no reason not to get better. But that's where Christy's leadership comes in. You know, what are we doing with and for these players in the off season? Because that's when you get back, you know, we've only got a two week training camp and then we're playing. So you better come back better. What if it's two or three skills you have to get better at, then that has to happen in off season.
- [31:51]
Ben Pickman
I get so worried every time I hear Christie after a game because her voice is just done and I just worry that it's not going to come back before the next game.
- [31:59]
Lynn Dunn
Well, she is high energy and that's one of, that was one of the things that I was looking for in our coach was someone that was enthusiastic, high energy because it's contagious. You know, it's contagious with the staff, it's contagious with the players. You know, the players respond to someone that that's enthusiastic, that's high energy, that's positive, you know, and she's demanding, but she's also very positive and So I think she also, with that energy and enthusiasm, you know, is a real relationship person. She's from south, you know, she can talk to anybody. And she worked really hard at connecting with our players and building relationships. But it helps to be high energy.
- [32:40]
Zena Keda
If you're going to do that, you know. As we wrap here, Lynn, there's one big question unrelated to the Fever and some of the things we wanted to talk about. And I kind of teased it at the beginning when I introed you. It's social media. I know a lot of people follow you on Twitter and social media, and so there's been a lot of clamoring, I guess. Can you explain, you know, what you think the value of Twitter is, how you use Twitter? I know you tweet a lot of different things on a lot of different topics. Just how do you kind of approach it?
- [33:05]
Lynn Dunn
Well, I think initially social media, like, I don't do Instagram. I don't know how I have the app, but I don't know how to get in there, so I just let that go. I think initially social media was to. To. To communicate what's going on with the team. You know, they had me sign up way back when I first got involved. You know, this was a way to. To share information. It's also a way for me to promote our team, let fans know what's going on, repost anything good that happens about Pacer sports and entertainment, anything good that happens about the Fever, let our fans know what's going on. And then on occasion, you know, I get a chance to make posts or. Or repost things that have to do with women's rights and doing the right thing for women, the growth of Women, Title 9, Women Getting Elected in leadership roles and just promoting women in general and equality and equity. You know, so I've gotten a little bit away from promoting my team to promoting equality and equity in women. And so what Good. Good for me.
- [34:02]
Zena Keda
If you go to Lynn Dunn's Twitter account, you will see all different kinds of promotional tweets about the women's basketball world, the women's sports world, the world in general. As she just talked about and just mentioned and explained her reasoning. You should also, you know, credit the Indiana Fever. I think they. They did a lot of really cool graphics that I saw. You were promoting a lot during the season for Sherlyn, right?
- [34:21]
Lynn Dunn
Yeah. And, Ben, I want to say, let me tell you something. We have the best digital people I've ever seen. I mean, they are on time, they travel with us, they're Everywhere they're filming some of the things that they do, the graphics that they do, they are just really on top of everything. And so I'm really proud of what they do and how many hits. I guess they call it hits or clicks or, I don't know, whatever you call it because they're so active with the Pacers and with the Fever right now.
- [34:47]
Zena Keda
That's well said. And certainly, you know, you can follow Lynn. I think it's lD underscore chalk talk. That's. That's correct now. Right? That's the handle. I believe that is it on Twitter or. I think that is it. You can also, of course, follow the Indiana Fever where you will see all those retweets that Lyn is retweeting or reposting nowadays. And I should mention too, if you go to their account, you will see that this Sunday, December 10, they are holding a Fever draft lottery party for fans 3:30-5:30 at Gainbridge Field House. And they say there will be some special appearances by some of the Fever players who are sticking around this offseason at home and some supporting the team.
- [35:30]
Lynn Dunn
So it'll be in the lobby in the pavilion there inside Gambridge Field House, which is gorgeous with the Christmas decorations. Next door is the ice skating rink so you can skate, eat, watch us win the lottery.
- [35:42]
Zena Keda
Hopefully, Lynn, for your sake, your superstitions bring you more good luck and that you have more charms to carry I guess not into lotteries in the future. Hopefully this is your last time. Fingers crossed.
- [35:52]
Ben Pickman
Let the record show that Lynn is literally crossing her fingers right now.
- [35:56]
Lynn Dunn
Yeah, I like that last lottery thing. Let this be the last, but let it be a big one.
- [36:00]
Zena Keda
We will see how it all plays out. Lynn, best of luck in the lottery. May the ping pong balls be in your favor and good luck in free agency and enjoy the rest of the offseason.
- [36:09]
Lynn Dunn
I like that. May the balls bounce our way. Yep, I like it.
- [36:12]
Thank you, Ben and Sabrina. Thank you. What a great conversation. First, as a girl from the South, I always appreciate a good southern accent. Lynn Dunn's voice is like a warm hug around my body. I just love it. But I also just love how much she has evolved and adapted to the game. And I know we don't, you know, often like as a society to highlight particularly women's ages and just in general, but you listen to that podcast back and you listen to Lynn Dunn talking about the. The adaptation of players coming out of high school, going into college and then preparing for the lead. You talk about the things that they do to ensure that players have the right resources in the off season to get prepared for a season. You see someone that came from a time when players had absolutely none of those resources, came from a time where players would have been expected to just be grateful for a gym, grateful for a jersey, grateful for the opportunity to play and her being able to adapt with the times and help grow the game to a point where she can be the one as a GM now to provide these players with that. And I just think that that's so dope. And again, I know we don't like to talk about people's ages, but lynn Dunn is 76 years old. Like this is history right now. And she is still sharp as a whip, obviously from this pod and just in general from what she's doing with the Indiana Fever and still having an impact and a touch on this game. And so really, really cool that we were able to get someone like that on the Athletic Women's Basketball show and just get that perspective. I do wish all of the WNBA teams good luck in the draft lottery again. It is this Sunday and I'm very, very curious on who's going to get that number one. Obviously fever looking like it's going to be them, but you know, you never know. I know the Mercury looking at it too, so you'll see what's going to happen. Maybe the Caitlin Clark Sophie Cunningham duo as well that's been up there out there as a point of conversation. So quick little detour from NCAA for the weekend to see what happens with the future of the seniors graduating this year. But then right back to NCAA action. So don't you miss out. Make sure you subscribe to the Athletic Women's Basketball Podcast wherever you get your pods. And for now, I'm Zena Keita encouraging you to keep listening, keep learning and keep loving the game. Because that's the only way we're going to keep growing it. All right, guys, until next time.
- [38:52]
As.
- [38:52]
Ben Pickman
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- [39:18]
Unknown
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- [40:11]
Lynn Dunn
Acast powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend.
- [40:19]
Marc Maron
Hey folks, it's Marc Maron from WTF. It's been more than 15 years now, and I'm still talking to all kinds of people in my garage every single week. Sometimes it's Bill Burr, sometimes it's Ariana Grande. She just looks at me because she's always going, like, dad, it's not that big a deal.
- [40:34]
Lynn Dunn
Yeah.
- [40:35]
Marc Maron
I go, sorry, I lost my temper. I go, I still love you. You know, Daddy has issues.
- [40:41]
Unknown
Are you afraid of it?
- [40:42]
Marc Maron
Of death?
- [40:43]
Lynn Dunn
Well, I don't.
- [40:43]
Marc Maron
I think about it all the time.
- [40:45]
Lynn Dunn
How are we here already?
- [40:46]
Marc Maron
Listen to WTF with Marc Maron twice a week on your favorite podcast app. Or get more WTF with a WTF plus subscription. Just go to wtfpod.com and click on WTF Plus.
- [41:01]
Lynn Dunn
Acast helps creators launch, grow, and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.
- [41:08]
Ben Pickman
Com.