← No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
Lynx Rally to Stun Mercury, Fever Deals Aces a Bad Hand + Unrivaled Season 2
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- [00:00]
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- [02:05]
Zena Kaeda
Hello and welcome to no Offseason. I'm Zena Kaeda.
- [02:09]
Sabrina Merchant
And I'm Sabrina Merchant.
- [02:11]
Zena Kaeda
And today on the show, the first round of the playoffs have set up a dramatic stage for the semifinals, and we've got some games to talk about. Plus, there has been an exciting, super exciting season in the W. We know that of course, that's what they do. That's what the players bring every year. And we're wondering what role did unrivaled play in setting up this new Era. So I want to talk to Brendan Glasheen who's going to be in the studio in the fake studio with us today from unrivaled on TNT and Connecticut Sun. We're going to talk about what we can expect for the second season of unrivaled. But first, let's bring Brandon Glasheen into the mix. Brendon, thank you for joining us. Appreciate you. Welcome to the show.
- [02:55]
Brendan Glasheen
Hi to both of you. Very big fan of what you guys do with this particular show and glad it's to see and hear it's doing well. So happy to be here. Happy to fill the shoes of Mr. Ben Pickman today, of course.
- [03:08]
Zena Kaeda
And if anyone you know recognizes his voice, it's because you've definitely heard his voice. He did the play by play for unrivaled in its inaugural season and has also been a voice in the WNBA covering the Connecticut sun as a play by play. So we're happy to have you here. We're happy to chat with you, especially in the midst of all the craziness that's going on during the WNBA playoffs. But before we dive into the semis, we must say a huge congratulations to the M V4 because she's always on top, top, top.
- [03:39]
Brendan Glasheen
Okay.
- [03:40]
Zena Kaeda
This season's mvp, Asia Wilson, fourth MVP award. She has said, when you talk about the greatest of all time, I want to make sure my name is in there. Well, she is on a special list, becoming the only WNBA player to have achieved this feat. Um, she blew past previous records that Lisa Leslie had, Cheryl Swoop's had, and Lauren Jackson. Okay, special company. I'm going to say it the way that Becky Hammond so beautifully said it. You know, you could talk about her being a part of the Mount Rushmore of WNBA players, but right now she is at Mount Everest, the only one up there at the peak. Very, very cool for her. Now, interestingly enough, on the same day that all the fanfare around this announcement of Asia Wilson becoming MVP and Nike dropping an unreal commercial, they had a home game and it did not go as planned. They lost to the fever 89 to 73. Sabrina. I saw two blown layups early in the game. Jackie Young first, then Asia Wilson first. And my first thought was, ooh, there's a lot of excitement. There's a lot going on. There's a lot of buzz and just, you know, sprinkles all over the aces arena right now. So they're going to settle down. They're going to get back into this. But then there was something called The Fever. The Fever came in behind Kelsey Mitchell and put on a show where what happened here to give the Fever the win?
- [05:06]
Sabrina Merchant
I mean, I think you said it right there. Kelsey Mitchell happened. You know, Asia Wilson, MVP, comes in 16 points. Kelsey Mitchell more than doubles that with her 34. If I had a nickel for every time the Aces brought up, like containing Kelsey Mitchell, containing Indiana's pace, containing transition offense during the lead up to this series, we'd be doing very well. And they didn't contain any of those things. Right. Like, Kelsey got to whatever spots she wanted to in the half court. Indiana pushed their pace. They were the ones who were the aggressors who were making it difficult for the Aces to run up and down with them. The base's transition to offense was not tracking back. Like, there were all of these mistakes they were making in addition to the mislabs that you referred to. But, yeah, I thought Indiana controlled the pace. I thought they controlled the offensive tempo. Right. They got the ball into the hands of the players they wanted to, and they were just more comfortable throughout the day in Las Vegas. A 12 noon game, which is always a fun time to play in Las.
- [05:53]
Zena Kaeda
Vegas on a Sunday, and you were in the building for this game. How was the energy, especially, you know, when the. The Fever started going on their runs, particularly that 130 run that I think kind of sealed it for them. What did it feel like in there?
- [06:08]
Sabrina Merchant
Yeah. So obviously people in Las Vegas love Asia Wilson. I mean, Uber drivers have been asking media members, like, who was voting for Asia Wilson, who was voting for Napisa Collier? Like, it's a thing. People know what's going on in the wnba. They are aware of the voting bodies and what's happening with Asia Wilson, but it wasn't super hyped. Like, the Fever crowd was very into it. Obviously, a lot of Indiana Fever jerseys, a lot of 22s, a lot of eights. I would hope that there would be more zeros going forward for the great time that Kelsey Mitchell had in this game. But, yeah, I mean, they quieted the crowd pretty early. There was a little bit of a momentum when Vegas cut it to three in the third quarter, but otherwise, this was a game that the Fever really controlled from start to finish. They forced an early timeout by Becky Hammond when Kelsey Mitchell hits a three to put it up 13 7. They were the ones again who just every time Vegas had a little bit, the Fever would answer whether that was in the form of Kelsey Mitchell, whether that was in the form of Odyssey Sims. It was just A really, really impressive performance from a team that, you know, we. We probably should stop counting out at this point of the season.
- [07:09]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, there's something to be said about the fact that the espn, like, matchup logo had Odyssey Sims and not Kelsey Mitchell. And I'm like, did. Did y' all just give her some ammo? Did you give her some energy here?
- [07:21]
Sabrina Merchant
I mean, a good choice of Odyssey Sims, honestly.
- [07:24]
Zena Kaeda
I mean, sure, yes. Right. Shifi finished with like 16 points, I believe, and she was awesome for the Fever, but it was like literally all the MVP finalists in Alyssa Thomas, Asia and Nafeesa Collier. And then Odyssey Sims. I'm like, Kelsey Mitchell was right there. Brendan Glasheen, let's bring you in here because you've seen obviously the run that the Aces have had coming into the playoffs this year. Of course, Seattle kind of simmered that before. Right. By the skin of their teeth. The Aces were able to find themselves into this series with Indiana, but we know this is a five game series, not three game, thank goodness. Five game series. Time for adjustments. What do you think the Aces have to do to get back into this with the Fever, especially going into Indiana?
- [08:07]
Brendan Glasheen
Yeah, I think that Sabrina made some really good points. I think you're right. Indiana controlled the tempo of the game. But it's not just Asia as a score, but getting more touches in the paint to allow for better looks from the outside that can allow for a better shooting night, say from Jackie Young, who was only one for five from three or even Jewell was one for four, only took five shots. And Becky hit on this in the post game. They had only 12 assists and they had 12 turnovers. If those numbers are mirroring one another, typically not a good night. So we know Asia's going to go get hers. Took 22 shots, only made six of them. You know a double team is coming. And that's a credit, I think, to Stephanie White. Learning how to game plan well, but can they get touches in the paint and move the ball with a little bit more urgency and making more split decisions? You hear coaches say this all the time. Can you make a decision in a half, a second, one second at most? And it felt the way Indiana rotated defensively. Vegas never got in any kind of flow, especially getting Asia some touches early on in the game, not just to score, but to allow for other people to lift them up. And Asia said it when she got her MVP trophy in the morning, like it is a team award. Asia deserves all the credit in the world for the numbers. She's put up but she cannot be Asia Wilson if others are not going to be threats besides Jackie. I think Jackie's been consistent pretty much the whole year. But if Chelsea, Jewel, even Kirsten Bell to a degree, they've got to hit shots. And they were 5 of 17 from 3 Indiana, I thought as Sabrina mentioned, just controlled the whole tempo of the game. And credit to Aaliyah Boston who even used the word annoying, pestering. Just making it difficult for the Aces to get in any kind of flow of the game. So they're on one right now these Indiana Fever and I think you're right, you gotta stop counting them out. But the way they've been able to fit everything together and they couldn't guard Kelsey. You need to be able to put a double team, put a body in front on Kelsey, throw different looks at her, change your looks. Easier said than done. We can do it right here and talk about it, but I would expect a more urgent effort from Las Vegas in game two.
- [10:11]
Sabrina Merchant
Well, Brendan, you know you mentioned Indiana being able to come together like with this mass unit, so to speak, but I think a lot of that probably has to do with Steph White and you had the opportunity to spend a good chunk of time around Steph White the last couple years. I'm wondering what is it about Steph you think that is uniquely positioned for this situation?
- [10:26]
Brendan Glasheen
Steph knows how to pivot as well as her staff with Austin Kelly with Breon January, having seen that trio together in Connecticut, one of the things that jumped out to me was my first year with Steph was 2023 and the sun lost Brianna Jones 20 days into June. So they pivot and run a five out system. Rebecca Allen ends up being an unsung hero playing at the four and Dewana Bonner is playing the five defensively and of course at is a Swiss army knife that can play anywhere on the floor. I'm sure we'll talk about Phoenix in this show, but I say that because the way Steph has been able to pivot with the personnel presented with no Caitlin, you're asking Kelsey Mitchell now to be not only a scorer, but can you also facilitate offense and make decisions and make the correct read and also allowing for Aaliyah Boston to continue to grow as a facilitator. One of the best facilitating bigs definitely in the top five when it comes to bigs that know how to facilitate and make good decisions. So I give Steph so much credit for how she's, she's weathered the storm with this basketball team and how they've been able to make it work despite the fact it has not been easy with the rotating pieces in and out. And I would also say since Steph's return to the wnba, two years with Connecticut. In this first year with Indiana, she has not. And that's. This is no particular knock at the sun personnel. They were built differently. They had a window with Jones, Bonner and Thomas. They haven't had this dynamic of a wing that can go get their own shot and create their own shot with Kelsey Mitchell. So it's pretty amazing. I think Caitlin makes their ceiling higher if they had her available. But understanding that there's so much more to Kelsey Mitchell's game than just going on a hot streak on a particular run. Personally, I saw it happen in Mohegan sun in August. That's kind of when, in my opinion, it's funny, these two teams, this my last point on this matchup. I think I was part of two broadcasts that had turning points. Asia goes for 30 and 20 against Connecticut. And then they went on a hot streak and they won whatever it was, 15, 16, 17 in a row. That game felt like a turning point. Asia first ever 30, 20 game in league history. And then August 17th, they're down 21 in the third quarter, and it was the Kelsey Mitchell show in the second half. But Odyssey Sims, decision making, Aaliyah Boston, shot making, rebounding, shot altering on the defensive end of the floor. That was only Odyssey's third game, and the way she's played, you would have thought she'd been there all season, or at least the bulk of the season. So you don't get a lot of time to practice, as you both know, in this league. So to be able to pivot and put people in places to succeed, that has stood out to me with the job of Stephanie White.
- [13:07]
Zena Kaeda
Now, my question is, as you mentioned, the ceiling gets a little bit higher without Caitlin Clark, who has been stomping on the sidelines, those black Air Force ones. But the question I think a lot of folks have is, can the Fever continue this run without Caitlin Clark? Sabrina, I'll go to you first.
- [13:26]
Sabrina Merchant
I mean, I see no reason why they couldn't replicate the formula. They played against the Aces in game one. You know, obviously finals would be a different matchup, but I think they're a very physical team that can obviously get into the Aces airspace. They have somebody in Aaliyah Boston who is a good primary defender on Asia Wilson, and they have other bodies you can throw at her, like whether that's a Bree Turner, whether that's Natasha Howard, their team defense, I think has been pretty good. And when you have a player like Kelsey Mitchell who is kind of unguardable right now, like Atlanta dealt with it, you know, Atlanta had to put Jordan Canada on her, right. Like, just to. To try to shut that water off. And that just sprung wigs everywhere else. But they have a lot of really good pieces. Right. Like we talked about this team as a title contender at the start of the season because of how deep they were. And yeah, some of that depth has been taken away because of the injury, but not all of it. Right. Like, I would expect Aaliyah Boston to do a lot better than six points in game one. Right. Like, the fact that they won with such a, you know, a limited offensive performance from her is a testament to everything else that was going on. So I'm at the point where I can stop counting out the Indiana fever. That being said, I would expect the Aces to be so much better in game two than in game one. I think a lot of it was missed shots, but a lot of it was they just didn't match the force that Indiana was playing with. And you can bet Asia Wilson does not have two bad games in a row. That is not going to happen for the Las Vegas Aces. So going to be a long series, I think, but I would expect both teams to be very competitive going forward.
- [14:41]
Brendan Glasheen
I was very surprised how game one went. I thought with the MVP presentation in the morning, I thought they'd come out with a little bit more fire. And I think when Indiana throws the first punch that rattled the Aces, I thought it felt like a roll the balls out game. They had to travel all the way here. We're fine. Can they keep this up? Yes, they sure can. But I think what we're going to find out in game two is what other supplementary pieces can elevate their games. And that will answer our question. Indiana doesn't necessarily have to win game two, but do they present a formula? If Kelsey's we score, can we get this great 89 points and Kelsey scored 34 of them. Can they win a game? They've demonstrated with the defensive Boston as you hit on Sabrina and the defense that Howard brings to the table. And she's really been an unsung hero for how she's played her role. Breed Turner as well, coming in, giving really productive minutes. Can they prove that their supplementary pieces can also score and hit shots? So Lexi, Hall, Petty and Powers, can they come in and give you strong 7 to 10 minute efforts and maybe 2 minute sessions to get to those 8 to 10 minutes over the course of a 40 minute game. I want to see what it looks like if Kelsey's not going and not getting at 34. If Kelsey gives you 20, can you hang in there? And I think you're right. But the point you said about Asia is a good one. Hard to think she's going to go 6 of 22 again at home. At the very least, just talking game.
- [16:01]
Zena Kaeda
Two, I think that was the thing that was kind of glaring was when you looked at the way that Indiana scored first, it was the bigs, right? It was Aaliyah Boston and it was Tasha Howard, and it was just quick scores inside too. And so you're. You're kind of like on edge. Like, hold on, that's supposed to be the Aces game. And you saw, you know, I believe Asia missed like her first four or five, six shots and was like, whoa, what's going on here? So they're definitely gonna have to punch first and they're gonna have to tap into their bread and butter sooner than Indiana taps into theirs.
- [16:30]
Brendan Glasheen
Here's another quick thought too. Just Melissa Smith, two rebounds.
- [16:33]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah, that's right.
- [16:33]
Brendan Glasheen
We've discussed their record since she's joined the team and how much she's alleviated the attention. Asia, 15 minutes. I mean, I trust Becky Hammond's judgment. Why? Maybe she only played 15 minutes. It wasn't foul trouble. And we've heard Nalissa talk about, man, I'm happy how I've been playing defending without fouling. Melissa has to bring a certain level of competency to their front court to make it challenging for Boston and Howard so that they're not at least wearing them down so they don't score as effectively in these games. So Melissa Smith's got to play better, too, and her role needs to be increased in game two.
- [17:07]
Zena Kaeda
It's a group effort in terms of increased play. As you mentioned, the 12 turnovers with the 12 assists, like just an indication that they were not themselves the other night. So let's move on over to Minneapolis, where the Lynx took on the Mercury in game one of their semifinal series at Target Center. And if you were a Valkyries fan watching this game, I know you had ptsd. I know you felt a level of empathy for the Mercury fans especially. I mean, there were so many similarities. Minnesota being down seven at half, very similar to their last game against the Valkyries. And then this, like, raring comeback led by Nafisa Collier. Overall, the Lynx were able to beat the mercury 82, 69. Even though the Mercury felt as if they had control of that game for the majority of the night. Brendan giving the Mercury's firepower against the Liberty, closing them out, coming in with that momentum. Did this decisive win surprise you at all?
- [18:08]
Brendan Glasheen
No, because they've proven they can come back in games all year and they've proven they can do it last year and even this year that they're not out of any game because of how you mean the lakes, Minnesota. Correct. Yes. But I was surprised at goes for, you know, 18. But she had 16 of her points in the first half. They really took her out of the game as a score in the second half of that game on Sunday. So if Satu is the only three of 11, I think Kalia Copper is one of the most outstanding closers and she proved that in the closeout game against New York. But they've got to find ways for AT to maintain scoring potential even when it's not going well. And I know AT being around AT for a number of years in Connecticut, she thrives on the break. She thrives in transition. Postseason basketball, the game gets slower. Half court sets become more of the name, the bread and butter of a basketball game when you get to the playoffs. So AT always is involved. Don't get me wrong. But when you add one, it almost hurt Phoenix that AT was their only source of offense in that first half. Because then what happens when Minnesota, Cheryl Reeve, Nafisa defending her, when they make those adjustments, do you have a counter punch? And I think this Phoenix team I've come to figure out, they go as Satu Sabali goes. If SATU is on it, they are tough to beat because that means you've got a legitimate three headed monster with your Akoa Makani's and your Dewana Bonners supplementing Sammy Whitcomb hitting shots. But if SATU is disengaged from the game, it makes it a lot easier for the opponent. And Minnesota's going offensively, my goodness, they play such a fun brand of basketball. The way the ball moves, everybody's moving, no one's standing still. And they had the home crowd behind them. So I'm not surprised Minnesota came back. But I was surprised that it almost hurt the Mercury how good Thomas was in the first half that they had no, they were not very multiple offensively and that hurt them because Minnesota adjusted and Phoenix did not.
- [20:01]
Zena Kaeda
And Minnesota is good for adjustments. I mean, that's what happens when you have a coach like Cheryl Reeve at the helm and when you think about that first half versus the second half, Sabrina, that Brendan's referring to, I mean, it was market like 24, 23. Those were the first quarter and second quarter total points that Phoenix put up in the first half. 12 and 10. The third and fourth quarter, they had 54 total paint points, which is great. They outdid the Minnesota Links in terms of paint points, 54 to 40. But that doesn't matter when 42 of those were in the first half and you were reserved to just 12 in the second half. I mean, the defense locked up in the second half for the Minnesota Links, which is actually not surprising, but especially considering that the Links had announced Dijonay Carrington would miss the rest of the postseason due to a midfoot sprain, you're thinking that's your best point of attack defender. Yeah, that's your depth coming off the bench, being able to make things very uncomfortable for the likes of anyone on the perimeter for the Mercury. How do you think dijonay's absence could reshape this series? And really after seeing game one, like, what's gonna be the impact there, particularly in terms of depth for the Lynx?
- [21:16]
Sabrina Merchant
Well, one of the concerns I had with dejanae's absence was just foul trouble. Like you saw in that game against the Valkyries when Bridget Carlton picked up her fourth defending Veronica Burton, and just how much they struggled really without her on the floor as like their perimeter defender. And like, if that happens against Phoenix, like, who's supposed to guard Khalia Copper? Well, this was a game that had like 10 fouls or 10 free throws total. You know, it was very cleanly played game. It was an incred, incredibly low foul game. So obviously I think that works in Minnesota's favor because you don't have to worry about K, Mac or Carlton having to come out of the game. So that was, you know, one thing. But I mean, Courtney Williams, if she's going to play like this, she's going to make the type of decisions that she was making in game one. You know, whether that was when to attack as a scorer or when to facilitate. I mean, when she knew that like Minnesota needed her to score versus when, you know, you dump it into Maria Klinikova or, you know, whatever playmaking decision scouring was making, it obviously makes it a lot easier to stomach the absence of another guard. I still think this could come up later, which is why, like, I'm a little less enthused about the links than I was three days ago because, you know, you miss a rotation player, that's obviously a big loss, but Cheryl Reeve pivots, right? Like, you know, you talk about adjustments, they are the best third quarter team like over the last 15 years of the WNBA, because that's what Sheryl Reeve does at halftime. You know, they all talk it over. They make adjustments.
- [22:28]
Zena Kaeda
Do they talk? Sabrina, the fact that. Is it yelling or is it talking?
- [22:33]
Sabrina Merchant
I mean, I think Cheryl said that like one of the things that unites her team is just a disdain for their coach. So I think part of it is yelling. But it all comes together, right? The fact that like you have a player in Maria Clindikova who didn't play in the first round against the Valkyries, who didn't play in the first half against Phoenix, and Cheryl just plucks her out in the third and fourth quarter and it's like, hey, like, we're not getting enough rebounds. Let's, let's do this. I know you're going to be on the glass, whether that's the offensive end or defensive end. Clean things up for us. Like, there is still some depth, right? It's just not on the perimeter. It's still in the front court. And maybe you have to move fee a little bit to the three and go a little bit bigger, which is okay against Phoenix because they're going to be playing SATSU and AT and Tuana. Like, there are places to hide all your bigs defensively. But I think Minnesota, like, they've been just preparing for this all year, right? Like, they've been wanting to get to this point all year and whether it is it looks exactly the same as they thought it would at the start of the season. Like, you just have to get it done with the players who brought you here. The same thing with Indiana, it's the same thing with Minnesota, right? Like, if that means Tatisha Heideman, Courtney Williams, Bridget Carlton have to be a little bit cleaner, a little more disciplined, then that's just what they have to do, right? And it's obviously easier in Minnesota in front of your home crowd against a team that I think kind of just ran out of gas in the fourth quarter, you know, like it was 68 to 67. All of a sudden the game ends 82 to 69, right? Like, I don't think Phoenix is going to miss as many jumpers as they did in that fourth quarter going forward, but at least they did what they were supposed to do, right? You get the job done in game one. This is a game if you're the Lynx, you have to have and I'm still impressed with what Phoenix is able to do, you know, as the series progresses. Like, I think Nate figured out some ways to get their offense going in the first half and I thought they had good looks in the second half that just didn't quite go down. Sometimes it's just a make or miss situation. But this is a five game series and to get one out of the way is an important milestone to. So kudos to the Lynx for getting done what they were supposed to get done. And yeah, it's going to be harder without Dijonay, but I don't think it's necessarily impossible. They still have so much talent on that team.
- [24:17]
Brendan Glasheen
I mean everybody thought it was unfair when they got her at the deadline. Did anyone really see that coming going back now to early August, that Dijonay was going to be on Minnesota of all teams she got moved to and everyone thought the chatter at the time was this is so unfair. So that's no knock at Dijonay. She is a value add when she's available. But. But I agree with Sabrina. I think they're fine with their depth and Kalyan dikova was a plus 14 in eight minutes. So that's a good call out that she provided. Just a wrinkle to just throw another look. But that's a fair point about at. I thought AT had a great first half and she is right around those triple double numbers as we come to expect now on any given night. But that's, that's why AT was excited about going to Phoenix. Was surround me with shooters. If I can go get my own shot, I will. Now they gotta make them. And that's why I brought up SATU being over five. That can't happen against this team, get away with that in the regular season on any given night. But against this team, Satu's got to be making at least two per night. I think on a, on a five or six attempt night from three.
- [25:15]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah, 0 for 5 for Satu in the second half, 3 of 11 for the full game and then Monique akwa Makani being 0 for 4 in the second half, like can't be moving like that. I also saw Dana Bonner in 15 minutes in the second half, only 10 for 1 as well. Last question on this guys. Adjustments. It seems like we're pretty clear on. I mean Minnesota looks like they know what they need to do, maybe start a little bit better. But in terms of Phoenix beyond rest, which is pretty obvious that they needed it. You could see that even Rebecca Lobo commented on the fact that they weren't moving up the floor in the same level in that second half. Fatigue had maybe set in. What are some other adjustments you're looking for Phoenix to make? Sabrina?
- [25:56]
Sabrina Merchant
I kind of look at this Courtney Williams Sammy Witcom matchup. I think Courtney just is a little too shifty for Sammy to keep her in front and that was causing Phoenix's defense a lot of difficulty because Courtney was just blown by her. I wonder if you just have to use more Akoa Makhani in that matchup who can kind of stay in front or, you know, change her help behind that. But that to me was like that. Breaking that first line of defense was a real issue for Phoenix, especially in the second half.
- [26:19]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah, giving her a second look or a different look in terms of just bodies in front of her will definitely help. I can't even use the Valkyries series as like a way to slow down Courtney Williams because she was just having an off series. Like she wasn't needed as much in the Valkyries series in terms of shot production and things of that sort. But the one thing that the Valkyries do do well is show a lot of bodies when it comes to the paint, making folks not want to go into the paint. So maybe that could help. Brendan, what do you think?
- [26:46]
Brendan Glasheen
I like that call out. Plus Veronica Burton is an outstanding defender prior to even winning.
- [26:51]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah, of course.
- [26:52]
Brendan Glasheen
Most improved player. That was her MO at Northwestern and that's really what kept her afloat, you know, when she got her second opportunity post Dallas with Connecticut. That's why she cracked a rotation last year in the playoffs. So Veronica having playoff experience. But yeah, Courtney is so dangerous getting downhill and just a little pounce to that free throw line area to not even shoot it at times but to kick out. And Nate Tibbets has a decision to make. Are you willing to sacrifice a little of Kalia's offense in the first half of the game? As long as you know she's ready to help you close a close game as we saw in that game three against New York. All good. Can you throw another look at Courtney? And that's why I bring up SATU again. SATU has to carry some offensive load in the first three quarters. And then I think I've said this, I don't think AT has had a player like Kalia Copper next to her to help her close out a close game at the end. So I think this is going to be a grinder of a series because it's just too much talent on that Phoenix side and as Alyssa has brought up, they haven't had this trio really together all season against this particular team so they've got more in the tank. And speaking of depth, I think this team has got the most depth going right now in terms of ready made rotation playoff players.
- [28:00]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah before this series started they had met up since July which is a very different looking team for both sides. So we will see how all of this progresses soon enough. At the time that you're listening to this, the games are again tonight. Remember it's five game series so the turnaround is quick. But for now join us on the other side of this break. We're going to break down Unrivaled and its impact on the W.
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- [29:56]
Zena Kaeda
With the WNBA's end just a few weeks, some of you guys might be getting a little sad. A little bit like what's going to happen with my pro women's basketball? Don't worry guys, NCAA basketball is right around the corner. I know it's not pros, but we know the level of ball is still up there folks. Don't you worry. And you won't have to wait too long until you see your favorite pros out on the court again. Unrivaled is going to return for its second season. Brendon, what date is that going to be?
- [30:25]
Brendan Glasheen
We're in September. So January 5th is when the beginning of season two is. The opening night is Monday, January 5th.
- [30:32]
Zena Kaeda
Okay. Okay. I'm excited, I'm excited. I've already some of you might have seen some of my posts about this, but I really do feel like there was an impact that unrivaled had on some of these players and the way they're showing up in the wnba. And it's so exciting because last year it was like exclusive. It was hard to get a spot in unrivaled and the league is expanding this year. Two new teams, two 18 new player spots and there's some other changes as well. So Brendan, we're really happy to have you here because you were the voice of the play by play action on Unrivaled for TNT this past year and we're going to get into some of these changes and things of that sort. But as you get ready for season two approaching, what's been the vibe like, what's the excitement like for you or what's the feel?
- [31:17]
Brendan Glasheen
Really successful year one, I think most would agree in the unrivaled office, front office on down to coaches, players, people like me that are just a fly on the wall to be part of it, really successful. And I think we are all antsy to see what improvements can be made to continue to enhance the product and put these women on a stage that showcases the best players in the world playing a different styled game. It's no longer new because we saw it for one year. So the excitement around it, the fact that they're ahead of schedule, adding an extra night of games, adding two teams which means there are more players playing. One of the key adjustments that folks are becoming aware of with 54 total players, there is going to be a developmental player pool which yes, the first reaction to that is oh, because they had injuries and those injuries were not fun and that was definitely a detriment to the product on some nights. But I think it also allows for more growth that maybe some players that did not think they would have the potential to play in Unrivaled, they can be part of this developmental process over the 10 weeks that you're in Miami to not only get your chances to play those that will just come up, that's the nature of the beast. But also to be part of something where these players have equity in the league. And the idea after year one was to come out of that experience, go to your WNBA training camps and say to your teammates, say to folks in your building at any given WNBA facility and say I had the best experience ever as a pro basketball player. And pretty much check marks across the board for the initial 36. And then some of those additions, some of the additions last minute ended up being really great stories for how they played to finish out the unrivaled season, but how it translated right away into this, this past WNBA regular season.
- [33:10]
Zena Kaeda
Okay, so there's, that's already a lot right there. You're starting on track January 5th in extra night of games. You're adding two new teams. There's going to be a developmental pool which is really cool. It's kind of like already an unrivaled G league kind of built in there, which is really awesome. And, and we already know some, we heard some hints of some of the folks that are going to be playing in this league. And I understand as of yesterday we've announced the players that are joining this league. So at least six new players have been announced. Brendan, do you have those names?
- [33:44]
Brendan Glasheen
I have six names for you that are out as of now. These six names are Alyssa Thomas back for year two. So the idea, so before I go, the idea here is to include a crop of of players that are returning and then sprinkle in a crop of players that are going to be new to the scene. But to be very, very clear, as they announce these names each weekday through the end of September, this is not these six names. I will read to you. This is not a team. This is six players that will be in the league and then the teams will be announced in November. So they're going in multiples of six. Nine days left in September. Six times nine is 54. 54 players. Math on the air has always been something I've been told not to do, but I felt pretty confident to go there because I've recited it in my mind. So Here are the six players as of September 22nd. Alyssa Thomas. Rekia Jackson is back for year two at Unrivaled. AT's teammate Satu Sabali. And these will be three new faces in Unrivaled in 2026. Paige Beckers who did it was pretty known. Paige made a long term commitment to unrivaled.
- [35:00]
Zena Kaeda
So I'm reacting because it's fun.
- [35:02]
Brendan Glasheen
I knew that there's Paige. These are maybe two names folks didn't know, are not aware of and now you will be Connecticut Sun Wing. Saniyah Rivers is joining unrivaled in 2026.
- [35:13]
Zena Kaeda
Okay.
- [35:14]
Brendan Glasheen
And a veteran in the WNBA who had an outstanding season in Seattle, Erica Wheeler will be joining unrivaled.
- [35:25]
Zena Kaeda
That's fun.
- [35:26]
Brendan Glasheen
They're your first six.
- [35:27]
Sabrina Merchant
Okay.
- [35:28]
Zena Kaeda
Okay. Erica Wheeler, also, great job ending on that one because that's like the main one that I don't think we knew. That's awesome. She had a great season and oh, I'm excited for the one on one matchups. That'll be a lot of fun to watch. Okay, let's step back real quick.
- [35:40]
Sabrina Merchant
Can you imagine Erica Wheeler going up against Saniya Rivers? Like, I just immediately thinking of Sanaya just like getting her hands in there.
- [35:47]
Zena Kaeda
Yes.
- [35:47]
Sabrina Merchant
But anyway, that's not what we're talking about.
- [35:49]
Zena Kaeda
Or letting her blow by so she could like chase down, block one of the two. One of the two. Let's take like a step. Let's take a step back though, because there was a lot. There was a lot there. But in the sense, like, I just love what unrivaled did. Not only from the things that you just laid out in terms of being player centric, in terms of ensuring that, you know, this is a place in which players could develop themselves without having to go overseas. And it was also a great place to build camaraderie across teams, people that you don't typically play with or interact with, et cetera. But. But what I love was particularly the impact I saw on people's games, the parts of their games that broke open, that were more refined, whether it was footwork, whether it was decision making, whether there was a crop of things that you saw across different players. And I wanted to ask both of you, like, what you guys saw. So Sabrina, I'll start with you. What were some of the things that you saw in terms of development and growth in people's personal evolution in terms of basketball playing that you saw out unrivaled?
- [36:51]
Sabrina Merchant
Yeah, I mean, so many things. Let's start with close to Me. I think Azari Stevens became like far more aggressive hunting her shot as a result of playing in unrivaled. That three on three experience, you just can't pass off shots, really. There's only so many players on the court. So I think her becoming a more aggressive scorer and, you know, being comfortable shooting the 3 off of just like really imbalanced shot form I think was really impressive. Something that you saw carry over into the spark season. I think about Minnesota and Nafeesa Collier and Courtney Williams just Being able to hone their two player game and all the decisions you make just off of handoffs, off of ball screens, how to work with each other. Obviously they were excellent in 2024 in Minnesota. I think that just went to another level in 2025. And then Brendan, what else you got? Because I don't want to take all of them. There's a lot of stages in a number of.
- [37:35]
Brendan Glasheen
Those were two good ones. I probably wouldn't have started there, but something you said about Azarae was just being able to create your own shot. That's what the one on one tournament demonstrated that hey, there might be a little bit more in the bag there than we thought from certain players. And that's where the player development side. I think it sounds boring because it's like the league is not going anywhere. They're here to stay. Unrivaled is here to stay. They have taken pride in not being just an off season league, which they do time it out so that they can make everything work. They are contrary to popular belief, they want everything to work. All professional basketball here is going to lift the other pro basketball up. The goal is to make it so. And this is happening before our eyes. Pro basketball is becoming a 365247 ecosystem of news. It's a news cycle that is there's something to talk about pretty much every day, 12 months out of the year. So from a basketball standpoint, I thought that's a good one. The Nafisa, Courtney Williams, Jelling, which people were like, you really got to put those two on the same team. But Courtney spoke about it that they were only teammates for one year in Minnesota prior to unrivaled. It's not like they've been playing together for a while. I thought Dijonay took a leap offensively, showed what she's got going in her offensive arsenal. Now the goal is to become a little bit more consistent on the offensive end. I thought Ray Burrell had an outstanding winter. The potential is through the roof.
- [39:00]
Sabrina Merchant
Tremendous.
- [39:01]
Brendan Glasheen
Playing with Vinyl, I think most folks thought Derick Hamby is really underrated as a leader, as a defensive leader. So Vinyl, I thought and Vinyl of course made noise. They made the final and no one really expected them to because of their seed. And it was tricky because Arique was hurt and then Ryan had some off nights. But when Ryan was on defensively and shooting and we saw it this year with Atlanta, when Ryan's on, she's on like get out the way. And rightfully so. Alicia Gray deserved all star consideration this year definitely proved deserves to be all WNBA first team MVP consideration. But even Alicia said to us countless times last year I think I can be able to go get my own and create my own shot better because of the experience I had in Miami over these 10 weeks. So I think Alicia really burst through a door down here playing with elite teammates. So it's like okay, you're playing with Fee, you're playing with Courtney. What's that going to look like then when you go to the W and she's elevated her teammate, she was a team connector in Atlanta and elevated others around her and I think she learned that from that experience. Some other ones, the way Rose plug and played players with their injuries down the stretch I thought was awfully impressive. Those are some that that jumped to mind and I think the laces Kayla McBride can go get a shot too and she didn't have to. She hasn't had to do that. When you play in Vegas with Asia and in Minnesota with fee, Kayla McBride can be a one on a given night. And I think the best is yet to come with Chelsea Gray in this post season. I feel like Chelsea's just been treading water to get to this point in the year. So I'm very curious what Chelsea Gray might have left in the tank for this particular WNBA season. I love the Azare Stevens call out. That's such a. That's a good one. What a Swiss army knife and what a value add to any team. She makes any team better that she is on.
- [40:54]
Zena Kaeda
I love all of these call outs. I'm happy that that some of the ones that I wanted to talk about you guys haven't mentioned yet. I thought Shakira Austin learned like she got again we got a clean sweep.
- [41:04]
Sabrina Merchant
Of the Lunar Owls.
- [41:06]
Zena Kaeda
Oh right, exactly. Right exactly. I mean oh her when you mentioned Brendan you started with like did not know that was in the bag. Like Shakira Austin had that in the bag. But because she's been injured for so long it's like one we forgot but two we hadn't seen it consistently. Right. And so you see her AP comeback player of the year. It makes sense that you know she's in that conversation. I thought Angel Reese, her ability to get the ball off the rim and go and push was something that she developed in unrivaled as well as her ability even though it wasn't like a go to shot. But even her ability to pull up to go off of screen. You saw a little bit more of that this season in the Chicago sky and I'm like, okay, all right, this is going to be different. Let's see how this continues to grow. And then I thought there was some role players that found a way to be even better at their roles. Like, I really liked Lexi Hall's performance this season in the W of just being tenacious on the glass, being all over the floor, doing everything. And she's been that person since Stanford, but it felt like it took another leap. And she also seemed, is she as conditioned as she's always been? Maybe she just feels like stupidly conditioned in this season than ever before. And I'm like, I don't know what was in the water down in Miami and Doral, but. But I thought Kate Martin's confidence was much better. There was just so many different people that I just thought felt like they understood their role. Ray Burrell was absolutely one of those people that they're like, they understood how they can contribute to a team even better. And so, okay, I think we've got a lot of examples here in the way that unrivaled help players out and elevated their games. But I'm curious, like, do we think that there might have been anything in terms of injuries? Like, we can't talk about what's happening on the court without talking about the increase of injuries that we've seen, especially unrivaled players in the W this season. So curious if there's one I want to kind of talk about who were. Sabrina, I'll let you, like, kind of lay out some of the folks that we're talking about. Dijonay Carrington obviously, being one of those names that we just talked about. I know, but Angela Laney Hamilton had to miss out her entire season with the injury she sustained down in Miami. Do we think that there's anything to some of these injuries, the extra impact, the extra work? Is the three on three format particularly tough? Because, you know, we've seen, yes, injuries have happened overseas, but not necessarily to the rate that it was with players in unrivaled. So, Sabrina, I'll let you start there with your thoughts.
- [43:37]
Sabrina Merchant
Yeah, so I want to preface this obviously with, like, we are not injury scientists. We are not like medical performance specialists. Just going off of some data here, but of the 42 players who participated in unrivaled, like, 36 of them suffered an injury during the WNBA season, which feels like a pretty big number. That was 82 total injuries per reporting from Lucas E. Hoffer, who keeps the WNBA injury database for the next hoops. And like, that's, that's a lot of injuries, a lot of games lost. It ended up being 333 total games lost, which includes, you know, full season from Menagelane's Hamilton. So that like adds to the number. But I think Unrivaled is probably aware of this. Right? Like we're not seeing back to backs in season two. Right. That's why there's an extra night of games. You're seeing a developmental player of a pool of players. Right. So that people can step in and you know, add when like you need an extra player on the roster so that there's not an extra load for the players who are already, you know, suiting up for their team. So I will say that like 3x3 looked more physical than I expected it to be. I guess that shouldn't have been a surprise considering like what it looks like at the Olympics and at the international level.
- [44:37]
Brendan Glasheen
But.
- [44:37]
Sabrina Merchant
But it definitely feels like it takes a toll on the players and something that I would imagine all of the parties involved are considering and aware of and trying to do their best to make sure that they are protecting the assets which are the players. Right. And making sure that they are available for Unrivaled and for the wnba.
- [44:56]
Zena Kaeda
Brendan, what'd you say?
- [44:57]
Brendan Glasheen
Yeah, that was a common theme that was brought up throughout the year, was having the back to backs more on the players for sure, because you know, we harp on back to backs. I think every team, I could be wrong on this. They probably, every team of the 13 this year probably had at least three ish, maybe four, maybe some teams had more. I I know Connecticut had three of them, I'm pretty sure. But then they had like these weird like bye weeks early in the season where they would play Sunday but then not play again till the following Sunday. And I realize a lot of different varial variables get introduced when we're talking just w with arena availability and especially the teams that don't have the NBA parent when they share arenas. So that is not an issue. And unrivaled because they've got the arena in Doral that is theirs. The soundstage and the way they opened up the courts. I did a little digging on this as well. I just did the original 36 players that committed to the season. So Cameron Brink is not a good example of this because she missed the whole year. Anyway, Courtney Vandersloo ended up missing. I think she only played in seven games this year for Chicago. But of the 25 of the 36 original unrivaled players played in 79 and a half percent of the season, that's at least 35 games played. So 25 out of 36, that's about 70% of the players. Now I only use that number of 79.5%. So 25 of 36 played 79.5% of the WNBA season. That's 35 out of 44. I bring that number up because women's basketball deserves the same leniency to me that the NBA guys get. NBA players, if you want to be qualified for an award, you have to play in 65 of 82 regular season games. Now, this is not an awards discussion. It's just that's the barometer pro basketball players in the NBA try to meet so they can qualify for these things. They get leniency to miss a night if they don't feel up for playing. If James Harden, say what you want about him, does not want to play Tuesday night in Charlotte, you might not like it as a fan of the Clippers or a James Harden fan. That's not the discussion here. We just, we give those guys that break to take a night. So not every injury, as you laid out, Sabrina, is created equal. But if the goal now, especially in today's culture of going after a ring or competing for a championship. So New York had that come up a few times where Cloud and Yonescu didn't have season altering injuries, but they missed a handful of games. There was a period, right, where Stewie Fee, Caitlyn, major stars got hurt around the same time and had to miss substantial time to the season.
- [47:33]
Sabrina Merchant
It was angel too, with that back injury.
- [47:34]
Brendan Glasheen
Oh, an angel, right. An angel played in 30 games. Yeah. Her situation a little different though because of how the team sort of fell out of it. And we could do a whole pod on what's going on in Chicago. But anyways, and then looking at some of the players that played in the unrivaled playoffs, the teams that did reach the unrivaled final, Chelsea Gray played almost a full season. Some other ones, Azara Stevens played nearly a full season. She played with Rose. You go down the list. Even the vinyl players. Ray Burrell. Now, Ray Burrell had a catastrophic injury early in the year, but Ali Shagray played in 42 games. Nas Hillman played a full 44 game season. She didn't play the full unrivaled season. But the point is they're listening. They understand. Having that extra night, I think is going to do so much to allow for more convenient scheduling breaks over the course of what, let's face it, it's a, it's a 10 week sprint and one of the best lines, one of the best quotes of the unrivaled season was when Skyler Diggins when I think they started five and oh, the Lunar Owls are five and oh and Skyler said we're taking this bleep seriously and we set a standard for what this league is going to be. They're not just rolling the balls out and playing a pickup three on three game. They are taking it seriously. So I think players responded to that, which is good. That's good back and forth as it pertains to the health of competitive basketball. So I think adding the player pool from the start and not adding players last minute, I think Heideman, Natisha Heideman came off a flight from China to join last year. Nas Hillman was playing elsewhere as well. And then you have the complication if you, if you're committed to Athletes Unlimited you couldn't play an unrivaled because you had a contract there. So there's a little bit more clarity on who's available and they could get really get ahead of schedule adding two teams and adding an extra game night so that you can avoid back to backs.
- [49:22]
Zena Kaeda
My question is I'm still curious as to how Kayla McBride did it playing for Fenner and playing unrivaled and then going to play with the WNBA machine like a machine. Absolutely machine. But that is good insight and I think there is a good barometer there that you've just laid out of. Like because the NBA season is 82 games versus the 44 you see in the WNBA. I think that's why people are like the rest games like come on like do you need rest? But when you think about the grueling schedule outside of those 44 games, you do have to factor in the fact that these stars need rest once in a while. So I think this is something that's great that the league is listening and that they are going to be paying attention to this. The fans will be too. So that'll be something that they'll be keeping an eye on. But overall we just want great health for all the players so we can have a great league. Let's pivot from arrivald. Thank you for giving us our first six here and we'll keep our ears to the ground as the last days of September. I cannot believe it's almost October is happening and we get more names but we want to flip over to the team that you cover in the WNBA very well. By the way, great broadcast over at the Connecticut Sun. Their season was decidedly different this year after having historic years of just being able to make it to the semifinals, to the finals. But something had to give. Being a contending team, but not being the final contender, right? And now this was a major rebuilding year. Or maybe it wasn't. Maybe it wasn't labeled as that. I'm curious. Some teams look at it differently. I wanted to hear what you guys thought. And on top of that, their future ownership is uncertain, to say the least. We'll leave that to the side as news is still developing around that whole situation. But let's just talk about the basketball. How were the sun using this season as a foundation to build for future success? How are they framing it even in Connecticut?
- [51:13]
Brendan Glasheen
Yeah, so they were 2 and 15 at one point they did not have Marina for nine games. Layla Lacan, her late arrival. And then we found out what her arrival meant to the team. At first most of the discussion around Layla was she was more of a combo guard, but I thought she can really control the pace of a game on both ends of the floor and the way her and Siya Rivers formed a tandem at the top of the arc defensively to make it. So when you bring the ball up on a 24 second shot clock, when you get to second 17 or 16, you're screaming oh my God, what are we doing? What are we doing? What are we doing? That was the idea for the opponent on the offensive end and how to set up shop on the in a set or anything. So the way they get out and run transition wise, that was really fun to watch. But their defense, their steals per game, they were nearly the top three very least when Layla entered the mix in July. But I think what I found to put kind of put it in a blender and sum it up, I think I saw what they're building here. Like I think the pieces fit. Anissa Morrow, it's well documented. Plays bigger than her 6:1 frame, the way she goes after the ball. She was a volleyball player in high school. Those skills have translated awfully well to being an elite rebounder and throwing your body around to control the ball, especially offensive rebounding and maybe learned a thing or two from angel at LSU, that's for sure. Saniya's offensive game took steps. She was a 45% three point shooter in the month of August. And Layla, now Layla, it gets complicated again because of all these other commitments with the World cup upcoming and her overseas commitments. So that's they've got to work through some things. There But Connecticut, I thought. And also last thing I'll say too is glad Tina Charles seems she's going to keep playing basketball and wants to come back. We'll see if it's in Connecticut. I don't know. I don't know if Marina Mabry is back or not. But what I think Marina deserves a little bit of the benefit of the doubt is this was Marina's first year. Maybe you could count maybe in Chicago at the tail end before she ended up getting traded to the sun last year. I thought Marina made an adjustment post injury to be a complimentary piece. But this was her first year to be challenged to be the number one or the A option scoring the ball. So maybe Connecticut thinks Marina is still on the upward trajectory to be that person. But the sun, if they can add a prolific league established score to this mix, that was the goal this season. Can we hang around which they look, they didn't. They were out of it really, after 17 games. But can we prove to people around the league with a pending CBA with free agents upcoming, if I'm a star free agent, I can go, hey, they got a good thing going there with their rookies. Now the sale plays a huge part in that. But can we add a veteran player that can go score the ball and get theirs and add it to this complimentary mix of which will be sophomore players next year? They've got something going there in Connecticut. I was impressed with how they finished the season and they did not give up on the season despite the win total not being to the expectation of semifinals or making the playoffs every year. So I think that they're on the right track. And I think the pieces, those three I just named and the addition of Aaliyah Edwards, but those three Lacan, Rivers, Morrow all played there well, exponentially well. And you can see what they're building and how those puzzle pieces might fit.
- [54:27]
Sabrina Merchant
Yeah, we did a future power rankings before the All Star and you think about where we had Connecticut, just from a player perspective there, it would have been so much higher had we known like what Lacan was going to turn out to be, that they were going to acquire Aaliyah Edwards. And just like you think about the way they played out the season, beating New York, you know, pushed them into the five seed at one point. Phoenix pushed them, you know, from that three to the four seed. Like they had a meaningful impact on the WMA standings all the way through the end of the year.
- [54:51]
Brendan Glasheen
I'll say one last thing about Layla Lacan. It happened probably four or five times in the back end of the year when we hadn't. So, for example, we didn't see Atlanta. We saw Atlanta early, didn't see him till late. We saw New York come in in August. We hadn't seen him since early in the year. We had Cheryl Reeve in Minnesota come in. We hadn't seen them since early in the year. So I bring that up because when we would ask them about their scout of Connecticut, it happened four or five times where they would say, yeah, Layla Lacan. We had her on our draft board in 2024 and Connecticut got a good one. Like, teams in the league knew Connecticut got a really n at number 10 in 2024. And they were like, damn, we missed out on Layla Lacan. So I think people around the league were not that surprised by her impact. You have to go out there and do it, of course. But yeah, Layla, Layla had opened eyes in that 24 draft. And I think teams, really good teams, New York, Minnesota, contending teams wanted Layla to their teams a few years ago and they were bummed out. Connecticut gutter. So that says a lot about what her capability is at 21 years old.
- [56:01]
Zena Kaeda
It says a lot about team France. Okay, after the break, we're gonna wrap things up with a quiz for Brendan.
- [56:13]
Marc Maron
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Zena Kaeda
It covered for vaccines.
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Rocket Money Advertiser
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Brendan Glasheen
Oh, here we go.
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Informal Commentator
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Brendan Glasheen
I don't know.
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Zena Kaeda
That we'll never get this Saturday back.
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- [58:06]
Zena Kaeda
All right, Brendan, before you get out of here, I'm about to hand it over to Sabrina, and she's gonna quiz you on your memory as a Sun broadcaster this season. I don't know if you guys know anything about play by play announcers, but they have all the facts on, like, basically legal paper. Every single thing you could possibly know about players. They find a way to amass them into one collection. And they do this for every opponent, every matchup. It's amazing. So I want to see just how much you actually remember. Or does it just get taken out of the brain once season ends? Sabrina, go ahead.
- [58:40]
Sabrina Merchant
Okay, so these are all stat lines that happened against the Connecticut sun at home. So theoretically, you are calling these games, Brendan. So we'll just see what we remember from the 2025 Connecticut sun season. All right.
- [58:51]
Zena Kaeda
Glasses came off.
- [58:52]
Sabrina Merchant
Yeah.
- [58:53]
Zena Kaeda
Serious.
- [58:54]
Sabrina Merchant
All right, so this is an easy one. Very easy. Who scored the most points against the Connecticut sun in Connecticut this year?
- [59:00]
Brendan Glasheen
Kelsey Mitchell.
- [59:02]
Sabrina Merchant
Absolutely. 38 points. That overtime win. Big, big game for Indiana. And you pause.
- [59:07]
Brendan Glasheen
I was nervous if I got that one right or not. O, no, you're good.
- [59:11]
Sabrina Merchant
You're good. Okay, Mentioned Layla Lacan, obviously.
- [59:14]
Brendan Glasheen
Her.
- [59:14]
Sabrina Merchant
And Sny Rivers. Big, big thievery. But who was the player that had the most deals against the Connecticut sun this year?
- [59:22]
Zena Kaeda
Ooh. Ooh.
- [59:26]
Sabrina Merchant
It's a toughie. It happened all the way back in May, actually.
- [59:29]
Brendan Glasheen
Ooh. You know. You know who I think it was? It was. Oh, I. Okay. I think it's a Dallas wing.
- [59:39]
Sabrina Merchant
It is a Dallas wing.
- [59:40]
Brendan Glasheen
Okay. Was it Paige?
- [59:44]
Sabrina Merchant
It's Arique, actually.
- [59:46]
Brendan Glasheen
Arique. Okay.
- [59:48]
Zena Kaeda
All right.
- [59:49]
Brendan Glasheen
What was that? I remember that game. I remember that game. That was like the best Dallas, I thought, looked in terms of what Paige and Arike, that was. That was the blueprint game for those two coexisting. Anyway. Keep going.
- [60:02]
Sabrina Merchant
Very much so. Okay. Two players had a triple double against the sun in Connecticut this year. Do you know who those two players are?
- [60:09]
Zena Kaeda
Are.
- [60:11]
Brendan Glasheen
Yes, I know one for sure. Skyler Diggins. That was a great performance. And I remember it because. Quick unrivaled note. So Skyler went to the line with a chance to get. So she was. She already had the assist, had the rebounds. And I made mention on the air how at unrivaled, Skyler had four game winners at the free throw line to get to that winning score. And Skyler blew both free throws and then she got another trip down and then got it. So that was. I hyped her all up to capture that moment and she didn't get it. Who was the other one? I think at was close, but did not do it.
- [60:51]
Sabrina Merchant
Was close. Yeah. Did not do it.
- [60:53]
Zena Kaeda
Right.
- [60:53]
Sabrina Merchant
The game. I think that Connecticut ended up beating Phoenix. That was. She was close. Yeah.
- [60:57]
Brendan Glasheen
Who's the second one who had a triple?
- [61:04]
Commercial Announcer
Oh, I think I remember.
- [61:06]
Brendan Glasheen
I don't. I don't know. I don't remember.
- [61:08]
Zena Kaeda
Was it Jackson Shepherd?
- [61:09]
Sabrina Merchant
No, no, no, no, no.
- [61:10]
Brendan Glasheen
It was Angel. It was Angel. Reese.
- [61:12]
Zena Kaeda
It was Angel.
- [61:12]
Sabrina Merchant
There we go.
- [61:14]
Zena Kaeda
Okay. When did.
- [61:15]
Brendan Glasheen
And I did not do that game? To be fair, that was mid June. It was a CBS game. But yeah, I watched it on my couch. I watched it on my couch. It was Angel. Yes.
- [61:23]
Zena Kaeda
Brendan, Pretty well done. I did not. I. I really thought two and a half.
- [61:28]
Sabrina Merchant
Because you got the Dallas swing partner.
- [61:29]
Commercial Announcer
Two and a half.
- [61:29]
Sabrina Merchant
College.
- [61:30]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah. Right, right.
- [61:30]
Brendan Glasheen
Okay.
- [61:31]
Zena Kaeda
I thought she was gonna like, list out, like full stat lines and be like, like, who was that? But like, thinking of all of the players, in most sense, like, that's pretty impressive. So well done and thank you for joining us. We appreciate you giving your insight for unrivaled for the league overall, things which you're seeing in the WNBA playoffs. Of course, we're gonna be watching, making sure you guys are all up to date. Of course. And so that's why you gotta make sure you come back and join us again this Friday because we're going to continue to cover everything that's going on. Of course. Remember, the games are tonight. All right. And wherever you're listening, subscribe right now so that you'll be ready on Friday when we break them down. And make sure you head on over to our partner Yahoo Sports hub for more content. Sports yahoo.com womens sports on behalf of the athletic Sabrina Merchant, Brendon Clasheen, I am Zena Keda thanking you for listening. We will see you next time. No off season is hosted by Zena.
- [62:27]
Commercial Announcer
Cato with Chantelle Jennings, Sabrina Merchant and Ben Pickman. It's produced by Tanika Burrell. Our executive producers are Andrea B. Scott and Cassius Fleming. Our theme music is by Marcus Bagala. Monica Compton is our video editor.
- [62:40]
Zena Kaeda
Shannon Ryan is managing editor of women's basketball at the Athletic.
- [62:44]
Commercial Announcer
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Brendan Glasheen
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Sabrina Merchant
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Informal Commentator
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