← No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
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- [00:01]
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- [01:26]
Simone Augustus
There to watch them.
- [01:26]
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- [04:39]
Chantelle Jennings
For the athletic I'm Chantelle Jennings and this is the Athletic Women's Basketball Show. Welcome to the Athletic Women's Basketball Show. I am Shantelle Jennings, joined today by Ben Pickman. I hope you had a great long weekend this week. We have an excellent podcast for you. We start the first half of our podcast having a chat with Simone Augustus, the Olympic WNBA LSU icon who recently joined the LSU women's basketball staff. We talk with her about being back in Baton Rouge as well as getting her thoughts on her own Olympic memories. Obviously we can't dive too much into the Olympics talk with her because she is on the selection committee and the roster is not yet out. But that's why Ben and I followed up our conversation with her with looking at the Olympic roster, making our own projections, seeing what we think is happening there, and looking a little bit more at this team that will be going for gold medal number eight in Paris this summer. And with that, Simone Augustus. I'm really excited to have her here. Simone's a four time WNBA champ, the Finals MVP of 2011, a three time Olympic gold medalist, a two time Naismith player of the Year. Both the Minnesota Lynx and LSU have retired her uniform. And there is now a statue of herself outside of her new employer at lsu, which must be both interesting and a little funny to walk by at times, perhaps. This summer has been super busy for Simone. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball hall of Fame in April and is yet to be inducted into the Naismith hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports hall of Fame. By the end of the summer, that will all come to pass. All of these are as players. She has said she also wants to be inducted as a coach, and she is one step closer to doing exactly that. Last week, she took a job with LSU to be on Kim Mulkey's staff. That is a lot to introduce, and that's not even all of it. So, Simone, thank you for being here with us today.
- [06:49]
Simone Augustus
Thank you for having me.
- [06:50]
Chantelle Jennings
We're recording this on Thursday. You just wrapped up your press conference welcoming you back to LSU as a coach. How are you feeling?
- [06:56]
Simone Augustus
Nervous, excited. I mean, every emotion you can think of. Very excited or happy to be back home, obviously, but just ready to get this journey started.
- [07:06]
Chantelle Jennings
So, Simone, let's talk a little bit about. Obviously, you've coached in the wnba. Coming back to the college ranks, though, you've played for so many, you know, incredible coaches in this game. What have you taken from each of them that you plan to use, especially, you know, coaching young women at the college level?
- [07:23]
Simone Augustus
Yeah, just speaking on it, I'm like, I haven't really been on this level in, like over 20 years. I've been on a pro level for, you know, 15, 16 years and then coached, you know, with the Sparks for those two years. And it's a totally different field. You're thinking, you. You're dealing with professionals. This is your job. The mindset, the way that you go about your business is, is a lot different than now. You're pouring into young women that are trying to get to where you were. And so just thinking about the schedule, like being a student athlete, remembering that was just the tallest task. Having to go to class, then gaining enough energy to come to practice and give your all and so on and so forth. So, you know, I think it's kind of. It has a crossover feel to it like, it's got to be able to handle your business. Like, I can teach them how to be a pro on this level, even though I haven't been here for a while. So this is going to be quite the journey. I think they're going to be sponges as opposed to once you get to the pro level people. I've mastered my craft, so I'm at the top as opposed to now. They're going to be more of a sponge and soaking it up and really trying to take your advice and your expertise in.
- [08:29]
Chantelle Jennings
It's funny, you talk about sort of how you've been at the pro level for so long, coaching, playing, obviously your highly decorated career, but to then be back at the college level, when the college game sort of has those pro elements now with nil and the TV contracts and all of that, how different is it stepping back into the college game? Like when you were at lsu, you know, Mercedes Benz could have given you a car without getting some NCAA violations. And now there are players on your roster who have those deals.
- [08:57]
Simone Augustus
I know, it's so crazy. I remember we were going to play Minnesota during one of my, my senior season and Coach Gunner was trying to contact the NCAA to see if we can get wintercoats because it's Minnesota. And they denied it, obviously. And so we had to go up there with whatever sweats we had from Louisiana, which wasn't much. It was like windbreake something to deal with that winter. And now you. We speak about Nils and, you know, branding and being able to go out and get you deals and, you know, you're right now riding around in Mercedes and, you know, the life, the quality of life is totally different. I remember going to Jack in the Box right up the street raising canes was like, you know, my place. And now they're eating filet mignon. So, you know, but that I'm. I'm happy that it happened because when we look back at it like we wish we had it, but someone, it's always like a trailblazing. Someone has to pave the way for the next generation to be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor. And so even though you're like, ah, stabbed to the heart, I wish I could enjoy that. But you're also happy and excited that now they're able to profit from their name, their likeness and their images.
- [10:02]
Ben Pickman
Have you joked with Coach Starkey? You know, obviously you've known him forever and you know, he coached you back in a different era of college basketball, as we're saying. But now that you guys are colleagues. Have you joked about that? And I guess, in addition to him, who else has kind of, you know, help shape you to. To get to this point that means so much to you?
- [10:20]
Simone Augustus
Coach jokes about that all the time. He was like, do you know if you had nil during your time, you would have been rich. He was like, you wouldn't have probably went to the W. You would have just been able to just relax and enjoy yourself. He was like, but knowing you, you still would have went to the W, had a prosperous career, and did the same things you're doing now. But, you know, those are the people that basically keep you sane, keep you humble, keep you focused on what the. The real goal is. And obviously, yeah, we all want to make money in whatever career path you're in, but the main objective was to move the needle forward, obviously accomplish what you wanted to as an individual and as a collective. And that's what I'm most proud of. Like some people, you know, I can say that I earned everything that I have, and with that sense of pride, I can go on and live my life peacefully knowing that, you know, I didn't do it for money because it wasn't available. Everything I did was. Was a sense of pride, and it was earned.
- [11:15]
Ben Pickman
Who are some of the people, you know, I guess maybe that reached out to you as you took this new job at lsu, or who are some of the folks that, you know, as you continue to progress in your coaching journey, have been people you've leaned on, picked their brains of, and helped to get you to this point?
- [11:30]
Simone Augustus
I mean, Coach Starkey was the first person, or he has been the most adamant person about being a coach. Like, even before I decided that I wanted to be a coach, he would always send me reading material that he thought resonated with me, because every year the Lady Tigers read stuff, and he's like, I think this is a good book for you. And it was always a coaching book and some type of motivational book and so on and so forth. And I just remember a couple of times that I thought about doing it, like, just. Just say camps and stuff like that. He would just put whatever camp plans, practice plans, whatever it was in the manila folder and send it. And he was just like, you know, just study it. I remember he sent me a Brown book from Dale Brown, like, during his time when he worked with Dale Brown and Shaq, and it was like a system. All the stuff from Bob Knight. When he would go and study him when he was out in West Virginia. I'M just like, coach. I don't know if I want to coach. But he was just adamant. He was like, moan, you're a teacher. And he was like, more than anything, that's what coaching is. He was like, and people listen to you, though. I don't talk a lot, and I talk softly. He was like, whenever you do say something, people hear it, they digest it, and they're able to go and implement whatever it is that you're talking about. Coach Cheryl Reeves was my pro coach from Minnesota was another person that was adamant. You know, she kind of crept up on me one day at practice and was like, what do you think about coaching? And I was like, ah, get out of my face. I don't want to hear anything about coaching, because I was in the middle of playing at the time. So all my focus was on was like, I'm trying to play. Don't tell me nothing about coaching. But she was like, you know, now that I've retired, we've had a chance to talk and, like, digest conversations. She was like, you're very intelligent. Like, you process things quickly and people listen. And just with the success and the run that we had with Minnesota, she was like, you know, without you, I don't know if I could have got the girls to be able to do the things that we did. So you have to take that into consideration and be very mindful of the power and impact that you have with your voice, even though you may feel that it isn't as loud as most other people. And so, looking down into my coaching career, I think about all the different coaches that I've had, the different styles of coaches. I mean, I don't know if any of you two play sports, but, you know, just think about teachers, different teachers that you've had throughout your educational career. You're just like, all right, this teacher was quiet. This teacher was loud. This teacher was a motivator. This teacher was highly intelligent. You can take a little bit from all of those, kind of make it into yourself, and voila, you got the magic recipe, you know, so, you know.
- [13:59]
Ben Pickman
I was doing some reading and, you know, kind of on your journey, and you were reflecting for a story two years ago about, like, what. What's your purpose kind of in. In life more generally, I guess. Do you feel like you have some more clarity on that? You know, as we have this conversation today, as you map out all the things you just talked about, learning from Coach Reeve and Starkey and going down.
- [14:18]
Simone Augustus
The line, I know y. Yeah. Your purpose screams at you. Like, as much as you want to ignore it or whatever, it screams at you. And I think I am living in my purpose. After the press conference today, we talked about the zoom call we had, you know, to introduce me to the girls before the actual announcement. And you could just see they were, like, giddy and quiet. They cover their mouths, and coach was like, well, what is this? Are y'all excited or, like, what's going on? And just seeing them, you. You can feel the energy through the screen. Like, you can feel what's happening through the screen and not. I love that feeling. Like, they're excited. I'm excited, and I'm like, I can't wait to see what all this excitement is about and what can happen with, you know, what we possess here with the energy that we possess.
- [15:01]
Chantelle Jennings
So I love that. That what you just said. Your purpose screams at you how sort of over, you know, you coached with the sparks most recently 2021, 2022, kind of stepped away from coaching. And in this, it sounds like all of these other coaches were kind of screaming at you. Like, simone, this is something you could be great at. I see it in you. I see it in you. At what point was your purpose screaming at you enough that you were like, yeah, I'm gonna not just get back into coaching, but do it at a place where the lights are so bright and where you're so well known.
- [15:30]
Simone Augustus
Yeah, I didn't want the lights to be so bright, but it was the best opportunity.
- [15:35]
Chantelle Jennings
Here you are.
- [15:36]
Simone Augustus
I know, right? But, you know, when I think about my time with the Sparks, like, it actually hit me then, and most of the coaches that I talked to, that talk about, like, I knew this was what I was supposed to be doing because this happened. I had that moment with the Sparks, and it was something simple. A player was running a play, and I kind of saw how the defense was playing the player, and I was like, you know what? Next time this player does this, take this cut. And she did. She was wide open, and she was like, yeah, she didn't get the ball because I didn't tell the point guard what to look for. But just that little moment and her seeing what I saw and it being successful, she ran over to me, and she was like, I did it. I was open. And I was like, yeah, I know. I saw it. And I think at that point, I felt like the Grinch. Like, my heart grew 10 times bigger than what it was, but I still, you know, I ignored it. Like, obviously, my coaching career happened so quickly. Like, I retired one Day and then I was on a coaching staff. So that little break in between was like much needed. I needed to just kind of take a pause. But in that pause, I also, I was a part of another league, Athletes Unlimited, which is a new pro league here. And that I believe was the greatest experience because it's a hands off league. You can coach without consequence because it's a players led league. So the players, you know, put the practices together, they put the strategy together. You're basically a guidance counselor. And so when you think about coaching, most coaches are like hands on. They want to control every facet of the game, everything. In that situation, I had to learn how to adapt, adjust a lot of players to figure things out in which I was like, you know what? I think that's more of my style. I don't want to be that coach that's micromanaging everything and harping on everything. I'm like, because I'm not out there. And it's things that players see that I don't see from the sideline. And it's adjustments that they may have to make depending on how people are guarding them or playing them in certain situations. So I'm like, now I get to build on, you know, my character. Like my, you know, you have to be calm, you have to be cool. You have to. Yeah, I mean. And I was like, that fits me more anyway because I've never been a Yellow Screamer, like, type of coach. So that literally helped build me into like, all right, this opportunity came. I'm in a position where I'm not the lead assistant coach. Starkey is the associate head coach. Like, I'm still kind of observing, but every day at practice, every day we're on the row, every game I'm in it. And I'm able to continue to build my character as a coach.
- [18:02]
Chantelle Jennings
What is it like being home again? I don't know. I'm curious how much over sort of the last 20ish years since you graduated from LSU like you are Baton Rouge born and raised, played at Capitol High School not far from the PMAC. Like over your pro career, you played overseas for 10 off seasons, I believe. How often were you able to get back to Baton Rouge and what is it like sort of living there full time now?
- [18:25]
Simone Augustus
I know that's what I literally just told him. Like I was be here two weeks. You know, when you think about the international season, they let you come home for maybe Thanksgiving, Christmas and maybe one other break in like February. So out of the whole year, I would be Home about five, six weeks. Because once you leave the international season, you're right into the WNBA season, and that's the entire summer. There is no break unless you're. You're not an Olympian and you get to come home for Olympic break. But unfortunately, fortunately for me, I was always on Olympic break. So I would say six weeks out of the year, I got to come home over 20 years. And so I'm like, this is a new introduction to me, to the city. I haven't been around here. So it's new places, new things going on. The culture is changing. Obviously, the last time I was at lsu, things were totally different. You know, the experience was totally different. Me and my dad go to. We have daddy and daughter tonight. We'll go to, like, LSU baseball games and stuff like that. And I'm like, listening to the music, and I was like, we could never play this music in arena. So it's just little small things here and there that, you know, I'm like, I can't wait to get back in and embrace my culture the way I used to and be a part of, immerse myself back in it.
- [19:33]
Chantelle Jennings
One last thing on lsu and then we should transition to Olympic talks since we're, you know, probably not far away from the roster being announced and the Paris Games are inching closer and closer. But let's sort of of taya bow on LSU right now. What most excites you about coaching this specific team, this roster, this upcoming year at this moment in women's college basketball?
- [19:55]
Simone Augustus
You know what, the brand is as hot as it's ever been. Like, all eyes are on LSU or South Carolina, you know, some of the bigger names, but yet we've lost great talent. You know, Angel Reese has went to the league. Like, you know, we had some people jump in the portal and so on and so forth. So no one's really kind of look, they looking for us but not looking for us. So it's almost like you get a chance to help them. Expect the onyx expected type. Like, you know, they don't know what to look for. But hopefully we can create a team that's as dangerous as any other team that we've had as far as our approach to the game, the quality of play and the style of play. If, you know, a Coach Malky team, they've always been tough up front in your face, like a defensive, you know, minded team. And so I look to, you know, bring my intellect, merge it with, like, Coach Starkey. We were talking about, like, the things we used to run when I was in school. So, you know, hopefully getting the girls to a point where they're able to just have the freedom on the floor that they desire, be themselves.
- [20:50]
Chantelle Jennings
All right, well, why don't we shift our attention a little bit over to the Olympics through the last part of our conversation? This is an exciting time for players who are in that Olympic pool. You are on the selection committee, so we're not going to ask you anything that gets you in trouble with Team usa. Don't worry. But, you know this moment where people are kind of waiting for the call, whether or not they're going to make that roster. As you reflect back on your time with Team usa, you got that call from Carol Callen three times saying, you're going to have Team USA across your chest. What was it like in that waiting period? And do you think back to that time differently now because of your position on the selection committee and which of those two positions to be in is more difficult?
- [21:32]
Simone Augustus
Definitely the position I'm in now, it's more difficult to be in. But the other position, you know, waiting to be selected was. It was torturous as well, because you're. You never know if you've done enough. Like, you know, I know my skill set, and you. You go out there and you perform as well as you can with the rest of the great that you're playing with and against, but you never know what the team needs. And now being on the other side, you're like, ooh, it's a lot to go in. Like, you need this person to merge with this person, and this person has this skill set and will she bring this and what type of energy? And it's just so much that goes into it, but still, it's a nail biter. I was always confident because I'm like, well, at least I left it all out there on the floor. And though I got three Olympic calls and was able to be a part of London, Rio and Beijing, you know, there were other calls where I. I got the, no, you know, like, ah, you weren't ready, or, you know, it's just not your time or whatever. And those calls mattered, too, because then it let me know that I had some work to do, had some things to figure out if I wanted to continue to be a part of USA Basketball, which is, you know, one of the situations I dealt with, like being here at LSU was really a growth period for me because I. Most of my times that I got cut from the team was when I was on a collegiate level and I just Remember, like, Coach Gunner coming in one day, because I didn't feel like back then they used to give you a questionnaire that you had to fill out and submit and send it back in. And I refuse to fill it out and send it back in. I'm like, I'm not getting cut anymore. And she was like, you know, you don't understand what being a part of USA Basketball is about. She was like, you make one team and it changes your whole trajectory of your basketball career. And she was like, I ain't gonna fight with you, but if you go one more time, for me, I think it'll be a good deal. And that one more time was the time that I got the yes. And I. I never look back. And my career, like she said, if I ever changed, being an Olympian was the one thing in my life that I wanted to be because the WNBA didn't exist when I started playing basketball. So the first poster that I had on my Wall was a US 96 Olympic team poster. So I'm like, I'm gonna play on that team one day because this is the best women's basketball team. And here I am, you know, was able to be a part of not one, not two, but three. And so I'm definitely thankful that Coach Gunna talked some sense into me.
- [23:53]
Ben Pickman
What is more memorable for you? Is it not getting that phone call and that feeling of learning you didn't make a team, or was it finally getting the call and I guess, where were you then, if you remember it, of getting, you know, finding out that you were on the Olympic team, what kind of resonated with you more as you reflect on your journey?
- [24:12]
Simone Augustus
Obviously getting that call that you didn't make it, you feel low, you feel inadequate, you feel like I'm missing something. And I was cut maybe twice, you know, before I made a team. So you really feel low. You like, well, I ain't gonna never make this team. I don't know if I got whatever it is that they're looking for. And I remember the first time I made, not the big team, the national team, but the first time I made a US Team. You know, they. We used to wear the jerseys, go to Colorado Springs. And then they were like, if we call these numbers, you step to the right, we don't call your number, you step to the left. And so I just remember having a great camp. Coach Jim Foster was our coach. Coach, and he was like, the last day, he said, you know, show me what you got. And I just blacked out and whatever I Did. It was amazing because everybody. The camp was like, oh, man, you was hooping, like. And so when they started to call the numbers, I thought it went, you know, who played the best? And go from there. So they started calling the numbers. And my number. Did first number get called, like, second number, third number? It was about five or six numbers. And I'm like, oh, man. I was ready to take my jersey off and go back to the dorm room, you know, and then my number got called, and I just had the biggest. Like. Like, I did it. Like, I couldn't wait to get back to the dorm, call my mom now. Because even, you know, you think about it, your parents go through emotional, like, trauma because they like, this is my baby. Like, my baby should make every team, you know? And so when I had to make those phone calls that I didn't make it, it was just like, don't worry about going back. And so when I was able to call and say that I did, they was like, you lying for real? I'm like, yeah, mom made it. And it was just like a weight. It almost like a weight lifted off your shoulders. Because I know the work that I had put in the previous times that I had got cut to that point that I made a team. So, yeah, it was. It was awesome.
- [26:00]
Ben Pickman
You mentioned calling family members and having those phone calls. Did you? What was it like calling family members now going back to LSU and saying, I'm taking the head coach job there? Did you have a similar. Or were they similarly, like, I can't believe it, or what was their answer?
- [26:13]
Simone Augustus
People were talking to me as if I still had years of eligibility left and that I was coming back to play. And I'm like, no, I'm just taking a little assistant coach job or whatever. Like, yeah, it's destined. It was divine. Like, they were so excited. Like, I told my parents, obviously, first, and I called them on FaceTime because I wanted to see their reaction. And my dad just had this big, like, the smile on his face. He didn't even say nothing. He was just like, I knew it. I knew it. Like, this big old grin. My mom was just like. Immediately went to, like, now I gotta figure out tickets. I gotta figure out. She went into mom mode. And I'm like, ma, it's not that serious. Like, I'm an assistant. We get, like, two, three free tickets. Like, you gonna have to rotate that through the family. Like, we'll be okay. But everybody else is talking to me like, I'm about to play four years. Four more years. So I'm excited you got a statue.
- [27:02]
Ben Pickman
I think they could find a way if you needed an extra ticket on short notice.
- [27:05]
Chantelle Jennings
Yeah, there's the statue ticket, right? There's like that caveat in your contract.
- [27:09]
Simone Augustus
Yeah, statue, get a ticket. Mike the tiger get a ticket. We figure it out.
- [27:14]
Chantelle Jennings
So going back to the Olympics, I'm curious, you know that 2012 and 2016 roster, and again, not going to ask you to disclose anything about this upcoming roster, but to me, something that was special about those teams was sort of the. The Lynx presence on those two rosters for the Olympics. And it was in the middle of that four title in seven season stretch you guys had, which isn't unlike maybe a team in the WNBA right now, but. But to have that first 2012 roster was you, Maya and Lindsay and then Syl joined 2016. What did it mean to sort of the gelling of the team? Because I think what people don't understand about the U.S. olympic team in particular is because the talent in this country is so deep. Like you were saying, it's like this player brings this, this player brings this. Whereas other countries, maybe it's. They sort of have like 14 players and that's their pool versus the US which arguably could put two, you know, a silver and a gold medal team on the floor. Right. What did it mean to 2012 and 2016 to have that core both in terms of cohesion on the floor, but off the floor as you came together as an Olympic squad?
- [28:21]
Simone Augustus
Yeah, when we think about an Olympic squad, like, we don't get as much time as other countries. Like other countries, like right now you got players that aren't coming to the W because they're like, I gotta be on my national team because we're gonna train from this day all the way through the Olympics. Well, we're playing WNBA basket and then we break for All Star break. Now, we used to didn't play all star and just kind of go right into the Olympic break, but now you got an all star game and then the Olympic break. And so, you know, having teammates, I think 2012, it wasn't just the lanes. Like we had a bunch of UConn players as well. So that matters. When you think about team cohesion automatically. Like, I've played with you. I know you personally, I know your personality, I know your tendencies on the court. I know what to do, when to do, how to do it. Like just that chemistry really speeds up the pro, the learning curve and the process. Like, we don't have to go through that jail. Like you know, I'm kind of seeing that now. Being on the other side. You see that now you're like, yeah, we gotta see if this player is gonna mess. Like that didn't happen. It was immediately like we together. And then also when you think about the talent, like the talent was through the roof. So being that we already played, played together and then our mindsets were all the same. You think about Connecticut, all they do is win. All they think about is winning. That's all they've ever done in their collegiate career, was win. And we were at like you say, four championships in seven, eight years. Like all we was thinking about was winning. So if we have nothing else in common or the same thought, thought line, it was winning. And that's the most important thing. Like we're on the same page with one thing and one thing one on. And that's that we coming home with a gold medal. And so that happened in 12. And then you add seal and 16 to that team. That only added even more because most of the Lynx players we came off the bench, except for Maya. So think about that squad. We were just speaking on that a little bit, you know, in discussions is like, well, they had a starting five and then we had a second starting five that started. And that was the beauty in having, you know, three or four players from the same team. Because once we stepped on the court, we was like, yeah, y'all take a break, it's our turn now. We, and we would always joke and laugh like we like they starting the game, but we the ones that finish it or bust it open. Like we're going to get the game to a 20, 30 point lead. And then they would look up at the clock and then it's time for the rotation for the first group to go back in. And we like, it's your turn, let's see what you can do in this 10 minute span. So it was also like a little bit of competition amongst us as well, which was great because that's what USA Basketball is all about. Like the greatest players in the country competing at the highest level, both against each other, but also, you know, against the rest of the countries.
- [31:01]
Ben Pickman
You know, one other than commonality between your links years and USA Basketball is obviously, you know, Cheryl Reeve, the head coach of this year's team. And I know, you know, I saw in Cleveland at that camp, they were all trying to get you to take part in the half court shootout competition. Maybe she's trying to, you know, bring you back and get a couple minutes out of you on this. On this year's team? But I guess just how do you reflect on kind of her journey through the system and just how prepared is she? How is she built for this moment to take the challenge on this summer? And is it funny for you to think back to when you first got to know her, that you're both in these shoes right now?
- [31:37]
Simone Augustus
I know, it's so crazy. I was like, what is this? You know, obviously, unfortunately, we had the situation with me, you know, departing from the links or whatever, but conversations have been, you know, everything has peachy cream, and I'm like, what are the odds that you're the Olympic team coach? You know, I'm on a committee. Like, we're actually going to share in this journey together, which is a beautiful thing. I wouldn't want to know other way. Obviously, she's meant so much to my career, but as far as her preparation, if. If I know her as well as I do, she is the most prepared coach in the history. Like, we used to get scouting ports, scouting reports that were like phone books. And I mean, it was detailed. Like, people talking about analytics now, they're just now starting to put all this analytics. She was doing that, like, five, ten years ago. Like, when we were on our run, the numbers were like, oh, this person shoots this percentage and this percentage of the time. You, like, what? I don't need that. Like, just tell me what I need to do. So with this here, I just, you know, obviously I hope that she finds a peace of mind because I know she can overthink everything in the process, but, you know, it's all in. In good faith. Like, she wants to win, and she's going to do whatever she needs to do to win, whether it's, you know, checking the numbers, you know, checking the players. Like, whatever it is, she's going to be prepared, and it's going to be exciting to see, you know, what this team can do under her leadership.
- [32:56]
Chantelle Jennings
All right, Simone, we've. We've taken a lot of your day so far. I know you probably your parents want to go celebrate or your mom can figure out how to get more tickets. I don't know. But before we let you go, let's close out on an Olympic question. As you reflect back on the three Olympics you were a part of. What is your favorite memory that doesn't include standing on a podium with a gold medal metal around. Around your neck? Like, what's the. What's the best non podium memory you've got?
- [33:20]
Simone Augustus
Non podium memory. You know, what's Funny. London. We were walking around London, and we saw someone with an LSU shirt on. And I don't know how, like. I mean, you obviously. Y'all know, don't know, but, like, saying. Or hearing go Tigers in Louisiana, it'll make you turn your head. You're like, who said that? Go, Tiger. So you. It's almost like an adrenaline dress. And we saw somebody, and they yelled, go, Tigers. We was like, go, Tigers. Like, in London, I was like, what are the chances that we gonna meet somebody from, like. And they were from Louisiana. It wasn't just the LSU fan, but they were from Louisiana, from Shreveport, Louisiana. And we were just like. We felt like we were at home. We was like, oh, we Right where we supposed to be. Like, anytime we would see someone wearing LSU or something like that, like, anywhere. But it was just kind of cool to see that happen. Been, you know, in the Olympics, because you never really. You always see people wearing their country attire and so on, so forth. But, you know, that was a cool moment, you know, for me. And then one other moment would be. Wasn't on the podium, but I got to see my dad cry because that was the China Olympics was my first one. And, like, I said, the poster was on the wall, and that's what I told him. Like, when I picked up the ball, he was like, what do you want to do? And I pointed at the poster. I'm like, I'm going to get on this team. He was like, all right, we're going to start working. And we just started working. And next thing you know, years later, I'm on the Olympic team. And that's the first time I actually ever seen him get emotional. So that was pretty big.
- [34:44]
Chantelle Jennings
So incredible. Well, Simone, thank you so much for your time today. I'm sure one of us or both of us will be in Baton Rouge this year. You guys have better. I'm sure one of you know, a top 10 team in the country down there putting together. Kim Mulkey. Bob, you g. This staff is stacked. The team is going to be stacked. The SEC is going to be incredible this year. Year. It's going to be a lot of fun to watch.
- [35:05]
Simone Augustus
It is indeed. Thank you all.
- [35:08]
Chantelle Jennings
Well, that was a great conversation with Simone. I'm really excited she's going to be back coaching at the college level, because it just means we'll get to talk with her even more, especially as I think LSU is going to continue to be a powerhouse over the next several seasons. But, Ben, I'm curious for your thoughts. I was, like, trying to not be too obvious about my thoughts on how many Las Vegas Aces players are going to be on this roster. But I do feel like Simone talking about the Lynx presence on those 201216 rosters maybe gave us an idea about the importance of having several Aces players on that team in Paris. How are you sort of reading between the lines there?
- [35:46]
Ben Pickman
Yeah, I think that was one of the most interesting parts of our conversation. Just when she's talking about the lack of guesswork that happens when you bring multiple players from one team on onto an Olympic team. And I think that is one of the big kind of looming questions, as you know, Simone and the rest of the committee figures out this roster is how many Aces do you put on? You know, personally, I think, you know, I expect all four Aces, Asia Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, to be on the roster. Asia, obviously a given. Kelsey Plum, I've been at some of these camps. I was in Brooklyn, also in Cleveland, saw some of it. The way she just enjoys projects, every lineup she's a part of, with so much energy, pushing the ball in transition, the competitive, competitiveness she brings on both ends, I think it was really palpable in all the gyms and all the times we were allowed to see it. Jackie is, you know, one of the best players in the wnba, continued to progress and evolve, and her game has grown so much from the last Olympics to this one. Chelsea Gray, you know, she's the point guard of this team. Though I do think there is a little bit more question now if we have this conversation in late May than there was maybe a month ago, because we just haven't seen her start the WNBA season. If she is healthy and wants to play, she will make the team and they will put her on this team. But that I do think is maybe a little bit of a question now at this point in my mind, just because the Aces have been kind of easing her back in, it seems like there's no rush, obviously for them, but there is, of course, this Olympics looming, so we'll see what happens. But I guess in the end, assuming Gray's health, I have a hard time seeing them leaving any of the Aces off the roster.
- [37:20]
Chantelle Jennings
Yeah, I think this is. And I wrote this. I did a projection on the Athletic a few weeks back about sort of my pick for the 12. And more or less, I'd say they're the same. I. I almost feel like too confident, which is not a general feeling I feel often with things, but looking at the 12 that I picked, like Caitlin Clark is Kind of the one that I. I'm sort of like, that could go either way here year. You know, she wasn't in any senior team camps. I. I don't know how much of sort of the early season of the WNBA play really matters. I think a lot of people are putting stock into that in terms of like, you know, if she really, like, blows the roof off the WNBA these first few weeks, then she'll be on the team. I don't. I don't really think of it that much because these young players, when they go to the Olympics, they play three to four minutes a game. So I think there might be other factors there, but I really feel like the. At least the 11 that I put down, I feel really confident with and, and four of those are aces players. And I think Nafisa Collier as well is one of those players for the Minnesota Links where when we talk about having that comfort level, specifically for someone like Cheryl Reeve, who is being put into this position of ultimate pressure, having sort of your player, you are like someone in your corner that knows you and knows how you tick and knows how you coach and can sort of be, you know, that. That person for you as a coach, that. That is that comfort level for you. If there's anyone for Reeve right now, that is Nafeesa Collier. So I think she's. She's a lock for sure for me. And just how she played in, obviously this season the qualifies the qualifiers through this entire last Olympic cycle. She's. She's a lock as well.
- [39:00]
Ben Pickman
I mean, I think the one interesting early season question is not. Not, you know, how is Caitlin Clark translating and how does that relate to the Olympic team? It's actually Kalia Kopper for me. You know, KA has come out and looked like maybe the best player in the league so far. Through three games in Phoenix, she's averaging more than 31 points per game. She's shooting over 50 from the field with Phoenix in her first year there. And, you know, we talked about familiarity and the importance of gelling with teammates while she's playing alongside Diana Taurasi right now, getting some reps up close and personal with someone who we both very much expect to be a lock on this team. Right. Brittney Griner, we'll see when she comes back from her foot injury. But that's another opportunity to, you know, play with someone, develop chemistry on court. And if Khan maintains this level that she has, I mean, she's someone who, you know, proven in big games, a finals MVP before a multi Time All Star. Like she makes this conversation even more difficult if she can maintain this because she is that good and she is someone who, I think, you know, you mentioned your initial roster. She was on the outside looking in, but if she maintains this, like she could very much steal a spot from someone who maybe we didn't anticipate, you know, being left off the roster heading into this WNBA season.
- [40:16]
Chantelle Jennings
I completely agree with you. I think. Cause sort of that one player, to me, when you look at that 12th spot, and I'm not saying the 12th, 12th of, of, you know, sort of importance at all, I'm saying I really feel confident about those first 11 that I have. And then Caitlyn was kind of the one that, where I was like, I can see the argument both ways. I think Kalia Copper is, you know, closer to being inside of this roster, inside of this 12 player group then, then I thought before, not just because of how well she played through the early weeks of the WNBA season. And like you pointed out, having that level, level of familiarity, like Simone said, there were the Lynx players and then there was the UConn players. And so you sort of had two levels of familiarity. Right. Like it only benefits this team in 2024 in the Olympics, if you have the Aces cohesion, if you have the Cheryl Reeve, Nafisa Collier cohesion, if you have the Phoenix Mercury cohesion, sort of all of those different levels where they're bringing them in, you can add to that sort of the South Carolina cohesion. Assuming Aaliyah Boston is that young player that that comes along, you sort of have all those layers where no one is that unfamiliar to one another and sort of how they tick and how they move through practices and pre game and in the game and in tight moments. And so I think all of that is starting to make a lot more sense to me and I, I think, you know, if I wouldn't be surprised if Kalia is on the roster and Caitlyn is not at this point, I.
- [41:40]
Ben Pickman
Guess, you know, and we'll probably have a version of this conversation closer to the Olympic Games Games actually beginning. But who do you look at right now is the biggest challenge for Team usa Maybe do you want to set up who they're playing, who their kind of outlook, what it will be early on in this game?
- [41:57]
Chantelle Jennings
Yeah. So the US Is in group C, how it works. There are three groups in the Olympics for women's basketball. Four teams in each group. The top two teams in every group move forward so that six teams and then the next two Quote, unquote, best teams move forward. That's by points differential. The US wants to win group C, and it wants to win by a large margin, so it can be in that top pod in moving into the medal rounds in terms of the quarterfinals and on. And so in order to do that, you know, we're going to see them run up the score on, on teams. But when you look at the group that they got, you know, it's not like, I mean, there's only 12 teams in here, so there's not any gimmes. Everyone had to qualify for this except France, I guess, but France is very, very good. And so, you know, you look at Germany, Japan and Belgium are the three other teams that are in the US's group. And I think Belgium, I. FIBA doesn't have them ranked as the number two team in the world right now, but I think they're right there behind the us. And when you talk about a team that has that cohesion, that has players who just decide not to play in the WNBA so they can stay home and train together, obviously Julie Van Leeuw is with the Mystics this year, but Emma Miesmann, Julie Aleman, like, this is a team that has cohesion, that has played together for a decade, and I don't think they have any fear to play Team usa. I don't think there's any sort of level of, you know, there's the USA across this jersey and any sort of timidness that might come with Belgium, they showed that in the qualifier players when they played in Belgium. And then Germany and Japan, you know, they're. They're also teams that offer challenges. Germany obviously has Satu and Niara Sabali, which will be very familiar to any listeners of this pod. On the college level. Lena Sontag, the UCLA forward, plays for them. And Japan is a team that got the silver medal in the 2021 Olympic Games. And so also not a slouch. They have a new coach now, but they're a guard, dominant pick and roll team. I think the thing that stands out to me about their roster and as I've talked with people around Team USA that, you know, stands out to them is that it's a lot of players in their mid-20s. And what that means is they've got fresh legs and they can run. And the US team is in shape, obviously, for sure, and a lot of players as well in their mid-20s, but a team that might push the pace a little bit and definitely make it, you know, if there's going to be A lot of movement in that game with the younger team.
- [44:29]
Ben Pickman
Absolutely. And you know, going back to some of those challenges, I mean here, I guess some of my thoughts, I mean Belgium, we saw this matchup in February. I believe it was at a qualifying tournament in Belgium. Keep that in mind. But it came down to the wire and Brianna Stewart had a buzzer beating shot to win the game. It was 81, 79. One important thing to note of that game was Julie Aleman, the, you know, the Belgian point guard. She did not play in that game. Now she was expected prior to the season to play for the Sparks this year in the wnba. She's dealt with some injury and then, you know, withdrew basically from the WNBA season. She's not playing for what the team announced was personal reasons. But I think, you know, if she is healthy by the time of these games and I believe the expectation is she will be based on the timeline the, the Sparks initially put out. Like she is a, that's a huge difference maker inserting her back into the lineup. Emma Misiman is someone who, you know, WNBA fans haven't seen in America these past couple years, but she's still playing at as high of a level as she has really ever played with. She's been with Fenerbache, the, you know, basically a Turkish power or European power these past couple years. She actually has won Euro League MVP in each of the past two seasons. And you know, that's a huge accomplishment. You know, think about the yearly they have a number of WNBA stars who have played there in recent years. Ryan Howard's played there, Marina Mabry, Kalia Copper's plates, you know, stints that there. Kayla McBride, a teammate of Emma Misimmons, you know, Formerly on Fenner, McBride of course being with the Minnesota Links. So you know, Miesimmin is still one of the, you know, the best players in the world quite frankly and someone who has been a Finals mvp. You know, back then when she was playing with the Washington Mystics. One other name for Germany to watch, Leo Febich. She played in Zaragoza this year up in Spain. One of the kind of surprise stories of the Euroleague. She's a 64 guard, currently a backup on the New York Liberty. Someone who, you know, they were really seeking out and really excited to bring into camp this year she's made the roster, is kind of playing a key role off New York's bench. So she is just another contributor who someone who's getting reps going against WNBA talent. You mentioned the intimidation factor, like women's basketball especially is Such a global game at a high level because of, you know, players playing overseas, coming to America and vice versa, that I don't think there is that kind of same intimidation factor as an in Olympic game, you know, approaches and maybe on the US Side. And I don't know if you have thoughts on this, Chantel, like this notion of pressure, right, going for gold number eight, it seems like it's written in stone, but, you know, the world continues to catch up, to keep pace with and there is so much talent there. Do you think that impacts, I guess, this team as the Paris game near?
- [47:07]
Chantelle Jennings
Yeah, well, I guess one note on that game against Belgium before we move on, it should also be noted that both Chelsea Gray and Asia Wilson weren't available for the US for that one, nor was Brittney Griner. And so neither team was at sort of full force. But, you know, when they weren't even at full force together, what that looked like was a very close game and only sort of gives Belgium and the US an ability to sort of scout an opponent really for Olympic standards. Standards kind of close to the Games. But to get back to that pressure level, I think it's so interesting because, you know, you talk to these coaches who coach these teams specifically, Tara Van de Veer was the coach who sort of started this gold medal streak in 1996. The pressure that she experienced, and granted it was different because they did a 52 game tour across the world before playing in those 191996 games. But, you know, the pressure was so great that it literally caused her to buy a cabin and start taking the summers off. Like, that was what the Olympic pressure did to her. Dawn Staley literally announced that she was retiring from coaching the Olympic team. After the team won the gold medal on the podium with Subird, she was like, I'm done. This is it. Ginormous says the same thing. You know, he's coached 11 national championships. But there's nothing quite like, you know, having the president of the US Call you and say, it's on you. Continue the streak. It's on you. Like, that is different. This is where, you know, I think someone like Diana Taurasi is super valuable just in terms of, you know, she's not going to play if she is on this roster as large of a role as someone like Nafisa or Asia or Stewie, for sure, sure. However, I think there's a value in having someone there who intense moments in tight moments can sort of say, guys, relax. Like, I've literally seen everything before. Like, I have been in, you know, more of these gold medal teams and on these gold medal teams than anyone else ever. Like, we're okay. I think there's a real value in that and having that sort of veteran presence and that calming presence. You know, Diana might not always, always be seen as a calming presence, but I think within a locker room with what she's seen with the roster she's been on, I think she can be that for this team. And so you look at the looseness that this group can have and I think that's also where sort of the Aces mentality can be a big part of it. That is such a close knit team. They have so much fun together. They're the most hilarious team on social media for sure. You know, I really hope that they bring back the Tortilla game where they just like slap each other with water in the face. Like that feels like great team bonding for Team usa. Maybe in the lead up. Cheryl, if you're listening, consider it. But I just think all of those elements to sort of keep this team loose, keep them together. But having a veteran presence, BG is another player that I'd put in that category. Just in terms of being able to say, you know, like, these Olympic situations can be stressful and exhausting and intimidating at times. Right. But to have people who say, you know, I've been around the block a few times, times, we're okay, don't stress, we've got this. I don't necessarily see the pressure getting to this team, especially when it's going to be led on the floor by Asia.
- [50:18]
Ben Pickman
And Stewie, you know, you mentioned pressure and competitors. I guess, like, for me, one of the teams that I have my eye on is Australia. I'm not in Team USA's pool, but they are another team that if you look at their preliminary roster right now, it has people who have played in big games before. Lauren Jackson is still a member of that preliminary roster roster that they're sorting out. Kayla George just won a WNBA finals with the Las Vegas Aces. Someone like Beck Allen's played in big games. You go down the list. There's a lot of w, high level, you know, former WNBA and WNBL talent in the Australian pool. Ezzy Magbagor, Christy Wallace, Sammy Wickham, like, these are all players who have been in big moments before, played against top level competition. And their coach is Sandy Brondello, who is the New York Liberties coach. You know, if anyone is familiar with Solassius Aces, right. You know, that's a team she's become very familiar with over at least the last year when these two teams kind of had this emerging rivalry, emerging battle between the two. So, you know, that is a team that I look at as the draw and as the Olympic Games progress that I've circled as a potential challenger because, you know, they're not going to be phased. You know, they have a coach who's not going to be phased and is familiar against scouting and game planning against these, you know, the American teams, of course, the US Will enter this game, you know, as the clear favorite. You mentioned it on our conversation with Simone often having, you know, a team that probably could win gold and silver if we took the next best, if the US took the next best 12, that we're not making this team. But Australia is one that I certainly have my eyes, you know, I'm watching very closely and host France as well is another team. But there honestly is so much talent that I do think it will be be a really, really exciting tournament overall.
- [52:02]
Chantelle Jennings
So we've talked college, we've talked Olympics. That leaves one sort of gaping hole in our women's basketball coverage here at the Athletic on the Athletic Women's Basketball Show. Ben, as we look through the rest of this week, what are a few games that you have circled in terms.
- [52:17]
Ben Pickman
Of WNBA matchups, to use Xena's terminology? Here are the three games that I am setting my screen to and I would recommend some folks doing as well, I guess, to bridge these two threads of the conversation together. Chantel the Phoenix Mercury travel to New York and play at the Liberty on Wednesday evening. Of course, Sandy Brandello, as I mentioned, the head coach of the Opals, the Australian national team, but someone who was also the head coach of the Phoenix Mercury for a number of years, winning a WNBA championship with that franchise, very familiar with Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and the rest of the group there. So that is a game, of course, with features Phoenix being, you know, one of the kind of surprise stories or at least one of the standout performers early on in this WNBA season, picking up such a huge win over the Las Vegas Aces. Kalia Copper, as we talked about in the Olympic portion of this conversation, getting off to such a hot, hot start. That is a game that you should immediately circle the following night on Thursday. It is a rematch of what was one of the best games last week between the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever when they played in Seattle. That came down, down to the wire. Neko Gumake had been working her way back from an ankle injury. She kind of slid back in to Seattle's lineup. Seattle is a team that got off to a little bit of a slow start. Their offense, you know, they talked about needing some work together, the chemistry still kind of coming together, still very much forming The Indiana Fever, a lot of the same sentiment as they got off to a winless start to open the year. So that game flips back to Indianapolis on Thursday. Should be another another great crowd, of course, and two teams that are continuing to try and build momentum after relatively slow starts to the season. And then if I was going to give you one more it is a June 1st on Saturday Chicago sky against the aforementioned Indiana Fever, Angel Reese and the Sky, Caitlin Clark and the Fever. You also have Camila Cardozo who has missed the start of the season with a shoulder injury. That's kind of been the game that she had targeted and said as of last week that she had targeted for her return date. We saw her in New York, she was still participating in half court shots and seemed like some light shooting. She went to a Cubs game in recent days, in recent weeks, throughout a first pitch. And so she is someone who is becoming embraced increasingly by the city. And it should be really exciting to see some of the, you know, brightest young talent in the WNBA matching up against each other. It should make for a really, really good game and it's one that it was actually flexed to an ESPN network so more people will have the opportunity to see. So those are the three that I have in terms of setting my screens and you know what should be another exciting week and important week in the WNBA season.
- [54:52]
Chantelle Jennings
Between all of this WNBA coverage leading up into the Olympics and continuing to follow women's college basketball through the off season, we certainly are not really having any kind of downtime ever at the athletic. It is always women's basketball season here. So we just want to thank our followers and our listeners for supporting us, listening to us, reading our stories, and as our typical host Zena always says, keep listening, keep learning and keep loving the game. It's the only way we grow it. Thanks for listening.
- [55:27]
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Ben Pickman
Hey, folks, it's mark Marin from WTF.
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Simone Augustus
It's been more than 15 years now, and I'm still talking to all kinds of people in my garage every 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. Yeah, I go, sorry, I, I lost my temper. I go, I still love you. You know, Daddy has issues. Are you afraid of it? Of death?
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Liquid IV
Of death?
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Simone Augustus
Well, I don't know. I think about it all the time. How are we here already? 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.
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