← No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
What stands in the way of Team USA's eighth-straight gold medal?
00:35:35
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- [00:01]
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- [04:57]
Ben Pickman
For the athletic I'm Ben Pickman and this is the Athletic Women's Basketball show presented by AT&T. Welcome back to the Athletic Women's Basketball Show. Somehow, someway, the Olympics are almost over, the WNBA is almost back, and gameplay there will resume as it has, and this podcast will also resume a regular cadence as it has too. But the key word there is almost, because there is still a lot to be decided over these next few days, these final few days of the Olympics, as some medals will be handed out. On Friday at 11:30 Eastern, Team USA plays Australia in the first of two women's basketball semifinals. Then at 3pm Eastern, Belgium plays host France. So we wanted to set up both games with a special bonus episode of this podcast and give the people something to look forward to. So joining me in this bonus episode is Chantal Jennings, who has been on the ground in France for the duration of these games, crisscrossing the beautiful country of France, I guess. Chantelle, welcome to the show. And first and foremost, where are you and how are you?
- [06:14]
Chantel Jennings
Well, I was actually thinking about this. This is like a quasi floor pod, which feels so on brand for us in, like, big moments, whether it's the beginning of the season or right before a national title game. Now, right before Olympic semifinals, for at least one of us to be sitting on the floor. I am in the basement of our hotel. It is the best place I could find that didn't have loud French music playing or people talking. I don't really know what this room is. There is really interesting wallpaper, I think, that is also covering the cabinets. It's like striped blues and greens. And there's two refrigerators, like, in the walls. I think this is supposed to be some sort of a hangout space, but it's kind of cold, not super inviting. But then has this modern furniture. And as I say this, someone is walking through.
- [07:02]
Ben Pickman
That is a. Okay. Have you been enjoying the loud French music overall, though, or has it just been event after event after event?
- [07:08]
Chantel Jennings
I will say one of the most interesting things about the Olympics so far has been their music selection. Every single game that I'm at at some point, call me maybe the Carly Rae Jepsen song from what 2012 plays. And it's like, this is. This is a choice that someone made to try and make Carly Rae Jepsen's 2012 call me maybe a thing during the 2024 Olympics. I don't know who the DJ is for this game. They have very specific music tastes from like 2010 to 2014. And every arena, like, regardless of sport, women's gymnastics, women's basketball, track. You're hearing all of these songs. It's a very. Maybe we'll send one of our investigative reporters to really look into this because Paris made a choice. They made a choice here, huh?
- [07:53]
Ben Pickman
I mean, I think I should assign that to you right now, I don't know if I have that power, but who do I need to talk to to, you know, get 3,000 words for tomorrow on the music selection? I think that's. That's assignment number one before any of this basketball talk. But I'm glad you bring up the kind of music selection because let's start with atmosphere and what the scene has been like. The first few games in this tournament preliminary rounds were in Lille, in France, a very different city, I imagine. And from what you've described to where you currently are now and what you witnessed earlier this week, can you just set the scene for our listeners of what it was like being at the quarterfinals, what that atmosphere was like, and what you think these semifinals will be like in comparison to what you've already seen so far?
- [08:35]
Chantel Jennings
Yeah. So I think the main thing that's notable, and it was true in Lille, it's still true in Paris, is that Belgium and France just have huge followings, like, obviously, home country, host country France. Like, they're going to have a ton of people show up for this team. And as we've talked about on this pod is Zena. So, you know, with so much knowledge about this country explained, like, this country just loves sports so much. They love their women's sports so much. They love their women's basketball a ton. And so the French fans have been showing up, but so too have the Belgiums. They are. Belgium is, you know, neighboring France to the northeast. It's a quick train ride. It's an inexpensive train ride, and so people can come in for the day. They don't have to stay in Paris overnight. They didn't have to stay in Lille overnight. And so it's a really affordable trip for a family or a couple or even a single person to make. And so I think. I think it's really interesting because obviously, as we look at these semifinal games, France and Belgium are on the other side. And so regardless of what happens in that game, Team USA can assume that they are going to be playing against a very raucous crowd that is going to be very anti Team usa, very pro. Whoever is playing, whether it's France, whether it's Belgium, I think that's one of the things that we've heard so much from players in post game is sort of like everyone wants to beat Team usa, but I think especially given that the other semifinal is France and Belgium, and these are two fan bases that are really educated about women's basketball. If Team USA advances to the gold medal game, it is going to be a heavily, heavily anti Team USA crowd. And I think players on Team USA will relish in that. I think they have all said they enjoy silencing a crowd, but I do anticipate it to be, you know, 70, 30, whoever is playing against Team USA, Team USA, if it is in the, in the gold medal game, do you.
- [10:16]
Ben Pickman
Expect in the semis? You know, like we've both covered NCAA tournaments before and they have different sessions but you know, you have fan bases who often sit through two games and some people, you know, will buy tickets and sit through all four. Do you expect in the semis? Like it is the appetizer game, so to speak, right? Like, even though it's Team USA and they're going for 60 consecutive Olympic wins and obviously the gold medal streak is on the line, like this is the early game, this is the appetizer. Like, do you expect the crowd to kind of reflect that or have Team USA crowds when they've played, been into it and full and engaged because it is the American side and there is so much talent and name recognition there.
- [10:53]
Chantel Jennings
Team USA has definitely had smaller crowds than the French and the Belgiums throughout the entire tournament. However, you know, as you said, this is sort of like the earlier game. It's going to be played at 5:00 local time. It'll be really interesting because I think a lot of fans where Bersi arena is, there's a ton of cafes and bars around the area. I would imagine that a lot of people are going to go out and have a few beverages before they come to the France Belgium game. Whether that's a Belgian beer or some wine, I think it's going to be a very hydrated crowd at the later game. David Aldrich and I, who were at Team USA's last game when they beat Nigeria in the quarterfinals, we were really nervous about seating in the media area because we were like, the game before is Germany, Team USA. I had been at the 3x3 arena when they had played all the bronze medal and gold medal games and it had just been an absolute zoo in order to try and find media seating. And so I told David, I was like, we should really get there early because I have no idea how many people are going to show up. And so we got there at like, Team USA didn't play till 9:30 and I told David we should meet in the lobby at 3:30. So we got to Bursy arena around 4. There were not many media people there. There were six open seats. To my right, the French media did show up, but not as in full as I thought they would. And so in terms of that also sort of relating to fans, you know, since David and I were there so early, I said, I'm going to, you know, leave the arena and I'll go get us some coffees and dessert and bring them back to the arena for us. Because I roped you into coming to the arena six hours early. And when I went outside, I went to a coffee shop and I heard these, like, wild shouts, like you. Like, there is a celebrity in my midst who is here, who is walking down the street. And I get to the cafe where all of the shouting is coming from, and it's the Belgian women's basketball team, and people are going crazy. I saw Emma, I saw Kira Linskins, and people are taking photos. They're standing in line waiting for these players. And so I would imagine that for the most part, there will be a smaller crowd for the Australia Team USA game simply because I think people are going to go out to dinner, they're going to drink, and then they're going to show up for France, Belgium, if past be present. I think that's probably what's going to happen. But I do think there will be French fans that do want to come out and see. But I don't expect it to be as loud or as full of a crowd as the later game.
- [13:17]
Ben Pickman
Before we go any further, I just want to take another moment. I mean, that story is about as on brand as a story as I can remember you telling me on this podcast or in person or virtually. I mean, getting to a game hours early because you're nervous about a seat, having to get a coffee, and then also kind of having this little bit of serendipity, this little bit of luck of like, oh, there is an actual basketball added work component kind of detail scene that I can pick up on that is relevant, that helps inform my experience and color it all kind of weaved into one that really is like the Chantel Jennings reporting experience there in a nutshell, isn't it?
- [13:53]
Chantel Jennings
That was my life. Just anxiety about being late, anxiety about not having a seat. Well, this is all because when I was at the 3x, I learned the very serious lesson about never leave your seat at an Olympic event because a reporter stole my seat for 3x3 and moved my computer and everything off of the desk onto the floor. And so I told da I was like, we have to get there. I can't lose a seat. We have to make sure we're there on Time and early. And so then I bought him a coffee as an apology for making him show up so early. There's my Midwestern Lutheran guilt coming through.
- [14:24]
Ben Pickman
That seems like a very good apology. And we shall name the reporter and where that country. Where the country that the reporter hails from, we shall omit that from this podcast out of respect for them. But let's get on to the basketball itself here. As we mentioned, Team USA Australia, that is the first of two semifinals here. It is a matchup with both a lot of history and kind of familiarity in the present and also a lot of history in the past, I guess. What are you kind of looking forward to looking at when you kind of think about these two teams squaring off with a, you know, a spot in the gold medal game on the line?
- [14:58]
Chantel Jennings
Yeah, I think it's the familiarity that I'm really looking at in terms of, you look at other rosters. Australia is the team that has the most WNBA talent. We've said time and time again, the WNBA is the best basketball league, the best league in the world. And so, you know, if we're saying that, then the expectation would be like, okay, this Australian team would be probably the best team that Team USA might face. They are in this position because they lost to Nigeria, actually, in their opening game in the group stage. I was at that game. They just similar to Team usa. Like, I don't know how much time they had ahead of the tournament to really click and get on the same page necessarily. A lot of these players have been playing together for a long time, but many of them had been playing in the WNBA up until a week before they left for Paris. And so getting on the same page, it clearly took them a little bit longer. But then through their second and third game, they beat France in France, which is a challenging thing to do. They were the only team through group stage to be able to do that. And so they're playing good basketball right now. And I think it's that familiarity that is probably, you know, Team USA is never going to overlook an opponent. They're going to see the challenges in every team. And I think probably the number one thing for Team USA on that list right now is the familiarity of Sandy Brandello, who coaches Brianna Stewart and Sabrina Unescu. Alana Smith, you know, plays for Cheryl Reeve. You have Jade Melbourne, who, you know, plays for the Washington Mystics, which obviously the GM is assistant coach Mike Tebow. You have Ezzy Magbagor and Sammy Whitcomb, who are teams with Jewel Lloyd. Like, Australia is Going to have a very full scouting report for Team USA because Sandy Brandello has been doing this for years. She knows every single player on Team USA to a T. She either coaches them or coaches against them. Obviously coached the Mercury for a long time, so knows Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi very well, knows their tendencies and then obviously knows Cheryl Reeb. The opposite can also be said about Team USA in terms of, you know, the Opals. And so I think this is going to end up being a really high level game. Like this is going to be, you know, thus far we've sort of seen Team USA win because they're the better team. They have more skill, they have more talent than anyone they've played against. Australia is a very talented team. They're a very skilled team. This is going to be a game that I think where execution is really, really important because they are going to be able to really get into the minutia in a way that we haven't seen yet through the Olympics.
- [17:20]
Ben Pickman
I'm glad you call out the depth because I think that is also the thing that I'm kind of focused on. And you know, the experience that Sandy Brandello and a lot of the Australian players, as you mentioned, are going through as they take part in this Olympics is very similar to that of the Americans. I mean, the whole first half of the WNBA season, Sandy Rondello kind of stresses that she's the New York Liberty coach from the moment they start the season basically in preseason, obviously, until the moment that they hit the All Star break. And right away she flips the switch and she dives into Australian basketball. Basketball. And it's like all Opals for, you know, the next month, in essence, this Paris Olympics. And so that is very much the experience and sometimes almost the exact phrasing that Cheryl Reeve, the coach of Team usa, voices when she talks about, you know, going from life as the Minnesota Links head coach to Life as Team USA's head coach. And you're right, I mean, the familiarity here, like if there was one opponent who is not going to be afraid, is not going to be intimidated, knows exactly what to expect in a matchup. I mean, it is this Australian team. I mean, they have both players in the present. You also, Lauren Jackson, someone who did not play in that quarterfinal game, but like kind of playing the Diana Taurasi role, I imagine maybe playing a little less and we can talk about that a little bit. But you know, Lauren Jackson also being the kind of veteran leader who's been at Olympics and won WNBA MVPs and is now kind of, you know, riding this out into the sunset, so to speak. I mean, in some ways, these rosters very much mirror each other. And you know, Team USA's, we've talked about their depth at length. I think Australia is really the one country who frankly has the depth to handle all the different bodies and variations that Team USA can throw at someone.
- [19:04]
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- [19:04]
Ben Pickman
Alana Smith is someone who, in the quarterfinal against Serbia, she had 22 points and 13 rebounds in nearly 28 minutes. And that was by far her best game of the tournament. She was a WNB all Star in my book. Didn't make the actual team, but, like, she struggled in the early stages of the tournament. She had three fouls in her first game against Nigeria, three fouls against Canada, four fouls against France. Like, she can kind of exploded. But they were still able to overcome some of her foul trouble in those initial games because of the depth on that roster overall, someone like Ezzy Magbagor or, you know, Tolo off the bench or Kayla George, like, they have players who they can plug in. And it's what makes this matchup so, so interesting because I don't think Australia will be overwhelmed by anything in the same way that, you know, some of Team USA's other opponents have been.
- [19:52]
Chantel Jennings
Yeah, I think that's the thing. And we've talked about it so much where, you know, you look at this Team USA dynasty over time, and you go back to 96, 2004, and it was like you would see Team USA on the floor with other starting fives and you were like, okay, like two, three of the players from the other team can hang with this starting five for Team usa. And as time has gone on, it's been gradual, but now we're seeing other teams starting fives be able to hang with Team usa. You know, they have trailed at times after first quarters. Their first quarter starts have not been sort of the bright shining piece of like, bragginess that Cheryl Reeve would love it to be. You know, I'm sure she'd love to jump out to a 4012 first quarter. That hasn't happened yet. Right. Like, quite the opposite. And so we've seen that. But I think Australia is the one team where you do look down their bench and you say, okay, you know, their 6, 7, 8 can also kind of hang with Team USA678. We should also talk about, you know, Team USA678 has changed since the group play. I thought that was really surprising. Cheryl Reeve made the decision to insert Jackie Young into the starting lineup in Diana Taurasi's spot and sort of tweak some things there with the rotations. And we haven't necessarily seen, you know, it's not in permanent marker yet. What she's going to do. It's hard to say exactly what she'll do. Going into this Australia game, I was surprised that it took Kelsey Plumb so long to get off the bench against Nigeria, given how efficient Asia, Kelsey and Jackie were in that final group stage game against Germany and what they meant to the team being able to put together some runs in the second and third quarters. Similarly, Team USA wasn't necessarily as efficient against Nigeria as I think they want it to be. And, you know, Kelsey Plum comes in, I believe, in the second quarter, and they went on something like a 20, 23 to seven run or something to end the second quarter when it was Asia, Kelsey, Jackie and then two bigs. And that's sort of the recipe that really helped them in the third game of the group, group stage. And so, you know, it'll be interesting to see how Cheryl, Reba, Joss, and that's the thing she said, you know, we're gonna tweak, tweak, tweak, tweak. And probably by the time we get to the end of this tournament, we're finally going to feel like we have something going and we'll want to. And then we're not going to see each other for a few more months because we're going to go back to the wnba. And so it'll be interesting to see how she tweaks going into this game because of any other team. I think here, when you look at their 6, 7, 8, Australia really can hang with Team USA, 6, 7, 8, in a way, and can kind of get into them in a way that, you know, we didn't necessarily see with Germany, we didn't see with Nigeria, we didn't even really see with Belgium. And so it'll be interesting to see how all of that shakes out when you look at the other side of this bracket, France, Belgium. What most intrigues you for that game?
- [22:38]
Ben Pickman
For me, it's two things. It is Belgium having the best player, arguably the most productive right now player in this tournament in Emma Miseman, who is averaging, you know, more than 24 points per game, six and a half rebounds. She is someone who, you know, early on she became, I believe it was the first Olympian in the women's, like, the women's basketball tournament history to score 20 or more points in seven consecutive games. Like, she is someone who has been awesome, frankly awesome in Euroleague play these past couple years and is continuing that form into the Olympic Games. And so she really is at the center of everything that Belgium wants to do. Though I think as a team, like their ceiling was a little bit lower when Julie Aleman went out ahead of this tournament with an injury. And I think julialeiman tweeted after their quarterfinal game, like something like, I just really want to play. And I certainly understand that sentiment knowing what she could bring to the Belgium side. For me, it is player in Emma Miseman and it is team in France who, you know, it's just a ton of fun to watch aggressive defense, you know, athletes who can switch. Someone like Layla Lacan, who was a first round pick of the Connecticut sun this past year, I think has really impressed me overall. Someone like Maureen Johannes, who, you know, people who are fans of the WNBA and the New York Liberty are familiar with her shot making and theatrics on offense. You know, I believe you said David Aldridge was impressed watching getting the Johannes experience in person for the first time. So, you know, France as a team is very appealing. And there is a fun scenario that could also be set up that we could have USA and France in both the men's and women's basketball finals. The French men's team won earlier on Thursday in a great game over Germany Team usa. The men's team is expected to play and likely win over Serbia. That we don't know that result when we tape this podcast. So, you know, that could be an amazing little storyline too. Can we get two France USA matchups in Olympic finals? Those are kind of the two things that I, big picture, have my eye on.
- [24:43]
Chantel Jennings
Yeah, I just want to follow up on the Maureen Johannes thing. You know, David Albright is such a basketball mind. I'd love to have him on the pod sometime. Having now covered some, some Olympic women's basketball, maybe we can convince him to come on the pod to talk about it. But, you know, before the game he was, you know, again, I felt bad because I had sort of been like, we need to get there early. And then we got there and I was like, we did not need to get here early. I am sorry about that. And I was like, but you know, I'm trying to make this worth your while. I'll get you coffee. I'll grab some dessert. And you know, as dessert for the dessert, you get to see Maureen Johannes, who I think is just one of the most creative, exciting players in women's basketball. What she does with the ball in her hands, you never know what's going to happen. I think she has some of the best body control of any player that we've seen in terms of shooting mechanics. Just like as long as her shoulders are square, her feet could literally be pointing the opposite direction, or her feet could be pointing to two completely separate directions and she can still get a shot off that goes in. And she had an excellent game. I forget exactly how many she finished with, but it was 27, 28, I think, over Germany. Many of them were threes. It was just a lot of fun to see her play. And sort of as David was watching her, he just kept looking over at me and saying, does she have a. Does she have a conscience? Like, she's just. Like, she's just taking these shots. And I was like, these are good shots for her. Like, these are shots that go in. So it's not a bad shot. It just. If any other player were to take it, it would be a bad shot, but she's taking it. And so therefore it is not a bad shot. In terms of their game, though, I just think sort of as reporters, we root for the best storylines, and I just think a Team USA France final. Before all of this started, we were talking about Belgium, we were talking about Australia, we were talking about Germany, a team that had never made it to the Olympics and the potential that that group had. Not many people were talking about France, and Diana Taurasi kind of called that out in the first press conference when Team USA got to Paris, she said someone asked her, you know, who are you looking forward to play or who is who? When you look at this pool of teams that are here, who worries you a bit? I don't remember exactly how it was phrased, but she said, you know, not enough people are talking about playing France in France. And having been in the building for several France games, now, listening to those fans, hearing how deafening it is, that would be a challenge for Team usa. I think Belgium would also show up, but I think France as the host country would show up in a much different way. Asia Wilson has talked about, you know, at some point, the noise, it gets so loud that you don't even hear it anymore. I think it would be that experience from the jump if Team USA plays France. And again, I think that game could come down to execution because they're a team that's scoring a lot in transition, a lot of points off turnovers. They'd have to be really good with the ball. This is a team that as we talked about many times, and Team usa, that only has one sort of pure point guard on the roster, and Chelsea Gray, and she isn't playing as much as we anticipated her to play. We've seen people like Alyssa Thomas bringing the ball up the floor. Sabrina Ionescu has played some backup point guard. Not as much, obviously, in the quarterfinal game, but they would have to be really careful with the ball against France because it feels like with that sort of sixth man in the crowd behind them, they could. They could get on a roll pretty quick.
- [27:55]
Ben Pickman
It's funny, you know, to think about that atmosphere with Marine, because Marine and I wrote a story on her last year. You know, she hails from a town of just around 750 people, and, like, that's. She calls it a village. And. Because it basically is a village. And, you know, for fun, she's like, retreats there, basically, and goes to the beach and she gardens and she spends time with family, and she lives, like, a very normal life. And at the same time, you know, one of the coaches for Lyon, who was a coach for her in recent years overseas and was a coach for the Chicago sky, also said that, like, she's by far the most popular French player ever and that everybody knows her in French basketball. And so it is just funny, right? It's just funny to kind of juxtapose those two things of someone who plays with such flair and energy and fun, and at the same time, like, her beginnings are, you know, a quiet village. And, like, that's really where she kind of has her roots. And, you know, this could be the brightest and biggest stage that she will have played on. And the most important, knowing what the French Federation means for so many. And look, the one other thing I would say is I think this is another step in the development of the French women's basketball program. And I think in 2028 in LA, they will be even better than they are right now. And it's kind of interesting because Australia for so long was a country that just struggled to get over the hump against Team USA, right? They are a country that has medaled five times. They've taken silver four times, three times, rather, in 2000, 2004 and 2008, they took bronze. In 1996 and 2012, in those bronze matches, who did they lose to in the semis? They lost to Team usa, of course. That's why they got the bronze and not the silver. I think France has the potential to kind of be like that going forward with the kind of athletes and the kind of players that they are producing that, you know, I would almost love to see a final here. Do I think Team USA would beat France? I do. But, you know, four years from now in la, who knows where the French program is at? And it would be kind of exciting to see France go up against the Americans this time on the road. For the French side in la, I think that could make for another kind of just really cool basketball game in a really cool environment years to come.
- [30:02]
Chantel Jennings
And obviously in Tokyo, they won the bronze. And I think the cool thing about these tournaments in terms of having three medals and four teams in the semis, is that that bronze medal game really matters. It's the difference between getting a medal and not getting a medal at all being completely forgotten. Right? You either sort of. And it's a game that you obviously don't want to play in, but then it matters so much because like I said, you either get the bronze or you're completely forgotten. And France won the bronze in Tokyo. I think it's important to say that they won the bronze. It's not that they settled for the bronze. It's not that they settled for third place. This isn't a track race where, you know, you finish third and you get third, like, you have to win third. And so they're very motivated. I think they had not. That was only their second time meddling in the Olympics. They had one silver in 2012, but they have, you know, a lot of these players stayed home recently. Gabby Williams is a really great example of someone who stayed in France to sort of be with this team leading up to the Games. They're a team that has more inherent chemistry because of that than other teams like Australia, like Team usa, as you look at just sort of how much time they've spent together, how many practices they've had with their full unit, and they're also, as you said, a young team. You. You have seen and you have pointed out and maybe you can sort of highlight to some listeners here who will be watching the game some of your favorite young players on this French squad. Obviously, Marine is very popular. Everyone sort of waits for her to come off the bench for France, and when she does, they erupt. Every shot she takes, people are like living and dying on it. And afterwards, she is the person who leaves the arena last because she's signing so many autographs. It was funny because they had to get people in and out after every game, you know, of the four quarter final games. And France was just like soaking it up, living it up. They were the third of four games that day. Team USA Nigeria was fourth and it was like the ushers could not for the life of them get France to leave the arena. They did a full lap as a full team, then they were signing autographs and it was just like there was a line for Marine and Gabby and other players as well. But yeah, why don't you, for some of our listeners who are less familiar with this French roster, highlight maybe one or two of the young players that might play an impact now, but also as we look down the road to 2028.
- [32:15]
Ben Pickman
Yeah, I mean I mentioned Lacan. She was a first round pick of the Connecticut sun this past year. Someone who's very versatile and can clearly play multiple positions on both ends. The other name really to watch is Dominique Malanga who is a center, super athletic, 18 year old center for French. She's been a reserve throughout this tournament. Her role is very much that of a reserve big, but when she comes in she provides him with energy. She kind of jumps off the page. You can just see physically like super long, very athletic, moves really well. Her game is definitely raw and she's adjusting to the physicality of, you know, the Olympic game. But she's played in high level games in France and in European competition. We'll see what kind of role she plays going forward. And you know, she'll be a WNBA draft pick in this upcoming draft, very likely and could be, you know, a top five, top ten pick. I think that's kind of the expectation before we close this out. You know, that's the young. Just real quick, can you touch on the old here? Diana Taurasi going from playing six minutes in the final group stage game to coming off the bench in the quarterfinal. Just what have you heard, what is kind of your expectation? And you know, her Olympic career could be over in four or five days at this point. Very likely will if she stays true to her word in this scenario. What have you taken away from the Tarasi experience so far? What can you relay and what are you expecting going forward?
- [33:38]
Chantel Jennings
Yeah, I don't think she has any intention of being at 2028 in LA. She had joked with some reporters in London during the tune up game against Germany. They said, are we going to see you? You know, obviously back in Tokyo she had looked at the camera after Team USA won gold and she said, I'll see you in Paris or something like that. And everyone at the time was like, ha ha, you are 39, we're not going to see you in Paris. Think again. Not so Fast. My friend here she is at 42, the second oldest player in the games. The oldest would go to Lauren Jackson's 43 year old self. But yeah, you know, I think the thing about D and this is something that I had, I had sort of tried to tweet about this and I don't think I, you know, you can't explain all of this, but from the States, you see the NBC broadcast and you see what happens during the game, but sitting courtside and being there freaking six hours early, I saw a lot of Team USA obviously from the moment they're out on the court. And Diana is the first person on the court, she's the first person to start high fiving. She is the first person to sort of pull people into huddles. She's the first person to speak in huddles. She is the leader of this team on a team that has excellent leaders. And I think that says something that when you have a team with the two best players in the world, that they are wanting to hear from Diana first. And so I think there's been a lot of debate from people about why is she on this roster. There's no debate in my mind. It is so obvious and evident to me every time I see her with this team what she means. And I had asked bg, you know, what is, what, what does she mean to you in this, in, in these games? And she said, you know, she's talking to me constantly, like she's coaching me up during the games, she's coming over to me and she's like, your hands aren't high enough. You need to get them a foot higher because all of these things. And it's like she's someone who just knows the game so well. Obviously with the experience she has had, that is a given. I thought it was really interesting as well. The first press conference of these games, she was asked about her age and she said, you know, only in sports, only in women's sports. Only a woman with 20 years of experience would be seen as having some sort of Achilles heel for being that experienced. And the way that I've really thought about it, because you know, all of these people who are screaming about, you know, she's not one of the 12 best players in America, why is she on this team? You know, Team USA is not the 12 best players in the country. Like, that's not how they put together the team. I think of it more as the way that the U.S. gymnastics team is put together. Like think about Jade Carey. She's a Vault specialist. She came to the Olympics to vault. Or you think about pommel horse guy for the men's team. Like, he came to the Olympics to do the pommel horse, and that's it. He had one job. It was to pommel. He did it. They got bronze. Jade Carey had one job. It was to vault. She did it. They won gold, like. But you don't hear people screaming about, well, pommel horse guy isn't one of the best five or four male gymnasts in America. You're right. He is one of the best or the best pommel horse. Pommel horser. I don't know the gymnastics term. He's one of the best pommel horses in the world. He proved that in the individual event, too. Jade Carey is one of the best vault specialists in the world. And so you look at Diana, she is one of the best leaders in. In the world and in basketball. Her expertise and her experience is invaluable for this team. There is nothing that could have replaced it in these Games. And I think about the fact when they've had slow starts, when they've had tense moments, when there sort of is this pressure, you know, as much as this team talks about, like, you know, we didn't win the last 58 games, we're not thinking about those games. Like, yes, they are. This is a cape that follows them. Like, it's a shadow that follows them. It is on their shoulders. They are aware of it. And so to have someone like Diana who not only is a great leader, but also sort of has that quick wit to her and can break the tension immediately. Everyone talks about her wit and how funny she is on the bus. And she can always make people laugh. I think at 42, it's the same as 2004 in Athens. The silly player who forgot to bring both her left and right shoe to her first Olympic Games, That's Dee. She is sort of off the wall funny and just an incredible leader for this team with institutional knowledge. And also sort of a like, I'm not stressed about anything mentality to her. And so it's been really fun to be here for. What are her last Olympic Games? Like, if she goes out and proves me wrong and shows up to LA instead of being on the beach with a beer, good for her. But no, these are her last Olympic Games. I think she's really soaking it up in a different way. But in terms of whether or not she should be on this team, there's not a single doubt in my mind at this point. And 42 years old or not. You know, she is one of the 12 most important players for this roster in America, and that's why she's in Paris.
- [38:27]
Ben Pickman
I think that's a really good way to put it. And Chantel, I guess as we now close this episode, you know, I know you mentioned Diana Taurasi maybe being in la, sitting on a beach with a beer. I hope that you don't have to wait four years to be on a beach or go to a cafe and enjoy a nice European beverage of your own because you have put the work and the time in. You have coached us up for these last few weeks, proving that you are far more than just a pommel horse specialist. If I'm gonna continue to make puns and mix metaphors here, I prefer a pommel horser. A pommel horser.
- [39:00]
Chantel Jennings
It makes me sound like a really great sports writer to use pommel horseradish. But yes, thanks for the kind words, Ben.
- [39:05]
Ben Pickman
Yes. Well, we have appreciated getting your insight and I think the plan is maybe we will touch back one more time after this weekend's events and we will, you know, be back to you Sunday night, Monday, recapping this busy Olympics and the end of the women's basketball tournament. Barring an emergency pod and something crazy happening on Friday, I think maybe if that happens, if Team USA's, you know, win streak snaps, we might be back sooner. But barring that, I think we'll be back on a more normal cadence to recap all that has happened in the Olympics. And we'll see if Team USA does finish off their quest for an eight straight gold medal. So we look forward to reading, listening, hearing more about your stories, your coffees, getting to games hours early. And yeah, hopefully you can enjoy that European travel sooner than later. So that wraps it up for this edition of the Athletic Women's Basketball show for Chantelle Jennings. I am Ben Pickman, thanking you for listening, for learning, for reading, for loving the game and continuing to follow along with our Olympic coverage. And look, we are going to keep coming to you with WNBA coverage, but for now, enjoy the rest of the tournament in France. And we will talk to you next week.
- [40:31]
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- [41:50]
Chantel Jennings
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- [41:54]
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Ben Pickman
Hey guys. Welcome to Giggly Squad, a place where.
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Chantel Jennings
We make fun of everything but most importantly ourselves.
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Ben Pickman
I'm Paige desorbo.
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Chantel Jennings
I'm Hannah Berner.
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Ben Pickman
Welcome to the squad.
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Chantel Jennings
Giggly Squad started on Summer House when.
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Ben Pickman
We were giggling during an inappropriate time. But of course we can't be managed.
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Chantel Jennings
So we decided to start this podcast to continue giggling.
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Ben Pickman
We will make fun of pop culture news. We're watching fashion trends pep talks where we give advice, mental health moments and games and guests.
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Chantel Jennings
Listen to Giggly Squad on Acast or wherever you get your podcasts. Acast helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.