Loading summary
Transcript101 lines
- [00:00]
LinkedIn Sales Navigator
As a salesperson, the search for the right buyer or buying groups can feel like you're endlessly sifting through leads and hoping they're ready to buy. Thankfully, LinkedIn Sales Navigator is more than just a tool, it's your strategic sales partner. LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a sales intelligence platform that helps professionals effectively prospect and engage high value customers, drive higher revenue and increase sales performance. Sales Navigator helps you target the right buyers, surface key signals such as job changes or when which accounts you should prioritize and shows you hidden allies so you can find those buyers that are most likely to convert. Whether you're looking for new clients or strengthening relationships of current accounts, LinkedIn Sales Navigator has a new AI feature designed to help sellers find the right people and get right to the right conversations, all at scale. Fueled by LinkedIn's 1 billion-member platform, Sales Navigator gives you the most up to date first party data, enabling you to unlock conversations with the people that matter. Ready to get right to the right conversations? Try LinkedIn Sales Navigator now with a 60 day free trial at LinkedIn.combaseballshow that is LinkedIn.combaseballshow for a 60 day free trial. Terms and conditions apply.
- [01:16]
Wayfair
Summer is almost here and there's no better place to go for outside furniture than Wayfair. Wayfair's huge selection of outdoor essentials will help you make your outdoor space more comfortable, functional and most importantly, more you. Get your outdoor space rated today so you can enjoy it all season long. When you have kids, they love to be outside, so you gotta be out.
- [01:38]
Zena Keda
There to watch them.
- [01:39]
Wayfair
From Wayfair, you can have outdoor sofas, maybe a set of chairs, a gazebo, some umbrellas because it's really hot down here in the South. No matter the need. Wayfair's huge selection of home items makes it easy to find exactly what's right for you. There's something for every style and every home, no matter your space or budget. Wayfair makes it easy to tackle your summer home goals with endless inspiration for every space and budget, including the outdoors. Free and easy delivery even on the big stuff. No more huge delivery fees for patio furniture. Get big stuff like patio sets, gazebos, hot tubs, outdoor dining sets and more shipped free. Find all your outdoor must haves from seating to pool lounges to trampolines all in one convenient place. Shop a huge selection of outdoor furniture online this summer. Get outside with wayfair. Head to wayfair.com right now. That's W A Y F A I R.com Wayfair Every style, every home.
- [02:46]
Liquid IV
Love looks different for everyone, especially when it comes to all the ways you treat and celebrate yourself. I'm a big hammock head. Sunshine, a hammock, a paperback western. That's my kind of everyday indulgence. And you can gift yourself the everyday indulgence of extraordinary Hydration with Liquid IV powered by LIV hydro science. Visit liquidiv.com to fall in love with flavors like the zesty new hydration multiplier, sugar free Raspberry Lemonade and use code no dunks to save 20% off your first order. Liquid IV is easy and convenient. You just tear, pour and enjoy. It's my go to when I'm getting a pump in or handing out buckets, but it's great for staying hydrated during long days, enjoying the outdoors or any other time you need some hydration in your body. Liquid IV offers so many true to fruit flavors. Whether they be hydration multipliers like acai berry, lemon, lime and pina colada, or sugar free like raspberry lemonade, white peach and rainbow sherbet. The flavors are always true to fruit, break the mold and your own ritual. Just one stick and 16 ounces of water hydrates better than water alone because Liquid IV is powered by LIV Hydroscience, an optimized ratio of electrolytes, essential vitamins and clinically tested nutrients that turn ordinary water into extraordinary hydration. You're getting three times the electrolytes of the leading sports drink plus plus eight essential vitamins and nutrients. And Liquid IV is always non gmo, vegan, gluten free, dairy free and soy free. So treat yourself to extraordinary hydration from Liquid IV. Get 20% off your first order at Liquid IV when you go to Liquid IV.com and use code no Dunks at checkout. That's 20% off your first order with code no Dunks@liquidiv.com.
- [04:52]
Zena Keda
For the athletic I'm Zena Keda and this is the Athletic Women's Basketball show presented by Michelob Ultra. Welcome back to the Athletic Women's Basketball Podcast and shout out to our sponsor Michelope Ultra. This space to talk women's basketball is so important so we are very grateful and appreciative of it. Don't know if it was quiet for you all this week. It was very quiet for me while we had no games waiting. Anticipating the matchup this Sunday, Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, those big time teams coming up against each other in the WNBA Finals. If you didn't catch Tuesday's episode, I was not a part of It Sabrina and Ben took over, held it down and they gave us a, a really, really great closeout to the semifinals and a little bit of a preview of what to expect and what to look for in the WNBA Finals. They're back again today to do a very similar deep dive in the WNBA finals, but they brought a special guest with them and I for one am incredibly excited. This person joining is someone that has inspired me not only as a basketball player, but just as a human being able to use her voice to advocate for herself, for her pe, for her sport, for her community. And I'm just so excited. I'm pumped that we get to have her on the show. She's also going to be our very first player guest. Of course, we hope we have many more, but what a way to set the standard, set the bar than to have her join. I will not ruin the surprise and I will let Ben properly introduce her because her accolades and her resume deserve that. So Ben, take it away.
- [06:49]
Ben
Thanks a lot, Xena. Yeah, as you said, we're so happy to be joined by a 2019 WNBA champion with the Washington Mystics, a two time all defensive selection and to our knowledge. Exactly. And to our knowledge, or she is or at least was the biggest super fan in the WNBA of the Despicable Me movie that is mystic star guard Natasha Cloud. Natasha, welcome to the show.
- [07:14]
Natasha Cloud
Thank you, man. Thank you, Sabrina. Thank y'all for having me.
- [07:17]
Sabrina
Should have been three. Should have been three.
- [07:19]
Natasha Cloud
Should have been 3. I will talk my stuff and advocate for myself. Should have been three. But it's okay. How y'all doing?
- [07:26]
Ben
Doing well. One of the reasons, you know, we're so appreciative of you joining us on the show today is just because of your familiarity with these two teams, right. The Aces and the New York Liberty. Of course, in the regular season you guys were among the teams, the select few teams that defeated the Las Vegas Aces. And of course just a few weeks ago, you guys, you know, took push the Liberty in your two game series in one of the most intense and highly competitive playoff series we've seen in recent while. So excited to kind of get into some of the nitty gritty of this matchup from you. But as we dive into it, the place I think we wanted to start is just what's the main thing when you think about this matchup? What's the main thing that you have your eye on or that you're looking at when you think about how these two teams match up?
- [08:10]
Natasha Cloud
Yeah, I think first and foremost the storyline behind the matchup is with everyone has been waiting for, right? This is the matchup. They talked about adding the super teams and from the start of the season. So as I'm and I'm speaking as like I'm removing my Mystics hat right now, removing my player hat because if I start putting those hats back on, I'm going to be salty and I'm going to be a sore loser. But you know, this is a great storyline for our our league for both of those organizations. It's just going to be a lot of eyes on it. So I'm excited. First and foremost, I think though, the the biggest key going to be different than what the average viewer is going to look at. They're going to look at the what we market, right? That's Stewie and that's Asia. And while those are two phenomenal players, one an mvp, another another mvp, because that's just what it is. There was three of them up there this year, but that's what people are going to focus on. But they don't get to this series. They don't get to be the franchise players they are without the people surrounding them. And so the matchup that I'm really excited about is too right. You always have to bring Chelsea Gray and Slootie into the mix. But my most exciting the X factors of this series for me are Jackie Young and Banaja Laney and two unsung heroes, two X factors for their teams all season long. For the last few years, actually, two players that sometimes get flowers, but not as much as they deserve. And I will say in Naj's case, New York is not in this finals without her. So if New York does go on to events and win this series, Benajalaney is the mvp. And if she's not the mvp, we need to then talk about politics of this league again.
- [09:56]
Sabrina
Hey, you know, I think there's a lot of potential deserving Finals MVPs, but we got, you know, three to five games to figure that out. But I'm really glad you brought up Laney because, you know, you obviously played New York earlier in the season before they'd really figured things out. And then you got to play him again at the end. And I'm curious what you saw in terms of how they were using Benijah. That made her more effective as the.
- [10:17]
Natasha Cloud
Year went on, I think. And I've been in the situation right of in 2018, we made big moves, right? We acquired Elena Deladon, Christie Toliver, and for me, that was a Big shift too. It's like what I've known for the last few years and how we've operated is now completely different and it looks different, it feels different, it got better. But even in getting better, you still have to find what your role is and you need to figure out how to do it to the best of your ability every single night. And so I think Naj has worn so many caps within her career, not only just in New York, but when she was drafted, when she was cut, when she was finding her way to make back teams and you know, coach Pokey gave her another chance in Chicago and then she just flourished from there. And I think we've grown seen her grown as a player, as a person, as a woman. I think that she's developed so much over the last few years that this year it was just finding what her place was because for the last two years on New York, Dash has been their go to player. It's I need to go, I need to go score, I need to defend the best player, I need to make my, my teammates successful around me. So now it's, well, we're adding in one of the greatest players in the world, we're adding in one of the most recent MVP candidates or adding in one of the best point guards to ever play this game. What is my role? Where do I fit in in this group now? And so I think it just took her, you know, a lot of self reflection and self growth as it did me too when we brought those players in. And I think she's done a phenomenal job and I think she's a prime example of like, you have to be able to pivot and adjust and adapt and you know, your talent, you just have to figure out where you're, you can't come off the floor. And Naj has done that from being their best perimeter defender on the defensive end of the floor and being able to switch 1 through 4, 1 through 5 at times and then on the opposite end of the floor, Naj has been not only their poise and, but like the calming influence on offense for them for majority of the year, but especially within this last semifinals and probably into the finals, but also just clutch. She has been so clutch for them when they need a big bucket. Yes, it is Naj. So I'm just happy, I'm just really proud of her. I'm happy to see her progression and her growth over, you know, the last few years and just, you know, her career. She's an underdog story and we know more than anything that's what I love.
- [12:52]
Ben
You know, it's funny that you call her an X factor and not to toot my own horn in the predictions. Look, I did predict and you can check on theathletic.com BenJulaney as my finals MVP. So it's glad to hear that Tosh and I are on the same page on that. But it's funny you use the term X factor because I think at this point in the season, like they need her to score. Like they, like it's not a. If they want to win the series, like she needs to play well. Like, like down the stretch of the regular season, I think she averaged 17 points per game in the playoffs and in five of the six games she's had 19 or more. Like I think took not nine field goal attempts in the first quarter of game four. Like she came out against Connecticut. Like they need her on both ends. Like it is not a question. I don't think New York, you know, I don't know how they slow down the guards. I don't know if you have a thought of Las Vegas, but you know, if she's not scoring and then if she's not the versatile defender she is, I just, I, I have a hard time seeing them slow down the three headed backcourt or wings that, that the Aces have.
- [13:49]
Natasha Cloud
Yeah, I mean both of these teams are phenomenal. Well oiled right now playing their best basketball when they're supposed to be peaking. They're both playing really great basketball. But I, I think it's wild to say that they can't necessarily match their guards because New York is another team that has beat Vegas and they beat them, you know, when they had that back to back recent, recently too. So they bet they, they have shown that they can do it. I do think Banaja really does bring out the dog in New York too, as well as Stewie. I know Stewie, a lot of talk has been surrounding her shooting percentage, but like she's doing so many other things that impact the game, but especially their dog. So how to slow down the Aces? It's really freaking hard. It's really hard to slow down any of these two teams. But what we found worked for us as the guards on the perimeter is you have to pick up Chelsea Gray immediately. Like you're going to have to guard their 90ft from the basket to try to slow them down, especially within transition. They're so good at just getting stops and pushing pace and you know, it's really hard when like you got Asia sprinting. You Got both guards springing, and then you got one of the best passers to ever play this game. So picking her up early, shifting her to one side, allowing your defense to kind of fill in and just being physical with them. Both teams, both of these teams are teams that you have to be extremely physical on the perimeter. You have to push them out of the positions that they want to be in. They work really hard to get good positioning, good seals within the offensive end. So you really have to try to do all the minuscule things to disrupt such great talent. So I think pressuring, pushing them out of their spaces, giving them different looks. I don't necessarily think they have to double age it. That's the luxury of having the JJ and the Stewie that have size and, and power and strength and, you know, vice versa on the other end of the court. So I don't think we're going to see many double teams. It's just who's going to get down and do this shit and do all the little things that make a difference. So I'm excited to see this series, for sure.
- [15:54]
Sabrina
You mentioned, like, not necessarily having to double Asia because you have Stewie and you have jj and yet I feel like every time we watch them play New York, there's just a lot of bodies around her. You know, maybe it's not a double, but there's just a lot of help or a lot of shading.
- [16:06]
Natasha Cloud
For sure.
- [16:07]
Sabrina
Yeah, exactly. So how do you think that Vegas needs to respond to that space that like Kia Stokes is going to get or that Alicia Clark is going to get? You know, because so much of that attention is going to be focused on Asia.
- [16:19]
Natasha Cloud
Yeah, I mean, they're, they're going to give up. You know, I will say in this, in this semifinals has been some of the best defense that I've seen New York play. The challenge for me to New York is can you sustain it? Can you sustain it for a potential five game series with the Aces? Because I know even in our series, like there was things. It's like if we know that we can get to it, we know that we can mess them up on the defensive end. They get lost in rotations, they get lost in whose help it is. So I think that the Aces can do a really good job of just pressuring them. Asia is such a great scorer out of her spots, but she's also a really great facilitator too. She finds her teammate, she's willing to make that extra pass. So I think that the key to Vegas is good pass. Better pass, right? So even if Asia goes in, okay, it's one on one. You're going to score. If there's a double team or a crowd, you're looking for the next pass. It might not be the first pass out, but that good pass to a better shot, right, that's going to be where Alicia Clark and Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, they may, they. They have to be confident to shoot the ball and make their shots. And I know everyone's ready for the finals for sure.
- [17:28]
Ben
When you watch like New York defensively, you know, they talk about how important it is for them to get stops and how they get stops and it gets them out in transition and they run like, you know, I guess I'm curious what you think about the value of some of these junk defenses. Like in game two against Connecticut, New York throws out the 23 zone. Felt like for the first time all year for sustained stretch. I will say, you know, I went to Liberty practice yesterday. I saw them at the very end. They tried out some three two zone with Stewie at the top. Like, you know, I wouldn't be shocked if they, you know, played some 32 just to mix it up like, I guess 1. Was that something that maybe you guys, if you mind talking about, prepared for a little bit when you're competing against them. And I guess in a playoff series, like, what is it like when a team throws that kind of change up defense at you? Does it really make a difference the way some people think or how do you kind of think that plays into the series?
- [18:18]
Natasha Cloud
Absolutely. I think that we've seen more zones this year than I have in recent years of the W. And what it is is the talent is getting really good and so nice. There are people going off for 30 pieces and you have to make adjustments and throw different looks. And so you prepare for that. You prepare for everything. You prepare for just plain five defense and you know, your one on one matchups. You prepare for, okay, if Asia is really hurting us, we have to go to a double team. So you prepare for what that looks like. You prepare for if they're struggling from the perimeter. If, you know, the aces come out and start struggling from the perimeter, vice versa. With New York, you throw a zone at them because you know they have such an inside presence that is hurting you that sometimes the zone and having bodies and a crowd will sometimes mess it up. And then you force people to make shots on the perimeter. Like if it's not your night shooting wise, okay, let's go into a zone. Let's make them make shots. And if they're not confident they've missed a few like, it absolutely benefits teams to throw different looks and from the offensive end, yes, it absolutely makes you play different because now opposed to if I was just murking someone for the last five minutes in a pick and roll offense and now y'all throw a defense, zone defense. I mean, yes, I can still run a pick and roll, but it makes it such a different look for me. And now we have to find gaps and now we have to make cuts and reads off of each other. So throwing that in the mix every once in a while, even a make or miss situation, if they make it, we're going into a two, three. If they miss, we're straight five. It makes teams play on their heels a little bit.
- [19:55]
Sabrina
Yeah, I think that's one of the things that's impressed me so much about the Aces this year is how easily they shift between different defenses. Like you saw in that Dallas series, they had a little two, three. They had some triangle and two, you know, against Enrique and Satu. And it's just like I think that versatility really helps kick started that.
- [20:11]
Natasha Cloud
I'm just saying, I think people saw what we doing.
- [20:15]
Sabrina
I guess the Mystics hat is back on.
- [20:17]
Natasha Cloud
Listen, okay. Because we had to come up with something for those two months without three starters.
- [20:23]
Sabrina
I wonder how much they can go to zone against a team like New York where John Quell has been so good on the offensive glass. Right. And like, obviously zone like the Aces are a little undersized as is with only, you know, two real post players in the rotation. Candace Parker out. Do you think that that's a reasonable thing for them to do against New York with the way JJ's on the glass?
- [20:42]
Natasha Cloud
Absolutely, because they might be a little bit undersized from inches standpoint, but from athleticism and physicality standpoint, I think the Aces actually have the edge when it comes to post play. So a zone defense could very much help the Aces. I wouldn't necessarily go straight two, three, zone. I think I would do a box and one on Sabrina because that's really lethal to just kind of leave her open from the perimeter. But I think they would be fine in the defense with rebounding with Asia and Kia under the basket. And then their third guard is a big guard too. Like you got Jackie Young or you have Alicia Clark or even KB that's coming in and playing, giving good minutes like you have. You do have sides that can rebound out of a zone. So. Yeah, but I Just I don't necessarily feel like the aces need to throw too much zone and I think they match up pretty well position for position.
- [21:37]
Ben
You mentioned slowing down Sabrina. Not to make you relitigate the past but you know, you see the picture.
- [21:45]
Natasha Cloud
Of this villain at the bottom but.
- [21:49]
Ben
What do you see as kind of the key in slowing her down? Or, or I guess then how do you think Las Vegas will try and slow her down? You mentioned playing some boxing one, but how else do you think they'll try and stop her?
- [21:59]
Natasha Cloud
I don't necessarily think that they need the box in one. I think that you can put a bigger guard on her. That's what we did with me the first, first game against New York. What hurt us was we were switching so often that I was coming off of Sabrina too much and she was able to get wiggle room and able to get shots off. And so for game two for us it was like, okay, I need to take Sabrina out of the mix. So a lot of points in the game. You were going to see me face guarded, you were going to see me not necessarily being help side as much. I was going to be probably a foot off the lane but just my physicality with her. Like there's videos from the game where I literally just put my head like I'm facing her and I just put my head in her stomach and I'm letting you know you're not coming off the screen, you're not coming off the stagger screens. And there was points too where like she didn't even want to attempt to come off because you know it's just about to be like a big collision because I'm not letting go of you. I'm going to be physical, I'm going to take fouls, I'm going to take a hard foul in the first layer to let you know like no, you're not going up with anything soft tonight. So on both ends of the floor I think that physicality needs to be there with their guards. They have such lethal scores and versatile guards on both sides of, of the floor. So I just feel like this is about to be a really, really physical matchup and I'm excited because I feel like we've been letting teams play in the semifinals too. So it just leads to really good basketball. You know, you're going to get a lot of shit talking too from it. It makes the game more entertaining, it makes our fans more engaged and it just makes the rivalry better. Right. So I'm excited to see who are.
- [23:37]
Sabrina
The best trash talkers in this series.
- [23:39]
Natasha Cloud
Oh. Oh. So I don't really, I think on both teams, like, I don't think either team really talks unless like you start drawing at them. Kp. Kelsey Plum is a talker. I love that. Kelsey Plum is a talker. Sabrina will get in there every once in a while. She will, she won't necessarily say anything, but she'll give you a little or, you know, a small flex on the floor. Minaj has been doing a lot. She's been more emotional, like outwardly emotional, which I love as a player. So, yeah, I think there's going. And Chelsea Gray. Chelsea Gray be talking this shit too, and I love it.
- [24:18]
Sabrina
Yeah, Chelsea's an undergraded shit talker. I mean, I don't think people mention her a lot, but you, you watch her on the court and that mouth's moving.
- [24:24]
Natasha Cloud
Yeah. Whether it's like her mouth, she'll be like very chill with it. But, but it's more of like her gestures afterwards. Like when she makes like a dope ass pass, she gonna be like, yeah, she gonna be like this or like she makes the M1, she gonna do the little shoulder thing. She just, she has a lot of swag to her confidence.
- [24:42]
Ben
I mean, in terms of gestures, certainly game two in New York, you were not shy of, of igniting the crowd. I mean, they certainly took to it and responded to it and I loved every minute of it, honestly. I mean, me too.
- [24:53]
Natasha Cloud
I, I really did appreciate it. I'm from Philly, so I understand like, like the passion that they have behind their sports teams and like the talking that comes with it. And you know, you ride for your team and so I, I've always appreciated it. I've always appreciated playing in New York in that environment. But that moment that I walked off the court and I got a standing ovation like that for me was the coolest moment of my career thus far. Like I, I did the little wave. The game before I was shit talking, I was in Sabrina's stuff and, and again, being from Philly, we love just like gritty, hard working players. So I just felt appreciated and seen and that was really dope.
- [25:35]
Ben
Which, I mean, which of the arenas do you think is a tougher place to play?
- [25:39]
Natasha Cloud
New York or McLobby Michelob is really dope. I think Vegas has such a really good fan base. It's, the environment is really cool. It's a tough arena to play in. But no, I'm definitely giving it to New York. Again, I'm from Philly, so we're somewhere Sorry for the language. You're gonna have to beat me out. But we are some a holes, for sure. So there's a difference between, like, west coast vibes and east coast vibes. And, like, those fans will literally stick up the middle finger to you in the Barclays center, like, and that's just what I'm used to. So I love that shit, but I just think it brings another, like, sense of intimidation to the arena and to the environment.
- [26:19]
Sabrina
You know, we've talked a lot about the starters in this matchup and for good reason, because they play so many minutes, especially in the last round. But, I mean, you, you know, spent some time with Alicia Clark in Washington, obviously. I think she's going to have a huge impact in this series. You got any good Alicia stories for us? You know, like, what can we expect from her?
- [26:35]
Natasha Cloud
You're going to see a vets bet. You're going to see. People don't understand how much Alicia Clark breaks down the games. Like, she will break down. She will know what New York does, what plays. They like to run, when they like to run them. You know, when it comes down to, like, the wire, she's going to know the actions that they're probably going to run. She's going to know where each single player on that team takes majority of their shots, where they're best from on the perimeter, where they're best from scoring wise. So her breakdown of the game just makes everyone around her better because it just. It puts you in a different intentionality. It puts you in a different focus. So you're just going to see a vet bet. And I know that she's playing for, you know, a different purpose with playing for her dad this season and for her family. And so I think when you're fueled by something that means so much to you and for you and for your people, that just brings a different type of focus. And I think this is also a redemption year for her as well. You know, she looked at that injury. We kind of, you know, we were her first year back on the court from an injury that's really hard to come back from. And I feel like she got the year under her belt. And now you're just really seeing the player that Alicia has always been just clutch, that smart, intelligent. She's a dog. She's gonna be in your. She's gonna switch one through four. She's gonna be in Stewie from start to finish. It's just. It's a real joy to watch. And I don't think people appreciate her game.
- [28:08]
Ben
Enough what, like, what kinds of little tips? I mean, obviously she's super familiar with Stewie's game just from their time in Seattle. Like what little tips or tricks do you think, you know, she's pointing out to. To, you know, Asia, to Chelsea, to Jackie, to Kia? Like, what little things do you think she's telling them that they might not otherwise know?
- [28:27]
Natasha Cloud
To get into her early, to. To find her early in transition, because she's best when she's on the move and coming at you with a head full of steam when she does get into her positions of posting up, getting into her legs and getting your hands back. Because Stewie does a really good job of if your hand is anywhere near the ball, she's going to swipe up through and get a foul call. So. So just little things like that. And those players already know we play against each other enough to know the tendencies of every player. And again, this is the finals. There's no tomorrow unless you make it tomorrow. And so everyone's going to just have a different focus and a different level of intentionality when it comes to, like, defensive schemes and offensive schemes and what they want to force players to do opposed to what they would normally do.
- [29:14]
Ben
One of the things that's been interesting, I think, for us to observe in the postseason, and I curious your big picture thoughts, is the role of benches on different teams. Right. New York so much throughout the year, their executives, their coaching staff talked about their depth. And then we saw in the Connecticut series, they pretty much went away from the bench. Like they played, I think 12 combined minutes in game two and game four. Two of the five starters went the full distance and the starters, L5 played the entire second half. The playoffs. The schedule, I think what Las Vegas Sabrina's been saying, they played five games in like 30 days, something really crazy like that, you know, in the month of September and October, like, what role do you see the bench play? And I guess what is your broader thought on this drawn out postseason where maybe it doesn't make as much of a difference as we might think because of all the. The rest in between. What do you think of that idea?
- [30:05]
Natasha Cloud
I think the. The week in. In between, right. You have to allow room for a potential. So I think not having games this week is obviously like, we've already made our schedule in the TV schedule, so it's like, yeah, we can't just move the game to this week. That would be ideal. But as far as adequate rest time, no, I actually love this season because I had adequate rest time. Right. So I'm a starter that plays close to 40 minutes and I've been playing 40 minutes for the last two months for my team. Right. So in that first round I'm gassed, but after game one, I have time to recover and get my body back and recharge so that a game two I can still play. We went into. Right. I can still play 42 minutes and I'm doing it on both ends of the floor. So I don't hope that we cut that time down because, you know, it's, it's necessary for our bodies, especially after a season in which we keep adding games to our regular season. Like, like the time to rest and recover when it matters most, that's really pivotal. So I hope that we don't change that. But in the, in the sense of. I'm sorry, what was the first part to that question again?
- [31:16]
Sabrina
Just like, which bench players you think are going to have an impact or what kind of impact the benches will even need when it's so spaced out.
- [31:22]
Natasha Cloud
Okay, thank you. Thank you for the reminder. New York has the depth, they have the advantage when it comes to having a very, very deep bench. And players that have had had intricate, like parts have been intricate parts to their success. Like a. Kayla Thornton and Steph Dalsen.
- [31:40]
Ben
And Johannes, former teammates are yours, by the way. Former teammates.
- [31:44]
Natasha Cloud
Like, like that for they have a really deep bench, whereas the Aces are really only using Sid occasionally and kb, so. And Alicia Clark obviously, but Alicia, basically.
- [31:56]
Sabrina
Just a six starter. Yeah.
- [31:58]
Natasha Cloud
Yeah, thank you. Yeah, like, that's just a six starter to me. So advantages wise, definitely to New York. But when you're talking about we're going to win a championship, I'm not coming off the floor as a certain point guard unless I'm in foul trouble, there's no reason for me to be off the floor. I can play 40 minutes and I will find time to recover after this game. But this is. There's. Again, there's no tomorrow unless we make it tomorrow and we don't have. And especially for both teams too. Like, like, and I'm, I'm talking about the point guard position, but I'm talking about every position. Like you have some of the best players in the entire world. You're gonna play them and they're gonna play against each other and they're not going to want to come off the court. So. Yeah, I don't really see the, I don't really see them going like too deep into the bench unless obviously they go to the bench and there's a lot of production, right? So you're gonna go. You're gonna try your bench. If there's not that much production, you're gonna go with what you know and where you're getting production from. And that's no hate. That's just like, that's what it is.
- [32:59]
Sabrina
When you're starting five All Stars, why do you really need to go to the bench?
- [33:02]
Natasha Cloud
Yeah, like, that's. That's just what it is. Like, yeah, you're gonna get minutes here and there. And I feel like, you know, on both of these teams, you can shift any of those bench players that they do play into the starting role and they would still, you know, be able to hold their own. Obviously, we're the best players in the world, but, yeah, you're gonna have your starters on the floor in the finals. Yeah.
- [33:22]
Sabrina
Ben, what did you say Sandy Rondello said about benjulaney? Like, no matter how many overtimes it would have gone, she was not coming off the floor in game four.
- [33:29]
Natasha Cloud
Like, I remember going into game two and being like, if I don't ask for some, stop taking me out. I'm okay. I'm okay. Like, even two fouls, I can play through it. I'm okay.
- [33:41]
Ben
I mean, it's what Game four, I think. I mean, if this series. And I think a lot of people expected to go to game four. Like, game four is so interesting, both because it could be a closeout game, but because game five is just 48 hours later. Right? Like, you know, the whole series has, like, these long runways between games, except for games four and five, where it's like, game four, get on a, you know, get on the cross country flight, one day off, which is. Who knows if it's even an off day, and then go play game five. Like, it has long, long, long. And then this quick turnaround in the deciding game. And I guess to your point, Tosh, like. Like, there. There is no tomorrow unless you create it. I think that's a great. That's a great approach and way to phrase it. So.
- [34:18]
Natasha Cloud
Absolutely. But, yeah, luckily we've been having charter flights. Luckily we had these charter flights through the playoffs. So I can't tell y'all what a difference it made in our ability to just do our job. And for me especially, like, I went to Maryland for one year. I maybe took one charter flight while I was there. So outside of that, when I Transferred back to St. Joe's we don't charter. We're a middle school. We all charter. We go commercial. Like, so this is very much what I've always been used to in my career, but having it in that first round, I was like, wow. Wow, what we've been being. I don't want to say deprived, because I feel like that's the extremely wrong word. Right, because we're growing and we're trying to progress, but, like, yes, what we've been deprived of as far as our. Our travel has been insane because our travel creates a disadvantage for us to do what we do best. It creates a issue in trying to play at the most elite level every single night when you have to. When you're at the airport, you're delayed. You don't get in until 2am now you got to wake up and play a game the next day. And it's like my body hasn't even had the proper time to rest. So I know I'm rambling, but it. For real, I hope that chartering becomes a normalcy in our league, even in the regular season. But we've earned it. We've deserved it, and it just, again, it allows us to do our jobs at an elite level, which is what we want to do every single night.
- [35:53]
Ben
The onus then is on you guys next year. You know, you got to manipulate the standings a little bit to have longer charter fights in the playoffs so that New York and Connecticut can actually take advantage of charter flights in the semifinals instead of just, you know, taking the bus back and forth between the two places.
- [36:07]
Natasha Cloud
I know we did the similar thing. I was like, damn, we can't use the charter for the. Instead of busing back like this.
- [36:13]
Sabrina
All right, before we move on from the finals, Tasha, you got to give us a prediction.
- [36:17]
Natasha Cloud
Ooh. Okay. So I feel like being on the east coast and New York, it would be really dope for that organization. Right? But I also see the other side of things where I'm like, it would be really cool to see the Aces go back to back. And that hasn't been done since I have been, you know, in the league, so that would be really. Has it been done?
- [36:38]
Sabrina
Let me not say that it has not. Not since 2002.
- [36:41]
Natasha Cloud
Okay, thank you. I knew I was right. Yeah. It hasn't been done since I've been in the league, so that would be, you know, really cool to see. And, Well, I think the way I feel. The way I feel why I want the Aces to win is because I feel like Asia has been one of the best players in the world the last two years, and I know that she still gets her flowers, but not as many as she deserves. Like, the fact that. That. I was going to say the fact that she doesn't have a shoe yet. That's insane to me. That's insane to me that we release someone else's and there's no hate. It's just like the reality of the world that we live in is you can be an mvp, you can be an Olympian, you can be a defensive player of the year, you can win a championship, and you still don't get your own shoe. So I just feel like this would truly solidify. You can't talk about anyone else without talking about Asia Wilson.
- [37:32]
Sabrina
Yeah. I mean, just think about the year that she had, right? Like, she. She wins the finals, Right. She goes to Australia, World cup, she's the best player there. Comes back another defensive player of the year.
- [37:41]
Natasha Cloud
Yeah. And could have been picked for the MVP as well. Like, easily. Yeah. Easily picked. So I just. Yeah. I'm going to go with the aces with, like, the simple hope that Asia gets the flowers that she deserves.
- [37:54]
Ben
How many games?
- [37:55]
Natasha Cloud
I want five. I don't care. I don't know about y'all, but I don't want it. Basketball, women's basketball of all to end. I know we got college coming up and all that, but I truly enjoy watching rb, whether it's our team or not. I really do enjoy watching just good basketball.
- [38:10]
Sabrina
Yeah, I think we can stomach that commercial flight back from New York to Vegas for a game.
- [38:14]
Natasha Cloud
We can do it. We can do it.
- [38:15]
Sabrina
We can do it.
- [38:16]
Natasha Cloud
I don't know if the players will say that, but I can do it.
- [38:19]
Sabrina
They get charter, but we'll be on commercial. That's fine.
- [38:25]
Ben
Exactly.
- [38:25]
Natasha Cloud
We'll be going.
- [38:26]
Ben
We'll be going back, back and forth.
- [38:27]
Natasha Cloud
I love that for y'all.
- [38:28]
Sabrina
Have you thought about going overseas at all?
- [38:29]
Natasha Cloud
I have thought about going overseas. I might play in Israel right now. It's really depending. It depends on my dog. So I have two pit bulls. I love them more than anything to my kids, but my little baby, she has some ACL tears in her back leg. So I think that's going to keep me home for a little bit with just rehabbing. But I would like to go overseas and play and just make some extra money in the offseason for sure.
- [38:53]
Ben
I guess the last question I guess we'd ask on that is just prioritization. You know, I went abroad for five weeks last year to Israel, among other countries, and saw a whole bunch of pro players where they were and talked to a whole bunch of players and seemingly Nobody likes prioritization. And everyone uses some strong language to express their dislike, I guess. Yeah. You know, how does that play in? What do you think of that rule at this point in the league?
- [39:18]
Natasha Cloud
I understand the rule. I understand the rule as someone that. That I've played with players that haven't come back right away, and it just. It makes it really hard. It makes it hard for your team. You put it at a disadvantage, and then when they do come back and put you in another, you know, type of disadvantage, because now you have to figure out how to gel and work chemistry back in, and then you lose them for parts of the season, like, I remember, and it was no hate on Emma Beeserman, but it's like, girl, we need you here. Like, you know, we. We need you here. You gotta get here, girl. Like, our team needs you. You're really important to us. But other players too, right? So I understand the rule, but where I don't understand it too, is, you know, if our money changes, I understand the rule. If our money doesn't change, right? I know we have CBA and all that stuff coming up soon, but if our money doesn't change, how. How do you see it, right, as a league to take food out of our family's mouth? You won't pay us enough. You don't pay us enough. And we have the means to provide for our families and create generational wealth for our kids. Our kids. Kids. And you're essentially telling us that we can't do that. And you're essentially telling a league that's made up of majority of black women that they can't do that. And we know what this world looks like for black and brown people. We know what this world looks like for women, but we know especially what this world looks like for black women. So I feel like taking our means of providing for our families away from us. That's where you're seeing so much of the confrontation between players and the league. And it's like, we understand why the. Why the rule is in place, because we still want this league to be the best league, and we got to be here on time. And. And we need our stars to play, right? You know, people to play. But at the same time, too, it's like, I feel like there can be leniency. The fact that you're telling me that you're going to suspend me, you're going to suspend me for a year for providing for my family, like, if I'm two weeks late, I feel like I should be able to pay, like an X amount of money like a fine and then be allowed to be back in. You're telling me that I'm going to miss a whole year of the W season and you're gonna take me away from our fan base in our league because I'm just trying to pay my bills and feed my family. So it's, it's a, it's a hard thing. I understand both sides of it and someone that doesn't necessarily always go overseas, I'm like, I understand what it has meant to be without my teammates for long periods of time, too. But with all that said, I know why they're over there and I support them for being over there for that reason.
- [42:05]
Ben
Yeah, absolutely. And I think, you know, as we wrap here, I think if, if one thing is clear, you can certainly know, if you didn't know that Tash will speak and have kind of give her authentic opinions and honest reflections about broad lead topics, you certainly know that. And you know someone who is unafraid to, to voice both big picture topics but also speak about the encores in a really highly, highly detailed manner in a way that I think a lot of people are interested in. I know at the top you said and that most shows and most people might start with Asia Stewie, but I think we're, I'm proud to say I think we talked the least amount of Asia Stewie head to head matchup. I think of probably any WNBA Finals preview show around. We certainly got into the nitty gritty and appreciate you for that. I mean what I would say to all those listening is, you know, certainly listen to the broadcast if that is what you want to do. But if you want a second screen and hear some feedback of someone else, certainly Natasha Cloud has been tweeting her way following follow her. She has been tweeting her way through these WNBA postseason games if she is not playing on it. So if you want to hear some commentary very similar and read some commentary very similar to what has been talked about on this, we highly recommend you following her at tcloud4 on Twitter/x. I'm sure Tasha, you'll be tweeting through the finals I assume just like you have been live.
- [43:28]
Natasha Cloud
So tune in. I might even go live because sometimes the tweeting I get so into the game and I'm like oh, I forgot to tweet.
- [43:36]
Ben
Be sure to follow her at wherever you can find her certainly on Twitter on live this off season wherever she goes or if she stays, who knows. And in through next season it will be exciting and must watch and must see, no matter where it is. So, Tosh, we really appreciate the time today. Thanks for chopping it up with us and previewing the WNBA Finals.
- [43:59]
Natasha Cloud
Thank you all for having me. Go Mystics.
- [44:02]
Zena Keda
Ben, Sabrina. What an unreal conversation. We definitely need to have more and more players on this podcast, but we absolutely have to have Natasha back. It's having a WNBA championship best friend break down basketball to you in such a digestible way.
- [44:19]
Natasha Cloud
Unmatched.
- [44:20]
Zena Keda
It's unreal. And very much appreciative of Natasha coming on, giving us her insight, not being bitter, right? Not being a sore player and being able to give us some analysis on what we can expect and what we should look for this Sunday. She deserves all of the accolades, all of the love, and we will definitely, definitely have her back. So Sunday Super Squad matchup, New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces. Y'all better tune in because you will not want to miss the first game of this anticipated matchup. Now, before we get to that in the weeknd, I gotta go off the script real quick for today's off the script. I'm actually gonna follow up on a previous conversation that I had on and off the script with Marcus Thompson. We had Marcus Thompson on right after he dropped the huge news that the warriors were expected to be the NBA team that's going to bring a WNBA team to the bay. Now, at the time that he dropped this news and the information that he had received from team sources, it wasn't finalized yet. The deal was still going through. There was still a lot of questions about it, but as of Thursday, October 5th, 10:00am it's official, baby. Okay. The WNBA and Golden State warriors held a joint press conference where they had a panel of some very important people. Let's name them off. Joe Laka, Peter Gruber, owners of the Golden State Warriors, Kathy Engelbert, WNBA commissioner, mayor of San Francisco, where this team is expected to play in Chase Center, London Breed, and the president of the Golden State warriors, all of which was moderated by Malika Andrews of ESPN's NBA Today. All right, talk about making it official, putting a beautiful bow on it and making sure that this reflects the importance of this announcement. There were some really cool names in the crowd as well. Tara Vandiver, head coach at Stanford, Cheryl Swoopes, one of the first signees of the wnba, Simone Augustus. I mean, these were some legends in the building, and I loved all of the fanfare around it. That moment deserves that. That moment deserves that level of prestige. And I am excited for this to Come. I'm excited for all the buzz that's happening around this. This is just continuing to blow up that huge buzz bubble that is women's basketball right now. And I don't even want to call it a bubble because at some point a bubble has to burst. I don't want to call it that. I just want to call it the atmosphere, the energy, the ecosystem that is women's basketball and just how much it continues to expand. And more and more people are entering it and getting excited and getting interested in it. There were some things that were figured out or found out during the press conference or finalized. So one, the deal is through, right? That was one of the things that was outstanding. Another thing that's outstanding is the name of the team. They alluded to it would stay within the Golden State realm, but nothing's for sure. They do not know the name of the team just yet, but it probably will have that Golden State moniker. So you try and fill in the blanks at home, y'all. And they also talked about what they expect for the team and what they want this team to represent for the Bay Area. And what is really, really, really cool about the Bay Area is obviously there's a rich basketball culture here. The Golden State warriors have done a wonderful job of cultivating that, I would say, over the last 10 years. But what's even better is that there's a rich and fertile appreciation for women's basketball. When you look at the respect that the Cal Berkeley program has and the Stanford program has and the fans that were still around from the Sacramento Monarchs, that's no longer a team. Marcus mentioned this, like Oakland Tech, like the high school level of basketball in the Bay is rich and high performing. So there is an appreciation for the sport and for this particular pocket of the sport of basketball. And that's what you need to plant this team into. Joe Lacob came out and said in this press conference that he expects this franchise to win a WNBA championship within the first five years of its existence. Go ahead, mark that down. Put that in your calendars, put that in your phone somewhere and go check and see if he does it in five years. He did it before. He said the same thing when he came on board with the Golden State warriors in 2010. Warriors won their first championship, 2015. So do not put it past 10. Him. I'm particularly excited for this connection between the Golden State warriors and WNBA Golden State, which is the handle they've had on their, their social media. So definitely go follow them. But this team that is Coming to the Bay, I completely hear that there are some people that are not excited about the idea of a WNBA team being tied to an NBA franchise. I get it. Because usually these teams are looked at as subsidiaries as opposed to their own entities that stand on their own, that have their own identities, that have their own resources, that have all the things that they need in their own right and respect. I get that and I empathize with that. But I will say to those people, if you have to have an NBA team tied to you have to. Your number one and your only choice should be the Golden State Warriors. This team, where it is located, number one, the Bay. I just laid out why the Bay is such fertile ground for a WNBA team. You look at the players on this team, they are known for their support of women's basketball. Many people have said that after the passing of Kobe, Steph Curry is that next NBA player to carry the torch of being that women's basketball supporter. He's been on the sidelines with his daughter, just like Kobe was with Gigi. You look at Andrew Wiggins, you look at Draymond, you look at many players on these teams. They have daughters and they respect the sport. That's important. Beyond the players, you take it to the very, very top ownership. One of the reasons that the Las Vegas Aces were able to have the facilities that they got, to have the support that they got and everything that they got. Same thing with the New York Liberty and Josiah. These billionaire owners were willing to invest in these teams. And that is what you have to have if you're going to have a WNBA team tied to an NBA franchise. They have to be able to and willing to see these teams as their own entities with enough respect that they deserve their own level of resources that will make them championship caliber. And get guess what? Guess what. Joe Lacob was putting millions into women's basketball before it was cool to put money into women's basketball. He had a team, San Jose Lazers. He mentioned this in the press conference. He had a team in the American Basketball League that eventually folded before the WNBA could be born. He's been here and he's had an appreciation and a respect for the Sport that warranted $10 million of investment. So you better believe, you better believe that this man is going to continue to put money behind his promise of bringing that championship back to the Bay or to the Bay in general. Not back to the Bay, but to the Bay in general because of that already existing conviction in the importance of women's basketball. So I just say that to reassure those that are like, ugh, a team tied to an NBA franchise. I don't know. I don't know. I get it. I'm not saying that. I'm not trying to discount that thought or say that, you know, you're out of pocket for thinking that. You have every right to think that. But I think that this situation is very unique and is going to do really well as a result of their tie to this particular franchise. So one of the most interesting things about today's announcement, beyond all of the buzz and excitement and everything from everyone on social media, was that the WNBA had been cryptically alluding to multiple teams being announced, but only one team was announced today. However, another lead came about with regard to a 14th team, and that came from Howard Megdal of the Next who He tweeted out that the next WNBA team would most likely be in Portland. This would be the city's second attempt at a WNBA team. They had the Portland Fire in the early 2000s, from 2000 to 2002. And this market is also very fertile for supporting women's sports. The Portland Thorns are already there. One of the most well known women's sports bars are there, the Sports Bra. Very, very cool. Portland Bra devoted to women's sports. And there's been many women in sports that have risen to prominence in their respective sports that are from Portland. So that is what has been reported. And apparently the bid that reached the WNBA Board of Governors is being led by a local billionaire named Kirk Brown and he's been able to reach that level, which you have to reach that level with the WNBA in order for a team to be added. Kathy Engelbert was asked, how much money does Joe Lacob and Peter Goober put up for a WNBA franchise? She said she was not at liberty to say, but it was significant and record breaking. I imagine that the money that Kirk Brown and Portland put up is also significant in record breaking, but again, this has not been finalized. So waiting to hear from the WNBA as well. Is this a real thing? We shall see until we know that information. We've got a fun weekend lined up. Super squads are matching up against each other and that is a shameless plug for the Google series that we have on our site right now by Ben Pickman and Sabrina Merchant. Super squads following the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces all season long. Giving you a little bit of insight to their rise to this stage. Go read it right now. Yes, shameless plug, but we got a big game coming up on Sunday and yes, it's NFL Sunday, but last weekend it was reported that 925,000 people were watching WNBA games over NFL games. This is the moment. This is the moment. This is the hype. These games are amazing. The talent is amazing. The WNBA is prime right now. It's just prime. So definitely make sure to tune in for that Game one. We will be back next week. Please, please, please, please. I have said this and I'm going to continue to say this. Keep listening, keep learning and keep loving the game. Because that's how you get rosters expanded. That's how you get these women more money. That's how you get this sport supported. That's how you keep growing women's basketball. I'm Zena Cada. Until next time.
- [55:55]
LinkedIn Sales Navigator
As we head into the playoffs, it's safe to assume there will be a few calls made by the refs that will be hard to accept. But you know what isn't hard to accept? Discover. Believe it or not, Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. You heard that right, 99%. So make a good call for your wallet and get Discover. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. Learn more at discover.com creditcard this podcast.
- [56:21]
Aura
Is brought to you by Aura. Imagine waking up to find your bank account drained, bills for loans you never took out, a warrant for your arrest, all because someone stole your identity. Hackers aren't waiting. Why are you? That's why we're thrilled to partner with Aura. Your personal data is a goldmine for hackers, and Aura helps lock it down. Aura monitors the dark Web, blocks data brokers from selling your information. Includes a VPN for private browsing and a password manager to secure your accounts before criminals break in. For a limited time, Aura is offering our listeners a 14 day free trial plus a dark web scan to check if your personal information has been leaked. All for free@aura.com safety that's aura.com safety to sign up and start protecting yourself and your loved ones. That's a u r a.com safety terms apply. Check the site for details.
- [57:14]
Natasha Cloud
Acast Powers the World's Best Podcasts. Here's the show that we recommend. Hey guys.
- [57:22]
LinkedIn Sales Navigator
We have an exciting announcement about our podcast.
- [57:25]
Natasha Cloud
For the past seven years, the Holderness Family Podcast has been the most favorite thing we do.
- [57:29]
LinkedIn Sales Navigator
We love getting to talk to experts. We love having meaningful conversations, just the two of us. And we also love hearing from you.
- [57:35]
Natasha Cloud
But the thing we love most is being a place where you can laugh.
- [57:39]
Liquid IV
A lot has changed in the last.
- [57:41]
LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Seven years and we feel very lucky that our audience is growing older with us.
- [57:45]
Natasha Cloud
So in the spirit of that, we are relaunching our podcast. We are excited to introduce Laugh Lines with Kim and Penn Holderness. The Laugh Lines podcast will be all.
- [57:54]
LinkedIn Sales Navigator
About aging together better and also being.
- [57:58]
Ben
Able to laugh about getting older.
- [57:59]
Natasha Cloud
We hope you'll join us. Search Laugh Lines with Kim and Penn Holderness New episodes every Tuesday. ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast. Com.