← No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
WNBA Superlative Predictions: Reality TV Ready Stars to Dynamic Duos
01:03:28
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- [00:00]
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- [00:30]
Lazia Clarendon
par Le Tu francais hablas espanol
- [00:33]
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- [01:10]
Zena Kaeda
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- [01:27]
Lazia Clarendon
line with pee pee pants.
- [01:30]
Zena Kaeda
Next time, skip the pain and get fast free delivery. With Amazon Pharmacy healthcare just got less painful. Best fit to be on reality tv. Okay, so lay who is out here giving Love Island Summer House main character energy? Let me know.
- [01:56]
Lazia Clarendon
I mean, I think hands down, Dijonay Carrington, like wins the award. I mean, yes. Like yes.
- [02:02]
Zena Kaeda
Throwing the flowers at her feet.
- [02:04]
Lazia Clarendon
I mean, yes.
- [02:05]
Zena Kaeda
Beyond the social posts, like, yes, go ahead please.
- [02:09]
Lazia Clarendon
It's all of it. I mean, she's the look for one. Dijonay is gorgeous. Like, with or without makeup. She can beat the face, like, to oblivion. Infinity. Yes. And beyond. And she can also like wake up and not wear makeup and just be gorgeous and effortless casually. She's got the fashion, she's got the look, the style. She's like, she likes the smoke. That's why she's my person.
- [02:34]
Zena Kaeda
Hello everyone and welcome to no off season. I'm Zena Kaeda.
- [02:38]
Lazia Clarendon
And I'm Lazia Clarinen.
- [02:39]
Zena Kaeda
And today on the show it's our totally unofficial, slightly unhinged and very made up WNBA prediction spot. These are your standard MVPs and stat leaders that we're predicting. We are talking about dynamic duos, the ultimate backup backcourt bosses, big time personalities and yes, some serious basketball stuff. But you know, we're gonna have some fun breaking all of it down. But first, before we jump into our superlative awards, we wanted to touch on the WNBA GM survey that dropped this week. Every year before the start of the WNBA season, general managers weigh in with their thoughts on the top team's top players and best offseason moves. This year's survey included 42 questions. GMs could vote for their own teams, as always, and we learned some pretty interesting stuff. So Lay, I'm curious overall, what are your thoughts on the GM survey?
- [03:31]
Lazia Clarendon
I love it. I mean I love getting the original take. It was heavy on the Aces. No surprise given the season they had last year. Heavy on the Asia Wilson's. Amazing. I thought Cheryl Reeve beating out Becky Hammond for best coach was like, I love these like little tidbit stories within stories and I'm always like, are fans paying attention? Do people see this? Like, I feel like Kurt Miller Wonder beat Cheryl in free agency, right? Like stealing a couple of his players. Like that's like a battle. I was like, oh. And they've long had an on court battle. So I feel like that was like a, like a, ooh, Cheryl kind of fought back and beat Becky out. I thought Jackie Young being the best shooter in the league, shooting guard in the league. Like I still feel like people don't guard her. Like she's the best shooting guard and I don't know if it's the muscles. I don't know if it's like the she can get to the rim. She's so strong. Like I still feel like people don't respect Jackie at the three point line the way they need to. And it probably speaks to the breadth of her versatility because if you do get out and guard her, she'll go by you. But I still feel like people be and I feel like there's some racism in there with her being like a dark skinned black girl of like she's a shooter. But like that's not what we typically see shooters as.
- [04:39]
Zena Kaeda
Woo.
- [04:40]
Lazia Clarendon
The spirit is moving. Clearly. I had to get that out. So shout out to Jackie Young. I was really actually happy to see like people putting that respect on her name because I feel like for so long they haven't.
- [04:52]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah.
- [04:52]
Lazia Clarendon
Um, no surprise that Dallas Most improved absolutely should 100% be. Uh, there was nothing crazy shocking to me on the list, but I was like, yeah, I thought they hit it heavy on the big teams.
- [05:06]
Zena Kaeda
Well, let's, you know, back up a little bit on, on some of the things you mentioned. You mentioned, you know, the Aces were heavily represented. Yes. 60% of GMs chose Asia Wilson as this year's MVP. 40% of GMs chose the ASUS to repeat this year. And as you talked about that little game within the game between Becky Hammond and Sheryl Reeve, Becky Hammond was voted best motivator and best manager. But she lost out, as you mentioned, to overall best coach to Minnesota, Cheryl Reeve. And it was a percentage difference, 53% for Cheryl Reeve, 40% for Becky Hammond. So not too far off, but Sheryl Reeve overwhelmingly always getting that respect as a best coach. You did mention Paige. Oh, go ahead.
- [05:50]
Lazia Clarendon
And she's had to do more with less than Becky has had to. Because Becky's had so much talent throughout the years. We haven't had to see Becky win without an Asia or like, like the Lynx have had Collier out at times and still have found a way. So I think that, knock on wood, don't want no one to be out. But I think that is also why Cheryl edged out, because Cheryl will be making a way out of no way with these, with these players and these rosters.
- [06:14]
Zena Kaeda
It's a good observation and it's part of the whole MVP conversation of like, you know, MVP as a coach, MVP as a player. But this concept of how valuable are you to a team that might be stacked versus a team that isn't as stacked, and that is, you know, the variance in how people look at evaluating who's best. Is it because you're doing it with less around you or because you're the best amongst the best? So that's a longer conversation. It's going to be a conversation all throughout this season. Not to mention WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Beckers received 33% of the votes as players that GMs would choose to build around if they started a franchise today. Caitlin Clark, Asia Wilson tied for second behind her. Um, the Wings selected Az Fudd as number one and she was voted. Oh, and they also got Alanna Smith, as you mentioned. Um, and they were the Wings who selected Az Fudd and they got Alanna Smith and they got Jess Shepard and they have like 50,000 people in their training camp, but they were selected as the most improved team by all GMs. 67% of GMs said that. And then Chicago sky were behind them. So there's quite a few different things. Definitely go Check out the full breakdown of the GM survey. I always think that this is one of the best and the most valuable sources of evaluation because these are people, their jobs are on the line when it comes to roster construction. And it's not just roster construction with players, it's construction with coaches as well, the talent that they have leading the way. And so if they're saying, you know, Janelle Salon, you're the best international player, the second best international player, like, that's a big deal. If they're saying, Paige Beckers, you know, we'd build a team around you, that's a huge deal.
- [07:59]
Lazia Clarendon
That one stuck out to me. I was like, ooh. Like, Paige, is that she. I know she's that good, but it still keeps catching me off guard. Like, ooh, gosh, so good. I thought angel and Gabby being the most, like, the best player. Acquisitions, too, to make the biggest impact. They shared 27%. So Angel Reese going to Atlanta, and that's going to change the game for them. They needed more toughness, more grittiness. And then Gabby Williams going to Golden State, just like elevating the system we saw them have last year. Adding defense, adding versatility. If they do have any injuries, knock on wood. You have, like, more depth at that position.
- [08:31]
Zena Kaeda
Right? And then the one that was interesting to me, 73% of GMs chose Olivia Miles for the 2026 Rookie of the Year. I don't disagree with her winning out the category, but 73%, that was interesting, especially for someone who did not go number one in the draft. But of course, we know those things are more related to fit and other things as opposed to someone's talent and their, you know, quality of play. But 72%, I definitely thought there would be a little bit more split between Olivia. I would say Olivia, then flaw J. I Same.
- [09:09]
Lazia Clarendon
I thought. I think because opportunity, that's the difference, right? Like, AZ is gonna, I think, play a good role on that team. But they have. Paige is going to have the ball in her hands. Ariega is going to get her shots up. They have really good bigs, so AZ can just play a really good piece. Like, she might be most impactful rookie piece of the year who can basically, like, can she be an Alicia Clark, like a young version of that kind of player who's getting mentored by her. How does she on the defensive side of the ball. But Olivia Miles gets to be especially with Fiat, like, it's her show. She's the point guard. She's with Cheryl. She's going to be part of one of the best teams in the history of this league. But I think flage people are sleeping on her. I'm going to save this because we're going to get into it.
- [09:52]
Zena Kaeda
Exactly, Exactly. Okay, let's put a pin in that. But before we move on, I did want to quickly touch on what you mentioned around Jackie Young. I think Jackie Young, Jewel Lloyd is another person that has been in that amazing shooter category and yet isn't highlighted as one of the best shooters in the league. And also I think there's, you know, when it comes to why people may not guard Jackie in the way that she probably deserves, I know there's moments throughout Jackie's career and maybe in the last last year, I don't think we felt it as much as the year before that, but there's moments where we're like, does Jackie know how. Know how good she is? Like, does she know like she needs to be putting up more shots? She needs to be getting to the basket more. She needs to be able to be on ball and, and create for herself more. I know that that's something that ASUS fans have sometimes been like, you need to play the way you know you can play, but also know how good you are. And, and I think we saw that. I feel like before and after the Olympics there was like a change, there was like a shift especially in just like stepping up in the Jackie consistently. I think she's always shown up as a big kind of bulldozer type of guard that also can shoot. But then we saw that way more consistently I think in the last two years than anything before. But yes, shout out to the GM survey. Go check it out. Let us know what you agree with, what percentages you're like. That looks suspect, but as of right now, we are going to get into our off kilter predictions for the WNBA season. So stay with us.
- [11:22]
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- [11:53]
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- [12:23]
Zena Kaeda
A better help ad hold on one second. I just need to. What if you had a room where no one interrupts? No notifications, no expectations, just space to talk with. BetterHelp therapy happens in a space that's yours. Visit betterhelp.com randompodcast for 10% off your first month of online therapy. Alrighty. So this season marks a major milestone for the WNBA. It is its third 30th year and you can really see how far the league has come when you look at the talent, the visibility, the year over year growth. As you all know, we launched a newsletter at the Athletic Shout out to Sabrina and Annie, starting us off strong. There was another newsletter that I want to also plug for the Guardian. Jordan Liggins Robinson, who also wrote Court Queens right here behind me, started a newsletter that is similar in giving information, but it's almost like her basketball diary. And I loved the way that she opened up her newsletter by saying, you know, when she turned 30, her level of understanding, you know, her worth, her value went up and she, she had to kind of edit her life. I'm paraphrasing here, but basically she edited her life in terms of being able to see who could come with her, what was the, you know, what was her value. And she said that she loves to see that the league is kind of reflecting that.
- [14:00]
Lazia Clarendon
Oh, that's good, right?
- [14:01]
Zena Kaeda
And I was like, jordan, you better.
- [14:04]
Lazia Clarendon
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
- [14:06]
Zena Kaeda
So I thought that was really, really beautifully said. So I wanted to plug that and give a little bit of love to that too. But this is what's going on for this season, right? There's a lot of eyeballs and that's something that Sabrina referenced in our newsletter for the Athletic the visibility, the expectations are higher than they've ever been and it's exciting. And that means we're going to have a little fun looking ahead to the season, talking about everything. But before the season officially kicks off, we got some stuff to talk about. Sabrina and Annie are gonna debate their official predictions for things like MVP Rookie of the year, the serious stuff. But today, Lay and I, we're gonna have a little fun. Okay. We're gonna be laughing a little differently. Exactly. So, Lay, first up, WNBA players love to give us some drama. They love to give us entertainment. They're funny as hell. They're crazy as hell. More than just the basketball stuff. And so we have an award called Best fit to be on Reality tv. Okay, so Leigh, who is out here giving Love Island Summer House main character energy. Let me know.
- [15:14]
Lazia Clarendon
I mean, I think, hands down, Dijonay Carrington, like, wins the award. I mean, yes. Like.
- [15:19]
Zena Kaeda
Like, yes. Throwing the flowers at her feet.
- [15:22]
Lazia Clarendon
I mean, yes.
- [15:24]
Zena Kaeda
Beyond the social posts. Like, yes, Go ahead, please.
- [15:27]
Lazia Clarendon
It's all of it. I mean, she's the look for one. Dijona is gorgeous. Like, with or without makeup. She can beat the face, like, to oblivion. Infinity. Yes. And beyond. And she can also, like, wake up and not wear makeup and just be gorgeous and effortless casually. She's got the fashion. She's got the look, the style. She's like. She likes the smoke. That's why she's my person. Right? She wants to smoke. She thrives in it. She wants it on the court. She's looking for those moments, and some players thrive in that and some. Some don't. They kind of become unhinged. But she's the one who's like, I feel like she kind of hunts it, and I love that about her. So she brings it on the court, but then off the court, we've seen her with the stud buds. I mean, we see her everywhere. We've seen her dating. I won't comment on her current status because that's speculation with people, and I don't do that outside the group chat. But I will say we've seen her publicly dating Melissa Smith off and on and so. And bringing us in that ride. Like, she wants to bring people on that journey. She seems really comfortable about it. So I don't know what Netflix is waiting for. Hbo, like, whoever. Amazon prime, NBC, who. Name it, one of y'. All. Like, we've been talking about the WNBA show forever. Like, I think it's a matter of time before we legit get the reality show. And Dijonay Carrington will absolutely be one of the first people signed. Like, she should be producing it or center stage. Main character. Yes.
- [16:48]
Zena Kaeda
Yep. I'm with that. I'm absolutely.
- [16:49]
Lazia Clarendon
Thank you for the entertainment. Dijonay, yes.
- [16:51]
Zena Kaeda
Dijonay was my first choice. I do have to give, like, my runner up, and I was struggling between, you know, Angel Reese, especially seeing her at the Met gala. Oh, my God. Like, looked on point, and it was just thoroughly like, this is who she's been. She's been a reality TV star for us. But I'll say that AEL's pretty private in ways. You know, as much as we want her to. As much as she wants us to know about her life, that's what we're gonna get. And so reality TV usually digs a little bit deeper than that. Someone that I'm starting to see, like, oh, wait, we're starting to see a lot more of this person and into their relationship on and off the court. We're seeing the commercials. I mean, I'm watching the NBA playoffs last night. Every other commercial this person is in. Asia Wilson would be the main character. Yeah. She would be putting up some serious competition with Dijonay, especially between, you know, launching the new shoe. The commercial campaign for it was hilarious. She's in, like, a million commercials right now. And every commercial, she's, like, got a different hairdo. So I'm like, clearly, her schedule, she was booked and busy.
- [18:01]
Lazia Clarendon
Yes.
- [18:02]
Zena Kaeda
And then, of course, we've seen the Bam Adebayo relationship grow in front of our eyes. I know it's been really sweet to see. So I think I would say, you know, Dijonay, Asia, they be up and Atom.
- [18:15]
Lazia Clarendon
Courtney was my runner up, who's all. She basically has lived her life like a reality show already.
- [18:19]
Zena Kaeda
Yup.
- [18:21]
Lazia Clarendon
I gave it. Yeah. So it was. Mine was torn between those two. The stud butts have given it to us. Like, they're just. Yeah. Hands down.
- [18:27]
Zena Kaeda
I feel you. I feel you. Okay, well, that's.
- [18:29]
Lazia Clarendon
But Courtney doesn't quite like the draw. I feel like. Yeah, we won't get.
- [18:32]
Zena Kaeda
Well, this is. This is. This is a good segue, I think, into our next superlative league comedian. Okay. This is a player who can roast their teammates and might randomly say or do something hilarious at literally any moment. It's just part of who they are. It's part of their pregame routine. It's part of their outgame routine. Uh, and I think Courtney Williams. I mean, she feels.
- [18:54]
Lazia Clarendon
Is that yours?
- [18:55]
Zena Kaeda
Most natural. That's my choice.
- [18:57]
Lazia Clarendon
Okay.
- [18:57]
Zena Kaeda
That's my choice.
- [18:58]
Lazia Clarendon
She can't have all the awards.
- [18:59]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah, she can't have all the awards. So I'm choosing Courtney Williams for a lead comedian. I feel like she. It's what she did last year. We saw it on display at All Star. She's funny as hell. Like, let's just be real and I think, you know, the lead comedian, we do have to give pay homage to Sidney Coulson. You know, we do have to realize that Sidney Coulson laid the ground, the groundwork. Right. The foundation for what this looks like. And that cold, deadpan humor that Sidney has, it's a little different than what we experienced with Courtney Williams, but it's still just unhinged. And I think that that makes it even funnier. I have a backup that's an unknown, but it's based on their college career. I want to hear what you say first on lead comedian.
- [19:45]
Lazia Clarendon
Mine is Erica Wheeler. Oh, wheezy's so funny. Yes. And, like, I kind of feel like if you know, you know too. I don't know, like, she's on social and stuff, but when you're around Wheezy, oh, my God, like, it's the Florida accents. Courtney, too. It's like how she says it. And Erica always brings that locker room energy. Like, she's gonna always be that person who just has such good vibes. Like, you can't not be happy around Erica Wheeler because she just. She lifts everybody up. She's funny in, like, subtle ways, too. Like, I'm like, which ones are appropriate? I can't. I can't be. I got to remember I'm talking to you. But there's people who will hear this later.
- [20:23]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah, yeah.
- [20:25]
Lazia Clarendon
But Wheeler, yeah, I feel like she's kind of slept on a little bit of that and just brings, like, the comedian too. Like, the style is like, they bring, like, a levity to our league and like, a joy. Like, that's what Sydney's brought. Like, it's unhinged, it's wild. But, like, it makes you laugh and it makes you have joy in the midst of, like, the wild ass world we live in. Right. We've seen it through the bubble, through all the time of like, what we all know and represent and care about with this league. But it's that reminder, like, these people remind us that joy is important in the midst of all of this and to just laugh and how our, like, our humor is our resistance and it's all the things and so and that way, this award, of course, me, I'm always going to go deep. It's like it's a really, like, important, like, spiritual word too. It's not just like a ham person who's just being ridiculous. Like, there's something deeper about the people who display their humor and who, like, connect with other folks. Cause it brings us together and our joys. Yeah, it's so important.
- [21:20]
Zena Kaeda
And that's what comedians do, right? They take life experience and bring that levity, as you mentioned, and bring a criticism almost to it, but in a way that we can all appreciate. And I think that that's what Sidney did so well for so long. And when you. I love these two, Courtney Williams and Erica Wheeler. They're funny and it's pure.
- [21:40]
Lazia Clarendon
Right?
- [21:40]
Zena Kaeda
It's nothing rehearsed. It's nothing like they're, you know, they're not trying to. I don't know, they're not trying to pander to an audience. Like, they are just who they are, and that's just what it is. And that's what you're gonna get. One of my favorite players Tribunes is Courtney Williams, Players Tribune from last year. If you've ever. If you haven't read it, definitely go take the time to read it. She talks about, you know, certain things that she would wear. She'd have to ask Nafisa, like, is this cool? Am I allowed to do this? And I just, like, I could hear her saying it as. As I read it. I love that. Yeah.
- [22:11]
Lazia Clarendon
So genuine.
- [22:12]
Zena Kaeda
So genuine. Exactly. My backup that I'm telling y' all is it's gonna lean into my next one. I'm gonna go ahead and segue this, but Georgia Amor out of Washington is funny as hell. Like, really. And also low key roasts her teammates.
- [22:32]
Lazia Clarendon
If.
- [22:32]
Zena Kaeda
I don't know if you guys remember the moment. This was during Paige's rookie year and AZ was in the building and Georgia Amor was hurt and went. Walked all the way around the court to where AZ was standing while Paige was warming up on the court. And I believe gave her, like, Paige had. Excuse me. AZ had on a Paige jersey and Georgia gave her a Washington mystics. And I think it was a Georgia Amore jersey. And AZ took it, took off her Paige jersey and put on the Georgia Amore jersey. And I was in. Paige is over here, like, on the court, just dribbling. She turned around and just laughed at the situation. Cause it was like you went out of your way to do that, and it was hilarious. And so she. And she, like, she has a way of doing that. She was like that with her teammates at Virginia Tech before she went to Kentucky. The Australian humor is always good. I think there's something there. So keep an eye out on Georgia Amore. I feel like that is a really a funny person in the growth. I mean, in the works. Excuse me.
- [23:42]
Lazia Clarendon
I like the under the radar one. Yeah.
- [23:44]
Zena Kaeda
And I think this is gonna perfectly flow us into Our next award, most likely platonic duo.
- [23:53]
Lazia Clarendon
Okay.
- [23:53]
Zena Kaeda
This is Stud Buds 2.0. Strictly friendship, Y'. All. We're just talking friendship chemistry. No romance, just ride or die energy, you know, Stud Buds was one of them. Definitely had the Sony and Kiki areafen like, duo.
- [24:10]
Lazia Clarendon
Yes.
- [24:11]
Zena Kaeda
I think there was, like, a group of, you know, Ray Burrell and Cam Brink and Rekia Jackson energy in la. The Kate Martin, Caitlin Chen duo, you know, doing patty cake.
- [24:24]
Lazia Clarendon
Oh, they were cute. Yeah. You know what I mean?
- [24:25]
Zena Kaeda
Like, these are the dynamics we're thinking of. And Leia, I'll let you start what you think.
- [24:32]
Lazia Clarendon
I mean, it's Saniya Rivers and Brittney Griner. I mentioned them on a few pods ago. For me, it's, ah, it just makes my life so happy.
- [24:41]
Zena Kaeda
I feel like that's the one.
- [24:43]
Lazia Clarendon
Yeah.
- [24:43]
Zena Kaeda
It's like the content has already been top tier.
- [24:48]
Lazia Clarendon
I know. And it's giving, like, shout out to studbuds, paving the way and, like, opening the doors. And we're giving homage to the folks who've done it. Yeah, they're so cute for so many different reasons. One, I think, like, anytime we get to see our masked people shining, our studs, our masked folks shining who never have got enough credit in this league, I think that's beautiful. I think it's the size difference with them, like, BG just like, hanging on Saniya.
- [25:13]
Zena Kaeda
Yes.
- [25:13]
Lazia Clarendon
I think it's like big bro, little bro vibes. It's like Saniya is, like, so embodied in her femness, in her masculinity, and so that comes out too. And she's like, I won't break a nail. And it's like the BD's, like, the big protector. There's, like, so much gender play. It's just so beautiful. It's the, like, veteran leading the younger player. They're both pretty, like, tough players, but I feel like we see, like, the toughness and the softness. Like, they've both been through a lot in their personal stories, but, yeah, it's just a beautiful display and so much joy that we need. We talked about Connecticut. Probably, like, they need some joy this season and what they're gonna go through, but I think it's like, it's the duo I didn't even know was possible when you signed there. It just feels like a gift that was like, oh, my God, my heart. I didn't know I needed this until I saw the video. And then it, like, filled with something in me, and I was like, oh, like, you know, you're on instagram and you're scrolling and then you see something, you're like, oh, yeah, wow, my heart. Yeah, that's all about them.
- [26:13]
Zena Kaeda
I'm all about that. And I think it hits on not only like, the platonic duo friendship aspect, but that, like, veteran little, like the veteran, not a rookie in Siya, but like, younger player. And I think that that's so beautiful. A lot of folks like the Asia Wilson, Kate Martin dynamic from a few years ago, and I felt like those. The pairings that you're like, oh, I wasn't expecting this. I wasn't looking forward to this. But, like, thank you for giving me this. I'm now looking forward to it every time I see it. And I think it speaks a lot to the character of these people too. Like, both Britney and Sinaiya are people that, like, spread joy naturally all the time. And the Saniya Marina Mabry, like, that was more romantic. Allegedly. Allegedly. Do they come out and actually say that they were dating? I don't.
- [27:05]
Lazia Clarendon
I don't know about the fact.
- [27:06]
Zena Kaeda
I think. Yeah. Yeah. Anywho, that duo was so fun. Like, you know, Saniya having Marina try on clothes with her and all that stuff. Like, it was a good little dynamic that we weren't expecting. And I think it's because of just how easily Saniya spreads her joy and is just like, let's go with it. Whatever's going on, let's go with it. And I particularly love that Saniya's bringing this. I don't want to say out of Britney, but it's now a time where Britney is at. Like, she's on the end part of her career. Right. And so she's like, fully showing out, fully having a great time. And that's. I don't know that that duo and that combination of timing in the league as well is really special. I am. I like that one. I think that was probably going to be my number one as well. I am looking forward to.
- [28:01]
Lazia Clarendon
Drumroll.
- [28:01]
Zena Kaeda
I'm really. I'm. Yeah, I know, I know. I'm like, now I'm, like, changing it midway, but I'm like, mm, I don't know. Okay. I think I'm particularly looking forward to the Georgia Amor and Rory Harmon duo or. Or Flaw J and Natisha Heideman. Ooh. I don't. I just feel like there could be something within the. With. Between the two of them. Rory's really, you know, just like the. I think the size aspect of them, both of them just being like, small point guards, just being gritty. There's Just like something there. I feel like they'll probably, you know, bond over that and the positions that they led in their college careers with their respective teams. I feel like they'll probably identify with each other a lot in that way. And there's, there's just gonna be a little bit of a bond there somehow. So I think that's. I'm looking for that in that little area of the league. And then Flage and Natisha, like, Natisha's gonna be missing her ace Boom Kum, right? She's gonna be missing, I know Courtney Williams. And so there's a vacuum here, right? There's a void that we can fill. Excuse me. That's what I mean. And so I think Flage is a perfect person to fill that void, especially as she looks towards having veteran leaders and being someone that we saw her be the little sister of Angel Reese for, you know, her LSU career. And she just, she kind of felt for a while like the little sister of the NCAA for folks and the way that she like came up and was just like ready to play and all that. So I feel like that's coming on too. Okay, we have really, we have just gone too long on that one. But let's keep it going. Now in today's W, fashion is also a part of the game. Which brings us to best tunnel fit. Where the tunnel isn't just a walkway. Let's be real, y', all, it's a Runway. So the question is, who is treating game day like a full on fashion moment? The truth of the matter is there's a billion people we could list for this. Let's just.
- [29:59]
Lazia Clarendon
We could have like many categories.
- [30:02]
Zena Kaeda
Many, many, many categories.
- [30:03]
Lazia Clarendon
Crop top girlies, the abs,
- [30:08]
Zena Kaeda
they just be showing off. It's not even fair. It's not even fair. And I'm always just in the comments, like, drop the ab routine. What's your daily diet like, how world
- [30:19]
Lazia Clarendon
run, run, run, run all day.
- [30:20]
Zena Kaeda
All run all day. Exactly. So I feel like there's so many people we could drop. My number one that I'm looking forward to, which I'm always, always, always looking forward to, though Rekia, like Rekia in Chicago. I don't know, like, what, what's that? How that's gonna change anything. But to me, that girl was born sure to play basketball, but also be on magazine covers, like absolutely drop dead stunning. But also just because of her frame for how tall she is, et cetera, everything just looks like it is fresh off the Runway. So Rekia is definitely gonna be my fashion Moment. And really that whole team. Cause let's be.
- [31:00]
Lazia Clarendon
I know, Louisiana, Just that whole squad.
- [31:03]
Zena Kaeda
Cause y' all know Skylar be coming in too with these fits. Just. I mean, the whole team. Exactly.
- [31:08]
Lazia Clarendon
Oh, you mean Chicago. I was thinking la. Okay.
- [31:10]
Zena Kaeda
No, no, no. Yeah, yeah. No, I'm thinking. I'm thinking Chicago. But my other one that I would add in is Tip Hayes.
- [31:19]
Lazia Clarendon
Oh, that was. She's on my list. Okay.
- [31:21]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah. Tip Hayes, who also makes her own clothing. Very much a fan. I remember doing the Valkyrie's violet carpet last year and loved the different pieces and the layers that she would put on. Also sometimes dressed her like teammates. I was gonna say co workers, which are both.
- [31:38]
Lazia Clarendon
They are, yeah.
- [31:39]
Zena Kaeda
But colleagues. I just. She's supposed to have her line, which is Saya. I think I'm saying that correctly. Her last name backwards. It's supposed to be available very soon. But Tip, hey, is definitely someone to look out for as well. What about you?
- [31:56]
Lazia Clarendon
Oh, I had so many too. Okay. Tip was on mine. Tiff and Kalia Copper up there. I have someone else who I think is the ultimate winner.
- [32:07]
Zena Kaeda
That's a good one.
- [32:08]
Lazia Clarendon
Kalia and Tip, because they're like femme leaning, but they do masculine so well. And Kalia was giving us those 90s looks last year. Like the baggy oversized pants, sometimes a little bit of stomach, like sports. She was giving us Aaliyah. So much nostalgia. I also am always rooting for the dark skinned girls. They don't get enough credit, enough love on our fashion and beauty. And Kali is just gorgeous to me. Like, I think she should have so many more endorsements and products. And so those two for me were like femme leaning. Do masc well. But then for like masculine person, I'm like, Courtney crushes it. And like, and Courtney styles herself. I. That's why she takes it from me, because I knew that, yeah, Courtney be putting her looks together. And like now she's been GQ and all the things I was gonna say.
- [32:55]
Zena Kaeda
Okay.
- [32:56]
Lazia Clarendon
Not her budget or when she's on set with people, but like, Courtney pulls her. Like when she was wearing that headscarf a couple years ago, was that in Chicago? Like, that's all core. Like, she does her stuff and she's openly spoken about how like in league fits and all these awards. Like there should be an award for people who actually style themselves. Like shade at the people who are just hiring someone because they have money and they do it versus the folks who actually, like, pull their own pieces together.
- [33:21]
Zena Kaeda
Yep.
- [33:21]
Lazia Clarendon
And so Courtney takes the most risk to me. Like, she'll be doing of like, this girl tied that scarf and like, was giving us like Martha Stewart in the vineyard black girl, but like, with some color and like, it's the way she takes risk. And I feel like Courtney actually set some trends. Like, she's more leaning like trendsetter to me in ways. That's why she takes it for me, like, it's just personality. It's genuine. It's like she always embodies, like, who she is in such a beautiful, authentic way. And I love her pops of color. I think I have to give honorable mention to Asia Wilson for, like, blackest. Like, wearing the durag in the tunnel is just like, yes, yeah, yes.
- [34:04]
Zena Kaeda
With the air force ones too on, you know, playoff games. Right? Exactly.
- [34:08]
Lazia Clarendon
And she gives us 90s fashion too. Like, and for players to get more commercial and to not lose their blackness, like, that's always a debate and a problem. So for Asia to be getting bigger, it feels like resistance to me and it feels like her be like, yeah, no, you gonna get durag. Asia, you gonna get some basketball shorts. Like, it's playoff time. Like, we're going to hoop. Like, it's love and basketball era. And so that's so important to me. And like, shout out to Asia's book. You know, dear black girls. Like, she just. She stands for black women and she has not lost, like an ounce of that as she's climbed in the corporate ladder and got more money. She's staying true to who she is. And like, that's so important. And then I think diamond the shields is underrated. Like, she's so under the radar. She does gender, like, across the board. She gives us mask, femme. Like, also another beautiful dark skinned woman that just like, I feel like people just sleep on her. And she. Her career has been up and down at times, so I know her notoriety has gone up and down with her health. But what she does in in the tunnel is like, I'm like, are people paying attention? Like, the range that she offers? Okay, I'm done. I had to get.
- [35:12]
Zena Kaeda
No, there was so many.
- [35:14]
Lazia Clarendon
I was like starting five.
- [35:15]
Zena Kaeda
I know. I feel like there's there. And I love that we're covering all of the different looks because another mask. Mask leaning. Brianna Stewart. I like her. I like the pieces that she puts together. Another like, model esque, more feminine Cambrink. Arika and Gubbawale. Another one.
- [35:38]
Lazia Clarendon
Oh, yes.
- [35:39]
Zena Kaeda
Arika be dressing.
- [35:41]
Lazia Clarendon
She snatches. Yeah.
- [35:42]
Zena Kaeda
Yes.
- [35:42]
Lazia Clarendon
Yeah.
- [35:43]
Zena Kaeda
There's so many. There's so many. Let us know if we've missed anyone. Well, we probably have, because the whole league be dressing. And guess what, y'? All. They got more money. They're gonna be looking. Looking good. They gonna be looking good. They're gonna be looking good. Okay. All right, let's keep it moving. Let's shift to the line so good it will make you pause and remember, oh, my God, this is our best quote. Superlative. Okay, who is someone that's gonna be dropping something that's gonna live rent free in your head all season long or just you're going to be looking forward to that post game interview, that halftime interview, their press up, their pressers, you know, whatever it is. Who is that person for you? I'm wondering if we have the same person. I'm so.
- [36:25]
Lazia Clarendon
I know. Mine was Kelsey Plum.
- [36:27]
Zena Kaeda
Dang it.
- [36:28]
Lazia Clarendon
It is.
- [36:29]
Zena Kaeda
You know what? We ain't even going to argue. We ain't going to argue with nobody else. Go. Why? Why? Kelsey Plum, for you.
- [36:35]
Lazia Clarendon
Okay. It's the quote. It's the quote from 2023. I'm sorry, Kelsey. I had to do it. She said, we've been through a lot. I mean, shoot, we've been hurt, sued, arrested. You name it, we've done it. So like I said, I'm confident in our group, and we've gone through a lot of adversity. We'll be ready.
- [36:53]
Zena Kaeda
Yes. Yo, I'm so through. Yes.
- [36:58]
Lazia Clarendon
Yeah. And mind you, this was Plum. Okay, so for the context, like, Ricana Williams at the time had been arrested on DV charges. Dear Cambie was suing the team for wrongful termination. They'd had some injuries. So for her, like, this was Plum, like, motivating her team. This was her being like, right.
- [37:16]
Zena Kaeda
This is how she speaks, y'. All. Like, that is. That quote is probably the best example to offer just how ridiculous she is in things that she says, but also, like, so real. She's not. Like, nothing about that is not factual. Like, she's so real. This team had been through a lot, and she had listed every single thing very quickly, very succinctly. To me, that's great. Speaking. I'm just gonna say that.
- [37:41]
Lazia Clarendon
And it's why it's so genuine.
- [37:43]
Zena Kaeda
Like, it's so genuine.
- [37:44]
Lazia Clarendon
It's why it lives rent free in my head.
- [37:46]
Zena Kaeda
Oh, I love that. I love that. I love that.
- [37:49]
Lazia Clarendon
Mine.
- [37:50]
Zena Kaeda
On top of that quote, there are so many other ones that. Like the one at the presser during All Star Weekend in the midst of all of the CBA negotiations at the press. Kelsey being. Yes, this is Plum. The t Shirt was determined this morning not to tattletale, but zero members of team Clark were present for that
- [38:14]
Lazia Clarendon
yes girl, Kelsey.
- [38:18]
Zena Kaeda
Now, you know that was unnecessary. And she was just like, it is what it is. She has said some like hilarious things. There was a conversation where she had a halftime report or halftime interview and the reporter said, what did you like about the way that your team came out on your. On that side of the ball? She said, I don't know, come back to me later, ma'. Am.
- [38:39]
Lazia Clarendon
She, I mean, we've genuine. Has been the theme this entire show. Like you have to give her. She's genuine.
- [38:45]
Zena Kaeda
She's hilarious. Yeah. So I'm, I'll give. I'm. We're giving her that. Straight up. Straight up.
- [38:50]
Lazia Clarendon
Unanimous Kelsey Plum.
- [38:51]
Zena Kaeda
Unanimous Kelsey Plum. Okay, let's. Let's get a little bit serious. Okay. Let's actually talk some basketball. And the one award that this one at least is gonna be very near and dear to your heart. Okay? It's the best backup point guard award. We're gonna call it the Leilani Mitchell award. This is the point guard who checks in and everything just keeps rolling. The offense flows, the pace stays steady and suddenly you're wondering if the backup label even applies anymore. Shout out Leilani Mitchell. Definitely look her up. If you're not familiar with her. We're gonna be doing that a lot more throughout the show this year, trying insert other players from seasons past in these 30 years that have made a name for themselves or should make a larger name for themselves. But who do you think this award should apply to this season and who you're looking forward to coming off the bench this year?
- [39:42]
Lazia Clarendon
I think it applies to like actual backup point guards. Not like, I think if Chicago, for example, doesn't apply, like they have Skyler and Cloud, you know, one of them. There are two starting point guards, one possibly play backup. So I don't know, give them. They're not qualified for this award. It's like true backup point guards who are potentially could have started at one point in the career but are like on a championship winning team gonna be that Leilani Mitchell. So for me it's Ty Harris and Raven Johnson. It's Indiana. So I had to give, I had to shout out Raven Johnson because what she can do on that squad. But it's Ty Harris. She's started for Dallas before South Carolina guard. Like she's just strong iq. She has all the makings of what a solid backup point guard is. Come in. She's got the demeanor, she's got the iq. She's been known to be a solid three point shooter off the bench. So I think specifically her impact for Indiana is that when Caitlin's out, they don't lose that three point ability. She can get the ball where it needs to go. She balances scoring and passing really well, which is what you want from your backup point guard. You don't want your. Sometimes you have maybe like a Kennedy card or a player who comes in who plays point guard, but they're really just a scorer and they're just at the one. But when you want a true backup point guard, as someone who comes in and like can assess the situation, like, okay, who am I in with? I'm in with Demirus Dantas and, you know, Tipson or someone. Am I getting Dantas the right shot, the right three, am I getting. Is it me in the high pick and roll? Who needs to go score? It's like that feel and that flow. So I'm really looking for Ty Harris impact. And particularly with Caitlin Clark's health having teetered the last couple years, I'm not surprised that Indiana has some depth at that position given what they went through last year with multiple point guard losses, that they kind of have the best point guard depth to me and backup position. And then Raven Johnson, what she can do defensively, I think in these preseason games, she's already played head above what a rookie would be, especially at that position, which is so hard. Our defense has been like, she blocked someone at the rim that first game and I was like, dang. Like she's doing that in a league. Like, okay, college is one thing, but like you're in the league blocking people at the rim.
- [41:46]
Zena Kaeda
Okay, Raven, those arms are long. They're super long. You cannot underestimate it. Yes. I love this start. Okay. It's funny because your pick and what you were alluding to as you described it leads to my pick, which I think we're going to see how this all plays out. But Erica Wheeler in la. Ooh. Is going to be my pick as best backup point guard. I mean, we know that Seattle came up short these last two seasons, but I love the poise with which Erica played. There were so many games. When you think about how Seattle closed out games last year, so many games were so close. So many games were. I think they would. I mean, I don't know if they went to the most amount of overtimes, but they were constantly in the thick of things. And in games, um, and Erica Wheeler was often the person on the floor leading the way. And so I absolutely think that she will be a really great backup point guard to Kelsey Plum. Um, we'll see. There's going to be times, you know, sometimes we'll say, like, oh, you bring in a person, bring Kelsey Plum off the ball, and people are like, why would you want them off the ball? They need to be like, well, people need rest. Okay, that happens, right? Um, you know, if you bring in Raven Johnson alongside Caitlin Clark, like, that doesn't mean she's completely off the ball. It just means that this is a different look for now. Same thing with, you know, with Paige and Ari K. And I'm sure Paige is going to play with some other point guards at some point, so she could be off ball. This is what I imagine Erica Wheeler could come in and do something for Kelsey Plumb, but I just. I just really like her as a person that you go to for your second unit and to keep the pace going and to keep the. Just the pressure on the rim. So perfect. That midi. That Midi was beautiful last year.
- [43:31]
Lazia Clarendon
So good. She's got experience, big moments, end of game shots. Also, defensively, your backup point guard needs to be someone who doesn't come in and out with some few of these people. We've mentioned Caitlin, Kelsey, it's like defensively, their backup point guards are going to be stronger. And so these are also two teams we're questioning about defenses. LA this year and Indiana having lost a lot of folks. So I backup point guards who can play both sides of the ball too.
- [43:55]
Zena Kaeda
Boom. Okay, let's keep it going to my conversation. We did point guards shout out to lay, but I want to talk about true bigs, okay? And this is what I mean by true bigs. I mean people that got paint presents. We ain't talking about, oh, who's stretching the floor, you know, they're on the outside in the perimeter. No, they are inside. They are dominating inside and they're doing what they're supposed to do down low. I feel like this is a lost art. It's just not, you know, you don't see it as much anymore. And the way that I'm looking at this is if you are gonna be on the perimeter, you better be. You better be setting some screens, okay? You better be, you know, doing your job with regards to that. And you better be able to post up, okay? I want you to be able to get to the top, you know, free throw line, extended rip through, look up, go right. Like, I want you to own the paint in that regard. With all that said, I'm gonna go ahead and I'm gonna give it to Shakira Austin. I know, I know Shakira ain't shooting threes, okay? She can, she can. But Shakira is someone that is absolutely gonna post you up. She's gonna have some footwork inside. She's gonna be able to face the basket and go, um, but if she puts up a three, she might make that one and then that's it. Other than that, she's down low handling business.
- [45:29]
Lazia Clarendon
Okay.
- [45:29]
Zena Kaeda
And this is, this is, I think, her year to shine. I loved her in un season. And I'm gonna say, even though her build isn't a true big, you know, like, think Back to Tierra McCowan a few years ago like that. Like a Kalani Brown type of bill. Like, you know, I, I wanted to give it to like a Leigh Yiru, but, you know, Leigh has the size, but she doesn't have, I think, the domination inside. She's a stretch big. Right? So I'm just thinking that's, that's where I'm gonna go with somebody that is owning the paint that sets hard screens and is going to take care of business. Going to get you one, two blocks a game. That is my pick. Shakira Austin.
- [46:10]
Lazia Clarendon
Okay. She could be breakout player this year too. Yeah, I'm going with the Brie Jones. Oh, that's traditional, babe.
- [46:19]
Zena Kaeda
Yes.
- [46:20]
Lazia Clarendon
Brie Jones. I've just watched her develop from her time with her at Connecticut too. And just to see her blossom and to like, it takes. It could take Biggs a while. Like, you're getting the ball on the block, you've got to score. Like, the strength, the size, like there was, I think, a teetering point in Connecticut where it's like, how good can Bree Jones be? And then you saw in that, like, I think it was her third, fourth year really turned the page. And then we've seen her become an all star. We've seen her become just a centerpiece for a league and what she's doing in Atlanta now and so hopefully her health, she'll be coming back soon. But I love the traditional size of big girls too, because one people underestimate that they can move like Brie Jones can move.
- [46:58]
Zena Kaeda
He's got some lateral quickness.
- [47:00]
Lazia Clarendon
You think, like, all right, I'm a be Brie Jones around the hedge. Like they're switching. Ah, then she gets out there and you're not. Because as a, as a guard, you're taught to attack the big's hip. But when Biggs are mobile, it's almost like that football. Football style of player. Like, we underestimate someone can be that quick at their size. And that's Brie Jones. Like, do not sleep on her. I love my girl. She got her little shuffle run. She's still gonna be like, she gonna shuffle down the court, and she's still quick as hell. Her head's a rim when she runs. Like, she gets down the court, and she has a great motor. And so she's gonna get to the rim, she's gonna post you up. And then her strength and her ability to get on the block, like, what are you gonna do? How do you get around her? She draws attention. She also. She's not messed around out there. Like, out here. Jacket threes. She gonna be down low. She'll give you a little. Like, I think she's maybe shot a few threes, but she's not that big. That's gonna, like. Bre Jones also doesn't take bad shots. That's what I love about her. She's not the big who's like, I'm trying to work on this part of my game. I'm about jacking. Like, she takes high quality shots. She's going to hit her free throw line jumper. When it comes to her, she's going to pass well in the high and low. Like, she's just a quality big. And we're finding kind of less and less of those to your point. Or we're wrestling with this stretch time where you've got the Stewies and the New Yorks and the JJs and everybody's positionless. And then you still got the Bri Jones's and Stephanie Dolson's. The people to remind you, like, excuse me. This is still a league where size does matter. Okay.
- [48:27]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah. And that's. That's where I, like, struggle with, like, do I want to do this with Shakira? Cause she is. I mean, she's got to build like Kiki. She's got to build like. You know, honestly, if you went to a lab and you said, build me a basketball player, you would hope Shakira Austin is what pops out.
- [48:45]
Lazia Clarendon
Kiki's a. Yeah, right.
- [48:48]
Zena Kaeda
And. But I think Kiki, even more so than Shakira, steps out, and I don't even mean to the three, but just has an extended two game rather than like a true three game. So I. I like that Shakira is gonna be in your face inside of the paint. Um, but agreed with you, I love the Bri Jones choice. She was definitely gonna be my number two I just particularly love about Bri. She's a good passer just as well as she is everything else that she does. Okay, let's shift to our second to last prediction. Most depth. This one's all about the benches. They don't just survive minutes. They change games. They come in. There is no drop off. You are so tired to think, oh, dang, we gotta go up against the. I thought we got rid of the starters. This team has some depth to them. Who are you thinking?
- [49:41]
Lazia Clarendon
Bow? Bow. I know.
- [49:44]
Zena Kaeda
Ooh.
- [49:44]
Lazia Clarendon
I was torn between Chicago and New York. Were the teams that jumped out. To me, that's good. Chicago. I'm looking at the list because, God, their guard depth, it's like, like guard depth for Chicago, big depth for New York. I know Sloots out right now, but still so much depth at the point guard position with Cloud, with Skyler, with Sloot. And then you look at their wings with Dijonay, with Rikia, and you got Hawkez. You've also got J.C. sheldon as another defender. I'm like, who's gonna one get minutes? They'll have to figure that out. But then if they can figure out rotations on that squad, and at one point, your starting point guard is Skyler Diggins. And then whether they start or come off the bench, having to go up against Skyler and then be like, okay, who? Skyler did her thing great. Lefty got to the rim. And then Cloud comes in and you're having to deal with another menace and think about. Think about Cloud or Skyler going against someone else's backup point guard. Like, that's not fair.
- [50:37]
Zena Kaeda
It's like, yeah, like, really?
- [50:40]
Lazia Clarendon
Even like Raven or Ty Harris having to compete against them, it's a drop off because they're veterans. They've been doing it longer. So for them, that was for me. And then for New York, it's like, it's that positionless basketball of Stewie, JJ and SATU where I'm like, the depth at that position is not fair because they can have people be out with an ankle, with a sickness, with, you know, even Sabrina being out. And you just the ability to still have three really good players who you can play two, three, four, or five, essentially with that squad. Two is maybe a stretch, depending on, like, who's in with them and how they run things. But we've seen Stewie absolutely be at the three before. That's not. I'd always seen her be at the point guard position.
- [51:22]
Zena Kaeda
We've seen her be one through five. Let's.
- [51:24]
Lazia Clarendon
Yeah. So I. Yeah, saw two brings the ball up. We're actually. I don't want to, like, overstate, but I think JJ is the one person who doesn't really bring the ball up and start offenses as much. But Satu and. And Stewie. Absolutely.
- [51:36]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah. I. I would say between the two of them. Absolutely. The liberty for me, especially because we haven't seen Benijah Laney Hamilton, and I know that there's a possibility that she's obviously going to be able to start. Um, but now you're talking about looking at their. Their big three and trying to figure out. I, like. Rebecca Gardner is a super big veteran. Like, I know she's only played three years in this league, but she played, like, 13 years overseas. She is incredibly poised. She hits timely shots. She gets into the paint. Same as Rebecca Allen.
- [52:12]
Lazia Clarendon
Right.
- [52:13]
Zena Kaeda
These are folks that have 10 years experience playing in top leagues overseas as well as in the wnba, and they aren't rocked by a lot. And I think that was what makes a debt like a bench scary.
- [52:25]
Lazia Clarendon
Yeah.
- [52:26]
Zena Kaeda
When you've got. Just as you mentioned, as I was, like, visually imagining the terror in my life if Natasha Cloud was coming off the bench or Skyler Dickens, and I'm a point guard and I'm like, oh, my God, I hate everyone, honestly. But that level of. I've been here before. Let's, you know, nothing is new for me. You know, I'm true to this. I'm not new to this type of thing. That's kind of the vibes that you get from the depth in New York and then Marine, just the flurry of
- [52:59]
Lazia Clarendon
Marine and then Phoebus for her big old feebish. It's like the depth of, like, size, versatility, and veteran makes them, like, the standout.
- [53:09]
Zena Kaeda
Correct. Correct. So I definitely. I think New York would be my number one. I've got two number twos that are interesting for different reasons. One, the Aces. And I know y' all gonna be like, the Aces. They don't even have that many people. No. Okay.
- [53:28]
Lazia Clarendon
Relative.
- [53:28]
Zena Kaeda
They add relative. Exactly. They have Kennedy Carter. Okay. They added Kennedy Carter, who averaged 17 points a game when she was last with Chicago two years ago, averaged over 30 points when she played overseas. I believe in China this off season, every time I go on social media, it was like, Kennedy's dropped 50 point or 40 points or 35. I'm like, who is she playing? What is happening? But we know we've seen her game. It's not hard to imagine that she is capable of putting up these levels of points. And what. But all I can think about is that you've got somebody with that level of a dog mentality when it comes to scoring coming off the bench.
- [54:09]
Lazia Clarendon
Fresh legs with a Jewel Lloyd. Who's come off the bench like what?
- [54:14]
Zena Kaeda
With a jewel Lloyd? Yes. And I don't know what these combinations are all going to be, but that is a lot to handle. Okay. And then again, we talk about, you know, the veteranship, Bri Turner, Stephanie Talbot. These are people who are careful with the ball and they do exactly what they need to do with, you know, and we saw Kirsten Bell improve her game as well last year. I feel like there's some depth here that should be reckoned with. And the other one is the Valkyries. And the reason why I'm going to say the Valkyries as a number two is because even though the names don't pop out in terms of scoring. Right. And this is something that they. I was just at their presser yesterday and asking Veronica Burton and asking their team. They don't have ISO scores as much as other teams may have. They very much value team basketball. And they talk about how their culture and their chemistry allows anyone on any given night to pop. That system is so well ingrained in everyone that. That the drop off is so minimal when you get to the next to the next group. Right. That's what we saw last year. That's why their defense felt relentless against teams even though they weren't as big, even though they weren't as fast or quicker, whatever. They felt relentless because it was thorough through line of what Natalie Nikase wanted defensively was there. So that's why I think the depth there is going to be particularly special on the defensive end. And then folks are stepping up. From what I'm hearing, Caitlin Chen's getting better.
- [55:48]
Lazia Clarendon
She looks. Oh, my God. Yes.
- [55:50]
Zena Kaeda
You know, Kayla Charles, we know what she was doing. She got significant playoff minutes last year. Kate Martin's going to get back into, you know, health and she's probably becoming off the bench. We know that she's capable of popping as well. There's a lot of opportunity here for folks to continue to rise for the Valkyries. And so that's where I'm gonna do that for number two. Okay, let's close it out. Okay. Our last one most impactful rookie. Okay. We're talking day one. Confidence, immediate impact. Okay. No. Oh, she just needs a little time to ramp up. Nope, nope. We're not doing that. Okay.
- [56:30]
Lazia Clarendon
Today.
- [56:30]
Zena Kaeda
Nope, it's today. Exactly. So who you got? Leigh?
- [56:34]
Lazia Clarendon
Oh, I was torn between Olivia Flage and Lauren.
- [56:38]
Zena Kaeda
Oh, that's. I mean, great ones. Great ones. Yeah.
- [56:42]
Lazia Clarendon
Yeah. And I, I, I have to admit, I haven't watched Lauren Betts play yet, so. Sorry, Lauren. You're getting the short end of my actual evaluation. So. I know people picked her to be rookie of the year, but having watched Flage, I'm like, ooh, I think she's gonna be deeply impactful. Ooh. But, Lauren, goodbye. Okay, so I'm really defining.
- [57:06]
Zena Kaeda
So you said you were split between those three? My, I didn't have those three. I had Flaw J. Yeah. And you look at the games that she's had in her first two, she's averaged 16 points, three and a half rebounds, one steal. She's shot over 45% from the field. Over 40%, 44% from three. You said it earlier. Opportunity.
- [57:32]
Lazia Clarendon
Yeah.
- [57:32]
Zena Kaeda
There's a lot of opportunity in Seattle. A lot of opportunity for Flaudge to immediately be impactful. And I know Olivia Miles. That's the one thing Lynx really needed, a point guard, like, a consistent point guard. So there's gonna be a lot of opportunity for Olivia Miles as well.
- [57:50]
Lazia Clarendon
Lauren, too. There should be. Oh, Lauren's playing with two other bigs.
- [57:53]
Zena Kaeda
Lauren's got some bigs, right?
- [57:55]
Lazia Clarendon
Yeah, that's true.
- [57:55]
Zena Kaeda
And there's gonna be moments where they might say, we' to go small.
- [57:59]
Lazia Clarendon
Yeah, right.
- [57:59]
Zena Kaeda
To be faster, whatever the case may be. But Flaw J, I think, is going to be. She's someone that could play up in size and can play down. So I, I just feel like immediate impact, no drop off, going from college straight to the pros. Like, I think Flaw J will be the one to be most impactful.
- [58:20]
Lazia Clarendon
And if you're talking day one confidence, that's what I've seen from her of, like, ooh, like, likes the bright lights is not.
- [58:26]
Zena Kaeda
Yes.
- [58:26]
Lazia Clarendon
Was out there. Like, I think she was already giving, like, crowd when they were playing with the Valkyries. And I think Olivia's got more pieces to play with at Minnesota, like, Fee potentially coming back. But she still got Kayla McBride. She still got court, like, really good people around her. Seattle still, like, is like, kind of that, that rebuilding mode. So, yeah, I think FL is like,
- [58:47]
Zena Kaeda
it's FL in the trees. You've got Ezzy awa Dom like this,
- [58:53]
Lazia Clarendon
like, for the guards, she really stands out. They're. They're wide open in their wings. Like, they're scoring two or three.
- [58:58]
Zena Kaeda
Correct.
- [58:59]
Lazia Clarendon
So I think that's for Flage is like, boom. And that's like the opportunity of that position, a point guard. Still got to manage the floor. Still got to like get the ball where it needs to go. I think Olivia will have a lot of opportunity to like play her. Fun style of play too for the Lynx fans. But I think Flage will have like, they need someone to score the basketball they do on the two and the three spots. So for Flage, it's like, like I'm at it.
- [59:22]
Zena Kaeda
We saw what Don Malanga was doing in unrivaled running the floor, picking and popping that I'm excited for. However that's going to manifest. But the pace, the going. Let's go. I just feel like Flauj is going to be a perfect guard alongside Adam, alongside Aoua Fountain. That likes to run as well. And I can just see it. Ezzy McMagore just trailing up to the top of the three. And as flaw J's already found her way into the paint. Kick back. Easy three. Oof. Seattle might be a problem. We'll see. We'll see. Okay, those were our superlatives. Let us know what you think about them. How'd we do what we miss? Was there an award we should have given out that you wish you would have heard about? Let us know. We'll prepare for next year. Or maybe at maybe halfway through the season.
- [60:12]
Lazia Clarendon
Midway point. Yeah.
- [60:13]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah. Halfway through the season we might revisit, but all right.
- [60:15]
Lazia Clarendon
Crash. Most unhinged.
- [60:17]
Zena Kaeda
Most unhinged would be great.
- [60:19]
Lazia Clarendon
Yep.
- [60:20]
Zena Kaeda
Yeah. Okay. Let's keep it going on the other side of this. We got one more thing.
- [60:30]
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- [61:01]
Kat or Nat from Kat and Nat Unfiltered
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- [62:20]
Zena Kaeda
This week, eight time all star Tina Charles announced her retirement on social media and I genuinely found it to be the most thoughtfully written retirement post I've ever read. I thought it was, it was beautifully, it beautifully encapsulated not only her career but the people she wanted to thank for her career and all the people that influenced her and poured into her. But it also encapsulated without going on and on and on how excited she was for the next step and that how her story isn't just basketball. Definitely. Go take a moment to go read it. Sometimes these retirement posts can be real long, especially when you have as storied and as colorful as a career as Cena did and she just, I mean it felt very reminiscent of her game. Efficient but powerful.
- [63:16]
Lazia Clarendon
Yes.
- [63:18]
Zena Kaeda
And I thought that that was just incredibly well put. She is one of the most accomplished players in WNBA history. She was number one overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft. She was unbelievably dominant in the post. Uh, she was known for her scoring, her rebounding, her consistency, um, her footwork inside, her ability to work in tight spaces as a post. Like she really if you wanted to be a post player, you were watching her her tape. Um, over her career she won 2010, she won the 2010 WNBA Rookie of the Year, 2012 league MVP and multiple scoring and rebounding titles. She has played for several teams including Connecticut sun, the New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Washington Mystics and Seattle Storm and has been a perennial all star and all WNBA selection. I've shared my thoughts Lay what are your flowers?
- [64:08]
Lazia Clarendon
Flower? I'm like where like flowers? I mean Tina Charles is. She played for multiple teams but so synonymous With New York, Liberty basketball for many, many years held that down.
- [64:20]
Zena Kaeda
Yep.
- [64:20]
Lazia Clarendon
From Queens. Like, back when I was playing Indiana, like, this was when the eastern Western conferences were a thing. So it was like. Like Tamika Catchings versus Tina Charles, Indiana versus New York. And I always think of how, oh, my God, Tina would have gone to the finals more, could have had more opportunities for championships if Tamika Catchings was not in the East. Like, this is like that classic. Sorry. You played in the Jordan era. Because there were serious times where, like, it was when the series were three games where New York would be up 10 or. And they had to win one game, but then Tamika would do the Tamika thing. And this isn't, you know, a catch a podcast moment, but it's to say, like, that breadth of talent that, like Tamika Ketchings, Tina Charles, like, they're so good, these Olympians. I had the opportunity to play with Tina Charles on the 2018 World cup team. And when you have a big that you can just pass the ball into and have a low block established, who can demand a double team? Like, you're already getting a paint touch and then two people have to guard her. And as you were talking, my brain was just doing the Tina Charles crab jumbo.
- [65:24]
Zena Kaeda
Pow. Yeah. Yeah.
- [65:25]
Lazia Clarendon
The way she pound that basketball. Honey, no one pounds the basketball harder would move you than Tina Charles. Yes. And that arm bar was so strong. And like, her mechanics as a post player, like, if any big, if any coach is watching us, any developmental person, like, go back and watch film on Tina Charles because, oh, my God, it's a masterclass in how to demand the low block and how to pass out of it and how to score, how to score through double teams. Because sometimes you need to score through double teams. When you're the player like the Asia Wilsons, it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, you shooting over two people sometimes is still better than you finding the open person. And so all the flowers to Tina Charles and what she's done for this league. And yeah, thank you. It was a pleasure to play with you, to play against you all those years. And I love that she's already knows that her life is so much bigger than basketball because as the players who retire, like, our identity is so often wrapped up in this sport, of course, but. But we're valuable outside of it. And so I'm really grateful to see what she's gonna do in the arts and like, all that she has in her life to come. Thank you.
- [66:28]
Zena Kaeda
Oh, beautifully said. Beautifully said. And if there's anything that will always stick out in my mind beyond her play, the amount of times you saw Tina talking to a younger player at the free throw line between timeouts, so many post players have talked about how Tina poured into them. And that is all you can ask for from a veteran, especially with such excellence and a caliber of someone like, like Tina. So thank you, Tina. Congratulations on your retirement. We look forward to seeing your next chapter. All right, y', all, that's gonna be it for today. Sabrina and Annie will be back on Friday. They're gonna be making some official award predictions, so make sure you tune in for that. I also wanna let you guys know if you are watching the WNBA games on Friday night, that means you're gonna be tuning in to WNBA on ion. And you might hear a familiar voice, see a familiar face, and that's because I'll be there. I will be hosting WNBA on ION alongside Megan McKeown and Autumn Johnson this season. I am so excited. I get to play the same role that I get to play on this podcast of just like, tell me what you know. I'll be asking all the questions. So definitely make sure you guys are reaching out, letting me know whatever you want to hear regarding the coverage at ION and for from Megan and Autumn, who are phenomenal basketball analysts. I am very much looking forward to that. It will be a very busy WNBA season, just so you all know, but it'll be perfect because I'll be covering all the teams there, just like we cover all the teams here at Noah offseason. And that is why you gotta make sure you subscribe to this pod, wherever you're getting it, and make sure that you hit that subscribe button on YouTube because we're more fun in person. All right, y', all, that is gonna be it for today. On behalf of the Athletic Lajah Clarendon, I'm Zena Kada thanking you for listening, and we'll see you next time. No Off Season is hosted by Zena Kaeda with Chantelle Jennings, Sabrina Merchant, Blasia Clarendon and Annie Costable. It's produced by Tanika Burrell. Our executive producer is Andrea B. Scott. Monica Compton is our video editor. Our theme music is by Marcus Bagala. Shannon Ryan is managing editor of women's basketball at the Athletic. Be sure to like and subscribe. We drop new episodes every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
- [68:39]
Capital One Bank Guy
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