Podcast Summary: "Team USA World Cup Qualifiers, Unrivaled Season Recap, AB's Injury & UConn's DOMINANCE" | Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston | Ep.28

Release Date: March 11, 2026
Hosts: Candace Parker (CP), Aliyah Boston (AB)

Overview

In this vibrant, laughter-filled episode, Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston return from a brief hiatus to dig into a loaded week in women's basketball. They catch up on Unrivaled's inaugural season, Aliyah's injury, Team USA's World Cup qualifiers, CBA drama, UConn's historic run, and trade playful generational roasts and off-court stories. Packed with real talk, competitive energy, and sisterly humor, this episode keeps the conversation moving on and off the court.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celebrating Women – Instagram X-Outs & International Women's Day

[00:00–05:52]

• The episode opens with Candace describing her annual Instagram tradition for International Women's Day, humorously 'x-ing' out every man from her celebratory photos.
  • Quote:
    "If you have an XY chromosome, it ain't about you." – Candace, [00:12]
• Playful banter on how women (especially Black women) only get two dedicated months and the unfairness of it all.
• Ongoing joke about Candace's social media and generational divide over TikTok and picture editing.

2. Candace’s Cold, Life on the Road, and Generational Banter

[01:41–04:14]

• Candace details her hectic travel schedule and struggles with losing her voice during broadcast duties.
  • "It's bad if you're sick and your whole job is to talk..." – Candace, [03:03]
• Humor about how impossible it is to dodge seasonal illness, buttoning hair, and cultural references (“Vera de Milo” from In Living Color).
• More light generational ribbing about references that go over Aliyah’s head.

3. LA Marathon & Medals Debrief

[07:53–10:11]

• The pair joke about LA's marathon rewarding runners who made it to mile 18 due to extreme heat.
  • Aliyah: "I would take my medal...Getting to mile 18 in itself is a lot." [07:53]
  • Candace: "Anybody that would want to put themselves through...deserves a medal." [08:37]
• Candid discussion of their own running capabilities (or lack thereof) and what their hypothetical mile times might be:
  • Aliyah (optimistically): 7 minutes.
  • Candace (skeptical): "No way...on the treadmill my pace ends up being like 17 minutes." [10:31]
• Jokes about the mythical “runner’s high.”

4. Candace’s Experience as a Sports Parent

[12:22–14:56]

• Candace reflects on taking her daughter on an official college visit, feeling both pride and nostalgia about the moment.
  • "It’s crazy seeing life come full circle—my daughter’s heading off to college for volleyball.” [12:41]
• Parenting approaches on college visits: Candace prefers to observe, while her co-hosts’ parents were more inquisitive.
• Sound advice: always ask the last player on the bench about their experience.

5. Daylight Savings Rant

[15:44–17:46]

• Animated complaints about the pointless tradition of losing an hour to daylight savings (especially on International Women's Day).
  • "Did we save the daylight?...Why can't we have daylight all year round?" – Candace, [15:46]
• Suggestion for changing to a weekday or just scrapping the whole system.

6. Unrivaled Season & Aaliyah’s Injury

[20:34–24:46]

• Recap of Aaliyah’s strong Unrivaled season until a lower leg injury sidelined her before playoffs.
  • AB: "I felt like I was 15 steps behind...I’m not helping the team." [21:29]
  • CP: "You all finished first place...I think this three-on-three experience added to your game." [23:25]
• Emphasis on team chemistry, stretching her shooting range, and development as a defender.

Regular Season & Awards (notables)

• Phantom finished 11-3, first place.
• Regular Season 1st Team: Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Paige Bueckers.
• Aaliyah: 18.9 PPG, 9.7 RPG, Defensive POY; Rena Hodges: Coach of the Year.
• Chelsea Gray: MVP with 24 PPG.

7. Unrivaled Playoffs Breakdown

[25:55–34:32]

• Highlights from playoffs, including Ryan Howard's hot shooting and Paige Bueckers leading the Breeze.
• The Brooklyn playoff atmosphere: star-studded crowd (Issa Rae, Jason Sudeikis, Ashton Kutcher, Sue Bird).
  • AB: "The atmosphere was crazy. It was so fire...the fans, they really showed up.” [28:08]
• Phantom falls short in the final (Miss over Phantom, 80–74), KP drops 40, Stewie 32.
• Injury and lack of depth played a role; both hosts reflect positively on the experience.

8. Locker Room Laughter – Elbows, Fouls, and Player Impressions

[34:32–37:14]

• Kelsey Plum’s viral Aliyah impression has the hosts in stitches.
• Discussion of the never-ending “elbow” debate—Aliyah joking that it’s not her fault if someone’s head is at elbow height.
  • "If you are the height of where my elbow’s located, that's crazy. That's none of my business." – AB, [36:26]

9. Team USA's World Cup Qualifiers

[37:21–39:45]

• Team USA’s “superteam” faces Senegal, Puerto Rico, Italy, New Zealand, Spain.
• AB expresses disappointment at missing Puerto Rico due to injury, jokes about already buying swimwear for the trip.
  • "USA Basketball could get gold, silver, and bronze. It’s unbelievable." – CP, [38:39]
• TNT to air games; notable roster includes Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and others.

10. WNBA CBA Updates & Salary Developments

[39:45–41:10]

• Rundown of CBA negotiations: player demands (housing, revenue share), WNBA's latest offer, and new rookie contract thresholds.
  • "Average salaries increasing from $120K to $540K in the first year...I think I made a million in my entire career!" – Candace, [40:21]
• Noted urgency due to impending deadline, with risk of season delays.

11. UConn’s Dominance & NCAA Tournament Preview

[43:42–49:58]

• Conference tourney recaps: UConn (Big East, 24th title, 50 straight wins), UCLA dominates Iowa, Texas upsets South Carolina.
  • CP to Aliyah: “Did Texas expose something about your team?”
    AB: “No, I think they just caught us on a bad day.” [44:28]
• Coaches’ responses after losses: stories of brutal spring break practices and how losses can spark championship runs.
• Top seeds for NCAA: UCLA, Texas, UConn, South Carolina.
• Player of the Year debate: Sarah Strong vs. Michaela Blake.

12. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If you have an XY chromosome, it ain't about you..." – Candace Parker, [00:12]
• "Anybody that would want to put themselves through [marathon training]...deserves a medal." – CP, [08:37]
• "If you are the height of where my elbow’s located, that's crazy. That's none of my business." – AB, [36:26]
• "USA Basketball could get gold, silver, and bronze. It’s unbelievable." – CP, [38:39]
• "We don't waste possessions and you don't waste hires." – CP on ZipRecruiter, [51:58]
• "Sarah Strong...has been sitting in the driver's seat all season long." [52:56]

13. Fan Questions & Book Recommendations

[54:30–56:26]

• CP’s most impactful book: The Alchemist and Blink (Malcolm Gladwell).
• AB: Prefers murder mysteries but declines to pick one.
• Spring plans: AB is excited to visit home in St. Thomas and introduce her dog to the ocean.
• Influential women in sports: Candace shouts out the "Magnificent Seven" (1996 Olympics) and the Title IX generation: "They are the reason we are right now." [56:46]

14. Lighthearted, Off-Topic Fun

• Viral idea: What if WNBA coaches had to wear team uniforms?
  • Extended riff with laughter on shorts, compression socks, Gen-Z vs. Old School apparel, and generational shifts in basketball fashion.
• Kim Mulkey's handshake antics after a Tennessee game (“she dapped that man up!”) [50:23]

15. Closing Segment – “Driver's Seat Moment”

[51:53–53:49]

• Player spotlight: Sarah Strong – UConn’s all-around phenom.
  • "She leads the team in points, rebounds, blocks and steals...almost 60/40/90 shooting." [53:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Women's History Month Banter: [00:00–05:52]
• LA Marathon & Running: [07:53–12:22]
• Candace’s Parenting Reflection: [12:22–14:56]
• Daylight Savings Rant: [15:44–17:46]
• Unrivaled & Aaliyah’s Injury: [20:34–24:46]
• Unrivaled Playoffs Recap: [25:55–34:32]
• Elbows & Player Antics: [34:32–37:14]
• Team USA Preview: [37:21–39:45]
• CBA & WNBA Salaries: [39:45–41:10]
• NCAA Tourney Recap: [43:42–49:58]
• Fan Q&A: [54:30–56:26]
• Sarah Strong Segment: [51:53–53:49]

Notable Listeners’ Takeaways

• Expect Gen Z/Millennial locker room banter amid serious sports talk.
• An unfiltered, honest depiction of athlete life on- and off-court.
• Candid perspectives on women’s sports inequities, team chemistry, injury realities, and all the fun and drama in between.

Next Episode: New every Wednesday. Follow @postmovesshow for more.