Podcast Summary: Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston

Episode 18: WNBA Draft No. 1 Predictions, USA Basketball Roster & Candace vs A’ja 1v1
Release Date: December 3, 2025
Hosts: Candace Parker (CP) & Aliyah Boston (AB)

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off with playful banter about Thanksgiving, Black Friday shopping, and a candid look at the hectic lives of Candace and Aliyah. The show then gets into the heart of WNBA news—draft lottery results, no. 1 pick predictions, USA Basketball roster excitement, and transitions into lively debates about dream 1v1 matchups in women’s hoops. Throughout, candor and humor shine, especially when the duo fields fan questions and swaps stories about college recruitment and balancing “the books with the basketball.”

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Holiday Recaps and Shopping Skepticism (00:00–06:45)

• Thanksgiving Check-in:
  • Aliyah spent Thanksgiving in Georgia with her family and dog, Oswald, cheekily noting, “I brought myself. Okay. Don’t ask if I brought wine. Don’t ask if I brought any ingredients because I didn’t, you know, but the food was bus.” (01:27)
  • Candace worked through the holiday, covering the Player’s Era tournament in Vegas, then hosted the Tennessee women’s basketball team for Thanksgiving dinner in LA, highlighting the importance of keeping connections alive with former programs and fellow athletes.
  • Retail talk: Aliyah is a Black Friday cynic (“Absolutely not. Lowkey feel like they be scamming. Like, you did not change that price for real.” 00:04), while Candace indulged in some Vegas retail therapy.

2. WNBA Current Events: CBA Extension & Draft Lottery Reactions (08:23–15:19)

• CBA Deadline Extended Again:

  • The WNBPA and league agree to extend the current collective bargaining agreement to January 9, 2026.
  • Candace predicts pressure will mount if talks continue to stall as the 2026 season nears. “I feel like WNBA as we approach, like, February, if this gets extended again, there’s gonna be a little bit more pressure.” (08:51)

• WNBA Draft Lottery Results:

  • Candace celebrates her prediction that Dallas nabbed the no. 1 pick: “I called it. Dallas got the number one pick. I was really excited when I saw that.” (09:57)
  • Aliyah’s initial take: “I could see them going with AZ at number one... We're not surprised because they did have the worst record for a minute.” (10:07)
  • Both analyze landing spots for top prospects:
    • AZ Fudd (UConn): Strong fit with Minnesota (“I honestly...like AZ with Minnesota as well. I think their offense...that’s Minnesota. They're just moving that ball, spacing the floor.” 14:31)
    • Olivia Miles (Notre Dame): “A franchise player, wherever she ends up.” (11:13)
    • Discussion about the need for Dallas to balance youthful talent with veteran presence—comparing to the early Minnesota Lynx dynasty model (12:46).

• Dark Horse International Prospect:

  • Aliyah mentions a “Spanish player, the Awa Farm,” as a versatile, intriguing international option for Dallas (13:00).

3. USA Basketball Roster and Training Camp Anticipation (17:24–22:41)

• Excitement Over Roster Announcements:

  • Both hosts talk making the senior team and getting invited to the Durham, NC training camp under new head coach Kara Lawson.
  • Aliyah: “Anytime you get a chance to really play with USA, it’s just a great opportunity. So honestly, I’m excited to hoop a little bit before we go to Unrivaled. See my girl Caitlin.” (21:01)
  • Discussion on the challenge for college athletes (e.g., Lauren Betts) to balance national team commitments during the NCAA season.

• Roster Details:

  • New faces (Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, etc.) and mainstays (Brittney Griner, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum).
  • Candace highlights Sue Bird’s new front office role and praises USA Basketball’s respect for veteran athletes: “Glad that USA Basketball...is working smarter, not harder...the respect you’re paying to players that have, you know, paid their dues.” (19:51)

4. College Hoops Roundup & Locker Room Stories (23:46–32:31)

• Texas Makes a Statement:

  • Texas upsets UCLA and South Carolina back-to-back. Candace lauds Rory Harmon’s clutch shot and team leadership; Aliyah, a proud Gamecock, is less enthused but admits “it was a really good shot.” (24:29)

• Shout-Outs:

  • Audi Crooks’s offensive explosion for Iowa State (47 points, 19–25 shooting): “She's averaging more points than she's averaging minutes.” (25:21)

• Handshake Drama:

  • Janiyah Barker’s tense post-game moment vs. UCLA sparks debate about sportsmanship, pressure, and social media scrutiny.

• Undefeated Teams Watch:

  • Texas, TCU, LSU gaining momentum; Candace keeps an eye on LSU’s scoring prowess as they approach SEC play (29:52).

5. 1v1 Dream Matchup Debate: Candace Parker vs. A’ja Wilson (35:38–43:01)

• Clips from Carmelo Anthony Podcast:

  • Melo and Kaiser Gondrezick pick Candace in a hypothetical 1v1 with A’ja:

    “I’m gonna go with Candace. I think Candace, she had a little bit more to her game on the perimeter...rookie of the year and MVP the same season, got pregnant, came back and like, she’s one of those ones.” (36:04)

• Candace’s Take:

  • “I love that women’s basketball is getting to the point where debating this in barbershops, on podcasts...That’s the key.” (37:03)
  • “Our games are so different...who cares if somebody...can go out and get buckets...they’re not going to be able to do what they did in their career.” (37:51)

• Aliyah’s Loyalty:

  • Picks Candace in the hypothetical but laughs at the Gamecock roots. Then pivots to Caitlin Clark vs. Diana Taurasi—backs Caitlin, but Candace wonders if Dee’s physicality would change the equation (“Dinah will beat the shit out of you...might not even be basketball.” 40:55)

• Who’s the Best 1v1 Player in the WNBA?

  • Both: Kelsey Mitchell
    • “The stuff she does...it’s like, not like...you literally can’t combat crossovers...” (41:21)
    • Nafisa Collier gets noted for her counter moves and tough one-on-one game.

6. You Got This—Inspired Players of the Week (43:25–45:34)

• Rory Harmon’s Brilliance:
  • Wins the segment’s praise for game-winners vs top teams, leadership, and comeback from injury:

    “She’s been hooping...she is looking amazing.” (44:23)
    “Her ability to disrupt the game on the defensive end...at that size, being able to force charges and make things difficult for teams to get in their offense.” (44:43)

  • Candace highlights the emotional interview from Texas coach Vic Schaefer after their win.

7. Fan Q&A—Icons, Academics, and “Alternate Realities” (45:34–54:23)

• Sports Icons:

  • Aliyah names Candace (genuine fangirling), Serena & Venus Williams.
  • Candace: the WNBA as a whole, plus Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain for their unapologetic personalities.

• Balancing Books & Basketball:

  • Candace: Sport Management (minor in Psych), recounts college study hall antics, says she might've majored in history if she could do it over.
  • Aliyah: Mass Communications, loved writing and research, admits she always finished assignments early.

• Recruiting “What-ifs”:

  • Candace had Tennessee, Duke, Texas, Maryland, DePaul as finalists (“I was this close to going to Duke...I idolized Elena Beard.” 52:02)

  • Aliyah stalwart Gamecock, but her final four included Ohio State, Notre Dame, and UConn.

    “With NIL, shoot, I would have brought my ass out to California...UCLA or USC.” (53:18, Candace on where she’d play in 2025’s era)

Notable Quotes & Funniest Moments

• “Ozzy’s the prize.” – Aliyah joking about why she didn’t bring anything to Thanksgiving (02:03)
• “The double doink by Parky...that was my family’s ‘welcome to Bears fans’ moment.” – Candace on Chicago sports heartbreak (07:39)
• “You didn’t bring wine? I brought you what you brought to Thanksgiving.” – Candace roasting Aliyah (06:34)
• “No NIL money. Just here for the love of the game.” – Aliyah on old Team USA photos (18:40)
• “Coach would not change practice...so I was not going to finish my degree in four years if I stuck with finance.” – Candace, on picking a major as a student-athlete (47:40)
• “Have you ever been that student? ‘You didn’t collect the homework?’” – Candace needling Aliyah for her studious ways (50:20)
• “I'm not that type of person. Thank you. I just do my homework. If you forget to collect the homework, I’m not going to sell them out.” – Aliyah (50:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Holiday & Retail Talk: 00:00–06:45
• CBA Extension & Draft Discussion: 08:23–15:19
• USA Basketball & College to National Balancing: 17:24–22:41
• College Hoops Highlights (Texas, Audi Crooks, Handshake Drama): 23:46–32:31
• 1v1s & WNBA Debates (Candace vs A’ja, etc.): 35:38–43:01
• You Got This (Rory Harmon): 43:25–45:34
• Fan Q&A (Icons, Academics, Alternate College Choices): 45:34–54:23

Tone and Vibe

Candid, playful, and unfiltered—Candace and Aliyah bounce seamlessly from trash talk to real talk, celebrating women’s basketball and poking fun at themselves and each other. Authenticity and warmth—plus a genuine love for the game—are evident throughout.

Next Week’s Teaser

Leslie Jones will be the guest for episode 19—expect even more laughs and audience participation (send in videos for Leslie to commentate on!).

Find More:

• Episodes Wednesdays on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
• Follow @postmovesshow on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Facebook