Women’s Final Four With Holly Rowe and Allison Feaster

Summary

Show Me Something – Women’s Final Four With Holly Rowe and Allison Feaster

Date: April 6, 2026
Hosts: Sophie Cunningham, West Wilson
Guests: Holly Rowe (longtime ESPN sportscaster), Allison Feaster (Harvard legend/former WNBA player, Boston Celtics executive)
Location: Phoenix, live at the Women’s Final Four

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Episode Overview

This special episode of Show Me Something takes place in Phoenix during the NCAA Women’s Final Four. WNBA star Sophie Cunningham and co-host West Wilson are joined by broadcasting legend Holly Rowe and trailblazing WNBA/NBA exec Allison Feaster to talk women’s basketball, sports travel, locker room stories, fandom, and their personal and professional journeys. The episode is powered by Marriott Bonvoy and highlights how travel and community shape the women’s basketball experience.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Vibe at the Women’s Final Four in Phoenix

• Energy & Setting: The hosts open with observations of Phoenix’s electric vibe and the growth of women's basketball fandom.
  • Sophie: “The city is popping full of great energy for the Women’s Final Four here.” (04:32)
  • Discussion of the La Morena mural celebrating women’s hoops and Phoenix culture.
• All One Seeds: Discussion of the elite level this year, with UConn, South Carolina, Texas, and UCLA making up the Final Four.
  • “I do think this year you do have the very best top four teams in the nation. Sometimes you get a little Cinderella story or an underdog. I think these are the best, the best ones.” – Sophie (06:17)

2. Coaching Rivalries & Predictions

• Spotlight on the iconic rivalry between Geno Auriemma (UConn) and Dawn Staley (South Carolina):
  • “That’s like those are two very iconic women’s basketball coaches who I feel like see each other in March frequently... It gives me like Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy vibes in the 2000s.” – Host (06:39)
• Sophie’s Picks: She’s torn but leans Texas, citing personal ties and their current momentum:
  • “A big portion of me is thinking Texas is peaking at the right time.” (07:40)
  • On UConn vs. SC: “That matchup, I can’t even predict.” (08:08)

3. Holly Rowe Joins: The State & Growth of Women’s Hoops (09:05)

• Memorable Broadcasting Moments: Holly recounts legendary games, including Mizzou/KU men’s basketball and the loss of the old Mizzou–KU rivalry:
  • “I remember stories. Like, I might not remember the score, but I will remember the situation or something that happened or a story I told.” – Holly (09:39)
• The Rise of Women’s Basketball:
  • “I think it’s the best it’s ever been, and I think I’m an expert... We’ve known forever that this is a really good product. And I feel like the general public is just now catching up.” – Holly (11:17)
• Fandom’s Economic Impact:
  • On Indiana: “The excitement behind the Indiana Fever has completely changed that city... We are really changing the face of Indianapolis right now with the WNBA. It is palpable... millions and millions of dollars of economic impact.” (12:23)

4. WNBA History, Broadcasting, and Representation

• The loss of the Utah Stars and franchise history:
  • “We had a really good team... Then the team went to San Antonio, and it is now the Las Vegas Aces. So that is our franchise.” (13:30)
• The need for former players in officiating:
  • “One of the ways I think we could improve refereeing is to get more former players who maybe didn’t make it as a pro. They know how to officiate it a little differently.” (16:34)

5. Defining Moments and Progress

• On pivotal moments for women’s basketball:
  • “The best WNBA game I’ve ever worked in my life was 2016, game five, the LA Sparks at Minnesota Lynx... there were like, I want to say, seven Hall of Fame players in that series... To me, that was the moment we really started to rise.” – Holly (14:48)
• On Caitlin Clark’s impact:
  • “She did take it to a new level, but we were rising before that, too.” (15:37)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Storytelling and Resilience:
  • “Raven Johnson is one of the greatest stories in all of college basketball... all she’s done is stay true, be resilient, and show up for her team.” – Holly (18:22)
• The Joy Journal:
  • “During that time I was like, I can’t control what’s happening to me, but I can control if I’m joyful every single day. So I still keep my joy journal.” – Holly (29:24)
• Holly’s Famous Interview:
  • Recalls Mizzou’s buzzer-beater vs. KU and the rush of authentic sports moments.
• Travel, Marriott Bonvoy, and Giving Back:
  • Holly leverages her travel points for family and cancer patients through the “Joyous Foundation,” using sports and travel to spark hope for others. (28:23)

6. Fashion, “Fits” Culture, and Personal Branding (26:11)

• Holly on introducing the “tunnel fits” coverage to TV:
  • “I was the first one that got tunnel fits on TV in the bubble... I take a teeny bit of pride in that.” (26:26)
• On fashion’s role in personalizing athletes and fandom:
  • “I think it personalizes players and it really showcases whatever your vibe is. It elevates fandom.” (27:10)

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Travel and Its Role in the Sports Community

• Everyone shares dream “road trips” across the US:
  • Holly’s: SEC softball in Kentucky, WNBA game in Indiana, Women’s College World Series (OKC), AUSL pro softball in Utah, vacation in Italy. (35:32)
• The sense of community built through travel for games, family, fandom, and recovery.

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Allison Feaster Segment (43:00)

1. Trailblazing Athlete and Executive

• Only woman to lead a No. 16 seed (Harvard) past a No. 1 (Stanford) in the NCAA Tournament (1998):
  • “We were cognizant... you can see my teammates just losing it. We knew it. That it would reverberate almost 30 years later. No, because it just not. Hasn’t been done on the women’s side.” (44:18)
• Played for LA Sparks, Charlotte Sting, Indiana Fever, now Celtics exec.

2. The Parent Perspective

• On watching her daughter, All-American and AP Player of the Year Sarah Strong, for UConn:
  • “It’s zero control on the game, on the outcome... Powerless and also positively optimistic.” (50:07)
• Acknowledges the emotional and financial investment of sports parenting:
  • “Basketball’s in the back. And this past Christmas, she bought [her dad] a car as a way to say thank you. Holy cow.” (54:32)

3. Women Carving Space in Men’s Sports

• On being a high-ranking woman with the Celtics:
  • “If you’re in a space that’s male-dominated and you have some influence, you have to leverage that influence to open doors and provide exposure to the underrepresented.” (53:06)

4. International Experience and Family

• Played in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal; emphasizes learning, culture, and resilience gained through travel.
  • "That’s a skill... going to a foreign country and figuring out the language, making friends. It’s like a survival skill.” (59:49)
• Family traditions and vacationing provide perspective and togetherness.

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Women’s Basketball Evolution: Then and Now

• Resources & Growth:
  • “The women today are just... they don’t have to work two jobs. Your livelihood is basketball and being a professional and honing your craft.” – Allison (57:48)
• Advice for Athletes:
  • “You have to trust that the little daily deposits that you put in over many years, like, she knows how to do it. That’s where you get your confidence from.” (58:12)
• Support from high-profile NBA players (Kobe Bryant, KD) called a “watershed” for the sport. (57:05)
• Transfers & Adversity:
  • “There’s something to be said about figuring it out... Hopefully you did the research required when you made the decision to go to a school that you have some semblance of confidence that you can work your way to a point where you need to work to.” (62:52)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:32 – Setting the stage: Women’s Final Four, Phoenix mural, all-one-seeds excitement
• 09:05 – Holly Rowe joins: Memories, storytelling, women’s hoops growth
• 14:48 – Pivotal moments in women’s basketball; the 2016 WNBA Finals as shift point
• 18:22 – Raven Johnson’s resilience and player stories
• 26:11 – Fashion’s role in women’s sports, tunnel fits, and culture
• 28:23 – Holly’s “Joyous Foundation” and giving back through travel
• 35:32 – Fantasy sports travel road trip plans
• 43:22 – Allison Feaster on Harvard’s iconic win, the significance of upsets
• 50:07 – Parenting an elite athlete, nerves and trust
• 53:06 – Paving the way for women executives in men’s sports
• 57:48 – The evolution of the women’s game: resources and lifestyle
• 62:39 – Advice on transfers, resilience in college sports

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Tone & Takeaways

• The conversation is candid, passionate, and celebratory, with emotional moments and laughter throughout.
• The hosts and their guests are deeply invested in women’s basketball as a sport, a community, and a movement for opportunity and empowerment.
• There is optimism about the rapid growth in support, resources, and visibility for women’s sports, accompanied by reminders of how far the movement has come and how far it can still go.

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Standout Quotes

• “All we have ever asked is opportunities for these little girls, for women. And so now that women are getting them, I just feel so, so proud and grateful.” – Holly Rowe (32:40)
• “I think the big time is women’s sports. I have really sacrificed... but it’s more than that. I am that little girl that I’m covering these sports for.” – Holly Rowe (33:55)
• “If you’re in a space that’s male-dominated... you have to leverage that influence to open doors and provide exposure to the underrepresented.” – Allison Feaster (53:06)
• “You have to trust that the little daily deposits that you put in over many, many years... That’s where you get your confidence from.” – Allison Feaster (58:12)

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Final Thoughts

This episode captures a live, authentic celebration of women’s basketball at its pinnacle—honoring its stories, struggles, rising opportunities, and the community that keeps pushing boundaries. Holly Rowe and Allison Feaster bring experience, wisdom, and hope, inspiring all listeners—athletes, fans, parents, and future game-changers.

Transcript

[Holly Rowe]

This is an I Heart podcast.

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[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

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[Holly Rowe]

That's my bone.

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[Daniel Cormier]

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[Julian Edelman]

This is Julian Edelman from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jewels. All right, real quick. Take a look at yourself right now.

[Allison Feaster]

Why?

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

What's wrong?

[Julian Edelman]

Nothing's wrong. You look like a guy running on three hours of sleep and vibes.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Okay, yeah, I'm tired, kind of cranky, and very thirsty.

[Julian Edelman]

Congrats. Those are some of the potential signs of mild dehydration. And I bet your last bathroom break showed you another sign your body might be throwing you a penalty flag.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

So what's the play?

[Julian Edelman]

Call Liquid IV hydration multiplier. One stick in water helps hydrate faster than water alone.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Okay, but where's the proof?

[Julian Edelman]

Liquid IVs. Clinical studies. Not just a guy. I know. Real science. Results you can trust.

[Daniel Cormier]

Well, take a Look at me now.

[Holly Rowe]

Liquid IV is officially part of my daily hydration routine.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Pass the firecracker Popsicle flavor.

[Julian Edelman]

Stay hydrated like a pro, not like Jack. Before this. Stock up on Liquid IV Hyper hydration [e-mail] and use the promo code nuthouse for 20% off your first purchase.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

What's up guys?

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

It's west and Sophie.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

And if you've noticed, we are not in Indianapolis anymore.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

We are actually in Arizona for the Women's Final Four and we have some awesome guests. We have Holly Rowe and Allison Feaster with us today.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

That's right, the Show Me Something podcast with Marriott Bonvoy checking in live from the Bracket. Some of the best game day memories don't happen on the court. They happen in hotel lobbies, over pregame meals and in the moments before tip off. As the official hotel partner of the ncaa, Marriott Bonvoy sees it all from the Bracket. Pep talks to fans bonding over shared rituals. It's the moments around the game that become the ones people remember.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

This March Madness Live from the Bracket brings those stories to life in a limited podcast series about college hoops, travel and fandom with special guests and experiences along the way.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

From now until April 15, Marriott Bon members will be able to enter our Live from the Bracket sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to the 2027 Final Four. Follow Mepod on Instagram to learn more.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

We're talking March Madness above and beyond and you'll want to stay tuned. Marriott Bonvoy. Where game day checks in.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Bam. Show Me Something podcast live from Sophie's Phoenix, baby. Sophie's Phoenix. Here we are.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

This is beautiful. First of all, the studio is outside. We I'm not even that sweaty, which is surprising. We have fans over here to the left. What's up fans?

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Yo.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

And we're about to have some freaking awesome guests.

[Allison Feaster]

Yes.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Holly Rose going to show up.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Allison Feaster. Allison Feaster, whose daughter is actually playing for Yukon. The city is popping full of great energy for the Women's Final Four here.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Trophy cactuses.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

The mural behind us.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

The incredible and beautiful magnificent mural behind us was created by the renowned Phoenix based artist La Morena.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I love that. So she teamed up with Marriott Bonvoy to create an ode to Phoenix travel and of course, women's basketball.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Beautiful.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

The coloring is perfect. It's so Phoenix y and I love a cactus.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

If we're being honest, I love that

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

the girls nails are painted.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

It makes her set a little more extra special. But here's La Morena with more.

[Lucinda Guinojos (La Morena, artist)]

Hi, my name is Lucinda Guinojos, also known as La Morena. I'm a Phoenix based artist and I'm here with Maria Bomboy. I love Arizona. I'm from born and raised here. I'm very proud of our Phoenix city. And so when they come across this mural, I want them to first be pulled in by the colors and then engage with the elements that are across the mural. And I think for little res girls, seeing this means so much to me because I'm giving them a mural that they can see themselves in and see this journey, a future potential them that they can also to play women's college basketball. I'm so excited for women's sports in general because we're on the rise and we're getting so much noise and excitement around women's sports. And now here we are with the Final Four women's college basketball. And this is the first time in Arizona history that we are hosting them here in Phoenix. So it's a huge deal for us. I hope little girls see themselves in this bureau and know that it's possible to play in the Final Four for women's college basketball.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

So Final Four, we have all one seeds. Yeah, yeah.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

All the big dogs.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

UCLA, we have Texas. We have UConn, we have South Carolina.

[Allison Feaster]

Yes, we do.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

So I do think this year you do have the very best top four teams in the nation. Sometimes you get a little Cinderella story or an underdog. I think these are the best, the best ones. And so it's going to be good. Our first game is Yukon, South Carolina.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

They've seen each other a zillion times,

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

which is going to be like familiar foes. I love this. And I think it's so funny because in the W you have like your Gamecocks, you have your Huskies and they go at.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

You could argue Don Staley and Gino are like an iconic coaching rivalry at this point.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

A little cute duo.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

But I mean that's like those are two very iconic women's basketball coaches who I feel like see each other in March frequently, a thousand percent. It gives me like Bill Belichick,

[Holly Rowe]

I

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

guess he's Tony Dungy vibes in the 2000s. That's pretty special.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Yeah, it's going to be good. And then you have Texas and ucla, which honestly I think I'm not going to lie to you. I thought UConn is looking really tough. They always look tough this time of year. Just the experience. Geno, he's just a legend and is so, so smart and pours into his Players like no other. But again, I'm biased. I want an SEC team, school to win. And so I'm actually kind of pulling for Texas a little bit.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Was your freshman year the first year of SEC? You never played in the Big 12?

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

No, I didn't, but they were the year before. So in 2014, they were SEC.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

So you have good reason to be an SEC fan 1000%. This is game day also. You can feel it in the air. You can smell it even. Soph, who you got? Give me the expert analysis. I know you have.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Yeah, I truly do like all four programs. I like players from all four teams. If you would have asked me a little bit ago, I thought UConn would take it. And they. And part of me still thinks that they will take it, but a big portion of me is thinking that Texas is peaking at the right time. And I also went played against coach Schaefer and his. His daughter we played against and now she's an assistant coach. So kind of a cool storyline there, but Texas is looking pretty dang good.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

So you think Texas wins today and they'll. They'll see either UConn or SC?

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Yes, I do. I think. I think that UConn, South Carolina game, I don't even know who's going to win that because UConn, they, they are athletic. They have the IQ. South Carolina is just so, so athletic. And they. They have the experience having Dawn Staley knowing, you know, what she knows and her being a player in the woods, playing overseas for however long, she really knows how to pour into her kids. And so that matchup, I can't even predict.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Yeah, but it's going to be fun. Sophie, this pod will be dropping after we have crowned our women's Final four champion. Well, can you look into this camera for me and tell me who you got?

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

My future self. This has already happened, I think. Oh, I almost just said Yukon. Is that my gut feeling?

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I thought you were going to throw them. I thought you're going to throw them up.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I'm going Texas. All right, everybody. Our first guest today is one of the most respected voices in sports broadcasting.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Very much so.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

She is an award winning reporter covering college basketball, football, softball, and some of the biggest moments in sports for over two decades.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

You've seen her on the sidelines of the final Four college football playoff and countless championship games. She's known for her insight, storytelling, and connection with players. Please welcome Holly Rowe, everybody. Yeah, this one is big gift.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

She's a busy lady.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Everybody, before we hop into women's college basketball. I have a question for you. You've done so many games for so long. Do they all. Are they all kind of a blur or. If I were to call out a game, would you remember the moment?

[Holly Rowe]

I remember stories. Like, I might not remember the score, but I will remember the situation or something that happened or a story I told. Like, it's locked up in forever, I hope.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Do you remember, remember ninth grade?

[Holly Rowe]

Oh, gosh.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Well, you would have been seventh grade. I would have been ninth grade. Mizou, KU men's hoops.

[Holly Rowe]

Of course I do.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Zier Taylor hit a shot back of the rim, and then it bounced into Mizzou.

[Holly Rowe]

Beat KU to beat Kansas. And I did the postgame interview. Fans rush the field, and I asked him a question. He goes, I can't hear anything.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

That's why she's one of the greatest.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

That's like my. So I. I think everyone we watch on tv, we all have moments at, like, were a part of our lives. So we remember you from those moments. And I remember, obviously, that game was so important, but I remember you having to be like, go celebrate. We can't hear each other. And that, to me, is like my Holly Row memory.

[Holly Rowe]

Oh, I love that so much because that is such an organic moment that we'll never have again. You know, the. The KU Mizzou rivalry was one of my favorites ever. I. I know they've played again recently, but kind of broke it up for a while. But I love that rivalry. One of my favorite games I've ever covered in my life was the Kim English era. I loved that team. And the game at Mizzou against ku, like, that was a wild one, too.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I missed that when they left the Big 12. Like, those are like our childhood. And so that was really special. We are here to talk about women's college basketball. And obviously the women's college basketball fandom has been growing like crazy the last few years, and we're feeling it here in Phoenix. Obviously, we have a lot of fans with us right now. Players are front and center, and fans have traveled all over. All over the world. World to come watch women's college basketball. What are your thoughts just on the state of women's hoops right now?

[Holly Rowe]

I think it's the best it's ever been, and I think I'm an expert. I'm not saying that from a cocky standpoint, but I've been covering college basketball for 30 years. So when I say I have watched this entire thing and I hope have been a proponent and pushing this Constant narrative. We've known forever that this is a really good product. And I feel like the general public is just now kind of catching up with us, and it feels really good, you know, like. And I don't want to have the attitude of, like, well, we told you so. I want to have the attitude of, like, yay, finally you get to see what we've been loving for such a long time. So I think it's a really beautiful place. And the thing I'm proud of is women like Sophie, you know, the players that I get to cover, they're not disappointing. They keep upping their game and leveling up and getting better. The W is better than it's ever been. College basketball is better than it's ever been. And that's real credit to the athletes and the coaches.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Amazing. So we know that you travel all the time. Like, you'll be here today, and then somehow you'll be in, like, Europe tomorrow, covering a sport that, I don't know, no one even knew what's going on. What sports team or town or city. Has the fandom just grown where you're like, wow, people need to know more about this.

[Holly Rowe]

I would say that. So this is an obvious one, because I'm talking to you, but Indianapolis. So Indianapolis is a really cool spot, sports town, in that they have a lot of Final Fours there. They have a lot of men's and women's college basketball sports events there. But the WNBA and the excitement behind the Indiana Fever has completely changed that city. And I actually was doing some research with the Chamber of Commerce last year about the impact of fans traveling from out of state and coming in, and it's hotel stays, hotel rooms, flights. And so, like, we are really changing the face of Indianapolis right now. With the wnba, it is palpable. I mean, we're talking millions and millions of dollars of economic impact because of the Indiana Fever. So I'm really proud for that team and that organization because they deserve it.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Love that.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Is Salt Lake gonna get a women's team anytime soon?

[Holly Rowe]

Salt Lake. We used to have one. This is a sad story. So I have been working in the W ever since it started. I started out pulling cables for the Utah Stars. I worked my way up to be the color analyst for the Utah Stars.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

First woman, by the way, right? Yes. First female to ever do that. That's a round of applause. Trailblazer. Yes.

[Holly Rowe]

We had a really good team. Jennifer Az, Natalie Williams, Margot Dydek, like, some of the true greats in the early wnba. And then the team Went to San Antonio, to the San Antonio Stars, and it is now the Las Vegas Aces. So that is our franchise. So I feel sad because I'm like, we're just going to have to love the Aces then, you know?

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Yeah, I was going to say. So deep down, are you wishing that the Aces win every year?

[Holly Rowe]

I don't. I don't because I want to be unbiased. Truth. But I do have a soft spot in my heart for them because that's my franchise. Yeah. And they're going to bring back and have a reunion in the end of July. And I said to them, I'm like, you need to bring back the old broadcasters. Like, we were a part of this when nobody really was paying attention. So bring us back.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Seattle lost the SuperSonics, and I think that they're going to get another team. So I think some cities and yeah, you just got hockey. That's all I got.

[Holly Rowe]

We just got NHL. Yes.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

So there's always hope.

[Holly Rowe]

Yeah, there is hope. For sure. There's hope. But the Aces are cool. Close. I think a lot of fans go down there, so I'm going to settle in for that right now. In my heart, they're the Utah Stars. Slash Cases.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Good for you.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Is there a moment for you, Holly, that you feel like, clicked with women's basketball? It could be WNBA or college, but something that you think really set things apart. Like, obviously, I think Caitlyn's emergence is like a massive moment that we'll look back and be like, this changed the sport forever. But for you, is there something. Maybe earlier.

[Holly Rowe]

It's a different moment for me because I remember working a game, and to this day, I still believe it's the best WNBA game I've ever worked in My life was 2016, game five, the LA Sparks at Minnesota Lynx. And Neko Ogumuke had a putback basket to win the title for the LA Sparks that series. Because if you look at the rosters of those two series, there were, like, I want to say seven hall of Fame players in that series. So Candace Parker, Neko Ogumuke, Chelsea Gray, Alana Beard, and then for Minnesota, Rebecca Brunson, Lindsay Whelan, Maya Moore, Simone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles. Like, that's eight hall of Fame, maybe nine hall of Fame players in one series. To me, that was the moment we really started to rise. And, yes, I will always give Caitlin her flowers and credit because she did take it to a new level. But we were rising before that, too.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I like that. So I have a question for you, because I know that the CBA has just gotten, you know, kind of. I don't even know if it's in writing yet. I have no idea. I know something. It's April 3rd today. There you go, Holly. That's why you're the reporter and I'm just the athlete here. On a. On a real note, I feel like you kind of hit on it with the family of like, when they do have that reunion, bring back the people who were there from the very beginning. I think that you, Rebecca, Ryan, you guys have really been in it with us. And I remember talking to you before the Aces finals. It was like Indiana versus Aces. And I was like, what should we. And honestly, I'm just going to be. You guys know me as being honest. I was like, how can we do better with the refs? They are part of our game. They are part of our family. They deserve to get paid more. No, I'm being for real, like, they are part of our family and I think that we should be taking care of them. But you guys have such great insight because you are in it more than not more, but the same amount we are in. I feel like you could be a GM or an owner or a coach by now. Don't you kind of feel that way?

[Holly Rowe]

Well, we are invested for sure.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Yes.

[Holly Rowe]

I think we were all like, you should say our text chain for the last three months, like angsting over the CBA and are we going to have a season? And like, we really. It is. It is a lifelong passion of mine. So the refereeing is an issue and we saw that last season and it was a real issue last season. And I think where we're at right now is the problem is to become a ref at the highest levels. You have to start out probably in high school, probably in a low college. So one of the ways I think we could improve refereeing is to get more former players who maybe didn't make it as a pro. I think we need more foam former players reffing. So I'll give you an example. I covered a woman at the University of Utah, one of the greatest three point shooters in NCAA history, Julie Croman Hook. She has worked her way up to be a high level college referee. Right now we need to be growing our own former athletes because they played the game, they know how to officiate it a little differently. I want us to be growing former players into that referee pool.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

And this is why I brought up, because we had such a great conversation. And I'm like, it's the insight because we are not against them. We want everyone to grow in our league. Let's talk about this Final Four, though. Like, what excites you? What team do you think is peaking at the right time? What players are peaking at the right time and kind of give your insight on. You just said, like, hey, we gotta go. Because I have, you know, walk in. Yeah.

[Holly Rowe]

I have coaches, rivals, interviews right now.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

So.

[Holly Rowe]

Which is a lot of stress. But here's who I think is peaking is Texas. So if you would have asked me three weeks ago who was gonna win it all, I said UConn, and I believed. I think they were the best team in the country. They had the best efficiency, defensively, offensively, all those things. They have not quite hit on all cylinders in the first couple of rounds. Does that mean they're not still dominant? Probably not, but they've got to figure a few things out, and they're going against a very athletic, physical South Carolina team. So a player that I think is really blossoming and on a really high trend right now is Raven Johnson.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Yes.

[Holly Rowe]

So I think Raven Johnson is one one of the greatest stories in all of college basketball right now because she stayed, tore her acl, fought back a lot of online criticism, almost. Her mom shared with me that she almost quit after all the online criticism she faced. And she has. All she's done is stay true, be resilient, and show up for her team. And she is the best version of herself right now. And I'm loving that for Raven. But Texas has momentum aside from, like,

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

in the weeds, college basketball. I'm curious if you have a moment, and this is more about Holly than it is teams or other players, do you have a travel moment that you all, like, remember forever, whether that's some hotel was booked and you didn't have anywhere to stay or a flight got delayed and you ended up in some random city and had the best night ever.

[Holly Rowe]

How long do we have for this podcast? So, like, full disclosure, I am almost at 4 million miles right now on one airline, but here's what I'll say. So I know this is a Marriott podcast, but one of the reasons I really wanted to come on other than you was I'm a Marriott girl. Like, I am. And I'm not just saying this.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

She was pointing at me.

[Holly Rowe]

I'm just. I'm just meeting you. But I love Marriott because I. I really. I'm from Utah. It's a Utah company. And so I have really tried to build points with one company. So right now, I almost have a Million Marriott points, right? I'm like, one hotel night away from the top level. So, like, when I tell you, I'm like psychotically Marriott girl.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Wait, where do you live?

[Holly Rowe]

I live in Salt Lake City. I live in Salt Lake City, Utah. That's my home base.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

And, like, how, like, are you. How often are you there?

[Holly Rowe]

Probably like about a week, a month maybe. So I travel a lot because I'm covering so many sports. But I would tell you that my travel memories that have been really funny are. Three years ago, we were doing. We were getting ready to have our very first ever college game day show on espn. First one ever. There was a young woman playing, playing basketball that I thought was playing at such a high level, and nobody was giving her any attention. And it was January, so I did an NBA game in Utah, did a red eye flight, and I slept on the floor at the Atlanta airport.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I did that last night in Miami.

[Holly Rowe]

Oh, there we go. And I had no pride. I was like, I'm sleeping. I'm on the floor at the airport so that I could get the 7am flight to the location where I would do the interview with this young woman. And I did the first ever feature on her on first ever college game day.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Who is this? It's gonna be someone big.

[Holly Rowe]

Three months later, Angel Reese won the national championship.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

That's awesome.

[Holly Rowe]

So I am really proud of that story because I had to sacrifice. I slept on the floor at the airport for Angel Reese because I believed so deeply in her and nobody was talking about her.

[Colgate Ad Voice]

You're right.

[Holly Rowe]

And I had the instinct, and I was right. And so I'm really proud of that story because I had to sacrifice to get there. I had to truly believe in this young woman, and I'm proud of her. Three months later, they won the national championship. And I was like, I was onto something here. Like, I was so proud of that.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Wait, can I ask, where is it your mom? Is it your dad? Like, why? How do you have such a gift of storytelling? And like, they're scouts in basketball. They. They can tell a young talent who has potential. You have that. But with storytelling in the behind the scenes, who. Who do you get that from? And why is that? Why are you so good at it?

[Holly Rowe]

I appreciate you saying that, but I think it's just natural curiosity. Like, I'm so curious about people and I just, you know, like, I'll see something or I'll hear something, and I'll be like, oh, my gosh. So I had a funny story that happened last weekend. We were Covering Michigan. And we were out having a walk in downtown Fort Worth, and we stopped at this park to watch the end of the UConn Duke men's game. And so I'm with Chiney and Andrea and Christine and Rebecca was there, and we were, like, screaming in this park at the end of that game, you know, that shot. And so this lady comes over to me and she's like, oh, my gosh, we love your work. My daughter plays for Michigan. And so she ends up telling me this incredible story about Brooke Quarles Daniels, who is 57 and the leading offensive rebounder on her team. And I'm like, how is she so good? Why is your daughter such a crazy offensive rebounder at 5 7? And she's like, well, her brother is 6 7, and here's video of them playing in the driveway. And so we use that in our broadcast.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Awesome.

[Holly Rowe]

That happened because we were walking down the street in the park, Right? So those are the kind of things that I live for. Of, like, you just naturally, curiously fall into place.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Can I also give you some props? Because I think that you do stories and you find people that everyday people can relate to, and you give them hope that, like, just a little bit of hope that maybe they could do that one day. Doesn't matter what they look like, where they're from, how tall they are, how much they weigh. Like that. That gives a 57 guard hope that, like, hey, I could go be the leading rebounder in the nation. You know what I mean?

[Holly Rowe]

I can be the leading offensive rebounder on an elite eight team. That's insane.

[Colgate Ad Voice]

It is insane.

[Holly Rowe]

But, yeah, I think that we live. I love all the. I'm the hopeful storyteller. Like, I just want hope and encouragement and happiness. Like, I don't love doing the hard stories.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

This is a little slight pivot, but you've got some kicks on.

[Ring Ad Voice]

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[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

set up the wired doorbell pro. And I'm not kidding. This thing is next level. The 4k clarity is insane. You can zoom in and still see everything. Super sharp.

[Ring Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

And I love that you can actually

[Ring Ad Voice]

talk through it, too. Like, if I'm expecting a delivery or

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

someone swings by, I don't have to run to the door.

[Ring Ad Voice]

It's that easy.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

And the details it picks up are wild. Between the motion alerts and the low light quality, you're not guessing what's going on. It just tells you.

[Ring Ad Voice]

I've been using the outdoor cam plus around my place, especially at night. And it's so clear. The wide view, the retinal 2K video. You can see everything around your yard without missing anything.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

And I don't have to rely on

[Ring Ad Voice]

my dog to be on the lookout anymore, even though he's such a good boy.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

And if you want to go even bigger, Ring's got 4K cameras and doorbells with retinal vision. So you can zoom in and keep all those details super crisp.

[Ring Ad Voice]

For me, it's just peace of mind. Whether it's deliveries, my car, or just my space. It's nice knowing everything's covered without it being complicated.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Exactly. It just fits into your day and makes things feel handled.

[Ring Ad Voice]

Your door, your Y home. With Ring, it's protected shop, cameras, doorbells and more.

[Colgate Ad Voice]

Right [e-mail] it always happens right before the whistle. There's a little voice that says, what if I mess up? What if I'm not ready? I see a whole highlight reel of everything I don't want to happen. Missed shots, turnovers, letting my team down. And for a second, there's doubt. But then I realize I've done enough to be where I'm at. The early mornings, the extra reps, the days I wanted quit and didn't. So I smile. Self doubt is natural, but my smile is a reminder that I'm resilient

[Holly Rowe]

to

[Colgate Ad Voice]

put more smiles out into the world. Colgate has supported female athletes for over 50 years with the Colgate Women's Games. The Colgate Women's Games is the nation's longest running indoor track and field series for girls and women. Colgate, your smile is your strength.

[Mibo Dry Eye Ad Voice]

Dry eyes still feel gritty, rough or tired. With Mibo eyes can feel Mibo.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Oh yeah.

[Mibo Dry Eye Ad Voice]

Meibo Perfluorohexaloctane ophthalmic solution is used to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. It's the only prescription dry eye drop that forms a pretty protective layer for the number one cause too much tear evaporation so eyes can find relief.

[Holly Rowe]

That's

[Mibo Dry Eye Ad Voice]

don't use if allergic to maibo. Remove contacts before using and wait at least 30 minutes before putting them back in. Eye redness and blurred vision may occur. For more info, talk to your eye doctor, call 1-844-MEIBO yeah or visit meibo dot.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

The basketball fashion world is ever changing. Do you feel like you have to keep up with the I've always been a fashion icon. No, I know, but it's always growing and I feel like shoes are such a big part of it and obviously I can tell you know what's going on?

[Holly Rowe]

Yeah. Well, here's what I will say. So back in 2020, I was in the WNBA bubble, and I remember calling my boss and saying, hey, you know, like, the fits are a thing. Like, they keep coming in, and we're doing tunnel fits, and we don't ever broadcast it. We're not showing it on tv. And my producer was literally like, I don't understand what you're saying to me. What is a fit? So I had to explain to her what a fit was. And so, like, I take a teeny bit of pride in that. Like, I was the first one that got tunnel fits on TV in the bubble. Like, maybe we were doing some before in games, but I don't really remember it. Holly.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I was walking in and, like, pajamas, sweats. Now you. You can see people's, like, style, who they are personally, of, like, walking in, you know, like, she can be feisty.

[Holly Rowe]

I love that it personalizes players. I think it personalizes players, and it really showcases whatever your vibe is. You get to be really personal with it. And I like it because it elevates fandom, and I love it for the fans, and I think it's fun for you guys. I don't know. I know some players are like, okay, now this is a hassle because it's a whole thing, but you can do it or you don't have to do it. And I think it's very personal, and I really love it because it shows personality. And it's like, I do think that the W is where fashion and culture, you know, it's intersectional, and so I really like that.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Holly, how do you see travel impacting sports as we know it right now?

[Holly Rowe]

My niece is a young basketball player, and so it's really my first relative that has wanted to be a college basketball player. So I'm pouring everything into her. Like, I'm trying to sponsor her teams.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

She in Utah.

[Holly Rowe]

She's in Utah, and she's here at the Final Four. Her team has a tournament.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Oh, really?

[Holly Rowe]

And so, like, I will always, like, donate points so they can get hotel rooms for free. So I'm, like, staying in my Marriott so I can get points so then I can give them to my niece. I'm really trying to give back that way with my Marriott points, and I think it's really special. I've done that for them at the WNBA All Star Game. And then one other cool thing we're doing with our merit points right now is my son and I started a foundation. Yes.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Joyous.

[Holly Rowe]

We are Doing the joyous foundation where we are. Just like I was in the depths of stage four cancer. You know, it was a really scary, dark place. And so we're trying to figure out how can we help people going through cancer find joy during this really scary time of their life. And so we are also using my merit points to bring cancer patients. So we have a woman that we've brought here. I've got her staying at a Sheraton right here to using my points so that we can bring her to a South Carolina game. She's a three time ovarian cancer survivor. But what's brought her joy is watching the South Carolina Gamecocks play and she will get to see them play in person.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

That is absolutely amazing.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

That's actually so amazing. Wait, that's incredible. I was reading you kept a joy journal as you were going through treatment and stuff and that I feel like little things like that we often don't, it seems maybe like fleeing in the moment, but I'm sure that's something that you look back on and like, that was very powerful and like kept you positive through so many dark moments.

[Holly Rowe]

It's really true because when you're in cancer, you can't control anything. Like, I can't control what's happening in my body and I'm having another spread and another surgery and another bad scan and it's really stressful. And so during that time I was like, I can't control what's happening to me, but I can control if I'm joyful every single day. So I still keep my joy journal.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I love it.

[Holly Rowe]

And I will write down these things that bring me joy. So I'll give you an example. I wrote down last year at the WNBA draft, this player for UConn that had played at Princeton, transferred in. I just believed in her so much. And so during the draft, I said, I think Caitlin Chen should go up and sit in the front row where the UConn team, like they were all there watching their other UConn friends, Paige Beckers get drafted. And I just had this instinct and I said to one of her teammates, tell Caitlin to go sit in that front row right now. And like literally two minutes later, she got drafted to the Valkyries. She has played for the Valkyries, has been an unbelievable player in the wnba. So that went in my joy journal because that brought me so much happiness. So that's kind of what I want us to do is if you're not experiencing joy every day, what are you doing? So that's kind of where we're trying to get to.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Speaking of joy, I know I just landed here in Phoenix, but I've lived out here for seven, eight years now. I feel like women's basketball has kind of taken over downtown Phoenix a little bit. Are you feeling that vibe?

[Holly Rowe]

No. We literally said when we landed, like, what a great spot for the Final Four. There's billboards everywhere. There's signs everywhere. I love it because we want to feel like this is a big event in big time. And I really am proud of sponsors. There's more money than there's ever been with sponsorships like this opportunity you're getting. Sophie. We didn't used to have these. And so I'm really proud of how brands have gotten behind women's sports and the fans. You guys have always been here. You are so tried and true, and we are literally nothing without you. But what I love is the money that is flowing into our sport. Women deserve it, and we're finally seeing it pay back for us.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I think I was in the league at the perfect time because I was in it when we were still, like, it was rough. And now I'm kind of getting to see the positive impact of how awesome the WNBA can be, not only on our lives, but for the next generation. And I feel like when companies truly get to meet you or Asia or Angel, Caitlin Cameron, like, all these people, they see how awesome us women really are outside of basketball, and they pour in. But I think the most important thing to me is you see these little girls out here, like, we're making it better for them. And so when they're in our seats, they're gonna be probably doing what the men are doing. You know what I mean? And that's like, you were a trailblazer for that. And so it's so cool for you kind of full circle to be on this show when you've been around this entire time.

[Holly Rowe]

Yeah. What I love for these young women is there are so many more opportunities. So I'm gonna tell you one quick story. The last time that UConn, right now, they're on a 54 game winning streak. The last time UConn was on a long winning streak, they were on a 111 game winning streak. And the team that beat them was coached by Vic Schaefer with a little tiny player that's 54 named Morgan William. And Morgan William rises up and hits this shot to end UConn's 111 game winning streak.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

What school was that?

[Holly Rowe]

Mississippi State.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Mississippi State.

[Holly Rowe]

I remember that.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I remember that college era, that was in college.

[Holly Rowe]

And so she rises up, hits this shot over a Gabby Williams coming out to block it. And when I went to do the post game interview with Morgan, I said, what did you see when you rose up to take that shot? And she said, opportunity. And it still to this day makes me want to cry and give me chills because all we have ever. I'm going to cry right now. All we have ever asked is opportunities for these little girls for women. And so now that women are getting them, I just feel so, so proud and grateful. I got chills, too.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Yeah, me too. Don't make me cry.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

It's okay. Yeah. I think what's also really admirable is you've been in men's, the highest level of men's sports spaces for a long time, and you still made the active decision to give back to women's sports when you very much could have taken more money or more opportunities to continue doing higher level men's sports. And I just think it's really admirable that you, you never left, like, what you cared about and giving back to women and highlighting women. And so I think you deserve so much credit for, like, always staying true. And I think getting to see you do that has been very cool. But I am curious how continuing to cover women's sports and I guess watching it evolve and having like, some skin in the game this whole time, how has that changed you personally or as a journalist yourself?

[Holly Rowe]

Well, since I'm already crying now, let me cry more. Oh, my God. I'm really proud of that and I'm grateful that you even noticed that because in my era, you know, there would be a lot of sportscasters and young reporters, and they would start out on women's sports, and then when they hit the big time, they would go on to the men's sports. And I am very proud. I have never done that because I believe the big time is women's sports. And so I have really sacrificed. You know, I will do a college football game and I will be in an SEC city at midnight, and then I will be at a tip off at noon in Indianapolis for a WNBA game. And I got there by driving through the night by myself. Like, I have gotten there by really truly being committed to women's sports. But it's more than that. It's like I'm that little girl that wished I had these opportunities. You know, like, I played every sport growing up in basketball in high school, but I didn't have the opportunities in college that People have. And so really, I am that little girl that I'm covering these sports for. So I keep doing it because that's who I am, and I love it, but it's changed me more than I've ever changed it.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

That is not true, Holly. That is not true. Don't make me cry. This is supposed to be a happy podcast.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

All right, guys, real quick. We're gonna do the perfect travel play, okay? We're drawing it up late, second time out. I have a board of the 50 US states here. Actually, no, Hawaii and Alaska. So we got the Continental 48. And we're gonna draw our perfect road trip. Okay? Four cities, mark them down. It could be about sports. It could be sightseeing related. It could be about food. You Let me know. 60 seconds. Let's get into it. Holly, you're excited. Do you want to go first?

[Holly Rowe]

I'm excited about mine because mine is super specific. Can I go first?

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I'm ready.

[Holly Rowe]

All right, so here I am. I am starting here for the SEC softball tournament in Lexington, Kentucky. I am driving up through the night, doing the semifinals, driving up through the night for the season opener WNBA game, Dallas at Indiana.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Whoa.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Okay.

[Holly Rowe]

Then I'm going to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series. Then I'm going to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the very first ever AUSL pro softball debut for the Utah talents.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Wow.

[Holly Rowe]

Before I take a vacation to Italy in New York.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

And I'm flying to Italy.

[Holly Rowe]

So that is a very important arrow out there.

[Daniel Cormier]

Okay, Beautiful.

[Holly Rowe]

And this is a true story. And I didn't even know I was doing this. I am staying in only Marriott properties in Italy. I'm going to the Lake Como Edition. The St. Regis in Florence and the St. Regis in Rome.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Can I give a shout out to landlocked states? The coast, guys. Coasts are overrated. I know people only care about the coast.

[Allison Feaster]

I live on a coast, but I.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

But I still am from Missouri, and everyone knows it.

[Holly Rowe]

You know, coasts are not overrated.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I love California, too, but I'm just saying, you. A lot of people would do Florida, California, and that's a very.

[Holly Rowe]

I'm all sports center central.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Okay, here we go. Here's mine, guys. Okay. I started in Seattle because I was thinking Pacific coast highway because it's a great road trip. But then I realized I'm not gonna get a lot of sports on the coast of Oregon in Northern California. Seattle is a good sport, but Seattle is a good sports city. So we're gonna start there. We're gonna drive through Lake Coeur d' Alene and end up in Bozeman, Montana, for a little Montana State Bobcat football game. That's where your boy went to undergrad. Then we're gonna drive straight down through the Rockies to Holly's hometown, Salt Lake City.

[Holly Rowe]

Let's go.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Also, a reality TV capital of the world, which people don't know about.

[Holly Rowe]

I have details. My. My hairstylist does the hair for the

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I knew Hollywood. Have some thoughts.

[Holly Rowe]

Can we have another hour and we can watch details. I have details.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

We can watch NHL hockey and yes,

[Holly Rowe]

yes, a USL Utah talents.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

And check in with Holly if she's got any time off. And then we're gonna go one of the worst drives imaginable, I 70 straight through Colorado and Kansas to Kansas City. We're gonna get some barbecue and watch the Chiefs revamp, revamp their dynasty.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Well, your guys, this is very Sophie driven. Okay, so they didn't put on here. I don't know if you guys can see fans, but I'm starting in Hawaii.

[Holly Rowe]

Oh, we should have thought this was tripping there. We should have thought of that.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Yep. So I'm gonna go there. A little island life that's right up my alley. I'm gonna go straight up to Columbia, Missouri, to get some booches and some barbecue. That's where I'm from. It's where my family's at. I'm going to Nashville to, you know, listen to some country music, maybe meet a cowboy or two.

[Allison Feaster]

Okay.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

And then I am going straight down to Florida to get a 10.

[Holly Rowe]

Okay.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Are you watching any sports or you're avoiding sports the whole time off? Okay.

[Holly Rowe]

That tells you how our brains are different. Like, for my time off, I'm like, I'm going to all the sports.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

No, I'm hitting family and beaches.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I've been the Columbia to Nashville drive a lot of times. It's not bad. Six and a half.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Okay.

[Holly Rowe]

Speaking of which, I was doing a speaking engagement years ago, and I was in Columbia, and these two women came up to me and really bent my ear for like 30 minutes. And it was your mom, maybe your grandma.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Oh, oh, yeah. No, not them.

[Holly Rowe]

And they were sending me pictures of when they used to play. They were so cute, and I was obsessed, and I love them very much.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Holly, did you know the University of Missouri women's basketball team at one point had four starters from our high school?

[Holly Rowe]

Oh, my gosh, that's amazing.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

My freshman year, it was fun.

[Holly Rowe]

Pretty special. I love it.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Speaking of Nashville, I thought we were gonna get a team. I was so hopeful we were getting a team in Nashville.

[Holly Rowe]

I feel like it could still happen because Candice Parker had a group put together there, and I was literally like, if she gets a group, then I'm gonna retire and work on that team. But I think that, you know, we'll have more expansion. I think Kathy has said that they want more expansion by 2028. So I think we'll see more.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

We'll get there.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Come on, Nashville.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Holly, before we go, you have one more story for us that I wanted to tell us.

[Allison Feaster]

Okay.

[Holly Rowe]

So we were talking about travel and host and everything. So my son and I love to travel together, and we went to the Olympics.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

How old is he now?

[Holly Rowe]

He's 30 now. I talk about him like he's 12, but he's 30. We talk about the Olympics. So I am a huge fan of the Olympics. So we went to the Paris Olympics just as fans, and we had the time of our lives. And we got to go to Team USA women's gold medal basketball game and be there when Stewie and Asia and Chelsea Gray and be there with all them at the celebrations.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

We just got to enjoy it.

[Holly Rowe]

We just got to enjoy it. We were just fans. Like, I was painting my face red, white, and blue and just being a fan, not a reporter. So I really do like travel for love of sports, and I've been all over the world and really using sports as kind of my lifeline for life.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Wait, what makes a good hotel room to you?

[Holly Rowe]

Okay, so. To me. So right now, I'm super in love with the additions on the Marriott brand because you walk into the lobby and there's a feeling. So one of my favorite hotel hotels is the addition Miami. It's Miami beach, and you walk in and it's like cream and wood and plants, and it's very natural and elegant. So I'm really picky about hotels because I stay in hotels more than I stay at my own home. So I am very picky. But I would say the Marriott editions are my favorite brand right now because there is a feeling when you walk in the door. So I'm really excited to go to the one in Lake Como. I think it's going to be gorgeous. So Lake Como, Italy, then. I also just stayed at the St. Regis in Chicago.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Oh, yeah.

[Holly Rowe]

I'm obsessed.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Stunning.

[Holly Rowe]

Have you ever stayed there?

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Yeah.

[Holly Rowe]

Oh, my God.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

It's nice that despite how much you do travel for work, that you can still find time to like, because when you're in an airport not by choice. Always. It's a daunting idea to want to book your own plane tickets, but it's good that you're still finding time to, like, visit places that you want to see.

[Holly Rowe]

Yeah. The second I don't have a game, I book a flight. So I'm like. I'm like, oh, God, I can finally do something I want. Let me book a flight to this game.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

You're not a homebody?

[Holly Rowe]

No.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Is your son in sports?

[Holly Rowe]

He's not. He's an actor.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Oh, is he really?

[Holly Rowe]

Yeah, he's an actor. He was actually in the Kurt Warner movie American Underdog. Did you ever watch that movie?

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I watched that movie.

[Holly Rowe]

My son is in that movie. Yes.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Where does he live?

[Holly Rowe]

New York.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

He lives in New York.

[Holly Rowe]

New York City.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Okay, nice. Have you lived in any other state that isn't Utah?

[Holly Rowe]

I lived in LA when I was doing my cancer treatment. I was getting treated at the UCLA Medical center, so I lived in LA for four years, and then I lived in New York for four years.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Holly, you're the best guys.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

We, for the first time on this podcast, laughed and cried.

[Holly Rowe]

Oh, my gosh.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

And so that. That feels good. No, that's so awesome. And it's nice to ask someone questions and let someone share their story who is often sharing other people's stories. And so, like, that's so cool. And we thank you very much.

[Holly Rowe]

Thank you.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

And you're going right back to work after this?

[Holly Rowe]

I'm going to work right this minute. I'm formulating my questions right now. The arrival interviews for coach Don Staley and Gino Auriemma. So I'm excited. I think we're gonna get two really good games. I will be really surprised if these aren't two very competitive games. I think we have the four best teams in the country, so I'm really excited, and I just want to compliment you guys because I really enjoy your show. I watch your show, and I think it's so fun, but in my head, I've been like, who the hell is this guy and why is he on with Sophie?

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Hi, squad.

[Holly Rowe]

Yeah, but you do a good job, and, like, you really know stuff.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

You work for Complex.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I worked at Bleacher Report for four years, and so I've been doing interviews and producing and stuff for a long time.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

He's very good at it.

[Holly Rowe]

His show is so fun and so cute, but this is my first time I've gotten to interact with you, so I say I'm proud of you. You're doing a great job.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I Appreciate that. And you're part of my childhood core memories. All the Mizzou game. So that's, like, awesome.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

All of our core memories that I'm

[Holly Rowe]

in your childhood core.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

You are. Thank you for coming. Alison Feaster has played and traveled all over the world and is a lifelong athlete. She's an executive for the Boston Celtics and the mother of an NCAA star athlete and an advocate for the power of sports. She was a part of the first 16 seed to beat a 1 seed. I knew you beat a 1 seed, but I wasn't sure if it was the first one ever.

[Allison Feaster]

Actually. Only on the women's side.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Incredible. Only incredible when Harvard beat Stanford. What was it, 1990?

[Allison Feaster]

1998?

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

98. She went on to play in the WNBA for the Sparks, the Charlotte Sting, and Indiana Fever.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Come on now. Now she's here with us in Phoenix for the 2026 NCAA Women's Championship, where her daughter. Which is absolutely amazing. Full circle moment. Sarah Strong, who was just named the AP Player of the Year as a sophomore at UConn. That is crazy. Absolutely insane.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

But I do have to say one thing. I keep having nuggets before we hop into everything. I covered the McDonald's All American game in Houston. Would have been two years ago.

[Allison Feaster]

Yeah.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

With Sarah. And so we did, like, fun, social content and stuff with her. So I actually got to hang out and meet Sarah two years ago. Did you. In the moment when you guys were the first 16 to win, did it just feel like, I mean, obviously it's a tournament win. It's a bigger win than normal. But did you know in the moment, like, what you had done, or was it like, oh, big win. Let's move. Let's keep it moving.

[Allison Feaster]

I think we were cognizant. I think the grainy, you know, barely color video that they show every year during the tournament, you know, you can see my teammates just losing it. We knew it. That it would reverberate almost 30 years later. No, because it's just not. Hasn't been done on the women's side. And it's just.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I mean, it's only done twice on the men's side, twice in the men's.

[Allison Feaster]

So it's not that common.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I think the women's side, there's not even. There's such a huge difference between a one seat and a two seat. Like, I mean, that's his historic. Historic. You don't see a lot of upsets or Cinderella stories on the women's side. You just don't.

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[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

it's protected, so I just set up

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

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[Ring Ad Voice]

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[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

And I love that you can actually

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talk through it too. Like if I'm expecting a delivery or

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

someone swings by, I don't have to run to the door.

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[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

And the details it picks up are wild. Between the motion alerts and the low light quality, you're not guessing what's going on. It just tells you.

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I've been using the outdoor cam plus around my place, especially at night, and it's so clear. The wide view, the retinal 2K video. You can see everything around your yard without missing anything.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

And I don't have to rely on

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my dog to be on the lookout anymore, even though he's such a good boy.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

And if you want to go even bigger, Ring's got 4K cameras and doorbells with retinal vision. So you can zoom in and keep all those details super crisp.

[Ring Ad Voice]

For me, it's just peace of mind. Whether it's deliveries, my car, or just my space. It's nice knowing everything's covered without it being complicated.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Exactly. It just fits into your day and makes things feel handled.

[Ring Ad Voice]

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[Colgate Ad Voice]

Right [e-mail] it always happens right before the whistle. There's a little voice that says, what if I mess up? What if I'm not ready? I see a whole highlight reel of everything I don't want to happen. Missed shots, turnovers, letting my team down. And for a second, there's doubt. But then I realize I've done enough to be where I'm at. The early mornings, the extra reps, the days I want to quit and didn't. So I smile. Self doubt is natural. But my smile is a reminder that I'm resilient. To put more smiles out into the world. Colgate has supported female athletes for over 50 years with the Colgate Women's Games. The Colgate Women's Games is the nation's longest running indoor track and field series for girls and women. Colgate, your smile is your strength.

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[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Oh yeah.

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[Holly Rowe]

That's

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[Allison Feaster]

Selection Sunday. We were given a 16 seed. We thought we were much better. We found out we were going to go play at Stanford, which is number one seed. So we were going in with a chip on our shoulder. They had a 50 something game win streak and we prepared these play cards because it was so loud and I think because of the earthquake there's some type of system where the. It's just some type of shock system. So it's really loud. You can feel the court shake. I was a nation's leading scorer at the time, so there wasn't a ton of respect for a Harvard player. Lead the nation in scoring. And I will say this in all fairness, Stanford did have two. They were missing two starters.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I don't care.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

We don't care. We don't care.

[Allison Feaster]

It only doesn't matter because you got to play the game 1000%. We just chopped away at it and won.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I'm Probably, I'm hitting YouTube when I get to the hotel.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I want to know was it you and then just like a bunch of other people or did you have some studs on your team too that were

[Allison Feaster]

like good, you know, the. Our college coach and I'm not even

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

trying to be disrespectful, but I just want to.

[Allison Feaster]

Our college coach set the stage at the beginning of the year. Act as if your role on a team is the most important role. And each and every person knew what she was supposed to do on the court. I just happened to, you know, want to be the best player on the team and score the most points. But my teammates, they knew what they were supposed to do and they did. One of my teammates hit a three pointer to seal the win. So people were competent. You know what's crazy in what they had to do.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

You're saying that and like that's what we're trying to get in the W on that. The championship teams say the same exact thing and it's like know your role, own your role. And that even if it's getting two boards a game, own that. You know what I mean? The team needs that and so I absolutely love that it is.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I wonder what the difference, like the feeling between that win versus if Sarah wins a championship. I mean, they're both, like, very euphoric.

[Allison Feaster]

Give me Sarah's win.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Yeah.

[Allison Feaster]

You know, so we won. The Celtics won in 2024. I was elated, you know, all. All the things. And then when they won last year in Tampa.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Yeah.

[Allison Feaster]

Yeah. There's nothing like that.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

That's true.

[Allison Feaster]

Yeah. Yeah. It was so great.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

First of all, you're all star one year for the w, right?

[Allison Feaster]

Yeah.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

One year. Yeah. Heck, yeah, you are. So you played at the highest level college pros, and now I was just asking you. I feel like probably the most anxious you're ever going to be is. Is being a mom on the sideline, watching your baby girl do her thing on the biggest level of college hoops. Like, what are you truly feeling like being on this side of it? What did you not know then beyond nerves?

[Allison Feaster]

Like, it's zero control on the game, on the outcome whatsoever. I think we parents like to think that we have some magic word that we can say to activate something in our children, but. No. Powerless and also positively optimistic that they're going to put their best foot forward. The best team is going to win today. And so that's really all you can hope for. That's easier said than done. I'm already sweating bullets thinking about it. Just trusting every step of the process. We get caught up in hoping that we make the right decisions along the way. And, you know, I know Gino and the staff have it.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

So as someone who's been involved with sports almost your whole life, do you find it hard to let go a little bit in moments like this? Cause obviously, you do know what you're talking about. You've been in these moments.

[Allison Feaster]

Absolutely.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Is it hard to tell yourself, like, let Geno and the staff handle it, or do you. It's easy to just be a mom.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

She's calling Geno.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Hey, you need to.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I know.

[Holly Rowe]

Stevens. You need to know as someone who

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

knows what's going on and is a mom.

[Allison Feaster]

Like, I think we've gotten to a point this season, especially, and looking back at last season, like, she. Her phone was off before the final four, and we couldn't get to her anyway. And when she came out and to see her with that level of focus and just preparedness, like, yeah, they know what they're doing. So I'm definitely not one to push up on Geno like that.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

You've been around the game forever. Still are with the Boston Celtics, which is huge, not only for just being in the NBA, but as a Woman trailblazing for people who might want to do that when they're done. What do you kind of see in this generation of players that maybe you didn't see when you were playing and like, what excites you about even the next generation after Sarah's done with college?

[Allison Feaster]

I'm excited about this next generation and I can tell you, even the generation that's killing it now, you guys, and I include you in there because you're an active player, multi hyphenates, if I can use that phrase. You guys are so good at so many things. Mastering the on court stuff. You are getting exposure to all types of things off the court. Just building out that professional profile, so to speak. And you can do many things. And I think the younger generation is learning that in real time from you guys. And yeah, you're just ready.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Well, I think it shows it's always been there. I think maybe it's just the platform, the opportunity. Social media is a good thing, can be a bad thing. But I think that's helped bring a lot of opportunity and eyes to our sport. But I think you are walking proof that the resume of us being more than just an athlete have always been there.

[Allison Feaster]

Yeah, it's a different type of hustle facts. We definitely had to hustle back in the day to get what you guys are now getting very well deserved.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Obviously we've talked a lot of women's basketball and women like players and people involved in the wnba. But as someone who's in the NBA, what do you feel like you're trailblazing? As someone who you aren't in a women's field, you're in a men's field. But being a woman in such like a high level, male centered like office, what are you most proud of as far as being a woman in that space?

[Allison Feaster]

And this is not. I say this with the utmost humility. Like if you're in a role like I am, if you're in a space that's male dominated and you have some influence, you have to leverage that influence to open doors and provide exposure to the underrepresented. And I'm really proud that I embrace that role. I want young women, young girls to know that there is a place in men's sports for them because there's certainly a lot of men in women's professional sports. So we want to make sure that, that there is just that exposure.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Everyone is focused on Sarah. Right. But I think once you're in it, you realize that it takes a village in a community, in a Small circle, some big. But mainly a small circle of really getting her to where she's at. And I think I'm just wanting. This isn't a question. This is just me showing appreciation that as an athlete, I just want to say thank you for pouring into women's sports. Thank you for pouring into Sarah to show her what it can really be like. Because I do think that, you know, the kids and the athlete, they get all the credit, but the parents do so, so much. And it's expensive.

[Allison Feaster]

Oh, my gosh.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

It's expensive to go and travel on the AAU circuits. It's expensive to travel to every game to be here and support her, because you say, you know, oh, her phone's off. She doesn't need. No, you bring her a certain comfort when she looks up in the stands and she makes eye contact with you. So I just want to say thank you from a child perspective, from an athlete perspective, of supportive, awesome parents that pour into your children.

[Allison Feaster]

When I went to work with the Celtics, she stayed back in North Carolina with her dad. She wore the tires off his car going to tournament to pick up her friends. Basketball's in the back. And this past Christmas, she bought him a car as a way to say thank you. Holy cow.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

That's awesome.

[Allison Feaster]

Yeah, it was pretty moving.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Love that.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Well, speaking of travel, did you have any rituals when you traveled back in the day, either here or overseas?

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

You played overseas, too?

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Yeah. Tell me about that.

[Allison Feaster]

I've always been one to kind of delve into the culture wherever I am, and sitting outside on a terrazza, having a drink with friends. Sangria. We need some tinto de verano right now.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Where did you play overseas?

[Allison Feaster]

I played in France. Six years in France, nine in Spain, one Italy, one Portugal. Sarah is also a naturalized French spirit. So this. Well, she has it by birth, but her dad and I are naturalized, so, yeah, having played there for so long.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Oh, that's amazing.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Did your connections with the Celtics come from playing or going to school in Boston or.

[Allison Feaster]

Kind of, sorta. When I. At 40, I was like, it's time to retire.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Wait, you played till you were 40?

[Allison Feaster]

I did. I was playing overseas. I was. You know, it's. Didn't know what I wanted to do and just kept playing, working, hustling, until I figured it out. There was a program for former players at the NBA League office. It was called the Basketball Operations Associates Program, something like that. The first cohort were six of us. Me, Stacy Lovelace, a former Purdue boilermaker. Brian Cardinal, Drew Gooden, Corey McGetty, and Troy Murphy, I want to say, was the last guy. But, yeah, that's how I met Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens through that program.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Was education growing up, like, a big part of, like.

[Allison Feaster]

Yeah, it was the only. Really the only motivation. My mom was a single parent raising four kids. And, yeah, education was the way to get a good job and make money to help the family.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Yeah.

[Allison Feaster]

And that's why I chose to forego the scholarship and go to Harvard.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Really?

[Allison Feaster]

Yeah.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Because the Ivy, you cannot do. It's.

[Allison Feaster]

They don't have athletic scholarships.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

It's not athletic scholarships. You had to.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Clearly. I knew that.

[Holly Rowe]

Duh.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I lived with Harvard football guys my first two years in New York, and so I learned a lot about the. Yep. The Ivy League sports. We asked Holly this earlier. Is there a community right now and it can be W or college basketball that you think embraces women's sports, like, more than anywhere else or some. Somewhere underrated that you're like, dude, great

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

question for like, someone who's.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Or it could be. It could even be in Europe.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Yeah.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Like, somewhere where you're like, they. They love women's basketball.

[Allison Feaster]

You know what? So I. Working with men, like the NBA players, I'm around the guys all the time that they. They love the game. And I also want to shout out, like, the. The players who use their platform, like Kevin Durant, who's always, you know, repping and uplifting and watching the sport. You know, Kobe, may you rest in peace with the. With the orange sweatshirt. Like, that was a watershed moment for the game. And so, yeah, I would call out the NBA players.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

That's awesome. Actually, that's a really good answer.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

You know what's funny, and I know you clearly just said this, but to piggyback off that, we know that those guys support us.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I mean, you're behind the scenes with those guys, but you also have played yourself. What do you feel like you have seen change the most in the women's game since, like, you played to now?

[Allison Feaster]

The amount of resources available. I think that's the obvious thing, but I. The amount of. I mean, the women today are just. They don't have to work two jobs. You know, you can dedicate your livelihood. Your livelihood is basketball and being a professional and honing your craft.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

What is something you have, like, told Sarah in order to, like, help her? Like, what's your pieces of advice to her? Because you've been in her shoes.

[Allison Feaster]

I tell her she has to trust, like, the work that she puts in. If you're in any role Your confidence might, you know, waver at times. You have to trust that the little daily deposits that you put in over many, many, many, many years, like, she knows how to do it. That's where you get your confidence from. And also, you know, she's a. She's a whole amazing person. If the basketball were not there, you've

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

lived overseas, Went to school in Boston. In Boston now?

[Allison Feaster]

Yes.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Grew up in South Carolina.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I thought we were going to get a W team in Boston. Yeah, we were close.

[Allison Feaster]

Keep our fingers crossed.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Basketball aside, do you guys, as a family, find like travel, vacations, whatever it is, exploring the country, the world, like an important part of like growing as a person?

[Allison Feaster]

Yeah, we travel a lot. Last year we went back to Spain for like a four day trip. Sarah, my husband, my mom, you know, in to. We also went to the British Virgin Islands. My husband's from the Virgin Islands.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I just got back from there like this morning.

[Allison Feaster]

Amazing.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

St. Thomas. St. John.

[Allison Feaster]

Yeah, my husband's from St. Thomas.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Oh, really?

[Allison Feaster]

Yeah, he's from St. Thomas.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I literally spent 11 days there the past two weeks.

[Allison Feaster]

That's amazing. So we do like, travel's a big part of it.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Yeah, I mean, I think, like, everyone has their own reasons, but for me, I just think, yeah, from a young age, learning that people are different than you, like, not everything is the way it is in your hometown and your family. Family is so important. I was just curious what lessons you think you learned. Being all over the place and then also like getting to expose, you know, Sarah to different places as well.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

She has, I don't even know if she knows this, but she has such an advantage of being able to already explore Europe and different cultures and like bringing all the good of each culture and like creating your, like creating yourself

[Allison Feaster]

and you know, that's so true. That's so true. You make a good point. I think that's one of the. That's a skill, like being able to go to a country that a foreign country and figure out the language, make friends. It's like a survival skill that it was hard growing up and having to change schools every couple years. But at the same time, that's what allows her to probably play and not look like she feels pressure or out of sorts because she's been under pressure and in adversity in other situations. So I think that's one of the, the things. That's one of the amazing things about traveling and living abroad. You get a chance to. You can't speak the language. You have to find another way to Communicate to find common ground.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Yeah.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Two part question. First one, are you a hotel snob?

[Allison Feaster]

Absolutely. Hey, absolutely.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Gaming in the NBA does not help.

[Allison Feaster]

Oh, my gosh. There's nothing like being at a nice hotel.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Like, peaceful.

[Allison Feaster]

The fragrance, all the things. Yeah.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Wait, so that was my second part. Hold on.

[Allison Feaster]

Amazing.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

What makes. And you have to go into detail here. What makes a great hotel room?

[Allison Feaster]

The bed. You gotta start with the bed. The comforter, the sheets properly tucked, a

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

good tuck,

[Allison Feaster]

the amenities in the bathroom.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

But you do get kind of bougie though, because now you have people like checking on you at night.

[Ring Ad Voice]

Hey, do you need a little.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Do you want your fire on? Do you want. But what are you excited to. To see from like a basketball perspective? From ucla, from South Carolina, from Texas? Because we know. We know what you see from UConn. Everyone sees that. You know what I mean?

[Allison Feaster]

It's incredible to have four number one seeds. This is going to be a crazy final four. I am excited to see all the seniors who are. Who have one more shot at a national title. Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice. I mean, I think they have six seniors with ucla.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

That's the sad part. That's the other side too. When it's over and it's so heartbreaking.

[Allison Feaster]

Madison Booker, how tough is she? And Rory Harmon, like, that Texas team is stacked and they're due as well. And then you turn to South Carolina and I mean, Donald is a former teammate of mine. She's probably one of my. The teammate I admire the most. And yeah, here we go again, South Carolina. So it's going to be a great, great, great Final Four.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

We were talking earlier about how the. The Geno Don Staley matchup is kind of an iconic March rival. Like, that's almost equally the storyline or as an important of a storyline is like the team's playing. Those two have seen each other so much and are so storied.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Like, if you had to give advice to parents or players in the situation of where college sports are today, what advice would you. Would you give these kids that, you know, maybe they are freshmen and they're not getting the stardom that they thought they would like? What's it mean to stay? What's it mean to maybe go?

[Allison Feaster]

Yeah, you know, that's a tough one. And I think it. And let me just say at the outset, it depends on the family and the player, the situation. Each situation is unique. I would say, though, that there's something to be said about figuring it out.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Yes.

[Allison Feaster]

Figuring it out like you did. Hopefully you did the research required when you made the the decision to go to a school that you have some semblance of confidence that you can work your way to a point where you need to work too.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

I just feel like you have such an underdog mentality and I think so many people lack that quality.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Your story's so dope and how diverse. But it all comes back to basketball. Yeah, but Harvard, like Europe, it's all very cool and it fits what we're trying to cover today. And so we think thank thank you for pulling up.

[Allison Feaster]

Thank you guys for having me. This is so dope.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

It was sick.

[Allison Feaster]

Thank you.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Holy freaking moly.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

That was awesome.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

No, that actually was so great.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Yeah. So thank you to Holly. Thank you to Allison.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

We cried. We literally cried.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

And we laughed, laughed, cried. We did all the emotions. And then a huge shout out to Marriott Bonboy for being here in Phoenix

[Allison Feaster]

for the Women's Final Four.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Heck yeah.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

I'll do one of those.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Amazing, amazing. Your guys team is amazing. The set was awesome.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

We're headed into the women's game and then we're going straight to Indy. Live from the Bracket we already gave away tickets to the 2026 tournament, but we're not done yet. Marriott Bonvoy is giving away a pair of tickets to the 2027 Men's and

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

Women's championships to enter for a chance to win. Head tomepod on Instagram and comment your favorite college basketball team on any of our Live from the Bracket posts related to the sweepstakes.

[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Be sure to include the hashtag Live from the Bracket in your comment to be lg. Full details in the episode description do not miss it.

[Sophie (WNBA player and co-host)]

No purchase necessary. Open to legal Residents of the 50 U.S. states or D.C. who are at least 18 years old as of the date of entry ends April 15. [e-mail] Live from the Bracket.

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[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Oh yeah.

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[Holly Rowe]

That's eye

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[Colgate Ad Voice]

I tell myself it's not about comparing. But then I start wondering, what can they lift? Are they adding more weight to their barbell than I am? And suddenly I'm not training. Then I realize my journey is not theirs. I've earned every step. So I smile. My smile is the shape resilience takes to keep me moving, to put more smiles out into the world. Colgate has supported female athletes for over 50 years with the Colgate Women's Games, the nation's longest running indoor track and field series for girls and women. Colgate, your smile is your strength.

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[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

No splitting up. No leaving anyone behind.

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[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

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[Host/Interviewer (possibly Daniel Cormier or a co-host)]

Learn [e-mail] and find the vehicle that fits your people.

[Jacob Goldstein]

This is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? When you buy business software from lots of vendors, the costs add up and it gets complicated and confusing. Odoo solves this. It's a single company that sells a suite of enterprise apps that handles everything from accounting to inventory to sales. Odoo is all connected on a single platform in a simple and affordable way. You can save money without missing out on the features you need. Check out Odoo at o d o o dot com. That's o d o o dot com.

[Holly Rowe]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.